6 ❀ Summer Citadel

[konnosuke]

Beach. Everyone has been working so hard lately so why not take a break and enjoy the beach? You can make sand castles, play in the water, and there are even umbrellas for those who'd rather just relax in the shade. There's a nice row of water melons ready to be smashed later in the day and when the sun goes down, that's when the sparklers come out. Suffering. It's the hottest time of the year and the citadel doesn't have central air conditioning. The few air conditions that were installed have given up on life after being used so much and now, we really have to make do with what we can while the Konnosuke try to fix it. There's a limited number of fans, plenty of ice cream to go around, and the citadel should be built to circulate air, right? ... Right?! Spooks. In Japan, summer is a time for horror. Gather around the camp fire and hear some spooky ghost stories or maybe head out into the woods just outside the citadel for a good ol' fashioned test of courage. It's all good, harmless fun! Of course, with so many spirits gathered in one place, what's to say a stray or curious outsider spirit won't join the mix... Rain. Summer is also known for sudden and torrential downpours of rain. The clouds always seem to grown and darken suddenly and the next thing you know, it's raining sheets and the ground is shaking from thunder. Once it starts, it never seems to stop. Maybe you were caught out in the rain or maybe this is day 7 stuck inside. Other! It's summer and there are tons of things to do. Go to the general store and stock up on ice cream, wake up in the middle of the night uncomfortable with heat, or run around screaming because cicadas are dying and flying at your face.

 

Comments

[oncealifetime]

[Stop stripping in front of him, Mitsutada! Also stop falling in love so easily, Ichigo, you already have a husband (that he’s just learnt he has) and a boyfriend! XD]

With your hands? Oh, are you good at sewing? I could use some help with mending my brothers’ things. Ah, that is if you don’t mind, Shokudaikiri-dono.

[Ichigo isn’t really good at most household chores since he’s lived a very pampered life both when he was a Toyotomi sword and as an Imperial treasure. He had servants to do all these things. He does try his best to learn though!]

[candlestickslayer]

[ Look, he can't help it. Ichigo just has a lot of love to give!! But it's hot. :( ]

All you have to do is ask.

[ He turns his head to give Ichigo a warm smile. ]

It can be a little difficult at first, but it's really rewarding, even if it comes out a bit sloppy.

[ He paused for a moment, tugging a handkerchief out of his pocket. Sorry, Ichigo, It was his turn to brother him as he reaches out with his handkerchief to wipe off a smudge of icecream from his cheek. ]

[oncealifetime]

[Don’t you dare flaunt that perfect body of yours in front of him, Shoukudaikiri Mitsutada! XD;;]

Thank you, Shoukudaikiri-dono! [He let out an embarrassed little laugh.] Well, I have been trying on my own but all of it has just been really sloppy... Perhaps I don’t really have the tal-

[Ichigo is caught off guard. His eyes widen in surprise and his cheeks turn a light pink.]

[candlestickslayer]

[ Sengo is always going on about it, maybe the rest of them should follow his lead!!... no maybe not.]

Won’t they be surprised when you show them how much you’ve improved, huh?

[ He hadn’t even realized how red Ichigo’s cheeks had gotten, his eye focused on the task at hand. ]

Ah... much better

[oncealifetime]

[Ichigo looks away shyly after his cheek is wiped and stares down into his bowl. What an interesting bowl this is!] Thank you, Shoukudaikiri-dono... You didn’t really need to do that...

[candlestickslayer]

It wasn't any trouble at all. I suppose I could have just told you but...

[ Something compelled him to just wipe it off himself instead. Honestly he didn't really understand it himself. Maybe it was how nice and comfortable it's been chatting with Ichigo. ]

[oncealifetime]

[Well, he didn't really mind it. It did feel kind of.. nice. He totally blames his old master for this strange subconscious urge to acquire a harem! He glances back at Mistutada with a slight tilt of his head, his cheeks still lightly flushed.]

... but what...?

[candlestickslayer]

I saw your soft expression and I suppose I just felt compelled to touch your face...

[ Sorry, Ichigo. It wasn't his intention to be this embarrassing. The heat was making it a little bit harder for him to concentrate. ]

[oncealifetime]

[Ichigo's heart flutters at that and his cheeks are now burning. No one has ever said anything so direct yet charmingly innocent to him before. Tsurumaru likes to say things in a very indirect and roundabout way while Mikazuki can be rather... lewd...

If his heart beats any faster he might faint in this heat. He tries to laugh it off.]

You like to go round touching people's faces then, Shokudaikiri-dono?

[candlestickslayer]

[ While he wasn't too used to Mikazuki's ways, he could definitely understand how dealing with Tsurumaru could be. Then again, the crane did seem like the type to change his feathers depending on who he was around... ]

I suppose I can't really explain it myself...

[ Mitsutada tilted his head a little as he looked at Ichigo, an embarrassed looking smile in his direction. ]

Ah... perhaps I was a bit too forward?

[oncealifetime]

[Ichigo isn't sure why he shakes his head. Maybe he just likes hearing things like that from Mitsutada.]

No, it's rather... charming. You looked very cool just now. [He gives him a rather sweet smile that goes well with the blush upon his cheeks.]

[candlestickslayer]

[ That smile... and that blush on top of it. It was cute. Honestly too cute. Despite the compliment he was just given, he didn't really feel all that cool right now. He just felt... entirely more embarrassed.

Clearing his throat to try and avoid showing off his flustered side of himself, he instead holds out his bowl of ice cream to Ichigo. ]

Here, you should try some of this. My flavor is a different one...

[oncealifetime]

[He is an Awataguchi. Cute is in his genes~♥

He reaches out to take the bowl, but he tips his head a little in confusion.]

Oh, okay. You haven't really eaten much of it though...

[candlestickslayer]

Just trust me on this...

[ He gives him a small smile, still holding onto the bowl. He'll take it back in a second, but he figured Ichigo wouldn't mind sharing a bite or two. If he does he'll find little slices of strawberry inside the ice cream. ]

[oncealifetime]

[He nods, takes a bite and is pleasantly surprised by the sweet pieces of strawberries inside!]

Oh, there are strawberries in this one! Ah, I mean ... [He looks a little embarrassed as he’s rather certain he’ll be teased about it now... Thanks, Tsurumaru. He knows his name sounds like strawberry and doesn’t need to be reminded of it a million times...]

[candlestickslayer]

I might have went a little overboard with trying out different icecream types. I thought it might be fun for everyone...

[ He noticed the embarrassed way he looked and he might have a small clue as to why he seemed embarrassed, but luckily for him, Mitsutada was the softer member of the Dategumi. He wouldn't tease him about his name like someone might. ]

[oncealifetime]

I see. There's nothing wrong with that. It's something you're passionate about after all. I... like strawberries a lot actually.

[He looks away a little sheepishly and takes another bite. And thank you for not teasing him about his name. He is very proud of his name 'Ichigo Hitofuri Yoshimitsu' after all, it shows that he was much loved by his 'father'.]

[candlestickslayer]

[ When he notices Ichigo going in to take another bite he very slowly (and attempting to be smooth) slips the bowl complete into his hands. It seemed like he was really enjoying the taste which put a smile on his own face. ]

Sounds like something I'll have to keep in mind.

[oncealifetime]

[Ichigo takes the bowl and eats more, forgetting for now that it's actually Mitsutada's ice cream. Then he looks over with a look of surprise.]

Ah, you don't have to do that, Shokudaikiri-dono! I'm sure you already have lots of other things to remember. [Surely it wouldn't be right for him to get special treatment, especially since Mitsutada has so many people to cook for already. Even though part of him does like the idea... but...]

[candlestickslayer]

I appreciate your concern, but it's not something you need to worry about. My favorite thing about cooking... is being able to see the smiles it brings everyone.

[ He smiled a bit himself as he lightly nudges Ichigo's shoulder. ]

And if I could pull one from you just from a little extra taste, then it's what I want to do.

[oncealifetime]

... the smiles it brings everyone? [He nods.] I can understand that. [He’d do anything just to see his all little brothers’ smile after all.]

[That little nudge pulls a light blush to his cheeks then he gave Mitsutada his brightest and purest smile, the smile that his family wanted to protect.]

Thank you, Shokudaikiri-dono! I really look forward to tasting more of your cooking!

[candlestickslayer]

[ That smile...! He wasn't expecting a giant smile so... bright and pure. His eye widens a bit and that faint color to his cheeks from before just seems to grow across his face now. He could honestly see why Ichigo was so popular with the others. He was kind, so warm, and... this smile of his was absolutely beautiful. ]

Yeah... I can't wait...

[oncealifetime]

[Well, Mitsutada did say he wanted to see him smile~!

Ichigo, meanwhile, turns back to his delicious treat and continues eating it with an almost childlike delight. He is also excited about all the other future treats he's going to get. In that moment, it’s easy to see that he truly is related to all those adorable little tantous.

Just as he's about to finish though, he notices the other empty bowl he'd put aside and realizes to his great embarrassment!]

Ah, I'm sorry, Shokidaikiri-dono! This was yours and I..! T-There's still some left. Do you still want it?

[Then perhaps it is because he's so used to sharing his food with his younger brothers, but before he knows what he's doing, he's holding the last spoonful of ice cream out to Mitsutada as if intending to feed him...!]

[candlestickslayer]

[ He was about to say it was fine, Ichigo didn't need to worry. Besides he slipped it into his hands on purpose! He wanted a chance to make Ichigo happy and he got that chance (at the cost of him being completely embarrassed now).

He wanted to say this but he couldn't. Not when Ichigo was holding the spoon out for him. He seemed surprised, his cheeks growing even warmer than earlier. A-ah...

Well if Ichigo was offering he supposes... and then closes his eye before leaning in to take the bite from his spoon. ]

[oncealifetime]

[A split-second before Mitsutada takes that bite, it occurs to Ichigo that this might not be appropriate but it's too late!]

A-Ah! Wait! Mitsu-

[He can't help watching the way Mitsutada's lips wrap round the- No! get your mind out of the gutter, Ichigo Hitofuri! He's not quite sure what to do now... His heart is racing and his face is quite flushed.]

... I mean, Shokudaikiri-dono...