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

[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...

[candlestickslayer]

[ At least he wasn't the only one who was embarrassed here. Ichigo was sounding a little flustered himself which kind of made Mitsutada feel a little relieved. He sat up a little more after pulling away from the spoon, that soft smile of his returning to his face as well. ]

You can call me anything... You'll find I'm not so picky about that.

[ He licks his lips a little, mmm that icecream really was pretty good. ]

[oncealifetime]

[Don't say something like that while licking your lips like that, Mitsutada!! What are you trying to do? He's already spoken for! This is better worse than how you almost stripped in front of him just now! No! Must. Look. Away. From. Lips. And. Tongue.

Ichigo averts his eyes slightly.]

Oh... [Well, Shokudaikiri is a bit difficult to say anyway, so...] If you fine with it, Mitsutada... -dono. [They are in public after all!]

[candlestickslayer]

[ It was only his jacket! He didn't think it would bother Ichigo that much if he removed it and rolled up his sleeves a little..! ]

Whatever you feel most comfortable with.

[oncealifetime]

[Don't worry about it, Mitsutada. Ichigo can just be rather conservative sometimes and he's still completely wrapped up in his tracksuit, but at least his is mostly white so he isn't feeling as hot. Though another reason he hasn't removed any of his clothes is that he's really self-conscious about the burn scars on his back and upper arms...

He smiles and nods.] I like 'Mitsutada' better. It suits you more.

[candlestickslayer]

[ That's something he could understand. Even someone like Mitsutada can be a little self-conscious about scars and and other things like that. It's why he keeps his hands covered all the time... ]

You think so, huh?

[oncealifetime]

[They'll have to bond over that sometime...]

Yes, it sounds much cooler! [And cuter but he keeps that to himself.]

[candlestickslayer]

Mitsutada it is then.

[ Because if there was one thing he liked more than fighting and cooking, it was looking cool, especially in front of people he wanted to impress. ]

[oncealifetime]

[Ichigo smiles at that and is silent for a moment, just enjoying the other's company.

That's when the sky starts rumbling and the first drops of rain begin to fall. Ichigo gets up with a start.]

The laundry!

[Can you imagine the colossal amount of laundry he has to do for a family of 17, consisting mainly of young children, in this hot weather? He's not about to let the rain ruin what he's spent the whole morning washing! But he does kind of forget that his feet at in a bucket of water and so, in his haste, he trips...]

[candlestickslayer]

Ichigo--!

[ In his panic, he scrambles to reach out, to catch him before he falls over, but with the awkward position that he moved in, he was only partially successful. He caught onto Ichigo before he fell which was good, but he lost his own footing, causing them both to fall over instead with Ichigo landing on top. ]

[oncealifetime]

[Ichigo braces himself for the fall but the ground feels softer than he thought it would be...? No, wait, this doesn’t feel like- Ah, he’s lying on—!

He immediately pushes himself up and ends up kind of straddling Mitsutada, as they are rapidly soaked by the rain. He reaches out to brush the wet hair out of Mitsutada’s eye and quickly looks around for injuries.]

Mitsutada-dono!! Are you all right? Are you hurt? [It would probably help if he wasn’t actually still sitting on Mitsutada...]

[candlestickslayer]

[ On one hand, at least he didn't knock over one of the buckets in his attempts to catch Ichigo, but on the other hand it wouldn't really have changed anything because it was raining now and he was already feeling soaked. He opens his eye to look up at Ichigo, a small flusteted smile on his lips. While this wasn't the best position for them to be in probably... he was able to keep Ichigo from getting hurt and that's what mattered. ]

I'm fine I'm fine... You don't need to worry about me.

[ Ah... but this rain was actually starting to feel kind of nice. All the heat that was surrounding them was starting to fade away into a nice cool rain. ]

[oncealifetime]

[Ichigo let out a little sigh of relief, but then he looks down at him with great concern.]

You didn’t really have to do that... What if you got hurt?

[He wouldn’t forgive himself if anything had happened to Mitsutada. He is his... good friend after all. A good friend that he really enjoys having around and is feeling more and more attracted to, but, yes, a friend! Or so he’ll keep telling himself. Yet, he can’t help noticing the way the other’s wet top is clinging to...]

[candlestickslayer]

[ he laughs softly, lying there and making no real effort to actually try to move Ichigo from himself. ]

You say that, but wouldn't you do the same if I were about to fall? You're just as important as I am, and I can't help wanting to keep you safe.

[oncealifetime]

[Ichigo is in no hurry to move either. He’s perfectly comfortable where he is. (Someone get these idiots out of the rain! XD)

He bows his head a little shyly as he hears that and absently reaches out one hand to trace his fingers lightly over the contours of Mitsutada’s well-toned chest.]

Yes, I would have. I can’t bear the thought of ever losing you...

[candlestickslayer]

[ A-ah....

Mitsutada stares up at him, feeling the heat rise to his face once more. It's not like he didn't think he wasn't important to other people or anything, but hearing someone say that out loud really got his heart racing. ]

Ichigo...