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.
[The tigers are all frolicking about in the clearing, and once they reach it, Gokotai and Ichigo will see them chasing the fireflies... and then they see Gokotai and immediately come to jump around his feet.]
Why did all of you run away so fast? I-I was worried you'd get lost!
[Ichigo smiles as he watches the reunion then he crouches down to pet the little cubs.]
At least, they are all here now and unharmed, Gokotai. Don't blame them. They are still young and apt to be curious. [He gives him a little hair ruffling then turns to look at the sea of fireflies surrounding him.] And this place is so beautiful. I've never seen so many fireflies in one place!
[This is the perfect place to bring someone very very special... a certain someone he'd found again. He blushes lightly at the thought.]
[Kokotai is kneeling among the fuzzballs, checking all of them to make sure they're alright, but at the hair ruffle he looks up... just in time to see Ichigo blush.]
Hot? Ah, no, I’m fine. I was just thinking of what a beautiful place this is and how nice it would be to bring...
[Should he tell his little brother? Surely, he will have to tell them sooner or later...? Tell them that they, well, they have one more big brother now. And anyway, he is feeling very happy and he wants to share his happiness.]
O-Oh... you spoke to Mikazuki-san, then. I-I'm glad.
[Tell him what, Ichigo? You really think your brothers don't know? You, Honebami and Namazuo are the only ones to have damaged memories. Everyone else remembers, they just don't say anything because it's none of their business.]
[Ichigo visibly pales. Just what is the extent of their knowledge?? He sincerely hopes it is just something innocent or he has seriously failed as a big brother/parent!! All of you are supposed to be his cute and innocent little brothers/children and he’ll do everything in his power to protect that innocence.
And he wasn’t really trying to be sneaky? He knows his brothers like him tucking them in at night and he has to be there to cuddle anyone who might have had a bad dream or is just scared of something all of a sudden. So he can only get away when they are all asleep then he has to be there in the morning to make sure everyone gets to breakfast on time and so on... It’s hard being a single parent to so many children.... Mikazuki, please come help, thanks!]
The way I look at him...?
[Does that mean the whole citadel knows?? He is, of course, not ashamed of his relationship. Far from it but, but, the thought that anyone can tell just how in love he is from the way he looks is so absolutely mortifying embarrassing!]
Ah, no, Gokotai! It’s all right. I’m not mad at you. [He gives him a big hug.] I’m not angry at all. I’m just... so embarrassed...
[He tries to laugh it off. Though it would have been nice if someone had just bloody told him so that he didn’t have to live in anguish for so long!! But he kind of understands why didn’t tell him... Well, what’s done is done and it all ended well so...]
[.... Pretty much the whole Citadel knows, yes. It's not like Mikazuki-san himself makes a mystery of it after all. And there were many who had been around them back then and remembered.]
I-Ichi-nii, there's nothing to be embarrassed about.
[They're all rooting for you! That hug is nice, though.]
Hmmmm... I-I don't know... I don't think Mikazuki-san really feels like a big brother...
[Not that he minds he and his actual big brother being together, not at all! But... he's not sure he has the words to explain it. Mikazuki-san is Mikazuki-san... he's a Tenka Goken and he's just... a lot.
And he can't imagine calling him 'nii-sama' like, at all.]
He doesn’t...? [And he is a tiny bit disappointed as he just wants everyone to be a one big happy family. Family is very important to him after all! Perhaps that is the problem with being with someone so much older...?] What does he feel like then?
[He smiles at that and here’s another hair ruffling.] Thank you, Gokotai. And yes, I am very happy.
[Well, Mikazuki does make him feel warm and fuzzy inside....? Does his brother mean that?]
W-wife?? [He turns a bright red.] I, well, he did belong to my master’s wife... so, I guess, in a way... but... but... [Perhaps it was that way before but Ichigo, at present, prefers it... well, it is kind of the other way now. But this is not an appropriate topic to discuss with Gokotai!] Actually....
[Okay, deep breath, he can do this. There’s no need to do into detail. Keep it simple and PG.]
Mikazuki is my husband, so that makes him your brother-in-law.
Of course, it’s alright! And you’ll have me all to yourself! [This is a rare chance to not have to compete with all the others for Ichi-nii’s attention!] What would you like to do?
Hmmm... It's fine. I'm not scared if I'm with Ichi-nii.
[The little tigers chirp approvingly as well, although of course they were not scared earlier either. Just mischievous.
But Gokotai is glad to be carried back all the way to the room he shares with his brothers. he's almost half asleep already by the time they reach it.]
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Why did all of you run away so fast? I-I was worried you'd get lost!
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At least, they are all here now and unharmed, Gokotai. Don't blame them. They are still young and apt to be curious. [He gives him a little hair ruffling then turns to look at the sea of fireflies surrounding him.] And this place is so beautiful. I've never seen so many fireflies in one place!
[This is the perfect place to bring someone very very special... a certain someone he'd found again. He blushes lightly at the thought.]
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Ichi-nii, are you alright? Are you too hot?
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Hot? Ah, no, I’m fine. I was just thinking of what a beautiful place this is and how nice it would be to bring...
[Should he tell his little brother? Surely, he will have to tell them sooner or later...? Tell them that they, well, they have one more big brother now. And anyway, he is feeling very happy and he wants to share his happiness.]
... someone very special to me here.
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[Tell him what, Ichigo? You really think your brothers don't know? You, Honebami and Namazuo are the only ones to have damaged memories. Everyone else remembers, they just don't say anything because it's none of their business.]
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H-How did you know...?
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[Was Ichi-nii really trying to be sneaky? Really?]
Even if we didn't, the way you look at him...
A-Ah, I'm sorry.
[Gokotai ducks his head slightly. Hopefully Ichi-nii isn't mad that apparently, all his little brothers know his love life better than he does.]
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[Ichigo visibly pales. Just what is the extent of their knowledge?? He sincerely hopes it is just something innocent or he has seriously failed as a big brother/parent!! All of you are supposed to be his cute and innocent little brothers/children and he’ll do everything in his power to protect that innocence.
And he wasn’t really trying to be sneaky? He knows his brothers like him tucking them in at night and he has to be there to cuddle anyone who might have had a bad dream or is just scared of something all of a sudden. So he can only get away when they are all asleep then he has to be there in the morning to make sure everyone gets to breakfast on time and so on... It’s hard being a single parent to so many children.... Mikazuki, please come help, thanks!]
The way I look at him...?
[Does that mean the whole citadel knows?? He is, of course, not ashamed of his relationship. Far from it but, but, the thought that anyone can tell just how in love he is from the way he looks is so absolutely mortifying embarrassing!]
Ah, no, Gokotai! It’s all right. I’m not mad at you. [He gives him a big hug.] I’m not angry at all. I’m just... so embarrassed...
[He tries to laugh it off. Though it would have been nice if someone had just bloody told him so that he didn’t have to live in anguish for so long!! But he kind of understands why didn’t tell him... Well, what’s done is done and it all ended well so...]
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I-Ichi-nii, there's nothing to be embarrassed about.
[They're all rooting for you! That hug is nice, though.]
I-t's good that you found him again.
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Thank you, Gokotai. So... what do think about having another big brother?
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[Not that he minds he and his actual big brother being together, not at all! But... he's not sure he has the words to explain it. Mikazuki-san is Mikazuki-san... he's a Tenka Goken and he's just... a lot.
And he can't imagine calling him 'nii-sama' like, at all.]
As long as Ichi-nii is happy, it's all we want.
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[He smiles at that and here’s another hair ruffling.] Thank you, Gokotai. And yes, I am very happy.
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[If only he were more eloquent...]
I-I like him! I mean, we all like him! It's just... isn't he more like Ichi-nii's wife?
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[Well, Mikazuki does make him feel warm and fuzzy inside....? Does his brother mean that?]
W-wife?? [He turns a bright red.] I, well, he did belong to my master’s wife... so, I guess, in a way... but... but... [Perhaps it was that way before but Ichigo, at present, prefers it... well, it is kind of the other way now. But this is not an appropriate topic to discuss with Gokotai!] Actually....
[Okay, deep breath, he can do this. There’s no need to do into detail. Keep it simple and PG.]
Mikazuki is my husband, so that makes him your brother-in-law.
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[Husband, wife... in the end, it's all the same, isn't it?
In any case, Gokotai is interrupted by a yawn. He did wake up in the middle of the night to look for his little furry friends.]
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Let's get you to bed. It's way past your bedtime. Have you brushed your teeth yet?
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[Oh. Ichi-nii carrying him. This is nice.]
I did. I did it before I went to bed the first time, Ichi-nii.
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[And they start heading back, hopefully the tigers are following after them.]
Do you want me to stay with you till the others get back?
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[If you were doing the test of courage, then he wouldn't want to interrupt.]
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Of course, it’s alright! And you’ll have me all to yourself! [This is a rare chance to not have to compete with all the others for Ichi-nii’s attention!] What would you like to do?
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C-Can you sing me a lullaby, Ichi-nii?
[Just until he goes to sleep? And pet his hair? So he can sleep peacefully?]
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[And he’ll do all that for his precious little brother.]
And we’re almost there. Can you see the lights ahead?
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[He's not shivering anymore now. And the tigers are following tamely, chirping a little and jumping around Ichigo's feet.
Ichi-nii really is a calming presence. Gokotai is already slumping down against him.]</small
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We’ll get there in a few minutes.
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[The little tigers chirp approvingly as well, although of course they were not scared earlier either. Just mischievous.
But Gokotai is glad to be carried back all the way to the room he shares with his brothers. he's almost half asleep already by the time they reach it.]
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