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.
[ Yagen is at least mature enough to know just what the grown-up swords do when they stay up past curfew…but seriously Ichigo, ‘fess up about it already! At least it’ll give Yagen an excuse to be the reliable one again. ]
Don’t you find it…childish?
[ He says as he holds onto that sparkler for dear life. This time he’ll be sure not to let go!! ]
You don’t have to stoop this low for my sake, you know. A—And besides, you’re always so busy lately…you don’t seem to be getting enough rest lately.
[ Just casually trying to assert his position as the Citadel’s medical expert here, no big deal. ]
[All in good time, Yagen! He still has to figure everything out...
One of the three has been friendzoned for now. (Sorry, Mitsutada, he’s really fond of you and there is definitely chemistry there but...! Yagen might notice that Ichigo’s portions are mealtimes sometimes have extra little treats in them courtesy of Mitsutada and they might share a glance across the dining hall.)
One is, of course, a certain Tenka Goken that he’s found out he’s married to and they both still love each other very much and will most probably continue with this relationship. Yagen probably knows about this marriage from before? Dear husband might write Ichigo some secretly lewd love poems though but at least his brothers won’t be able to understand them if they happen across them!
Then there’s the crane he’s lived with for over 300 years who has always been there for him but only recently finally decided to confess his love. Ichigo loves him a lot too, so it’s complicated...
Anyway! Ichigo is genuinely surprised when he hears what Yagen says. He’s never thought of playing with his brothers as ‘childish’. They are all precious to him as they are one of the few things he remembers and he just loves spending time with them.]
... childish? ... stoop this low ...
[Ichigo usually has the patience of a saint, especially when dealing with his brothers, but he’s rather annoyed now. How could Yagen say something like that?? It breaks his heart to think that Yagen thinks his love for them is some sort of act!
He kneels down and looks his brother straight in the eyes, the hurt he feels clearly reflected in his eyes of amber gold. His tone is stern but calm.]
Yagen Toushirou. How dare you say something like that? Do you not know how much I love you and your brothers? Do you not know how much I treasure all of you and enjoy spending time with all of you? When I first woke up again after the fire and ... my retempering... and could barely remember by own name. The only other thing I could remember was that I had brothers and how you are precious to me. So how dare you...
[Tears start filling his eyes as all the stress he’s been trying to hide overwhelms him... What have you done, Yagen??]
[ Let’s just say that Yagen’s been judging the anatomical inconsistencies in those lewd poems for quite some time now. In private, of course. ]
Wha—Ichi-nii?!
[ Taken aback, Yagen freezes up at that glare, seeing the sorrow behind it and feeling very, very awful about it all of a sudden. Yet he stands there uselessly, mouth agape as Ichigo finally vents his frustrations and then it’s the tears—it’s the fucking tears—that get him to relent.
He quickly throws his arms about his brother’s neck, now that it’s conveniently within reach, his hand still clinging tight to that sparkler he’d been given. ]
I’m sorry…
[ What else can he say? He’s never been terribly good with words. Words and feelings, even. After all, he’d felt neither love nor hate for his final and most infamous master. But for his brothers, for Ichi-nii…there is no describing that very real and very human in his chest—one which defies medical knowledge, if only because this knowledge cannot tell him the shape and breadth of love. ]
I’m sorry; please don’t cry, Ichi-nii. I…more than anyone else, I only wanted to see you smile…
[Yagen Toushirou! Why have you been going through your big brother’s private things??
Ichigo hugs him back tightly, openly sobbing against his younger brother’s shoulder, unable to hold back all the pain, sorrow and disappointment he feels. Ichigo is a very passionate person who feels and loves deeply. He has only cried like this twice before - when his beloved late master died and when he found out he had to be separated from Mikazuki. All this time, he has been trying so hard to be the perfect big brother, the perfect parental figure to all of you and this is how you repay him? With such hurtful words that sliced through his heart??]
... don’t.... don’t you ever say... anything like that to me... ever again, Yagen Toushirou...
[He will, of course, forgive Yagen. He will always forgive his brothers and never stay angry at them. But he still feels so disappointed in you right now, Yagen. He thought you would be mature enough to know how hurtful words can be and he hopes you haven’t been behaving like this to other people. He raised you better than that!]
[ To think that his words would cut so deeply…all he’d wanted was to give Ichi-nii an out, to give him the chance to spend time with their other brothers or their fellow swords without guilt. But the true reason is that Yagen’s trying so very hard in his own way to seem reliable, and that…clearly backfired on him.
He can only sigh, burying his face in Ichigo’s shoulder and hating how his human heart feels when he’d inadvertently hurt someone he loves. It feels a little like turning on his master, even though he’s the type of sword that would do anything but. ]
[ Well, he’s certainly never seen this vulnerable side to his brother before. In a way, he’s sorry that he had to bring it about this way… ]
No.
[ Firmly. ]
You…needed that. I think I did, too.
[ There are times when he needs to be reminded that they’re all human on the inside as well as the outside now. And humans are such fragile things; even words can cut them deeper than swords. ]
I have been taking care of it... [Kind of, sort of, maybe?] Anyway, I already have enough people fussing over me...
And of course I love spending time and playing with all of you, but I suppose I’m also a little greedy and want more...
We’ve never been able to be all together like this before after all and I enjoy being the big brother to each and every one of you. I want to play with you, spend time with you, look after you, watch over you, soothe you when you’re worried or scared, nurse you back to health when you’re injured or sick and so on. I want to do all that. Is this my privilege as your oldest brother?
[ He’s not sure most of the other tachi are reliable enough to properly take care of his Ichi-nii…except Shokudaikiri, maybe. The others kind of need babysitters themselves.
Still, Yagen wonders how much more of these heartfelt confessions he must endure. On the one hand, it feels really nice to have this kind of talk with his big brother. On the other…it’s still really embarrassing… ]
It…It is! Of course it is… [ Right, he was going somewhere with this— ] But I—I want to look after you too, because you’re my precious older brother, and—and I want to us all to stay together like this…forever…
[ He’s growing redder and redder as this goes on someone please take him out of his misery— ]
[That is sadly true... at least there’s Shokudaikiri!]
Yagen... [Aww~ And that is so sweet! Ichigo reaches out to put a hand tenderly on Yagen’s cheek as he smiles down fondly at him.] Of course, you can look after me too, Yagen... but you can also rely on me and just be my little brother. Like right now when I just want to spend time with and play with you.
[ What else can he say to that? He’s too flustered to really mount a counterargument to that. And besides…
He clutches his sparkler to his chest, looking up at Ichi-nii with the most resolute stare he can summon up. From somewhere deep within him, he musters up the courage to finally ask: ]
[ That stuttering perhaps betrays too much of his excitement as he clasps Ichigo’s hand in his and motions with sparkler in hand at a secluded cove. Just flexing his scouting skills and all.
But already he’s tugging at Ichigo’s hand, his excitement now barely contained—not unlike a puppy straining at its leash. ]
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no subject
Don’t you find it…childish?
[ He says as he holds onto that sparkler for dear life. This time he’ll be sure not to let go!! ]
You don’t have to stoop this low for my sake, you know. A—And besides, you’re always so busy lately…you don’t seem to be getting enough rest lately.
[ Just casually trying to assert his position as the Citadel’s medical expert here, no big deal. ]
no subject
One of the three has been friendzoned for now. (Sorry, Mitsutada, he’s really fond of you and there is definitely chemistry there but...! Yagen might notice that Ichigo’s portions are mealtimes sometimes have extra little treats in them courtesy of Mitsutada and they might share a glance across the dining hall.)
One is, of course, a certain Tenka Goken that he’s found out he’s married to and they both still love each other very much and will most probably continue with this relationship. Yagen probably knows about this marriage from before? Dear husband might write Ichigo some secretly lewd love poems though but at least his brothers won’t be able to understand them if they happen across them!
Then there’s the crane he’s lived with for over 300 years who has always been there for him but only recently finally decided to confess his love. Ichigo loves him a lot too, so it’s complicated...
Anyway! Ichigo is genuinely surprised when he hears what Yagen says. He’s never thought of playing with his brothers as ‘childish’. They are all precious to him as they are one of the few things he remembers and he just loves spending time with them.]
... childish? ... stoop this low ...
[Ichigo usually has the patience of a saint, especially when dealing with his brothers, but he’s rather annoyed now. How could Yagen say something like that?? It breaks his heart to think that Yagen thinks his love for them is some sort of act!
He kneels down and looks his brother straight in the eyes, the hurt he feels clearly reflected in his eyes of amber gold. His tone is stern but calm.]
Yagen Toushirou. How dare you say something like that? Do you not know how much I love you and your brothers? Do you not know how much I treasure all of you and enjoy spending time with all of you? When I first woke up again after the fire and ... my retempering... and could barely remember by own name. The only other thing I could remember was that I had brothers and how you are precious to me. So how dare you...
[Tears start filling his eyes as all the stress he’s been trying to hide overwhelms him... What have you done, Yagen??]
no subject
Wha—Ichi-nii?!
[ Taken aback, Yagen freezes up at that glare, seeing the sorrow behind it and feeling very, very awful about it all of a sudden. Yet he stands there uselessly, mouth agape as Ichigo finally vents his frustrations and then it’s the tears—it’s the fucking tears—that get him to relent.
He quickly throws his arms about his brother’s neck, now that it’s conveniently within reach, his hand still clinging tight to that sparkler he’d been given. ]
I’m sorry…
[ What else can he say? He’s never been terribly good with words. Words and feelings, even. After all, he’d felt neither love nor hate for his final and most infamous master. But for his brothers, for Ichi-nii…there is no describing that very real and very human in his chest—one which defies medical knowledge, if only because this knowledge cannot tell him the shape and breadth of love. ]
I’m sorry; please don’t cry, Ichi-nii. I…more than anyone else, I only wanted to see you smile…
no subject
Ichigo hugs him back tightly, openly sobbing against his younger brother’s shoulder, unable to hold back all the pain, sorrow and disappointment he feels. Ichigo is a very passionate person who feels and loves deeply. He has only cried like this twice before - when his beloved late master died and when he found out he had to be separated from Mikazuki. All this time, he has been trying so hard to be the perfect big brother, the perfect parental figure to all of you and this is how you repay him? With such hurtful words that sliced through his heart??]
... don’t.... don’t you ever say... anything like that to me... ever again, Yagen Toushirou...
[He will, of course, forgive Yagen. He will always forgive his brothers and never stay angry at them. But he still feels so disappointed in you right now, Yagen. He thought you would be mature enough to know how hurtful words can be and he hopes you haven’t been behaving like this to other people. He raised you better than that!]
no subject
I won’t; I promise.
[ To think that his words would cut so deeply…all he’d wanted was to give Ichi-nii an out, to give him the chance to spend time with their other brothers or their fellow swords without guilt. But the true reason is that Yagen’s trying so very hard in his own way to seem reliable, and that…clearly backfired on him.
He can only sigh, burying his face in Ichigo’s shoulder and hating how his human heart feels when he’d inadvertently hurt someone he loves. It feels a little like turning on his master, even though he’s the type of sword that would do anything but. ]
no subject
... good...
[After a while, Ichigo finally calms down and he pulls away to wipe his face with a handkerchief. He, of course, carries one with him at all times!]
... I’m sorry for losing control like that just now, Yagen...
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No.
[ Firmly. ]
You…needed that. I think I did, too.
[ There are times when he needs to be reminded that they’re all human on the inside as well as the outside now. And humans are such fragile things; even words can cut them deeper than swords. ]
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I suppose so... Please don’t tell the others though. [They don’t need to know just how fragile the big brother they idolised really is.
Then he laughs lightly.]
I’ve made your clothes all wet...
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[ Quite frankly he feels as though he’s done worse damage to his brother than simply getting his own clothes all tear-stained. ]
About…anything, I mean. I’m used to looking after everyone by now.
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But I want to look after all of you... I need to... It... gives me something to live for. It gives me a purpose.
[Or else he might fall apart.]
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[ He’s finally recovered himself for long enough to use his deadpan, no-nonsense voice on his own big brother. Shocker! ]
You have a human body now, so you have to take very good care of it, too. And besides…
[ He looks away, losing his reliable doctor’s composure and turning back into Ichigo’s meek little brother once more— ]
Isn’t spending time with us enough? Even if it’s just…playing…
no subject
And of course I love spending time and playing with all of you, but I suppose I’m also a little greedy and want more...
We’ve never been able to be all together like this before after all and I enjoy being the big brother to each and every one of you. I want to play with you, spend time with you, look after you, watch over you, soothe you when you’re worried or scared, nurse you back to health when you’re injured or sick and so on. I want to do all that. Is this my privilege as your oldest brother?
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Still, Yagen wonders how much more of these heartfelt confessions he must endure. On the one hand, it feels really nice to have this kind of talk with his big brother. On the other…it’s still really embarrassing… ]
It…It is! Of course it is… [ Right, he was going somewhere with this— ] But I—I want to look after you too, because you’re my precious older brother, and—and I want to us all to stay together like this…forever…
[ He’s growing redder and redder as this goes on someone please take him out of his misery— ]
no subject
Yagen... [Aww~ And that is so sweet! Ichigo reaches out to put a hand tenderly on Yagen’s cheek as he smiles down fondly at him.] Of course, you can look after me too, Yagen... but you can also rely on me and just be my little brother. Like right now when I just want to spend time with and play with you.
no subject
[ What else can he say to that? He’s too flustered to really mount a counterargument to that. And besides…
He clutches his sparkler to his chest, looking up at Ichi-nii with the most resolute stare he can summon up. From somewhere deep within him, he musters up the courage to finally ask: ]
Ichi-nii, please play with me.
no subject
Let’s go then! Now, where would be a good spot to play with these so that we don’t set anything on fire?
I think we can wrap this up?
[ That stuttering perhaps betrays too much of his excitement as he clasps Ichigo’s hand in his and motions with sparkler in hand at a secluded cove. Just flexing his scouting skills and all.
But already he’s tugging at Ichigo’s hand, his excitement now barely contained—not unlike a puppy straining at its leash. ]
Let’s go, Ichi-nii!
Sure!
Coming! Coming! Slow down a bit, Yagen! [He can’t see as well in the dark as you after all!
And off they go to play with sparklers. Just the two of them.]