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.
[That is when Ichigo knew he really was dealing with a child. A stubborn child who is difficult to reason with... but he is going to try anyway, for now. Who knew that these younger swords were harder to deal with than actual child swords...]
[The curse of being younger in age than the swords that look like actual kids...
That said, maybe he would have slightly easier to handle if he wasn't young and a former sword of the Shinsengumi. Unfortunately, he was dragged into this world with zero chill and left it with zero chill.]
Y'know! Like... play-fighting? Just whacking someone around a little isn't actually beating 'em up.
[Said like a true member of Okitagumi. Try as he might to hide his colors, they still shine through...]
[It's questionable that gumi swords even know what the actual meaning of play-fighting is... But Kashuu's going to take this as a win anyway, just nodding along.]
Right, see? If he was doing something stupid enough to get himself in trouble for real, Horikawa'd handle it, anyway.
[Ichigo nods. He doesn’t really pay much attention to what the gumi swords do (he already has enough to worry about), but even he has seen and heard Horikawa following Kanesada around, so it checks out?]
It’s good that Horikawa-dono is around to keep an eye on him then. [Then after a pause.] Horikawa-dono is rather fond of Kanesada-dono, isn’t he?
[There's a tiny huff of a laugh in response, and he nods without pause.]
You could say that. Those two have always been super close. ...Well, it's not like you can expect anything else from a pair of partner swords, yeah? [Considering he himself is very much the same way with his own, and he wasn't even made for Yasusada or vice-versa in the way Kanesada had been for Horikawa.]
It's not exactly the same kinda thing as having a million little brothers to look after, but they definitely have each other's backs no matter what.
Hah, nah. But I mean, you'd think they might be with the way they act sometimes, right? [A PUNK LAUGH.] I don't think I know any actual spousal swords.
["With the exception of you", is what the glance he sends Ichigo's way afterward says... But he doesn't deal with all these older swords and their incredibly complex relationships and has only heard about the Vague Spousal Sword Connection through the citadel grapevine, so he moves on with a shrug.]
Hijikata commissioned Kanesada to match Horikawa, so it's like that.
[D-Don't look at him like that! You're making him blush!]
I see. So they are literally made for each other. That sounds really nice actually.
[Then he looks away slightly, feeling bashful. He's not ashamed, just embarrassed. A lot of things have happened in the last few days since he arrived, and turns out Mikazuki really really missed him a lot and is not at all shy about showing him just how much he's missed him...]
Well, spousal swords do exist... You're standing next to one.
[Maybe he's a little bit jealous... Just a little bit! He already has a bountifully complex relationship with a partner sword that he wasn't made for, he can't even imagine the extra complexities in a dynamic like Horikawa and Kanesada.
Either way, well. Since Ichigo himself brought it up, Kashuu figures it's okay to indulge in a little curiosity...! So, somewhat bluntly:]
Yeah, I heard some swords talking and stuff. [VAGUE AND OMINOUS.] What's it like, anyway? Is it as fun as humans make being married look?
[Ichigo pales slightly because of how ominous Kashuu is making that sound!]
... some swords talking...? Which swords?
[What have they been talking about?? Then a blush immediately returns to his cheeks at the next questions.]
What's it like...? Well, I guess you could call it fun... [His blush deepens. Their nights have certainly been busy~] It's much more than that though. There's also this very close connection you feel and the great comfort in knowing that you'll always be there for each other. [His nightmares have stopped ever since he's had someone to hold him when he sleeps.]
[Instead of giving Ichigo a straightforward answer, he just grins and shrugs.]
Eh, y'know, just some swords here and there. [That explains NOTHING and he isn't intent on expanding on it, apparently. He's much more intrigued by Ichigo's explanation of what having a spousal sword is like!]
Ah, so it's something like that? It does sound nice. Kinda like... I dunno, fairy tale-ish? It's the kinda stuff you hear humans talk about aaall the time.
[Being loved and knowing you're loved forever! That's the ideal, dang.]
Oh, the stuff you'd expect to hear. "It's so cute" or "I wish that was me", that kinda thing. I totally agree with 'em!
[He wants a fairytale story!! Instead he's got the Shinsengumi curse.]
You even look super in love, sometimes. It's that face you're making! [The fond smile! He's endeared.] Anyway, I guess humans always say stuff about how time and hardships and whatever make bonds even stronger.
[And that makes him very happy but also extremely bashful! So people have been saying... such nice things about them? He can’t quite look Kashuu in the eyes right now.]
I... T-Thank you. That is really extremely kind of you, Kashuu-dono.
[His cheeks turns even redder and he can’t help covering his face with his hands a bit!]
I-I do? I suppose they do say that.
[He can’t help it, okay? Thanks to his amnesia, he’s still very much in the honeymoon stage of his marriage! Find you someone who looks at Mikazuki the way Ichigo does~♥]
[Meanwhile, since he's not the target of the Fluster Brigade right now, he can just sit back and enjoy someone else suffering through it! Truly excellent.]
Eh, it's just true, yeah? Anyway, you totally do! It's enough to make anyone be like, wow, I wish that was me. It's too bad more of us didn't get to have that, but it's super cute just being able to watch you guys, too.
Oh, definitely. It's just that not many people are lucky enough to get a good title to go with it, y'know? I mean, spousal swords. How cute is that? Ahh, I hope I get to be that lucky someday.
[A big, overdramatic sigh!! But as much as he fusses and whines about cute things, he's also perfectly content in his heart of hearts with his current situation... What a sap.]
[He SURE WOULD. Gotta keep on top of all of those hip new trends the humans come up with!]
Eh— Me? [Him?? Don't put him on the spot like this, Ichigo!! Teasing other people is fun but he's a poor sport when he's the one under fire!] --I haven't thought that far ahead! It's just a "what-if" thing, y'know? Like, for fun.
Now, that is an interesting reaction. He lets out a little chuckle, but he’s not someone who likes teasing and making others uncomfortable, so he’ll drop it.]
I see. Well, you’re still very young so there’s no rush. Ah, actually there’s something I wonder if you could help me with. Have you heard of ‘wedding rings’?
[Ichigo is truly too good for this mess of a sword... Though he does both A) immediately leap for this change in topic and B) seem genuinely interested and curious.]
Hm? Yeah, I have. The whole thing's pretty cute! [ALSO EXPENSIVE.] Whatcha need help with?
Well, I... would like to find a pair for myself and... Mikazuki... Would you be willing to come with me to see if there’s anything suitable for us since you’re more familiar with this?
[Well, just looking is fine too. He doesn’t have to get them right now.]
[He, on the other hand, seems re-energized by the prospect! Life is great when you can just meddle in everyone else's love affairs, offering peanut gallery commentary and helping with cute things like picking out wedding rings.
Also, seeing Ichigo all shy and lovestruck is endearing. Older swords can be wild as hell and hard to understand, but these moments make them seem a little less alien, honestly.]
Ooh, I gotcha. [A grin!] Good thing for you, there's no one else in this whole Citadel with such a good eye for spotting cute things! I can definitely help with that.
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... how do you not ‘seriously’ beat him up...?
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That said, maybe he would have slightly easier to handle if he wasn't young and a former sword of the Shinsengumi. Unfortunately, he was dragged into this world with zero chill and left it with zero chill.]
Y'know! Like... play-fighting? Just whacking someone around a little isn't actually beating 'em up.
[Said like a true member of Okitagumi. Try as he might to hide his colors, they still shine through...]
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[Well, his brothers do play-fight after all. Even if their play-fighting is probably a lot less violent than the play-fighting the gumi swords do...]
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Right, see? If he was doing something stupid enough to get himself in trouble for real, Horikawa'd handle it, anyway.
[That's not his jurisdiction.]
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It’s good that Horikawa-dono is around to keep an eye on him then. [Then after a pause.] Horikawa-dono is rather fond of Kanesada-dono, isn’t he?
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You could say that. Those two have always been super close. ...Well, it's not like you can expect anything else from a pair of partner swords, yeah? [Considering he himself is very much the same way with his own, and he wasn't even made for Yasusada or vice-versa in the way Kanesada had been for Horikawa.]
It's not exactly the same kinda thing as having a million little brothers to look after, but they definitely have each other's backs no matter what.
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[Because, you know, the words ‘spouse’ and ‘partner’ can be interchangeable!]
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Hah, nah. But I mean, you'd think they might be with the way they act sometimes, right? [A PUNK LAUGH.] I don't think I know any actual spousal swords.
["With the exception of you", is what the glance he sends Ichigo's way afterward says... But he doesn't deal with all these older swords and their incredibly complex relationships and has only heard about the Vague Spousal Sword Connection through the citadel grapevine, so he moves on with a shrug.]
Hijikata commissioned Kanesada to match Horikawa, so it's like that.
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I see. So they are literally made for each other. That sounds really nice actually.
[Then he looks away slightly, feeling bashful. He's not ashamed, just embarrassed. A lot of things have happened in the last few days since he arrived, and turns out Mikazuki really really missed him a lot and is not at all shy about showing him just how much he's missed him...]
Well, spousal swords do exist... You're standing next to one.
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[Maybe he's a little bit jealous... Just a little bit! He already has a bountifully complex relationship with a partner sword that he wasn't made for, he can't even imagine the extra complexities in a dynamic like Horikawa and Kanesada.
Either way, well. Since Ichigo himself brought it up, Kashuu figures it's okay to indulge in a little curiosity...! So, somewhat bluntly:]
Yeah, I heard some swords talking and stuff. [VAGUE AND OMINOUS.] What's it like, anyway? Is it as fun as humans make being married look?
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It's really cute.
[Ichigo pales slightly because of how ominous Kashuu is making that sound!]
... some swords talking...? Which swords?
[What have they been talking about?? Then a blush immediately returns to his cheeks at the next questions.]
What's it like...? Well, I guess you could call it fun... [His blush deepens. Their nights have certainly been busy~] It's much more than that though. There's also this very close connection you feel and the great comfort in knowing that you'll always be there for each other. [His nightmares have stopped ever since he's had someone to hold him when he sleeps.]
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Eh, y'know, just some swords here and there. [That explains NOTHING and he isn't intent on expanding on it, apparently. He's much more intrigued by Ichigo's explanation of what having a spousal sword is like!]
Ah, so it's something like that? It does sound nice. Kinda like... I dunno, fairy tale-ish? It's the kinda stuff you hear humans talk about aaall the time.
[Being loved and knowing you're loved forever! That's the ideal, dang.]
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... what exactly have they said?
[Well, he is kind of a prince, so you’re not wrong about it being fairy-tale-ish! He nods with a fond smile as he think of his beloved.]
It is nice. Even though we’ve been through a lot, our love has managed to endure through the centuries.
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Oh, the stuff you'd expect to hear. "It's so cute" or "I wish that was me", that kinda thing. I totally agree with 'em!
[He wants a fairytale story!! Instead he's got the Shinsengumi curse.]
You even look super in love, sometimes. It's that face you're making! [The fond smile! He's endeared.] Anyway, I guess humans always say stuff about how time and hardships and whatever make bonds even stronger.
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I... T-Thank you. That is really extremely kind of you, Kashuu-dono.
[His cheeks turns even redder and he can’t help covering his face with his hands a bit!]
I-I do? I suppose they do say that.
[He can’t help it, okay? Thanks to his amnesia, he’s still very much in the honeymoon stage of his marriage! Find you someone who looks at Mikazuki the way Ichigo does~♥]
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Eh, it's just true, yeah? Anyway, you totally do! It's enough to make anyone be like, wow, I wish that was me. It's too bad more of us didn't get to have that, but it's super cute just being able to watch you guys, too.
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... I’m grateful that everyone wishes us well. But surely there must be others here who share a close bond as well?
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[A big, overdramatic sigh!! But as much as he fusses and whines about cute things, he's also perfectly content in his heart of hearts with his current situation... What a sap.]
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[And that reminds him, he's recently heard about 'wedding rings' and would like to buy a pair. Kashuu looks like he would know about such things~?]
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Eh— Me? [Him?? Don't put him on the spot like this, Ichigo!! Teasing other people is fun but he's a poor sport when he's the one under fire!] --I haven't thought that far ahead! It's just a "what-if" thing, y'know? Like, for fun.
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Now, that is an interesting reaction. He lets out a little chuckle, but he’s not someone who likes teasing and making others uncomfortable, so he’ll drop it.]
I see. Well, you’re still very young so there’s no rush. Ah, actually there’s something I wonder if you could help me with. Have you heard of ‘wedding rings’?
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Hm? Yeah, I have. The whole thing's pretty cute! [ALSO EXPENSIVE.] Whatcha need help with?
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Well, I... would like to find a pair for myself and... Mikazuki... Would you be willing to come with me to see if there’s anything suitable for us since you’re more familiar with this?
[Well, just looking is fine too. He doesn’t have to get them right now.]
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Also, seeing Ichigo all shy and lovestruck is endearing. Older swords can be wild as hell and hard to understand, but these moments make them seem a little less alien, honestly.]
Ooh, I gotcha. [A grin!] Good thing for you, there's no one else in this whole Citadel with such a good eye for spotting cute things! I can definitely help with that.
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He smiles gratefully at hearing that.]
Thank you, Kashuu-dono! Shall we go now?