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]

[Ichigo couldn’t help blushing a little at the squeeze. Then seeing that they were almost done...]

Can I try making the last one on my own?

[candlestickslayer]

Of course..

[ He smiles and lets go of Ichigo's hands, but he wasn't exactly ready to pull away just yet so his arms loosely wrap around Ichigo instead. ]

[oncealifetime]

[Ichigo was about to start making that last mochi, when he noticed that Mitsutada still has his arms around him. After a short pause, he reached out to tighten Mitsutada’s hold on him because he wanted to. Then he turned back to his task at hand.

He did his best to mimic how Mitsutada had moved his fingers earlier and found that he’d somehow managed to learn something despite all that distraction! He was very pleased with his work and looked up at Mitsutada with a rather bright and excited smile.]

Look! Mitsutada-dono! This one looks very close to yours, doesn’t it?

[candlestickslayer]

[ His excitement was contagious, because looking into that smile caused Mitsutada to smile just as much. ]

I knew you had it in you..! We just needed to get those frustrating thoughts out of your head so you could truly enjoy yourself.

[oncealifetime]

That’s because I have a good teacher. Maybe I should call you ‘sensei’ from now on.

[candlestickslayer]

Sensei, huh...

[ He laughed a bit as he leaned in to hide his face in Ichigo's shoulder. ]

I can't really say anyone else has called me sensei before.

[oncealifetime]

We’ll start now then! Mitsutada-sensei~ ♥

[candlestickslayer]

Almost makes me feel like I should start up a cooking class, but if everyone learns to cook, how am I going to spoil you all.

[oncealifetime]

Perhaps you should just give private lessons like this one.

[He turns round so that he can put his arms around Mitsutada and rest his head against his chest.]

Then I can have you all to myself.

[candlestickslayer]

[ Please dont hear his racing heart... please don't hear his racing heart... oh man he's going to be embarrassed if Ichigo could hear it. Ichigo's charm knows no bounds...]

Is that... something you would enjoy?

[oncealifetime]

[Ichigo does hear his heart, but he isn’t aware that it’s racing. All he knows is that he rather likes being able to hear Mitsutada’s heart.]

Yes, I enjoy it... very very much.

[Have a nuzzle~ ♥]

[candlestickslayer]

Then... Sensei would happily give you more lessons on your own when you have some free time.

[ He tilts his head up, trying to hide just how pink his cheeks were turning from this sudden affections. Well.. are they really sudden though? ]

[oncealifetime]

[He looks up with another one of his bright smiles.]

I really look forward to that!

[He has been showing you affection all day, Mitsutada... also, why aren’t you looking at him?

Mitsutada-sensei, is something wrong...?

[candlestickslayer]

Not at all. Why do you ask?

[ That question pulls him back down to look at Ichigo again. That worried expression on his face... He frowned thoughtfully and moved a hand up to cup the side of his face. ]

[oncealifetime]

[Ichigo naturally leans into his hand.]

You looked a little troubled just now...

[candlestickslayer]

I'm not troubled, I can promise you that.

[ His thumb idly strokes his cheek as he smiles at Ichigo. ]

I didn't mean to worry you though.

[oncealifetime]

[He closes his eyes at the light touches then shakes his head.]

It’s all right. We’d better finish up here before someone else has to use the kitchen.

[candlestickslayer]

[ He leaned down a little to meet Ichigo, pressing his forehead against his. ]

Alright... There's not much left we need to do so we can finish this up quickly.

[oncealifetime]

[That intimate gesture made Ichigo feel a little shy. It did consider that perhaps he should move away but he found that he couldn’t. He did manage to suppress the urge to close the gap between them and kiss Mitsutada though.]

I-I’ll go make the tea then...

[And he began to move away.]

[candlestickslayer]

Sounds like a good plan.

[ He smiled as Ichigo started pulling away, letting his hands linger for just a moment longer before finally starting to finish up with plating and everything, and cleaning up the mess that was left from the used bowls. ]

[oncealifetime]

[Ichigo went about gathering all the tea things, but he was having trouble finding the actual tea leaves. He finally spotted a can in the far corner of a top shelf, just out of reach. Just one of the disadvantages of being shortened. He stretched as far as he could on tiptoe, his yukata riding up and loosening a bit as he did so, but could only just touch the can of tea leaves with the tips of his fingers...]

[candlestickslayer]

[ He was almost finished getting the area cleaned up when he glanced to the side, seeing Ichigo reaching up as high as he could. He had to bite bottom lip to keep himself from laughing, because it was honestly too cute to see him trying this hard.

He couldn't let him struggle that long though, so quietly he moves behind Ichigo and grabs him by the waist to help lift him up. ]

[oncealifetime]

[Ichigo was starting to feel quite frustrated with how that stubborn can just kept slipping away from his fingers. It was so close yet so hard away. Who the hell put that can up there in the first place?? He considered climbing up the cabinets. But that probably wouldn't be safe.. No, maybe he should go look for a stool-

That was when he felt himself being lifted off the ground! He froze for a moment, not sure what was going on. Then he looked around and was immediately a little flustered by what was going on.]

Mi-Mitsutada... you don't need to- I can go get a stool...

[candlestickslayer]

A stool might have been a good idea, but Sada-chan is borrowing it at the moment. What he's up to I'm not really certain...

[ Was he telling the truth, or was he telling a clever little lie, just to be able to boost Ichigo up like this?

... it was the truth. Mitsutada wasn't a man known for lying. It just so happened that it worked in his favor a little, not that he'd say that out loud. ]

[oncealifetime]

... he has...?

[He wondered if that was the truth... But surely Mitsutada wouldn't lie to him. He didn't seem like the type to lie.]

I see.

[He reached out to get the tea and held it close.]

You... can put me down now.