minutemen | 6 ❀ Summer Citadel

6 ❀ Summer Citadel

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.

Izuminokami nods in agreement with a cheerful little sound slipping out.

"So many things we get to experience like this that even our own masters wouldn't have dreamed to exist. We have to enjoy them to the fullest in their honor, don't you think so?"

Tonbokiri can't turn his head, and he learnt his lesson about even nodding, but he is quick express his agreement.

"Yes, I feel so as well. I would not have the title of one of the Three Great Spears if not for Tadakatsu, and therefore not be here at all. Everything I can experience now is thanks to him and Aruji."

His combing stopped for a moment as he listened to Tonbokiri's words, a fond smile forming on his lips. Tonbokiri truly was an amazing man with one one of the bigger hearts he's ever seen before.

"and if it weren't for my master and Aruji... I wouldn't be here to get to learn more about you and the others. I think I would be quite full of regrets if things were different."

"Haha, I know what you mean." He tilts his head slightly. "...But if we were still physically swords, we could not feel regret."

That wasn't the point, Tonbokiri! He was being poetic! There was a tiny huff from behind and then suddenly he just starts laughing. Don't mind him...

"I suppose you're right about that."

Tonbokiri wants to see Izuminokami's laughing face, so he risks messing up the combing to turn around and smile with him.

"I do understand, though. I am thankful we have these human forms and personalities and we can get to know each other. Let's experience lots of things." He smiles more broadly and echoes what Izuminokami had said earlier, "Enjoy them to the fullest."

Hearing his words echoed back to him flusters him a little bit, but that smile of his still remains. He stops the combing again, so he could reach out and give Tonbokiri's shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"And let us experience more new things together, my friend."

Out of context that might sound like a love confession, but honestly, Izuminokami valued loyalty and friendship to no end, and wanting to experience new things with his friends is just a feeling that comes naturally to him.

Tonbokiri (of course) takes that statement in a straight-forward way.
He turns further to give Izuminokami's shoulder a firm squeeze in return. His eyes are shining with pride, although his cheeks warm bashfully at being called 'friend'. Especially since he learned earlier what it means to Izuminokami.

"Friend... I will do my best to be worthy of the honour of that title."

It was Izuminokami's turn to look rather flustered. He should have known that Tonbokiri would take his words very seriously, but hearing him say this with that sparkle in his eyes, it was almost too much. He might not be as tsun about feelings as Kashuu was, but it still really got to him.

He glanced off to the side, knowing full well how red his face must look right now.

"As if you need to do anything."

Tonbokiri is a serious spear, but he can pull off a little teasing every now and then. He takes advantage of Izuminokami glancing away by affecting a serious and worried tone that is belied by his soft smile.

"I don't? But... you said we'd experience things together. I can't very well do that by doing nothing."

Not that Tonbokiri was out to make Izuminokami flustered, but he will admit to himself that it's a little satisfying to turn some of that back on the sword.
Especially since Izuminokami is the type that isn't good at acknowledging his own feelings at all.

He sputters a little and tries to hide his face even more. Curse Tonbokiri for doing such a fine job on his hair! He can't use that mass amount of hair to hide his face now from this embarrassing feeling he had now. He couldn't even scold the other sword when he was so honest and genuine it was hard to tell if he was actually teasing or not..!

"Th-that's not what I meant...!"

Is he going to make him say it?

Ohh, he made him sputter even? Tonbokiri had not thought to get such a reaction. He... must be hitting close to something Izuminokami actually cares a lot about.

So yes, even though there had been a little teasing in there, he'd also been speaking honestly. So he tilts his head so that he can try to show Izuminokami his calm and sincere expression as he says,

"I apologize. I see I have much to learn about being a friend. Would you tell me what did you mean?"

He didn't want to look. He didn't want to see that sincere look on his face because it'd only serve to make him even more flustered. If there was anyone in the citadel you could count on to always be truthful and kind with their words it'd be Tonbokiri...

Izuminokami turned his head away, trying to hide it as much as he could, despite the fact that his cheeks were burning red. His hands were still in Tonbokiri's hair, but the combing had stopped from his own embarrassment.

"You don't need to try to be worthy of my friendship because I already think very highly of you, okay..!"

Tonbokiri knew that already, in a way. But it is still amazing, and gratifying, to hear Izuminokami say it.
So he won't tease, nor say anything unnecessary. (He hopes.)

"Thank you for saying so. I take your words to heart."

And after giving a grateful smile (that Izuminokami may or may not see in his desperate attempts to hide), he turns his back towards Izuminokami once again, both giving the sword relief from being face-to-face with him, and to give him a chance to return to his task of combing his hair... once he regains his composure enough.
Tonbokiri will wait.

Even when he wasn't teasing the younger sword, Tonbokiri was really good at making him feel extremely embarrassed. Was it just an older sword thing?? Was Izuminokami just too easy??? No way, there was no way he was. He refused to believe that...!

He takes a few deep breaths to try and regain his composure, and finally when he feels like he won't explode from embarrassment he starts to comb his hair once more.

(You can believe whatever you wish, Izuminokami. It is part of your charm.)

Tonbokiri feels somewhat reassured when Izuminokami resumes combing. Being able to regain his composure quickly- that's the unit Captain for you.

He'd like to compliment Izuminokami to bolster his confidence, but at this point, it might just set the sword back to being embarrassed instead.

So he just sits silently, getting slowly drawn back into enjoying the feeling of having his hair combed. The only trouble is that, as he'd warned, he might eventually fall asleep if they don't keep talking.

He fell silent for a few minutes, just concentrating on his hair for the most part. He whispers an apology when his nails get close to his scalp again, so he could probably gather up his hair and slowly he starts to braid it with gentle touches.

"In a strange way, I feel like this is something we should do more often..."

Tonbokiri hums drowsily in response to the whispered apology. His fingers do feel good, but at least it doesn't catch him by surprise or make him react the same way again.

His head nods forward as he relaxes further, but Izuminokami's voice rouses him.

"Mm, do you? Combing each other's hair?"

"Mmm. I always feel like I'm being such a pain whenever Kunihiro does my hair, since he already does so much. And his isn't long enough for me to return the favor either. But you seem to enjoy it not to mention your hair is so thick and nice," he murmured softly.

In a strange way it was almost like combing Tonbokiri's hair had a strange calming effect for him. Like he was brought into another zone.

It is a little difficult to catch all of Izuminokami's murmurs, so he turns his head, and belatedly pauses when he realizes that he might have messed up whatever he's doing.

"Ah... My apologies." He stays turned as he is for now, though. "Perhaps Kunihiro-dono appreciates the time spent with you, no matter how busy he might be. However, should you wish, it would be my honour to comb out your hair again. Although, I hope that the heat will abate enough that you won't have to tie it up for much longer. And... in turn, I would not mind if you returned the favour... As you say, it is enjoyable..."

He smiles a bit to himself and finally he he starts to tie off the bottom of this lovely braid he was just finishing up with. And he should feel honored to know that Izuminokami snuck one of his own fancy hair ties out just to tie it up for him.

"I like the sound of that."

"It is a promise, then."

It feels like his hair has somehow gotten shorter, so Tonbokiri is getting a bit anxious to see what Izuminokami has done.

"Have you finished?"

He gives a sound of acknowledgment, but instead of moving around, Izuminokami decided he didn't feel like getting up, so instead he reached around Tonbokiri to hand him back the same mirror he was given earlier.

"I think I did a wonderful job. The braid isn't too tightly done so you won't feel your hair pulling on anything."

So proud, Izuminokami.
Yet Tonbokiri does agree, it's a nicely done braid. He takes the mirror to glance at how it looks, which is not too different from the front. So he then pulls his hair over his shoulder to finger at it. He misses the feeling of his loose hair, but this is a nice sensation as well.
He then notices the ribbon.

"It is well done. My thanks. But... are you all right leaving me with your ribbon?"

Come to think of it-- with his hair ties in Izuminokami's hair, and Izuminokami's in his... Is that weird?

"Red is a nice color on you. I don't see why I would have a problem with it."

He didn't see anything weird about it, but then again Tonbokiri was the one who shared his own hair tie first. He just assumed it was Tonbokiri's way of showing his own bit of friendship.

"Now how do you like it?"

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