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

[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.

[candlestickslayer]

O-oh right...

[ He laughed sheepishly and slowly moves to set him down with a smile. ]

Perhaps I should invest in a second stool for the kitchen, huh?

[oncealifetime]

Probably... [He smiled back a little, but he couldn’t stop thinking about how easily Mitsutada lifted him up like that...! He kind of liked that?

Ichigo put the can down on the counter then turned around to straightened out his yukata. His obi was a bit loose. He should retie it. He could tie it himself but...]

Mitsutada. Could you help me with my obi? It’s too loose.

[candlestickslayer]

[ Ignoring the growing heat to his face, he gives a small nod and moved to reach around Ichigo so he could grab the fabric of the obi properly. ]

It really loosened up, didn't it...

[oncealifetime]

[Ichigo stood perfectly still as Mitsutada helped him.]

I’m afraid I’m better at tying it for others than tying it on myself...

[candlestickslayer]

I think that's normal. I can't tell you how many times I've had to tie and retie my own on the rare days that I wear a yukata. It's almost as if I've gotten out of practice with it or something.

[oncealifetime]

... I can help you tie it if you ever decide to wear one.

[candlestickslayer]

I wonder if I should wear one more often...

[ He was mostly wondering out loud to himself as he finishes tying up the Obi. ]

Ah... good. I think that's good.

[oncealifetime]

... I think you’ll look very cool in one.

[Ichigo moves around a bit to test it out.]

Yes, this is much better. Thank you, Mitsutada. Ah, is the mochi ready? [They have been steaming for quite a while now!]

[candlestickslayer]

Ah right..! It should be just perfect now.

[ Mitsutada rushes off to grab the mochi and plate them all on this nice big plate, being careful not to mess any of them up. ]

[oncealifetime]

[Ichigo watches him for a moment, then he starts making the tea.

Once again, he’s very focused on his task as he moves around gracefully. Like how MItsutada is concerned with looking cool, Ichigo strives to be graceful. First, he boils the water. Then he carefully measures out the tea leaves, checks the temperature of the boiled water and counts under his breath for the perfect amount of time the tea leaves should steep. Finally, he pours out two cups and thoughtfully examines the colour and smell of the tea. Yes, these are just right! He smiles to himself, very satisfied with his work.]

[candlestickslayer]

I'm rather impressed with your dedication.

[ He finds it rather cool in his own way that Ichigo would put this much effort into making tea.... He might have been peeking a few times. ]

[oncealifetime]

[That makes him feel quite bashful!]

Well, we had a lot of time back at the Imperial Collection to experiment with tea-making. This is my personal favourite. Would you like to try it?

[He hands him a cup.]

[candlestickslayer]

[ He smiles brightly and and reaches out for the cup, pressing it to his lips as he took a nice sip from it. Mmm, instantly he felt the warmth slip down his throat and the taste just made him melt a little. ]

A fine cup indeed...