[007] - [Text]

[wavesoakedlegs]

More familiar names belonging to unfamiliar people, from worlds both extremely close and very far in nature from the one I know. I do not think it is something one could ever get completely used to.

Sometimes I wonder if-

[And at that point Mitsuhide trails off, leaving little dots of ink after his last words, because without really thinking about it he has pulled a certain sweet from the bowl that has appeared in the Koumyou's island camp. Distraction makes the magical urge to do so very hard to resist; it makes the urge to obey the heart-shaped sweet's message even harder to ignore.]

[So a few moments later, Mitsuhide adds, in a slightly less neat kind of script:]

Lord Motochika, I love you.

[...yeah, he's just going to leave it there. Whatever he was going to say beforehand has been unsurprisingly washed from his mind by sheer embarrassment.]

Comments

[Action]

[aidreamofsenpai]

[Somewhere near - but not quite inside - the camp, there is giggling. A lot of it.]

[Action]

[wavesoakedlegs]

[Mitsuhide doesn't look over at the place from whence that giggling came, because he is too busy burying his face in his hands. He does say something, however:]

Must you?

[The samurai sounds utterly mortified. WHY?]

[aidreamofsenpai]

[Aiichiro peeks out from behind a tree, and he bites back more laughter when he realizes just how upset Mitsuhide is. He creeps forward into the camp proper, looking a little like he might turn and run any second.]

I-I think it's sweet.

[wavesoakedlegs]

[If it wasn't for one fact, Mitsuhide would be 'merely' highly embarrassed rather than upset. Instead he looks at Aiichiro between his fingers, and mumbles:]

I have not said it to his face yet.

[Saying it to everyone before he said it privately to his lover was... not good, in his opinion.]

[Not that having done so would have made his cheeks any less red, but there you go.]

[aidreamofsenpai]

Oh.

[He turns that over in his mind a little. He knows, of course, but... how would he feel? Not that he'll ever likely have a lover, male or female, but... still. If it were someone he loved, how would he take it?]

Don't you think... he'll probably just be happy anyway? To know you feel that way for sure? If you feel bad about it, you can always say it to his face soon.

[wavesoakedlegs]

[Mitsuhide sighs, and drops his hands after a few moments. The samurai is clearly no less flustured, however; this isn't something he's going to be calm about for some time.]

I am certain he knows how I feel already. [He says softly.] And I am sure you sure you are right that he will be pleased anyway.

[The 'but' hangs in the air, though Mitsuhide doesn't vocalise. He's just a little disappointed that it happened this way.]

Thank you, Master Aiichiro.

[aidreamofsenpai]

I think anyone with eyes knows how you feel already.

[Aiichiro doesn't giggle again, to his credit. Instead, he reaches out and gently puts a hand on the man's shoulder.]

It will still be special. I promise! It's always special when you let someone know you care about them, whatever way it is.

[wavesoakedlegs]

I hope so.

[Mitsuhide rests his hands in his lap and curls his fingers against the fabric. He bites his lip, before asking something he really is quite curious about:]

Ah... am I that obvious?

[aidreamofsenpai]

Well...

[Aiichiro seats himself on the ground, thinking.]

I guess I didn't realize at first that it was that kind of love. But it was really clear how much you cared, and the other part... I realized after a while.

[wavesoakedlegs]

[Oh. Well, that's not really a surprise.]

Often I am told that my feelings play openly across my face, despite my best efforts to conceal them at times.

[Mitsuhide smiles a little awkwardly.]

So that must hold true when it comes to feelings of affection as well.

[aidreamofsenpai]

That's probably it.

[Pause.]

After all, I can tell you care about every other member of the crew too. Even when we're annoying. I think Mitsuhide-san is one of the most caring people I've ever met.

[wavesoakedlegs]

[Mitsuhide's air of awkwardness only seems to get stronger at Aiichiro's words. He raises a hand and strokes it through his fringe in a restless gesture.]

[Many have called the samurai's emotional heart his weakness; it certainly gives him a compassionate nature. It takes a few seconds for Mitsuhide to respond.]

...thank you.

[If he seems speechless, well. It's because he is. Mitsuhide is never especially good at taking compliments, and this one is especially meaningful to him. His care for the fate of others has defined his life.]

[aidreamofsenpai]

Mmhmm.

[Aiichiro shifts a little in his place, then reaches out for that bowl of candy idly, taking one of them and putting it in his mouth. He's not really thinking about it now, and he's not hungry. But it gives him something to do other than saying something that might embarrass Mitsuhide more.]

... these don't even really taste that good, do they?

[wavesoakedlegs]

[Straightening up and trying to shift aside the embarrassment, Mitsuhide is quite glad to go with Aiichiro's conversation change. For a moment, he forgets that it's highly likely those sweets are enchanted...]

No, not really.

[He chuckles, and shakes his head.]

They are almost chalk-like.

[aidreamofsenpai]

They are.

[He doesn't even quite realize what he's doing, when he pushes himself back up to his feet suddenly. His arms go around the older man in a sudden hug.]

I really think you're great, Mitsuhide-san.

[wavesoakedlegs]

[Mitsuhide is startled by that sudden embrace, and it's obvious that this is so when he tenses up. It almost came out of nowhere.]

Oh, I...

[Physical contact is always something he has a little trouble with, even when it's affectionate, but he makes the effort at relaxing. This is hardly something to get awkward about, after all.]

I am undeserving of such kind words, Master Aiichiro. You humble me deeply.

[aidreamofsenpai]

[Aiichiro doesn't say anything else, because that's really all he has to say. He doesn't think Mitsuhide is undeserving at all, but that's obvious, and arguing with him just seems wrong.

Instead, he gives in to the urge that the candy left him with, and presses his lips against Mitsuhide's cheek, softly.]

[wavesoakedlegs]

[That startles Mitsuhide even more; mortification rises quickly in his chest as his cheeks flush. That has to be those sweets. They have to be cursed, because this is unexplainable otherwise.]

[That doesn't make him feel any less embarrassed, though.]

Master Nitori?

[This is turning out to be a very strange day...]

[aidreamofsenpai]

Hmm?

[Aiichiro draws back from the kiss, smiling serenely at Mitsuhide.]

It just happened.

[Yet he doesn't feel weird about it at all. He pats gently at Mitsuhide's shoulder.]

Good luck with the captain. I'm going to go swim, okay?

[wavesoakedlegs]

['Just happened.' Goodness. Mitsuhide bows his head and is quiet for a moment, before offering Aiichiro an awkward smile.]

Of course.

[That really would be for the best, wouldn't it? Mitsuhide really does need to push this awkwardness aside and deal with the original issue, which is talking to Motochika about this.]

Enjoy yourself.

[aidreamofsenpai]

I will!

[Aiichiro bounces off, completely oblivious to any awkwardness.]