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- I want you to help me make a cake for Urashima birthday! - said Hachisuka in half breath entering Kotetsus’ room.
It is not that they had real birthdays, that were more the anniversaries of the day they have come to the Citadel, but considering that most of them haven’t known exact date when they were crafted, and some were just a legends, it was the best they could chose.
Since the day they were summoned was also the day when they got the humanoid bodies, it was their birthday of a kind. Their birthday as a sword warriors.
Nagasone Kotetsu, or the Fake as Hachisuka always called him, was completely shocked. That was something he haven’t expected at all. Fortunately he haven’t been eating or drinking in that time or he would probably choked.
- You want MY help? - was the only thing he has managed to say.
Their relation was complete opposite of what the most of the citadel and their younger brother thought, but Hachisuka never liked asking for help, especially asking the Fake for help. Nagasone even thought that he wouldn’t ask him for help even if his life was at stake, but for Urashima… yes, puting Urashima into equation was changing everything.
They younger brother wanted them to get along more than anything and Hachisuka would do anything for him. Sometimes, Nagasone thought, Hachisuka was acting more like Urashima’s mother more than the older brother.
- Urashima would like for you to be included, and it is his birthday… Not that the Fake can be much of a help…
- Right. What are you planning and what do you need me to do? - said Nagasone still visibly confused, - also how do you plan to make a cake when Master has forbid you from entering the kitchen? You do remember how you’re last attempt at cooking has finished?
- I am not completely forbidden! I can still can go in with supervisor.
As a first sword in the CItadel, Hachisuka had done some cooking in the beginning, but luckily Horikawa Kunihiro cam only few days later, before Hachisuka has managed to poison himself and tantous, Gokotai’s tigers included. The taste of the food was so terrible that the tigers still run away when they see food in Hachisuka hands.
It is not that Hachisuka was interested in cooking. He was very relieved when Horikawa came and took over the kitchen. But when Urashima finally appeared in the Citadel after so long it made Hachisuka wanting to prepare something for his cute little brother himself. And of course even though Kasen Kanesada and Horikawa Kunihiro are both his friends in the Citadel he decided to ask neither for help wich resulted in disaster. Hachisuka has managed to fully burn the kitchen and only the quick reaction from Master and other sword has save the Citadel for following.
- So, you can be my supervisor and we can make the cake for Urashima together, - Hachisuka explained.
- Wouldn’t someone who can actually cook be more helpful than me?
- Urashima would prefered the cake from us, then from from someone who can actually cook, and anyway I have been learning to cook lately…
- Right. When did you plan for us to work on cake?
- Tomorrow night. Remember this is supposed to be surprise so keep it quiet.
- Tomorrow night then it is.
Time passed fast and tomorrow night found two Kotetsus, the Real and the Fake, in the kitchen trying to make the birthday cake.
It couldn’t be said that Hachisuka haven’t learned anything from past mistakes. Especially that there were no way to succeed in making something complicated. This time he has chosen something simple. But even that wasn’t easy as he thought it will be.
- Are you sure you are doing everything right? - asked Nagasone quite worried.
- I’ve been following the recipe to the letter and it still not solid enough. - replied Hachisuka, very irritated. - Instead of asking you should do something, it is failing.
- Let me mix it bit more then we will put it in a freezer for a short time and hope it will make it solid enough to form the cake and put it into the fridge.
- If your plan don’t work we won’t have the cake for Urashima’s party and I bet he was looking forward to it.
- If my plan don’t work we will put it as dessert in bowls. You succeeded to make it taste good this time.
- I did? So the months of cooking classes with Kasen have payed off? I haven’t tortured myself for nothing?
- Yes it taste good and if it all work right we might just have the cake.
And it worked. In the end after lot of hours of work sometime in the middle of night the cake was done and put in the fridge for the party. Two very tired Kotetsu have returned to the room they shared happy to find Urashima there sound asleep.
Tomorrow morning still found them tired, but party had to be prepared without Urashima finding out about it, so the whole day was them trying to put the party decorations and distracting Urashima from going to dining hall. Only at dinner time decorations were revealed and surprise was successful.
Urashima was even more surprised to find out his brothers made cake together and especially surprised that it was Hachisuka’s idea. He loved the cakes, and happily shared it with everyone. Everyone stayed long into the night having fun, and in the and when Urashima and others went to sleep, two big Kotetsus left last to clean a bit.
- We can leave the rest for tomorrow, let's relax a bit,- said Nagasone.
Hachisuka accepted without words. After very little sleep yesterday night he haven't had much strength left in him.
They quietly sat on the porch and watched night sky. Nagasone put his arm around Hachisuka who put his arm around Nagasone’s back and put his head on Nagasone shoulder. Nagasone softly kissed his hair.
- He was so happy about the cake, that we did it together, - he started.
- Knew that he will be, that is why I invited you… and it was nostalgic working with you again. After all these months we spent working in the fields it felt strange when Mater stop sending us.
- I miss our times alone, too, sometimes. Maybe we should have told Urashima about us as a present for his birthday?
- And have him make me be nice to you all the time, Fake? There is no chance for that - shouted Hachisuka, and then softly added - We’ll do it for his next birthday. Until then we’ll play hide and seek all over the Citadel. You have to admit it has it charm.