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As spring turned to summer, the citadel looked the same as always. Same pathways, same walls, same trees, all under the same blue sky. Yasusada wasn't sure why he expected any different. It had only been a few days here, after all. But the air at the citadel always tasted different after returning from the past– sharp somehow, layered with the fragrance of flowers he could never remember the names for. He stood at the gate, taking it in.
“Did you forget you were coming home and overslept? You look like you just rolled out of bed.” A familiar voice was behind him, somehow. Its owner was leaning on the gate, apparently awaiting his return.
Yasusada spun around in a flurry of blue and white, a smiling sky. “Whatever you want to believe. But I didn't forget that I would see you again soon, Kiyomitsu.”
His partner choked at the casual statement. “Aruji, send him back, he's clearly not done yet!” he cried out to their master waiting inside. “Seriously, you still say weird things, and where are your pants?”
Yasusada ignored that last comment in favor of rummaging through his bag and pulling out something red. “Here. You wanted me to keep it safe, right?”
“You were meant to wear it, but... thanks.” Kiyomitsu seemed relieved to have his own scarf back. He unwound the white one from his neck. “I noticed a few tiny stains, but they wouldn't come out, so I covered them up. I thought you would come back fancier like the rest of us, but this will have to be enough.” Looking closely, a few spots where Yasusada vaguely recalled there being stains had been hidden under white-on-white embroidered flowers. It was clearly done with a delicate touch.
He ran his fingers over the flowers as he donned the scarf. The knots of thread felt solid beneath his touch. It shouldn't have surprised him, but the thoughtful gesture warmed his heart nonetheless. “Thanks. You must have worked hard on this.”
“I wanted to make sure you had something to come back to,” Kashuu murmured in his usual defensive over nothing tone. “So... how are you feeling? How was it?”
Throwing his arms wide and spinning a bit to show off, Yasusada answered, “I feel great! It's like I took out my brain and dusted it off.”
“You would have a layer of dust on your brain, wouldn't you?” Kiyomitsu quipped back. “But really, you worked things out?”
It was good to be home, Yasusada decided. Home was where his future was. Where his friends were. Where his new master was. And–
He smiled. “Yep. That person is a part of my past. We're fighting for the future now. I'm Aruji's sword now. And, um...”
“And? Did the demon cat get your tongue?” Those red eyes bore down on him like a sniper's laser out of a movie.
“And it's harder to say the things you call embarrassing, that's what.” Yasusada sighed, face flushing. “And I'm your partner, 100 percent. No more choosing between the past and future... it's just you.”
Kashuu had braced himself for something like that, so he only laughed. “Of course we're partners. We always have been. What is this, a confession?”
“And what if it is?” Yasusada said seriously.
His partner, his counterpart, his other half, froze. “Then, then... Then you're terrible, playing with me like that! Saying that sort of thing when you know we have to go meet with Aruji in just a minute! Don't mess around with those words.”
“I'm serious, though!” he countered. “You're someone who always wants to be loved, so... I'm offering.”
Even quick-witted Kiyomitsu was struck silent, lips parted in a state of shock. It was a long enough pause to make Yasusada nervous. But even then, he said nothing, only gently took his returning partner's hand and entwined their fingers. His hands were soft as ever, save a faint ridge of calluses.
Without words, Yasusada still understood. There are some things that take a while to be able to say out loud, but they're always there. Squeezing Kiyomitsu's hand back, he said, “Don't worry about it right now. Let's go tell Aruji I'm home.”
And in this citadel that was the same as always, nothing had really changed.