Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"What do birds do when they are alone? Do they sing songs of solitude? Or do they not do anything at all? Stuck in a stagnation, mind running amock endlessly with no solution in sight?"

Gorou looked up from the dango he was munching to his partner. Kazuha was holding a small cup of fragrant tea. His head was raised to the clear orange sky. Ruby eyes were filled with some kind of a nostalgic look. Lush sakura trees formed an artificial cloud behind his head as golden sunlight seeped through tiny gaps among the pink blooms.

"Why the sudden question?" Gorou asked out of curiosity.

The samurai darted his eyes to him. The light that afternoon polished his face with twinkling dusk stars

"Has it not been a curious thought for you, dear general?" He put the cup down and folded both arms on the table. "Birds always sing and stay in a big group. But one of these days, a poor little individual could get lost in the sea of people—fascinated by humans and other creatures. At first, it enjoys the new surroundings. When it does realize that the place it is currently being stuck in is not its  home, what do you think it will feel?"

"Maybe lonely?" The canine general took Kazuha's share of tri-color dango and bit the pink glutinous ball.

It was supposed to be a romantic welcome feast between the two as Kazuha had just returned from Liyue. Gorou took him to Amakane Island, thinking that this pretty poet would love the sight of blooming sakura and enjoy Inazuman snacks.

"Yes, and what do you think it will do?" Kazuha sipped his tea with that elegance of his—it never ceased to amaze Gorou how this young man behaved almost like a prince. But then again, maybe he was truly a prince.

"I think it will return to its group." The brunette kept munching on his snack. The sun was gliding to the west, leaving a trace of golden on the round table they were occupying. The porcelain teapot in the middle of the table obstructed the light, creating a similar shadow on the tusk-white surface.

"What if it cannot find its group?"

Gorou raised an eyebrow. "You're asking so many questions today. I wonder if you do this while on The Alcor, too."

Kazuha giggled—his voice sounded like chiming tiny bells made of glass. "Just answer it, won't you? I'd like to know that creative side of yours."

"Alright. I think I got the answer for that one question." He gulped down the rest of his own warm tea. Wiping his lips, he said, "The lonely bird will fly back to its nest."

Kazuha nodded. "Because?"

"Because it wants to return home—a bird's home is its nest, right?" Gorou scratched his left ear. "Because it misses its family, or its partner, or friend. Because it knows that those important to it will always wait for its return at home. So it won't feel lonely anymore."

"Yes."

"You don't add any more questions to my answer?"

"You got it right. I do not need to ask again."

Gorou blinked a few times and rubbed the back of his neck. "And what's this all about? I'm kinda not following here."

Kazuha squeezed his eyes shut, looked up, and whispered, "'I've missed you' is what I'm trying to imply."

"Oh." Gorou exhaled. And it snapped him. "OH!!"

"Did I get you there?" Kazuha smiled a little, then leaned closer to his partner. Head rested on the general's right shoulder. "I always like that late expression of yours, dear general. So cute."

"Why didn't you just say it in the first place? All that cryptic you said kinda confused me—but I love it! Don't get me wrong!" Gorou chuckled awkwardly. "I've missed you, too, you know?"

"Then stay here with me until stars take over the sky."

"Sure!" He glanced at the samurai whose eyes were closed. The smile hadn't faded from those beautiful lips. Gorou felt a tickle in his heart, and a fire was creeping up his cheeks. He squeezed Kazuha's left hand, tracing his delicate knuckles. "Can I kiss you?"

Kazuha didn't answer. Instead, he moved a little, and escaped from Gorou's side. The young man left the table and skipped a little forward, facing the glorious orange sky and the ever-sinking sun. He turned around, facing his partner and spread both hands. Birds floated behind his back, creating a massive colorful curtain that matched the falling sakura blooms.

"Join me, general!" His words were accompanied by a rare, wide smile. "Feel the wind and be one with nature!"

Gorou felt his cheeks heat up. For a second just now, he thought Kazuha just grew a pair of wings on his back. This one person always seemed to be able to amaze him. Even with the slightest thing he does, with every questionable word that comes out of his pretty mouth, Kazuha is always a sight to see and to be with.

"You're… unique." Gorou crooked a smile. "But that's why I love you."

Slowly, Gorou removed himself from the chair and joined Kazuha. Basking in the warm sun, he yawned and stretched. Kazuha giggled, before holding his right arm and planting a light kiss on his cheek.

"Even if a bird ever feels lonely," he started, "it always has a place to come home to."

"Yeah." Gorou kissed his partner's forehead. "You are that bird."

"And you are my home."

Chapter Text

After a long time, reading a poem under a clear sky and being caressed by the cool breeze felt like a luxurious relaxation he had longed for. Kazuha closed his eyes, feeling the sweat that had been rolling down his neck being gently swept away by the wind.  Sticky and tangled hair was now fluttered to the back of his head. The young man opened his eyes again and focused on the small book in one hand. The words written on each page now feel more alive than a moment ago.

 “Gee, I don't know how to read this. I mean, how do you make a sound out of this?”

 Kazuha looked down at the young man lying on his lap with his face blocked by a book. His partner was observing the book intensely—even though Kazuha was sure the way he read it would make his eyes hurt. His right ear twitched while the wind played with his brown fur.

 "Which part did you read, Gorou?"  asked Kazuha, setting the book to the side of the bench where they were lazing around. The breeze created a gentle rustle as it passed through the gaps in the surrounding bushes.

 "This. Frog jumps. A splash. Why doesn't it say what it sounds like?"  Now, Gorou's ears twitched alternately. "Does it sound like a plain splash? Or boom? It could be that the frog is fat, so when it jumps into the water, it creates an explosion. Okay, don't laugh. I really don't understand."

 "It doesn't sound like that, my dear general." Kazuha stroked Gorou's ear lazily. 

 "Oh? Then?" Gorou lowered the book to his chest, so now they were looking at each other. He grinned widely, making his hydrangea-blue eyes sparkle with the glitter of magic stars. "Does it sound like 'I love you'?"

 Kazuha laughed softly. "There's no sound at all, Gorou."

 "Huh? Seriously?”

 "You don't need to read the sound.  Everything happens in your… subconsciousness.”

 "I don't get it."

 "The more you read, the more you'll understand."

 "Okay." The pointy-eared youth rolled over slightly, then wrapped his arms around Kazuha's waist. His face was buried into the blonde samurai's stomach. “Kazuha, you smell good. Like the scent of autumn leaves.”

 Gorou's hair and ears tickled the skin beneath the clothing material.  Kazuha stroked his partner's head, letting the thick brown strands slip between his fingers.

 "Don't want to read the poem anymore?" he asked, still rubbing Gorou's head.

 "I'll continue later. My head hurts."  The young man tightened his embrace, almost squeezing. “Your hobby is still new to me. You know, I'm not poetic and all. I use my muscles more than my brain.”

 A few hours ago, they visited Inazuma City for a walk. While passing by Yae Publishing House, Kazuha stopped by to buy a new collection of poems. He never expected that Gorou would suddenly be interested in learning his hobby and bought the same book as Kazuha. He said he wanted to be good at reading poems like Kazuha and maybe write his own one day. To Kazuha, it was one of the sweetest expressions he had ever heard from Gorou.

 "Knowing that you want to learn my hobby makes me very happy, dear." A smile stretched across Kazuha's lips.  "Want to hear me read a poem?"

 "If that means I can continue to lie on your lap, of course."

 Kazuha cleared his throat softly, then, “Solitary cloud. Shadow in the setting sun. Stir the drifter's heart."

 Gorou rolled over again, now lying on his back. One hand touched Kazuha's cheek. "Beautiful.  Whatever you say, it always sounds beautiful."

 Kazuha's cheeks felt hot. "Are you teasing me?"

 “When am I not? You're so cute, especially when you blush."

 Kazuha looked away, because his face was boiling completely.

 “Oh! I have an idea!" Gorou slowly got up from Kazuha's lap, letting the book that was on his chest roll down into his lap. He shifted slightly, and held both of Kazuha's cheeks while bringing their faces closer. “Want to go mountain climbing with me tomorrow? After reaching the top, we can continue reading the poem! Cool idea, right?”

 “Learning the hobby of a loved one is always fun. The more we understand each other, the better." Kazuha nodded. "Of course I'll go with you."

 Gorou moved both hands to Kazuha's shoulders, staring at the ponytailed youth from an arm's length. His eyes sparkled. Fluffy brown tail wagging, representing the joy in his tone. "Seriously? You wanna climb the mountain with me?  Even if you have to get up before the roosters?”

 Kazuha smiled. "Why not? Because what I need today and forever is to be with you.”

 Gorou's face was a perfect red. He lifted one of Kazuha's hands, kissed his knuckles, and rubbed it against his cheek. "I'm so lucky to have you."

 Kazuha replied with another smile and a laugh as tiny as the ringing of a bell.

 The wind is still blowing. At the same time, Kazuha read some more poems and Gorou lay his head on his thighs again. One hand stroked Gorou's head lovingly, until the brunette was lulled and snored softly. Gorou's peaceful face, his steady breathing, and the random words he said while sleeping were all like happiness for Kazuha. Understanding him and being understood by him was a blessing that he would never cease to be grateful for.

Chapter Text

Dinner

"Are you listening?"

Gorou flinched. Quickly, he turned from the rice bowl in hand to Kazuha's face. His voice was low with shame. "Sorry. What were you saying?"

A faint smile appeared on Kazuha's lips. The young man put down his chopsticks on the side of a bowl. "Honey, what are you thinking?"

"Ah… Nothing, really."

Kazuha laughed softly. He got up a bit, holding the right sleeve of his kimono with left hand, and grabbed another small bowl from the side of the table. The small bowl was transferred to the left hand, then his right hand scooped some stir-fried meat from another bowl.

"You're not good at lying, Gorou." The samurai in red kimono set aside some chopped peppers in the bowl, placing them in his own. "I know when you don't listen to me it's a sign that something's on your mind."

Gorou laughed awkwardly. "I can't hide anything from you, can I?"

Kazuha placed the bowl full of soy sauce meat in front of his partner. "Wanna tell me about it?"

"Well, so, this afternoon we had a meeting," Gorou started as he grabbed a piece of meat with chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth. "Then, there's this new kid who… How should I put it? He didn't seem to understand what he'd been doing all this time! He was always confused when I asked him! It wasn't that hard—I swear! This kid was driving me crazy! If it weren't for—"

"Honey. Honey, listen," Kazuha interrupted in a soft, tender voice. One hand touched Gorou's hand.

Gorou glanced at his partner's garnet eyes. Those eyes are always calm and soothing. Just looking at them made Gorou almost forget his outburst of anger just now.

"Gorou, maybe for you, the job is easy, but you have to see it from the new kid's point of view," Kazuha said as soft as ever. "I'm sure you understand, don't you? You're far more experienced than I am. You also said, you've been in his position before."

"Uh, yeah. Um…" Words disappeared from Gorou's throat. He didn't know what kind of magic Kazuha possessed. Whatever he said always sounded reassuring and right. He looked straight into Kazuha's eyes, letting himself be immersed in his beauty.

"When you were in his position and found a dead end, who helped you?" Kazuha's question was accompanied by a gentle squeeze on Gorou's hand.

"The former general. The one before me." Gorou's cheeks felt hot as he squeezed back his partner's hand.

"And that means?"

"I have to help the new kid. Because I'm the general now."

Kazuha smiled widely. "Precisely!"

As if a bell was ringing inside his head, Gorou jumped slowly in his seat. He turned to face Kazuha, clasping both of his hands in front of their faces.

"I know why I was upset!" he exclaimed. "I was upset because I scolded the new kid instead of helping him. Yeah! That's what I've been thinking for a long time! I mean, I should have helped him! He's my subordinate—my responsibility."

Kazuha nodded.

"I'll see him tomorrow, and I'll take him to lunch! Then, I can help him finish any job.”

"That's right! That's my Gorou!"

"Kazuha! Thank you!" The general hugged his lover tightly. Hot cheeks rubbing against each other. Kazuha's white hair tickled his neck. His heart was lighter and his mind was clearer. Gorou made a mental note: If he's agitated, Kazuha is the one he should go for help. After all, Kazuha was his savior.

"Are you done?" Kazuha giggled softly. "The dinner's getting cold."

"Almost forgot!" Gorou freed him. His eyes lit up and he felt much more excited. "What did you ask? Before all this."

"I was asking if you'd like some more meat and peppers? But since you were in a bad mood, I had put aside the peppers you don't really like." The blonde picked up a piece of meat with chopsticks, then guided it to Gorou's mouth. "Open your mouth!"

Gorou complied. He said while chewing, "I love your cooking! But why does it have peppers? I don't like it!"

"You should eat some vegetables every now and then, honey."

"But I don't like it," Gorou grumbled with his lips pushed up like a spoiled toddler to his mother.

A soft laugh escaped Kazuha's mouth. "Alright, don't be grumpy now, mister. Tomorrow, you have to meet that new recruit."

"Okie-dokie, Boss!"

***

Kazuha carried a bamboo basket filled with fresh radishes. The fertilization program that has been implemented a while ago has yielded good results! Watatsumi is not as barren as it used to be. With these radishes, Kazuha planned to cook stir-fried radishes and tofu for dinner. Gorou should eat vegetables too. He can't just eat meat all the time.

"Kaedehara!"

He turned to a Sangonomiya soldier who had just called his name. "Oh. Hello?"

The young man was tall and thin. His face shone like the faces of new recruits who were in high spirits. There was something in his left hand. Like a food box wrapped in pink cloth. Kazuha didn't even have time to say anything, when the soldier bowed deeply.

"Ah? What is it about?" asked Kazuha, tilting his head.

The soldier stood up straight again and grinned awkwardly. "I-I just wanted to say thank you."

"Why?"

The smile on the young man's face widened. He rubbed the back of his head, and said, “General Gorou took me out for lunch earlier. Yesterday, he was really mad at me because I messed up the meeting, but today he was so nice! He helped me with many things. To me, General Gorou is like a big brother! Being able to eat with him and be helped by him is an honor in itself! The general also said that it was all thanks to you because you're the one who opened his eyes."

Kazuha's face reddened. His cheeks felt as hot as the scorching afternoon sun rolling to the west. "He said that?"

"Yes! So, as an expression of gratitude, I want to give you and General Gorou this." The soldier handed him the cloth-lined box he had brought with him. "It's made by my mother. Hope it's to you and General Gorou's liking. I-I was going to give it directly to the general, but I was embarrassed…”

Kazuha received the box with one hand. "You are so kind. Thank you very much! I'm sure Gorou will like it. Please convey our thanks to your mother as well.”

The young man's face shone as bright as the sun. He bowed again and said many thank yous, before running towards the camp. Kazuha exhaled slowly. Knowing Gorou was surrounded by good people like that made his heart relieved.

Kazuha returned home quickly. In the kitchen, he washes the radishes and diced them into chunks with white tofu. The radish pieces were put in a steel pot, water was added, and then a fire was lit. Gorou liked sweet food, so Kazuha added a lot of soy sauce and a spoonful of sugar along with the tofu. Sometimes, Gorou's hobby of eating sweets worries him, but if he can balance it with other ingredients and flavor-neutralizing drinks like green tea, it shouldn't be a problem. Once the main dish was done, Kazuha set the table. He also served the food the kind soldier gave him earlier.

The box contained daifuku, manju, and taiyaki. Gorou likes these sweet foods. The soldier seemed to really idolize Gorou to the point of carefully considering what he would give the general.

"I'm home! Kazuha!” Gorou's loud voice came from the front porch. "Kazuha! What did you cook? It smells great!”

"Welcome back!" greeted Kazuha when Gorou who was still in full uniform appeared in the dining room. “I made some radish and tofu stew. No meat today."

"Hah? Seriously?” Gorou plopped down on his usual cushion. His eyes immediately caught the box of sweets between the plates and bowls of hot food. One hand spontaneously reached out to grab a daifuku, but Kazuha immediately slapped the nosy hand lightly.

"Hey! You haven't washed your hands yet!" he scolded.

"Sorry. Couldn't stand it. Sweets are always tempting.” Gorou giggled awkwardly. "Where did you buy them?"

"I didn't buy them." Kazuha sat with his legs crossed next to his partner, facing each other. “That soldier you scolded yesterday, he came to see me this afternoon and gave this to us. He said it was an expression of thanks to you for taking him to lunch and helping with his work."

"Hah?" Gorou gaped. "He gave us this because of that?"

Kazuha nodded. "He really idolizes you, Gorou."

A blush appeared on Gorou's cheeks. Ears twitched, tail wagged. "H-how come? I was just doing my job, right? After all, that was your idea. I just wanted to make that person happy.”

“That means, you have done everything very well!” Kazuha stroked Gorou's brown hair. "You should be proud!"

"I'm proud because I have you!" The general suddenly hugged Kazuha. His thick hair and fluffy ears brushed against sensitive skin. "If it weren't for you, this wouldn't happen!"

"Yes, yes." The samurai patted the uncovered part of Gorou's strong back. It was wet with sweat and sticky. "Now, you take a shower first. After that, we can have dinner."

"Kiss me first?" His pointy-eared partner showed his deadly puppy eyes. His lips were brought forward as if to emphasize his request just now.

"No. You haven't brushed your teeth yet."

"Oh... So sad." Gorou's ears flattened on the top of his head. His tail lay on the floor.

With one fist, Kazuha hid a laugh. Then, he shifted and kissed Gorou's cheek.

“There you go,” Kazuha whispered. "Now, go take a shower!"

“I-I'll be right back!” The nervous general jumped to his feet and skipped out of the dining room. “D-don't eat without me! Oh! The sweets too! Leave some for me!”

"Go take a shower!" Kazuha exclaimed while holding back a laugh.

"Okay!" Gorou replied loudly. His voice was blocked by walls and doors. "I love you!"

Kazuha let out a breath after the dining room was quiet again. Today was a very pleasant day, and it was multiplied because Gorou seemed happy. What else does he need besides the happiness of the person he loves the most? As long as he is happy, everything will be fine.

Chapter Text

Gorou arrived at the cafe in tatters—his turquoise blue jacket was covered in mud, thick brown hair sticking out here and there as if he had been electrocuted, and a bruise was on his cheek. Kazuha raised an eyebrow at the chaotic appearance of his best friend who was standing in the doorway.

 "What happened?" he asked.

 "Got into a fight," Gorou replied casually.

 "For real?" Kazuha glanced at the cafe window, finding that the morning sun was shining shyly and the city streets were still somewhat empty. "You got into a fight this early?"

 The boy with pointy ears made his way over to the low door that separated the counter and hall. He slammed his backpack into a plastic chair nearby and took off his jacket, then rubbed his already disheveled hair.

"That idiot Saburou challenged me earlier," he said, touching the bruise on his cheek.

 Kazuha took a deep breath. Hands were busy arranging plastic-wrapped bread in a wicker basket on the counter. "I've told you, Gorou. Just ignore your brother."

 "I know… But I can't just stand still, man! If I don't fight back, he'll keep bullying me! Just because I'm the youngest kid, he treats me like shit!"  Gorou growled. "Damned bastard! The guy is nuts! My other siblings aren't like him! Home feels like shit because of him!"

 "Gorou." Kazuha pulled a short clear glass from a shelf at the side of the basket. "Don't say that. You should be grateful that you have a house to go home to."

 Gorou didn't comment.

 Kazuha's eyes were focused on the coffee machine while one hand operated it expertly. "You also have siblings who brighten your days. You are lucky, Gorou."

 "Kazu..."  his friend whispered.

 Kazuha opened the fridge and took out a large box of vanilla ice cream.  Two scoops of ice cream were put into the glass. The glass of ice cream was placed under the espresso machine pipe. The strong aroma of coffee tickled his nose along with the evaporating smoke from the hot liquid.

 The barista glanced at his friend, smiled faintly. "Will you make up with your brother?"

 For a moment, Gorou was silent.  Then, he crossed his arms and cleared his throat loudly. His cheeks were flushed. "Well, because you told me so—yeah, I will. B-but! I still can't stay put if he keeps challenging me! I—"

 "Here! For you!" Kazuha handed his friend a cup of coffee mixed with vanilla ice cream. "Piccolo affogato! As you like!"

 Gorou stared at the glass in Kazuha's hand for a few seconds, blinking as if it was about to explode or something. Then, he wrapped his hands around Kazuha's, holding the glass together.

 "Kazuha, you always understand me better than myself," he said. His cheekbones were perfectly flushed like ripe strawberries. "Will you be my boyfriend?"

 Kazuha widened his eyes, then chuckled. "Gorou, are you drunk or what?"

 As if he had just realized his words, Gorou was startled a little on his spot. His hands were pulled back spontaneously, and Kazuha accidentally let go of the glass. The clear glass slid smoothly to the floor.

 Just before the fragile thing touched the floor, Gorou bent down and caught it with both hands.

 "Sorry! Sorry!" The young man raised the glass. Its contents were splattered everywhere, including on his trembling pale hands. Gorou's ears were softened like his thick brown tail.  "I-I was careless! I'll make it again for you!"

 Kazuha laughed softly. "Gorou, that coffee was for you! If you want to make more, make it for yourself. Not for me."

 The guy with the coffee-stained hands gawked. His face was getting redder.

 "Okay, okay! I'll help clean this up."  He was spinning on the spot, frantically searching for something.  The boy turned to a dry rag from the bottom shelf, picked it up hastily, then crouched down to clean up the spilled coffee on the floor.

 "Gorou, Gorou." Kazuha stifled a laugh as he watched his friend's tail wag like a fan. He crouched down in front of his friend, then patted Gorou's head gently. "You're kind, but sometimes you let your explosive emotions win."

 Gorou chuckled, still wiping the splatter on the floor. "Kokomi often says that too. I don't know why I'm like this, though."

 "Nevertheless, that's what makes you special," whispered Kazuha.  "That makes you who you are."

 "Yeah." Gorou's shoulders shook as he laughed softly.

 "Hey, let me do the cleaning. You go wash your hands, then treat the wound on your face."

 "Kazuha."

 Said boy looked up. Their eyes met. Gorou's gaze was serious and nervous, as if something was on his mind.

 "Kazuha," Gorou called again. "I will make you fall in love with me."

 Kazuha's heart skipped a beat.  His cheeks heated up, the back of his neck was cold.

 "So, wait for me," concluded Gorou.  His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, and Kazuha could swear it was the most reassuring look he had ever encountered.

 Kazuha replied with a nod and a gentle smile.

 ️🌟🍨🌟

 A glass of piccolo affogato was in the cafe's fridge that evening. There was Kazuha's name on the plastic cup, along with a short message. A smile grew on the blonde's lips. He took the drink out, read the message over and over, and decided never to throw the plastic cup away even when it was no longer usable.

 *･༓☾
 To: Kazuha
 You make me feel at home
 —🐶
 *˚⁺‧͙

Chapter Text

The pen in Gorou's hand leaked again. Black ink splotches spread across the ivory white parchment. The letters that had been painstakingly written were now completely smudged.

 "Ah! What the hell?!" The general growled as he put the darned pen aside. He lifted the parchment, flicking lightly in the hope that the splotches would magically disappear. "Of course, it doesn't. Is my brain damaged or what?"

 Gorou mashed the parchment hard into a ball, then threw it in the trash. The sliding door on the side of the bamboo basket opened just as the paper ball hit the bottom of the basket.

 "Oh? Busy, Gorou?" Kazuha looked at him from the doorway. There was a black tray in his hand. Two tall cups and a plate of snacks filled the tray.

 "I hate doing reports!" grumbled Gorou. One hand grabbed a new parchment from the pile on the right side of the table. The leaking pen was placed on the floor and a new pen was taken from the desk drawer. "Why do I have to do this too? I'm a fighter!"

 "Oh, dear, stop complaining!" scolded Kazuha who was sitting on his knees next to him, and placed the tray on the tatami-covered floor. He took a cup and handed it to his partner. "Here! Some tea might do good."

 Gorou giggled as he accepted the warm cup. "Thanks."

 "Mmm, what are you working at? Is there anything I can help you with?"

 From the top of the steaming cup, Gorou glanced at Kazuha seriously. Kazuha had no experience in this kind of office work—even for Gorou, who had been in this job for a long time, these tasks were enough to make his blood boil. However, the sincerity in the young man's ruby-colored eyes was hard to miss.

 "You can read me this." Gorou put the cup on the table, then took out a bundle of thin paper that was full of writing. "I'll make a report of what you read."

 Kazuha scanned the files. "Okay. Just read this?"

 "While feeding me."

 "What?"

 "You know, working with the brain makes me hungry faster than working with muscles. Besides, I can't eat while I'm writing, and I need a lot of nutrition while I'm working. What if I did something wrong? I'll have to start over—"

 "Okay, okay! I get it." Kazuha chuckled. One hand held the file, and the other hand grabbed a fried bean and stuffed it into Gorou's mouth.

 Gorou chewed quickly, for a salt-coated almond was already waiting to be devoured. "Slow down! What if I choke?"

 "Okay, here it says 'Migration of Anemo and Geo Specters around Bourou Village. Residents complain of waves of elements that go against the laws of nature.' Then..." Kazuha was still reading and his hand was still nimbly picking snack after snack to shove into Gorou's mouth. "You wrote it right, didn't you?"

 "Ih chan't whrite ifh yhou—" Gorou's words were cut off when a pea popped into his mouth. Fortunately, he quickly chewed and finally grabbed Kazuha's hand which was ready with another snack. "Enough! I'll eat it myself!"

 Kazuha giggled, stuffing the snack into his own mouth. "Let's continue. So, this Specter… Treasure Hoarders make use of them. The law that applies to this… Mmm, chapter 27 verse 9…"

 Kazuha's voice was like a wind chime in summer—soothing and too good to pass. Gorou took advantage of his attractive voice to increase his own morale. His ears twitched, bushy tail swept across the floor. Since he didn't have to read it himself, he could pick up the gist quickly and write it down. Now and then, he ate the snacks that Kazuha provided, drank tea, and nodded. The job didn't feel as hard as before.

 "The escort of imported goods from the outside Watatsumi..." Kazuha yawned. "It is hereby proposed to borrow at least a small team of Sangonomiya troops to oversee the import of textiles from Inazuma. Details of the goods sent along with the invoices are on the next page… Approval from General Gorou…"

 "I don't think you need that many troops." Gorou wrote on a new sheet of parchment. "Not approved. It is recommended to apply for a small-scale escort. Signed, General Gorou."

 Kazuha yawned again. "Next…"

 While Kazuha was reading, Gorou turned to him and put down the pen. His eyes were focused on the samurai's beautiful face. His light blonde hair was down today, sparkling like pure water. Kazuha's pale eyelashes flutter softly on his rosy cheeks. He is very gorgeous. Staring at him made Gorou almost kiss him.

 "You know, when we get married, we will often read reports together like this," he said spontaneously. "You do, don't you? I mean, marry me and all."

 Kazuha practically looked up from the file. His eyes widened. His blushing cheeks grew redder like little cookies on the plate.

 "Gorou," he said, slightly hoarse, "d-did you just propose to me?"

 One second passed. Two seconds, three seconds… Gorou felt his face turn as hot as a furnace.

 "A-ah! Haha…" Groggily, the general grabbed his pen and burst out laughing. "Ba-back to work! Kazuha, r-read the next file!"

 Kazuha laughed softly, then continued reading.

 If one asked if he wanted to marry Kazuha, of course, the answer would be yes. Kazuha was the happiness he had been looking for all this time. What else does he need besides living with him?

 Thinking of all that, Gorou's face grew hotter.

 No, no. Now is not the time to think about that. It is time to work, and with Kazuha accompanying him, even if there are a myriad of reports to read, it won't be a burden.

 ️🍵🍘🥜🍪🍵

 When the final report was finally signed and stamped, the sun was unseen from the window and the sky was as black as soot. Gorou yawned widely while stretching. He could hear the sound of bones clashing against each other. His eyes were tired and watery. While scratching his head and ears, Gorou looked at his partner who had been silent since the last report was written.

 "Kazuha?"

 Kazuha was lying on the left side of his body while hugging some files. Eyes tightly closed. His chest was rising and falling calmly. Both legs were bent to the chest.

 "Hey… No wonder he's been so quiet." Gorou sighed. "He must be exhausted and fell asleep."

 He slipped his hands into the creases of his partner's knees and back. Kazuha was light when being scooped up. His head drooped onto Gorou's chest. Consciously or not, the young samurai gripped the collar of Gorou's casual kimono.

 "Gorou…"

 "Yes, I'm here." Gorou carried him to the bed in the middle of the room. "Don't sleep on the floor."

 Kazuha muttered something Gorou couldn't understand. His breath was as steady as an unconscious person.

  Still sleeping? Gorou couldn't help but laugh softly.

 He placed Kazuha on the bed, removed his grip from the collar, and pulled the blanket up to the blonde's chest. Gorou took a moment to pause to observe his charming face. Kazuha looked even more adorable while sleeping.

 "GoGo… I do..."

 Kazuha's muttering made Gorou's ears twitch. "What?"

 Kazuha fell silent—back to sleep.

  Maybe it was just sleep talk.  Gorou decided to let him sleep in peace. Kazuha had helped a lot today. He deserved quality rest.

 Outside the room, Gorou scratched his head and yawned again. The night was a little hot. Maybe he should take a shower before going to bed. With that decision, Gorou went to the bathroom.

 "Hmm. Why did Kazuha say that?" While undressing, the pointy-eared general recalled Kazuha's words. It could be that what Kazuha said was just some nonsense of an unconscious person dreaming, but Gorou's instincts told him that wasn't the reason. "Just, what did I ask him before?"

 Cold water splashed his head and ears. Gorou was still trying to remember while the water formed streams in the curves of his face. He remembered that they were just talking about the reports. Oh! They also talked about Gorou's countless stashes of snacks. Then after that, the other question was…

   "You do, don't you? I mean, marry me and all."

 "Good grief!" Gorou screeched. His veins were filled with boiling blood though still wet with cold water. He cupped his hot face with trembling hands.

  So, that was Kazuha's answer?

 Gorou's whole body was hot and cold like a child with a fever. Sweaty nape, stomach twisting like a tangled rope. His tail wagged so wildly that it created a gust of wind.

  Oh, Archon! Is this what it's like to propose to someone?

 If Gorou could sneak under a rock or anywhere, he would. However, that won't solve everything. He had to talk to Kazuha tomorrow. One thing he knew, he had been and was always ready to live the rest of his life with Kazuha.

Chapter Text

"Everyone said, 'General Gorou is bloodthirsty, arrogant, too young to even care about the world! He's unsuitable for the position!' Hmph. As if they know me at all." The general snorted. The wounds and bruises on his skin looked like paint on a plain canvas. He grimaced as his calloused fingers brushed against a fresh cut on his arm. His bleary eyes were hot and stinging. Tears were pooling in the back of his eyes, threatening to fall. Gorou rubbed his eyes hard, hoping to swat the tears away. "I worked hard, too, to get here. It wasn't a walk in the park like they thought."

He looked at his companion on the bed. Those pretty eyes were still closed tight.

"When I first became the general, people looked down on me." He opened a small jar of ointment, took a small amount of it, and rubbed it on his wounds. It stung like hell, and Gorou couldn't help but curse. "Damned bastards! Just because I'm younger than most of the troops, they didn't take me seriously! What the heck! Would they want to see me cut their throats or something? Hmph. I would do it if I wasn't sane. But no. I was conscious and I had a reputation to keep. Damn it!!"

The room was silent once again. The only sound there was his partner's steady breathing.

"Lady Sangonomiya took me in when I was a child," he continued as he bandaged his bleeding arm. "We became close friends, almost like siblings. People thought I climbed the rank of general easily because I was Lady Sangonomiya's best friend."

The chilling night wind entered the room through the windows. Gorou looked up at the sky, counting stars.

"I hate being looked down—well, who doesn't?" he continued. "But I am still a Watatsumi resident, an Inazuman child. I still want to protect this land I was born in. That's why I became a soldier. That's why I risk my life for this land."

He took a cup of cold tea from the floor, chugged it down, and exhaled loudly. "Though so, I still heard people oppressed me. I tried my best, you know. I wanted to protect everyone. I stood on the front line and all. But what did I get? Some irked looks. Some disgusted words they spoke behind my back—they thought I couldn't hear it. Funny. I have these sharp ears for a reason."

His friend still didn't reply or even give a nod. He was still asleep like the dead.

"But you're different." Gorou took one of his cold hands. "You don't look at me like they do. You believe in me. You… said that I was kind. No one had ever told me that, y'know. Well, Lady Sangonomiya said that every now and then, but… when you said it, it felt completely different. Like a ray of light, a gust of wind. Like… love."

There wasn't any response from the sleeping boy.

"Kazuha." Gorou stroked the bony hand, eyes fixed on his pale face and hair. "When will you wake up? I want to see your smile. I want to hear your voice…"

Kazuha Kaedehara was unmoving. Eyes shut closed, lips were chapped, and face as pale as the moon. Scars like the hands of an angry thunder crept up his neck. It was purple, glowing menacingly. No medicine could heal it. No healing Vision could—even Lady Sangonomiya's renowned healing magic.

Gorou rubbed his cold hand on his face. "Please, wake up… It's been a week now. I miss you…"

He remembered the look on Kazuha's face that night. It was horrible. It was death. Right after he blocked the Musou no Hitotachi with two Visions, he tumbled back. As Gorou put his hand on his shoulders, he could feel something like prickling thunder on his palm. And then Kazuha collapsed. Lightning-shaped scars on his neck and arms.

Gorou and his trusted troops brought him to Komore Teahouse where they tended to him with whatever supplies they had. But Kazuha wouldn't open his eyes.

So, they moved him to Watatsumi Island. Gorou was more than sure that Kokomi Sangonomiya would be able to heal him. After all, she was the divine priestess, one blessed with the holy magic that heals anything.

"I'm sorry. This is all I can do." That was what she said. Her breaths went ragged after she attempted to heal Kazuha.

"There must be something we can do!" Gorou shouted out of shock. Out of sorrow. "Please, Her Excellency! Please, save him!"

Lady Sangonomiya's pretty blue eyes went dark. She bowed deeply, and put a hand on Gorou's shoulder.

"Only time will tell," she said. "After all, for a mortal to receive a divine punishment from an Archon is fatal. Though he can survive, the best he can do is breathe."

"No… no way."

"Gorou, I know you love him." She gripped his hands tight. "Please stay with him while he lasts."

And that time, for the first time in his years as a Watatsumi soldier, the ever victorious General Gorou fell to his knees and cried.

"I didn't want to believe her," he explained while looking up and blinking rapidly. Tears were prickling his eyes and rolled down his cheeks fast. "For the first time since I became a soldier, I didn't believe in her words."

Kazuha was still deep in sleep.

Gorou kissed the back of his hand. "Please, Kazuha, wake up… I want to be with you. I… love you. Everything doesn't feel the same without you..."

Someone knocked on the door. Gorou put down Kazuha's hand and wiped his eyes. He stood up, smoothened his casual kimono, and walked to the door.

"Gorou," Lady Sangonomiya greeted after Gorou opened the door. She was holding a basket. The scent of stew wafted from tiny holes on it. "I heard from your troops that you came here to treat your own wounds after the confrontation with some Fatui lackeys earlier. How are you faring?"

"As you can see." The taller of them moved aside. "Please, Her Excellency."

"Please just call me Kokomi. We're off duty." She walked inside and kneeled next to the sleeping Kazuha. "He's such a fighter."

"I…" Gorou could feel his ears flatten and his tail hung low. "I should just give up, shouldn't I?"

Kokomi looked up at him swiftly. "What are you talking about?"

"He won't make it."

"Gorou—"

"I know that!" he snapped. "I know… he won't wake up. Not anytime soon. Never."

"We still have hope." She raised from her seat, and approached her friend. "The Traveler will help us. He is a special case. He even helped Inazuma back to its normal state. The Shogun has returned to her senses and it is all thanks to the Traveler. I'm sure he can help Kazuha."

"But when?" Gorou took a step back. "When will that finally happen? How long must I wait?"

"If you do love him, you will wait however long it takes. It is what defines love." Kokomi flashed him a small, understanding smile. "Even in eternity, one's love does not falter. Love is faith and trust woven into one. Without them, love is just a meaningless word and a living being will just be an empty husk."

Gorou fell silent. His fists tightened, and he felt like he could punch himself on the face.

"Do you see how hard he's fighting?" The divine priestess sat back in her previous spot. "He has such a strong will to go on living. A person like him is one to be cherished. He wants to live. He wants to see the future. And who knows, you are one of those he longs to find in the distant future."

"Really?" Gorou's eyes widened.

"You are a special person to him." She summoned a small Hydro fish. The creature danced around her fingers, before floating to Kazuha's pale face and kissing his cheek. "You are always on his mind. Do you know that?"

"N-no…"

Kokomi chuckled lightly. "That's because you are always too focused on your own mind and feelings that you don't try to look from a different point of view."

The comment was so sharp it stabbed Gorou's heart. Bring him Kokomi, and she will be able to tell anything he's currently feeling and slap some senses to him. Her carefully chosen words added more to the slap and stab he was feeling now. She was wiser far beyond her years.

"It's fine, Gorou." Kokomi summoned back her Hydro fish. It dissipated into sparks of dull blue. "You always have time to learn and be introspective—we always do. Even me. For now, you just have to stay with him. He needs you."

"I will." He nodded deeply. "I won't leave him. I'll stay with him until he wakes up. Until I can no longer breathe."

Kokomi smiled a little. She handed her basket to Gorou. "Here are some foods and drinks. Oh! I also packed some books inside. Maybe you want to read him something."

Gorou hadn't thought about it yet, but he accepted the basket and thanked her.

Kokomi left after that. Gorou was once again alone with his loved one. He opened the basket, took some onigiri and a bowl of warm soup.

"I'm going to cook something for you when you wake up," he said, munching into the rice. "You like seafood, right? I'll make ramen with fish-based broth. How does that sound?"

Kazuha was still asleep and silent.

Gorou chuckled. "I know you'll like it. So, please wake up soon. I'll be right here when you open your eyes. I will always be here."

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇ 

Chirps woke him up. Gorou grumbled as he opened both eyes. He was enjoying the light strokes around his ears and head. If only he could just lay down and be spoiled like this for a bit longer…

His eyes snapped open. Gorou jolted up, eyes fixed on a pair of brilliant ruby.

Last night, he slept after finishing Kokomi's food. He didn't dream of anything, but then, he felt someone scratching his ears lovingly and brushing his tail tenderly. Gorou thought it was a dream after sleeping in the dark for who knows how long. He even moved a little as to feel this person's warmth in his sleep.

He was sure it was all a dream. Until he saw those eyes and smile. Until he heard that voice.

"Good morning, general."

Gorou's eyes were watery. His fingers shook as he touched the person's face in front of him.

"Ka… Kazuha…" It's been so long since he had said his name like this. Kazuha's face was still as pale as before, but it wasn't cold anymore. "It's… you! You…"

"Yes. I'm here." Kazuha, the beautiful angel, the one owning Gorou's heart completely, smiled again. Though his lips were chapped, his smile was still the same beauty. He was sitting on the bed. Pale hair reached his shoulders. Tiny scarlet lock on the right side of his head was tangled into blonde strands. His white kimono looks a size too big now.

"B-but… how… You…"

"I heard your voice." Kazuha took his hands, squeezing lightly. "I was… walking in complete darkness. I saw things from the past—things that I never wanted to relive ever again. There wasn't anyone around and it was suffocating, then I remembered your eyes, your smile. You. That was when I heard your voice. I followed it, and I saw a light that led me back to the real world."

He took a second to breathe, and continued, "When I woke up, you were right here next to me—crying in your sleep."

Gorou bit his lips to stifle some sobs.

"I remembered that you liked it when I touched your ears and tail, so I…" Kazuha's face went red. "So I… pat your ears." He giggled shyly. "And then you unconsciously moved closer while calling my name. I let you sleep on my lap, I scratched your ears and stroked your tail. It took a while until you stopped crying."

Gorou's shoulders were shaking. His heart beat too fast and loud he was afraid Kazuha would hear it. Embarrassment, relief, happiness combined into one in his chest. He pulled the younger man into a tight embrace, pressed their bodies together, feeling his warmth, making sure that he wouldn't disappear like a fleeting dream.

Kazuha chuckled softly. "Hey, Gorou. It's okay. It's… too tight."

The general freed him in one swift movement. His face was boiling. "So-sorry…"

"So," Kazuha tilted his head a little, putting a finger on Gorou's cheek right next to a fresh cut, "how did you get so many bruises and cuts? Wanna tell me everything that has changed while I was asleep?"

Gorou nodded. "I'll tell you everything! Anything!"

Before Kazuha could speak, Gorou pulled him again and pressed their lips together. A rush of emotions bloomed in the general's chest. He could feel his partner tense for a second before melting into the kiss.

"W-well, where do you want me to start?" The brunette couldn't stop smiling after they parted. "Oh, wait. Maybe I should call Kokomi first. She'll need to check your condition. Wait here! I'll be right—"

"Let me stay with you a bit longer first." Kazuha buried his face in the canine's chest. "I miss you."

Gorou was shaking. He wrapped both arms around the samurai, nuzzled his face to his hair, taking his scent deeply. "I miss you, too."

As the sunlight crept into the small room, so did the light of life in Kazuha's eyes. So did the returning hope and dreams that kept Gorou going even amidst an untameable storm. He has Kazuha with him now. That's all he needs to keep moving forward.

Chapter Text

It was scorching hot again today. Gorou felt sweat running down his neck and back. The heat of that afternoon was too much to handle, even for him—especially for him. His tail and ears were wet with sweat and were itchy. He thought of scratching them, but he was walking home and everyone was watching him. They even nodded and politely greeted him. He couldn't just scratch his ears like a little puppy.

When he finally got home, Gorou removed his armor aside and decided to take a shower. Even the inside of his house was hot as if the sun had moved inside. Seems like it was that time of the year again.

After showering and putting on a comfortable kimono, he looked out the window to his backyard. The backyard was decorated with bushes and a few flower patches. They were somewhat dry since the land of Watatsumi was barren. This hot weather seemed to burn the leaves and petals to crisp.

Someone was crouching in the middle of a newly plowed patch of soil. Gorou didn't remember there being a new patch of soil. This person was wearing a straw hat with a wide brim. His back was facing Gorou. It was covered by an unfamiliar white kimono and it was wet with sweat. The burning ground and sunlight didn't seem to bother him at all. His pale hands were tapping the soil as if he was massaging it.

Like, what?

"Oi! Whatcha doing there in my yard?!" he asked loudly like a grumpy old man finding kids ruining his garden.

The person stood. Only then Gorou saw his pale blonde pigtail falling onto his back and his familiar figure. The person turned around, showing a small smile.

"Hello! You're home early! How was your day?"

"Kazuha?!" Gorou almost jumped out of the window. "What are you doing? It's hot as hell now! You're going to get a sunburn!"

"I have a hat!" He pointed to his big straw hat.

"That's not the point!" His instinct told him to jump over the window sill, and he complied. The general landed in the yard with bare feet. He immediately regretted his choice. Even the ground was as hot as the surface of a boiling pan. "Shoot!"

"Oh, dear!" Kazuha ran toward him, and shoved him into the window. "Go back inside! You're going to hurt your feet!"

"Ouch! Wait! I'm stuck! Argh! You're hurting me!"

"Uh-oh. Sorry!"

A few moments later, Gorou finally returned to the house after climbing through the window like a burglar in the middle of the day. The cool tatami-covered floor soothed his burning. He's never going outside barefooted again. Ever.

Kazuha arrived in the room a minute later. He was still wearing that giant hat and his skin was smeared with dark soil. Parts of his arms and face were red like a sunsettia.

"That was bold of you," he commented while giggling.

"Please, don't bring that up again." Gorou glanced outside of the window, to the specific patch of soil Kazuha was tending earlier. "What were you doing there?"

"I was planting sunflowers!"

Gorou gave him a confused look. "Sunflowers? Why the sudden? I didn't know you were into gardening."

Kazuha removed his hat. His platinum blonde hair was ruffled and was sticking out here and there. "Aren't sunflowers nice? Besides, the backyard looks a little lonely. I think some flowers will make the yard more beautiful."

The thought of seeing flowers grown by Kazuha in the yard excited Gorou. He didn't know about gardening or plants, but Kazuha looked like he was enjoying it.

"You see that plowed soil? I did it myself this morning using a borrowed hoe since you don't have your own gardening tools," he informed. A gleam of pride was shown in his ruby eyes. He raised both hands, showing some new scars. "Though it wasn't an easy job."

"Hey, you could've asked for help," Gorou took his left hand. There was some dried soil on his scars. "And you should have washed your hands. The dirt could get into your wounds and it won't be fun."

The other male only giggled innocently. "Don't worry. I'm used to it."

Gorou growled. "Doesn't mean you can just let this be! Come with me now!"

"Okay, General!"

Gorou dragged his partner to the washing room. It was empty by this time of the day. Some buckets were lined neatly and freshwater was stored in them. Gorou opened one of the buckets, and asked Kazuha to put his hands out.

"You should be more careful," he nagged while reaching for a bamboo dipper nearby. He took some water from the bucket and poured it onto Kazuha's hands. "We're going to treat these right now."

"You're such a worrywart," Kazuha replied with a soft laugh.

"Yeah, because you like to make me worry." Once the dirt on Kazuha's hands was cleaned up, Gorou reached for a dry cloth from a pile of neatly folded clothes nearby. It could be his own clothes or another, but he couldn't care less. He wiped his partner's hands dry gently. "Hey, you said that you borrowed the gardening tools. Who did you borrow them from?"

"Your gardener. His name was Ryota, I guess. A nice young man who said that he came all the way from Inazuma to find a job."

"Ah, yeah. The new guy."

"And then, because he needed the tools to tend some bushes that you asked him to trim yesterday, I had to give him back the tools," Kazuha explained while scratching his chin. "But my work wasn't done, yet. So, I used my hands and some random things."

For a second, Gorou blinked before finding his voice back. "So that's how you got dirt all over your hands and clothes. Also the scars on your hands."

"Yup! The smell of fresh soil was really nice!" The blonde giggled. "Loved it!"

"Yeah. 'One with nature', huh?" He rolled his eyes.

Kazuha patted his dry and cool hands on Gorou's cheeks. "Let's get some snacks! I just bought some wagashi earlier! They sold that one strawberry daifuku you loved today!"

"I said that we were going to treat your wounds!"

"You don't want the wagashi I bought for you?" The blonde kneaded Gorou's cheeks as if they were fresh dough.

"Of course, I want to!" He grumbled. "We're going to eat after we treat your wounds!"

"Okay!"

Once Kazuha stopped playing with his cheeks, the two of them left the washing room. While holding the other male's hand, Gorou kept thinking about the gardening tools. He wasn't one to garden, so he didn't have his own tools. Mostly, the gardeners asked his assistant if they needed any new tools. Gorou never thought about owning them for his personal use. Maybe he needed to start buying his own. For Kazuha.

🌻🌻🌻

Kazuha was busy in the garden—yes, it wasn't a yard anymore since it had been plowed and tended—by the time Gorou got home from his daily morning jog. The blonde was wearing the same wide straw hat, an oversized white kimono, and knee-length hakama. His bare calves were so pale like bones since they were barely exposed to the sun. The small male was making some holes using a hand shovel.

"Kazuha! Look what I've got!" Gorou shouted while crossing the garden carefully. He didn't want to risk destroying the other holes.

"Ah! Welcome home! How was the run?" Kazuha wiped his forehead, leaving some dirt on his face.

Gorou stifled some laughter. "You look weird. The dirt gets all over your face."

"That so, huh?" He wiped his face again, but instead of cleaning it, he smeared more dirt.

Gorou decided to drag Kazuha away from the garden and brought him to a small hut near the garden. It was supposed to be a hut to keep gardening tools and stuff that weren't used anymore. A sack was limping next to the door.

"What is that? I don't remember putting it there," Kazuha said, still trying to get the dirt out of his face. One eye was shut tight. "Ugh! It got in my eye!"

"You're so clumsy, and I thought it should be my job." Though groaning, Gorou helped Kazuha hold his eye open and blew into it. It was supposed to heal the pain and remove the dirt. His mother used to do it when he was a child. "How is it now?"

Kazuha blinked like a little kid, then he stared at Gorou and grinned. "It's much better!"

Gorou exhaled loudly. He returned to the sack next to the door. "So, I bought you some gardening tools."

"How come?"

"Well, here's the story," Gorou recalled the moment he was jogging through the village. As he was greeting the friendly villagers, he came across a merchant selling trinkets and old things. After the war ended, people had to work even harder to earn themselves. Some people even sold their family heirlooms. It was sad, but there wasn't anything they could do—and Gorou couldn't do anything about it either.

So, this merchant sold his family's belongings—old mirrors, antique vases, dusty rugs, and some old gardening tools. Kazuha's smiling face immediately got into Gorou's mind after that. And before he knew it, he had bought the tools and carried them home using a sack.

Not to mention how many people gave him strange looks as he walked home with a sack on his back.

"Ah! So that's it!" Kazuha tapped his right fist onto his left palm. "You're so thoughtful!"

Gorou giggled awkwardly and rubbed the back of his head. He could feel his tail wagging wildly behind. "W-well! How about I give you a hand today? I'm on my day off. I'd also like to try gardening."

Kazuha clapped his hands. "I was just about to ask you that!" When he opened the door, it made a loud squeak that tickled both of Gorou's ears. The blonde went inside for a while and returned with a straw hat and a small pouch. He put the hat on his partner's head. "Wear this! It will protect your head and hair—and ears!"

"My ears don't like it. It flattens them and muffles any sound. Ugh, this is why I don't wear hats." The canine adjusted the straw hat. Its texture was rough and his ears were itchy.

"You'll get used to it! Look! We're the same now!"

"Where's a Kamera when you need one?" Gorou tilted his head slightly and felt the rough straw scratching his ears again.

Kazuha laughed, then dragged the sack from its original position. He was thin and his bones were protruding under pale skin, but since he was a trained samurai, he could carry the sack on his back with ease. Though the big sack looked like it was swallowing Kazuha's body completely. "Let's go to the garden! I know what you can help with!"

"Okay, okay. Maybe let me carry the sack?"

"It's nothing! Don't worry!"

Back in the garden, Kazuha dropped the sack and rummaged into it. He pulled an old watering can, put it aside, and search again.

"What can I help?" Gorou asked beside him, head raised to the clear sky. "It's gonna be another sunny day."

"Yes, it is. That's why we're wearing hats," Kazuha explained. "It's going to be extra sunny for a few days onward."

Gorou almost forgot that Kazuha could read the weather.

"Here! It contains my own hand-picked sunflower seeds. You're going to sow them in these holes I created before, while I go fill this watering can." He shoved the small pouch he took from the hut earlier. The old watering can was in his left hand. "Do it well! Don't spill any seeds. They're hard to find."

"Won't happen. Leave it to me!" The general received the pouch and shook it. "Seems to be a lot of them."

"One hole, one seed. Remember that!" Kazuha had walked away with the watering can in hand. "I'll be back in a jiffy!"

Gorou opened the knot around the pouch. He thought the seeds would be as small as grain, but they were a lot bigger like ume seeds with dark color.

"Strange. A flower grows from this tiny seed." He shrugged indifferently and decided to do what Kazuha had told him before.

The sun went high in no time. The air was heavy and hot. Gorou growled while plunging a seed into each hole. Thanks to the straw hat he was wearing, his head and hair weren't burnt to crisps. He started to love wearing a hat.

Kazuha returned after Gorou finished filling each hole with a seed. They covered the holes with soil, and Kazuha started watering each one of them with the same amount of water—which Gorou thought was measured through instinct.

"The seeds will grow into the most beautiful sunflowers ever," Kazuha said excitedly. "Because you sowed them!"

Gorou felt his face heating up. Rubbing the back of his head, he stammered, "Well, I just… did what you told me. Hehe…"

"You did well!" Kazuha tiptoed a little and kissed his cheek.

"Oh!"

"Alright, I think it's time for some tea and cakes!" The blonde took his hand and invited Gorou into the main building. "Would you like some sugar in your tea? Or unsweetened?"

"Ehe… Sweet, I guess." While following Kazuha, Gorou couldn't hide his smile anymore. Kazuha had so many ideas and surprises that always made him wonder. Though so, these were also the reasons Gorou couldn't stop falling in love with him. Kazuha is just too precious.

🌻🌻🌻

Days later, tiny buds had grown in the garden. When Kazuha watched them, his eyes were shining miraculously. It was a rare sight and Gorou found it so endearing. Kazuha had worked so hard to grow the flowers and in a few weeks, the buds would grow into sprouts with leaves and elongated into stems with flower buds.

Or so he thought.

That morning, he found Kazuha standing motionless in the garden. Gorou was about to approach him when he noticed some buds were destroyed and the soil was ruined with pawprints along it.

"Oh, crap!" He ran up to his partner. "Shoot! Some wild animals must have gotten here last night! What were those troops doing? They were supposed to guard this area from wild animals!"

"Gorou, it's okay."

"I'm going to scold them!"

"Hey, it's fine!"

"But…"

Kazuha reached for his hands and squeezed them gently. "It's okay. I can plant them again next time."

Gorou knew, even though Kazuha said so with a smile on his face, the blond was upset. Well, that's Kazuha. Always smiling, even if his inside is crying.

"Well, let's have breakfast. You also have to prepare to go to work." Kazuha tugged gently at his hand, motioning to the house. "I will clean this up later."

With one last glance at the destroyed garden, Gorou finally complied.

🌻🌻🌻

Today's work was supposed to be done well—if Gorou didn't include 
the piled-up documents ready to be checked tomorrow. Gorou huffed and placed his pen on the table. That pile of work could wait for tomorrow. The most important thing now is going home.

The troops were saluting him as he passed by them on his way home. The sun was gliding to the west, leaving traces of twilight in the sky. The orange color reminded him of the destroyed sunflowers Kazuha strived to grow. He must be so disappointed, though he didn't show it this morning. To be honest, Gorou wanted to see the flowers in their full blooms, too.

One thing came to his mind: why was Kazuha so obsessed with sunflowers? To make the barren yard pretty couldn't be the real reason, knowing how Kazuha could be full of surprise.

"Hello, Sir! You look deep in your thoughts!" Someone called him.

Gorou looked up at the person. It was a middle-aged man wearing a straw hat that reminded Gorou of the hat Kazuha lent him that day. The man was standing next to a cart full of flowers. Gorou didn't really know the names of the other flowers, aside from roses, lavenders, and sunflowers.

Sunflowers!

"Excuse me." He approached the man and eyed the bright yellow flowers. Looking at the flowers, he couldn't help but think of a small child giggling happily and just enjoying his day. Such innocence that Gorou would risk his life to protect.

"I saw you were thinking so deep with your head lowered." The merchant nodded. "Perhaps some flowers will make you feel better?"

"Mm, yeah." The general pointed to the sunflowers. "I'll take five of them."

"Nice choice, sir!"

"And can you tie a red ribbon around them?"

"Certainly!" The merchant started his work expertly.

A few moments later, the sunflowers bouquet was done. Gorou tried to hold his smile for the rest of the journey home. He didn't know if Kazuha would love these flowers, but he hoped these flowers would bring his smile back.

Kazuha was in the garden by the time Gorou reached home—as expected. He was wearing a straw hat and crouching. Gardening tools courtesy of Gorou were next to him. The dead buds were already cleared, and new holes were dug.

And it just so happened to slap Gorou right in the face. Kazuha had been working hard to grow his own sunflowers, and Gorou just deliberately bought some from a merchant? Wouldn't that be rude of him?

"Oh, Gorou! I see you're bringing something home." Kazuha's voice snapped him out of his reverie. "What is it? Is it another stray puppy?"

Gorou quickly hid the bouquet behind his back. "Oh, this? It's nothing…"

The so-called gardener raised and faced him. The hat shaded his face and dirt was all over his yellowed kimono. Red eyes were focused on the thing Gorou hid behind his back. 
Gorou felt heat creep up his cheeks. His grip around the flowers behind his back tightened.
 
"Okay, can you tell me or should I find it out myself?" He winked playfully and removed his hat to put it on Gorou's head.

Gorou gulped. His heart was pounding so fast and loud that he was sure Kazuha could hear it. Furthermore, Kazuha looked a lot more majestic under the twilight sky. How could he be prettier day by day?

"Here!" Gorou finally presented the sunflowers and shoved them into Kazuha's hands. "I-I don't know if you're going to like them. B-but since you've been working so hard to grow your own only to have them ruined by some wild animals, I thought I needed to get some for you!"

The giant flowers were touching Kazuha's jaws and chin. For a moment, he only stared at them like studying some kind of a difficult textbook. Brows were furrowed. He looked a bit hurt. "Gorou, you don't have to… I…"

"I'm sorry! I know I shouldn't buy them because it seems rude and all—I mean, I-I don't doubt your gardening skill, but I—"

And then, Kazuha nuzzled the flowers and smiled adorably. "Thank you!"

Gorou blinked and pressed the hat on his head. "So… you like them?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Kazuha kissed each of the flowers lovingly. "They're beautiful! And they're from you!"

"That kiss should have been mine, though." Gorou's eyes darted towards anywhere that wasn't Kazuha's.

"You could've asked." Kazuha leaned in and pressed a light kiss on his cheek.

Gorou felt his ears perk up under the itchy straw hat. "Oh! Haha… Kazu… For a sec, I thought you hated the flowers…"

"I was just teasing, you know. Well, let's put these in a nice glass vase. If we change the water every day, they should last for a week or so." Kazuha held his partner's hand as he explained it.

"There's a nice vase in the basement. A gift from someone," Gorou said. "I can fetch it for you."

"Let's go get it together."

"Alright, alright." Gorou rubbed his neck. When his eyes fell on the yellow sunflowers in Kazuha's arms, he asked, "Why did you suddenly like sunflowers? I know you love nature, but it's kinda sudden. I know the reason isn't only 'to make the yard prettier'."

Kazuha sniffed the flowers and smiled gently at them. "Because they remind me of you."

"What? I mean, how come?" Gorou created an image in his head, and it gave him a weird feeling.

Kazuha glanced at him. His face was among the yellow petals that seemed to glow like some ambers. "You see, sunflowers are always facing the sun and the sun means happiness. Even if the sun is scorching hot, they always find a way to turn and face it with all their might. They get even more beautiful under the sun and still beautiful even in the darkest night, waiting for the sun to rise so they can look at it again. Sunflowers never give up to find their happiness—just like you."

"Just like me?" Gorou scratched his chin with a free hand.

"Gorou, you never stop chasing for happiness. You always work hard, and you help everyone you can. When they are happy, you are also happy." Kazuha held the flowers tighter. "I see all those in you, and I realize that's the very reason I fell in love with you."

If this were some kind of a fairytale, Gorou would have turned into goo on the ground. Instead, his face was too hot and his whole body was shaking. His heart? Gorou was sure the whole Watatsumi Island could hear it pounding real hard and loud.

"When I see you, I feel a rush of energy and euphoria," Kazuha continued. "But you don't always stay at home, because you have work. So, it gets a little bit lonely…"

"Oh… I'm so sorry." Gorou pulled the slightly shorter male into a hug. He sniffed his hair, smelling the scent of sun and Kazuha. "But you know, I can't leave my job…"

Kazuha giggled while patting his back. "I know. I won't ask you to leave your job. Everyone there needs you. Watatsumi needs you."

"Oh, Kazuha, I love you so much!" Gorou was sobbing now. He might be the courageous, ever-victorious general of the Watatsumi Army, but with Kazuha, he always felt no more than a man in love.

That was when he realized it.

He pulled apart, looking straight into Kazuha's eyes. The reflection on his red eyes showed Gorou's sparkling blue ones. "I get it now! Because you miss me, you plant the flowers, so you can always look at them because they remind you of me!"

"Exactly!"

"Kazu, you're so adorable!" The general pulled the other male into another tight hug. "Feels like I want to spend the rest of my life with you!"

Kazuha giggled somewhat awkwardly. "Um, well… It's getting darker and these flowers need water. Let's go to the basement to get that vase you talked about."

"Okey-dokey!" Gorou freed his partner whose face was as red as a ripe strawberry. "Can I hold your hands?"

The other didn't answer but interlaced their fingers together. That's Kazuha, alright. When he gets nervous, he does things instead of saying any words.

Then, Gorou decided to tilt his head a little, and kissed him on the lips.

"You're sneaky…" Kazuha hid his face behind the sunflowers like a teenage boy whose first kiss just got stolen. 

"Mmhmm, that's your general." The brunette patted his head lightly, then circled an arm around his shoulder. "I think the basement is locked for a long time. The key should be…"

"Don't tell me you lost it."

"No, no, no! Just let me remember where I put it…"

Kazuha sighed.

The two of them left the garden together. As they got into the basement, rays of dusk sunlight seeped through the air vents on the walls. Kazuha was still looking at the sunflowers in his hand lovingly. The flowers, his face, and his pale blonde hair made a sight too precious to ignore. He was a blessing. For Gorou, even if he had to plant a thousand sunflowers with bare hands, as long as it made Kazuha smile and happy, he would do it willingly.

Chapter Text

    When Gorou reached his front door, he pushed the heavy double door and sighed. What a busy day. He was just glad he made it on time today. The private cook should have already prepared his dinner and the maids should have prepared a hot bath for him. One thing he was grateful for during his time as a general was that all his needs were guaranteed by the state.

Though so, his Kazuha wasn't home today. Just thinking about this increased the invisible burden on Gorou's back and his legs were a lot heavier.

    “General!” a maid greeted him. She was wearing a black kimono with an apron. “Dinner is being prepared. And...”

    “And?” The general raised an eyebrow.

    She bowed and looked down. “The cook said that you shouldn't come to the kitchen before he finishes cooking.”

    “What? How come?” Gorou scratched his head. “Is there something wrong with him? Donovan has never been that secretive before.”

    “Ah.” The maid looked at him with an unsure smile. “Donovan isn't the one cooking your dinner, Sir. It's... Mr. Kaedehara.”

    "Kaedehara?!" He almost shouted the name if he hadn't restrained himself. Instead, he cleared his throat loudly. "What's the occasion? He told me that he was leaving for Liyue for a while. He shouldn't be back so soon."

     "Mr. Kaedehara didn't elaborate on his reason. He arrived this morning after you left for work and he had been busy in the kitchen ever since," the maid explained.

    "Whatever he's up to, I'm sure it means well." Despite the warning, he left for the kitchen. He could hear the maid calling him in a panicked voice.

    A few days ago, Kazuha did say that he had to return to Liyue with the Crux Fleet. Even though Inazuma was at peace now and the whole Sakoku Decree had been abolished, he still had to work for the Liyuean merchants. It was a way to repay them for all they had done for Kazuha while he was a wanted criminal—at least, that was what Kazuha told Gorou before he left.

    Being alone without Kazuha in the house, Gorou was lonely. The whole Watatsumi Island wasn't the same without him. When Kazuha was still living with him, Gorou would always be greeted by his sleeping face every morning and gorgeous smile before he left for work—also sweet kisses he gave Gorou to lift his mood. Now that Kazuha wasn't here, there was a hole in Gorou's heart. It was much the same as the hole left after Kazuha escaped from Inazuma for the first time.

    The kitchen was solemn and quiet. There, behind wide tables with various ingredients scattered on them, Kazuha was standing. His back was against the door. White hair was tied into a small bun. He was wearing a white, short-sleeved kimono and knee-length hakama with his Vision hanging on the waist. Something was boiling in a pot next to him, bubbling and smelling like pepper. The cook was busy chopping something. Gorou could see a ribbon of an apron around his waist.

    “And I thought, I told the maid to forbid anyone coming here,” he said simply when Gorou quietly walked toward him.

    “I was just curious.” The general admitted shyly. “Hey, I didn't know you'd be back so soon."

"Are you not happy?"

"W-what? No! Of course, I'm happy! I'm beyond happy!" Gorou shook his head. "It's just… if you had informed me, I would have prepared something."

    Kazuha glanced at him with a smirk. "Like what?"

    "Like… uhhh…" Gorou rubbed the back of his head and concluded that his brain had stopped working as per usual whenever Kazuha teased him. So, he changed the topic. "What are you cooking?”

    “One of your favorites, my dear.” Kazuha giggled. “Homemade fish soup.”

    “Wow, my stomach is already rumbling now.” He stood behind the blonde, and his hands absentmindedly sneaked around Kazuha's waist. Head rested on the crook of the blonde's shoulder. “You smell nice. Like broth and raw meat. Also pepper.”

    “I smell terrible, is what you're trying to say.” Kazuha shrugged.

    “No, no, no, you don't smell that terrible. Okay, maybe a little. But that's the best part.”

    “You're slurring.”

    “I know.”

    “Go clean yourself.”

    "Did you miss me?" His question was muffled by Kazuha's clothes and skin. His neck was sensitive, and Gorou loved to tease him on that specific spot. "So that you went home earlier?"

    "Gorou, what are you doing?"

    "Asking you a question," he answered lazily, still nuzzling into his neck.

    Kazuha squirmed under the general's embrace. "Okay, I did miss you. But also because Captain Beidou let me return sooner."

    “Oh.” Gorou tilted his head a little so that his lips were now brushing against Kazuha's neck.

    Kazuha bonked his head softly with a wooden ladle. “Behave!”

    “Ouch.” Gorou whimpered. “Just one kiss, please?”

    His lover sighed, before turning his head and letting Gorou place a kiss on his lips. It was a light kiss at first, which later turned into a deep one because Gorou decided that he wouldn't let this opportunity go to waste. He had missed a few days without having his adorable Kazuha around—and that's a lot of kisses he missed.

    “Someone's eager, huh?” Gorou teased, licking his own lips as he returned to his nest on Kazuha's shoulder.

    “Hmph.” Was Kazuha's response.

    Gorou bet, his face was as red as the chili pepper he was chopping now. He giggled, hands sliding up to the other's chest.

    “Hey!” Kazuha slapped his hands. “What are you doing? You're going to ruin my cooking!”

    “Then I can just eat you,” he replied seductively.

    With the speed of light and wind, Kazuha turned around and shoved Gorou's face with bare hands. “Go away! You won't get anything if you keep interfering!”

    “Okay! Okay! Arrggh! Your hands! What the heck?! My eyes are burning!”

    “Oh, no! I forgot!” Kazuha retracted his hands.

    Gorou could feel cool air around his face, but his eyes were too hot to open. “Forgot what?”

    “The chili peppers! I... I was chopping them! And my hands...”

    Gorou screamed at the top of his lungs.

🌶🌶🌶

    “My deepest condolences for your eyes, General.” Kazuha grinned innocently, hands clapped in front of his face. “Won't happen again. Promise!”

    “Yeah, yeah, I know.” Gorou rubbed his face with a clean towel, cold water drops running down his jaws. The burnings had gone, but his eyes and face were still a little bit breezy. Without even looking in the mirror, he knew his eyes were red and teary.

    “And as an apology, I have cooked all of your favorite foods!”

    Gorou set the towel aside. His eyes immediately found many plates and bowls of food on the table. Kazuha sure did work hard for all of this.

    "You sure there's no other occasion?" he asked, still patting his eyes with the towel.

    "I'm sure of it." Kazuha sat down on a chair and patted the chair next to him. "Sit down, General! We're going to have a feast! I'm sure you're starving by now."

    He did as he was told. The smell of food made his stomach rumble. There was a bowl of fish soup, fried fish, some pickled greens, and a plate of gyoza.

    "When will you return to the Alcor?" Gorou asked in between munching the salty and sour greens.

    "Not sure. But I have to be ready at any time." The other male was separating a fish from its bone. Once it was clean, he put the boneless fish on Gorou's bowl of rice.

    "Uhhh, it's gonna be so lonely again…" Gorou's ears drooped as his tail wagged weakly. His chopsticks were resting on the side of his bowl.

    "Oh, dear…" Kazuha patted his head lightly. "As long as I'm still here, we can always do anything together, so don't be sad."

    "Anything?" The general pouted and gave his boyfriend puppy eyes. He knew very well that Kazuha wouldn't be able to resist it, and he's very proud of it.

    "Anything." Kazuha nodded.

    "Like…" A naughty grin morphed on Gorou's lips. One hand found its way to the other's thigh.

    "You pervert!" Kazuha bonked his head with a wooden spoon.

    "I was just joking!" The naughty canine rubbed his head with both hands. "You don't have to hit me! What if you damage my brain?!"

    Kazuha huffed. "Then stop joking around, and finish your dinner!"

    "Okay…"

    They ate in silence for a while, before Kazuha started again.

    "But if you… want to…" He left his words hanging in the air.

    When Gorou glanced at him, he saw a sight to behold. Kazuha's face was so red that he looked like a person with a fever. His hands were trembling on the table, and Gorou could see his shoulders shaking.

    Such a precious sight.

    Gorou took his hand. "You won't regret it."

Kazuha's face was as red as his tiny hairstreak. He was shaking furiously, and Gorou knew this was a good sign.

Chapter Text

The mountain cat lunged forward. Kazuha acted fast, jumping in front of the helpless man and crossing his sword. The sword clashed against the giant cat’s paws and claws. Its glowing golden eyes were narrowed, then Kazuha shoved the sword with all of his strength. The cat was thrown back and rolled on the bumpy mountain road. It got back to its feet, growling at Kazuha. The sword wielder pointed his weapon and stomped on the ground. The four-legged animal gave him a look, then vanished into the wilderness.

Kazuha sighed. “That was a tough one.”

“Oh, man! Thanks for saving me!” The man behind him exclaimed.

Kazuha sheathed his sword, and turned around to face the man. The poor man he just saved from the mountain cat was around his age. He’s got thick brown hair and a pair of non-human ears. His tail was wagging behind his back—he’s a canine hybrid. A look of relief was shown on his handsome face with distinctive blue eyes. He was still sitting on the ground despite the ground being bumpy and a little wet after the rain last night.

“Can you move?” he asked the pointy-eared man.

“Sure.” He moved onto his feet slowly, but quickly returned to a sitting position. “Shit!”

Kazuha kneeled before the man, and examined his bleeding leg. It needed immediate treatment. “You’re hurt. Probably from the cat’s attack earlier.”

“I guess.” He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. “At least, it’s just my leg. Not my whole body.”

Kazuha studied the brunette’s outfit for a while. The gold and rose colors on his outfits were uncommon to find around the area. Most people here wore black and purple. “You’re not from here, are you?”

He giggled like a little kid—and Kazuha’s heart fluttered.

“Yeah, you got me! I came from Pearl Island to look for a job here. But on the way, I was chased by some treasure hoarders and ran away. Since I didn’t know the way, I got lost on this mountain and that giant barbaric animal attacked me. I owe you my life, man!”

“Don’t mention it.” Kazuha tore some part of his purple tunic and used it to bandage the man’s leg. “This will stop the bleeding for a while, but we need a proper treatment for this. I’ll take you to my house. It’s not that far. We can treat your wound and maybe you can find a job after that. The town I live in isn't the best, but there are still honest people.”

“Sure!” The man nodded excitedly. His blue eyes glowed like night stars. “Thanks a lot, my lifesaver!”

Kazuha chuckled softly. “Just call me Kazuha.”

“That’s a pretty name!” He said casually. “My name’s Gorou.”

Kazuha flashed him a smile. He held out a hand, let Gorou take it, then pulled him up. Gorou is a little bit taller than him. Maybe by three or five centimeters. His shoulders are broad and his posture is lean. He can't be an ordinary person. Even his biceps are defined and stacked as if he has spent a long time training them. But it doesn't matter now. The man is hurt. He needs help.

"What were you doing on the mountain?" He asked as Kazuha helped him walk the uneven road.

"I was just looking for some mountain flowers and wild berries. They are good for making jam and for cooking."

"Oh. The mountain provides everything, huh?"

"It's a gift from mother nature."

The walk down the mountain was a tough one—even worse since the man with a tail couldn’t walk properly and had to cling onto Kazuha all the time. He talked a lot and commented about many things on the way just as a little kid would. Never did he complain about the pain in his leg like a true warrior with high pain tolerance. Gorou kept talking about the beauty of nature and all the good things on that mountain. It was, honestly, endearing and peaceful to hear such compliments from an outsider. It almost made Kazuha wish that the walk down the mountain would last forever.

For the first time in a while, Kazuha didn’t feel lonely.

🍄🍄🍄

“This is some fancy house you have here," Gorou commented as Kazuha helped him sit down on a rickety chair in the kitchen. "Even this kitchen is cool! Where’s the other?”

Kazuha's family house was the grandest in the neighborhood. The walls were strong and the roofs were cared for. It was old, but it kept Kazuha warm and cool on uneventful days. Though it was quite empty of valuable furniture.

“I live alone.” Kazuha checked on his wound. It started to bleed again. “I’ll boil some water to wash your wound. Do you want some refreshment while I do it?”

“Why are you so kind?” Gorou scratched his head. His right ear twitched. “We’re strangers. Aren’t you afraid of me? What if I’m a bandit and going to rob you when you’re not looking?”

Kazuha giggled. “That’s cute. You’re hurt. You won’t be able to do anything. Even if you do, your wound will hinder your movement and I can easily throw you to the ground.”

“Oh.” The canine dropped his hand. “I think I should be the one scared now.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t do anything.” The blonde walked across the room to take a plate of treats from a long table. He returned to Gorou’s side and gave him the plate. “Some honey nut treats will keep you company while I go get some water from a well behind the house.”

“Okay! Thanks.”

Kazuha flashed him a smile, then left the room.

The well behind his house was old and overgrown. Wild grass and flowers were growing around the base. Small insects were crawling on the blades of grass. He took a bucket that was left on the ground, then threw it into the depths. He needed a bucket of freshwater to boil, then he could help Gorou wash his wound. Poor guy. He must be also exhausted from the walk down the mountain. Maybe Kazuha could make him some venison soup to restore his energy later.

His sharp hearing captured some light footsteps from behind. Kazuha pulled the bucket full of water, and put it on the rim of the well.

“Such a diligent boy,” commented a voice behind.

Kazuha sighed, then turned around. “Hello, there, Sir Mayor. What can I do for you today?”

There was a man with a round stomach, wearing a nice silk robe over a smooth tunic. A few soldiers were behind him, standing menacingly while holding weapons. The man twirled his mustache. Small eyes like pearls shone with greed.

“You’re still as stubborn as ever. Even after your grandfather’s death,” he said.

Kazuha felt his chest tighten. “Please don’t talk about my grandfather like that.”

“Very funny!” the mayor hissed. “Now, the offer I gave you before is still available. Won’t you take it? You’ll be free of all your family's debt!”

Kazuha sighed. “How many times should I remind you, sir? I've paid all of the debt. All that's left now is the interest that's even higher than the debt itself. I paid some yesterday, and I promised to pay the rest next week. You shouldn't be here now. Please leave. I will never sell you this house even if it will clear all of the interest.”

The man walked up to him. One hand touched his chin and lifted his face a little. “You’re gorgeous. Your hair, your skin… Ah! I have a new offer. Why don’t you work in my mansion? If you agree, not only can you clear your debt but you are allowed to keep the house, too.”

“Please don’t make me ask you to leave once again.” Kazuha shut his eyes tight.

“And your voice… I wonder how you’ll sound when you… moan.”

Kazuha gripped his own fists but was unable to throw a punch at the pervert. He wasn’t an ordinary man. He was a man with importance. If Kazuha fought back, not only would he lose the house, but he would also be sent to jail and rot to death there.

The man released him. Kazuha let out a breath and opened his eyes again. His chest was filled with tremors, and his knees were about to give in.

“I’ll come to visit next week!” The fat guy informed him while taking his leave with the guards. “Ready or not, I want your answer!”

The backyard was quiet again now. Kazuha dropped to his knees, both hands covering his face. How long must he live under the pressure of the upper hands? He only wanted to live peacefully in this town and care for his family's house.

The young man wiped his eyes, and decided to forget about all that. He needed to get the water for Gorou.

“Huh?” Gorou was munching on his treats when Kazuha returned inside. “Kazuha?”

Kazuha poured the bucket of water into a big steel pan above the fireplace. He glanced at Gorou, smiling. “Yes?”

The man wiped his mouth. “Why are you crying?”

Something stung Kazuha’s heart. “Crying?”

“Yeah. You’ve got tears in your eyes.” The canine tilted his head a little. “Are you okay?”

Kazuha rubbed his eyes. He didn’t realize there were still some tears remaining. “I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

“Mmm, okay.”

It was a relief that Gorou didn’t ask further. Gorou didn't need to know. It would just burden him as an innocent visitor.

Kazuha returned to the water being boiled in the pan. He needed to think of another way to stop that greedy old man from trying to own his family house. This house was all he had left of his family.

“This is going to sting a little.” He warned Gorou when the water was warm enough to wash the other’s leg.

“Okay, no problem. I’m used to getting hurt.” Gorou joked and giggled.

Another bucket was placed under Gorou’s wounded leg. Carefully, Kazuha poured some water on it. Gorou snickered, but didn’t scream or anything. He was obedient. Once it was clean of any remaining dirt, Kazuha took some ointment and rubbed gently on it. Gorou still didn’t scream out of pain. He couldn’t be really used to getting hurt. That must be just some joke.

“Tell me about yourself,” he requested when Kazuha was wrapping the wound with a clean bandage.

“I don’t have much to tell,” Kazuha answered softly. “I’m just a commoner running errands for people to earn myself.”

“With that sword skill of yours, you’ll make a great warrior!”

“It was just a basic sword skill. My grandfather taught me when I was a child. He said I would need it to protect myself or others.”

“Yeah, and you just saved me. I can never thank you enough.”

Kazuha looked up at the man. A smile was plastered on Gorou's face. It was genuine and peaceful.

“You’re pretty—ahem! I mean,” Gorou’s face was red and nervousness was heard in his voice, “you’re kind. You deserve a better place. Have you thought of, maybe, working in the capital?”

“No. I love it here and I still have something to do.”

Gorou rubbed his own head. “If you say so.”

“You can stay here, if you want,” Kazuha said, looking back at the bandage work on Gorou’s leg. “Once your wound has got better, the rest is up to you.”

🍄🍄🍄

Gorou proved to be more useful than any person with one leg Kazuha knew—which is no one. While healing, he insisted on helping around the house. He was clumsy—even clumsier that he could only use one leg. He accidentally kicked a bucket of water on the grand hall when Kazuha was mopping it. He also let some chicks escape from their cage when Kazuha asked him to feed them. Gorou didn't let Kazuha leave the house alone to run errands for some people. He insisted on accompanying him despite his still healing leg. Though most of the time, Gorou only sat on any available bench while Kazuha was doing his job. One time, he helped Kazuha carry a heavy package and dropped it accidentally to a puddle—which left Kazuha gawking for a full three seconds. As clumsy as he was, at the end of the day, Gorou was always able to clean his mess up.

Gorou made his days brighter than before. To think that Gorou would leave once he was fully healed somehow pricked Kazuha's heart.

"Ok, it's time to see if your wound has fully healed now." Kazuha kneeled before his guest. It's been a week now, and Gorou's wound should be healed. A week means that the mayor would return to try to steal his house. Kazuha hadn't had any time to think about it. His focus was mainly on Gorou.

"Why does a week go by so fast?" The canine sighed. "I love living here."

Kazuha unrolled his bandage gently. "My house is far from comfortable and this town is just so-so—not to mention that the upper hands are corrupt and greedy."

"Hmmm yeah, I've heard about it a few times while taking a walk around." Gorou rubbed his chin. Tail was brushing the bed he was sitting on. "Those kinds of people shouldn't have led a town. They're unreliable."

"Don't say that. If they hear it somehow, you're going to be in big trouble."

"That won't be funny. The jail isn't a proper place to live." Gorou sounded nonchalant. There wasn't any fear in his voice.

"As long as we follow what they want, it will be… alright."

Gorou's hand flew to Kazuha's cheek and his knuckles brushed against the blonde hair. "You're kind and precious. You don't deserve living under pressure like this."

Kazuha stared at Gorou's beautiful blue eyes. His heart skipped a beat. Looking at Gorou, feeling his gentle touch… Kazuha could feel peace entering his very being.

"Ah, thanks." He looked down shyly.

"You're cute when you blush—I mean it in a friendly way, okay!" The guest laughed awkwardly.

"I know." The blush on Kazuha's cheeks made his skin warm.

The bandage was unraveled. The skin was healed though it looked a tone lighter than the rest. Gorou tried standing fully on his own without crutches or Kazuha's help. Then he jumped lightly like a small child.

"Wow! I can feel my leg again! And I can jump!" He walked around the room, skipping excitedly, and accidentally kicked a porcelain vase. It broke into pieces on the floor. He stared at it for a second, before flashing an innocent smile at Kazuha. "Oopsie! It was uncalled for."

"That's okay! It's old, anyway." Kazuha went to get a broom in the corner of the room. "Let me clean it."

As he was about to sweep the broken porcelain, a loud bang from the main front door shocked them both.

"KAZUHA! GET OUT OF THE HOUSE NOW!"

Kazuha set the broom aside. "He's here."

"Who?" Gorou looked at him confusedly. "That person must have never learned about manners at school. Or did they even go to school at all?"

Kazuha sighed. "Stay here. I'll be back soon."

"Call me if you need any help to teach them a lesson."

Kazuha nodded, then left the room.

"KAZUHA! If you don't come out in three seconds, I'm going to break the door!" It was the mayor's voice. He was angry and impatient.

Kazuha bit his lower lips. His heart was pounding hard, but he needed to face it.

"About time you open this damn door." The mayor was standing before the door with his fully armored guards behind. His small eyes were studying Kazuha up and down. "You're not dressed to meet your mayor?"

Kazuha crossed his arms. His clothes were only an old tunic and pants, unfit to be worn to meet the upper hands. But he could care less. "Why should I?"

"That mouth of yours…" The fat man grumbled. "Where's the money?"

"Sir, I need some more time." Kazuha finally dropped his arms and lowered his voice. "It's been difficult."

"Again?" The mayor laughed. "You're funny! How long should I wait? A year?"

"Umm there's a family heirloom. You can take it." The blonde pleaded. "The rest—"

"My patience has run thin, Kazuha! I can't take it anymore!" The mayor snapped his fingers to the guards. "Seize him!"

Kazuha didn't bring his sword—it was a mistake that he would never forgive himself for doing so. The guards grabbed his arms, twisted them behind his back. Kazuha could feel pain taking over his body. He struggled under the guards' grips. They were a lot bigger and more powerful than him. He squirmed like a helpless insect. Even though he was able to pry a mountain cat's attack, a human and their greed were far more dangerous than it. A human would do anything to get what they wanted, even the most impossible thing.

"You're going to serve me, pretty boy." The mayor smirked and stroked his cheek. "Such beauty. Can't wait to enjoy my prize."

"No…" He was dragged like a criminal, and for the first time in a while, Kazuha shouted for help.

He never asked for help. He was a Kaedehara, the once noble family that was exiled from the capital. Rumors were spread about them being a corrupt family and such. Even most of the town folks didn't dare look at him. They were afraid of getting the same treatment as what had befallen his family.

He was always alone.

"KAZUHA!!"

While being dragged outside, Kazuha glanced at Gorou who just appeared in the main foyer. His eyes went wide and his fists were trembling.

"Who the heck is this lanky guy?" The mayor insulted, then glared at Kazuha. "You've been keeping a stranger in the house?"

"Please leave him alone!" Kazuha pleaded. "He… He's just a visitor!"

"Illegally keeping a visitor without informing me." The fat mayor sighed. "You know the rules, Kazuha! You should have informed me! The mayor!"

"Ah! So you are the mayor? What a shitty governing system you have here."

Kazuha thought he had finally snapped. That voice came from Gorou, the innocent and gentle canine man! For a week living with Gorou, Kazuha thought the guy was the gentlest of all. He wouldn't even hurt a fly.

"What did you say, kid?" The mayor stomped toward Gorou with another guard tailing behind.

"What a shitty governing system you have here!" The younger one repeated loudly. "Are you deaf or what? You want me to repeat it once again?"

"You…"

Gorou smirked. "No wonder this town feels like hell! I've seen and heard everything with my own two eyes and pointy ears. You are going to jail, old man!

Still being clutched by two guards, Kazuha saw the mayor throw a punch at Gorou's face. He shouted, thrashing. The next thing he saw, Kazuha couldn't help but drop his jaw to the floor.

"Hmph! Weak." The canine man caught the mayor's fist with one hand easily. He then twirled the fat hand and slammed him on the floor.

"Damn kid!" The mayor squirmed on the floor, clutching his back. "Guard! Beat him to pulp!"

The guard rushed forward. He was fully armored and had a sword in his right hand. Kazuha gasped, not ready to see the guard split Gorou into two.

Gorou dodged the guard's attack with ease despite his recently healed leg. His body slithered out of the way smoothly, and the guard's sword was stuck on the floor.

"Oh? Nice try. Your body is composed of water and fat, it seems. It makes you slow," he mocked, and kicked the enemy's back so hard he fell over and left the sword unattended. Gorou took the long and thin weapon, pointing it at the guard's face. "Any last word?"

Kazuha's mouth hung open. This guy can't be the Gorou he knew! Did someone take his place or something?

The mayor scrambled away from Gorou. He shouted to the guards holding Kazuha prisoner. "Go get him!"

They left Kazuha on the floor, dashing forward with weapons aimed at Gorou's back. Kazuha warned as the mayor slung an arm around his neck. He groaned, then thrashed and hit the mayor's face hard enough to send him rolling on his back. That guy wasn't physically strong like the guards. He was only powered by money and position. Disgusting.

Gorou sighed loudly when the guards launched toward him. With a swing of his sword, one fell down. Another swing, and the last guard lay down defeated. It was all done in a blink of an eye as if fighting had always been his everyday activity. Even the sword felt so right in his grip.

The canine man strode toward Kazuha, still with the sword in his hand. His blue eyes were sharp like the tip of the sword. There wasn't any smile. Kazuha stared at him for a few seconds. Fear washed all over him.

"Wa-wait… Gorou…" He crawled backward. "I… I can explain… But I…"

Gorou raised the sword and Kazuha shut his eyes. There was a scream, but it wasn't his. Also, there wasn't any pain. So Kazuha opened his eyes again only to see the mayor sprawled on the floor while holding a bleeding arm.

"That's what you get for touching Kazuha." Gorou's voice sounded indifferent—cold and merciless.

"Who… are you?" The mayor groaned in pain. "You're not… an ordinary… person!"

"Oh, I am an ordinary person." The sword wielder swung his weapon to the side. Ears were twitching and the tail was wagging low. "If you don't count my ears and tail, then I'm just a human like you. Does the name General Gorou of Watatsumi Army ring a bell?"

Kazuha forgot how to speak. Only his eyes examined the whole surroundings and how the greedy mayor shrunk under Gorou's gaze.

"Ears… and tail… Incredible fighting skill. General of Watatsumi…" The mayor glanced, then crawled on the floor to touch Gorou's feet. "My lord… please forgive me… Forgive your humble servant…"

"That's too late now, mister!" He snapped. "While I was disguised as a commoner and took a walk around the town, I heard people complain about how the upper hands treated them poorly. There's an indication of money fraud, slavery, the guards threatening civilians instead of protecting them, and many more. Just now, the way you treated Kazuha was… disgusting. You and your guards here will be sent to the capital for further interrogation. Of course, you are going to jail, too."

The mayor bawled loudly, kissing Gorou's feet and mumbled incoherent words. But the general brushed him off and whistled. A group of other soldiers dressed in gold and ruby armor emerged out of nowhere.

"Take him and these guards," he ordered. "I will stay here for a while."

Kazuha, still sitting on the floor, watched as the soldiers in golden and rose armor arrested the mayor and his guards. The cling and clang of their armors echoed in the foyer. Soon after, there were only him and Gorou there.

"Gorou—I mean, General." He brought a fist to his chest, feeling rumblings in it. "Th-thank you for saving me, also to get that greedy knave away from my family's house."

Gorou looked at him. The innocent look that Kazuha always remembered on his face had returned. He seemed a hundred percent different from the murderous general earlier.

"Kazuha, I'm sorry I didn't tell you the true story." He kneeled down so now they were facing each other. "Well, as you can see, I am the general of the Watatsumi Army. I was sent here by Her Excellency to investigate the town since there had been some… rumors. Turned out it was all because of the mayor. Actually, I intended to disguise myself as a commoner and worked in the mayor's mansion. But I got into an accident with that… mountain cat."

Kazuha was processing the whole incident. He couldn't say a word, and forgot to close his hanging jaw.

Gorou took his hands. "You've been so kind to me, Kazuha. The mission won't be completed without you."

"Oh… umm."

"Tell me, what can I do to repay you." Gorou kissed his hands. "It is only natural to do so."

Kazuha could hear the loud thumps of his heart. "Nothing… You don't have to…"

"Are you sure?" The other furrowed his brows before brightening up. "Ah! How about I treat you to a meal? Like a date or something."

"A… date?"

The general kissed his hands again. "You know, after living with you for a week, I think I like you!"

Kazuha's brain stopped responding.

"So?" Gorou blushed and his ears twitched—he looked so cute, Kazuha's heart melted. "Will you go on a date with me?"

"Yes…" Kazuha's brain returned to life. "Yes, of course! Of course, I will!"

"Hell yeah—ahem!" His face was crimson but he tried to stay composed. "Well, thank you! Kazuha, I'll make you happy!"

The blonde giggled. Tears suddenly rolled down his cheeks, and he threw himself to embrace the canine general tightly. Everything that he had been keeping in himself was poured along with the tears. His chest was light now. There was no longer the tightness that kept him stirring in his bed most of the night. There was only contentment.

He could hear the other laugh and pat his back. When Gorou pulled them apart, looked into his eyes, and pressed their lips together, it was the happiest moment that ever happened to the once lonely Kazuha.

Chapter Text

"Mr. General, your ears are so weird!" The boy sitting on Gorou's shoulders commented.

"Oh? You think so?" Gorou flicked his ears. "I usually hear people call them cute and stuff. This is the first time someone calls them weird."

The boy pinched the tips of his ears hard and giggled.

"Ouch! You shouldn't do that! It hurt!" The general protested.

"So they are real! I heard some kids say that they are fake." The boy rubbed the fluffy pointy ears with care. "Sorry, Mr. General."

"It's okay," Gorou said while trying not to sound too upset. It would hurt the boy if he did. "But don't do that again. Not just to me, but to everyone else too."

"Okay, sir!"

The breeze that morning was nice and calming. Gorou walked steadily on the path that led to a village by the shores. Dense foliage with the color of pearly green waved around them. The smell of the ocean tickled his sharp nose.

The boy sitting on his shoulders was giggling and chatting endlessly. Whereas, he cried and snorted a while ago before Gorou found him stuck in an otogi tree. The boy said he was trying to pick an Onikabuto perched atop the tree. The purple bug escaped his grip by a mere second and when he looked down to get back, he got scared. Thus, he was trapped in the tree for about an hour, crying and screaming with no one around.

"Is that your village?" Gorou inquired when the sight of a small fishing village came into his line of sight.

"Yes! That is my house!" The small boy cheered. "Mister, can you put me down here? I don't want to burden you more."

"Are you sure?"

"Um, yeah! Don't worry!"

Gorou lowered the boy and kneeled before him. "Next time, be more careful. Do not climb a tree if you're too afraid to go down by yourself."

The child nodded. "Thanks for helping me, Mr. General! Everyone said that you are kind and strong! They were right!"

Gorou grinned. "Now off you go, kid!"

The boy with big brown eyes took something from his pocket—a black hair tie with a small red ribbon. "This is for you!"

"Oh, thank you! I love this!"

"But your hair is short, you can't tie it," said the boy with teary eyes. "I… I want to thank you with a gift. This is all I have…"

"No worries. I can still make use of it…" Gorou pulled his bang up and tried to tie it, exposing his forehead in the process. It made a weird brown and white tuft of hair on top of his head. "See?"

"You look like a pineapple." The child grimaced. "Oh! You can give it to your special person! That samurai with pretty long hair! He can use it to style his hair. My sister does it a lot. He'll love it!"

Gorou's jaw hung open. Did everyone know about his relationship with Kazuha now? Even this small child?

"Sure! He'll love it so much!" Gorou decided to ignore it. He removed the hair tie from his bang and shoved it into his own pocket, then got up. "Be a good boy now!"

"See you, Mr. General!" The boy ran into the village and vanished behind buildings.

The general sighed. It was supposed to be his day off, but he couldn't just stay at home and do nothing. Even Kazuha had left the house by the first thing in the morning. So, Gorou decided to take a walk around the village, supervised some villagers delivering supplies to the granary, and by chance found the little boy stuck in a tree.

He still remembered the look on the boy earlier—face was drenched in tears, bubbling mucus under his nose. He was grateful to arrive on time before anything happened to the boy.

While taking a walk along the shores, Gorou spotted someone in the distance. It was quite far from the settlement now. Only cliffs, rocks, waters, and Watatsumi distinctive corals were all the eyes could see. The person was crouching before the body of a pristine shallow river. His head was covered by his pale hair and looked like a veil falling to the front. Hands were toying with the tips of the hair.

"Kazuha, what are you doing here?" Gorou approached him quietly so as to not startle him.

"Oh, General! About time! Could you pass me the scissors, please?" He held out a hand. A pair of scissors was laying on the bumpy ground next to him. 

Gorou crouched down and gave him the scissors.

Kazuha snipped the tips of his hair with ease. Tiny hair fell into the river, carried by the flowing water.

"Whoa! Why did you cut your hair?!" Gorou stared at the blonde samurai.

Kazuha flicked his hair back, and it fell gracefully on his shoulder. The morning sunlight fell on his now uncovered pale face, making an assortment of gentle lights on the skin.

"Who said I cut it?" He raised an eyebrow. "I only trimmed it."

Gorou blinked for a few seconds, then, "Oh. You're right."

The other studied him for a while. "Why aren't you wearing your uniform? And why are you here? Aren't you on duty? Have you been slacking off?"

"I'm not slacking off!" Gorou huffed and crossed his arms. "It's my day off. What about you? You disappeared before I woke up earlier. What were you up to?"

"I was going to trim my hair," he answered casually while pulling his hair to the side. Scissors in one hand. "It's getting long and the ends are splitting. It doesn't look nice."

"How could it happen?" Gorou dropped his hands and studied Kazuha's hair. Some of the ends were splitting like a snake's tongue. He had seen something like this before—usually in the shrine maiden's hair or Kokomi's. He always wondered how such a thing could happen.

"Oh, it's because my hair is damaged from being exposed to the sun too long," Kazuha explained while snipping some hair ends.

Gorou ran his fingers along his own brown hair. "Never thought that would be possible. And how do you fix it?"

Kazuha flashed him a smile. He handed the scissors to his partner. "Why don't you help me trim my hair?"

"Huh? What does fixing split ends have to do with trimming?" The general stared at the scissors confusedly.

"It's how you fix split ends."

"Oh! I got it!" The brunette positioned himself behind Kazuha, and pulled his hair gently. It wasn't the first time he touched it, but Kazuha's hair was something ethereal. Like the softest silk ever, smelled like fresh flowers and wind.

"Do you see any split ends? Please trim them." Kazuha was calm and collected as always. His eyes were shut tight, body was straightened, and legs were crossed. "I trust you."

Gorou gulped hard. "Okay, here goes nothing."

A snipping sound filled the air between them. Bits of hair fell into the flowing river. It was serene, quiet, and peaceful. Maybe it wasn't because of the sound. It was because Kazuha was here.

"Speaking about cutting hair," Kazuha started, "what do you think if I cut my hair short like yours?"

"What? Why the sudden?" Gorou stroked his silky blonde hair, put the scissors down and forgot to trim the rest. Instead, he pulled the hair into two parts and rolled them on each side of Kazuha's head. He looked like a little girl with twin buns he saw the other day.

"Mmm, just curious." Kazuha shrugged.

"Your long hair is pretty!" He unrolled the hair, then ran his fingers along it. He leaned closer to his partner's right ear, and whispered seductively, "And I can pull it when we're alone."

Kazuha responded by lightly bonking the canine's head with a bare hand. "Pervert!"

"Ouch…" The general pulled away. "If you keep hitting my head like that, you're going to give me brain damage!"

"Then stop being a pervert!"

Gorou giggled innocently. His hands started to play with Kazuha's hair again. "But seriously, I love your long hair. It's a distinctive trait! It makes you the Kazuha everyone knows!"

"Really?"

Gorou glanced at their reflection on the water. He saw Kazuha looking away with blushing cheeks.

"Sometimes, I want to keep this hair long. But other times, I feel like cutting it." Kazuha was looking at the reflection. "So I would look fresh and new."

"Maybe you should try a new hairstyle, instead," the canine suggested. His hands worked on the hair again, pulling it to the right side, and parted it into three parts. "I've seen my sister do this before. You'll be surprised!"

"Oh! I'm looking forward to it!"

His sister had very long hair that reached her tail. It was brown like his. Gorou often saw his sister styling her hair into a braid. It looked easy when she did it, and she did it so often that Gorou seemed to have taken some of her skill just by watching. Well, it was years ago, though, before Gorou joined the military and lived in the barracks.

"Is everything okay?" Kazuha asked.

"Oh! Yeah! It is!" Gorou's hand began to work again. "My sister did it like this. One part goes here, one goes there, and the last one goes this way…"

"I think I know what you're trying to do." The blonde in the white kimono smiled at their reflection.

"I've got the hang of this!" Gorou cheered. The memory of his sister braiding her hair served as a guide for him. Though Kazuha's hair wasn't as long as hers, it still made a great braid. "You got a hair tie? I need to tie the end."

"Umm, forgot it at home." Kazuha shrugged.

"Oh. I need to tie this or it will unfurl." He raked his brain for anything that could tie the hair. Some vines were hanging from otogi trees around them. They could be used to tie something. No. Vines should never touch Kazuha's precious hair.

"It's okay! We can do it again at home later." Kazuha tapped his boyfriend's hand.

"Oh!" Gorou snapped at the thought of the hair tie from the boy he saved earlier. He took the hair tie with a ribbon from his pocket and tied it neatly around the platinum blonde hair. "There you go!"

Kazuha watched his reflection on the water, tilting his head to the right to see his braided hair courtesy of Gorou. His eyes brightened.

"It's beautiful!" he breathed. "You're talented, dear general!"

Gorou laughed nervously, scratching his head. The braid wasn't that nice, to be honest. Some of Kazuha's hair strands were jutting here and there, twirled and lapped against one another in a peculiar way that gave an impression of wild vines. He knew Kazuha said so to appreciate his hard work.

"Where did you get this hair tie from?" The blonde toyed with his new hairstyle and ribbon.

"Oh. A boy gave me that after I walked him home."

"It's nice!" He faced Gorou, smiling brightly. The braid rested on his right shoulder comfortably. The hair tie with a red ribbon added a magical touch to his hair. "I love it!"

"You can keep it, then." Gorou looked away, trying to hide the blush on his face—he knew he was blushing because his face was scalding out of nowhere now.

"Thank you!" Kazuha turned back at their reflection, watching the braid and ribbon on the water surface.

Gorou encased him from behind with both arms, resting his head on Kazuha's left shoulder. The reflection on the water showed their smiling faces with little dusty pink on the cheekbones. The red ribbon gazed at them like a naughty little child trying to peek at them flirting with each other.

"You're pretty with anything. Be it long hair or short, braided or loose." He nuzzled their cheeks together, hands resting on the samurai's stomach, then planted a kiss on his partner's cheek. "I feel like, I can kiss you a hundred times!"

Kazuha giggled. A hand floated onto the canine's head. "Hey, cut it out! What if someone saw us?"

"Oh, let them. So they would know who this pretty samurai belongs to." Gorou shifted a little to nibble Kazuha's ear.

The blonde jolted. "Gorou!"

"Did I get you there?" The brunette let out an amused laugh.

"Oh, you think so? Let's see who gets who."

Hands yanked the collar of his kimono. Gorou was taken aback, yelping like a little child, and was slammed onto the ground. He was laying flat on his back, head was a little dizzy. Kazuha and his braid were looking down at him. In a split second, even before Gorou could react, the blonde kissed him on the lips. His dizziness vanished in the air.

"So?" Kazuha smirked. "Who won now?"

"Hmph. You've learned a lot, huh?" Gorou didn't mean to smirk back, but he just did. With both hands, he grabbed Kazuha's collar and rolled them over.

He was meaning to change their position, but the bumpy and somewhat slippery ground said otherwise. They rolled a little too far, and slipped, before plunging into the shallow river and almost completely submerged.

"Whoa!" Gorou was the first one to rise from the water, sitting on the river base full of smooth rocks. His head automatically turned to search for his partner. "Kazuha?!"

Kazuha rose next to him. He was completely drenched. Pale bangs were plastered onto his face.

"Seems like no one won this time." He sighed as he tried to squeeze his wet braid. "Too bad the braid is ruined."

"We're lucky the river is shallow and doesn't house some murderous fish." The older one got up from the river, flinging his tail and shaking his head as a dog would. Water was sprayed everywhere. The half-dried tail and ears puffed twice of their original size. He ignored the expanding fur, and reached out. "Let's go home! We need to dry our clothes before we catch a cold."

Kazuha took his hand and jumped onto his own feet. Droplets of water trickled down his face and clothes. "Will you braid my hair again?"

"Sure! I'm really good at it!" The canine boy joked.

"I love this new style, also this hair tie. I will cherish it."

"Anything to make you happy!" Gorou winked at his boyfriend.

"What if I want you to grow a beard? Will you do that for me?"

"Where did that come from?"

"It popped into my mind just now. What do you say?"

"No."

"Oh? But it will make you cooler!"

"Kazuha, sometimes you have the weirdest idea ever."

Kazuha responded by giggling innocently.

The two walked through the path that led back to their village hand in hand. Birds were singing, the wind was howling, and the sun was warm. It was a perfect morning to spend with a special person—despite being soaked to the bone. Gorou observed the hair tie around Kazuha's damp hair and also the satisfied look on his face. Maybe he could start collecting more hair ties for his beloved—though he wasn't actually the type to collect things. Well, it never hurt to do something out of his character as long as he could see Kazuha's lovely smile.

Chapter Text

No matter how long Kazuha stared at the man's photographs, he wouldn't pop out of them and embrace him.

Kazuha sighed for the umpteenth time that day. The tips of his fingers kept flipping page by page of his personal photographs album. His lover was in every photograph. He was smiling as bright as the sun, hair was blown by the wind, ears were captured in the middle of flicking, and his tail was shown as a blurry brown. Gorou in the photos looked adorable as usual.

“Kazuha, I know you're disappointed,” Beidou said across the table. "But can you stop flipping through the album and start eating?"

The blonde closed his album, then looked at the woman in red, holding a tiny cup. "Sorry."

"Uh, I feel so bad," groaned the woman with long hair in a bun. “Look, Kazuha. I know, our schedule to sail to Watatsumi was supposed to start two weeks ago. But circumstances forced us to postpone it. As soon as my business here is done, we will immediately set sail for Watatsumi.”

The Liyuean restaurant was filled with diners and distinctive songs. A singer dressed in a traditional outfit was on stage with a group of dancers. High-pitched sounds and the tinkling of musical instruments bounced throughout the restaurant.

“I understand, Captain Beidou,” said Kazuha, looking at the familiar singer. “I have no problem with the delayed schedule. I just… Nevermind."

Beidou crooked a small smile. "You can keep my words, kid."

"Of course." Kazuha put the album on his lap, and took the chopsticks from the side of his rice bowl. One of the dishes for dinner today consisted of sliced beef cooked in soy sauce with sesame and chopped Jueyeun chili. He started eating silently. The spicy and pungent chili almost choked him.

Gorou doesn't like spicy food. Kazuha recalled, when they ate at Uuyu Restaurant the other day and accidentally ordered ramen with extra spicy sauce, Gorou choked and coughed violently. His cough was so loud it made the utensils vibrate on the table. His nose was runny, making him look like a five-year-old who didn't know how to clean his own nose. The whole thing was so bizarre that the restaurant owner and diners watched them curiously like two theater performers at practice. Since then, they stopped visiting Uuyu Restaurant for a while, hoping that people would forget the embarrassing incident. Of course, no one forgot.

"You miss your boyfriend that much, huh?" Beidou asked quietly.

Kazuha's face felt like it just burned. Immediately, he glanced at the woman.

"It's sad, huh? To be separated from a loved one." Now, Beidou laughed bitterly.

“I'm used to being alone,” Kazuha muttered.

"Hey, hey, don't say that. No matter what you say, I know you really miss Pointy Ears. He's an… interesting guy. The kind of person you're going to miss every night, but sometimes also makes you want to hit his head with a spoon.”

"That's Gorou for you." Kazuha put the album back on the table, flipping to a random page. A photo of him and Gorou sitting under a giant lavender melon tree was shown. In each of their hands was a perfectly ripe purple lavender melon. The photo looked so alive that Kazuha could almost smell the sweet scent.

Kazuha forgot when the photo was taken, but he still remembered when Gorou brought all of the lavender melons home and pickled them. He said pickles could last a long time and could be used as rations on the battlefield.

Then, Kazuha tried Gorou's pickles and his mouth was filled with too much salt which made him throw up.

Beidou suddenly got up from the chair, circled the table, and lightly patted Kazuha's head. “Wait here, kid. I'll be back soon. Don't go anywhere, and don't try to swim back to Watatsumi on your own."

Kazuha snorted. "Aye, aye, Captain."

After Beidou left, Kazuha stared at the album. The album was a gift from the traveler. He also gave Kazuha a Kamera when they bumped against each other in Liyue the other day. Aether the traveler said, because Kazuha traveled a lot and had to be separated from Gorou often, Kazuha could start taking pictures as a keepsake.

Kazuha took so many pictures whenever he was with Gorou. Even though looking at the photos could cure his longing for a bit, but still, that longing wouldn't cease before Kazuha met Gorou in person.

The music stopped, replaced by a telling of Liyue's legendary stories. Kazuha glanced at the stage, and found the singer walking to his table—a man with a mustache took her place on the stage.

"Hello! Is this chair empty?” The young girl in a pink dress and a colorful headdress touched the back of an empty chair on the right.

The Inazuma samurai closed the album, and stood up. He took a few seconds to adjust his red shirt with five golden buttons on it, then said, "Please have a seat."

The girl wore light makeup that didn't hide her natural beauty. She sat gracefully, smiled, and nodded. "I'm Yun Jin. I'm sure you've known me already?"

Kazuha returned her smile while sitting down slowly. “Who doesn't know you, Miss Yun Jin. You are a star in Liyue. Being able to sit next to you like this is an honor for me.”

Yun Jin used one hand to cover her mouth as her melodious laughter rang out. “You are too kind, Mister Kaedehara.”

"Oh? You know my name?”

Yun Jin cleared her throat, and placed a pale hand on the table. Her nails were colored as red as a ripe pomegranate. “I heard it from Miss Beidou, and I've also been paying attention to you guys a lot. You and Miss Beidou always come here every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. But today, something is a little different with you, Mister Kaedehara.”

Kazuha tilted his head slightly. "Oh? Different?"

Yun Jin nodded, causing the dangling pieces in her headpiece to clatter as they touched each other. “Usually, you always sit quietly and listen to my singing solemnly. However, today, it seemed that you were not so focused. Was my singing not to your taste today, sir?”

Kazuha's hands were waved in front of his face. "No, no. There was nothing wrong with your singing, Miss Yun Jin. I was just… just restless.”

“Oh! Is there anything I can help you with?”

“No need. Soon, everything will be back to normal on its own.”

Yun Jin looked at him with a sad smile. "You are a kind man, sir."

“You are kind, Kazuha. So don’t be sad. Okay?"

Once again, Kazuha's mind was filled with that man's face and smile. Also, when he said the same exact words as Yun Jin's while placing a dahlia on his hair.

"You once told me that the bonds of those who crossed paths will never be broken. So, we will see each other again! Even though Watatsumi and Liyue are so far apart, as long as we always think of each other, no matter how far it is, we will always be close.”

After saying that, long ago, Gorou kissed his lips gently. The sweet taste of their lips colliding against each other made Kazuha's heart beat twice as fast. It replaced all of his anxiety and fatigue with happiness.

Kazuha laughed softly. He said to Yun Jin, “Thank you.”

“Ah, how about you pick a song for me to sing on stage?” Yun Jin offered politely. "Maybe it will make you feel better."

"Okay. It's an honor for me." The blonde samurai lowered the album onto his lap, quietly flipping through the pages. He got on a page, then looked at Yun Jin again. "Can you sing a song about rain and longing?"

"Of course."

The singer excused herself after that. Kazuha stared back at the album, carefully observing the page containing a picture of himself and Gorou. That time, the two took shelter in an old temple after being caught in sudden rain. Though Kazuha knew it would rain as he could read the weather, he actually enjoyed taking a stroll in the rain. Thus, he didn’t tell Gorou to prepare beforehand. They were soaking wet like two squirrels in a river. Kazuha's kimono was heavy as if it weighed twice as much. His hair tie was loose, and pale blonde hair was plastered on his face like a rag. In the photo, he smiled, though his brows were knitted. Gorou sat cross-legged next to him. One hand holding his dripping tail. His face was sullen, his lower lip pushed up like a grumpy puppy who had just woken up from a nap.

Music played along with Yun Jin's melodious voice. Kazuha turned his attention to the singer on the stage. The bright, shimmering stage and Liyuean signature music made him wonder what Gorou would think if he were here now.

The song told about memories of a journey through the forest after the rain—a long journey to the middle of nowhere with a loved one who was now far away. Kazuha felt his heart ignite. The song did tell about him and Gorou who were currently separated by the ocean now.

" Counting stars in the night sky with you, listening to you telling old stories. We picked love in the drizzle ." Yun Jin's singing took over the red and gold painted restaurant. People were watching the singer with sparkling eyes, just like Kazuha.

"I wish you were here," he muttered.

"Who do you wish was here?"

Kazuha let out a short laugh. "Of course you, General."

"Oh. Where’s your general right now?”

"Watatsu—" Kazuha's eyes widened. His head turned to the source of the sound, so quickly that he nearly dislocated his neck. Blonde hair slapped his cheeks, and Kazuha looked at the man with a smile as bright as the sun.

Was he dreaming?

The pointy-eared man winked at him. He looked relaxed in Liyue's traditional outfit, dominated by brown and black—a knee-length robe with slits on the left and right, and a pair of black trousers. There was no heavy armor clinging to his body. His tail swished to the left and right as usual. A fragrant scent of glaze lily emitted from his body.

"Gorou?" Kazuha took a deep breath, exhaled loudly, then folded his arms across the chest. The beats of his heart that went too far nearly cost him self-control. "What are you doing here? Doesn't Watatsumi need you?"

"Huh? That's what you say after I boarded a ship that almost sank in the ocean, almost threw up twenty-nine times during the trip, bought this fine suit, styled my hair and combed my tail, and then put on this expensive Liyue-style perfume?” The chestnut brown-haired man grumbled while crossing his arms. "Very well. I'm going back to Watatsumi!"

"You are…" Kazuha got up from the chair, looking down. His whole body shook violently and the tips of his fingers were numb. His neck was covered in a cold sweat.

"Kazuha?" The Watatsumi general lowered his tone. “I-I wasn't serious, okay! I'm not going back—"

Without another word, Kazuha embraced the man tightly. As his skin touched the soft material of Gorou's clothes, rubbed against the tickling brown hair, and his warmth transmitted into his pores, Kazuha realized that his boyfriend was indeed here right now.

"You're… real," he whispered.

"Hmm? Do you think I'm some kind of an illusion?"

Kazuha giggled. His face was buried into the crook between Gorou's shoulder and neck. "I miss you."

 "I know." Gorou wrapped his arms around Kazuha's back, caressing him gently. "That's why I came all the way here."

 "But how?" Kazuha freed the deadly embrace. His hand was still resting on Gorou's shoulder, while their eyes met. "What about your job at Watatsumi?"

 "I'm on leave," the man reported. “Her Excellency said I rarely take time off, so she allowed me a long, paid leave this time. At the same time, your return to Watatsumi has been postponed. So I thought, why didn't I just go to Liyue?”

Words died in Kazuha's throat. The next thing he could do was hug Gorou as tightly as he could.

"Oi! Get a room, you two!”

Kazuha freed his partner at Beidou’s loud voice. He took a step back, stared at the floor, and hoped the captain didn't see how red his face was now.

"Captain Beidou, I don't know how else to thank you for everything you've done," Gorou exclaimed. "You've provided lodging for me here, welcomed me at the port, and so on. You're really amazing! My greatest gratitude to you, Captain!”

Beidou chuckled. "Don't be like that, General! You have no idea how restless and moody Kazuha had been because of the delay to Watatsumi. I couldn't bear to see him like that! So when you sent a letter saying that you wanted to go to Liyue, of course, I was happy because that meant Kazuha would be happy too!”

“So,” Kazuha looked up at the two people, “all this was planned?”

"Of course!" Gorou answered as he hooked one arm around his shoulder. "You're happy, aren't you, by this surprise?"

Kazuha lightly hit his boyfriend’s chest. "Next time, don't give me another heart attack."

"Ouch! Stop hitting me!" he joked. "You often make me almost die of heart attack, too! So it's payback time!”

"Oh, yeah? We’ll see about that." Kazuha pinched Gorou’s right cheek hard.

 "Ow, it hurts!"

"Stop it now, kiddo! Let's go back to eating and enjoy the show," Beidou advised as she sat back in her chair. “Eat as much as you can! Especially you, General! Liyue food is so delicious! You won't find anything like this in Inazuma and Watatsumi!”

 Gorou sat next to Kazuha and took a bowl and chopsticks. His eyes lit up as he scanned the dishes on the table. “Everything looks delicious! Pick it up for me, Captain! I trust your taste!”

 "Of course! This is my favorite. The most delicious food in Liyue! You will definitely like it!” The captain immediately reached for the spoon in the bowl of soy sauce and chili meat dish.

 "Let me!" Kazuha interrupted just before Beidou scooped the food. He filled Gorou's bowl with stir-fried chicory and boiled meat. If Gorou ate Beidou's choice of food, the embarrassing incident at Uuyu Restaurant could happen again.

“Wow! It's delicious! Liyue food is amazing!” Gorou commented with his mouth full. “I love this song too!”

“Oh, that’s Yun Jin! Our favorite singer!” Beidou turned to the singer and the dancers on the stage. “Did she say hello to you earlier, Kazuha?”

 "Yes. She said I could request a song. This is the song I chose.”

Beidou sighed loudly. "Thank Rex Lapis, she didn't forget my request this morning."

 "Oh? So this was also part of your surprise, Captain?”

The captain grinned innocently.

"Can I request a song too?" The joy in Gorou's voice prompted a smile on Kazuha's lips. “Liyue is really awesome! I should have been here a long time ago! Right, Kazuha?”

Kazuha pecked him on the cheek. "Yes."

“Wow, that was… unexpected.” The general of the Watatsumi army giggled awkwardly with flushed cheeks. One hand rubbed the back of his head—his habit when he was embarrassed.

Kazuha couldn't keep his eyes away from the joy written on Gorou's face. Every time he laughed, chewed the food, and chatted with Beidou, there was a tingle in Kazuha's heart. The blooming love in his chest was intoxicating and soon, he forgot the anxiety that had plagued his soul for the past two weeks. Gorou's cheerful smile, his trademark awkward laugh, as well as his twitching pointy ears, were all Kazuha needed. Gorou was the absolute definition of any kind of happiness and luck in Kazuha's life.

Yun Jin was still singing as melodious as ever.

💝💝💝

Gorou's inn was near the restaurant, next to shops. It was grand, painted in red and gold like most Liyue buildings. It got late now, and people were starting to close their businesses. Kazuha held his boyfriend's hand as they went inside the inn. They walked upstairs and stopped in front of a door with a golden Geo symbol.

"Hey, come visit my room! It's awesome!" Gorou offered. His face was red, but Kazuha thought it was because he tried some Liyue liquor earlier.

"Just 'visit'?" Kazuha teased.

Gorou took his key, unlocking the door. "You can spend the night, if you want. The bed is big enough for two people."

"I see."

The door was opened a tiny bit and the brunette gave him a look. "Oh, I know what you mean."

Kazuha tried not to giggle by clearing his throat. His face was hot while his heart raced. Legs almost gave in.

He yelped when Gorou suddenly lifted him in bridal style. Their faces were almost touching.

"Wh-what are you doing?" The blushing blonde protested. "Put me down!"

A smirk on Gorou's lips indicated something else. He pushed the door with his shoulder. "Well, I can't. You asked for it."

"Oh." The other male decided to hide his ever-heating face by snuggling into the canine man's chest.

It's going to be a long night.

Chapter Text

"So this is where you've been hiding, huh? Though I didn't think I'd find you in this state."

As soon as the voice got into his ears, Kazuha slowly shifted from his current position. The water around him rippled, creating pearly white tracks glistening under the moonlight. He smiled at the figure standing on the bank.

"Hello, my dear," he said as softly as ever.

General Gorou looked somewhat amused and annoyed—Kazuha couldn't really tell since the only source of light was the moonlight and a few fireflies floating around and about.

The man put both hands on his hips, showing a tiny smile. "What were you thinking? Swimming at this time of hour? You're going to catch a cold, you know."

"Ah, about that. I'm going to be just fine." Kazuha agreed with his statement, but for now, he just wanted to feel the water on his skin. It was freezing, yet the remaining chills left by the body of water somewhat soothed his soul. Though the weight of his kimono served as an extra liability, it still felt right to him. He didn't think about removing his clothes before dipping into the water in the first place.

“Well, for one, it’s good to see you’re still fully clothed.” The brunette shrugged indifferently. “It’s gonna be a… problem if I find you… naked or something.”

“What if… I am?”

Even with the darkness, Kazuha could guess that Gorou’s cheeks were as red as a dendrobium in full bloom.

“Wh-what’s that supposed to mean? Besides, you shouldn’t take a bath here in the first place! It’s… in the middle of nowhere and—”

Kazuha giggled. “I was just messing with you, dear.”

The other male sighed and slouched down. “You’re always like that, huh?”

A pregnant silence fell between them for a full three seconds. Kazuha decided to splash some water on his face. It was so cold that his skin was almost frozen. Though so, it was refreshing.

"Care if I join?" Gorou's voice was so full of confidence, despite being embarrassed a few moments ago. One of these days, Kazuha needed to find out where he got that confidence from.

He glanced at the man and found him already stripping his own armor and piling them up next to Kazuha's folded haori and shoes.

"I don't think you take no as an answer." He stifled a smile.

His companion was now free of any heavy armor, shoes, and gloves. He looked a little bit more relaxed without those things. Gorou put a foot into the water, grimacing. "Ugh! It's freezing!"

"Having a second thought?" Kazuha teased.

"Nah. I've felt worse." The canine man wrapped his tail around his waist and proceeded to dip into the water. Faintly, Kazuha saw his ears flicking wildly. Gorou walked slowly to his position, leaving a trail in his wake. The water reached his chest, submerging his treasured tail.

In the middle of the pond, the two stood side by side. The moon was still hanging in the dark night sky. Trees around the pond were waving along with the soft breeze. Fireflies were floating around them now as if seeking warmth from their bodies. Their number was increasing. The tiny lights emitted from them were like stars on the water's surface.

"What's eating you this time?" Gorou asked. "It's kinda uncommon for you to be here of all places. Sure, I know you're in tune with nature—water, too, but this exceeds the usual thing you do."

"I only wanted to feel this fresh water.”

“Nah, I know that’s not the real reason,” Gorou brushed him off. “C’mon, tell me!”

Kazuha glanced at him, studying his side features. Gorou had a nice nose bone and jaws. His skin was glistening under the moonlight, and Kazuha had to hold the urge to touch his face.

“Looking at this full moon, I can’t help but be reminded of the time when I was away from Inazuma,” he started as he looked up at the sky. The full moon, looking like a perfect silver plate, was peeking through the trees. “At that time, I was on the ship with Beidou. The scent in the wind was different. It was the scent of danger.”

Gorou copied him. “I did feel it, too. It was a difficult time.”

“Though my heart was heavy, the moon reminded me of your face and voice,” Kazuha continued. He let his body fall onto the water surface and floated on his back. Both eyes were still focused on the full moon. “I told myself that time, the moon was as beautiful as you.”

“Whoa… You’re making me blush.” The other one rubbed the back of his head.

“But really, when I remembered you and your smile, I felt alright.” Kazuha moved his hands slowly on the water, making small crescents. “I felt as if I could get through everything just fine. And I wasn’t afraid to set sail back to Inazuma again that day. Even with the bounty on my head."

“You do know your way with words, huh?”

Kazuha kicked back the water and prompted himself up, standing eye-level with his partner. “Perhaps it's because you're here—my muse.”

"Oh, I see. Think I should be flattered?"

"Suit your—" He stopped suddenly when something touched his hips and pulled him into the water. He was submerged to the top of his head. The water was freezing and popping air bubbles filled his ears. For a second, Kazuha thought there was a monster or something. When he opened his eyes, through the layers of dark water and translucent moonlight, he saw Gorou's smiling face.

"What was that for?" Kazuha protested once he successfully left the water.

Gorou emerged beside him. Water droplets glided down every curve of his face and the tips of his hair. His ears were wet and thinner than usual. He was smiling from ear to ear. “Cool water should clear your head. That’s what I do—splashing my face with cold water or taking a dip—every time those memories return.”

Kazuha wiped his face. “Memories?”

“Yeah, memories of the war.” Gorou shook the water off his hair and shrugged. “I often get nightmares—I see people from the past and hear their voices. But there’s part of me that knows these people are not here anymore.” He looked down at the water. “They had fallen on the battlefield. I saw it with my own two eyes. It felt like war all over again.”

“Gorou…” Kazuha studied his boyfriend’s face. Gorou might seem cheerful and careful, helpful to others, and tried his best to keep his composure despite everything happening around him. But Kazuha had neglected the part that Gorou was also a survivor like him. Gorou fought on the front line and watched his comrades fall, and the guilt of being the survivor would always live with him.

Kazuha wasn’t the only one grieving here.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I know you’re feeling it, too. I’m not the only one having nightmares and all that.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m just being selfish,” Kazuha admitted. “I’m sor—”

He stopped midway when Gorou splashed him with cold water. Kazuha shut his eyes, and when he opened them again, he saw Gorou’s unamused face.

“Don’t be,” the brunette said, eyes as sharp as an eagle’s, “You’re not being selfish. You’re being reasonable. After all, you’re a human. It’s only right to be upset or just sad.”

The night wind blew Kazuha’s wet face. Fireflies danced around his companion, beaming the young man with sparks. With the full moon above his head, the stretching dark forest behind him, and the still water, he looked majestic.

“You know,” Gorou added, “when I start having those nightmares, besides the secret water technique, I have one more way—I think about the person I love. This person often thinks that he doesn’t need to tell anyone about what he’s feeling. He keeps everything bottled up. Then, one night he disappeared from his room, and I had to look for him. Turns out, this guy was standing alone in a pond! Because he suddenly remembered his past. You wanna know who this person is?”

Kazuha’s cheeks flared. He teased, “Who?”

The canine man walked around Kazuha slowly, threading the water and leaving wavy traces. He stopped behind Kazuha, then circled his arms around his waist and lifted him up. “This guy!”

Kazuha yelped. “Gorou!”

The general put him down and turned him around, looking into each other’s eyes.

“Just the very thought of you sends warmth to my chest and calms my racing mind.” Gorou’s words were followed by a soft touch on Kazuha’s cheek. “It’s a miracle—love is.”

Words left Kazuha’s throat. The next thing he knew, he had kissed Gorou on the lips.

“A bit bold, huh?” Gorou smirked.

“The blame is on you…”

Under the water, Gorou held his hands. “Well, you can try my secret techniques to clear your mind! I don’t always share secrets like these to others, unless you’re eligible or you’ve gotten my trust.”

“Will do, sir!” Kazuha giggled.

Gorou grinned and pushed him into the water. Kazuha shut his eyes and let his body sink with him. The cold water, the warmth of Gorou’s body, and the wet skin against each other. Kazuha opened his eyes slowly, adjusting to the water surrounding them. Through the dark water veiling Gorou’s being, he could make out the general’s handsome face. His eyes were gleaming, his smile was mesmerizing as always. Kazuha reached out for his face, gently stroking. His fingertips were somewhat numb, but he could still feel the faint warmth emanating from Gorou’s skin. He pulled the other closer and kissed him, encircling both arms around his neck and letting their bodies collide. It was no longer cold and suffocating. It was peaceful.

They both emerged from the water once their lungs needed air more than anything. Water droplets dripped, the wind froze their skin, and yet the moonlight was still as bright and beautiful as before.

“Let’s get out of here now,” Gorou said. His hands were on either side of Kazuha’s waist. He was soaked to the bone. All wet and trembling from the cold air and water. Chestnut brown hair was plastered to his face like some rag. “Don’t catch a cold now.”

Kazuha flashed a tiny smile, still keeping both arms on the other’s shoulders. He purposely ignored his wet white hair draping over half of his face and the water rolling down his neck. “Before that, let me tell you something.”

“Yeah? What’s that?” Gorou moved his hands up and down Kazuha’s waist slowly.

“You made me happy.”

Gorou pecked his lips, and once they were apart, he said, “You and your flowery words never cease to amaze me. If one can fall in love more than once with the same person, then I must have fallen in love with you so many times.”

“And don’t fall out of love with me.”

“Never.”

His chest was full of warmth and joy. As Gorou took his hand and led him out of the pond, Kazuha couldn’t be happier. He had Gorou, the one and only person to cleanse his mind and free him of all worries. The person he cherished the most in the world—his eternal love.

Chapter Text

To gather the flowers that one merchant asked, they had to climb the tallest mountain of Liyue. Well, to start with it, Gorou had no problem climbing. It was his hobby after all. He had scrapped every rock and soil of Inazuma, so climbing Liyuean mountain would be no problem at all.

"Are you okay there?" Kazuha asked. "You’re getting a little rusty."

Gorou looked up, finding Kazuha looking down at him from atop a cliff. The cool morning wind blew his pale hair and dark scarf. Somehow, the samurai had gotten far higher than him. Probably, it had something to do with his racing mind.

The canine general raised an arm to reach a protruding rock and level himself up. With another huff, he reached his partner's position.

Well, he did have a lot in mind. It was the third day since he arrived in Liyue. Though his status was on a paid leave and Her Excellency told him to relax, he still couldn't fully do it. For as long as he remembered, working and commanding the troops had always been his every day activity. His muscles had memorized every detail that he automatically woke up at 4 AM every morning, on or off duty.

He should set those thoughts aside. It wasn't like he wouldn't return to Watatsumi.

"Didn't know the Liyuean mountain can be this high," he admitted while wiping some sweat away from his face. The sun had just risen, bathing the whole mountain top with its pale ivory light. The horizon stretched as far as the eyes could see. He could make out Liyue Harbor in the distance—marked by its distinctive wide roof buildings and the sea water surrounding it. Gorou took a deep breath, taking the whole scent into his lungs. Liyue smelled like rocks and nature.

"Here are the flowers," Kazuha announced while crouching to pick some white flowers. "These are called Qingxin. Just three of them, and we're good to go."

Gorou studied the white flowers in Kazuha's hand. They looked like nothing he had ever seen before. "So we can brew them to make medicine?"

"Yes. Liyue has a long history of herbal medicine. People use traditional herbs like these ones. They believe in mother nature's gift." The samurai stood and carefully shoved the flowers to a woven bamboo basket strapped on his back. The basket was big enough to cover the whole petals without damaging them. "These flowers have a similar name to the government—but do not mistake them. Qingxin are quite rare and thus they are pricey, too. It is believed that these flowers have many healing benefits that you don't find anywhere else, since the flowers themselves are blessed by the Adeptus."

"They'll  make some perfect trading goods in Watatsumi," Gorou said, rubbing his chin.

"You'll have to talk to the Tianquan, then."

"That won't  be a problem. I'll talk to Her Excellency—" He stopped, then sighed loudly. "Somehow, I just can't  get my mind off work and Watatsumi."

Kazuha patted him on the head lightly. "There, there. You must be feeling homesick, no?"

"Very much so," he replied honestly. "B-but don't get me wrong! I like it here! Because you're here."

Kazuha giggled softly. "Let's go back to the village. The merchant must be waiting for us now."

"Can you carry the basket while gliding down?"

"Don't worry. It's not the first time I do this."

When Kazuha was shifting the basket from his back to his chest so that he could use his glider, Gorou heard some strange noises. His ears twitched, and he immediately turned to the source of the sound. His eyes went wide as he saw three large men emerge behind some bushes.

"Hey! Where are the flowers?" One of them shouted. He was taller than the other two, but his body wasn't as large, making him look like a malnourished crane. His tiny amber eyes found Gorou's blue ones and moved to the basket on Kazuha's chest. "You kiddos took the flowers??"

"As far as I remember, the flowers belong to no one," Gorou reasoned. "So, first come, first take."

The crane man snickered. "Who the heck taught you to talk like that to your elder?"

"Boss, we gotta teach those kids some lessons!" Another man—this one had protruding front teeth that gave an impression of a rat.

"And we can get the flowers back from them!" The last man was fat. His tummy was so round like the fried mantou Gorou had for breakfast before leaving the inn.

"Oh, no. Perhaps you want to think it over?" Kazuha warned softly, clutching the basket tightly. "I don't want anyone to get hurt."

"He's right." Gorou nodded while cracking his knuckles. "Though some good fights do it for me—letting out stress!"

"Gorou!" Kazuha sighed. "Remember what Beidou said? No fighting in Liyue or she'll throw you to the ocean."

"Ugh!" The canine man snorted.

Kazuha took a step forward, still keeping the basket to his chest. "My friends, I suggest you search another area for the Qingxin. I believe there are still many more. We need these," he glanced shortly at his basket, "for a sick person. This is an urgent matter."

The crane man groaned. "Who do you think you're talking to, kid?"

"We haven't  introduced ourselves, I believe."

"Pffft! Enough talk! Gimme the basket!" He reached for the basket, pulling it hard.

"No!" Kazuha shouted, gripping the basket tightly and pulling.

"Give! It! To! Me!" The basket was pulled to the man's side.

"It’s ours!" Kazuha pulled and gritted his teeth. The bamboo basket was back to his side.

Gorou forgot to close his hanging jaw. For a second there, Kazuha acted like a small child. This side of him was rarely shown. It was endearing.

"Hey! Let the basket go! It's ours!" He snapped out of the thought and tried to stop the childish bickering.

"Boss, I'll help!" The rat man proceeded to pull the boss' waist. The basket returned to their side.

Gorou growled. Seemed like talking would have no effect on them. He decided to help Kazuha by pulling on his waist. The basket was floating between them now. Kazuha and the crane man's hands were stretched far apart like some ropes.

"This will end you!" screamed the mantou man. He dashed between the two parties, and knocked the basket off their hands.

They fell on the ground, bumping their butts on the rocky ground. Gorou gripped Kazuha's waist and chest, embracing him as if they were alone right now while the blonde sat on his lap.

"Ah! The basket!" Kazuha shouted, looking at his basket rolling down the cliff. The lid was open and the flowers were scattered in the air.

Gorou pushed his boyfriend away and scrambled to the edge of the cliff. Their basket and flowers were already gone. The precious flowers that Kazuha picked and treasured were no longer here. Something was burning inside Gorou's chest and before he knew it, his claws and fangs were showing themselves off.

"You're going to pay…" He grumbled, then turned to the three men.

"Gorou, please don't let your emotions get the best of you!" Kazuha warned.

"Oh, I get it, alright." The other male smirked, cracking his knuckles loudly. "Just maybe… someone doesn't."

"Wha—"

Before Kazuha finished his word, Gorou threw a punch at the mantou man. His face was flat, and he was swift. The man was taken aback, unable to dodge. Gorou's fist collided with a jutting cliff nearby. A crack appeared on the rock, just right next to the mantou man's head.

"Oopsie! I missed," he mumbled and retracted his fist. Some tiny pebbles fell off the cliff surface.

The mantou man scrambled away and ran behind the crane man. They were now lining up like three little mice being cornered by a dog.

"Oh. Forgive my manners," said Gorou, facing the three men and rubbing both hands on the side of his pants. "Sometimes, it happens—I mean, my fist flying on its own. Good thing that it missed your face. If it hadn't,  I don't  know what would have happened. "

"Who are you??" The boss asked. "You're not an ordinary person…"

Gorou flicked his right ear. "What do you mean?"

"Gorou! Stop!" Kazuha warned again and ran up to him, pulling his right arm. "Let's  just leave them. We can go find the flowers somewhere else."

"Okay." He nodded. "Can we have something to eat after this?"

"Uh, sure." Kazuha smiled a little, and took his hand. "We can glide down from here. I think some flowers grow on the cliff over there."

"But your basket is gone…" The other Inazuman drooped his ears. "How do we carry the flowers?"

"I can hold them."

"Okay… Tell me if I can help you with anything. I don't want you to hurt your," —as if on cue, Gorou spontaneously turned around and punched the rat man who happened to try to ambush him from behind— "hand."

The enemy tumbled down on the ground, rolling like a bread and was covered in dirt. His comrades raised him up, and the three of them huddled up together like some baby animals seeking warmth. They looked at Gorou as if looking at a dangerous criminal.

"Oh, my! Forgive me!" Gorou exclaimed, and didn't feel sorry at all.

Kazuha sighed. "If Beidou hears about this, you'll be done for."

"But they were trying to attack us! I can’t just stand still,” he mumbled.

“Now, now.” Kazuha sighed once more, then approached the three men—the man whose cheek was punched by Gorou was rubbing on it, while the other two were looking at the Inazuma men in horror.

“What are you gonna do to us now?” asked the boss.

“Nothing. Just, remember to not try to attack us again. We do not want to hurt anyone, and fighting is meaningless,” Kazuha warned with the softest voice ever—Gorou doubted that it meant he wasn’t upset. Kazuha’s voice had always been so soft, but the meaning behind his words were always sharper than any blade.

“You kids are—”

“Did I make myself clear?” Kazuha smiled and one hand was on the hilt of his sword. “Or not?”

Gorou could feel the fur on his tail standing high. The enemies’ faces were turning blue. One thing about Kazuha to note was he was always serious about what he said.

“Let’s go!” The samurai in black kimono reached Gorou’s place and tilted his head a little. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”

“Ahem!” Gorou composed himself. “It’s nothing. Let’s go!”

They left the three men on their own. On the edge of the cliff, before dispatching their gliders, Gorou heard the men shuffled closer to them. He took a start, and turned around only to see the three men lining up neatly on their knees.

“What the?” He blinked a few times, confused.

The boss clasped his hands in front of his face. “Masters, forgive us for misbehaving! We admitted our defeat, and we would like to become your disciples!”

“We have never met people with such prowess as you!” the second one, the man with buck teeth, said. “Please, accept us!”

“We beg you, Masters!” The fat one bent down so low his forehead was touching the ground.

“We are strong and we can climb any cliff faster than anyone else,” the boss added.

Gorou saw a flashback of his time in the army when young people were begging to join even though they had zero fighting experience. In the past, he would fold his hands on his chest and take a deep breath. It was a difficult time, and recruiting new soldiers was one of the top priorities. But now, the war has ended. There wasn’t any need to recruit new people.

“Well, we don’t teach how to fight,” Kazuha said before Gorou spoke up, “but we do know how to utilize your strength.”

“Kazuha, what are you talking about?” Gorou gripped his boyfriend’s shoulder. “These guys are bad news!”

“Oh, don’t worry, dear.” The blonde brushed him off and took another step. He was now standing before the three men. “Before going any further, tell me why you were looking for the flowers in the first place.”

The boss looked up at him. “We heard that the flowers are expensive. We wanted to sell them for profit because… no one wants to employ us. They said we look terrible and will scare people away. But we need money to survive, so we forage for things on the mountains, like the Qingxin, to sell. Just that.”

“Doesn’t mean you can just snatch other’s.” Kazuha shook his head. “But I acknowledge your strength and agility. You three are very great climbers. You are going to be very great foragers!”

“Thank you, Master!” The three spoke in unison and bowed.

Gorou stood next to his partner. “What are we gonna do with them?”

Kazuha eyed him. “You’ll see.”

***

By the time they got to the city, the sun had left the sky. Gorou watched as street lamps glowed golden on the streets of Liyue Harbor. People wearing robes and smelled of spicy food were passing him and Kazuha by. Street vendors and shops were still open. In fact, there were more vendors than before. Some vendors even called them to try some of their specialty food.  Liyue sure amazed him more than anything.

He followed Kazuha to the merchant’s shop. Trailing behind Kazuha were the three men. Each of them clutched a few Qingxin. Gorou walked in the last row. He needed to watch over them so they wouldn’t do weird stuff—also to make sure they didn’t drop the precious flowers.

“Mr. Sui Ling, good evening!” Kazuha greeted as he entered the merchant’s shop.

Sui Ling stood from a small stool. He was a young man with a thick mustache and thin black hair. The merchant’s face glowed with relief. “Kaedehara! Mr. Gorou! I’ve been waiting for you. How is it going?”

Kazuha flashed him a smile. “Everything is just fine. I got so much help from my partner and our new friends.”

“Put the flowers there,” Gorou ordered sternly while folding both hands on the chest.

“Yes, sir!” The three men did as they were told. Their flowers were lined up perfectly on the table. Once they finished, they stepped back behind Gorou like the obedient disciples they were. Gorou didn’t remember taking them as his disciples, though. Kazuha only said that these men could be an extra hand to help them gather Qingxin.

“Thank you so much, Kaedehara, Mr. Gorou,” said Sui Ling a bit awkwardly. “With some of these flowers, I can make medicine for my father. But there are so many. Wh-what should I do with the rest?”

“You can sell them, if you want.” Kazuha nodded. “Also, these three gentlemen helped me gather them. If you’d be so kind, you can hire them to gather more Qingxin in the future. They are expert climbers and they know spots where the flowers grow.”

Sui Ling looked at the men and smiled. “Very well. I believe that your intuition never fails, so I will hire them right away.” He turned to the silent men. “There’s an empty room you can use in the back, if you want.”

The three men looked at each other and got on their knees. They bowed and bawled.

Gorou dropped his hands. “Wow. Didn’t think this was your plan.”

Kazuha winked at him. “Let’s go back to the inn, then.”

They left the shop while the Liyuean men waved them goodbye. Once they were a little far away from the shop, Gorou reached Kazuha’s hand and held it tight, interlacing their fingers.

Walking next to him, he asked, “Why were you so kind to them?”

Kazuha glanced at him. “Do you need a reason to be kind?”

Gorou felt his cheeks heated up. “Well, no. I guess. But they practically tried to attack us!”

“They were in a tight situation, Gorou,” Kazuha said, moving closer so that their shoulders were touching. “They had no choice, but now they have learnt their lesson and they have a job! Their ability won’t go to waste. Just like them, you can also convert anger or any disruptive feeling into strength to do goods, instead of fighting or the likes."

Gorou widened his eyes. "Now that you mentioned it, I did let my emotions get the best of me before. Should've apologized to the guys."

"Well, we'll go back to the shop tomorrow. For now, we're going to have dinner."

“You always amaze me, you know.” Gorou lifted his hand and planted a soft kiss on it. “I’m so lucky.”

Kazuha blushed and chuckled. “I suggest we try some chop suey . It’s my treat.”

“What’s that? Sounds delicious!” His tail was wagging like an excited puppy. “Let’s go!”

Kazuha pulled him and skipped through the crowded street. Golden lights bathed his body, creating shimmering crystal-like dust on his pale hair. The wind was nice that evening, blowing his kimono softly. His face, his kind ruby eyes, and the smile he wore that time were a sight to behold. Gorou grinned and decided that he was the luckiest person alive to have Kazuha’s heart all for himself.

Chapter Text

The scent of mint and salty seawater rushed into his nose. The faint sound of bells rang out among the crashing waves, echoing along the cries of cranes circling the purple sky. Thunder and lightning were everywhere the eyes could see. Electro was everywhere that Gorou could almost feel it on his skin. He flicked his left ear when a few bright pink petals flew before him. His blue-green eyes followed the tiny blooms and the wind blew them out of sight in no time.

“Didn’t think to find a sakura petal here of all places,” he commented, looking at his partner.

His companion was playing on the shores with a small crab, threading the sand to follow the animal. Soft laughter like chimes of a glass bell was heard from him. The samurai in black kimono crouched down when the crab hit his leg and tumbled backward, laying on its shell. He picked the crab carefully and returned it to the proper position. The crustacean darted past him, then dug into the sand in a hurry and was gone.

"Are you done playing with the crab?" Gorou joked.

Kazuha got back on his feet. "Poor little thing."

“You sure this is the place you wanted to show me?” Gorou asked, putting both hands on his hips. He looked up and played with his nose. The scent of mint was real. It was so faint that it was almost taken over by the salty seawater and the burnt smell of Electro. “There’s electro everywhere. It’s biting my skin and I don’t think my tail likes it.”

Visiting Seirai was Kazuha's idea. He said he wanted to show Gorou a place where magic happens. It sounded strange and crazy, Gorou almost immediately brushed the idea off. But if it was Kazuha, then it shouldn’t be as strange and crazy as he thought. After all, Kazuha was magic himself—for making Gorou fall head over heels for him and believing in even the weirdest shit ever.

But when he set foot on this particular island, he started to wonder. No, he didn’t doubt any of Kazuha’s intentions. Kazuha could bring him to a scalding pond and tell him to take a bath there, and Gorou would do it right away with no question.

"Do not fret, my dear,” Kazuha said, placing himself next to Gorou. “Did you see the sakura petals in the air?”

“Yeah. What about them?”

“They are a sign that we are closer to our destination.” Kazuha took his hand, interlacing their fingers and tugged on it. “Let’s go!”

Before Gorou could say anything in response, the other one had pulled him toward a hill in the distance. As he ran, feet trying to match Kazuha’s steps, he brushed his pocket with a free hand. The thing hidden inside was still there.

The small hill was a house of so many sakura trees. There was a house in between the dense foliage. So there was the source of the falling petal Gorou saw earlier. Tiny bells hung by a long thread in the branches made soft chimes. Mints were among the lush green bushes. But those were not what stole his attention. Instead, it was the fact that there were a lot of cats around.

“Cats?” he mumbled.

“Cats!” Kazuha confirmed.

More and more cats were frolicking around a grove of wild mint. Some were hidden behind bushes as green as jade. Others hid in the branches, behind large rocks shaped like a cat's head, and some even ran around cheerfully. The sakura petals were falling like rain, shimmering in the sunlight. Some got caught in Gorou's brown hair, creating an image of a pink crown. A very old-looking building was in the middle of the hill. This place looked like heaven. Heaven for cats, of course.

“There are more cats,” Kazuha informed and let go of Gorou’s hand. He skipped forward like a little kid—a rare side of him. The young man seemed to be very enthusiastic. His red eyes never left the cats, as if he was trying to remember every cat and give each of them a name in silence.

“Is this the magic you wanted to show me?” Gorou asked.

Kazuha was crouching before a few kittens under the shade of a giant sakura tree. A mint was in his hand, swaying up and down. The kittens were meowing softly and jumping to catch the mint. Kazuha giggled. “Maybe.”

“Maybe?” Gorou raised an eyebrow. “Can’t you say something clearly without confusing me more than ever?”

Kazuha stared at him for a full three seconds, then smiled. “Maybe.”

“Argh! You…” Gorou cleared his throat and quickly erased the sudden thought of pinching Kazuha’s cheeks. “Ahem! Very well. Where shall we go next?”

Kazuha pointed to the south. “Over there!”

Gorou shrugged. His eyes followed the samurai who walked to the south. His back was getting smaller, and the soft breeze blew his white ponytail. For a reason, as Gorou pressed the thing hidden in his pocket, his heart thrummed. The back of his neck grew cold and his chest grew tight.

“Gorou?”

The said man snapped out of his thoughts when Kazuha called his name. Sighing, he decided to follow the maple samurai.

There was a small shrine in the middle of the hill. The wooden floor creaked every time he stepped on it. The shrine smelled of wood eaten by termites. Seemed like no one had taken care of it for a very long time.

"Oh? Someone's coming!” cried a woman.

Gorou gasped when he saw that the woman's voice came from a black cat jumping over a pile of logs in the center of the shrine. The cat landed gracefully on the logs, then stared at him and Kazuha.

"Did you just talk?" Gorou almost shouted the question, one hand was pointed to the cat's face.

The cat's big yellow eyes rolled. “You are very rude, young man. I may look like a cat, but I am the high priestess of this shrine! My name is Neko, and this is Asase Shrine.”

"Oh, I see." Gorou rubbed the back of his head. “Forgive my manners.”

"You should be more careful of your choice of words, Gorou. Especially around this sacred area," said Kazuha, who suddenly appeared at Gorou's side. There was a small smile on his lips. “Perhaps the seawater somehow disrupted your way of thinking, my dear?"

"Yeah, somehow—I mean, I was just… tired. I guess."

“There, there. You can relax for now. Release all those burdens out with me. Here, you can be free as the wind and experience the true beauty of mother nature’s gift,” Kazuha suggested with that soft voice of his. “I know you’ve been so busy lately that you woke up in the middle of the night and disappeared without a trace.”

Gorou felt an invisible slap on his face. “W-what? You know—I mean, what are you talking about? I didn’t disappear at midnight lately! I-I was sound asleep in my room!”

Kazuha huffed a laugh. “You’re not the most creative liar I’ve ever met. By now, I’ve learned a lot and I can almost read you like an open book. But worry not. Even though I knew you disappeared at midnight recently, I didn’t sneak up on you whatsoever. I know you’re a very busy man, so I let you do your business with no interference.”

Gorou decided to stay put.

“Anyway, Ms. Neko,” Kazuha shifted his attention to the priestess cat, “do you need any help?”

"Actually," said Neko casually. “I want to ask you to find three bad kitties who just stole dinner. They're around here. Please bring them here. Meow, meow."

"Uh, what?" The general was stunned and glared at his partner. “Is this what we came here for? Where’s the magic you talked about, Kazuha? I don’t think we’re going to find it by searching for… kittens.”

“You’re so rude, young man with pointy ears and a tail,” Neko scolded. “What was your name again? I’m going to put you on the list of bad kids.”

Gorou jolted up. “What’s that supposed to mean?! And I’m not a kid!”

Kazuha patted Gorou's shoulder, then walked in front of him so that now he was facing Neko. “Leave it to us! I love cats, so I'll definitely be helping."

Even though he said that, when Gorou looked into the samurai's eyes, he could clearly see a glimmer of sadness there. The teasing and cheerful Kazuha earlier suddenly disappeared in the blink of an eye.

***

Gorou hated searching for these kittens. They escaped from his grip, sneaking behind bushes and rocks like ghosts in the blind night, then suddenly appeared to attack Gorou's tail with small claws. They cried non-stop while dangling Gorou's tail as if it was a toy—and Gorou had to endure the pain as their tiny claws and teeth stabbed his skin. Luckily, he managed to keep the two kittens away from his prized tail and lifted them up, away from the said tail.

"There's still one more kitten," he mumbled, walking back to the shrine to hand over the two little captives in each of his hands. The kittens were still meowing loudly and reaching toward Gorou as if asking for his tail again. “No, gentlemen! My tail is not a toy! This tail is a valuable asset of the victorious General Gorou! Do you understand?”

He was feeling a little insane now.

“Oh, you caught those two little thieves, rude man with a long tail!” Neko exclaimed from the top of the pile of logs. There was a basket with holes and a lid next to her. "Here, here! Put them in here!”

“Please stop calling me ‘rude’. My name’s Gorou! I know I’ve done a stupid thing because that’s just what I am,” Gorou grumbled as he put the kittens into the bamboo basket. They meowed in terror as soon as the basket was closed. “I often let my emotions get the best of me. I’ve tried everything to control myself, but yeah, I don’t know why I keep losing against my own emotions.”

“Meow, meow. That’s because you’re young.” The cat purred.

Gorou sighed loudly. “Thanks for the reminder.”

“So, only one thief is left," said Neko, “Your boyfriend, the maple-scented boy, went to the hill to look for it. It’s been a while, though.”

“Wait. B-boyfriend?” Gorou felt his cheeks burnt. “How did you know? Did Kazuha tell you?”

The black cat rubbed its face with a front paw. “Meow, meow. You don’t look at someone with yearning if you don’t have any special relationship and feelings for the person. Just one look at the boy, and I know he and you are in a serious relationship.”

Gorou tried to keep himself steady, though his knees were shaking terribly.

Neko purred. “Your boyfriend seemed sad. Are you guys still fighting?”

Gorou waved one hand in front of his face. “What? No, we’re not fighting. Where did you get the idea from?”

"Meow, meow. You should see it for yourself, then.” Neko got down from the pile of logs, then circled the basket containing the two captured kittens. “I will keep an eye on these children. Go find your boyfriend. Don't let the slightest ignorance separate you, for no one knows how long this whole togetherness will last. The wind can change its direction, so can a person’s will."

Despite the various questions in his head, Gorou decided to comply.

The sun was already leaning to the west by the time he reached a hill in the south. Grass and mints grew as tall as Gorou’s knees. The sea stretched below, golden in color with magical twinkles bouncing across the glass-smooth surface. His eyes went wide when he spotted a giant cat made of clouds in the sky. It was so real that for a second there, he thought the cat would turn its face to him.

He stopped when the sight of Kazuha’s black kimono and white-haired head peeked through the blades of grass. The young man was crouching in front of a tiny kitten with snow-white fur, hidden by the grass. He was wiggling a catnip in one hand. The kitten tried to grab it with its small paws.

“There you are, Kazu,” Gorou called. “Looks like you’ve found the last kitten. Why didn’t you return it to Neko?”

Kazuha didn’t turn to look at him. "I thought we could play here for a while longer.”

He sounded upset, just like what Neko said. Gorou bit his lower lip, and took a deep breath. “What’s gotten into you? You don’t sound like yourself.”

The samurai looked up at the sky. “The sky is beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Ah, yes. I’ve been meaning to ask you about it.” Gorou stared at the gigantic cloud cat. “Is this the real magic you talked about?”

“Yes.”

Gorou crouched beside him, studying his face and eyes, taking in his beauty. They were very close, almost touching. He was able to smell Kazuha's distinctive scent that gave off the sensation of autumn. “I love it, you know. Thanks for taking me here.”

“Sure.” Kazuha nodded. Strands of light blonde hair waved in the cool breeze. "You’ve been so busy lately, so I thought I could take you out for an adventure and show you this magnificent sky of Asase Shrine.”

“You know, I wasn’t upset or anything just because we had to look for the kittens,” Gorou admitted. “It was just me being an idiot.”

The other laughed softly and turned to the brunette. His smile was genuine and gorgeous—Gorou could pass out just from the view of his smiling face this time. A second later, his smile dropped. “I’m leaving Inazuma again soon. Captain Beidou said, she had business to do in Snezhnaya which meant that all of the Alcor’s crew had to go as well. This time, we’re going to be away for much longer than usual.”

“Hey, what if you quit the job and move in with me?”

Kazuha giggled. “I want to, but I still have promises to keep to Captain Beidou.”

“Ah, I see.” Gorou sighed. “I’m used to being alone without you by now—which is so lonely.”

“I’m sorry.”

Gorou shook his head. “What? Don’t apologize! It’s not your fault. None is.”

Kazuha was silent, but a smile was shown on his lips as well as a faint blush on his cheeks. He looked down with both hands drooping limply. The grass he had been playing with was now on the ground. The cat seemed to understand Kazuha's changing mood and also stopped playing.

"I want to stay with you longer," he muttered. "But, every time the Alcor lands in Inazuma, it's never for a long time. We can only spend so little time together before I have to go again. It’s… unfair."

"Kazu…"

"Sorry." He laughed bitterly. "I shouldn't bring it up. It sours the mood."

"Hey, look at me." The other gripped Kazuha's arms and the both of them looked into each other's eyes. "Never feel sorry for something that's out of your control."

A smile appeared on Kazuha's pretty lips. "You're right."

For a full three seconds, they swam in each other's deep irises. Gorou swore that Kazuha's ruby eyes were intoxicating, mysterious. His lips were delicate and just the perfect size. Just then, he leaned closer, and in one heartbeat, Gorou kissed Kazuha's lips.

Time stopped ticking right then and there. The only sound was the soft breeze passing through the foliage and Gorou's intense heartbeat. He didn't plan on ending the kiss anytime soon. He just wanted to be there, with Kazuha, feeling his existence, giving him love in return. Telling Kazuha that he was here to love him no matter what.

The gentle breeze cooled his burning cheeks. When Gorou decided to finish the kiss, he looked straight into Kazuha's ruby eyes.

"Kazuha," Gorou said, holding his arms and they both stood with shaky legs. “Even if you’re far away from Inazuma, know that I always wait for you here. So, keep smiling and think of me. Can you do it for me?”

Kazuha blinked a few times, then finally smiled and nodded. "Yes.”

“And…” The brunette took a deep breath, puffing his chest and shoved a hand into his pocket. The thing inside it was cold as the tips of his fingers brushed on it. Gorou pulled the thing out, and reached for Kazuha’s left hand to slide it into his left ring finger.

“What is—” Kazuha’s wide eyes were locked on the pearl ring on his finger. The pink pearl stood majestically on the silver ring. It was glowing like the moon, reflecting the sky, clouds, and Kazuha’s ruby irises.

“You saw me sneaking at midnight, right?” Gorou scratched his head and looked away, feeling fire on both cheeks. His chest was tightened and it was getting difficult to breathe, let alone speak. The tips of his fingers were freezing, as did the back of his neck. He thought he was also going to throw up. But he continued, “I was… I was collecting some sango pearls for the ring. Got some pearls, but they weren’t the best quality, so I had to look for some more. In the end, I got this one big pearl and the jewelry maker said it was just the right quality.”

“I heard that,” Kazuha was shaking, “a ring made of sango pearls is special on Watatsumi island.”

“Yeah.” The canine man huffed once more, before looking at Kazuha straight in the eyes. His inside was churned, heart was creating a loud thump that he was afraid Kazuha would hear. Everything looked like a blur. His head was so light that he wanted to faint right there and now. He took Kazuha’s hands, kissed them and the ring. And he said, “Once you return to Inazuma, let's get married.”

Kazuha’s mouth was open, but he didn’t say a word. Tears were welling in his eyes. Cheeks were so pink like a few sakura petals flying in their direction. He pressed his lips together, and smiled as the tears rolled down his cheeks.

“You are always full of surprises, General,” he muttered, wiping the tears away.

"So it's a ‘yes’?" Gorou scratched the back of his head that didn't itch, still feeling his heated-up cheeks and thundering chest. “Or maybe you need some time to think? Well, I have no problem—”

The words died in his throat as soon as Kazuha jumped to embrace him. Gorou lost his balance and fell on his butt, clutching the samurai’s back as the latter buried his face into the crook of his neck. The grass, wildflowers, and whatever there were scraping their skin. The little kitten ran in a circle around them as if it was having fun watching the two men fall to the ground.

“Whoa! Kazuha?” Gorou panicked. “You okay?”

“Yes.” Kazuha nuzzled into his neck with such force that the two of them were now laying on the grassy ground. He fell on top of Gorou, brushing their bodies together. “I do. I do!”

“Come again?” Now, Gorou thought his brain had stopped responding.

Kazuha lifted his head a little, then captured the other’s lips.

Gorou melted into the kiss, and pressed Kazuha’s body so strong they almost became one. His heartbeat calmed down, his body was no longer in tremors like before. His mind was filled with Kazuha, Kazuha, and Kazuha. The one he cherished, the one he was going to share life with. The only person owning his heart and soul.

They parted and stared into each other’s eyes, then burst into a fit of laughter.

Kazuha got onto his feet. He picked up the white kitten, carrying it as he would do to a baby. "It's time to return to the shrine."

Gorou jumped and stood up, nervous. “So, we’re not just boyfriends now? We’re—ahem! Fiances?”

The samurai looked at Gorou with a smile and blush on his cheeks. Yes!"

Gorou's heart skipped a beat as the breeze patted his hot face. As the golden sun fell on Kazuha’s pearl ring, as the wind blew the young man's loose clothes and platinum blonde hair, Gorou was sure that nothing would ever go wrong between them. That they would be reunited soon. That their genuine love would go on living forever.

Chapter Text

“According to Her Excellency’s newest volume of directives, a simple gaze into your enemy’s eyes will tell more than words can ever be. One can find out what the enemy is thinking just by doing that.” Gorou’s voice was solemn and gentle, just like the way he always had. “I should practice more.” 

Kazuha glanced at his partner, giggling a little. “Maybe you should.”

Under the starry night sky, Gorou’s eyes glowed brighter. For a second, Kazuha thought he had just seen the most beautiful pair of gems in his life. It was as blue as the ocean and full of life. Full of love. Through his eyes alone, Kazuha could tell how hard life had been for Gorou—the war, the duty to keep his troops in line, and the guilt he was holding onto each time a brother in arm fell on the battlefield. Though so, those weren't the only ones shown. There was also valor, loyalty, and honesty. As a wanderer, it was like a job for Kazuha to study others’ eyes before deciding on a strategy and striking the correct action. Her Excellency’s directives weren’t wrong.

The general lay down on the grassy ground. His turquoise yukata was slightly loose around the collar, exposing his toned chest and collarbone. Both hands were folded behind his head as a pillow. Those beautiful, gem-like eyes were staring far into the night sky where a single silver moon resided. He flicked his pointy ears playfully and said, “The moon is beautiful tonight.”

A cool breeze filled the minimum gap between them. Kazuha hugged his knees and listened to the night birds singing in the distance. The hill they were occupying now was absent of any other human—it was one of the secret hills Gorou found in his patrols days ago. Dense trees were on their left and right, billowing in the breeze and the distinctive scent of Watatsumi soil. The grass he was sitting on was soft like a make-shift cushion. Watatsumi Island at night was even prettier than ever. Perhaps it was because Kazuha visited the island after a long sail with the Alcor. Perhaps, it was because Gorou was here. Just the two of them there and the world was a hundred percent more peaceful.

“Let’s practice!” Gorou tugged on Kazuha’s scarlet yukata sleeve, prompting the samurai to turn his head.

A few minutes ago, Gorou had this solemn and mature look on his face. But now, he looked much more relaxed. Almost childlike. Kazuha could battle his way through anything just to see that look on his beloved’s face again. After all, Gorou’s happiness was on the top list of things he wished to achieve.

“Come on! Look into my eyes, and tell me what I’m thinking!” The general had rolled on his stomach, and both elbows were prompting his face. A wide grin accompanied his mischievous eyes—so naughty that Kazuha swore they just stole his breath away.

And his eyes, oh his eyes! They were like sea ganoderma Kazuha loved so much. So fresh they nourished his soul.

Kazuha touched his own cheek and looked away. “You’re… um, thinking about… food?”

“What? Food?” Gorou snorted. “Why food? Do I look like a glutton?”

“No! It’s just…” He grumbled.

“Ah! I know it! You couldn't look into my eyes for more than three seconds, right? That's why you came up with that bizarre answer,” Gorou said with a hint of amusement in his voice. “If so, you’re going to be defeated in no time, Kazuha.”

“So you’re challenging me?” Kazuha huffed and crossed his arms.

“It’s settled, then!” The canine scrambled to sit up with crossed legs. He gripped Kazuha’s arms, and forced him to look straight. “The rule is simple. We must look into each other’s eyes. Looking away is an instant disqualification. Anyone who blinks first is the loser. The loser has to cook breakfast the next morning!”

Kazuha took a deep breath, and nodded. “I won’t go down that easily, general.”

“Oh! I like that spirit of yours, soldier!” A crooked smile formed on the general’s lips. Faintly, Kazuha could see his tail wagging behind him. “Don’t let me down now!”

“Who do you take me for, dear general?” Even though he said that, Kazuha swore his heart was about to burst.

“Alright, alright, oh mighty Kaedehara Kazuha!” The other looked flustered, but he quickly composed himself and said, “Ready? Go!”

Kazuha tried not to open his eyes too wide. The wind could get into his eyes and intuition would force him to close them. It wouldn’t be fun if he lost in the first five seconds.

But the wind or dry eyes weren’t his main enemy. In fact, the enemy was the beauty in Gorou’s blue eyes. Though it was dim that night, with only the stars and moon in the sky, Kazuha could read a thousand facts just by looking into his boyfriend’s eyes. There was happiness, contentment, peace, their names. There were stars in them, shimmering dust, a tantalizing spell that trapped him in an endless maze. His eyelashes curled into perfect angles like a gate to heaven—and Kazuha had to resist the urge to utilize his fingertips to feel them. Kazuha noticed that Gorou’s red eyeshadow was drawn in the shape of wings on his upper and lower lids. He wondered, how long did he take to apply the color? What would happen if Kazuha tried the same? Would it be wise enough to lose on purpose so he could admit that he wanted to dive into the eyes?

“You're tough, Kazuha,” Gorou commented, not once leaving Kazuha’s eyes.

“You too.” Kazuha started to feel tears pooling in his lids. The wind really did get into his eyes, and the tears were natural responses to save the eyes.

“Kinda sting, huh?”

“I believe so.”

Gorou’s eyes were all teary and red now—probably just like Kazuha’s. He grinned, and muttered, “You’re pretty.”

Kazuha blinked.

“Ha! You’ve lost!” The canine general pulled himself away and burst into a fit of laughter, holding his stomach.

“Ahem! So… the general of the Watatsumi army is a cheater, huh?” Kazuha protested while rubbing his dry eyes. “You shouldn’t say something distracting like that! It’s the same as cheating! Where’s the honor in that?”

“It’s not cheating if it’s not in the rules!” The man in loose turquoise yukata grinned innocently.

“I don’t believe you!” Kazuha looked away and straightened his legs. He admitted silently, even if Gorou didn’t say those distracting words, he would still lose the staring contest. After all, Gorou’s eyes were too strong and magical.

“Oh, someone’s upset.” The brunette said in a sing-song tone. “Come on! Don’t be mad. It was just a game.”

Kazuha decided to meet Gorou’s enchanting eyes again. The man was sitting cross-legged. Brown hair was blown by the wind, covering half of his face. His smile was magnificent and the way his eyes slanted into an amused look was something Kazuha could etch into his mind.

“You know, the directives were right,” reported Gorou, giggling. “Gazing into one’s eyes is an excellent strategy to defeat even the undefeatable enemy—like you, Kaedehara Kazuha!”

“I admit defeat, my dear.” The samurai brushed the other’s hair away gently then bobbed their noses together. “What do you want for breakfast tomorrow?”

“I want some eggs, Mondstadt style!” Gorou cheered like a little child. “Haven’t been there before, but I heard they prepare eggs in a unique way!”

“Sure, sure. I know how to prepare it.” His cheeks were hot as were Gorou’s on his palms. When they parted, Kazuha could make out a faint blush on his partner’s face. He was way too precious. “Perhaps next time, you can come with me and the Alcor there. I have some Mondstadt friends that I want to introduce to you.”

“Just friends, right?” The brunette raised an eyebrow.

Kazuha blinked a few times, and chuckled. “Of course. Nothing to worry about, and no need to be jealous.”

“I’m not jealous, alright. It’s just my way of showing that I care about you.” He pouted in an adorable way that Kazuha had to hold a laugh.

“Alright,” he said. “Let’s go home! It’s getting late and colder. Don’t catch a cold now.”

"Are you worried about me now?" The general teased as he pulled Kazuha up. They were now standing side by side, holding hands and facing each other.

"Am I not allowed to worry about you?" Kazuha bit back gleefully.

Gorou snorted, then circled an arm around his boyfriend. "Okay, okay! Let's go!"

Kazuha glanced at him, then smiled. "Your eyes are dangerous. I'm sure they have defeated more enemies than you've ever guessed. They even defeated me. They made me fall in love again and again with their owner."

A deep crimson stained Gorou's cheeks. He scratched his nose with a free hand. "You and your sweet words."

Kazuha leaned to plant a soft kiss on his right cheek, feeling his own burnt.

"Oh, you…" The other's face was a much deeper scarlet than before. He pulled Kazuha by the waist and kissed him on the lips.

The taste was familiar, and the fluttery feeling in Kazuha's chest was so good that he yearned for more. Before he knew it, he had melted into the kiss and dropped his overall guard. Only when he was with Gorou would he let himself be defenseless. Only Gorou could ever defeat him even without doing anything.

Chapter Text

Kokomi left the room where Kazuha was resting. Her face was pale, pink brows furrowed. There was a faint smile on her lips. Gorou jumped off the chair, and rushed to the girl.

"Her Excellency," he called. "How is Kazuha? Is he okay?"

Kazuha had suddenly collapsed while arranging his favorite bonsai vase. Of course, Gorou immediately panicked. Without any second thought, he carried his lover to the Sangonomiya Shrine and asked the divine priestess to examine him.

Kokomi's blue eyes rolled on Kazuha's bedroom door. "I've checked on him, and I've concluded that he was exhausted…"

Gorou let out a breath. Exhaustion should be the main cause. Kazuha recently spent more time arranging his bonsai collection, even going out to collect small rocks to add to the vases and neglected resting.

"That's not all," added Kokomi, returning to face Gorou again.

Gorou's heart started to beat twice as fast. Cold sweat suddenly ran down the back of his neck. He repeated, "Not all?"

Kokomi took both of Gorou's hands and smiled. "Congratulations, Gorou. You are going to be a father."

***

 ️

Gorou jolted awake, gasping like an exhausted fish. Spontaneously, he slapped himself in the face and pinched his ear hard. It hurt like hell.

"That was… a dream?" His voice was hoarse and his throat sore as if someone had brushed it. His eyes wandered around the quiet room. The morning sun shone through the window beside the bed, creating shimmering dust as it fell on the wooden floor. Birds were chirping merrily outside.

"Gorou, are you awake?" Kazuha's voice was heard from outside of the room. "I've made breakfast."

"Okay!" He took a deep breath, and swung off the bed.

The general followed the smell of fragrant stir fry in the house. It was mostly composed of garlic. His stomach immediately rumbled. The image of a plate of delicious breakfast made by Kazuha filled his mind.

In the kitchen, Kazuha was standing in front of a long table filled with plates of food. He was wearing a red kimono with water images printed on it, white as cotton hair was rolled into a tiny ball. His back was directed toward the kitchen entrance. Gorou slipped behind him. Even though he knew Kazuha could definitely feel his presence, at least he could hug Kazuha from behind.

"Kazu, hungry," he muttered while sniffing the scent of Kazuha's skin and hair. It smelled like fresh flowers, cold and soft.

"Sit down, my dear," Kazuha said. "You can't eat in this position."

"Hmm." With his chin resting on his boyfriend's slightly exposed shoulder, Gorou rubbed an odd bulge on Kazuha's stomach. "A bit fat, huh?"

Kazuha giggled. "Well, it's your fault."

Gorou froze. His heart was pounding as a surreal thunder traveled along his head to toe. His fingers were numb.

"Soon, little Gorou will be born," Kazuha continued.

Gorou collapsed.

Almost.

"What the hell are you talking about?!" Gorou shouted while turning his boyfriend over, unable to contain the excitement or whatever adjective to describe the chaotic feeling in his chest right now. “You… you… you…”

Kazuha laughed softly again. "You're so funny, General!"

Gorou's face was hot as if there was a pyro slime stuck to it. "Kazuha! Do-don't joke around! I'm serious! Are you pregnant or what?!"

For a moment, Kazuha widened his eyes then laughed even louder. "Gorou! What's wrong with you this morning?"

At that moment, Gorou knew he was acting ridiculous.

The pointy-eared man separated himself from Kazuha, holding him at an arm's length. His blue eyes sharpened, looking straight into Kazuha's.

"Kazuha,” he hissed, “don't try me…”

The other boy smiled a little. Eyes as red as maple leaves gleamed mischievously. "Why? Do you really want to have children?"

Gorou was known as a talented general who led his troops to victory. Everyone respected him. Everyone called his name with pride and reluctance. However, in front of Kazuha, he was just a helpless man in love.

His hairy ears fell flat on his head. Face as hot as embers that Hilichurl sometimes threw to his tail. “Well, if… uh…"

Kazuha inched back on the plates on the dining table. His movements were graceful, like a leaf in the autumn breeze, charming like a beam of light that crept into the forest through the gaps in the trees. With a small smile, he said, "No problem. As long as it makes you happy, I'll help you."

Gorou's voice dissipated into the air along with half of his consciousness. Only his thick brown tail wagged wildly.

Chapter Text

“It flew this way!” Gorou ran along the grassy path. A hand was pointed to the direction, he believed, taken by the beautiful white butterfly. If he could catch the butterfly, he would put it in his jar and show it off to everyone in class on Monday. Everyone would be amazed by his catch! His big sister also had promised to buy him that strawberry chocolate ice cream if he could catch the prettiest butterfly ever! Gorou loves ice cream.

“Wait!” His friend ran behind him, panting. “Wait for me!”

“Hurry up!” Gorou swung his net in the air, catching random leaves that grew in the wild. “We can’t lose it!”

“I can’t run anymore!”

The little puppy boy stopped running, and looked at his friend. His friend, Kazuha, was small and had white hair that he tied with a black ribbon. He was pale like a sick boy—but Gorou had been told so many times that Kazuha was perfectly healthy despite his appearance. His oversized white jacket was covered in leaves and dirt. A red hat with bunny ears was on his head, unlike Gorou’s yellow hat that had holes for his ears. He wasn’t holding his net.

“Where’s your net? You can’t catch a butterfly without it!” Gorou told him.

Kazuha stared at him for a few seconds, then said, “I think I dropped it and forgot.”

Gorou flicked his pointy brown ears. “Ugh! How come?!”

“I’m sorry…”

Gorou’s Papa and Mama said to never shout at anyone. They said Gorou had to think rationally—though Gorou didn’t understand what they meant by that. They also said he should be a good friend to Kazuha. Kazuha had always been alone and his mother had passed away after he was born. It must be really lonely for Kazuha to live alone almost every day at his big house. Gorou was his first friend at school, and he had promised himself to never leave Kazuha behind.

The boy took his friend’s hand. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t shout at you.”

Kazuha looked up at him. Crimson eyes were teary.

“Don’t cry now. Let’s catch the butterfly together! You can keep it in your jar. It’s fine,” Gorou added.

Kazuha nodded. “Can we not run? My legs kinda hurt.”

“Okay! Let’s continue by walking slowly!” Holding his friend’s hand, Gorou led him deeper into the forest. The entrance to the forest was somewhat dark and covered in weird plants that had long ribbons. Gorou wasn’t sure if those were ribbons like his big sis' ribbons that she put in her long hair. They were thin and long and strange.

The forest was like a picture Gorou saw in a fairytale book bought by Mama. It was full of trees, rocks, strange plants with ribbons, and there were noises from animals he didn’t know. It felt like an adventure! The boy pulled his friend, and ran deeper into the forest excitedly, totally forgetting Kazuha’s plea earlier. Their shoes were covered in soil, leaves were stuck in their jackets. There were mosquitoes and they bit Gorou’s exposed legs. He hated the shorts he wore and wished that he wore some long socks like Kazuha’s to protect his legs. But the journey into the forest was so exciting that Gorou almost forgot how itchy his legs were.

They slowed down when the situation was getting even more cramped with trees. Gorou pant and wiped off some sweat from his forehead. His ears were itchy and the fur on his tail was crumpled. The sky was almost hidden behind the forest ceiling. Everything looked like a scene from a scary video game played by Big Bro Saburou every weekend—his brother would scream like a little girl every time he played it. Gorou thought his brother was childish.

“This place is scary,” Kazuha said as he held his red bunny hat. “I hear noises.”

“Maybe those are the butterfly!” Gorou narrowed his eyes and scanned the surroundings. Everything looked the same—same trees, same long ribbon, grass, more grass, more trees. It was a bit darker than outside. The sunlight that entered the forest was dim like Big Bro Saburou’s old flashlight.

“It’s the wind,” Kazuha said again, letting go of his funny hat. “The wind told me something.”

Gorou watched his friend put both hands on the back of each ear. Kazuha looked up and checked the area. It was one of his weird abilities. Gorou was told by Kazuha’s father that Kazuha could hear the wind. Gorou couldn’t hear the wind. He wondered if the wind spoke like a human, too.

Something slithered next to Gorou’s foot. The boy screamed and jumped, falling on his butt. An animal with a black tail crawled on the grassy ground and disappeared quickly into a tall bush.

“What was that?” he groaned and slowly got up. The canine boy dusted himself off and brushed some dry leaves off his tail.

Before there was any response from his friend, a loud ribbit appeared out of nowhere. Gorou quickly found a giant, mud-like frog jumping off a branch and landed on top of Kazuha's red bunny hat.

"AH!!" Kazuha cried. Both hands tried to swat the frog away. "Go away! Make it go!!"

The frog let out another ribbit, and Kazuha screamed.

Gorou swung his net and captured the frog. His net was perched atop Kazuha's head. Carefully, he picked the frog and threw it into a bush. The poor animal hopped away and disappeared.

"It's just a frog!" He giggled. "Why are you afraid of a frog? It's cool!"

Kazuha rubbed his eyes and sniffled. “I… I hate frogs… We have to get out of here. The wind also told me that the forest is dangerous for kids.”

“What about the butterfly?”

“I… I don’t want the butterfly anymore. It’s just a butterfly.” Kazuha pulled his hat to cover his eyes. “Let’s get out of here.”

“But I’ve promised to give you the butterfly! My sister also promised to buy us ice cream if we can catch it!” Gorou shook his head.

“No, no, no! I don’t want them!”

Kazuha never shouted. He always spoke softly or apologized. Kazuha was very kind, but some older kids at their school often took advantage of him and bullied him. Gorou hated it when those kids bothered Kazuha, so he would jump in front of Kazuha and bark at the mean kids. Papa said he must not bark and claw and bite. Those are bad. But the mean kids are worse, so Gorou thought it was okay to bark at them.

“Gorou, let’s go home,” Kazuha murmured softly.

Gorou scratched his ear. “Okay. Let’s go back.”

Kazuha nodded.

“Here, you can hold my net. If there’s something that scares you, you can use the net to hit it!” Gorou explained with a toothy grin and extended his net. “That’s what Big Bro Saburou taught me.”

Kazuha accepted the net. “Okay…"

“But you don’t need to be scared, because I’m here!” Gorou huffed and put both hands on his hips. “I will always protect you!”

Kazuha smiled. “Yes! Me, too!”

The brunette boy studied the surrounding forest. He failed to find the exit since everything looked the same. He felt like being trapped in a storybook. The difference was, that he couldn’t peek at the ending. Usually, he would read the ending before Mama read it, so he wouldn’t be too scared if the ending wasn’t good. But every book he read with Mama ended well. Like that one story where a kid got trapped in a forest and was able to return home in the end. So, he was sure that he and Kazuha would be back home soon.

There was a rumbling in the sky. Kazuha covered his ears and shut his eyes. He was always afraid of thunder. Maybe because of his sharp hearing. Gorou hated the thunder, too! It made his ears itch.

“It’s going to rain soon,” Kazuha said, dropping his hands slowly. “Daddy said not to play in the rain. I hate thunder.”

“Hey, hey, it’s okay. I’m here. We’re going to get home soon.” Gorou patted his friend’s head. “You have your hat. It will protect you from rain.”

“Okay.”

They walked through the forest hand in hand. Gorou tried to remember the path they took earlier. Papa taught him to remember each path he took, so he would be able to return home if he was ever lost. Gorou remembered the big, tall tree with green ribbons hanging from it. He remembered seeing a tall bush where the frog that attacked Kazuha earlier hid.

Suddenly, something fluttered beside him. It was the beautiful white butterfly! Gorou jolted up, ears twitching and his tail wagged wildly. The big insect flew through a thick bush with tiny white flowers in it.

“The butterfly!” he exclaimed. “Kazuha, let’s go!”

“No, you promised to let the butterfly go and we can go home together,” his friend argued softly.

“Stay here! I’ll catch the butterfly!” The canine boy took the net from Kazuha’s hand and ran toward the direction taken by the butterfly. “Don’t go anywhere! I’ll be back soon! If you’re scared, just call my name and I’ll come running!”

Kazuha called his name over and over, but Gorou was so into the butterfly that he left his friend there. If he could catch the butterfly soon, he could return to Kazuha in no time. Then, they could go home together. Kazuha was an obedient boy. He wouldn’t leave his spot. He would be okay.

***

Little Kazuha was shaking. He heard thunder faraway, strong gusts of wind, and noises made by leaves brushing trees in the cramped forest. Everything was scary and loud. He hated it. He wanted to go home now! He wanted to sleep in Daddy’s arms and hear Grandpa read a storybook.

But he couldn’t leave Gorou. Gorou told him to stay here, so he would stay. But the noises were getting louder and it was getting darker. In the dark, more noises would fill his ears. He was scared.

A tiny water droplet fell on his face. Kazuha looked up, and it was already much darker than before. He almost couldn’t make out the whole surroundings like before. To make it worse, it would rain in about an hour—he knew it because the wind told him so and the wind never lied. Gorou hadn’t returned yet. Did he get lost? Did something get him? Gorou was brave and strong. He wouldn’t be scared that easily, and Gorou could see in the dark better than him so he would be okay.

The boy looked down when something cold and slimy brushed his leg. His eyes went wide as there was a long, black animal wrapped itself around his left ankle. The animal had big glowing eyes and a long tongue. It hissed. It looked at him.

“AH!” Kazuha screamed at the top of his lungs, and kicked the animal. It was still there. “No! No! Leave me alone!”

“Kazuha!”

Someone called him. It wasn’t Gorou. It sounded like an adult man. He couldn’t make out the owner of the voice since the thunder, strong wind, and moving leaves blurred his mind. Kazuha had tears in his eyes now. He fell on his butt, and bumped his back against a tree. The snake unwrapped itself and slithered away. Kazuha let out a breath, thinking he was finally free from danger. As he turned around and was about to stand up, he felt a presence next to him. A tall, big, humanoid figure.

“Kazuha,” it said.

The boy screamed again. Quickly, he scrambled up and ran away. Tears were pouring down his cheeks in an instant. He forgot to stay at the spot where Gorou told him to. His little legs carried him away anywhere. He didn’t have the net to hit the monster. He could only run and wished Gorou would be back soon. But, even if he did, Gorou wouldn’t know where he went.

“Kazuha!” the monster called him again.

“No! Leave me alone!” the boy cried.

“Stop running!”

Kazuha stumbled and fell hard on his face. His hat fell and his knees scraped the ground. It hurt so bad. He pushed himself up, picked up his bunny hat—it was a gift from Grandpa and Kazuha must not lose it, crawled, and ran away as fast as he could when the monster approached. It was when he remembered Gorou’s message to call his name when he was scared.

“Gorou!” he shouted. “Gorou! Gorou!”

But Gorou didn’t come as he promised. Kazuha snorted, kept running, and his legs finally gave in. It was so dark now. He could only make out a small hole under a giant tree. Kazuha crawled into the hole, curled into a ball and tried to make himself smaller. If he was small, he would be unseen and the monster wouldn’t find him. Right?

“Gorou…” he mumbled into his knees. “Where are you? I’m scared…”

***

Gorou ran as fast as his short legs could. He had dropped the net, lost the butterfly, and who knew where he was right now? He forgot the way to Kazuha, and he bet his little friend must be really scared now. But a monster was chasing him. It was big, tall, and it growled at him. It even had a long tail like him! Gorou had barked at it and tried to chase it away, but the monster was way too strong. So the only thing he could do was run away.

He could see blurry images in the dark forest, unlike Kazuha. Even his ability had its limit. If it was Papa or Mama, they would be able to see very clearly in the dark. Even big sister and Big Bro Saburou could see in the dark better than him.

“Gorou!”

He stopped running. It was Kazuha’s voice! Kazuha was around and he was in danger! Maybe there was a second monster that went after Kazuha. Gorou had to find Kazuha now!

“Come back here!” It was the monster again.

“NO! GO AWAY!” The boy barked loudly and ran away.

It was drizzling now. The wind was stronger and thunder was everywhere. Gorou utilized his hearing and sight, trying to find his way in the dark. His first priority now was Kazuha. Once he found Kazuha, they could run away together.

Purple lightning glowed in the sky. It lit the area, and Gorou found a giant tree where a bunny hat and a tuft of hair were peeking from its hole. It was Kazuha! Gorou’s eyes went wide. As he was about to call his friend’s name, another monster appeared out of nowhere and reached into the hole.

“NO! NO! NO!” Kazuha cried as he was pulled out of the hole by the monster.

Gorou barked loudly and screamed, “LEAVE HIM ALONE!”

The dark forest was now filled with Gorou’s barks as the monster successfully captured Kazuha, holding him in its arms like a baby.

Something caught Gorou’s tail when he was about to save his friend. He looked back, and the darkness enveloped his captor’s face. The captor lifted him up by the tail. Gorou struggled, barked, kicked, and clawed. But he was still powerless in the face of the devil.

If only he hadn’t gone into the forest with Kazuha…

Stupid butterfly…

A mysterious light that resembled a flashlight appeared before him. Another figure followed suit with some more… people? They were humans! They had flashlights in their hands! Gorou barked at them, completely forgetting to speak human language.

“Mr. Kaedehara! Did you find Young Master Kazuha?” one of them asked, and pointed his flashlight near the figure that captured Kazuha.

As the light shone on the figure’s face and body, Gorou stopped barking. It was Mr. Kaedehara, Kazuha’s father! He was the monster?!

“Safe and sound,” Mr. Kaedehara said. “Though he was such a struggle.”

Kazuha looked up at his father. “Daddy?”

The man embraced him. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.”

The little boy in his arms cried and buried his face in his chest.

Gorou saw the man with a flashlight shone him and his captor. Now, Gorou stared at the captor’s face…

“Oh… Hi, Papa!” he grinned.

Papa looked amused, still holding Gorou’s tail. “You almost gave me a heart attack, boy. Those barks were so loud you nearly burst my ears!”

“Sorry…” Gorou’s grin went wider.

The men gathered into a small group as the drizzle slowly turned into rain. They walked in rows, using the flashlights as the main source of light and some umbrellas to cover their heads from rain. They talked about the missing boys, how Mr. Kaedehara dropped his flashlight, and also about Gorou’s Papa forgetting to check his flashlight’s battery. The conclusion was that Mr. Kaedehara and Gorou’s father split up from the group and got lost, too! When it got dark, they found the boys but the boys ran away after mistaking them for monsters.

“Why did you run away like that? Did I look like a monster to you?” Papa asked.

“Yeah! Your ears are so weird, I thought you were a devil!” Gorou sat on his dad’s shoulders. A hand was holding an umbrella above them while the other pinched his father's ear hard. “You also growled! You were scary!”

“Ouch! Mind the ear!” his dad warned. “Did your tail hurt?”

Gorou wagged his tail. “Not really. But you shouldn’t pull my tail! I’m going to tell Mama!”

“Oh, not again!” his father groaned.

The boy placed his chin on the top of his dad’s head, playing with his brown and white bangs. He glanced at Kazuha who was sleeping soundly in his father’s embrace. A smile formed on Gorou’s lips. At least, his friend was safe and sound.

“You were really brave, boy,” his father praised. “You protected little Kazuha with all your might! You made me proud, Gorou!”

Gorou grinned from ear to ear. “Of course! I will always protect Kazuha! He’s my most important friend!”

Kazuha opened his eyes and stared at Gorou from his position. The boy smiled, and it was the most peaceful smile Gorou had ever seen in his life. For the first time in his life, Gorou’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of Kazuha’s smile. A smile that he wanted to protect even if it cost everything in this world.

***

Ten years later…

“Hey, pretty boy. You look so busy. Why don’t you just join us and have some fun?”

“Sorry, I can’t. Please leave me alone.”

Gorou’s ears twitched when he heard Kazuha’s voice from the edge of a long corridor. It was almost the end of the day, so the school was empty save for kids in clubs. Gorou quickened his pace, fists were clenched tightly.

“What the heck! Don’t be so cold, kid.” Someone was upset. “I’ve got an idea. Why don’t you give us some money and we’ll leave you alone?”

“Don’t blame me if anything happens to you,” said Kazuha calmly.

The other person cackled. “You think you’re that strong, huh? One hit and you’ll be begging for mercy!”

Gorou’s steps were wide and strong. In a few seconds, he reached the end of the corridor, turned left, and found Kazuha. The boy in a red sweater was carrying a stack of poetry books, surrounded by four bigger boys.

“Hey! If you have that much free time, you better go bother someone else!” Gorou announced his arrival rather arrogantly. He liked it when his enemies went nuts just because of being challenged. Nosy brats like them were fueled by anger, and they would collapse in no time.

“The heck, you dog boy! You want us to smash that face of yours?” The biggest one of them cracked his knuckles and signaled his buddies to move.

Gorou walked casually and placed himself beside Kazuha, surrounded by the enemies. He smirked and rolled the sleeves of his uniform. “I’d like to see you try, brats.”

“You!” The bully’s face was crimson in anger.

“Look at you! You look like a strawberry! Gorou snorted loudly.

Kazuha turned to his best friend. A smile morphed. He took a step back, and their backs were against each other. “Ready for this?”

“Whenever you are.” Gorou winked.

Ten years ago, they were small kids lost in a forest and thought their dads were monsters trying to capture them. Ten years ago too, they promised to be stronger so they could protect each other. Gorou always had a knack for fighting, so he enrolled himself in martial arts clubs. Kazuha wasn’t into fighting, but he had learned advanced self defense from his father and grandfather. At seventeen, they were ready to send these bullies to hospital and regretted the day they were born. At seventeen, Gorou still held the promise to protect Kazuha as his most important friend ever.

Chapter Text

"What's your name?"

Just as the hooded man finished his question, Kazuha was stunned. He blinked like a fool, took a step back, and clutched the front of his jacket. Dumbfounded, confused, terrified. A hand was stuffed into the jacket pocket, ready to pull a small pen that he always carried everywhere. If this weirdo tried to pull a stunt, Kazuha would be more than ready to stab him in the eye with the pen.

"I'm sorry—what?" he asked in hope that he had heard the question wrong.

This very man asking for his name had been following Kazuha since he left his workplace. Hell, Kazuha was even more than sure that this guy had been eyeing him while he was working. A stalker? Why would anyone stalk an ordinary, boring pianist like him?

So, Kazuha intentionally took a different path to outwit the stalker and confront him. His father always told him to remain calm in a tight situation, so he could devise a plan to escape.

Sure, he was worried and terrified. It was almost midnight. Almost nobody was on this very side of the street, save for a few occasional drivers. Kazuha was exhausted from work and had been more than ready to go home. But if the stalker kept following him, worse things might happen. It just sounded right to confront the man now rather than late.

The mysterious man chuckled. He pulled his dark hoodie down, uncovering messy brown hair and a pair of hairy pointy ears. His eyes are the most brilliant blue Kazuha had ever discovered in real life. His face somehow glowed when he flashed a tiny smile. The man scratched the side of his head, messing up the silky hair. His pointy ears twitched in a way that Kazuha could only describe as… cute.

But those weren't the points! This guy…

"You are… But why did you follow me?" Kazuha furrowed his eyebrows.

"Hold on. What kind of reaction is that? You're not swooned by my presence like others?"

"Why did you follow me?" Kazuha repeated sternly. "I don't care about being swooned or what."

"Oh haha… Okay, I know this sounds strange to you," the brunette said nervously, "but, I've been watching you for a while—no, no, that sounds even worse! I am… I am your fan! I have watched you play at the bar for a few days and I have never missed any of your performances!"

A fan? No one has ever said that to me. Not even my boss. Kazuha tensed, but tried to remain calm. Even if he was indeed terrified and screamed, nobody would believe him. This guy wasn't a commoner. Everyone would rather be on his side rather than a side belonging to an unknown person like Kazuha. And if Kazuha did stab the man, he would be in grave danger.

Kazuha had been taking this odd job as a pianist at a local bar. He couldn't remember how long it had been, but playing the old piano had always been his nightly activity. The songs he chose were those loved by his deceased mother and his now sickly father—very old, retro songs that were popular in the 90s. The bar owner never complained as long as there was live music at his bar. The bar was just ordinary. Nothing special, just a simple and cheap bar. Kazuha didn't know this guy would be one of the bar's customers. He thought a man with his prestige would only hang out at an expensive, luxurious place.

Now that the stalker's identity had been revealed, Kazuha's whole thinking system was disrupted. To say that the stalker was an ordinary townsfolk was an understatement. He was a star, a rising star whose face appeared on TV almost 24/7, who played in a few ongoing series, whose social media was crowded with comments and likes, and he was also the main character in David, a popular cheesy sitcom Kazuha's father enjoyed so much every week. Now, with his face and name everywhere, with huge fans probably fighting their way just to see him in person, how could Kazuha just brush him off? And how could a star like him ask for his name?

"I'm sorry, but what did you really mean by watching?" Kazuha asked softly. "I don't think it's appropriate—even for a celebrity like you."

The man's pointy ears fell flat on the top of his head. His cheeks reddened under the streetlamp. The cold night wind blew his long side bangs and he shuddered a little.

"As I've said, I'm your fan," he said. "I just think you're swell, and I want to be your friend. Err, I believe you've known my name?"

"Of course I know your name, Gorou Kurosawa. Everyone does." Kazuha forced a small smile. Though Gorou Kurosawa looked nice and all, Kazuha couldn't help but still feel a little suspicious. He could be acting now, like what he always did on TV. "But why do you want to be my friend? I'm just an ordinary pianist. Nothing special at all."

"And what about it?" Gorou tilted his head a little. "Friends don't need a reason. Is it because I just happen to be famous in the media and you're afraid that I'd involve you in an affair to gain more fame?"

"Yes."

Gorou looked like he'd just seen a ghost. He rubbed the back of his head, clearly looking embarrassed. "Oh. I didn't know you'd be so honest."

Kazuha cleared his throat and crossed both arms on his chest. "So, you're telling me that you have no ill intention toward me?"

Gorou Kurosawa looked straight into his eyes, beautiful teal eyes boring into his crimson ones. Kazuha had seen his eyes on TV thousands of times. He had also heard his father praise the gentle yet serious eyes of this man playing the popular David character.

"Besides, if you do want to know my name, you can always ask the waiter at the bar or the owner," Kazuha added.

"Well, yeah." Gorou shrugged. "They said that if I wanted to know your name, I had to ask you myself—those guys were such persistent bastards. So just before you left the bar, I quietly slipped away from my manager and followed you."

"Oh. This is the first time someone actually takes an interest in me."

Suddenly, the star raised an arm and circled it around Kazuha's shoulder. Kazuha yelped and he was pulled into an alleyway by Gorou. The cramped alley was dark and humid. His body was pressed against Gorou's. It was soft and strong, fragrant like an expensive perfume. It was too close.

"What—"

"Shhh!" Gorou hissed. "There's a paparazzi outside. Damnit! How did he find me here of all places?"

"Um, so what do we do now?" Kazuha looked up at the man currently holding him. He looked so damn serious that just by looking at his eyes, Kazuha almost suffocated.

"Let's take another way," Gorou said. "We can't be caught by the paparazzi."

Kazuha nodded and let the taller man lead him through the alleyway. Gorou was right. They couldn't be caught here together or Kazuha's face would be on every magazine and reality show. He would be Gorou's fans' enemy, especially those who have a celebrity crush on him.

"Phew! We're safe now!" Gorou muttered when they left the cramped alleyway and arrived on the other side of the road. It was still as empty as before. A lot of shops were closed, save for a few convenience stores. "My hotel is close by. Let's walk there stealthily and continue our chat there. If a paparazzi catches us, we have to run so fast we almost fly."

"So that's how your life is?" Kazuha stood beside Gorou. "Being watched by your manager and running away from people who actually care about you?"

Gorou fumbled with his hoodie, putting it on to cover his head. He fished out a pair of sunglasses and wore them. "Yup. Can't have a little privacy."

"Oh." Kazuha looked down. "But isn't it nice to have people looking after you, eagerly waiting for your next show, and so on? It's like everyone loves and adores you even when you do something very normal like eating or drinking. Even your manager seems like she tries to give you the best. It makes you feel more alive, no?"

"Well, if you put it that way… Sometimes, yes, but," Gorou held out a hand, "sometimes, it does get overwhelming."

Kazuha studied his soft but strong hand for a good minute before taking it. To think that the star himself offered his hand while thousands out there praying each night just to be able to see him in person somehow made Kazuha feel bad. After all, what had he done to deserve all this special treatment?

"Overwhelming?" He replied with a question.

"Because my life is being controlled and I have to show only what people want to see from me." Gorou clicked his tongue. "Like a puppet—but don't worry about that. I can handle this now, unlike years ago when I just started my acting career. Going to bars, listening to retro songs, and taking a walk at night. That's how I handle the situation."

"So you go to the bar I work at each night to relieve some stress?" Kazuha guessed. 

"Yes!" Gorou almost sounded like a little child when he said that. "That bar was incredible! Well, it was just an ordinary bar I randomly found while driving through the city until…"

He left his words hanging. Kazuha glanced at him, curious. There was a stain of pink on Gorou's cheek.

"Until?" Kazuha repeated.

Gorou breathed. "Until I saw you there and listened to you playing the piano."

They stopped walking, hands still intertwined. A car passed them. Its light illuminated the area.

"What's wrong with that?" Kazuha asked.

"Oh, nothing!" The actor took a sharp breath. "I mean, you play songs that people nowadays normally don't—I mean, people usually play popular and new songs, but you play very old songs. Retro songs. That's really something!"

"I learned the songs from my mother. She was a pianist and also my first teacher." Kazuha looked up at the starry night sky and let the soft wind blow his white bangs. "Playing those songs reminds me of her and the warmth she gave me before she passed away."

Gorou was silent.

"Every time I play the songs, I feel like my mother is still here with me," Kazuha continued as his chest stirred with emotions. The memories of his sweet mother played in the back of his eyes—her smile, her beautiful crimson eyes and blonde hair that she passed on to Kazuha, and the way she kissed him on the night little Kazuha won a piano competition. "Of course I know popular songs loved by young people. It's just that, playing old songs makes me calm and peaceful."

"I'm sorry about your mother," Gorou said. "Let me treat you to something, then."

Kazuha smiled. "You're nice."

Gorou blushed. He looked away and rubbed the back of his head. Kazuha giggled. Even though Gorou was a global superstar, he was still an ordinary human being with a personality of his own. On top of that, Gorou was indeed a kind soul. All he said earlier came from the depth of his heart.

They continued to walk side by side. Gorou looked ridiculous with his hoodie and sunglasses, but his walk was confident like always. Kazuha glanced at him, secretly viewing how well-built his body was. Maybe he had a regular workout and a private trainer for that. Maybe he had a special caterer preparing his meal every day. Maybe he lived like a prince. He had to work hard to keep in shape and maintain his image as a superstar people were looking up to.

"So, what project do you have here?" Kazuha asked as he tried to clear his mind of those thoughts. "I mean, are you filming something new?"

"Yeah, we're filming episode 87 of David—it will be aired next month, so it's a busy day for all of the crew." The hooded man was excited like a small child.

"I didn't know there were so many episodes."

Gorou stopped walking and gave Kazuha a look. "Are you saying that you've never watched David? It's like the most popular sitcom this year! I was told that everyone watches it!"

"My father does, but I don't. I'm busy with college and work." Kazuha shook his head.

Gorou scratched his head. "Oh, I get it."

"Did I just make you upset?" Kazuha teased.

"What? No! Of course not!" The other man laughed nervously. "At least, you still know me."

"Mm-hmm."

"Are you a fan too? Wait, of course you're a fan. I can give you an autograph. Or maybe a selfie together?"

Kazuha giggled. "No need. I have no use."

Gorou coughed. His face was as red as an apple and he slouched. "This is the first time someone rejected me for an autograph and a selfie. It's always been the other way around."

They walked again. This time, there was a smaller gap between them. Kazuha fumbled with his jacket, feeling the air getting colder. His shoulder-length blonde hair was blowing with the wind. His father had to be waiting at home, and he hadn't finished his homework due tomorrow. It was going to be a long night.

And why did he let Gorou lead him all the way here? Was it because of his charm?

What the heck!

When they passed an open convenience store, a few girls walked out with bags in their hands. As soon as they laid eyes on Gorou, they immediately swarmed him.

"GOROU!! IT'S TRULY YOU!!" a girl in a red sweater shouted so loud she looked like she was about to break her vocal cord.

"Can we, like, take some selfies with you?" another girl wearing a brown beanie asked. "We're your biggest fans ever!"

"You're so dreamy!" A girl in a short skirt bounced like a small rabbit.

"Wait! You girls are mistaken." Gorou raised both hands in front of his face. "I'm not Gorou! My name is Saburou!"

Kazuha chuckled and stepped aside. He had nothing to do with Gorou's celebrity side. Besides, he was planning to go home right now.

The girls were now trapping Gorou, being too eager to get close to the star. They kept shouting and asking Gorou so many things their voice was unclear. Phones were raised, selfies were taken. Gorou let the girls take his photos but he also looked uncomfortable. Was it the right time for Kazuha to step in?

"OK, girls! I have some business to do! I'll see you again next time! Keep watching my shows, babies!" The brunette took a few steps back, then dashed toward Kazuha's place.

"Oh—hey!" Before Kazuha had a second to say anything else, Gorou snatched his hand and pulled him away from the girls. He was taken aback for a second, before running behind Gorou as the man escaped the fans.

"Wait! Gorou!" one of the girls called out.

"Gorou! Let's get married!!" the second girl added shamelessly.

"We love you!" the other girl joined.

"Love you too! Babies!" Gorou replied loudly.

Behind his back, Kazuha could hear the girls being more and more hysterical. They could wake the whole neighborhood if they kept their voices like that.

Running behind Gorou, Kazuha watched as his hood fell, revealing a pair of soft pointy brown ears. His tail swayed with each step he took. It was a bushy and soft-looking tail with brown and white fur. Kazuha had seen the tail on TV—when his dad watched David and when Gorou appeared in ads. Sometimes, his tail was the main topic of the ads, like hair products or something else. Seeing the real thing now, Kazuha couldn't help but laugh.

"What are you laughing at?" Gorou stopped running and took off his sunglasses. Their hands were no longer joined.

"I was watching your tail," Kazuha answered honestly. "It's cute."

A dusty pink bloomed on Gorou's cheek. He growled. "It's not!"

"I didn't know I could make a global superstar blush."

"I don't blush!"

"Of course you don't. Pinky cheek and all. That's not blushing."

"No!"

"And now you're acting like a little kid. I guess that's the side of yours that people have never seen. Oh, what a lucky person I am to see this superstar getting all embarrassed."

"What are you implying?" Gorou's whole face was completely red now.

"Nothing." Kazuha chuckled. "You're fun to tease."

Gorou coughed hard. "Wh-what's that supposed to mean?"

Kazuha huffed. His eyes darted around the neighborhood with skyscrapers everywhere. It was getting late and Kazuha didn’t need to worry his dad even more. "Well, Mr. Kurosawa, I think our journey ends here. I have to go home now. My dad is waiting for me."

What was once embarrassment on Gorou’s face turned into something of a shock. He threw a hand and grabbed Kazuha’s wrist. “Wait! I’m not done yet! We can chat more in my hotel. I can make you some drinks.”

“Having a drink with a stranger?” Kazuha chuckled softly, trying not to sound offensive. With one swift move, he removed Gorou’s hand. “Well, I think you’re a nice guy, but we haven’t known each other for more than two hours. Maybe next time when you visit the bar again, we can chat more.”

Gorou’s blue eyes dimmed and his ears flattened. “Okay. But maybe we can exchange numbers?”

He looked upset, and the tone of his voice was somewhat desperate. Kazuha opted to give the kind man a chance. After all, Gorou was just an ordinary human being despite his fame and marvelous acting skill in front of a camera.

“Alright, then.” He prepared his phone and gave it to Gorou. “Just type your number and I’ll text you.”

Gorou stared at him as if to make sure Kazuha wasn’t lying. After a good few seconds, he took the phone and typed his number.

“It’s my personal number. Only my family, close friends, and manager have it,” he explained and returned the phone to its owner.

“And which one am I?” Kazuha held back a laugh.

Another reddish stain crept up Gorou’s cheek. “Wh-what??”

He’s so cute. Kazuha giggled and covered his mouth with a hand, before turning around and waving. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Kurosawa!”

There wasn’t any reply from Gorou Kurosawa.

Kazuha rubbed his own arms, trying to warm them as the air was getting even colder. His eyes were heavy and his legs were wobbling like jelly. The sight of his comfortable bed was right in front of his nose now. Maybe he could take a day off tomorrow. But first, he needed to get home safely and finish his homework.

One thing came to his mind. Kazuha stopped midway, and turned around to face Gorou again—the man was still on his spot, a few meters away from him.

“You haven’t told me the real reason you want to be my friend,” he said and approached the canine man. “Just because I play classic songs can't be the real reason. There must be something else."

Gorou scratched his chin. “Well… The songs you play—my mother loves them. She used to listen to them on her favorite little radio every day and my kid self memorized them all unconsciously. It was years ago, though. Now that I’m an adult, living far away from my mother, listening to those songs reminds me of her and how much I miss her. She has a special place in my heart, and so do the songs. It’s rare to find a young pianist playing the songs anymore nowadays, so when I found you, I knew that you were special.”

“Now that explains everything. I love it when people appreciate my choice of songs and music.” Kazuha put both hands on his hips. “You have a nice taste.”

“Do I?” Once again, Gorou looked like he was about to faint of excitement—his rapidly swishing tail told everything. “I thought it was childish and weird? My manager usually chooses everything for me, and she doesn’t have the same taste as me but I’ve got to comply because what am I without her? She’s the person who makes me the way I am today. So… Ahem! Thank you, I guess.”

Kazuha smiled and nodded. “A real goodbye this time, Mr. Kurosawa. Come again to my performance! The next time we meet, I’ll let you request a few songs.”

"Okay."

Kazuha flashed him another smile, and walked away.

"Wait!"

At the sound of Gorou’s distressed voice, Kazuha stopped with his back on his new friend.

"I haven’t got your name yet." Now Gorou sounded nervous, unlike the confident, witty, and smart David character on TV.

Some footsteps, and Kazuha could feel warmth enveloping his back, indicating that Gorou had closed the distance between them. Indeed they hadn't known each other for more than two hours, but during these few minutes, Kazuha could tell that Gorou was truly a kind-hearted man despite all the fame he had. Also, from the way he protected Kazuha from the paparazzi, he truly was a man to be trusted.

So, Kazuha turned around, finding the man's nose just a few inches away from his own. The global superstar gave puppy eyes that went just perfectly with the way his ears flicked and his wagging tail.

"If you can't visit my hotel, that'll be fine," Gorou said desperately. "But at least, I want to know your name."

Kazuha held out a hand and he had never felt so special just by saying, "My name is…"

Chapter Text

"IF I die, what will you do?"

The question pierced Kazuha's heart. Quickly, he turned to his partner who was staring at the rounded full moon and shimmering sea. The cold night breeze blew the man’s brown strands. The fine hair on his pointed ears was now waving like nosy little fingers. Pale, silver moonlight arched into the curves of his perfectly sculpted face, snaked down his jaw and down his strong neck. The armor and trinkets on his clothes were glittering.

Kazuha cleared his throat, then laughed softly. "What kind of question is that, Gorou?"

Gorou shrugged. “Nah, I just had a sudden thought. Didn’t mean to spoil the mood."

"No. You're lying," Kazuha quibbled.

“Wow! Do you see that small boat over there? I used to get on some when I was a child. There was this small lake near my house and I would catch fish with a few friends,” Gorou rambled with a bit of nervousness in his voice. “Man, you totally have to visit my hometown sooner or later. You’ll definitely love it.”

“Gorou.”

“And my sister—well, she’ll like you. Don’t mind my older brother, though. He's been an asshole since birth.”

Kazuha gritted his teeth. He knew Gorou clearly ignored him on purpose.

“I had a few childhood friends—my neighbors. They were bakers. They used to share some cakes with my family. My dad loves cakes. Guess that’s why I—”

“Gorou, please…”

The other man stopped rambling. He chuckled nervously, rubbed the back of his head, and looked away.

“Say the truth, Gorou.” Kazuha took his hand and patted his bony knuckles. “I don't want any secrets between us."

"Ha ha." Gorou's laugh was bitter and suffocating. His blue eyes were fixed on the horizon in the distance, on the perfectly shaped moon hanging in the dark, starry sky, into the void that was the calm sea. "I know I can’t hide anything from you."

Kazuha felt his cheeks burn. Perhaps, the air wasn’t cool enough. Perhaps, this was only a small reminder of a fact he would soon hear.

"Soon, I'll be leaving for the battlefield," said Gorou.

Kazuha's heart almost stopped beating. He squeezed a fist, bit his lip, and looked away. Separation and death were no strangers to him. His current life was the result of these two things—which often haunted him when his eyes were closed. However, now after everything that happened, after his meeting with Gorou, and after the love that blossomed in his heart, death and separation should never happen again.

"I don't want to die—of course," Gorou continued with a bitter laugh. "Only an idiot who’ll let himself die on the battlefield."

Kazuha fell silent. The waves were rolling calmly in the distance. A flock of seagulls wailed hysterically as if to voice their broken hearts.

"Hey," Gorou called as he grabbed Kazuha by the shoulders, "why are you so quiet? Are you mad?"

Their eyes met. For a moment, what Kazuha saw in the pointy-eared man's eyeballs was himself—sobbing while clutching something.

"I’m sorry." Gorou smiled regretfully and his ears drooped. “Sorry that I didn't tell you right away. I… need time—well, I know it's hard for both of us, but it's my duty as the general of the Watatsumi’s army. As we know, there are two possibilities in battle—life or death. So that's why I asked—"

"I know," interrupted Kazuha while looking in another direction that wasn't Gorou's blue eyes. His gaze fell on the beach they were at, a beach that became their special place over time. "We've talked about this before, and I never doubt you."

Gorou chuckled and his tail wagged behind his body. "I know you'll understand. Thank You."

When he looked back at his lover's face, Kazuha found the most beautiful smile on the man's lips. In the past, Gorou had escorted him away from Inazuma and welcomed him back with a sincere smile. So, Kazuha said, “When the battle is over, will you take me to your hometown?”

“Huh?”

“I want to see your hometown—you talked so dearly about it just now. I want to know the place you grew up in.” Kazuha’s eyes were teary for no reason. His gaze couldn’t leave his lover’s perfect face. “I want to feel it with you. I want to meet your family and friends.”

“Oh…” A deep red stain appeared on Gorou’s cheek. “So, you were really listening to my rambling?”

Kazuha nodded. “I never miss any of your words. So, will you promise me to stay alive and take me to your home?”

The stain got darker, and the general nodded fast. “I promise. I promise! I will come back here with a victory. So please wait for me."

 Kazuha placed both hands on the other’s cheeks. "I will always wait for you. Forever."

Chapter Text

Gorou is like a rock.

He’s strong, reliable, and unrelenting. He’s also one that people cling to in times of need. Need someone to train you to fight? General Gorou is the one you need to seek out. Need a bit of advice for whatever problem you have? General Gorou is the answer. A shoulder to cry on? Well, General Gorou’s got your back.

Just like a rock, he was feared and fearless. Enemies talk about him in such a way that people cry at the very mention of his name (“His name is G-O-R-O-U. Don’t mess with him. If you see his pointy ears and tail, run. Run for your life.”). Nothing moves him off his place. There are even rumors about him facing tens of people all by himself and winning without a single scratch. He doesn’t stop fighting before he wins. Just like hitting a rock, it won’t get hurt. You get hurt.

All in all, Gorou is indestructible…

… until the wind blows.

Though looking strong and stable, a rock will gradually turn to sand as the wind blows.

The young samurai by the name of Kaedehara Kazuha is just like a gust of wind—Gorou himself admits this. He’s dressed in a flowy kimono. Hair is as pale as a dove’s feathers with a tiny tuff of crimson on the right side of his head. Wind constantly blows around him; perhaps a reminder of the Anemo Vision hanging on his scarf. Wherever he moves, one can see phantoms of floating maple leaves. Whenever he smiles and speaks in flowery words, something changes in Gorou’s heart.

The wind disintegrates his way of thinking. When the night falls, the formidable general stirs in his sleep. Ghostly images of the young samurai keep appearing in his mind whether he closes or opens his eyes. One day, Kazuha passes by when Gorou is training, flashing a beautiful smile at him in a very innocent way. Gorou’s heart skips a beat and his arrow misses its target—instead of the dummy’s head, it hits a tree behind. Everyone’s jaw drops. Everyone stares at their general, at their role model. Hundreds of questions form inside their brain for it is the first time the general makes a mistake. Gorou apologizes, but his face is so hot and later that night, he questions himself for yielding to a smile.

A smile!

Just, what kind of power does this wind samurai possess?

Gorou thinks Kazuha possesses some kind of unknown magic. They are both Vision users, and Gorou’s Geo Vision is supposed to be tremendous. Combined with his years of training in the military, he should be far more experienced than the wandering samurai. General Gorou of Watatsumi’s forces is always victorious. He leads hundreds of battles. He always wins. Losing is never in his book. So, how can he be defeated (again) when Kazuha reads him a poem when they are alone on a serene night? How can he lose his mind and grin like a little puppy when Kazuha laughs softly at himself for reading something he calls as ridiculous? What magic is this? Is it dangerous?

Gorou doesn’t understand magic. So, he leaves to see Lady Sangonomiya to seek an answer. She’s smart and wise for her age. She should know the answer.

“Oh, Gorou. Kazuha doesn’t possess any magic. You are in love with him,” she answers.

Her answer confuses Gorou. What is love? Why does love cause such a terrible thing to him? If love disrupts his way of thinking, it will be difficult for him to lead the troops.

“Can I not love him?” he asks again.

“Oh.” She giggles. “Why not? Love isn’t like what you think. Trust me, it will make your life better.”

Gorou thinks Lady Sangonomiya doesn’t really know the answer. He leaves after thanking her. Maybe he should read some books to find the answer. Or maybe ask older people in the village. On his way back, when the sun has already moved to the west and the sky looks just like a ripe persimmon, he meets Kazuha. A package in his hands, a smile on his face, and he smells like a nice autumn day. Gorou steadies himself. He will not yield this time, though his heart beats twice as fast and his knees are weak.

“Good evening, General,” the samurai greets politely. “You seem busy.”

It takes a few seconds for Gorou to answer, “Oh, yeah. I’m a very busy man, you know. What about you? What are you doing out here all by yourself?”

“I’m just getting this package of new fresh tea leaves.” He lifts the package in his hands. “If only you’re not busy, I’d like to invite you to try this new tea.”

Gorou fails to process his sentence. The blame is on his eyes for always finding themselves locked in Kazuha’s eyes. “Um, okay. I think—AHEM! I mean, what?”

“Were you listening to me, General?” He tilts his head a little, causing side bangs to fall softly on his shoulder. “And why is your face red? Are you okay?”

“Of course! I’m a rock. I don’t get sick.”

Kazuha giggles.

It is the most gentle and beautiful giggle ever. Gorou can feel himself giving in.

Wait. It’s that magic again!

Maybe, if Gorou agrees to have some tea with Kazuha, he can learn something about his power and how to deal with it.

So, Gorou takes a deep breath and folds both hands on the chest. “Ahem! As for your invitation earlier, I can accompany you to try the new tea. I’m done with the current business, by the way.”

A bright smile appears on Kazuha’s lips and his eyes are sparkling. “Very well. Please follow me, General. I will brew you some tea and we can chat for a while. Will that be okay with you?”

“Of course.” Gorou nods. “Lead the way, Kazuha.”

Kazuha leaves and so does Gorou. Side by side with the samurai, Gorou shudders. Is this the effect of Kazuha’s magic? Or is it caused by love just like what Lady Sangonomiya said? Gorou glances at his companion. He looks so fine from this angle. The wind that blows around him, the scent of maple leaves, and the glimmers in his crimson eyes are all irresistible.

For the first time, he doesn’t feel in jeopardy. He feels at peace. Warm.

The rock shatters. As the wind engulfs it, what was once a steady and persistent rock is now just a pile of sand. Though so, as long as it’s Kazuha, the sand will fly wherever the wind wants it to.

Chapter Text

His breath was heavy. It felt like he just swallowed a bunch of metal bristles and his inside was bleeding. His paws and claws were scrapping the mushy ground. It was midnight, and his night vision was poorer than ever. A gaping wound by the side of his hip deteriorated his senses, and if he hadn’t kept running on four, the townsfolks would capture him and, perhaps, kill him on the spot. His sharp pointy ears still captured their angry voices.

Humans are terrifying.

His blue eyes were bleary as he saw a glimpse of the night sky and the glowing full moon above the horizon. He saw water, murky and wavy. A few enormous rocks were jutting out randomly from the water. A dense forest was surrounding the lake, protecting it from the outside world. Wait. A lake? He’d never been to this lake before, even after years of living in a nearby town. His brain had shrunk in size whenever he transformed. His family called it wolf brain syndrome. He felt like a total idiot now. Even his real name was forgotten. Everything he knew was to survive. His instinct told him so.

He stopped just right on the shoreline and stood on his hind legs like a human would. Gentle wind swept up tiny waves into his paws, sending chills along his hairy body. The pain on his hip stung like hell. He grabbed the slashed skin, feeling fresh and cold blood seeping through enlarged fingers, dripping to the water. The half-man, half-wolf hunched over before kneeling down. He needed something to stop this bleeding, but what could he do? He’s a werewolf, naked if not for the thick brown hair covering him from head to toe. Maybe he could find a distracted man and maim him, then steal his clothes. Then, all he needed was to wait for the transformation effect to wear off, and he would be back to human form. But that would take at least an hour, and in his condition now, he’d better be defensive rather than offensive.

“You there!”

His ears twitched, and he sharply looked up with one claw ready to attack. Was that the townsfolks? He thought he had escaped to a more secluded area. But instead of finding a horde of angry people equipped with weapons, he saw a tiny silhouette of a person’s head in the middle of the lake.

“Yes! Here!” The person waved. His arm looked a little strange. Something was covering it—like some kind of a membrane?

He blinked a few times. What kind of human would swim in the middle of a dark lake, alone, at midnight?

The person seemed to understand his suspicion. He dived into the water, and when he did that, a large tail showed itself briefly above the water before disappearing.

A large tail. A mermaid?

So, this lake was a home for mermaids? He heard about these occult beings before. Mermaids were not enemies, but they weren’t exactly allies either. The thing was, mermaids were said to lure people into water bodies with their beautiful appearance and angelic singing voice, before drowning them to death and consuming their souls. Since they live in water, mermaids had never been a threat to the werewolf clan who live in mountains and forests. There hadn’t been any records of a werewolf’s death at the hands of a mermaid. He couldn’t possibly be the first, and he wouldn’t want to be.

The mermaid appeared again, much closer to the shoreline. He’s got red, blood-like eyes with thick and wet lashes. His white hair draped over his head and shoulder, wet and adorned with a few blades of wild seaweed and pink tiny pearls. A tuft of crimson was on the right side of his head. His ears were a pair of thorny fins with some pearl strings encircling them. His neck was adorned with sea flowers and shells, while the rest of his body was hidden under the murky and dark water.

“You’re hurt,” he said in his angelic voice. “Come to the water. I can help you.”

“No…,” he replied with a raspy voice and took a step back. “You’re… a… mermaid. You kill me.”

The mermaid tilted his head a little. “Is that what the humans told you about us?”

He flicked an ear, confused.

The mermaid scoffed. “Well, I’m not in the mood to drown anyone now. But if you keep standing there and let your blood fall into the water, it will make the whole lake smell like you—and I don’t find it comfortable. My nose itches at the smell of blood, especially werewolf blood. I’ve been attuned to nature and water for my whole life, and I prefer my home to be clean and pure.”

“What?” The werewolf felt a hundred percent dumber.

“You clearly need help,” the other said. “Okay, if you don’t want to go into the water, I’ll go to the shoreline. Please excuse my horrid appearance.”

Before he registered what the mermaid meant, he watched as the man with the fish feature climbed out of the lake. With both arms, he crawled on the sandy shore, dripping furiously. His tail was crimson, like his eyes. The main fin was a darker red, flapping wildly as he tried to shove his body on the ground. There were smaller fins with a variety of red colors—vermilion, scarlet, and brick red. He threw himself on the ground, resting comfortably like he had done this a lot of times before.

“Here, I will be harmless,” he reports. “Now, sit down and let me tend to your wound.”

The werewolf wanted to refuse, but the pain on his side was biting into his bones now and it forced him to obey the mermaid’s order. They sat next to each other, and from this closer distance, the werewolf could smell the other’s fishy scales. Also, he could see and immerse himself in his unmatched beauty. Was this one of the mermaid’s magic that could enchant people to do whatever they wanted them to? Had he fallen into his trap?

“What’s your name?” the mermaid asked as he hovered a hand above the other’s wound.

“No… remember…” Was all the werewolf could reply. “Something… Something…”

“Well, I’ll start from myself then.” His other hand touched the werewolf’s hairy claw. “My name’s Kazuha.”

“Kazu… Kazuha…”

“Yes, that’s right. But humans tend to call me the Crimson Mermaid because of my tail.” The mermaid smiled, and it was the sweetest smile the werewolf had ever seen his whole life. His hairy chest was pounding, and he shivered even with thick fur all over his body. “This wound is kinda bad,” Kazuha added. “Don’t worry. I know a song to heal wounds.”

“A song…” His ears twitched and his tail swished like a happy little puppy. “I… like songs… Mom and Dad… and sister… brother… They love songs…”

Kazuha nodded. “Please close your eyes and listen to my song.”

The confused werewolf did as he was told.

With his eyes closed, he focused on the song sung by Kazuha. It was a song in a foreign language but the melody was soothing, somewhat mellow, and nostalgic. Tiny sparks seemed to pop inside his body. It brought back memories of his childhood whenever he hurt himself while playing and his mother would apply cold ointment on his wound. He saw a golden sun somewhere in the darkness, then there were his sister and brother. They were scaring a flock of pigeons, then they laugh and pulled him into another adventure around the town. There were always adventures with his siblings. There was always laughter. They were werewolves disguised as human beings, trying to live their life to the fullest.

The world of humans might be terrifying. The fear of dying in the hands of townsfolks was always there in the back of his mind. But this world was also beautiful.

He wanted to go on living.

“It’s done.”

Kazuha’s gentle voice prompted him to open both eyes. He quickly checked on his wound. His fur was still soaked in blood, but the wound had closed. It didn’t hurt anymore, and his strength had been fully restored. The mermaid’s song was real magic!

“I am… not dead,” he said. “Why?"

“Who said I would kill you?” Kazuha chuckled softly.

He felt something burning in his face. That was weird.

Kazuha looked over his shoulder. “I have to go now. Can’t stay on land for too long.”

“I… help you,” the werewolf offered as politely as he could. “Because you… helped… me.”

Kazuha awarded him with another gentle smile.

With strong claws, he carried the mermaid-like he would a bride. Kazuha’s upper body was warm like a human, but his tail was cold and slimy. He felt so small in his grip. Kazuha circled his arms around his furry neck. A smile was on his plump, pink lips. His snow-white hair, blood-red eyes, and the tinkling tiny pearls around his fin-like ears captured the werewolf’s attention. Kazuha was truly angelic. Maybe this was one of the mermaid’s tricks—immersing his prey with beauty and all, before killing them. If so, then the amnesiac werewolf would die happily.

He got into the water. It reached his waist, submerging the freshly healed wound. The mermaid’s tail was touching the water.

“I can go from here,” he said. “Please release me.”

The werewolf flicked his ears and released the mermaid. Kazuha quickly dived into the water, sending a splash of freezing water all over the werewolf’s face. He rubbed his face while grumbling.

“Apologies!” Kazuha emerged back to the surface, showing his head to shoulder.

The werewolf nodded sheepishly, still trying to wipe his hairy face clean of any drop of water.

“Oh! The humans are approaching!” Kazuha warned. “You have to go!”

He looked up at the full moon, and something inside him told him that he would transform back into a human soon. If he was lucky, he would return to his human form before the townsfolks found him. But still, he would need something to cover his body when he did.

“Can you help again? I… transform to human. Soon,” he said. “But… naked. Naked… not good.”

Kazuha blinked, then swiftly submerged himself in the water. Soon, the lake was quiet like it had been the first time he came. It was tranquil and soothing. It was peaceful.

It was lonely.

Sparks exploded inside his body. His skin was itching, burning, like he was on fire even though he was still in the water. He watched as his claws started to shrink and his toe beans transformed into human palms. His head was spinning like someone just drilled into his skull with an ice pick. He gritted his teeth and fangs, and the hair on his face was enveloped by human skin. Human hair fell down the face, frizzy and oily. The cold night air and water were much colder than ever now that he lost all hair on his body, replaced by pale human skin. This is it. He’s back to his human form. He’s safe.

Something groped his legs under the water, and before he knew it, he was pulled into the lake. The man opened his mouth in an attempt to scream, but soon water filled his mouth and nose. In almost complete darkness, he opened both eyes and found a blurry image of the crimson mermaid’s smirking face. So, the mermaid indeed wanted to drown him to death. So, it was all a trick!

He couldn’t be dead now after everything! He had to fight back!

With his human hands, he tried to capture the mermaid’s hands when Kazuha pointed to his lower body. The man was confused, but he looked down. He could see his legs, and darkness. In human form, he didn’t possess the same night vision ability as he did when he was in werewolf form.

“Human wears them so they won’t be naked.” Kazuha's voice was as clear as when he was on land, despite the fact that they were completely submerged now. The crimson mermaid pulled another thing from his back. It looked like a cloth. “This is for you too.”

The man was suffocated now. His throat and lungs were burned like hell. Then, Kazuha pulled him up quickly.

“WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!” The man cursed once his head was on the surface of the lake and his lungs were filled with fresh air. He found the mermaid next to him, and he grabbed his arms with both hands. “You tried to drown me!”

“No,” the other simply replied. “As I’ve said before, I’m not in the mood to drown anyone.”

“You little…”

“This is a human’s clothes.” Kazuha handed him the wet cloth he had been holding since they were in the water. It was a ragged black shirt, probably had been worn by someone ten years ago and then was left in the lake to decompose. “Not in the best of shape, but it will save you. Humans don’t like being naked, do they?”

The man raked his brain for answers. He was in human form, but his brain was still like a wolf’s.

“Here!” Kazuha shoved the shirt to his face. “Don’t die too soon.”

“You’re weird. You should be more careful, too. I’m a werewolf. I can kill you in one fell swoop.” Though he said that, he kept the shirt close to his chest.

Kazuha giggled. “You’re not going to kill me, because you’re kind.”

His cheeks flared. “You… How could you be that calm around a stranger? You don’t even know my name.”

“Well, maybe the next time we meet, you’ll remember your name and you can tell me that.” He smiled so sweetly. “Goodbye, Mr. Werewolf!”

He swam into the horizon. Only his crimson tail was visible in and out of the water, then he was gone completely like he’d never been there in the first place.

The werewolf stared at the shirt in his hands, then he realized, under the water, that he had worn a pair of ragged shorts as well. Did the mermaid do this? So, he didn’t try to kill him! He was putting the shorts in the water! What a strange mermaid!

But, he was lucky though.

He swam back to the shoreline, then walked on the sand with bare feet. It was freezing and wet. He hated being wet. The shirt was soaked and smelled like a rotten onion. That mermaid had a bad sense of fashion. Though so, Kazuha had saved his life.

He looked back at the lake, realizing that he hadn’t thanked Kazuha.

“Hey! You there!”

He jolted up when a group of men emerged from the forest. They were the townsfolks that hunted him down earlier. Their weapons were still at the ready. Their torches and flashlights were illuminating the dark forest and shoreline. One of them, a large man with a thick brown trench coat, approached him.

“Did you see a werewolf coming here?” he asked angrily.

“A what?” The werewolf in disguise pretended to be shocked.

“Damn. You didn’t see him, huh?” the trench coat man scoffed and returned to his men. “He’s not here! Let’s go somewhere else!”

The group grumbled in disappointment and left, leaving the trench coat man.

“Hey, kid. What the heck are you doing out here in the lake at midnight?” he asked, eyeing the other’s ragged and wet outfit. “And why are you soaked to the bone like that? Did you swim in the lake? Isn’t it like below freezing point?”

“I’m looking for fish. They are easier to catch at midnight,” he replied. “And yeah, I swam a bit to make catching easier.”

“Oh. Well, good luck and be careful. I heard there’s an evil mermaid called the Crimson Mermaid here. Don’t be enchanted by his beauty.” The man tapped his shoulder and left.

The lake and shoreline were tranquil once more. He stared back at the lake, scanning left and right to find the mermaid that saved his life. There were only tiny waves and darkness. He remembered everything now that he had returned to human form. If only the mermaid stayed a bit longer, he could tell him in person.

The man sighed, took a deep breath and put both hands around his mouth.

“THANK YOU!” he shouted to the lake. “MY NAME IS GOROU!”

The lake was serene like it had always been.

Gorou sighed again. It’s time to go home before he caught a cold. He had classes in the morning.

As he turned his back on the lake, something hit his head. Gorou pressed the spot where the thing hit. It hurt, then he looked down to where a tiny pebble was lying on the sand. It was crimson, almost like the color of blood.

“Kazuha?” Gorou turned around to look for the mermaid, but he was met with another tranquility.

He picked the pebble up, holding it tightly in his palm, and smiled. A spark of hope inside him said that one day, he would return here. One day, they would sit side by side again and sing together.

***

Hiding behind a jutting rock in the lake, Kazuha watched as the werewolf left the shoreline. The pebble he threw was now in his possession. He smiled gently. What a kind and interesting werewolf.

“We’ll meet again,” he whispered. “Gorou.”

He climbed to the top of the rock, sitting comfortably, and sang. The full moon listened to his melody and perhaps would send his regards to a certain werewolf.

Chapter Text

Heavy footsteps and breaths echoed along the dark alleyway. The sound rang in his ears, creating a thundering pulse inside his pounding head. Gorou looked around, trying to find that one person clad in black. He saw the suspect run this way, but now that he was here, the suspect was nowhere to be seen. The darkness hid him so well, and it irritated the police chief to no end.

The chief took a sudden stop and caught his breath. His face and neck were covered in sweat, as well as his chest and back. The white shirt he wore was sticking to his skin. The holsters around his shoulders and chest felt twice as tight as before—perhaps it was caused by his ragged breath and burning chest.

“Sir!” one of his subordinates called. “Did we lose him?”

“No,” Gorou replied sternly. “I still smell him around here.”

He wasn’t joking when he said he still smelled the thief. That sneaky little thief had a distinctive scent and it itched Gorou’s nose. He took a step forward.

“I’ll take it from here,” he informed. “You guys stay here on the lookout. I’ll give you a call when I arrest him.”

“But, sir! We can’t possibly leave you alone to deal with the suspect!” his subordinate complained.

Gorou shrugged. “I’ve dealt with much more dangerous criminals before alone. Dealing with this little rat won’t be a problem for me.”

After that, the subordinates were quiet. Gorou took it as a cue and left, running into the deeper darkness of the alleyway.

It had been about six months since Gorou and the police department had been after a certain thief. The thief targeted antiques or precious gemstones stored in museums or jewelry shops. After each session, he always left behind a leaf—a pressed red maple leaf, presumably used as a bookmark outside of thievery. This little thief was agile, almost as if the wind itself supported his crime. Surveillance cameras were installed everywhere in the museums and shops, but the thief was fully aware of these cameras and blocked them just before getting into action. Gorou had had a glimpse of the thief a few times, but since he was shrouded in darkness, Gorou could only make out a hood and shoulder-length hair. It was difficult to determine what he looked like from those evidence only.

The man with pointy ears saw something shine in the dark sky. It’s the thief! He was jumping from one roof to another using something that looked like a metal cable and landing softly on two feet. His cape flapped behind his back, and the wind blew on the top of his head. The hood stayed. He probably used a pin to keep it in place to conceal his appearance. Gorou aimed his gun and shot.

The bullet hit the roof, just a few inches next to the thief’s foot. He looked startled and quickly ran away with graceful steps on the roof. Gorou cursed, then went after him. He needed to get on the roof, too. He was lucky that he found a ladder leading straight to the roof of a house. Gorou climbed hastily, almost slipped but managed to get his grip back on.

Once on the roof, he scanned the surroundings quickly. The wind here was strong, blowing his pointy ears and filling them with air. His hearing was a bit muffled now, thanks to the wind. His eyes were teary and dry, and the fact that it was midnight added more trouble than it seemed at first. He was tired from work, had too much coffee, and couldn’t get any proper rest. This thief picked the wrong time to mess with him.

His tired eyes found the thief standing on a water tank that stood tall on the rooftop of a building—Gorou knew it was the thief because who would be sane enough to stand on that thing in the middle of the night with no safety gear? The rooftop was sealed off by fences. A neon sign on the fences indicated that the building was a bar.

“FREEZE!” Gorou shouted and aimed his gun.

The thief simply beckoned the police to come get him with a hand.

Gorou felt something burn in his chest. He ran across the roof carefully, then climbed another ladder to reach a higher place. Once he got to the highest point of the building, he saw the thief still waiting for him on top of the water tank. They were now separated by a large gap between buildings. To reach his place, Gorou had to jump.

This isn’t good.

Considering his tired body and eyes, jumping across the gap would be risky. If he was in his best condition, he could do this in no time. What if he tried and failed? Dying like this would be embarrassing. But when looked back at the thief and his mocking grin, Gorou growled inside. Even if it cost his life, he had to arrest that criminal.

He put the gun back in his thigh holster, took a few steps back, then dashed forward and jumped. His feet missed a few inches, and he fell. No ground, strong wind. For a second, Gorou thought he had met his end, but he realized that he was still hanging on the edge of the building with both hands. He was lucky. Pushing his body up, Gorou finally was able to climb back up. He managed to get back on his own two feet and faced the sly thief. He was still standing on the water tank, unmoved like a steady rock.

“You little…” Gorou pointed his gun again and took little steps to reach the base of the water tank. “You better go down and surrender now!”

The other chuckled and folded both hands behind his back. Gorou tensed. What kind of trick was the thief up to this time? He was well known for unexpected tricks up his sleeves. Gorou had faced him a few times while he was in action, and a few times as well, he fell for the tricks.

So, he raised the gun and pulled the trigger. The bullet went straight to his head, but in less than a second, the thief in black leaped and flipped in the air. He landed softly on another water tank nearby. His posture was calm and collected like a certain someone Gorou knew at the office. The wind blew on his hood and cape, making him look like a superhero of some sort. Behind him, a starry night sky stretched as far as the eyes could see. Skyscrapers flickered with tiny lights. Sirens were heard in the distance.

Gorou felt his inside churn. That cunning thief was more capable than any thief he had ever seen! He might as well be a spy for a mysterious organization with that skill.

No. This wasn’t the time to get amazed by the enemy’s skill. The police chief once again raised his gun and put a finger on the trigger, then suddenly the thief pulled something from his back, and aimed it at Gorou.

Fuck!

Instead of drilling his head with hot lead, the thief aimed his shoot somewhere behind Gorou. Iron cable was shot instead of a bullet. Gorou hadn’t even processed what he was up to when the thief flew above him and disappeared. Gorou was taken aback and a soft ‘thud’ was heard behind him.

“Boo!”

The officer choked on his own saliva and hopped away from the voice. He instantly raised the gun again, now face to face with the thief. How did he get there, though? Gorou scanned the surroundings hastily and that was when he found a tall sign with the image of a beer glass behind the thief. Apparently, his enemy shot the cable to that sign so he could fly and startle Gorou from behind. What a fox!

It was the first time Gorou had been this close with the thief. The thief had pale hair that reached his shoulders and somewhat dark-red eyes. His eyes, protected by a mask, showed something akin to mockery. Much like the smirk on his lips. A particular scent wafted off the thief’s body. It smelled like… leaves and flowers, also a little bit of sweetness that reminded him of autumn.

This perfume wasn’t new to him.

Loud sirens suddenly filled the air. It was the squad! Just in time.

The sirens distracted the thief as he looked away from Gorou and seemed to be lost in thought. Before he could move, Gorou shot his left arm. The bullet grasped his skin, drawing fresh blood. Red splattered on the ground and the thief hunched back, taking a few steps back. He held his bleeding arm and grimaced, looking completely vulnerable. The pain in his arm must have wiped the smirk off his face.

“Now be a good boy and don’t do anything funny.” Gorou fished out a pair of handcuffs and approached him. “You’re lucky I didn’t shoot you in the head. We still need you alive.”

Right before Gorou took his arm, the thief extended a leg and kicked the officer right in the chest. The impact sent him back and Gorou fell on his butt, hurting the base of his thick brown tail. As Gorou tried to get back up, he saw the thief run away to the edge of the building.

He jumped.

“STOP!” Gorou shouted and launched himself to the same building edge. It was as high as tens of meters. He couldn’t jump to follow the thief. Only his eyes scanned the lower part of the building, trying to find the suspect in the darkness. He thought the thief had fallen to his death, but when a glint of metallic cable caught his attention, Gorou found the thief swinging to another building like a little monkey.

Gorou sighed and rubbed his burning chest. Another failure, another pain.

***

Thief on Sight: Inazuma City in Danger?

Who Could be The Person Behind This?

Chief Gorou: “We’re still investigating the crime. Please lock all doors and windows at night and don’t let your guard down.”

Gorou rubbed his throbbing temples and set his phone aside. The morning had come and he had to accept the fact that his failure tonight had made it on the news. Every website, radio station, and TV channel has written and reported about it. He had to do something to clean his name and arrest the thief soon. For now, he had to write a full report on how he lost the thief yet again.

He glanced at the bulletin board behind him. There were notes, photos, newspaper clippings, and the city map stuck on it. A wanted poster of the thief was also there. Red strings connected photos and notes to a certain part of the map. Those are locations ‘visited’ by the thief in a black hood. A few pressed red maple leaves were pinned on the board with a note written by Gorou. On the note, it read “MAPLE THIEF”.

Damn that guy.

The pain he left on Gorou’s chest and tail was still there. He would pay for this.

Gorou turned on his computer and automatically reached the edge of his desk. When his hand didn’t find the familiar form of his personal cup, he glanced over the computer. Oh, shit. The maid had taken his cup and probably was cleaning it now. Kazuha, the maid, always made sure his office was clean whenever Gorou returned from a call of duty. He hated dirty dishes and would scold Gorou for leaving them on the desk.

Gorou was about to call the maid when a soft knock came on his door. He muttered a word, and the door was opened.

“Good morning, sir,” the person bowed politely. He was dressed in a black uniform with long sleeves, complete with a white apron. His white hair was tied in a loose ponytail and a tiny lock of crimson was on the right side of his head. In his hands was a tray with Gorou’s personal cup, a pot of freshly brewed coffee, and a small basket of fresh bread.

“Oh, Kazuha! Perfect timing!” Gorou said. “I was just about to call you.”

Kazuha had been a maid at the Inazuma Police Department for about a year now. He had been assigned to make drinks and snacks for the officers along with a few other maids. His ability to brew coffee had taken Gorou’s interest—since he lived on coffee every day and would combust if he didn’t have a coffee. Since then, Kazuha had been personally serving coffee for the police chief.

Kazuha had a nice personality. He was gentle and modest. He could befriend everyone and most importantly, he was loyal to the department. He was precious and Gorou would sacrifice himself for his sake. And that was one of the reasons he needed to arrest the thief as soon as possible.

The maid with gentle red eyes smiled softly. He put the tray on Gorou’s desk and served him a cup of hot coffee with two cubes of sugar. As he handed the cup, Gorou spotted the way his left hand wobbled.

“Are you okay?” he asked the maid. “I noticed your left hand was a bit… weak.”

“Oh, I was careless and accidentally poured hot water on my arm,” he replied gently with a smile so sincere it reached his eyes. “But I’m fine. Please do not worry about that.”

There was a nagging feeling in Gorou’s chest. Following the instinct, he grabbed Kazuha’s left hand and rolled his sleeve up. His arm was bandaged, and a fresh dark red stain smeared on it. This couldn’t be a wound caused by hot water. This was something else.

“What happened?” Gorou asked sternly, gripping Kazuha’s wrist tightly. “Did someone hurt you?”

“It’s nothing, sir. As I’ve said, it was just hot water.”

“I’ve been living for more than twenty years, and I know this is not a wound caused by hot water,” Gorou scolded. “Tell me, Kazuha. Did something happen?”

Kazuha hesitated for a second, and then he murmured softly, “The thief on the news…”

“He did this to you?” Gorou’s eyes went twice wider, and he got up so fast his chair almost tumbled down. “Why?! Why would he do this to you? You have nothing to do with all this! Tell me what he did to you?”

Kazuha looked away, completely flustered and intimidated. Then he spoke in a very low voice, “When I was walking home last night, I happened to bump into him. He was in a hurry, and it looked like he was also hurt. I knew there were police nearby, so I screamed. He was furious and attacked me. Before anything worse happened, the police came, and he ran away. That’s how I got this wound.”

Gorou gritted his teeth. “He’ll pay for this…”

Gently, Kazuha removed Gorou’s hand from his wrist and rolled his sleeve down. He forced a smile and said, “Please do not let your emotions get the best of you. This crime won’t solve itself. Everyone needs you, so keep a cool head.”

Those words calmed Gorou down. He sighed and placed a hand on Kazuha’s waist to pull him closer. “You’re right. Thank you for reminding me.”

Kazuha blushed and giggled cutely. “I appreciate your concern, good sir.”

Gorou nuzzled into his neck and indulged himself in his distinctive scent. His perfume was fresh and crisp, like autumn air and sweet flowers. This perfume… He smelled a similar scent last night…

“Anyways,” Kazuha’s voice was followed by a soft tap on Gorou’s back, “your coffee is getting cold, and I have to get back to work.”

“Oh!” The chief quickly retracted himself from the kind maid. “Of course. Thanks for the coffee and the info, Kazuha.”

Kazuha took a tiny jar from his pocket and put it on the desk. “I heard you got hurt. This balm can soothe the pain.”

“You’re so thoughtful. I’m glad you’re here,” Gorou said honestly.

“My pleasure, sir.” Kazuha bowed one last time, then left the room.

Gorou sat on his cushioned leather chair, sipping on warm coffee and toying with Kazuha’s balm jar. His eyes found their way to the bulletin board again. The newest red string was attached from the latest crime scene, which was the National Museum of Antique Jewelry, to a bar where the thief almost caught him off guard, and to a photo of the shadowy thief.

Kazuha said he was attacked by the thief last night and the criminal was hurt, indicating that it happened after Gorou shot him in the arm, on the rooftop of the bar. Where did Kazuha live? He never stated clearly where he lived, only saying that he lived in a small apartment in the suburbs. If that was so, why would he walk past the bar that was located in the downtown? He should have taken a bus that would pass another part of the city to reach the suburbs. Also, he said he screamed when he saw the thief and the police came to his rescue. But, none of Gorou’s subordinates reported such a thing. No one said they met Kazuha near the bar. If what Kazuha said was true, he should have been guarded by the police and Gorou should have met him once he left the bar building. The police couldn’t have sent him home without reporting to Gorou first, could they?

Gorou’s head was about to explode now. He grabbed a piece of empty note, wrote Kazuha’s statement on it, and stuck it on the bulletin board. Another clue, another step to arrest the criminal. This crime was more complex than he had ever imagined.

The chief returned to the desk, noticing the tray with a coffee pot and a basket of bread left by Kazuha. The pot was still hot and the bread smelled so nice. Gorou lifted the basket, and his eyes went wide as a piece of paper was revealed under the basket.

I’ll see you tonight at Komore Teahouse❤️

—Acer Palmatum

 The thief! It was the criminal! There was no way Kazuha would leave something like this in his carefully prepared meal. Gorou guessed; the thief followed Kazuha after the incident last night and sneaked the note. That little… The chief snatched his phone. Time to call for a meeting with his coworkers. This time, they would arrest the suspect for sure.

Chapter Text

It all started with a simple word.

Kazuha looked up from the piping hot taiyaki he was enjoying, and his eyes met a few pairs of strangers. They were all taller than Kazuha and looked like they hadn’t changed their clothes in a few days. Rancid, atrocious smell wafting off their bodies.

“Hey,” one man, probably the leader of them all, repeated. “You alone? Mind if we join you?”

Kazuha sighed. He knew this type of people—they would always try to extort the little Mora in his belongings or try miserably to flirt like high schoolers. People like them, somehow, always existed everywhere. They were just like tiny pebbles acting like obstacles in other’s peaceful life. They were also kind of ignorant to have the guts to even step closer.

Kazuha should have rested somewhere with more people, instead of this particular corner of the festival where no one could see him.

“My apologies, but I am waiting for someone,” Kazuha said calmly. “Please, do not bother me here. Simply, take your leave before things get… ugly.”

The first man, Kazuha would call him the Leader, laughed. His followers copied his awful laughter that sounded like an apple got stuck in his throat.

“For a cute, pretty boy like you, you sound so confident,” he mocked and lifted Kazuha’s chin.

“Hands off,” Kazuha warned. “Don’t try anything funny.”

They laughed again, seemingly enjoying this whole thing.

“Why?” the Leader croaked. “We just want to have some fun with you. You seem lonely here all by yourself. The festival is still going on, and it’ll be a waste to sit here alone and do nothing.”

“Leave,” Kazuha warned again. “I have a boyfriend.”

“And?”

“Just leave. I won’t repeat.”

The man and his subordinates wheezed. Some of them were looking at each other and laughed even louder as if they were watching the most hilarious play in the world. Another pair slapped each other’s back and had tears in their eyes. Kazuha rolled his eyes and sighed. Even if they were some punk, attacking them first would cause problems that could have been avoided by staying calm and collected like always. Most of the time, the troublemakers would leave when they got bored of their plaything. Most of them.

“That’s kinda cute.” The Leader grabbed Kazuha by the arm and pulled him up. “Feisty and cute.”

The samurai decided to stay silent.

“What the— Hey! Get away from him!”

The shout startled everyone. The Leader removed his hand from Kazuha and finally, Kazuha could breathe a relief. From the corner of his eyes, Kazuha saw his boyfriend among the festival stalls, rushing to his spot. He pushed through the people surrounding Kazuha to get to him.

“You got a problem, kid?” snarled the Leader.

“YOU got a problem! What do you think you’re doing?!”

Kazuha’s stood behind his boyfriend. Gorou’s back and shoulders looked tense. The small hairs on his nape were straight just like his tail. He knew these signs.

“Gorou, just ignore them,” he spoke softly. “Let’s just go.”

“These people ruined our date…”

“Come on… Let’s just go home.”

They originally went to this specific festival to have some snacks and some fun. They bought some snacks and then Kazuha got thirsty. While Kazuha sat on a bench, away from the crowd and enjoyed his taiyaki, Gorou left to get some drinks. No one would have guessed that something like this would happen—and Kazuha hated it. Oh, how he wished he could just finish his taiyaki and go home with Gorou.

One of the men scoffed. “Yeah, he’s right. Go home, loser!”

The others laughed.

Kazuha sighed softly. His voice came out softer despite the anger he carried inside. “Please, don’t try us if you don’t want to get hurt.”

The Leader looked at his subordinates and burst into a fit of laughter.

“Bruh. We were just having some fun,” he said. “You don’t know how to have fun. Boring.”

“Boring!” The others chimed in.

“Hey, friends,” Gorou said with a tone that indicated how annoyed he was, but he tried to stay cool-headed. “Why don’t you just get the fuck out of our faces? You make us sick.”

Kazuha thought it was one of Gorou’s best signature taunts.

“What did you say, kid?” the Leader scoffed.

“Get. The. Fuck. Out. Of. Our. Faces,” Gorou repeated with a very subtle tone on each word.

The Leader suddenly threw a punch.

Kazuha widened his eyes. Here we go.

Luckily, before the fist connected itself to Gorou’s face, the pointy-eared man caught it in mid-air. He swiftly twisted it aside, forcing the Leader’s shoulder to rotate along with it. In an instant, the Leader found himself standing off balance with his arm pulled back awkwardly, and his fist still held tightly in Gorou’s grasp. The large man grimaced in pain.

Gorou raised an eyebrow, and said to the Leader, “You are really that stupid, huh?"

The Leader wrenched his arm free of the general’s grasp with a muffled grunt of pain, and immediately threw another punch, this time aiming for Gorou’s stomach. Gorou stepped aside, avoiding the incoming blow once more smoothly.

“Stop it, stupid. You won’t win,” Gorou said casually.

The Leader and his subordinates were infuriated. Anger was clear in the Leader’s expression as he glared at Gorou. His buddies cursed and glared at Gorou as if they were ready to lunge at him and beat him to a pulp. Kazuha wanted to tell them to cut it off since they would just get themselves hurt and it wouldn’t be funny to see people get hurt because of their stupidity. But these men were indeed stupid. So…

Before Kazuha could say another word, one of the men quickly tried to attack Gorou by throwing another rather pathetic punch.

Gorou bit the man’s arm, drawing a high-pitched scream from the man.

“Oh, come on!” Kazuha scolded. “No biting in public, Gorou.”

Gorou let the man go and spat. “Tasted like shit.”

Kazuha stepped in front of Gorou, placing himself between his boyfriend and the furious men. The blonde stared at the men and put both hands on his hips.

“You better go home and do not try to make this harder. Okay?” he advised.

Of course, his advice fell on deft ears. The men, instead of listening and doing as they were told, purposely snarl and growl like some starving wild animals. Some of them even stepped forward, clenching their fists and preparing to throw another punch at Gorou or Kazuha. They clearly were out of their mind.

“Let’s go, Gorou.” Kazuha turned around and decided to leave with Gorou because these idiots wouldn’t care. It was like talking to the walls.

He took the first step to walk away with Gorou, but something caught his arm. Kazuha blinked twice and then he was pulled back with such force that his legs were about to give in. When he thought he would fall on his butt and embarrass himself, he was already at the mercy of the Leader who grabbed him by the neck.

“Ha! Gotcha, kid! Does it hurt? Wanna cry?” The Leader smiled menacingly, making it clear that he had the upper hand.

“You think?” Kazuha tilted his head a little to get a look at his captor. He was not struggling or trying to break free from the Leader’s grip on his neck, and his expression remained unchanged as if the entire situation didn’t worry him. 

“You… You’re gonna regret this…” The Leader seemed unsettled by this, wondering why this small blonde was not reacting with more fear and desperation.

“That’s enough!” Gorou shouted. “Hey! You sick bastard! Let him go this instant!”

“What if I don’t? What’re you gonna do? Cry? Call mommy?” The man laughed, still refusing to let go. He tightened his grip even more as he spoke.

“Hey! I’m not calling my mommy because of that!”

Kazuha rolled his eyes and sighed. “Gorou, just ignore what he said. He’s just trying to enrage you.”

“Oh. Yeah. You’re right.” Gorou shrugged. “So…”

The Leader and the rest of his men were puzzled at how calm this couple was.

“You… Hey, we’re not playing here!” The Leader was furious by his opponents’ apparent lack of reaction. He tightened his grip on Kazuha’s neck, trying to get him to react with fear or desperation. But Kazuha remained expressionless and calm.

“We know that,” replied Gorou indifferently. “So… You gonna let him go or what?”

The man’s face was scrunched in disgust. “Okay, I’ll let this kid go on one condition.”

“And that would be?” Gorou crossed his arms on his chest while Kazuha rolled his eyes again.

“Hand over all of your money and precious belongings. Now.” The Leader held out a hand and pointed to the ground. “Drop them here. My boys will pick them up.”

“Money?” Gorou widened both eyes. “My money’s all with Kazuha!”

“Yeah, because I know if you have money, you’ll spend all of it on sweets. Not healthy at all, my dear. So I keep your money.” Kazuha replied calmly even with the Leader’s hand around his neck.

The Leader listened to their casual conversation as if they weren’t in a tight situation. His face was red in anger and shame and confusion. “Hey! You two! I have this boy in my hand now! I can hurt him whenever I want and you two are talking about… money and sweets??”

“Uh… You said you wanted money so…” The pointy-eared man scratched his head. “But, man! I don’t have money! Even my wallet is with Kazuha!”

The Leader burst into anger. “Hey! We’re doing a serious negotiation here! Do I need to hurt this boy now for you to take me seriously?!”

There it goes. Anger and impatience. Kazuha sighed again for the umpteenth time. Suddenly, he grabbed the Leader’s hand and swiftly slammed him to the ground, surprising everyone with his unexpected burst of strength and speed. The Leader was completely caught off guard by this sudden turn of events, and he fell to the ground with a grunt of pain as he hit the pavement hard. The impact made the man groan in pain like some weak rodent. Even then, he still tried to wrestle his way back up to recapture Kazuha.

Before the Leader did what he was planning, Kazuha stepped on his back to prevent him from getting up, canceling the man’s effort once and for all.

“Don’t mess with people who look weak. They might have some hidden power,” he told the Leader.

“You…” The Leader groaned as he was pinned down. “You’re… Who are you?”

“Just a humble traveler. Right, Gorou?” Kazuha turned his gaze to Gorou who had been watching in amusement.

Gorou smirked. “Heh. Yeah.”

“You, pointy-eared doggy boy! You… I bet you’re just a weak little doggy who trails on your boyfriend’s tail. You need your cute boyfriend to protect you, huh? Some man you are!” 

“Pathetic.” Kazuha stepped harder and earned a yelp from the man. “My boyfriend here is a gentleman. He will not fall for your tricks. Right, Gorou?”

“Uh, yeah. Almost. Hehe…” Gorou grinned wide as he hid his clenched fists. “I mean—I’m a gentleman. I won’t be riled up easily.”

The Leader suddenly let out a laugh of delight. Seemed like he got the response he was hoping for, and he was quite satisfied. “You know what? You almost sounded like a total loser!”

Thanks to his taunt, Gorou growled and barked. His face was scrunched and the corners of his mouth were rising, showing his fangs. Both of his hands were clenched and his tail straightened up.

“Oh, poor thing… That was a bad choice,” said Kazuha and he looked at Gorou. “Dear, he’s all yours. Show him how to behave.”

Upon hearing that, Gorou’s eyes light up. He smirked and the tone of his voice came out full of confidence when he answered. “Alright. I’ll show him how to behave.”

The smirking general focused his attention back to the Leader. His eyes were filled with some malicious intent. They glowed with a predatory light that would shame any villain in the world. He slowly approached. His footsteps were firm and confident. Gorou clenched his fists and cracked his knuckles, and his smirk was growing wider.

“Hmph! Why would I be scared of you? I might be pinned down, but that doesn’t mean that you’re stronger than me. So don’t get too cocky!” The Leader taunted.

Kazuha suddenly let him go and Gorou grabbed the man by the collar to pull him up. He smirked.

“Uhhh,” groaned the Leader. “W-what? You gonna punch me or what? You’re just a weak dog—ACK!!”

Gorou just punched him straight in the face.

The Leader let out an involuntary shout of pain, and his head was knocked back. He was left with a bloody lip, as well as the feeling of his skull like it was going to explode.

“Huh? Is that all you got??” The Leader provoked Gorou again like the idiot he was, trying to get him to fight. 

Gorou punched the idiot again with the same power as the first one.

Kazuha had been watching the whole situation unfold with a silent but discerning gaze. He could tell that the idiot was deliberately trying to get Gorou to keep fighting, and he was starting to get concerned that it was going to end badly for all of them. Kazuha said casually and gently, “Okay, that’s enough.”

“Oh. Sure.” Gorou immediately stopped and backed away so that there was just enough gap between him and the Leader. He was calm and collected even after punching the shit out of the punk for a few times.

The Leader was unamused. He quickly stepped in and attempted to land a sucker punch on Gorou when he was looking back to Kazuha, hoping to catch him off-guard.

Gorou dodged the man’s attack with relative ease, and he retaliated immediately. The Leader kept trying to fight back as the two exchanged attacks, but he was no match to Gorou. It was almost like the pointy-eared man suddenly had eyes everywhere, and he was able to anticipate every move even when the Leader tried to catch Gorou by surprise.

Soon enough, the Leader was starting to falter from all the attacks from Gorou. There was blood on his face now, along with a bruised lip from where a punch landed. His legs wobbled and he dropped to his knees. Gorou wagged his tail and smirked. He glanced at Kazuha as if asking for permission to fight more.

“Oh, that’s enough, baby,” Kazuha commented and looked at the Leader’s cronies who had remained silent and watched the whole thing unfold from a safe distance. His gaze was cold and uncaring. “You guys wanna join?

They were sweating and trembling. Their eyes landed on their Leader who was lying on the ground, beaten to a pulp. They shifted around, eyed Gorou and Kazuha, and shivered.

"All of you, get out of here now,” Gorou commanded sternly, subconsciously shifting to his general self. 

Upon hearing what Gorou said, the men quickly looked at one another and scurried off into the alleyways, disappearing from sight.

“You cowards!” The Leader shouted. He was the only one left on the ground, all bruised and beaten.

“Well.” Kazuha crouched next to him. He said in a mocking, gentle tone, “Do you want more punishment?”

“No… No! Please forgive me!” The man covered his head and shivered.

“Next time, don’t be a stupid jerk. Or you know the price,” said Kazuha as he smiled gently with Gorou standing menacingly behind him.

Kazuha got up and took Gorou’s hand. “Dear, I’m getting thirsty now. Can we go get something cool?”

As Gorou saw Kazuha standing up, he reached out and took his hand right away. “Yeah, sure. Let’s go. I’m thirsty as well."

They walked away hand in hand, leaving the Leader alone with nothing but shame and pain all over his body. Well, it was his own fault, though. After all, it’s never right to torment someone for whatever reason.

Chapter Text

The stack of unfinished assignments on the table seemed to mock Gorou. With a heavy sigh, he reluctantly took the a piece of paper and started reading. The words were jumbled together, swirling into a hurricane of misery. The man put the paper down and banged his head on the table, drawing attention from the other customers of the cafe.

“How can someone live with a mountain of assignments like this?” he grumbled. If only he could, he would tear all the paper and throw his laptop into the river. No more homework. No more stupid paper to write. No more college.

Fuck college.

“Get it together, Gorou,” said Kokomi. She was his best friend, willing to accompany Gorou to finish his long-forgotten assignments. “You're the only one that hasn't completed the assignments.”

“Don't remind me.” He sighed. “Where's my coffee?”

“Hmm. It's been a while, hasn't it? I wonder what the barista is doing.”

“Coffee… Where are you?” Gorou groaned and made a sound like a wounded animal.

Whenever he felt the weight of stress pressing down on his shoulders, Gorou would get himself a—or more—cup of coffee. He would put three cubes of sugar in minimum in his coffee. If his stress level was so high that his brain was threatening to explode into tiny bits, he would put in more than five cubes of sugar. Kokomi said he had to stop consuming too much sugar before his blood pressure went out of control. But the sugar rush helped Gorou gain some mysterious extra energy, eliminate his stress, and he was able to finish his work. To be honest, it was scary. Gorou thought one day his body would consist of pure sugar and he would be condemned as the Sugar Man.

That was stupid but whatever. He still needed coffee and sugar.

“Hello! Sorry for taking so long. Here is your coffee,” said a gentle and sweet voice.

Gorou looked up from his laptop and crumpled book, ignoring the throbbing pain in his forehead after banging it on the table. He saw a familiar face and his heart skipped a beat.

“Oh! Kazuha?” Kokomi smiled. “You work here?”

Kazuha was a sweet and kind guy. Gorou met him when he was a silly little kid who kept running around the classroom and annoyed everyone with his super loud voice, or dropped a random water bottle and spilled its content on the floor, then was told to clean the classroom by the teacher. To make it simpler, they were childhood friends. If Gorou was a loud kid with too much energy in his tiny body, Kazuha was the exact opposite. He was calm and collected. And he was always the first to help little Gorou up whenever he fell after bumping a table or a chair or the wall with a big concussion on his head.

“It’s my first day.” As Kazuha set two steaming cups of coffee down on the table, a warm smile graced his lips.

He had the brightest smile in the world that would pale the stars. His glittering eyes are the color of sunsets, a combination of red and orange just the perfect amount. Kazuha's hair was pale blonde. Today, he kept his hair in a high ponytail with a black band. He was wearing the cafe's uniform and apron, making him look older than he should. “It's the first time I make coffe, so... apologize for the long waiting time.”

“That's alright!” Kokomi nodded then looked at Gorou. “You've been awfully silent.”

“Huh? What??” Gorou blinked. “Oh, well! Hehe…”

Kazuha giggled sweetly, enough to send butterflies down Gorou's stomach. “How are you, Gorou? It's been a while.”

They hadn’t seen each other for several days. Gorou had been preoccupied with assignments, while Kazuha seemed to have vanished. Although they attended the same college, Kazuha belonged to a different faculty. Despite occasional encounters in the park or hallway, Kazuha suddenly disappeared a few days ago.

Gorou thought he was abducted or some shit like that. Hell. He needed to stop watching superhero movies and pretend to be one of them.

“I think I’m good. Didn’t know you started working here, Kazu,” Gorou said as his eyes lingered on two cups of black coffee on the table. “Is that why you disappeared?”

Kazuha shrugged. “I had to train in the café, that’s why I… disappeared. I need extra money for tuition and stuff, so… no other choice but to take a part-time job.”

“That’s understandable,” Gorou sighed and took his cup of coffee. “You made this? Smells nice.”

“Thanks. You should try it.” Kazuha flashed a sweet smile. It was so sweet that Gorou almost could taste it in his taste buds.

As Gorou gazed at Kazuha’s sunny smile, he savored the hot coffee. The coffee was exquisite—the flavor, the aroma, and everything was a matching combination that helped the pointy-eared man reawaken and ease his mind, giving him an extra energy boost to carry on with his work.

“Your coffee is incredible!” he praised. “Is this really the first time you make coffee? This is like a professional barista’s coffee!”

Kazuha responded with a cute giggle, seemingly amused at the praise.

Kokomi chimed in, “Yeah, the coffee is wonderful. Even without sugar.”

“Without sugar?” Gorou glanced at his coffee, then darted his eyes to the untouched sugar pot in the middle of the table. Had he added sugar to his coffee, though? But it was already sweet and flavorful—just right. Plus, he and Kokomi didn’t order coffee with sugar.

“Well, then. I’ll go back to work. Enjoy your coffee!” Kazuha gave another stunning smile and left, leaving the aroma of freshly brewed coffee in his wake.

Gorou couldn't tear his gaze away from Kazuha as he left. His heart pounded twice as fast as he watched the barista's graceful movements, his eyes tracing every line of his body. Gorou felt a rush of warmth in his cheeks, realizing how infatuated he was as he sipped the piping hot coffee. The coffee was perfect and he enjoyed the brief moment of Kazuha’s back before the blonde disappeared into another room.

How could the coffee taste so perfect? The barista yesterday, not Kazuha, brewed Gorou’s coffee using the same machine, the same beans, and everything. But the coffee yesterday was… just okay. Today, the coffee was out of this world. Gorou’s taste buds were welcoming the bitterness unlike before.

Wait. Bitter?

Whatever. It was still incredible.

“… Rou? Gorou? Hey!”

Gorou remained silent. He kept sipping the hot coffee, savoring its taste and replaying the memory of Kazuha’s extra sugary sweet smile in his mind. This coffee combined with Kazuha’s smile was a perfection. This had to be the best coffee ever.

“Hello! Earth to Gorou!” Kokomi nudged Gorou. “Are you even listening?”

“Huh?” Gorou blinked, finally freed from the magical spell that bind him. “What?”

“I was saying, did you really enjoy the coffee?” Kokomi asked, eyebrows raised in concern.

“Uh, yeah, yeah, I did,” Gorou muttered and sipped the coffee again.

This time, for some reason, the coffee was awfully bitter and it burned his tongue. With a sudden jolt, Gorou snapped out of his trance. He grimaced, realizing that his fascination had distracted him from the real taste of his drink. Setting down the cup with disappointment, he finally turned his attention back to his friend.

“Now that you mention it, this coffee is too bitter,” he muttered. “Where’s the sugar?”

His friend chuckled knowingly. “Kazuha’s coffee is actually okay if you can drink coffee without sugar. But you hadn’t put any sugar in your coffee, yet you kept sipping. Didn’t you say that bitter coffee burns your tongue and upsets your stomach?”

Gorou chuckled awkwardly and reached for the sugar pot. As he dropped five cubes of sugar into his coffee to sweeten it, he couldn’t help but realize that the coffee had tasted amazing before thanks to Kazuha and his sweet smile. Relishing the warmth spreading through him, he took another sip of the now sweet coffee. All was because of Kazuha’s smile. It was remarkable that such a smile could transform even the bitterest coffee into something so sweet and comforting. It was like a magic spell.

“I think I know how to cut my sugar intake,” Gorou declared confidently.

Kokomi leaned closer, interested in her friend’s idea. “Tell me, tell me!”

A wide grin spread across Gorou’s face. “When I drink coffee, I just need to envision Kazuha and his smile.”

“What?” A pink eyebrow was raised in confusion.

“Kazuha and his smile make the coffee sweet even without sugar.”

“Sounds kinda odd, but you do you.” She laughed and shrugged it off. “If it works for you, then do it. Well, let’s get back to work. Where were we…”

Gorou grinned and observed Kokomi trace her finger across a piece of paper. He made a mental note to visit the café regularly so he could see Kazuha more—also gain an extra sugary boost from his crush. With that motivation in mind, he was confident that he would be able to complete all of his assignments on time.