Chapter Text
The sun slowly rose into the sky as frost began to drip off of the grass, birds chirping as they fetched their food. And thus rose Kunikuzushi as well. His long, raven hair slid off of his shoulders, pooling a bit on the ground. As a samurai, it was inconvenient, but he always felt that it was too precious to be chopped off. For now, at least. He silently made his way to his large wooden vanity, which held an assortment of items such as a hair brush, a mirror, some ties to put his hair up, and other random things he had been gifted or bought for himself. He quietly brushed his hair, making sure to get all of the knots out and trying to be gentle, but his patience grew thin and he felt himself yanking the brush a little harder than he should be. His sleepwear slid off of his shoulder slightly, causing him to shiver as the cold morning breeze brushed off of him. He stood up once more and got dressed into a simple white kimono with a purple inner silk.
A soft knock was heard at his bedroom door, a piece of paper being slid on the door moments after. He lived in a large mansion, spending his days training and training. His mother was the almighty Shogun, in charge of Inazuma’s armies, making her the highest ranked general. Her older sister was in charge of the political side of things. He always felt it was a sign of nepotism, but his mother was truly skilled at her planning. Kunikuzushi, on the other hand, was best in combat. He had trained from the moment he could walk, learning how to wield a katana from the ripe age of 7. The war had been going on for around a year or so now, he had lost track of the days. The war seemed pointless to him, a simple fight for a few islands, but his mother expressed how valuable the land was or something. It didn’t feel right, but Kunikuzushi had no say in the matter, so he simply did as told.
He quietly picked the paper up, opening it up, and began reading it. Seconds went by and the paper crumpled in his hand. His brows were furrowed and he contemplated committing arson for a split second. He deeply inhaled, but he couldn’t stop himself. The door slid open with a loud thud, resounding through the hall. Being quiet was not one of Kunikuzushi’s objectives. He stomped through the halls, left, left, right, left, through the garden into the other section of the mansion, left once more, until he was greeted with a large pair of doors. He didn’t bother knocking as he stormed inside the room. He was infuriated.
“Why are you sending me away?” He huffed out, staring down at what would be known as his creator.
“Well hello to you too, Kunikuzushi. To what do I owe the pleasure?” She replied, not looking up from the papers she was busy reading.
“Why are you sending me to some island to train new soldiers? I can be useful on the battlefields now! Why waste my talent, mother?” He yelled out.
A loud clapping sound could be heard, and Kunikuzushi’s face was turned. The shogun was now standing, hand out with a sharp look on her face. She had slapped him. A sharp sting could be felt on his left cheek. Red already began to blossom in the shape of her hand.
“Keep your emotions in check, I raised you better than this. And it is General to you.” She spoke, nothing but venom in her voice. “You are to go to the island immediately to train the new soldiers. You are skilled, we both know this. Your talent is needed there. Do not disappoint me any further, Kunikuzushi.” And thus, she sat down once more.
Kunikuzushi let his mouth close and he slowly turned, making his way back to his room. His face turned back to stone as he stepped inside, slowly closing the door behind him. He slowly began packing, not bringing much outside of a few extra pairs of clothing and his katana. Everything else would be provided at the camp. The ship he would be boarding would set sail in a few hours. He gripped his katana, inhaled deeply once, twice, before exhaling. His grip loosened and he returned to his vanity, finishing up with tying his hair back in a simple low ponytail, just to keep it out of his face for the time being. He grabbed a few extra ties for his hair and his hairbrush, along with a small mirror. Looks don’t matter during battle, but it would be an issue if his hair was too tangled to put up. He would be forced to cut it and he refused to do such a thing.
His hair was what made him look so similar to his mother. And as much as he felt her negligence towards him, she was still his mother. Even such a small tie to signify that was enough to make him feel some sort of love. Sometimes, that’s all you need. He laid himself on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He sighed as his cheek still stung. This would be a long few months. Kunikuzushi was thirsty for blood, eager to prove his worth as the mighty Shogun's son and bring them to victory. He was quite literally named country destroyer for crying out loud. He was a valuable weapon that could be used, yet here he was being forced to do training. He sighed loudly, deciding to rest his eyes as he listened to nature right outside his window. His thoughts seemed less and less important as he drifted to a soft sleep, knowing someone would wake him when the time came for him to leave.
Hours passed and just as expected, he was gently awoken with a simple knock. The housekeepers knew Kunikuzushi was a light sleeper, so the knock would be enough to signal it was time for his departure to Yashiori Island. It would take a few days if they got lucky, up to two weeks if they got caught in a storm. Kunikuzushi packed a few more items, simply things to keep him entertained such as a blank notebook and a few books. Nothing of much value in case the worst case scenario were to occur. He lifted his bag up and began his short journey down to the docks. He walked through the main city, eventually meeting a dirt path and following that for some time. One of his hands remained on the handle of his katana at all times, while the other held his bag. He stayed vigilant, never once letting his guard down. He made it to the docks and was easily able to board his ship, the captain saying something along the lines of smooth sailing. The camp would be stationed in the center portions connecting Kanazuka and Yashiori island, staying far enough away from the main lines of battle but close enough in case they would need to be called upon.
The boat ride to the island was boring enough, the other soldiers bonding during the trip while he kept to himself. He was always like this, standoffish with little to know words to say to anyone. Many assumed it was because he was arrogant and looked down on them, but to be honest, it was simply because he had never wanted to get close to anyone. Emotions meant vulnerability. And in this line of work, you couldn’t have even a second of weakness.
When they all made it off of the boat, Kunukuzushi immediately instructed them to get everything set up and all of the supplies off of the boat. It was a small group of about 50 people that he would be training. He felt even more irritated that he was sent away to train a mere 50 people rather than being sent to battle, but he didn’t let it show. He set up his own tent and quietly unpacked a few of his items such as the books and notebook. He set up a small space he could lay down his thin mattress in the corner and simply plopped onto the bed. The soldier sighed and opened the notebook, then silently began to draw. He let himself release any last bits of anger left behind from his mother. He simply needed this moment to himself. And thus began the start of the next few months of his life, training others.
A week had gone by and all the group of soldiers really established was a sense of general trust. That was a start, but all the soldiers had little to no urge to fight. It felt like a waste training those who were just praying they would never be sent to battle, but Kunikizushi remained partial to the situation. That is until he started getting the feeling that he was being watched. It was subtle at first, but soon it felt like it was constant. There was no sign of human life, but he couldn’t shake the feeling…
Large white wings waved through the air, the sun hitting them perfectly, making the figure appear angelic. But it was not an angel, it was Kaedehara Kazuha! One of the many cupids of the world. A cupid’s job was to unite first life soulmates with one another during certain time frames of their lives, and tie them together for all future rebirths and such. Strings got complicated and tangled up easily, but the arrows ensured everything stayed tidy and made sure no mistakes could be made revolving soulmates. Red strings connected each soulmate to each other, and only a cupid could see those strings. It was their job to be there at the right time and shoot the couples with a glowing arrow in order to create that spark, give the courage to speak to each other, and so on. A cupid’s job originated from the god Eros, carrying on his legacy as he rested and lived his infinite life. Kazuha personally enjoyed his job to no end. There were a few cons, but making others happy made him happy. And what makes a person happier than new found love? He sighed happily at the thought, twirling through the air. Mortals couldn’t see the cupids unless they touched a cupid for longer than three seconds. Though, that was a very rare occasion and was dealt with quickly. The only times cupids touched humans were to get them looking in the right direction. The arrows can only work if the couple was looking at each other, afterall.
The wind brushed through his hair as he was hit with the scent of salt, since he was flying down low near the water. He smiled softly as he dipped his hand in the ocean, watching as a wave tried to keep up with him. Being so close to the ground surrounded by nature was enchanting. Everything around him was so beautiful. That is, until he was faced with a battle scene. Kazuha let his wings still, gliding him to the shores of the beach. The waves hit his ankles as he watched the brutal scene unfold in front of him. Bodies laid on the ground, crimson leaking out from under them, but it seemed everyone else refused to acknowledge their existence as the battle continued. Kazuha never quite understood why humans fought so much, willing to murder others for a cause. Though he supposed it was a bit hypocritical to think such a thing. Gods fought and led in many wars. He wasn’t a god, but if gods couldn’t solve problems without bloody battles, it felt unfair to expect humans to be able to do so. Both sides always believed they were on “the good side,” yet everyone seemed to know that there truly was no good side. Murder is murder, no matter the cause, and the consequences of guilt will always follow.
Kazuha’s wings drooped down as he watched, a soft smile etched on his face. It wasn’t that he was happy, quite the opposite in fact, he just found the battle to be so pointless in the long run. In the future, the land would probably end up being shared between the two groups, so it felt pointless fighting over it now. It was probably two power hungry people in charge, forcing people below them to fight as they watched from afar, similar to him. He hummed and turned his head, ignoring the twist of disgust in his stomach as he began to walk along the beach. He could fly to his destination, but his wings were a bit sore after flying so far. A walk wouldn’t hurt, anyways. He would simply walk around the beach until he reached the area he needed for his targets. According to their files, they were both soldiers who were being trained together. What could be more romantic? It feels like it would end up a tragedy, but what’s love without loss?
He hummed a soft tune he heard when passing a sailing ship, simply observing the area around him, small details of his surroundings. Such as the flowers growing in large bundles, spreading widely due to it being spring. Flowers had always been fun to learn about, most blooming due to a tragedy. Stories behind flowers seemed to very rarely be happy. For example, the simple yet humble mint. Legends say that Lord Hades had an affair with a forest nymph named Minthe. When Persephone found out, she turned Minthe into a plant, known as mint. It is said that Hades granted Minthe a captivating smell to continue to entrance all that neared her.
Kazuha hummed, seeing the camp along with soldiers in simple kimonos, made to be lightweight and easy to move in. It seemed training had only recently begun, none of them training in full suits of armor yet. A cheeky grin graced his lips as he began looking around the camp to find his targets. He began to weave through everyone as he searched. He didn’t know much about the targets outside of their looks. Though it was a bit tricky to find them due to everyone except one person being in the same outfit. Once he was able to find them near the back of the large group, he was able to get to work. And work he did. He observed the two for a bit, watched their movements and their interactions. They barely even glanced at each other! He sighed a bit and gently tapped both of their soldiers at the same time, causing them each to look up at each other with a curious gaze, confused as to why the other tapped them. Kazuha moved a few steps back from the couple, getting a better view of the targets. He smiled softly, easily pulling his bow off of his quiver that rested on his back, an arrow soon following behind. He slowly pulled the arrow back against the string, aiming for one of the soldiers' hearts.
Kazuha was just about to release the bow when he heard a swift movement of a katana very close to him. It caused him to halt as he slowly lowered the bow to watch the scene unfold. A male with breathtakingly long hair stood in front of the soon to be couple, sword drawn as he stared at them with harsh eyes. His face seemed blank, but it was easy to tell by his eyes that he was unamused.
“During the time you two were staring into each other's eyes, you could have died. Pay attention or go home,” the now assumed general spat out, venom lacing each word.
Kazuha stared in awe for a few moments until he was brutally reminded that the long haired guy just ruined his shot! The soldiers were standing as straight as possible, refusing to even acknowledge each other and instead watching the general. He scoffed a bit, observing the human for a few moments. The more he stared, the more confused he got. Everyone in the world has at least one string, whether it represents a family member, a friend, or a lover, there is always a string. Yet the general in front of him had nothing. No strings of any sorts attached to him. He had never heard of this happening before. As Kazuha stared at the general, he watched as the male peaked over his soul and narrowed his eyes, looking directly at him…? That should be impossible! He hadn’t touched anyone for the past several days! There is no way this human can see him, right? Just to be sure that… for emergency reasons, Kazuha made the decision to stay a few days and observe.
And observe he did! He followed the general (which he learned had the name Kunikuzushi) just about anywhere. Kazuha had learned three main factors. One, Kunikuzushi didn’t talk to anyone unless it was about training or the war. In fact, it seems he adamantly avoided soldiers. Two, he doesn’t react much to anything. His face always seemed stuck in time, a doll that cannot react without the fear of breaking. And finally, Kunikuzushi could definitely feel his presence. It was a bit funny at first, watching the human glance around his tent multiple times in order to “catch” Kazuha. He didn’t seem to even know what he was looking for, but Kunikuzushi could 100% feel that he wasn’t alone. Kazuha couldn’t stop watching the human. It felt like an enigma to observe him. He enjoyed watching him fight the most. It felt like watching an elegant dance rather than brutal bloodshed, elegant and graceful rather than rough and harsh.
Kazuha had gotten so distracted trying to figure out the string situation, he forgot all about his targets. He could barely remember what the pair looked like! He quietly left the tent. Sadly, humans could hear cupids, causing a bit of stress from being in close proximity to the general.Any slight move can get him caught, but the adrenaline rush kept him nearby. He walked around the training site, smiling as he saw the two soldiers talking with each other. It was funny thinking how his arrows did essentially nothing except eternally tie their souls together! The string only led them to one another, but the arrows did the real work. The arrows ensured the souls would be entwined for every life they have. He smiled at the thought, deciding he would have his fun. He walked behind one of the soldiers and whispered “Isn’t his smile so pretty?” The soldier shivered a bit, but chuckled as a small blush formed on his cheek, slightly thinking he was going insane!
Kazuha moved back farther with a happy sigh, grabbing his bow once more and pulling an arrow. He released the arrow, striking one of the soldiers' chests before quickly pulling another arrow and striking the other soldier. He watched as the two stumbled on their words a bit, a new type of bond forming. He smiled softly and moved away from the two, who were blushing and trying to ask each other if they wanted to hang out or whatever. He stepped through the campsite and walked along the beach, wanting to be farther from the campsite to avoid the noises of the chatter. He took a seat on the sand and allowed his wings to rest open in the sun, sighing happily as he was able to relax. He would go home soon, which sounded great. He couldn’t help but let his mind drift to the stringless man just down the beach.
He allowed his eyes to rest, listening to the waves hit the sand and retreat. He didn’t get the chance to enjoy the novelties of life, since he was usually too busy. This had truly been one of the best jobs he had ever taken. Two soldiers that see each other daily? Score! Most of the time, it was two people from across the world that he’d have to convince to take spontaneous trips through subtle hints and whispers. It could take up to months to convince a human to travel! But this? This was easy. He let out a soft hum, singing a song quietly to himself.
3, his head hit the sand with a soft thud and a weight on top of him. 2, something sharp pressed against his throat as he felt something move around his arms until they were thrown above his head. 1, he stared up at the figure with wide eyes as the view of a very pretty man stared down at the empty space below him until it was no longer an empty space. 3 seconds were up and he was no longer invisible. He was a bit winded after being pushed to the ground, but he couldn’t react. Everything flashed through his mind. He could lose his job! A cupid without a job means failure. But the thought momentarily passed as he saw long raven hair blowing slightly in the wind and deep purple eyes glaring down at him.
“Who are you and what the fuck are you doing here.” He spat out, pressing the dagger closer to his throat.
Kazuha stared up at him, unsure of what to say at this point. He had just broken the number one rule and now there was a very pretty guy on top of him with a very sharp knife to his throat.
“You are beautiful.” He stumbled out, hoping it would be distracting enough to at least sit up to get the knife away from his throat.
But alas, that didn’t work. Why would it?
“Give me one good reason as to why I shouldn’t slit your throat open right now.”
Well shit.
“It’s a bit difficult to talk with a knife pressed to my throat… Mind, uh, moving it away?” He asked softly, a small cheeky grin on his lips. He was attempting to look as non threatening as possible given the circumstances. He was honestly a bit impressed at this point. How the hell did Kunikuzushi find him?
Kunikuzushi glared down, and after a few moments of silence, the knife retreated back into his obi belt. Kazuha let out a sigh of relief, though soon it was an uncomfortable groan as wet sand got into his feathers. Kunikuzushi’s brows furrowed slightly, finally noticing the wings. His eyes widened and he quickly jumped off of the male, pulling his katana out of the sheath and standing in a defensive stance. Kazuha slowly sat up, ruffling the sand out of his hair and trying to brush as much sand as possible out of his wings, causing him to cringe as the sand wasn’t leaving. He looked up at the cautious war general and smiled once more.
“Well, there’s not much more for me to say, to be honest. I’m sure you’ve heard of legends of an arrow striking angel that shoots soulmates or whatever you guys say. That’s me. Well, I’m one of them, I guess? I don’t know, it’s a pretty common job I guess.” He explained, not getting up from the sand. He has seen this man practice fights with the other soldiers, he absolutely did not want to end up on the other side of that katana when all he has are love arrows.
Kunikuzushi was freaking out. There was a stranger with big wings sitting on the sand in front of him explaining that Cupid, or cupids, are real? Was he dead? Did he die somehow? What the actual fuck was happening here. He felt like he was a doll slowly cracking from pressure. The grip on his katana tightened and he shook his head. There was no way this was real. He closed his eyes, inhaled, and turned away. This was just his mind playing tricks on him! A mixture of being homesick and stressed? He had never gotten homesick before, but who knows! He just needed to lay down for a bit! And thus, Kunikuzishi turned and walked away, not looking back once.
Kazuha stared with his mouth agape as the human disappeared from his line of sight around the boat. So the human had tackled him and spoke to him, but he still believed it was fake? Humans sure seemed stupid… Kazuha watched as Kunikuzishi left his field of vision, going around the large crashed ship that was broken in half. Kazuha was simply lost, what was he meant to do? Follow him? Simply leave? He had finished his assignment afterall, he truly had no reason to stay. He sighed and walked up the beach as the sun had begun to set. He resided where he had been sleeping, on the bottom floor of the ship, in the corner. It wasn’t comfortable, but he couldn’t risk being much closer. He was much too exhausted to fly all the way back to Celestia at this point. He would have to decide what to do in the morning. For now, he would simply relax and watch as the sun slowly lowered past the water.
Kazuha leaned against the back wall, staring through the cracks of the broken wood and watching the stars. He had always liked the stars. It was comforting knowing that even when the bright sun blocked their beauty during the day, they were still there. They simply needed a chance to shine on their own, and once given the chance, no one could deny their beauty. He let his eyes close shut, and drifted into a quiet slumber, wings wrapped around himself a bit to keep warm.
Kunikuzushi had returned to his camp, ignoring everyone that had attempted to talk to him and walking straight into his tent. He had missed dinner during that, but food was the last thing on his mind as he took a seat on his mat, staring at the ground in front of him. He contemplated all that had happened, trying to find any sign that he did in fact make it all up. He had physically touched the guy, he tackled him, honestly he was kind of grateful that his suspicions were correct because it would have been embarrassing as hell if his face dived into sand. He simply saw footprints in the sand, someone walking despite no one being there, then an obvious dent in the sand, as if someone had sat. Something in his gut told him that it needed to be investigated, but now that he was told all of that, he would rather forget. None of it made sense, and he was unsure if he wanted an actual answer.
He had zoned out for a long time thinking, then suddenly everything seemed to dim. The sun was setting and Kunikuzushi decided that sleep was his best option for now. He quietly stripped from his day clothes, slipping on something more comfortable to wear to bed before sitting down and pulling his hand mirror from his bag. He leaned it up against his pillow before pulling his hairbrush out and getting to work, brushing all of the knots and tangles out. He honestly hated brushing his hair, it took forever and was a lot of work. It added quite some time to his night and morning routine. After the evil arm workout, he put everything away and laid down, pulling the blanket up to his chest. He made sure his katana was placed next to him, in case of emergency. Kunikuzushi closed his eyes and waited.
Kunikuzushi couldn’t sleep. How could he? He had just met a creature that was one mere step down from a god. A powerful being that controls the love of people, messes with their fates. He felt like he couldn’t breathe. There were very few times Kunikuzushi had been afraid, but the uncertainty of the whole situation truly panicked him. He had never felt so out of control of his own thoughts before. In his home, he was unable to control anything around him, sometimes he wasn’t even in charge of his body, being used as a simple pawn to his mothers. But he was always in control of his thoughts, and at least that was something. But now? He couldn’t even decide if what he saw was real or not! He had never doubted his own eyes before!
Kunikuzushi groaned loudly as he tossed and turned under his covers, unable to bring himself to sleep. He huffed loudly, he had to check again. He had to be sure that his brain managed to gaslight itself into believing it saw an angelic being with crimson eyes and a random matching red strand of hair. And with that, he threw his covers off of him and quickly stood up, making sure to grab his katana, before leaving the tent. He snuck around the camp, rolling his eyes as he heard a large amount of snoring. He quietly walked along the sand, the waves covering any noises up, and quickly arrived to where he tackled the winged man. But no one was there. The sand had long since been moved, leaving no indication that anything happened. He sighed in relief, feeling like he truly did just imagine it despite knowing the fact that wind and waves covering traces isn't real proof. He turned once more but just as he was about to walk back to his tent and get well rested, he saw white feathers poking out from inside the sunken ship.
And just as the boat had sunk, so did his heart. He felt it pound against his chest as he slowly approached, not making a sound as his hand gripped the handle of his katana. He approached and just as he rounded the corner he pulled his katana from the sheath, ready to strike at any moment. Though instead of striking, he froze once more. Below him on the ground was a sleeping angel, the moon illuminating his skin as soft breaths left his lips. The wings wrapped around him seemingly glowed. Kunikuzishi felt his heart calm, watching the ethereal scene in silence. He slowly pressed the blade back into the sheath and squatted down, hugging his knees as he stared at the angel. Kunikuzushi had to be sure the angel was real, leading him to slowly reach his hand out to the angel's face. He gently brushed some of Kazuha’s hair out of his face, flinching away as if it was confirmation. He sighed and moved his hand away, burying his face in his knees for a moment before standing up. He stared down at the angel as a cold breeze passed through them. His hair moved with the wind as goosebumps covered his own arms.
Kunikuzushi watched as the angel seemed to curl up a bit as the wind grew harsh. He sighed and made a quick return to his tent, only to go even faster returning to the ship wreck. He had grabbed a blanket, he didn’t need it anyways as the tent kept most of the cold out. He laid the blanket over the angel's legs before leaving. He would need to sleep soon in order to get back to work early in the morning. Once back in his tent, he laid down and sighed a bit, letting his thoughts drift him into a half sleep state.
Morning soon arose, a cold breeze still drifting through the wind over the waves. Kazuha yawned loudly and stretched his wings and arms out before immediately resting back in his corner. He let his eyes slowly open, taking in the sight of the morning on the beach. It seemed no matter what the time was, the ocean looked beautiful. The light reflections, the waves rolling onto the beach, the life within. Everything about it. He ruffled his hair before feeling something slip off of him and he looked down. A thin blanket was now laid on his lap. He stared at it for a few moments before a small smile graced his lips. He hummed a bit and pulled the blanket back onto him more, holding himself close. That was all he needed in order to decide that he would stay a while longer. Who could it hurt?
He finally stood up, quietly moving around the ship and onto the sand, wrapping the blanket around his shoulders. It looked a bit strange as his wings pushed the blanket upwards, but it's not like anyone other than Kunikuzushi would see him anyways. He made his way towards the camp, standing just outside with a smile on his face. All of the soldiers were already hard at work, Kunikuzushi slithering between each line, correcting forms with a sharp eye. He smiled from afar, catching as Kunikuzushi glanced up before quickly moving his gaze back to the soldiers. He hummed and took a seat on a rock, hugging his knees to his chest as he observed once more. It was interesting watching the group prepare for war. It felt pointless, but they all seemed to take it so seriously. Maybe there was more to war than Kazuha understood, maybe he would be able to ask Kunikuzushi.
Speaking of, the general was walking off to the beach once more. He must have zoned out while thinking about everything. He stood up and followed behind, clutching the blanket in his hand. He met up with Kunikuzushi at the ship, soft smile on his lips.
“Thanks for the blanket last night. I would offer to clean it before returning it, but I believe I have less materials than you do to do so. Hope you don’t mind?” He spoke with an everlasting grin on his face. It seemed to never drop.
Kunikuzushi stared for a moment, watched his hand carefully before shaking his head. “You can keep it. I don’t need it. I never used it anyways…” He mumbled back, leaning against the ship and looking out at the sea.
Kazuha joined him, leaning against the wood. He watched in silence, easily able to go into a trance as he watched the seafoam bliss the sand before loudly retreating. They sat in silence for a bit before the cupid had no choice but to break it. The silence was a bit too uncomfortable for Kazuha to allow to continue.
“So… Do you have any, uh, questions? For me? It seems like you’ve kind of accepted all of this, which is a bit strange. So, anything you’re dying to know?” He asked, not looking at the other.
Once more, the two returned to silence as Kunikuzushi stared. A few moments passed by before the silence was once more broken.
“What’s your name?” He asked, glancing up at Kazuha before returning his gaze to the endless ocean.
Now that was not the question Kazuha was expecting. He was expecting a question revolving around literally anything else. He chuckled a bit, tilting his head as he looked down at Kunikuzushi.
“The name is Kazuha Kaedehera, but Kazuha is just fine.” He answered, smiling softly at the general.
Kunikuzushi nodded at the answer, turning and making eye contact with the other. “I am Kunikuzushi. I am a general of sorts training soldiers for war. Though I am sure you were able to gather that.”
Kazuha stared into the others eyes, his smile only growing. His eyes matched his hair. He nodded at the assumption. “Soldiers talk, I believe. They all respect you a great amount, general.” He chuckled a bit. Though it was all true, he had heard the others talking about how skilled the general was, among other things.
“If Kazuha is fine by you, Kunikuzushi is fine by me. No general stuff while off camp.” His gaze returned far out into the deep, Kazuha’s following close behind.
“Kunikuzushi is a threatening name. Country destroyer? I think Kuni is a bit more fitting. Plus, it is less of a mouthful to say. May I call you Kuni instead?” He asked softly, not really expecting an answer. Kunikuzushi’s brows immediately furrowed with a look of disgust. He scoffed a bit and shook his head with distaste.
The audacity! The absolute audacity! Kunikuzushi spat out “I may not want to be referred to as general, simply because I don’t believe you need to refer to me with that much formality, but Kuni? That sounds like a nickname for a kid! No you may not call me that.” He glared at Kazuha, refusing the idea as a whole. Kazuha’s grin only widened, causing Kunikuzushi to glare harder.
“Kuni suits you I believe! Oh c’mon, please? Might as well, right? It would be fun! You can call me whatever you want too!” He bargained, giving the mortal a lot of power to do such a thing. Cupids were very cocky about their roles. Even though they were below gods, they were above mortals and therefore demanded respect. But Kazuha would much rather call the general Kuni than be respected.
“Idiot seems to fit well, I believe. What do you think?” He retorted, glaring at Kazuha.
“Oh, you wounded me, dear Kuni! But if that’s what you wish, I suppose I can in return for the honor to call General Kunikuzushi ‘Kuni’ instead.” He dramatically placed a hand on his heart as if he had been stabbed, opening his eyes as he smiled down at Kunikuzushi.
Kunikuzushi stared, mouth wide, very flabbergasted that this creature thing was actually going to allow being called “idiot” in order to call him a stupid nickname. “Your new name is very accurate it seems. I have to get back to work.” He huffed out, pushing off of the ship and beginning his walk back to the camp.
Kazuha smiled. “I’ll see ya later, Kuni. I believe I will be staying here for a while longer. Expect to see me around, yeah?” He yelled out to Kunikuzushi, smiling as the general glared back at him. He chuckled softly and looked back towards the sea. He had a good feeling about this. He would be able to figure out why the other had no strings and such. No one had to know he finished his job. For all they know, these two happen to live across the continent from each other! Nations away! No one had to know.