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Kazuha and Scaramouche had been travelling together for quite some time, both as members of the same adventuring guild. They had become friends over the course of their journeys, sharing stories and experiences along the way. However, Kazuha had started to develop feelings for Scaramouche that went beyond mere friendship. He found himself jealous of any attention that Scaramouche gave to anyone else, and he couldn't help but feel hurt when Scaramouche seemed oblivious to his feelings.
Scaramouche, on the other hand, was completely oblivious to Kazuha's jealousy and feelings for him. He saw Kazuha as a good friend and nothing more. Scaramouche was the type of person who didn't pay much attention to romance or love, preferring to focus on his goals and ambitions. He never considered the possibility that Kazuha could be anything more than a friend.
It all started when they arrived in a small village surrounded by lush forests and mountains. The village was known for its unique cuisine and hospitality, and the two adventurers were eager to try out the local specialties. They decided to split up and explore the village separately, agreeing to meet back up at the village square at sunset.
Kazuha wandered around the village, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling marketplace. He stopped at several food stalls, sampling the local dishes and chatting with the vendors. He couldn't help but think of Scaramouche as he ate, wondering if he was enjoying his own adventures around the village.
Meanwhile, Scaramouche had stumbled upon a group of musicians playing in the village square. He was immediately drawn to the sound of their music and decided to watch them play for a while. He was so absorbed in the music that he didn't even notice the young woman who had approached him until she spoke.
"Excuse me, sir," she said, smiling sweetly. "I couldn't help but notice that you seem to be enjoying the music. Would you like to dance?"
Scaramouche looked up, startled. He hadn't even seen the woman approach him. He hesitated for a moment before deciding to accept her offer. As they danced, Scaramouche found himself enjoying the company of the young woman. He didn't think much of it, but Kazuha would have been livid if he had seen them together.
When sunset approached, Kazuha made his way back to the village square, hoping to find Scaramouche there. He spotted Scaramouche from a distance, dancing with the young woman he had met earlier. Kazuha felt a pang of jealousy in his chest, feeling like he had been replaced by this stranger. He walked up to them, hoping to break up the dance and pull Scaramouche away.
"Scaramouche, we need to go," Kazuha said, trying to keep his voice calm.
Scaramouche looked up, surprised to see Kazuha there. "Oh, Kazuha. I didn't see you there. I was just dancing with this lovely lady."
Kazuha could barely contain his jealousy. "I see that," he said tersely. "But we need to go. We have a job to do tomorrow."
Scaramouche shrugged, looking back at the woman. "Alright then. It was nice meeting you," he said before turning to leave with Kazuha.
As they walked back to their lodging for the night, Kazuha couldn't help but feel hurt and angry. He wanted to lash out at Scaramouche, to tell him how he felt, but he knew it wouldn't do any good. Scaramouche was completely oblivious to his feelings.
~~
The next morning, Kazuha woke up feeling even more jealous and hurt than the night before. He couldn't shake the image of Scaramouche dancing with that woman out of his mind. He tried to focus on the job they had been hired to do - investigating a group of bandits who had been terrorising the nearby villages, but his mind kept wandering back to Scaramouche and the woman.
As they made their way towards the bandits' hideout, Kazuha couldn't help but notice how much attention Scaramouche was paying to their surroundings. He was constantly scanning the area for any signs of danger, his eyes sharp and focused. Kazuha found himself admiring Scaramouche's skills, even as he felt jealous of the attention Scaramouche was giving to everything around them.
When they finally arrived at the bandits' hideout, they quickly realised that they were outnumbered. Kazuha tried to come up with a plan, but his mind was too clouded by jealousy and anger to think clearly. Scaramouche, on the other hand, remained calm and focused, analysing the situation and coming up with a strategy.
As they fought their way through the bandits, Kazuha couldn't help but notice how effortlessly Scaramouche moved. His movements were graceful and fluid, his swordplay precise and deadly. Kazuha found himself admiring Scaramouche even more, despite his jealousy.
After they had defeated the bandits, they returned to the village to report their success to the local authorities. As they were leaving the village, Kazuha couldn't take it anymore. He stopped Scaramouche, grabbing him by the arm.
"What is it, Kazuha?" Scaramouche asked, looking concerned.
"I need you to understand something," Kazuha said, his voice shaking. "I know we're just friends, but I have feelings for you. I've had them for a while now. And seeing you with that woman last night...it twisted something in me."
Scaramouche looked surprised. "Kazuha...I had no idea that you felt that way…"
Kazuha looked down, feeling embarrassed. "I know I shouldn't be jealous, but I can't help it. I just don't want to lose you."
Scaramouche reached out and placed a hand on Kazuha's shoulder. "You won't lose me, you're my friend, and I care about you. But I don't think I can ever feel the same way that you do, sorry."
Kazuha felt a wave of disappointment wash over him, but he knew that Scaramouche was being honest with him. He nodded, accepting Scaramouche's answer.
As they continued on their journey, things between them felt a little awkward at first. But over time, they settled back into their usual rhythm of friendship and camaraderie. Kazuha found that, although his feelings for Scaramouche hadn't completely disappeared, they no longer consumed him with jealousy and hurt. He was able to enjoy their adventures together without feeling constantly threatened by the presence of other people.
In the end, Kazuha realised that his feelings for Scaramouche had helped him grow as a person. He had learned to confront his jealousy and communicate his emotions, even if it was difficult. And he had learned that even if the person he loved didn't feel the same way, it didn't mean that their friendship was any less valuable or meaningful.
~~
Several months had passed since Kazuha had confessed his feelings to Scaramouche, and things had settled back into a comfortable routine between them. They continued to go on missions together, battling monsters and helping those in need, and their friendship remained strong.
One day, they received a new assignment that took them to a remote village on the outskirts of the country. The village was known for its unique customs and traditions, and the locals had reported strange occurrences happening in the area.
As they arrived in the village, Kazuha couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. He loved exploring new places and learning about different cultures, and he was eager to see what this village had to offer.
They were greeted by the village elder, who explained that the strange occurrences were related to a local festival that was about to take place. The festival was known as the "Dance of the Four Seasons," and it was said to have been passed down from ancient times.
The elder explained that the festival involved a group of dancers performing a series of intricate movements that represented the changing of the seasons. The dancers wore elaborate costumes and masks that symbolise different aspects of nature, and the whole event was considered a sacred ritual that honoured the balance of the natural world.
Kazuha was fascinated by the idea of the Dance of the Four Seasons, and he couldn't wait to see it for himself. Scaramouche, on the other hand, seemed sceptical.
"I don't see what the big deal is," he said, as they made their way to the festival grounds. "It's just a bunch of people dancing around in masks."
Kazuha frowned. He didn't understand why Scaramouche couldn't appreciate the beauty and significance of the festival. But he didn't say anything, not wanting to ruin the mood.
As they approached the festival grounds, they could hear the sound of drums and flutes in the distance. The air was thick with the scent of incense, and the villagers were bustling about, preparing for the event.
Kazuha was mesmerised by the sight that greeted him. The dancers were lined up in a row, each one wearing a colourful costume and a mask that depicted a different season. The music was haunting and beautiful, and as the dancers began to move, it was as if the whole world was being transformed before Kazuha's eyes.
He felt his heart swell with emotion as he watched the dancers twirl and spin, their movements fluid and graceful. He felt as if he was witnessing something ancient and magical, something that had been passed down through the generations.
But when he turned to look at Scaramouche, he saw that his friend was no longer by his side. He scanned the crowd, searching for Scaramouche's distinctive mask, but he couldn't see him anywhere.
Panic began to set in as Kazuha realised that he was alone in a strange place, surrounded by people he didn't know. He felt a sudden surge of fear and vulnerability, and he didn't know what to do.
But then, he heard a voice behind him. "Are you lost?"
He turned around to see a young woman standing there, looking at him with concern. She was wearing a mask that depicted a delicate flower, and her eyes were kind and gentle.
Kazuha felt a rush of relief wash over him as he realised that he wasn't alone after all. "Yes," he said, feeling grateful for her help. "I'm looking for my friend. He was with me a minute ago, but now I can't find him."
The woman nodded sympathetically. "I'll help you look for him. What does he look like?"
Kazuha described Scaramouche's mask and costume, and the woman led Kazuha through the crowds, searching for any sign of his friend. They checked every corner of the festival grounds, but Scaramouche was nowhere to be found.
As the night wore on and the festival drew to a close, Kazuha began to feel increasingly worried. He didn't know what had happened to Scaramouche, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
The young woman noticed his distress and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry," she said. "We'll find him. Let's ask around and see if anyone has seen him."
They began to ask the villagers if they had seen Scaramouche, describing his mask and costume. But no one seemed to know anything. The villagers were friendly and helpful, but they had been caught up in the excitement of the festival and hadn't paid much attention to the individual dancers.
Kazuha's heart sank as they continued their search. He couldn't bear the thought of losing his friend, not after everything they had been through together.
But then, they heard a commotion coming from the edge of the festival grounds. They rushed over to see what was happening, and what they found left them both stunned.
Scaramouche was standing in the middle of a group of villagers, his mask and costume torn and tattered. He looked dishevelled and disoriented, as if he had been in a fight.
Kazuha's heart leapt into his throat as he rushed over to his friend. "Scaramouche! What happened? Are you okay?"
Scaramouche looked up at him, his eyes glassy and unfocused. "I... I don't know," he mumbled. "I was watching the dancers, and then... everything went black. I don't remember anything after that."
Kazuha felt a surge of anger and protectiveness wash over him as he realised that someone had attacked his friend. He turned to the villagers. "Who did this? Who attacked him?"
But the villagers just looked at him with confusion and concern. "We don't know," one of them said. "We found him like this, wandering around in a daze. We were just trying to help him."
Kazuha felt a knot form in his stomach as he realised that they might never know who had attacked Scaramouche or why. But he didn't care about that right now. All he cared about was getting his friend back to safety.
He wrapped his arm around Scaramouche's shoulders and led him away from the festival grounds, back to their campsite. The journey was slow and arduous, as Scaramouche was clearly still in a daze, but eventually they made it back to their tent.
Kazuha tended to Scaramouche's injuries, cleaning and bandaging his wounds. Scaramouche was quiet and subdued, his usual sharp wit and sarcasm replaced by a sense of vulnerability and fear.
Kazuha felt his heart break as he watched his friend struggle to come to terms with what had happened. He wished he could take away Scaramouche's pain and fear, to make everything okay again.
But he knew that he couldn't do that. All he could do was be there for his friend, to offer him comfort and support.
As they settled into their makeshift beds for the night, Kazuha couldn't help but feel a sense of jealousy burning within him. He was irritated at whoever had attacked Scaramouche, for hurting someone he cared about so deeply.
~~
As the night wore on, Kazuha's jealousy faded into the background. He realised that there was no point in dwelling on what could have been, or on the injustices of the world. What was important was the present moment, and the person lying next to him.
He reached out and took Scaramouche's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Hey," he said softly. "I'm here. You're not alone."
Scaramouche turned to look at him, his eyes filled with gratitude and affection. "Thanks, Kazu. You're a good friend."
Kazuha felt a warm flush spread across his cheeks, but he didn't look away. He met Scaramouche's gaze head-on, feeling a sense of closeness and intimacy that he hadn't felt before.
For a while, they lay there in silence, listening to the sounds of the night around them. The rustling of the leaves, the chirping of the crickets, and the distant murmur of the festival goers all blended together in a soothing cacophony.
And then, without warning, Scaramouche turned to face him and leaned in for a kiss.
It was a gentle, tender kiss, filled with all the emotions they had been holding back. Kazuha felt his heart swell with love and affection, and he returned the kiss with equal fervour.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. They were just two young men, lost in each other's embrace, with nothing else in the world that mattered.
When they finally pulled away, they were both smiling, their faces lit up with happiness and contentment.
"Thanks for being here," Scaramouche said.
"Always," Kazuha replied, his voice equally soft.
They settled back into their makeshift beds, holding hands and listening to the sounds of the night around them. And as they drifted off to sleep, Kazuha knew that he had found something truly special, something that he would cherish for the rest of his life.