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For Tsurumaru, watching Mikazuki leave into the saniwa's meeting room had become a familiar view in the past few months. There is a certain feeling he gets when he watches the great sword enter the room and take the role of attendant. One that he has not been able to quite place.
Jealousy? not quite.
Envy? perhaps, but not exactly.
As he preceded the great sword in arriving at their home, the role of attendant had belonged to him previously. It was only when he left for an overnight sortie with the second unit that he found his replacement to have taken permanent residency in his vacated role.
It was not necessarily a shock; he could not claim to have been the "role model" attendant as their poor saniwa had entrusted him to be.
It did not mean that he completely slacked off on the prestigious title, of course.
It just meant that his 'surprises' were brushed off more times than not. Who was going to report him? He was the law.
Or he was the law.
That was before the beautiful great sword elegantly made his presence known in his citadel, shifting the careful balance he had created around him.
As a consequence of his transgressions, he was left to watch this untouchable swordsman easily fall into his new role of the day-to-day citadel life. Covered in an air of mystery and ambiguity, something that did not sit well with him.
After all, he is the one that is meant to have surprises. Who is this great sword to intrude?
As any good hunter would have done, he decided to keep an eye out on Mikazuki Munechika during the days he had time off (which was quite a lot of time, as of late) to perhaps place some missing pieces together about this swordsman that caught his interest.
No other reason, just as a form of scouting. It wasn't an excuse to use his newfound free time to shadow what had accidentally become the object of obsession to him.
--
Unaware of the extent of the other tachi's turmoil, Mikazuki could not shake off the feeling of the crane's eyes peering into the back of his skull. Which had not gone unnoticed, he is quite perceptive, but instead respectfully ignored for the time being.
It is hard to place what Tsurumaru wants with him, the other swordsman had been flighty with him ever since he arrived to find him as the new attendant all those months ago. Those moments when they accidentally made eye contact for slightly longer than is normal- especially for someone that seems to dislike him- left an ache in his chest.
All his attempts at bridging whatever unnamed tension was between them had fallen flat so far, as it was met with awkward chuckles and rejections of hosting him for some tea.
Or even pushing someone else to join him when he had to complete a duty in the citadel, the most awkward one being Ookanehira- where the total amount of words exchanged between them could be counted in one hand.
It... confused him to no end, and perhaps... when he sits with the feeling long enough the feeling could be called something similar to hurt.
Each time he would reach out, the crane would reject his comradery and take two steps back.
Yet, when the other thought he wasn't looking (he always is) he can feel some building tension between them that does not seem as if it is going to resolve itself any time soon. Or one that seems to have a simple solution anymore.
It was an anticipatory game of cat and mouse, always watching but never pouncing at the opportunity. Instead, it was nonsensical perching.
Perhaps it is a crane behavior? He fortunately had not yet reached the point of desperation where he would reach out to Himetsuru to inquire about crane thought patterns.
Walking to his familiar spot on the engawa, he takes off his sandals and places them next to the wooden support beam. The incoming winter chill has flushed his face, but it was not yet an inconvenience enough to warrant a tasteful retreat indoors.
Especially not as he pours himself a blend of Jasmine tea that the saniwa had gifted him earlier in the day; a sign of gratitude for "his good work," as the sage said.
It had been part of the twelve days of gifts the sage as so kindly prepared for him, just framed to be a reward for his work and not for the traditional winter holiday that is practiced in their home.
He had offered to share the blend with some of his fellow members of the first unit, yet most of them were preoccupied with other plans with partners, found families, or oddly enough- just do not like tea.
Not wanting to make himself the fool, he sits there calmly and tries to make peace with the idyllic silence that surrounds him. Watching the snow fall gracefully and slowly turning the dying winter grass into a field of white that would surely soon be filled with the smaller swords and their child-like laughs of joy.
It is a view that brings warmth to his chest, the little ones deserve a moment of joy amid the war and bloodshed that surrounds them.
It is not hard to imagine how it would play out, with tantous of all schools sledding and making snowmen. He vividly envisions the Awataguchi school balancing the line between organized chaos and pure chaos; and the older Samonji's taking the opportunity to spoil the two little ones.
And, of course, the Dategumi blades being forced outside by the rowdy Sadamune tantou and a likely equally rowdy Tsurumaru.
The crane has always looked best in white and happiest when surrounded by the other Dategumi blades, it is when his enticing eyes seem to shine the most with a sort of domestic softness that is not there around battle or anyone else. One that he wishes would be directed towards him.
Gripping his cup of tea slightly more tightly, he takes a deep exhale before drinking the warm liquid to help ease his thoughts.
Yet, it is not enough to push away the idea of seeing Tsurumaru's enchantingly bright smile being directed towards him; and, perhaps having him sit next to him and ramble on about his day at an energetic tone of voice that would annoy most.
It wouldn't annoy him, he thinks, especially not if it means the look of contemplative skepticism he sees on the other tachi is replaced with a look of intrigue and perhaps affection and maybe even-.
He cuts that train of thought before it can progress further, shaking his head and taking an undignified gulp of his tea to wash away the daydream that has followed him endlessly recently.
Instead, he closes his eyes, taking the same deep breaths he does before a scouting mission to calm his running mind and aching heart.
He searches for a slight feeling of peace as he sits, the snow muffling any outside noises that might have bothered him in the past.
Yet during that moment of grounding meditation, he misses the softened look of Tsurumaru Kuninaga directed towards him. One that had the opportunity to either further intensify the ache in his chest or soothe it.
--
Tsurumaru's enlightenment about his feelings towards the great sword came that same snowy day, seeing Mikazuki drinking tea alone. Surely the great sword could have asked anyone to sit and enjoy tea with him, his popularity knew no bounds.
It should be him that should be joining him on the engawa, drinking whatever tea blend the great sword was drinking (most that were usually gifted).
Maybe he should gift him some tea? Would that be enough of a surprise to bring out a smile on the handsome sword's face? He doesn't know, maybe it is time to inquire about it.
If anyone were to have been around him as he perched nearby, watching the other, they would have caught the small smile forming on his lips as he imagines enjoying tea with the tachi.
Perhaps a few of his surprises would bring that familiar laugh out of him, or maybe if he's truly eye-catching he'll be able to hear what he imagines is his true laugh instead of the mysteriously disconnected one he always shows.
He imagines that it would be one that resounds the most from his chest, maybe it is hearty or maybe it is gentle... there might not be an answer on what the great sword could do wrong in front of him.
With a small smile and a slight ache in his chest, Tsurumaru leaves his spot to go back to his quarters, the muffled sounds of liveliness through the thin walls of the citadel being the environment where his plotting is the most successful.
After all, he needed inspiration on how to entrance the new object of his fixation, and as much as he is known for his spontaneity- there is quite the amount of meticulousness that goes into his plans that most do not get to usually see.
Especially with preparing his new plan: "Romance Mikazuki." It would be his biggest and most successful surprise; he will make sure of it.
--
When taken out of their usual teams, the two tachis seemingly work perfectly together. Their movements as synchronized, their scouting rates much more successful, and even Tsurumaru's leadership skills (during the rare times he gets to be the leader) shine brightly when it comes to showing off in front of the great sword.
To the rest of the pseudo-unit one, it is quite the sight to see. Matsui was internally shocked by witnessing the way Tsurumaru seemed to almost flaunt around Mikazuki, painfully attempting to get a form of attention or gratification from the tachi. He missed Buzen was walking up to him, also watching the show go down as they arrived at their pickup location to return to the citadel.
"Love makes people do strange things," Buzen murmurs into Matsui's ear, making him shiver at the closeness of his warm breath.
Not wanting to distract the others, he responds in a quiet tone as well, "Do you truly think it's love between them?" Matsui mused as he watched Mikazuki offer Tsurumaru a packaged snack: he had no idea where he could have pulled it out from.
With a knowing smile, Buzen wraps an arm around the other Gou and nuzzles his way into resting his head on his shoulder. Matsui, of course, couldn’t help but to feel at ease with the familiar affection.
There is a beat of silence before Buzen speaks again, responding slightly more contemplative. "It certainly seems much more than simple infatuation, I’ve heard red-crowned cranes have elaborate courtship rituals."
Before he had the change to respond, the familiar glow of the time device began to surround them. Yet, Matsui could not help but to agree in silence- it's a feeling he can relate to after all.
--
After the week-long survey he went on with Mikazuki and others (that were not relevant enough to mention, especially with Mikazuki there), Tsurumaru felt quite satisfied with his current advances so far.
He might not have the same ethereal beauty that his fellow crane Himetsuru might have, but he has something better: sheer will and charm.
His biggest success came earlier in the day, when he surprised the great sword with a prank involving baking flour and a tatami mat. Instead of being scolded by the great sword, he was instead met with perhaps the most delightful laugh he has ever heard and an amused smile.
It was worth getting covered in flour for, especially when the object of his affections helped him clean up his face. Being so close to Mikazuki as he wiped his face carefully only made him fall more for him, especially as he stared into those gorgeous crescent eyes as they focused on removing an especially stained part of his face.
He wonders what it would have been like if he would have leaned in and pressed his lips against Mikazuki's.
Would they be soft? Would he return the kiss? Would he be pushed away and rejected?
Or maybe... just maybe, instead of him making the first move Mikazuki would have been the one to kiss him first.
These all seem like daydreams, after all neither made any move. Instead, once they realized how close they were to each other both coughed awkwardly and took some steps back.
It was a fleeting moment; Tsurumaru reminds himself as he wipes away any remaining flour from his white outfit- a challenge that he did not account for as he only aimed to impress the other and deal with the consequences afterwards.
Now that it's afterwards, he needs to think of a good excuse to explain to Shokudaikiri why a bag of flour is missing from the citadel kitchen. And hope that Mikazuki will not use his role as the attendant to tattle to the saniwa about his crimes.
He decides to lay low for the rest of the day... and perhaps the next few days.
--
Tsurumaru ultimately decided to lay low for the rest of the week, taking the time to plan and contemplate what the next step in his "Romance Mikazuki" plan.
This, while a restful moment for Tsurumaru after a long survey and a seemingly large development in building his relationship with Mikazuki; was not a mutually felt feeling by the great sword himself.
Mikazuki had taken his disappearance as a point of concern; he had gotten used to having the crane stick to his side throughout the majority of the day.
Not feeling those golden eyes stare at him directly (and indirectly) felt strangely wrong. He had gotten quite used to the other tachi's gleeful laugh and (not so) annoying antics that brought him an odd sort of peace.
Naturally, he ruminates on what could have caused him to stray away after so much time together. The only thing that stood out to him was the flour incident: perhaps Tsurumaru saw through his weak facade of friendship that day and got scared off...
Or maybe the last few months of their budding relationship had been completely misinterpreted by him. The idea of not having Tsurumaru by his side now felt wrong, strangely foreign for someone he had not been that close to less than a year ago.
Instead of continuing their game of cat and mouse, he decides that it might be time to take the incentive and broach the idea of something beyond their platonic companionship.
Hearing the crane calling him "Jiji" now felt as if it is a crucial part of his daily routine, and not hearing that for the last few days has brought him an ache in his chest that he thought he pushed away long ago.
Mikazuki Munechika did not know at what point he became so entranced with Tsurumaru, but now he cannot imagine not seeing the other at his side.
--
Tsurumaru did not escape the punishment for his flour crimes, instead he got sent to kitchen duty for the next week. Not to say that it is his least favorite duty, but it is up there in ones that he would rather not be participating in.
What is a bird to do in a kitchen? It could lead only to disaster!
He knew he had to be extra good to get out of this punishment, and most importantly he wanted to be extra good to leave a good impression on Mikazuki.
The great sword must certainly know about his banishment to the kitchen, he is still the leading attendant after all.
Instead of spending the whole week complaining of not having any Mikazuki time, he decides that now is the time to take action with his next step in his plan.
It felt as if it was the natural progression, especially as he now feels out of place by not being at Mikazuki's side at least once a day.
On the final day of his punishment, he works especially hard to have time to pursue his own endeavors. And, instead of leaving the kitchen once he is finished washing the dishes after breakfast duty- he stays behind.
Much to the dismay of his companions in the kitchen, he immediately goes after the flour.
He can feel Shokudaikiri's eyes boring into the back of his skull as he leaves with the sack, yet he pushes that discomfort aside to also gather some eggs and sugar.
It might not be the dramatic declaration of affection that he originally envisioned, but there is something quite romantic of baking something for someone.
Under very careful supervision, he works on making cookies for Mikazuki.
The hardest part was biting his tongue on complaining how gross the eggs feel as he kneads the dough.
It was worth it if it meant finally telling Mikazuki how he felt.
--
Mikazuki knew of Tsurumaru's grounding; he knows the inner workings of their citadel after all.
He even advocated for the crane to receive a shorter sentence, something that he kept from the other. Yet, that did not resolve the growing ache in his chest about not seeing the tachi.
Finally reaching his limit, he decides that he must be the one to take the incentive this time. Throughout the week he debated what he could do to impress Tsurumaru, from a dramatic show of affection in front of the citadel to something as subtle as some poetry.
Nothing necessarily felt right.
Instead, he ultimately went with the thing he knew best: sharing some tea.
Brewing some sencha, he carefully carries the delicate tray of the white and gold tea set that he only got because it reminds him of Tsurumaru and goes out to find him.
Knowing he's out of his punishment, he decides to check his room.
Yet, he finds it to be strangely empty.
Frowning, Mikazuki decides to check the other's usual haunts in attempt to locate him for tea.
--
Tsurumaru, once making a successful batch of cookies that would make any chef proud, immediately goes to find Mikazuki.
It's now or never, he thinks as he goes up to his room and knocks (being mindful of not being too loud after Mikazuki mentioned in passing that he does not like loud knocking).
But is soon surprised to only find an empty room.
Frowning but not immediately discouraged, he walks around the citadel with the tin of delicate cookies. Yet, he finds it hard to locate the great sword at his usual places.
--
Mikazuki had given up on hiding the slight frown as he continued to unsuccessfully locate Tsurumaru. He taps his fingertips on the tray of the tea set in frustration as he stops to think where he could locate the crane, his steps becoming slightly faster.
He decides to check on the engawa, to see if perhaps Tsurumaru is outside in the snow.
Taking some deep breaths to calm his frustrations, he turns on his heels and walks outside.
--
Tsurumaru was more than frustrated, his movements becoming flighty as he narrows the list of areas where Mikazuki could possibly be.
An outside observer would see him pacing around hallways with no sense of direction, only a deepening frown and knit eyebrows.
He soon recognizes that there is one place he hadn't checked, wanting to avoid the cold weather.
Deciding that this might be his final place to check, he grips the tin of cookies firmly and takes the steps towards the outdoors.
--
Both tachi's end up bumping into each other, both too lost in their thoughts of locating the other to be wary of anyone being in the way.
Thankfully, both had good reflexes to not drop their respective items. Which earned a quiet sigh of relief from both.
As if they were in-tune with each other, the moment they realize who they bumped into was the one they were searching for was near identical.
They make eye contact but do not say anything, the silence being held as if neither had a clue on what to say.
It is Mikazuki who breaks it, his voice quiet and slightly shocked, "This old man needs to keep better track of where he's going."
His words are punctuated by his usual laugh, wanting to play off the incident all together as he tightly grips the tea tray.
"N-No, I was the one who should apologize I was looking for you and I-" Tsurumaru began to squawk out, clearly the more flustered of the two.
Noticing the overwhelmed state Tsurumaru was going to talk himself into, Mikazuki interrupted him by placing one hand on his wrist.
This immediately earned the silence of Tsurumaru, who looked at him with slowly flushing cheeks that matched the ones on Mikazuki's face.
"I've got tea-," Mikazuki starts before clearing his throat and taking a deep breath.
"No, what I meant was. Would you like to join me for some tea, Tsurumaru?" as much as he wanted to, he couldn't deny the slight shake of his voice as he waited with bated breath for the answer.
Tsurumaru looked at him as if he's processing the request, wide eyes blinking owlishly. Instead of giving a one word answer he blurts out, "I made you something! Uh, cookies!"
Processing slightly faster than the other, Mikazuki puts the pieces together and gives him a fond smile. He lets go of the crane's wrist and slowly takes his hand into his one, intertwining their fingers.
There was no rejection from Tsurumaru, if anything it is quite the opposite as he instead unfroze from his thoughts and took the hint. A matching smile forming on his lips as he squeezes their intertwined hands, not letting of Mikazuki as he was led to sit on the engawa with him.
They shared tea and the cookies in a comfortable silence. For once the conversation between them was in quiet tones, as if sharing words that are only meant to be heard between them.
Neither commented as their free hands slowly came to meet between them, their fingers intertwining into a gentle hold. Instead, they kept talking about whatever topic came between them.
Neither of them complained when a gust of cold wind had them sit closer to each other, knees touching as Mikazuki pours them both another cup of tea.
Or how their fingers kept brushing against each other’s when they reached for a cookie from the tin.
It felt, right.
--
It isn't until they've cleaned everything up that Tsurumaru complains, "It's not fair that we both wasted so much time finding each other, Jiji!"
Mikazuki watches the crane complain with a fond smile that he stopped hiding after their third cup of tea, instead he lets him complain his heart out while they both stand outside of his bedroom.
"How about this," Mikazuki interrupts, "Why don't we do this again? Perhaps... the next day we both have off, I'm sure I can make it happen soon." He gives him a knowing smile with a hint of mischief, knowing he'd be able to convince the saniwa to let them have a day to themselves.
"And what if it's not soon enough?" Tsurumaru immediately complains, almost looking as if he wants to pout.
This delights Mikazuki more than he is willing to admit at the moment, laughing his signature laugh he leans in closer to the other before speaking again.
"I'm sure it won’t be long, Tsurumaru," he says confidently. "How about I treat you for our next date to make it up to you?"
Tsurumaru's expression after he places a name to their teatime was well worth the effort, giving him the confidence to be the bolder of the two.
"And I'll leave you with something to look forward to," Mikazuki murmurs softly as he fondly cups Tsurumaru's jaw.
Tsurumaru's attention is fully back on Mikazuki at this action, speaking in a more charming voice- one that is still not enough to distract how beautiful the flush of his cheeks looks against his pale skin. "Something to look forward to? And what is that," he asks with thinly veiled curiosity.
Instead of giving a verbal answer, Mikazuki decides to show it to the other. He leans in and presses a kiss on one of those flushed cheeks, accidentally teasing a much more intimate kiss.
When he pulls back, he lets go of Tsurumaru and opens the door to his bedroom. "Good night, Tsuru." He says with a fond tone, saying the nickname that Tsurumaru had been convincing him to use for months.
He takes a step towards his room, turning away from Tsurumaru to place the tea set down.
In this moment of distraction, Tsurumaru takes action and wraps his arms around Mikazuki- pressing enthusiastic pecks to his jaw and cheeks.
Instead of shying away, Mikazuki laughs and takes the kisses with enthusiasm.
He turns to properly wrap his arms around Tsurumaru, taking the opportunity to slide closed the door of his room with his foot.
A few muffled, "Okay, Okay!" and laughs being heard through the door.
Some pleas of, "You're going to give this old man a heart attack!" mixed into the muffled chaos leaving the room.