✿ ー night two.

[jyoshu]

[It's late, and technically speaking, a responsible sword should be sleeping by now in order to care for his newly human body. Unfortunately, he's not.

This day was scarier; less so the murder, though that was sad in it's own way. Instead it's the trial that had really worried him. It was too close for comfort, and someone that he's too close to for comfort, (though compared to some of the swords in the citadel, Souza isn't exactly Horikawa's closest companion,) for Horikawa to even think of sleeping soundly for now. Even if they could be more reasonable, sleeping in shifts or something similar, Horikawa is far too restless to even attempt as much, and for some reason or another neither is his companion. Rather than that, he busies his hands with something small and menial to pass the time as he thinks. Running a small comb that he'd borrowed from the mansion through Yamato's hair, he gives a short hum of thought.]

Mm. You still haven't told me what you were going to say earlier, you know.

Comments

[yasusada]

[ At this moment, what he's concerned with is the other's words. That and the sounds of nature playing it's music as the fireflies flutter by to dance in the moonlight's glow. Like this, it's alittle more peaceful is what he thinks. He feels that being right here may be enough for him to rest easy just for the night. There's been nothing but worry as the uchigatana bends his knees so that he can place his arms to rest upon them.

His brow raises at the action of the other resting his chin in fluffy but wild hair, making a home for himself which he invites without pushing away. Perhaps, he's trapped in what Horikawa is saying about the situation and that alone is enough to cause Yamato to hold his breath. He allows it to finally leave from his lips -- that breath of air as a hand lightly wraps around the arm that digs behind his chestplate. It's not anything painful at all but he speaks just for a moment. ]

Are you sure it isn't an excuse, it seems even when we aren't at the citadel, you still wish to look after us and others. Even after I.. [ His words fall into silence as he can't bring himself to admit the action he's done to him. Even now, he releases the other's arm and watches as the bread is broken into two and Horikawa can speak the words that Yamato was unable. ]

I broke you.. and you have no reason to do this for me. [ He leans back a little more into the warmth of the other, he should feel silly for this but.. ] And yet, here you are; doing this. I am taking responsibility for what I've done but even so.. even if you weren't broken, I'd protect you like this anyway. I won't allow any harm to come to you as long as I'm here. I can't protect everyone.. though my kouhai was brave enough to give me the title to do so.. I feel good about.. if I'm able just to protect you without fail.

[ He eyes the bread for just a moment as he watches it hover before his lips, for once does Yamato open his mouth and lean forward. His teeth lightly running against Horikawa's fingers to hook at the bread and his lips brushing ever so softly in order to remove the piece from Horikawa's grasp. The bread isn't the best quality when first given to them but it'll do as he slowly chews and swallows it down. He's glad for the small piece and he feels a little greedy asking for another. ]

Don't you think I have enough energy because when I'm with you -- a fellow Shinsengumi.. I want to protect our cause and everything we have done. You are a comrade. .. So, I'll try to do better for myself so that we and everyone else can stay safe.

[ His stomach growls a bit as he only attempts to get comfy, closing his eyes just for a moment as he takes in this moment. ]

[jyoshu]

[Yamato is probably being more understanding by avoiding having to say it, at first, but it isn't as if that's a truth that they can avoid after all. By now the wince reflex Horikawa has is entirely internal, and he can manage to keep himself even as Yamato admits to what's been done. He shakes his head as if to dismiss Yamato's words, because there's nothing wrong with wanting to look after the people around him, right? And blaming Yamato for following through with what he had done after seeing the sincerity he seems to have, and knowing how duress can interfere with people, would be akin to pouring water on a cat and being surprised when it tried to scratch him. The broken tip of his blade still flashes in Horikawa's mind when he closes his eyes, though.

He's no longer a useful sword. Not really. It's the least Horikawa can do, just to continue to care for those around him how he can.]

Shouldn't you be saving those words for someone more important, Yasusada-kun? [Kashuu, maybe? Okita? He's not saying as much out of a lack of confidence, so much as a sense of slight disbelief considering who else is here, but he smiles even so as Yamato takes his bite into the bread roll.] I have plenty of reason to do this for you, you just don't see it. I probably couldn't protect anyone in this state, but I still have to do my best somehow, and apparently you need somebody to look after you as well. Ah ー not that Kiyomitsu-kun doesn't do so too.

Mm. What I mean to say is, I don't hold it against you, Yasusada-kun. I don't think you would have done something like that on purpose. And I also don't think it's so strange to worry about someone who I've fought beside for so long, and someone who I can trust. So, I want to worry about you.

[If he doesn't do even that much, he would be a pretty awful ally, wouldn't he? Horikawa leans back slightly by the time he's finished speaking, bringing his now free hand back to shift behind him and shifting his weight to it. Hopefully this will make things more comfortable, because the warmth of Yamato leaning against him is nice after all, but he'll give a thoughtful sigh either way.]

I think it's a good reason. And in that case, I'll continue to do my best for you, and everyone else as well. In whatever way I can. [He pauses, and his tired smile is audible in his voice as he drops the other half of the roll back in Yamato's lap.] So, make sure you have breakfast tomorrow, okay?

[yasusada]

Aren't you — important as well?

[ He's a comrade as well, he's meant to be important just like everyone else. He won't let him say anything other, there are people to Yamato that he has to protect and if he needed to give his life or take away one, he would. He'd do anything for them and even if it means he can't take of himself, as long as he can take care of them. He relaxes even more in the shift of movement as he listens to what Horikawa has to say. ]

You can't answer that because it depends on how I feel — and I feel you to be important to me.

[ There's a frown on his features next, he doesn't think he deserves this kindness of being watched after but what can he do about it? Horikawa will just continue to give it is what he guesses. He's a capable sword and he doesn't need anyone to look after him, he could do it himself if he was asked so. Following the footsteps of his previous master, he doesn't want to seem like the weakest one here because of how he acts. He does it for a reason, though, he also doesn't want to slow anyone down. For now, he gives a small little huff as he tries choose his final twist and turn of how he was to lay. He isn't so sure if his hair is finally complete but every so often, his voice slips into silence. ]

. . .
. . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . .

ー!?

That's why you're important to me.. from how long we've been together as a team with everyone else.. I couldn't dare let anything happen to you either.. [ A yawn passes by his lips once.. and then twice as he places his hands over the roll that's given to him. He wonders if he can just throw it to the side and maybe some unfortunate bird would feel lucky for once on it's short life. Yet, his eyes close once again and his words come to a halt — he heard what he had said, he did which gives him reason to smile. He'll do his best, that was enough to place Yamato at ease. He just won't catch that he should have breakfast tomorrow. ]

Zzz.