night three.
[Sitting in a tree... because hey, that's not a bad idea? It's pretty clear that his lack of sleep the other night is catching up with him, and Horikawa has to fight to suppress a yawn from time to time, but he still glances to the side after a while, taking note of the thoughtful look of the one beside him.]
Something on your mind, Yasusada-kun?
Something on your mind, Yasusada-kun?
no subject
He was told, just to act normal no matter what and for now.. he shrugs his shoulders as he speaks his thoughts. ]
To lose an important person, I wonder if that female was someone Kiyomitsu could trust. I hope that he's holding up all right.
no subject
[The fact almost, almost makes him feel guilty for having done so, but it was necessary, right? If his priorities remain to keep the other swords and the Shinsengumi members who have found their way here safe, he has to do what's most productive in that interest. Regardless of personal biases or otherwise.
He peers to the side, offering Yamato what smile he can.]
But Kiyomitsu-kun is a good sword. I'm sure that he's doing just fine.
no subject
[ Crossing his arms into the sleeves of his haori, there isn't much for him to offer but he's here. He guesses. His reasons were to know if Matt Mattson's fox was legit, they could have been a sham and placed them all in a world of trouble. He isn't that bothered by the fact but he has a feeling when it comes to Kashuu and he wants him to be alright. ]
He is a good sword. .. Ah, what about you? Are you doing just fine?
no subject
[Rather than that, it was only natural that they would want to defend someone who was a friend, and who they knew would be innocent. He looks away again when Yamato asks the question, and hums thoughtfully to himself for a moment.]
I'm fine, but what about you, Yasusada-kun? You've had more than that bagel to eat today, right?
no subject
[ He pauses for a bit as he thinks on what he's said, there will be more times more often than not when things like this happen. He'll retreat in a way, to himself and one will see that Yamato isn't that much of a talker when he's like this. He tents his hands and places his elbows on his thighs to hold himself up. ]
I ate a few things off the plate but it didn't sit so well so I didn't eat anymore. [ Perhaps he just can't stomach it anymore, he does have to make sure that Horikawa won't force something else down his throat so he keeps his mouth closed for a bit. When the coast is clear.. ]
... Everybody has someone by their side here, don't they? I'm kind of glad to know that no one feels alone.. even that girl, she didn't just die by herself.. she had someone with her. It must have been a nice feeling.
no subject
[And he probably doesn't want a repeat of the bagel this morning.]
Mm. It's true though. It's comforting, having others to rely on like this, but even so...
[He can't help but feel like it must make things harder, knowing that every person who dies has someone who will miss them to witness it.]
no subject
[ No one wants a repeat of that, Yamato isn't having it! He can feed himself but he makes sure to be careful, Horikawa can be quite.. irritable. ]
Then.. if that's true. Humans are really .. needy in these times and if things had went different. If.. this was our final moment to see one another. Considering we're in a place like this. [ He hooks his finger onto the red scarf that he wears, looking towards the other as if needing a definite answer. ] If this was our final moment, would you kill me or would you kiss me — humans react differently when it's their last time so for you, what would you choose.
no subject
That question though, is easily enough to bring him right back to wakefulness, and Horikawa looks at Yamato as though he's asked the most curious thing in the world. He doesn't think that this will be the last time they see each other, he'd like to have more faith in the both of them than that, but the question is rhetorical isn't it? He smiles brightly.]
Well, I wouldn't kill you, Yasusada-kun.
[And looking over, he keeps the smile on his face as if to reassure Yamato of his confidence in his answer.]
no subject
Waiting for an answer, he doesn't know if it's to be called surprising or not. Maybe he is surprised that Horikawa wouldn't kill him — that maybe one of The General's hounds could do that. It's risky, isn't it? He does stare at the other for a bit — trying to find something in his eyes that would say that he'd choose his other answer or a tired look of why that question was posed to him. In the end, Yamato finds nothing as he leans over towards the spirit with a smile on his face as if teasing him. ]
Thank you for that answer, I think I know what I must do.
[ A laugh as his nails running against the branch that they sit on as it slides over to rest on top of the wakizashi's hand — he inches only a bit closer to brush his lips upon Horikawa's own. It's chaste and meant to be short as he breaks it away as soon as it came to speak up. ]
Just in case I don't get to see you tomorrow.
no subject
When the moment passes, he's simply left blinking in surprise. Not that he minded... It could have been expected to a degree. There's a brief pause before he speaks up again, running his free hand through his hair in a somewhat flustered motion, but his tone is a little more cheerful than it is tired after this.]
AhーI didn't expect that. [(Tsurumaru voice) It was surprising!]
no subject
Huh? Was it? Well, I'm serious with it, I was going to ask you to kill me but you didn't want that so, you got the kiss.
[ He pauses, looking to the other and motioning his hand telling him to follow. ]
I don't want you to fall out the tree from being shocked so.. want to climb down with me?
no subject
He shakes his head, and as Yamato looks over, he leans in. Another kiss is pressed to Yamato's lips ー just as brief as the last, but when Horikawa pulls away he's wearing a much brighter grin.]
Just in case, [He repeats. And, looking down the tree and back to Yamato:] Hmm. Can you look here for a second, Yasusada-kun? I don't think Kiyomitsu-kun would appreciate it if you got his scarf dirty from climbing down a tree.
no subject
Yes, just in case.
[ He accepts it, the action that had been returned to him and a hand raises to his lips where he presses his fingers against his lips. He'll remember, he'll keep this in mind and hold it close to him. He does turn at the other's voice, looking at him with kindness set in his eyes as he wonders what it is about Kashuu's scarf that worries the other. ]
Hm? What are you going to do? Should I remove it?
no subject
No, you don't have to, don't worry.
[If they switched, it was probably for a reason. No offence, but their reds and whites kind of clash with one another's outfits when they aren't next to each other, so Horikawa will assume it's something sentimental. Instead he takes the fabric in his hands, pulling it through a few more loops and ties until the result is a big red bow. It makes Yamato look almost gift-wrapped, but at least it seems more practical than risking getting it dirty.]
There, how's that? It shouldn't get in the way like this.
no subject
I appreciate this. I really do.
[ Raising a hand to touch the center of the bow, he cocks his head to the side and is ecstatic. ]
I'll make sure that the bow doesn't come undone. It makes things much easier for me, I haven't gotten use to the ends being in front of me but.. this is easier. [ Admitting that, he finally moves to put Horikawa's efforts into action. Getting to the bigger part of the tree to lower his footing onto a branch under and what do you know! Nothing gets in the way, it doesn't take long until he's finally at the bottom of the tree — pressing his back against it and slowly sliding to sit down. Looking up, he pats the space beside him. ]
Ahaha! Can you make it down? We could sit right here?
no subject
You're sitting right where I would need to come down from, you know.
[Even so, Horikawa doesn't seem to be too bothered by the fact. He hesitates for a moment as he looks down, but quickly seems to find another way to follow, and circles around the tree slightly in order to make it to the spot that Yamato's indicated for him. Once he's settled down to lean against the tree, he tilts his head to look to Yamato, absently tugging at the red bow around his neck to make sure it's tied well. His eyes feel heavy, but he wants to stay awake ー he's going to go too when Yamato gets up, after all.]
Hm... We should go soon, before it gets too late.
[Read as: before he falls asleep.]
no subject
We can wait, just a bit right? The stars are sparkly tonight, it reminds me of the horse's eyes back home. I'll show you them when we make it out of here. You. Me. Everybody else.
[ He smiles at the thought as he intertwines his fingers with Horikawa's own. ]
It's fine, if it's like this, right?
no subject
It's warm, and it's cozy, and it feels safe ー even if his tired mind tells him that something like that isn't suited to the situation. Even so, it brings a smile to Horikawa's lips as he squeezes the hand that holds his, giving a soft sigh at the nice feeling. Absently, he leans his head over, resting it against Yamato's. It's more comfortable like this, and though his slowly flickering thought process insists that it's no good, that resting his head will only make him more tired, he'll do it anyway.]
Just a bit. We need to rest, but... I'm sure they'll all love it. All of us. So don't forget...[And he's a bit late, but eventually:.] It's fine...
[Obviously it is. It only takes a few moments after he says as much, before his eyes come to close, breathing slowly evening out out.]
zzz
1/2
In the end, it'll be fine? Since Horikawa says so, he said it himself that "It's fine".
This makes things just a little hard since he has rested his head, Yamato removes his grasp on the male's hand and makes sure that he leans on the tree without falling down. He finds that it's alright, that he won't move that much and he'll stay in place without falling over or getting hurt. Kissing his own finger tips and placing them right against the male's wrist, he smiles and it doesn't take long and finally when Yamato gets up to his feet. A proud breath of air leaves from his lips with his chest puffed up from such an act. He's doing good. ]
Goodnight. I'll be back soon!
[ For now.. He has other things to attend to, like going to get something to eat, of course.
Walking off from the spot and looking back every so often, he sees how peaceful he is and that makes him smile? With his eyes now looking forward, he disappears into the woods in hopes that he can find something for his appetite. ]
2/2
He blinks since to his surprise, Horikawa isn't laying against the tree of where he left him. He looks around the area a bit confused and wonders if the wakizashi probably left to go look for him. Aa.. hopefully he didn't, hopefully he did? There's many things that cross through Yamato's mind as he slowly walks over to where Horikawa had been resting. Placing his hand against the spot to figure out if it's still warm or had gone cold to predict how long ago he had left.
He can't really tell with the fact that he's shivering but Horikawa wouldn't just go.. anywhere without him right? Maybe he had grown hungry too, there's so many possibilities so he believes that he has to be okay. Ah.. but even thinking like that, why isn't he here? ]
Where did you go..?
[ Perhaps if he stays right here, he'll see him.. it's really cliche to leave and probably pass him on the way so what Yamato does is sit exactly where Horikawa had been sitting — so that he can warm the spot again for his return. Bending his legs close to his chest, he leans his back against the tree and presses his head against his legs in wait. He's not going to sleep, he might as well stay up and wait for his return. Yamato hasn't been too good in taking care of himself so he'd understand if Horikawa wanted to disappear so he wouldn't have that responsibility anymore but he has to be here! How will Yamato watch over him if he's not here? ]
Come back soon..