Feelings won't fade with time
Touken Ranbu-AU: General, Romance, Hurt/Comfort.
Summary: They existed because of one sole purpose: to protect time. There wasn't a breach for their feelings… to their late masters or fellow swords. Ameripan. Touken Ranbu-AU.
Warnings: Language, OOCness, sexy times.
Notes: So… yeah, this was made for a dear author and pal. May all be warned that this is loosely based on Touken Ranbu as I'm not a master of it's lore. I use references from the game and both anime series. I also took liberty to add some not so historical events.
Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia nor Touken Ranbu and its characters, this story was purely made for fun.
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Chapter 1 – A predestined meeting
In a world where forces seek to break the balance and torn history of it's way, the Government of the Time sends those know as Saniwa to use whatever means they could to save the planet. Magic on their side, Saniwa must fight against a powerful enemy know as the History Retrograding Force. This foe seeks to change key events of the past using a force beyond imagining and their reasons are unknown.
It's Saniwa's job to seek out an army and come up with appropriate strategies to defeat the enemy. To not be the cause of a change in history, only a small group must be send to each mission, which translates as essential to plan them out so the weapon's capability and personality work in favor of victory.
Weapons, yes, not really humans. Saniwa, know as Master, look for key and strong weapons used in history to help on this task. With magic, those blades are given a human body. They are know asTouken Danshi: warriors that would not falter their mission of fighting to keep the path that their previous masters craved in history safe and sound.
But while the History Retrograding Force have no ending resources, the defender's ability to seek those blades are limited, thus they are hostages to luck to be able to find the right ones. The different combinations of weapons also prove to be a difficult task to arrange: short or long blades, spears… which ones send to which kind of setting? The wrong choice can make the mission fail…
… and history falter.
The Touken Danshi must be united for they won't have a second chance, but sometimes it's easier said than done: they were swords, they wield the will of their Masters without questions and with all their might. But even as it's a new life, their hearts still hold the memories of those long passed. Headstrong swords some times could cause a ruckus because of age old conflicts…
… Because, even if now they havea new Master, feelings won't fade with time and they couldn't always summon swords that were allies in their "previous life".
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It was one of those rare peaceful mornings in the citadel when Kiku could just drink tea under the supposed to be cherry tree. Supposed to be because they had never seen it bloom, but even if it didn't look like one, it gave him a peace of mind that was so hard to find when you fought to keep history as it should be.
The wind caressed his face as he took a sip of the calming warm liquid he had brought along. Everyone was always so energetic that he missed this kind of calm. It has been some days since his last mission and as fervent as he was to complete his Master's task, the rest was appreciated.
It was calming, they didn't really have birds around, but if he closed his eyes, with the silence around him, he could hear them. This kind of calm reminded him of those rare memories of Hijikata resting, a peaceful moment before the storm. Could it be the same? Peace before (yet again another) storm? It was strange, he pondered, to have this silence even though the other swords were all around. His kind wasn't one to sit idle and he, as one of the Hakuouki swords, the vice-leader's sword, was tasked with putting his fellow group in order.
There was, at least, three more Hakuouki swords within the citadel. A smile could be seen in the corner of his mouth as he remembered the small ones: always so energetic and cheerful. They were cute, couldn't stand still for long and endeavored to show their strength for the sake of their Master so it was always noisy with them around. Something must be happening since not much could make people like them stay put for long.
Well, sooner or later he would find out, for now he would allow himself this small luxury. The day was bright and the breeze warm, its sound calming in the early morning. He could enjoy more days like this, he was sure, but somehow he felt restless. Maybe it was the air, but his guts told him that something was off – it was the calm before the storm. He trusted his instincts and, of course, it sadly would be proven true once more as someone begins to yell.
Kiku set down his tea, grabs his sword and gracefully gets up, making his kimono rustle with his body. The voices weren't panicked, so they weren't under attack (not that they ever were in there, the enemy liked to tackle the timeliness better). Someone must have done something moronic again. It was better if he accessed the problem and made damage control.
The sun was high and the voices were carried by the wind as it blew strong "as the storm approaches" a voice inside his head said. They weren't under any danger so it was understandable that he wasn't on guard and was taken by surprise as, when he turned, he felt his body be smashed to the tree's trunk. A solid weight held him there, not threatening but unsettling.
Pain was flaring from the small of his back, the air had been knocked out but all he could see were those blazing sky blue eyes.
"Heh, gotcha. I knew I would be able to get to you before the others. You Hakuouki swords are a thing of the past, guns are way better – faster..." he parted Kiku's legs with his knee, making pressure with his thigh, "deadly..." his chest covered the other's smaller one, "and accurate" he was a breath away from his face, it was hard to see anything but those ardent eyes.
The newcomer laughed and got away, a dribble of blood running from the side of his chest. Kiku's sword was raised, the ordeal making his kimono fall open, revealing creamy-white, perfect skin, rising and falling with his breathing. "I would be careful if I was you, you may not be as fast as you think, Alfred. Did I get it right?"
Another laugh, louder, cheeky, left Alfred's throat. "Yep, that's my name" he pointed to himself with his gun, sword tightly bound to his hip "Sakamoto Ryoma's sword".
Nothing more had to be said: they knew each other, had meet before and even clashed against one another. Kiku had corrected his pose, keeping his back to the tree and Alfred moved with purpose, getting in his personal space again. It wasn't completely unexpected when his left hand shot up to the trunk beside Kiku's face and used the gun to force his chin up and whistled.
"Wow man, you're as good as I remember- ouch – Okay, I got it..." The sword that was nipping the soft skin of the newcomer's side stopped it's raid for blood as soon as his body's warm left Kiku's. Alfred goofy smile stayed even as he stepped away, his cloth way more revealing than Kiku's: chest exposed, toned and tan, glistering with sweat of their small confrontation and midday sun, blond hair looking like a golden halo in his head and the fire in the eyes.
Kiku wasn't much better: the kimono that had been rudely opened still displayed his pale chest, rising faster than usual and black eyes, fueled with purpose. His aura a thing of nightmare, set up to bring out fear upon the hearts of those who would risk his ire.
Confrontations looked unavoidable, fortunately the other swords arrived and were apprehensively watching the display. Even if the Master usually kept to inside the house, this couldn't be left to those two judgment. Kiku usually was rational but seeing who they were… "It has taken you some time for you to arrive Alfred-san, may I ask you to who I own the displeasure of meeting you?"
Alfred clicks his tongue, analyzing his gun and how fast he could fire and reload it. It may revolutionize and make swords in relics of the past, but he wouldn't get overconfident with his advantage. He could aim and do damage in ranged fight, but had to be fast in drawing his sword if Kiku got close enough.
They really didn't sit well with each other. First of all Alfred had to show here who truly was the boss, the one that had the key to the future. He was a visionary, his late master taught him that, and knew that they would benefit of more guns. He couldn't let some backwards group lead them to failure! Hakuouki was a sad excuse of existence, they tried to repel and wouldn't accept that the future came from outside Japan (this time)...
… He also had a bone to pick his his late master's killer. Kiku had the blood in him, bathed in it and Alfred had prayed that it would rust the other to rubbish, but no such luck. Their actual Master made everything that was possible to keep them pristine and ready for action all the time.
"Sorry for the wait, I see that the Master put you as the leader of the team. Well, that won't do! It lies upon me to show them why they shouldn't trust you… and your kind." He spits near the other' feet. That leaves the other three Hakuouki swords in fury, but they hold on as their leader signals for them not to interfere.
Sun now hidden behind storm clouds, Kiku fixes his clothes as the wind picks on and knows that the other' eyes wander through his form. He won't admit but he does the same, as Alfred's kimono leaves his chest exposed, nipples perked by the cold wind. He could keep staring for long, that body made him shiver in ways he didn't want to think about, but the words aimed to him and his friends can't be forgotten nor forgiven.
Yes, he knows why the other is pissed off. He came drink tea under the tree because of the same reason: he was to lead a crucial expedition. His lithe body could withstand fighting, but the captain's job means that the life of others were also on his hands and it may as well be much more than what he can accomplish now. Even so, he wouldn't allow such to be said of his fellow Hakuoki swords: let all the warned and none unwise enough to badly talk about his team. He'll teach a lesson to the imprudent brat – he had won once and will do so again…
… they only had to get someplace alone as fate should decide which will survive without the other' meddling.
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A/N: I say "Saniwa" as "they" because that's very ambiguous: I discussed with my sister (she's basically a lore master of the game) and re-read its wiki and there's no answer to if it's an only person thing or if there are others. For the sake of not putting a gender for the character, "they" fit well. ALSO I may have thought of Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan whenever I say something Hakuouki based on this fic because I'm unable to not think of that anime.
I'm sorry for any mistakes, it's been a while and thanks for reading! Also this probably will be a 2 chapters fic and also don't expect too much sexy things, basically how things have been in this chapter!