Chapter 7

Wash

Just then a smell wafted through the room. Remembering the soup they'll be having for dinner, Yuu and the girls rush into the kitchen to check on the soup. With one cloth each, Shinoa carefully takes the soup of the heat with Mitsuba removing the lid. With the ladle, Yuu slowly stirs the soup and carefully tastes it. "How is it, Yuu-san?" Shinoa asks as she and Mitsuba eagerly wait to hear how they did.

Taking a moment to register the taste, Yuu felt it's missing something. But before he could decide what, the guys in the living room picked up the enticing smell and within seconds, were at the table like weasels, waiting to be served.

"Uh-uh, uh-uh! Hold it right there!" The guys turn their attention to the Prince and the girls. "Supper is not quite ready. You all have enough time to wash." Yuu says before he and the girls went to attend to the soup.

This left them all confused. Kimizuki, more mad than confused, drops his spoon by his bowl and crosses his arms over his chest.

"But why do we need to wash?" Yoichi asks the older soldiers.

"What for?" Shinya replies with a shrug of his shoulders. "It's not like we're going anywhere tonight."

"Or perhaps you have washed." they turn back over to Yuu, Shinoa and Mitsuba at the prince's statement.

Maybe if they can convince him, they can get out of washing. "Yeah, we have." Guren says in a matter of fact tone.

Turning his full attention to the girls before continuing to see what they have to say. After sharing a quick glance, both Shinoa and Mitsuba turn back over to Yuu and shake their heads in sync. This silent message meant that they never wash, so the prince decides to be a bit of a tease. "But when?" Yuu adds as he and the girls look at the guys sternly.

"We've washed before we left the fields." Guren states with the others nodding, hoping they're convinced.

"Is that so?" Yuu glances back at the girls who simply smirk. Returning the smirk, Yuu then says, "Let me see your hands."

At those words, Guren, Shinya, Yoichi, Goshi and Kimizuki froze, keeping their hands hidden. But the sharp look in Yuu's eyes ordered them to show their hands. First Guren, next was Shinya, then Yoichi, and lastly Goshi, and they each received disapproving looks from the prince while the girls tsk at them.

"Now I've seen enough to prove my point. March right outside and wash up, or you're not going to get a single bite." Yuu firmly adds like a mother would to her trouble making children.

Seeing as they can't avoid it, Guren leads everyone outside to do as they were told with Kimizuki, for once, taking up the rear with him slamming the door behind him before he sits in a stool, mumbling under his breath.

Gathering around the well, Guren and the others just stare at their reflections for a moment. "Are we really going to do this?" Yoichi asks after testing the temperature of the water to discover it's cold.

"This will get the prince and the girls off our backs about the little things." Guren replies.

"Besides, this could get us in his good graces." Shinya adds.

"It may seem his charm is working." Kimizuki grumbles under his breath, hating Yuu more and more for each second he still lives here with them.

Sending a glare in his direction for that last statement Kimizuki made, Guren faces the others that are with him at the well. "Let's begin."

Step up to the tub

'Taint no disgrace

Just pull up your sleeves

and get them in place

Guren demonstrates like so so they don't get so much water on their clothes.

Then scoop up the water

and rub it on your face

With the guys grabbing the soap bars next to the well, Guren continued the instructions as he grabs his own.

Pick up the soap

Now don't try to bluff

Work up a lather

And when you got enough

With their hands covered in a good lather, they cover their faces as well to remove any excess dirt, blood and grime from their hands and faces.

Get your hands full of water

and you snort and you snuff

Using the water they each scoop up, they all thoroughly wash their hands and scrub their faces.

You douse and you souse

Rub and you scrub

You sputter and splash

all over the tub

You may be cold

and wet when you're done

But you gotta admit

it's good and clean fun

So splash all you like

'Taint any trick

As soon as you're through

You'll feel mighty slick

Just watching them do as the prince had told them and listen to Guren singing as they clean themselves up, was really annoying Kimizuki. "Next you know, he'll give the girls free reign to tie your hair in pink or purple ribbons and spray you all with perfume."

With all of the dirt, old blood and grime gone, the guys each grab the towels that were left by the well and dry themselves off. "A fine bunch of water lilies you all came to be." Kimizuki's insult this time really grabbed Guren's attention as he combs his wet hair to keep it from getting frizzy later. "I would like to see any of you make me wash when I don't want to."

That's it, that attitude of his needs to be taken care of. Clearing his throat, Guren beckons his boyfriend and the others close to him. Huddled close together, Guren whispers his plan quietly among them with Shinya glancing over at pouting Kimizuki and chuckles to himself.

The plan set, they all casually approach the stool that Kimizuki sits upon, whistling to themselves as they slowly surround him. Once they were all in place, Kimizuki finally realizes they have him surrounded as Guren calls, "Get him!" and they leap onto him all at once.

As Kimizuki struggles to get out of their strong grip but with no success, they all drag him over to the well. While the three older men force him into the water, Guren tells Yoichi to get a bar of soap that has yet to be used. With him handing Guren the one soap as Shinya dumps water on Kimizuki as Goshi is having a good laugh as he scrubs hard on his face on purpose.

Once he was as clean as the rest of the lot, they are just about to tie so ribbons in his hair when they heard someone from inside call out to them, "Dinner time!"

"You heard him!" Guren says and they all instantly drop Kimizuki in the well as they all run inside for dinner, leaving Kimizuki wet in the well as he glares after them.