CW:
Extremely mild smut at the end
…
Mr. Tadashi would need at least two days to repair my window. In the meantime, I hung a curtain over the hole. Senjuro did a great job watching the shop while I was gone, and the rest of the day was mostly uneventful. I decided to close up shop until the repair was complete, so I did not see either of the Rengokus again until I reopened. The window wasn't a big deal, but my hand was hard to move and that made arranging flowers very difficult. I reopened on the third day, but it was still hard to be dexterous.
"Haru! Good morning! We missed you."
Senjuro said, pushing the door open and letting the morning air in. Kyojuro followed, smiling at him.
Had they come by when I was gone? And what does he mean by 'we'? Did Kyojuro miss me too? He's probably just speaking too broadly.
"Good morning to you both. Need some flowers?"
"Kyojuro was concerned that the shop was closed. I didn't think the window mattered that much."
"I uh…"
I glanced at Kyojuro, not sure how to explain myself to Senjuro.
I really don't want to go into details about what happened with my hand to a small child.
"My hand got a little hurt, and I didn't want to overwork it. It was just a little vacation."
Kyojuro nodded, looking at me significantly for a second.
I promised not to lie, and I meant it, but that doesn't mean I don't still want privacy.
"What happened?"
"Now Senjuro, let us not bother them too much. Can we help out in any way today?"
"I doubt I'll be very busy, but you're always welcome to hang out."
"Hey Haru, I haven't umm…I haven't visited Mother in a few days. I was thinking I might do that today, if that's alright?"
"Of course. Pick anything you'd like."
He went straight for the pink carnations, selecting whichever one he thought was suitable. Kyojuro seemed a bit confused.
He asked, "And how much will that be, Haru?"
I pointed to the sign.
"Kids are free."
"They won't let me pay. I've tried."
"He has indeed. He is not allowed to pay. You might be added to the list of people who aren't allowed to pay too, if you keep being so helpful."
I tried to look stern, but couldn't help but smile.
"Brother, will you come with me?"
"I'll join you later, Senjuro. I think I would like to help out here today, if possible. I will be here if you need me."
"Aw, okay…bye Haru, bye Kyojuro."
"Be safe."
We both watched Senjuro go, all the way up to the little headstone he always sat at. He looked so happy.
I wonder what he talks about with her. I've never been one to mourn like that, so I've never really thought about it.
"It seems I have more to be grateful to you for than I thought. I know you said you looked after him, but I never expected it to extend out that far."
"It's really nothing. I started offering free flowers so I could see that he was doing okay when he stopped in to pick them up."
"I can pay you back for them."
"He pays for them by showing up healthy."
He smiled, looking genuinely pleased.
The confidence is endearing, but it's so cute when he lets himself drop that look for a second. It feels so intimate, getting to see a bit behind that mask.
"I worry about him so much when I am gone. It is a weight off my shoulders to know you are taking care of him too."
"I'm happy to be of service to you."
I could feel myself blushing under his gaze.
"Your hand is still hard to move?"
"Yes, but I think I can probably handle work today."
"Let me help. You can direct me, I will be your hands today."
"Are you sure?"
Do you actually have any experience?
"Absolutely!"
"Well, I would like to send Mr. Tadashi a few flowers to thank him for his quick work. He likes red roses best, and his wife likes yellow roses. I'd like to send them a few arranged like this…"
I drew a shape on a piece of paper, just a few guiding lines, and showed it to him.
"I am…not sure what that means."
I laughed.
He has never done this before in his life.
"Here, place these taller ones in the back, and then please cut these here to be a little shorter for the front."
He did as instructed, laying the flowers onto a piece of paper I use for wrapping and transporting them.
"Good job! Now we'll stick these sprigs of this money plant between the flowers. It breaks the shape up a little, and it should bring them good luck too."
He followed directions very well.
"So how is a plant going to bring them luck?"
"The money plant means money luck."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, and the red roses are for romantic love. The yellows stand for lasting friendships. I wonder if their favorite flowers are why their relationship is so strong?"
"Perhaps so."
"Let's switch these two flowers here, and add a little sprig of the money plant here…"
He listened diligently as I indicated the flowers to switch, add, remove, or switch back. Finally, we had something I could be proud of.
"That looks amazing, you did great!"
It looked like he was blushing, but he quickly turned away to grab the ribbon used to tie the bouquet closed.
Is praise that rare for him? But he's so good at this.
"You're a natural. Maybe you did this in a past life?"
He continued facing away, but he sounded pleased when he answered.
"I have a great teacher. How would you like these fastened?"
We tied off the bouquet and I set it to the side to be delivered later. We spent most of the rest of the day talking about the meanings of flowers.
"Haru, did you know wisteria wards off demons?"
"I had no idea! I knew they could mean devotion transcending death, or good luck, depending on the person, but I didn't know they had a use."
"That is fascinating. Flower meanings are entirely new to me. Which ones could mean 'get better soon'?"
Was he thinking of his dad?
"Sunflowers are good for hope and longevity. Lotus flowers are for wellness in general. Alstroemeria is for support and wellness, depending on what you mean. Anything bright sends a cheery message, too."
"How about 'I like you'?"
"Well, those yellow roses we arranged earlier would work. And zinnias mean lasting bonds. Yellow zinnias would probably be a good choice. White peonies stand for bashfulness, so they're popular as accents in that kind of bouquet."
"What flower means 'you inspire me'?"
"Goldenrod can mean encouragement, and yarrow can mean inspiration and love."
Well, that probably isn't meant for his dad. Maybe his brother? Or he's just curious about them in general.
He smiled at me, and I had the distinct feeling I was missing some meaning in what he said.
"Could you tell me what flower means 'I will miss you terribly'?"
"Those zinnias from earlier in magenta mean lasting affection. Honeysuckle indicates devotion and endless love. Blue salvia means that you're thinking of someone endlessly, that would probably work. Or a pink camilla indicates longing, so that might be good to include too."
"How about…"
He trailed off, then took a deep breath in, held it, and exhaled.
"Haru, I'm leaving today. I won't be back for a while. I'm not really sure when."
"Oh."
We stood together quietly for a minute. He held that same confident smile, but his eyes looked sad.
Why does my chest feel like this? It's like all the wind was knocked out of me. People come and go from here all the time, so why is this so upsetting?
"I'd like to purchase a flower before I go."
"Just take one, yours are free."
"I insist. Please?"
"I…"
How can I deny that face?
"Anything you'd like. The prices should be right below them."
"Thank you. I think I'd like…"
He walked over to the flower selection, lingering for a moment. I saw his hand hovering over the pink camellias for a moment, seeming unsure, then the white peonies. His fingers brushed the edges of their delicate petals so carefully that they barely seemed to bend under his touch. He settled on a blue salvia and brought it back to me at the counter.
"I would like to buy this one, please."
He handed the payment over, and held out the flower.
"Yes, sir."
I smiled at him, putting on my best customer service expression and trying not to think about how long it might be before I see him again.
He must be getting a flower for Senjuro to remember him by. How sweet!
"Would you like it wrapped? Or since it's just one, I could tie a little bow on it for you?"
"No, I would like you to hold on to it for me. If that is alright."
Oh.
"I…are you sure?"
"I will be thinking of you every day that I am gone. I wanted you to know."
"I'll keep it safe. Will you please do something for me?"
I took the flower and laid it gently on my shelf, intending to put it in water later today. He watched me intensely.
"Anything."
I walked over to the flowers and grabbed a small pink astilbe. I walked back to him and handed it to him, looking at the ground instead of his face.
I don't think I could say what I need to say if I'm looking at him. He's so…it's embarrassing…
"Please keep this with you."
"Of course. And what does this one mean?"
"It shows….patience. And dedication to someone you…"
I could feel myself getting quieter. My voice was sticking in my throat. I swallowed hard.
"Someone you…?"
"It means…I'll be waiting for you."
He gently trailed the flower down the side of my face, then used the tip to bump my chin up so I was looking at him. He carefully placed the flower into the inner pocket of his cloak, the same place he had pulled the salve and bandages from earlier, then traced the path the flower had taken down my face with his hand. He settled his hand under my chin, so that I couldn't look away without stepping back. We were so close, barely a hand's length away. Even if he wasn't holding me in place, those golden eyes were irresistible. I would have walked directly into a burning pyre if he had asked me to without even thinking twice about it.
"It could be a while."
"I'll wait as long as it takes."
"Will you take care of my brother for me, while I am gone?"
"Even if you hadn't asked. He's a good kid."
I smiled, and after several seconds had passed I was about to pull my face back.
"Haru, may I?" he barely breathed the question.
I have no idea what you're asking to do, but sure. Yes. Anything.
"Yes." I answered, as if I knew what he meant.
He brought his face down to mine and kissed me. I think he meant it to be brief, but when I felt the warmth of his lips against mine, I melted. I wrapped my left arm behind his back, letting my hand travel up to fist in his hair. I let my right hand rest against his arm. He pulled me closer and kissed me deeply, leaning me against the wall behind us. His taste spread over my tongue, and I felt his heat completely envelope me until eventually I had to push him slightly away so I could breathe. He looked at me as if he had something to say, but chose not to.
"I will miss you while I am gone. I will think of you every time I need inspiration to keep fighting. And I promise to come back soon."
"I'll miss you while you're gone too. I promise to always be here, waiting."
That confident expression dropped, he looked like he was desperately trying to regain control of something. It was a little frightening.
"I apologize, this is selfish of me. You should not have to wait for someone like me. I could die any day. That is not fair to you."
He moved to take a step back, but my arm was still around him, so we moved together.
"Kyojuro, I'm already going to feel this way. Love isn't selfish, it's human. You're still a human, even if you do have a dangerous job. Pushing me away now won't fix anything."
"But right now you cannot feel that much for me, and if this continues…it will be harder for you."
"Oh, you have no idea what I feel for you. And isn't it easier to fight if you have people to protect?"
"I suppose it is, yes."
I couldn't quite reach his face when he was standing upright, so I kissed along his neck and down towards his collarbone. He let out a single, shuddering breath, then mimicked the movement. He kissed the delicate skin at the base of my neck roughly, then gave it a small nip. I let out a quick, sharp gasp, and leaned into him. I let his kisses and his teeth pass over the exposed skin there, leaving a deeper mark each time. After several passes, I felt my pants getting tighter. We were pressed so close together that I know he must have felt it too. It was hard to restrain myself from rubbing against his firm body.
"Do you feel these marks, Haru?"
"Yes?" I answered, feeling a bit dazed.
"They mean that you are mine. If you really do feel that strongly about me, then I want you to be my own. They will fade before I get back, but you will still belong to me. I will take care of you for as long as I have breath in my body. That is what being mine means."
He paused, then asked,
"Is that okay?"
There was something authoritative in that tone he spoke to me with, so I answered him with,
"Yes, Sir."
He shuddered against me again, then pressed our foreheads together. I felt him slip back into that breathing pattern he taught me. Two to four, three to six, four to eight.
Aw, why control yourself now? What if I…
I let me hand run along his torso, then down towards the outline of his-
I heard the bell ring over my door. Kyojuro took a very sudden step back, fixing that same confident smile on his face.
"Brother, you said you'd join me. It's been all day."
"Yes, you're right, I'm sorry, Senjuro."
"What were you doing?"
Kyojuro glanced at me, now unsure of what to say. Clearly, 'making out with the flower shop clerk' was the wrong answer.
"He's been helping me with flowers today. Aren't these roses for Mr. Tadashi lovely?"
"They're so pretty! He'll love them."
"Haru, Senjuro and I can go deliver them for you if you would like?"
"I don't mind doing it myself."
"This way you will not have to close up your shop early to get them there on time. Plus…"
He looked slightly bashful again.
"This is my first bouquet. I want to see that he likes it."
"He will love it, I promise. You two stay safe on your delivery, okay?"
