Touken Ranbu: Pair of Flower

Disclaimer: Touken Ranbu is owned by DMM and Nitroplus, Touken Ranbu Hanamaru is made by Doga Kobo. Some translation is from Touken Ranbu Wikia

Summary: Something strange is going on with Yamatonokami Yasusada, therefore Kashuu Kiyomitsu must keep an eye on him before it's all too late.

Note: Thanks for reading also please support my own manga at tapas comics named 'paradox mansion' anyhow! as said... This is base on a dream I had after watching Hanamaru and the stage play heart to heart duet song of Okitagumi my goodness. Don't ask why the hell I had such dream, all I know I enjoyed the movie inside my dreams and I want you guys to enjoy it too! :3


**Original Timeline**

"A new assassin will appear...is what Mikadzuki said to us. Is this what he meant? For...Yamatonokami to become our enemy?" Ishikirimaru shared with everyone. Right now they are all back to the citadel with urgent assembly. Especially the ones who went to Ikedaya and the mission is totally ruined by the Okitagumi's.

"The sword of Kashuu Kiyomitsu is under repair." Says Kogitsunemaru. Mutsunokami repeated in disbelief. "Woah? The Saniwa can still repair him?!" It is not like they doubted the Saniwa's power...it is just...

"The tip broke." Added by Nagasone while having a serious look. "Again, as if history repeated itself."

The Saniwa whose busy using her magical abilities to heal the sword body of Kashuu Kiyomitsu told them her resolve. "I revived him once when he died in Ikedaya Inn. I can...do it again! I swear!" Hasebe is worried for the health of the said Saniwa. "Aruji!" Then Kanesada scratched his head without hiding his deepest questions for this situation.

"But..Kiyomitsu's human vessel is not here."

Nodded by Nagasone and said, "Yeah...It went away with Yamatonokami when he turned into a Kebiishi."
Horikawa meanwhile is still disturb at the truth that has been unfolded before them and dared to raise it up.

"Aruji, is it true that we...Touken Danshi are actually the same as our enemy?"

For a moment everyone is silent, until the Saniwa responded with honesty. "Yes...and no. Only Touken Danshi whose corrupted enough to be so against the true history may become a lost sword. Another thing, usually the Retrograde Army are the souls of samurai sword whose legacy ended so quickly. Those sword who was not important in the history yet died for the history."

Basically swords without a story to tell yet they were there. Swords that were forge but not well known at all. Pretty much they weren't appreciated.

"..."

After hearing that nobody said a thing before Mutsunokami suddenly wanted to know more. "Then what will become of Yamatonokami Aruji?" The Saniwa still focusing to forge back Kashuu's sword tip as she answered. "He will surely use his ability to interfere on other timeline to make sure that Kiyomitsu will not be killed by him. Or...what I fear he will try to convert the rest of the other him to join his desires."

Iwatoshii also joined to check some clarifications. "What we mean is can he still return back to normal...?"
The Saniwa paused before a nod was seen and then she tried to explain further but she was fearing a bit the next words she must tell them. "...It's possible but, it still depends on the inner wish of Yamatonokami."

Imanotsurugi raised his hand too to share his opinion. "The only person who can convince him might be the other Kashuu-san right?"

The Saniwa did not hesitate to answer it for Imanotsurugi's concerns. "If only of course...Kiyomitsu of different timeline will notice the difference. Since...every one of you has your own selves on other timelines."

Ichigo Hitofuri made his own conclusion. "That means, there are other Saniwa's? Is that right Aruji?"

Everyone eyed him and the Saniwa and then again...it was still a "Yes."

The whole citadel was spooked when a voice of the old man whose always chilling is here, it sounds out of place to act like that.

"Aruji~" it was..

"Mikadzuki...Munechika." Hachisuka says his name with a frown because Mikadzuki still smiling despite such thing has happened.

Mikadzuki ignored their stares and confidently declared the final solution for the history been alternate like this. "I do not understand why you intend to save both when clearly there is no saving soul for Yamatonokami. Death is only his option."

"You! How can you say that to our comrade?!" Growled by Kanesada, Mikadzuki looks at him with deadly eyes yet his lips are still curving up.

It was like a threat actually.
He was scary.

"He isn't our comrade anymore remember? He betrayed the Saniwa and is now a leader of Retrograde Army. Yamatonokami is corrupted. Eventually the different versions of him will be infected if we do not find his sword soon."

Honebami did not like his attitude and did not hesitate to accuse him. "Why do you talk like that? As if...as if it happened before you? Isn't this the first time we discovered it?"

"No."

The one who answered was the Saniwa.

"Aruji?" Namazuo tilt his head and so is the rest followed.

Finally the Saniwa confess another shocking revelation. "Mikadzuki Munechika is actually...the very first Touken Danshi who tried to change history."

Everyone gasp and the one who really overreacted was Izuminokami Kanesada. "WHAT?! HOW!?" Shot a look to Mikadzuki who is chuckling softly. "Haha, to make the long story short I was on a rebel phase those days but am now reborn and loyal to keep the history as it is...changing them is not healthy for an old man anyway~"

Saniwa chuckles too as she still doing her job to fix Kashuu's sword body. "Yes, he succeeded and was beyond saving. Then miracle happens...Yamanbagiri helped me to return him back."

Yamanbagiri arched his eyebrows in confusion. "What? Me? I do not have that memory Aruji, please explain."

Saniwa tells the story. "The Yamanbagiri who witness the transformation of Mikadzuki Munechika was forced to make a choice to either save Mikadzuki and let everyone die or...choose Tsurumaru to take his stead. By the end Yamanbigiri made a decision not to harm Tsurumaru and protected the rest against the Retrograde Mikadzuki."

Tsurumaru whistled and cooed. "Now that is a surprise! I also do not have such memories as that~haha!"

Mikadzuki cuts him off by saying the reality "To make it simple. A sacrifice is needed if you all really want to return Yamatonokami Yasusada to citadel..."

Yamanbagiri is having a headache though, he still did not want to drop the topic by glaring a little to Mikadzuki. "I'm still confuse, how come only you has the memory of history changing and how I save you is beyond my wildest abilities Mikadzuki Munechika. Explain yourself."

Mikadzuki walks in circles as he carefully observed everyone's mental state. He made sure there are no other traitor than Yamatonokami and did not mind to answer Yamanbagiri,it is just that he rather not reveal the details directly to avoid giving them idea what else is going to happen once you successfully change the history. "Ahh~ well you cut me off by your sword. The moon has become a half crescent and then it just happen to return to it's full shape."

Everyone had question marks in their heads. "Huh?"
Mikadzuki smirks. "Only swords from Heian period will get it."
The Sanjo swords immediately shake their heads and tsukkomi him.

"NO WE DON'T GET IT EITHER!"

"The repair is successful!" The Saniwa declared in victory. Horikawa claps, "Really?! Then Kiyomitsu-san's human body whose with Yasusada-san should be ok now!"

The Saniwa nodded and everyone gulps in anticipation.

"Let me try to see if we can reach him..."

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**Past Timeline**

"Okita...I will do my best in battles, because I love you!"

The spirit said to his master.
They are called Tsukumogami, tool gods.

When the Shinsengumi was formed, Okita Souji has been using the red sword that he bought to the river side. It was hard to handle but he mastered it to be part of his skilled body and it makes the tool god very happy for such dedication to keep using him despite the struggle sometimes.

Happily he was maintaining it up, "Stay clean and pretty~" Okita hums as he finishes the maintenance of red paint covering some war scratches from it. Lifting it's blade to make sure it was not shed in red. Okita is delighted. "Good." Putting the sword to the sheathe. "What a beautiful sword you are..." reading the carved named of it's sword smith that becomes the name of the sword itself. "Kashuu Kiyomitsu."

The one who bares the name Kashuu Kiyomitsu childishy blushes and nods beside Okita despite being invisible. "Hehe...!"


'It was fun...Me and Okita forming the Shinsengumi with Hijikata and Kondo. With their respective own swords too...Nagasone-san and Horikawa. I was happy enough of this number. I do not need new company. I thought it would stay that way...but...'


"Oiii Kashuu!" Kashuu looks behind him, it was the spirit residing in Kondo Isami's sword. "Oh, Nagasone there you are." With an innocent look and eyes that never cried before he is about yet to do so, Nagasone whistled. "Wow you are pretty calm about it..." Kashuu has no idea what was up, so he frowns. "Huh? About what?"
Nagasone looks left and right before he looks down to Kashuu whose smaller on his view because he was taller. Even if nobody can see them Nagasone is still cautious of his surroundings.

And...Nobody is around so he finally said. "Well, Okita Souji and Hijikata Toushizo bought new swords. Actually Hijikata forge a sword in the image of Horikawa. But Okita...he bought a sword from a market with a cheap price. But the sword itself has a fine material." When he finished, Kashuu crosses his arms with a confident grin.
"So what? It is normal for a samurai to have two sword right? Plus he will be just a back up sword. I'm still the main leading sword of Okita Souji!"

He proudly stated.
Nagasone is ready to press the doubt button if he even knew what it was...because, on the meeting Okita declared.

"From now on this is my main sword and..." fixing Kashuu's sword as the second one to be pulled incase he looses the new sword. "You will be my spare sword!"

Betrayal.

"NOOOO!" Kashuu cries at the floor, Nagasone covers his ears and Horikawa looks at him with puzzled look why he was so worked up with it.

'I didn't need him, I did not need a new company other than Okita!' Angry because he is basically replaced.

When Okita unsheath the sword for the first time, a soul emerges from it but not seen by the human naked eyes.

"No, no, no..." still chanting and denying it. "This isn't happening. Am Okita Souji's favorite sword even if I came from the child of rivers-"

But it was too late. The new Tsukumogami has arrived with the same shinsegumi uniform Nagasone, Horikawa and Kashuu wears. All of them as well wearing a white headband to their foreheads like matching dolls.

His soul forms that way to have scarf like his and long hair too, it is vexing.

"Hi, I'm Yamatonokami Yasusada. From now on I will be the front liner. Nice to meet you and I hope to get your support Kashuu Kiyomitsu "

He was greeted with a rather dull introduction. "W-what?" He expected a friendliest smile because of so called finest material forge are usually proud ones like Hachisuka, to make him puke of such brilliance but...that did not seem to be the case.

The new sword Okita bought has cold eyes like an ice. No emotion at his face as if he is the legitimate tool sword and the rest of them are fake.

'Well...that is un expected...' Kashuu felt dumb for a second that the other is not alike to them. "O-ok..." awkward nodding.

Meanwhile another Tsukumogami stood besides Yamatonokami. He was the youngest but for some reason he looks tall for his age. "I'm Izuminokami Kanesada. Nice to meet you!" He was pretty cocky actually, however Horikawa's eyes twinkled. "Waa! Kanesada, you look great! Can I call you Kane-san? Right! I will be happy to support you!" Shaking hands.

Nagasone whispered with intend to teased Kashuu the news was not fake. "There you go. How will you cope with?" Kashuu thought it won't make him jealous now because the new tsukumogami is emotionless and boring, but the adorable sight in front of him...this Yamatonokami has a undeniable cute face and it looks like his sword is sharper than his!

It clicked to him to be worried a bit that he just panics. "THIS ISN'T HAPPENING! AM OKITA'S FAVORITE SWORD! GO AWAY!" He was simply jealous that he pushed him off. "ah!" Stumbling backwards, Nagasone catches Yamatonokami whose blinking his eyes and not understanding why he was rejected already.

"Now,now Kashuu don't be mean to Yamatonokami. He just arrive here and look? Horikawa is also a permanent back up sword...you are in the same boat but he respect Hijikata's decision." Kashuu whose also shock by his own hands moved on its own accord, he grips his fist as he did saw Horikawa and Kanesada already getting along...maybe indeed he should be mature like Horikawa and Nagasone.

"...Fine." he pouts though Yasusada doesn't mind, he even held up his hand for a shake with short words such as, "I'll be in your care Kiyomitsu." He cannot understand why his expectations betrayed him. Kashuu twitch his eyes. "Let's work together for our master." Still no emotion, Yasusada said that. Kashuu took the hand shake but he was not ready to warm up yet.

"Yeah! Duhh! B-But do not expect me to babysit you just because I will become a backup sword from now on! Bakasada!"

But then, the stoic face of Yasusada giggles a bit before he agreed to his demands. "Hehe, Roger."

Maybe he was not that...much of a tool?

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'I was...forge rather something already involves blood.'


The blade of Yamatonokami Yasusada, mostly his sword smith will test his forge swords to criminals and punish them.

By means of punishment, it is to test if the blade is sharp enough to pierce someone's heart, to slice someone's body and definitely to see if it's metal can shatter bones.

His sword smith is a former executioner after all.

Yes...Yasusada, even before a swordsman can wield him to slay flesh and blood he is already soaked with blood to begin with unlike other sword. They get forged, their first blood bath is if a swordsman uses them as their first mission to become a real samurai.

It was not that case in Yasusada's birth.

SLICE!

His first birth was test out to a lot of criminals.

"It is sharp but it is hard to handle." His very own sword smith says, then he was now been input a sword handle to finally call him a finished product.
"Yamatonokami Yasusada~" his swordsmith was proud and carve his name to his. "I cannot wait to see who will be able to handle you to your fullest potential."

That was it.
Yasusada went to travel to store by store for someone to buy him and own him.

Unfortunately, nobody can use him properly every time they test him.

'It is just the same as those criminals in trials...' Yasusada said inside his mind. 'In the end am just for testing...I was never meant to be use in battlefield. How...how boring.'

Until...
Kring...))

His heard snaps when a potential samurai touches his frame to attempt on buying him. "Really?! You will sell it to me this cheap!?" The person was excited. "Even though it's material is very well done nobody likes to buy it, so I will sell it to you for a cheap price so that I can stop stressing when it can sell to have an owner!" Says the merchant.

"Alright! I will buy it!" Okita Souji bought him.

'Eh...?'

"Oii Soujii hurry come back were are leaving!"
"Okita-san hurry indeed! We will leave you behind!"
"Hey! Wait up!"

Yasusada whose mouth never spoke words finally opens when he looked at his fated master. "Okita...Souji."

Yasusada never felt curious, especially when he met the other sword that this person Okita Souji had been using in battles.

It was... "Kiyomitsu." He calls him and meets the red eyes that looks like the color of blood, they weren't friendly but they look...entertaining.

Yasusada remember while being forge how blood is part of his completion before he was even considered as a real sword.

That is why...blood...

Blood or red...

Yasusada loves that color.

'I like him just like how I like Okita-kun.'

"Why are you staring at me? It is annoying!" But the person who resembles blood in his eyes seems to dislike him.

"Um.." but Yasusada actually wanted to know more about his new master and his partner from now on. So he dared to try making a connection. "I would like to spar..." he says.

Kashuu is bewildered.
Yasusada thought he will be rejected again, it was not fear to be rejected...he was used to it. Every swordsman has rejected to buy him despite being sold to the cheapest price.

Only Okita Souji took that bait, to hear how Okita praises his materialize sword body is enough to make him interested to keep going as a tool god.

"Spar? Hehh~" to hear the red sword sounds playful, Yasusada dared to meet again his eyes whose hinting bad things to do against him like..."I guess I'll get serious~" Kashuu teased and draw his fake sword to fight since their real sword is under Okita's possession. "Come at me Yamatonokami Yasusada~!"

And attacks him.
"Oh!" Yasusada dodges and of course he draw his fake sword too and they engage to fight.

CLANG!
CLING!
SWOOSH!

"Opening!" Is Kashuu's victorious assumption. Yasusada grins at the excitement to be in pain.

'Yes...I was looking for this thrill! Not the days that am used to punish criminal's...But to battle! To be in war!'

"Opening!" Yasusada copied him and before Kashuu can balance his stance his ass was whoop same time Yasusada falls off and-

BUMP!

"OW!"
"OUCH!"

They hit their heads and found themselves panting and sweating and staring with stupid faces to one another.

"I won?" Yasusada assumes. Kashuu huffs and points. "Idiot, nobody won. Look." Yasusada looks at his body and found the fake sword almost stab his heart.
"I see. It is a tie."
"Yeah..."

Yasusada pouts though and Kashuu cannot help but find that interesting and funny.
Yasusada is a frustrated looser like him.

That is a first to be a bit close.

'Ahh~ to think I got worked up on his arrival and...I guess he has a lot to learn.'

"Yasusada."
"Kiyomitsu?"

Kashuu offers his hand for a shake. This time willingly given. "We can spar more, for Okita's sake."
He was not smiling so Yasusada was hesitant but...It shock Kashuu's eyes when the supposed to be still doll Yamatonokami happily took his hands with blushing cheeks and a sweet giggle.

"Yes please!"

Yasusada showed his sweet happy side, the rest were glad that he wasn't that much of a cold steel since his background was rather bloody before even sold to start his own sword legacy.

Many days they had been together...spending time with other shinsengumi swords.

They became good company.
Kashuu eventually forgot he was inferior to him, but there is also times that he still get jealous and he picks a fight at Yasusada who doesn't get why he was acting up.


'Because am the first sword and hard to handle...I should understand that Okita did not meant to replace me. He...he wanted to take care of me right? Am precious right? After all Kondo Isami decided to put Hachisuka Kotetsu as a display instead of bringing him as a back up sword or whatever...So I tried to accept Yasusada as he is. However...I never thought he was weird enough to make me off guard.'


Yamatonokami Yasusada is strange and scary even if he smiles...you cannot trust it.

"Hey, your eyes are pretty like blood."

Out of nowhere he said while zooming his face to Kashuu's whose disgusted. "Hahh?" Yasusada from sitting he stands up and points at Kashuu's eyes with a clear smile. "Say...do you think blood is beautiful?" It was a question? Kashuu furrowed his eyebrows and he thought to swat the pointing fingers.

"What? What are you saying...you creep!" Yasusada laughs and kept on somewhat praising him about his appearance or specifically the red eyes.

"Kiyomitsu! What am saying is you are pretty!" Kashuu stops being a tsundere he is and has visible blushing cheeks. He tried not to grin happily but he ended up doing so.

"R-really?"

Yasusada nods and explained. "Yeah! Every time Okita-kun will polish you...I envy he doesn't really do that to me." Thinking with his head, Kashuu tried to comfort him with boasting included. "W-well you are somewhat black so the scratches from war is not that visible to your sword body...maybe that is why Okita does not need to polish you much as I did. Also because am loved by our master~!" He teased him, Yasusada does not accept it as a tease instead an agreement. It was not a compliment but..."Yeah! And I love him too! You love him too right Kiyomitsu?" Taken back, Kashuu looks at him up and down.

The formerly stoic Yasusada is now expressive about his love for them.

It feels out of place.
As if it was not love but possessiveness or obsession?

Kashuu cannot put them together.


'I always notice he was weird, dense, his crystal blue eyes that looks like it can stare right through my soul yet something about them is heartless too.'


"A-aren't you mad at me?" He asks, Yasusada just made a sound in his throat to wonder. "Hm?"

Kashuu walks near him. "You are just talking to me but I always sound bossy to you. Yasusada...dont you feel rejected?"
Yasusada chuckles for a short moment before he said with mockery. "Rejected...isn't that for humans only?"

"Eh?"

Yasusada is smirking.

Kashuu blinks and he made sure he was listening to him. "We are not humans so I wont care about that. We do not need those. We do not need other feelings except to love Okita-kun, to kill for him...and to see the beauty of blood and flesh whenever he wins at his samurai battles...I really enjoy it Kiyomitsu."

Off guard, Yasusada came close to him and pulled him close by capturing both of his cheeks. His blue eyes contrast to the red eyes they met. "Kiyomitsu, I really like your color. You are beautiful. From all of the color of blood...yours is the best. "Deciding not to struggle, he was sure it made him blush because those are such embarrassing lines yet Yasusada plainly drops it out of his mouth without effort, Kashuu played along with a grin to hide how that made him real vulnerable.

To be complimented like this is embarrassing yet he was happy, same time it just feels strange when it comes to this angel face yet deadly killing tool. "It cannot be helped that you really like me this much!"
That was him, Yamatonokami Yasusada a simple very loyal tool god to his master and doesn't need anything else. He does not need to think and be needy for anything else.

Kashuu is...not like that.


'Ahh...as I thought I would hate him, Yasusada is not like me. We are mirrors in terms of battle skill because we have one master and we are both Uchigatana. But Yasusada is definitely...a monster in war.'


"ORA! ORA!" The cry battle of Yasusada echoed as Okita uses him to slay down their enemies.

"This is how the shinsengumi fights!" Kashuu roared even though he was not being used at the moment. "Hehe! The killing spree starts!" Then Yasusada giggles that.

It was disturbing.

Nagasone pause a moment when Kondo is done slicing some people, specifically looks at Yamatonokami with sweat drops. "...He is laughing?" Horikawa stops fighting with Kanesada when Hijikata is also done with his fight.

"I see, Yasusada-san is working hard to keep his position as the main fighting sword of Okita." Horikawa says, But Izuminokami points at the fighting Yasusada as Kiyomitsu does nothing but watch since he isn't used.

"Are you sure? What I see is he likes...bloodshed." Horikawa perk his thoughts. "Doesn't everyone of us likes battle? Err am wrong?" For the first time he doesn't know what else to say. Scratching his cheeks, Nagasone observes the Okitagumi group. "Its true we like to be in battlefield because we are swords to cut humans. But something indeed off with Yamatonokami's behavior in battlefield."

When Okita was over, Yasusada is busy catching his breath with a happy smile on his face as he praises Okita. "Okita-kun! Good work!" But not Kashuu, he walks away to join the other shinsengumi swords. He actually wanted to share it to them that lately it was uncomfortable for him.

Even though they argue less nowadays.

"Yasusada he...he said he likes the color of my eyes, he called them beautiful." Horikawa smiles. "Isn't that the truth though? Hm? Kiyomitsu-san?" But Kashuu has a serious look and really it makes them worried now.
"He compared me to the color of blood...and he said it was beautiful. He is the real tsukumogami than the rest of us. He is a tool that kills without a heart."

The shinsengumi sword said nothing and just watch Yamatonokami Yasusada afar on his own world adoring Okita Souji's achievements.

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'I'm Yamatonokami Yasusada,one of Okita Souji's precious sword. Am hard to handle but am very useful! And yet...For some reason my partner does not think of me highly enough. But it is okay, were partners. I know we got out backs together for Okita-kun's sake!'

Yet that said partner out of blue confess his humane feelings and wishes. It is not like a sword god at all.

"I want to be human."
"Kiyomitsu?"

Kashuu said to the mirror he was looking at his shinsengumi uniform, his read scarf and his white bandana at his forehead.

He looks human enough but not really human.

He was wishful. "If am human...I will be able to touch and feel Okita."

Yasusada made a face. "What do you mean? Dont you feel him touch you everytime he polish you?" Kashuu turn his head and continued to tell him his deepest wanting's, "Yes, I feel it but it was not deep enough for me to grasps. I...I want to know if I was really loved. I want to touch Okita and feel his warmth."

Well, that is strange for Yasusada...he never had such idea. He was happy enough to be by Okita's side and fight every single day.

"Yasusada, dont you like to be warm?" Kashuu pulls him close by his shoulders, eye to eye they speak with them and Yasusada is not liking it. "You...you are too cold, even though you smile so bright. I cannot feel your warmth."

Remaining in place and allowing the child of river to grip on both side of his shoulders, he tried to put up his own opinion. "Kiyomitsu...who cares about that? Isn't enough we are treasured by Okita-kun? Asking to be human, I don't see the necessary." He wasnt getting it and it makes Kashuu really sad.

'It depends on each person how they wanted to be loved after all.'

"Right..."

A lie of smile.


'Yasusada and I are opposite. He never doubted Okita, he never seek to be human like him. All he want is to literally stay by his side. What I want is to actually eat and sleep like Okita does. That is how I want to be closer...to live in the same world he walks. To feel the same breeze he breaths in and out. I want to be closer to Okita Souji.'


Kashuu just wanted to be closer, his wish betrayed him.

'Maybe I shouldn't have ask more...because I... wouldnt...that...that day...'

"Ikedaya Inn, Am looking forward! The meeting said its a narrowed space to fight. What a new thrill could that be!" The blue sword is powered up.

Kashuu chuckles, they had recently stopped bickering as mention they are getting in good terms. More like Yasusada never actually fought back when Kashuu blames him for everything. "Yasusada, you really like to battle huh..." Yasusada nods and shakes him. "How come you aren't you enjoying it Kiyomitsu? It is fun!" Kashuu laughs and bop Yasusada's nose to correct him. "Am a back up sword remember? There is nothing for me to look forward since I'm rarely used." Yasusada widen his grinning to tease back. "Oh come on, do not be like that-"

Their ears sharpens up when Okita just said something unusual. "I will use you. Time for battle." Dropping Yamatonokami's sword to the display handle and Kashuu's sword to be at his waist as the main sword to be used. "Okita...kun?"

Yasusada was troubled by it, he thought he did something wrong but kept his mouth shut. However Kashuu on the other hand is surprised and doubt if this was the right decision, he voiced up to protest.

"H-huh? M-Me!? But why?" Knowing they cannot be heard, Yasusada drops a sad smile but he was willing to support and respect this decision.

"Oh you are leaving your other sword behind Okita-san?" Some random member of shinsengumi asks him. Okita laughs it off, "The weight of the other sword kinda puts a toll on me." Kiyomitsu and Yasusada did not hear that because they were focused at each other.

"Ahh...it looks like Okita-kun chooses you for this mission. I'm a bit sad but its ok, please get the job done and take care of Okita-kun."

Kashuu whose suppose to be happy to be finally back as the main sword, he was this disappointed? But why? He had this uneasy feeling in his chest but covered it up by returning an awkward smile to the other.

"Yasusada...sure."

They fist bump.

"Its a promise."

And laughs it off too.

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"THIS IS THE SHINSENGUMI!"

It was this moment that Okita was coughing blood, he was in danger.

"OKITA WATCH OUT!"

*SHATTERS*

He wield Kashuu to defend himself but his tip broke. Kashuu Kiyomitsu's soul drops dead at the floor when Okita as well collapses.

'Huh...?'
Thud...))

As for Kashuu his final thoughts were very lonely. Seeing Okita sleeping at the floor too, 'Okita...?' Then the image of his waiting sword partner flashes before his eyes, who seems lonely too. 'Ahh...Yasusada...?' His vision went watery. Blood drips out from his lips and his shinsengumi uniform from blue to red like his eyes. How...how shocking is that.

Because they are not humans, they shouldnt be bleeding if slain off.

They are spirit after all.

'...why do I see myself drench in blood?' He heard Okita coughs. 'Ahh yes, He...coughed blood at me...am so dirty. Thanks to that am this red. But wait...Am bleeding in my neck too? What happen again? I cannot speak...is that a humane thing? Do Tsukumogami has blood like human when they die? If so...It sucks, I wanted to fight un broken till the end.' His vision darkening, the last thing he saw was his own sword broken at the tip.

He now understood he is dying.
He wonders if Yamatonokami Yasusada will cry for him.

"I'm s...ssorry..."

His red eyes went blank. Only regret echoes in his heart as he dispates.

'Ahh...I wanted to return home and tell Yasusada that am glad he was my sword partner. But...I guess I won't see him anymore. Okita...Am sorry for being useless...but even so please do not leave me...!' Somehow even though he was gone he saw a vision that his broken sword was left behind when Okita seem to be walking up with his feet, though he got support to walk by Kondo...still Kashuu Kiyomitsu felt so abandoned.

"Dont...leave me."

'Because I love you.'

.

.

.

.

.

**Second Timeline**

Another 3 days past...Finally our Yamatonokami recovered and thankfully nobody else especially Kashuu Kiyomitsu did not caught the fever.

"Look whose recovered!" Says Izuminokami Kanesada with a proud stand beside of course his assistant Horikawa Kunihiro. "Sorry for making everyone worry."
Yasusada scratch the back of his head. Horikawa beamed. "It's ok! As long as you are fine now." Kashuu thought to add a sarcastic joke when he stood by Yasusada's side. "Also thanks to what happen to you, we now know we Touken Danshi can get sick like humans!" Only for Nagasone to put that into thinking as he cup his own chin. "So~ if we get too sick we might die just like humans who succumbs to their illness?"

*badump*

Yasusada unconsciously clutch his heart. He felt a small throb on it but it disappeared without any trace. Noticing that Yasusada seems to have frozen for a short second, Kashuu eyed him suspiciously. "Yasusada?" But they were all lied onto.
"Ahaha...well, I got to get back in shape! I'm gonna be at the dojo! Later everyone!" He run off.

The Shinsengumi swords are not that dense though, Kanesada doubted.

"Is it just me or he acted so weird?"
Everyone let themselves contemplate. "Hmm..."
Horikawa tried to lighten up the mood by pointing out. "But isn't he always strange like back then? He used to say color of blood is beautiful like Kiyomitsu-san's eyes!"

'Yasusada...'

While walking to the hallway, even though it is a bright morning of peace...Yasusada is not at peace. He wasn't smiling at all, in fact he look so sad that he rather not meet someone in the hallway to try and greet him right now.

'Being a human is a pain and inconvenient.' How he wish to return back to a cold steel. He recently remembered how Kashuu wished to be a human, he still doesn't find it very helpful. Indeed he was ungrateful as what his sword partner accused him. 'But thanks to this human body I learned to appreciate food.'

That is the good part for him. "Ghh..."

Clutching again his heart as he kept using his feet to move forward and forward to every corner till he would reach the dojo.

'Illness like Okita-kun's...?' His eyes reflecting wanting to go to where the other must be. 'If so...am closer to him now?' Stopping on his tracks as he reach the front of the dojo, fortunately nobody was there. He look at the sky above him, it look so blue and happy yet...'Am gonna be with you if that happens...Okita-kun?'

Now that he is human, he is seeing the same scenery what Okita sees and feels the breeze that Okita experiencing.

He is warm.
This is what Kashuu told him back then.

"I..."
Then he felt a smack on his head.
WHACK!
"OW!"
Behind him is Kashuu Kiyomitsu who actually followed him and he did not notice it at all! "Caught the dumb." Just a flat response, now Yasusada rubs his head.

"Hey! What was that for Kiyomitsu?! It really hurt!" Gaining a humane reaction from his dramatic partner, Kashuu like that better before he pointed out.

"You are thinking about him again weren't you?"
Yasusada rolled his eyes. "...who knows?"

That was it, silence...before-"Suit yourself!" Kashuu acted like a girl who got upset for no reason. Still not getting what Kashuu went here for to just leave like that.
Makes no sense. "...why is he always angry?"

Drip...drop...
Kring...))
His ears are ringing.

Yamatonokami forgot what on earth had happen afterwards.

.

.

.

.

.

'Something is not right but I cannot put my thoughts to complete it.'

The next thing he sees is his own hands reaching out the ceiling with a sudden jolt of his body jerking up to twist in panic and sweat.
"...wait Okita-kun!"

Panting, 'T-that d-dream again...?' Hearing the bird chirps and seeing the reflection of sun rays, a voice invited him to wake up completely from his usual nightmares being ignored. "You awake already, get dressed. We have a lot to clean at the horse barn." Blinking, Yasusada tilt his head to Kashuu whose already dressed up to his casual clothes.

Yamatonokami Yasusada is completely clueless why they had such promise to wake up early for a job. Normally that will be assigned when the bell rings, not like this.
"...we did?" Kashuu Kiyomitsu arch an eyebrow while fixing his red scarf that matches his red clothes.

"Yeah, last night we were told in advance. Do you not remember?" He eyed him knowingly with doubts, Yasusada scratches his cheeks with a forced smile.

"...I, I actually do not remember anything last night."

'What is going on with him?' Echoed by Kashuu in the back of his head before he points at him. "Huh? Are you serious? Geez...Stop thinking about him for once!"

Pulling Yasusada to get up which he did, "Uwah! Hold it!" Though he allowed Kashuu to lull him out of bed. Kashuu makes him stand up with straight chin. "If you don't fix yourself am going to put make up on you." It was suppose it be a teasing threat.

However Yasusada did not buy the joke and took it seriously. "...But, Kiyomitsu I can't help it."
"Am...am sad."

Silence.

"I felt abandoned even though it cannot be helped when it happened. When...when I was not picked that day."

Kashuu steps forward with a painful glare.

"Are you blaming me?"

Seeing the hint that he offended the other, Yasusada tries to take it back with his excuses.

"No, that's not it."

It was too late, Kashuu will not tolerate him this time.

"Oh yes you do! That's how it sounds!"

"Kiyomitsu I-"

He snaps at Yasusada.

"DID YOU THINK I HAVE A CHOICE?! YOU DO NOT KNOW EVERYTHING THAT DAY AND HOW I FELT! WHY ARE YOU SO...SO SELFISH!?" The rest was mentally said.
'I broke, I was covered in blood...and my body is full of fainted scars especially my decapitated head. My neck with this ugly and horrifying scar beneath my scarf...! I was not truly loved by him. He only loved me for being pretty and useful. I wanted to fight un broken till the end because I love him...yet..!'

However, Yasusada's gotten himself loose temper as well and yelled back.

"AM NOT SELFISH! IT IS YOU WHO IS ALWAYS SELFISH YOU KNOW! ALWAYS...ALWAYS, I HAVE TO FOLLOW YOU AND CHECK YOUR TEMPER OR ELSE YOU WILL THROW YOUR ANGER ON ME AGAIN! IT WAS LIKE WHEN WE FIRST MET...! YOU ACT LIKE YOU DO NOT LIKE ME AT ALL! YOU BEING KIND, IT FELT FORCED. IS IT FOR THE SANIWA? Such desperation...!"

The hell these two are screaming at each other.

...

"Yasusada and Kiyomitsu are late! Didnt we all agree to woke early and get this horse dump finish?" Scowled by Izuminokami in his casual clothes. Horikawa nods. "I will check on them Kane-san." And starts to walk away, not wanting to be left behind Izuminokami runs to his side and grinned. "Nahh! I will go with you, can't stay in this smell...!"

Smiling back. "Hehe, righty! Then let us go!"

When they reach the room of the Okitagumi, hell broke loose.

They were fighting by their voice so loud that some other Touken Danshi was frighten.
Nobody dared to knock at their room at all to stop them.

As if they also want to eavesdrop.

"YOU ARE INSENSITIVE YOU KNOW THAT!? ALWAYS FIXIATE ON YOURSELF TO GROOM, YOU NEVER CARED IF YOU HURT MY FEELINGS EVERYTIME I OPEN UP! IM SO VENT UP OF YOUR ATTITUDE!"

Yasusada says to Kashuu.
Kashuu retorts back.

"THAT IS MY FREAKING LINE! EVERYSINGLE DAY, EVERYSINGLE NIGHT YOU DONT LET ME SLEEP IN PEACE! YOU DONT ALLOW ME TO BE HAPPY IN MORNING BECAUSE OF YOUR SULKING TO HIM, AM TIRED OF HEARING IT OKAY? WHAT PART OF IT YOU CANNOT GET OVER?!"
Yasusada's sharp rebuttal made Kashuu silent.

"I WASNT CHOSEN!"

Oh no, not this again...the Ikeda Inn incident.

This time Yasusada faintly said as he and Kashuu's heart beating fast from screaming rapidly not a long ago. He always, always felt jealous that day. He was excited that time yet he was not picked that day. Even though Kashuu deserves to be use since he was originally his first sword and not him...still Yasusada cannot stop his selfish desires on that night when he was forced to stay and wait for them to return. "I wanted...to fight with Okita-kun till the end, and yet he picked you! Then you had been revive and all you think of is our new master! You want to be loved but you do not know how to keep loved at all Kiyomitsu!"

They will both cry, they just knew it...their eyes are both getting watery as they exchange a heart to heart talk.

"What did you-"

Their room door slides open with the laughing Izuminokami.
"KYAHAHA!"
"Eh? Kane...san-"
Horikawa tried to stop him but...Izuminokami went inside the room and declared out of blue. "Okita Souji maybe a skilled swordman but Hijikata Toushizo is the real hero!"

Yasusada and Kiyomitsu looks at eachother and then to Izuminokami. "What?"

Kanesada knowingly mocks them. "Am saying you guys are arguing on someone whose not even have done so much extent for samurai's!"

The two twitches.
"What did you say?"

Kanesada laughs and crosses his arms proudly. "I said Hijikata, our master is better!" Horikawa whose behind holds behind him to ask him to go outside but he wont budge. "S-stop it Kane-san...! This is a very bad idea-"

Yasusada and Kiyomitsu invites with dark voice. "Get out. Let's settle this."

Kanesada thought he won.
"Agreed."
Horikawa doesn't like where this is going.

"Ehhhh?!"

...

In the barn of horse, like a battle field...the wind blows and there are audience like Tsurumaru and Shoukudaikiri watches the Okitagumi side then the Hijikata swords standing there and staring at each other.

What a lovely morning.

Kiyomitsu started. "Hijikata Toushizo is an awful human being." Sticking out a tongue, Kanesada was dumb enough to get triggered by that. "What did you said!?" Yasusada adds on. "He is the Vice Demon Commander yet he failed to protect Kondo Isami. So he isn't amazing, he had failures too!" Kanesada forgot this was an act to make them stop fighting but he...himself dug his own grave. "I'm so pissed...!"

Yasusada points at him with death glare. "You started it! You take it back!" Kanesada laughs his ass and insist to be persistent to piss them off.

"Noway! I will make you count the ashes!" Kicking the ground to intermediate the Okitagumi duo... Yasusada marches forward, their faces are so near each other with the given threats.

Yasusada makes a promise. "I see. I'll make you eat dirt...!"

Kanesada did not expect Yamatonokami to duck down and throw a horse poop at his mouth. "Augh!"

Having a taste of literal dirt, Kanesada falls off. "Kane-san...!" Worried Horikawa, Kanesada spits the horse poop and had a piss off evil grin. "You...bastard...!" Grabbing also a horse dirt and throwing it, Yasusada dodges and says rather so deadly. "Take it back, shinsengumi sword or anyone who bad mouths Okita-kun, I will never forgive them!" Jumping to attack Kanesada, Kiyomitsu suddenly locks his arms from behind. Kashuu isnt mad anymore after seeing Izuminokami pathetically looses to eat a horse dirt so fast. But he isn't liking either how Yasusada is very...mad.

"Stop it Yasusada! Seriously you are always violent with your enemies! Calm down!" Yasusada jerking his legs and arms but unable to escape.

"Let me go Kiyomitsu! Let go!" Kashuu puts more force to lock his own elbows to his. "Idiot! Stop causing trouble!" Yasusada glances behind with frustrated teary eyes. "Aren't you mad? He bad mouthed Okita-kun...!" Kashuu still making sure he puts him in place. "We did bad mouth Hijikata as well so it is fair! Now stay put!"

As for the Hijikata combi, Kanesada coughs and continues to spit the remaining taste of horse poo. "It taste so bad that am gonna die...!" Horikawa patting his back and apologizing. "Kane-san! I'm sorry I couldn't catch that for you...!"
Annoyed, "That is not the point Kunihiro...!"

"ALL OF YOU STOP THIS FIGHT IN INSTANCE!"

Heshikiri Hasebe warns. Behind him is Tsurumaru and Shoukudaikiri who seem to have reported this fight.

"H-Hasebe...!" Kashuu went pale.

"What is going on here? Your ruckuss is hear out through all over the citadel! The master is disturb!" Hasebe looks at each of their faces with dirt.

"Aruji is...?!" Kashuu started to panic. "T-tell Aruji it is nothing! Please tell...Aruji-" Kanesada stood up for him.

"Calm down Kiyomitsu! This isnt your fault! It is mine-" but Kashuu was trembling and denied him off. "No! It is my fault Hasebe-san! Please allow me to explain to Aruji-sama about the fight!" Hasebe shuts them all by one command. "No need." Then he talked to Yasasuda whose face still looks deadly enough.

"Yamatonokami Yasusada."

Yasusada slowly move his eyes to meet Hasebe's "...what is it?" He was actually pouting already.

"You are grounded."

They all jumped except Yasusada himself who already knows he will be punish but didnt particualry cared enough.

"Eh?! For real!? Aren't we all suppose to be grounded!?" Kashuu asks in disbelief, how come only him yeah?

Hasebe counts them by his eyes as he explained. "The Saniwa, no...Aruji wants to talk to all of you, however you...Yamatonokami, I heard your reasoning earlier what is the source of your anger. Therefore you are grounded." Again Kashuu cannot understand why.

"N-no way...why only Yasusada?"
Yasusada stomp his feet but he did not protest at all.

His anger is still visible in his face. "Fine. I got it. I will be on my room then..." walking away, Hasebe echoes. "Before you do, please wash yourself. But after that immediately go back indeed to your room until further notice. I will be asking Aruji for your corporal punishment of such violent behaivor towards your comrades." Yasusada did not look back but he did answered. "Understood."

Seeing how things ended up so awkward, Kashuu tried to chase him. "Wait...Yasu...sada...sorry..." but he was unable to move his feet further.

"Kashuu Kiyomitsu, Horikawa Kunihiro, Izuminokami Kanesada. Come with me to master's office." Hasebe says. Izuminokami covers his mouth not wanting the Saniwa to smell it. "E-even me? I smell bad...!" He blushes, Hasebe ignores him though. "Its fine Izuminokami. This is not my order, it is the master's even Yamatonokami's suspension. Hurry up."

Kanesada,Horikawa and Kashuu look at each other unsure how to feel.

"O-ok..."

...Inside the Saniwa's room.

"I have an idea what the fight is, I just want you guys to promise me one thing shinsengumi swords." The Saniwa says.

Kashuu Kiyomitsu fears the love to decrease from her the most. "We will do anything Aruji! Just forgive us!" Izuminokami fears punishment too and joined the pleading session. "R-right! It won't happen again!" Kashuu dogeza at the floor and thoughts. 'Please do not abandon me...!' Saniwa opens her mouth with a request instead.

"Please keep an eye on Yamatonokami Yasusada."
"Eh?"

Everyone has the puzzled faces.

"Keep an eye?" Horikawa repeated. Hasebe whose watching joined in. "Sorry were not getting your point Aruji?" The Saniwa was calm as usual and kind, but knowing their master sounds serious...something is going on? "I can't tell you all the details,but do please watch over him. Especially his health." Kashuu thought it was about how lately Yasusada is not feeling well...in fact he just recovered. "Is...Yasusada sick again Aruji?"

The Saniwa does not do any eye contact and answered.
"I can't tell."

Kashuu cannot drop his curiosity when it comes to Yasusada. "If this is too much to ask, I can ask another-" but Kanesada stops him with a hand and politely bows his head. "No. We will accept this, since were are shinsengumi swords...we should look after our own groups for the sake of the peace in the citadel."
Horikawa thought he looks cool because of that gesture and maturity. "Kane-san!"

Kashuu smiles at the two and maybe he shouldn't get too concern and just agree, so he tells the Saniwa. "Aruji, you do not need to ask me~ I'm already looking after everyone! Especially Yasusada is my roommate! That is given!" The Saniwa smiles.

"Thank you everyone. Now please take a bath and enjoy the rest of the day."

"Understood!"

After the meeting with Saniwa and scolding session with Hasebe. All of them took a bath and here is Kashuu opening the door to their room where they almost broke their relationship as room mates.

((Sighs))

Taking a deep breath, Kashuu puts an act to start a rather unusual topic.
"...How did bath go?" He asks and closes the door and proceed to grab the mirror to check his face if no horse poo remained.

It is not a brand new sight to see Yasusada curling himself in a ball of yarn at the corner with his casual clothes.

Instead of answering how was his bath, Yasusada throws back a question.
"Is Kanesada perhaps very angry with me? Say...Kiyomitsu?" By the mirror held above, Yasusada can see Kashuu's reflection that he is again trying to take care of his face to be pretty. It is the same of Kashuu, he can see the gloomy face of Yasusada.

The guilt was there. 'So he had calm down his anger...'
Kashuu puts down the mirror and starts to brush his hair gently. "Well, he is piss off but he had calm down and got scolded by Horikawa. To answer your question he isnt mad at you."

Yasusada watches him brush his long wet hair. "I see." Yasusada rested his chin to his knees. Kashuu saw his finger nails had dirt but they do not smell bad anymore at least. "Ahh~my nails are ruined. I guess I need to cut them and let them regrow...the edges still dark from the mud fight~"

Yasusada whispers. "I'm sorry."
Glancing at his roommate.

"For what?"

Yasusada refuses to make an eye contact, he was breaking again in his throat. "For...dragging you to a dirty place now your precious finger nails are dirtied...and such...Also about our argument-" Ahh, as always it is annoying. "Listen, Yasusada. I'm angry but, am not angry anymore...okay? Shape up. Let us forget about it, I dont want wrinkles in my face!" He went ahead and pinch Yasusada's cheek. "Nn...ouch."

Then he finally smiled a little.
Kashuu smiles back then grabs his nail kit.

"Regarding about you being grounded, it is actually one week." Eyes widen. "One week?!" Yasusada stops curling himself like a yarn, he crawls closer to Kashuu as he did not like the punishment to be that hard. "I can practice at the dojo right...?" Kashuu hums and unlocks the brand new nail red polish he bought recently.

"One week in this room. So no, you can't. Even meal time you are not allowed to go out and eat with the rest. Worry not,I will bring you food~ or I'm sure Horikawa will bring us food to apologize~!"

Coloring his nails, Yasusada stares at him and is worried he may have dragged him to suffer too. "Does this mean you are also grounded?" Kashuu laughs and gave him a silly look. "No. Just you." Yasusada does a relief sighs. "Ah ok...that's good." Kashuu frowns and points at him. "No! It is not good! You better cool off your head soon so that I dont have to see your moping face at the corner of our room every single day! Ok?"
Ahh...It felt dumb when they fight earlier.

Yasusada decided to stop moping and cheerfully responded. "Ok!"

Watching how Kashuu makes himself presentable is always entertaining and it always take so damn long.

It is not like he can go anywhere.
He just thought to appreciate his beauty.

'Kiyomitsu looks happy.'

"Ah right I remember."
"Hm?"

Kashuu throws him a book "Catch!" It was flying towards him "Wah!" Catching it. "..Huh? A thick book...this is..." Flipping the book it was like about herbal or plants. "Medicine book." Kashuu cleared it up for him. "Eh?" Still doing nail polish, Yasusada flips the pages as he listens to him. "It is the book where I had read about how to cure his illness." Hearing that makes him enlighten.

"Kiyomitsu!" He was sparkling like an idiot that Kashuu had to scowl at him.

"Don't give me that stupid wide smile! Listen! I didn't show you that book to change history! But for you to understand how it is impossible to change it...! Ok?"
Yasusada sense Kashuu just wants to cheer him up and it did work. Like a dork he is he thanked him. "Alright! Thank you Kiyomitsu...!" Blushing..Kashuu looks away and tries to focus to make his nails redder. "Geez..."

Yasusada sits beside the table Kashuu is using.
"Hey, you are too close Yasusada."
"I want to read next to you. Is that bad?"

It is like they both want to fix their relationship...it is just.

*ACHE*
((Gasp))

Yasusada whose suppose to read the book to have peace his head suddenly throbs and his vision went inside his own realm of consciousness.
"Huh?"
He wasn't sure if he fell asleep wile reading. He was in the darkness yet his feet has some ripple of water.
He saw his reflection yet he saw another figure across the water.
'Me...?'
Looking up, a duplicate of him stood there.
The difference was he was wearing his dark blue casual clothes but the other him is wearing his warrior outfit.
The shinsengumi armor.
['Ahh, you are Yamatonokami Yasusada from another timeline.']

He was greeted by his own voice.

Not able to response, the other him gave him an evil smirk.

['Oh well, it does not matter...I will be the one to take care everything. Goodnight.']

And dashes to stab him in the chest.

STAB...!
Gasping, the stab felt real and it did not even look like a dream when he heard his flesh gets a donut hole.

"AAaaaughh!"

Yasusada screamed in pain. Startling the other "Gaaah?!" The nail polish bottle splattered to Kiyomitsu's face like blood. "What? What?"

Thud.

"Yasusada...!?"
Yasusada just fell backwards unconscious. The thick book drops and got some red polish stains on it as if a murder happen.

Immediately shaking him, "Hey! Dumbass what the hell happened to you? What was that screaming for? Oi! Yasusada! This isn't funny-" when he touch his face and the pulse...it was cold and..."What the...he isn't breathing!"

Already forgotten that they had an ugly fight earlier, Izuminokami and Horikawa happens to be walking at the hallway. They have their new clothes and is ready to head to their room when...

"Help!"

Kashuu runs towards them with Yasusada on his back in a piggy ride.
What catches alarm is that Kashuu's face...

"K-Kiyomitsu! Is that blood?!" Kanesada jumps forward. "Are you hurt Kiyomitsu-san!" Horikawa checks on him.

But Kashuu doesn't give a damn on that, those are not important.

Like his life is loosing as well he told them what he needed now as he carries Yasusada on his back.

"Hurry! Yasusada he's...! G-get the Saniwa! Yasusada is dead!"

This is just the start to invade other timeline...to his vision.


To Be Continued...


Movie Part 3

Next: part 4 of course, review if you want more.

Thank you.