Chapter Eight: August - Hazuki (葉月): So let's keep this a secret, okay?

The year is 2205 A.D.

To annihilate the History Retrograde Army who schemes to alter history

Them, who were born from swords,

Engage in mortal combat as well!

Ookurikara, as long as we're together, that's enough.

Xxxxxxxxxx

A muffled yawn from the bottom of the room reached his ears and he shared an affectionate smile with his attendant as both of them turned their heads toward the sound, watching with amusement as a kitsune with glasses straightened up on the futon, still a little sleepy.

"Did you have a good night, Eisuke? " teased the Sage, giggling slightly as the animal was rejoining them around the chabudai.

"I can't believe I just fall asleep again. " he expressed, sincerely surprised as he rearranged his glasses on his muzzle.

"You have worked until late yesterday, no wonder. " Hasebe related, giving some paperwork to the Saniwa who continued at his turn:

"I already told you to keep sleeping in the morning if you do so. Yet, you always got up at dawn. "

"And who's going to do my work whilst I sleep innocently?! " claimed the little fox, annoyed.

"Aren't Yūsuke proposed himself more than once? "

"I don't trust him to do it as perfectly as I. "

"Well, If you have so high up standards too… "

Chuckling, Heshikiri stood up slowly and headed to the shōji after having exchanged a nod with the Saniwa, the hairball taking his place around the small table.

"Well then, excuse me. " he said simply, opening the doors before going out.

"Don't you hear noisy conversations? " the kitsune suddenly pointed out after a moment of silence.

"Here you are, already making remarks… " retorted the cherry-haired boy with a sigh.

"I don't understand how you can continue to act as if nothing happen. "

"Habit… "

A knock barely audible resonated from the outside of the room and he raised his head just in time to see the doors abruptly opening, the silhouette of his new Uchigatana, Kikkou Sadamune appearing behind them, the latter smiling with pleasure at the sight of his master.

"Goshujin-sama, how's your work coming along? " the pink-haired blade asked nonchalantly, his next sentence only stopped by the amazed look of his attendant who exclaimed, taken aback.

"Hey, you! What are you doing without permission?! "

"Excuse me. If you need anything, feel free to order me to do it. "

"Hurry up and- "

"Like I was saying, noisy people… " simply declared the animal, not even paying attention as the two swords were starting to quarrel.

"Yeah… I see what you mean… " stated the Saniwa, doing the same.

Xxxxxxxxxx

The sun was slowly setting west, its last rays covering the plain with a soft amber light. The disappearance of the solar star brought with it the end of the day itself, the latter ending with the sole purpose of starting again tomorrow.

Having enjoyed a late afternoon snack on the engawa with Mikazuki and Kogitsunemaru, he was now walking back to his room, the two Sanjou walking beside him.

"It was pretty nice. "

"If I could enjoy more days like this, I would consider myself happy. "

"Hahaha! The master is so often busy. I understand, I understand. "

Turning around the corner, Munechika was the first to enter the aisle, confidently placing his foot on the wooden floorboards. Without realising it, he skidded backwards, having just enough time to exclaim in a surprised voice:

"Oya… "

"Mikazuki?! "

"Mikazuki-dono!? "

Eyes widening with shock, the Sage and the second Tachi watched in horror as the majestic Tenka Goken suddenly collapsed on the ground, quickly hurtling down the long corridor on his back, before crashing against the back wall in a loud deafening sound.

Reacting abruptly, the master and his Toudan swiftly leaned forward to see the sword slumped on the engawa, completely stunned.

"Mikazuki… -dono...? "

"Mikazuki? Are you all right? " he asked, giving a faint grimace.

Receiving only a vague grunt of pain, he stooped down carefully, running a hand over the wooden lathes to examine its structure. He winced again, feeling the thick layer of polishing under his now sticky fingers and got up with a sigh, stepping down the engawa, without worrying about his ankle socks, to bypass the 'hazardous zone' and getting closer to his half-unconscious Touken Danshi.

Quickly imitated by the fox-sword, he helped the blue-haired Tachi to stand up, and entrusting him to his brother, went to the kitchens to find someone who would give him an explanation for this incident.

He was, however, stopped in his quest for answers when they came to him in the form of a drunken Jiroutachi complaining of the same event to an equally drunk Fudou.

Kikkou-san and Sengo-san?

A tense smile stuck to his lips, he let out a forced laugh as anger was seizing him and retraced his steps toward the great hall.

These two idiots!

Xxxxxxxxxx

Hasebe closed the shōji with a tired sigh, complaining mentally of the obvious lack of willingness shown by the Touken Danshi of this citadel.

He smiled however when remembering that he will soon see his master after a long day of a mission far away from him.

Stepping forward, he stopped right away as he saw the latter coming in the distance, and opened his mouth with a hint of pride in the voice.

"Ah! Aruji, I was going to go up and do my... report...? " he announced, halting, the boy walking past him without even wishing him a welcome back as if he had not noticed him.

"If you'll excuse me for a second, Hasebe. " simply said the latter before standing in front of the door, opening it with a sharp blow whilst shouting with annoyance:

"Hey, both of you! "

"Aruji! " exclaimed in astonishment the last three remaining Toudan in the room.

"Which of you two has allowed yourself to make the hallway a real skating rink?! " the Sage continued to rebuke, his fingers tensing compulsively against the doorframe.

"Aaah... "

"It's a bit hard to explain, you see... " Sengo tried to explain before being bluntly interrupted by the boy.

"Whatever the reason, you'll do me the favour of going there to clean all this in a hurry! "

"Y-Yes... "

Sighing forcefully, the Saniwa closed his eyes for a second to try to calm down and opened them on Kashuu's bothered face, which he glared at as he reprimanded him:

"And since you let yourself be dragged into this story, Kiyomitsu, you'll kindly join them. "

"B-But! " stammered the sword, caught out.

"I don't want to know it. You're in charge of the new Touken Danshi, right? Be glad not to have to clean all by yourself! "

"Huuh? So unfair! "

"And don't forget to put back to normal the sauna settings! Do you have any idea how abnormally hot it is in there! "

"At your command... "

Stepping aside to let the three culprits pass, the Sage sighed again, twitching slightly when he heard Kikkou exclaim with joy at the other end of the aisle:

"Aaaaah! Goshujin-sama has scolded me! So good! "

He suddenly opened his eyes as he remembered his attendant, who was still standing behind him in shock, and turned around at once, a large, warm smile now adorning his lips.

"You were saying? "

"Ah! N-No... uh... my report? " stuttered the Uchigatana, not knowing how to react.

"Ah yes! So how did it go? " the boy questioned, still smiling.

He's totally a different person! Hasebe noted with consternation, a long shiver of horror running through his spine.

Xxxxxxxxxx

Two days later…

The room was plunged into semi-darkness, the glimmers of some candles lighting it only dimly. On a large stone table, Ookanehira was standing in front of the Saniwa who was examining the evolution of the wound he had received the day before during a mission. The bandages that covered his chest and had itched all night had been carefully removed so that the cherry-haired boy could give him, he hoped, some last treatment.

"You know, it was good to have protected Shinano, but you should look more after yourself too. What would I do if something had to happen to you? " the Sage suddenly related after having removed one last compress filled with dried blood.

"I will be more careful in future. " whispered the Tachi, embarrassed.

"Well, if you can promise me that, it's enough for me. " indicated the Saniwa, shrugging.

"Were you truly that worried for me? " asked the red-haired sword, his head tilted to the side.

"What do you think? " retorted the boy as he stopped what he was doing, eyebrows raised doubtfully.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. " expressed Ookanehira, even more embarrassed.

"No. The question is reasonable. " said calmly the Sage with a sigh, getting back to his treatment. "I guess I could say that just sending you to missions worries me. So, when one of you come back hurt, it doesn't help… "

"We're lucky. "

"How so? "

"We're lucky to have a master like you… We couldn't ask for better. "

Half-smiling, the Saniwa pointed a finger at his Toudan's chest, his golden eyes narrowing with amusement as he affirmed rather harshly:

"No need to flatter me, I'm still mad at you! "

"W-What for?! " stammered the Tachi, puzzled.

"Because you don't consider yourself enough. I already have Yamanbagiri to play this role, please, try to relax a bit. " exclaimed the boy, pouting a second before claiming whilst returning his jacket to his blade "Great! Your wound seems to have completely healed. "

"Am I free to go now? " questioned the latter, standing up.

"Yes. Don't push yourself too hard, okay? "

"Understood. " he said as he headed towards the wooden doors adorned with the Saniwa's crest, stopping abruptly in front of them to turn around, announcing one last time: "I-I'll do my best to… relax a bit. "

"I don't ask for more. " sighed again the Sage, a soft smile stretching the corners of his lips.

"Thanks… for your concern… "

"Always. "

The morning ended on these words, giving him enough strength to face the rest of the day to come.

Leaning against the stone table, the Saniwa ran a hand through his hair and turned his head toward the small table on his right, watching the blooded compresses and bandages that lay in a container.

Gods, he had been so scared... Was that a bad omen? Should he be worried about the times to come? The fact that the Kebiishi attack the Retrogrades was not that surprising, but still... Did they were doing more than they were supposed to do...? No, more than they were restricting themselves to do?

If so, he, indeed, had to worry. The excursions and expeditions would become more dangerous now.

It is dark one inch ahead of you… (*)

Whatever the future reserved for him, he was prepared. Even if it meant using techniques that his Touken Danshi weren't prepared for…

Endnote:

(*): 一寸先は闇 (Issun saki wa yami), the English equivalent would be:

"Who can see in the future?". In other words, "Expect the unexpected".