A/N: This chapter takes place almost entirely in Osaka and Kyoto. As such, I've drawn fairly heavily from my past experiences living in Kyoto and traveling to Osaka. I also referenced various things I've learned in different history and culture classes on Japan over the years, some of which are further explained in the notes below. As such, if you notice any inaccuracies or errors, please let me know!

Once More

Chapter Three

With autumn comes the Second Year's fieldt rip to Kyoto and Osaka and a Yukimura is overcome with dread. Why couldn't they have chosen a different location? Okinawa, Hokkaido, Hiroshima… Hell, he wouldn't even care if they went to the Koufu.(1) He doesn't want to return to the spot of his failure, especially since the castle still looks much like it used to on the outside. What if his memories come flooding back while he's surrounded by classmates and he gets lots in the divide between the past ans the present again? The thought makes him shiver and he hates the possibility.

Still, the three and a half day trip isn't called mandatory for nothing and it's not long before Yukimura finds himself standing in front of a line of buses with a duffle bag over his shoulder. He has to count his small blessings though and is pleased to discover that Classes A and B are sharing a bus, meaning that he gets to ride with Masamune. Of course, the baseball player already has someone else sitting next to him (another baseball player from 2A) but the spot behind him is open and soon enough Yukimura and a classmate (from the soccer team, coincidentally) are kicking up a ruckus. As always, Masamune districts him from all his worries, though this time perhaps a little too thoroughly because a teacher has to come back and tell them to be quiet three times before they settle down and Yukimura finally doses off.

It doesn't take Masamune long to notice and soon enough he has his phone out and is taking pictures of Yukimura's sleeping face, squished up against the glass of the window. When his classmate shoots him dirty looks, he explains that these photos are blackmail for next time they have to fight over the field—surely Yukimura wouldn't want embarrassing pictures of himself posted all of the school. His classmate laughs at this, but Masamune is sweating on the inside. His initial plan to make the photos his phone's wallpaper no longer seems like an option. He has three full days with no sports clubs, no huge distractions, and no "babysitters" (He doesn't know what life would be without Kojurou, but all the same the man can be a huge nag), and he plans on using it to get closer to Yukimura. Learning everything about his "rival" shouldn't be too hard, right? They're probably just going to go see some crusty old temples, so it will be easy to tail Yukimura and well…find out what he likes? Admittedly, Masamune doesn't have all the steps planned out, but he knows that he's going to make some progress this trip. He doesn't want to admit it, but he's become completely obsessed with the obnoxious student since he walked in on him crying and now is finally the chance to do something about it.

They arrive at a hotel in Kyoto not too far from Kyoto Station late that night, and all the tired students pile out, quieter than usual as they retrieve their bags from under the buses before piling into the hotel lobby where they receive their rooming instructions. Yukimura spots Mouri as students shuffle out of the room but the other doesn't respond even when his name is called. As he stares up at the ceiling long after the other students have fallen asleep, the troubled cub wonders if they'll never be friends again, and then remembers that he has his own problems to worry about. They'll be visiting Osaka Castle the day after tomorrow.

They spend the first full day in Kyoto seeing, unsurprisingly, all temples. It's mostly the important ones—Kiyomizu-dera, Tou-ji, Ginkaku-ji, Kinkaku-ji… Despite how much the city has changed in four hundred years, the roads which Hideyoshi remade so long ago still partition the city into a neat grid, and Yukimura's sure that if left alone, he would be able to find his way around. He wonders what has become of the gate at Daitoku-ji which lead to Sen no Rikyuu's demise and wonders how the art of tea has changed over the years. (2) He spends the day mostly pensive, past memories doing more to illuminate the city around him than to darken it.

They stop at Kinkaku-ji for lunch, and while most of the students wander off to nearby convenience stores to buy food, Yukimura discovers a sweets vendor near some of the gift shops within the temple grounds. Since they're in Kyoto, everything is matcha flavored, and he can't resist buying a green tea version of his favorite snack. With a stick of dango in one hand, he sits down on a nearby bench and starts pensively at the shining pavilion across the pond. He admits to never having been fond of all the gold, much preferring the serene wood of Ginkaku-ji. The shining surface does remind him of Hideyoshi's tea room (2) and he can't help but chuckle a little. The chuckling doesn't last long though, because before suddenly someone has snatched the last stick of dango out of his hands.

There's no time to protest before the last of his beloved dango are eaten in front of him by the new rude arrival. Masamune grins cheekily at him, brandishing the now empty stick with a grin. "Miss me, Sanada?"

The anger is too much for words. Seventeen year-old Yukimura had never been one to resort to violence but this is dango, and not just any dango, but the last, special, matcha-flavored ones. He raises a fist as Masamune panics and quickly tries to convince him that they're only dango. Yukimura actually goes to punch him then and Masamune has to reveal the box that he's been hiding behind his back this whole time.

"Cool it, I bought some too!" This causes the angered Red to pause and Masamune takes the chance to explain. "I was planning on giving you some from the start. I just wanted to rile you up first, you see?"

Yukimura stiffens at this. So Masamune thought of this as a new way to engage his rival? In that case the soccer player would have to hit back just as hard. He's trying to think of ways to do this when a stick of dango is held out to him. And as usual, dango comes first.

But he's not so trusting that he'll let the other second year yank the stick away from him when he goes to take a bite, so he grabs the other's hand firmly, glancing at Masamune to make sure no trickery shows on his face. Instead he's surprised to see a blush and something clicks. Masamune is embarrassed. He's embarrassed to be holding hands with another boy. Yukimura gets an evil grin on his face and suddenly he knows how he's going to get his rival back.

Slowly he places a firm second hand around Masamume's and leans down to take the first dango between his lips, making sure not to break eye contact with the other second year the whole time. He watches the other swallow nervously as his own lips tighten around the small ball. Licking it a little for effect, he laughs internally as he notices Masamune become more and more flustered.

Just wait, Masamune-dono, we'll see who is riling who up who by the end of this trip!

He takes every available opportunity after that to hold the other teen's hand. The redder Masamume's face gets and the more their classmates chuckle, the more Yukimura declares victory. He is somewhat amused to note that Masamune always clasps his hand back firmly and never denies him, despite the funny looks they get from other tourists or students. In the end he chalks it up to the other second year simply being too polite to turn him down, which he notes with a bit of approval. The first day passes quickly, and before he knows it, he's spent the day laughing and teasing his rival and has completely forgotten about how nervous he is for tomorrow's trip to Osaka.

They park near the castle grounds early that morning, and Yukimura's dread fades to surprise as he realizes he doesn't recognize the landscape at all. He can see the tip of the castle towering over the trees but otherwise it's entirely unfamiliar and he can't help but be grateful for Osaka's post war prosperity.

As they enter the castle grounds and finally approach the main building itself, he starts to recognize a few things, but the entire place seems relatively new. He attributes much of the change to the damage Osaka sustained in the Second World War, but much of it is also that the location has become a tourist destination. While initially he thought the crowds of people would bring back memories of the hordes of soldiers stationed here, the laughter and souvenir shops actually do the opposite. It's almost a letdown-he was so terrified of this place but being here doesn't even shake him.

They're split up into classes as they reach the entrance to the building and Masamune seems reluctant to let go of his hand. The ponytail wearing brunette has been too focused on his surroundings to notice that the lone eye has been watching him carefully this whole time, noting his tense behavior. He wants to know what about this crappy old castle demands his rival's attention and why he keeps looking about like he's seen a ghost. It makes him what to hold the other tighter. Yukimura has to punch him in the shoulder to finally get him to let go. Still, even when Yukimura's class enters the building ahead of him, he keeps that single eye trained on the other, far more interested in him that the museum that opens itself before him.

Yukimura, on the other hand, has this eyes glued on the exhibits in front of him. As the museum dictates, his classmates and him climb up the four flights of stairs to the top of the castle first and then slowly work their way down, past displays sporting Sengoku era armor, gift shops, and recreations of the Siege of Osaka in tiny miniatures. The gift shops make him laugh a little-crests of all the associated daimyou have been plastered on everything imaginable, and the cub is tempted to buy a keychain with his family's six rings design. The tiny figurines with enlarged proportions also make him chuckle, and he smiles at the one with a deer horned helmet.

The actual exhibits are a bit more sobering though.

He spends a long time staring at the recreation of the 1615 Summer Siege of Osaka. Tiny flags indicate the location of different generals and he can see himself there clear as day. Did he make the right decision back then? Hideyori's cause had been right, and Yukimura had sworn to defend him even after the Battle of Sekigahara more than a decade previous. (4) But would it have been better to aide with Tokugawa to the east? Would it really have changed anything in the end?

One by one, his classmates pass him by, and Yukimura is left standing alone in front of the display, torn expression dimmed with the lighting. He might have stood there forever if a kind hand was not placed on his shoulder.

"Even the best tacticians know when to accept a defeat." He whips around at the voice, startled and his greeted by none other than Mouri. The shorter just gives him a knowing look and places small item in his hand before walking off without another word.

Tears almost escape his eyes when he realizes that Mouri has given him one of the key chains with his family's crest from the gift shop.

Sunlight bathes his face as he exits the castle, and for the first time since he woke up with all these memories, he feels free. The past is over and done with and though he may not forget about it entirely, he can at least put it to peace. Just as Mouri said, perhaps now is the time to accept things as they are. He was born again for a reason. Bright green grass pokes out between the rocks, and the reds and oranges of the leaves flicker in the sunlight-the earth has moved on, and so will he.

Tourists buzz around him, and suddenly he is a student again. A bright smile works its way on his face as he decides to do the most important thing that all students do when they travel to new places-buy omiyage. (5)

There are plenty of shops to choose from, and Yukimura settles on the most generic looking one. He picks a box of sweets imprinted with an Osaka Castle design for soccer club and a cute box of manju for his family. Sasuke, however, is a bit harder to buy for, and he's stuck between a Star Wars t-shirt with Osaka printed in bold kanji or a set of fake shuriken with red fox designs engraved in them. He knows Sasuke would wear the t-shirt, but he's really curious how the former ninja would respond to the throwing stars. He's about to give up when a voice startles him from behind.

"Choosing something for that idiotic friend of yours?" It's none other than Kasuga, former newspaper club member and a classmate from 2B.

"Kasuga-Dono! Yes, I cannot seem to decide on what would be most appropriate for Sasuke." He frowns, looking between to two objects once more and then back to his classmate when an idea strikes him. "Have you found an omiyage for Sasuke yet? You could purchase one of these while I get the other." Following his last train of thought, he really wants to see Kasuga give Sasuke the shuriken. The idea of one former ninja passing it to the other is too much to pass up and Yukimura is curious to see how Sasuke would react to Kasuga returning his affections.

"What?! Why would I buy something for that creep?" Of course, Kasuga seems quite put off at the suggestion, and Yukimura realizes he's not going to get her help anytime soon. He asks her a few more questions about Sasuke, but she seems disinterested in the conversation and he wonders why she even came up to him in the first place. In the end, he buys the t-shirt.

Talking with Kasuga has him thinking about Sasuke again, and his recent found relief slips between his fingers. He was born again, but what is he supposed to do with these leftover feelings? He's still not sure what to make of his fondness for the other soccer team member—he can freely admit that he loves Sasuke, he did then and he does even now—but as to how to move forward with those feelings, he doesn't have a clue. Plus, he's beginning to wonder if they're even romantic feelings at all. Again, he finds his friend admittedly attractive, and he much enjoys being around him. But the former general can't even imagine getting romantic with his ninja. He can hold Masamune's hand and tease him about all sorts of things, but when it comes to Sasuke, there's no need to push. Being with Sasuke just feels right.

And that's when it hits him. Their relationship is already perfect as it is. Romantic things—kissing, hand holding, and other things—are done to further relationships. People feel the need to become closer, to experience and understand another person, and so they do those things. He can't imagine kissing Sasuke because he already knows Sasuke. Whether or not they hold hands, they will always be close, and they don't need to kiss to communicate. It's a little relieving—he didn't want to make things awkward between the two of them, not that he thinks Sasuke would let it become awkward—and it leaves his room in his mind for a new issue he hadn't been able to think about up until now.

So what does this say about how he feels about Masamune?

Even now, Yukimura still firmly believes that he did not have feelings for the competing daimyou back when they fought from horseback. But if he looks at his current definition of why people do romantic things, does that mean that Masamune fits the bill? He wants to know more about the other teenager. The more time they spend together, the more Yukimura comes to value him. But there's so much more to learn—quirks, favorites, childhood stories…Masamune is a mystery he wants to unweave. His thoughts are pulled to an abrupt stop when a certain someone shouts out his name.

Yukimura wants to curse, because this is the third time today he's been startled from behind, and he's afraid he's completely forgotten all his training. However, whatever he intends to say dies on his lips when he realizes just who's swaggering up to him so boldly.

"M-Masamune-Dono!" his voice all but squeaks.

Masamune looks like he wants to ask him something, but he falters when Yukimura fails to immediately grab his hand as he's done previously. The lone eye fixes him with a stare and suddenly instead of being lost in the past, Yukimura finds himself lost in that look. A moment too many passes and Yukimura knows that Masamune's blush only mirrors his own. He's got to do something, and fast.

"Octopus rock!" He shouts suddenly. That does the trick and the spell tying them seems to be broken. Not even a look of utter confusion from Masamune can stop him-this may be silly and childish, but he's Sanada Genjirou Yukimura and he's not the type to stop halfway. "Osaka Castle possesses a stone of great magnitude which makes up its wall! I will guide you!" Masamune protests in bad English, but Yukimura grabs his hand without another word and sprints to the opposite end of the grounds.

The rock is, Masamune admits, quite massive, measuring quite a few meters in the length. Yukimura starts babbling about what a feat it was to move the whole thing, but the baseball player is focused on trying to find a way to get on top of it. He realizes that it would be super easy if one simply went around the back, and soon he's the one dragging Yukimura places.

They end up playing tag on the ramparts, laughing and shouting like children. It's different from their usual competing-more playful and a bit less aggressive. Of course Masamune doesn't see that stopping anytime soon, but there's something enjoyable about chasing Yukimura along the edges of the giant stones of Osaka Castle. He gets caught up in the way the other smiles as him, and his foot ends up missing the rocky edge and hitting open air instead.

Before he can even fall backwards though, a pair of strong hands grab his lapels and suddenly he's falling forward towards the grass and stone instead. Fast movements are nothing new for the captain of the baseball team but somehow he still can't fathom how he ends up sprawling on his "rival," and the first thing he does is look at the other's face, which is a mistake in hindsight. Worried brown eyes fix themselves on his figure and all he can think of is how he's now practically laying on this man he swore to learn more about. New feelings worm into his chest and Masamune admits that there may be no limit to what that wants to learn about this energetic other person. He's about to do something he might regret when a shout summons him to his senses.

"Masamune! Are you okay?!" A worried Chousokabe, who had seen everything from a distance, rushes over to help the two back on their feet. His arrival brings a sigh of relief to Masamune, who takes a moment to get his cool back. Yukimura takes the chance to invite the bike gang leader to join their game and before long, they attract the attention of other students as well, including Keiji from 2C.

The group reaches boisterous levels in no time, and the high schooler Yukimura, who just passed dodged a pass from Keiji, would have missed the familiar figure walking down the path below. Fortunately, the general Yukimura does not and he stops abruptly, shouting at the other student and beckoning him over.

"Mouri-dono! Come join our game!"

The shorter sour student pauses, looking up at Yukimura from behind his glasses. He frowns, but only slightly, and Yukimura takes it as a tentative yes. The other students notice what's going on and stop to look over at the hesitant figure. Mouri looks like he's about to give in when Chousokabe struts up to the edge of the rock.

"C'mon, Mouri, what's taking you so long?" There's a bite to his voice that seems a bit off to Yukimura.

Mouri apparently hears it too because he immediately turns around and huffs: "Why would I waste my time with a bunch of idiots?" And then he's off, walking in the opposite direction like nothing even happened. Yukimura shoots Chousokabe a dirty look and takes off after him.

It takes Yukimura running at full speed to catch up with the other student; Mouri walks fast. Unfortunately, the soccer player is used to running full speed without his cleats on, and when he goes to stop, there are no spikes at the bottom of his shoes to slow him down. The other student holds out his arms to stop him though, and the two are prevented from crashing to the ground. Mouri raises his eyebrows as a way of expressing his frustration but Yukimura just holds out his bag as he catches his breath.

"I wanted to... express my gratitude... for the key chain." The charm hangs from his bag, shining slightly in the sun.

"Hmph, think nothing of it. It was simply cheaper to buy two instead of one." Sure enough, a matching charm hangs from the wind instrument club leader's bag. Except this one sports the dots and stripe of his own family. Yukimura has to chuckle because they both know that statement is a lie; there's no way the stingy souvenir shops would cut down the prices on their expensive merchandise, regardless of how many key chains someone bought. He's grown to expect these sorts of responses from Mouri though, and he knows that shorter student understands how grateful he is, not just for the charm, but the gesture behind it. He smiles, choosing to follow the vest wearing student as he continues walking.

They don't make it far before Yukimura starts talking again-he wants to bridge the subject sooner than later, and as always, he rushes in without looking back. "I heard what happened with Chousokabe-dono."

Mouri's normally smooth expression morphs into an all-out scowl. "Don't talk to me about that idiot pirate!" He practically huffs, gripping his bag tighter and increasing his pace a little. The headband wearing student thinks that will be the end of the conversation, but Mouri carries on uncharacteristically, as if he's finally realized he needs someone to talk with. "He's a huge blockhead who doesn't understand any of the signals he's giving off! I can't comprehend how we survived thus far." He carries on like that for a bit, listing off every small thing he dislikes about the white haired student, and admittedly, some of them are legitimate complaints. Eventually though, he seems to run out of steam with a sigh, which startles Yukimura quite a bit.

"Really though, I am just angry that I misinterpreted his actions. If I was so wrong now, how wrong must I have been back then?"

A gentle hand is put on his shoulder. "Do you recall the words you so kindly said to me earlier today?"

Mouri's frown deepens, but he eventually nods.

"Don't hold your pride too tightly."

It seems like a good lesson to take to heart.

On the bus, Kasuga finds him before Masamune does and surprises him with an in-depth conversation about Sasuke. He becomes so involved, in fact, that he doesn't even notice Masamune sitting behind him until they pull up at the hotel.

"Sanada, want to hit up Osaka with me tomorrow? We have a free day and I know this sweet place you'd love, you dig?" When Kasuga blushes, Yukimura knows he's not the only one who interpreted it as a date. Still though, he's hooked on the idea that he might have feelings for his rival, and either way, it sounds fun. They exchange numbers and agree to meet in the lobby the next morning.

It doesn't occur to him to ask Masamune where they were going until they are riding the train the next morning.

Osaka was so different now that it didn't matter where they went, and he was admitedlly excited just to be invited somewhere by the other student. Still though, he doesn't want to spend the whole trip following blindly, so he finally just asks.

"Where? Haha, you just agreed to go to a place you don't know about?" The baseball player starts laughing at him, and Yukimura scrunches up his nose in distain. The name finally comes out though, not that it helps Yukimura. "Amemura." (6)

"Rain ...village?" It seems like a strange name for somewhere in Osaka, and apparently how he says it is strange as well because Masamune's laughing again.

"Haha, no, so wrong. It's short for American Village. It's a really sick shopping district not too far from Namba." The name makes even less sense to Yukimura now, but he's not about to let Masamune laugh at him again.

They switch to the subway once they get to Osaka, and something in the train station makes the soccer player stop in his tracks. "How could I have so erroneously forgotten about the Kansai part of the troupe?!" He pauses to stare intensely at a poster featuring a group of female singers. Masamune's flippant remark about their name ("What kind of idiot group calls themselves something lame like NMB48?") earns him a quick scolding from Yukimura, who explains they're a sister group to the popular AKB48 (Masamune hasn't heard of them either.) which is his favorite band in the whole world and he excitedly names off all the girls featured in the poster by name.

Masamune stops him before he can name off all the girls in the band on the premise that they'll miss their train. He doesn't think too hard about how Yukimura seems to know all the band members' names, probably because he doesn't realize that there are over one hundred and forty of them.

True to Masamune's word, Amemura is indeed only one stop away from Namba and soon enough they're standing in the open triangular space that marks its center. The surrounding shops are mostly fashion and clothing stores. However these aren't your run of the mill typical clothing shops, but specialized shops selling lolita, visual kei, cowboy boots, and even the occasional vintage fashion. Everything in the area screams new wave fashion-the sidewalks are occasionally engraved with eagle patterns, the light posts are made in stick figure like shapes, each sporting paint of different bright designs, and one of the buildings sports a scaled down version of the Statue of Liberty.

Of course the first thing Yukimura notices is a tiny sweet shop. "Look Masamune-dono, they're selling soft serve in a hot dog bun!"

Masamune has to completely switch gears-he was so busy imagining Yukimura in some of those short Visual Kei pants (7) that he didn't even notice the other had stopped. He has to back track a few steps to see the paper sign plastered to the entrance of a tiny shop he wouldn't have noticed otherwise. They are indeed selling soft serve in hot dog buns (ice dog?) And he doesn't even have to look at Yukimura's fave to know the look he's getting. "Alright, alright."

The buns are greasy in a weird way and the ice cream is subpar (he doesn't understand the obsession with matcha flavored things here) but the soccer player's excitement makes it well worth the 300 Yen.

He expects to spend the rest of the day in clothing shops, but Yukimura is as unpredictable as always and they wind up all over the square. They buy freshly made takoyaki ("It's an Osakan special! How could we come here and not partake?!") which the cub burns his mouth on ("I told you to wait.") and even visit some of the more interesting stores that Masamune would have avoided in the past for their "otaku" vibes. The giant vintage figures of Godzilla stop him in his tracks though and soon he's debating about classic monster movies with Yukimura.

They don't have the time to stop at some of Masamune's favorite Visual Kei stores but they manage to snag seats in the train on the way back and when Yukimura falls asleep on his shoulder Masamune decides he has no regrets about the day at all. With the cub breathing softly on his shoulder, and the towns speeding past as the train hums through the early evening, Masamune decides to close his eyes for just a moment. Their stop isn't for thirty minutes at least anyway.

The next thing he knows a slightly panicked Yukimura is shaking him awake and they're the only ones on the train. The other student quickly explains that they accidentally rode past their stop and to the end of the line as he leads the bleary Masamune off the train.

"If we want to get back to where this train meets the subway so we can get back to Kyoto Station, we have to ride back two stops." Panicked though his voice was earlier, the soccer player seems to quickly have adjusted to the situation. "I apologize gravely for having so flippantly slept through our stop!"

Masamune runs his eye and squints at the other student who is half bowing at him. "No problem," he shrugs in response.

Yukimura, who had been expecting the other to be mad, let's out a relieved chuckle before reaching out to re-clasp the hand he has been holding all day. A bright smile lights up his features as he does so, pleased to learn yet another thing about the baseball player he can't get off his mind recently. As he watches Masamune stare back at him, he can't help but wonder what it would be like if they spent more time together like this.

They make it back just as the provided dinner finishes and end up getting pushed back to their rooms with the other students to pack. They're instructed not to leave for the night, since the buses will depart so early tomorrow morning, but Masamune doesn't seem to care what the teachers say because not even fifteen minutes have passed before Yukimura receives a text suggesting they meet at the terrace on top of Kyoto Station. He's about to type back a refusal when he realizes that this is the perfect chance to reveal these new found feelings for his rival. He wants to advance before he loses his nerve or starts crushing on Sasuke again. A positive reply flows easily from his fingers and Yukimura's out the door. As much as he abhors rule breaking, there are times when the cause comes to be more important.

Like any big train station, Kyoto Station is so much more than a transportation hub, with eleven plus levels of shops and restaurants. It has a particularly beautiful semi-open design with a roof made of an elaborate shell of glass pieces and metal beams, and a huge stairway on the right side leading up to a cozy set of gardens at the very top of the station. There's a cute little eating area with a coffee and donut shop part of the way up, and that's where Yukimura spots Masamune.

They make eye contact twenty or so feet apart-Masamune is standing at the foot of the next flight of stairs, some sort of warm beverage in each hand and one of Mister Donuts' cute red and yellow boxes under one arm. Masamune's eye flicks from the cub to the stairs and back. His rival knows what he means immediately. Yukimura doesn't have anything in his hands but he's got farther to go-they're evenly matched as always and adrenaline starts pumping before a single step is taken.

Masamune bolts for the stairs and Yukimura darts after him. He's taking the steps two at a time, feeling his quads heave to pull up his whole weight over and over again. His breath comes fast and desperate now but he's drawing on a seemingly endless pool of energy. Both would be glad that the late hour means fewer people to dodge on their mad scramble upwards, that is, if they had eyes for anything or than the steps and each other.

It's only natural that they make it to the top at the same time, both doubling over to catch their breath. But only for a moment because Yukimura's caught up in all the endorphins and laughter bubbles out of his throat. Two brown eyes fix on the other and he gets caught up in how ridiculous and wonderful this is. They've always been rivals, and probably always will be, but right now the feeling is entirely unique and the desire to touch this other student is almost too strong to hold back.

Masamune distracts him by holding out one of the drinks he had been gripping so tightly earlier. It's easy to tell from the froth that splashed out of the drinking hole that it's probably a matcha latte. "We didn't eat dinner, yeah? Here, this is for you." The initial response is to refuse out of politeness but Masamune has already bought two and he doesn't look like he's about to take no for an answer.

The settle on a bench not too far away, donuts and a side silence between them. Masamune opens the box as a way of dispelling the sudden awkward and hands Yukimura a type of donut exclusive to Mister Donuts.

"You seem to really like dango, so..."

It's called pon de ring, and with a consistency similar to mochi, it's hands down Yukimura's favorite donut. He takes it slowly from the other's hands like one would take a reverent object, and shoots Masamune a look that makes him wonder if the cub is suddenly mistaking him for his coach.

He stares at it happily for a moment before shoving the entire thing into his mouth at once.

Masamune spits out the coffee he had been drinking-laughter filling his throat instead. When Yukimura just stares at him, cheeks pouched like a hamster, the laughter only increases. "Ohpgdbsh. Yukimura! Such funny!"

By the end of the box of donuts laughter has caused both boys to almost choke on their drinks. Masamune can't seem to get that dumb grin off his face and Yukimura has taken to holding his rival's hand again. He's running his thumb over the back of the other's hand as the conversation lulls and a thought strikes him: he hasn't said thank you yet.

He squeezes the other's hand to catch his attention.

"I have committed a horrendous error, Masamune-dono." This comment startles the other who looks up in concern. "I have spent the past three days constantly in your company, laughing with you, learning with you... and yet it I have not yet expressed my gratitude for your kindness. I feel as though these past three days have taught me more about you than any of our past encounters and I must express joy from the bottom of my heart that I have gotten to know so much more about you."

"It doesn't have to stop here." That lone eye is looking away, and red brushes his cheeks. "We can keep learning more about each other, you know?"

It's Yukimura's turn to blush and he startles up, inadvertently dragging the baseball player to his feet as well. Gripping both of his hands so they're face to face, he leans in earnestly.

"Masamune-dono," he starts, gathering the courage. "Will you do this Yukimura the honor of going out with him!" Despite the question, the last part gets belted out in excitement and he's half bowing, half holding Masamune's hands.

In the moments of silence that follow, Yukimura keeps his head low, waiting patiently for whatever the outcome may be. The blood is still pumping in his ears.

Masamune awkwardly clears his throat (probably trying to overcome his embarrassment). "Look up."

Yukimura does so and a pair of flustered lips are there to greet him. Then they're apart again, with Yukimura left wondering what happened. Did he just...? His rival is still blushing and the general in Yukimura grins. "Do you accept my challenge, Masamune-dono?"

Phrasing it like that does some kind of magic and all the awkwardness is dispelled. Masamune snorts. Yukimura goes to laugh but the other teen is suddenly right in front of him with a hand on either side of his face.

"I would accept any challenge from you, y'dig?"

And then they're awkwardly mashing lips against each other. As easy as it would be to call on experience from his past life, and take the upper hand, Yukimura relishes how this is new for the both of them. He's not sure if the hand he's reaching out with will end up in Masamune's hair on his shoulders, but all that matters is that he's grabbing something. This is a chance to tie him to this time. Hips are pressed into his, and he focuses on making new memories instead of trying to battle with old ones.

They arrive back at the hotel that night still holding hands. Yukimura is reluctant to leave when they reach his door, but he does still need to pack before they leave tomorrow and he doubts that he will be able to come up with a good enough excuse to explain to his classmates in the room why he dragged Masamune back with him. Still though, he doesn't want to say goodnight just yet.

What starts out as a kiss quickly turns into an impromptu make-out session as the cub pushes Masamune against the bit of wall next to his hotel room door. There's a strange hunger in his gut that he can't quite explain. But he can't even begin to be satisfied unless he's connected with the dragon like this—tongues searching in-between gasps for air, bodies pressing, hands leaving hot trails. He groans as a hand grips his ass, and pushes his own hands up Masamune's blue t-shirt in response. A gasp is received in approval, and despite the worry that sits in the back of Yukimura's mind ("YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN A SPACE THAT SHOULD BE PUBLIC!"), for a moment he's tempted to actually just pull his rival's shirt off. It's a good thing he takes a moment to consider it though, because Chousokabe choses that moment to open his door, which is only just down the hall.

The whistle breaks them apart like startled rabbits, and Chousokabe doubles over in laughter at how Yukimura's face turns the same red as his headband. It doesn't take Masamune long to recover though, and soon he's hurling rude words down the hall, and Yukimura's afraid a fight will break out and the teacher's will be down to investigate if he doesn't do something. He settles with overcoming his embarrassment.

In a single swift movement, he plants a single kiss before waving goodnight and disappearing into his room. Smiling about the dumbfounded Masamune he's left behind him, Yukimura can't help but wonder what other amazing things this new chance at life has to offer him.

END

A/N: Thanks so much for reading! I was originally going to write past this, going into depth about how Mouri and Chou try and patch up their relationship, and the twists and turns Yukimura and Masamune go through as they adjust to each other, but then I realized that I would rather stop at a point I'm happy with than drag it on with the possibility of never finishing the whole thing. That being said, I may come back in future stories to flesh out those hanging ends. For now though, that's the end!

NOTES

(1) Koufu – The capital city of Yamanashi prefecture, and also the site where the ruins of Takeda Shingen's Koufu castle still stand.

(2) The gate at Daitokuji – Despite how Sen no Rikyuu (the man commonly known for his impact on tea ceremony) was close friends with Hideyoshi, it was in fact the ruler of Japan who ended his life by ordering him to commit seppuku. Historians most commonly explain the falling out between the two men by a statue of Rikyuu above the gate at the temple in Kyoto, Daitokuji. Because Rikyuu donated large sums of money to help finance the temple, monks had a wooden statue of the famous tea master constructed in his honor and put it above the gate. The story goes that Hideyoshi despised having to walk under Rikyuu every time he visited the temple, and thus ordered the statue to be destroyed and Rikyuu to kill himself.

(3) Hideyoshi's Golden Portable Tea Room – The story goes that Hideyoshi was fascinated with Kinkakuji and decided to create a tea room based off of it. Thus he created a small tea room—not only was everything inside coated in gold foil, but it was also crafted to be portable, so it could be carried from gathering to gathering.

(4) Hideyori – Hideyoshi's son, who was 5 years old when Hideyoshi died. All of Hideyoshi's vassals swore loyalty to Hideyori at the death of his father, and Sanada Yukimura in particular served him until his death in the Siege of Osaka seventeen years later.

(5) omiyage – while the word is typically translated "souvenirs," it's almost always a gift brought back for others. Omiyage giving is a common practice in Japan, and it's quite rude to visit someplace and not come back without gifts for friends/family/workmates, etc. As such, there's a thriving market for omiyage in Japan, and there are plenty of stores filled with nothing but neatly wrapped boxes of sweets.

(6) Amemura – Yes, this is a real place, and yes, it is short for "amerika mura" or "American Village." It gets its name from the bald eagle designs on some of the sidewalks, and the scaled down Statue of Liberty on one of the buildings. An easy way to describe it would be Osaka's Harujuku, though the fashion is a little different.

(7) Visual Kei Pants – Though Masamune is thinking of a particular type of visual kei pants, where the pants have been separated, creating a "shorts and tall stockings with lots of straps" kind of look, any of the images that come up with the Google image search "visual kei pants" should suffice.