5.5 Omake; Side stories

1.

*Mikazuki*

"You've told the Master that you know her mother, have you?"

On a cool spring night, Konosuke sat with the oldest sword at the moment. The sword in question sat sipping tea as he thought over an answer. Fifteen years ago...he had known his current master's relation. She visited Mikazuki where he (as a sword) resided at the time and grew fond of her. She, like his master, had the powers of creating *tsukomogami*...and he became human. "I suppose I should", he watched his current master talk with with two of his comrades. "But then again, perhaps it is for the best that she doesn't know. She has enough to deal with."

"She certainly takes after Hana".

"Hana-san loved talking about her", Mikazuki recalled, "she was quite proud of Sakura."

The young woman then walked off to greet a returning party.

"She has adjusted quite well", Konosuke continued, "but I fear something might break Sakura-sama."

"Hahaha", the old sword chuckled, "oh my. I know that look all too well."

"Huh?"

"They're besotted with her." Mikazuki remarked. "They like her."

"Like her.."

"I know that face." Mikazuki looked wistful. "Those men adore her like I adored Hana-san."

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2. Nighttime *Mitsutada*

Mitsutada had liked his master well enough from the first time he had met her. He certainly was not expecting a young woman that had no battle experience; however, what she lacked in experience, she made up for it by her willingness to learn and ask questions, in which he was happy to oblige. Unlike his past masters, this master treated everyone as equals, to the point where she said it was fine to address her by her first name ("It's okay...I don't really mind if you guys address me by my name, if you want. Master is just too weird for me anyway.") Sometimes, he caught her sleeping with books spread out all over the table. He worried about her, as he knew his fellow Date swords did, to the point where their master eventually realized what she was doing to herself and stopped.

That wasn't when he fell for her though. She was very pretty, but it was when he realized how generally kind and how much she cared for people that he started to love her. It started after she had told them what had happened to her when she came to this timeline. Then one night, he heard strange noises in the kitchen.

"Oh crap", His master had been cutting up something. "I'm sorry, Shokudaikiri-kun...I hope I didn't wake you up."

"I heard noises in the kitchen and I figured someone was sneaking snacks." He saw the pieces of the apple and nodded approvingly, "I'm glad it's not junk food."

"There's junk in this place?"

"Never mind. I'll be glad to make you something if you like".

"No need." She had already been up, "you want some tea?"

"Sure." He smiled, "it's always good when you make it." He glanced at the book on the table.

"I couldn't sleep, so I thought reading might help me relax". The tea finished brewing and she poured two cups.

"Sakura-chan..." He wondered if she was all right. "Please don't overdo it like before. If there's something that's bothering you".. He took her hand gently. "Please know that I'm willing to listen."

She squeezed his hand gently and made him blush. *Not cool*

"I guess it'll be okay", she began. "I don't know if I can do this. I mean...I'm trying to learn all I can about tactics and the battlefield...but sometimes? I have no idea what I'm doing!" She put head down, "sorry, you got stuck with me".

"Sakura-chan", he gave her a comforting smile, "it's normal to feel nervous every so often. I've been doing this for such a long time now, but I still get quite nervous at times. Even when I was serving Lord Masamune!"

"Really?" She looked at him curiously.

"Definitely! It's not very stylish to admit this, but sometimes, I get butterflies in my stomach. Or I used to when I first started to fight. I'm pretty good now." He then grinned, "I learned to not get nervous and that's how I got cool. You'll be okay. You have all of us on your side..."

"Thank you." She grinned back, "I feel better now. Sorry if I was annoying. I guess I just wanted someone to talk to."

"You could never be annoying." He looked at her, "you know...I'm really happy I was forged to you."

Pink colored his cheeks. She took his hand into hers. "I'm really happy you're here. You're...you're a really cool guy".

He wanted to kiss her in that moment, but held back for now. It wouldn't be cool to put her off. However, she made the first move by kissing his hand.

"Promise me something", she asked quietly.

"What is it?" He held her gaze.

"One day", she returned his look, "I want you to tell me about Masamune Date."

"It's a promise."

"Cool. Night, Shokudaikiri-kun."

"Goodnight Sakura-chan."

And since then, he vowed to himself that he would stay by her side and even if it wasn't cool, that he'd love her unconditionally until his last breath. One day, he would confess to her.

3. Anniversary *present*

One afternoon, after she had talked to the researchers, Katagiri decided to drive out to see an old friend. She drove to what was once a field but now had been developed into stores.

{I suppose this was bound to happen}

"Excuse me, ma'am", an older man looked at her and was coming up to meet her. "You can't park here."

"I'm sorry. I'll move." She looked around {This is where it all began that New Year's}. "I haven't been here in years. When I was younger, this area actually had a scene for younger people."

"They closed a lot of those clubs and stores down though." He eyed her. "Are you from this area?"

"I'm actually from the country." She smiled, "but I went to university and medical school there. I used to hang out here with my friends. And I lived in an apartment there when I first got together with my husband."

"Where is your husband?"

"He passed away a few years ago." She then saw some flowers. She walked over.

{I'm sorry things turned out the way they did, Yui. I'll be joining you and the others soon enough.}

"Are you the one who keeps leaving flowers here?" The boss then asked, "I don't mean to be disrespectful, but you can't anymore. We're about to break ground here."

"Once upon a time, I lost someone here." She took one last look around. "I just wanted to say goodbye. Thank you for humoring an old lady." She bowed her thanks and drove back.