Intro: alright continue on!

Disclaimer: I do not own Touken Ranbu and Cardfight! Vanguard and other material which came from the said Game/Anime, they are owned by its original creators. The making of this story and this story is made for the fans and the writer XD. Although the plot and some changes in the story are from me ^_^.

Chapter 52: Affection

~Garden~

As Aichi successfully ran away from the kitchen, he has stumbled upon some toudans in the garden who looks to be trying to bring down the food they ate before they start once again in their respective chores.

There he noticed a fanning Kiyomitsu, a slumped Yasusada on the pole, a tea drinking Mikazuki as always he thought, Imanotsurugi and Midare playing together, and a Yamanbagiri silently sitting at the veranda.

"This summer thing is really hot!" Kiyomitsu groaned as he bawl about the hotness of the summer.

"I don't think there is a day you don't say that ever since summer started." Yasusada groaned back at Kiyomitsu who also feels the same summer heat "It was so refreshing doing the laundry since we could play a little with water."Yasusada whines.

"I agree…" Kiyomitsu groans again as he vigorously flaps the fan, while Aichi thought that maybe that is the reason why he accepted doing the laundry because it has something to do with water.

"At least at night it's a little refreshing than at day." They hastily turned their heads in surprise at the voice that decided to join their conversation.

"Aichi-sama!" They greeted him.

Aichi sat in between Kiyomitsu and Mikazuki "Is your injury healing well?" Yamanbagiri asked, surprising them.

Aichi nodded as he moves his hands on top of said injury but not touching it "Yeah, I'm going to check it later with Yagen, it's healing faster than normal too." He paused for a moment "Although the ointment he places stings but only at the application of it."

"Does it hurt sometimes?" Imanotsurugi joins in with a curious question.

Aichi nods again "If touched it will hurt, like what Yagen did yesterday." Aichi's face turns gloomy reminiscing about yesterday's incident.

"That he did…" Yamanbagiri sighs the same time as Aichi making him chuckle at the thought while Yamanbagiri looks away with a light flush on his face.

"I see the reason why I felt like someone is talking behind my back." Yagen came along with Tsurumaru.

"A- ahhh..." Aichi looks away and then he remembered Tsurumaru is with him "Has Ookurikara eaten?" He asked avoiding Yagen's gaze.

"Actually he did but it took a while, it seems he just waited for me to leave just so he could eat." Tsurumaru informed as he shrugs.

"I see he is being hard." Kiyomitsu commented.

"Even Mitsubou is having a hard time." Tsurumaru agrees.

"But I believe you two can do it, so I'm sure with you two he can at least somehow soften up, even a little." Aichi said as he smiles making the others smile as well.

At that Aichi somehow remembers something he forgot to ask "So Yasusada what happened at that trip you have with Mina-nee?"

"Oh yeah, I did notice that Mina-nee was somehow bummed out." Midare stops playing as he joins in.

"What did you do?" Kiyomitsu stops fanning for a while as he puts his attention to him as did the others.

"Nothing, I was just speaking to her normally." Yasusada stood up straight as he noticed a crowd with a look of disbelief at him.

"Maybe you just talked and talked that she had enough of it." Kiyomitsu starts fanning again as he laughs at him with a raised brow.

"Why don't you go into full details?" Yagen suggested, as Yasusada nods all of them listens as he go into full details at what happened.

After the full story all of them had blank and dejected look at him while Kiyomitsu with a fan in hand slaps it onto Yasusada's face.

"Wha! What was that for?!" Yasusada stood up hastily as Tsurumaru tries to come in between before a fight ensues.

"It's because you are too dense." Yagen blatantly said which somehow didn't surprise them.

"And what does that mean." Yasusada averted his anger to Yagen.

"It means while you were on a 'date' all you can think about is another person." Midare answered for him.

"I personally have no qualms speaking all or anything about Aichi-sama in fact I too would do the same." everyone nodded that confused Aichi "But to say it to a girl with just the two of you making it practically a date?" Kiyomitsu raised a brow as he starts to laugh making everyone agree to him.

"I feel bad for Mina-nee, you could have at least talked or asked anything about her." Imanotsurugi added making everyone agree.

"Its fine if you spoke about Aichi-sama but at least you could have thought about what she would think." Mikazuki spoke as he too joins in.

"You clearly don't know how to be alone with a lady." Kiyomitsu pointed out the biggest mistake of all as they all nodded agreeing with him including Aichi "Not that I'm surprised about that."

"But you could have at least tried to read the mood." Tsurumaru decided to join in as they all felt bad for Mina.

"I kind of feel bad for Mina-nee, you didn't think about her feelings for you?" Aichi spoke and with it everyone froze stiff even Yasusada at this point leaving Aichi dumbfounded.

In the minds of them all including the accused Yasusada "You can understand if another person have feelings for another while you can't say the same for you." Right now they were the most surprised of all.

"I wonder what Mitsubou would think if he heard what you just said." Tsurumaru shrugs as he moves forward to Aichi.

"I couldn't say for the other new swords but I would think would think the same for the others." Yagen shakes his head as he did the same.

Yamanbagiri could only sigh as Mikazuki laughs, in the end because of that they can't help but sigh.

After a little while Mikazuki puts down his tea "Aichi-sama" as he calls out his name with endearment which clearly everyone noticed.

When Aichi turns toward him, Mikazuki cups his chin as he puts his face closer to him the others are waiting for a response which Aichi didn't have, instead he only blinks his eyes twice in confusion waiting for the reason why he was called. Of course this is Mikazuki he can feel if Aichi does feel something though there was a response it was not what can answer their question.

"Ah I get it." Yagen understood Mikazuki's action as he crouches down and when Mikazuki pulls away and let's go of Aichi, it's his turn to try. This time Yagen cups Aichi's cheek as he closes in touching their forehead. As there was no response Yagen pulls away and let's go of Aichi as he sighs in defeat.

"Oh! I see I see." Tsurumaru reaches out his hands to Aichi as he places his hands on top of it in response to him, with it Tsurumaru crouches down as he kisses Aichi's hand surprising them for his boldness as they wait for a response "Nothing huh…" Tsurumaru slumps his head down as he too pulls away in defeat.

"Too bad for you guys, I guess I will win!" Kiyomitsu boasts as he reaches for the hand Tsurumaru took as he pulls in Aichi closer to him as they lock eyes Kiyomitsu places his other hand to his waist to pull him closer. When Kiyomitsu closes in on him they wait for a response as Aichi jumps a little from their closeness.

Kiyomitsu pulls Aichi away as Kiyomitsu grins to everyone "I told you!"

"It would be a different reaction if it was that guy though." Yagen puffed he was talking about a specific brunette.

"I doubt that, I would win in the end." Kiyomitsu continues to brag.

"I wouldn't say that." Mikazuki said as he was smiling he knew Aichi well and he understood the reason why he flinched at that sudden closeness between them.

"Just keep trying." Kiyomitsu said as he continued to fan himself.

"Don't come crying if we do then." Tsurumaru shakes his head.

"What is everyone talking about?" A confused Aichi finally decided to talk.

"We just made a test." Mikazuki started.

"Test?" Aichi repeated in question.

"A test that would prove something." Yagen answered.

"And what does that prove?" Aichi asked.

"That you are dense." All of them said in unison even Yamanbagiri, Imanotsurugi, Yasusada, and Midare who didn't participate but understood just by looking.

"Eh?!" Aichi still don't understand what just happened they all gave up trying to make him realize but they won't give up their feelings sighing as it did nothing Aichi stands up in confusion as he left the area.

"Now I can say that he really is good about hiding his feelings." Mikazuki remarked as he sips on his tea.

"What do you mean about that?" Kiyomitsu looks without interest.

"Even he was able to fool me, but because of that body language with Kashuu, I had my answer." Mikazuki smiles as they all waited for him to finish "Let's just say that what Kiyomitsu did was what lost his composure you could say it was a last strike." In confusion they looked at each other for answer.

"OOHH!" It was Midare that surprised them as they wait for his aha moment "Aichi-sama was sweating!"

"Ahahahaha!" Mikazuki laughs "Brilliant, brilliant, he was indeed surprised and bashful at the same time but the reason why it also failed was because he didn't understand the underlying meaning of those endearment we have showed him, yes, he panicked at our actions but he did not get the meaning behind those."

"So it's like it worked but at the same time it also failed." Imanotsurugi speculated.

"At least it's a good news that we got a response!" Tsurumaru said.

"But not what we wanted." Yagen fixes his glasses.

"At least it's a start." Mikazuki ends the conversation as they all agreed to him, continuing on to what they were doing before as if nothing happened while Yagen and Tsurumaru left to where they were supposed to go.

~Training Hall~

Kai in the training hall preparing for training suddenly sneezed "Oh are you getting a cold this summer?" Miwa placed a hand on Kai's shoulder checking up on him.

"Mina-nee!" Shokudaikiri called out as they took interest on the sudden call.

"Oh is something the matter?" Mina greets Shokudaikiri as did Misaki as they were also preparing for training.

"Mina-nee" Shokudaikiri catches his breathe for a moment "Are you aware that Aichi-sama summoned two new swords Aside from Ookurikara today!?" Mina gasps founding out the news.

~Smithing Room~

"I guess we should ban him from using this right?" Konnosuke said as he and Mina stares at entrance of the room.

Mina angrily nodded as she readies her talismans.

~Aichi's Room~

"This is kind of helpful though, if I don't get injured or something I won't even be able to have time to make clothes if ever there is a new Touken Danshi." Aichi nervously laughed at the irony.

It was somewhat true since if he was in good condition what he would be doing is more training and if he doesn't do other clothes he will use his time at night to make it, which he will be scolded after if he does.

As Aichi continues to his sketches it reminded him of Ookurikara "I wonder how I will be able to handle the three new swords especially Ookurikara, in all my nineteen successful summons, my twenty and up are the ones that are hard to deal with." He slumped to his bead.

"I'm sure Shokudaikiri and Tsurumaru can soften him a little just don't know how he will soften up to me…" Suddenly he felt his body heavier by the minute "Somehow I feel really tired and sleepy."

Feeling the sleepiness and tiredness overwhelm him, he hastily stood up and move about his body so that he could keep himself awake "Nope I have to at least finish one batch for each and then rest since that is what I am mostly always going to do anyway."

Whenever he feel asleep he would do something to keep him awake and as soon as he did trying to finish it before sun rises which he thought it won't hurt since it's only for one day, since he has already started Ookurikara's he didn't have a problem finishing the other two first batch.

Finally finishing a batch Aichi making it until sunrise nonstop Aichi felt hunger and sleepiness, and because of that as he welcomes the morning he immediately also said his goodbye as he let his tiredness overcome his body.

~Thursday Morning –Aichi's Room-~

"Aichi-sama!" A voice calls from outside but no response "Aichi-sama?" the voice called out again.

"Is he really that hard to wake up?" Another voice from the outside spoke which seems to be new at this waking up their master game that starts every morning.

"Yeah, most of the times he asks for another 5 minutes." The other voice who called out said.

"What do you do if he asks more than that?" The other voice asked.

"Hmmm…" The voice thought for a while "When he asks or not we usually just start to clean up his room."

"You clean his mess up?" The other voice raise his pitch of voice in somewhat surprised and bothered voice.

"We help him get ready, such as dress him up, help him clean his face, brushing his teeth, or other more." The voice sums up their work every morning who is to wake him up.

"He seems high maintenance." The other voice making the other one with him chuckles at his comment.

"Aichi-sama, it's almost breakfast!" The voice called but there was no response.

"Seems like there is no sign of waking up." The other voice said as he seems to be somewhat alarmed.

"He sometimes does that but yesterday…" The voice was filled with worry and seems to be a little panicked "Aichi-sama! Pardon the intrusion, I am going to enter your room." As the door opens Horikawa and Izuminokami enters the room.

As he hurriedly reaches for Aichi's bed he noticed a normal colored skin and breathing normally Aichi making him able to breathe normally from worry he sighs in relief as he looked around the area "Ah… I get it, so he hurried to finish this in a day." He commented as he noticed three different clothing hanged up at the wall.

"Always pushing himself to this kinds of things." Horikawa moves forward as Izuminokami notices his movement he was surprised at what Horikawa did next as he opened up Aichi's yukata opening bare his chest making the new Uchigatana gasp in surprise.

"Eh?" Horikawa was surprised at the sudden exclamation of Izuminokami.

"I- I knew all of you kept referring to him as 'him' or gender neutral pronouns but I didn't think that our so called master is indeed really a 'him'." Izuminokami looks away.

Horikawa laughs "I can't believe you thought Aichi-sama was a female too, well that just goes to show that no one is exempted."

"I- I admit he has a somewhat feminine features making him cute, and too fragile looking." Izuminokami blushes as he turns around.

"If Aichi-sama heard you he would be burying his face right now and is deep red." Horikawa checks his chest "Yagen said that he did check him up yesterday as he just saw him busy with his work, it's a good thing his all-nighter didn't harm his body." He sighs harder closing properly the yukata as he carried Aichi and lays him into a much more appropriate position and places a blanket on top of him since it is still cold in the mornings.

"Wait, why is his prominent feature a female, how old is he?" Izuminokami pointed out something important.

"Oh, Aichi-sama just turned fifteen two months ago." Horikawa started cleaning up the room "And if you saw Aichi-sama's mother he looks just like her."

"But still his physique is still not normal for a fifteen year old." Izuminokami watches Horikawa do his task inside the room.

The question made Horikawa pause for a moment and showed a sorrowful expression "There are underlying reasons as to why he is like that"

Somehow he wanted to ask but there is also something that tells him no as Izuminokami notices a piece of paper "Oh there is a letter here."

Horikawa looks at the letter on the table "Oh it must be what to buy for the completion of the outfit."

Izuminokami looks confused as Horikawa understood the confusion "Ah!" He pointed out to his outfits "You see Aichi-sama can sew out our clothes for us but he can't make the footwear." He now points to his sneakers "He either asks someone to buy the designated pair for someone to buy it or he buys it himself."

It seems to have piqued Izuminokami's interest "This era is so much more advance than that time." He looks around the whole room as he noticed that everything inside Aichi's room is of advance technology.

"Well… let's let him rest for a while and tell the others about the letter, usually Kashuu-san buys them with another toudan." Horikawa informs Izuminokami as he noticed him staring at the clothes.

"So which one is mine?" Izuminokami asks that but he was already eyeing at the red clothes which is almost the same color as he is wearing.

"Aichi-sama, always places a crest on each our clothes usually at the left side of the chest like mine." Horikawa points out "The other's looks like this." Pointed out to a crest that is placed at the bottom who looks to be Souza Samonji's crest "Some like Kashuu-san and Yamatonokami-san which Aichi-sama thought to place it at their scarf." Horikawa chuckles "So there is no reason to be confused on who's when it comes to clothes."

As he looks closer to the details of each outfit he noticed this red yukata more astonishing "He even got the design perfect…" Izuminokami's eyes sparkles and mouth agape at the likeness of this red garment in front of him.

"Aichi-sama put into consideration every clothes he make, he also even makes them in the likeness of each school, such as me and Brother and the Awataguchis" Horikawa spreads out his arms so he could showcase his clothing to Izuminokami "Though it will depend on you on what you wear underneath" He unzipped his jacket showing a black turtle neck underneath a white polo shirt with red lining on its collar "but sometimes he has something prepared like the white shirt Ookurikara-san has and this additional white shirt." He points out at the clothing with Ookurikara's crest.

"Sometimes he gives out additional hair pieces for long hair toudans that comes, for example Hachisuka-san has long hair so he made a hair tie for him so he can comfortably move about doing chores, but couldn't be said the same in the battlefields like yours." He pointed out on the hanger's neck as it has a string tied to it "It is their choice to use it or not though, he also makes them look the same with a little twist." He points out specifically to Izuminokami's "See it has gold streaks on the hair tie, Midare's hair tie is much more noticeable as Aichi-sama made it into a very cute pink bow with gems on it."

"He also researches for clothes material and how to do them using this so called laptop of his on top of his table." He points at the silver colored gadget at Aichi's table "He also researches our history and take into account our personality for making them." He points out at the bookshelf full of sword reference and even famous people who previously owns them "Aichi-sama doesn't look like it but Aichi-sama is a smart person when it comes to this kind of stuff though" Horikawa showed a sheepish look at Aichi though somehow while hearing him talk about him Izuminokami can practically see sparkles around him as he continues to speak so much about him proudly.

"You seem to be really fond of this master." Izuminokami stares at the soundly sleeping Aichi.

It made Horikawa sad but it was inevitable as they were the same when they first set foot at this citadel "It's not that hard to not like him, since we have to think into account that right now he is the one wielding us." Horikawa bitterly smiles as he continues onto his cleaning "We are still confused though having this body, but with each day he helps us forget about it and instead helps us look for the positive side of it." His bitter smile finally turns into a frown "Though when you come to like someone and starts to treasures them why is it that you will find out later that their life will just lose in a flick of a finger…" Horikawa bit his lip as he starts to tremble.

"Does he have some kind of illness?" Izuminokami saddens at the thought of a certain master of someone who dies early because of an incurable sickness.

"Somewhat, and because he keeps pushing himself for our sake not thinking about his own I think he forgets about his own health, somehow you can't think if you would come to hate or like his rash actions." Horikawa finishes cleaning as it was not that dirty or it was only because they were speaking to each other that he didn't notice it.

"Is it incurable?" Izuminokami didn't lose his gaze to Horikawa as he proceeded to where the clothes were hanged.

"It is curable but it is up to him if he will be able to win against it as you can see he is too stubborn, but Mina-nee said she will do everything… she can to save Aichi-sama if-." Horikawa suddenly stopped at his words as he felt a big warm hand on top of his head as if consoling him.

"Don't worry I'm sure he doesn't wish to end his own." Izuminokami realized that Horikawa lost his cool.

Horikawa lowers his head "I just really want him to stop pushing himself too much for our sake." As the two decided not further their conversation Horikawa silently takes the two clothes as he let Izuminokami to take the one that is for him.

Because of this, Izuminokami further understands who this master of them is, if he was just or it was only out of a whim, but regardless with he found out one of the reasons why he looks weak looking.

~At the Garden~

Horikawa walks along with the changed Izuminokami as he noticed Mikazuki, Yasusada, Kiyomitsu, Gokotai, Midare, Kasen, Hachisuka, and Nikkari are resting at the veranda waiting for breakfast "Do you guys know where Souza-san and Ookurikara-san might be?"

"Hmmm… If Ookurikara maybe in their rooms." Kiyomitsu thinks for a while as he look at the two "Oh where is Aichi-sama."

"It seems he tried finishing their clothes and made an all-nighter, he is still asleep now." Horikawa pulled up the clothes as they can only sigh.

"I wish mine was rushed too." Mikazuki looks as if guilt tripping them making the others who knew about it nervously laugh.

But then someone notices Izuminokami's attire "Eh Kane-san not much changed?" Yasusada noticed the changing of outfit.

Izuminokami placed his hands at his side as he flexes his new outfit "Hmp!" he proudly hummed.

"Oh Aichi-sama did a fine replication of your attire." Mikazuki smiles as he looks at the clothes with fascination.

"You have good eyes." Izuminokami cups his chin "This is what Aichi-sama made for me, a perfect replication of my battle attire." Horikawa smiles as Izuminokami calls Aichi now with formality.

"Such elegant sewing, I'm surprised Aichi-sama has this kind of hand." Kasen studies the clothes.

"Taroutachi-san's outfit is the same it is from his battle attire too." Gokotai pointed out.

"I see so that is how he can make us. A perfect copy of an original" Hachisuka stares at the pattern on his outfit.

"Somehow you can still see some mistakes, but Aichi-sama will be making batches of those so it won't be impossible for him to remake them and perfect them." Nikkari smiles as he nods commending to Aichi's skill.

"He makes batches?!" Hachisuka and Izuminokami stares at their clothing in amazement. "We can't wait!"

Laughter filled the citadel as their master slumbers deeply without them knowing that he won't be opening his eyes the next day.

Outro: oh its longer than what I had planned…

I'm very sorry for my lack of vocabulary and wrong grammars and wrong spellings, but I hope you like the story nonetheless, and thank you for everyone's continuous support!

Thank you for reading! Please review or pm for any suggestions or problems on the story.