* windflower.

𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐓𝐄  &  𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄  𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐀  𝐎𝐅  𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐌: 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒.  

[bloomguard]

❛❛ hey! i’ve got something for you! wait right here! ❜❜

@fensariru    /    soft  &  caring.

      she  speaks  as  though  you’ve  not  only  just  arrived,    as  though  you  are  in  a  rush  to  get  anywhere  at  all;    she  certainly  is  though,   because  so  quickly  as  you  have  caught  her  words  and  spluttered  out  a  less  than  eloquent      huh?     she’s  turned  far  back  into  her  quarters,    out  of  sight  of  the  doorway  &  you’re  left  standing  to  think  about  what  you  were  told.    you  suppose  you  shouldn’t  be  surprised,   but  it  something  akin  to  being  off-guard  you  feel  when  it  comes  down  to  it;   like  suddenly,    your  feet  are  in  the  wrong  place,    like  you  could  be  pushed  over  by  a  gust  of  wind            she  takes  awhile,   you  can  hear  her  moving  things  about  somewhere  in  there,   &  you  are  left  in  this  state  of  being,   left  to  focus  on  simply  waiting  whilst  your  chest  feels  alight.     you  shift  your  positioning,    though  it  is  more  a  mere  shuffling  of  feet  ;    diligent  as  ever  in  following  instructions.     right  here,   she  said,   &  so  right  here  you’ll  stay.

       you  don’t  manage  to  keep  a  soft  impatience  from  your  tongue,       ‘      uh.    i  came  to  see  you,  i’m  sure          well,   whatever  it  is  can  wait,   right?       ’        quite  the  scene     ;    warm  faced  woman  left  to  her  own  devices,   all  furrowed  brows  and  gentle  prompting.        ‘      i  mean,   it’s  fine  if  it  can’t.   but  .  .  .     ’        (    it’s  been  less  than  two  minutes   ;    you  only  feel  time  drags  when  she  is  gone  )       ‘      do  you  need  help?     ’

[bloomguard]

where  are  my  one -sided  pining  threads  🔪

[memesrusrpr]

soft caring sentence compilation

❛❛ I took your hoodie and I’m not giving it back. ❜❜ 

❛❛ Please just… just hold me. ❜❜ 

❛❛ C’mere. Lean on me. ❜❜

❛❛ You look like you need a hug. Come here. ❜❜ 

❛❛ I’m never leaving this blanket nest ever again. ❜❜

❛❛ I know you don’t like hugs, but… I could really use one right now… ❜❜

❛❛ Just stay a little longer. Please. ❜❜

❛❛ It’s so cold outside, but you’re so warm… ❜❜

❛❛ I’m sorry. I should have asked first, just… it reminded me of you. ❜❜

❛❛ Let me hold you for a while. ❜❜

❛❛ It’s okay. I’ve got you. ❜❜

❛❛ Everything hurts. Being with you is the only good thing in the world anymore. ❜❜

❛❛ Hey, hey, don’t cry. It’s okay. C’mon, come sit under the blanket with me. ❜❜

❛❛ All I want to do is sit and eat cookies and watch cheesy romcoms right now. But I’d love some company. ❜❜

❛❛ I brought blankets, takeout, and your favourite movie. I know it won’t fix everything, but it might help. ❜❜

❛❛ Please stay with me tonight. I don’t want to be alone. ❜❜

❛❛ I made some tea. Now, do you need to talk? Or should I just put on some music? ❜❜

❛❛ I’m not going to leave. I’ll stay as long as you need me to. ❜❜

❛❛ Your hair’s soft… I just want to pet it until I forget everything but how soft it is… ❜❜

❛❛ Shh, shh. It’s okay. You’re alright. You’re safe now. ❜❜

❛❛ I know you’re hurting right now, and I’m so sorry. Tell me what will help and I’ll do it. ❜❜

❛❛ I just want to see you smile again. ❜❜

❛❛ This is stupid but… could you sing to me? You have such a nice voice, and I think it might help calm me down… you don’t have to, but… ❜❜

❛❛ Lay your head in my lap and try to get some rest. ❜❜

❛❛ wait , did you just say you love me? ❜❜

❛❛ i’m so happy! ❜❜

❛❛ is this a gift for me? ❜❜

❛❛ hey! i’ve got something for you! wait right here! ❜❜

❛❛ i love you. ❜❜

❛❛ wow … your smile is breathtaking. ❜❜

❛❛ let me take you out on a date. ❜❜

❛❛ so what will it be tonight? ❜❜

❛❛ you know , you’re really cute. ❜❜

❛❛ shh … don’t cry. ❜❜

❛❛ so … do i get a goodnight kiss? ❜❜ 

❝  i’m here for you.  ❞

❝  let me help with that.  ❞

❝  i’m here.  ❞

❝  nothing’s gonna hurt you.  ❞

❝  if they do it again, you tell me.  ❞

❝  i’ll protect you. ❞

❝  i’ll make sure nothing bad happens to you.  ❞

❝  let me take a look…  ❞

❝  i’m a phone call away.  ❞

❝  you should have called me.  ❞

❝  here, sleep.  ❞

❝  if you wanna talk, i’m here.  ❞

❝  hey, shh, it’s okay.  ❞

❝  i’ll never let you go.  ❞

❝  you’re with me now.  ❞

❝  nothing’s gonna take you from my side.  ❞

❝  i’ll do what i have to.  ❞

❝  i need you to stay here, okay? i got this.  ❞

❝  it’s safe here.  ❞

❝  i’m fine, let me see your face.  ❞

❝  we’re gonna have to keep ice on that.  ❞

❝  i like seeing you smile.  ❞

❝  you’re so beautiful.  ❞

❝  you don’t have to talk, we can just sit together.  ❞

❝  i miss/missed you.  ❞

❝  let me do this for you.  ❞

❝  i’m on your side  ❞

❝  i’ve got your back, okay?  ❞ 

[bloomguard]

slam dunks this in here 🛏️

       for  a  long  time,   it  is  the  only  the  gentle  spring  breeze  which  permeates  the  room.     you’d  promised  her  you  would  stay,   assured  her  that  you’d  lay  down  at  some  point  too,   that  you  wouldn’t  sleep  up  against  the  wall  again  because  the  crick  in  your  neck  won’t  be  worth  it;     you’d  have  reminded  her  that  it  would  be  -  that  anything  would  be  -   if  she  hadn’t  looked  so  tired  already.     you  didn’t  want  to  wake  her  by  moving  is  all,   &  so  it  is  your  head  at  rest  against  the  wall,    eyes  closed,   &  your  thumb  still  at  the  same  gentle  stroke  against  the  back  of  her’s  as  when  she  fell  asleep  in  the  first  place.

       &   then,   the  still  of  it  all  begins  to  unravel.    a  quiet  sound  out  of  her  that  used  to  have  you  offering  a  responsive  ‘hm?’  as  though  she  were  trying  to  say  anything  at  all,  a  brief  twitch  of  her  hand  that  rests  in  your’s,   but  you  wait  still;     you  don’t  always  mean  to  hold  your  breath,    though  it  helps  in  paying  attention  to  her’s:    one  is  hitched  &  with  it,  your  heart  skips.  two  is  heavy  like  the  weight  in  your  gut,  and  three  is  a  little  too  soon  after  the  second  for  your  liking.     you  try  not  to  take  after  it   ;    not  this  time,    you  know  better  now  than  to  move  too  fast. 

       it  is  a  worry  that  has  been  sitting  in  your  chest  rising  swiftly.   she’s  reliable,    as  easy  to  read  as  the  back  of  your  own  hand.   most  times,   you  can  tell  when  she’ll  find  unrest   ;   on  the  other’s,   hope  that  won’t  be  the  case  blinds  you.    either  way,   there’s  no  keeping  it  from  happening   (   what  a  useless  feeling  ).     you  do  move  now;    your  hand  taken  from  her’s  in  favor  of  holding  firm  against  her  shoulder;    you  don’t  shake,   never  do,   only  grip  tight  enough  to  rouse  her                it  never  used  to  be  so  easy,    but  she’s  become  so  aware  now.   you  suppose  you  all  have.       ‘     sakura.     ’

       oh  is  she  familiar  in  the  way  she  starts  against  your  sound.  like  her  body  is  rushing  to  get  her  somewhere  that  her  mind  doesn’t  even  know  about  yet.  you  keep  firm  against  her  a  moment  more  before  loosening,   a  hand  merely  at  rest  now.     ‘     hey              ’     &   you’re  all  soft,    tone  trying  to  meld  with  the  breeze.    honeyed  hues  are  a  flitting  taking  in  her  features    &    you  would  assess  so  much  quicker  if  your  heart  weren’t  pounding  in  your  throat.   you  only  come  up  with  this:    you  despise  seeing  her  this  way  .        ‘     what  do  you  need?     ’

@gentlexbloom   /   zzz.

[whatnotmemes]

SEND 🛏️ FOR MY MUSE TO COMFORT YOURS AFTER A NIGHTMARE. SEND 🌙 FOR YOUR MUSE TO COMFORT MINE AFTER A NIGHTMARE.

[bloomguard]

“ i can tell you a thing or two about family matters, it won't be a fun time. ”

       a  heavy  blink.    another.    it  does  nothing  to  help  process  what’s  been  said  when  your  body  has  already  come  to  be  so  full  of  response,    leaping  up  your  throat  without  another  thought,        ‘       i  know?   nothing  is  with  you              ’       it  sounds  harsh,   even  to  you,    but  you’re  right,   you’re  beginning  to  think.     it’s  belief  enough  that  you  plant  your  feet  in  it.     ’    i  know,    ’        I  KNOW            you  keep  saying  that,   as  though  you  are  anymore  than  curiosity  ill-contained,    as  though  there  is  any  way  you  are  anything  more  to  her  than  merely  nosy.       ‘      which  is  why  i  came  totally  prepared  for  a  day  of  no  fun.     ’         

       you  do  not  know  how  to  explain  to  her  that  you’d  not  come  to  her  expecting  anything  otherwise:     she’s  claims  to  be  SNAPPING  JAWS  &  BLADE  SHAPED  TEETH           you’ve  thick  enough  skin  that  you  can  handle  it.    you’d  almost  hoped  though  that  mention  of  family  would  smooth  rough  edges,   even  a  bit.     no  one  can  be  this  way  about  everything,   you’re  exhausted  just  thinking  about  being  like  that.      ‘     but  i  just           you  don’t  have  even  one  positive  thing  to  say  about  family?      ’

@lunevera.

[bloomguard]

‘ this is your favorite , right ? ’

       truthfully,    you  had  been  mere  moments  from  telling  her  spit  it  out,    you  don’t  have  to  hover.    though  now,    choked  up  as  you  are,   you  almost  wish  she  had  just  left  it  outside  your  door.   there  is  a  long  pause  before  you  find  your  voice  past  oh  &  uh  ;   nothing  much  further,    but  something  at  least.       ‘     mhm !     ’       your  heart  blooms  with  a  distracting  warmth;    looking  at  her  doesn’t  make  it  any  better  &  so  you  adjust  your  gaze  to  her  outstretched  hand;    it’s  a  cherry  blossom  themed  hair  clip.    you  think  you  recognize  it  as  being  from  one  of  the  vendors  in  town,     though  it  is  only  a  vague  recollection,    lost  to  the  thought  that  she  remembered  you  mentioned  it.     your  hand  is  a  gentle  thing  when  it  lands  atop  her,  fingers  not  yet  grasping  for  the  clip  ;   it’s  very  pretty,   of  course,   &  you  can’t  wait  to  try  it  on,   but  it  pales  to  her.       ‘     your  memory  is  a  lot  better  than  mine  ;   i’d  almost  forgotten  about  it  !      ’

       when  your  fingers  finally  curl  around  it,   your  hand  lingers  long  enough  to  give  soft  tap  against  her  palm  before  finally  retreating.   the  distance  was  pointless,  though,    really,    since  the  next  thing  you  do  is  throw  your  arms  around  her  shoulders.   maybe  you’re  too  enthusiastic  at  receiving  something  so  beautiful,  too  desperate  to  hide  burning  cheeks,    but  they  are  impossible  things  to  hold  back  so  tied  up  in  her  as  you  are.       ‘      thank  you.     ’

@awaitedking.

[bloomguard]

“You’re going to need stitches.” Hinoka 👌🏻

       these  sorts  of  things  tend  to  have  the  same  outcomes:      scolded  or  sent  to  rest.    both,    sometimes.                 NEITHER  HAS  HAPPENED  YET:     it’s  quiet  and  though  hana  is  not  a  particularly  nervous  person,    nor  fearful  if  today  did  anything  to  prove  it,     her  fingers  twist  hair  held  aside  between  them,   &  the  corner  is  hardly  interesting  anymore,   &   it  crosses  her  mind  that  for  her  to  take  so  long,   she  must  have  one  hell  of  a  lecture  brewing.    it’s  a  thought  that  doesn’t  cease  until  she  speaks    (  you’re  going  to  need  stitches  )   &   as  suddenly  as  she  has  broken  the  silence,   there  is  a  laugh  of  an  exhale,        ‘     oh.     is  that  all?     ’       it  doesn’t  cross  her  mind  that  perhaps  she’s  celebrating  too  early.   there  is  still  plenty  of  time  for  that,     but  she has  been  known  a  fool:     relief  slips  into  her  chest  anyway.        

      it  follows  shortly  after,   the  realization  that  form  yearns  to  drop  from  her  shoulders.   she  tries  to  remain  firm  against  the  waning  adrenaline:    it  never  loses  it’s  impact   just  who  is  giving  their  time.    she  deserves  respect,   no  matter  the  circumstances            &  less  blood  on  her  person  as  well.     hana  moves  her  hair  to  rest  behind  her  shoulders,   now  free  hand  reaching  towards  hinoka’s  atop  the  rag.    her  fingertips  only  slightly  brush  the  skin  there,   asking  permission  to  take  over.       ‘      if  you  would  have  them,    someone  with  less  important  things  to  do  can  finish  up  here.      ’

@pantheum   /   injuries.

[bloomguard]

hana  occasionally  forgetting  to  take  care  of  herself  is  totally  realistic  when  u  consider  that  she  was  raised  to  live  for  sb  else’s  well-being  over  her  own  &  when  you  consider  how  ingrained  it  must  be  since  that’s  been  the  case  for  all  of  her  family  for  a  very  long  time. 

[villainsmemes-deactivated202503]

GENERAL

“Can you walk?”

“How did this happen?”

“What the hell happened?”

“I hit my head.”

“Did you hit your head?”

“Can you hear me?”

“Don’t close your eyes, stay awake!”

“Come on, stay with me!”

“No no no no no!”

“You shot me!”

“I didn’t mean to shoot you!”

“You stabbed me!”

“I didn’t mean to stab you!”

“Take the knife out!”

“Don’t take the knife out!”

“It was an accident!”

“That/this wasn’t an accident!”

“That looks broken.”

“I think my leg/arm is broken.”

“That doesn’t look good.”

“Am I going to die?”

“You’re not going to die!”

“Calm down!”

“Don’t panic!”

“I can’t help you if you don’t let me!”

BLOOD

“Are you bleeding?”

“Don’t move, you’re bleeding.”

“Is that blood?”

“Whose blood is that?”

“That’s a lot of blood.”

“Do you know how to get bloodstains out?”

“Why do you know how to get bloodstains out?”

“Damn, I got blood on my shirt.”

“Don’t move, you’re losing blood!”

“I won’t let you bleed out!”

“You have blood on your face.”

“I swear to god, if you get blood on me…”

“What’s your blood type?”

“Why in the hell would you need to know my blood type?”

WOUNDS

“That cut is nasty.”

“You have a massive gash in your arm/leg!’

“Don’t touch it!”

“Don’t move, you’ll only make it worse!”

“I’ll get some bandages.”

“You’re going to need stitches.”

“That looks infected…”

“Did you get bit by something?”

“There’s no exit wound, the bullet is still in you.”

“There’s an exit wound, the bullet went through you.”

AFTERCARE

“How are you feeling?”

“How does it feel?”

“It’s still not healed, but it’s getting there.”

“Let’s go home.”

“I just want to go home.”

“Let’s get you into the bathtub.”

“We need to change your bandages soon.”

“Get some sleep, okay?”

“You need to eat something, you’ve been through a lot today.”

“I’ll check up on you in a bit.”

“You’re going to be fine. I promise.”

[books-n-quotes]

…And if we won’t burn together, I’ll burn alone.

Bret Easton Ellis, The Rules of Attraction (via books-n-quotes)

[bloomguard]

' we’ll have to keep ice on that . '

@awaitedking.

      you  had  rolled  your  shoulder  once,  twice  without  much  care  for  the  stealth  of  it  all;  you  should  hardly  be  surprised  that  she’s  not  rushed  back  into  things  yet  after  such  a  grimace,    but  the  thing  is  that  you’ve  not  lost,  not  when  you’ve  still  got  the  energy  to  continue,   and  it  is  a  confused     ‘done  already?’     that  leaves  you.     a  training  weapon  hardly  leaves  anything  that  can’t  be  worked  out.     or  more  importantly,  nothing  that  sakura  would  scold  you  for  pushing  through.     but  then,   ah.   even  though  you’re  apart  from  the  usual  suspects,   it  is  still  a  familiar  worry  you  find,    &  you  surrender  to  a  break  after  not  a  moment  more  of  hesitant  blues. 

      you  remain  antsy  to  get  back  to  it,  but  there  is  a  purple-red  to  the  skin  around  your  shoulder,   an  ache  no  different  than  some  before  when  you  readjust  so  she  can  look,   &    you  seem  to  be  the  only  one  with  restless  feet.     finding  ice   (  *  a  conclusion  she’d  come  to,   &  that  you’d  be  wise  to  simply  agree  with  )   means  heading  in,  and  .  .  .   well.     your  fingers  wrap  lightly  around  her  hand,   moving  it  closer    away  and  still  so  that  your  other  may  pull  your  sleeve  back  up  and  over  what  threatens  previous  plans.   despite  that  though,    you  remain  a  warm  &  chipper  thing;   even  your  sigh  -   in all  it’s  disappointment  -   is  light.     at  it’s  end,   you  release  her,   hands  finding  the  earth  behind  you  for  support.        ‘     &  i  was  having  such  a  nice  time  too  .  .  .      ’     

       she  is  nothing  like  the  hoshidan  sunset,  but  it  is  her  worry  consumes  your  gaze  rather  than  the  one  you’ve  found  yourselves  in;   you  hate  to  see  that  she  shoulders  this,  as  though  it  was  more  than  an  accident,   as  though  it’s  her  job  to  keep  you  well. 

       just  this  once,   a  rain  check  &  a  forgiving  smile  will  do.      ‘             help  me  up  then,   you  brute.     ’     

[bloomguard]

chillres‌:

Sorting through inventory – not something Peri would personally like to do in her free time. She would rather be out training or cooking than do such a menial task – ah, but if it’s for the cause, she guesses she might as well help out. Even if it’s boooring ! She picks up an axe and shakily turns it side to side, unaccustomed to the weight distribution. Here, she can appreciate its killing potential but ugh. WAY too lopsided for her to imagine actually using in battle.

The monotonous silence was interrupted by the area’s other occupant, her name currently escaping Peri’s memory – not that she would want to know a Hoshidan’s name. She glances at the pile of trash in front the other girl and focuses in on the item the samurai was referencing. Oh ! A lance, Peri’s weapon of choice for a multitude of reasons. She begins to feel excitement rise as she realizes she has a chance to talk shop.

“There are plenty of advantages to using a lance ! ” How could this Hoshidan not see the usefulness of this weapon ?! “It’s reach is AMAZING ! You can reach your opponent before they can get the chance to hurt you back ! It’s reeeally good against swords but, ah…” Peri pauses, wondering why the samurai even asked in the first place. Do… Do Hoshidans not know how to use lances ? Okay, now that’s just sad. Looks like Peri’s gotta work her magic and help out of the kindness of her heart ! “Do you want me to show you how to use a lance ? ”

       you’ve  had  harder  fights  than  trying  not  to  roll  your  eyes  or  groan,    but  you  can’t  discredit  the  effort  it  takes  to  hold  out.     however,    you  did  ask  for  this  &  perhaps  it  is  the  larger  picture  that  keeps  you  solid  still.     she  talks,  &  talks,  &  talks,   &  you  know  a  lot  of  this  already;      even  with  the  benefit  of  a  long  blade,   you’re  aware  of  the  reach  with  which  she  fights  and  the  challenge  of  getting  near.    nonetheless,     you  offer  up  ‘uh-huh’s   &    ‘mm’ s,     until  finally,  she’s  done.     there  is  a  berth  of  time  before  you  carry  on  and  that  still  is  only  a  low  and  echoed  comment,         ‘      amazing.     ’      you’ve  not  even  looked  back  at  her  to  speak    (   *   so  uneasy  in  their  presence  still  ),    head  down  while  you  consider.     she’s  eccentric,    no  doubt  about  that.    but  no  more  so than  anyone  you’ve  met  before. 

     it  is  this  duty  before  the  next;     or,   it  should  be.     but  then,   it  is  your  betterment  for  sakura  above  everything  else.       ‘     it’s  a  bit  cramped  to  show  anyone  anything  here,   i  think  .  .  .      ’       a  hand  to  gesture  about,    words  to  push  them  in  another  direction  without  being  too  eager.       ‘     we’d  have  to  go  somewhere  else.     ’       you  bite  your  tongue  on  the  distinctions   ‘private’  &  ‘far-away’;     there’s  no  harm  in  being  seen  together,    you  remind  yourself.     but  still,   you  continue  to  seek  in  her  what  lies  in  you,      ‘     you  don’t  mind,   do  you?     ’

[bloomguard]

modern  hana  gets  too  competitive  over  phone  games  &  so  no  one  but  sakura  will  play  with  her,   send  tweet.

[books-n-quotes]

Don’t sabotage yourself. There are plenty of other people willing to do that for free.

Jenny Lawson, Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things (via books-n-quotes)

[bloomguard]

kitsukaden‌.

“Hmm… I don’t think you’re doing it right. You don’t relax very much, huh?”

He had convinced Hana to cut her training session short and relax with him because he had hardly ever seen her take a break to even breath—however, the kitsune didn’t think that it would be difficult for her to—well, relax.  

‘How can I get her to relax?’

“Oh! Try imagining that you’re with Sakura! You’re with her under this nice shady tree and you’re both dozing off. That should get you to relax!”

       you’re  about  to  correct  him,  if  only  out  of  instinct.  &   yet,   your  argument  falls  flat  before  it  even  leaves  your  lips.    you  do  relax.   you  do.  it’s  just  .  .  .   different,  right  now?   somehow?   mm.   not  great,   and  not  something  you  feel  like  truly  fighting  over,   obviously.   it  is  only  your  quick  tongue  again,   jumping  at  any  opportunity  to  excuse  you  from  this  situation.    you  don’t  want  to  give  up  so  easily.   so  you  bite  it,   staying  silent  at  his  observation.

       when  he  continues  on,    you  find  your  frown  only  remains,  this  time  joined  by  a  furled  brow   &   an  admission.   it’s  been  a  long  time  since  you  got  to  simply  doze  off  with  lady  sakura.     in  fact,  you  can  hardly  remember  the  nuances  of  the  last  time,  just  that  it warms  your  chest  to  think  of.   it’s  nearly  enough  for  you  to  keep  quiet  &  play  along.   nearly.       ‘     how  do  you  keep  your  tail  so  clean,   sleeping  in  the  grass  like  this?  it  must  be  a  pain.     ’     

[bloomguard]

dicyde‌.

The grassy expanse stole him away from any semblance of mindful strolling. Hoshido was so vibrant, lush, beautiful, that Kamui easily allowed his feet to march him any which way he could; and he did. Like the suns rays that shimmered down in beams and cast elongated shadows, he followed those lines, like the very sky guided him. His heart fell into it all. Black disks were as wide as saucers until a voice, someone familiar, shrunk his pupils into less wide lines.

` Oh, Hana! ’  His welcome was as warm as the day.  ` Yes, I,  — ’  he pauses for a moment, letting his sentence fall with his tone audibly growing uncertain of himself,

` Was… ’  It almost sounds like he’s correcting himself, but nothing laid to be correct — just something that wants to be corrected.  ` I . . Seem to have gotten a little lost along the way. I’m afraid i’m not quite used to exploring Hoshido quite yet. . ’  And how embarrassed he was to admit.  ` Would you mind – no, I shouldn’t. Um, i’m so sorry for troubling you. I think if I just retrace my steps, I can make it back to where I was.. Let’s see here. .  ’  He looks at his feet for answer that they can’t solve, as if the waves of grass remembered his steps. They don’t.

       ‘     .  .  .     ’           he  talks  around  himself  &  you  let  him,   a  brow  to  it’s  peak  and  an  expectant  gaze  all  you  offer.     lost,   explained  in  so  many  more  words  than  you  needed  to  be  proven  right.   you  knew  already  that  he  is  only  dull  &  fresh  faced,    &  yet,   your  tongue  will  not  stop  coating  sour  when  you  speak  with  him,   and  your  heart  will  not  leave  your  throat.

       it  is  only  duty  that  brings  you  to  speak  again:   to  the  family,   to  sakura.     gods,   if  you  didn’t  help  him,   there’s  no  way  to  tell  where  he  would  end  up.   so  you  look  for  kindness,   but  find  only  a  quick  lie  off  the  lips,   often  given  so  readily  &  honestly  to  anyone  else.   it’s  almost  the  same.      ‘     oh,    i’m  not  bothered,     ’      it’s  fine.   you’re  not  that  upset  at  being  interrupted.    or  at  any  rate,  you  wish  you  weren’t,   &   so  you  try  forcing  it  into  being  by  rationalizing  further,         ‘      the  last  thing  lady  sakura  would  want  is  for  you  to  go  missing,   so  .  .  .   it’s  okay.  i’m  glad  i  was  here.     ’

      you  tuck  a  piece  of  hair  behind  your  ear  for  lack  of  things  to  do  with  your  hands,   and  your  eyes  drift  from  him  to  anything  else  as  you  speak  up  once  more,   an  inquiry  this  time,       ‘     where  were  you  trying  to  get  to  anyway?     ’