This one is Kennyo x Shingen.
Shingen had wandered into a forest filled with cherry blossom tress, it was different to him. But as he ventured deeper into that forest, he soon came across Kennyo. Shingen always had wanted to fix their friendship, but Kennyo not so much. Shingen noticed a cherry blossom petal drop to the forest ground, before he focused back on Kennyo before himself.
"Ah, my old friend," Shingen replied with a smile. "I'm not your friend." Kennyo gave a scoff as he even crossed his arms. "Hmm. Perhaps not, but I'd like to restore it. If you don't mind?" Shingen asked, as he glanced at Kennyo.
Kennyo went deep in thought at that question. There were reasons he didn't speak to Shingen in a long time, one was... because the Tiger of Kai never wrote him back that fateful night... and Shingen never came. Kennyo couldn't answer it; he was still filled with bitterness over that.
"It can't be restored..." Kennyo whispered as he turned around, he was about to walk off. "It can in time. I'll prove to you that I want this friendship back." Shingen replied, as he hoped that Kennyo wouldn't leave. "Prove it then," Kennyo answered, wearing a scowl on his face. "Fine. I will." Shingen said in a challenging tone.
Kennyo decided to let Shingen prove it, as he kept standing and waiting to see what the other man might do.
"I was ill... that night." Shingen pointed out, and it was true. But since it was spring, this weather didn't bother him. "I do recall that, but you could have still sent me a letter." Kennyo huffed under his breath. "I was literally throwing up blood from that illness. And I still do have it." Shingen admitted.
Kennyo knew that Shingen probably would have came, even despite his illness... and probably even coughed up blood. While Kennyo tried to protect his temple, and his home, Ishiyama Hongan-ji from Nobunaga. Of course, these two men both hated Nobunaga for different reasons... but, right now Kennyo started to have guilt over his way of thinking. After some time, Shingen moved a bit closer to Kennyo, as he noticed that the other man wore conflicted emotions.
"Kennyo... speak to me." Shingen replied softly, as he placed a hand onto Kennyo's shoulder. "About what? That my temple burned down due to Nobunaga, and you didn't come?" Kennyo answered, his anger not even hidden. "Listen... I don't like Nobunaga either, he did take Kai from me. But, I can tell that you want to go onto a more dangerous path. I don't want that for you." Shingen kept speaking in that calm tone.
Kennyo's eyes flicked down to Shingen's hand on his shoulder, his jaw clenching as old feelings of resentment flared in his chest.
"You think you know what's best for me?" Kennyo retorted, the anger he'd fought so hard to keep contained finally slipping out in his voice. "You know what I've been through... of what I've lost."
Kennyo took a step away from Shingen, even removing Shingen's hand. "You can't protect me from the path I will walk... Shingen."
Shingen's expression wavered as Kennyo stepped away from him. Shingen saw the anger bubbling to the surface, the hurt and pain that had been buried deep for so long. He clenched his hand slightly, fighting the urge to reach out to Kennyo again. Instead, Shingen took a deep breath, his own frustration mingling with his concern for the other man.
"I'm only trying to protect you, Kennyo. Can't you see that?" Shingen's concern was evident in his tone.
Kennyo bristled at the concern in Shingen's voice, his frustration rising. "Protect me? From what? From myself?" Kennyo looked off at the cherry blossoms a moment, as he clenched his fists, his gaze hardening.
Shingen noticed Kennyo look away, as he stepped closer to him. "I'm trying to keep you off that dangerous path, you wish to walk." He spoke with a slight edge to his voice.
Kennyo got angered once more, as it flared at Shingen's words.
"You care? You didn't show at all!" Kennyo snapped as he jabbed at finger into Shingen's chest. "You were supposed to be there, but you weren't! Where was your care then? Where was your protection?" Kennyo was breathing raggedly now, as he looked away.
Shingen's own breathing had gotten worse, once Kennyo jabbed at his chest with his finger. It was only because of his illness in his lungs, and it almost made him unable to breath. He felt guilty over that, he wasn't there... because he had passed out, and Yuki had took him to Kenshin's castle during that night. If, he hadn't passed out, maybe he would have came... to protect Kennyo's temple. Actually, he wanted to be there... but he wasn't.
"You're right, okay?" Shingen sighed as he placed his head down. "If this illness didn't take a toll on me that night... I would have been there, and you know it."
Kennyo was aware of Shingen's illness, he knew it had been around for a long time. He wasn't sure when it had started, as he shook his head. "So, you think an apology changes anything? That makes everything alright? It doesn't. You were still not there, when I needed it." Kennyo was still angry.
Shingen had regretted his illness a lot, he had it back at fourteen. Plus, he still had it today, just... it was spring, so it didn't bug him in this weather. But, once reached night fall... he probably be in a coughing fit once more. "I would have been there for you... Kennyo, I wanted to be there." Shingen whispered.
Kennyo's eyes flickered with frustration as Shingen repeated his regret. "You keep saying that, Shingen. But you weren't there, even though you wanted to be. Actions speak louder than words." Kennyo started to walk away this time. "You didn't care or protect me. You weren't there when my temple burned to the ground..." Kennyo kept walking, not even looking back at Shingen.
Shingen got more frustrated, as he walked over to grip on Kennyo's robes. "Don't you think I would have been there for you? I was ill, Kennyo and I do care about you, damn it!" Shingen spoke with frustration.
Kennyo's gaze hardened as Shingen grabbed his robes, his own temper flared. "I know you would have come if you could! That doesn't change the fact that you weren't there!" Kennyo snapped, as he pushed Shingen away. "You were supposed to be my friend. My only friend. And you weren't there, when I needed it the most. Don't talk to me, like if you care!" Kennyo stormed away, clearly hurt over that dreadful night.
Shingen's anger only raised higher, but he wanted Kennyo to want to be his friend once more. He also didn't like how Kennyo pushed him away, like he was just useless. "Do you think this was easy for me? Do you think I feel guilty about that night, every single night?" Shingen retorterd, his voice raising. "And don't you DARE say I don't care about you!"
Kennyo bristled at the challenge, his own voice raising to match Shingen's. "You feel guilty? You think that makes it better? You think that changes anything?" Kennyo finally turned back around, to step closer to him. "And what exactly did your guilt do for me, Shingen? Did it protect my temple? Did it help while I was alone and struggling?" Kennyo clenched his fists. "You don't care, since you failed."
Shingen gently pushed Kennyo's finger away from his chest, since it hurt to breathe again. It was like Kennyo just wanted him there, despite him passing out that night. Memories of that night flooded his mind at that time, he recalled how much blood he had coughed up. In fact, he was amazed he didn't die that very night... and yes, he did want to be there by Kennyo's side. Maybe, if his body pushed him further, then simply passing out, he could have reached Kennyo's temple.
"I did hate myself, every single night. I regret it, I wish I was there... maybe I would died in front of you... then you'll be happy, at least." Shingen's voice seemed to lower, as he glanced down at the cherry blossom petals on the forest floor.
Kennyo's anger had faltered a moment as he noticed the vulnerability in Shingen's voice. He never saw the warrior this way, he was used to Shingen being more guarded than this, so he was taken aback slightly. "Don't say that," He whispered. He wasn't sure why Shingen had said such a thing for. "I don't want you to die." He added, as he glanced up at the other man.
Shingen's breath hitched at Kennyo's words, his dark eyes snapping to look at the other man's. The sudden shift in tone, less venom, more something unreadable, made his chest tighten* "...You don't?" He asked, his voice rougher than intended, betraying the flicker of hope beneath the bitterness. He took a step closer despite himself. "Then what do you want from me? Because I'm tired of this." A cherry blossom petal landed on Shingen's shoulder as he waited for Kennyo to answer, not as enemies this time, but something far more complicated.
"I..." Kennyo trailed off, his own breath catching in his throat at the vulnerability in Shingen's voice He hesitated, his anger and hurt still warring with the complicated feelings rising within him. "I want... I want you to understand," he said finally, his voice quieter now* Kennyo looked away, as the sight of the cherry blossom petal on Shingen's shoulder only confused him more "I want you to understand how I felt to be alone, to face everything alone without you."
Shingen exhaled sharply, the air between them thick with unsaid things. He gently reached up to brush the petal away from his shoulder, but he suddenly hesitated before placing it into Kennyo's palm "Then let me," he murmured, his gaze steady. "Not as warlord. Not as your enemy. Just... me." A beat of silence passed before he added quietly, "I spent every night wondering if you were alive or not."
Kennyo's hand closed around the petal, his fingers trembled slightly. He couldn't deny the way Shingen's words had hit him. The vulnerability in his voice, the quiet admission that filled the air between them. His anger started to fade, but only a bit* "Every night?" he echoed softly, his own voice hinted with surprise. Kennyo had assumed he'd been long forgotten.
Shingen watched Kennyo's fingers close around the petal, and saw the other man's hands tremble, and it sent a pang through Shingen and he wasn't sure why though "Every. Damn night." He let out a bitter self-deprecating laugh. "You might have been alone physically, but my thoughts... they were stuck with you no matter what I did. Wondering. Wishing." His own voice was strained, as if the confession was torn from somewhere deep within him
Kennyo's heart tightened at the pain in Shingen's voice. it was very vulnerable to him, and he'd never saw the warrior this way Each word struck a chord within him, stirring up a storm of emotions. He wanted to remain distant, to hold onto his anger, but it was getting harder with each passing moment "You... you thought about me? All this time?" he asked, his voice quivering slightly.
Shingen nodded, his usual confidence giving way to raw sincerity in that moment. His dark eyes never left Kennyo's face. "How could I not?" he confessed, a hint of frustration in his voice. "You haunt me, Kennyo. Every time I look at the night sky, every time I see a cherry blossom..." He reached out and gently brushed a loose strand of hair behind Kennyo's ear. His touch lingering. It was an unconscious, almost tender gesture.
Kennyo's breath hitched in his chest as Shingen's fingers gently brushed away the stray hair that fell in his face. The touch was unexpected and intimate, sending a flutter of something long-buried through his veins He swallowed hard, his heart was thudding fast in his chest. He looked away, since Shingen's gaze was too intense. "You make it sound like you're obsessed with me." he finally said, his voice cracking slightly.
*Shingen's fingers froze for a fraction of a second at Kennyo's reaction, then slowly, he let his hand drop to his side. But his eyes only sharpened "Obsessed with you? Well, I don't obsess over things that don't matter to me." He took a step closer to Kennyo. "You think I'd waste my time on just anyone? You never were just anyone to me."
Kennyo's breath quickened as Shingen stepped even closer, the space between them almost non-existent. A part of him wanted to move away, to regain some semblance of control over the situation. But he couldn't. He finally allowed himself to glance up at the taller man before himself again, the intensity in Shingen's eyes were stealing his breath away. "Then what am I now?" he asked, somehow finding his voice to ask this.
Shingen moved his hand, as he gently touched Kennyo's cheek, he just couldn't stop himself. "You're a pain in my ass," he said softly, his voice mixed with frustration and something else. "You're stubborn. Very much so, I must add. You also drive me crazy." He gently touched Kennyo's cheek once more, a tender gesture that contradicted the irritation in his voice. "And I can't stop thinking about you."
Kennyo found himself leaning into the touch, his anger and hurt temporarily forgotten. The gentleness of the gesture seemed at odds with the words that followed, and it sent a shiver down his spine. He swallowed hard, his own hand covering over Shingen's own, the one Shingen had on his cheek. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?" he asked, his voice betraying a hint of vulnerability.
Shingen only laughed, as he kept touching over Kennyo's cheek. The way the other man's anger was melting away, even just a little, was making it hard to hold onto his frustration. He tried to remain a scowl, but he couldn't. "Hardly. But you're also the only person who ever challenged me like this." he admitted. "You drive me crazy, but I... I... you know, I've never been easy to please... I usually run off."
Kennyo studied Shingen's face, he was hoping this was true. He wanted it to be true, as he kept his dark eyes on the other man. Shingen hesitated for a second, then closed the distance between them as he kissed Kennyo's lips, this was the first kiss he ever had... with anyone. But it was well passed due, to him at least. It wasn't a gentle kiss either, it had regret, anger and something far deeper that he couldn't quite name yet.
The kiss Kennyo like a lightning strike, sudden, electrifying, unexpected. Shingen had never kissed him before. Not in all their years of friendship or shared battles. This kiss was almost desperate, charged with everything they'd been too stubborn to day. Regret for the lost time. Anger at the misunderstandings that tore them apart. And underneath it all... was something unnameable, a yearning they had for months or years? without either acknowledging it. Kennyo froze a moment, then melted into the kiss. His hand raising to grip onto Shingen's kimono, as he kissed the other man back with equal intensity, no hesitation now, just raw feeling pouring out of him.
Shingen groaned into the kiss, half relief, half something far more desperate as Kennyo kissed him back. He felt Kennyo's hands on his kimono, so he pulled the other man closer, as it erased any space between them now. The cherry blossom forest around them seemed to fade away. There was no war, no politics... just these two stubborn men finally giving into what they had wanted.
