#asugi ic

[sweetestest-ninja]

She hesitates... but quietly knocks on Asugi's door. "Um... would you like a hug? I also... bought you a big ol' lollipop today... and I wanted to give it to you!"

He doesn’t respond. It was very unlike him to do something like that…

[sweetestest-ninja]

@outlawarcher (From here x)

Niles recognised the look that Usagi was giving to that ring. It was the look of a thief who was hungry to make some money. Huh. He hadn’t known that the son of Saizo had a tendency towards the criminal life. Interesting.

He tucked the necklace back under his shirt, patting the ring where it rested against his chest. “He’s my fiancé,” Niles said, amused. “The ring is from him, as well as the chain. You’ve probably seen him around, he’s rather tall. Green hair. Hard to miss.”

“He’s your... oh.” Fiance? Did that mean that Niles was... OH.

Usagi tried to push past the instinctual feeling of... (maybe not disgust... panic?) and tried to focus on the man’s description instead, relieved that Niles couldn’t see what was probably a thoroughly unconvincing grin. He was open minded. Not like his sourpuss of a dad. There wasn’t anything wrong with that. NOTHING AT ALL.

“Uh... Tall guy? With green hair? You realize that doesn’t narrow anything down for me, right? There’s loads of tall guys with green hair around here. Let me guess -- he rides a horse?”

[sweetestest-ninja]

Usagi was finally able to get down some warm congee in his belly without any further mishaps taking place. 

He was still feeling super nervous, but the reactions to losing combatants had been fairly genial... Well, maybe except for that one guy...

He rocked himself in his corner, forcing deep, steady breaths, like aunt Kagero had taught him one time. Deep breaths... He’d be okay. He would...

[sweetestest-ninja]

(gallant-gained) "My father says that moments like these should be used for education, not self-flagellation. But, I know how hard it can be to see that. Here." He offers a cookie, shaped like a rabbit. "If you would like a training partner, please don't hesitate to ask."

@gallant-gained

Asugi looked up long enough to glare at the boy, eyes red and puffy from crying. "I bet your dad told you a lot of things!" he snapped. "Like that he loved you, or that he was PROUD!" WOW, where had that come from? He took a deep breath, clutching his pillow over his head again with shame. "... Sorry. I'm sorry about that. You didn't deserve it. I know you were just trying to help..." He shook his head silently. "I'm just... I'm just not really in the mood right now... For anything. Sorry, Champ..."

[sweetestest-ninja]

*Drops easter candy to cheer him up, contains chocolate eggs, gummy carrots & marshmallow bunnies*

“Thanks, Boss… But I don’t think I’m all that hungry…”

A sniff. “See? That’s why I stayed in today... Too bad I couldn’t make it...” Another sniff. 

[sweetestest-ninja]

"Looks like we couldn't pull it off in the end after all, huh?"

“Sorry…” Usagi muttered, not able to meet the other’s eyes. “I knew this would happen… At least you had the courage not to hide behind a mask when you lost.”

He sucked in a tight breath.

“I’ve gotta go. Sorry again about your match… Maybe we can talk again sometime…”

[sweetestest-ninja]

Asugi sighed as he got back to his room, tugging off the mask and bunny ears and throwing them churlishly into the trash.

He flopped gracelessly face-down into onto his bed, and pulled a pillow over his head.

Only then did he allow himself to cry.

[sweetestest-ninja]

Usagi sank to the ground, hands clutching his locks of red hair in a blind panic as the results were read aloud. He didn’t even come CLOSE.

He covered his face with shame. He’d blown it SO royally... Already he could feel his stomach churning...

Some Saizo he was...

Dad would have never lost... he thought bitterly as he stared at his hands.