It was the rainy day in mid summer where Tsubaki could be find running from the village. She had hurried to a shrine earlier in the morning to get some ema from the festival, since she was told that the ema would quickly be sold out if she left later. It had also been said that these ema could help her to summon the spirits of the other rare swords after Ichigo Hitofuri and Tsurumaru Kuninaga. However, her slippers broke and she was forced to take a shelter under a nearby shop until the rain stops. Hours passed by and she was starting to wonder if she should just run under the rain to get back to the citadel, since she told Mitsutada that she would help him with cooking duty today.
Just when she was about to run, she caught sight of a certain prim figure, half running towards the direction of the citadel. At first, she wanted to call him out to stop and wait for her, so she could join him; though she stopped when seeing that he seems to be carrying someone in his arms. Squinting her eyes, it appeared to be Midare. For a moment, she stopped to see the sight before her, before soon her cheeks began to dust a rosy pink color. It was sweet to know how far he would go to ensure the safety for his brothers. And it had successfully picked her interest.
Another week passed, days going by rather flatly with only missions and expeditions that kept the citadel running with business. Tsubaki was making sure that everyone was still doing alright, deciding to check one room after another to converse with them. However, she was silenced when she reached into his room and found him asleep on the desk. He seemed to be very worn out after the continuous long hours of expeditions she had been sending him to the past week. Guilty, Tsubaki walked into his room and wrapped the blanket around his back. The autumn was getting colder recently, and eventhough they were blades, they were now a human.
Tsubaki had stopped moving once she felt that the blanket was wrapped snuggly enough around him. Her fingers worked its way to brush the strands of his hair back to comfort him in his sleep. That was when she paid attention to the extents he would go for her into completing her mission. At this point, there was a warm, blooming sensation spreading across her chest before she leans up to plant a kiss on his forehead with a quiet whisper of ‘Sleep well’. She went out then to return shortly with a tray of snacks and tea. A small note telling him to rest as well as her apology was also left over the treats.
Due to the pain on the back of her head that she had been feeling last night, Tsubaki had decided to lock herself inside her room for the whole day to rest. Kashuu had come to ask how she was going or if she wanted anything to eat, but Tsubaki refused; saying that she has no appetite to eat and she wanted only to rest. Although Kashuu had insisted and said that he was worried, Tsubaki told him that she would be alright and politely asked him to leave her alone. The rest of the day, no one visited her, something that she felt partially grateful about.
Though when it was finally getting closer to midnight and she started to feel better did she feel how hungry she was. Quietly, so that she wouldn’t wake the swords up from their slumber–not that they necessarily need one–, she slid open the door and walked outside. Thinking that Horikawa often make some cooking preparations for the next day, Tsubaki was prepared to cook–when she caught sight of him cooking inside. Confused as to why he was not asleep yet, she finally approached him and asked what he was doing in the kitchen this late at night. There was only one tray of food next to him and while it wasn’t her favorite food, Tsubaki couldn’t be picky when he told her that she could take it. And although Ichigo said that he was just making a food for Akita who seemed to have a trouble sleeping, she didn’t see him going into his brothers’ room afterwards. She might have overthought this, but that still made her giggle of joy left her lips, thanking him genuinely later.
Ever since their encounter in the kitchen that night, Tsubaki had paid more attention towards him. His greetings, in particular. While it might have been easy for her to fall in love with just about anyone, her mind had fallen for him. Still, she refused to admit it and to accept it; knowing that she was a saniwa, his master, and that once the mission is fulfilled, she wouldn’t be able to be reconciled with him. She knew that once this was all over, they would return to what they should be. Ichigo returning to be the sword kept within the palace and Tsubaki to her days as the sole hair of the Wakahisa family whose return are waited.
She knew it wouldn’t work, but her heart still ached for him. Longing for someone had never been this painful for her. And these thoughts had kept her awake one night, causing her to fall asleep in the veranda by accident. Though, slowly, she did feel that she was laying on something fluffier and warmer, which took her mind off her sleeping nature, to see that Ichigo was just about to pul the blanket up to her chin. Realizing that he could have been the person who brought her inside caused her cheeks to darkened; hastily thanking him and hiding her face under her blanket later with hopes that he wouldn’t ask her further if she was alright or not. The more she denied her feelings, the more it grow stronger everytime she sees him.
Cold, chilly autumn. Dried leaves falling everywhere around the citadel’s garden. Since the garden was her favorite place and the other blades had seemed to be more busy with the fieldwork and taking care of the horses, Tsubaki decided to clean it up by herself. She couldn’t resist, however, when idare came and offered to help; only to later play with the piled up dried leaves with him. This caused her work to be finished later, and afterwards, started sneezing and coughing from the cold. Tsubaki ended up being sick.
Later that evening, she was surprised when instead of the currently appointed assistant sword, Mikazuki, who brought her dinner, it was Ichigo. When she did remember however, that Mikazuki would be arranging teams for tomorrow’s duty, she allowed him in. At this point, the urge to tell him about her feelings was growing stronger already. She stuttered a lot more, avoiding his gaze, or even showing her inconsistency in what she wanted him to do. To accompany her sleep, but at the same time, telling him to take care of his brothers. All debates aside, she calmed down when she heard his chuckle--embarrassed still, but at least, she believed that he didn’t take it personally.
