It's not often that Taikogane Sadamune exudes anything but happiness, excitement, and youthful vigor. But right now, he's finding himself at a loss.
Ookurikara has been gone for so long. He's not sure how long exactly. He only knows that whatever the count, it feels like so, so many more days.
He doesn't like feeling like this-- hurt, sad, and frustrated-- with Ookurikara. The uchigatana is essentially a big brother to him-- someone he looks up to, someone he'd say that he needs in his life, someone he loves and cares for very much. But that's why he feels like this at all.
"...I could have handled you being gone. I would've been sad, but... I'd have been okay. But..." The usually-bright ochre eyes are wet and fixed on the ground beneath Ookurikara's shoes, only looking up to his face every so often. "But I didn't know... where or why you left, what had happened to you, or..."
He runs a hand back through his wild blue hair.
"I want to understand... If it was so important that you not even say anything, I believe you felt that way, but..."
💘 idk who would be dragging who but kasha with fudou and sada on a lunch date
[ Send 💘 for your muse to drag mine on a date. ]
Sada has just gotten paid.
He enjoys his job at a local grocery store well enough-- it's pretty active, and he gets to interact with and even occasionally help people. Plus, it's easy to make grocery runs after work since he's already there.
But of course, payday has fallen on a Saturday he has off, and all it takes is for Kashagiri to message their group chat that he's hungry for Sada to get an idea.
- i'm hungry but... what to have for lunch
- now i'm hungry. why'd you have to say that ;_;
- you guys
- LET'S GET YAKINIKU!!
- YAKINIKU LUNCH DATE!!!❤️
- my treat!!! ❤️😃
- oh--
- if you insist
And so Sada waits for them at the train station that functions as one of their usual meeting places, taking the time to check out the menu for the restaurant they'd decided on.
It's not long, though, before he looks up to see two of his favorite people heading his way. He pockets his phone and gets up, scurrying over to them and pulling them both to him for a tight hug in each arm.
"Hey!" After the double-hug he readjusts so they can walk side-by-side. "Still hungry?"
Fudou hums in confirmation. "Absolutely. It's not a far walk, is it?"
"No, no, it's just a couple blocks away! And guess what-- it's the 29th, sooo... they've got a special on wagyu! Hope you guys are ready to eat to your hearts' content!"
[ WILLOW ] sender embraces receiver in a moment of extreme distress. (kara -> sada 🥺)
[ ✱˚｡⋆ ↪ 𝐀 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐒 . ]
Sometimes even Taikogane Sadamune runs out of optimism.
Sometimes, it's ripped out of him abruptly, without a chance for him to even try and keep his grasp on it.
The battle had been a blur up until that point, when time seemed to stand still-- Mitsutada had thrown himself in front of Sada, as an enemy oodachi had struck. Mitsutada had been run through, and even though the blade had still pierced Sada, the impact had been severely lessened.
Sada would not have survived the brunt of such an attack in his condition, but Mitsutada himself was hanging on by a thread.
The incident had shaken the tantou so much that, he had to be held in place while the team made their emergency recall.
"Micchan--! Micchan, please... please wake up!" he'd cried, even despite his own moderate injuries, trying to follow as the tachi was rushed to the repair room, their saniwa not far behind. But Ookurikara's hold on him is strong enough, even despite his own surely-immense distress, and Sada just breaks down completely in his arms.
Sada just chuckles, his genuine concern not without some amusement for sure. He crouches beside Ookurikara, holding out the glass of water he'd brought from the kitchen. He had anticipated this when he witnessed the uchigatana drinking a bit more than he normally might-- this morning would not be fun for him.
"Here, drink this. Do you feel like eating? I think lunch'll be ready soon! I could go get plates to bring back for us, if you want?"
The sound of feet pounding on the wooden floors can be heard, followed by the sound of sliding, a crash, and a few seconds of silence... before the footfalls start again, growing closer.
He can be loud, he can be persistent, he can be just... so, so happy, so much of the time, and perhaps most annoying of all... he just cares.
It's been a rough day for Fudou. Another spat with Hasebe, leading to a frustrated sparring match with Urashima, replete with mistakes and slips.
Sometimes he can drink himself into enough of a daze that he doesn't notice the way other people look at him, full of what he perceives to be dismay, doubt, disparagement, disappointment... But today isn't one of those days. He left the sparring session defeated by more than just Urashima's show of skill, and he'd last been seen dashing off to his room.
He didn't show up to the dining hall, and Sada had gotten worried.
"Fudou... you really should come eat," he insists, sitting next to where Fudou was leaning against the wall. "You can sit with me, Kara-chan, Micchan, and Tsuru-san if you want. You know we'd love to have you...!"
"I'm not hungry," Fudou snaps, then closes his eyes to mentally chide himself. "I'm sorry. I'm just... I think I'm just gonna hang out in here tonight. Maybe go to bed early."
"Aww... but..." Sada reaches over to rub Fudou's arm in what he hopes is a comforting, encouraging gesture. "You shouldn't go to sleep on an empty stomach. What if I brought you something? I could eat with you, or..."
Fudou just shakes his head.
Now Sada starts jostling him a little by the arm. "Fuuuudou-chan," he whines. "C'mon, please?"
"Ugh, no--"
Fudou had turned to glare at Sada, ready to try and dissuade him again, but... he can't help but just stare into those big, honey-colored eyes.
Both tantou fall quiet, and Fudou feels his heart skip a beat in a way that he's quite sure isn't a side effect from his tipsiness.
With neither thought nor warning, Fudou leans over and presses his lips to Fudou's.
It's quick, though, as almost as quickly as he does so, he pulls back, and makes to scoot away.
"Fuck-- sorry, I--"
"Fudou," Sada says softly, the hand on his arm holding a bit more firmly. He's smiling brightly as usual, but it's a bit subdued. "It's alright."
Fudou isn't sure he's ever seen the Taikogane Sadamune look anything akin to shy, but with the way he's blushing, he thinks maybe he does right now. It seems like he might say something more, but instead, he simply leans over to kiss him again. It's soft, and lingers for a bit longer than their first kiss had lasted.
"I've... been wondering when we might do something like that," Sada admits, linking his arm with Fudou's and hugging it tightly.
"Wh--"
"I'll tell you more about it, too-- if you eat." Sada hops up, grinning yet again, and moving to the door. "I'll bring dinner back, and we can talk. Okay?"
Sada doesn't wait for an answer, and is out the door.
Fudou can only just wait there for him, bewildered, blushing, and... perhaps a little excited.
(platonic obv) “ i need a minute. “ (kara -> sada)
[ comforting a lover friend after a nightmare ]
Sada loves Ookurikara just the way he is, of course, but he is always encouraging him (sometimes silently, sometimes not) to open up more, be a little more free with his emotions.
But this is not what he had hoped for.
He doesn't like seeing the uchigatana shaken like this. Fear--especially away from the heat and danger of battle-- does not suit Ookurikara, and witnessing it now just makes Sada feel like he should be afraid, too.
They're on a simple expedition this time. Nothing even remotely dangerous has happened, except for Sada dropping a rather hefty chunk of ore on his pinky toe, and it's been smooth sailing, he thought.
But in their lodging in the middle of the night, he'd woken to the sounds of Ookurikara clearly having a nightmare, and had managed to jostle him awake.
-
"Okay," he assures him. He's not going to press for anything, but the look in Sada's wide amber eyes is clearly one of concern. What could he have been dreaming about to trouble him so much?
❓ (for Sada) With how Mitsutada and Tsurumaru had left the Date household (even if they didn't really have a choice), did you ever fear that Ookurikara was going to be taken away from you too?
[ SEND ❓+ A QUESTION AND MY MUSE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO ANSWER TRUTHFULLY ]
"... Yes. I know that neither one of them left me of their own accord, and I know the same would have been for Kara-chan, too. But... that didn't make it hurt any less when the worry crossed my mind."
