聞いて欲しかった、

Gokotai isn’t back yet. He’s going to blame himself for this. That was all that Aki could think about at that moment, their mind otherwise full of white noise. A small group of HRA forces had managed to infiltrate the back lines, mere minutes after Aki had convinced Gokotai they would be able to hold their own long enough for him to relay messages between them and Shuu, at the front lines. 

Ah, if only they’d asked Shinano Toushirou to remain when he’d offered…but they hadn’t thought they’d need it. They’d had confidence their back line was impenetrable. Aki was sure they hadn’t been defeated, of course, since it did not look like this small group was being backed up by reinforcements. They had, however, managed to slip by sight unseen somehow, and that was a little more troubling. Maybe, they thought, Hachisuka could withdraw. An uchigatana’s scouting ability would be useful…

The sound of fabric tearing snapped them out of strategizing. They’d misjudged their parry, and the tantou’s blade had caught the sleeve of their kariginu. They knew they were lucky it’d missed their arm. 

They weren’t thinking straight, senses launched into even more of a panic than before. Adrenaline was their worst enemy in situations where they needed a level head. Aki wasn’t yet so adept with a sword that they didn’t have to think about their actions, and that was the problem against enemies that were literally fighting on instinct alone.

They didn’t want to die like this. They parried, the edge of their blade deflecting the tantou.

They couldn’t die like this. The edges of their vision were dark, like they might pass out.

They fell for a feint, and flinched as the blade rushed towards their arms, raised instinctively to protect their face.

The tantou dissipated in a storm of black and red, and Aki’s subconscious mind realized what had happened well before their thoughts caught up to the situation. Almost immediately, they felt their head stop swimming so quickly.

Arms were around them, comfortable and safe and warm. “Ko-chan,” Aki managed, voice more choked than they thought, and it was only then they realized consciously what they already knew. “I…”

“Are you hurt, my love?” Kogarasumaru asked, briefly pulling their head towards his shoulder. They hadn’t realized they were shaking so badly. His heartbeat was soothing. Kogarasumaru was here.

“No…it was all so sudden, I…” 

As Kogarasumaru pulled back, he gently helped Aki lower to the ground, their knees suddenly giving out. Once they were settled, he hummed thoughtfully. “Wait right here for me, Aki. I will take care of the rest.” Without another word, Kogarasumaru leapt into action. He cut down enemies easily, gracefully, and cleanly. It was exactly like watching him dance, Aki thought. There was a rehearsed power to it, as if—no, precisely because he had had centuries upon centuries of experience. 

He fought with an aggression that Aki did not see within the training hall. When he sparred with the others, his movements were calculated and precise. Now, though, it was as if he was improvising—which, they supposed, he had to do. But more than that, there was a power behind his actions that they had never seen before. Aki could do little else but watch in awe, enamored with his strength—the beautiful, raw strength of their sword.

It was over as quickly as it’d begun, the ringing of steel falling quiet. In a flash, Kogarasumaru was back at Aki’s side. He crouched next to them, resting a hand on their back. “Where have my children gone, Aki?” Kogarasumaru asked, “I thought the little one was protecting you.”

Aki hadn’t realized they were trembling. “I asked him to…Shuu-chan, there was something I wanted to tell Shuu-chan…I told him it was okay…” Aki trailed off, trying not to babble.

Kogarasumaru pulled their head close and kissed their temple. “Taking on a surprise attack alone is difficult even for a seasoned warrior. The fact that you survived is quite admirable.” Kogarasumaru’s tone became serious, much more stern than he’d ever been with them. “You are truly fortunate I came when I did. Do not take such a risk ever again.” Aki didn’t fail to notice it was a demand, not a request.

They took a deep breath. They had a role to fulfill, despite the circumstances. Everyone else was putting their lives at a thousand times more risk than Aki was. The very least they could do was regain their level-headedness, to be a proper commander. They owed as much to everyone else.

Aki stood, with assistance from Kogarasumaru, and dusted themself off. It was just in time, too, as a distinctive shout rang across the yard. “Aki-sama! Aki-sama! I’m, I’m back!”

Gokotai was surprised to see Kogarasumaru, and he very clearly took immediate notice of the state of Aki’s clothing. It wasn’t difficult to understand what had happened. To Gokotai’s credit, however, he was a warrior before he was a human. Though the emotion was evident on his face, he dutifully relayed what he had seen on his way to and from the front lines. “Shuu-sama has, their forces have, repelled the enemy forces from the middle lines, and th-they’re getting further from the citadel…um, and Hachisuka-sama and Kashuu-sama have figured out wh-where Mikazuki-sama has run off to, so…”

Aki, however, was human above all else. They pulled Gokotai into a hug. When they pulled back, their hands remained on his shoulders, even as they switched into their serious, commanding tone. “What is going on with Mikazuki Munechika? He’s been responsible for the change in scenery, but beyond that…”