I strung some lights up on the porch. I'm very proud of them because they illuminate the space so well! And the best part is, they're controlled by a remote so I can turn the lights off and one or change the light settings from inside. 

Level Up!

I'm here for it. I have gathered more friends to write stories with this year! And that's beautiful. I haven't blogged properly in ages so here I am.

Passion (⁠๑⁠♡⁠⌓⁠♡⁠๑⁠)

Writing the spicy scene as requested by my friend............... much help was needed to piece this one together...

Jake's Story on Mutsunokami

Mutsunokami suffered greatly. He was sad because he was not as great of swordsman as Mikazuki was. Mikazuki is a tenken gokken and Mutsunokami is just a sword boi. 

He has to rely on his gun because hes not a great swordsman and he feels bad about that because he wants to be good at his craft. He feels that hes powerful when holding a gun and isnt as strong with his sword. 

He sometimes cries himself to sleep thinking about this as his training just doesnt always pay off. 

He often day dreams of duels against mikazuki and overpowering him with his swords. But when actually presented these opportunities he has a tendency to reach for his gun but Mikazuki knows better than that and always gets the upper hand no matter what.

He suffers daily as this weighs on his conscience and its hard to get through the days. He would just rather sleep all day and not worry about training, because in the end, what is the point? 

He will never be as good as the great Mikazuki. He has come to accept this as no training could help with his battles. He will instead only rely on his gun because he knows that at least gets the job done, maybe not to the best effort, but no longer cares anymore.

Some time has passed and his sword is not rusted and dull. But again he doesnt care about that, he has his gun and it disposes enemies just as well, even faster than a sword. It may not be ideal or the style of a Sword soul, but Mutsunokami has lost his will. 

When spending time with Monoyoshi, The young sword soul pointed out the rust on his blade, and asked why he hasnt sharpened and cleaned it up. 

Mutsunokami paid no attention to him and just grunted. Monoyoshi asked if something was the matter? Mutsunokami just replies with "If it matters so much to you, why dont you clean it?" and proceeds to throw his sword on the ground and walk away.

Monoyoshi stared in confusion, wondering what was the matter. But he wanted to help out a fellow sword so he picked up the blade and took it with him. 

Days passed and Monoyoshi managed to clean up Mutsunokami's sword, it looked brand new. He presented this to the troubled soul hoping to improve his mood. 

Mutsunokami just looks at him in a questionable manner and says "Why did you even go through that trouble, I dont use them anyway."

Monoyoshi looked a little disappointed and replied "I just wanted to help a friend out is all."

Mutsunokami did respect the gesture and took the sword from the boy. "Thank you, he said. But it was a waste of time."

He walks away twirling his revolver as he does.

Mutsunokami finds that his masters don't use him as much as the other sword souls, and that also hurts his morale. He wishes he was as favored as the other swords such as Yagen, or even the weird surfer guy Sasanuki. The guy doesnt even have a last name, so why bother wasting your time with him? 
He sits in his room most of the day, day dreaming about battles and how he can improve his abilities. However his last battle with Mikazuki really affected him personally. His gun proved inaffective against the tenken goken. Mikazuki would just slice through the bullets like they were butter.
How can you go up against someone like that he ponders. He distances himself from the others, possible why the other masters dont want to use him. As he just shuts himself out most of the time. 
When given the chance to go out on missions with the other swords, its shortlived. Masters will give him a try, but wont commit. This really hurts his feelings, and makes him feel unwanted.

Chasers?

The bonfire party on the beach was in full swing when Lena and Mikazuki returned to the rest of the group. Lena tried her best to straighten out her yukata. She hoped she looked presentable in front of the others, and that it wasn't too obvious to anyone that her clothes gotten pulled off earlier in the night...

"Are you all right?" Mikazuki asked, from beside her. She noticed she was gripping onto his sleeve tightly. She felt nervous, as her heart was pounding fast in her chest. But it wasn't a bad feeling... it felt exciting, like nothing she had ever felt in her life.

"Yes, I'm fine." Lena laughed. "In fact, I've never been happier... am... I allowed to feel this way?"

There was always that nagging fear in her heart, that fear of abandonment that she tried not to care about. For tonight, Lena pushed that feeling away and tried her best to focus on the special words Mikazuki said to her. She would hold them close to her heart.

Even when Sasanuki spotted them and approached them, Lena was careful not to be too friendly. "Sorry Sasanuki-san, I’ll sit on the beach with Mikazuki-san," she said, and looked down at the sand at her feet instead of Sasanuki's eyes. Then, Mikazuki led her to where Aki and Hizen was sitting.

"Aki-nee, how are you feeling?" Lena asked. "Are you enjoying the party so far?"

Aki nodded. "Yes, Hizen has been taking good care of me. Did you and Mikazuki-san have a good talk?"

"Yes." Lena suddenly felt her face grow hot. "We... talked things out! And... I am feeling really thirsty now, so I will see Tsuru-san and get a drink!"

Tsurumaru saw Lena approaching and smirked at her. 

"There's so much sand in your hair. Have you been rolling around in it?" he asked, teasing her, as was his style...

Lena rolled her eyes at him and ignored his question. "Can you make something sweet?"

"Sure, coming right up!" Tsuru replied with a wink, and proceeded to pour a cocktail that was deceivingly sweet but contained an insane amount of alcohol. He was certain Lena would enjoy it, as Heshikiri had a few already, and was having a great time! ...Yes, Heshikiri wasn't lecturing at all, rather he was dancing on the beach.... yes....

The Sasa Award

Lena was sweeping up leaves in the courtyard when an unfamiliar sword approached her. She wasn't familiar with him because they hadn’t worked closely together before. 

"Hey," he introduced himself casually, "I'm Sasanuki." 

"Sasanuki-san..." She curled her lip when his name was mentioned. Of course, she remembered now, he joined their team during the summertime. Mostly he went on scouting expeditions. 

"Just call me Sasanuki," he replied, not caring much for formalities.

"What can I help you with?"

"I have a request." He stared at her with his piercing blue eyes, the same colour of the shining ocean. "The next time you visit the shops, can I accompany you? I have something that I need."

"What is it?" Lena asked, "I can buy it for you, if you let me know?"

Sasanuki shook his head. "It will be easier if I tag along. My jacket got damaged during the last mission, and I would like to get it fixed."

At the mention of clothing, Lena's eyes lit up and her whole demeanor changed. "Oh, you need to go shopping for clothes? No problem! In fact, we can even find time to visit the tailor shop today!"

"Uhh, well... it's not that big of a rush...???" 

Sasanuki was confused. He didn't have time to think before Lena took him by the arm and started leading him down the pathway back inside. Shopping was one of her favourite activities, and she rarely got the opportunity because Heshikiri was always nagging them about their finances. But with Sasanuki's excuse, there was no way Heshikiri could deny them!

After informing the team that she would be going into town, Lena and Sasanuki stepped into the time portal together and disappeared in a flash.

"Hmm? Where did Lena hurry off to in such a rush?" Aki wondered. "And who was with her? That didn't look like Mikazuki."

Hizen shrugged. "I dunno. Haven't seen that guy around much... Honestly, I don't really care."

"Hizen!" Aki gave him a nudge. "Be nice!"

"Why?" Hizen caught her hand and held it in his. "The person I care about most is you. Isnt that enough?"

Aki blushed. Recently, since they *became closer*, Hizen surprised her by showing a softer side whenever they were alone. Though he was still indifferent around the rest of the team.

But, something didn't seem right... Aki felt something strange about the situation she saw with Lena. She hoped it wouldn't lead to trouble later on. 

---

At the tailor shop, Lena cheerfully bounced through the door and greeted the owner. She was a regular here, and visited quite often. They dropped off Sasanuki's jacket to be mended, and then Lena turned her focus to the colourful fabrics hanging on the walls.

"Say..." Something caught her attention. "You would look amazing in this!" Lena gestured to a stylish yukata for men. Her eyes were sparkling as she imagined Sasanuki wearing it. "You wear so much blue, perhaps you can try green, or how about grey?"

"I agree," the owner commented. They looked Sasanuki up and down. "We have this lovely scarf that matches the outfit perfectly."

"Yes! Let's try that, and... Ooh, this hat looks stylish as well. And how about these gloves?" Lena started to get carried away, piling a bunch of items into Sasanuki's arms for him to try on. 

Sasanuki could not refuse how insistent she was being. It was easier for him to go with the flow rather than protest, so he went along with Lena's wishes to play dress up. 

"Does it suit me?" he asked, after trying on every item she gave him... At the same time.

Lena studied his appearance and smiled brightly. "Yes... We will have to buy everything!"

The shop owner was pleased as well. "Splendid choices! I'll package everything up at once."

"Perfect." Lena felt accomplished. Brimming with satisfaction, she and Sasanuki returned back to the Honmaru with their new purchases. Hopefully Heshikiri wouldn't notice the extra koban they spent, but even if he did, Lena didn't worry too much.

---

Over the following weeks, Lena found herself gradually spending more time with Sasanuki. Since their shopping trip, whenever Lena was, Sasanuki always seemed to be close by and ready to strike up a conversation. 

During one of those moments, the topic turned to surfing on the waves and how much Lena liked the ocean.  

"I'd LOVE to learn how to surf!" Lena exclaimed. "That's super cool."

"I could teach you," Sasanuki offered, "but we would need to catch some big waves. There's nothing like that around here."

"Maybe someday, then." Lena sighed. For now, hearing Sasanuki's stories was enough. "Anyway, I should go and check on the horses. I'll talk to you later!"

Sasanuki watched as Lena disappeared off to the stables. Talking to her was interesting. He liked that... 

Rise and Shine

On a cool morning, Lena and Mikazuki met in the Honmaru courtyard for training practice. The soft light of the rising sun cast a golden hue on their figures. Usually the team used the training hall. Lena preferred to be outside. Last time, Mikazuki pushed her back into the wall easily. Lena was determined to avoid that again and show him her strength!

She nervously touched the hilt of the wakizashi tucked into her sash. Today was the day she would hold a real weapon. This was Mikazuki's idea, for them to practice for real. He, of course, would still use a wooden sword. Her goal was to block as many hits as possible. Close quarter combat and self-defence, in case enemies got too close. 

"Are you ready?" Mikazuki asked, a gentle smile gracing his lips. As always, he looked elegant. Bathed in the warm orange glow and with fall leaves scattering around him, he looked as if he belonged in a painting.

Lena took a moment to steady her breath, her heart started to race again. And this was because of him... 

"Yes," she said, willing herself to focus. This was not the time for daydreaming. 

"All right, then here I come."

In a flash the distance between them vanished. Mikazuki lunged forward and swung his weapon down. Lena quickly drew her sword and the loud crack! of metal colliding against wood echoed in the air. Mikazuki moved again and Lena narrowly avoided that attack, straining as she sidestepped to use momentum to knock the sword away.

"Brilliant, brilliant," he praised. "You have become faster."

"Ah, it's no big deal," Lena said, flushed with embarrassment at his praise. "Only that I have gotten used to predicting your movements."

Mikazuki's smile widened, a mixture of pride and admiration in his expression. There was a connection between them. Although unspoken, he was certain they both felt that way. Lena was bad with words, but in these moments, he felt her heart.

The sparring session continued, with Lena blocking and avoiding his attacks, and Mikazuki giving corrections on her form and footwork. When the sun reached its peak, they finally called an end to their training to take a break.

"Thank you Mikazuki," Lena exclaimed, catching her breath, "I'm feeling so refreshed!!"

Mikazuki peered down at her and said, "I enjoy seeing how much you have improved."

Lena smiled happily, a glimpse of her true self. Not the mask she wore when she was trying to hide her feelings, or worried about portraying a proper image. Mikazuki wished to see her happy. And he would protect that happiness.

---

Returning inside, Lena saw Aki pacing back and forth with a worried expression on her face. Immediately she approached Aki and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Well," Aki bit her lower lip, "I was trying to bake something as a surprise for Hizen, but I don't know where to begin."

Lena: "Oh no! Well, I have some experience with baking and could offer a hand if you need?"

Aki: "Yes, please help! That would be great - I want tonight to be perfect."

Lena glanced at Mikazuki. "Do you want to help too? We could use someone with big strong hands to mix the dough for us."

"Yes," he agreed, "Let me participate as well."

The three of them headed to the kitchen. All the necessary ingredients and tools were already out on the counter. From her phone, Aki showed a recipe of what she wanted to make: a cute collection of bear-shaped pastries. 

"OK, let's start! First, we need to gather the ingredients in the mixing bowl." 

Lena carefully measured and sifted the flour. Then, Aki brought over a few eggs, sugar, and the rest of the remaining ingredients and added them to the bowl. 

"Mikazuki, can you please fold everything together?" Lena asked, handing him a rubber spatula. When she turned away to grab a spoon, she turned back to see Mikazuki stirring the batter in a round motion, as if it was soup. 

"Oh, wait!" She hurried over to stand beside Mikazuki. "This needs to be mixed in a specific way. Allow me to demonstrate." She grabbed his hand to guide him with the correct motion. "We need to scoop up the ingredients at the bottom of the bowl and turn them to the top."

"Ah, I see, I see." Mikazuki nodded. "So that is the correct way."

"There you go," Lena said with a smile. 

They stood there for a moment in place, with Lena's hand placed over Mikazuki's. The touch of her soft hand gave him a warm feeling inside, something that was becoming more familiar as he spent time with her. After a moment, Lena realized she was still holding his hand. She quickly let go, averting her attention back in the other direction.

Trying to draw attention away from what just happened, Lena quickly asks, "Did you preheat the oven, Aki?" and went over to check on that.

After the dough was properly mixed, Lena demonstrated to Aki and Mikazuki how to work with the dough to create the shape. 

"Is this the shape you were hoping for?" Lena asked, holding up a ball of dough in the shape of a bear head. 

Aki: "Yes, exactly!"  

Lena: "Great. We can use candy for the eyes."

While moulding the shape of the pastry, too focused to realize, Lena rubbed at her cheek without thinking, leaving a mark of flour on her face. Mikazuki notices this and points it out to her.

"You have something there." He reached out to gently wipe the flour away with his thumb.

Jokingly, Lena says back, "You got something too!" and with her flour-covered hands, wipes some on his face.

Mikazuki laughed and returned the favour, he grabbed some leftover flour from the bowl and threw it at her.

Lena cried, "Nooo, not my hair!" and she reached for the entire bowl to retaliate, but Mikazuki stopped her by grabbing both her hands. They both looked at each other's faces and laughed.

"Come on, let's finish the baking first," Aki interrupted. She was happy to see them playing around, but did not want them to get carried away. There was already a mess on the counter and floors.

"You're right! Sorry," Lena said apologetically. 

Then a voice at the doorway suddenly said, "Ooow thanks you two for your service!" Heshikiri stood there and shook his head at the mess. This would definitely result in a lecture. "Wasting this flour is like wasting our koban. We have to be responsible when we handle our funds!"

"Yes, yes, you're right," Lena agreed. "We will clean up and this won't happen again! Sorry!"

Heshikiri started to say, "Now listen here!!" but suddenly stopped. ...Wait. She was agreeing with him?! Normally Lena would either argue back or try to run away. This was a surprise, he didn't know how to react. After a pause he cleared his throat and said, "Very well then." Then he adjusted his collar and walked away.

Together, they put the bear pastries into the hot oven and cleaned up all evidence of the flour-fight.

"At the store the other day, I was looking at the selection of teas and I saw they had the flavour you liked, so I made sure to buy it," Lena said. "Would you like some now? Then we can go out on the porch and sit together?"

He noticed that 

were sitting out on the porch together as they drank some tea.

Sitting side by side they stared out into the field. Bright orange leaves occasionally descending off the branches.

"What a gorgeous day it is today." 

"Indeed, its very colorful out this time of year."  

Mikazuki admired the flowers planted around the front of the porch, as they blew slightly in the wind. 

"The flowers display a beauty that almost rivals yours," he commented.

Caught off guard, Lena fumbled her words, "Oh um, th-that's really s-sweet of you to say."

Holding her tea cup, Mikazuki could see her hand shaking slightly.

Mikazuki placed his hand on hers.

"Easy, you don't want to spill your tea." He said softly with a smile. 

Honmaru

 

NORITSUNE'S PARTY

One day, Lena received a beautifully decorated envelope. When she opened it, a holographic image displayed from the card - it was an invitation to a birthday celebration, sent by her cousin, Noritsune, or "Nori" as she called him. Lena was an only child in her family, so when she was little growing up, she only had her cousin that was around the same age as her. However, Noritsune only lived in the countryside for a few years before moving to the city with his father, who had gotten a job with the government at the time. 

"Aki! Look," Lena said excitedly. "We got invited to a birthday party. Well, it's held at this famous nightclub in the city. Wanna come with me?" 

Aki took the envelope and looked at the address. Yes, it seemed the party was being held over the weekend at a popular spot located downtown in the city back in 2205. "Do you think we should go?" she asked, "We've been pretty busy with missions lately. Will the government allow us to take the time off?" 

Lena nodded, "Of course! We get some weekends off, don't we? And we work SO hard. We should figure out what to wear, and look, the invitation says we can bring whoever we want. So, if you want to bring a date, maybe............" 

Lena grinned and looked towards Hizen Tadahiro, who was sitting at the kotatsu table in the middle of the room. He was drinking sake with Mutsunokami, arguing about something with him again. The wakizashi and uchigatana were always disagreeing over something or another, but everyone knew despite their disagreements, they were very close. 

"I think it will be fun to attend a party," Lena continued, "When was the last time we got to dress up and have fun? Besides, I haven't seen Nori in FOR~EVER! You know, he's a Saniwa like us. He was enlisted by the government years before I was. I want you to meet him. I think you two will get along well!" 

Aki smiled, for Lena's sake. "Sure, I'd love to meet him, just as I've met your grandmother. I'm sure he's a nice person..." 

"Then it's decided! This weekend, we'll go back to the present time and go to the party." Lena's eyes sparkled. "We can go shopping for matching outfits! Won't that be SO fun!?" Lena once again got carried away by the idea of shopping, something she loved to do. Aki was about to remind Lena to save their koban, but she couldn't say anything once she saw how happy Lena was. So then it was decided that this upcoming weekend, they would attend Lena's cousin's birthday party.................. 

And so, with Aki’s help, the two girls sent communications to the Government of Time to request the upcoming weekend off. Surprisingly, their vacation request was accepted, and Lena quickly booked accommodations for a nearby hotel in the city so they had a place to stay after the party. 

„So, will you invite Hizen?“ Lena asked Aki, grinning again from ear-to-ear.  

„Invite me to what?“ Hizen asked, overhearing the conversation. He sauntered up to Aki and Lena, hands stuffed into the pocket of his red hoodie. 

„My cousin’s birthday party,“ Lena replied. 

„Why would I want to go to that?“ Hizen said, somewhat rudely. „I don’t know him, so why should I care?“ 

„Well,“ Lena explained, „Aki will be there, and since it’s a party, there should be unlimited booze… My cousin is a real party animal, if I remember correctly.“  

Hizen thought about this for a brief moment. Surely he wouldn’t let Aki attend this party alone, especially in the presence of strangers. And, UNLIMITED drinks? Well, Hizen loved his sake and he wasn’t against trying other beverages either. „So, are you inviting me?“ he asked, turning to Aki, looking a bit shy as he turned to his master for approval. 

Aki took one look at Hizen’s inquiring face and of course her heart melted at his endearing look. „Yes, of course I am inviting you,“ she answered. „If you would like to come with me…??“ 

Hizen nodded quickly, with a very faint blush spreading on his cheeks. „… Then yes, I would like to go. So… count me in.“  

He quickly turned around and walked away, as the conversation was over and decided.  

„Wow, that was easy,“ Lena laughed, giving Aki a pat on her back. „So now we only have to decide what to wear, yes?“ 

Aki watched Hizen disappear down the hall. „What? Oh… sure, yes. Let’s decide that and have a good time.“ 

Now that Aki had invited Hizen (haha that was effortless!), it was up to Lena to invite her plus one. Lena knew the Danshi she wanted to invite to the party. It was obvious! But for some reason, it was difficult to muster up the courage to ask. As always. 

„Come on, this is so stupid,“ Lena said to herself, shaking her head to try and clear her thoughts. „Come on… you just have to go up to him and ASK! OK. I can do it! And if he says no, I’ll order him to come. Yes, that’s what I’ll do…“ 

Even though Lena was trying to focus, she didn’t think her method was working. She wished Aki could help her, but this was something she had to ask on her own. So off she went to find him. 

Lena bumped into Mikazuki as he was exiting the bath. He had a towel around his neck and was wiping away the water from his wet hair. Lena resisted the urge to keep walking right by him and stopped in her tracks. 

„Mikazuki! There’s something I want to ask,“ she said.  

„Oh?“ He looked surprised to see her there, standing before him looking incredibly uncomfortable. „What is it? I’m listening.“ 

„………..“ 

„Yes, so, there’s a party going on… Nothing big… just my cousin,“ Lena informed, crossing her arms. „Do you wanna… come with us? I mean, I’m going, and so is Aki and Hizen… if you don’t want to come, then no problem… What do you think…..?“ 

Fortunately, Mikazuki was in his uchiban outfit and not ONLY in a towel. Otherwise Lena would have ran away at first sight. She waited patiently for him to respond, looking at the floor instead of his face. 

„Ahaha, is that so?“ Mikazuki took a step closer to Lena. „So, you want me to come?“ 

„If I didn’t want you to come, why would I be asking you right now?“ Lena replied grumpily, letting out a sigh. „Do you think I would waste both of our time…?“ 

Mikazuki knew Lena would be short-tempered with him. For some reason, she used to be kinder, but recently even he noticed she was very tense whenever they were interacting. „Ah, why don’t you let me think about it,“ he answered. „I’m not decided yet.“ 

„Okay.“ Lena accepted his answer. „I’ll… talk to you later, then.“  

She turned and walked away from Mikazuki, feeling like she had failed in bringing out her feelings to him once again. 

 

Later that evening, Lena brought some tea and sweets to Aki’s room to talk to her about what happened.  

„I couldn’t tell him I wanted him to be there,“ Lena confessed, pouring tea in Aki’s cup. 

„Oh, that isn’t good,“ Aki commented. „Why were you so short? You shouldn’t have acted so coldly… Why are you always trying to hide your feelings from him?“ 

„I don’t want him… to think that I’m reliant on him for everything,“ Lena responded. „I know, it wasn’t polite… I should have chosen more considerate words.“ 

„Yes,“ Aki agreed, „You should try to open up your feelings better. Otherwise, if you keep hiding, the only person you end up hurting is yourself. Aren’t you supposed to trust each other? As Saniwa and Touken Danshi?“ 

„I know… this is hard for me… Maybe I should… just ask someone else…“ Lena held her cup of tea and gazed at the leaves remaining in the bottom.  

Upon hearing that, Aki reached out to touch Lena’s hand. „I know that isn’t what you want,“ she said firmly. „Stop trying to lie to yourself because you don’t want to be hurt!“ 

Lena’s eyes widened and she looked at Aki nervously. „…You’re right… I know…“ she mumbled. „I’ll try again, I promise.“ 

 

There were still a couple more days until the birthday party. In the meantime, Konnosuke informed Aki and Lena that the Government assigned them to another mission. 

„Your task is to intercept an HRA messenger,“ Konnosuke reported, „and stop them from delivering vital intel to their allies.“ 

„All right then,“ Heshikiri announced. „Then this time, Masters Aki and Lena will accompany the mission again. Their secretary swords, Wakazashi Hizen Tadahiro and Tachi Mikazuki Munechika, will go as well. Along with Uchigatana Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki and Tantou Yagen Toushirou. You all had better watch after our Masters better this time,“ he warned, as last mission Aki had gotten injured.   

After they had packed everything and changed into their combat attire, the team made their way to the time portal. The portal opened, and Aki and Lena stepped forward, followed closely by Hizen, Mikazuki Mutsunokami and Yagen.  

Arriving at a desolate landscape, the team quickly rushed into the bushes to hide and blended into the shadows. Hizen made sure Aki was near his side, ready to protect her. Minutes passed like eternity as they waited for the enemy messenger.  

Finally in the distance, a figure appeared and they were clutching a package… 

Undoubtedly, that package was holding the vital intel. The HRA messenger seemed oblivious to their presence, confident that they were safe from any interference. Lena signaled for the team to move forward and Aki did as well. Their Touken Danshi advanced with incredible swiftness, surrounding the messenger in a strategic formation.  

Mutsunokami’s sword flashed in the night. He blocked the messenger’s attempts to flee, driving them towards the center of the encirclement. Yagen anticipated the messenger’s every move, preventing any potential escape routes in his direction. 

„You won’t get away with this!“ The messenger growled. He reached for the sword fastened to his belt, but Hizen’s sword moved with lightning speed, disarming the messenger with ease before he could strike. The HRA messenger’s eyes widened with fear as he realized the dire situation he was in. There was no way he could win against the Touken Danshi before him. 

„Hand over the package,“ Aki demanded firmly.  

With a sense of resignation, he had no choice but to surrender. Lena stepped forward and retrieved the package from the messenger’s trembling hands. With the vital intel secured, the team made their way back through the time portal in high spirits. When they returned to the Honmaru, Heshikiri was there to congratulate them.  

„Well done,“ Heshikiri praised the team, which was a rare occurence recently. „I am glad there were no casualties this time.“ 

„Well, it was a simple mission!“ Mutsunokami laughed loudly. „So easy for us! We’re the BEST!“ 

„Yeah, yeah… „ Lena handed the package over to Konnosuke to analyze it so they could write the government report later. But her mind was elsewhere and it was obvious she wasn’t paying attention to anything else the others were saying. 

Hizen was looking at his master Aki up and down. „You weren’t hurt, were you?“ he asked, checking thoroughly to make sure Aki was unharmed. 

„Haha, Hizen, I’m fine!“ Aki replied, „So you don’t have to worry about me.“ 

„Master Aki, there is NO way in this world, new or old, that Hizen would not be worried about you!“ Mutsunokami said with a big grin.  

„Shut up!“ Hizen growled, „You don’t know me.“ 

„Suuuure,“ Mutsunokami replied, „whatever you say!“ 

Lena didn’t look at her friends after the mission was over. While the tantou were excitedly welcoming Aki and the rest of the team back home, she suddenly felt very tired. Maybe she wasn’t as strong as she tried to be, because she couldn’t even do a simple thing such as invite someone she liked to a party. 

„Are you all right?“ Yagen asked, stepping up to Lena. He was one of the only Danshi who could approach her so casually. „You don’t seem well.“ 

„No, I’m fine. Great job on the mission. I’m a bit tired, that’s all,“ Lena responded. „Once Konnosuke is done analyzing the data, would you let us know? Then Aki and I can look into writing the report…“ 

Lena finished what she had to say and turned away from Yagen. She started to make her way inside the Honmaru and headed to her room, feeling like she wanted to hide in there for a while. How could she work alongside Aki, the person she considered closest to her, as close as her sister, if she couldn’t even acknowledge her own feelings? This was something she would have to work on, otherwise Lena felt she will just bring the rest of the team down. 

 

It was Thursday, the day before the birthday party. Everyone was in high spirits after the recent successful mission, but Lena spent the morning hiding and sulking in her room. Normally, she would have woken up early to help prepare breakfast, but today when anyone came to her room door, she would tell them to „go away“. 

„I don’t understand,“ Yagen admitted to Aki. „She didn’t seem injured from the mission. So what’s wrong?“ 

Aki knew Lena well and so she replied, „You know, a woman’s heart is a mysterious thing… So Yagen, don’t worry, you should do what you have to to get her out of her room.“ 

Yagen nodded. „All right, then… but she won’t like it.“ 

Moments later, there was shouting and the sound of kicking around and things getting knocked over, and soon Lena appeared in the dining area for breakfast. Yagen had stormed into her room and dragged her out of bed, forced her to get dressed, and made sure she showed her face before Heshikiri noticed that she wasn’t present. How thoughtful… 

Her blue hair was disheveled, sticking up in various places like straw. Even the braid hanging against her cheek was loose and unravelling. She sucked in a breath and tried to care, but somehow couldn’t find the energy to do so.  

„Good morning,“ Lena said dully, fully aware of how tired she looked. In fact, she had been awake all night and hadn’t slept a wink. 

„Wow,“ Hizen commented, „You look terrible.“ 

„Thanks Hizen, you’re so nice,“ Lena replied, shooting him a glare. But she knew he was only telling the truth. 

„Hizen! Mind your manners,“ Aki said, turning to Lena. „It’s not so bad…!“ 

„Thanks, Aki-nee, but I know. I didn’t sleep well last night,“ Lena told her. „So it’s fine.“ 

„I thought you weren’t scared of horror movies,“ Hizen said.  

„I’m not,“ Lena replied, „I just… I was up all night thinking about something.“ 

The Honmaru was filled with the tantalizing aroma of a traditional Japanese breakfast prepared by Shokudaikiri and Shishiou. The enticing scents of miso soup, grilled fish, and pickled vegetables greeted everyone as they gathered around the low dining table. Heshikiri was arranging an assortment of dishes on the table as well. 

As Lena took her seat, she couldn’t help but notice that Mikazuki was missing from the group. Although she tried to ignore her curiousity, after enjoying some light conversation with Aki and the others, she excused herself to find him. 

 

The veranda offered a serene view of the courtyard and the surrounding scenery. Mikazuki was sitting there, gazing at the endless expanse of the sky.  

It was rare for him to worry about anything.  But when it happened, he even seemed to want to skip dinner.  Besides, it was difficult for others to recognize it because he always wore his usual smile.  So today he stayed away from breakfast.  His thoughts have been a lot about his master Lena lately.  He would never have thought that a human girl, no…, a young, attractive Saniwa, would captivate him so much that she would become so important to him.  He liked her very much, in fact he liked her more than anything.  The lively nature, how she cares about him and acts like she cares about others as well… which she isn’t, because he noticed that she was focusing her attention on him more than usual.  He enjoyed spending time with Lena.  He remembered her question from back then ‚can a sword love a human?‘, which he answered with ‚anything is possible‘ made him confident that he too could be something special for someone one day. 

One thing he noticed lately, however, was making his eyes look sad.  For some reason, Lena and he couldn’t get along like they used to.  Sometimes Lena reacted unfriendly or she simply runs away.  He found it difficult to talk to her about deeper things.  Was she rejecting him?  The situation made him discouraged, so much so that he even wanted to delay his response to her invitation.  He didn’t know, even at that moment, how he would answer her.  He sighed and just looked at the sky as if the horizon had an answer. 

The sight of him brought a sense of calm to Lena’s heart, but also a sense of fear as well, which she tried to suppress. 

„Good morning,“ Lena said softly, approaching him. 

„Good morning.“ Mikazuki turned his head, acknowledging her presence. „The morning sky is quite captivating, isn’t it?“ 

„Yes,“ Lena replied. „But don’t let the view distract you too much. Breakfast is ready…“ 

„Hahaha.“ Mikazuki chuckled lightly. „You’re right. I suppose I got lost in thought for a moment there.“ 

Before they made their way back to the dining area, Lena stopped in front of Mikazuki. „Um… before we go, I want to tell you something. I…I want you to know that I do want you to come with us… to the party, I mean. Tomorrow… and. I’m sorry I was so rude to you the other day.“ 

Mikazuki looked at her and laughed. „Sure… I understand. You know, Aki-dono was saying that a woman’s heart is a mysterious thing…“ 

Lena rolled her eyes, but was happy Mikazuki forgave her. „So, you’ll come with us? …With me?“ 

„Ahahahaha, as you wish. Let me join you,“ he said. 

Lena gave him a small smile, but inside her heart was soaring. „OK. Thank you…“ 

They made their way back, and the rest of the Touken Danshi warmly greeted them. Hizen was reaching for a piece of grilled fish, and already put many different food items on his dish, and Aki’s dish too.  

As everyone indulged in the meal, the conversation flowed easily. Lena felt grateful for the companionship everyone provided. Her thoughts drifted to life in the countryside with her grandmother, where she never had the opportunity to make many friends. Yet today, she was enjoying a breakfast with Aki and the rest of their team. And that made her very happy, even if she didn’t have the words to express her feelings. 

 It was evening.  An excited Konnosuke came running down the hall.  The first person he encountered was Yagen.  He quickly reported: “There is new information about the package!  Please look for our Saniwa!  I’ll keep an eye out for their secretary swords.  We’ll all meet in the common room!  Please hurry up!” and Yagen rushed off to look for Lena and Aki.  His first thought was Lena’s room.  Sure enough, they were both there, chatting about the upcoming weekend.  Yagen rushed into the room as the two Saniwas were thinking about what gifts they could bring for Lena’s cousin. 

 “Konnosuke has more information regarding the HRA messenger’s package.  Please come with me!  It seems urgent.” They immediately set off. 

 When everyone was present, Konnosuke began to explain, “The government had the package analyzed.  The contents consisted of time-return amulets, but they don’t work.  We were able to find out that they were made to be distributed among the Honmarus.  The intention was to not let the time-traveling Touken Danshi return to their time after the battle!  The consequences are obvious!” his listeners became aware of the seriousness of the situation.  Concerned, Aki asked: “Was the package the only one or had several such fake amulets already been distributed?” “We don’t know.  The time will tell.  First of all, tests are being carried out on the amulets that have been issued recently.“ Konnosuke replied and continued: „Apparently there is a spy who works in the government but is secretly acting against them.  We have to be extremely careful.  I will keep you updated.” With these words Konnosuke said goodbye.  So before they start a carefree weekend the next day, they would have to immediately pass on this unpleasant notification to the others. 

On the day of the party, Aki and Lena spent the morning completing their duties and chores before starting to get ready. As they were taking a weekend off-duty, it was decided that the next part of the mission would be assigned when they returned. 

 Lena was excited to do Aki’s makeup and helped tie her hair into a beautiful side braid. They decided to wear modern dresses instead of traditional. 

 „How do I look?“ Aki asked, twirling around in her dress in front of the mirror. They were in Lena’s room preparing. 

 „Soooo beautiful!“ Lena complimented. „Wait, we should put the hairpin we bought at the festival as well. That will match perfectly.“ 

 Aki gazed at herself in the mirror as Lena helped put the hairpin on. She wondered how Hizen would react to her new appearance. 

 Lena also commented, „You look drop dead gorgeous! I’ve never seen you in western style. I think Hizen will love it.“ 

 „Do you think so?“ Aki touched her hair. „I hope this suits me.“ 

"It does! I promise," Lena reassured her. "I chose the best complimenting colours for you. We will enjoy the party with everyone." 

Aki and Lena decided that Mikazuki, Hizen, Shizukagata, and Kotegiri would be the team coming along to the party. Shizukagata liked to dance, and Kotegiri loved to sing and dance, so they were happy to be included. Lena desperately wanted Yagen to go as well, but he refused, as he was not “the dancing type”. Mutsunokami also recently came back from a mission and had to go for repairs, so he could not make the party in time either. 

Noritsune’s party was held at an upscale nightclub because he was secretly a party animal, even though during the day he acted as a responsible and proper Saniwa. His father, Lena's uncle, was very strict and even demanded Nori to enter an arranged marriage for political reasons – which surprisingly, Nori agreed to do. Lena had not spoken to Nori in a long time, but since Granny had mentioned this fact to her, so she knew about it.  

When the group arrived, the loud music could be heard even from outside. The establishment looked fancy as it was the city’s most popular night spot. Standing guard at the entrance was a tall figure wearing a black hoodie with many buckles and a sheer mesh shirt. He also wore a cap. Kotegiri recognized the man instantly. It was his big brother, Inaba! 

“INABA SENPAI?!” Kotegiri gasped, “Is that you! Wow, you look so different! Cool!” 

“…” Inaba remained emotionless and didn’t comment. Instead he asked coldly, “Do you have an invitation?” 

Lena handed their invitation to Inaba, and they were shown inside. Vibrant lights and upbeat music filled the large room. Many well-dressed men and women in extravagant clothing were socializing, dancing and drinking. Some of them were Saniwa and some were not, some were even Touken Danshi.  

“It’s quite lively here,” Mikazuki commented, although they could barely hear his voice over the loud music. 

At the center of the dance floor was a stage where a DJ was mixing songs. Kotegiri’s eyes went wide with excitement. He and Shizukagata immediately went down towards the dance floor… 

At the center of the dance floor was a stage where a DJ was mixing songs. Kotegiri’s eyes went wide with excitement. He and Shizukagata immediately went towards the dance floor… Shizukagata started moving his hips to the beat, swaying back and forth with a smile on his face. Onlookers admired his muscular abs as he danced, hypnotized by his alluring movements and provocative outfit. 

“We should first find Noritsune and greet him,” Aki suggested, “and give him the present.” 

“That sounds good,” Lena agreed. “But there are so many people here, how will we find him?” 

“I see a table in the back where people are sitting,” Mikazuki informed. He was the tallest in the group, so he was able to see better above the crowd. “Does your cousin have dark hair? A man there is seated in the middle of the group.” 

“Yes, he has black hair.” Lena nodded. “So that must be him.”  

Hizen sighed, growing impatient. Saying hello to Lena’s cousin was at the most bottom of his priorities. “Hey, you guys can go, but I’m gonna grab a drink. See ya later.”  

He gave a wave as he headed off In the direction of the bar. He didn’t want to leave Aki alone, but she would be safe with Lena and Mikazuki. Besides, he had never been to a human world party before, so this was his chance to observe his surroundings to understand more about the situation… 

Meeting Noritsune again after all these years did not go as Lena expected. When they locked eyes, the first thing she noticed was his emotionless eyes. They were like staring into an abyss, like looking into the cold eyes of someone who held many secrets. Somehow, looking at him sent chills down Lena's back. This was so different from the boy from her childhood that she remembered, who was easy to smile and always had encouraging words. 

"Cousin, it's good to see you..." Lena began nervously. "Thank you for the invitation. This is my friend and fellow Saniwa, Aki Shimura, and this is Mikazuki Munechika... my secretary sword." 

Aki and Mikazuki both bowed to him out of respect.   

"This is for you." Aki handed the wrapped birthday present to Noritsune. He accepted the present with a small smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. 

"Thank you for your consideration," Noritsune said politely. "Please enjoy the party. However, I will request that you allow me to have words with Lena alone." 

Mikazuki wore the same pleasant expression, but inwardly he sensed something about Noritsune's energy that he couldn't explain. That feeling was unsettling, because it felt similar to something Mikazuki had encountered before - but he couldn't put a finger on it. Aki was smiling but she felt the same thing - a brief pulse of energy from the man before them that made the hair on the back of their neck stand up. 

"Sure, of course. You are family, so there's a lot to catch up on," Aki replied, she felt hesitant but unable to refuse his direct request. "Then I will go and find Hizen..." 

The friends surrounding Noritsune also quickly disappeared at his command. The only figure remaining standing behind Noritsune was that of an intimidating Touken Danshi - Onimaru. He surveyed his surroundings with the piercing stare of his one red eye. Of course, naturally every Saniwa would have a secretary sword, so Onimaru must be Noritsune's. 

Lena exhaled to calm herself and held her hands together, as Noritsune observed her with his unreadable eyes. From where she was standing, Lena heard the faint 'thudding' of the bass echoing from the music, but the lyrics were unidentifiable. She hoped at least the others were having a good time so far, because for her, standing in front of Noritsune was like facing some kind of judgment. 

"Lena, you are a disappointment." he finally said.  

"..W-what are you saying?" Lena's body froze at his sudden harsh words.  

"You rejected the Kagami family's proposal?" Noritsune continued, lifting his champagne glass to his lips. "As a Hikawa, joining our family with the Kagami family is a great honour. I thought you would know better." 

Lena was stunned speechless - the last thing she expected him to say to her was about Ieyasu, of all people. "That's none of your business!" she protested, "Why does it matter to you who I choose to marry?" 

"As a Saniwa, don't you understand your position?" Noritsune continued to reprimand her. "Unless you are born to reject your responsibilities? Then you will be exactly like your runaway mother." 

Lena felt her heart twist in her chest. He spoke the truth, as her mother never wanted to be a Saniwa and instead chose to move overseas to live a normal life... Still, hearing Nori mention this out loud was too much for Lena to bear.  

"That... that is such a... cruel thing to say..." Lena felt her eyes welling up with tears, but she was determined not to cry in front of him. She would not give him that satisfaction. His words and demeanor prove to her that this was no longer the boy she used to play with in the countryside long ago. 

Mikazuki's body tensed, because it bothered him to hear his Saniwa spoken to in such a rude way, even if it was by family. Across, Onimaru shot him a warning look. This was a matter between Saniwa - Touken Danshi had no right to intervene. 

"You are upset? Dear Lena, I was only stating the truth." Noritsune observed Lena's reaction and paused for a moment. "I had no idea you were so weak-willed." 

"That's enough for now," Mikazuki interrupted, unable to hold back any longer. He stepped forward in front of Lena, shielding her from Noritsune. "My Master will give your words some thought. If you will please excuse us..." 

Mikazuki swiftly escorted Lena away, and she did not protest with his actions. 

He led her onto the dance floor, and together they melted into the crowd of dancing bodies. Mikazuki held Lena closely in his arms, shielding her from everyone around them. She leaned against him for support, still shocked speechless from her conversation with Noritsune. 

For a while, the two of them simply moved together to the beat of the song playing. Left, then right, then left again, as if rocking on gentle ocean waves. When Lena was ready to speak, she tugged on his sleeve. 

"Are you all right?" Mikazuki asked, once they were in a quieter spot. 

"Yes, I'm fine. Nothing to worry about," Lena answered with a shrug. "People change! I didn't see him for many years. So, it's only natural that we aren't close anymore." 

""I see." Mikazuki hesitated before responding. "Regardless, he shouldn't have made you upset. I'd be happier to see you smile." 

"Oh...Really, it's fine." Lena tried her best to smile at him. "Let's try to enjoy our time, okay?" 

 

Hizen pushed past the crowd of dancing bodies and people huddled around with drinks in their hand. He got to the bar and before he could order a drink, out of the corner of his eyes he saw that a couple was kissing passionately, right next to him. Locked in each other’s arms, they both looked happy and fulfilled. Maybe that was the feeling of love he was yearning for whenever they were alone? Hizen thought to himself, that feeling was something he wanted to experience with his Saniwa…  

The situation was quickly escalating though, and Hizen quickly looked away when the man slid his hand down the woman’s side to touch her bare thighs. Hizen wasn’t going to watch more of that, since it was becoming embarrassing. Instead, he quickly ordered his drink and left before he could see more. 

In his hurry, Hizen didn’t watch his surroundings and bumped into someone, almost spilling his drink. 

“..! Hey! Watch where you’re going.”  

A beautiful young man wearing a crisp white t-shirt and baggy red pants stood there with a frown on his face.  

“What are YOU wearing?” Hanjin said. He crossed his arms and looked Hizen up and down, sensing that they were both Touken Danshi. “This is a birthday party, not Halloween.” He gestured to Hizen’s bandages. “Are you TRYING to look like a zombie?” 

Hizen resisted the urge to strike Hanjin down and said, “Shut up before I kill you.” 

The two glared at each other but before any fight could begin, fortunately, Aki came running between them. What great timing. 

“Hizen! There you are, I was looking for you,” she said, grabbing onto his arm. “Oh.. and who are you?”  

“I am Hanjin, a wakizashi currently in the service of Master Noritsune.” Hanjin gave her a bow. His demeanor suddenly changed, flipping from an annoyed expression to an angelic one as he spoke to Aki. “A pleasure to meet you.” 

“He’s a pain in the ass, that’s what he is,” Hizen commented. Aki didn’t respond but gave his arm a squeeze, a silent warning to be more polite. 

“What beautiful hair you have,” Hanjin smiled at Aki, completely ignoring Hizen now. “Say, would you grant me the pleasure of a dance?” 

“A… a dance?” Aki stammered, unsure of how to respond. “Well you see, I don’t… really dance.” 

“There is no need to worry. It’s easy, I’ll show you!” Hanjin reached out and offered his hand to Aki – which Hizen quickly smacked down.  

“The answer is NO. She does not want to dance with you,” Hizen said plainly.   

Before Hizen could say anything further – another familiar voice spoke up and joined the group, and it was none other than Ieyasu Kagami! 

“Well, well… I thought I sensed an unusual amount of beauty here,” Ieyasu grinned, showing his pearly white teeth. “Miss Aki, what a delightful surprise.” 

“God, I should have known this clown would be here,” Hizen muttered to himself. Now there was one more annoyance to deal with… 

“Hello, Master Kagami.” Hanjin greeted Ieyasu, as undoubtedly he was a friend of Noritsune’s. 

Aki and Ieyasu chatted for a bit. Predictably, it wasn’t long before Ieyasu brought up the subject of the Kagami family’s marriage proposal to the Shimura family. 

“Have you given my proposal any more thought?” Ieyasu asked. Aki stared at him blankly, before taking a page out of Hizen’s book and flat out saying: “NO.” 

However, her cold response didn’t phase Ieyasu at all. In fact, he laughed and said, “I love women who play hard to get. Aki Shimura, you will be mine… Oh, and is your lovely friend here as well? I’d best greet her as well, otherwise she will feel left out… hehe.” 

However, her cold response didn’t phase Ieyasu at all. In fact, he laughed and said, “I love women who play hard to get. Aki Shimura, you will be mine. And is your lovely friend here as well? I’d best greet her as well, otherwise she will feel left out… hehe.” 

Hearing Ieyasu talk always made Aki stunned speechless. Was the Kagami family that powerful that their eldest son strutted around acting and doing whatever he pleased? The answer was a mystery. 

“Well, sadly I must take my leave to greet others. I will see you very soon, little dove.” Aki and Hizen watched in disbelief as Ieyasu strolled away, like a swan without a single care in the world.  

“Why are there so many bothersome pests around you? It’s so annoying!” Hizen exclaimed.  

Hanjin, who was still standing with them, replied, “The answer is obvious – it is because your Saniwa is so beautiful. Are you as blind as you are unfashionable?” 

A look of great bitterness swept across Hizen’s face. He balled his fingers to a fist and glared at Hanjin angrily. “Of course I can see that she is! I’m not stupid! She IS beautiful and she’s minnnn…my Saniwa!” 

“So shut the fuck up!” Hizen shouted loudly. He grabbed Aki’s hand and turned to leave before Hanjin could respond. Hanjin could only say, “Ouch, so rude.” 

Hizen took Aki to the snack bar to distract himself.  There were all sorts of delicacies and Noritsune hadn't skimped here either.  They tried some foreign nibbles.  Some were very spicy for Aki, she wasn't used to this.  Hizen looked at her and noticed how her eyes began to water from the sharpness.  He immediately took her to the drinks bar.  (And hoped that the couple who were kissing and touching each other so passionately before had disappeared) "Iced tea?" Hizen asked, to which Aki nodded.  After taking the order (an iced tea for Aki and a cocktail for himself), Aki quenched her thirst.  "Thanks!  Now I feel better!” They watched the crowd for a while.  Aki glanced at the couples dancing in each other's arms.  How much she would love to... but she couldn't dance particularly well.  Unless it was a rehearsed dance.  Out of nowhere, Hanjin stood next to Aki.  He noticed where she was looking and asked again with a smile: "Like I said...I could show you how to dance.

What are you saying?” Hizen growled: “You again.” He felt like he was stalking her.  Hanjin ignored Hizen and tried to convince Aki further: "The music isn't that fast right now." Hizen snapped at him: "What didn't you understand about a NO?" Hanjin now turned his attention to Hizen: "Ooh, you. Have you been here long?  Hmmm, I think so.  Oh, how sad for you that no one wants to dance with you, huh?” Aki noticed the mockery in Hanjin’s words.  She couldn't allow that!  She shouted unmistakably: “I would dance with him!” then she took his hand and confidently led him to the dance floor, away from the gossiping Hanjin.  Hanjin just watched, admitting this small defeat to himself.  Hizen was very surprised and speechless, of course he followed her.  They stood facing each other, Aki now with an uncertain smile on his lips.  She knew that Hizen had never danced before and hoped he would be okay with her decision.

As they began to move their bodies to the beat of the  cozy music,  Hizen  hesitantly reached out and slowly wrapped his arms around Aki's waist like he saw the other couples do.  Then he pulled her close to him.  Aki’s heart was pounding.  She closed her eyes and for a moment their heads leaned against each other.  Hizen held her tighter to him and now leaned his head next to hers.  “Hmmm, vanilla,” he crooned as he caught the scent of her shampoo.  He now let himself be carried away by the flow... As if on his own, his hand gently ran over her back.  “Do you want me to stop?” Hizen asked.  "It...feels nice, it's okay," Aki gave her OK.  She too was influenced by the atmosphere.  Hizen's hand then moved back to her waist, he touched her hip to her thigh, feeling her soft skin.  He briefly withdrew his hand when he realized that he had already guided it part way under her dress and finally just left his hand on her thigh.  For him, what he was exploring was new territory.

He liked it, it just felt so natural to touch her like that at that moment.  As he thought about it, he couldn't help but think that his hands aren't just for killing.

Guilt & Twilight

One day, Lena received a beautifully decorated envelope. When she opened it, a holographic image displayed from the card - it was an invitation to a birthday celebration, sent by her cousin, Noritsune, or "Nori" as she called him. Lena was an only child in her family, so when she was little growing up, she only had her cousin that was around the same age as her. However, Noritsune only lived in the countryside for a few years before moving to the city with his father, who had gotten a job with the government at the time. "Aki! Look," Lena said excitedly. "We got invited to a birthday party. Well, it's held at this famous nightclub in the city. Wanna come with me?" Aki took the envelope and looked at the address. Yes, it seemed the party was being held over the weekend at a popular spot located downtown in the city back in 2205. "Do you think we should go?" she asked, "We've been pretty busy with missions lately. Will the government allow us to take the time off?" Lena nodded, "Of course! We get some weekends off, don't we? And we work SO hard. We should figure out what to wear, and look, the invitation says we can bring whoever we want. So, if you want to bring a date, maybe............" Lena grinned and looked towards Hizen Tadahiro, who was sitting at the kotatsu table in the middle of the room. He was drinking sake with Mutsunokami, arguing about something with him again. The wakizashi and uchigatana were always disagreeing over something or another, but everyone knew despite their disagreements, they were very close. "I think it will be fun to attend a party," Lena continued, "When was the last time we got to dress up and have fun? Besides, I haven't seen Nori in FOR~EVER! You know, he's a Saniwa like us. He was enlisted by the government years before I was. I want you to meet him. I think you two will get along well!" Aki smiled, for Lena's sake. "Sure, I'd love to meet him, just as I've met your grandmother. I'm sure he's a nice person..." "Then it's decided! This weekend, we'll go back to the present time and go to the party." Lena's eyes sparkled. "We can go shopping for matching outfits! Won't that be SO fun!?" Lena once again got carried away by the idea of shopping, something she loved to do. Aki was about to remind Lena to save their koban, but she couldn't say anything once she saw how happy Lena was. So then it was decided that this upcoming weekend, they would attend Lena's cousin's birthday party..................

And so, with Aki's help, the two girls sent communications to the Government of Time to request the upcoming weekend off. Surprisingly, their vacation request was accepted, and Lena quickly booked accommodations for a nearby hotel in the city so they had a place to stay after the party. "So, will you invite Hizen?" Lena asked Aki, grinning again from ear-to-ear. "Invite me to what?" Hizen asked, overhearing the conversation. He sauntered up to Aki and Lena, hands stuffed into the pocket of his red hoodie. "My cousin's birthday party," Lena replied. "Why would I want to go to that?" Hizen said, somewhat rudely. "I don't know him, so why should I care?" "Well," Lena explained, "Aki will be there, and since it's a party, there should be unlimited booze... My cousin is a real party animal, if I remember correctly." Hizen thought about this for a brief moment. Surely he wouldn't let Aki attend this party alone, especially in the presence of strangers. And, UNLIMITED drinks? Well, Hizen loved his sake and he wasn't against trying other beverages either. "So, are you inviting me?" he asked, turning to Aki, looking a bit shy as he turned to his master for approval. Aki took one look at Hizen's inquiring face and of course her heart melted at his endearing look. "Yes, of course I am inviting you," she answered. "If you would like to come with me...??" Hizen nodded quickly, with a very faint blush spreading on his cheeks. "... Then yes, I would like to go. So... count me in." He quickly turned around and walked away, as the conversation was over and decided. "Wow, that was easy," Lena laughed, giving Aki a pat on her back. "So now we only have to decide what to wear, yes?" Aki watched Hizen disappear down the hall. "What? Oh... sure, yes. Let's decide that and have a good time."

Now that Aki had invited Hizen (haha that was effortless!), it was up to Lena to invite her plus one. Lena knew the Danshi she wanted to invite to the party. It was obvious! But for some reason, it was difficult to muster up the courage to ask. As always. "Come on, this is so stupid," Lena said to herself, shaking her head to try and clear her thoughts. "Come on... you just have to go up to him and ASK! OK. I can do it! And if he says no, I'll order him to come. Yes, that's what I'll do..." Even though Lena was trying to focus, she didn't think her method was working. She wished Aki could help her, but this was something she had to ask on her own. So off she went to find him. Lena bumped into Mikazuki as he was exiting the bath. He had a towel around his neck and was wiping away the water from his wet hair. Lena resisted the urge to keep walking right by him and stopped in her tracks. "Mikazuki! There's something I want to ask," she said. "Oh?" He looked surprised to see her there, standing before him looking incredibly uncomfortable. "What is it? I'm listening." "..........."

"Yes, so, there's a party going on... Nothing big... just my cousin," Lena informed, crossing her arms. "Do you wanna... come with us? I mean, I'm going, and so is Aki and Hizen... if you don't want to come, then no problem... What do you think.....?" Fortunately, Mikazuki was in his uchiban outfit and not ONLY in a towel. Otherwise Lena would have ran away at first sight. She waited patiently for him to respond, looking at the floor instead of his face. "Ahaha, is that so?" Mikazuki took a step closer to Lena. "So, you want me to come?" "If I didn't want you to come, why would I be asking you right now?" Lena replied grumpily, letting out a sigh. "Do you think I would waste both of our time...?" Mikazuki knew Lena would be short-tempered with him. For some reason, she used to be kinder, but recently even he noticed she was very tense whenever they were interacting. "Ah, why don't you let me think about it," he answered. "I'm not decided yet." "Okay." Lena accepted his answer. "I'll... talk to you later, then." She turned and walked away from Mikazuki, feeling like she had failed in bringing out her feelings to him once again.

Later that evening, Lena brought some tea and sweets to Aki's room to talk to her about what happened. "I couldn't tell him I wanted him to be there," Lena confessed, pouring tea in Aki's cup. "Oh, that isn't good," Aki commented. "Why were you so short? You shouldn't have acted so coldly... Why are you always trying to hide your feelings from him?" "I don't want him... to think that I'm reliant on him for everything," Lena responded. "I know, it wasn't polite... I should have chosen more considerate words." "Yes," Aki agreed, "You should try to open up your feelings better. Otherwise, if you keep hiding, the only person you end up hurting is yourself. Aren't you supposed to trust each other? As Saniwa and Touken Danshi?" "I know... this is hard for me... Maybe I should... just ask someone else..." Lena held her cup of tea and gazed at the leaves remaining in the bottom. Upon hearing that, Aki reached out to touch Lena's hand. "I know that isn't what you want," she said firmly. "Stop trying to lie to yourself because you don't want to be hurt!" Lena's eyes widened and she looked at Aki nervously. "...You're right... I know..." she mumbled. "I'll try again, I promise."

There were still a couple more days until the birthday party. In the meantime, Konnosuke informed Aki and Lena that the Government assigned them to another mission. "Your task is to intercept an HRA messenger," Konnosuke reported, "and stop them from delivering vital intel to their allies." "All right then," Heshikiri announced. "Then this time, Masters Aki and Lena will accompany the mission again. Their secretary swords, Wakazashi Hizen Tadahiro and Tachi Mikazuki Munechika, will go as well. Along with Uchigatana Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki and Tantou Yagen Toushirou. You all had better watch after our Masters better this time," he warned, as last mission Aki had gotten injured. After they had packed everything and changed into their combat attire, the team made their way to the time portal. The portal opened, and Aki and Lena stepped forward, followed closely by Hizen, Mikazuki Mutsunokami and Yagen. Arriving at a desolate landscape, the team quickly rushed into the bushes to hide and blended into the shadows. Hizen made sure Aki was near his side, ready to protect her. Minutes passed like eternity as they waited for the enemy messenger. Finally in the distance, a figure appeared and they were clutching a package...

Undoubtedly, that package was holding the vital intel. The HRA messenger seemed oblivious to their presence, confident that they were safe from any interference. Lena signaled for the team to move forward and Aki did as well. Their Touken Danshi advanced with incredible swiftness, surrounding the messenger in a strategic formation. 

Mutsunokami's sword flashed in the night. He blocked the messenger's attempts to flee, driving them towards the center of the encirclement. Yagen anticipated the messenger's every move, preventing any potential escape routes in his direction.

"You won't get away with this!" The messenger growled. He reached for the sword fastened to his belt, but Hizen's sword moved with lightning speed, disarming the messenger with ease before he could strike. The HRA messenger's eyes widened with fear as he realized the dire situation he was in. There was no way he could win against the Touken Danshi before him.

"Hand over the package," Aki demanded firmly. 

With a sense of resignation, he had no choice but to surrender. Lena stepped forward and retrieved the package from the messenger's trembling hands. With the vital intel secured, the team made their way back through the time portal in high spirits. When they returned to the Honmaru, Heshikiri was there to congratulate them. 

"Well done," Heshikiri praised the team, which was a rare occurence recently. "I am glad there were no casualties this time."

"Well, it was a simple mission!" Mutsunokami laughed loudly. "So easy for us! We're the BEST!"

"Yeah, yeah... " Lena handed the package over to Konnosuke to analyze it so they could write the government report later. But her mind was elsewhere and it was obvious she wasn't paying attention to anything else the others were saying.

Hizen was looking at his master Aki up and down. "You weren't hurt, were you?" he asked, checking thoroughly to make sure Aki was unharmed.

"Haha, Hizen, I'm fine!" Aki replied, "So you don't have to worry about me."

"Master Aki, there is NO way in this world, new or old, that Hizen would not be worried about you!" Mutsunokami said with a big grin. 

"Shut up!" Hizen growled, "You don't know me."

"Suuuure," Mutsunokami replied, "whatever you say!"

Lena didn't look at her friends after the mission was over. While the tantou were excitedly welcoming Aki and the rest of the team back home, she suddenly felt very tired. Maybe she wasn't as strong as she tried to be, because she couldn't even do a simple thing such as invite someone she liked to a party.

"Are you all right?" Yagen asked, stepping up to Lena. He was one of the only Danshi who could approach her so casually. "You don't seem well."

"No, I'm fine. Great job on the mission. I'm a bit tired, that's all," Lena responded. "Once Konnosuke is done analyzing the data, would you let us know? Then Aki and I can look into writing the report..."

Lena finished what she had to say and turned away from Yagen. She started to make her way inside the Honmaru and headed to her room, feeling like she wanted to hide in there for a while. How could she work alongside Aki, the person she considered closest to her, as close as her sister, if she couldn't even acknowledge her own feelings? This was something she would have to work on, otherwise Lena felt she will just bring the rest of the team down.

It was Thursday, the day before the party. Everyone was in high spirits after the recent successful mission, but Lena spent the morning hiding in her room. Normally, she would have woken up early to help prepare breakfast, but today when anyone came to her room door, she would tell them to "go away".

"I don't understand," Yagen admitted to Aki. "She didn't seem injured from the mission. So what's wrong?"

Aki knew Lena well and so she replied, "You know, a woman's heart is a mysterious thing... So Yagen, don't worry, you should do what you have to to get her out of her room."

Yagen nodded. "All right, then... but she won't like it."

Moments later, there was some shouting and the sound of some kicking around and things getting knocked over, and soon Lena appeared in the dining area for breakfast. Yagen had stormed into her room and dragged her out of bed, forced her to get dressed, and made sure she showed her face before Heshikiri noticed that she wasn't present. How thoughtful...

Her hair was disheveled, sticking up in various places like straw. Even the braid hanging against her cheek was loose and unravelling. She sucked in a breath and tried to care, but somehow couldn't find the energy to do so. 

"Good morning," Lena said dully, fully aware of how tired she looked. In fact, she had been awake all night and hadn't slept a wink.

"Wow," Hizen commented, "You look terrible."

"Thanks Hizen, you're so nice," Lena replied, shooting him a glare. But she knew he was only telling the truth.

"Hizen! Mind your manners," Aki said, turning to Lena. "It's not so bad...!"

"Thanks, Aki-nee, but I know. I didn't sleep well last night," Lena told her. "So it's fine."

"I thought you weren't scared of horror movies," Hizen said. 

"I'm not," Lena replied, "I just... I was up all night thinking about something."

The Honmaru was filled with the tantalizing aroma of a traditional Japanese breakfast prepared by Shokudaikiri and Shishiou. The enticing scents of miso soup, grilled fish, and pickled vegetables greeted everyone as they gathered around the low dining table. Heshikiri was arranging an assortment of dishes on the table as well.

As Lena took her seat, she couldn't help but notice that Mikazuki was missing from the group. Although she tried to ignore her curiousity, after enjoying some light conversation with Aki and the others, she excused herself to find him.

The veranda offered a serene view of the courtyard and the surrounding scenery. Mikazuki was sitting there, gazing at the endless expanse of the sky. The sight of him brought a sense of calm to Lena's heart, but also a sense of fear as well, which she tried to suppress.

"Good morning," Lena said softly, approaching him.

"Good morning." Mikazuki turned his head, acknowledging her presence. "The morning sky is quite captivating, isn't it?"

"Yes," Lena replied. "But don't let the view distract you too much. Breakfast is ready..."

"Hahaha." Mikazuki chuckled lightly. "You're right. I suppose I got lost in thought for a moment there."

Before they made their way back to the dining area, Lena stopped in front of Mikazuki. "Um... before we go, I want to tell you something. I...I want you to know that I do want you to come with us... to the party, I mean. Tomorrow... and. I'm sorry I was so rude to you the other day."

Mikazuki looked at her and laughed. "Sure... I understand. You know, Aki-dono was saying that a woman's heart is a mysterious thing..."

Lena rolled her eyes, but was happy Mikazuki forgave her. "So, you'll come with us? ...With me?"

"Ahahahaha, as you wish. Let me join you," he said.

Lena gave him a small smile, but inside her heart was soaring. "OK. Thank you..."

They made their way back, and the rest of the Touken Danshi warmly greeted them. Hizen was reaching for a piece of grilled fish, and already put many different food items on his dish, and Aki's dish too. 

As everyone indulged in the meal, the conversation flowed easily. Lena felt grateful for the companionship everyone provided. Her thoughts drifted to life in the countryside with her grandmother, where she never had the opportunity to make many friends. Yet today, she was enjoying a breakfast with Aki and the rest of their team. And that made her very happy, even if she didn't have the words to express her feelings.

On the day of the party, Aki and Lena spent the morning completing their duties and chores before starting to get ready. Lena was excited to do Aki's makeup and helped tie her hair into a beautiful side braid. They were also going to be wearing modern dresses.

As they were taking a weekend off-duty, it was decided that the next part of the mission would be assigned when they returned. 

Aki and Lena decided that Mikazuki, Hizen, Shizukagata, and Kotegiri would be the team coming along to the party. Shizukagata liked to dance, and Kotegiri loved to sing and dance, so they were happy to be included. Lena desperately wanted Yagen to go as well, but he refused, as he was not "the dancing type". Mutsunokami also recently came back from a mission and had to go for repairs, so he could not make the party in time either.

Noritsune's party was held at an upscale nightclub because he was secretly a party animal, even though during the day he acted as a responsible and proper Saniwa. His father, Lena's uncle, was very strict and even demanded Nori to enter an arranged marriage for political reasons - which surprisingly, Nori agreed to do. Lena had not spoken to Nori in a long time, but since Granny had mentioned this fact to her, so she knew about it. 

When the group arrived, the loud music could be heard even from outside. The establishment looked fancy as it was the city's most popular night spot. Standing guard at the entrance was a tall figure wearing a black hoodie with many buckles and a sheer mesh shirt. He also wore a cap. Kotegiri recognized the man instantly. It was his big brother, Inaba!

"INABA SENPAI?!" Kotegiri gasped, "Is that you! Wow, you look so different! Cool!"

"..." Inaba remained emotionless and didn't comment. Instead he asked coldly, "Do you have an invitation?"

Lena handed their invitation to Inaba, and they were shown inside. Vibrant lights and upbeat music filled the large room. Many well-dressed men and women in extravagant clothing were socializing, dancing and drinking. Some of them were Saniwa and some were not, some were even Touken Danshi. 

"It's quite lively here," Mikazuki commented, although they could barely hear his voice over the loud music.

At the center of the dance floor was a stage where a DJ was mixing songs. Kotegiri's eyes went wide with excitement. He and Shizukagata immediately went down towards the dance floor...

Countryside Romance

[ At Lena's grandmother's home in the countryside - After dinner walk scene ] 

Aki and Hizen walked together along a forest path, as the stars started to appear in the evening sky above them. It was quiet out tonight, with nothing but the sound of crickets filling the air. The fresh countryside air filled Aki's lungs - it smelled different from the scent of the city, and even the Honmaru. 

"It's getting cold out," Hizen commented. 

"It is," Aki agreed, rubbing at her arms. "I should have brought something to cover my shoulders."

Silently, Hizen removed the scarf he was wearing and placed it over Aki. 

"Tch... You're so clueless sometimes," he said to her. Their eyes met and locked in place for a moment. Aki felt her face blushing and she quickly averted her eyes, embarrassed. Hizen did not comment on it. 

Aki's heart was beating fast, while she enjoyed being alone with Hizen, she wasn't sure if he had felt the same way. She wondered about his heart for a long time now.

As they continued walking their hands would occasionally brush against each other. Aki - uncertain if this was intentional on Hizen's part or not - wanted to test Hizen and see how he would react. As their hands brushed together again, Aki kept her hand in place, up against his. 

Hizen noticed that her hands were ice cold, without thinking he grabbed her hand and placed it in both of his.

"Geez! Your hands are freezing," he complained, rubbing his hands over hers to warm them up. "Geez! Dress more warmly next time!"

Aki laughed nervously, "They feel a lot better now that you're doing that..." 

"There's a bench up here, shall we take a moment to rest a bit?" Hizen asked.

"I like that idea, I am exhausted." After all, everyone did not sleep well the night before, on account of being put in the same room together.

A lone wooden bench was located just off to the side of the path they were on. Hizen brushed off leaves that were settled on the top. They both sit together in silence on the bench, the cool wind blowing in the distance, rustling the tree tops.

They were alone in the forest close to Lena's grandmother's house. No one was around to disturb them, there was only his Saniwa and himself, enjoying the peaceful night. No battles to concern themselves with, no missions, no repairs, nothing.

One of his hands was still gripping Aki's tightly, but he didn't mind. Hizen closed his eyes, thinking to himself that this could be something he could get used to.

To the Present Day

One morning, Aki and Lena received an official letter from the government, requesting their presence at the city hall in the modern time of 2205. The reason was because they had to formally give an in-person report about the status of their Honmaru - details about their day-to-day operations, as well as their progress against the Historical Revisionists. Aki, who was the most skilled at organization, quickly RSVP'd to the letter to confirm their attendance. 

"The government requests to see us several times a year. Each time, I feel nervous," Lena admitted to Aki.

"There is nothing to fear, I have all the records of our expeditions and battles organized neatly in a file," Aki reassured her. "We will deliver the report successfully, and stay in the present time for a bit afterwards, to have some fun."

"Ah yes, grandmother was wondering if I would visit her soon. This is a good time," Lena said. "I met your brother, after all. Granny will be so happy to finally meet you, too."

The two girls chatted excitedly, packing their bags to prepare for the journey to the present time. Of course, Hizen and Mikazuki, their secretary swords, would be coming along as well.

"Everyone, be good. We'll be back soon," Aki said as she waved goodbye to everyone. "Heshikiri Hasebe, please look after things while we are away."

"As you wish, Master," Hasebe replied with a bow. "Safe travels to you all."

"And Mutsunokami, please don't cause any trouble!" Aki smiled at Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki. He stomped up to her and wrapped his arms around her in a BIG hug! 

"Have fun, see ya when you return!" He grinned widely and ruffled her hair. A grumpy Hizen quickly pulled Aki away, warning Mutsunokami to quit what he was doing... or else!

Lena instructed all the tanto to behave while they were gone. Particularly, she stood in front of Yagen. "You're in charge of our team, OK?" she told him.

"Leave everything to me," Yagen said. "I shall await your return."

Lena opened her mouth to say something more, but as she looked into his eyes she forgot what to say. Before she met Mikazuki, Yagen was the sword that was always at her side. She felt a pang of guilt in her heart for leaving Yagen behind, but she could not easily sort out those feelings at the moment.

The swirling portal of time opened and Aki announced, "Let's go!" She stepped into the portal and Hizen followed her lead. Mikazuki waited for Lena to join his side before also entering the portal, and then everything disappeared in a bright flash of light.

The four of them were transported directly inside the city hall. This was a magnificent building, where all matters concerning the city were discussed. With many wings and large rooms, the environment was intricately furnished.

"Welcome, Saniwa," a familiar voice greeted them - It was Konnosuke, their fox guide. "Please follow me to the meeting hall."

Aki and Lena were brought before a board of important officials seated around them on a high table. Aki took the lead, beginning the report and answering any questions that were asked. She pulled up charts and reports on a big holographic screen, and went over everything with natural elegance. Lena was amazed at how professional Aki was at giving the presentation. 

Mikazuki and Hizen did not have to speak, but their presence was surely noticed. "You two have selected fine swords to be your aides," one of the chairmen said. "Munechika and Tadahiro are fine specimens that exemplify Japan's rich history."

The two Saniwa were praised for their accomplishments, despite suffering minor casualties here and there. When the meeting was finally over, the four of them stood in the foyer of the building to discuss their next course of action.

"I've bought everyone's train tickets in advance," Aki said, tapping on her phone. "Should we make our way to the train station?"

"Ah, I was thinking perhaps we should buy them some modern clothing? Won't it be too much attention if Mikazuki and Hizen walk around dressed in their traditional attire?" Lena suggested.

Hizen disagreed, as he already had casual clothing packed with him - his usual red hoodie and a pair of jeans. Mikazuki however, hadn't brought anything suitable. They decided to visit a nearby department store. Mikazuki tried on several outfits before changing into a sweater and dress pants.

"Wow, doesn't he look... fashionable?" Aki teased, watching Lena stare at Mikazuki.

"I have never seen him wearing modern clothes before," Lena laughed. "It's refreshing."

Aki and Lena decided to purchase a few new clothes as well. Before leaving the store, they also picked up some candy to give to the tanto when they returned. Hizen wore a disinterested look on his face, but he ended up holding Aki's shopping bags for her.

"You don't have to hold them for me," Aki said, but Hizen grabbed the bags from her hands without saying anything. "Oh... thank you then."

"All right, I think we are ready to go to the train station now." Lena smiled happily at her friends. "I can't wait to go on this trip together!"

And so, the group left the department store in high spirits.

Enter: Lena & Aki

 

AHHH FINALLY, someone to roleplay with after SO many years!!! Let's make this 2023 a memorable TOUKEN RANBU A/U - Courtesy of my friend and I!

Lena and Aki were first introduced to each other by the government, to combine forces and go on missions together as a team. 

At first, Lena was apprehensive and a bit shy to meet another Saniwa, but Aki's responsible and caring nature put all the worries to rest. They quickly became close friends.

Lena noticed that Aki's attention always turned to a specific sword - Hizen Tadahiro. He was rough around the edges, and wasn't the best with his words, but Lena knew he took his job seriously. The problem was that both Aki and Hizen were always dancing around the bush, and any chances of a budding romance would likely not happen unless someone intervened.

That "someone" had to be her! This was why Lena decided to take on the task of being a matchmaker - to make her friend happy, and bring some joy into the world.

Hizen seemed to love eating, so Lena and Aki spent many hours in the kitchen - practicing their cooking skills. Sometimes Shokudaikiri joined them, if he didn't have a mission. Shoku was very skilled with a knife, almost as good as he was with his sword.

Lena decided that Aki should present Hizen with a beautiful, custom-made bento! So one morning, the two girls met in the kitchen and put together a lunch for Aki's favourite sword. There were not as many hearts in Aki's bento as Lena would have liked, but it was a start. 

Hizen had accepted the bento with a faint blush on his cheeks - and Aki seemed pretty flustered as well. Ahh, seeing the two love birds truly warmed Lena's heart.

In the evenings, Lena sat with Mikazuki on the veranda and spoke to him about her plans. Mikazuki would listen to her talk without complaints. Lena wanted Aki to be happy, and wanted Hizen to also acknowledge his feelings, too. They were both on the shy side, though, so it would probably take some time for them to warm up to each other and confess. She knew Aki would risk everything for Hizen if she had to -- including relinquishing her official Saniwa credentials by putting love above her duty.

"Would you ever do the same?" Mikazuki asked, sipping on his tea.

"I don't know. I've never been in love before. It seems... nice."" Lena responded, laying on her back to gaze up at the stars. "Say, Mikazuki. Do you believe that a sword can love a human?"

"Ah... Anything is possible, isn't it?"

Night at the Honmaru

One evening, after a particularly difficult battle, Jiroutachi and Fudou arranged for an elaborate night of drinking to celebrate. Lena, Keisho and their Touken Danshi gathered in the dining hall of the Honmaru, where a feast was laid out along with gallons and gallons of sake.

"Oh! There's red wine, too?" Lena gasped, holding up a bottle of rather ancient-looking cabernet sauvignon. 

Beside her, Keisho smiled sheepishly and said, "Well, this was more of a belated birthday gift than anything. I was planning to give it to you earlier, but as you know... well, we got busy. Please, enjoy it, Lena."

"Thank you, Kei-kun!" Lena returned his smile with ease. 

With the passing of time, she found it easier and easier to show her emotions. Not like the shell of a person she was months before, no, life with her fellow saniwa and the Touken Danshi had really brought her out of her shell.

"YOOOISH! Drink up, let's PARTY!" Jiroutachi cried, taking a swig of sake right out of the gourd. As inelegant as it was, he wasn't wrong - this latest victory really struck a huge blow against the HRA. The Memory of Aonohara era was difficult to navigate, and the team had lost a great many troops attempting to win. Therefore, the sweet, sweet, sweet... taste of victory was definitely something to celebrate.

Midare also downed his entire cup of sake. "More, please! Tonight, we'll rage!" He exclaimed, holding out his cup. Jiroutachi promptly refilled it, along with everyone else's - even those who hadn't finished their drink. 

All the Touken Danshi appeared to be in a great mood. Even Mikazuki, who preferred his tea to sake, partook in the festivities.

Only Ookurikara hid in the corner, mumbling something about how the saniwa should leave him alone and attend to the others. Whatever, Lena thought, Mitsutada and Tsurumaru would look after the grumpy uchigatana on their behalf.

Hours later into the night, everyone felt stuffed from the mountain of food and were also sufficiently drunk. Mouri and Shinano were passed out on the floor, having far exceeded their quota of sake challenging Fudou to a drinking match... not the smartest move on their part.

Even the normally composed Yagen was flushed across the face. He leaned in close to Lena, slumping against her shoulder as he spoke.

"So, Taisho... how did I do?" he asked, blinking at her in a daze. "Was my performance... worthy of your expectations?"

Lena's pulse quickened at their close proximity. "Ah, you did so well, Yagen-kun. The team wouldn't be complete without you," she answered, diverting her gaze down to her lap. Something about his deep voice and his comforting presence made her feel incredibly self-conscious. She was their commander, damn it. She was determined to work hard to maintain her composure.

She was doing pretty well, that is, until Yagen lifted a hand to brush against her cheek. Shocked, she grabbed his wrist in reflex. They stared at each other momentarily, both flushing red from either the sake or mixed emotions, Lena didn't know.

"Taisho... I..." he trailed off, his body now fully pressing against hers as he gave her a shy smile. "I've always wanted to... call you by your name."

"WHAT!" Hirano, who had been sitting calmly at Lena's side, suddenly spoke up. "Aniki! Please, watch what you're saying in front of our master," he urged.

"It's all right, I wanted her to know." Yagen's gaze remained fixated on Lena's. "She deserves to know. We've never hid anything from one another."

With a hearty chuckle, he laid his head on Lena's shoulder. "I... I may be drunk, but... My feelings are the same as they always were."

Hirano's eyes widened in surprise as he struggled to think of something to say in response. He was shocked at the way Yagen was acting, so uncharacteristic compared to his usual aloof self. What was the power this saniwa held over them? Surely this magic was like nothing they ever experienced before.

Before Yagen could say another word, a pair of hands clamped firmly onto Yagen's shoulders. Lena turned to see Izuminokami Kanesada giving Yagen a grand shake, all the while admonishing him. 

"Oi! What do you think you're doing, you sly dog!" Kanesada seemed more than a little pissed off. "Stop using this opportunity to take advantage of our Aruji!" 

Yagen gritted his teeth as his eyes narrowed. "Mind your own business," he retorted, automatically reaching for the hilt of his sword. "None of this concerns you."

"Aniki! Please cease your actions!" Hirano immediately sprung forward, grabbing Yagen's arm. Hakata also quickly took the hint, grabbing Yagen's other arm.

"You're acting like a little man! You must remember to be the bigger man," Hakata said solemnly, as Lena's two tantous dragged their older brother away to sober up before a bigger mess happened. 

Kanesada sighed and plopped himself into a sitting position next to her. "You need to look after yourself better. Especially with all the drunken swords around you tonight."

Lena still couldn't quite process what had happened. Yagen seemed out of sorts, and where did Kanesada suddenly appear from?

He seemed to read her mind. "Hey, I was part of the police force. I have an instinct for when things are about to escalate."

Lena blinked, thoroughly confused. "Uh...sure..."

Kanesada flashed a confident smirk. "Don't worry, you can rest easy with me looking after you!" 

A short distance away, Lena heard Horikawa Kunihiro sigh.

 "Kane-san... you're hopeless," Kunihiro murmured, crossing his arms, although he would never dream of challenging his superior's actions.

It was at that moment that Lena realized that Kane-san was pretty drunk himself. How long had he been observing her? Ugh, being around all these Touken Danshi was exhausting.

Keisho didn't even seem to care - from across the room he was playing a drinking game with Muramasa, Midare and a handful of others. Having the time of his life, he was completely oblivious to Lena's internal turmoil. 

As was tradition.