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.
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Behave yourself, now. ;)