~Yagen Toushirou~

薬研 藤四郎  

Requested by sujdkekkod!

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She was standing just right in front of him. With a stretch of his hands, he could have reached her easily, but he didn't. All he did was keeping his gaze on her until she flicked his forehead, pain shooting up to his brain immediately.

"What's wrong, Yagen? Daydreaming again? That's not like you."

"Yeah, it's boring when there's no sorties, General."

It hurts.

~~

It was her anniversary day in the citadel and everyone was doing their part for the upcoming barbeque party held under the huge willow tree. The smell of meat being grilled to perfection wafted around the crowd as they brought out the finest alcohol from their rooms. Needless to say, alcohol was one thing that they could never get tired of in their lives.

"Mistress, Yagen has told me to take over. Please do enjoy yourself tonight."

"I understand, Kogitsunemaru! Thanks!" Waving, she changed her yukata out with an even more elegant kimono from Jiroutachi. She wasn't someone who favours exquisite kimonos, but for the sake of the celebration, she decided to wear it after much nagging from the ootachi.

As she left her room, Yagen was standing outside who was about to knock. He could not take off his eyes off her. She looked so different with makeup done.

"How do I look, Yagen?"

He managed to squeeze some words from his mouth. "Y-You look gorgeous, General. I really mean it!"

"I know! Let's go!" She took his sleeve before feeling a tug behind. The lad's face was particularly reddish today.

"Remember the field we went that day? It's a perfect time to stargaze especially when the sky's clear today."

Nodding, she then let him lead the way as they exited the gate, reaching the wide field moments later. It was a stone's throw from the citadel. Taking out a mat from his pouch, he spread it before letting her lie on it. The stars were really brighter than usual. Pointing at certain stars, she figured out a few constellations before saying their names out.

"Virgo, Capricorn... Ah! That's Aries!"

He kept mum as he listened to her.

"General, do you believe in the afterlife?"

"Hmm, I do believe in such things, Yagen. Why the sudden question?"

He let out a laugh, stretching his hand out to touch the stars. "I have someone in mind, but that person wouldn't remember me."

"Who's that fated person! I must investigate this tomorrow!"

He could vividly remember her.

When a sage dies, all swords would revert back to their original forms since their only source of power was gone. They still have a consciousness of their own, but they're unable to voice out. Being stuck in the cold metal feared Yagen. He was right beside her moments before she passed on.

"Look, that wrench again."

"You again! Get lost!"

Everyone hated her for one sole reason: she was an illegitimate offspring between a sword and a sage, making her a half-god, half-mortal. Her parents passed on soon after she was born, being passed around relatives and strangers until the Government picked her up. Forcing the job on her, she grew up with her first sword, Yagen Toushirou.

"Thank you, Yagen!"

"I humbly apologise, Yagen. It is my very fault for not equipping you an omamori!"

"It looks like I'm going off first, Yagen. Please do not cry. It is certainly not your fault."

Blood was all over his hands as he held onto her cold body, unwilling to let her go until he reverted back to his original form due to the loss of power. Her body was left there until someone took her away from the battlefield.

"There're so many swords in her citadel- What! The famous Juzumaru Tsunetsugu is here? Take them all!"

"No! No!" He screamed towards the crowd of sages intruding the armory room. His comrades were taken away one by one till he was left behind. No one saw him since he was hidden behind a sword rack. Darkness consumed him as he desperately tried to shut himself from those evil words and the laughter of those greedy sages. He felt so lonely. Everyone was taken away.

A light soon emerged as he felt himself summoned again. Was it her? It has been so long that he couldn't keep track of time.

"Yagen Toushirou! Welcome- What? T-There's no need to cry, right?" The sage then looked at him, wiping his tears off with her handkerchief. Realising that he was summoned by a new sage, he introduced himself once again.

"General, I'm Yagen Toushirou."

~~

Feeling his cheeks getting tapped gently, he opened his eyes to see her smiling at him.

"You fell asleep while I was telling you something, Yagen!" She pouted as she stood up.

Sitting up, the sky was no longer clear. The stars and even the moon were now hidden behind the covers of thick clouds.

She looked just exactly like her, he thought. He already had an answer in his heart as they returned back to the citadel, feasting on the meat and alcohol till she got drunk and had to be carried back to her room.

All he needed to do was to protect her for eternity. No one will hurt her if he was there by her side, no matter what.