堀川国広

It’s just a few easy strokes before he stops dealing with the area, seeing that the other was taking in deep breaths and how his head was just covered in sweat. His free hand raises the male’s chin up so they could see eye to eye, a frown finding it’s way on his features. Yamato can’t help but be upset from how the other just seems so tired, out of it from the act and he just wants to help him. The fabric the male had ripped into pieces for cleaning from before is taken to dab away the sweat that clings to his forehead.

“Horikawa Kunihiro..” His voice is worried as he tries to keep the male up, requesting he uses one hand to lean on as he reaches for a basket that’s relatively and luckily nearby. Opening the flaps to see what Horikawa brought, he sees a jar of honey inside. Maybe for something sweet they were going to eat since Horikawa knows nothing to do at a beach. Yamato reads his dazed features once more, wanting him to do something so that he doesn’t go unconscious. Slowly opening the wakizashi’s mouth does he pour some of the honey onto his tongue, hands a bit shaky as some of it does fall between them. Some of the sticky liquid trailing down the corner of the male’s mouth along down his chin.

He rubs his thumb against the honey to wipe it away from his chin and quickly licks it away from his fingers. “Stay with me, alright and I won’t clean inside. I hear honey works for humans too.. These bodies are troublesome, don’t you think?” He speaks mostly to himself as he pours a little bit over the stab wound in his shoulder, the honey slowly leaving from the jar and finding a place in the laceration. Pouring it into his hands now, he makes sure to run it against the wound of his abdomen, making sure the honey finds it’s way inside in order to suck up any bacteria. He does finally sit the jar down next to them, making sure the other is okay after a few checks.

Maybe too much honey was poured into the shoulder wound as it seems to overflow, the liquid trailing down the wakizashi’s body is almost tempting (luckily Yamato isn’t a sinner and doesn’t have any reason to blame Horikawa as an Incubus.) Leaning down some, his tongue runs against the male’s chest, licking up the honey that rolls away from the area he’s been trying to keep clean. His tongue is warm along with his breath, saliva left behind as he makes sure to get up every drop of honey he’s wasted on him. Closer and closer does he come to the laceration, his tongue running against the area and he can feel the mixture of how sweet the honey is with the blood that has a sort of familiar iron taste.

He’s gentle with the way he cleans away some of the thick substance, swallowing it down with little to no effort. Honestly, having a taste of that in his stomach felt a little better.

Leaning back finally and taking a look at the other, the honey on his lips is licked away on his own time as he shakes his head next. “Ah.. Was that too much.. I’m sorry I could have used my hands.. but they’re busy.. please excuse me.” Busy by the means of one holding the substance of honey against his abdomen and the other in his own right to have something to lean on when he isn’t using the jar. Glancing at the male’s lips, he notices a bit of honey that seems to try an escape in which, it would be worrisome if it did. As if going for a kiss, the uchigatana once more licks away the honey, seeing nothing wrong with the act at all. It’s normal to lick people’s lips right? Sure.

　Still, it’s almost like Horikawa can breathe again when he comes to a stop, a relieved sigh passing his lips just before Yamato sets a finger to the bottom of his chin, tilting it upwards to meet his eyes again. He seems upset and for that Horikawa can’t help but feel a little apologetic in his distant thoughts, but the feeling of the cloth against his face is much kinder than inside of a wound, mumbling a slightly confused, “Yasusada-san?” as a reply to his own name.

　But it doesn’t look like Yamato is one for hesitation right now, instead leaning away to dig into the basket, looking at him expectantly before he comes back with a container of honey and prompts him to open his mouth. An explanation before as opposed to after may have helped, but regardless of the fact Horikawa does his best not to let any of the honey go to waste, though so much of it and so plainly feels almost sickly sweet. Swallowing it down like a bitter medicine, he licks his lips by habit to get what remains. Yamato beats him to wiping off what’s been left across his chin before he speaks up again though, to which the wakizashi nods.

　“Ah... Thank you.” For not sticking with the more painful method of disinfection, that is. Though for all the residual sweetness left in his mouth, he does feel a little better with having had something, and knowing how this sort of thing goes he’s sure that within a few minutes he’ll be in a much better state than he was, much better than he would have been with another round of salt water. “They are. Well... it’s still easy to forget how badly they respond to this sort of thing, and taking care of them...” Even for the diligent wakizashi it can slip his mind when he’s busy, and unlike repairs to a sword which are done efficiently and comfortably, the healing of a wound to his skin is slow to heal without anyone who can properly perform a repair. Blades may wear in length and sharpness, but blemishes never remain after repairs and polishing; quite unlike a human body that wears the scars it receives for as long as the remainder of its life. 　And it’s not unlikely that these will scar.

　Noting this, the feeling of honey across his wounds themselves is definitely foreign but not so much that Horikawa feels the need to grit his teeth, to squeeze the younger’s wrist. In fact, it’s somewhat soothing, even if a little uncomfortable for the fact that he’s still distantly aware of how sticky the substance is. His eyes close as he waits for Yamato to finish with the wound on his abdomen, and he’s ready to assume that they’re about done when one thing causes them to fly back open in surprise, looking down as he feels a particular warmth against his chest.

　His breath catches in his throat, holding as Yamato draws his tongue up his chest and the beginnings of a blush colour his cheeks from the proximity. From the act itself, really, coming from Yamato as it does to cause Horikawa’s heart to beat a mile a minute and his chest to flutter endlessly - though he does manage to pull his eyes away and to the side just as the other reaches the cut itself. Distracting himself with the sight of the cherry blossoms from the feeling of the other’s tongue running across his wound, the distant awareness of the blood that he would have just swallowed down alongside the sweeter honey. It’s lucky they came to land while they were in full bloom, huh... Thoughts that Horikawa considers before his eyes return back to the uchigatana, licking his lips clean of anything left over while he speaks.

　“No, I - it’s...” Swallowing again, of more sheepish feelings this time, he’s sure the flush of his face is painfully obvious by now as he shakes his head. “You don’t have to apologize... it...” He trails off. Again. It’s difficult, he’s finding, to find a way to express something that could explain his own embarrassed and even overwhelmed behaviour from the act. That Yamato himself is so unfazed by his own behaviour only serves to make Horikawa’s stand out more, embarrassing him more, and to be honest it’s just a lot. Yamato did a lot - does a lot.

　Continues to do a lot as he leans forward, and when Horikawa closes his eyes for a moment, finds that the uchigatana had been after a bit of honey as he blinks them back open. Aah, well, Horikawa will have to go for what he had hoped for himself, it seems. Leaning in to close the distance between them once more and with a tilt of his head to ensure he doesn’t reach any clumsy results, he parts his lips only slightly in the kiss he gives Yamato. It lasts only a few moments, though long enough for him to find that alongside the sweetness that lingers on both of their lips, so does that faintly metallic taste on Yamato’s as he pulls away.

     “Did you say… ‘master’?” Eli blinks a few times, startled by Horikawa’s all-too-sure enthusiasm. “You’re probably mistaken, I’m not– I don’t even know how to use a sword,” she confesses, a bit embarrassed, even though there’s no plausible reason for her to have learned in the first place. The closest that any of them know to using weaponry is Umi’s archery, after all.

     But he soon finishes washing out his stack of bubbly clothes, and she does the same, merging their piles of (mostly) soap-free, wet laundry together into the same basket. Eli is quick to point it out, reaching for the handles of the single unit. “It seems that we’ve finished washing the suds out – here, let’s put it in a washer.” Halting to make sure that Horikawa is following her before she proceeds, she takes the clothes to a nearby, unused washer and puts the contents of the basket inside.

     “I’ll also show you how much detergent to put… Do you see the line on the cap?” After making sure that he’s watching (she doesn’t really need to check, she thinks; his attention on the task is unwavering and enthused), she pours the detergent from the bottle into the detergent cap, up to the designated line. “Then, you just pour it into the washer after the clothes.” With a flick of her wrist, she empties the cap into the machine.

　Though even as these thoughts cross his mind as he rinses the laundry, he still needs to do his best to pay proper attention to the instructions he receives. Just as Eli says, he follows her lead and makes note of the proper amount of detergent, (a really efficient amount, compared to what he had been using!) After which, he had been able to guess as much himself. From there he continues to trail her in an almost puppy-like manner until she reaches a seat, though he doesn’t sit down himself, instead standing properly as he finally voices his thoughts.

　The eagerness in his voice probably leaks through, as he seems like he was about ready to say the same thing whether she had asked him to elaborate or not. He couldn’t have been mistaken, he thinks, because this is how these sorts of things work.

　“You’re the one in possession of my sword, aren’t you? In that case, it makes you the new master that I serve, so please use me as you see fit. I’ll do my best!” He gives a little bow, though he’s admittedly unsure of just how much use he can be to an idol of this era, where swordplay is seemingly an art that has fallen greatly since the world has modernized so much. Perhaps he’ll be of more use now that he’s been given this kind of human form? In any case, at the least he can honestly say one thing, a sparkle in his eye as he does so. “Well, I was a little surprised, but a sword doesn’t choose its master after all. Rather, I think that if I’m to be of use to anyone, I’m glad that it can be to somebody as practical and graceful as you are, Master.”

The tongues that flick from left to right, lapping up the blood that touches the ground and knowing that he’s became a number one target, he isn’t uneasy or afraid, this is a normal thing to grow fond of the situation. Though it’s not as many enemies that he’d like, his common sense is in tact as he allows Horikawa to deal with one of them by a quick step upon it’s vine and the one that Yamato has– he can’t help but tease it with every jump and dodge that he graces with it.

These monsters aren’t the ones who run on minuscule brains, so hunger and greed alone and it’s easy to tell that Yamato isn’t as delighted as he would be. The one that’s close by to him, he extends his hand in order to rile it up. “You want this right?” Baiting his own body so that the monster can’t help but want to eat him whole. Each snap towards his fingers is a little to A LOT too close for comfort and it makes one thing is Yamato even paying attention. Well. Slightly.

Another jump from the Baba and Yamato quickly moves out the way, laughing as he does so in hopes he could rile it up. Maybe if it wasn’t so greedy, he’d end it’s suffering but ruining its’ every attempt doesn’t sound so bad. “These aren’t that bad as malicious as they are, it makes me feel bad they can’t give me anything better. I guess there’s no reason to..” Digging his own fingers into the gash so allow more amounts of blood to be drawn, staying on one place for the monster is done as it gives on more jump in order to lunge at the male’s arm first.

Yamato raises his sword horizontally, forcing it inside of the Baba’s mouth so it can be cut in half from the center. It’s nut-like head flying in different directions, one upward and the other half downward. The tail is also cut in a clean straight line and he can see the acid from the monster that rests upon his blade. The endless snapping from some of the plants that are still connected to the wall, the younger looks towards Horikawa with a sheepish wave, “

“They weren’t much of a threat, what do you think, Horikawa Kunihiro?” A tilt of his head as eyes search for an answer. Taking a step where he steps on the limp tail that the creatures used to slither around, a squishing sound made when he did so. As much as he wants to sheathe his blade, he doesn’t before swiping his sword against the vines along the wall, wanting to cut away a few strands that fall upon the ground. The screams from the hungry plants play in unison as if it really hurts them (which he’s happy if it does), if calling for some sort of help. “Hm.. do you think the doorway or something might be above.. aah, I wonder if I can climb these?” Perhaps, climbing isn’t a good idea in the slightest since above in the darkened area, eyes shift from left to right watching the two below.

　It’s a bit difficult to describe, but somehow the sight of how Yamato toys with even such minor nuisances brings to mind the scolding of not to play with one’s food. But, there isn’t much to do in the situation as Horikawa instead replies to the question posed to him.

　“They weren’t, but if that’s the case I don’t know why you felt like you wanted to open that cut back up again...” At this point, it’s worth wondering if Yamato simply inflicts pain and injury upon himself for the sake of enjoying those things. Well, if he considers it that way though, it isn’t much of a question from the looks of things; the greater one would be whether he gains more pleasure when it’s himself or something or somebody else that’s in pain. In any case, it’s all only passing thoughts that strike him before the younger makes another suggestion.

　Hori doesn’t spare anything more than a cursory glance upwards, finding that the ceiling is higher than he can see clearly into in the darkness like this, and instead focusing his attention on the uchigatana in front of him. He closes the remaining distance between them with only a few steps and by habitual concern doesn’t hesitate in taking the younger’s hand in his own, with the beginnings of a grimace forming on his features as he inspects the blood that stains it. 

　“If we can’t see there, do you think we should try to climb in a place like this?” He notes the question only absently, and rhetorically as he turns the other’s palm in his hand - from his phrasing alone it’s easy enough to tell it’s a bad idea. Though it’s not as if he’s opposed to the danger for danger’s sake, else he wouldn’t have agreed to come down here in the first place. Rather, he runs a finger lightly along the gash to see how deep it seems, (how much Yamato has aggravated it with his playing around,) and elaborates. “Besides that we wouldn’t be able to see any more of these plants, which would probably be worse to deal with if we weren’t on our own two feet on solid ground, there could be other things up there.” Not that he had checked.

　In hindsight Horikawa concludes that it had been a mistake not to bring any bandages with him, knowing full well that they had planned to go somewhere dangerous. He doesn’t believe that Yamato will mind too much but... It does bother him slightly - enough to apologize. “Aah, I’m sorry, I didn’t think to bring first aid with us... You’ll be fine even with something like this though, right?” It is Yamato after all, and it would be an insult to underestimate him.

…!?

“What’s wrong?” He’s concerned, looking at the other though what happens next.. is such a different story.

The saliva that spills from the monster’s grotesque mouth and the sharp teeth that are sharp but the color has dulled, possibly the blood that’s stained them are noticed by the uchigatana as he can breathe with an exhale since he’s shocked. The flower that he thought caught his attention is sentient enough to realize that people are before it. No eyes are located and yet it snaps over and over again at what it wants to feed off of. To think the first room would be so deadly and feeling warmth leave his hand, he can tell that the other went to do something else.

He does find words that leave his lips that result in a thank you even when he should have been paying attention the whole time. A step back and he watches what the raven has planned, unsheathing his sword and using it as a means of cutting its stem in hopes that without being connected it would die on the spot. Of course, all plans seem to fail without the right variables consulting in the monster gaining a quicker and fluid motion when on the ground.

The stem almost like a snakes body pushes forward, past the wakizashi and it’s intent made clear. It’s only a moment does eyes widen, slightly shocked from it’s release that it’s able to do something like this. His hand slightly hesitant since he’s taking in the sight of the monster but it seems even all at once that a few Baba’s awaken, the snapping and clattering around them increasing, even an extension of one that’s behind Yamato even though he takes various steps back to make sure he’s what the one on the floor is after. Quickly dodging, a side-step which allows him to dodge a jump that the creature had tries in order to tackle the uchigatana, it’s futile since jaws bite against the stem of the plant that had been hooked to the wall. Freeing it as well.

“Mistakes..” He states to himself, slightly troubled because if there’s two crawling around, he doesn’t want one of them sliding off towards Horikawa and the fact even more remain among the walls and who knows what strategic corners they would try and place them in. If they’re working by brain or by hunger, it’s hard to tell. Though, his thoughts of what to do on the matter is certain so he believes that unsheathing his own sword and the hand that’s slowly healing from where his previous fight with Horikawa, he gripped the blade to cut his wound back open, blood reforming back in his palm.

Flicking his fingers out as the fresh smell of blood is sent towards the ground, the Baba’s picking up the smell with ease, their attention on the uchigatana and him only. The one’s on the wall still snap ferociously and without fail does one even try to go the extra mile in order to get to Horikawa, though it’s not long enough to do so. Looking the male’s direction,

　Well, unfortunate that he can’t offer the answer the uchigatana probably wants.

　“No?” His reply is instant, before he can even think the word or the reason why he says it it’s already passed his lips, and it’s a few moments before he realizes he has. That he was even asked to do such a thing has left him a little dumbstruck, but it’s only just a moment as he shakes his head to dismiss the thoughts and readies his sword again, intent on not making the same mistake twice. To support this notion, he makes it clear that he’s not wavering at all in staying, already feeling a bit of guilt. “I’m not going anywhere, Yasusada-san. I’ll help!”

　But thanks to the younger’s move from earlier, blood splattered nearby from the act and the plants entirely focused on him from it, it’s a bit easier to say than to do. Horikawa decides on what could be considered a risky move in itself if the creature only chose to turn to face the nearest prey as opposed to the more vulnerable looking one at this rate, but it doesn’t appear to do so. Stepping on the tail end of one of the two that are chasing Yamato, it continues to try and tug in the younger’s direction and Horikawa is glad that it’s followed his expectations.

　Bringing his sword down, vertically he manages to slice right through the flower, though it’s regrettably not a very clean cut as it continued to snap while he did so. While this time it does stop moving for the most part, having been sliced open all the way to the stem and apparently that looks to be enough to stop it, Horikawa doesn’t stop there. Caution not to repeat his earlier mistake dictates he be thorough, and four more times he slices into the plant, three times to cut the flower and grotesque tongue that hangs from it into bits and once more to cut the stem that he steps on it by off at the base of the flower; even if it did survive somehow, uselessly, it would be immobile anyway like this. The whole action only takes a few moments, remaining still just out of range of those that snap from the walls. If he were feeling particularly threatened he may have even stabbed the wakizashi in his hand right through what remains of the flower in front of him, but for now that’s of no concern, looking up to see how Yamato is faring with only one.

“Salt…”

The salt? SALT…

How .. did he forget that. Well, luckily he brought it. But.. It’s in another room, he’d need to go get it but for now. “It’s in a safe place, I could go retrieve it at any moment, I’m sure we don’t need it right away. Does the book say so?” He’s sure he’s skimmed over it a few times, it’s his favorite book at the moment, fully black with ancient words written on the front. It’s intrigued him for a long time but sometimes the rules of certain games do go lost upon him, trying to become a ‘cultist’ is what the book offers is a very tedious job in itself.

“Hm? We’re playing what you’re reading. Does it not explain it well enough for you? It’s just a short game that should get us halfway through the night.” Yamato replies casually without any second thoughts, for what reason would he need to second guess himself, he’s sure nothing that bad will happen. Picking up the pen from before, he begins to write his name on a sheet of paper– only halfway when he looks around the building. “We should cut off that.. backup gen..raptor.. jin..grr.. rater… Generator? That thing that was spoken to us about, to completely turn off the lights but this place seems like it’s be really dark.”

　As cute as Yamato’s struggle to try and even pronounce the word generator itself is, at first the idea of shutting the generator off makes him hesitant; in the job description and instructions they had received earlier, they were told that they would be using videos to watch over the building overnight. The more he thinks about it though, considering the amount of lights that would need to be shut off, and the risk of something they weren’t expecting that would normally operate during the day for children with bright lights and loud noises turning on in the middle of the game, well... The power itself does seem to be the most efficient means of doing so, and he can’t imagine a circumstance in which the pair of them from an age without such convenient technological means wouldn’t be able to act without the camera. So pretty much, what Yamato suggests they each do is taken without a second thought as Horikawa agrees.

　“We only have six minutes, so we should both hurry. When we get back we’ll have to prick our fingers for the paper and start the rest of the steps if we want to do it.” It’s a timed act, and they don’t have long to do it but Horikawa is sure that if this is something that Yamato wants to do then they’ll both be doing their best to ensure they get back with minutes to spare. With a nod, he considers what he can remember of how the layout of the restaurant is, stepping out the door to head to find it. Though, it is still pretty dark, and after a moment a thought strikes him - just as effective as the generator, (which he personally has little to no familiarity with,) there are switchboards to cut the power too, right? Those are much easier to find, and much easier to use, and in fact he figures he can guess where one is in this building.

Upon the inquiry of his game, the male quickly remembers and thanks Horikawa mentally that he remembered the nearing time. “You’re right, we have to do it all before twelve itself.” Opening the book in his hand to the page that he needs, he finds a title labeled, ‘Midnight Man’.  “We have to do these things one at a time so if you could hold this.” Handing over the book to Horikawa in exchange for the items that were taken out from the bag.

Holding them, he also uses one of his hands to dig into the bag in order to find the keys that they need to unlock the door so that they can go inside and begin what’s to be needed. Pushing the door forward, he takes a deep breath in the atmosphere that seems all but too quiet but thinks nothing of it. It’s a building that’s been on the chopping block for years so it doesn’t look it’s best at all. The walls have all sorts of stains on them, various kid drawings and words littered from here to there. Paint has been torn, arts and crafts hanging off and some to the point where various areas must have been removed.

It’s slightly decrepit, it can’t be helped that the roof even has holes and pipes that leak from above, drops of water fall into buckets placed under them so that the floor doesn’t become wet. Even as that is tried, one bucket is slightly overflowing.

“This place isn’t all made out what the Bossman said it would be.” Anyway,

　Still, he doesn’t hesitate to accept the book in exchange for what he had held out to the younger, and waits patiently for the keys to be retrieved and the door opened before following him in. Admittedly Horikawa can’t help but notice that the area is falling apart either, even offput by the lack of care that’s been given to the state of the building itself, never mind the actual area inside. His expression probably reflects this, but when it comes to commenting on its sorry state... Well, all he can do is nod a bit at Yamato’s own commentary, figuring that alone says enough about their workplace for the week. Instead he dutifully looks back down to the book.

　The first thing to catch his eye is the requirement to finish by 12 o’clock, which was exactly what Yamato had already noted so Horikawa skips that part and the subsequent materials to bring - they already have all those, right?  There’s a thoughtful hum as his eyes run over the page before finally coming across what he’s looking for, a small ah escaping as he does. “ You brought the salt didn’t you? It says we need that. Well, in any case, we’re supposed to write our full names on a piece of paper each. Then... we need a drop of blood to soak into it? It says that all the lights should be off by the time we’ve done this, too.” Absently, he reads out the instructions in the order they’re performed (none of them seem particularly complicated) and quietly skims the rest of the page, only catching a few words here and there until one particular warning in ALL CAPS catches his eye. Seems important?

It is highly recommended that you DO NOT PLAY THE MIDNIGHT GAME.

A part-time job is what they decide to do, wanting to benefit their child as much as they could and even get money to buy furniture once they get time. Anyway, it’s just a night job that they’re situated in, the boss stating that they just need to work 5 nights to gain a paycheck. All they had to do is watch over whatever animatronics were, something Yamato never heard of before but he had a feeling that maybe since Horikawa’s more up-to-date than him, he would know himself.

Their shift starts at 12AM and lasts all the way to 6AM, six hours aren’t all that bad when all they have to do is click a few buttons and that’s that? What’s the worse that can happen? Nothing! Obviously. Though Yamato has a book with him to read while they wait for their first shift to start, something about all sorts of Night Games that can be played alone or with other people. Hopefully this will be able to help both him and Horikawa out if the night begins to drain them or if they start falling asleep.

Time: 11:50. Place: Front Door of Freddy Fazbear’s.

“I’m really happy, Kunihiro to be able to work for you for these few nights. Even though it’s a short job, it really puts my mind at ease that I can help you in any way possible.” He speaks, turning to the other with a smile on his features. His scarf is then raised up a bit to cover his grin from before as he looks towards the door then peering up at the sky above them, the full moon is out and the stars do twinkle.

　“Hmm... There was that game you wanted to play before we went in though, wasn’t there Yasusada-san? I brought everything you said to! Should we do that first?” Raising the hand that holds the bag, he looks expectantly to the younger with bright eyes, the poor soul who doesn’t know what he’s about to walk into. Among the things he’d brought there were a handful of different kinds of candles, matches, papers, some thread and needles, a triangle shaped wooden piece with glass in the center (which had been specifically indicated for him to bring), and a few more assorted items that had been listed off to him vaguely. Frankly Horikawa isn’t quite sure what need they’d have for any of this on a supposedly uneventful security job like this, but if it would make Yamato happy to bring them along and play the games that had captured his attention so then the wakizashi is glad to do what he can. 

His thumb brushes against the back of the male’s hand, trailing circles from time to time that don’t mean much just something to pass the time. “Hm.. I have no idea, I couldn’t tell you what they mean either. The pros and cons from the time frame that we come from.. I wonder this place could be older than us and yet we never heard of it.” Yamato isn’t crazy about history at all but he is curious as to what could have brought this all together.

“Cautiously?” The word is unknown to him for a moment as he knows he can’t just run off normally like he does with Kashuu, he’s careful when it comes to that but, “It’s fine, if something’s to happen I can protect myself.” It’s true, he’s capable to do that enough. He doesn’t think there’s anything that could stop him within here, they are swords, if i can be cut they’ll be okay?

“We don’t have any markers do we?” Maybe writing something in the wall would be a good idea? What could be done since they have no pieces of bread to place or anything else but themselves. “I guess after the first room we can think of something?” That’s what he thinks as he moves forward with the other, looking up towards him for a bit of confirmation, “Unless we both have good memory.” Luckily, Horikawa is right about there being a room at the turn, vines that cover the wall and red flowers attached to them inside.

Unknown to them, the vines move when not looked at, the flowers petals almost seem as if they open and sharp teeth are hidden away inside. Sadly, above them is a different story, there are cylindrical monsters with a squelch and gooey surface with the ability to suck in creatures the size of a human and consume items that their prey carries. Their body contorts at the fact they feel heat enter the room, unaware bodies that breathe in and out.

The rooms are cold for this reason but they don’t intend to strike yet just wait for them to make the wrong move. 

　One of the flowers seems to catch Yamato’s attention, and Horikawa observes with equal curiosity as he leans in, commenting on how they should proceed. Well, it makes sense to follow a draft if they’re heading through a supposed labyrinth, doesn’t it? He’s about to say as much when he notices something, just a trace of movement from the flora they’re both peering at, and in an instant he snaps his hand back to pull Yamato away. This place is supposed to be dangerous, right? The act could be a gross overreaction but it’s better to be safe than sorry in these situations, and it seems that his caution is well founded when the flower rises up, just about the same height as them with a solid stem that seems to move as though it’s intelligent. Looking to be aware of their presence, it lurches towards them with newly revealed teeth, the petals surrounding it now appearing as a mouth with a grotesque tongue hanging out.

　Luckily a few steps back had been taken when Yamato was pulled away from the flower causing it to come up just short of them, and though its stem is perfectly straightened it can only snap helplessly at the pair. Bright eyes blink at the creature in a state of slight shock, but the breath Horikawa hadn’t know had caught is released as he realizes they’re just out of range, unaware of the other creeping threats above them. Instead his eyes run across the rest of the room at eye level, spotting other various flowers that closely resemble this scattered throughout before he draws his sword from its place his hip. Releasing Yamato’s hand with a step forward, in one quick motion he attempts to sever the Baba’s stem, acting under the impression that in doing so he would cut it off from its roots and cause it to stop moving altogether. 　It doesn’t stop moving.

150404

     Realizing that the location of the contents of those empty detergent bottles could only be in one place, her eyes widen — and, briefly, it causes her to giggle, glancing back at the overflowing washing machines. "You’re only supposed to put one cup in each, instead of one entire bottle… I’ll have to show you some time, after this," she adds, gently. The first laundry wash of your life is never easy, but she’d never imagined that some users would want to Just Fuck Them(selves) Up and dump the entire bottle…

     She brushes suds aside to check the small time indicator on the nearest machine, frowning when it displays about ten minutes. While it would be easier to wait it out, she isn’t about to sit there in a room for half an hour for the machine to finish — and so she bets on the chance that whoever was sponsoring this yacht trip wouldn’t be too mad if she just… pulls the connecting wire from the back of the machine and prays that the Love Live god would keep her safe from an electrifying fate. As she does so, the machine powers down, luckily, leaving her shock-free. With the washer powered down now, she pulls back the door of the washer, which now opens with a small bit of prying. Out come Hori’s clothes, with an additional cartful of bubbles, but thankfully no more bubbles would be produced anymore, and no more people would be killed with bubbles. Bending her knees to reach into the now-quiet machine, she fishes out the clothes that Horikawa had attempted to wash and piles them into his original basket.

     Shoving even more suds out the window (they probably land on the floor of the main deck, somewhere, at some point), she clears enough to be able to sufficiently access the laundry room’s sink, as well as the shelf, and sets both Hori’s basket and a rental empty basket on its surface. "Here.” Eli points to the pile of sud-infused clothes, then points to the laundry sink, which is large enough to accommodate room for two people standing next to each other. “Just run the clothes under the tap, enough to wash some of the suds out, and then put them in the empty basket. That way, we can use the right amount of detergent when we put them through the cycle again, and the machine won’t overflow this time.”

　Upon receiving her instructions he doesn’t hesitate in taking in what the other has to say and nodding eagerly, just before he starts to gather up the laundry, still dripping wet from how it was so suddenly removed from the machine. “Okay, okay~! I’ll do just that, A - Ah...” 

　Biting his tongue, while he had habitually assumed it would be fine to refer to her politely... Something she had mentioned caught his attention and causes Horikawa to stop himself before a potentially grave mistake can be made. Though, knowing his fumble was almost definitely caught, after he collects himself he gives a sheepish smile in her direction as he turns on the taps. (Luckily, something that even he can do.) “Er, excuse me... I’ll do just that, Master!”

How is it that he became enticed by him? Direct words during a fight bringing them along together, or had that feeling been hiding for awhile. Had he waited until the other could see the part of him that everyone feared, to see if he could take in that as well? People wonder who Yamato is really, a sword who just follows the actions of his Master or is he his own person. Ah, perhaps he’s someone who wants to continuously give this affection to the male above him, for him to know he’s the one who brings out so much from him.

It feels right to him, that Horikawa gains this because he’s the only one who riles Yamato up so much rather than anyone else. The things he does or the way he acts holds sometimes a heavy affect on him even if it’s just something simple. It can’t be helped just like now, how the argument of sharing a bed has brought them to this. There’s never a time the other bores or even upsets Yamato, he’s able to hold a smile on his features even if he’s trying to do his own best for Horikawa.

As much as he tries to relax into the kiss, the grip that tightens on his hand makes him wince within the kiss, something he’s trying his best to not break. It’s one after the other and what follows up next is the pull of his hair, he arches his back because of the action. Nails once again scratching at the other’s own hand that’s gripping him harder than normal. Even his own voice leaving into the kiss, a moan that also has his name attached which is shaky itself from the pain, “K.. Aa.. Kunihiro..” His chest rises from the action because it hurts, his legs shake slightly as a response, his face red from his voice— even a smile lays on his lips as if he enjoyed it or perhaps, he’s happy from in taking the male’s own groans, even the whimpers that were like music to his ears.

Even if he’s suffering from the pain running through his arms and the pull of his hair that made him grit his teeth to try and calm himself down. In the pit of his stomach, the feeling that comes to him allows a shiver to go down his spine. Closing his eyes tightly to try and force away all the pain that’s circulating though him, he gives another deep breath.

His grip on the knife is released from the fact of how the other jolts back, he’s slightly upset that he’s moved away. They were so close and yet that was broken, in hopes that he’d return to him, his free hand runs down the other’s sleeve, as if asking for him to come back. Actions speak louder than words and the gaze in his eyes hold a need for the other to return. He has no idea what could be going through the other’s mind, maybe he disliked what Yamato had given him and that’s the worse thing to think of. His nails hooking onto his sleeve just now, waiting for could be said but even still now, he holds some hope of how the other still has his hand over Yamato’s own even after backing away.

Eyes open to adjust to the darkness, he can hear the other’s breathing which is probably to take easy breaths. The arm that Horikawa moves in order to grip the bedding, Yamato’s own hand still hooked to the sleeve and slowly makes it’s way down to hold the other’s hand softly akin to his tight grip on the sheets. It’s this bit of reassurance that he wants to give, closing his eyes as his head slightly hurts from the actions before, a deep breath again as he looks to the side out of his peripheral vision towards the door way Tanuma is supposed to be (luckily he’s staying at his fiancé). Catching his breath as soon as he hears his name..

“I’m here..” Is a response that he gives, that he’s listening to what Horikawa must have to say, looking towards his direction, the lightning that is seen through the windows lights up the room and Yamato can clearly see the look upon Horikawa’s features, his eyes widening and then lids dropping back down as he’s content, he does wonder how long he’ll make these faces. The best ones are on Horikawa’s features and they make the uchigatana feel warm inside, his arm raising and his free hand cupping the male’s cheek and running his thumb against his cheek.

He can’t help but to speak back when the wakizashi speaks to him, it’s feels like if he can’t speak to him he’d feel slightly upset. There’s always good conversation between them and his voice always held a sense of excitement unlike Yamato’s. Or could it be he was trapped by a voice that when he called his name, the other saw him for someone to be actually cared for and just not another person walking around. What is this to be called? Just affection.. right? Is this.. what it’s like to indulge in such happiness or is this not it? Hearing that it hurts, he blinks, “I just wanted you to feel in anyway how much I care.. I could have given more but there’s only so much that can be done with a small knife..”

Stating how he wish he could give more than what he did, slightly disappointed in himself though the words spoken aloud brings Yamato to be more alert. “So you do remember..? I’m happy.. I want you to know that I meant it.. I don’t want you to forget.. No one could be able to give you as much as I can..” His words aren’t hesitant at all, he says them because he means them. He wasn’t hesitant before so he can’t be now unless Horikawa wants nothing to do with them. “Only you..” It’s words that are familiar to him as he takes a deep breath, the rise and fall of his body.

A brow is raised, he wonders if Horikawa is true behind his words when he says such things. If it’s him. “If it’s me..?”

He doesn’t know whether to frown or not, but his thumb runs along the other’s bottom lip that speaks such shaky words. Wanting to close his eyes to take in what’s being given to him, he can’t help but feel his chest become tight at the phrases that begin to come to light. Their affection is something that seems to be a need, needed to be given to one another just to become content. He wonder why is that, as he’s ready to speak, he can’t halt the other’s lips that fall back on his own. Closing his eyes and his free hand finds it’s way back behind him, not tampering with the knife but starting at the end of his black attire, nails resting underneath against the skin as he slowly starts running the tips against the male’s back, making sure to leave marks as he returns the kiss given to him.

It isn’t a competition but Yamato is nothing but equally happy as he accepts the male’s words, muttering an ‘Always, only you.. only from you’ against the male’s lips before he continues. His other hand that’s been held down by the others rubs softly against the tap of his hand unlike the pain he’s placing on his back near the knife. Wanting to give him the affection that he deserves though Horikawa deserves much better but at this moment, considering he’s allowing himself to melt into the other’s warmth, he becomes a little sloppy with the kiss as he opens his eyes to see if the other’s own are open. His teeth lightly bite at the male’s bottom lip once and then twice.

It doesn’t stop there, his free hand that’s clawing at his back get’s to the other’s own neck, hand slipping through the hole (his shirt is probably raised up a good bit and pulling against the knife which must be uncomfortable but do they care?), Yamato lightly pulls at black locks before biting roughly against the male’s lip in order to break the flesh. He can tell if he’s achieved his goal once the kiss has a new added taste and his tongue runs against the area as he licks away what little blood that could have formed. This time, he breaks the kiss, taking his own breath.

“I want to be taken care of by you.. I want to live by drinking your breath.” Words that can melt into saliva. His attention back to the knife that’s still within Horikawa’s back, it isn’t long until he pulls it out with ease, blood possibly dripping and being soaked up by the black fabric. He brings the weapon between their faces, Yamato gazing at the knife before running his tongue along one side.

Moving it out the way, it’s again he kisses the other, unlike the last kiss; he lightly breathes out his nose in this kind action. Wanting the other to know that he means it, each kiss that’s layered on top of the other with his own blood that was drawn from the knife, he makes sure that the other gets a taste by running the metallic liquid against the other’s tongue.

His use with the knife isn’t finished at all, he makes sure to lightly trail it against the male’s collarbone, using just a little effort to cut at the skin so that he can feel the other actions above him. It’s only a few that he leaves, not thinking of how bad this could be later for the wakizashi at all, he smiles in the kiss. The knife still in his grasp as he lightly runs his hand up the male’s waist, sliding the blade along his skin as well. Though, he gets a bit out of hand, running it harder against the male’s body to the point of wanting to break the skin, to continue what he wanted before. Starting off light so that the other could get use to it if they kept this going.

Breaking the kiss so that he can breathe, he’s no better than Horikawa when doing this, he mutters against his lips. “I won’t.. deny your affections anymore.. I.. I want to have as much as you’ll give me..” He chuckles softly, pushing the knife into the other’s side but not as deep as he did before with his back, “I hope that isn’t selfish at all.” It’s those words where he stabs the rest of the blade into him, a light kiss placed on his lips once more.

The grip on the wakizashi’s shirt is released as he places the palm of his hand against his chest, not pushing him away but to change the mood of his reactions. What truly gets to the younger’s senses is when he feels a presence on the back of his neck and a shiver quickly rolls down his spine. Inside, he tries to force himself from doing anything that could bring the male to do anything to his neck, as sensitive as it is, he tries to grow accustomed to the warmth that he really can’t move away. He does try and keep his composure as much as he can, his shoulders move just a bit as a small reaction, nothing to big.

A light breath leaves from him in the kiss as he feels nails run against the back of his neck and it’s enough for Yamato’s hand to quickly ball back up, his nails clumsily and roughly running against the male’s chest, luckily fabric is there so he wouldn’t have left any marks on the male’s body. To contain his voice from breaking at such light touches around his neck is slowly killing him inside. Moving his hand away so that he doesn’t do anything like that, laying it back down by his own side, he opens one eye in hopes the touches on his neck would cease and desist. He can only be grateful once the kiss is broken, allowing himself to breathe as a distraction.

Each rise and fall of his chest is to cope with this, the feeling that swells in his chest and how much his throat tickles from the bits and pieces of laughter that hides there. He doesn’t mind how it’s been cut short so he doesn’t see why the other has grown embarrassed, maybe he would if his neck isn’t in danger but this is more important matters. Can he truly call this danger when each touch and even the male’s breath grazes upon his sensitive skin, swallowing down this feeling that he might burst if this goes on for so long. His nails run against the sheets of the cover, gripping them so that maybe he wouldn’t have to pay any attention. 

Sadly, his voice draws him back, it’s at the point where Yamato always listens to what he has to say no matter what. It’s because he’s used to doing just that and his curiosity wouldn’t let him ignore the other anyway. The words that’s recently been leaving from Horikawa’s mouth does nothing but stir Yamato up inside, from kind words and things such as feelings. But even speech upon his skin isn’t enough to stop what he’s been trying to keep contained.

“Aa—” It’s enough to send Yamato over the edge, “H..haha.. Please..” Eyes closed as he can hear his own bits of laughter leaving from his lips. The kiss that had been placed on his neck enough to break just that from all the moments Yamato has done but squirm and scratch at the floor with his nails. Sadly enough, even between his laughter and begging from a distraction from his own actions, he can’t help the sounds that come when his hand accidentally hits against the bag and his other hand which he hadn’t noticed own nails had been piercing into the male’s skin, it’s all accidents. He didn’t believe in doing something like this over being so ticklish but it’s a defense mechanism!

“It tickles.. haha..hahahaha.. Horikawa Kunihiro, I’m sensitive there.” Having to out himself doesn’t know what will happen but figuring he can just dig his nails into the plastic bag beside him, to rip it in order to get over his own mistakes. Horikawa always found some way to break some sort of composure on Yamato, even if it’s done with pure intentions but without his scarf he’s a wreck. A laughing mess as he continues to chuckle under him, how the kisses lead from his jaw and he tries his best to stifle his laughter and once the kiss is set upon his beauty mark, perfectly aimed is when the uchigatana finds that his free hand’s fingers run against something sharp in the back which without a doubt he can tell what it is.

Even during the male’s question— even though he’s so close, asking such a thing from Yamato. It’s at this moment he tries to stop laughing and drop his shoulders from when he was tense, finally opening his eyes to see him once more. Words like this is what gets to Yamato as he can recall each and every touch upon his neck, trying to shake it off as his free hand grasps the hilt of the knife with ease. He blinks, thoughts trailing in his mind as his eyes adjust finally to the darkness from as much as he closed his own eyes from those actions ago.

He can tell in the other’s voice how genuine he is and it’s enough to bring a smile to the male’s features, he wonders can Horikawa spot it. Not only that, the wakizashi tries hard for this, how long has he wanted to make sure this question gained a positive answer. Yamato could leave him waiting for such a long time. Yet..

“…Huh.. You really want to do just that.. Can you really take care of me like this.. Even if sometimes I might be a little odd.. a monster at times, will you still be here for me? Because remember, I promised to give you my best, my everything, anything that I have I’ll give it to you because I want your happiness as well.” His words are soft like always but he’s serious, it can be noticed in his tone even though he laughs softly when he tries to figure his words, his hand with the knife raises and making sure that it doesn’t touch the other at all, he places his arm around the other’s neck, it’s a gentle embrace in which he leans forward to place a kiss on the male’s cheek.

It’s at this point, he decides to whisper in the other’s ear, thinking back, “When I first told you those words, you looked confused and even judged my actions.. So I wonder.. did I scare you speechless.. You understand now right that.. Because I want you to remember.. I don’t want you to forget.. that I’m not like everyone else and I give this to you because you’re special to me. I want you to always know that.. I want to see you at your happiest moments..” Even with one hand pinned down, he lightly strokes the male where he placed such scratches on his skin and backing away just a little, he makes sure to kiss the corner of Horikawa’s mouth.

　Compared to the fluttering feeling, the grin, and the attentiveness he pays to Yamato's expression, the stinging Horikawa feels in the hand held by him is negligible - something only to be distantly noted in the back of his mind as he focuses on more important things. Things like, for example, the soft laughter that Yamato can't help but allow to pass from his lips. It would be more difficult for him not to have thoughts of how cute Yamato is as he squirms beneath him, begging helplessly with the reason of his neck being sensitive, because apparently Horikawa hasn't realized the effect that his own actions could have on the boy who's captivated him in this way. It's a sight he finds he isn't opposed to in any case, and maybe it shows in the fond smile that traces his lips. He does need to regain his composure however, just as Yamato does in order to say what he has.

　Smaller details - the crinkling of the plastic bag, the delay in the return of the younger’s arm before he speaks up again - are lost in his earlier fascination and the current tone set by his very own words. It’s a sincere request from him after all, and when he expresses his wish to be able to care for Yamato even in small ways, he truly does want to do so. For him, to help and be near the people he cares for alone is enough to make him shine, and the hesitance that Yamato shows only serves to make him nervous. So, of course Horikawa is going to listen to the soft sound of his voice with all the attentiveness he can, searching eagerly for a positive answer.

　At first, he’s a little surprised. He would understand if it were his clumsy affections, his lack of experience, his status as a sword whose very identity was debatable but for his relationship with Kanesan - but to be questioned of his desire to care for the younger is an entirely foreign concept. Since, and even before he had confessed Horikawa had known that he wanted, and still does want, nothing more than to do exactly that. His chance to object doesn’t come though, while he still leans into the gentle embrace and the light kiss pressed to his cheek.

　Horikawa’s breath does catch in his throat as Yamato whispers in his ear, thankful for the comforting touch that brushes across his now scratched hand and the gentle kiss given to him. If Horikawa doesn’t mind the affection that he receives, he says, but that’s puzzling. Rather than ‘mind’ it, doesn’t he generally bask in such a thing? Is this really a question that he feels needs to be asked? He doesn’t hesitate to lean into the kiss, eager to show exactly this sentiment somehow until he feels a sharp sensation in his back.

　The pain catches him off guard, though perhaps there were hints he could have noticed had he paid more attention to something other than the reactions he was garnering, and the gently spoken tones of the younger. Unfortunately that wasn’t what he had done, and the reaction he gives to the shock is equally sudden. Instinctively balling into fists to cope with the pain, one hand squeezes Yamato’s and the other, due to his earlier action, catches a handful of his hair in the act. He doesn’t mean to, but as his fingers tighten around the strands and he pulls without thinking, it’s sure to be painful for the uchigatana.

　Even his voice pulls at the back of his throat; what would have been a yelp of pain and surprise under normal circumstances, he manages to suppress to little more than a groan, a whimper just before he breaks away from Yamato’s kiss with a gasp. He doesn’t dare move too far with the knife still digging into his back, but even though the wound isn’t even comparable to what had been inflicted on him by way of the uchigatana himself prior, the dullness makes it feel all the worse, and the last thing he wants to do is make it more so. The moment he realizes what he’s done however, he also releases the hair caught in his grasp, instead returning his hand to the floor to tighten his fingers around the blanket underneath them.

　He has to remind himself: don’t react too strongly, don’t get angry, don’t get scared. As long as he can order his thoughts and remain calm it’s fine for now, or else as close as it can get to fine like this, because even now he knows that he can trust Yamato. This isn’t something he had expected in this situation, but perhaps in hindsight he could see now what had lead up to it, and the final implication of what was about to happen found in deserving this act, as opposed to that which he had gone through before. 

　“Nn... Ya, Yasusada-san...?” He gives a short breath, careful not to let his voice crack and creep into it as well as he tries to collect himself. He manages to adjust to the feeling (as much as one can adjust) and the eyes he had closed immediately in response to the pain slowly open to look at him again, somewhat pleading in his expression. Of course, he still winces at the sensation, his brows pulled together and a look of obvious pain upon his features, but he can cope with this much better than what he would receive in a fight. That’s what he tells himself.

　“It hurts. O-ow...” He’s not able to be particularly mindful of himself as he speaks, mostly just trying not to move in a way that might prompt Yamato to do anything further. Though he can’t imagine that simply trying to keep quiet will do him any good either in this situation so he does muse aloud. “Aah... This is the affection you were talking about isn’t it... You, said something similar last time. Only me... huh?” It’s strange, a familiar feeling that catches in his chest, which he can vaguely tie to the last time he was in a situation like this... This time, there isn’t as much fear, because this time he knows that at least... no matter what follows, he knows that Yamato would never fatally hurt him. It’s a small comfort, but with the comparative severity of the injury, (that is, not severe at all as opposed to before,) it’s a comfort nonetheless.

　The feeling that lingers behind that, the pain and the fear that he can brush away in this context, (though perhaps less so the thoughts that accompany it,) is the same lightness in his chest that always seems to become so much more apparent when sweet words are said. It feels inappropriate in this circumstance, but he’s never been able to control when such a feeling arises. Only Yamato can do that. The thought causes Horikawa to give a dry laugh even as he wears a pained expression, almost surprised with himself in the feelings he has in this situation.

　He shakes his head, half in disbelief and half to clear away unnecessary thoughts of his. He’s a little hesitant when he speaks, a little scared to say words when he really does know that they have such weight behind them, but he’s not in a situation where he can compromise. To lie, to keep quiet, to misstep even slightly in this situation - each of these things would be more costly than if he would just admit his honest feelings. And they are honest, even if still tentative enough for him to remain nervous in admitting to them, perhaps even sounding afraid still with a slight shake in his voice. “I... I don’t mind, Yasusada-san. If it’s you, I don’t mind.”