#gentlexbloom

Taller stance! Better grip! Perfect smile!

i want the k.

         IT WAS HIM that had declared their outing would be a date, going so far to act like he was so much mature than her by leading her in and saying ‘ Anyway, this is what they call… a date, ’ ( did he REALLY say that in retrospect? for dusk dragon’s sake… ) but now that the adrenaline was no longer pumping him through that confession, he felt he like he might just crumple onto the ground.

That’s what he gets for acting all high and mighty. Having small scenes where they just share desserts the other happened to have brought along was all fine and dandy now that he was used to that routine, but taking the lead on a tryst? Acting like he held all the experience in the world when all he truly knew came from Fuga — and he honestly had no idea how much he should be trusting THAT information; the man could fight and lead, but the diviner was more than skeptical of his romantic expertise — and the other members of Corrin’s army?

Oh let him die! 

He had been staying up all the previous night, unable to catch a wink of sleep due to his excitement, his fear, and everything else in between. How he had managed to stand upright and keep up with Sakura ( and it was most definitely him keeping up with her what with how excited she was about this famous bakery trip ) all day was beyond him. Still, he’s glad he kept alert the whole time, for it would have been a shame to miss how her face lit up — a sight that could put the rising sun in Hoshido to shame what with how bright and radiant her expression was looking at each and every confection.

They had bought their sweets and taken to a little spot atop a hill that he had found just the other day. It was secluded but held a beautiful view of the nearby city. He only wishes that they had come there during the spring time when the cherry blossoms were blooming as opposed to the harsh winter where the trees showed themselves bare. They were just a couple of months too early, and he doesn’t quite know if it’s reasonable to believe they’d ever come here again after the war.

Still, it was serene enough and a delightful time. Sakura had been gathering all that they had brought with them to their little picnic into a basket ( a sign of her conscientiousness, he was sure ) and was about to turn and leave down the hill before Hayato had decided to hell with it and grabbed her by the arm. With a tug, he pulls her close to him and —

“ …! ”

A clicking sound resounds in his ears and both their eyes shoot wide open.

“ Augh, how lousy is it that I knocked your teeth ? ” he mutters. Still, if the shrine maiden minded, she certainly didn’t convey it with how she smiled at him. He couldn’t tell if it was because she found his blunder cute or if she was taking pity on him, but either way, he’s blushing up to his ears over his mistake. 

“ I’ll end this date right. Lemme try again… ” he beseeches her, trying to remedy the situation, and as she closes her eyes he can’t help but feel a timid happiness overtake him. Beforehand, he had been too desperate to stop her, but now that she was standing before him and offering herself to him, he got to really appreciate the moment — a moment he concludes with a shy, feather-light kiss.

Quietly puts her hat on him so he doesnt get sunburned.

                      ❝ Ah, there you are. ❞ a grin blossoms on her lips upon seeing the youngest hoshidan princess, skipping over to where she is.  ❝ I hope I’m not interrupting, Princess Sakura. I was wondering if you’d like to join me for a stroll? Perhaps in the garden? ❞

@gentlexbloom

     Surprise wrinkles his features for only a moment before its replaced with gratitude and joy; lips tugging into a gentle smile as he regards the small package being offered to him. Complete with a neatly tied ribbon and handmade chocolates he’s not quite sure how she managed to bake without him catching her, he feels like a kid again, staring at something so magical he wondered if it were truly real. And he’s always considered himself lucky since being allowed into her life, but he had never expected her to gift him anything today, even if he had wanted nothing more than for her to say those words as he found gift after gift piled outside of his tent or thrust into his arms by the willy maidens seeking his affection. And he hadn’t accepted a single one of them, turning each one down as politely as he could manage, even going as far as to return the ones left behind outside of his door or tucked away in Amaya’s gear (well - the ones she hadn’t gotten her persistent snout into, and those he had written thank you notes from the pegasus to in return).       

I t has been a long journey -- that notion in it itself was an understatement when one’s voyage lasted almost two years. However, there was method in the madness of making a grand tour of the neighboring domains around Nohr;; there was thought behind the pain of being stuck in a carriage day and night, all in the name of rebranding and representing one’s self as a changed Kingdom of Nohr. Hoshido was the last stop;; Leo had hoped their allies in blood and bond would wait patiently for him, and true enough, a reply came with a ‘come any time!’  written in Corrin’s happy penmanship.

That was the first letter he had sent to Hoshido in last one year, seven months, a week and two day, and what filled him with shame was the fact he didn’t write one for HER. It was a futile task, Leo had thought once. She would never be able to pinpoint his exact location in order to send a response, and a conversation led only by him was a selfishly one-sided dialogue. Therefore, Leo sent no more letters, hoping that in absence, the heart did grow fonder -- fond enough for Sakura to forgive his silence for the last year and a half.