❣ - forehead (saihooshi)
Send a symbol for a kiss
[永] – He was late.The evening patrol took longer than he had initially expected when they raninto a few drunken Satsuma samurai that were getting rowdy with thetownspeople. He glanced down the roadtowards the Kisaragi’s shop as he passed it on his way back to the compoundwith detained criminals, seeing the glow of the lantern from inside. Hopingthat Hijikata wouldn’t make him give the full report this evening, but waituntil the morning. Wishful thinking on Shinpachi’s part as Hijikata was ever astickler to the rules.
It wouldn’t be the first time he had kept her waiting. Asmuch as he tried to make plans with her, things usually fell through for onereason or another. So he had justsettled on visiting her after his shifts, on the evenings she had deadlines andneeded to stay up late. While it wasn’t much of a date, he enjoyed keeping Yasukocompany as she worked on the embroidery of ornate furisode for clients.
Hurried footfalls beat against the road as he rushed backtoward the shop, a relieved smile tugged at the corners of his mouth when hesaw the light still on in the shop. However, when he stepped inside he wasgreeted by the Kisaragi elder as she held a finger up to her lips and pointedat the young woman asleep at her work desk. Shinpachi bowed deeply at the elderas he gave her an acknowledging nod. He didn’t blame the seamstress for fallingasleep, he was late after all. He walked over to where she sat, slumped over ina deep sleep.
“Sorry I’m late again kid.” he whispered, barely audible.
He ran a calloused finger across her face as he brushed asidethe bangs that obscured her porcelain features. He leaned over and pressed hislips lightly against her temple as she slept before he tucked a small blossombehind her ear. At least when she wakes in the morning, she’d know he stoppedby.
