Chapter Text
Yamanbagiri awoke to a gentle prodding; opening his eyes, he found Kasen, already dressed, kneeling next to the futon with a wide smile. As he sat up slowly, the blond uchigatana took the in the sight of his partner and felt a blush rising to his cheeks at just how remarkable Kasen looked in Western-style sportswear. Though he'd seen the same sight yesterday, he had been too frustrated and unfocused to really appreciate how nicely the swim trunks accentuated Kasen's firmly-muscled thighs, how the white t-shirt hugged his trim waist and draped slightly against the sharp lines of his hipbones jutting up above the shorts fabric. It was a tremendously cheering sight so early in the morning; more than anything, he wanted to shove Kasen back down against the futon and spend a few hours rallying against that athletic body rather than a volleyball net.
However, he restrained himself and stretched, offering Kasen a small grin and a muttered, "You look nice." When his partner laughed in thanks, Yamanbagiri rolled to his knees, averting his gaze lest his resolve immediately crack - after all, the bed was right here, the beach so very far away in the moment. But they'd both practiced for this, and he wanted more than anything to prove his prowess on the field today.
He dressed quickly, considering bringing his cloak for the downtime they'd surely have watching the other teams play, but decided against it: wasn't today about getting out of his comfort zone and trying new things? That included braving the entire citadel without his fabric buffer, which often served as a barrier against bringing others close. More than that, Chougi would surely taunt him about it, pointing out its inferiority in the face of that luxurious silk cloak that blared out his status as the legitimate Yamanbagiri. No, better to leave it at home and wear only his swim trunks and t-shirt.
As Yamanbagiri pulled out his athletic gear, he noticed that Kasen had also sewn a purple patch on the lefthand side of his trunks; he turned to Kasen, who was busy sliding into his sandals and annointing himself with sunscreen. "Did you sew one for Chougi too?"
Kasen took a moment to register the question, having completely forgotten about this small adjustment to their gear, then giggled slightly. "No. He'll be the odd one out, unless he thought to do it himself. I don't think anyone else has them either."
It was a small gesture, but proof that Kasen did, indeed, care just as much about this competition; he blushed slightly, wondering whether this was all for his benefit or if his partner just really wanted a month off duties. Kasen had never complained about work: in fact, Yamanbagiri suspected that he preferred to keep himself busy in their off time, as it made his recreational periods more meaningful. That seemed to tip the scales in favor of this - and Kasen's sudden interest in refining his volleyball technique - being to demonstrate his devotion to their relationship, an attempt to ameoliorate the discord brought about by Chougi's manifestation.
Whatever the reason, though, it was clear proof that they were aligned, at least in this, which seemed to mute the lingering frustration he felt at being accused of infidelity. Yamanbagiri couldn't help but smile to himself as he gently rubbed his thumb across the little purple patch, which seemed to represent far more than just their team for the competition.
****
Chougi was already at the beach when they arrived, bragging about his athleticism to Shokudaikiri and Okurikara, who looked rather unimpressed; the uchigatana, in particular, seemed about to hurl Chougi into the ocean when the newcomer claimed he'd easily trounce the White Team and earn a month off duties. Shokudaikiri had an embarrassed smile on his face as he attempted to deescalate the situation, turning to Kasen when he arrived.
"Well, I'm sure you have a great shot at the prize, Chougi, since you have Kasen and Yamanbagiri on your team," Shokudaikiri responded gently, glancing at his friend who stepped up beside him.
Kasen nodded and slung an arm across Yamanbagiri's shoulder, his eyes burning a hole in Chougi's forehead even as he smiled. "Certainly. However, we're up against stiff competition - especially with Shokudaikiri."
It was the friendly chatter one would expect amongst comrades, but Chougi didn't take the bait, instead raising his nose in the air and snorting contemptuously. "Sure, as if. I've seen Taikogane-"
"I think we should get ready for our match," Kasen interrupted before Chougi could insult the amber-eyed tanto, who was sprinting up the beach with Tsurumaru in tow: though Shokudaikiri would weather any harsh remarks against himself, he had no patience for those who disparaged the touken he regarded as his little brother.
With that, the three touken of Purple team departed, heading silently down the beach toward the furthest of the two nets. They passed nearly the entire citadel, all there to watch the competition: most were lounging on lawn chairs or sprawled under umbrellas on beach towels, sipping iced tea and munching on watermelon, but the tantos had formed their own impromptu sandcastle competition in a small nook by the cliff face.
Gokutai's tigers were busily destroying Midare's small fortress as the white-haired tanto helplessly attempted to stop them; the creator himself had already abandoned the project and was chasing down Namazuo, screaming about the theft of a prized pink seashell. In the process, Midare tripped over Higekiri taking a pre-competition nap, which sent Hizamaru into a panic of concern for his still-snoozing partner. Nearby Mikazuki and Uguisumaru were stretched out on lawn chairs, Uguisumaru watching the flight of seagulls over the shore while the Great Sword admired the clouds sailing by.
A tall chair had been erected to allow Ichigo an uninterrupted view of the events - as well as ensure his little brothers didn't pester him as he officiated. While the Purple Team took their spots at the furthest net, nodding to their scorekeeper Honebami, Ichigo's soft voice rung out over the beach, magnified by Tsurumaru's bullhorn.
"Good morning, everyone! Let's have a great day and a fair competition. On Net One, our first match will be Red Team against Blue Team. Red Team consists of Higekiri, Hizamaru, and Ookanehira. Blue Team consists of Souza Samonji, Kousetsu Samonji, and Sayo Samonji. Yagen will be scorekeeper for Net One."
Down the beach, Hizamaru was hurriedly waking Higekiri as Ookanehira stretched in front of the net; opposite them, Souza and Kousetsu watched Sayo staring intently at the volleyball before him while Yagen explained the rules to the taciturn tanto.
"They have no chance against Red Team," Chougi smirked. "Look, the little guy doesn't even know how to play."
Kasen and Yamanbagiri glanced at one another, both crackling with unspoken frustration. Yamanbagiri averted his gaze when Chougi turned to him expecting disagreement, and instead busied himself with the volleyball.
"Most of the teams are just here to have fun," Kasen finally responded in a restrained voice before he accepted the volleyball from his partner, then gave a friendly nod to their competitors taking their places across the net.
Before Chougi could disagree, Ichigo's bullhorn broadcasted again, turning everyone's attention back to the announcer.
"On Net Two, our first match will be Purple Team against Teal Team. Purple Team consists of Kasen Kanesada, Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, and Yamanbagiri Chougi. Teal Team consists of Urashima Kotetsu, Nagasone Kotetsu, and Hachisuka Kotetsu. Honebami will be scorekeeper for Net Two."
The three brothers aligned themselves in what appeared to be a predetermined position, Hachisuka muttering something to Nagasone as the larger uchigatana moved past him; whatever he said made the stocky touken blink hard and bite his lip while Urashima glanced worriedly between the two.
Yamanbagiri narrowed his eyes at their opponents while he, too, moved to stand near the net, parallel to Kasen with Chougi in the back. He had a feeling that this would be an easy match, solely because Hachisuka would refuse to allow Nagasone any chance to shine while Urashima struggled to play peacemaker between his older brothers. However, that depended on whether Chougi was able to restrain his own desire to hog the spotlight and actually cooperate with his teammembers.
****
It seemed that his rival had also divined the tension amongst the members of the opposite team, because he carefully aimed the ball slightly beside Nagasone, but with close enough proximity to Hachisuka that the authentic Kotetsu could reasonably dive for it. Predictably, the lavender-haired uchigatana rushed forward, nearly shoving Nagasone out of the way to get the serve; the two brothers landed in a plume of sand as Urashima tried desperately to capture the wayward ball. Even with his best efforts, the ball fell impotently to the ground, earning the Purple Team an easy point.
"Excellent!" Chougi crowed, stepping up to clap Kasen on the back as the uchigatana winced and subtly moved away. "Doing well, huh? I think we'll wipe the floor with them - or, rather, the beach."
"Gloating is rather unrefined," Kasen muttered; he glanced at Yamanbagiri, but the blond touken refused to look at this scene, instead catching the ball from the wakizashi referee and holding it tightly while the Teal Team recovered themselves.
Still undeterred, Chougi stepped closer, leaning up until his mouth was practically against his target's ear. "Ah, well. I'll make it up to you during that month free of duties: that's plenty of time to make a portrait - or three."
Kasen irritably brushed him off and finally moved away, giving Honebami a stern look to demand they resume play now that the Teal Team was prepared for the next volley. Shrugging, Chougi wrenched the ball away from Yamanbagiri, who gave it up wordlessly; he sent a powerful serve toward Urashima, who floundered and again let the ball fall to the ground.
Several more iterations of the same two tactics, along with some decent rallies powered mostly by Yamanbagiri, earned the Purple Team an easy victory. The winning team each ducked under the net to thank their disheartened opponents; even Chougi deigned to shake their hands and offer them a half-hearted "better luck next time." Urashima especially seemed disappointed, but Yamanbagiri suspected this was more because of the clear tension between his brothers rather than any desire to win.
"Haha, good job!" Yamanbagiri nearly fell over when Tsurumaru leapt on top of him, playfully mussing his hair. "You really looked like a champ out there! Our little volleyball practical worked, it seems!"
"Yeah ... thanks," the blond uchigatana mumbled as he disentangled himself from Tsuru's overenthusiastic hug, then staggered off toward the beach towel that Kasen had claimed for them by Net One. "Good luck."
"Oh, I don't need it," Tsurumaru responded in mock pretentiousness, then winked. "I've got Sada-bou and Mitsu-bou!"
As the White Team took their places against their opponents - Horikawa, Mutsunokami, and Izuminokami, two of whom were already bickering - Yamanbagiri flopped down beside Kasen, who obligingly offered him a glass of iced tea. Just as he was about to take a drink, Chougi dove onto the beach towel as well, startling him and sending tea flying everywhere; a few drops landed in his eyes, forcing him to splutter and wave his hands frantically.
"Oops, sorry," Chougi simpered. "You'd think a Touken Danshi would have better reflexes."
The competition had barely started and already Yamanbagiri had nearly hit his limit with this terrible uchigatana, who was intent on making a fool of him in front of everyone; he silently seethed while Kasen fetched a small hand towel and helped him dry off his hair. His shirt, unfortunately, was a total loss, covered with fast-drying splatters of black tea: reluctantly he peeled off this layer of protection, revealing his pale chest.
"Ah, what a lovely sight," Kasen smiled, tilting his head and regarding his partner with gleaming eyes. "Such a rare one, too."
While Yamanbagiri blushed, Chougi scowled, then pulled off his own t-shirt to display his lightly defined abs and straight waist, glistening slightly with sweat. As he tossed the shirt onto the beach towel, he grinned expectantly at Kasen. "Well, it would look a bit strange if you were the only one not topless, huh?"
This immediately wiped the smile off Kasen's face: though he was by no means a prude, neither did he have any interest in displaying himself more than necessary. Even wearing shorts was a stretch for the uchigatana, who far preferred his usual modest mode of dress. With a sharp glare, Kasen adjusted his white t-shirt, then jerked his head away and refused to answer.
Chougi, clearly seeing this was a point of contention, pulled his own shirt back on, making Yamanbagiri the odd one out instead; then he scooted to the other side of his rival, inserting himself between the couple and turning a wide smile to Kasen, who still ignored him.
All this subtle intrigue was making Yamanbagiri's head spin, so he instead turned his attention to the events at Net One.
****
The Red Team had proven victorious against the Blue Team, and Higekiri had stretched out almost directly next to the court to relax. In quiet, irritated tones, Yagen and Hizamaru were arguing about whether or not they should force Higekiri to shift aside; Ookanehira, exasperated with his lethargic teammate, finally scooped the dun-haired tachi up and threw him over his shoulder to relocate him, Hizamaru following after in a panic. The next competitors - the Green and Gold teams - stood in their places, too amused to bother taking proper positions.
With this issue finally resolved, Ichigo again took to the bullhorn to announce the next matches.
"At Net One we have the Green Team versus the Gold Team. The Green Team consists of Nikkari Aoe, Ishikirimaru, and Juzumaru Tsunetsugu. The Gold Team is Shishio, Kogitsunemaru, and Otegine."
Shishio's nue, bored with the festivities, had taken up residence underneath Mikazuki's lawn chair, much to the Great Sword's consternation; Uguisumaru seemed utterly unaware of his friend's distress as he celebrated with Ookanehira, Higekiri sprawled next to the matcha-haired tachi's chair in the shady sand. Hizamaru had left to fetch drinks and food for his team, but he was waylaid on his way back from the barbecue by a troop of hungry tigers begging for grilled shrimp. As he attempted to shake off the eager felines, he nearly slammed into Okurikara, who was too occupied watching Shokudaikiri stretch to watch where he was going. Before either could apologize, both horribly embarrassed at their distraction, Ichigo presented the second match.
"At Net Two we have the White Team versus the Orange Team. The White Team is Tsurumaru Kuninaga, Shokudaikiri Mitsutada, and Taikogane Sadamune. The Orange team is Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki, Horikawa Kunihiro, and Izuminokami Kanesada."
With simultaneous whistle blasts the two matches began, the onlookers transforming the beach into a raucous cacophany of cheers; most of the tantos had attached themselves to the White Team and were supporting Taikogane specifically with cries of encouragement, which also seemed to improve morale for Tsurumaru and Shokudaikiri. Regardless of whether they had audience support or not, the White Team was a well-oiled machine, vastly different to the fragile teamwork of the Orange Team. Both Mutsunokami and Izuminokami seemed desperate to steal prestige: once, Izuminokami even attempted to call foul on his own team because he was sure Mutsunokami's hit had been out of bounds. Horikawa, earnest as always, ignored the squabbling of his teammates and instead focused on supporting both equally; it was likely only this effort that kept the Orange Team from losing in a total shutout.
Of course, Yamanbagiri supported his brother over any unrelated touken playing on Net One, but he also didn't want to abandon his spot on the beach towel by Kasen; torn between cheering on Horikawa and jostling for position with Chougi, he decided that his brother was too focused on winning to notice that Yamanbagiri wasn't present. When Chougi finally left for a moment to get more iced tea for himself and Kasen, the blond uchigatana moved as close as possible to his partner until he was nearly in the other touken's lap, offering a pained smile when Kasen looked down at him curiously.
"Yes, I know," Kasen said quietly, petting Yamabagiri's soft hair. "Competition seems to bring out the worst in that one."
Though it usually embarrassed him to be caressed in public like this, Yamanbagiri was so annoyed at the situation that he didn't care what others may think; besides, everyone else was either enraptured by the matches or doing much the same with their own partners - or potential partners. The blond uchigatana did not fail to notice Kashuu braiding Yamanatonokami's hair, nor did he miss Hasebe trying to act normal around Souza but sweating bullets as he attempted to finally ask out the oblivious uchigatana.
Besides, Kasen quite noticeably claiming him wasn't necessarily a bad thing: it signaled that they had made up from yesterday's spat, and it might also deter Chougi from incessantly harassing Kasen as if he wasn't taken. He closed his eyes briefly, simply enjoying the sensation of his partner's soft fingers combing through his hair, then opened them again to focus on the match at Net One.
Even his novice eyes could tell that the Gold Team was terrible, which was surprising given the strength of its members. However, the team was also not taking it very seriously, and they were having quite a great time losing: Shishio kept intentionally bouncing the ball off Otegine's head, while Kogitsunemaru frequently spiked down low just to watch Ishikirimaru lose his balance trying to dive for it. The poor otachi kept trying anyway as Nikkari went to greater and greater lengths to get the ball before his partner could attempt to lunge for it again.
Juzumaru, despite having the supernatural strength and mobility of a Great Sword, was endlessly hampered by his long hair, which had gotten wet when he went to retrieve a wayward ball. Nikkari stopped the match for several minutes to try tying up his brother's long locks into a more manageable style, but it came apart the first time Juzumaru leapt to get a high pass. This just amused the Gold Team even more, and they took even less interest in actually winning the longer that the game went on; the match ended without the losing team earning even one point.
Just as the two teams at Net One were offering each other congratulations, a massive cheer arose from the crowd at Net Two: White Team had won by just a single point after Mutsunokami and Izuminokami, motivated solely by earning a month off duties, managed to pull together enough to sustain an impressive comeback. The game was determined by a truly acrobatic display from the White Team, with Shokudaikiri throwing Taikogane several feet in the air to shoot down a high pass from Izuminokami. Though Mutsunokami argued fiercely that such a move was illegal, Honebami eventually gave the point to the White Team amidst much complaint from the losing touken.
During this cheerful interlude, Chougi returned with two tall glasses of tea and handed one to Kasen, who passed it to Yamanbagiri in silent protest. Miffed, the ash-blond uchigatana stalked off to the barbecue while other touken rushed about to enjoy the intermission picnic.
****
"Hey! Looks like we'll be battling it out in the next round!" Tsurumaru flopped onto the beach towel beside Kasen, stretching out luxuriously on his stomach. The purple-haired uchigatana laughed and, picking up his bottle of sunscreen, squirted a large dollop onto the tachi's back, making him squeal.
"Ugh! You better rub that in, or I'll kill you!" With a theatrical wail, Tsuru pretended that the lotion was burning his skin, cringing dramatically as Kasen drew a smiley face on his back with more squirts of sunscreen. He relaxed, however, when a different hand wiped across his back, and he turned up to smile at Mikazuki kneeling beside the beach towel.
"You've all played well today," Mikazuki said as he massaged the lotion into his partner's skin. "I'm sure the next round will be equally exciting."
Once all the lotion was slathered across Tsurumaru's back, Mikazuki paused and turned his attention to Yamanbagiri, lowering his voice. "The other Yamanbagiri seems to be causing quite a deal of tension. Would you like me to talk to him for you?"
The blond uchigatana paused, remembering again his intrusive thought from yesterday: "But you don't have any friends, Yamanbagiri, and you never will."
Here was someone - a Great Sword, one of the Saniwa's most valued touken - again offering to resolve an interpersonal conflict that did not involve him, that would never impact him in any way. Was this ... what having friends was like? People who willingly faced unpleasantness just to make someone feel better? Could he consider Mikazuki not just a teammate, not just a fellow member of Unit One, but ... a friend?
It was a remarkably kind offer, and he swallowed, dropping his eyes to the sand and plucking at a stray strand of kelp lain across the towel. "You don't have to," he finally mumbled.
Tsurumaru lifted himself onto his elbows, turning those bright eyes to Yamanbagiri and offering a kind smile. "He doesn't have to, but he will if you want him to. I would too, if you'd like." His smile widened and his eyes sparkled with mischief. "We could double team him, maybe dump a bucket of -"
"That won't be necessary," Yamanbagiri interrupted, wincing. "I do appreciate it, though."
Shrugging, the pale tachi leapt up, again ruffling Yamanbagiri's hair, much to the uchigatana's chagrin. "Well, don't let him get to you. He's probably got some stuff of his own to work out."
As the two tachis turned to leave, Tsuru turned around, casually hanging off Mikazuki's waist by one arm. "Besides, you're such a cutie! Who can stay mad at your pretty little face?"
The fierce blush that burned Yamanbagiri's cheeks brought a laugh out of Kasen, who fondly rearranged his hair; the elegant uchigatana leaned down and kissed his neck, then whispered in his ear. "I agree completely."
****
Intermission ended, Yamanbagiri and Kasen rose and returned to Net Two, where Chougi sulked beside the pole, shooting a venemous glare at his copy. Clearly Kasen's snub had soured him even further, though it didn't seem to have cooled his desire to steal the purple-haired uchigatana away; instead, he appeared even more determined to woo Kasen, as he stepped between the couple and got directly into his target's personal space again.
"You're such a good volleyball player, Kasen," Chougi said sweetly, subtly pushing Yamanbagiri back with one hand. "Maybe after this competition, during our downtime, you can teach me a thing or two."
This situation had nearly reached a breaking point, but Yamanbagiri was determined not to lose his temper: he prided himself on keeping a cool head in stressful situations, and that was not about to change today. However, he'd already decided that this competition was less about winning and more about proving his mettle in the eyes of both Chougi and Kasen, and standing idly by while this upstart harassed his partner would not do.
"You would learn much more from those three," Yamanbagiri said calmly as he pointed to the White Team across the net, silently praising himself on how firm and authoritative his voice sounded. "And Kasen doesn't want to teach you anything."
Apparently Chougi had also decided that the time for subtlety was over, because he whipped around and jabbed a finger into Yamanbagiri's chest, eyes narrowed and voice hard. "No one asked you, Fake-kun. No one was talking to you, and no one cares what you think."
Kasen's eyes widened in angry surprise as Yamanagiri's watered. Never before had someone so boldly stated what he'd always thought himself: that his opinions didn't matter because of his status as a copy - that he didn't matter. All that he'd done for the citadel, everything he'd tried to accomplish, had been to outrun the anxiety within, to shove it away and force it into silence by proving over and over again that he had merit in at least some way. One of the few things that had kept this incessant self-hatred away was the fact that others seemed to value him, and that no one had echoed these beliefs that tormented him in quiet moments.
To hear them so loudly thrown back in his face: it was a nightmare that washed away all the joy of the victory earlier, all the tentative hope that maybe he did have friends. Suddenly the beachside scene, with the chattering touken and the bright sunshine, seemed to fade into obscurity, leaving him alone with those menacing cerulean eyes that silently spit hatred at him, that cruelly confirmed every terrible thought he'd ever had.
Even Kasen disappeared in this moment, joining the black morass that had replaced the cheerful competition that he had wanted so much to enjoy. Perhaps that was as it should be: after all, wasn't it just yesterday that he was accusing Yamanbagiri of infidelity, a subtle suggestion that he truly was as bad as he felt? Surely nothing would ever be right again, not after Chougi just brought to life every fear he held, unleashing all the demons that had plagued him since manifestation.
Before either Kasen or Yamanbagiri could respond, Chougi found himself gripped in two strong arms and carefully moved from between the couple; the ash-blond uchigatana raised his head to regard the strange eyes of an irritated Great Sword glaring down at him.
"That's quite enough, Yamanbagiri Chougi," Mikazuki said firmly as the three teammates stared at him, mystified at his sudden intrusion. "Yamanbagiri Kunihiro has done nothing to deserve this treatment. Perhaps you're not aware of this, being so new to our citadel, but he is the captain of our most prestigious unit and a highly valued member of our honmaru. I, and many others, look up to him for guidance, as he is a brilliant fighter. You would do well not to offend him, nor his partner."
The strong emphasis on the last word made Chougi gulp and drop his eyes, thoroughly chastened.
However, it seemed Mikazuki wasn't done, as he tightened his grasp on the uchigatana's arm and forced him to turn to Yamanbagiri and Kasen. "We strive to create a peaceful environment for everyone in this citadel and to resolve our problems equitably. Please apologize to them."
Embarassed by this rather forceful intervention, Yamanbagiri's voice shook as he tried to interject. "You don't have to-"
"We're warriors, aren't we?" Chougi interrupted. "Maybe we should resolve this with something other than a stupid volleyball match."
Silence reigned for a moment, the other three touken staring at Chougi in shock. The ash-blond uchigatana's fists were clenched, his jaw tight and eyes narrowed: clearly he was quite serious about this suggestion.
Mikazuki laughed lightly, but his eyes, too, were hard. "How audacious, Chougi. Do you truly believe that you would be able to best Yamanbagiri, or that the rest of us would stand idly by while you attack our comrade?"
"He's a copy," Chougi responded, arrogant as ever.
There were a number of options that Yamanbagiri considered - a number of outcomes that flashed through his tactician's mind as he stood there, deciding how to respond to this open aggression. He could back down: that would be the wise decision. He could throw the first punch: that would be the bold one. He could try to talk Chougi out of what would immediately become a dogpile; he could let Chougi punch him and accept the blow to his ego; he could flee; he could insist they just finish the competition.
None of them were what happened, however, because as Yamanbagiri stood there attempting to select the best option, Kasen leapt atop Chougi in a whirl of fury, screaming and landing blow after blow.
****
For a moment no one stopped the vicious assault, too stunned to react. There were many touken prone to violence, and Kasen was certainly not one of them: never before had he laid a finger on someone in anger, not even when Okurikara intentionally incited him or a wayward baby tiger ruined weeks of hard work. Yamanbagiri knew his partner could be slightly hotheaded at times, but he also knew that Kasen worked incessantly to calm himself and avoid rash decisions, heeding the bad example of his former master and striving not to give into deadly temptations. However, he supposed everyone has a breaking point, and it seemed this one final insult to his partner was Kasen's.
Such a surprising turn of events left even Mikazuki struck dumb, but he quickly recovered and grabbed Kasen's ankle; Tsurumaru, across the net, dove under the barrier and latched onto the aggressive uchigatana to wrench him away. The work of the two tachis seemed to galvanize everyone else: within seconds, Shokudaikiri and Taikogane had a hold of Chougi, who was fighting their grip, while Honebami restrained several tantos foolishly trying to play peacemaker.
Ichigo had apparently found a siren setting on his device, which halted play over at Net One; he then shouted over the bullhorn for the others to stay back as a crowd of curious touken attempted to see the struggle on the sand.
While the fight took place and the others restrained his angry partner, Yamanbagiri simply watched the scene as tears filled his eyes, too startled to do anything other than observe. So many conflicting emotions arose that he barely had time to process one before the next hit him like a battering ram, and his vision began to waver before he carefully lowered himself to the sand.
Finally, Tsurumaru and Mikazuki had managed to wrestle Kasen to a kneeling position as he fought their grip; Uguisumaru dashed over with a glass of iced tea and, speaking softly, encouraged the uchigatana to take a deep breath and drink. Meanwhile, Shokudaikiri and Taikogane let Chougi slump against him while Okurikara brought over another glass for the other combatant.
"Well, you got what you asked for," Okurikara muttered as he held the ice water up for the battered uchigatana; Chougi glared up at him but didn't refute the statement, instead taking a deep swig of the water and swearing under his breath. His right eye was nearly swollen shut by now, and he had a deep scratch across his left cheek where Kasen's manicured nails had torn his skin.
Mikazuki dared to release Kasen, who it seemed had worn himself out, as Tsurumaru knelt next to his friend and took his face in hand. "Kasen, what the hell has gotten into you? Of everyone here, you're the last person I'd expect to tenderize a touken. That's not the kind of surprise anyone wants."
"He's been insulting Yamanbagiri for days now!" Kasen snarled, wrenching his face away. "And he won't leave me alone, either! Wouldn't you do the same?"
"I mean ... yes," Tsuru admitted sheepishly, "but I'm not as elegant and refined as you."
Taikogane, peeking from behind Shokudaikiri, regarded the scene with wide eyes. "So, uh, is the tournament over? Do we win by default?"
Somehow, this blithe dismissal of the gravity of the situation caused Kasen to laugh, his pitch slightly hysterical; it also forced a small chuckle out of Chougi from where he sat defeated in the sand, pressing a cold cloth to his eye.
After a short silence, Chougi spoke up. "I lost the fight, so I'm willing to forfeit the game too." He paused and turned to Yamanbagiri rather bashfully. "If that's okay with you."
Yamanbagiri blinked several times, attempting to make sense of this sudden deference. Not trusting himself to speak, he nodded before dropping his head again, the tears finally spilling over his lashes.
"I think that's enough excitement for the day," Mikazuki said, calm once more; this seemed to decide the matter, as Tsurumaru helped Kasen up while Shokudaikiri did the same for Chougi. "We can discuss this matter after you two are attended to."
****
The walk back to the citadel seemed to take several hours, Kasen silent and repentant beside Yamanbagiri while Tsurumaru, Mikazuki, and Shokudaikiri served as a living buffer in case either Chougi or Kasen attempted to restart the fight. Yagen followed behind them, seeming rather annoyed to return to his duties as medical assistant rather than enjoy the rest of the day at the beach. Other touken trailed after the party, whispering amongst themselves about the startling interruption to the tournament, but Yamanbagiri ignored them, instead turning to his partner.
"You didn't have to do any of that. You know you'll be punished," Yamanbagiri said softly as he reached for Kasen. In lieu of a response, the purple-haired uchigatana squeezed his hand and turned his eyes away; he seemed embarrassed now rather than triumphant, and Yamanbagiri could understand. For so many years, Kasen had worked tirelessly to restrain his more violent tendencies and avoid such outbursts, and victory seemed ashen in the face of the consequences.
While the two wounded touken settled into the repair room, none of the three former teammates spoke; Chougi, however, seemed far less angry than before, chatting lightly as Yagen placed patches on his cheek and examined his hands and arms for wounds. He settled back on the repair bed with a cold compress over his eyes and seemed to fall asleep while Kasen was checked over and declared medically cleared but for a few bruises and tiny scrapes.
Yamanbagiri sat beside the repair bed, clenching and unclenching his hands, too afraid to speak lest he raise tensions further; Kasen, too, appeared hesitant to discuss the matter either, which left the decision up to Chougi, relaxing on the bed.
Minutes stretched into almost half an hour before another word was spoken amongst the three, Yagen having left. Apparently no one believed that the two combatants would start another fight in the repair room, as the other touken had also departed to their own quarters.
"That was much more exciting than a volleyball match," Chougi finally said, chuckling; the other two laughed nervously but didn't respond.
Another moment passed before Chougi spoke again, his voice softer this time. "Yeah, Mikazuki was right. I do owe you two an apology."
"And I you," Kasen murmured, blushing fiercely.
To the surprise of the other uchigatanas, Chougi scoffed. "I had it coming, really. I was rude, to both of you."
Yamanbagiri finally dared to speak, though he sounded tentative and weak even to himself. "We could have settled it through a discussion rather than violence."
"Don't take responsibility for my actions," Kasen whispered; it was clear he was deeply ashamed, as he refused to meet Yamanbagiri's gaze.
"Well, sure, but we're sword warriors: violence is the name of the game, really." Chougi sighed and stretched, then turned his head to regard Yamanbagiri with grudging admiration. "It's nice that you have someone willing to fight for your honor, though."
Seeing this positive acknowledgment, Yamanbagiri decided to broach the topic that had tormented since Chougi manifested. "Can I ask why you seem to hate me so much?"
****
Another long silence stretched on, interrupted by the slight tinkling of a growing rainstorm outside. Yamanbagiri regretted making such a bold request, as it seemed he'd pushed his luck too far.
However, Chougi sighed and spoke in a soft voice, one stripped of all its arrogance. "If I'm being brutally honest, it's because I was jealous that someone who is supposed to be less than me - supposed to just be my copy - seemed to be doing so well." He paused again; though Yamanbagiri was afraid to look at him, it sounded as if he were fighting back some deep emotion. "You're ... what I want to be. It frustrated me to see how much people respect you; I thought you'd be looked down on, you're not. I thought people would appreciate me more for being the original, and everyone's friendly enough, but I thought I'd get more ... regard, I guess, just for who I am. But it seems that's not how it works around here."
He stopped, swallowing thickly, before continuing. "And you have someone who really cares about you. It didn't seem fair that you'd have so many friends, and a partner, and all that, but I have to start from the ground up."
"But I did too," Yamanbagiri insisted. "I had to prove myself, too. Everyone starts from nothing here, even the Great Swords. You have to make your own friends and show you're a good fighter; no one will just respect you simply because of your smith or your history."
Chougi made a small, disgruntled noise, but didn't refute the point.
"Yes, some of the swords are slightly privileged from the beginning when it comes to battle - Mikazuki was chosen as captain on his first sortie - but it's their mentality that matters more around the citadel. People respect Mikazuki because he's wise, and people respect Shokudaikiri because he cooks for everyone and does his best to help out." Yamanbagiri paused and reached for Kasen, smiling slightly. "People respect Kasen because he is truly a kind person. And people will forgive him because of that, too."
Eyes glistening, Kasen squeezed his partner's hand and looked down, blinking hard. The rain outside began to patter harder, as if in response to the relief of conflict in the repair room.
"I see," Chougi finally said quietly. "Well, maybe you can teach me how to fit in better."
Yamanbagiri swallowed, overwhelmed by the request. "I can if you want me to," he responded, voice gravelly with emotion.
The heartfelt conversation was suddenly interrupted by Tsurumaru skidding into the room, trailed by several other touken who peeked their head around the door.
"Ah, looks like you're all patched up! I have a request: a surprising request."
Kasen looked up with a hopeful smile, relieved to see the annoying tachi who always seemed to appear at the height of tension.
Tsurumaru threw a pillow down on the floor, almost as a challenge, and laughed. "Well, let me clue you in first. Green Team forfeited, so it's just Red Team and White Team left. Since our tournament was interrupted, we came up with a new way to decide the champion."
"A pillow fight," Taikogane interrupted excitedly, popping out from behind his friend. "The Red Team promised to play fair, but we need officiants, and Honebami's sulking as usual."
Standing, Kasen glanced at Chougi and Yamanbagiri, who both grinned in response; the purple-haired uchigatana nodded and laughed slightly. "Well, I'm in trouble already, so might as well double it."
As the three joined Tsurumaru at the door, they found Higekiri, Hizamaru, and Ookanehira standing in the hallway, all attired in their casual wear again and wearing rather exasperated expressions: it seemed they weren't as excited about the strange culmination of the day's events, but willing nevertheless.
"You promised not to use my pillow, though," Higekiri reminded Tsurumaru, who waved his hand dismissively; Yamanbagiri suspected that the tachi had no plans to honor such a request.
To everyone's surprise, Chougi laughed and clapped Tsuru on the back. "You can use mine if you want."
"Hah, great! What a good sport," Tsurumaru cheered, high-fiving Taikogane, who also gave a hoot of delight. "You're going to fit in just fine, Chougi. Come on, we're off to the laundry room. Mitsu-bou promised snacks."
With that, the eight touken wandered down the hallway, Chougi walking beside Yamanbagiri. After a moment, he paused and turned to his copy with a smile. "Looks like you don't have to teach me anything after all. I think I'll get the hang of this whole citadel thing."
"Sure," Yamanbagiri responded quietly, pleased but embarrassed all the same. "I think you will, Chougi. I think you will."