wingedtiger | OPEN RP POST

[ He won't tell Sasuke not to cry. It's fine to cry at a time like this. Tears have a healing power. ]

You... we will find out in time. Together.

[ ...And having said that, Yukimura groans and thunks back onto his makeshift pillow. If he was running on fumes before, then by now even the fumes have been exhausted.

This isn't the best condition for providing emotional support... ]

[ Sasuke is overdue for one long, ugly crying session over his life, but that will not happen here or now. Yukimura needs his help. Even if he needs to not ignore his feelings, Sasuke must focus on Yukimura until he's healed. ]

... Thank you.

[ He could have easily given another apology, but Sasuke thinks this is what actually needs to be said and what Yukimura needs to hear. ]

I'm going to check your bandages, okay?

[ That effort of his could have broken open some of his wounds, and it'll do Yukimura no good to be soaked through with blood. ]

[ That 'thank you' is indeed what Yukimura needs to hear. It's reassurance that Sasuke won't change his mind and retreat back into his own darkness. ]

Mmmngh... all right.

[ Something probably got reopened. He was fine with risking that if it meant Sasuke would listen to him, but it's not recommended patient behavior. ]

[ It's not recommended emotional support behavior either, but now they both can resume more beneficial behaviors.

Sasuke pulls back the blanket and tries not the grimace at the red seeping through the bandages. Is this from some of the smaller wounds, or did some of the stitching of the larger wounds come undone? Regardless of which it is, Yukimura will hear the tearing of fabric as Sasuke makes some new cloth bandages. He'll have to wash and hang to dry the ones he removes. He's running out of clothing to sacrifice. ]

Just relax, Master. I'll take care of this.

[ His fingers gently prod around the edges of the bandages as he begins to unwrap the bloodied ones to assess the damage. ]

... If you want, you can ask me whatever you want, and I'll try to answer.

[ Maybe it'll provide Yukimura some distraction from the pain and redoing the stitching should Sasuke need to do that. ]

[ There's a pang of guilt in his chest when he hears the tearing of fabric. When this is all over, he's going to get Sasuke some new clothes. It's the least he can do.

Relax, huh... He can certainly try.

...What would he want to ask Sasuke? He must mean that questions about his past are on the table, but Yukimura's not sure he wants to go prodding at old wounds even with permission. Hasn't all this been hard enough on Sasuke?

Maybe Yukimura will change his mind, but for now, he searches for a nice, safe topic. ]

...Do you have any idea who that Tenko Mask character was?

[ It's a clumsy attempt for distraction, and it's a clumsy attempt to open himself up to Yukimura. Sasuke's lived most of his life in secret, and now that he wants to reveal himself to someone, he has no idea how to do it. Does he just start listing his favorite foods? Does he start telling him of his mother's graceful dancing or beautiful singing? Does he admit that most of the time his raises goes towards spoiling the very tiger cub he bugs about them?

However, later Sasuke can clarify that the offer continues even after this. Just like how he still owes Yukimura a night with him dressed in a kimono. (He makes a mental note to find a way for it to happen sooner than later after all this.)

The question he does receive isn't one he expected. Sasuke can't help it. He laughs softly. How can someone figure out he is Yoshiharu while not realizing he is also Tenko Kamen? ]

I do. Maybe I don't know him nearly as well as I thought I did, but... well, do you want me to tell you his identity? Or do you want to find out on your own?

Mmmmm...

[ The mysterious (and oddly familiar) Tenko Kamen... He would like to find out on his own, but he has no way of knowing when they'll next cross paths. What if they never meet again? That man is so elusive... ]

This time... I must yield to my burning curiosity. What is that man's true name?

[ Yes, the Tenko Kamen with the forest camouflage, large shuriken, and familiar mouth and chin... he's so mysterious, someone Yukimura has never met before. Sasuke is trying so hard not to laugh too loudly, but he really can't help it. His master is so naive. It's... cute. ~~Oh gods, Sasuke is so moronsexual.~~ ]

Do you remember how the final masked man was actually Lord Shingen? Or how Tengu Kamen was the Dragon's Right-Eye?

[ Oh wait. Yukimura thought that had been someone who looked exactly like Kojuro... Did he ever realize the truth? Sasuke pauses to concentrate on patching a wound before continuing. ]

Tenko Kamen, unmasked, is Sasuke Sarutobi or Yoshiharu Mikumo. At this point... I guess you can take your pick on which to use whenever we're alone.

[ ...Tengu Kamen was Lord Katakura?!

..............SASUKE IS TENKO KAMEN?!

Yukimura is now officially too concussed for this. He stares vacantly at the ceiling. ]

Sasuke... you do not have any more names, do you? I... do not think I can remember any more... My mind is pushed to its limit...

[ No, Yukimura, that's the head injury making things complicated.

He probably wouldn't have this reaction normally.

Probably. ]

[ Thankful that Yukimura can't see his face, laying down and staring up to the ceiling as he is, Sasuke still tries to suppress his laughter. (Along with the urge to go "Kon kon!" at his poor master.) He finishes wrapping the wound by pressing a light kiss to the skin beside it. If only it was that easy to just kiss it to make it better. ]

I don't think I do, not unless you or someone else gives me one. For the record, that whole thing was Lord Shingen's idea.

[ He's still amazed they roped Kojuro into it. He pulls the blanket back over Yukimura. Hopefully, he didn't get too cold. ]

I think you're patched up again. How do you feel?

[ A light kiss might not cure everything, but it does make Yukimura feel better. ]

And I suspected nothing... Only a feat His Lordship could achieve!

[ No, Yukimura, this is something that would fool only you.

He welcomes the return of the blanket. Like this kiss, any additional comfort makes a world of difference at a time like this. ]

I feel... bandaged?

[ "I feel like my blood isn't going to leak everywhere, now" is another possible answer. ]

In terms of pain, it... could be worse.

[ As in, he could be actively dying. That's about the only way to make this worse. ]

[ It really was something that would only fool Yukimura, but as reluctant he was to participate in the whole ordeal... it's a nice memory now.

Sasuke puts another log on the fire and starts to clean those used up bandages to then hang to dry. ]

I do have a little pain killer I can mix with water, but it's bitter.

[ Were they back at home or at a camp, Sasuke would try to hide the bitterness in something sweet. They don't have the option here. ]

If you want it, maybe I can give you a treat after to make up for the bitterness.

Like dango?

[ If he weren't totally out of commission, he'd have shot upright, alert as can be. Treats make everything better!

This man has the brain of a puppy. ]

A bitter taste is a small price to pay for the relief of this pain... particularly if there is a treat waiting for me at the end...!

When we get back home, I'll get you a whole plate of dango. I promise.

[ But there's no dango here, and Sasuke isn't about to leave Yukimura defenseless and alone in this isolated hut.

However, he thinks he knows something to reward and distract Yukimura from the bitter medicine after. He pours a small packet of powder into his mouth then sips until he has a mouthful of water. Sasuke is at Yukimura's side and leaning over him soon after, pressing his mouth against Yukimura's. ]

[ A whole plate! Ohh, he can almost taste it... but he'll have to be patient. A patient patient.

The immediate reward that Sasuke comes up with, however, certainly helps the medicine go down. The bitter taste is so much easier to take when it's accompanied by Sasuke's lips on his.

Yukimura swallows the medicine and barely manages not to shudder. (He really is no good with bitter flavors.) ]

...This is what happens in romantic stories, isn't it? I have not read many, but... one person takes care of the other, and then there is medicine shared with a kiss because it is the only way, or something like that...

Edited 2020-01-25 06:14 (UTC)

[ Yukimura won't mind if his lips linger a moment longer than necessary, would he? Sasuke does just that, and he might have gone for a second, longer, and more deliberate kiss if Yukimura hadn't started talking. However, he doesn't quite pull away. He just shifts his weight to be more comfortable. ]

It... does. It's a theme that happens a lot in those stories....

[ Opening up to Yukimura or not, Sasuke still is embarrassed about reading romantic stories or poetry. His face feels hot as he flushes at the admission that he's read them. ]

You read them, Sasuke?

[ That's so... cute.

And so is the red in his face. ]

I always assumed you read military dramas, or those stories where animals talk...

[ ...At least he assumes Sasuke likes variety.

He frowns, thinking. ]

Though... there could be romance in tales like those. I must not take a narrow-minded view of what any genre is capable of depicting...

[ To think he's like this even when his head is just fine. ]

[ Sasuke makes the most flustered noise, but he responds honestly, albeit a little hesitantly. ~~His inner moe is showing.~~ ]

There is overlap... romances in military dramas or romances between animals or youkai... Sometimes they even get happy endings.

[ He has read a number of them... ]

[ If Yukimura didn't feel like every bone in his body were broken, he'd be jumping Sasuke's bones about now. Moe Sasuke is just too cute. ]

Animals and youkai with... humans?

[ Well, he can imagine it, honestly. Who hasn't heard a tale or two of a youkai taking human form out of love or lust?

Yukimura's concussion-brain does its best to continue this line of conversation. ]

Were there any tigers?

[ He'll have his chance to jump Sasuke's bones when he's in a kimono. The soft moe Sasuke will be even stronger then, and Yukimura will be in better shape. ]

Yes, they had the ability to shapeshift and fell in love with a human. Many times the human didn't know, and when they learned their true nature... the youkai had to leave. Or like in the case of a kitsune, could only come back to her love at night.

A few stories had tigers. The tiger was a protector, and his identity was found out when he protected his lover. But he didn't care if he was shunned. He was going to protect his bride. I think they got to stay together in the end.

Edited (typo) 2020-01-25 18:41 (UTC)

[ It does make its own kind of sense that so many stories like that would have unhappy or less than ideal endings. But for as little romance as Yukimura's read, he's certain he prefers the ones where everything ends up working out, one way or another. ]

That sounds like a tiger.

[ He feels kind of proud of this fictional tiger man. ]

We will protect those we love, no matter what... And nothing will keep us from their sides.

[ Yukimura will be pleased to know that Sasuke prefers the ones with happy endings too. For all his darkness, he hopes that someone can have live happily ever after... even if he doesn't believe it's possible for him. ]

Tigers deserve all the honor and respect people give them, and those who earn their love should count themselves lucky.

[ Despite his physical condition, Yukimura's able to smile, hearing that. ]

I'll protect you, Sasuke.

[ Even if he ends up like this again.

Of course he'd end up like this again, gladly, if Sasuke were on the line. ]

Just like in those stories. And we'll get to stay together. That... I promise you that.

[ "...I need you, Sasuke. I need you beside me. I want us both to live."

"I do! And I would fight any devil for your soul, Sasuke! I mean it. Whatever your soul is made of, whatever damage it bears, it is precious to me! Above all else, I need you to understand -- you are precious to me."

"I understand well the gravity of my words... my actions. To entrust your heart to another is no simple feat. I, Sanada Yukimura, swear to you that I will not let this be a decision you come to regret. Can you trust me?" ]

... I...

[ The sincerity of Yukimura's promise breaks down any remaining defenses. Sasuke ~~goes full moe mode~~ chokes up. ]

Please protect this broken heart of mine. If anyone could do it, keep it warm and alive... I think you could.

[ He hopes that will be the case as much as the idea terrifies him. This is new, something that goes against how he's lived his life thus far. Yukimura asked him to trust him and promises to protect him. Even if it's Sasuke's job to protect Yukimura's life, would it... really be so bad to have Yukimura protect his heart? Yukimura was the one to find it still existed within his darkness in the first place. ]

[ Underneath all those masks, Sasuke sure is a crybaby.

He's in good company. Though right now, Yukimura doesn't want to cry. Sasuke might think it's from pain.

So what he does is raise one hand -- he's pretty sure this arm wasn't broken -- hoping that Sasuke will take it. ]

I'll protect your heart... And I shall help you mend it. No matter what it takes.

[ There's no heart that can't heal. Yukimura refuses to believe otherwise. Maybe it won't ever be quite the same as it once was, but it can always be put back together with enough love and patience. ]

This fire in my soul... will not go out. If you think you're straying too far into the dark... let this blazing light be your beacon.

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