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[leafwhistle]

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birthday!!!

[descender]

[Wherever Kazuha is, the morning he wakes up on his birthday, there will be a basket with many items. There's a sweater, since Aether knows the weather will be getting colder soon, a journal book, a card, and a compass with a maple leaf and star engraved on the outside and then on the inside, a haiku that reads:

"Journeys intertwined / an eternal friendship of / maple leaf and star"

Lastly, the item that looks the most out of place is a bottle of sake.

When Kazuha opens the card, it'll read the following:

"Happy Birthday Kazuha!

While on our own journeys, we've crossed paths several times. Each time, it's made me happy to be reunited with a good friend like you. I hope you continue to have many adventures and explore new places here and wherever your heart desires.

Your friend,
Aether ⭐]

10/29

[shikanoinheizou]

Kazuha! Where are you?

[leafwhistle]

I'm up on the hill, watching the clouds. Are you wanting to join me?

[shikanoinheizou]

On my way.
I have a surprise for you.

[leafwhistle]

A surprise? I'll be looking forward to it then.

[Although much of Folkmore was left in ruin, the grassy hill that Kazuha frequented when visiting was left fairly the same. The samurai was just idling away time there, laying against the dewy grass to watch the clouds go by.]

[shikanoinheizou]

[It doesn't take long for Heizou to track him down. The detective flops down next to Kazuha with a quiet 'whuff' and settles his weight onto the heel of one hand.]

Hey.

[He shoots a grin over at the other man.]

Happy birthday.

[leafwhistle]

[He rests his own hands gently on top of his waist, fingers folded through each other. Since they'd returned to populated areas, Kazuha has started wearing bandages covering his scars again, keeping them out of sight.

It wasn't like Kazuha brought it up, as in terms of things it was relatively unimportant and he wasn't very attention seeking. Heizou remembering regardless brings a smile to his face— he is good with solitude, but a companion is always better. The samurai turns his head towards Heizou, looking away from the calm puffs of clouds.]

It's happier with you to share it with.

[His head tilts a little, his red eyes scanning the other Inazuman. He's admittedly, a bit curious.]

[shikanoinheizou]

[Heizou just hums, pleased, and he tilts his head back to look up at the sky. After weeks spent so confined this relative freedom feels like luxury. It's enough to give him itchy feet all over again.

Well, he's sure Kazuha won't object to some more adventuring.

Speaking of...]

I had a hard time thinking of what I could give you as a gift. [He says, speaking up towards the sky.]

I did think of one thing, but I'm not sure if you'll like it.

[leafwhistle]

I'm sorry. [The apology is automatic, but sincere. He understands how it would be difficult to find a gift for him; there were few material possessions that Kazuha cared for, even if he was sentimental in nature. The collapse of his clan and sale of his home and their remaining belongings helped begin to train him in that regard, and his experiences in the war solidified it.

After a moment of quiet thinking, Kazuha rolls slightly, looking more pointedly towards Heizou. For a while, his time in Folkmore was fairly isolated— he spent his time people watching, drifting on the outskirts of civilizations, conversing with more spirits than star children.

He hasn't been alone for a while now, which that thought alone keeps his smile.]

I'm sure I will like anything you've thought of.

[shikanoinheizou]

[He cocks his head towards the sound of Kazuha's movement and then looks down at him with a smile. The detective turns himself around and settles on his stomach, his upper body propped up on his elbows.

Only one thing he could think of. He's still not sure if Kazuha will like it. Or if it's even a good idea at all.

He rests his head against one loosely curled fist and picks at the grass with the fingers of his other hand.]

If I've judged it correctly, I think you'll be pleased. [Another smile.] But you have to close your eyes. It is a surprise after all.

[leafwhistle]

[Kazuha gives him a quizzical look, not really one of judgement since there were very few that would get that from him away, but really because he's struggling to guess what he's hiding— even his senses indicate everything is in the ordinary.]

Mm, of course.

[He's had few reasons ever not to trust Heizou, so he's not hard to coax into closing his eyes, his pale lashes fanning over his cheeks. With his expression settling neutrally for now, he just lays there, serene as he waits for some sort of signal from the other.]

[shikanoinheizou]

[So trusting. It's nice. With the kind of reputation he carries around not that many people would even want to turn their back on him let alone close their eyes with him so near to them.

So Heizou pauses, for a moment, looking at the features of his friend's face. Still soft, he notices, around the occasional battle-hardened edge. A small smile quirks at the corner of his mouth and he shifts his weight to shuffle forwards with one elbow.

The kiss - if it could be called that fleeting thing that it is - that he presses to Kazuha's lips is soft and light and over quickly with a mind that such a move might have startled him. He's thought about this before. A few times, actually. The opportunity has simply never presented itself so well before now.]

[leafwhistle]

[The two of them have slept next to each other for months now— his presence next to him was a comfort now, almost an expectation.

The sound of Heizou moving only makes Kazuha feel more curious— his sensitive hearing picks up the subtle shuffles in the grass, even the sound of the air as his shifting displaces it. There’s nothing to really clue him in, so he finds himself just waiting in anticipation for something to be places on his chest.

Instead, the press of lips against his own is so brief that Kazuha struggles to understand what the feeling is right away. When Heizou pulls back, his eyes open nearly instantly and he pushes himself into a half sit.]

What was that?

[Kazuha often gently jokes around, but in this case, his tone indicates he is truly unsure. He touches his lips, looking at his hand as he pulls it away— nothing smeared there, but his lips feel so strange?

Kazuha is inexperienced, but not exactly naive. His heart has fluttered before, though he never had the opportunity to explore romance. His heartbeat quickens, his face slightly reddening.]

Did you kiss me?

[shikanoinheizou]

[He knows he's taking a bit of a gamble here. People have always been easy for him to read but when it's matters like this... well, his radar can get a little skewed. He wants to be right. Hopes that he is.

When Kazuha opens his eyes and sits up he shifts back and pushes himself up as well, looking at him as if he's trying to judge his reaction.]

Yeah, I did.

[There's no point in denying it is there? Not when it was entirely what he intended to do.]

... Is that okay?

[leafwhistle]

[Now his heart is pounding in his chest. Kazuha can feel it beat against his ribs, his eyes fixed and staring at Heizou's face during his sort of nonchalant answer. He’s surprised, wondering when this began— what did he miss out of his own naivety?

Kazuha’s face slowly deepens red as he’s lost in his thoughts. Suddenly he’s reexamining everything. The time they spent together, his own thoughts about Heizou... he feels like he needs more time. His eyes tear away, looking down, the ruby shaded by the white curve of his delicate lashes.]

Ah... I haven't kissed someone before.

[How many times had he woken early and just watched the detective's restful face? Felt pleasure just to share a meal with him? Would he not give his hand, a whole arm, his life to keep Heizou safe? He'd thought the other Inazuman handsome, his ex lucky in many ways.

He can hear something as soft as a snowdrop hitting the frozen ground, but all his wondrous gifts had failed him in this instance, where he should have been seeking the quickening of a heartbeat or perhaps the change in Heizou's voice.

Kazuha realizes he is doing the same as he had with his departed friend. He simply didn't think about how he felt until he was already gone. But Heizou... Heizou is here, with him on his birthday, and he had kissed him. ]

Hmm... Do you want to do it again?

[shikanoinheizou]

You–

[Oh, heck, he'd gone and stolen away Kazuha's first kiss without even thinking to ask if that was what it was? Somehow he'd always thought that much a well-travelled man must have experience in such matters and he's immediately kicking himself for making such an assumption.

He's ready to apologise. Beg forgiveness if he has to. The feelings behind that kiss were real but not ones he would force upon Kazuha if he didn't want them.

The momentary panic before the samurai spoke might have been visible on his face, only to be swept away in an instant.]

I— what? [A rare thing indeed to see the defective lost for words.] Yes. Absolutely, unequivocally yes.

[leafwhistle]

Oh, really?

[Kazuha generally vastly underestimates his own charisma, in which he thinks he has none. Heizou's approving, if not rather eager, answer makes him tilt his head and pit a finger under his chin. The question and answer just hover there in the atmosphere of the moment, the samurai puzzling what to do from here.

It should be obvious, but maybe Heizou is waiting for something from him too? He should at least try it again, right?

The hair on the back of his neck stands on end, like being close to a lightning strike. It's only nerves— even if Kazuha strives for the calm of his thoughts, he still finds himself victim to anxiety. He reaches out, gripping the sides of Heizou's arm guards in each hand, holding onto it as he leans forward.

Kazuha looks away again, cheeks flushed, as he finds the need to gather a little more courage and trust. Heizou wouldn't judge him for being weird, or for not knowing what to do. When he looks back he smiles, a bit shy, then closes his eyes, slowly inching their faces closer again.]

[shikanoinheizou]

[He's not sure why he's waiting, really. Heizou rarely feels unsure about anything and Kazuha is not so fickle and difficult to win over as James was, and yet he still feels that faint stirring of 'what if', that maybe he's wrong or taking it too far and the other man is too kind to say anything.

But then Kazuha grips his arms and something in that vice of uncertainty eases its grip on him. He would not judge Kazuha for a moment, of course, and when he sees him begin to lean in again he cups a hand against the line of his jaw to guide him as he kisses him again.

Heizou can't help but smile against it. He's happy, even if he's only allowed this for a moment.]

I wasn't sure. [He says, in a break between one kiss and another.] If you'd feel the same.

[leafwhistle]

[Despite the fact he'd prepared for it, Kazuha still startles slightly as Heizou's hand guides him in back to his lips. He's not frighted, but the feeling of a kiss was still strange and new.]

I, um... [He stumbles over his thoughts, verbal fumbles that few would expect of a poet, but he doesn't draw away. One hand plants firmly on the earth as he leans in, kissing back, lips tingling as he tries to learn from Heizou's direction.

The samurai's hand swipes gently up the detective's arm, up to brush some red stands away from his face. He's actually... really pretty. He turns his head to the side again at the next break, ears burning.]

How long have you... [Maybe that's not the question he wanted to ask. Kazuha's pale brows knit, his expression thoughtful.] How would you describe it?

[shikanoinheizou]

[It's cute, how he stumbles like this, and Heizou finds he gains a little confidence from it as he patiently waits for the samurai to sort through his thoughts.

Goosebumps prickle up his arm in the wake of the light brush of fingers and he ducks his head slightly in embarrassment at the immediate flush across his face when his hair is brushed aside. Honestly, it isn't as if he's new to this...]

Describe it?

[It's such a 'Kazuha' kind of question, isn't it? 'How long' would have been just as tricky to answer.]

It's... [Hmm...] It's like... [He wants to kiss him again. It's distracting.]

Have you ever climbed up to the Grand Narukami Shrine and watched the sun come up?