'A sunset that can't be seen, only heard.'
Prompt: 'A sunset that can't be seen, only heard.'
Pairing: Motochika/Mitsunari.
Rating: PG
Notes: I initially wrote this for the musoumeme, but just wanted to re-upload it here since I think it's one of my better moments of genius pieces.
When Motochika managed to somehow underestimate the strength of an incoming wave, he knew it had been too long since he last set foot in Shikoku. What was once common place-the evening sky and the slight sting of salt on his legs--now intoxicated him. But with every step he took, he was also reminded of things, all the things that made Shikoku beautiful. Here, the sand parted under his feet like no other place in the world and the colors of the evening sun knew no equal; no words could describe the feelings of home and eternity a simple beach here gave him.
And yet, his companion-or perhaps now “lord,” as others were contemplating on calling him-managed, in a very short and concise manner, to describe his personal outlook while picking at his collar. “I had forgotten how un-civilized this place was...”
“You were the one who insisted that I bring you here, Mitsunari-sama.”
Mitsunari closed his open fan that hid his face in disgust, “Don’t call me that. I didn’t fight the last battle out of personal greed. You of all people should know that.”
“I only meant the title as respect towards you and your increased status. If it upsets you, I will refrain from using it. Though, if you fear that using the title will cause others to spread rumors of your intentions for fighting Ieyasu, you are not the man I thought you to be.”
The sound of a seagull in the background re-enforced the silence that followed. “I apologize for snapping… I just---I don’t need my companions calling me that…” Mitsunari almost muttered.
Motochika turned to face the sea once more, hiding a victorious smile from his now flustered friend. “So I see you’ve shortened your time between apologies. It took a few years, last I remembered, for you to apologize for your insults when we first met.”
“That was- I...”
A chuckle. “I was only jesting, Mitsunari. I know very well what kind of person you are.”
“Well I, for one, still don’t understand you.”
“Many don’t. I can’t say I blame you.”
Mitsunari watches as two fishermen in the distance bow to Motochika when they spot him and he returns the greeting with a wave of his hand and a slight nod. “Then again, I suppose you have no need for something so trivial. Your charisma by itself could already move an entire army.”
“You exaggerate.”
“The people here were in tears upon your return, Motochika. Being humble doesn’t really work in your favor this time around.”
Motochika pauses to catch an incoming breeze, a warm feeling emerging from his breast as thoughts of his people fill his mind. “I am nothing great. I am merely a representation of their strong desire to protect Shikoku, their families---their futures. Compared to them, I am weak. In the past, though I may have been blinded by my own selfish desire, these people have never deserted me. For that… I could never in my lifetime repay what I owe.”
Seemingly lost in thought while gazing at the setting sun, Mitsunari suddenly sighs loudly. “I can never win against you, can I? You and Sakon both…”
“Is this a lack of confidence I’m hearing? How unusual,” Motochika muses.
“I merely stated a fact, nothing more.”
Motochika shakes his head but ends the conversation, joining his partner in admiring the orange and red hues of the quickly receding sunset. A villager informs the pair that a bonfire is being lit on the beach that night and is delighted when Motochika asks him to prepare a round of food and sake for him and his guest. Lost in the moment, Mitsunari is stunned when he notices the sun had fled completely, leaving only darkness in its place.
“Does the sun always set this quickly in Shikoku?” he asks, his eyes struggling to adjust to the new surroundings. He can only hear Motochika as he slowly steps towards him, unfazed, undisturbed--- like a bat in his natural habitat. And then he feels it, fingers delicately tucking a lock of hair behind his ear. His heart races and only accelerates when he notices how close the other is, so close that Mitsunari was almost certain the heat he felt wasn’t just coming from him alone.
When he spoke, it shattered all the breath in him. “You can never see the sun set but…” His voice drops to a low whisper and leans in, lips so close to Mitsunari’s ear that the latter could almost feel them, “…if you listen closely, you can definitely hear it.”
The bonfire in the background blazes alive. Motochika had somehow already walked past him and was speaking to an excited villager. Mitsunari stares, almost in a daze, and lightly touches his ear. The whole event seemed like an illusion until he swears he sees, for a brief instant, Motochika looking back at him, his eyes a bit brighter than before, on his face a mischievous smile.
Pairing: Motochika/Mitsunari.
Rating: PG
Notes: I initially wrote this for the musoumeme, but just wanted to re-upload it here since I think it's one of my better moments of genius pieces.
When Motochika managed to somehow underestimate the strength of an incoming wave, he knew it had been too long since he last set foot in Shikoku. What was once common place-the evening sky and the slight sting of salt on his legs--now intoxicated him. But with every step he took, he was also reminded of things, all the things that made Shikoku beautiful. Here, the sand parted under his feet like no other place in the world and the colors of the evening sun knew no equal; no words could describe the feelings of home and eternity a simple beach here gave him.
And yet, his companion-or perhaps now “lord,” as others were contemplating on calling him-managed, in a very short and concise manner, to describe his personal outlook while picking at his collar. “I had forgotten how un-civilized this place was...”
“You were the one who insisted that I bring you here, Mitsunari-sama.”
Mitsunari closed his open fan that hid his face in disgust, “Don’t call me that. I didn’t fight the last battle out of personal greed. You of all people should know that.”
“I only meant the title as respect towards you and your increased status. If it upsets you, I will refrain from using it. Though, if you fear that using the title will cause others to spread rumors of your intentions for fighting Ieyasu, you are not the man I thought you to be.”
The sound of a seagull in the background re-enforced the silence that followed. “I apologize for snapping… I just---I don’t need my companions calling me that…” Mitsunari almost muttered.
Motochika turned to face the sea once more, hiding a victorious smile from his now flustered friend. “So I see you’ve shortened your time between apologies. It took a few years, last I remembered, for you to apologize for your insults when we first met.”
“That was- I...”
A chuckle. “I was only jesting, Mitsunari. I know very well what kind of person you are.”
“Well I, for one, still don’t understand you.”
“Many don’t. I can’t say I blame you.”
Mitsunari watches as two fishermen in the distance bow to Motochika when they spot him and he returns the greeting with a wave of his hand and a slight nod. “Then again, I suppose you have no need for something so trivial. Your charisma by itself could already move an entire army.”
“You exaggerate.”
“The people here were in tears upon your return, Motochika. Being humble doesn’t really work in your favor this time around.”
Motochika pauses to catch an incoming breeze, a warm feeling emerging from his breast as thoughts of his people fill his mind. “I am nothing great. I am merely a representation of their strong desire to protect Shikoku, their families---their futures. Compared to them, I am weak. In the past, though I may have been blinded by my own selfish desire, these people have never deserted me. For that… I could never in my lifetime repay what I owe.”
Seemingly lost in thought while gazing at the setting sun, Mitsunari suddenly sighs loudly. “I can never win against you, can I? You and Sakon both…”
“Is this a lack of confidence I’m hearing? How unusual,” Motochika muses.
“I merely stated a fact, nothing more.”
Motochika shakes his head but ends the conversation, joining his partner in admiring the orange and red hues of the quickly receding sunset. A villager informs the pair that a bonfire is being lit on the beach that night and is delighted when Motochika asks him to prepare a round of food and sake for him and his guest. Lost in the moment, Mitsunari is stunned when he notices the sun had fled completely, leaving only darkness in its place.
“Does the sun always set this quickly in Shikoku?” he asks, his eyes struggling to adjust to the new surroundings. He can only hear Motochika as he slowly steps towards him, unfazed, undisturbed--- like a bat in his natural habitat. And then he feels it, fingers delicately tucking a lock of hair behind his ear. His heart races and only accelerates when he notices how close the other is, so close that Mitsunari was almost certain the heat he felt wasn’t just coming from him alone.
When he spoke, it shattered all the breath in him. “You can never see the sun set but…” His voice drops to a low whisper and leans in, lips so close to Mitsunari’s ear that the latter could almost feel them, “…if you listen closely, you can definitely hear it.”
The bonfire in the background blazes alive. Motochika had somehow already walked past him and was speaking to an excited villager. Mitsunari stares, almost in a daze, and lightly touches his ear. The whole event seemed like an illusion until he swears he sees, for a brief instant, Motochika looking back at him, his eyes a bit brighter than before, on his face a mischievous smile.