Taishou Mebiusline fanfic: Strands of White Hair (Senge x Kyou)
Strands of White Hair
a Taishou Mebiusline fanfiction
Pairing: Senge x Kyouichirou
Warnings: Most likely OOC. Very OOC as I have not finished Senge’s route yet (I plan to take my sweet time with it teehee).
-x-
Noisy. Crowded. Like a maze.
This was how Senge described the market he had set foot on for the very first time. There was store upon store, and sellers were yelling from both sides. The hustle and bustle seemed like there would be no end to it, much like he could not see the end of the street.
He found it amazing that there were so many people even if it was snowing. Then again, he mused with a proud smirk, his countrymen were known for their resilience so there was really no reason to be surprised that a little snowfall like this was not enough to stop them from going out to do their errands. As for the sellers, it was business are usual.
Senge admired snow. He loved seeing everything covered in white, it made his country look beautiful. Pure. And even though all the dirt is just hidden underneath, when it rains on a warmer day everything will get washed away- snow and dirt alike.
He turned his palm up and it immediately caught flakes of snow. Even as a child, he liked catching the delicate shapes in his hand and looking at them. The shapes were exquisite beyond compare, yet fleeting. They melted on his glove as soon they fell on his hand.
Exquisite.
Beyond compare.
Just like Kyouichirou. Senge’s train of thought led him to absently wonder if, just like the snow flakes, his half would one day disappear from his hold right before his eyes. He frowned, not liking the heavy, uncomfortable sensation that started to engulf his chest.
The other day, Kyouichirou sprained his ankle when he protected Senge in an ambush. He lost his balance when he pushed Senge out of harm’s way. He may have gotten injured, but ironically, it was his fall that had made the enemy narrowly miss Kyouichirou’s throat. Had his head been just another degree closer…
Senge snapped out of his musings when the familiar aroma of fresh baked senbei wafted to his nose. Looking up, he saw the name on the store’s wooden sign and confirmed it was indeed the same name on the paper bag Kyouichirou always had by his side when reading books. And since he would not be able to do anything else until his injury fully heals, Kyouchirou had boldly asked Senge to buy him senbei until he is able to do so on his own.
Senge decided to let him get away with it just this once. But once Kyouichirou is better, he fully intended to get payback. In ways that would make Kyouichirou think twice about carelessly putting his life in danger, and more importantly, the audacity of sending him on an errand.
If the lineup was a testament to how good their senbei is, then the line that went as far as a dozen stores down said volumes. Senge reluctantly fell in line. The display window of the store he was standing right in front of caught his attention. Inside, there were plenty of paired dolls with white hair. Senge cynically wondered if he would ever reach the age when his hair will turn white. Given his curse, he had resigned himself into accepting that it was nothing more than wishful thinking. But, looking at the little inanimate old couples, Senge thought what he wouldn’t give to see him and Kyouichirou like that someday.
Five minutes became ten minutes, ten became fifteen, and fifteen became half an hour. As it was Senge’s first time to ever go to a market, it was also his first taste of falling in line. It was an experience that made his respect for Kyouichirou go to a higher level knowing this was an ordeal he had to go through day in and day out. All for the love of senbei.
As soon as Senge got a bagful, he was going to go straight home. On the way back, he passed the store with the white-haired doll couples again. This time, something else caught his attention. There were white, hair-like threads bundled up and wrapped in a folded paper held together by red strings and ribbons. The color of the strings were the same as the one Senge uses in his hair that Kyouichirou had been borrowing without permission lately to use as bookmarks.
Senge walked into the store.
-x-
When Senge got home, he went straight to his study knowing Kyouichirou would be there deeply immersed in his books as always. Kyouichirou was indeed there, but he was fast asleep on the couch with an open book on his lap. The grandfather clock chimed eleven times, telling Senge how late it was.
Not wanting to wake Kyouichirou up, Senge took him in his arms and was planning to carry him to their room, but as soon as he lifted him up Kyouichirou stirred. His eyelids fluttered then his eyes grew wide.
“I… Iori?! You’re here… Please put me down.”
Kyouichirou tried to wriggle out of his arms but Senge tightened his hold.
“And then what? You can’t go up the stairs to our bedroom anyway. So be good and stay still.”
Kyouichirou saw he had a point, so he reluctantly complied. Senge found this amusing, so he took his sweet time getting to their room and putting him down on the bed. He thoroughly enjoyed watching Kyouichirou’s uncomfortable face.
“I have something for you.”
Senge lightly brushed his lips against Kyouichirou’s as if to smooth the slight pout in his lips.
“Here. Take it.”
Senge then took out the folded paper with bundled strands of white thread that he bought from that odd store with paired white-haired dolls.
Upon seeing what it was, Kyouichirou gasped. He stared, wide eyed and mouth very slightly open, at his present for a long time. Senge, puzzled with his reaction, could only look on and wait unti Kyouichirou finally met his gaze and spoke.
“Iori… This is…”
And then his voice once again trailed off, as if his thoughts had left him. Kyouichirou simply stared at it. Speechless.
Senge, on the other hand, was pleased that Kyouichirou liked his gift. He just was not expecting to get this much of a reaction. Kyouichirou must really love reading so much.
“Now that you have a new bookmark, you can return all my hair ties.”
Kyouichirou suddenly looked deflated.
“… Bookmark?”
“Yes. Don’t think I haven’t noticed my strings going missing because you’ve been using them to mark the pages where you left off.”
Kyouichirou gently lay the ‘bookmark’ down on the bedside table, pulled his share of the blanket over his body, and lay down, his back towards Senge. For the rest of that night, not another word passed between them. Senge, thought still confused, could not be bothered.
-x-
Later that night, Kyouichirou sat up with an exasperated sigh. Beside him, he could tell that Senge was already fast asleep. He took the ‘bookmark’ (he felt a nerve twitch), as Senge called it, in his hands as if he was carrying something very fragile.
Bundled strands of white thread represent white hairs of a couple who had grown old together. This was typically given to a bride-to-be, signifying the wish for a relationship that would last a lifetime. To Kyouichirou, it was especially significant because Senge’s curse, along with their line of work as well as the times they lived in entailed living each day as if it was your last. Every single day there was no telling if they would come home, and more importantly, together. Getting a present like this from Senge made Kyouichirou feel as if he was allowed to hope they could grow old together. Even if it was against all odds.
Heaving another sigh, he set his precious gift on the bedside table and switched off the lampshade. It did not matter anymore. Even if Senge had no clue what he had just given him, he would treasure it all the same. More importantly, he would work hard- together with Senge- to make it happen.
‘Even if it’s just one step at a time… One day at a time… Let’s walk together until your beautiful hair turns gray, Iori.’
Kyouichirou smiled fondly, running his fingers through the gorgeous, silken hair that he loves so much.
End
-x-
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed it even just a bit, I’ll be happy ^^
I have one more idea I’m playing around with for Shigure and that would be the last fanfic for this game. I was just hit with inspiration to write snow-themed (more or less) fics for the holidays.
a Taishou Mebiusline fanfiction
Pairing: Senge x Kyouichirou
Warnings: Most likely OOC. Very OOC as I have not finished Senge’s route yet (I plan to take my sweet time with it teehee).
-x-
Noisy. Crowded. Like a maze.
This was how Senge described the market he had set foot on for the very first time. There was store upon store, and sellers were yelling from both sides. The hustle and bustle seemed like there would be no end to it, much like he could not see the end of the street.
He found it amazing that there were so many people even if it was snowing. Then again, he mused with a proud smirk, his countrymen were known for their resilience so there was really no reason to be surprised that a little snowfall like this was not enough to stop them from going out to do their errands. As for the sellers, it was business are usual.
Senge admired snow. He loved seeing everything covered in white, it made his country look beautiful. Pure. And even though all the dirt is just hidden underneath, when it rains on a warmer day everything will get washed away- snow and dirt alike.
He turned his palm up and it immediately caught flakes of snow. Even as a child, he liked catching the delicate shapes in his hand and looking at them. The shapes were exquisite beyond compare, yet fleeting. They melted on his glove as soon they fell on his hand.
Exquisite.
Beyond compare.
Just like Kyouichirou. Senge’s train of thought led him to absently wonder if, just like the snow flakes, his half would one day disappear from his hold right before his eyes. He frowned, not liking the heavy, uncomfortable sensation that started to engulf his chest.
The other day, Kyouichirou sprained his ankle when he protected Senge in an ambush. He lost his balance when he pushed Senge out of harm’s way. He may have gotten injured, but ironically, it was his fall that had made the enemy narrowly miss Kyouichirou’s throat. Had his head been just another degree closer…
Senge snapped out of his musings when the familiar aroma of fresh baked senbei wafted to his nose. Looking up, he saw the name on the store’s wooden sign and confirmed it was indeed the same name on the paper bag Kyouichirou always had by his side when reading books. And since he would not be able to do anything else until his injury fully heals, Kyouchirou had boldly asked Senge to buy him senbei until he is able to do so on his own.
Senge decided to let him get away with it just this once. But once Kyouichirou is better, he fully intended to get payback. In ways that would make Kyouichirou think twice about carelessly putting his life in danger, and more importantly, the audacity of sending him on an errand.
If the lineup was a testament to how good their senbei is, then the line that went as far as a dozen stores down said volumes. Senge reluctantly fell in line. The display window of the store he was standing right in front of caught his attention. Inside, there were plenty of paired dolls with white hair. Senge cynically wondered if he would ever reach the age when his hair will turn white. Given his curse, he had resigned himself into accepting that it was nothing more than wishful thinking. But, looking at the little inanimate old couples, Senge thought what he wouldn’t give to see him and Kyouichirou like that someday.
Five minutes became ten minutes, ten became fifteen, and fifteen became half an hour. As it was Senge’s first time to ever go to a market, it was also his first taste of falling in line. It was an experience that made his respect for Kyouichirou go to a higher level knowing this was an ordeal he had to go through day in and day out. All for the love of senbei.
As soon as Senge got a bagful, he was going to go straight home. On the way back, he passed the store with the white-haired doll couples again. This time, something else caught his attention. There were white, hair-like threads bundled up and wrapped in a folded paper held together by red strings and ribbons. The color of the strings were the same as the one Senge uses in his hair that Kyouichirou had been borrowing without permission lately to use as bookmarks.
Senge walked into the store.
-x-
When Senge got home, he went straight to his study knowing Kyouichirou would be there deeply immersed in his books as always. Kyouichirou was indeed there, but he was fast asleep on the couch with an open book on his lap. The grandfather clock chimed eleven times, telling Senge how late it was.
Not wanting to wake Kyouichirou up, Senge took him in his arms and was planning to carry him to their room, but as soon as he lifted him up Kyouichirou stirred. His eyelids fluttered then his eyes grew wide.
“I… Iori?! You’re here… Please put me down.”
Kyouichirou tried to wriggle out of his arms but Senge tightened his hold.
“And then what? You can’t go up the stairs to our bedroom anyway. So be good and stay still.”
Kyouichirou saw he had a point, so he reluctantly complied. Senge found this amusing, so he took his sweet time getting to their room and putting him down on the bed. He thoroughly enjoyed watching Kyouichirou’s uncomfortable face.
“I have something for you.”
Senge lightly brushed his lips against Kyouichirou’s as if to smooth the slight pout in his lips.
“Here. Take it.”
Senge then took out the folded paper with bundled strands of white thread that he bought from that odd store with paired white-haired dolls.
Upon seeing what it was, Kyouichirou gasped. He stared, wide eyed and mouth very slightly open, at his present for a long time. Senge, puzzled with his reaction, could only look on and wait unti Kyouichirou finally met his gaze and spoke.
“Iori… This is…”
And then his voice once again trailed off, as if his thoughts had left him. Kyouichirou simply stared at it. Speechless.
Senge, on the other hand, was pleased that Kyouichirou liked his gift. He just was not expecting to get this much of a reaction. Kyouichirou must really love reading so much.
“Now that you have a new bookmark, you can return all my hair ties.”
Kyouichirou suddenly looked deflated.
“… Bookmark?”
“Yes. Don’t think I haven’t noticed my strings going missing because you’ve been using them to mark the pages where you left off.”
Kyouichirou gently lay the ‘bookmark’ down on the bedside table, pulled his share of the blanket over his body, and lay down, his back towards Senge. For the rest of that night, not another word passed between them. Senge, thought still confused, could not be bothered.
-x-
Later that night, Kyouichirou sat up with an exasperated sigh. Beside him, he could tell that Senge was already fast asleep. He took the ‘bookmark’ (he felt a nerve twitch), as Senge called it, in his hands as if he was carrying something very fragile.
Bundled strands of white thread represent white hairs of a couple who had grown old together. This was typically given to a bride-to-be, signifying the wish for a relationship that would last a lifetime. To Kyouichirou, it was especially significant because Senge’s curse, along with their line of work as well as the times they lived in entailed living each day as if it was your last. Every single day there was no telling if they would come home, and more importantly, together. Getting a present like this from Senge made Kyouichirou feel as if he was allowed to hope they could grow old together. Even if it was against all odds.
Heaving another sigh, he set his precious gift on the bedside table and switched off the lampshade. It did not matter anymore. Even if Senge had no clue what he had just given him, he would treasure it all the same. More importantly, he would work hard- together with Senge- to make it happen.
‘Even if it’s just one step at a time… One day at a time… Let’s walk together until your beautiful hair turns gray, Iori.’
Kyouichirou smiled fondly, running his fingers through the gorgeous, silken hair that he loves so much.
End
-x-
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed it even just a bit, I’ll be happy ^^
I have one more idea I’m playing around with for Shigure and that would be the last fanfic for this game. I was just hit with inspiration to write snow-themed (more or less) fics for the holidays.