20

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"Good morning Mr Haganezuka!" I sing, skipping into his home with the basket in my hands. As usual I see him sitting at his work bench, not even looking at me but I don't mind. I just giggle, placing the basket on the table and unpacking the various foods I made for him before walking over and looking over his shoulder. "Is that my sword?" I say and he hums in response.

"It'll be finished by the end of today," he says plainly and I clap excitedly.

"That's great news!" I say, running over to the table to begin getting ready to eat lunch with him. He's silent as he walks over and takes a seat, watching as I pour him some water.

"Here, you must be thirsty!" I hold the cup out to him with a smile and he takes it. I turn my back to him, waiting for him to drink it.

"Are you excited to go back to your missions?" He says and I nod eagerly.

"I've missed Haku and Miko and all the girls at the residence! I'm sure they'll be eager to hear my stories when I return!" I giggle and he hums and we begin to eat as I still sit with my back to him... a routine that's been developed after all the times we've eaten together. "I will miss being here though! Genji will be very sad that we can't train anymore, and I've made some very dear friends here in the village!" I say. He doesn't respond, but that's also quite normal. Our conversations mainly consist of me talking, and him just listening. "I'll also miss seeing you every day Mr Haganezuka! You'll have to visit me when you can otherwise I'll be forced to either break my sword or injure myself so I can come see you here!"

"Don't you dare," he says sternly making me giggle.

"Don't worry! I won't... but you have to visit!"

"I don't have time," I slump my shoulders disappointed.

"But won't you miss me?!"

"No. I'll finally have some peace and quiet now that you're leaving!"

"Mr Haganezuka! That's so cruel!" I whine and he scoffs. "I thought you finally thought of me as your friend!"

"Only cause you wouldn't stop pestering me!"

"Does that mean you don't want to be my friend!?" He's silent and I grin. "I take your silence as you do want to!"

"In your dreams!" I hear him stand and sit back down at his bench and I snicker, turning around to look at his back. I observe his appearance... he's not wearing his usual haori, but he's still got the scarf wrapped around his head that I have yet to see him without and of course the mask.

I suppose to others... it would be strange. I feel closer to Haganezuka, in a way I've never felt with anyone else. I don't know how that's possible though, considering I know such little about the man's appearance. I wonder what his face looks like... I know he's young, only 27. Would his features be strong and angry like he is, or perhaps they're completely different and are soft and kind. Maybe he has a permanent frown...

He notices her sudden silence, which is more concerning than anything. Silence from her is never a good sign... The silence is then broken by her soft giggling, and he is curious as to what she's laughing about.

"What's so funny?" He says, looking at her slightly over his shoulder. He's shocked to see her gaze locked on him as her head is slightly tilted and a smile is evident across her pale face. He then quickly looks away, not wanting to get even more distracted than he already is.

"Do you have a permanent frown?" I say making him swing his head to look at me.

"Ha!?" I giggle at his response.

"Underneath the mask! What do you look like?" He stumbles over his words, shaking his head.

"Wouldn't telling you defeat the whole purpose of me wearing the mask?" I huff, going over to sit next to him yet he continues to ignore me.

"I won't tell anyone what you look like!" Silence. "Please! I'm so curious!" He shakes his head sternly. "So you're telling me... no one knows what you look like?!" I say and he sighs.

"The only people allowed to know are family. And you are not family." I roll my eyes, tapping my chin.

"So if we were to get married-" I'm interrupted by a gentle smack across the head and I giggle. "I'm kidding! Just saying!" I hold my hands up in defense and he scoffs. "I will ask your future wife then to tell me what you look like, I'm sure she'll tell me!"

"You do that kid," he says sarcastically making me giggle.

"What about your hair? Surely I can see that?"

"Why do you care so much?"

"Because I want to know more about you!" He ignores me. "Can you at least tell me the colour?" Still nothing. "What if I guess! Hmm.... Pink!"

"Ha?! Why would my hair be pink!?"

"It could be for all I know! Maybe that's why you hide it! Or maybe... maybe you don't have hair!" I gasp and he glares at me making me laugh.

"I have hair!"

"Aha so it is pink!"

"I never said that! You're infuriating!" I fall onto my back laughing and he just continues working.

"If you don't show me... I'll continue to assume you have pink hair!" I tease and he slams his tools down in frustration. Shocking me, he then rips the scarf from around his head and I sit up in shock as I see long black hair fall from it and down his shoulders. I sit there, stunned, not even being able to talk.

"See! I don't have pink hair!" He says and I blink.

"Y-Your hair is so long!" I gush and he shrugs.

"So what?"

"It's so pretty~!"

"Huh!?"

"Can I braid it!?"

"Absolutely not!"

"Please~" I shake his arm, begging and begging and finally he gives in. I happily braid his hair as he angril

"One of these days I'll see your face... whether that means I have to marry you or not!" Haganezuka doesn't even know how to respond to her.

Marry her? Ridiculous. Absurdity. Impossible. He'd rather die.

He can keep telling himself these things, but the more he thinks about it... the less revolting it seems. It's true, she's the only woman who isn't afraid of him or thinks of him as a horrible human being... He's kind of just accepted the idea of never having a wife, never having a family. Since he's accepted it, he kind of convinced himself he hated the idea of it to make things seem a little less lonely.

But now that there's even that flicker of hope... hope for an eternity not spent alone... maybe the idea isn't as vomit inducing as he thought? Maybe he could actually be happy, if he was to become her husband...

In his dreams. She'd never take him, he just has to try and convince himself that he wouldn't take her either.

"Miss Nakahara!" Genji bursts open Haganezuka's door and I sit up as he runs to me, flinging his arms around my neck in a tight embrace making me yelp in surprise.

"Do I not get any privacy in my own home anymore?" Haganezuka mumbles under his breath and I giggle, smiling at him apologetically as I pat Genji's head.

"What's wrong Genji?" I say as he pulls away.

"Can we go do some training!? I finished all my chores for today and I want to do some training before it gets dark!" He says and I nod.

"The whole point of her coming here was to rest her injuries! How is she supposed to do that if you're nagging her the whole time to train with you!" Haganezuka scolds, and Genji huffs with his arms crossed.

"None of your business!"

"Why you little-!"

"Ok ok!" I say, standing between the two as they glare at each other. "Genji... you should be nicer to people older than you ok?" I say and he kicks the ground with a huff. "And Mr Haganezuka, stop picking fights with little kids," I say and he scoffs, also crossing his arms making me giggle. "I'm perfectly rested! You don't have to worry about me Mr Haganezuka!" I say.

"As if I'm worried about you... Go on get out already!" He pushes me and Genji out the door and slams it closed making us both giggle.

"Race you to the spot!" I say and Genji yells at me as I take off, laughing to myself.

-

Haganezuka rubs the sweat off his forehead as he observes his finished work. A brand new crafted sword, and he must admit one of his best works he's ever done. The blade is pristine and so sharp ever the slightest touch would cut your finger. He holds it up, grinning proudly to himself before the reality sinks in.

Tomorrow... she'll be leaving.

He grits his teeth, angry at himself. He thought he'd be over the moon when she left, in fact he couldn't wait till she did. But now that it's at that time, he doesn't feel overjoyed or excitement. All he feels is lonely. He'll go back to a quiet and empty house, back to the nasty stares, back to days on end without a word said to anyone.

He isn't ready for her to leave yet.

He shakes his head, holding the hand made necklace in his hand. The delicate carving of an intertwined sun and moon sits still in his rough and blistered hands, making it seem even more fragile. He made this... not too long ago. He thought of giving it to her on multiple occasions, sort of like a thank you gift for always being kind to him... He always chickened out thought, however he thinks to himself that tonight he must swallow his pride and give it to her. Who knows when he'll see her again, he doesn't want to regret it in the future.

"Mr Haganezuka I'm back. Would you like to eat dinner-"

"Would you like to go on a walk?" He suddenly says, and I smile softly while nodding. Eager to spend my last night in the village with him.

We sit silently underneath the stars and moonlight, in Haganezuka's special secret spot. I giggle at the fireflies flying around us, holding my hand as some land there briefly before flying off again and casting a beautiful glow in the darkness. I then look over at Haganezuka who has been silent this whole time, he seems as if he wants to say something.

"Are you alright, Mr Haganezuka?" I say and he flinches slightly, looking at me.

"H-Hm? Oh yeah, fine," he says and I furrow my eyebrows.

"You know... Just because I'm leaving tomorrow... doesn't mean we won't speak ever again?" I say and he turns to look at me.

"What makes you think I care about that!?" He retorts and I giggle.

"I'm not saying you do... I just want you to know that! I mean I'll still write to you whenever I can of course, and like I said you're more than welcome to come visit me!" It seems as if his tense posture relaxes a little, and he nods slowly. "I'll miss you Mr Haganezuka," I smile at him, and he clears his throat. I turn back to look at the water, seeing our blurry reflection.

Haganezuka feels his palms get sweaty as he reaches into his pocket, feeling the jewelry wrapped in cloth. He bites his lip, contemplating whether now is the right time. Will she think it's weird he's giving her presents? Will she hate it? There's too many what ifs... but he knows it's now or never.

"U-Um... Nakahara..." he grumbles, and it's like the air is squeezed from his lungs as she turns to look at him.

"Yes?" She says, her eyes sparkling as she smiles. He opens his mouth to try and speak, his trembling hand gripping the necklace. His throat feels dry as he struggles to get his words out. Just do it already!

"I... Uh..." He stumbles and she just waits patiently, her smile never fading. "Can... can you swim?" He sits there, internally cursing his stupidity and he watches as her face contorts into one of confusion.

"Um... yes? Why?" She says and he slowly removes his empty hand from his pocket. Now what? He does the first thing he can think of... and pushes her into the pond.

I yelp as he pushes me and I fall backwards into the pond. I resurface, absolutely shocked as I push my wet hair from my face, looking at him with wide eyes.

"H-Hhu!?" Is the only thing I can muster as he snickers softly. "What was that for!?" I hug myself in the cold water as he shrugs.

"Felt like it," he leans back on his palms as I glare at him, before smirking as I splash the cold water onto him. "Hey!" He hisses and I grin.

"Just felt like it," I mimic him as he glares at me, making me laugh. I then scream, seeing him jump into the pond which drags me under the water with him.

We both resurface and I cough up the water, shaking my head as I see him in front of me laughing.

"I-It's F-Freezing!" He shudders and I giggle, splashing him with more water.

"Then why'd you get in?!" I laugh and he laughs with me.

"To do this!" I gasp as he grabs my shoulders, pushing me under the water. I come back up coughing as he laughs even harder.

"J-Jerk!" I say, trying to do the same to him, both of us laughing our heads off... enjoying our last night together until who knows when.