#oden won’t be oden if it wasn’t boiled

[elles-home]

wano arc is truly worth rewatching at its original playback speed even if it may be slightly slow just for the full effect of its score

[seakayants]

One piece headcanons and redesigns (Ace lives Au) :

(Ace, Yamato, Isuka and my oc Benny in that order!! 🤓👆)

Ace

look at this ugly man.

(There’s also Oc content in purple)

he got his own room when he became second commander but rarely used it since he wasn’t used to sleeping alone (he was used to sleeping with his brothers) and he would go back to his division and sleep with them instead. 

His crew would use him as heater when passing cold islands (both spade and whitebeard) 

He almost drowned in soup and sake a concerning amount of times.

He doesn’t get hangover since he’s made of fire and doesn’t absorb the effects of the alcohol. Poison also doesn’t work on him (unless if its like a devil fruit or smth) 

He also gets insomnia due to his irregular sleep patterns, gets nightmares a lot. The crew’s nurses tried giving him medication to help with his narcolepsy but none of it worked since they would dissolve the next morning. 

Sometimes he touches a hot kettle or stove accidentally and says “Ow” but then remembers he can’t feel it. 

Had a crush on Isuka and would purposely run slower so she can catch up to him and fight. 

Makes self deprecating jokes about himself and concerns the crew (he secretly believes in all of them)

Parents and kids love him, the type of friend your parents compare you to. 

He used to bark at people on all fours when he was a kid.

Literally turned red as a tomato when Thatch told him about the implications of a vivre card. (Vivre cards are often used by lovers who are apart to keep track of each other (this isn’t canon btw i just think its too cute not to)) 

Stares at the tiny piece Yamato ripped off of his vivre card every night. 

Begged on his knees for Thatcher to fry eggs on his back but was always told no since it was unhygienic. 

Was used as a heat source in boiling, cooking, etc. 

the scars around his body are from Benny trying to mutilate him throughout the years.

Ace lives Au:

Doesn’t get into too much arguments with Luffy post marineford since Luffy would just pull the “I broke into prison to save your life” card on him and instantly win.

Would tease Sabo about his crush on Koala but immediately shuts up when Sabo brings up Isuka or Yamato.

Tracked down Isuka and asked her to join his crew but then they got into an argument and the people around them thought they were breaking up. (she still joined anyways)

Had to start wearing shirts so he won’t be too recognizable but thought they were too itchy. He’ll wear matching outfits with his crew to not immediately rip off his shirt. 

Took Luffy’s advice and tried to kidnap Benny to his crew but got his ass beat (he was still recovering from his injuries) 

Had to be physically restrained so he would stop moving so much and reopen his wounds. 

Lights a candle for whitebeard and garp during day of the dead with sabo and luffy.

Yamato:

look at this beautiful man

Ace botched his haircut. He tried doing that thing where you use fire in cutting hair but messed up cuz he has no experience, Yamato doesn’t care that much cuz his hair growth is fast anyways, plus he had the same haircut for like 100 years so any change is good change.

Manhandles people when he’s excited, it’s easier for him since he’s 8’8 and he can easily grab someone and throw them around like a rag doll. No one is safe.

Since Ace also manhandles ppl when he’s excited the two of them just start wrestling.

Tried giving himself a stick and poke tattoo of Oden’s name on his arm to mimic Ace’s tattoo…he wears long sleeves for a reason.(He started viewing Oden as more than just an inspiration and instead of an idea and symbol of freedom, that’s why he tried to tattoo him on his arm, it’s a lot like the Whitebeard tattoo for him. )

Doesn’t like wearing bracelets or accessories on his arms cuz they remind him of the chains that used to trap him.

Likes to put jewelry on his horns though, he puts them on like those baby stacking tower rings.

Didn’t bind because Oden didn’t need to. He also did his own top surgery. His scars are still visible in his wolf form.

Some wolfish traits stay long after transformation so sometimes Yamato would just:

Is a gym bro.

Started getting more body hair the more he transformed into a wolf, he likes it since it makes him look more manly.

Swings his kanabo around like a toy and scares the living daylights out of anyone close to him.

Sometimes forget not everything is as strong as him and hands extremely heavy things to ppl like its nothing only to be surprised when they drop to the floor.

Says “Okay, no more Mr. Nice guy�� and rolls up his sleeves. 😭

Ace lives Au

Literally jumped up to the ceiling and hit his head when Ace asked him to join his crew, he didn’t even let him finish the sentence.

Now has a tattoo sleeve of scales running down his arms to cover up his old tattoo.

Wouldn’t stop crying and embracing Ace when they met each other again, Ace couldn’t understand anything he said through the tears.

Explored every inch of Wano with Ace’s formed crew before he left with them to become pirates.

Started his own logbook where he keeps note of all of his adventures.

Him and Deuce chat about their own respective books. They also both beat up anyone who makes fun of their handwriting. Half the crew are drawn with stink lines in Deuce’s book now.

Almost drowned like, 50 times cuz he kept admiring the sea. Jumped in after a Sea king cuz he forgot he can’t swim.

Likes getting scratches in and out of his wolf form.

Isuka:

okay she’s highkey unrecognizable but uhm let’s ignore that. Look at this beautiful woman.

She was teased by her colleagues about Ace and she had to threaten nailing them to the walls to shut them up.

Rumors started spreading that her and Ace were star crossed lovers and she had to explain to headquarters what happened 50 times so they won’t fire her for being in relations with a pirate.

Wrote letters to Ace but never sent them to him in fear of judgment and what would happen in the future.

Started to become less cruel after the incident in Sabaody and treated pirates with more mercy, she got shunned by the other marines about how she’s grown soft but she ignored them. No one will know the violence it took for her to become this gentle.

She used to be scared of even the smallest candles but her fear became smaller as she grew up, she still freezes up near burning houses though.

She never had the time to treat her burns when she was still in the marines so they were often itchy and irritated her in battle.

Gossips with other female marines in a sort of sleepover when its their break, they chat about anything there and almost NOTHING ever comes out.

Got stationed in Impel down as a guard for a couple months and had to physically stop herself from hurting the other guards cuz they keep torturing the prisoners for their own enjoyment.

She gave the prisoners extra food when no one was looking and would chat with them, she also apologized to some of the pirates she sent there and cried when they forgave her.

Used to be awkward with kids but now is really good with them.

She sometimes finds herself thinking like her late mentor and feels guilty about it.

Puked when she heard that Ace was sent to Impel down since she knows how cruel it is there.

Has a death grip on things, if she fell asleep holding something she would NOT let go.

Ace lives Au:

Once again, Ace botched her haircut. Stop using fire on people’s hair Ace. She hated it for a while and insisted on wearing Ace’s hat for the time being, after a few months passed and her hair grew out a little she started to like it since she’s always wanted shorter hair.

Got a burn cream from Marco and puts it on every few hours, Ace sometimes helps her apply it when she’s too tired after a fight.

Started dressing more tomboyish when she finally left the marines like how she always wanted to if it weren’t for those darn dress codes.

Braids Otama’s hair when there’s nothing else to do, she sees her as a little sister.

Immediately gave all the information she knew about the government to the revolutionary army the moment she quitted.

Met up with Benny to apologize for joining the pirates before she left and secretly kept contact through letters with secret messages and code names before they had to cut contact.

Is besties with Deuce and they both chat about medical stuff and whatnot.

Benny

bro thinks she’s part of the team 💀

Ace gave her some burn cream since he felt bad for burning her and Benny thought he was just making fun of her. (she still took it)

Was banned from using weapons since she kept wasting them on warlords and yonkos and the marine government didn’t want a war happening cuz their rookie marine shot Shanks. She had to start using broken musical instruments given free at the music shops.

She still threw pianos at warlords and yonkos.

The only reason she isn’t fired is because Garp took her under his wing, not entirely because she has potential to surpass him but because she’s funny as hell (unintentionally).

Listens to “It’s About Drive It’s About Power” in her training montage while being trained by Garp.

Ripped off Ace’s necklace with her teeth and almost choked on the beads so Ace had to perform Heimlich maneuver while her colleague was watching. It was a quiet ride back home to base.

Has thrown more Pianos on Ace than the average musician has played in their life.

has severe prosopagnosia and doesn’t recognize anyone until they introduce themselves to her again. Only recognizes the people she talks to daily but only through heir voice and mannerisms.

Thought a colleague was a spy for the enemies and confronted him in the entire cafeteria for it. He was just a closeted gay. Her friend called her homophobic for a week straight after that.

Has not gone a day after a month she enrolled in the marines where she didn’t wear the uniform. Not even on breaks.

Called Ace “Ass key” while trying to read his tattoo.

I’ll add more but I ran out of ideas. Thanks for reading guys.

[whereistheonepiece]

Oh yeah so when I showed my friend the last episode, she said that she likes Oden's hair because "out of all the ridiculous hairstyles, his looks the most practical. He can use it as a hat so he won't be get sunburn."

And then later, when he was serving Roger's crew the oden he made for them, he said "Oden wouldn't be oden if it wasn't boiled."

I said "That's foreshadowing."

She said "He knows it's foreshadowing too. Look at his face."

[onepiecepodcast]

Episode 671, "Pell, You're Alive!"

Episode 671, “Pell, You’re Alive!”

On this week’s episode of The One Piece Podcast we have hosts Ed, Steve, and Alex with special guests David Bednar (Trivia Master), Kelly (OPP EIC), and Sam Leach (Anime Recap Host). Join us, won’t you! This week we go through One Piece Chapter 1013, “Anarchy in the B.M. (Big Mom)” for a Manga Recap plus an Anime Recap of One Piece Episode 974, “Oden Wouldn’t be Oden if it Wasn’t Boiled!”” with…

[awesometurtletails]

One does not after all, stop a volcano from erupting once it starts.

@mydetheturk​ you are a horrible perfect enabler, this is all on you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's hard to get her angry. Melvina often gets annoyed and yells yes, but angry? Oh no. That's always been slow and thick and covers everything around her, scalding those who tried to keep hurting her. (She's 9 the first time, power lashing out and rolling over the fake bandits and pirates who burn her home to the ground. When she regains herself it was to the sight of her sister in her arms; dead, twin link severed and aching like a lost limb and a crowd of dead marines playing bandit.)

(Her mother had always said she got her father's temper. Her father, a man who was as steady and grounded as a mountain, would always laugh at her confusion. Would mess with her hair and quietly say that yes, he did get mad but it took a lot to set him off. That's what mama meant, sweetheart.)

After that night it takes a long time for her to get angry again. She has more control and has more important things to do then burn and boil in anger for people she doesn't trust. Let them burn themselves out against the rocky slopes she hides behind. It was, after all, going to take time to find the traitor and she would burn, slow and thick then.

Except, someone finds a weakness without even trying. Barges in to her mountainous hold like he owns the place and ends up dragging her out with the tide. There she gets attached again. There she takes a look at the motley crew and see's all the same broken damage she feels everyday. How this man, this captain, took them all the same and said MINE to the rest of the world. She's dragged into pranks, and chased around the ship by two painfully young cabin boys. (Twelve years old and she feels 30 to their seven, broken and hollow and alone.) There, with this Captain and the cabin boys and even the First Mate and Doctor she whispers it quietly. Mine.

(Rayleigh was unsure of her, a far to young girl with far to old eyes. She's quiet for so long before finally pranking the brats back that he fears she's far to broken for once. That his Captain finally found one he liked but couldn't save. Doc called her a menace and nothing but trouble the moment he saw her, catching the sight of how she carefully looks everyone over and pulling her into the apprentice position.)

That's how it started. The quiet bubbling and simmering as she gained new precious people who won't ever replace her old ones but they help her not feel alone. It grew with everyday spent with them, the depth of her anger and rage. Fierce protective anger gets poured into the hollow in her soul when she looks at those two cabin boys and quietly whispers brothers to herself. Every slight against them adds another cup.

Determined searing rage was sprinkled in the few times her Captain was insulted. It seeps into cracks in the rocks and mostly settles on the bottom. Her Captain can handle his own after all. (It seeps out in little steaming vents when she finds ways to make the Marines, who survive meeting Captain, life interesting.)

Small hurts and betrayals, slights that were never meant but get said anyway, barely even float on the surface before they burn off in the face of her real anger.

No, what adds to it are the things she hates. Things that burn and ache and leave her nearly drowning in pain.

Doc's death, who fought and fought and fought so she could run with Shanks and Buggy back to Captain. Because of fucking people who claim to be gods and wanted Shanks for his hair and Buggy for his fruit and her for her eyes.

Her Captains capture and following death. Even if he was dying and neither she nor her new mentor, Crocus, could do anything about it. (She at least gets his consent about gathering what data she can while helping him. Even if Captain dies before she can find something, Captain knows she lives by holding her pain close and shouting to the world NO ONE ELSE HURTS!)

Then the good byes to Oden, a man she had watched with wary eyes for longer than the crew did. Who only finally trusted him when he told her begged to come to Wano and show off her Ninja and chakra skills to his friend when the boarders opened. (She waits and worries even when years later she finally manages to deliver a letter to Whitebeard from Oden.)

The crew disbanded and she was left adrift with two grieving teenagers and forced to stuff her own grief deep within to keep them alive. (A possible true betrayal sits on the back of her tongue like a rotten fish but she can't stop and try to contact someone, anyone, for help because Captain's enemies are many and they are only three.)

When she was forced to make a choice and drives away the last one chasing them while the boys run to one of the few surviving members of her blood kin. When that action separated them and she does not know how or where to find them but knows the boys were safe and alive.

All of those add to her soul and fill her rage up but it still doesn't boil over. It simmers and bubbles and burns while she keeps going. New people are added to her circle, some by chance and because their just far to cute.

(Ace from Dadan, who gives him over far more reluctantly then she would ever admit to but with the words you have no connection to him, he'll be safer on her lips. Because the Marines never caught her face, because Captain wasn't a fool like everyone though and apprentice and cabin boys where jealously hidden from view.)

(Luffy from Dragon, who nearly lingers to long to see his son one last time before they had to part. Who heard whispers and rumors about who to go to if you wanted a child protected and there maybe few Sondovel's left but Melvina is just as fierce and protective as her family name implies.)

(Sabo from a garbage heap, that gives him up nearly reluctantly when two boys wander off their mother's ship. A mother who had returned to Dawn to get the truth because her eldest kept falling asleep and finds them later standing their ground against pirates with the boy.)

And some because she sees the same broken and daring soul staring back at her.

(Two former Marines who each brake the law in someway for children who are not their own. A baby mink who just wanted his brother. The minks attackers who know no other way of life but are willing to try anyway. A blacksmith who smashed the head of a marine captain who tried to touch and lay with her two apprentices. And even Melvina's own brothers, who she finds and they find her in return.)

She gains a family and crew for a third time and this time she vows to not let them burn. Not to let them die. So her rage remains dormant, bubbling and simmering as she sails and it's always there. More is added as her boys grow and she has to let them go. (She hopes she did them better then she was even done.)

It bubbles up a few times, against a Shark Fishman who thinks to take over an island that holds her youngest's friend. She doesn't hold back and nearly grinds him into the ground when she arrives. Against a Madman who was brothers to a tripping hazard, who would kill and burn such bonds just because he couldn't stand to see family be different. He lives only because the little brother he now hated asked her if she could try. Nearly against her still living mentor when she goes to him and he refuses her. She only stops because her son's are there.

Until it finally it builds and builds and burns when the news paper comes out. When her eldest is labeled the Pirate Kings son and her brother sits next to him on the executioners platform. When the Marines finally cross a line she naively thought they wouldn't, naively hoped they wouldn't.

When war starts and the prize is her son  and brother. When Whitebeard's sons try to send her away, but not the old man. The old man see's what his sons miss, knows the power of parents rage and lets her and her crew be.

Then the shot that nearly kills Buggy and Akainu's fist nearly impales Ace and it explodes. It burns and runs, hot and thick over everything. She uses every last ounce of her chakra and knowledge to fight back against the world. Her Snakes and Spiders come at her call and she burns and buries anyone trying to stop her. It doesn't stop when she feels her family now safely behind her on the sea. One does not after all, stop a volcano from erupting once it starts and she will bury every last enemy there, will burn them in her rage and anger and fear before she loses anyone else.

[come-to-the-day]

Karabita short: The Walrus and the Carpenter

So... if you followed the story, I was talking with @fattlestacks about the Karabita shipping in Osomatsu-san, and I noticed that the duo of Karamatsu and Chibita looked like a lot like the sly, seducing Walrus and the hardworking, angry Carpenter, so here you go. It’s really not much, just an idea I started digging ( I’m a big Alice fan so, it’s quite pleasing to bring my passions forward), so don’t expect much. It’s just some crazy thinking and weird crossover. 

(WARNING: NEEDS A LAST PROOF-READING. So there may be typos and grammar mistakes)

The Oysters were brushing their hair when a beautiful Walrus suddenly appeared on the beach – wearing a leather jacket, sunglasses and a wry but beautiful smile.

“Oy, cute little Oysters! You’re really cute and lovely ~” the Walrus said to them. “Would you like to take a walk with a true gentleman? A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk, along the briny beach ~”

The Oysters, seduced by this mysterious stranger, immediately followed him while shrieking and holding signs saying “We love you, Walrus-san!”. And thus they walked along the beach, along the sea, the Walrus talking to them pleasantly, seducing them by his wonderful aura, for he was coolness personified, and proposing them to disguise as sexy maids in order to clean the beach of its sand.

Finally they ended up resting at an oden stand – that had been built by the good friend of the Walrus, the Carpenter. The Carpenter offered them plenty of oden:

“We can’t! We’re so fat, oden won’t do good to our waistline!” they answered and whined, despite having no real waistline (being cute little oysters).

“Don’t worry, Walrus-oysters-girls!” the Walrus said. “Lokk at me, how I gulp down these oden without ruining my figure!”

And he went on eating oden, which made the Carpenter annoyed (for he had prepared them exclusively for the oysters), but the Walrus was a glutton and ignored the angry shouting of his partner. The cute little Oysters, following their idol’s example (and not really noticing that the Walrus figure wasn’t not thin nor slim), also started to eat the fat oden.

While eating, the Walrus spoke to them of many things, with a sweet and lovely voice, wooing the young Oysters with his dark and mysterious charm, enticing and pleasing his “oyster-girls”. And even though the things he talked about didn’t make any sense (he went from cabbages and shoes and kings to pigs with wings and boiling seas), the Oysters only heard the velvet-and-chocolate-like voice, and only saw the beautiful, delicate, white smile.

When the Oysters finished eating the Walrus, after a discreet little burp in his handkerchief, said, exclaimed:

“The night is really lovely, isn’t it so, little Walrus-oyster-girls?”

“It’s the day! You’re just wearing your sunglasses, idiot!” the Carpenter shouted.

“And you’re all so nice, little Karamatsu-oyster-girls! All nice and plump!”

“Karamatsu means Walrus in baka language.” the Carpenter informed the Oysters.

“Yes… nice, cute, little and plump nice little Karamatsu-oysters-girls!”

“Oh, thank you mister Karamatsu-walrus-san!” the Oysters blushed.

“Now that we’ve had a pleasant walk, and a pleasant talk, I think it’s time to feed!”

“What do you mean, Walrus-sama?” the Oysters asked. “You’ve eaten plenty, and you’re belly is already full and round!”

The Walrus smiled with his beautiful, sly smile, and put his dark glasses up his walrus nose.

“I only need to feed of your beauty and kindness, little Karamatsu-oyster-girls…”

 XXXX

 “Will you stop crying already, ya idjit?” the Carpenter sighed while gobbling up an oyster.

Since the starting of the meal, the Walrus kept sobbing and crying, holding his handkerchief to his eyes and nose.

“It is that my noble heart is broken, Carpenter… Broken that I participated in such a dirty trick on these cute, innocent, noble Karamatsu-oyster girls! My charm, this tool of beauty, this source of life and delight, was used to bring terror and death to the world! And that is something to cry about!”

The Carpenter rolled his eyes, used to the drama the Walrus liked to make. He thought to himself that, if the Walrus was distracted, it would only mean more oyster for him, and he started to grab all the shells he could grab before the Walrus noticed… Only to find that there weren’t any oysters left!

“What is happening?”

That’s when he noticed sounds of munching and crunching under the Walrus sobs and cries. He looked at his partner and realized, horrified, that if the Walrus was holding his handkerchief to his face, it was to hide him stealing and eating all the oysters at a dreadful speed!

“You cheater! You took all the oyster from me! There was a ton of them, and I barely had any! Stealing all the ramen that was supposed to fatten up the little ladies wasn’t enough for you, heh? You idiotic glutton! You’re already fat, you want to make yourself even bigger?”

But the Walrus answered nothing. He merely wiped his mouth with his handkerchief, and patted his gorged and fleshy belly.

“Oh, lovely Karamatsu-oyster-girls… Shall we be trotting home again?”

But the Walrus received no answer, and from his stomach only came out a loud burp that resonated along the lovely, briny beach.

[tact-and-impulse]

Fuyugomori Part 2

And I’m back with Thursday update! It’s snowing a little bit where I am, so isn’t that lucky? :D I do diverge from most fic writers at one point, so if you’d like to hear my rationale, head over to this fic on FF.net or AO3 for the end note.

Part 2: Tsurara

“Oh. It’s snowing.” Kaoru remarked.

Kenshin finished lighting the brazier and looked up. The back door was slightly open, as she stared out into the yard. She seemed contemplative, startling when he approached.

“So it is.” He said. It was a calm moment, as they watched the snowflakes sift down, but he wondered if she was feeling cold.

Suddenly, she straightened and turned to him with a smile. “I was thinking that we should have soup tonight. What do you say?”

“That would be good.”

“Then, I’ll go to the market to buy eggs.” She walked around him, heading for the front.

He followed. “This one will come along.”

She stopped, her eyes wide as she glanced at him. “A-are you sure?”

“Is there a reason why not?”

She hesitated, before shaking her head. With that, they set off. The snow was sticking to the ground, dusting the path with white. A few snowflakes caught in Kaoru’s hair, melting away within seconds. Neither of them said anything, as they exhaled into the scarves wound around their necks. His nose gradually became damp against the cloth. He was about to ask if she was warm enough, when she spoke.

“Kenshin, um,” She took a deep breath. “If you have to talk, I’m always here to listen.”

He blinked. “…thank you, Kaoru-dono. But that goes for you as well. Is there something bothering you?”

“I should be the one saying that! No, wait.” She gave an exasperated sigh, before directly meeting his gaze. “I know you might be remembering Tomoe-san, and what snow probably means to you.”

“Oro?”

“But if you’re feeling down, I don’t want you to be quiet about it. I’ll do the best I can to help you, I can even give you space, if you need-”

“That won’t be necessary.” He interrupted. Space from her was the last thing he wanted. “Kaoru-dono, this one is very grateful for your kindness. However, it’s been more than ten years. This one cannot blame the snow for his memories, and because of what Enishi did, you know that this one has learned to accept her death. This one will not forget her, but this one is ready to move forward. Also, if there is anything that you have taught this one, it is that there are only two things that matter: the present and the future. So, do not worry. This one is alright.”

She bit her bottom lip. “Then, did I just hurt you, by bringing it up?”

“No, you didn’t. As this one said, it’s been long enough.” He told her.

After that, her mood lightened and she talked about how Yahiko would probably visit for free meals over the next few weeks. She helped in preparing dinner; her cutting skills were good if she concentrated. He still handled the seasoning, though. The eggs from the market trip were boiled and mixed into that night’s oden. With the broth and the heat of the brazier, he didn’t feel cold at all.

The next morning, there were glittering icicles on the rooftop. A fine powder of snow had coated everything, and the air was crisp. He used a shovel, to clear the walkway. As he pushed the snow away, he was in deep thought. There weren’t many recreational opportunities in winter, but perhaps, he could invite Kaoru out to a theater play. That was more in line with a courtship, although he wasn’t sure if she’d appreciate it. He didn’t want her to worry about finances, but he had to do more than give flowers…

Something hard and cold disintegrated against his head. He blurted. “Oro?”

From the front step, Kaoru happily called out. “There’s just enough for a snowball!” She knelt down, gathering more snow in her hands. She was quick, because she threw it a second later; he dodged it with a grin. He hadn’t felt this thrill in a while, and well, it wouldn’t hurt to play. He formed a snowball in his hands and ran up to her. She yelped and ducked before the snowball collided into the wall, but she stumbled. He caught her, so she bent over him instead of falling. The action literally brought him to his knees, and that made her laugh.

“Thanks, Kenshin!”

He couldn’t reply. Her face was red from the cold and breathlessness, and her smile was of pure joy. He wanted to kiss her. The realization struck him at full force, and he was momentarily stunned. Then, a bit of cold snow slipped down the back of his neck and he winced as he reached to remove it.

“That’s another one for me! And you still haven’t gotten me yet!” She declared, breaking away to make more snowballs. He followed suit, foregoing shoveling for the impromptu fight she had started.

In the end, he completely forgot about inviting her to the theater.

***

It started with a dry throat, as it usually did. He noticed, when Kaoru drank more tea than usual. He went along with her excuses, but he checked their supply of medicine. The following day, her eyes were glazed over, and he gently touched his hand to her forehead. Her skin was burning, and he frowned.

“It must have been from the snowball fight the other day.”

“Geez, I can’t believe it.” She sighed. “But we did have fun.”

“Yes, that’s true. Here, Kaoru-dono.” He unfolded a spare blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders. “If you keep warm, you’ll recover faster.”

Then, she began to cough. He told himself not to worry, but he couldn’t help it. The cough had sounded minor at first, but now, it was three days into her sickness, and the fits had worsened. His stomach tightened, at the sight of her doubled over and gasping for air. He rubbed her shoulder for comfort before stoking the fire in the bathhouse, so she could sit in the steam. Dinner was rice porridge, along with her medicine, and she grimaced as she swallowed the bitter doses. He rolled out her futon, adding fresh blankets to surround her. She had to sweat out her fever, and it would be a cold night. Nevertheless, she stared in dismay at his work.

“Stop treating me like a baby.” She grumbled. “I’m only sick, that’s all.”

“Still, this one is here to help.” He fixed on a smile, ready to let her rest, when she pulled at his sleeve.

“But, um¸ can you stay here with me? Just for a while.” She asked, and he couldn’t deny her.

“As long as you need.” He said and sat against the wall, helplessly listening as she convulsed with another cough. Over the years, he had come across many ill people, but this was Kaoru. He certainly knew how much her well-being meant to him; he didn’t have pleasant memories of disease either. His thoughts automatically went to a distant time, of shivering bodies and sour air. If he closed his eyes, he could almost hear the insistent, pleading voices.

Shinta, you have to go. You can’t get sick too.

“Kenshin? Kenshin, what’s wrong?”

He jolted. “No, this one is fine.”

“Don’t say that, your eyebrows are like this again.” She pushed her own together, giving him a pointed look. “Is it because I’m coughing too much?”

“Something like that wouldn’t bother this one.” He paused. “It’s only that this one’s remembering, when this one’s family died of cholera.”

Her gaze softened. “That’s right, you said they did, when you told me about Akane-san, Kasumi-san, and Sakura-san.” She propped herself up, gathering a blanket around herself. “What was your family like?”

“Well, this one lived on a farm with his parents and older brothers.”

“No, I meant what were they like? Their names, their personalities, how all of you lived. Things like that.” Her voice was gentle, and she looked so earnest.

He was surprised, but it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling. It was only that no one had ever asked beyond the brief description he gave, and he realized that he wanted to tell. He paused, wondering where to start, but Kaoru seemed to have mistaken his silence for reluctance.

She waved her hands in sheepish dismissal. “Ah, only if you want to share! You don’t have to…”

“No, this one wants to, but it’s been a very long time.” He scratched his head. “This one had three older brothers. Ryouta was the oldest, then Jinta, and Yuuta. This one doesn’t remember that much…Ryouta was smart, he often talked about farming techniques. Jinta always picked fights with the other children, but that was because he was short, like this one. Yuuta was always telling jokes, he was very quick at that. They were much older, so they worked the fields with our father, while this one stayed at home to help our mother.”

“Ryouta, Jinta, Yuuta. And the youngest was named Kenshin?” She mused. “Well, one doesn’t fit the pattern.”

He smiled. “This one was not Kenshin then; that name was given by Shishou. This one was born as Shinta.” The name didn’t feel like his, no one else had heard it since that day Hiko found him.

“Shinta.” She softly repeated. As if the name had freed it, another memory dislodged: hands cupping his face, red hair in a bun, a doting voice addressing him. But it was Kaoru’s that returned him to reality. “You must have been a cute child.”

“Oro? Well, this one couldn’t say.” He felt warm with embarrassment.

“I think so, considering how...” She trailed off, but the last few words sounded like ‘how you look now’. He blinked, wondering if that was what he heard, but she changed the subject. “And your parents?”

“This one’s father was…calm. One year, the crops died, but he only said that the planting would go well in spring. He never raised his hand in anger, he never argued with anyone. And he loved this one’s mother with all he had. This one once caught them sitting together on the front step, watching the moon.” He had a faint image of them. His father had an arm wrapped around the smaller figure beside him. His father’s pale brown hair looked muted, in comparison to the crimson locks on his shoulder.

“That’s sweet.” Kaoru murmured. “And which one did you take after? I bet it was your mother.”

Kenshin smiled. “You’re right. This one didn’t know where she came from, only that she wasn’t from the village. But she taught this one a little about herbs, and she sang all the time. She was cheerful and could never refuse someone when they needed help, including the sick. When cholera came to the village, she was the first one to go out and care for everyone else.”

Kaoru looked downwards. “But still, she must have been very kind.”

“She was, and no one blamed her. After she became sick, this one’s father followed. Yuuta was next, then Jinta and Ryouta. This one tried to help, but they told him to abandon them.”

This was difficult to explain, and he slowed down. They had locked him out one day, while he searched for herbs. His brothers’ voices blended together, telling him to leave. His father was rational to the end, insisting that at least, the youngest had to survive and get help. His mother, however, had called out that he was loved and that was why he couldn’t stay with them any longer.

Kaoru’s face was distraught, and she began to cough again. He adjusted the blanket around her, quickly moving on.

“By then, it was clear that not much could be done. This one was sent to another village for medicine, but they quarantined this one. By the time it ended, everyone…was already gone. Then, this one was sold to the slavers, and the rest you know, Kaoru-dono.”

“Kenshin,” She said, when she had enough air. “That was terrible. It’s no wonder, you’re always fussing over me now.”

“This one apologizes, for upsetting you.”

That irked her, because she scowled. “Well, don’t apologize. I wanted to hear it, the good and the bad, because that’s what we should talk about. And I’m really glad you told me, so there.” She crossed her arms, and he smiled.

“They would have liked you.”

“A-are you sure?” Despite her uncertainty, she seemed pleased.

He nodded. “Yes, this one is sure. But it’s late, and you should rest, Kaoru-dono.”

Obediently, she fell onto her pillow, but she lifted her arm to motion him closer. “You can bring your futon here.”

“Oro?”

She nervously wet her lips. “Remember after we came home, you had nightmares? And I stayed with you one night, so you’d sleep? You owe me, so…just stay here too, Kenshin.” She patted the space next to her, and he didn’t have the will to resist. A few minutes later, he was settled on his own futon beside her.

“Only until you sleep. Then, this one will go.” He said it almost to himself, but her hand clasped over his.

“I don’t want you to be alone, not after all you told me. I want to be here for you, and besides, I’d feel better if you were here for me too.” She sounded flustered, although she gripped his hand tighter. Her skin was still warm with fever, but he squeezed back. And without meaning to, he fell asleep.

The sky was brightening, when he woke to the fragrance of Kaoru’s hair. He blinked to see that her head was almost touching his arm. She had unconsciously rolled closer to him, at the edge of her bedding. However, she looked so content, and his heart tightened. He had no desire to be anywhere else, and he allowed himself to close his eyes again.