Chapter 50: I only hope to tie the knot with you (He Bai, 2, Congratulations...
It was as if Tsurumaru's brain was hit by millions of meteorites, struggling to survive between destruction and reconstruction.
He struggled to trace the countless colorful lines of memory, analyzing his emotions clearly yet hazily.
Thousands of years have passed, and there are too many people and events worth remembering. The knife maker, the old owner, the transfer, the offering...
The warmth of human palms, the wet marks left by wiping a blade, the battlefield of sword shadows and knife lights, the dead and empty graveyard...
No matter how clear the memory is, it will fade away with time, and the passionate, sad and boring past will seem like a lifetime ago.
Ever since he was summoned by the Shinsengumi as a fusogami, in his second "life", all his emotions and love have been focused on one person.
——At first, it was curiosity that had nothing to do with romance.
The elegant and friendly yet mysterious human lord seems to be born without temper, does not know how to refuse, does not know how to punish, and stubbornly adheres to the unique etiquette of the old times.
Tsurumaru just wants to have fun in harmless frights like thousands of his peers, follow the true intentions of the Tsukumogami, and get closer and closer to the Shinsengumi.
——Then there is tacit approval for further encroachment.
A sudden shock from behind, a thoughtful gift, physical contact obtained through wounds, a secret meeting at night that no one knew about...
If the Shinsengumi refuses at any stage, he will call it a day, abide by his lord's bottom line, and never cross the line again.
But the human Shinsengumi responded ignorantly, like harmless herbivores, indulging the beast in the Tsukishōjin's heart, fearlessly opening their own territory to welcome the invasion of predators.
During the peaceful and calm days in Honmaru for nearly a month, Tsurumaru often accompanied the lord during the day. He was a more caring and good attendant than Hasebe, who knew how to make his presence felt.
At night, Tsurumaru, who offered to keep watch, lay on a small couch in the outer room of the castle tower, and recalled with his eyes open. What he recalled was not the lonely past that could drive a person crazy, but the present moment with colleagues and a lord, and no great frights that challenged his heartbeat, but a stable present that could create excitement at any time.
Listening attentively to the orderly breathing of the Shinsengumi, I kept thinking of the photo stored under the bedside table in the room, which the Shinsengumi promised never to show to others. On the dark streets with thousands of houses, under the dim street lights, the gentleman in white shyly waved his hands and turned his head to avoid the camera. I kept looking at the picture and it was imprinted in my mind.
Is every night when he falls asleep with the sound of breathing the soil for his lingering thoughts? The night indulges his wanton and frivolous dreams, and quietly retracts these thoughts when the day comes.
It's just that period of life was too dull, and Tsurumaru, who was satisfied with everything in Honmaru, didn't think much about it at the time.
It was not until the panda accidentally enlightened him that he finally understood everything.
——Is it like it? This feeling.
I don’t want to stand behind him forever. I want to stand shoulder to shoulder with him and walk forward holding his hand.
I want to fulfill all his wishes and be the one who stands out among his colleagues.
When I saw his thin back, I wanted to move closer and hug him from behind.
When I saw his noble profile, I wanted to reach out and touch it with my fingers.
She would be jealous of Hasebe and Mikazuki who were close to him, and would be curious about his unknown past that was buried in the years.
He always remembered his panicked expression when they were doing bad things together under the moonlight. He felt even more anxious when he was surrounded by many mourning gods and prevented from going out.
I remember the slender white fingers with spiritual power brushing across the painful wounds, bringing the itchy feeling of flesh and blood regenerating.
There is also the weight on my back, the head resting on the back of my neck, the breath spraying on my cheeks, and the heat entwined in my chest.
——Yes, I like it.
Because life is too dull, there are no ups and downs, only the long-lasting relationship. The feeling of liking is covered by many similar emotions and thrown into a corner by the lazy brain.
It's not just the respect and love of a subject for his lord, nor is it just the natural closeness of a Fusangshen to a Shinsengumi. This feeling carries the exclusivity of a life-and-death struggle like a sword, killing and plundering. He can't stand others - even Xiaoguang, being so intimate with a Shinsengumi like him!
Tsurumaru realized that what he liked was the elegant things sung in waka poems, psychedelic and romantic, graceful and intoxicating.
Upon closer inspection, dew and frost condensed on the cold iron. The distance of time and life span stood between their feelings, which made Tsurumaru Kuninaga dare not think about it too much.
There was only one thing he was sure of.
At this moment, today, put aside all worries.
The moment he realized his mood.
He wanted to...
*
Because Kyuubajin fell asleep in Fushiguro Megumi's arms, this spontaneous gathering soon ended.
Shirasu brings Tsurumaru back to Geto's base. The Suzuki Group's sword exhibition requires an invitation letter, and neither he nor Tsurumaru has a way to get one, so they ask for help from a reliable human partner.
Because the trip to the technical high school did not yield any breakthrough results, Tsurumaru agreed to let Geto Suguru use his original body to construct a "formation" to find Hasebe's whereabouts.
As long as they find the location of the last knife, their journey in this world will be basically settled, and the next step is to collect them one by one.
"Strange? This knife seems unusable now?" Xia Yujie said worriedly.
"How?"
"Everything has a spirit. The spell I drew uses the spirit and bond, as well as the emotions that grow in things to attract the power of the spell, so as to know the location of objects related to it. But the 'spirit' of this vibration sword seems to be missing now."
The black-haired man tried his best to use simple language to explain the key points to the two non-sorcerers.
Shirasuga and Tsurumaru looked at each other.
What Getsu meant was that for his mark to work, both the main body and the Tsukumogami were indispensable.
Having kept it a secret for so long, they certainly wouldn't give up.
Tsurumaru lied, saying that he had just changed the guard of his sword, which might have broken the spirit that had already been born. He would change the guard back tomorrow, and then they would start again.
Summer oil is naturally acceptable.
He took a closer look at the fluctuations on Tsurumaru's body.
Before, it was just a shallow layer of magic power, and compared to real humans, negative emotions can be said to be pitifully few. Now, I don't know what happened, judging from the strange surges of his magic power, it seems that he is in a very carefree mood?
It's like an ordinary person who doesn't know how to control himself and recalls the joys and sorrows of the past when he is drunk, or like the hesitation when facing a difficult decision or a major event in life.
She used to be able to easily detect his gaze, but now she is so dull that she can't even pay attention to his blatant gaze.
As Shirasu Gawa was walking towards the exit, he accidentally stepped into the sand pit that had been dug earlier, tripped on his toes, and was nervously supported by Tsurumaru.
Although Mr. He has always been paying attention to his "friends", he still noticed the tiny clues.
Ah, it's love.
Geto Summer Oil sighed.
Dead things give birth to living beings, and the spirits choose their masters.
The difference between master and servant is a class gap between humans, but it is the only bond in life between spiritual creatures.
He controls the life and death of his subjects, but never treats them harshly. This is the easiest thing to move the hearts of the helpless and weathered souls.
However, even with a century of memories as a foundation, can the inexperienced Tsukumogami really restrain the sudden and surging love?
Can they really distinguish between the "desire to be close to humans" and "love from the heart"?
When the desire to "go one step further" overwhelms respect and admiration, can merciless weapons really remain as they were in the past?
Xia Youjie watched the two people leave with a smile in his eyes.
*
The streets are bustling with people, red lanterns are hung in front of the shops, and a variety of snacks and recreational activities are dazzling.
Tsurumaru Kuninaga pulled Shirasugawa aside, and persuaded the Shinsengumi to put aside his business for a while and enjoy some fun in the human world with him, with the reason that "it's a rare opportunity to come out, and we happen to encounter the summer festival, so of course we can't miss it."
Tsurumaru pondered, always feeling that the Shinsengumi were more like non-human beings with no desires or ambitions than he was.
When he returns to his main body tomorrow, he will ask Geta to find Hasebe, and the difficult road of losing the target will be over. It's a good time to relax and celebrate now, so that the lord who always stays at home can feel the excitement!
He also has selfish motives.
When Mikazuki, Ran and the others gradually return to their lord, their opportunities to "compete for favor" will become fewer and fewer. When Hasebe returns to Honmaru, he will definitely take over as a close attendant, and there will not be much time for him to spend with his lord day and night.
Tsurumaru realized that his heart was not as hard as steel. After realizing his feelings, he longed for a response from his lord.
If we calculate carefully, the most likely time for progress is these few days! We will be together day and night, and we will go together and return together.
Once he returns to Honmaru, if he continues to pester the Shinsengumi all day, regardless of whether Hasebe will give him this opportunity or not, he might be summoned to a duel by his colleagues who have a filter against the Shinsengumi for "disturbing the lord's peace"!
In the past, Shirasu River was accustomed to the scene of the city being crowded with tourists.
Unmarried girls covered their faces with handkerchiefs, smiling shyly. Young men in brocade were elegant with folding fans, showing their romantic style. The knights who could climb walls and fly over rooftops also lifted their bamboo hats and ate a bowl of wontons from the street corner.
The sounds of hawkers shouting were endless as he walked on the bluestone road, chatting with his friends. His young eyes fully appreciated the scene of prosperity and peace.
Now in a foreign country, foreign culture engulfs his thoughts and washes away his memory.
Standing in the bustling crowd, Bai Suchuan was horrified to find that he could not remember the lights on the streets of his hometown, the fragrance of the ladies brushing shoulders with each other, the smell of street wontons with the smell of fireworks, and the arrogant and drunken faces of friends who had drunk with him...
I can't feel at ease, this is a foreign land...
"Hey! What are you thinking about? Come and try this!" Tsurumaru suddenly attacked Shirasuka's shoulder, bringing the dazed young man back to his senses.
He handed over a string of candied haws, the crystal sugar coating gleaming in the warm light of the lantern.
Bai Suchuan mechanically held up the candied haws with three hawthorns, as if he had no idea that this thing had suddenly appeared in his hands.
"Hurry up and eat. I heard that the candied haws from this shop are very famous. In the past, they only gave them away as gifts to big customers who spent a lot of money. Now, they set up a stall to make some money during the summer festival."
Tsurumaru held three strawberries in his hand, one of which had already been bitten off by the white-haired Tsukumogami. The Tsukumogami, who had a sweet tooth, had puffed up his cheeks, and was crunching the sugar coating, not forgetting to urge him to try it quickly.
Bai Qichuan looked at the hawthorn in his hand with embarrassment, he didn't like sour things.
For food like hawthorn, even if it is coated with thick sugar, it cannot neutralize the sour taste when held in the mouth, right?
"...No, I still don't want to eat it. Do you like it?" Bai Qichuan reached out to hand the candied haws back.
The chewing stopped, Tsurumaru puffed out his cheeks that weren't completely deflated, and said unclearly: "Don't you like hawthorn? Try this! The store didn't lie, it tastes really good."
Bai Suchuan hesitantly picked up the last strawberry and took a small bite tentatively.
——! ! Too hard to chew!
Bite hard! ... Your teeth are sticking!
Tsurumaru held up the intact candied hawthorn fruit and laughed out loud at Shirasagi's stiff movements.
“Hahahaha! It’s most comfortable to eat candied haws one bite at a time! Small bites are too reserved and will make you embarrassed. Hahaha!”
Bai Suchuan glared at him angrily, then imitated Tsurumaru's actions and swallowed the whole strawberry in one gulp.
Crunch——
When you bite through the shell, the soft strawberry inside bursts with juice, which is really sweet.
Is it as sweet as imagined?
Under the sweet coating, even the sweetest fruit will inevitably look a little sour in comparison...
Overall it was delicious. He seldom tried this kind of food, so it was nice to try something special occasionally.
Shirasuga wanted to answer Tsurumaru: It is indeed delicious.
But at the brightly lit festival, the golden-eyed Tsukumogami was holding up another new and strange thing and smiling at him with his eyes curved.
Tsurumaru always shows him things he likes, Shirasu thought.
Like a cheerful child who shares a new toy with his friends, or like...
Haha, just like that stupid friend who once offered flowers and delicacies to make a beautiful woman smile - when it comes to love, he no longer has the shrewd calculations of a gentleman from the past, and becomes a fool who is deeply in love.
Really, what's the point of giving a sweetheart a roast chicken? Shouldn't it be jade, precious stones, poems, or songs? At the very least, it should be silk, satin, pearls, hairpins, and beautiful ornaments, right?
"My Lord, guess what's in my hand?"
Shirasu Gawa was just asked to wait nearby for a while.
It seemed that Tsurumaru had discovered something interesting and insisted on buying it. He also didn't let him come with him, saying that he wanted to give him a surprise.
I don’t know if it’s really a surprise or a new shock?
"What is it?" Bai Suchuan asked with a smile, breaking away from his memories.
He was a little emotional just now. This time there were others accompanying him, so he couldn't ignore Tsurumaru again.
"Guess!"
Tsurumaru put his hands behind his back and insisted that the young man guess what he was holding.
With such a big body, playing such childish games makes him look more like a child.
Bai Suchuan had no choice but to cooperate and guessed randomly: "Takoyaki? Candy apples?"
"No! But is the lord interested in this?"
"No, that's not it!" He continued to guess: "If it's not food, then, sunglasses? Mask? Prank toys?"
"Neither! What kind of image of Crane do you have in your mind?" Tsurumaru complained.
Don’t you have an idea of what image you are looking for?
Bai Qichuan really couldn't guess, "Jiang Lang has run out of ideas, please tell me directly."
Before they knew it, they had reached the river.
There are fewer vendors here, fewer people, and the lights are a little dim.
Suddenly escaping from the noisy environment, he heard the chirping of summer cicadas among the trees. Even though there was a festival with people coming and going just a few dozen meters away, Bai Suchuan felt that this place was too quiet.
Tsurumaru finally stopped and faced him with his hands behind his back.
Bai Suchuan thought absentmindedly, have we finally had enough fun and are we going to reveal the answer?
“Swoosh—bang!”
Fireworks rose from the other side of the river, one by one, shining brightly in the sky. The carefully designed patterns are the result of the development of modern entertainment, which is incomparable to the firecrackers and fireworks of ancient times.
Bai Suchuan's attention was momentarily attracted by the brilliant colors of the sky, and he looked up at the crystals exploding above his head.
"Ah... I miscalculated the time." Tsurumaru hung his head in annoyance, and was so frustrated that he couldn't muster the energy to look up at the beautiful fireworks.
Bai Suchuan was brought back to his senses by the frustrated mumbling of the people around him, and said with concern: "What time did you miscalculate? It doesn't matter, there is still time for everything."
Before he finished speaking, Bai Suchuan, who was holding Tsurumaru's shoulder, suddenly looked into a pair of bright golden eyes that were very close to him.
Those clear, dazzling golden eyes that had attracted his attention the moment they were summoned, reflected the river, the fireworks, and another pair of focused eyes.
Bai Suchuan was unknowingly bewitched by the inhuman eyes and heavenly figure, and forgot that he should look away as soon as possible according to etiquette.
It was Tsurumaru who spoke first, and then he suddenly realized what was happening and took a step back.
Tsurumaru has regained his energetic appearance, "The last guessing opportunity has been used up! Now it's time to reveal the suspense!"
Bai Suchuan clapped in agreement, "Excuse me, what is it?"
The two hands stretched out in front of him were spread out. After just one glance, Bai Qichuan turned his head away tremblingly, but the other party held his hands directly in front of him, leaving him no chance to dodge.
A tortoise shell hairpin with double pearls, a jade bone comb, and a jade ring with tassels.
People nowadays are impetuous in love and there are few tokens of love except diamond rings.
These three things are completely consistent with Bai Qichuan's cultural connotations. Taking any one of them alone, he can convince himself that this is just a misunderstanding!
In ancient times, Japan had other things to represent bond, and Tsurumaru's move was indeed full of meaning.
The hairpin is precious, and I want to get married. The comb is given to me to promise a lifetime together, and to grow old together. The jade pendant is tied with a silk tassel, and my heart is clear...
Fireworks exploded overhead, and the two people on the river bank were reflected in the water. Tsurumaru's face was frozen into a gentle smile in the flow of light and shadow.
Her narrowed eyes stared straight at Bai Suchuan, who had an evasive look, and her white hair fluttering in the wind was soft and elegant.
"My Lord, this is my second gift to you."
…
Bai Qichuan turned his head towards the water in panic. In the shimmering water, above the shadows of the trees, the sky was full of brilliance, dazzling like glass. Under the shadows of the trees, the two of them were facing each other closely, with dense shadows.
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