[whenever Baren chooses to visit the shrine as January progresses, it's being piece by piece fixed. the trash and debris cleared away, where the wood had been damaged is smoothed down, things being repaired and dusted and cared for in the way it needs to be.
there's never a note, or anything at all indicating who's doing it.]
He has the shrine memorized and - maybe it might've been someone else. It could've been a complete stranger who's really intense about shrines.
Or.
Or it could've been Chuuya, Zoro, Sanji, Kashuu - if they weren't the types to immediately shirk cleaning if they can do it, if Baren didn't ask then they would never lift a finger to clean something that belonged to him.
Or it could've been Yamato, as dedicated as a sword that he might be and allowing that to extend to a space that Baren owns as well - if Yamato knew more about how to care for shrines.
Or it could be Nikkari.
(Isn't it always Nikkari?)
Baren waits at the shrine one night, sitting with a bottle of sake next to him and tanuki in his lap. Even when Nikkari comes by, he says nothing aside from gesturing to the open space next to him.]
[sure enough, it's Nikkari that comes through the forest, carrying a lantern and wearing a backpack, trekking carefully and stopping once he realized that someone else was there. raising it, he saw that it was Baren - and his mouth curves into a sheepish smile.
in the dark, Baren will note he pinned his bangs back, wanting to see where he was going.
quietly, he sits down next to Baren and Tanuki, setting the lantern next to him and shrugging off the backpack. he doesn't say anything - he doesn't need to. he did it because Baren would never ask him to. because it needed it, and couldn't be abandoned.]
[there's absolutely not need to - but as soon as Nikkari sits down and is within arm's reach, Baren reaches out to fingers to put them underneath Nikkari's chin so that Baren can get a look at his face.
His eyes specifically.
The easy-going grin - ]
This look suits you.
[ - and then he retracts his hand and sets to pouring the sake in two cups.]
Because you're the only one who deserves to see it.
[because you're the only one who won't call it weird. he takes the sake, and waits for Baren to have his own in hand before he'll take a sip. it's good, the alcohol warming him.]
Besides, it hasn't even been green again for a while, it'll stop being special if I show everyone on the street.
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general january.
there's never a note, or anything at all indicating who's doing it.]
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He has the shrine memorized and - maybe it might've been someone else. It could've been a complete stranger who's really intense about shrines.
Or.
Or it could've been Chuuya, Zoro, Sanji, Kashuu - if they weren't the types to immediately shirk cleaning if they can do it, if Baren didn't ask then they would never lift a finger to clean something that belonged to him.
Or it could've been Yamato, as dedicated as a sword that he might be and allowing that to extend to a space that Baren owns as well - if Yamato knew more about how to care for shrines.
Or it could be Nikkari.
(Isn't it always Nikkari?)
Baren waits at the shrine one night, sitting with a bottle of sake next to him and tanuki in his lap. Even when Nikkari comes by, he says nothing aside from gesturing to the open space next to him.]
no subject
in the dark, Baren will note he pinned his bangs back, wanting to see where he was going.
quietly, he sits down next to Baren and Tanuki, setting the lantern next to him and shrugging off the backpack. he doesn't say anything - he doesn't need to. he did it because Baren would never ask him to. because it needed it, and couldn't be abandoned.]
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His eyes specifically.
The easy-going grin - ]
This look suits you.
[ - and then he retracts his hand and sets to pouring the sake in two cups.]
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[but he'll wait, and have a drink with him. nothing that he's brought is immediate - the place already looks a world better from when he started.]
What, no cup for your friend?
[aren't tanukis supposed to be ok with alcohol?]
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[That's not true, of course, but it sounds like it could be. Plus the mental image is funny. Baren pours them both sake and hands one out to Nika.]
You ever think I'm the only one that thinks that because I'm the only one you show?
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[because you're the only one who won't call it weird. he takes the sake, and waits for Baren to have his own in hand before he'll take a sip. it's good, the alcohol warming him.]
Besides, it hasn't even been green again for a while, it'll stop being special if I show everyone on the street.
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[ - and maybe it is because Baren's one of the few who gets to see it, who knows he's trusted with it.
... but it wouldn't be bad, you know? If Nikkari trusted some more people like that. If he was told by more people that he's beautiful.]
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...what if they stare, though?
[it sounds childish, but he's serious.]
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[ - in the way that Baren stares, letting his gaze linger just a little too long at times. But he waves a hand.]
It's probably just because you're gorgeous.
[Like from an objective standpoint.]
People tend to become preoccupied with the things that they find striking.