coastal | psl || how did this slowburn happen

[ haha thank god ]

Good. But I’ll help with anything else you need me for.

[ what is he without some kind of mission ]

Well... Things are fairly calm around the kingdom for now, but the Generals have been called to arms with greater frequency lately. If it ever comes down to something happening with the Water Tribe that forces my father to make a move, we'll probably have to go, too. [even if they'll try harder than ever to cage lili up during those times]

Or if there's something that he should be doing that he doesn't, then I'll want to take over again.

As is, there's always the lurking trouble of nadai - but trying to catch it early before it plagues towns again like this is good enough. Aside from that, I want to make sure that Yona and her friends are kept safe....

[she's just thinking out loud, about all the things that she wants to do, and everything that she intends to prepare for. kara might always want to live for some kind of mission but well - lili's not exactly the type of person to sit still.]

If you really will stick with me... then I'm sure we'll be busy.

But I do already feel better, knowing that you'll be around.

[ lili always seems to have so much on her mind… but that’s the life of a noble, he supposes. swords and soldiers like him have never had to think about such things. ]

You know I don’t mind being busy.

[ honestly? having the freedom to choose what he wants to do is so foreign to kara that he hardly knows what to do with it, aside from offering his help wherever he’s needed. but he knows that he wants lili to be happy, and that means helping her tribe and her country, so he’ll gladly lend her his sword. ]

Is it nadai you’ll be looking for tomorrow?

Yes. It's a drug so potent that it can be a poison after multiple uses - it's the one that I summoned during trials to prove my power.

[because if you tell lili to name a poison she'll always say nadai first??? it's fine. but she sighs before explaining more about the situation]

It's highly addictive, and can ruin someone's body after just one dose, but they'll crave more. Letting it spread to people injuries their bodies and minds, and can completely eat away at a village from the inside. It can't be allowed to take ahold of any more innocent lives.

[it's one of those rare moments where she actually sounds like proper nobility, full of idealism and intent, and her hand tenses involuntarily in his hold.

and then she seems to realize how serious she got]

... well - that's tomorrow.

[ there have been times where he wondered why he liked this girl, because she's so much, but it's moments like this that always remind him. lili always has the best interests of her people at heart, and she always tries so hard for their sake. after serving a master like masamune, he can't help but admire that in her, as well. she may not be one to dive into a fight as quickly as he did, but it's just as well. she uses what she has, and that's enough for ookurikara. ]

...We'll stop it before it spreads any further through that village.

[ but first, he'll lean down to press a light kiss to her forehead ]

If you want to leave tonight, we can.

[ kara understands the anxiety that comes before heading out on a mission you care deeply about ]

[oh....

her expression softens at the kiss, even if it makes her face heat up a little bit. she's not sure if she's ever really going to get used to receiving affection from him, but it's not like she hates that either. she looks away]

... it's alright. I need a little bit more time to secure horses for us.

[so they can rest for the night, and then their journey won't be so difficult.]

There's a few Water Tribe soldiers doing joint drills here, so I'm sure that I can borrow some.

[steal. she means steal. but they're technically her tribe's horses so they might as well be hers?

she wants to leave as soon as possible, but... well, there won't be a large difference in postponing their departure for just a few hours, she thinks. and maybe selfishly she wants to spend just a little bit of time with him, before they immediately move on to the next thing.]

Then we'll do that first thing in the morning.

[ he wouldn't mind jumping straight into the mission at all, but at the same time... kara does think it would be nice to just. spend some time with lili before they go. he came for her, after all.

and maybe he also thinks it's kind of cute how she blushes after a kiss. who can say? kara sure won't. ]

...Are you staying here tonight, or will you be going back?

Are you asking me to spend the night with you? How forward, Ookurikara.

[maybe if she jokes about it then she doesn't have to think he's being serious]

I'm not going to let you sleep on the floor on your first night here?

[and there's only one bed? CLEARLY he's not being serious about this

(or maybe it's more like she'll implode if he actually is)]

[ he just. shrugs. ]

It's your choice.

[ he is definitely serious about the offer! it just doesn't mean the same to him as it does for lili hahaha ]

But if you're going back, you probably shouldn't go alone.

[ . . . . . . .

her face goes from lightly blushing to bright red]

Wait—

You can't be—

[she's just going to cover her face before he can comment this time - not that it helps, when she's blushing up to her ears]

You....!!

[ ??? ]

...What?

[ after all those years of fighting the history revisionists, he is still a dumb sword ]

[they

really need kaoru for this]

You can't just - say things like that...!! Don't invite girls of a marriageable age to stay the night with you! If you ever say that to anyone else, I won't forgive you!

[lili doesn't know a monogamy but she does know a jealousy]

[ yeah no he's still confused ]

I wouldn't say it to anyone but you.

[ dategumi aside, of course. but why would he?? ]

I don't even know if you should be saying it to me....

[because he doesn't know what he's!! implying!!! her face is still red, it's bad]

That's really embarrassing...

[ SHE IS NOT MAKING THIS ANY BETTER ]

...I don't see why.

I don't know if we're ready to have this conversation.

[no she's just

too embarrassed to have it]

Okay...?

I'll tell you eventually...

[ . . . maybe.]

... logistically speaking, it might make more sense for me to stay here though...

[instead of the two of them having to meet up again in the morning]

I can see about getting another room.

[(narrator voice) the other rooms are all booked]

[ ...right. he still doesn't understand why it's a big deal, but okay ]

That's why I suggested it. But if you want to go back, I can take you.

[ he doesn't trust her to not find trouble along the way ]

What are you saying...

This is my country, I can get to the castle without getting in trouble.

[maybe, but she would absolutely find trouble and make it a bad time for someone else]

I know. But if there are more people like before out there, I'd rather see you get there myself.

[ since his job is to protect, and her attendants are gone, and also he

does not believe her at all actually ]

Most of the kingdom is safe, you know.

[hrmmm]

And besides, I've gotten stronger - so you don't have to worry so much about that.

Just because we're dating doesn't mean it's your job to protect me...

[ it’s safe, huh. is that why she’s looking into drug trade and being targeted by thugs? ]

My job as a sword is to protect, no matter where I go. Whether we’re dating or not doesn’t have much to do with it.

[ sure, he doesn’t want to see her hurt, because he likes her a lot.. but he felt that way before they decided to try dating, so. does that really matter? ]

...I’d like to see just how strong you’ve gotten while I’ve been gone, though.

[for kouka that's pretty safe,

but she just looks a little bit more tired at that - she's not leaving right away, but she might need to go back to get some things from the castle for their journey.... well, they'll deal with that later

instead, she just manages to look a little proud of herself]

Ayura and Tetora finally agreed to teach me their combat styles after I told them everything.

[which was also a very weird conversation, but it's fine. she got to it eventually, because they're both like mothers to her]

[ ...oh. he nods, apparently quite pleased with that even if his expression doesn’t change much ]

Then we should spar again, once we get back.

[ he still wants to spar with ayura and tetora too

but lili is more important. he wants to see how far she’s come! ]

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