[fieldbox= Runara & Tsubaki - Worn Down Shrine, #ffa64d, solid]
"TSUBAKIIIIIII!!!!" Runara ran towards Tsubaki and immediately gave her a tight hug.
Certainly this makes it like that sort of reunion scene. With Runara hugging Tsubaki like she lost her forever. Even though it's been like, just a day of being missing.
"I'm really really really really REALLY sorry that I brought you into this mess!" She said regretfully, her tail wagging back and forth... Of course, it was Runara's lack of awareness when it comes to people if that certain people is charming that got them into all of this...
"Please forgive meeeeeheeheeeeeeee...." Runara was on the verge of crying. You know... Maybe Runara is a little bit overdramatic about this...
Tsubaki heard a familiar voice screaming her name, prompting her to turn towards the direction of the voice. Before she could complete her actions, Runara already crashed into her with the speed and weight of a large arrow deployed from a ballista. The Hanejima noble lets out a surprised cry, and slipped as she was caught off guard.
Then Runara started to apologize profusely to Tsubaki that she has dragged her into a deathly battle royale, and even sounded that she was on the verge of crying. As for the noble, she was visibly suffocated.
"L-let me go! You're squeezing me off!"
...
Once Tsubaki managed to stand up, her narrowed emerald eyes stared at Runara, contemplating on what she should do. She felt conflicted, as reprimanding on the Doven's reckless action does nothing but making her feel even more sad. However, Tsubaki was not inclined on letting this slide too.
After a deep breath and a sigh, the noble looked at her employer with a conflicted expression.
"I... don't know whether I should scold you or... pat you on the head and say 'Everything will be fine', Goshujin-sama."
Tsubaki tilted her head to one side.
"It feels pointless to scold you for what just happened, but I'm don't feel like I'm letting you off that easily either..."
Runara kept on hugging and repeatedly say
"I'm sorry." even though Tsubaki tried to get off.
Eventually, Runara let her go. Looking down at the floor regretfully, sitting in a Seiza position, her body slumped downwards. Prepared for whatever scolding that Tsubaki would deliver to her.
Hearing Tsubaki's next words, Runara looked up to look at Tsubaki directly.
"Does that mean you'll forgive---" Her voice rises in a bright manner immediately.
And then the next sentence where Tsubaki wouldn't let Runara off easily...
"... Me...?" She lowered her voice again, expressing confusion on what Tsubaki said and concern about... whatever punishment Tsubaki had in tow for her.
Tsubaki sighed when she looked at her employer who was kneeling on the ground, regretfully.
"Goshujin-sama..." The noble remained conflicted. "Please stand up. You're making this hard."
Then Tsubaki assumed an authoritative pose by placing her hands on her hip as another sigh escaped from her mouth. She was trying to think out what kind of lesson or punishment should be given to Runara. Moments later, the noble raised her head and turned to her employer once more.
"Goshujin-sama, have you heard of the phrase 'taking responsibility'?" Tsubaki mischievously smiled.
"Considering that you have placed us in this predicament, don't you think you should do something with it?"
Her tone of speech becomes more sinister than her usual servile self.
"It's just natural for a person to clean after their own mess, right...?"
Runara stood up, having slight hope that Tsubaki would let her go off easily... But at the same time, she's worried of whatever punishment Tsubaki had in mind.
"Respon...si...bility?" She tilted her head, of course she knew what the phrase means. But with the way she put it, it's just hard to tell with Tsubaki.
"Oh! Well, duh...?" Obviously Runara had to do something about this, she's the one guilty of putting Tsubaki into this trouble. But Tsubaki's roundabout and mischievous way of telling it just felt... sinister.
"Oh come on Tsubaki! Just be straight already." She raised her voice, seemingly had enough of Tsubaki pressuring her with this. Crossing her arms and looking away, though she still kept her feeling of guilt, as she still had her body slumped downwards and looking down.
Tsubaki was startled when Runara raised her voice at the end. The noble gestured her hands, attempting to calm her employer. After realizing that she may have gone too far with her antics, Tsubaki reverted to her usual expression.
"My apologies, Goshujin-sama. I may have overdid it..." She apologized, before continuing on.
"What I was hinting just now is that..."
"Can we make a promise that we will see through this, together?" Tsubaki gave a straight answer.
"This is the Festival of Swords, after all."
"Uuu..." Runara still looked upset that Tsubaki had toyed around with her. She slowly turned her head to Tsubaki.
"Look, I am responsible for getting us into this trouble in the first place, silly Tsubaki." She said, pouting at Tsubaki. While her servant had just toyed around with her, she does have a point in that Runara should make it right by making sure they go through this predicament and escape alive and in one piece.
"You should just be straight from the first place." She straightened herself up. Putting her hand on Tsubaki's shoulder.
"It's a promise, between employer and the ser--- no..."
"As friends... We're going to survive this Festival of Sword thing, with my dance, and your swift and effective sword style! We're unstoppable!" Runara's tone turned to a cheery one, one that would be confident that this promise can be fulfilled if one believed they can.
Tsubaki smiled at her employer as she replied in a cheesy, but cheerful way. Perhaps things will turn out for the better as long they stick together. Deep inside her however, she remained pessimistic. Should the inevitable arrives at their doorstep, the noble will try her best to ensure that it will be her own life, rather than Runara's. That is the least she can do, in order to atone for her grave sin and the favors she owed to Runara.
"Friends eh...?" Tsubaki replied, while smiling at Runara.
"I like that tone. But I must say that I may not be worthy of that calling."
With that, marks the beginning of their journey. For Runara, maybe for... lovers. As for Tsubaki, she seeks to exonerate herself from her own guilt, and a path towards rediscovery. Perhaps she can be a good blacksmith?
"And yes Goshujin-sama, you're now... forgiven."
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