7 parts Ongoing They locked into a tight embrace, a magnetic energy enveloping them with a soothing aura, warm and familiar. Amidst the rumbling of thunder in the background, a gentle cleansing rain began to trickle down, aiding in their catharsis as they released any lingering distress, uncertainty, and grief with each weighty sigh. Their bodies trembled with emotional release, heaving as they wept.
Their mother affirmed Michikatsu's intuition without uttering a single word. She had always been right.
The sun and moon never truly grasped the extent of their mutual dependence.
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In which everything is according to canon, except Michikatsu is a redeemable character. Events take place prior to Sumiyoshi meeting his wife, prior to Michikatsu getting his Mark, and after Yoriichi loses his wife, Uta. The Tsugikuni twins are 17 years old, Sumiyoshi 18. During the Sengoku Period in Japan, people were considered adults and married by the age of 15/16.
Listen, I wanted more backstory on how Yoriichi and Sumiyoshi met, and I wanted the twins to be fucking happy so I wrote this. They're so fucking depressed in the manga and it kills me!
Like, nobody talked to them about it? Nobody??!! Not even like a, "Holy shit, you get to learn from the greatest swordsman ever and he's your brother wow that's crazy I wish I was in your place you are so lucky to be his brother!" Like, nothing at all ever swayed Michikatsu into thinking differently, into loving his brother, ever???? Fat chance.
NOT SPOILER FREE - Manga Compliant