The Wandering Samurai and his Beloved General (BL)

It took Haruki a couple more sips of the chamomile tea offered to him before he finally voiced his thoughts.

"In all honesty... I couldn't care less about the country."

Haruki hid half his face behind the teacup and its rising steam, using it as a shield while he peeked at Lanling's expression. To his immense relief, the General's calm demeanor remained unshaken, as if Haruki's words hadn't struck a nerve or been taken as a grave offense by someone so deeply involved in the fight for the nation.

Lanling said nothing. He merely sipped his tea and waited, his silence a clear indication that he knew Haruki wasn't finished.

"I would rather use my powers for you, General," Haruki continued, his voice steady. "If you want me to use them for the country, I wouldn't hesitate. But know this—it's not for the country that I move. It's for you."

His voice softened as he spoke, but his gaze never wavered. Despite how flowery his words might have sounded, he was merely stating the truth. Haruki dearly wished that Lanling would understand that.

Placing the teacup down, Haruki braced himself and met Lanling's eyes—calm, unwavering, and unreadable.

A long silence followed as the two men stared at each other. The quiet stretched, and Haruki found himself spiraling into doubt. Had he exhausted all his luck in this one moment? Had his blunt honesty made Lanling uncomfortable? Was he about to be dismissed?

The dreaded thought of never again glimpsing Lanling seemed to awaken a torrent of self-deprecating thoughts within him, threatening to drown him before he could even gauge the General's reaction.

Finally, Haruki watched as Lanling's lips moved, the words reaching him as if in slow motion.

"Actually, I do not plan to take you into my squad."

Haruki's eyes closed immediately. Instinctively, he didn't want Lanling to see the pain that surged through him upon hearing those words. He wished to show nothing but his best—always.

"I don't want you to be my subordinate."

As if the first blow wasn't enough, the next sentence cut even deeper. Haruki knew he would need a moment—perhaps longer—to gather himself before he could open his eyes without betraying his emotions.

"... I'd rather be friends instead."

Abruptly, Haruki's eyes snapped open.

What greeted him was the same calm, rippleless gaze, but this time, Lanling's face was softened by a smile—one that transformed his typically stoic demeanor into something unexpectedly warm and inviting.

Lanling's tone was filled with sincerity.

Friendship. It was a beginning. No—more than that, it was a leap! It was something entirely different from the cold detachment of being a soldier under Lanling's command, fighting for a country with no guarantee of seeing another day.

Friendship meant they could protect each other openly, without pretense or obligation.

In other words, Lanling wanted to protect him.

Haruki was instantly thunderstruck by that revelation. Why had those heavenly words come from his general at this moment? He had no idea, and honestly, he didn't care. All that mattered right now was that Lanling wanted to protect him—openly, no less.

"Ah—Uh—"

Haruki's brain short-circuited, his thoughts spiraling into a tangled mess. Normally, he prided himself on reading between the lines, uncovering secrets hidden within words with ease. But at this moment, he was utterly and completely helpless.

Lanling seemed to find his struggle amusing. His lips curved into a slight smile, sending ripples through Haruki's heart once again.

Haruki wrestled with his emotions, trying desperately to rein them in. After an almost overwhelming struggle, he managed to regain a semblance of composure.

"I—I'd like that... General." His voice wavered despite his best efforts to keep it steady.

"Mn. Call me Lanling instead."

Haruki's breath caught. "...Lanling."

The word escaped his lips so softly it nearly vanished into the wide space between them, but Lanling heard it clearly.

As if greatly pleased, Lanling drank the rest of his tea, his eyes crinkling slightly with satisfaction. He licked the remaining droplets from his lips, his smile curving upward once more.

Haruki couldn't stop his thoughts from racing—some improper, but most steeped in disbelief. His analytical skills remained scattered, leaving him unable to steer the conversation in any meaningful direction. He felt utterly unprepared to shift from a subordinate's mindset to that of a friend.

And yet, despite his inner turmoil, he was undeniably in heaven.

Slowly, he took small sips from his tea, savoring the peaceful silence they now shared.

Occasionally, Lanling would meet Haruki's gaze, his eyes narrowing as if contemplating something important, only to smile softly afterwards. Each time, that smile stirred Haruki's quiet heart and scattered his thoughts anew.

Eventually, Haruki couldn't stop the blush that crept across his cheeks and spread to his ears. Lanling chuckled, the sound warm and teasing, thoroughly startling Haruki's fragile composure.

"You're surprisingly thin-skinned," Lanling remarked, resting his face against the back of his right hand. His gaze remained fixed on Haruki, filled with an open curiosity that left no room for misinterpretation.

Haruki coughed awkwardly, attempting to hide his face. "... And you're quite a tease."

"Was that a tease? I think I can be far more explicit than that."

"Please, no!" Haruki blurted, his mind racing. I wouldn't know where to place my hands and feet!

Lanling's eyes widened briefly at Haruki's immediate protest, but they soon curved again in amusement. "Alright, I will be merciful."

Shocked, Haruki found himself absorbing this playful side of Lanling with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Despite the storm of emotions within him, a distinct happiness blossomed—Lanling felt comfortable enough to tease him. Haruki knew such a thought might be misplaced, even indulgent, but with no defenses left to muster, he allowed his mind to wander freely.

By the end of the morning, their connection had grown so naturally close that Haruki didn't even blush when he shamelessly told Lanling they should have breakfast together from now on.

And the other agreed without a second thought.

When Lanling's personal servants brought the food, their eyes nearly bulged in disbelief. Though trained to maintain stoic expressions, they were visibly struggling to hide their shock as they served their master.

By noon, word had spread across the entire encampment: Haruki was the General's friend. The revelation sent shockwaves through the camp, leaving hundreds of soldiers utterly bewildered.