What makes history (Hijikata x OC)

Beren and luthién

It all started with me humming the song of Beren and Luthien that I couldn't, for the life of me, recall entirely. Perhaps because it was a hundred verses long ... but I'd heard Aragorn and Legolas sing it so often, and would never forget how both the elves of Rivendell – in the hall of fire – and those of Lothlórien had embedded their voices in my heart. Angels wouldn't have sounded more ethereal.

Those memories almost felt like another life... Travelling to middle earth had marked me so deeply, and I sometimes struggled to pull myself out of this mission that had carved memories in both heart and mind. Their music told tales of old times but the song of Durin was perhaps the only one I could remember entirely. Today, though, my mind wandered to Beren and Luthien, the legendary elf who had married a man, and chosen to die by his side.

Romantic to boot.

So I sang what I could, and hummed the rest as I watched the clouds drift away in the glorious morning. In the madness of my training and helping Chizuru with her chores, this time hiding on rooftops was a welcome breather. Kyōto's sky kept my mind blank, a precarious peace.

So instead of helping Saitō in the kitchen, rolling rice balls, I hummed and watched the endless winter sky.

"Meow."

I didn't turn around to greet my temporary friend. Eventually, she would come to my side, or leave altogether. Cats always decided; there was no pushing them around. Neko shuffled forward, the unusual noise calling for my attention. The furry animal was dragging something, a mix of grey and white that smoked suspiciously. I lifted an eyebrow, allowing Neko to come and plop the item on the dark tiles before I realised what it was.

Grilled fish?

"Meow."

Was it an offering? The feline settled by my side, and I absently stroked its head. The cat and I shared those rooftops more often than not. After a while of just eyeing each other, we had eventually settled for tentative friendship.

"Long time no see, Neko," I smiled.

A slight purr rolled in her throat before she started tearing the fish apart. I wondered if I could... I approached my fingers slowly, careful not to spook her, and waited. Neko gave me a typical stare, the cat version of 'do what you please, I don't give a damn'. So I picked up a piece of grilled fish on the side that wasn't marred with cat's hair and brought it to my mouth. Mmm.

My hum didn't disturb the feline by my side. I picked up a few pieces of flesh, reflecting on cooking skills. For sure, I was learning the tricks of Japanese cuisine. I'd never be a housewife, but I could now fix a rudimentary meal with their archaic stove. Better than cooking on a fire on the road to God knew where – which I was better at in the end.

This grilled fish was done to perfection, the result's of Saitō's diligent cooking; the spices complimented the white flesh artfully. After a few mouthfuls, though, I decided to leave the rest to Neko; she probably didn't eat as regularly as I did. Still, I was grateful for the offering.

"Arigatō gozaimashita," I mumbled before the song running in my head got the better of me. I started singing again, earning a strange look from Neko before she returned to her meal.

"When winter passed, she came again,

And her song released the sudden spring,

Like rising lark, and falling rain,

And melting water bubbling.

He saw the elven-flower spring

About her feet, and healed again