Warning: The story was supposed to be closed - and it is indeed. This short "bonus" text isn't its part, but is related to it, and thus, after all, I decided to put it here. Still, mind it, you absolutely don't have to read it - and, if you do, the responsibility is all yours. This is a light, funny and somewhat absurd conclusion of what happened in the Chapter 15. Or not.

Inspired by author's own experiences with hakama. Enjoy!

~Clio~

Moon Scars: Bonus

Kagetsuna - now, officially, Kojūrō - got in the room and slid the door behind him. With relief, he leaned against it and closed his eyes. Finally the end. It was finally the end. The end of that terrible, wonderful day, he corrected himself. The celebration of Bontenmaru's birthday, stretching into many hours. Then his genpuku ceremonial, along with prayers and speeches. During the following feast he had been sitting like a log and trying not to draw attention to himself - which hadn't bothered anyone since the whole attention had been attracted to Munenobu-san, who definitely was the life and soul of the party.

He could finally rest.

He was dead on his feet, even though a samurai probably shouldn't admit it, especially in the first day of his adulthood. On the other hand, he supposed he had all the right to feel so emotionally exhausted - exactly during such an important day?

He wasn't really surprised catching a glimpse in the corner, and then Bontenmaru was already sitting in the middle of the room, eyeing him.

"You look very..." the boy started - and stopped, apparently trying to find a proper qualification. "Very."

Kojūrō smiled with the corner of his lips. "Very tired?" The boy shook his head. "Very different? "

"No, it's not this either. You look different, but... I mean... In general. Very."

Despite his fatigue, Kojūrō gave him an intent look. "And?"

Bontenmaru lowered his eyes and then grinned. "And I like it, Kojūrō."

Kojūrō smiled, this time wider. "I'm honoured, Masamune-sama."

He got away from the door and sat down next to the boy.

Uncomfortable.

He turned his head and assessed the situation.

The swords didn't favour sitting.

He sighed.

He took the katana off, and then the wakizashi, too, and put them down.

Much better...

"Don't fall asleep, Kojūrō!"

His head snapped up, and he looked at the boy. Indeed, he had been overcome by drowsiness the very moment he had rested... "I beg your pardon, Masamune-sama."

"It's all right. But you won't be comfortable sitting..."

"Mhm..."

Bontenmaru shook his head again and set about laying out a futon, which waked Kojūrō at once.

"Masamune-sama! What-"

"I'm preparing you a bed, Kojūrō."

"I can tell, but..."

Oh, Amida Buddha! It couldn't be that the lord was preparing a bed for his retainer. He intended to stand up, but it appeared that the inexperience with hakama didn't favour such acrobatics.

"You see? You're already collapsing, Kojūrō."

"Masamune-sama, I..."

Bontenmaru patted a pillow, smoothed out a blanked and gave Kojūrō a questioning look. Kojūrō sighed, defeated. The bed looked very invitingly indeed...

"Thank you, Masamune-sama."

The boy brightened like an elf. Kojūrō rose and, carefully, slid his hands under the hakama straps.

He froze.

He lowered his eyes and then swallowed.

It didn't look good.

How, for all holiness, was he going to take it off?

"Masamune-sama, might you know..." 'how to untie a hakama?' he was about to ask, but managed to bite his tongue.

Bontenmaru was sitting on the edge of the bed and looking very pleased of himself. If he had a tail, he would surely wave it.

"What is it, Kojūrō?"

"No, I just thought..."

Bontenmaru stood up to look closer. He walked around him, paying a special attention to his waist. He examined the front knot with his deft fingers. He even slid his tiny hands underneath and palpated the inside thoroughly. In the end, he shook his head resignedly. "It's not for my eye," he claimed reluctantly.

Kojūrō didn't manage to stifle his sigh. For some time now, he had been profanely considering going to bed in hakama.

Then the boy jumped up. "I think you should use the wakizashi."

"Wakizashi? But..." The boy was already giving it to him with renewed enthusiasm. "But, why wakizashi, Masamune-sama?"

"It's simpler to use." Kojūrō blinked. "What is it again, Kojūrō?"

"Masamune-sama, I cannot desecrate the best clothing I've ever had..."

"Even if you somehow manage to untie it, you will have to fold it, for one must not leave his hakama unfolded. Such is a custom. I've heard it takes a quarter, if one's had some practice already. In your case, however..."

The candle light flickered on the bare blade, the noise of cutting the fabric was to be heard, and the hakama fell on the floor.

"...it would take one hour, at least. Oh!"

"Thank you for your assistance, Masamune-sama," Kojūrō said, sheathing the sword.

"You're welcome, Kojūrō."

He might as well add 'I hope to be of service in the future' - but he wasn't the one to do services here, after all. Besides, Kojūrō was pretty sure there was going to be no future. In relation to the hakama, that was what he meant.

Folding the kosode was like pulling out a leek. He slid under the cover and closed his eyes with a bliss. Bontenmaru's fingers untied the strap in his hair.

He smiled.

"But, how am I going to explain it...?" he asked drowsily. His innate decency couldn't leave him be.

"Just say it's all Munenobu's and Tsunamoto's fault," Bontenmaru's voice reached him from the doorway.

"Mmm... Why?"

"Because it's their favourite way."

Kojūrō, however, wasn't sure whether or not the last one was a dream already.

Still, he hoped that night he would have no nightmares.