Red

Ryu’s head was suddenly pulled back by his red hachimaki.

As Ryu twisted around in the grass to catch his footing he heard Ken chuckle behind him, “So, when am I getting this back?”

“Just kidding.” He added.

Ryu finally straightened his back, but Ken hadn’t let go of the strands. He was staring intently at the red cloth that used to adorn his hair that was now all over the place with nothing to hold it back.

Ryu raised his arms to untie it, but Ken stopped him. “Stop, I said I was kidding!”

He paused. “The scratch healed. I don’t need it anymore.”

Ken just smiled, but Ryu noticed it wasn’t his usual smirk, even his eyes smiled. Ken stepped into him, tugging the hachimaki from his brow this time. Ryu sure had it on snug. “You’ve been strutting like you’re hot stuff since you've worn it, so I know you like it.”

Ken stepped back to get a good look at Ryu. “It’s nice to see a part of me on you.”

Ryu wasn’t sure what he was talking about. But Ken constantly pulling the hair out of his face did make him feel a bit guilty.

—

Ken regretted teasing him that day.

Every time Ken’s hair would get in his way of sparring, Ryu offered it back. When a strand of hair plopped into his stew before Ken’s lips reached it, Ryu started to untie it. Ryu then laid it neatly next to Ken’s pillow while Ken was in the bath. Ken would quickly plop it back on Ryu’s dougi that was folded for the night.

Ken had enough.

—

Ryu walked back from meditating by his favorite waterfall. The warm wind felt good against his damp back, the strands of the hachimaki floated in front of him, dancing for a moment before resting on his chest.

Ryu smiled as felt a strand between his fingers. He really did like how it contrasted against the white.

“Alright,” he murmured, “You win, Ken. I won’t push it anymore.”

The house was in sight and Ryu began to jog towards it.

As Ryu approached Gouki was sweeping the porch, not something he usually does. A pile of a sheet nearby. Something didn’t feel right. Before Ryu could greet his master, a tug on his hachimaki so hard it bent his head all the way backwards, but a hand supported his back to keep him from falling.

He saw an upside down Ken, with no long hair to shadow his face. It only fell to his shoulders, his bangs no longer covered his eyes.

“Whatcha think?”

Ken helped him straightened up. “Ken! Why?”

Ken turned away, hands behind his head. “You saw what a pain long hair is.” He twisted to face Ryu. “I should have got it cut ages ago, but you see how Master butchered it.”

Gouki shot him a look.

Ken softened his face. “It’ll grow out.”

Ken turned back and flicked Ryu’s forehead. “Now keep this on, you lunkhead.”

Ryu rubbed his head. “You’ve got a weird way of being nice.”

Ken’s cheeks turned a little red. “Shut up, it’s because you can’t take a joke!” he blurted.

Ken forced Ryu into sparing until Gouki yelled at them to make dinner.

END