A/N: So I finally got around to reading the Nabari no Ou manga! (I first watched the anime about 4 years ago and have re-watched it about 8 times since then but never touched the mange until now.) And I love it so much! Yukimi and Miharu's relationship makes me so happy. The chapters around 53 and up are my favorites~
Anyway, so I'm obsessed with the manga (except that last chapter- because all it did was confuse me.) And, for a while I thought about how, honestly, the manga contains pretty much any fanfiction I would write for this story because it has everything I wanted to happen.
But I still wanted to find something to write about. So here you go. Hopefully I'll have more short stories to post as well. Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: The rights of Nabari no Ou and its characters belong to the wonderful Yuhki Kamatani.
Yukimi was leaving on a trip for a few days. Business had called him to another town over and he thought it best not to reject the offer. He was already in low standing at work because of his injury. But although he accepted it, this trip was the last thing he wanted to be doing right now.
"I'll just be gone two days," he hoisted his bag onto his shoulder, "Can I trust you not to burn the place down?" He pointed his finger at Miharu.
The boy was standing with the black cat in his arms, "I'll try my best."
"And don't forget to feed Yoite," Yukimi reminded him for the hundredth time.
"I've taken care of a cat before," Miharu replied, rolling his eyes.
Yukimi gave him a look but kept quiet about it. "Call me if you need anything. I'll see you in two days. Be safe."
"You too," Miharu let Yoite jump out of his arms as the door shut.
He was fine for the first few hours, but late in the afternoon, Miharu felt the loneliness sink in. He didn't want to go anywhere or do anything. No one's company would be what he wanted He started to get lost in that deep dark hole that was carved in his chest. He didn't know what else to do.
Yukimi's camera was sitting on the edge of his desk. Miharu took it in his hands and sat on the floor. He took a bunch of pictures. Some of Yoite running across the floor or pawing at the lens. Others of the window and the buildings outside. He took a few pictures of himself lying on his back on the floor. He looked dead inside. Yoite crawled over his stomach and Miharu didn't move. He just stared at his face in the camera screen. The sun started to set and so he went to the window and took sunset pictures. They turned out well. Yukimi would like them.
Yoite meowed and wandered to his bowl, asking for food. Miharu eventually found the energy to get up and fill the food bowl for the cat. Yoite began eating right away. Miharu wasn't hungry, but he figured he should eat as well.
He cooked up some rice and vegetables. Just something simple. But halfway through cooking, he realized that he had made two servings. "Leftovers I guess," he mumbled. He scooped the extra serving into a glass storage bowl and stuck a piece of masking tape to it with Yukimi's name.
That night went by slowly. And the aching in his heart grew. He pulled out his cell phone. The one Yukimi had given him. But hadn't there been another phone? Yukimi had bought two, hadn't he?
Miharu squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. He was slipping away again. That someone obviously didn't want to be found. So he needed to stop searching for him.
The phone showed 11:57pm. It was probably too late to call Yukimi tonight. Besides, what would he say? Miharu left his phone on the counter. He didn't want to disturb the man anyway.
His feet led him automatically to the bathroom. He brushed his teeth, all the while avoiding the mirror. He didn't want to see his eyes. They felt lifeless and he felt empty. When he was done, he bid Yoite goodnight and went to his room.
The dark walls and small space suddenly seemed cramped and suffocating. He felt anxious and the hole in his heart started bursting. The normal familiarity of his room seemed abnormal and alien to him. Shadows shifted on the walls and sent shapes moving across the ceiling. He crept out of the covers and snuck out of his room. Miharu shuffled down the hall to Yukimi's room and slipped into his empty bed. The smell of Yukimi was comforting and masked his loneliness. With his eyes closed, it was like the older shinobi was there with him.