Infinity

by michiyorain

Because trying to live a happy life in the Warring States era is next to impossible. It's a good thing they were never ones to follow sappy crap like destiny, anyway. One shot collection. Multiple pairings. Warning: Slash, Het but mostly Crack and some Modern AU

1. Embrace

Embrace

Shin only had a vague idea of what an embrace feels like. The feel of another person's arms around his body, pulling him close, letting him feel warm and safe. He only remembered foggy memories of his parent's embrace. It could have been warm, it could have been tight. He just couldn't remember very well.

All the embraces he remembered were after he met Hyou. His best friend shared a lot of embraces with him. Happy ones, sad ones, hurtful ones, but definitely warm ones. Hyou was his only family, his brother in every way, and his only source of affection. When he's with Hyou, the world seemed like a much safer and warmer place.

So when Hyou came back from the palace all bloodied and battered and hugged him for the last time, Shin felt colder than he'd ever experienced. There was no warmth in those arms, only grief and despair coursed through his body, slowly tightening around his weary and broken heart. His world had frozen with Hyou's dying breath.

After he stayed his emotions and strengthened his resolve, he gave Hyou one last embrace, if only for old times' sake. His heart possibly shattered into smaller pieces when Hyou didn't return it and his tears flowed anew and he had to drag himself before he never let go.

Imagine his surprise when he finds Hyou very much alive in a little hut in an outlaw village. He gaped in disbelief. His heart warmed with hope and joy but was immediately broken again. The boy's name was Ei Sei, not Hyou. And he was a king, not a slave.

And years later, as he stands before his king, arms tight around the other man, Shin confesses, "When I first saw you, all I wanted was to throw my arms around you."