Title: Breaking Away

Prompt: Written for a 100 Themes Challenge: "25. Breaking Away." I know, I'm so creative with titles, aren't I?

Summary: "Toboe wants to stay where he can see a future for himself, and as much as he wants to convince himself that he's doing the right thing, he can't shake his doubt."

Music: Into The Night—Santana & Chad Kroeger

Disclaimer: Don't own the anime or characters, but I wish I did!

A/N: Set during episode 20, "Consciously." I normally would rather write in Tsume's POV than Toboe's, but I have absolutely no idea what Tsume was thinking during this scene. How could he even consider leaving Toboe behind?

Also, is it "Iyek" or "Eke"? I've seen it spelled both ways, but I went with the former. These name spellings bug me sometimes.

Reviews are appreciated :)


Breaking Away

"Beyond those rocks is a land called the Desert's Bones."

"The Desert's Bones?" Tsume repeats.

"If your friend really did go in there, looking for him won't do any good." After a pause, Iyek says, "Why don't all of you stay here and live with us?"

Toboe's attention is immediately caught. Could he really be serious? What if they all did decide to stay and live with Iyek and his people?

"I'm afraid we can't do that," Tsume says dryly, and Toboe's heart sinks. "You see, our friend is the one who's looking for Paradise. See ya round. Let's go."

Tsume strides forward, closely followed by Hige, and Toboe has to stop himself from doing the same out of habit—and wanting.

He lowers his head, focusing on the dry, parched ground instead of Tsume's or Hige's faces.

"I'm…not going."

He hears their footsteps stop and reluctantly lifts his head to meet their eyes.

"I want…," he starts, and then spits it out with more conviction: "I want to stay here."

Silence falls, and Toboe's heart beats nervously. He hopes that they'll understand, but at the same time he's ready to defend himself and his reasons if he has to.

"You're gonna stay here, huh?" Tsume says. "So does that mean you don't want to be with us anymore?"

A small jolt of shock strikes Toboe's heart. He had said that he wanted to stay, not that he was going to. And he wants to be with them, he really wants to. But he also wants to stay, and he can't pretend that part of him hadn't been hoping that Tsume and Hige would argue with him, demand why, insist that he should come with them, say that they want him to come with them.

But no. Tsume has just made it easier for Toboe to stand by his choice.

"Yeah," Toboe says softly, hating himself as he does.

Nobody says anything for a minute.

"There's something about this place," he adds, almost apologetically. "How Iyek and his people live. That's Paradise to me."

"Are you sure?" Tsume asks.

I want to be.

"Toboe. Is this what you want?"

I think so. I made my choice and I want to stick with it.

"Well, if that's really what you've decided, then it's okay by me, kid."

"Hey!" Hige exclaims, sounding startled.

"Take care of yourself," Tsume says as he turns and walks away without even so much as a glance back. Hige starts to follow, stops, and turns around, but Toboe avoids his eyes and starts to walk away in the opposite direction. Iyek turns his horse to follow, and together they head back to the camp.

This is what I want. It's the best decision for me, Toboe tells himself as he walks. With Iyek's people, he will be safe and happy. He won't ever have to run from people who are trying to hunt down wolves, and he won't be treated like a kid, like a stupid runt who can't do anything right.

It's what I want.

But why does it feel so wrong?