A/N: To those asking if all the couples will be in this story, they won't be in here. Aki(hiko) won't get with Misaki until the last few chapters of the story. Misaki is afraid of him and Akihiko knows no remote Japanese. It will take a lot for him to even get Misaki to give him a chance. Besides, I am going to give Misaki a backbone to actually fight back. It won't be for a while though.

To those who had questions, this whole living in his house thing is a trial run before the actual wedding. It's like dating but without going out to places like if they lived in the city. Thank you all so much for reading and I will try to update this one more often like the rest of the fics. I am on a roll in updating so many of them that I feel accomplished. :)

For those who love this fic, thank you for your immense patience and tell me what you think.

-Lucicelo


Chapter 7: Some revealed misconceptions...

The moment Hiroki and Nowaki made it up a small hill, Nowaki almost ran out of breath. From his life in Tokyo, he walked everywhere but he never walked such a long extent. He didn't think Hiroki's home was so far away, no wonder his body was fit. Hiroki showed him around the area which had developing fruit which had not ripened yet. Jugs surrounded the outside, clay disks covered half of them. Nowaki knew that those disks were used to keep the dirt and outside debris from contaminating the water. On the left of the home, there was a small fire pit which had smoothed out rocks around the perimeter. Hiroki motioned him to go inside as he went toward another direction.

Nowaki was surprised when he set foot inside of the hut and saw a few extensions. The vast space made room for more than a group of people. From what Fuyumi told him, the family made their own home and added extensions when their family grew bigger. Although, a majority of young people built their own homes to show off their reliability as a future spouse. He noticed the detail placed in the walls and the roof. Meaning, Hiroki expected to get married at some point due to the extensions.

Nowaki checked the corners and saw the difference in textures and products used for the new rooms. There were two extra ones from the main big room which had the front entrance. One room had an assortment of made weapons and everyday products the villagers use. He placed his bag near the entrance of that room. When he peeked in the other room, there was an assortment of furs over what seemed like dry grass.

"Impressive right?"

Nowaki turned and saw Hiroki carrying a thick stick on his shoulders with a line of killed fish. "Y-Yes...this must have taken a really long time to do."

Hiroki shrugged his shoulders. "It doesn't take too long. My father had to teach me after I took interest in moving out of the main home. My mother didn't want me to move out due to her customs but knew I was ready to leave home." He walked backwards to the front door. "I will prepare these for our lunch and dinner. You can stay in here and get settled."

Nowaki insisted. "I can help you out, I worked in a restaurant preparing food for a few months."

Hiroki shook his head. "It's fine."

Nowaki followed him out. "I don't mind helping, I'll feel like I'm doing nothing. Besides, this will go a whole lot faster with my help."

"Then, you can just watch me," Hiroki told him as he set the line on the smoothed over rocks. "I insist."

Nowaki sighed. "Sure, I'll sit over here then." He sat down and he heard Hiroki whacking a hard object. Turning to him, he saw him making a hole on the side of a coconut.

It took Hiroki a few good hits of his made knife which made a hole. He went to Nowaki and handed it to him. "You look like you are about to faint from the heat."

Nowaki's face warmed in embarrassment as he held the fruit in his hands. "Thank you."

"No problem." Hiroki told him as he went back near the fire pit and moved a cut up stump near the area.

"Hiroki-san."

"Yes?"

"What is this living arrangement for?"

"To put it in simple terms, this is a test. Just to see if we can live together without problems in the later future in marriage."

"A test?" Nowaki inquired as he sipped water from the coconut Hiroki opened for him. "This is kind of like dating, right?"

"Yes," Hiroki told him as he dumped the fish he caught onto a banana leaf. "The whole point is living together to see if we are compatible. Although, it's rare that one person does this very often with different people."

Nowaki leaned against the hut and placed the coconut in between his legs. "So...Have you ever had someone live with you before?"

"No," Hiroki ran his make shift knife against the scales and scraped them off. They bounced off the floor and littered the area. "I had no interest in anyone in this island. They didn't stick out in the crowd. Not that it stopped women from talking to me and trying to gain my favor. Some men tried as well."

"Oh, so gay relationships are not banned in this island?"

"Not at all." Hiroki scaled another fish. "Our oldest married couple in this village are two women. Many of the younger villagers experiment with their urges with these housing settlements." He turned to face Nowaki. "Are they restricted where you live?"

Nowaki nodded his head. "Most of the world doesn't agree with such relationships." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Some old friends of mine married someone they didn't love to cover their tracks. They weren't miserable due to raising kids that happened in their marriage. But, they confided in me that their relationship with their spouse was friendship. It was to appease their parents who pushed these arranged marriages on them."

Hiroki sighed. "Mother told me some of those restrictions. Even how she almost got roped into an arranged marriage of her own." He placed the fish on a stump, he prepared more fish. "I thought she exaggerated a bit. Considering how this village doesn't have such high restrictions. The only worry the older generation have is that we end up alone." He stood up from his crouching position and placed the fish with the rest of the pile.

Nowaki chuckled. "So, Fuyumi-san didn't comment on your lack of interest? Or was it your father?"

"Father." Hiroki answered as he added more wood to the fire. "He pointed out potential spouses before you came along."

Nowaki arched a brow. "But he seemed more reluctant to me."

Hiroki pointed out. "You are an outsider. He doesn't know you personally. I was the one who cleared you out from those other people so he doesn't have a grasp at who you are."

Nowaki asked. "Why did you clear me out then?"

"You are not a threat to anyone." Hiroki skewered all of the fish and stuck them to the ground to keep them away from the ground. "You have kindness in your eyes."

"That's good..." Nowaki played with his hands. "Then, what was your father's impression of me?"

"That you are a spineless fool who wouldn't be able to catch fish."

"What?" Flabbergasted, Nowaki dropped his coconut on the grass, spilling the remaining water out of the shell.

Hiroki held back a snicker due to Nowaki's reaction but his smirk gave him away. He gazed over his shoulder, presenting his expression on purpose. Nowaki pouted as he picked up his coconut and cracked it open on one of the rocks.

"You are teasing me.."

"That's right," Hiroki smiled as he placed some kindling on the logs he left behind in the morning and started the fire. "You are so easy to poke fun."

"Glad I can amuse you." Nowaki huffed as he ate the coconut fruit and turned away from him.

"Don't worry." Hiroki moved the sticks around to make the fire stronger. "They approve of you. Everyone in this village approves of you."


The moment he made it close to his old living arrangements after lunch, he got bombarded with all of the passengers. He waved at them with the biggest smile on his face. From the confused and terrified expressions on their faces, they expected him to have died. Except a few who looked curious on his arrival. He didn't make it inside of the hut as they gathered outside. They all asked him questions. Most of them meshed together and Nowaki couldn't distinguish any valid questions to answer.

The few men who remained with them took no interest. They probably assumed he could fight someone small like Hiroki without a problem. Although, they all saw Hiroki take down a full grown wild boar with his bare hands. Nowaki bit the inside of his cheek as he tried to listen to the ladies and Misaki. It kind of made him feel a tad protected to have someone strong looking out for his best interest.

Even though, they might not have a big connection to get married on anyway.

Hiroki assured him that plenty of people didn't get married through his method. Nowaki got an inkling that Hiroki felt insulted at his initial refusal. It was a mistake in culture on his part but he was going through with this. He didn't want to gather their wrath through mentioning the fact that he made an error.

"How was it with him?" Misaki asked as he bounced on his feet, his hands gripped a part of his dress. "Did he hurt you?"

"Yeah! Did he try anything with you?"

"Did you two have sex?"

"I'm surprised you came back alive!"

"I thought you were going to get killed!"

Nowaki denied everything. "None of that happened. Hiroki-san was hospitable and kind. He wouldn't do anything hurtful with me, I am his guest. We spent most of our time talking and having lunch."

Kana poked Nowaki's chest. "But he wants to marry you." The rest of the passengers turned to her in shock. "Fuyumi-san explained everything to me. I looked for her the moment you left with her son. Your declaration is taken seriously in this tribe."

Nowaki put his hands up in front of his body. "Hiroki-san explained it is a test. It's nothing serious."

Kana pushed up her glasses. "So you are not taking this seriously?"

Nowaki shook his head with a slight smile. "A lot of people do this to see if they have a connection. I'm not going to lie, I like spending time with him but I don't know if we will get married. There's nothing to worry about."

"Oh really?"

"Yes." Nowaki nodded his head. "We'll be like roommates."

Kana was hesitant but relented as she said. "Whatever you say, Nowaki."

The women turned to each other with inquisitive looks. Not believing anything Nowaki told them. Kana kept her eyes on Nowaki while Misaki moved in front of them to speak with him. Spending time with someone for a long time did develop some sort of bond between the two of them. Also, Hiroki might not turn out as understanding as Nowaki told them. Hiroki came from a different culture overall. Even though his mother was Japanese, Hiroki didn't have the experience like his mother. She gave them a good insight in the culture of the island but they wouldn't know unless they went through everyday life with them.

All of them tried integrating in the tribe in different ways. The realization of their permanent stay made them more progressive in trying to learn everything event the language. Knowing marriage was a universal important step, Nowaki's nonchalant attitude on the subject confused them all. They didn't know if this would backfire on him when Hiroki tried to push their new relationship toward the next step.

With hunger in their bellies, they walked away from Nowaki and Misaki. But not before they said their goodbyes as they went to their collection of fruit. Sitting down with the guys inside of the hut, they all watched Nowaki and Misaki in their conversation. Both of them were close enough for an earful of what they might talk about.

Misaki tilted his head up to stare at Nowaki. "So you won't come back around here often?"

Nowaki shrugged his shoulders. "It's not like Hiroki-san is keeping me hostage in his home. I can come here whenever I want!" He patted Misaki's head. "Don't worry about me, you have everyone here to look after you."

Misaki huffed and said a little too loud. "I am an adult, I can look after myself."

The other passengers snorted and tried keeping their laughter down. Misaki's face warmed up as he ignored them but he heard their comments. He was the youngest out of everyone, there was no way he could survive on his own.

Nowaki chuckled. "Not around here. Even I have to rely on Hiroki-san until I get my footing."

Misaki sighed as he frowned. "He's not really forcing you right?"

"Of course not." Nowaki defended Hiroki. "Everyone here is peaceful, no one would want to cause trouble. Why do you think we all got accepted here?"

"We are not accepted." Misaki pointed out. "No one is coming over to talk to us."

"Well they don't know Japanese." Nowaki said. "Fuyumi-san said she rarely talked Japanese unless it was with Leader Soshi and Hiroki-san. Everyone else might have picked up some words to make some sentences but they are not fluent in it. We just have to learn the language just to make it easier on everyone."

Misaki muttered in a soft voice. "I barely managed to learn English in school..I'll fail at this."

Nowaki crouched down. "What was that?"

Misaki said. "I failed English. So I won't able to learn a lick of this language at all."

"You could always take lessons from Fuyumi-san. She learned without a translator, so she can help all of us out." Nowaki said with optimism. "Right guys?"

Everyone else voiced their agreement. Kana had already had plans in trying to get Fuyumi to teach them. Their agreement that Leader Soshi might grow frustrated with their lack of improvement came to mind. Fuyumi knew the hardships of learning a new language so she wouldn't turn out as a harsh teacher.

They had to find a moment when she was alone to ask her for lessons.


Humming a song, Misaki walked through the forest with a basket in his arms. He remembered a spot where he found the juiciest fruit. Fauna had pointed it out to him when they were collecting the fruit for the party. She told him the areas which brought no problems for someone like him. Not having the hunting skills yet, he had to avoid a lot of dangerous areas. He felt self sufficient in going out to get it on his own. He almost skipped through his journey but the bounce in his step remained. All he wanted to do was gorge in the fruits of his labor.

The ladies didn't come along with him so they shouldn't get anything. After all, he trekked through the forests to gather them. Then again, he liked sharing what he had with other people. He had this habit since he was a child and it stayed with him as he grew older. Besides, when they went out to grab anything they handed him some. They all bonded over their plight and they didn't get into arguments.

Well, not that many which escalated into full blown fights.

Misaki almost ran the opposite direction when Hiroki jumped down a few inches from his body. "Holy shit! Don't scare me like that!" He placed his hand on his chest to calm down his heart beat.

Hiroki adjusted the band which held the basket of fruit on his back. "What are you doing here?" He almost wanted to smack Misaki for venturing out on his own. His old friend wouldn't give up his pursuit. Especially going after such a jumpy person like Misaki, the kid might give in through whatever fears he had. "You shouldn't stay out without someone with you."

Misaki frowned, his hands clutched the basket close to his chest. "I can walk around where ever I want. Fuyumi-san told me so."

Hiroki rolled his eyes. "Father told me everything." Sucking his teeth, he poked Misaki's forehead. "You are not supposed to stay out alone. Your admirer might catch you and take you to his village. I know him well, he will find a way to grab you when you are by yourself."

Misaki shivered as he uttered. "Y-Yeah right! Like that freak will get me." His fear showed clear on his face.

Hiroki rolled his shoulders to relieve the tension in his shoulders. "You won't find the fruit you wanted here."

"Eh?"

"You came too late, a large group came through here and took them."

"Aw man!" Misaki groaned. "I walked all this way over here for nothing." He pushed back his sweaty bangs. "Whatever...I'll go back home." He turned around and realized his lost his place. Not wanting to look bad in front of Hiroki, Misaki walked in the direction that looked safe.

Hiroki pulled Misaki from the back of his long dress. Misaki yelped as he tried gaining back his balance on his feet. He gazed up at Hiroki. Hiroki's attention was directed at the opposite direction. Misaki stayed quiet. Hearing the rustling of the bushes and breaking of twigs from footsteps coming closer. He moved around Hiroki and hid behind him. Peeking over his shoulder, he shivered when he saw silver hair blowing in the wind.

Aki stepped out from behind the trees. His hair didn't tangle in the branches. The strands flowed in the wind behind his body with each step he took. He glared at Hiroki while his hands formed into fists. His eyes wandered to Misaki who hid behind Hiroki.

"Are you stealing my wife?"

"Wife? This one?" Hiroki arched a brow, Misaki clung to his basket which added some extra weight. "I already have an intended. If you made it to the party, you would have known about him."

"Oh." Relief appeared through Aki's relaxed body. "So, you are not competition?"

"Of course not, he's not who I look for in a partner." Hiroki stated. "Stop bothering Misaki. You are just scaring him and he won't listen to anything you say."

"And why not?"

"He doesn't know our language at all. He shares my mother's tongue from the place she came from. If you would had paid attention to when I talked to my mother, you would had learned it too." Hiroki explained as he reached behind his back and poked Misaki. "Kid, do you understand anything we are saying."

Misaki shook his head. "No. Why?"

"Because he doesn't understand you either." Hiroki informed Misaki as he raised up his hand when Aki took a step toward them. "Stop it. Father already warned you about forcing yourself on this kid."

Misaki peeked around Hiroki's frame. Watching Aki's frustrated form arguing with Hiroki. He seemed stubborn in wanting him but Misaki didn't understand. Knowing some laws on this island, the ones in Hiroki's village handed a rare trinket to ask for marriage. Kind of like how Nowaki proposed for Hiroki, something he still couldn't wrap his head around.

The matter Aki followed him around made him a creeper in his eyes. Couldn't he behave like Hiroki? The guy was a bit rough but at least he didn't scare him. Leader Soshi scared him more than Aki.

"I'm not. I am trying to ask my wife to move in with me without kidnapping."

"Oh, how courteous of you." Hiroki drawled. "This boy wouldn't want to go with you."

"Why are you calling my wife a boy?"

Hiroki snorted. "Don't tell me you didn't know he was a boy."

"I need evidence." Aki remained firm as he frowned and pointed to Misaki's body. "Undress him."

"Don't be stupid. I'm not going to undress him. He is not my intended so I am not interested in undressing him."

Aki glared at him. "Oh, so you won't provide evidence to your claim?"

Hiroki rolled his eyes as he looked down at Misaki. "He thinks you are woman."

Misaki exclaimed. "What?!" He turned to Aki and yelled at him. "What the hell is the matter with you? Can't you tell that I am a guy?!"

Aki stood there in shock from the outburst coming from Misaki.

"Told you." Hiroki smirked as he moved his hand toward the back of Aki. "Go back home. Try again when you can get a nice reaction out of this brat. Bring some presents, that might make your request more favorable."

"I will." Aki told him as he turned away from them and walked away.

Misaki asked Hiroki. "He's not coming back right?"

Hiroki wanted to tell him no, Aki wouldn't give up unless a new person appeared. "I have no clue. He's a stubborn one." He settled on lessening any outburst from Misaki, Aki wouldn't have any presents at a moments notice.

Misaki sighed in relief. "Just keep him away from me and I will be happy."

"Why?"

"Huh?"

"He mentioned he wanted a wife. Meaning, he will take care of you and won't have to lift a finger ever again."

Misaki frowned. "I have pride you know. I am not going to sit around and look pretty."

Hiroki had to give Misaki and everyone from the wreckage some props. He noticed they tried adapting to their surroundings and didn't demand everything on a platter. Well, the ones who were not separated to live with the Shaman. These free people were far off from settling in with everyone. The language barrier barred them from the main villagers.

"I see," Hiroki took off the basket from his back and poured half of it inside of Misaki's basket. "For your trouble,"

Misaki pouted. "But I didn't get these."

"You stupidly ventured out here on your own." He said. "I handed them to you, accept them and go back." He pointed toward Misaki's right. "Go straight ahead and you will make it back without a problem." He hooked his basket on his shoulder and went a different direction, leaving Misaki alone.

Misaki turned toward his right before he forgot. "Thank you!" Misaki exclaimed.

Hearing nothing, Misaki assumed Hiroki was already too far away to hear him. He bolted. Dodging the trees, he heard the rustling of the branches as he moved them from his way. The birds chirped as they ran off due to the noise. He didn't stop until he saw the familiar houses. Turning around, there was only thick trees blocking his path.

He registered the fact that he wouldn't had ever found his way back on his own.

TBC