Chapter 8: Stargazing...
Balancing a huge basket of vegetables in his arms, Nowaki entered the cabin. A huge smile formed on his face when he caught Hiroki sitting at the table. He placed the basket in the middle, avoiding the new amount of books Hiroki gathered together. Wiping his forehead with the back of his hand, he breathed out. He tried hard not to overheat from the hot weather which came upon their area. Hiroki acted no different. In fact, he seemed in a better mood than usual. His element made him able to control his overall temperature whenever the weather went into a drastic change.
Nowaki collected extra water for them to cool off. Leaving them in the dark corners of their cabin so the water didn't turn lukewarm. At times, he used his bending to turn it into ice. Keeping the water cool for them to drink as it melted at a gradual rate.
Hiroki plucked a carrot from the basket, munching on it while he kept on reading. Grimacing at the taste of dirt, he tore his eyes from the page and checked the carrot in his hands. Nowaki bit the inside of his cheek, trying hard not to laugh in front of Hiroki. Despite his effort, he snickered, hiding his smile behind his hand. Hiroki glanced at him, giving him the usual annoyed glare.
Nowaki shrugged his shoulders, still giving out a few chuckle. In the middle of his laugh, he let out a sequence of rough coughs. Interrupting his amusement. He felt Hiroki's eyes on his body. A shiver went through his body as he bent water toward his mouth. He gulped it down without hesitating. He felt his throat refreshing. He did it one more time before he felt another fit coming at him. Keeping his face away from Hiroki and their basket of vegetables, he coughed into his forearm.
Hiroki narrowed his eyes as he commented. "You better not get sick on me again. Better yet, don't transfer it over onto me." He tried not to expose his concern but he thought it came through his voice. "You just got over a cold days ago. It might get worse if you catch it again."
Nowaki rubbed his throat when he explained. "Don't worry. At this point, it's almost gone from my system. We still have some of the medicine in the cabinet anyway." He reached out his hand and patted Hiroki's shoulder. "Thank you for taking care of me."
Hiroki awkwardly brushed his hand on Nowaki's forearm. "You don't have to thank me again. I get it. I wasn't going to leave you coughing all over the place. You sounded and looked terrible." He gulped when he inquired. "You don't get sick often right?"
"Not really," Nowaki informed Hiroki. "I think my body was overdue on getting sick. I think the change in weather caught up with me. I lived in real cold temperatures all of my life that I'm not surprised. Even my mother warned me on keeping medicine inside the house."
Hiroki placed his scroll on the table. "Then, you're going to get more medicine on your next trip. Try to get the young lady because her brother isn't helpful. Besides, you're the careless one who keeps giving away your medicine. Even you planted some medicinal plants in your garden for the tea."
Nowaki inquired with a smile. "Accompany me?"
Hiroki tossed his bitten carrot back into the basket. "I'll go with you into town this time." He poked Nowaki's chest. "Next time, I'll tell you when I feel like going. Despite your reassurances, I'm not going to risk myself if someone recognizes me."
Nowaki nodded his head. "Alright. I keep telling you that there are no signs in town." He wrapped his arms around Hiroki and held him tight. "Good thing we don't need anything for another week. There's still some vegetables we can still harvest for a while. I checked the pantry and we have enough to feed us. Later in the afternoon, I might bring in more water for us to drink later."
Hiroki bit his lip at their contact. Nowaki skimmed on a fine line with all this physical contact. "You are smelling more like dirt." He commented while staring over at their vegetable basket.
Nowaki nuzzled their cheeks together. "I just finished gardening. Is the smell bothering you? Should I go to the lake and take a quick bath?"
"Not really." Hiroki inhaled Nowaki's scent. The earthy tones added to Nowaki's usual mesmerizing scent. "I just thought about commenting on it. You usually don't take on the smell of the Earth when you are always handling water. For someone who smells clean most of the time, you are smelling like soil."
Nowaki grinned. "I'm pretty sure I smell like most earth benders around here. Don't look at me like that, it's not that I'm getting close and sniffing them." Hiroki snorted. "It's not surprising. Half the time, I'm elbow deep inside of the dirt trying to get rid of weeds."
"Pft, then I must smell like soot and burning fire." Hiroki sniffed his clothing. "I don't smell like that, do I?"
Nowaki assured him. "Not at all. Since you don't use your bending for other than cooking, it's very dull. It was stronger on the day I met you. I actually thought your clothing caught on fire but I saw no smoke."
"Wonderful." Hiroki grumbled. "My lack of practice is going to bite me later."
"Why?" Nowaki held him tighter, leaving his real question up for interpretation. "Is it necessary that you keep on track with your original training."
Hiroki sighed. "Yes. Who knows what can happen in the future." He removed Nowaki's arms from his body in a gentle manner. "This is why we are going to keep on training. Your style of bending is helping me." He turned around on his seat. "Better to stay prepared than unprepared. Don't you think?"
Nowaki bit his lip. He averted his eyes. His fears for the future resurfaced but he knew Hiroki provided valid points. They needed to keep up their physical fitness and their bending prowess. Staying in a relaxing state of mind backfired for a number of reasons. Surprise attacks happened all throughout the nation. When he first moved to the Earth Kingdom, the soldiers attacked villages near the seas.
The determination in Hiroki's eyes made him reconsider as well.
Hiroki held Nowaki's hand in a light grip. These small gestures gave Nowaki some sense of comfort. Nowaki's kind nature made his fighting potential go down. Considering, he never fought anyone in battle. He had confidence that Nowaki will step up to the challenge. The calmest people caused the largest storms to protect the ones they cared about.
"Alright." Nowaki nodded his head in resignation. "When should we continue our sparring sessions?"
"Almost every single day if that's possible."
"I can work with that." Nowaki pulled Hiroki into another embrace. "I don't want to lose my best friend."
Hiroki's eyes widened. His face warmed as he relaxed in Nowaki's hold. Reaching around Nowaki's body, he held him tight.
This man would end him one day.
Nowaki whistled a tune while preparing their night sleeping tea. He mixed some of the medicinal herbs into his own cup while he steeped it. Their usual tea disguised the sourness of the herbs in the medicine. In his bed ridden state, he swallowed the whole cup despite the disgusting taste. The bitterness didn't set well with him but he needed it to get better. It helped that Hiroki made his tea. He swallowed everything he gave him without complaint. Hiroki took it upon himself to tend to him. Complaining about the taste wouldn't drive away his sickness any faster.
Hiroki's cup contained the regular green tea with a hint of jasmine. At times, maybe even a spoonful of honey. It depended on Nowaki's luck whenever he went to the town and looked through the market. Half the time, the sweeteners arrived later on in the month. Most of the time, they saved the leftovers in tight jar. This way no bugs crawled inside and spoiled anything.
After their sparring session, Hiroki dragged out a large container they used to wash their dishes. Right around the corner of their cabin. He asked Nowaki to fill it up with water and Nowaki did it with a wave of a hand. Rubbing his hands together, Hiroki pressed them on the sides and warmed up his water to the right temperature. With a wave of the hand, he dismissed Nowaki back in the cabin but not before he grabbed a change of clothes.
A slam of the door indicated Hiroki's return. Nowaki turned and watched him place a covered damp cloth on the table. Their usual soap fragments for the week. He might have to note another bar of soap into their expenses. Hiroki scrubbed viciously when he bathed. Using up most of the scented bar before his bath ended. He noticed this on their last bathing trip. Hiroki didn't leave one spot untouched.
Hiroki offered on scrubbing his back. Nowaki shivered on thinking about a raw red back. Aching as he moved on his bed. He declined with a polite smile. Hiroki almost looked offended but didn't offer again. Hiroki bathed on his own after that day. He wondered on his mistake. Nowaki hunched his shoulders. He missed taking a bath with Hiroki.
Hiroki exhaled. "Are you going to bathe?"
Nowaki informed Hiroki. "I'll take it later on in the night," He motioned toward the table. "Sit, sit, I just finished making some tea. It's going to get cold later and we will need it to keep warm."
"Thanks, I was about to brew a batch. You saved me the trouble." Hiroki sat at his usual seat and basked in his relaxed muscles. "What type did you brew tonight?"
"For you, green tea with jasmine. For me, medicinal herbs and green tea." Nowaki stuck out his tongue in distaste. "I made the green tea stronger in an attempt to mask the taste. I hope it works."
Hiroki rolled his eyes. "You eat the oddest food back home. Medicine shouldn't be a problem with you."
"I know I'm behaving like a child. The bitterness didn't set well with me when I was sick either. I'm pulling through drinking without dumping it outside." Nowaki prepared the teas in their individual cups.
Hiroki arched a brow. "You shouldn't waste tea."
"This is why I am drinking it."
"Don't complain on the taste. Add some honey if that's what you need."
"The medicine won't take affect otherwise." Nowaki stirred his tea cup and an idea popped into his head. "Hiro-san, do you want to look at the stars?"
"Look at the stars?" Hiroki inquired as he dried his hair with a towel. "I didn't know you had an interest with stars." He ran his fingers through his hair to check on the dampness of his hair. "You never mentioned this topic before tonight."
Nowaki placed two cups of hot tea on the table. "Well, water bending is stronger at night. Learning about the moon and the stars comes along with the training. My mother explained in depth over the balance which keeps the moon in check. She told it to me in the form of a bedtime story. Children don't pay attention to anything that sounds like a bore after all. The sacred area is closed off to anyone but the village chief."
Hiroki sipped his scalding tea and smiled lightly. "That reminds me of the original fire benders." Nowaki sat down across from him in fascination. "Too bad there are no more dragons in existence. One of the original Kamijou's trained with a dragon and rose to become a talented bender. There's a hidden portrait in between all the old documents back home. Mementos throughout the ages are kept there. Although, grandfather might had lied when he told me there were dragon scales in a hidden trunk." He sighed. "He liked creating tall tales but father assured me he saw them. The head of the Kamijou family has access to those rooms."
Nowaki blew into his tea. "It's too bad the dragons are not here anymore. I would had loved to see one in person. From the stories, they sound so majestic and wonderful. I heard of the badger moles who taught earth bending. Although, I never saw one in person since they are always going through the earth." He tried drinking his tea and flinched at the hot liquid.
Hiroki tapped Nowaki's forehead and teased him. "Careful. We can't have you burning off your tongue due to carelessness. I thought you cooled off water without problems on your end. Are you turning forgetful?"
Nowaki smiled as he ruffled Hiroki's hair. "You are the one who likes drinking this stuff at the hottest temperatures. It's luck that the tea didn't lose flavor in the process."
"I taught you not to burn it." Hiroki huffed. "Without me, you wouldn't know the wonders of tea brewing."
"I know, I know." Nowaki finished his tea and stated. "Let's get going."
"Where?" Hiroki furrowed his eyebrows.
"To the roof, you did agree to come along with me." Nowaki got up from his seat, wandering in front of Hiroki, he stopped in front of him. "The moon is beautiful tonight."
Hiroki inquired. "Since when? I didn't agree to anything."
"Right now." Nowaki put out his hand in front of Hiroki. "C'mon, I'll even bring a blanket with me."
Hiroki grasped Nowaki's hand. "You tend to forget I can regulate my warmth." Nowaki helped him onto his feet. "Don't underestimate me."
Nowaki snickered. "I wouldn't dare." He still held Hiroki's hand and cursed his sweating palms. "Ready to go?"
Hiroki relented on the blanket issue and threw it onto the roof. It landed in a light puff. They needed the cushion for their backs. An afternoon of sparring did a number on their muscles. He relaxed from his own bath time but Nowaki might have some discomfort. The fool didn't bathe after him so complaints over this topic would surface later on into the night. He would give the majority of the space considering his large build.
Nowaki climbed up the side of the cabin. He managed to pull Hiroki up onto the roof. Due to Hiroki's light and nimble body, it was no effort on his end. He watched Hiroki walk around the roof with utmost care. Hiroki tapped certain areas before he took a step. He wanted to comment that the roof kept their weight just fine. A month ago, he checked for any leaks and loose boards. Then again, Hiroki went into anything with hesitation and tact. He went to his side and helped him spread the blanket.
They laid next to each other. Stretching out their limbs and shivering from the chill. Retraining a good distance in between, they placed their gaze onto the moon. Although, Nowaki spared Hiroki a quick glance. Grinning from ear to ear. This stargazing idea could turn into a nightly or weekly activity for the both of them.
Nowaki happily pointed out the different stars in the sky. "I think that looks like a teapot. Oh! An apple right over there."
Hiroki disputed his observation. "Not at all, it looks more like a boat." He scrunched his face. "And that apple is a peach."
Nowaki snickered. "The one next to it is a bow and arrow."
"How can that be a bow an arrow?" Hiroki smacked Nowaki's chest with the back of his hand. "Do you need to rub your eyes?"
"You need to get better vision. I can see just fine." Nowaki scooted closer to Hiroki. "Then again, I see your point. It can always be something else." Warmness oozed out of Hiroki, Nowaki wanted nothing more than to cuddle up against him. "Do you want me to show you actual constellations?"
"Sure," Hiroki paid close attention to Nowaki's hands. "Just point them out and describe them to me." In truth, he cared little for stars but Nowaki expressed such joy in watching them with him. He might learn something new through Nowaki's descriptions.
Nowaki's voice took another gleeful tone as he explained each section of stars. Glad to retell the stories told to him in his childhood. He patted Hiroki's shoulder with the back of his hand. He caught on some fascination in Hiroki's face and he let out a deep sigh of content.
Hiroki thought they all looked the same but remained silent. He listened to Nowaki's voice. Shivering at times when his voice deepened. He moved closer to Nowaki's body, trying to make it inconspicuous. His voice was even closer to his ear, making his skin goose pimple from the closeness.
Nowaki broke away from the constellations. "Hiro-san?"
"Yes?"
"Should we do this every single night?"
Hiroki thought about it before he answered. "Not every night..." He stared up at the stars. "Thank you for bringing me here. I didn't think I would need to look up at the sky to calm myself down. We'll try this more often."
"You're welcome."
"Now, go down and bathe." Hiroki tapped Nowaki's shoulder. "I'll stay here for a while longer."
"I'll do it in the morning." Nowaki yawned.
"Stop being lazy and get going. I'm not sleeping next to a sweaty man."
"You're already laying next to me."
Hiroki nudged Nowaki's side with his elbow. "We're in open air. I can barely smell you with all this wind coming around. Get going before I toss you off this roof."
Nowaki sat up and lifted his arms to the sky, his bones popped in some places. "I get the hint." He looked down at Hiroki. "I'll go but do come to bed soon."
"No promises."
Inside of a rundown shack, a scruffy man held his tepid cup in his hands. Concentrating, it grew hot and bubbling. He blew into the cup and then sipped. Grimacing. He pushed it away from him. No use drinking it anymore. The tea leaves passed their usage and he shouldn't have bothered brewing a cup. His ears went on alert when someone knocked on his door. A familiar set of knocks, he didn't bother to get up to open his door.
The person walked inside. Bringing with them a jingling sound and the smell of soot. Coldness drifted in through the open door. The biting cold which came with the setting sun. Lowering the power of the sun into almost nothing. His inner warmness continued on seeping through his skin. Keeping him from shivering.
He stared at the blank wall ahead.
"You didn't send a messenger this time." He grumbled, he rubbed the stubble on his face. "You're lucky I didn't blast you."
A masculine voice responded. "Kamijou, escaped."
The unkempt man rolled his eyes. "I thought the Fire Lord condemned him to death. I went through all that trouble to frame the man and leave me of responsibilities. Having him run off puts a damper on my good mood."
The young soldier snorted. "You escaped your duties to vacation here for life and for what?" He motioned the run down cabin they resided in. "This is not even a good life, you're doing hard labor like a run of the mill peasant. Way below you well to do status. You have no pride."
"I might not be your superior officer anymore but I can still get my family to come after you." He narrowed his eyes. "Don't test me Masaru."
"Well, Commander Ziyang, there's a chance Kamijou will try to track you down." Masaru sneered. "I'm your messenger. No one else knows you are here. I can make sure that your family believes that you're dead from your poor pitiful life."
Ziyang shot up on his feet, stalked over to him and slammed him against the wall. "Don't think you are the only one I use." Masaru shivered. "I have plenty of soldiers who want a higher status through my family's connections. My family might not have favor to the Fire Lord but they are close in getting to his good graces. We can destroy your family with a wave of a hand."
Masaru gritted his teeth and downcast his eyes. "I spoke out of turn and I'm tired from my inspections that I didn't think. I apologize." Apologizing to this man left a disgusting taste in his mouth.
Ziyang patted his cheek with a smirk. "Good boy." He gripped Masaru's face. "Now, when did you find out Kamijou's little run?"
Masaru gulped. "He escaped almost a year ago."
"What? You waited this long to inform me." He tightened his grip on Masaru's face. "Are you brainless as well? You're testing my patience and you know how short it is."
Masaru hitched his breath as the nails dug into his skin. "We get delayed news. Months of delays due to the storms stopping the boats from coming to the piers. I thought you had no fear that Kamijou would come after you? You already ruined his family's image, what else can he do?"
Ziyang removed his hand from him and wiped it on his shirt. "Don't ask such stupid questions. That's none of your concern." He stepped back, Masaru rubbed his aching cheek. "What else do you have to report?"
"Your family asked for an update from you. In writing."
"They should settle with a vocal update. Any physical evidence of my existence could get taken from the manor." Ziyang opened the door. "When do you have more free time?"
"Once a month."
"Make it two. I need more information. Any new rumors about Kamijou, report to me."
Masaru breathed through his nose. "I will see what I can do." He left the cabin, the door shut behind him.
His hands formed fists. He gripped hard enough that they trembled and ached.
TBC
