Chapter 10 - Just ASK Along the Way

Sakano had rushed them along just as he'd threatened; he ran them night and day. Yuki, Shuichi, Suguru, K and Hiro had practically walked non-stop for a seven sun cycles. They passed the Nakano cave area long ago and went onward, southwest. They walked through forests, waded through streams; they ate vegetation along the way—only stopping twice for a fire to heat some water and for some rest.

They even passed by some different people and their clans, people that they only knew by association. Sakano and Hiro made a point of stopping to say hello for diplomatic reasons, but explained their hurry—the people understood.

The further they got the paler Yuki became. Sakura was waiting for him in Naniwa, just as Ayaka was waiting for Hiroshi. He knew there was no way out of it. If they got there to late, and the full moon past—the ceremony would not take place until next year. He'd have another whole year to ignore it. Or maybe he'd runaway, take Shuichi with him and never return. Yuki would have asked Hiro to come with him too, but smarty pants seemed ready to get to Naniwa all the sudden…Yuki hated him just then. Stubbornness was written all over Hiro's face…well that and there was something else Yuki knew it. Hiro was longing for his new blonde friend; he was curious what the future leader of the Nakano clan would do?

Shuichi was patting Yuki's arm, "What's the matter, you look really unwell. Should we stop? Want me to bound and gag Sakano and have K guard him?"

Yuki gave Shuichi a strange look. But, oh, how he wouldn't mind stopping, stopping and turning back! But he shook his head, not wanting Shuichi to see his weakness. "No, I'm fine," he misstated. What was the matter with people and arranging mates? For as long as he grew up and saw this he couldn't adjust to it, he didn't want to be clan chief of Uesugi either. "Don't worry Shuichi, if I had it my way nothing would change," he said mysteriously. Shuichi asked him what he meant by that but Yuki ignored him. Just as he was about to his dismal thoughts a group of people ambushed them, coming out from behind the trees.

They pointed spears at them.

Everyone had their spears at the ready too except Hiro, who—as they discovered—was at the mercy of some barbarian with a sharp piece of flint to his throat. The brunette wriggled to get free but it only caused the flint to pierce his skin, sending a trickle of blood down his collarbone and staining his mammoth carving.

K frowned.

Hiro stopped protesting and stood there, his eyes wide with alarm. He was unable to speak with the pressure on his neck.

"Let Hiro go!" cried Shuichi.

But the roughened looking group of about ten, all wearing bulky, yet grungy furs…one completely bare-chested and only wearing a long loin cloth trim of fur, scoffed at them. Their bodies were grimy and seemed a bit on the thin side, limbs gangly and hair stringy. The leader, he had short black hair and droopy eyes, the other one had a brown chestnut coloured fringe with an intense gaze. The man with thick black hair was the one that had Hiro hostage. He seemed so sure of himself and sneered at them, obviously enjoying the tormented looks on their faces.

"What's the matter? Are you worried I'm going to kill your loyal brother?" He pet Hiro's hair from his forehead, the other arm still around his neck like a vice—the tip of that flint blade still dangerously pinned at this throat.

"What's this, you guys just came traipsing through our territory? You know you can't go now without leaving us your medicines," claimed the brown-haired one.

"Shut up Ken, I'll do the talking!"

"No Taki you shut up!"

The Nakano group all looked at each other with raised brows.

"I don't know all of what they are saying," Suguru said quickly, his eyes wavering to Sakano and Shuichi.

"They speak a different dialect. All I can make out is, 'shut up' and they asked if we want them to kill our brother," Sakano said. It didn't make much sense.

"NO!" Shuichi cried. "Don't hurt him!" He tried to dash but Yuki grabbed him back by his collar.

The group of savages laughed.

K stitched his brows angrily, who were these people and what did they say?! His stomach knotted as he watched Hiro helplessly. One wrong move and it seemed as if this dark-haired guy would slice his throat. K's fingers gripped his own spear with a white-knuckled hold. He forced himself to keep still, instead he studied his enemy and he studied his surroundings for other possible weapons. "What do you want?" he asked them, not realizing they wouldn't understand.

All eyes landed on K.

"Who IS that?!" the one name Taki said. "I want to know now! Where did you find this weed?!" he stormed casting a nervous look in K's direction.

Yuki, with a fed up look spoke calmly, "Nevermind where he came from. Let Hiro go or you'll regret it."

Taki narrowed his eyes at the short blonde man and pressed harder on Hiro's throat, his muscles flexing strenuously under his skin. "You have the look of a killer in your eyes," he told Yuki coolly. "Maybe I should be scared of you, hmm?"

Hiro grit his teeth as the blade pierced another layer of skin, he grunted with pain.

"We have food and medicine!" Shuichi cried in vain, trying to save his friend.

The barbarians looked at each other then.

"We could all be friendly, but I don't know if I trust you," said Taki, "I would let your friend go, but he's much too sweet." He laughed, licking a long tongue alongside Hiro's face and winking at Shuichi. But then the black-haired man noticed something about Hiro. He pushed aside Hiro's blanket of hair aside and gawked at the back of his neck, "Y-you have the marking of a healer!"

The barbaric group all began to murmur.

There was indeed a tiny branded mark that Hiro hid under his hair and the back of his neck. It was the healer's mark which was the sun and four dots around it, representing the main gods. Most healers around this region had them, so they would be distinguished easily. Nakano's believed that the label would also give their healer divine strength from the gods themselves.

Suddenly Taki pushed Hiroshi off of him and insisted, "I was only fooling around…you people are such hotheads."

"What is your problem?!" Suguru cried, now holding his spear in direction of the barbarian's throat. "We are on our way to Naniwa, so if you please…leave us alone."

Taki clucked his tongue, "I can't let you do that." He faced them all with a grave face. "I need your healer, please," he begged. My friend Ma is sick and I'm afraid he is going to die!"

Huh?

"You sure have a way of introducing yourself!" Shuichi hollered angrily. "You wounded my best friend and you're threatening us!"

"I will clean him off," Taki assured and went to grab Hiro back.

Only this time K's spear tip ended up under Taki's chin, the man's eyes widened in surprise. "Don't touch him," K growled.

Taki stopped his advance quickly and composed himself.

Hiro sighed. "It's ok, guys…I don't want you to get hurt. Maybe you should leave and I'll go with them. It's Gaia's wish…I took the healers oath," Hiro explained quietly. He would help.

"Hiro you can't do that!" Shuichi wailed, "We're all coming with you."

"Don't be a stubborn fool," groused Yuki. "Besides; you need witnesses when we explain to your father why we were late for the gathering."

Hiro gave Yuki a skeptical look.

"That's nothing to joke about!" Sakano suddenly cried.

Ignoring Sakano, Shuichi nodded vigorously, "Hiro we're not leaving you behind! No way! You're father will just have to understand. A sick person needs you."

"Alright…thanks," Hiro uttered quietly. He really didn't want to go alone with this bunch.

Yuki mumbled a prayer to Kiyoshi in deep thanks…although this wasn't the type of excuse he wanted to give his father. Being somewhat threatened by a group of rag tags. There really better be a sick person or he would make Taki pay for this nuisance, that's for sure.

As they started to follow the group, now that the drama was settled, Taki whirled around and pointed at K, "He can't come with us! How can you hang around with his kind, I don't indulge in weeds? He isn't one of us."

Before anyone could breathe, Hiro shoved Taki back, shocked by his insolence. In turn Taki's entourage pointed their spear tips at his throat, "You are not one of us either!" Hiro cried. "I won't leave here without him! If you want me to help your friend, then he stays!" He crossed his arms and stared the other man down coolly. "He's gentle and kind and you have no right saying anything about him!" Hiro was flaring mad.

Everyone blinked and looked at K.

K balked at the stares. What was Hiro was yelling about?

Taki held up his hands, "Heh, ok, whatever you say. I was just trying to save you the trouble."

Hiro scoffed.

Under the canopy of trees, feet crunching over small debris and spots of moss, the group followed Taki's brood relentlessly. Sunlight filtered through the trees, sending beams of light into the woods showing a buzzing array of flying insects. The air was getting almost humid; everyone was sweating and removing pieces of clothing.

They were being led east of their destination, to wherever Taki was taking them—completely opposite of Naniwa.

Sakano knew they'd be late for the ceremony now, but there wasn't anything he could do. This group of ruffians was scary; he could feel himself anxious just being around them. He hoped that violent act back there was the last he'd see of that. He feared for everyone's safety. He cast a worried look at Shuichi.

Shuichi didn't like being bossed around by these thugs; they thought they were so much better than them. They were wrong. He didn't like that his friend was being threatened or the fact he was being threatened also. And now these guys were ruining everything but then Hiro was going to help a sick person…his eyes settled on Yuki.

Yuki wondered which one of these morons would be easiest to take down. He thought he might try talking to Hiro's tall new friend and asking him to help. He'd give K the biggest guy…but then again they were dragging them down and he was going to be late for Naniwa. Oh yay? He wasn't sure if he should be thrilled or worried of his own father's reaction.

This camp they were being led to, was a lot farther than imagined, the walking went well into the night. It went until many voiced they needed to rest. Hiro's group stayed as far from Taki's as they could. But the strange clan, true to their haughty nature, kept a guard watching them as they settled by the fire for sleep.

"I'm not going to run away if that's what you're worried about," Hiro spat at Taki and raked his fingers gently through K's hair. He was situated next to the fire, K between his legs and taking knots out of his mane with his fingers. It was relaxing.

"Yeah right, that's what they all say," muttered Taki who was watching them from across the fire.

Everyone glanced at each other anxiously at that. What others?

Hours past and most feel asleep, but Hiro hung on…afraid to shut his eyes. He yawned and his hair combing came practically to a stop.

K had no intentions of sleeping this night and caught Hiro in mid yawn, he turned around. "Hiro tired…should sleep. Me watch," he insisted. Hiro tried to protest but K only pat his right thigh, "Go on, sleep," K said again and switched to his own language. He told Hiro, "Don't worry, he's afraid of me." He smiled evilly at Taki and pet Hiro's hair softly.

The brunette only caught part of that, he smiled. His body weary from all the travelling; Hiro surrendered and placed his head on the blonde's leg, resting on his side enjoying the warmth of the fire. His eyes fluttered closed as K's hand began to pet over his head, lulling him to sleep. The wolf spirit would protect them, he thought and sighed as his breathing became even with slumber.

Taki and K stared at each other as if in an ocular showdown.

The black-haired man smirked and snapped his fingers. One of his men came running over. K listened to them talk in their language, he studied their body language. He watched Taki stretch his legs out and the male he'd beckoned get on his knees. Under the silence of twilight, K watched the leader of this uncultivated clan receive oral pleasure.

His face did not change, he did not care.

The servant dutifully sucked on his cock. Taki's placed his hands on the man's head and sighed contently. He pushed down avariciously causing the man to gag often. He groaned and shook, he purred and gasped.

K swallowed as if he had honey coating the lining of his throat and fisted Hiro's loose hair.

Moments later Taki choked on an orgasm, K stayed complacent, eyes holding the same dark stare as before. But in his mind, he thought about Hiro and the wonderful satisfaction they'd given each other over the last few days. He also thought about his mate Judy. It was one thing to have pleasures with someone else, but what was this fear that grew in his heart? Was it that he feared one day he'd lose Hiro? The thought really did hurt. What if Hiro got mated, would he lose him then? K's breath hitched just as Hiro shuffled and rubbed his head over his swollen groin.

Once again Taki and K's eyes narrowed at each other.

"You protect him…I can see that. But he belongs to nobody. No one person belongs to anybody…especially to you!" Taki hissed from across the way.

K didn't understand all that, but he didn't care either. As long as he everyone stayed safe…that's what he cared about.

Two sun cycles later they finally arrived to a small cave with only a few people inside of it. There were a few frail children and women that came to greet Taki and their clan. Like most dwellings they'd seen so far, there were also houses that consisted of an opening dug out of a hill. The area was hilly and grassy and in the distance mountains lined the horizon. Behind their cave was nothing but fields. Swaying fields of green and dotted with white flowers.

Hiro sniffed the air and noted the flowers as jasmine.

This bunch was not a large group, quite small in fact. But they made enough noise for a hundred, they seemed very uncouth. There didn't seem to be a lot of respect between folks either, Hiro felt very unsettled. But he was strong and he asked for Taki to let him see his sick friend.

He wanted to get this over with.

Taki urged Hiro to follow him into one of the large dugouts. Hiro looked back at everyone, "I'll be alright." He went to leave them all, but K insisted he come along. Hiro smiled, "Alright, just don't get in my way," he teased.

Ducking into the home, they noticed the walls packed with mud and clay and grass that kept the inside from collapsing. The smell inside was not very pleasant; Hiro noticed they were using dried animal dung to burn instead of wood—must have been from bears. But it did serve its purpose, Hiro shrugged it off. As his eyes adjusted to the lack of light, he finally noticed a man lying on a bed of grass in corner. His breathing was a bit rapid and he moved glassy looking eyes at them, which gave away his fever. Hiro looked back at K who was almost crawling to fit under this roof.

"I dunno what's wrong with him; he's been getting sicker for the last few days. Please make him better!" Taki pleaded, eyes darting at K tensely.

Hiro flashed eyes at Taki, so he wasn't so tough when he wasn't around his clan. He smirked to himself and knelt next to the man called Ma. "Let me look at him," Hiro said and felt the man's sweaty hot forehead. To him, it looked as if the man had some kind of flu maybe. But his nose was clear and so were his lungs…so flu wasn't present. "Have you been injured?" Hiro asked the sick man.

The blonde looked from Hiro and back to Taki. "Who are they?" Ma wondered of his clansman.

"A healer…I found him in the bush. And the other one, that is his friend," Taki explained tightly, his dislike of the foreigner easily noticeable.

Hiro asked K if he could make a torch to offer more light.

K did so.

"No, I didn't get injured," Ma told Hiro.

Hiro started to wonder what it was he could do for the man. "I need a fire and fresh water to boil." He could give him a decoction of yomogi, a plant that was known to ward of evil and would prevent his disease from being carried onto others. The leaves and root of this hardy daisy-like plant would also cleanse his system; it would heal inflammations of the skin. Oh! Hiro had a thought, "Can he sit up or stand? Please, take off his clothes," Hiro demanded hastily.

Taki blinked for a moment but obeyed Hiro's orders. In moments he had his friend stripped naked and standing.

K's and Hiro's eyes bulged; they saw the problem right away. "Ugh, what are those?" K asked, holding the torch closer to get a better look. He wrinkled his nose.

"Good question," Hiro muttered calmly, looking over Ma's body riddled with red welts. "Did something bite you…suzumebachi maybe?" Suzumebachi were bees as large as sparrows and delivered painful stings. Venomous insects were such a problem.

Ma looked as if lightening struck him. He nodded and said, "Not a bee…two weeks ago I was scratching like crazy." He pointed behind his knee cap, "It itched so bad and got so red. But then a few days later it was gone…"

Hiro knew right away what kind of bite he was looking at. "Chiggers, but it's already left his body though," Hiro started and probed at the chigger bite. Its work is already done. Sometimes people feel sick weeks later after those bites—sometimes it causes fever and welts and generally makes you feel like…" He looked over at the burning dung. "Well, you know what I mean."

Taki stared amorous at Hiro like he was some kind of god. He bowed and wailed, "I'm sorry I attacked you. Please forgive me…feel free to have any of the women or men that you like! Tonight I will have my family cook you a feast!"

Hiro rolled his eyes, "Not this again. No, no that's not necessary."

K was watching this with fascination.

"Please, you don't have do that But first your friend needs a really good bath. Boiling water for that bite mark too and I'll make up a few days worth of yomogi to drink. I saw some dokudami growing nearby, that will be good too," Hiro explained. "He's not contagious; maybe it would be best if he got some fresh air as well." Hiro got up and sighed. It wasn't a life threatening illness, which would probably heal on its own. "Come on K…we're finished here."

Back into the sunlight K followed Hiro out of the mound house. They settled their eyes on their group who waited anxiously for them close by. Behind them Taki and Ma came out as well, the sick blonde now wearing his tunic again. Taki barked some orders to his tribesmen and most took off to complete their task for a feast.

With mixed feelings Hiro realized Naniwa was officially off.

After a good scrub with jasmine petals, something of which the entire Nakano group indulged in. Now Hiro stood watching his blue-eyes from atop of a grassy hill. He smiled softly, his heart pattering in his chest like it did each time he looked at his new friend. There was K lying on his back amongst the tall grass and jasmine flowers—clothed only from the waist down, enjoying his solitude and sunlight. Behind him, his friends sat talking with the other tribe…levels of respect owed to them now—Gaia's own gifted children. Or at least this is what Taki's tribe now called them.

Hiro sighed with the weight of worry he felt upon facing his father, he did not feel guilty about missing his union with Ayaka. He looked over the plains, hair swirling on the breeze and back down at K. How could he? His heart was not with her, it was with him. Hiro knew it would always be with him…no matter what happened to them. What would happen to them now, he wondered anxiously.

Maybe he shouldn't bother going home?

But that didn't seem right. He didn't really want to run away. Besides, it was time his father gave him the respect he deserved. Hiroshi had a mind of his own! Still, he whimpered after his vexation. He'd have to face the music. But for the time being he would enjoy the time he had with K…he wandered down the hill quietly. He crept up on K like a big cat, his face split with the largest sneaky grin.

Just when he thought he'd successfully snuck up on the man, K grabbed him by the ankles and pulled. Hiro crashed onto his rear and groaned, all while laughing at the same time. "Aww, how did you know I was there…I was soo quiet," Hiro complained. He went to sit up but K had turned around and began to crawl up his body, their figures buried in the tall grass.

"Careful it's chigger season," Hiro bantered, walking his fingertips playfully over K's arm.

They giggled and laughed.

"Mmm, it smells so good around here," K murmured his nose sniffing along Hiro's neck.

"Jasmine…"

"Green tea," K whispered in Hiro's ear.

"Ooo you remembered green tea, yes tea can be made from jasmine," the brunette purred. "Tell me what else you've learned?" Hiro slipped his hands under K's fur and felt the cool soft skin of his bottom with his hands.

"Fish mint?" K sighed as Hiro touched him.

"How romantic," Hiro jeered, "Dokudami K…fish mint is the easy term."

"It stinks," K mused and released a gasp as Hiro turned them over. K lay on his back, blonde hair fanned around his head; he looked up into Hiro's steely eyes. He bucked up his hips making the brunette fall towards him.

Hiro caught himself just before crashing face to face into K, he chortled at their play.

K picked a slim flower from nearby.

Hiro fiddled with K's breechcloth, untying the leather from his body and rendering him naked. He didn't need to ask. Already bare-chested, Hiro lifted the cloth he was wearing like a kilt and rocked on top of K, skin against skin. "Ooooh…yeah, you're ready for me," Hiro said heatedly, spiting into his own hand and reached behind himself to moisten K's cock.

K slipped the flower on the crest of Hiro's ear.

With a determined face, Hiro muffled a cry as he impaled himself on his lover. He wished he had some rendered fat to make penetration more comfortable. Why were women so lucky? But it wasn't so bad he thought, his lip sneered with the exquisite ravishment coursing through him. "Mmm, K…unn…yeah."

With his hands on Hiro's hips, under the cloth, K flexed his hips up to match Hiro's motion. The man seemed overjoyed by this today, his face so beautifully vibrant, eyes smoky with desire.

Oh dear god…

A/N: Well I had to have a little ASK in this story and what better then to have them a group of barbarians? LOL Don't get me wrong I love ASK too! But it was fun to mess with them here in this fic. But as you might have guessed by now, Hiro and gang are going to be late for Naniwa...so that means there is a bunch more drama I'm going to unleash on them. sigh I have to admit that for the past two days it's been driving me insane. lol I'm so picky and I don't want to make the story feel as if it's dragging...although to me it doesn't seem to, because there is just SOO much stuff/content that a story like this could have. With so many characters and issues surrounding them all, I really just don't want to rush it too fast and have fun with the situations I can create for them.

So I hope it entertains you as much as it has for me to write it OH! And here's a site about those huge Asian bees and a site about venomous bugs and chiggers :P

Crazy things await Hiro and K ..and Yuki when they get to Naniwa next...stay tuned XD

Reviewers: Thanks so much guys for giving my story a chance..it means a lot! I value your comments and give -hugs- in thanks!