JustWill: Thank you for the well wishes. It was such a privilege to see your review after being away for so long. You truly gave me a smile, so thank you. I hope you like this next chapter, it's just a fun little filler for relationship development. It's about time these boys started getting along, don'tcha think?
To all my readers, I hope you're keeping well, physically and mentally. I have discovered that a dark background with bright writing (black highlight, white font) helps with dyslexia substantially. I am able to spot typos with much greater ease and by far more quickly, so it is my hope that my grammatical errors will decrease. This is a fun little chapter, so I hope you enjoy!
Rin cools off and Bon relaxes...a bit.
Rhythmic chanting drifted down the hall, echoing off the hardwood floor. Candlelight shone off the egg colored walls, flickering in the darkness of the night as if it were dancing. Rin stopped, hands stuffed in his jean pockets as he looked down the hall.
"Namo tassa Bhagavato arahato sammā•sambuddhassa." It was Bon's voice, not doubt about it.
Rin quietly made his way down to the open door, peering inside an unrecognizable room. Incense drifted through the small space, barren except for the small coffee table that stood in the center of the room. Adorned with a golden stated of a Buddha and small offerings such as flowers and stones, it was decorative without being loud. Kneeling before the altar was Bon, slippers discarded at the doorway, mala clasped between his hands. Again his words filled the room, strong and rhythmic, saturating it with an unseen presence.
"Namo tassa Bhagavato arahato sammā•sambuddhassa."
Memorized Rin leaned his shoulder against the door frame, watching and listening as Bon repeated the manta for a third time. Silence hushed into the space as Bon took his hands, still in prayer, and touched his thumbs to his forehead, then nose and then chin. He bowed his torso to the floor low enough that his forehead touched the floor and repeated the same actions two more times.
As he rose from his last bow his hands came into place in his lap. Rin could hear him take a deep, calming breath before he started another mantra.
"Buddha saranam gacchāmi.
Dhammam saranam gacchāmi.
Sangham saranam gacchāmi.
Dutiyam pi Buddham saranam gacchāmi.
Dutiyam pi Dhammam saranam gacchāmi.
Dutiyam pi Sangham saranam gacchāmi.
Tatiyam pi Buddham saranam gacchāmi.
Tatiyam pi Dhammam saranam gacchāmi.
Tatiyam pi Sangham saranam gacchāmi.
Tisarana•gamanam sampunnam."
By the time he'd finished Rin had closed his eyes, lost in the beat that sung praises to whatever it was. Sure, Rin grew up religious, but in a Christian house he knew very little of the Buddha. Despite his ignorance he was lulled by the chanting, understanding with ease how Bon listened to his father in his youth.
"Am I boring you?" Bon's voice dashed the silence that had crept into the room.
"Oh, no, uh," Rin's eyes fluttered as he tried to regain composure," That was really nice, actually."
Bon was looking over his shoulder at Rin, a small grin only just visible in the candlelight. He couldn't help but take a light-hearted jab at Rin's stammering, "Really nice, huh?"
Clicking his tongue dismissively Rin kicked his slippers off and walked into the room. He sat down next to Bon and looked up at the Buddha statue. "I've never heard someone actually chant before. We would sing choirs and stuff, but nothing like that. What was it?
"It's called the Three Refuges," Bon explained, wrapping his mala around his hand. "It reaffirms our devotion to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sanga. The Dhamma and the Sanga are the teachings of Buddha and the people that study it."
"Huh," Rin leaned forward and picked up a small flower from the altar. The white petals flickered orange against the candlelight. "That's pretty cool. Did your Dad teach you all of that?"
Bon reached forward and gently took the lotus flower from Rin's hand, placing it back on the altar with care. "Yeah, I'd always ask him all types of questions. Everyone at home studied it too, so there were always books to read and lectures to listen to. I could never get enough."
Rin glanced over at him, taking in the small grin that etched his face, feeling the corners of his mouth twitch upwards in return. "My Dad always had us sing," he let out a breathless laugh, "I remember this one time, he let Yukio and I sing a whole song wrong. We couldn't pronounce all the words. I guess he thought it was cute or something."
The grin on Bon's face widened, "Can't read now, I guess I wouldn't expect that you could read back then either."
"Hey!" Rin gave him a playful nudge with his shoulder, thankful for the darkened room that hid his burning cheeks. "I just have a hard time focusing is all."
Swaying from his nudge Bon reached out and ruffled Rin's hair in retaliation. " Not when it comes to video games. You could play those all night or read one of those sappy mangas."
Rin reached up and grabbed Bon's hand, restraining it from messing up his hair. "Manga is a work of art! I can't help that I appreciate the fine things in life."
Laughing Bon took his hand back and stood up. He grabbed a candle snuffer and extinguished the flames on the altar. The room submerged into darkness and he carefully toed his way around making his way towards the hall. "Late night snack?"
"Count me in!" Rin hopped up and, not so carefully, attempted to follow Bon. One stubbed toe against a door frame later the two found their way into the kitchen, Bon hanging against the open fridge door. Light from the fridge flooded the dimly lit kitchen, the halls of the monastery otherwise dark and vacant for the evening.
"So," Bon asked, watching with interest as Rin rummaged through the fridge, tail swishing around behind him. "Are you Christian like your Dad? Or?"
"Eh," Rin withdrew a plate of uncooked chicken, an onion, some diced garlic and a few other things. With an arm full of food and the plate of chicken he walked over to the counter. "I never really gave it much thought."
After washing his hands he plucked a knight from a wooden block on the counter and started dicing up the chicken. "Like, we never really had it crammed into us, ya know? If we asked questions the Old Man would answer, and he would tell us stories from the bible but he was never really strict about it. He just told us to always do the right thing."
"Sounds like my Dad," Bon shut the fridge door and looked at the ever growing pile of food Rin was putting together. "What're you doing? I said a snack, not a meal."
"It is a snack!" Rin waved his knife around harmlessly, "Put some oil in a pan and warm it up, would you?"
After a bit of rummaging through the cabinets Bon finally found a pan that Rin thought acceptable and put it on the stove, turning the burner on low. "My Dad always taught me the mantras and lessons, but I always enjoyed it. Some monks take the precepts really serious. I try to I just struggle with it. Sometimes it just feels so stifling, ya know? Especially with what we do. Want help?"
"Sure," Rin pointed at the onion with his knife, "Can you slice that up?"
"Yeah." Bon pulled a knife from the same cutting block and took to the task, although admittedly paled in comparison to Rin who had already made quick work of the chicken he'd been dicing.
"I do know what you mean, though." Rin said as he minced up some garlic. "I wish my old man was alive to talk about it. How can you be so holy and do the things that need to be done? I mean especially knowing what we know. Demons aren't all bad."
As he sliced the onions Bon took a moment to think. It was true after all, not all demons were bad. He'd become staunchly aware of the matter. Hell, he even sacrificed his Aria exam for it. "Well," he sniffed, his eyes watering from the damn onion, "It seems like to me that wasn't always his go-to. At least from the things you told me, like with Kuro."
"Yeah, I guess he wasn't always that way though. Your Dad told me he kinda used to be a hot head." Rin slid some chopped vegetables into the pan, along the with garlic and the onion he took from Bon who was now blowing his runny nose.
Bon tossed his tissue into the trash and leaned his back against the island counter. "Ah, he was young." he scratched the back of head, feeling his face flush. "I used to be that way, a bit. I mean, you know. I wasn't as open minded as I should have been."
"I know..." Rin stirred their food but spared Bon a small glance. "What changed that?"
"You." The answer slipped easily from his mouth, accompanied by a one shouldered shrug.
Rin paused slightly, his wooden spoon hesitating as he stirred. He breathed out a small breathless laugh and went back to cooking. "It took you guys a bit, but I told you I wasn't all bad."
The smell of stir fry began to waft in the chicken, Bon's mouth watering involuntarily at the aroma. "I dunno, you can still be a real pain." he joked, pushing off the counter and walking over to the stove.
Unable to resist he plucked a piece of onion from the stir fry and popped it into his mouth, retreating slightly as Rin gently whacked at him with his spoon. "Not from the pan!"
The overhead lights flicked on, illuminating the kitchen. "What're you boys still doing up?"
Both Rin and Bon squinted, Rin shielding his eyes with his arm, spoon still in hand. "Kyodo? What are YOU doing up?" Rin aimed an accusing spoon at him.
The middle aged priest make a show of sniffing the air. "When I smelled something like dinner cooking I had to come see what you were up to. It's a bit late for a meal, isn't it?
"I told you it wasn't a snack." Bon muttered as he crossed his arms.
"It is a snack!" Rin despaired, waving his spoon frantically. "If it was a meal I'd have made rice, and soup and a side. This is just stir fry."
Kyodo raised an eyebrow and looked between the two with suspicion. "Well eat your snack and go to bed. It's too late for you to be up."
"It was my fault, really." Bon said with an apologetic bow. "I was doing some late meditation and Rin accompanied me."
Still maintaining a slight look of suspicion that border-lined amusement Kyoto turned and flipped off the light. "Right... Well, we have mass in the morning and would appreciate some help cleaning up after."
Rin and Bon shared a small grin after agreeing enthusiastically, Bon moving in to nab another piece of vegetable before having his hand swatted away with the spoon.
"Hold your grip a little higher and tighten your core here." Bon instructed, lowering his sword and taking Rin's hand in his own. He pushed a hand lower towards the hilt, away from the blade then put his hands on his ribs, pushing them in and up. "You draw power from your swing here, otherwise you'll compromise your balance."
Rather than argue Rin swayed his upper torso, thrusting his blade downward as if to strike. "Yeah," he repeated the motion, moving his feet this time and striking out to the right. "That does feel a lot better."
With a satisfied nod Bon retook his position in front of Rin, wooden sword held at the ready. "Good, let's go again then."
Bon lunged with an attack, Rin upper cutted in retaliation, pulling strength from his lower core as instructed. The defensive strike sent Bon's sword clattering to the floor, his unprepared grasp slipping easily from the force of Rin's attack.
"Right on!" Bon cheered, giving a whoop of success. "That's a lot better!"
Grinning Rin bent down to pick up Bon's sword. "It doesn't feel as sloppy either," he admitted, handing the sword back. "Again?"
As the two sparred Bon couldn't help the feeling of accomplishment that filled him. Despite not having much experience with swords he'd taken it upon himself to study video after video online, E-mailed different instructors and even practiced a bit of swordsmanship himself. Finally, after a very long week and diligent work he was seeing Rin improve, compliments of his own discipline. He was pulled from his thoughts as Rin moved on the offensive.
"How is your new sutra going?" Rin took a lunging stab at Bon who quickly avoided the attack, swiping for his thigh in return.
"It's going," he gripped his sword harder when Rin blocked his attack, the wooden sword vibrating from the clash. "I keep having a hard time with its rhythm." Rin seemed to have caught a momentary second wind, lashing out at Bon with attempted strikes causing him to lose ground and take steps back, inching closer to the wall.
Rin moved in, targeting Bon's legs, noticing it had been a weak point for him, he had a hard time keeping balanced when he was deflecting downward strikes. "Why don't you just make a new one then?"
Bon gritted his teeth, trying to keep upright as Rin relentlessly came at him. "You can't just do that!" he tried stepping into an attack, Rin forcing him back with a feigned attack to his right side. "How you say it is a signature of where you learned it!"
"So?" Rin took a large step forward and took aim at Bon's wrists, spinning the flat edge of his sword in a tight circle, effectively sending Bon's weapon flying from his hand. Seizing the moment of surprise Rin stepped forward quickly and angled the wood blade along Bon's neck, arm arched over his head, Bon's back pressed against the wall.
Chest heaving with effort, sweat dripping from his nose, Bon forced himself to swallow to help ease his dry mouth. Suddenly he became aware of Rin's close proximity. His breath smelled like the juice they'd drank earlier and his hand, still clenching the hilt of his sword, just barely brushed against his hair. There was no mistaking the stammer of his heart when he glanced from Rin's eyes to his mouth.
Fighting back a blush he gently pushed Rin back, his fingers splayed against his chest. "Cool it, would ya? You win that one."
Grinning at the admission Rin rested his sword on his shoulder and took a step back. "How's that taste in your mouth?"
"Hmf," Bon fought back his own smile, trying to look begrudged. "Like vinegar."
Rin watched as Bon walked over, picked up his sword and began heading for the cabinet that held the practice weapons. "Want to go for some fresh air before we help with mass?"
"Yeah, sure." Bon took Rin's sword when it was offered to him, placing it beside his. For a moment he considered going to grab a smoke to accompany him on his walk, then thought better of it. Had anyone been paying attention they'd have noticed how substantially he'd cut back in the last few days, or how his shoulders seemed more relaxed, or how he seemed to smile just a bit more often.
Rain poured from the sky, pelting the sidewalk in an all out assault as the gutters overflowed from the side of the roof. Giant puddles had formed in that yard, large enough to be a small swimming pool in event Kuro decided he would enjoy a dip.
"Ugh..." Rin eye's scanned the outside, the tips of his shoes already wet as the wind blew rain past the cover of the porch. Thunder clapped and rolled across the sky. "Maybe now isn't the time for a grocery run."
"What'd ya mean? It'll be fine." Bon unfolded a large black umbrella and grabbed their reusable bag. Ignoring the onslaught of rain that was now pelting sideways he folded their bag up and wedged it under his arm. "Ready?" He held the umbrella up and stepped into the storm.
Attempting to stay under the umbrella Rin stepped off the porch and was immediately smacked by the wind. Unprepared for the large gust the umbrella was upended and ripped from Bon's hand, quickly dancing away. Both boys watched it fling to and fro violently before it was pulled from the yard and down the street.
Stinging droplets were relentless against Rin's face. Using his arm to cover himself as best he could he quickly made a turn for the building, stopping when he noticed Bon wasn't right on his heels. "What're you doing?!" He shouted over another clap of thunder.
"I'm going to the store! I want a soda and I'm already drenched." And indeed, he was. From head to toe Bon's clothes stuck to him, his hair already plastered to his face.
Without waiting he took off, sprinting from the yard, out onto the sidewalk and down the street.
After a few moments of deliberation, and already soaked to the bone, Rin groaned and jogged out of the yard. "Wait up!"
Bon, after wiping his rain soaked hair from his face, turned at Rin's call. "Now what are you doing?!"
"I want ice cream!" Rin explained once he'd caught up.
"Ice cream? It's freezing out!" Another gust of wind threatened to blow them over, as if to emphasize Bon's point.
"Yeah, well," Rin crossed his arms over his chest, his tail curled up tighter around his torso as if to hide from the distasteful weather. "You want a soda. I'd say the stakes are pretty even!"
The two stood, rain pouring, clothes soaked and hair dripping. Seconds passed before one started chuckling, followed by the other full on laughing. "This is so stupid." Bon said, using his hand in attempt to brush water off his face, only to fail miserably.
"Well, come on." Rin pulled at his sleeve as he walked by and took the lead. "Let's go so we can get home and change."
The walk initially started with a healthy amount of determination, however, once socks became squishy all bets were off. It took three blocks for Rin to give into temptation and jump in an absurdly large puddle, then another two for him to begin walking in the small river that was the gutter. Water gushed around him and when he almost tripped they shared a lengthy laugh, Bon pulling him from the street.
"You're ridiculous, ya know that?" Bon laughed, helping Rin step out of the gutter while attempting to keep his shoe that had become untied.
Giving up on keeping his shoe on Rin took both off, much to Bon's chagrin, and slung them over his shoulder. "It's fun, you should try!"
He shook his head, stopping at the door to the convenience store. "No way, who knows what's in that water."
"Oh please, it's just rain water." Rin stepped past him when he opened the door, both letting out a relieved sigh when the warm air from the store hit their faces. Unable to help himself Rin gave an obvious shutter, his body chilled to the bone.
Standing at the cash register the clerk took a lengthy look at the two. "No shoes!" she shrieked, pointing at Rin's shoes that were still slung over his shoulder. "Out, out!" she smacked a sign hanging at the counter with large written lettering saying, "No shoes, No shirt, No Service."
"But it's freezing out there!" he tried to argue and was promptly met with the treat of a broom.
Unwilling to take his chances he ushered himself from the store, arms crossed and grumbling as Bon did his shopping. A car drove by sending a wave of water splashing over the curb. Thankfully it missed him but the wind had seemed to have renewed its efforts furthering its abuse.
He watched from outside as Bon hurried to grab a few things, paid and then stepped back outside. Rummaging through the bag he pulled out a blue packaged ice pop and handed it over to Rin. "Here, I figured it would be like a trophy for coming out with me."
"A delicious ice pop! Oh man, the best kind of trophy is the one you can eat!" Rin tore the package off and stuffed it in a nearby trash can. "Thank you!"
"No problem," Bon popped the top to his hard won soda and took a swig as they began making their way back.
Having given up any hope of being dry they made their way back to the monastery slowly, stopping on occasion to enjoy the rain. It some encouragement but Bon couldn't help the laugh that burst from him when Rin stuck his whole head under a deluge that was overflowing from the side of a roof. "You could be taking a shower!"
"You have to try! Its refreshing!" Rin took the soda from Bon's hand and gave him a playful push towards the makeshift waterfall. "Seriously, it's like swimming in a river!"
Fighting back his instinct to call it a stupid idea and shy away Bon considered it for a moment for decided to let loose. "Oh, what the hell." he mumbled to himself before stepping forward and dunking his head into the water.
The freezing cold water washed over him, threatening to take his breath away. After the initial shock he was pleasantly surprised, like Rin had said there was something more crisp about the water. He scrubbed his face with his hands and stepped away, running his hands through his hair, streaking it back and deliberately splashing Rin, not that it made a difference.
Unfazed by the aquatic attack Rin handed his soda back. "Told you! It feels good."
"Yeah, it did actually. Reminded me of when we used to play in the river at home." Bon took a sip of his soda, grimacing slightly at the water downed taste. He upended the can and watched as his diluted soda spilled out. "Gross, rain soda."
Rin finished off his ice pop and they began making their way back in earnest, the cold soaking into their bones. By the time they reached the front door their wasn't a dry spot on them and Bon had taken to shivering so hard his teeth chattered.
Nagatomo, the most senior of the monks and currently the head of the monastery stopped mid stride, looking up from his cell phone as Bon took off his shoes and literally poured water from one.
"W-what were you doing?" he frowned when Bon stripped off his socks that splattered onto the floor as Rin shrugged off his shoes that were still hanging from his shoulder.
"We needed eggs." Rin explained, reaching into their shopping bag to display a soggy carton of fresh produce.
It seemed as if Nagatomo was going to say something, his mouth slightly ajar. Thinking better of it his jaw snapped shut and he went back to his phone, walking away as he shook his head.
Rin stifled a laugh and made his way for the kitchen. "That was fun though."
Bon, still shivering violently, followed after him once he'd managed to take his last sock off. Evidently the wet object had wanted to stick to his foot and not relinquish it's job which resulted in him crashing to the floor. He stood by the counter for a few minutes as Rin put the groceries away before deciding he couldn't take it anymore. "I'm freezing, I'm going to change."
"That's a good idea," Rin said, closing the fridge that had sent frigid air drafting over him. He quickly stuffed the last of the shopping into a cabinet and followed after Bon.
By the time he reached his room Bon had changed into a pair of black baggy sweatpants, his mala hanging on his bare chest.
"Nuh," Rin stopped suddenly at the door, his breath stuck in his throat as his eyes raked from Bon's wet tussled hair down his sculpted body, nipples perked from the cold. The same bar piercing caught his attention before his eyes darted from one point to another, trying to take his figure in while Bon scrunched a shirt on over his arms, oblivious to Rin's mild cardiac arrest.
Willing himself to snap out of it Rin forced himself over to his bed. With one last glance at Bon, who had now pulled his shirt on, he opened up his drawers and began rummaging for his own clothes.
As he piled a warm pair of sweatpants and a long sleeved shirt on his bed he had a moment of self consciousnesses, just as he was getting ready to take off his shirt. He forced the foreign feel down, reminding himself that this was Bon of all people, and it wasn't like they'd never seen each other naked. They'd taken baths together plenty of times. Sure, it was in social settings. But that was before, well, things were how they are now. However that was.
Rin shook his head, trying to swing the thoughts from his mind.
"You okay?" Bon asked as he ran a towel over his hair.
"Uh, yeah! Yeah, just cold." he said, pulling his own shirt off and letting it fall to the floor in a wet pile.
Unbeknownst to Rin now it was Bon's turn to take in a bit of eye candy. Although it was only his back Bon took a moment to watch Rin's tail move back and forth, flexing his lower back muscles. Part of Bon, the more studious aspect, watched with curiosity as he learned more about the anatomy of Rin, how connected the appearance was to his spine. He remembered the time Shura crushed his tail with the silver ring lodged at the base of his tail and winced, seeing first hand how far spread the pain would have gone.
It was only when Rin began to strip his pants that he looked away, not out of embarrassment but more from respect. He gathered a blanket from his bed and made for the downstairs living room, but not before stealing a glance over at Rin, unable to help himself. Fire licked his face as the sight of Rin naked, his shoulder clipping the edge of the doorway. Flustered and worried Rin may have caught him looking he clutched his blanket closer and rushed down the hall, the image burned into his memory.
