AN: Thank you guys for your reviews. This is a rather short chapter, more like a filler, but still enjoy.

It must have been early in the morning as Shuichi woke up. He felt comfortable all around being used to sleep on hard ground during cold weather the last weeks. Waking up cozily warm on a rather soft straw bed covered by thick furs was what he preferred even more than the soft mattress in his own bed. Simply because he liked being surrounded by nature far more than the enclosed space of his room.

Any other day he would also have liked the feeling of a warm body pressed closely to his back and strong arms around his midsection, but since he had decided to be rebellious this would just not do. As much as he did like it.

The feeling of the body shifting behind him and the arms encircling him even closer did not make it any better. Shuichi sighed in exasperation, feeling too tired to deal with it. And since the other already took notice of his awakened state he could hardly pretend to be still sleeping to enjoy the warmth a bit longer.

"Where the hell did your loincloth go?"

He could feel the blond smirking against his neck, breath ghosting over his skin and he was happy that his own loincloth was still where it should be. Not that the thin thing did much to cover the feeling of Katsuki's body pressed into him, referring especially to one special part of said body. It was only now that he noticed his shirt was gone and by the feeling of it the last piece of his clothing might soon follow.

"No idea, must have lost it somewhere on the way."

Katsuki leaned in even closer, placing ghost kisses on the others neck as his hand stared to creep lower. He was halted by a smaller hand pushing his face away and Shuichi turning and wriggling out of his hold with a light kick of the knee to his stomach, not that it hurt. He growled in irritation, clearly the other was aroused because of him so why would he still resist. He got the answer nearly immediately with a blanket thrown into his face.

"I am not a cheap bitch. You want to be intimate, fine. How about you first proof how much you want me and if I am satisfied I might reconsider not having my dogs castrate you for the impudence of trying to bed me the first night we know each other. So try again next season."

Shuichi was sure that Bakugo had heard the small slip up in his voice but couldn't care less if it sounded sultrier than he intended. He needed fresh air, now or he might throw his plan to stall the older out the window. It would be no fun if he gave in right away, would it.

He dressed rapidly not waiting for Bakugo, who didn't seem to care about getting up this early and went for the flap to greet his pack outside of the tent. They had returned from their nights rumble. After a moment he noticed the grinning Sero sitting on a log by a dimmed fire, close to the leaders and their son's tents. He was probably responsible for the last watch inside their wooden fortress.

Shuichi wanted to say a greeting as a grumbly looking Bakugo walked past him, bumping his shoulder and making him forget what he wanted to say as he saw the sour look on the others face. Did his rejection piss him off that much?

"Morning mighty leader and sex-god, what's with the sour look? By the way you were awfully quiet this night, how come? Trouble in paradise?"

Apparently Sero had a death wish with his wide grin and loud booming voice sounding through the whole camp. His grin didn't falter as Bakugo simply kicked the log from under his rump making him fall ass first into the mud, now openly cackling. Shuichi had no idea where Bakugo went as he kept staring at the laughing mad man. He went up to him helping him sit back on his log and occupying another himself.

"I don't know if I should thank you for taking his attention from me and make him vent his anger on you instead, or if I should hit you too for making him even angrier. I am the one that has to share his tent a second night you know."

This earned them another round of giggles as one of the woman, Mina if he recalled correctly, and the happily grinning Eijiro walked close to them.

"Don't worry, Katsuki simply isn't a morning person. If he bothers you too much you can always sleep in my tent."

"I might take you up on that offer later."

Shuichi had to nearly scream that since Eijiro just ran past them, obviously in a hurry to do whatever he was supposed to do. He sat back down earning a buffet from a slightly glaring Mina, who had joined them on a log of her own.

"He's sweet, don't play with him."

"And if he is the one wanting to play?"

Shuichi stood his ground under her glare, remembering how flirtative Eijiro had been with him yesterday anytime Katsuki was occupied.

"You just want to vex Bakugo."

He shrugged his shoulders, not denying it as he sank his hands into Yashka's soft fur. The dogs had joined them receiving pats from the other two. The grinning Sero lightly kicked Mina's side telling her to stop the glaring.

"I would keep that point from Eijiro if you want a go with him tonight. He is loyal to Bakugo, but also Bakugo won't be able to be angry at him for long if at all, knowing his easy nature. So no worries there in getting him into trouble. Besides, the blond hothead would never openly agree, but he does love it if his chases put up a challenge. So play around with others as much as you like, the angrier he gets the more he will want to make you succumb. From what I heard it is worth the effort. And my tent is nice as well."

Sero gave him two thumbs up and a wink earning his own buffet from Mina. Shuichi didn't even try to hide his beat red face but he had to grin at their antics. After hearing about this special bias about Bakugo he wasn't sure if he wanted to piss him off anymore.

"I will be sure to be clear with my intentions towards your friend. Your right, he is sweet and I wouldn't want to hurt him. But on the contrary … shouldn't I worry about not getting hurt? Where did Eijiro go to anyway? He seemed to be in a hurry though yesterday he had said that he wanted to share my time today."

This made them both laugh as he had intended to. They still answered his question.

"Eijiro is probably going to calm down your angry lover. He tends to worry every time Katsuki gets pissed and tries to talk some sense into him. They might be gone the whole day."

They did some talking till it was time for breakfast, which they shared with him. Apparently his dogs had carried a fresh killed deer into camp this morning, so they would not only share all their meals as long as he stayed but also provide him with supplies when he had to leave again.

Just moments ago he had been worried, since after asking about the camp dogs Sero told him that they were staying clear of the five wolf hounds and hiding after the howling the night before. As long as his pack provided the camp with food and left the people alone they were welcome. It was a relief to him since most people didn't like them, they looked and behaved too much like wolves.

In the end Shuichi tailed Mina most of the day helping with her work after he was done with washing his clothes and knowing he would feel useless otherwise. She did warm up to him over time, showing him around the camp and giving a quick insight into their lifestyle better than Eijiro had the day before. He learned some new tricks with fighting and taught the children to better throw the sling.

They all wanted to learn that from him and he obliged. After midday and more time with the younger and older kids he had an animated talk about herbs and recipes with the tribe's old witch and Masaru.

It was midafternoon as the blond haired Denki approached Shuichi with a grin on his face. They didn't have much to do with each other yet and Shuichi wondered what he might possibly want. Mina had already warned him that Denki was prone to mischief, making him favored by the children but also getting him into a lot of trouble.

"We wanted to give the horses some movement. You're interested?"

Shuichi raised a brow, thinking. He was a good rider and could use the change. Some of the horses the barbarian kept had his interest, namely the nimble mountain ponies. If he got the chances he wanted to ride one of them.

"Movement as in giving them a ride along a niece patch of landscape or a ride to some dark, thick forest where no one can hear me scream?"

Denki and the people surrounding them outright laughed at him. He thought the question to be reasonable, considering he had known these people barely a day and knowing all the scary stories told about them, even if he did mean it as a joke.

"You will see, just come with us."

He was given no choice as a group of eager children pulled him along, out of the camp and to an area on the right side of the road, which was flat and cleared of snow. Already a big group had gathered with the horses. The kids pulled him towards the field and made him sit down on one of the long tree logs surrounding it and watch the spectacle. It took some moments for Shuichi to realize what the barbarians were doing: it was trick riding.

He and the children watched the first riders doing their tricks, cheering them on. After a while Denki lead a golden colored mare towards Shuichi, she was saddled with the typical quilted blanket with an assembly of straps where one could hold himself onto while doing the stunts. Denki himself had showed his talent some minutes ago.

"Do you want to give it a try? She is a nice one, calm and with a lot of patience. We will teach you some tricks if you like."

Shuichi chuckled as he stood up to take a look at the mare. She wasn't big, being one of those mountain ponies he had been interested in albeit a bit smaller, but still big enough to easily carry his weight and stay balanced while he made his tricks. She was clear eyed and attentive, nibbling on his hand as Shuichi held it beneath her nose. He patted her neck, knowing they would work good together.

Leading her to the middle of the area, Shuichi mounted the mares back to the cheer of the children and took some moments to get used to her and the unusual saddle.

"And? You're good with her? What tricks should we teach you?"

Shuichi only grinned widely and winked at Denki. Giving the mare a kick to her belly she moved into a steady gallop and he turned around, riding her backwards for a moment before standing up. To the cheers of the crowd he managed a spinning 180° jump landing back on his ass and facing forward again.

He showed them some more tricks, like grabbing things from the ground, hanging sideways, jumping down from a galloping horse and back on as well as climbing beneath the horses belly. The last one he managed at his second try since he was used to doing it on bigger horses with leather saddles.

In the end Denki joined him and they had some switch jumps between their horses and other tricks you would only do with a second rider.

Afterwards the barbarian brought bows and other weapons showing their shooting and combat talents from horseback as well as training them. Shuichi got to shoot the bow himself, demonstrating his talent with the weapon. He even managed to nail the straw plates on Denki's arm with the blunted arrows while they both were riding at fast speed and him hanging backwards from horseback.

Feeling euphoric and exhausted Shuichi dismounted taking the mare's reins to bring her back to the stables and care for her. It was late afternoon and apparently Katsuki and Eijiro had returned sometime during the event. Eijiro gave him a bright smile and asked where he had learned to trick ride. Katsuki didn't seem impressed and Shuichi refused to let on how much it pissed him off, he had always been proud of his talent on horseback and shooting.

In reality the barbarian was indeed impressed by the others talent, wondering where he learned to ride like them. He simply wouldn't show it. He hardly did acknowledge other people's talents unless it gave him benefits or if he wanted to. And this time he did not want to, still being angry at the rejection. He might have anticipated a rejection but it still stung. Showing disinterest might turn the tables later, it did work on many other occasions and he would not back down as easily.

Shuichi did get to have a good talk with Eijiro while caring for the mare, but the blond barbarian stayed clear of him, outright ignoring his presence. If he thought he could make Shuichi surrender by giving him the cold shoulder he was dead wrong. It only infuriated the smaller male even more about how sure of oneself that guy could be after he practically ate him up just this morning with his boner pressed into his ass.

He even threw a challenge at Katsuki's face, daring him to prove his own talent in trick riding against him but got brushed off with a smirk and something around the line that he shouldn't overestimate his talents. Eijiro had to put a hand over his mouth to keep him from saying anything stupid, not that he would have done or that he wouldn't have been able to deal with the consequences. The red head only gave him a raised eyebrow, but he was hard put to keep his lips from curling into a smile at Shuichi's muttering beneath his hand as his blond friend stalked off.

This evening most clans people were cooking for themselves or in smaller groups, hence the reason for this many fire pits. While the clan leaders did like to cook for themselves from time to time as they told him, they preferred the help of their personal cook. It was an easy agreement: the leader family provided the ingredients and the cooks family would make a meal out of them for both families to enjoy and everyone that had been invited. Apparently Mitsuki and the cook were old friends and had this arrangement since their younger years.

This time the arrangement included Shuichi as well as some of Katsuki's and Mitsuki's closer friends with a delicious looking boar simmering on the spit above a fire. They had no ale this night but the conversations never ebbed down. Mitsuki even feed the pack of wolf hounds with boar meat after they had been given their share of bones. They also had eaten the legs of the deer they caught and been given treats not just by the children over the day. Shuichi feared they would get fat if he stayed any longer.

Instead of trying to talk with Katsuki, who still had his defense up, Shuichi was again animatedly talking with Eijiro. They got along really good, as if they had known each other for years and it showed in the way Eijiro relaxed when they talked as opposed to most other tribe members. It was odd how sometimes Sero, who sat on Eijiro's other side, seemed to stop him from saying something by giving him low kicks and small jabs and how every time Eijiro would turn three different shades of red before trying to distract Shuichi or suddenly talking nonsense. Shuichi could also feel the glare said man received from Katsuki any time that happened.

Even though he was curious Shuichi decided not to try and spy into that special point, openly trying to stir Eijiro away from those certain type of conservations, which remained mainly on the relationship between the red head and Katsuki and his past before being welcomed into the clan, which apparently was only three years back. A look from Mina after another nearly slip up from the red haired man showed how much she appreciated Shuichi's understanding and his effort not to use Eijiro's happy and open nature against him. But he was still curious as fuck.

They went to bed way earlier than the day before. Seeing Katsuki already vanish behind the flap of his tent Shuichi hesitated. Should he just go in or stay with his plan begging Eijiro for shelter. They did have a nice talk and some heavy flirting but he wasn't too sure anymore, not wanting to feel like he used the red head for his own sinister scheming, which he would. He still wanted to annoy Katsuki, badly.

The decision was taken from him as Eijiro suddenly stood right beside him, leaning down to whisper in his ear and his hand sneaking itself into his shirt on his lower back. His hands were unbelievable warm.

"My offer still stands if you want, unlike …" He pulled back slightly with concern written all over his face despite his obvious lust. "…unlike of course you don't want to? Perhaps Mina will let you stay in her tent?"

Shuichi glanced over his back were Mina and Sero were having the time of their life, Sero giving him again his grin and thumbs up and Mina making a big kissing mouth and other silly, sexual related grimaces. Before Eijiro could turn around to see them Shuichi grabbed his hand and pulled him towards his tent, gaining hooting calls from Mina and anyone that passed them on their way. He wanted so badly to sink into the ground now, not being used to the barbarians open display of sexuality. It had his face turn different shades of red throughout the day, especially Mina wasn't anything but shy about it.

"No, your tent is perfectly fine."

He knew he might at least feel a little bit sorry for getting Eijiro into trouble with his best friend, but he told himself that it would be worth it as he felt the others mouth on his and got pushed into the furs of the bed. Nope, no regrets for now, that could wait till morning.

Morning did come faster than expected as he felt a booted foot kick at his legs beneath the blankets nearly hard enough to bruise. Shuichi slowly woke up and took in his surroundings. He was lying on his back and Eijiro was pressed to his side, lying on his belly with his arm hanging over the younger's upper body and snoring slightly, still being deep asleep besides the kicking. Talking of it, the boot continuously kicking at their legs belonged to none other than an extremely pissed looking Katsuki Bakugo.

Yeah, he nearly forgot why he had taken Kirishima up on his offer the other night. Not that he regretted it anyway disregarding the slight pain in his rump, but the sour look Katsuki gave them was priceless and Shuichi was sure to give him one of the most beautiful 'fuck you too' smiles he could muster.

"You guys reek of sex."

"A good morning to you too sunshine, did you sleep well all alone in that big sized bed of yours."

"Fuck you."

"I don't think so."

"What happened to the guys needing to proof themselves worthy first to be allowed near your fuck hole and that you wouldn't be laid the first night knowing a stranger?"

Shuichi gave a devilish grin back, pointing at the still sleeping Eijiro.

"This is the second night I know him and goddess be blessed, if he isn't worthy than who is? I simply love that guy's attitude and other parts to be clear."

Katsuki growled lowly towering above them and Shuichi refrained from flinching, he might have pushed his luck a little bit too far but he wouldn't back down now. He sat up ready to take the accusations he was sure would come.

"You think you can play with him as you like you little shit."

"Unless other people we have been talking about what exactly we want before we did anything, which has been indeed just playing. He isn't as stupid as you tend to call him and I wouldn't be playing with him if he hadn't agreed beforehand."

"And you believe him? What if he does like you more than that? You would just break his heart wanting only to fuck with him."

Well, if that wasn't considerate of the blond. He honestly worried about his friend's well-being, completely disregarding that said friend was an adult and able to make his own decisions. Shuichi didn't know if he should like Katsuki more for being such a good friend or if he should dislike his mistrust in his friend's ability to make his own experiences.

"I don't remember you asking me if I was fine with being simply fucked and then left or if I might want more, before you tried to bed me."

"Katsuki?"

They both froze, looking at the now wide awake Eijiro who had a look of worry and confusion in his eyes. He looked between them and they both could see gears spinning in his head before coming to a conclusion.

"I am sorry Kats I never meant to take Shuichi from you, we just wanted to have some fun for the night, nothing serious and after you told me you had no interest I thought it was ok for me to do so. Why didn't you tell that it wasn't ok and …"

Katsuki looked perplex, he had wanted to hit the shitty-haired freak to stop his rambling but Shuichi was faster at that task, even getting an 'oof' sound from the read haired as his fist connected with the top of his head rather lightly.

"Stop that, it makes me regret the nice time we had. I am sorry I didn't tell you but Sero warned me not to. Katsuki has no interest of that sort in me, he is only annoyed that I turned him down last night and now ended up with you. And he thinks I did it just to anger him even more, which was a minor part of my intention I will admit that much. It's just some scratches on his overflowing pride, he will life and we will life, right Katsuki?"

Shuichi gave him a look that clearly told him 'make the man cry anymore and I really will castrate you'. Taking a look at the teary eyes of his best friends Katsuki inwardly sighed. That guy's naive way of living will be his downfall one day. He turned around and 'tsked' before answering them in a much softer voice and walking out the tent.

"Get up already, your clothes are dry and you can leave anytime you want."

He turned around again before closing the flap and smirked, though it came a bit wry.

"And don't forget to come back here for the fee negotiation."

It took Shuichi some more time to console the worried red haired, but his friends and the hooting calls from the people around the tent as they emerged helped a lot. He could even laugh as one pissed look from Bakugo immediately ended the calls and patter they had received.

They did not hang themselves up with long farewells. Everyone had work to do, Shuichi had to hurry if he wanted to find anything before the mountains were covered by snow again and Eijiro again went to console his still angry friend.

The weather was nice and warm as expected for this time of the year, the snow had melted. It would be colder further up in the mountains but Shuichi was ready. He prayed to the spirits of the mountains to give him an easy travel and no further surprises like that demon. Waving back to his new friends he made his way up to his destination, the small black pouch lying heavy on his chest.