Two bus tickets to Osorezan hadn't cost as much as Itsuki had feared at first, and so he was quite glad to stow his rucksack under his seat and settle down for a long journey north-east.
The first problem came when he and Shino argued over the window seat. By the end of the quarrel, conducted in low, hissing voices, the only reason Itsuki was holding out was because Shino was getting so – there was no other word for it, really – bitchy about it. When he eventually won, he plonked himself down on the rough, itchy seat and glared out of the all-godsbedamned glass. When, after half an hour's sulking, he risked a glance at his boyfriend, he found him staring across the aisle, out of the opposite window, looking more than a little depressed. Itsuki resolved to swap seats with Shino at the first stop-off.
However, as the bus came to a halt, Shino undid his belt and stalked down the aisle before Itsuki could speak. Sighing, Itsuki followed him into the station and slipped off to get what in his opinion could only loosely be called food, but he'd noticed that it had a markedly positive effect on Shino's temper.
A few minutes later, armed with what felt like several kilograms of chocolate, he was making his way back to the bus when he saw Shino talking to an older man. Mildly disturbed by the man's resemblance to Priest Mikuni, Itsuki stepped closer.
"…So, if you're looking for a little fun, I'll be in the toilets next stop – "
Itsuki was pushing himself between the two of them before he even grasped what he was doing. "He's already taken," he said firmly. "And even if he wasn't – yeah," he finished somewhat lamely, realising belatedly how much bigger than him the man was. Fortunately, he didn't seem interested in pressing his invitation and walked away. Itsuki slumped in relief and turned straight into Shino's half-amused, half-hopeful gaze.
"What was that all about?" he asked, a hint of laughter in his tone. Itsuki flinched, just barely.
"What the hell do you mean?" he demanded, immediately on the defensive.
Shino cocked his head on one side and inquired, seemingly innocently: "Were you jealous?" His face betrayed nothing but disinterested curiosity.
Itsuki glared at him fiercely. "Why the fuck would I be jealous?" he snarled.
"Oh, no reason," Shino murmured, but he was now smiling contentedly.
"…Whatever. I bought you chocolate." He thrust the bags at his boyfriend, who grabbed them eagerly, his eyes lighting up. "As an apology." Shino was already digging into the first bag.
"Hmmmm? Apology?" he asked obliviously.
"Yeah. For the window seat thing."
"Window seat thing?" Shino's face was blank. Itsuki felt the stirrings of disbelief rise inside him. Could Shino really have – when Itsuki had - ? Then: "Oh! That thing? Already forgotten. You bought me chocolate!"
"Yeah," muttered Itsuki, reddening. "You can have it, anyway. Both of them, the chocolate and the seat."
The smile Shino gave him was well worth the money he'd spent. Itsuki wondered vaguely if he would ever get used to the brightness of Shino's smile. He hoped he never did. Then Shino pulled him into a kiss, a warm, chocolatey kiss, and he forgot to think at all for the next few minutes.
They were late back onto the bus.