AD 2204, 5/28, 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi– Ronin-gai
Bang Shishigami sighs dramatically as he hunches over a pylon jutting out over his district. Ever since his interference with the Maiko Troupe, and their leader, Amane Nishiki, he's felt an inescapable barrage of guilt. Amane's banning of him from their shows almost put the troupe's donations in danger, but Bang had quickly reminded the people that they should be generous to those in need, regardless of personal grudges. He loses himself in thought for a few minutes, reflecting on the pervasive tension of the past few days.
Eventually, he mutters to himself. "I must apologize, that is the only way."
With a sagely nod to himself, Bang shoots from his perch and onto the rooftops, speeding towards the caravan that awaits in the lower part of Ronin-gai.
He arrives at his destination only minutes later, thanks to his prodigious speed. He looks up to see an irritated Azuki striding towards the main wagon of the caravan. He swallows thickly, preparing himself for what will no doubt be a tense negotiation.
Amane doesn't disappoint, looking cross as soon as he catches sight of Bang from his slightly ajar door. Even while fighting off the dregs of sleep, and without his exquisite makeup, the man is devastating. His long purple tresses fall elegantly over the shoulders of his pink sleeping yukata, rustling fluidly with each step. His geta clack wrathfully as he strides over to Bang, drowsily glaring with a fierceness that belies his undress. Bang worriedly notes that his knees feel weak for some reason.
"Shishigami. What are you doing here? Was I not clear?" Amane stops about three meters away, his ribbons swaying dangerously in the breeze. His voice is low and husky with sleep. Bang slightly trembles with emotion.
Bang bows deeply at the hip, keeping his gaze submissively upon the ground. "Nishiki, I apologize for my unseemly behavior the other day. Such hasty judgement is not befitting of a man such as I."
Amane scoffs and quirks a thin brow. "Hmph. And why should I accept your apology?"
Bang freezes stiff. "W-What?" He nervously raises his wide amber eyes, only to flinch at the icy blues that meet him mercilessly.
"You cost me a chance to recruit Carl and made my boys cry. Why should I forgive you, Shishigami?" Nishiki crosses his arms haughtily, his eyes fully losing their drowsy fog as he gives Bang a rueful stare.
Bang rises, a deep sorrowful frown tugging at his lips. "N-Nishiki. I understand that I've caused you a lot of trouble, but I don't want to part ways like this. Please, allow me to make amends." Bang plants his studded knuckles on the exposed flesh of his hips, just under the red rope of his fundoshi.
Amane narrows his eyes to give Bang a look over. After a few moments of intense scrutiny, he murmurs something softly under his breath.
Bang blinks. "Pardon?"
Amane blinks, then looks annoyed. "Are your buddies up yet? Maybe hanging around again?" Amane warily looks around.
Bang shakes his head, jostling his spiky brown ponytail. "No. I came alone, as a man should when confronting those he has wronged."
Amane hums. "I see. Go get them."
Bang blinks again. "Huh? Why?"
Amane scoffs. "Because for the next week, you'll be taking up guard duty for me and my boys. We've had some trouble with bandits in Ikaruga, and we're getting tired of chasing them off."
Bang nods slowly. "I see. But, what of the people of Ronin-gai? I can't simply leave them defenseless."
Amane whips open a fan from his obi to cover a yawn, waving his for once plain fingernails dismissively. "I don't need all of them. Leave someone behind to cover for you. But make it snappy." Amane looks Bang dead in the eye. "If you're not back by the time I finish getting ready, we're leaving things as is. Got it?"
Bang nods, feeling a chill run down his stiff spine. "R-Right! I, Bang Shishigami, am honored to be your guardian!"
Amane looks at Bang like a duchess looks at a particularly loud puppy. Bang sweats nervously. He bursts off in a flash of trademark speed, to retrieve his comrades.
Amane uses his fan to keep the dust from his now rolling eyes. "Hmph."
Once Bang is out of sight, Amane pivots and strides back over to the caravan, a smirk tugging at his soft lips. Sitting near the fire, Haru and Natsu watch him with knowing smirks of their own as he passes, and Amane scoffs good-naturedly. His boys always did have such keen eyes.
AD 2207, 5/31, Ikaruga Federation – Unknown Area
"Boss, are you sure you should still be up there?" Aka's wary whisper breaks the silence of the moonless night, his green eyes narrowing under heavy raven brows.
Bang glances down at his comrade with a bright smile. "Ha-ha! Do not worry about me, Aka! I am perfectly fine!" He uses a hearty thumbs up to complete his reassurance.
"But Boss, you look terrible. Are you sure you don't want to catch some sleep?" Aoi asks, his grey eyes wide and ginger brows pinching with worry.
"Nonsense. I don't need to sleep yet. I'm just fine." Bang smirks as he turns his eyes back to the horizon.
Aka and Aoi share a glance, then turn to him with renewed vigor. "But Boss, we—!"
"Ugh, can you be quiet already?" Koji's deep grumble cuts in from the wagon behind them, and Bang cringes. They've been too loud again. That means…
"Shishigami, a word?" Amane's messy bed head pokes out from the lead wagon, and Bang reluctantly rushes to the window, where Amane glares at him balefully. "You need to sleep. You can't keep this up."
It's true. Bang's spiky ponytail is far more of a mess than usual, ready to burst from its red band. He has also begun to form heavy maroon bags under his eyes. He's been insistent on taking the night watch twice now and has gotten precious little sleep in the form of power naps for the last two days. All to put off the inevitable, it would seem.
Nevertheless, Bang valiantly fights back a yawn to protest Amane's verdict. "N-Nonsense! I can go on just f— Mph!"
Amane's icy glare deepens as he covers Bang's loud mouth with his hand, shivering slightly at the warmth meeting his slightly chilly palm. Bang's always run hot. "Shishigami, get in here. I have a spare shikibuton somewhere, and you need to rest. Tell one of your buddies to take over."
Amane pulls his hand away a few centimeters, and Bang reluctantly looks to his former perch, to see Aka has already taken his place. Seeing no use in any further arguing, Bang reluctantly shimmies through the window.
After a few moments of groggy searching, Amane finds his spare bedding and hands it over to Bang, who promptly unfurls it just under the window.
Amane scoffs tiredly. "Shishigami, put it next to mine. We'll have to share the blankets."
Bang's face heats up, his eyes going wide. "W-What?"
Amane rolls his eyes and conjures a ribbon to drag the tiresome man away from the window. "Well, I don't have any spare blankets, and I don't feel like making any. So, you'll just have to man up and bear with me. Just keep your back to mine and it'll be fine." Amane yawns behind his hand.
Bang shivers as he watches this. He feels his heart jolt at such a sight. It's almost… cute. He freezes at the thought. "I-I, Bang Shishigami, cannot be thinking of another man as cute!" Bang quickly shakes his head to dispel the notion.
Amane watches him with a knowing deadpan stare. He quirks a brow when Bang finishes imitating a dog trying to dry off. "Are you done? I'm going to bed now, and if you don't hurry up, I'll just keep the blankets to myself."
Bang jolts, then quickly undresses to follow Amane's lead, pressing his now bare back to the other man's, shivering at the feeling of the soft fabric against his naked muscles.
Amane drifts off with a scoff, falling soundly asleep only seconds later. Bang sends several minutes subtly squirming, trying to be comfortable. He's never been much of a side sleeper. Amane groans, and Bang stills, willing himself not to move any further, lest he rouse the dancer. He clenches his eyes shut, listening to Amane's soft breaths. He drifts off a few minutes later, oblivious to the soft smile on the other man's lips.
AD 2204, 6/2, 7th Hierarchical City of Kazamotsu – Unknown Area
Amane hums cheerfully to himself as he packs away the last of their newly gotten supplies. With Bang and his buddies serving as guards, the local bandits have finally given up for the time being. Amane is glad to have been magnanimous enough to let Bang work his way back into his good graces.
"Nishiki, are you sure we don't need more blankets?" Bang looks anxiously at the fully stocked wagons, hoping to spy even a spare stitch of extra fabric.
Amane huffs, rolling his eyes. Here they go again. "Yes, I'm sure, Shishigami. We need the room for other things more, and your buddies will be free to do whatever it is you ninjas do when we reach Ookoto. It's just a few more days, you'll be fine." He pivots to brush past Bang haughtily.
Bang feels his stomach drop. Sharing blankets with Amane isn't exactly unpleasant, and that's precisely the problem. He's getting way too comfortable with the pretty boy.
His comrades are also feeling uneasy, surrounded by such beautiful men on all fronts. Kiiro even confesses to having thought quite favorably of the twins, Haru and Natsu. The poor man is beyond distressed by his feelings now.
Bang needs to do something. "Wait, Nishiki! Is it possible for Kiiro to trade places with myself?"
Amane freezes and then turns to look at Bang with a mask of disinterest. "Oh? Why? Is there a problem with my boys?" Amane's eyes narrow dangerously.
Bang shudders. This man knows how to shake him, that's for sure. "N-No! It's just… Cabin fever!" Bang smiles triumphantly as he thinks of such an ingenious excuse for his comrade.
Amane scoffs. "And how will moving to a different wagon fix that? Wouldn't taking the night watch be a better solution?"
Bang sweats nervously. Amane's seen clean through his deception. "I-I suppose, b—!"
Amane swiftly walks toward him, then pokes a finger into his chest. "Listen, Shishigami. I'm not blind. I've seen how he's looking at my boys. If I thought they were uncomfortable for even a second, he wouldn't be traveling with us. Got it?" Amane leans in to emphasize his point.
Bang nods instantly, his muscular frame shivering. "Y-Yes!"
Amane leans in closer, standing on his toes to brush noses with Bang, his voice growing husky. "And tell him to make up his mind already. Haru and Natsu are getting tired of his staring."
Bang nods again, feeling yet more trembles travel up his otherwise rigid spine. "R-Right!"
Amane leans back, smiling and momentarily satisfied. "Good. Now, c'mon. We need to leave soon if we're going to make it to Yabiko before you guys blow something."
Bang sputters indignantly at the blatant double entendre, his face full of heat, burning scarlet.
Amane simply chuckles lowly and struts away with an extra bounce in his step. Bang never fails to be fun.
AD 2204, 6/5, 6th Hierarchical City of Yabiko – Unknown Area
As Yabiko becomes visible on the horizon, Bang huffs in relief. "Phew. We're almost there."
After conveying Amane's warning, Kiiro has taken the night watch almost every day, sleeping in the twins' wagon while they're out during the day to avoid any more awkwardness. Bang himself has taken to thinking of the beauty of his old flame, Miss Litchi. But in his dreams, the creamy legs always grow thinner, that long hair lighter, and that soothing voice deeper. He shudders.
He's broken out of his troubling thoughts by the yawning of Amane, who blinks blearily at his now-clothed back, his icy eyes tracing the crossing golden hammer and nail emblem on Bang's green jacket through his messy purple tresses.
They sit in companionable, if stilted silence for a moment. Then Amane quirks a brow. "Something wrong, Shishigami?"
"N-No. It's nothing. Good morning, Nishiki." Bang glances over his shoulder, determinably keeping his gaze locked on Amane's own, and not the exposed creamy flesh of the other man's shoulder. That shoulder leads down to a smooth chest, where a hot pink nipple stiffens against the cold air. But Bang wouldn't know this. He's not looking down at all.
Amane huffs and pulls his yukata closed with a roll of his eyes. Bang stalwartly ignores some distant pang in his heart. They sit there, staring at one another for a few moments.
Thankfully, the sound of a shaky, breathy voice breaks the increasingly tense silence. "B-Boss? Are you up yet?" Kiiro, looking thoroughly disheveled, his long caramel hair obscuring his honey brown eyes.
Bang turns swiftly to open the window and poke his head out, where he sees the yellow-clad ninja standing awkwardly and shaking. Bang blinks in alarm at such a posture. "K-Kiiro? What's wrong? Were we attacked in the night?"
Kiiro stiffens with a slight groan in his voice. "N-No, Boss. I just… Look, can we talk? In private?" Kiiro glances at Amane, incredibly nervous. The older man scoffs with a smirk, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Seeing this, Bang promptly nods, then quickly joins Kiiro on the wagon's roof. "What's the matter, Kiiro?"
"F-Follow me." Kiiro limps his way back to the roof of the rear wagon, his legs slightly spread as if he were riding a horse for too long.
"Strange." Bang follows behind him, keeping a slower speed to keep a respectful distance from his clearly hampered comrade.
When they reach the rear, Kiiro shakily makes his way inside, and Bang follows.
"I-I kinda made up my mind…" Kiiro's eyes are full of anxiety and fear, and Bang gasps dramatically. Could it be?
"I know I said I'd do my best to ignore them, but Boss, they're just so—!" Kiiro yelps.
Bang clasps his comrade in a strong hug, tears of wonderous joy trailing down his scruffy cheeks. "There's no need for words, Kiiro! We men of Ikaruga know to trust our hearts! Congratulations!"
Kiiro pauses, then returns the embrace as best he can, crying as well. "B-Boss! Thank you!"
Meanwhile, cuddled together under their blankets, Haru and Natsu pout at the ceiling of their wagon grumpily with narrowed lilac eyes. "So much for enjoying the afterglow."
AD 2204, 6/5, 6th Hierarchical City of Yabiko – Unknown Area
The afternoon sun is high in the sky as Bang nervously walks beside Amane, toward the NOL Branch. He's tried several times to broach the subject of their comrades' newfound happiness, but Amane is entirely too casual about it.
"Nishiki, don't you think we should at least talk about arrangements? Kiiro still has a responsibility to the people of Ronin-gai, and he'd feel terrible if we didn't think of a way to split his time between them and your troupe." Bang tenses when Amane pivots with a sharp huff.
"Alright, Shishigami. How about this? We'll perform in Kagutsuchi once every few months, and Kiiro can do some work for you while we're there." Amane quirks a brow at Bang's confused frown.
"H-Huh? That implies that he'll be with you. I thought you didn't want men such as us in your troupe?" Bang's frown deepens when Amane stares at him like he's stupid.
"Kiiro is plenty handsome. That curly long hair of his is positively darling, and that jawline is sharp enough to cut steel. He's the picturesque example of a bishonen." Amane resumes his stride towards the residence's doors, and Bang scrambles to follow, his confusion worsening.
"W-What? Then why did you reject my offers? I'm the pretty boy of Ikaruga, you know! And my belly dancing—!" Bang cuts himself short when Amane turns to stare at him disbelievingly.
"You call that wiggling a dance?" Amane smiles with a quirking brow, clearly amused.
Bang feels his heart pang at such naked dismissal of his skill in the art. He'd worked hard to master it, and it always made Master Tenjo smile! "W-Why you! I'll have you know that my dancing always brought happiness to any who bear witness to its glory! Even Master Carl could not help but to smile at my dance, despite his troubles!"
Bang takes a strong stance to emphasize his point. "The Ikarugan belly dance is a marvel of the dancing arts! The sight of it is always sure to bring peace and love to those who see it! Behold!"
Placing his hands firmly behind his head and pushing his hips forward, Bang dances his heart out for the cold man in front of him, as well as the bystanders nearby. He moves his hips tirelessly and fluidly for several minutes, enrapturing some and scarring others.
Amane, for his part, does his best to resist the wide smile that eventually splits his heating cheeks at the sight. Eventually, even his will must give to such an irresistible force. He doubles over and laughs his heart out at Bang.
Bang mistakes the amusement for sheer joy and smiles victoriously. "Ha-ha! You see Nishiki? Even you are not immune to my charms!" Bang begins to laugh himself, full of exuberance.
Amane feels tears slipping past his lips and offers thanks to the gods he always uses water-resistant makeup. After a few more moments a groan cuts through their shared laughter.
"What do you think you're doing, Shishigami?" Kagura Mutsuki covers his wary purple eyes with a wrapped hand, his spiky black hair falling into his embarrassed handsome face.
Amane stills, his laughter stopping immediately. Right, he has business to attend to. He rises and wipes away his tears.
Bang also stills, angry at Kagura's offensive implication that his dance is an embarrassment. The nerve of this man! "Mutsuki! Don't tell me you've turned your back on the art!"
Kagura uncovers his narrowing eyes with a scoff. "Art? You don't seriously think you look good, do you Shishigami? This poor lady was about to faint at the sight of you." Kagura leans down to a quivering blonde woman in his arms. "Are you alright, milady?"
She blushes wildly, then nods. "Y-Yes, Lord Kagura…"
Kagura chuckles. "Good. I'd hate to see Shishigami wilt such a gorgeous flower before it blooms." He leans in even closer. "Say, why don't you come with me for some drinks to make up for his… antics?'
Amane and Bang cringe at the playboy's flirting. This man is utterly incorrigible.
Amane breaks up the moment first, clearing his throat. "Ahem."
Kagura glances at him coolly. "Clover's not here right now, so can you come back later?" He turns back to the woman. "Now, about those drinks…?"
Bang breaks up the moment next. "What?! You are meant to be watching over him Mutsuki!" He takes a righteous stance, hunching over with a clenched fist as heat rises around him.
Amane leans into that heat unconsciously. It's a nice contrast to the cool wind.
Kagura groans as he feels the moment finally slip away, the young woman looks uncomfortable. "I-I should go. Maybe another time?"
Kagura nods and releases her. "Sure thing, babe. Just let me know when you're up to it." He winks.
She blushes and smiles brightly before running off. How he does it, neither of the men across the street can understand.
Kagura turns to them with a stern frown. "Now look what you've done. If you wanna get mad at somebody, take it up with Rachel."
Bang frowns in confusion. "Rachel? Do you mean that strange girl from back then? What does she want with Master Carl?"
Amane huffs. "Of course, she's interested in him too. I suppose she just can't help herself." He ruefully shakes his head.
Kagura huffs to himself with a shrug and turns to go back inside. "Whatever. Since I know you'll just break in anyways, why don't you two come inside?" He confidently strides back into the branch, and the two men follow with a shared glance.