The next day they slept throughout the morning. Yumichika woke slowly, the sunlight and the chippering of the birds was first to greet him. He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and looked over to Ikkaku's futon. He smiled upon seeing the larger man, he was sleeping on his stomach with his arms spread away from his body and then coming back to bend under his pillow. The covers were just above his hips where they escaped his shoulders while he slept.
Ikkaku didn't leave. He's still here.
Yumichika had a lot to settle today if he was going to leave with Ikkaku tomorrow. He had to sort out his business in the village, talk with the village elders about his resignation and departure and most difficult of all- say goodbye to Hekma and the spirits.
He was heading to the small kitchen when he took notice of the damage he made in the living room while throwing his tantrum, 'yikes, that could not have been pretty.' Yumichika winced. And oh no, did he break his favorite vase? The raven sighed, it didn't matter anyway; he didn't need it on the road. So he just cleaned up and made a big breakfast/ lunch to bribe his little companions to accept his departure, as silly as that sounded but Yumichika had no other ideas.
The spirits gathered around him in the kitchenette, overjoyed by the feast Yumichika was preparing. They've made their peace with Ikkaku leaving already and they assumed Yumichika did as well. And now Yumichika was sweating like a guilty person waiting for judgment. He asked the spirits to sit at the kotatsu while he finished the last dish.
"mmmh fuck yeah" Ikkaku said emerging from the bedroom, breathing in deeply. He could smell before see the heavenly sight before his eyes. This was stuff meant for royalty right there. He turned to look at Yumichika to see him throwing him a disapproving look. Ikkaku went to stand close to the smaller man and whispered a small "What?" to which Yumichika rolled his eyes and whispered back "Put a shirt on." and when Ikkaku didn't understand Yumichika's point Yumichika elaborated, "We need to leave with a last good impression."
Ikkaku thought it was kind of unnecessary since everyone already knows how he is. And anyway, Ikkaku couldn't even concentrate because he couldn't take his eyes off the golden noodles Yumichika was making, so he reached with his hand, picked a noodle and dumped it in his mouth. Yumichika of course swatted him and called him disgusting. Ikkaku just grinned and leaned back in, closer to Yumichika's ear this time and spoke in a low voice so the spirits wouldn't hear him, "I hope ya keep spoilin' me like that when we leave here." Yumichika simply shoved Ikkaku off him with his shoulder and took the plate of noodles to the kotatsu after saying, "How cute. You think I made this for you."
Yumichika was so pesky and sassy Ikkaku wondered how he was going to put up with him out there. He could only imagine.
Ikkaku had insisted on going down to the village with Yumichika. He was so tired of being on that mountain and he still had to settle things with the guys who ganged up on him- which was exactly what the raven was worried about.
"Ikkaku please. Don't start any trouble until I've already spoken with the elders okay?" He wanted to get their approval before Ikkaku went all nuts on their village people.
Ikkaku just nodded in annoyance, giving Yumichika his word that he would wait. Which had the younger man relived for a while.. that was short-lived; upon entering the village, everyone had their eyes wide on the couple. Muttering and gossiping among each other; they thought Ikkaku was dead thanks to the bragging of the gangs.
The villagers were now talking about how they were worried about Ikkaku causing them trouble again, how Yumichika had aided and befriended a troublemaker and how it was the first time they've ever seen Ayasegawa walking with someone.
Yumichika kept a stoic face and headed to his fabric supplier and settled everything. Handing him his clients finished and unfinished orders and paying whatever he had left to pay. By that time Ikkaku was bored out of his mind so he left for a near by bar, asking Yumichika to come get him when he's done.
After Yumichika finally left the temple, visibly distressed and tired. Talking to these women was hard. And the sun was starting to set too resulting in the lanterns and other lights coming to life, illuminating the area before it was swallowed by the dark. He needed to go get Ikkaku; he was probably drunk by now.
As he made his way through the shops he could hear the unfortunate noise of ruckus and what seemed to be- a fight. Yumichika groaned, how was he supposed to drag Ikkaku out of a fight.
He sped up his steps, following the yells and cheers coming from, thankfully, an empty area away from the children and other innocent villagers. Suddenly as Yumichika neared the fighting pit, there was a sudden silence. The silence lasted for a few seconds until the yelling and screaming started again, this time, two times harder. Yumichika found himself panicking something might've happened to Ikkaku and his body grew cold. He was running now, grabbing a metal skewer from one of the shops he passed by to defend his friend.
When Yumichika reached the pit he was relived again, like warm water that was dumped on his freezing body. There Ikkaku was in all his glory, making his attackers drop like flies around him with that stupid grin of his on his face yelling "ya pussies better not be goin' soft on me. Put yer back into it ya little shits!" And Yumichika found himself smiling. Oh how beautiful Ikkaku was fighting like that; his sweat and his opponent's blood glistened his neck and chest, and his muscles flexed in the most hypnotizing way as he elevated his attackers from the ground like they weighted nothing before dropping them with force back into the dry, hard ground. Yumichika bit his lower lip, watching Ikkaku fight was a euphoric experience but he couldn't help but worry. He was greatly out numbered, had they decided to attack all at once they would be able to bring Ikkaku down- but why weren't they?
The raven then averted his eyes from Ikkaku, running them over the scattered, unconscious bodied on the ground. Nothing seemed weird aside from that but what Yumichika saw next brought violent chills to his body. There, among the bodies a body nearly floating in it's own blood- a beheaded body. Yumichika stared at it for a full minute, wondering if it was going to disappear if he blinked his eyes enough times.
So that's why everyone went quiet.. why they were afraid to even make a move at the bald man. And where did Ikkaku get that sword from?
As Ikkaku knocked his last opponent unconscious, the others scurried away until it was just Yumichika and himself standing there. Ikkaku got up from the limp body beneath him. "Fuck yeah, I've been itchin' for this," He said, chest rising and falling as he regained his breath. Yumichika could almost see the veins in the older man's arms pulsing from all the excitement and adrenaline. He was now examining the sword in his hand in wonder and Yumichika could guess why. The cut on the beheaded man's neck was so clean as if it were done in one swift blow, "You killed a man." Yumichika said plainly as his eyes searched for the man's detached head.
"I've killed thousands of men." Ikkaku was paying no mind to his friend, his attention stolen by the sword in his hand.
Yumichika chuckled bitterly, "No women or children?" His tone laced in sarcasm.
When Ikkaku ignored him, Yumichika made note that the beheaded man fortunately had no family. He wondered who was going to bury the dead man. He went over to where the man's head had landed and nudged it closer to its body with his foot in disgust. It was so weird, as if the dismemberment of the man's head made him an entirely different being or entity. He wanted to respect the dead but when there's an actual dead body before his eyes, it was difficult.
When Yumichika looked up from his task he realized Ikkaku had come closer and was now standing next to the lifeless body. Ikkaku was pointing with his chin to the metal skewer in Yumichika's hand, "What's that?" Ikkaku asked.
Yumichika followed Ikkaku's gaze to his hand and realized what Ikkaku was asking about, "Oh, that. It's the only thing I could find incase you needed any help," Yumichika paused then, looking at the heap of unconscious bodies on the ground, plus the dead body beneath them and then says, "Clearly you didn't."
"That's right." Ikkaku said forcefully. He was now glaring at the younger male, making him confused. Did he do something wrong?
"Ya don't ever intervene in any of my fights ya understand?" Ikkaku took a step closer to the smaller man, reflecting the seriousness of his words. "If ya had I would've shoved that skewer so deep down yer throat ya wouldn't know where yer body started and where it ended ya hear me Yumichika?"
Yumichika did not expect this. Even though the man had always refused his help, he just didn't expect him to get so angry like this. He was glaring at him and threatening him— he never threatened him like this before. His heart was pounding so hard against his ribcage and the steady drumming in his ears only helped in intensifying the heat that spread from Yumichika's face to his neck. But he never once broke eye contact with the bald man.
Despite wanting to ask why, Yumichika dropped his weapon and uttered a quiet 'fine'
Ikkaku then nodded and mentioned something about wanting to go back to the mountain and have a drink so they could leave as soon as they can. But Yumichika wasn't listening; he was a few steps behind Ikkaku, replaying the scene from just moments ago over and over again in his head. The heat from his face and neck had spread through his entire body. Watching Ikkaku in his element was such a euphoric experience that Yumichika could watch him for days and still get overwhelmed by the beauty that was Ikkaku's passion. But what got to Yumichika the most was how possessive and greedy Ikkaku was of his passion.
Yumichika looked up to check that he didn't lose Ikkaku and surely enough, he didn't. He was unusually quiet but Yumichika guessed it might've been because Ikkaku thought Yumichika was angry with him for threatening him earlier. But oh Ikkaku had no idea how much Yumichika loved it. It was like he was blessed with a feeble taste of Ikkaku's passion. How aggressive Ikkaku could get, how forceful, how brutal.. It was making the raven hot all over and he was positive something was wrong with him for his body to be responding this way to a threat.
When they reached the cabin Yumichika made a quick dinner while Ikkaku showered. He needed to use the bathroom too and he couldn't sit still. He was trying to think of a proper way to say his goodbyes but all he could think of was Ikkaku's blood splattered, sweaty body. It was all wrong; what he thinking and how he was feeling. He felt like a bitch in heat and that was absolutely disgusting.
Yumichika didn't want to admit it before but now that he understands it better, he knew he was attracted to Ikkaku in a sexual sense. At first he thought he was simply appreciating his beauty but he never bargained he'd desire such things.
The raven was fidgeting foot to foot in front of the bathroom door, waiting for Ikkaku to come out so he could use it. He needed to splash some cool water on his face and neck.
When Ikkaku finally came out, Yumichika barely gave the man time to step foot into the hallway, muttering a quick 'dinner is ready' before disappearing into the bathroom and closing the door behind himself. Leaning against the bathroom door, he had his eyes closed shut as he tried to gain back control of himself.
He felt betrayed by his own body, overheating like this even without being touched. He needed to lose the layers. Gingerly, Yumichika slid his fingers up his delicate hips to his waist where the yukata sash was located, slowly working the knot open before dropping it to fall around his feet. He spread the yukata off his chest that was glistening with a thin layer of sweat, and sighing in relief- as mild as it was.
Taking a look over himself, the raven almost looked like he was defeated in a fight, as if he were one of Ikkaku's victims. Yumichika almost whimpered at that thought. Reaching his hands where he was most uncomfortable, Yumichika hooked his thumbs to the hem of his damp underwear and slowly peeled them off causing his cock to spring back and hit his underbelly. He hissed at that and threw his head back hitting the door behind him.
He's never been this horny before and he's almost never had any sexual interaction or activities since he came here- he never needed to. Not to say he was never acquainted with the concept of pleasuring ones self, but he never had a motivation. But now since he did, it was coming in full force. Punishing him for his neglect.
His cock ached and burned to be touched but Yumichika was still hesitant. The subject of his desire was just outside the door having dinner. Probably in that brutish way he always did. Handling his food and plate like he handled everything else- aggressively. Yumichika's legs were now trembling, threatening to give out. He let out a final sigh of surrender and moved his hand, squeezing and massaging his balls first, feeling like they might've burst from the pressure if he didn't. His other hand hovered over his member before allowing a finger to touch the tip, causing more precum to leak out.
His cock was already flushed and drenched in precum Yumichika thought it would take no time at all for him to come. 'How shameful.' Yumichika thought. He was now tracing circles around the head of his member with the tip of his finger, getting enough precum to use as lubrication and spreading it all over his member.
When Yumichika finally gripped his member- it felt so good. And that was it, all self-control be damned, he needed to cum. That was the only thought in his head as he started bumping and squeezing his erection, he wanted to cum right now. The raven was panting and sweating, he could feel his orgasm coming. When it came, it came with the last few thoughts he had, of tanned muscular arms touching him however they pleased.
Yumichika then came so hard his legs shivered and shook violently before giving out. "AH..Aah. mmmmh.." He screamed, it almost hurt, spasming and bucking against the door until he was seated on the tiles of his bathroom floor.
Yumichika was breathing heavily, never minding the copious amount of his seed all over his inner thighs and the floor.
He was fairly certain Ikkaku heard, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He regretted it instantly. 'damn brute' Yumichika thought. Maybe he shouldn't leave with him after all. He wished it were that easy.
He was brought back from his internal battle by Ikkaku trying to open the door. Yumichika pushed back hard, slamming it back shut.
"It's occupied!" Yumichika complained.
There was a moment of silence before Ikkaku simply answered, "Just checkin'." And then left.
Yumichika sighed, thankful that Ikkaku was minding his own business. He ought to shower and talk with Hekma now. Delaying it was only going to make it harder.
Hekma was dead silent as Yumichika broke the news. Nothing betrayed her emotions, none. She was eerily calm. It was terrifying but Yumichika has made up him mind.
"I can't say I'm surprised. It's because of that human isn't it?" She sounded hurt.
"I'm sorry Hekma-"
"If you're leaving, take the Qurban with you."
Yumichika frowned, "But.. It's safer with you."
"You seem to forget I'm not its keeper."
"I don't," Yumichika knew fair and well he was being unreasonable and acting on his emotions. But if Hekma refused to keep it then he was in trouble. "I just think you'd make a much more better keeper than I am."
"Yumichika I am not doing you favors." She sounded upset. "Just take the Qurban and leave."
Yumichika sighed and sat down on a near by root that had penetrated the earth. "I can't stand being without him. I wont."
He remembered how it used to be without Ikkaku, and even though it has only been month, it seemed so long ago.
"Please understand Hekma."
Yumichika was only a human. Everybody knew that on the mountain. And there are certain things a human simply cannot attain. Thus, it was unfair, cruel even, to place a human in complete isolation of other humans. So, it has been arranged for the keeper to work in the village below so the isolation wouldn't be complete.
'Seems it wasn't enough.'
Hekma briefly retrieved the events of Yumichika's arriving and life on the mountain.
She understood.
But she was disappointed as well.
"You need to seal it, it has to be your blood."
It pained Yumichika to hear the hurt in her voice but he did as he was told. Getting up, Yumichika circled around the tree spirit, looking for the hallow opening only he and Hekma knew was there and entered her.
It smelled like mud and moist wood. Yumichika shivered at the unnerving, well-remembered energy that was the Qurban. It was placed it what could pass as a cradle.
He knew by sealing the Qurban he was going to always have a connection to it. It was his job after all.
He didn't want to approach it but he knew he had to, and when he was standing right above it he wrinkled his nose, "Such an ugly thing."
It looked like something out of a nightmare. An undeveloped fetus, its legs resembled those of a goat's, its fingers were connected by what looked like fins, its eyes were swollen shut and you could see the veins under its transparent skin.
Its appearance always disgusted Yumichika, he didn't like being near it. When he was first introduced to it he felt shock and pity for the thing, but when he said he was going to care for it and nurture it the spirits laughed, telling him that the Qurban wasn't a thing to care for but simply a vessel for powerful concentrated energy.
Yumichika put his finger to the Qurban's mouth where it latched on it and bit, sucking the blood from the wound.
It was true.. In a hundred years, the Qurban never grew, was never hungry or thirsty, never anything but a vessel.
In the morning, it was time for them to leave. Ikkaku wanted to leave before sunrise and Yumichika agreed; he didn't want to have to face his little companions and say goodbye. He wouldn't be able to do it.
"The hell ya need yer cart for?" Ikkaku said. Eyeing the younger man as he loaded his bags onto his cart.
"To carry our stuff." Yumichika answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"If yer a donkey, yeah. But it's better if ya just carry a bag with blankets, money, food and one or two extra yukatas to wear when your washing the one yer wearing. Ya don't need ALL yer clothes." Ikkaku explained.
Yumichika groaned, "This is annoying."
"You'll get used to it." Ikkaku grinned.
They picked up their satchels and left. Yumichika sparing one last look at the cabin he'd stayed in for almost a hundred years.
When they met Hekma on the way out Yumichika thanked her and asked her to deliver his love and goodbyes to the other spirits. Hekma agreed, but made sure Yumichika knew she wasn't giving him her blessing to leave.
She looked at Ikkaku and finally said, "He's all yours." Referring to the younger male.
Ikkaku gave her no mind and left, Yumichika following close behind. "I'm all yours?" the smaller man asked.
"Gone crazy with age? Who the fuck knows." Ikkaku shrugged.
When they arrived at the outside of the village Yumichika stopped. It was really happening, he's really leaving this place.
Ikkaku walked ahead and started explaining the rout they'll be taking to their next destination but Yumichika wasn't listening. He was to busy staring at his, now, only companion.
And he knew he wasn't going to feel lonely anymore.