Chapter Nine

Bullet Train

The bullet train sped through the countryside, their journey taking them away from the city to somewhere safe, or at least safer where they would ride out the rest of the whole ordeal. No more moving, no more running and hiding, just a house in some town out of the way where they could hide and Sousuke could do his job. Keeping Makoto safe. And somewhere where they would have the space to allow each other sometime alone and no longer confined together. It would perhaps make things easier.

Sousuke took the aisle seat and Makoto sat at the window. They'd bought another new set of clothes and the large grey hoodie that Makoto wore had its hood pulled over his head as he lay his head against the glass, his eyes alternating between staring out at the country that flashed past and then being closed as though deep in thought. Sousuke kept his eyes on the people moving between carriages and Makoto. He guessed all their moves around, all their changes in location would've puzzled their pursuers, the man in glasses but Sousuke never let himself get comfortable.

As comfortable meant complacency and complacency meant death. For himself or the person he was protecting. He heard Makoto sigh and he glanced back towards him, seeing him shift in his seat and relax, trying to find room for his long limbs in the confines of the seats. Sousuke knew that problem all too well. Being too big for the seats on public transport.

"Comfortable?" he asked after Makoto stopped his wriggling and shifting.

Makoto only cocked his head and made a face that suggested "no." Sousuke chuckled under his breath.

"Me neither."

It wasn't exactly the most exciting conversation but they were talking and that was an improvement. Sousuke wanted sleep, wanted to be no longer on edge but he was as in the dark as Makoto was until Rin gave him an all clear. He folded his arms across his chest and then crossed and uncrossed his legs, blowing out a deep breath as he waited for their stop.

Sousuke had almost nodded off a few times and Makoto had at least once. One time he'd leaned the opposite way to the window and Sousuke had felt Makoto's head resting on his shoulder gently and he'd looked down to see his sleeping face. He'd wanted to tease at his hair, feel the soft skin on his cheek but Sousuke had resisted. And was glad when Makoto woke up, a little dazed and embarrassed, then moving as far away from Sousuke as possible.

The train stopped and Sousuke grabbed their limited luggage from the storage above. They'd bought more clothes, some toiletries and importantly, clean underwear. Sousuke was praying to a god of water or something for a shower and to feel clean again. And shave. He needed it.

Makoto offered to grab something but Sousuke declined as well as simple provisions, Sousuke had acquired a gun and a few knives if necessary. It was a brief meeting that Sousuke had arranged, a meeting where a bag was left on a certain bench and Sousuke walked past it and collected it. A pick up that Makoto had blinked during and probably missed. So Sousuke wanted to remain close to those weapons.

The instructions to the safe house were ingrained in Sousuke's head - one of his more important skills was his innate memory and ability to remember information so he didn't pause and gain his bearings, only walked at a pace that Makoto fell in line with, not missing a beat.

It was a smaller town, not the large expanse of the city and Sousuke led them towards their temporary home, nodding and saying hello politely at curious onlookers. Sousuke wished they'd arrived at night, not late afternoon as they seemed more conspicuous than he would like but they were so far away from the immediate danger he relaxed a small amount, seeing Makoto charmingly smile at people and even at one stage bend down to pet a cat.

The home was traditional with a small garden and Sousuke opened the doors with the key that he'd been informed was hidden underneath a particular potted plant, using it and then making Makoto stay in the entrance hall as he explored the rooms. It was pure luxury compared to the previous days - a bed, a stocked kitchen, a shower and even a television to provide some distraction. When he collected Makoto from the entrance after giving him the all clear, they gravitated towards the large open plan kitchen with the low table and the view over the gardens.

Sousuke walked towards the floor to ceiling glass doors and slid them open, listening to some chimes on the wind and he felt more relaxed than he had for days. Rin had told him this safe house was perhaps better than their previous fishing warehouse but Sousuke hadn't quite expected this.

"There's food. I'll make dinner."

He turned to see Makoto having taken off the grey hoodie, wearing a loose fit t-shirt that showed a hint of skin, and he had already got out some noodles, some jars and even some vegetable. Rin had really done his magic.

"You cook?" Sousuke asked.

Makoto nodded. "I live alone," he answered as he retrieved a knife from the block. "You don't?"

"No... I eat out a lot. Then microwaves..." he said, shrugging slightly, embarrassed by his own incompetence as he watched Makoto slice a carrot with skill and finesse.

It was a domestic image and one that Sousuke found appealing. As Makoto looked good chopping, cooking and Sousuke wondered what he could make in his apartment with the gadgets he barely knew how to use.

"I'm going to shower," Sousuke said, "if there's any trouble... You know what to do."

Makoto nodded and Sousuke grabbed for the bag, contemplating leaving the gun with Makoto but instead, he took it with him as if necessary he could bolt out and kill anyone naked. He'd done it before.

The shower was as blissful as Sousuke imagined, the powerful spray caressing all his skin and he was tempted to stay in forever but his stomach growled making him aware that he was hungry - a pre-packed sandwich and a coffee not sustaining enough. He wrapped a towel around his waist and towel dried his hair, taking a moment before changing into clean boxer briefs and a t-shirt, not bothering with jeans. After all, Makoto had already had his mouth on his cock so Sousuke wasn't hiding anything.

He walked back to the room, the smell of food filling the air, noodles and broth and vegetables being laid out and Sousuke watched Makoto work for a moment before he made him aware he was there. As when Makoto didn't know Sousuke was watching, he was natural, beautiful even and he'd probably fucked up any chance of anything meaningful due to a needy and rushed sexual encounter.

"Smells good," he said finally and Makoto looked up then, a small blush on his face.

"It's nothing."

If Sousuke was that kinda guy he would've pressed the conversation, he would've asked more but instead, he gave a smile and helped Makoto take it to the table.