AD 2206, 5/31, 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi – Ronin-Gai
Amane Nishiki awakens with a crackling stretch and a less than beatific yawn, blinking his tired icy blue eyes into the sunlight filtering in from the curtained windows of his wagon. The light is dimmer than usual, and he frowns in confusion. Why is he awake so early? He jolts as a knock comes upon the door of his wagon. Ah. That would explain it.
With a cautious frown, Amane makes his way to the door, cracking it open.
The earnest amber eyes of Bang Shishigami blinks back at him, taking him in for a moment before coughing into a fist and looking away with flushed cheeks.
Amane blinks, then shivers as the chill wind brushes over… Ah. He glances down to see that the left side of his yukata slid down his shoulder, exposing a petal pink nipple to the world. He hums and adjusts his clothes to cover up properly.
The pair of men stand in awkward silence for a moment.
Amane tiredly sighs, "Is there a reason you got me up so early, Shishigami?"
Bang glances back at him, then faces him properly, still blushing. He gruffly hums, "Yes. I heard that you would be making your way to Yabiko soon."
Amane nods slowly, wondering where this is going.
Bang continues, "I was hoping to accompany you. That we might ease each other's way."
Amane blinks, then hums, "Well, we have had some trouble with bandits recently…" He nods. "Alright. I don't see a problem other than bunking."
Bang's eyes widen. He nervously chuckles, "I hadn't considered such a thing."
Amane quirks a brow teasingly, but says nothing as he lets Bang mutter to himself. Best to let the other man work things out whilst he dresses. He huffs, "I'll be right back, Shishigami."
Shutting the door with a soft click, Amane swiftly unties his obi, allowing his yukata to flutter down his slim frame. As he steps out of it, he sets his hands to work on his errantly tangled locks.
Getting everything in place as it should be takes him longer than he'd like to admit.
When he reopens the door, Bang is already negotiating with Azuki as to where everyone can rest their heads on the journey to Ikaruga. Amane smiles fondly as he sees the excitement in Bang's eyes as he goes over the details of what he and his fellow ninja can do to earn their keep.
This doesn't go unnoticed, as the hushed giggling of Haru and Natsu meets his ears as he locks his door. He rolls his eyes. Those boys…
A warm hand clasps onto his shoulder, causing him to jolt. He glances back to see Bang smiling at him.
Bang hums, "Thank you for agreeing to this, Nishiki. I promise that you will not regret it."
Amane smirks. "Of course not, you'll be plenty warm, I'm sure." Amane puts an extra bounce into his step as he twirls around a now sputtering Bang.
Bang sighs wearily from his place atop Amane's wagon. His eyes are burning, and the rain stings his body, but he still forces them open. If he can just make it through the night, he can sleep in the morning.
From behind him, Aka whispers, "Boss, are you sure you should still be up there?"
Bang huffs out a laugh, trying to reassure his subordinate. "Of course, Aka. No need to worry about me."
Aoi jumps to the wagon from the neighboring one, his silver eyes pinching with worry. "But Boss, you look terrible. Wouldn't it be better for you to retire for the night? It's only a few hours until dawn. We can keep the watch, so please, get some rest."
Bang feels irritation creep up his stiffening spine. He knows it's unfair. They're just looking out for him, but he can't just... It wouldn't be right to…
Bang barks out another laugh, "Worry not! I, Bang Shishigami—!"
Amane's groggy voice cuts through his boisterous speech. "Are going to come to bed before I, Amane Nishiki, drag you there by the ear."
Bang flushes as Aka and Aoi's eyes widen at the declaration from the thoroughly disheveled troupe leader, who hangs from his window with an icy glare levelled at Bang.
Bang deflates, knowing that he can brook no argument with the man as he is now. He sighs, "Nishiki, I—"
Amane cuts him off again, growing crankier as the rain mats his hair and dampens his yukata. "Shishigami, if you don't come here right this second, I'll come up there and get you myself."
Bang jolts, then hurriedly makes his way to the window, slipping in as Amane ducks back inside.
As he shuts the window, Bang jolts as he sees Amane reaching for a dry yukata, whirling around just in time to hear the splat of the damp one hitting the wagon's floor.
Amane huffs, "You could've just asked to bunk with someone else, you know."
Bang blinks as he hears a hint of… dejection? He shakes his head and sighs, "I'm sorry, Nishiki. I meant no offense."
Amane noncommittally hums, and Bang hears the rustling of sheets before he sighs, "You can turn around, now."
Bang does so, and feels guilt stab at him as he sees the tired and wet Amane shiver under his now damp sheets. If he'd just faced up to his fears like a man of justice should, then Amane would be dry and sleeping soundly.
Bang sighs and sheds his own soaked clothing, feeling himself flush as Amane watches him with a concerned frown. Bang pauses at his pants, and Amane politely turns away, allowing Bang to step out of them and stand in his fundoshi, shivering.
After a moment, Amane huffs, "There's a dry one on the vanity. I took it out of your bag."
Bang sighs, "Thank you, Nishiki." He allows himself to shed the last layer and pad past the tatami, towards the vanity where his crimson fundoshi awaits. He tries to ignore Amane's presence as he moves, donning the garment as swiftly as possible.
Bang turns to see Amane's eyes scrunching tightly. He pauses. Amane looks so… cute.
Bang quickly shakes his head. "I, Bang Shishigami, cannot be thinking of another man as cute!"
Amane groans, "Are you going to take this long every time? I need my beauty sleep, you know."
Bang flushes even deeper and blows out the lantern overhead, twisting beneath the covers so that their backs barely touch, his meagre offering of body heat to make up for Amane's troubles.
Amane sighs and relaxes somewhat, bringing their backs flush together.
Bang shivers as the wet locks of hair chill his muscles. He grunts, "G-Goodnight, Nishiki."
Amane doesn't respond, and Bang takes a moment to sulk as he feels the guilt return. It takes only a moment more for Bang to hear the soft snores. He blinks, then sighs.
Bang sends several minutes subtly squirming, trying to be comfortable. He's never been much of a side sleeper.
Amane whines, squirming in his sleep as Bang jostles his body and shifts the sheets.
Bang stills, willing himself not to move any further, lest he further rouse the dancer. He clenches his eyes shut, listening to Amane's even breaths.
Bang drifts off a few moments later, oblivious to the soft smile growing on Amane's plush lips.
That night, his usual dreams of Litchi shift. Her hair colors, her frame slims, and her voice grows deep and melodic.
It's been four nights since they set out. Having reached Kazamotsu, Bang watches as Amane happily hums and puts away the last of their newly gotten supplies. The man's eyes practically sparkle in the daylight, and his voice lulls Bang into a sense of calm.
Bang shakes his head, knowing where his thoughts are treading. He sighs ruefully. He can't go on like this. It's not right to… to…
Amane notices Bang's turmoil and his humming stops. He huffs, "Is everything alright, Shishigami?"
Bang's eyes snap open and he bashfully laughs, "Nothing, it's nothing! Don't worry about me!"
Amane eyes him coolly, scrutinizing his expression. He hums, "Riiight." He turns back to close the wagon's hidden compartment, huffing, "Well, that's the last of it. We should be in Yabiko by week's end."
Bang bites back a sigh of relief. He's been getting far too comfortable around the pretty boy. Some distance will do him good. Instead, he lowly murmurs, "I didn't notice any tatami mats."
Amane pauses, then looks back over his shoulder, frowning. "Well, I didn't see a reason to pack spares. We'll only be bunking together for a few more days." He narrows his eyes dangerously. "Are you sure everything's alright?"
Bang stiffly nods. "O-Of course! I was just, uh, curious!"
Amane looks nonplussed and even… disappointed? He huffs, "Alright, if you're sure…"
Amane huffs as he comes to, missing the heat at his back that he's become accustomed to. He blearily pries his eyes open and turns, seeing the golden hammer and nail on the back of Bang's green jacket as the other man stares out the window at the skyline of Yabiko.
Amane tamps down on the bitter sting of rejection in his heart. He really needs to get a handle on this crush already. It's been years, for goodness' sake. He stifles a yawn, and sighs, "Shishigami, what're you doing?"
Bang jolts, and sheepishly looks back over his shoulder with a blush. He clears his throat, humming, "I-I was just making sure that everything was in order."
Amane sighs, saddened by Bang's poor attempts at deception. The man is easy to read as ever. He huffs, "Well, we'll be there soon. Make sure that your buddies have their things ready."
Bang nods. "R-Right!" He then opens the window, flipping onto the roof.
Amane swallows the urge to shout at him to get back here and be honest. He's not exactly being as forward as he'd like to be. He just…
Amane groans and rakes his hand through his hair. Why does this have to be so difficult?
The afternoon sun is high in the sky as Bang walks beside Amane, toward the NOL Branch. Amane apparently wants to get official permission from Kagura to park his caravan nearby. Although Bang has no doubt that he still has intentions on recruiting Carl, he doesn't stop him.
Bang instead sighs, "Nishiki, I've been wondering about something…"
Amane hums wordlessly.
Bang nervously continues, "Why did you reject my offer to join your troupe?"
Amane pauses, then looks at Bang closely. "Where's this coming from all of a sudden?"
Bang shrugs. "As I said, I'm curious. You say that you seek only handsome men to join you, and I was once known as the 'pretty boy of Ikaruga,' and my belly dancing skills are unrivaled, so why then did you reject me?"
Amane raises a brow. "You mean that wriggling that you were trying to do in the Embryo?"
Bang freezes, and then narrows his eyes at such a stinging remark. Amane has withdrawn himself all morning, and he's had enough. He'd worked hard to master the art, and it always made Master Tenjo smile!
Bang scowls. "I'll have you know that my dancing always brought happiness to any who bear witness to it. 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, twitches and seems to be doing his best to maintain his stoic façade.
But the rising heat in his cheeks is plain to see as a smile and a giggle finally break his mask.
Bang, taking Amane's growing giggles as a sing of victory, chuckles, "Ha-ha! You see Nishiki? Even you are not immune to my charms!"
The pair laugh like school boys as Bang's dance continues. A groan breaks the moment.
"What do you think you're doing, Shishigami?"
Kagura Mutsuki covers his wary iolite eyes with a wrapped hand, his spiky black hair falling into his embarrassed handsome face.
Amane stills, his laughter stopping immediately.
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?'
Bang cringes 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 a little 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.
Kagura groans as he feels the moment finally slip away.
The young woman looks uncomfortable. "I-I should go. Maybe another time?"
Kagura nods, releasing her. "Sure thing, babe. Just let me know when you're up to it." He winks.
She blushes and smiles brightly before running off.
Kagura turns to Bang 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."
Kagura huffs, "Whatever. Since I know you'll just break in anyways, why don't you two come inside?"
He strides back into the branch, and the two men follow with a shared glance.