Looking for....
Characters: Niou and Akaya
Location: The Island
Time: May 12
Rating:
Summary: Akaya invites Niou to go hunting for fruit with him and gets a fight of sorts instead.
Niou sighed as he placed his phone down. As much as he didn’t want to go see Akaya, it was definitely best to actually get some fruits since any source of water is no longer drinkable. He pulled the brim of his hat down, hiding his eyes from view, but he was sure that the other would eventually see the dark circles under his eyes. Niou checked his pockets, making sure that he had what he needed, and grabbed his small bag to carry whatever fruit they find back to his little spot, then left to see if he could find Akaya.
Standing in the shadow of the trees, Akaya adjusted the straps of his backpack as he tried to avoid using his cane as much as he could. Scanning the beach, he spotted a figure in a hat that looked like Niou. Taking a deep breath, Akaya smiled slightly as he waited for the other man to get to him.
Niou saw Akaya up ahead and slowed his pace a little, taking his time to just prepare himself for what to come, if anything did come. He walked up to him, feeling a small sense of relief when he no longer saw the bandages around the other’s head, but his face remained expressionless. “Let’s go and get this over with.” Niou said when he got close enough for Akaya to hear and stood at least an arm’s length away from him.
Akaya looked at Niou in concern, noting the circles under his eyes. "Has the heat been keeping you up at night? I know you don't like it much."
Clicking his teeth in displeasure, Niou scowled and turned his head away. “Does that really concern you?” he asked as he pulled the brim of his hat down again. “I didn’t come for idle chit chat; let’s just get some fruit then go our separate ways again.”
Akaya sighed, his shoulders drooping. “Look, whatever I did to make you so mad at me, I’m sorry. I don’t know why you hate me, and I really wish I did because then maybe I could fix it. But if spending time with me makes you this upset, then screw it, I’ll go pick fruit by myself and hope someone comes looking for me if I trip and can’t get back up.” Akaya had turned his back on Niou so that the other wouldn’t see that his eyes were brimming with tears and turning more red than what crying could account for. He had honestly wanted to spend time with Niou as friends, nothing more. Was it so wrong to care about the wellbeing of a friend?
Niou felt a slight ache in his chest when he heard Akaya’s words and saw the other turn away from him. He had expected something like this would happen, but it seemed like he could never really prepare for it. “Damnit.” he cursed as he took off his hat and ruffled his hair a bit in frustration. “Why you two?” Niou asked, though it mainly to himself. “If it had been anyone else besides one of you, then this would have gone better.”
Akaya stiffened a bit at Niou’s words. “What do you mean, why us two? Do you mean Yagyuu and me? Is it that hard to believe that we enjoy spending time with you?”
“Spending time with me... actually caring about me; you and Hiroshi are too close for me to completely push you away.” Niou sighed as he looked down at the ground. “Just tell me that you hate me, that you don’t want to see me; maybe then it’ll stop hurting.” That last part came out barely as a whisper.
Akaya started shaking slightly as he strained his ears to hear Niou’s words. As he stood there, the tears that had been threatening to fall from his eyes spilled down over his cheeks. Taking a deep breath, he did his best to keep the tears out of his voice as he replied. “But I can’t hate you, and I do want to see you. I’ve been worried about you since I haven’t seen you since the ship. I don’t know why it hurts to have me care, but you’re my friend, above any other feelings I have. I’ve spent so much time missing my friends, missing you, that I don’t want to stop caring. I can’t stop caring. But I guess I don’t know how to help you understand that. Because I don’t understand why you don’t want me to care.”
Niou could have detected something in the tone of Akaya's voice and wanted to see the other's expression. He stepped up behind him, raising his hand to place on the other man's shoulder but stopped, letting his hand back down to his side. "Akaya, I'd lost someone important to me before and I don't think I can handle it if I lost someone else, that's why I'm against forming deep bonds with anyone." he whispered, not able to keep the hurt out of his voice. Niou sighed and turned around, getting ready to just leave again. "I'm sorry."
Akaya could hear the hurt in Niou’s voice and turned to see the other man’s back. Reaching out hesitantly, he grabbed the back of Niou’s shirt. Looking down at the ground so that his tears were hidden, he tried his best to keep his voice from shaking. “Then don’t let that happen. Fight to keep people near you. I’m not going to lie and tell you that you can fight everything, there are some things that no one can stop, but isn’t it better to fight for what you can? Otherwise, you’d be so lonely. You might not have anyone to miss that way, but then you wouldn’t have anyone to share your good times with either. And sharing pain can make it hurt less. I just...I want my friend back. Please.”
Niou reached back and pulled Akaya's hand away then turned to face him again. "I would rather be alone than hurt." he said as he gently lifted the other's head up and Niou's facial expression softened a little when he saw Akaya's tears. "You want your friend back, but you'd become much more than a friend to me and that… scares me a little." he whispered as he gently ran his thumb under Akaya's right eye.
Akaya leaned softly into Niou’s touch. “You think I’m not scared? I’m scared that when we get back home and I’m healed up again, things are going to fall apart again. Between the time differences when I’m away at tournaments and how busy you and Yagyuu and everyone else is, how easy will it be to just...fall away from each other again. I know I’m going to fight to keep that from happening, but will everyone else? Isn’t life about taking risks?”
"I'm not much of a risk taker anymore, especially matters like this." Niou sighed as he took a small step back, letting his hand come back to his side.
Akaya bit his lip softly as he fought the urge to step closer to Niou. “I understand, but sometimes, it’s worth it. Please, this can be worth it.”
Niou scoffed a little and turned his head to the side. "And if it's not worth it? Then what? All this would just be a waste of time."
“How can you be sure? What makes you qualified to decide that it’s not worth it for me? Or for Yagyuu? “ Akaya felt himself getting annoyed and angry. He didn’t want to show it, but he was very upset that Niou was trying to make this decision for all of them.
Niou shrugged. "If you think it's worth it and so does Hiroshi, but what if I don't? If I take this risk and in the end, I'm not satisfied? Wouldn't this all be a waste? Or would you guys expect me to stay and act happy? What do you want me to do?"
“We would want a chance to try and fix things, if they’re fixable. I wouldn’t force you to stay if you weren’t happy. All I ask is that you try. Give us a chance to prove you wrong. Maybe we won’t, but you won’t know that unless you try.” Akaya took a breath and closed his eyes. If Niou was still going to walk away from him, he didn’t want to have to watch. It would hurt enough without watching someone he cared so much about walk away like he was nothing.
Niou stood there for a few seconds before reaching up and unclasping his necklace. He held it in his hand, staring down at the circular pendent before taking Akaya's hand and placing in his palm. "Give me time to think about it." Niou said as closed his hand around it. "This is important to me... I'll come back for it when I have an answer." He held the other's hand for a bit longer before letting go and leaving.
Akaya opened his eyes and looked at the necklace that Niou had left with him. Waiting until the other was out of sight, he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand before clasping the necklace around his own neck. Sighing as he turned more toward the jungle, Akaya hitched his backpack up a little higher and headed into the trees. He was planning on filling the bag as full as possible, so hopefully Niou wouldn’t mind if some of the fruits were left in the caves for him. ‘Oh, who am I kidding? I’ll probably just grab a few for myself and give the rest of the bag to Yagyuu to share with Niou. He said he won’t come stay in the hut if Niou doesn’t, and at this point, he doesn’t seem to want to see me.’
Location: The Island
Time: May 12
Rating:
Summary: Akaya invites Niou to go hunting for fruit with him and gets a fight of sorts instead.
Niou sighed as he placed his phone down. As much as he didn’t want to go see Akaya, it was definitely best to actually get some fruits since any source of water is no longer drinkable. He pulled the brim of his hat down, hiding his eyes from view, but he was sure that the other would eventually see the dark circles under his eyes. Niou checked his pockets, making sure that he had what he needed, and grabbed his small bag to carry whatever fruit they find back to his little spot, then left to see if he could find Akaya.
Standing in the shadow of the trees, Akaya adjusted the straps of his backpack as he tried to avoid using his cane as much as he could. Scanning the beach, he spotted a figure in a hat that looked like Niou. Taking a deep breath, Akaya smiled slightly as he waited for the other man to get to him.
Niou saw Akaya up ahead and slowed his pace a little, taking his time to just prepare himself for what to come, if anything did come. He walked up to him, feeling a small sense of relief when he no longer saw the bandages around the other’s head, but his face remained expressionless. “Let’s go and get this over with.” Niou said when he got close enough for Akaya to hear and stood at least an arm’s length away from him.
Akaya looked at Niou in concern, noting the circles under his eyes. "Has the heat been keeping you up at night? I know you don't like it much."
Clicking his teeth in displeasure, Niou scowled and turned his head away. “Does that really concern you?” he asked as he pulled the brim of his hat down again. “I didn’t come for idle chit chat; let’s just get some fruit then go our separate ways again.”
Akaya sighed, his shoulders drooping. “Look, whatever I did to make you so mad at me, I’m sorry. I don’t know why you hate me, and I really wish I did because then maybe I could fix it. But if spending time with me makes you this upset, then screw it, I’ll go pick fruit by myself and hope someone comes looking for me if I trip and can’t get back up.” Akaya had turned his back on Niou so that the other wouldn’t see that his eyes were brimming with tears and turning more red than what crying could account for. He had honestly wanted to spend time with Niou as friends, nothing more. Was it so wrong to care about the wellbeing of a friend?
Niou felt a slight ache in his chest when he heard Akaya’s words and saw the other turn away from him. He had expected something like this would happen, but it seemed like he could never really prepare for it. “Damnit.” he cursed as he took off his hat and ruffled his hair a bit in frustration. “Why you two?” Niou asked, though it mainly to himself. “If it had been anyone else besides one of you, then this would have gone better.”
Akaya stiffened a bit at Niou’s words. “What do you mean, why us two? Do you mean Yagyuu and me? Is it that hard to believe that we enjoy spending time with you?”
“Spending time with me... actually caring about me; you and Hiroshi are too close for me to completely push you away.” Niou sighed as he looked down at the ground. “Just tell me that you hate me, that you don’t want to see me; maybe then it’ll stop hurting.” That last part came out barely as a whisper.
Akaya started shaking slightly as he strained his ears to hear Niou’s words. As he stood there, the tears that had been threatening to fall from his eyes spilled down over his cheeks. Taking a deep breath, he did his best to keep the tears out of his voice as he replied. “But I can’t hate you, and I do want to see you. I’ve been worried about you since I haven’t seen you since the ship. I don’t know why it hurts to have me care, but you’re my friend, above any other feelings I have. I’ve spent so much time missing my friends, missing you, that I don’t want to stop caring. I can’t stop caring. But I guess I don’t know how to help you understand that. Because I don’t understand why you don’t want me to care.”
Niou could have detected something in the tone of Akaya's voice and wanted to see the other's expression. He stepped up behind him, raising his hand to place on the other man's shoulder but stopped, letting his hand back down to his side. "Akaya, I'd lost someone important to me before and I don't think I can handle it if I lost someone else, that's why I'm against forming deep bonds with anyone." he whispered, not able to keep the hurt out of his voice. Niou sighed and turned around, getting ready to just leave again. "I'm sorry."
Akaya could hear the hurt in Niou’s voice and turned to see the other man’s back. Reaching out hesitantly, he grabbed the back of Niou’s shirt. Looking down at the ground so that his tears were hidden, he tried his best to keep his voice from shaking. “Then don’t let that happen. Fight to keep people near you. I’m not going to lie and tell you that you can fight everything, there are some things that no one can stop, but isn’t it better to fight for what you can? Otherwise, you’d be so lonely. You might not have anyone to miss that way, but then you wouldn’t have anyone to share your good times with either. And sharing pain can make it hurt less. I just...I want my friend back. Please.”
Niou reached back and pulled Akaya's hand away then turned to face him again. "I would rather be alone than hurt." he said as he gently lifted the other's head up and Niou's facial expression softened a little when he saw Akaya's tears. "You want your friend back, but you'd become much more than a friend to me and that… scares me a little." he whispered as he gently ran his thumb under Akaya's right eye.
Akaya leaned softly into Niou’s touch. “You think I’m not scared? I’m scared that when we get back home and I’m healed up again, things are going to fall apart again. Between the time differences when I’m away at tournaments and how busy you and Yagyuu and everyone else is, how easy will it be to just...fall away from each other again. I know I’m going to fight to keep that from happening, but will everyone else? Isn’t life about taking risks?”
"I'm not much of a risk taker anymore, especially matters like this." Niou sighed as he took a small step back, letting his hand come back to his side.
Akaya bit his lip softly as he fought the urge to step closer to Niou. “I understand, but sometimes, it’s worth it. Please, this can be worth it.”
Niou scoffed a little and turned his head to the side. "And if it's not worth it? Then what? All this would just be a waste of time."
“How can you be sure? What makes you qualified to decide that it’s not worth it for me? Or for Yagyuu? “ Akaya felt himself getting annoyed and angry. He didn’t want to show it, but he was very upset that Niou was trying to make this decision for all of them.
Niou shrugged. "If you think it's worth it and so does Hiroshi, but what if I don't? If I take this risk and in the end, I'm not satisfied? Wouldn't this all be a waste? Or would you guys expect me to stay and act happy? What do you want me to do?"
“We would want a chance to try and fix things, if they’re fixable. I wouldn’t force you to stay if you weren’t happy. All I ask is that you try. Give us a chance to prove you wrong. Maybe we won’t, but you won’t know that unless you try.” Akaya took a breath and closed his eyes. If Niou was still going to walk away from him, he didn’t want to have to watch. It would hurt enough without watching someone he cared so much about walk away like he was nothing.
Niou stood there for a few seconds before reaching up and unclasping his necklace. He held it in his hand, staring down at the circular pendent before taking Akaya's hand and placing in his palm. "Give me time to think about it." Niou said as closed his hand around it. "This is important to me... I'll come back for it when I have an answer." He held the other's hand for a bit longer before letting go and leaving.
Akaya opened his eyes and looked at the necklace that Niou had left with him. Waiting until the other was out of sight, he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand before clasping the necklace around his own neck. Sighing as he turned more toward the jungle, Akaya hitched his backpack up a little higher and headed into the trees. He was planning on filling the bag as full as possible, so hopefully Niou wouldn’t mind if some of the fruits were left in the caves for him. ‘Oh, who am I kidding? I’ll probably just grab a few for myself and give the rest of the bag to Yagyuu to share with Niou. He said he won’t come stay in the hut if Niou doesn’t, and at this point, he doesn’t seem to want to see me.’