(no subject)
The morning found Shinpachi too soon. The light was shining behind his eyes as his mind started slowly recovering. The warmth of a body resonated next to him and soft, rhytmical breathing was ghosting against the shell of his ear.
He opened his eyes and stole a glance. From the looks of it, he was the first of them to wake up, since Sano looked still fast asleep, heavy and dreamless. Peacefull. Calm.
Shinpachi smiled and looked up to the morning sky.
From the angle of the Sun, it was time for breakfest. He smirked. He knew he could rely on his stomach. It was the best clock after all.
He sat up and looked around. They ended up in his room after they came back and it was where he was now.
Good.
What was bad was, that they were still in the clothes they changed into yesterday evening. He hoped they weren’t ruined. Shinpachi rather liked this kimono and it would be a shame if Sano had to throw away his. It suited him so much...
He glanced at his lover, asleep next to him.
Gently, he brought his hand to the shoulder and shook it once, twice. „Sano.“
No reaction.
He shook a bit harder. „Sano.“
Nothing.
Shinpachi sighed. It looked there was no other way...
He leaned down and brought his lips next to the ear, skin brushing against skin. He mouthed a ’Sorry’ and then took a deep breath.
„SANO!!!“
After he did that, he abruptly drew away, jumping back two feet to avoid that viscious kick that greeted him whenever he had to wake Sano up.
But now no kick came. Nothing moved. There was no alert face. Not even a hint of a sleepy expression rounded with a mop of red hair. Nothing. Just a small snore as Sano simply slept on.
Shinpachi gaped.
First thing that came to him was whether he shouldn’t check if Sano still was alive.
But then he heard the soft snores indicating that yes, Sano was breathing and when Shinpachi looked closely he could see the body rise and fall slightly with it, so there had to be a different explanation for his lover’s incapability to wake up.
Shinpachi’s features softened.
Had he really exhausted Sano yesterday so much? Maybe he should go to breakfest alone and save up some food for his lover, while letting him rest just a while more. He nodded to himself.
He dressed into his regular clothes as silently as possible and left the room, heading for breakfest.
X*-ox*xo-*x
As he entered the room, everyone looked up at him.
„Shinpa-san!“ Souji exclaimed delightedly. He looked like the cat that caught the canary and was planning on enjoy every moment of devouring it.
„Souji. Shouldn’t you be resting?“
„I already feel better! The eye-candy yesterday did good.“
For some reason, Saito was showelling the food into himself, his eyes not moving from the plate and Heisuke was grinning to himself and, even from the distance Shinpachi could tell, supressing chuckles.
Shinpachi’s eyes narrowed, but he decided not to comment. He knew his ran-no-deboo with Sano was probably the on-going topic this morning and he had a feeling that if he joined the debate, he would never hear the end of it. And Sano would kill him. After what could be labeled as a sleepless night, Sano’s morning mood was never peachy. More like homicidal. So deciding that today he would be a good boy, he sat down and started to eat his portion.
At first it wasn’t that hard not to drop smart comments and restrain from teasing Heisuke. He concentrated on his food and thought about how to make Sano feel better. But after a while, the chuckles and the signplay that Heisuke and Souji seemed to develope during the night, got really annoying. It was like they were having a really good laugh at his expense and he didn’t even hear the joke. It was really frustrating, but he still tried to endure. But after Heisuke burst out laughing at a very peculiar sign Souji made, he had just enough.
He slammed his chopsticks down and demanded: „What’s going on here?“
Souji bit back a chuckle. „Oh, sharper than usually, Shinpa-san?“
„Yeah, I bet his blade got a lot sharpening yesterday.“ Heisuke mumbled audibly enough for the whole room to hear and get the hidden meaning. Souji’s grin widened.
„Of course there had to be a lot of sliding yesterday, no?“
„Better bet.“
Shinpachi’s fist was clenching as he listened to the two certified brats talk. He already opened his mouth to retort something, but Saito cut him in.
„Where is Sano-san, by the way?“
For some reason, Okita burst out laughing. Shinpachi decided not to ask. Instead he turned to answer Saito’s question.
„He’s still sleeping. I tried to wake him up, but he didn’t budge an inch.“
„Harada-kun didn’t?“ Kondou-san asked startled. „That’s rare. Usually he’s always on alert.“
„It seems he’s really tired.“ Souji said and Heisuke didn’t hesitate to connect.
„Bet Shinpa-san’s to blame? Whatever did you do to Sano-san?“ he asked, his voice shaking slightly with supressed laughter.
„Is Sano-san even alive?“ Souji asked, his voice strangely wavering.
As if on cue, just as Shinpachi wanted to get up and teach the brats some manners, a shadow appeared behind the door and a moment later no one else but Harada Sanosuke entered the room and cut off every word Shinpachi had already on the tip of his tongue. The others were left staring. Not only did he still wear his kimono, but his hair was also down, though it seemed that he washed out the salty water out of it.
„Sano!“
He bowed and entered the room, sitting down next to Shinpachi, who was scratching the back of his head.
„Sorry for not waking you for breakfest...“
Sano shook his head and took a bit of the fish.
„I wanted to save up a little for you.“
Sano nodded and took a bite.
Shinpachi watched him. „Are you angry?“
Sano shook his head, but otherwise stayed silent.
„Are you sure? Because it’s unusual for you to be so silent.“
Sano sighed soundlessly and looking at Shinpachi, he circled his hands around his neck.
Shinpachi raised an eyebrow.
Sano mouthed something, but Shinpachi didn’t catch it.
„I don’t think I understand.“
Sano rolled his eyes, then finally opened his mouth to speak, but what came out was less than a whisper.
„I lost my voice.“
For several moments silence reigned the room.
Then like an explosion of horror Shinpachi exclaimed: „What?!!! But yesterday you were alright!“ His mind was in a state of utter shock and all he could do was stare wide-eyed at his lover.
Sano just watched him intently, piercing his golden eyes into him.
Shinpachi’s mind refused to wander that way, so Souji did it for him.
„Well, Shinpa-san, that has to mean, that whatever happened during the night, caused Sano-san to loose his voice.“
It would be an overstatement to call the rosey tint around Sano’s cheeks a blush, Shinpachi reflected. But it wasn’t far from it, either.
„Souji!“ Shinpachi exclaimed, just for Sano’s sake, who couldn’t defend himself right now. After all, as Sano said, it was proper manners for a man to defend a...whatever.
Souji just smiled. „That’s alright, Shinpa-san, I don’t need the details.“
Before the conversation turned into a bloodshed, Saito spoke up, diverting the attention: „Sano-san, it’s unusual to see you dressed like that.“ For a reason Shinpachi still didn’t understand, Souji laughed again. Everyone ignored it.
Sano just pointed at the food in front of him and shook his shoulders.
„You didn’t want to miss breakfest, so you thought why not?“ Shinpachi guessed and Sano nodded.
„And what’s with the loose hair?“
„Couldn’t find tie.“ Sano rasped.
„Oh.“ And suddenly Shinpachi remembered. „Oh! Oh...Oh-oh.“
Sano raised an eyebrow.
Shinpachi scratched the back of his head. „You see, we might have actually left it at the beach. It’s probably swept away by the flood, by now though.“
Sano sighed soundlessly, then waved his hand. He still had several of those things, so no harm done there.
„But doesn’t that mean, Harada-kun, that you won’t be able to conduct rounds?“ Kondo-san asked. „You will need your voice to order your soldiers.“
Sano blinked and shook his head resolutely.
A weak „I’m fine“ followed by a „They know their orders“ faded into a cough. Shinpachi rubbed circles into his back, trying to ssothe it away. Sano smiled at him gratefully.
Suddenly there was a cup of hot tea in front of him.
„Harada-san shouldn’t try to talk.“ Large brown eyes looked up at him. „It could get worse. Drink this tea, it will help you.“
After a small dumbfounded moment, Sano smiled at her thankfully, and took a sip from the hot liquid.
Somehow, they managed to spend the rest of the breakfest in silence. After Sano drank his second cup of tea, they both got up, ready to head out into the heat.
But before they could leave the room, Saito stoped them as he seized Sano’s wrist. Sano looked at him, raising an eyebrow. Without any word, Saito unbound his scarf and handed it to Sano.
„It’s important to keep your throat warm. I take it you don’t own many scarfs, coming from Iyo Matsuyama.“
Sano took the scarf, regarding it. As his hands touched the fabric he noted it was soft, fluffy and warm. He would be a formless, melted pile once they got back, with the heat wave returning with the Sun, but he accepted it nonetheless, greatfull for the bit of help.
He nodded in thanks and wrapping the scarf around his neck, he followed Shinpachi out, into the heat of the day.
X*-ox*xo-*x
The town was unusually peacefull that day, Sano noted as he walked the silent streets with his unit, already changed into his regular clothes, the blue haori fluttering slightly behind him as he walked. It wasn’t just the drained silence, caused by the enormous heat and exhaustion, but actually honest, serene peace. It kinda felt like holiday, lazying around and doing nothing really important, just watching the life pass by.
Sano himself was in a lazy mood. He noticed that he was moving slower than usually, the lack of speed reflecting in the barely moving haori, that wasn’t carrying itself on the breeze he left behind like usually. On hindsight that may have been caused by the ache of what felt like his entire body, but was really limited on the area reaching from his back to his knees. And in spite of it being entirely Shinpachi’s fault, Sano couldn’t bring himself to be angry at his lover. Because even if he was in pain, it felt good to him. Somehow he felt relaxed and he knew that when the next morning came, he would feel refreshed like he hadn’t in years. It was just the effect that coupling with Shinpachi had on him.
His unit was also a treasure. He was comanding them with his hands, a language they perfectly understood, since he often used gesticulation as an emphasis to his words. He could feel their amusement behind him, but they weren’t making fun of him. Only occassionally a cheeky remark fell, but if anything, it made Sano only chuckle.
On their patrol they entered the commercial area of the town and something deep inside of Sano’s stomach fluttered, at the memory of yesterday, still fresh in his mind.
But it seemed that he wasn’t the only one who remembered.
A walk down the street was all it took for whispers arising in the whole area as people started talking to each other in hushed voices, while turning to take ’subtle’ looks at him. He caught the words „Harada-san“, „Nagakura-san“, „together“, „ryotei“ and „beach“ in this order from several directions and he knew that their ran-no-deboo was gossip topic number one. To say, he wouldn’t be surprised if it reached Shimabara by nightfall. And to add it, behind his back, he heard his men desperately trying to supress their snickers. So much for loyalty...
Sano supressed the urge to sigh heavily. He would never hear the end of it. But maybe he should have thought about that before he cried drunken words out into the night and let himself be dragged to the beach. Of course it would cause gossip spread faster than wildfire and he could be sure that as the time for the evening patrol came, he would need to barricade himself in his room for a week to save at least a bit of his dignity - it was Souji’s and Heisuke’s turn to patrol this evening.
And it was all Shinpachi’s fault.
„Sano!“
Well, speak of the devil.
A murmur went through the crowd and the whispers turned into full-blown talk, the people not even trying to hide their gossip anymore. Shinpachi made a face like he downed a cup of one of those western spirits and approached him.
„Seems like we’re hot topic no. 1.“
Sano nodded.
„I guess that means no Shimabara in a while...“
Sano raised an eyebrow.
„Kidding.“ Shinpachi waved his hands deffensively with a grin. Then he turned serious again. „How’s your throat?“
Sano coughed symbolically.
„Right. Sorry.“
Sano just should his shoulders in a ’What can you do?’ manner.
Not finding anything he could reply, Shinpachi changed the topic. „So. Anything suspicious?“
Sano shook his head.
„Yeah, me neither. Looks like everyone but us is taking a break.“
Sano smirked.
Suddenly Shinpachi fidgeted. „And then there’s...I mean, I...Ehm.“ Sano raised an eyebrow at him. Shinpachi, obviously not finding the right words, decided to let his actions speak. He seized Sano’s wrist and turned to the tenth unit. „I’m borrowing your captain for a while!“ he exclaimed and without a second look, he dragged Sano behind the corner. Sano would have protested loudly, if he could have, but since his throat was still rather sore, he settled for jerking in Shinpachi’s grip.
„Will you stop that?“ Shinpachi turned to him with sharp eyes. „It’s...It’s important, ok?“
This stunned Sano for the necessary moment Shinpachi needed to pull him to a deserted alley.
„There, that’s better.“
Sano gave him a sharp look.
Shinpachi smiled excusingly. „Sorry...“ then his smile fell and he looked away in something that, at least for Sano, resembled embarassment. Now, this was new.
„I wanted to apologize to you properly.“ Shinpachi begun straight away. „It’s my fault you can’t walk properly and that you lost your voice. I’m sorry I exhausted you this much. And you even lost your hairband because of me. No, don’t wave it up dismissively. If it continues like this, soon you’ll have to buy a new set. So I kinda...“ from the pockets of his hakama, he withdrew something long and dark golden, which somehow reminded Sano of his obi from yesterday, only a lot thinner and a shade or two lighter. „I kinda went and bought this.“ Shinpachi said as he presented it to him. And Sano suddenly understood. „It’s a hairtie. You know, one of those fancy ones. I bought it for the rest of my money.“
Needless to say, Sano was more than surprised. He stared at Shinpachi in utter bewilderment, then his eye settle on the tie and back to Shinpachi. Every bit of sour mood and annoyance dissolved into nothing, his heart clenching in his chest. He ached to say something, anything to express his gratitude but his throat constricted painfully, though he guessed it had little to do with the soreness.
„I thought it matched your eyes and went with your obi, so I bought it for...you know...you can wear it next time. Since it had it’s price I’ll be carefull when removing it. This way you won’t have to...“
That was as far as he came as Sano kissed him, his feelings overtaking him for a moved moment. He never expected Shinpachi to go this far and it felt like someone was proving him wrong over something he didn’t even know he thought and he suddenly saw Shinpachi in a whole knew light. His lover has risen several levels higher in his eyes.
And he understood that this was why he loved Shinpachi so much, this was the reason why he submitted to him so willingly - the appreciation that Shinpachi often showed. This simple act of respect and acceptation towards him, made Sano see how much Shinpachi wanted him and what he was willing to sacrifice, for him to just stay.
Sano took the hairtie and tucked it carefully away as he broke the kiss.
„Thank you...“ he whispered, bringing their foreheads together.
Shinpachi s miled. „Your voice is stronger.“
Sano chuckled weakly and kissed Shinpachi again.
Whistles sounded from the other end of the alley, where the tenth and the second unit of the shinsengumi were huddled in a big, energized bundle of cheers, but they both ignored them, leaving Shimada to deal with it. What were corporals for, after all?
Sano smiled into the kiss as Shinpachi flushed him against his body.
Yes, it were actions like this that showed the depth of their love. They would stick together, he was sure. And he didn’t even need western customs, fancy restaurants and heated nights at the beach to know this.
A kiss was enough.
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