[Multi-chapter] Oretachi no chikara (5/??)
Title: Oretachi no chikara (Our power)
Author: tsuchi8562
Beta & Plot Bunny: yuuki_saya <-- Luv ya~!
Pairing: Aiba, Sho
Genre: Fantasy, AU, Romance
Rating: NC-17 (This chapter PG-13)
Disclaimer: They belong to each other themselves...
Summary: Cold night in the forest
*MASTERPOST*
Was it really safe to reveal his name? Of course, it was too late for regretting anything, the seem-to-be-dangerous words were spoken, and he couldn’t do anything about it. He just hoped that this man won’t connect his name with his late father, because this may be troublesome. Considering that his accidental escape partner lived in the palace, he was probably somebody from higher class and that fact didn’t calm Aiba down at all. He felt like a kidnapper, and his accidental hostage belong to the one of the most influential families in the city, what made things even worse.
Lost in thoughts, he decided to stop for a while and peacefully chose a direction. Masaki was tired and cold; that wasn’t surprising - the winter was about to arrive in few weeks or so. The most important thing was to find some shelter or at least a place where they can hide from freezing wind. They… He was sure that he can’t leave his companion alone, not in this forest and surely not in that cold. Knowing a bit the rich snobs, and his ‘partner in crime’ was one of them, Aiba was sure that he won’t be able to light a fire without any matches. If he will be that lucky that he won’t meet any wolves, the cold will kill him or just give him a nice present - pneumonia. Still wondering about his next move, the man that was walking behind him all the time hit him in the back.
“Can you at least check once for a while if I am going behind you?” The rich boy (yes, boy… Aiba couldn’t think about him in any other way) asked with really angry tone. The man from the poor district just smirked; not only he was forced to escape from home, worried about little Ami-chan and wondering if Ohno or Mori found the batteries, but now he has to take care of this spoiled brat.
“Listen! I really have bigger problems now! As I said before, they wanted to shot you! I saved your life and now I am trying to do the same thing right now, so whether you will follow me in silence or go back home. It’s your choice.”
“They wouldn’t shoot me! You don’t know who I am! If they find us, you will die for kidnapping me, Sakurai Sho!”
Masaki wanted to continue his argument, but he froze on the sound of the name. Sakurai? Could it be possible that this guy is somehow related with the City Council’s President? Taking few steps back, Aiba looked closely to his co-fugitive. He was young, so probably he was the son of unbeatable Sakurai- taicho; he even looked a bit like him. Things just couldn’t be worse; if Masaki decides to come back to the poor district he will be accused of stealing and kidnapping the ruler’s son or at least of depravation. Also because his name was revealed, he can bring his district huge troubles; that thought made him sure that he can’t go back, at least not now. But that wasn’t his only problem… If that Sho, or whatever his name is, returns, he will say Aiba’s name without a doubt and then the poor district may be destroyed. On the other hand he didn’t want to keep that man as a hostage, he wasn’t the criminal type. This was a pat situation, and all he could do now is to focus on finding some safe place to sleep. He sighed and said with quite bored voice:
“You can be the God himself, I really don’t care. I am going to find a place to sleep. If you want, then come with me, if not then go back.” And he started to walk quite fast, just to be as far from the City of the Lights as he could. After few minutes he heard some quick steps behind him; a sign that Sakurai is following him, and he smiled. Deep inside he didn’t want to be alone in this forest. He knew it very well, but he was scared of its darkness.
It was getting cold, and Masaki was getting more and more tired. Fortunately he found some nice, comfortable and narrow recess on the slope of small hill. It was safe, because way to that niche was a bit hard and without strong fingers you won’t be able to climb there. That meant no wolves or any other animals and peaceful night. The only inconvenience was the cold. Before starting to go up, he decided to collect some soft leaves and branches. Afterwards he tied them up with a piece of string that he had in his pocket, affixed the package to his back and then he finally spoke.
“Can you climb?”
“What?!”
“Can you climb? I found a great place for spending the night. It’s up there” He pointed somewhere in the darkness. “Do what you want to do… I am going.”
Deep inside he knew very well that Sho will follow him; probably he never took even one step outside the rich district and, what is mostly possible, he didn’t saw a real forest before. Remembering the fact how was he tired after that mad run, his physical condition was poor, but now it wasn’t that important. Aiba is strong; he can help him, of course if that man will let him and won’t escape with scream when some beggar will try to touch him. After a long while of silence, Masaki just sighed and started to climb, whispering “whatever” on the way.
“Wait! Wait for me!”
The taller man helped Sakurai to climb, taking his hand and pulling him up, which was difficult, taking care of the wood package that he attached to his back at the same time. Taking one step at a time Masaki felt every muscle of his right arm and back, hoping that they won’t torn from the effort. After seems-to-be-never-ending climbing fortunately they managed to get to the niche, but Aiba was extremely exhausted. He lay down on the ground, breathing heavily and he stayed like that for few minutes, almost forgetting about his new ‘colleague’. He couldn’t remember the last time when he was that tired, probably he should do this more often. Of course, if he will be able to; he still wasn’t sure if he will survive this whole strange adventure. His thoughts ran again to the secret hideaway. Did Satoshi managed to get the batteries and save this little girl? Sho’s cough brought him back to life; with some kind of unexplained rush he started to compose the branches on the ground, as far away from the entrance as possible. The rich man was watching him with interest and in silence; astonishment was written on his face, but he didn’t ask any question. Just when Masaki lay on the provisionally made bed he yelled:
“You are not lighting up a fire?!”
“No. We could suffocate with the smoke, check the wind direction. Besides it’s too narrow here and we could be to close to the fire.”
“But it’s cold…”
“I know, that’s why we will sleep together to warm up.”
“You’re insane if you think that I will lie next to you, you filthy kidnapper!”
“As you wish, you can freeze to death there or come here and sleep safely.”
“Safely? With you?! How can I be sure that you won’t kill me?!”
“If I wanted to kill you, you would be dead already. Stop whining and come here.” Aiba was really angry. Not because of this lack of trust, it was understandable in this situation, but because he was worried about his friends. He truly hoped that he won’t cause them any troubles with his act-before-thinking behaviour. He was wondering whether he has so much luck that he wasn’t caught before in the rich district or maybe he was smart enough not to be caught… Whatever the reason was, his empathy covered his rationality and now he was sitting in this manure up to his nose. He has to think of something fast, or else he will be convicted for life in this forest, alone… His thoughts ran to that hated wall again; it was the main cause of this sick situation. He still couldn’t understand, how wealthy people could decide, who can live with electricity and who can’t… Those divagations took all of his life, and he still couldn’t understand it. Probably that was just the way this world is working; maybe there is no need to oppose? Money spins this world around, that’s a fact, but Aiba didn’t want to accept that. He thought that it was extremely unfair to let people die from simple diseases that can be cured by some machines… Power was goods of first necessity! Their food became rotten, fresh meat was only a distant dream. Having these images in his head Aiba held his knees close to the stomach.
After a while he heard some crack sound and felt that somebody is taking place next to him. Finally Sho decided to lay down; Masaki was so cold, that he thought that he would die. When Sakurai curled up Aiba grabbed him and pulled him closer. Feeling Sho’s resistance, he tightened his grip.
“Don’t worry; we are doing this only in order to stay warm.” The poor man stated and closed his eyes; he couldn’t explain this strange trust he had in the man that was trying to stay as far away from him as he could and at the same time stay close to warm up. Somehow it was funny, so he smiled and firmly pulled Sho closer. Enemy or not, they have to keep the temperature of their bodies in the norm. Sakurai at first struggled gently, but firmly, and after few minutes he decided to stop. It wasn’t the time or place for fighting, not in this cold night.
Suddenly some nice smell hit Aiba’s nostrils… It was mix of sour smell of sweat and sweet scent of sakura. Masaki couldn’t remember when he could feel the sakura’s smell that clearly, he remembered his childhood and trips with Ohno to discover unknown places near the rich district. He also saw few random images that seemed to be connected with that specific scent; an old dog that was shot in front of the gate of the rich district, small boy that cried his eyes out, a guard that tried to comfort him, but he only caused an escape of the child, small conversation over the fence with that boy and a gift… Small piece of a soap that smelled like pink cherry blossoms on the March day. It was the same scent; he remembered how it tickled his nose. Jus before falling asleep he thought that probably all people in the rich district has that soaps and that Ami-chan would be extremely happy if she could have one to…