Through The Fire And The Flames (9/20)
Title: Through The Fire And The Flames
Author: thanku4urlove
Pairing: Hikaru-centric, Keito/Yuto, Yamada/Daiki
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Um... Dragons?
Genre: Fantasy AU
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: The village where Hikaru and his friends live has a bit of a dragon problem. While most of the people in the town want the dragons wiped out, Hikaru believes that there has to be some good in the creatures. Through a shocking near-death experience, he comes to find that there is more to the dragons than even he could imagine.
A/N: This chapter is boring I'm sorry OTL The next one is better I promise the chapter my sister is posting today is much more exciting read her fic instead Banner cred:
ryosukekoibito
Previous Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
“What should we say about where we were?” Yabu asked. “We can’t exactly tell the whole truth, and they’re going to ask a ton of questions.”
Daiki was in the middle of this fabulous-and honestly, quite ridiculous-lie about pirates, a shipwreck, and too-conveniently timed lightning when Hikaru shook his head.
“Can’t we just tell the truth?” He asked. “That way, we don’t have to try to remember any weird details, and it would paint the dragons in a really positive light if they knew that they helped us. We just need to leave out the transformation part.”
They were all pointing fingers at each other, trying to get their story straight, when Hikaru caught sight of something moving through the trees, headed straight for them. He barely had time to recognize the shape as a person in the dark before they barreled into Daiki, wrapping their arms around his torso. It was Daiki’s older brother Daisuke, and Daiki made a muffled, surprised noise until he figured out who was hugging him. When he did, he shouted Daisuke’s name and hugged back, the older explaining that he had been on watch and saw them, leading them into town.
There was an uproar. Hikaru lost count of how many people hugged him, Yabu reaching out and taking Hikaru’s hand to avoid them being separated in the sea of happy people. It was nice to see everyone again, though the worry etched into Hikaru’s mother’s face when he saw her did make him feel guilty.
“I thought, for sure, that this time-”
“Mom.” Hikaru hugged her, pulling back and fixing her with a smile that he hoped was reassuring. “I’m okay. Nothing is going to happen to me, alright? Don’t worry so much.”
“What happened?” Someone in the crowd-Takaki’s brother, if Hikaru’s recognition was serving him-wanted to know. “Where were you? How did you get back?”
The masses grew quiet, all wanting to hear the story. Only feeling like telling it once, Hikaru encouraged everyone to make a circle, confirming that everyone could hear him before they began.
“During the last dragon attack,” Yabu began “Hikaru and I fell-well, actually, Hikaru ran into me, but whatever-and some huge dragon wanted to roast us before we ran away. Instead of getting burnt up though, this other dragon picked us up and took us out of there, up into this cliff somewhere in the ocean.”
“A dragon saved your lives?” The majority of the crowd was silent and skeptical.
“Yes.” Hikaru continued. “They fed us, and kept us warm. One of the dragons-there were two, I don’t think Yabu mentioned that-was hurt, and when the other one had flown off to find help was when these three bozos showed up.”
“We were trying to help you guys!” Inoo exclaimed defensively.
“We saw the dragon flying off and we climbed up the cliff, but then our boat got smashed to pieces in the most recent storm, and we couldn’t get home.” Daiki explained helpfully.
“I don’t understand.” Hikaru’s mother said, turning to them. “If you didn’t have a boat, how did you get back?”
This was the moment in which people were either going to believe or disbelieve them, but he had to say it.
“The dragons carried us home.”
The silence after that statement was overwhelming. Everyone was completely still except for Takaki, who was nodding in agreement to Hikaru’s words.
“...what?”
Hikaru’s mother wasn’t buying it.
“Remember that dragon you found with me in the clearing?” Hikaru asked. “I rode home on its back. The other dragons that flew in were the ones that brought home Yabu, Daiki, Inoo, and Takaki. They knew we were going to die if we didn’t get back, so they took us home.”
No one looked as though they quite knew what to say. Finally though, Hikaru’s mother said “No matter how you got here, we’re all just glad you’re back.”
After that conversation broke apart, splitting into side conversations. All Hikaru wanted to do was go to bed, leaning his head on Yabu’s shoulder.
“I can’t tell if people actually believed us.” Inoo said. “I mean, I know I probably wouldn’t, but it’s the truth.”
“My brother did.” Daiki said happily.
“My brother didn’t.” Takaki responded dryly.
Hikaru shrugged. “I don’t think my mom did either, but like Inoo said, it’s the only story they’re going to get.”
Promising to meet up tomorrow, they all headed their separate ways and went to sleep.
Early next morning, Hikaru was one step outside his front door, stretching, when he caught sight of Daiki. Daiki was fully dressed, bundled up, and holding a large picnic basket, Inoo trailing behind him and looking more like he wanted to do back to bed than do anything else.
“Where are you going?” Hikaru had to ask them.
“I’m going to visit Yamada!” Daiki was much too enthusiastic for how cold it was outside, and Inoo seemed to agree with Hikaru’s opinion, mouthing Daiki’s words behind him and rolling his eyes. Hikaru didn’t miss the exclusion of the other dragons’ names, but decided not to ask about it just yet.
“And the basket?” The object in question was rather huge, and looked heavy, the top covered in a cloth to keep in as much warm air as possible.
“Breakfast.” Daiki answered simply. “We can’t expect them to go out and cook rabbits or something, can we?” This time he said ‘them’, as though he had noticed how obviously keen he was on one specific purple dragon, trying to gloss over his statement.
Hikaru didn’t mention anything about it as they gathered Yabu and Takaki and--with Takaki grumbling about how much he needed to sleep, how warm and comfortable his bed was, and how oh god Inoo, get your freezing hands out of my shirt--they made their way into the woods.
“Alright Daiki, I have to ask.” Hikaru said as they walked. “You really like Yamada, don’t you?”
Hikaru didn’t get an immediate answer to his question, Daiki hiding his face under the guise of fixing his hair, and in his silence Inoo drawled out “Oh, does he? Whatever could have given you that idea?”
Daiki elbowed Inoo hard between the ribs, and while Inoo was doubled over, wheezing, he gave his own answer.
“You could say that, yeah.”
“Dude, it shows all over your face.” Yabu said, finding Daiki’s act of trying to salvage any sort of dignity regarding his crush on Yamada ridiculous. Daiki let out a long, drawn out sigh.
“I know.” He whined, burying his face in his hands. “It’s dumb. I’m stupid.”
“If it’s any consolation, I think he likes you too.” Yabu said, giving Daiki a clap on the shoulder. Hikaru nodded; he had definitely seen affection on both sides, what with Yamada always finding a seat next to Daiki and responding positively to all of Daiki’s advances and compliments. That remark did seem to be a consolation, putting a spring in his step as they made their way to where the dragons has been when they left the night before.
Hikaru found it rather amusing that despite Daiki’s “we can’t expect them to eat rabbits” comment, that was exactly what their friends had done for breakfast, he and Inoo laughing as they approached.
“Morning!” Yuto exclaimed cheerily, walking up to meet them. His peppy tone of voice made Takaki groan and slump on to Yabu’s shoulder. Then Yuto stopped in his tracks, fixing Daiki with a stare.
“Is that food?” he asked, pointing to the basket.
Daiki nodded, extending the basket in Yuto’s direction. Yuto declared Daiki his new best friend as they made their way over to where the rest of the group was sitting. Daiki had brought fruit, bread, and muffins for everyone, and it was quite an amazing feast, despite Takaki falling asleep on Inoo’s shoulder only a few minutes into the meal. He had a half-eaten apple in his hand, and was woken by Ryutaro getting close to his ear and growling loudly, causing him to shout and flail his limbs around. Ryutaro laughed until he was hit in the face with the remainder of Takaki’s apple, everyone else laughing at the rather offended expression on his face as he threw it back.
“So, what happened when you arrived in town?” Chinen asked. “Did they throw a party?”
“Sort of.” Hikaru answered. “They were very excited.”
“Did they ask where you had been?” Yamada asked. Everyone nodded.
“We gave them a condensed version, with less human transformation.” Yabu explained. “We just told them how we got there in the first place, and that we didn’t get eaten, and that you brought us back here.”
Ryutaro pulled a face. “And they believed you?”
“They didn’t quite believe it as much after we told them how much of a jackass you are.” Inoo said to him, making Ryutaro stick his tongue out. It made him laugh though, and Inoo laughed back.
“No, lots of people thought we were either delirious, or seriously dehydrated.” Takaki shrugged. “My family, for instance. And Hikaru’s.”
“Not mine.” Daiki reported proudly. “Or, my brother thinks I’m telling the truth. I have no idea about my dad.”
“So… The majority weren’t too hot on the idea.”
“Pretty much.”
Conversation faded out, and after watching Daiki hand feed Yamada a bite of his muffin-and, consequently, watching Inoo roll his eyes so hard they almost fell out of his head-Hikaru decided to turn to Keito. There was something that had been on his mind since the night before, and he was hesitant about asking it, but asking would be the only way to get an answer.
“Hey… How inappropriate would it be to ask for dragon riding lessons?” The dragons had expressed distaste over the whole idea, but after actually experiencing having someone on their back yesterday, all of them had seemed much less opposed to dragon riding, if at all.
Keito mulled over his question for a few moments before nodding. “I don’t think I would mind.” He said. “It was kind of fun, wasn’t it? We made a good team.”
Hikaru smiled. They did make a good team; they had understood each other’s nonverbal cues, Hikaru able to steer without incident and Keito making sure he didn’t fall off.
“Did you want to start now?” Keito asked. Hikaru shook his head.
“Well, I mean, you’re eating breakfast and I-”
Keito shrugged, stuffing the remainder of his piece of bread in his mouth and standing, brushing off his hands. Yuto followed, curious, and once Keito transformed he looked confused.
“What’s going on?” He asked.
“We’re going to practice flying.” Hikaru answered. “I mean, if that’s okay with you.”
“Why wouldn’t that be okay with me?” Yuto asked, and Hikaru wasn’t sure what to say. The phrase ‘I’m going to practice riding your boyfriend’ had sounded much worse in his head.
“Uh… No reason, I guess.”
Getting on Keito’s back was much easier the second time, and before too long he was settled and ready. Keito glanced back at him once he was still, and he nodded.
Though they didn’t go very high, leaving the ground was a sensation Hikaru didn’t think his stomach would ever get used to. Since they couldn’t fly very far he and Keito practiced turns, Hikaru gripping Keito’s body and trying very hard not to fall off, Keito slowing down and glancing back after each rotation to make sure Hikaru was fine.
This ended up being how most of their days went. The others caught on to riding practice as well, and soon they were all learning together. Yabu and Daiki were better at keeping themselves steady than Takaki and Inoo, who made strange faces and rather loud noises, respectively. Seeing Inoo’s terrified face firsthand was hilarious, and Hikaru could tell by the way Ryutaro would dip or jolt every once and a while that the large dragon enjoyed Inoo’s reactions.
Takaki even fell off Chinen’s back once, much to the small dragon’s dismay-he seemed to stop and sigh for a moment before diving down after him. Despite the initial dislike, Takaki was doubtlessly warming up to Chinen. It was also obvious that Chinen had made it his goal to make Takaki like him best, and Hikaru was glad Chinen was succeeding.
Each of the dragons had their own strengths and weaknesses, something Hikaru was able to pick up on the longer they were in each other’s company. Chinen wasn’t too strong, but he was incredibly fast; Ryutaro’s size did slow him down, but it made him solid and formidable, able to take on anything. Yamada’s fire was the hottest of them all, coming out of his mouth in more whites and yellows than orange. Yuto’s thin frame and large wings made flying his forte, but when Hikaru asked Keito what it was he was good at, the dragon just shrugged.
“He can move well in water.” Yuto answered with a proud smile, making Keito look at him. “Lots of dragons just flail around, because of the strain water weight puts on the wings, but Keito can swim almost as well as he can fly.”
Hikaru didn’t even know that was something dragons could do, nodding in surprise as Keito shook his head at Yuto’s words, looking embarrassed.
By the end of the week Hikaru considered the dragons his friends, without a doubt. Even the resistant Ryutaro agreed that there was a degree of companionship between all of them, so when Yuto was whining one day about having nothing to do, Hikaru was rather confident in his proposal of taking them to the village to walk around.