Ketsueki and Aisoku 5

Aisoku stirs from his sleep. It is still night in the sky above and sweat heavily dots his face. He looks up into the darkness, "Outosan..."
Ketsueki, who is sitting up to watch for any visitors, blinks, looking down at Aisoku. "...you alright?"
Aisoku blinks, looking up at Ketsueki. "W...what are you doing up?" He wipes sweat from his brow.
Ketsueki hms. "Keeping watch....making sure no one sneaks up on us."
Aisoku smiles meekly, "You're so paranoid..."
Ketsueki scowls slightly. "I am far from it. Some youkai are bloodthirsty. Would you like me to sleep, and one come up and slit our throats?"
Aisoku frowns, "B..but do you really think people would do that...And what for...?"
Ketsueki shrugs. "Better safe than sorry. I just don't trust anyone here...some are just blood thirsty.."
Aisoku leans over, resting his head on Ketsueki's lap. "I guess...but...aren't you sleepy Ket-chan?"
Ketsueki blushes slightly, looking away. "No...I'm fine."
Aisoku sighs, "Well....you can go to sleep if you want...and I can stay up..."
Ketsueki shakes his head. "You should sleep, Ai. I don't want you just to stay up..."
Aisoku grabs Ketsueki's sleeve, "Ket-chan...I don't want you to stay up...all by yourself...."
Ketsueki blinks, looking down at him. "I-I've done it a lot..it's not a big deal...."
Aisoku nuzzles Ketsueki, looking up at him with a playful glance, "But if you don't get enough sleep you'll get sick...."
Ketsueki blushes again. "Erm.....I..don't get sick usually....just get back to sleep."
Aisoku yawns sleepily, "But...maybe we should just get up...dawn's in less than an hour..."
Ketsueki shrugs, giving a small smile. "Whatever you want, I don't care."
Aisoku sits up, grinning and kissing Ketsueki. "Let's get going then...."
Ketsueki nods slowly, watching Aisoku for a moment before standing and dusting himself off. "Hope we find him soon..."
Aisoku stands as well, frowning, "Yeah...I'm sorry....for dragging you along..."
Ketsueki gives a small laugh, shaking his head. "Since when did you drag me along? I came because I wanted to."
Aisoku looks down, "Ket-chan...what if we don't find him..."
Ketsueki shrugs, yawning. "You tell me. I mean, you're the one looking for him, not me."
Aisoku sighs, "I don't know what I'll do..."
Ketsueki streaches out. "Let's just keep looking. 'What if's are pointless worrying."
Aisoku gently reaches out and takes Ketsueki's hand. "Come on..." He smiles weakly.
Ketsueki blinks, nodding slowly and stooping down only to grab his previously discarded scythe. "Alright..."
Aisoku smiles, "Ket-chan...I don't think I could keep going without you...."
Ketsueki looks down, only giving a meek 'Arigatou'.
Aisoku begins walking slowly, holding Ketsueki's hand tightly. "Ket-chan..."
Ketsueki follows quietly, looking up at the sound of his pet-name. "Hmm?"
Aisoku kisses Ketsueki's cheek. "Aishiterou..."
Ketsueki blushes. "..stop making me feel so embarrassed..." he murmurs with a small smile.
Aisoku smiles, "I have to make sure you know I love you."
Ketsueki nods. "I know...I've known..."
Aisoku grins, "But you like hearing it..."
Ketsueki blushes. "E-erm.....I-I...."
Aisoku laughs, "Ket-chan..."
Ketsueki shakes his head. "Don't put words in my mouth!"
Aisoku takes a few steps into the surrounding woods. "So...shall we start looking, then?"
Ketsueki nods, following. "Sure....."
Aisoku walks slowly through the trees, still holding the elder boy's hand.
Ketsueki glancing about, his ears twitching. "Hmmm...."
Aisoku blinks, "Nani...? What is it?"
Ketsueki shakes his head. "Just listening..trying to see if I hear anything...."
Aisoku smiles, "Oh...." From a clearing a few feet ahead a dark figure is kneeled by a small pond, cupping water in his hands a brining it to his lips. Long fox ears peak from within short brown locks, and a long tail is visible
Ketsueki blinks, stopping immediately in his tracks. He remains silent, watching the dark figure.
Aisoku blinks, looking up at Ketsueki, "W-...what is it?" He has yet to notice the figure.
Ketsueki slowly lifts his hand, pointing. "Kitsune....."
Aisoku follows the direction of Ketsueki's finger, "A....A kitsune....Ket-chan...
Ketsueki hms, walking forward and calling out. "Hello..?"
The figure tenses, looking up. His face is hidden in shadows cast by the treetops. His ears go flat. Aisoku's hand slips away from Ketsueki's, his eyes widening slightly.
Ketsueki hms. "We're looking for someone."
The figure raises his head, shadows sliding away and revealing his face. He bears an undoubtable resemblance to Aisoku, though he is slightly aged, his expression harder. "What do you want?" Aisoku can't speak.
Ketsueki smirks slightly. "As I said before, we're looking for someone. A kitsune."
The man's ears go flat against his head, he grunts angrily. "Yeah?"
Ketsueki nods. "Yes. Are you going to help? You may be just the person we're looking for."
The kitsune stands, wiping his wet pants along the face of his vest. "I don't know you, or your little friend. I don't know who you're looking for, but I don't owe either of you any assistance." Aisoku flinches, "...B-But..."
Ketsueki scowls slightly. "Do you have a son?"
The kitsune smirks, "I have children," he says casually, "Though I don't think that's your concern, either."
Ketsueki growls. "Maybe it is, kitsune. This is Aisoku. Does the name ring a bell?"
Aisoku tenses a little as the kitsune's expression lightens to one of confusion. "A..Aisoku?" he stammers.
Ketsueki nods. "Hai." He is still scowling slightly.
Aisoku finally forces himself to speak, though his voice is quiet, "O....Otousan..." The kitsune stands, still looking blank, "But... I left you with your mother..."
Ketsueki's figure relaxes, giving a tiny smile.
Aisoku feels hot tears streak his face, "Otousan..." he flinches, "It's you...it's really you..." The kitsune frowns, his ears flattening.
Ketsueki hms, watching the two silently.
Aisoku tilts his head to the side, unable to believe what he's seeing. The kitsune scowls, "What are you doing in the makai....you're human after all."
Ketsueki growls, his eyes narrowing. "That's all you can say to him? From what I heard, you abandoned him. No apology, for that?"
Aisoku flinches, "Ket-chan..." The kitsune growls, "Keep your nose in your own business, wolf. This isn't any of your concern."
Ketsueki tenses, clenching his jaw. "It's my business," he states flatly.
The kitsune smirks, "Oh? Are you a friend of the little brats?" Aisoku flinches."Is that it? A companion of the little half-breed?"
Ketsueki hisses quietly, his eyes narrowing. "You're about to cross the line, kitsune. In case you don't recall, you had a part in him being born."
Aisoku shivers, unable to speak, the words making him wince. The kitsune smiles, "Ah yes...the human women..." he shrugs, "Humans are good for kicks...that's about all. Though I must admit, I enjoyed her very much," he licks his lips, then his mocking smile returns.
Ketsueki growls. "Take that back..." he hisses quietly.
The kitsune grins, "Why should I? That's all they're good for, a good f***." Aisoku's knees buckle beneath him and he falls to his knees in the dirt, shivering, "B...but...Otousan..."
Ketsueki's body is trembling from rage...because Aisoku is being hurt. "Shut up....don't you even care a tiny bit for your son? He has your blood..."
Aisoku closes his eyes, his shoulders slumping. The kitsune shrugs, "And unexpected complication..."
Ketsueki slowly kneels beside Aisoku, murmuring quietly. "Gomen...."
Aisoku doesn't look up, though his tears fall, darkening the dirt they touch. The kitsune smiles smugly, his tail moving from side to side, "How darling...so you care for the half-blood..."
Ketsueki's jaw clenches, though, for once, he ignores the jest. "Let's just leave."
Aisoku still doesn't raise his eyes, either from intense shame or hurt...though it's unclear. The youko smiles, "So give the kid a go. Tell me if he's as good as his mother." He laughs dryly.
Ketsueki hisses, standing up, his hands clenched tightly about his scythe. "Say that again to my face, kitsune, and you won't have a head."
Aisoku's arms are limp at his sides, he doesn't move. The kitsune smiles, "What upsets you? That I'm blowing your cover or is it that you actually care...that's rather uncharacteristic for a cold blooded creature of the Pack Lands, don't you think.."
Ketsueki flinches, but says nothing for a moment. "Don't speak of things you don't understand, fox."
He smirks, "Oh I understand alright...so Okami is raising the lot of you soft, huh? I heard about the one that died...that's proof of your newfound weakness...and this. This proves it further."
Ketsueki growls. "I am not weak...none of us are. Don't insult Okami, or any members of the pack...."
He shrugs, his tail once again flicking carelessly, "I heard you haven't found the killer...it was Ketsueki wasn't it? About time that one met his end....what a fool he was."
Ketsueki's ears twitch in irritation. "Just shut up and leave. I'm not in the mood for dealing with stupid foxes."
He smiles, "Then the boy will have to leave too I presume...?" Aisoku's tears, previously silent, fall more heavily, a slight noise eluding his shaking figure.
Ketsueki turns, gently taking hold of Aisoku's arm. "Come on."
Aisoku doesn't pull away, but he doesn't reply either.
Ketsueki frowns. "Come on, we don't need to stay here any longer...."
Aisoku looks up, not even wiping his eyes, "B-but...Otousan..." he chokes out.
Ketsueki scowls. "Forget about him, Aisoku. Come on..."
Aisoku allows Ketsueki to pull him up, but his eyes don't leave his father.
Ketsueki still holds tightly to Aisoku's wrist, looking at the other boy's father one last time with a glare and a quiet growl. He begins to walk away.
Aisoku walks slowly behind Ketsueki. "Otousan..."
Ketsueki frowns, clenching his jaw and continuing to walk away fast with his head down.
Aisoku goes silent, his head lowers.
Ketsueki, after they have gone a way, turns quickly, pulling Aisoku into his arms. "Gomen...." he murmurs quietly.
Aisoku buries his face in Ketsueki's shoulder, crying silently.
Ketsueki hugs him tightly, frowning and gently stroking his hair. "I'm sorry, Ai..."
"W..Why...Ket-chan..." He's shaking from his tears.
Ketsueki sighs. "Don't waste your tears on him, Ai...."
"But he's my father..."
Ketsueki shakes his head. "That doesn't matter..what matters is how he treats you...."
Aisoku leans into Ketsueki.
Ketsueki hms. "I never liked kitsune's much...they always seemed like the twisted type to me..." He looks down at Ai, frowning. "Don't cry..please..."
Aisoku frowns, "Mother said she loved him...she loved him Ket-chan..."
Ketsueki shudders. "Yeah, well my mom loved my father, and look where that got her." He clenches his jaw, his expression hardening slightly.
Aisoku's breathing is deep, uneven.
Ketsueki slowly shakes his head. "Let's...just leave...I dunno where to go..."
Aisoku looks up at him, "Ket-chan..."
Ketsueki frowns. "What is it?"
"W...What am I supposed to tell them all..back home..I.."
Ketsueki hms, glancing off and murmuring quietly. "You could stay here."
Aisoku blinks, "W-...What?"
Ketsueki swallows. "I said, you could stay here..."
Aisoku looks at him for a long time, "K..Ket-chan..."
Ketsueki closes his eyes, remaining silent.
Aisoku looks down, "Ket-chan....I have a family...back home..they're waiting for me...I..."
Ketsueki releases Aisoku, nodding. He gives a weak laugh. "Oh, yeah...sorry."
Aisoku looks down, "Gomen...I..I thought I told you..."
Ketsueki nods. "You did."
Aisoku frowns.
Ketsueki hms. "So, you'll be heading back now? Think you can find your way back there?"
Aisoku frowns, "I don't know...'
Ketsueki shrugs, keeping the same slightly bored look on his face. "Do you have any idea where it is? Because I'm not sure, either."
Aisoku looks down, "That�s not what I mean..."
Ketsueki scowls. "Then what do you mean?"
"I'm not sure I can leave you..." he says meekly. "
Ketsueki clenches his fists. "You'll live on your own. You did before. I should be getting back to the packlands."
Aisoku doesn't raise his eyes.
Ketsueki turns, giving a small wave without turning around. "Ja."
Aisoku raises his head abruptly, his eyes open fully, now dry of tears.
Ketsueki begins to walk away, his steps even and at a moderate pace. No one can tell his heart is being torn in two.
Aisoku takes a step forward, trying to say something. Anything. But his words are trapped in his throat.
Ketsueki keeps walking, irritantly wiping a tear from his face.
Aisoku chokes out, "don't go..."
Ketsueki growls. "And why shouldn't I? You have something to go back to, unlike me. I could go live in the forest for 20 years, and no one would even notice..."
Aisoku tenses, "K...Ket-chan..."
Ketsueki's pace quickens. "Just leave me alone!"
Aisoku stops, "I...If that's what you want..."
Ketsueki nods. "Of course that's what I want! Why would you think differently?!"
Aisoku flinches, "Ket-chan..."
Ketsueki growls. "Nani?"
Aisoku looks down, "You mean...that's it? It's over?"
Ketsueki gives one short, quick nod. "Yeah, the little that was there. It's gone." In his last sentence, his voice cracks slightly, and he shudders.
Aisoku flinches, "You mean that's it? I'm never going to see you again? Why are you turning your back on me..."
Ketsueki growls. "I'm not turning my back on you! I'm letting you go on your own little way, half-breed. Like you're supposed to."
Aisoku flinches, "I don't want to go back without you! Is that so hard to believe...I care about you...And I can't help it..."
Ketsueki shakes his head. "S-stop...don't say anything else..just let me go...."
Aisoku frowns.
Ketsueki shudders slightly, his entire body slumping, his head lowering. He remains silent.
Aisoku wipes his eyes, "Why are you doing this..."
Ketsueki bites his lip, murmuring. "I don't know.." He beings to walk away again.
Aisoku runs after him, "Ket-chan....please...don't go...don't..."
Ketsueki stops, shivering. "Then what am I supposed to do?"
Aisoku wraps his arms around Ketsueki's waist. "I'll stay with you...just please don't leave..." he closes his eyes, leaning into Ketsueki's back.
Ketsueki shakes his head. "N-no...."
Aisoku's grip around him tightens, "But...
Ketsueki frowns. "L-like you said, you have to go back. You don't belong here..."
Aisoku shakes his head, "I don't want to...not if....Ket-chan, please!"
Ketsueki swallows. "You shouldn't be stuck here...just go back. You're better off with humans..."
Aisoku burries his face in Ketsueki's shirt, going silent.
Ketsueki frowns. "Just go back......"
Aisoku turns his head, pressing one cheek to Ketsueki's back. "But why..."
Ketsueki sighs. "You belong there....with humans and your family..."
"You're forgetting...I'm not human either....not really..."
Ketsueki shakes his head. "But you've lived with them, and you were raised as one. Just go back."
"T...That would break my heart...Ket-chan..."'
Ketsueki sudders, looking down. "Mine too...." he chokes out.
Aisoku feels a tear dampen his lashes, "Then why do you want me to go..."
Ketsueki bites his lip. "Because I don't want to keep you from your family..."
Aisoku shivers, "...Would you come with me...Ket-chan...back to Japan?"
Ketsueki tenses. "....I really don't think I'd be able to walk around with my tail and ears....."
Aisoku frowns, "We could find a way to hide them...and mother knows about demons...around the dojo..." he trails off, hugging him more tightly.
Ketsueki looks down. "I-I dunno....I mean..."
Aisoku frowns, but says nothing.

~Owari~

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