SLEEPING AT LAST | bajifuyu

eleven

"What?" eyes set on the man, tilting his head.

Baji's cheeks bloom into those of bundles of roses, hiding under his translucent skin. His adam's apple bobbed up as he adjusts the collar of his shirt, eyes wandering anywhere but the boy in front of him.

Why the fuck did I tell him that? He questioned, mentally punching himself, blaming it on the tremors of synapses in his brain like he suddenly created electricity.

"I want you to join Toman, Chifuyu," he said, voice faltered yet unwavering.

Giving it another thought, Baji could picture the latter joining Toman. His perseverance is a point, and strength only comes second when it comes to Toman. Like a pack of wolves, they stand as a group and never as one, priding themselves to protect and help each other.

"Are you joking?" He asked, "That's stupid, Baji-san," turning to his cat with eyes casting an emotion that the black-haired man couldn't decipher but immediately understood his boundaries.

Convincing a man is a thing Baji has done, but never to a turtle hiding in its shell. He might be etching words on a rock with the actions he took but is willing to do so if it is to win the boy's favor.

"They don't need me, Baji-san," Chifuyu said, "This is a stupid idea,"

"Tokyo Manji is my pride, you know," he said, a small smile adorning his face, "And they will continue to be," tables have turned, and attention served a plate in front of him.

"You know the reason why I got held back?" he asked, expecting an answer. But, considering Chifuyu's widened eyes and eager ears, the answer won't probably come to appease him. 

"An accident," he said, "Causing death,"

The memories were still fresh as a newly released movie, vibrant and vivid in the expanses of his mind. He could still smell the crude oil mixing with blood and the tingling in his hand when he saw the lifeless eyes staring into his soul.

"It wasn't in the plan, and everything happened so fast," he said, "It was a theft at first, stealing and whatnot," shrugging off the idea of theft casually, maybe too casual to his liking.

"It's should be a gift for Mikey's upcoming birthday,"

Minutes had passed, and the infant of silence turned into an adult in the four-cornered room. Shock lingers through the air, thick and tense on the bumps of their skin. No one dared to say a word or at least break from the thoughts of their mind.

"No matter what we did," Baji said, breaking Chifuyu from his thoughts, "Toman is still my home,"

"I'll let you meet them," he said, standing up to dust himself. He walks to the door, but a halting before twisting the doorknob in hand.

"Three days from now, we'll see Toman."

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Three days have passed, school is the same as how Chifuyu left it. A whole zoo, in his opinion. Sticky bodies stuck together with the humidity of upcoming summer—causing his fried yellow hair sticks up, and the air trailed a scent of dryness and sweat from its active students. Voices fill the halls like a bunch of messed-up choir singing the inaudible sounds of merry. A whole zoo, indeed.

But the faux blonde prefers it rather than invasive mouths in his face, running to ask how he's been or where did he go, pleased by the idea that he became invisible to their eyes, resembling a ghost, feasting on the entertaining show his classmates' display. But, his mind wanders still on the inevitable end he had to meet.

Meeting Tokyo Manji.

"I told you, Mikey wouldn't even mind if you join," Baji said, flying spits were sticking to the latter's face.

The smell of eggs, marinated meat, and room temperature rice hog their noses as the two eat atop the school. The blare of the sun glints to their eyes, and the air was stagnant, suffocating in their throat. The unending spiral of words coming out of Baji's mouth fell on a deaf ear, which Chifuyu learned to master. If you can't stop the annoying whirring outside, you can endure, or so he said.

"Am I talking to you or the wall?" The black-haired man asked, raising an eyebrow.

A halt in Chifuyu's regard to his food and sigh, "Wait for it to answer, and you'll be best friends,"

"You're cruel,"

"Thanks,"

"Chifuyu-"

"I'm leaving. I've lost my appetite," Chifuyu said, organizing his bento box, and stood up to dust himself. A huff escaped his mouth before glancing at the man and started walking.

"Hey, are you-"

"You're a bastard," Stopping his tracks to gape upon the surprised lad. Chifuyu's lips were eager to move upward and sing  bubbles of laughter, but his feet move faster as they hurriedly thump on the concrete floor, tackling his friend in a chokehold.

Swirls of giggles and curses dance the ebony male's lips, sweet and tangy to his mouth while locked in the arms of the small guy.

"Then, let me treat you," he said,

"Where?" Chifuyu asked, judging eyes darted on him.

Chifuyu should have known better at the offer laid on the table. He should have been suspicious about the latter's actions. Face scrunching up and pinching his nose to ease any pending aches in his head. He should have expected it, but he could only curse himself for being naive.

The pungent smell of old wood and fresh air lulls his senses. The empty hollow darkness inside of the shrine ensues a rattle to his little heart resembling the hanging bells dancing through the gentle breeze of the wind. He gaped on the tall woods, dull and dim despite the harsh rays of the sun. 

Baji brought him to Tokyo Manji's meeting place.

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I tried changing my writing style a bit in this chapter, and it's challenging to say. I am still in the process of exploring and improving my writing style, so I would love to hear your thoughts about it!