SLEEPING AT LAST | bajifuyu

twenty-four

The soft crunch of thin snow under their feet was comforting, regardless of the biting cold that the winter has brought them. The red tint from the lanterns mellows the excitement radiating off each member standing on each side of the made-up aisle, spectating the two. Chifuyu walks down the path of collected snow the members put up.

"Walk faster," he hears someone on the sidelines mutter, causing him to chuckle.

It must be Pah Chin, knowing he has the patience of a newborn child, but he silently abides. His feet increased their pace, moving closer and closer to the boy waiting for him. His smile grew big as he saw Baji extend his hand for him, and he gladly took it.

"Ah, you look so good," guiding him to where Mikey stands, they face him all smiling and giddy.

"You've said it a million times, Baji-san,"

"Can you stop being all lovey-dovey for now?" Mikey's eyes stare at them, furrowed eyebrows after hearing their lovely exchange.

Baji huffs, "This is your fault-"

"Now, Tokyo Manji, Captains and Vice-captains! We are witnessing the lovely union of our first division Captain, Baji Keisuke, and first division Vice-Captain, Masuno Chifuyu. I, Sano Manjiro, am about blessed this two with the power of love!"

His pathetic effort of being a priest garners cheers and shouts from the other captains. It causes them to flush, hearing their friends' shameless cheers.

"You, Baji Keisuke, are to say your vows,"

"Vows?! My mind is all mushy right now! What the fuck even is this?! A wedding?!" Baji tried making his complaints clear by pointing at his forehead, but Mikey dismissed him after calling him a coward.

"Say it, you fucking coward!"

"Spending a year in juvie to come out as a coward. Couldn't be me!"

"He's right! Juvie must be so disappointed in you right now!"

"Be a man! I thought you grew your pubes first before us?!"

"Ah, you guys set me up so suddenly and thought I can think straight right now?!" he huffs, throwing punches in the air.

Chifuyu clears his throat, "So?"

"You're not going easy on me too?!"

Baji composed himself and cleared his throat. He wired his mind to think of any words to describe what he feels about the boy in front of him, grunting when nothing came to his mind.

"Matsuno Chifuyu," taking a deep breath, "It might surprise you, but I'll say it now. I like you way back then. Yes, I hid it for months because I was afraid of your reaction. At first, I thought I was doing it as a friend or something along those lines. I tried convincing myself that that is all there is to it. But as the time passes by, I can only see myself liking you more."

Chifuyu's mouth runs dry, and he could only watch as Baji struggles to say what he wants to say—flushed red and fidgeting, different from his proud and smug attitude.

"I may be dumb and overbearing at times, but I am thankful that you choose to stick beside me. For liking me despite knowing what I did in the past. I am not joking when I told you that I want to see you first thing in the morning and the last thing I see before I sleep. I want you to be there, like the shore, waiting for me with open arms. In return, I'll be here when the night comes, assuring you that you will never be alone again.

As Baji confessed, the tears welling up in his eyes didn't go unnoticed by the blond. Chifuyu gently cups his cheek, wiping his tears again. It was a fresh look to see Baji cry, not because of a movie of a dying dog, but because of him. The blond can proudly say that he, Matsuno Chifuyu, has that effect on him.

"Now that we're over with this motherfucker," turning to Chifuyu, who is still wiping Baji's tears, "Matsuno Chifuyu, speak your vows."

He gazes at the other captains first before looking back at his boy, "What is there to say? I think I have confessed multiple times back then,"

"Then, are we going-"

"But, there are things I have yet to say, Mikey." he grins, "I will be here, and always be, Baji-san. The promise we made, up to this day, and everything in between. I meant all of them. Thank you so much for helping me and reciprocating my feelings."

Their exchanges of, as what Mikey said, vows cause everyone to shed tears. Even Mitsuya's sisters, who didn't know what is going on. It was silent as they watch Baji and Chifuyu smile in each other's arms.

"Hell fucking yeah! I'll be the best man, alright!?" Pah chin claimed, followed by the others' cheers and howls of celebration.

Peh Yah beside him steps forward, "Promise us this is going to be real one day, alright?!"

All of them were celebrating, a joyous choir of Toman members, as their two members unite with Mikey's power of love. But, it was interrupted by Mikey's loud voice, shutting them up instantly.

"A lovely union is not complete," he smirks, "without a kiss-"

The sound of the alarm blares in Chifuyu's ears, forcing him out of his dream. He grunts at the annoying sound, moving out under his thick blanket, as his arms search for the phone buzzing.

He groans when he retrieves the device, "It's too fucking early, shit."

The brightness blinded him, straining his eyes with the current date and time. July 16, 1995. 06:30 AM. What kind of sociopath sets the alarm this early on a Sunday morning? Groggy to even think about it, he throws the phone, going back to his cave of blankets.

"You're too energetic for the morning, love," a deep voice said behind him, turning around to see a mop of hair tangled beside him.

Chifuyu pouts at him, suspecting, "You set it, didn't you?"

"The what?"

"The alarm, Keisuke."

"Oh, I did? I can't remember." Baji pulls him closer in his arm, kissing his forehead in the process.

"Yes, you did. Baji Keisuke is guilty of a crime." his voice sounded angry, contradicting the soft caress of his hands on the expanse of Baji's back.

The boy chuckles, "You dreamt of something, hm?"

"Yeah, right. Did I say something weird?" Chifuyu fight the urge to shower the boy with kisses, preferably pursing his lips.

Baji snuggles closer to him, if that's even possible, "Hm? Yeah, you said I'm such a great boy-"

"I shouldn't have asked you," turning away from him, "I'm going back to sleep."

"Aw, man, at least tell me what it is," he whines, burying his face in the crook of Chifuyu's neck.

"If I told you, I will never get back to sleep again."

Chifuyu hides the smile he has on his lips, happy in the arms of his partner.

Everything is well, or so he thought.