To Dance By Moonlight

Chapter Twelve

When they made it to the next oasis without incident, the Sheikh's caravan went to their customary camp and the men started to set up the camp. Kei and Keiji, wanting to be of some help, walked to the edge of the water, and began washing out and filling up canteens and buckets. That task completed, they decided to help get the tent situated for the two days they'd be here. With instruction from the attendants, they laid out rugs, helped set up furniture, and hung up partitions to delineate separate rooms. When they were finished, they stood back to admire their handiwork.

"Feels like home," Kuroo said as he came in the tent, walking over to stand with them. "I can't wait for supper tonight."
"Fatima says we're having millet simmered with the last of the meat," Kei informed him. "We're to go out later to see if there is anything to forage."
"Sounds good to me, though I can't wait to really be home. We'll have a feast then!"
"Hopefully something with vegetables," Kei mumbled. And then, "Ow!" he exclaimed, rubbing his arm where Ji's elbow so rudely landed. "Ji, what was that for?"
"We're guests, Kei. We cannot make such requests," he admonished.
Kuroo laughed. "It's fine, it's fine! If Tsuki wants vegetables, he shall have them!" Then he grinned at Ji. "The same goes for you, Akaashi. What would you like to eat at our homecoming feast?"
"N-no. I couldn't possibly ask..."
"You're not asking," Kuroo said with a wink at Kei. "I'm offering."
"He loves stuffed apricots," Kei whispered dramatically, earning another elbow to the arm. "Well, you weren't going to tell him, so I did."
"You weren't supposed to!"
"Why not?"
Ji looked at Kuroo and bowed, grabbing Kei's hand. "Please excuse us," he said, not waiting for permission to leave.

He practically dragged Kei out of the tent and didn't stop until he felt it safe to talk without anyone else listening. Then he stopped and wheeled around to face Kei.

"What are you doing?!" he asked harshly. "I was under the impression that you barely wanted to be here, that you only agreed because there's safety in numbers."
Kei shrugged sheepishly. "I did some thinking on the way here."
"And?"
"And Kuroo was right. We need them."
Ji snorted. "We could've easily stayed with Kiyoko-san and the others."
"Yes, we could have stayed with them and hid for the rest of our lives. You know that's exactly what we were doing, too, don't deny it."
"What's wrong with hiding when it keeps us safe?"
"Did it? Did it really keep us safe? It only took a few moments before we were recognized."
"That's why we need to stay hidden!"
It was a different subject, but held many similarities to the one Kei had with Kuroo before they left the last oasis. Ji could almost guess what Kei would say next, and tried to head him off.
"Hiding is what kept us safe since we escaped. Hiding is what kept our clan safe, since no one else knew of our existence. We were safe, Kei!"
"And how much longer would you have stayed hidden, Ji?" Kei asked quietly, reaching out to tenderly caress his face.
"For the rest of my life!"
"Really? Can you honestly tell me that you'd go back into hiding now that we've met Kuroo and Bokuto?"

Ji moved back a few steps and then started pacing. It wasn't that he wanted to go back into hiding. Not really. And Kei's question struck a chord with him. During their trip here, both Kuroo and Bokuto had been very attentive to them both. Almost as if they were wooing them. Ji knew that Kei was already half in love with Kuroo, if not all the way, so he was already wanting to stay with him.

But between Bokuto and him? Well, Ji couldn't really say the same. Oh, the man was friendly and caring, and knew how to make him laugh even when he didn't feel like it. Then, there were the moments where he said something so outrageous, that everyone had to remind themselves he wasn't always that way. Bokuto was good at his job, which was the safety and security of his people, and now that included Kei and Ji.

If he were honest with himself, Ji knew Bokuto was handsome, his tanned skin setting off his golden eyes. He liked the way the breeze played with his silver-black hair, tempting him to play with it, too. Bokuto was strong, if his muscles were any indication. Plus, he did catch Ji to keep him from falling. And, whether he wanted to admit it or not, he felt safe sitting next to the Emir while Kuroo was calming Kei.

When Ji turned back to face Kei, he found his friend waiting for him patiently, a tiny smirk lifting his lips. It seemed Kei had already figured it out.

"No. No, I wouldn't go back into hiding," he finally said. Kei's smirk widened a touch more.
"You like him." It wasn't a question.
Ji shrugged. "Maybe. A little bit."
"A little bit?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Oh, nothing. Just that I saw you two walking together quite often on the way here," Kei teased. "And do you remember what I told you?"
"About what?"
Kei rolled his eyes. "Twice now, he's been there for you, ready to help you with anything you wanted. He's half in love with you, Ji."
"Yeah, well, that's not my fault," Ji replied defensively, placing a hand on his neck nervously. "Wait. What do you mean twice?"
"The night before we left. Your nightmare, remember?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, you were really sleepwalking. He found you first before I did." Kei smiled gently and started back to the tent. But as he passed his friend he said, "I saw his face, you know. I'd bet anything that he wanted to keep holding you, that he wished he could take my place."
"No one could ever..."
"Not what I meant, and you know it. Think about it, okay?"

Ji watched Kei as he made his way back to the tent. Sighing, he sat down at the edge of the water, fingers sifting through the sand to find little pebbles to toss. He watched the ripples as they expanded. Since meeting him, Ji always knew Bokuto would be dangerous to his heart. The man was sunshine and light and Ji was attracted to it; found himself turning his face toward him like a sunflower to the sun.

"Time doesn't matter to the heart, not when it finally finds what it's been searching for."

Ji put his hand over his heart, felt it beating a little faster than normal, and all because of Bokuto. Had his heart finally found what it had been searching for? In some deep part of his mind, he knew Kei wasn't always going to be his. They loved each other, but it was the love born of two people surviving together, of life-long friendship and staying close to the only person you knew among a sea of strangers. Kei was his safe haven in a long period of darkness. And yet... there was this tiny little feeling that they weren't meant for each other. That, one day, they'd find (or be found by) the ones meant for them.

Kuroo had found Kei.
Maybe Ji had found Bokuto. Or vice versa.

"May I join you?" a soft, deep, familiar voice asked in the growing twilight. Ji smiled a little.
"I'd like that," Ji replied, looking up at Bokuto as he sat down next to him.