Love, War, & Beetles

Chapter 2 - Dreamer

Itto's POV

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     I just kept trailing my fingers through his soft hair, adoring how the brown and white strands drifted over my fingers as he dozed and scented me - he was way too cute for it to be normal. I slid my hand down a little before barely holding in a laugh as his hands snapped around my wrist and replaced it on his head.

     "Pup, c'mon, dinner."

     "No..."

     "Aw~ Archons, you're so fucking cute...!" He patted my back a little, pouting when I grinned. "Come on, we can cuddle while we eat~"

     "That's not as fun. It's so pretty up here..."

     "No you."

     "What?"

     "N-Nothing. Just, uh... We can sleep up here later, but we've gotta eat first."

     "...M'kay." He squeezed me a little before carefully getting up and yawning, the cutest little whine slipping out as he curved his back. "...D-Don't tell anyone about this."

     "What, you being all cute and cuddly?~"

     "One, it wasn't cute, it was shameful. Two, yes, that."

     "How's it shameful to be cute?"

     "It wasn't cute!"

     "Yeah it was."

     "Shut up!" he snapped, grabbing my hand and dragging me down to the group again. "Just sit and be nice..."

     "You're the mean one."

     "I'm not mean... Am I mean? I don't think I'm mean..." I feel my gang's eyes on me, smirks playing at their lips as he sat beside me with a confused face. "...I'm sorry for being a dick before."

     "Nah, it's fine Pup," I promised, pulling him closer, even as he froze up. "Besides, you were right - it was wrong of me to keep teasing your boundaries."

     "You're past my boundaries. You smell like cherry blossoms, so you're probably from Narukami Island - my boundary's set at the edge of the Kujou Encampment."

     "No, your personal boundaries, like, for your body and stuff. Can't turn off the war general brain, huh?"

     "...You're weird."

     "He's a sweet boy, I promise."

     "Granny! I'm a grown man, stop calling me that!"

     "It's true, Itto. He's always playing with the village kids or helping me bake or -"

     "Stop it!" He laughed and the embarrassment melted away - the sound was sweeter than any dango I'd ever tried. They beamed at my reaction - I could see it out of the corner of my eye - but he turned to me and I froze. No sight deserved to stunlock me so much. My entire mind went blank and his smile was the only thing I could focus on. I had to touch him, but if I did, I wouldn't hear the end of it from anyone.

     "Uh... Itto?"

     "Hm?"

     "You're staring at me..."

     "S-Sorry, you had um... A leaf! Yes, a leaf in your hair." His ears flattened as I removed the imaginary leaf, smiling to calm his nerves. My vision didn't feel weird anymore, but once he leaned into my side a little, it felt warm again, burning into my chest as he mumbled a thank you to Granny Oni.