Gang Of Youths • bokuaka

4 ~ Nobody's Soldier

It came as no surprise that Hinata was skilled. He was short, compared to the others, but his lack of height was made up by his speed and agility. He was like a crow, flying between attacks.

Akaashi had noticed immediately that Bokuto took a liking to the redhead, treating him like a student; someone to pass down his skills to—the future of heroes. Not only that, but they were both as energetic as each other.

'Shorty has got some skills!' Bokuto exclaimed as he and Akaashi walked back to the tents. 'Seriously, he might become one of the best.'

'Might even top you,' Akaashi teased.

Bokuto crossed his arms, 'I wouldn't go that far.'

'Ever so humble, aren't you?'

'Yeah yeah,' he chuckled.

They two continued walking in silence before coming to Akaashi's tent. It had become routine; after every training practice, Bokuto would walk him back.

Akaashi stopped before he walked inside to the warmth of his tent, he turned to Bokuto, 'Hey,' he called out.

Bokuto turned to him, a curious expression on his face, 'Hm?'

'I want to go with you.'

'You can't.'

Akaashi knew that deep down, Bokuto didn't want to say that; that he wanted him to join him. But he was afraid; afraid Akaashi would get hurt. In a way, Akaashi didn't blame him, he wasn't as trained or as skilled as the others. But something told him he needed to stay with Bokuto.

'I can't, or you don't want me to?'

Bokuto didn't answer.

'Bokuto. I can't stay here, for what? Months before we join you. I can't do that. I don't know why but I feel like I need to be there with you; by your side. And if you don't w-'

His voice was cut off, two rough calloused hands gripped each side of his face as lips crashed into his. His eyes widened for a moment, surprised by the sudden touch, but then he kissed him back, allowing his eyes to flutter close. His hand found the back of Bokuto's neck, his fingers playing with the ends of his hair.

Oh. Oh.

After a moment, they pulled away from each other.

'Sorry I shouldn't have done that,' Bokuto turned his face away, cheeks flushed with a maroon tint. 'Fuck!' he groaned. He turned back to Akaashi, 'If you come with me, I promise to train you myself to make sure you're ready.'

'You'll let me join you?'

He smiled a small smile. His face twitched as though he was holding back a laugh, 'There's not a lot I wouldn't do for you' he said, his eyes softened as he looked at Akaashi, 'You and me Akaashi, we're the protagonists of the world!'

Akaashi laughed, 'Really?'

'Yeah, it'll be you and me, in this together. What do you say?'

'I would love nothing more,' he said, struggling to hide the smile tugging at the corners of his lips, 'Bo, do you want to stay in m-'

'You called me Bo?'

'It's a nickname. I can just call you Bokuto if you want?'

'No!' he shouted a little too quickly, 'Bo is fine.'

'Okay, Bo, do you want to stay in my tent with me tonight?'

'Of course.'

Akaashi opened the tent, letting him inside. He wished he could tell his mother about Bokuto. He was sure she would love him, that much he sure off.

Bokuto, took Akaashi's hand, 'Can I kiss you again.'

'You don't have to ask.'

With that, Bokuto moved closer to him, allowing their lips to meet again in a soft and tender kiss. Akaashi didn't want this moment to end; the way Bokuto's lips fit perfectly against his own, how his hand held his cheek, his thumb gently caressing his skin; he wanted Bokuto, all of him.

'We should get some rest,' Bokuto whispered, resting his forehead against Akaashi's, his thumb still gently rubbing against his cheek.

'Okay,' Akaashi replied softly.

They lay in the bed that lay flat against the floor. The air was still, silent. Outside the gentle breeze brushed against the tent as the wildlife began to sing their lullabies.

Akaashi felt Bokuto's arm around his waist, pulling him in closer to his chest. He felt his head nuzzle into his neck as his chest slowly rose and fell again. Then, finally, in a low whisper Bokuto broke the silence, 'Do you think I'm a bad person Akaashi?'

'Of course not,' he replied, his voice soft.

'I think I am.'

Akaashi took Bokuto's hand in his own, 'You could never be a bad person, Bo. Not to me.'

A bad person; is someone who would commit a crime; they would lie, steal, be spiteful and greedy. Bokuto was none of that, and Akaashi knew that. But he realised that everyone believes they are a bad person; a terrible person.

'You don't know everything about me. Only tales you have heard from others.'

'Then tell me, tell me who you are. If we're going to be in this together, I want to know everything about you.'

Bokuto took a breath before he spoke, 'You know my mother is a goddess, and she married my father. But it was a loveless marriage; their goal was to create a weapon to use in this war. They wanted a creation so powerful that they could win. They had two daughters before me, but my father saw no promise in them, he wanted a son.

'And so, I was born. My father's blessing, he would say. My mother raised me until I was five; until my father saw that I was old enough to begin my training.'

He took a moment to pause. Akaashi gave his hand a gentle squeeze, a way to say I'm listening, I'm here.

'His training was brutal, at times. I was afraid to make a mistake in case I was punished. Growing up, my escape was my mother. When I was with her, I felt like I could be myself; I could be a child again... but then I had to return to my reality.

'I grew to fear my anger and resentment towards my father, so I chose to displace it somewhere else. But even then, moments on the battlefield, I couldn't hold it. I had it bottled up for so long that it became lethal; deadly,' His voice cracks as he speaks, choking on his words. He was finding it hard to speak now.

'You're not a bad person. You were young; a child corrupted by war. I wouldn't care if you had blood on your hands or not, you are a good person to me Bokuto, and nothing you can say or do will change that. You are nobody's soldier; you are not a weapon. From now on, when you fight, it is from your own accord.'

Bokuto held Akaashi closer, and for a moment Akaashi could've sworn he felt his lips twitch into a smile against the skin on his neck.

It was at that moment that Akaashi knew one thing; he needed him. It was all he could ever need. He needed his arms around him, he needed his gentle kisses, he needed him to whisper how they could find a way to be together when this war was all said and done.

Maybe Bokuto was the sign from the Gods. Maybe. Maybe the gods sent them to each other; maybe they needed one another.