Gang Of Youths • bokuaka

5 ~ Anchor

They left the next morning. The sun was setting over the sea as they approached the island.

It was at this moment that Akaashi began to understand the gravity of the situation; he was about to fight in a war. It scared him, but he tried to hide that fear; burying it down deep inside. His father wouldn't be proud of him if he could see him now, afraid of war. War is all they've ever known; all Bokuto has ever known.

'They say that crowds have gathered on the shore,' Bokuto stated as he came to where Akaashi stood. He looked at Bokuto. If he was nervous, he hid it well.

'They have come to see you?'

'Yes, yes they have.'

Akaashi noticed the shift in his tone, he sounded more disappointed than excited. Thoughts ran through his mind; was it the weight of their hopes resting on his shoulders? Was he worried that he would disappoint them? Perhaps it was.

The ship touched the beach. They lowered the gangplank and began to descend. The beach was quiet, surprisingly. Akaashi had assumed they would have gathered waiting on their hero's arrival.

It wasn't until they arrived in the town that he saw them waiting. The sound of their chants echoed in the air, chanting his name over and over; Bokuto Kōtarō, Bokuto Kōtarō. Their hands seemed to be joining in prayer, but by the gods did it sound like applause?

As Bokuto walked, they bowed their heads in respect. It was at this moment that Akaashi began to understand just how great Bokuto was; how great he would become. He was to become a legend.

Bokuto lifted his arm in greeting, waving to the crowds as he walked. He spoke to them as he passed by, offering a smile.

This was his life; a life Akaashi could not understand. He had that feeling inside him that he had not fully lived in this world, and it caught him by surprise. He had not lived.

Bokuto had tales of adventures he had been on; of battles he had one, of things he had seen. Akaashi had nothing, that was a fact. Even as far back as he could remember, he had only ever watched the world evolve around him rather than emerge himself into it; completely, fully, entirely.

A chariot was waiting to take them to the camp. They stepped into it, watching as the crowds disappeared behind them, their voices drowning out and welcoming the quietness of nature.

༄

'I didn't expect a welcome like that,' Bokuto said, looking up at the pale sky above as they walked into the tent, they would call home for now.

Akaashi did, some part of him anyway. He looked at the man beside him, 'They rely on you, doesn't that scare you?'

'A bit I suppose. Just their expectations of me, I don't want to disappoint them.'

Akaashi took his hand, his thumb rubbing across his knuckles, 'You won't disappoint them. I know you won't'

Bokuto smiled widely, wider than Akaashi had ever seen him smile before, 'You have a lot of faith in me.'

Akaashi looked up from their hands, meeting Bokuto's golden eyes, 'Is that such a bad thing?'

'Not at all!' Bokuto's smile grew softer, 'You'll be by my side, and that's all I need.'

Akaashi felt the corners of his lips tug into a smile, 'I promise to be by your side.'

That night, they lay on the cold bed. Bokuto lay beside him, eyes shut in a deep sleep, his lips slightly parted as light snores escaped him.