The (rut) cycle (shinsoukoku)

Chapter 29

One day is fine. Atsushi makes himself breakfast, wants to give some to Akutagawa but finds out the door is locked and just leaves the food in front of the door. The same with lunch and dinner. He's glad that the food always turns up fully eaten later. That means his mate is eating well... Atsushi really wants to see him though.

Two days is... fine, too. Atleast that's what Atsusih keeps saying to himself. The couch is making his back hurt which in turn makes Atsushi more irritated. On the second day, he keeps knocking on AKutagawa's door every few hours, asking him to come out.

All he gets in response is either no or just complete ignorance. He knows Akutagawa's ni there and hasn't run away because he can smell his mate's scent, but that doesn't stop him from worrying.

He does see Akutagawa once when he's in the living room and the diablo opens the door to leave the room and go to the bathroom. They don't exchange any words though. Whenever Atsushi tries to say something, Akutagawa covers his ears and ignores him yet again. It was very obvious his mate was still angry at him.

Atsushi still didn't fully understand why.

All he wanted was for Akutagawa to stay alive... Why was his mate angry at him because of that? Sure, he made the discussion from two days ago a bit about him instead of Akutagawa and Chuuya, but it's not like it was that much. Just... a tiny bit. A small sparkle.

The third day comes and Atsushi realizes something.

Three days without his mate is too much.

He stands up from the couch that he's grown to hate in those few days and walks over to their room.

"Ryuu... My love, please open the door" The weretiger asks in the gentlest tone possible and puts his forehead on the door. He doesn't know how much he'll be able to live without his Akutagawa and his body. He needs it. Desperately.

He hears the diablo walk over to the door but it's still closed.

„I need time" He hears a small whisper coming from the other side of the door and he frowns.

"How much longer? Did you... Did you still not decide?"

"No" Akutagawa answers and Atsushi's fingers tighten into a fist.

A few seconds later, he releases the fist though.

He knows how to make his mate make the decision a bit faster.

"Will you come out if I let you see Chuuya?" He asks his mate and there's a short moment of silence before his mate answers.

"Will I really be able to see him or are you just saying that to get me out of the room?"

"I mean it"

For some reason, Akutagawa trusts Atsushi. He doesn't know why but he felt like the weretiger was telling the truth.

The second he leaves the room, Atsushi embraces him and wants to kiss him but Akutagawa turns his face away.

"I'm still angry at you" He whispers but finds it very difficult to say it. In those three days of being alone, he too started craving Atsushi's touch. He didn't want to let it show though.

Atsushi frowns but lets his mate go.

"Do you want to go now, or-„

"Now." His mate answers and Atsushi nods.

"Alright"

...Akutagawa does not know what awaits him.

_______

They arrive at the room and Atsushi opens the doors with a key he took frmo his pockets. The second they're wide enough for Akutagawa to get through, he runs towards Chuuya and checks his pulse.