Sweet Love

Chapter 27: Grave visiting pt.1

"Bokuto-san, are you ok?" Akaashi waves his hand in front of Bokuto's face, causing Bokuto to snap back to reality.

"...Y...yeah! I'm fine!" Akaashi gives a look of utter disbelief. "I'm really fine! Akaaashi you worry too much!" Bokuto retorts.

"...It's just that you've been spacing out a lot lately."

"Really?"

Akaashi nods.

"I'm just tired! I'll be fine with you sleeping beside me today!"

Akaashi blushes. The issue of Bokuto's unnatural behaviour is forgotten as the topic switches to Akaashi's sleepover later that day.
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"!" Bokuto jerks upright. Akaashi is disturbed by Bokuto's violent action and wakes up. "Bokuto-san, are you ok?" Akaashi turns on the bedside lamp while rubbing his eyes. Bokuto is sweating profusely and his eyes hold a look of fear. "Did you have a nightmare?" Bokuto takes a while before he finally responses with a yes and a short statement telling Akaashi to not worry. But Akaashi is still anxious. Bokuto just had a nightmare. Bokuto had been behaving abnormally. Even still, Bokuto insists that he is fine. Akaashi is sure Bokuto is not fine.

As they both once again lay down to sleep, Bokuto wraps his arms tightly around Akaashi as if afraid. Afraid to lose Akaashi and afraid of something else.

Unable to budge Bokuto into telling him about his troubles, Akaashi asks Bokuto's parents instead the next morning.

"Koutarou's birth parents passed away in a car accident exactly eight years from today... Koutarou was in the car with them when the accident happened..." Bokuto's mother pauses slightly before continuing. "He was the only one who survived."

"Koutarou used to be very mature because he wanted to be able to give his parents a good life in the future. However because of the accident, he reverted back to a child like state. Koutarou's mum was my sister. I love both this child and my sister very much, my husband also adored the little Koutarou, so we adopted him..." She stays silent. Akaashi can see the glint of tears in her eyes.

"Akaashi-kun. Koutarou is a good kid. However after the incident, he seldom lets people inside his heart. You are the first person that he has been so close to. Please take care of him." Bokuto's father firmly tells as he places a hand on his wife's shoulder to comfort her.

"I will. I promise."

After bidding both adults goodbye, Akaashi walks back into Bokuto's room. Bokuto lays on the bed, still asleep. Akaashi sits on the bed beside him and runs his fingers through Bokuto's rough white hair.

Bokuto stirs. Stifling a yawn, Bokuto calls out a greeting to his boyfriend. "Morning Akaashi."

"Morning Bokuto-san. Do you want breakfast?" Bokuto nods and they both head into the dining room. Both parents had headed out not too long ago to pay respects at the cemetry.  "Bokuto-san...do you know what day it is today?"

"Hmmm...What?" Bokuto answers mouth full with rice.

"It's your birth parents death anniversary." Akaashi takes the straight approach, believing that beating around the bush would get them nowhere in making Bokuto face reality. The chopsticks Bokuto is holding clatter onto the table. Bokuto quickly picks them up. "Akaash! Don't say rubbish! My parents are alive and healthy!"

"I know. They spoke to me before they left just now. I'm talking about your birth parents Bokuto-san..."

"No! I only have two parents. Only... Two..." Bokuto seems distressed. Akaashi starts panicking. Is he pushing it too far? Should he stop?

"...B-Bokuto-san... Eight years ago, you had a car accident. And only you survived..."

"Akaashi...please stop..." Bokuto begs, eyes wide in...fear.

"Both your parents died. Why do you not visit them?"

"I don't want to hear it. Stop. Stop. No... Don't wanna hear it..." Bokuto lowers his head and covers his ears.

Akaashi finds his heart clench. He stops. "I'm sorry Bokuto-san. I'll stop. I'll stop."

Akaashi gently pries Bokuto's fingers off his ears and strokes his hair. Bokuto quietens down like a child.

"Ne Bokuto-san... Why are you so scared?"