[still in the forest]

[woodfortono]

[so somebody has been training in the woods for roughly a million years]

Comments

[blueondeck]

[speaking softer now, watching you closely]

Turning away thinking that your the problem isn't going to help you. It also isn't healthy.

[woodfortono]

I'm part of the problem. [muttering as he scratches at the back of his neck, looking very tired] And Takeru's already--he's changed a lot. I dunno, I thought maybe it was my turn.

[blueondeck]

Your stronger when your standing with your bonds instead of away from them.

[woodfortono]

[now he does look guilty, digging the point of his sword into the dirt a little]

...I know.

[blueondeck]

[Swallowing hard, looking down so that he doesn't have to look at you]

You're leaving us behind to chase your phantoms.

[That's about as close to "I miss you" as you're going to get]

[woodfortono]

[he hesitates for a long moment

but he knows how much that must have taken you to say so he exhales slowly and puts the sword away]

I hated not being able to protect him. Or you. I hated the idea that something might happen and it'd be because I wasn't fast enough or strong enough. ...I thought that maybe if I could beat him, finally, he'd be safe.

[he looks down, his own throat tightening a little]

Sounds stupid when I say it like that, I guess.

[blueondeck]

[stepping up to you slowly, watching your body language still.]

Protect out backs. Even if you can't do it alone, I know I'm powerless to beat him just like you, it's still possible to protect their back.

[reaches out to touch his fingers to your side, not doing more than the touch]

I can't stand seeing him like this anymore, nor can I keep going on like this.

[woodfortono]

[he shivers hard all over when you touch him, his eyes jerking up to your face]

I thought he'd be okay. [shakes his head a little, swallowing as he reaches up to put a hand on your shoulder, almost hesitantly] ...that was pretty stupid too, probably.

[blueondeck]

[Well now he guesses he should be honest.]

You really aren't the stupid one. You tried to do something on your own, and it...

[He wants to say it's more painful than stupid, but he's unsure of being so feelsy]

--It happens. Just don't be one of those people who disappear from our lives. Takeru doesn't deserve it.

[woodfortono]

I know. [he exhales and leans in, wrapping his arms around you impulsively]

...you don't deserve it either. M'sorry.

[blueondeck]

[raising his arms and wraps around your shoulders and tightens, speaking into your (dirty) hair]

I can survive somehow. I've done it before.

[woodfortono]

I'll come back. ...not much more I can do on my own anyway. [he isn't letting you go just yet, though]

[blueondeck]

Chiaki.

[starting to nuzzle against you, dropping one arm to your back and keeping you close.]

[woodfortono]

Mmmm? [shifting his grip a little in response, his palms flat against your back]

[blueondeck]

[leaning down, kissing you shortly]

You're still a stupid boy.

[woodfortono]

[he looks shocked, then indignant, leaning in to nip at you a little]

And you're a jerk!

[blueondeck]

I'm the jerk who's going to drag you back. [pulls at your lip with his teeth, bringing the hand at your shoulders to cup your cheek instead]

[woodfortono]

Like you could drag me anywhere! [nudging at you a little and huffing a laugh, his face still close to yours]

[blueondeck]

Do you want to see me do it?

[woodfortono]

No! [shoving at you a little harder and biting at your neck playfully, leaning his head on your shoulder]

[blueondeck]

That sounds like a yes to me. [nuzzling up against you, moving his hands under your shirt and raking then up your back]

[woodfortono]

[he sucks in a breath when your nails touch his skin and he shifts, pushing you back hard against the nearest tree and pulling your shirt aside to close his teeth on your shoulder, biting down and sucking firmly]

[blueondeck]

[leaning back on the tre and throws his head back, moaning and gripping his fingers into your back at the feeling.]

[woodfortono]

[his mouth gentles against your skin as he slides his lips up your throat, kissing lightly before he reaches up to tug your hair loose, burying his hands in it to tilt your head down and kiss you, slow and hard, his mouth warm against yours]