Private Confessions x Keiji

[Sazuki Nao]

It was Nao's off day, something that only happened twice a week as all the other days he was fully working. Never had a sick moment called in either or being late. But today something else caught him. The yokai would be beside the bed where Nao was resting, it was still early morning but she couldn't help but worry over him. "Sjees... Sleeping for already this long..." She muttered and looked at the filled glass at the bedside. "Not even drinking... That's bad and you know it.." She would refill the glass so Nao had a fresh one again... But as the morning progressed, Nao didn't do much except hugging the bed all morning. Once it was afternoon the Yokai started to worry more and more. Nao wasn't his cheery and responsive self as he usually was in the morning, and the fact he didn't smoke yet didn't bode well with her at all.

A small yokai was trying its best to find a certain someone in and or around the Byoin. ' Where is he, where is he... ' she kept rattling in her head as he flew one hallway towards the next trying to find either Hitomi or Keiji right on the spot. She was worried and as she was not a Kami or medic... She found herself in a predicament with her own master. It was just a moment that they caught a glimpse of the other's contract that they ran towards them. "OI! Hitmoli! Himitomi! Yokai!" She called out, never bothered to really save the name in their mind. "Where is your master? My master is in trouble, I think he is dying..." She started to hold hands on her head. "So yesterday, that tumble had happened. He went home early... And then basically never left his room! He didn't eat and I know that is bad, especially in his condition, but he even is skipping breakfast! He didn't drink much except two single glasses of water! What do I do? He doesn't answer my questions and the reason I am this small is that I wasn't summoned I came on my own accord! My chakra pool isn't as big!" She rattled on till the point that she hoped the other would make action or reaction.

Back at the clanhouse, Nao was indeed laying in his room, in his bed hugging one pillow while laying on the big sized bed. He did sleep early that night, but he didn't feel hungry and his mind was just going back and forth to what had been transpiring from the time he had met Keiji so far. He had so many questions and oddly he didn't have that many answers to them.

[pvt. for Keiji]

 

[Keiji]

Answers aren't always forthcoming, and Hitomi, coming out of the surgical theater to stretch. Keiji had been having a meeting with his unit of Harvesters, talking about progress and the status of their projects. Some had gone through great detail in how they were attempting to recruit more, but the greatest hurdle they kept stumbling into was the cultural differences and the value of life and ownership of bodily organs, but they'd get through to some, they were sure of it.
As the buzzing youkai hurdled itself Hitomi had trouble first recognizing the bodily representation of Nao's contract, and the name they spouted at Hitomi made her blood boil. "It's HI-TO-MI! You absolut dingu-" she stopped mid sentence as it seemed the Yokai was stressed and kind of just ignored her outburst. Switching from angry to curious, as soon as the words "trouble", "dying", "He doesn't answer", "my own accord!" her expression turned grim and grimmer by every syllable of those words. "Fine, he's already packing up..."

As the last word came out of Hitomi, the door from the surgical theater fling open and slammed on the wall. Revealing small cracks on the paint and wall. Inside, you could see the worried faces of some of the hooded figures of the Harvesters, some of them packing away files and documents as they finish up their meeting. "Lead the way." His face was dour and gloomy, but with a stern and serious glare to it. Almost like he was ready and willing to eagerly squish the Yokai with his bare hands if need be. His muscles contracted and tightened on his fists as he squeezed it into a tight ball. No wall could stand in his way.
His chakra energies exhumed from his being like a furious force of will, almost glistening in the light coming from the hallway windows.

 

[Sazuki Nao]

The yokai looked towards the other and was… a bit rattled. “Oi… Not my fault you have such a difficult name!” She blurted out towards the other, but just as she said that… The door to her side flung open and she let out a small whelp. It honestly startled the small figure and after his demeanor, she would start to lead the way towards the clan.

She first had to enter the clan house through the back… Where for Keiji, he had to jump the fence at this point. But the veranda had remained open to get that light in, and for the kid that was living around the place. The living room was connected with a kitchen, where it still was clean and no dishes were around. "Through here..." She would whisper and float towards the hall that leads towards the bedroom of Nao.

The door towards Nao’s bedroom was just at a creek. There was just a single ray of light from the hallway getting inside which didn’t reach much except Nao’s glass of water on the little desk. It wasn't touched anymore as of last time. There was no noise coming from the place itself, but if one were to silently open the door you could see his clothing still scattered on the floor and pants with older blood on them.

If the door would be pushed open just a bit more, you would see a person half under the blankets and half laying out of them. There was a red spot on the sheets and that wasn’t because of a female companion but because of his hip. He had been rusting in his sleep and because of the other day, he re-opened the wound at his hip once more. Yet he never let that be treated and had, a combination of the tumble down. Taking the afternoon off.

If one were to look to him he was lying there with his eyes half-open. His body slightly shivering yet would be warm to the touch, in fact, he would be rocking a fever by now. He was huffing and didn’t quite notice the party around his door yet or even inside his room. And once he did… He noticed it was Keiji too.. he even tried to hide under the blankets. The use that he took here was; if I can’t see him, he cannot see me. Of course, that was just a child's thought on this occasion.

 

[Keiji]

Following the Yokai, he had a brisk pace, decisive gestures, his muscles was tense and tight, making his movements basically unstoppable, his adrenaline was rushing through his body as if he was running a marathon or in the middle of a deadly fight with another Shinobi, as rare as those are for him these days. Regardless though, he hurried along out of the hospital, down the streets and reach the clan houses. People who met him along way moved to the side, afraid of what might happen would they stand in his way. Some frightened individuals almost ran to the opposite side of the road and avoided his gaze. His eyes though, would be staring forward, straight ahead, just following along with the tiny youkai.

Reaching behind the building and jumping swiftly but with very rough movements across the fence, he quickly realized, he wasn't at some battlefield, the forbidden forest, or anything like that. This was Nao's home. Hitomi only told him through the link that Nao was in deathly danger... So taking a deep breath, he tried his best to calm his nerves. And reminding himself of his goal, following further into the building he gaze of the youkai, noticing the door to Nao's bedroom slightly ajar, he'd walk with dark and deep footsteps, like he was intentionally making as much noise as he could, grasping the door handle firmly he swiftly, but controlled movement, whisking the damp air within the bedroom out, like a fan held and shaken to cool down a person.

Eyes darting around the room, he examined the situation and then took a few more steps and stood by the bed, looming over Nao, like a disappointed father looking down at his delinquent son, staying away from work. His mind quick asked Hitomi to start going through the kitchen to see what ingredients there were and if there was anything lacking for what he had planned, to hop out and pick it up.

Sitting down on the bedside, his body still tall, and looming over Nao, he calmed grasped the edge of the blanket, while the other hand reached over where Nao's head was supposed to be. Pulling the blanket quickly just so it revealed Nao's head, Keiji eyes stared daggers at Nao as his other hand firmly grabbed and held firmly on his forehead. "Stay still.." As the words escaped his mouth, Keiji's demeanor softened and as he felt the temperature on his forehead getting warm, his firm hands reach around the other side of the blanket and slowly but surely pulled it off the rest of Nao's body, eyes following along to analyze whatever else would be the matter.

Seeing the blood on the sheets from the re-opened hip injury he first checked to see if the wound was still actively bleeding, no signs. "You've been silly, Nao-kun. Why didn't you get this checked?" He stood up, walked out, leaving Nao by himself, with his blankets pulled off. After a few seconds coming from outside of the room Nao would hear Keiji shout "You STAY STILL Y'hear?!" Outside of the room he was examining the place, and finding some gauze bindings, pads and disinfectant. Then coming back after a minute, grabbing ahold of Nao's hips. "This'll hurt, but this needs sealing." His words were direct, honest, harsh and yet soothing.

He proceeded to take a wad of the disinfectant cream, and applying it, probably causing some twitches of pain, and then lifting up his butt to pull the gauze across his hip, pulling it down, over, under, over and under with the efficient skill, of many years of experience. Quickly covering the bottom hip and the side of his leg where the wound is. Once the binding is set into place. He checks the stretch of it, and softly says to himself. "There, hopefully, it'll sit there tightly." Then going through the routine, he continued on, "But it'll need to be re-bandaged after about -" stopping again, he reminded himself who he was talking to. "But.. You know all of this already."

Getting, close to Nao's face, leaning down to him, looking Nao directly into his eyes. "Sleep. Okay?" He would await Nao to say something, or nod silently, just a reaction to awknowledge his words. Then standing back up, he'd keep looking at him. Then slowly turn and head out of the bedroom, to Hitomi, if she was still there, or had left to get that missing things, if there were any.

 

[Sazuki Nao]

He had thought that… Hiding under a blanket with the child's idea, 'if he cannot see me, he isn’t there' attitude… it didn't quite work with Keiji. He felt his mattress shift to the weight of the other that joined it.. and he held his eyes closed, tried to breathe as normal as possible despite his heart already beating in his chest. ‘WHY THE F IS HE HERE?!’ Through mind link, the little Yokai said a sorry and she had actually positioned herself just by the door. The next moment, he felt the blanket being grasped and once it was off he already had a dead set in his mind that he would fight this ‘attack’. Yet there wasn’t that much of resistance at that point. His head had come off just a bit off but was pushed down. “Keiji!” He didn’t even think about formalities, but once their eyes met… He looked away, he was busted all right… As he heard him going on about him being silly he would try to roll his eyes. “I would have! Sometime… later… Oi..!” He tried to call out behind the other… but slowly his mind was getting the idea what was going to happen.

Moments later he would try to get out of bed… but much more than a minimal effort would be produced as simply his body wasn’t participating as well. “I-is he going to be alright?” The yokai sounded worried and looked from Nao towards Keiji. She had no idea what was going on but did spot the blood now. Nao’s movements even flinched as he heard Keiji yelling back about staying still. “B-busted…” He sounded soft in his room and you could easily spot he had shifted a bit. And once Keiji got back in… He tried to talk it off at first, that he didn’t move to getaway.

At first, he lay still, almost being a perfect patient as he knew what could be coming. Feeling the cool white cream touch his wound his body twitched and caused his legs and chest to flinch. Till the point where it became hurtful for him. "A-t!" He flinched as he felt Keiji's warmth somewhere he had not felt before. As Keiji started to treat it further. "K-kei. Ouch! That hurts! Stop that!" he tried to push his hand away, and from this point on... Keiji had to not only try to treat the adult but also deal with him being a stubborn ass. He had to, not only try to balance himself but also attempt to get Keiji off his ass. "K-Keiji! Not so tight! That hurts!"

Jibril remained watching through it all… Which did not make it any better altogether. “So… Is he… okay?” She asked rather carefully at the point where Nao was able to lay back down. Trying to reach almost instantly for the blanket he was met with Keiji’s gaze once more. His own eyes wide open and he swallowed thickly. “Y-yeah…” He would stutter for a moment, not even used to any of this. Not used to someone coming to his house to check out on him, let alone be this swift in ignoring his stop commands or anything. Guess why he got away from all that time being treated by hospital personnel.

At first, he stared at the ceiling, but soon his eyes started to turn heavy and he fell asleep.

[you are free to skip]

 

[Keiji]

As Keiji stood in the hallways of the building, he examined the house calmly, assessing the place, checking surfaces, sliding a finger across areas and seeing the collection of dust. Definitely living there by himself, with no one cleaning. His eyes darting to the tiny Youkai, clearly making his thoughts known. Leaning down, sitting on a knee to get to their height. "Listen, Nao is going to be alright. He just needs rest. For now though, I'm aware you don't have a lot of energy, you're free to hop back, I'll watch over him today. If you wanna stay though, I think it'd be nice if you could grab a mob and a cloth and clean a little bit. In the meantime, I'll be in the Kitchen."

Just as he got into the Kitche, Hitomi returned, jumping through an open window she had opened before. "I brought the onions, potatoes, carrots and ginger." showcasing the brown paper bag she was holding to her chest and shoving it up on the counter. "Perfect. Let's begin."

[30 minutes later]

While the pot was getting to boiling, Keiji had enlisted Hitomi's assistance with cleaning, and Keiji had snuck back into the bedroom to see that Nao was sleeping, and placing a damp and cool towel onto Nao's forehead to help cooling down his body. He had grabbed the clothes that had been piling up and putting them into bins, and letting Hitomi take them to get them cleaned.

In the meantime, his Harvesters, back at the Byoin, had delivered the information about Keiji and Nao to the information desk both being temporarily away, and assisting in relieving the most immediate pressing matters, like taking patients if any immediate issues arose.

After a solid few hours of cleaning, and doing maintenance, the pot filled with the ingredients saw a few more processes, and maintained it's hot temperature. Letting Hitomi take a break and sitting outside with a bowl of the soup they had made, Keiji made two bowls, taking a chair with him, he sat down next to the bed of Nao, awaiting his eyes to start opening, maybe hearing the clank of the spoon on bowl, with slurping coming in between.

If Nao were to open his eyes, he'd see Keiji, sitting eating a light-brown-ish soup with finely chopped ingredients, it'd be smelling of garlic, onions, ginger, carrots and potatoes. The soup would be thick. warm, and soothing. "Open." Keiji would say to Nao. Then grabbing another spoon, and from another bowl and push it towards Nao's face. Expecting him to open up, he'd pour it into his mouth.

Softly speaking, and while he took another spoonful he'd say to Nao "That fever needs to go down. So please stay lying down." His eyes would be warm, attentive, like an older brother or concerned father, sitting patiently. There was still a hint of disappointment, but it was hidden behind a veil of pampering over, technically his sensei, or ranking superior. But at this point, in Keiji's mind, he didn't care about all that, all that was important was Nao, his friend, no, was he his friend? Was he seeing Nao as his friend, or was there something more blooming from this interaction? He wasn't honestly sure. All he cared about was here was a person, that Keiji cared for, that needed help, and that's all that mattered in this moment.
"You really ought to tell me these things, if you need any kind of help. Your life is a lot more meaningful than you might assume. Okay?"
He let his words sit in the emptiness between them with only his hand, with the spoon and soup in hand holding in front of his face being the connection between them. His eyes looking softly to Nao, with a warm curl to his lips, and his muscles and adrenalin having properly settled down within him. Now it was only heart that seemed to keep racing as these moments was being lived in.

 

[Sazuki Nao]

Jibril was happy to hear that Nao was going to be okay, but overall… once the cleaning was being mentioned. She stuck out her tongue. She complained as she started to clean up and eventually did try to have a chat with Hitomi in order to clean less. It didn’t work but the attempt was all that mattered to her. “I am out of reserves now.. please take care of him.” She would bow once more towards Keiji before poofing away in a tuft of smoke.

It wasn’t the world's best sleep that he was having, but it was some sleep on which his body was already happy to gain. His eyes slowly opened as he heard something close by, he couldn’t exactly place it before the memory of before came back to him in an instant. “K-keiji… just…” He would be met with a spoon and the words open. His gaze averted for a moment before he would do as was being told. He opened up his mouth and tasted the ingredients in there. 'Hmm--.. Ginger..?' This man… could actually cook, and not to his own cooking attempts. Nao was able to cook, he just never took the time for it.

“Fever… ah-.. right…” He muttered along as he raised his hand a little to feel his own cheek. It was true… he really had run a fever and you could see in his eyes that he made a mistake alright. "You really ought to tell me these things, if you need any kind of help. Your life is a lot more meaningful than you might assume. Okay?" He bit visible on his tongue for a second before raising his hand. A pinky was held out towards Keiji as if it was the most sacred pinky promise that could exist. “Now… please don’t get mad…” He would start his sentence and wait for the pinky promise to happen.

After the pinky promise was made, Nao glanced towards the ceiling. “I… kinda took something out of my medical files regarding all this…” He would be saying it in a slight pouty manner. “No one can know… honestly... “ He would start to tell right after and look towards Keiji with a slightly worried gaze. “No one…” he would say again. “I have this… every other week..? maybe more…? I don’t really recall as I just worked with it…” He would lay a little bit more comfortable. “Ever since I was a child… I had these random illness moments, sometimes multiple times a week, sometimes once a month… And it works pretty randomly, even till this point I never got to pinpoint exactly what I get… But.. I overdid it big time…” He would get an awkward chuckle in and look towards Keiji with an apologetic smile.

“Yesterday… after.. uhm… that…” and his gaze quickly went away from Keiji after thinking about it. “I held a tutor… and… that went down the drain… The creature I sended earlier to you…” He would take a moment to take a bit of air. “It… wasn’t dead.. it was two bodies in one... two set of organs.. two... set of minds... and I thought to give a tutor.. and… I had to use Limit Break, along with my Archsage ability and. uhm.. yeah…” He would keep it at that, hoping to explain what had been happening. “I… my.. uhm.. My body didn’t react kindly to that.. so I ended up in this state again.. Sorry.. I didn’t want to worry you… Normally I can handle it till my off days… Sometimes a nap... “ And with that, the connection would be made to the couch in the herbal garden and the type of couches he had in his offices.

 

[Keiji]

Pinky Promises was a bit of a childish thing, Keiji would later admit to himself, but he relented, some people are just a little childish at heart, and that's perfectly fine. Hearing Nao explain his situation, made Keiji slightly gloomy, but in between breaths, Keiji would fill up another spoon, and feed him again, until the next break in speech.
"I see.." He'd comment as well, in truth, his focus was mostly on just keep feeding Nao with the warm soup, the fact that he kept talking only exacerbated the issue. The soup would only stay warm for a limited amount of time after all!

He did listen though, at least to the important parts.
And after he finished talking, he gave Nao a big gulp, "I understand. Don't worry about me, I'm just worried about you at this point.." He paused, letting the moment sit for a bit. "I don't blame your for wanting to or needing to hide it, not everyone needs to know such things about our Sennin. But listen, you can at the very least, put your faith in me, as Takeshi-san put his faith in me, in allowing me entry into the village to get a second chance at serving something bigger."

Pausing, taking a deep breath. Then continuing, "Those days where you need bed rest, don't hold back letting me know, I wouldn't mind being your personal physician, instead of going to the rest of the staff, we can keep it between ourselves, our little secret." At the last word he'd be smiling with a bit of a cheeky smirk, almost like he was flirt.

"I'll be staying around, if you don't mind, just until your fever has settled." At this point, Nao, may realize or notice that his bedroom was clean, he had a fresh pair of clothes sitting on a small stool next to his bed, and the room was clean, from behind the open door leading out into the hallway he would see clean, almost shining floorboards, the dust wasn't to be seen, and it was a lot, brighter in a weird way.
"Hitomi has been jumping between the Boyin and here, delivering messages, while also helping out here and there. She's taking a little break right now." He'd take a slurp of his own soup, as at this point Nao's bowl would be empty.

Standing up, he slurped up the rest of his bowl in one gulp. "I'll pour you another bowl, you'll need it." He reached out and grabbed the other bowl and walked out to refill it, first re-heating it a bit of course. Then coming back with a single bowl, he sat back down by Nao's side. "Once this one's empty you can go back to sleep, we'll stick around got it?"

 

[Sazuki Nao]

After having Keiji pinky promise him… He started to spill at least a bean towards him. And between breaths, he was taking, for him, last night's dinner. “Sorry… Keiji… I never meant to worry you…” He would bite his lip as his thoughts trailed off how he once more put more strain on someone. He didn’t want to put more strain on the other two and started to feel a bit more guilty besides the thing he was carrying right now. “I… don’t always know when I need bed rest… “ He would say and his face made a small pout, which soon turned surprised. Is he… nooo right?’ His thoughts already trailing off as he made an assumption there, shaking his head a little to get that assumption out. He thought it was a rather awkward moment to shake his head, so he quickly followed on. “I don’t mind… I really don’t..” ’ Holdup… what am I saying..?’ His heart started to skip a beat in his chest and he looked towards Keiji right in his eyes. It was only then that he noticed the change in his room.

’ How… knocked out was I..? I… never even noticed…’ He shifted in an attempt to turn to his side, but much more than a slight upper body movement wasn’t there. “Waow…” He was a little baffled and heard Keiji. So they cleaned up around… Man… How pathetic am I looking right now..?’ “You shouldn’t have to…”

As keiji got back in, Nao would be looking a little bit brighter than before. A genuine smile came to his lips. “Hm hmm, I do not mind at all… Feel free to stay over if you wish to... If you need to… I can summon Excursai to help you out..?” He would offer as he felt bad to both of them, they already had done so much for him.

“I’ll get him out… just… a second.” He would mutter as Keiji left the bedroom, stubborn was in his books after all. And once the hand seals were made and Sai stood there in his dark-haired form he shook his head at Nao once Keiji got back in. He had his humanoid form without the wings this time. “This bad huh…” The Kami spoke as he obviously knew more about it… “Judging by the fact one of your Chiefs is here… Things went south all right, did Jibril contact him..? I told you to tell her too!” The Kami gave Nao a slight earful but couldn’t help but show mercy.

Nao took the food once more from Keiji and after that, he would attempt to get a bit of sleep more, with his Kami around, he was able to tell in what kind of sleep state his master would be in.

“Sorry about that Keiji-Kun, Hitomi-chan…” The Kami would stay in the living room and offer a glass of tea to them for their hard work.

 

[Keiji]

"Oh you have nothing to apologize for. I went here because I heard there was a problem." He paused and stared into the cup the Kami had handed him. Sitting down on the porch with Hitomi sitting next to him, he couldn't help but wonder what this warmth he was feeling within himself. Hitomi could clearly tell, as she seemed to keep catching herself staring at him with this concerned expression on her face.
Maybe Nao wasn't the only one feeling a certain sickness within him, but also Keiji. Or maybe it was something else. He could feel a faint smile creep onto his face when he thought back to Nao, hearing his confession about his condition, hearing these deep heart felt frustrations that had been tormenting him. A physical condition he had needed to stay hidden.

He remembered the torment he had been through himself, his own sensei, as much as he respected and admired him, he had manipulated Keiji, molded him in his image, the cruelty shown and taught, the lack of empathy to all around him causing him to simply become an instrument of perfection. The perfect tool to build weapons within his subjects. The untold innocents or desperate people he had taken apart simply because of their instrumentality in creating more and better weapons to better the village, he tried to at first leave all that behind as he left Cloud. But something in him kept pushing him to build more, research more, cut apart more and further the goal of this mindset within him, creating the perfect weapon. Ideally and perfectionism, the unattainable goal, unreachable in all forms of realism. Settling just wasn't in him to do.

Before realizing it, his tea had grown cold, and he'd been staring at his cup for several minutes without taking a single sip. Taking a sip now just gave him a bitter taste in his mouth. Looking ahead his eyes saw in the horizon the setting sun "Say.." he started, not talking to anyone in particular. "Think there's room for second chances?" He stopped himself before continuing on with this train of thought, assessing it wasn't the time nor the place to have such existential talks..

Turning to look over his shoulder to the Kami, "Got a couch I could borrow? I think it'd be nice to get a little shut eye and follow suit with Nao." He would follow along with the Kami, assist to set the sheets, if needed or, just plummet down onto it, leaving Hitomi to her own devices. Most likely sitting guard by him, or chilling outside on the porch.

 

[Sazuki Nao]

The kami was looking towards the chief as he remained silent at this spot. He was expecting a waterfall of questions… but none of those seemed to be coming around, which left him in a little bit of an awkward position. He did notice because of that, that the place was spotlessly clean. “I have to say… this is amazing, you two really went all out on the fact that this place was… dusty..” he would word it that way as it felt like one more of the more safe ways. His gaze went from Keiji towards his Yokai Hitomi. He would clean up the cooking supplies that Keiji had used and finally saw some motion coming from him. “Hmm… second chances..? Did you blow the first one already with Nao?” he questioned out loud and then saw him looking towards him. ’He wasn’t talking to me… I should read the atmosphere better….’ He would leave a bit of a sigh and place the dry towel down walking down towards him.

“If you want to, you can call me Excursai… And we have 5 rooms left..” he would mention Keiji to follow and bring him to a room. If it was quite roomy, there was a single-person bed in there, a desk with a bin below and a comfy chair, a bookcase, and a closet. The pretty basic setup which would be fine for any child that moved in. The bed was probably just on the edge of being a good fit for Keiji, but that was because this was one of the rooms that Children had inside his clan house. “If you wish to make use of it.. at the end of this hallway there is a bathroom which is shared with the 4 bedrooms here. It’s a separate one from Nao’s… but it will cover everything. The towels you can find in the closet there... Please have a good rest.” The Kami would excuse himself after, in the closet would be a set of towels.

In the house, it will be quiet for quite a long while and Sai kept up throughout the night, which was better because at 4 am in the morning, Nao had attempted to get up. He had got himself somewhat dressed up and had attempted to get through the hall. “Nao!” The kami shouted a bit hushed as he was holding Nao on the doorstep of his room. “Just… a little…” He would wince and he only wanted to get a bit of fresh air at the porch but his Kami wouldn’t really allow it. “At least put on something against the cold!” Sai spoke in the same tune, attempting to remain silent instead of shouting through the house. “There are blankets there in the box… it’ll be fine!” Nao, however, had somewhat forgotten there could be a guest in the house.

After the two had had an argument… The kami lost it and had brought Nao to the porch where he was found half sitting down, half laying down position due to his hip. The kami had his arms crossed and kept tapping with his finger on the arm. His mood was quite sour at the moment and if Hitomi would be asking something, there would be shooting daggers' gaze from the Kami.

Nao was sitting at the porch, his fever had come down quite a bit, there was still one… but by the fact he was at least able to move a bit around, was something better. Beside him was a plastic cup of tea… The reason it was plastic, even though he could move. There wasn’t much strength back. He would have a blanket over his shoulders to at least protect him somewhat from the night's cold. “Tomorrow… the papers for the clan…” Nao said as he smoked from a cigarette and would attempt to make a list of what to do. “Run by the Byoin… Pick up papers… do paperwork…” He muttered further. “Nao, Keiji is still here around, please be a bit more quiet!” The tune of the Kami gave Nao a shiver. “H-hai…”

 

[Keiji]

"He really likes you a lot y'know?" Hitomi was sitting quietly on the far side of the porch, looking up, gazing at the moon illuminating the ground beneath them. Her only words were spoken quietly, like a fading dream, directed towards Nao who had come out, wearing several layers of blankets.
After a moment's pause she continued
"Keiji." She confirmed for Nao, in case he would still be questioning whom she'd be referring to. "It's rare to see him care about anyone anymore, his attentions has been solely on our mutual goals. And it seems you've been able to somehow fill some void within him by your little interactions." She paused thinking to herself. "I wouldn't say I'm jealous or anything, moreso just fascinated by this development." Standing up, she walked behind Nao, standing still, "Hope you liked the soup, it was his idea." She blurts out, pointing out the soup Keiji made with Hitomi for Nao.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go and make us another cup of tea."

Waking, with a jolt, Keiji's eyes creeped up, as he heard the Kami's words. "wha? Nao's awake it seems.." laying comfy underneath the blankets made it difficult to get up and out, but he forced himself. Getting up and straightening his clothes, he got up and walked out and over to the kitchen to start the water heater, in the corner of his eyes he saw Hitomi walk in from the porch, seeing the silhuette of Nao outside. A yawn escaping his mouth as he poured an extra cup of tea. Taking it in his hands, meeting Hitomi with a slight nod, letting her know the water was still hot for another cup. Taking a few steps and getting outside, seeing Nao sitting by himself, Keiji sat next to him, and handed him a cup of tea. "Feeling better?" he asked as the warm cup would warm up his own and Nao's hands.

 

[Sazuki Nao]

"Huh..?" His body tensed up at the yokai's words. He had not seen her before? Had he totally skipped her over? He placed a hand on his chest and took a breath as he would look towards her. "What do you mean..? Who likes who?" He asked again and soon got confirmation. "W-what... huh... but.." he got instantly a ton of questions. "R... really.." He would look towards the floorboards which were still in front of him, he found himself scratching his cheek. "But... I am a guy?" He then asked but heard her again about the soup. "Uhu, that soup was nice." He would nod and follow her with his eyes before looking to the front again. His eyes closed a little as he was thinking, thinking about work was something that he didn't do at this point and that was a bit of a rare thing for him. "So... Huh..." He would say soft and he heard the floorboards behind him.

He looked around and saw Keiji. "Keiji-san..." he said soft and would take the tea mug and Sai was there to take it over and place it on the ground so Nao could get his hands around it. "Sorry Keiji, this is for his own safety before he doesn't have the strength.. " "R-right..." he would look back to the tea and hear the other. "I do... I can somewhat move again..." He said soft and Sai would hover in front of them. "So... Nao has basically 'stages' where go through. His body is quick in shifting this sadly and before you ask, it has been getting worse over the years..." Excursai said and would nod a few times. Nao just kept looking to the tea and was lost in thought, basically just asking himself so many questions that he barely heard Sai speak at this point.

"The reason there is a couch in his offices... is mainly by the fact they can double as a napping spot for him. Even at work, he has times where he has to lay down for an hour to make sure he doesn't over-exert himself. He is a very powerful medic... But that costs him too. His days are from, nothing, till light, till a mix between light and medium, medium than a mix between medium and heavy and there is heavy... Where you have seen him today. His heavy moods aren't that much, luckily. But his mediums are often around... Light: Just a bit fatigue light - medium: Can hardly keep a cup steady in hands. Medium: Slight fever running and needs plastic mugs in order not to break anything.... Medium-heavy: Fever running and has trouble acting and reacting, doesn't eat properly at this stage, and is sluggish. Heavy: Fever and bedridden, unable to do anything." Sai said and would leave it at that for Hitomi and Keiji to register. "Sorry Nao, but... you are more than just friends I know that... You just don't in that thick skull..." Sai said and would get back to the kitchen.

At those words, Nao pulled the blanket more over his head and his gaze started to glide towards Keiji. "Say... Keiji-san..." His voice was soft and a bit insecure. "Are... Hitomi's words earlier true..?" He asked soft his words almost dying in the end. He had no idea what was exactly going on... He had this funny feeling in his stomach and even with that, he felt like his heart was bursting out and he felt himself turning even more nervous once he asked that. But why did he get that idea..? "Even if I am a guy?" He asked straight after and shook his head. 'Why did I ask that?! Of course it isn't that! It cannot be, we are two guys... why did I think this?!

 

[Keiji]

Nodding carefully at the Kami's words, he had already guessed the majority of it. But I think the Kami may have forgotten the fact that Keiji was a doctor, as was Nao. If anyone would know Nao's strength and abilities it'd be himself. Perhaps the Kami had a habit of underestimating his Master, and just went with these assumptions. He had a short moment of disbelief seeing the gall he had. But he relented, opted not to say anything about it.
At least by the end of his little speech he left. Leaving Nao and him sitting alone on the porch. With only the moon and the stars to illuminate themselves and their world.

Meeting Nao's gaze he listened to his query with a curious look. "Hitomi's words? What did say this time.." He thought to himself. "What does you, being a guy have to do with anything?" His words dark and soothing with a smile to match following his words. He reached out with one arm behind Nao's shoulders and held him there, squeezing him close as he took a sip from his cup nonchalantly. This would make them sit close together, shoulder to shoulder. Then looking up at the moon, enjoying the breeze coming in to lift up his spirit, looking back down to Nao, with their heads within inches of each other, his eyes staring deeply into Nao's eyes if he was looking back up to him. "Feeling comfortable?" he asked warmly, he wasn't sure what he was doing at this point, his instincts told him, and he obeyed to lick his lips, and his eyes darting down to Nao's lips, and then back up to Nao's eyes.

In truth, Keiji's heart is racing, his body is sweating profusely, but he's careful with not letting it being visible, his whole body was freezing in many moments, and his arms felt like icicles as he reached out. He tried his best to stay 'cool' and relaxed. Displaying himself from his best sides. Hitomi would pay dearly once this thing is over and they're back home. She basically jeopardized his heart fully, forcing this whole thing to get much, much more awkward than it had to be. He didn't exactly expect this to get so far... Felt like his heart was leaping hoops and his ideas and thoughts were working at an elevated state.

 

[Sazuki Nao]

He was already over thinking about what Keiji could be thinking, saying, or even reacting. The number of scenarios he had in his mind, just got to so many, but as he heard him speak.. The thoughts stopped for a moment. "You-you know... Uhm... Never mind... Just, forget it..." He was an idiot after all, why did he even think that would have been a thing that could be a possibility... Yet the thought about it... Something just felt off about the thought about his disregarding the matter. 'Why... do I feel like going through a rollercoaster when I am just sitting down?!' He closed his eyes for a second and he would look to the moon. Almost as if that should hold all the answers for him.

He felt his own body shift even if it were just a little bit, and they soon were sitting side by side shoulder, to shoulder. 'He's... warm...' His thoughts trailed, he knew he had the fever still, but he was warm... Or he had cooled off from the outside air and when he looked to Keiji, his eyes widen. W-when did we get this close?!' Thoughts rushed to his head, he stuttered even in those thoughts. He opened up his mouth, but no word came out... and thus he closed to give just a small nod as a reply. Why did his heart go like crazy?! Why couldn't he just get a word out.. He was.. Nervous? For what was he nervous? There was nothing to be even nervous about? So many more questions filled his mind, his body, leaned in just a little bit closer, almost touching him... but then inched back. ' I'm a guy, he wouldn't... Why I am thinking this what is happening I don't get it anymore...'

 

[Keiji]

Without a second thought, pure instinct, the tucking of Nao's lips, and the slight nod, the doubt exhibited by Nao only pushed him further to commit. The moon's light shone upon Nao's eyes brightening them up, warming up Keiji's insides, his eyes darted back down to his lips and back up again, with the arm behind Nao, he squeezed a little tighter, nudging him slightly closer, Keiji took a short breath and then pushed himself a centimeter further and their lips met with eager anticipation, the shared warmth, their saliva mixes, the emotions between them both suddenly elevated, the moon maintained it's glow. Depending how Nao would react in that instance their bodies pushed against each other elevating them slightly, all lasting merely a single second, he released the kiss, and inched back a little away, opening his eyes again looking directly at Nao, with an apologetic look upon him.

"Sorry, I just.. Couldn't help it.." He whispered with a slight confident tone. He wasn't sure how Nao would react or what he'd do in response. Maybe that was answer to his earlier question on whether he cared about them just being two guys. Keiji didn't care, he never cared about such things. All that mattered was the emotions and how compatible they were. Would Nao kiss back? Or would he feel uncomfortable? Would he scream and run inside and hide underneath his blankets again? Regardless Keiji had made his statement with his action. Now the response is up to Nao.

 

[Sazuki Nao]

Everything, started to happen so, so quick. That where Keiji had time to take a breath, Nao did not have it. For a moment, the yarn ball of thoughts was clearing a moment, but there remained tangled bits here and there. But there was no matter as to how a person would describe it, for him this was a breathtaking moment.
He had closed his eyes, his body automatically started to follow in, leaning just a little closer. His hand moved from the cup to Keiji's arm. This was his second kiss, again taken by this person. After the kiss he looked down, almost scared to look the other in the eyes, but you could see the faint smile on his face but also how he got red and blushing all over. He had butterflies in his stomach. "But... I'm a guy..?" he muttered softly after a moment, almost fearing that he would pull back from what he had done. Due to the fact he was fearing for it... He would grab hold of, probably Keiji's sleeve, and a slight tug on it as he leaned towards his chest. "You... sure..? I'm... selfish... stubborn... and... Benevolent... and.. clumsy... or.. and..." He was running out of things for him to deny him. He had always been taught; you would find a nice female companion, make a family, make money to sustain the family... Basically the old-school picture-perfect thing. Which was the main reason, why Nao was so troubled. He never ever had felt like this before.

From the kitchen window, Sai was wickedly grinning and looked towards the small Yokai contract if she were to be near. Sticking a thumbs up.

 

[Keiji]

Hitomi was quietly sitting inside, sipping on her own tea, her eyes would be dulled and filled with judgement, like someone seeing a petulant child doing the thing that they warned them that they shouldn't do. (even though Hitomi at no point told or talked with Keiji much about Nao at all) But regardless of how it was looked upon, she didn't seem to mind, but quietly supported in the manner of just staying quiet and focused on her tea.

Having pulled back, and saying his excuse to his actions, Nao didn't seem regretful, and merely seemed to be filled with insular reasons to deny whatever it was that was happening within him. But instead Keiji simply lifted a finger and pressed it up against his lips stopping him when the next word was trying to escape from his mouth. And instead he filled his own instead "I. Don't. Care." Then pressed in again, moving his finger away, realizing Nao wasn't against it, and proceeded to push in and stole yet another kiss from this benevolent soul that had peaked his interest well enough to make him want more. Releasing and pulling back slightly again, leaning his head forward so he rested forehead to forehead. "You're wonderful, just the way you are." His words were, deep, dark and soothing. His eyes staring deep into Nao's eyes. And their heat were being exchanged through the skin contact on their forehead.

 

[Sazuki Nao]

Sai was inside, grinning at the two as he would attempt to fill in the little Hitomi about all the details. Yet he was glad, that Nao finally found someone to trust and share his life with. For how long or how short that life could be.

Nao's words were cut short by the finger that was raised and placed on his lips. His eyes widen a little and his gaze went up to Keiji's again, looking from one eye to the other. The kiss made him get rid now of most of the doubts he was holding, but as others were erased, others were coming up. It would be a long night for this male. But despite that, he leaned just a little bit more in the kiss. Keiji was certainly having the lead now, but as he went backward, Nao leaned a bit more forward. He didn't want to end it... But as Keiji pressed his forehead against him, he looked into his eyes once more, till he looked away as he felt even more embarrassed. "For... a while... I... Just... Uhm... Thought of you..." He would place his hands near Keiji. His heartfelt like it would pop any time soon. Despite the blanket and the other warmth, he started to have a light shiver. He attempted to move, but his hip stung and Nao stuck out the tip of his tongue in response to it. Painkillers were wearing off right now and his Kami noticed this quite quickly.

Sai would pop around the corner. "Oi oi... Sorry to be a crasher, but... He is still not well..." He would stick out his tongue towards Keiji and for Nao, he just turned redder in his face and felt like sinking through the ground.

 

[Keiji]

Understanding, and nodding carefully, smiling at Nao, his twitch and look of pain on his face concerned him, noticing where the pain was centered, his placed the cup of his hands on the wound by his waist, and began channeling healing chakra through it. Ignoring Sai's presence entirely but still replying to his words. "Don't you think I'm aware of this?" He retorted, he let his Chakra fill the area and enables a sense of numbness to fill it.
As he let the moment sit with his hands holding firmly on his hip, his other hand reach underneath Nao, and with a quick tug and a pull he lifted up Nao, standing up quickly and holding him as a groom would hold his bride, Nao would rest there, with his blanket still over him, most likely some or both of the cups of tea were spilt he ignored it. His eyes met Sai's, "I got this." he said briefly to him. Then he began walking through the door out from the porch to inside, looking at Hitomi, their eyes meeting as well and giving a slight nod. Turning to the hallway leading down to the bedrooms, he walked steadily. His eyes would be focused on where he's going but his hands were holding carefully and tightly onto Nao, like a parent would hold their baby. "Let's get you back to bed, okay?" He'd say as he approached the bedroom with a soothing voice, trying to make his decision and actions as swift and decisive as he could muster at the time.

In honesty though, he was trying his best not to seem to ecstatic, as at this time, having read Nao's actions and reactions, Nao was absolutely not minding their recent development, and Keiji was over the moon, above the skies, and all the way out into space emotionally. But he did he best to try and appear stoic while this facade may shine through slightly.

Pushing with his shoulders to open the bedroom door he walked through the doorway with his arms still holding tightly onto Nao, and then walking over, placing him down carefully on the bed, taking the blankets spread out around the bed and threw it over Nao. Leaning forward and over to Nao's face though, Keiji stopped briefly for a second. Looking at his Sennin carefully, his eyes met with Nao's yet again, but the location, circumstances and emotions had reached a whole other level. Getting in close he pushed his lips forward yet again, meeting with Nao's, pushing his nose to lean up against his, keeping their lips in contact for a little longer than last, not giving Nao time or energy to react or say much.

Releasing the kiss again, he leaned back, and almost stood up entirely, "You.. You need to rest.." He breathed out, reluctantly. "I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, at work, yeah?" He smiled casually, and then reluctantly began walking towards the door leading out of the bedroom.