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It was meant to be just a surprise trip to the amusement park. Masato had planned a surprise trip to the amusement park with Shino, hoping the environment would help him loosen up and maybe open up a bit. He was in his nicest outfit, all dressed up for him, and ready to have a great date. He was so happy to have a moment of normalcy. Just a moment of calm fun with Shino, it was all he had planned for this evening.
But that wasn't what fate had planned for the pair. In transit, while making their way through a silent and isolated section of a park, they were beset upon by shadows. The summoner was caught off guard, and was slow to react. Luckily for him, Shino was always ready for such an eventuality. Leaping into the fray, he drew his sword, beginning to attack the assailants. Masato took a moment to conjure his sword, and a startled Salomon. He couldn't let Shino just fight them on his own, he thought. He had to help.
Rushing into the fight himself, he joined the warrior in combat. He drew his blade and unleashed several attacks at the shadows, dispersing their form. Shino whipped around, noticing that Masato had now joined him. However, his expression of shock quickly turned to anger. He grit his teeth, looking to the man.
“Masato! Stay away, I will handle these curs! You must stay back!”
He barked this order, to which Masato promptly ignored it. He was unwilling to let him fight by himself and risk his own life. He wouldn't feel right if he got hurt. Holding his sword tightly, Masato continued to fight them off. Shino growled lowly, but knew there likely wouldn't be any way to desuade him. Despite being quiet and kind, he quickly realized Masato is also quite stubborn when he decided something. Besides, they were still being beseiged by enemies, there was no time to argue. At first, things were going well. The two were successfully fending off the shadows, at first.
But then one of them got in a good strike. One of the shadows slashed at Masato, and it cut him across the side. This took the wind from his lungs, and he dropped to the ground. He clutched his side, crying out in pain involuntarily from the stinging of the wound. Having dropped his sword, the summoner was now defenseless against the shadows. He laid huddled on the pavement.
As Shino looked at him dropping to the ground, a tempest of emotions welled up inside of the man. He saw red. With no hesitation he went into a berserker's rage and cut down the shadows in a flurry of strikes. He stood over Masato at this point, lashing out against any of the assailants that drew near. He wouldn't stop until they all fell. From Masato's perspective, it was simply a flurry of motion and sound. It didn't help that he was in pain, at the moment. But he could tell Shino was fighting, and winning.
Shino's blade was overflowing with the power of his Rule, chaotic cursed energies allowing him to strike them so sure. It made quick work of the remaining shadows, dispersing them and sending them back to from whence they had came. As suddenly as their attackers had shown up, there was now no trace of them. Quiet fell over the park once again. They were safe again, at least that's how it seemed. Masato weakly began to sit back up, still clutching his side. It hurt very bad, but upon closer inspection it was definitely not a mortal wound. The shock of the blow was what knocked him to the ground, followed by the pain, but otherwise he was alright.
“I-I think I'll be okay-”
Masato began to speak, trying to reassure his partner that he was alright. Shino, however, stood stoicly in silence and looked away from the Summoner. Slowly sheathing his blade, he was deathly quiet. However, Masato realized that his hand was clenched into a fist. His hands shook at his side, balled up. It was a long pause before the dog began to speak.
“... Despite my impertenance, I must ask. Why did you not listen to me?”
His voice was struggling to stay even toned. Masato canted his head, confused by this question. He figured he knew that he was trying to help. Shino spun around, his teeth being grit in anger. It was clear that he was upset.
“Why did you fight?! You could have gotten hurt even worse! I implored you to stay out of the fight, that I could handle it! Why did you put yourself in harm's way?!”
Shino was now yelling, losing control of his emotions. He stomped a sandaled paw on the ground for emphasis as he spoke. Masato was stunned into silence. He wasn't used to hearing him show such emotion, especially such unbridled anger. He tried to stand, but quickly realized that wasn't going to happen. He didn't quite make it onto his feet, only kneeling on the ground. Masato winced in pain at this. Shino paused his indignant anger, noticing him still in pain. A bit of blush spread across his cheeks. He felt bad that he was yelling at him, despite his injury. Kneeling down, he would retrieve spare bandages he kept on his person. Not exactly medicine, but it would close the wound and solve the problem for now.
Taking out the bandages, he would lift Masato's shirt up to reveal the wound. He would begin to dress it silently and dutifully, leaving a pregnant pause in the air around them. Masato's gaze was averted to the ground, Shino's words still ringing in his mind. He frowned sullenly. He wanted to say he was sorry, but the words became stuck in his throat. After a minute or two, the wound was dressed, and Shino slowly lowered Masato's shirt. He remained on his knees, hands balled up in his lap. His gaze was down as well. It took him a good few moments before he spoke again.
“... I could not protect my loved one before. I cannot afford to lose you as well...”
Masato looked over in shock at this statement. That's when he noticed Shino was shaking. His hands were clenched into fists, as if trying to stop his body from shivering. Silent tears began to well up in his eyes. He lifted a thick arm to rub them away. Masato now felt even worse about jumping into the fight. He slowly reached over to Shino, wrapping his arms around the man. Shino reflexively grabbed Masato and pulled him in closer, holding him tightly. He buried his face into his shoulder.
“... I cannot lose you!”
Shino repeated, his usual coolness breaking down in front of Masato. Masato closed his eyes, his head now resting against Shino's chest. He nodded, listening to the man's feelings. He could feel Shino's hands practically grope at his back as he tried to keep him close. Masato moved into his lap, allowing Shino to fully envelop him. The wound still hurt, but not so much that he couldn't let Shino hold him for the moment.
“... Okay. I'll be more careful...”
Masato finally admitted, looking up at Shino. They locked eyes for a moment, until Shino finally gave him a curt nod in acknowledgement. Suddenly, Masato felt Shino shift underneath him and found himself cradled in his arms. Shino stood, now holding Masato in a bridal carry. This caused Masato to blush, looking to the man in shock. This wasn't necessary, he thought. He could probably stand, now that his wound was bandaged up.
“Y-You don't have to, I can stan-”
Masato was trying to protest, but was immediately cut off by Shino. He gave him a serious look. Masato could tell that, despite him trying to look resolved now, he could still see the pain in his eyes. Shino shook his head and replied.
“No. You are hurt, I cannot let your make it worse. I will carry you...”
Masato was about to protest again, but Shino cut him off once more. He was intent, it seemed.
“... Let me do this for you.”
Shino's voice wavered a little as he said this. It was clear that it was taking all of his mental fortitude to not break down again. Masato decided to listen for once, and simply nodded. Shino then began to walk toward the exit of the park, easily carrying his much lighter beloved in his arms. It may not have happened the way he wanted it to, but Masato in a sense got his wish, of Shino opening up more.