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Oshigiri had always been a light sleeper.
Even before this whole kidnapping debacle, he was used to waking up at the quietest of sounds. And now, their entire situation just made it worse. With his paranoia turned all the way up and danger seemingly lurking around every corner, not a night would pass where he wouldn't find himself suddenly awake.
Some nights, it would be the sound of one of the Pacameras flying through the halls. Others, it would be trivial things, such as the rustle of his curtains or the whistling of the wind.
Tonight is different however.
Tonight he wakes up to the sound of footsteps. Padding so softly across the ground that any one else would have dismissed them as the typical background noise of a settling building. But Oshigiri knew better - his instincts immediately told him a different story. His eyes snap open, and he glances towards his door.
Out of the eight among them, only a few would be able to walk as quietly as that. And among those, only one would be so bold as to do it at night.
He curses inwardly. Not this again. Onigasaki was one stubborn bastard.
With a scowl, he clambers off of his bed, pausing for only a second to grab the knives hidden underneath the bedside table as well as his mask from the drawer. Another moment to adjust its position over his mouth, and then moving swiftly towards the door. He hesitates, hand hovering uncertainly over the doorknob.
The telltale sound of Onigasaki's kimono swishing over the floor and the distinctive clink of his sword against its sheath filters through, all but confirming his suspicions.
It had only been two days since the whole 'White Room' fiasco, and here Onigasaki was again, doing the same exact thing that led to him being locked up in the first place. If he didn't know any better, Oshigiri would have thought that the guy had a death wish. What with all his reckless actions and solo endeavors, it was as if he had no sense of self-preservation whatsoever.
Or at least when it came to things regarding himself.
Oshigiri sighs.
He debates between confronting him immediately and following him to see where he goes instead. Eventually, the latter urge wins out, and he waits for several more seconds before finally opening the door and stepping out.
A silhouette at the end of the hall barely just catches his attention, and he makes his way over to follow it. Muscle memory eases the way, as he falls into a familiar rhythm, hours of stealth games and physical lessons manifesting themselves as he sneaks through the hall.
It doesn’t take long for Onigasaki to stop, and to Oshigiri’s surprise, his friend isn’t standing in front of the elevator, or the entrance to some other forbidden part of the tower. Rather, he’s in front of the balcony. The one found in the common room, where they lounge whenever they find themselves devoid of something to do.
At least three dangerous scenarios flash through his mind. What could the guy be planning? Mental images of Onigasaki scaling the building to get to some unreachable location, or for some other nefarious purpose, flash through his mind, and his heart clenches. Against his better judgment, he steps out of the shadows and reveals himself.
“Haven’t you learned your lesson yet?” He asks with a blank expression, only letting a hint of teasing bleed through his voice. It takes more effort than he’s willing to admit to keep the concern out.
Onigasaki smirks, though the action is wasted on the other, as his back is turned. He lowers his head, peering down from his dizzyingly high vantage point. “Good evening to you too.”
He doesn’t respond. The smirk falls from Onigasaki’s face, and he slumps. Without looking back, he gestures for him to come forward.
“Don’t be like that. I’m not doing what you think I’m doing.” He raises his arms and places them above the barrier separating him from free-falling into open air. “I’m not sure whether to be offended at your lack of trust in me, or to commend you for your caution.”
Again, silence. Oshigiri wasn’t sure what to say. For some reason, his tongue refused to work. Maybe it had something to do with the way the moon shined down on his Onigasaki’s face, or the way his hair frame his eyes, or maybe even the tone of his voice. It was... softer. More vulnerable than he had ever yet to hear.
Speaking felt wrong, somehow. As if ruining an important moment.
“Giving me the silent treatment, hm? I guess I deserve that,” Onigasaki chuckles, “Well, if you refuse to speak, at least join me by my side. Don’t want you getting lonely now without me,” he jokes.
That breaks through Oshigiri’s reverie, and he suddenly takes a step forward to nudge his friend’s arm, hard. He glares at Onigasaki, and for a brief moment he regrets the eye contact.
He hadn’t realized just how close his step had taken him, and now it’s too late for him to move back.
Had his eyes always been that warm? They retained their usual silvery hue, but there was something different. He felt like he was looking- no, seeing, Onigasaki for the first time. No barriers, no diversions, no lies.
It was exhilarating.
“What’s going through your mind?” Onigasaki speaks, and the spell is broken. He pulls away, eyes still trained on him, as if he was the one thing that mattered in the world.
“You.” The word spills unbidden from his lips, and he can immediately feel the blush starting from his neck and creeping up, higher, and higher until he’s pretty sure he’s as red as a tomato.
“I meant-” Oshigiri scrambles to clean up his mess, “I meant how stupid you are, Onigasaki! You bastard! How reckless and ungrateful! Do you know how much everyone was worried about you? Roromori worked herself to the bone for you! We spent two whole days, almost non-stop-” His words slowly began to blend together in his haste to cover up his embarrassment. The more he spoke, the more flustered he got, which prompted him to speak even more, and so on.
All the while, Onigasaki watched him calmly, a fond smile slowly making itself known.
By the time Oshigiri tired himself out, Onigasaki took the opportunity to slip in a few words of his own. “Call me Kai. It’ll be easier for you to rant,” he said with a smile, “And if it makes you feel better, I do know what you all went through. I may not know everything, but I have a good idea at least.”
“Words alone would not be enough to show just how grateful I am I have people like you,” he takes Oshigiri’s hand and cradles it in his own, “and everyone else, who care for me.”
Oshigiri freezes. His mind practically melts at the contact and the uncharacteristically kind words, and he finds himself speechless. Both at the sincere thanks, and the offer of the name. Before he can even begin to think of a response however, Oniga- Kai, does something to shock him further.
He wraps his arms around Oshigiri and draws him in for a hug.
“I don’t know what I would have done without you,” he whispers, so quiet and afraid, it is almost a confession.
“Me neither,” Kai admits, murmuring his words into Oshigiri’s neck, prompting both of them to shiver from the act.
“Promise me you’ll never scare us like that again?” Oshigiri closes his eyes, pulling him even closer.
“......I promise.”