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Tanjirou was unable to place his finger on it but for some reason, he found himself extremely comfortable to the point where it was unnatural.
Looking at the ticket, Tanjirou searched for his seat. It was packed and he was travelling alone. Before he had even boarded, he had an uneasy feeling in his gut that seemed to scream danger. From the way that some people weren't making a fuss to each other about finding seats or belongings, Tanjirou deducted that people were sharing seats. He shoved his duffel bag in the ceiling storage after finding his seat. It was in the side column, by the window.
In Tanjirou's area, there was a screen and food trays. Too bad he didn't organise food and drinks beforehand and too bad that he didn't bring headphones. Tanjirou also noticed as he went to sit, that he would be sharing.
The person had their face turned away, leaning against the side. Black hair was splayed out and it thinned out at the end. The stranger was wearing a mismatched cardigan and dress pants. Tanjirou leaned forward in his seat, hoping to peek a glance at the stranger's face. He hadn't noticed it until all of a sudden, the stranger turned to look at him.
They stared. Tanjirou froze. Despite the misleading hair, the stranger was very much a man. The man's complexion was pale but it didn't look unhealthy. The texture looked smooth, and Tanjirou felt the urge to reach out and feel the stranger's skin and run his hands all over the stranger's face. Tanjirou felt grossed out by the thought of running his germ-covered, greasy hands along a clean, non-greasy face. The man's eyes were like two deep, rich, royal blue pools - dark like the ocean but richer and fine, and like royal blue silk. Tanjirou could already feel himself being tugged toward the stranger, then to be captured by his eyes.
"Hello," the stranger spoke.
Tanjirou snapped out of his thoughts. Although Tanjirou didn't want to admit it, even though the stranger's voice was smooth and velvet like satin, there was something so stiff in the way they said it.
"Hey!" Tanjirou smiled. "My name is Kamado Tanjirou."
"Tomioka Giyuu," they replied curtly.
Tanjirou wouldn't look away and just kept smiling at Tomioka. He couldn't look away. Tomioka's stare was captivating and unescapable. That is until Tomioka turned away. Tanjirou felt a his lips try to stretch wider but he restrained himself. He bit his lip and faced forward. Even if he did have some hot stranger named Tomioka Giyuu with strangely attractive attire (suit solely to Tomioka Giyuu) sitting beside him, their first impressions did seem very one-sided to Tanjirou. Perhaps Tomioka was just shy, though.
If you asked any of Tanjirou's friends, Tanjirou was the nicest guy within Asia. Probably even further. Probably the whole world. So when someone in the row in front of them turned around and said not-so quietly, "Tomioka-san, engage in conversation. This is why nobody likes you," Tanjirou felt a bit bad for sitting next to Tomioka. It's not like he could change the seating plan.
Tanjirou decided to just make himself closed off to conversation.
Sleep, Tanjirou. At least try to look like you're sleeping.
As a result, he looked like someone being prepared for a coffin with his arms folded over him. He also couldn't manage to keep his eyes closed, they kept trying to open on him, and he couldn't stop fidgeting every now and then in a non-asleep way. There was bouncing his foot, scratching, twiddling thumbs and fingers.
It was 10 more minutes of this when the safety demonstration was performed and the plane was about to take off.
Forget it , Tanjirou thought to himself.
He thought he had this under control. He was prepared just a minute ago. He was ready. Tanjirou remained as still as a statue when the plane finally lifted off ground.
Lifting a hand to pinch his nose, Tanjirou popped his ears. The plane was still flying on an incline, rising higher and higher, gaining altitude. Tanjirou sucked in a deep breath, and attempted to exhale steadily. It came out shaky and uneven, and his palms were drenched in sweat. He pressed back into the cushioned seat, repeating the breathing process.
Tanjirou inhaled a deep breath - it was cut short. He couldn't manage to take in that extra bit of oxygen. He exhaled. Tanjirou couldn't help it but he needed air. He took another breath, skipping the phase where he was meant to hold. And it kept happening.
Tanjirou felt his ears pop again from the pressure. He gripped into the armrests tightly. He breathed in. And he paused. He paused. He paused because he felt a hand on his. It squeezed lightly and Tanjirou turned his head to look at the person holding his hand.
Tomioka wore a concerned expression but it was calm.
"Do it properly," Tomioka instructed. "It's total concentration breathing. Don't get distracted." Tanjirou nodded, his breathing as quick as ever. "Focus on my breathing."
Tomioka took a long, deep breath. When Tanjirou didn't follow, Tomioka stopped, narrowed his eyes at Tanjirou, whose eyes kept flitting from place to place, to get the memo across. Tanjirou looked into his eyes.
Two dark, deep blue pools of water that you could drown in.
It would be a nice death , Tanjirou decided.
It was comforting, because despite how you could drown in Tomioka's eyes, Tanjirou didn't mind, and trusted in Tomioka.
Tomioka breathed in again, full upper body faced in Tanjrou's direction. And his time, Tanjirou followed in time with him. They did this for a couple of minutes, until Tanjirou deemed that he was alright. Tomioka pulled away, and Tanjirou frowned slightly.
"Sorry about that, Tomioka-san," Tanjirou apologised bashfully.
Tomioka looked at him as if he was analysing him.
"I used to be queasy on planes," Tomioka said.
Tanjirou chuckled nervously, "It's also that I'm worried about leaving Japan for a while." Tomioka looked at him questioningly. "My little sister, Nezuko, is in a coma. I'm headed to America to study English abroad." Tanjirou looked down at his lap with a reminiscent, sad smile. "Nezuko wanted me to have a good career."
Tomioka nodded.
"I'm sure that's still the case."
"Are you spending your holiday in America?" Tanjirou asked.
Tomioka shook his head.
"My grandmother passed away."
Guilt accumulated inside Tanjirou.
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's OK."
They sat in silence, neither of them sure of what to say - what to do.
Tomioka pulled out neatly wrapped ear pods and offered one to Tanjirou. Tanjirou smiled gratefully at Tomioka, who plugged it into the small TV.
Neither of them were really paying attention to it, stealing glances at each other from the corner of their eyes, even after their eyes awkwardly met a couple of times. Tanjirou had a debate going back and forth in his head. He wanted to hold Tomioka's hand. There was an invisible force compelling him. But he couldn't because that would be rude. and invasive. There was still about 10 hours left on the plane and in Tanjirou's eyes, if he stuffed up now, Tomioka would have to suffer his presence for the rest of the long flight. It was at this moment that Tanjirou decided that after they watched a movie together, their bond wouldn't progress so he might as well just go for it.
Tanjirou mustered up his courage and kept a calm expression as he gently nudged Tomioka's hand. He could see from his peripheral that Tomioka was looking at him. Tanjirou felt a response - Tomioka lightly brushed his fingers against Tanjirou's. Holding his breath, Tanjirou interlaced their fingers and held Tomioka's hand firmly. He dared to look Tomioka in the eye. Tomioka was smiling softly, staring back at Tanjirou. He rubbed his thumb over his companion's hand and turned to the screen.
When the movie had finished, Tanjirou didn't release Tomioka's hand, and Tomioka's grip never loosened on Tanjirou the slightest. It was now dark, very early morning. Everyone was beginning to switch off their light and recline. It was also freezing. It was so cold that the heaters didn't cater for their fingers and toes. Tanjirou took out the ear pod and wiped it clean before handing it back to Tomioka. They still hadn't let go of each other's hand.
However, when Tanjirou's right hand came into contact with Tomioka's left, he couldn't ignore that it felt like ice. Tomioka was wearing thin clothing as well. Reluctantly, Tanjirou let go of Tomioka's hand and leaned forward. He reached under his seat for his duffel bag. He unzipped it and pulled out a large, fluffy blanket. By now, they were the only ones with their light still on. He reached over Tomioka with the blanket, covering him up to his chest and shoulders. Tanjirou reached up and switched the light off after covering himself.
Tanjirou reclined his seat, being careful that he didn't disturb he pair behind him. He rolled onto his left. Tomioka noticed and rolled over to face Tanjirou. Tanjirou searched for Tomioka's hands. Again, he intertwined them with his. Tomioka didn't object. Tanjirou curled his legs so that they were closer to him and didn't hang off the seat. Tanjirou rotated his armrest between them out of the way and looked at Tomioka for permission to move his. Tomioka, instead of nodding or replying, he moved it himself and shuffled closer to Tanjirou.
Tanjirou lifted himself as he stuffed the side of his blanket beneath him.
"Can you lift yourself for a second?" Tanjirou requested. Tomioka obliged and Tanjirou slid an arm around Tomioka's waist to stuff the blanket under Tomioka. Tomioka raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "We are a burrito now!" Tanjirou whispered loudly. Tomioka huffed a laugh.
Tomioka brought his face closer to Tanjirou. Their noses bumped. Tanjirou startled upon the cold contact.
"Giyuu-san, your nose is like ice!" Tanjirou pointed out. "So are your fingers."
"Well, Tanjirou," Giyuu smiled, "it's good that I have you to warm them up for me."
"Am I a personal heater now?"
"Yes," Giyuu said in a childish tone and snuggled closer to Tanjirou.
Tanjirou was unable to place his finger on it but for some reason, he found himself extremely comfortable to the point where it was unnatural. People say that it's difficult to sleep on a plane, and Tanjirou used to agree. Now, though, he fell asleep like a candlestick in the heavy rain. He's cosy with Giyuu. Giyuu is soft like water and cold like ice. Giyuu's words flow out of his mouth like a majestic waterfall. Giyuu wraps around Tanjirou in a way that resembles the ocean, leaving no space between both bodies. It's cosy with Giyuu.
Sunlight filtered through the curtains. The area was dim and quietness cushioned the space. These weren't the first things that Tanjirou noticed as he blinked his way to consciousness. What he noticed first was that he and Giyuu were still huddled together. Tanjirou didn't want to bother him so he waited and drank in all the flawless features of the angel before him.
Giyuu began to awaken. The first thing he did was look into Tanjirou's eyes.
"Good morning," Tanjirou said.
"Good morning, Tanjirou."
"We haven't got far to go," Tanjirou said as he looked at the map. "A couple of hours."
Tanjirou smiled at Giyuu.
"That's unfortunate," Giyuu sighed disappointedly.
"How come?"
"I only have a couple of hours left with you."
Tanjirou was stunned. He'd spent less than a day with a stranger on a plane and they were already attached to him...and he was also attached to them.
"When will you be headed back to Japan?" Tanjirou asked.
"In a month," Giyuu replied.
"I'll be spending a year in America but I have breaks. They're each a month long but I'm not sure if I can afford to travel back and forth so often."
"Can we exchange numbers when we get off?"
"Of course."
Few people were awake, Tanjirou realised as he flipped around, no longer facing Giyuu. He pressed up against Giyuu and reached behind him to take hold of Giyuu's arm. Giyuu curled his arm around Tanjirou's chest, pulling him close. Less than a day, and Tanjirou was already getting all cosy with someone he just met. Next thing he knows, they'll be married.
Tanjirou could feel breathing on his neck. It wasn't creepy like the time Tanjirou was in the haunted maze and someone stared breathing on his neck - it wasn't like that. No. It didn't make his hair stand up in end or every muscle in his body tense. It was reassuring.
"I don't want us to separate," Giyuu said sadly.
"Me neither." Tanjirou laid his hand over the one on his chest. "I like being with you." Tanjirou felt the beating of Giyuu's heart quicken, he could practically hear it.
"I...like being with you too," said Giyuu, shyly.
Tanjirou laughed, "It's been half a day and it's The Happy Prince already." He stroked Giyuu's hand. "We'll see each other soon. That's for certain so don't worry, Giyuu."
A moment of silence passed between them before Giyuu said, "They kiss."
"Huh?"
"The boy and the swallow," Giyuu elaborated. "They kiss."
"That's right! And it's the sparrow who kisses the boy so are you the sparrow or the boy, Giyuu?" Tanjirou teased.
"I'm the sparrow because you made it comfortable for me to sleep," Giyuu answered.
Tanjirou rolled over again to stare at him, waiting with an expectant look.
"What?" Giyuu asked confusedly.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Kiss me."
Giyuu felt his face heat up. Suddenly, it felt harder to move. He watched as Tanjirou's expression dropped.
"Is that not what you meant? I'm sorry," Tanjirou apologised, "I shouldn't have assumed."
Before Tanjirou could move away, Giyuu brought his hand up to tilt Tanjirou's face toward him and he leaned forward and smooched that gorgeous man on the lips.
"Sorry," Giyuu said, "I can be a little misleading sometimes. With the not-kissing-you thing!" Giyuu added quickly. "Didn't mean wanting to kiss you. You assumed correctly. I did want to kiss you."
Giyuu finished rambling and Tanjirou was grinning.
Tanjirou, grin stretched as far is he could, leaned his head on Giyuu's shoulder.
"You done?" Tanjirou teased.
"Y...yes," Giyuu stuttered.
"We'll be seeing each other soon. That's certain."