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"Don't you think that's dangerous?" Sugimoto asked, gesturing towards Tsukishima who had fallen asleep in the bath.
"No," Koito shrugged, enjoying his soak, "Tsukishima does this all the time."
The four of them were visiting a bathhouse late at night. No other customers had come to bathe this late in such a small and nearly empty town. They were surprised the bathhouse was even still running judging by the other closed shops in the area.
The bath was nice and hot, and the perfect relaxation spot that Koito was looking for. He would be damned if they had to stop at another town without a nice bathhouse.
"Maybe he has the right idea." Tanigaki yawned.
"Don't you go falling asleep too! The both of you are too heavy for us to pull you out if you drown!" Sugimoto yelled.
"Tsukishimaaa?" Koito whispered to the smaller man, who peeked one eye open at him in response.
"Yes, sir?"
"I thought you were asleep."
"I was until you started whining." Koito pouted back at him. "I'm going to bed, i can't relax with you all being so noisy anyway," Tsukishima announced, standing up to get out of the bath.
"Take this guy with you!" Sugimoto shouted, pointing at Tanigaki who was sinking into the bath further and further until bubbles were starting to reach the surface.
"Private Tanigaki!" Tsukishima announced, causing him to jump out of the water with full alert.
Koito swears the water level lowered when both of them got out.
"Why do we keep ending up alone?" Koito murmured by the time the other two men left.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Sugimoto had been very obvious and very deliberately not looking at him since they got to the bathhouse, and something about it was pissing Koito off.
Wait, why am I mad that Sugimoto isn't looking at me? We are in a bath, he should keep his filthy eyes off me anyway! Koito thought.
"You don't remember my birthday?" He kicked himself in his mind after even asking. How embarrassing.
"We agreed that didn't happen."
"Right."
They remained silent for several minutes after that.
Koito could feel the water overheating his skin. He closed his eyes tightly, hoping Sugimoto still wasn't looking at him, but he couldn't help himself from taking a peek his way every now and then.
Koito found his gaze lingering on Sugimoto's scars. He never paid too much attention to the ones that weren't on his face. Every time they had been around each other without clothes, the situation had been too dire to focus on things like that. His scars were so much deeper than he thought, and there was so many spread across the tight muscles of his body. They looked like maps. Koito found himself tracing them in his mind, etching them to memory and he felt something burning inside his gut.
"What are you starin' at?" Sugimoto grunted.
He caught me staring ?!
"I never noticed how many scars you really had. They're all from the war, aren't they?" Koito tried to keep his voice calm like he wasn't just ogling Sugimoto Saichi of all people!
"Yeah. Are you gonna tell me how hideous you think they are on me? Your precious Lieutenant Tsurumi's scar is worse than any of mine."
"I would never say something like that. You got those scars defending your country. They're very honorable, Sugimoto. A scar is like a medal." Koito stated like he was in a dreamlike state, "and don't talk about Lieutenant Tsurumi's scar like that."
Sugimoto gave a half-hearted laugh.
"It sure doesn't feel that way." He put his head down and looked into the reflection of the water. "You sit there with your flawless skin and comfortable life, and you romanticize battle scars on people who went through hell, but you're naive. You don't know anything of true war."
Koito hid his face in his hair, feeling foolish. Even if he wanted to argue, he couldn't deny anything. An urge suddenly came over him to share a small secret with Sugimoto in that moment of vulnerability.
"When I was 8 my brother died in the Battle of the Yalu River. They never found his body so I don't know how he died, but I heard he was probably blown to pieces on the ship. I was sick every day thinking about how he must have died. I carried the unknown knowledge with me for years. I guess a part of me is fond of scars because they're proof that someone made it out alive and healed enough to keep going. My brother didn't get the opportunity to have a scar."
Sugimoto let out a breath that sounded like understanding.
"Everyone deals with some shit in their lives, I guess. You're no different. I hope in that case you get a scar of your own to be proud of because there is going to be lots of death and danger ahead of you."
Sugimoto briefly thought back to his conversation with Admiral Koito on his ship. A man who would risk the life of his son, so that he would not risk the lives of many sons hypocritically. Sugimoto didn't agree with his ideas, but he can't change the path Koito was put on. He didn't have time to worry about a 21-year-old spoiled Lieutenant who wasn't even on his side of the battle for the gold. He didn't have time to care about Koito and his sad childhood. Or his stupid silly arguments. Or his annoying whining. Or his stupid pretty perfect face.
Koito looked at Sugimoto with a burned hot glare. "How would you know I don't have my own scars already when you won't even look at me!"
Sugimoto turned his head towards Koito and Koito noticed Sugimoto's pupils had expanded almost instantly the moment his eyes laid on him.
"I'm looking at you. Are you happy?"
Sugimoto appeared so intense, that it was almost frightening.
"Why do you look like you want to eat me alive?"
Sugimoto calmed his expression.
"Looking at you in the bath feels obscene."
"What the hell does that mean !?" Koito's furrowed his brows in frustration. He could feel himself starting to sweat profusely.
"When I look at you I suddenly feel very aware of how nude I am."
Koito felt his brain slowly stop working the moment he processed what he meant. He gave a small smirk and swam a little closer to him, to give a small whisper. Their bodies were so close now, Sugimoto could practically feel his breath...or was it just the steam?
"Does my presence make you feel all hot and bothered, Sugimoto. You nasty pervert."
Koito suddenly felt a splash of hot water hit his face. He coughed when some of it went down his windpipe. His hair was sticking all around his face in wet strands.
"Mark my words, one of your future scars is gonna be from me."
"Ha! I'd like to see you try!"