Chapter Text
Tomoari lay quietly breathing in the evening's last light and exhaling the smoke from a far-off fire. He lay in Inu-Oh's lap, whose fingers wove through his charcoal black hair, leaning overhead like a god looking upon a sinner. He stared off into the waves crashing against the sea from their cliffside sanctuary. The wind rushed by, drifting over the scent of liquor and sweat, the party slightly upwind being the culprits.
The childish Tomona liked parties, the apprentice Tomoichi was not allowed at parties, and Tomoari disliked parties altogether for a million and one reasons. Yet, he would not trade this party-filled life for anything.
An empty liquor jug lay empty close by. Marks of red lip paint smudged on the rim from their shared appetite. As the star, Inu-Oh was never questioned when he took food in drink to eat in corners, hidden behind shrubbery. Tomoari, being blind, was never blamed for not coming to their bonfires. Although if he pleased, he could enjoy a party just fine. He simply preferred the quiet moments with his god.
As the sun left its last breath of light upon the earth fireflies flickered arcoss the landscape. The creatures of the night began their song, following behind Inu-Oh's sharp vocalization. His voice rung low and calm, piercing through the night like an arrow. This song he had written for Tomoari's ears only, meant to be sung in a whisper by his side. The tune floated into the air as he let the words cascade off his tongue.
He sang a tale of wretched and twisted love. Tomoari hummed along reaching for his biwa, the urge to pick at its strings itching beneath his skin as the notes hit his flesh. Inu-Oh met his hand and brought the back of his palm to his masked face. Every movement was languid, filled with longing and unspoken adoration that sank deep into the bone. Tomoari's hand touched the mouth of Inu-Oh's mask as he stammered on the syllables of his own song.
Shyly, he stopped his song. He hissed out a wry laugh and released Tomoari's hand, leaning back. He looked down at the man in his lap and ruffled his hair, to which he smiled. It was more difficult to sing about someone alive. Someone he cared about. Someone whose opinion mattered. Someone looking up at him with sharp eyelashes pressed together and makeup so beautifully done.
" Inu-Oh~" He delighted in the way his dear friend drunkenly dragged out his name. "Why won't you finish that song?"
Inu-Oh smiled beneath his mask, putting on a little facade. He made excuses about how it was unfinished, but in truth, he could not bear to sully Tomoari's beautiful name with a wrong note or even stammered syllable.
" Oh? Is this another tale of Inu-Oh in the making?"
" Yes. The end is undecided. Nobody knows what the future holds."
Tomoari pulled himself up, shifting Inu-Oh's lap to face him, or his mask at least. "How do you want it to end?" he spoke, enunciating each word while twisting Inu-Oh's long pink hair around his fingers in a drunken haze. Inu-Oh's own hands found themselves on his dear muse's shoulders far, far, far less drunkenly and much more hesitant.
Inu-Oh shook his head," Destiny isn't something I can choose." He smiled, taking off his mask, "But, I hope to have you in it, Tomoari."
The musician laughed and flung himself backward, letting Inu-Oh catch him at his waist so he wouldn't fall too far back. "It would be no future worth living without you." he grinned widely, hanging on Inu-Oh. The vocalist's eyes wandered, Tomoari's drunken sincerity always startled him. However, he not so secretly enjoyed the overly touchy behavior that accompanied the honesty.
Inu-Oh nodded, " I feel the same," Tomoari grinned and pulled himself back into his embrace, nestling his painted face into the crook of his best friend's neck. He could feel Tomoari's smile on his skin and continued to speak. " A world without you by my side? I'd never smile until I saw your face again."
It fell deathly silent, the fear of losing each other looming overhead like a storm cloud on a nice sunny day. It was Tomoari who broke the silence with a question, "Tell me, which stars are out tonight?" Silence fell once again. Inu-Oh hardly knew how to answer this question, although it was not the first time he had asked this. Being near the sea reminded him of Dan-no-ura too much, every sound, scent, and sense so similar to his home, yet so different at the same time. It hurt to remember it all, so he often asked questions through the guize of his lost vision. He had often asked ' Inu-Oh what color is the sea here?' or 'What do the patterns on these fish look like?" Sometimes Inu-Oh noticed how Tomoari desperately gazed at the wave crashing against his ankles, unable to see the ripples. So as always, Inu-Oh gave the best answer he could, "There's one that looks like a huge swan swooping down in the sky, and another like an eagle with giant wings. They're circling around the brightest star in the whole world. Around and around they're shooting through the night. Can you see it?" He asked.
"I can." the blind man replied, "And you are far better than any star in the sky." Tomoari smiled his crooked teeth grin and let his hands wander to the contortion of his dearest friend's face. His fingers trailed across the intricate perfection of this abstract masterpiece molded by fate. He could so clearly see the beauty in each dip and wrinkle that everyone seemed to miss. He breathed in gulps and gulps in Inu-Oh wondering how much he would have to take in to make it last forever. He let his hands trickle down Inu-Oh's body, caressing his face, his neck, his collarbone, finally landing on his chest. He could feel the thumping of his heart, quick and short...but steady. It was more comforting than any lullaby.
" To-Tomo-Tomoari?" Inu-Oh stuttered, regretfully, as his beloved Biwa player leaned into his chest like a needy kitten. Tomoari blinked slowly one last time before putting his head to Inu-Oh's chest. Now hearing his exhale and inhale, the catch in his breathing as his hands traveled downwards to his waist where they fell limp resting on the bone.
Tomoari exhaled once more, his breath reeking of alcohol. "Goodnight my love." He said before shutting his eyes and falling asleep nearly instantly, held in place by his beloved's tight squeeze.
He gasped, placing a delicate touch with the sentiment of a kiss on his head. With this, he put his lacquered mask back on and lifted Tomoari into his arms as he stood. " My muse... I beg you..." he sighed, stepping back towards the campsite.
" Tomoari... My dear, my heart, my one and only, please, don't ever leave me." He whispered, just barely audibly, squeezing his love tight.