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“Nice hat you have there,” came a voice, laughing as it’s owner made it’s way over to where Ukyo sat just beyond the edge of the tree line. “Can I ask where you got something so top-of-the-line? The craftsmanship is amazing. It’s better than anything I ever had back in the modern day if I do say so myself.”
The white-haired man turned from where he’d been looking out towards the forest to see Ryusui walking his way, a grin on the man’s face that brightened when green eyes met brown.
“Thanks for noticing,” he chuckled, lightly tipping the brim of the paper hat Suika had made for him while he was still petrified. “It’s really great, isn’t it? Probably the best I’ve ever had. Yours looks pretty good too though.” He nodded up to the man’s own paper pirate’s hat.
Something rustled in the bushes a few feet away, stopping as Ryusui came to stand next to him. Ukyo immediately knew what (or more accurately who) it was, chuckling quietly before motioning the other closer.
“That it is!” Ryusui laughed as he sat down on the log next to Ukyo, immediately slinging an arm over the white-haired man’s shoulder and pulling him close. “You know what, looking at it now I think we might have the same designer! Talent like this only shows up once in a millennium, it’d be impossible for us to both find separate craftsmen capable of working with such fine material.”
Ukyo laughed, leaning in a bit and whispering directly into the taller man’s ear, “she’s in the second bush about five feet to our right. But you already knew that, didn’t you?”
Ryusui snorted. “I did,” he replied in a quiet tone most people wouldn't think him capable of. “Apparently she asked Gen where you were earlier and he pointed her in this direction saying he’d seen you stepping away from the party. I just so happened to be looking for you as well and figured I’d follow Detective Suika, we both saw you at the same time and she vanished into the bushes.”
“Trying to sneak up on me?” The white-haired man theorized, raising an eyebrow. Ryusui shrugged his shoulders.
“I don't think so. She knows how good your hearing is.” Then, with a grin, “guess we'll just have to wait and see though.”
Warmth bloomed in Ukyo’s chest at the look of fondness and amusement in brown eyes. He couldn't help it, okay? Most people probably wouldn’t think about it in the first place, but Ryusui was amazing with children. He could play with them for hours and knew just how to talk to them, how to get them to listen and figure out what they needed.
The way he acted around Suika in particular though… It was obvious to anyone with eyes that the small girl was important to him and that he adored her. She was special to him, a cut above the rest of the children back in Ishigami Village in his eyes.
But Ukyo couldn’t say he wasn’t the same- no, that would be hypocritical. Because while he hated to pick favorites, there was something about the small girl that stood out to him. And it was obvious to everyone around them, if the comments people made back in Ishigami Village had anything to say about it.
_____
“Between you and Ryusui it's almost like we have another pair of parents around,” one of the village elders chuckled as Ukyo waved at a small group of kids before making his way over to her hut with a bundle of wood for the furnace. “Why, if I didn't know better I would've assumed that you were both parents back in that old world of yours! But I guess it just comes that naturally to you two, huh?”
Ukyo blushed bright red at the accusation. “What? I’m sorry, but I don’t think I follow. We’re not special or anything. I mean sure, I teach classes so I know most of them, but that’s it. And Ryusui’s so busy all the time, I don’t know how-”
She interrupted him with a laugh. “Oh sweetie, there's no need to be so humble. Honestly, all of us parents and older folk have noticed by this point and we really appreciate it. You know that some of those kids don’t have families to call their own after everything that's affected our village- parental figures are something they haven't had a lot of before now. It takes a village to raise a child, and you two have really helped.”
Before Ukyo could say anything else, the woman’s husband was calling to her from further inside the hut. She turned, shouting back before taking the bundle of sticks out of Ukyo’s hands and thanking him for the delivery.
That night, lying curled together on their makeshift bed, Ukyo recounted the story to Ryusui. “It’s just so out of nowhere,” he murmured, tucked against the taller man’s side. “I don’t even know where she got that.”
What the white-haired man had expected was his boyfriend to laugh or make some joke about how ridiculous the comparison was. At the very least agree with him. What he got instead, though, was the complete opposite:
“Well I can't say I’ve ever thought of myself as a parental figure for the kids here, but now that you’ve brought it up I can definitely see where she got that impression of you.”
“What?! Ryu, what does that even mean?”
His boyfriend had paused, looking up at their ceiling for a moment before turning back and resting his head on top of Ukyo's. “Just think about it for a minute. You're so gentle and caring with the kids here, always going out of your way to help them and make sure they're okay. You're one of the first people they turn to when they need something because they trust you to help them.”
“Ryu, stop! That's embarrassing!” He exclaimed, face bright red. Unfortunately the blond only laughed, smile growing impossibly wider.
“Not to mention how you sound when you scold them. One of my friends growing up had a mom that was never afraid to tell him off for doing something dumb, and even though she only ever targeted him she could still make our entire friend group regret acting out just by using a certain tone and giving us this one specific look. I don’t know how to describe it, but when you were scolding Quartz and Jade earlier you had that exact same look on your face.”
Ryusui was full on cackling at that point, and Ukyo elbowed him in the side in an attempt to get him to stop. Unfortunately that only made the man laugh harder, and when Ukyo tried to pull away altogether strong arms wrapped themselves around him before yanking him right back into place.
“Ugh! Fine!” He exclaimed, giving up and letting himself be pressed tight against his boyfriend’s chest. “Okay, so that’s what you think of me. So how do you think you got roped into being called a parent too?”
That had the blond pausing for a second. He looked like he was seriously thinking about it before shrugging his shoulder. “Hm… I don’t know, you’ll have to tell me!”
“Fine, fine,” Ukyo sighed, shifting around so they were properly face to face. “Well… You look out for all of the kids here, and make sure to include them whenever you can. You only turn them down if you absolutely have to, and I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen you pulled into one of their games in your free time.” Then, because he couldn’t resist, “even when you should be resting.”
“Hey! I’ll have you know I get plenty of rest. Besides, being active is different if it’s with the kids. You’ve seen how into baseball Topaz has been since someone brought it up two weeks ago.” With a hum, “the Nanami Conglomerate sponsored a baseball stadium, you know. I could go to any game I wanted for free with the best seats in the entire stadium, and now I can’t help but think about how happy that would’ve made him.”
Ukyo smiled softly. “I can’t help but think about that kind of stuff either,” he said after a few seconds. Then, with a groan of realization, “Ryusui, this is why they all think we’re parents!”
The blond let out a barking laugh before quickly quieting down when Ukyo flinched at the volume. “Well, if that’s why then I don’t mind being seen as a parent. Not like I planned on stopping anyhow.”
Ukyo couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “Yeah, when you put it like that I guess I don’t mind either.”
_____
Back in the present, Ukyo listened as Suika moved through the brush, slowly getting closer to them. The girl was moving as quietly as possible, specifically shifting into spots with less brush. He had to give it to her- even though Suika knew that he could pick her up in an instant she was trying her best to stay hidden. If it weren't for his unnaturally good hearing he probably wouldn't have ever known she was here.
“So,” Ryusui said, leaning his head away from Ukyo’s to speak at a louder volume, “I don’t believe you ever told me who crafted your amazing hat.”
Ah, so that’s what he’s doing.
“I don’t think I can spill a secret like that if you don’t tell me who made yours,” he replied, subtly raising his voice as well. He heard as Suika stopped moving, instead listening in on their conversation. “What if I want to keep her skills and talent all to myself?”
“Then I’d have to call that greed of the highest measures. Why, it might even rival my own!”
Ukyo laughed. Then, just before he could reply, the bushes rustled and Suika popped out into the clearing in front of them.
“You both like my hats that much?” The young girl asked, a shy yet proud smile on her face. “I can make you more, if you want.”
“Ah, Suika! I didn’t know you were here! Yes, I’d love to have as many hats as you can give me!” Ryusui said, snapping his fingers with the hand not currently wrapped around Ukyo. “And Ukyo as well. Watch out though, he wishes to keep your skills all to himself- in my opinion, I think they should be shared with everyone!”
“Hey now,” Ukyo said, patting the blond’s arm. “I wasn’t serious about that. Wasn’t I just telling you how much I liked your hat? If I kept Suika’s skills all to myself then I wouldn't get to see it.”
Their words had the girl smiling brighter by the second, previous nerves slipping away. Good, Ukyo couldn’t help but think. Ryusui had told all of them how guilty Suika felt after he’d tossed her out of harm’s way right before everyone aboard the Perseus was petrified, and how she’d originally made his hat as a form of apology. And while she’d certainly looked more confident in herself when she’d handed him his own, there had still been a bit of hesitation in her eyes- like she didn't know how he’d react upon seeing her.
As if he could be anything but proud of all she’d accomplished while he was petrified.
Ryusui suddenly let go of Ukyo, standing up quickly and propping his hands on his hips in the way that everyone now recognized as the man’s I’m-about-to-say-something-crazy pose.
And, sure enough, with a brash smile, Ryusui pointed at the young girl. “I desire to see your hats on other people here! Your talent shouldn’t be restrained to just Ukyo and I, we need everyone else to experience it for themselves!”
Ukyo laughed softly, eyes flitting from his boyfriend to the young girl in front of them. Though a majority of her face was covered by her watermelon mask, Ukyo could practically feel the bright red blush on her cheeks as she sqeaked and waved her hands around her.
“I- uh- that’s a lot of people! Wait, should I do everyone or just a few people? But what if they get jealous!”
“They won’t,” Ukyo said, quickly reassuring the young girl. “Everyone will appreciate them no matter who you make hats for or in what order. Heck, you don’t even need to make any at all if you want. Ryusui’s just like that, we both know this.”
“What do you mean ‘just like that’?” The blond asked, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow, though the wide smile from earlier remained on his face. “I’m simply being honest about my desires.”
“I know you are, you just don’t always think them through,” Ukyo replied with a chuckle. Ryusui let out a dramatic gasp, and across from them Suika giggled at their harmless bickering.
“Did you hear that, Suika? He’s taunting me! Which means I have to see this through now. The next time you’re free and want to help work on this project, just come get me! I feel like I need to be involved.” Then, after a pause, “if you’re willing to take an apprentice, that is. It may take me a while to get up to your level.”
The young girl was practically beaming now, and Ukyo couldn’t help the feeling of warmth that spread through his chest at the sight in front of him. After everything that had just happened (or really everything that had happened since he woke up for the first time) it was moments like these that made the white-haired man feel truly at peace. Watching the person he loved interact with the girl they may or may not have accidentally adopted… It was something he never would’ve pictured having after Tsukasa woke him up just over three years ago now.
And honestly, part of him still wasn’t sure he deserved the kind of softness that came with moments like these. But he was learning to accept that maybe it was okay after all.
“I can teach you!” Suika exclaimed, rocking back and forth on her feet. “Wait, Ukyo, do you want to learn too?”
“No, I think I should leave this one to Ryusui,” he laughed, waving the girl off. “Let him surprise me with whatever you end up teaching him- it’s more fun that way. I’m sure there are other people around camp who’d be interested in learning though.” AKA, people who wouldn’t be able to turn her down.
“Okay!” Turning to Ryusui, “we’re going to find something really special to surprise him with!”
“That we are,” the blond replied, reaching out and patting Suika on the head. “So make sure and teach me well! He has high standards for me, you know?”
Suika nodded, and before he knew it the two were talking at a rapid fire pace that Ukyo could never hope to keep up with.
After a few minutes he subtly waved, catching Ryusui’s attention. When the blond shot him a curious look Ukyo tilted his head back towards the fire where everyone else was sitting, a silent we should probably head back now.
His boyfriend gave a small, almost invisible nod before looking back down at Suika and grinning. “Say, how about we all head back to the campfire now? I’m sure other people have realized we’re gone.”
“Oh! Yeah, we should do that before they get worried!”
“Exactly. Can you go find Gen and let him know you found Ukyo before he comes looking for us too? We don’t want him thinking you and I got lost right alongside our amazing archer here.” Suika gave a determined nod before looking between them.
“Don’t worry, we’ll make it back in a minute or two,” Ukyo spoke, shooting the girl a reassuring smile. “And maybe you can talk about Ryusui’s idea? Gen would probably be interested in having you teach him too, but even if he isn’t he’ll definitely know someone who is.”
“Okay! I’ll go tell Gen that you’ll be back soon!” And, with that, she was bounding back towards the campfire.
Both men watched her leave in silence, waiting until she was back with the group before Ryusui turned to Ukyo. “So, why were you out here anyhow? I wasn’t lying when I said I was already looking for you when I heard her ask Gen if he’d seen you recently.”
Ukyo blushed ever-so-slightly, rubbing the back of his neck from where he was still sitting on the log. “Well you know how being petrified has healing properties?” A nod, though concern immediately rushed onto Ryusui’s face. “It’s nothing bad, promise. Just… Well, I thought I was imagining it when I was revived the first time around, but I think I damaged my ears without ever noticing it back in the old world. The last time I could hear this well I was probably a kid.” With a laugh, “being in the Navy definitely contributed to a bit of the damage. Which is funny, since that's where everyone really started to hype up just how insane it was.”
“So your ears were healed again after this petrification? I didn’t know they were damaged in the first place.”
“No, they weren’t damaged this time around. Things are a lot quieter in the stone world, but it still gets a little overwhelming sometimes. So I came here for a bit.”
Ryusui paused, tilting his head for a second before nodding. “I can see that. The earplugs Senku made you are helping though, right?”
“Of course they are,” emerald eyes softened as he replied. “We share a bed, you’d be the first to know if they weren’t. Dinners as a whole group like this are nice, but I was just thinking about my ears being healed again and my thoughts got a little too loud on top of everything else.”
Ryusui hummed, walking forward and immediately hugging Ukyo the second he stood up. The white-haired man laughed awkwardly, raising a hand up to pat the other on the back before stepping out of his hold. “You can hug me all you want later. Now let’s get back to the fire, okay? Especially since Gen knows you’re with me now- you know how that man is.”
Ryusui huffed, smiling and rolling his eyes. “That conniving man and his gossip. He’ll start spreading rumors that we snuck off for some ‘alone time’ and sent Suika away so we didn’t traumatize her. Really, you should get him under control,” he teased, knocking their shoulders together.
“Hey now, just because we’re close friends doesn’t mean I’m exempt from his rumors. Honestly, I think it makes me more prone to them. He can get more information out of me and use it to spread rumors about our glorious captain.”
“The problems of getting close with such a shallow mentalist!”
The two men slowly made their way out of the brush and back towards the fire where, sure enough, Suika was excitedly talking to Gen- no doubt about Ryusui’s amazing idea. The dual-haired man’s eyes flicked away from the girl and towards where both of them stood for a second, shooting them a sly smile, before his eyes turned back to Suika and he began to nod.
Oh, he’s definitely letting himself get dragged into her ‘classes’, Ukyo couldn’t help but think with a soft laugh. He simply grabbed the brim of his paper cap and nodded in greeting, which earned him a faux-offended look from Gen the second Suika’s eyes were off him.
Ryusui laughed, throwing an arm around Ukyo’s side and pulling him close once again as the couple made their way over right as Suika ran off. The casual displays of affection had been embarrassing and frankly thrown him off at first, but Ukyo had long-since adjusted. Ryusui wanted the world to know he was his, after all- something that he’d found he didn’t exactly mind.
“So you’re signing me up for more work behind my back?” Gen whined. “Ukyo, you must get your boyfriend under control!”
“I don’t remember telling her to force you into her classes,” the white-haired man chuckled. “Besides, you could always say no.”
“Oh don’t act so innocent! We all know that’s impossible. She was just talking about going to ask Senku and Chrome if they wanted in on her classes though, so I’m just hoping our resident scientists get distracted enough that they forget to force me into the kind of work that isn’t fun.”
“Senku and Chrome? Watch out Ryu, you’ve got some competition if you want to be the one surprising me. Knowing her she’ll be asking Kaseki next and it’ll cascade from there.”
“Hah! I’d like to see them try! Besides, if we’re setting sail across the pacific we’ll need ways to keep busy! It’ll be a long voyage, seventy days if I’m counting correctly, so I’ll have plenty of time to surprise you.”
That had him laughing, and the three quickly fell into conversation. Someone started playing music off in the distance, and a few people sounding oddly like Yo and Magma started singing horrendously out of tune. Oh god, his poor ears. Maybe he should ask Senku for some headphones that were made specifically to block out loud sounds. He remembered those being a thing back before the petrification, but unfortunately never got a pair of his own.
As if summoned by thought alone, Senku appeared right behind him a few seconds later. “What’s this I’ve heard about starting paper making classes?” The man said, raising an eyebrow and looking at Ukyo and Ryusui specifically. “Apparently someone told Suika it would be a good idea and now I’m her loyal student. That doesn’t have anything to do with you two, does it?”
Ryusui laughed. “Now why are you looking at us? It could’ve been anyone!”
“Because you two encourage her more than anyone else here. And also she mentioned some people really liking the hats she made. Not that they aren’t good, but you two do know that Yuzuriha finished making you new ones a couple days ago, right?”
“Of course we do! Why, she handed them to us personally,” the blond at his side smiled. “But we’re at a tropical island and had outfits specifically made for this kind of climate after we were unpetrified. Shouldn’t we enjoy these hats as part of them until we leave?”
Senku sighed, rolling his eyes, though he wasn’t even trying to hide the smile on his face. “God, you two are ridiculous. That feels like something Byakuya would say when I was her age.”
Ukyo chuckled at the implication. Why even bother denying it at this point? “So did you sign up for her classes?” He asked instead.
“Well, you never know what you might learn from them. She’s resourceful, and in case you don’t remember, the Stone Wars were won in part by the paper planes our mentalist here created on the fly.”
“So that’s a yes then?”
“It’s a yes, sonarman. Though it is so I can learn something that may be handy down the line. Who knows what we’ll face on our voyage around the world?”
Ukyo barely held back an affectionate eyeroll at the other’s words. Even when his true emotions were clear as day Senku would never admit to doing something kind or because it made them happy. According to Taiju he'd been like that since the very first day they met, the practical and logic-driven Senku who never, ever did anything unnecessary. Human emotions? He’d scoff at those, because what did that have to do with science?
Ryusui wasn't as subtle about his read on Senku, pulling his head away from Ukyo for a second before letting out a boisterous laugh. “So you say!” He shouted. “Suika has you wrapped around her finger like the rest of us, doesn't she?” Then, before the head scientist could sputter out a reply, “just more competition for me! I’ll strive to be the best and beat you!”
“It’s not a competition, Ryu,” Ukyo chuckled. “Besides, weren't you going to focus on making something to surprise me? Let's not turn this into anything else.” Senku was already working enough as it was, if the other got himself dragged into a silly competition against Ryusui any free time he had would instead he spent on whatever Suika decided to teach them. “Besides, let's not overwhelm the poor girl. If she finds out about this she might get stressed.”
That had the intended effect, Ryusui immediately nodding before leaning back into Ukyo’s side now that he was done shouting.
“You make a good point,” the blond hummed. “We should be thankful for what she's already doing.”
A few seconds passed before Senku suddenly started laughing. “You, the greediest man alive, settling for what you're being given? Damn, I knew Ukyo and Suika could control you, but I didn't know it was this bad!”
Without even missing a beat (and keeping his noise level low!) Ryusui replied. “How does that make me any less greedy? I desire for their happiness, therefore I will do what it takes to make that happen!”
Ukyo’s entire face lit up bright red. Even though he was used to Ryusui’s over-the-top declarations, hearing him say it in front of their friends and where anyone nearby could hear them was still… A lot.
“Whoops,” Gen said with a teasing laugh. “I think you’ve killed Ukyo with your sweet words, dear Ryusui.”
“Hm? By telling the truth?” Brown eyes turned to look at green, eyebrows raised. “Does that mean I should be saying things like that more often?”
“Wha- no!” He exclaimed, gathering himself. “I mean yes- I mean- you can say it just as much as you want to!”
Luckily, before anyone else could say anything, the distinct sound of a bouncing watermelon made its way towards the group and seconds later Suika popped into sight. She came to a stop right in front of Ukyo and Ryusui, beaming up at the two with visible excitement. “I got a bunch of people who want to learn about making paper stuff! First I was just gunna do hats, but then Gen mentioned doing crowns, and Yuzuriha was giving me tips on how to-”
The girl began to ramble, and Ukyo smiled and nodded along. The three men around him kept up with her, even asking questions every so often, while he let the laughter and excitement in the voices of everyone around him (from the people in front of him to the other members of the Perseus to the inhabitants of Treasure Island) wash over him.
He hadn’t been lying when he told Ryusui nights like these were his favorite. Everyone happy, well-fed and temporarily free from the things they’d experienced and the things yet to come.
And with his partner at his side, the girl who they may or may not have adopted in front of him, and his close friends around him…
Ukyo felt free right alongside them. Free, peaceful, and hopeful for the future.