.:.

Renzou sighed happily into the boy's hair, glad that Rin was finally safe in his arms. The worst part was over, but there was still the trek back to Assiah to worry about… after all, the search party was still up ahead. A small movement on Rin's shoulder caused him to break his thoughts and he swallowed thickly, eyes growing wide when he realized that there was a thing crawling up the boy's shoulder. His hands snapped off of Rin instantly and he leapt back, shrieking a loud, "Pyaaaaah—!"

Rin flinched in shock and blinked at the pink-haired boy who looked deeply frightened. "Renzou…?" He voiced in confusion. The monk pointed a shaky finger in the direction of the boy's shoulder.

"B-B-Buh…! B-B-B-Buh-Bug…! Bug…!"

Rin froze. Then, he shifted his eyes to his shoulder, carefully plucking off the beetle that had decided to land on him. The blue-haired boy lifted it up and extended his hand towards Renzou, "This?"

"PYAAAHHH—! G-Get it away! Get it away…!" Renzou shook his head back and forth, nearly pissing his robes in sheer terror. Rin stared at the pink-haired monk blankly. Then, a small snicker left his lips.

"Pfft…! R-Renzou, y-you're… you're scared… of this? Y-You just rescued me and… y-you're scared of… this?"

"S-Shut up, Rin! Just get rid of it! I-I can't stand them!"

Rin snickered and pointed at the tree behind the pink-haired monk. "Then what about that thing behind you?" Renzou's back went stiff. His eyes darted towards the tree behind him, feeling as though he were in a ghost story and was about to be crept up on by a widow who had gone suicidal murderer. His line of sight met with a brown moth, pressed serenely up against the bark of the tree.

"PYAAAAHHHH—!" Renzou fell forward, into the leaves, trembling violently. Rin was now holding his stomach and laughing until he cried tears.

"R-Renzou…! Y-You're… hilarious…! I…! I…!" The boy collapsed onto his knees and chuckled, wiping the tears from his eyes with the backs of his hands, "I haven't… laughed like this… in ages…! Aha!" The pink-haired monk paused after hearing the other boy's words and a smile drew across his lips. Rin… this won't be the last either. I'll continue to give you more things to laugh about~ I'll show you all the good things in the world… His eyes suddenly drew towards the line of ants crawling steadily closer to his nose. He shot back up onto his feet, shaking from head to toe.

"A-A-Anway, Rin… c-c-can we… h-hurry and get out of here…? Aha… ha ha…" He noticed that the other boy's cheeks were now dirty with grime and it seemed like the insects wouldn't stop leaving him alone. Renzou shivered. "A-Actually… how about you go, aha, wash yourself off first… ha… ha ha…"

Rin smiled brightly at the pink-haired monk. "Okay~" He let out another chuckle and waddled his way towards the pool of water, pulling his robes off his shoulders as he moved. Renzou watched the sunlight gleam across the boy's creamy shoulders and he gulped, suddenly feeling inexplicably embarrassed. Rin… really was beautiful, huh… and so smooth and soft looking…

W-Woah, Renzou…! Hold it right there. You're not going to start feeling that way for him, got that? So, yes, he's kissed you once. S-So what? I-It's not like it meant anything… he was just healing you! Friends… remember? Friends… besides, you like girls, remember? Girls? Remember, girls?

Rin slipped out from the robes and then sunk into the water, smiling happily at the cool and soothing sensation. Renzou's mouth hung open slightly, just watching the other boy bathe in the sparkling pool. As the boy shook the water out of his hair and opened his eyes to look in his direction—those wonderfully intense blue eyes were looking at him—Renzou's breath caught in his throat.

Fuck.

Rin beamed at him in a content manner, "Renzou, you should come join me!"

"U-Um… thanks but…" He turned his eyes down to an interesting patch of soil on his right and murmured quietly, "I'll be fine…" He could feel Rin's eyes still on him and he swallowed, determined not to look in the other boy's direction. Finally, the boy wasn't staring at him anymore and he heard the sound of splashing. He took a peek in Rin's direction and then felt his cheeks heat up. Rin was just climbing back out from the pool of water, skin now glowing even more beautifully under the sun's light from being clean as well as wet. The expression on Rin's face—eyes half-lidded and lips pursed together in concentration as he hauled himself from the side—was, for lack of a better description, absolutely tantalizing. Renzou turned away and hid his blushing face in his hands.

Gaaahhh, I can't believe you, Renzou! You idiot pervert! Rin's already been through enough of that. He doesn't need you to also be lusting after him! Die, Lust, die!

Rin finished patting himself dry and clothed himself before moving behind his pink-haired friend. He placed a hand on his shoulder and chirped a simple, "Renzou?"

"GYAAAHHHH—!" The young monk jumped and then turned towards Rin, who was blinking profusely at his reaction. He was met with a small laugh.

"Haha, stupid Renzou. I don't have any bugs on me anymore, see?" The blue-haired boy grinned up at him innocently and Renzou felt his heart melt. Yeah, there was no way he was going to go after Rin like that. Rin didn't need that right now. Renzou smiled and lifted a hand up to run it through the other boy's damp hair tenderly, carefully.

"Yeah… well then… shall we?" He smirked and gestured towards the field of trees he had come from. Rin nodded and hopped after him eagerly.

"Yeah~"

The trek back took a little longer than the time it had taken for Renzou to get there, but all the same, they were able to reach the place where he had left the wagon. The pink-haired monk helped Rin up the trees, occasionally holding onto the boy's hand or wrist to keep him from falling back down the slope. He vaguely noted that Rin's hands were thin and delicate within his grip. They were almost like a girl's but not quite as small, not as large as his either. They were… cute. And even though they were a man's hands, he could probably pin them down easily with his fingers… He shook his head dejectedly. He had to get rid of those thoughts…

"Renzou." He heard Rin call his name and he turned, finding the boy's dirt-covered hand extended towards him again. There was a faint blush on Rin's cheeks and there was a look of reluctance in his eyes, "Hand…?"

C-Cute! Cuuute! Cuute!

Renzou bit his bottom lip to stop himself from squealing. Then, he reached down to help Rin up another steep slope, guiding him up the tree roots and loose soil on the side of the cliff. After another few minutes of climbing, Renzou smiled, noticing that the trees were suddenly growing sparse. "We're almost there, Rin. Hold on to one of the trees while I check the place over. If it's safe, I'll come back for you, alright?" He glanced over his shoulder and saw the other boy nod in understanding, but with eyebrows drawn together in worry. Renzou chuckled at the look, sending back a reassuring glance, and then he hauled himself up the rest of the way as quickly as he could.

As soon as he reached the top, the pink-haired monk flicked out the three segments of his staff from within his robes and fit them together quickly. Then, he slowly crept his way towards the wagon, eyeing the premises with caution. Renzou leapt behind the wagon, eyes darting across the insides warily. He shifted his gaze so that they were on the trees again, looking for any odd shaped shadows or figures in the forest. There was nothing. Deeming the area safe, he hopped into the wagon and flipped through the items again, checking to see if anything had been taken while he had been gone. In the secret compartment, the pillow was still in the same place he had left it.

The coast was clear.

Renzou smiled and then walked back to the side of the cliff, looking down to see Rin working hard to pull himself up to another tree. The pink-haired monk smiled at the sight. "Rin!" He called gently. The boy looked up at him, blue eyes looking incredibly vibrant from the exercise. S-So pretty…! Renzou gulped and lowered his staff to the blue-haired boy. "Here, grab onto this. I'll pull you up. Use your feet to push at the same time."

"O-Oh…" Rin nodded and tightly gripped onto the offered staff with both hands. The two worked to get him up and finally, the boy made it to the top, body falling forward into Renzou's arms. Rin grinned and Renzou could see the boy's fluffy tail waggling back and forth in an excited manner. "I made it…! Eheh." The pink-haired boy felt his chest explode from Rin's small version of rejoicing and he made a strangled noise in his throat before hugging Rin tightly, unable to hold himself back.

"Yep, you made it~! Now let's get you to Assiah!" He released the boy and led him to the wagon. Renzou watched Rin climb in and he grinned as he hopped in behind him. "I've got a lot of presents for you, too."

Rin settled onto the wooden boards and then blinked, eyes growing round, "For… me?"

A wide grin spread across Renzou's face, "Yep! Actually, you can kind of say that everythin' in here's for you, haha~ Even the wagon… anyway, here. This is from the kids…" He reached into his robes and grabbed Rin's hand, carefully placing the stones into the other boy's palm. The blue-eyed boy gaped at the small stones in his hands, eyes round in shock. Renzou smiled and he took Roy's gift out, placing them in Rin's other hand. "This is from the little hero who told me where to find you…" Rin's eyes darted up to meet Renzou's.

"R-Roy…?"

Renzou grinned, "What? So you know his name! Haha, yeah. He's awesome. He said that you're an angel. And I totally agree with him~" The monk winked.

Rin gulped and tears began pooling in his eyes. His fingers curled around the gifts and he clutched them closer to his chest. Renzou rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, wondering if he should continue. He hadn't wanted to make Rin cry but… well, it should be fine if they were happy tears… Renzou's gaze shifted towards the mysterious floppy package Horden had handed him. Should he give it to Rin…?

"… Just a little reminder of the good times."

He frowned. Well… it should be alright to give it to Rin… He lifted the parcel and slowly moved it towards the blue-haired boy.

"Uhh… and this… is another person's gift…"

Rin's head raised and as soon as his eyes landed on the package, his expression seemed to turn to one of fright. Renzou's eyes widened. Uh oh. Wrong move. He laughed nervously and began putting the package away again.

"Aha ha… uhh… n-nevermind, let's—"

"No." He heard Rin's barely audible voice, "I-It's okay… let me open it…"

Renzou's eyebrows drew together in concern. "… are you sure? You… know who this is from, right…?"

Rin sent him a nod and then placed the other gifts in his lap, reaching with both hands for the package. Renzou frowned, not really wanting to hand it over. After all… this was from Horden. The guy who had been the one who first abducted him from his hometown, the one who had violated Rin over and over again, didn't even stop when he felt guilty about it… but… he was also the one who had helped him and Rin leave from the village safely…

Urgh… Renzou sighed and placed the package into Rin's outstretched hands, I hope what I'm doin' won't come back and bite me in the ass later…

Rin slowly unraveled the folds of cloth that were keeping the gift inside wrapped neatly. When he finished, Renzou blinked at the beautiful aquamarine robe that seemed to fade into a light purple on the ends. It also came with a golden embroidered sash to keep the robes tied together, all folded and creased carefully. Clothes, huh… His gaze shifted towards Rin and he jolted in shock, finding a trail of tears falling from one bright blue eye, curving down the boy's soft cheek and down to his chin.

"R-Rin…?"

"Renzou…" Rin sniffled and then clenched his eyes shut, looking almost as though he were in pain, "I… I have to go back." His voice cracked slightly at the end.

What?

Renzou felt his muscles grow numb and the blood drain from his vessels after hearing the other boy's words. Go back…? Did he mean that? He wanted to go back there…? N-No…! No! He couldn't…! Not there… not so he could be abused all over again…! He had already decided; he was going to make him laugh, show him all the good things…! Why did Rin want to go back…? He wouldn't let him! He wouldn't let him be touched like that again…!

"N-No… you can't…!" Renzou heard himself whimper. Rin's eyes opened again, revealing those deep blue irises, now shimmering from the tears in his eyes.

"T-They need me…" He dropped the package from his hands and began climbing to his feet, "I have to—"

"No!" Renzou cried, reaching out and grabbing Rin by the wrist, yanking him back. Rin gasped as he tumbled down into Renzou and the pink-haired boy flipped them so that he was pressing Rin's wrists down against the wooden floor boards with his hands.

"Renzou…?" Rin's eyes were wide in surprise, tears still in his eyes. Renzou grit his teeth together, leaning over the other boy in frustration.

"Rin… I… I can't let you go back there. There's no way I'm letting them do those things to you again…"

"But… but… they need me. He needs m—"

"That bastard doesn't need you!" Renzou spat, hands gripping onto Rin's even tighter, determined to keep the boy here. He was safe here. Safe with him. "He doesn't need you… he… needs to get away from you! Don't you understand what those gifts mean?" He growled out, eyes fixed to Rin's, hoping that he could somehow transmit these feelings of his through to him, "They want you to be happy…! T-They… they don't want you to stay there and keep livin' like that… there's… there's so much more to life than being needed in that way… than to… stayin' in the shadows, never bein' acknowledged and just leavin' little gifts here and there to make other people happy… that's not how people are supposed to be needed, Rin…!" His vision was blurring. He couldn't see how Rin was looking at him and he wasn't sure if he wanted to. Renzou cursed to himself quietly and bit his lip. Damn it…! What did he need to do to get through to this guy…? Was it enough to say all of this? "T-That's not… i-it's not a one-way street… like that…!"

"Renzou…"

"Rin." He sniffed, "Rin… I won't let them keep on takin' advantage of you like that… I won't…"

"Renzou… let me go."

Renzou felt his entire body flinch from those words. His hands trembled against Rin's wrists. N-No… he wouldn't let him go…!

"Let go."

The pink-haired boy felt his heart freeze at the finality in those words. Then, he slowly, gradually, loosened his grip. "R-Rin… don't go back…" He croaked out, feeling Rin's arms slip through his grasp, leaving them so empty now. Just so empty…

And then he felt a hand touch his cheek. A thumb wiped at his eye, clearing some of the blurriness away. Rin was smiling softly back up at him, eyes still wet, but now a beautiful clear blue. Renzou's heart beat faster, beginning to realize what that expression meant. The blue-haired boy wove his arms around his torso and pulled him down against him into a gentle embrace.

"Sorry, Renzou… I'm sorry…" Rin murmured into his shoulder, "I'll stay… don't cry…" Renzou's eyes widened at the other boy's words and he felt tears rise in his eyes again. He snorted.

"I-Idiot, shouldn't I be the one sayin' that?"

"Don't cry… Renzou…" Rin lifted a hand up, weaving it into his pink hair soothingly. Renzou hiccupped. Damn it… that felt so nice… He squeezed his eyes shut, leaning into the calming warmth surrounding him. His arms scooped Rin up and he pulled him close against him, basking in that hot yet warm feeling they were sharing. D-Damn it… he wasn't supposed to be the one being comforted…

"R-Renzou…" The boy's eyes opened when he heard the uncertain way his name was being spoken in. Renzou pulled back slightly and his breath hitched in his throat when he saw tears falling freely from Rin's eyes. He leapt back instantly, releasing the other boy from his arms, and he wiped away at the other boy's tears with haste.

"W-What's wrong, Rin? W-Why're you crying so much…?"

Rin let out a small laugh which sounded more like something between a cough and a choke. "T-Then… i-is… is this what it means… to be needed?"

Renzou froze. Then he also let out a laugh and then pulled the blue-haired boy up into his arms, hugging him tightly. "Yeah, Rin… yeah…" He felt Rin swallow and then smile against his neck. There was a soft breath of air where the boy let out a small, "Eheh~" against him and Renzou couldn't help but pull him in closer.

After another second where they held onto each other, feeling their hearts beat rapidly together, Renzou finally loosened his hold and pulled Rin back with a content smile on his lips. His mission began to return to his mind in full and he rubbed the other boy's cheeks with his thumbs, finishing off the rest of the tears on his face.

"So… shall we still go to Assiah?" He grinned. Rin laughed back and nodded.

"Y-Yeah…! Take me to see Assiah."

Renzou gave him a thumbs up and a smirk, "Alright, leave it to me." He shot up on his feet, ready to go towards the front of the wagon, but then he felt his vision spin. U-Urgh, oh shit… I had no idea I was this exhausted, ha ha… As he sat down for a moment to regain his eyesight, he heard Rin ask in concern.

"Renzou…?"

The pink-haired boy laughed and held up a hand to demonstrate that he was fine. "Don't worry, Rin. I'm just a bit tired is all, ha ha~ Didn't get much sleep yesterday night so—!" His words were interrupted by lips and a wet tongue against his mouth. Renzou's eyes snapped open, finding Rin leaning into him with his eyes gently closed.

Wha-Wha-Whaa—!

His face turned bright red and he couldn't move until Rin pulled back, tongue returning back into his mouth. "R-Rin…?"

The blue-haired boy grinned brightly.

"Now you're not tired anymore. Right, Renzou?"

The pink-haired boy gulped. He… had to teach this guy not to give away his kisses every time he saw someone looking injured or exhausted…! Seriously…! But… just for now… Renzou licked his lips, feeling his senses fully rejuvenating. His eyes lowered mischievously and then, he immediately feinted crumbling over with another dizzy spell.

"U-Urgh… actually, I still feel kinda…"

"H-Huh? But it usually works… l-lemme try again…" He heard Rin exclaim nervously and then shuffle close to him a second time. As soon as he felt lips and tongue pressed against his mouth again, he opened it this time, angling himself so that he could pry and massage Rin's mouth wider open for better access. His hand reached behind the boy's nape to pull him in closer and Renzou smirked inwardly, meeting Rin's tongue with his own. He twirled and teased it playfully and he heard the other boy gasp, letting out a soft, "Nngh…!" in reply to his ministrations. He could see the other boy's eyes staring back at him, alternating between half-lidded in pleasure and being wide in surprise, and he took that chance to slide his tongue into Rin's warm mouth. "Hn-nnngh…" Renzou was pleased to hear another moan from the other boy and he swept over the cavern with his tongue carefully, tasting as much of him as he could. Rin's tongue was twitching about in place, as if it were adorably confused, and he slurped and sucked on Rin's mouth, curling his tongue around the other boy's tongue again—giving it one last delightful rub—before finally pulling back out and releasing him. The pink-haired boy grinned deviously and swallowed, licking his lips once more to savor the slightly sweet yet salty taste of Rin's mouth. After a second—where he just watched in amusement as the dazed boy sat still in one place with cheeks slowly turning pink and mouth still open—he sent him a satisfied smile.

"There we go~ I feel much better!"

Rin was blinking rapidly at him now with the back of his hand raised over his mouth and face a deep red.

"R-Renzou… w-what was…?"

"To Assiah~" He laughed and snapped the reins vigorously, watching the sun beam back down at him from high in the sky.

"W-Wait! Renzou! W-What was that just now? HEY!"

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