♦ SAKURAMORI'S BLOSSOMS ♦ (Calathes/Ahote)

Evenings in Fiore were perhaps the most beautiful of them all. The mixture of clementine and cerulean hues fusing together in one vast atmosphere was a sight for even the most bitter of people to behold. While many had busied themselves with schedules and to-do lists for the times of day, every evening seemed otherwordly and when the mind and soul could truly find inner-peace, if only for a few moments. For some, the evening sky put them to ease while others found themselves restless at the sight.

An old, quiet train rolled across rusty tracks, it's shiny, aluminum wheels grinding against the iron. The hiss of its fiery chimney and the thumping of its wheels against the tracks was invigorating for at least one of the men boarding the tremendously cozy train, as he could not sit still during their trip. Radiantly, the pale-faced man bounced in his seat and gazed from window to window. "Aren't you excited, Theo?" Ahote threw himself over onto his tawny companion, who sat sluggishly beside him, with eyes burning excitedly, "Apparently the cherry blossoms in Sakuramori are always in full bloom. Or, well, that's what the rumors say, anyway." peals of laughter danced from his lips. It wasn't unusual for the normally solemn and gloomy man to become so bubbly when in private with his guard. Of course, perhaps to Theo, this was usual for Ahote.

Despite the raven-haired master of serpents insisting that he was going for a walk in the forest of cherry blossoms, he treated it more like some field trip. But who wouldn't? On Mt. Hakobe, rumors were the only reliable source of information immediately accessible. It was the driving force for most jobs for the curious serpents anyway. So when the mention of cherry blossoms and forests came to mind, the pale-faced Ahote was quick to become restive. Theo, to no surprise, was dragged alongside him.

The ache had subsided into the darkness, flesh split by unsettled intent at the loss of his left eye. Velvety wrappings, tainted from their crisp white into the ivory of now, coiled against the crown in order to conceal the wound. When it decided to return was certainly unpredictable, yet the fact it could do so was more than enough to deter heartache into relief. Although he'd hardly admit it was something he was intimate with experiencing, torn apart and prodded at like a meal, as long as the other had been okay was all that mattered. Willingly had he stepped forth, perhaps with just a bit more discretion the dilemma of nails tearing, insides searing and sightings torn outward would have never occurred. Even then, Theo couldn't bring himself to hold an ounce of regret, it just was not within his nature.

Startled by the weight to his side, the single golden fragment looked towards the pair which dazzled in elation. Compared to how his friend had presented himself, sullen and often lacking of thrill, the time spent elsewhere had greatly shifted the mood. Theo watched him for a moment, the arch slight in his brows, the expression perplexed though perhaps veiled of amusement. "Yeah..." the single trace was mumbled, quiet and lacking of the buzz that Ahote had so adequately portrayed. Lashes fluttered downward, the concealment fleeting before the shade peered through once more. Some time had passed since the last time they had been together, yet every second he was gifted the bliss of these peaceful times. Just the pair by themselves on a harmless journey.

"You're like a child," he stated, lips faintly offering a smile, "Never seen the cherry blossoms before?" it would not have astonished him. Hardly knowing of the past, the tale of where he'd come from and how he had managed to get here of all places— there was a depth to it all. Despite the upfront nature, pressing the matter when it might have been forsaken into remaining hidden was not worth doing so. When the answer would slip by without questions, he would be there to hear it. Ahote would not be alone, that was in his duty after all. As friend and as protector.

---

There had been far too many things that Ahote hadn't seen. His memories were filled with images of dark, dusty corridors and fortress walls so cold and tight that even the deepest of breaths felt shallow and weak. His home wasn't a pleasant place, but within it Ahote found something resembling tranquility, even among the blabbering fools that often pranced about the place. Yet, the hair-standing thought of Sakuramori's beautiful cherry blossoms made him inch for the sight, the smell,and taste of its air.

As the man continued to move about his seat tirelessly, Ahote convinced himself that Theo had tagged along for the sake of protecting him. Or, so he liked to think. He, nor anyone really knew about this tawny, aloof man who always seemed to be lost in his own head most time. He was shrouded in a deep fog of mystery that no one but him seemed capable of navigating, and while Ahote had already considered themselves friends, he was determined to uncover the truth.

As Theo's question wiggled off his tongue, the bouncing Ahote had stopped for only a moment. His wet eyes shimmered with bewilderment as if he were processing what had just been said to him. Or, perhaps, he was simply too distracted and wondered what had been said to him. Quickly, his lips quirked up into a crestfallen smile, "Have you?" Ahote slunk back into his seat, staring into his lap with droopy, wide eyes. Sakuramori was in the near distance now, as the aluminum wheels rolled against the iron tracks, the hum of its rolling tickling their ears, "Anyone could use a change of scenery every now and then. Even us, right?" he giggled, nudging Theo with his own shoulder.

The other couldn't sit still— persistently restless with every jerk of the feet, re-positioning of the posture and twiddle of the fingers, Theo was starting to get bothered. If it had not been so genuine, he might have been inclined to just make him stay frozen of such aimless motion. "Only in pictures," not exactly receiving the answer, opposed by another he found it harmless to speak swiftly. The matter of cherry blossoms didn't require something to be in-depth after all, it was the curiosity which was at the mercy of his puzzling friend.  

He glanced towards Ahote, "Maybe you should consider changing locations," the smirk that had once been present subsided into the usual jaded appeal, "There are much better places than that crappy mountain," or was it the fact it lacked any light. Truly if the location of their ❝home ❞ had not been so obscured, his job would've been just a bit easier. Bothering to count the times he'd ambled up and down the icy slope had already been a lost number. Or maybe it had been the people— encountering the village folk that had both loathed and retreated in absolute fear were an additional nuisance. It was not just the cold that held a nasty bite. Drifting from the nuisances that lingered in his mind, the shrilling sound of the train was gradually approaching its location.

"Hey—" dreading the return within the clarity of an approaching evening he continued, "We're not heading back after this, are we?" though inwardly begging, the tone and singular glare spoke otherwise, "A change of scenery, you said so— would be nice to sleep someplace warm... and safe." though perhaps he were just referring to himself. Already Theo had acquired some enemies in the one place they should not have been, some which were more desperate for pieces of his body than to simply enact harm. Awakening with the loss of another eye was not a pleasant thought.

---

For a man who enjoyed the outdoors as much as Theo did, Ahote was taken aback a forest of cherry blossoms was one he hadn't explored yet. How much of the world had Theo seen? Surely more than what he had, at least. And yet Ahote'd never truly know. At the very least, the trip to the everblooming Sakuramori would be an experience both men could relish.

At the mention of changing locations, Ahote raised his gaze from his lap and over to the peering Theo. "Changing locations, huh. . ." he droned. It wasn't the first time such a thought crossed his mind, and like those other times, he had reached the same conclusion. Mt. Hakobe may have been their best, if not their only chance of success. Criminals couldn't afford to live the way they did and see beautiful things at the same time. Tucking themselves away in the darkness of the fortress was a void where little harm could be done to them. Or, so it's been for many years. Besides, where else were they to go if not the mountaintops?

As Theo continued to share his words, Ahote did not look at him. He gazed out of the train window just ahead of him with soft breaths and bitter eyes. Although his pale complexion was stretched with a smile, his quirked lips held not an ounce of cheer. "Theo," Ahote interrupted him before he could finish uttering what optimism he had, "we don't get to live like everyone else. The fortress is as warm and safe as it'll get for us, don't expect anything more." his voice became sharp and bitter, like a dull blade tapping against clean metal, it pierced your ears, "This lifestyle isn't for the faint-hearted. We all work hard so we can guarantee a better life in the future, and if you can't understand that, then. . ." the train wheels screeched as it locked onto the tracks and came to a slow but eventual stop. The smell of citrus slithered its way into the train as the Sakuramori forest could now be seen through the glass windows.

A moment of silence passed by the pair like an autumn breeze, crisp and cold as the train doors swung open and awaited the four feet to skip their way off into the unknown. The bouncing Ahote paused for only a second before latching his fleshy fingers onto Theo's wrist, jumping up from his seat and dragging him off his own, "Looks like we're here, let's go." the pale-faced man grinned. He was hoping that perhaps the beautiful cherry blossoms would distract the wondering Theo from all of his troubles. Including his own.

When he'd been so resolved on stating what was wished, the implication for something else was swiftly redirected. Theo held onto his breath, alarmed for just a moment. If what could have been grounded was everything he had so desperately tried to protect, his friend reminded him that it was useless. At least not in the way that was hoped, rather— part of him was just glad that the sentence had not been continued.

"I understand..." the voice was as rugged and disinterested as it had always been, yet the piercing gold was elsewhere. Opposite to where the other had been seated, he did not bother to pay him the heed that had been given before. If Ahote could manage a glimpse, it would have seemed comparable to a child pouting. One that was certainly not keen on arguing the case, accepting that what had been spoken should have never been in the first place. Answers were better left unknown than they were exposed.

To the adamant keeper of light, no matter how horrible the answers were, they left him clarity in moving on. Or could it have been the persistence to never give in? That was more rational for one that was encased in this cruel world. Fighting to defy a life behind bars, to defy those that looked down upon them. All he had wanted was the same for the rest of the underdogs. "H-Hey—!" physically tugged from the wavering torment of his thoughts, nearly had Theo stumbled over his own feet. Despite the previous bite that so sharply layered the words of his friend, the same careless beam had returned to the pale features. So hung over the future, it was the distraction that Ahote had wanted. Perhaps— for the both of them.

With a sigh, he allowed himself to be dragged along.

---

Ahote excitedly skipped off the train and into the outskirts of Sakuramori forest with expectant eyes. Even though the pair had just kissed the tip of the iceburg with such a exotic forest, the two could already see tall, unmoving trees with heads of peach rustling against the gentle breeze dancing up high. The air smelled of a complicated floral aroma, one of bitter citrus a mildly of unripe cherries. They were cherry-blossom trees, after all. It was only natural the such harmonious smells.

Topaz eyes flickered about as if there were far too many sights to marvel at for his gaze to keep fixed to just one, his cheeks flushing to a peachy-pink similar to the very blossoms he gawked at. Filled with energy, Ahote made a noiseless fist pump with hands both metallic and fleshed. He turned to look at Theo with eyes shimmering with thrill, "You smell that?" Ahote breathed deeply and with haste, "That's the smell of exoticism! This is something you'd only ever get to see in Midi, right?" he began to pace his way into the forest off-path, touching every sheet of bark and snapping every twig that obstructed his path underneath his heel.

From hopping from stone to stone, log to log, Ahote had finally stopped when both feet had loosely planted themselves on the massive root of a resting tree. He reached into his pockets, "Which is why I brought these!" two packs of green-tea flavored breadsticks and a single pack of cigarettes of the same flavor emerged from his tight pockets and into both hands as he presented them with a prideful, almost impressive grin, "You know, to get in character. I heard somewhere that people in Midi love green tea, or something like that, so. . ." Ahote continued, lips quivering and tucked into his mouth with restlessness.

From the dull and nearly sleep inducing ride, they stepped from the aged train and into the wonder of the outside. He lifted his heavy eyes towards the flutter of a gentle rose, the scent so familiar it had enraptured what breath he had. Theo had felt many things in the marvel of these beautiful trees, the others could have never compared to the elegance of dancing petals. Drifting against the harmless current and tumbling towards the ground. What had caught his regard was not just the tower of the cherry blossoms. Cords strung themselves against the formless heart, pressing into the fading of space. Something that was considered unusual. Never had he felt this before— few seconds urged him into silence. Hesitant on the zeal that had come so openly from his friend, the words slipped past his lips.

"R-Right," thankfully Ahote was so absorbed by the sight before them, that there hadn't been a chance to glimpse upon his momentary fluster. Lurching in his tone wasn't exactly like him. Following behind in silence, the golden was in awe just as the one to his front had been. The further they had drifted along, the further did this place become all the more alluring. It was certainly mysterious, even for something so appealing to the eye it had still been the same as any other forest. Life was lingering within the shadows, peering upon the pair in either curiosity or suspicion. Unknowing of it for certain, the feeling was simply just a feeling.
"I didn't take you for a smoker," Theo commented, vigilant of his friend from just below the root, "Pass it here—" he'd tasted green tea before, though not anything that was flavored as so. It would have been nice to try either.

---

Cigarettes was a murderer of healthy young men and women, or so Ahote had heard. But rotting lungs was more desirable than a Rune Knight's blade to his throat, he figured. But the idea of inhaling smoke? Most wouldn't find such an activity to be pleasant of all things, but to his surprise, he could remember every working man smoking a joint at every corner. The suffocating smell of smoke could hardly penetrate his nose before his younger self had hacked and wheezed at the scent. But today was a special exception.

Ahote grinned toothily at Theo's surprise, eagerly tearing the plastic wrap that covered the small box of cigarettes, "I'm not a smoker," he plucked two cigarettes the color of basil from the now open box, hastily handing one to the impatient Theo, "but there's a first time for everything, right?" Ahote snickered, placing the item between his puckered lips and quickly lighting it with the tip of a lighter's flame he had retrieved from his pocket just as quickly.

As the end of the cigarette ignited, a small trail of smoke lifting into the air and filled his cheeks with a mild smell of tea leaves as he inhaled one large puff of smoke. Yet, as quick as he was to indulge in it, the raven-haired man wheezed as he once did long ago. His pale cheeks flared up in a peachy redness and wet eyes winced with tears welling in their corners. An excruciated smile stretched his lips, "I. . . can definitely. . ." he coughed, holding out the lighter's flame to the waiting Theo, "taste the green tea! I feel like such a badass, ya know?" he continued to cough in between words, and while his coughs were rough and deep, his delighted face was one of a masochist as he continued to inhale it.

The roll of chemicals was pressed in-between the index and middle finger. Kept safe within the binding, there was not a single layer that slipped through. It held no smell, no stench that was as revolting as it could have been. Theo didn't exactly find it to be pleasant, nor did he think there was any purpose behind it. Damaging as it was to those that held lungs, he wasn't built the same as the majority of the life that surrounded him. The outside may have been trickery, yet the inside was a blinding exposure of light. Opposite to the rush of excitement that came from his friend, the golden looked towards the whirl of smoke that had appeared.

Concern fluttered, disappearing just as quickly as it had appeared. Despite the strain from inhaling such an unfamiliar element, Ahote seemed to enjoy the feeling that it had given. Brows furrowed, in disbelief over this counter for gasping against the smell that parted from lips. Eventually it couldn't be helped to let momentary laughter escape from the hold of his usually spent nature. The opposing hand covered over the source of the noise, fading into the peaceful silence of the forest. Casually, once beneath the root, he brought himself closer. Distance had severed greatly as the other was now directly at his side.

Theo adjusted the cigarette so that the end was pressed just against the other. Steadily the embers enraptured the one that had not yet been lit, his face much closer to his friend. Every fragment of what lay inside was beginning to burn, releasing the visible display that roused into the air. A breath was taken inward, taking just a step away before a puff had been blown straight into the face of Ahote. The clarity of a smirk giving way for his tease. "You haven't changed," leaning against the massive tree, another drag had been seized in the pause, "Always trying to be cool... just like the brat I know." the petals were still falling, carefully above them in the canopy of sakura. It melded with the burning taste of green tea, something he never thought he'd find enlightening.

---

Feeling the butt of his cigarette push back into his mouth as Theo lit his own shrouded Ahote in a mild bewilderment. Even with a lighter in hand, his companion insisted that he light his own cigarette another way. Although disappointed, the raven-haired man was satisfied and quickly stuffed the metal tool into his pockets.  

As smoke tickled the inside of his pink cheeks and crept down to his lungs, his rhythmic huffs and puffs of smoke quickly turned playful. Ahote's brows scrunched together and lips puckered as he endured the urge to cough and wheeze at the smell. Briefly, he looked over to Theo with childlike anger dawning over his complexion, the butt of his cigarette crunched between his pearly white teeth, "You're not much better yourself, you know," he sighed exuberantly, "you're so aloof that sometimes I wonder if you try."he said as stunning peachy-pink petals fluttered down from trees just as wonderful trees. It was hard for him to believe that such an exotically magnificent place such as Sakuramori even existed in a nation like Fiore.

As the two watched the petals dance their way down to the blanketed dirt path, Ahote could not help but lower his voice in awe. "Beautiful, isn't it?" he spoke as a puff of smoke escaped his moving lips, "Though I guess anything's beautiful when you've lived in a mountain fortress your entire life, huh?" peals of laughter quickly that smoke and the words that rode off of them, humming with an amusing bitterness. Anything was a better sight than a worn down fortress on top of a mountain too old for him to mention. It would've been for anyone, he figured.

Many seconds had passed, listening to the dancing green and the softness of the company that was speaking. He did not bother to take a glimpse. Already from the words that had retreated into this peaceful display, it was as sour tasting as the creeping rise of smoke. The way the tone had been brought about was curious. In his silence he wondered if it would have been tolerable to question. Theo certainly saw no harm in doing so, but then again he wasn't as willing to reveal all that had been kept reticent in their time together. The fact nothing had been misspoken for was all that mattered.

"Maybe you should learn a thing or two..." he countered, expressing less spirit from before. Removing the bud from the press of his lips, it descended in the grasp of his fingers. A hand to the side, trailed by the substance as the other tugged at the fabric of the sleeve. It had seemed his attention was still observing the dreamy image of falling coral fragments. "Have you—" pausing, uncertain the cigarette returned to the warmth of the mouth, "—have you always lived there?" muffled though audible, still he had not looked towards his friend. Behaving as though he had been indifferent with every second, minute and hour that passed, was quite difficult to pertain.

Theo wanted to know the story. What made Ahote the way he was? Rather— how did he get into such a position? More than anything and anyone he knew, that if his friend had a choice things might have been different. Nobody enjoyed the heavy weight of such a responsibility upon their shoulders, especially that of a dark guild. Perhaps that was why he was so protective over him. No matter how much the denial appeared, rejected on the instant it had begun, he would persist as much as he could. If Ahote was not willing, then the ideal would have gone much differently than he anticipated.

---

Ahote paused for only a brief moment as words reminding him of an empty home and guild bustling with cheer escaped Theo's mouth. Though the man was recognized to be the son of their guild's previous Master and nothing more, the query convinced him that he was far more mysterious of a man than he took himself to be. No subordinate or companion of his could reveal an ounce his early life if they were asked, and strangely, a sense of hopelessness shrouded around him at the thought.

Quietly, Ahote resumed blowing puffs of smoke into the air, this time with much less enthusiasm and his complexion returning to that of a ghost. With eyes staring fixedly up at the falling petals against a sky of mixed colors, Ahote smiled bleakly, "No," he started, toes tapping against the large root he stood on through his shiny black loafers, "I lived in a place  in Magnolia Town much prettier than the fortress before I was taken. What, you curious?" Ahote grinned mischievously, a grin only someone who has just correctly guessed someone's emotion could wear.

The home he remembered growing up in was, in fact, pretty, but it was a space he shared with no one else. His mother was never around enough for him to remember too many instances where they've played and the times she was present, she was far too unapproachable for him to truly yield satisfaction from. While she was a mage of reputable status and Master to countless mages that surrounded him, never did the boy truly feel more alone. Occasionally, fuzzy thoughts of his family came to mind, and following that thought, he was quick to remember how they never came for him.

There was nothing more unsettling than it was to be so easily read. At the same time it wasn’t something meant to be dangerous either. Theo held a bizarre form of trust for his friend, so much so it rather frightened him that the idea of being exposed was simply upon how he acted. The crude tone, the brilliance of his glare and the harsh treatment. Even somebody as childish and adamant as Ahote could see past all of that. He could not recall a time he had felt this way, though perhaps somewhere in the shrouded tale a single image could be found. In the usual dull tone it was full of colour yet smeared in the blur of nearly being forgotten.

He could feel his brows furrowing, through the stench of searing green tea it was beginning to make his eyes water, "Is there something wrong with that?" with a voice that was much softer than usual, the hostile look lastly faced his friend. It was a genuine question, one that did not wield a single ounce of discontent. More than anything he had just been abashed for being spotted in a moment of curiosity. Like a child that was pouting.

"I barely know anything about you..." turning towards the greenery, scattered by the gentle touch of pink he took in another breath, "Besides the fact you have a habit for getting yourself into danger and wanting to be cool," a moment of displeasure passed by his mind, lowering the cigarette to catch just a few seconds of clarity within the forest air, "How you care so much for everyone in that shitty place, when they couldn’t give a damn about anyone else but themselves." as much as he wondered what it would be like to subtract the flaws from the hellish ordeal, there was no fixing the imperfections that had made them who they were. To get rid of them would be to rid of the entire presence itself. Not that Theo really minded that in regards to just a few of the nuisances in the guild.

---

One by one, questions even Ahote hesitated to ask fluttered from Theo's lips like petals from their tree. His heart ached at the words, but he couldn't figure which of them made his chest pound so rythmically. The raven-haired man continued to suck smoke from his burning cigarette which inched closer to the butt with each puff, his grin quirking to a frown pursed with indifference.

For a moment, Ahote thought in silence, looking down at his feet with wet eyes. Smoke poured from his lips, some trickling from his nostrils, words quickly following, "It's my job to support them, Theo," he said, his complexion lighting up as he raised his head to the falling petals, "the world's against them, you know? If I can, I'll always have their backs." Ahote began to giggle, his melancholy frown quirking into a wistful smile. Eyes radiating with a sense of purpose and belonging, like some lost man who has a home in his sight. He had been convinced that this was his new purpose, but when times were demanding, would of them have his own back? A silent farewell from fathers, and the wistful goodbyes of his mothers, no one ever seemed to stay for long, and none ever seemed keen to farewell. Ahote supposed he would end up no different.

Smoke continued to leak from seemingly every pore of his complexion besides his eyes as he hopped down from the tree root over to Theo, wrapping an arm around the man's broad shoulders. Ahote snickered impishly, "That includes you too, of course! Besides, there's nothing wrong with a little bit of danger every now and then." he explained. Theo didn't know much about him, true, but the raven-haired man could say the same. If mystery was a person or people, this pair met its description. Ahote blew a small cloud of smoke into the tawny face of Theo, snickering still, "You can't suck stories out of me without sharing some of your own."

There wasn't any surprise that crawled across his complexion as Theo quickly retaliated against his cheeky huffs and puffs of smoke. In fact, it would've been strange if he didn't do a thing against Ahote's provocative ways of teasing. So giddily, the raven-haired man let his aggravated companion pinch the lobe of his ear and tugged it down with a discomforting force. Still, Ahote could only wear his sheepish smile sympathetically, "He-hey, hey! I'm stopping! I've stopped! Hey!" waves of laughter spewed from his throat, his cheeks blush with a peachy redness.

Although the man wore a giddy, carefree expression, the many mysteries that engulfed Theo kept him of trembling toes. When he'd steal a glimpse at his quiet companion, his chest often became tight and burdened with an uncomforting weight. Yet, with such tension swirling about his body, his lips remained loose and dry, not an ounce of strength to utter the queries fluttering at edges of his coral-pink tongue. So with a force of eagerness and curiosity, his lips began to move and arms wrapped tighter to the pouting Theo, "Well," he said, thoughtlessly, "where are you from and what were you doing before you came here?" Ahote jabbered with a weirdly excited gushing to his voice.

Despite being so close to his bodyguard, their relationship seemed to have only extended to various things and moment in the present. There was no mention of either man's past, not because neither of them had an interest in speaking of it, but there never seemed to be a time for it either. The petals continued to flutter down to the ground much like aromatic feathers from a winged beast zooming through the cerulean skies. Many found their way onto the full heads of both men, but Ahote did not notice and continued to enjoy the fresh and cherrylike smell of Sakuramori.

Ahote watched Theo and listened attentively to his story with wide, interested eyes shimmering in the beams of sunshine melting through the blankets of cherry blossoms. A smile plastered over his blanched lips at the mention of Fiore, a time spent in Midi before their fortress. Even if Theo had only briefly dawned over the topic, the giddy man was delighted to have learned something new about him.

Yet, his story quickly became shrouded in gloom as he uttered the people who neither of them shared fond memories over, their reminiscing only because he thought was brought up. The jolly, rhythmic puffs of smoke quickly became melancholy clouds of ash seeping through his lips and down his nostrils as the words filled his head with queries. He fantasized slamming one metal hand to Theo’s back, laughing in disbelief of what silly things he’d spew from his throat, but instead continued to ponder wordlessly.

The pale-faced Ahote continued to let a thick sheet of smoke encompass him, the hardy blow of his nose making it relatively obvious that he had finally resolved something. A small, wistful simper plastered across his lips as he gazed fixedly to Theo with smiling eyes, much like a mother admiring their babe in which they’d caress carefully, affectionately against their chests. Or in this case, a man and his friend. ”You would’ve been fine even if we didn’t meet. You have a kind heart, and while it’s one of your greatest weaknesses, it’s just as mighty as a strength. One way or another, you’d take your freedom. . . that’s just the kind of person you are.” he snickered, mocking him jeeringly yet his voice wet with honey and citrus. He wasn't completely sure what he meant by "experiment" but decided to leave it at that since he obviously wouldn't delve further into the subject. Or would it not be too farfetched to press?

Abruptly, the mention of Magnolia Town uttered by his friend's lips brought back memories awfully overzealous mages and the lit guildhalls where they celebrated feverishly every night. Ahote's cheerful smile drained to nothing but blanched quirked lips, eyes still shimmering wistfully. Whether he was thinking of days before now or a time ahead was simple a mystery swimming in the topaz pools. "Famine took me when I decided to foolishly wander about the woods at night. There's no reason for me to hide it, after all." he sighed wearily as if mentioning some trifle he bargained in his youth. Yet, his gaze suddenly became dejected and full of indifference, disappointment perhaps, "My mother never did come looking for me. No one did."

Ahote let himself be drawn into a loving embrace as words fluttered from their mouths and thoughts floated in their heads. His chest became warm and ticklish at the feeling of his friend's arms tucked gently against his waist and their head snug in his own shoulder, a feeling so familiar yet so short lived. Their conversations, their stories, all so casual and heavy-hearted that the affections that came after were almost natural. If it were anyone else who saw these boys muttering in their lonesome, maybe it wouldn't have been perceived so innocently. Even so, the two sputtered about, sharing their stories and laying a bed of comfort for each other so they might weep together with dry cheeks.

Clouds of smoke continued to set and gather from his lips and nose, rising up from the paper rod and disappearing into the air again, but Ahote's last few puffs had been long and slow. His coughing and wheezing had dwindled to that of hiccups, and his ears had been full of Sakuramori's crisp winds and Theo's soft chitter-chatter. He perked at his question before anything else had escaped Theo's lips, and smiled. Of course, while he was tempted to, he said nothing before letting him finish, and by the time that had happened his smile became huge and was plastered over his face. His "tut-tut" kind snickers showed in his now mildly amused puffs of smoke, which reflected the same rhythmic pace as his own laughter.

Ahote briefly turned to face Theo with blushed cheeks and a pearly-white grin, topaz pools glossy with the tears that welled in their corners. The smoke that submerged his face seemingly masked his moment of weakness, though. "I don't believe in it, no," he proudly mocked, "but I do believe in karma. We have it out for us, don't we?" he snickered, again with his "tut-tut" sort of laughter.

The raven-haired man's grin descended to a smile as he continued to listen in on the quiet, compassionate Theo's confession. His heart throbbed at his words but couldn't bring himself to cry just yet, as doubt possessed him like it would in most things. Instead, he wrapped an arm around him, pulling him close with an almost brotherly tightness. "Thanks. . ." Ahote answered in a small, shaking voice. While it shook, it was hard to figure out just what it shook with. A good many had said those words to him, but just as many had failed to keep it. The tightness in which he held onto the man was both of love and anxiety.

Losing the interest in smoking the cheap cigarettes, Ahote spat it from his lips as the still-lit rod flicked forward to the root of the tree the both congregated to. Its pulsing embers scorching only a modicum of the tight, healthy bark they stomped on, yet setting an uncanny rumble to their toes.