Title: The Land of Stealth Hope
Pairing: Juntoshi, others will be revealed later
Length: one shot
Rating: pg-13 (for cursing and attempted murder)
Genre: angst, romance, friendship, bromance, father and son
Disclaimer: I only borrow the names, and it has nothing to do with the real person
Summary: Mumon who was left alone after Okuni dies, tried to raise his adoptive son Nezu, whose name then changed to Kazu. In honor of Okuni, Mumon changed his name to Ohno. Both father and son now lives in a small hut at the border of Ise and Iga. He lives in peaceful until one day, comes someone who is willing to pay him much money to kill Matsuura Takeshiro.

‘I barely remember the face of my mother, but father always told me that she was the prettiest woman on earth that he had ever known. All I know is that father loves my mother so much that he was willing to change his name to hers. After her death, father told me he left Iga with her body and came back just to take me with him. So there was just the two of us in this hut that I called home… until…’

“Mumon! You’re Mumon right?” A loud voice called out when a tanned man with a slouch entered the free market at the bottom of the hill. The man walked hurriedly, glancing at his side every now and then, making sure the skinny boy was still with him. He took a deep breath as the both of them got out of the crowd. Taking a hold of the boy’s hand, he started climbing up the hill but that didn't stop the man with a loud voice from pursuing them.

“Mumon! Wait up! I have a job for you, the pay is huge!!” The loud man shouted again as he caught up and grabbed the other's shoulder, spinning him around to face him.

“You’re mistaken, I’m not Mumon.” The tanned man mumbled as the other tried to grab his shoulders again only to miss it. “You got the wrong person, I’m Ohno. Get lost!”

“Oi, it’s a big job, you just need to kill Matsuura Takeshiro of Iga and you will be greatly rewarded.” Insisted the loud and lousy looking man, which was completely ignored by both Ohno and his young companion. “Oi Mumon!”

“Father, who is that man? Why does he know you?” Asked the young boy after a couple of turns. He kept on looking back trying to see if anyone was still following them while trying to keep up with Ohno.

“No one you should worry about Kazu, he must be a refugee from Iga.” His father gripped his hand tighter, lifting him easily into his arms.

“I feel sorry for Matsuura-san….” Kazu softly whispered as he circled his arms around his father’s shoulders. He didn’t know who this Matsuura Takeshiro guy was but he still felt sorry that someone wished for his death. Someone who was so desperate that they even tried to hire his father to assassinate him.

“Hey Kazu, do you think you could take care of yourself for the next three days?” Kazu looked up to his father who seemed to be deep in his thoughts. He had no problem taking care of himself and their house as long as he knew his father would return. He had already lost his mother and he didn’t want to lose his father as well.

“Are you going somewhere, father?”

“Just want to check on something, I’ll return soon.” His father, a man of a few words, answered. Kazu nodded. He’d have to prepare his father’s pack when they got home.

***

Ohno put out the fire from his torch once he arrived at the gate of the city. The lights on the street were more than enough to guide him as he looked for Matsuura’s house. He leapt on the nearest roof and ran swiftly, jumping from one house to another. He didn’t know why he was doing this, but his son’s words had made him realize that something bad was about to happen. Someone from Iga, who were usually hiding away from Nobunaga’s army, made out of his way to search for him and offer this job. That in itself was saying something. And he was just not about to sit still and let things happen. Not after those greedy men had killed his beloved Okuni 5 years ago. He would not let anyone else suffer because of Iga’s greed.

Ohno slowed down when he reached the inner part of the city where the bigger houses were. He read the plates in front of the houses and started searching for his target’s home. He stopped just above the house in front of the Matsuura’s and waited. True to his suspicions, he soon found three shadows approaching. Ohno sighed at how clumsily the shadows were moving and at the sight of the oblivious samurais standing guard outside Matsuura’s house.

With the quietest steps, he approached the shadows, tapping the closest shoulder to him, and smiling before he hit the man’s head making him falls down and alerting the samurai patrol. He still smiled to the other one who instantly ran away, leaving his comrades like typical ninja of Iga. He looked down to find that the other one of three was already getting his knife out, ready to stab the sleeping man who hadn’t even flinched after such ruckus above his roof. Ohno pulled out one of his arrows and blew it to the last ninja in the house.

With no sound, Ohno jumped down, just in time before the ninja he had shot fell down and caused loud noises. He had distracted the samurai outside the house but he couldn’t be sure that there was no samurai patrolling along the corridor. Just to be safe, he slowly put the ninja at the bottom of the sleeping man’s feet. It was when he turned to see the man that he knew he should’ve just stayed home as usual, being careless of what happened in the outside world.

His breath was caught, he never saw anyone as pretty as the man before him. He squatted slowly, feeling deja-vu. Like he once had done the same with his late Okuni, he held the man’s face noting a one-day stubble was about to force its way out of that smooth jaw he was holding. That was also a reminder for him that no matter how long the guy’s eyelashes were, or how pretty his face was - even prettier than Okuni, he thought - he was still a man. Just as he was thinking, as he looked down and tried to put some spell, the man’s eyes opened, making him drowned into warm chocolate orbs before they changed into an annoyed gaze.

“Wha…” Ohno didn’t let the man finish his words, quickly covering his mouth.

“Matsuura Takeshiro-san?” Ohno asked and continued once the man had nodded slowly.

“Someone wants you death. If you still want to live, follow everything I say.” After a second nod, Ohno pulled his hand away, but it seemed like he had made the wrong decision as the man then suddenly stood up screaming for help. With no other option, Ohno pulled out his last arrow and blew it to the man before he lifted him and escaped through the roof.

***

“Father, why is that uncle still not awake?” Faintly the man could hear a boy’s voice. His head was pounding hard, like someone hit him with big rock or something. He didn’t know where he was at the moment, or if he was capable of opening his eyes.

“He’s tired.” That voice, the man could recognize the voice immediately, opening his eyes widely, which he regretted instantly, as the pounding in his head got harder.

“Y..you...” his voice was rough, caught in his throat.

“See, he is awake now. Kazu, could you please prepare tea for the uncle?” He didn’t know where the kidnapper had brought him to, and he certainly didn’t know why. He flinched a little as the smaller man sat beside his futon.

“Wh…” he tried to ask, but his voice was still weak.

“If you still want to live, do what I say. From now on, your name is Matsumoto Jun and you will stay with me here for as long as needed.” Matsuura couldn’t believe the words that man had said - no one could ever believe anyone that had kidnapped them anyway. So he just laid there, eyes wide open, seeing the nonchalant man picking his nose. Matsuura was trying his best to understand the situation. It wasn’t the first time he had heard of someone wanting him dead, but someone actually hiring a bunch of ninjas to eliminate him had never crossed his mind. That brought another question of why the man in front of him who was obviously a ninja, was trying to save him.

A soft word of ‘father’ brought him back to his senses to see the man’s son who stood beside them, holding a bowl that had probably not been washed for some time. He flinched as the man pulled his upper body, supporting it with his own and brought the bowl to his lips. Matsuura - no, it was Matsumoto now - tried his best to move away, avoiding the strange liquid in the bowl, and even trying to avoid the man but he couldn’t move his body at all.

“Drink, or you’ll be permanent paralyzed.” Matsumoto shivered as the man whispered softly into his ear, as if he didn’t want his son to hear it. He is scary, Matsumoto thought, which left him with no other option than gulping the liquid.

“Good, I’m Ohno, this is Kazu, please take your time to recover. Kazu, this is Matsumoto Jun, he will be staying with us for a while.” Matsumoto was then laid back onto the futon, seeing the ninja leaving with no other words. He felt sleepy and unconsciously drifted back to sleep.

The next time he opened his eyes, it was already dark outside, but it was warm inside the hut as he found both father and son sitting together beside the fire, eating their meals. Smelling the grilled clear water fish reminded him that he hasn’t eaten anything since last night, and as if signaling it, his stomach growled loudly, getting the attention of the ninja and his son.

“Sorry…” that was all he could say with a reddened face.

“Matsumoto-san this is your dinner. We made it for you.” Kazu was the one who stood up, bringing a tray of rice, miso soup and grilled fish in front of him.

“You should be already able to move your body, or do you want Kazu to feed you?” Ohno said, biting his grilled fish nonchalantly. Annoyed by the cold act, Matsumoto did what he was told. He tried to move and sit, realizing he was still in his sleeping wear since the previous night, somehow feeling a bit embarrassed rather than cold, fixing his kimono while he felt Ohno’s eyes on him. With no words, he sipped miso soup, blinking a little when he tasted the plain milky water. He knew he didn’t have much choice, so he just gulped the soup, looking helplessly at the bit of burnt grilled fish, but the growl from his stomach made him just bite the meal and stay silent on the taste. He was half way finishing his food when the boy asked him.

“Matsumoto san, why do they want to kill you?” Matsumoto almost choked on his soup hearing the innocent boy asking such a terrifying question freely. When he looked up, he couldn’t miss the smirk on his father’s face. Of course, the boy was raised by a ninja, how else he could ask such a question easily when killing was in his daily life. He opted to ignore the question but Kazu sat beside him, tilting his head, waiting for his answer.

“I don’t know.” He decided to lie - partially lie actually. It was true that he didn’t know why people were so eager to kill him, but he could get a wild guess at the reasons.

“Then, what did you do for a living?” Kazu asked again, still sitting at his previous spot. “Are you a general? Father said generals could be killed. Well, the bad ones.” He continued.

This time Matsumoto stared wide at the father who was still sitting at his place, enjoying the meal, and most probably pretending the conversation between him and his son was not happening. Matsumoto couldn’t believe it. What kind of parent would teach their children that it was okay to actually kill someone? Realizing his glare didn’t even budge Ohno, he told Kazu.

“I’m an explorer.” He said shortly, but when he saw the creases on Kazu’s forehead, he continued his explanation. “I went to places that other people haven’t come to yet, then I report to emperor.”

“Why?” Kazu asked again and this time, he didn’t have any answer. Maybe his restlessness was felt by Ohno.

“Kazu, leave Matsumoto san alone, so he can eat, and come here, finish your meal.” Ohno called his boy, cleaning up his own utensils with dried weed between his lips. Matsumoto let a relieved breath and continued his meals in silence.

***

Ohno opened his eyes lazily. After a couple of minutes he heard the door of his hut close softly. He had actually anticipated this, waiting for the time his ‘guest’ would finally take action and leave. He just didn’t understand why the guy took three days before running away, well, trying to at least. Ohno stayed put, leaning against the wall where he had been sleeping, his eyes fixed on Kazu’s face but his ears listening to all steps in the woods around him. When he heard the same footsteps running around for the third time and heard swoosh sounds, he finally moved. He fixed Kazu’s blanket before he stood up and left the hut, heading to take his ‘guest’ back.

He stretched himself outside, leisurely taking his steps while still listening to the rustle voice he believed was Matsumoto. True to his own thought, he found the man trapped in the net hanging on the tree.

“Going somewhere Matsumoto-san?” Ohno asked looking up at the man. The full moon light was reflected on his fumed face. He could guess how angry the man was and he liked it.

“Get me out of here! You can’t keep me here.” Matsumoto swayed inside the net, and Ohno was tempted to leave him there, but Kazu would ask of his whereabouts and he didn’t want to lie to his son. So he leaped up onto the branch Matsumoto was hanging from. He sat there nonchalantly, knowing it would annoy the trapped person tremendously.

“You are free to go. But as I told you, someone wants you dead, so bad that he paid all Iga men to chase you.” Ohno could see the man calculating his options. So he added. “This net isn’t one I made. Seems like another person knows you’re here.”

“Any idea why they really want you dead?” Ohno asked after some silent moment, seeing Matsumoto worrying his lips but not saying anything yet. It took his interest on how the man seemed to take the murder news lightly.

“Not your concern anyway. Just get me out of here and I will not bother you anymore.” Matsumoto said, shaking the net as if he needed to show some bravery, but it was too late since Ohno could hear slight fear in his voice.

“I could get you out easily, but can you survive when all that was left from the ninja of Iga is trying to kill you?” Ohno noticed it was dawn, those people who set up the trap would come soon and he would hate to kill them.

“Like I said, it is none of your concern.” Matsumoto raised his tone now, and Ohno could only hope anyone sleeping in the woods was still in their dream land.

“If you really wish to die, don’t do it in front of Kazu, he has seen too much killing in his life.” Ohno straightened himself. He had heard rustling somewhere below him, and it seemed like his fellow Iga men were on their way to check the trap. “If it wasn’t because of him, I would rather see you killed that night.” Ohno continued while he jumped down, took the two men in disguise with surprise, knocking them out without killing them. When the third and fourth men came, he jumped, dodging a flying needle, getting his Shuriken and throwing it at them. After he made sure the men were falling down, he jumped up again, this time hanging upside down so he could be face to face with Matsumoto.

“Are you sure it’s none of my concern anymore? Now tell me why someone really wants to kill you?” Ohno waited for some time, seeing the trapped man open and close his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, when the net shook and he turned aside. That was when he realized that a needle was stuck on the side of his neck.

“Shit!” He cursed and hurriedly freed the man from hanging net. He pulled him up and carried him back to his hut. The red flagged needle was not the same sleeping needle he used, it was a poisoned one, the same that was used on Okuni, and he couldn’t bear seeing another life passing from that cursed needle.

He laid Matsumoto back on his futon, carefully with no loud sound that could awaken Kazu. He wanted to keep his son away from such gruesome view that may trigger his memory of Okuni. He was just a kid, a normal one now.

Ohno worked fast, pulling the man’s kimono to the side, and he saw the needle clearly. He pulled it slowly and saw the bluish poison spread from that little spot on his neck. He didn’t think twice as he dived down and sucked on the spot to get the poison out. He spit to the fire, and repeated the sucking and spitting for some time until it was no longer blackened liquid that he had, but fresh red blood.

He looked up to see Matsumoto’s sweating face, his long hair having fallen from the neat bun on top of his head. He was a little pale but not lifeless. Ohno slowly put the man back on the futon before he returned with a washcloth Kazu had put at the corner of the room. The chilly night had made the washcloth cool, so he used it to wipe Matsumoto’s face. This time, he had the freedom to really admire the beauty in it, the soft yet masculine face. When the man grimaced, he pushed his hair behind his ears, whispering softly, “you’re safe now”

***

He was in a dark wood, running like there was no tomorrow. He couldn't dare looking around, more importantly, he couldn't look back, as he didn't have the time to do so. He only knew he needed to run for as far as he could and faster too, if he still wanted to live. The corner of his eyes caught a glimpse of blonde hair that was chasing him, and he turned all of a sudden to get rid of those shadows. He was losing his focus to the point that he didn't see the cliff behind the bushes he ran into. He screamed as he fell, struggling with all his limbs so that he could still float in the air - a fruitless attempt, he knew.

But suddenly, a hand grabbed his. He was pulled upward and instead of the dark wood he was running away from, he found himself sitting on the ground, surrounded by high grass with colorful flowers. The hand was no longer pulling him, but two arms were circling his body, getting him to notice broad shoulders in front of him, hugging him tight and a soft voice whispered, “There, I got you.”

Matsumoto opened his eyes with difficulty, his sight unfocused. Everything seemed to be in some sort of fog, his body felt boneless, and he was in the verge of vomiting. He could feel himself shaking badly, and he could utter nothing but a small scream. The nightmare was still clear behind his eyelids, it had felt so real. He almost started thrashing around but hands were holding his face and he found himself looking directly at a pair of dark orbs above him. It was the only thing that he could see clearly with the fog that was blurring his sight.

“Matsumoto-san, look at me!” The voice was so strong that he couldn’t disobey. His head shook but the hands on his face did not allow him to go further from the grip. He choked, he couldn’t feel any air inside his chest and he was panicking until he felt lips on his, blowing air into his lungs. He couldn’t understand what was happening, but he focused on the soft lips that were currently over his, and the warmth that kept his body still until he finally realized it was Ohno above him.

“There you are. Welcome back.” Ohno’s voice welcomed him. His eyes could now focus on the round face above him. He couldn’t move, more like he didn’t want to move and risk losing the warmth above him.

“What happened?” He asked, trying to remember the events. He remembered leaving the hut, trying to escape the woods, but then he was trapped, and Ohno came. He remembered being stubborn until ninjas came and he saw Ohno moving swiftly, effectively knocking them down, and then a stinging feeling in his neck, and him not able to move. The last thing he remembered was Ohno’s worried face while he was cutting open the net he was in.

“You got poisoned by a needle.” Ohno answered lightly, pulling himself away and Jun almost hit himself for longing for the warmth above him. When he tried to move his head, he felt his neck burning and he groaned, automatically raising his hand to his neck and trying to scratch away the burning feeling but Ohno’s hand was faster, stopping him.

“Don't. I've taken the poison out, you're no longer in a life-threatening state but you'll feel itchy all over as a side effect.” True to Ohno’s words, Matsumoto groaned as he did feel itchy all over his body, he wanted to scratch but before he did that, Ohno said again, “it won't help much.”

With that word, Ohno went to wake his son up, leaving him flabbergasted, not knowing what else to do while his body was itchy all over and his limbs were in pain. His feet were not even moving when he tried to. So he just laid there, helpless, again. He watched as Ohno called out to his son, who snuggled deeper into his futon. Jun knew the other was doing it on purpose, ignoring him as he did when he was trapped. The itchy feeling was getting on his nerves again and even though he tried to move around, finding some friction to ease, it was not helping.

Matsumoto didn't know what else to do than staring at the father and son battering about something he heard as bathing. He had to hide his surprise when Ohno, in one smooth swipe, took of Kazu's blanket and futon, resulting in the boy rolling on floor but only once before he stood up with ninja pose. Then the chase continued with Ohno as the winner. He held Kazu on one of his shoulder before facing the stunned Matsumoto.

"We're going to take a bath, it won't itch." it took a moment before Matsumoto could understand his meaning. He tried to sit and stand but, of course, he failed. His limbs still wouldn't work as he wished they would. He was expecting laughter, but instead, Kazu was leaning against his father, whispering something that was replied by a grunting Ohno, who put his son down - 'you better not run young man.'

In the blink of an eye, Ohno was kneeling beside his futon again, this time lifting his hand, and before he could realize what was going on, he found himself on Ohno's back. He cursed as an indignant yelp skipped through his lips. He wondered how someone smaller than him could manhandle him easily, though he shouldn't think so as that same man had managed to bring him all the way from Iga to this hut.

“Wa… wait! Ohno san, where are we going?!” He asked, trying his best not to jolt too much and not feel too embarrassed as he could feel Ohno's hand on his butt cheek, holding him in place.

“Father always takes me to a small creek with a waterfall for my bathing day. Though today is not supposed to be one.” Kazu was the one answering, glaring at his father openly, another thing that Matsumoto - and all the kids in his neighborhood - was taught to never do when he still a child. He scrunched his eyebrows seeing the battering, also noticing the redness on Ohno’s ears. As both of them thought they had explained enough, Matsumoto didn’t have any choice than stay still on the man’s back, trying his best not to lean against it.

“Father, we’ve arrived, why are you still carrying Matsumoto-san?” Matsumoto was so lost in his thought that he didn’t realize they had arrived to a beautiful creek. It was small with clear water source coming from behind the rocks. The thin fog above the creek and high bushes hiding it from sight made it simply looks like a small private onsen to them.

“It’s beautiful.” Matsumoto said blankly as Ohno put him against the nearest tree. It was so serene that he was afraid their being there would disrupt the serenity around them. But he shrieked immediately as Ohno’s hand was on the tie of his obi, pulling it open.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” Matsumoto squirmed, or at least tried to, as Ohno nonchalantly shedded the sleeping kimono he’d been wearing since the first day he was kidnapped.

.
“I’m trying to help you. It’ll be better for you to soak in the water, that’s how your itches will diminish and it will remove the poison completely.” Ohno talked as if he was facing Kazu instead of a full grown up man and it annoyed Matsumoto completely. Before he could object further, Ohno had lifted him in his arms and gently sat him on the crooked rock by the bed of the creek where he was sunken up to his neck. True to what Ohno had said, once he was in the water, the itch subdued and he involuntary let out a relieved sigh. He regretted it instantly as Ohno smirked in front of him He decided to ignore it though, closing his eyes and enjoying the cold soft stream washing his body and mind away.

His relaxation was cut short when he felt something touch the wound on his neck. He opened his eyes abruptly, shocked to see Ohno sitting beside him, almost naked, with his hand pressing some kind of mashed plant mixture onto the wound. He managed to shrug the hand away but Ohno put it back onto the wound.

"Wait, it'll leave scar if it isn't treated correctly." the man mumbled, making him stay still again. However, his sight was distracted by the view of Ohno's checkered abs and the strong muscles under his chest. Matsumoto didn't understand, he had seen a lot of samurai in his housing, bathing with some but never once had his heart raced like now, beating hard reacting to the manly aura oozing from Ohno's body. Feeling tired, he sat boneless letting the stream wash him away until he was leaning against Ohno. Closing his eyes, partially praying Ohno wouldn't hear his racing heartbeat, he fell back to another relaxing state which made him unconsciously start to tell his story.

“I’m an explorer, I went all around japan, and a couple of months ago, I found an island outside Kansai. A big one. People there look like us, their language slightly different. I was about to report my finding to the king but maybe someone doesn’t want me to, so here I am, being saved from my own murderer.” Matsumoto didn’t even realize that he was slurring back to sleep, not even aware the man beside him was looking at him intently before lifting him out of the water, covering him with his cleaned kimono and carrying him back to the hut.

***

Ohno inhaled deeply, looking in front of him at Matsumoto, who was walking side by side with Kazu, telling tales about each tree they passed by, or animals that were passing them. He didn’t understand himself how he had agreed with the man to go to the new island he had found together, but when Kazu had added his own excitement, Ohno knew he had lost against those two. They had walked for a week away from the hut, avoiding the main road so he could only guess that they had almost arrived at Edo.

A rustle on his right made him leap onto the tree, the rustle couldn’t be made by an animal so he stood guard, waiting for whoever it was to show themselves, while Matsumoto and Kazu continued talking animatedly. He was surprised to see a samurai coming after those two.

“Take-chan!” The man run after them by saying that. He keep on running after Matsumoto keeping saying ‘Take-chan’. It took a couple of minutes before the man turned his head and saw him coming. What Ohno didn't expect was Matsumoto running after that man himself, and he was surprised to see both of the men were hugging each other.

“Sho-chan, what are you doing here?” Matsumoto said but somehow Ohno found it disturbing, seeing them in each other’s arms.

“I should be the one asking you that, you've been missing for weeks and now I see that you're walking with a kid. Who is he and where have you been?! All I knew is that one day you would return to Ezo so I’ve been waiting for you here, guessing you won't be walking through the main street right? Not after that kidnapping that I heard of. Where have you been Takeshiro?” Ohno just sat there while thinking that Takeshiro was once Matsumoto’s real name, he almost forgot that. So that meant the man was Matsuura's friend, he thought because they seemed to know each other very well, while he just sat there looking down as the two when chatting along.

“Wait where is he? I thought that he was walking behind us. Where is he? Ohno san? Ohno san where are you?” Ohno leaped down when he saw that Matsumoto was looking around for him. Jumping from all the tree that were below him he just stood there without saying anything until Matsumoto was looking at him.

“Sho-chan I want you to meet Ohno san, he is the one that saved me from my murderers and this is his son Kazu, Kazu, could you introduce yourself?” Ohno saw his son step forward and introduce himself with a very smooth lines like what Matsumoto have told him several days ago. It just wonder how a week with Matsumoto changed him completely, he was now well-behaved and no longer acted like a ninja boy usually did.

“My name is Sakurai Sho, thank you for saving Matsuura san, he is a dear person for me. I've been looking for him for all this week, we have some unfinished study to do in Ezo Island that we have just found. Are you here to escort him?” Ohno didn't say anything but he kept looking at the man from the bun on his head to his geta. He could tell the man was a scholar but somehow, he disliked the closeness between the man and Matsumoto.

“It's Matsumoto, his name is Matsumoto, we don't have anyone named Matsuura here.” Ohno walked past Sakurai to get behind Matsumoto and gently pushed him forward. He didn't want them to be close so he stood between them, without removing his hand he put on Matsumoto's back so they were walking together, just the three of them, leaving Sakurai behind them. But of course Kazu has his own thought so he stayed behind and pulled Sakurai's hand to follow them. It was almost dark now so Ohno looked for a shelter for them to stay the night.

It didn't take long for them to find some clear area to rest and Ohno already built up a fire to warm them during the night. He just sat there beside the fire while watching Sakurai Matsumoto and Kazu talking together. He hated the feeling of being left out from those conversations. He used to be full of himself, didn't even bother of anyone else, but with Matsumoto he just wished he was part of the life of that man, or what was left from it.

“Father, Sakurai san says that he could teach me how to read, isn't it great?” Kazu came to him after some time together with the pair. Ohno just flinched without saying anything to his son He just nodded, knowing the child was very excited and he still didn't want to take the excitement away from him. He didn't understand how he still felt ill emotions towards the new guy, he was not afraid nor was he a threat - well maybe a threat but not for his life, maybe it was something deeper. He knew that Sakurai wasn't physically dangerous to all of them but he still didn't like how he could be so close to Matsumoto.

Greed. That must be it. As ninja of Iga, he was well aware of what greed was, but compared to others, the greed that he had towards Matsumoto wasn't physical or even material things that he needed. He just craved for something that he thought he wouldn't need after Okuni had died, but maybe he was wrong.

***

“He is glaring at me again, are you sure he doesn't have any feeling for you?” Sakurai said to Matsumoto who sat quite far from the fire so they could talk without Ohno hearing. As Matsumoto took a look, it was true that Ohno was staring at them constantly, especially at Sakurai. He didn't understand but somehow he felt quite relieved to see that Ohno was showing some expression aside from the cold appearance that the man showed during his stay in the hut and all the way along the road until they met Sakurai.

“No he's not, as I told you he saved me because Kazu asked him to do that. If it wasn't for Kazu he wouldn't have even saved me and I wouldn't be here in front of you now.” Matsumoto whispered back, still looking at Ohno who finally drifted his eyes away from them. He knew Ohno wouldn't sleep for the night because he would keep guard as he always did during the journey, while Kazu was always sleeping beside him. He knew sometimes in the night Ohno would arrange the boy’s blanket so that his son wouldn't be cold.

“I think I should change my question, it isn't about him having feelings for you but now I need to ask you if you have any feeling for him, because I can see that you at least adore him.” Sakurai said watching him closely and this time Matsumoto did curse inside wishing that for one day Sakurai wouldn't be able to read him freely like that. Matsumoto was about to tell him to shut up but he realized that his face was getting hot and he knew he was blushing because Sakurai was giggling beside him like crazy telling him about the redness on his face.

“Don't answer me, I think I know now. Maybe I should not follow you anymore, as this should be your first journey as family.” Sakurai said laughing a little as he laid himself on the mat beside them leaving Matsumoto to his thoughts.

He must be crazy, Matsumoto thought. He knew that Ohno had a wife who died 5 years ago, as Kazu had told him that. He must be only feeling lonely and Matsumoto was there with him. There shouldn't be any feeling from Ohno to him. But then Sakurai’s question bothered him for quite a while. Did he really have feelings for Ohno? He didn't say anything just looking at the back of that man.

***
They reached another part of the journey just two days after that. They had arrived at a small port outside Edo. He didn't understand how but it seemed like Matsumoto already had someone that waited for him on a boat there. He had actually opted to leave him there while he and Kaz would return to their hut, as Matsumoto already had Sakurai with him, but again he didn't want to let Sakurai get on with Matsumoto. Another greed that he has within him wanted him to own Matsumoto completely.

But anyway he found himself on the boat swaying right and left, finding his balance. Kazu had gone inside the deck because he felt sick. He was given a fishing rod by the boat owner which he used at the moment, waiting for the fish to bite his bait. It was already dark when they arrived at a small port. They took the chance to go in the night to avoid people that might recognize Matsumoto. The sky was bright that night and he could see more of the stars above him and he emptied his head seeing the star sparkling. He didn't realize that they were already halfway to the Ezo Island when a big wave hit him and he heard Matsumoto shrieking behind him. Leaving everything he instantly ran over to the man who was clutching on his fingers. He quickly assessed his surroundings and clicked his tongue when he found a knife beside the cutting board.

“Here, let me see it.” He pulled the fingers away from Matsumoto’s clutch. He didn't know that there were two people watching them, Sakurai and the boat owner. He just needed to know that Matsumoto was right. Seeing that it was only the fore finger getting cut was such a relief to know. He didn't understand why, he saw blood almost all his lifetime but he just didn't want to see the bloodshed from Matsumoto. Without thinking, he pulled Matsumoto’s finger into his mouth and sucked on the blood that was dripping from his cut. Ohno didn't realize what he had done until he looked up to see Matsumoto's eyes gleaming and his face reddened. He pulled out his handkerchief and slowly used it to bandage the cut. Without any words he left and went back to his fishing rod realizing that his own heartbeat was racing. He didn't know why, he never had that kind of feeling even with Okuni before. He sat on his place again blankly staring at the dark sea, thinking about what to do with the fact that his heart was racing. He was ninja of Iga who was free of any feelings but now his heart was beating fast because of Matsumoto.

“Thank you.” Ohno almost jump when Matsumoto sat beside him with a bowl of rice, giving it out to him. It was almost midnight at that moment and the boat owner was already at his place, steadying the boat above the waves and he had already caught several fishes that were put on top of that rice. Ohno just nodded and accepted the bowl. It was the most decent meal he was having for around one and half weeks after he left the hut and he enjoyed it as much as he could.

“Sho chan said I should tell you, since he didn't fancy you glaring at him all the the time.” Ohno glanced at the fidgeting man beside him, who by the way, look so good in the purple kimono which he had gotten from Nobunaga’s son during their feud years ago.

“He is actually my cousin and we've been through this journey together because he was captivated by the head of the Inui clan in Ezo and he came with me all these time because he wants to meet that Aiba Masaki. Anyway, he helped me to make the journals and published it in the newspaper he has.” Matsumoto continued and Ohno didn't realize that he left out of a relief sigh. So that was the reason why they were close! He was glad to hear it.

“I don't need to know that.” Ohno answered nonchalantly, half way cursing himself for not being able to communicate correctly.

“But you will keep on sulking, and if you are going to follow me, I don't want to see you sulking.” Matsumoto added, giggling a little and Ohno hated that the man could read him easily now.

“I’m not sulking, beside, who said I will follow you?” Ohno sipped his tea, finished with the bowl. This time he saw Matsumoto pouting, a cute one he thought. A wave washed the boat, making them both lose their balance and Matsumoto found himself leaning against the wall with Ohno towering over him. Ohno looked deeply into the man's eyes, seeing the stars were sparkling in it.

“Oh, I thought I could bribe you to keep on rescuing me.” Matsumoto challenged him and Ohno couldn't help leaning more onto him.

“If it's for a lifetime, I would consider it.” He said, a breath away from the other's lips. He saw Matsumoto quiver a little, either from the wind or his words.

“Deal.” That was the simplest answer Ohno was waiting for, before he closed the gap between them and kissed those tempting lips. It was a peck at first before he deepened it. Glimpses of the future were playing behind his closed eyelid, he couldn't wait to see how their new lives would start in that island.

‘I barely remember the face of my mother, but father always told me that even though she was the prettiest woman on earth that he ever know, Matsumoto san is prettier. It had been a year after we left the hut to live in Ezo. Every day was a hard work now, Papa, I mean Matsumoto-san, asked me to help him gathering the smaller children so we all can learn to read in the school Father made. The three of us live in the house with two bedroom that the Inui clan made for us, I have my own room now and freed from tasteless cooking father made, Papa is the one cooking delicious meals everyday. Last thing I notice is, even though Father barely understand what Inui clan were saying or speaking much, Father smiling all the time now.’