• the breath we both craved •

HOLY SHIT I MISSED THIS FIC SO BADDDD

alternative ending time

i saw it highly requested by readers so

have fun

toya pov //

The bitter air stings my throat as I inhale, the evening temperature drastically dropping to something more cold. An and Kohane are talking about whatever they usually do, laughing and smiling.

I find it fun to watch their chemistry work it's thing. They are very compatible, and it shows. Very clearly.

I wish me and Akito were like that. Maybe we are? Oh, I really hope so.

I shift my hand, and place it on top of Akito's, my fingertips brushing the top of his soft skin.

I don't want it to be his hand.

I want to brush my fingertips over his face, his shoulders, his collarbone. His chest. Waist.

I've come to terms.

I've accepted that I love him. That I want to think this and I want to want this. Want him.

"Hey, Toya." He says, looking around at me, licking his lips.

I keep telling him not to do that, dammit.

"You have to stop." I cup his cheek, gently brushing my thumb over his bottom lip.

I would give him lip balm again, but last time the fuckass ate it. I sigh, then look back up at his eyes and drop my hand.

"Yes?" I blink.

"Can we go look at a stall I wanted to take you to earlier?" He tilts his head gently.

"Sure. Why not?" I agree and directly after he pulls me up, taking my hand and tugging me over to a beautifully decorated stand.

He leans forward and takes a pretty frangipani flower hair clip, walking behind me. He reaches up and brushes his fingers through my hair, clipping it up into a small ponytail.

"Come come come." He grabs my hand again and leads me to another.

"Do you wanna join the lantern element of the show?" He asks eagerly. I'm confused at first, but realise what he meant when he showed me to a stand where you purchase them.

"Okay." I say, sighing when he buys me one.

"You didn't ha-" A finger silences me by pressing to my lips gently.

"Yup. Yes I did." He crosses his arms. I look at him softly.

He grabs a lighter from the side, taking it with us as we go back to the girls. He gently knocks against me. Akito is literally unable to walk in a straight line. (me core)

Breathing out, I cross my legs and sit back down in a clear patch, shifting left to make room for Akito too.

Discussion is small. It's nothing but comfortable and casual. That's what I really like about us. We can sit in silence and it'll never be awkward.

I rest my eyes closed for just a second, taking in my surroundings. Akito coughs a little, making me open them again, a little concerned.

It stops after a second and I fiddle with the ground, trailing a circle in the dry mud with a twig I found.

The time comes to set off the lanterns, and me and Akito take ours.

"Hey!! We didn't get any!" An whines. I snicker and roll my eyes.

"Well done, An. Just have mine." I pass it to her.

"Aww! Thank you Toyaaaa." She responds happily while taking it from my hands. I turn back around to Akito.

"We can share." I state. He nods, completely immersed on figuring out how to light it.

"Okay! Got it." He says triumphantly. Moving it over to be between us, we both place one of our hands under the lantern.

It takes a few minutes, but eventually it lifts off. I let go and he gives it a small boost.

I watch the small thing gruadually float up into the sky, joining the large group of others, as they all move like a crowd.

An's and Kohane's manages to hover close to ours, even touch it ever so slightly at one point. It's cute. It's like a large sky with massive stars, and we are practically in it.

I must say, it really is a stunning sight. But, I can't help but think that there's something else catching my eyes.

Something more beautiful.

"It's so pretty." He says quietly, looking up at the show.

After a moment of spectating Akito, I reply to him.

"It really is,"

I say, while looking directly at him. I brush some strands of hair behind his ear. It makes his head turn around to me.

He starts coughing a little again, only small, but he recovers and meets my gaze.

That smile. I love it so much that it becomes contagious and I have to as well. I cup his cheek with my hand.

"Akito." I say quietly.

"Toya?" He responds, shifting his face to comfortably sit in my hand. I stroke my thumb over his soft skin.

"I think that I need to clear something." I breathe out. He tenses a little. I laugh slightly, knowing it's nothing bad.

"Huh..?"

"I reckon. If I'm right and observant. Then we both like each other." I say evenly. He tilts his head a little. I'm trying to get it over with without thought, cause I know if I think too much I'll hesitate completely and start freaking out.

You know, his breathing is actually quite shallow.

I see.. hope? Hope flashes across his eyes.

"Yeah." He says quietly. His voice seems a little raspy. He needs to cough to clear his throat.

He does so just as I think it but nothing happens.

"Toya. I like you. I really like you." He closes his eyes.

I hesitate and smile, looking at him.

"I like you too."

I love you too.

As if free of some kind of.. burden? He takes a small gasp in if air, jamming his eyes shut as he breathes heavily for a second.

Akito smiles, then laughs slightly, looking up at me as he covers his mouth with his hands and tears gently form his eyes.

"It's gone." He whispers.

"What's g-"

I'm silenced with-

-with Akito. He leans forward and holds his hand on the nape of my neck, pulling me in and.. pressing his lips to mine.

I close my my eyes and position my hand on his jaw, our mouthes connected for a long few seconds.

He pulls away after breathing quietly.

Nothing is said.

Nothing needs to be said.

Nothing other than his eyes meeting mine, and my eyes meeting his. That's all I'm going to ever need for the rest of my life.

"Did you finally do it??" An breaks the moment. Akito turns around and looks at her, then nods.

"I still have one question."

"What was the thing you were keeping from me for ages?" I tilt my head.

Akito and Kohane trade glances, before looking back at me.

"Hanahaki." Akito sits back, crossing his legs again. He itches his head, before blinking at me a few times.

Realisation settles in immeditely and guilt grips my stomach as everything fits into place.

I decide to brush it off after about a minute of thoughts rushing through my brain, knowing that it would be alright now. I look up at him then smile weakly.

He starts to laugh a little, making me do so too,

leading me to wrap my arms around his neck and pull him back in, kissing him once again.

The moment of affection has been craved for ages. I've spend nights tossing and turning wondering what the hell I needed, but it was right in front of me the whole time.

He breaks it then rests down and lays his head on my lap, looking up at the lanterns. I thread my hand through his soft, fluffy hair.

I love him. I love him so much.

I'll never let him go through something like that ever again.

I promise.

/////////////

1310 words

GUYS?? GUESS WHAAATTT?? happy ending? i wanted to fix all my shattered readers also i really missed writing for a specific purpose

like, notes fics get so boring after a while for what

also my other fic is kinda dead to me i might consider starting it back up in the half term but eeerr yeah

THANK YOU SO FUCKING MUCH FOR THE READS. LIKE LITERALLY WHAT? THANK YOU. oh my gosh i don't even deserve it i'm so happy though 😭 wait holy shit OH NY GOD ITS TOYAS BIRTHDAY SORRY I DIDNT REALISE I JSUT WOKE UP BYE GUYS I LOVE YOU ALL I NEED TO PULL FIR TOUAS BDAY CARDS