“ ‘buuuukiiiii ... ” kai mumbled and buried himself into ibuki’s shoulder more. the alcohol combined with ibuki’s genuine words made him melt. ibuki and kai were two people who had their happiness and gentleness forcefully stripped away. while they were gradually becoming comfortable with physical and emotional intimacy together, kai still had moments where he wasn’t sure how to act. he’d just get overwhelmed by the simplest things. this was one of those times, even if he was the one that initiated it.
he whined the more ibuki spoke. it was definitely the alcohol making him so sentimental and vocal with his feelings. he felt like a child again. he could remember when he was an excitable child who was always goading ibuki into cardfighting him. he remembered when he used to do things other than cardfighting; when he’d play music for ibuki and miwa and they’d sing along. ibuki didn’t think kai heard his voice, but kai did. kai thought it was beautiful, even back then. kai thought ibuki was beautiful. he was so heartbroken to leave his first friends behind. he was heartbroken to leave behind his first crush.
“ hey ... ” kai noticed ibuki’s tone shift, so he spoke softer. he lifted his head from ibuki’s shoulder. he knew ibuki struggled with what happened during the messiah scramble -- and what he had struggled with years before then. the entity that had controlled his mind and erased his memories haunted him to this day. how could it not? it had already stolen so much from him. kai tried not to cry for his friend, his boyfriend, his love. instead, he put a thumb on ibuki’s cheek, stroking the area gently. he gave a soft smile. “ even if you do, i’ll be here to help you remember. i’m not going away ever again. i’ll carry your burdens with you. i’ll take care of you. ” he was aware he was talking a lot, but all his feelings were tumbling out at once. he wanted ibuki to know he was safe with him. that he’d do anything for him. “ there’s nothing we can’t take on together, ibuki. ”








