#nastin

both wear hats

both raise their eyebrows when they sing

both grab their crotches when they sing (are you surprised I noticed that?)

both covered just the way you are.

It was simple enough finding the information he needed. In fact the two were courteous enough to tell him where Astin Loupe was without any effort all. But once the two were about to lead him out, his head grew heavy, and his mind became a blur, where everything was a mix of pain and pleasure. It was happening too often, and he was becoming afraid. Afraid that he would never be able to recover from the blur that disguised itself as increased clarity, afraid that he would never go home to his father. But more than anything, he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to keep himself from hurting the one person he cared the most for.

He visited Astin in the middle of the night. He was quiet, and save for the soft chirp of crickets in the background and the soft breathing of the boy in his neatly made bed, there was nothing to be heard. Nanashi lowered his eyelids and lifted the blankets, slinking nearby the sleeping child. He placed his hands on his chest, staring at the ceiling. He couldn’t stay for too long; he knew Astin would either wake up or his mother would know something was amiss — a mother’s intuition, he supposed.

“Come with me … please,” he murmured. But there was no response. Astin continued to sleep, unaware of the cold skinned man next to him. Nanashi shut his eyes, laying in the bed for a few more moments before finally leaving, escaping through the window into the dark abysmal night.

It was not until morning, when Astin awoke, did he see evidence that someone was in his room. On the pillow next to him was a solitary ring, with the words hitsuzen engraved on it.