Archive of Our Own ^beta

The sky was gray when Iku looked up and squinted at the dark clouds overhead. Coming in from the east was a blanket of darkness, signalling the oncoming of night. It crept slowly towards the top of the hill, like a black hole that swallowed light into the depths of nothingness.

"Ikkun." Iku felt a hand weakly squeeze his arm.

"I know, Rui." Iku turned and smiled at the boy leaning against him. "We'll take shelter in the house over there."

Rui curled his fingers in Iku's jacket and nodded.

The smell of rotting wood greeted them when Iku cautiously pushed the door open with his foot. Rui brushed his hair behind his ears and closed his eyes.

"Silent," he confirmed.

The floor creaked under their feet as they walked inside. Iku closed the door behind them and gently helped Rui to the ground. Tan eyes watched silently as Iku scampered around the abandoned house, pushing and shoving old furniture in front of open doors and barricading all the windows with rickedy shutters and loose planks.

"Ikkun."

"Yeah?" Iku brushed his hands off on his jacket and took a seat beside Rui on the tattered rug. "Are you tired?"

"Mmm." Rui nodded.

"I'll keep watch." Iku gently combed his fingers through Rui's hair, gently rubbing at the knots and tangles obstructing his path. "You go ahead and sleep. You've been through a lot today."

Rui shifted slightly so he was pressed up against Iku's side. "Ikkun."

"Yes?"

There was a moment of silence. Then, "Do you think everyone else is okay?"

Iku's hand paused for a moment. "Everyone else?"

Rui nodded. "Shun, Kai, Koi, Kakeru…everyone we've met."

Iku bit the inside of his mouth. His mind was quickly playing back memories that he had tried hard to suppress. He saw the quivering of Kakeru and Koi's bodies as they raised their weapons against the horde, the hopeful, yet mournful glimmer of Kai's sea blue eyes as he shut the trap door behind them, the pained expression on Shun's face as he whispered the truth into his ear…

"I'm sure they're alright." Iku resumed brushing Rui's hair. "Koi and Kakeru are a good combi. Kai-san is strong. And Shun-san...he has his ways."

"...I still have a bad feeling though."

Iku could feel Rui's eyes on him now. Slowly, he tilted his head down, locking his umber eyes with Rui's tan irises. They wavered with a fearful uncertainty, a glimmer that made Iku's voice die in his throat.

"They could be gone, right?" Rui whispered. "In this world, at least…" He closed his eyes. "If only I was able to do something…" His voice was strained and wrought with frustration and regret.

"Rui…" Iku gently rubbed a spot of dirt off Rui's face. "Don't think like that. They said that they were wrong about the cure, yeah? Besides, you're doing something right now, aren't you?" He smiled softly. "You're here with me."

Rui was silent, but the pink tint of his ears and the shimmer in his eyes was all Iku needed to know that the boy was embarrassed.

"You should rest, Rui," Iku urged. "It's been a long day."

Rui studied Iku's expression for a moment. "Will you be okay?"

"Of course!" Iku gave Rui a thumbs up. "If anything happens, I'll protect you for sure. So you don't have to worry about anything. I'll be right here."

Rui gazed into Iku's eyes, as if contemplating whether or not to believe the younger. After a moment, he turned over and rested his head in Iku's lap.

"I trust you." He closed his eyes. "Goodnight, Ikkun."

Iku's gaze softened. His hand rose to comb through Rui's hair. "Goodnight, Rui."

Rui's breathing gradually steadied as he drifted off to sleep. Iku continued brushing Rui's hair, fingers gently combing through the filthy, yet soft green locks.

"I'm sorry, Rui," he whispered. "I can't tell you the truth after all."

"They're going to take whatever measures they can to extract any semblance of a cure," Shun whispered. "Even if...it won't end well."

Iku's eyes widened. "Don't tell me that they're going to..?!"

"I don't want that to happen either." Shun squeezed Iku's shoulders, lime eyes shimmering with tears. "I normally advise against tempting fate, but please, Ikkun. Save him."

Rui was in a deep sleep now. Iku gently brushed Rui's bangs from his eyes and smiled bitterly.

Don't worry, Rui. Iku closed his eyes. I won't let anyone in this broken world hurt you, my little ray of light. I promise.