Work Text:
“You’re going where exactly, Mitsuki?”
“I told you that I’m going to Hozuki Castle.” Mitsuki answered, hiking his backpack over his shoulder. “Seeing as how our team’s next mission isn’t until this weekend I have some time to travel there for the day.”
“Well, yeah, but why are you trying to go back there?” Boruto furrowed his brow, confused. “Don’t you remember how hard it was living in there?”
Mitsuki frowned, “I seem to recall how difficult it was for you, but that wasn’t the case for me.”
“What do you mean, Mitsuki?” Sarada asked, grabbing his wrist when he tried to walk out of the village to catch the ferry. “Prison isn’t easy for anyone.”
“Back in that prison, I got to play by my rules.” Mitsuki flashed his teammates a small smile. “I didn’t have to worry about the ethics of my actions.”
Boruto paraphrased, “So, you’re going back there because there were no rules?”
“I’m not going to prison because I want to stay there, Boruto.” Mitsuki hummed in laughter, breaking his hand free from Sarada so that he could use it to cover his mouth with his sleeve. “I am merely returning there to visit a friend.”
“A… a friend?” Sarada parroted, blinking a few times.
“Don’t tell me that you’re meeting up with that guy that tried to betray us!” Boruto’s eyes narrowed.
“He’s not worth my time.” Mitsuki shook his head, his smile returning to his face. “I’m going to visit Kedama.”
“Kedama? You mean the prisoner that saved me?” Sarada asked, searching for clarification.
“Yeah, he was that prisoner that didn’t say much in our cell, right?” Boruto added.
“You’re both correct.” Mitsuki’s smile seemed to widen, if only a little. “I enjoyed his company and hope to visit him to see how his garden is doing.”
“Garden?” Boruto and Sarada questioned in unison.
Mitsuki hummed in laughter, “I really must be going or else I might miss the ferry.”
Before either of his teammates could ask him any additional questions Mitsuki was saying his goodbyes to them in different ways.
Seeing as how Boruto was his lover, Mitsuki placed his soft pale hands onto the blonde’s face. Mitsuki carefully moved Boruto’s face to the side so that he could place a delicate kiss to his cheek. Boruto felt the air leave his lungs as the spot that Mitsuki had kissed seemed to set fireworks off inside his chest.
Mitsuki pulled away from Boruto, a light pink blush dusting across his face. Boruto couldn’t fight the dopey smile that stretched onto his face. No matter how many times they had shared shows of affection it would still take his breath away that Mitsuki was the one initiating it, that it was his choice to express the love that pooled within and eagerly awaited to be released.
Seeing as how Sarada was one of Mitsuki’s closest friends, he stepped in front of her and gave her a small smile. He reached two fingers out and gently tapped her forehead. She gasped, wondering if Mitsuki understood the magnitude of the simple action he had completed.
Only her mother and her father did that gesture towards her. She held her breath as she waited to see if he would whisper the same words as her parents. Sarada couldn’t contain her smile or the tears in her eyes as he said those magical little words.
“Some other time.”
Together, Boruto and Sarada watched as Mitsuki waved goodbye to them and began his journey to the ferry that would take him across the seas to a land where one of the few people who understood and valued him belonged.
Boruto and Sarada could only hope that Mitsuki would be safe on his travels. Part of them wished that they could’ve gone with him to ensure he made it to his destination safely, but another part of them knew that Mitsuki needed this time by himself.
Mitsuki was a skilled ninja, everyone in the Leaf and Sound knew that. His teammates knew that he could handle himself during his travels. Yet, they couldn’t help but worry for him, he was Boruto’s lover and Sarada’s best friend after all.
Mitsuki was pleasantly surprised at how fast he made it to the ferry, as well as how he ran into no trouble. Mitsuki couldn’t sense any chakras observing him nor did his snakes report that there was anyone around to give him trouble.
He was grateful that the one time he wanted to do something for himself everything was falling into place. Mitsuki didn’t really mind that the seas were rough as he traveled on the ferry. If crashing waves were the only trouble he was going to face on his trip then he would gladly take it with a smile on his face.
Yet, trouble seemed to arise in the form of a face that shouldn’t still be walking around and haunting Hozuki Castle. Mitsuki glared at Benga as he walked through the entrance of the prison.
“I’m surprised to see you alive. I’d heard you’d been disposed of.” Mitsuki kept his voice even, but his eyes were glowing in anger. “And I’m even more surprised to see you employed.”
“And here I thought you were quiet one of your cohorts.” Benga returned with a disgusting smirk. “Seems you weren’t hiding just the fact that you were an undercover Leaf shinobi.”
“If you’re surprised that I can speak I’m even more concerned for the wellbeing of the inmates here.” Mitsuki quipped, a slight smirk on his face.
“Why you smug little-“
“Benga! That’s quite enough.” A familiar voice called to the warden. “You’re on thin ice as is. Don’t push your luck by harassing our visitor.”
“V-Visitor?” Benga echoed, looking from Mujo to Mitsuki. “You mean that this Leaf brat-“
“I urge you to choose your words carefully or I won’t suspend you…” Mujo stood before Benga with an icy look in his eyes. “I’ll just terminate you and label you as a disgruntled employee.”
Benga’s eyes widened behind his dark glasses, “You wouldn’t!”
“I’ve been too soft on you. Perhaps I should just terminate you now.” Mujo cocked an eyebrow, a challenge.
Benga’s shoulders dropped, defeated, “That… that won’t be necessary, Lord Mujo.”
“Good.” Mujo resisted the urge to smile. “Then I suggest you be on your way while I assist Mitsuki.”
Benga could be heard muttering under his breath as he walked away but neither of the two males paid him any mind. Instead, Mitsuki approached Mujo and bowed in both greeting and respect for him.
“I appreciate you allowing me to visit Hozuki Castle again.” Mitsuki smiled, feeling warm under the sun that began peeking through the clouds. “It’s good to see you doing well, too. How are you feeling these days?”
“You’re always welcome to visit, Mitsuki.” Mujo returned the smile. “I’m feeling much better. The doctors have taken me off of medication recently.”
“Really?” Mitsuki sounded surprised. “You must be happy about not having to rely on pills.”
Mujo chuckled, “That’s one way of putting it.”
Mitsuki wondered if he was doing it right, socializing. He knew he was an odd fellow, often making people feel uncomfortable without even knowing it. He knew that it took time for the people of the Leaf to understand his strange mannerisms so he couldn’t help but feel self-conscious speaking with someone outside the village, someone who didn’t know him well.
“It’s good to see you again, Mitsuki.” Mujo broke Mitsuki out of his thoughts. “But I assume you’re not just here to see me, are you?”
“As much as I enjoy your company, I would like to see one of the prisoners.” Mitsuki stated.
“Is it one of your cellmates?” Mujo asked, receiving a nod from Mitsuki. “If you’re referring to Kamata you should know we recently granted him permission to visit his sister in the hospital.”
“Oh? Is that so?” Mitsuki tilted his head, sounding pleasantly surprised. “He used to write letters to his sister. He must be happy to see her after being apart for so long.”
“He was.” Mujo confirmed. “He was the one you wanted to see, isn’t he?”
“No, he isn’t.” Mitsuki shook his head. “I’m here to see Kedama.”
“Kedama?” Mujo repeated, completely taken aback by the request. “I had no idea you had any kind of relationship with him.”
Mitsuki smiled, “He was a gentle soul. I liked the flowers he grew and how he protected them.”
“Other inmates wouldn’t refer to him as a gentle soul.” Mujo fought back a smile as he looked at the spectacle that called himself Mitsuki. “You must have seen something in him that myself and others can’t.”
“I saw him the same as you.” Mitsuki politely argued, misunderstanding the deeper meaning to Mujo’s words.
“Your eyes might be better than Sarada’s.” Mujo chuckled to himself before he turned on his heel. “Well, if you’ll follow me I’ll let you visit him. It’s rec time now so you can spend time with him outside if you feel comfortable.”
“That would be nice.”
Mitsuki walked at Mujo’s side as they ventured through the castle to get to the outdoor space for the inmates. Mitsuki could’ve walked through the castle with his eyes closed, he knew it that well.
Mitsuki found it odd how so many people would go their whole lives striving not to be in prison or to have someone they knew in a place like this but he enjoyed every moment in Hozuki Castle.
He enjoyed the structure of the prison, how there was a time and a place for everything and everyone in the castle followed along. Yet, he also enjoyed how the inmates survived off a broken moral code amongst each other.
Even in the misguided ethics used by the inmates, Mitsuki found something to love about it. Mitsuki felt like he was in his element while in the prison, although he would agree that some of the company in the castle wasn’t ideal.
There were the people who truly deserved to be in prison, but Mitsuki had found the rare few who were lost souls wandering down a dark path in search of the light. Mitsuki was grateful to have found those few lost souls and he could only hope that they would bask in the light’s glow again.
“He should be over by the flowers.” Mujo tore Mitsuki from his thoughts, pointing to the garden. “Come find me when it’s time for the inmates to head back inside.”
“Thank you.” Mitsuki nodded, storing that information in the archives of his mind.
Mitsuki weaved his way through the inmates, ignoring the irritated and hungry eyes that followed him. He knew some people would hate seeing him again but he also knew that some touch starved men would be ogling him and hoping that he was there for a conjugal visit for one of them.
“It’s good to see you again, Kedama.” Mitsuki smiled down at the man sitting before the colorful garden.
“M-Mitsuki…” Kedama looked up at him, disbelief and happiness swirling in those pale eyes. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you, of course.” Mitsuki answered as if it was so simple, because to him it was.
Mitsuki sat down beside Kedama and began removing his backpack from his shoulders. Mitsuki could feel Kedama’s eyes on him, wondering what in the hell he was doing back in prison when he had his whole life ahead of him.
Kedama knew that his time with Mitsuki had been short, but it had also been good. Sure, Mitsuki might have bound him in snakes when he needed to know information and if he would snitch, but their few conversations before were always pleasant.
Kedama had come to know Mitsuki as someone who was less in touch with people and more in tune with his spirituality and with nature. Mitsuki didn’t need to be in the center of a crowded room basking in the attention of others, he just needed to be seen by the people that he deemed important.
And Mitsuki deemed Kedama as important.
“Here, these are for you.” Mitsuki handed Kedama some packets of seeds. “I see that you’ve regrown your garden since I last saw you. It looks quite lovely.”
Kedama looked down at the seed packets. Some of them were for flowers, some of which Kedama was familiar with while others were new to him. There were even some fruit and vegetable seeds.
“You came all this way to give me seeds for the garden?” Kedama asked, unable to look at Mitsuki.
“I came to see you.” Mitsuki corrected without missing a beat. “It was an added perk that I could deliver these seeds to you, as well.”
“I didn’t think you’d come back.” Kedama admitted, his grip on the seeds tightening. “I thought I’d seen the last of you that night you tried to escape.”
Mitsuki hummed, “My comrades have ill feelings about this place but I don’t. I enjoyed my time here.”
“Why?” Kedama questioned, finally able to look at the angel walking amongst demons. “You’ve seen first hand how corrupted this place is… what is there to enjoy about it?”
“I enjoy the routine and the way I seemed to have fit in without having to try.” Mitsuki replied with a smile. “It took me much too long to fit in with the people of my village, but that wasn’t the case here.”
“That’s it?” Kedama furrowed his brow. “You just liked the structure in here?”
“Well, I enjoyed your company, too.” Mitsuki hummed, closing his eyes as he smiled. “I’m thankful that you spoke to me.”
“You…” Kedama swallowed thickly, as if the thought of being vulnerable would hurt him. “You were good to the flowers… you were good to me.”
Mitsuki’s breath hitched at those words. They were simple words but the weight that was latched onto them was enough for Mitsuki to feel it in his chest. Mitsuki felt it in his heart that he had made a true connection with Kedama.
It didn’t matter that they were on two different sides of the law and the nations, what mattered was that they saw each other and appreciated one another for who they knew. Whether they were a guardian of the flowers or a misfit from the Leaf, they were important to one another.
Feeling brave, Mitsuki placed his hand on Kedama’s, “You were good to me, too.”
Finally, Mitsuki saw Kedama smile and he would dare to say that it made the sun come out from behind the clouds. Mitsuki couldn’t help but grin back at the prisoner, at his friend.
“What do you say we plant some of these?” Mitsuki asked, his dazzling smile lighting up more than these dreary prison walls. “I’d like to see their progression the next time I visit you.”
“Next time?” Kedama nearly gasped.
“Of course.” Mitsuki hummed in laughter. “You didn’t think I’d only come to visit you once, did you?”
Kedama shook his head with a smile, “I didn’t expect you to visit at all… but I’m glad you did.”
“Me too.”
Mujo watched with a smile on his face as Mitsuki and Kedama worked together in the garden. While Kedama would dig the hole with his gardening tools Mitsuki would use his bare hands to plant the seeds and cover them up with dirt. Together, they would hold the watering can and provide the seeds with the little bit of nourishment they needed, not knowing that they would grow faster because they were planted with love.
Mujo found it oddly endearing to see that Kedama and Mitsuki had found companionship in one another. Both of them didn’t strike Mujo as the talkative type, but maybe that’s what made their friendship so special.
They didn’t need to speak a thousand words to one another to maintain their friendship or to help it grow. Instead, they needed gentle touches and a few words packed with a boat load of emotion. They didn’t need to speak much but when they did it lasted a lifetime.
Mujo almost felt bad when it was time for the inmates to return inside. He chuckled when he saw that Kedama and Mitsuki were taking their sweet time organizing the garden’s equipment and gathering all of the shinobi’s belongings before they had to part ways.
It was almost like they didn’t want to leave one another, as if every moment together was sacred and each moment apart was torture. Mitsuki and Kedama only had a few minutes left and they would be sure to make them count.
Kedama pocketed the seeds and stared down at the small genin. There was nothing but pure adoration and respect for Mitsuki in those pale eyes. What Mujo loved most about their final moments together was the fact that Mitsuki looked up at him with a bright smile like Kedama was the one who not only hung up the moon, but the entire galaxy.
“I have some missions that require my specialties but then I’ll be back to visit you.” Mitsuki declared, and Kedama knew he was telling the truth that he’d be back.
“I know you will.” Kedama nodded.
It was just as Mitsuki was going to follow Mujo to leave that he felt a pair of strong arms grab onto him. Mitsuki’s first instinct was to attack whoever was trying to kidnap him, but once he realized who those arms belonged to he immediately settled.
Kedama had brought Mitsuki into his arms for a warm embrace. Mitsuki stiffened at first but quickly found himself wrapping his arms around Kedama and burying his face into the inmate’s chest.
Mitsuki didn’t get these moments often so when he did he made sure he savored them, and he got a feeling that Kedama was, too. Both of them released content sighs, not realizing that they had harmonized with one another.
They didn’t know if minutes or hours had passed while they were cocooned in each other’s arms, but they knew that they weren’t excited about having to remove themselves from one another.
Mujo regretted having to interrupt such a precious moment but rules are rules, and inmates especially must follow them. Kedama released Mitsuki from his arms but certainly not from his heart.
“Bring cherry blossom seeds next time.” Kedama shot Mitsuki a small smile. “We could plant it right in the middle of the outdoor space.”
“We could put a swing on one of the branches when it grows big enough.” Mitsuki added, his smile growing wider with each word. “And you could push me on it when the weather’s nice.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself.” Kedama shook his head, lying through his teeth and Mitsuki knew it. “I’m not going to push you on the swing.”
“We’ll see about that.”
There was a heaviness in Mitsuki’s heart as he watched Hozuki Castle grow farther and farther away from him while the ferry took him back to the Leaf. Mitsuki didn’t feel this way when he first left the castle, but maybe that was because he didn’t truly understand the weight that a true friendship carries until now.
Mitsuki sighed when the castle became too far away to see anymore. Now, all he had to hold onto from Hozuki Castle were the freshly made memories that he had with Kedama.
Mitsuki didn’t have the same energy when returning to the Leaf as he had when he was heading for Hozuki Castle. As much as Mitsuki was excited to return to his lover, he knew that he would be missing his friend in prison until he could see him again.
Mitsuki smiled at the sight of Boruto playing his handheld video game on his bed when he returned to his apartment. Boruto seemed to be engrossed in his game, not bothering to greet Mitsuki into his own home.
Mitsuki chuckled, beginning to take off his kimono. It was when there was the sound of clothing being ruffled that Boruto removed himself from his video game.
“Oh? You hear me taking off my clothes and now you’re interested in my arrival?” Mitsuki teased, raising an eyebrow.
“Don’t say it like that! You make me sound like a pervert!” Boruto threw his head back and groaned.
“But you only cared when you heard me take off my kimono.” Mitsuki pouted, causing Boruto to shut his game off to give him his full attention.
“Come on, I don’t just care about you taking your clothes off.” Boruto rolled his eyes, a smirk painting itself across his face. “But I don’t mind when you do that, you know!”
Boruto should’ve known that Mitsuki was going to throw his blue and white kimono at his face. Mitsuki stood there with his arms crossed and a disapproving look on his face when Boruto removed the article of clothing.
Boruto sighed as he placed the kimono on the bed and stood up. He padded over to his lover and wrapped his arms around Mitsuki’s waist. When Mitsuki didn’t budge he knew he had to crank up the charm just a little bit more.
Boruto was grinning in between the kisses that he was peppering all over Mitsuki’s face. He wondered just how many more kisses he had to plant on Mitsuki’s face before the flower that he called his smile finally blossomed.
Mitsuki couldn’t resist those honey sweet lips any longer. He playfully rolled his eyes and snaked his arms around Boruto’s shoulders, allowing his lover to nuzzle his face into his neck and leave a few extra kisses there.
“I should get mad at you more often if this will be the outcome.” Mitsuki hummed, golden yellow eyes staring back into bright sapphires.
“Like you could ever stay mad at me!” Boruto grinned.
“I could but I choose not to.” Mitsuki stated, not understanding just how attractive it was to Boruto to hear him voice how it was his choice.
“It’s getting late, you know? Why don’t we settle in for the night?” Boruto recommended with a soft smile.
“I’d like that.”
Once both of them were settled in comfier clothing, they turned out the lights and stumbled over to the bed. The only sources of light could be found in the form of the full moon peeking through the sliding glass door and Mitsuki’s glowing yellow eyes.
Mitsuki couldn’t deny how nice it was to settle in the arms of his lover at the end of a long and eventful day. Mitsuki and Boruto were facing one another, although the blue haired male buried his face into the blonde’s chest. Mitsuki tucked his head under Boruto’s chin as they tangled themselves in a mess of limbs and love.
“How was it? You know, going back to Hozuki Castle.” Boruto asked, his voice just barely above a whisper.
“It was nice. I’d forgotten how much I liked it there.” Mitsuki returned, a frown starting to etch itself onto his face. “Although, I was surprised to see that Benga was still alive. I thought he’d been killed.”
“What?! No way!” Boruto nearly shouted, causing Mitsuki to whine at the increase in volume. “Sorry, it’s just… I thought we’d seen the last of him.”
Mitsuki settled back against his lover comfortably, “So did I, but Lord Mujo is doing much better so I’m sure he’ll be able to keep a close eye on him.”
“That’s a relief that Lord Mujo’s doing better.” Boruto found himself breathing easy again. “And what about the others? Kamata and Kedama?”
“Kamata wasn’t in the castle when I visited. He was granted time to see his sister.” Mitsuki chuckled when he heard Boruto softly cheering for his old cellmate.
“That’s such good news!” Boruto grinned, squeezing Mitsuki in his excitement. “He used to write letters to his sister at night and bribe guards to mail them out.”
Mitsuki nodded against Boruto’s chest, “He doesn’t have to do that for the time being.”
“And Kedama? How’s he doing?” Boruto asked.
“He planted new flowers in the garden. It looks colorful.” Mitsuki seemed to light up the dark room with his renewed energy. “He and I planted some of the new seeds I gave to him when I was there.”
“I bet he was real happy to see you.” Boruto smiled, kissing the top of Mitsuki’s head. “I know I would be.”
“He was surprised at first but I believe he was happy to see me.” Mitsuki confirmed with a smile of his own. “He didn’t seem to want to let me go when he had to leave.”
“Huh?”
“He held me just like you’re doing now.” Mitsuki wormed his way closer to Boruto. “Although, being in your embrace is still my favorite place to be.”
“He gave you a hug, huh?” Boruto chuckled, his heart swelling at Mitsuki’s sweet words. “Didn’t think he’d be the hugging type.”
Mitsuki hummed, “I made plans to see him again after our missions are complete.”
“That’s nice.” Boruto yawned, sleep was coming for him it seemed.
“You should come with me next time.” Mitsuki closed his eyes and smiled, knowing that sleep would take Boruto any minute now. “I’m sure Kamata would like to see you again.”
“Yeah, maybe I will.” Boruto agreed, and Mitsuki would hold him to it.
It wasn’t until a few moments later that Mitsuki heard the soft sound of Boruto snoring. Mitsuki didn’t need to sleep much but he enjoyed being in Boruto’s arms when sleep came for him like it was an old friend.
Mitsuki’s vision of the moon was skewed due to the angle that he was at but he could still see the light shining down on him. He smiled as he wished a goodnight to Boruto and for his friend looking out at the same moon in Hozuki Castle.
“Goodnight, Kedama.”