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They have been traveling for weeks. He decided they needed to leave Hokkaido; there was nothing left for them there. They considered going to Russia but the risks were too many and the travel to a region that could be considered ‘safe’ for them would be expensive and time consuming, so they went south.
They avoided the highest populated areas. People don’t respond well to a tall uniformed Russian man covered from head to toe; even if he is in company of an army soldier. Not that Ogata’s own appearance made things more approachable. It was fine, that means people gave them space when they passed settlements.
The journey was quiet, between Ogata's preference for it and Vasily’s slowly healing mouth; not that they needed many words to understand each other. A simple look meant more than a conversation and they were slowly developing signs to communicate more complex things that were needed. Drawing was still Vasily’s means of sharing information to others, those that were unable to understand those meaningful looks the Russian gave.
He doesn’t understand how people can be so blind to them.
They rested during the nights and traveled during the days; both had experience hunting, finding animals to eat and sell wasn’t a problem in the wild areas, but on those times they were on settlements or didn’t find any prey they came to depend on Vasily’s drawings. He would exchange art for money or goods, they got good prices for them, people were impressed with his skill. Ogata hated depending on it, as he had to work as an interpreter for them; he had resorted to slowly teaching the other man basic Japanese so he could do his own exchanges.
And because Ogata was getting tired of just speaking Russian. He knew the language, it didn’t mean he wanted to use it.
The lessons were done whenever he felt like it, mostly unprompted and Vasily easily felt into them. As easy as he was at falling asleep, it almost amazed him at times. The Russian just rested his head on the ground and that second he was sleeping, woke up just as fast if there was any sound that may alert him. They share that last quality, but Ogata couldn't fall asleep as easily. He can't just turn off his brain, any sound keeps him alert, his mind just chasing thoughts and memories until it exhaust itself enough to shut down.
That was the situation he found himself in at that moment.
They were a day away from their destination, one that Ogata just recently settled for. They had been wandering aimlessly for some time now, just moving from place to place, hunting, selling and in Vasily’s case drawing the places and animals they saw. It was not until they were reaching Tokyo that Ogata felt he had to take Vasily there . So they went back north.
That was two days ago, and he has been regretting it the entire time.
He opens his eyes; there are kilometers of open field ahead, the outline of the mountains in the distance completes the picture. It was a nostalgic sight, it also fills his stomach with something he can’t place. Even now he could roam these fields with his eye closed; they were engraved on his memory. He had been here often as a kid, they were the most viable hunting area, but also, they were good for just walking, this area was the farthest he adventured alone.
Until he went away that is.
He feels his body tensing and blames the cold.
They just had their clothes and a couple of army issued blankets with the winter fast approaching. The cold here may not be as bad as in Hokkaido but it still gets cold during the night. He tries to get up to ease up the tension and feels the arms around his midsection tighten their grip; huffing he lies down again, staring at those arms, it has been a sleeping arrangement they had fallen into early on. The farther down they went it increased the number of areas where they considered it was better to not have a fire in the open and sharing body heat was a better alternative.
The first night he was unable to sleep, feeling Vasily’s chest against his back even through six layers of clothes was too much . He wasn’t used to sleeping with people that close to his body; even in the war he had kept his distance from others. Then a few nights in, the Russian laid an arm on top of Ogata, he will never admit to anyone that he flinched in that moment; Vasily had acted like he didn’t notice but Ogata could see the mirth in his clear eyes when he turned around to glare at him. He had cursed the taller man that day and slept a few meters away in the cold. Vasily tried, to the same results, a few more times; night after night, until eventually he just… chose to stay. It was nice , having that slight weight on him, feeling that heat against his back. The nights they slept like this it was easier for him to fall asleep.
Except for the last few days.
With each passing day they got closer and closer to that place, and Ogata slept avoided him more and more for reasons he couldn't even place. He never felt something like this before, was he nervous? Why would he be? They were just going to lie low for some time in a place he was sure was empty. There was no one when he left, there is no reason for someone to be there now. He still questions why he chose to come; they could have found a place anywhere else; they could have just kept walking but he… needed it , he needed to show Vasily this place, is the only way their partnership was going to work.
He feels the arms around his stomach tighten, taking him out of his spiraling thoughts. There is a humming behind him; he can’t place it but it feels like a… song? Or something similar, it slowly brings his body into a relaxed state. Vasily is clearly awake, trying to lull him to sleep and Ogata hates the fact is working. Vasily just accomplished what he has been trying to do for hours now in just a few minutes.
Why?
In his last moments of conscience before the light sleep catches him, he wonders if it would be better if they just keep walking instead of staying on the planned destination.
……..
Seeing the house in the distance didn’t get any reaction out of him. It's just a house, like any of the others they had passed on their way here; some of the habitants looking through the doors. He doesn’t recognize anyone, and he doubts they would recognize him. Some of those they pass on their walk talk between themselves, they try to be discreet but he can feel their eyes on him on the tall Russian besides him. Ogata sends glares their way when they look at him, they better not make him regret coming here more than he already does.
He notices some of the kids pointing at Vasily but keeping their distance; some of the younger ones trying to approach before being pulled away, he wonders if that will become a problem eventually. He knew Vasily was going to call attention but didn’t consider people’s reactions outside of avoidance, curiosity may lead to problems. He looks at Vasily, who just keeps walking beside him, indifferent to the stares and whispers, but his eyes seem to soften when seeing the kids. He may end up encouraging them, Ogata is not sure how he feels about that yet.
Once they arrive at their destination, Ogata just… stops .
A part of him is just astonished that the house is still there .
Vegetation had outgrown around it, the grass as tall as he was when he learned to shoot, some could even be seen in between the floor of the house. Parts of the ceiling and walls are falling apart, there are missing pieces on the wood; one of the doors is missing and he can see holes on the shoji paper alongside pieces of the roof in the floor. The house is in disarray and that makes his heart ache somehow.
Vasily stands beside him looking curiously at the house, hums and turns around to look at him inquiring, feeling the gaze he takes a deep breath and steps into the house, the Russian man right behind him. The house looks even worse on the inside, there are tears everywhere and broken objects, some of the support pillars look chipped; that is not a type of damage that a few years of abandonment could cause, making him wonder who had used the place in the time his family has not been there.
Vasily walks into the kitchen area, looking inside the vases that haven’t broken yet and the drawers, Ogata doubts there is still something edible in them. The taller man quickly moves to the common area; there are some holes in the ground but it still looks quite well for sleeping, Vasily curiously opens one of the storage spaces, there are a few futons and blankets in what Ogata hopes is in an acceptable condition for use. Vasily turns around humming at Ogata pointing around the house and shrugging.
“The houses here are generally small, you just reuse the rooms for different purposes, here you have living space, bedroom, dining, all at one” He looks around. “Could add dump considering the condition of the place.” Vasily rolls his eyes. “The place looks dilapidated. We will freeze the same as if we were sleeping outside during the night.”
“ It’s fine ,” Vasily signs, “ I like .” Ogata stares at him unsure of what he meant with that, Vasily just removes his bashlyk smiling. Turning to leave his stuff in the storage. Ogata left his stuff on the floor sitting by the irori just looking at Vasily roam around touching and moving stuff with interest.
He still hasn’t told the other man where they are but he feels like he wouldn’t had to, Vasily never showed this level of interest in any of the ins they had stayed during their trip and now he acted like he was trying to memorize every detail on the house, the way he treated the stuff in this house with more care that Ogata ever would had makes something inside of him flutter .
After what felt like hours, but couldn’t have been more than a few minutes Vasily sits down on the other side of the irori and just stares at him. Ogata stares back. The remnants of the day light accompanied by a quiet silence fills the room, the only sound it could be hear was the distant caw of birds and child laughter. After a moment he looks at a spot on the floor where the wood is slightly elevated.
“This is a comfortable place to lie low,” he declares closing his eyes, “there is not much transit around it; outsiders are rare, if they come, they stick to the more populated areas, like the small town we passed. People are noisy and talk behind your back…” Ogata grimaces, some bitterness in his tone, “but, they leave you alone, if you don’t cause problems and keep to yourself. Even the kids, they don’t bother…”
Ogata snapps his mouth shut; he was rambling. Since when did he did that? He looks at Vasily who just sat there, eyes on him, an understanding in them that makes Ogata feel like his throat was closing, he decided to change the subject before he says more than he intentes.
“Game here is acceptable,” He says, drawing a hand through his hair, feeling his body relax a bit. “There is not as much variety as in Hokkaido but Ducks are a common sight, even a child could shoot one with enough practice.” Ogata murmurs the last part, Vasily humms in appreciation seemingly able to hear him in the quiet room.
It made his heart skip a bit.
Ogata is not even sure why he is even talking, Vasily is fine with staying, he wouldn’t have looked around if he was not but… he couldn’t stop. He couldn’t . Something is telling him to talk but his mouth never says what he really wants to share.
“Trading could be easily done in the town for other foods,” Vasily raised his eyebrows and Ogata looks away. “There is farming equipment, or should be, on a shed in the back, if you want to grow something. The land is good, it just needs care and attention. When I was a kid, I was taught a few times how to work the land, I…” he looks at his hands, a heavy feeling in his chest “I… I think… I could remember how.” He mutters.
“Same.” Vasily says in a hoarse whisper, Ogata looks back at him. The other man had a tired smile on his face. Accompanying his words with some of the signs they had been learning. “My father teached me, to take it for family business.” He let out a dry chuckle. “Didn’t work out.”
“I was told I was too rough, wasn’t treating them with the care they needed, my…” Ogata clenches his first, “my grandfather. I think he just stopped trying after a few years, didn’t call me early to go help. Let me go hunt. Never commented on it again.”
“I liked to draw the field. Not work it.” Vasily words got cut here and there, emphasizing those he wanted Ogata to hear. “I learned enough. I can help .” Ogata blinks looking at the other man, that statement was contradictory, wasn't it. Why … Ogata feels like something is blocking his throat.
“Not afraid of hurting your hands?” Ogata hoarsely teases, not knowing other way to respond.
“Even if that happens, I wouldn’t regret it.” Vasily closes his eyes. “I know it would be worth it .” Ogata felt the pressure on his throat getting worse.
“There may not be coming back from that.” Ogata managed to say through the dryness. “You don’t know what you are getting into, it's… not like in Russia.”
“It's fine.” Vasily whispers looking at him with eyes as clear as the sky. “We can do it together .”
“Together.” Ogata cries out, trying to sound derisive, his smile crooked with the effort of staying. “Are you sure you want that ?” He could feel his own voice cracking at the end.
“Not what my family would like.” He says with a shrug as if trying to rest importance to what he was saying. “But it is what I want.”
Silence was back to the room, not even the birds and children could be hear. Ogata took a deep breath taking in what was being said. What his next words would take them.
“With all the risks?” Ogata feels like his heart was about to explode, something akin to worry growing in the back of his mind, that Vasily was just playing him, that he was just imagining this conversation. Was this chance to have something good actually real? Could he really be happy?
“With all the risks.” Vasily confirms with a smile, Ogata blinks a few times, not truly believing the other man. As if he knew Vasily gets up and offers a hand to the other man. “Let’s go, we have much work to do.”
“We do.” Ogata whispered, taking the hand allowing the other man to take him outside. Not wanting to let go.