Typed this out in tumblr messenger yesterday while talking to MoonSugars . I think it belongs here. Don't ask me for context, I have none. Ask MoonSugars .

"The sky is so clear tonight. " Takuto remarked looking up with interest, "You can see almost every star there ever was."

"You're right. " Ranmaru followed his action, "I have all the more reason to look at them ever since the war."

"What do you mean?" Takuto turned to him with curiosity.

"My whole family's up there. Among the stars. They couldn't make it through all that misery. I tried my best to protect them. Back then, I couldn't even get a wink of sleep. There was danger everywhere. You blink and you're gone. " He sighed as if to conclude.

There was a hint of both sadness and exhaustion in his sigh. Takuto was at a loss for words for a while and he continued to stare at him. The atmosphere suddenly felt very still.

As if stepping out of his thoughts, Ranmaru suddenly shook his head. "Anyway. " He turned to face Takuto and became embarrassed when he saw Takuto staring at him like that.

"Silly me!" He lightly hit his own head, "What did I say all that for?" He tried to play it off casually but Takuto did not go along with it.

Takuto had never felt so powerless in his life before. He used to think he could do anything he put his mind to. There was no land he couldn't conquer, no person he couldn't win over but in that moment he felt helpless; because he could do nothing to wipe that sadness away from Ranmaru's face which he was trying desperately to hide behind his smile.

Slowly he reached out and intertwined his fingers with Ranmaru's. He was a little shocked at this gesture at first but then he eased into it.

"I can't bring back your family, but, if you let me, I can be your new one." He said as he looked into Ranmaru's eyes with a gentle smile on his face.
Ranmaru was taken aback at his words. His smile was now replaced by awe. After a couple of moments, he finally gave his agreement with nothing but a simple smile. But it was more than enough for Takuto. He shifted closer and rested his forehead on Ranmaru's.

"And I can assure you I'm not going up there anytime soon. " He joked, earning a chuckle from Ranmaru.