6. Lost Moon
Mutsukumo chuckled.
A quiet laugh, soft as breath—but even he didn’t understand why he laughed.
Izala simply looked at him.
Those heterochromatic eyes calm as still water.
Mutsukumo set the towel down, reached out, and gently pulled Izala down onto the bed.
He didn’t let go of him.
Just held him—unthinkingly, instinctively.
Izala didn’t resist.
He simply closed his eyes, letting Mutsukumo do as he pleased.
Neither said another word.
Only their breaths intertwined.
Mutsukumo blinked.
And he realized something.
He was changing.
Little by little…
And it didn’t bother him.
---
After a long period of rest, the two had finally recovered.
The wounds no longer stung, but faint marks remained on their skin.
Izala stood at the doorway, gaze steady as always.
He glanced at Mutsukumo, voice calm but firm:
“Let’s go, Mutsukumo. You and I will take the next mission together.”
Mutsukumo raised a brow.
He leaned against the back of the chair, arms crossed, eyes glinting with amusement.
“Oh? You’re in such a hurry?”
Izala didn’t answer.
He just looked at him for a moment, then turned and walked ahead.
Mutsukumo let out a soft laugh and stood up.
He followed after him, a curious gleam in his eye.
A new mission.
Once again, they would plunge into danger side by side.
This time, it wasn’t easy.
They were assigned to hunt a dangerous sorcerer who had killed many members of the organization.
The battle was fierce.
They were pushed to the brink, spells colliding with devastating force, tearing everything apart.
Izala moved quickly, dodging and striking back.
Mutsukumo still wore that excited smile, like he was enjoying the fight.
But then—
A single moment of carelessness.
Izala was attacked from behind.
A powerful blow tore through the air, aiming straight for him.
But Mutsukumo stepped in front of it.
Without thinking, purely on instinct.
He took the full force of the attack.
Blood soaked through his clothes.
Izala froze.
He stood in shock.
This was the first time someone had risked their life for him.
And that person…
Was Mutsukumo.
He couldn’t deny it anymore.
All those actions, all those subtle gestures—
They were always for him.
Mutsukumo struggled to stay on his feet, smirking:
“Don’t just stand there… take him down.”
Izala clenched his fists.
His gaze turned cold.
---
Izala’s hands tightened, his heterochromatic eyes glowing with dangerous light.
There was no more hesitation.
No need for words.
Magic erupted.
The air turned frigid, as if all warmth had been drained away.
The enemy sorcerer stepped back in surprise.
He hadn’t expected Izala to unleash such power.
But it was too late.
Izala raised his hand.
A violent surge of magic tore through space.
A sharp slash cleaved through the enemy’s body.
Blood sprayed, staining the ground.
The sorcerer’s eyes widened in disbelief.
He tried to say something, but it was too late.
His body collapsed, lifeless.
Izala lowered his hand, breathing slightly heavy.
Mutsukumo leaned against the wall, staring at him.
His smile was… complicated.
Izala walked over to him.
Confusion swirled in his gaze.
He couldn’t stop himself from asking:
“Why?”
Mutsukumo furrowed his brows slightly.
He let out a low laugh, voice deeper than before:
“Funny, huh? You really thought I’d just stand there and watch you die?”
---
Izala didn’t reply right away.
He simply stared at him, the calm in his eyes beginning to ripple.
Those words…
Made something stir quietly in his chest.
Mutsukumo leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath.
His body still ached sharply, but his gaze remained sharp.
He scoffed:
“What, you getting emotional or something?”
Izala frowned and turned away.
“… You talk too much.”
Mutsukumo laughed again.
But this time, there was a trace of gentleness in it.
Neither said more.
Only the wind howled across the bloodied battlefield.
This time…
Izala truly realized.
There was something strange blooming inside him.
---
Izala only had a few minor cuts.
But Mutsukumo…
He was seriously injured.
Izala said nothing.
He simply supported him carefully.
One arm around his back, guiding him step by step.
Mutsukumo could walk on his own.
But he didn’t refuse the help.
His body leaned against Izala’s, breath growing heavier.
“Hmph…” He chuckled weakly, voice fading:
“First time you’ve ever taken care of me.”
Izala didn’t respond.
But something strange flickered in his heart.
Until now, Mutsukumo had always been the strong one, charging into battle without hesitation.
But this time…
He had taken the hit for him.
Risked his life—for him.
Izala lowered his head, voice barely more than a whisper:
“… Don’t do anything that reckless again.”
Mutsukumo raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly.
He lowered his voice, murmuring near Izala’s ear:
“If it happens again… I’ll still do it.”
Izala kept walking, holding him up step by step.
The silence between them was oddly peaceful.
A breeze drifted by.
A faint scent of forget-me-nots from Izala entered Mutsukumo’s senses.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
A gentle, almost lonely fragrance—but strangely pleasant.
And Izala…
The scent of bird-of-paradise on Mutsukumo began to invade his senses.
Strong, proud—but with something elusive hidden beneath.
Izala suddenly realized something.
His scent...
Was just like the man himself.
Strong, defiant, and impossible to predict.
He didn’t know why he noticed that.
But his heart gave a faint, quiet flutter.
---
Finally, the two of them returned to headquarters.
Izala still supported Mutsukumo, even though the latter insisted he could walk on his own.
As they stepped into the main meeting hall, all eyes turned toward them.
Stunned.
No one had expected Mutsukumo to be this badly injured.
And even more surprising…
That Izala was the one helping him.
The Commander stared at them, gaze icy.
“Report.”
Izala gave a small nod and spoke steadily:
“Mission complete. The target has been eliminated.”
“But,” he paused briefly, then continued, “… there were casualties.”
His gaze swept briefly toward Mutsukumo.
The Commander frowned slightly.
“Details?”
Mutsukumo scoffed, leaning into Izala:
“I’m just a little injured. No need to overreact.”
Izala’s hand clenched slightly, voice dropping:
“You almost died.”
The room fell into sudden silence.
Everyone was shocked at the tone Izala had just used.
The Commander watched them for a moment, then nodded slowly.
“Understood. You two may rest. We’ll discuss the next mission later.”
Izala bowed slightly and led Mutsukumo out.
Behind them, curious eyes followed.
After the report, Izala said nothing more, quietly guiding Mutsukumo to the infirmary.
Mutsukumo was too tired to protest.
The infirmary door swung open.
The attending doctor rushed over as soon as he saw Mutsukumo’s condition.
“This bad again?” the doctor frowned. “Keep this up and one day you really will die.”
Mutsukumo only gave a lazy smirk:
“If I die, I die. I’m not afraid.”
Izala clenched his fists slightly.
He didn’t like hearing him say things like that.
The doctor sighed in frustration and gestured:
“Put him on the bed. I’ll check the wounds.”
Without hesitation, Izala helped Mutsukumo onto the bed.
He turned to leave—but his wrist was suddenly grabbed.
Mutsukumo, using what little strength he had left, held onto him.
His voice was low, tired, but firm:
“Don’t go far.”
Izala froze.
He didn’t look back, just nodded quietly.
“… I’ll wait.”
The doctor began tending to the wounds.
Throughout the entire process, Izala stood silently by his side.
Never leaving.
The doctor replaced the bandages, checked the wounds again, and sighed:
“He’ll be fine for now. But make sure those injuries aren’t strained.”
Izala nodded.
“I understand.”
Mutsukumo was starting to get drowsy from the painkillers.
But he forced his eyes open and looked at Izala.
“Hey…”
“Hm?” Izala turned.
Mutsukumo squinted, voice drowsy:
“… You’ll really stay, right?”
Izala didn’t respond immediately.
He simply pulled a chair close and sat by the bed.
“… I’ll stay.”
Mutsukumo gave a faint smile, then closed his eyes.
Izala sat there, watching him slowly drift off to sleep.
The infirmary light was dim.
And the only sound left…
Was the quiet, steady rhythm of his breathing.
Izala waited.
Waited until Mutsukumo woke up again.
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