Breath of Survival

Chapter: Breath of Survival

The island was a desolate place, strewn with the wreckage of the explosion that had scattered the team. The smell of saltwater and burnt wood filled the air, but there was no sign of life for miles around. Kenji paced restlessly, his mind racing. His body ached from the mission, but there was no time to rest.

Alexier and Yashiro remained unconscious, their bodies battered from the blast, and their breaths shallow. The pressure was mounting, but Kenji had always been the calm in chaos—though even he could feel the urgency pressing down on him.

"Seiran," Kenji said, his voice tight with worry. "We can't wait any longer. We need to help them. Now."

Seiran, kneeling beside Yashiro, paused for a moment. His hands trembled slightly as he checked the pulse of his comrade. The situation felt like an impossible mess, but one thing was certain—there was no time for hesitation.

He looked up at Kenji, eyes full of uncertainty. "Kenji... what if they find out what we do here? Can we keep this secret? I mean... this wasn’t part of the plan."

Kenji met Seiran’s gaze, his face unreadable. "We do what we have to do. If anyone asks, we’ll say we did what was necessary to save them." His eyes flickered towards Alexier's still form before turning back to Seiran. "We don’t have the luxury of secrets right now."

The air was thick with tension, but there was no time for second-guessing. Kenji moved to Alexier’s side, and Seiran leaned in over Yashiro. With no other choice, both men began the necessary but intimate task of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, trying to breathe life back into their fallen comrades.

Kenji's lips pressed gently against Alexier’s, breathing air into his lungs with a focused urgency. His mind was blank except for the rhythm of his actions and the strange, lingering sensation that this moment wasn’t entirely about saving Alexier—but about something deeper. Something he wasn’t ready to acknowledge.

Seiran, on the other hand, had his own quiet moment with Yashiro. He couldn’t deny the guilt that crawled through him, the conflicted feelings bubbling up. He didn’t want to face the implications of what he was doing, but in this moment, Yashiro needed him.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a faint breath escaped Alexier’s lips, followed by a cough. His body convulsed as he gasped for air, his eyelids fluttering open.

Kenji’s hands went to his face, a sigh of relief escaping him. "Took you long enough, brat."

Alexier blinked, disoriented but alive, as his gaze shifted from Kenji to Seiran, who was now sitting back on his heels beside Yashiro, whose own body was slowly stirring.

Yashiro’s eyes opened too, and a soft groan escaped his lips. "W-What happened?"

Kenji grinned, his usual sarcastic edge returning. "You nearly gave us all a heart attack, Yashiro. Glad you finally decided to wake up."

But before they could celebrate their narrow victory, a crackling voice interrupted them.

"Kenji. Seiran. Do you copy?"

It was Raiven, their enigmatic, always-too-calm leader. The transmission crackled, cutting through the tense air. "Where the hell are you two? We got scattered when the explosion went off. Your lady boss wants a full report."

Kenji snorted, glancing over at Seiran. "Of course she does. Looks like we have more cleaning up to do, Seiran."

Seiran gave a small smile, but the tension was still evident in his eyes. "Let’s just get out of here first. Raiven can wait."

As Yashiro stirred beside him, Kenji helped Alexier sit up, both of them still a little groggy but alive. "We’ve got a lot of catching up to do, but let’s make sure we get the hell off this island first."

The team’s bonds had been tested before, but this was something else. The shipwreck, the chaos, the hidden secrets—this was only the beginning. And as Alexier looked up at Kenji, there was no question. They were in this together. Whatever lay ahead, they’d face it as a team.

But the storm was far from over.

Chapter: Stranded and Struggling

The island was a hostile place, far removed from any sign of civilization. The wreckage of their escape was scattered, and the only sounds were the crashing waves and the faint hum of their dying electronics. The last thing they wanted to deal with was being stranded, but there they were—phones with barely any battery, no signal, and nowhere to go.

Kenji, ever the sarcastic one, grunted as he rummaged through their bags. "Of course, it’s always the phones. Low battery, no signal. We’re just really lucky, huh?"

Seiran, trying to keep his calm composure, surveyed the area. "Stay focused. We’ll figure this out. First, we need to make sure the others are—"

Before he could finish, a groan interrupted him.

Yashiro blinked his eyes open slowly, his head pounding, his mind foggy from the unconsciousness. The first thing he noticed was Seiran kneeling next to him, and then the overwhelming thought of why was suddenly flooding his brain. His gaze darted between Seiran and the surrounding chaos as he tried to sit up.

“Seiran... what happened?” Yashiro mumbled, still half out of it, his vision blurry.

Seiran steadied him, his voice calm. "You were knocked out by the explosion. You’re fine now."

But Yashiro, still in his post-concussion fog, couldn’t help but notice how close Seiran was. His brain, still in that weird limbo between confusion and hyper-awareness, began to spin wildly.

Wait a minute... did Seiran—did he do something to me?

Yashiro blinked rapidly, his eyes darting suspiciously between Seiran’s face and his own body. His mind began to concoct ridiculous ideas, his usual overactive imagination taking hold.

"Seiran..." Yashiro started, a grin slowly spreading across his face as he sat up a bit more. "Did you... did you do something to me? Like, you know, kiss me? Or...?"

Seiran froze, his eyes widening slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. His voice was carefully neutral, almost too calm, as if trying to suppress the storm of awkwardness brewing inside him.

"What are you talking about, Yashiro? I—" Seiran cleared his throat, trying to stay the picture of calm, though he was visibly fighting his own discomfort. "You’re imagining things. Focus on getting up. We need to figure out what to do next."

Yashiro, however, was already in a state of overdrive, his delusions running wild. "Ohhhh, I see how it is. You’re too shy to admit it, huh?" he teased, the grin on his face becoming more mischievous. "It's okay, Seiran. I won’t tell anyone... unless, of course, you want to confess."

Seiran blinked, his face turning slightly red, though he masked it quickly by adjusting his jacket. Stay calm, he told himself. No freakouts. No explosions of awkwardness.

Kenji, watching from a few feet away, couldn’t help but chuckle under his breath. He leaned in closer to Alexier, who was still groggy but stirring from his own unconsciousness.

Alexier, eyes flicking open, stretched out slowly before glancing at Kenji. His voice was groggy, but it carried a familiar warmth. “You’re still here...?”

Kenji shot him a sly smile. “What, you thought I’d just leave you to die, pretty boy? Not a chance.”

Alexier smirked faintly, but there was a sharpness in his eyes. He'd been through far too much with Kenji over the past five years to be fooled by his casual attitude. They were both veterans of dangerous situations, but this island was a whole new kind of nightmare.

"How bad is it?" Alexier asked, getting to his feet. "And, seriously... what happened to the others?"

Kenji’s eyes twinkled with a mix of amusement and frustration. "Well, we’re stranded on a deserted island with no signal, no power, and, for some reason, Yashiro thinks Seiran gave him mouth-to-mouth. You know... it’s all very dramatic."

Alexier laughed softly, shaking his head. "I swear, you two are a disaster. But Yashiro’s lucky... at least he got Seiran’s attention, huh?"

Kenji's grin faltered, and his voice dropped to a softer, more serious tone. “Look, we have to focus. The explosion scattered us, and we’re on our own for now. Raiven’s probably trying to get in touch, but...”

Suddenly, there was a crackling sound, and Alexier pulled out his phone. It was almost dead, but just enough battery left to register a faint signal. He swiped it, hoping for something, anything to get them back on track.

On the screen, a message from Raiven flashed:

“Do you copy? Where are you? Report status ASAP. We’re scattered after the blast. Be careful.”

Alexier looked at Kenji. "We’re not alone, at least."

Kenji nodded, but his expression remained serious. "Doesn't mean we’re out of danger. We need to figure out where to go next. That island’s not going to give us any favors."

Yashiro, still a bit loopy, finally stopped grinning. His tone was more grounded now, as he glanced at Seiran. “Alright, enough joking around. We need to find a way off this rock. Now.”

Seiran sighed in relief, glad that Yashiro’s delusions seemed to be dying down. "Let’s focus. We’ll get through this, one step at a time."

As the group began to gather their bearings, they knew the road ahead would be tough. But with each other—and some ridiculous, awkward moments like these—they’d manage. They had before.

Chapter: Survival Chaos

The island was the worst possible place to be stranded. The explosion had scattered the team into chaos, and now, with no signal, no power, and low battery on all their phones, survival was all they could think about.

Kenji was pacing like a trapped animal, muttering curses under his breath as he rummaged through their bags. "Of course, of course, this happens. No signal. No power. We're gonna die here, aren't we?"

Seiran, who was trying to maintain some semblance of order, was checking the surroundings. His usual calmness was rapidly fraying, but he forced himself to stay composed. "We just need to keep our heads together. Find shelter, water... we’ll figure this out."

“Yeah, sure, ‘figure it out,’” Kenji muttered, giving him a sidelong glance. “How’s that working out so far?”

Meanwhile, Yashiro, still woozy from the explosion, finally stirred. He blinked, groaned, and immediately sat up. "What the hell happened? Why am I on the floor?" His eyes swept around the chaotic scene, before they landed on Seiran, who was still crouched nearby.

For a brief moment, his brain went haywire, and delusional Yashiro took over. He started to connect the dots, but his mind, never one to be completely logical, jumped to conclusions.

Wait a second... Seiran’s the one who saved me... does that mean...?

Yashiro grinned mischievously, leaning towards Seiran. "Hey, Seiran... did you... you know... kiss me to save me?" He looked expectantly, his tone overly dramatic. "You did do that, right?"

Seiran froze, his calm composure shattered for a split second. His face went a little pale. "What? No. I... I was just making sure you were breathing—"

Yashiro wasn’t having it, leaning closer, his grin widening. "Ohhh, come on. It's fine, you know. I won't tell anyone. But I’ll be forever grateful if you admit it."

Seiran’s brain was clearly short-circuiting at this point. He tried to maintain his cool, but it was like trying to juggle knives. “Yashiro. We’re on a deserted island. We need to focus. Not... whatever you’re imagining.”

Kenji snorted in the background. "Oh, this is rich," he laughed under his breath. "Seiran’s losing it. I knew he had a soft spot somewhere.”

But before Yashiro could respond, Alexier, still groggy from his own unconscious state, finally regained some focus. He blinked and took in the scene around him, still trying to get his bearings.

"Great," Alexier muttered, rolling his eyes. "I come to, and this is what I get? Yashiro’s delusions and Seiran looking like he’s about to explode from awkwardness."

Kenji leaned in to Alexier with a smirk, his voice low but teasing. "You know, they’ve been playing this little game for a while now. I think Yashiro’s really starting to enjoy messing with Seiran."

Alexier grinned, eyes sharp as he locked his gaze with Kenji. "Well, Seiran does have that way of looking like he's about to implode with all that suppressed tension. Someone had to poke him a bit."

Kenji shot him a sideways look. "And you, Mr. 'I've been with me for five years, it's no big deal,' you're acting all calm too?"

Alexier chuckled, his voice smooth but dripping with playful sarcasm. "I am calm. Unlike some people here."

Seiran sighed in frustration, trying to ignore the growing chaos around him. He knew if he let Yashiro continue, things would get more awkward by the second. He couldn’t afford that right now. "Focus, people. We need to make shelter. Find food. Do something. We’re stuck here, whether we like it or not."

"Yeah, yeah," Yashiro said, still grinning, his delirium fading now that he was more aware. “But you never told me the real story, Seiran. Did you save me just to kiss me? You’re really not gonna tell me?”

Kenji, now fully invested in the drama, sidled up to Yashiro and whispered in a loud voice, "Yashiro, let it go. Seiran’s too uptight to admit it. But between you and me... he totally did. I saw the spark.”

Yashiro’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. "Aha! See, I knew it! You did kiss me, Seiran! You're so shy about it!" He leaned dramatically into Seiran’s personal space, adding more pressure. "It’s okay, Seiran. No need to be embarrassed!"

Seiran was on the verge of a full-on meltdown, his cool facade slipping by the second. He shot Kenji an accusatory look, but Kenji was too busy laughing to care.

"Look," Kenji said, trying to get them back on track, "whether Seiran kissed you or not—" He paused dramatically, eyes glinting with mischief. "—we're stuck on an island, and none of us have any real survival skills. So if you two want to keep flirting, go ahead, but I’m gonna figure out how to get us out of here.”

Alexier clapped Kenji on the back. "You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?"

Kenji shrugged, winking at Alexier. "Hey, it’s all part of the fun, right? If we can’t survive, at least we can have some entertainment along the way.”

And so, amid the tension and chaos of the island, the team began their awkward survival efforts. They had no idea how long they would be stranded, but between Yashiro’s antics, Seiran’s frustration, and Kenji’s relentless teasing, it was clear that surviving this island might be just as chaotic as their feelings for one another.

As the sun began to set, they gathered around a makeshift fire—well, more of a tiny, struggling flame. The sounds of the island and their bickering filled the air as they huddled together, realizing they had no choice but to rely on each other if they were going to make it out alive.

But one thing was certain: surviving this island would be a lot more complicated than anyone had imagined.

The island was a mess. The makeshift shelter they’d built wasn’t going to win any architecture awards, and the fire they managed to spark barely flickered in the damp air. But in the midst of the chaos, Alexier and Kenji were doing what they did best—bickering.

Kenji, lounging lazily on a rock, was idly fiddling with a vine he’d wrapped around his wrist like a bracelet. His eyes sparkled mischievously as he glanced at Alexier, who was rummaging through the wreckage nearby.

“You know,” Kenji started, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth, “I was just thinking... If Raven’s gonna throw us into some wild island mission like this, would you mind being Jane in disguise, Alex?”

Alexier paused in his search, glancing over at Kenji with a raised eyebrow. He knew that look—the one that meant Kenji was about to tease him mercilessly. "Really? You want me to be Jane?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Kenji shrugged nonchalantly, still twisting the vine around his hand. "Sure. I mean, you’ve got the legs for it, Alex. You could totally rock the whole jungle queen vibe. And, hey, maybe you’d finally stop getting annoyed with me if you got to wear a nice Tarzan outfit."

Alexier shot him a look, crossing his arms as he leaned against a tree. “You’re really gonna make me go full jungle queen, huh?” he muttered, giving Kenji a sidelong glance. “What about you, Mr. Tarzan? What would you wear? A loincloth?”

Kenji snorted, clearly entertained. “Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve gone full Tarzan on a mission. But, hey, if you want to make me wear a loincloth, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind...”

Alexier rolled his eyes, trying not to laugh. "Don't flatter yourself, Kenji. I’ll stick to being the grumpy partner while you do your best Tarzan impression. At least someone’s got to be sensible."

Kenji smirked, tossing the vine aside and standing up. He sauntered over to Alexier, leaning in close enough that their shoulders brushed. “Oh, come on. You know you love the chaos. Besides,” he teased, giving Alexier a playful nudge, “we’re a team. I couldn’t do this without my jungle queen by my side.”

Alexier’s lips twitched, and despite himself, he chuckled. “I swear, Kenji, one of these days, you’re going to get us both killed with all your jokes.”

Kenji winked. “Nah, if we die, at least we’ll die in style. Right, Jane?”

Alexier gave him an exaggerated glare, but the corners of his mouth betrayed him. “You’re lucky we’re stuck on this island together, Kenji. Lucky.”

"Aw, come on," Kenji grinned, nudging him again. "Admit it. You wouldn’t want to be stuck here with anyone else."

Alexier sighed dramatically, putting a hand to his forehead in mock exasperation. "I can’t deny that, can I?"

Kenji chuckled, his expression softening for a moment as he gazed at Alexier. "See? That’s the spirit. Now, let's figure out how to get off this island. But after we sort out our Tarzan costumes."

Alexier smirked, shaking his head. “You’re impossible. But fine, let’s go find us a jungle to rule.

---

As Kenji and Alexier continued walking through the jungle, Kenji couldn’t help but notice Alexier’s long, raven-black hair flowing behind him. The sight triggered a memory—one that caused a smirk to play at the corner of his lips.

"Hey, you know, your hair's looking pretty good like that," Kenji remarked, eyeing Alexier’s glossy locks. "Makes me think of that bara assassin from the cruise ship. You remember him, right?"

Alexier glanced at Kenji, raising an eyebrow. "The guy who tried to kidnap me in a piggyback hold? Yeah, I remember. Not exactly a fond memory."

Kenji let out a laugh. "Oh, I remember him. That poor bastard, so delusional about his shampoo career." He chuckled to himself, remembering the wild moment. "You should’ve seen the look on his face when I cut his hair off."

Alexier scoffed, trying to hide his smile. “Oh, yeah, I’m sure that was the worst thing that could’ve happened to him. His shampoo line was clearly his only hope at life.”

Kenji grinned mischievously. "Honestly, I think we ended his entire career. Imagine being a bara assassin, and your main claim to fame is your shampoo routine—only for me to chop it all off like that. He was absolutely devastated."

Alexier burst out laughing, shaking his head. "That was a good day. I mean, how embarrassing. He was so upset, I thought he might cry right there."

“Oh, and don’t forget the best part," Kenji added, his voice turning teasing. "When he almost kidnapped you in that piggyback style. I thought he was gonna take you off like a princess." He paused, letting the memory sink in. "And then there’s that dress you wore."

Alexier groaned, turning away, his cheeks flushing slightly at the mention of the dress. "I’m still not sure why you suggested that ridiculous thing. I looked like a Disney princess!"

Kenji’s laugh was loud and carefree. "You absolutely did! I told you that dress would work on you. Guess the bara assassin agreed with me, huh? You were the star of the show."

“Not funny, Kenji," Alexier muttered, but the smile tugging at his lips betrayed him. “Next time, you’re picking the outfit. I’m just going to wear my default black suit."

Kenji shot him a playful grin. "No way. Princess Alexier deserves better than that."

Alexier rolled his eyes but couldn't help but laugh. “You know, I’m still getting revenge for that.”

Kenji laughed harder, his grin widening. “Good luck with that, princess. Maybe I’ll help you pick out the next dress.”

Chapter: Survival Chaos - Hunger Games

The heat of the jungle wasn’t helping their growing hunger. As Kenji and Alexier trudged through the thick foliage, their stomachs growled in unison, adding an extra layer of misery to their already challenging situation.

Kenji, who normally had a sharp, witty remark for any situation, now found himself unusually quiet. His stomach growled audibly, breaking the silence. He glanced over at Alexier, who seemed to be in the same predicament.

"Hey, you know," Kenji started, rubbing his stomach, "I think I might actually die before we find any food."

Alexier shot him a look, but the sarcasm was still clear in his voice. “If you keep talking like that, you’ll die of hunger first. Don’t jinx us.”

Kenji smirked, but it didn’t last long as his stomach let out another loud growl. “Okay, okay, maybe I’ll shut up if you stop walking like you’re on some kind of royal mission. I know you're starving too.”

Alexier sighed, but it was half in annoyance, half in amusement. "You know, I can't believe we're stuck here with no food. How is it that we’re survival experts—yet we can’t even find an edible berry or fish?"

Kenji turned around, grinning mischievously. “Oh, I’m sure Disney Princess here could charm some animals into cooking themselves up for us. Just give them the ‘princess smile’ and they’ll line up with a platter of food.”

Alexier shot him an incredulous look. “Are you seriously going to keep calling me that? The last thing I need is your sarcasm while I’m this hungry.”

“Well, I figured we could all use some humor while we wait to turn into skeletons,” Kenji teased, poking Alexier in the side.

Just then, they heard the sound of Yashiro’s enthusiastic voice in the distance, followed by Seiran’s calm response.

“Yashiro, calm down. No, we’re not going to try to roast the leaves.”

“I’m just saying, leaves could be delicious if we make a salad!” Yashiro protested, sounding completely serious.

Kenji rolled his eyes. "Looks like we have another gourmet chef on our hands."

They caught up with Yashiro and Seiran just as Yashiro was attempting to pick random leaves off a bush with excitement, while Seiran stood nearby, observing with a mildly concerned expression.

“Are you trying to make salad out of random plants?” Kenji asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah! They’ve gotta be edible, right?” Yashiro grinned, clearly too hyper to be discouraged by Seiran’s lack of enthusiasm. “I mean, they look green! That’s gotta be a good sign.”

Seiran, who looked entirely unimpressed, glanced at Kenji and Alexier. “We need something more than just leaves.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure leaves don’t do much for you besides make you feel like you’re on a diet,” Kenji commented dryly. “You’ve got a better chance of getting food by charming the animals than making salad with these.”

Yashiro’s face lit up. “You know, maybe I should talk to the jungle animals like Kenji said! They might bring me some meat!”

Kenji rubbed his forehead. “Please don’t talk to the animals. The last thing we need is you trying to befriend a boar and getting eaten.”

Meanwhile, Alexier, still starving, was fighting the urge to laugh. "Seiran, come on. Can you at least try to teach us how to make a fire or something?"

Seiran’s calm demeanor didn’t crack. "First, we need food. Then we can think about fire. Let’s just survive one step at a time."

Yashiro jumped up, a bright idea suddenly striking him. “Wait! I saw some kind of fruit earlier, but it was up in a tree. If we can get it down, it might be the key to our survival!”

Kenji grinned. “Well, there’s our Disney princess again. You want to climb up there and sing to the trees? Or shall we just go full Tarzan and swing up there?”

Alexier rolled his eyes, but despite the hunger gnawing at him, he couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re really not gonna let that go, are you?”

Kenji shrugged, completely unapologetic. “Never.”

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