For as long as he had known Uzume, and for as much as their relationship had changed so drastically, there was one thing that seemed to stay exactly the same; Uzume could not sing.

Well, he enjoyed doing it, very much so. As soon as he got entirely comfortable with their little group of outlaws he’d been humming, singing nonsense songs every so often. Always completely out of tune.

At first he’d found it extremely annoying, and told him to shup up, only to be told by Kuroha to let him be. Now, there was something comforting in the off-key sound that made him relax no matter what he was doing.

They were on the road again, for once just the two of them. Minamo and Ageha were on a trip with Neya and Iwashi, and from the letters they had received, they seemed to be enjoying themselves quite a bit.

Chouza was reading through the latest letter from Ageha when he felt arms snake around his chest.

“What’s that song?” Uzume asked, cheek pressing against Chouza’s. “I know it.”

With an amused huff, Chouza turned his head to briefly press his lips to Uzume’s cheek. “I’d hope so, you’ve been singing it all day.”

“Oh! That’s why!”

Uzume flopped down onto the tatami, head landing with a thump in Chouza’s lap, making him lose his breath for a second. He shoved Uzume’s head lightly, but his fingers remained in his short hair afterwards. Their eyes locked, but eventually Chouza had to look away from how intense Uzume’s gaze was. He stared through the open doors, out into the sky. The crickets were loud in the night, the only thing lighting up the world the sliver of visible moon and a galaxy of stars.

He looked down again when he felt fingers trace his cheek.

Uzume looked beautiful, lit up by the light of the moon and the stars, the cold glow of the heavenly bodies making his white hair glow.

The happy little noise Uzume made when he leaned down to press their lips together made his chest feel warm, and with a smile he started running his fingers through Uzume’s hair.

A silent hum filled the room, off key-as always. Chouza’s own voice soon joined in.

The sound of the crickets faded as their world became nothing but each other, just for the night.

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