Entry tags:

!tenipuri, shishitori

in thy name, chapter one
I swear that I will continue this. :| neitaro wanted priest!Chouta so here it is. ♥ This goes way back D: neitaro first told me about it in 2007. I wrote it in late 2007 or early 2008? And posted it in shikanashi_kk in April 2008.

...Forgot about it ever since >>; It took me a while to backtrack my posts and find it DDD':

Don't expect chapter 2 in the near future though ^^; School starts in five days, but I'll try :D

ANYWAY. Edited it a great deal. Here we go, chapter 1 ♥

Comments and concrit are very much appreciated :'D♥♥♥



Title: In Thy Name (1/?)
Author: ieatchu / shikanashi_kk
Rating: PG-13 (border R for dark themes)
Word Count: 1,294
Pairing: Shishido Ryou / Ohtori Choutarou

Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis and all of its characters do not belong to me. The plot belongs to neitaro ♥ :3

Summary: Choutarou understood that Shishido Ryou was trouble the first time the man stumbled into the church, bleeding and barely conscious.

In Thy Name



chapter one





The first time Ohtori Choutarou lays eyes on Shishido Ryou is when the church is empty, and the first thing he thinks is that this man is beautiful.

It is Sunday, around 3 AM, and piercing through the serenity of the church is the sound of the storm raging outside. The raindrops hit the stained glass and the sounds produced are high-pitched and it hurts. There is thunder, then lightning strikes, and Choutarou sees the man better as the light passes through the glass and caresses his face.

This man is really beautiful, Choutarou thinks again, then the light is gone and the sudden darkness snaps him out of his stupor. It is okay because he is used to the shadows, but it reminds him that it is three in the middle of the night and there is a storm outside, signal 4. It is the cause of the blackout, and Choutarou, because of instinct more than duty, is instantly worried over the church's visitor.

His eyes are trained to the darkness so he watches as the man steps away from the door and takes a step closer, then two.

Choutarou is at the altar and the light from what little moon there is shines on him so he knows the man can see him. It is vice versa, but Choutarou only sees the figure and wonders why the man is bent in such an awkward position.

Lightning strikes again and there is more light in the church for just a fleeting moment, but Choutarou sees the bleeding wound that the man is clutching on his side all too clearly.

It is a sight that will stay in Choutarou’s mind for the weeks to come.





Shishido wakes up with a start, eyes wide and cold sweat dripping down his body and soiling his bandages and he can’t remember what he dreamt about – and – wait – bandages? Now he is panicking and his heart is thumping in his chest for real and it hurts and he realizes he is in an unfamiliar room on an unfamiliar bed and fuck, he can’t die like this – no, not yet, not yet – no, not like this, he just can’t—

Then a hand creeps up from behind and clamps on his nose, on his mouth, and he jumps, breathing heavily as he tries to fight back but shit, the wound isn’t making things easier, and he’s still breathing hard and fast and it still hurts, but then a soothing voice is whispering things his brain can’t understand in his panicked state, but the voice is nice and comforting and he misses comfort so much. The hand is still on his face, but another is clamped gently and firmly on his shoulder, rubbing up and down and easing the tension found there and so he relaxes.

The hand on his face is gone now, and something tells him that he shouldn’t let his guard down, shouldn’t get careless, but the voice is still whispering comfort and warmth in his ears and he finds that it’s a wonderful feeling, being held like this.

He faints for the second time that day.





The next time he wakes up, a little bit of sunshine is shining on his face and he blinks his eyes open wearily, adjusting to the light. Then he realizes that the light isn’t that bright at all, and everything is colored a dull grey, which makes waking up a little bit harder. He isn’t panicking anymore and his brain is functioning properly enough to tell him that this room isn’t his, which means it’s safe, but he is still wary – he is always wary.

He is not in a building either, nor is he underground, because if he just cranes his neck to the left, he will see the vast garden on the other side of the window, wet with the rain that isn’t there anymore but still so colorful. It means he’s safe.

He sits up, only to cringe as the wound makes it hard to do so, then he yelps and jumps in shock as an unexpected hand falls on his shoulder and pushes him back down. He almost panics again, but the soothing voice is back and so he remembers that this happened before, except his brain’s more useful now than last time.

“Akutagawa-san,” the voice murmurs worriedly, “Please don’t push yourself.”

And for a second Shishido is confused, then he remembers that oh, right, he borrowed Jiroh-san’s family name. He lets himself be pushed back down on the bed, his limbs still feeling a little bit like mush, and when his head is placed snugly on the pillow – and what a nice pillow it was; Shishido forgot just what real pillows felt like – he looks at the owner of the voice for the first time.

The man looks young, with messy silver hair and even grayer eyes against his pale complexion. Realizing that he’s being analyzed, the man smiles at him, amused but warm, “I’m the resident priest of this church, Ohtori Choutarou, by the way. I’m sorry for looking through your things but I saw your wallet.”

He looks honestly apologetic.

The only thing that Shishido can bring himself to do is to blurt out, “You’re a priest?”

“I don’t look like one?” Choutarou asks, chuckling.

Shishido relaxes, somewhat, as he realizes that there is no danger here yet his shoulders still remain stiff.

“No, it's not that, I mean..." Shishido trails off, eyes scanning the room.

It is a small room containing a desk, a crucifix above it, a lamp, a bookshelf, and a bed by the window. There is nothing special.

Finally, Shishido continues. "I should probably go," he says, feeling defeated somewhat because he does not want to leave these warm covers and the feeling of safety but he knows he must.

Dangerous men are looking for him, and he doesn't want anymore people to be pulled into this mess.

Shishido is strong. He has always been strong so it requires no effort to resist the searing pain. What hurts, though, is letting go of the warm bed and the quiet atmosphere because while he is strong, he is also tired and he just wants everything to stop and be over already.

But Shishido has never been one to back down from a fight either.

"I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused." He bows his head in apology, and clutches his abdomen to lessen the pain as he moves to get off the bed.

A hand gently pushes him back down.

When he looks up, Choutarou's smiling face is understanding but leaves no room for argument. "Forgive me, but I simply cannot let you leave when you can't even sit up straight."

Shishido is embarrassed to realize he is right. He tries to straigthen his back but finds out that doing so is stupid.

Choutarou hides his amusement. "And I went through all the trouble to make breakfast. It's very little, but it'll make you feel better."

Shishido's stomach growls at the prospect of food. Real food. Shishido can't even remember the last time he ate food while it was hot and didn't taste like grovel. He tries to hide his excitement. "Thanks... I guess."

"Not at all," Choutarou says, soft and happy that his guest isn't being stubborn anymore. "After all, God must have sent you here for a reason."

Shishido stares at him, then at the cross hanging from his neck.

"I don't believe in God," he says.

"I see," Choutarou replies.

His smile remains the same.

It is not judging, not suspicious, not curious. It is what a smile is supposed to be.

The unfamiliar sight makes Shishido want to stay in this warm place even more.





tbc