Mountain climbing

 Ryuji trailed behind Tsuna, staring into his notebook. His fingers twirling around his pen as his steps grew heavier and heavier. Though this was unbeknownst to him since he was thinking about the release of his new novel one-off. He was brainstorming just how in the world he possibly could handle the labor of the advertising of the novel with the money his publisher gave him.

Since it had been awhile since he last released a novel his publisher refused to give him the budget that was usually given to him. This must have been because they were worried that the audience may have moved on to another creator so it was a riskier venture than his series normally was. Not only was the risk higher but the gain was low as well. Since it was a one-off and not a series it meant that if this does do well that doesn’t guarantee a stable sense of revenue for the foreseeable future like a series does.

He knew this, even going in he presumed that his publisher would give him a hard time but he never thought it would be like this. His heart felt like it was on fire though he did his best to steady himself. Breathing slowly, closing his eyes, focusing on the way his feet hit the dirt road in front of him.

Ryuji was real, sometimes he had to remind himself. His heart steadied and he looked to the sky, a faint smile appearing on his face as he did; giggling to himself. This felt like hell, he was so scared and he didn’t know what to do. All he thought to do was to keep walking forward in hopes that maybe he stumbles where he needs to go. That's how it normally works. People always tell you that if you're in the dark then you can’t stay still, since it wouldn’t fix anything. Though they don’t mention just how horrifying that first step is. What if you walk into a wall? What if it's quicksand? What if you bump into someon-

Ryuji with his eyes to the sky stumbled into Tsuna, the notebook he had been so adamantly looking at flew out of his hands and he and his sister both ended up on the terrain beneath them. He began frantically looking around for his notebook, trying to make sure that it didn’t get it dirty. All of the notes that he gathered on this trip away from work, if he lost those now it would all be for nothing. Moving from his back to all fours to grab it. Tsuna nodded to herself finally recognizing her brother's patterns and leaned back. Before speaking in a taunting tone,

“So big bro? You just not gonna help your pretty sister up?”

Ryuji paused for a moment blinking silently before his gaze averted to Tsuna who had a stupid grin on her face. She had been trying to stifle a laugh, not being able to take his desperate face seriously. Completely off balance he let out the only thing his brain could manage to cobble together, his desperation fading into pure confusion,

“What?”

Tsuna’s grin flourished into a toothy grin, losing herself, pointing and laughing at Ryuji. His face pickled in embarrassment as he balled his fist, the grains of dirt coiled around his hands and he was left with a clump of dirt in his hands. He went to look down at his hand but Tsuna’s finger was already on his chin pulling it to look at her. She straddled him, moving his hands to his cheeks smooshing them together.

“You forgot where we are, didn't you Ryuji?”

His confusion only worsened, though he spoke what he believed to be true,

“We are in Canada, going on some hike.”

Tsuna’s legs wrapped around Ryuji like a vice,

“Not some hike , we are in the Rockies, a place indigenous people have lived in for years, a place to see the northern lights and one of the biggest ice fields in the world. Listen I get that you make worlds in your head is cool and all but, you know what, look over there for me.”

Tsuna grabbed Ryuji’s shoulder leaning back and pointed at some bushes, Ryuji almost annoyed responded fast,

“So what, its a bush?”

Tsuna hit his head lightly saying without turning back to him,

“Through the bushes big bro.”

Looking through the decaying bush that had snow clenched to its limbs Ryuji saw a cat-like creature miles, and miles out but he could just barely make out that its paws were abnormally large, maybe to keep its feet warm during the winter time? Ryuji’s annoyed expression softened so Tsuna shifted behind him.

Holding the back of his head, gently steering it. Tsuna moved his head to look up not too far from them. Blending into the wood was an owl who had been sleeping on a branch. He was able to tell just how soothingly it had been sleeping by its deep and intentional breaths.

Then she moved his glance down and to the right back into the distance, looking at a cliff where atop of it was a mountain goat it was far more hairy than he could of ever imagined it to be by the various media’s that he has seen showing it; In that same frame there were three darts of orange all forming themselves into foxes as they slowed down to look around.

The grip on his notebook loosened as Tsuna leaned in chest first to make him feel how soft she was, playfully whispering into his ear,

“So, are you finally going to be with me or are you going to keep ignoring me so you can worry all on your own.”

Ryuji did his best to not smile, he liked to act like he didn’t love the fact she knew him better than he did but he failed. So he just spoke the first thing that came to his mind,

“I doubt I would be very fun to be with right now. The release of the novel and trying to make sure everything goes smoothly is kinda ruling over my mind right now.”

Tsuna kissed his neck over and over before holding him tight. Talking into his back,

“I don’t think even you could make something less fun than my husband ignoring me.”

Ryuji finally cracking a smile said,

“What do you mean by even me?”

Tsuna giggled, finally getting off of him so that they could get up.

“You know exactly what I mean big bro, so, now you're on catch up duty. You have made me walk in silence for, like half an hour. Now I don’t want any conversation starter I throw out to be met with a Yeah or That's interesting conversation is two sided and I’m tired of the heavy lifting.”

Ryuji got up, set his note book in his tote bag and put it back over his shoulder. He went to walk forward but she stopped him by leaning in his way asking,

“Wouldn’t you feel better if you had someone's hands in yours?”

He smiled and his finger went to his mouth, taunting,

“Oh, but it seems I’m lacking options here. You know I wouldn’t want to settle for something subpar so I would like to see the competing brands.”

Tsuna looked at Ryuji with an almost disgusted look before she snatched his hand, pulling him along the path. Her complaining as she walked,

“Ryuji, I don’t think you realize this but, I own you. You're my husband, my brother, and much much more. You know how many wives and sisters wouldn’t do half as much as I do for you? Do you know why I always do that?”

Ryuji faked a coy demeanor saying,

“Because you love me lots and you would never leave me?”

Tsuna turned around jumping onto him, latching onto him as he walked. Due to his job lacking physical activity he wasn’t used to this much physical strain, but since his wife was feeling clingy he acted as if her weight wasn’t anything. She spoke her face being mere inches away from his,

“That is very right my sweet boy, now you're gonna carry me while I absorb your essence.”

Ryuji walked his legs tensing trying to distract himself by joking around,

“What are you, a vampire or something?”

Tsuna laughed to herself,

“Oh don’t be ridiculous, you’ve known me since I was born. Though I’m sure you like the idea of this body of yours being eternal.”

Ryuji’s face became red and he puckered his lips looking away from her.
“Oh, is my pretty boy embarrassed?”

Then to her horror she heard the crinkling of dead leaves beneath sneakers. Right beside her two people hiking their way back down the path caught them straddling each other alone on the path. Tsuna tried to say something but he put his hand over her mouth saying under his breath,

“Don’t make it worse by saying anything please.”

The couple beside them then looked at each other panicked, one grabbing the other's hand and rushing off. Tsuna fighting off Ryuji’s hand and immediately yelled out,

“Nothing was happening I promise!”

Tsuna whipped around yelling,

“WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT? Don’t make it worse by saying anything. You made yourself look like a goddamn sex offender!”

Ryuji stomped saying,

“You're the genius who thought straddling me in public was a good idea!”

Ryuji and Tsuna looked at each other and they both noticed the blush on one another. So knowing they were equally embarrassed, they decided to leave it there. Walking in irritated silence. After the two cooled down after the sun began to set, the once blue sky turned into a dim orange. In this silence the two looked around pleasantly enjoying the views but he couldn’t help but think about the novel. So wanting to include Tsuna in his worry Ryuji broke the silence,

“I think I feel like I’ve regressed somehow.”

Tsuna looked to her side, seeing Ryuji who had been gripping onto her hand as if it was her one and only life line. She knew it was serious but she couldn’t figure out what it was so she casually asked,

“What could you possibly mean by regressed?”

Her casual tone seemed to ease him, his grip loosening on hers. Though to compensate Tsuna tightened hers.

“I feel like if I was the person before we left our home I could do more in this situation. I don’t feel prepared, or really enough. It's been so long since I released my last novel and it's a more experimental piece.” Ryuji brought his other hand to his face and nervously ran his hand through his hair, “I’m, I’m scared Tsuna. And that fact makes me feel like I’m betraying my art. I used to stand for living by making something incredible and trusting it will find an audience but what if this is the straw that breaks the camel's back?”

Tsuna spoke under her breath shaking her head,

“You know you sound stupid right big bro?” She moved forward putting his arm over her shoulder as he put her firm in his embrace. ”Lets do a test before that mind races anymore, why are you scared, simple question.”

Ryuji put his head on Tsuna’s and thought. His mind that felt tense all day relaxed, seeming to clear for this one moment. He spoke clearly,

“What if people don’t read it? I don’t really care for the money of it, I would honestly even be fine if they pirated my work, flattered even. I just want people to fall in love with the story I forged, out of my blood sweat and tears. I think, that's why I’m scared.”

Tsuna kissed his neck before nuzzling herself into Ryuji.

“Thats what I thought, your passion isn’t the issue, you're just stressed. You have genuine, valid worries and that's human. The only reason why the younger you wouldn’t be scared is because he didn’t know enough about this to be worried about it.” Tsuna smiled, saying under her breath, “You just need to calm down, you let yourself stress too much.”

When she said this the path that they had been walking finally plateaued and the moon was finally the only thing in the dark sky. The two sat down on some rugged snow that broke into chunks when they did. Ryuji spoke as streaks of lush greens and teal blues skated across the sky,

“I don’t think I’ll ever stop worrying. I hate it a lot and it makes me so terrified that my chest tenses up and I wanna cry but, that shows I care, I think. It's hard to say but I know one thing; I love this, so I don’t know what other reason I would have to be scared.”

The two cuddled up watching the northern lights in delight. At some point Ryuji went to pick up his notebook but Tsuna had already stolen his bag from his shoulder. He smiled nodding to himself watching it, being alone in his thoughts. There would be no documentation of this beauty in his head but oddly to him. That made it all the more beautiful.

After the lights dimmed out and the sky was only left in shining glitter the sounds of cars going up asphalt roads made their way up. Two people in park uniforms came out of it walking to where they were sitting. Ryuji smiled knowing what this was for, his legs quivering in how tired he was. One of the park rangers spoke in a demanding tone,

“Are you the couple that got reported for straddling each other on the trails?”

Ryuji sighed explaining,

“Yeah, that was us, sorry my wife thought it would be funny to tease me cause we were alone but, you can see how that panned out. I’m really sorry and hate to ask this of you but since you're already on your way down any chance we could hitch a ride down?”

The park rangers smiled, shaking their heads at one another.

“Fine, anything to get you out of our hair. Just be sure that if you ever return you don’t mention this, we don’t want our boss to think we didn’t do anything about two perverts.”

Tsuna and Ryuji giggled as they got in the back of their jeep, watching the nocturnal wildlife come alive. Well Tsuna did, Ryuji fell asleep cuddling her left arm.