Chapter One
Kiss
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
Japanese note: Nan da means what and kaonajimi means friend.
"Ren?"
Renkotsu growled and turned to face the man with the feminine voice. "What do you want, Ja?" He didn't miss the small smirk that crossed Jakotsu's face as he began to speak.
"Have you seen Sui anywhere?"
"Why would you ask me?" Actually, Renkotsu had not seen Suikotsu anywhere that day, and it wasn't until Jakotsu brought it up that he had noticed.
"Well…you do seem to be spending a lot more time with Sui than you used to…" Jakotsu trailed off, using his most seductive of voices.
Renkotsu's eyes narrowed. He'd better not be catching on.
"So I thought I'd ask you!"
Renkotsu's annoyance grew. Between Jakotsu acting like he knew something that he probably did, his new lover going missing, and the Ginkotsu-building plans not coming out right, he snapped at the cross-dresser.
"Well, I don't goddamn know! Get your ass out of here!"
Jakotsu simply rolled his eyes. Outbursts like this were quite normal for the ex-monk and he'd come to tolerate them.
Both of them turned to face the door as they heard the familiar creaking footsteps. "Gesh? Renkotsu?"
Renkotsu's harsh expression softened somewhat. Maybe with Ginkotsu here, the day would improve a little.
"Nan da?"
"Have you seen Sui anywhere?"
Renkotsu put his head into his hands and groaned. "Why does everyone think I know where Sui is?"
"I don't. He just told me to tell you where he was."
Renkotsu's head snapped up. What…he…he couldn't want to…could he?
"He's out on the lawn. He says he wants to talk to you." The metal man shot a look at the very interested cross-dresser. "Alone."
Renkotsu set down his sketchbook slowly, not sure yet whether to hurry or take all the time he could.
Deciding on the former, he pushed past Jakotsu and Ginkotsu. He walked until he turned the corner, then ran.
oOo
I don't think it's going to work out.
I don't think it's going to work out.
I don't think it's…
I don't think…
I don't…
"Oi, Ren. You're supposed to be the smart one."
"W-what?"
Renkotsu blinked. His leader swam into focus.
"Where'd your mind go, Ren?"
"N-never mind. Let's get back to work, shall we?" Work was the easiest way to distract himself, but now…
"That's what I've been trying to do this entire time." Bankotsu sighed.
"Well, then do it!" Renkotsu growled.
Bankotsu smiled mildly. "Is that an order?"
"It doesn't make a difference to me." Nothing does.
"Ban-chan? You wanted to see us?" Jakotsu walked through the open shoji, dragging a reluctant Suikotsu behind him. Renkotsu blanched.
"Mmm…" Bankotsu smiled at the cross-dresser. "I always want to see you, Jakotsu."
Jakotsu glowed and leaned in to place a kiss on Bankotsu's lips.
When they pulled apart, Jakotsu grinned. "Aww, Ren-chan looks lonely! Go give him a kiss, Sui."
Renkotsu quickly stood up and turned his body away towards the door. When he finally spoke, there was a timbre to his voice none of them recognized. "I have business to attend to. I'm sure you three can take care of this on your own."
Two sets of eyes followed him as he slid the shoji roughly out of the way and exited. Suikotsu averted his eyes, carefully staring at the ground.
"What's wrong with him?" Bankotsu said to no one.
Jakotsu blinked several times. "His voice sounds funny."
"Yeah…" agreed Bankotsu.
oOo
Renkotsu sat in his room with his arms around his knees.
I don't think this is going to work out.
I don't think this is going to work out.
Sui…
MySui…
The shoji slid open, making Renkotsu jump. He spun to face Ginkotsu, who, to his surprise, didn't look all that happy. Renkotsu raised one eyebrow as he tried to place the expression on Ginkotsu's face.
"Commander." The metal man took several steps closer to Renkotsu and sat at the foot of his futon.
"Ginkotsu." Renkotsu scratched his head, unsure of what to say next. He hadn't made much unnecessary conversation in a while. "Well, I've drawn up some plans for some new weapons for you." He reached over to his table to grab one, but Ginkotsu's metal arm snaked out and brought Renkotsu's hand back to the futon.
"Commander, that's not what I came to talk about. I was wondering…how are you?"
Renkotsu blinked. This had to be one of the first times anyone had asked him that, let alone any of the Shichinintai. "I'm…fine."
"Please take no offence, Oo-aniki, but I don't believe you're telling me the truth."
"I don't think there's anything you can do to help with that," Renkotsu said darkly.
Ginkotsu's eye crinkled into what would accompany a kind smile. "You would be surprised kaonajimi." With a creak of his metal limbs, he stood and exited Renkotsu's room.
Renkotsu's eyes remained on the shoji. He called me…his friend.
oOo
"Suikotsu?" Ginkotsu whispered in his metal voice.
The man, who had been pacing outside, abruptly stopped and gave Ginkotsu an anxious stare. "What did he say?"
"He was quite distressed. For Renkotsu, that is impressive. I would recommend you speak with him. Otherwise, you may not consider me such a close ally."
Suikotsu swallowed, partly from his nerves about talking to Renkotsu, and partly from what Ginkotsu had said. They're very close friends. Of all of us, it is Ginkotsu who is closest to Renkotsu, I think. But that doesn't say much. No one is truly close to Renkotsu. That's why I had to say it. Because it can't work out, not when he won't let me get close to him. But that's the thing…I want to be close to him. And I'ill make it work.
"You have nothing to worry about, aniki."
Suikotsu stepped inside as Ginkotsu's hulking metal form creaked off. "Renkotsu?" he called, his mouth feeling suddenly dry.
"What?"
Suikotsu winced. Renkotsu didn't sound so eager to talk to him.
"Can I come in?" he asked tentatively.
"Sure." Suikotsu slid open the shoji to find Renkotsu bent over something he was drawing.
"Dammit!" Renkotsu swore as the charcoal broke.
"You okay, Ren?" Suikotsu stepped forward and sat down on the futon next to Renkotsu.
Renkotsu shot him an annoyed look. "Yes, I'm fine."
Silence reigned for several minutes. Suikotsu rested his hand on Renkotsu's back. "Are you sure?" Suikotsu asked after a while.
"I…well…I…"
"What?" Suikotsu prompted gently.
"I miss you." The words came out in a rush.
Suikotsu pulled Renkotsu against him so his head rested on Sui's shoulder, a position Renkotsu usually would have protested. "I miss you too."
Renkotsu sat up, and turned to face the other man. He took Suikotsu's face gently in his hands, and leaned in to kiss him.
Their lips met in a sudden rush of emotion. Renkotsu had forgotten the feel of Suikotsu's lips on his. In fact, he had forgotten all feeling. When was the last time he had felt something, really felt something? He couldn't remember. But the feelings he was experiencing that particular moment were strong, fierce, enough to drown him. He parted his lips slightly and was lost. Lost in the feeling of Suikotsu, of his very essence. And the feeling…was good.
A giggle sounded in the room, and Renkotsu pulled back with a growl. Jakotsu stood in the doorway, staring eagerly at the two mercenaries.
"I knew it!" the excited cross-dresser smirked. "I knew you two were lovers."
Renkotsu put his head in his hands, trying to restrain from yelling at Jakotsu, who had skipped out of the room, presumably to go tell Bankotsu.
Suikotsu laughed and rubbed his lover's back. "We should do that more often."
Renkotsu looked up at Suikotsu with a rare smile on his face. "What, get caught by Jakotsu?"
Suikotsu ginned. "No, kiss."
"I agree." And Renkotsu kissed him again.
A/n: Review! The next chapter, glove, will be up soon...I'm actually working on it. crowd gasps