CHAPTER 1
"I love you." Saizo whispered, his face just inches from Sasuke's.
Sasuke trembled with a mixture of pure joy and utter terror as he lay trapped beneath Saizo's heavy body. They'd been sparring only moments ago and had ended up tumbling down a small grassy hill towards the secluded tree line. Today had been a particularly intense session between the two Divina. They'd had an argument during breakfast, and all their pent up aggression had carried over into their physical battle. As usual Saizo was winning, but then Sasuke rammed the Divina so hard, it sent them both crashing to the ground and rolling down the low slope of the hill.
Landing in heap of arms and legs, the atmosphere of rage and brutality instantly turned into… something else. Laying there now, Sasuke still couldn't understand how things had turned out this way, but staring up into Saizo's handsome face, he realized he didn't care.
"W-why didn't you say something sooner?" Sasuke asked, his voice suddenly timid.
"I was afraid I'd lose you." Saizo whispered, his nervous gaze studying Sasuke intently. "If you rejected me, I… I don't think I could've lived."
"I would never reject you!" Sasuke exclaimed. "I-I love you, too."
The corners of Saizo's mouth turned up, his expression changing from anxious to relieved. Sasuke's heart skipped several beats; the smile instantly unleashing a flurry of butterflies in the depths of his belly. He loved Saizo's smiled. Loved the way it warmed every part of him right down the tips of his fingers and toes. Sasuke had seen that smile take the panties off more humans and daemons than he could count, but finally, after years of silent adoration, that smile was directed at him.
"Really?" Saizo asked, his eyes alight with joy.
"Yes!" Sasuke insisted. "I've loved you for so long it feels like an eternity. I wanted to tell you, but I was afraid, too."
Saizo pressed their lips together; the kiss so painfully gentle it made Sasuke's entire body ache with need. It was his first, and he was so glad he'd waited to share it with Saizo.
Saizo broke the kiss, pressing his forehead to Sasuke's. "I want you so badly." He whispered; his voice pained. "But I don't want to push you. We should stop now before… before I can't stop."
Sasuke was practically panting; each breath fleeing before he had the chance to catch it. He shook his head, wrapping his arms around Saizo's neck and pulling him down.
"N-no!" He managed to get out. "I-I want this. Don't stop!"
"But it's our first time. Your first time. I want it to be special."
He could tell Saizo meant what he said, and perhaps the Divina was right, but Sasuke couldn't think of a better time or place to consummate their love than right then and there. Laying atop the soft grass, underneath the warmth of the morning sun… It was all so perfect.
"This is special." Sasuke replied, cupping Saizo's cheek lovingly. "The fact that you're here now. With me. This is the happiest moment of my life."
"Are you sure?" Saizo asked, gently brushing his thumb across Sasuke's bottom lip.
Sasuke could only nod, his body shaking with anticipation as Saizo leaned in once more to kiss him. The kiss was deliciously distracting, and the wonder of it nearly swept Sasuke away. He sighed weakly, the taste of his lover's passion and desire threatening to consume him completely. Saizo deepened the kiss, his hands working skillfully to remove Sasuke's clothing. Not entirely, but just enough so that he had the access he needed.
"It will hurt at first." Saizo whispered, his hand sliding between Sasuke's legs and gently caressing the soft skin of his inner thigh. "But if you relax, the pain won't last long."
Sasuke nodded again, his eyes locked with Saizo's reassuring gaze.
"Bend your legs for me."
Sasuke did as he was told, bending his knees. His cheeks flooded with color as every inch of him was exposed to Saizo's heated gaze. The Divina licked his lips; his aqua green eyes blazing with lust. Sasuke shivered a moment, the intensity of Saizo's gaze causing a sliver of fear to blossom in his chest.
"Relax." Saizo murmured, placing a kiss on Sasuke's knee. "I won't do anything you don't want me to. And if you say stop, then I'll stop."
"O-okay." Sasuke trembled.
Saizo wet a single finger with his mouth, then eased it slowly into Sasuke's tight hole. It wasn't at all what Sasuke expected, and he immediately tensed against the pain.
"I-It hurts, Saizo!"
"Deep breaths." He soothed. "Relax your back, and let your legs fall open. Yes, just like that."
"Saizo…!"
Tears formed in the corners of Sasuke's eyes. All he could feel was the pain, and he fought to keep himself from crying out.
"I know." Saizo whispered, his other hand continuing to stroke Sasuke's thigh. "Just a little bit more."
Sasuke bit his lip, squeezing his eyes shut. He was clutching the blades of grass so tightly, he was beginning to lose feeling in his fingers.
"I-I can't do this." Saizo said in a rush, gently pulling out his finger. "I'm only hurting you. We should wait until we're some place I can prepare you properly. This is your first time, and without some kind of lubricant, I'm only going to cause you pain."
"No!" Sasuke cried, grabbing Saizo's wrist. "I'm fine. Don't stop."
"Sasuke, even someone who is used to this would have a difficult time. Let's just wait. There's no need to rush."
"But I need to feel you now! Please, Saizo. I know you won't hurt me. I trust you."
It took a few moments, but Saizo finally capitulated.
"Alright," he sighed, pulling Sasuke's pants completely off. "But we're going to try this a different way."
Sasuke was not prepared for the 'different way' Saizo was currently using. If he was embarrassed before, he was completely mortified now. Saizo had one of Sasuke's legs over each shoulder, his head buried between his thighs. Sasuke tried to stop him, but the Divina refused to be swayed. Luckily, the wet heat of Saizo's mouth was making it impossible for Sasuke to focus on anything but his own pleasure.
"S-Saizo… I can't… I'm going to…!"
Sasuke expected Saizo to pull back when his orgasm finally came. Instead, the Divina kept his lips firmly around Sasuke's throbbing length; taking every bit of the hot seed into his mouth. It felt so good it hurt, and right at the moment Sasuke couldn't take anymore, a scream of pure ecstasy ripped from his throat. His vision blurred; the world suddenly spinning.
Saizo sat up, a triumphant smile on his face. Sasuke started to speak, but what Saizo did next took the words right out of his mouth. The Divina spit the semen into his hand, wiping his chin with the other.
"This will make things easier." He said, rubbing the cum onto Sasuke's tender hole. "It's not ideal, but it will certainly help."
And so the preparation began again….
Saizo was right. It was still painful, but not as much as before. In fact, the deeper Saizo went, the more the pain started to fade into something else…
"How are you feeling?" Saizo asked worriedly.
"I-I don't know."
"Does it feel good?"
"M-maybe. I can't tell. It feels… numb."
Saizo licked his lips, the same lust-filled expression forming on his face as before. He was obviously trying to hold back, but Sasuke could see the sweat beading on his brow.
Saizo took a deep breath, his voice trembling with restraint. "I'm going to use another finger. Stretch you open a bit more."
When Sasuke was able to take two fingers without discomfort, Saizo slid in a third. Sasuke was definitely starting to feel something; especially when Saizo's fingers brushed a certain spot. He started to pant; his orgasm building once more.
Saizo smiled. "You like it here, don't you?"
Saizo's fingers touched the spot again; his intense gaze examining Sasuke's expression closely. Sasuke gasped. His back arching off the ground as the Divina's fingers massaged the mystery spot deep inside him. He was on the verge of climaxing again when Saizo slipped his fingers out.
"Why are you stopping?!" Sasuke cried.
"I have no intention of stopping." Saizo answered, pulling off his shirt and loosening the top of his pants. "But you're ready now, so it's my turn."
Saizo slid between his legs, positioning his hard cock at Sasuke's entrance. The anticipation was almost too much. They were finally going to become one, and Sasuke could hardly contain his joy. This was all he'd ever wanted. All he'd ever dreamed of!
"Sasuke, are you okay?" Saizo asked.
"Y-yes." He whispered back, the scene before him starting to ripple and fade.
"Then wake up!"
Shock and disappointment flooded Sasuke's system as the world around him faded to black and realization dawned. He was dreaming… Sasuke's eyes flew open, and he found himself staring straight into a very familiar aqua green gaze.
"Jesus Christ, Saizo! What the hell?!" Sasuke bolted upright in the bed, pulling the sheets to his chin. "I thought I told you to knock before you come barging in!"
"I didn't barge in!" Saizo shot back. "And for the record, I did knock, but there was no answer. I got worried, so I came in."
"But the door was locked!"
"Please, like that was going to stop me." Saizo smirked. "What's up with you lately? I've never had to knock before. And since when did you start locking your door?"
Sasuke took a deep breath, trying to refocus his attention on anything but the painful erection throbbing between his legs. He was still rock hard, and Saizo's actual presence in his room was only making things worse. He could smell the intoxicating scent of Saizo's after shave, and with his hair tousled oh so perfectly around his flawlessly chiseled face, Sasuke was on the verge of exploding. Literally!
"What do you want?" He bit out.
Saizo frowned. "I came by to see if you wanted to spar with me this morning."
"No." Sasuke answered bluntly, images of his dream flickering through his mind.
"That's it? No?"
"What do you want me to say?!"
"I don't know." Saizo said dryly. "But a reason why might be nice!"
"There is no reason. I just don't want to."
"You said the same thing yesterday." Saizo argued. "And the day before that! Are you mad at me or something?"
"I'm always mad at you." Sasuke muttered.
Saizo sucked his teeth in irritation. "I mean more so than usual. You'd tell me if I pissed you off for real, right?"
"Yes."
Saizo frowned again, staring at Sasuke expectantly.
"What?" Sasuke demanded.
"What do you mean what? I'm waiting for you to tell me what I did. It has to be something since you obviously hate me."
"I don't hate you." Sasuke replied, his head starting to swim with Saizo's delicious scent. God help him, but he loved to see the Divina get all riled up. It just made him want the daemon even more.
"Then what's wrong?!" Saizo exclaimed.
"Nothing!"
"You're lying!"
"No, I'm not!"
"Yes, you are! I know when you're lying, Sasuke, and you're doing it right now! You love morning spars! As a matter of fact, it's usually you coming to my room and waking me up!"
"Oh my God, will you just get out?!"
Saizo crossed his arms over his chest. "Nope. Not until you tell me what's going on."
"If I promise to spar with you, will you shut up about this and leave?"
Saizo narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, I'll leave, but this isn't over."
"Whatever! Just get out!"
Saizo clearly wanted to say more, but, thankfully, he left the room in silence. Sasuke fell back against the sheets in relief.
No more BL manga before bed!
He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to remember where he and Saizo had left off in his dream. He could only remember bits and pieces, but he swore it was the best wet dream of his life! He could still feel the stickiness of his first ejaculation on his leg, but if he was ever going to get up and walk to the bathroom, he needed to rub this next one out.
Fortunately, those bits and pieces of memory were just enough to bring him to orgasm. He buried his face into his pillow, trying to muffle his cries of pleasure. When it was all over, his tears of shame and self-loathing had already dried on his cheeks.
He rolled out of bed, practically running to the shower. He was desperate to wash away the evidence of his betrayal. He'd made himself cum to imagines of his best friend! How was he supposed to go downstairs and face him after such a horrific act?! Up until now, he'd been able to control his desires, but recently, Sasuke could think of nothing but Saizo. His face, his smile, his body, his…
"Stop it!" He yelled, his voice echoing off of the pale blue tiles in bathroom.
He placed his hands on the shower wall, but even as he tried to calm his racing heart, it did nothing to stop the erection forming between his legs once more. Sasuke turned the shower to the coldest setting he could stand, hoping the ice cold droplets would cool his burning skin.
CHAPTER 2
Saizo closed the door behind him, immediately pressing his ear to the wood. Something was wrong with Sasuke and he was desperate to find out what it was.
Over the past 3 weeks, Saizo had noticed a change in Sasuke. He was becoming distant, shutting himself off from the world around him. It wasn't like the outgoing and boisterous Divina at all, and Saizo was beyond the point of worry.
Saizo and Sasuke weren't exactly friends in the conventional sense. In fact, if Saizo had to put a title on it, he would say they were friendly enemies; frenemies. But despite their precarious relationship, they were closer than those who'd been best friends their entire lives. No one in the world understood Sasuke better than Saizo, and vice versa.
For quite some time, there was no sound of movement on the other side of the door. There was a moment Saizo thought he heard Sasuke cry out, but he couldn't be sure. He considered going back in, but that would likely piss Sasuke off even more. He would just have to wait until Sasuke made his way downstairs for their sparing session.
Saizo made his way through the winding hall, jogging down the stairs. He headed towards the kitchen to mix a of couple protein shakes for him and Sasuke. They'd likely need the boost of energy after their morning workout. When he entered the kitchen, he found Moon Viewing Set sitting on the counter, chatting excitedly with Ohina as she brewed a pot of coffee.
"Good morning, ladies."
"Morning, Saizo!" Ohina replied happily. "How are you this morning?"
"Great now." He answered, staring straight at MVS.
She had on a ridiculously short skirt; every inch of her skin from the top of her thighs to her delicate ankles on display. Her hair was pulled up into two messy buns on either side of her head; soft tendrils falling from each and framing her lovely heart shaped face and beautiful green eyes. She was the prettiest little thing Saizo had ever laid eyes on, and he'd been trying to get under that skirt for as long as he could remember.
"Hey, Saizo." She muttered, exchanging looks with Ohina.
Ohina giggled, pouring coffee into a large patterned mug. "I'm just going to run this up to Odairi." She said with a wicked smile.
"I'll go with you." MVS jumped off the counter, her skirt catching a moment on its edge.
Saizo sucked in a sharp breath, his cock twitching at the sight of her white lace panties.
"I won't be long." Ohina said quickly. "You just stay here and keep Saizo company until I get back."
"That's a great idea." Saizo added, smiling at MVS.
She rolled her eyes. "Fine, Hina, but hurry up. I don't want to be late."
"Got it!" Ohina chirped, leaving him and MVS alone in the massive kitchen.
"So," Saizo began, moving to mix the shakes. "How are things? Enjoying life with your new master?"
"I am." She answered stonily.
"What's his name again?"
"Master Fera."
"He must be good to you if he's managed to keep you this long."
"He is." She replied shortly.
"You know, this conversation would go a lot smoother if you actually tried to participate."
"Look Saizo, we been through this a hundred times before. We exchange a bit of small talk, catch up on things that don't matter, and then you hit me with some corny line that you think is going to make me throw myself at you."
"That's not true!"
"Oh, sweetie, it is. Nothing against you, but you're so not my type. And even if you were, I know for a fact I'm not yours."
"Again, not true."
"Really? Then explain why you want me so badly. What makes me different from all the other girls you're constantly chasing? And if I were you, I'd avoid mentioning things like my legs, breasts and ass."
Saizo opened in his mouth to reply, but she'd pretty much covered the top three on his list.
"Your eyes." He blurted out.
"My eyes?"
"Yes. They're lovely." He stepped forward, closing the distance between them. "Even with that skeptical look, they're still the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen. Like clear cut emeralds." He leaned down, his mouth inches away from her plump lips.
Saizo could feel his groin tighten; anticipation of this long awaited kiss causing all kinds of ungentlemanly images to flash through his mind. He was just about to seal the deal when she suddenly burst out laughing.
"Sorry!" She managed to get out through her flurry of giggles.
Saizo glowered in irritation. "I'm not exactly sure what's so amusing about this situation, but please, enlighten me."
"Oh, Saizo! For all you pretty words and compliments, you're still a complete idiot. You know this would never work. All you want is sex, and once you get it, this infatuation of yours will fade. Just like it does with all your other conquests."
"You never know." He said with a wry smile. "It could be different this time. We won't know unless we try."
"And that right there is why this is so comical!" She patted his cheek. "You put on a good show, Saizo, but you and me: Never going to happen."
"You're breaking my heart."
"Yeah, I'm sure you're going to cry yourself to sleep tonight."
"Okay, okay. You got me. From now on, we'll just be friends. Deal?"
"Deal."
"How about a hug?"
She rolled her eyes, but let him pull her into his arm. Just before he let go, he whispered in her ear.
"But if you ever change your mind, you let me know."
She laughed, pushing him off. "I'll do that. Now, I'm going to go find Hina. She probably thinks she's being slick leaving us in here alone."
"Well, tell her I said thanks for trying." Saizo winked.
"No problem." She replied, winking back. "See you around."
"Yeah, see you."
Saizo turned to watch her leave, surprised to find Sasuke standing at the entrance to the kitchen. He was pale, his lips parted as if he wanted to speak.
"Heya, Sasuke." MVS said, pausing beside him for a moment. "You may want to give your friend over there a shoulder to cry on. Apparently he's nursing a broken heart."
Sasuke laughed, but it sounded forced. "Don't worry, Moon, I'll take care of him."
With that, MVS skipped from the room, leaving the two of them alone.
"You look like you're going to be sick any moment." Saizo said, walking towards Sasuke.
The Divina took a step back, smiling weakly. "Yeah, I think I caught a bug or something. Maybe it was the food last night."
"Here, sit down. I'll me make something to settle your stomach."
"No, it's fine. I think I'll just go back upstairs and lay down for a bit."
"Okay. I'll grab some breakfast and meet you up there. We can spar later if you feel up to it."
"No!" Sasuke said quickly. "I mean, you shouldn't waste your day watching me rest."
"It's no problem. This way, if you need something, I'll be right there to help."
Sasuke sighed. "That's nice of you, but I think I'll be fine. Maybe Date is around. I'm sure he'll spar with you in my place."
"But…"
"Really, Saizo, I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
"You sure?"
"Positive."
"Alright, if you insist. I'll come check on you around dinner."
"Thanks, I'll see you later."
Saizo watched Sasuke make his way back up the stairs to his room. Like hell he was going to leave the Divina alone! Something was seriously wrong with Sasuke, and if things took a turn for the worst, then he'd be there to help.
He grabbed an apple and followed Sasuke quietly up the stairs. To his surprise, Sasuke didn't make the left to his room. Instead, he made his way towards the Phantom side of the house. Saizo frowned, wondering where he could be heading.
Saizo kept his distance, dipping behind the nearest corner when Sasuke finally stopped in front of Goemon Ishikawa's door. He knocked twice, waited a few seconds, then knocked again. The door opened and Goemon appeared, yawning widely and rubbing his massive chest.
"You busy?" Sasuke asked feebly.
"Nah, just woke up."
"Do you mind if I come in?"
"Not at all."
"Thanks."
Saizo heard the door shut, followed by the click of the lock. He stumbled from behind the corner, not sure whether he was more angry or hurt. Goemon was both he and Sasuke's friend, but Saizo couldn't think of a single time when Sasuke had sought out the Phantom's company instead of his.
Saizo clenched his fists, debating on whether or not he should knock on the door. He realized then he was definitely more angry than hurt. If he went knocking now, there was a good chance he'd end up saying something he didn't mean. And possibly break the door down in the process…
He took a deep breath, turning on his heels and heading straight for Date's room. He needed a sparring partner; someone whose face he could take his anger out on.
CHAPTER 3
"Everything okay?" Goemon asked, gesturing for Sasuke to have a seat.
"Not really."
Sasuke looked up at Goemon, not sure why he thought the Phantom would be able to help him. Unfortunately, he didn't know who else to talk to. He had other friends, but none he trusted with his secret.
"Let me grab a shirt." Goemon said. "Then you can tell me all about it."
Sasuke leaned back in the chair, watching Goemon dig through his dresser draw. The Phantom was massive, his broad back covered in scars. Those who didn't know the daemon would probably find him intimidating, but if they actually spent time with him, they would know he had a kind soul.
Goemon pulled a shirt over his head, then quickly tied back his shoulder length hair. He sat on the edge of his bed, signaling he was ready to listen, but now that Sasuke had the Phantom's undivided attention, he wasn't sure where or how to start.
"It's about Saizo. I-I think I might…" Sasuke paused, trying to find a way to phrase his thoughts without revealing too much of his true feelings.
"Take your time." Goemon said. "Whatever it is, I promise I won't judge."
Sasuke looked up then, scrutinizing every detail of Goemon's expression. There was something strange about the way the Phantom was looking at him…
"You know?" Sasuke asked in a hushed voice.
Goemon bit his lip, running a hand down his mouth.
"Holy shit, you know!"
Sasuke jumped out of his seat and raced for the door, too embarrassed to face his friend any longer. He almost made it, but Goemon grabbed his arm to stop him.
"Yes, I already know, but you came here for a reason, Sasuke. I can only assume it means you're ready to talk about your feelings for Saizo."
"I-I don't know what you're talking about." Sasuke sputtered, trying to pull his arm from Goemon's grasp.
"You like Saizo. I'd even venture to say you love him. You're here because you need someone to talk to about it; help you figure out how to deal with it all."
"Y-you… H-how…"
It was a good thing Goemon was still holding onto him, because he kind of just collapsed to the floor.
"Listen, Sasuke." Goemon said, dropping to one knee in front of him. "If you're worried I might judge, or think differently of you, you have nothing to worry about."
"How long have you known?" Sasuke questioned, unable to look the Phantom in the eyes.
"Since last spring, but my suspicions weren't confirmed until a few weeks ago."
Sasuke covered his mouth with his hand; tears burning his eyes. He could feel the blood draining from his face. If Goemon knew, then others might as well. Even Saizo!
"I think I'm going to be sick." Sasuke whispered.
Sasuke scrambled for the trash can just in time. Unfortunately, there was nothing in his belly, so he ended up vomiting nothing but stomach acid. He dry-heaved for several more seconds while Goemon patted him on the back comfortingly.
"Geez, you're really torn up about this."
"Do you think he knows?" Sasuke asked, looking up at Goemon through watery eyes.
"Who? Saizo?" Goemon snickered. "Please! He's too oblivious to notice such things. Maybe if you were a girl or something… But as it stands now, I highly doubt it."
"I should be relived." Sasuke replied, coughing a few more times. "But it's only a matter of time before he figures it out. By the way," he asked, wiping his mouth on his sleeve. "How did you figure it out?"
"Well, it was little things at first. Like the way you look at him, and the fact that you never leave his side."
"But we're always together. Maybe it's Saizo that never leaves my side."
Goemon shook his head. "You go where he goes, not the other way around. Example, you come to our poker game every weekend. You hate poker and the drinking that goes along with it, but you come because Saizo likes that stuff, and you want to be near him no matter what. If you still don't believe me, try to getting him to go with you to one of your anime conventions. I guarantee he'd find a million reasons not to go."
Sasuke sighed heavily. The Phantom was right. It was obvious who was infatuated with whom.
"I don't know what to do anymore, Goemon. It's painful just to be next to him. Do you know how many times a day I have to watch him flirt with girls? I walked in on him and Moon this morning. It's not even 8 am and he's already trying to get into her pants!"
"That's just how Saizo is. He's a friendly guy."
"Friendly? You call sleeping with a waitress in the bathroom at Joruri's Bar and Grill, friendly? They talked for like 10 minutes, and the next thing I know, I'm standing guard outside the door while they fuck each other's brains out."
Goemon blew out a slow breath. "That's harsh, but it's not like he's trying torture you on purpose. He doesn't know how you feel about him. Maybe if you confessed, then…"
"No! I can't do that. He'd think I was disgusting for feeling like this." Sasuke buried his face in his hands. "He'd hate me."
"You don't know that for certain."
Sasuke's head snapped up. "Don't I?!" He asked incredulously. "In all the years I've known Saizo, he's never said, 'hey, look at that hot guy over!' He's straighter than a bloody arrow! If I confess, I'll lose him forever!"
"I understand what you're saying, Sasuke." Goemon replied. "But what happens to you if you don't confess? You're making yourself sick over this." He sighed, helping Sasuke to his feet. "Saizo's a good guy. I know you're scared, but I really think if you tell him the truth, he'll understand. He may not be able to love you the same way in return, but at least it will be out in the open."
Sasuke ran a shaky hand through his hair, trying to keep himself from being sick again. He wanted to believe what Goemon said was true, but fear is a powerful deterrent.
"Do you mind if I crash here for a while?" He asked Goemon.
"Sure," the Phantom replied, "but you won't be able to hide here for long. He will find you. In fact, this will probably be the first place he looks."
"That's fine. I just need a day or so to figure things out. Promise you won't tell him?"
"I'll try, but you know how Saizo is."
"Yeah, I know.
"Let's not worry about it now. I'll grab an extra futon from downstairs and bring you up something to eat."
"Thanks for this, Goemon."
"No worries, Divina." He replied ruffling Sasuke's hair. "If all else fails, you still have me."
CHAPTER 4
Sasuke wandered out of Goemon's room sometime after midnight. The Phantom had been more than accommodating; keeping him fed and allowing him to watch TV and play video games to his heart's content.
Sasuke intended to stay a couple more days with Goemon, but he needed to pick up a few things from his room. The Phantom had offered to go for him, but Sasuke needed to get out of the room for a bit. There was no way Saizo was still up, so he was confident he wouldn't run into him.
He walked through the corridor leading back to the Divina section of the house. Either side of the long hallway was lined with floor to ceiling windows, letting in the soft glow of the moon and starlight. Sasuke paused a moment to take in the view, pressing his palm to the cool glass. Maybe he would go outside for a bit; let the crisp night air clear his thoughts.
Sasuke turned towards the staircase, deciding then that he would go for a walk before heading to his room to pack a bag. He'd just placed a hand on the railing when a whisper of a sound caught his ear. Sasuke spun around, his arms coming up just in time to block the leg hurling towards his head.
Sasuke knew who his attacker was before he ever saw his face. He also knew that the onslaught would not stop until one of them was defeated.
"Where are you going?!" Saizo shouted, dodging Sasuke's flurry of headshots.
"None of your fucking business!" He roared back.
They traded blows, both refusing to show mercy. Evenly matched, it was nearly impossible for either one of them to gain the upper hand. Saizo was angry. The Divina was far more aggressive than normal. The pained look on his face worried Sasuke to the point of distraction…
When Saizo finally landed a blow, it nearly knocked all of Sasuke's teeth out. He stumbled backward, trying to regain his composure, but his foot slipped off the top step and he toppled down the stairs.
"Sasuke!" Saizo screamed, instinctively reaching out for him. He wasn't fast enough…
Pain. It was the only thing Sasuke's mind could register. He landed awkwardly on his side, aware that his right leg was twisted at an odd angle. He blinked, trying to clear the black spots dancing in his vision.
"Damn it, Sasuke!" Saizo said, dropping to his knees beside him. "You could've blocked that!"
"So it's my fault?" Sasuke grunted, wincing in pain.
"Yes! I mean no! Jesus, Sasuke!" Saizo ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "I need to get you to a healer!"
"My knee is dislocated." He mumbled, grabbing Saizo's arm to stop him. "You need to reset it first."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
Saizo nodded. "Try not to scream too loudly." He said, maneuvering Sasuke onto his back. "You can squeeze my arm as tight as you need to. Don't worry about hurting me."
"Just do it already!" Sasuke bit out.
"Okay, okay. On the count of three. One, two…" Saizo snapped the knee back in place.
"Son of a….!" You said on the count of three!"
"Sorry." Saizo muttered, his expression not even close to remorseful. "Do you think you can stand?"
"Uh, yeah, I think so."
"Good, I'll help you up to your room then go get help."
"No." Sasuke said. "I'm okay now. It was just my knee. It'll be fine in a few days."
"No way! We need to make sure nothing is fractured of broken." Saizo pulled Sasuke to his feet. "Lean on me." He commanded, wrapping Sasuke's arm around his neck.
Sasuke sighed in frustration. "I said I'm fine. Just get me over to the railing and then you can go."
"Dude, I'm not just going to leave you!" Saizo slid his other arm around Sasuke's waist, pulling him tightly against his body.
"Why do you even care?!" Sasuke barked, desperately trying to pull away. "You don't even consider me a friend, so why are you making such a big deal over this?!"
"What are you talking about?! Of course you're my friend!" Saizo picked Sasuke up off the ground, throwing him over his shoulder. "After all we've been through, I can't believe you'd think so low of me!"
"Put me down!" Sasuke yelped.
Saizo held him in place, his arms wrapped tightly around Sasuke's thighs. "Just hold still until I get you up the stairs!"
"No, I can walk on my own!"
"Like hell you can! Now be still!"
"Saizo, please…" Sasuke pleaded.
Sasuke tried to wriggle out of the Divina's grip. He could feel his body responding to Saizo's touch despite the pain he was currently in. It was only a matter of time before Saizo felt it, too.
They barely made it to the top of the stairs before Sasuke managed to get free. He fell to the ground, taking Saizo with him. The Divina landed heavily on top of Sasuke, a slew of curse words flying from his lips.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Sasuke?! You could've killed us both!"
"Get off!" Sasuke shrieked, his erection now hot and heavy between his legs.
"I will! Would you give me a bloody second?! Let me just…"
Saizo froze, his words trailing off. He looked down at Sasuke, his eyes wide with shock and confusion. A rush of heat filled Sasuke's cheeks, tears welling up in his eyes. Panic surged forth, and pressing both hands to Saizo's chest, he pushed as hard as he could.
As soon as Sazio was off of him, Sasuke tried to get to his feet. He immediately cried out in pain, dropping back to the floor and clutching his knee.
"What's going on?!" The sound of Goemon's booming voice echoed through the hall as he ran towards them.
"H-he… I-I…" Saizo stumbled over his words, inching further and further away from Sasuke.
Through his blinding pain, Sasuke could see the look of revulsion in Saizo's eyes. His tears fell freely now, but at least he could blame them on the pain from his knee.
"Sasuke, are you okay?" Goemon rushed to his side. "Try not to move. What the hell happened, Saizo?!"
"Uh… I-it's his knee. H-he dislocated it."
"Help me get him up!" Goemon commanded.
"No!" Saizo said quickly. "I-I mean, I'll go get help while you get him to his room."
Goemon examined Saizo closely, understanding dawning on his face. "Don't worry about it." He sneered. "I'll take it from here."
"Y-you sure? I can bring a healer."
"I said I got it!" Goemon snapped. "I think it's best if you just go."
"Y-yeah." Saizo nodded in agreement, scrambling to his feet. "I'll leave it to you."
And with that, he was gone.
Goemon gently lifted Sasuke into his arms, pretending not to see the tears pouring from his eyes.
"He knows." Sasuke croaked.
"It would seem so." Goemon replied grimly.
"He hates me."
"What happened? Did you tell him?"
"I didn't have to." Sasuke groaned, letting his head fall against Goemon's arm. "I didn't exactly make it hard for him to figure out. Actually," he continued, groaning again, "that's exactly what I did."
Goemon sighed. "I don't believe it's as bad as you think it is. If I had to guess, I'd say the Divina is more confused than anything else. Give him some time to work out what he's feeling."
"I could give him all the time in the world and it wouldn't change anything. He thinks I'm disgusting, Goemon. I could see it in his eyes."
"Let's just get you back to my room." Goemon replied. "You can tell me what happened, and we can figure things out from there."
"There's no point." Sasuke muttered. "I've lost him, Goemon. Just like I said I would."
CHAPTER 5
He wouldn't think about it. He would pretend that he hadn't felt Sasuke's hard length bulging demandingly against his thigh. If he could convince himself that it had never happened, then he and Sasuke could go back to how things used to be.
Saizo had been telling himself that for the past 3 days, yet every time he'd head towards Sasuke's room, his feet ended up taking him as far away from the Divina as possible. Four times they'd almost run into each other, and all four times Saizo had literally run in the opposite direction.
In all honesty, Saizo couldn't be sure that Sasuke's… reaction, could be contributed to him. Just because the Divina happened to get an erection while he was carrying him up a flight of stairs, didn't mean that his frenemy suddenly liked him. After all, guys could get hard-ons anytime and anywhere. Who's to say that Sasuke didn't have a thing for pain?
Saizo sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. Even he knew an excuse like that was ridiculous. And the more he thought about Sasuke's strange behavior over the past few weeks, the more things started to make sense. In fact, he was very familiar with this phenomenon, having experienced it with any number of females.
Sasuke had a crush on him...
Saizo's first reaction was complete and utter disgust. Men were supposed to like women; simple as that. What Sasuke felt was… unnatural. Saizo knew a few others with this peculiar preference; most notably Barbatos and Ikutachi. And although Saizo was relatively familiar with the process of how two men… you know… he couldn't understand why any of them would want to. Women were so deliciously perfect; all soft curves and delicate features. Much better than some scruffy, hard-bodied male. Yes, something was clearly wrong with Sasuke, and Saizo was one hundred percent sure he wanted nothing to do with him or his perverse tastes.
The concept of ending his friendship with Sasuke seemed simple enough. They had some of the same friends and enjoyed a few common hobbies, but when it came right down to it, any awkward or unwanted encounters could be easily avoided. After all, they lived in a mansion. One could go for days without seeing the same face twice. It would be hard at first, but perhaps with time, any remnants of their association would fade into quiet obscurity.
But what would life be like without Sasuke?
It was a question Saizo had asked himself every day since the moment he'd learned the truth of Sasuke's feelings. And although he wasn't ready to admit it out loud, in the back of his mind; tucked somewhere in a small dark corner, Saizo knew the truth. Letting Sasuke go would be impossible. The Divina was his worst friend and best enemy. And if you took the time to think about it, didn't that mean they were actually best friends? As awkward and out of place as Saizo's feelings seemed, especially in light of his new found knowledge, the thought of being without Sasuke made him ache somewhere deep inside.
So here he was. His head trapped in this strange tug-a-war with his heart. Did he end his friendship and force himself to forget about Sasuke? Or did he feign ignorance, and see if they could go back to the way things were?
Saizo huffed in frustration, snatching his Budweiser bottle off the table and downing the remaining beer in one gulp.
"What's up with you?" Barbatos asked, his gaze moving from the cards in his hands to Saizo. "You've been sighing since you sat down."
"Nothing." Saizo replied, getting up to grab another beer from the fridge.
It was poker night, and up until now, it had been Saizo's favorite part of the week. He and his friends would gather to drink, play cards and catch up. It was his sanctuary and Saizo looked forward to it every week. Except for tonight…
He'd expected Sasuke to show up. Expected things to be so painfully awkward that one of them finally left. But when Goemon showed up and Sasuke didn't, Saizo felt almost… disappointed. From that moment on, Saizo could think of nothing but the Divina.
"You sure?" Odairi called after him. "You seem out of it."
"Yeah." Rhongomiant added. "You haven't won a single game all night. Not that I mind. It's nice to be winning for once."
Saizo dropped back into his seat, popping open his beer. His eyes flickered to Goemon, but the Phantom wasn't paying him any attention. He was yapping away with Bunchu, just like he'd been doing since the game started. It irritated Saizo to no end. Goemon was his friend, too, yet the man hadn't said a single word to him about Sasuke.
"I'm fine." Saizo replied, drinking deeply from his bottle.
"Obviously." Barbatos chuckled. "If something's going on, you know you can tell us. Maybe we can help."
"I don't want to talk about it." Saizo replied sharply.
"Leave him alone guys." Goemon finally spoke, shooting Saizo a cool look. "He clearly doesn't want to talk about it."
Saizo's eyes narrowed on the Phantom, not sure he liked the patronizing tone he was using. "I don't need you to defend me." He said coldly.
"I wasn't." Goemon replied, his eyes flashing a warning. "I'm just trying to keep the game going. Not everything is about you, Divina."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Odairi said, looking from Saizo to Goemon. "What's with the hostility?"
"No hostility." Goemon answered with a shrug. "But if Saizo doesn't want to talk about it, then there's no sense in wasting time trying to get it out of him."
"O-kay." Barbatos said cautiously, exchanging worried looks with Rhongomiant.
"Has something happened between the two of you?" Bunchu asked, glancing at Goemon.
"Nope." The Phantom replied shortly.
"Riiiiiiight." Odairi said, tossing his cards on the table. "By the way, I fold."
"Come on guys." Barbatos said, trying to sound supportive. "If something's going on with you two, then it's best to get it out in the open. We're all friends here, remember?"
"Barbatos is right." Bunchu added. "There's no judgment here. Let us help."
"Wait, does it have to do with Sasuke?" Odairi asked the question as if suddenly realizing the Divina was missing from the table. "Is that why he didn't show up tonight?"
"I fold." Saizo said, standing up and tossing his cards on the table.
"Bingo." Barbatos snickered, leaning back in his seat. "You two must have had a fight or something."
"And it looks like Goemon took Sasuke's side on it." Rhongomiant added with a smile.
"It's none of your fucking business, Anima." Saizo answered frigidly. "It's got nothing to do with any of you. Goemon included."
Saizo snatched his bottle off the table, guzzling the rest before making a beeline for the refrigerator again. He grabbed two cases of beer and turned back to the table. He was too angry to say anything else, and frankly, he was afraid of what might come out should he open his mouth again. The daemons at the table were among his most trusted friends, but he was certainly not going to tell them anything about what was going on between him and Sasuke. Especially since he wasn't entirely sure he knew what was going on.
"There's no need to leave, Saizo." Rhongomiant said. "We'll stop hounding you about it."
"Yeah." Barbatos added. "Sit back down so I can finish taking your silver."
Saizo surveyed the table, his eyes landing on Goemon's stony gaze. "I'm tired." He said finally.
Saizo marched from the room, the beer cases still in hand. He wanted to pound that condescending look right off Goemon's face. What was going on between him and Sasuke had nothing to do with the Phantom, yet the daemon looked down upon him with judgment in his eyes.
"Fuck him." Saizo hissed under his breath.
This wasn't his fault. He wasn't the one who had disgusting and unnatural feelings. Clearly Sasuke was to blame. He was the reason their friendship was now falling apart. If anyone should be upset, it was Saizo. Not Sasuke, and certainly not Goemon.
CHAPTER 6
He was drunk. Sasuke could smell the alcohol radiating from his pores.
"What are you doing here, Saizo?" Sasuke asked cautiously. "It's almost 3 o'clock in the morning."
Saizo made no move to answer, he merely stared at Sasuke; his dark eyes unreadable. He stepped into the bedroom; the force of his presence seeming to fill the entire room.
"S-Saizo?" Sasuke stuttered, his body instinctively moving back as Saizo continued to move forward. "Are you alright? Did something happen?"
The Divina didn't answer. He just stared; his gaze moving up and down the length of Sasuke's body. He kicked the door shut with the back of his foot, blindly reaching back to lock the door.
"You're scaring me, Saizo."
Sasuke knew Saizo better than he knew himself, but the daemon in front of him now was a stranger. There was a darkness in Saizo's eyes that Sasuke had never seen before. Was it rage? Hatred? Desire?
Sasuke trembled, his mind screaming for him to run. He could overpower Saizo long enough to flee, but even as his mind begged him to escape; his body was too terrified, too… curious to move. There was a reason Saizo was here; a reason he'd sought Sasuke out despite the current state of their friendship. Sasuke wanted to know what it was...
The backs of Sasuke's legs hit the edge of his mattress, his chest tightening when he realized there was nowhere else to go. Saizo stood before him. His massive form looming dangerously above him. Even if he tried to run now, there was little chance he would make it to the door.
"You," Saizo whispered, "ruined everything."
"W-what? I don't under…."
"Don't play dumb." Saizo hissed. "This is your fault. Things between us were perfect, but you had to go and…"
His words trailed off, and there was such pain and resentment in his eyes that it made Sasuke want to weep.
"I'm sorry." Sasuke pleaded. "You're right, this is my fault. I didn't want things to turn out this way, I swear! I tried to stop feeling like this, but I… I..."
There was so much Sasuke wanted to say. Needed to say. But before he could speak, Saizo's mouth was on his; his tongue forcing its way into his mouth. Sasuke's mind was reeling; unable to grasp a single coherent thought. Suddenly he was on the bed; Saizo's hands tearing at his clothes. Sasuke tried to stop him, but the Divina managed to rip off his pajama pants with little effort.
"Saizo!" Sasuke shouted his name, not sure if he wanted the Divina to stop or keep going.
In the end, it didn't matter. Saizo was long past the point of stopping. The Divina ripped open the front of Sasuke's shirt, his hot mouth nipping and sucking its way to the tender peak of his nipple. Somewhere in the haze of confusion and fear, desire blossomed within Sasuke. A tiny moan escaped his lips as his body responded to Saizo's passionate attack.
The involuntary sound was like throwing gasoline on a fire. Saizo's hands were suddenly everywhere; his mouth desperate to explore every nook and cranny of Sasuke's exposed skin. Sasuke could no longer focus; his every thought scattering with each frenzied kiss and caress. All these feelings and sensations were new to him, and with everything happening so fast, all he could do was hold on for dear life.
It was shocking and wonderful; passionate and terrifying. Sasuke didn't want it to end. This was everything he'd hoped for, and this time it wasn't a dream…
Saizo broke the kiss, his breath ragged and his eyes full of primal need. Sitting back on his heels, he yanked off the plain white t-shirt he wore. Sasuke inhaled sharply, watching as the muscles in Saizo's chest and arms flexed as he undid the top of his pants.
God he's beautiful…
The thought skittered across Sasuke's mind just before Saizo claimed his mouth once again…
"More." Sasuke whispered between kisses, reaching between their bodies and taking hold of Saizo's cock.
The Divina hissed, clenching his teeth and accidently nipping the tender skin of Sasuke's bottom lip. Saizo pressed his forehead to Sasuke's shoulder, arching his back so there was enough room for Sasuke to stroke the full length of his dick.
Saizo moved his hips in harmony with Sasuke's strokes; his breathing becoming even more labored and ragged. Sasuke wanted to see his face. He wanted to watch as the Divina found his release, but Saizo seemed determined not to look up.
In the final moments before his orgasm, Saizo took hold of Sasuke's hand, forcing him to move faster and squeeze harder. The Divina cried out in pleasure, his hot seed spraying Sasuke's bare stomach. Sasuke continued to stroke until he felt Saizo's body relax in his arms.
Saizo collapsed onto his side, releasing Sasuke almost immediately. When Sasuke reached out for the Divina's arm, he pulled away, rolling so that he faced away from him. Staring at the Divina's back, Sasuke watched in silence as Saizo's breathing fell into the slow steady rhythm of sleep.
It's difficult to say what Sasuke felt in that moment. The whole thing had happened so fast, that his mind was still trying to catch up. Sliding off the bed, he moved blindly towards the bathroom, switching on the light to examine himself in the mirror.
His lips were red and swollen from Saizo's kisses, and there were several love marks speckled across his neck and chest. His hair was in complete disarray, and there was a small cut on his bottom lip where Saizo had accidently bitten him. But most disturbing of all, were the silent tears rolling down his flushed cheeks.
Turning the shower to the hottest setting, Sasuke stepped into the stream of scolding water. He felt dirty and used and strangely… empty. Though he knew he should be furious, Sasuke couldn't seem to summon enough anger to be outraged. All he wanted to do was wash away the evidence of Saizo's drunken lust, and forget any of it ever happened. He scrubbed his body until his skin was practically raw; the steaming water stinging against his tender flesh.
Unfortunately, there was no way to get rid of the love marks, so Sasuke dug out an old turtleneck from his dresser draw and pulled it over his damp head. He slipped on a pair of boxers and jeans, then set about gathering his torn clothing from the floor and redressing Saizo's unconscious body. When he was satisfied he'd gotten rid of any incriminating evidence, Sasuke made his way to Goemon's room.
He knocked lightly on the Phantom's door, trying to school his face to cool indifference. He'd stopped crying sometime during his shower, and made sure to check that his eyes were no longer red before he'd left his bedroom.
"Sasuke?" Goemon asked groggily. "What are you doing here?"
"I need your help with something." Sasuke replied. He'd practiced the lie on his way to the Phantom's room, so the words flowed effortlessly from his lips. "Saizo got completed wasted last night. I'm not sure why, but he ended coming to my room. I tried to get him to leave, but he ended up passing out on my bed. He's too heavy for me to lift since he's practically dead weight right now, so I was wondering if you could help me get him back to his room."
"Right now? It's like four in the morning."
"Yeah, I know, but I'm afraid if he wakes up in my room we'll start fighting again."
Goemon sighed heavily. "Alright, let me get some clothes on and I'll meet you down there."
"Thanks."
Sasuke made his way back to his room, relieved that Goemon had accepted the lie. He wasn't sure what he would've done if the Phantom had questioned the holes in his story.
When he got back to his room, Saizo was still passed out on the bed. He lay on his back now; his chest rising and falling steadily, and both hands tucked behind his head like he didn't have a care in the world. It irritated Sasuke, but at the same time he was struck with the urge to climb onto the bed and rest his head on the Divina's chest.
Sasuke thumbed the tender cut on his lip; the gentle throbbing a reminder of why that was a bad idea. Though Sasuke's heart wanted to believe this fateful encounter was a sign of Saizo's subconscious desire for him, his mind was smart enough to reject the absolutely ridiculous idea. This was just another one of Saizo's drunken stunts, and Sasuke was just another one of his unwitting victims. As far as he was concerned, this had never happened, and more likely than not, Saizo would never remember coming to his room in the first place.
Good. Sasuke thought; his resolve strengthening by the minute. It'll make forgetting him that much easier.
CHAPTER 7
Saizo wandered into the kitchen sometime around 11:00 am. His head was pounding and his stomach had been on the verge of empty its contents since the moment he'd rolled out of his bed.
"You look like you need coffee." Ohina said, her high pitched voice threatening to shatter Saizo's ear drums.
"Do me a favor and don't talk." Saizo said, fumbling towards the coffee maker.
She laughed softly, starting a pot for him. He grunted a thank you and staggered over to one of the small breakfast nooks. Sunshine was streaming in from every direction, so finding a spot in the shadows was impossible. He'd just have to bear with it until his coffee was finished.
"Here." Ohina said, setting a glass down in front of him. "You need water more than coffee."
"Thanks." Saizo mumbled.
"Odairi's in worse shape than you are." Ohina chattered on. "I don't know why he insists on trying to keep up with you and the other's drinking habits. He knows he's a light weight, yet every Saturday morning, I'm up bright and early, ready to nurse his inevitable hangover."
"Ohina." Saizo groaned. "I love you to death, but please shut up. My head feels like it's going to explode."
"Serves you right." She snorted viciously, making a concerted effort to create as much noise as possible while pouring him a cup of coffee. "You're welcome." She muttered, setting a mug in front of him. Not waiting for his reply, she swept regally from the kitchen.
Saizo lifted his head, inhaling the delicious scent of the dark rich liquid. He noticed then that Ohina had set two tablets next to the glass of water she'd left for him. Blessing the saints for her momentary display of kindness, he tossed back the pain killers, then guzzled the entire glass of water. He put his head down on the table again, waiting a few minutes for the medicine to kick in and his coffee to cool down.
When he finally felt like he could stand direct sunlight once more, he lifted his head and started in on his coffee. He was on his third sip when he saw Sasuke run past one of the kitchen windows. He was armed, and his face was flushed with color. Before Saizo could think differently, he got up from his seat and walked to the window; coffee in hand.
He reached the glass just in time to see Goemon whiz past as well. The Phantom was armed with a set of throwing knives, and based on all the evidence before him; Saizo deduced that they were currently in the middle of a friendly battle. His suspicions were confirmed, when Goemon launched a knife at Sasuke's back leg. The Divina must have caught the movement out of the corner of his eye, because his feet immediately side-stepped the blade.
Unfortunately for Sasuke, he misjudged his landing, his left foot twisting at an awkward angle beneath him. Saizo snickered. Just like the Divina; always leaping, but never taking a moment to see where he might land…
Sasuke tumbled face forward to the ground, rolling several feet before coming to a stop. Goemon slowed, jogging to where the Divina lay and immediately dropping to his knees beside him. Sasuke, completely undeterred by the fall, sat up and brushed the dirt from his clothes, smiling widely at the Phantom. The unguarded expression caused Saizo's heart to stutter half a beat.
How long had it been since he'd seen that smile?
The idea that Sasuke would share it with Goemon, and not him, was infuriating. He was Sasuke's best friend! He was the Divina's morning sparring partner!
"That son of a bitch!" Saizo hissed; his rage focused directly on the Phantom.
Sasuke must have said something hysterical, because Goemon threw his head back in laughter. Saizo bristled angrily, wondering when the two daemons had gotten so uncomfortably comfortable with each other. He was just about to turn away and head back to his room, when Goemon did the most unexpected thing… He kissed Sasuke.
It was a light kiss, come and gone before the Divina recognized what it was. Sasuke looked so completely shocked and confused, that Saizo was sure he was going to punch Goemon square in the nose. You can imagine his surprise when instead of hitting the Phantom, Sasuke leaned forward and kissed him back.
The coffee cup slipped from Saizo's hands, shattering onto the white tiled floor. The liquid was still hot, but Saizo couldn't feel it. In fact, he couldn't feel anything.
CHAPTER 8
It was an innocent kiss; tentative and exploratory, but it didn't take a genius to figure out the intent behind it. Although Sasuke had never considered Goemon as a potential lover, he found that he wasn't entirely against the idea. So, under the shade of a Japanese maple tree, Sasuke took a chance and kissed the Phantom back.
Goemon was clearly surprised at Sasuke's boldness, but his disbelief was short-lived. He took Sasuke into his arms, adjusting him so that he sat comfortably on his lap. The kiss lasted longer than Sasuke had intended, and though it wasn't as passionate and breath-taking as Saizo's kiss was last night, Sasuke decided that it was one he could get used to. Even learn to love given enough time and practice.
Goemon was the one who broke the kiss first, his lips hovering over Sasuke's for several moments before he finally spoke.
"I've wanted to do that for so long." The Phantom whispered, nuzzling Sasuke's nose with his.
"You did?" Sasuke asked, not sure what else to say to such an obvious confession of love.
Goemon took a deep breath, making sure to meet Sasuke's eyes when he replied. "I like you. I know this is probably the worst time to tell you this, but I don't think I can keep quiet for much longer. I know how you feel about Saizo, and I know that right now you're hurting and vulnerable, but I need you to know that I'm here for you. And as more than just a friend."
Sasuke swallowed, not sure what to say. Goemon was right. He was hurting. And though he'd never admit that he could ever be vulnerable, he was in fact walking around with a gaping hole in his heart.
"I'm leaving." Goemon continued. "And I want you to come with me. I know you love Saizo, but he's never going to understand you the way I do. I may not be what you want right now, but I can make you happy if you let me."
Sasuke blew out a long breath, letting go of Goemon and moving slowly away.
"I don't know what to say." Sasuke replied honestly, unable to meet the Phantom's expectant gaze.
"You don't have to say anything right now." Goemon said, taking hold of Sasuke's chin and forcing him to meet his eyes. "If you ask me to, I'll wait as long as it takes."
Sasuke could feel his cheeks burning. The Phantom certainly had a way with words. And he was definitely more charming than Saizo would ever be.
So what was the problem? Why couldn't he say yes?
"I-I need some time." Sasuke replied hesitantly. "I care about you and I value our friendship. I'm just not sure I can…" His words trailed off; unable to finish his sentence for fear of the pain it would cause the Phantom.
"I understand." Goemon replied comfortingly. "You don't need to explain anything to me." The Phantom stood, holding out his hand to help Sasuke up. "I leave in 3 days, but if and when you're ready, I'll always be here. You just have to say the word."
Sasuke took his hand, biting the inside of his cheek to keep the tears from starting.
Why did the Phantom have to be so bloody understanding?!
"I can see the guilt burning in your eyes, Sasuke." Goemon said, pressing the Divina's knuckles to his lips. "Please don't worry about me. I'm only telling you this because I want you to know how I truly feel. Whatever your decision, we will always be friends. I swear to you, with everything I have, our friendship will remain just as strong as it has ever been."
Sasuke groaned. "Geez, Goemon. Why do you have to be so God damn perfect? You make it hard to say no."
Goemon laughed humorlessly. "I'm at war for your heart." He replied matter-of-factly. "Now is not the time to hold back."