Slight warning—this will be a little dark.

Chapter Two: Bitter

The day of the Cell Games, Kuririn avoided eye contact with him, and stood in front at Goku's side. Yamucha wanted to speak with him before then, but it was too late. That was not the time or place to discuss such things.

Kuririn was also doing his best to pretend he was not there. That was worst insult Yamucha ever received.

"At least, look at me, you bastard!" Yamucha wanted to yell at him. He surprised how he was able to keep his mouth shut.

While Goku was fighting Cell, he would catch himself gazing at Kuririn. The monk's eyes were still straight forward, following Goku as he fought--like the rest of them. However, Yamucha was trying to find some comfort in looking at him, but what he felt instead was embarrassment and rage. So, he turned his gaze to elsewhere. Anywhere that Kuririn wasn't in his view.

That day was the first time he had a glimpse of that "woman". When Cell vomited her out, out of their entire group, Kuririn was the first one to run to her side.

The scarred warrior was shocked by such concern he showed to that thing. He held her and called out her name.

Is that why Kuririn had no love for him? Was he saving it all for her?

No, he has to stay focus to what's going on. Now was not the time to act petty. Cell was still alive.

/o/

By some miracle, Gohan managed to kill Cell. Finally it was over, but unfortunately, took their beacon of light and cheerfulness ---that was Goku-- away.

When the dust settled, Yamucha tried to make himself useful by helping to take the wounded to Kami's Point. Gohan, what a brave kid, the least Yamucha could offer was to carry the exhausted child. The kid has been through so much…

Yamucha flew in front of the formation but he couldn't help but look at the others flying close behind him. His eyes fell on Kuririn---still carrying that android woman. The way the monk gazed at her as they flew, he was so enthrall with her…

Yamucha wrenched his sight from them. "Just look ahead." he muttered to himself.

/o/

At Kami's point the matter of the wishes was settled quickly.

Trunks was alive and well again but Goku had refused revival. To the surprise of everyone, he said he was better off dead. But what surprised Yamucha the most was the wish Kuririn asked for.

"This shouldn't be bothering me." He muttered to himself.

Kuririn tried to wish that woman and her brother human again. Some dark part of him cheered when Shenlong said it was impossible.

But still the question remained 'Why was Kuririn doing this for her?'

Why was he wasting such effort on someone that would never love him, when someone he that loves him more than anything was standing right there?

Yamucha did he best to conceal his true feelings while he was with his friends.

Oh, how Yamucha loathed this woman long before he even set eyes on her. Three years of his life was full of terror and dread because of her existence and now she'd stolen Kuririn so effortlessly from him.

'What does Kuririn expect from that thing anyway?'

/o/

Gradually, everyone started to leave and head for home.

The only ones left on Kami's Point were Yamucha, Kuririn and Piccolo.

Piccolo was mediating on the other side of the Point, not really caring if anyone were still here.

Now was the time, he couldn't stay quiet anymore. He had to speak with him right now.

Kuririn was standing on the edge of opposite of Piccolo, staring down at the earth far below, when he approach him. Somehow, Yamucha has to make him understand how he feels.

However, he still felt the sting of embarrassment as he thought of last night. Then a second thought came to mind.

Maybe he can say he was just drunk and he didn't mean any of those things he said. Things can go back to way they were between them.

"Kuririn--"he uttered his name softly.

"Yamucha-san, please…" he quickly cut him off, "don't talk to me now." He didn't give Yamucha a chance to say anything else before he dive Kami's Point and disappeared in the clouds below.

Yamucha felt so numb…Kuririn didn't even what to speak with him anymore. Even after all they have been through together. He . . .

Yamucha stood there frozen, feeling even more crushed than he did the night before.

Why did it hurt?

This didn't make sense! It didn't hurt this much when he broke up with Bulma.

Maybe it didn't because their relationship was just composed of arguing and cheating on each other. When they broke up he was mad but at the same time he was relieved.

But with Kuririn…did it hurt because he thought he could be happy with him?

"What a stupid thing to think!" he chuckled at how idiotic he felt.

"Why should I give a damn? I can have anyone I want. Kuririn doesn't mean anything at all." He told himself.

/o/

Everyone went their separate ways.

Even Puar, who always seemed to by his side, had left for advanced transformation schooling.

Yamucha was alone.

He didn't even bother going back the Kame House for his stuff. The idea of bumping into Kuririn made him sick. Instead, he went straight back to his condo in the city.

He never wanted to see Kuririn again.

/o/

Three months later…

It was 2 o'clock in the morning when the phone rang. Half awake, Yamucha reach for it in the dark.

"Hello?"

No one answered him at first.

"Hello?" Nothing. Yamucha cursed into the phone, he woke for nothing! He was about to hang up when a voice faintly on the other end,

"Y-Yamucha-san?" it said

He paused. Was that…? He put the receiver back up to his ear and muttered into the phone,

"Kuririn?"

"H-hi, Yamucha." Kuririn stuttered nervously.

"Hey, Kuririn." Yamucha turned on the lamp, now wide awake. This was the thing he least expected. He thought Kuririn never wanted to speak to him again.

"How are you doing?"

"Uh, Fine. And you?"

"Good."

They were quiet for a while. It's like the two men were unsure what to say.

"This is silly," Kuririn broke the silence. "I'm sorry I woke you up. I'll call back some other time."

"No, wait!" Yamucha said hastily before he had the chance to hang up. If Kuririn hang up now, he may never hear from him again.

He had to talk about something—anything! Just as long Kuririn didn't hanged up.

/o/

Finally after twenty minutes of talk, they both decided that they needed some sleep.

They hanged up but Yamucha laid awake thinking. His mind was still buzzing with thoughts about Kuririn. He still held feelings for the monk and maybe—just maybe-- he wasn't so out of his reach after all.

Just then, Yamucha realize what appeal Kuririn has. Every sex partner he had, he always had to be careful. In fear he may get carry away and hurting-- maybe even killing them. Sometimes he didn't know his own strength. But with Kuririn, he will never have to worry about crap like that.

There would be no barriers. No holding back. They'll thrive off each other's strength…

"Stop that!" he scolded his wild imagination

Kuririn called because he missed him as a friend. He wouldn't want any of that.

/o/

Once ever so often, the phone would ring and Kuririn would be on the other end. Yamucha felt little sick with himself because it was like he live for the phone to ring and to hear Kuririn's voice. He longed for the comfort it brought like it did during their years of training.

It was almost like old times.

Almost.

He had yet to see Kuririn again in person. All they had were the phone calls to one another. Sometimes, he can hear Kuririn's nervousness in his voice whenever he suggested it.

Was he afraid of him?

Sensing this, Yamucha kept their conversations calm and casual as possible. They made no mention of that night like it never happened. Finally, after a couple of weeks of talk, Yamucha invited him to come over to his place so they can watch a game together and Kuririn agreed.

/o/

It was a cool autumn evening the day of the game.

Yamucha sat anxiously in his place's living room, wondering when Kuririn would get here.

'He's late. Did he chicken out or something?'

The game had already started and was fifteen minutes in.

Buzzt---Buzzt his intercom sounded.

Yamucha nearly jumped at the sudden sound. He rushed over to answer it.

"Who is it?"

"It's me." Kuririn's voice sounded from the speaker.

"Great, I'm buzzing you in."

Yamucha heart was thumping in his chest as he waited for Kuririn.

In less than a minute Kuririn was at his door.

"Hey, Kuririn! I'm glad you made it."

Kuririn slipped off his jacket and came in.

"It's been awhile, hasn't it?"Kuririn said quietly, looking up at him.

It must've been chilly outside because Kuririn's cheeks had a slight rosy look. Yamucha force himself not to stare at him for too long. There were times he thought Kuririn as just plain—ordinary, and moments when he thought he was the most adorable thing possible.

They settled down on the couch.

"Here." Yamucha offered him a glass mug full of beer.

"Uh, you know I don't drink,"

"Aww, Come on, just one beer. I don't like drinking alone."

After a half moment of hesitation, Kuririn accepted it.

"So, what I missed?" he asked

"Nothing much. They barely started . . ."

/o/

It was quiet for a while. They sat side by side for the first time in months.

They were halfway though their beers when they started talking idly during the commercials.

But then Kuririn got very quiet, like he was trying to decide if this was the right moment for something.

"Um, Yamucha-san?" he said softly.

"What?"

He smiled sheepishly and said,

"We were both drunk and we didn't know what we were doing?"

He instantly knew what he was talking about—that night over three months ago. Yamucha gave a lighthearted laugh, "Yeah, You're right, you're right."

"Even if I was . . ." Kuririn swallowed uncomfortably as he rethinks his words. "You're much as a brother to me as Goku is. So I'll never…"

Kuririn abruptly paused and brought his hand to his mouth and yawned a little.

"I still want to be friends . . . Yamucha, I really missed you."

He yawned a great yawn and leaned back on Yamucha's couch.

" I'm just so sleepy now. I don't understand it." he yawned again, blinking his eyes rapidly, as though he was trying to shake the sleep from them. But the drowsiness was winning . . .

"You should lie down." Yamucha offered

"Yeah . . ." without any question of the proposal, he lie down and his eyes fluttered closed. Yamucha eyed Kuririn intently. He took another swig of beer, set his drink on the coffee table and moved toward his friend.

" Hey…" he whispered

He shook him lightly, but Kuririn didn't stir.

"Kuririn…"he took hold of his chin and tilted his face towards his.

Yamucha leaned forward—so close he could feel his warm moist breath on his face. His lips brushed softly against his and lightly, Yamucha kissed him .With no resistance from Kuririn, the light kiss deeper—more vigorous as Yamucha took total control of his mouth.

He pulled away finally and looked at him once more.

Even after all that, Kuririn do not wake.

He stroke Kuririn's cheek as he stared hard at him.

Thinking. Deciding. Is this what he really wanted?

Yes, he was sure. He didn't spend all that time thinking about it, wanting it, and he didn't go this far to go only half way.

This was the moment he was waiting patiently for.

There was no question why Kuririn was asleep now.

The beer. Yamucha spike it with a drug. It was odorless and tasteless. Kuririn didn't detect it at all. The guy he bought it from told him to use only a tiny pinch of the powder; however, Yamucha used the whole pouch. He was unsure that one little pinch was enough to knock out a man of Kuririn's strength.

Now, Yamucha has hours to do whatever he wanted to do.

This plan was spawned from both anger and lust. That look on his face when he told him that he loves him was burned into his memory.

Confusion. Shock. Panic. Kuririn couldn't wait to get away from him.

He bared his soul and deepest feelings to him and the monk just spat on them. They disgusted him---he disgusted Kuririn! It was so unbelievable! He was there—on his knees!—saying that he loves him.

During those months alone, he never knew he could experience such bitterness.

"I was dense to think I was in love with you. I must've been so desperate." He said as though he could hear him. He was furious with Kuririn. Everything he did now seem to suffer because of him.

His luck in new relationships has gotten even worse because he spend all of his energy thinking about him. The ex-bandit hated moments when he found himself wishing the person he was with were Kuririn instead.

One example, he was on a date with some air-head girl he thought was pretty. But the only thing she was good for was yapping his ear off with her pointless chatter. Moments like these he would let his thoughts drift…

"What would Kuririn say if he was here?" He would think.

When he saw something amazing with his date he would think, "Oh, Kuririn would have enjoyed this."

And finally, when he kissed his date, memories of that night with Kuririn would invade his thoughts. It would spoil the moment and the entire date for him.

He hates him, yet he wants him more than anything.

/o/

Weeks earlier. . .

"He's not worth it." He tried convincing himself as he lay awake one night thinking about him .That Kuririn was just some bald, nose-less, midget and wasn't worth the angst. But then again, that bald, nose-less, midget rejected him. How pitiful was that!

Out of that bitterness, fantasies came to him. At first, the thought of sex with him was unthinkable, now it was all he could think about.

The tipping point came when Kuririn made contact with him again. Just the sound of his voice flushed back so many pleasant memories.

Late one night after talking with Kuririn on the phone, thinking about him, wanting him --feeling anger that he knew it would never come true.

The idea of forcing himself on him flashed into his thoughts.

"I can't do that." Yamucha was terrified that he even let such a thought enter his mind.

"Even if I wanted to he's far too strong. I'd never…"

'There's other ways than brute force.'

Yamucha's throat went dry. It's possible…if he…

"No." he locked that thought away at the back of his mind.

But new thoughts similar to it came. Every time he locked one away a new, stronger one took its place.

What can he do to not get caught?

How would he make him submissive?

What would be like when it happens?

He ran out of room in his head to hide these thoughts from himself.

Was he going mad? Why did he want this so badly? It was coming to a point when the only way to alleviate him was to carry it out.

/o/

Of course, he knew he'd never overpower him, but look at him now! He's in a coma-like state. Defenseless. Powerless! There's nothing he can do to stop him.

He moved Kuririn from couch to the bedroom. Carefully, close to being lovingly, Yamucha place Kuririn's slumbering body onto his bed.

He wanted something to remember this. Yamucha made certain the video camera he set up had a good view of them then set on record.

Stripping Kuririn of his shirt, he gazed down at his chest and saw his body was not without flaws. Many scars crisscrossed on his chest and back.

Yamucha's body was the just the same. He had scars from all the fights he had been in.

"Oh, Kuririn. Why couldn't you understand why wanted you?"

There was a strong kinship between them. Neither them have ever been lucky. Both of them were always in fights that they virtually had no chance of winning. As though, they were pawns just trying to buy some time until someone stronger came to save the day.

It baffled him of how Kuririn was always so willing to play that role. So self-sacrificing . . .

Why…?

His eyes left Kuririn's face and traveled down to his chest.

The larger man lowered his head to one of the scars that lied on the shoulder. He tenderly kissed it, and allowed his mind to fall into a fantasy of what would it be like if Kuririn was awake for this. Imagining Kuririn's hands touching him and his voice saying things the ex-bandit wanted to hear so badly.

'Yamucha . . .'Kuririn's voice rang in his head

Yamucha had to open his eyes and look at him to make sure what he heard was only in his head. Of course, it was. He saw Kuririn's eyes were still close, as though he was sleeping . . . dreaming.

"Kuririn."

He rested his hands on Kuririn's waist and --Oh, -- how tiny it was! He didn't expect he would be so draw to him this way. There was something else he didn't notice before. Nice warmth and a pleasant energy radiated from the monk. It was kinetic.

He strip Kuririn of his pants and boxers, leaving his lower half vulnerable to him. He quickly disposed of his own clothes as well.

Finally, there was nothing between them now. His skin pressed against Kuririn's. He could feel the full extent of his warmth and spirit.

Yamucha admire and was surprise by how soft his skin was against his. Occasionally, a scar would cross the path of his hands as they roam Kuririn's body.

Having that much control over him was intoxicating. His body was so relax, limp more like it. The monk was almost like a puppet in his arms.

Yamucha manipulated Kuririn's body until recreated the same position of that night when he declared his love and was rejected. His larger body was looming over Kuririn's smaller one. However, there was one stark difference; Yamucha's hips were settled between Kuririn's legs.

Yamucha could hear his heart beating loudly in his ears. He had so many dreams like this. This didn't seem real at all to him.

"Maybe am I dreaming, Kuririn." He said softly to his unconscious friend. "No, if this really is a dream. You'll wake up Kuririn. You'd embrace me…accept me, wouldn't you? If I was dreaming…"

Real or not, he couldn't prolong this much longer.

He was slightly concerned that the pain would somehow awake Kuririn from his deep slumber. But Kuririn's body was loose and relaxed, it made Yamucha's invasion of it so easy. He glided all the way into him, as smooth as silk.

Yamucha moaned noisily "Shit, Kuririn. I didn't think you'd be this tight." The inter walls of him seize around his erection tightly. It clasped him so fiercely with his heat.

"Uh…uh…" Kuririn cried out weakly and his face cringed.

Yamucha was mildly surprised by this, "You can feel it, huh?" the ex-bandit murmured into his ear. Kuririn's body shuddered as though he was trying to move.

Yamucha sneered, pleased that Kuririn won't remember any of this; he had the freedom to say whatever he wanted.

"You deserve this," he hissed heatedly.

Yamucha died once because he was thinking of him and nearly a second time because of the same thing. 'I deserve this!'

He clutched Kuririn tighter to him and began to thrust hard…

Kuririn cried out and struggled feebly against him. But eventually, his cries stopped.

The drug was too strong for him to stay in that state for long.

Kuririn's face became relax and peaceful, neither pain nor any sign of awareness appear. The tenseness left his body and his form yielded in Yamucha's grasp.

"That's better." He got a little nervous there. For a moment, he thought the drug wasn't working at all.

Yamucha closed his eyes and just focused on the sensation as he thrust in and out of him. Not having a single care what he was doing was wrong.

He took advantage of him, while the game-- they were watching together as friends-- still played loudly on the television in the other room.

TBC

Okay, the story's gonna get little darker than this but then it will get lighter.

Then dark again

Then light.

Then dark.

Well, you get the idea.

For anyone who's interested the next chapter --"Aftermath" --will be up in a few days. At the very most , it'll come in a week.

Ta-ta for now.