Author: Nami-chan.
Pairing : :DateSana, MotoMoto, KoSasu, IeMitsu, and some other I won't spoil
Disclaimers : I think we all would like to have the on right Sengoku Basara, but it's not my case
Note : Still no beta.
Dragon Tales Book Two
Part 2
Murmurs from the guests rose in the garden when the dancer remained still. Masamune saw Yukimura breath catch when he realized that they recognized the man who had been their unwanted 'guest' two years ago and a smile stretched on the lips of the young dragon responsible for this when he noticed it too.
Time seemed frozen as when Yukimura's eyes met those of Masamune, something indiscernible was exchanged between them, a silent conversation that lasted in fact within a few seconds. Masamune felt all of Yukimura awkwardness, all his discomfort and embarrassment and in return he handed him his pride in being his rival and all his affection. Breathe deeply, Masamune lips moved without a sound, you can do it.
And that was because Masamune was proud of him, proud of his rival. Because Masamune was certain of one thing, that was the last time they had been together, Yukimura couldn't dance. He clearly remembered the conversation they had exchanged about it. Masamune loved dancing as an art, he still spoke with emotion of the first time he had seen a kabuki performance. Masamune also loved to dance himself to refocus his mind, Masamune really loved to dance ... but it was quite the opposite for Yukimura, he never learned how to dance and always thought that a warrior had no use for dancing step, it was for the shameless and street performers who did dance in front of everyone, it had no use in this country of war, he thought.
Of course, they ended up fighting without really solving the issue. Masamune had seriously put aside the idea that one day he would indeed see the body of his beloved moving gracefully to the rhythm of songs and music.
But Yukimura was about to dance now, it could only mean one thing, he had learned to dance in such a short time, two weeks at most, put aside his dislike for him,just for Masamune, just to grant him this honor. Was there a better gift for his twenty-first spring? ... How couldn't he feel proud?
Yukimura went and did as Masamune told him. Slowly, his eyes shut, hiding again the whirlwind of emotions raging inside him. When the drum sounded he was ready, his arm extended in front of him, a closed fan in hand, then the flute in turn rang in the garden. The red fan opened and with it began a slow movement to the beat of the music, Yukimura face was focused. Then he gained confidence as the pace quickened, the movements became more complex highlighted by the torches lights and chorus that begun to rose.
Masamune couldn't hide the smile growing on his lips, his eyes riveted on the spectacle his lover was offering to him. He could only distantly hear Motonari's surprised gasp and Motochika's impressed whistle. That was only the beginning and Yukimura was already quite beautiful.
His feet seemed so light like he was a feather caught in the wind, the faster movements were fluidly accompanied by the costume that had been selected for him, Yukimura's eyes finally opened again when he continued with a graceful movement of his fan in front of him, meeting the blue dragon eyes. There was no fear anymore, but determination, it was the eyes Yukimura had on the battlefield.
The dancer eyebrows furrowed briefly when his foot almost caught in the tails of his kimono, showing he had missed a step, yet he didn't let himself fall down and resumed his steps. In a fight he would surely had received a wound. Masamune didn't saw anything anyway, too absorbed in the scene that played before him. With the tips of his fingers, Yukimura grabbed the tip of the fan before sending it flying above his head, turning on itself and catching it up by the handle.
Although Masamune had often compared his way to fight with a deadly dance, he was now able to see the difference and in the end could tell that apart from the expression and passion that Yukimura put in it, the sensations were opposed in every way.
The music,the dance, the atmosphere, all pulled at something deep into Masamune heart. Yukimura dance had a meaning, every movement was a vector of feelings, each step seemed designed to remind him of a shared memory, memory of childhood, memories of battle ...
Masamune was transported for a moment where his eyes had opened to see a round childish face dirty after a day playing in the woods after a fall that should have cost him his life... he saw the night of the festival and found back the feeling he had when Yukimura had joined him and when he understood he had a friend for the first time... their games... their stupid children fight... their first kiss... Yukimura disappearance...
The young dragon lost his breath as his gaze met Yukimura eyes ... a tear had escaped from between his long eyelashes and Masamune could only understood ... Yukimura wasn't hurting, Yukimura wasn't suffering, Yukimura thought of nothing but the dance. It was his body which remembered because his dance had awakened memories he had thought lost.
Holding a hand in front of him, Yukimura crouched taking his closed fan in his mouth, he cast his gaze away again, before standing up in a move that discovered all his leg from, his arm extending above his head, a difficult movement for a novice and a slight murmur of astonishment arose in the audience hitherto subdued. The young tiger silent tears couldn't be restrained anymore and it gave to his face, reddened from the effort, an ethereal appearance while the torchlight reflected in it.
Yukimura turned on himself several times and this time it was a true smile that appeared on his lips like a butterfly leaving it's cocoon to embrace a new life, like his was finally leaving his past behind him to focus on the happy moment that he was living. There was such a sensuality in his gestures, like they where not fighting, like when they made love. Finally, he fell like a petal carried by the breeze falling from a tree, he knelt facing Masamune, his kimono spread around him in a colorful wave.
The guests amazement and wonder were soon replaced by cheers and joyful shouts. Masamune had never seen such a dance and he doubted that he would see another one day. The Tiger of Kai remained in that position a few more seconds, as he was trying to catch his breath before getting up, facing the ruler of the dragon people. The precious and fleeting smile that Yukimura sent him at that moment will forever be etched in Masamune. The young dancer nodded in respect, then withdrew without a word.
A few seconds of silence and the musicians resumed their background music and the guests returned to their casual conversations punctuated by shouting or laughing. Some revolved around the show that had just been offered to them, it was obvious that under their sovereign scrutinizing eye no one would dare to speak ill of it, but anyway it would have been a lie to say that it hadn't been beautiful.
Masamune couldn't just keep sitting and continue to enjoy the evening. After offering such a show, he knew that Yukimura would never dare to join him in front of everyone, he had given up his guest of honor spot when he agreed to dance for him. He didn't hear Motonari compliments and comments as he got up to leave the platform. Using his guests the distraction, he disappeared through the exit Keiji used earlier. In his haste he did nothing to prevent Kojuuro and the other two to follow.
He continued walking briskly along the walls of fabric that defined the location of the party, seeking the compartment arranged for the artists. First he heard Keiji voice.
"You were perfect! It's not a lie, you started your training only a few weeks ago, remember!" he threw out.
"Words will never be strong enough to express my gratitude for your help, Keiji ... but despite that my mistakes are unforgivable." it was his voice, Yukimura voice although a little breathless.
"Mah, you were able to catch up, I didn't see any problem." That voice ... it was the ninja, Masamune should have know he wouldn't be far.
"I shed tears, Sasuke!"
"Nice addition, you couldn't offer me a better gift Yukimura." Masamune stated upon entering.
The glass of water that Yukimura hand in hands failed nearly escaped him when he suddenly got up from his seated position when he noticed that Masamune was here. He had removed his ceremonial closing to put a more comfortable creamy white kimono, but on the other hand the red hakama that went with it was too loosely knotted as if it had been tied hastily and without care, his hair were still loose and there was even a leaf fallen from a nearby tree hanging in them.
"Ma-Masamune! I am not yet-" he began, trying to finish removing makeup from his face by vigorously rubbing it against his sleeve.
The young king didn't gave him time to finish, crossing the last centimeter that separated them, he put both hands on each of Yukimura cheek, a smile forming on his lips, he pressed their forehead together. Surprised by this gesture of affection Yukimura went silent, before finally letting himself go.
"You don't know how it was important to me that you're here tonight." Masamune sighed.
Yukimura put his hand around the wrist of Masamune, stroking the underside with his thumb. "I didn't have the right to miss such an important day for you." then he closed his eyes, preparing to receive Masamune lips against his.
Well, it would certainly have happened if Kojuuro hadn't loudly cleared his throat, reminding the young men they were far from being alone. Keiji hands were joined and he watched them with an almost envious smile while Sasuke eyebrow twitched.
"I'm glad you managed to be ready in time, Yukimura, thank you again for this idea to present a dance in Masamune-sama honor." Kojuuro nodded respectfully in appreciation to the dancer which Yukimura replied with a nod.
"I couldn't have done it without everyone help." Yukimura continued.
"Too modest! You're too modest!" Keiji launched out giving him a pat on his back.
"It is true that it was very elegant, I had never seen such a style of dance." Motonari went in turn, not forgetting to give some advice.
"I am delighted that you liked it, Motonari-dono." Yukimura replied.
"Because you where all behind that?" Masamune asked. A silence followed his question and everyone exchanged glances. "I see, traitors..." Masamune muttered, crossing his arms over his chest.
"You know, Motonari is a great singer too, your performance made me want to see what it would be to see you both together." Motochika added turning back toward Yukimura.
"Keep your ideas to yourself pirate!" Motonari said before turning to Yukimura. "Don't take any offense, but only idiots can forget the insult that it would be to accompany a ceremonial song with unholy dancing."
Masamune also seemed to consider the idea, but eventually frowned ... thinking of Motonari singing...
"Sweetheart ..." Motochika began , disappointment showing through in his voice.
"Stop calling me that." the Kitsune rebuked softly without real conviction, alcohol in his system preventing him to truly getting angry.
"Oh,Motonari-dono! Your ears!" Yukimura suddenly exclaimed, interrupting any conversation which had just begun.
By reflex, Motonari ran a hand over his head, but no, his ears hadn't showed up again. He began to scowl at Yukimura, not understanding why the young man was alerted to this point before realizing suddenly.
"Ah, yes, I'm able to make them disappear again."
"How ? Where do they disappear?" Yukimura asked with great curiosity.
Motonari began to open his mouth to send an appropriate response to this too curious human . He tolerated him but there were still some things not to ask. But it was without taking the pirate intervention in consideration as he put a hand on his hip and forestalled him. "That's something that he will not reveal even under torture." because he know it since the time of trying to make him confess why all these years Motonari couldn't do it at all and then one day he showed up like this without his two adorable little red triangles on top of his head.
"Sometimes they come out when I don't pay attention." Motonari was in a talkative mood anyway, he felt like this wasn't saying too much.
"Oh, I understand. Sometimes Masamune tail or antlers show up when he is too excited." Yukimura said with enthusiasm.
The collective groan that followed showed that the men around him weren't feeling obliged to know so much about them. But still Yukimura didn't catch that fact.
"Shut up, Yukimura." Masamune said, rubbing his temples.
The young tiger made a pout in response to the bullying. A few seconds of awkward silence passed before Kojuuro spoke.
"Yukimura. I forgot to ask you if you had received my letter and acknowledged my request." he asked, thinking now was a good opportunity to speak about the matter.
The young tiger of Kai then lost all warmth, his expression was hard when he stared at Kojuuro and for a moment Masamune saw something like a kind of black mark grow on the tiger skin ... it looked like broken thin ice from a frozen pool on which someone had put to much weigh but it was gone so fast he couldn't say if he had imagined it or not.
"I intend to discuss this issue at a formal meeting with Masamune tomorrow." Yukimura said in a monotone voice.
Kojuuro quickly blinked, surprised by the sudden change of attitude of the long haired samurai. The younger dragons chose that moment to interrupt this atmosphere that doesn't suited Yukimura well, he didn't wanted to feel this tension in a holiday evening so he took the brown haired hand in his.
"Come, let's go take a walk in the garden." He began training Yukimura behind him but the other remained still.
"But ... Masamune, your guests-" Yukimura protested , acting like his usual self again.
Kojuuro cast a glance behind the flaps shutting the access to the main garden where there was most of the guests. "They didn't even notice that we weren't with them anymore." obviously he approved his lord idea of a little walk.
"You see, so enjoy a little." Masamune insisted .
This time when he pulled, Yukimura didn't protest, letting instead a smile spreading on his lips as he laced their fingers together.
Silence returned to the compartment reserved for the artists.
"Well, say Motonari would you like to return enjoying this delicious meal?" Motochika asked, leaning on the smallest with his larger stature.
"I thought you were going to walk me to my room." Motonari was snuggling against his chest as they left.
Keiji shrugged and followed after them. "I in any case, I go back to eat." he said.
Sasuke seemed about to follow suit but he stopped before a lost in thought Kojuuro who didn't move from his position. "What was in this letter for you to put Yukimura in such a state?" and therefore the change in the young man attitude had escaped no one.
Kojuuro, sullenly took his chin between his thumb and forefinger with a thoughtful expression. "I proposed him to attend our ascension festival, it only lasts one week a year and this is when our youth gain the form of our ancestors for their first time ... I honestly thought that it would please him. "
Sasuke shrugged. "I may have once suggested that baby dragons hatched in eggs... that would explain his discomfort." the grin appearing on his lips showed that he was not sorry at all.
Kojuuro hand passed wearily on his face, even though he had an amused sparkle in his eyes, his face showed an expression of disapproval ... what the ninja was doing to his naive young lord ...
"Otherwise, you're gonna sit there and mope or you'll escort me to my room, too." Sasuke went on before leaning to whisper the end of his sentence in the black dragon ear . "I'm actually in a quite playful mood, so if you don't wanna go to my room ..."
Kojuuro silenced him with a slight lip pressure. "Is there a time when you're not in a playful mood in my presence?"
The ninja shrugged his shoulders again, a mischievous smile on his lips growing as he stretched like a cat.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooo
The garden was calmer and quiet of this side of the palace, disturbed only a few quiet laughs and the occasional hose from the two young men walking along a graveled pathway.
"I think to make this celebration a festival next year ... to honor those we lost that day too ... your dance could become the official dance."
Yukimura's hand that was not holding Masamune's came to hide the redness of his face. "Stop with that Masamune, it wasn't worst it at all." he shook his head.
"No, I'm not saying this just because it was beautiful because all your efforts were for me, I truly believe it. Besides the other guests appreciated your interpretation too." Masamune was really proud and will continue to say it, he prayed inwardly that this wouldn't be the first and last time Yukimura danced for him.
"Honestly?" Yukimura stopped walking and turned to him, his expression resembled that of a child who was promised candy and the dragon couldn't contain the chuckle that escaped his lips.
He finally pulled out the small leaf that had found refuge in the long hair of his lover, taking the opportunity to put a rebellious lock behind Yukimura ear as it swayed in the breeze and went in front of those brown eyes. Masamune didn't answer directly to Yukimura question, but did he really needed to? He took the the youngest chin gently between his fingers slowly approaching his lips in the idea of joining them to the other's.
That Yukimura suddenly turns away surprised him, especially since he nether had expected that the young samurai draws him against him and held him with such abandon. Masamune could almost feel the fingers of his beloved digging into shoulders when he finally began to respond to Yukimura hug, encircling his waist
"I wish this moment would never end ..." Yukimura whispered against his shoulder.
Masamune replied with a slight chuckle caressing the young tiger hair in a slow movement. The blue dragon cherished every moment spent with Yukimura, he too sometimes wished their moments of tenderness would last forever, yet he also enjoyed as much that his rivalry with the other young man took would take the upper hand, even the speed at which they ate their meals could then became a competition. It was their balance and he wouldn't exchange it for anything in the world.
And since thinking of competition ... this pathway where they had been walked ... it seemed very long and straight, basically the ideal place for a short run just to finish getting rid of the last ounce of weariness still numbing his muscles.
He slowly withdrew away from Yukimura, still holding him at arm length, he pointed straight ahead. "Yukimura, I'll offer you a full range of dango if you get to the end of the pathway before me . Deal?"
The young Tiger Eye glanced at the point designated by Masamune finger and smiled as he put himself in position. "Don't come and complain if your kimono had hampered you after then. And I want a real mix of dango, including natsume dango."
Masamune also put himself in position, muttering under his breath that he only complained once after having unfairly lost and that his Hanetsuki racket was junk anyway.
"At the count of three?" Yukimura put one foot before the other "One". Masamune and he leaned on their leg.
"Two." Masamune continued the count down.
"Three!" Yukimura ended, rushing.
There were probably only a hundred meters to the finish but with dangos involved, no way Yukimura could lost but Masamune had defied him so he wasn't going to let himself be defeated so easily, even if hearing Yukimura laugh like that while he was pursuing him was worth a small defeat.
Ultimately it was fate which chose for him because because although they had remained shoulder to shoulder for a good distance, the strap of Masamune sandal failed him and suddenly broke. He just had enough time to gather himself not to end face first against the ground and to see Yukimura exult about his victory.
"Fuck! You knew this would happen?" He protested strongly despite his breathlessness.
"You said you would not complain!" Yukimura protested in turn, laughing despite being equally breathless.
Masamune suddenly grabbed him by his hips and held him up before twirling around. "I said nothing of the sort! It's your fault!"
This only reinforced Yukimura laughter who didn't even try to free himself from his grip. Masamune dropped into the green grass that framed the pathway, bringing Yukimura with him in his fall while they both laughed like two incorrigible idiots
The young tiger, lying beside Masamune wanted to talk but his laughter every time he looked at his lover made it impossible for him to form any sentence. The blue dragon wasn't in a better condition. Gradually, they began to be able to control themselves.
Masamune put his hand on Yukimura head. "Is it then moment when you fall asleep against me or I can still envoy being with you some more?" he asked.
"Masamune !" Yukimura hit his shoulder with his fist.
He then sat up in the grass and let out a contempt sigh, his eyes on the crescent moon above them. His hazel eyes fell on a pink colored petal which landed in front of him, drawing his attention. Masamune was watching when he picked it up.
"Sakura? In this season, it's impossible." Yukimura thought aloud.
The dragon also sat and smiled at the petal. "Hah, I didn't think we were in this part of the garden yet." he stood up and reached out to invite Yukimura to do the same. Then holding his lover arm, he made him turn toward something further away in the garden. "It's the sacred tree of the Date clan."
Yukimura saw it clearly now. It was a big old cherry tree blooming in this early fall, the petals falling around it in the circle of stones that separated him from the rest of the garden, a woven paper rope wrapped its wide trunk. The eyes of the young tiger widened in amazement.
"Legend has it that our first queen herself is buried beneath it... and that's why it doesn't bloom until late summer. For when other trees begin shredding their leaves before winter sleep, it is the only one that shown in full beauty. Something like that. "Masamune told, punctuating his sentence with a slight laugh. He knew that Yukimura could have more interest to the stories of his people than he anyway.
"It's magnificent-Ah!" Yukimura suddenly grunted in pain, he pressed the palm of his hand against his forehead, shaken by a violent headache.
"Yuki?" Masamune was already leaning on him.
This mark, the black mark looking like broken ice had just returned on Yukimura neck. Without leaving some time for his lover to recover, he brutally stripped Yukimura collarbone ... but found only skin.
"Masamune?" Yukimura asked, blinking to help the spark disappear from his sight.
"What was that mark?" the dragon asked , grasping Yukimura shoulder.
"What mark?" Yukimura said, still massaging his forehead.
Masamune sighed, calming himself down. "Nothing, I guess the trip and the rest had tired you out, you shouldn't force too much."
"Uh huh." Yukimura nodded slowly in agreement with Masamune.
"I'll take you to your room." Masamune began to lead him back on the pathway.
"I really want to rest Masamune." Yukimura stated in a slightly disapproving tone.
"Yes, yes, I won't try anything." he promised with a semblance of sulky pout.
Too bad, tonight he would sleep in his own room ... Masamune had tried in the past to slip into Yukimura bed at night and waking him up hadn't be something trivial. Having a black eye when you were one eyed wasn't something really enjoyable.
Masamune was a far to fathom what really bothered Yukimura.
TBC
Xiao : Told you I would came back with more, I hope you're not disappointed. Thank you for being here.