"Oh, it's you." Tenpou said in a voice all too calm as he examined Kenren's gun interestedly as if trying to remember why he had it in the first place. "Really, you shouldn't carry this with you when you're not on the battlefield. It shows that you're distrustful."

"Then what the hell was that!" exclaimed an ironically scandalized and immediately sobered Kenren, referring to the other's excessive defense against a simple kiss. Rubbing the tender skin of his neck where the cold barrel of the gun had left a reddish mark, he cursed under his breath.

After returning the gun to his disgruntled subordinate, Tenpou brushed a few specks of dust from the book he had been previously reading before turning his back on the general and climbing a short ladder to delicately insert it in its proper place. "I might like to ask you the same question."

"What? You don't know what a kiss is? Or is it that you've never been kissed before?" retorted Kenren, smirking as he pulled himself up and all but discreetly unloaded the ammunition that was in the weapon.

"Oh, many times." replied Tenpou, running a slender hand through damp hair. "I just never thought it would come from you, that's all. What prompted you to do it?" he asked, his back still facing the other in order to hide any form of apprehension but nevertheless, Kenren noticed the subtle tensing of the marshal's muscles.

"Alcohol and curiosity."

The answer must have satisfied Tenpou to an extent, based on the way he exhaled in an almost relieved manner that irked the general to no end. Tenpou smiled inwardly to himself. He never changes. But then again, that's a good thing isn't it?

"And what good alcohol it must have been..." he replied, hopping off the ladder and leaning back against the book case, his head tilted to the side as he awaited his friend's reaction. Kiss or no kiss, a little bantering was always enjoyable.

"How would you know?" shot Kenren, absolutely not thinking about the undertone of the statement. The other chuckled softly and at the at the periphery of his vision, the general could see Tenpou licking his lips sensibly.

The answer was intelligently dropped and Tenpou went out to explore the vast terrain of interesting conversation his friend's unexpected act had opened up for them. "But nevertheless...it was a rather pleasant surprise. Is that how you're going to greet me from now on?" He smiled sweetly at Kenren, who had finally regained enough of his bearings to look Tenpou in the eye.

"Maybe." he paused, finally remembering the first reason that he had come. "As long as you stop playing hooky and leaving me on the spot at social dinners."

*Nothing changed. We're the same as before.* Despite his customary smiling exterior, Tenpou was repeating these words in his mind like a defensive mantra.

"Oh my. That was tonight?"

"Damn right." With that, Kenren snatched up two glasses and poured them some generous helpings of some stolen imperial wine he brought from the palace. Being threatened by his own gun was indeed, a very sobering experience. To even get tipsy again was going to take a lot of work. "I'll let it slide this time, but if you do it again, I ain't saving you any alcohol. Suffering through dinner with those stuck up prisses..." The raven haired man was about to go into a whining fit if the other hadn't cut him off.

"Are you angry because you felt as if I stood you up? I didn't. It's not like anyone expected the two of us to show up together."

Nothing changed.

"You'd be surprised." said Kenren without further explanations as he held up a filled goblet towards the marshal.

Tenpou gratefully took the glass. "What's this? First a kiss and then fine wine..." He took a short, contemplative pause over his glass, then added warningly. "Don't tell me you got me in trouble..."

"Geeze! Can't you take anything at face value?"

"If I were that type of person, I probably would never have let you into my rooms without having you knock first."

Same as before.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"I'll consider it professional curtsey not to answer your question."

"Okay then, answer this," Kenren started calmly before exclaiming, "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN????!!!!!"

Nothing changed.

"Earth."

"So Konzen was telling the truth!"

Tenpou sipped his wine tentatively at first, then, pleased with the sweet and fiery mixture, took a larger gulp. "Konzen covered for me? Hm...well...what a favor..."

The comment evoked a pained groan from Kenren who looked sullenly into the cup. "Word of advice, don't mention the word 'favor' in front of anyone during the next century or so. It'll work to your advantage."

The field marshal lifted a graceful brow. "So you did get me in trouble."

Same as before.

"It's your own fault, bastard." That said, Kenren plopped himself into a chair, ready to face any biting remark that might come his way.

His vehemence was met by subdued laughter. "Aren't we bitter?"

The remark was ignored and Kenren still didn't have the explanation for the other's disappearance. "Skipping dinner to do surveillance rounds? That's a first."

"Since when have you become my keeper?"

Nothing changed.

"Gimme a damn answer, Tenpou." muttered Kenren. "At least give me a good reason to have defended you at that fucking table."

"I wanted to feel the rain."

Silence. Same as before.

The general looked as if he had been slapped in the face.

More silence. Nothing changed.

Tenpou cocked his head inquisitively to the side.

"The rain." repeated Kenren in disbelief.

"Yes, you know, the type that falls from the sky."

Silence. Same as before.

"Lemme get this straight."
"Hai?"
The general tapped the hardwood floor with a booted foot. "You went aaaalllll the way down to earth..."

Nothing changed.

"Hai."

"Just to get FUCKING RAINED ON?"

"Well if you want to be blunt about it..."

This was starting to get quite disconcerting. Kenren balled his hands into fists. It was the alcohol again. Or maybe it was him. Pure him. Frustrated that Tenpou always said but never did. Invited, but never welcomed. Advised, but never guided. Smiled through but never smiled for. Replied, but never gave any convincing answer. He stalked abruptly towards the marshal and pushed him roughly against the bookcase, jolting scrolls and papers from their precarious balancing acts on the shelf's edges.

"Kenren, what are you-" but he stopped himself mid-sentence when he saw the rage burning behind the General's eyes.

But never had Kenren ever looked at him like this before...

"I was worried as hell that somethin' happened to you, baka!!!" And it was true.

Many wanted the present taishou of the western army stripped of his rank, but that isn't what preoccupied Kenren. What endlessly and secretly distressed him was the almost tangible hate that hung heavy in the air of the holy city- hate directed towards a certain strategist, a certain marshal, a certain friend...perhaps more. So in Kenren's mind, if Tenpou for any reason disappeared, it could be very well be forever.

And Tenpou saw all this, as Kenren's eyes bore into his own. And Tenpou could already see himself falling. And Tenpou could already see himself drowning. And Tenpou could see...in Kenren's eyes...that 'something.' And as Kenren opened his mouth to say whatever that something was, Tenpou leaned forward and kissed him because he just didn't want to hear it. Ever.

Because things *have* changed.

But before the general, caught off guard for the second time that night, could respond to the other's strange display of affection, Tenpou violently shoved him back, knowing that if he didn't, Kenren would follow him too far. Better to cross alone.
If they fell, they would fall together. But Kenren didn't know how to swim...and he would be forever lost.

"Kenren Taishou." Tenpou's voice had lost all mirth, but yet he smiled. "Good wine. Good fights. Good company. I won't give you more than that."

Strangely enough, Kenren understood, although now the two of them were like puppets of their deceitful sentiments.

The general stepped back and feigned nonchalance. "What did you think I was gonna say? That I fucking love you? Hell, I'm so drunk right now, I'd probably even say it to Konzen."

"Do it and I swear I'll have you scrubbing the palace halls with a damned toothbrush for the next eight hundred years." growled an all too recognizable voice behind them. Konzen stood in the doorway, golden locks draped over one shoulder.

"Ah, Konzen. To what do we owe the honor of your visit?" said Kenren, regarding the aristocrat with a jeer.

Konzen glared daggers at the Taishou before shrugging and crossing his arms. "You. Out."





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