Here's the last chapter of Comfort. Will this two ever get together after what happened in the last chapter? Well, since this story is romance not tragedy you probably know the answer already.

I know that parts of this chapter are maybe a bit too fluffy and emotional for Kotaro and Hanzo but somehow I can't write it any other way. And who knows, may they have a soft and romantic side under all that badass ninja exterior? Although… The picture of Kotaro standing under Hanzo's window with flowers in his hand? Ok, maybe not. -_-

A big thank you to LadyKatatonic and Sand Dun for their reviews for the previous chaps. And now on to the last chapter. ^_^

Hanzo was sitting in a tree in the forest near the castle. It had been two days since Kotaro had kicked him out of his cell, as crazy as it might sound.

Those last two days had been terrible. He would never have thought he could feel so miserable about being rejected by another person. He had never really cared for things like that before, a ninja was more successful if he didn't have any emotions, but recently he had noticed that he had certain… feelings for the other man.

All he could think about was Kotaro.

Just now he realised how much he had depended on Kotaro, how much the other meant to him. When they had started their arrangement it had been out of desperation. It had been after the battle at Ueda castle, the only time the Hojo and Tokugawa armies had ever joined forces. Some things had gone horribly wrong with one of his missions, causing him to lose many of his ninjas, and he had nearly lost his mind. Then something had happened that he never would have thought: Kotaro had been there for him. He had taken control and freed Hanzo from all his doubts and bad memories. At first he had struggled, fought the other, but it hadn't taken very long before he had submitted to his urges. Kotaro was very talented, not only as a ninja. It had been fantastic and he had hated himself for weeks afterwards that he had given in.

It had taken nearly a year and another terrible battle for him to make his way to Odawara for the first time. He hadn't known how Kotaro would react if he just showed up at his door. But in contrast to his dogs Kotaro had almost given him a warm welcome, at least by his standards. They hadn't talked, the other had known exactly what he wanted, and he had given it to him without complaints. After that the intervals between his visits had become shorter and shorter. While at first it had always taken something big for him to go to Kotaro, he had become more and more dependent on the other. But two things had always stayed the same through all this time: they hadn't kissed and he had never stayed after they were done. As soon as he had somewhat recovered he had dressed and vanished, usually sleeping about an hour away from Kotaro's house. Somewhere along the way Kotaro had started to ask him to stay, but he never had. Until that fateful night.

That night he had spent lying in Kotaro's embrace he had felt something he hadn't experienced for a very long time. He had felt protected and safe. It wasn't like he thought he was in danger when he lived in Hamamatsu castle, but it had been different. There just was something special about lying in another person's arms. That's why he hadn't slept a minute that night and left before Kotaro had woken up. Now that he had given in to the other man and stayed, what would the other ask for next? He didn't know and was almost afraid to find out.

And then there was the thing with their fight at Odawara. He had always thought that no matter what, he would always do his duty. But he hadn't been able to kill or even seriously harm Kotaro, had decided to let him escape before his lord and the others had shown up. He had never neglected his duty like that, it had always been the most important thing in his life. But suddenly there had been something more important than his mission.

Maybe it was because the hostility between them had vanished almost completely. Kotaro too hadn't tried to harm him even once during their fight at Odawara. At first Hanzo had thought that the other was simply toying with him, but maybe he had just tried to buy time for Ujiyasu to escape without hurting Hanzo by simply distracting him. And that night when he had lain in Kotaro's arms the other had slept, trusting Hanzo enough to lie there completely defenceless.

Kotaro didn't see him as an enemy anymore, and if he was honest with himself, neither did he. But if they weren't enemies anymore, what were they?

The arrival of one of one of his subordinate ninjas brought Hanzo from his thoughts.

"Hattori-sama, Lord Tokugawa wishes to see you."

He gave a nod. "I'm on my way."

-x-

Hanzo lay on his futon in his room. He had tried to go to sleep for hours but he just couldn't. He was restless thanks to all those thoughts running through his head.

He had returned from his mission this afternoon. The Toyotomi-Tokugawa army had been able to defeat Ujiyasu Hojo, but there had still been some followers of the Hojo-clan left. His mission had been simple: go to the camp and kill everybody.

It had been short, only five days, but it had been terrible. They had greatly underestimated the number of people and level of organisation in the camp. All that had resulted in Hanzo not only having to complete his mission but fight for his life. He had come close several times but other than a big gash on his right arm he had managed to get away almost unscathed.

But that alone wouldn't have been so bad, he was used to fighting for his life after all. What had really shook him was the number of unarmed and civilian people in the camp. But he didn't have a choice, his mission was to wipe out the hole camp and that was exactly what he had done.

The gash had been bandaged, but the sight of all those people he had killed still played in front of his eyes every time he closed them.

Had it been five weeks ago he would have been on his way to Kotaro as soon as he had finished his report to his lord. It was times like this when he really realized how much he had started to depend on the other.

But it wasn't the sex because he could have gotten that anywhere. It was Kotaro himself, he knew that now. Kotaro had kept him sane and somehow he had started to develop feelings for him. Hanzo suspected that they had been there for a long time, but that one night had finally brought them to the surface.

Hanzo rolled on his side and hissed when the wound on his arm twinged. He sighed. It was no use, he would never be able to go to sleep like that. Resigned he got up and silently made his way to the dungeon.

When he arrived at Kotaro's cell he looked inside. The other was sitting against the wall and it seemed like he was sleeping. Which was no wonder, considering it was the middle of the night.

Carefully he opened the door. When it squeaked he hesitated but Kotaro didn't give any indication that he had heard. Hanzo then walked across the room and stood before the other. Now that he was here, he didn't really know what to do. But the simple fact that he was in the presence of Kotaro somehow calmed the storm inside him.

After some moments just standing there he sat down to Kotaro's right, leaned against the other's strong chest and closed his eyes. It took mere seconds before he was asleep.

Hanzo never noticed one of Kotaro's eyes watching him before it closed again.

-x-

When Hanzo awoke the next morning he didn't know where he was at first. The only thing he realized was a big warm body pressing against him. It felt nice.

"Are you finally awake?"

The voice from above startled him and Hanzo drew back hastily, nearly falling down. With wide eyes he looked up at Kotaro who still had a somewhat pissed look on his face but wasn't nearly as angry as one week ago.

"What are you doing here?" Hanzo blinked, still kind of confused.

"Well, considering that this is my cell the question should be what are you doing here?"

"I…" This was the third time that Kotaro had asked him in some way why he always came back to him. But this time the answer was simple. "I came back from a mission yesterday and I couldn't sleep. That's why I came here."

Kotaro looked at him but didn't say a word. Hanzo couldn't read a single emotion on his face. Nervously he shifted, trying to sit up. When he accidentally tried to put weight on his right arm he winced and grabbed it. When he looked up he had the impression that Kotaro looked slightly worried. But maybe that was just his imagination because as soon as he thought he saw the emotion, it was gone again.

"Then why didn't you wake me if you wanted stress relief?" Kotaro's question sounded like a challenge. "After all you've never had any problems about showing up in the middle of the night before."

Did Kotaro really think that that was the only thing Hanzo wanted from him? Somehow he felt bad that the other thought so little of him. But when he thought about it he had never given him any sign that he was more than someone to bring him pleasure. Hell, one week ago he would have thought the same. But maybe if he told Kotaro all that had been on his mind the last few days the other would understand what he felt, why he couldn't stand the thought of Kotaro dying. It was now or never.

Hanzo lowered his head, he couldn't look into those accusing eyes. "It's not the sex, I finally know that now. It's you. You understand me and what it means to be a ninja. I don't know why, but somehow your presence alone calms me. I know that you are supposed to be my enemy and it sounds crazy, but somehow I feel safe when I'm with you."

When Kotaro didn't show any reaction to his confession, Hanzo got nervous. Maybe he had misjudged the situation? "I'd better go now."

He was up and halfway to the door when he heard the other talk. "No. Stay."

Hanzo turned around and looked at the other man. He couldn't believe what he saw. There was a smile on Kotaro's face, not a smirk or a grin but a real smile. Hanzo felt his heart beat faster. Here was Kotaro, chained to the wall in a dirty cell in the castle of his enemy, and he was smiling.

Slowly Hanzo sat back down in front of him. "So you believe me? You understand?" Just looking at that smile made his heart flutter and hope swell inside him.

Kotaro shook his head, but the smile never vanished from his face. "My dear Hanzo, weren't you the one that told me only minutes ago that I am the only one that understands you? Maybe I even know you better than you know yourself."

That made Hanzo blink. "Don't tell me you-"

"Knew it all this time?" There was that grin again. "Of course. I know that I'm good but it probably wouldn't be enough for you to always come to me all the way to Odawara. So when your visits became more and more frequent I knew what was going on. I just had to wait for you to realize it too. And believe me when I say I wouldn't have put up with your moods otherwise."

Somehow everything was starting to make sense to Hanzo. He had always tried not to think about it but some part of him had always wondered why Kotaro never had complained about anything. "Then why did you get so angry the last time I came here?"

The grin vanished and a dark look appeared. Hanzo could see traces of the anger he had experienced that day. "It is one thing for you to come to me to Odawara. But I won't tolerate you taking advantage while I am chained to a wall in the dungeon of your lord's castle. I still have my pride."

Hanzo had to admit that he hadn't looked at it like that. But it made sense. Kotaro was a very proud warrior. And being chained in a cell while someone tried to take advantage of that would make everybody feel miserable. And it was all his fault.

"I never wanted you to end up here. I was just about to let you go when my lord showed up." He looked at Kotaro, hoping the other would believe him.

After some moments Kotaro sighed and shook his head. "I know. But it's too late for that. What is done is done."

Hanzo leaned forward and slapped his hands on the floor between them. "Yes it does matter. Because if those last few days showed me one thing, it is that I can't lose you." He crawled forward and straddled Kotaro's lap, wrapping his legs around the other's waist and his arms around his torso, laying his head on Kotaro's shoulder. Barely audible he added "I need you."

He felt Kotaro's head coming to rest on top of his. The other really did understand what this was about and Hanzo closed his eyes, revelling in that warm feeling that being pressed against Kotaro brought him.

This was what it was all about: being together, being close to someone that accepted you for who you were. Why had he never noticed that before?

Their comfortable silence was only disturbed when he suddenly heard Kotaro chuckle. "I guess you didn't lie when you told me that you need me."

Hanzo frowned. "What?"

"You're horny."

The fact that it was whispered directly into his ear made shivers run down his spine. Although Hanzo couldn't see the other's face, he knew that Kotaro was smirking. He blushed. The other was right, after all that emotional up and down during the last few days his body was reacting to the other man's contact. He was indeed getting hard.

"Ignore it." It was mumbled into a strong neck.

"What, you don't want to do anything about it?" Kotaro sounded amused.

"Yes I do, but I won't."

"Are you celibate now?"

Hanzo was getting frustrated. Here he was, trying to show to the other that it really wasn't about sex and Kotaro just wouldn't quit teasing him. "No, but I told you this is not about the sex and I will prove it to you."

Kotaro chuckled again. "My dear Hanzo. Maybe I understand you, but it seems you don't understand me nearly as well. Or don't you recognize an invitation for what it is?"

Surprised Hanzo leaned back to look at Kotaro's face. "Invitation? You mean…?"

"If you want. But it seems like this time you have to do all the work since I am temporarily incapacitated." Kotaro lightly rattled the chains keeping his arms up.

Hanzo could see a smirk on the other's face. It was infectious and he couldn't help but smirk in return. "Does that mean that I can have my wicked way with you?"

"You can do whatever you want. But there is one thing I ask of you." Suddenly Kotaro grew serious. "Take off your mask. I wanna see your face."

Hanzo blinked. That last sentence did something to him he had never felt before. He had taken off his mask when they had had sex most times. It had never been a problem for him to take it off in front of Kotaro. Sure he had resisted that first time in Ueda, he was a ninja after all and his life expectancy increased considerably when nobody knew about his identity, but since Kotaro could be very persistent it had come off eventually. After that it had never been a big deal. Most times he took it off, but Kotaro had never said anything during the odd time it had stayed on his head. That's why Kotaro's request surprised him. Not the fact that he had asked him (Kotaro had always had the habit of biting his neck and Hanzo really liked that) but the way he had said it. It somehow felt so intimate.

Without thinking about it he complied. When he put the cloth down and looked back he had problems interpreting the look on Kotaro's face. There was something soft in his eyes , something he had never seen there before.

Hanzo leaned forward again against Kotaro's chest, pulling off the other's scarf to bare his neck. He started licking and nibbling the skin of Kotaro's neck. He knew how nice this felt and he wanted Kotaro to feel it too.

This taste, it was so… foreign and yet so familiar. Now that he though about it, he had never before done something like this. Even though it was always Hanzo seeking out Kotaro, it had always been Kotaro who had done everything, had fulfilled every one of Hanzo's wishes. Hanzo had always told Kotaro that he was using him, but until now he had never realised how true that statement was. But now he had the perfect opportunity to return the favour.

Hanzo started laying kisses on Kotaro's neck, kissing his way up to the other's jaw. He drew back and looked into Kotaro's eyes. That soft look was still there, now joined by heat and passion. Without hesitation he took the other's face in his hands and pressed their lips together.

He felt Kotaro's surprise as the other stiffened, but when Hanzo carefully started to move his lips Kotaro responded instantly. Tentative at first Hanzo soon grew bolder and the kiss more passionate. Kotaro never tried to push him, always adapting to what Hanzo did. But after some moments Hanzo felt the tip of a tongue softly touch the seam of his lips. He opened up instantly and Kotaro's tongue pushed inside his mouth, starting to stroke and tease his tongue.

Hanzo was the one to finally break the kiss. Both of them were panting and since he could see a light flush on Kotaro's cheeks he presumed that he himself probably didn't look much better.

Kotaro had been right, he really hadn't known what he had missed when he had refused to kiss all those times. The feeling, the taste. In some strange way this kiss had felt more intimate and personal than all the things they had been doing until now. And it had felt fantastic.

Kotaro was the first to break the silence. "Why did you-"

"Not now."

He didn't want to talk or explain himself now. That's why he started kissing Kotaro again. Only this time it was Hanzo who pushed his tongue into the other man's mouth. He wasted no time and started exploring Kotaro's mouth, licking everything from that moist warm tongue to those sharp canine like teeth.

Moving his hands that had still been resting on the other's face downwards across a strong chest to the hem of his shirt, Hanzo pushed up the shirt, stroking his hands over Kotaro's hard stomach up to his pecs. When he started rubbing the nipples he found there he felt a deep rumble in the other's chest.

Hanzo also felt Kotaro's dick stiffen against his ass and started rubbing against it. It seemed like it was time to move his explorations to other parts of Kotaro's body.

He broke the kiss and started a downward journey with lips along Kotaro's throat, skipping over the shirt that he couldn't take off due to the chains holding the other man's arms apart, and licking and biting all over his chest.

"The things I would do to you if only I had my hands." He heard Kotaro's husky voice above him.

Hanzo grinned. "Well, it seems like you have no other choice but to lie back and enjoy this time." He moved his hands down to the other's pants and tugged at the waistband. "But first, these have to go."

Together they freed Kotaro from his pants and laid them on the ground as a blanket. Hanzo settled back on the other's legs, reached down and slowly started stroking Kotaro's dick. It was a strange experience, never before had he done something like this, touching another man's dick. Now that he thought about it, he had been really selfish during their previous encounters. And that was why he had something special in mind. He looked up and saw that Kotaro had his head tipped back and eyes closed. Good, this would be much harder if the other watched him.

Hanzo scooted back and leaned forward. He hesitated. He didn't know if what he was about to do was a good idea. During on of his information gathering missions he had stumbled across a scene in a tent that had clearly not been meant to be seen by anyone. A general had been sitting in a chair with one of his officers kneeling between his legs, working the generals dick with his mouth. He had never seen it before and he didn't know if it really felt that great but the guy in the tent had seemed to really enjoy it, so he guessed it was worth a try. Even if he really didn't know how to do it.

Hanzo stuck out his tongue and gave the member in front of him a tentative lick. It tasted musky and had that typical flavour that he had tasted all over Kotaro's body. Not bad at all so he started licking in earnest.

"What are you ngh…" Kotaro's question broke off with a moan as Hanzo chose that moment to take his dick in his mouth and start sucking on it, working it with his tongue. According to the sounds Kotaro was making he was doing something right. He reached down to massage his own dick which was straining against his pants. Apparently he liked it quite a bit, too.

He tried to take more of that warm hard flesh into his mouth but when the head hit the back of his throat he gagged and drew back.

"God Hanzo, stop it."

Hanzo looked up. "What?" He could see that Kotaro was breathing fast.

"If you don't want this to end too soon you should stop with that."

He grinned. "I guess we should go to the next step then." Hanzo stood and started taking off his clothes. He could feel the other's gaze watching his every move, roaming over the body he was slowly revealing.

When he had shed all of his clothes he returned to Kotaro's lap and sought out his lips immediately. He then pressed against the other man's chest, aligned his erection with Kotaro's and started thrusting, more teasing than really trying to bring them off. He wouldn't be able to do this for long though because he was near his point of no return and he didn't want it to end like this. Hanzo heard the chains rattle and felt Kotaro trying to thrust up against him.

"Ngh, Hanzo, do something."

It seemed like Kotaro too wouldn't last much longer. Hanzo stopped. Fortunately he had thought along to prepare himself during their last kiss. He spat in his hand and wet Kotaro's dick with it.

"Don't worry, you won't have to wait any longer."

With these words Hanzo lifted himself up and positioned himself over Kotaro's dick, slowly sitting down. There was that initial resistance but when he put a little more pressure on it he felt the muscle give and Kotaro's dick push in. He sank down until the other was fully seated inside him. Hanzo then wrapped his arms around Kotaro's neck and put his head next to his, cheeks touching.

He felt the stretch in his ass, it had been some months since their last time and Kotaro wasn't exactly small, but it was worth it. He needed this. He needed Kotaro.

He felt the other's desperate try to buck up, but with their position and Hanzo's full weight on Kotaro's legs it didn't really work.

"Hanzo?" He heard Kotaro's growl directly next to his ear.

"Hm?"

"Would you mind doing something?"

He chuckled. "It seems like this time it is you who has to beg."

"I neve- oh yesss!" Again Kotaro's sentence was broken off when Hanzo lifted himself up only to slam back down again hard.

Hanzo shuddered. Oh how he had missed this, this feeling of being filled, being connected with the other man. And there was no holding back now.

He slightly rearranged his legs to get a better leverage and started a steady and fast rhythm.

It didn't take much time for Hanzo to near his climax. With their chests still pressed tightly together his dick was rubbing between their stomachs with every move, creating a friction that had him racing towards his climax faster than he would have liked. He was pushed over the edge when Kotaro started to nibble on his neck again. Throwing his head back he let out a loud moan as he started to come between their stomachs.

It seemed that he previous teasing of Kotaro had brought the other man near too because as soon as his own climax hit he could feel heat flooding him, Kotaro joining him in pleasure.

Exhausted Hanzo slumped against Kotaro's chest, feeling the other's frantic heartbeat under his him. This intimacy, this trust between them he hadn't even noticed until a few days ago, he couldn't lose this.

More than ever Hanzo knew that he had to do something.

-x-

It was way past midnight when Hanzo entered the cell again. Kotaro was looking at him questioningly, but Hanzo walked straight to the chain holding Kotaro's right arm.

"Quick, get up. We don't have much time."

"What are you doing?" Kotaro was still confused, but he stood.

"What does it look like? I'm helping you get out of here." The first chain fell away and Hanzo started working on the second lock. "But you need to be quick. They will change the guards soon and that is the perfect time to flee without anybody noticing. And while I think that you would be able to escape even if they noticed you, it will be easier this way. You will be far away before anybody notices that you are gone." The second wrist came free. "Now go!"

But Kotaro didn't move, he just stood there and looked at Hanzo. "Why are you doing this? You said you didn't want to lose me and yet you are wasting the perfect opportunity to always have me near you."

"I'd rather not have you with me than see you in here for one more day. And now go!"

Kotaro looked at him for several moments, his face an unreadable mask in the pale moonlight that shone through a small window, before he gave a small nod. Then he was gone.

Hanzo sighed. If you love something, set it free…

-x-

Hanzo entered his room. Another mission successfully accomplished. Another night he would spend alone, plagued by that restlessness that always overcame him whenever he retuned from a battle.

He sighed. It had been nearly two months since he had helped Kotaro escape. He hadn't heard a word from the other since then, not that he would have expected it any different. He had kept his ears open if there was any news on Kotaro's escape but it seemed like nobody knew that he had anything to do with it.

But even though he was happy that Kotaro was free now he still felt sad. If it had been four months ago he would be on his way to Kotaro right now. And even though he had never noticed that thing between them for what it was until it had almost been too late, the other had always been there for him when he had needed someone to help him after a difficult battle. Someone who understood him and knew what he needed. And, like he had found out at the end, someone who liked him for who he was.

But it was too late now. Kotaro was probably halfway across the country by now, never to be seen again.

Not knowing what else to do Hanzo started sorting his weapons, collecting the ones he needed to clean and putting away those that he hadn't used.

When he suddenly heard a "Woof" he looked up. There, sitting in the corner of his room was one of Kotaro's dogs. The animal was looking at him curiously, tongue sticking out at the side of its snout. Hanzo looked around. Surely Kotaro wasn't stupid enough to come here. When he didn't see anybody besides the dog that was still sitting there happily he felt a strange mixture of relief and disappointment. While he was relieved that Kotaro was still save out there somewhere (he doubted the animal would be this calm if its master was in trouble) he also felt disappointed that it was alone.

When the dog woofed again he looked more closely. There was something tied around the neck of the animal, well hidden by the bushy fur. Carefully he approached the dog. When it didn't make any move to attack he untied the rope around its neck and unfolded the paper attached to it.

Written on the paper was one simple line. "Some things don't need to change."

Hanzo looked at the paper and smiled. Then he turned to the dog. "Come on. We're going to visit your master."