CHAPTER 18
Bunchu knocked on Ikutachi's door until it finally opened. It was Barbatos who answered, standing in the doorway completely naked and stifling back a yawn.
"What the hell, Bunchu? Do you have any idea what time it is?"
"I need to speak to Ikutachi."
"You come banging on our door, interrupting our morning sex, and all you have to say is, 'I need to speak to Ikutachi.'"
"Barbatos, I don't have time for this!"
"Good, neither do I."
Barbatos tried to shut the door in Bunchu's face, but Ikutachi pushed the volatile male out of the way.
"Move, Phantom," Ikutachi commanded, tying his robe. "Bunchu, what's wrong? You look terrible!"
"I… It's…" Bunchu threw Barbatos a wary look. "Can I speak to you alone? I need your help. It's about that… thing we talked about yesterday. Something's happened; something bad."
Ikutachi sprang into action, snatching Barbatos by the arm and pushing him out into the hall. Before the Phantom could react, the Anima grabbed Bunchu's hand, yanking him into the room and slamming the door behind him. Ikutachi held the door closed, ignoring Barbatos' incessant cursing.
"Do me a favor, Bunchu, and get the blanket off the bed."
Bunchu did as he was asked, quickly handing it over. Ikutachi pulled the door open, revealing a red-faced, angry demon.
"What the hell, Iku!" Barbatos roared. "You can't just kick me out! I'm bloody naked!"
"Which is why I'm giving you this blanket," the Anima replied calmly. "Go to your room. When I'm done, I'll come find you."
"Go to my room?!" Barbatos snarled. "I'm not a child, Anima, you can't just…"
"Take the blanket, Phantom," Ikutachi said, cutting him off, "or you can walk back to your room with your dick out. Your choice."
Ikutachi remained perfectly composed, standing his ground against the furious demon. Barbatos looked ready to kill someone, but, to Bunchu's relief, he snatched the blanket from Ikutachi's hand and wrapped it around his waist.
"You're lucky I love you, Anima; otherwise, I'd kill you!"
"Yes, yes, you say that at least once a day. It's starting to lose its intended force."
"This isn't over."
"It never is," Ikutachi replied sweetly, "nor would I ever want it to be. Now go before you catch a cold. I'll come to you as soon as I can, alright? And I promise I'll make it up to you," he added with a slow smile.
Barbatos' mood changed instantly. He was trying to remain angry, but it was obvious the idea of having this "made up to him," excited him greatly.
"You promise?" Barbatos asked.
"You have my word. I'll even do that thing you've been wanting."
Barbatos' jaw dropped ever so slightly, but he managed to pull himself together after a few seconds of shock.
"You can't back out at the last minute," Barbatos said; his eyes narrowing suspiciously on the Anima.
"I won't," Ikutachi chuckled. "Now off with you."
Barbatos dropped a kiss on Ikutachi's lips then made his way down the hallway whistling like a lovesick school boy. Ikutachi closed the door, turning the lock sharply.
"Sorry about that," Ikutachi said. "It would have taken forever to negotiate with the stubborn demon. He would have insisted on staying if I hadn't thrown him out."
"I hope I haven't caused you any trouble," Bunchu replied apologetically.
"Don't worry about me, I can handle Barbatos. Why don't you sit down before you fall over? I'll send for some tea and you can tell me what happened."
"There's no time for tea. I need you to go and see Leo. Last night I… We…"
"You had sex," Ikutachi finished for him. "And by the looks of it, you topped."
Bunchu frowned. "How can you tell?"
"Simple, you're not wincing every time you move." Ikutachi put his hands on his hips. "What happened?"
"I hurt him," Bunchu said weakly. "I didn't mean to, it just…" he swallowed, shaking his head. "He's in bad shape, Ikutachi. I tried to help, but he won't let me anywhere near him!"
Ikutachi sucked his teeth reproachfully. "It was his first time, Divina. You should've been gentler. I told you to take him, not kill him!"
Bunchu groaned, dropping into the nearest chair. "I planned on stopping after the first round, but then…"
"But then?" Ikutachi asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"He was the one who wanted more! I just…"
"Took advantage of his lust," Ikutachi said, finishing for him again. "Of course he wanted more you imbecile! Once you taste that kind of pleasure, you'll do anything to feel it again. It's like a drug! You, as the responsible Seme, should have shown the proper amount of restraint!"
"I tried," Bunchu replied, running a hand down his face, "but God help me, Ikutachi, he was incredible. I've never had sex so passionate and all-consuming. I knew I needed to stop, but I physically couldn't!"
Ikutachi rolled his eyes. "You sound like my idiot Phantom. He says the same thing after a rough night of bed play. The only difference is I'm used to it. Leo, however, is not." He sighed. "I'll go to him. There's no guarantee he'll accept my help, but I'll do what I can."
The Anima dressed quickly then took a large basket out of the trunk in front of the bed. He opened it, scanning its contents as if inventorying the items.
"What's that?" Bunchu asked.
"Nothing that concerns a Seme like you," Ikutachi replied absently. "You need to go back to your room. I'll stop by when I finish up with Leo."
"But I'm coming with you," he insisted.
"No, you're not."
"Yes, I am!"
"Bunchu, listen to me, you're the last person he wants to see right now. Trust me, I've been where he is, and on top of all the physical pain he's in, his mind is probably reeling from what happened last night. Leo needs someone who can relate to him, and that's not you."
"I can't just sit here and do nothing!"
"You don't have a choice," Ikutachi said firmly, picking up the basket and giving Bunchu his most apologetic look. "Try not to worry. The pain is still fresh, but when it's gone it will leave behind all the pleasure Leo felt last night. He'll remember his desire for you and whatever anger he's feeling right now will fade away. I'm going now, but you're welcome to stay here if you'd like."
Ikutachi left the room, leaving Bunchu alone with the weight of his guilt.
CHAPTER 19
He would've forced Ikutachi to leave, but when the Anima barged into the room uninvited, Leo found he didn't have the strength to put up a fight.
"I've prepared a bath for you," Ikutachi said in a soft, soothing voice. "It'll help ease the pain and replenish your energy. I'm going to lift you up, but since you're bigger than me, I'm going to need some help. Do you understand?"
Leo grunted in reply, flinching when Ikutachi pulled him to his feet.
"Okay," Ikutachi continued, putting Leo's arm around his neck and sliding his free arm around Leo's bare waist. "We'll take it nice and slow."
Getting to the bath was easy compared to actually climbing in. By the time Leo was settled, the floor and Ikutachi were practically soaked.
"You can leave now," Leo said in a pained voice. "I can take it from here."
"No need to hide your pain from me," Ikutachi replied, laying out several towels to dry the floor. He knelt down at the edge of the tub, sorting through a large basket beside him. "I know exactly what you're feeling right now, and you're going to need a lot more than a soak."
Leo sank down into the tub, seriously considering drowning himself in the steaming water. Would there be no end to his embarrassment?
"Don't be embarrassed," Ikutachi said as if reading his mind. "Even kings need help every once and a while."
"Yeah, well, I'm no longer worthy of that title," Leo replied in shame.
Ikutachi looked up from what he was doing, giving Leo a confused frown. "Why, because of what you and Bunchu did last night? Don't be ridiculous! You made love to each other; there is no shame in that."
Leo flinched at Ikutachi's choice of words. It was exactly what Bunchu said during their night of misguided passion.
"He violated me," Leo hissed.
Ikutachi started lining up a set of bottles on the edge of the porcelain tub after carefully read each label. "From what I understand, that's not entirely true. You gave yourself to him. Multiple times in fact."
The Anima remained focused on his task, refraining from making eye contact. Leo couldn't tell whether Ikutachi was doing it intentionally or not, but he appreciated the simple gesture. The whole experience was torturous enough without be gawked at like some sideshow exhibit.
"That's not… I didn't want…"
Leo couldn't finish. He remembered the evening vividly, and the words he was about to say were all lies. For the first time in his life, Leo knew what it was like to submit to another; to let all his defenses down and give into the love and pleasure offered so willingly by another. Never had he felt so… free. It was incredible, and filled him with an overwhelming peace. A peace his mind rejected immediately… This was wrong; unnatural. He was a king, and surrendering to Bunchu meant only one thing. Weakness…
Ikutachi sat back on his heels, examining Leo closely. "What are you more upset about," he asked, "the fact that you were forced or the fact that you liked it?"
"I didn't like it!" Leo cried angrily. "How could I enjoy such… such…?"
"…such incredible pleasure?" Ikutachi folded his arms on the edge of the tub and rested his chin on them. "You forget who you're talking to, Leo. I know exactly what you experienced and I can say with absolute certainty that you enjoyed every second of it. Even the pain feels good when it's inflicted by the one you love."
"LOVE?! I don't love him!"
Ikutachi rolled his eyes at Leo's indignation. "Oh, please. If it had been anyone else but Bunchu, you would've killed him before he ever got the chance to touch you. This is your pride talking right now."
Leo sucked his teeth in irritation. "This has nothing to do with pride, Anima. I am a king, and with that title come certain expectations. I cannot afford to show weakness."
"Sex is an act of love, not weakness. And since love is one of the most powerful forces in this world, how could it possibly make you weak?"
"It's not the act of sex that makes me weak! It's the manner in which it is conducted!"
Ikutachi snorted in amusement. "Conducted? And how the hell is sex supposed to be 'conducted?' There are no rules, Leo. Sex is an expression of the love and longing between two people, or more if that's your desire. Either way, we are all different, and, therefore, express our sexuality differently."
"I'm not like you!" Leo snapped. "I have no desire to express myself in such a deplorable way."
"Not like me?" Ikutachi asked, his eyes flashing with anger.
"You know what I mean, Anima. It is not in my nature to submit! And that vile beast forced me to debase myself!"
"I was just starting to like you, Divina," Ikutachi said venomously. "Don't make me change my mind."
"All I'm saying is…"
"I know exactly what you're saying," Ikutachi replied. "You think I'm weak because of the role I play in my relationship with Barbatos. Listen to me very carefully, Leo, because I'm only going to say this once. The position I take when in the arms of my lover has nothing to do with weakness. I submit to Barbatos because I choose to; because it gives me the greatest pleasure to do so."
Leo took a calming breath, reminding himself that he still needed to play nice while under Akasha's roof. Besides, Ikutachi had rendered him aid during his time of need, and instead of being at least somewhat grateful, he'd only succeeded in offending the Anima.
"Forgive me, Ikutachi-san," Leo said, mustering all the gratitude he could. "I meant no disrespect. You are a force to be reckoned with, and it's clear to anyone with two eyes and brain that you are the dominant one in your relationship."
"And that's where you're wrong, Leo. From the outside looking in, I'm sure that's how it must appear, but, in truth, there is a great deal more between Barbatos and I that you don't see. Whether you believe it or not, I am just as devoted to him as he is to me. Our love is equal; the only difference is how we express it." Ikutachi sighed heavily, removing the cap from one of the small vials and pouring the contents into the tub. "My point is, when you're connected the way my Phantom and I are things like control and dominance don't matter. One day you realize that it's not a competition, and no one has to lose in order for the other to win."
"You are fortunate, Ikutachi-san. I envy you for having lived a life far more understanding than my own. There is no such thing as "equal" where I'm from. Control is everything; taking it and keeping it. You are either the one in charge or you are not. And believe me; you don't want to be the one who is not."
"I don't know what kind of life you've lived, or the world you come from, Leo. And I'm not insinuating that I understand anything you've had to endure. But I do know one very important fact. You are not there anymore. You are here with us; with people who would call you friend and one who would call you lover." Ikutachi reached out and placed a hand on top of Leo's. "Whatever past you're trying to hide with your brooding anger and your fake smiles is of no consequence to Bunchu. He wishes to know the man you truly are, not the one you were forced to be. If there is anyone in this world who you can trust with the secrets of your heart, it's him."
"You don't understand," Leo said quietly, pulling back his hand.
"Then help me to."
Leo shook his head, choosing to remain silent.
"Fine," Ikutachi said after a few quiet moments. "I won't force you to explain yourself to me, but whatever you decide; Bunchu has the right to know. Good or bad, he deserves to hear the truth of your feelings, or lack thereof, from your lips and no one else's." Ikutachi lifted another vial, emptying it into the water as well. "How about we forget all this for now? Our focus should be on getting you cleaned up and into bed. Rest will help ease your pain; physical and otherwise."
CHAPTER 20
Bunchu paced the length of his room; his mind consumed with thoughts of Leo. Ikutachi had been with the Divina king for well over an hour, and it was taking every shred of Bunchu's self-control to remain in his room.
He checked the clock for what felt like the hundredth time; his stomach twisting into another knot with every passing second. Unable to take it any longer, Bunchu stormed towards his door. When he threw it open, he was surprised to find Ikutachi with hand raised in preparation to knock.
"You just couldn't wait, could you," Ikutachi tsked, pushing past Bunchu and stepping into the room.
"Is he alright?"
"He is now. It wouldn't have taken so long if he wasn't so damn stubborn."
"I should have been the one to go," Bunchu huffed in frustration, running both hands through his hair.
"No, you shouldn't have. You did the right thing coming to me. He feels ashamed enough as it is, and having you see him in such a state would've only made it worse."
"And what kind of state was he in?" Bunchu asked in a panicked voice.
"Well, when I got there he was laying half-unconscious on the floor. I practically had to carry him to the tub."
"Damn it! I never should have left him!" Bunchu spun around on his heels, charging for the door.
"Slow down, Romeo," Ikutachi replied, catching him by the arm. "He's perfectly fine now. I put him to bed a few minutes ago. He'll be asleep for the next 4-6 hours; completely dead to the world. When he wakes up, he'll be good as new."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive. This isn't my first rodeo, Bunchu. Hell, I have to have Barbatos do the same routine for me at least twice a week. You Semes don't seem to understand how much of a toll sex can take on our bodies. And considering this was Leo's first time as a bottom, his condition isn't surprising. He doesn't know his limits yet, and neither do you."
"What about the bleeding? Is he… Did I…?"
"Relax, there's no permanent damage as far as I can tell. He wouldn't let me check, of course, but he was able to walk from the bathroom to the bed on his own."
"So you don't know for sure? Maybe we should send for Nightingale."
"Do that, and Leo will hate you forever. Besides, he wouldn't have been able to walk at all if the damage was serious. The pain would've been unbearable. In my opinion, he's just exhausted; mentally, physically and emotionally. Once he gets some sleep he'll be fine."
"Do you think I should go see him?"
"Not right now."
"Then when?"
"Do you want me to be honest?"
"Of course," Bunchu replied.
"You need to leave him alone. He's angry and confused, and even though it's clear how much he cares for you, he feels betrayed and violated. On top of that, he's wrestling with issues that are far more complicated than either of us realized. In his mind, last night revealed some sort of weakness inside of him, and it's shaken him to his core."
"If that's true, then he needs me now more than ever! How can I reassure him of my love and support if I'm not by his side?"
"He doesn't need your reassurance, Bunchu. You made your feelings for him clear enough. Unfortunately, the only person who can help Leo is Leo. He needs to figure out who he really is and what he really wants. Until then, any kind of relationship between the two of you will never work. Give him time to sort through his feelings. He will come to you when he is ready."
"And if he doesn't?"
"He will," Ikutachi answered solemnly. "He's in love; he just doesn't know it yet."