Chapter VII
Sitting cross-legged at the foot of his bed, young Takumi was staring at his wall in desperation, worrying for his younger counterpart. It had been a few hours since he had left the restaurant and Kazuki had departed from him looking sicker than a green ghost. Then again, the younger man hadn't appeared well from the moment he had entered Asahi. What was eating away so terribly at Kazuki that he felt as though he couldn't tell him? Cursing, Taki wished he would have walked the younger teen home, but the way he protested it was so certain, so forceful.
A lingering possibility hung around Taki's mind, a reason for all of the excuses, the uncomfortable moments, and the glances behind the shoulder. Was it possible that Kazuki was reluctant to be seen with Taki because he was... embarrassed? Of course not, Taki told himself over and over again. He loves you, he's never embarrassed to show you affection. Yet, that only withheld before a certain few people. Kazuki usually only visited him in odd hours of the day: early morning, late night, or in between dusk and dawn.
Was it because of his family? Would his family forbid Kazuki from seeing him should they find out that he was seeing another male? I don't want to cause a rift in his family! The possibilities all made Taki's head spin, as he collapsed backwards on his bed with a sigh. Picking up a stray paper on his nightstand, he smiled at it halfheartedly: the admittance of his essay. Finally, he was getting somewhere. Now if only he could find his muse overnight. Taki shrugged and leapt over to his desk. No time like the present. He adjusted his blank papers and jotted small ink notes, etching them skillfully into the paper. He would ask Kazuki about his reasoning the next time he saw him. After all, a healthy relationship is never the keeper of secrets.
Zuko's eyes scanned over the endless words of the scroll, attempting to imprint them within his mind. However, when he reached the end of the section he would draw blanks, unable to remember the concepts of his reading, forcing him to reread the markings until they made some sort of sense. What am I reading about again? Zuko sighed and flipped the scroll over to read the title. History of Mining and Exemplary Use of Natural Resources. Oh.
After tossing the document into the nearby wall, he leaned back in his desk chair and sighed. To think that something that made him so happy, was affecting him this much. Every time he dared to close his tired eyes, he would see Taki's face, but it wasn't the beautiful, serene face he always remembered. No, he only saw shock, anger, revulsion. His words ran through Zuko's head like an endless verse. "The maniacal desire for power and the corrupt youth, bounding about the Fire Nation doing as they please. From what I've heard, both eligible princes are no good playboys that are mediocre when it comes to leadership qualities. Always fooling around, shoving aside their responsibilities..."
"Damn it!" Zuko swore, leaping from his chair and kicking the desk meekly. He began to pace back and forth about the room, trying desperately to find a clear sense of direction. Why the hell did he have to be the Prince of the Fire Nation? Why couldn't he be someone a little less complicated? A distraction, he needed a distraction. Something, anything-
Knock, knock! Pounding at Zuko's bedroom door, accompanied a voice so icy, that Zuko had the urge to jump out his bedroom window, which was conveniently open. "Zuko? Zuko! Open this door!"
Zuko swallowed in fear. No. It can't be. He held a shaky hand out to the door, grasping the door handle tightly. Vibrations shot through the door from where it was being vigorously abused. He opened the door with a quiet click! There in his doorway, stood a furious Lu Ten. Pushing him inside of the room, he slammed the door and turned to glare at the younger teen. Zuko took an apprehensive step back, unable to recognize the unfamiliar glint in his cousin's eye. "Lu Ten-"
"What did I tell you?" Lu Ten's voice could cut clean through steel. "What did I tell you, Zuko?"
A hand wrapped painfully around Zuko's wrist, making him wince as his older cousin aggressively wrenched him forward. "Please-"
"I told you to be careful!" he yelled with a tone made to slaughter peace. "I told you never to leave the palace walls until it was asked of you! And I trusted you, Zuko! I trusted you! But you couldn't even last one fucking week!"
"Lu Ten, listen to me!" The pain on his arm was becoming unbearable.
"You're worthless! You can't think about anyone but yourself! I don't care what you have to say anymore!" Saying this, Lu Ten swung his arm, perhaps more forcefully than he meant to, slamming Zuko into the cold marble wall. With a groan of pain, Zuko collapsed onto the floor, massaging his wrist in agony. He looked up and glowered at the older man whose eyes had turned from rage and madness, into revelation and horror. "Zuko... I-"
"You followed me," Zuko interrupted, unable to soften his own gaze. "You didn't trust me."
"Yes, I followed you," Lu Ten murmured, unable to tear his eyes away from Zuko's unbearable stare. "It's a good thing I did too."
"Then, this is about more than just breaking a promise," he whispered, finally lowering his gaze to the floor.
Lu Ten walked over to the younger man, dropping to his knees idly. He put a hand on Zuko's shoulder, but withdrew it when he felt the young man flinch. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, his voice laced with guilt.
"Because of this," Zuko murmured, indicating the bruise forming on his wrist, making Lu Ten avert his eyes in remorse. "I knew you'd be disgusted, so I-"
"No, no!" Lu Ten shook his head. "You've got it all wrong, Zuko! I overreacted. I love you, Zuko. You're... Well, you're like my brother. We've never kept secrets from each other, and we've never broken a promise." Zuko winced. "But it's only because we've never had to. And when I find out that my best friend, my cousin is in love, but is afraid to tell me, it just doesn't make sense."
"It's disgraceful," Zuko murmured, daring to gaze into the eyes of the older man, shuddering to see the deep layers of hurt, poorly shielded. "He's a man, a man of underprivileged blood. If the Firelord found out, he and I would both be put to death."
"Zuko, I'm so, so sorry." Lu Ten's arms wrapped around him, causing the younger to break down, releasing the threatening tears that one by one vanquished the terrible emotions inside of him. There he lay, shaking in his cousin's arms, who whispered a single phrase over and over again. "I'm sorry... so sorry."
"So that's everything?" Lu Ten asked in overall shock, watching his cousin from the opposite side of the large bed. Zuko spent the last hour telling Lu Ten everything he could about his newly found relationship. His legs were pressed against his chest where his head rested, his eyes wide with surprise at Zuko's confessions.
"Yeah," Zuko said with a sigh, flopping onto the mattress. "I feel a thousand times better."
"I can't believe I didn't notice sooner," he murmured, shaking his head. "I feel so stupid! So you're scared that if you tell him you're a prince, he'll cease to love you?"
"That's the basic idea," Zuko replied sourly. "You should've heard him talk, Lu Ten. He described you perfectly." Lu Ten's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "But I don't want my boyfriend to think of me as a playboy, good-for-nothing, lazy bum!"
Lu Ten shook his head. "Those are only things he's heard about you. Now that he knows the real Zuko, he won't leave you. Not if he really loves you."
"But I lied to him!" Zuko exclaimed slapping his forehead. "He doesn't know who I am! He doesn't even know my name!"
Lu Ten laughed, despite Zuko's agitated glare. "You're wrong Zuko. He knows exactly who you are, because he's spent weeks' worth of time with you. He just doesn't know about your background. It's not as if you become an entirely different person around him, right?"
"Right," Zuko agreed hesitantly. "I guess, but it's still a pretty big thing to hide. I can see it now." He laughed and waved to the air. "Good morning, Taki! Having a nice day? I just stopped by to tell you that I'm Prince of the Fire Nation, the one who happens to be heir to the throne. Great, so I'll see you tonight, baby!"
Lu Ten sighed. "Well, now you just sound like an idiot."
"He'll think I'm crazy!" Zuko exclaimed. "And need I remind you that I'm being forcefully wed on the day of my fifteenth birthday, a mere two months away? "Hey, dad! How's life at the office? I just thought I ought to let you know that I finally have myself a boyfriend! I was gonna invite him over for dinner so you could meet him! What night would be best for you?"
Lu Ten shook his head once more. "I see your point, I see your point! This relationship has virtually appeared under the circumstances from hell. But let's cross each bridge as it comes, alright? First off, I want to meet him."
"Wh-what?" He stammered, eying his cousin with a surprised look.
"What do you think?" Lu Ten smiled mischievously. "I want to meet the man who saved my little cousin's life twice in a row and with whom you have desperately fallen in love with!"
"No." The dark haired teen shook his head, his wild hair flopping about his face. "No."
"Why not?" The older man pouted, sticking his tongue out at him. "Are you afraid that I'll embarrass you?"
"Lu Ten, I don't think that... Just give me some time okay? I still need to work up the courage to tell him everything." Zuko sighed, tossing his hands through his hair.
"So..." Lu Ten shifted and looked away.
"What?" The young man raised an eyebrow, aware that his cousin was dying to ask something.
"Give me the details!" He suddenly screamed, lunging for the boy and ruffling his hair.
"Details?" Zuko tilted his head questioningly.
"Is he a good kisser? Do you guys kiss differently than a girl and a guy might kiss? Have you 'done it' yet? Are you on top or bottom? Is it," Lu Ten's voice lowered, "kinky?"
"For Agni's sake, Lu Ten!" Zuko cried. "We've only know each other for a few weeks!"
Lu Ten shrugged. "That's a lot longer than any relationship I've ever had! Come on!"
His next words were strung together, rapidly spoken. "He's a wonderful kisser, I wouldn't know because I've never kissed a girl but I assume it's not too different, no we have not made love, if we did I'd most probably be on the bottom, and it most certainly would not be kinky."
"Wow." Lu Ten smiled. "I'm so happy for you Zuko. I think you found a keeper."
"Not if things keep going the way that they are."
"Fine, fine," The man sighed, standing up quickly. "But I expect to meet him soon." He paused for a moment before walking back over to Zuko, and hugging him once more. "I'm sorry," he repeated for a last time.
"Me too," the younger responded, allowing his hair to be ruffled slightly. "That'll be the last time I ever hide something from you."
"And this will be the last time I yell at you and throw you unnecessarily into the wall," he responded with a sigh. "I'll see you later, okay kid?"
"Don't call me- Never mind. I'll see you later." With a single kiss on the forehead, Lu Ten trotted out of the room quickly, muttering to himself, no doubt going over the immense amounts of information he was forced to process. Zuko smiled to himself, sighing deeply. That wasn't so bad.
"And Lu Ten?" Halfway out the door, his cousin paused in mid-step. "Please talk to your father. He's practically heartbroken."
Lu Ten's eyes turned dark and he sighed. "I don't know, Zuko. There's nothing else I can say that-"
"Imagine, Lu Ten," Zuko interrupted. "Imagine if the very last words you spoke to him before going off to war were harsh ones."
"I-I'll think about it," Lu Ten smiled halfheartedly, closing the door behind him.
"It's terrible. Just terrible!" Taki's voice echoed off the walls of his room in devastation, making him want to almost break down into tears. He spoke only to himself, as he stuffed the papers before him into a junk folder. It was Taki's policy: He never threw anything he wrote away. It was inhumane. But to sit there and accept what he just wrote as words was a long shot in itself. Focus Taki, focus... Nope. No focusing. I wonder what Kazuki's doing right now. A knock on the door made him grin. He had a feeling that he was about to find out. He ran to the water basin in his room, splashing the cold liquid onto his face with a shiver. He examined himself in the mirror, thanking the spirits he had remembered to shave after work. After a quick nod, he bounded into the small living room and opened the door rapidly. In his doorstep stood Zuko with a bag full of agreeably smelling provisions.
"I hope you haven't eaten yet," he said with a smile, holding up the food as indication.
"Thankfully no," Taki laughed, taking the bag from the teen and stepping aside to let him in. He took a quick look outside, to find that it was pitch-black outside. I didn't realize it was so late. It took me that long to write a terrible page and a half worth of work?
"Man, it's cold out there," Zuko murmured, taking off his cloak with a sigh of relief. "Which reminds me." He gave Taki a little kiss on the cheek. "You're steaming hot!"
"Did you spend all day thinking that one up?" Taki smirked, returning the kiss.
"For the past two days actually," he said with a wink. "You don't need to grab any plates," he added. "I brought takeout so we wouldn't have to do dishes. I'll rough it and eat from the containers."
"Whew," the older sighed in relief, closing the dishware cabinet. "I'm really glad you mentioned that." He sat next to his boyfriend, who instantly cuddled up to him. Overpowered by the cuteness of the boy, Taki felt himself dissolve into a puddle of warmth. Breaking his chopsticks apart, he opened the box Zuko handed him and practically salivated all over it. "I can't believe you remembered."
The younger boy laughed, nuzzling him in the neck. "How could I forget my boyfriend's favorite food?"
"I can't even recall when it even came up in the conversation!" He shook his head, overwhelmed at Zuko's magical powers. Taki observed the teriyaki chicken over rice with absolute desire, inhaling the salty soy sauce in enjoyment. He simply couldn't recollect the last decent meal he had eaten. Zuko unwrapped his own container of fried rice with a little more decency, but began eating so quickly that it was a miracle that it didn't come right back up again.
They ate in comfortable silence for a while, enjoying each other's company immensely. "Thanks for bringing over dinner," Taki said between bites. "I didn't realize how starving I really was."
"No problem," Zuko replied, shifting slightly, causing his knee to brush against Taki's thigh. "I was gonna force-feed it to you either way. You overwork yourself."
"How do you figure?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"You're so thin." The teen nibbled gently at his collarbone, causing Taki to quiver in delight. "See? Skin and bones!"
"Nah, that's just my sweet spot," he murmured, submitting to Zuko's control.
"No, really?" Zuko chuckled with sarcasm, discarding his empty food container to the side. His arms wrapped around Taki's neck lazily, as he leaned in to kiss the older teen.
"Kazuki?"
"Hmmm?" The teen barely registered the call of his name, capturing Taki's lips intently.
Taki pulled a mere centimeter away. "Are you ashamed of me?"
"What?!" Zuko pulled back completely, looking him straight in the eye. "What do you mean, Takumi?" An inescapable knot formed in Zuko's stomach.
Taki looked away uncomfortably. "I just... You haven't introduced me to your family yet. You usually only visit me in the weird hours of the day and you're always looking over your shoulder like you're afraid of being recognized. I love you so much, Kazuki. I don't want you to feel inevitably anxious when we're together."
Zuko sighed, caressing the teen's cheek gently. "I'm sorry if I made you feel that way. I would never be ashamed of you, never. But my family is complicated, Taki. My family's reaction won't be a compassionate one, considering-"
"Considering I'm a male?" Taki's voice turned sour. "I'm sorry. I didn't know that would be a dilemma."
"They're pretty traditional," Zuko explained. "Even if I did try and tell my father, he wouldn't understand. H-He might even try to hurt you, and I don't want that." His heart shattered at the sorrow written on Taki's face.
"I don't want to cause you problems within your family," he said looking away.
"Don't worry about it," the teen pleaded, forcing the other to look at him. "Please, if they can't even accept the fact that I'm in love, I hardly consider them family."
"Kazuki?" Taki's eyes went wider than seemingly possible. "You don't have to-"
Zuko sealed his words with a hot, passionate kiss. Taki moaned in surprise, as a swift tongue dived into his mouth, possessively tugging at his own. Wrapping his arms around the younger teen, he responded ferociously with a skillful mouth. His movements turned just as possessive, moving in time to the hips thrusting against his lap. Zuko groaned softly as Taki's hands moved underneath his shirt, brushing against his sensitive nipples.
The urges are coming faster, more powerful with every touch and kiss.
The teens moaned into each other's mouths, indulging in the blazing sensations blossoming within their chests. "Oh, sweet Agni, yes!" Taki's whimpers reached Zuko's ears, only to have him increase the pace of their exchange, grinding their hips together desperately. The delicious contact increased when Taki began to slowly undo Zuko's shirt, mindlessly fumbling with the sash. The older teen leaned forward, giving Zuko the chance to wrap his legs around his waist, pressing their arousals closer than ever before.
Taki choked out a groan, before sliding the open shirt from Zuko's shoulders as hastily as he could. Hardly missing the lost accessory, the teen shot the other a glazed seductive look, far too lost in his desires to focus clearly. The taller of the two smirked, pushing Zuko away slightly, who grunted in protest. "The bedroom," Taki whispered, with a soft nudge. Barely acknowledging the implications of the phrase, Zuko stumbled from the couch and dragged the older man into the adjacent room, all the while trying to practically tear the shirt from his back.
Taki discarded the shirt quickly, tossing it onto his bedroom floor without a second glance. Zuko fell back onto the mattress with a gentle push, followed by the other, climbing cautiously on top of him. Careful not to crush the teen below him, he ground their hips together once more, making the younger writhe in delight. He was willing to do anything as long as Taki just kept that up.
Zuko's hands wandered the older man's form, teasing the rippling muscles with a tantalizingly slow pace. He began memorizing the body of his love inch by inch, the warm flesh his single focal point. Taki swooped down to meet his mouth once more, renewing the sweet taste of his boyfriend's tongue within his lips. Suddenly feeling incredibly dizzy, Zuko mumbled and tightly grasped the other man's waistline. The burn between his legs became almost sinfully unbearable, as Taki began to caress his need with his fingertips. "Takumi, please!"
"Oh, Kazuki," he murmured, stroking the teen softly.
Kazuki? What the fuck? Who the hell is that?! Zuko's eyes widened slightly, as the reality of the situation hit him. He-he doesn't even... The hot pleasure tingling about his body became a steaming pool of guilt in his stomach. I can't do this. It's not right, I'm not ready. "Wait." Zuko grabbed Taki's hands with his own. "It's-"
The glaze in the older teen's eyes seemed to fade immediately, replaced by a surprisingly focused stare. "Kazuki! I- I'm sorry!" He lunged backwards, allowing Zuko to sit up, a magenta blush painted across his cheeks. "You're right. What was I thinking? I was just so caught up in the moment!"
"It's not your fault," Zuko said, shaking his head and panting softly. "I played an equal part in it."
Taki sighed. "It's way too soon for us to-" His eyes widened and his cheeks flushed. He buried his face in his hands.
The younger teen stifled slight laughter, despite the aching arousal he now possessed. Giving the other a kiss on the cheek he murmured, "I love you, and I want you to meet my cousin."
Taki's head shot up in surprise, his expression turning quickly into one of pure delight. "Really? You mean it? I can't wait! Bring him over for dinner tomorrow! I'll cook something special! Or I'll have Akiko cook it...Yeah, that's best. Oh, thank you Kazuki!" He gave the teen a quick awkward hug. "I'd introduce you to my relatives, but-" He gave a small shrug. Then his eyes turned anxious. "Good Agni, what if he hates me?"
Zuko chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't worry, alright? It's gonna be just fine."
Lu Ten sat on his bed flipping through a book without reading a word. He was incredibly excited for his little cousin, but it prevented him from focusing on anything. He sighed, hoping that Zuko's judge of character had played its role well.
"Lu Ten?" A soft knock was emitted.
"What's up, kid?" He called as Zuko entered with an anxious look on his face. The older teen frowned at the twitchiness of the other's posture.
"Di-Did you still wanna meet Takumi?"
"Of course," Lu Ten cried, tossing the book aside. "When, where?"
"I'll show you to his house tomorrow. We're going for dinner. Your name is Lee, by the way and we have no connection whatsoever to the royal family." With these words, Zuko exited the room as quickly as he came, leaving Lu Ten speechless.
He chuckled, realizing that Zuko was still unable to tell Takumi the truth. It'll come in time. Hopefully.