Chapter Seven: Chance!
/o/
What was the point in waiting for an opening that may never come? With a beautiful woman like Juuhachigou around, he'll have to be more forceful!
Just how was he going to do this? If he was too subtle Kuririn won't notice. And if he was too bold he'll scare Kuririn away.
One day at the Kame House he was determined to play out one of his schemes.
From their three-years of training, he knew Kuririn's routine well. It's nighttime and right now it's Kuririn's bath before bed.
He decided to "accidentally" run in on him in bathroom.
"Just here to use the toilet." He said casually as he entered.
"Mn," Kuririn acknowledge him with a nod. His eyes were close and he heaved a sigh, apparently enjoying his hot bath.
His eyes still on Kuririn, Yamucha lifted up the toilet seat, unzipped his pants and started to use it.
He expected Kuririn to go "Eek, get out, get out!"
'No, that's a girl's reaction.' He realized.
Ah, it's the 'we're-both-guys-so-it-doesn't-matter-if-we-see-each-other-naked' locker room type thing. Well, Kuririn might want to cover up if he knew what kind of thoughts were running through Yamucha's head.
Greedily, his eyes leered at Kuririn.
With disappointment, he realized he was done with toilet.
'Damn it, why can't I have more urine?' Now lost of his excuse to be there, Kuririn will notice him standing there--staring at him. Wanting to avoid that awkward moment, he speedily zipped up his pants and left.
"Coward," He scolded at his pitiful attempt.
Kuririn is small and the tub is kind of big. There's enough room for the both of them.
If he had any nerve, he would have gotten in there with him.
Wait, what did he just promised himself? No more holding back, right?
'Yes, I'll go in there and jump in the tub with him.'
It will be a nice, quiet, intimate moment with him. He gripped the door knob and was about to head back in when he realized something.
What if he gets an erection?
Well, one of three things can happen.
One: Kuririn won't notice.
'Ha! Good luck with that!' With his size, a person has to be legally blind not to notice.
With the second possibility he was right back with Kuririn going, "Eek, Get out –get out!"
Finally, the third possibility:
In his mind's eye he saw himself already in the tub with Kuririn.
"Um…Yamucha-san is that…?"He said, not quite able to finish his sentence.
"Yeah," Yamucha smiled shamelessly, "When I look at you when you're like this, I can't help it."
"I—I …um."
Yamucha moved closer to him in the water. "Do you . . . want to help me get rid of it?"
He reached for him and drew him into his lap.
"Oh, you have one too. We can help each other." he said with a wicked smirk.
"Yamucha-san, no ---Ah!"
He arched his back as his hand circled around his length.
"Relax…"Yamucha cooed, "I'll take care of you first.'
He imagined Kuririn openly whimpering and gasping at the sensation that Yamucha's hand was giving him. He imagined his cry as he came to his release and him wilting against his chest, panting.
"My turn." He purred, parting the smaller man's thighs and lowering him on to him.
"Ah!"Kuririn spasm in his arms and his legs kicked in the water as the ex-bandit took pleasure from him…
"Crap, I'm drooling." He was letting his imagination run away with him again.
"Right! Here I go!"
But the bathroom doorknob turned by itself and Kuririn came out, already dried and a towel around his waist.
"Oh," seeing Yamucha there, "You want to take a bath too? I'm done, it's all yours."
"B-but-but," he stammered.
"What?" Kuririn said with a look of pure innocence. He didn't have the slightest inkling of what Yamucha was planning.
"N-nothing."
Kuririn disappeared into the other room, giving Yamucha a private moment to bang his head against the wall.
'Nooo, I waited too long! I won't miss another moment like this!'
Next evening…
"I'm a little sweaty. You don't mind if I wash up here?" he asked his old master as soon as arrival. He was anxious to get up stairs and in the bathroom before Kuririn was done.
"Um…" the old man said, looking befuddled at his old student eagerness, "No, not at all. This will always be your home too. But you should know Kuririn's already in the tub and—"
"Thanks. That's all I need to know. "Yamucha chuckled impishly as he hurried up stairs to undress.
/o/
With a nice fluffy white towel around his waist and a bounce in his step, Yamucha head for the bathroom. In there, he expected to find Kuririn already naked, wet and ready for the taking.
Yamucha had a perverted grin on his face that might even rival Roshi's.
He opened the door wide and only to find Juuhachigou and Kuririn in the tub together.
"Juu-chan, do you want me to wash your back?" Kuririn asked sweetly.
"Okay…Just don't scrub too hard. "
"Um…Um…" Yamucha uttered dumbly.
The startled couple looked at him. Juuhachi quickly covered herself and growled, "Pervert!"
She made a movement with her arm that was too fast for Yamucha to follow and --
BOINK!
Something ricocheted off his forehead and between his eyes.
Last thing Yamucha remembered was falling backward and landing hard on the floor.
He awoke to Roshi and Oolong standing over him.
"Good, you've came to, my boy. You've been out for an hour. "Roshi informed him.
"Wha…? What happened?"
"Juuhachigou threw a bar of soap at you. Didn't you hear me? I told you she was in there with him."
"I think you should see a doctor, man. I mean, she did hit you pretty hard. "Oolong said snickering.
"No, I'm fine!"
He knew by now the couple was already asleep in bed. She probably had her arms around Kuririn and her cheek next to his sweet, raven hair.
Yamucha's teeth grind together at the thought. 'This isn't over!'
/o/
With his head injury, Yamucha allowed to stay overnight.
"I'm sorry about that Yamucha," Kuririn apologized for Juuhachigou in the morning.
"No, no it's my fault." He gently touched the fresh bump on his forehead through the bandage. "It'll go down soon."
"You should watch your step around Juu-chan now. She's still kinda mad at you. "
'She's mad at me? She's mad at me! I'm the one who nearly had his skull cracked open by a bar of soap!' he wanted to yelled; instead he laughed and said, "I think I'll do that."
It was mind-numbingly boring today.
Juuhachigou was out –again! And once again, Kuririn did not know where she was.
He had suggested that they should go somewhere and –you know—have fun.
But Kuririn refused, saying he wanted to be home when "Juu-chan" gets back.
The smaller man would sigh and look glumly at the door--waiting.
Yamucha frowned.
He has seen this type of behavior before…in dogs.
Whenever a beloved owner would leave for work, school, or whatever, the dog will mope around the house, depressed waiting for its master's return.
"Juu-chan!" as soon as she walked in, Kuririn ran up to greet her at the door.
Yes, once its master return, the dog with be all happy and full of energy again just as Kuririn is right now. Yamucha knew if Kuririn had a tail, it would be wagging like crazy now.
Even the way she ran her fingers through his hair sometimes, it was like she was petting him. Is that how she sees him? As a pet?
Every time she returns, Kuririn would be so happy. There was not a single gripe about where she has been. It was like he's grateful that she came back at all. . .
'This is really sad. How can Kuririn take this?' If Yamucha was in this type of a relationship, he would have been gone by now.
Kuririn is merely blinded by her looks and the little attention she feeds him.
This woman has Kuririn completely under her thumb and she knows it. She can treat him like crap and she knows he would put up it.
The more Yamucha was at the Kame House the more it was steadily becoming clear, Juuhachigou's absents were growing longer and longer.
Kuririn told him that she would leave at night and usually come back early in the morning. Now those periods spanned days. Soon a full week would pass before Kuririn saw his wife again.
Why was this happening? Should Yamucha care at all? This is what he was wishing for. With Juuhachi not ever-present as before, Yamucha sneak his way into Kuririn's heart.
/o/
Today was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and it wasn't too hot or too cold. It was just plain perfect! Yamucha hoped he could persuade Kuririn to come out and spar with him. Probably this good weather will bring him luck.
The ex-bandit arrival at Kame House only to learn his most sought after prize wasn't there. Roshi said Juuhachigou didn't come home yet, so least Yamucha knew he wasn't out with his wife.
'Maybe I can find him.' This may be his chance to be completely alone with him.
It took two hours of flying around to find him. He sensed his presense in a vast countryside.
No towns, no villages, there was just land, grass, and trees.
Pinpointing him down, he discovered Kuririn in the shade of one large tree that settle next to a sparkling lake. He was asleep with his back against the tree trunk.
There's nothing out here, so why is he here?
'Oh…He looks so vulnerable. Maybe… I can steal a kiss…' Yamucha knelt down close to him and tactfully leaned forward. . .
"Goku . . ." Kuririn sniffled in his sleep.
"Goku?"
'I see…He's still grieving…'
Goku meant so much to Kuririn--to Yamucha--to everyone!--to have him taken so abruptly . . . it still hurts.
"…Don't cry…" Yamucha's hand cupped his cheek and wiped away the tear budding from the corner of the sleeping man's eye. . .
Kuririn's hands suddenly sprang forward and clasped themselves into the front of Yamucha's shirt. The larger man was yanked forward and his head banged against the tree trunk.
"Ow!"
"Goku," Kuririn whimpered again, his face in Yamucha's shoulder "Goku… no, don't go away. I… "His eyes opened and he out a startled "Ahh!" when he saw a disgruntled Yamucha there.
"Oh, it's you, Yamucha."
"You can let go now." He growled.
"Oh," embarrassed, he let the fabric of his shirt slip free from his fingers.
"Why are you doing all the way out here?" Yamucha as he rubbed yet another bump on his forehead.
"Goku…" he admitted softly, "This was the last place we were alone together. I just miss him..."
Unable to stay mad at him, especially at a moment like this, he forgot about the pain.
"Yeah, me too," Yamucha sat down next to him and leaned against the tree, "I wonder what he is doing there— on the other side. Knowing Goku, he's training--getting stronger. I bet he's very happy."
It was quiet for a moment. Then Kuririn changed the subject.
"I tried seeing Gohan today. I haven't seen him much since Cell…"
Yamucha was only half listening, he was pondering about the things they did in the past involving Goku.
'How many times we've risked our lives waiting for Goku. '
The thought that "If we only hold out for a little bit longer, Goku will come and make everything right," always seem to be their motivation. Usually when that happens, half of them be would dead or dying.
'Waiting… you seem to be used to it, Kuririn. But now it isn't Goku its Juuhachi.'
If Juuhachi left, he will wait loyally for her—no matter what.
Whoever he's in love with, all of his devotion goes to that one person. It's just as the same as with Goku… Kuririn would …
Yamucha paused in mid-thought.
He gaped at Kuririn as though he had suddenly grown a nose. (A/N: XD)
". . . But you know Chi-Chi. She said I was a 'bad influence' and a 'distraction'. After what happened with Cell, I bet she won't let Gohan out of his room until he's in his thirties …" Kuririn laughed, "Goku… why couldn't you see how much he needs you…Remember when…"
The way he spoke about Goku now. His face held this adoring look.
"Kuririn… you were in love with Goku…" Yamucha said without thinking.
Kuririn was smack silent by that comment.
He didn't answer at first but then he laughed and shakily asked "W-what are you talking about?"
"All this time…"Yamucha said distantly, feeling like an absolute idiot for not seeing this. "I can't believe this. You were in love with him. "
It was no secret that Kuririn adored Goku but in love…?
In one quick motion, Kuririn suddenly got up. "I should be goin'. Later, Yamucha."
"No." Yamucha grabbed his arm. "Don't run away. Is it true? I-I won't hold anything against you. "
Some outlandish reason told him he needed to know this.
A sudden spike in Kuririn's ki, raked across Yamucha's senses. Kuririn sharply turned and threw at punch at him, aiming for his face. Shocked, Yamucha moved his head to the side and the blow barely missed him.
"Let go of my arm!" Kuririn roared angrily at him
"Why are you so angry?"
"I said 'Let go!'"
The next blow came too fast and it landed squarely in the center of Yamucha's face.
"Arrgah, damnit! My nose!" He let go of Kuririn and brought his hands to his bleeding nose.
"Uh, Yamucha-san! A-are you all right?" shock and sincerity ranged in his voice and he lowered his guard.
"You..!" Yamucha counterattacked, delivering a blow into the smaller fighter's gut.
"Gu-argh!" Kuririn fell to the ground, out cold.
"Kuririn? Oh, shit…" He didn't mean to knock him out. He didn't think he could! Well, his guard was down . . .
"Kuririn! Kuririn!" he called, moving over him and shaking him awake.
"Ugh...uh…" Kuririn came to and he looked pissed again and ready to start a fight.
"Stop it!' Yamucha held Kuririn down by his shoulders, "You were in love with him or else you wouldn't have reacted like this!"
Kuririn clenched his jaw and look away from him. Finally, Yamucha dared to venture further in his questioning.
"Were you two …together?" he asked hesitantly.
Kuririn laughed quietly as though Yamucha had asked the most absurd thing ever. His irritation vanished but it was replaced was such grief, "It was never like that between us…besides…" Kuririn whispered it so softly; Yamucha barely heard it "Goku deserved better."
Yamucha release Kuririn and the former monk walked back to tree-- The memento of his last peaceful moment with Goku.
He fell to his knees and moaned.
"You hit me pretty hard." He whined, still nursing the side where Yamucha had hit him.
"Sorry." Yamucha wiped his bloody nose on the back of his hand.
"No, after what I did to your nose, I guess we're even."
Kuririn surrender and said, "You're right, Yamucha. I loved him. I loved him very much." This new bit of information did not made Yamucha feel any better. In fact, it made him feel even worse. Big, strong, saint-like Goku, he's someone that is more than worthy of Kuririn's devotion and love. In so many ways, Yamucha will never be on the same level as him.
The ex-bandit suddenly felt so small . . . so inferior. The shining memory of Goku made his presence seems insignificant.
"Goku changed my life. I wonder if he knows that or not . . . I guess not. "
"We used to be very close when we were kids. As the years went by, we must've drifted apart. . . ."
He smiled a sad smile.
"…It was for the best … He wouldn't have gotten stronger hanging around me. Goku was just meant for better things, you see... I-I thought it would be enough for me to do something for him--anything. If it meant dying again, I wouldn't mind . . . if it was for Goku. Pathetic, huh?"
Has everything he has done was all out of a unrequited love for Goku?
He now had a renew sense of jealous towards Goku. He had Kuririn's heart all that time and didn't even know it. There was so much Yamucha would give just for that…No, he stopped himself from letting his envy go too far. There was no point in being jealous of a dead man.
"I could only do so little. . .Goku deserved better than what I could ever give him…Juu-chan too…"
"What? Why would you say that. "
"Look at me, Yamucha. I'm not handsome like you are. And I don't have a boatload of money to make up for it either. The only thing I can do is love her and try to make her happy. "
Kuririn's shoulders slumped wearily and he stared down at the roots of the tree.
"Maybe that's not enough for her…she's wonderful, she deserves the best b-but I can't give that to her… " His hands fisted into the grass and his lower lip quivered "Leave me Yamucha. I—I –I don't want anyone seeing me like this."
"It's not fair." Yamucha was at a lost. Frustration and spite was building up in him.
No matter how hard he tries, Kuririn's dedication will always be given to someone else. First Goku and now Juuhachigou, how in the world someone as pathetic as him supposes to compete with that?
'It's not fair!'
No, wait… This is his chance.
'She brought this upon herself! If she doesn't act like she wants him, I'll be more than happy to take him!'
Last thing Yamucha wanted to do was hurt his friend. Oh, he knew Juuhachigou loves him. He can easily see that.
The old Yamucha would have said "Don't be so down. Things are bound to get better."
But that was the old Yamucha; right now he wants Kuririn all for himself.
The poor guy's so vulnerable and it'll be so much easier to pounce on him when he's emotionally weak. All Yamucha need to do is push him closer to the edge and instill doubt about his precious wife.
"I hate to say it like this but Goku's gone."Yamucha spoke up, "He's never coming back-- no matter how long you wait. And Juuhachi--"
"Yamucha-san … please…!" Kuririn didn't want him to say anymore.
"Be honest and tell me the last time you've seen her. A week? Two weeks? Where is she?"
"I don't know where she is, okay? I have no way of finding her and after all this time she still won't tell me. Can't she trust me? If she can't trust me . . . Then why… why would she bother marrying me at all?"
"Remember what Trunks told us?" Yamucha spoke in an ominous tone "How these androids like to 'play games'. Maybe this has been a game to her…"
He watched as Kuririn's eyes grew very watery.
Yes, Yamucha's words were chipping away at his usually solid commitment and trust in his wife.
He placed his hand on Kurrin's shoulder but the small man brushed it away.
"So you're sayin' that my marriage is just some joke?" Kuririn distanced himself from him. "Just leave me alone!"
Kuririn's heart was breaking right before Yamucha's eyes. The only thing he sought for now was to be alone in his pain but Yamucha was determined to not make that so.
He pulled Kuririn to him. His small body fit so easily in his large arms. His chest clashed against his.
"What are you doing? Let me go!" Kuririn said with a broken voice, looking away from him.--Doing his best not to show him his tears.
"Kuririn, I understand…I know what it's like to love someone who will never love you back."
Kuririn stopped squirming and looked at him with understanding.
'Yes, you see now, Kuririn?'
"I know. . . I know how much you loved Bulma—"
"No! Not her."Yamucha move in close and stared Kuririn in the eyes. "I love you. Ever since that night before the Cell games when I realized I love you."
Kuririn's eyes went wide in disbelief.
He pressed his hands onto Yamucha's chest as attempt to push him away. Shaking his head his he said, "No, no, you said— you said you were drunk! "
"I lied. Forgive me." He let Kuririn absorbed this; the ex-monk still did not believe it. "Hey…Look at me now, Kuririn. Do I look drunk to you? Look into my eyes and tell me if I'm sober or are not."
Kuririn let out a fretful gasp when Yamucha face moved close to his.
"Can you tell me… if you taste alcohol on my lips?"He tried to kiss him--to prove his love. But Kuririn turned his head away and Yamucha once again felt the sting of rejection.
"I bet if I was Goku, you wouldn't resist." He remarked sternly.
"Like I said, I will do anything for Goku!" Kuririn said without looking at him." If he ever wanted that from me, I wouldn't hesitate to give it to him. "
Total aggravation took over Yamucha.
"Why not me? What's so wrong about me?!"
He grasped his chin and roughly forced him to look at him.
"You put Goku and Juuhachigou on a pedestal—'Goku deserves everything—Juu-chan deserves everything'! That's all I'm hearing from you! You worship them, but what about yourself!"
His hold on him tightened and he took deep breath to compose himself. "Kuririn …I think you're sweet." Yamucha said in a voice slightly above a whisper. "I think you deserve everything."
The expression on Kuririn's face told him that no one in his life ever say such a thing to him.
"Leave me alone . . ." he whimpered again, but this time it lacked the strength it had before. Kuririn was falling deeper into loneliness and neediness; the older man could see it in his eyes. The more Yamucha spoke the more he sank. The barrier he had up against him was crumbling . . .
Yamucha hand moved to the back of Kuririn's head. Stroking his hair, he whispered,
"I know one thing that you don't deserve: being alone. You deserve to be with someone that wants to be with you no matter what. Someone that won't keep you on the side while they do whatever they want to do."
They were so close to each other their foreheads touched. Yamucha swore he could feel Kuririn's heart beating franticly.
"Kuririn . . . I can be that 'someone' because…I want you."
That sentence place Kurirn in a transfixed state…
Their lips slightly graze against each other --Kuirirn still appeared unnerved.
"No, Juu-chan will—"
"It's okay," Yamucha chuckled mischievously "I won't tell."
Kuririn froze as Yamucha kissed him. He felt his lips tremor against his.
He soothingly rubbed his friend's back to ease his tense muscles and he eventually relaxed in his arms.
Giving in to him, Kuririn closed his eyes and kissed back…
Yamucha could not describe the bliss washing over his soul.
'Are you kissing me now because this is what you wanted from Goku? Is it because you think your marriage is falling apart?' Whatever, Yamucha didn't care. The only thing that matter was that he was experiencing this.
/o/
Yamucha woke in the morning the happiest he had been in months--no, ever! At last, there was an opening that Yamucha can wedge his way into Kuririn's life. It was like a miracle; they kissed and held each other. Kuririn was so sweet…
'It's like seducing a lonely house-wife' Yamucha thought playfully, seeing how reverse their roles in their relationship were.
'All he needs is a flowery apron to complete the image.' Oh, he could imagine Kuririn in just an apron…
"Maybe I'm fantasizing about this too much." But the idea was too cute to just forget about it. "I hope I'm not developing some weird fetish."
'Oh, you gotta be kidding me. 'He thought as he saw Kuririn at the Kame House later in the evening. He answered the door and he was wearing apron. It wasn't flowery but it was still cute; it had a pattern of baby sea turtles on it.
"Cu-u-u-te!" without a second thought, he grabbed Kuririn and squeezed him snugly. "How do you know what I wanted?" he cried, like Christmas had just come early.
"What are you talkin' about? Put me down! Put me down!"
Yamucha took in a horrified gasp, abruptly realizing his grave error.
"Juuhachi isn't home, is she!?" he asked terrified, hysterically looking around. He was expecting Juuhachi to show up and beat the hell out of him for touching her little husband.
"No, she's not. Put me down!" Kuririn wiggled free from his arms. "What are you doing here?"He said, red-faced and fuming.
"What kind of greeting is that? I'm here for you. Why else would I come here?"
A light blush crept across his cheeks and Kuririn's demeanor grew so bashful. Yamucha found that so endearing.
"Is the old man and the pig here?" he asked with some faint hope that they weren't so he could have Kuririn all to himself.
"They're in the living room watching that aerobics show." Kuririn said with a roll of his eyes.
"Hm." Yamucha peered into the house and was able to make out Roshi and Oolong gaping at the TV and at the shapely women in tights doing various exercises.
Yamucha smirked "They wouldn't look away even if a nuclear bomb went off. "
The two went inside. He didn't bother saying hello to Roshi or Oolong. It was an unspoken rule: never talk to them during their "workout."
Instead, Yamucha followed Kuririn into the kitchen.
The smell of dinner cooking filled Yamucha's nose and he became aware of how hungry he was.
He watched Kuririn hurry around the kitchen, busy as a bee.
"Does Juuhachi ever cook?" he asked him.
"Oh, she tried once. Trust me, it wasn't pretty."
Yamucha wasn't much of a cook himself. He barely knew how to make rice without burning it. Everything he ate at home was take-out and pre-made packaged food.
Kuririn wasn't the best cook but he still was pretty good.
He was working on a small kitchen stand, so he wouldn't have to be on his tippy-toes in order to cook. This brought his height up to at least Yamucha's shoulder.
He heard Kuririn sniffled.
"Are you crying, Kuririn?"He inquired softly in low voice.
"Don't be ridiculous! It's just the onions." He sniffled again, wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and went back to chopping.
Stealthy, Yamucha moved close behind him until his front touched his back.
Kuririn's body stiffened.
"What's the matter? You're acting so shy all of a sudden. You weren't like this yesterday." Yamucha rested his hands on Kuririn's.
"Please, Yamucha-san. D-don't stand so close."
"If you don't like it then push me away." Yamucha lowered his face into the smaller man's downy hair and nuzzled it with his nose.
He watched Kuririn fidgeted. Conflicted, maybe?
'Do you want to push me away or do you like having me so close?'
"So, what are you making?" Yamucha said, not taking a step away from Kuririn.
"Curry—it'll be done soon."
"Oh, but I'm hungry now." He lowered his arms down until he had his hands around his small waist.
His face nestled in the crook of Kuririn's neck and he took a tiny nip at Kuririn's skin.
"Yamucha… Stop it…" he moaned.
"So sweet, I can just eat you up. . ."
"Oi!" a loud voice made them both jump, "What's taking so long?" Roshi's cranky voice sounded from the living room.
"Yeah, we're starving!" Oolong's voice followed.
That must have snapped Kuririn out of it. He dropped the knife on the chopping broad and duck out of Yamucha's gasp.
"Quit your complaining!" Kuririn hollered back at them. "I-I'm almost done." Kuririn was clearly flustered.
Yamucha experienced a stir of pleasure to see Kuririn was blushing.
/o/
An empty spot at the table was a clear sign that Juuhachi was not going to be there tonight.
Dinner's pretty good; too bad she had to miss it.
Come to think of it, if Kuririn wasn't around, the Kame House will be a mess and Roshi and Oolong will starve to death
Yamucha chuckled; Okay…maybe he was going into the extremes with that thought. However, the idea of having Kuririn doting over him as he does with Juuhachigou was so …nice!
"Oh, what's the matter? You're not hungry?" Roshi said to Kuririn
"No, I guess not." He was staring down at his plate, moving around the food with his fork instead of actually eating it. "I'm must be too tired to eat. I think I'll go to bed early…"
"Great! I'll take his plate." Oolong eagerly reached for it, but Roshi slapped his hand.
"No, you don't! You already had four helpings."
"Jerk!" Oolong stuck his tongue out at him.
"It's so sad to see Kuririn like this." Roshi grumbled to Yamucha over his beer, watching Kuririn climb the stairs. The old hermit seem as though he had a bit too much tonight.
"You've-hic- seen him while she's here. He tries so hard to please her, yet she-hic- barely bats an eye at it. It's like it doesn't matter as all to her. "
'Ah, so I'm not the only one who thinks this.'
"She said she would be back today but she still hasn't showed! He made this dinner just for her . . . the poor kid."
'Yeah, poor Kuririn . . .'
/o/
Few hours after dinner, Yamucha went up stairs to the master bedroom.
"Juu-chan?" Kuririn said hopefully as soon he heard the door opened.
"No, it's just me. Can I come in?"
He saw the confliction on his face again.
'Come on, Kuririn. Invite me in. . .' the beast inside Yamucha purred.
Hesitantly, Kuririn said yes and Yamucha entered, quietly closing the door behind him.
Kuririn gazed up at him from the bed. Even though he had this large bed all to himself, he remained on one side--keeping that spot reserved for his wife.
"May I?" he asked for permission again, fingering the sheets of the bed. Once again Kuririn nodded. He lifted up the covers and slipped into bed next him —in the spot where Juuhachigou usually sleeps.
There was a serene minute between them as they stared at each other in the dim light of the moon.
Yamucha extended his hand to touch his companion's cheek.
Kuririn closed his eyes and moved into the caress… accepting it.
Such a simple act made Yamucha's heart flutter.
'You want me too.' All his hopes and dreams were coming true.
Kuririn looked at him once more and he frowned, now looking like he was regretting letting Yamucha this close. "No, y-you should leave."
"Why are you pushing me away?"
Kuririn sat up in bed and looked down at him.
"I'm married--that's why!"
"To a woman who cares nothing for you."
"Don't say that, she cares—"
"Then why isn't she here?"
Kuririn gazed downward bleakly and he meekly murmured. "Something's bothering her…I know it. "
The sheets rustled as he sat up. He took Kuririn's chin, lifting his face to his.
"Kuririn…" Yamucha said delicately with pity shining in his eyes, "How much longer are you gonna tell yourself that."
Tears form in Kuririn's eyes.
"I'm sorry…I—It-It's okay…" Yamucha said as he embraced him. He did this more to enjoy the feel of their bodies pressing together than to comfort the near to tears Kuririn.
His face showed nothing but concern but, in reality, he was dancing inside.
'Yes, weep on, Kuririn! I'll give you a shoulder to cry on and then some,' finding Kuririn's vulnerability a real turn-on.
And he did. The tears overflowed and he wept into Yamucha's chest.
"Maybe sh-she is regretting it. I can understand that—I mean… I don't want to lose her. "
"You won't have to worry about losing me. I hate parting from you. That year when I went away…you marrying her, tore me apart."
Of course he was only telling him half the story. What he did to Kuririn… he shall never know…
"All that time, you…?"
"Kuririn…" He moved closer for a kiss and delighted this time Kuririn didn't try to move away, he actually moved upward to have his lips meet his.
Kuririn's a good kisser, probably another thing he has to thank Juuhachigou for. She has him trained pretty well . . . but he knows he could show his friend better…
The kiss grew less chaste. He wanted Kuririn to taste how much he desires him.
The more experienced man earned a surprised "mph!"from Kuririn when he deepened it.
Kuririn's face grew so red, it looked like he was going to swoon at any moment.
Yamucha drew up Kuririn's pajama shirt, exposing his chest. He was glad to feel that his skin remain as soft and warm as remember it.
"Yes…" Yamucha mumbled, his mouth travel down to Kuririn's throat and he suckling on it.
The sound of Kuririn moaning was egging him on and made him more courageous. The elastic band of his pajama bottoms made it effortless for him to slip his hand in…
"What…? No!" Kuririn's body went rigid in his arms.
"No? I'm going too fast, am I?"
Kuririn trembled. "I can't…"
Yes, it was too soon for this.
"I won't do anything you don't want me to do…"he murmured reassuringly, kissing his cheek. He removed his hand and straightened out his shirt.
"Oh, you look so tired. You waited all last night for her, didn't you?"
He groggily nodded.
"Then rest."
"Yamucha-san--"
"Don't say another word—just go to sleep…"
Kuririn allowed him hold him as he slept. Such happiness enveloped Yamucha, how did get to be this lucky?
His gaze traveled around the dim bedroom and he spotted pictures of their wedding were on the nightstand on Kuririn's side of the bed. One year… have things fallen apart that quickly for the seemingly happy couple in the photo. Yamucha wanted those pictures gone. He couldn't stand to look at them.
"Juu-chan…" Kuririn whispered in his sleep as he clutched Yamucha's shirt.
"Still thinking about her, huh?" this was far from being over. Juuhachigou still owns his heart. No matter how close he tries to get to Kuririn, she's always there, blocking his way in one way or another.
Yamucha patted his hair and sighed. He wished he could stay in this moment of intimacy forever but Yamucha knew better than to linger here. He had no idea when Juuhachi would come home. Reluctantly, he let go of Kuririn and slipped out of bed. He was hoping that there will be a day when he could sleep with Kuririn in his arms all night.
That night may be soon; things were going along too smoothly. It was almost like their marriage was non-existent.
In the end, Juuhachi will only have herself to blame when Kuririn leaves her.
TBC
Updates will slow down since I have classes again. /Sigh/ Biology's an evil demon that wants all of my free time.
