Have this one ready unexpectedly soon, and it doesn't seem fair to sit on it. Don't know when you can expect the next one, but I'll try not to make it too long!
Thank you for all the lovely reviews, they really make the work of writing worth it.
Kuwabara Mizuna owns these people, lucky girl.
Warning in this chapter for smut. Yep, finally, right? :)
PENDULUM
Chapter 8 - Consolamentum
"When I said I needed somewhere to collapse, I meant, like, home, not a fancy hotel."
Takaya's voice was muffled by the pillow his face was pressed to, as he sprawled across one of the room's two large beds. He had been there silently for nearly half an hour, since they checked in, and while left to his thoughts Naoe kept thinking of the dazed look on Takaya's face as he was dragged away from his brothers.
Former brothers. Well, no. He's still Kagetora, and they're still his brothers. Damn, why did this have to happen now? Just when Takaya-san was getting adjusted...
It was not that Naoe doubted Kagetora's loyalty, it was just that he knew the strength of blood ties, knew it would be hell for Kagetora to have to fight someone who loved him, and had kept loving him for four hundred years. Naoe had noted that Takaya had carefully put Ujiteru's business card in his wallet, rather than throwing it away.
If only they were not our enemies, they could be allies, and family for Takaya-san.
"I often stay in this hotel when in Matsumoto," Naoe said.
"Slacker monk. Didn't you take a vow of poverty or something?" With difficulty, it seemed, Takaya flipped over to lay on his back. "Stop worrying. I can hear you worrying, Naoe."
"My lord?"
"You're thinking that having to fight my own brothers is gonna trip me up, right?"
"I was thinking that it would be difficult for you."
"I'll be fine. If they start causing trouble, we exorcise them. No sweat."
"Even Ujiteru-dono?"
Takaya sighed. "Yeah. Shit. He was really happy to see me, wasn't he?"
"I believe so. Your memories of him are pleasant, aren't they?"
"He taught me everything. Riding, sword fighting, archery. And the flute. To this day, flute music calms me, and for so long I didn't know why." Takaya shifted again, so he could see Naoe. "You said I used to play it."
"In our original lives, Lord Kenshin told me that you played it beautifully, that he loved to listen."
"I've been meaning to ask you...are you still in contact with Kenshin?Can you still talk to him?"
"I have not heard from him in several lifetimes, no," Naoe said, sounding regretful. "He used to speak to me during meditation. I still speak to him, though, hoping he hears me."
"That's kind of crappy. He set us on this quest thing, the least he could do is stick around to answer questions."
"Lord Kenshin did not waste words. If there was nothing to say, he said nothing."
Takaya pouted. "I want to ask him why he chose me for this."
"I wouldn't mind knowing the same about myself."
"He really never told you?"
"I didn't think to question it. It was an order from my lord."
Takaya rolled his eyes. "Don't be so subservient, Naoe. Didn't you ever want to, like, tell Kaegtora off?"
"I could never do that, even if I wanted to." Naoe sounded shocked.
"Come on, practice on me. Tell me I'm a terrible leader and I should fuck off. Come on."
Naoe laughed. "I will admit, Kagetora-sama has frustrated me in the past, but not to quite that extent."
"A little rebellion is healthy, you know."
"I'm surprised to hear that from you."
"From Kagetora, you mean."
"Yes." Naoe smiled. "There is no difference."
"You're absolutely sure I'm a four hundred-year-old samurai?"
"Positive."
"Okay, drinking age isn't a problem, then." Takaya grabbed the phone and dialed. "Hi, this is room two-sixteen, can you send up a few bottles of sake?"
mobmobmob
Takaya pushed hard, and Naoe finally relented, meekly stating that it was just this once, and only because Takaya didn't have school the next day. Sake was delicately poured, back and forth, into the small drinking bowls, and very soon master and retainer were both comfortably buzzed, and talking with ease about their recent pasts.
"No way! Your pre-school teacher?"
Naoe laughed and nodded. "She told me she'd wait for me to grow up and reach my majority. I let it slip to my older brother, who told my parents. They were outraged, of course, and got her fired. Pity."
"You're not gonna go looking her up, are you?"
"Of course not. The only one I want is - "
"Don't say it. Here, drink more! To Lord Kenshin, who started us on this path and buggered off before we could question him!"
"Insolence," Naoe laughed, but clattered his bowl against Takaya's in a toast.
"Let's see, who else? To Kousaka, who only comes around because he has a massive man-crush on Naoe!"
"What?"
"Don't tell me you haven't noticed. He practically has stars in his eyes when he talks to you," Takaya grumbled. "But you're my dog. Mine."
"I am happy to be only yours."
"You're a masochist." Takaya refilled his cup and Naoe's. "You don't get what you want from me, yet you stick around. Why do you do that?"
"I would rather be with you than anyone else."
"Neesan needs to set you up on some blind dates or something. I don't want you to be alone."
But then, I don't want you with anyone else, either.
Naoe smiled reassuringly. "I am not lonely. I have you, after all."
"All I do is tease you."
"I like being teased by Takaya-san. It is a new thing for us."
"Kagetora really had a stick up his ass, didn't he?"
Naoe seemed to find that hilarious and laughed a long time. Takaya snickered as he downed another bowlful of sake and poured them each another round.
"I think, perhaps Takaya-san has had enough."
"Hey, you're the one giggling like a maniac. Where's your perfect retainer behavior?"
"I apologize, my lord."
"Don't take me seriously all the time, Naoe. I was joking."
"It is most improper, though. I should not be drinking with my master," Naoe admitted.
"You want me to drink alone? Ha. You just want me drunk so you can have your way with me."
"Would such a thing work?"
"Ha, like I'm gonna tell you."
A few rounds later, Naoe began to sing an old drinking song he remembered from his days in Echigo. His voice as Tachibana Yoshiaki was strong and clear, but the song was old-fashioned, and Takaya pronounced it boring. He himself sang a few dirty songs he had learned as a delinquent, and Naoe found them very funny, though he tried to pretend to be scandalized.
"What do you suppose Kenshin would think," Takaya asked unsteadily, "if he saw us right now?"
"Hard to say. He was fond of sake himself, but he might disapprove. As I said earlier, it's inappropriate for a retainer to drink with his master."
"Is that why you won't go in onsens with me?"
"Yes."
Takaya awkwardly got to his feet, went to one of the beds, and plopped down on it. "Omigod, this bed is so comfortable. Naoe! You gotta come see how comfy this bed is."
Naoe started to stagger over, but said "I cannot lie in the same bed as my master. It's - "
"Inappropriate, yeah, whatever. Get down here, it's an order."
Naoe settled himself down next to Takaya, his head on one of the pillows. "It is comfortable."
"Right? I could totally go to sleep."
"Sleep if you wish. I'll watch over you."
"Do you like watching me sleep or something?"
"Yes."
"You're hopeless. Don't let me fall asleep. I feel good, I wanna stay awake."
"Takaya-san is drunk."
"So is Naoe."
"True."
They both giggled tipsily. Takaya turned onto his side to face Naoe, and Naoe did the same. It reminded Naoe of his sad childhood, the sleepovers with friends he never had.
"What was so great about Kagetora anyway?" Takaya asked, insecurity showing through his drunken defiance.
"Everything. His poise, his character, his voice, his looks, every word he said. He is perfect."
"Is? Ha. I'm nowhere near perfect."
"It is your faults that make you human, and therefore able to be loved. That makes you perfect to me." Naoe smiled. "I remember watching the way your hands moved during strategy meetings. I was spellbound."
"So you've felt this way that long? Even when we were alive." Naoe nodded, and Takaya scoffed. "You should have told Kagetora then."
"I could not do such a thing. Kenshin-kou was very protective, and Kagetora-sama already received enough unwanted attention."
"But who knows? He might've been into you."
Naoe shook his head, and sighed. "We were not on an equal social footing. It would not have been permitted."
"Oh, Naoe," Takaya said sadly. "It's not fair. For four hundred years you've carried this. And Kagetora was like a painting kept out of your reach."
"I can reach out to Takaya-san, at least." Hesitantly, Naoe extended a hand toward Takaya and stroked his cheek.
Surprising himself, Takaya closed his eyes and leaned into the touch. Naoe's fingers were cool against his hot face, and he could not remember ever being touched with such affection. Starved for affection and with lowered inhibitions, Takaya edged closer to Naoe, and the hand on his cheek shifted to smooth back his mussed hair. Drunkenly, Takaya now realized why dogs like being pet - it felt so good.
"Takaya-san..."
"You feel nice."
"You too..."
Takaya felt Naoe come closer to him, felt the man's breathing on his face. Naoe's nose brushed against Takaya's, and all at once their lips were together, chastely at first, then tasting each other with mouths and tongues. Takaya moaned softly, a questioning sound, and Naoe's arm reached around him to caress the nape of his neck. Takaya's hands found Naoe's shirt and fisted it - whether to keep him close or stop him getting any nearer, Takaya couldn't have answered. He felt blissfully removed from all questions and concerns, a state of mind that couldn't last, but all he cared about was how this felt, which was wonderful. Takaya had never been kissed like this, not been kissed at all except for a couple girls in junior high, and he had no idea it could feel so amazing.
Naoe's arm was drawing him closer, and Takaya let it. The kiss continued, and now Naoe's hand was stroking the bare part of his arm, up and down, leaving goosbumps in the fingers' wake. Takaya grabbed Naoe's shoulder and squeezed it, fearing he would float away if he didn't hold on to something.
"Takaya-san."
"I like it when you say my name."
"Takaya-san, Takaya-san."
Naoe's lips left Takaya's and slowly made their way down Takaya's jaw and to his neck, kissing every spot they moved over. Naoe sucked gently at the sensitive skin of Takaya's neck, and tilted his head back for better access. He was careful not to mark the skin, finding it too silky and beautiful to mar. Meanwhile, his hands were busy pushing Takaya's T-shirt up as high as he could, exposing the fair skin and feeling the muscles of his tight stomach and chest.
"Naoe..."
Naoe went further down, running his hands up and down Takaya's sides as he tasted more of the tempting flesh. Takaya, he found, tasted very clean, and fresh, like a drink from a pure stream. Naoe teased one of the nipples with his fingers and latched onto the other with his mouth, swirling his tongue around the hardening nub and sucking it hard. Takaya, breathing in gasps, said something incomprenhensible. It wasn't "Stop", and that was all Naoe needed for the moment. He gave the same treatment to the other nipple, leaving them wet and hard for his fingers to play with.
But he wasn't done, not by a long shot. He kissed Takaya again, pleased to find the mouth eagerly opening for him, and busied his hands opening the zipper of Takaya's jeans. Takaya moaned the same questioning sound as before, and Naoe was eager to show him the fun that could be had with this part of the body.
Amidst his pleasure-induced haze, Takaya was getting nervous. He knew it was odd, but he had only masturbated a few times in his life. He just didn't get turned on like he was now, and the few times he had tried, warning bells went off in his head.
Like they were starting to do now. And helpful as always, Kagetora was behind them, saying Not safe, not safe. Get away.
Shut up, Kagetora, Takaya thought, but the damage was done, the haze was starting to lift. Naoe had pulled his pants and boxers down and was gently kneading the hardening flesh there.
Between his heaving breaths, Takaya gasped "Naoe...no..."
"I can make you feel so good, let me make you feel good..."
"No..."
Takaya tried half-heartedly to push him away, but Naoe was on the move again, kissing his way down Takaya's body. He took Takaya into his mouth as solemnly and reverently as a priest receiving communion. Takaya wasn't prepared for how good it would feel, and he let out a loud cry. "He said "No" again as well, but slid his hand into Naoe's smooth hair as the mouth played with him. It was sucking him sklillfully, tongue teasing the slit, lips wrapped tightly around his aching cock.
He was close to coming, he could feel it. "Naoe, no...I'm gonna..."
Naoe only sucked harder in response.
"No...no...not safe...agh!"
Takaya came hard, like a wave crashing over him and chilling his whole body. Naoe eagerly drank the fluid that came out of him, licking him clean when he finished spurting. Naoe came back up and kissed him again, and although the warning alarm was still going, he figured it was only fair to make Naoe come as well. He put his hand inside Naoe's pants, but the man took it out, kissed it, and looked at him with fire in his eyes.
"Takaya-san, let me show you more." He had never seen Naoe look so happy, so he didn't protest.
Naoe tugged his jeans lower, until his bottom was exposed to the cool air. He then wet his finger in his mouth, put it behind Takaya, and gently began to finger him in a place he had never imagined being touched.
Not safe! Not safe, run!
Kagetora sounded frantic, which alarmed Takaya. The warning bell was blaring, so much so that it made him squint, and he grabbed Naoe by the shirt.
"Naoe, no."
"You'll like it, I promise."
The finger slipped inside, and it was uncomfortable, bordering on pain. Naoe tried to kiss him again, but Takaya dodged his mouth and said it again.
"Naoe, no. Stop."
"Takaya-san, it's all right, let me show you."
It's not all right, not safe!
Takaya reached back and tried to pull Naoe's finger out of him. Before he could, Naoe's free hand seized both his wrists and held them tightly between the two bodies. The finger edged deeper, and Takaya couldn't do a thing about it, because Naoe was restraining him. The warning bell deafened him, and stoic Kagetora was hysterical.
NOT SAFE NOT SAFE!
Takaya fought, but Naoe was physically stronger, and held the boy's wrists tightly. So Takaya thrashed as best he could, and tried to shift Naoe's hand off of him, out of him. Naoe slipped the finger deeper, it was a battle he was winning.
NOT SAFE NOT SAFE!
A flash came, the sickly light of the red moon, the sensation of excruciating pain. Takaya screamed, a sound so animal and primal that Naoe released him and edged back from the boy in shock.
"Takaya...san?"
The boy turned his face into a pillow and began to cry softly. Kagetora, what's wrong with you?What soul-sickness have you passed on to me?
Naoe's had returned to his cheek and wiped the tears it found there. "Takaya-san," he said emotionally, "I'm so sorry."
"Four hundred years...of build-up. Right?"
"That's no excuse."
"No, it's not."
"Please forgive me. I had thought you were enjoying it."
"Up to a point, I was," Takaya nearly sobbed. "That's the worst part. I liked being touched by you, but Kagetora won't let me."
"Takaya-san." Naoe stroked strands of hair back from the wet face.
"I saw the red moon again, the dark water. Something happened in Odawara, something terrible."
"We will figure it out. You are not alone, Takaya- san."
Sniffling softly, Takaya pulled his shirt down and re-fastened his jeans. Naoe handed him a tissue, and the boy sat up and wiped his face.
"Odawara..."
"I will take you there, if you wish. If you feel the answer is there."
"God. What could have happened to Kagetora?" A possibility occurred to Takaya, but it was too terrible to contemplate.
"Takaya-san, may I hold you? Just for a little while?"
Takaya nodded, and Naoe's arms enfolded him like the wings of a great bird. They lay down in silence, Naoe's hands rubbing his back, Takaya clinging to his arm. Takaya thought about what they had done up to the point Kagetora intervened, and how he felt toward the man who was holding him so protectively. The answer was devastating, as love always is.
mobmobmob
The next morning, Naoe ordered breakfast for them and excused himself to take a shower. He came out fully dressed, expecting to find Takaya munching toast and urging him to hurry so they could leave. Instead he found a note next to the untouched room service tray.
Naoe, I have to go to Odawara alone. I'm sorry, but Kagetora is my problem, and I have to find the answer myself. I'm sorry. Takaya.
Naoe dropped the towel he was holding. Takaya gone. Takaya going to Odawara, unprotected, where the Hojo could get their greedy hands on him. Takaya gone, after last night's breakthrough, with no chance to make things right between them.
"Damn it."
Naoe grabbed his cell phone and dialed Haruie. He would need help locating Takaya, so the other Yashashuu had to be notified.
Takaya-san, I know now that at least part of you wants me as I want you. I'm not giving up on that. Don't give up on me.
mobmobmob
Takaya was miserable all through the train ride to Odawara. He couldn't stop thinking about Naoe, how worried he would be. And about the night before, how good Naoe had felt. He had to admit to himself that he had feelings for Naoe, and for someone who'd never had these feelings for anyone, it was disconcerting.
So does this make me gay? Naoe would say that they didn't make such distinctions in our time, so it doesn't matter. How did this even happen? How, so fast?
Except he knew it wasn't as sudden as it seemed. In his memory of Kenshin's garden, he had wanted Naoe to touch him. Whatever this was, it was long-suppressed. Not new.
Naoe...
He missed the man already, missed his soothing presence and gentle hands, his smile and the way he said "Takaya-san".
I can't tell him how I feel yet. Not until I have Kagetora sorted out. And Naoe definitely won't approve of the method I'm using. But I still wish he was here.
The train pulled into the station on time, and Takaya caught a cab that drove into the nearest town. The address Takaya had given him from the business card turned out to be a large white house that sprawled right up to the beach. The familiar water stirred old feelings of home within him, and Takaya had to tear his gaze away from it to ring the doorbell.
Takada Hiro answered the door with an expression of delight on his face. "Saburo! I'm so happy to see you! Come in, come in!"
He was ushered inside and taken to a room that overlooked the ocean, and a servant was quickly dispatched to make tea. Takaya endured a long hug that the elder man seemed unable to hold back, and sat down in a comfortable leather chair across from his host.
"Saburo, I've been praying for your safe return. You're here to stay, right?"
"Not exactly. Ujiteru-ani..." Takaya looked at him resolutely. "I need to talk to you."
To be continued.
