disclaimer
I, Kagura Fuujinnomai do not own Bankotsu, Jakotsu, or any of the other characters associated with the Inuyasha series.
(Although I wish I did own those adorable, wonderful, super kawaii, sexy little sons of...ahem! anyways)
I get nothing from writing my Fanfics.
I am simply a fangirl who wishes to share her passion with the rest of the world
- sincerely,

Kagura Fuujinnomai

(AN: February is here! In honor of the month of love, let's have two new chapters back to back! One today, one tomorrow! And look forward to Valentine's day as well! That's when the serious fanservice hits the fan! See you then! )


Not For All The World: Chapter 14: A Honeysuckle and A Lilly

Bankotsu lie on the bed that now belonged to Inuyasha. The house was eerie and silent, except for the sound of his own breathing. It was so strange to be in this room again, without Jakotsu. His lover's scent still clung to the curtains and the mattress, and vaguely Bankotsu wondered if Inuyasha had ever even noticed it. 'Probably not.' He buried his face into the pillows, breathing in the scent of his precious Aisuru. It was a light, sweet fragrance that was just barely there, but he remembered it. Jakotsu wore perfume, of course, and combined with his own natural scent, it perfectly mimicked the smell of a honeysuckle.

How stupid, that Bankotsu knew that. How annoying that he recalled every different shade of onyx-grey in those eyes, every greenish strand that tinted that silken black hair and every tiny imperfection; whether scar or beauty mark, that shown against that smooth porcelain skin.

Did Jakotsu know any such thing about Bankotsu himself? Probably not. Yet here he lay, just the same, with his heart aching as he breathed in the dying scent of the one he loved so completely.
If his best friend; Inuyasha ever figured it out, Bankotsu would probably drop dead of humiliation…
'Speak of the devil and he shall appear.'

The door had slid open behind him, but Bankotsu pretended he hadn't noticed. The footsteps that approached him now were carefully quieted, and the more he thought about them, the more he realized that he must have been wrong. This was not Inuyasha, after all. Curiosity got the better of him and he turned, causing the girl beside him to startle. "Hey, Kagome."

She gaped, looking just like a deer caught in headlights. Apparently she had frozen, halfway through reaching for something on the floor and instead decided to watch Bankotsu. "Sorry!" was the first thing she said once she'd recovered. "I didn't mean to stare…"

"It's okay. Not like I'm doing anything anyway…" Bankots lie his head down, annoyed. Kagome was still watching him, and he wondered why she'd bothered to apologize. Her eyes were not nearly as lovely as Jakotsu's…

"Isn't this Inuyasha's room now?"

Was this her way of starting a conversation? Or did she seriously not recognize the multitude of her boyfriend's possessions that he'd left lying all around the place? "Yeah," Bankotsu decided he may as well take the bait, "this one belongs to dogboy."

Kagome looked a little sad now, and she didn't seem to want to look Bankotsu in the eye anymore. "You must miss him…"

"Hardly." Bankotsu sat up then, raising an incredulous eyebrow at her. "He's in my room now. If I missed him I'd just go lay with-" "I didn't mean Inuyasha," Kagome clarified, "I meant Jakotsu."

Now it was Bankotsu's turn to play the deer caught in headlights. He waved his hands, trying not to show his embarrassment. "Wow, you're pretty sharp!"
"Not really." Kagome sighed, sitting down on the carpet. "I just do that same thing. Sometimes I like to sit on my bed and just hug the pillow Inuyasha uses. It makes me feel better when we can't be together…"

"Can't be together," Bankotsu echoed, "story of my life." He offered her a kind smile, suddenly appreciating the fact that women could be so obnoxiously in tune with the affairs of the heart. At least someone understood him. All his life Bankotsu had purposely surrounded himself with people like Inuyasha and his high school football team, carefully choosing friends that were least likely to figure out his dirty little secrets. But here was this girl, who he hardly ever spoke to, and she'd figured one out in just a few seconds.

"Can I ask you something?" He shrugged at this proposal, and Kagome went ahead and asked. "How long have you been in love with Jakotsu?"

"Um…" Bankotsu avoided her curious gaze. He knew the answer of course, but was hesitant to share such information. Now that he thought about it, Bankotsu had never even told Jakotsu himself how long it had been. Admittedly he was not very good at being honest…
"For about thirteen years, I guess…"

"Thirteen?!" That was all Kagome was able to choke out. Her eyes were so wide that it was almost comical. "Yeah, thirteen, unless my math is really that bad. I was eight when I first figured it out. He wore boy clothes back then…"

"Wow," Kagome sighed, gazing dreamily off at nothing. "That's so romantic…"

"Only in the movies." Bankotsu lie back down, snuggling back against the mattress to smell his lover again. "In reality it kind of sucks," he mumbled this afterthought, closing his eyes as that honeysuckle scent filled his head. 'Years of worrying, wondering… chasing. And even now, Jakotsu still doesn't want to be caught.'

"Wonder why anyone would want to get married right out of college?"

Miles and miles away, in America, a grinning cross dresser spoke these words.
Jakotsu sat on Suzaku's soft, king-sized bed, shuffling through some of his newest photos. The photographs depicted Yuki and Shuuichi, his now happily married college buddies.

'I guess weddings are fun though…'
It had been his first time to an American wedding. The entire courtyard dazzled with dozens of different types of exotic flowers and the atmosphere positively swam with joy. Upon entering that almost magical place, one could immediately feel the love the two now happily married men shared. It was such a pleasant occasion, that even the miffed cross dresser, who had been talked into wearing a man's suit to the reception, couldn't help but smile and laugh along with his friends as they joked and reminisced.

But the excitement was far from over. His two friends had ridden off to enjoy their honeymoon, and afterwards, the lovely Suzaku had escorted Jakotsu back home with him. "You can stay in my room!" He'd insisted, dragging Jakotsu along as Hiten trailed behind, carrying his luggage.

Jakotsu had been a little timid at first, agreeing to such arrangements, but he had since warmed up to the inhabitants of this beautiful, spacious apartment.

Jakotsu had woken up alone today, for the first time since he'd arrived in America, but found himself grateful to have the privacy. He was not the most organized man, and had somehow managed to completely destroy Suzaku's once tidy bedroom. There were clothes, photographs, and art supplies scattered all over the place. This didn't bother Jakotsu, but as he looked down at the clutter, he realized that he had no earthly idea of where his cell phone might have gotten to. Grudgingly Jakotsu stood and began to clean the room.
Without that phone he would be unable to call Bankotsu. 'Three weeks without even talking to Bankotsu?' The more he thought about that the more he was driven to organize and decorate.

But soon he was almost finished and the cellphone was still missing! "Where the fuck is my cell phone? How did I manage to lose it so fast?!"

Jakotsu considered asking Suzaku about it, but he already knew what that stubborn redhead would say. "Don't worry about Bankotsu! He'll be fine!"

Actually, Suzaku was most likely right. Bankotsu was probably in morning class right now, chatting happily with his other, straight friends. Grudgingly Jakotsu glared down at the now spotlessly clean floor and decided that he didn't want to call Bankotsu anyway. "Stupid Ban-Chan I don't miss you anyway!" But just as he said this, he sat back down on the bed and his eyes fell upon another photograph. 'Ban-Chan' his obnoxious heart sang. Jakotsu tucked this photo safely back into the album. It was impossible to throw away an image of his precious, very handsome lover…

He absently flipped through this album, pausing to gaze fondly at a photograph of a younger, and extremely cheerful, Suzaku. 'Wow, Su-Chan hasn't changed a bit…'
The pictured Suzaku was smiling coyly as he sat on Jakotsu's lap, his arms wrapped securely around his best friend's neck. Naraku must've taken this photo in their dorm room, because Suzaku was wearing Jakotsu's own cocktail dress. It looked so nice on him, the fabric perfectly hugged his thin, elegant frame and offered a generous view of his long, sexy legs.

Jakotsu still remembered Suzaku's taste. Could almost feel those soft pink lips and that smooth, sweet vanilla skin… Bankotsu had specifically forbid him to partake of that delicate morsel, but he already wished he could break his promise just once. It was a shame to be living with someone that decadent if you couldn't even touch them…

"No, no, no!" Jakotsu berated himself out loud, the guilt burning on his face. Why couldn't he have just left those kinds of thoughts back in college?! It was just a fling, right? Just a harmless, delicious, fling. And he and Suzaku were just friends now, right?
'I know, I'll just think of something else!'

He made to busy himself again, but at that moment, something hit the wall behind him, causing the shocked cross dresser to flinch and drop the album.

Jakotsu hopped down from the bed and began to collect the spilled photos, trying his best to ignore the sounds coming from the other room.
'That's strange. Suzaku's yelling at Hiten?'
As the noise next door continued, Jakotsu thought about the mysterious Hiten for a moment.
He resembled Bankotsu in many ways, with his handsome, slightly tanned visage. But Hiten had a different air about him, one of authority and unquestionable strength. He came off as the type of guy you would never want to say no to, but at the same time the way he spoke was so flattering. It was easy to see how Suzaku could have been seduced by someone so carefully charming, yet domineering…

'Great, now I'm thinking Hiten's hot too.'
Jakotsu sighed, reaching over to busy himself with the next photo album, which proved to be full of many older photos of Suzaku from back in high school. Oddly enough, these pictures had been taken very shortly before Suzaku had disappeared from the school. Presumably he had taken leave of the school due to his 'illness', whatever that was. But as far as Jakotsu could tell, Suzaku didn't seem ill at all, unless you counted love sickness.

That coy redhead was always prancing around the house, stalking Hiten. He'd poke his head around the corner with those sweet vanilla cheeks high in the air and whisper to his best friend, saying "Isn't he cute?" Suzaku would then hurry into the living room, sneaking about like a little red fox eyeing its prey. Hiten must have been beyond aloof; however, because he was very capable of completely ignoring the mischievous redhead. If Suzaku himself had not spilled the beans, Jakotsu would never have guessed they'd already slept together.

'Stupid Hiten! How dare he take advantage of my sweet Su-Chan!' Maybe it was the overprotective, best friend inside of him that was making him think like that, but he couldn't help but be a little cross about this whole 'not really dating' situation.

Slam!

Jakotsu winced as two of the framed photos on the wall fell to the ground, rudely interrupting his thoughts. He stood then, completely distracted by the source of this noise. 'Suzaku and Hiten are really fighting...' The force which had knocked those pictures down was probably from one of the two men being shoved up against the wall right behind himself.

'What the hell?'
Sounded like they were in the bathroom. Why in the world would Hiten and Suzaku be up this early, fighting in the bathroom of all places? Someone could get hurt…
Worried, Jakotsu hurried out of Suzaku's room and skid to a halt in front of the closed bathroom door. The two within were still arguing in very loud, very fluent English.
And he couldn't just burst into a bathroom even if he was worried for his best friend's safety.
He reached out to knock, but at that moment Hiten's next words reverberated off the bathroom walls. "Don't make me do this. I don't want to force you Suzaku, but I will."

"You wouldn't dare!" The other man shot back, "It is my choice what I do with my own body!

"Like hell it is," Hiten growled, "Now stay still and- Damn it, Suzaku stop it!"
"Lemme go!" Came the other man's choked reply. It sounded like the two of them were wrestling. Jakotsu remained silent, wondering whether he should leave them alone or intervene.

What was it that Hiten wanted to do to his friend? Surely he wasn't intending to hurt him…

"I don't want to…" Now Suzaku sounded like he might cry and Jakotsu had to lean much closer to hear him through the door because his voice was so quiet. "Please don't make me,"
he whimpered, "just let me go. You're hurting me…"
"Liar."
"You are!"
"Just take it then!"
"I wont!" Suzaku shrieked, and from the frustrated growl he got in reply, Jakotsu assumed that his friend had finally escaped Hiten's hold.

And he was right. In an instant Suzaku was out of that room. The door flew open and the frenzied redhead hurtled out into the hallway, slamming right into his stunned guest.
They both hit the wall, but poor Jakotsu got the brunt of the impact.
"Oh gah…" he groaned, reaching behind his head to massage the area of his neck that'd been stabbed by his hair pin.

Suzaku pulled away from him with a quick bow before hurriedly apologizing.
"Oh I'm sorry Ja-Chan, I didn't even know you were awake an- You're not hurt are you!?"

Jakotsu gazed into Suzaku's reddened eyes, finding himself too overcome with worry to answer. His best friend had tears flowing freely down those lovely pink cheeks, his entire body was shivering violently, and he was breathing hard, as if he'd been smothered.

'Maybe Bankotsu was right about Hiten being dangerous!'

Immediately he pulled Suzaku into his arms. "What has he done to you?"
Suzaku said "Nothing," but his voice was small and shaking. He was wearing those cute silk pajamas again…

Jakotsu side-stepped, looking past him to glare at Hiten, who had finally stepped out to join them in the hallway. Unlike Suzaku, Hiten was fully dressed for work, though his suit was a little disheveled, presumably from wrestling with his redheaded companion. Jakotsu noticed many tell-tale red marks on both of his hands. It seemed that Suzaku had bitten Hiten to get out of his grip. "What were you doing to him?"

"Nothing, your majesty" Hiten insisted, "He just gets like this sometimes…" He trailed off, looking down as he adjusted the long sleeves of his shirt as if trying to ensure that his arms were completely covered. Absently Jakotsu wondered what he was trying to hide...
"Suzaku is so fucking stubborn…"

"You shouldn't force him into doing something he doesn't want," Jakotsu scolded.

"Were you spying on us or some-?" Hiten began, but Suzaku cut him off, struggling out of Jakotsu's embrace. He pulled away from the safety of his friend's arms in order to look him in the eye. "You heard?" He questioned, obviously humiliated, "What did you hear?"

"Just this," Jakotsu replied "You said it was your choice what to do with your body." Suzaku said nothing to that, but Hiten snorted instantly, trying not to laugh out loud. "Sounds like-" He snickered, bringing a hand up to his rapidly heating cheeks. "Like I was raping him!"

His queen gave him an incredulous look; speechless. Apparently Hiten was a very candid man, but Jakotsu wasn't inclined to admit that he had been thinking the exact same thing…

Once he'd collected himself, Hiten held out his hand, revealing a small white pill nestled in his palm. "I was just trying to get Suzaku to take his meds" he explained. "Don't know why, but it looks like he hasn't even touched this month's supply…"

'So that's what this is about…'

Jakotsu looked down at the man in his arms, giving him a disapproving frown. "Mou, Su-Chan,"
"Don't be such a baby. You have to take your meds."

"Yes," Hiten interjected, "Take them every day, if that's what the bottle says."

"The bottle doesn't say anything!" Suzaku countered, shaking his head fretfully, "So what do you know?!" Jakotsu gaped. He had never expected that Suzaku could even have the guts to yell at Hiten like that. It was a bit unnerving for him just to watch their exchange, but Hiten wasn't discouraged.

"I would read it if you would quit ripping off the labels!" He shot back, holding the little pill out. "Here, just take it you pain in the ass!"

"No!" the redhead refused, burying his face into Jakotsu's yukata. "How long has it been since you've taken it?" The cross dresser wondered aloud. "Back in college, you took it every day."

Suzaku mumbled something against his chest, but it was completely unintelligible.

"You'll never get a straight answer out of him." Hiten sighed, shaking his head. At this Jakotsu smiled, having remembered that already. "Yeah he's as stubborn as an ox, as they say."

"I am not!" Suzaku suddenly interjected, but he still refused to pull his face out of his old friend's chest. Though a bit annoying, it was amusing to watch his childish antics. He seemed to be mumbling something again, but they couldn't understand any of it. Jakotsu held out his own hand, accepting the pill from Hiten. "Here let me try."

Suzaku remained tightly pressed against him however, and would not accept the pill from their queen either. He almost seemed afraid, but he looked so cute, standing there, sniffling.
"Give it up, Su-Chan, Jakotsu sighed, "Tears don't work on me because you're too cute."
Suzaku whimpered. It was a small, sad little noise, but unfortunately it only served to arouse his perverted best friend. "Quit," the cross dresser grit out, "you're making me hard." Now Suzaku pawed at him like a sad little kitten. "But Ja-Chan," he mewed, "Don't you love me?" He was in full, coy kitten mode now, flirting shamelessly with his older companion. "If you love me you won't make me take it…"
Suddenly Jakotsu understood why Hiten had gotten so frustrated with this. Suzaku looked so adorable with those big, green eyes welled up with tears and those sweet, pouting strawberry lips. It was so impossible to argue with such a cute, mischievous little creature.

Hiten was disgusted just watching this, apparently, and so he stalked off and left them alone. He called behind himself though, saying he would just go get breakfast started.

As soon as Hiten was gone; however Suzaku dropped the act and smiled. But Jakotsu reprimanded him immediately. "Su-Chan crocodile tears are dirty!"
The mischievous redhead sighed, cocking that beautiful head. "Can't fool you can I, Ja-Chan?" 'Was that supposed to be a compliment?!'
"Don't play dirty tricks like that! I really did think Hiten was raping you in there!"

"Sorry…" Suzaku gave him a little bow, but he was still giggling. "But I can't help it. Hiten gets so flustered whenever I refuse to do what he wants. He's so cute when he's angry…"
"Cute?!" Jakotsu echoed, floored.
"Yeah, just like you." Those emerald eyes winked at him, but Jakotsu only gaped; speechless. 'Is he flirting with me?!'

He shook it off momentarily, refusing to let Suzaku confuse him.
"Quit messing around, Su-Chan." Jakotsu took hold of one of those thin, pale hands, and forced Suzaku to accept the pill. "Go and take your meds already."

"Hmph!" Suzaku pouted, "you guys are so mean to me…"

"Hypocrite. After you bit Hiten?"
Suzaku bristled, but Jakotsu playfully shoved him back into the bathroom.
"Go in there and take your meds or I will rape you myself!"

After locking his friend into the bathroom, Jakotsu sauntered off, pleased with himself.
But it was a shame Suzaku had given in. It would have been nice to have a valid excuse to pin that naughty kitten down and shove things into that whimpering, delectable mouth…

'What a waste. If I were Hiten I would have had so much fun with this!'
Su-Chan alone in the bathroom? What could be better?!
Some people just didn't appreciate how lucky they were. Or maybe that was just his own twisted view of the situation. Maybe Hiten was more concerned for Suzaku's health…

'I wonder if he knows what those pills are for…'

Hiten turned as Jakotsu wandered into the kitchen. Today the queen was wearing a yellow yukata, but he had it draped over him like it was a robe, and underneath was a tight black blouse and a short yellow skirt. 'Ridiculous.' That was more or less a perfect word for the way this guy dressed. It was amazing that Suzaku had the balls to flirt with someone like that…

"Good morning your highness."
The other man blushed, but he busied himself and pretended not to notice. He set out the plates on the table, checking the fish repeatedly to make sure it wouldn't burn. The kitchen was silent, aside from the bubbling of miso soup and the sizzle of the frying pans that held their breakfast.

"So what are those pills for?"

Hiten paused for a moment, surprised by that abrupt question. "I don't really know," he answered truthfully. "My guess is, some kind of anxiety disorder."

Jakotsu nodded, looking puzzled.
"But Su-Chan doesn't seem ill…"

"No I guess not."

"But if he has pills he must need them…"

He turned to the curious cross dresser, deciding it wouldn't hurt to let him in on why he thought their redheaded friend was acting so strangely today. "I think he's just riled up because I told him I'm leaving soon. Going on a very important business trip." He couldn't help smiling now as he served their breakfast. "To seal the deal that got me my promotion!"

Jakotsu smiled, offering his congratulations and Hiten almost spilled the soup as he bowed his thanks automatically, trying to hide his embarrassment.

"Anyway, I'll be in Tokyo for a couple of days." He explained, "First time we've been apart in like a year. So maybe Suzaku is just feeling some separation anxiety or whatever they call it…"

"Oh…" Jakotsu bowed his head, the tips of his chopsticks resting on his lips. He wondered how Hiten was so calm about the situation. Even though he was so determined to get Suzaku to take the pills, he acted like it didn't matter what kind of medicine he was forcing on the stubborn redhead. "You're not curious?" He began, choosing his words carefully "To find out what disorder Su-chan might have?"

"I didn't say that," The younger man replied, putting his hands together briefly to whisper a prayer over his food. "But I already promised I wouldn't ask about it."

"But," Jakotsu stopped himself, noticing the dubious look on Hiten's face.
'What kind of dumb promise is that?'
Suddenly Jakotsu wanted to snoop further into Suzaku's strange behavior. He tried to remember what had been written on the little white pill, considering looking the name up online. But it wouldn't come to him. In Jakotsu's opinion, mental illness was no laughing matter. He couldn't help but worry. Suzaku was exactly the type to pretend he was perfectly fine even if he was terribly ill…

"An anxiety disorder, ne?" He mumbled this thoughtfully, popping a little piece of salmon into his mouth. He started, suddenly distracted, and Hiten smiled at his stunned comment.

"Wow. This tastes excellent."

Tears ran down his face of their own accord as Suzaku stared at himself in the mirror. He had already readied a plastic cup filled with tap water. But he just could not bring himself to put the pill into his mouth and wash it down.

"You're going to be left all alone…"

He turned, surveying the empty room, and shook his head, already knowing where the voice had come from. That was the thought he could not shake off.
He hated to be lonely. Somehow he felt that the medicine would make him feel even more alone… Hiten would leave soon for his business trip, and his precious Queen Jakotsu would have to return home to be with Bankotsu. He thought miserably of how dearly he wanted to chase them to Japan, but at the same time knew he was being irrational. It would be wrong of him to chase after and distract Hiten on his business trip. And Jakotsu had already promised to take him to Japan the following summer. If all went as planned, they would soon meet again.

'Unless the plane crashes. Maybe he'll die. Maybe they'll both die. Just like my dad…'

He couldn't stop these thoughts. He hated them, but they consumed him. He stared at the little pill in the palm of his hand. He knew that if he took them regularly, they would calm him down.
They would make everything still and quiet. They would make him feel 'all right', just like the doctor had said. Usually they made him a bit sleepy, so he preferred to take them at night. But lately he had been neglecting this nightly routine. And unfortunately Hiten was quick to notice. He was too smart for his own good; too attentive, even though it was endearing to think that he must have been worried for Suzaku's health.

That stupid Hiten. He was worried about Suzaku's body, but not his heart.
'As usual. All that matters to Hiten is my body…'

The tears slid down his face as Suzaku thought again about Hiten's mysterious 'lover'. He hated her with every fiber of his being, but at the same time wished he could be her. She was probably beautiful and healthy…

"Lilly." Suzaku read aloud, squeezing the little pill in his hand as if he hoped it would crumble to dust and never bother him again. It did not however, and the imprinted word stared up at him still, mocking him. If only he didn't need this drug. If only he were well... 'Or at least female.'

"I fucking hate you…"

He wondered for a moment if he was talking to his own reflection or to that little white pill. He hated them both, he decided, propping the offensive little pearl between his teeth.

But Suzaku smiled, suddenly thinking that if anyone was lonely, it was the solitary, defenseless pill. This thought made him feel a little better.

"Lilly Lilly," he mumbled aloud, "Hiten wants me to eat you. Doesn't that make you sad?"

With that said, he promptly spat his 'Lilly' out and watched it roll down the drain.