A.N. Here it is, last chapter. Prepare the tissues ;)

Chapter 35 – Body and soul

Kotetsu POV again

It was around midnight when I stirred again from my seat next to Izumo's bed. Of course the nurses had tried to shoo me out, but one glare was enough to make it obvious I wasn't gonna leave. Well, that and the whole ANBU unit of Police Station №7, standing behind my back, I suppose. They'd let me stay in his room. Izumo on the other hand tried to lure me in the bed, next to him. But even knowing how much he liked to snuggle I didn't dare – he looked so fragile, all bandaged and barely moving, drugged with strong painkillers. I didn't even dare touch him, aside from holding his hand and placing the gentlest of kisses on his brows and nose and lips. That was enough to keep me relatively sane.

It was something he'd said a few hours ago that had shaken my world again, just like that, while we'd been talking quietly, me sitting in my chair and he – laying on the small hospital bed.

"Kotetsu… are we… I mean… are we even now?"

I'd frowned. "What?"

He'd immediately looked aside, having misunderstood me once again.

"Nothing, I just…"

"Did you throw yourself in the way of those bullets, just to make us even?!"

"NO!", he'd shouted, eyes wide and startled. "I-I… did it… to make sure you stayed alive."

I shook my head. "Don't ever do that again. Don't ever risk your life for mine. And don't… don't even think about… Haven't I told you, so many times, I forgave you, Izumo! There is nothing to be even about, okay?!"

"Okay… okay…", he'd said quietly; dejectedly.

I'd sighed. "If it's gonna make you feel better… if you demand that we keep notes… in the grand, cosmic scheme of things, yes, we are even."

His eyes had watered – I'd seen them before he'd looked down at the sheets – and he'd shrugged, forcing a small smile. "I guess I… just needed to hear that, you know? I'm sorry…"

And my chest had ached again, and I'd jumped up and grabbed him and hugged him tight, for a moment forgetting about how fragile he was right now. "Don't apologize. Don't cry, don't think about that anymore… Look, just… I need you be at peace, okay?"

He'd just snuggled closer to me, mumbling something in my chest.

"What?", I'd asked.

"I said thank you…", he'd mumbled.

"What for?", I'd frowned.

"I … after Shiki and-and… then everything that happened between us… I just… never thought that…", he sighed. "You taught me to live again, Kotetsu", he whispered.

Dumbstruck and left speechless I could only hold him, both of us shaking from the power of his confession.

That had been a few hours ago. I looked at his peaceful sleeping face now and quietly left the room.

Only to freeze again.

The waiting room was full. Iruka's bandaged head was resting on Kakashi's shoulder as freely as Tsume's head was resting on Ibiki's broad shoulders. Even a very rounded (and on a maternity leave) Kurenai was here, her head resting on Asuma's chest as his bandaged arm was flung protectively over her shoulders. Anko was snuggled next to Gai, both with scratches on their faces and arms. A dozing off Hidan was also here, with a heavy looking cast on his broken leg and a sleeping Suigetsu, wrapped possessively around him. But if that surprised me, then the presence of His Royal Apathy-ness Itachi and even Mr. Don't Give a Damn Kakuzu really shocked me. Kisame was also here, as were Reiji, Inoichi and Shikaku, but they were friends – I kinda expected them to stay for a bit. Even the captain and Genma sat next to each other, not blatantly hugging or anything, but still – closer than they'd ever allowed themselves to be in public.

They all shifted when they heard me exiting Izumo's room and suddenly all eyes were on me.

"You guys… you didn't have to…", I mumbled, still a bit shocked.

"Quit babbling. How's he?", Genma asked.

"Okay… He's okay", I all but whispered, smiling a bit.

Some relieved sighs and smiles followed that.

"Do we know who they were already?", I asked.

"Terrorists from Suna and the Mist. Both countries denied any connections with the rebels", the captain said.

I nodded, but then frowned and turned to Tsume, opening my mouth to ask her…

"They're fine, Kiba and Kankuro", she smiled a bit. "They were at the market of all places, heard the explosion and got back home. Or should I say, my stupid son ran towards the big commotion and his guy, bless him, grabbed him and just walked in the opposite direction."

I grinned. "So, erm, did they…"

"Yep. They told me. You missed it", she grinned back.

"Damn", I chuckled.

Then I turned around and looked at them all again.

"Look, guys… it means a lot and thank you for staying but… Just go home already. It was a rough night and you all look like shit…"

"Thanks man!"

"Yeah, real nice, Kotetsu!"

I smiled again. "Thanks again. All of you. Really."

Hidan was the first to sigh dramatically and stand up slowly, groaning, and supported by Suigetsu.

"Come on, bitches, the guy just shooed us off."

They laughed and began standing up one by one. I smiled again and quietly got back inside his room.

Izumo's nearly suicidal act was seen by the big bosses as a shout for attention for a quite hot issue – love between police officers and ANBUs (also between two cops, two ANBUs and so on included). They argued and argued and finally allowed it with a special clause. Which was funny in a way – what, people had loved each other even before, but now they were allowed to?

Anyway. There was a change after all. As in said people were caught making out freely in the closet rooms and even hallways, now that there was the Clause.

So, a second clause was written – "No making out/making love in the hallway damn it!"

I laughed my ass out when I read it. Izumo did too – even reopened one of his wounds and had to get stitched up again.

They kept him in the hospital for a month – it was lonely at home without him, but when I said so the doctors just glared and reminded me what a miracle it was that he was alive and in order for him to remain alive they had to keep an eye on him. Well, when they put it like that… I agree. Totally.

Bens made sure to drag me into her office and have a nice long monolog with me about how Izumo was actually right and even if I didn't admit it, even to myself, I'd needed such an act of a pure and real (insanity) sacrifice in order to really deem us even and stop digging into our past. I sat and listened and when she stopped talking, just stood up and left.

I wasn't gonna acknowledge the little voice in my head that admitted she was right.

Once Izumo was discharged (with a stern look from the doctors who very pointedly forbade any straining of his body) we made a party at the station.

Another thing that came with the battle and the clauses and everything was that the cops finally stopped hating the ANBUs and saw what cool guys we were. So we were actually able to have fun at the party now. Who would have thought some 6 months ago, huh?

What no one saw coming too was Genma's promotion to Head Commander of Police Station 7's ANBU unit. After all Kurenai was supposed to not only give birth, but also raise her child, right?

So, with his place in ANBU permanently vacated, and with me having fit in so easily, it was all pretty much decided in advance. So, yeah I was now a permanent member of ANBU.

"You look great."

I turned around and smiled. He was leaning on the door case to the bedroom, still not able to stand up on his own for longer than a few minutes. I'd found a way to cope with that which was oh-so-conveniently an excuse to hold him too. I hugged him now as well, nuzzling his neck and inhaling that scent that drove me crazy.

"How are you feeling today?"

He sighed, but didn't move back; in fact he snuggled closer. "I'm fine, Kotetsu. You worry too much."

"…Probably cuz I held you while you were…"

"I'm here", he moved back a little, only to look me in the eyes. "I'm here, Kotetsu."

I could only nod curtly, frowning a bit. I forced a smile, mostly for him, and asked, "Are you up for a party?"

He snorted. "I'll manage. Come on, let's go."

The Police/ANBU party was in full swing when we arrived – people were dancing, some of them very heatedly, others had attacked the alcohol and a certain masked ANBU had attacked Iruka in the corner. I smirked, shaking my head.

Hidan had taken his place as a DJ, but the sight of a disgruntled looking Suigentsu, glaring at his back and demanding attention, hinted he'd have to give up his role to someone else any minute now.

Kurenai and Asuma were all lovey-dovey, kissing gently (mostly playing with each others' lips and grinning like idiots) and Anko was all but performing a lap dance for a red faced (but happily red faced) Gai.

Genma was a wearing a T-shirt saying "Nice! Just do me! … Wait, it wasn't like that…". He was also walking a bit funny, so Raidou, who had a positively possessive look on his face while he was checking out his own boyfriend, might as well have put on a T-shirt saying "Just did."

Izumo went to say hi to Reiji and the others, who cheered when they saw him, so I took the opportunity to tease Namiashi.

I chuckled as I leaned on the counter next to my former captain.

"Soo… you switched the roles, huh?", I wiggled my eyebrows suggestively.

"Hagane…!", he growled warningly; but then he smiled a small wise smile and explained quietly. "When we used to be just fuck buddies it was all about letting go. Relieving the frustration that comes with that job. Nothing more. We… we're together now. With couples… it's all about equality. Do you understand?"

I smiled slightly, if still a bit bitterly – I wasn't quite there yet, ready to give myself to Izumo, but... "Yeah. Yeah, I think I finally understand."

When I looked up he was looking at me thoughtfully, smiling like a father would. "Yeah… I think you do", he said.

The music had turned back to the recorded songs, as the DJ was currently lapful of a certain grumpy white-haired swordsman.

"But, Sui, babe…", Hidan was just saying.

The SMACK! he received on his cheek echoed even with the music background.

"Ouch! You bitch!", he yelled.

Ah. It was good to know some things never changed.

"When will ya learn that the last part of my name GETS U more of the things you want, hm?", Suigetsu asked sweetly, leaning for a kiss from the fuming cop.

A few people laughed, some shook their heads and some just continued dancing or drinking. Izumo came back next to me, leaning on me almost nonchalantly. Trying to be just as discreet I bent to whisper in his ear, "Are you okay? Do you wanna go home?"

He opened his mouth as if to say he was alright again, but then closed it and instead nodded almost shyly.

We said our goodbyes quickly and then went straight home. We took a quick shower – this time it was both needed and nice to do that together; I had to support him but it was also nice, feeling his wet and warm body next to mine. I didn't dare to get more touchy-feely because I knew where it'd lead and he was in no shape for that. So we only used our time in the shower to actually clean up.

Or at least I thought so.

When we got into the bed he suddenly was all over me, pressing his naked body to mine. At first I decided he wanted to snuggle again. But then, with a power I didn't suspect him capable of in the moment, he flipped us over till I was above him and staring down in surprise. He looked up, blushing a bit.

"You don't want to…?", he asked quietly.

I choked with outrage. "When have I ever…?!"

"Then…?"

I sighed, looking down, avoiding his gaze. "Let's just… wait some more… I mean…"

"Kotetsu…"

"Just till your wounds are properly healed…the doctors said…"

"Kotetsu."

This time his tone made me look up. He looked determined.

"I am fine."

"But… but, let's just…"

He grabbed my cock, making me hiss, and guided it slowly inside him. My eyes widened.

"Stupid! Wait… lube…!"

"Just do it slowly…"

"No, Zumo, we must…"

"Sssh… it's okay. It's okay, Tetsu… See?", he smiled slightly, still talking to me as if he were calming down a scared wild animal. "Now just breathe… Breathe with me…"

I did. He moved a bit, making my eyes close as we both moaned. He moved again, just as slowly, languidly.

"Tetsu… I need you to move with me now…Come on… slowly."

And again, I did. It was amazing. We tended to do it kind of roughly but now I saw what we'd missed. Doing it this way, slowly, had its own erotic pleasure. And I found I really liked it.

He moved just as slowly under me, but taking me deeper every time, moaning quietly. His hands scratched the skin of my nape and sometimes slid into my hair, sometimes ventured down my back, his short nails sinking into my flesh when I managed to hit his sweet spot.

"Mmmm!"

I sped up a bit, gradually, but our rhythm was still strangely slow as our climaxes built up. It had never happened to me – it had always been fast and wild, even bruising in the end. And this, now, was slowly driving me crazy. My balls tightened, my hands around him shook, my toes curled…

"Mmm…. I love you, baby… love you…", he chanted quietly, almost absentmindedly.

This was what undid me. Having that whispered in my ear, having felt that he felt that and not only said it to please me… I clenched my jaw, I didn't want to scream, not now, not when it was so perfect…

"Let go…", he breathed into my ear again.

"…Uh….Mmm…!"

"Love you…"

"Aah!"

"…Uh! Kotetsu!...", he choked out, coming between our bodies…

"That was… probably my strongest orgasm, ever."

Even now, as I recalled it, days later, it was still almost enough to get me hard. Goose bumps rose on my skin as my still confused brain tried to assimilate what had happened to it. This had been the first time I'd ever felt an orgasm both with my body and my mind, my soul… my whole being.

Bens sniffed quietly.

"Excuse me", she choked out, running into the bathroom.

I just smiled slightly.

He'd promised to make the apple pie again tonight.

The end

A.N. Prepare for the epilogue. The first sequel is ready and coming up soon as well. Love me and show that with some nice reviews ;)