Phantom Feelings
Chapter 4
By Sakata Ri Houjun
~*****************~
Hikou swore silently to himself. He wanted to be with Kouji every possible moment of his three days here. He needed that time if he were to succeed. He had such a short amount of time to make this young man fall in love with him. He thought it would be easy after the way he'd kissed him in the cave. But this time, Kouji hadn't even wanted him to stay longer than overnight. It might not be as simple as he'd anticipated.
And he couldn't afford to be subtle.
Earlier, once Kouji had brought the still soaking Hikou to his room in order to find him a dry change of clothes, he had dropped all pretenses and immediately began to strip off his wet shirt, hoping that it would cause a reaction in the bandit. It caused a reaction alright. Kouji merely blushed before leaving the room to allow Hikou privacy to change.
Now here he was sitting in the darkened hall where he knew the bandits ate. The room was vast and filled with long wooden tables lined with chairs. It smelled of sake and food and had several crates stacked up along the walls. Kouji had disappeared into the kitchen to see if he could find anything for the older man to eat.
Suddenly, Hikou heard voices coming from behind him. He spun to watch as Chichiri and Tasuki entered the large hall, the bandit's arm slung about his lover's waist as they laughed. Then the monk's laughter died away when took notice that they weren't alone and stiffened once he recognized the figure seated at the table. Tasuki took in his companion's reaction before he too identified Hikou.
And he was the first to react.
He removed his arm from Chichiri's waist and whipped out his tessen, perceiving the former demon as a threat. He assumed a defensive position in front of his lover. Fortunately, the older seishi sensed no malevolence emanating from his old friend and quickly restrained his lover before he could attack.
"Let me the fuck go, Chiri!" the bandit bellowed.
Chichiri's lone eye never left Hikou's face as he held onto Tasuki, even as his old friend rose and approached the pair. "Hikou," the monk began quietly, "why are you here?"
"I have my reasons," he replied simply. "They have nothing to do with you."
"Chiri," Tasuki interjected as he struggled. "Let me fry the son of a bitch. I won't let him hurt us again."
"Tasuki, calm down."
Hikou's gaze shifted from the monk to the bandit and he smiled gently. "I'm truly sorry for what I did back then. I wasn't thinking clearly about the consequences of my actions, however, as I've said, why I'm here isn't about that or deals with either of you. Although I wouldn't blame either of you if you resented my presence here because of my actions."
Tasuki let out a long breath, as he seemed to accept the former demon's answer for now. However, something still wasn't adding up for him. "If you aren't here for us, then why are you here, damnit?"
"I'm here for myself," he answered as he locked gazes with Chichiri again.
"What do you mean?" Chichiri pressed further, still holding onto his lover even though his struggles began to slow.
But before Hikou could answer, Kouji returned with a small tray laden with fruit and bread, not even taking notice of his friends' presences. "Here's what I managed to scrounge up. I hope it'll do for now."
Both seishi widened their eyes and Tasuki resumed his struggles, which then drew Kouji's attention to the pair. "Hey, what are you two doing up?"
Chichiri offered a weak smile to cover up his shock. "Tasuki got a little hungry and we came down here to find him something to eat. Sometimes, I think he's getting as bad as Miaka, no da."
That redirected the redhead's wrath from Hikou to his lover. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"
Kouji laughed as he set the tray down on the table Hikou had been sitting at before. "I see you two met Hikou already, so I won't bother with introductions."
"Hai," the taller man answered. "I've just met them. I take it they're your friends?" Kouji nodded even though he had a rather confused look on his face as he watched the struggling couple.
Chichiri understood then what his childhood friend meant with those words. He decided to play along with the ruse until he could corner Hikou and inquire how he managed to accomplish such a feat. He guessed that Taiitsukun possibly could be behind this, but the mage couldn't sense her magical signature upon Hikou. This was something a little different and well-disguised. However, he needed to get his lover out of the room before he shoved that foot of his into his mouth again.
"I guess we'll just go back to bed, no da." He quickly clamped a hand over Tasuki's mouth before the bandit could protest.
"Demo, I thought you said that Tasuki was hungry?" Kouji asked as he furrowed his brow.
Chichiri nodded as he began to back towards the door, towing a resisting redhead with him. "However, I think he'll survive until morning, no da. Oyasumi, na no da." And then the pair was out the door, leaving Kouji and Hikou alone.
About halfway down the hall, the mage let loose a spell that quickly transported the two of them to their room because he could feel Tasuki breaking free of his grip. Once they materialized within the confines of their quarters, he released the bandit who immediately spun and shoved Chichiri against the wall in irritation.
"What the fuck did you do that for?" he demanded.
"I don't think it'd be wise to tell Kouji just who his visitor really is."
"Oh? And why not? That demon nearly killed us both, remember?" Tasuki crossed his arms and shook his head.
"Demo, he's not a demon anymore. I redeemed him and he was freed once Tenkou was destroyed. I don't think he intends to do anyone harm by being here." He reached up to run his fingers through the fiery hair of his lover as he spoke.
Tasuki sighed. "Maybe not to us, but Kouji…"
"I think he's just what Kouji needs," the monk insisted.
"No, he's not," the bandit argued.
Chichiri smiled as he kissed his lover softly. "Funny, I remember thinking the same thing about you, no da. Demo, you turned out to be exactly what I needed. You saved me from myself."
Tasuki wrapped his arms about the older man's waist. "But I still have a bad feeling about this."
The monk touched his nose to his lover's and smiled reassuringly. "Daijobou, no da. I'll keep an eye on my friend if you're so worried. If he steps out of line at any time, I'll let you flame him. How does that sound, na no da?"
Tasuki chuckled evilly. "Deal. However, I'm still hungry."
The older seishi pouted. "Gomen, no da. I could teleport back to the kitchen to get you something."
"Nah," the redhead returned as his hands moved to untie his lover's pants. "You're just going to have to satisfy me till morning."
"Since you're so insistent, no da…"
*~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Kouji sipped his drink and swore.
"Fine mood you're in this morning, no da."
He scowled at the grinning monk and then shifted his gaze to his best friend who only slouched further down in his seat as he frowned.
"A stranded stranger is the last thing I need around here. Especially one like him."
"I agree," Tasuki added to which Chichiri kicked him in retaliation.
"One like him, na no da?" The monk propped his elbows on the table and leaned forward. "Is that so?"
Kouji grunted as he bit into a piece of fruit. "I can't help but think that guy is trouble."
"Here, here." Tasuki then leapt up with a yelp of pain and glared at his smirking lover who hadn't even moved or bothered to acknowledge the young redhead.
"I think you could do with that kind of trouble, Kouji-kun, na no da."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he asked as he sent a sidelong glance through the doorway to the staircase beyond. No sign of him yet. Good. He wasn't sure he could handle seeing Hikou in the daylight…seeing the embodiment of the dream he'd had as he'd lain near death in that cave. Holding the peach in one hand, he pushed back his chair and got up.
"Where are you going now, Kouji?" Tasuki demanded as he rubbed his sore bottom.
"Out."
He stalked around the table and through the doors. Escape was within reach. The front door stood just to his left. But he appeared, just like magic, on the stairway at his right.
Hikou paused there, tilting his head slightly and studying him with those unnaturally deep black eyes. And he smiled, sending something fluttering in the bandit's chest.
"Ohayo, Kouji."
"Ohayo." He sent a longing glace toward the door before his gaze snapped back to him again. Hikou wore a burgundy tunic over a pair of gray pants that Kouji had found for him last night. He knew that they were a little big on him, but they managed to fit the taller man perfectly. And his hair, that long curtain of dark satin, was bound in a secure ponytail that hung nearly to his waist.
The older man smiled again and came the rest of the way down the stairs. He approached Kouji, stood directly in front of him, staring into his green eyes.
Hikou was doing something to him with those eyes of his. He could swear he was. Fine. He could deal with this. It had been dark that night. He probably dreamed it all anyway. And so what if he'd dreamed of a man who looked a good deal like this one? Didn't mean anything. Maybe it had been a premonition or something, not that he'd ever believed in that sort of nonsense.
"Did you sleep well?" he asked, just to kill the heavy silence.
"Iya. Actually, I didn't sleep well at all."
He squirmed. It was not the response he'd expected. "Gomen. I know my bed can be a little uncomfortable at times…"
"Oh no, the bed was fine."
"Then why didn't you sleep?"
Hikou shrugged, reaching for the peach the bandit held without breaking their eye contact, even as he bit into the half-eaten fruit. "I don't know, for sure. Perhaps it was just loneliness."
A shiver worked right up the bandit's spine. "I have to go," he muttered, making no apologies.
"Where?" he asked.
"Nowhere you'd be interested in," he assured the older man. "Just out to wander the mountain a bit."
"I'd love to come with you, Kouji. I've always had a passion for the mountains, you know."
"P-passion?" Kouji's pants were getting a little too tight.
"Will you show me your mountain home, Kouji?" That intense gaze bored into his for a long moment.
The bandit's palms were damp. The nape of his neck, prickling and itching. "I…uh… Do you mind?"
He lifted his head with a snap to send the loose strands of his hair flying back from his face. "Hai, Kouji. As a matter of fact, I do." At his astounded expression, he moved closer, his hands slipping over his shoulders. And he bent his head down so he spoke close to his ear. "I told you earlier, I've only three days to spend here. The least you can do is keep me company."
Kouji's body was all stiff. Hikou felt the way he tensed beneath his hands. "You say that as if I owe you something."
"Now that's a strange thing to say, Kouji. It's not as if I saved you from falling, now is it?"
The bandit's green eyes were wide and angry. "Nani?"
Hikou gave him what he hoped was an elusive smile. The Nyan Nyan had said he couldn't tell him who he was. But not that he could drop a few hints. "I was merely pointing out that it was you who rescued me when I fell into that lake, and not the other way around. If anyone owes anyone a thing here, it would be I owing you."
Kouji blinked, eyes narrowing as he apparently sought hidden meanings behind the older man's words.
"So, I suppose I ought to leave you be, if that's what you want. You might well have saved my life. And when someone saves my life, I figure the least I can do is show him or her gratitude. Spend time with them, should they ask it. Or leave them alone, should that be their desire. So I'll return to your room now, Kouji."
The bandit's Adam's apple made a swell in his throat when he swallowed. And Hikou knew he was getting his meaning. He had been the one who'd saved his life and he knew it…or, perhaps, he only suspected it. Or maybe he only knew it deep down inside, where you knew the things too strange to be kept on the surface with the mundane. Still, his barb seemed to prick his conscience, as intended.
"Daijobou," Kouji said softly, still looking as if he'd just been dealt a blow. "I'll show you around." He reached out to take his arm, but Hikou danced a step away so his grip closed on his hand instead of his elbow. And the older man twined his fingers with the bandit's and squeezed tight.
Kouji's eyes fixed on their joined hands, and he stared as if in wonder. And then he returned that squeeze, and led him out the building.