Sorry it took so long. I've been busy. I moved, too. Now I live with Sakata Ri Houjun ^_^ Yay!

Anyway, hope you like. R and R as always.

Protect and Serve: Genrou

Chapter 2

Genrou's head throbbed mercilessly as a strong hand shook his shoulder violently. He cracked his eyes open a bit and relized he was under someone's chin, their arms wrapped around him loosely. Lifting his head, he looked into the blue-haired Atlantean's face remembered what had happened.

"Holy shit!" He leapt off the other man, his heart racing. Hakurou's face appeared before him, looking into his eyes.

"Calm down, Genrou. Just calm down. You're alright." The older man offered him a comforting smile before turning back to Houjun and gently lifting him off the floor. "What are you doing here, Houjun?" He shook his head and carried the unconcious youth to the couch and laid him face down on the crimson cusions gently, turning his head to the side. "Get the first aid kit." Genrou snapped out of his stupor and bolted to the bathroom, returning quickly with the small box in hand. Hakurou had already began plucking glass from the boy's back.

"Is he gonna be alright?" Genrou asked, his eyes transfixed on the Atlantean's face once more. He barely saw the brief nod Hakurou gave him.

"He didn't get too much glass in him, fortunately. Still, he did get cut up pretty bad." He looked up at the red-head and gave him a questioning look. "What happened?"

Genrou didn't move for a minute. His mind had floated back to the kiss Houjun had given him. To the warmth of the other teen's arms around him as he pulled him to safety. To the feeling that had stirred within him that night. He had never been attracted to anyone like this before. Hearing his name spoken again, he remembered Hakurou. "Ah...it's a long story, ya see...me an' Kouji got there and-"

Hakurou quickly made a motion to silence him. "Listen." Genrou blinked and did so. Outside, the storm was growing fiercer. The rain fell in through the skylight and soaked the carpet through. "Close your eyes and listen. Do you hear that faint howl in the wind?" Genrou complied, hearing the harsh whisling of the wind outside as it blew over the ruined skylight. He opened his eyes and found that Hakurou had left the boy's side. He looked around wearily and crouched down beside the blue-haired man, one hand gently carressing his cheek. "Genrou, listen to me." The red-haired man looked up, confused. "Take this and repeat ofter me." Genrou looked at the metal fan Hakurou held out to him, making a face.\par \tab "What is that?" He wondered aloud.

"There's no time to explain, just do it," Hakurou snapped. That's when Genrou realized there was something wrong. He had never seen Hakurou this scared. He took the fan in his hand, but needed both hands to lift it as he rose to his feet. \par \tab "Damn this thing's heavy."

"Repeat after me, Genrou. Mahariku maharita yanbura yan yan yan(1) Rekka Shinen"

Genrou blinked. "W...what?" Before Hakurou could repeat himself, though, a rush of wind blew in, the two men were forced to shield themselves from the sudden onslaught of rain-chilled air as it struck them.

"So, the great Hakurou. We meet at last." Genrou opened his eyes, the metal fan still clutched in his hands. Before them stood a tall figure cloaked in black. His body seemed to glow faintly and Genrou had to wonder if his eyes were playing tricks on him. "And now, you can die with the prince."

"You don't intimidate me," Hakurou snarled, reaching back and drawing Houjun's sword. "Genrou, protect Houjun." He charged forward, the sword seeming to grow in his hands, cutting into the floor as his swung upward at the attacker. Genrou turned his head towards the other teen, letting one hand gently brush one cheek.

"Why...do you make me feel this way?" he muttered. His eyes wandered a bit, noting his bare back, which was scratched, three large bandages covering wounds made by the broken glass. "You got hurt trying to protect me..." He turned, amber eyes narrowing, lips parting a bit as he gripped the tessen tightly and turned toward the attacker. "Because he cut off your magic, didn't he. He made you fall." Anger swelled up within him and he charged toward the tall figure just at Hakurou was pushed back. "Mahariku maharita yanbura yan yan yan," he began, leaping in the air. "Rekka Shinen!" He swung the weapon at him, missing him because his anger had thrown off his judgement. The wave of fire that leapt from the edges of the weapon, however, didn't. The attacker barely had time to bring up a shield, sending the fire to either side of his body. He glared at the red head, blonde hair and blue eyes visible through the semi-chared hood.

"Foolish human," he spoke darkly, approching the puzzled teen. "You're playing with forces you can't comprehend." He raised a hand, a blue shpere of energy forming in his palm. "Now you die." He threw the blast and Genrou flinched, bringing up the tessen and praying that it would protect him. Instead, he felt a warm essence fill him and felt as though it were lifting him into the air. The sensation lasted only for a moment before he felt cold and wet, heavy rain cascading from above.

"Fuck!" He cursed, looking around. "Where the hell are we?"

"Outside...near the pier...I think...." He turned to look at Houjun, who sat on the ground, legs folded. He didn't seem bothered by the rain in the least. Beside him, Hakurou croutched, his hands gently holding him up by the shoulders. "It was...the best I could do for the moment."

But Genrou didn't care. His eyes had found interest in looking over the blue haired man and his voice was lost.

"Let me try again. Give me your hand, Genrou." The red head blinked quickly and knelt beside the other man, taking his hand carefully. After a moment, they vanished again, a red light engulfing the trio. When Genrou looked around again, they were in Hakurou's apartment on the far side of town. He mainly kept the small apartment for such emergencies when he needed to hide someone.

"I'll be right back, Houjun," Hakurou said quietly, carefully rising and disappearing into the bedroom. Houjun nodded and looked as though he were going to pass out, so Genrou gently pulled the Atlantean's head under his chin, still clasping his hand tightly. With a quiet sigh, the blue haired man relaxed, closing his eyes. He slowly ran his fingers through the dripping cerulean hair, brushing the gills behind his ear lightly.

"Lotta weird stuff goin' on..." he whispered, his eyes straying to the metal fan beside him. "Lots a weird stuff...I wonder if Kouji's doin' any better..."

"I think...he's ok." He jumped slightly, thinking that the other man had fallen asleep. "Sorry...if I wasn't so weak right now...I could probably tell you exactly where he is and everything. I guess...I still have a lot to learn..." He trembled slightly. "I failed...him..."

"Hey now...it ain't like you knew this was gonna happen or somethin'. You did what you could, right?" He felt rather than heard the other man sigh. "Don't worry. We'll find them. Kouji knows about this place, so I wouldn't be suprised if he an' your brother show up before sunrise."

"I...hope you're right..." He settled a bit sleepily. "You're warm...Genrou..."

The red head blinked and then smiled as he shifted a bit to get more comfortable, his back pressing against the side of an easy chair as his eyes slipped closed, giving Houjun's hand a reassuring squeeze. When Hakurou returned a few minutes later with dry clothes, he found both sleeping peacefully. Not wanting to wake them, he settled for draping a blanket over Houjun, making sure Genrou was covered as well. He then went to the window and peered out into the darkness. After a minute, he placed a candle in the window and, with a final glance to the sleeping pair, he went to bed.

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(1) Genrou Den. It's the spell that must be said to make the tessen work.