FFNet originally labeled this as part 4, while, effectively, this is part 5. For all of you who are now reading this chapter and are confused... just go back to part 4. Part 4 was exchanged and the whole exchange process took a whole day to update. Damn. Anyway, this is now a complete story ;)

--Macx--

Touda closed the book, grinning a little. It had taken him a long time to accept who he was, the black shikigami with the black fires of hell at his disposal. Unique, highly dangerous, and so very much loyal to Sohryu. Born of low level parents but on the best way to being a high level shikigami, a very rare one indeed. There had only ever been one other hell fire shikigami, centuries ago, and then Touda had been born.

The fire serpent placed the book back on the shelf.

He owed a lot to Sohryu's father, as well as many others, so his guilt about killing countless innocents was even heavier than anyone could think of. Still, looking past what had happened five hundred years ago, looking into his childhood, remembering those decades, those centuries, growing up and becoming the warrior he had wanted to be... there was nothing he would change about it. He was proud of it.

Sohryu had been his friend, like a brother.

They had been like brothers and more ...

Touda sighed softly, thinking about the way he had seen Sohryu act throughout the last decades.

You wonder? A part of himself whispered. The man lost his life. And you took it away from him.

But not just that one incident had changed the dragon, he reminded himself. There had been something else, something that had started it all.

And it had begun just a few years after they had become real lovers.

Touda frowned when he neared GensouKai center. Something was wrong. More than wrong. Long strides took him into the palace where a servant quickly took his coat, looking at him with huge mournful eyes.

"What happened here?" he asked the woman sharply, ready to wring her neck when all she did was shook her head and disappeared.

Damn!

Touda all but ran down the corridor leading into the inner chambers.

He pulled open the large doors to his lover's room, fearing for the worst, and froze. Sohryu was sitting at his desk, a lot of scrolls and papers were loaded on it, and he stared at it with unseeing eyes. When he heard him the dragon looked up and Touda's heart clenched in his chest at the stony expression. This was not the Sohryu he knew, this was not his happy, laughing, gentle lover. This was someone entirely different.

"Ryu?"

Sohryu stood and something in the way he rose, he moved, abrupt yet fluently made Touda shiver with alarm, reminding him that the man he had grown up with was a god after all.

"Father is dead."

"What? When?!"

"Two days ago."

Touda felt as if dunked in ice water. Sohryu, leader of GensouKai, Protector of the East, Azure Dragon and God of the Sea was dead?

"How...?"

"Obviously it was his time." Sohryu answered tonelessly, and Touda closed his eyes.

Had the dragon been that old? Usually shikigami didn't die young, except through unnatural causes.

But-- it also meant...

Touda looked into the familiar blue-gray eyes of his lover, the eyes that now looked so much like his father's and did the only thing he could think of now.

He sank to his knee and bent his head.

"My lord. I pledge myself to your house and your family. I'll protect you with whatever it takes, mind, body or soul."

There was a soft caress on his head as Sohryu touched his hair.

"I know you will, Touda."

And then the new Protector of the East was gone.

Touda, still kneeling, stared at the spot where his best friend and lover had just stood.

His mind was blank, from shock, from disbelief, from his own mourning. Finally he rose, slow steps leading him out of the palace.

Touda lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling, thoughts whirling in his head. He hadn't seen hide nor hair of his lover the rest of the day, which wasn't a surprise at all-- Sohryu was the new leader unless the Emperor vetoed. Which he wouldn't, Touda was sure. Otherwise there would be no Protector of the East. The older dragon's death had come as a surprise to all GensouKai, which explained the deep shock the center had been in when he had returned. And the obvious shock Sohryu was still in.

Touda swore inwardly about the fact he hadn't been here, hadn't been there for his lover in such a hard time. He didn't overlook all the consequences of Sohryu's death but one thing was certain – he wouldn't be able to stay any longer.

The door hinges creaked as the door was carefully pulled open but the serpent didn't start. He knew who was coming.

"Touda?" Sohryu whispered, padding closer carefully, and he simply lifted the blanket, feeling his lover slip under the cover and snuggling against his warmth immediately. He wrapped his arms around the taller and more slender body, feeling Sohryu shiver every now and then.

"You weren't there," Sohryu said softly.

"I know. I'm sorry. I'm here now."

"Yes."

Sohryu buried his face into the crook in his neck, the long hair falling over his face like a veil, and shivered again.

"Touda... he's dead, just like that. I'm... what am I supposed to do now?"

Touda held his lover tightly-- this wasn't the leader of GensouKai, this was a lost little boy who saw himself confronted with a large and alien world. He stroke over the tense back until the shivers subsided, feeling Sohryu's breath against his skin quicken.

"Touda..." Huge, liquid blue eyes stared down at him. "I know it's... but... I want... I need you, Touda. Please ..."

It was the one and only time Sohryu gave himself to Touda, but he did it, and he did it completely. Touda gritted his teeth with the sudden pain of Sohryu's fingernails digging into his flesh, leaving red welts behind, and he concentrated on his lover instead, taking Sohryu even higher when he thrust into the tight heat of his body until Sohryu whimpered and sobbed, holding on to him even closer.

And afterwards he held him securely in his arms, stroking his back when the dam broke and Sohryu started to grieve.

It was then that their paths had differed, that Touda and Sohryu had returned to becoming friends instead of staying lovers. There was no way Touda could continue and Sohryu... the Protector of the East... no, he couldn't continue this either. Where servants and others had overlooked their escapades, there was now protocol and there were rules.

Touda had gone reluctantly, but with the knowledge it had to be done. He had moved to his own housings, had continued his training, had become his former lover's and still best friend's bodyguard. He had protected him-- even from himself, from the fire serpent.

When Sohryu had met Aya and the two had fallen in love, Touda had done his share to bring them together. He wanted his friend to be happy and after the former Sohryu's death, Aya had been the first person to bring back the Sohryu Touda had known, the smiling, carefree young dragon he had called a friend, a brother and a lover. Aya had been very good for the young shikigami and she had helped him overcome odds Touda had been incapable of. She had been by his side, had given him strength and companionship and love.

Touda sighed as he remembered those times. Walking back out of the maze of the basement, feeling somewhat reminiscent and far away, he headed upstairs to go to the kitchen. Startling the servants he asked for something he hadn't eaten in a very long time, then took the bowl, ignored the puzzled looks, and continued on his way.

He had a specific place in mind.

Sohryu knew why he hated his job sometimes. It was the bureaucracy. He had assistants to take care of matters, but there was still so much that needed him dealing with it, and it was mostly paperwork. Rubbing over the bridge of his nose he was suddenly startled by something being placed right under his nose.

It was a bowl.

Filled with... caramel pudding?

His head snapped up and he looked into the sparkling golden eyes of Touda.

"What's the meaning of this?"

Touda plopped unceremoniously into a chair and kicked his feet up on the expensive table.

"It means 'take a break'."

Sohryu scowled at the booted feet on the edge of his table, but Touda didn't take the hint. He rarely did take a hint. In a way he was like Rikugo-- he got into his face more often than not. The difference to the astrologer was that Touda had next to no political ambitions and wasn't after finding petty problems in the Protector of the East's decisions. He liked to take some friendly jabs at him, keeping his friend on an even keel. Touda was just... Touda. Outspoken, critical if need be, sometimes very direct and to the point, but also a very good friend. It was a slow process, rediscovering their friendship, but it was worth it.

Sohryu hadn't known how much he had missed him until now.

"It's caramel pudding," the dragon remarked.

"I know. You used to like it."

Dragon eyes narrowed at the easily lounging fire shikigami. "I still do."

"So? Dig in."

Sohryu took the spoon and dipped it into the dessert he had loved as a child. "What brought that on?" he asked quietly and ate his first spoonful.

It still tasted as good as he remembered.

A shrug. "I remembered how we met. How I came here. How it all began."

The harsh lines softened and Sohryu found himself smiling. "You were a scrawny kid, Touda."

"And you were a crazy menace."

"We made one hell of a team."

"Uh-huh. Drove your old man crazy. Not to forget he servants."

He chuckled. "Yeah."

Both men grinned at each other, the old mischief still very much in their memories. It had been great times, both of them growing into best friends, and later, into lovers.

Sohryu ate his pudding, smiling slightly.

It had been a long time ago. Their relationship as lovers had ended over five hundred years in the past. Sohryu didn't expect anything in that regard and Touda had shown no moves to renew their more intimate friendship. He had Byakko now and, truth be told, Sohryu thought the white tiger was a very fitting partner for the black serpent.

"Feel better?" Touda asked, grinning.

Sohryu had to confess he did. Caramel pudding, hm?

The fire shikigami chuckled. "Always worked."

Yes, it did.

"Thanks," he said quietly.

Golden eyes, softer than usual, smiled at him. "You're welcome."

Old times. Sohryu sometimes missed them. Too much had happened, but not all was bad. Some of the changes had been good.

Like Tsuzuki.

Because of Tsuzuki things had been turned around, Touda had been freed, and his own ghosts had been put to rest.

Sohryu licked the rest of the pudding off the spoon.

Caramel pudding was not only full of good memories, it was also good for the soul.

Touda remained lounging in his chosen chair, looking comfortable, relaxed, and as much at peace with himself as Sohryu felt.