Hello! Yes, I didn't keep it as a one-shot. After some truly gorgeous reviews I couldn't resist adding to this fic. There will also be another (possibly two if the reception to this one is good, the dangling cookie of encouragement needs to be tugged in order to get more)
First Time
2 of ? – First Fight
The messenger stood before his desk, his hands holding a piece of paper in front of him. Tenpou raised him eyes from his paperwork, mouth set in a grim line.
"So you've obviously come with an important message or else you would have heeded the 'do not disturb' sign. So are you going to tell me?" he said, not particularly amused that a) a messenger had come into his library/office without knocking and b) that the messenger was in his office in the first place. Tenpou was busy today and everyone in Tenkai should know that when Tenpou was busy, people stayed out of the way. Even Kenren who was welcome at any time of day or night, knew when to give Tenpou a little time to himself and had run out on an errand before Tenpou had got past the initial 'do you think you could...'.
Therefore, he was not open to jumped-up bureaucrats who wanted to scrape up a bit of power and had sent a rumour-bearing messenger to squash him into submission. Tenpou arched a dark eyebrow at the nondescript messenger who seemed a little too cocksure for his taste. The messenger was also waiting for permission and acknowledgement, so Tenpou raised his head.
"Yes, I'm listening, get on with it." He said coolly, he would give the messenger the time it took to relocate his lighter before he lost his temper. The messenger cleared his throat.
"Tenpou Gensui, Litouten-sama requires a list of all the men currently serving under the command of Nataku Taishi." Said the messenger. Tenpou sighed, this was obviously not the proper message as Litouten could get that information anywhere and indeed, should know such things anyway. There was also the glaring omission of an honorific; to messengers and even Litouten, Tenpou should be addressed as 'dono' or 'san' at a push. He wouldn't give a damn under normal circumstance but this was a deliberate insult and he glanced up.
"And the additional message?" asked Tenpou. He wasn't stupid; you didn't get this high up the food chain without recognising some subtleties. The messenger's face contorted into an expression of malice and his voice became quiet.
"Litouten-sama wishes to make it clear that he knows what's going on between you two."
"Is that a threat, sir?" queried the seated brunette in an equally low voice, peering at the messenger over his glasses "I find it a pitiful one if so." He went back to his papers before adding; "Besides when did a bureaucrat care about the personal matters of the officials in the army?"
"Since you became a fucktoy of Kenren Taisho. Litouten-sama is naturally concerned for any effects that this will have on his son. He maybe forced to report this matter to Tentei."
There it was. The gauntlet.
"Hmm .. I'd say you don't have very good grounds to accuse me of such things." Answered Tenpou, tapped his pen on the desk thoughtfully. Litouten had obviously been doing some digging to find out.
"We all know the rumours to be true." Exclaimed the messenger suddenly. Tenpou smiled acidly and glanced down; he could see his lighter. He lit up the cigarette dangling from his lips and exhaled slowly, now he could lose his temper with a good dose of nicotine in his system.
"Be they or not I can quite happily inform you that you are wrong..."
Kenren, having nothing to do today, had decided to run an errand for Tenpou before the brunette had finally lost all patience and snapped at him. Tenpou had been landed with a pile of pointless paperwork that morning and when Kenren had left, he had been close to drawing a big black line on the wall to show how far he had had it up to. Kenren knew when to leave his lover alone and eagerly seized the opportunity to leave; even it was going to see his most Royal Hissiness.
Shockingly the marble statue that was Lord Goujun had actually borrowed a book from Tenpou on the battle tactics of the Gekai and Tenpou now needed it back. Tenpou had been planning to get it back himself but he was busy with his pile of pointless paperwork and Kenren knew that best way to get Tenpou in a good mood – and to get some serious sex - was to give him these moments of solitude. In addition, this creepy messenger from some bureaucrat called Litouten had turned up and so Kenren had volunteered to do the errand, having been in no mood to deal with pointless bureaucracy, preferring to let Tenpou's temper spike instead.
The actual errand hadn't taken long at all. Goujun's quarters were so rigidly organised that Kenren felt he should file himself onto a respective shelf when he entered and had seen the battered red book on the vast polished wood desk instantly. It looked so out of place in the immaculate office that Kenren felt the constant urge to snatch it away.
Goujun had been as cool and distant as always, handing to Kenren not only the book but a sheaf of documents to give to the eccentric Gensui when Kenren returned. There was no sign on the reptilian features that the Dragon had heard the rumours that were lighting up the gossip switchboards of Tenkai. Although the Dragon must know something from the amount of times he had visited Tenpou and most likely heard noises that were anything but professional from behind the hastily locked door. It seemed that the Dragon was actually doing something that Kenren would never have expected; which was to leave the situation well alone.
Still, he had finished his errand and with a free day ahead of him, he could indulge himself in a little light Tenpou refreshment because he must be finished with the paperwork, the messenger and his mood by now. Since their 'exchange of feelings' on the library floor a week ago, they had become even closer and Kenren practically lived at Tenpou's quarters now. However, they had been so busy with their respective jobs that ever since that fantastic evening; this was going to be their first free afternoon together; and Kenren had been looking forwards to it. He rounded the corner, strolled up to Tenpou's door, called out his name, knocked once, and then opened it carefully just in case he was brained by a stack of books. He heard voices and caught the tail-end of a conversation.
"... you are wrong ... You'd seriously think I'd endanger my career to mess around with someone who is my subordinate? I'd like think that people would know me better, or at least enough to know my standards are high and assure you the Taisho will not meet them."
Kenren started and almost grasped the doorknob for support.
"Tenpou?" Never had he heard Tenpou sound so ... well ... nasty before. The Gensui's voice was lowered, dangerous, like ice.
"The rumours are that you play the wife to the Taisho."
"Wife?" Tenpou's voice was caustic and he barked a harsh laugh that was mile away from his normal, gentle laughter. "Do you seriously think I would ever let someone have any command over me, especially of that kind? Kenren Taisho is a good soldier and I happen to keep useful people on a short leash, they are easier to control."
Kenren crumpled the papers in his fist. Tenpou's voice was cool and cold and he must know that Kenren has heard everything he needs to hear. The messenger obviously has from the simple way he turns on his heel and strides out, walking into Kenren.
"Taisho?!" he exclaimed.
"Fuck off." Came the brusque retort. Kenren was too furious to even banter. "I need to speak to my commanding officer and pesky little shits like you can get out."
Before the messenger could reply, Kenren slammed the door in his face and stalked up to the desk. Tenpou remained writing.
"I'm not willing to word parry with you anymore." He said, and then looked up. "Kenren?" his face broke into a smile. "That didn't take long."
"No it didn't. I heard all your little speech." He paused. "I know all about your fucking standards, Gensui." Never had he been so angry, never he been so hurt by someone's words. How could someone who had sighed with pleasure and whispered his name that same morning now suddenly be so callous? Kenren has never been so shocked. His dark eyes blazed as they met the shocked ones of Tenpou.
"Kenren?" he queried, suddenly caught off guard by the intense gaze. Surely, his lover would know that Tenpou had just been trying to diffuse the rumours about them and that he was blatantly lying. With Tenpou's record being spotless, and Kenren's being an inky hotchpotch of bad points, there was no doubt who would come off the worst if the rumours had been confirmed. Tenpou had been doing his level best to protect Kenren.
He rose up from his chair and tried to come over but Kenren slammed out a hand to stop him.
"You don't let anyone have command over you?!" he yelled, slamming a fist into a pile of books that toppled downwards. "You weren't saying that last night when I fucked you over this desk, were you?! You weren't fighting for command when you were begging me to suck you off! You weren't keeping me on a short leash before, but I guess everything is a façade with you!" he slammed his hands down on the desk and over went another pile of books.
"Kenren, calm down." Said Tenpou, a little shocked that Kenren had indeed taken his words seriously and been hurt by them. He reached out to his lover.
"Fuck you!" snapped Kenren, slapping away his hand with more ferocity than Tenpou expected. Still, he stood there, not willing to create a space between them but not saying anything. His tongue was too heavy.
"Say something!" yelled Kenren, Tenpou just stared; there was nothing he could think of to say or do.
Then Kenren slapped him. Once. Sharply across the cheek and it stung. Still Tenpou was unresponsive.
"You don't have the authority to do that." He said coolly.
"Fuck authority." Snapped Kenren. The air was becoming heated between them and both were noticeably trying to ignore it. Tenpou folded his arms.
"Don't you realise that everything I said was a lie, Taisho?" he said, narrowing his eyes.
"I called your name and knocked. You knew I was there, Gensui, you can't say you didn't see me and knew I'd hear your little tirade. I never thought you cowardly "
That was the wrong thing to say. Tenpou's honour is honour-bound in itself, he prides himself on it. He slams his hands on the desk.
"Cowardly ... Taisho, did it ever occur to you that I have been protecting you?!" he growled. "Or are you so wrapped up in your own self-involvement that you're oblivious to the rumours about us."
Kenren is on the other side of the desk now, mirroring Tenpou's movements. The scene is similar to that of two tomcats sizing each other up before lashing out.
"Protecting me?!" bit back Kenren. "Who's been a subordinate since I showed up?"
"Only because you cause trouble." Answered back Tenpou, walking around the desk to pick up the fallen books and put them back on the desk. Kenren leaned over and grabbed Tenpou's arm, keeping his wrist in a tight grip.
"I thought you liked the trouble, you certainly don't kick trouble out of your bed each night." He said his voice low.
"Get off me." Said Tenpou; his voice just as low. It's a standoff now, neither one man giving way to the other. Kenren snickers, a low rumbling sound that is meant to tease and insult.
"I thought I was on a short leash." He squeezed harder. "You wanna stop me, you make me."
Tenpou moves, neatly turning his body and twisting his arm in one graceful action. He then brings his other arm up and shoves Kenren hard against the bookshelves, pinning him there with one hand by his head and the other at his side. Both men are angry and their bodies shake with that anger. Kenren's dark eyes could almost be red with the fire sparking in them and Tenpou's have become as cold as ice.
"You think you're so individual well let me tell you something Gensui, you're nothing of the sort. You're just like everyone else here although you found a more despicable way of doing it."
Tenpou laughs; it is a harsh laugh just as cold as his expression.
"Oh no Taisho, I think you'll find I'm very different from those up here since I will ALWAYS find a more despicable way to do it." He gave a sadistic smile. "Now, unbuckle your coat, drop your pants and get across that desk."
"Who said you were in control here?" Kenren demanded. Tenpou tilted his head.
"If you believe what I said then I am." He said. "Now take off your pants."
"No." retorted Kenren. Instead, he pushed his partner back against the bookshelves and wrapped his fist around Tenpou's shirt and tie. He kissed him, furiously, his tongue plunging into Tenpou's mouth then withdrawing before Tenpou could bite down. "I never said you could be seme."
With one comically raised eyebrow, Tenpou suddenly moved like lightning. He grabbed Kenren's arm and turned him around, using all his strength to muscle the Taisho over the desk and managed to pull his coat down over bare shoulders. Kenren made to shove him away and with his superior strength, should have done so easily; but Tenpou was quick and twisted away. He reached around to Kenren's belt buckle and unsnapped it.
"I said I was in charge and I meant it." He growled. Kenren gave a grin.
"Hell you are." He retorted.
Suddenly they were rolling across the library floor, each one trying to get an upper hand over the other. Kenren would get Tenpou's shirt off but the brunette would come back by arching up against the Taisho with a lustful moan. Tenpou would then make short work of Kenren's clothes but the raven-haired man would take advantage of this and flip Tenpou onto his stomach. Tenpou rolled out of the way and Kenren followed, finally pinning Tenpou hard against the floor, keeping his legs over Tenpou's own and holding his wrists far apart.
"Enough." He commanded, this time his voice deadly serious. "Tell me truthfully, was what you said true and if you don't I'm just gonna get the fuck up and leave, because I won't be played the fool."
Tenpou's eyes were genuine.
"It was lie, Kenren. I was playing you for a fool to show Litouten's lackeys that I am not to be messed with and by the same token neither are you." His eyes narrowed. "If I was really playing you for a fool Kenren, I would do a better job than this."
Kenren sighed and looked away. Tenpou tensed beneath him; as much as he could be vindictive about other things, Kenren was something he really didn't want to lose. Tenpou was ready to risk anything now, even his pride.
"Kenren, please believe me ... I love you."
Kenren smiled tenderly.
"Of course I believe you, I just overreacted." He smiled and dropped a single chaste kiss on Tenpou's cheek. "I love you too."
Tenpou smiled and snaked his hands out of Kenren's grip to run then over his body. He rested one on his back and the other found its familiar spot on the back of Kenren's neck, stroking the short dark hair with his nails. Kenren gave a low rumble of pleasure and nuzzled Tenpou's neck. In some ways this simple exchange of caresses was better than the hottest sex and Kenren liked it. He lightly kissed Tenpou's jawbone and heard the brunette start to murmur in his ear.
"Can we not fight anymore?" asked Tenpou softly.
"Hmm ... of course not. Only when it's really necessary, like who said you could be seme anyway?" he grinned, casting out his bait for Tenpou to snatch hold of. Now he had made his peace with Tenpou he wanted to get back to the original afternoon plans.
Tenpou took the bait.
"I did. I outrank you. If I command it then you should do it ... like a good Taisho." He rocked his hips gently.
"But you know me, I'm always in trouble." Kenren answered. "You can't make..." his words were cut off by Tenpou suddenly pushing him over and pinning him down onto the floor.
"I can make you do anything, because I love you."
Konzen Douji strode down the corridor towards Tenpou's in search of his errant friend. Despite being a scruffy eccentric, Tenpou kept good time and was never late, especially to something he had cajoled Konzen into actually doing. Therefore it was truly shocking when Tenpou didn't turn up to the stupid-cherry-blossom-and-tea-drinking-thing that he himself had planned. Concerned, yet refusing to outwardly show such a stupid emotion, Konzen had walked over to Tenpou's, even if only to complain at Tenpou about something he'd think of when he got there.
He was about to knock on the door when he hurt a shout – or was it a yelp? – then a loud thump. This loud thump was followed by a series of smaller rhythmic thumps that reverberated against the wall near the door. Konzen also heard swearing, moaning and the distinct raised voices of Tenpou and someone else, no doubt that damn fool Taisho that Tenpou had a tendency to mention more often than not.
"... Who put you in charge ... ahn!"
"I did!"
"Do ... you think anyone – don't slow down for gods sake - can hear ... us?"
"If they can, I will inform them that I don't know what there are talking about and that I happen keep you on a ... on a short leash."
"Fuck you, Tenpou." The thumping increased and there were moans.
"No Kenren... not today...." There were gasps. "Now be a good Taisho and put your hips into it. This is supposed to be a fight you know."
Konzen turned on his heel and left, trying to tell himself that he heard nothing.
A/N. Okay, that was part two, so please review it. Pretty Please, if you send me an address I'll send you a cookie. Oh and I've been listening my way through X-Japan's ballad collection ... sigh ... it's beautiful. And I'm off to a Chinese Restaurant-and-all-night-cheesy-disco tonight. I'm seriously excited. Happy times all around ne?