Disclaimer: Characters do not belong to me and are being used for entertainment purposes only.

Warning: This story is rated "M" for sexual situations between men, twincest, language, violence, and extremely disturbing imagery. If you are afraid of being disturbed, please do not read this fic. There will also be some spoilers.

A/N: Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy.

Mingled Memories:

Part III

Suboshi awoke to excruciating pain. Someone was resetting his arm. He reached out to find Amiboshi's mind, but his brother was no longer connected to his thoughts. He almost cried at the loss.

He heard his brother and Nakago conversing as he regained consciousness.

"The emperor demands to know which one of you killed his guards." Nakago's voice was quieter than usual.

"I told you, I don't know. I think we both did." His twin sounded shaken.

"Lord Nakago, leave him alone," Soi pleaded. "He's had a terrible night."

Suboshi was surprised to hear her speak to her god that way.

"I must know what happened," the general's cold voice responded.

"We used our powers together. I could hear him…I could feel him."

"I've heard of this before, but I've never seen it happen. Can you communicate now?" Nakago's asked eagerly.

"No." His aniki's voice held the same disappointment Suboshi was now feeling.

"Try!" Nakago pushed.

"I have; I can't!"

"Try harder!"

"Lord Nakago, please!" Soi almost sounded angry.

"We'll discuss this later," Nakago promised cryptically. "Don't be so ignorant as to believe that the emperor will forget your indiscretions."

Suboshi heard the door slam and felt his brother's hand on his forehead. He tried to speak, but the herbs they had given him for pain make him too drowsy. Soon his brother had moved away from the bed, and soon music filled the room, and this time Suboshi didn't mind that his thoughts were being manipulated.


"I still say kill them both and use the Shinzaho to summon Seiryu." The emperor was much more collected than the last time Nakago had seen him and had a young girl chained to his throne feeding him fruit. Nakago knew it would be a long time before any young men would visit the emperor's chambers.

"That would be most inconvenient, my lord, considering we have no guarantee that we could obtain them. Besides, it would be a pity to kill off two warriors who could prove so useful," Nakago reminded him politely.

The emperor grunted noncommittally before opening his large mouth for a strawberry. Red juice trickled down his chin to his neck. Nakago avoided averting his eyes in disgust as the emperor smacked his lips in pleasure. The young girl looked fearful. "So they were able to combine their powers to attack me and my attendants; I don't see that as such a mighty feat."

Nakago was constantly amazed by the man's stupidity. "They were able to communicate. They connected physically. Do you not see how this could be useful? This ability goes along directly with my…our plans."

The emperor was thoughtful. He used a large finger to scratch inside his ear. "You mean a spy who wouldn't have to risk capture by reporting to anyone."

"Exactly." Nakago replied.

"But you said they haven't these skills on command."

Nakago kept a straight face as he said, "It appears the skills only appear under great duress."

"Could they be strengthened? In the same way as your life force?" the emperor asked lecherously.

Nakago now knew why he had confided in his leader; the man had a mind that went places he couldn't fathom. "Perhaps." It was an unscrupulous thought, but if it actually worked… "Perhaps," Nakago repeated.


Suboshi had finally recovered from the pain although it would be some time before he had full use of his arm. He and his brother had been left mostly alone for the past week, aside from Soi coming to bring them food and check on his arm. She hadn't spoken to them much, but Suboshi hadn't forgotten how she had stood up for them and wondered if the lack of punishment was somehow her doing.

He and his brother had shared the same bed ever since the night they were almost added to the emperor's harem. He had been shocked on the second night when he realized his brother was sobbing. Amiboshi had always been so strong. Suboshi had held him with his good arm and had allowed his tears to mingle on the pillow. Although he could no longer read his brother's exact thoughts, he knew that he was also seeing the empty gaze of the naked woman as blood had gushed from her breast. He wished that they could share that pain as they had the humiliation of the emperor's touch and the pain of the broken arm. Instead, they brought their bodies as close to each other as possible and pressed their moist cheeks together.

It wasn't really a surprise when Nakago arrived less than a week after the incident. They both knew their punishment was long overdue. Suboshi hadn't discussed it with his brother, but he didn't intend to put up with it any longer. His body was tense with apprehension; he was no longer as fearless as when he had first encountered Nakago, for now he knew there were things much worse than death.

"Is it healed?" the tall blonde asked although his voice held no real interest.

Suboshi shrugged.

"The emperor has commanded that the two of you be punished."

"I don't care what that fat hog commanded, I'm not going to have anything to do with this any longer, and you can kill me for all I care," Suboshi spat.

"Suboshi!" Amiboshi's mouth was open in shock. His twin probably felt all he was saying, but he would never announce it to the enemy.

Nakago's lips formed a thin, tight line. "Come," he said without anger.

For some reason the twins felt compelled to follow. They were led to a dark stone corridor. "There was another who refused to cooperate as a Seiryu warrior. I'd like for you to meet him." Nakago removed a large key and slipped it into the lock of a wooden door before leading the twins into a pitch black room. As the door creaked, they heard the rattling of chains and a low moaning sound. Nakago removed a torch from its holder in the hall. He thrust it forward to reveal a creature, more animal than man, chained by his arms and legs. Nakago stared at him, his eyes containing a strange pleasure. He continued his lesson for the twins. "This…monstrosity was recovered from a freak show. He should be grateful to have such a useful role in society, but still he refuses to cooperate."

"Go to hell," a gruff voice answered, startling Suboshi.

Nakago clicked his tongue. "For a small fee people came from miles to leer at the dog-faced boy. Pathetic creature."

"I'll remind you, Lord Nakago, that I'm not your only circus freak," the man spat.

Nakago's lips curled into a cruel smile before he flicked his whip at the creature adding a welt to the already scarred and bloodied chest.

"And I'll remind you, Ashitare, just who it is you're dealing with." Nakago then turned shining blue eyes to the twins; he had never looked so alive. "The emperor has demanded restitution for the loss of his guard and his concubine. He has left me to dole out the punishment. You will watch this pathetic dog receive what is rightfully yours."

Suboshi suspected from the shredded flesh that Ashitare had often been punished for crimes he hadn't committed, but felt relief that Nakago's whip would not touch he or his brother.

"No!" Amiboshi called as the wolfman whimpered and Nakago prepared to thrash him. Suboshi watched in horror as his twin stepped between the two trembling slightly. "I will take the punishment for us both." Nakago's sneer turned Suboshi's heart to ice. It was obvious that this was exactly what he had expected and wanted. He was using Amiboshi's kind soul against him.

"If you insist." Nakago gathered up his whip. "We shall go back to your chambers." The wolfman's eyes held such relief that Nakago punched the monster hard in the stomach. "Still intend to be uncooperative, Suboshi?" he asked as they exited.

Suboshi didn't answer. Their visit had only reinforced that there were things much worse than death.


Nakago led the twins to their chamber and pulled out his whip. "Strip your shirt," He commanded of Amiboshi. He then turned to Suboshi whose jaw was clenched in anger.

"I'll take the punishment," Suboshi said shakily.

"You'll stay out the way. On second thought…" Nakago used his life force to pin Suboshi to the wall, and his gasp of surprise almost made Nakago smile.

Amiboshi was trembling and his shirt was caught in his hair by a hook. Nakago grabbed it and yanked, causing the smaller blonde to cry out in pain. Nakago turned his icy gaze on Suboshi, but hopelessness was the only reaction."

Nakago lashed out at Amiboshi several times. The welts rose in a zigzag across the boy's back. Nakago was ruthless. Amiboshi yelped with pain at each crack of the whip, but Suboshi, although tormented, did not seem to be experiencing it.

"Can you feel it?" Nakago asked loudly as he flung his whip at Amiboshi. "Can you hear him now?" Nakago hoped that the pain would connect them. He tossed his whip aside in frustration and approached the stationary Suboshi. "Or are the two of you connected by your cocks?" he asked as he slid his hand over the front of Suboshi's pants and rubbed him roughly. He ignored the bile rising in his throat and continued to coax until Suboshi was fully aroused. He caught a glimpse of the horror and utter humiliation on the warriors face before turning his gaze on Amiboshi who was curled up on the floor with his knees to his chest. As Nakago slowly ran his hand along Suboshi, Amiboshi's breath was beginning to come in sharp gasps. Nakago continued; he felt nothing. In his youth he had done this for the emperor on numerous occasions so the act itself had no sexual value for him, but realizing that Amiboshi was responding to the touch and that his brilliant plans may be possible was causing a light-headedness.

Suboshi grunted when he came as though he was trying to stop the inevitable. Amiboshi moaned slightly. Nakago stopped when the cloth of Suboshi's pants became dampened. He retrieved his whip and allowed Suboshi to drop to the floor. After this he was almost positive that he knew how the twins could raise their life force and connection to one another. Now he had to determine whether or not he was evil enough or ambitious enough to make them.


Suboshi was still shaking when he fell, and he barely avoided landing on his already broken arm. He felt anger toward Nakago, but most of all he loathed himself for responding to the general's ministrations. How could he allow a man to bring him to that? He should have spit right in the bastard's face.

Amiboshi moaned again, this time with pain. Suboshi cursed himself for being self-centered when his brother had been through so much. He made his way over fighting back hot tears. For a few minutes he had sensed his brother's presence within his mind. Not in the same clear way as he had the first time, but his brother had been there nonetheless, and Suboshi had felt his back on fire. He knew his aniki was in excruciating pain.

Suboshi very carefully embraced his brother careful of his wounds. They held each other and cried silently.

They startled when the door unlocked and two servants entered with a tub. "Lord Nakago said you both needed a bath," a young man told them apologetically. "We're heating water now."

Soon both were in the large tub and Suboshi was tentatively cleaning Amiboshi's lashes while hanging his bandaged arm over the tub.

Amiboshi sighed. "Shun-chan, do we need to talk?"

Suboshi pulled his knees closer to his chin. "I'm a pervert."

"He's the pervert," Amiboshi answered. "He's the one who…"

"But I'm the one who…" Suboshi couldn't say the word. He flushed thinking of how ashamed his father would be if he were still alive. "When the emperor laid his hand on you, you didn't…"

"One doesn't have to prefer men to see the difference between the two," his twin answered logically.

Suboshi snorted, yes, Nakago was much more beautiful than the emperor, but he hated both the general and his ruler equally. In his mind both were the lowest of scum. "Did you feel it?" Suboshi asked hesitantly.

Amiboshi nodded.

Suboshi swallowed. "Did you…?"

Amiboshi put his head in his hands.

Suboshi leaned forward and softly kissed a welt on his brother's shoulder. As his lips met the wound he felt a crackling of electricity. Someday, he vowed silently, Someday we'll have our revenge.

TBC

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