A/N: couldn't just stop here for today... so you're getting two parts in one day ;) Some heavy editing here for M-rating... Have fun!
"Rikugo..."
Fiery red eyes burned themselves into his as he was pushed against the wall the moment the bedroom door clicked shut behind them. Hands on his body, everywhere at the same time, almost tearing the clothes off his body.
"Ryu... wait a second... stop!" He caught the roaming hands, effectively stopping their frantic movement. "Not that I don't appreciate this, but what the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Isn't that obvious? I want you, Rikugo. Now."
He froze.
'I want you now, Rikugo. I know you want it, too.'
'You know what I'm here for, Rikugo. '
Or just a look fromgray-blue eyes, telling him exactly what was expected of him...
"Rikugo?"
"No. Ryu, not like this. Let's take our time."
"Time? Time! You kept me waiting for so long now... I want you, don't you get me?"
He looked into the demonic red eyes of a being that was neither man nor demon; eyes that could blaze in barely contained fury -- yes, he had noticed -- or sparkle with amusement; eyes that spoke of a longer time of loneliness than he could even start to imagine. He had come to love those expressive eyes, love the man, despite the crime that had been caused by an error of judgment. An error he himself wasn't free of, too.
"Yes, I get you," he said softly. "I understand you, Ryu. But I can't do it like this."
"You mean you don't want to."
Rikugo let go of the wrists to slide his hands over the slender body, pulling the man against him, making perfectly clear that he wanted to.
"Of course I want to, Ryu."
The kiss was long, deep and sweet and when it ended they were horizontal.
"Then take me, Rikugo," the Count whispered.
Rikugo took his time -- not that Ryu really needed it, but he wanted to make it good for him. It was music to Rikugo's ears to hear the other man's breathy moans and exclamations of want and need. He loved to see those fiery red eyes cloud with desire, watch Ryu writhe underneath him and loved to hear the sounds he was making when coherence fled him and he was reduced to simply feeling. He had no idea how much experience Ryu really had, but when he prepared him he was as careful as if he were a novice, though Ryu was protesting.
"Rikugo ... now, please ... "
The astrologer didn't need any more encouragement.
And only when Ryu hoarsely screamed into the pillow, shaking with the force of his completion Rikugo allowed himself to let go, too.
°
Slowly coming back from his coital high and still breathing hard Rikugo felt the man he held in his arms tremble. Taking a closer look Rikugo froze in shock. Tears were streaming down the handsome face of the other man, eyes squeezed tightly shut, and his breathing hiccupped with the effort of not sobbing.
"Ryu?"
Stroking over the soft black hair Ryu only shook harder. With a desperate sounding sob the man turned, wrapping himself tightly around Rikugo. Face buried at his shoulder Rikugo felt the wetness stream down his skin.
"Ryu? What's wrong? Did I hurt you?"
"No," came the muffled answer, "gods, no."
"Then what's wrong, Ryu? You're scaring me."
There was only a suppressed sobbing sound and Rikugo couldn't do anything but hold his desperate lover close, waiting for the emotional turmoil to settle.
It did settle after some time and Rikugo looked into the finely cut face that he had seen so often already, but he would always delight in seeing it again. Ryu had been born of noble blood and it showed in his bearings, his demeanor, even after such long centuries of imprisonment. He was pale, his skin smooth and unblemished, the hair of a deep black color. Fine eyebrows swung like raven wings over blood red eyes that spoke of the demon hidden underneath the deceptively soft shell of a beautiful human being. No scars, no marks, nothing marred his body; a body that was nicely proportioned, so perfect, so finely toned. All a reminder of the deal Ryu had made millennia ago.
The astrologer ran a gentle caress along the sharply cut cheekbone, down the jaw line, then leaned forward and kissed the other man, feeling the pliable lips open under his gentle assault. Arms wrapped around his waist, drew him closer, molding them together, and he increased his loving attack.
Ryu moaned softly, trembling ever so slightly. Rikugo held them together, held him tightly in his embrace, and whispered, "Sleep."
Red eyes, heavy lidded and so very exhausted, followed the order and closed completely.
"Stay," Ryu whispered a soft plea.
"I will. I promise."
And he would. He wouldn't leave this man alone this time, aware of how vulnerable he was at the moment.
Ryu's body relaxed in his hold and Rikugo just watched him sleep.
° ° °
Rikugo knew he had started to smile a lot more now, that he was happier, inside and outside, and the others began to notice. Especially when he stopped evading Byakko and managed a civil conversation with the wind God, instead of drawing back, making excuses, and disappearing out of the younger shikigami's presence.
He was slowly but surely coming to terms with what had happened, and while he still had memories flashing forward, refusing to leave him alone, he now had something else to hold on to.
Thinking of Ryu throughout the days he was doing his job in GensouKai was almost normal now. He thought of his lover, his smiles, his eyes, the soft tenor of the voice, the way he could be both incredibly strong but also vulnerable. He thought about the man he had gotten to know by now, about the man he still wanted to get to know better, about the past of this hurt soul that served an eternal sentence.
About the man he had started to sleep with. He was visiting Meifu on a regular basis now, and not every time he was stopping at his master's place. Tsuzuki had made it clear that it wasn't necessary; that he could visit his lover whenever he wanted to.
And he wanted.
Ryu was a lonely soul and a gentle lover, taking in every caress and soft touch like a dried out flower would take in water.
Two thousand years.
Without any contact except for the occasional visit. An eternity without human touch.
In Rikugo's eyes there was no such thing as an eternal penance. In Rikugo's eyes the penance was the true crime -- but that had happened in his realm, too, hadn't it? Ryu had done nothing truly wrong, just made an error in judgment, and many did that each and every day. There were worse crimes than Ryu's, but Enma-Daiou had warranted the deeds with a life-sentence.
Rikugo mused about what had made this special man in his life survive for so long, and so intact as he was. True, Ryu was fragmented, with shattered parts, with corners of his mind that played with perversion, that had seen horrible things, that had done horrible things in the solitary confinement of the palace, but there was still the core that was intact. Ryu couldn't play the man in need of love, of companionship, and be someone completely else underneath. The Count was the man with the mask, but Ryu was the soul underneath, hoping and maybe still even dreaming.
Sitting over the scrolls, Rikugo scribbled down a few notes when he noticed a powerful aura draw near. There was no mistaking his visitor and when the tall, regal figure of the sky dragon entered the study, Rikugo looked up with a neutral expression. They might not be at each other's throat day by day now, but he still was wary of any occasion that brought Sohryu into his home.
"Sohryu," he greeted the leader of GensouKai, putting enough civility and respect in it not to rile up the man upon his entry.
"Rikugo."
Blue-gray eyes swept around the room, determining they were alone, then Sohryu shut the doors.
"We need to talk."
Onyx eyes glanced over the reading glasses, then Rikugo shrugged inwardly. He wasn't aware of anything that had happened lately.
"Care to explain your regular visits to Meifu?" Sohryu asked coldly.
Rikugo's eyebrows shot down in a steep 'v'. "I don't have to explain anything to you, Sohryu," he answered, voice equally frigid. "This is my private business."
The cold eyes regarded him darkly. "I understand you need distance from what has happened, but don't you think you're taking it a bit far?"
Rikugo glared. "I can come and go to Meifu as I please. Our master has allowed me to enter his world as I see the need for."
"Is it the continuing need for distance from Byakko or the need for a sexual adventure?"
Rikugo felt his breath catch in his throat. Sohryu just smirked.
"There is little that I don't know, Rikugo."
The astrologer snorted in disgust. Right.
"So what is it, Rikugo? Looking for companionship?"
He let the scroll roll shut. "What if I do? What's it to you, Sohryu? Jealous? I doubt it because you already found someone else!"
He rose abruptly, old emotions boiling up again.
"Leave Terazuma out of this!" the dragon snapped.
"Why should I when you bring in my private affairs? Why would you be interested anyway? We are over, Sohryu! You had your chance!"
The dragon frowned and Rikugo inhaled sharply, feeling the emotions rise exponentially.
"You didn't ask about me when you ended us. You didn't care. Why now? Thinking about ditching your shinigami lover? Well, don't come running back to me because I'm not your toy! I'm not to be used, thrown away, and unearthed when you need me!" the blond shikigami yelled.
He pushed past the other man, trying to leave, but then a hand clamped around his arm.
"Rikugo..."
Power gathered, coiled around him, and he glared at the highest of the four Gods, daring him to take the last step.
"You were never a toy for me, Rikugo," Sohryu said softly. "Never."
"Don't lie to me, dragon! You had no emotions, no intentions but a good time, and it was a long time coming that you would let me fall again!" Rikugo snarled.
Blue eyes widened. "Rikugo..."
But the astrologer didn't listen. He just tore out of the grasp and left, emotions erupting in an angry yell that was so completely unlike him. He had forgotten about Sohryu, about what had been fledgling feelings despite the hatred and disgust, but now... now it was coming back. Damn that dragon!
He had never loved the other man. He had never hated him either. It had been a relationship born of need and lust, but Rikugo had felt something come to life, something that wanted more, but it had been quickly smothered.
He had craved love and had gotten a quick fuck from the highest of the four Gods. Great. And he had allowed himself to become... fond of him.
Rikugo gnashed his teeth together.
Those emotions should have died. They should have been buried. There was someone else in his life now and Ryu's feelings were true. The need was not a game, the warm expression in the red eyes without pretense.
Sohryu -- Ryu. Rikugo laughed humorlessly at the irony of his lovers' names.
The Count claimed he was emotionally screwed, but what was Rikugo? He had slept with the man he opposed politically at every turn, the man he disliked immensely, and he had started to feel something softer throughout their encounters.
Great.
Sighing explosively, the blond shikigami stopped and looked around. He hadn't even noticed where he had gone off to. It was the small landscaped garden behind the palace. Finding a bench, he settled his tall frame on it, looking into the small lake that was home to multi-colored Koi fish.
Sohryu had felt the aura flare, had seen the anger in those black eyes, and he knew he had been seconds away from facing Rikugo in a true battle, but the astrologer had reined in his temper -- a temper Sohryu had never thought the other man really had -- and he had left.
The words still echoed in the dragon's mind.
Had Rikugo... felt something for him? And if so, had Sohryu ever felt something in return? Had he ever gone into their encounters with anything but the primal need to satisfy his nether instincts?
Blue eyes grew distant. Yes, maybe. There had been little sparks, but nothing definite. Seeing the lithe form writhe underneath him, hearing the cries of pleasure, the breathy moans, hearing the gasps, hearing his name. He had taken what he had wanted to, but there had been more from time to time. And after meeting Hajime... he had come back a few more times, and each encounter had been gentler than before.
Sohryu closed his eyes and shook his head.
Water under the bridge...
He was faithful to Terazuma. He loved the shinigami and wouldn't stray, and he doubted Rikugo would ever allow Sohryu to touch him again that way. He had made that clear already, a while ago, and Sohryu didn't feel the need to come back here.
But to know that Rikugo had developed fledgling feelings... to think of what could have been.
It never would have worked, he thought. They were at their best when fighting each other, when lashing out...
Only... only when he remembered catching Rikugo as he collapsed after keeping Touda alive for so long... looking at the fragile and vulnerable form of the so strong shikigami, hearing his harsh breaths, seeing him wince in pain when Taimo touched him...
Confess it, Sohryu thought darkly, there could have been more if you hadn't found the one you love, if Hajime hadn't come to GensouKai.
But not now. Now he had struck out again, had landed another blow, and all he had wanted to know was if there was a kernel of truth to the rumors flying around GensouKai. Rikugo must have found someone in Meifu, but so far no one had seen anyone with their resident astrologer here in GensouKai. So he only visited, he never brought anyone with him.
Sohryu rubbed his slightly aching head. If the person in question was a shinigami, maybe he could ask Tsuzuki the next time the young man came here for his visits. Or he could carefully set Touda onto it.
He pushed that thought away.
No, leave it as it was. He had already made a small mess; making it bigger wasn't in his plans. He would wait and see.
Patience.
It would be the best advice right now.
tbc...