Disclaimer: I do not own PMK or any of the characters.
Mahono: This is a GuyxGuy story. Mostly TetsuxSuzu. Don't like it leave. Otherguyxguy pairings include but are not limited to HijikataxOkita and HeisukexShinpachi. Don't like that either? Well, there's alwaysthe Back Button, now isn't there? Those of you who like it, please continue, and don't forget to review! I live on those reviews!
The sun had barely even touched the distant mountains when the two lovers stirred. The moon, having not even left the sky yet, hung fading trying to blend itself with the background of a light blue cloudless heaven. Suzu was determined to make it to his destination before the rest of the world had time to fully awaken. He had thought long and hard about his decision all yesterday. While walking the crowded city streets his mind flooded with thoughts of revenge. The plans to execute, the steps to take to make his visions become a reality were all gone over with a fine toothed comb. He wanted everything to be exact, precise. Most of all he wanted things to be perfect. Something that was not attainable, even with all his master plans and grand schemes, at least not by himself. If his revenge was going to be sweet, he would need something much more; something that would be the sugary icing to an otherwise dull cake.
He needed Tetsu.
Yes, in order for his moment of perfection to be pure ecstasy he needed his lover to stand beside him. If nothing else he would let Tetsu see just what kind of man he was falling for. Strong, determined, dependable all assets that only the best of lovers can possibly have. He would let his lover know that he would never let anything touch him. He had been to week to save his brother, but now he was unbeatable. What's more Tetsu would realize that if anything should happen to him, Suzu would avenge him. He would not rest until justice was reaped upon all who had pained him.
Rolling in the wet grass Suzu got up. Kneeling he gently rocked the slumbering puppy that had spent the entire night right beside him; trying to wake him up. Tetsu just swatted at the invading hands, trying to fend the things that where trying to steal his sleep.
"Tetsu," Suzu urged, "Get up."
"Too early." Tetsu moaned rolling away from his boyfriend.
Suzu just frowned at the lazy mutt in front of him. This was important! There had to be a way to get the annoying brat up and off his butt.
An idea sparked in the silver kitten's eyes flickering like a hungry flame. Crawling over the half asleep Tetsu Suzu bent low placing his ear next to Tetsu's vulnerable ear.
"Tetsuu" Suzu mewled pressing himself against his subordinate.
That was all it took to get Tetsu's eyes to snap open wide and fling his entire body into an upright position. "Crap Suzu! Don't do that in public!"
Suzu took a quick look around the abandoned lake. What public? That was beside the point though. Now that Tetsu was awake they had to leave immediately.
"It's your fault. You should have gotten your lazy ass up when I told you to." Suzu shrugged rolling off the puppy. Clasping one hand on Tetsu's forearm Suzu pulled both of them up.
Trudging down a worn path that lead form the lake to the backyard of the Yamazaki Inn Tetsu yawned sleepily rubbing his eyes. How could Suzu be so awake so early in the morning? What time was it anyways? Four; Five O'clock?
"Suzuuuu," Tetsu moaned wearily collapsing onto the taller man infront of him, "What time is ittt?"
Suzu barely glanced back at Tetsu's adorably tired puppy face before moving on. "About three…maybe three thirty." Suzu answered nonchantly as they strolled.
Tetsu's eyes went wide with comprehension. "You got me up that friggin early? Are you mad man?" Tetsu screeched in blasphemy.
"You got up that early for Sa-ya yesterday." Suzu pointed out blandly while strictly emphasizing the mute girl's name.
Now, that just made Tetsu feel bad. He was supposed to be the victim here! Not fair. Tetsu knew he couldn't hold his ground to that. So instead he slumped forward wrapping his arms securely around his lover's neck in an apologetic and caring embrace. The two walked in a pregnant silence before finally coming upon the back porch of the Inn.
Suzu turned wiggling out of Tetsu's embrace only to sling his arm about the smaller boy's shoulders. "I'll forgive ya' Tetsu, but ya' have to promise me somthin' first k?"
Tetsu just blinked innocently up at his companion, "Yeah, sure. What is it?"
A sort of sad, sly smile slipped across Suzu's tan face. "Promise me, no matter what you'll stand by me."
Now Tetsu had seen a lot of movies, granted most of them were horror films, but he had seen his share of girly flicks whenever Saya had forced them on him. It always confused him why the girl would be stupid enough to fall for the 'love me no matter what' routine. It was a fact that the guy always had some deep dark secret that the girl wasn't able to handle. Then she's just end up breaking her promise! Tetsu wasn't as stupid as those girls. At least, he didn't think he was.
A movie was just a movie right? Tatsu had always lectured him about how not to mix TV with reality. Even if it was a bit confusing with Reality TV. Suzu couldn't possibly have some deep dark secret that was just going to spring out at him. Right? Umm…right?
Tetsu bit his bottom lip tenderly, this was really confusing him. It was just supposed to be a simple question!
"Tetsuu…" Suzu leaned in close to his partner's ear purring his name, "Come on Puppy, I know you love me, I just want you to voice it. That's all."
Suzu was so damn persuasive. He even turned an annoying kiddy nick-name into something that sent icy shivers racing down Tetsu's spine. The guy could be a cars sales man if he wanted! Though he's probably end up selling himself before selling the car.
He did have a point though, in real life it was well know that if a lover didn't express themselves out loud well enough or often enough the relationship could crumble into bits. Suzu was just making sure that he could do that right?
Tetsu forced a pleasant smile upon his face trying desperately to wipe away any trace of worry, "Of coarse…I'll love you and stand by you through thick and thin!"
The silver haired kitten just grinned at that, "Till' death do us part?" He laughed, "Don't worry Tetsu, I ain't askin' you to marry me …yet." With that Suzu slipped away from Tetsu's side and sprinted around the Inn to the front yard. His laughter echoed in Tetsu's flushed ears.
After a few moments pause Tetsu quickly ran after the silver kitten laughingly crying out, "You jerk!"
At a full speed dash Tetsu rounded the corner with ill ease, nearly toppling over in the process. As he rounded the bend he lost sight of his prey. Suzu had vanished. Staggering to a halt Tetsu looked around confused. He checked the front porch swing and peeked inside the house. Only when he decided to check the driveway where the cars had been parked did he find his lover. Suzu was sitting with his back to Tetsu his profile playfully showing his unique emotions. Sitting on the hood of Hijikata's suave shining black Jaguar, swinging his feet in a carefree matter, Suzu grinned like the Cheshire Cat after just having gotten poor little Alice in a heap of trouble. A guilty pleasure shown brilliantly on his face, Tetsu knew he was up to no good.
"Hey Tetsu," Suzu grinned, in his hand he held a pair of glimmering keys attached to a round black electric lock, "Want ta' go for a ride?"
It was barely four o'clock when Saya heard the jolly laughter of two friends coming from outside her window. She had been up way before that though. The girl had gotten little sleep after Okita had left her last night. Tossing and turning in her bed all she was able to think about was a certain spunky red head. All she could dream about was that evil silver haired bastard ripping her one true love from her arms. The only thing she could feel was the sharp ache of her heart being shredded into bits and pieces.
Saya had been gazing out her window for hours. She couldn't see the serine scenery. She didn't realize the loving moon gazing down on her, didn't see the lush vegetation that clouded the earth blooming at every nook. All she could envision was the dream that had stalked her sleep. That crude drawing that she had made last night was engraved in her mind; it had come alive in her subconscious.
In her dream as she reached for Tetsu the fence that had grown between them morphed into that silver haired brat. He blocked her way to Tetsu. Tetsu couldn't even see her; he didn't even try to look past him. Saya wanted to just pass right through Suzu, wanted to just knock him over. She couldn't even budge him though. It seemed the more she pushed the closer he got to Tetsu, the deeper he penetrated her lover; the more his sin tainted him.
She had woken up in a cold sweat from that dream. She refused to remember anything past that moment. Refused to remember how Suzu had taken Tetsu further away from her. She refused to recall how Suzu had taken her lover right in front of her. She didn't want to believe that he could do that, mostly she didn't want to believe that her pure heterosexual mind could envision something so lewd and wrong as a man and another man trying to mimic the act of love.
"Tetsu's not like that," She tried to persuade herself that what she had dreamt was all a lie. It had worked for awhile.
That is, until she came out of her reverie. The roaring of an engine had jogged her from her daydream. Saya had witnessed Tetsu jumping into the passenger's seat of Hijikata's expensive and well kept car. The girl couldn't believe her eyes. The thing that got to her the most was that there in the driver's seat, turning the key and pulling into reverse, was her mortal enemy Suzu.
Why are you running away with him? She wanted to scream. He's nothing but trouble and you know it! How could she make him see that Suzu only wanted to hurt him, hurt them. Saya knew Tetsu's head was thick. Knew that unless you laid it straight out to him he would never understand. He was too blunt to see through the shadows. That's why he needed her to guide him around all the man holes that where strategically placed along the road of life. That's why she needed him, so that she could see the purity that lay in each heart.
All she could do was watch and stair as they drove away, rubber tires screeching in defiance of being abused against the hard earth. When the dust had cleared all she was able to make out was a single black dot quickly disappearing with the rising of the sun.
If I'm to bring him back to me, Saya thought boldly, then I to get rid of all the bad influences that Suzu had put on him. Evenif Tetsu gets mad.
Sanosuke Harada woke up drearily from the sound of Hijikata's loud screaming. Cold, hungry, and annoyed from being woken up at such an ungodly hour Sano tumbled out of bed. Sanosuke spared a sleepy glance towards his companion sleeping on the other side of the room on a separate bed.
Shinpachi had stolen all the blankets and pillow the night before, leaving Sano to sleep without anything but a pair of sheets. When Sano had argued against it Shinpachi had specify said 'I'd rather you freeze your butt off, and me die of heat and suffocation, than wake up in the morning with Heisuke trying to 'get cozy' with me again!' The bigger man wanted to point out that even with several layers of blankets and pillows Toudou could still easily slip under the whole mess. The youngest of the trio would probably make some lewd comment about the little carrot top waiting 'in heat' for him while he was at it. Sanosuke had decided against it though. For some strange reason the blankets made Shinpachi feel secure, so who was he to deprive the little man of his one haven?
Shinpachi was still sound asleep when Sanosuke blindly stumbled to the door. With all those cotton pillows stuffed in his ears Sano doubted if the small man would be able to hear a heard of giant radioactive penguins stampeding through their room with high pitch trumpets made of glue. That aside Sanosuke clumsily swung the door open and staggered out and down the stairs to get some well deserved breakfast. While he was at it he should probably check to see what Hijikata had gotten so peeved about this time and who was responsible for it. So Sano left letting Nagakura sleep unaware of the danger that stalked the small man, or the pain that was sure to follow.
Once Sanosuke was clear out of sight a certain lean dark haired man poked his head out of the next room. A playful grin tugged at Heisuke's lips. Sanosuke was gone, and everyone had been drawn downstairs by Hijikata's screaming. Personally Heisuke couldn't care less about what had the older officer in such an uproar. He was grateful for the distraction though, it gave him the perfect chance to sneak into his lover's room and snuggle!
Tiptoeing Toudou snuck towards the cracked door, clad in just a pair of too long silk sky blue pajamas with cute little monkey faces plastered at random on his pants and coat that draped excessively over his hands and feet. Only one thing was on his mind as he peered into the room and gazed around trying to find the object of his desire; alone time with Shinpachi. Heisuke really didn't care if they had sex or not, though he wouldn't deny it if given to him. He really just wanted to be close to the little man. When he finally spotted the fiery titian haired man curled up, nearly buried alive under the heap of thick smoldering blankets Heisuke had to bite his tongue in order to keep from squealing and waking the slumbering man up. Shinpachi was just so cute! It was hard not to just jump the little guy right there and then!
Carefully Heisuke slipped around the mass of clothes and junk that had begun to mutate on the floor. Barely three days and the two had already made a pigsty of the place. Wary not to slip on the wet towel that was carelessly sprawled on the floor next to Shinpachi's bed Heisuke lifted the bottom layer of the mounds of blankets. Sliding under he wriggled his way next to his crush so that he could have a closer look at the man's peaceful sleeping face.
A soft murmur broke the easy silence, "To…hot…" Shinpachi's lips hardly moved as the whimper escaped him.
Slightly startled Heisuke blinked touching his fingertips to Shinpachi's soft face. He quickly yanked his hand back as he was burned.
"Damn Shin!" Heisuke swore softly as he rolled out from under the warm covers.
"You should know better than to sleep with all these blankets!" Heisuke quietly rolled out from under the mess and began to peel off the layers of cloth that Shinpachi had on him.
Once he had gotten rid of all the blankets save for one by tossing them into the closet he got back under the cover to lay with Shinpachi. The little man's body heat had drastically declined by the time that Heisuke crawled back into the bed.
Heisuke couldn't help but giggle at the cuteness of his sleeping companion. With the slow deliberate movement of his hand Heisuke swiped Shinpachi's sweat drenched bangs away his forehead. Gently pressing his smooth forehead to Shinpachi's slick one the giddy younger man breathed in the littler man's sent.
Gah! Shinpachi! Heisuke wrinkled his nose in disgust at the strong stench of BO coming from his tiny friend, When you get up you need to take a bath! Toudou snickered.
Calming down the auburn haired man began to lightly play with the carrot top's wet hair. Twirling it between his fingers he couldn't help but grin. Even if he did smell Shinpachi was Shinpachi, and he was one damn cute little Shinpachi too.
Snuggling closer Heisuke places Shinpachi's face mere inches way from his own. Transfixed by the utter adorableness that just seemed to ooze out of the older man's every poor Heisuke began to slowly close the gap.
"Has anyone ever told you," Heisuke murmured lowly, "how positively cute you are?" With those words Heisuke placed a feather light tender velvety kiss upon Shinpachi's resting lips.
A sound slap rang through the air. The world left Heisuke in a mixed blur of morning colors as he was flung back. Back slamming against the wall Heisuke slumped forward lightly as his body slid down the headboard of the bed. The annoying ringing echoed in his ears, in his mind. He could hear another loud buzz outside of the ringing, but couldn't make out its meaning. His vision was slowly blurring back into place by the time he was able to understand the screaming smear in front of him.
"Answer me! What the hell did you think you were doing?" Shinpachi screeched from the foot of the bed. He had scrambled over in fright once he had knocked Toudou away from him.
"Wha…?" Heisuke mildly stuttered while holding his head. Now that his vision had cleared his head began to throb. He nimbly wondered if he had a concussion. The man was only vaguely aware of the seething Shinpachi sitting before him.
Shinpachi scratched the back of his head as he looked away irritably, "honestly, coming into my room, taking away all my blankets, then crawling into my bed and molesting me! You really have no low do you?"
"You…were…hot." Heisuke lamely tried to defend himself. He had only just registered that it was Shinpachi that had hit him. He wasn't really ready to stand before a court and try to plea his innocence to anyone.
Shinpachi just rolled his eyes. "Yeah, and you thought I was hot for you," The carrot top remarked sarcastically, "Give it a rest will ya? Jeeze Heisuke you're such a…a…"
A what? Heisuke was able to pull himself together by this time and was immediately curious. The way Shinpachi didn't make eye contact, the way he fidgeted; he had obviously been holding this in. Heisuke wanted to know what the little man really thought of him. By the sounds of it, it was nothing flattering.
"Whore." Shinpachi spat. There he had said it. He even looked a little relieved.
"But," Heisuke tried his best to make eye contact with the reluctant red head, "I love you."
That was obviously not what the little man had wanted to hear. An apology maybe would have been better. How could Heisuke apologize though? He wasn't sorry for trying to be with Shinpachi. Intimately or other wise. Heisuke wasn't going to lie and say he was either. Shinpachi never let him in; never let him get even a little close. How else was he supposed to get his message through by except invading his personal space? Heisuke's only goal had always been to make Shinpachi see how he felt. Nothing dirty.
Okay maybe a few things dirty, but basically all Heisuke wanted to do was make sure that Shinpachi realized his love for him. The dirty things were just and extra plus.
Shinpachi wanted to laugh but choked instead, surprised and baffled he was angry. He couldn't believe his ears, felt like he should rip them off for all their worth. "You love me?" Shinpachi mocked, "Yeah, me and every other cute little boy you lay eyes on!"
Shinpachi went on to make a list of the people Heisuke 'loved'. "It was that spiky red headed kid with the creepy friend a few days ago, last time it was that midget freckled face kid, before that the scrawny brat with the big brown eyes you adored so much."
"Fact is Heisuke; every time we go outside the house you attach yourself to some pint sized brat with big eyes and weird hair. I'm just the guy you turn to when all other options run dry." Shinpachi snapped. He didn't look sad or hurt, hadn't even said it meanly. He had stated it purely as a fact, he acted as if no one would ever dare deny it either.
Heisuke sent a river of death glares at Shinpachi. If looks could kill… "What are you jealous Shin. Pa. Chi?" Heisuke grinned wickedly punctuating each syllable of the older man's name with peculiar venom.
"Jealous?" Shinpachi fumed, "I ain't jealous I'm disgusted! You flaunt yourself like your some kind of sex god. More importantly you do it with little kids!
A disgusted look overcame Shinpachi's face as he scrunched it up in and shook his head distaste. "You act like a pedophile! If you don't knock it off one of these days one of those little boys is gonna go home cryin' to his mommy and have your ass thrown in jail!"
"Hugging a little kid and calling him cute is not a crime!" Heisuke shot back, "Just because it looks more natural when girls do it, doesn't mean that guys who do it are some sort of freak."
Shinpachi turned sliding off the side of the bed. "That may be, but when an older man molests and sleeps with a little kid it is a crime, a serious one." Shinpachi growled. He refused to look the other man in the eyes.
Heisuke for the life of him couldn't come up with anything to say. He had never molested a little boy, much less slept with one. What evidence did Shinpachi have that could possibly give him the right to accuse him of that?
Look at me. Heisuke thought desperately in his mind. Look at me when you say that. Tell me to my face that you really believe I would do something like that! You couldn't possibly believe that if you'd just look at me. You have no reason to!
Shinpachi must have taken Heisuke's silence as a confession because he began to walk towards the door. He was ready to leave Heisuke alone to wallow in his supposed guilt. Heisuke's mind was blank though, he couldn't think anymore. He wouldn't be able to stop Shinpachi from walking away with the wrong impression. He wasn't even sure that he wanted to stop him. To keep him here now, well, that would just do more harm than good.
Shinpachi had just made it to the doorway when he suddenly stopped. He took a few steps back and to the side. For a flickering moment Heisuke thought that maybe he would turn around and apologize.
Heisuke had hoped, but knew in the back of his mind he knew Shinpachi wouldn't apologize, not now. That was when Sanosuke came charging into the room. Half a bagel dangling from his mouth and a bag of crushed Sun Chips under one arm, it was obvious that he had been scrounging around in the kitchen just moments before.
"Eh-tsu amm Sszu hiih aked Hiihiiimaatas mar!" Sanosuke tried blurting his message through a mouthful of dry bagel bred. The only thing he got from his troubles though was a couple of weird stairs from his companions.
"Umm…An emu sneezed in a bar?" Shinpachi tried to guess only to reieve a slightly annoyed glare from Sanosuke at his horrible attempt to decipher his new found food language.
Heisuke rolled his eyes. "Now why would Sano waist his time telling us that?" Shinpachi just shrugged his shoulders coldly never looking back at the taller man.
During their little spat Sanosuke had taken the time to chomp his bagel in to three parts and swallow the only part that was in his mouth. Sighing he glared at both of them.
"Tetsu and Suzu hijacked Hijikata's car!" Sanosuke tried a second time to inform them.
Heisuke looked mildly surprised, "Oh, so that's why Hijikata was stomping around like an elephant all morning."
Shinpachi began to grin and laughed, "Man those two brats are in so much trouble!"
Sanosuke began to laugh along with the shorter man, "Yeah I can't wait to see what Hijikata does to them once he catches those two lil' punks!"
"At least they have the guts to go out and do something wild to prove their love for one another." Heisuke's solemn voice broke the air as he moved past his comrades and skulked back to his room.
A heavy silence hung in the air for a while as both Shinpachi and Sanosuke tried to grasp at what Heisuke was getting at. The light in Shinpachi's once mirthful eyes grew dim the more he thought on Heisuke's words. What was he trying to say? That if you have the guts to go out and do something spontaneous, unexpected, and stupid just to catch someone's eye than you were worthy of praise? No one with half a brain would waist their time doing something as idiotic as that. If you liked someone you just told them and proved it to them by being loyal, that was it. Something that Shinpachi felt that Toudou should take the time to try, that was, if he ever really got serious about some one.
Sanosuke just stood there scratching his head, "Man. I'd hate to see what their kids look like…"
Shinpachi's entire face practically fell off at Sanosuke's ill thought out comment. "Sano, you are such and idiot."
The big man shrugged off the insult. Bending over he picked up a piece of the broken bagel and popped it into his mouth.
A black blur mixed with silver and orange zooming past followed by a cloud of dry road dust was all any pedestrian would be able to make out of the cruising duo. All they would hear was the high pitch swoosh of the car's engine mixed with the rock music that blared of the radio, the Doppler Effect would aloud them to hear the high squeal of the tires and the low moan of the base guitar. The drivers themselves were barely able to see the smear of a gravel road in front of them as they raced down the empty streets of the suburbs that eventually led to the big city. With the top down the wind whipped the two teenaged boy's hair behind them in a furry of snaps
Laughter erupted from Tetsu's lips as they flew down the barren streets, "Man, we are so going to get killed for this!" He had to squint just so keep the bugs and dust from stinging his eyes.
Suzu held in place a wild grin. He wore too big sunglasses that he had fleeced from the passenger's compartment to keep the dust and bugs from obscuring his view. These sun glasses only helped to make him look wilder. "What did I tell ya?" He laughed, "Dun think about that now, just relax!"
Tetsu smiled and nodded, he knew that they we're going to be grounded for life by the time they got back. Tatsu would never let him hear the end of it. Not only had he stolen the car and driven off without permission, neither of them had a license, or even a permit. If a cop pulled them over, which would undoubtedly happen because of how fast Suzu was speeding, they would be paying off fine's 'till they we're old and gray. That was no reason why they couldn't at least have fun while they we're doing it though.
Hoisting himself up using the window shield for support Tetsu stood on the seat of his chair. The wind rushed around him in a furry. He had never felt so free so alive! Letting go of the window Tetsu let out a howl of glee.
This probably wasn't the brightest idea Tetsu had ever had. It only took a few minutes for the wind to pick up and blow him backwards off balance. Tetsu's feet slipped as he tried to grapple for structure. He wasn't able to hold himself up though. His feet flew out from under him. As the wind howled around him he tumbled back screaming.
"Suzu stop!" Tetsu hollered at the silver haired teen.
Suzu glanced back at Tetsu, "Holly shit! Hang on Tetsu!"
As gravity yanked him down at full speed Tetsu bitterly just what he was supposed to hang on to?
The wind rushed out of Tetsu's lungs as he made impact. The wind died down and he could see Suzu pressing down on the break slowly.
Suzu turned around and stared concerned at the redhead who had fallen into the back seat. "You ok?" Suzu nearly laughed.
Tetsu moaned, "Screw you, I nearly get thrown out of the car and you're laughing at me?"
Suzu gave him an apologetic smile, "Well, if you had paid attention in 8th grade science, maybe you'd know that you couldn't possibly go flying out of the car,"
"Well, as long as I kept the same speed anyways. "Suzu shrugged as he glanced back at the road. He was still driving and had nearly driven into a ditch while talking to Tetsu.
"Besides I'd rather you fall out the back than the front," Suzu stated as he straightened the car onto the road, "At least then I wouldn't be able to run you over."
Tetsu frowned, "Wonderful, not only am I in love with a science geek; I'm also in love with a complete freak." Suzu just seemed to take Tetsu's cold words as a compliment.
"So long as you know what you're getting into!" He chimed cheerily.
The carrot top snorted as he righted himself and leaned in-between the driver's and passenger's seat. "Pull over will ya? I need to get back into my seat."
A dirty grin shined on Suzu's face, "What do you need to come up here for?" Suzu purred taking his foot off the accelerator and pressing down steadily on the break, "I could just come back there." He offered slyly.
Tetsu's face burned in embarrassment. "Not in Hijikata's car Suzu! That's just…wrong!"
"So was taking his car in the first place." Suzu countered, "I'm sure he won't mind us defiling it a bit. Heck, I bet he'd be proud that we used it in such a glorifying manner!" Suzu just grinned. In his mind for them to even be in the car should have been a huge honor to anyone. This car was going to play a major role in his plot, and he couldn't possibly do it without Tetsu. So making love in the car would only make it shine with the utmost importance to him.
Tetsu rolled his eyes at Suzu's boasting, "What twisted world do you live in?"
Suzu was finally able t o find a space to park the car in. Once he did he took the key out of the ignition and placed it in his pant pocket. Turning around he couldn't help but grin at the ruffled look that Tetsu had. Tetsu's blush had died down but his hair was a complete mess from the wind's previous attack. The fall hadn't been kind to his clothed either; pulling and twisting them into a strange river of folds and wrinkles.
"Same one as you Puppy." Suzu snidely remarked lifting Hijikata's shades from his eyes and letting them rest on top of his head. Suzu began to lean towards the disheveled Tetsu when a deep moan erupted from out of nowhere.
"Good lord Tetsu," Suzu swore as he pulled back eyeing Tetsu oddly, "I haven't even done anything yet!"
The red head glared pointedly at his companion. "It wasn't me you jerk!"
Suzu let his gaze wonder past Tetsu's wild mane of hair. Barely a half a block back an old man lay crumbled into a fetal position. A group of teen aged boys a few years older than himself had gathered around the geezer and begun to kick the dirty man. Beating him with sticks and rods they laughed at the disgusting sight before them. Memories flashed before Suzu's eyes. Images filled with pain, rage, and the unjust filtered in and out of his heated vision. It was the same. The people we're all the same. Every thing was happening just like before. A whimper of sympathy for the old man from Tetsu jolted Suzu from his train of thought. With that jolt he came crashing down, back to reality. The memories shattered like so many shards of broken glass. The silver haired boy stared distantly at the red head. Neigh it's not like before as he had previously thought. This time it was going to be different. He had his love by his side this time. He felt that so long as Tetsu was there no harm could possibly pierce his shield. His plan would be executed. His lust for revenge would be met. Then, yes then, he could live in peace and obscurity with naught but his single love in life.
Tetsu timidly reached for the car door handle. Would Suzu yell at him for going to help the poor man? Every morally intact sense inside him screamed at him to go and help. Tetsu worried though, he knew that if Tatsu was here he would tell him not to do anything about it, not to get mixed up in it. Would Suzu say the same? Though Tetsu knew that the two couldn't be more opposite, they both cared for him. In his life time he had worried Tatsu more times than he could count, by doing that he had put the older man on constant guard. He didn't want to ever give Suzu a cause to worry, but this nearly primal call to deliver justice, to go and save that ratty old man rattled his every nerve. Surely if he didn't go and help it would haunt him for days on end. The click and slam of the car door opening and closing gave Tetsu reason to peer up over the polished black convertible door. Suzu was grinning down on him, smiling in an encouraging sort of way.
"Ignoring it," Suzu turned his gaze from his lover to the hoodlums "Is just as bad as doing it."
Suzu glanced back at Tetsu cocking one slim brow, "Right?"
Tetsu smile spread across his face like a giant weed, "Yeah!" Clambering up Tetsu jumped over car door, only to have his foot catch on its top causing him to trip and go face first into the dirt.
"Man, you're a klutz." Suzu sighed scratching the back of his head while Tetsu got back on to his feet.
Dusting off clumps of dirt Tetsu glared at his tan skinned friend. A wicked smile replaced the glowering scowl on his face as Tetsu raced off ahead of Suzu to the aid of the crippled old man. Tetsu ran held long at the nearest boy of the group that was tormenting the old men. Slamming his head straight into the spine of his victim he knocked the boy clear off his feet and into several of the other teens in the small clique.
"Leave that old man alone!" Tetsu shouted straightening himself from his previous attack.
The boy who Tetsu had knocked over, slim with a sickeningly pale complexion and greasy shoulder length black hair, turned his raging eyes on the little read head. Towering by at least a foot over the petite puppy he glared down menacingly. Whacking his left palm with the heavy pole that he held in his right the taller boy made a thwacking noise trying to frighten off the shorter teen. Tetsu refused to back down though. He wasn't one to be scared off by some ruffian who had a few friends. He'd been in his share of scraps. He knew the only thing that scared a bully more than another bully was a victim who had the gull to stand up to him.
"Are you going to make us half pint?" The pale teen sneered.
Tetsu could hear the shuffling of feet behind him, though he hadn't seen any of the greasy haired kid's groupies move. He vaguely wondered if he had been misguided in their numbers. A rough hand clasped over his spiky hair and Tetsu immediately went stiff. Squeezing his eyes shut tight he hoped against the odds that he hadn't.
"Back off both of them Vic." A familiar voice rang sweetly behind Tetsu. Prying open his own eyes Tetsu glanced up and noticed how dark the hand on his head was. None of Vic's pals had that dark of skin.
"Do I know you?" Vic queried uncertainly. He didn't seem to recall ever knowing a kid with that dark of skin, or that white of hair. Tetsu was certain that it would be extremely hard to forget someone as unique looking as Suzu.
Suzu just seemed to shrug the question, "Not well. Now, please leave this old man and little boy alone."
Looking to their leader for an answer all of the male teens turned their attention to Vic. If he ran, they would think him a coward. There really wasn't much of a choice for him.
Suzu grunted bringing all the attention back on himself, "I don't really want to waist all my valuable ammunition on such simpletons." The silver haired teen stated simply. As if to prove his point he placed his free hand in his pant pocket and slowly began to pull something out. In seconds the entire gang had split, not even waiting to see if their leader Vic would stand and fight anyways. Lucky for him, he would have lost all respect if they had noticed that he was the first to bolt.
Tetsu stared up at Suzu, shocked.
Suzu glanced down at his orange haired lover, "What?" The threat gone his face beheld a wicked grin, "You look like you're about to wet yourself!"
"Where…"Tetsu gulped, "where did you get the gun?"
Suzu pulled an empty hand out of his pocket and smiled teasingly, "What gun?"
Tetsu sighed in relief realizing that his worry was for nothing. Suzu had scared the living daylights out of him! Tetsu swore that he'd get Suzu back sooner or later for that little stunt.
"Thank you," The old man croaked. Ragged and beaten the geezer couldn't even stand. He just laid there huddled with blood, mucus, and tears smeared all over his wrinkled face. He truly looked pitiful.
Suzu nodded in acceptance, "We'd be sinners if we didn't help grandpa." Suzu's eyes rested sympathetically on the crippled old man.
"Do you want us to take you to town?" Tetsu offered, momentarily forgetting his still thumping heart. Payback would wait.
The wrinkled man shook his head. Tetsu could tell the man had no home. Not in the city, not in the suburbs. The trees his only shelter the gravel his only bed.
Suzu lightly tapped Tetsu on the shoulder, signaling for him to get up. The silver haired teen seemed distracted. What ever he had dragged Tetsu out here for, it wasn't for this.
After saying their goodbyes and wishing the old man well the two headed back to Hijikata's car.
"It was all for the best really," Suzu stated when he saw Tetsu gaze sadly back at the old man, "We couldn't have taken him back anyways."
Tetsu would have questioned why, but the look on Suzu's face said other wise. Whatever his reasons Tetsu was sure to find out soon.
Getting into the car Suzu took the wheel and drove back onto the open road. They didn't have long to go before they reached the city sign. The entire way there neither of them said a word. Tetsu didn't know why they were silent, they just were. Suzu seemed lost in thought, in memory really. As they pulled up to the city sign Tetsu wondered. Why couldn't they bring the old man to the city with them? Why did Suzu bring him here? What was so important? A felling knotted in the pit of Tetsu's stomach. He could feel it. Something big was about to happen. He just wished he knew what.
Mahono: Ok, I know I promised that the climax would be in this chapter, but it was just too long! > This is more like half ofthe chapter really. Sorry. I got stuck on the trasition (still don't like it btw) so I couldn't write for a while. Sorry! This was mainly just put up so you guys know that I didn't forget about you!
I got some questions that I will now take the time to answer.
1. Is Yamanami and Akesato really Saya's parents in the PMK series?
No. This was purely fictional. I made it up to help with the story. oO; I don't own PMK I just write about it.
2. Is Suzu going to find out that Hijikata killed his brother?
Um...I didn't even know it was Hijikata that did that oO; I havn't gotten to finish the SIPM series. Thanks for the spoiler though...I think...But no, it's not Hijikata that killed Suzu's brother in this story. Sorry.
Those are the only questions I remember recieving. Have more? Just put them in the reviews! By the way...
PLEASE REVIEW! At least for the sake of insperation!