Ryu was a prisoner, a man sentenced by Enma-Daiou over two millennia ago, and he was still serving that sentence. He had been broken many times and the scars showed. For his age, he was incredible vulnerable and teetering at the edge more often than not. The Palace had been his home, a place he was a master of, where he felt secure. Here, in GensouKai, he was a stranger. A demon. People shunned him, evaded him, because of his aura.
Byakko frowned a little. The aura was curled tightly around the man again. He was trying to suppress his natural energy field and that had to be exhausting. Even while unconscious or asleep, he was automatically collecting those painfully broken shards back into a tight bundle, to hide.
Just because everyone was staring at him?
No, he decided. Because he wanted to disappear. Blend in.
The wind shikigami sighed softly, worry rising. This was bad for one's health. That and the fact that the only person Ryu trusted here, Rikugo, had been called away right after their arrival.
Byakko shook his head in dismay.
"What are you doing to yourself?" he murmured. "Why can't you let go even when your body needs the rest?"
Touda had dropped a few more remarks, still not quite happy about Ryu's presence, but at least he had calmed down more than before. They would have to talk about this animosity. Only because Tsuzuki had decided to take Ryu's place, Touda couldn't just fling all his negative emotions that came from the open bond at the most vulnerable of them.
Rikugo was at Ryu's side, now and then stroking over the lax hand, an arm or the head. He looked shocked. He had already been on his way to his place when Touda had gotten him. Apparently Genbu had ended the meeting, declaring that Rikugo was needed somewhere else, and Sohryu hadn't put up much of a fight. Byakko felt a little surge in healing energy and Ryu moved, murmuring.
"Let go," Rikugo whispered, almost pleading.
Another surge and suddenly the aura flared again, though it was hardly more than a breath. Rikugo immediately caught hold of the frazzled strands, held them, kept them from instinctively coiling around the injured demon.
"Trust me," he begged. "You're safe. Don't hide."
An arm wrapped around his waist and a pair of soft lips descended on Byakko's neck. He leaned back against the solid form behind him and Touda kissed him once more.
"Sorry," the fire shikigami murmured.
Byakko smiled a little. He knew his lover was rather blunt sometimes. And he was the recipient of Tsuzuki's emotions. It was part of the reason why he had been so cruel. Still, they would have to talk.
"He's sleeping?" Touda asked quietly.
"Yes. But he needs to heal."
"You're okay with him?"
The question was asked on so many levels, but he just nodded. Yes, he was okay with him. In Rikugo's life, in Byakko's palace, with Tsuzuki's role in his presence here.
They watched, Touda over Byakko's shoulder as the white tiger leaned against him, arms wrapped around his lover's waist from behind, as Rikugo murmured to the distraught demon, using his abilities as best as possible to untangle the aura, and finally, finally, Ryu relaxed. Byakko felt the demon's energy field pulse softly, expanding around him as it should, and he smiled a little.
Rikugo looked up, appearing haunted, and when Byakko silently gestured for him to come with them, he reluctantly nodded.
°
"It's my fault," Rikugo murmured, sitting on the couch, looking strangely small and lost.
Byakko handed him a mug of tea. It was served in a roughly cut mug, not the ceremonial small tea cups his servants used when there was an official meeting.
"Thanks," the astrologer murmured, wrapping his fingers around it. "I shouldn't have left."
"Sohryu asked for you," Byakko told him gently. "He's still your boss, right?"
A grim smile. "Sadly, yes."
The tiger didn't comment on it. He knew that a lot had changed lately and that Rikugo had started to look at Sohryu with different eyes. And Sohryu had eased up a lot.
"But Ryu's out of his own realm, his Palace, for the first time in two
millennia, and I leave him to his own devices. I knew he wasn't all that
balanced. He needed me and
I..."
He closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"Hey, it's okay. He's a nice guy."
Rikugo gave him a surprised look.
"He has to be. I mean we didn't really talk and all, but you love him, and I can see how much he means to you."
Touda shot him a glance and Byakko grinned at him.
"Thank you;" was Rikugo's soft answer.
"You can let him sleep it off here. Me and Touda will be somewhere else." Hard, red eyes brought the message across to the shikigami in question and Touda just grimaced.
"Byakko, I..."
"It's okay," the tiger repeated. "He needs time to adjust. And he needs you right now."
With those words Byakko rose, looking at the rather startled astrologer with a warm smile. He then grabbed his lover by one arm and pulled him away.
Rikugo just stared after the two and finally sighed deeply. With his mug he returned to the guest room, settling down beside his curled up lover.
"Oh Ryu..." he murmured. "I'm so sorry. I didn't think. I'll make this up to you. I promise."
° ° °
His memories of the last hour before his breakdown were rather sketchy. He remembered the tea with Genbu, he remembered running into Touda, and that was about it. Oh, and emotions. A lot of negative ones.
Ryu sat outside in the Zen garden of Rikugo's palace, feeling like a total idiot. Weak and pathetic, and disgustingly so. Still a slave of Enma, still a prisoner, still.. different. He gathered his aura around him as he noticed some of the servants glancing his way, and the sick feeling that had been less after waking up, strengthened again.
"Don't," a gentle tenor murmured and he rather felt than saw Rikugo with him. The astrologer's aura increased, stroking over his own coiled one. "You're hurting yourself again."
Ryu shook his head. "I'm sorry, Rikugo. It wasn't a good idea to be here. We might want to spend the last day in Meifu..."
"That would be counterproductive."
"But..."
"Let them know who you are," Rikugo told him, voice even. "You are who you are. Don't be ashamed of what is you."
"This isn't me!" he insisted.
"You are a demon, Ryu. You are my lover. You are who I want to be with, who shares my bed, my palace, my life."
He had to tear his gaze away from the onyx eyes that spoke so strongly of Rikugo's emotions.
"The servants know. All shikigami here know," the astrologer went on.
"I'm hurting you," he whispered. "I see that now. Touda was right. You and Tsuzuki..."
"You're hurting neither one of us. It was Tsuzuki's free choice and it was mine, too. Touda had no right..."
"He has every right," Ryu interrupted him. "He feels Tsuzuki's pain. He feels it all!"
"Because he won't keep up his shields!" Rikugo shot back. "The stupid serpent would be in a much better mood if he just trusted our master!" He sighed a little and looked into the demonic eyes. "I fell in love and I stand by my decision. I love you. I want you. I want to be with you."
Rikugo let their lips touch, a kiss that was barely a real contact at all.
Ryu inhaled shakily. "I can't do this, Rikugo."
"You can. You are strong."
"No." He shook his head.
"I know you are. You just need time to adjust. I shouldn't have left you, Ryu. I brought you here and I didn't consider what I knew... that it was your first time outside Meifu. I'm sorry."
Ryu shook his head again. "It wasn't your fault. You were called away. I understand it."
"I don't," Rikugo answered and caught his mouth again. "I didn't take you into consideration. It wasn't very hospitable of me. Nor was it necessary."
Ryu started to answer the kiss with a little more strength and when Rikugo's hands glided over his body, he moved closer.
"I'm not leaving again," the dragon murmured. "There's so much I want to show you."
Ryu smiled a little. He still felt shaky, he still felt like an outcast, completely lost in this world, and he didn't dare to let his aura flare, but at least a tiny part of him began to experience a kind of safety with Rikugo.
I love you, he thought, the emotions almost overwhelming. I'll try, Rikugo, I'll try...
° ° °
Tsuzuki had started to browse through the thousands of books in the vast library of the Palace of Candles. Watson was keeping him supplied with sweets and tea, and he was in heaven. Well, not really, but it was bearable.
Hisoka had appeared a few hours ago and was by now glued to his lover's side, going with him wherever he went, be it to the Candles or just to walk around the palace. Right now he was reading, surreptiously keeping an eye on Tsuzuki as he paged through an old book.
It was throughout those almost pleasant hours that Touda's presence spiked. Tsuzuki froze, turning his attention inwards, searching for the reason. Their barriers were completely down and the spike had been one of anger and ill-disguised disgust. The second he met the black presence halfway through the bond, the book he was holding fell from Tsuzuki's hands.
"Asato? Hisoka asked, immediately worried.
There was no reply, mainly because Tsuzuki had shut out the real world and was looking at what damage had been inflicted in GensouKai.
:Touda: Tsuzuki exclaimed.
Touda growled. :Don't start...:
:Why were you so cruel to Ryu: his master demanded, voice harder than usual.
:Because he's the one who puts you through so much misery: was the angry reply.
Tsuzuki's presence fluctuated with emotions. :He has nothing to do with this, Touda: Tsuzuki snapped, anger rising. :I made the deal, knowing fully well what to expect. Ryu never had a choice. I knew the risks:
The serpent growled again, but Tsuzuki wouldn't let up.
:And if you raised your shields, this wouldn't affect you so much that you take other people's heads off:
:Are you ordering me to raise the shields: he demanded.
Tsuzuki sighed deeply. He never had liked ordering his shikigami. In the past, there had been only one or two situations that had needed him to actually use his right as their master to have them obey his commands.
:No, it's not an order: he replied softly, touching Touda's presence gently. :I'm only asking you to as a friend. I know you want to be here, protect me, but you can't. And keeping the barrier down completely will only hurt you in the end:
:Tsuzuki...:
:I know: was the tender reply and Touda found himself hugged fiercely. :I love you, too: he murmured. :Please raise at least the rudimentary shields. I'm fine. I can handle the last day. Hisoka's here, and you're not far:
Touda held his young shinigami master, then sighed deeply. :All right: he gave in and let the basic shields rise.
Tsuzuki's answer was a warm wave that had Touda close his eyes and relax, sighing softly.
:Be nice to Ryu, okay:
He muttered something and Tsuzuki grinned a little, then pulled back. Touda resisted the urge to follow. Tsuzuki was strong, stronger than each and every one of them. He could do this.
The moment he pulled back from the bond and the first basic shields rose, Tsuzuki became aware of his lover's presence. He felt the grip Hisoka had on his arm, looked into wide, green eyes that reflected what the empath had heard' and felt, and he drew the younger shinigami into his arms.
"Hisoka, he murmured. "Sorry.
"Idiot, was the only reply.
Tsuzuki smiled tiredly. "Sorry, he repeated.
"Not you. Touda.
Dark eyebrows rose and Hisoka just scowled. Tsuzuki leaned down and brushed a kiss over his partner's lips, feeling very thankful for Hisoka's continued presence here. It did a lot for his peace of mind, and it was nice to know there was a friendly face, someone he could come to should the nightmares overwhelm him once again. He hadn't seen much of the shadows, but they were there, and the power of the Candles was unbroken.
Hisoka's hands in his shirt tightened and Tsuzuki closed his eyes, resting his chin on the light brown hair.
"Thank you, he murmured. "For being here.
"Where else would I be, silly?
Tsuzuki smiled faintly, just holding on, enjoying the closeness, and Hisoka let him. Tomorrow Ryu would be back and knowing him, he would be hours too early, cutting his own free time short because he felt so guilty. In time they would get the other man to truly enjoy himself, to use up his forty-eight hours. For now, having Ryu come in early was expected.
"Come, Hisoka suddenly said and detached himself from Tsuzuki, pulling him along.
"Where to?
"Outside. I want to watch the stars.
Tsuzuki shot him a startled look, but he followed the younger shinigami. Hisoka was rarely one for romantic overtures and watching the stars fell into that category.
The moment they were in the garden, settling near a fountain, Hisoka snuggled in close.
"Relax, he coaxed, and Tsuzuki wrapped his arms around his lover.
It was a nice night, it was inviting and warm and gentle and so very... calming. The water gurgled in the background, above the starts shone brilliantly against the night sky, and on the soft grass, Tsuzuki and Hisoka enjoyed each other's presence, silent, wordless.
tbc...