Title: Through Rose-Tinted Lenses
Theme: Set #1, Theme #28: Rumor
Genre: Drama/General
Pairings: Bankotsu/Jakotsu
Word Count: 855
Rating: PG-13
Summary: You can't always believe what you hear or what you assume.

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Appearances could be deceiving and fools often fell for them. Assumptions would be made, and rumors spread out until the truth of the matter was distorted beyond recognition. That was just the way life was, Bankotsu knew that- but now he found himself seeing it from a completely different angle.

It had always been an interesting experience to travel with Jakotsu. People would always wonder just who or what the tall, pink-clad warrior was. Some thought him to be a beautiful maiden who'd taken a fancy to swordsmanship. Women would often lament over how sad it was to see a man who was prettier than they were. And then, there were those who would murmur their distaste for his lifestyle; automatically assuming by his appearances that Jakotsu was the type to sleep with men only.

True, that rumor was more fact than fiction- but Bankotsu found it odd that all these words could be surmised from merely a person's looks. Soon enough though, he found out just how silly rumors derived in such a manner could be.

"Look at that handsome young man. That must be his sister with him."

"I wonder what that boy's doing with that man. Surely he's not his romantic partner. He looks too much like any other normal boy to be into that kind of behavior."

"I sure hope that he's not being taken advantage of with a false promise of apprenticeship if he pays that older man with sexual favors."

Bankotsu knew that such rumors had probably circulated about him before, but it wasn't until he fully understood his own heart's intentions that he seemed to hear them.

Judging by one glance- everyone assumed that Jakotsu slept with men and Bankotsu didn't. Assumptions ran rampant about how they must be related or how Bankotsu must be naïve to the older man's true intent for them to be so closely interacting. Never once did people stop to ask what the truth behind the lies was. No one cared what was really going on.

Finding it all rather frustrating, Bankotsu had asked Jakotsu what he thought it all meant.

"It's not like I want everyone to know- but how is it that they all seem to write me off while they go and label you after one glance?"

Jakotsu shrugged, leaning over onto Bankotsu's shoulder as he absently toyed with the end of his braid.

"Because they don't want to see anything unordinary about you. To some, you look like their brother or their son- young men who they wouldn't want to turn out like me. To others, those irritating servant girls who take a liking to you, you're a potential husband. And then there's those who probably have slept with their young male servants and feel ashamed by it. They want you to be their youthful, manly role model. A tough, handsome swordsman who doesn't give into the desires of another man's body."

"But you're a tough, attractive swordsman too. What's the difference?"

Jakotsu laughed, resisting the urge to comment that Bankotsu had outwardly said he was attractive. He knew that this was too serious a matter to be changing the subject on.

"People will always see what they want to, Bankotsu. I'll always be the flamboyant one, who wears a feminine yukata, lipstick and is secretly trying to get you in bed with me. You'll be the naïve, strong youth who has no idea that I'm lusting after you and who will one day escape my evil clutches to marry a beautiful girl who wins over your heart. That's their story, we can't change it."

"Well, what about our real story though?"

"You're taken property, have it bad for me and I for you. When the mood is right, we make passionate love to one another and if one of those serving girls lays a finger on you- she's dead meat. You mean that one?"

Bankotsu blushed, turning to glare at his companion.

"Must you be so blunt?"

"It's true though, right?" Jakotsu asked, edging closer.

"…Yah. But can't you at least leave some of the serving girls around to actually serve the drinks?"

Catching the laughter in his voice, Jakotsu smiled at him.

"I'll think about it. Now, if I'm correct- it is nighttime. So, going by all these rumors I should start seducing you now, you poor innocent little boy."

At that, Bankotsu could no longer keep from laughing. And the two began to laugh at the utter absurdity of the situation.

"I guess they're right about one thing. I don't like other guys."

Jakotsu narrowed his eyes, trying to figure out if his friend was joking or not.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I don't like other guys like that. Just you."

He said it so casually, that it took a moment for Jakotsu to fully register the impact of those words. But when he did, he didn't hesitate a single second in hugging his partner.

"Glad to know I made you un-normal," He quipped, pressing a quick kiss to Bankotsu's forehead.

Tentatively leaning up, Bankotsu lightly kissed Jakotsu on the lips.

"I'm glad you did."

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