Hozuki knew he shouldn't have gone to Togenkyo. He'd been avoiding all errands there for weeks, and it had worked for him…somewhat. He still found himself distracted at work, and there was something unsatisfactory about leaving things the way they were, avoiding things. That was the reason he had decided to run the errand himself and go to Togenkyo for the first time in ages. He thought if he could have one normal conversation with Hakutaku after the events of that night, then maybe, just maybe, it meant things could go back to the way they were. A silent agreement of sorts, something he knew Hakutaku wanted as well.

When he saw Hakutaku, he didn't know why he was surprised. Of course, the lecherous beast would have no problem going back to playing around with girls, their night together long-forgotten.

Was Hozuki…disappointed?

Only because it appears I was the only one affected by it.

Other than that, things seemed to be going exactly as planned — that is until Hakutaku had blurted it out: "You hardly have room to talk after the state you left me in that night." Hakutaku seemed to regret those words the moment they left his mouth; the very air around them seemed to freeze. The man was visibly uncomfortable with the unintentional reminder he himself had let slip, quickly averting his eyes, whole body stiff.

Should Hozuki say something? What was there to say to that? He certainly didn't want to apologize to Hakutaku, he hated the man and there was no way he'd give him the satisfaction, even in this situation. It wasn't as if he was entirely responsible anyway, Hakutaku had invited Hozuki into his home and bed himself. They'd both wanted it that night.

It felt almost strange seeing Hakutaku like this again, back to the shameless womanizer he typically was. He was so obedient in bed in comparison, begging so nicely for Hozuki's cock and moaning like an animal. Hozuki could hardly believe they were the same person.

After a moment of silence, Hozuki simply walked past Hakutaku to pick up the medicine he had come for. There was no need for that conversation to go on any longer.

—

At the end of the day, King Enma and several coworkers wanted to go drinking again to celebrate the engagement of one of the demon officials.

"I promise I won't let you drink so much this time, Hozuki!" he said, "We'd really like you to come along!"

It wasn't like Hozuki had any other plans for the night. The bar they were going to was Hakutaku's favourite drinking spot, but he doubted the man would visit Jigoku right after his encounter with Hozuki that morning.

Or so he thought.

When they arrived, there Hakutaku was, one hand clutching a bottle of sake and the other arm slung over a demon girl's shoulders.

"Haha, yes, I have a pharmacy in Togenkyo! I practice Chinese medicine. You should stop by. I could take you there tonight, you know."

Shameless, Hozuki thought. Enma noticed Hakutaku's presence as well and looked at Hozuki apologetically.

"Don't pay any mind to him, Hozuki, just enjoy your night."

"How am I supposed to enjoy my night with a loud idiot three tables over?"

A server set down a bottle of sake and a few cups, and Enma poured some for himself and Hozuki, who tried his best to ignore Hakutaku, to some success.

Not ten minutes later, however, a slap rang throughout the room, as the demon girl Hakutaku was with stormed off with a huff. He sat there for a moment, dumbfounded, but the slap seemed to have brought some clarity to his drunken mind, as he finally noticed Hozuki sitting at the end of the room, and began walking toward him, an angry expression on his face.

"...Hozuki?" Enma asked, leaning to whisper in Hozuki's ear, "I know he doesn't like you, but don't you think he looks a little too angry?"

"Hozuki!" Hakutaku shouted when he'd reached the demon, "I need to talk to you!"

"I have no intention of following you out that door, Hakubuta, so say whatever you need to say here." While Hozuki was patient, he was not patient enough to listen to a drunk Hakutaku yelling nonsense at him. If Hakutaku caused enough of a disturbance they'd have to kick him out.

Hakutaku narrowed his eyes. "Fine," he replied, "If that's what you want." He took a deep breath before yelling loudly, "HOZUKI AND I HAD S—"

Hozuki clamped a hand over Hakutaku's mouth and dragged him outside the bar.

When they'd come to a sufficiently secluded spot, he glared at Hakutaku.

"Why would you announce that? It wouldn't just hurt me you know, it would affect your chances with those girls. I don't particularly care about your sex life, but surely you must've realized that."

Hakutaku stared at Hozuki blankly.

He hadn't realized that.

"Ugh. What did you want to talk to me about?" Hozuki asked, irritated. "Make it quick, I don't want to have to spend any more time outside with you than necessary."

"What the hell do you think!" Hakutaku shouted. "We had sex!"

A couple walking by stared and whispered to each other, quickly looking away after a quick glare from Hozuki.

"Keep it down," the demon said, roughly pulling Hakutaku by the collar further into the shadows. "And what about it? It doesn't look like it affected you in any way, you're still bringing girls over and seemed to be having quite a bit of fun in that bar until you shoved your foot in your mouth."

"Not affected?" Hakutaku was even angrier now. "I couldn't bring myself to pick up girls for weeks! I ended up paying for Dakki because I thought she'd bring me back to normal!"

Dakki? The expensive hostess? Hakutaku had almost gotten himself in debt the last time he bought her if Hozuki's memory served him correctly.

"I didn't want to see you. At all," Hakutaku continued. "I didn't want to look at your face. But it irritated me that you avoided me."

He shoved Hozuki against the wall with a pained expression on his face, one Hozuki had never seen before.

"I didn't know why. I don't know why. I don't know what I want from you. I don't even know why I called you out here." Hakutaku's teeth were clenched as he gripped the front of Hozuki's kimono. "It's all your fucking fault! Why'd you have to do that that night? Why'd you have to kiss me? Wh—"

Hakutaku's sentence was stopped short as Hozuki pulled him into a kiss.

—

Hakutaku didn't know what he expected from Hozuki when he called him out, but it certainly wasn't this. One of Hozuki's hands was around his waist, and the other was grasping his head, pulling him into a kiss. Hakutaku's mouth opened in an O in surprise, allowing Hozuki's tongue access to his; exploring Hakutaku, tasting him. After a moment Hozuki let go, leaving the other man bewildered and panting.

Hakutaku didn't know what to think. His brain was drowning in alcohol and his body was on fire. Hozuki himself looked a little flushed, from what Hakutaku could make out in the dim light of the streetlights and flashing signs around their secluded corner.

"I didn't know what I wanted at first either," Hozuki said, breaking the silence, "But soon it became obvious. This is why I was avoiding you."

Hakutaku was stunned. That's what Hozuki wanted?

"Don't misunderstand. I still despise you and I have no intention of being gentle with you. For whatever reason, my body wants yours and it's as simple as that."

Hozuki's face was always unreadable, but at that moment he looked especially serious.

If Hozuki wanted that…then what did Hakutaku want? He thought back to the previous weeks when he'd found himself having difficulty picking up girls. When he did manage to do so, his efforts were half-hearted, and when he slept with them it was never enough. All the while, his mind would bring him back to Hozuki.

Ah. It made sense now.

Hakutaku stared Hozuki in the eyes, inching closer. Then he brought the demon into another kiss.

—

Hozuki was surprised when Hakutaku had kissed him but quickly reciprocated. He tasted strongly of sake, enough that Hozuki wouldn't be surprised if he got drunk on kissing alone. Hakutaku's hands felt up his body, exploring under his clothes, touching, feeling.

After a few minutes, they were both growing hard, and Hakutaku began panting and grinding himself against Hozuki. He abandoned the demon's lips in favour of pulling his pants down and reaching into Hozuki's kimono.

"What are you doing?"

Hakutaku didn't answer.

Hozuki looked to the street; they were in a quiet spot where people rarely walked by, but this was still risky. He debated pushing Hakutaku away, but seeing the desperation in his eyes and actions, he found it difficult to. Getting to see Hakutaku like this was what made the sex ten times better; Hozuki found it both pathetic and enticing at once.

"Fine. Just keep quiet," Hozuki said, wrapping his fingers around Hakutaku's cock. Hakutaku gasped in return, then began stroking Hozuki as well, biting back moans.

Hozuki watched the street from the corner of his eye; people walked past occasionally but didn't spot him or his companion hiding in the shadows. Music and laughter could be heard in the distance, and Hakutaku was impressively quiet in comparison.

Hakutaku's stroking became slower and eventually idled as he began losing himself to the pleasure. Desperately grinding into Hozuki's hand and bucking his hips, he came, mouth about to open in a gasping moan—

Hozuki pulled him roughly to his lips and kissed him, stifling it. They kissed for a while until Hakutaku leaned his head down on Hozuki's shoulder.

"Hakutaku." Hozuki was irritated. That idiot had gotten himself off first and forgotten about Hozuki. Hozuki was only doing this to sate his own desire in the first place, not to act as some beast's sex toy.

"Hakutaku." He wouldn't lift up his head, so Hozuki forced him off of his body.

You've got to be kidding me.

Hakutaku's eyes were closed and he looked quite blissfully and peacefully asleep.

Hozuki brought a hand to his temple and sighed.This useless lump that was supposed to get him off had drifted off to sleep, leaving Hozuki to tend to himself. Throwing Hakutaku to the ground, the demon debated with himself. Should he just leave Hakutaku there? He wasn't obligated to help him; it was his fault for drinking so much anyway.

Hakutaku stirred slightly and mumbled something.

"Ho...ki…"

Hozuki sighed. He was only doing this so Hakutaku would have to pay him back later. Swiftly lifting Hakutaku up onto his shoulder, Hozuki went to find a taxi to take them to Togenkyo.

—

Oh no.

It was morning, and Hakutaku didn't know what to do. He was naked in his bed, which wasn't really a big deal, but it was the person beside him that sent him into shock.

Why is Hozuki here?

Hozuki turned over, yawning.

"Oh. Good morning, Hakubuta."

Hakutaku pulled the white sheet to his chest in an attempt to cover himself up.

"What are you doing here?" His voice was a pitch higher than usual..

"You don't remember? You were drunk and I brought you home. You're welcome." Hozuki almost sounded bored.

Hakutaku gaped at the man lying in his bed, then at his own naked body.

"And you…you slept with me? While I was drunk?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Hozuki replied, annoyed. "You fell asleep on the street, I took you home, you woke up, and then you started taking all your clothes off. Practically threw yourself at me, in fact. I had to fend you off." Hakutaku stared at him. "Eventually you passed out again."

Was that really what happened? Well, Hakutaku's ass didn't hurt for one thing. And there was no come on the bed sheets. And Hozuki was fully dressed.

"I guess you really didn't lay a hand on me…" Hakutaku said quietly, almost feeling a little guilty for accusing him.

Hozuki coughed. "Well, that's not entirely true. You came onto me last night and we jerked each other off in an alleyway."

"What?" Hakutaku brought the sheet higher up his chest.

"Or, well, I jerked you off in an alleyway, you gave up halfway, came, then left me to tend to myself. I'll forgive you since you were drunk, but I expect something in return."

Hozuki turned to the door, leaving Hakutaku, stunned, behind.