Iason allows Sakura's plan to go into play. It turns out it was a blessing in disguise, one that makes him realise, that sooner or later he needs to admit those feelings out loud.

It's been a few days since Sakura had come up with an idea to help him deal with his lingering physical feelings for Gon.

Ok, how about this. At night, if being touched by Gon causes these struggles, I'll make sure that you're always behind me so that Gon can't snuggle with you. During the day, if Gon makes a move on you, I'll try to steer him away or pull his attention to me, as long as I'm in the room… How's that sound to you?

At the time he agreed to the deal, now he wasn't too sure. It wasn't completely bulletproof. There were moments when he and Gon were alone. He'd sink into the boy's embrace, relaxing into the boy's touches as if he could feel his heartbeat.

The thumping beat, like a drum being tapped to the rhythm of affection. How Gon would kiss him would only increase that tempo. His breath would hitch, and his hands would tighten around the object he was holding, and if it was nothing, they'd clenched tightly as if to stop himself from grabbing onto the person who's causing these feelings.

In his eyes, Gon was an incubus a temptation almost impossible to resist. How he has survived for this long is a testament to his self-control…

The real issue, or what he should really state to be a continuous struggle, is that smile…

The only real issue or he should argue as a continuous struggle, is that smile…

He understood how much he loves Gon. It was the very reason he wanted to tame his body, to not reach around and pull his partner in for a hungry kiss… to drag him back to their bed and let him have his way with him.

He wanted it all, but the moves he was making, was for Sakura's sake. They needed to have a proper discussion the three of them, to set boundaries they could all agree to.

He understood that much about being in a relationship, but this is the first one he's ever been in. To add to the already difficult situation, he's dating two people at the same time, with two completely different personalities.

Due to Gon and Sakura having been together for so long, he is the odd one out in this relationship. They've known each other for so long, their comforts… their needs… desires. They know how to have those desires met to a degree that leaves them both satiated.

He, on the other hand, is starting to understand why they work so well together. The only secrets they've kept so far, are their biggest fears, fears which are being overcome one step at a time.

Iason is keeping his past a secret from Gon, Sakura and even Leorio. The right moment hasn't come yet. The right moment where he can be comfortable to tell them everything.

It's a matter of perspective, finding that perfect balance where he could see the two of them accepting him for everything that makes him… well, him. He wants it to be right.

Iason watched from the corner of his eye, how the two danced this emotional perfection. The way Gon's eyes would linger lovingly…

How his touches were so gentle, one couldn't imagine the boy being able to bench press five-hundred kilos like it was nothing. Those muscles weren't there for show; they proved that he was getting stronger.

Even when he was alone with Gon, he'd count every gentle squeeze, how the touches would mimic Sakura's; the main difference being their strength. When feeling the ripple of Gon's muscles against his frame, he knew he was being protected, but he hadn't a single clue as to what he was being protected from.

It's just a shame that the once loveable chubby cheeks were slimming down, only slightly… but it's only a matter of time before he sees a tight jawline.

The boy closes his eyes, flipping his thoughts over to Sakura for the moment, trying to rationalise his connection to the boy. There was no denying he was in love with the boy, although he felt more emotionally tied to the boy, whereas with Gon it was more on a physical level.

They both have told each other what their current issues are; Sakura is scared of being left behind…

Iason is more worried about initiating something too soon…

He needed to find like what Gon had with Sakura, to find a balance that works perfectly in line with his own feelings… one that didn't reject either of his partners. When Sakura is with Gon, he doesn't see that need that he sees in himself. The needy touching, the relaxing of his frame against Gon's…

Sure, Sakura sometimes pulls Gon in… but the physical aspect is almost non-existent. Maybe it's just because neither of them knows how to make the next move. If they were to become aware of it, would they feel the same as Iason did? Needing to be touched explicitly…?

He highly doubted that…

Gon might be the same, but so far, with his current movements, the boy highly doubted the boy would be that similar to him. However, if he was proven wrong in that aspect… he'll see it more as a benefit rather than a detriment.

Then again, if he looked between the lines… he saw his biggest worries. After his outburst with Sakura, it was clear that these feelings aside… he does want Gon sexually.

Sakura, on the other hand, doesn't seem to feel the same way, at least for now. He does know about sex, at least the word but not the context and the acts that happen between the sheets.

He did announce to Sakura what he wanted to do with Gon, but those were descriptors of what he wanted to do… Not what Iason wanted to perform with Gon. As soon as they open that can of worms, have the entire discussion on this topic, he can see the normally anxious boy understanding what he wants to do with Gon.

The positions…

The acts…

All the naughty little deeds, that usually happens during those events. And if Sakura doesn't want to do any of it, it's up to him and Iason to explain it to Gon. Mr Bright and curious will need to understand that it isn't something he can casually push onto Sakura; no matter how much his giddiness wants to showcase his newest skills.

He knows Gon wouldn't want to hurt Sakura ever, so they'll need to have that conversation if it comes to it.

On the other hand, if Sakura wants to pursue a physical relationship with either Gon or Iason, like with Gon, the boundaries must be set first before anything is done. He knows that is something Sakura would want to have first before anything is done…

Iason froze at the sudden touch, his thoughts coming to a close so he could address the hands around his waist. At first, he thought it was Gon, as the boy was more touchy than Sakura was…

But he was wrong once he felt the arms tighten around him. The arms didn't exert the same physical assertiveness as Gon did. It was softer, calmer in nature than possessive. It didn't make him want to relax as he would with Gon, but it'll still make him relax in a different way.

The boy looked around, taking note of Sakura holding him close. But Gon was no longer in the room. Did he go out…? Did he say he was going out to him, but being so deep in his thoughts he failed to take notice?

Another gentle squeeze gave him a reminder that this was Sakura holding him, and that he wanted to talk. The boy shifted once more, his eyes now being directed at Sakura. This warmth was indescribable, but if he had to put it into words… Sakura holding him like this was comforting.

For someone who was apprehensive about what awaited him in the future, Sakura sure knows how to coddle him. Was this something that was nurtured…? Was the boy always like this, warmth that no fire could outshine?

Whatever brought about this wonderful trait, this is something that makes his heart race and his body to helplessly dissolve itself into the gentle, attractive boy's arms. This was unquestionably one of the many reasons he loves Sakura. He could only imagine what else he'll find, that makes him love the attractive boy more.

Iason gave a slight nod, now blushing from how close the two were.

Sakura closed his eyes, allowing a heavy sigh to release before he addressed his topic "I wanted to know if we can continue our training?"

Iason thought the situation over, how much time did they have? Was it enough to introduce a new department, or was this more a touch-base kind of training… the kind that would further temper his current skillset? He offered a smile, hoping that it would ease Sakura's worries if the boy had any.

Sakura didn't like to be pushy like Gon; he asked and if Iason was up for it, he'd be happy with even a small amount of assistance "How long ago did Gon leave?"

"A few minutes… He's going for a run." Sakura ran his hand up and down the human teddy bear's back. Iason listen to him when he broke down over his apprehensions. He was there for him when he needed him the most…

He couldn't ask any more of Iason than he already has. Having the warm-hearted boy as his Nen Master has brought them closer, and he was thankful for that. He couldn't bear to push his partner any more than he already has…

So, if Iason said 'no' today, he'll just relish in the boy's company instead of pushing him for further training. As of now, all he has learned is Ten, he knows about Zetsu, Ren, and Hatsu, but Iason hasn't really touched on those parts yet.

Iason thought it over; savouring the attention the boy was giving him. He so badly wanted to kiss Sakura, but he was aware of the boy's kissing weakness "Alright, so let's continue… Show me your Ten."

Sakura's smile widened, happy to hear that the warm human teddy bear wanted to continue his training, "Ok…"

Iason's breath hitched at the smile. Don't get hard…

Sakura closed his eyes, letting his aura seep out to cradle the boy in his arms. After all this training he has been doing behind closed doors, he hopes it was more than enough to impress his partner.

Iason watched the adorable boy's aura affectionately, noticing the subtle changes between when he first witnessed Sakura's aura come to fruition and now. It was as strong as it was going to be without further temper.

To further improve Sakura's current skill set, he's going to need to practice Ren, but in order to ensure that the boy isn't in any immediate danger of pinging another Nen user, the boy would need to focus on Zetsu…

Iason moved one hand to tuck a strand of Sakura's hair behind his ear, but the warm sensation of a gentle hand lovingly gliding along his partner's cheek, made Sakura open his eyes.

The two gazed into each other's eyes fondly, lost to the world's surroundings. They were spellbound to each other, their eyes providing a paradisiacal view on the reality moving by them.

Something about the scene made Iason want to question himself. Why wasn't he making the move they both clearly wanted…? Why wasn't he kissing the adorable boy who was nurturing the love between the three of them? God knows he deserves it, for allowing him to be a part of their lives. He could hear the hammering of his heart, the longing to be with his precious partner.

Sakura closed his eyes, he now understands Gon a little better; why the boy acts on impulse sometimes. There is a fraction of time you get to witness, where you don't need words or consent. You can feel it in your heart, the longing for the attention you'll never regret…

As soon as he opened his eyes once more, that same feeling returned. Leaning into the warm embrace of the taller boy's frame, he went in for a kiss that both wanted to experience.

When Sakura made the first move, Iason closed the distances without a single thought in-between. There was no crashing of lips, nor hunger within their movements. There was a sense of meticulousness, a strange need to explore each other's tenderness.

When Iason's arm moved, so did Sakura's. They moved in almost in sync, as if mirroring each other's affection for one another.

While Iason would argue he's all for Gon's greedy movements, as though he's laying claim to his hungry desires, he isn't opposed to Sakura's actions either. He really is getting to experience the best of both worlds. The only one, who could honestly stop himself, is himself…

How long had it been since they started, neither of them really knew. But one thing was for certain, while Sakura was the one to make the first move, he was the first to pull back.

Sakura continued to relish in the previous actions, his eyes still focusing on the one that caused these feelings to burn brightly. He tucked a few strands of Iason's hair just like the boy did with him, cherishing the boy's beauty for what it meant to him; an open heart accepting him wholeheartedly.

Then everything hit him at once, he became diffident. Despite the soul-crushing feelings, he didn't push Iason away, bringing up his hands to cover his face. His cheeks burned so much, he wouldn't be surprised if Iason was to point out his hands were blushing.

Iason wanted to laugh at Sakura's shocking realisation, but the actions his adorable partner made were too cute to pass up on. He continued to hold onto Sakura, while one hand weaved through his partner's hair.

He wanted to be a little cheeky, but in all honesty, he was still savouring the earlier moment. He pressed a single kiss into the back of his adorable partner's hands, where the cheeks would've been.

"Aren't you at all embarrassed…?"

"No," Iason tucked another strand of hair behind the boy's ears, "I actually liked that…" alright, now I'm embarrassed for admitting that… When he saw that his partner pulled his hands away, he was no longer embarrassed for admitting those words.

What he saw in all definitions, was a boy who defined the word: pretty. Handsome, sure in a way… Sakura's flushed cheeks; his averted gaze is why the boy would argue that Sakura would be forever adorable in his eyes.

"You're pretty…" The boy hummed in approval, further savouring the boy's reaction to the words. He can see why Gon loves complimenting them now. It's their reactions to being buttered up.

Sakura shoved Iason back in a playful manner, a noise escaping the adorable boy's lips further cemented the fact he was way too cute to exist.

"Meany…" When he stuck out his tongue, the doting boyfriend laughed at the reaction. It was wholesome to say in the least. As much as he wanted to enjoy their moment further, he still wanted Iason's help, "Please can you help me improve my training…"

"Alright…" Iason calmed his laughter, taking another moment to cherish his partner. He was madly in love with his partner, and now that the tender moment has passed, he could feel the tingly sensation in his body. He wants Sakura as well…

Clearing his throat, Iason pushed aside those feelings. He's already distancing himself from Gon, he can't do it with Sakura as well "Well… You won't be able to improve anymore with your Ten."

Sakura's expression dropped.

"No…" Iason rubbed his partner's cheek, coaxing his tender partner to look into his eyes, "I don't mean it like that. There's only a point you can go so far with Ten. Think of it as a barrier. Sure, you can keep pushing yourself so much, but you'll be improving at a snail's pace."

Sakura looked up, there was that moment again, the tenderness of love being directed at him. He doesn't believe Iason has noticed it yet, but he wouldn't dare to point it out.

"Adorable…" Iason's cheeks flushed, he was just caught up in the moment, the tenderness in Sakura's eyes. He cleared his throat once more, hoping that the boy didn't hear him just now "Usually you would do this one step at a time, but I'm going to push you in two separated directions, one which will help your aura improve while the other will make sure you won't be in danger… Zetsu and Ren; let's start off easy first…"

Iason circled a finger along Sakura's shoulder, "Zetsu allows us to stop the flow of aura, practically closing off our entire aura nodes altogether. While there's a more advanced state called In, we'll be focusing on Zetsu for now. It's not recommended doing this while in danger, and it also opens us up to emotional Nen attacks. So please, be careful when implementing that outside… To give an example, try to imagine that you don't exist to the world; that you can just merge with the masses… That's Zetsu in a nutshell."

"Are there people who hunt others because they can use Nen?"

"Yes… and no. It's supposed to be a secret to the world, so hiding oneself will make sure it's kept a secret to the members outside the circle. Zetsu is to make sure if there's ever such a person who's seeking other Nen users, they won't target you. But like I said, please be careful…"

"Ok…" Sakura blushed at the concern in his partner's words, "So, what's Ren then?"

"Ren is the polar opposite. Its main purpose is to focus on outputting a larger mass of aura in an explosive manner. It helps amplify our strength, but maintaining it for long periods of time can be very tiring. So don't be too disappointed if you only last a minute at the start. The best way to simplify this is… a kettle blasting steam out of its spout. The steam being pushed out in your case will be you forcing your mass of aura out. You have to maintain it for as long as possible. Take a breather, then rinse and repeat for as long as possible. Now, this is going to be difficult to train while Gon is around, so I'll try to get him outside more often…"

"But…" Sakura clasped a hand on the carnal boy's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, "What about my promise to protect you from your desires…? I don't want to push you to do that for me. I'll just focus on Zetsu for now, until you're ready to deal with those feelings."

Iason's expression softened; Sakura had strengthened his feelings. He shouldn't be thinking about this, but he wanted to share another kiss with his partner. Whether it was the words or the sincerity in the adorable boy's tone, he really wanted to claim his lips once more.

Those feelings of love are spreading through him, similar to how he felt for Gon. But with Sakura, he was paying attention to every movement, no hunger, just love and affection. A small part of him understood what his partner wanted, and within the moment… he acted in accordance with his loving partner's feelings, instead of how he'd want to be courted.

"Thank you…" He cupped his anxious partner's cheeks, hoping that this action will calm his partner's worries for a moment, "it's the least I can do."

Sakura pulled himself into the awaiting teddy bear's arms, savouring the warmth and affection he feels for the boy. He loves Iason so much, for taking these small steps with him. Without Iason, he doesn't see himself as having the necessary courage in order to recover Gon's aura… he just couldn't do it without the teddy bear.

He could never be thankful enough, "Thank you so much…"

Holding his partner close, Iason returned the affectionate gesture back. He really does care about his attractive partner's concerns, and maybe one day with Gon's help, he can smother all those anxieties.