A/N: Although the majority of this story is rated PG-13, this chapter merits an R rating for more descriptive situations between two consenting men. Consider yourself forewarned…

Awareness came back to Eiji with the help of Natsuki's inimitable voice. "Is he ever going to wake up? Chief, maybe we should pour some water over him."

"I took a shower this morning, thank you," he mumbled and forced his eyes open. His throat felt like he had swallowed sandpaper and his voice didn't sound much better, either. "But I could do with a glass of water. To drink."

He found that he was lying on the lounge chair in the common room of SGS base with five faces grinning down on him. A blue-clad arm was holding out a plastic bottle of water to him. He nodded his thanks to Souta and took a long drink while he sat up.

He really didn't want to ask in front of the entire team, but he had to know. "What happened?"

"You fainted," Masumi informed him with such a smug grin that Eiji had the urge to stuff an eggplant between those uneven teeth, if he'd had any handy. He settled for indignation instead.

"That's not what I meant, and no, I didn't faint. I passed out. And only for a moment," he insisted, stoically ignoring the fact that, since he had woken in the rec room, he must have been out cold for the entire trip back to SGS headquarters. "Trying to suppress half of yourself that wants to turn into a demon takes a lot of effort, you know!" he huffed. Masumi just kept smirking.

His Go Go changer was back on his wrist and he didn't have to ask who put it there. Eiji traded a look with Satoru, saw emotions in the chief's eyes that he couldn't identify, then averted his gaze to stare at the henshin device again, shuddering at the thought of the damage he could have done with it as Ashu.

Natsuki was asking him a question, but Eiji wasn't really listening. He rubbed his temples, unsuccessfully willing away the headache that was already gathering there. Distorted images invaded his mind of metallic hands holding him down, a foul-tasting potion, the agony and terror of the forced transmutation into his hated Ashu-form - and then more hands, human hands this time, Satoru's voice -

He cut his eyes at Akashi when realization abruptly kicked in. Satoru had kissed him! Had managed to make him kick-start his humanness and reverse the transformation with a kiss the echo of which was still seared into Eiji's mind despite the demon he had almost completely changed into at that time.

'Wow, oh wow!' It all made Eiji's head pound even harder, however. 'Too much; don't want to deal with all this right now, not with everybody staring at me...'

Thrusting aside the memories, he rose stiffly. "I'm going to lie down some more." He gave them all a quick nod, then descended the stairs and walked out of the common room without looking back.

"You're welcome," Masumi grumbled after the doors had closed behind the Dazzling Adventurer. Satoru clapped him on the shoulder as he headed towards the exit himself.

"I don't think he meant to be rude, Masumi. I'm sure he's grateful to us for his rescue, but probably also a little embarrassed. I better make sure he's all right." And with a few more steps he was through the doors and in the hallway.

Eiji was halfway down the corridor to his room, and Satoru caught up with him easily. "Eiji, wait up."

Eiji slowly met his gaze to take in the concern in Satoru's eyes.

"Are you okay?" the chief asked.

Eiji nodded wearily. "Yeah, I just need a long hot shower. Got to wash the stink of Gai, Rei and Gaja off me."

Satoru let his eyes travel over his prospective partner. Eiji's jacket was dirty and singed in some spots, as were his pants. He was also still sporting the faint impressions of Rei's fingers along both sides of his lower jaw where the Quester had held his head in place while Gaja poured the potion. Satoru's heart went out to him; the marks would disappear soon, but the memories of yet another bad encounter with the Questers would remain in Eiji's head and only feed the Ashu-hunter's urge to destroy his arch enemies once and for all. Satoru didn't even want to think about what might happen next time they came across Gai and Rei; he felt almost sorry for them.

At the door with the silver color bar they stopped, and the chief turned to find Eiji glancing warily at him. It was a look that said 'I really need some time by myself, but I don't want to be rude'. Satoru decided to make it easy for him, so he simply patted his arm lightly, then turned to go. "I will check on you later, then, if that's okay with you."

Eiji looked relieved. "I would like that."

They nodded at each other and Satoru turned to walk back the way they had come. Eiji's voice stopped him after a few steps.

"Satoru…"

The Fiery Adventurer looked over his shoulder. Eiji was still standing by his open door, but made no move to go inside. Instead he was looking at Satoru intently. "Thanks. To all of you, I mean, for…you know…"

Satoru just smiled. "Go take your shower," he interjected gently. "I'll see you later."

When the chief returned an hour later, there was no answer from inside Eiji's room when he pressed the buzzer. Only after a second ring, a sleepy 'come in' sounded from the other side of the door.

Inside, Eiji was just pushing himself up into a sitting position on the bed, rubbing at bleary eyes with the palm of his hand. He was dressed in a fresh version of his usual black t-shirt/black pants attire, brown hair still slightly damp from his shower.

"Sorry," he said, "must have dozed off."

"I can come back later…"

"No, no, it's fine. Come on in."

The door swished shut behind Satoru a few steps into the room. "I'm not surprised. It's been an…eventful day," he replied neutrally.

Eiji snorted. "That's one way to put it." He swung his legs over the edge of the mattress and inclined his head at the spot next to him in silent invitation. Satoru had been steering towards the desk chair, but now changed course and sat down next to the Ashu-hunter.

"How are you feeling?"

"Human…again." Eiji gave a disdainful snort. "Which is pretty much the joke of the day, since we all know I'm not."

"Don't say that," Satoru protested quietly.

"Why not when it's the truth?" Eiji's self-deprecation was painfully apparent. "Satoru, I am hanyo. Maybe more than ever now! After the first time these few weeks ago I could still fool myself into believing that this was an isolated incident, but not anymore, not after today..." His tirade was cut short by Satoru's sudden firm grip on his arm.

"You can call yourself a half-demon all you want, Eiji, but the fact of the matter is that you've proved today you can still control your Ashu blood. Even with that potion inside you." Satoru tapped Eiji's chest over his heart. "You are more human in there than anything else, do you understand?"

They looked into each other's eyes and Satoru saw Eiji swallow. A little more awkwardly he continued, "And to me, you are first and foremost Takaoka Eiji - the man I'd like to get to know better. Hanyo or no."

Satoru watched Eiji blink; although the avowal wasn't new anymore, his teammate and hopefully soon-to-be-more obviously still had to get a little more used to their shifted relationship. Satoru remained silent, letting him think.

"I have you to thank for the 'no' part," Eiji said after a moment. "And most likely also for my life. Judging from the effect just those few drops had - I think the potion was way too strong. If Gaja had managed to make me drink the entire thing…I think it would have killed me."

Satoru said nothing. He didn't think Eiji particularly cared to hear a confirmation of his conclusion.

"If you hadn't kissed me…" Eiji shook his head at the memory. "Satoru, you are crazy, you know that? Do you have any idea how close you came to getting killed at that point?"

Satoru just looked at him, an intense gaze that needed no words; Satoru knew. But he had been willing to risk it, risk his life to save Eiji from a fate worse than death. Eiji felt as if his heart were expanding in his chest. "That kiss…Such a risk," he mumbled.

Satoru gave a little shrug. "There are risks involved in pretty much every treasure hunt, and you have to brave them if you want to obtain the treasure." The Fiery Adventurer paused. "Or, in your case, when you want to save a treasure," he finished awkwardly, expecting the Ashu-hunter to laugh at him for the somewhat corny line, but Eiji instead gave him a look from under lowered eyelashes that instantly doubled Satoru's heartbeat.

"Would you...kiss me like that again?" he asked and Satoru's heartbeat promptly went into overdrive.

Nevertheless he chuckled as he leaned in to comply; it was funny seeing the usually nonchalant, and at times downright arrogant, Takaoka Eiji looking so self-conscious all of a sudden.

"Any time you want."

The feeling of Eiji's lips against his was just as intoxicating as before, but whereas Satoru had not hesitated to plunge his tongue into Eiji's mouth when he was well into his Ashu-transformation, he now found himself hesitating, compelled to hold back for some strange reason. Maybe because Eiji was himself again…

So he reluctantly settled for a long and deep, yet tongue-less kiss. When they broke apart, Eiji fixed him with a pointed look, and there was a mischievous twinkling in his eyes.

"Not even close. Try again."

Satoru could feel a small, abashed grin forming at the corners of his mouth as he leaned towards the handsome Ashu-hunter again. And something must have shown in his eyes, for Eiji caught his breath just as Satoru sealed their lips again.

Their second kiss encompassed heat, hunger and nearly all the tongue action that the initial kiss on the floor of their enemies' headquarters had contained.

Eiji's fingers dug into the Fiery Adventurer's biceps. His heart was hammering so hard against his ribcage that he wouldn't have been surprised if it cracked a bone. This was blowing away everything he had ever felt in his life.

He remembered contentment and even happiness from the time with his father. Since his death, though, there had only been the desire to hunt his Ashu-killers and all others like them. With time, Eiji had grown used to the loneliness and solitude that accompanied his mission.

But this –

When the kiss ended and Satoru pulled back a little, the smug grin on the chief's face was quite pronounced. "Better?"

Eiji mirrored the smirk. "Much."

"Again?"

"Absolutely!"

A few moments into their third kiss, Satoru gently pressed Eiji backwards and into the mattress, and Eiji let him. He wiggled a little to make room for them both on the narrow bed and they lay down together. The by now familiar slow burn in his gut was quickly growing to blaze-proportions.

The very air around them seemed to be charged with an intangible electricity that marked the change between them - and the anticipation of things yet to come.

Slowly, very slowly, Satoru broke their kiss, but didn't retreat far. "Eiji, can I ask you something personal?" he breathed against the lighter-haired man's lips.

That seemed to take Eiji by surprise, judging by the way he cocked his head. "Okay."

"Have you ever been with a girl – or a guy?"

"Ah…" The Dazzling Adventurer's cheeks promptly colored a pretty shade of pink, a development that Eiji obviously noticed as well and didn't approve of. "I've been an Ashu-watcher all my life and I will be as long as Gai and Rei are alive," he said, trying to cover his awkwardness with indignation. "I haven't had any time for girls or guys…" It must have sounded lame even to Eiji's own ears.

I take that as a 'no'. "It's okay," Satoru said nonchalantly to spare Eiji any more unease. "We've got time, though."

Eiji brought a hand up to Satoru's face, letting his fingertips trail across the chief's cheek and along his jaw line. "I may not know much about...this, but if you're willing to show me, I'm more than willing to learn."

Satoru grinned. "Of course I am. And you've already seemed to have picked up quite a few things."

"Fast learner." Eiji favored him with one of his dazzling smiles so befitting his moniker. "And I'm always up for venturing into unknown territory."

"– to go where no one has gone before –"

"– at least where I have never gone before –"

"Hey, that's what adventuring is all about," Satoru continued their innuendo. "Exploring new places –"

Eiji's eyes raked over the chief. "Oh, I can think of quite a few places I'd like to explore."

Satoru gave him a smile that could have easily powered half of Tokyo. "Then this could just turn out to be the best adventure ever." He lightly caressed the side of Eiji's face, fingertips ghosting over smooth skin. "When we're on duty, it's work, but afterwards…in here, or in my room, or away from base…no colors, no rank. Just you and me." A deep exhalation greeted his touch as Eiji canted his head to lean into the palm of his hand.

"Just you and me," Eiji echoed, and suddenly those beautiful dark-brown eyes narrowed while the corners of his mouth quirked. "There's just one thing…"

"Huh?"

"For the kind of adventure we're headed to, I think you're overdressed." Eiji reached out and, in one smooth motion, pulled the zipper of Satoru's jacket down to the hem. Grinning, Satoru took his cue and sat up to shrug out of the jacket. The garment had barely touched the ground when Eiji was already pushing him onto his back.

They were now dressed nearly identically in black t-shirts, Satoru's black cargo jeans and Eiji's black slacks. And suddenly it was Eiji taking over, leaning in to claim Satoru's lips in an increasingly demanding kiss that had Satoru groaning into the Ashu-hunter's open mouth. Seemingly of their own accord, his hands somehow ended up under Eiji's shirt, slowly mapping the broad expanse of shoulders and back, along the spine down to his waist and back up again, taking the hem of the t-shirt with him. When Satoru's intentions finally made it through to Eiji's kiss-muddled brain, he was more than willing to comply. He drew back just long enough to pull his shirt over his head. Satoru sat up and did likewise.

The sensation of skin on skin was downright intoxicating when they embraced once more, Eiji's pallor contrasting nicely with Satoru's slightly more tanned tone. Fingers buried into the chief's short hair as Satoru kissed his way over Eiji's throat and collarbone down onto his chest where he stopped when he came across the dark sliver of metal that hung from a thin silver chain around Eiji's neck.

"A piece from the shakujo," Eiji answered his silent question.

"Ah. Keeping your father close?"

"Yeah." Eiji smiled, somewhat sadly. "Have I already thanked you for finding it for me?"

"You have. Not that you needed to, though." Satoru's answering smile was warm. "The staff was important to you. That's all the motivation I needed to find it."

They gazed at each other for a long moment, and there was hunger and anticipation in the Ashu-watcher's beautiful eyes. Neither blinked or looked away until Eiji closed the space between them to take another kiss from Satoru. Their lips only separated again when Eiji suddenly pulled back as a thought hit him.

"What did the others say about that kiss in the warehouse?"

"Ah, that." Satoru gave him a hesitant smile, but quickly grew serious again. "I had quite a few questions to answer while you were out of it…and I didn't deny or belittle my feelings for you. So yes, they know."

"But under normal circumstances, you wouldn't have been ready to tell them yet, am I right?" Eiji's voice was neutral, his face unreadable.

"It was…earlier than I would have liked," Satoru admitted honestly, "but what's done is done - and since I'm serious about us, they would have found out sooner or later anyways."

That patented Takaoka-smirk crept into the corners of Eiji's mouth. "Well, I'm serious about us, too, and even though I like those guys, I really don't care whether they're okay with this or not.
"I want this...us," he added. "It's all I could think about while I was wandering all over Tokyo yesterday. I tried to figure out why – why you, of all people, male or female. But you know –" Eiji trained those expressive brown eyes on Satoru and his gaze had an almost physical weight. "– the only thing I came up with is that I'm no good at analyzing feelings. All I know is that you are right there." He tapped his heart with his fist.

It was the look Satoru gave him at that, a cross between joy and passion, that had Eiji rearing up and press his lips to the other man's neck. It was a purely instinctive reaction, and the drawn-out groan he received from Satoru as he kissed and nibbled on his pulse point, was music to Eiji's ears.

"Eiji." The whispered name fell like a benediction from Satoru's lips and Eiji closed his eyes, savoring his name in Satoru's voice and the desire the intonation bespoke. Eiji turned his head, grabbed the back of Satoru's neck and gently guided him towards his lips again, the kiss eliciting a groan from him this time when he felt Satoru's hands on his belt, then on the zipper of his pants. He reflexively raised his hips in facilitation, and Satoru quickly had him divested of his slacks. In return, he lent an eager hand in ridding the chief of his own black jeans.

Nude, they stared at each other for a moment; Satoru in obvious appreciation, Eiji with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

Chief lowered his head towards the Ashu-hunter's chest once more, this time ignoring the chain and its pendant, and Eiji arched his back, eyes fluttering nearly closed and the breath hitching in his throat at the feeling of Satoru's lips on his nipple.

The Fiery Adventurer took his time, alternating between the two sensitive nubs while his hand gradually strayed lower, caressing Eiji's tight stomach and powerfully muscled thighs. Before long, Eiji was writhing beneath him. Slowly, mindful not to startle his partner, he centered in on Eiji's groin and was rewarded with a sharp intake of breath when his hand finally found the desired target.

Eiji, for his part, was lost in a world of sensations heretofore unexperienced. Satoru's hands on his skin did things to his body and mind he could have never imagined.

This was The Dream given substance.

He did his best to stay focused enough to copy Satoru's movements and gestures, but he knew he responded more to the ministrations he was receiving rather than reciprocating them.

Thankfully, Satoru wasn't complaining. Not that he was in a position to voice any complaints anyways, since his mouth was currently being filled with Eiji's tongue once more.

Their rhythms didn't quite match, the bed was too narrow, and a consistent cold breeze from the overhead air conditioning vent blew down onto their heated skins.

None of that mattered. Nothing but Satoru's fingertips gliding over his skin, his lips devouring his mouth, their bodies hot against each other. The pressure was building quickly, insurmountably, and while Eiji craved the impending relief, he also yearned to drag out the moment as long as possible.

It was a lost battle; Eiji had no choice but to give in. He bucked one more time, crying out as Satoru's hands guided him to the inevitable completion. Somehow, though, he retained the presence of mind to return the favor, and Satoru followed him over the edge only a few strokes later.

Panting, they slumped against each other. An awkward 'now what?' moment followed, but it was quickly dispersed when Satoru gathered Eiji into his arms and brushed his sweat-damp bangs out of his eyes with a look of affection that went straight to the Ashu-watcher's heart. His mind was still awash with emotions from what had just transpired between them, yet he could find no adequate words to voice them. He felt the need to say something to Satoru, though, so he simply said the first thing that came into his mind. "Will you stay?"

Satoru's eyes went from Eiji's face to drift across the twin-size mattress. "I would love to, but we wouldn't be very comfortable. Those beds are so damn narrow."

"For a little while at least, then."

"Sure."

They shuffled around on the mattress for a few moments, disentangling various limbs and generally trying to find the best possible positions. They finally settled on lying on their sides, facing each other. Eiji pulled the quilt over them from the foot of the bed, but as he settled his head back against the pillow, he suddenly let out a chuckle.

Satoru raised an eyebrow at him. "What?"

"I just figured out what I can spend some of my hard-earned money on. Other than vegetables, that is."

"And what would that be?"

"Tomorrow I'm getting us a self-inflating, queen-size air mattress."

"Excellent idea."

They grinned sleepily at each other and shared a quick but affectionate kiss. Eiji let out a content sigh; it was an odd feeling having another human being so physically close to him, but it was something he could definitely grow used to. Especially when it was Satoru.

The chief's eyes had closed, and Eiji was watching him surreptitiously. 'Maybe Satoru is right and I really am more human than...anything else.' He doubted that any Ashu was capable of feeling all the things he had felt these past few days, and especially this past hour.

Eiji's eyes drifted shut. Tonight his life had completely changed - again. And definitely for the better. His lonely days were finally over. He had his father's spirit in the form of his shakujo, he had his mother's spirit in the form of the tear crystal – and he had Satoru in the form of the warm, solid body currently pressed up against him.

Tired, sated, and at the moment as close to happy as he had ever been, Eiji was asleep not two minutes later.

Satoru was the first to awake. The brief feeling of disorientation lasted only until his eyes fell onto the sleeping man next to him. The subdued light from the nightstand lamp cast a soft amber glow over Eiji's face, and Satoru took the opportunity to study his new lover, taking in the fringed strands of hazelnut-colored hair that framed his angular face, the perfectly set cheekbones, the full lips and long, dark lashes that presently hid those amazing eyes that Satoru could lose himself in. He could promptly feel the heat pooling in his abdomen once more, but he did not succumb to the temptation of waking Eiji, for they both needed their sleep. Besides, there was always tomorrow evening…

So he just looked on for another long moment instead.

He had told Eiji earlier that the admission of his feelings for him to the rest of the team had come a bit too early for his liking, and that was true; but now that it was public knowledge he was actually glad for it, for it felt like a weight off his soul.

He had kept his explanation short and to the point, and his teammembers' reactions had pretty much been within their characters: Natsuki had been the one with the most questions, since she had 'had the worst seat in the house for the show' according to her. Masumi had shown his acceptance by wearing his customary scowl not quite as deep as usual. Souta's expression of amusement had been the same as back in the warehouse, and after Satoru's explanation, he had been the second - after Natsuki - to wish him the best with Eiji as his partner.

Satoru grinned at the memory of Natsuki hugging him in her endearingly bubbly way, going on about how cute he and Eiji were going to look together, then turning around to punch Masumi in the arm when the Fast Adventurer just groaned and rolled his eyes at her dramatically for all her cooing.

Masumi had no chance; he was already Natsuki's, he just didn't know it yet. It was only a matter of time until he would inevitably succumb completely to the charms of the yellow Boukenger.

And then there was Sakura. At the thought of her, Satoru's grin changed to a soft sigh. Stone-faced throughout Satoru's short recital of the history about his attraction to Eiji, she had given him a curt bow, together with a mumbled felicitation, but the wobbly smile stitched to her face had never reached her eyes.

Even now, while lying in bed gazing at his sleeping lover, Satoru couldn't quite still the voice of his guilty conscience. He had known for a long time that her feelings for him ran deeper than professional admiration or friendship, although she had conveyed her interest in him in only the most subtle of ways. And even though Satoru had never encouraged her sentiments, he had to admit that her quiet persistence had been downright flattering.

He valued and respected his sub-chief immensely, and he hoped with all his heart that she would eventually find happiness in someone else's arms.

Thankfully, those arms were closer than she probably expected. A small smile crept back into the corners of Satoru's mouth as he recalled the hopeful look Souta had cast at Sakura's profile. It hadn't been his first by far; for an ex-spy, Souta sure wore his heart on his sleeve, and the torch he had been carrying for Sakura these past few months could brighten the darkest cave. Hopefully, Sakura would some day - preferably sooner than later - become aware of that warmth and light and turn towards it. Towards Souta.

Satoru made a mental note to send them on more side-missions and errands together from now on.

Natsuki and Masumi, Sakura and Souta – he genuinely wished all of them nothing but happiness. They were his subordinates, true, but they were also his teammates and friends.

He shifted slightly on the mattress. His arm felt numb, but there was no space to move to other than over the edge. Damn regulation beds!

Slowly, gingerly, as to not wake Eiji, he slipped out of bed and dressed quietly. He pulled the black t-shirt over his head, a grin forming on his face when he realized he had no idea whether this was his or Eiji's.

Could this really work? Them? Together? For the long haul? He certainly hoped so. Satoru had known for quite some time now that his feelings for Takaoka Eiji had gone beyond mere physical attraction, and judging from what had happened between them in this bed a few hours ago, Eiji must have at least some reciprocal feelings towards him.

'Guess we'll just have to take this day by day,' Satoru thought as he slipped into his shoes and gathered up his jacket from the floor.

The quilt-covered, brown-haired lump on the bed never moved, and he pressed a soft kiss to Eiji's temple before he quietly left the room. As he made the short trek to his own room, the grin on his face never budged. It was a good thing the corridor was deserted, for he probably looked like a smirking idiot.

They both had their work cut out for themselves for this relationship; that much was sure. But it was an adventure he was very much looking forward to.

THE END

A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed this story. Although this part of the tale is finished, I might add on chapters as the muse strikes in the future.

Hope you all had as much fun reading this as I had writing it.

Dany