one of the many stories from my art history notebook

beta: the wonderful Fantasia Green

EDIT: This story has been face lifted. I would like to give a big thanks to XD1411 for pointing out some grammar mistakes that we missed.

"You're never around anymore!" Yukimura cried as Sasuke made his way to the door.

"I have things to do," Sasuke said. "I'll be back soon. I promise."

"What could possibly be so important that you have to leave now? I want to talk to you!"

"I'll be back. We can talk then." His face paled when he looked at his phone as he talked. "I really need to go."

"Sasuke!" Yukimura tried to block him, but Sasuke slipped passed with ease.

Three hours later Yukimura was still sulking. Normally he would call Masamune over, but he'd been having weird feelings whenever the other teen was around. That's what he wanted to talk to Sasuke about, because he couldn't bring himself to be able to talk with Shingen or any of his other friends.

He rolled onto his stomach, holding his pillow close to himself.

Maybe he should call Masamune over anyway; he always felt better when the other was around. He glanced at the clock and realized that it had been almost four hours since Sasuke had left. He'd never been gone this long before. Yukimura was starting to get worried that something might had happened to him, and decided it was best to call him to make sure he was okay. He was about to dial his number when his phone rang.

"Hey." Yukimura answered.

"It's me." Sasuke's voice came through the receiver. He sounded tense. "I'm sorry about earlier, but I might not be back until sometime around noon tomorrow."

"What? Why? What happened?"

"I can't talk about it right now. I'm fine though."

"Sasuke, where are you?"

Sasuke sighed. "I'm at the hospital with someone. I'm fine, but I'm going to stay with them to make sure they're okay."

"Who?" Yukimura was already starting to put on his shoes and coat.

"I'll tell you later. I just…later okay."

Yukimura could tell that his friend was trying not to cry. "Okay I'll see you when you get in." He said before hanging up. He knew if he left now he could make it to the hospital in twenty minutes.

It wasn't hard to spot Sasuke in the waiting room. He'd never seen Sasuke like this before. His head was in his hands. His elbows were on his knees, which were bouncing. One hand moved to run through his hair, ever so slightly pulling at it.

"Sasuke!" He called gently tapping his shoulder.

"Yukimura?" The older man looked up with red eyes.

"I got worried so I came."

"You don't have to stay." He said.

"I can't leave you like this." Yukimura said sitting down.

"Fuma Kotaro." A doctor called.

Sasuke stood up.

"Are you a relative?" The doctor gave him an odd look.

"I'm his brother." Sasuke lied smoothly. The doctor looked at him with a raised brow at first as he took in the others appearance. They did have a few similar features; they were both redheads, which is a pretty recessive trait. It was plausible that they could be related.

"He'll be fine. He has a broken arm some bruising, among other things. I'm not able to give you all the details because you're a minor. Where are your parents?"

"Out of town. They won't be back for another week. Can I see him?"

"Yeah. Don't stay too long."

"I'll wait outside." Yukimura said.

"I won't be long." Sasuke promised as he disappeared down the hallway. Yukimura followed once he knew Sasuke was further away. He had a feeling he had heard the name Kotaro before. Whoever he was, he had to be in pretty bad shape. His room was close to the nurse station, and the walls were mostly made of glass so the nurses could always see him in case he went into distress.

The other man couldn't have been much than older Sasuke. He could see Sasuke talking a mile a minute, obviously worried. The other man just looked up at him never, saying a word for some reason. Sasuke brushed the other man's bangs out of his face and grasped his uninjured hand as he sat next to him. His shoulders were shook as he cried on Kotaro's chest.

Yukimura walked back to the waiting room. By the time Sasuke came back he looked ready to break down again.

"Let's go home." Sasuke sighed. Once home he collapsed on the couch.

"Who is he?" Yukimura asked.

"What?"

"Kotaro. Who is he?"

"It's not important." Sasuke said.

"He's not no one." Yukimura insisted. "You were crying over him. He's someone important to you."

"Not now, Yukimura." Sasuke rolled over.

"Please talk to me. I want to help." Yukimura sat next to him. He was really worried about Sasuke at this point.

"Kotaro goes to our school." Sasuke explained. "He lives with his uncle."

"Really? I've never seen him before."

"He's quiet." Sasuke explained. "That's not the point. His uncle is abusing him, but he won't say anything to anyone. I go over whenever he needs help. He's been in the hospital before, but this is the worst its ever been."

"I can talk to Shingen. I'm sure he can figure something out."

"He's not gonna make it." Sasuke mumbled into his hands that were now covering his face.

"I'll help." Yukimura promised.

"No, he completely broke him." Sasuke was crying again. "He…he's done so much to him. I don't think he's going to make it."

"What do you mean by broke him?" Yukimura was scared for the answer, but at the same time he wanted to know. He wanted all the details so he could do his best to help.

"He's not going to fight back and he's not going to try and get away, or ask for help anymore."

"I'm sure we'll get him out of this. Once we can get him away he'll get better. I promise I'll do everything I can to help." Yukimura swore to this.

Yukimura didn't know what else to say. However, he was determined to help. Shingen did his best but in the end they weren't really able to get anything done. There were so many different channels they had to go through, and everyone kept telling them that nothing could be done unless Kotaro said something.

Other than the bruises there was no real proof as to who did it. It wasn't easy, especially since Kotaro was very reluctant in the investigation. They were trying to keep things as quiet as possible but in the end Masamune found out. Very few thing in the justice system get passed him.

The Date was head of the police. Even though Masamune was still too young to take over, he was still very much informed of the cases that were under the precinct jurisdiction, and the politics involved.

"I can just call in a favor. Technically the police force is still in the Date family. I have some influence there. I'll get the DNA testing and stuff pushed through, among other things."

"Really?' Sasuke seemed worried at the dragons offer.

"Of course. I want to see this guy gone as much as you do. I'll even pull a few extra strings. Don't worry, I'm not asking for anything in return."

A few weeks after everything was said and done, Fuma came to live with them since his guardian was in jail.

"You owe me." Masamune later said. "I had to beg Toyotomi to get Fuma to stay here among other things."

"I thought you said we wouldn't owe you." Sasuke had complained.

"Yes, but that was before I had to beg Toyotomi. I literally had to get down on my knees and ask him for help."

"Thank you Masamune-dono." Yukimura beamed.

"It's just Masamune." The dragon grinned. "We're friends enough for you to drop the honorific, right?"

~.~.~.~.~

"You'll be safe here." Sasuke promised Kotaro as he helped him put his stuff away. From there things went back to normal. The only thing they hadn't been aware of was that Kotaro was more or less a mute. Most of the time he signed what he was trying to say and Sasuke would translate.

It was why, now, when Sasuke was sitting on the bed next to Kotaro, his hand gently caressed Kotaro's face, before gently trailing down to his throat.

"I can't believe he took your voice away from you." Sasuke sighed.

Kotaro put his hand over Sasuke's.

"I know." Sasuke replied. He seemed to be able to understand what Kotaro was trying to say without words. "I'm just sorry I couldn't get you out of there sooner."

Yukimura was going to ask to talk with Sasuke, but he could hear the conversation through the door, and as he continued to walk past he could see them sitting in the room. They were close to each other, soft smiles on both of their faces as Sasuke talked.

Yukimura couldn't say he was shocked to see Sasuke kissing Kotaro. He had a suspicion as to what was really going on. However, it didn't prepare him for seeing the two, sprawled out on Sasuke's bed, tongues interlocked.

It's why he didn't feel so ashamed when he finally spoke to Sasuke about his feelings towards Masamune. He still wasn't sure what they were, but he need to tell someone.

"You might just like him. Or he's really good friend to you. You don't need to be in a rush to figure it out."

"How did you know you liked Kotaro?" He asked, forgetting that Sasuke didn't know that he knew.

"Yukimura, we're not…" The other boys shoulders tensed.

"I saw you guys together." Yukimura said. "I don't care or anything, but I hoped you could help.

"You should talk to him about it." Sasuke sighed as he sat down. "He doesn't seem like the kind of person to overreact to something like this."

Yukimura took his advice. He found it hard to speak in front of him. The dragon was giving him his full attention.

"I think I like you."

"You think?" Masamune raised an eyebrow.

"Well…" Yukimura wasn't sure of the best way to phrase it. "I'm just not sure as to what…"

"You've known me long enough to know I won't take you seriously unless you come at me seriously."

Yukimura was quiet and went back to sipping his tea in defeat. He couldn't say it.

"Love confessions are always hard. Don't beat yourself up over it."

"Have you ever…"

"Once, and I was completely rejected." Masamune took a sip of his drink. He wasn't looking at Yukimura anymore, he was looking past him. His eyes were focused on something outside, or maybe he was just in deep in thought. But he had such a far off look in his eyes it was like he was remembering something.

"Who was it, if you don't mind me asking?" Yukimura wanted to know who was foolish enough to turn down Masamune.

"Kojuro."

"Y-your retainer?"

"Yeah." Masamune smiled a little bit. "He's been the only constant in my life, the only one who has been by my side despite everything. He took care of me, loved me. No matter what I did he was always there. He was all I've known for years." He took another sip. "Or at least that's what he told me the reason was for what I was feeling. He told me that it was misplaced affection and that my feelings would fade."

"Was it?"

"Was it what?"

"Misplaced affection."

"No."

Yukimura lost his breath. He could hear in that one word that Masamune was still in love with Kojuro, but also knows that he can't have him. There was an affection and sorrow in his voice. There was the slightest tremble there. He slouched back in his chair and sighed as if he was dreaming. He was still longing for him.

He'd never seen him like this before. He was smiling softly as he looked out the window. No doubt he was thinking of Kojuro. Yet at the same time he was so brokenhearted. It hurt Yukimura to look at him.

Maybe now wasn't a good time. He would wait until he knew he could announce his own feelings with pride, and when Masamune was ready to move on.

TBC...

Masamune's point of view is next