Chapter 6

He wants to be with Kotaro.

He decided that was what has been bothering him the whole time. He could no longer deny the growing affection he had for the other ninja. He loved the conversations that only he was allowed with him, and he loved just being around him. The problem was telling him this. From the discussion they had a few days ago, it sounded like Fuma wanted the same thing but he couldn't be sure.

He would deal with it later. Right now he was waiting at the boarded of his land to make sure that his little lord made it back home safely. Yukimura decided to go off on his again to see Masamune and had stayed longer than he said he would. He sent a messenger bird to at least say he would be staying longer.

By the time the tiger arrived he was all but glowing. The innocent ora he usually carried about him was no longer there. Sasuke smirked having a good idea as to what happened.

"Did you have good time, Master?" Sasuke said.

"Yes, Masamune and I spent a lot of time together," Yukimura beamed.

"What did you guys do?" Sasuke asked hoping to embarrass the younger man.

"It would be shameful for me to speak of such deeds without Masamune's consent."

"You don't call him sama anymore."

"No, he said it was too formal for the relationship we are in."

"And what kind is that?"

"You already know," Yukimura rolled his eye.

"Dana! Guess you're not our little virgin flower anymore."

"W-what, No we didn't get that far. We only kissed, once. We're taking things slow."

"Ahhh, ever the gentle men."

"How's Fuma," Yukimura asked, changing the subject.

"Pretty good. I think."

"Why are you questioning it?"

"Grown up things you wouldn't understand," Sasuke chided patting him on the head.

"So you aren't dating?"

"Don't worry about it," he waved him off, "Anyway, Shingen is waiting for you to report back so you should head over to see him."

"You're going to hang out with Fuma."

Sasuke didn't answer as he teleported away. By the time he got home Kotaro was already coming home from a mission. There was blood splatter on his clothes and helmet. They were both ninjas so it wasn't unusual to see some sort of blood on them.

"What would it take for me to join Takada?" Kotaro asked taking his helmet off then the gloves. He obviously wanted to get out of his solid clothes.

"No much. Yukimura is the one in charge of the ninja corps. I would just have to talk to him to get you put on the pay role. As for missions, I'm in charge of that rotation so...why do you suddenly want to work for Takada?"

"I killed Matsunaga, I need a new source of income."

"You can't kill Yukimura," Sasuke said firmly.

"I don't plan on it. My loyalty stays with the clan I work for, not my random employers."

"You do know that part of this deal is that you can't work for anyone else."

"I know."

"You're willing to settle down that quickly?"

"Don't say it like that."

"Sorry, sorry," Sasuke apologized mockingly, "So you're staying in Takada? Why here? I'm sure that other places have been offering you higher amount than what we could give you."

"They have. I was thinking of going with Oshu. The One-Eyed Dragon was willing to pay a pretty hefty price, but I've been here long enough I've all but made a home here," Kotaro explained, "Why do you ask? Do you want me to leave?"

"W-what? No, it's just the opposite really."

Kotaro smiled, "I'm going to go shower," he announced before mounting the stairs.

Sasuke sighed falling onto the couch. That really didn't go the way he had planned. If anything it seemed like Fuma had more control of the conversation and was steering it the way he wanted it to go. Maybe he's just wasn't ready for the kind of commitment Sasuke was going to propose. They would have to take this one step at a time.

On the bright side, during the evening meal Shingen announced that there was an alliance forming between them and Oshu, despite Oshu's claims to never forming an alliance. Sasuke thought it was a good time to also tell them that Fuma was joining the Takada ninja corps.

"That's good," Shingen nodded patting Sasuke on the back, "With another strong ninja in the clan the rest of the world is sure to fall under Takada rule."

"Will Master-Kotaro be joining us for dinner then," Yukimura asked excitedly.

"You call him Master but not me?" Sasuke sigh, "I doubt it. He doesn't like being around people."

Yukimura looked disappointed. He had yet to meet the new recruit that Sasuke had been gushing over for, oh so long, and he was really looking forwards to finally seeing him.

"Don't get so down about it," Sasuke patted him on the back, "I hardly ever see him myself, and he lives with me."

"He'll have to report to me at some point or another," Yukimura reassured himself. After all, he was the actual leader of the Sanada ninja corps.

Sasuke got back to find Kotaro already in his bed. He ignored it for the moment as he changed into something more comfortable for sleeping. He slid in next to the other man careful not to wake him. Kotaro snuggled up next to him snoring softly. Sasuke smiled down at him.

Maybe they were really together but neither of them had announced it. Fuma is a silent mercenary. It would make since that he expected Sasuke to just know that they were together. Though he could be wrong by assuming things like this. If he made the wrong advances thinking they were together, he ended up dead if he over stepped.

He sighed pulling Kotaro closer.

He would have to ask him right out.

~.~.~.~.~

"What are we," Sasuke thought it was a good idea to ask around the time when they should be eating breakfast.

Kotaro looked at him like he was stupid, "You really shouldn't have to ask something like that."

"W-wait, is that a yes?" Sasuke followed Fuma as he moved around the kitchen about to leave.

Kotaro didn't answer at first mumbling something about Sasuke being an idiot, "Do you know why I joined Takada?"

"What does this have to do with anything I just asked?"

"After the Hojo was taken out I ended up working for Matsunaga. When I wasn't collecting some random object for him, or setting traps for him to make a getaway, I was his play thing. I hadn't actually suffered an injury since my childhood, when I trained for my spot in the Hojo corps. He got off on hurting me and belittling me."

"So the scars..."

"Yeah, that was him. I left because I didn't think that it made scene to work for someone who was going to purposely hurt me, when I had you here willing to take me in without wanting to harm me."

Sasuke was touched but, "So...we are together?"

Kotaro closed the space between them in a kiss, "Yes we are, if you want to be."

"Okay then," Sasuke smiled wrapping his arms around Kotaro's waist. He kissed him again, this time conveying the passion and love that he had for him. Kotaro kissed him back, trying to say that he felt the same.

Fin

Sorry for the bad spelling and grammar. I started edited this late. I'm going to bed now…