Sanosuke woke up at three in the morning, a wave of terror sweeping over him. He couldn't remember where he was, who he was with, if he'd been paid, why he was so sore, but all that kept pounding through his head was one resounding thought of get out get out get out. He tried to sit up, roll over, anything, and found himself held fast by a heavy weight on his lower back, a pair of hands clasped tight about his waist, and for a moment he nearly choked on his fear. Then he heard a soft "nnnnnn" as a larger form rolled Sanosuke over, pinning the slimmer boy to the floor underneath it's much heavier weight.

Amazingly, Sanosuke relaxed instantly, stilling and trying to slow his pounding heart as the events of the night before came flooding back. Of course, he thought, with some relief. Of course.

Then, a slow smile spread over his face, quickly widening into a grin. He was powerless to stop it, couldn't have prevented it if he tried. I hooked up with Saito Hajime. He couldn't suppress the laugh of delight that escaped his lips and was forced to muffle it, biting down hard on one fist to cover up the sound. "I hooked up with Saito Hajime," he repeated, this time aloud, whispering the words around the fist that was still in his mouth, around the grin he still couldn't suppress. Whereas with anyone else, the words 'Saito Hajime' equaled power, prestige and nothing more, in Sanosuke's mind the name equated to dark eyes, a calculating and dazzlingly quick mind, and the most excruciating happiness that Sanosuke had ever known.

His eyes had adjusted to the dark enough by now that he could make out Saito's features clearly. Those pensive eyes were closed, and Sanosuke noticed for the first time that Saito had unusually long eyelashes. The heavyset brow, normally creased in thought or suspicion, was for once worry free and smooth, and Sanosuke ran a fingertip across Saito's forehead in wonder.

Slowly Sanosuke's fingertip wandered down Saito's cheek to his jaw, even rougher than before with a night's growth of stubble, and he couldn't resist rubbing his own cheek against Saito's. He loved the feeling of Saito's rough jaw against his own relatively smooth teenage face.

Before he knew what he was doing, his lips were all over Saito's face, pressing kisses everywhere; he had rolled the older man onto his back and was kissing Saito's throat and working his way down with no clue how he'd gotten to this point.

Sanosuke knew that this was bad. He wasn't supposed to want anyone this much, wasn't supposed to let his masochism get as out of control as it had. He just couldn't help himself. Saito brought something out in him that he had never felt before.

He was amazed that the man hadn't woken up yet. Oh well. He'd just have to try harder.

Saito woke up and knew instantly that something was...he couldn't say 'not right' because whatever it was felt good...but still, something was...different. Then last night came back with a flash and he realized with a small thrill that he was disappointed to note was not a thrill of horror that Sanosuke was kissing his stomach.

Well, maybe 'kissing' wasn't exactly the word. Whatever it was the seventeen year old was currently doing, tongue was involved and it was being used liberally.

In a show of reflexes that Saito had previously thought beyond Sanosuke's defensive capabilities, the boy realized Saito was awake before the man had made a movement. He had in fact been licking Saito's stomach (just as the man had feared) and now he paused mid-motion, his tongue still pressed to Saito's taut stomach, leaving a moist trail behind it, and those flashing eyes flicked their gaze in Saito's direction.

Saito didn't blush, thank God. Instead, he did the Saito Hajime equivalent. He glowered.

"Ahh, there are the wrinkles again," Sanosuke grinned, propping himself up on one elbow and resting his chin in his hand.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Good morning to you, too."

"Why were you kissing my stomach?"

"I wasn't. I was licking it." And Sanosuke licked Saito's belly again as though to prove the point. Saito smacked him for his troubles.

"Stop that."

"Oh, come on, you like it."

"Shut up." Saito would have denied it, but it was all too obvious that he was completely hard.

Sanosuke grinned and kicked one leg over Saito, crawling on all fours until he was face to face with the still glaring man. "Ready for round two?" he murmured, then leaned forward to kiss Saito. Their lips had barely touched before Sanosuke went flying, thrown by a punch.

"No," Saito said calmly some moments later, as Sanosuke lay in a crumpled heap on the floor. "I'm going to go shower. Don't follow me." Though Saito doubted the boy was physically capable of doing so at this moment.

He left the room quickly, trying to ignore the erection that simply would not go away. Damn over-amorous teenager and his hormones.

Saito turned on the water as cold as it would go and stood full under the blast, water streaming down his head into his eyes. He was shivering with the cold.

Saito had taken a lot of cold showers in his day but that didn't mean he had to like them...and still the damn arousal refused to yield. He tried to picture the most vile things he could think of but no, none of it was working. Finally, not wanting to be in the shower all day and really wanting to avoid pruny fingers (oh, how he loathed pruny fingers), he gave in to the inevitable. One hand reached down and began moving slowly, smoothly. His mind wandered and pictured taught sinewy muscle, brown hair and flashing eyes, a grin that he wanted to slap, a grin that would only grow in size if he did hit it.

Saito's rhythm sped up, his breathing quickened ever so slightly (though it would not have been noticeable to anyone watching). So preoccupied was he that he didn't even notice the shower door slide open. There was a few second's pause after it did as the person who opened it stood back and took in the scene before him with great pleasure: Saito Hajime, head back, water dripping down his throat and chest, all the way down to where his hand moved rhythmically between his legs.

"...you're kidding me," Sanosuke said at last. Saito froze. "You'd rather jerk yourself off than fuck me? What the hell's wrong with you?"

Saito didn't answer, didn't move, just stood there. Sanosuke smiled and, placing his hands on the door frame, leaned into the shower. "...mind if I join you?"

Saito couldn't speak, but even if he could have, he wasn't sure what to say…..whether he wanted Sanosuke to join him or not. Still, it seemed he had no choice in the matter, for Sanosuke stepped into the shower without waiting for an answer. Saito was inwardly pleased when the cold water made Sanosuke jump in surprise.

"Fuck ME, that's cold!" he sputtered.

Saito took advantage of Sanosuke's surprised preoccupation to sock the boy in the stomach, and Sanosuke folded in upon himself and toppled to the ground. Saito was upon him in an instant.

"I thought I told you not to follow me," he hissed through clenched teeth. "Don't know when to follow orders, do you? Can't ever just do as you're told, can you, you fucking moron?"

Sanosuke grinned, and Saito noticed then that the boy had a swollen jaw as well as bruises above his eye. "But it's so obvious that you want me here." And he reached out and lightly traced his hand over Saito's arousal. There was a sharp intake of breath and Sanosuke paused, glancing up at Saito. "...or maybe just that you want me...?"

Saito stared straight ahead, his gaze focused somewhere just above Sanosuke's eyes, maybe on his forehead, maybe on his hair, maybe on the drain, Sanosuke couldn't tell. All he knew was that he had finally gotten through. Just like last night, he could see that Saito was ready to give in, only this time it seemed bigger, more serious, more climactic for some reason.

Saito hated this situation, hated ever Goddamn thing about it. Most of all he hated feeling weak, hated feeling like he wasn't in control. True, Sanosuke was trying to keep Saito in control, but he was dong it through being an irresistibly manipulative bastard, and Saito couldn't stand it. Still, that hard-on wasn't exactly getting rid of itself...

With a noise of frustration that was half growl and half whimper, Saito bent down and pressed his mouth to Sanosuke's. The boy's eyes were already sliding shut, his lips parted.

Saito kissed Sanosuke deeply, his tongue probing the roof of Sano's mouth as though the seventeen year old had his own flavor, like ice cream, and Saito was determined to figure out the secret of it. The boy made a little noise, half of pain, and Saito remembered that he had a split lip. Pulling back, he ran his thumb over it, gently teasing the cut, and Sanosuke whimpered.

"Still hurts?"

"You know it does."

"Maybe you should learn to watch your mouth, and shit like this won't happen."

"Maybe you should watch it for me."

Saito shook his head, but he couldn't help but smile. "You really do have the worst pickup lines, kid." He leaned in, kissing the boy.

"Oh?" Sanosuke ran a hand through Saito's hair, tugging gently, which elicited a tiny pleased sound. "They seem to work just fine."

"I still think it's better when you keep your mouth shut."

"But then I can't use it on you in new and fantastic ways."

Saito hated to admit how good that sounded, especially after the blow job Sanosuke had given him last night. The boy was obviously damn good with his mouth. He nipped gently at Sano's throat, worrying at the flesh almost hard enough to break skin but not quite there. He knew it would drive a masochist such as Sanosuke wild, and he was right. The boy was writhing beneath him, hands scrabbling on the tile.

"Goddammit!"

Saito ran his tongue across the reddened flesh he had been biting. "Problem?"

Sano whimpered at the loss of pain. "You're teasing." That made Saito huff a laugh.

"Kid, if you wanted a traditional relationship, you should've stalked somebody else." As soon as the word 'relationship' left his mouth he regretted it. He didn't want Sanosuke thinking this was something it wasn't. He saw it, too: the way the boy's eyes widened ever so slightly at the word, and the smile he immediately bit back.

"I don't WANNA stalk anyone else."

"Wow. So good to know that I'm special," Saito's voice was dry. "And I don't do relationships." He watched Sano's face carefully, waiting for it to fall, but it didn't. That was surprising, but good. It was true, he didn't do relationships, and there was no use in this kid getting his hopes up only to get crushed when Saito ground that information into his stupid head. Only right now Saito was realizing that he really didn't WANT to crush Sanosuke. To see disappointment on that face….the thought was making him uncomfortable. He shook the feeling away. Sano was still beneath him, grinning.

"No, of course not." He paused, grinning. "Too cool for them?"

Saito tried to hold on to that last bit of irritation he had had when he'd gotten into the shower, but it was gone. There was just something about Sanosuke. He was equally good at prompting anger and amusement. Saito shook his head. "Too everything."

"Ah, too everything." Sano reached out, fingers running through Saito's wet hair, stroking back the locks that the water had plastered to his forehead. Saito felt new heat stirring in him. He caught Sano's hand, looking into those surprised eyes.

"Bedroom."

The bedroom felt cold after the water of the shower, no matter how cold that had been. Sano looked around the room, hands on his hips, and Saito looked at him. The boy really was absolutely shameless, standing there stark naked and dripping wet. Saito couldn't help but notice yet again that the kid was too damn skinny, despite how attractive he was.

Sano turned to Saito and grinned. "I like it."

"Like…." Saito was taken aback. "My room?" Sanosuke nodded, still grinning, and Saito's eyes narrowed. "What is there to like?"

He tried looking at the room through Sano's eyes and immediately found it impossible (if anyone could get inside the mind of that rooster head they deserved a prize). He settled instead for seeing through different eyes, but no….it was still exactly the same. A beat up old futon, perfectly made. A stand for his katanas, currently empty, and he realized with a curse that he'd never put them away last night, too distracted by his guest. A closet and a small chest of drawers for his clothing. And a tiny nightstand, almost nothing on it. Nothing here to justify an "I like it", and he thought again, as he had spoken mere seconds before, 'what is there to like?'

But now Sano was laughing, and Saito turned to him again, irritated. "Exactly," Sano managed. "Exactly."

"You're not making any sense, moron."

"It makes perfect sense." Sanosuke gestured around the room. "Everything's so basic. No decoration, no posters on the wall…..bed made so damn tidy." He smiled. "It's just like you. And I like it."

Something about those words struck at Saito's heart, a stabbing pain; he forced them away with a shake of the head. "Moron."

Sano just laughed. "You know, you call me that a lot. Is that my pet name?"

Saito sighed inwardly, though he had to suppress a smile. This kid sure made him smile a lot. He hated it. "Sure, kid."

"Hey!" Sanosuke was indignant. "I'm not a damn kid!" He was too distracted by his anger to notice the way Saito was backing him towards the bed.

"You're seventeen, you're a kid."

"Oh? Then how come-" but the words cut off in a yelp of surprise as Saito gave Sanosuke a tiny shove and his feet hit the bed, tripping him up and sending him falling back onto the futon.

Saito took his time to look Sano over, eyes raking over the boy's body and taking in every detail. For being skinny, he really was ridiculously attractive, with a toned chest and arms. He was gangly, as if still growing….all arms and legs. Saito remembered the way it felt to have those arms wrapped around him last night. Now he wanted to know how it felt to have those legs wrapped around his waist.

"Well?" Sano's eyes were dark, flashing with need. "You bring me to your bedroom just to stare at me?" One hand slipped between his legs and gave his cock a slow, sure stroke.

That was all the invitation Saito needed. He crawled onto the bed, boxing Sanosuke in and kissing him. He felt those hands slip into his hair, brushing the wet locks back from his face. He pressed closer, deepening that kiss, making sure to nip at Sanosuke's lower lip and reveling in the tiny gasp that elicited as the cut was opened back up. He lapped at the blood, loving the whimper that resulted. "So responsive," he murmured.

Those eyes looked up at him, flashing, and Saito was captured by them. He didn't think he had ever seen such passion as in those eyes. "You think I'm responsive now, just wait till you're inside me."

Oh God. Saito nearly lost in then and there; he settled for kissing Sanosuke again, pouring all of his emotion into that kiss, both of them breathless when he pulled away. "Fuck, kid, where'd you learn to talk like that?"

He saw something move through Sanosuke's eyes, something he couldn't quite read, but it vanished nearly as quickly as it'd come, replaced by that devil-may-care grin. "You'd be amazed what they teach in school these days."

Saito couldn't help it, he let out a bark of laughter. "Moron."

"Shut up," Sano's voice was breathy; his hands ran down Saito's back to cup his ass, delighting in the sharp intake of breath, and pulling Saito down so their groins came into sharp contact. "And get over here."

Saito hated that he was being commanded by this kid, that Sanosuke had taken control like that and relocated him, but he couldn't bring himself to seize that control back, not with Sano's hard cock against his. It felt so fucking good. He gave his hips an experimental roll and had to bite his lip to hold back a moan. Fuck.

Sanosuke had no such reservations. His head tipped back against the pillow, exposing a smooth expanse of throat as his eyes slipped shut and he let out a long low moan. He looked absolutely fucking gorgeous. Saito couldn't help it; he leaned in and nuzzled Sano's throat, nipping gently at that perfect flesh. The boy moaned again and it tugged at something deep in Saito's gut; his teeth reflexively bit down harder but he caught himself. Then he felt Sano's hand in his hair, pressing his head down ever so slightly, an encouragement if ever there was one.

"Do it." The words were soft, breathless, but they were lucid. And this was one order that Saito Hajime definitely didn't mind taking. He bit down harder and harder until he felt Sanosuke's skin break, loving the tiny cry that accompanied it, the tang of blood in his mouth. He lapped gently at the cut, but then he found himself being flipped onto his back, Sano straddling his waist. He stared upwards in surprise at his sudden relocation.

Sanosuke's cheeks were flushed, eyes hazy with need. He rocked in Saito's lap, hips rolling together, and Saito bit back another noise. He wanted Sanosuke. Fuck, did he want this boy. But he wasn't altogether certain how to proceed. He'd only had one encounter of this kind and it wasn't something he liked to look back on. It had been with another member of the Shinsengumi, the result of too much sake and a lack of women, and he had spent so much time trying to put the incident out of mind that he actually didn't remember much of it anymore. So he was amazed at what came next.

Sanosuke was looking around the room, for what Saito didn't know, but the boy found it. Leaning over, he grabbed a small bottle off of the nightstand. It was the lotion Saito used on his hands whenever his swordplay got to be too much. As he watched, Sanosuke opened the bottle and poured some into his hands and then, Saito couldn't believe it, reached behind him, raising his hips just enough to press his slickened fingers into himself.

"Holy shit." Saito couldn't have held the whispered words back had he tried. Sanosuke's flashing eyes found his, a hint of nervousness in them, as if asking Saito if this was okay. In answer, his hands found Sanosuke's slim waist, gently squeezing in encouragement. Yes. This is okay. This is more than okay.

Reassured, the boy continued. Saito almost wished he could see what Sano was doing for now he was rolling his hips back and forth, fucking himself on his fingers, and his eyes were shut, head tipped back. He looked fucking gorgeous. Saito couldn't help it; he let his hands drift, running over Sanosuke's stomach and up over his chest.

Those eyes opened, Sano smiled down at Saito. "You ready for me?"

Saito glowered with no real malice behind it. He couldn't help it; he swatted Sano's butt. "Course I am."

Sanosuke huffed a laugh and then he lifted his hips. Saito's eyes widened as Sanosuke positioned himself and then slowly began to sink down, sheathing himself on Saito's cock.

This time, Saito couldn't have held back a moan for all the money in the world. Sano was so Goddamn tight, so hot, so…..perfect. His hands went to the boy's hips, fingers digging in hard enough to leave marks. "Fuck. Fuck. Goddamn."

"Yeah." The word was breathless, Sanosuke's eyes shut again. He opened them slowly, blinking at Saito through long lashes, and Saito couldn't help but wonder how the hell he'd gotten here. Then Sano gave a roll of his hips and all coherent thought fled from Saito's mind. He couldn't remember the last time anything felt this damn good. And seeing Sanosuke up above him, moving that way, so graceful and fluid….it was too much and yet not enough. He wanted more. He wanted control.

Sano let out a noise of surprise as he was flipped onto his back, Saito immediately thrusting back into him, but he didn't stay surprised long, going with the flow and wrapping both arms and legs around Saito. This was it. This was what Saito wanted: to feel that body beneath him, those long legs around him, Sanosuke clinging to him. It was good. So good. He hadn't had a woman who made him feel this way in…..longer than he could remember.

Then a hand touched his cheek, making him jump. Sanosuke was looking up at him, a soft smile on his face and in his eyes. Saito could do nothing but stare. Despite the passion of Sanosuke's actions, the touch was somehow impossibly gentle and it threw him. Yet somehow it sent heat flooding through him, filled him with a desire that both frightened him and filled him with longing for more, that pushed him ever closer towards completion.

Sanosuke's cheeks were flushed; clearly he was teetering on the edge as well. "Saito." The name was barely more than air. Saito had never heard his name said quite that way before. Strangely enough, he found himself wanting to hear it again and again.

He reached between them, fingers wrapping around Sanosuke's cock and giving it a slow, smooth stroke. Sano cried out at that first touch, and it didn't take long before he let out an "oh" that was practically a sob, coming hard, that wet heat spattering Saito's hand.

Saito couldn't take his eyes off the boy beneath him, the way his eyes shut tight as he came. His free hand clutched at the sheets as he felt Sanosuke's fluttering muscles clench around him in orgasm. He was so tight, and the feeling along with the sight of him was more than Saito could handle. He came as well, breathing "Sanosuke" as he followed the boy into completion.

It was several moments before Saito felt like moving. That was the most amazing sex he'd had in…..maybe ever. And with a boy nearly half his age. He felt an uneasiness stirring in the pit of his stomach, but it had less to do with Sanosuke's age or gender and more to do with the emotion he was stirring in Saito. Because that was a great deal. Saito couldn't remember the last time he had smiled or laughed as much as he had this evening. And he didn't like it.

At last he stirred, lifting his head to look at Sanosuke, but he almost jumped in surprise. The boy was looking at him in something like awe. "What." He didn't like that look. "What is it."

Sanosuke immediately shook his head rapidly. "Nothing. It's nothing." You said my name, he whispered inwardly. For Saito had. When he came, it had been Sanosuke's name upon his lips. But there was no way in hell he would tell Saito that. Emotions were definitely NOT Saito Hajime's forte, and such a thing was far too emotional for the man to deal with.

"Mm." Saito clearly didn't believe Sanosuke but didn't feel like pressing the issue. "Good." He rolled off of the boy, flopping onto his back.

Sano stared at the man for a moment. He was beautiful, body sated and covered in a fine sheen of sweat. "I…..can I take a shower?"

Saito nodded. "Go ahead." He didn't turn as the boy headed off, no matter how much he wanted to get a look at that ass. He merely lay there, trying to relax and let the quiet put things back where they belonged.

When he comes back, I'll make him leave, he told himself. He doesn't belong here. It was stupid to let him in last night and it was even stupider to have sex with him. I'll just tell him to leave.

"Um…"

Saito looked before he could help himself and there he was, Sanosuke, stark naked and dripping wet. "I couldn't find a towel." Normally Saito would think this to be another of the boy's pathetic pick-up lines, but the nervous expression on Sano's face made it clear that the words were true.

Saito sighed, flopping back on the bed, throwing an arm over his face. "They're in the closet across from the bed."

He could hear Sanosuke opening the closet and pulling out a towel, hear the soft sounds of the boy drying himself off, and he waited. If the past few hours had shown him anything, it was that Sanosuke couldn't keep his mouth shut.

"Um…"

There it was. Saito uncovered his face, propping himself up on his elbows to look up at the boy. Sano had the towel tied around his waist, hair still dripping wet. As Saito watched, a droplet fell onto his chest, running down that flat stomach. Too damn skinny.

"Yes?"

Sanosuke fidgeted with the towel. If possible, he looked even more nervous than before. It was truly bizarre. Sano hadn't looked nervous since the two had met earlier that night, not once. "Can I stay for the rest of the night?"

No, Saito's mind screamed. Get rid of him. For he knew in his heart that this boy could lead to nothing but trouble. But the words stuck in his throat as he stared at that boy, at those nervous eyes. Finally he sighed, the noise half a growl.

"Get your scrawny ass over here."

Sanosuke's eyes lit up, those gorgeous, bright eyes that Saito was beginning to love so much, and he was on the bed in an instant, kissing Saito. The older man tugged a quilt up over the two of them, grumbling "I'm going to regret this."

Sanosuke chuckled. "Comes with a money back guarantee."

It was impossible to hold back a smile; this boy just had that effect on him. He was beginning to find he didn't mind so much. "I'm gonna hold you to that."

He could hear the smile in Sanosuke's voice. "Please do."

~tbc~