Chap 7 : Belong

Onikiri walked down the empty street, his precious katana he got from Yorimitsu was dangling on his back, calmly he made his way to Minamoto's residence. Somehow, he still couldn't believe that he just jerked off to Ibaraki. Grinning at his own thoughts, he shrugged it off.

After a few minutes of walking, he reached the residence. He let himself explore the hallway to the main room Yorimitsu usually in. From the hallway he could hear Yorimitsu's voice faintly. Hmm…? A guest? Nah, I didn't see any other pair of shoes in the entrance. A call? Maybe I'll just wait outside until he finishes, he thought to himself. Walking slowly, he reached the door frame quietly.

"Yes, he will do his job well." This time he heard Yorimitsu's voice clearly. He was on the phone since he didn't hear anyone else's voice other than him.

"It's fine, he is the blade of Minamoto," Yorimitsu continued. Hearing his name mentioned, he felt so proud of himself, the blade of Minamoto. Smiling to himself, he kept his quiet and listened. "Once the job is done…, I'll have him clean up the mess."

Onikiri's heart skipped a beat hearing the conversation. What does he mean by mess? He was confused, but kept his voice down. "There is nothing to worry about, I have the black sheep ready…," this time he couldn't hear his heart thumping loudly in his ribcage, "It will be Onikiri."

His eyes widened, black sheep? Me?! What was that supposed to mean?! The thoughts rushed in his head, unable to comprehend the whole thing.

"I picked him up from the street, he wasn't just a stray pup back then…" Yorimitsu paused and inhaled deeply, "He was originally a member of the Doji family. I picked him up during the incident at the Doji family residence you caused back then. Since he didn't even remember who he was, I've been using him ever since. So, placing the blame on him isn't a difficult task, Orochi."

His body was trembling, the information he just heard was too much for him to handle. The Doji family incident… he tried to think hard. Come to think of it, he didn't have any memories of his early life, he knew about the incident from Yorimitsu himself. It was an incident caused by an underground organisation which was led by a man named Orochi. It was a massacre, half of the Doji were wiped out. But, amazingly the rest of them could survive until this day. He was brought to the Minamoto family when he was only seven, he was told that he had lost his family in an accident, from then on he only looked up to Yorimitsu who always guided him, his saviour.

Anger arose within him, he let his presence be noticed by Yorimitsu by entering the room. He clutched his unsheathed katana dangerously. Glaring dagger at Yorimitsu, ready to kill him. Yorimitsu who was shocked, maintaining his composure, he cut the phone.

"So… I was a Doji…?!" Onikiri asked, his voice trembling from anger and dismay.

"You shouldn't eavesdrop on people's conversation, haven't I taught you that?" Pulling out his katana, Yorimitsu was ready to counter him.

"AFTER ALL THIS TIME I ALWAYS SERVED YOU!" Onikiri screamed, launching his first attack only to be dodged by Yorimitsu easily. "I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY SAVIOUR!" He couldn't contain his rage, he attacked blindly. The sound of their blades clashing to each other could be heard down the hallway.

"You are only a tool," Yorimitsu stated, "never be more than that!"

"AAAAARGH!" Gripping his katana as if his life depended on it, he jumped and attacked Yorimitsu from above.

Yorimitsu barely dodged the attack, he cut his left cheek in the process. Spun around he swung his blade and cut Onikiri's back successfully.

Stumbled loudly, he groaned painfully. Bearing the searing pain on his back, he used his katana as support to get back on his feet. Staggering, he tried to compose himself, ready to launch his next attack.

Yorimitsu touched his bleeding cheek, smiled at the blood on his finger, "You're indeed the blade of Minamoto I forged, too bad you've proven yourself to be a failed one!"

Enraged by Yorimitsu words, he charged his next attack. Striking like a wild animal. Blinded by his rage, he ignored his injuries, and moved as fast as his body allowed him. When finally his last blow landed successfully on Yorimitsu's body, cutting both his blade and body.

He coughed up blood and fell on his knees, unbelieving his defeat, he used his broken katana for support and touched the deep gash on his chest. He stared at Onikiri who was still standing up in front of him panting heavily. Smiling, he finally collapsed and surrendered into the darkness.

With the last glance, he exhaled deeply and made his way out of the room only to encounter Yorimitsu's subordinates. Panting, he once again gripped his katana tightly, clamping his hands around the handle, readying his stance.

Meanwhile, with a small whimper, Ibaraki regained his consciousness. Looking around his surroundings, he found Shuten, sitting on his side, sleeping. Slowly, he rose and sat still in his futon. He watched Shuten's sleeping face, only staring until he decided to leave his room and look for some fresh air.

"How are you feeling?" Susabi asked when they encountered each other in the hallway.

Lowering his gaze, he inhaled deeply, "Couldn't say I feel better…" he said, unable to look him in the eyes.

Susabi patted his shoulder, "Take your time, you know we are here to support you."

Ibaraki nodded in response before uttering a thank you almost inaudibly. It brought a small smile across his face before leaving Ibaraki to whatever he was going to do.

My lower back hurts, he thought to himself. He touched his forehead to feel that he had a slight fever, but persistently made his way out of the residence slowly. As stubborn as he could be, he left.

Feeling the cool breeze of the spring blowing on his feverish body, he shivered. "Shouldn't have left the house in the first place," he regretted his decision immediately. "Maybe let's grab some instant ramen from a convenience store then go home…", he murmured.

On his way to the nearest convenient store, he saw a figure laying on the ground out cold. He hesitated at first, but dared himself to get closer, took a better look at whoever it was. To his surprise, it was Onikiri, badly wounded, with several cuts all over his body. Backing off, Ibaraki was ready to make a run for it until he noticed a long-deep gash on his back.

Without thinking, he rushed to his side, "Hey… Onikiri!" He poked his arm with his index finger hesitantly, but no responses. Sighing heavily, he helped him. Grunting loudly, he picked up his motionless figure with his left hand.

"Darn it, what am I doing, really…" struggled strenuously, he successfully carried Onikiri on his back, half dragging him around with his poor condition, way back to the Doji residence.

With lots of effort, he finally made it to the entrance, slumped on the hallway, he was wheezing like crazy. Ren who welcomed him was shocked to see Ibaraki slumped on the floor with battered Onikiri on his back. "…help…" he wheezed.

On the next day, Susabi could be seen watching the morning news. It was about the Minamoto family, the cops were currently investigating it. The leader, Minamoto no Yorimitsu was found dead in his residence along with his subordinates. The police assumed it was another yakuza war and they couldn't do much if it were to be proven true.

"Do you think it was his doing?" Ren asked, concerned.

Susabi sighed, he was trying to figure out what he was supposed to do to Onikiri who was currently in their care. "Let's wait until he regains his consciousness," he replied calmly.

A few days passed when finally Onikiri came to. Ibaraki and Shuten were still feeling awkward to each other, but they tried to fix everything.

Blinking his eyes weakly, Onikiri looked around at his surroundings. Unfamiliar room, with unfamiliar walls, unfamiliar furniture. He jerked his body up abruptly when he remembered the night he clashed swords with Yorimitsu. Groaned loudly at the intense pain from his back, he noticed the bandage around his torso and other places where his wounds were. Gritted his teeth, he felt the anger built up in his chest. The betrayal he felt was unbearable.

His thoughts were interrupted when Susabi and Shuten made their way into his room. Glaring at them, Onikiri only sat there, speechless.

Susabi and Shuten quietly let themselves sit close enough to where Onikiri was. "I'm Susabi, the head of the Doji family," he introduced himself, "… and this is Shuten, I believe you already knew each other."

"I wished you were f*ing dead," Shuten growled.

Susabi glared at him, expecting him to behave. "I'm sorry…" Shuten murmured, averting his gaze to his side.

"I heard about what happened to the Minamoto family…" Susabi continued, "…I believe you knew something… or maybe you were involved." His words left his lips smoothly as if no emotion in them. But Onikiri knew better that Susabi was only trying to confirm every piece of information he already had.

Onikiri's glare was softened, staring at Susabi's eyes, he sighed, "… I killed him…" he stated, "… and the rest of them."

Shuten's eyes widened at the fact he just uttered. On the other hand, Susabi was calm, his facial expression didn't change, he didn't even flinch.

"So what are you going to do now?" Susabi asked.

Onikiri was silent for a moment, trying to figure out what he should say. "You can turn me in," defeated, he knew that he couldn't escape the consequences and he was ready to accept it.

Susabi's expression was still the same, it was hard to figure out what he was thinking. "I can turn you in, of course," he paused, "but I can also protect you as part of the Doji family."

"What…?!"

"WHAT?!"

Both Onikiri and Shuten were shocked at Susabi's words. He already found out that Onikiri was actually a Doji, he was there when the incident took place. He was badly wounded at the time, from a distance he could only watched when Yorimitsu took his unconscious figure with him. Witnessing every single moment, it haunted him. He had been trying to find Onikiri ever since. When he heard about the infamous blade of the Minamoto, he investigated it and found out that he was the one he had been searching for years.

He was currently trying to save Onikiri, but he was informed that he had lost his memories and it would be difficult to get him back. That was why he didn't declare war to the Minamoto family when Shuten told him about the incident with Ibaraki.

Hearing Susabi's explanation left them dumbfounded. Deep inside, Onikiri was relieved that he finally knew who he really was, what happened to him in the past, and who to rely on from now on.

With Susabi's power and influences, Onikiri could get out from his complicated situation unharmed. Dedicating himself to the Doji family, he pledged his loyalty to Susabi. Starting a new page of his life.

A month had passed and their peaceful lives were back. Shuten was still trying to convince Ibaraki to accept his feelings. Meanwhile, Onikiri's obsession about Ibaraki grew greater day by day.

Finally one day, Shuten came to Ibaraki's room, bringing him a white fur-ball with a small red shaped heart in the middle.

"What is this?" He asked, playing with the soft furs with his left hand while his casted arm rested on his lap. His face lit up with joy, twirling his fingers around the furs.

"Well, I thought you would like it…" he replied, scratching the back of his head while his face turned bright red.

Ibaraki smiled at Shuten's reaction. "I'll accept it," he started, "…your feelings too…" his face reddened, he turned his gaze to the fur-ball in his hands, unable to look Shuten in the eyes.

Shuten's heart skipped a beat when he heard his words, couldn't believe his own ears, he slapped his face hard enough to make himself yelp. Ibaraki giggled at Shuten's idiocy.

Shuten was relieved that Ibaraki could go back to his normal self. Leaning closer, he asked Ibaraki for his permission to kiss him, nodded, he let Shuten peck his lips.

Suddenly, his door flung open. Both of them wide eyed stared at Onikiri who stood in the door frame, his face was red and he was breathing heavily. "SHARE! HE IS MINE TOO!" He screamed and stormed inside the room.

"WHAT?!" Shuten and Ibaraki yelled at the same time.

Pouncing on Ibaraki, he kissed him on the lips. "Get away from him, you're gonna traumatise him!" Shuten snarled, pulling him away.

Stumbled behind, Onikiri licked his lips lustfully while staring at Ibaraki, locking eye contact. Ibaraki was terrified, his face becoming pale.

Enraged, Shuten grabbed his shirt's collar, "What do you think you're doing?!" he growled.

Smiling calmly, he patted Shuten on the shoulder, "I'm a Doji too, you know," he started, "We already shared him before, and since we are the same, there's no reason to compete against each other." He grabbed the back of Shuten's neck and dragged him closer. Their faces were only an inch away. "It's joint ownership," he whispered.

Shuten's face blushed, thinking for a while, they looked at Ibaraki who was speechless at the sight in front of him. "Hmm… not bad," Shuten finally replied.

Blushed deeply, Ibaraki tried to escape, but was caught easily by Shuten while Onikiri locked the door from the inside. "It's OK, Iba," Shuten assured him, "We will be gentle," Onikiri continued, finishing the sentence.

Ibaraki's eyes widened while his face was as bright red as a tomato. "Noooooo…"

Their moans of ecstasy could be heard all night long.

End

"Maybe we should make their room soundproof, I couldn't get any sleep last night!" Ren protested, while Susabi hid his face, blushing at the thoughts.

END!