Brightdreamer's Fics

FIC - Torchwood - Jack/Ianto - "Just One More Thing to Hide"

2009-12-14T07:17:27Z

Title: Just One More Thing to Hide
Rating: PG
Fandom: Torchwood
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Disclaimer: I own nothing, so you can take nothing from me.
Prompt: Round one, challenge five for jantoseasonal. Theme: Brown. Prompts: Tea, Leather, Rain. “Ianto is sick, and he doesn't tell Jack. Once Jack finds out, Ianto reluctantly allows Jack to take care of him, their relationship deepening in the process.”
Summary: Ianto Jones is very good at hiding pain, but when he can't any longer, there's only one person who can care for him. Set between “Greeks Bearing Gifts” and “They Keep Killing Suzie.”

Ianto Jones was very good at hiding pain. He prided himself on it; he could go to work every day, go through the motions of making coffee, picking up trash, tidying up the Hub, and no one ever knew the anguish he dealt with every waking minute. Sure, Tosh might have had an idea... he knew that pendant had allowed her to read thoughts for a time, but she'd never brought it up, and he certainly wasn't going to, though her pitying looks were starting to concern him. He'd started to make an extra effort to paste on a smile when he was around her, just to show that he was fine.

Hiding mental pain was one thing, physical was another. He knew he hadn't been eating well after Lisa's death, and he could barely stomach the thought of much food at all after the events in Brecon Beacons, especially not meat, and he'd started having to cinch his belt tighter in the morning. Again, nothing to worry about, no one would notice, it was just one more thing to hide as he blended into the background of Torchwood.

However, when he awoke one morning with a pounding headache, chills, and nausea, he wasn't sure if this was something he could cover up. Pushing himself upright in bed with a groan, he rubbed his forehead and contemplated the possibility of calling off ill to work. If he did that, though, someone would be certain to come round to check on him, if nothing else to make sure he hadn't been infected with some strange alien virus. Once they found that it wasn't (probably... Ianto was pretty sure this was just a regular human flu), they'd make him stay home until he was better, which would leave him here alone with nothing but his thoughts and memories....

That alone was enough to get Ianto moving. Forcing himself out of bed, he stumbled to the bathroom, where he swallowed two aspirin with a quick gulp of water. He stood under the shower for a long time, letting the hot water rain down on him, stealing away the chills even as he had to lean dizzily against the wall a few times.

Getting dressed was no easy task, as the chills returned as soon as he stepped out of the warm bathroom. Taking a deep breath, he forced his trembling hands to move methodically, pulling on each piece of his suit, fastening the buttons on his shirt, tying the tie, each part calming him, making him feel more like himself, each layer another wall matching the ones he'd built around his pain. When he finally slipped the jacket on, he could convince himself that he was feeling almost normal.

His shoulders slumped a bit as he walked outside, noting that it was raining... again. Nothing unusual for Cardiff, but the weather matched exactly how he was feeling. Gray skies poured cold and chilly into brown muddy water that swirled dizzily down drains and off gutters. Ianto swayed slightly in his door, hesitating, again wondering if he should stay home, but the moment passed and he stood up straight and walked out to his car.

Once in the Hub, Ianto went through the usual motions, picking up the trash from the night before, straightening up the mess before moving off to the kitchenette to start everyone's coffee. The others would be arriving soon, and he'd seen the light on in Jack's office, though he hadn't seen the Captain yet. As he heard the cog door open, his hands worked automatically and methodically, making each individual cup of coffee just the way the others liked it. He started to make one for himself, then changed his mind and opted for peppermint herbal tea instead, hoping to settle his stomach.

As he stirred cream into Tosh's cup, he felt dizzy again, watching the brown and white liquids swirl together, and had to drop the spoon and hold onto the edge of the counter until the feeling passed. Shakily, he reached for his own tea and took a sip, then instantly regretted it as his stomach rolled and protested the intrusion. Setting the cup down with a grimace, he took several slow breaths, head down, eyes closed, holding onto the counter top again. After a long moment, he straightened his back and tugged his suit jacket back into place, pulling the facade around himself like a cloak. He could do this. He was fine.

Making his rounds with the coffee was business as usual. Tosh thanked him quietly, and he managed to force a small smile for her. Owen took the cup with barely a nod, apparently he'd had a long night previously and wasn't quite awake yet. Gwen wasn't in yet, so Ianto left her coffee on her desk and steered his steps up to Jack's office and set the mug on the boss's desk. He was going to have to go sit down after this, his stomach was churning, his head was throbbing, and why were the lights so bright in here?

“Oh, Ianto, wait...” Jack called him back as he was turning to leave the room.

Ianto paused, turning back slowly as to not make the room start spinning again. “Something else, sir?” It was no use. Even that small unplanned movement triggered a wave of dizziness and nausea, making the world tilt dangerously under Ianto's feet. Jack was saying something about the archives and needing some files today and Ianto was nodding in all the right places though he couldn't hear a word Jack was saying through the roaring in his ears and everything was going brown around the edges and oh God, he was going to be sick all over the floor of Jack's office....

The next thing Ianto knew, he was on his hands and knees on the floor, throwing up what little he'd eaten the night before into a plastic rubbish bin that had miraculously found its way into place. A strong, warm hand rested on his back, rubbing in firm, comforting circles. Ianto retched a few more times, then slumped to the side, pushing himself away from Jack to lean against the side of his desk. “S-sorry, sir,” he croaked, his entire body trembling. “I'll get that cleaned up in a moment.” He had to get himself back under control, had to get the facade back in place, couldn't let Jack or anyone else see the pain, not now, not ever.

A glass of water was held to his lips, and Ianto cautiously took a sip. “Are you kidding?” There was a note of laughter in Jack's voice, though his face showed concern. “Ianto, in case you missed it, you just puked your guts up in my trash.” He smelled the leather of Jack's wristband just before Jack's hand rested on his forehead, feeling cool there where it had felt warm on his back, and Ianto flinched away despite the way it made his headache pound even more. “You're burning up, too. Hang on...” Ianto closed his eyes in resignation, hearing Jack move to the door to yell for Owen.

The next few minutes passed in a blur for Ianto, though he vaguely had the thought that it was worse than staying home would have been. He was sitting on the examining table, shivering until someone draped a brown wool blanket around his shoulders. (Tosh, he remembered later, he'd have to thank her.) Owen took a few readings, looked in his eyes and mouth and finally pronounced that he had not, in fact, contracted any strange alien viruses. Ianto could have told him that, but he was too busy being sick again to do any talking. Another flurry of activity swirled around him, and Ianto groaned and rested his head on his hand. Why had he thought coming in to work was a good idea?

“I'm taking you home,” Jack announced, resting his hand on Ianto's shoulder. Ianto immediately shook his head, though he regretted it as the motion set off the jackhammering elves behind his eyes again.

“I can drive myself,” he said softly. That was the last thing he wanted, for someone to have to take him home. He could take care of himself, he always had, and he'd be back in the Hub again tomorrow looking fine and everyone would forget about all of this.

“Consider it an order,” Jack replied, his hand sliding down to support Ianto around the waist. “Come on, let's get you to bed... and no, that's not a pick-up line. This time.” Jack grinned cheekily, and Ianto was amazed at the man's ability to flirt under any circumstances.

“As you wish, sir,” he murmured, allowing himself to lean slightly against Jack as he carefully slid off the table. It was only so he wouldn't collapse and have to be carried out (even more humiliating), he told himself, but Jack was warm and strong beside him, and he found himself leaning more and more heavily on the other man as they made their way to the car. Once there, he made to start toward the driver's side, but Jack steered him toward the passenger door.

“Keys,” the captain demanded, and Ianto could find no reason no to obey. Jack seemed determined to drive him home, and he was just too tired and sick to argue. With a sigh, he climbed into the passenger seat and buckled in. As Jack started the car and pulled onto the road, Ianto leaned his forehead against the blessedly cool window, watching the rainy gray-and-brown landscape roll by. He stayed silent, closing his eyes after a time, feeling Jack's hand come to rest on his thigh, a comforting touch.

Before long, Ianto felt the car come to a stop, but he couldn't seem to find the strength to open his eyes and get out of the car. The heat had stopped running and cold damp air was seeping in, chilling his feet, and he shivered, pulling away from the cool window. He felt another blast of cold air, then strong, warm arms were embracing him, unbuckling his seatbelt and easing him out of the car. Not wanting to be humiliated further by being carried, Ianto managed to open his eyes and get his feet under himself, leaning on Jack again. He raised his head and met Jack's eyes, shaking his head slightly.

Jack searched his gaze for a moment, then nodded in understanding. The trip back up the stairs and into Ianto's apartment seemed to take an eternity, but Ianto set his jaw firmly and told himself he was not going to collapse until he was safely away from prying neighbor eyes. Finally, his bed was within reach, and he fell onto the mattress, curling onto his side. He felt Jack's hands working to pull his shoes off, then loosening his tie, then everything faded to a blissful, painless black.

Ianto wasn't sure how much time had passed before he awoke with a groan. Awareness came slowly... he knew he was warm, but he could feel the material of the duvet cover against the bare skin of his chest and legs... he'd been stripped down to his underwear. A damp cloth rested on his aching head, slightly cool, but warming rapidly from the fever. Cracking his eyes open, he looked blearily around the room, finding it empty. So, Jack left. Just as well, he doesn't need to see me like this. I don't need him to... oh I don't feel good... His stomach twisted and rolled, and Ianto curled on his side, breathing shallowly in an attempt to get the nausea to pass. A soft moan escaped his lips as he clutched at the duvet cover, squeezing his eyes shut again. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been this ill, and now he was all alone...

“Whoa, hey, didn't know you woke up.” Jack's voice drifted in past the fever-haze, and Ianto wondered for a moment if he was hallucinating. The bed dipped slightly and Jack's hand came to rest on his shoulder. “Feeling sick again? Here, it's okay...” Ianto allowed himself to be guided to lean over the side of the bed, a plastic bin was held up under his chin, and he promptly lost what little he had left in his stomach. After it was over, he rolled back onto the bed, shivering, covered in cold sweat, but feeling slightly better. He sipped at a glass of water that was held to his lips, then looked away from Jack.

“You don't have to stay, sir,” he said quietly, pushing himself up to lean back on the pillows, then picking at a flaw on the duvet, not meeting the other's eyes. “I'll be fine if you need to get back to the Hub.”

Jack laid a fresh cold cloth on the back of Ianto's neck. “I want to stay,” he replied, touching Ianto's hand where it rested on top of the blanket.

“I don't... want you to...” Ianto choked out, pulling his hand away. I don't want you to see me like this. Just let me get over this, then I'll be back at work and everything will be back to the way it was.

Jack was silent for a moment, and Ianto could feel his intense gaze on his face. His cheeks burned, and he tried to hold out as long as he could, but finally chanced a glance at the other man. His breath caught at the look there, the care, concern, and... anger?

“Don't be an idiot, Ianto Jones,” Jack finally burst out, reaching out to grasp Ianto's hand and hold it tightly. “Everyone needs help sometimes. You don't have to do it all on your own, and you don't have to hide, especially not from me. Do you think I can't tell when you're hurting? I know, Ianto. I could tell you were sick from the moment you stepped into my office today, but I wanted to see if you would tell me.” Jack's gaze softened, and he reached out with his other hand to brush lightly against Ianto's cheek. “I know,” he repeated, his voice more gentle, and Ianto realized that he wasn't just talking about his illness today.

Ianto's breath caught in his throat, and he found himself leaning forward, tilting his face into the soft touch. How long had it been since he let someone else see? “I... don't know if I can,” he murmured, unaware that he was speaking aloud.

“You can,” Jack replied, shifting closer on the bed, enfolding Ianto in a warm embrace.

Ianto stiffened, resisting, but Jack's touch was warm and he was shivering with fever-chills, and God, it had just been too long. Shuddering with repressed emotion, he brought his arms up to wrap around Jack, clinging to him like a lifeline. Jack's hands moved slowly up and down his back, comforting, inviting Ianto to finally let go. He didn't make a sound, but his shoulders shook, and Jack's shirt became damp where Ianto's face rested.

“I've got you. Let go.” Jack's voice washed over him like a balm, soothing, healing the wounds in his heart.

Ianto wasn't aware of drifting off to sleep, but when he awoke later, he was curled up to something warm. Stirring slightly, he opened his eyes to see Jack's broad chest, where he was resting on the other's undershirt. Jack shifted, and Ianto lifted his head to meet the captain's blue eyes.

“Feel better?” Jack asked, his fingertips moving in light patterns on Ianto's back.

Ianto was silent a moment. His head still pounded, nausea still clenched his stomach, and he was still burning up with fever. He felt like complete and utter shit. But aside from that, he felt... like a lead weight had been lifted off his back.

“Yes. I do.” A small smile curled at the corners of his mouth. “I really do.”

Jack smiled back, then tilted his head forward to kiss Ianto's forehead. “Go back to sleep. I'll be here.”

Curling closer, Ianto nestled his head back on Jack's shoulder, his hand resting on Jack's chest, feeling his heartbeat. Maybe just this once, letting someone see his pain wasn't so bad after all.

A/N: Came out more fluffy than intended, but what can you expect from a hurt/comfort fic? Enjoy! Reviews are love, as it's my first time writing these two and I need the feedback.

Fic: Darkness to Light

2008-04-22T05:01:22Z

Title: Darkness to Light

Author: Melody / Eloy Brightdreamer

Fandom: D.Gray-man
Rating: PG

Warnings: None

Summary: A child becomes a Bookman's apprentice and steps into the light for the first time.

Disclaimer: I do not own D.Gray-Man or its characters. No profit was made from this story.

When the child was born, nothing seemed out of the ordinary to his parents. He was a healthy baby boy, with a full head of dark hair and eyes the shade of midnight. As he grew, the hair lightened to a vibrant red, and his eyes brightened to a green that rivaled emeralds. But as his eyes cleared and focused, something changed in the baby's demeanor. He no longer smiled as much, nor reached for new objects that came in his view. Bright lights made him cry, and he only seemed happy in the dim light of his nursery. His parents called every doctor they could find, but even the most talented specialists could not find anything wrong with his eyes.

As all children do, the boy adapted. He learned to crawl, then walk, no slower than any other child his age. But those vibrant green eyes were rarely open in the daylight, and he felt his way around the house like one blind. His parents tried everything to get him to open his eyes... rewards, punishments, pleading... but the toddler knew what hurt and what didn't, and no outside influence would change his mind. Any attempts to make him open his eyes only ended with the child curled on the floor, screaming in pain and frustration. Friends and family shook their heads and assumed the boy was throwing tantrums and should be punished, but his parents knew that something far deeper was wrong. But how could a child who only knew a few words explain why he hurt, and what was hurting him?

The boy loved stories, and would cuddle to his mother's side as she read him his favorite fairy tales. “Don't you want to see the pictures?” she would ask, trying to coax him to open his eyes in the candlelight. Sometimes, he would try, peeking out at the bright paintings in the storybook, smiling widely before burying his face in his mother's bosom.

“Read, mama, read't,” he begged, bringing his own pictures to life in his mind. The images in his head never made his eyes hurt, never brought the throbbing pain that daylight or lamplight inflicted on his tiny skull.

Another year passed, then two, then more, and the boy still acted as though he were nearly blind. He could tell his parents and doctors now that seeing things made his head hurt, and light was painful, but it did not change the fact that no one knew how to help him. He'd become quite adept at finding his way in new places by little flickers of sight, peeking at the world through flutters of his long eyelashes, catching glimpses like touches of a butterfly wing. The dreamworlds built by his mother's stories were far more real to him than these faded flashes of the real world, and he sometimes wished that he could step through a door to one of these faraway lands, or have a dragon carry him away to one of these bright kingdoms that it wouldn't pain him to see.

One morning, the boy awoke to the feeling of callused fingers stroking his forehead. He tensed, not recognizing the touch, knowing that it wasn't either of his parents, nor any of the doctors that he knew.

“Does the world hurt to see, boy?” a gravely voice spoke from above him. “Do you see things too clearly, too brightly, so much that it makes your head ache?”

The child drew in a quick breath and sat up in his bed. Finally, someone had put words to the pain he'd felt for as long as he could remember. “Yeah,” he said, his voice small. “Can't look't things, hurts.” He'd tried to tell the others that very thing, but no one had understood what he was trying to say.

The old man pulled his hand away, and the boy heard a rustling sound as though someone was hunting through a bag. “Try this, see if it helps.” A soft cloth was tugged over the child's right eye, strings tied securely around his face and the back of his head. “Perhaps with one eye, the world will not overwhelm you.”

Biting his lip, the young boy considered whether to trust the man. “Who're you?” he asked finally.

“My name is Bookman,” he replied, laying a hand on the boy's shoulder. “Open your eyes.”

The command was spoken with such authority that the child could not refuse. Shivering with fear, he slowly blinked his eyes open, staring down at the floor. He waited a moment, but the pain and dizziness were held at bay by the soft black covering his right eye. He no longer saw every swirling crack of the wood grain in the floor, nor every hair and speck of dust covering it, but... that was good. It wasn't too much to see, not too much to handle, and he smiled in wonder and relief. Reaching his hand out, he caught a sunbeam streaming through the window, and flinched back a bit, expecting a sharp stab of pain in his head, but there was none, only the warmth of light.

Raising his gaze, the boy looked up at his benefactor, and immediately broke out in a peal of laughter. “P-panda!” he exclaimed, remembering the description from one of the stories of China that his mother had read to him.

A hand came up and cuffed him lightly on the back of the head. “My name is Bookman, and don't you forget it, apprentice,” the old man said gruffly.

The boy tilted his head in confusion, instinctively closing his eyes again for a moment before remembering to open them. “What's a 'prentis?” he asked curiously.

The old man with the dark-painted eyes crouched in front of the boy, looking at him seriously. “Your eyes are special, and are meant to see the history of this world. You will travel with me and record the secret histories. You have to give up everything you know now, but you will see the world and know the history that no one else knows. Can you accept this?”

Pulling his knees up to his chest, the child chewed on his lip for a moment. “Mama and Papa?” he asked, his voice quivering.

The old man shook his head. “They will not be going with you. I will be your only family from now on.” His face softened slightly, and he put a hand on the boy's knee. “You are special, child. Now that you can see the light, do you not want to see the rest of the world as well?”

For a young child, it was a difficult decision. To see the world... to know things that no one else knows... but... Mama and Papa...

“You must come with me,” Bookman insisted. “You are the one I've been searching for these many years.”

The boy stood and walked to his window, closing his eyes out of habit. As his fingers found the windowsill, he took a deep breath and opened them, for the first time looking fully at the world beyond the glass. Fields of tall grass waved just beyond the clearing of the house, and a path wound off to the distant mountains looming purple in the sky. The child nearly cried out in delight, his eyes filling with tears of joy rather than pain. This man had given him the light after his whole life in near-darkness... how could he say no? “I'll go,” he said, his small voice shaking slightly. “I'll be your 'prentis.”

And maybe, just maybe, now he'd see the world that until now had only been pictures conjured in his mind from words in a storybook.

Fic: "Louder than Words" - D.Gray-man

2007-05-22T06:07:44Z

Title: Louder than Words
Authors: brightdreamer and piecrumbs
Pairing: Lavi/Kanda
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Lavi has a new way to help Kanda “relax” after a long mission.

A/N: This is absolute PWP shameless smut, complete with possible OOC and bad dirty-talk. It all started with a rather nice dream I had about these two, which I told piecrumbs about, and we ended up writing it together since I'm bad about finishing fics even when I have motivation. If it seems too much like an RP log, well... that's how we went about writing it, so... hopefully it won't be too bad.

Stockinged feet tiptoed over stone floors. A door opened with only the faintest hint of a creak, and a shadowy figure slipped into the room. A few steps closer, and the shadow fell over the sleeping man on the bed.

Lavi grinned. By the moonlight streaming in the window, he observed Kanda, looking hungrily at the way the other man's dark hair spilled over the pillow, his pale skin almost blending with the white sheets and shirt. Kanda had only returned from a mission today, and had barely said three complete sentences to Lavi that evening. Something about talking too much, though... which had given the redhead a devious idea.

Biting his lip, Lavi eased the sword Mugen away from Kanda's side, only relaxing when he'd set it against the wall on the far side of the room. Returning to the bedside, Lavi leaned over and carefully grasped Kanda's wrist where it lay on the pillow beside his head. Barely breathing, he began to draw it upward, towards the headboard.

The slight movement startled Kanda, jerking him out of his sound slumber into full awareness. His eyes snapped open, sliding immediately over to the side where Lavi was as his free hand reached for Mugen, always at his side. Except now. Curling his trapped hand into a fist, he jerked his wrist towards himself, trying to break Lavi's hold. "What are you doing, bastard?" he hissed, voice low and irritated. "Where is Mugen?"

He had just arrived back from a mission. The information had been incorrect and as the only Exorcist there, he had to deal with multiple Akuma. He was exhausted, and though his injuries had sealed over before he even stepped back into the Order Headquarters, he was tired. He wanted to sleep, and did not want to deal with whatever stupid idea had brewed in Lavi's head.

Damn, I should've figured he'd wake up... Lavi grinned down at Kanda, doing his best to look innocent... though he didn't release his wrist yet. "Me? I'm just gonna help you relax after that long mission." Reaching down with his free hand hand, he grabbed for the other's wrist. At the same time, he leaned down and kissed Kanda soundly on the lips.

"I don't need---!!!" Kanda's words were cut off when Lavi's lips sealed over his own, shocking him enough that he suddenly paused in his efforts to free himself. He was strong, yes, more powerful with his Innocence than Lavi was with his, but when it come down to pure physical strength, Lavi had the advantage. Kanda's slim, Japanese body never could build up the way Lavi's did, and though it never bothered him before (he could beat Lavi up if necessary, after all), it did now.

In Kanda's moment of hesitation, Lavi tugged both wrists up above his head, pinning them close to the headboard. In moments like these, he was glad that he was physically stronger than Kanda... but he was also glad that Mugen was out of reach. Pulling back from the kiss, he smirked down at the other man. "Sure you do, Yuu. You're grumpy."

"Don't call me that!" Kanda snapped, jerking at his wrists.

Shifting to hold both wrists with one hand, Lavi fumbled in his pocket a moment, then produced a pair of handcuffs. "But I gotta make sure you do relax, hmm?"

Kanda paused briefly, eyes widening, "You wouldn't dare..." he said lowly, but it was too late. In a quick motion, Lavi wrapped the chain around one post of the headboard, then snapped the cuffs around Kanda's wrists. "You fucking bastard," Kanda yelped. "Let me go. Now." He twisted, knowing on one hand that there was no way to get free from those cuffs, but at the same time, unwilling to give up the fight. "I'll kill you!"

"Oh, quit complainin', Yuu," Lavi replied, emphasizing the other's first name. "You know you like this, yeah?" Even after they'd slept together on numerous occasions, Kanda still protested nearly every time. It was tradition by now.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he leaned over Kanda's slender torso, bracing one hand on the bed beside him. He let his gaze roam over the other man's angry features (was that a hint of a flush on his face?), down the curve of his neck, the bit of his collarbone that was showing from the slightly-unbuttoned shirt. Only two buttons undone? Well. He'd certainly have to remedy that. Sliding his hand down Kanda's chest, he began popping the buttons open one by one, pausing to stroke the soft skin as it was revealed.

Shifting beneath the other's touch, Kanda bit his lip as the light touch trailed over his skin. His hands wrapped around the wrist of the cuffs, providing him with a handhold as he hissed lightly, "Stop... Bastard..." He tried to pull away, but could barely get anywhere, trapped between Lavi and the bed. Besides, just how badly did he want to be free? Even Kanda himself could not say.

Lavi smirked down at him. "I know you don't mean that." Smoothing his palms over Kanda's skin, he pushed the shirt open and drank in the sight of the other man's toned body. After briefly brushing his fingertips over the dark tattoo, he instinctively leaned in to press his lips to Kanda's neck... but stopped himself just short, remembering his plan. Sitting back again, he slid further down the bed and reached for Kanda's pants. "But hey, I bet you're wonderin' why I tied you up, yeah?"

Flinching at the cool touch trailing over his tattoo, Kanda had unwittingly tilted his head to the side, baring his neck to Lavi. The softest sound escaped when Lavi drew back, embarrassment bringing a flush to Kanda's face. He glared up at Lavi, ignoring his burning cheeks, and tried to kick him. "Why?"

Catching Kanda's leg between his arm and his side, Lavi grinned up at him. Oh yes, he could definitely see a flush on the other's face now. "Well, I got this idea earlier, see," he said casually, dropping Kanda's leg to the bed. "When you told me I talk too much. Got me thinkin'." He unfastened Kanda's pants, making sure to keep his touch light. “Started thinkin' 'bout how you always complain and tell me to stop when we're doing this, right? So... maybe you like hearing me talk after all, instead of doing this, huh?" His fingers worked at the waistband of Kanda's pants, sliding them down a few inches. "So here's the deal. Bet I can make you come without even touchin' you."

Kanda's eyes widened. "What?" His hips twitched; he could feel Lavi's fingers against his skin. "You're insane," he scowled, turning his face away. "Enough of this. Release me."

Feeling the slight movement, Lavi pulled his hands away momentarily. "Mm, not yet. Later." Gingerly, he slid the other man's pants off over his hips and down his lean, toned legs, making sure to touch him as little as possible. "Yeah, maybe I'm a little insane," he commented lightly. "But I'm still gonna make you hard, 'cause you want me... and I'm gonna tell you how much you do."

Kanda's breath caught in his throat, and his eyes fell shut as he went limp against the bed. "I hate you," he said flatly, determined not to react. He wouldn't give Lavi the satisfaction. It seemed that no matter how proud he was usually, it was always in front of Lavi that he rebelled the most at losing his dignity and control. And it appeared to always amuse Lavi to push him to the edge until he had no choice but to surrender to what Lavi wanted. Well, not this time.

"I know," Lavi drawled teasingly, standing from the bed to remove his jacket. "But you're always beggin' for me by the time we're done." He tossed his coat on top of Kanda's on the chair. "And you love what I do to you... how I make you feel." Still in his shirt and pants, he slid back onto the bed, lying on his side beside Kanda, making sure not to touch him. "Don't you, Yuu? You love it when I touch you... when I fuck you... and especially when I make you scream."

Kanda blushed now, quite obviously as he squirmed in his bonds. To his extreme horror, he could feel himself begin to react, though he tried to ignore it. "Fuck off," he bit out, startling himself with the low husk his voice had developed.

Lavi felt a thrill run up his spine at the tone of the other's voice. Oh yeah, it's working. Glancing down, Lavi smirked to see Kanda's cock stirring. He knew he'd eventually have to touch him, but he wanted to see how far he could push the other man just by talking to him. "Hm, not yet," he purred, leaning down so his lips were close to Kanda's ear. "You're gonna have to ask nicer'n that if you want me to fuck you tonight. I'm just gonna keep talkin' till you can't stand it." He chuckled, the exhalation ruffling Kanda's hair. "But I know how much you want it. You wanna feel me hard inside of you, up in that tight ass of yours, deep just the way you like it."

The brush of air by the sensitive skin of his ear, coupled with the low purr cause a shudder to run through Kanda. His breaths shortened and he bit his lip to prevent a quiet sound from slipping out. Heat was pooling in his lower body and in an effort to abate it some, Kanda shifted on the sheets, clenching his thighs briefly. "S-stop it. Don't..." he breathed, his voice far less steady than he wanted it to be.

"That's what you always say," Lavi murmured, his lips only a breath away from the tempting shell of Kanda's ear. "But your body knows what you really want." Feeling the faint shifting, he smiled. "See what I mean?" he glanced down, unconsciously licking his lips as he saw Kanda's obvious state of arousal. "You're already ready for me," he said, his voice husky with desire. "Maybe you'd rather have me suck you off tonight, hmm? I know you like that... you always seem to beg much faster when I've got your cock in my mouth. I know how you like it, too... you moan when I use my tongue just right, and I love how you sound when I let you feel my teeth."

Kanda whimpered softly, hating himself for it the moment the sound slipped out into the cool room. He knew that the stone walls and floor kept the building rather chilly, he knew he should be feeling the cold, undressed as he was, but all he could feel was the warmth spreading through his body and the heat he could feel emitting from Lavi. His hips jerked, trying to get some sort of friction on his aching cock and he whimpered again, this time even more quietly than the first.

Lavi shivered at the slight whimper that slipped past Kanda's lips, the sound seeming to send a jolt straight to his own arousal. Groaning softly, he unfastened his own pants and granted himself a few quick strokes, momentarily easing the ache that was building there. Fuck, I want him... but... I'm gonna wait a little longer. His grin firmly in place, he pulled back from the other just slightly, enough that Kanda could look down and see what he was doing, if he wanted. "Bet you wish I was touchin' you like this," he said, his voice taking on a breathless tone. "You know I'm good with my hands too... you could watch while I get myself off here, and I bet you'd be thinking about how my hand feels on you when I do it for you. Remember that time on the stairs? You were so hot... I couldn't stand it. It didn't even take a minute before you came all over my hand. Bet you'd been thinking about me that day too, huh?"

Kanda bit his lip, then took a shaky bid for air. He shook his head, "I don't...know what you're talking about," he said as steadily as he could. His hips arched up slightly as the memories from that day came rushing back and Kanda trembled, hating how he was reacting to Lavi's simple words. "Don't be stupid, bastard. Release me." Kanda tried to snap--it came out as more of a whimper.

"Release you?" Lavi purred again, shifting slightly closer to the other man. "Mm... no, I think you're gonna have to ask a lot nicer than that if you want... release." He looked over Kanda's body again, drinking in the sight. Kanda really was beautiful to look at, though Lavi would expect a punch to the face if he ever tried to do so when the other wasn't tied up. "It's obvious how much you want it," he continued, subconsciously licking his bottom lip as his gaze swept over Kanda's straining erection. "But how, Yuu? You wanna be on your back this time? You look really good with your legs up over my shoulders. And I know I can get really deep like that..." He paused, seeming to consider options. "But y'know, you always scream loudest when you're on your hands and knees. I think maybe you like it better that way, yeah?" He slipped his hand into his own pants again, groaning softly. "Or maybe... maybe you'd like to ride me. I always know how bad you need me when you're slammin' yourself onto my cock." Leaning closer, he breathed the next words into Kanda's ear. "So... what do you think?"

Kanda shuddered, pulling at his bonds as he tried to get some sort of friction, some way to lighten the ache in his cock. "Get...off," he gasped out, squeezing his eyes shut as his head fell back against the bed. "I..." Kanda paused to draw a slow breath, "I don't scream!"

"I know you wanna get off," Lavi laughed, pulling back slightly. "But like I said, you gotta ask nicely before I touch you... otherwise I'm just gonna keep talkin' and you're gonna just keep gettin' harder. You want it bad now, I know, but you haven't told me so." Sitting up, he stripped out of his own shirt, then lay back down to kick off his pants. "And you do scream... maybe you just don't remember. Maybe I'm just that good." Stretching out beside Kanda again, he lay only inches from the other man, feeling his heat. "I'm all ready for you, Yuu," he whispered, wrapping his hand around his own erection again. "Right now I'd love to slam into you hard, fast, deep, just the way you like. But I can just jerk off if you don't tell me that you want it."

With that, a soft moan slid out despite Kanda's best efforts as his hips jerked up again, desperate for some kind of touch, some form of relief. He twisted on the sheets as he unconsciously arched closer to Lavi, wanting that skilled, skilled touch on him, all over him, but especially at the junction of his thighs where his cock throbbed almost painfully in want.

The sound of Kanda's moan sent a shiver down Lavi's spine straight to his arousal, causing it to stiffen further in his hand. He drew back as the other man strained toward him, not allowing him even the slightest touch. "C'mon, Yuu," he murmured, sliding down the bed so he was level with the other's cock. "I know you want it... just tell me, and I'll do it." His breath whispered over Kanda's erection, the only touch he'd allow... yet.

Kanda let out a keening cry, pulling at the handcuffs. "S-stop it," he whispered, "Just...aaah..." He couldn't even finish his sentence as he writhed, trying to free his hands in vain. "Don't..." His fingers curled around the chain as he pulled at them again. "Lavi!"

Lavi grinned. Oh, he knew the other was close, and he probably could have given him release for that... but he wanted to hear the dark-haired man beg. "Mm, that's 'bout right," he purred. "Least you said my name this time, Yuu. But I wanna hear you say you want me... you're still tellin' me to stop. I don't think you really want me to. Your body wants it... just tell me, and I'll give you what you need." He licked his bottom lip slightly, his gaze traveling over Kanda's straining erection. A drop glistened at the tip, matching several others that had already dripped onto his toned stomach, and Lavi wanted nothing more than to taste him... but no, not yet. "You've gotta be achin' by now, Yuu," he sighed, glancing up at the other man's flushed face. "You're so hard you can't stand it... I bet you'd come about as soon as I touch you... or get your cock in my mouth. You want that, don't you? You need it... so just tell me."

"L-Lavi..." Kanda gasped out, drawing a sharp breath in a half-sob. "Don't...don't make me..." His hips strained up, then fell back against the bed in a bid to get some kind of touch, some kind of friction, any at all. His head twisted from side to side as he tried to free himself, his bangs plastered to his forehead from the sheen of sweat that shone on his skin. "Oh god...don't..." He bit down on his lip, knowing what Lavi wanted, trying to decide what to do as his lust warred with his pride. He finally relented and breathed out softly, barely audibly, "...please..."

"There, that wasn't too hard," Lavi said with a smile, sliding over to straddle Kanda's legs. In one swift movement, he swept his fingers along the length of the other's cock, then leaned over and took him into his mouth, sucking hard, his head bobbing up and down.

Kanda cried out, the sound low and sharp, before he bit his lip, horrified that he had let it slip out. His hips arched into the wet heat of Lavi's mouth.

Lavi shivered at the cry, his arousal throbbing insistently. He groaned low in his throat, then took Kanda in deeper, laving his tongue over the hard shaft, then swirling around the tip. C'mon...

Already at the brink from Lavi's earlier, insistent teasing, Kanda's hips bucked once, twice, before he climaxed with a cry into the other's mouth.

Expecting it, Lavi kept his lips tight around Kanda's cock, swallowing quickly as hot fluid filled his mouth. Once he was sure the other had finished, he lifted his head with one final lick before smiling up at Kanda. "Not so bad, huh?" he asked, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. Sliding up Kanda's lithe body, he rolled to the side, lying next to him. "Mm..." he murmured, nuzzling just under the other's ear. "So, if I let you go now, you gonna punch me, or still let me fuck you?"

"Punch you," Kanda replied faintly, without rancor as he gasped for breath, still reeling from the aftermath of a strong climax. He whimpered softly when Lavi nuzzled him, closing his eyes so he couldn't see Lavi.

"Ahh, you're no fun, Yuu," Lavi said with a mock pout, nipping lightly at Kanda's ear. "Guess I'll hafta wear you out more so you can't hit me, right?" Sliding his hand down, he brushed his fingers teasingly over Kanda's half-hard cock.

Kanda's hips jerked, his cock still extremely sensitive. "You're joking...right?" His eyes were wide as he looked at Lavi. Kanda flexed his arms, jerking at the handcuffs. "Haven't you had your fun for the night? Let me go!"

"Not yet," Lavi murmured, pressing his hips against Kanda's thigh to let him feel his hard arousal. "I ain't had all my fun yet, see?" Leaning up, he captured Kanda's lips in a passionate kiss, then pulled away before the other man could do anything... like bite him. Sliding his hand under the pillow, he procured the small tube of lubricant he'd stashed there earlier. "Told ya, I'm gonna do you right... since you asked so nicely." Sitting back, he slid down Kanda's body, shifting his legs between the other's and spreading them wide. As he knelt just below Kanda's hips, he took a moment to drink in the sight before him... Kanda's dark hair spread out on the pillow, his pale skin glistening with sweat in the moonlight, a faint flush on his cheeks and across his collarbone... oh yes, this was going in Lavi's photographic memory for future lonely nights.

Shaking himself out of his momentary daze, Lavi uncapped the lube and spread a liberal amount on the fingers of one hand. "Couldn't do this earlier," he commented casually, gripping one of Kanda's thighs with his clean hand and pushing it upward. "You'd've finished way before me... but now I can take my time..." His slick fingers slid down, back, further back, circling Kanda's tight entrance before pressing one inside.

Kanda's back arched, eyes flying open in a silent cry of surprise. It didn't hurt, but...it was really very strange. Regardless of how often they've had sex, Kanda still found the intrusion, at least the first, hard to get used to. His cock twitched as Lavi's finger slid completely inside, Kanda's movements inadvertently pressing him further onto Lavi.

Lavi grinned, feeling Kanda's body accept him and draw him in further. "Looks like you're ready for me already, huh?" He moved his finger back and forth for a moment, then pulled it nearly out before adding a second, slick with lubricant. "You're gonna want this bad..." Teasingly, he brushed his free hand over Kanda's stiffening arousal, while curling his fingers inside him to search for that one sensitive spot...

"Ah!" The cry slid out, unbidden, as Kanda's entire body jerked. He ground down against Lavi's fingers, wanting to feel that flash of blinding pleasure again even as he arched up trying to get more of that teasing touch on his hardness. He thrashed as much as his restraints would allow, trying to get more.

Kanda's cry, and the sight of him writhing on the bed, was nearly enough to undo Lavi's resolve. He shuddered almost violently, biting his lip to regain control. He could barely restrain himself from pulling Kanda's legs up over his shoulders and slamming into him hard and fast... but... "Nnng, god, Yuu, you're so hot," he gasped, his gaze raking over the other's body again, his eye taking in every sensual detail and recording it in his memory. Trembling slightly, he slid a third finger into Kanda's willing opening, curving again to reach that sweet spot. He slid his other hand over Kanda's erection again, more firmly this time, biting his lip again as he waited for the reaction.

Kanda's pride fled as he twisted and mewled, arms straining at the handcuffs, then twisting to grab onto the chains. He rocked into Lavi's hand with soft, shaky gasps as his muscles rippled around Lavi's fingers. There was a slight burn from the stretch the third finger caused, but it was an exquisite pain and Kanda pushed against it, inviting more pain to mix with the pleasure. Drawing a quiet, nearly sobbing breath, Kanda tossed on the sheets, eyes squeezed shut and face flushed with want.

Lavi couldn't wait any longer. Kanda was ready for him, needy, open and wanting him, and it was just too much. After shakily withdrawing his fingers, he quickly slicked his own arousal with the lubricant, then grasped Kanda's hips to pull him up into his lap. Hooking one of Kanda's toned legs over his arm, he positioned himself hurriedly, then pressed in with as much control as he could manage. A deep groan burst from his throat at the feeling of heated flesh gripping his cock. "S-so tight... aahh..."

Kanda let out a strangled scream as Lavi pressed in. If his hands had been free, they would have been digging into Lavi's arms hard enough to leave visible marks, if not draw blood.

Shuddering, Lavi bit his lip again at the sound from Kanda, his hands tightening on the other's hips as he held himself back. All he wanted at the moment was to drive into the dark-haired man hard and fast, losing himself in the delicious heat, but he forced himself to move slowly, drawing back and then pushing in again, giving Kanda time to adjust. "G-god... Yuu..." he gasped. "You always feel so good..."

Kanda hissed, muscles rippling around Lavi's length as he forced himself to relax, adjusting. His hands pulled at the cuffs and he bit his lip, shuddering even as his hips bucked slightly. Turning his head away so he didn't need to look at Lavi, he drew a leg back, giving Lavi the space necessary to settle more comfortably.

"Uhhn..." Lavi moaned, unable to hold back the hard thrust this time as he was drawn further into Kanda's body. Falling forward, he braced himself on one hand, using the other to turn Kanda's face toward him and into a deep kiss. Pleasure rippled through his body as he began to move, another moan slipping into Kanda's mouth as the heat began to build.

Kanda's back arched as he wrapped his leg around Lavi's waist, encouraging him to move with a sharp nip to Lavi's lip. He rolled his hips up against Lavi's when the vibrations of the other's moan slid through him, returning it was a soft gasp of his own.

Lavi plunged his tongue into Kanda's mouth, all thoughts of talking gone now as he worked into a steady rhythm. Slipping his arm down, he wrapped it around Kanda's waist, pulling him tighter against him with each thrust.

Pulled tight against Lavi's body, Kanda's shoulders ached from the strain but that pain was easily ignored for a sensation far more addictive. "Release me," he commanded in a low breath, right before arching into a particularly strong thrust with a sharp cry.

Gasping, Lavi simply nodded, sliding his hand out from under Kanda's back and fumbling for the key he'd set on the beside table earlier. "Not gonna throw me outta bed, are ya?" he asked breathlessly, rocking into him hard for emphasis once more before reaching up to unfasten the cuffs.

"How...could I?" Kanda gasped, eyes falling shut as he twisted beneath Lavi and waited for his hands to released. The moment the cuffs fell from around his wrists, he reached down and tangled his hands in Lavi's hair, a sharp breath the only betrayal to the flood of pain that rushed into his arms.

Pulled closer by Kanda's embrace, Lavi tossed the handcuffs off the side of the bed and picked up his rhythm again. Burying his face in the side of Kanda's neck for a moment, he sucked hard on the milky-pale skin, tasting the salt of the other's sweat. He's so... Arching back suddenly, he sat back on his heels, pulling Kanda up into his lap.

Kanda let out a low cry when he was pulled upright, their new position pressing Lavi even deeper within him and he shifted, feeling Lavi's length pulse. His hands dropped from Lavi's hair to rest on his shoulders, fingers digging in briefly as his hands clenched, then released. Experimentally, Kanda clenched around Lavi slightly.

"Nnn... ahh!" Now it was Lavi's turn to cry out as Kanda's heat tensed around him, redoubling the pleasure coursing through his body. Wrapping one arm around the other's back, he held him firmly as he thrust into him hard, his other hand sliding down between them to stroke over Kanda's straining arousal. He was close... so close he could have let go right then, but he was determined to make Kanda come again before let himself release.

Lavi's touch on his hardness sent a flash of white pleasure through Kanda's mind and he ground against Lavi with a shaky breath. "La...vi..." he gasped out, burying his face in Lavi's neck. He could feel his hair slide over his back and down his sides, shifting with their movements and he shivered, the long strands further stimulating his sensitive skin.

Lavi felt a few strands of Kanda's hair fall over his shoulders, brushing against his sides and sticking to the sweat on his back. As Kanda seemed to be steady enough holding onto him, he released his hold on the other man's back, sliding it up to comb through the dark, silky length of hair, tightening his fingers at the back of his neck. "S-say it again," he panted into Kanda's ear. "My name... Yuu... say it..." He thrust in harder, punctuating his words with quick strokes to the other man's cock.

"Nnngh..." Kanda shook his head, nipping sharply at the junction between neck and shoulder, hips jerking into Lavi's hand. The pressure at the base of his skull from Lavi's fingers in his hair was a mild pain that only enhanced the other sensations.

Falling forward again, Lavi tumbled Kanda onto his back, still pounding into him hard. "C-c'mon..." he gasped, tightening his thumb and forefinger around the base of Kanda's erection, holding tight to prevent his climax. "I wanna h-hear you..." His other hand slipped from the back of Kanda's neck, sliding down his side and gripping his hip, pulling him tight against him as he continued to drive into his body.

Kanda cried out, the sound shocked and desperate, when his impending climax was suddenly cut off. His hands dropped to tear uselessly at Lavi's wrist as he writhed and twisted and squirmed beneath the Lavi, trying to climax though he couldn't. "D-don't! Lavi!"

That's it... that's what I wanted... Moaning, Lavi released his tight grip on Kanda's cock, stroking him firmly again in apology for the delay. Tension building almost to the breaking point, he kissed the other man hard, his eyes tightly shut.

Kanda kissed back, letting Lavi's mouth muffle his cry as he climaxed for the second time that night. His hips jerked a few times and he tightened around Lavi.

"Nnngh...!" As Kanda's inner muscles tightened around him again, Lavi couldn't hold on any longer. Breaking the kiss, he buried his face in the other man's shoulder and hair, moaning over and over as wrapped his arm around his waist and thrust into him hard a few last times, spilling himself into the almost torturous heat. "G-god, Yuu..."

Kanda didn't speak, his fingers clinging tightly to Lavi as he gasped for breath. His mind slowly cleared and he forced his hands to loosen their grip until he was only lightly holding onto the other.

Panting, Lavi slowly pulled back, focusing on Kanda's face. Smiling, he stroked his fingers lightly through his dark hair. "Mm... so... how do you feel?"

Eyes drifting half-shut, he leaned into Lavi's touch. "I hate you," he said quietly, tired, with no real venom in his voice.

Lavi smiled and kissed him again. "I know."

The End!

FMA Drabble, Roy/Sheska

2005-11-18T19:22:05Z

I will write a fanfic or drabble with the pairing
Roy/Sheska
rated
PG or PG-13
and include the following things:
angst, pillow, automail

Don't know what pairing to write?
Then let the Fullmetal Alchemist Pairing Machine decide for you

Title: Goodnight
Author: brightdreamer
Rating: PG
Word Count: 221
Status: Complete
Warnings: Spoilers for ep 25.

Sheska's glasses dug awkward streaks onto her nose and temples, the wire frames knocked crooked when she'd finally collapsed onto her books. The thick glass outlined her red-rimmed eyes and tear-stained cheeks, a reminder of the trauma of the past few days. Though Hughes had fired her shortly before his death, she had returned to work stubbornly, unable to let the mystery go unsolved. Besides, it was better than sitting at home, just... thinking.

Her heart was not made of automail, as some seemed to be. How could Colonel Mustang be so coldly dismissive? Wasn't he Hughes' friend as well? Didn't he want to know? Sheska was desperate to find out what had really happened, and what Hughes had found before he was so suddenly killed.

Stirring restlessly, she shifted her arms on the book that served as her pillow. Somewhere in her half-dreams, she knew she should wake up and continue, but her body was just too exhausted. Dimly, she felt strong hands move and lift her, carrying her like a child. Murmuring incoherently, she rested her head against a broad shoulder and wrapped her arms around the man's neck, but did not open her eyes. As she was placed in her bed, she felt gloved fingers remove her glasses and brush her thick bangs out of her eyes.

"Goodnight, Sheska."

Fic: "Sprict Gone Mad"

2005-10-21T03:20:12Z

Fandom/Pairing: s-CRY-ed, Ryuhou/Kazuma
Title: Sprict Gone Mad
Rating: NC-17/M
Summary: Unkei’s script goes in a MUCH different direction than he intended. Alt-ending to episode 8.
Disclaimer: We don’t own ‘em. Wish we did, there’d be much more boys kissing in the show.
A/N: Co-written with valkyrielennith for 30_lemons theme #19: The Gymnasium, or, "Who Likes Short-Shorts?"

Blinding light blocked out everything but the opponent in front of him. Cheers of an unseen crowd echoed from the darkened bleachers of the fighting auditorium. Rubber mats squeaked under his wrestling shoes. The unfamiliar tightness of padding on his head and hands restricted movement. All surrounded and pulsed through Kazuma's body, sending a thrill to his very core. "Come on..." he muttered to the green-haired man in front of him, his enemy--no, simply an opponent in this fight-game.

Kazuma strikes...!

Darting forward, he leveled a blow at Ryuhou's head...

Ryuhou blocks...

...which was blocked by a quick forearm. Settling back into a defensive position, he readied himself for Ryuhou's attack. He felt a smile spread across his face as his heart raced with the thrill of the fight.

Kazuma smiles...

He saw the same expression on Ryuhou's face as they launched blow after blow at each other, settling into a familiar dance... though this time with no threat of death or injury.

Ryuhou smiles back... and then...

As the final buzzer sounded, the two men landed one final hit to the side of each other's helmets, ending the match in a tie. As Kazuma lay on the cool mat and pulled off his helmet and gloves, he felt another shudder run through his body. It felt so damn good to fight Ryuhou like this... as an equal, not an enemy or rival. Why had he wasted all his time trying to kill him? This felt so much better... he never wanted it to end.

Ryuhou offers friendship...

Vaguely, he heard the other man's voice, saying that he was accepted as a member of HOLY, and he raised his head, seeing the bare, outstretched hand in front of him. Reaching up, he firmly grasped Ryuhou's fingers, pulling himself to his feet.

Kazuma takes his hand...

After he stood, panting, he continued to clasp Ryuhou's hand tightly, feeling an almost electric surge pass through the touch. Raising his eyes, he met the intense ruby gaze across from him, and he gasped softly. Something in those eyes reflected a desire he felt deep within himself... and he knew that Ryuhou wanted more, just as he did. Despite his words that the fight was over, he had a feeling something else was just beginning. "Whaddya say we get out of here?" he said, leaning forward to whisper the words almost directly into the other man's ear.

They decide to be the best friends ever... the unstoppable team, Kazuma and Ryuhou!

Ryuhou looked vaguely surprised at the sudden shift of their tension from physical to sexual in nature... but at least he looked interested. The crimson eyes swept over him briefly, and the other man smiled slightly in approval. "Alright," Ryuhou replied, the corners of his mouth curving.

Ryuhou accepts Kazuma's friendship with a smile.

"I don't know about you, but I could use a shower," Kazuma suggested with obvious innuendo, picking at the front of his sweat-soaked tank top for emphasis.

The smoldering in Ryuhou's eyes flared and banked itself once more. "We can use the officer's locker room. Rank hath it's privaleges," he said evenly, leading the way.

Ryuhou graciously offers to use the officer's facilities, wanting to bond with his new teammate.

Kazuma snickered, allowing his rival to tow him like an errant child. "RHIP, eh? That's what'll be on your headstone," he chortled. To his surprise, Ryuhou did not rise to the bait. In fact, the elder man chuckled lightly at the joke, elegantly typing in the code to the locker room.

No sooner had the door closed and locked behind them than Kazuma grabbed the taller man by the shoulders, fingers hooking under the thin straps of his tank top as he pulled him close for a rough kiss. The rows of lockers stood like silent grey soldiers, impassively watching as Kazuma shoved Ryuhou against one of their doors. Without wasting time, Kazuma pressed his body flush against the other man's, anxious hands already working up under the hem of his shirt.

The two men talk in the locker room... wait, what are you doing?

Groaning roughly, Kazuma ground his hips against Ryuhou's, his eyelids fluttering at the sensations that raced through his body and focused in his groin. The thin spandex shorts each were wearing did little to hide the fact that they were both quickly becoming aroused. Biting at Ryuhou's lower lip, Kazuma slid his hand down his body, trailing together the beads of sweat on his chest and stomach before rubbing over the hardening bulge he could feel through the thin material. God... he could feel... everything. Grinning, he traced his fingers over the ridge just under the head of Ryuhou's cock, caressing him through the material. "And here I thought you didn't like me..." he murmured against his lips.

This isn't the script I wrote! What are you doing?

Kazuma licked his lips as Ryuhou moaned and thrust his hips into his hand. The redhead felt his cock twitch as the body against him struggled briefly for breath. Who'd have thought the ice-cold prodigy of HOLY could make noises like that? "Liking... wasn't the issue," Ryuhou replied finally. He rolled his hips again, encouraging Kazuma to get on with it and go in for the kill.

How could this possibly happen?! What is going on? Why won't they obey me?

"Is that so?" Kazuma chuckled, working his fingers over the hard length insistently, though still keeping his hand on the outside of the cloth. After a few moments, he paused in his attentions long enough to strip off his own shirt and Ryuhou's, tossing them negligently on the floor. Pressing himself back against the other man, he sighed in pleasure at the feeling of bare skin against his own. "So, how about that shower?" he asked with a smirk, pressing his thigh between Ryuhou's legs.

How dare they change the ending to my perfect story! It was beautiful! A work of art!

Ryuhou arched against him, brushing his hands up Kazuma's back. "Sounds good to me," he said breathlessly. He tried to still his hips, obviously frustrated by Kazuma's inconsistent touch.

The redhead's smirk widened. He tightened his hand around Ryuhou clothed cock and backed off. "Well," he grunted. "Let's go then." The newly initiated HOLY member proceeded to lead his senior officer to the shower, pulling him along by his dick.

Wrong, wrong, this is all wrong!

Ryuhou gave a strangled cry, but luckily the shower wasn't far. He muttered at Kazuma to wait a moment as they passed the door and hastily punched in the lock code. Good thing, too, because moments later the two men were naked, writhing against one another under water so hot that sweat mixed with the spray.

Kazuma forced Ryuhou back against the wall, his palms on the cool tile on either side of Ryuhou's head. The view was rather nice. Kazuma had always admitted to himself that Ryuhou was hot when his eyes flashed with anger. That was no comparison as to how he looked pressing against him, erection dripping and hard as steel against his, face red with lust and embarrassment. Kazuma bit back a groan. "So, sempai," he drawled huskily. "Wanna give me orders or something?"

My God, it's like a bad porno flick! What have they done to my masterpiece!?!

Panting, Ryuhou looked down at Kazuma through hooded ruby eyes, darkened by lust. His hips rocked against the other man's, seemingly of their own volition. "Fuck me," he commanded, a slight tremor in his voice. "Now."

A smirk twisted the corners of Kazuma's mouth. "Yes, sir," he replied with a two-fingered mock-salute. Grabbing Ryuhou's waist, he spun him around, forcing him to brace himself against the tile with both hands. Stepping forward, he positioned himself between Ryuhou's long legs, spreading them apart. "You want this?" he murmured, reaching down to trace his fingertips around the other man's entrance. His cock throbbed almost painfully, and he couldn't help thrusting against the enticing curve of Ryuhou's ass.

"God, y-yes..." Ryuhou nearly whimpered, his arms visibly trembling. Kazuma wondered a bit at that... the other seemed to be giving in way too easily. He'd expected to have to fight a bit for seme... but all doubts were overwhelmed by the lust sweeping through him.

They're not following what I wrote... they're not... but... this isn't a bad ending...

Grabbing a bottle of conditioner off the shower caddy, Kazuma dumped a liberal amount into his palm and slicked up his demanding erection. He wanted nothing more than to slam into the trembling body in front of him, but he decided he'd be at least a little considerate. Spreading a bit more on his fingers, he probed for Ryuhou's entrance again, then pushed inside of him, trying to go as slow as his hormone-charged body would allow.

Hmm... maybe this will be an even better ending. I can change my script a little...

Ryuhou let out a low keen and bucked back against the seeking fingers. Curling his fingers in startlement, Kazuma was rewarded with another cry and a shudder as his fingers pressed against Ryuhou's pleasure zone.

"God... Hurry up... Ka..." Ryuhou pleaded, again sounding strangely passive. The rogue didn't know how to look a gift horse in the mouth, though. That was all the permission he needed before his hastily prepared erection was pushing forward into Ryuhou. Searing heat and slickness wrapped around him, squeezing him and drawing him deeper. It was all he could do to bite back a moan from the pain/pleasure of being strangled within Ryuhou's body. Finally he was fully seated within his rival. Kazuma stilled, allowing the elder man to adjust. He was so fucking tight. Kazuma hadn't thought a person could BE so tight. The muscles of Ryuhou's back jumped. It had to hurt.

"M... move," came the low command.

Kazuma quirked a brow. "Yes, sir," he repeated. He pulled back, drawing himself almost completely out of Ryuhou before driving home again.

They're not... they're not doing what I told them... but still, it's a good ending... a better ending! They will be lovers and comrades, stronger than ever!

The sound of moaning and harsh panting echoed off the tile walls, reverberating around the two men as they moved in desperate unison. Kazuma thought he heard a few pained whimpers and pleas from Ryuhou, but he was too far gone to care. Already, his climax was fast approaching, and he bit his lip hard to stave it off. Wrapping one arm around Ryuhou's waist, he reached down with his free hand and began to stroke the other man's twitching cock. Ryuhou cried out, arching back against him, his wet green hair falling into his eyes. The cry strengthened into a scream, and with a few more rough, insistent strokes and slamming thrusts he was pushed over the edge. Kazuma wished he could have seen the other man's face better, but the sounds he made, the evidence of his pleasure splattering against the tile and over his fingers were enough to get him high. Muscles convulsed around his cock, drawing him into the great oblivion of orgasm. With a fierce growl he rocked into Ryuhou one more time, causing the man's knees to buckle, and released himself into his rival with sharp jerks.

Ooooh, the climax of the story! Mine would have been far more powerful. Er...

Ryuhou let out a sound something like a mix of a gasp and a mewl, as some of Kazuma's cum spilled over, trickling down his thighs. Both men relaxed, still breathing raggedly, their limbs limp as noodles.

With a groan, Kazuma reluctantly pulled out of Ryuhou's body, a residual shiver running pleasantly through him. "Damn, that was fucking great," he murmured, pressing a sated kiss to the warm, wet skin of Ryuhou's shoulder. To his surprise, he felt the other man's body shake, and heard what sounded like a choked sob. "Oi... what's wrong?" Pulling back, he grabbed Ryuhou's shoulders and turned him around, frowning as he saw the tears mixing with sweat and water on his cheeks. He didn't think he'd been THAT rough... "What's your... ack!" He was cut off as Ryuhou's arms flung around his shoulders, and the other man buried his face in his shoulder.

"Ka-Kazuma... that was so... wonderful..." Ryuhou sniffled. "I never thought... but it's happened, and... I love you... I love you, Kazuma!" Another sob shook his body.

A tearful confession of love solidifies their budding relationship...

Kazuma felt his blood suddenly transmute to ice. ".... Wha?" His inadequate response tore another fit of bawling. The redhead twitched. Sure, pawing and warm sticky substances being rubbed on him was fine during sex, but after it...?

Kazuma comforts Ryuhou, patting his shoulder compassionately. Their mutual emotion draws them closer!

He forced the other man back by the shoulder. Although he put all of his strength into the gesture, he was only able budge Ryuhou a few inches. It was if Ryuhou had been turned into lead. Sticky, needy lead. "What the fuck is going on?" Kazuma demanded roughly. "If this is some way of mocking me I'm gonna give your ass ANOTHER pounding!"

Gyah! I had it there for a moment! Now what's happening?

Ryuhou blinked up at the rogue through his tears. The glow of his crimson eyes, forest green hair and blushing cheeks was so lovely it made Kazum feel the need to vomit. "But Kazuma... Don't you feel as if we are closer now? Don't you feel as if we're one?" Ryuhou's eyes dimmed. The fuzzy stare sharpened, awaiting agreement.

The red-head shook his head in disbelief. "L-look, uh, I don't thi-"

"Kazuma, I love you."

Kazuma returns Ryuhou's respect...

The native alter shoved Ryuhou back with little tenderness. "Something's not right here," he husked, desperately trying to evade the creeping fingers trying to clutch at him.

"Kazuma, I love you, marry me," Ryuhou gasped, panting and sniffling as he slid on the tile.

Somewhere, in a distant universe, time stopped and imploded on itself. "You are NOT Ryuhou!"

"But I need you! We could have children!"

They would be a happy HOLY family, so deeply in love... wait, he's not following the script again!

"What. The. FUCK?" Kazuma backpedaled frantically, slipping on the wet floor. Alarms, gongs, and klaxons were blaring madly in his subconscious. This... was not Ryuhou. Ryuhou was not a weak, weeping, clingy person, he was... Kazuma's... enemy! "You're not him!" he shouted, his Alter forming over his arm. "Who the fuck are you?" How could I forget... Kanami, Kimishima... everyone... what the hell am I DOING? With a cry, he launched himself at his enemy, ignoring the high-pitched scream as his fist approached.

Nooooo! My script!

In a flash, Ryuhou, the shower, everything in the room shattered and disappeared as Kazuma's fist made contact. Abruptly, he found himself fully clothed in his normal attire, standing in the middle of what appeared to be an empty lot.

Kazuma looked about himself, dazed. He was alone, dry and cold with a rather unforgettable stain soaking the front of his pants. "W-what the FUCK is going on? These HOLY bastards are FREAKS!" The concrete ground of the lot suffered for his frustration. It shattered to pieces under his Altered fist, giving him acess to the HOLD levels below. He remembered his purpose. It wasn't to have wet dreams of fucking Ryuhou in a shower.

Elsewhere in the HOLY compound, a bulking uniformed figure with a distinctive pink afro clutched reams of paper in his fists.

"Why did it go wrong... Mad Sprict..." Unkei groaned. The paper only crumpled under his fingers, offering no response. "Some powerful force must have interfered, but what?"

The moments ticked by in silence. "Although... If it weren't for Kazuma's impudence at the end... It was actually not bad."

The paper crinkled in agreement.

"Maybe I should become... a fanfic writer!"

END

Fic - "Training Schedule"

2005-10-03T04:17:34Z

Fandom/Pairing: s-CRY-ed, Kazuma/Ryuhou
Title: Training Schedule
Authors: brightdreamer and valkyrielennith
Rating: R for spanking the HOLY monkey.
Format: One-shot, PWP
Summary: Ryuhou trains to defeat Kazuma, but his subconscious apparently has other ideas. Written for 30_lemons challenge #21, "Alone Time" (or, "When I Think About You, I Touch Myself").

Ryuhou slammed his palms into the wall at the empty HOLY gym, bending over nearly double as he gasped for breath. Sweat dripped into his eyes, running in rivulets from his ragged-cut bangs plastered to his forehead. His bare arms trembled under the effort of holding himself steady, muscles pushed far beyond their limits by lifting increasingly heavy weights. Ryuhou's legs threatened to buckle, having been forced to run faster and harder on the treadmill than ever before. Yet... it still wasn't enough. Pushing away from the wall, Ryuhou straightened his back, tossing his soaked hair out of his eyes. He could do more, push harder, continue his training. It was late, and nearly everyone at HOLD had retired for the night, but Ryuhou was determined to work at least another hour before his body collapsed. He had to. Kazuma... you are mine... my enemy... I will defeat you! His teeth clenched, Ryuhou dropped to the floor and began a set of one-arm push-ups.

Over an hour later, Ryuhou stumbled back into his quarters, utterly exhausted, yet thrilled that his body had withstood so much punishment. Yet, there was something he was lacking, something that he couldn't quite reach, no matter how hard he pushed. It would require some thought... perhaps he would add another round on the treadmill tomorrow. He would get stronger, no matter what the cost. That man... Kazuma... would not even have a chance against him the next time they met in battle.

Moving slowly to the bathroom, Ryuhou stripped his sweat-soaked clothes from his body, tossing them in the clothes hamper on the way by. A warm shower would relax his muscles and prepare him for the day tomorrow. Stepping under the streaming hot water, he released a private, almost indulgent sigh. Tilting his head back and closing his eyes, he let the water run over his face as he tried to let his thoughts go blank. But one face kept filling his mind... the smirking, defiant visage of NP32... no, Kazuma, would not leave him alone.

The images surfaced so vividly. He could almost taste the air of the interrogation room. He could almost still smell the man's scent, remember the sensation of his smooth skin breaking so prettily under his fist. The intense golden gaze fixed on him with raw hatred and challenge in his mind’s eye, and Ryuhou gasped as a sudden heat rushed through his body. He could see Kazuma glaring at him through the security camera, grinning in feral rebellion, another jolt causing him to groan and take a ragged breath.

"Kazuma..." He didn't notice or care that he'd said the name aloud, or that his hand had moved to slide gracefully down his body, tracing the lines of hard muscle on his chest and stomach, then lower.... Kazuma’s defiant voice echoed in his ears, and Ryuhou clenched his teeth, shaking his head as if to rid it of the persistent sounds. Another tremor ripped through his body, focusing in his groin as he pictured the images recorded by the security cameras, watching Kazuma lie dejected and drained in his cell... yet with his eyes still staring upward with fiery passion and hatred.

It was almost a surprise to Ryuhou when he felt his hand wrap boldly around his quickening erection. “Kazuma...” he repeated, his voice harsh rough with lust as he began to move his fingers over himself. I want to destroy everything you are... The hot water sluiced over his skin, making even the gentle but insistent strokes on his cock tug and pull nearly painfully. I want to break you. The insolent smirk, the fanatical competitive drive. I will possess you.

Ryuhou struggled to take in breath, tilting his head back under the hot spray. Of course, he'd indulged in this activity before, like any other hormone-driven youth, but never had it been so intense, nor had the impetus been the same... not that it mattered. At the moment his entire existence had a toothy grin and amber eyes. Groaning, he reached out and grabbed the bar of soap, coating his hand with the slick substance before lowering it again to pump his arousal more insistantly. The soap allowed his fingers to slide more easily over his hard flesh, and he gasped in near-startled pleasure. Moaning, he leaned his forehead against the cool tile of the shower wall, jerking himself harder and faster as he gave in and let the mental images wash over him like the water raining down from above. Kazuma would never stand a chance... Kazuma would be broken, crushed, defeated by Ryuhou's own hand... the same hand currently rubbing frantically over his cock. "Kazu... ma," Ryuhou choked out, his voice cracked with a groan as another shudder of pleasure rippled through him.

Unbidden, a new image blared behind his eyelids. He almost gagged as another rush left him trembling, harder than he had ever been before. Kazuma, naked beneath him, hot and vibrant, groaning and calling Ryuhou's name while Ryuhou drove into him furiously.

"Fu... Fuc-aaaahh!" His body began to move in time with his breath and strokes, hips snapping forward to meet his fist. Kazuma's body gripped around him tightly, his fingernails raking red gashes down Ryuhou's back. Precum leaked heavily down his erection... he was so close, his body aching for release from this torture.

The scenario shifted again. This time he was on his back, Kazuma above him, biting at his neck as he rocked into Ryuhou's vulnerable body. With every thrust he hit something inside of him that caused him to cry out with pleasure. Kazuma watched him lazily through a amber eyes, smirking and grunting as Ryuhou screamed his name.

In a violent lurch, the knot in Ryuhou's stomach let loose. He groaned hoarsely into the quiet patter of water, body convulsing and thrumming in pleasure as his seed spurted over his hand, stomach and the tile wall before slowly dispersing in the stream.

Panting harshly, Ryuhou held his hand out under the water, watching the whitish fluid wash away. He shivered... where had those final images come from? He didn't want Kazuma in that way, not in the slightest. Frowning, he reached for the soap again and began to wash himself, trying to work out the problem in his head. Perhaps it was the effect of thinking of Kazuma as he... did that. He had started by fantasizing about defeating him... naturally, his mind had warped it to something sexual as his level of arousal increased. Yes, that was a perfectly logical explanation. He would just forget about those mental pictures... the imagined feel of Kazuma's bare skin beneath his hands... the heat of him inside his body... no. Those were simply twisted products of his body's lust and his mind's desire to destroy the rogue native Alter user. Nodding firmly, he returned to the task of washing, already planning his next day's training schedule. Now, he was more determined than ever to find Kazuma, and make him pay.

FINIS

Fic: "The End of All Things" - Part 2

2005-09-30T20:56:39Z

Fandom/Pairing: s-CRY-ed, Kazuma/Ryuhou
Title: The End of All Things, ch. 2: Beginning
Rating: PG for boys kissing
Word Count: 630
Summary: After discovering that they're still alive, Kazuma and Ryuhou have to deal with what happened when they thought they were dying. Written for 30_kisses challenge #5: "ano sa" ("hey, you know....")

When Kazuma finally opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Ryuhou's concerned face. He blinked several times, but the other man didn't fade away-apparently not a hallucination then. "Huh, I even gotta put up with you in the afterlife too?" he rasped, wincing at the dryness of his throat.

"We're not dead," Ryuhou replied simply, reaching over to grab a glass of water off the bedside table. "Though apparently we were close to death when Tachibana found us." He held out the glass, his ruby eyes not quite meeting Kazuma's stare.

Grunting in response, Kazuma pushed himself up on one elbow and grabbed the water from the other man. He winced involuntarily as he reached out his right arm to take the drink, but he didn’t falter or spill the liquid. His one good eye watched Ryuhou sharply as he drank. The green-haired man seemed vaguely uncomfortable, and Kazuma had a pretty good idea why. He wasn't about to bring it up, though. It was far too much fun to watch Ryuhou squirm.

For a few moments, Ryuhou stayed silent, still not meeting Kazuma's intense gaze as he set the glass aside. Finally, he cleared his throat. "Ano sa..." he began, taking the glass and setting it back on the table. "About what happened..."

"What, you didn't like it?" Kazuma replied with a smirk, falling back to the pillows. He hadn’t forgotten their desperate kisses, lying on what they thought would be their deathbed. In truth, he was surprised it had taken them so long to reach this point.

Ryuhou’s eyes widened slightly, and a faint blush appeared between the scars on his cheeks. “N-no, I didn’t… I mean… I did like it, I think, but we… I didn’t know…”

Kazuma laughed suddenly, interrupting Ryuhou’s stammering. The laughter soon turned to pained coughing, however, and Kazuma pressed his palm to his chest, grimacing.

“You all right?” Ryuhou asked, immediately reaching for the glass again.

Kazuma waved him off, getting himself back under control. “Fine,” he gasped, then grinned up at the other man. “Y’know, you’re pretty hot when you’re flustered.”

“Wh-what? You… I…” Ryuhou sputtered, his blush deepening. He took a deep breath and straightened his back, apparently calming. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Kazuma’s eyebrows raised a fraction. “Realllly,” he drawled, struggling to sit up again. Ryuhou reached out to help him, and Kazuma grabbed his shoulders as if for support, but then pulled him down into a firm, insistent kiss.

Ryuhou gasped, his startled breath rushing over Kazuma’s lips, and it seemed as though he would pull away. But Kazuma slid his hand around and twined his fingers firmly in long green hair, holding him in place, and soon Ryuhou relaxed marginally against him. After a moment, his lips began to move in response to Kazuma’s, and his hand came up to rest hesitantly on Kazuma’s shoulder as the kiss deepened and continued. This meeting of lips and tongue lacked the urgency and desperation of their last, but it was no less intense for that. Kazuma felt a thrill shiver through his body, assuring him that although he was drained, he was still alive and this was true and real.

Finally, Kazuma broke away, falling back to the pillow with a self-satisfied smirk. “There, that’s better,” he said tiredly, his one good eye twinkling up at Ryuhou.

The green-haired man swallowed visibly, apparently struck speechless. Finally, he nodded, appearing a bit stunned.

Kazuma’s expression turned serious for a moment, and he reached out to grasp Ryuhou’s sleeve. “Ano sa…” he said, his eye slipping closed as he tried to fight the inexorable pull of healing sleep. “Can’t go back now.” Before he could hear Ryuhou’s response, he gave in, slipping into pleasant, painless dreams.

Possibly to be continued!

Fic - "Solitary Confinement"

2005-09-30T04:26:33Z

Fandom/Pairing: s-CRY-ed, Kazuma/Ryuhou
Title: Solitary Confinement
Authors: brightdreamer and valkyrielennith
Rating: NC-17/M
Format: One-shot, PWP
Summary: Ryuhou goes for some after-hours interrogation of prisoner NP3228... and gets much more than he bargained for. Written for 30_lemons challenge #18, "The Lockup."
Warning: Borderline NCS

Ryuhou lay awake, frowning up at the dark ceiling of his room. He knew he was tired, and should be sleeping; tomorrow was going to be another hectic day with all the Inners HOLD had captured. Especially one...

Sighing, the young officer rolled onto his side, closing his eyes and trying to relax. It didn't work. All he could see on the back of his closed eyelids was the defiant face of the prisoner NP3228. The boy was hiding something, he was sure. Even after numerous sessions in the centrifugal prison, he had refused to speak during his interrogations. Ryuhou planned to conduct the next one personally--but that knowledge didn't help with his current insomnia.

With an exasperated sigh, Ryuhou climbed out of bed and reached for his clothes. Thinking on it would do no good--he had to take action. A few minutes later, he was striding purposefully toward the cell block, his footsteps echoing hollowly in the empty hallway. At this time of night, the usually bustling corridors of HOLD were eerily quiet. Arriving at the correct room, Ryuhou dismissed the guard, then inserted his pass-card into the slot by the door. With a few keystrokes, he shut of the cameras inside the room, then coded the door to only open upon his command. His fingers hovered over the keys for a moment as he debated wither or not to deactivate the Alter-dampening field inside the cell. Obviously, he knew that he could defeat the prisoner in an Alter fight. Also, he was sure the other would be severely weakened from the g-force prison and lack of food. He wouldn't need Zetsuei to control him... and the risk of damaging the area with Alter power wasn't worth the pleasure of beating the Alter user at his own game.

His mind made up, Ryuhou palmed the control to open the cell door, then stepped inside. As the door slid closed behind him, he blinked rapidly, trying to adjust his eyes to the dim light. The Alter user NP3228 was lying on the bed, his arm flung over his eyes. Ryuhou took a step toward him. "Get up," he commanded. "I know you're awake."

With a groan, the tattered young man pushed himself up into a sitting position on the bunk. His eyes widened in recognition as he focused on Ryuhou. "You again, huh?" he snarled, clenching his fists. "Why don't you let me out of here and let's finish what we started."

"Unlikely," Ryuhou sniffed, taking a step toward the other. "You aren't a challenge for me. But, you are going to tell me all you know about the Alter groups in the Inner."

Rolling his eyes, the prisoner climbed to his feet and faced his captor. "Even if I knew anything, I wouldn't tell you," he said in a low voice.

Before he could think, Ryuhou had crossed the small cell and grabbed the younger man by the lapels of his coat, pulling him roughly to his feet. Slamming him into the wall, he pushed close to his face. "I'd cooperate if I were you, NP3228," he growled. "I have the power to sentence you to death, do you know that?"

The redhead shoved his hands against Ryuhou's chest ineffectively. "I'll take you down with me," he threatened.

Clenching his jaw, Ryuhou pushed even closer, using his knee between the other boy's legs to press him more firmly against the wall. Ryuhou's breath was coming in short, ragged gasps, his heart was pounding, and his entire body felt wound too tight. He ached, he wanted... something, he didn't know what. As NP3228's defiant amber eyes stared up at him, Ryuhou shivered with the effort of restraining the need for... whatever it was. He took another deep, shuddering breath, nearly tasting the man--and then suddenly he was leaning forward, crushing his lips to the other's.

A gasp, harsh and quick, gave Ryuhou the opportunity to plunge his tongue into the other's mouth. His mind was whirling with conflicting thoughts as he kissed his prisoner angrily. On one hand, he knew that this contact was fundamentally wrong and forbidden. But that rational part of his mind was quickly being drowned out by his urgent need to make the other submit to his will.

The redhead, however, wasn't so ready to surrender to the HOLY officer. After the initial shock of the forceful invasion he struggled to regain control of he kiss, plunging his own tongue into Ryuhou's mouth. The taste was new, the movements familiar as their tongues slid against each other. In the end it was Ryuhou who pulled away first, dizzy from lack of oxygen and intoxicated by the new surge of feeling in his veins. The other man smirked. "So, officer, this a habit of yours? Get your jollies from raping prisoners?"

"Fuck you," Ryuhou snarled, shoving the prisoner into the wall again before stepping back. He brushed the front of his uniform to straighten it, then turned toward the door. "You are not worth my time, NP3228." Before he could exit, however, a hand on his shoulder made him pause and turn back slightly... then an unexpected fist in his stomach made him double over, gagging, as black spots swirled in his vision.

"I'll make it worth your time," he heard a rough voice say, then callused fingers curled around his throat, constricting his airway.

Shit... he's going to kill me, Ryuhou thought, struggling against the hold. He tried to call to his Alter, but belatedly remembered that he had left the Alter-restricting field on in the cell. Weakened from the sucker punch, he couldn't break free, and soon the lack of oxygen forced him down into a painful unconsciousness.

His thoughts were strangely clear as he pulled out of his black-out. Ryuhou was vaguely aware of his throat protesting violently and the fact that he was now lying on the cot. The memory of the prisoner's violent retaliation and the moments before he passed out surfaced in his mind vividly. He instinctively fought to get up and defend himself, but found his arms and legs bound.

"Hmph. Took you long enough. Thought you'd have more fight in you than that," a voice jeered from the darkness.

"What are you doing? Release me at once!" Ryuhou croaked. To his alarm his voice was forced and faltering. No one would hear a scream for help in here... he'd sent all the guards away.

"What am I doing?" the prisoner asked rhetorically. "I'm going to give you a good show since you've been so... persuasive in this interview."

Ryuhou looked down, his eyes widening as he realized that he was wearing nothing more than his HOLY jacket, which was unbuttoned and spread around him on the bed. His pants were gone, as was his underwear, and his legs were drawn up and out, bound around his knees by what looked like torn strips from the regulation prison sheets. His hands were tied as well, pulled up above his head. The bonds were tied to the head of the bed, effectively restraining Ryuhou and leaving him extremely vulnerable. "Let me go, NP3228," he said, trying to make it a command... but to his dismay, it sounded more like a plea.

The redhead chuckled, sliding onto the bed to rest on his knees between Ryuhou's legs. "Nah, I think I wanna have a little fun first," he said with a sadistic grin. "I dunno the code to the door, so I can't get out myself... so I think I'll make this cell more entertaining, whaddya say?" He leaned forward, his face merely inches from Ryuhou's. "It's been lonely in here all by myself."

Ryuhou struggled again, but the restraints held tight. Desperate to retaliate, he did the only thing he could think of, and spat directly on the prisoner's face.

The other man's face darkened, and he reared back and backhanded Ryuhou across the cheek, snapping the HOLY officer's head to the side. "Fucking bastard!" he snarled. "You're gonna pay for that." A moment later, the fierce expression reverted back to that irritating smirk. "I'm gonna make you scream."

Ryuhou couldn't decide which infuriated him more, the maniac known as NP3228's smirk or the fact that said maniac had him cornered. Ryuhou tilted his head back and glared in defiance at his prisoner turned captor. "It'd take mare than gutter-scum like you to get me to scream, maggot," he sneered.

The prisoner's face registered the insult with the tightening of the jaw and eyebrows though the smirk remained intact. "Oh, I don't think it'll be too hard. You see, getting people to scream is actually rather easy," he drawled. He thrust his body against Ryuhou's persuasively, though Ryuhou once more struggled against his bonds. The native Alter grabbed him by the hair and slammed his skull against the headboard without batting a lash. Though Ryuhou whimpered, feeling his body both clenching in pain and beginning to become aroused, the redhead continued.

"All you have to do to make someone scream is to be everything they hate and give them everything they want."

Ryuhou shuddered at the sound of the other man's voice... whether in revulsion or arousal, he couldn't tell. His eyelids fluttered closed as the other ground against him again, his denim-clad hips rubbing raw against Ryuhou's exposed skin. There was no denying it now... he was fully erect, his body betraying him as he strained against his bonds, either to flee or get more of that friction, he didn't know. A groan tore itself from his throat as the rogue's lips closed over his nipple, biting and licking roughly before moving to the other side to deliver the same treatment.

Squeezing his eyes shut, Ryuhou tried to reject the sensations coursing through his body, but it was no use. The waves of pain-tinged pleasure swept through him uncontrollably as the other man slid down his body, roughly biting and licking Ryuhou's skin. An involuntary moan escaped him as he felt moist lips close around the head of his erection, and he bit his lip hard enough to draw blood. His prisoner/captor gave him no mercy, but began to suck him hard and fast, building the pressure with strong strokes of his tongue. He nearly choked when two fingers forced their way into his mouth, but they were quickly withdrawn. He wondered about that for a moment, but soon realized the purpose as he felt a slick finger probing back behind his balls. Tensing, he tried to reject it, but the other man redoubled his efforts on his cock, and Ryuhou was lost in a sea of pleasure. He barely noticed when the finger slipped inside him, but when it brushed against something inside him that made him see stars, he cried out, instinctively arching his back as much as he could against his bonds. He felt more than heard the prisoner's chuckle around his hard flesh, then he was coming hard, clenching his teeth to keep from screaming as he poured himself into that foul mouth.

As his orgasm rode itself out and his body finally began to stop convulsing, Ryuhou thought for one blissful moment that he would black out again. A sudden slap to his face hindered that escape route. The prisoner was leaning over him now, seeming to gain some perverse pleasure in watching Ryuhou's sweat-streaked face as he delved in a second finger and started scissoring them methodically. Though it shamed him, with every twist of the native Alter's digits he could feel his libido quickly returning. Ryuhou groaned, turning his head to the side in an attempt to disconnect himself from the situation.

"Can't have you passing out," the redhead sniggered. "I'm not close to being through with you yet." Ryuhou flinched slightly as NP3228 lazily dragged his tongue down his neck to bite roughly at his collarbone. He should have made a cutting remark, but at that moment the prisoner had added a third finger, stretching him so far that he had to bite down on the inside of his cheek to check a scream of pain. The coarse fingers drove deeper, curving again to stroke the spot inside him that made his sight bleed to white and then he was squirming desperately, though if in urgency or agony he was no longer sure. The searing pain of being stretched with little lubrication and the blinding pleasure of his insides being teased we evenly matched. It wasn't long before he was gasping and grunting occasionally, fully erect once more.

Just as the pain was beginning to fade, the fingers withdrew and the prisoner shifted his position until something else, something larger than the previous fingers, rubbed against his moistened entrance. Ryuhou's eyes snapped open in alarm.

"What are you doing, NP3228?!" he hissed, teeth still clenched tight in the effort to maintain his "silence".

The other man pressed a little harder. "I'm fucking you," the criminal replied with a smirk.

"F-fu-- Don't be ridiculous, I'm a man." It was happening anyway. The tip of his captor's cock began to press into him, the slick heat opening him once more.

The redhead rolled his eyes. "Oh, I so did NOT notice that as I was sucking your dick." With that, he thrust forward sharply, impaling Ryuhou on his erection.

Ryuhou arched up off the bed again, muscles straining against the tight restraints as a strangled whine escaped his aching throat. Immediately, he tensed against the intrusion, but that only seemed to make the pain worse as the other man pulled back and slammed into him again. He couldn't resist, couldn't pull away, could only remain helplessly bound as his former prisoner used his body. Turning his head to the side, Ryuhou cursed the tears that slipped free from his eyes. It hurt... yes, it hurt, as though he was being torn in two from the inside, but oh, there was so much pleasure as well, seemingly intensified by the pain.

With animalistic growls that both disgusted and excited Ryuhou, the prisoner continued to pound into his prone body, speeding up and slowing at his own whim. Ryuhou's tense body quivered, feeling his channel slickening slightly with either blood or precum.

"Fuckin'.... tight," the prisoner gasped, taking hold of Ryuhou's hips to alter their angle and placing a sloppy kiss in the general area of Ryuhou's mouth. The HOLY officer whimpered, tossing his head back as fresh tears flowed freely from his eyes. In this position the other pumped into him deeper and with greater precision against his prostate. His mouth dropped open in a voiceless scream that burned his throat nonetheless. The redhead murmured his approval and grew rougher and more frenzied as Ryuhou's body began to move in time to his.

As he moved inexorably closer to his second climax, Ryuhou felt his face flush with both shame and desire. With every rough thrust, he moaned and gasped quietly, despite his clenched jaw. Desperately, he tried to hold back, but the agonizing pleasure would not be restrained. Finally, it was too much. Despite his best efforts to remain stoic and quiet, Ryuhou screamed as he came violently, his hips bucking uncontrollably against his tormentor's as his own seed splashed against his stomach and chest. A deep growl answered his scream, and Ryuhou felt spurts of liquid heat fill him, seeming to scald his insides. Revulsion and lust mingled in him, and for a brief moment he feared he might shame himself further by being sick all over the bed. The nausea passed, however, and he looked defiantly up at the other man. "So, you've had your fun, now release me," he demanded.

The redhead chuckled, then collapsed onto Ryuhou, not minding that he was smearing the sticky mess between them. "Seems like you had a bit of fun too," he rumbled, giving his hips a little jerk, still deeply embedded in Ryuhou's body. Ryuhou winced visibly, his cheeks still flushed from his previous exertion.

"Enough, release me," he gasped, voice weak and strained. He felt completly drained of anything but the pleasant tingle of sated hormones and the foreshadowing ache in places he didn't even know he had. If he were brought to climax again he'd surely embarrass himself by passing out.

An insane grin spread across NP3228's face. "But I've already 'released' you twice," he said, rocking his hips forward again. "You wanna go again? Damn, you're a machine... I should'a fucked a HOLY bitch like you a long time ago."

"No-oo, stop," Ryuhou pleaded, cursing the fact that his voice sounded so weak and desperate. He couldn't take much more of this. He almost sobbed with relief as the other withdrew from him, spilling cum and blood from Ryuhou's abused body. A moment later, the ties around his legs and arms were ripped off, and he slumped to the bed limply.

"Ehhh, I'm beat myself," he heard that taunting voice say, as the younger man flopped down beside him. "You're just gonna have to come back another day if you want more."

Ryuhou scowled and rubbed at his wrists gingerly. Unsure of what he should say, he said nothing at all. He simply rolled away from the other man's warm body, wincing again as the other slapped his ass. Rather than get into another quibble and lengthen his stay, he simply stood up and took a faltering step. He wanted to scream or cry as sticky fluid dribbled down his inner thighs. His whole body trembled and screamed abuse, but his steely pride kept his head held high. The prisoner watched him silently as he wandered about the room, finding and putting on his clothes. Finally he was ready to leave, and he limped towards the door.

"You're just gonna leave without saying anything?" the redhead growled, pulling himself up on the bed. Ryuhou turned slightly, only to give the man a glare. The old adage about a look that could kill suddenly seemed plausible. He turned away again and rested his hand on the door release, keying in the unlocking sequence.

"Hey, bitch," the prisoner called out, waiting until Ryuhou had turned to face him to continue. The criminal's face split into a frightening grin as he pumped his fist in a rude gesture. "I own your ass now."

Ryuhou's entire face contorted into murderous rage. "Fuck you," he mouthed, pulling the door open and striding out. He quickly checked that it was locked as it closed and started to walk stiffly down the hallway. He would not allow himself to collapse until he was safely alone. Behind him he could hear the prisoner beating the metal door to the point of denting it and screaming after him.

"NO, FUCK YOU! I FUCKED YOU AND ALL YOUR FUCKIN' MONEY AND ATTITUDE CAN'T CHANGE THAT!"

Ryuhou leaned heavily against the wall as he turned the corner. The unalterable truth was that the other man was right. Nothing could erase or change what had happened. He could only... try to move on. Straightening his back again, he moved purposefully toward his quarters, only the barest hint of a limp showing in his even steps.

FINIS

Fic: "The End of All Things" - s-CRY-ed, RyuKazu

2005-05-23T02:48:31Z

Title: “The End of All Things”
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1471
Summary: Ryuhou and Kazuma, the invincible defenders of the lost ground, finally reach the end of their power. Written for 30_kisses challenge #16: "invincible/unrivaled."

Kazuma and Ryuhou: the invincible defenders of the Lost Ground. Together, they had defeated numerous armies of the mainland, as well as revolts and disputes amongst the inhabitants of the island. Their unimaginable Alter power was stronger than any seen before or since, and together, no foe could stand against them.

How ironic, Ryuhou thought as he lay on a pile of tattered blankets, fighting for every breath. Our “invincible” power would be the one thing to destroy us. Cougar had warned him, long ago, that continuing to harness the intense Alter power of the Other Side would result in certain death. But there was no choice. The Lost Ground had to be protected. Now that it was safe, Ryuhou and Kazuma could finally... rest.

Hearing a low groan, Ryuhou turned his head and looked across the one-room shack that he and Kazuma had called home for the past few months... or was it years, now? His companion lay on a low pallet of blankets similar to Ryuhou’s, curled up in obvious pain. Even in the dim light struggling through the dirty windowpane, Ryuhou could see the deep scars crossing Kazuma’s bare arm and torso. Ryuhou had similar scars of his own, carving trails over much of his body. Such was the high price paid for their awesome power. Their bodies wouldn’t hold out much longer, Ryuhou was sure. Being broken apart and re-formed so many times was too much for any human body, even ones so strong as Ryuhou and Kazuma’s.

Another muffled groan brought Ryuhou out of his thoughts. With great effort, he clenched his teeth and rolled off his “bed,” then crawled across the floor to Kazuma’s side. His head was swimming from the pain by the time he collapsed onto the blankets beside his former enemy. “How... bad?” he panted, trying to catch his breath as he stared up at the dark ceiling above him.

“Shut... up,” Kazuma groaned. “Don’t ask... me that.”

Ryuhou grunted softly in response, his eyes slipping closed. He must have fallen unconscious again, because the next time he became aware, the sky through the window was a mottled orange and blue. He wasn’t sure if it was sunrise or sunset–and it didn’t matter. A soft weight rested across his chest; looking down, he saw a darkly-scarred arm lying over him. Kazuma must have curled closer to him in his sleep, seeking relief from the cold and pain. Oddly enough, Ryuhou found that he didn’t mind. Kazuma was... warm. Shifting a bit, he wrapped his arm around the other man’s shoulders and pulled him closer. I wonder if this... is the end, Ryuhou thought, closing his eyes and shivering as pain shot through his body again.

“Not... a bad way... to die,” Kazuma said quietly, as though he could read Ryuhou’s thoughts. They’d always been that way, connected by a near-psychic link into one another’s mind. “Almost wish... we were fighting... though.” Every word sounded like an effort for the redhead, and Ryuhou wondered why the other man was even bothering to talk.

“I can hit you... if you want,” Ryuhou murmured, tightening his arm around his companion.

“Mm... no... s’okay,” Kazuma sighed, turning his head to almost nuzzle against Ryuhou’s neck. Some part of the former HOLY officer’s mind protested this closeness, but the rest of him was already slipping into the enclosing blackness.

When Ryuhou awoke again, it was completely dark in the cabin. He could have lit a lamp, but getting up from this pallet would have been too difficult. Besides, Kazuma’s arm was wrapped tightly around him, holding him close. Ignoring the pain lancing through every nerve in his body, Ryuhou rolled to the side, facing his companion and draping his arm lightly over the other man’s waist.

“Huh... still alive?” Kazuma grumbled weakly. “Figured you’d... kicked over by now.”

“Not yet,” Ryuhou replied. “Think... soon, though.” There was no fear... only a sense of relief that this pain would soon be over. Every breath felt like too much effort. Kazuma had to be in the same condition, or worse. Dying like this was better than dying alone. Tightening his arms around Kazuma, Ryuhou drew closer to the other Alter user.

“Yeah, prob’ly,” Kazuma sighed, leaning into the touch. Ryuhou was mildly suprised–he’d never been this close to Kazuma before, when they weren’t fighting. He supposed the fact that they were both lying on what would be their deathbed had something to do with it. He was even more surprised when, a moment later, Kazuma’s lips pressed against his in a gentle kiss. Ryuhou’s immediate reaction was to draw away, but... he was just too weak, and it didn’t feel bad, after all. Instead, he simply closed his eyes and welcomed the sudden affection, returning the unexpected kiss as best he could. Kazuma’s lips weren’t soft and warm like he’d always heard about kisses. Instead, they were dry and cracked, hot with fever. With great effort, Ryuhou raised one shaking hand and rested it on Kazuma’s face, stroking his fingertips lightly over the scars on his cheek. Not the worst way to spend our last few minutes on this earth, Ryuhou mused. Unexpected, but not horrible.

Kazuma’s arms clutched at Ryuhou’s waist, though Ryuhou could feel the man’s grip weakening even as their desperate first-last kiss continued. Finally, Kazuma broke away with a soft gasp, then rested his forehead against Ryuhou’s. “Tired...” he panted. “Gonna... sleep now.”

Ryuhou nodded weakly, brushing back some of Kazuma’s tousled red hair. “Me too...” he murmured, already feeling the inexorable, inviting pull of darkness tugging at his consciousness. Part of him wanted to fight, to stay alive... but why? It would just mean more pain. If only...

With his last ounce of strength, Ryuhou pulled closer to Kazuma and kissed him again. The other Alter user responded for a moment, then... fell still. After struggling briefly, Ryuhou succumbed to the soft dark closing over them both.

~~~~~~

Floating... drifting... no pain... soft warmth... is this death? Ryuhou slowly came back to awareness, blinking dazedly in the bright white light surrounding him. The afterlife didn’t seem too bad... though a little warmer than Ryuhou would have liked. Shifting slightly, he realized that he was lying in a large, soft bed, with several warm blankets spread on top of him. Raising his head, he was startled when a wet cloth slipped off his forehead, falling to the overstuffed pillow behind him.

“Oh, you’re awake!” a cheerful, male voice greeted him. Turning his head, Ryuhou saw a familiar purple-haired boy standing in the doorway.

“T-Tachibana?” he rasped, his throat dry. “Am I... dead?”

“No, but you were close when we found you,” the other man replied, moving over by the bed and pouring a glass of water from a pitcher on the night-stand. “Kanami wasn’t able to track you down until your defenses weakened enough for her to sense you.” He handed Ryuhou the glass, sliding an arm behind his back to help him sit up. “I’ve used Eternity Eight to heal much of the damage to your body, but I can’t believe you didn’t come to me earlier.”

Ryuhou swallowed the cool liquid gratefully, then looked back at Tachibana, concerned. “Kazuma... did you...?” he asked, almost afraid of the answer.

Tachibana’s smile faded for a moment, and Ryuhou’s heart nearly stopped. If he were alive, and Kazuma had died... he didn’t know how he would be able to go on. “He'll be all right,” the younger man replied, and Ryuhou sighed in relief, louder than he would have liked to admit.

“Where...?”

“He was worse off than you... I almost couldn’t bring him back,” Tachibana said, moving across the room to grasp the edge of a curtain that Ryuhou hadn’t noticed before. Belatedly, he realized that they were in a hospital room of sorts. When Tachibana pulled back the curtain, he saw that Kazuma was lying in the other bed, looking very still and pale. “He’ll recover,” Tachibana said quickly, stepping back to place a reassuring hand on Ryuhou’s shoulder. “You’re just lucky we found you two in time.” He squeezed Ryuhou’s arm lightly, then stepped back. “Try to get some more rest. I’ll go get Kanami-chan... I’m sure she’ll want to see you.” With that, he turned and left the room after one last smile at Ryuhou.

Lying back on the pillows, Ryuhou kept his eyes fixed on Kazuma as his mind churned over everything that had happened. That last kiss... he knew it had to mean something, but both of them had thought they were dying! How would Kazuma react? How was Ryuhou supposed to react, for that matter?

With a sigh, Ryuhou shook his head with a faint hint of a smile, still looking over at his companion. “Well, Kazuma... what do we do now?”

"Shower, Revisited"; HunterxHunter, Kurapika/Leorio

2005-05-02T08:33:10Z

Title: Shower, Revisited
Author: Eloy Brightdreamer
Rating: NC-17
Fandom: Hunter x Hunter
Genre: Romance, PWP - Kurapika/Leorio
Summary: After Leorio’s near-death, Kurapika comes to terms with his own feelings and how he’ll show them to the other.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Hunter x Hunter. If I did, there would be even more GAY than there already is!

A/N: Written for the lovely castor, originally for her birthday. *snuggles*

Sitting propped up on pillows in bed, Kurapika looked down at the heavy book in his hands. He’d retreated back to this room to relax and clear his mind for the few hours before the gunship reached Zebil Island for the fourth Hunter Exam. But now, he’d been looking at this same page for several minutes, but couldn’t seem to read more than a few words before losing his train of thought. Blankly, he stared at the page, hoping the letters and symbols would start to magically make sense. The black ink swirled on the paper, losing its meaning as the Kuruta’s mind wandered again.

“There’s only one diving suit. We won’t be able to help him.”

Kurapika rubbed his forehead. Hanzo’s words kept echoing in his mind, bringing back the aching feeling of helplessness and loss that had seared his being at that moment. In an instant, everything had come crashing down on him, and he was paralyzed with indecision. He couldn’t give the order to break free, couldn’t leave, couldn’t do anything to help. But then...

“Gon’s helping...”

The sense of relief that had swept over him was nearly as strong as the fear. The decision had been taken out of his hands, and he no longer had to worry about leaving... someone behind. Everything had turned out well in the end, and now they were safely on their way to the next test. But...

He sighed, running his fingers over the lines in the book, trying unsuccessfully to return to his studies. Would it have been the same if it had been someone else trapped underwater? Would he have been so devastated if it were Killua, or Hanzo, or anyone other than...

“Hey, looks like you had the same idea,” a voice came from the doorway. Kurapika jumped slightly; lost in thought, he hadn’t even heard the door open. Unable to help himself, he stared at the man leaning on the doorframe.

Leorio...

Apparently oblivious to Kurapika’s stare, Leorio pushed away from the wall and ambled toward the bed. “Guess we should get some rest before the test, huh?” Kicking off his shoes, he flopped backwards onto the other bed. “Mmm, I’m gonna enjoy real blankets before we’re stuck out in the woods for days.”

Kurapika nodded absently, turning his attention back to the book in his lap. After a few moments, he realized that it was going to be even harder to concentrate with the subject of his thoughts lying a few scant feet away. He glanced over at the other, who was lying with his hands behind his head. “Leorio.”

The older boy opened one eye and looked over at him. “Hm?”

Kurapika stayed silent for a moment, wondering if he could put into words what he was feeling. “Are you... going to sleep?” he asked finally, deciding to take the easier way out. “I can go outside to read if the light bothers you.”

Leorio shrugged, then fluffed the pillow behind his head. “Nah, I think I’m just gonna rest a bit,” he said. “You can stay, I don’t mind.”

Staring down at the page again, Kurapika almost wished the other had asked him to leave. He also wished that he could just come out and say what he was rolling over in his head. Leorio, I don’t know what I would do if you ever died. Don’t ever leave me in that situation again. I hated that feeling and I think I’m falling for y...

Closing the book with a snap, the blonde sat up on his bed. He... had to get out of the room. His hands clenched in the blankets as he wondered how to make his exit. Leorio glanced over at him curiously. “Something wrong?”

Quickly, Kurapika shook his head. “No, nothing. I’m fine.” He took a deep breath. “I’m going to go take a shower.” With that, he jumped out of bed and nearly fled the room.

Leorio stared up at the ceiling, wincing as he heard the bathroom door slam. A few moments later, the soft hiss of the shower told him that Kurapika had actually done what he said. The young would-be doctor sighed, picking absently at bits of fuzz on the blankets. Kurapika’s act hadn’t fooled him. He knew something was bothering his “roommate,” but he didn’t want to pry. He’d only just been able to get past the hard shell the Kuruta had erected around his emotions, and he didn’t want that wall between them again. Well, I just hope he gets his mind sorted out before we get to the island, he thought.

In the bathroom, Kurapika leaned his forehead against the cool tile of the shower, taking deep breaths of the steamy air. He had no idea what might happen once they reached the fourth test; he only knew that he could not afford to let another opportunity slide out of reach. Kurapika had never really taken the time to consider his emotions and desires-–other than revenge for his people, of course. But... this feeling for the man waiting in the next room-–it was like nothing he’d ever felt. The thought of losing Leorio was enough to send a sick jolt through his body, yet the idea of confessing any sort of... romantic notions toward him cause butterflies to spawn madly in his stomach. What was this? Kurapika never got nervous.

He knew he shouldn’t be so worried. After all, the other man had already given ample hints that he was interested. Unless Kurapika had misinterpreted his actions–-like coming out of the shower naked–-Leorio wouldn’t react badly. All Kurapika had to do was show his interest in return...

Suddenly, the Kuruta was struck with a bolt of inspiration. Why not turn Leorio’s own tactics against him? It was perfect.

Leorio lay quietly in bed, his head resting in his hands as he stared up at the ceiling. He should have been resting, he knew, but sleep eluded him despite the soft warmth of the pillows and blankets. Hearing the shower shut off, he thought of Kurapika. His roommate had hardly spoken to him since they’d escaped the storm, and Leorio wondered if he’d inadvertently done something to offend the other. He had been very careful about hinting at his feelings, especially after the disastrous shower incident.

A few minutes later, Leorio heard the bathroom door opening. Casually, he glanced over, then sat bolt upright, his mouth open wide. Kurapika stood in the doorway, wearing nothing more than a blush and a few glistening droplets of water. This was... the last thing Leorio would ever have expected, but oh, he was enjoying the sight.

Kurapika shifted his weight slightly, certain that his eyes were pulsing red. He could face danger and certain death calmly, but putting his feelings out in the open like this left his heart pounding. He almost took a step back as Leorio hopped out of bed and started toward him, but he forced himself to stand firm. He shivered a bit-–the cold metal under his feet was sucking the heat right out of his body. However, he couldn’t stop his gaze from slipping to the floor as Leorio stopped in front of him. “Kurapika... what...?”

Kurapika didn’t give Leorio time to finish his question. In one smooth motion, he looked up, grabbed the taller man by the back of his head, and pulled him down into a fierce, desperate kiss.

Leorio flailed for a moment, caught off guard by the sudden affection. Sometimes he forgot how much strength was hidden in the blonde’s lithe body! Recovering from his shock quickly, Leorio wrapped his arms around Kurapika’s waist and tilted his head to return the kiss in earnest.

Kurapika signed in relief. He hadn’t been wrong. Relaxing his arms, he lowered his hands to Leorio’s shoulders. His fingers trembling slightly, he slid one hand around and began loosening the man’s tie.

Leorio gulped as he felt his tie abruptly yanked off. He pulled back as Kurapika’s nimble fingers began undoing the top buttons on his shirt. “Hey... are you...?”

“Yes.” The younger man nodded quickly, working his way down Leorio’s chest. Once he’d finished with the buttons, he slid his hands under the material, brushing against Leorio’s skin and pushing the garment off his shoulders. “I... want you, Leorio,” he said, then took a deep breath. “I want to be close to you,” and never lose you again, he added silently, raising his gaze to meet the other’s. “I almost lost you today,” he said softly, leaning forward to press his lips to Leorio’s chest.

Leorio drew in a long, slow breath, both at the words and the sensation of Kurapika’s mouth seeking his nipple. He never imagined that his feelings for the Kuruta might be reciprocated; he’d “tested the waters” with his own after-shower stunt, and thought that Kurapika had made his own aversion obvious. Guess I should have a near-death experience more often, he thought ruefully. The reasons weren’t important, though; all that mattered was the fact that he currently had a very naked Kuruta seducing him. Quickly, he shrugged out of his shirt, then pulled Kurapika close again. Running the fingers of one hand through wet blond hair, he tilted Kurapika’s head back and kissed him, softer this time.

Pressing his hands against Leorio’s chest, Kurapika enjoyed the feeling of bare skin and firm muscles. Leorio’s hand at his waist pulled him forward, and he eagerly complied, grinding his hips against the other man’s. A hardening bulge strained at Leorio’s pants, and Kurapika lowered one hand to caress it eagerly. He tried not to think about what he was doing-–or what he most likely was about to do-–and concentrated only on the moment and the pleasurable feeling of Leorio against him.

Leorio broke off the kiss with a gasp as Kurapika’s fingers pressed against his quickly-growing erection. The Kuruta was aroused as well... his hips grinding against Leorio’s thigh proved that. Unintentionally, the older man glanced over toward the beds, wondering if it would be too forward to suggest a change of location.

Stepping back, Kurapika took Leorio's hands and began tugging him toward the bed. He hadn’t missed the man’s quick glance, and thought he’d spare the other the trouble of asking. “Come on, Leorio, we don’t have much time,” he stated, walking backwards. Reaching the bed, he sat with his knees parted and pulled Leorio close, between them. He quickly unfastened the button and zipper on the man’s pants, and without wasting time, he slid his fingers under the material, pushing it over Leorio’s hips.

Breathing heavily, Leorio held onto Kurapika’s shoulders as the other tugged his pants and underwear down his legs. “Kurapika...” he murmured, about to ask again if he was sure, but he stopped himself. Kurapikia had obviously made up his mind about what he wanted–why should Leorio argue with him? Hurriedly, he kicked off his pants, then eased the younger man back down onto the bed. Climbing up as well, he intended to lie beside him, but was startled as Kurapika pushed him over onto his back and rolled on top of him, straddling his hips. The feeling of another hard length pressing against his own elicited a low groan from Leorio’s throat.

Kurapika echoed the sound quietly, grinding his hips against Leorio’s. Though he was usually a very patient person, he could barely hold himself back right now. Leorio felt so good underneath him, his erection rubbing against his, and his chest heaving unevenly.

Leorio’s hands fastened around Kurapika’s hips, tugging him even tighter to his body. “Come here,” he said, his voice husky with lust and need. Kurapika gladly obliged, lying completely atop the other and burying his face in the curve of Leorio’s neck. The two settled quickly into an urgent rhythm, writhing and grinding against one another, seeking more friction and release from the ever-building tension. Leorios’ hands clutched at his lover’s waist and hip, urging him on; Kurapika’s fingers tangled in Leorio’s cropped black hair as his breath hissed and panted in erratic puffs against the other’s chest.

Leorio forced himself to keep his eyes open, wanting to see every pleasured expression that crossed his new lover’s face. He couldn’t see much, however, as Kurapika currently had his face hidden in Leorio’s neck. Deciding he liked this just as well, Leorio closed his eyes, groaning as the sensations washed over him. A moment later, though, Kurapika arched back, his mouth open as a soft moan escaped his lips. Leorio looked up as Kurapika’s hand groped between their bodies, grasping and stroking, pressing their erections together. The Kuruta’s eyes opened, staring down at Leorio with pulsing red intensity. Leorio gasped, reaching down to cover Kurapika’s hand with his own, and keeping his gaze locked on the other man’s eyes.

A scant few moments later, Kurapika groaned louder than before, clutching his hand tighter and stroking faster. Leorio drew in a sharp breath as he watched the boy’s eyes flash a deep, intense red. The rumors were true... it was the most beautiful color he’d ever seen. He wanted to watch, to stare into those ruby depths forever, but liquid warmth was already flowing over his hand and stomach, and Kurapika’s eyes were closed, and then his own squeezed shut as every muscle in his body tensed in anticipation. Then he was flying over the edge as well, arching and writhing and groaning and it just kept going and oh, he never wanted it to stop...

Finally, Leorio came back to himself and found Kurapika slumped over him, his head resting on Leorio’s chest. Gently, he rubbed his hands over the boy’s back. “Hey... you all right?” he murmured with a bit of concern. Kurapika’s body was still trembling, and he was clinging to Leorio like a drowning man.

Kurapika took a deep breath. Unable to reply verbally, he nodded shakily against Leorio’s chest. Now that this had happened, he wasn’t quite sure how he was supposed to act... or feel, for that matter. Obviously, he felt good; little aftershocks of pleasure kept shivering through his body, drawing out sighs and quiet pants of breath. When he was able, he raised his head and looked down at the man beneath him. Leorio reached up to brush his fingertips lightly over Kurapika’s cheek. Though he was smiling, his eyes still showed a hint of concern. “You all right?” he asked again.

Kurapika pondered the question for a moment, rubbing his hands over his lover’s bare chest. He had just successfully seduced a man about whom he wasn’t even sure of his feelings a few days ago. He was on his way to unknown danger and possible death. He was seeking revenge for his decimated race. He had no idea what the future would bring. And... he was currently lying naked on top of Leorio.

With a small smile, Kurapika leaned down and kissed Leorio on the lips. After a moment, he pulled back just a bit, meeting the other man’s eyes.

“I’ve never felt better.”

30 Kisses Theme #19, KazuRyu

2005-04-28T21:45:06Z

Title: Fire and Ice
Author: brightdreamer
Pairing: Ryuhou and Kazuma
Fandom: s-CRY-ed
Theme: #19, Red

Red. Everything about Kazuma was red. Auburn-red hair flaring brighter with his Alter power. Red and gold armor encasing his arm or entire body. Maroon-red shirt, now tattered and torn by too-numerous battles, barely hanging on the man's equally-battered body. Red-hot temper exploding at the smallest provocation.

Ryuhou couldn't think about Kazuma without picturing the color. The other man--his enemy, rival, companion, friend, lover--practically radiated a red aura. Everything about Kazuma both contrasted and complemented Ryuhou, who was all cool blues, silver-purple Alter, sea-green hair, cold heart. Perhaps this was one reason why they'd clashed so violently and loved so deeply. Guess opposites can attract as well as repel, Ryuhou mused, watching his redheaded partner approach the car during a rare trip into town for supplies. Fire and ice...

"What're you staring at?" Kazuma grumbled once he moved within earshot.

Ryuhou shrugged and stepped forward, reaching out as if to take Kazuma's bag. "Nothing really, just..." Knowing he was risking bodily injury, he grabbed Kazuma's arm and pulled him close. Before the other man could protest, Ryuhou dipped his head and captured Kazuma's lips in a quick, passionate kiss.

Kazuma relaxed against Ryuhou for a moment, then stiffened and shoved the taller man away. "What the fuck was that?!" he yelled, his face flushed. He swung his fist at Ryuhou's face, but the older boy dodged easily. "We're out in public, dammit!"

"I know," Ryuhou replied, with the barest hint of a smirk twitching at the corners of his mouth. "I just wanted to see if I could get your face to turn red too." Nonchalantly, he turned and climbed into the driver's seat of the jeep. "Looks like it worked."

Kazuma stood stunned for a moment, then grumbled and got in the passenger's side, still blushing furiously. "Baka."

[x-posted to 30_kisses]

"Solace," Chapter 7: Beginning COMPLETE

2005-03-07T03:08:20Z

Chapter 7: Beginning

Kouga curled slightly as he awoke, unwilling to stir from the comfortable warmth. He blinked, confused by the soft weight covering him. Looking down, he saw Inuyasha’s red haori spread over him, the material pleasantly warmed by the late morning sun. With a yawn, he sat up, then glanced around for his companion. Inuyasha was sitting nearby, poking absently at several small fish roasting on sticks by a small fire. “You slept long enough,” he grumbled, raising his head as Kouga stirred.

The wolf prince stood and stretched. “Hey, I was up all night keeping your sorry ass alive, so don’t complain.” Tossing the hanyou’s coat his direction, he moved to sit by the fire and grabbed for a fish. Inuyasha huffed at the comment, but didn’t reply.

The two ate in silence for a long while. Several times, Kouga caught the hanyou looking like he wanted to say something, but he always just took another bite instead. The uncomfortable air developing in the camp was starting to annoy the wolf. Finally, he leaned back, chewing on the tail of the last fish. “So, when are you gonna thank me for saving your life?” he asked with a smirk.

Inuyasha choked and glared at him. “What makes you think I’m gonna thank you?”

Kouga rolled his eyes. “Oh, come on. I know you want to.” Leaning forward, he grinned at his companion. “Or am I gonna have to beat some gratitude into your thick head?”

Inuyasha stood with a snort, then kicked some dirt on the fire to smother it. “Yeah, right. Let’s get going.”

Kouga made as f to stand up, then crouched and sprang at the hanyou, tackling him around the waist. The force carried both of them to the ground, where they rolled several times before stopping, Inuyasha on the bottom. Kouga pinned the other boy’s arms on either side of his head and grinned down at him impishly. “Nuh-uh. Not till you thank me.”

Growling, Inuyasha kicked out with his legs, managing to flip the pair over. “No way!” he yelled, but his eyes twinkled with laughter. “You should thank me for not leaving you here while you were sleeping like a log.”

Kouga rolled his eyes, twisting to get Inuyasha underneath him again. “Sure, then I’d have to track you down when you got lost,” he retorted, then grinned down at the boy. “Let’s just say you owe me one,” he said, climbing off and holding his hand out to help the other to his feet.

Inuyasha grunted in annoyance, but allowed Kouga to pull him up. “Yeah, whatever.” He started gathering up their supplies, leaving Kouga to put on his armor.

As he waited for the wolf to finish dressing, Inuyasha stared off in the distance. In the clear air, a shadowy range of mountains was barely visible ahead of them. “Oi, wolf,” he called over his shoulder. “That where we’re going?”

Walking toward him, Kouga looked up from buckling his shoulder strap. “Yeah. Hey, we’re closer than I thought!” He grinned, the possibility of reaching their destination cheering him immensely. “I bet we can get there in a couple days... if you can keep up,” he teased, elbowing his friend in the ribs.

As usual, Inuyasha retorted, “You’d better keep up with me!” before taking off running in what had become their daily race.

Two days later, the companions made their camp at the base of Mt. Fu’un. The thick, choking smell of sulfur lingered in the hazy air surrounding the mountain, and a low, ominous rumble permeated the ground. The boys decided to climb to the peak in the morning, neither wanting to attempt the treacherous journey in the dark.

During his turn on watch, Inuyasha shivered and tucked his hands into the folds of his jacket. The ominous air around the volcano brought back unpleasant memories of fighting Naraku. Kouga shifted and murmured in his sleep, and Inuyasha wondered if the wolf demon felt it too. An oppressive presence seemed to bear down on them, as if willing them to turn back from their quest.

Inuyasha found himself unconsciously clutching at the Shikon jewel in its pouch around his neck. Despite what he had said to Kouga, he couldn’t help but feel that he was going to be destroying the last remnant of Kagome’s soul. Would he really be able to cast it into the fire? Taking a deep breath, the hanyou steeled his intentions and tried to prepare himself for the trials of the next day. “I’m so sorry, Kagome,” he murmured. Speaking aloud seemed to help. “It has to be this way. This is the last... the only thing I can do for you.” He knew it now. This was his last purpose in life: to make sure that Kagome’s sacrifice was not in vain.

His back to his friend, Kouga slowly opened his eyes. He could hear every one of the softly spoken words, and each seemed to drive a dagger into his gut. The rational part of his mind knew that this had to be done, but at the moment he wanted nothing more than to turn over and plead with Inuyasha for a chance to use the jewel. Clenching his fists, he forced himself to remain in control. This task would be difficult enough without more doubts clouding their minds. He tried to relax and go back to sleep, but it was impossible in the dark air.

The next morning found both boys struggling up the rocky face of the mountain. The very air itself seemed to press back against them, as if some malevolent force wished to deny their ascent. Kouga growled in irritation as they stopped for rest on a narrow ledge. “Dammit, what the hell’s up with this mountain?” He swiped at the sweat on his forehead, and his hand came away grey with caked ash. “Ugh.”

Inuyasha didn’t reply, only sat still with his head bowed. It may have been his imagination, but he could almost feel the Shikon jewel pulsing in time with the beat of his heart. He was torn between the desire to complete this quest, and the pressing need to get away from this place. He had no idea what would happen once the jewel was destroyed; he only knew that he had to do it.

Kouga groaned and pushed to his feet, ready to start again. “Let’s get going,” he said, then bent his knees and leapt up to the next ledge. “Come on, there’s... augh!! His arms flailed as the porous volcanic rock crumbled beneath his feet. His hand caught and held, but the rock it gripped soon disintegrated. With a cry, Kouga fell backwards into open air.

Inuyasha’s head jerked up at the sharp yelp from the wolf. He flattened himself against the cliff face as the breaking rocks tumbled past. Glancing up, he saw Kouga falling toward him. Without even having to think, he lunged forward and grabbed his friend’s wrist, falling forward and pressing against the ground to brace himself.

The abrupt stop nearly jerked Kouga’s shoulder out of its socket. He automatically twisted his hand and clasped at the rescuing arm, looking up to see Inuyasha’s worried face. A few seconds later, he found himself on the ledge next to the hanyou, his heart thundering in his ears.

“Dammit, be careful, you clumsy wolf!” Inuyasha yelled, his hand still gripping Kouga’s wrist.

Kouga couldn’t seem to make his hand unclench. He looked down at his fingers, clenched in Inuyasha’s haori, but was unable to will himself to release the red cloth. “Ah...” he panted, then took a deep, shaky breath. “Guess we’re even now.”

Inuyasha laughed, a quick huff of air. “Heh, you wish. You owe me now.” He finally let go of Kouga’s arm and moved to stand up, looking toward the mountaintop.

Kouga forced himself to let go as well, taking another deep breath to calm his nerves. Climbing a mountain like this should be a cinch–what was his problem this time? He’d grown up in the mountains near here... had spent his childhood leaping from cliff to cliff. Shaking his head slightly, he resolved to be more careful.

Several hours later, the two were finally reaching the volcano’s summit. Kouga lead the way, but he almost continually looked back at Inuyasha, making sure that he was still following. He was concerned; the hanyou’s face was deathly pale underneath the smudges of ash and dirt, and he was moving as though he were underwater. Reaching the final ledge, Kouga flinched as he felt the heat radiating off the crater. He turned and crouched at the edge, reaching down to offer Inuyasha a hand. “Come on, mutt. We’re almost there.”

Inuyasha stared blankly at the extended hand, then finally grabbed on and struggled up to the narrow shelf. For a long time, the two boys simply stood and gazed down at the angrily bubbling pit. “Well,” Kouga breathed. “This is it. Go ahead.”

Slowly, Inuyasha pulled the pouch over his head and held it in his hand. The jewel was pulsing in earnest now, as if it had some cognizance of the hanyou’s intentions. “Kagome...” Inuyasha whispered. Could he really do this? Could he go through with it? Doubts and worries filled his mind, freezing him with indecision.

Kouga bit his lip, watching the play of emotions on his friend’s face. He knew. He knew what the hanyou was thinking, as clearly as if he’d spoken aloud. Yet, as much as he wanted to, he also knew that he could not simply grab the jewel and race away. Reaching out, he placed his hand over Inuyasha’s, covering the pouch. “You... we can do it,” he said softly. Inuyasha looked up, meeting Kouga’s gaze. His eyes searched for a long moment, then he nodded slowly.

Moving around behind Inuyasha, Kouga slid his hand up to the other’s shoulder. “Go on.” Inuyasha took a deep breath and held it, rearing his arm back. With a loud yell, he flung the pouch and jewel as hard as he could toward the pit. As the small object fell toward the abyss, Inuyasha sank to his knees. The jewel–such a tiny thing, to have their lives revolve around it–finally hit the molten rock with an inauspicious plop, sinking toward oblivion without protest.

Kouga let out the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, then squeezed Inuyasha’s shoulder. “It’s over,” he whispered. The hanyou nodded numbly, his eyes still fixed on the spot where the soul of his love disappeared.

The two rested in silence for a moment, each lost in his thoughts of finality and grief. Suddenly, all the hairs on the back of Kouga’s neck stood on end as a warning rumble sounded and the ground beneath his feat trembled ominously. “Hey... let’s get out of here,” he said, tugging on Inuyasha’s shoulder. The other didn’t move, and a few moments later a louder rumble emanated from the mountain as the crater below them began to bubble angrily. “Oi! Dog-breath!” Kouga yelled, hoping to snap his companion out of this funk. “Did’ya hear me?”

At that, Inuyasha slowly raised his head, his dulled golden eyes finally meeting Kouga’s. “I heard you,” he replied in a flat monotone. He rose to his feet stiffly, as if a great weight rode upon his back.

Kouga studied him with a pang of concern. Inuyasha should be feeling better now that the jewel was destroyed–-right? “I’m thinking this mountain wants us off, y’know? Let’s get the hell out of here.” His words were punctuated by another, stronger tremor of the ground beneath them. He turned to start down, hoping the hanyou would have enough sense to follow. A relieved sigh escaped him as he heard Inuyasha get to his feet.

The two boys skidded and ran down the slope of the mountain, occasionally stumbling as the rocks shook under their feet. They were most of the way down, running along the edge of a steep gorge when the ground convulsed violently underneath them, sending them tumbling over the side. Kouga flailed, struggling for purchase on the falling rocks, but there was nothing to hold in the dust and chaos. Finally, he hit the bottom of the ravine with a grunt, landing on his hands and knees. Looking up, he saw Inuyasha fall on his back a few feet away, and he crawled over to make sure his companion was all right. “Oi, mutt!” he shouted, poking at the hanyou’s shoulder. “You still alive?”

Inuyasha gasped for air, as though the wind had been knocked out of him, then slowly pushed himself upright without a word. Kouga was about to ask again if he was all right when the strongest tremor yet shook the earth. Looking up, Kouga felt his heart skip a beat as a towering plume of lava and smoke belched forth from the top of the volcano, sending ash and rocks shooting up to rain down on them. An unearthly howl of pain and rage filled the air, swirling through the dust and debris like a physical thing and sending a chill through Kouga. We’ve got to get out of here. Now.

Grabbing Inuyasha’s sleeve and giving a sharp tug, Kouga took off running away from the mountain, his eyes searching for a way back up. He glanced back to make sure the hanyou was following, and his eyes widened in horror. A fissure had opened in the side of the volcano, sending a cascade of molten rock sliding down the steep face. The gorge the two were in was acting as a natural channel for the lava, carrying it quickly toward them. Without waiting any longer, Kouga launched himself up the side of the ravine, his toes finding niches in the rock to cling to as he scrambled to the top.

After reaching the top of the cliff, Kouga took several steps before he realized that Inuyasha was no longer behind him. Skidding to a halt, he turned back, squinting against the choking grey dust that was falling like snow. He could barely catch a glimpse of red below him, and he cursed, leaping back down into the narrow valley. Inuyasha was standing motionless, his back to the wolf demon, calmly watching the river of lava as it flowed toward him. “What are you doing, mutt-face?” Kouga yelled, but the boy didn’t flinch.

Putting on an extra burst of speed, Kouga reached his companion mere moments before the molten rock covered the spot. Throwing the catatonic hanyou over his shoulder, he scaled the rock face in several large bounds, sweating from the searing heat below. Once he touched down at the top of the cliff, he took off running as far away from the cursed mountain as possible.

After a few miles of running, Kouga heard Inuyasha moan and cough. Suddenly, the hanyou’s body stiffened. “Let me go,” he groaned.

Kouga shook his head. “No way. We’re getting out of here.”

Inuyasha began to struggle, twisting and kicking in an effort to break Kouga’s hold. “I said, let me go!” he yelled. “I... I have to go back...”

The wolf youkai slid to a halt and flopped the writhing Inuyasha onto the ground. “What?” he growled.

Scrambling to his feet, the hanyou immediately turned in the direction of Mount Fu’un. “I have to go back,” he mumbled. “She’s calling me...” With that, he took off running back the way they had just come.

Kouga was frozen with shock for a few seconds before he turned to follow. Speed was one thing he’d always had over the other, and he caught up before Inuyasha could get very far. This time, he didn’t take any chances, tackling the hanyou and bringing them both crashing to the ground. The pair rolled several times, kicking up clumps of dirt and grass before coming to a halt with the wolf youkai on top.

Kouga pinned Inuyasha to the ground, straddling his waist and holding his arms tightly to his sides. The irony of the situation was not lost on the wolf. He recognized this position as almost the exact reverse of what had transpired before, when he’d been in the depths of a near-suicidal depression. Leaning close to the other’s face, he asked almost the same question that Inuyasha had, all those months before.

“What the hell are you trying to do, mutt-face?”

Inuyasha struggled, but was unable to break free of Kouga’s strong grip. “I... have to go back... she’s calling me...” he repeated, his voice plaintive.

“Who? Who’s calling you?” Kouga asked, shivering at the blank expression on the other’s face.

“Kagome... she wants me to go with her.” Kouga’s blood ran cold as Inuyasha began to struggle more fiercely. “Let me go!”

Kouga released one of Inuyasha’s arms, but only to deliver a stinging punch to the other man’s face. Grabbing the hanyou by the front of his haori, he pulled him up so they were nose-to-nose. “What the fuck are you talking about? You really think Kagome would want you to die?” Seeing some of the glazed look fade from the other’s eyes, he continued. “Whatever you heard, it wasn’t her, you got that? And I’m not about to let you go back there and kill yourself, so just give it up!”

An angry spark flashed in Inuyasha’s eyes, and he pushed forward, causing Kouga to sit back a bit. “Why the hell do you care?” he snarled. “It’s over, our quest is done, why should it matter to you what I do now?” His voice softened a bit. “It’s not like I have anything left to live for, anyway, so just leave me alone.”

The wolf prince shook his head. “You’re wrong!” he yelled, tightening his fist in the other’s shirt. “You do have things to live for, and I... I...” Unable to put words to what he was feeling, he leaned forward, squeezing his eyes shut and capturing Inuyasha’s mouth in a harsh kiss.

Both men froze in shock for a few long seconds. Then Kouga pulled away as abruptly as he had begun, putting a hand up to his mouth. “Oh gods...” he gasped, desperately searching Inuyasha’s face for a reaction, but the other’s expression was unreadably blank. The wolf youkai scrambled to his feet, his eyes wide. “I–I didn’t mean... I... I’m sorry!” With that, he turned and fled into the nearby trees, falling back on what he knew best.

To be continued!!

KimiKazu PWP

2004-08-06T08:10:57Z

I don't even have a title for this one yet... any suggestions would be appreciated!

“Dammit, it’s too fucking hot out here!”

Kimishima glanced over at his complaining partner in the passenger seat of the jeep. “Ahh, shut up, Kazuma. Just the other night you were bitching about being too cold.”

Kazuma slumped in the seat, wiping sweat out of his eyes. “That’s the problem. It’s either too hot or too cold... why can’t it just be nice out for once?”

Kimishima shrugged and turned his attention back to what passed for a road. “That’s the Lost Ground for ya.” He swiped at his forehead as well. “But you’re right, it’s way hot out today.”

The redhead grumbled and squirmed impatiently. “Cant this piece of junk go any faster? I wanna get home... I’m sure Kanami’s got a big glass of cold water ready for me.”

The older boy shook his head. “You want the engine to burn up? I’m pushing it as it is.” He pondered Kazuma’s comment for a moment, then grinned as an idea struck him. “But... hmm, this might be good.” Turning the wheel slightly, he sent the car of in a different direction. “I know a little detour that’ll make you feel much better.”

Kazuma groaned and let his head fall back against the headrest. “This had better be good, or I’ll have to kick your ass.”

A few minutes later, Kimishima pulled the jeep to a stop at the edge of a small lake. The water was crystal-clear, all the way down to the rock bottom, and several large trees overhung the bank, producing a cool shade. “Well? What do you think?”

Kazuma’s face brightened at the sight, and he jumped out of the car excitedly. “Damn, Kimishima, this looks great! I didn’t know this was here.” Immediately, he stripped out of his shirt, shoes, and pants, leaving only his boxers as he headed for the water. A few steps away, he turned to look over his shoulder. “Oi, you coming or what?”

Kimishima shook himself, realizing that he’d been staring as Kazuma undressed. Stop that, you know better, he chided himself. “Yeah, just a sec,” he called out, climbing out of the car. Soon, he was down to his boxer shorts as well, and headed for the water with a whoop. He launched himself into the water cannonball-style, thoroughly drenching Kazuma. The water was cool, but not too cold, and Kimishima surfaced with a gasp. “Ahh, much better.” Closing his eyes, he leaned back to float on the surface, feeling the sun beam down on him.

A shadow falling across his face was the only warning before a strong arm wrapped around Kimishima’s shoulders, dunking him abruptly. He emerged, gasping, to see Kazuma’s grinning face above him. “Oh, you’re gonna get it now,” Kimishima grinned. Lunging forward, he caught the other boy low around the waist, knocking him off balance and underwater. Kazuma responded by tangling his legs around Kimishima’s, tripping him and dragging him down as well.

Soon, the air was filled with the sound of laughter and joking threats, punctuated by loud splashes. Kazuma sputtered, shielding his eyes as Kimishima sent waves of water at his face. Hands held out protectively, he stalked toward his friend, occasionally launching splash attacks of his own. Kimishima grinned as he retaliated, shaking his water-heavy hair out of his eyes. Suddenly, Kazuma leapt forward with Alter-enhanced speed, grabbing Kimishima’s wrists and wrapping his arms around him, pinning him. “Ha! Gotcha!”

The older boy stared down at him, his smile fading a bit. His hands were trapped behind his back, forcing him to arch backwards slightly. This pressed his chest against Kazuma’s... and all he could think was how good it felt. Before he could stop himself, he leaned forward and impulsively planted a firm kiss on Kazuma’s lips. The redhead made a small sound of surprise and immediately released his hands, breaking off the sudden kiss as he stepped back.

Kimishima cringed and turned away quickly, moving to the water’s edge. Bracing his hands on a large boulder, he lowered his head in shame. “Fuck. Sorry, Kazuma.” He closed his eyes. “Go ahead and hit me... then let’s forget I did that, OK?” He flinched as he felt Kazuma’s hand on his shoulder, but allowed the other to turn him around. Fine, OK, punch me in the face... this is gonna hurt like hell... Keeping his eyes closed, he braced himself for the impact.

“Baka...” Kimishima heard the whispered word a split second before he felt Kazuma’s lips meet his again. His eyes flew open, and he stared in amazement as Kazuma pulled back with a grin.

“Kazuma...” he breathed. “You...”

Kazuma’s hand shot out and smacked him hard on the back of the head. “That’s for not doing that earlier, moron.”

Kimishima rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “Heh... well, I didn’t... I didn’t know...”

Kazuma shrugged, pulling close to the other man. “I didn’t know either, but hell, that felt pretty good, huh?”

Settling his hands on Kazuma’s hips, Kimishima leaned in to kiss him again. “Mmm-hmm...” he murmured, tugging the other boy tighter to him. “Bet I could think of some things that feel even better,” he said softly, grinding his hips suggestively against Kazuma’s.

Kazuma groaned softly, as he imitated the motion, his hands clutching at his friend’s back and shoulders. Kimishima felt a growing hardness press against him, echoing his own arousal. Bringing one hand up to tangle in Kazuma’s wet hair, he tilted his head and kissed him, more hungrily this time, slipping his tongue out to taste him. Kazuma responded eagerly, playfully battling for dominance over the intensifying kiss.

Beginning to feel lightheaded, Kimishima broke off with a gasp. Immediately, he moved to nuzzle Kazuma’s neck and collarbone, feeling the young Alter user bite gently at his shoulder in reply. Their bodies continued to rock against each other, seeking ever-increasing friction in the instinctive quest for release. Kazuma’s fingers gradually began to work their way under the waistband of Kimishima’s shorts, one hand making its way around to the front.

Not to be outdone, Kimishima reached down and tugged Kazuma’s pants off his hips, freeing his arousal. Kazuma gasped and returned the favor, then both men groaned in unison as they rubbed against each other without the hindrance of clothing. Trembling slightly, Kimishima reached between their bodies, taking both erections in his hand and stroking swiftly. He felt Kazuma’s hand close over his, adding strength and rhythm to the movements. The silky hardness pressing against his felt incredible; he moaned and buried his face in Kazuma’s neck, feeling the other man clutch at his shoulder.

After what only seemed like a few moments, Kazuma’s hand tightened convulsively over Kimishima’s, his breath quickening to match the frantic pace of their strokes. The taller boy groaned again, intensifying his efforts as he felt his own climax approaching. Hot, thick liquid spilled over his hand a split second before he came. His seed mixed withi Kazuma’s as the two men jerked and cried out together.

Kimishima took a deep breath as heartbeats slowed and movements stilled. Raising his head slightly, he licked at Kazuma’s earlobe and grinned. “See? That felt... pretty good, huh?” He chuckled suddenly, realizing how silly they must have looked: knee-deep in water, pants half down, hands still gripping each other...

“What’s so funny?” Kazuma growled, lifting his flushed face to glare at him.

Kimishima shook his head quickly, giving him a firm, brief kiss. “Mmm... nothing, nothing.” He disentangled his fingers from Kazuma with a shiver, feeling a few last tremors of pleasure echo through his body.

Kazuma sighed and swiped at his forehead with his clean hand. “I’m hot again now,” he complained.

Grinning, Kimishima pulled him back into his arms, lowering them both into the cool water. “Yes, yes you are...”

WIP: Between Enemies, Chapter 6

2004-07-30T08:06:20Z

Chapter 6: Truth and Consequences

Kagura placed her hand on her chest, trying to slow her frantic breaths. What had done wrong? She’d just had another dream... one of the kind that had been plaguing her sleep for the past few weeks. Why had the incubus’ bond not been broken? She’d done everything she knew...

“What have you done, you stupid girl?” The low voice from behind nearly made Kagura jump out of her futon. Whipping her head around, she gulped as she saw the shadowy figure of her creator sitting in the corner of her room.

“Naraku,” she gasped. “I don’t know... I’ve done nothing.”

The elder demon narrowed his eyes. “You have been possessed by an incubus–an especially strong one, I might add.”

Kagura stared at him, keeping her expression neutral. “Maybe.”

Naraku chuckled, a deep, mirthless sound. “Ignorant child. You think you can hide anything from me?” He beckoned slightly, and Kanna stepped out of the shadows, her mirror in her hands.

Kagura felt vaguely ill. “You... sick bastard! You’ve been watching?”

The corner of Naraku’s mouth quirked upward. “Yes, and as... entertaining as that was, it still does not change the fact that you inadvertently interfered with my plans.”

Clenching her fingers in the fabric of her futon, Kagura tried to keep her voice calm. “What ‘plans’ were those? Was it part of your ‘plan’ to watch...” She bit her tongue, feeling disgusted. “Why set an incubus on me?”

Naraku shook his head. “Do not overestimate your importance. You were not the intended target.” His clothing rustled silkily as he stood. “I gave the youkai the shikon shard and impressed upon it the instruction to go after Inuyasha and the two incarnations of the miko he desires. Since those three are far too repressed to act on the dreams, it would be a source of anguish and distraction.” He made a sound of annoyance and folded his arms. “But somehow, it attached to you, and the two men you desire.” Leaning over, he leered at Kagura. “I never knew I’d created such a little whore.”

Kagura jumped to her feet, her fan instantly in hand. “Damn you!” But Naraku simply held out his hand, curling it into a fist, and Kagura fell back to her knees, doubling over as intense pain shot through her chest. After it had passed, she stared up at her “father,” pouring as much hate and loathing as she could into her glare.

Naraku laughed again and turned away. “Well. That’s what I get for relying on lower youkai.” He started toward the door. “Kill the incubus and get the shard back.”

“How?” Kagura gasped, still panting from the pain. “I’ve tried...”

Looking back over his shoulder, Naraku rased one eyebrow. “I would think that’s obvious. You have to have both men at once.”

Kagura gulped. She’d suspected as much, but had no idea how she’d get both youkai to agree to such a thing. “I–I don’t...”

Naraku shrugged and turned back to the door. “If you can’t, that works to my advantage as well. That wolf and dog youkai were starting to be annoying anyway. Do what you like.” With that, he left Kagura and Kanna alone in the room.

The smaller white-haired demon turned to leave. “Wait, Kanna,” Kagura called out.

Kanna stopped, but did not face her sister. “What is it?”

Kagura twisted her fingers in the blankets. “Promise me... don’t let him watch again.” When Kanna didn’t answer, Kagura lowered her head and closed her eyes. “Please...”

Kanna nodded once. “I shall do my best.” She exited quickly, gliding noiselessly out of the room.

Kagura took a deep breath, pushing her hair out of her face with trembling fingers. After a moment, she stood and began to get dressed, pondering how she could solve this confusing situation.

****

Later that morning, Kagura picked her way cautiously through a dense section of forest. She’d sensed Sesshoumaru nearby, but the trees here were too thick to search from the air. She cursed softly as her kimono snagged on a bramble bush, then yelped as she stubbed her toe on a tree root. A snap of a twig behind her caused her to whirl around, startled. Searching her surroundings anxiously, she breathed a sigh of relief when she didn’t see anything strange. Turning back to continue her search, she was stopped dead in her tracks by a decoratively armored breastplate. Looking up–way up–she swallowed hard as her gaze met cold golden eyes. “Sesshoumaru...”

With lightning speed, the dog lord grabbed Kagura’s wrist and twisted it behind her back, forcing her to turn away from him and bend forward slightly. “Start talking, wind witch,” he growled. “I do not know what game you and your master are playing, but no one manipulates this Sesshoumaru.”

Kagura gasped–not simply from the pain in her arm, but from the fact that she could feel a hard length pressed firmly against her backside. “It’s... no game,” she said, wriggling slightly to be more sure of what she was feeling. “It was an accident... Naraku didn’t intend it for you...”

Sesshoumaru’s grip tightened, tugging her more firmly against him. “So, I’m not important enough for him, is that it?”

“Nngh.. No...” Kagura shifted against him again, feeling dampness begin to gather between her legs. The very nearness of him, his presence, his obvious arousal... all of it combined to make Kagura want him again, right now. “W-we can fix it,” she stammered. “I know how...”

“Oh, I know we can,” Sesshoumaru replied evenly. Suddenly, he spun around, pushing Kagura in front of him and bending her over a wide, fallen tree. “Something like this, right?”

“Wait... no, we have to... ahh...” Kagura moaned as the youkai lord pressed closer, forcing her to spread her legs further apart. Sesshoumaru released her wrist, only to reach down and hike up her kimono over her hips. Quickly, he shifted his own clothing to release his erection, immediately pushing forward without warning. Kagura bit back a cry as Sesshoumaru entered her roughly. Her fingers dug into the rotting wood, spiking splinters into her skin.

Without waiting for Kagura to adjust, Sesshoumaru began to thrust hard and fast, pressing Kagura firmly to the log with his hand between her shoulder blades. The wind youkai could barely catch her breath between sharp moans; with every stroke, Sesshoumaru was hitting something inside her that sent shivers through her whole body. Each pulsing tremor was stronger than the last–waves of sensation building one on another, washing over her in an ever-increasing rhythm, finally cresting in an explosion of pleasure. Kagura’s voice caught, then recovered in a wordless cry as she felt Sesshoumaru tense and spill inside of her even as she reached her peak. Gradually, their frantic movements slowed and stopped with a sigh. Sesshoumaru stepped back, withdrawing from Kagura and smoothly pulling his clothing back in order.

Kagura groaned and straightened, pushing her kimono back into place. Warily she turned to face her lover, hoping that he’d be sated enough to listen to reason. Sesshoumaru stood motionless a few feet away, his expression betraying nothing. Kagura shifted uncomfortably, then decided to just say what was on her mind. “It has to be all three of us,” she blurted out. “To kill the incubus. We have to all... be together.”

Sesshoumaru’s eyes narrowed. “Why did you not tell me this before?”

Kagura shook her head. “I didn’t know...”

“What game is Naraku playing?” Sesshoumaru asked harshly. “I will not cooperate.”

“If we don’t do this, it’ll be exactly what he wants,” Kagura snapped. “It may not be what he originally intended, but Naraku likes the idea of having you and Kouga distracted.”

The youkai lord stepped closer, grabbing Kagura’s chin and forcing her to look up at him. “This Sesshoumaru will not be controlled,” he growled, his claws digging into her skin.

Kagura met his glare without flinching. “Then help me break this bond,” she said evenly. “You’ll never have to see me again after that.”

Sesshoumaru released his grip, an odd expression flickering across his normally stoic face. “That... would not be necessary,” he said. “I will not deny that our encounters have been enjoyable. I would not mind if they were to continue.”

Kagura stared at him, surprised. “All... all right. But... I thought...”

He turned away, dismissing her unspoken question. “Meet me midday tomorrow at the cave beneath the waterfall north of here. Bring the wolf.” With that, he glided off into the woods, leaving Kagura gaping.

That's all for now! Happy, battlejoy?

Uber-angsty RyuKazu deathfic.

2004-07-17T03:25:15Z

Meep. Don't even know if I'm actually gonna write this one, but I was AMBUSHED by the rabid plot bunnies today! And to make it worse, "My December" started playing on the radio as I was writing down this little outline. ^_^;;; This is either gonna be the biggest tear-jerker ever, or people are gonna just laugh at how melodramatic it is.

Anyway, here's my scattered thoughts so far.

So, where did I get the idea for this one? I think it was from episode 23, where Shiirice says to Ryuhou, "No matter what happens, I will never let you die." I started thinking... what if he really can't die now? Or perhaps, what if his body has become stronger, more resistant to the damage from Altering so much? Yet, Kazuma would still have all the effects of using the "Other Side" Alter power. It was foreshadowed in the anime that Kazuma and/or Ryuhou would die... and Ryuhou did die, but was brought back. Cougar said "death is certain" if they kept using their Alter powers. And Kazuma looks to be in fairly bad shape by the very end of the anime. Add all this together, and my twisted little muse goes nuts. XD Here's my outline:

-After another battle with the Mainland, Ryuhou finds Kazuma... not injured, but he has been overworking his Alter. Brings him back to their home. (They've got an established relationship at this point, of course. Because we all know they went and fucked like bunnies when they got done fighting each other.)

-That night, they make love... in a way that seems a little odd to Ryuhou. It's more deep and emotional than usual. Kazuma is on top, but is "uke," taking Ryuhou inside him, being in control, but giving Ryuhou everything both physically and emotionally. Might have him say "I love you" for the first time. Ryuhou wonders if something is wrong.

-Next morning, Ryuhou wakes up to an empty bed. Finds Kazuma outside, watching the sun rise.

-Kazuma tells him he's going to die. Ryuhou is shocked, and wants to take him to a doctor. Kazuma refuses, saying Ryuhou knows it's no use.

-Ryuhou takes Kazuma in his arms as the other starts to show pain. He feels helpless, and understands how Shiirice felt as she watched him dying. He doesn't cry, but simply holds Kazuma until... it's over. Kazuma perhaps talks to Kimishima... doesn't want to go, Ryuhou tells him it's OK... (AUGH, cliche!!!)

-Kanami finds Ryuhou later, Kazuma still in his arms. She felt Kazuma pass away, and came to find him. Ryuhou is strangely calm.

-Kanami gets him to let go of Kazuma's body. Ryuhou stands up, still calm, and starts to walk away. Suddenly, he's violently sick, and then breaks down sobbing.

-Kanami holds him as he grieves, helping him with words and her Alter power. Ryuhou wants to die, but knows he can't, because it would betray Shiirice's sacrifice. Perhaps this is where he reveals that he really can't die?

That's all I've got for now. I've got a vague idea of making it Ryuhou/Kanami later! (Odd pairing, I know, but it could work, right?) So, what do you think? Too melodramatic? Too cliched? I was all choked up just thinking of it, but... yah, it could be really bad. ^^;;;

WIP: "Solace" Chapter 5

2004-07-12T05:12:56Z

Geez, took me long enough! I hate these filler chapters. I've got a really good scene coming up that I want to get to, though!

Chapter 5: Routine

Inuyasha awoke with a jolt, staring out into the night. He breathed in deeply, sighing quietly with relief as he didn’t detect the presence of any youkai other than the wolf demon nearby. Lying awake now, he pondered the events of the past few days.

As they had traveled, Inuyasha and Kouga had settled into a kind of reluctant routine. The hanyou hated to admit it, but he was glad that he had the wolf demon along. The going was slow, due to all the demons that were attracted by the immense power of the jewel, and he would have been delayed even further had Kouga not been there to assist in the fights. Already, the trip had taken over a week, and Kouga said that they were barely halfway to the volcano.

The hanyou stretched and rolled onto his back, preparing to go take his turn at watch while Kouga caught a few hours of sleep. He was mildly surprised that they hadn’t been attacked yet tonight; it would be a rare occurrence to pass completely to daybreak without assault.

A strange light caught Inuyasha’s attention out of the corner of his eye. Turning his head, he was startled to see the glow of the Shikon no Tama illuminating the campsite. Kouga was kneeling nearby, the light casting eerie shadows on his face. Instinctively, Inuyasha’s hand moved to his neck, searching for the small pouch that usually hung there. Of course, it was missing. Obviously, he could see the jewel in front of him. But how had Kouga...?

“What are you doing, wolf?” he asked, sitting up.

Kouga looked up at him slowly, the weird purple light of the Shikon jewel reflected in his eyes. “I was just... thinking,” he replied in a low voice.

“Well, that’s a first,” Inuyasha retorted. When Kouga didn’t respond to the verbal jab, he cleared his throat and continued. “What are you thinking?”

The wolf prince remained silent for a long moment, long enough that Inuyasha was about to repeat the question when he finally spoke. “I’ve heard... this jewel has the power to grant any wish,” he said quietly.

“Yeah...” Inuyasha felt apprehension tighten his stomach. “What... what are you wanting to wish for?” He had a feeling that he already knew.

“What do you think, stupid mutt? I want... I want to bring Kagome back.” He smiled, reaching for the jewel. “It’s perfect...”

Inuyasha’s hand shot out, catching Kouga’s wrist and stopping him only a few inches from his goal. “No. We can’t...”

Kouga wrenched his arm free, throwing the hanyou’s hand off violently “Why not” Isn’t that what we both want?”

“What do you think?” Inuyasha yelled back. “I want that more than anything. But we can’t!” His voice softened. “Believe me, I’ve thought about it a lot.”

The wolf demon sat back, crossing his arms. “Why? Tell me.”

Taking a deep breath, Inuyasha tried to collect his thoughts. Even now, with all his reasons, it was still tempting to ignore them all and follow Kouga’s suggestion. “Well, for one, what do you think will happen if we free Kagome’s soul from the jewel?” he began. “She’s in there now, binding Naraku there. Do you want to set him loose again?”

Kouga shrugged. “We’d find another way to defeat him.”

“Stupid wolf!” Inuyasha snarled. “Do you want to make her sacrifice meaningless? Do you want her to have to watch us die trying to fight Naraku? Because that’s what would have happened, and you know it.”

The youkai looked down. “No... I know... but...”

“There’s another possibility too,” he continued, interrupting. “We could be able to bring her body back to life, but her soul could still be trapped. Or... changed somehow.” He shuddered slightly. “I’ve already gone through that once. I never want it to happen again.”

“Dammit...” Kouga stood up suddenly and began pacing around the camp. “It’s just... I thought...” He stopped a few feet away, his head bowed and fists clenched at his sides. “I thought I’d found a way,” he said, his voice strained.

I know... believe me, I know... Inuyasha thought, his heart aching. But he stayed silent as he reached out and picked up the jewel, replacing it in its bag. He slid the strap over his neck, tucking the pouch inside his shirt before looking back up at Kouga. “You should sleep,” he said softly. “It’s my turn to watch now anyway.”

Kouga remained still for a moment, then sighed and lay down without a word, his back to the other. Inuyasha regarded him quietly, lost in his own thoughts. After awhile, he shook himself and turned his attention out into the dark.

****

“Kaze no Kizu!” Inuyasha’s attack blew apart dozens of attacking low-level youkai. Kouga took the moment’s reprieve to wipe the sweat out of his eyes, then jumped back into the fight, quickly dispatching several demons in a flurry of punches and kicks.

“Dammit,” the hanyou sword, swinging his sword again. “This is taking too long... Kaze no Kizu!” Nearly all of the creatures disappeared in the blast this time, and Kouga destroyed the last few. The two companions stood back to back, breathing heavily as they surveyed the surrounding plains.

“Think that’s all?” Kouga panted, swiping his forehead. The demon swarm hadn’t been very powerful, but the sheer number attacking from all sides had made the fight more difficult.

With a growl, Inuyasha sheathed his sword. “It’d better be. I’m getting sick of this.”

Kouga flopped down on the grass, stretching his tired muscles. While he’d been recovering steadily on the journey, he still wasn’t back to his normal pre-shard strength. However, he wasn’t about to let Inuyasha know... though he had a feeling that the other was suspicious. All he could do was try to keep a sustainable pace, and rest after the fights.

“You ready to go, wimpy wolf?”

“I’m hungry,” he commented, not wanting to leave just yet. “We got anything to eat?”

The hanyou sighed and sat beside him, tugging the pack off his back. “Yeah, sure...” He pulled several strips of dried meat from the bag, handing a few to Kouga and starting to chew on the others. After a moment of comfortable silence, he spoke again. “Oi, wolf... how much further is it?”

Kouga pondered for a moment, biting off another piece of jerky. “Oh... I don’t know, another few days, depending...”

Inuyasha cursed softly, shaking his head and standing up. “Too long... come on, let’s go.”

“What’s the rush?” Kouga looked up at him curiously. “We’re not in a race or anything.”

Inuyasha didn’t reply, simply starting down the hill without at look back. After a moment, Kouga shrugged and followed him, but refused to run to catch up. He wasn’t about to let the dog-boy dictate to him how fast he traveled! Besides, Inuyasha didn’t know the way, he’d have to wait eventually.

****

Inuyasha seemed especially agitated as they searched for a spot to camp that night. He cursed under his breath as he surveyed the wide, open hills before him. A glint in the distance suggested a river, and a dark smudge on the horizon promise a forest, well beyond the water. But the sun was already sinking into the trees, casting dark shadows in its red glow, and transforming the distant river into a thread of fire. The hanyou’s silver hair gleamed like molten lava in the ruby light, the wind at the top of the hill causing it to swirl around his body like an angry flame. “I don’t like this,” he grumbled. “It’s too open, and we’ll never make that forest before nightfall.”

Kouga, already halfway down the hill, turned back to look at him. “What are you so worried about?”

Golden eyes gleamed in the fading light as Inuyasha walked toward the wolf youkai. “This area is too unprotected. We could easily be attacked if we stay in these hills tonight.”

His companion shrugged in response. “We can run after dark for awhile if you really want to get to that forest before we stop. I don’t mind.” He grinned, unable to resist taking a jab at his former rival. “You’re not afraid of the dark, are you?”

“Only when it’s the night of the new moon,” the hanyou replied through clenched teeth, glaring.

Kouga furrowed his brow for a moment before realization dawned on him. “You mean... tonight? You’re gonna be...?”

“Human? Weak? Yeah. And I don’t like the idea of being a target for every demon in the area. It’s not a problem normally, but tonight...” His voice trailed off as he unconsciously touched the pouch hanging from his neck.

Kouga glanced up at the rapidly darkening sky. “How much time?”

“Not long. The new moon will rise soon.” Inuyasha took a deep breath, then took off running down the hill. “Come on!” he called over his shoulder. “We might at least get to the river.”

They ran in silence for awhile, shoulder-to-shoulder, until the smell of the river became stronger, and the sound of water splashing against its banks was audible. Kouga heard a quiet curse from behind him, and turned to see Inuyasha standing still, staring at his hands as his claws receded. His hair was rapidly fading from silver to black, and his furry dog-ears had already disappeared, replaced by rounded human ones. He looked annoyed. “Well, that’s it then.”

The wolf youkai moved back toward him. “So... what now?”

Inuyasha didn’t reply right away, his eyes scanning their surroundings. “Over there,” he finally said, pointing to a small recessed spot on the river bank. During the flood season, the waters had eroded a hollow, nearly-cave like depression in the softened soil. Now, in the dry summer, the area was several yards away from the gurgling water’s edge. “It’s better than nothing,” he continued, moving toward the meager shelter.

Kouga shrugged and followed him, silently acknowledging the other’s right to choose their stopping point tonight. The two hunkered down in the small hollow, which barely allowed enough room for them to sit side by side. Inuyasha was visibly tense, his violet eyes darting to and fro, straining to compensate for the inferiority of human sight. He jumped nervously when a frog croaked nearby, then looked embarrassed. Kouga slapped him lightly on the shoulder. “Don’t be so worried,” he said cheerfully. “We haven’t been attacked the last few nights... there’s no reason to think we will tonight.”

The now-human hanyou glared at him. “Don’t be stupid. You know youkai can smell a human from miles away. And this will draw them too,” he added, holding up the pouch containing the precious jewel.

Kouga grimaced as he removed his hand from Inuyasha’s shoulder. “Yeah, I know. I was just trying...” he fell silent at another look from his companion. Platitudes would not be helpful right now, he realized. Inuyasha didn’t need false hope or comfort; he needed protection, though his pride would never allow him to ask for it. Sighing, the wolf youkai stood up and leapt swiftly to the top of the bank. Inuyasha looked up at him curiously.

“Where are you going?”

“No sense in us both staying awake all night,” Kouga replied. “You get some sleep, and I’ll keep watch.”

Inuyasha shook his head. “I don’t sleep when I’m like this.”

The wolf youkai rolled his eyes. “Suit yourself, but I’m not gonna rest and let you stand guard. You wouldn’t be able to see a threat until it bit you on your ass.” He plunked down cross-legged on the soft grass, then looked down at the human boy. “Sleep,” he commanded, in a voice that allowed no room for argument. Inuyasha grumbled a bit about not taking orders from a wimpy wolf, and that he’d sleep when he damn well felt like it... but he eventually stretched out as best he could in the cramped alcove.

Satisfied, Kouga turned his attention out to the surrounding hills, every sense stretched to the maximum. Despite what he’d told his friend, he was concerned. All the other youkai who’d attacked had been no match for the pair... as a team, they were practically invincible. After fighting Naraku, everything else seemed easy. But tonight... tonight he’d have to fight alone, and defend the weaker human.

Shaking his head, Kouga firmly told himself not to worry. He’d just have to deal with that situation if it came along. Hopefully, the night would go without incident, and any stress would just be an annoyance in the morning.
~~~~~~

Next chapter: "Mortal." Already got it mostly written!!

WIP - Solace ch. 4: "Quest"

2004-04-09T02:16:52Z

Chapter 4: Quest

Silence hung heavily in the small hut. All eyes were locked on the small round object on the low table in the center of the room. The Shikon no Tama pulsed with an eerie amethyst light, casting strange shadows on the group. A sharp snap of a log on the fire caused a few members of the party to flinch slightly as it broke the oppressive hush.

Finally, Kaede cleared her throat and spoke. “So, we are all in agreement? The sacred jewel must be destroyed.” There was no reply, save for Sango’s tightening her hand in Miroku’s. The monk still bore reminders of the battle a few days before: his arm was in a sling, and a thin bandage graced his pale forehead.

“Fine. Let’s do it,” Inuyasha growled. Leaning forward, he snatched up the jewel and tossed it into the firepit. Immediately, the flames sputtered and began to die, shying away from the purple ball. Hurriedly, the old miko grabbed a stick and knocked the Shikon no Tama out of the fire. It left a black streak on the floor as it rolled, finally coming to a stop near Shippou’s feet. The little kitsune backed away, his eyes wide. Kaede covered the jewel with a cloth before picking it up and setting it back on the table.

“Well, that worked real good, mutt,” Kouga commented from his post by the door, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall.

Inuyasha whirled around with a low growl. “Shut up! You got a better idea?”

The wolf prince shrugged. “Maybe.”

“Let’s hear it then.”

“Well, if we can’t burn it... why don’t we throw it in the sea?”

Sango shook her head. “There are aquatic youkai, Kouga. It would be just as bad if one of them were to get the jewel.”

“Yeah, so your idea isn’t any better than mine,” Inuyasha said with a smirk. Kouga glared at him, but didn’t reply.

The room fell silent again, each person lost in thought. “What if...” Miroku began, speaking slowly. “What if we were to burn it in a hotter fire?”

Kaede looked at the young monk. “I doubt even the flames of a kiln would...” She was cut off as Miroku raised his hand in a quieting gesture.

“I did not mean something like that,” he said. “Do any of you know of the mountain Fu’un?”

Kouga nodded. “I do. It was to the north of my tribe’s home. We didn’t go near it, it’s a volcano–oh...” he trailed off, realizing what Miroku had in mind.

“It would put it out of reach, if not destroy it,” the old miko said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.

Inuyasha stood up. “So, we toss it in this volcano thing? Fine. I’ll go right now.”

“Wait, Inuyasha,” Kaede cautioned. “The journey will be long, and many demons will be drawn to the jewel. Thou should no go alone.”

“Wait a few days,” Miroku said. “I’ll have healed, and Sango and I will accompany you.”

Inuyasha glanced at him, then took a hard look at the taijiya. Don’t they know? “I... I think you two should probably stay here,” stammered, blushing slightly.

Sango looked up at him curiously. “Why is that?”

“Well, it might not be... you wouldn’t want to hurt... don’t you...?” The hanyou was getting flustered, so Kouga rolled his eyes and came to his aid.

“Oh, come on! You mean you don’t know? He doesn’t want you to hurt the pup she’s carrying.”

Sango stared at the two, her mouth open. “You mean we’re... I... I’m pregnant?” she asked in disbelief. “How do you know? Are you sure?”

Inuyasha blushed further, mumbling, “...your scent...” just as Kouga said, “...yes, I’m sure.” They were both immediately forgotten as Sango turned to her husband, throwing her arms around him.

“We’re going to have a baby!” she cried. Shippou jumped into her lap, joining in the hug. Miroku clasped the two to him, tears of joy shining in his eyes.

The others waited in silence as the happy family embraced. “Congratulations are in order,” Kaede said after a few moments, a smile making her wrinkles seem deeper. “However, it should be clear now that Miroku and Sango will not be able to join Inuyasha on his journey. And, I would not be of much aid to ye...”

“Oh, isn’t it obvious?” Kouga interrupted. “I’m gonna have to go with dog-breath.”

Inuyasha looked at him in surprise. “Huh? You? You can barely even walk.”

The wolf prince glared back. “Yeah, whatever. I about kicked your ass the other day, and I’m pretty much back to my old strength.”

“Oh, yeah, I’m sure you’ll be a big help,” the hanyou replied, with a roll of his eyes.

“Inuyasha,” Kaede scolded. “Do not turn down aid when it is offered. Kouga will probably be of great help to ye on your journey. I can feel it... the two of ye need each other.”

Inuyasha folded his arm and closed his eyes with finality. “Fine. But if wimpy wolf here slows me down, I’ll leave him in the dust.”

Kouga glanced sidelong at him, mildly surprised that the hanyou had agreed without too much argument. He was about to comment further when Inuyasha continued. “We’ll leave first thing in the morning. I guess we’ll want to bring some food and stuff, right?”

As Inuyasha and the old miko discussed the travel plans, Kouga eyed the young half-demon suspiciously. He still felt as though something wasn’t quite right, though he couldn’t put his finger on it.

****
In the darkest part of the night, a few scant hours before down, even the moon had hidden its face, preparing for the new light of the sun. Barely visible in the blackness, a shadowy figure stole out of a hut, disturbing the light film of dew that had collected on the stoop. Inuyasha glanced around furtively, shifting the pack of food and supplies on his back. He sniffed the air quietly, grimacing when he couldn’t distinguish much from the myriad of scents produced by the village and its people. He had barely taken two steps when a low voice from behind startled him. “Going somewhere, mutt-face?”

Whirling around, Inuyasha grimaced as he saw Kouga leaning casually against the side of the house. “Wha..? Well... I ... uh... I just...”

“Thought you could sneak off without me, huh?” Kouga pushed off from the wall and sauntered up to the hanyou, smirking. “I’m not about to be left behind.”

Inuyasha opened and closed his mouth several times before turning away with a growl. “Fine! See if you can keep up, then.” He started walking at a brisk pace, not looking back to see if he was followed.

Kouga easily caught up, and matched the other stride-for-stride as they left the small village. “Don’t feel like you have to slow down for me, mutt,” he said with a grin. “If anything, you should be worried about keeping up with me.”

“Oh, really?” Inuyasha quickened his steps, moving to a light jog. “We’ll just see about that...”

The wolf youkai met the challenge with ease, increasing the pace to a slow run as he passed the other. With an annoyed huff, Inuyasha responded by running past the wolf again, an expression of concentration on his face.

As the first rays of sunlight burst over the trees, they found the two young men deep in their undeclared race, each utterly intent upon winning. Both had progressed to an all-out sprint: Inuyasha with his arms stretched to the side, his wide sleeves billowing behind him, and Kouga with his arms pumping steadily, his ponytail bouncing and swaying in time with his steps.

Kouga took a deep breath, savoring the sweet taste of the morning air. The short grass in the hills was cool and soft under his feet, and the fresh dew splashed up with every step he took, lightly misting his legs. The sunlight refracted off the wet grass and flowers, making each blade and blossom seem as though it were encrusted in precious gems. The wolf felt a nearly-buried emotion swell within him, and it took him a moment to recognize it for what it was: Joy. It had been so long since he’d felt truly happy, that it was odd to have such a feeling brought on by something as simple as running through a meadow at daybreak. There was a small amount of pain from his back, but he was able to push it to one side, and just... enjoy. He’d almost forgotten how much he loved the freedom and bliss of merely running. He felt as though his feet were barely skimming the earth, as if he could kick off once, hard enough, and go flying off the edge of the world.

He wondered if Inuyasha felt it too.

Looking over, he saw that the hanyou wore the same expression of awe and happiness that he was sure showed on his own face. Kouga felt an almost-painful tug at his heart. The loneliness that he’d been feeling for the past few months began to fade, eased by the companionship of a kindred soul.

In just those few seconds of glancing at Inuyasha, though, Kouga failed to notice the hole in the ground at the crest of a hill. His foot went directly into the crevasse, twisting his ankle and knee and lurching him violently to one side. Arms flailing, he struggled to regain his balance, and grabbed the closest thing to him: Inuyasha’s arm. Caught off guard, the hanyou stumbled as Kouga fell forward. Neither could recover their footing, and soon the two were tumbling down the far side of the hill in a blur of silver, red, and brown.

Eventually, they came to a halt at the base of the hill: Kouga flat on his back, Inuyasha sprawled atop him like a squashed bug. The two lay stunned for a moment, then the hanyou pushed himself up on his elbows, looking down with a hint of concern. “Oi! What was that?” Kouga’s only response was a lazy blink at the sky. “Hey, wolf!” Inuyasha shook him, not too roughly. “You... okay?”

Kouga’s eyes finally focused on Inuyasha’s. “Yeah, I’m fine.” A slow grin crinkled his face. “In fact, I’m just great.” Unexpectedly, he threw back his head and laughed.

Confused, Inuyasha shoved off him and sat back, staring. Kouga continued to laugh, holding his sides. The half-demon boy felt a smile creep uncontrollably onto his face, and soon he was chuckling as well. Kouga’s laugh was infectious, and before long, both men were rolling on the cool grass, laughing hysterically.

Eventually, Kouga sat up, wiping his eyes. “S-sorry,” he gasped. “Didn’t mean to–ha–make you fall.”

Inuyasha snickered. “Damn clumsy wolf,” he said with a smirk. “You’re lucky you didn’t knock yourself out. Though–heh–your head’s probably too hard for that anyway.” He chuckled again, then his expression turned serious. “You’re not hurt, though, right?”

Kouga shook his head, rubbing his back with a slight grimace. “Nah, not really. I’ll be okay.”

The hanyou looked at him skeptically. “I doubt it.” Reaching out, he pushed sharply on his shoulder. “Lay down,” he ordered.

“What?”

“Just do it, moron!”

“No way!” Kouga scrambled to his feet, wincing as a familiar, sharp pain spiked through the old wound site on his back. Inuyasha didn’t miss the expression, and stood beside him quickly.

“You’re not okay.”

“I’m fine!” Kouga turned away. “Let’s get going.” He took a couple steps forward, then stumbled a bit as the annoying numbness spread down his legs once again. He cursed under his breath, clenching his fists. Dammit, I’m a youkai... why the hell aren’t I healed yet?

“Quit being so damn stubborn!” the hanyou shoved Kouga again, causing him to lose his balance and fall to his knees. “This is for your own good, idiot.”

“What are you... hey!!” Kouga’s protest was cut off as Inuyasha pushed him face-down onto the ground, straddling his legs. “Get the hell off me!”

Ignoring the wolf’s objections, Inuyasha pinned his arms to his sides, holding him immobile. “It’s your back, right? Where Naraku...?”

Kouga squirmed underneath him futilely for a moment.“Yeah. But you can’t do anything about it, so just go away, ok?” He ceased his struggles with an annoyed huff. “It’ll get better in awhile.”

Inuyasha hesitantly released his wrists, waiting to make sure the wolf wouldn’t try to escape again. “Just lay still and shut up,” he growled, his hands coming to rest on Kouga’s back, just above the waistband of his fur pelt. “And if you ever mention this to anyone, I swear I’ll fucking kill you.”

Although his words were harsh, Inuyasha was unexpectedly gentle as he began to rub Kouga’s back. His hands were strong and soothing, working out the knotted muscles through the leather armor worn by the wolf. Kouga gasped softly as the tension began to ease out of him, enjoying the attention in spite of his surprise. Shifting his position slightly, he rested his head on his forearms with a sigh. Slowly, he began to relax, the combination of warming sunlight and firm massage causing his eyelids to droop. Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he forced his eyes open, looking back over his shoulder. “Hey, you’re not just doing this to make me fall asleep so you can leave me here, are ya? ‘Cause it won’t work... I’d track you down anyway.”

Inuyasha snorted derisively. “I wouldn’t do this for something so stupid.” His kneading fingers found a particularly sore spot, and Kouga couldn’t stop the faint moan that slipped past his lips as he dropped his head back onto his arms. After a few moments, Inuyasha spoke again. “Besides, I’m just doing this so you can go back without getting yourself killed.”

Kouga sighed, annoyed. “Would you stop saying that? I’m not going back, so just get used to it.”

“Hnn.” Inuyasha grunted, his fingers continuing to press firmly into the wolf’s back. He worked at the knots silently for another few moments, then stood up. “There. You’d better appreciate it.”

Kouga sat up slowly, twisting to the left and right to further loosen the muscles. He didn’t want to admit it, but he felt better than he had in weeks. Standing up, he breathed a soft sigh of relief that the pain was greatly diminished. “Let’s go.”

“You’re not going with me.”

Kouga folded his arms across his chest. “Listen, you stupid mutt. You don’t even know the way to Mt. Fu’un, and even if you did, I’m not gonna be left behind here. Face it, you need me.” And I’ve got nowhere else to go, he added silently, staring deeply into Inuyasha’s golden eyes, hoping the hanyou understood. I don’t want to be alone right now, and I don’t think you do either.

Inuyasha met his gaze steadily for a long moment, seeking... something in his eyes. Finally he turned away with an annoyed grunt. “Fine, then. Do what you want. But if you hold me back, I’m leaving you behind.”

I was a little afraid that I'm making Inuyasha OOC by giving Kouga the back rub. What do you all think? I edited that part quite a bit recently, too. Is it better?

IY's going to take a bit longer to realize he needs Kouga along. But what can Kouga do to prove that? I'm thinking about having some random youkai attack... something that IY couldn't handle with a Kaze no Kizu... but I don't want it to get cliched.

WIP - Discoveries: an Ed/Winly Lemon (FMA)

2004-03-16T07:35:58Z

Title: Discoveries
Author: Eloy Brightdreamer
Genre: Romance/Humor
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Ed discovers that Winry is more than just a mechanic... she’s also a girl! And he likes girls! Random PWP Ed/Winly smut. XD

Edward Elric had grown. Not much, but it was enough to give him a limp and the biggest, goofiest grin Winly had ever seen. The mechanic girl felt a matching smile tug at her lips as she watched the Elric brothers approach from her perch on the balcony. In the five years since her friends had left, they had rarely returned to Rizen Pool. Yet the few times that they had come around glowed in Winly’s mind as some of her best memories. Determining that the boys had moved close enough, she turned and bounded down the stairs two at a time.

Ed looked up and smiled even bigger as Winly exploded out the front door like a blonde cannonball. “Edward! You’d better not have screwed up your automail again!” the girl yelled, barreling down the path toward him. The Fullmetal Alchemist dropped his suitcase and held up his hands in surrender.

“No, no, I didn’t... ack!” his protest was cut off as Winly abruptly tripped a few feet in front of him, unintentionally launching herself into his arms. Normally, he would have been able to catch her and keep them both on their feet. But with his balance thrown off by his uneven legs, he staggered backwards as she hit him, teetering and flailing in an attempt to stay upright. But the effort was ultimately futile, and both went tumbling to the ground.

The young Alchemist became acutely aware of two facts as he lay flat on his back, trying to catch his breath. One: Winly was straddling him, her hips pressed tightly against his. Two: his non-metal hand was currently groping something warm and soft, which was barely covered by a black tube top... Ed’s brain promptly broke.

“Nee-san! Winly!” Al’s voice, tinny through the metal mask, cut through the haze. “Are you all right?”

As Al reached down to help Winly up, Ed forced his hand to release the girl’s breast, hoping that he wasn’t blushing as much as he thought he was. He was rescued by the arrival of Granny Pinako, who enthusiastically greeted the boys before hustling them inside. Winly didn’t comment on Ed’s accidental grope, and the Fullmetal Alchemist could only hope that she hadn’t noticed.

A short while later, Ed found himself seated in the house, stripped down to his boxers. Winly was kneeling on the floor in front of him, measuring his leg. Al had accompanied Granny to town to buy food, leaving the care of Ed’s automail in the girl’s hands. The young Alchemist gulped as Winly’s fingers brushed his knee. He couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened earlier–the feel of her body against his, the softness of her underneath his hand–and the view he had at the moment wasn’t doing much to dissuade those thoughts! With the way Winly was bending over his leg, her tube top was gaping just a bit, revealing a nice bit of cleavage. Cleavage!? When the hell...

Winly’s hand moved higher, onto Ed’s bare thigh, the measuring tape stretched out across his skin. Ed had to stifle a gasp as her touch sent tingling sensations up his spine... and back down, straight into his groin. The mechanic girl raised her head, a look of concern on her face. “Something wrong, Ed?”

“N-no,” he stammered, feeling himself blush again. Why was he thinking about Winly like this? She was his friend, his childhood buddy... And she’s also a beautiful girl, a seldom-used part of his brain reminded him. And you like girls, don’t you? Granted, he hadn’t had much time to be thinking about the opposite sex, in his line of work... but it didn’t mean that he didn’t notice them. It was just... he’d never noticed Winly before. Suddenly, Ed realized that he would be even more embarrassed if Winly looked too much higher up his legs, and he spoke up quickly. “Um... could you take a look at my arm too? It’s kinda been off lately.” A confused look crossed the girl’s countenance, but she nodded and stood up, examining his automail arm.

Unfortunately, Ed realized rather quickly that this position wasn’t much better. Now the view down Winly’s shirt was even closer, and her legs were brushing up against his as she shifted, trying to get a better angle. He could smell the sweet scent of her hair, feel her breath against his neck, hear her soft sighs of effort as she worked. Forcing his gaze up to her face, Ed saw the pink tip of her tongue peek out the corner of her mouth as her face scrunched in concentration. He swallowed hard and looked away, trying to switch his mind to a different topic... work, alchemy, Roy’s sarcasm, Alex’s scary sparkles... nothing worked. He kept remembering the few seconds earlier that day... how she hadn’t shrieked and slapped him when he accidentally groped her... the way her legs felt, flush against his hips. Ed’s boxers were suddenly too tight, and he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

“Ed? Are you sure you’re all right?”

The Alchemist could only nod, not trusting his voice. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Winly, either. Please, just keep working... and don’t look down... don’t notice... He cursed silently as the girl set her wrench down and moved in front of him.

“You don’t look all right. Your face is red and you’re sweating... are you too hot?” She brushed a few stray hairs off his forehead, then moved her hand down, bringing it to rest on his non-metal shoulder. “Want me to... oh!”

Ed finally couldn’t stand it anymore. He lunged forward, wrapping his flesh arm around Winly’s bare waist and hugging her tightly to him. Resting his head on her shoulder, just above the fabric of her top, he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to regain control. “Ed?” Winly’s voice sounded worried. “You’re shaking... are you sick?” Her hand moved under his braid, pressing against the back of his neck. “You feel warm...” her tone changed abruptly. “Are you not taking care of yourself? How long have you been feeling bad? Have you been getting enough sleep? Are you...”

“Winly!” Ed interrupted her tirade, lifting his head. “I’m not... sick.”

Winly looked down at him curiously. “Then what is it?”

“I–I just...” Unable to find the words, Ed slipped his mechanical arm behind her head, tugging her down and capturing her lips with his own. Winly inhaled sharply, but didn’t pull away, so Ed deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue tentatively along her lower lip.

Winly pushed against the young man, forcing him to lean back in the chair as the kiss continued. So this is what was wrong... well, why didn’t he just...? she thought, straddling his legs and sitting on his lap. She gasped again as Ed’s hands curled around her hips, pulling her tightly to him and allowing her to feel his obvious arousal. Not wanting to let him get the better of her, she braced her feet on the floor, grinding her pelvis against his. A choked moan and a harsher kiss were her rewards for that, so she repeated the action, feeling a thrill of sensation flutter through her body. She couldn’t believe that this was actually happening... she was kissing Edward Elric... sitting on his lap... and if her instincts were correct, they’d probably be doing much more than this shortly!

Edward was currently having trouble holding any sort of coherent thought in his brain. Winly shifted against him again, and he mindlessly arched against her... which he very quickly found out was a bad thing to do in a chair. He promptly lost his balance and tumbled to the floor, taking the girl down with him. Unlike the fall earlier today, he didn’t have the presence of mind to let Winly land on him, so he ended up flat on top of her, his face planted firmly in her cleavage. It took a few moments for his scrambled brain to note that he needed air... and that it probably wasn’t a good thing that he was crushing Winly underneath him. He pushed himself up on his elbows, frantically scanning her body for possible injuries. “Ack, Winly, I’m sorry, are you...?”

Winly smiled at the flustered look on Ed’s face, pulling him down for another kiss as her answer. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she wriggled slightly underneath him, eliciting another groan into her mouth. The Alchemist braced himself on his automail arm, freeing the other to brush lightly down her side. Winly squirmed and giggled. “Th-that tickles!”

Ed grinned impishly, repeating the action. “Oh?”

“Edwaaard...” Winly groaned, a warning tone in her voice. The young man couldn’t help skating his fingertips across her bare, sensitive skin again, enjoying the way she moved underneath him. Eventually, he took pity on her and used a firmer touch, drawing out a quiet gasp. Moving to kiss Winly’s neck and collarbone, Ed slowly began inching his hand up and around, drawing every closer to her barely-restrained breasts.

Winly moaned softly at the electric sensations caused by the man’s mouth and fingers on her skin. Every touch sent tingles racing through her body, converging in the now-damp area between her thighs. Growing slightly impatient with Ed’s slow progress, she pushed forward, forcing him to sit back on his heels. Locking her gaze with his, she reached down and slipped her fingers under the hem of her tube top, lifting it slowly. A small smile creased the corners of her mouth as his line of sight quickly slipped down from her face, and the blush on his cheeks deepened.

Ed’s eyes grew wide as Winly’s breasts were revealed, and he had to concentrate hard not to let his mouth hang open. Almost reverently, he reached out to touch one soft peak. Encouraged by Winly’s sigh of delight, he began to stroke her gently, focusing his attention around one pink nipple. Winly arched her back, and Ed leaned down, gently closing his lips over the hardening nub and flicking it lightly with his tongue.

Winly gasped as Ed touched her, the sensations intensified now that no clothing was barring their contact. For a few moments, she simply sat back and enjoyed the attention, running her fingers across the boys’ neck and shoulders. Eventually, she began to notice something a bit odd. Ed was being very careful to only touch her with his lips and flesh hand, keeping his automail arm resting on his knee. Well, that won’t do at all. Reaching down, she grasped his metal hand and drew it upward, pressing it to the valley between her breasts. Shivering pleasantly at the cool touch, she looked up to meet Ed’s confused gaze.

“Winly, what...?”

“What, you think I wouldn’t want all of you, Ed?” she challenged.

“Well, no, it’s just... it’s just cold, isn’t it?”

In response, she slid the metal fingers to completely cover one breast. “Not so cold any more,” she whispered, feeling her body heat warming the artificial hand.

Leaning forward to kiss Winly again, Ed let both hands splay over he soft mounds. While he couldn’t feel the texture of her skin with his automail, the few sensors in his palm and fingertips allowed him to use the right amount of pressure to give pleasure, not pain... and it seemed to be working, judging by the look on Winly’s face.

Winly’s hands weren’t idle either. As Ed caressed her, she stroked the back of his head and neck, eventually running her fingers down his braid to release the tie at the end. Loosening the plait, she combed the golden, silky strands with her fingertips, causing stray pieces to fall over his shoulders. She felt Ed pull her bandana off her head, then return quickly to fondling her breasts, his lips never leaving hers. Anxious to touch him in return, she slid her hand down his chest and firm stomach. Hesitating only briefly at the waistband of his shorts, she brushed her fingertips lightly across the obvious bulge below.

At Winly’s gentle touch, Ed broke away from her lips with a gasp, instinctively pushing his hips forward into her hand. He wanted more, wanted her, so badly it was practically painful. Dropping his left hand to Winly’s waist, he began fumbling with her coveralls, trying to undo the knot that she’d tied to hold them in place.

Deciding to help the Alchemist out before he got impatient and transmuted her pants away, Winly pushed on his chest, causing him to sit back on his knees. After scrambling to her feet, she began to slowly untie the knot in the coverall’s arms, enjoying Ed’s intense gaze. Her heart fluttering, she slowly pushed the coarse material off her hips, allowing it to drop to the floor with a quiet rustle. She stepped out of the pants and kicked them to one side, the blush on her face deepening. Feeling a little self-conscious now, she left her plain white panties on, and waited to see how Ed would react.

Remaining on his knees, Ed gazed with wonder upon the girl–woman–standing before him. He reached out with both hands, grazing his fingertips over Winly’s hips before curling them under the waistband of her simple underwear. Sliding the last piece of clothing down her legs, Ed felt his heart start to pound even harder as all of the girl was revealed. Impulsively, he leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her smooth stomach, just below her navel and above the sparse nest of curly blonde hair. He wanted to touch her, taste her, find out what gave her the most pleasure...

Winly was unable to suppress a loud moan as Ed’s lips moved lower... and lower... and... surely, he wasn’t going to kiss her there! But... then he did, his tongue flicking her lightly, and Winly felt the strength leave her legs. She gasped and clutched his shoulders for support as she swayed in place, unconsciously angling her hips to give Ed better access.

Ed’s head spun with an overload of sensation as he explored Winly’s soft folds with his tongue. Her taste filled his mouth... not unpleasant, by any means, and he could feel her growing wetter as he moved. His investigations eventually revealed a hardening nub, and he stroked it experimentally. Winly cried out, and he jerked his head back in shock. “What? Did I hurt you?”

“N–no... oh, Ed... I’m going to fall, I think...”

Belatedly, he noticed that Winly’s legs were trembling under his hands. “Oh! Well... should we go...?” He wanted to suggest the bedroom, but didn’t know if Winly could walk that far... and it might be too embarrassing to ask! Glancing about the room, he caught sight of the yellow couch against the wall. With a grin, he rose to his feet. Wrapping his flesh arm around Winly’s waist, he guided her toward the lone piece of furniture that could accommodate them quickly.

Winly regained some of her equilibrium as they moved toward the couch. By the time they reached it, and she was seated, she realized that Ed seemed to have her at a bit of a disadvantage. Reaching out, she caught him by the arm before he could sit. He looked at her curiously. “What is it?”

“This isn’t entirely fair, don’t you think?” she asked with a mischievous grin, tugging on the ties of his shorts. Ed gulped audibly as she eased the waistband over his straining erection, freeing it from its confines. Winly felt herself blush as she saw all of Ed for the first time. Curiously, she reached out to touch him, barely sweeping her fingers over the shaft. Ed gasped, arching slightly toward her hand. Encouraged, Winly took him a bit more firmly in her hand, enjoying the feel of silken hardness.

Feeling lightheaded, Ed closed his eyes rested his hands on Winly’s shoulders for support as she continued her caressing explorations. He nearly jumped out of his skin as he felt her lips brush against his stomach, slowly working their way downward. “Winly... you don’t have to... ahhh...” he broke off with a moan as she flicked the tip of his manhood with her tongue. She ignored his half-hearted protest, beginning to nibble and lick up and down the shaft. Ed nearly lost his balance as she finally took him completely into her mouth, stroking him with her tongue. He felt the hard edges of her teeth momentarily before she covered them with her lips, fitting them tightly around him. All thoughts of resistance gone, he rested his flesh hand on the back of her head, twining his fingers in her hair encouraging her movement as she bobbed up and down in a steady rhythm.

Winly tried her best to relax her throat, taking as much in as she could. Wrapping her fingers around what she couldn’t quite fit in, she alternated between sucking and twirling her tongue around the hard length. Obviously, this was a new experience for her, and she hoped she was doing it right... but Ed’s groans and gasps indicated that she was doing just fine! His salty taste filled her mouth, the lubricating fluids mixing with her saliva and dripping down onto her hand. After a few moments, she felt Ed tense, and his hand tightened on her shoulder in warning. “Ahh...! Winly... I’m gonna...” Disregarding his words, Winly doubled her efforts, sucking hard and stroking with her fingers. She had a vague idea of what was about to happen, but curiosity won out over her apprehension. Suddenly, Ed let out a loud moan, his hips jerking erratically as thick, hot liquid gushed into Winly’s eager mouth. Choking a little, Winly swallowed all she could, the rest spilling out over her chin as she pulled back slightly.

Feeling the strength drain from him, Ed flopped down on the couch next to the girl, trembling a bit. “Wow...” He glanced over at her, seeing her wipe her mouth on the back of her hand with a small grimace. “Hey... you OK?”

Winly nodded, licking her lips. “Mm-hm... it’s just a little... um... different, is all.”

Ed chuckled self-consciously, rubbing the back of his head. “Well, I tried to warn you.” He didn’t want to dwell on that too long, so he leaned over and planted a kiss on her lips, tasting his own essence on her. Winly seemed a bit startled, but soon returned the kiss enthusiastically, her tongue darting out to tangle with his. Slowly, Ed pushed her down, his hand on the small of her back, until she was reclining against the arm of the sofa. He settled himself half-over her, bracing his metal arm against the cushions. Breaking away from her lips with a gasp, he turned his attention to her neck and collarbone, mapping them with nips and licks. Winly responded eagerly, her hands in his hair, moaning encouragements when he hit particularly sensitive spots.

Moving lower, Ed nuzzled the soft skin of Winly’s breasts, trying to discover what every inch of her body tasted like. “Ed...” Winly breathed, guiding and steering him to places she wanted him to touch. The young Alchemist shifted his weight slightly, leaning on his automail arm to free his other hand to smooth over Winly’s toned stomach, tracing random swirls and patterns on her skin. His fingertips finally reached their goal, and combed lightly through the soft blonde curls between her legs.

Winly gasped at the gentle touch, bending her knees and spreading her thighs slightly to give him better access. The combination of feather-light caresses and suckling kisses on her breast was almost overwhelming, and she moaned again, feeling her head spin. She felt Ed move above her again, kneeling between her legs and nudging them to open wider. His lips journeyed downward across her stomach, apparently intending to join his fingers below. He stroked her a bit more firmly, parting her folds and allowing her moisture to spill over his hand. When he found her opening and pressed one finger into her, Winly couldn’t help but gasp and writhe underneath him. Sliding his dampened fingertips back up, Ed once again found her sensitive bundle of nerves, circling it and causing her to cry out again softly.

Looking down at the movements of his own hand, Ed felt a swell of awe and wonder inside of him. This beautiful woman... Winly... was here, with him, wanting and loving him... he was almost overwhelmed. He could still hardly believe it; he had been half-expecting to wake up in his own bed, his sheets sticky, gasping and hoping fervently that Al wouldn’t hear. But he was still awake, touching and being touched, pleasuring Winly as he’d only dreamed of doing in the dark corners of his subconscious.

After a few more moments of exploration, Ed felt Winly shift a bit under him, her hand touching his shoulder. “Um... Ed... I want... ah... could you...”

He looked up, seeing a fiercely blushing and stammering Winly. He thought he’d never seen anything so cute. “Yes?”

Winly blushed even deeper, and glanced away, chewing on her lip. “Ehh, it’s silly. Never mind.”

“Winly,” he said firmly but softly, pressing a kiss to her inner thigh. “Anything you want. Don’t... don’t be shy.” He grinned. “Since when have you been shy about asking for what you want?”

She mock-glared at him. “Hey! What’s that supposed to... ohh...” she trailed off, her head dropping back to the couch arm as he moved his fingers over her again.

“Tell me... what do you want, Winly?” he murmured, leaning forward to kiss her stomach again.

“Ed... mmm... could you...”

“Hmm?” he purred against her skin.

“Ahh! T-touch me with your automail hand,” she finally said in a rush.

Ed hesitated. Well, he knew she liked automail... but he was a bit afraid that he might hurt her. He really couldn’t feel all that much with the metal hand, and while he had been able to give her pleasure by caressing her chest earlier, he was sure that this was a much more... sensitive area.

As though she could read his mind, Winly reached down and tilted his head up to meet her eyes. “You won’t hurt me,” she whispered. “Just... please...”

Seeing the trust shining in her blue eyes, Ed swallowed hard and nodded. “All right.” Shifting his weight back onto his knees, he tentatively reached out with his automail hand and stroked the valley where her hips joined her thigh. Winly sighed in appreciation, so he moved his fingers over her womanhood, trying to be as gentle as possible.

Winly closed her eyes and moaned, arching her back. The feel of the metal against her heated core was incredible, and she wanted... “more.” She didn’t realize she’d said the word aloud until Ed whispered an affirmation and slid one cool finger inside her. Gasping, she pushed her hips up to meet him, feeling a strange, aching tension building below her stomach. She nearly screamed when she felt his lips close over her most tender spot, at the same moment that another finger entered her. Hooking her legs over Ed’s shoulders, she began to rock in an erratic rhythm, her body searching for something that she couldn’t name. Words and moans slipped past her lips, “harder... faster... more... please...” incoherent jumbles of phrase of which she was barely aware. She felt as though she was rushing headlong at the sharp edge of a cliff, drawing closer and closer with every plunge of Ed’s fingers and flick of his tongue. When she finally reached it, her whole body stiffened, and she threw her head back and clutched at Ed’s hair, her mouth open in a silent scream.

Ed lifted his head and rested it on Winly’s stomach, feeling her fingers tighten almost painfully in his hair as the pleasurable (he hoped) spasms wracked her body. His fingers inside her were squeezed together a regular rhythm, and her hips rocked against him in time with the pulses. Winly’s silent cry eventually fragmented into gasps and moans as her movements slowed, finally quieting with one long, pleased sigh. Ed gently withdrew his fingers, which were now fairly dripping with her juices. He couldn’t help but smirk. “Well, I guess this is a new way to oil my automail, huh?” he commented.

Winly slapped his shoulder playfully. “Hey!” She felt a tightening in her stomach again as Ed lifted his fingers to his mouth, his tongue darting out to clean the gleaming metal. After a moment, she grabbed his head and pulled him down into a rough, desperate kiss, tasting herself on his lips. Ed shifted, sliding up between her legs, and she felt his hard desire pressing against her thigh. Reaching down, she grasped his erection lightly, guiding it to her entrance.

Ed clenched his jaw, obviously trying to hold himself in check. “Winly... are you sure?” he gasped, trembling above her.

Rolling her eyes in response, Winly wriggled her hips, trying to find the best angle. “Of course I’m sure, silly.”

“Don’t call me silly!” Ed protested, starting to push forward. “I just... you know...”

“I know.” Winly took a deep breath, knowing that there would be some amount of pain for her. Trying to relax, she wondered how much Ed was aware of this fact, even as she urged him onward with her hands on his hips. When he finally entered her, with one smooth, firm stroke, she bit off a cry, drawing blood from her lower lip. She felt tears spring uncontrollably to her eyes, dimming her vision of the man above her. The pain was worse than she thought it would be, as though something inside her had been torn apart.

The feeling of Winly’s tight heat around him blurred Ed’s senses for a moment, and he groaned with pleasure, his eyes closed. When he finally gained enough control to open them again, he looked down to see how Winly was faring... and nearly had a heart attack when he saw the tears streaming down the sides of her face. “Winly!! Oh, god... I hurt you... I’m so sorry!” He was about to pull out of her when she wrapped her legs around his waist, holding him in place.

“Don’t worry about it,” she said, sniffling a bit. “I think it’s normal. Just... give me a minute, OK?”

Ed froze in place, barely breathing. “All... all right,” he said with a gulp. Reaching up carefully with his left hand, he brushed some of the moisture off her cheeks. “Let me know when you’re... ready.”

Winly sighed, shifting a bit underneath him. The pain was slowly giving way to a pleasurably full feeling, and she rocked her hips upward experimentally. Ed moaned, instinctively thrusting forward to meet her, then stopped again. “Winly...?”

“I–I’m OK,” she gasped. “It doesn’t hurt so much any more.” There was still a residual ache, but the pleasant sensations were slowly winning out. She tightened her legs around his waist, and pulled him down for a deep kiss.

Slowly, Ed withdrew almost completely, then pushed back in just as carefully. Winly sighed with delight this time, so he repeated the motion, already feeling his own pleasure building again. Winly arched her back, pushing her hips up to meet his next thrust, catching him a bit off guard. A quick gasp tore itself from his throat as he automatically drove into her again, eliciting a low moan from the girl. After a few erratic stops and starts, the young couple finally found their rhythm, swaying precariously on the narrow couch.

Winly clung to Ed as he thrust into her, his actions becoming gradually more frantic. She still felt a slight twinge of pain every so often, but the waves of pleasure sweeping over her drowned them before they could really surface. She heard Ed’s moans echoing her own, growing louder and more frequent with each passing moment.

Soon... too soon, Ed felt his climax rushing to overtake him again. Not yet, dammit... Clenching his teeth, he tried to hold himself back, but it was too late. Groaning, he buried his face in Winly’s shoulder as he came for the second time that day.

Winly held Ed tightly, feeling his warmth fill her. Soon, his movements slowed and then stopped as he gradually relaxed on top of her. She could feel his heart pounding in his chest, mirroring her own. Running her fingers through his golden hair, she sighed, basking in the tender moment. Ed lifted his head and met her in a soft kiss once again, his tongue lightly tracing the outlines of her swollen lips. For what seemed like an eternity, they simply lay there entwined, until pulses slowed and breathing returned to normal.

When it appeared that Ed was falling asleep on top of her, Winly nudged him gently. “Hey. We should probably... um... get cleaned up before anyone gets back.”

“Mmm...” Ed stirred and mumbled, “Don’t wanna move.”

Winly giggled. “You want your brother to come back and see you like this?”

That got Ed moving. After untangling limbs and detaching other parts, they finally got up off the couch and started searching for discarded clothing. Grimacing a bit at the mess they’d made of the sofa, Winly turned the cushions upside down, vowing to wash them later. Deciding that they both needed a quick wash, the two headed out to the shower in back.

“We should probably shower together, to save time,” Ed suggested, the impish grin on his face invalidating any pretense of seriousness.

Winly grinned, already turning the faucet handle. “What, afraid we’re going to get caught?” She shrieked as Ed pushed her under the cold spray, catching her off guard. Dragging him after her, she used the momentum to pull him into another kiss. Eventually, they got around to actually washing each other, paying extra attention to certain parts, of course.

Ed smoothed a handful of soapsuds over and around Winly’s breasts and stomach, enjoying the feel of her slick skin under his fingers. Moving lower, he felt a pang of guilt as he noticed a thin trickle of blood running down her legs, diluted by the water. “Winly... you sure you’re all right?”

In response, Winly tilted his head back up to look at her. “Yes, Ed.” Her face broke into a bright smile. “I’m... happy.” Embarrassed by her sappy reply, she stole the soap away, lathering the fragrant bubbles across his chest and taking a moment to admire the taunt muscles. She was broken out of her revere by Ed’s tugging her close to him. They stood still and quiet for a long moment, the water splashing down on them like refreshing rain.

Eventually, they were both clean and dried off, and by the time Al and Pinako returned, they were sitting innocently in the workroom, Winly tightening a few loose bolts in Ed’s shoulder. Al set the groceries down on the table, looking over at the two with his oddly expressive eyes. “Did you get a lot done while we were gone?” he asked innocently.

Ed choked. “Er... yeah, a bit.”

The older woman bent over the two, inspecting Winly’s work. “Hmm... working a little slower today, Winly? I’d have thought you’d have this done by now.”

Winly gulped and stammered something about it being more messed up than she had thought, and Ed really should take better care of himself... Pinako just smiled and nodded. But she had one last comment to add as she turned away with a grin: “Make sure you oil it well.” Both Ed and Winly hoped she didn’t see their immediate and simultaneous blushes.

Done! Donedonedonedone!!! Yay!