Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ Koi wa Kurushimi ❯ Have know the evenings, mornings, afternoons, ( Chapter 5 )

Koi wa Kurushimi
By Djinn Hashiba-Maxwell

And indeed there will be a time
To wonder, "Do I dare?" and, "Do I dare?" --
Time to turn back and descend the stair

- The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock
- T.S. Eliot

This chapter rated 'ICK!' for gore and bordering-on-non-con sex.

* * *

"You." The captain of the guard said, materializing. "You are the Sanada. Why are you free?"

Ryo reached reflexively for his swords, cursing when he realized he did not have them. He dropped his stance lower anyway, prepared for a fight. "I was released. I have done nothing wrong." A pause. "I am not Akuko."

The captain laughed. It was not a kind laugh. "That I know."

Ryo didn't ask, he merely edged sideways, trying to go around the other man. The guard captain grabbed him by the arm. "I'll let you leave without a fuss if you do me one favor." He said.

Ryo looked skeptical. "What is it?"

The captain smiled, and it was not kind either. He placed a hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist, and jerked his head towards one of the structures. Ryo was already following before he realized that they were heading for Mikitsuna's apartments. He blinked in surprise. There was no reason for him to be going there ... that should be the last place that that the guard would want to take him.

"Go first, please." The captain said, pausing outside the rice-paper door. Ryo's brow furrowed, but he didn't contradict. He slid the door open, eyes still on the captain for a few moments before he looked inside.

He stumbled back.

It was Mikitsuna's room, and the Rose of Night was in it. Or what was left of her was. The futon was unrolled, which made sense, since it was currently ... what? About three of the clock in the morning. And there on the pillow was the swath of black hair over tan skin that marked the 10-year-old beauty. But only that was recognizable. Sheets that had once been soft lilac had been dyed violet with the blood. Arms thrown wide, the sheets tangled, showing that yes, she had struggled against this. And there was not just one wound; even from here, he could see that there were wounds all over he chest, her throat slit, lips parted in an abbreviated scream.

"What the ... ?" Ryo's eyes were wide, and then he felt the tip of a blade at the back of his neck.

The guard captain's voice behind him was cool and even. "You did this." He said easily.

Ryo sputtered. "What?? I ... you brought me here!"

The guard captain's voice didn't change tone. "Nonetheless." He continued. "You did this. And no one will believe a ninja over the captain of the guard, ne?"

Then it dawned on Ryo with perfect clarity exactly what was going on. He felt a fool - why had it not been obvious? There was no way that the man who led the guards could not have been aware of a mercenary in his ranks. It was simply inconceivable ... unless the captain was one himself. And the assassin had been Akuko, which meant that someone had to succeed where he had failed.

"So." Ryo said, his voice just as cool and impersonal as the other man's. Non-emotion was a trick Touma had taught him. "You're the boss, ne?"

He swore that there was a chuckle from behind him. "That's me."

"And you murdered a ten-year-old."

"Money is money. Your fuck toy should have taught you that."

Ryo gritted his teeth to keep from saying or doing something that would get him impaled. No one, but no one, talked about Touma that way. "Touma is not my 'fuck toy' ... and how did you know?"

"Akuko keeps tabs on competition." He said evenly. "Put your hands behind your back, cross your wrists."

Ryo did as he was instructed, he could feel his arms be roughly bound together. It might have hurt, if he hadn't been used to that sort of thing. "Then you're the boss here, huh?" Ryo asked.

"Of course." Was the reply, but Ryo heard the hesitation which meant it was a lie. He smiled slightly.

"So do I get your name, taichou-san?" He was grabbed roughly by the wrists and tugged, hard enough to jar his shoulders, but not to dislocated them. He was shoved towards the door.

"Anubisu." He replied.

* * *

Touma twisted the piece of strangely-shaped metal in the lock of the cell door. He supposed that he should wait longer than a few minutes after Seiji had left, but he was on a tight schedule. He had given himself up for Ryo, but that didn't mean that he intended to die for him. I mean, let's be realistic, ne? Touma smirked to himself as the lock popped open with an audible click. Pathetic. Perfectly pathetic. Surely they didn't think this would hold Hashiba Touma?

The cell door opened easily, if a bit squeaky from lack of use. Touma shut it behind himself. With the light dim as it was down here, they would have to open the cell and check in the far back before they could be sure that he was not in it. If they came looking for him, that would buy him some time. He was honestly in no condition to be fighting right now, with his shoulder wound reopened. Hopefully he could slip out quietly.

The guard was nowhere to be seen. Touma found it odd, but he would not question anything that was an advantage. He slid around the edge of the compound, aiming for the back gate. He would have to pass Mikitsuna's apartments, but it was a risk he would take. The front gate was too high profile.

Then he saw them.

Ryo, arms bound behind his back, and the captain of the guard, a sword to the back of Ryo's neck. And even from here, Touma could smell the blood. Something was not right ... surely Ryo hadn't ignored his warning and gone to complete their mission?? No ... Ryo was not the type to do things against his wishes. Touma had discovered this quite some time ago. But still ...

An epiphany. Touma reached the conclusion a lot faster than Ryo, being distrustful by nature. Of course the captain of the guards was Akuko. It would only make sense, if you were going to place Akuko assassins in a place like this, that the person who commanded them must also be under Akuko's thumb. But the good thing about Akuko assassins ... they were well trained, and skilled as hell, but ... Touma had found that they were not averse to a little distraction, even while on a mission.

Touma sighed. And he'd thought he'd at least be able to get out of the compound, if not the city, without having to fuck anyone.

"Taichou-san!" Touma called, voice light and unconcerned. Two pairs of eyes jerked in his direction. Ryo's grew wide. Apparently he expected Touma to still be locked up.

Baka yo.

"Excuse me, taichou-san, but what is going on here?" Touma asked sweetly, gliding out of the shadows

The man's eyes narrowed, but he bared his teeth in a smile. "Hashiba-san." He said, aloof. "I remember you, even if you don't remember me ..."

Touma was not surprised by this statement. He had met many people over the years, this man could easily be among them. "I apologize for the slight, taichou-san. But I meet so many people during my travels ..."

"Idiot." The guard growled. He pulled Ryo to him, grasping the tan-skinned boy by his hair and pulling his head back, placing the cold steel of his sword against his throat. "I know the sort of things you are known for, boy. Any false moves, and his throat is slit."

Touma held up his hands in surrender. "Don't be silly, taichou-san. I am in no condition to fight! Why, any other man would probably not even be able to stand if they were in my condition." His smile was sly as he nearly whispered the next. "It is pure strength of will that keeps me from being flat on my back."

The captain's eye twitched.

"Oh course, many men argue that I have no strength of will, since I tend to end up flat on my back at the most inopportune times ..." Touma raised a single eyebrow, and he watched as the guard captain's eyes raked over his thinly clad form. He still wore the hint of color along his lips and the almost feminine hairstyle he had donned to seduce Seiji ... it seemed that all his preparation would not go to waste.

"Really now, taichou-san. What did my little lapdog do, that you would want to capture him?" Touma asked, and he made his way carefully across the space between them. No sudden movements, he respected this man's skill too much for that. "Ryo doesn't think for himself, and everyone knows it."

"He killed Mikitsuna."

Touma's mouth opened to protest, for he knew Ryo had not. He had already decided that Ryo would not go against him, but then it occurred to him what was happening, why this Akuko man was accusing Ryo of Mikitsuna's murder.

"A ninja is the best scapegoat you can come up with? That doesn't say much for your ability as a guard ..." Touma smiled slightly, eyes glinting in the lantern light. "Now if you had Hashiba Touma ..." his voice took on that provocative lilt, "tied up, at your mercy, helpless ..."

//The things I go through for you, you fucking Sanada ...//

"Hmm ..." Those damned steel-grey eyes seemed to linger longer on his bare, white thighs. "The idea is beginning to have merit ..."

Touma smirked and stuck his hip out to one side, ridiculously whorish, tongue flickering out over his teeth. Men like this didn't appreciate the finesse of seduction, so why bother? //Bet he isn't into foreplay, either.//

The look on Ryo's face clearly showed what he thought of Touma's current course of action, but he kept silent. He knew how much effect his opinion would have on Touma - exactly none - and acted accordingly. The guard captain smirked slightly, baring crooked white teeth. "Come here." He said, tightening his grip on Ryo's hair, pulling the tan boy's head back further.

Touma obliged with a hot smile. His fingers worked the narrow tie that kept his yukata closed. When he got close enough, he moved his hand to the sword, pushing it away from Ryo's neck. The guardsman did not stop him.

"So, what is your name, taichou-san?" Touma breathed against the older man's cheek. The sword arm fell, and Touma shoved Ryo. Hard enough to sprawl him, but Touma quickly stepped in front of the older man. Lips parted decadently.

"Anubisu." The man muttered, eyes focused intently on the pink lips inches from his.

"Well, Anubisu," He breathed. "You've captured me. Whatever do you plan to do with me?"

That was that. Anubisu's hand roughly grasped the hair at the nape of his neck, tilting Touma's head back, so he could more effectively plunder his mouth. Touma's lips were slack at first, but he knew well how to respond to a kiss, even one he had no intention of enjoying. And Anubisu seemed the type of man that would be happy with whatever he could get. Anubisu seemed to be trying to back him up against the wall; it would be a difficult place, but Touma had been fucked in worse places than under the window of a murdered girl, the cloying scent of blood still heavy in the air.

Anubisu was not one for savoring, it seemed. Not that Touma cared. There was only one thought on his mind as sword callused hands fumbled at his clothes - how far he would have to let this go, before Anubisu was distracted enough for him to get at his sword.

He may have been what most people would consider a slut, but he was never an idiot.

He was flat on his back, kimono pushed up past his hips, and there was a rock digging directly into the small of his back. He tried to ignore it and concentrate on the lecherous captain's attentions. Hands dug into his thighs. Maybe he could ...

A hand grabbed his arm at the wrist as he reached for the dagger sheathed at his back.

Okay. He could wait this one out. He let his arms fall back to his sides.

"Heh. Like this, don't you, slut?" The guardsman laughed. Touma actually rolled his eyes; he knew the other man wasn't paying attention anyway. Hands roughly parted his thighs; he supposed that a lesser person would have been frightened at this point. But he been through this sort of thing. Far too often for one as young as he, if he thought about it.

Something pressed up against his ass, he stayed limp. No point in tensing up, it just caused pain. Then Anubisu's eyes slid closed as he entered him.

Then suddenly Anubisu was the one on his back, a sword to his throat, and he let out a squeak as Touma administered a quick and well aimed knee to the balls. The wakizashi was sharp, gleaming against the dark skin. "Ji-se-su Ku-ri-su-to! The things men like you will go through to fuck a young guy like me!" The grin was wide, sparkling, and didn't disappear at the silvered blade slid through the guardsman's throat, leaving him gasping like a fish on the shore.

The scent of new blood melted into the smell of blood from Mikitsuna's window.

Touma wiped his sword on Anubisu's kimono and kicked the still gasping man into the shadows. He would be found in the morning, before or after Mikitsuna. Not that it mattered.

"I'll probably get blamed, too." Touma muttered. "Fucking perfect."

* * *

"Why on earth are we going to this bloody town in the first place? Don't give me that look, translate, damn it!!"

Captain Shane Moray was not a happy camper. Aside from the fact that, for the past four months, he had been in a foreign country where he did not speak the language and no one ever pronounced his name right, now he was being informed that, rather than heading straight for Kyoto as was planned, they were stopping as some place he'd never heard of called 'Takayama'. And he just knew that his interpreter was not giving that damn Japanese general a direct translation ... the man always tried to be 'polite'.

"Mouri-san, the general say that it is etiquette that make us stop and pay respect to Aito-kyo. He say that British men very much like etiquette, so you will understand." The interpreter looked hopeful.

"Tell the general that I can understand we must pay respects, but I do not understand why we will be spending two nights there." He replied.

The interpreter and the general had a brief exchange, and then the interpreter turned back to him. "The general say that he have friend who he visit with, that will be in Takayama." Shane looked over at the general, who was sitting cross-legged on his mat, arms crossed, one eye brow raised, as if daring the gaijin to make another protest.

"Tell the general that I find this most unprofessional."

The interpreter relayed this, and then general laughed. Actually laughed.

"E-scuse me, Mista Shin Mouri, but I am general." The Japanese man replied. "And you are captain." He laughed again, then gestured to the foreigneer to get out of his tent.

* * *

Djinn: There you are. Shin. I was going to post this yesterday, but I wasn't feeling well, so I went to be early. Sorry.

Kaiya: I was wondering when fish-boy would show up.

Nai: As were we all!

Djinn: Quiet! Why I keep you around, I'll never know ...

Kaiya: Next chapter - reunions!!

Djinn: Kaiya! You bitch! You told!!