Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ The Sharpest Lives ❯ Chapter 9

The Sharpest Lives 9 / ??
Written by Jezz-Ra
Warnings - Not all warnings apply to all chapters. Yaoi, Lemon, Violence, Language, Angst
Disclaimer - I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, don't make money off it. Wish I did.

Archived at - anime.adultfanfiction.net, fanfiction.net, and mediaminer.org ::: Anywhere else, ask!
Questions or Comments? - Email me at megami_no_remon@hotmail.com

// blah // indicates thoughts.

A/N - Sorry for the delay in posting - I was suffering from work and then exhaustion and the need to sleep. Couple that with fanfiction dot net going haywire all yesterday and it made for an even longer delay for half my crowd. It seems that ffnet is STILL not working entirely up to par, as it isn't allowing me to do any review replies, but...well. Hopefully that gets ironed out soon.

And even if y'all don't expect me to post every day, *I* try and expect it of myself and end up feeling guilty if I don't...because I'm just wired that way, I suppose. Oh well.
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Kenshin was too surprised to react in any way, freezing as his mind tried to catch up to what was going on, eyes pointlessly huge under his blindfold. It took him a long moment of strangled shock to realize he was being kissed and not otherwise assaulted. Oh...wait...SANO was KISSING him?!

The redhead managed a muffled little gasp as Sano's long arms wrapped around him tightly and pulled him in closer. Sano took advantage of the sound, his tongue plunging between Kenshin's parted lips. Kenshin's hands came up to rest against Sano's chest, confusion rampaging through his mind. He had intended to shove the fighter violently away but it was becoming hard to think around his heartbeat thudding in his ears.

What in the name of all that was holy was going on?!

Kenshin's mind just wasn't able to connect the dots. They were both male. He was fairly sure that Sanosuke had NEVER exhibited the slightest interest in the same sex, at least not as far as he knew..and was ENTIRELY certain that he himself had not exhibited any interest in either gender or romance in general. Never in his wildest dreams had he ever expected to ever be on the receiving end of a kiss from another man...let alone have that man be Sano. This just... it wasn't possible. It was like waking up one morning and suddenly finding the sky was yellow with purple polka-dots. It couldn't be happening. It most certainly could not, must NOT continue. This had to stop NOW... he would set Sano straight on the fact that he was violating the truths of the world.

Except... he wasn't shoving the fighter away. It was becoming impossibly hard to think. He hadn't kissed anyone since... well, not since he was married. That was over fifteen years ago... and it had never, never been like this. This was... this was hot and hard and passionate and utterly dominating, demanding and begging for his submission all at the same time, relighting fires deep within him that he had thought long since burned out beyond hope of sparking again.

Sano felt the change as it sank into Kenshin, in the way the redhead slowly relaxed and...oh, impossible... hesitantly returned his kiss. Kenshin's fingers curled in his jacket rather than shove him on his ass or do some sort of violent samurai chop at his vitals, as he had expected.

With Kenshin's acquiescence, Sano relaxed and let up on the urgent near-violence of his actions. Now that he was apparently going to get the chance to demonstrate his feelings, he didn't feel the need to rush and cram as much intensity into each second. His grip shifted, one arm curling around Kenshin's slender waist and the other threading through that wonderfully luxurious hair. His kiss turned from a desperate act of ravishing to a leisurely, thorough and intimate caress, engraving the sensation and the taste of this delicious creature into his mind forever.

Reality finally started to cut through the haze in Kenshin's head as a sudden need for air arose and he felt his cheeks starting to burn. Everything started to sink in.

Reality caught up to Sano around the same time. Oh. Oh, my god. This...this wasn't possible. What in the hell had he been thinking? // That's right, I WASN'T thinking! // And now... now he had Kenshin tight against him, practically sitting in his lap...and he was pretty sure his tongue was trying to crawl down the samurai's throat. // If he doesn't kill me, it'll be a miracle... but I just had to have a taste, no matter the consequences. //

Sano released Kenshin abruptly as panic and common sense began to outweigh the pleasant, heated fuzz in his brain. Kenshin rather ungracefully slid back from him, chest heaving and a slight quiver running through his limbs. Sano swallowed thickly and looked away, unable to stand the too-alluring sight of the pretty redhead, lips all kiss-swollen and cheeks flushed.

It was a long time before either of them broke the awkward silence. Sano got up abruptly and headed for the door. "I..." He stopped and cleared his throat, flushing a bit at the way his voice cracked. "I think I should go and...see if they need any help up on deck."

The fighter flinched when Kenshin finally spoke up, just as he was reaching for the door handle. "Sano...wait."

Sanosuke froze before slowly turning around, swallowing hard.

Kenshin's voice was soft , his expression unreadable. "We need to talk, Sano. Running won't solve anything."

"Running? I wasn't....well...maybe a little..." Sano hesitantly made his way over to the table and sat down, giving Kenshin a somewhat guilty look. "Fine..look, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me, I just....I mean..." Sano sighed heavily.

"You don't have to apologize, Sano. I'm not upset."

"You aren't? I figured you'd probably try to kill me. Painfully."

The ghost of a smile flickered across Kenshin's lips. "No, Sano. But you DID catch me off guard...that you did."

// Got you off guard once, did I? How does THIS one strike you? // "I think I'm in love with you."

Kenshin started visibly, his mouth dropping open but no sound coming out. Sano forged ahead with a rueful smile.

"I know, it was a bit of a surprise to me too. I didn't even realize it until...until I got to see you again. And I realized what a moron I probably am for not realizing it sooner. You're probably disgusted, seeing as how I'm a guy and all. I know I wasn't at all okay with that myself but it didn't matter enough. I'm not interested in men at all, but then...then there's you. YOU are an incredible person and I'll never meet anyone else like you in my life and you aren't...corny and horribly cliche as this might sound... you aren't like other guys."

"Sano, I... I don't know what to say."Sano couldn't help but smirk at that. "Hah...that's not the response I usually get from you. You ALWAYS know what to do and what to say."

Kenshin snorted. "Oh, Sano, that's hardly true."

"Sure it is. But anyway...don't worry about it. I should probably go. I know I really overstepped my boundaries and you probably don't want anything to do with me now. I am sorry for that..."

"No...I ... Don't apologize. Don't go."

"You...still want me to stick around?" Sano was a bit surprised.

Kenshin mulled over his words before speaking carefully. "Yes. No matter what happens, you are still my friend, Sano. I'm... very flattered that you're so interested in me. I am not...upset, merely surprised. I would really rather you didn't leave."

Sano chuckled half-heartedly. "I didn't want to leave anyway, but I take it its safe to assume you aren't interested. I suppose I'm just lucky you didn't kick my ass."

"I have no reservations about doing so when I feel you need it, Sano. I've done it more than once before. However, I'm just... I..." Kenshin trailed off, trying hard to figure out what he wanted to say. "I do not believe a relationship would be ... be..." The samurai sighed. "I'm sorry, Sano. Please don't take it personally."

"Really, I'm not too surprised. It's alright." Sano tried to keep his tone light - after all, it was the truth. He hadn't expected to sweep Kenshin off his feet, after all. But still, some part of him had hoped...

Kenshin scowled. "You have the wrong idea, Sano. I may not be able to see you, but I know you well enough to know you're upset." His expression softened. "And I'm very sorry for that."

"Wrong idea? About what? Look, I can understand you not being interested in me, or guys in general. Or whatever. You don't have to explain."

"It's not like that, Sano. It has nothing to do with you, personally. It...its just not a good idea to get too close to me."

Sano's gaze snapped up. // Oh-ho, there it is. I should have known! // "Ah, I see. Anyone that gets close to you will get hurt because of who you are, is that right?"

Kenshin frowned. He had a feeling this was about to go poorly. "Yes. Sano, I haven't...I... When I was fifteen, I was married. That was the last time I was in a relationship of any sort."

Sano blinked, abruptly taken aback. Kenshin? MARRIED? "I didn't know...what happened?"

Kenshin was silent a very long time, and Sano began to suspect the samurai wasn't going to answer him. Kenshin finally did speak, and it was with a great deal of effort and pain. "I killed her, Sano. She died by my sword."

Sano gaped like a landed fish. He knew Kenshin had been a hitokiri, but still... "There's more to it than just that. I refuse to believe you'd kill her for no reason."

"It is a long story. I...killed her fiance under orders and he gave me half of this scar." Kenshin's fingers were lightly touching the vivid X on his cheek. "She... it... I'd rather not talk about this."

Sano felt terrible when he saw how pale Kenshin was, and the way he was trembling but clutching the blanket, trying to hide it. "Kenshin, you don't have to. It's alright, I'm sorry I asked."

"No...its not your fault." Kenshin sighed heavily. "It is a long story. She wanted revenge. Over time, however, she came to love me but things were already set in motion. She was taken from me. I went after her, believing I was betrayed, but I...I had to know for sure. I was wounded severely on the way, and entered into a fight I could not have won. I... was only half alive. I wasn't even aware of my surroundings. She... joined the battle to save my life, and I ended up taking hers. She herself gave me the other half of this scar. I made my oath to stop killing as soon as the war was over as she died in my arms." Kenshin trailed off. He had never intended to tell that story, not to anyone.

Sano didn't know what to say. He had a powerful urge to hug Kenshin, comfort him, but held back. He wasn't sure how the samurai would react, considering how moments before he had jerked him into an unwanted kiss. He blinked when Kenshin spoke again.

"Please understand, Sano. I ... I care about you a great deal. If something were to happen to you, I would mourn for the rest of my life."

Sano was floored, and he felt his heart wrench. "I'm not weak, Kenshin. I'm not some easy target for a would-be assassin. I am truly sorry for what happened to you...don't ever think otherwise. But that doesn't mean you should live the rest of your life and keep everyone away. I don't think she would have wanted that for you. She sacrificed herself so you would LIVE, not just exist."

Kenshin was silent for a long moment before chuckling, although it had a bitter sound to it. "Perhaps I should have instead told you I was not interested in being in a relationship with a man?"

Sano narrowed his eyes at Kenshin, suddenly suspicious. Well, hell, why HADN'T Kenshin started with that excuse? That was the easy way out, after all... and Kenshin hated talking about his past. Why on earth would he dredge up what had to be one of his most painful memories rather than give a different, perfectly good and solid excuse? // Because he didn't want to lie to me, that's why...! // "Why didn't you?" Sano asked before he could think to stop himself.

Kenshin fidgeted slightly, suddenly feeling caught. "I... I wanted to give you the more truthful answer, Sanosuke."

"The idea of being with another male doesn't horrify you?" Both eyebrows had hiked to his hairline and Sano's gaze was intense on the redhead.

"It... I never even considered it before. The thought never crossed my mind. I just... I'm not interested in being in a relationship with anyone, thats all."

A triumphant grin suddenly broke out on Sano's face. // So that's how it is. It's not because I'm a guy or even that he has no interest, although he's not admitted to anything. It all boils down to his belief that he doesn't deserve anyone and is afraid people would get hurt because of him. Well, I'm not that weak and I refuse to let him keep eating himself alive. // "I get it, now."

Kenshin heard the change in Sano's tone and was instantly wary. "You...do, do you?"

"Yep. Should have realized it sooner...it's so typical of you. Well, let me tell ya how this is gonna work."

Kenshin was extremely guarded now. Sano was up to something... "Alright..."

The samurai blinked when his hand was suddenly caught in Sano's. Sano's voice was very serious. "You're afraid I'll get hurt, or convinced that you don't deserve anyone. I'm not as weak as that and I think you, above all others, deserve to be happy after all the sacrifices you've made for everyone else. You had to do some bad things along the way, but it was all for the greater good in the end, even if your heart won't let you forgive yourself for what needed to be done."

Whatever protest Kenshin might have made died as Sano lifted his hand and kissed it gently. A violent blush exploded on the redhead's cheeks and he ducked his head to hide it behind his bangs, his words vaporizing in his throat, unspoken.

"Because you've NOT told me that you would be completely repulsed at the thought of being with a man, I intend to court you. I'll show you that you don't have to worry for me and that you don't have to be alone."

"S..Sano!" Kenshin blurted out, although he didn't really know what to say, how to protest. This was...was preposterous! It couldn't happen, and Sano couldn't possibly be serious, could he?...

Sano grinned and let Kenshin's hand go, straightening and sauntering towards the door. "I'm going to go help out the crew. After all, I have to pull my weight around here if I expect to repay the boss for letting me come with him after I quit. You can rest and I'll see you at dinner."

"W-wait, Sano! Y-you...but...I...!" Kenshin didn't have the slightest idea what to say, and Sano simply chuckled to himself, whistling a happy little tune as he headed out the door.

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A/N - Kenshin just got owned. XD