Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ The Sharpest Lives ❯ Chapter 11

The Sharpest Lives 11 / ??
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 - I'm doing it again...this is slowly growing well beyond my previous intentions. At this rate, it'll be Pride version 2. Oh well. If any of you like my crazy that much, I just posted the first chapter of my newest bit of work - a colab RK / IY crossover. It's actually a...ficced version of an RP with the wonderful Liera Antionette...so you can read it if you like. XD It's called "Of Doom!".

Sorry that this has taken so long to get out. Jess has had things to do besides sit at her computer and write stories all by herself of late....a good thing for me, not-so-good for my more rabid fans. ^_^;; I've been taking a little vacation, as it were. Doing some research, actually reading the RK manga instead of just going off the anime, working on making an extensive birthday present for a friend...lots of stuff. So updates will be slow until I get some of the things off my plate...but no worries. I'll be back in the saddle soon enough.
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The next week saw a vast improvement in Kenshin's vision. Slowly, the blank white nothingness had begun to give way to dark shadows. As time passed, the shadows became shapes and grew more distinct. The white faded and color began to slowly, blearily return to Kenshin's world. At the end of the week, he could see poorly but passably in dim lighting. Bright light, such as the sun, was still too painful for him...but Kenshin was entirely too relieved to get his vision back as much as he even had to care.

Ironically, with the return of his blurry eyesight, Kenshin did not get around as well as he had blind. Some objects weren't distinct and he often simply didn't see some things and crashed into them. It didn't take long for him to relent and reluctantly admit that relying on his eyes was still not a good idea. He remained blindfolded outside of the cabin during the day, but he hated wearing the thing and kept it off while in the more or less dark room. He knew where everything was and wouldn't make an idiot out of himself tripping on things.

Seeing Sano again...actually seeing him... had done Kenshin good. His mental image had been fairly accurate. His friend was less lanky and had grown broader and more muscular. His hair was still spiky and wild, if a bit longer...but it was still Sano. Imagining that wide, cocky grin wasn't quite the same as seeing it.

In fact, it put Kenshin in a good enough mood that he finally gave in to Sanosuke's prodding and agreed to go and join him and some of the crew in their nightly games. Sano had cheered when the little samurai had relented to his argument and practically drug Kenshin down the hallway.

Kenshin blinked owlishly when they finally entered the mess hall. The room was lit by many oil lamps and, while not bright, it was pushing the level of Kenshin's tolerance. However, Sano seemed so excited to have finally hauled him out of the cabin and into the public that Kenshin would deal with it.

The room was noisy, filled with talking, laughter, and mostly good-natured insults. Several of the crew remarked on Kenshin's atypical presence and the redhead simply smiled.

It took all of two minutes before the first sake was thrust in front of him, by none other than Sano wearing an absolutely rakish grin.

"Sano, I probably shouldn't..." Kenshin attempted to politely decline.

// Not getting out of it THAT easily...you need to loosen up some, have some fun and forget about all that crap that's in your pretty little head... // "Oh, come on, Kenshin. You agreed to come out and have fun. Drinking is part of that experience. Don't worry, I'll drink with you."

Kenshin snorted. "Sano, you could drink me under the table and not be the slightest bit affected and we both know it. I've never had much tolerance for the stuff."

"Aw, come on, Kenshin. Don't worry. I won't let anyone take advantage of you."

Kenshin shook his head with a slight smirk. "And what if its not everyone else doing so that I fear?"

Sano puffed out his chest, the perfect picture of wounded indignation. "I would never do anything like that. I've had MORE than ample opportunity to do anything I want without you being able to do a damn thing in return. And furthermore, I--"

Kenshin chuckled a bit and patted the fighter on the arm, sensing a full-blown rant coming on. "Easy, Sano...I know. I was only teasing. You've been very good to me."

Sano was somewhat mollified before again nudging the sake closer to Kenshin. "C'mon. We're having fun. One or two drinks won't kill ya."

Kenshin finally relented. He had agreed to this, after all. "Oro...fine, fine." To satisfy his companion, Kenshin took a sip of the sake. It was surprisingly good.

It didn't take long after that before a hand of cards was thrust into his face and Kenshin was roped into playing. His vision was still rather blurry and he had never been much good at cards to begin with, so he lost terribly. Even still, it wasn't a bad experience. Everyone was laughing and joking and having a good time. Somehow, sake kept appearing in front of him, and Kenshin ended up drinking the first few rounds because they were good and the next several because they were there and appearing as if by magic.

It occurred to the redhead that he was feeling pleasantly warm and disconnected, having hit that one magical drink too many. By this point his eyesight was fuzzy enough that he could barely make out the shapes of his cards, let alone what might be printed on them...but he found he didn't care.

Sanosuke finally chuckled and yawned, stretching and finishing off his last bottle. He grinned at Kenshin, who was squinting intently at his cards. "It's pretty late, we should probably be heading back."Kenshin waved him away idly. "No...I think I'm winning this time."Sano snickered and plucked the cards out of Kenshin's fingers. The redhead blinked several times as if unable to figure out where the fuzzy white blurs in his hand had just went. "The game's been over for fifteen minutes."

The samurai peered blurrily at him, a disbelieving look on his features. Finally, a triumphant and rather un-Kenshin-like smirk appeared on his lips. "Oh. I see. You're just worried because you were going to lose."

Sano couldn't help but chuckle at the slur in Kenshin's words and his satisfied expression. // Well, what do you know. I was right. Finally get the guy sloshed and he does loosen up and enjoy himself. Good. // "Come on. Lets get back to the cabin. Its late and I have some stuff to do in the mornin'." Unlike Kenshin, a few hours of moderate drinking and gaming had been enough to give him a pleasant buzz but hardly enough to get him drunk.

Sano stood up and hauled Kenshin to his feet. The samurai wobbled before clutching at Sano's jacket. "Sano, why is the ship rocking so much?"
"A little too much sake, that's why."

Kenshin appeared to consider this for a moment as Sano led him out of the hall and towards his cabin. It was all the redhead could do to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving properly. Sano seriously wondered, by the time they made it to the cabin, if it wouldn't have been easier to simply pick Kenshin up and carry him...although Kenshin was being rather obstinate at the moment and Sano doubted that such a thing would have been allowed.

It was with a good deal of relief that the two of them were safely ensconced in Sanosuke's cabin. Kenshin pushed free of him and wavered his way across the room. Sano blinked, expecting him to fall at any moment with the way he was staggering, but Kenshin amazingly kept his balance and made his way to the bed, sitting down and flashing Sano a wide grin.

Sano couldn't help but grin a bit in response as he began dragging his futon out and setting it up. He was pretty tired - it was late, after all. "You look like you're in a pretty good mood."

"Oh, yes. It is a wonderful night. I feel warm." The samurai paused for a moment as if thinking hard, and Sano didn't miss the change in his tone of voice, even if he couldn't fully place it. For some reason, it made him wary. "Sano..."

"Yeah?"

"Come over here for a second. I have somethin' important to tell you."

Sano blinked and then walked over. "What is it?"

"Sit down. You're too tall and I don't want to yell." Kenshin pouted and Sano bit his lip, not daring to make a comment about how adorable he found the expression to be.

Sanosuke obediently sat down and half turned to look in Kenshin's direction. "Alright...what is it, Kenshin?"

It was safe to say Sano had never before seen the expression that passed over the little samurai's face then. Violet eyes darkened and smoldered with perhaps the most intensely seductive fire Sanosuke had ever witnessed. Before the suddenly startled fighter could react, he had a lapful of redhead. Kenshin's arms hooked around his neck and pulled him into a kiss that was written of hunger and aggression and seduction.

Sano was a bit too surprised to react. Surely, this was something he had been fantasizing about for who knew how long...and the way he tasted and felt...and god, the way that lithe little form was wriggling in his lap! It was wonderful, it was painfully arousing...and it was SO not like Kenshin.

It took some effort to free himself from the enthusiastic redhead's embrace. "K-Kenshin! What are you doing?!"

Kenshin's voice was a low, silky purr. "I should think you should be able to figure that out, Sano..."

// Oh, fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. I hate myself so much right now. // "Kenshin, I don't think you should do---ahh!" Sano's weak protest trailed off into a startled yelp as Kenshin shifted position in his lap, the samurai's knee suddenly wedged between his thighs and pressed up against his groin tightly in a way that was horribly impossible to ignore.

Sano felt the very fragile threads of his self control starting to snap and drift away in the breeze. Vainly, he clawed to maintain some sort of grip on them, his hands snapping up to Kenshin's waist in an effort to...pull him closer?... push him away?....

"Kenshin, you're...really drunk. And god I...nnn...stop that...." It took all of Sano's willpower to withstand the teasing little nudge the redhead had just given him. "Kenshin, you don't....fuck. We can't. Not like this."

"What, are you saying that I don't know what I want?" Kenshin's expression had turned into something of a pout.

"Yes. I am. You're really drunk and I'm...not sure I'm all here myself...and I don't want you to hate me in the morning."

Kenshin's expression turned to a deeper pout. "I am not THAT drunk, Sanosuke...I'm in perfect control."

"You are?"

"I most certainly am. If the ship wasn't spinning so much, I would show you just how in control I am. But its makin' me dizzy. I think I'm going to take a nap."

Sano made another effort to extricate himself, both relieved and mentally clobbering himself at the same time. "Thats...not a bad idea. I think I'll go to sleep myself....er....can you....let me up?"

"You don't haveta sleep on the floor..." Kenshin mumbled, having half collapsed against Sano's chest. "Stay here with me. S'more comfortable and you feel nice."

"But...." Sano sighed, his protest dissipating. Well, fine then. He had made a damned heroic effort in resisting the devastating temptation thus far...he'd reward himself with a little cuddle time...and hopefully he'd be able to will away his nearly painful arousal before morning came around. Everything he wanted offering itself to him on a silver platter, and he was turning it down?

// I must be a damned fool... // Sano muttered to himself, hooking an arm around the already unconscious Kenshin. // ... A damned fool, indeed. God, he better appreciate this.... //