Price of Treason

AN:
I'm sorry this took so ungodly long for me to post. I shortened it up actually but at least it's posted. And please excuse my horrid attempt at Goujun...


*****Chapter Eleven (Loopholes)*****

Kenren entered his quarters and slammed the door behind him. Once shut, he pounded his fists into the door and wall in rage and frustration. His eyes were shut and he let his head fall against the wall as he groaned trying to lock up his irritation. Tenpou hadn’t returned after several days and this worried him to no end. After several seconds he realized he wasn’t alone in his room. He lifted from the wall and turned around to see a tall white figure standing there quietly. Kenren suddenly stood straight up and saluted.

“Are you through, Taisho?” The white dragon-like being asked.

“Yes Sir! I’m sorry Sir! I didn’t realize you were here.” Kenren said quickly and far too obediently to be normal. Even the dragon realized the General’s behavior was much different than usual and arched a questioning eyebrow.

“Rumor spread and I overheard an officer speaking of a high ranking military official being held in your place. Rumor had clearly thinned by the time it reached me, but would I be correct to assume this official is Tenpou Gensui?” Goujun asked.

“S-Sir? Uh… Yes Sir!” Kenren was confused. Why was Goujun even here? He wasn’t one to care much for the General.

“I see. And I would be correct to assume it was Li Toten who called for this illegal trade?” Goujun raised an eyebrow.

“Yes… Illegal?”

“Indeed. I will retrieve my subordinate at once.” He nodded to the General and almost seemed to have the slightest hint of a smile on his face. “Good day, General.” With that, he left.

Kenren was left dumbfounded in his room. He blinked several times at the spot where Goujun had been standing before shaking his head. “What the hell…? Is he going to…?” Kenren shut his eyes. That was far too good a thought to be thinking so freely because it if wasn’t true then he would be devastated.

Flooding light on his eyelids awoke Tenpou. He just wanted to lay there and rest. It had only been about an hour since the last man came to have his fun. He wasn’t sure he could take anymore tonight. An impatient cough forced him to slide his eyes open. For a moment he couldn’t see anything but a bright burning white but the figure standing against the bright light was soon distinguishable. Tenpou couldn’t believe it. He respected Goujun too much for this to happen. His shock was clear on his face.

The white dragon prince looked over his naked injured body then settled his eyes back to greet Tenpou’s. “Gensui, don’t look so shocked. I am here to release you. You have been held against your will with out a solid validation for Li Toten’s actions. You are free to go.” Goujun announced. He helped Tenpou out of his chains and to his feet. The slender male dressed and limped out of his cell.

Tenpou stood straight as he could and faced his commanding officer. With a very respectful salute, he thanked the other man.

“If Li Toten gives you any trouble, send for me. I am also leaving you in the care of Kenren Taisho until you recover. He is to stay with you to speed up your recovery so I can have you back on duty as soon as possible.” Goujun turned and left.

“Thank you Sir.” Tenpou was genuinely thankful for the Commander’s generosity.

There was a knock on the door and Kenren opened it with an exasperated expression. “Yeah, what do you…” His eyes met Tenpou’s. “… want… Tenpou? How did you…? Was it Commander Goujun?”

Tenpou nodded.

Kenren wrapped his arms around Tenpou in a very odd embrace. Odd because Kenren rarely showed such straight forward affection, with the door open anyway. It only took seconds for Tenpou to remember he was in pain. The embrace made his tortured body protest. He placed his hands on Kenren’s shoulders and tried to wriggle free of the Taisho. Kenren let him go and looked at him confused.

Tenpou put an arm around his body as if trying to hold it together before it fell apart. He then gave Kenren a small smile. “I’m just a little sore.” He dulled down the truth. He was more than a little sore.

Kenren nodded and smiled. He understood completely. “I’m sorry.” He apologized and stroked Tenpou’s hair, just glad to have him back. The Kami knew they weren’t out of the dog house yet, but it was easiest to take things one step at a time.

It took several days for the brunette to recover from his injuries, but to be assured, when he did he was out and about once more. He was on his way to Commander Goujun’s office to deliver a report when he ran into none other than Li Toten. His stomach lurched just at the disgusting sight of the man. He stepped around him, acting as if the man was just an inanimate obstacle.

Li Toten reached out and grasped Tenpou’s shoulder. The Marshal stopped dead in his tracks, looking back at the man with a deadly glare. “It’s nice to see you too Marshal.” Toten smirked. “You know… your Kenren Taisho will do anything to protect you… Very similar to what you did to save him… If I can’t have you then… perhaps your rowdy General might be willing to…”

Tenpou was not going to tolerate this. His fists clenched and he turned to face Li Toten eye to eye. “You can’t touch him if you wish to maintain your position that you made your son work so hard to obtain for you. So I don’t have to listen to any of this.” He brushed the man’s hand away and began walking again.

“Any collaborator with a conspirator can be charged with the same crime and receive equal punishment… even if they aren’t even aware of their own crime…” Tenpou stopped walking when he heard this from Li Toten. The elder Kami continued. “Something to think about Marshal Tenpou. I would hate for you to drag Commander Goujun and General Kenren down with you…” Toten smirked and started to walk away.

Tenpou gritted his teeth before speaking. “You have no hard evidence to prove anything, if there is even anything to prove…” He countered.

“Don’t I? Are you sure? Hmm… I guess you will just have to take that chance won’t you Gensui.” Li Toten’s smirk grew. He couldn’t see Tenpou, having his back turned to him, but he could just hear the frustration radiating from him. He had him now…

If Tenpou ignored this, there was a chance that he would lose Kenren and condemn the man that saved him just a few days ago… But if he went along and made another ‘contract with the devil’ then he would be confirming Toten’s quarry and effectively endangering Kenren and Goujun. What could he do? How was he, Heaven’s Western Army’s best tactician, being out done by this man? Emotions and attachments… which this man had none…

“If I decide to take you up on your very generous offer… what might the terms be…?” Tenpou asked softly, almost hoping the other man wouldn’t hear him.

Li Toten turned around, showing Tenpou his smirk. Hook line and sinker.


********Fin********

AN:
Feedback is always welcome. Tell me how much you liked it or how much you hated it, but please don't go off on a tangent if you didn't like it.
Thank you for reading!

Might there be a part two...? Knowing me, probably not, but hey, anything is possible...