Altered Threesome

*Just a quick note*

My cowriter and I had originally ended the story at the previous chapter, but due to encouragement from our mailing list (thanks guys!) we wrote a bit more. It definitely has the feeling of \"tacked on,\" but I hope everyone can enjoy this last bit of angst anyway. Thanks!

-------------------------------------------------


Kanami sat on the front steps, chin on her knees and arms wrapped
tightly around her shins. It...was starting to get dark, and soon
she would either have to leave and head home, or prepare to spend
the night. The door was unlocked behind her, but she couldn\'t brinerseerself to enter the dark, silent house and fall asleep. Not where
there was so much happening....

//Kazu-kun...Ryuhou....// Her shoulders hunched. //Please come
home....//

Ryuhou was still enduring all of Kazuma\'s teasing and half-hearted
shoves when they approached their small home on the edge of the
city. \"Cut it out,\" he muttered, trying to push Kazuma away. \"I know
you got more than me--who cares?\" His attention was drawn quickly,
however, by the sight of Kanami sitting on the porch. \"Kanami?\"

\"Ha ha, you know you\'re--huh?\" Kazuma glanced up as well, and upon
seeing the girl jogged quickly over. \"Kanami, what is it? Something
wrong?\"

Relieved, Kanami jumped to her feet and hurried out to meet the
pair. \"Kazu-kun--Ryu-Ple-Please, we have to hurry.\" She grabbed the
bottom of Kazuma\'s coat. \"Tachi-kun left, and he hasn\'t come back
yet. The radio\'s been saying such awful things and I saw him
fighting--\" She paused a moment to catch her breath.

\"You...what?\" Kazuma stared at him, for a moment not
comprehending. \"What are you talking about?\"

Ryuhou caught on more quickly. \"Where are they?\" he asked swiftly,
already feeling the back of his skull heat in preparation of using
his Alter.

\"I\'m not sure,\" she replied. \"But...that way....\" Kanami gestured
with her arm. \"I didn\'t hear the report--Tachi-kun did, and he said
he had to go. Mimori-san tried to stop him, but he said it would be
too late by the time you got back.\" She pulled closer to Kazuma,
shivering faintly. \"I can follow him, Kazu-kun, but we have to
hurry!\"

\"Damnit, Tachibana,\" Kazuma growled. He scooped Kanami up into his
arms, already turning back the way they\'d come--until they got to a
place with enough land to Alter. \"When we get there you and Tacchan
stay back, okay? I mean it!\"

//Tachi....// Ryuhou gulped, quickly following them. Soon after they
were both back in their altered forms, flying swiftly in the
direction Kanami had indicated.

Kanami closed her eyes, huddling close to Kazuma to keep the wind
from buffetting her too much. //Tachi-kun....// She raised an arm,
indicating a more exact direction. After a few minutes of flying she
shuddered, curling tightly. //Tachi-kun...is hurt. Tachi-kun--
// \"They\'re not fighting anymore,\" she said aloud, her voice high
and worried. \"There...should be smoke, and a few soldiers left,
but...their ship is gone.\" Kanami\'s right hand slowly let go of
Kazuma\'s neck, grasping unconsciously at her left
shoulder. \"But...he\'s hurt....\"

//Damnit, damnit!// Kazuma descended, his gaze already locking on
the few remaining soldiers. They seemed to be converging on a few
outcroppings of rock, and he growled a warning as they
landed. \"Ryuhou--take her.\" He handed Kanami swiftly to his
companion and charged, bellowing furiously as the soldiers scrambled
to escape.

Ryuhou grimaced, but he headed quickly toward the rocks, fearful of
what he might find there. He could just barely make out a slumped
figure. \"Tachi? Tachibana!\"

Tachibana blinked slowly, faced pressed into cold rock. He was
bleeding from a few scrapes and a bullet graze along his thigh. His
arms had been pinned and tied behind his back, and the left
especially felt like it was burning. \"Ryu....\"

Kanami squirmed out of Ryuhou\'s arms, dropping down beside the other
boy. \"Tachi-kun, it\'s okay now.\" She knelt by his head, carefully
slipping her small hands beneath his cheek to keep it from the harsh
ground. \"Ru anu and Kazu-kun are here--we\'ll take care of you.\"

Tachibana sighed heavily, trembling slightly in relief. //Thank
god....//

\"Tachi….\" Ryuhou crouched down beside him, quickly slicing through
the bindings on his wrists. //His shoulder looks dislocated. And
those cuts…we\'ll have to get him to a doctor.// \"Hold still,\" he
said as he began to tug Tachibana carefully into his arms.

//Ryuhou....// He didn\'t fight as the elder tried to arrange his
weak limbs, though he couldn\'t help a wince as his arm was
jolted. //I...really did it this time. I couldn\'t...do
anything....// Tachibana could vaguely hear Kazuma\'s voice, and he
opened his eyes in the hopes of seeing both his lovers.

Kanami watched anxiously, and when Ryuhou rolled the boy onto his
back, she got a glimpse of Tachibana\'s left hand--she gasped,
pressing her fingers to her lips. \"Tachi-kun....\"

Ryuhou followed her gaze, and his eyes thinned. //The scars.// They
started at the tips of Tachibana\'s fingers and stretched halfway
down his forearm, as he imagined Kazuma\'s must have
started. //That\'s not important now. His shoulder....// That, at
least, Ryuhou could fix, and he settled his hands over Tachibana\'s
arm. \"I\'m going to reset your shoulder,\" he told him firmly. \"Take a
deep breath.\"

Tachibana immediately clenched his jaw, holding his breath. //This
is--// He managed to only give a thin whine as his arm was jerked
back into place. He could feel Kanami\'s gentle fingers on his
cheeks, softly comforting, and he concentrated on that to help ease
his pain.

\"I\'m sorry,\" Ryuhou said quietly. \"It\'s all right--we\'re taking you
back.\" He tugged Tachibana into his arms, cradling him gently
against his chest. \"Kazuma!\"

Kazuma glanced over his shoulder, breathing hard--more from anger
than any real strain. The soldiers had been taken care of, and he
swiftly made his way to the trio. A shudder went through him when he
saw Tachibana\'s pained face. \"Come here, Kanami,\" he
instructed. \"Let\'s hurry back.\"

Kanami didn\'t protest as she came forward and was lifted. She felt
tired and faint from all the swirling emotions. //Tachi-kun has
those scars now.... Just like the others....// Pulling close to
Kazuma, she prepared herself for the ride back.

Once they were actually in the air, Tachibana was reminded of how
he\'d gotten into this state, and he raised his head to
Ryuhou. \"Are...they gone?\" he asked. He frowned a bit at the
hardness of Ryuhou\'s armor.

\"Yes,\" Ryuhou quickly assured. \"It\'s all right, Tachi. I\'m sorry we
weren\'t here sooner.\" //If we hadn\'t been fooling around after the
fight…damnit.// His expression hardened, but he tried to fight it
back. \"Can you tellyou\you\'re injured anywhere especially?\"

Relieved, Tachibana tried to settle better in the metallic arms. \"My
leg.... I think I was shot. And…my arm is kinda burning....\" //I was
able to make.... Was that really my Alter? I\'ve never been able to
do something like that.//

Kanami\'s eyes widened, growing unfocused. \"He blew it up,\" she
murmured, fingers curling tightly. Images were hinghing, far off but
still clear, through her mind. She could almost see Tachibana, his
left arm glowing....

Kazuma cursed softly under his breath. \"We\'re almost there,\" he said
distractedly. //He should have known better. Damnit, this is my
fault.//

They landed soon after, and Ryuhou didn\'t bother to change from his
Altered form as he hurried Tachibana to the doctor. The old man was
startled, to be sure, but on Ryuhou\'s insistence he went directly to
work on caring for the injured teen. Kazuma and Kanami were just
behind him, and both men at last let their armor dissolve as they
crowded around Tachibana\'s bed.

Tachibana blinked in the suddenly bright light, though he was able
to make out the anxious figures of his friends; he smiled
faintly. \"I\'m fine,\" he assured softly. \"You don\'t need to...hover
like that.\" He winced as the doctor prodded his thigh, fingers
twitching.

Kazuma was fidgeting a lot more than he ought to have been, and
Ryuhou quickly urged him into a chair--on Tachibana\'s right side.
how how he wasn\'t sure if it was a good idea to let him see
Tachibana\'s new scars just yet, as he himself was already concerned.
He took Tachibana\'s hand, rubbing the back of his palm lightly. \"Are
you all right?\"

\"I just said so...didn\'t I?\" His fingers tightened around Ryuhou\'s,
hoping to assure his lover. //Though...my arm does feel funny. What
did I do...?// The doctor began removing what was left of his
clothes, and Tachibana glanced uncertainly at Kana\"Ry\"Ryuhou.
Take...her home?\"

Though Ryuhou didn\'t like the idea of leaving Kazuma alone here with
Tachibana, when he glanced at Kanami he realized how exhausted she
looked. \"All right.\" He gave Tachibana\'s hand a squeeze and slipped
to his feet, moving toward Kanami. \"Come on, Kanami--he\'s all right.
Let\'s go tell Mimori-san.\"

Kanami wanted to protest, but she was ra tir tired. Reaching out,
she wrapped her arms around Ryuhou\'s neck, peering over his shoulder
at Tachibana. \"Feel better, Tachi-kun.\"

He smiled and waved a hand. //She\'s the one that found me,// he
thought, watching as she and Ryuhou headed for the door. //The
others...couldn\'t have known where I was, since they didn\'t land
right where the radio said. She had to have....//

Kazuma watched them go, still fidgeting anxiously. \"You\'re a damn
fool, Tacchan,\" he scolded, trying to smirk. //He\'s going to be
fine. So stop freaking out.// \"Running off like that. Scared us half
to death.\"

He chuckled, though he winced again as the doctor gave him a shot in
his leg to help with the pain. \"There really...wasn\'t a choice,\" he
explained, turning his head to see the other. \"The first attack was
a cover for the other--someone had...to do something.\" Tachibana\'s
lips curled faintly. \"Too bad I was the only one available.\"

\"Tacchan….\" Kazuma sighed, his expression softening as he reached to
ruffle Tachibana\'s hair. \"Little bastard.\" He would have offered a
kiss if not for the physician casting glances in his
direction. \"You\'re just trying to get out of cooking for us.\"

\"No way,\" he replied, glad that Kazuma seemed in better
spirits. \"Your cooking is too awful.\" Tachibana sighed as his leg
went numb, and he hoped the doctor would do the same for his
tingling arm. \"You should get some rest,\" he suddenly said,
expression growing more concerned. \"You and Ryuhou were fighting,
too. You don\'t need to stay here like this.\"

\"I\'m not leaving you here alone,\" Kazuma retorted. \"I seem to
remember you staying up with me all night when my arm was fucked,
it\'s about time I returned the favor.\" He glanced up with a slight
frown. \"Is…your other arm all right?\"

Tachibana looked over, but from his current position he couldn\'t
really see much. \"It feels a little funny,\" he admitted. \"Th ith it
doesn\'t really hurt anymore. Just...feels a bit stiff.\" He watched
as the doctor glanced at the limb in question, though he didn\'t seem
to deem it any kind of priority and went back to fixing his leg.
Tachibana\'s gaze returned to Kazuma. \"What about yours?\"

\"It\'s fine.\" Distracted by Tachibana\'s description he moved around
the table to betsee see his arm. When he saw…a cold shudder ran
through him. \"Tachibana…?\" He reached out tentatively to brush his
fingertips over the rough scars. \"What...did you do?\"

\"Hmm?\" His fingers curled at the touch. \"What do you mean?\" He tried
to sit up a bit, but the doctor immediately urged him back down--he
frowned. //Why does he look so concerned?//

Kazuma\'s eyes narrowed on the marred limb. He should have known it
was inevitable; it was a natural recourse for overuse of Alter. He
himself already had so many scars.... But the thought that Tachibana
was continuing down that same path made his fingers curl
numbly. \"It\'s scarred,\" he said quietly. \"Like mine.\"

Tachibana\'s eyes widened. //Then...it wasn\'t just a dream or
something....// His fingers curled, and he could feel the stretch in
his tight skin. //It really is....// His gaze met Kazuma\'s. \"Kazuma,
I....\"

Kazuma immediately look away. //No. No, I…I don\'t want this for
him.// His hand tightened reflexively around Tachibana\'s, holding it
still against the bed. \"It\'s...not that bad yet,\" he said quietly,
though his voice was strained. \"You\'re fine.\"

//Other than...it still hurts....// But he didn\'t want to worry his
lover any more than he already had, and he gave his arm a slight
tug. \"Kazuma.\" //I really will be fine, right? Don\'t sound
like....// Tachibana wished desperately that the doctor wasn\'t there
so he could better comfort the other.

Kazuma took in a deep breath. //Stop it--later. You can worry about
it later.// \"I\'m going to get some water,\" he heard himself
say. \"You just...get some rest. I\'ll be back.\" He glanced back only
briefly before slipping away.

---

Tachibana limped into their home, grateful to finally be free of
everyone but his two lovers. Leaning on his temporary cane, he
paused in the kitchen to sag against the counter. \"I don\'t like this
already,\" he said over his shoulder. He had purposely been avoiding
looking at his scarred hand lately, and the other two hadn\'t brought
the subject up yet either. //Though...it\'ll happen eventually.
Kazuma\'s been so...quiet....//

Ryuhou smiled slightly as he moved to Tachibana\'s side. \"It won\'t be
for long,\" he assured, helping Tachibana further inside so he could
sit on the couch. \"Just relax for a while, and I\'ll...try to make us
something.\" He started back toward the kitchen.

Kazuma wandered in after them, following Tachibana to the sofa. He
leaned against the arm. \"You need anything?\"

Shaking his head, Tachibana settled back. \"I\'m fine.\" He wanted to
reach out, but Kazuma was on his left side, and...he didn\'t want to
risk it. His fingers still curled, though, and he edged closer to
the edge of the couch. He...was still feeling a little unsteady from
what had happened. \"You?\"

\"Huh? Yeah, I\'m fine.\" Kazuma reached out briefly, sliding his hand
through Tachibana\'s hair so he could tug him closer and kiss the top
of his head. \"You just stay put. I\'m gonna see if I can help Ryuhou
before he burns the kitchen down.\"

Tachibana watched him go, shoulders drooping a bit. When Kazuma was
finally out of sight he closed his eyes, letting his head drop back
against the sofa with a heavy sigh. He...still felt shaken, and the
previous night had been strange, sleeping in a strange bed with his
lovers left sitting around the room.

After dinner, the three sat together for a while, just relaxing and
watching TV until the sun went down. It was then that Kazuma snuck
out under the pretense of checking on Kanami and Mimori. Ryuhou
frowned, but didn\'t protest as he in turn helped Tachibana into the
bedroom. \"Can I get you anything?\"

\"No, I\'m fine.\" He shook his head, making a detour to the bathroom
so he could brush his teeth and take caf sof some other business.
Tachibana tried to offer a reassuring smile, though...he was a
little worried about Kazuma. \"I was thinking,\" he suddenly went on,
spreading somste ste on his toothbrush, eyes lowered. \"Maybe I
should stay on the couch. Between you and Kazuma tossing all night,
I\'m not sure my leg could handle it.\"

Ryuhou frowned almost guiltily. \"You\'ll sleep better in the bed,\" he
replied, moving to lean against the bathroom door frame. \"And you
need it more than us. Kazuma and I can share the couch.\" It would be
cozy, but he almost wouldn\'t mind keeping the man close to him right
now--he was acting strangely.

Tachibana laughed softly. \"Don\'t be silly--he\'ll kick you off for
sure. I don\'t mind.\" He had to pause as he brushed his teeth,
watching his reflection idly...keeping his hand out of sight below
the sink. So far, all of them had done a good job of pretending the
scars didn\'t exist--especially Kazuma, who had act acting rather
subdued. Once he finished, he rinsed his mouth and moved towards the
toilet, wincing as he had to leave his cane behind. \"Go ahead and
take the bed. Just give me a pillow and I\'ll be all set.\"

\"I still think you\'d be better on the bed….\" Ryuhou murmured, but he
left Tachibana in privacy to make up the sofa. The least he could do
was make it ortaortable, and he covered the cushions with an extra
sheet, tucking in a blanket as well. And a pillow, as requested.

Tachibana returned a few moments later, stripped down to his boxers
and a T-shirt. He was grateful that Ryuhou hadn\'t made a big deal
out of him staying on the couch. //Though…I\'ll miss having them with
me. But I\'m not sure I can face them just yet, to have
them...touching me.// His fingers tightened around his cane as he
waited for Ryuhou to finish. \"Thanks for this,\" he murmured.

\"I\'d do more if I could,\" Ryuhou replied, standing back so Tachibana
could at least stretch out on his own. He moved the cane to the side
of the sofa and sat down for a moment, watching as Tachibana
settled. \"You know,\" he said thoughtfully. \"What you did back
there...was pretty dumb. But you did a good job.\"

He smiled faintly. \"It was dumb,\" he replied. \"I...I know I
shouldn\'t have gone. Between Kanami and I, we could have found you
guys.\" Tachibana ran a hand through his hair, gripping his scalp. It
was still difficult to recall much of what had happened, to remember
exactly how he had gotten to be in such a state--it made his arm
ache. \"I\'m...not sure why I didn\'t listen to her.\" A lie. His
shoulders hunched. //I know why I went, why I...wanted to fight
alone.//

Ryuhou smiled grimly; he had a feeling he already knew, and he
reached down to rub lightly at Tachibana\'s chest. \"We\'re just glad
you\'re all right.\" //We\'ve all lost so much already. I don\'t know
what we would have done if....// His throat closed off suddenly,
choking him, as if...he hadn\'t realized until then just how deeply
those thoughts affected him. \"Tachi….\"

Tachibana blinked up at him, surprised by the emotions twisting his
face. \"Hey....\" He abandoned his own hair, reaching out to touch
Ryuhou\'s cheek. His own concerns faded a bit. //Damnit...why did I
have to be so stupid? Why couldn\'t I have just waited for them?
I....// Tachibana bit his lip, left arm clenching against his
side. //I didn\'t need to feel useful that badly.//

Ryuhou held that hand against his face, the soft warmth of his skin
calming him. \"Sorry,\" he said quietly. \"It just shook us up a
little. You did the right thing, defending this place.\" He
smiled. \"We\'re proud of you.\"

His eyes narrowed. //Proud....// Tachibana couldn\'t help glancing
away. //But Kazuma....// \"Thanks,\" he murmured quietly. \"Though...it
was pretty stupid.\" His shoulders hunched. \"What...what about
Kazuma...?\" he asked, not sure he wanted an answer, but....

Ryuhou straightened a little, lowering Tachibana\'s hand to his
stomach. \"He\'s...just a little worked up, that\'s all,\" he tried to
assure. Truth be told he wasn\'t sure exactly what was wrong with
their companion. \"I think it must have scared him, and he\'s not very
good at dealing with it. He\'ll warm back up soon.\"

Tachibana wasn\'t sure what to make of the other\'s words--not that he
wasn\'t grateful to Ryuhou\'s calming efforts, but.... His arm
trembled at his side. //Ryuhou....// He reached out with his good
hand, clasping the other\'s shirt. \"Do you...think he\'s...mad?\"

\"Not at you,\" Ryuhou quickly assured, going back to rubbing his
chest. He paused, though, when his eyes fell on Tachibana\'s
shivering arm. //I wonder if it\'s that. He\'s never made a fuss about
our scars, but he\'s never brought it up, either.// Ryuhou tried to
push those thoughts aside. \"I\'m sure it\'s just him being himself.
But do you want me to talk to him?\"

Tachibana closed his eyes, trying to relax beneath the familiar
touch. \"You don\'t have to,\" he replied. //The last thing I want is
for them to get into an argument or something over me.// His left
arm finally fell still, and he sighed quietly. \"Thanks, Ryuhou.\"

\"Sure.\" Ryuhou leaned down, offering Tachibana a soft, sincere
kiss. \"Rest well. I\'ll be up for a while, so just call if you need
anything.\" //Waiting for Kazuma. He probably won\'t like it, but I
don\'t like that he\'s out wandering around. Sometimes I can\'t predict
him.//

\"Thanks,\" he said again, glancing up one last time before shifting
to better settle himself. It would be strange, sleeping alone on the
couch, but better than letting Kazuma kick his injured leg, or
Ryuhou brushing his arm. He tugged the blanket up to better cover
himself, patting Ryuhou\'s chest before pulling away.

Ryuhou smiled faintly, offering another brief kiss before he pulled
back. \"Goodnight.\"

It wasn\'t long after Ryuhou had slipped into the next room that
Kazuma returned. His hands were shoved the pockets of his coat, eyes
slightly downcast as he snuck inside. He paused, a little startled
to find Tachibana on the couch. //Is he…asleep?// He crept forward
quietly.

Tachibana looked up, drawn by the sound of the door
closing. //Kazuma....// He licked his lips and shifted
faintly. \"Hey.... You okay...?\"

Kazuma froze. He\'d been hoping Tachibana was asleep, but there
didn\'t seem to be getting around it now. He slipped forward and
dropped to his knees next to the sofa. \"Yeah, I\'m fine,\" he quickly
assured, ruffling Tachibana\'s hair. \"Kanami and Mimori were asking
about you.\"

//So...he really did go and see them.// Somehow, that news relieved
him, and he settled a bit better into the couch. \"I\'m glad they\'re
okay,\" he replied, tilting his head with a faint smile. I\'m glad
you\'re back. \"I think Ryuhou\'s waiting for you.\"

\"Yeah?\" //Well fuck.// Kazuma had just wanted to slip into bed and
go to sleep, no questions asked, and he hoped Ryuhou would allow him
that much. \"How about you?\" he asked, tilting his head to the
side. \"Ryuhou kick you out?\"

He shook his head. \"No, I thought it might be safer for mee.\"e.\"
Tachibana wiggled back into the couch; now that Kazuma was home, his
fatigue was beginning to catch up with him. He reached out with his
good hand to pat Kazuma\'s cheek. \"I\'m gonna sleep. Glad you\'re
back....\"

\"Yeah….\" Kazuma leaned forward for a kiss before pushing to his
feet. \"Sweet dreams, cupcake. We\'ll cook up something good for ya in
the morning.\"

\"What a threat,\" he joked back. //I\'m glad...he seems okay.//
Tachibana closed his eyes, still smiling as he tugged the blankets
up to his chin and settled down to sleep.