Way of the Sword

CHAPTER 19

The day before his birthday, Shuichi vowed to ask Yuki about living together. Sure, during the last two days his efforts have been thwarted, but Shuichi was not one to give up or to pick up on ominous signs.

Shuichi woke up, intending the first words out of his mouth to be the question, only to realize that Yuki, as usual, was already up and gone.

Breakfast was a quiet affair and Shuichi decided that he should not ask such a question to Yuki in front of everyone.

After breakfast, Yuki was engaged in training with Kenshin, and the noises that the katanas made against each other were enough to discourage Shuichi from asking then.

So instead, Shuichi tried to help Yahiko clean the house. Unfortunately, Shuichi tired himself out. He barely managed to stumble into his room and fall into a heap. He fell asleep, losing another chance to ask Yuki after his training with Kenshin.

When Shuichi woke up, Yuki had gone to the market with Kenshin and Kaoru, in preparation for the party tomorrow. Upon returning, Yuki got roped into training with Yahiko. While Yahiko could not have been more thrilled with the opportunity to train with the famous swordsman, Shuichi was close to pouting.

Much to Shuichi’s dismay, the question was not asked that day.

***

On the day of his birthday, Shuichi woke up late. But sleeping in must have done wonders, guessed Shuichi, because he felt less sore than any of the other days. He got up and wandered around, looking for Yuki, as usual.

He was immediately shooed away from the kitchen, where Kaoru, Kenshin, ane Megumi were kept busy. In the training room, Sano and Hiro were sparring. Finally, Shuichi tracked down Yahiko.

“Yahiko, do you know where Yuki is?” asked Shuichi, feeling very frustrated.

“Yeah. He went to town to pick up something. Won’t be back until tonight, for the party.”

“Thanks.” Shuichi watched Yahiko walk away. “Stupid Yuki,” murmured Shuichi when Yahiko was out of hearing distance.

***

“Happy Birthday!”

“Thanks everyone!” exclaimed Shuichi. If he was in a bad mood before, it could not last here, not with everyone’s happy face and the table that was almost sagging with the weight of all the food. “Thank you very much!”

“Drink for the birthday boy!” shouted Sano, happily. He produced a jar of sake, which he placed ceremoniously on the table.

Shuichi complied, taking in one shot, along with everyone else, minus a grumbling Yahiko. Both Shuichi and Yuki stopped after the first shot, while the rest continued to enjoy the drink.

“So, Shuichi,” asked Kaoru, “what are you going to do now?”

“Well,” replied Shuichi, slowly, “I’m going to return to my family home and run the family business. The business has been halted for a week because of the incident, but in about four weeks, it needs to be opened again.”

“Does that mean you are going to leave us?” asked Yahiko, stuffing a mouthful of fish and rice into his mouth.

“I’m afraid so,” said Shuichi. “I’ll be leaving tomorrow.” Shuichi stole a look to the right of him, where Yuki sat, with a stoic expression on his face.

“But that’s too soon!” exclaimed Kaoru, surprised.

“I don’t want to inconvenience you more than I have to,” explained Shuichi.

“Don’t be silly,” assured Kaoru. “We love having you here.”

“I want to thank you, Kenshin, and Yahiko, for being wonderful hosts. And I want to thank everyone for helping me out.” Shuichi beamed at everyone. “I’ll never forget your kindness.”

“Can I come visit you?” asked Yahiko, trying to take Sano’s fish. The efforts of his chopsticks were halted by Sano’s own skillful chopstick moves.

“Of course! Everyone is invited to my home,” said Shuichi, smiling. He glanced at Yuki, who still had an expressionless face. “I mean everyone.”

“Well, a toast!” said Sano, raising his cup. “May Shuichi live long and prosperous!”

Yuki participated half heartedly, still reeling in from the shock that Shuichi would be leaving tomorrow.

***

Shuichi helped Yuki place the futon and the blankets on the floor. With a little jump, Shuichi dived onto his futon while Yuki opted to lower himself with much more care. Shuichi sat up and reached for Yuki’s hand. Yuki looked up in with a mixture of surprise and question.

“Yuki, there was something I wanted to ask you all this time but I never got a chance to,” started off Shuichi. Taking in a deep breath, Shuichi asked rapidly, “Will you come live with me?”

Yuki blinked, wondering if he heard the fast spoken words correctly. “What?”

“Will you come live with me?” asked Shuichi, much more slowly. He looked hopefully at Yuki, still clutching onto Yuki’s hand.

All Yuki could do was stare at Shuichi. The blonde could not understand why someone so pure and innocent like Shuichi wanted to live with someone so dirty and tainted like himself. Looking at Shuichi’s hopeful face, Yuki knew that an affirmative answer would make Shuichi happy. In fact, the prospect of living with Shuichi sounded surprisingly desirable to Yuki. No longer able to look at Shuichi, Yuki looked away.

“I’m sorry,” Yuki replied, softly. “I don’t think I can.”

Shuichi dropped Yuki’s hand. “Why?” Shuichi asked, in a hurt voice.

“I don’t think I can explain.”

“Try to,” whispered Shuichi, on the brink of tears.

Yuki looked back at Shuichi and felt horrible knowing that he was the cause of the saddened face. “I’m not worthy of you,” he stated simply.

“What do you mean?” asked Shuichi, a tear rolling down his face. “I don’t understand. I thought you cared for me. I care for you.” More tears threaten to spill over.

“Oh, Shuichi.” Yuki reached over and drew Shuichi to his lap. Like a immobile doll, Shuichi followed, unable to move any of his limbs himself.

“I do care for you. But I’m not who you think I am.” Yuki paused and went on when Shuichi still remained mute. “My past haunts me. I need to face my own demons until I can face you.”

Shuichi did not reply, he just stayed in Yuki’s arms.

“I love you,” whispered Yuki. “But I’m no good to you right now as the way I am.”

Shuchi pulled away. Yuki looked down and was surprised to see a smile on Shuichi’s face. “Shuichi?”
“Yuki loves me!” exclaimed Shuichi happily. “It’s okay, Yuki, if you don’t want to live with me now. But you take care of your demons and come back to me, okay?”

Yuki stared in wonderment at the boy. This just proved even further that Yuki was not worthy of Shuichi. And this just proved to Yuki how much he wanted to put his past away just to be with Shuichi. “I promise.”

“I mean it Yuki,” said Shuichi, now serious. He spoke in a wavering voice, “I’m sad that you are not going to be living with me. But, I feel better knowing that you will return. You will, right?”

“I will,” promised Yuki.

“Good,” said Shuichi, sniffling. He leaned in and placed a kiss on Yuki’s lips. “Let’s make the best of our last night together then.”

“Shuichi,” whispered Yuki, He drew the young man in close, wrapping his arms around Shuichi.

The two exchanged soft kisses, Shuichi’s hand roaming through Yuki’s blond hair. Shuichi sucked on Yuki’s lower lip while Yuki slowly and carefully removed Shuichi’s clothing. The clothes fell in a puddle around Shuichi’s lap. Yuki slowly pushed his tongue into Shuichi mouth, tasting Shuichi’s sweet scent. Shuichi moaned and his hands wandered down from playing with Yuki’s hair and to undo the knots fastening Yuki’s top.

Soon, both men were naked, their bare bodies pressed against each other, both feasting on each other’s mouth. Hands roamed lazily over the exposed flesh, lingering on certain spots more than others.

Yuki’s mouth traveled southward, placing a trail of kisses on Shuichi’s neck. His hands felt the scars on Shuichi’s back. His fingertips lingered on these scars, caressing them, ghosting over them.

Shuichi moaned and arched, causing his arousal to rub against Yuki’s stomach. Shuichi’s own hand sought out the scar on Yuki’s shoulder, the scar that was caused by Shuichi’s bullet. Turning his attention to the scar, Shuichi kissed the healing flesh, gently sucking the area around it.

Holding Shuichi carefully in his arms, Yuki lowered himself and Shuichi onto the floor from their sitting position. The two met for another kiss on the lips before Yuki moved southward. After placing careful attention to each of Shuichi’s nipples and the belly button, Yuki placed a soft kiss on the tip Shuichi’s arousal.

“Ungh! Yuki!” gasped Shuichi.

“Shh,” said Yuki, soothingly. He gently licked and sucked on Shuichi’s cock, enough to bring pleasure but slow enough to prohibit an orgasm.

“Yuki,” gasped Shuichi, “I need more.”

After placing a final kiss on the arousal, Yuki turned Shuichi over so that he was on his hands and knees. Using his hands, Yuki spread Shuichi’s round globes apart. Then, Yuki proceeded to slowly bathe Shuichi’s entrance using his tongue.

Shuichi gasped and shuddered to the feel of Yuki’s tongue licking and probing his entrance. Shuichi’s hips moved on their own, thrusting to meet Yuki’s talented tongue. Tiny noises of pleasure and plea escaped from Shuichi’s mouth as Yuki’s tongue was joined by his fingers in preparing Shuichi. When Yuki pulled away, Shuichi was left gasping, his arousal twitching from the sensory overload.

Yuki sat back on his heels. He reached over and grabbed Shuichi’s hips. Slowly, Yuki arranged Shuichi’s entrance right above his arousal. Then carefully, Yuki lowered Shuichi, trying to still his own hips from plunging upward into the tight hole.

Shuichi moaned wantonly, as he felt himself being impaled by Yuki’s arousal. Once he had taken all of Yuki in, neither men moved, both just relishing the sensation. Shuichi placed his knees just outside of Yuki’s and leaned backwards, loving the feel of Yuki’s well muscled chest on his back. Resting his head on Yuki’s shoulder, Shuichi arched up and lowered himself on Yuki’s cock, again and again.

Grabbing onto Shuichi’s hips, Yuki help Shuichi establish a faster rhythm. Incoherent words escaped from both, their volume rising as they reached closer to their peak. Shuichi turned his face into Yuki’s neck, bathing the neck with his tears. One of Yuki’s hand abandoned its place from Shuichi’s hip to settle on Shuichi’s cock, stroking the organ, faster and faster, to meet the increasing pace of Shuichi and Yuki’s hips. Soon, Shuichi came, with a shudder, closely followed by Yuki.

Yuki gently lifted Shuichi and turned the young man around. With a sad smile, Yuki brushed away the tears streaming down Shuichi’s face. Then, Yuki was surprised to realize that he had also been crying, for Shuichi wiped Yuki’s tears away with trembling hands.

The two laid down, still in each other’s embrace. Shuichi fell asleep, sobbing quietly, into Yuki’s chest. Yuki’s own tears seem to water Shuichi’s hair, as the drops of liquid clung to the pink strands.

The next morning, when Shuichi woke up, he found himself all alone. He allowed himself one last cry before getting up to get ready to move back home.