hangingbyamoment

* * * * *
Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
I'm closer where I started
I'm chasing after you
I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held on to
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you.
* * * * *

Kenshin found Sanosuke kneeling in prayer in the Kamiya temple shrine. A stick of incense burned in a brass tray next to him as he sat, head bowed, in front of the deep gray slats of marble. On them, the names of the past Kamiya family members were delicately carved and at the bottoms, a quiet, beautiful mountaintop scene ran across only stopping in the cracks between the stone. Sano lifted his head as he heard the gentle swishing of Kenshin's kimono and found himself staring into his pale reflection on the marble surface.

"You pray for Kaoru's family?" Kenshin inquired softly, knowing full well this was not the reason for Sano's presence in the temple. Sano blinked; his reflection blinked back in a similar vacant stare.

"Sagara. I pray for him and no one else." His tone was bitter and yet remorseful at the same time. Kenshin dared a step further to place a small hand on Sano's bony shoulder. With that touch, Sano's shoulders drooped and he felt his muscles go limp.

"You are still much tormented by your loss, Sanosuke. Tell me, what is it that plagues you most? He is gone, that is true, and yet it seems as if there is a part of him that will not let go of you," Kenshin said as he crouched beside Sano.

"It still burns, Kenshin," Sano barely whispered as he looked up at the red-haired warrior with misted-over eyes. Kenshin tilted his head in slight confusion, then nodded as Sano pointed to his back. "The symbol. I can feel it scorching into my skin every day... It's all that's left of Sagara, it's all the world thinks of him: 'bad'." Kenshin's hand squeezed a little tighter on Sano's shoulder and the former fighter-for-hire felt a small, strange fire ignite deep in his lower belly. It was not an unfamiliar feeling, but Sanosuke had no idea why in heaven he felt it.

::What...?::

"I will leave you to pray, Sanosuke. Please, will you come find me when you are finished?" Sano nodded, melting under the sweet, innocent smile of his friend. Kenshin rose and left, the swishing of his kimono diminishing as he ventured farther away from the temple. Sano dropped his head and closed his eyes once more; only, this time his prayer was forgotten. Himura Kenshin plagued his thoughts. Sano decided he would not see Kenshin again this evening. It was better to go somewhere far and be alone for a while, maybe a day or two. He just had to think...

* * * * *
Forgetting all I'm lacking
Completely incomplete
I'll take your invitation
You take all of me now
I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held on to
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you
* * * * *

Two days later, Sanosuke found himself still out in the wilderness and still wanting to stay away. He just wasn't ready to face Kenshin yet. In his time alone, Sano had come to terms with the feelings he had been having for his friend. He didn't give a damn if it was wrong or not; all he feared was Kenshin's reaction. Would the petite yet fearsome fighter reject him? If so, would he tell Sano to leave and be on his own again? Was Kenshin in love with Kaoru? Was Kenshin in love with Megumi? This Sano doubted, for although Megumi openly flirted with him (much to Kaoru's dismay), Kenshin seemed romantically oblivious to her.

::But Kaoru...::

...now *that* was a different story. The two were almost always together unless, of course, Kaoru was training Yahiko. But even then Kenshin was always nearby. Come to think of it, Kenshin was rarely more than a few hundred feet from the Kamiya Kasshin dojo master. Sanosuke drove a fist into the grassy ground under him.

"It's not fair," he griped, feeling jealous, and sighed as he drew back his fist and thrust it at a rather large rock. The surface crumbled a good deal under his closed hand and Sano pulled it away, satisfied. Behind him, farther into the woods, a fast-running stream snaked around curves and wound itself in-between age-old trees. Sano supposed he could use a bath; the cold water might be soothing to his aching body and the light scent of man he usually smelled of was becoming slightly overbearing. Shrugging, Sanosuke retreated to the water and slowly pulled off his clothes. The white outfit was dingy in places, dirt on the knees and elbows, grass stains on the seat of the pants. Ah well, he'd just get Kaoru to wash it.

"Kaoru...and Kenshin..." ::Damn,:: Sano seethed, shaking his head of the thoughts. He needed a break from his worrying. So instead of letting his mind dwell on the last remark, Sano quickly unwound the bandages from his stomach, legs and wrists, untied the knot in his bandanna and took a running leap into the churning, icy waters. Every inch of his flesh goose-bumped and he sucked air sharply in through clenched teeth. He felt his lower appendage shrink somewhat as it pulled closer to his body. He winced as he waded in the nearly waist-deep stream. Sanosuke kept moving and in no time he was used to the cold. He dipped cupped hands in the water and began rubbing the tension out of his neck, shoulders, abs and thighs. He couldn't, however, reach his back (to which the burning sensation was still present despite the frigid water) and he cursed. Off to his left, a twig snapped under a sandal and Sano froze, every muscle he had just tried to relax jumping taut once more.

"Forgive me if I scared you, Sanosuke!" Kenshin's voice rang out apologetically. Sano's eyes widened as he turned slowly to look. Kenshin was scratching the back of his head, somewhat embarrassed, and grinning like mad. "We were all worried about you, so Miss Kaoru and Little Yahiko thought maybe I should come looking for you." Sanosuke dropped to his knees in the water, hiding his manhood, as a deep crimson blush flooded his face.

"Well, ah, Kenshin, as you can see I'm just fine so you can just go now..." Sano trailed off mindlessly as he dropped his gaze and heard Kenshin laugh.

"Yes, I see that now. I can tell you everyone will be so relieved when I deliver the news. I couldn't help but notice you bathing; is there a chance you might need assistance in washing your back?"

::What the hell *is* this? It almost sounds like Kenshin is eager to... No! No, Sanosuke, get a hold of yourself! He's just being helpful and... and...::

"As a matter of fact, I do, Kenshin," Sanosuke found himself saying in a low, slightly husky voice. If Kenshin had heard the change in tone, he pretended not to notice. He drew his sword and scabbard from his belt loop and laid it gently on the sloping side of the bank. His small, woman-like hands worked at the knot on his belt and Sanosuke's heart began to pound.

"I do not wish to get my clean clothes wet," Kenshin explained and smiled that sweet, innocent smile he had worn two days ago. "I hope you do not mind, Sanosuke." Sano just shook his head, awestruck: Kenshin had slipped his clothing off his arms and down to his bare waist. Never had Sano seen such defined, painstakingly crafted muscle as this! To think such a heavenly body was hiding just under that kimono of his... Sano licked his lips as a mat of curly red pubic hairs protruded from Kenshin's clothes and he knelt there ogling as Kenshin stood before him fully in the buff. Kenshin untied his flowing hair and took a tentative step in the water, cringing slightly at the temperature.

"Oh, yeh, it's kinda cold. Shoulda warned ya..."

"No, it's just fine," Kenshin smiled again and closed his eyes as he took a dive under in the shallow water. Sano stood abruptly, watching the blurred, naked form of his friend glide under the surface. Kenshin's head broke through the water and he laughed as he splashed Sanosuke good-naturedly. "Here, shall I wash your back now?"

"Sure, okay," Sanosuke replied uneasily. Seeing Kenshin naked had stirred an arousal in him and he was happy to turn away. Unfortunately, as soon as Kenshin's hands began kneading and unknotting his back muscles, Sano's reaction only intensified.

::Shit!!! *Now* what the hell am I gonna do?!::

"You know, this is the first time I've seen you without all those bandages," Kenshin speculated quietly as he ran his hands over Sano's bare skin. "You have quite an amazing build, that you do."

"Thanks," Sano mumbled. The damned touches and compliments really weren't helping his situation and he began to worry when the time would come for Kenshin to see his arousal. And damn the cold water, too, because it wasn't helping either! "Okay, Kenshin, that should be good now. I'm just gonna go get dressed and then we can go home. Kenshin? Kenshin, did you hear--"

"Is that really what you want, Sanosuke?" Sano went rigid as a butterfly kiss dropped onto the base of his neck. More followed as Kenshin pressed his lips down the long trail of Sanosuke's spine. Confused, Sano whirled around and grabbed Kenshin roughly by his upper arm. Kenshin's violet eyes were ablaze with... with...

::...*something* I'm not sure *what*...::

...and Sano burned up in the stare. He let himself loose and leaned down to push his warm mouth against Kenshin's. His hands twined in Kenshin's curly red locks and

::oh god I think I've died and gone to heaven::

the smaller man's fingers played at the base of Sano's back right above his rear. Sano felt Kenshin's growing erection brush against his own and he swallowed a moan. He tugged harder on Kenshin's hair as the redhead rubbed his hips against Sano's. Their tongues flicked over each other's in a frenzied kiss, a longing kiss, a much-awaited kiss.

::And it's finally here.::

"I waited for you, Sanosuke, that other day. I was going to do this then, but you left before I could--" Kenshin's sentence broke off as Sanosuke picked him up around his waist and licked at his hard penis. A gasp escaped the Battousai as the warm, wet inner cheeks of Sanosuke's mouth surrounded his member. Sano gripped him hard and Kenshin hugged him tightly around his upper torso as he partially dangled over Sano's shoulder. The wonderful sensations Sanosuke was creating was enough to drive Kenshin insane and the pants and moans of pleasure became more frequent and closer in-between. He didn't know much longer he could hold out under the onslaught of Sano's tongue, but he did his best to prolong it. His defeat came, however, when Sanosuke shoved his entire length in his mouth, deep-throating Kenshin. With a tiny cry, Kenshin released his orgasm inside Sano's throat and his abs tightened with the action.

"Kenshin," Sano whispered as he slid the trembling swordsman down his body. Much to his surprise, Kenshin attacked him with a lusty kiss, tasting himself on Sano's tongue and liking it. Mid-kiss, he pulled Sano over to the side of the bank and commanded him to sit. Sano complied, his steel erection begging him to relieve it of its throbbing urge. Kenshin sat on Sano's lap slowly, the tip of Sano's penis entering his rear and penetrating the virgin flesh. Sano's jaw dropped open at the feeling

::so tight, all around me, so warm, it just holds it there, oh god::

and Kenshin grunted as he shoved down hard until he was sitting directly on Sanosuke's lap. Sano closed his eyes, teeth gritted and hands fisting madly in the grass. Kenshin began a slow rhythm that quickened pace gradually until Sano was gripping him at the hips, aiding him in slamming down on him. Sweat beaded and streaked down almost every inch of their bodies and Sano gave a primitive yell as he exploded inside Kenshin. The fighters panted and collapsed onto the sweet ground, rolling on their sides to hold each other. Kenshin gently kissed Sanosuke at the base of his neck, feeling his racing heartbeat under his pursed lips.

"What just happened?" Sanosuke muttered, shaking his head and laughing. Kenshin snuggled into his chest and traced the etchings of muscle in Sano's back.

::My back... it...::

Tears welled up in Sanosuke's eyes once more as he hugged his scarred friend closer and he smiled in understanding.

"It stopped burning," Sano stated. He felt Kenshin nod against his frame.

::But wait a minute... if this was all just to get my mind off my pain, then... oh god, Kenshin, no... it meant nothing.::

Sanosuke was about to release Kenshin and disentangle himself from the horror of realization, but Kenshin grabbed him firmly around his wrists and pulled him back down. His purple eyes flared into Sano's chocolate ones.

"What you are thinking is wrong, Sanosuke. While it is true that this took your mind off of Sagara, it is false of you to presume it meant nothing to me. As I have said before, I was going to do this two days ago," Kenshin assured and Sanosuke immediately chided himself for jumping to conclusions. "Besides,"
Kenshin continued, voice happy and light, "Kaoru and the others aren't expecting us back just yet." Sanosuke smiled and engaged himself in another long, passionate kiss with his newfound love.

* * * * *
There's nothing else to lose
There's nothing else to find
There's nothing in the world
That could change my mind
There is nothing else
There is nothing else
There is nothing else...
* * * * *

THE END.