Meeting with Ambassadors and Butterflies - CONTINUED Kami and Klaha walked back to the General's suite at Suspension Bridge in silence. In the sitting room, with its view of the High Spire and the landing platform, Klaha stopped at the window and gazed outside. He was a slender almost frail black silhouette against the sea of billowing grey clouds. Kami put his hat down on the small reading table and shrugged out of his uniform jacket. Then he rang for a servant and ordered him to bring them tea. While he waited for the servant's return his gaze rested on the motionless Saint at the window. Once again he grew aware that he knew nothing about Klaha's life previous to the temple. Klaha never talked about it. The only thing Kami knew was that Klaha had been quite young at the time of his revelation. //Just why was he thrown off balance like that during the meeting?// The young general wondered. //Was it something the ambassadors had been saying? Damn it, Isshi's singing makes it hard to remember it all.// He could ask Klaha. But he had learned that prying got him nowhere. He never managed to breach the Saint's delicate smile. With a sigh Kami shook back his long russet hair. No use in brooding about it. There was a soft knock at the door and the young general called the servant in, motioning to him to put the tray down on the low table at the divan. After the servant had backed out again Kami walked over to Klaha. He didn't want the gloomy mood to continue and he had a specific idea as of how to lighten it. He stopped close behind the Saint and put his hands lightly down on Klaha's narrow shoulders. "What's troubling your mind, Klaha?" There didn't show any worry in Kami's voice now. The question sounded almost teasing; distracting. Gently he kneaded Klaha's shoulders and then let his hands slide down the Saint's slim back. "I don't know..." Klaha answered absently. It didn't seem like he tried to avoid Kami's question. Surprised Kami hesitated, his hands resting at Klaha's hips. "You don't know?" He ventured, then added with a small smile, "And you aren't just saying this to put me off?" Kami felt how Klaha relaxed and he saw the corner of his mouth curve up delicately. "Either way the answer would be 'no', wouldn't it?" The Saint said musing. "Smooth as always." The general's arms slid around Klaha and he started opening the buttons of his cloak. "Would you care to join me for tea?" He helped the Saint out of the cloak, draping it over the armchair beside the window. They sat down on the divan and Kami poured them each a cup of tea. With a slight nod Klaha accepted the china and held it elegantly in his pale slender hands. For sometime nothing but the soft sound of sipping filled the room. Steam curled lazily in the air above the smooth, golden liquid, only disturbed by gentle puffs of breath. After Kami had finished his cup he put it back down on the table and watched Klaha drink, waiting until the Saint had emptied his cup as well. Courteously Kami reached for it and took it out off Klaha's hand. Then he put his fingers lightly under the other man's chin and leaned closer. He brushed his lips searching against Klaha's mouth, which was warm and soft from the tea. Slowly the Saint's lips parted to the questing touch and he answered the light kiss. It tasted fragrant with the tea's slightly bitter aroma. Klaha's arms came up and he combed gently through the hair that cascaded down the whole length of the general's back. With a soft sigh, Kami stole a glance at Klaha's face, at the iridescent dark blue eyes that were almost hidden behind the fringe of black lashes as the Saint had half closed his eyes while kissing. Kami trailed a line of feathery kisses along Klaha's jaw and the curve of his neck, enjoying the rich silken texture of the Saint's hair against his cheek. Leaning further in Kami braced one hand on Klaha's thigh, his fingers gently kneading the softly yielding flesh. With a low moan Klaha's breath trembled against his ear, the smooth deep Voice making the young general's stomach tighten with need. He covered the saint's mouth with his own again, deepening the kiss, trying to elicit more of those moans that made him quiver; yearning to drink Klaha's Voice from his lips. Neither of them heard the soft opening and closing of the door or the light footfall approaching them. A figure clad in scarlet stopped behind the divan and gazed down at the two kissing men. Stoically it observed the intimate scene, while rolling a small round object between its sinewy fingers. The intruder's clothes were elaborate, puffed sleeves and baggy trousers with generous application of fringes and ribbons and a big ruff around the neck. A scarlet harlequin with a boyish face beneath the three-pointed cap and with a doll's eyes - eyes that were both beautiful and disconcerting. On high-heeled slippers the young man stalked around the divan and then slid down beside Saint Klaha. The movement finally caught the other two men's attention and they interrupted their kiss. "Kozi-kun..." Klaha sounded surprised, smiling slightly embarrassed at the other saint, with his thick dark hair messed up. He looked rather caught in the act. Kami on the other hand didn't seem distressed at all. He smiled brightly at the Saint in scarlet. "Kozi! Nice you found the time to pay us a visit in person." The General's grey-blue eyes twinkled mischievously. "Though I liked the butterfly. Pity it self-destructed." "Not before you got through the massage, I take it." Kozi asked calmly. "No, it worked perfectly." "How do you manage to create things like that with your Voice?" Klaha wanted to know. Kozi shrugged. "Why should I not manage to create them?" His question sounded utterly reasonable. It made Klaha actually feel stupid he had asked. Though Kozi was the only Saint, who could use his Voice like that. And sometimes it spooked Klaha. But Kami trusted Kozi as much as he trusted Klaha himself. "The arch-priest seems very bothered by the rumors about Saint Sugizo." Kozi turned their attention to the massage he had sent the General. "I guess he fears that the other cities will use the prophecy about the child of a saint to turn against the temple." Kami nodded, growing serious. "The ambassadors mentioned it at the meeting just now. Shinya-san made Isshi confuse them about it though. I doubt they will be able to stop the arch-priest and the temple centering all the power in this city. Not without help from behind the lines." "Hm..." Kozi's attention seemed to rest on the small round object between his fingers; a glass ball, an eye made of colored glass. It seemed to gaze back at the scarlet saint's own wide, beautiful eyes. "You should be very careful general. The arch-priest is aware that you hold a lot of power as the commander of the fleet of airships. And he undoubtedly noticed that you are very close with one specific Saint." Kami's gaze darted over to Klaha and he rubbed a little embarrassed over his neck. "Well, Klaha never behaves out of line, so there should be nothing for the arch-priest to worry about." Kami tried to wave off Kozi's last remark, but there was a slight note of defensiveness to his voice and he changed the subject. "How about this new Saint Kyo. Do you think he'll provide further distraction? Everything that keeps the arch-priest and his Secretary busy could prove useful." "I don't think Kaoru-san intends to give his new Saint any more leash. He'll put him through the training without mercy." Absently Kozi rolled the glass eye between his fingers. Kami sighed. "Damn. Couldn't you stir him a little further into rebellion?" "Now that would be ruthless, general. I think one wrong step could well be the undoing of Saint Kyo." Kozi pointed out nonchalantly. It made Kami give an embarrassed laugh. "Ah well, yes... We'll see how he'll be doing on his own then." A moment of pensive silence hung between the three young men. Klaha finally interrupted it. "Do you think there is some truth to it?" He asked calmly. "To the rumors about Sugizo-sama having fathered a child." Kozi shrugged. "I think he'd be able to find a way to sleep with a woman. But that's just an assumption." "You didn't manage to get Saint Sugizo to talk about it with you?" Kami asked hopefully. "No. That's the only topic concerning himself that he won't say a single word about to anyone. He just laughs it off." "Well, can't blame him." The young general mused. "I bet the arch-priest tried a lot to get him to talk about it. Still, you're keeping an eye on Sugizo-sama, aren't you Kozi?" With a humorless smile Kozi lifted the eyeball of colored glass, turning it on Kami. "Certainly, General. You know I've got my eyes everywhere." It made Kami grin and shake his head in amusement. Klaha on the other hand looked a little doubtful, watching the detached eyeball with unease. Kozi noticed the other Saint's discomfort and turned his attention on Klaha, observing him with his beautiful eyes. Suddenly Kozi made a small quick movement, barely twisting his sinewy hand, and the eyeball of colored glass had vanished. Without ever taking his gaze from Klaha he held up his empty palm for the other Saint to see. "You've got wonderful eyes, Klaha." Kozi said calmly. Spellbound Klaha had watched the scarlet Saint's performance then he shifted nervously under his disconcertingly fixed gaze. "I'm sorry, but when you say that I always find it a little unsettling, Kozi-kun." Klaha gave a slightly quivery smile. "You know that all my eyeballs are of colored glass." Kozi told Klaha in a dry reasonable voice. Klaha lowered his gaze, observing his own hands to avoid looking at the other Saint. "I'm sorry, Kozi." With a stoical expression Kozi shrugged it off and reclined against the backrest of the couch, gazing up at the ceiling. "Everyone needs his little oddities." He granted generously. Kami couldn't help laughing at that. "You know that sounds weird when it's you refer it to Klaha." The young general teased. But part of his attention was on Klaha and he raised an arm putting it around Klaha's shoulder. Gently Kami started kneading it. For some moments Klaha didn't react to the touch, but then he looked up again and offered Kami one of his delicate smiles. The general's gaze hung at Klaha's smile, a smile that made him melt and ache at the same time. //Klaha...// His fingers dug slightly into the Saint's shoulder as if he wanted to stop him from moving away. There was a flicker in Klaha's dark blue eyes, an expression that was hard to read and he reached out for Kami's free hand. He drew it to his mouth and brushed his lips softly over the young general's fingertips. Silently Kozi watched the shy display of intimacy between the two men, not minding that they seemed to have forgotten about his presence for the moment. The glass eye was back in the scarlet Saint's hand and he rolled it absently against his thigh. Kami caressed lightly over Klaha's lips with his fingertips, tracing along the delicate curve at the corner of Klaha's mouth. Then he ran his fingers through the thick silken hair. Suddenly the general's gaze focused on Kozi again and he gave him an apologetic smile, withdrawing his hand from Klaha's hair. "You want some tea, Kozi? It should still be hot." Kami offered. "No, thanks. But I'd like to join you." Kozi asked openly, his eyes resting at Klaha and the General, calm and unreadable. "I don't want to go looking for an overawed or half-scared servant." The request took Kami slightly by surprise. It had been some time since he had slept with Kozi. Ever since he had become more intimate with Klaha Kozi had kept back. Kami supposed that Kozi intended to show Klaha that there had never been more than casual sex between him and Kami. //And I guess he's just being careful. It won't help if the whole temple knows I've got rather close ties with more than one Saint.// Kami hesitated, turning a questing look at Klaha. "Is it all right with you, Klaha?" As Klaha just nodded, Kami felt a little sting. He hadn't really expected Klaha would object to Kozi joining them, but it seemed he had hoped that Klaha would at least show some reluctance. //Well, he's a Saint after all. Not Saint Sugizo, but still he's sleeping with other men at the balls.// Unable to stop himself Kami reached out for Klaha's hair again, letting it slip through his fingers. "Fine then." Suddenly the young general smiled, a roguish sparkle in his grey-blue eyes and he leaned across Klaha to reach for Kozi. "Fine." While he kissed Kozi, Kami felt Klaha's gaze rest at them. He felt his own long hair slide down his shoulders and fall across Klaha's thighs and he heard it whisper softly against the fabric of Klaha's trousers as he moved his head to deepen the kiss from another angle. Kozi's ruff scratched slightly against his throat and he used one hand to push it down. With the other hand he picked the three-pointed cap from the Saint's head, dropping it gently to the floor. Kozi answered his kiss with the uncompromising intensity, he still remembered from the times when he'd shared his bed. Suddenly there was warm breath stirring the hair at Kami's neck. Gently the strands were brushed aside and subtle lips planting a lingering kiss at the nape of his neck followed the breath. With a soft sigh Kami exhaled, offering his neck to the touch that sent stirring sensations all through his body. He felt, more than heard words whispered against his sensitive skin. Klaha's deep Voice sounded close to his ear, but he couldn't make out the words. It was impossible to focus on them while Klaha's low Voice bathed him in hot smooth silk and Kozi's sleek tongue caressed the inside of his mouth. //Perhaps... perhaps it's not a good idea to sleep with two saints at once...// Kami couldn't cling to the fleeting thought... but it occurred to him again as he found himself on his bed sometime later without any clear memory of having moved there. Klaha was in his arms... naked, his feverish body feeling both firm and male and yet incredibly delicate. Kami buried his face in Klaha's hair, inhaling its rich, warm scent while suckling at the saint's neck. He sensed the deep shudder running through Klaha and he drank it in, suckling harder, grazing the tender skin with his teeth. A breathless moan tore from Klaha's throat that tightened Kami's belly with intense, burning need. A hot lean body was pressing against his back, strong sinewy hands brushing the long tangles of damp hair from his shoulders. //Two saints... by the lost sun...// Kozi's fingers dug into his shoulder and Kami's breath caught as he felt Kozi enter his oil sleeked opening. As he was buried completely inside Kami he kept still, only his deep aroused breathing sounding in Kami's ear. A quiver ran through the young general and he tasted his own heartbeat at the back of his throat. But his gaze still hung at Klaha and he clung to the slender man with trembling arms. Klaha reached up cupping Kami's cheek with one hand, lifting his head to brush his soft mouth against the general's. As Kozi started to move inside Kami with slow sensual strokes, Klaha tasted Kami's soft gasps that reverberated against his lips. Kami captured Klaha's bottom lip between his own, suckling gently at it while pressing him closer, their sweat sleeked bodies sliding against each other in yearning motions. Klaha's silken thighs closed around his erection in a singeing embrace that made Kami melt into their soft kiss. His hands flexed at the small of Klaha's back holding him close as Kozi's rhythm carried on in his own thrusts. He felt Klaha's arousal press against his belly, rubbing against it with their joined movements, the friction sleeked with their mingling sweat and pre-cum. Kami's vision fogged, Klaha's pale face, framed by the dark halo of his night black hair, swimming before his eyes. Only Kozi's strong grip at his shoulders kept him anchored as the world was washed away in a wave of ecstasy and he spilled his breath into Klaha's mouth. He felt Kozi's warmth fill him and Klaha's frail frame in his arms was racked by a deep tremble. He kept his embrace around Klaha until the last quivers left the other man and he sank bonelessly against him. --------- A single oil lamp was the sole illumination of the bedroom. It hardly offered enough light to let Kami see Klaha's face clearly, but the saint's countenance was so pale it seemed to glow by itself. Carefully Kami reached out and caressed through the matted hair, brushing a damp strand away from Klaha's cheek. He searched the saint's eyes that were surrounded by deep shadows and he realized that Klaha wouldn't answer his gaze. The iridescent dark-blue eyes were focused on something far beyond Kami. //That far-off look.// It filled him with a nagging ache and his hand clenched into Klaha's thick hair. "Klaha...?" The young general asked softly, wanting to draw the other man's attention. Slowly Klaha blinked and then gazed at Kami, a puzzled expression in his eyes. "Klaha, are you all right?" Kami offered his concern like so many times before. //Please... don't just smile; don't just smile at me.// Something must have shown in his face for Kami saw the beginnings of a smile hover at the corner of Klaha's mouth and then wilt again. For a moment Klaha observed him then he suddenly turned away and sat up, breaking the young general's embrace. Kami's arms slipped from around Klaha, but he caught one of Klaha's arms. His grip tightened around it as he stared at the Saint, wanting to stop him. Wanting to make him stay... Kami felt that his fingers were bruising Klaha and he let go of him. Silently Klaha slipped out of the bed. At the door, he hesitated shortly but then he left the room. Kami's hand clenched into the bed sheet and he gave a frustrated snarl. "He's so far away...why..." The young general whispered harshly. "Even when I'm holding him in my arms... I can't reach behind that smile." Beside him Kozi stretched out on his back, folding his arms behind his head. He shrugged. "Seems you aren't the right one." Kozi answered pragmatically. "It didn't work to make him jealous, either." The merciless analysis made Kami swallow. He knew there was no cruel intention to Kozi's words, but that didn't exactly make it easier. "Well, thank you for trying to help." Kami even managed a lopsided grin. It didn't last though and he draped his arm over his eyes, trying to breathe evenly.. Out of the corner of his eyes Kozi observed the young general, but then he got up too, picking up his scarlet clothes and dressing again. "I'll leave now. It was nice." He thanked the other man in his dry way. Kami just waved vaguely without taking his other arm from his face. "You're welcome any time." The three-pointed cap went back on Kozi's head and the glass eye reappeared between his sinewy fingers. But Kozi didn't leave. His gaze returned to Kami and while he rolled the glass eye between his fingers; it lingered on the young general, who lay on his back framed by his long tangled strands of russet hair. "Perhaps he can't reach that part himself." he suddenly said in a calm, low Voice. Kami froze for a moment working through the Saint's words, then he lowered his arm, blinking confused. He found Kozi's face hovering above his own, the beautiful, disconcerting eyes watching him with an unreadable expression. Before Kami had a chance to say something, the scarlet harlequin bent down and covered his mouth with a slow kiss. The ruff tickled the young general's naked chest, though strangely after Kozi straightened up again the tickling sensation remained. Kami gazed down and found a big violet butterfly sitting on his chest, lazily flapping its fluffy wings. The dainty creature brought a smile to Kami's lips and he looked up at Kozi with a warm sparkle in his grey-blue eyes. Kozi nodded at Kami and then slipped silently out through the door, leaving it slightly ajar. Absently Kami lifted the butterfly on his finger and propped himself up against the pillows while he caressed the one little companion that was left still sharing his bed. The general's hands got stained with violet dust and after some time the butterfly dissolved in a shower of flakes. With a sigh Kami brushed off the violet flakes, his fingertips lingering at the smooth expand of his own chest. He could still sense a ghost of tingly sensations haunting his body as if the Voices of the Saints were echoing inside him. A soft sound caught the young general's attention. Through the gap in the door a low humming drifted in from the antechamber. It flitted over his skin like a dream of butterfly wings. The memory of warmth lingered in the deep melodic Voice. //Klaha?// Kami sat up, listening and then got out of bed. Silently he walked over to the door, straining to catch more of the simple melody. The humming grew stronger as he pushed the door open a bit further and the young general could steal a glance into the dimly lit antechamber. Shrouded in the dark shadow of his thick hair and a blanket Klaha sat huddled up on the windowsill. His pale face and hands looked detached, bodiless in a sea of darkness. And cupped delicately between Klaha's slender fingers there floated a golden glowing light. It pulsed like a living thing deriving its heartbeat from the Saint's soft humming. The light's reflection made Klaha's dark blue eyes shine, illuminating his face in a strange unknown way. //Is that how he looked like before he was brought to the temple? Not a saint, not the perfect gentleman, but a wild, intense boy?// Kami wondered. Klaha seemed deeply lost in thought, captured by the spell of his own humming. With a suppressed sigh Kami leaned his head against the door frame. //'Perhaps he can't reach that part of himself.' You're right Kozi. But it seems like he's trying to... and it also seems like it's not me who can help him to find it.// After listening to the simple, beautiful melody for some time, Kami straightened up again and silently walked back to the bedroom, leaving Klaha to himself. End Part 7 To be continued | Tavernroom | Tales | Hosted by www.Geocities.ws