Soujirou Seta pulled his cloak closer around himself as the wind howled around him. The wind grabbed at his hood like a cruel hand, and whipped it off. It brutally slapped his skin with wintry cold, and the swirling snow froze any part of his face that was left even semi-warm.
He shivered as he pulled his arm out to struggle with the hood, and cursed when the wind fouled his every effort.
He had come to Tokyo only a day before, not exactly knowing the reason why. Or maybe he did know the reason. He was in Tokyo.
It hadn't been all that long since he left Shishio for good. No good-bye, just a clean break. He couldn't fight like that anymore... not after what Kenshin had done to him....
It was like the child in him had been sleeping, waiting to emerge. And when that time came, he had rubbed his eyes blearily, yawned, stretched, and then greeted the world with something akin to awe.
He hadn't gone back to the fight with Shishio after that. He had left that clearing where Kenshin had taken him and not looked back. He wandered around the Kyoto area, down to Osaka, and from there took a ship to Tokyo.
And just like a child, he enjoyed all of it, from sleeping in the great outdoors, to all the people and places he saw. The sail to Tokyo had been exciting, and he had annoyed the crew members with all his questions and by being underfoot all the time.
He still carried his sword, however. He felt naked without it, it had been so long since he had been given one. But he wrapped it, and carried it like it might be something other than it was.
All the while, he had traveled, he moved toward Tokyo like one with an obsession.
And now that he had reached the great city, he was beginning to realize it himself.
He walked down a gravel street, only pausing to fight his cloak again. He had no idea where to look for Himura Kenshin, but he'd comb the entire city. He had to talk with him. He had to find out what Kenshin had done to him.
Kenshin ran to the main house at the speed of Battousai. He thoroughly wished Kaoru-dono had an indoor privy.
He slid open the door, and closed it with a bang.
"Brrrrrr! Kenshin, what are you trying to do? Freeze us out?" Yahiko asked from his place next to the fire.
"I just went to the privy," Kenshin said, confused. Why would Yahiko think he wanted to freeze-
"Yahiko, leave Kenshin alone. You go out as well. Why are _you_ trying to eat us out of house and home?" Kaoru snapped huffily.
Yahiko looked at the piece of potato he had been roasting. "That's not FAIR! I have to eat!!!"
"Well, Kenshin has to-"
"It's really cold out there," Kenshin interjected. "I can't believe it's snowing out. It's not even the season yet. Everyone will be out trying to get crops in."
"Yes, it is unusual," Kaoru's attention went to him. Kenshin sighed internally.
He looked toward the door wistfully, actually wishing he were elsewhere.
Kaoru and Yahiko started bickering again, and Kenshin's desire to be elsewhere increased.
The knock on the door startled all three into silence.
"Who could it be? Sanosuke and Megumi wouldn't even knock," Kaoru muttered.
"Same with Saitou," Kenshin added, going over to the door.
As he saw the person who had disrupted the evening, Kenshin almost wished for the interruption to never have occurred.
"Battousai-san!" A very cold looking Seta Soujirou stood on the step.
"S-Soujirou!" Kenshin's eyes went wide in shock. Oro....
"May I please?" The pretty assassin asked, indicating the inside. Kenshin, stunned, stepped aside. Soujirou walked past him, pulling the hood down.
"YOU!" Yahiko cried, getting half to his feet.
"Ah!" Soujirou sat next to the fire, ignoring Yahiko entirely. "I don't know what I'd have done if you hadn't let me in. Maybe freeze. It's colder than Kyoto has ever gotten!"
"This is unusual," Kenshin said slowly, watching the supple boy pull off the cloak, and then warm him hands. A warmth, having nothing to do with the room, flooded his body. The last time he had been with Soujirou, he had...
"What are you doing here?" Kenshin asked softly.
"Passing through, passing through. I'm not here to hurt anyone, Kenshin," Soujirou smiled over at him.
Kenshin was surprised at the look in Seta's eyes. There was _ something_ there that hadn't been before. Warmth, feeling, humour... Like he was now alive. The last Soujirou he had seen was cold, calculating and cruel. He had had no mind to care with, just the mind of a reptile. These were the eyes of a human being. Albeit, a very cheerful human.
Soujirou looked him in the eye for a moment longer, his smile sweet.
Kenshin's body started to react more forcefully to Soujirou's presence. He shivered slightly, a tingly sensation moving through his body, down his spine to centre on his groin.
"I just got into Tokyo this morning to find the weather miserable. It's freezing out there!!"
"What happened to you?"
"Hmmm? Oh, after our last... duel? After I got up from the forest floor, I just walked. Turned rurouni, perhaps? I went to Osaka and wandered there for a bit. Took a ship here. I just didn't want to fight anymore. All the reasons I had fought for were gone. I had to get hold of myself," he said softly, putting his hands into his lap, as he looked at the redhead, his expression serious. "I had to find out who I was and what I wanted. The surprising thing was, I wasn't messed up. I knew I could take my time, and I didn't feel hurried. I think I've finally figured it out, though. I was never meant to be a killer... I'm not going to hurt people anymore. But I still have my sword. I may even have to use it again, someday. But not right now. And not to kill again. I think these Meiji people have the right idea. They're just going about it the wrong way. There's no reason to hurt people to get the job done."
"Well," Kenshin sighed. "As long as you promise not to hurt anyone, I can't see why you can't stay overnight-Kaoru?"
"Uh... if you say its OK, Kenshin, I'll trust you. But he stays in your room," Kaoru said firmly.
"No problem here. Kenshin?" Soujirou asked lightly.
"I can live with that," Kenshin nodded, the thrill flooding his body again.

"Thank you, Kenshin," Soujirou said as Kenshin closed the door to his bedroom. "I might have froze if you hadn't let me stay here."
"Thank Kaoru," Kenshin murmured, trying not to look at Soujirou.
"You suggested it, though," Soujirou said, as Kenshin unrolled a futon for Soujirou to use. He untied the sash to his kimono, pulling it off softly. He put it over the blanket of the futon, and sat down. He looked up at Kenshin, bare-chested, eyes glimmering in the scant light. "I appreciate this more than you could know."
"It's all right," Kenshin whispered, sitting on his own futon. He glanced over at Soujirou, and then wished he hadn't. The samurai was beautiful in the flickering candlelight. His eyes sparkled, the flames making the deep blue look black. His hair cupped his face softly, the look on his pretty face dreamy and inviting. His skin looked so soft, so warm so... "I've figured out my reasoning for coming this way. I know the reason I told myself was because I wanted to go on a ship for the pleasure of sailing, but there were other ships going to other places. I wanted to come to Tokyo," Soujirou stretched his legs out before him, wiggling his toes, while leaning back on his hands. He tipped his head back slightly, and looked up into a corner. "I wanted to see you."
"Me?"
"Yes. I decided I needed you as the final piece of the puzzle. I need to know what it was that you did to me."
"I used your body. I raped you."
"I know that much. But why did it... why did it open a part of me that I thought lost? I thought that by seeing you, the man who did this to me, I would figure it out."
"Have you?"
"No. I don't know if I ever will. Maybe it's too profound a subject to ever figure out. So I'll live without the answer forever, but I'll never let myself go into that state of utter... blackness- again."
"I suppose I should be glad that that act of violence helped you. Do you dwell on it?"
"Yes, but not in a bad way. I remember what you did in only how it made me feel. Not emotionally, but physically," Soujirou looked over at Kenshin, his eyes veiled with darkness. "I want you to do that again."
"Oro?"
Soujirou got onto his hands and knees, and crawled over onto Kenshin's futon. "I want you to make love to me, Kenshin."
"Soujirou, you... you..." Kenshin pulled himself to his knees.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that, but I felt I had to," Soujirou murmured, kneeling in front of the redhead. He let his bare chest touch Kenshin's, feeling the warmth of him against his own chest.
"You have no idea what you're saying," Kenshin said, his breath increasing.
"Hm. I think I do," Soujirou murmured, sliding a hand down Kenshin's arm. He met Kenshin's purple eyes with his own, and then slowly, deliberately leaned down. He lightly touched his lips to the rurouni's, feeling the shiver go through the other man.
He slid his other hand over Kenshin's other arm, and caressed the soft skin. He breathed in Kenshin's scent, then pressed his body close to Kenshin's, deepening the kiss.
Kenshin's arms slid around him, as his eyes closed. He opened his mouth slightly, giving Soujirou all the invitation he needed. He slipped his tongue into Kenshin's mouth, tasting his lips, then touching the tip to Kenshin's. Kenshin moaned, his arms tightening around Soujirou.
He began to kiss Soujirou almost forcefully, sucking on the taller boy's lower lip, tasting the salt on his skin. His lips moved over Soujirou's jaw-line, kissing, licking, sucking. His hands slid over Soujirou's hips, and over his soft bottom. His hands squeezed gently, and Soujirou purred deep in his throat.
Kenshin and Soujirou tumbled down onto the futon, and Kenshin straddled him. Leaning over him, his hair brushed over Soujirou's neck, barring his vision. Kenshin's hands slid over his stomach, stroking the soft skin, and hard muscle. A ripple of heady desire crashed over Kenshin, almost drowning him. He took a nipple into his mouth, rolling the nub with his tongue, nipping it gently.
Soujirou felt something in his tense up, and his chest came alive with the sensation of utter feeling. His loins began to do more than the gentle ache he had in them from the moment he saw Kenshin. His sex hardened quickly and began to throb in exquisite pain. Kenshin's hands stroked his stomach and hips, sliding up his sides while his mouth made magic on his chest. He switched sides, and Soujirou's back arched, with a barely suppressed moan.
He slid his hands over Kenshin's hips, slipping fingers just under his waistline. As Kenshin licked his nipple, Soujirou's hold tightened slightly, and his hips jerked up with need.
"Hold your horses," Kenshin softly whispered. "I'll do what I want to do when I do it. You asked me to do this, I do it my way."
"All right," Soujirou whispered breathlessly. He moaned as Kenshin's roaming fingers touched a sensitive spot.
Kenshin slowly slid Soujirou's pants down, his fingertips lingering over his thighs. He slipped his own pants down quickly, tossing them over his shoulder. Soujirou's skin felt so hot, tasted so good...
He began to kiss over his stomach, nuzzling his navel. His hands slipped under Soujirou, rubbing small circles on the small of his slightly arched back. He pulled Soujirou's stomach closer to him, burying his face in the musky male scent of his hot skin.
Soujirou moaned softly, a hand grabbing the blanket, the other hand sliding into the silken mass of Kenshin's hair. Kenshin's lips quested down over a hip, and over a thigh. Soujirou's legs spread wider so Kenshin could get at the sensitive skin of his inner thigh better. He choked back a cry as Kenshin sucked on his flesh.
His back arched and his eyes opened in shock as he felt Kenshin's lips slide over his sex.
Kenshin slid his tongue over the other boy's hardened member, and cupped his balls with his hand. Kneading his balls gently, he wrapped his lips over the head of Soujirou's staff, and suckled.
Soujirou gasped, and fell back onto the futon, his other hand burying itself into Kenshin's hair. His legs spread wider, and he arched his hips to give Kenshin better access.
Kenshin slowly covered the member with his mouth, sliding it into his mouth as far as he could go. He resisted the urge to gag, knowing he could do this, he had done it before in the past...
Soujirou felt the hot, wet cavern of Kenshin's mouth descend over him. Kenshin sucked on his, his tongue sliding around over him. He began to slide up and down over him, sliding it out almost to the tip, and then plunging down to the root.
Soujirou gulped as his hips began to move to the rhythm Kenshin set. His breathing quickened until he was panting, his eyes squeezed shut. The tension that had building through his body suddenly snapped, as he came.
Kenshin gagged slightly as the liquid coursed hot down his throat. He drew his mouth off of Soujirou's sex slowly, bringing a gasp of pleasure from him.
Kenshin kissed his stomach softly, rubbing his cheek against the satiny skin. Soujirou lightly stroked Kenshin's hair, his breathing beginning to slow.
"Was that worth the wait?" Kenshin asked.
"Mmm. It was," Soujirou sighed. "That was heavenly."
"Glad you enjoyed. Don't relax yet. We're not done."
"I hope not," Soujirou smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. The gaze he gave Kenshin was warm and happy.
Kenshin stretched out onto Soujirou, feeling as much of his body at once as possible. His lips covered Soujirou's, and Soujirou could taste himself on Kenshin. The fire in his belly began to burn hotter, and he could feel Kenshin's sex rock hard against his hip.
"Take me, Kenshin. Take me, use me, want me, pretend you need me. Pretend you love me tonight," Soujirou whispered. "Have mercy on my heart. I love you, I need you."
Kenshin looked down at Soujirou's face. The beautiful blue eyes were closed, and tears slid down over his cheeks.
"Even if you throw me out tomorrow morning, if you push me out of your life, give me this one night to believe that I am yours and you love me as much as I love you. May the heavens help me."
Kenshin closed his eyes, and leaned into Soujirou, his lips brushing his neck, sliding down his throat. He lightly kissed an ear, lightly nibbling an earlobe. He sat up and wordlessly turned Soujirou onto his stomach. Sliding his hand down his spine, Kenshin watched every reaction that Soujirou showed. He eased himself down onto Soujirou, and put a knee between his legs. He nudged Soujirou's legs apart, kissing the back of his neck.
When Kenshin entered him, Soujirou clutched the blanket at the flare of pain. He gritted his teeth and waited. After about a minute of Kenshin's slow movements, that feeling shivered through him. His whole body began to tingle and the pain merged with a greater feeling of raw pleasure. He moaned softly, as it increased, until he had to bite the blanket so he wouldn't be heard.
Kenshin plunged into the hot depths of Soujirou's body, his face buried in his black hair. He was much gentler on the beautiful boy than he had been the first time. He nuzzled Soujirou's neck, and caressed the skin of his hip. He thrusted as deeply as he could, keeping his motions almost agonizingly slow. The pleasure was starting to build through him, until his movements quickened. Finally, he pushed hard and deep, with Soujirou pushing back to meet him.
With teeth clenched and eyes shut, his body cried for release. When he felt Soujirou shudder beneath him, the muscles tightened around his sex almost painfully, with a hoarse cry, his seed spilled deep into Soujirou's body.
He lay on the futon next to Soujirou, panting softly, his heartbeat loud in his ears. He slid an arm around Soujirou, and pulled his close.
Soujirou snuggled close to him, feeling Kenshin's cheek on his hair. "Thank you, Kenshin. Thank you."

All characters copyright Watsuki Nobuhiro. All story contents copyright 1997 Michiru

By Michiru