[Fanfic] Red West II. - Chapter forty three
Title: RED WEST II.
Author: Kasumi
Rating: NC-17
Genre: Western, Drama, Romance
Warning: AKame pairing; vulgarisms, violence, angst
Beta-reading:
atago4
Summary: Once upon a time in the west... During the wild period of the United States formation, two young men became close friends and lovers, before they had to go separate ways... After a furious search, Jin managed to find his younger brother Leo, who is now a leader of the feared gang - ´Black Riders´. And after Kazuya helped the remaining Indians of Blackfeet Tribe to move into the reservation, he was able to track them down and so the two met again... But will they overcome the new obstacles and old enemies? And does their affectionate relationship even have any chance in these cruel times?
Thank you: To
seiko22 for always supporting me; To
atago4 for awesome beta-reading; And to Kamenashi Kazuya and Akanishi Jin for being who they are...
AN: Yo! ^^/
It didn´t take me so long this time, did it? Though it was a difficult chapter to write again, in a... certain way... XD
So, I´d like to remind you that this fanfic is rated NC-17... I know that you wouldn´t give a damn, even if you actually were under seventeen, but it´s my responsibility as an author to make this clear.
And also - Nee-chan, this is an attempt to remedy for the last chapter, which you were given as a birthday gift. Please, take it as this chapter is also for you. ^^v
Enjoy, Dears!! Looking forward to comments! If I deserve them, of course... ^^´
I´m really grateful for every opinion or advice and always happy to know my readers.
Your comments are my best reward and kick me off to try harder and keep writing.
Thank you for them, no matter how long or short they will be.
Previously:
Chapter one // Chapter two // Chapter three // Chapter four // Chapter five // Chapter six // Chapter seven // Chapter eight // Chapter nine // Chapter ten // Chapter eleven // Chapter twelve // Chapter thirteen // Chapter fourteen // Chapter fifteen // Chapter sixteen // Chapter seventeen // Chapter eighteen // Chapter nineteen // Chapter twenty // Chapter twenty one // Chapter twenty two // Chapter twenty three // Chapter twenty four // Chapter twenty five // Chapter twenty six // Chapter twenty seven // Chapter twenty eight // Chapter twenty nine // Chapter thirty // Chapter thirty one // Chapter thirty two // Chapter thirty three // Chapter thirty four // Chapter thirty five // Chapter thirty six // Chapter thirty seven // Chapter thirty eight // Chapter thirty nine // Chapter forty // Chapter forty one // Chapter forty two //
Steps to love
Kame set off so promptly, that Jin had barely time to blink and the younger one was already a few paces away. It was admirable that two Indians were quick enough to step into the rushing youngster´s way and prevent him from getting further.
“Let me pass!” Kame snapped harshly, not bothering with the Indian language anymore. “I want to talk to him!”
“With whom?” the frowning Sioux leader asked, obviously confused.
“That Indian who´s not from your tribe!” the agitated Rider gestured towards the still struggling group.
“How you know him?” there was a surprised reaction.
“He´s my blood brother,” Kame reacted without any hesitation.
The tall Sioux stared at him rather incredulously, repaying Kame´s burning glance for a while, before he turned and called something at his warriors. The Indians seemed to be surprised, but they obeyed an order and instead of holding Liwan back, they moved with him in the direction he wanted to go all along.
As they came closer, Jin noticed that the expression of the Indian shaman was pretty much just as bewildered as Kame´s was. But more importantly, both Liwan´s wrists and ankles were shackled with some old rusty chains, leaving the young red man only a little of space for moving around. That didn´t seem well…
The tall Sioux pointed at the bounded Indian: “He our captive.”
Only very unwillingly, Kame tore his eyes off Liwan and focused back on the rebels´ leader: “A captive? Why?” he requested an explanation. “What did he do?”
“Enemy tribe,” a dry reply came.
Kame clenched his hands into fists: “Don´t start with this again!” he commented rather angrily. “It´s foolish to cling onto hostility between your tribes even in these times!”
The Sioux leader obviously didn´t like such an attitude: “You be silent. None your business.”
Regretting that they agreed to leave their weapons behind, Jin looked around the unfriendly expressions of other Indians. Some revolvers would come really handy now… He approached Kame and placed a hand on his shoulder in a warning gesture.
Kame took a deep breath: “It is my business! He´s my best friend and brother!” he was trying hard to control his emotions, but obviously, there had been too much stress on the younger one for one day. “I won´t leave him!”
The Sioux circle around them tightened, as more Indians gathered, attracted by the heated voices and their leader didn´t seem to be open to any friendly discussion. The whole situation could go to hell soon…
Suddenly, Jin was enlightened with an idea: “You said that we can have a wish for bringing Grenet to you!”
“That I did,” the Sioux replied, though not very happily.
“So, we have one now,” Jin announced. “Him,” he nodded towards Liwan.
Kame turned to him with a grateful expression and Jin squeezed his shoulder.
“Demanding now?” the leader´s dissatisfied growl was supposed to intimidate them, but it would take much more of it to be working on the two of them.
“Give that Indian over to us and consider the debt paid,” Jin insisted.
“You gave your word,” Kame joined him. “Does it have any value?”
All the Indians, who gathered around them by that time, were looking quite upset now, and their leader the most of all. But fortunately, the tall Sioux held his promises. Frowning as the devil himself and with some probably very vulgar Indian words coming out of his mouth, but the result was all the same. The Indians released their firm grip, let Liwan go and one of them unlocked his chains, though it took some time thanks to all that rust.
Jin had never seen the young shaman with such a surprised expression as in that moment. Liwan had literally become a breathing statue. It was Kame, who broke the still moment and approached his Indian brother, grabbing both his shoulders. He wanted to say something, but nothing came out of his mouth. Then Liwan stuttered a few words in the Indian language, still too surprised to move. Jin looked around at the Sioux, who were watching them with very hostile expressions.
“I thought that you´re long back in Montana…” Kame spoke first.
“Brother…” Liwan breathed out, as if only after hearing the other´s voice he was willing to admit that Kame was really there. “What are you doing here?”
“I wonder the same about you, Bear,” Jin noted.
“Akanishi,” Liwan acknowledged his presence by nodding his head. “Good to see you in one piece.”
“You too,” Jin smirked.
“What happened, Liwan?” Kame wondered.
“I think it´s better to explain later,” the Indian reacted. “If we can…” he glanced at the Sioux leader.
“Get out!” the Indian snapped and turned away from them, ordering something to the other two warriors, probably to show them out. “Do not come back. Never,” he growled over his shoulder and marched away.
“You don´t have to worry about that,” Jin murmured. “Let´s go before they reconsider…” he took both unmoving Liwan and Kame by their elbows and pulled them after the two grumpy Sioux, so that they could finally leave the rebels´ camp and the corpse of Math Grenet behind…
***
“Bloody hell, guys… What´s up now?” Ryo sighed, after the Sioux left them and it was clear that one of the Indians was about to stay with them.
“Don´t tell me you´re feeling lonely in our company!” Koki joined him, pointing at Liwan, who was standing by the side of a sturdy horse, which Sioux let him take along.
“This is Liwan, my blood brother from the Blackfeet Tribe,” Kame introduced the new member of their little company.
“From Montana?” Ryo raised his eyebrows. “What´s he doing here then?”
“I was captured by Sioux; our tribes are old enemies,” Liwan explained for himself.
“You were a captive?”
“Then how did you manage to get him out of there?”
Both Riders were equally confused.
“We asked them to set him free as a gesture of gratitude for bringing Grenet,” Jin reacted and patted Liwan´s shoulder. “It seems to me you were incredibly lucky, Bear.”
“I think the same,” Liwan reacted with a small smile.
“Well… Welcome in our brotherhood then, red brother!” Koki grinned and shook Liwan´s hand so vigorously, that he almost got the Indian out of balance.
“And… what about Grenet?” Ryo asked seriously then.
“He´s dead,” Jin announced briefly. “And he had no easy departure from this world, I guarantee you that…”
Both other Riders repaid his look for a while, before Koki nodded: “Good,” he said, being just as concise.
*
After the quick discussion, they agreed upon leaving the Baxter Peak that very day. They didn´t want to wait for Sioux rebels to change their mind.
Now a five-member group traveled down the hill and then alongside the small stream, heading south-east, towards the road which would lead them back to Denver. But it was late and they didn´t manage to get far before sundown. Fortunately, Liwan knew about a good place where they could spend the night. Since it was already getting dark, when they got there, it took them a while to realize, that it was a really special spot.
The unusual lake was located between the two ranges of tall mountains, on the huge ledge created by the ages-ago-broken rock. The river had found its way there and after centuries managed to create a spacious green lagoon with amazingly clear water. The bank was wide enough, so they didn´t need to worry about falling down into the open space under the ledge, which was definitely about to show them a beautiful view in the morning.
Finally, they could rest, which was much welcomed mainly by Jin and Kame, who were not yet in their best condition and their wounds still ached a lot, though they didn´t complain about it aloud.
*
Once again, after a long time, when his life seemed to be just a series of unfortunate events, Liwan was immensely grateful for Great Manitou´s goodwill and ashamed that he ever doubted it. On the other hand, it was understandable that he was already desperate after spending long weeks in the captivity of hostile tribe, not being able to get back to his father and small sister in Montana…
During their farewell near the city of white men called Cheyenne, Kame had feared that Liwan might come across troubles with Crows Indians. But those were too scattered through the country, most of them being forced to live in reservations. It was Lakota Sioux, who were more organized into big groups and unfortunately Liwan encountered one of them.
They didn´t kill him, as their tribes were not at war; they made him their captive instead. They made Liwan help with anything necessary and they even wanted to integrate him into their tribe, when they found out about his shamanic roots. It was not so uncommon; sometimes the Indian villages even adopted the kids from another tribe. But their leader had changed his opinion after Liwan tried to escape.
They put him in chains instead of ropes and all Sioux were told to be on high alert since then. It was impossible for Liwan to flee without getting himself killed. And he wanted to get to his small sister and the rest of the Blackfeet Tribe alive. So, he did his best to be patient and waited for an opportunity, even though it was harder with each day…
The Sioux kept moving their village from one place to another, so Liwan assumed they needed to remain hidden. He half-expected some soldiers to come after them, hoping that he could use some distraction to get away, but they never encountered them so deep in the mountains.
In the end, something what he wouldn´t even dreamt of happened. His dear blood brother appeared, along with his cheeky boyfriend, and negotiated his freedom. Liwan believed it could not be a coincidence; it was Manitou´s will.
The young shaman told the Riders his story and then he heard out what was going on with Kame and consequently with Akanishi in the meantime. Neither of them talked for long and Liwan realized that they provided him with a very short version of their adventures. But even that small piece surprised, shocked and terrified him. Mainly, because of how his blood brother looked like.
It was a shock for Liwan to see Kazuya so… changed. The younger one was full of energy and hopes when they parted back then, but now he was just a shadow sinking in dark silence. There was hidden much more behind the words they told him, he was sure of it. Anyway, he was glad that Akanishi was also alright and their new friends seemed to be a little annoying, but good guys; Kame was in a good company. Liwan figured that the main reason for Kame to be so gloomy would be the man who was tortured to death by the stake in the Sioux village…
Back then, Liwan hadn´t recognized Math Grenet at first, under all that screaming and blood, but once he had noticed that Kame and Akanishi were present at the bloody ceremony, he had no doubts about the man´s identity. They encountered the bad spirit again and they won, which was a great result of their long fight. Therefore, he was clueless about why they didn´t seem to be happy about it…
“There´s really no chance of being bored with you two around, seriously,” the blonde Rider concluded their narrations. “You always come up with something new.”
Liwan smiled on that: “I must agree.”
Jin and Kame, sitting on the other side of the fire, with a somewhat careful distance between them, remained silent.
“So… What now?” Ryo brought up. “Time to move on, isn´t it?”
“We should catch up with my brother as soon as possible,” Jin agreed and then turned to their new companion. “We have some other issues to deal with, but I suppose that you want to head home, right?”
“Exactly,” Liwan nodded seriously. “I´ve been held back for too long…”
“I understand. Ryo, can you pull out the map?” Akanishi asked the black-haired one.
When the worn-out map was spread over the flat stone near the fire, all of them gathered above it.
“We can travel together till Longmont,” Jin pointed at the small dark spot north of Denver.
“But then we will have to separate,” Ryo tapped the city far in the north east. “Hereford is easily approachable from the south.”
“That´s right. Bear, you should head to Montana directly from Fort Collins…”
“I´m aware of that,” Liwan nodded at Akanishi´s remark, but he was looking at Kame while saying it. His white brother was suspiciously quiet once again.
“Are we going to set off right in the morning then?” Ryo suggested.
“Sure,” Jin agreed.
“I think you two should rest more,” the young shaman stated seriously, making all Riders look at him. But the Indian´s attention was only at Jin and Kame. “You´re in pain, I can tell. You should rest and let your wounds heal properly.”
“I´m fine to travel, Liwan,” Kame reacted quietly. “You don´t have to worry about that.”
“Me too,” Jin joined him.
“You lie,” Liwan hold onto his disagreement. “Both of you.”
“Hey, hey! No need to argue about something like that, right?” Ryo cut into the not very nice exchange of opinions.
“Let´s sleep on it, what do you say?” Koki supported his buddy quickly. “We can decide tomorrow morning…”
It was a reasonable proposal, and all of them agreed with it. But when the morning came, it had been decided already, and that without Jin or Kame having any word in it. Ryo and Koki obviously thought that Liwan was right and they intended to make those two rest no matter their objections…
“Leaving without us or what?” Jin, who just managed to dig himself up from the blanket, gaped at Ryo and Koki already in the saddles.
“Of course not, what would you do without us,” the blonde one grinned.
“Just going for a little hunt,” Ryo reacted, while checking his rifle.
“Hunt?” Kame sat up at his sleeping spot on the opposite side of the fireplace than Jin´s one was.
“Yes, we need supplies,” Liwan took a word, as he stopped above his blood brother. “All of us, for the journey. This is good surroundings, a lot of wildlife, good hunt. It´s no good around Denver.”
“Then we can also…” Jin started, but he was interrupted right away.
“You two - rest,” Liwan literally ordered them. “You are no good if you are not healed completely.”
“Stop glowering, Jin,” Ryo laughed. “You should be glad.”
“Exactly, you´re going to just lie around, while we will run our asses out in the woods,” Koki didn´t forget to complain.
Liwan squatted to Kame with Ryo´s map in hand: “Here, you see? That´s Defiance, the colony down in the valley. We meet there tomorrow at noon, and then continue the journey,” the shaman announced and straightened up again, without waiting for their reaction.
“I wonder who put you in charge all of the sudden,” Jin growled, as the Indian mounted his new stallion.
“You can thank me later,” Liwan reacted calmly, but not without a mocking undercurrent in his voice. “Defiance is not far, you can set off tomorrow morning,” he added and turned his horse away from them.
“See you!” Ryo did the same, waving at them shortly.
“Take your time, guys,” the blonde Rider winked and followed the other two as well, leaving the two speechless guys behind.
*
Kame watched the Riders and their Indian ´guide´ disappearing between the rocks silently. They didn´t have to leave them behind, it was not like that they couldn´t move or something. But Liwan was just trying to help them; Kame realized that.
The young shaman had probably noticed that something was wrong, apart from their fresh injuries, and wanted to give them some space to sort it out, so he persuaded the other two as well. But still, it took him a while to stop being upset about his red brother concerning about that. Their issues with Jin were just theirs to solve.
Kame sighed, suppressing the urge to lie down again and get lost in sleep. Liwan was not at fault here. The truth was that he didn´t want to stay alone with Jin. He knew that he couldn´t avoid that so necessary talk forever, but he was not ready for it yet…
“Well… I´m gonna gather more wood for the fire then,” Jin said, already getting up, and obviously trying not to burden his right leg much. “We´ll need it, if we follow that precious advice and stay here for another night…”
“That´s right,” Kame agreed quietly. “I´ll feed the horses then and…. I´ll prepare some fresh bandages too, for dressage.”
Jin stared at him for a moment, before he nodded and took off, limping a little.
*
Everything they did took place in awful silence.
Kame kept walking around, trying to occupy himself with various things, but it was impossible to do it for the whole day. Eventually, they had to end up sitting by the fire, with only the sound of falling water and singing of birds surrounding them.
Kame stared into the flames, almost scared to start talking. Since the morning, Jin seemed to be thoughtful as well, but now, he was looking directly at Kame and he knew there was no way out of it anymore…
“We need to talk,” to the younger one´s surprise, Jin was the one who started it, with a serious expression.
“Yes, we do…” Kame breathed out.
“Then I´m listening,” the older one said in a tense tone. “What is eating you up so much?”
Suddenly, Kame couldn´t remember all those things he wanted to say, feeling too anxious under that dark look.
“What? You thought that I don´t see it?” Jin seemed to be quite upset. “You don´t talk, you barely eat and you keep avoiding me as if I had cholera or something…”
Kame gulped down heavily. He should have realized that Jin had already known him too well: “I´m sorry…”
“Don´t be sorry and spit it out already!” the older one snapped, obviously already out of patience.
Kame opened his mouth, praying for his determination not to leave him: “I was thinking… about us.”
Jin frowned and didn´t say anything. Kame avoided those deep eyes, rather focusing on the restless surface of the pure lake. It was even harder than he had thought it would be…
“And… we should end it, Jin,” speaking those words made Kame feel nauseous, but he ignored it, clinging onto the conviction that he came up with the only right decision.
“End?” the older one repeated in a stiff voice. “What the hell do you mean by that?”
“Your brother was right. What we´re doing, it´s… we should get realistic about it,” hardly ever Kame was as lost at words as in that moment. “Before we end up regretting it and blaming each other...”
“Are you breaking up with me?” the question was raised in an absolutely incredulous tone.
“I think it´s for the best for both of us,” Kame reacted with a painfully beating heart.
Jin took a deep breath: “Why?” his voice scratched as a growling tree in the strong wind.
“I´ve just told you…” the younger one finally dared to look up and regretted it immediately. Jin´s eyes made him feel even worse than he already did. “I don´t want to spoil your future, Jin.”
“Really? But you´re doing exactly that right now!” Jin reacted fiercely.
“I cannot give you what you want!” Kame objected unhappily.
“Obviously, you have no idea what I want!” the older one burst out, his fist hitting one of his knees.
Kame was hopelessly trying to get rid of an anxious lump in his throat: “If it´s me what you…”
“Of course, it´s you, damn it!” Jin didn´t even let him finish. “Why would you think anything else?”
“But that´s how you feel now…” Kame tried to persuade him. “You said that you want to have a family once, don´t you? And we can never be that, Jin.”
The older one stared at him in pure disbelief: “Do you really think that with our lifestyle I give a damn about the future? We can be dead tomorrow and you expect me to be planning a peaceful family life?” Jin got really upset now. “I want you and that´s what matters the most!”
Kame avoided that sharp fiery look; he couldn´t bear with it anymore. Jin was right about their circumstances not being exactly in favor for any bright future planning and a part of him was also foolishly happy for those words, but still…
“This is not only about what my brother said, is it?” Jin suddenly asked with a surprising certainty. “There´s something else on your mind.”
“Jin…” Kame sighed. “I just don´t want…”
“What bullshit did that bastard tell you?”
The younger one stiffened after that open question.
“Don´t tell me you actually care about anything Grenet let out of his filthy mouth!” Jin stood up on his feet, staggering a little on his wounded leg, before he found his balance. “It´s not worth a single thought!”
“You don´t know what…” Kame reacted weakly, feeling his hands shaking a little.
“And I don´t even need to! It doesn’t matter what he babbled!” Jin leant down, grabbed Kame´s elbow and pulled him up roughly. “Look at me and tell me, that you take Grenet more seriously than me?” he reproached him angrily.
“Of course, I don´t!” Kame reacted almost horrified. “It´s not like that. I just thought that… It´s too complicated for both of us. I´d hate if you felt that you have no choice. You can have a normal relationship, Jin, you´re not like me…”
Jin´s jaw dropped at that: “No choice?” he repeated almost wheezing, and his fingers around Kame´s arm clenched so hard that it hurt.
Kame stared at the older one with his eyes widened, finally realizing that he was a total idiot, blinded by fear of being hurt again. But it was too late to apologize; he could see that in Jin´s eyes. He wanted to say at least something, but Jin was faster.
“I want to be with you because I love you!”
Kame´s heart stopped beating for a while, before it stumbled in a sweetly painful somersault.
“There´s nothing complicated about that, Kazuya…” Jin added a little breathless, with his eyes shining with emotions, as he let him go and stepped away. “But until you get those stupid ideas out of your head, we have nothing to talk about,” he finished in a little harsh tone again, turned on his heel and left Kame alone.
*
Kame stared into the void in front of him, where his lover´s face had been only seconds ago. He wanted to call after Jin, but he couldn´t find his voice. He sat down hard back on the ground, still with a ticklish feeling in his heart.
Usually, it was Jin who seemed to be blind to what was obvious to Kame. But right now, he felt as the most foolish, sand-blinded coward in the world.
He was so convinced that breaking up would be the right choice for both of them, but in truth, he was just scared. After he had heard the Akanishi brothers´ argument, the idea of Jin leaving him sometimes in the future kept swirling in his mind. And although he tried to deny it even to himself, the mockeries and cruel remarks of Math Grenet just piled up to that and blinded Kame with fear that some of them might have a point. It made him doubt Jin and he didn’t even realize it.
Even though he thought that he was strong to come to that decision and remind Jin of his freedom, the very opposite was true. He couldn´t bear with the idea of losing his lover and it didn´t allow him to notice that Jin really cared about him just as much as he did about the older one. What did he think, telling him those things?
They went through so much together, Jin risked his life for him and here he went ahead and told him that he didn´t want to be with him anymore. Of course, that Jin was angry… and hurt. Kazuya felt as if he had lost his sense, back then, down in the quarry. How could he ever think that Jin would agree with their breakup just because he was afraid?
Kame blinked. His eyes were pinching sharply and his throat was squeezed with suppressed sobs. He frantically wiped his wet cheeks, clinging onto the rest of self-control he had and looked around.
Where could Jin go? He had to find him and… and what? He didn´t know yet, but just by sitting here on his ass, he wouldn´t solve anything…
*
Two pairs of animal eyes were watching the younger Master as he stood up and then left in the track of the older one, somewhere alongside the bank of that strangely bright puddle of water.
Kuro turned his look to Ukushi. The mare nodded her noble head. And then both animals resolved to watch over the temporary camp and their Masters´ property, until the two of them would be back again.
*
Rushing around the beautiful lake in the direction Jin left, Kame stumbled over stones and dry twigs, as he didn´t pay much attention to the ground under his feet.
The sun above his head was focusing its warm beams right at the peaceful lagoon, revealing its crystal-clear water in its full glory and dancing in the little waves, which made the whole surface glitter as if the lake was made of gold coins. Some birds were playing hide and seek in the tree tops above the rock overhang, which were otherwise almost completely still, without any wind which would stir with their green clothes. Kame did not perceive any of those natural beauties; his mind was focused only on finding Jin.
He came to one of the steep rocky walls, which protected the ´hanging´ lake from its sides and almost panicked, when he found out that there was nowhere to go from that spot. But then he noticed a pair of high riding boots casted off under the bush and also a warm dark vest with black trousers left on the wide stone next to it, everything just a foot away from the lake shore.
Taking a deep breath, Kame made one step, after that another and only then he could see behind the bulging rock which was hiding the irregular line of relatively short waterfalls in front of his eyes. The sharp angle of the early afternoon sun blinded him for a few seconds. When he could see again, he finally noticed the waves splashing around thighs in underpants.
Half-naked Jin was standing right under one of the glistering waterfalls, the golden trickles soaking his black hair and making it even darker, before continuing down his exposed neck and scarred back. His head was bent, with the chin almost resting on his chest, and his eyes were closed, as the young gunslinger let the cold flood wash the dirt and dust away.
For a few seconds, Kame just stood there frozen, mesmerized by that dazzling view. Not for the first time he wondered if he had a right to claim somebody so handsome for himself. It was incredible just how much he was influenced by Jin´s presence… Kame shivered, when he realized once again, how stupid he was. He could never ever let Jin go; it was far too late for that.
Before he could lose courage, Kame hastily pulled off his shirt, kicked off his shoes and stepped into the lake. It was cold, much colder than he had expected. In the middle of May, the spring sun was just playing games with them. Despite being bright and hot, it was not able to warm up the chilly waters from the mountains yet.
Kame strained his muscles and made another careful step. It would take some time before he would get used to the temperature, if ever, but that didn´t matter. Some cold water couldn´t stop him from going to Jin. His bare feet slipped on the stones a few times, but step by step he reached the splashing waterfall, the water reaching up to his thighs now.
Jin´s wide back was right in front of his eyes now, all wet from the falling water. The older one´s hands were clenched into fists and only now, Kame could notice his hard and shaking breathing.
He raised his hand, but in the last second, he reconsidered. Holding his breath, he walked through the waterfall to the other side. Thousands of ice needles pinched his bare skin, but surprisingly, his not-yet-healed back didn´t protest as much as he thought against the cold shower. Shaking a little, he stopped right in front of Jin. The older one stiffened, when he noticed his presence and then he straightened up slowly.
The wall of falling water was between them, recreating naked Jin into the half-blurry, half-painfully clear picture, which made Kame´s stomach flutter. The older one didn´t move from his spot; he was just watching him through the goldish curtain. Shaking from cold, Kame made his legs move again to make that last step, which separated him from getting close enough. His face and hair and chest ended up being poured with that freezing coldness again, but he didn´t care, because something warmer than the sun was expecting him right behind it.
Kame didn´t allow himself to be discouraged by the unreadable expression on the face of his lover. Jin eyes were shining in all that light, which flooded them and Kame would be happy to sink in them forever, no matter the consequences. He leant forward and attached his mouth to the firmly closed lips.
With the sparkles of water still falling at them, it was wet and cold and anxious, but Kame gave as much of his apologetic feelings as he could into the short, loving kiss. He felt nervous, when he slowly pulled away and looked to the other one´s eyes again; a little afraid of what he would see in them. And then he almost choked on own breath, when he realized that it was deep dark desire, still chilled with sparkles of anger, what appeared in Jin´s eyes…
When not even the waterfall of damn cold water was able to chill the indignant anger Jin felt, he had almost given in to it. But considering that his fists were no match to the rocks around, he remained still, hoping that the swirl of emotions would slow down eventually.
He didn´t get it. Why Kame always saw the worst in everything? Why did he doubt him after everything they had been through? Why was not clear to him what Jin felt?
Those and many other offended thoughts ran through his head, before Jin realized one small detail. All of those things were clear to him, but Kame couldn´t see into his head and Jin had never said them aloud. Not until now, at least...
He said those words without thinking, in the burst of anger, but it didn’t make them any less real. Jin loved Kazuya with all his heart and he was not willing to let him go so easily now. And if the younger one didn´t get it, then he would have to go back to the camp and explain it to him…
Irregular splashes of water indicating somebody´s presence disrupted Jin´s inner fight over emotions. Without opening his eyes, he knew - Kame came after him. But after that useless, foolish scene the younger one made, Jin would not make it easy for him.
He straightened up slowly, only then realizing that the waterfall did its work well, as that fiery anger finally seemed to be leaving him. Jin blinked the water off his eyes and focused on the slim figure standing behind the falling stream.
When Kazuya made that final step and approached Jin going through the curtain of water, his pained expression almost made Jin change his mind. He had a hard time to suppress an urge to hug the younger one and never let him go. But he remained still, when Kame gave him that anxious and yet sweet kiss.
Their connection was warm despite the omnipresent coldness. It tickled the nerves in Jin´s lips and sent the excited shivers into his whole body. Half-undressed Kazuya, completely wet, with the sun and regret in his eyes, shaking right in front of him, quickly switched Jin´s offended anger into awakening desire.
When the hell was the last time they kissed, actually? Pondering it, Jin remembered a hot session in the hay, but it felt like ages ago. Since that so rare moment, they went through the pile of shit with Grenet, which brought them only more scars and bad memories. It had to be really difficult for Kame, when he tried to cover his worries and doubts, considering the result the younger one came up with. The realization of that bastard still influencing them like that, even after his death, made Jin almost furious again.
Jin pressed his lips together, once again hopeless against his emotions. Kame backed off with a little alarmed expression, but he didn´t allow him to move away even a step.
Kame felt as if the army of ants ran all over his skin, when his boyfriend finally moved and grabbed his arms right under the shoulders.
“Don´t think you can run off now,” Jin announced him hoarsely.
“I don´t even want to,” he said quietly with his throat squeezed.
“Good,” the older one reacted, before capturing the younger one´s lips in the demanding and rough kiss.
It took only a tiny moment, before Kame gave in and let Jin´s tongue explore further, his heart beating in happy fluttering. The older one was obviously still upset, and feeling his anger in the rough treatment of his lips make Kame´s knees kind of weak, but he was hopeless against it.
When Jin pulled back to catch a breath, Kame sucked on the tip of his retreating tongue a little and quickly slipped with both his hands up the older one´s chest and neck to keep him close. Connecting their lips again, he asked for more, feeling somehow safer with their lips busy doing this, instead of talking.
Jin tore away though and grabbed Kame´s waist, pressing the cold palms against his skin. With a devious shine in his eyes, he pushed surprised Kame back. The waterfall soaked them once again eagerly, before they both ended up behind it. And then Kame felt a hard, cold rock on his back, which screamed in protest, making him hiss a little, when Jin pressed him against it. But the older one´s lips on his made him forget the pain immediately.
Kame buried his fingers into the wet hair, when Jin´s hands went lower and caressed his hips, pressing himself against Kame´s crotch. The younger one shifted uncomfortably, feeling the raising pressure of the older one´s body. The chilly feeling was retreating quickly, being replaced by the growing hotness initiated by those demanding touches and kisses.
Feeling a hardening bulge in Jin´s pants, Kame had to give all his strength to tear away from him.
“Out… of the water…” he breathed out heavily.
The black orbs looked at him almost annoyed. Then Jin took Kame´s hand and growling something inaudible, he dragged him behind himself, through the sparkling waterfall and then towards the shore.
Jin had only as much patience as to lead Kame over the stony shore to the first trees and then he locked the younger one in his arms again, attacking those sweet lips. Kazuya´s slim body was still all slippery, but it was gradually getting warmer in older one´s eager embrace.
Kame moaned softly, when Jin slipped under his sticky underpants. He soothed the younger one´s awakening member in a deliberately strong and slow way, teasing also his balls on the way back. Kame gasped for breath between their kisses, quickly getting aroused.
Jin felt his pulse speeding up, with all the blood going into his own pride, and making him impatient. He glanced at Kame´s flushed expression and squeezed him down there once more. The younger one leant towards him, arching his back in longing for more. But Jin pulled his hand out, ignored Kame´s unsatisfied whimpering and then he knelt, suppressing a painful huff over the sharp feeling in his leg. Then he dragged the younger one down with him, to the grass and moss, forcing him to lie on his back.
Kame was breathing heavily, his chest going up and down in quick intervals, as he looked up to Jin who hovered above him, his hands busy with getting rid of the annoying wet cloth. Kazuya raised his arms to do the same for him, but Jin grabbed his wrists and pinched them down, alongside his head.
The older one leant down, so close that they could exchange breaths, but he didn´t touch Kame´s lips yet: “Did you really need to hear it so desperately?” he asked hoarsely.
The younger one´s eyes, full of shivering desire, widened: “Jin… I… I´m sorry…” he breathed out shakily. “I didn´t mean to…”
“Shut up, Kazu,” Jin interrupted him rather harshly and let one of his wrists go. “I´ve already told you not to be sorry,” he reminded him, as he reached for Kame´s member again.
Kame unsuccessfully tried to catch his breath to say something, as the older one teased him more urgently. He was just swirling hopelessly under Jin´s touches, which made the older one feel damn heated as well. Kazuya was only his, and no one else had the right to… to even touch him.
Back in the quarry, Kame told him, that he managed to defend himself from Grenet, but still, that trash definitely did something to him, even if it was only groping. Jin was seeing red imagining that. But he was about to erase all those memories, which could Kame ever had, and which made him feel so inferior, that he wanted to break up with Jin. All of them.
“You´re so stupid, my dear Kazuya,” Jin said, suddenly in a completely different tone, tearing Kame off the raising arousal a little and making him look up to that face, engulfed in sunlight, the dark hair falling around it and those eyes watching him so… lovingly.
Kame couldn´t speak or move, he could just watch, as Jin placed himself between his thighs, both his hands soothing him slowly, as he shifted with him into a more convenient position.
“So stupid…” Jin whispered.
Kame had to bit his lip, when Jin´s erect member suddenly thrust into him, without any previous preparation. It hurt, but at the same time it was too satisfying to feel his lover so close again, to feel him inside himself.
“You are mine,” Jin stated hoarsely, before locking Kame´s lips in the lustful kiss, as he pushed further, very slowly now.
Kame felt as if he was on fire, hot and tingling feeling running all over his skin, and the ground under him was floating, as if they were on the boat. Jin was piercing him through greedily, deeper and deeper, and then he remained completely still. Kame couldn´t breathe, he couldn´t think and he almost choked on the raising desire for more. But Jin hadn´t moved for a long, long time, as if he wanted to punish him for his stupidity, or as if he was waiting for something…
“I am…” Kame whispered heavily against the hot lips, when they let him breathe for a moment. “I´m yours… I love you, Jin…”
The older one took a shaky breath and moved back a little, clenching the hips of his beautiful lover firmly. Then he slowly thrust inside Kame again, making him moan loudly now.
“And I will make you love me even more...” Jin panted and proceeded to another, torturing slow move.
Kame was desperately seeking for some balance in that drifting, which threatened to steal him of his sense. With one hand, he reached down for his cock, not being able to endure the temptation to go even higher, but a warm touch of strong fingers stopped him.
“Jin…” Kame stuttered helplessly. “Please…”
“No… No, Kazuya…” Jin whispered into his ear, already also panting heavily and swung his hips forward again. “I want you to come… just like that. With me inside of you…”
There was no space for doubts, or stupid ideas. All those cruel words, which were stuck in Kame´s mind before and disgusting touches he dreamt of were gone. There was only him and Jin now.
The older one´s hands reached for one of his thighs and raised it higher, before Jin made for another sweet torture. Kame adapted to it, locked his thighs around Jin´s waist, and both arms around his neck. With the next sexy move the older one made, everything dimmed in front of Kame´s eyes, and he forgot how to breathe for a moment.
Damn… What was that? He had never felt something so intense in one single moment…
Jin´s face acquired a satisfied smile: “There… right?” he breathed out and attacked Kame´s hole again, faster this time and with a clear goal.
“Damn it… Jin…” Kame groaned, not controlling himself anymore.
Jin pressed himself even closer, with a little amused smirk playing on his lips: “Yes, Kazuya?”
“Love me…” the younger one somehow managed to get the words out, but not being capable of anything more specific.
Jin cupped his face gently: “Anytime,” he whispered, before plunging inside his most sacred place again, making Kame moan in pleasure so loudly that it startled all the birds playing above them…
- To be continued -
Credit for banner:
witchann2
Author: Kasumi
Rating: NC-17
Genre: Western, Drama, Romance
Warning: AKame pairing; vulgarisms, violence, angst
Beta-reading:
atago4
Summary: Once upon a time in the west... During the wild period of the United States formation, two young men became close friends and lovers, before they had to go separate ways... After a furious search, Jin managed to find his younger brother Leo, who is now a leader of the feared gang - ´Black Riders´. And after Kazuya helped the remaining Indians of Blackfeet Tribe to move into the reservation, he was able to track them down and so the two met again... But will they overcome the new obstacles and old enemies? And does their affectionate relationship even have any chance in these cruel times?
Thank you: To
seiko22 for always supporting me; To
atago4 for awesome beta-reading; And to Kamenashi Kazuya and Akanishi Jin for being who they are...
AN: Yo! ^^/
It didn´t take me so long this time, did it? Though it was a difficult chapter to write again, in a... certain way... XD
So, I´d like to remind you that this fanfic is rated NC-17... I know that you wouldn´t give a damn, even if you actually were under seventeen, but it´s my responsibility as an author to make this clear.
And also - Nee-chan, this is an attempt to remedy for the last chapter, which you were given as a birthday gift. Please, take it as this chapter is also for you. ^^v
Enjoy, Dears!! Looking forward to comments! If I deserve them, of course... ^^´
I´m really grateful for every opinion or advice and always happy to know my readers.
Your comments are my best reward and kick me off to try harder and keep writing.
Thank you for them, no matter how long or short they will be.
Previously:
Chapter one // Chapter two // Chapter three // Chapter four // Chapter five // Chapter six // Chapter seven // Chapter eight // Chapter nine // Chapter ten // Chapter eleven // Chapter twelve // Chapter thirteen // Chapter fourteen // Chapter fifteen // Chapter sixteen // Chapter seventeen // Chapter eighteen // Chapter nineteen // Chapter twenty // Chapter twenty one // Chapter twenty two // Chapter twenty three // Chapter twenty four // Chapter twenty five // Chapter twenty six // Chapter twenty seven // Chapter twenty eight // Chapter twenty nine // Chapter thirty // Chapter thirty one // Chapter thirty two // Chapter thirty three // Chapter thirty four // Chapter thirty five // Chapter thirty six // Chapter thirty seven // Chapter thirty eight // Chapter thirty nine // Chapter forty // Chapter forty one // Chapter forty two //
Steps to love
Kame set off so promptly, that Jin had barely time to blink and the younger one was already a few paces away. It was admirable that two Indians were quick enough to step into the rushing youngster´s way and prevent him from getting further.
“Let me pass!” Kame snapped harshly, not bothering with the Indian language anymore. “I want to talk to him!”
“With whom?” the frowning Sioux leader asked, obviously confused.
“That Indian who´s not from your tribe!” the agitated Rider gestured towards the still struggling group.
“How you know him?” there was a surprised reaction.
“He´s my blood brother,” Kame reacted without any hesitation.
The tall Sioux stared at him rather incredulously, repaying Kame´s burning glance for a while, before he turned and called something at his warriors. The Indians seemed to be surprised, but they obeyed an order and instead of holding Liwan back, they moved with him in the direction he wanted to go all along.
As they came closer, Jin noticed that the expression of the Indian shaman was pretty much just as bewildered as Kame´s was. But more importantly, both Liwan´s wrists and ankles were shackled with some old rusty chains, leaving the young red man only a little of space for moving around. That didn´t seem well…
The tall Sioux pointed at the bounded Indian: “He our captive.”
Only very unwillingly, Kame tore his eyes off Liwan and focused back on the rebels´ leader: “A captive? Why?” he requested an explanation. “What did he do?”
“Enemy tribe,” a dry reply came.
Kame clenched his hands into fists: “Don´t start with this again!” he commented rather angrily. “It´s foolish to cling onto hostility between your tribes even in these times!”
The Sioux leader obviously didn´t like such an attitude: “You be silent. None your business.”
Regretting that they agreed to leave their weapons behind, Jin looked around the unfriendly expressions of other Indians. Some revolvers would come really handy now… He approached Kame and placed a hand on his shoulder in a warning gesture.
Kame took a deep breath: “It is my business! He´s my best friend and brother!” he was trying hard to control his emotions, but obviously, there had been too much stress on the younger one for one day. “I won´t leave him!”
The Sioux circle around them tightened, as more Indians gathered, attracted by the heated voices and their leader didn´t seem to be open to any friendly discussion. The whole situation could go to hell soon…
Suddenly, Jin was enlightened with an idea: “You said that we can have a wish for bringing Grenet to you!”
“That I did,” the Sioux replied, though not very happily.
“So, we have one now,” Jin announced. “Him,” he nodded towards Liwan.
Kame turned to him with a grateful expression and Jin squeezed his shoulder.
“Demanding now?” the leader´s dissatisfied growl was supposed to intimidate them, but it would take much more of it to be working on the two of them.
“Give that Indian over to us and consider the debt paid,” Jin insisted.
“You gave your word,” Kame joined him. “Does it have any value?”
All the Indians, who gathered around them by that time, were looking quite upset now, and their leader the most of all. But fortunately, the tall Sioux held his promises. Frowning as the devil himself and with some probably very vulgar Indian words coming out of his mouth, but the result was all the same. The Indians released their firm grip, let Liwan go and one of them unlocked his chains, though it took some time thanks to all that rust.
Jin had never seen the young shaman with such a surprised expression as in that moment. Liwan had literally become a breathing statue. It was Kame, who broke the still moment and approached his Indian brother, grabbing both his shoulders. He wanted to say something, but nothing came out of his mouth. Then Liwan stuttered a few words in the Indian language, still too surprised to move. Jin looked around at the Sioux, who were watching them with very hostile expressions.
“I thought that you´re long back in Montana…” Kame spoke first.
“Brother…” Liwan breathed out, as if only after hearing the other´s voice he was willing to admit that Kame was really there. “What are you doing here?”
“I wonder the same about you, Bear,” Jin noted.
“Akanishi,” Liwan acknowledged his presence by nodding his head. “Good to see you in one piece.”
“You too,” Jin smirked.
“What happened, Liwan?” Kame wondered.
“I think it´s better to explain later,” the Indian reacted. “If we can…” he glanced at the Sioux leader.
“Get out!” the Indian snapped and turned away from them, ordering something to the other two warriors, probably to show them out. “Do not come back. Never,” he growled over his shoulder and marched away.
“You don´t have to worry about that,” Jin murmured. “Let´s go before they reconsider…” he took both unmoving Liwan and Kame by their elbows and pulled them after the two grumpy Sioux, so that they could finally leave the rebels´ camp and the corpse of Math Grenet behind…
***
“Bloody hell, guys… What´s up now?” Ryo sighed, after the Sioux left them and it was clear that one of the Indians was about to stay with them.
“Don´t tell me you´re feeling lonely in our company!” Koki joined him, pointing at Liwan, who was standing by the side of a sturdy horse, which Sioux let him take along.
“This is Liwan, my blood brother from the Blackfeet Tribe,” Kame introduced the new member of their little company.
“From Montana?” Ryo raised his eyebrows. “What´s he doing here then?”
“I was captured by Sioux; our tribes are old enemies,” Liwan explained for himself.
“You were a captive?”
“Then how did you manage to get him out of there?”
Both Riders were equally confused.
“We asked them to set him free as a gesture of gratitude for bringing Grenet,” Jin reacted and patted Liwan´s shoulder. “It seems to me you were incredibly lucky, Bear.”
“I think the same,” Liwan reacted with a small smile.
“Well… Welcome in our brotherhood then, red brother!” Koki grinned and shook Liwan´s hand so vigorously, that he almost got the Indian out of balance.
“And… what about Grenet?” Ryo asked seriously then.
“He´s dead,” Jin announced briefly. “And he had no easy departure from this world, I guarantee you that…”
Both other Riders repaid his look for a while, before Koki nodded: “Good,” he said, being just as concise.
*
After the quick discussion, they agreed upon leaving the Baxter Peak that very day. They didn´t want to wait for Sioux rebels to change their mind.
Now a five-member group traveled down the hill and then alongside the small stream, heading south-east, towards the road which would lead them back to Denver. But it was late and they didn´t manage to get far before sundown. Fortunately, Liwan knew about a good place where they could spend the night. Since it was already getting dark, when they got there, it took them a while to realize, that it was a really special spot.
The unusual lake was located between the two ranges of tall mountains, on the huge ledge created by the ages-ago-broken rock. The river had found its way there and after centuries managed to create a spacious green lagoon with amazingly clear water. The bank was wide enough, so they didn´t need to worry about falling down into the open space under the ledge, which was definitely about to show them a beautiful view in the morning.
Finally, they could rest, which was much welcomed mainly by Jin and Kame, who were not yet in their best condition and their wounds still ached a lot, though they didn´t complain about it aloud.
*
Once again, after a long time, when his life seemed to be just a series of unfortunate events, Liwan was immensely grateful for Great Manitou´s goodwill and ashamed that he ever doubted it. On the other hand, it was understandable that he was already desperate after spending long weeks in the captivity of hostile tribe, not being able to get back to his father and small sister in Montana…
During their farewell near the city of white men called Cheyenne, Kame had feared that Liwan might come across troubles with Crows Indians. But those were too scattered through the country, most of them being forced to live in reservations. It was Lakota Sioux, who were more organized into big groups and unfortunately Liwan encountered one of them.
They didn´t kill him, as their tribes were not at war; they made him their captive instead. They made Liwan help with anything necessary and they even wanted to integrate him into their tribe, when they found out about his shamanic roots. It was not so uncommon; sometimes the Indian villages even adopted the kids from another tribe. But their leader had changed his opinion after Liwan tried to escape.
They put him in chains instead of ropes and all Sioux were told to be on high alert since then. It was impossible for Liwan to flee without getting himself killed. And he wanted to get to his small sister and the rest of the Blackfeet Tribe alive. So, he did his best to be patient and waited for an opportunity, even though it was harder with each day…
The Sioux kept moving their village from one place to another, so Liwan assumed they needed to remain hidden. He half-expected some soldiers to come after them, hoping that he could use some distraction to get away, but they never encountered them so deep in the mountains.
In the end, something what he wouldn´t even dreamt of happened. His dear blood brother appeared, along with his cheeky boyfriend, and negotiated his freedom. Liwan believed it could not be a coincidence; it was Manitou´s will.
The young shaman told the Riders his story and then he heard out what was going on with Kame and consequently with Akanishi in the meantime. Neither of them talked for long and Liwan realized that they provided him with a very short version of their adventures. But even that small piece surprised, shocked and terrified him. Mainly, because of how his blood brother looked like.
It was a shock for Liwan to see Kazuya so… changed. The younger one was full of energy and hopes when they parted back then, but now he was just a shadow sinking in dark silence. There was hidden much more behind the words they told him, he was sure of it. Anyway, he was glad that Akanishi was also alright and their new friends seemed to be a little annoying, but good guys; Kame was in a good company. Liwan figured that the main reason for Kame to be so gloomy would be the man who was tortured to death by the stake in the Sioux village…
Back then, Liwan hadn´t recognized Math Grenet at first, under all that screaming and blood, but once he had noticed that Kame and Akanishi were present at the bloody ceremony, he had no doubts about the man´s identity. They encountered the bad spirit again and they won, which was a great result of their long fight. Therefore, he was clueless about why they didn´t seem to be happy about it…
“There´s really no chance of being bored with you two around, seriously,” the blonde Rider concluded their narrations. “You always come up with something new.”
Liwan smiled on that: “I must agree.”
Jin and Kame, sitting on the other side of the fire, with a somewhat careful distance between them, remained silent.
“So… What now?” Ryo brought up. “Time to move on, isn´t it?”
“We should catch up with my brother as soon as possible,” Jin agreed and then turned to their new companion. “We have some other issues to deal with, but I suppose that you want to head home, right?”
“Exactly,” Liwan nodded seriously. “I´ve been held back for too long…”
“I understand. Ryo, can you pull out the map?” Akanishi asked the black-haired one.
When the worn-out map was spread over the flat stone near the fire, all of them gathered above it.
“We can travel together till Longmont,” Jin pointed at the small dark spot north of Denver.
“But then we will have to separate,” Ryo tapped the city far in the north east. “Hereford is easily approachable from the south.”
“That´s right. Bear, you should head to Montana directly from Fort Collins…”
“I´m aware of that,” Liwan nodded at Akanishi´s remark, but he was looking at Kame while saying it. His white brother was suspiciously quiet once again.
“Are we going to set off right in the morning then?” Ryo suggested.
“Sure,” Jin agreed.
“I think you two should rest more,” the young shaman stated seriously, making all Riders look at him. But the Indian´s attention was only at Jin and Kame. “You´re in pain, I can tell. You should rest and let your wounds heal properly.”
“I´m fine to travel, Liwan,” Kame reacted quietly. “You don´t have to worry about that.”
“Me too,” Jin joined him.
“You lie,” Liwan hold onto his disagreement. “Both of you.”
“Hey, hey! No need to argue about something like that, right?” Ryo cut into the not very nice exchange of opinions.
“Let´s sleep on it, what do you say?” Koki supported his buddy quickly. “We can decide tomorrow morning…”
It was a reasonable proposal, and all of them agreed with it. But when the morning came, it had been decided already, and that without Jin or Kame having any word in it. Ryo and Koki obviously thought that Liwan was right and they intended to make those two rest no matter their objections…
“Leaving without us or what?” Jin, who just managed to dig himself up from the blanket, gaped at Ryo and Koki already in the saddles.
“Of course not, what would you do without us,” the blonde one grinned.
“Just going for a little hunt,” Ryo reacted, while checking his rifle.
“Hunt?” Kame sat up at his sleeping spot on the opposite side of the fireplace than Jin´s one was.
“Yes, we need supplies,” Liwan took a word, as he stopped above his blood brother. “All of us, for the journey. This is good surroundings, a lot of wildlife, good hunt. It´s no good around Denver.”
“Then we can also…” Jin started, but he was interrupted right away.
“You two - rest,” Liwan literally ordered them. “You are no good if you are not healed completely.”
“Stop glowering, Jin,” Ryo laughed. “You should be glad.”
“Exactly, you´re going to just lie around, while we will run our asses out in the woods,” Koki didn´t forget to complain.
Liwan squatted to Kame with Ryo´s map in hand: “Here, you see? That´s Defiance, the colony down in the valley. We meet there tomorrow at noon, and then continue the journey,” the shaman announced and straightened up again, without waiting for their reaction.
“I wonder who put you in charge all of the sudden,” Jin growled, as the Indian mounted his new stallion.
“You can thank me later,” Liwan reacted calmly, but not without a mocking undercurrent in his voice. “Defiance is not far, you can set off tomorrow morning,” he added and turned his horse away from them.
“See you!” Ryo did the same, waving at them shortly.
“Take your time, guys,” the blonde Rider winked and followed the other two as well, leaving the two speechless guys behind.
*
Kame watched the Riders and their Indian ´guide´ disappearing between the rocks silently. They didn´t have to leave them behind, it was not like that they couldn´t move or something. But Liwan was just trying to help them; Kame realized that.
The young shaman had probably noticed that something was wrong, apart from their fresh injuries, and wanted to give them some space to sort it out, so he persuaded the other two as well. But still, it took him a while to stop being upset about his red brother concerning about that. Their issues with Jin were just theirs to solve.
Kame sighed, suppressing the urge to lie down again and get lost in sleep. Liwan was not at fault here. The truth was that he didn´t want to stay alone with Jin. He knew that he couldn´t avoid that so necessary talk forever, but he was not ready for it yet…
“Well… I´m gonna gather more wood for the fire then,” Jin said, already getting up, and obviously trying not to burden his right leg much. “We´ll need it, if we follow that precious advice and stay here for another night…”
“That´s right,” Kame agreed quietly. “I´ll feed the horses then and…. I´ll prepare some fresh bandages too, for dressage.”
Jin stared at him for a moment, before he nodded and took off, limping a little.
*
Everything they did took place in awful silence.
Kame kept walking around, trying to occupy himself with various things, but it was impossible to do it for the whole day. Eventually, they had to end up sitting by the fire, with only the sound of falling water and singing of birds surrounding them.
Kame stared into the flames, almost scared to start talking. Since the morning, Jin seemed to be thoughtful as well, but now, he was looking directly at Kame and he knew there was no way out of it anymore…
“We need to talk,” to the younger one´s surprise, Jin was the one who started it, with a serious expression.
“Yes, we do…” Kame breathed out.
“Then I´m listening,” the older one said in a tense tone. “What is eating you up so much?”
Suddenly, Kame couldn´t remember all those things he wanted to say, feeling too anxious under that dark look.
“What? You thought that I don´t see it?” Jin seemed to be quite upset. “You don´t talk, you barely eat and you keep avoiding me as if I had cholera or something…”
Kame gulped down heavily. He should have realized that Jin had already known him too well: “I´m sorry…”
“Don´t be sorry and spit it out already!” the older one snapped, obviously already out of patience.
Kame opened his mouth, praying for his determination not to leave him: “I was thinking… about us.”
Jin frowned and didn´t say anything. Kame avoided those deep eyes, rather focusing on the restless surface of the pure lake. It was even harder than he had thought it would be…
“And… we should end it, Jin,” speaking those words made Kame feel nauseous, but he ignored it, clinging onto the conviction that he came up with the only right decision.
“End?” the older one repeated in a stiff voice. “What the hell do you mean by that?”
“Your brother was right. What we´re doing, it´s… we should get realistic about it,” hardly ever Kame was as lost at words as in that moment. “Before we end up regretting it and blaming each other...”
“Are you breaking up with me?” the question was raised in an absolutely incredulous tone.
“I think it´s for the best for both of us,” Kame reacted with a painfully beating heart.
Jin took a deep breath: “Why?” his voice scratched as a growling tree in the strong wind.
“I´ve just told you…” the younger one finally dared to look up and regretted it immediately. Jin´s eyes made him feel even worse than he already did. “I don´t want to spoil your future, Jin.”
“Really? But you´re doing exactly that right now!” Jin reacted fiercely.
“I cannot give you what you want!” Kame objected unhappily.
“Obviously, you have no idea what I want!” the older one burst out, his fist hitting one of his knees.
Kame was hopelessly trying to get rid of an anxious lump in his throat: “If it´s me what you…”
“Of course, it´s you, damn it!” Jin didn´t even let him finish. “Why would you think anything else?”
“But that´s how you feel now…” Kame tried to persuade him. “You said that you want to have a family once, don´t you? And we can never be that, Jin.”
The older one stared at him in pure disbelief: “Do you really think that with our lifestyle I give a damn about the future? We can be dead tomorrow and you expect me to be planning a peaceful family life?” Jin got really upset now. “I want you and that´s what matters the most!”
Kame avoided that sharp fiery look; he couldn´t bear with it anymore. Jin was right about their circumstances not being exactly in favor for any bright future planning and a part of him was also foolishly happy for those words, but still…
“This is not only about what my brother said, is it?” Jin suddenly asked with a surprising certainty. “There´s something else on your mind.”
“Jin…” Kame sighed. “I just don´t want…”
“What bullshit did that bastard tell you?”
The younger one stiffened after that open question.
“Don´t tell me you actually care about anything Grenet let out of his filthy mouth!” Jin stood up on his feet, staggering a little on his wounded leg, before he found his balance. “It´s not worth a single thought!”
“You don´t know what…” Kame reacted weakly, feeling his hands shaking a little.
“And I don´t even need to! It doesn’t matter what he babbled!” Jin leant down, grabbed Kame´s elbow and pulled him up roughly. “Look at me and tell me, that you take Grenet more seriously than me?” he reproached him angrily.
“Of course, I don´t!” Kame reacted almost horrified. “It´s not like that. I just thought that… It´s too complicated for both of us. I´d hate if you felt that you have no choice. You can have a normal relationship, Jin, you´re not like me…”
Jin´s jaw dropped at that: “No choice?” he repeated almost wheezing, and his fingers around Kame´s arm clenched so hard that it hurt.
Kame stared at the older one with his eyes widened, finally realizing that he was a total idiot, blinded by fear of being hurt again. But it was too late to apologize; he could see that in Jin´s eyes. He wanted to say at least something, but Jin was faster.
“I want to be with you because I love you!”
Kame´s heart stopped beating for a while, before it stumbled in a sweetly painful somersault.
“There´s nothing complicated about that, Kazuya…” Jin added a little breathless, with his eyes shining with emotions, as he let him go and stepped away. “But until you get those stupid ideas out of your head, we have nothing to talk about,” he finished in a little harsh tone again, turned on his heel and left Kame alone.
*
Kame stared into the void in front of him, where his lover´s face had been only seconds ago. He wanted to call after Jin, but he couldn´t find his voice. He sat down hard back on the ground, still with a ticklish feeling in his heart.
Usually, it was Jin who seemed to be blind to what was obvious to Kame. But right now, he felt as the most foolish, sand-blinded coward in the world.
He was so convinced that breaking up would be the right choice for both of them, but in truth, he was just scared. After he had heard the Akanishi brothers´ argument, the idea of Jin leaving him sometimes in the future kept swirling in his mind. And although he tried to deny it even to himself, the mockeries and cruel remarks of Math Grenet just piled up to that and blinded Kame with fear that some of them might have a point. It made him doubt Jin and he didn’t even realize it.
Even though he thought that he was strong to come to that decision and remind Jin of his freedom, the very opposite was true. He couldn´t bear with the idea of losing his lover and it didn´t allow him to notice that Jin really cared about him just as much as he did about the older one. What did he think, telling him those things?
They went through so much together, Jin risked his life for him and here he went ahead and told him that he didn´t want to be with him anymore. Of course, that Jin was angry… and hurt. Kazuya felt as if he had lost his sense, back then, down in the quarry. How could he ever think that Jin would agree with their breakup just because he was afraid?
Kame blinked. His eyes were pinching sharply and his throat was squeezed with suppressed sobs. He frantically wiped his wet cheeks, clinging onto the rest of self-control he had and looked around.
Where could Jin go? He had to find him and… and what? He didn´t know yet, but just by sitting here on his ass, he wouldn´t solve anything…
*
Two pairs of animal eyes were watching the younger Master as he stood up and then left in the track of the older one, somewhere alongside the bank of that strangely bright puddle of water.
Kuro turned his look to Ukushi. The mare nodded her noble head. And then both animals resolved to watch over the temporary camp and their Masters´ property, until the two of them would be back again.
*
Rushing around the beautiful lake in the direction Jin left, Kame stumbled over stones and dry twigs, as he didn´t pay much attention to the ground under his feet.
The sun above his head was focusing its warm beams right at the peaceful lagoon, revealing its crystal-clear water in its full glory and dancing in the little waves, which made the whole surface glitter as if the lake was made of gold coins. Some birds were playing hide and seek in the tree tops above the rock overhang, which were otherwise almost completely still, without any wind which would stir with their green clothes. Kame did not perceive any of those natural beauties; his mind was focused only on finding Jin.
He came to one of the steep rocky walls, which protected the ´hanging´ lake from its sides and almost panicked, when he found out that there was nowhere to go from that spot. But then he noticed a pair of high riding boots casted off under the bush and also a warm dark vest with black trousers left on the wide stone next to it, everything just a foot away from the lake shore.
Taking a deep breath, Kame made one step, after that another and only then he could see behind the bulging rock which was hiding the irregular line of relatively short waterfalls in front of his eyes. The sharp angle of the early afternoon sun blinded him for a few seconds. When he could see again, he finally noticed the waves splashing around thighs in underpants.
Half-naked Jin was standing right under one of the glistering waterfalls, the golden trickles soaking his black hair and making it even darker, before continuing down his exposed neck and scarred back. His head was bent, with the chin almost resting on his chest, and his eyes were closed, as the young gunslinger let the cold flood wash the dirt and dust away.
For a few seconds, Kame just stood there frozen, mesmerized by that dazzling view. Not for the first time he wondered if he had a right to claim somebody so handsome for himself. It was incredible just how much he was influenced by Jin´s presence… Kame shivered, when he realized once again, how stupid he was. He could never ever let Jin go; it was far too late for that.
Before he could lose courage, Kame hastily pulled off his shirt, kicked off his shoes and stepped into the lake. It was cold, much colder than he had expected. In the middle of May, the spring sun was just playing games with them. Despite being bright and hot, it was not able to warm up the chilly waters from the mountains yet.
Kame strained his muscles and made another careful step. It would take some time before he would get used to the temperature, if ever, but that didn´t matter. Some cold water couldn´t stop him from going to Jin. His bare feet slipped on the stones a few times, but step by step he reached the splashing waterfall, the water reaching up to his thighs now.
Jin´s wide back was right in front of his eyes now, all wet from the falling water. The older one´s hands were clenched into fists and only now, Kame could notice his hard and shaking breathing.
He raised his hand, but in the last second, he reconsidered. Holding his breath, he walked through the waterfall to the other side. Thousands of ice needles pinched his bare skin, but surprisingly, his not-yet-healed back didn´t protest as much as he thought against the cold shower. Shaking a little, he stopped right in front of Jin. The older one stiffened, when he noticed his presence and then he straightened up slowly.
The wall of falling water was between them, recreating naked Jin into the half-blurry, half-painfully clear picture, which made Kame´s stomach flutter. The older one didn´t move from his spot; he was just watching him through the goldish curtain. Shaking from cold, Kame made his legs move again to make that last step, which separated him from getting close enough. His face and hair and chest ended up being poured with that freezing coldness again, but he didn´t care, because something warmer than the sun was expecting him right behind it.
Kame didn´t allow himself to be discouraged by the unreadable expression on the face of his lover. Jin eyes were shining in all that light, which flooded them and Kame would be happy to sink in them forever, no matter the consequences. He leant forward and attached his mouth to the firmly closed lips.
With the sparkles of water still falling at them, it was wet and cold and anxious, but Kame gave as much of his apologetic feelings as he could into the short, loving kiss. He felt nervous, when he slowly pulled away and looked to the other one´s eyes again; a little afraid of what he would see in them. And then he almost choked on own breath, when he realized that it was deep dark desire, still chilled with sparkles of anger, what appeared in Jin´s eyes…
When not even the waterfall of damn cold water was able to chill the indignant anger Jin felt, he had almost given in to it. But considering that his fists were no match to the rocks around, he remained still, hoping that the swirl of emotions would slow down eventually.
He didn´t get it. Why Kame always saw the worst in everything? Why did he doubt him after everything they had been through? Why was not clear to him what Jin felt?
Those and many other offended thoughts ran through his head, before Jin realized one small detail. All of those things were clear to him, but Kame couldn´t see into his head and Jin had never said them aloud. Not until now, at least...
He said those words without thinking, in the burst of anger, but it didn’t make them any less real. Jin loved Kazuya with all his heart and he was not willing to let him go so easily now. And if the younger one didn´t get it, then he would have to go back to the camp and explain it to him…
Irregular splashes of water indicating somebody´s presence disrupted Jin´s inner fight over emotions. Without opening his eyes, he knew - Kame came after him. But after that useless, foolish scene the younger one made, Jin would not make it easy for him.
He straightened up slowly, only then realizing that the waterfall did its work well, as that fiery anger finally seemed to be leaving him. Jin blinked the water off his eyes and focused on the slim figure standing behind the falling stream.
When Kazuya made that final step and approached Jin going through the curtain of water, his pained expression almost made Jin change his mind. He had a hard time to suppress an urge to hug the younger one and never let him go. But he remained still, when Kame gave him that anxious and yet sweet kiss.
Their connection was warm despite the omnipresent coldness. It tickled the nerves in Jin´s lips and sent the excited shivers into his whole body. Half-undressed Kazuya, completely wet, with the sun and regret in his eyes, shaking right in front of him, quickly switched Jin´s offended anger into awakening desire.
When the hell was the last time they kissed, actually? Pondering it, Jin remembered a hot session in the hay, but it felt like ages ago. Since that so rare moment, they went through the pile of shit with Grenet, which brought them only more scars and bad memories. It had to be really difficult for Kame, when he tried to cover his worries and doubts, considering the result the younger one came up with. The realization of that bastard still influencing them like that, even after his death, made Jin almost furious again.
Jin pressed his lips together, once again hopeless against his emotions. Kame backed off with a little alarmed expression, but he didn´t allow him to move away even a step.
Kame felt as if the army of ants ran all over his skin, when his boyfriend finally moved and grabbed his arms right under the shoulders.
“Don´t think you can run off now,” Jin announced him hoarsely.
“I don´t even want to,” he said quietly with his throat squeezed.
“Good,” the older one reacted, before capturing the younger one´s lips in the demanding and rough kiss.
It took only a tiny moment, before Kame gave in and let Jin´s tongue explore further, his heart beating in happy fluttering. The older one was obviously still upset, and feeling his anger in the rough treatment of his lips make Kame´s knees kind of weak, but he was hopeless against it.
When Jin pulled back to catch a breath, Kame sucked on the tip of his retreating tongue a little and quickly slipped with both his hands up the older one´s chest and neck to keep him close. Connecting their lips again, he asked for more, feeling somehow safer with their lips busy doing this, instead of talking.
Jin tore away though and grabbed Kame´s waist, pressing the cold palms against his skin. With a devious shine in his eyes, he pushed surprised Kame back. The waterfall soaked them once again eagerly, before they both ended up behind it. And then Kame felt a hard, cold rock on his back, which screamed in protest, making him hiss a little, when Jin pressed him against it. But the older one´s lips on his made him forget the pain immediately.
Kame buried his fingers into the wet hair, when Jin´s hands went lower and caressed his hips, pressing himself against Kame´s crotch. The younger one shifted uncomfortably, feeling the raising pressure of the older one´s body. The chilly feeling was retreating quickly, being replaced by the growing hotness initiated by those demanding touches and kisses.
Feeling a hardening bulge in Jin´s pants, Kame had to give all his strength to tear away from him.
“Out… of the water…” he breathed out heavily.
The black orbs looked at him almost annoyed. Then Jin took Kame´s hand and growling something inaudible, he dragged him behind himself, through the sparkling waterfall and then towards the shore.
Jin had only as much patience as to lead Kame over the stony shore to the first trees and then he locked the younger one in his arms again, attacking those sweet lips. Kazuya´s slim body was still all slippery, but it was gradually getting warmer in older one´s eager embrace.
Kame moaned softly, when Jin slipped under his sticky underpants. He soothed the younger one´s awakening member in a deliberately strong and slow way, teasing also his balls on the way back. Kame gasped for breath between their kisses, quickly getting aroused.
Jin felt his pulse speeding up, with all the blood going into his own pride, and making him impatient. He glanced at Kame´s flushed expression and squeezed him down there once more. The younger one leant towards him, arching his back in longing for more. But Jin pulled his hand out, ignored Kame´s unsatisfied whimpering and then he knelt, suppressing a painful huff over the sharp feeling in his leg. Then he dragged the younger one down with him, to the grass and moss, forcing him to lie on his back.
Kame was breathing heavily, his chest going up and down in quick intervals, as he looked up to Jin who hovered above him, his hands busy with getting rid of the annoying wet cloth. Kazuya raised his arms to do the same for him, but Jin grabbed his wrists and pinched them down, alongside his head.
The older one leant down, so close that they could exchange breaths, but he didn´t touch Kame´s lips yet: “Did you really need to hear it so desperately?” he asked hoarsely.
The younger one´s eyes, full of shivering desire, widened: “Jin… I… I´m sorry…” he breathed out shakily. “I didn´t mean to…”
“Shut up, Kazu,” Jin interrupted him rather harshly and let one of his wrists go. “I´ve already told you not to be sorry,” he reminded him, as he reached for Kame´s member again.
Kame unsuccessfully tried to catch his breath to say something, as the older one teased him more urgently. He was just swirling hopelessly under Jin´s touches, which made the older one feel damn heated as well. Kazuya was only his, and no one else had the right to… to even touch him.
Back in the quarry, Kame told him, that he managed to defend himself from Grenet, but still, that trash definitely did something to him, even if it was only groping. Jin was seeing red imagining that. But he was about to erase all those memories, which could Kame ever had, and which made him feel so inferior, that he wanted to break up with Jin. All of them.
“You´re so stupid, my dear Kazuya,” Jin said, suddenly in a completely different tone, tearing Kame off the raising arousal a little and making him look up to that face, engulfed in sunlight, the dark hair falling around it and those eyes watching him so… lovingly.
Kame couldn´t speak or move, he could just watch, as Jin placed himself between his thighs, both his hands soothing him slowly, as he shifted with him into a more convenient position.
“So stupid…” Jin whispered.
Kame had to bit his lip, when Jin´s erect member suddenly thrust into him, without any previous preparation. It hurt, but at the same time it was too satisfying to feel his lover so close again, to feel him inside himself.
“You are mine,” Jin stated hoarsely, before locking Kame´s lips in the lustful kiss, as he pushed further, very slowly now.
Kame felt as if he was on fire, hot and tingling feeling running all over his skin, and the ground under him was floating, as if they were on the boat. Jin was piercing him through greedily, deeper and deeper, and then he remained completely still. Kame couldn´t breathe, he couldn´t think and he almost choked on the raising desire for more. But Jin hadn´t moved for a long, long time, as if he wanted to punish him for his stupidity, or as if he was waiting for something…
“I am…” Kame whispered heavily against the hot lips, when they let him breathe for a moment. “I´m yours… I love you, Jin…”
The older one took a shaky breath and moved back a little, clenching the hips of his beautiful lover firmly. Then he slowly thrust inside Kame again, making him moan loudly now.
“And I will make you love me even more...” Jin panted and proceeded to another, torturing slow move.
Kame was desperately seeking for some balance in that drifting, which threatened to steal him of his sense. With one hand, he reached down for his cock, not being able to endure the temptation to go even higher, but a warm touch of strong fingers stopped him.
“Jin…” Kame stuttered helplessly. “Please…”
“No… No, Kazuya…” Jin whispered into his ear, already also panting heavily and swung his hips forward again. “I want you to come… just like that. With me inside of you…”
There was no space for doubts, or stupid ideas. All those cruel words, which were stuck in Kame´s mind before and disgusting touches he dreamt of were gone. There was only him and Jin now.
The older one´s hands reached for one of his thighs and raised it higher, before Jin made for another sweet torture. Kame adapted to it, locked his thighs around Jin´s waist, and both arms around his neck. With the next sexy move the older one made, everything dimmed in front of Kame´s eyes, and he forgot how to breathe for a moment.
Damn… What was that? He had never felt something so intense in one single moment…
Jin´s face acquired a satisfied smile: “There… right?” he breathed out and attacked Kame´s hole again, faster this time and with a clear goal.
“Damn it… Jin…” Kame groaned, not controlling himself anymore.
Jin pressed himself even closer, with a little amused smirk playing on his lips: “Yes, Kazuya?”
“Love me…” the younger one somehow managed to get the words out, but not being capable of anything more specific.
Jin cupped his face gently: “Anytime,” he whispered, before plunging inside his most sacred place again, making Kame moan in pleasure so loudly that it startled all the birds playing above them…
- To be continued -
Credit for banner:
witchann2