title: Tes yeux bleus

author: kimera
archive: http://www.kimerascall.lima-city.de/
contact: kimerascall@gmx.de

fan fiction
series: Rurouni Kenshin by Nobuhiro Watsuki

PG: 16
category: suspense

written: 02.01.2005

disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki, the song mentioned to Belton Richard.

short note:
- I'm no native, consider yourself to be warned
- There are some expressions in Cajun French but don't you bother
- This is a sequel to "Taming of the wolf"
- The pairing will not be Sano x Saitou ^-^

This is to LSM who hosts the RK yaoi flashforum, thanks!

~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~ ~#~

Tes yeux bleus


	"Bonsoir, loup et corus bounty hunters. You want them, we get them. How can I help you?"
A low, smooth chuckle caressed the young man's left ear, tickling excitingly down his spine.
	"Mais, c'est toi, Sano? Tu vas bien?!"
	He exclaimed excitedly, sitting straight, hazelnut-colored eyes sparkling in merry amusement.
	"Salut, Kama! I just love listening to your sexy Cajun French. Com'on, tell me something else!"
Said young man, Kamatari Honjou according to his driver license, smiled a lascivious pout.
	"Et alors, mon petit corus, t'es ou? Le loup toujours amoureux?"
	"Uhm....sorry, deary, you got me there..."
A charming chuckle erupted at the far end of the line.
Kamatari smirked. He held certain views about the 'beau' of his savior, boss and friend. Certainly, the bad bounty hunter would 
whisper Cajun love-spells in his lupine growl to beautiful Sanosuke Sagara, Partner, boyfriend and the 'corus' of their bounty 
hunter's company.
	"Now, you rampaging rooster, where are you right now? Saitou still in love with you?"
He translated easily.
A very VERY horny snicker referred to question no. 2, stirring another amiable, conspicuous laughter.
	"We're in Chicago. 'Jime's checking us out. We'll be down with ya in about a week. The van needs some fixing."
	"Ain? C'est vrai? You didn't drive, non?"
	"We~ell... you see, it happened to be hot pursuit and they fired with a damn pump-gun and I missed dinner, so I sorta really 
wanted to kick ass..."
	"Vraiment."
Kamatari commented in a dry tone.
	"I can just imagine Saitou's reaction."
	"Ahumm.... he didn't freak out but I'll do laundry till my old age, I guess."
Sanosuke sighed profoundly.
	"Et, pauvre petit bebe! Viens ici et je te donne gros bec, mon ami!"
Kamatari soothed the 'verdict' generously.
	"Ne touche pas a mon beau, Kamatari."
A low perish-foreboding voice growled menacingly.
	"Hey, what did you just say? Com'on, I wanna know!"
Sanosuke's voice mingled with the evil hunter's.
	"Tell me, 'Jime!!"
Twirling some strands, Kamatari listened to the banter up North, smiling.
	"He is to keep his greedy paws off you, and you stop ranting and spending our money on chitchat!"
	"But 'Jime, I was about to ask...."
	"Arrete! And sit down. It's my turn now."
Giggling, the young man reached for his nail polish.
	"T'es trop dur, mon loup. Just cheering up your favorite beast of burden."
He teased playfully.
	"Don't remind me."
The wolf grumbled in rumbling bass.
	"He nearly killed my van. He deserves punishment."
	"Alors, mon loup, after all, it's just a car. I'm sure we will fix everything. Et bien, I've got a few bounties on your way 
back home. Every information available right to your computer... It is still working, ne c'est pas?"
	"Hn. I'll check it out. We stay in touch. Take care, mon ami. A bientot."
	"Je t'embrasse, mon loup. Donne un bec a Sano, s'il te plait."
Still smirking, Kamatari finished his nails polish, inspected his rather frail hands closely.
Tonight, after shutting down the very small bounty hunter's office he would become someone else, le joli papillon, the beautiful 
butterfly, singing with his smooth, sensual, tempting voice down at the old quarter close to the docks, in a skintight shiny 
dress, his chestnut-colored hair skillfully arranged.
He loved his engagement in the old-fashioned bar, the music, the people ready to enjoy themselves, dancing, flirting, a local 
spot, a 'community hall', stock exchange of hot news and spicy gossip.
Spending his youth in a small village some way up the river made Kamatari 'honorable' local, so he got to know everything about 
everyone. Quite useful regarding his job for Hajime Saitou, feared bounty hunter.
And it was good work, convenient for a cripple.
With a tight grin he carefully stretched his left leg. 
His knee was beyond hope, the kneecap smashed to splinters, the skin rough, scarred.
	"Et bien, I'm alive. Can't have everything, ne c'est pas?"
He got up, ready to leave, reaching out for his cane.
How he had loved to dance.

~#~

	"Kama, ma chere, can you take those over to number three?"
Winking goodnaturedly, Kamatari took the beer mugs, sidled his way across the packed room.
	"Bonsoir, here you go, guys!"
He flashed his bright, charming smile while taking orders.
A Madison started, everyone readily engaged in the motion and the young singer was cornered, eavesdropping a conversation.
	"They let him out, Tani, the fucking bastard, just yesterday."
	"Damn politics. He a buddy of the governor, ain? Merde alors. Can't keep them wise guys locked away."
Digging his polished nails into the supporting wall, Kamatari remembered to inhale the thick flavored air again.
	"They must be mistaken. He can't be out like that."
Usually the bureau of the sheriff would have announced news as important as that. 
Tani, filthy, corrupt member of a local party and a puppet-master with a lot of strings in his greedy hands, related to the wise 
guys reigning the neighborhood.
	"But they won't tell ME anything... maybe it IS true...."

~#~

Two years earlier


They were high school Hellcats, juvenile delinquents running wild, terror to the 'good'" people in the cozy suburbs, a bunch of 
losers, drop-outs, outcasts, desperate and reckless.
Well, being young in their hometowns equaled being guilty of one thing or the other. Teenagers left alone, perpetually harassed, 
severely punished for minor crimes.
	"Not wanted." 
The slogan lettered their minds. They were told about life being an education of itself, so Mak, the fearsome intangible leader 
of their small gang, had proclaimed that they would learn their lesson, by heart and with iron.
If those old farts in big cars and mansions who constantly messed up the future could act as uncaring and ruthless about dreams, 
hopes and wishes of their children, bien, he would adopt their 'bright, pure' example! 
Play the archaic game of give and take, and Mak, Makoto Shishio, virile, a young and very angry man, wanted to take over.
If they did not want to listen, he would not waste his time by talking first.
And he was clever, powerful, charismatic. Kids queued to join his gang, his 'party'.
One day, after a stressing night of shouting, fighting and finally being kicked out by the new lover of his mother, Kamatari 
stumbled through the quarter. Dawn came soon but he knew his troublesome night would not end. 
Police cars kept patrolling after curfew and he was too young to be out at this time of the morning.
It did not matter anyway. Wearing a torn dress from a play at high school he would be taken into custody for improper conducting 
in public or loitering.
He trotted on, one step after the other, not minding the direction.  
No money, no proper clothes, no home, sporting several bruises, hungry and tired, he collapsed right on the street. Turning over 
to watch the fading stars, chilly with the morning breeze, he waited for fate to happen.
It came around the corner, a small convoy of huge cars, some very old and mended, some expensive and surely missed by their 
rightful owner a few hours later on.
The car in front stopped, someone got out, bent over to block the sky from Kamatari's view.
	"Et, bebe, on y vas."
There was no need for anything else.
Riding on the backseat, tenderly wrapped in a soft blanket, his bruises attended by Mak's belle Yumi, the world became a much 
better place and things changed rapidly in the following weeks.
Kamatari moved out to the 'party's' house, became close friends with Yumi and the other members of the gang. They did not make a 
fuss about his longing to dress up. He could cheer the guys up, have some girls talk with Yumi, dance and sing, perform.
Of course, there were raids and arrests but since his mother never cared to take him home again, Kamatari stayed with Mak and 
his friends. 
They were fighting the 'good fight', warriors of the 'rules' the old men had installed: the strongest would take it all, run the 
city.
Some of the local gang-members knew every patch of the swamps, the dangerous places around the river banks, the backyards, 
hideouts for every purpose. 'Borrowing a ride', shoplifting, breaking into the offices of politicians and 'old men' became a 
regular task to perform and the 'not-good-to-be-anything'-kids mastered their 'job' skillfully.
It was late that night when they drove home from 'operation even-out-the-odds', two cars sliding furtively through the mist 
rising from the banks, gleaming headlights searching their path through the dark maze of city-streets, dangerously easy to 
discover.
The hunters were waiting, a huge number of police cars, troopers, special forces.
All of a sudden the night was blown away by spotlights, an alley of sharks with snapping hoods.
Mak did not back up. He never did, as Kamatari remembered.
Ramming the gas-pedal to the ground, their fearless leader switched the gear and forced a passage through the barricades, 
heading for the secret pathway through the swamps of the old Bayou, sending out his coarse, bold laughter of superiority.
Kamatari sat on the passenger seat in the second car, another youngster anxiously followed Mak's example, turned off the lights, 
sped up with high velocity, uncaring for the slick streets, the slippery paths.
Shadows and specters of trees, bushes and deserted cabins rushed past the window panes, like a ghost-train reaching out for the 
small convoy.
The more reasonable policemen stopped the hot pursuit when the youth left the highroad for the swamps but some of the eager 
ones, desperately yearning to earn some merits, went on.
And they fired. 
One lucky shot caught the tank of Mak's car before the remaining pursuers of the law lost sight of the two cars in between 
mangroves, tamaracks and lingering mist.
They almost got away.
It was never to be detected if there had been a hole in the soft, moist ground or possibly a rotten trunk blocking the way. 
The leading car was caught, slid, turned over several times and came finally to a stop in a group of sturdy trees. While 
desperately trying to prevent a collision the second car met some debris and lost ground, crashing into the wreck.
Kamatari remembered screaming when they tried to avoid the impact, flying through the misty air, landing very hard.
He regained consciousness a little later, being propelled out of a splintered window. His left side hurt scarcely bearable, 
forcing him to remain fixed to the spot, unable to stir a muscle.
Looking for his friends, his view bore terror. Mak had managed to turn on the headlights, causing a ghastly sight. Yumi had been 
staked to death by broken pieces of steel pinning her beautiful body to the passenger seat. To Kamatari, she looked like a doll, 
fallen asleep in a very unusual position.
The car he had been riding with disappeared slowly in the greedily sucking, slimy swamp, the gurgling sound breaking the 
overwhelming silence. If there had been any survivors, they were lost, Kamatari realized.
Of course he had started screaming for help at the top of his lungs, ignoring the blinding ache tormenting his entire body, 
alas, his state of health proved terrifyingly bad, preventing him to crawl from the sinking wreck, condemning Kamatari to perish 
a slow death in the suffocating mud.
Later on, during the investigation, there was no clue to the identity of the person who tossed the match. Chances were close to 
zero that there could be a burning trail showing the secret passage through the swamps to follow the delinquents.
Nonetheless, the lost gas ignited as the flame drew closer.
Accidentally a bad turn of events, no one to blame, very regrettable.
The bare words could not cover the horrifying distress caused by the approaching flames. The two surviving youngsters watched 
the hissing snake of fire race through the dark, misty area of bushes, trees and sand. The muddy water was no obstacle on its 
course to a blazing hell.
There was no way to get Mak out of the wreck, Kamatari knew while screaming desperately for someone to help. Their strong, 
charismatic leader started to laugh maniacally, still triumphant, still strongest of them all. 
Never defeated, never locked up.
Kamatari watched the last of his friends die in consuming flames, smelled the odor of burnt flesh.
In this night, 'Mak' Makoto Shishio became a legend, 'diable'", the devil to the parents, to the league of 'old men' and to the 
'guards' of moral and integrity, a haunting nightmare to come back in time.
Though Kamatari did not bother with a future, for the ground gave way beneath him. Sobbing, he frantically struggled to survive.

~#~

The hunter, the wolf, came to his rescue.
Saitou did not need to wait for daybreak, he knew his path wherever he roamed on his predatory course of life, the perilous 
amber eyes inflamed sulfur to light his way.
The wolf had no inclination of sharing the profits. Fishing some foolish pranksters out of the Bayou bore a minor task for the 
keen bounty hunter.
When Saitou left the swamp, his sole charge was one trembling, severely wounded teenager resting in his small boat, wearing the 
remnants of a cheerleader's costume, mourning the loss of his friends.
The amber-eyed hunter did not care for police matters as he steered silently through the vast maze of rivers and swamps. 
Everyone had to look after him- or herself, including 'your loyal guaranty of protection and service', so there was no need to 
call the hunt to a close. 
He preferred his 'fellow' partners occupied and in safe distance to the 'real' man-hunters like him.
Besides, he loathed the stupid, unnecessary loss of life.
Saitou took care of his 'bounty' by taking the traumatized teenager to a hospital, engaged a spirited and keen lawyer.
Kamatari never got an answer to the 'why', although he repeatedly asked for the hunter's reasons.
The testimony of the 'pauvre petit' as Kamatari was called affected the public opinion. In court, with the hunter and a gifted 
lawyer by his side, Kamatari gave away his intimate knowledge of the high and mighty.
Mak had been specific about 'gaining information' for several purposes. 
	"In case of emergency, make them pay. Tear off their false surface of honesty and sincerity! Bring them down, take what it 
needs."
Well, they had been busy collecting morsels, odds and ends to prepare a noose. One of the 'honorable' members of a local party, 
Tani, entangled within.
Of course, Saitou did not make friends taking care of a 'notorious, perverted, whoring criminal' but nobody dared to interfere. 
After all, c'etait le loup.
Kamatari realized soon that there was no denying the hunter. 
Saving a life meant taking responsibility. Therefore, he had to fulfill his 'damn duty' to stay alive and get a grip. No 
complaining and moping around but working at the hunter's office, slowly gaining back control, adjusting to his new situation.
His left knee shattered? 
Well, he could manage to walk, he could still sing and talk and dress up.
You simply did not argue with Hajime Saitou about matters. He stated you to be capable to lead your life, so you damn better got 
to work.
They became friends, on a charming, teasing, flirting basis. The dark, haggard looking, black-clad hunter with his fierce snarl, 
piercing amber eyes and the amiable, high-spirited, beautiful singer and transvestite.

~#~

	"Kama, call for you."
The barkeeper eyed Kamatari carefully.
	"You alright?"
	"Bien sure!"
The young singer whispered hoarsely, limping to the phone.
	"You will meet your friends in no time, fag."
	"Ain? Who's talking? Who are you?!"
Kamatari hissed, turning pale but he was hung up. He breathed deeply, eased his flexed muscles.
	"Jermaine, can I make a call at the office?"
He headed to the far end of the bar.
	"Sure, Kama, but I need you over here afterwards. And the band likes to have a break in about ten minutes."
	"D'accord."
Shutting off the boisterous noise, Kamatari dialed with high speed.
	"Com'on, I know it's rather late but answer the call... Saitou...come on...."
	"What's up?"
The dark, sonorous growl appeased Kamatari's anxious fidgeting.
	"Saitou, they let Tani out! I got a call threatening me just a few minutes ago! They're after me! Please, mon ami, I need 
you!"
	"Calm down. Explain everything. And take a seat."
Obeying the order, the singer slumped sighing, describing the recent events.
	"Tu sais, it can't be a coincidence. He wants revenge."
Kamatari voiced his sorrowful pondering.
	"Please, Saitou, I can't fend his thugs off on my own! I need you!"
The young singer begged in serious concern.
	"Ne t'inquietes pas. I will send someone to watch your back. Now, stay with the crowd, ask Jermaine to walk you to your 
car. Get your stuff and move into my house."
Closing his eyes, the singer sighed profoundly.
	"Dis-moi, how long will you take?"
	"Kama, I'll be there in time. Now get up and back to work."
	"Aye aye mon capitaine. Et merci, mon loup. Merci beaucoup."
A stifled snarl tickled Kamatari's ear.
	"You're welcome, ma chere. Salut."

~#~

Inspecting every new costumer closely, Kamatari regained his composure. 
After all, the wolf was right: he was not without means of self-defense. His slim cane and a small dagger were ready to fight 
off attacks in close distance. 
There had been no need to prove his skills in the past. Every sane thug would keep from retaliation, knowing that the famous 
hunter had taken a personal interest in Kamatari. The mere idea extinguished acts of revenge as a part of self-preservation.
But Tani obviously still held the strong belief that he would get away with it.
	"And by killing me, he would make a point. Back to business."
Kamatari hissed under his breath.
	"So I just have to stay alive till the wolf comes back to town."
Merveilleux.

~#~

Kamatari inspected his car while flirting with Jermaine who liked to act as a southern gentleman.
	"You sure, it will take you home?"
The barkeeper inquired, patting the small Datsun.
	"Ain? Certainment!"
Kamatari pouted in an enticing manner, winked mischievously.
	"Don't you dare insulting my lovely car!"
He got in, the cane close to his side, the mobile securely resting on the passenger seat.
	"Alors, bonne nuit, Jermaine."
He bid farewell for the morning.
	"Take care, Kama. See you later, okay?"
	"Bien sure. See you."
Dutifully the engine coughed to life, searching its way through the rising mist sinking in from the banks.
The plan meant heading home, collecting his stuff and then moving to Saitou's secluded place, a fortress to wait for the 
cavalry. The streets were empty but Kamatari refrained from his usual attitude to sing at the top of his lungs.
	"Watch out, pay attention!"
He instructed his worn senses.
	"You can sleep later on."

~#~

Of course, they did not wait. The ambush consisted of the narrow road leading to the small apartment, one car blocking the 
street, the other turning on the headlights to blinding brightness, the engines roaring menacingly.
	"Deja vu!"
The young singer swore, fled back, choosing the swamps. 
After all, he knew some of the old paths. He could escape, seek shelter, get to the wolf's hide-out.
They were tracking the valiantly running Datsun, keeping close. 
Then, a second of horror passing, the engine coughed pitifully, black smoke mingled with the sweet, rotting scent of the 
mangroves.
	"Oh no!"
Kamatari whispered.
	"Please, go on! Just to Saitou's, alright?"
Although he slowed down, the Datsun finally paid its dues to the Great Constructor.
Rapidly crawling out, snatching his cane and the mobile, Kamatari went for the giant cypresses. 
He did not like passing the Bayou in semi-darkness. Every step soaking water, the old trees, the rotting trunks, the bushes and 
flowers a perfect hideaway for alligators and congos, the black water moccasin.
Gritting his teeth, the singer forced his way through the shrubbery, probing his surrounding with the cane.
The thugs on his heels knew their business: strong spotlights, self-confident talking, rubber boots, weapons... 
Kamatari wondered if there was any help in calling Saitou with his mobile.
The backup... too late by now...
Fighting with every step on treacherous ground, he was easily to detect and exhausted in no time. 
His left leg hurt, the effort taking its toll, the fabric of his dress soaked with the muddy water, bringing him down.
He tripped repeatedly, hit the water with splashing force.
Something touched his side, a gliding motion, like a serpent.
Kamatari screamed, though instantly freezing as to prevent drawing the attention of the presumed animal.
The merry shouting of his persecutors had subsided, they did not like the swamps either.
	"Com'on, let's just shoot him! He'll be swallowed and we can have gumbo for dejeuner at Louie's. Whaddaya say?"
The singer turned very carefully, grabbing his dagger for support. 
He did not want to do this but he could not move any further.
The gun pointed carelessly at him, a distance about 20 feet, four or five men, cursing, stomping angrily, squashing the moistly 
ground. They were obviously hired to kill.
	"Say 'cheese', little dicksucker!"
One of them called out grinning.
Kamatari flung the dagger.

~#~

It might have worked.
The man grabbing his throat, in vain, for he was already dying, the others aiming, shouting, and the singer disappearing beneath 
the layer of sluggish-green water.

~#~

Someone was supporting him, getting them out of the water to the mighty trunks of giant cypresses. 
They were both soaked, dripping, panting. 
His savior was a lean, tall young man, black-clad to mingle with the shadows.
	»Too dark to make out any features!«
 Kamatari considered although it did not matter.
	"You're the backup?"
He croaked.
A cool, marble-colored hand tenderly picked strands out of his eyes.
	"C'est vrai. I'll take care of you."

~#~

Kamatari felt strong but slender arms circling his waist, assisting in a gentle manner to make him comfortable beneath a mighty 
old cypress ruling the spot. Blinking, he forced his eyes to focus on the 'backup's face, alas, in vain, presumably 
black-lacquered strands glued to a long, small face with a ghostly pale complexion.
Hazarding a guess, Kamatari judged the height of the stranger approximately the same as Saitou's, the slender though strongly 
muscled frame equally impressive.
	"Reste ici."
The stranger caressed Kamatari's scratched cheek tenderly.
	"I'll be back in no time."
	"Just..."
The tall man hesitated, his deep, composed voice thrilled Kamatari's spine down to his stomach.
	"Don't move. You'll be safest in this very spot."
	»I'd like to know the color of his eyes.«
The young singer pondered.
	»Did I meet him before? Where does he come from, at this time of the morning? And how is he acquainted with my fearsome 
wolf?!«
Yet, rapidly his rather relaxed state changed when his unknown savior mingled with the thick, slimy waters, leaving Kamatari to 
the deafening sound of silence. 
Here and there, beads hit the sticky surface, still, there were no cries of animals or movement close to his vicinity.
Little spasms of shock took over to fix Kamatari's concentration on something other than the miraculous salvation by a dark 
hero. Although the dawn cast a rosy shine and drove the foggy mists away, Kamatari shook from freezing, his teeth chattered.
He had never ever flung his dagger at another person... neither killing someone before!
	»This time I'm done.«
His mind rattled downward the dark road of perdition.
	»How can I escape this mess?!«
A corpse with a dagger and his very own fingerprints on the handle... 
Tani did not need to send out his thugs anymore.
	»And there will be a nice little barbecue with jailhouse rock...«
Shuddering, Kamatari bit his lip to fight back desperate tears. 
He had never considered himself to be one of the 'evil' boys, a delinquent who was prone to end up in prison and/or the death 
chamber.
Feverishly attempting to drive the maddening thoughts away, he massaged his left knee with both his trembling hands. His 
beautiful robe had been torn, there were bruises and scratches everywhere. His left knee matched the size of a small water 
melon.
	"Merde... merde..."
Sobbing the young transvestite snuggled closer to the old trunk for solid support.

~#~

Kamatari didn't shriek the slightest sound when the stranger broke the silent surface of the muddy waters again. Dripping, 
soaking wet, he left with the dangerous easiness of a predator, complacent and cool in every fiber of the tall body.
The young singer just watched in mild wonder. A fever had taken control, leaving an empty shell to wait for salvation.
Stooping, the tall man carefully took Kamatari onto his arms, offering shelter and consolation.
	"I took care of your cane and your dagger, Kamatari."
The deep voice traveled prickly right yonder Kamatari's stomach.
	"...merci.."
He managed his chattering teeth to whisper, cuddling to the safest place around.
	"I'll take you home with me."
The stranger soothed Kamatari's exhausted sniffling, choosing his path securely through the rising Bayou.

~#~

	»I must have been sleeping.«
Kamatari rubbed his eyes in wonder, searching the small, rather blank bedroom for any indication of its owner. There was a 
closet, a carpet woven from maize straw, his cane leaning close to the old-fashioned bed with its brass bars and a huge lantern.
A low, hot breeze caressed Kamatari's skin as he carefully sat up.
His unknown savior must have cleaned his wounds and clad his battered body with a long silk shirt.
Kamatari probed the quality of the bandage covering his left knee. Slowly bending the joint, he waited for the sharp pain to 
water his eyes. His knee answered the endeavor astoundingly moderate.
Encouraged, the young singer left the bed, reaching out for his cane.
	"Mon dieu... how did he get it back?!"
Kamatari wondered, nevertheless made his way to the sliding door to leave the bedroom.
	"Sacre bleu...."
Dumbfounded Kamatari touched the brass rail beneath the row of small windows.
The 'home' of his 'backup' was a railway car!
Inspecting the neighborhood, Kamatari sighed. The railway car rested on a forgotten railway, surrounded by high grass and wild 
flowers. Close to the small patch of Eden several huge trees cast shadows, tingled by the hot breeze.
Carefully, Kamatari opened one of the sliding windows, enjoyed the gentle wind playing with the silky shirt.
	"Mais, comme c'est beau!"
He sighed smiling, disentangled his lanky chestnut-colored strands. 
Just for one instant he could easily forget the trouble shading his life.
Reluctantly, Kamatari withdrew from the window, chose the next sliding door to find his expectation proved, a small bathroom 
with a shower cubicle, a washbasin and a toilet, bath mats of bamboo covering the floor.
	"Merveilleux...."
Kamatari closed the sliding door, inspected everything closely. Finally, he decided to take his risk with the shower, stripped 
and entered the cubicle. Lukewarm water stroked his frame, beads traveled smoothly his skin.
He balanced cautiously on his legs, supported his stand with both hands pressed to the wooden wall. 
The weight of his hair, nearly touching his hips, reminded Kamatari to leave the agreeable cocoon.
	»Back to business!«,
He ordered himself around, adjusted a towel around his waist and stepped out of the cubicle to face his twin in the mirror.
	"Hilarious..."
Kamatari sighed at the devastating sight.
	"...what a mess!"
Borrowing a comb, he took his cane and left the railway car to find a nice, cozy spot beneath a mighty tree. The sea of tall 
grass-blades hid his slender frame from any spectator when he disentangled the mass of chestnut-colored strands.
Kamatari knew he had to be careful considering the circumstances, and after all, the sun, for he used to get speckled all over 
his usually ivory-like skin.
Life seemed so easy, sitting in the shade, encircled by the sunny warmth, listening to the rather lazy buzz of birds and insects 
nearby.
Soundlessly, his host appeared, despite the sweat-causing weather completely clad in black clothes.
	"Ca va?"
He inquired, crouching, taking his royal blue-tinted sunglasses off.
Kamatari leaned back, smiled down and took his time to inspect his savior closely: a pale skin, white as marble, a lean face 
with an indecipherable air, thin black eyebrows, overruled by intense ice blue eyes.
	"Ca va."
Kamatari answered.
	"Merci beaucoup. You came just in time. So, you're Saitou's backup-force?"
A chuckle commented Kamatari's charming entree.
	"We haven't met yet. Je m'appelle Aoshi Shinomori, enchantee."
	"Kamatari Honjou."
The young singer adjusted the comb to his hair, shook Aoshi's strong hand.
Without asking, his savior collected the comb and started entangling strands into a long braid.
Kamatari smiled. A lot of people felt attracted to the shiny mass of chestnut-colored hair, thus getting close to him, 
especially girls.
	"Et, you're some kind of martial-arts-fighter? Or a bodyguard?"
He hazarded.
	"No, actually I'm a chef de cuisine at the Aoiya."
Aoshi replied nonchalantly, adorned a wild flower to Kamatari's braid. 
Very slowly Kamatari turned his head to stare imploringly at Aoshi's blank face.
	"You're not telling me you're just the cook?!"
He imitated Steven Seagal incredulously.
Aoshi did not bother to answer, instead he arranged Kamatari's braid over one shoulder, reaching out for the cane. Getting up, 
he reported.
	"I checked out your apartment. They have been there, too. It looks rather bad. I'm sorry."
	"... merde..."
Kamatari forgot his manners, gazed steadily to the ground.
	"My Datsun's wrecked, my place run down... I wonder what's next."
He feigned a lopsided grin, wearily struggling to his feet. 
Aoshi reached out to assist, put his arm around Kamatari's slim waist.
	"I've purchased some clothes you might try out. And how about some decent dinner?"
He offered his aid, guided the young singer into his railway car. 
Kamatari got in, was led to the bedroom where a stack of clothes waited for his approval. Secondhand, he knew, nonetheless 
tasteful and fitting his slender frame.
	"Mais...."
Kamatari stroke a silky texture thoughtfully.
	"Why... did you bring those along?"
	"You're a singer, ain? Le joli papillon?"
Aoshi explained, taking a seat at his bed to watch the catwalk-performance.
Kamatari hesitated. There was something specific about the way those ice-blue eyes were watching his every movement. He felt 
definitely tingly and uneasy.
There were shirts and Bermudas, slips, sling sandals and sneakers, but also a beautiful gown with artificial glitter and 
high-heels.
	»Maybe I better start with the shirt and the Bermudas!«
He opted, casting a side-glance at the amused 'cook'.
	"Please, this one first."
As expected Aoshi chose the gown.
	"I'll help you with the zipper."
Kamatari gritted his teeth, grabbed the gown. It looked great.
	»Wearing it must be awesome. Just...«
Frowning, he put it on, his back turned to Aoshi who assisted as he had promised.
Almost perfect... well, obviously he lacked his special bra but everything else fitted like a second skin.
	»High-heels next...«
And Aoshi bent to close the tiny buckles. 
Kamatari swayed, stretching his arms out to keep the balance. 
Aoshi got up, took his hands.
	"Try a few steps, ain?"
	"Attention!"
Kamatari stumbled, his eyes fixed on the ground. 
	»"Why can't I walk in these damn pumps?!«
He felt like a toddler, desperately trying to keep up the last resorts of dignity while 'walking' like a drunkard in need for a 
steady post in his course.
	»No way this is going to work!« 
Kamatari's lips hissed a curse when he finally paid his dues to the mighty forces of gravity. A graceful move, strong arms 
encircling his waist... his host was on alert and gently providing 'safe haven'.
	"Maybe it needs some time to get used to."
Aoshi submitted lowly, to swing Kamatari about, taking the young singer onto his arms.
	"Hey!" 
Kamatari felt inclined to stop the pursue of events at this very moment while the cook tenderly put him down on the 
old-fashioned bed. 
Aoshi unfastened the straps, took off the high-heels as attentive as he had been during their acquaintance.
	»Merde, alors, Saitou, who did you send me?! A cook? A midnight-killer with the attitude of a gentleman?!«
	"You know..."
Kamatari started nervously, peering at the strong hands massaging his ankles to ease the tension.
	"I'm not into boys. I just like to dress up..."
The pair of ice-blue eyes shone like sapphires.
	"Tant pis."
A delicate smile wrinkled the mocking mouth.
	"Well, I AM."
A teasing wink before Aoshi turned Kamatari effortlessly on his back to unzip the gown. Goosebumps traveled the young singer's 
frame like an invasion of ants seeking for a new residence. 
Kamatari suppressed a traitorous gasp, struggled to sit up and get away from his strange host. This complacent manner of 
remaining composed and all relaxed while he was unmistakably dismissing Aoshi tore his nerves.
Of course Kamatari knew how to fend off proposals of all kind of people but this was all different, in a way he could not quite 
describe.
	"Maybe a shirt and Bermudas?"
In his rather quiet tone Aoshi handed the clothes over to cover the gap in between them.
	"...merci..."
Kamatari took the offer, keeping close to the far end of the brass bedstead. Surely he felt silly by clinging to the physical 
distance although his heart slowed the throbbing crescendo down to the average rhythm and force.
He dressed rather rapidly, grabbed his cane and decided to "bare-foot" for the remaining time.
	"Et bien, alors, on y vas?"
Aoshi, patiently waiting for his shy guest, offered politely his arm to guide Kamatari along. 
The young singer froze to the ground.
	»On y vas«- the magical question to change his life...
	"Ca va?"
A sorrowful frown changed Aoshi's expression of demeanor.
	"Ain? Ah, ouais, ca va!" 
Kamatari edged a smile on his face, took his host's waiting arm to see the kitchen and a decent dinner. 
He desperately needed to talk to Saitou about this!

~#~

Blinking, Kamatari grabbed the small table for support, trying to get back on his bare feet. He felt tired all of a sudden which 
was strange since he usually worked these hours at the bar.
	"I have to go to work now."
Aoshi's voice seemed muffled, traveling a long distance to meet Kamatari's consciousness.
	"Ain? Ah, je comprends.."
Staggering, the singer grabbed for a wall. He did not hit one but the ground separated from his feet, due to Aoshi lifting him 
up onto his arms.
	"You'll better sleep now, Kamatari."
The deep voice whispered temptingly.
	"And when I get back we'll have a nice breakfast. D'accord?"
Kamatari did not respond. He had already lost his fight against the drugs in his dinner.

~#~

	"This is bad!"
Sanosuke stated, frowning while sipping water from the container above his head. His lover, partner and friend, Hajime Saitou, 
shared a sideways glance, steering the heavily equipped van through the night, down south.
	"You told him to stay in our house?"
Sanosuke asked again, rubbing his pointy chin in sorrow and Saitou did not bother to answer.
	"Why doesn't he call?! 'jime, do you think...?!"
A sun-loved, strong hand rested on the wolf's thigh.
Saitou took his time to lift his right from the steering wheel, enclosed the hand of his young lover with his own vigorous one.
	"Ne t'inquietes pas, mon beau."
He soothed the nagging apprehension with his sonorous, velvety growl.
	"I sent someone to fetch him. He'll be alright."
	»Either way, someone will be having the time of his life when I'm back in town!«
He snarled inwardly.
	»A very short and last time of his life.«
Sanosuke leaned close to him, entwining their long, firm fingers with each other.
	"I don't want anything happening to Kama-chan."
He sighed.
	"He's a really nice guy."
The bold bounty hunter crooked a brow critically.
	"I told you he's alright."
The wolf barked curtly, drawing his right hand back. Rather harshly he grabbed Sanosuke's neck, forcing his younger companion to 
rest his head on the hunter's lap. Ruffling the unruly mob of dark-brown strands, he growled.
	"Dis-moi, Sano, is there any reason you can't trust on my word?!"
His lover reached out, softly caressing the lean, sensual face of the wolf. 
	"Sorry, I did not mean to..."
But Saitou smothered his lover by gently trailing the enchanting contour of Sanosuke's lips.
	"I know."
He whispered sonorously.
	"Go to sleep. I'll need a break in a few hours and then you'll have to take over."
To ease the path to slumber, he crooned an ancient song to accompany his lover.

~#~

	»Mais, Kama-chan, did you take them along?!«
	»I tried! See, I got Tani and..«
	»So you failed. You betrayed our mission.«
	»No, Mak, listen, I just..«
	»You failed. You became weak.«
	»But I...«
	»You're one of them now.«
	»No! No, I'm not!! Ecoute, I'm...«
	»You're a failure. You were with the best but you messed, so die with the rest!«
Kamatari woke with a hoarse cry of horror, covered with clammy beads of sweat. His heart thundered away, a stampede not to be 
stopped by the minor memory of watching his friends die in the swamps. 
There were no flames surrounding him but the sting of burnt flesh sent spasms of nausea through Kamatari's trembling body. 
Pressing his palm to his mouth, Kamatari reached out for his cane, struggled to free his limbs from the entangled sheet. 
He barely managed to limp to the bathroom before he broke down, heavily vomiting, gasping for air.
	»Why did they come back?! I was over...!«
A thought walked his mind like a ghost: the nightmares were gone when he had been with the fearsome hunter.
	"Kamatari, what's wrong?!"
A cool hand wiped mussy strands from Kamatari's view.
The young singer groaned as another nauseating spasm cramped his slender frame. He was cold despite the heat, the burning breeze 
of a summer day caused a chilly sweat and the lingering odor of burnt flesh mingled with the stink of his own throw-up.
Kamatari folded up, pressed his aching head to the ground, desperately wishing everything would just leave him alone.
The gushing sound of water covered the movements of Aoshi who simply took over. He collected Kamatari from the floor, stripped 
the trembling, moaning singer and stepped into the shower cubicle.
Kamatari stiffened at once, dimly realizing how close they shared the available space.
	"Don't worry, I won't take my clothes off."
Aoshi answered unspoken fears.
	"I'll just hold you and help you clean yourself."
Closing his eyes, the young singer banned every idea of a possibly attracted man from his mind, embraced Aoshi's neck and left 
the washing to his host.
	»Why do I feel so weak right now? How come I can't tolerate the smell of... burning flesh... anymore?!«
Swallowing hard, Kamatari had do suppress another moan.
	»I did so damn well the last months! Merde alors!«
	"I'm sorry."
Aoshi whispered through the caressing mist of lukewarm beads.
	"I did not realize you might be offended by the smell of ham."
	"... it's just..." 
Kamatari gave up. How to explain every complex detail of this strange story?!
	"... sorry for causing you trouble..."
He managed to whisper hoarsely instead.
Aoshi turned off the shower, helped Kamatari out to collect another set of shirt and Bermudas. Carefully rubbing every patch of 
Kamatari's skin he inspected his guest closely, stripped out of his own soaking wet clothes to fetch dry ones.
Kamatari leaned to a wall, grabbing the washing basin for support.
	»So maybe I've been wrong about him...«
He closed his eyes.
He gasped when Aoshi reappeared and offered to assist his dressing.
	»Never ever....«
He dared a glimpse into the sparkling sapphires' ice-cold fire.
	"It's not a beautiful sight to behold."
Aoshi smiled a strange, beast-like smile of feral vigor, baring his teeth.
	"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare...!!" 
Kamatari babbled instinctively, turning his head away.
	"Mais, you can look as long as you want to. I don't mind at all."
Firm fingers combed messy strands out of the young singer's pale face.
Carefully, as not to insult his host, Kamatari inspected the various scars nearly covering the whole lean body.
	"Mon dieu..."
In a ghastly fascination he touched the closest one on the bare chest with his fingertips.
	"What did happen to you?!"
Serious concern and pity took over. 
Kamatari looked up to meet the cold gaze of archaic glaciers, seen too much in their time of existence to care anymore.
Hastily, he cast his eyes to the ground, fetching his clothes. 
	"I'm truly sorry. I shouldn't have asked. After all, it's none of my business."
	"I'll be in the kitchen, then. Do you like fresh orange juice? It might help your throat."
Aoshi replied noncommittally.
	"Ouais, merci!"
Kamatari managed to murmur, grabbing his cane firmly.
	»Who is this guy?! Can I rely on him?!«

~#~

Since Kamatari did not trust his rebelling stomach to keep the peace, he left the railway car to enjoy his breakfast at nearly 
lunch-time in the open. 
Aoshi did not show up, except to get the dishes, already clad entirely in black, covered from top to toe.
Cautiously, Kamatari made his way through the tall grass blades. Sitting on the small staircase Aoshi was waiting for him, the 
ice-blue eyes hidden behind black sun-glasses. He looked like a movie-star, maybe Matrix or Men in Black.
	»Spooky!«
The young singer hesitated.
	"Would you like to visit your place?"
His host suggested, rising and offering a hand up the stairs.
Kamatari contemplated the idea.
	"This is dangerous, ain? If some of them are waiting nearby, we're in serious trouble."
	»After all, I killed one of them.«
	"I'll take care of that. Don't worry."
Aoshi remained his stoical, nonchalant self.
	"Alors, bien."
Kamatari decided to take the risk, climbing the stairs on his own. Somehow it seemed very important, vitally necessary to get 
along without the assistance of his host.
	"Et bien, change into these then."
Aoshi produced black clothes: a pair of jeans and a sweater.
	"We are less easily detected."
Nodding consent, Kamatari took the bundle to enter the bedroom.
	»This won't be nice but I'll have to face it anyway.«

~#~

It was gruesome. 
	»Like getting your entrails ripped out while you were being raped.«
A fist tightly pressed into his mouth, Kamatari numbly inspected his former apartment, the first place he ever felt entitled to 
call 'home'. The scenery bore a sight comparable to the 'playground' of a hurricane, everything had been torn apart, ripped, 
trampled, smashed and destroyed. The stink of urine filled the air with a pestilential odor.
There was absolutely nothing to take away with, no photograph, no letter, no personal item... ashes to ashes in the kitchen 
sink.
Kamatari had not imagined this heartbreaking sight. He felt worse than having his nightmares again, for this was reality, no 
waking-call to save him.
Uncaring for his surrounding, he started crying quietly.
The young singer just hoped they had not dared to touch the bounty hunter's office.
	"We better leave now."
Aoshi appeared out of the shadows like a specter, on guard as he had vowed to.
Blinded by tears Kamatari stumbled trailing after him when Aoshi suddenly halted.
	"Ain?"
Kamatari blinked rapidly.
Something was amiss.
	"Down." 
Within a blink Aoshi sabered Kamatari's legs away, caught the shocked singer firmly to soften the fall. Encircling Kamatari's 
waist, he initiated a fast turnover to spring to his feet, drawing two strange daggers. The shiny blades cut the air with a 
promise of lethal caress, then, the attackers suffered severe wounds. 
Grunting, groaning, gasping... 
Kamatari doubled up, trembling. He had had to leave his cane behind, riding on the motocross bike and right now, flat to the 
ground, he was an easy target. 
Vigorous hands explored his armpits, getting him up a fluent move.
	"Chooh!"
Aoshi mouthed.
	"We're leaving."
Dragging the young singer behind, the 'mere' cook flung one of his special short-swords at another approaching silhouette. 
In awareness, he snatched it back, uncaring for the corpse bearing it. The glimmering blade danced, hurled between his skilled 
fingers, like a rotor deceiving the eye to take it for a perfect disc.
They left in dead silence.

~#~

To distract possible pursuers, Aoshi left his motocross-bike in the damp thicket secluding another secret entrance to the area 
of the Old Bayou. 
Taking Kamatari's cold hand, he ventured through the misty grove, his customized short-sword ready to hurl or cut a free 
passage.
In no time their clothes were dripping wet, the ground gave way with sucking grunts.
Aoshi needed to check out whether one of their opponents had found his hide-out, lifted the veil of silence on his past, 
identified the guardian demon of the beautiful butterfly.
A grim smile flashed his thin lips. Somewhere deep down his shattered soul, he truly had missed the battle. 
The delicate dance on razor's edge, flirting a rapier's kiss with a sudden death at stake.

~#~

Kamatari nearly tripped another time. He lost count of the period they were forcing their path through the thicket.
	»I just wish it was over!«
He held tight to his bodyguard who could kill like an ancient god of vengeance: fast, without mercy and very skilled.
	"Reste ici."
Aoshi leaned the worn-out singer to a tamarack and disappeared.
	»Is it that easy to kill?«
Kamatari tried to focus, fighting the pressing fatigue back.
	»Is he a soldier? A bounty hunter? 
	»He killed them all. You know that. And remember, he brought your dagger back. The very dagger you flung at one of them!«
A serpent's tongue whispered venomous doubts.
	»So what's stopping him when he takes an interest in you?«
The sweet poison of fear crept up his spine.
Kamatari coughed, spit sour saliva.
	»This IS self-defense!«
He argued.
	»Yes, but not against a pro like him. That's slaughtering.«
	"Mais, j'ai besoin..."
Sighing, Kamatari glided down the sturdy trunk to have a seat. He needed the protection of his gruesome savior till the wolf 
came back to town.
	"Gotcha!"
A hoarse voice announced retaliation, pointing a gun at Kamatari's stomach.
	"Non, arrete.."
Kamatari plead agonized, knowing, that there was no salvation at hand.
One instant later, Aoshi grew literally from the moistly ground, slitting the man's throat open. Blood gushed in a spray while 
the attacker tried to cover the gaping wound with his hands, in vain. Breaking to his knees, he fell over. 
Aoshi took an ankle, pulled the dying man to the swamps.
Somewhere close by, where the roots run deep and strong, the last pursuer would find a place to rest with his comrades and 
nature would charge interests, like feeding the alligators or the birds.
Numb with shock Kamatari did not stir a limb when Aoshi returned, speckled with clingy mud and blood.
	"On y vas."
The bodyguard voiced noncommittally, lifting Kamatari to his feet. 
The young singer instantly started to tremble, chattering his teeth, his hazelnut-colored eyes blank from terror.
Aoshi did not mind. He arranged the paralyzed limbs around his torso, carrying Kamatari like a child.
In one hour he had to take his place at the Aoiya.

~#~

Kamatari was aware that someone took off his clothes and washed his entire body, plaited his lanky strands to a strong braid. 
Juice with a bitter taste forced its way down his throat.
The singer coiled and fled into the drug-caused void.

~#~

Smoothing down his black-lacquered strands, Aoshi inspected his appearance: no treacherous trace, his face all composed, a new 
set of black clothes flattering his lean frame, the remnants of the old ones still smoldered in the fireplace.
His guest was already sleeping off the exhaustion.
A message waited on the blackboard: the wolf would be back in town by tomorrow evening.

~#~

Kamatari woke, feeling weary, a coppery, foul taste in his mouth.
	»I'm not going to throw up again!«
He vowed dizzily, crawling out of the entangled sheets and blankets. 
This time, there was no silky shirt to court modesty. Aoshi must have simply stripped the soaked clothes off him, the singer 
concluded, massaging his temples. 
A huge headache banged violently to focus his attention on the tantrum.
	»Strange, I've never been prone to migraine!«
Kamatari grumbled.
	»Great timing to catch up new hobbies! Like knocking myself out to end my misery....«
With the pain memories came back, the gaping mouth of the gun pointing at his stomach, the triumphant, cold sparkle in the eyes 
of his pursuer, the noncommittal killing, the spray of blood.
	»Just like some bad splatter movie...«
Kamatari shuddered, sat up, rubbing his arms.
	"..it's true..."
He convinced himself by pinching his goosebump-covered skin.
Finally, he rose, reached for his cane, not bothering to look for any cloth to cover his naked body. More urgent needs had to be 
dealt with first.
	»At least I'm not down on my knees again!«
Kamatari sighed, relieving his bladder.
	»And now a strong, hot coffee au lait with three lumps of sugar!«
To rise his spirits, he decided, ready to leave the bathroom. Pushing the sliding door to the side, Kamatari smiled through the 
row of small windows to find the soothing sea of grass blades, softly combed by the hot breeze.
A huge man with a machine-gun grinned, aiming carefully as if he could miss anything in the wide range of his weapon.
	"... non...."
Kamatari whispered. 
Nowhere to run to, nowhere to hide.
	»This is the end.«
A calm thought lettered his mind comfortingly.
	»Enjoy the dawn.«
The machine-gun stuttered its lethal message, shrapnel of splintering glass from the broken windows filled the air.
Strangely enough, Kamatari was left unscathed. Disbelieving, he shook his head in wonder, inspected his naked body. 
Not the slightest scratch...
Aoshi entered the railway car with a heavy thud of the main door. He was breathing laboriously, heading for Kamatari who 
withdrew instinctively. 
The young singer cast a glance at the last pursuer, skewered by a set of kitchen knives, the favorite tools of any cook.
Aoshi grabbed Kamatari's wrists to prevent further flight, turned the singer around, checking out the ivory-like skin.
	"...you're not hurt..."
With a low sigh of relief Aoshi embraced Kamatari, rubbing his back, to both their comfort as Kamatari suspected. 
He could not tear away his view from the corpse outside, the still slightly smoking gun with its big barrel.
Suddenly, Kamatari felt like crying, his knees gave way. 
His guardian demon lifted him up effortlessly, burying the sobbing young man in the protective custody of his arms.
	"Chooh, mon ami, it's alright. Everything's alright, mon bijou!"
A soft kiss sealed Kamatari's forehead when Aoshi tenderly wrapped him in a blanket.
	"I'll be with you in a while. Just wait for me. I won't let anything happen to you!"
Aoshi promised, collecting tears from the pale face with the tip of his tongue.
Kamatari cuddled a cushion, closed his eyes. He just wanted to flee this living nightmare.

~#~

It took some time to drag the corpse to a secluded space where it could rest for the end of time. 
Aoshi wiped his forehead with a hand, frowned slightly.
	»How did he trace me? More important, is there anybody else who might show up?!«
If this went on, he would run out of spare-room to 'dump his trash'. 
Anyway, he had to head back and rise the 'precautions' he had set up to alarm .

~#~

Kamatari startled when Aoshi closed the sliding door of the bedroom. 
Something was wrong with his limbs... they were too heavy to move, the muscles frozen or turned into stone maybe...
Aoshi slipped under the cooling blanket, rolled Kamatari on his back, inspected the paralyzed singer.
	"I'll make you alright again."
He whispered lowly, stroking the rigid body, massaging life back into the shocked muscles and sinews while kissing and licking 
every available spot. Carefully, Aoshi bent Kamatari's fingers around the brass bars of the headrest before spreading the young 
singer's legs. Down the groin, the scrotum, the penis- the bodyguard busied himself tasting the soft flesh, probing the unique 
bouquet of Kamatari.
Although Aoshi's guest still remained numb with shock, the body followed its very own rules, yielding in to the desire evoked by 
Aoshi's attentive actions to stimulate the young singer. 
	"...non..."
Kamatari finally fidgeted, losing control.
	"I won't hurt you."
Aoshi placed kisses around Kamatari's ear, covered his neck, temple and cheek, licked the long eyelashes playfully.
	"Trust in me, mon papillon."
To Kamatari, this was just too much, too many hands traveling his body, too many hot lips breathing hellfire at his skin, too 
many delicate spots discovered at once. He gasped for air, trying to suppress the lust taking over, pressed his legs together.
	"Chooh..."
Aoshi soothed the increasing panic, fondled the trembling body, covered Kamatari with his warm embrace. Enclosing Kamatari's 
hands with his own around the bars, Aoshi seriously attacked the sensual nipples, licking and lasciviously sucking at the 
protruding flesh. 
Kamatari whimpered when the passionate affections wandered down his torso.
	"I'm not hurting you, Kamatari."
The lean man whispered sonorously.
	"Don't be afraid."
He continued his caressing till Kamatari finally had to give in, lacking the strength to fight back. His entire body tingled, 
twitched and tickled, ardently stirred up to accept the sexual desire focused on him. Keeping his eyes shut, Kamatari stretched 
to ease his muscles, accidentally grinding Aoshi's sturdy, scarred front. 
The friction evoked intense heat, affected both men to hiss at the sudden sensation.
Gasping, Kamatari wriggled, eyes wide open.
	»This can't be true!«
He searched the ice-blue eyes for any hint.
	»Okay, so Aoshi is gay but why do I respond to his...affections? I'm NOT into boys!«
Aoshi's hands slowly withdrew from the brass bars, gliding along the soft inner side of Kamatari's arms before he teasingly 
tickled the armpits. 
Despite his irritation, the young singer smiled delicately, relaxed his limbs leisurely. 
Aoshi combed his own black-lacquered strands behind his ears. Slowly, he lowered down, on intention breathing at Kamatari's 
groin. 
The young singer grabbed the bars firmly for support.
Aoshi snuggled his shoulders between Kamatari's legs, snarling mockingly in anticipation.
	»Mon dieu...«
 Kamatari sensed a blush rushing for his cheeks.
The guardian demon started by smoothly petting the inner thighs, then focused on the shy erection flagging a generous welcome. 
Thumbs explored scrotum and testicles for an erotic massage while moistened lips kissed Kamatari's glans.
Sharply inhaling air, the singer squirmed, digging his heels into the soft fabric of the mattress. 
Did he hear a chuckle just now?!
One instant later, a daring tongue circled his penis, kneaded the receptive flesh to stimulate the tension within. Aoshi seemed 
entirely intrigued with his task, designing strange patterns while exhaling tantalizing droughts.
The brass bars squeaked under the pressure of Kamatari's grip.
A wet smooch at the singer's navel scolded mildly.
	"Won't you start breathing again, ain?"
With a groan Kamatari conceded, flinched slightly. Another gasp accompanied the sensation of his erection being enclosed in a 
strong, damp, sucking motion. 
Moaning, Kamatari followed every drawing with his rocking hips. He felt Aoshi shifting his position to pet the buttocks, in an 
opposing rhythm to his oral affections. 
Right that moment, there was no more denying. Kamatari groaned audibly, tensing his arms to keep up his hold of the brass bars.
Aoshi left the contorting rear to itself, rubbed the singer's nipples between his middle- and ring finger while his other hand 
sheathed his own growing erection. Kissing and licking Kamatari's penis, from the gland to the scrotum, he prepared his anus 
with saliva and semen to be penetrated. 
Sensing the approaching climax of his partner, Aoshi straddled over Kamatari's hips. Reaching out for a cushion, he adjusted the 
singer's lust-trembling legs to support their intercourse. Cautiously lowering down, Aoshi guided the throbbing, wanting 
erection between his stretching fingers into his own body. 
Listening to the singer's panting and moaning, the lean man relaxed visibly and squeezed his anal sphincter to give Kamatari an 
impression of his wanting desire. 
The young singer buckled, writhed confusedly.
	"Chooh!"
The bodyguard caressed a temple covered with sweat beads.
	"Et maintenant plus fort, mon bijou!"
He ordered.
It did not take long before both men adapted a certain joint movement to relieve the sexual tension. Dripping sweat, Aoshi had 
to grab the headrest for support, blinking in admiration at the rosy, panting singer underneath his still spasming body. 
This was absolutely worth every effort he had taken in the last three days and nights.
When Kamatari's penis slid out of his anus, Aoshi stretched his lean but muscled limbs, leaning leisurely at the headrest. 
Petting the singer's breast, he combed the chestnut-colored strands tenderly.
	"Ca va?"
He smiled, lifting Kamatari's head on his lap, massaging and kissing the stressed fingers.
Kamatari winked dizzily, still in mild shock concerning his immediate reaction.
Reaching out for a blanket, the bodyguard wrapped his guest in, stooped to plant a kiss at the damp forehead.
	"Now, have a rest and then, we'll have lunch!"
Aoshi whispered gently. 
The twin sapphires sparkled protectively.

~#~ 

Kamatari enjoyed his 'lunch' at dinner-time, savoring the rich taste of a genuine Cajun meal. Regarding his engagement at the 
Aoiya, his host was used to Japanese, Chinese and American 'cuisine'. The very own French-and African cooking style remained a 
task in his spare time off.
The young singer, clad in shirt and Bermudas, smiled benevolent. Everything would turn out alright by sunset. Saitou, the wolf, 
would take care of him and the killing, shooting, stabbing and drowning became a bad memory of a turbulent time.
	"We meet at the old drawbridge."
Aoshi explained in his cool habit, sipping his Oolong tea.
	"Let's just hope they did not dare touch the office!"
Kamatari sighed.
	"Saitou'll go berserk."
	"I don't consider your late pursuers to be suicidal."
The strong resort of backup snarled with a vicious grin.
	"At least to the point I entered the stage."
Shivering, Kamatari shrunk in his seat. 
Focusing on the dishes, he sensed the change in the air, the bristling quality of suppressed tension probing its prison.
	"Merci beaucoup, Aoshi. You saved me several times. I'll be in your debt till eternity!"
The singer winked with a lopsided grin to cheer up his host. 
A dreamlike grin twitched in the corners of Aoshi's mouth.
	"I almost forgot how it feels like..."
But he abruptly stopped, rose to his feet.
	"Alors, on y vas.", 
He commanded without spending a glance at Kamatari.
	"Ouais." 
The singer got up with a concerned frown. 
	»I wonder where you've been to become the man you are.«

~#~

They waited nearby, hidden by the shadows till the black van came to a halt on the drawbridge. Speeding up, Kamatari nearly 
collapsed in Sanosuke's welcoming arms, sobbing and laughing all the same.
Saitou watched his lover cradling the young singer, holding the slender frame tight. He deciphered the secret signals of danger 
and peril in the sapphire's icy fire. Exchanging a hard stare and a brief nod, Saitou dismissed Aoshi, rushed the two young men 
back into the van.
Things would be sorted out on HIS ground in his fortress.
After that, judgment-day was due to come.

~#~

Sanosuke petted the chestnut-colored hair encouragingly, sipped water from his favorite bottle with the small 
rampaging-rooster-sticker.
	"You did well!"
He assured, offered a sheltering arm to snuggle into. Kamatari cuddled closer, sighed profoundly. One hour of talking, telling 
the story of the past three days, took its toll.
The fearsome hunter walked the living-room, a calculating air about him.
	"...you think he killed all of the thugs send by Tani?"
He inquired at last, searching the hazelnut-colored eyes of his employee and friend.
The singer shrugged.
	"Et bien, I guess so. I didn't watch him all the time, though."
	"Damn."
Sanosuke fretted his own mop of unruly dark-brown strands.
	"Who IS this guy anyway?! Kinda freaky, looming in the swamps and skewering people with his kitchen knives!"
Brushing aside the urgent question, Saitou snatched his lover's bottle of water.
	"Sleepy time now, mes amis."
Sanosuke got to his feet. 
	"Just now, 'jime, I'm not going to bed before I know who this psycho-friend of yours is!"
He stubbornly insisted.
The narrow, amber eyes of the hunter sparkled sulfurous flames.
	"Sano, it's over and done with regarding the engagement of Shinomori. Don't bother with him."
Clenching his strong fists, the rooster roared raucously.
	"Stop shutting me out! We're in this together! Just fuckin' tell me about that Shinomori-freak!"
Several heartbeats passed while the lovers challenged each other, snarling, growling, baring their teeth.
Kamatari embraced his knees firmly, ignoring the stinging pain in his left one, shrinking disconsolately.
	»They're fighting because of me. Everything started with me and that asshole Tani. I don't want to see them like that!«
Time passed.
Finally, the infamous hunter took a seat, reached out for Sanosuke's hand which firmly grasped his own. 
Holding hands, Saitou explained with his sonorous, rumbling voice.
	"There were times when the forces needed specialists for difficult tasks. Pros. Men who knew to fight and survive, to follow 
orders and set their life at risk every night and day. Evidently, the training and drill had to start at a very young age with 
children no one would miss. Whenever you think about 'messy jobs' in dangerous areas, these special units operated. But some 
years later, they were not wanted anymore, for political reasons. All the surviving members had to start a new life in a civil 
society."
	"So the Shinomori-freak is one of them."
Sanosuke concluded disgustedly.
The amber glow focused on the young men on the opposite side of the small table. 
	"Sano, most of the children were drilled to kill. They never had the chance to mature. As adults, they don't know how to 
live without the thrill or someone ordering them about. 'Peace' means just a break between two jobs to them."
	"And why did you have to call him of all people?"
Sanosuke glared nonetheless although caressing the back of Saitou's hand with his thumb.
	"Because..."
The wolf grumbled menacingly.
	"...I wanted our dear butterfly to survive and that's the special quality of the man you keep referring to as 'freak'.  
T'as compris?!"
He bellowed to mark his point.
Sanosuke sighed.
	"Alright, I give in. But how do we stop him killing people? You know, Tani might come up with something else and collecting 
corpses in the Old Bayou is not just a whimsy hobby."
Wiping the four defiantly lurking jet-black strands from his view, the wolf got up. 
	"I'll think of something. When I had some sleep."
He hinted sternly.
Kamatari rose to his feet, a little unsteady. 
	"I'm sorry. So sorry."
Caressing a pale cheek, the wolf snarled tenderly.
	"Mais non, don't worry. We will work it out, together."

~#~

About to choke his cocoa Sanosuke yelped pitifully.
	"You're not seriously proposing we should cooperate with the IRS?! Again?!"
The notorious rooster complained in a bewildered manner.
	"Not the IRS."
Saitou busily checked new bounties out, focused on the flickering screen rapidly rolling down search-warrants.
	"He is employed by the IRS."
The wolf grimaced to show his lover that he was not in favor of his own idea, either.
	"Oh no..." 
Sanosuke hid his eyes behind his clenched fists in horror.
	"You're NOT telling me we're in it with HIM again?!"
He gasped.
With an abyss-like sigh Saitou rose to embrace his younger partner, lick the small mustache of chocolate from the pain-stricken 
face.
	"You might be surprised..."
He grumbled sinister, the amber eyes gleaming in sulfurous hellfire.
	"This guy is one of the freaks, too."
Sanosuke coughed while his beautiful, chocolate-colored eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
Those are the ingredients of horror stories....

~#~

Three weeks later
                                                 
Kamatari wondered what kind of terror a frail-looking man with flaming-red hair, a picture of his 'devoted' wife and a small 
suitcase could bring down on Tani but he kept his cool. It was already confusing to feel sorry for 'the Shinomori-freak' who 
might have been tempted to re-live his old 'occupation'.
Taking Saitou's explanation into account, the young singer could not refrain from musing about Aoshi.
	»If he does not know how to live a peaceful life... how come he saved me? What for? Am I just loot he gets when he's done 
his job?«
Brushing his hair, Kamatari inspected his appearance in the small mirror. 
Saitou and Sanosuke generously had taken him in to live with them while he raised money to find a new place to stay.
	»So here I am, back in my old bar, singing the same old songs...«
Smirking, the singer smoothed his glittery gown, a farewell-present from Aoshi who had no need for women's clothes or unisex' 
ones two sizes too small for his lean frame.
Kamatari got up, reaching for his cane. Serving in the bar, assisting the hunter in his office, both things worked without the 
aid of the solid walking stick although his left knee ached sometimes.
Singing somehow asked for reliable support, especially wearing high-heels.
With a flirting wink of naturally long eyelashes Kamatari smiled at his 'alter-ego', le joli papillon.
	"Et bien, on y vas!"

~#~

Saitou caressed the frail neck of his lover while enjoying their joint unit with due enthusiasm. Sanosuke moaned delightfully, 
chanting his very own love-song, straddling the hunter's lap.
Painstakingly slow they moved in a rolling motion to wait for the ultimate wave of ecstasy. Striking the sun-tanned, lean frame, 
the wolf showered hungry kisses, longing to release the beast within. He knew perfectly well his own yearnings which matched the 
sexual appetite and desire of his younger lover.
	»This-is-what-life-is-about!«
His body telegraphed with thrusting vigor to Sanosuke who answered in consent, writhing in lascivious lust.

~#~

	"Say, 'jime..."
Hesitantly Sanosuke let go of the jet-black strands, embracing his wolf tightly while his lover shampooed the constantly ruffled 
mop of dark-brown strands.
	"Ain?"
Saitou affectionately showered his darling beast-of-burden.
	"What's up, Sano?"
The latter shrugged in discomfort, shook his unruly shock of hair, left the cabin to reach out for a set of towels.
	"Alors?"
Rubbing his sturdy, lean body, the hunter inspected his strangely preoccupied lover with narrow amber eyes.
	"Well...."
Sanosuke did not care to cover his modesty.
	"Do you think Himura is taking Aoshi with him?"
Saitou crooked a brow.
	"Since when did you stop calling him 'the Shinomori-freak'?"
He asked suspiciously.
Ruffling his wet mop, the rooster snorted and sagged a little.
	"I'd better be telling you, 'jime."
Taking the hunter's hand and a bottle of water, Sanosuke started to drag his wolf back to their bedroom.
                           
~#~

Trapping Tani enclosed a certain number of tasks to be fulfilled. 
As not to arouse suspicion, Kamatari had to work again, show up in his bar, dress up and sing like he had done before.
The bounty hunters followed their vocation.
And then, the ultimate weapon of choice, Kenshin Himura, entered the town, a stack of paper prints, research and field trips... 
the IRS agent worked thoroughly and silently.
Several other agents checked in a little later. Like diggers on the trail of gold lodes they swarmed the place, inquired every 
public department, every bank and the inventory of real estates.
Finally, the army of auditors preformed the grand finale.
The local party of wise-guys hired expensive lawyers, still convinced they could operate 'the machine' of relations and 
obligations, black-mailing and bribing.
They had never ever met someone like Himura, a little devil with crimson eyes, nickname: Man-Killer.
Well, he did.
In his very own way.

~#~

	"Alors, Tani's gone. He'll never get out again. Shinomori's still chef de cuisine at the Aoiya. I can't see a problem 
there?"
Saitou lured his partner with the bait of mastering his hunter.
	"We-ell..."
Drawling the syllables carefully, Sanosuke focused on the twin fire of sulfur.
	"It's because of Kama."
A low growl of impatience.
	"See..."
Sanosuke fondled the haggard face of his lover.
	"This is kinda personal."
	"Sacre dieu, I won't tell Kamatari that you told me his precious secret!"
Saitou grumbled.
	"Huh?!"
The younger man blinked.
	"How did you know...?!"
With a sigh the hunter captured his dearly loved rooster in his arms. 
	"You remember my vocation? Hunter? Evil enforcer of the law? I'm supposed to know everything. Especially secrets."
	"Then, I don't have to tell you!"
Sanosuke retorted, nevertheless snuggling intimately.
Kissing his bantering beast-of-burden, Saitou chuckled.
	"Ouais, I've a certain idea. So Shinomori had a little in-fight with our butterfly?"
He stated calmly.
	"Hm."
Sipping water, Sanosuke sighed.
	"He likes to know why Aoshi cared but he can't just bring it out because the freaky guy dumped him, at the bridge."
	"Ah."
Saitou caressed the flat stomach of his lover tenderly.
	"I'd rather Kamatari leaving Shinomori alone."
Sanosuke shuffled.
	"That's exactly what Kama said himself. I disagree, of course."
He beamed a bold grin.
	"Pourquoi?"
The hunter directed the gaze of his lover to meet his amber stare.
Affectionately tipping a kiss, the rooster smirked.
	"Because a thrilling lover is the best you can get?"
	"You're not mixing 'thrilling' up with 'creepy'?!"
Saitou growled, in dislike of the idea he might be compared to Aoshi. 
Chuckling, Sanosuke sank back on the battered mattress, exposing his beautiful body, temptingly, invitingly without any mean of 
defense. 
Made to be loved. 
From within and without.

~#~

{UN AUTRE SOIR ENNUYANT 
(Belton Richard)

Un autre soir ennuyant, 
Et toi t'es pas la, 
Les larmes tombent 
Sur mon oreiller, 
Et je ne peux pas t'oublier 
C'est un autre soir ennuyant. 

Le soleil apres se coucher, 
Et toi t'es pas la 
Les etoiles apres briller 
Et moi, j'apres pleurer, 
C'est un autre soir ennuyant. 

Un autre soir ennuyant, 
Et toi t'es pas la, 
Les larmes tombent de mon coeur, 
C'est ca qui me fait peur, 
C'est un autre soir ennuyant. 

Le soleil apres se coucher, 
Et toi, t'es pas la 
Le etoiles apres briller, 
Et moi, apartmentrer, 
C'est un autre soir ennuyant.}

	»Another boring night!«
Rubbing his aching feet, Kamatari yawned.  
A few hours sleep, a rushed breakfast before shuffling paperwork at the office.
Tossing his dress, he glared at the sparkling texture. 
The flattering compliments did not affect him anymore. Singing cost effort, a bewildering new sensation.
	"Mais, I'm not a butterfly, I'm a bumble-bee!"
Hoarsely hollering, he collected his stuff carelessly in a small bag.
	»Tani's gone, I got another cruising trash-bin to get to work, and next week I might be able to find a new apartment...So 
why am I so damn tense?!«
Of course he knew the reason.
Aoshi.
Who risked his life to save him and left without a word.
	"Mais, I'm NOT into boys!"
Kamatari imitated bitterly his own words.
	»I'm just totally wound up by you.«
Grabbing his cane with rage, the young singer left the bar.

~#~

Kamatari waited impatiently at the backyard of the Aoiya while one of the waiters who had smoked his habitual cigarette went to 
fetch Aoshi. 
The mists were slinking in, causing a chill to travel Kamatari's skin.
When Aoshi descended the small staircase, the singer gasped flabbergasted. Wearing the uniform of a 'maitre de cuisine', Aoshi 
looked like someone else, like a pale but ordinary young man creating hors d'oeuvres or haute cuisine without a spot on his 
pure-white blouse.
	"Mon dieu..."
Kamatari shut his mouth with a blush.
	»Nice. Nice intro to make a complete ass of myself.«
	"Ca va?"
Aoshi's voice elbowed courtesy by the flat, uncaring tone.
	"I...I wanted to ask you something!"
Kamatari ventured for a head-start.
	"You look dreadful."
The plain response slapped the singer's initiative right into its face.
	"Merci beaucoup!"
Kamatari boiled with suppressed rage, taken aback by the hostility of his former host. Clenching his fist around the head of his 
cane, he inhaled the moistened night's thick breath.
The cold fire of the twin sapphires glared at him.
Simply to annoy, to pay back the uncalled hatred, Kamatari started to hum the old Cajun song, "tes yeux bleu". 
There was a new spirit dancing within the icy sapphires, sprinkling sparks. 
Prowling like a predator in sight of his prey, Aoshi approached slowly, in a semi-circling motion.
Kamatari felt his pulse throbbing, a nervous banging to speed up his already racing heartbeat.
Aoshi came to a halt within inches from the singer who breathed laboriously. A hand caught Kamatari's cheek, sensed the 
trembling, feverish tension.
	"On y vas."
The former guardian demon ordered, taking Kamatari by the hand to guide him.
They entered the kitchen where some employees were busily cleaning up.
	"Don't bother."
Aoshi lifted Kamatari by the hips on a working top.
	"How about a French toast?"
He reached for a pan, gathered the required items.
	"...merci.."
Crossing his arms, the singer tried to fight the chills shaking his body. Cautiously, he watched the self-restraint motions, 
listened to his rebelling stomach howling at the smell.
While one after one the other occupants of the kitchen left Aoshi served the late meal.
	"Bon appetite!"
Hesitantly, the singer advanced this unexpected gift, chewed thoughtfully.
	»What's this all about?!«
Aoshi left without an explanation, to come back ten minutes later, showered and dressed in his usual black attire.
	"On y vas."
He commanded, assisting Kamatari to leave his exposed position, snatching the singer's bag.
Securely shutting the rear entrance and setting the alarm, Aoshi headed for his motocross bike, mounting effortlessly. It took 
two swings before Kamatari snuggled at his back, again shivering.
The singer did not feel like debating if following the presumed killer-freak was a wise career-move. His roaring stomach was 
sated, his tired feet enjoyed the rest, his mind still puzzled.
Arriving at Aoshi's railway car, he could easily detect the repairs. The shattered window-panes had been replaced, the 
bullet-holes were covered.
	"You want to take a shower?"
Aoshi suggested nonchalantly, pushing the sliding-door to the bathroom open.
	"Ain...merci."
Bashfully Kamatari entered, leaving his cane nearby.
	»He won't stay here, looking at me...?!«
But Aoshi showed no inclination to leave.
	"Do you like that dress?"
He inspected the latest costume the singer wore for his performance, a glittery texture, a shimmering cover from collarbone to 
the ankles, black and silver.
Shrugging, Kamatari changed into the dress, turned and posed.
	"You don't like it?"
Finally he had found his speech again.
	"No. It's horrible."
Announcing the verdict, Aoshi came closer.
A wink later, Kamatari recognized the short-sword in his right hand. He backed up in fear though to no use as the shiny blade 
cut its way through the cloth. 
Within a few heartbeats, he was merely clad with rags of his former costume.
	"...why...?!"
Panting in shock, disbelievingly racing his skin with his hands, the young singer trembled.
There was not one single scratch.
	"I told you I'm interested in men."
Aoshi grabbed a shock of the lanky chestnut-colored strands, cutting them right above Kamatari's shoulder.
The singer watched paralyzed the severing of his proud mane, the strands huddling by his ankles. Tears welled up his 
hazelnut-colored eyes. 
Aoshi's tongue collected each one, then the bodyguard stripped naked.
	"That's what you were going to ask, ain? Alors, get your answer now!"
Embracing Kamatari firmly, he entered the shower cubicle.
Kamatari felt like crying, inspected his new 'haircut' with searching fingertips.
	»There is no need to humiliate, to cause me so much pain!«
His host obviously did not care, covering their skin with soapy foam, combing Kamatari's hair with his fingers.
The ice-cold star met hazelnut sorrow. Aoshi cupped the pale cheeks with his hands, lowered his head to share a shy kiss. 
Rinsing the soap away, he held Kamatari tight, dipped kisses like raindrops.
	"You're here on your free choice."
He remembered.
	"Despite the fact that I'm a man-hunting, killing beast covered with scars."
Blinking, the singer cuddled closer, still trembling.
	"You're with me."
Aoshi whispered lowly in Kamatari's ear.
	"Because you want to be thrilled. You need me-to become someone else."
	»Is he right?! Do I really...?!«
Doubts did not stand a chance with the determined actions of Aoshi. Sending French kisses after the French toast, the former 
guardian demon rubbed his scarred front with Kamatari's smooth skin, massaging the singer's rear with firm fingers.
	"Tell me!"
A deep, low command in Kamatari's nape.
The singer dug his fingertips into Aoshi's shoulder-blades, panting, blushing, trembling.
	»I can't do that! I just wanted to ask why he did not come back for me!«
Kamatari kept on repeating to himself.
Meanwhile, Aoshi sank to his knees, trapping the singer between the cubicle glass and his pale, marble-colored body. The firm 
hands fixing Kamatari's hips to the chilly glass, Aoshi lowered his head to suck the hesitant erection with hungry droughts. 
Kamatari moaned, clenched his fingers in the scarred flesh of his host, desperately fighting a faint. 
Fireworks exploded before his mind's eye, the earth seemed to shake, waves of ecstatic lust rushed through his entire body.
	»Stop it! Stop it!«
Eerie cries echoed in his ears.
	»This is humiliating!«
Tears dripped from his blinking eyes when Aoshi rose again, stifling his rasping breath with wet, passionate kisses.
	"Tell me!"
The guardian demon whispered again, stooping to nibble at Kamatari's aching nipples, massaging the singer's penis with sudden 
squeezes.
	»This is torture! Stop him! Do something about it!«
A choir of screaming voices urged Kamatari to regain his overwhelmed senses. Wiping the tears off, he focused on the sapphires' 
blinding fire. His entire body was begging, yearning, craving, starving... to be loved?
	»Rather being screwed till the lights go out!«
A piercing voice grudgingly confirmed, the last resort of his pride.
	"Baise-moi!"
Kamatari sobbed, clinging to the lean, scarred man, watching the ice-blue stars sparkling.
Aoshi inspected the panting singer closely, beads were traveling south his pale, muscled body. With the tip of his finger he 
lifted Kamatari's chin to meet his intense glare.
	"Say again."
Trembling under the pressure of restrained desire, Kamatari mouthed his plea once more.
	"Baise-moi".
A dozen hasty heartbeats later Aoshi drew closer, capturing the singer in his arms while zealously kissing him. 
Aoshi lifted his guest on his arms, left the bathroom in striding steps, not bothering with the wet trail on the floor. The 
chill would be gone in a short time, no doubt.
Kamatari gasped when he hit the mattress, though he stood no chance to calm down his racing heart.
Aoshi covered him like a looming predator, the ice-blue eyes plundering the naked body of the singer before the initial attack. 
Lowering the flickering eyelids, Kamatari flung his arms around the neck of his one and only male lover. A trace of fear tensed 
his body, overruled by the anticipation to be sated entirely. He felt exploring hands stride along his skin, mark every 
available patch before Aoshi seriously started the combat. Moaning and laboriously breathing, writhing and lusting for even 
more-Kamatari never felt that desirable and dissolute. Deep down in his soul there was the untamed, spirited 'wild boy' still 
biting its leash, ready to come back and do as it pleased and just right now, with this thrilling, virile, demanding lover, 
Kamatari wanted to straddle the pale hips, drive his teeth into the scarred flesh, ride the buckling, spasming guardian demon, 
uncaring for anything else but simple, absolute ecstasy.
Thankfully, Aoshi kept his cool, for he mastered the task of applying rubbers and lubrication before thrusting in one swift 
move into Kamatari's body. 
Kamatari should have been scared or hurt-but he was not. To the mild surprise of the bodyguard the singer rocked their entangled 
bodies without restraint, moaning, shaking the brass bars he grabbed for support. 
Too much had pent up during the last three weeks, doubts, rage, hatred, confusion, misery, humiliation and finally - love.
Nothing like the cozy, nice snuggling and fondling, but the raw kind, the exchange of power, vigor and fluids, the archaic, 
untamed way of settling down a quarrel.
And they were fighting, ripping the sheets, scratching, biting, probing their endurance.
The butterfly became something else.

~#~

Kamatari woke up, stretched his limbs, stifled a groan. 
Finally deciding to sit up, the singer yawned, massaged his neck. 
He felt strange... a little chilly without the shiny, warm mane on his bare back.
Casting a glimpse at his surrounding area, a low sigh left a coarse throat. 
Aoshi's bedroom looked like a disaster-site: torn sheets, the mattress beneath the bedstead, the closet gaping open-Kamatari 
remembered making love in it.
	"Sacre dieu..."
Very carefully he managed to get up, supported by the battered brass bars of the bedstead.
This excess cost him dearly... at least, he expected it to. Nonetheless, he could walk-slowly- without the aid of his cane.
As the singer left the bedroom to pay a visit to the shower, Aoshi met him, wearing an apron, balancing a pan. 
Stark naked.
	"Bon jour."
The bodyguard inspected Kamatari with his intense, icy glare.
	"Hi..."
A sudden blush crept up to burst at head's level. The singer cast his view to the floor, tingling with shame.
	"You alright?"
A bold hand cupped Kamatari's buttock affectionately.
	"Ca va... bien..."
He managed to mumble.
	"Merci."
	"Pourquoi?"
Aoshi worked a finger in the cleft, yet moving his pan around.
With a gasp Kamatari leaped at his sturdy breast, encircled the lean frame with his arms.
	"For not hurting me? Taking care of me?"
He hazarded hastily.
The finger in his rear moved slightly, causing the singer to purr deeply.
	»I should be sore... I should feel bad... but I don't.«
A kiss bristled his forehead.
	"Take a shower. Breakfast will be on."
Uttering a sigh of disappointment the singer did as he was told. 
Leaving the shower again, feeling refreshed, a little shocked by the imprints of love on his body, Kamatari combed his 
disheveled hair. To his own eyes he looked like someone spending the time of his life with a lascivious roar on his lips in a 
slightly muddled bed of sweet sin.
Taking a look outside the row of windows, the singer grinned. 
Aoshi prepared a picnic underneath a huge tree, still naked and visibly at ease with it.
	"C'est fou..."
Nobody could walk like that in the open with nothing more than the tall grass blades to keep peepers off!
Absentmindedly, the bodyguard banned some of his black-lacquered strands behind his ears, thoughtfully arranging the meal. 
Kamatari could not keep back a soft chuckle: the right buttock bore his mark...a circle of strong teeth.
	»Can't believe I really did that..«
Humming merrily, the singer climbed down the small staircase to join his lover.
	"Do you like me now?"
Teasingly, he turned, posed. 
The guardian demon frowned. 
Kamatari halted, shrank a little.
	"I will enjoy you better on my lap."
A demanding hand reached out for Kamatari.
	"Didn't know you're shortsighted!"
The singer managed to whisper before his mouth was sealed for a longer period. Panting, he leaned back, resting his head at 
Aoshi's shoulder. Tenderly fed by the lean man, Kamatari searched his heart for an answer to the question dooming.
	"There are two conditions."
Aoshi briskly prevented any further inquisition.
	"One: sometimes I need to be left alone, two: I don't share. When you're with me, you're with me one and only."
Blinking, Kamatari turned his head to muster his lover.
	»Is he really proposing...?!«
	"Now, tell me yours!"
The sapphires sparkled icy-blue.
	"Et bien..."
Cuddling, the singer had to gather his dispersed thoughts for a coherent answer.
Entangling his fingers with Aoshi's, Kamatari finally announced.
	"There shall be no more killing, for it's rather disturbing to me. Then, I'd like to be taken care of. I want you to treat 
me with respect. Don't hurt me."
A brief silence while both men watched their joint hands.
	"D'accord. I take that."
Aoshi stated in his cool demeanor.
	"You're one of the romantic kind, ain?"
Kamatari teased to cover his delight. He fidgeted on Aoshi's lap till he faced the bodyguard.
	"Tu sais..."
He smiled temptingly.
	"Je t'aime, mon ami."
A delicate smile bewitched the singer as Aoshi winked, once.
	"I already noticed last night."
Chuckling, Kamatari embraced his guardian demon, kissed the mocking smirk passionately.
	"C'etait tes yeux bleu!"
He singsonged, snuggling closer.

~#~

	"He does WHAT?!"
Sanosuke gawked at his wolf.
	"Arrete, rooster, you look like a guppy!"
The hunter growled, nonchalantly picking his French Fries. 
He just KNEW he could shock his unruly lover with the news!
Said man gurgled while trying not to suffocate.
	"Alors!"
Saitou went on with a deadpan voice.
	"After all, it's not a big change from his cane to the small post. He can still sing and he does not have to wear those 
costumes any longer... well, longer than one minute per hour."
Cajun people loved entertainment with a good song and nobody minded a spicy strip, especially, since a guardian demon with sharp 
knives waited for his lover every morning to take him home to their railway car.
Smirking, the wolf dipped a kiss on his speechless rooster.
	"By the way...wanna strip for me?"

~#~ The end~#~
                                                
Thanks for reading!
kimera