Lives in Brick and Stone

The detective

He just didn’t even know how he would be able to face Hirokoba Rin at that damn ball now. Especially if he decided to lose the rest of his dignity to make a deal with another devil of the underworld. As it was now, the officer stood before the small, dirty mirror in his apartment trying to once again tie his tie and wait for his partner to come pick him up so they could go together.

His partner… Kite often wondered why it was that Tanishi Kei was still with him after so long. After so much had happened. His partner had been there. His partner had been his best man at his wedding. His partner had been there at the funeral. When he had done everything in his power to fix the corruption rampant in the police force, his partner had been right there, standing beside him, or right behind him, ready to catch him of he fell. Even now, his partner was there, to back him up; regardless of the sorry state he had been in just days ago. When he had woken up in a place that had not been this tiny little apartment.

It was painful and humiliating to even recall the events. But remembering helped him cement in his mind what he had to do, what he needed to do to finally get the criminal who had become his life out of it, so he could go and die in piece.

Groaning softly, the figure rolled just slightly. His arm reached out next to him, as if desiring to pull another to him. But it encountered empty space. It was only he who had lain in that bed that morning. Him and his pounding headache. Even the sun streaming through the windows had hurt. Eishirou’s head had hurt so much that even sitting up just slightly forced a stabbing sensation right between the eyes. With no willpower to even fight the pain, he had just flopped back into the spacious bed that he knew wasn't his.

Eishirou had tried in vein to wrack his memory as to where he was, or how he had gotten there, but he couldn't remember anything. He had had absolutely no recollections of his less than sober moments. Nothing at all had come to mind. He could only remember drinking a great deal. He could only vaguely recall visiting his family's gravesite. But after that, it was all just a hazy blur. Even now, days later, it was a dreamlike memory.

He had dreamed he'd finally died and joined his long dead wife in Heaven. He’d had the most wonderful dream, in which he and Satsuki had made passionate love to one another. But once he was awake and his brain started feeling like it was trying to come out his ears, Eishirou had known he wasn't anywhere near heaven. He wasn’t even dead. He had known that beautiful, perfect, intimate reunion with his wife had been nothing more than a twisted alcohol induced dream.

Still for a moment after waking, he had felt the need to call out to her. His desperate, plaintive voice called out her name, not once, but twice before the realization had finally kicked in. She was dead. She couldn’t answer him. She had been dead for nine years. Burnt to a crisp in a house fire started by the family of the man whose bed he had woken in.

"Satsuki..." The Officer had whispered softly, rolling away for the light, so that the hurt on his face would not be illuminated. He would never cry though because the pain was too much for tears that might be caught by the pillow. Dark empty eyes had fixing upon the golden band on his ring finger as he lay there in the sheets. Valiantly he tried to block the ear splitting noise of someone very strong pounding on the front door.

A someone who just happened to be here to collect his wayward partner. A someone who was concerned with him and cared for him, not that Eishirou knew all of that. All Eishirou had known was that the banging was loud and it made his head hurt even more.

And Rin. Hirokoba Rin, businessman, Mafioso. Evil twisted sexual predator could only think one thing. Poor little dear was all Rin could think even though he had a twisted sort of smile on his lips. He had checked on Eishirou first thing that morning, as he was not the kind of man to sleep in all day. But his officer was still fast asleep. It wasn’t a peaceful rest, however, it had been a restless sleep that had the man tossing and turning from side to side. As much pleasure as it would have been to lie beside Eishirou and stroke his hair and comfort him with gentle kisses, it was too risky. He knew the man would have strange flashes from the night before. He couldn’t put worse images into his dear officers head, the man would be more or less aware when he woke up…he didn’t need the officer remembering things and shooting him that day. Not when he was still so very interested.

Still Rin had also tempted to test the limits of Eishirou’s obsession with him. It was an idea he had been tinkering with for a while. Rin had known already that Eishirou would not allow any of the other officers except for his partner (who didn’t matter in Rin’s book) to investigate him and this made the young business man quite happy for some reason. Still, he had wondered if he could seduce one of Eishirou’s younger officers. Perhaps, Chinen, the deputy that was still in training. He was a cute one. And how would his darling chief detective react to it he wondered? While he might even mock-romance the boy of his choosing he still wanted Eishirou…wanted the man with a vengeance.

Rin had even watch the other man from the door for quite some time until it looked like he would breech the barriers of restless sleep and awake. He had headed downstairs to put on a pot of coffee and make a hearty breakfast for his secret lover. Also migraine medication…yes that would be good. It wasn’t until he heard an insistent banging on his door that Rin had finished up…someone was here to collect his partner…how irritating the corpulent officer could be. Still he didn’t need the man his house down to get Eishirou so he had answered the door.

“Ahh. I’m can’t say I’m all that surprised to see you…I took care of dear Eishirou…like you asked me to do…he’s probably just waking up now…you don’t have to worry he’s fine…just nursing a huge hangover…you can check for yourself…Officer Tanishi. Oh I was in the middle of breakfast making…do you want pancakes?” Rin had seemed calm as he stepped back pointing to the stairs that led up to the rooms.

The large man had never trusted Rin. He looked down upon Rin as a hawk looked down upon mice. “I don’t know why I even told you about my partner. Whatever possessed me to entrust his safety to someone like you.” Kei knew exactly why he had done it. He was always worried about his partner. He knew Eishirou’s problems very well. He also knew that when he was like that, Eishirou needed someone that was not him. And though deep down Kei wanted to be the one to look after Chief detective Kite, there were rules and boundaries he would never cross. Still, he had known even more he had made contact with the man before him that this had been a bad idea. He knew he should have told one of the other officers at work to come get Kite instead of this man.

As Kei had pushed past Rin to get inside, he muttered. “And for the record, he is not ‘Dear Eishirou‘. To you he is Officer Kite, and don’t you forget it.” He had paused for a moment. “And if I find out you did anything to my partner, I swear to you that you won’t live long enough to regret it.”

Kei was very very protective it seemed, over the man he called his partner for many years. Yet, he also couldn’t over look the fact that Rin had taken his partner out of the rain, took care of him, and was even offering breakfast when he had to do none of that. So there was another pause. “One more thing… he hates pancakes.” It was totally untrue. He knew his parent loved such things, even if in the end Kei was the one to eat them all. His partner’s vice was alcohol, after all, not food. Then Kei was headed upstairs to where Eishirou was still lying in bed. Lying in bed and wondering where his clothing was and why he was in such nice pajamas.

Rin would never have regrets about anything he did. He had always believed that regrets were useless things. You lived with the things you did and you played the cards you were dealt that was life. The young bleached blond business man let the large officer into his house not really having much of a choice, as he knew the large man was strong and could have forced his way in. Still he had wondered if his dear officer let his partner kill him.

Maybe he would live after all; Rin had given Eishirou good dreams after all. With the food finished the young man smiled at the larger male, carrying the peace offering and taking in the information he had been given. Kite didn’t like pancakes. This was useful information for the rose-colored life Rin had imagined for himself. But whether or not he could win the man into his arms was an entirely different story. It would take a bit of persuasion to see what Eishirou really felt.

In the mean time he left Kei with breakfast so that he could clean up and dress. Before leaving his room he grabbed some clothing, clothing Eishirou had never seen him in, casual clothing. He’d brought his clothing down with him perchance he should need them and he did now that the angel was here. Rin had showered earlier that morning and a robe was no longer suitable to walk around in anymore. Going into the bath while the partner made contact with his partner to verify his safe condition Rin dressed. Jeans, tight black t-shirt, his luxurious blond hair tied back in a braid, very unusual to see the beautifully dangerous man so casual, a very rare occurrence. Still Rin had a delicate scent like the ocean and sunshine and he still had an intimidating air.

Once dressed he made up a plate of the remaining food for his hung over detective and headed up with it unsure of the greeting he’d receive. He was quiet entering behind Officer Tanishi. It had been easy to tell the other was hung over and once Rin had set food and coffee beside Eishirou. He kept the room lights on low and closed the curtains. Ignoring the other officer’s warnings completely, he had spoken to the man still in the pajamas he’s placed upon him the night before. “My darling Eishirou, a bit hung over from last night are we? Its okay if you want rest here for a little while…till you feel better...and have breakfast…your clothing is clean and dry. I’ll bring them to you in a moment…and you’re welcome to the shower…Officer Tanishi is welcome to food, or at least the food he‘s left…and anything else he might require.” Rin smiled and moved to lean over Eishirou one arm bracing him against the bed while his free hand pressed Eishirou’s forehead. He had somehow ignored the presence of the death glare somewhere behind him.

“You were…a little delusional from the drinking, darling officer…” Rin withdrew gently caressing the older man’s face before smiling at Kei. Rin was just a bit too happy. He had a lovely glow as well, but what that meant was uncertain. Only Rin knew he’d made love to Eishirou last night…his first man and the man he had wanted so much.

When the door opened, Eishirou groaned softly, pulling the sheets over his head. He had known the sound of that footfall. And he had known the lecture he would get. Still, the sheet was whisked away and there was Tanishi. Tapping his foot a little, hands on his too wide hips. His eyes were narrowed and he spoke none too quietly. “Kite Eishirou… When will you ever learn? If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times, drinking like that doesn’t solve anything. You’re just lucky someone who even remotely respects you picked you up. You could have been found by some cop killer.” It was rather ridiculous that his partner would be the one to give him the regular lecture, as it was his partner who had arranged him to be picked up that one. But at the same time, he was the only one who could. He was the only one Eishirou would listen to any more.

“Kei?” Eishirou’s voice was groggy. “Not so loud. Please. You’re making my head hurt more.”

“You deserve it, Eishirou! You told me last time that you weren’t going to drink like this anymore. What would people think if they knew you didn’t keep your promises? I’m surprised that Hirokoba even took you in.”

The words brought another groan. He had been in no mood to argue back. He had not been in the shape at the time to tell Kei that he would stop drinking when Kei went on a diet. Instead he had just lay there, letting everything sink in slowly. So that was where he had ended up. In the Hirokoba estate. And while that meant he was in the same house as his obsession, it had also meant he was in the house of his favorite criminal. He had suddenly wished he wasn’t so hung over. Because then; he would have gotten up and search the house for anything that might be of use to his ongoing and unending investigations. Even if there had been no warrant for search, he could always argue the benefits of plain sight. Not that Rin was sloppy enough to leave anything truly convicting out in the open where he would find it.

Any other thoughts had been taken away by the arrival of his host. He had never seen the other so…normal. Yet, it was attractive to him somehow in ways Kite still didn‘t want to dwell upon. It was like Rin was more on his level somehow. That he wasn’t some multi-millionaire criminal mastermind. He was just a handsome man that looked incredibly good slumming it like that. His slightly blurred eyes had seemed unable to leave the other man, as if he was spell bound for the moment.

The touch snapped him out though and Eishirou had looked away. He could hear Kei’s sharp breath, as if he was ready to take Rin down if he did anything at all. He still wasn’t sure, but he had thought at the time, he had detected jealousy. “Hung over…is an understatement. It feels like a heard of elephants are dancing in my skull.” He had frowned though, when the other touched his face. Rin’s fingertips moving slightly against his loose hair. It would take him hours to get his hair right. “Delusional…” He had muttered and raised his left hand to look at his ring. Sighing softly he muttered, “I suppose I owe you now.”

Rin had felt pretty damned pleased with himself. He’d never had Eishirou’s eyes move over him the way they had a moment ago. Did the older man really like it so much to see him dressed so plainly? Stripped of his silks, robes, and jewelry, Rin looked just as normal as anyone else save for the natural island beauty. It was a rarity indeed to dress this way and he didn’t do it often and he couldn’t do it often. He was a business man and the last son to carry the Hirokoba crime family name. He had an image to maintain.

Rin also didn’t forget that it wasn’t just Eishirou and himself. He knew Kei was there though he had barely acknowledged him. Still he wasn’t so brazen and foolish as to forget his nemesis completely and knowing the man disliked him as much as he disliked that man. He had to be cautious. Still he didn’t think the other officer would attack him so long as he didn’t do anything too drastic to Eishirou.

He knitted his brow a bit when he heard the older man speak and he slid his fingers up to gently rub his officer’s temple gently in small circles. He smiled at the other’s words, “Owe me…well I suppose you do…and I’m not the sort of man that turns down such tempting offers you…must understand…still I’m a reasonable man.” Rin had drawn back and leaned on his arms. “As you well know, I am an official in this town. As such, I’m obligated to attend certain events including the ball for the police force. I do have one problem, you see. I…have a date…he’s rather handsome and young. But I need and extra invite on the level of an official. While he has an invite because he is a police officer and all, he needs a different sort of invite or else he won’t be able to join me in certain events. You do see my distress, Mr. Officer?” Rin had been lying of course. He didn’t exactly have a date, though he did have the young officer, Chinen Hiroshi, in mind. There was no doubt that he’d have that young officer. He was an attractive dark little man too…but nothing like Eishirou, who was the real prize here.

“It’s such a small favor. However, if you don’t wish to pony up you could always kiss me or let me hold you. You know which way I am talking about. I could suck you and call it all even, but the ticket would be nice too.” Rin had teased. Yet in all seriousness he had known he wouldn’t mind having his mouth on the other man.

Eishirou had never been one to openly ogle anyone. He had just been so suspired by the other man’s dress that he had stared. Probably for longer than he should have. And as good as Rin looked, Eishirou was willing to wager that those jeans were worth his salary for a few months. But it also proved something that he had always secretly believed but refused to admit because of the implications. That Rin would look good in absolutely anything. Not that he was about to let the other know that.

For that one moment, Eishirou had felt a sharp stab of jealousy. There was another officer. How dare they?! It must have been one of the newer guys. It was understood that Rin was his pet project. His criminal to hunt down and convict. And it had hurt a little to know that some younger officer was going to be near to his Rin. Though he wondered what was with how possessive he had grown. He hadn’t gotten that attached to the man…had he? He blamed the soft massage against his temples for distracting him from answering the other.

The corner of one eye had still twitched just slightly. “A special ticket…” His jaw clenched tightly. There was just the slightest color on his face. Too much teasing had always gotten him flustered. And with hung over as he had been, even a little teasing was too much. “I will arrange that for you. It is the least I could do…to pay my debt.” Even as he had spoken, he had reached beside the table to put his glasses back on.

Rin had been sorely tempted to simply close their deal, shoo the fat detective out of the room and have his way with the sweet and hung over officer. Eishirou looked ravishing for one--even as hung over as he was--and two Eishirou had seemed a bit miffed by his arranged date. Rin would have made sure to get that recruit. He was someone who wasn’t quite as familiar with the ropes. Rin knew that while Eishirou was chasing him there were things the older man tended to neglect to do sometimes…Rin was lucky with this young man. The long haired man smiled almost affectionately, though there was something a little bit devious about the way those soft lips curled slightly and secretively. He ran his hand down the side of the older man’s face and under his chin. “You shouldn’t worry yourself too much officer. He’s strong and young, but there is something to be said about experiences. I find a man who knows exactly what to do with his hands more attractive then clumsy youths. But still, breaking them in has a charm about it.”

Rin had then drawn back attending to what was left of Eishirou’s food. He didn’t want to force the older man to eat more than he could handle. He didn’t want Eishirou sick after all. “The thing about this ticket is…well I hear the committee has put together a dance competition for those with the required tickets. I can dance quite well and I have been told this young man can as well. So, I guess it’s about competition too.” There was a dance off and Rin knew he could make sparks fly out of the older man’s ears and completely infuriate him with need. Dancing wasn’t just stuffy old people dancing. Royalty danced. It was also a mark of an accomplished individual. The rumba, tango, salsa, foxtrot, samba, and cha-cha were all sensual dances. He wanted to see his darling officer lose it by watching Rin in the arms of another, taller, darker man. “Anyway…forget the repayment for now. It’s no huge deal. I was rather glad to do it.”

Eishirou had felt fingers pass over his chin. And while it was nice, it was rather much too intimate for the man. Not when Rin had a date set up. Things like that didn’t make since to Eishirou anymore. With his head still pounding and this new revelation, he didn’t get why the other had continued to tease him. He already had someone. And a younger model was probably more desirable than a man nearly nine years his elder. In fact, he had probably been just too old for Rin since the day they had met, when Rin had been an older teen.

His eyes had turned towards the side at the words. A dance. There was another stab. His wife, when she had been alive, had always made fun of him for his dancing. At their wedding, he had stepped on her feet at least three times before he had gotten the hang of it. His partner had watched from the crowd and laughed right along with her. If he were forced out onto the floor for any reason, he would be a laughing stock of the station for months, even if he and Officer Tanishi could physically and mentally out police the entire precinct all by themselves. After all, how could such a hard-nosed perfectionist not be able to dance? Still looking to the side, he muttered, “I’ll insure that you get the proper ticket.”

Then his eyes traveled to what was left of the food. It had looked very good. And though he was hung over, he was actually sort of hungry. “I should be fine enough to eat.” He confirmed, shifting to sit up more and clenching his teeth slightly in order to ease the stabbing pain at his temple when he moved. “And I am sure you aren’t the kind to attempt to poison me.” He reached out and took the tray.

Eishirou’s manners were incredibly formal. In the restaurant that they had been to earlier, before he had gotten drunk, it had been that way as well. But here, in the presence of others, it came out even more so. “Thank you for the food.” He stated and took the first bite before declaring, as if it amazed him. “This is…delicious.” So much for his not liking pancakes, as his partner had claimed.

Rin had never really thought of their age difference before. Oh there were obviously plenty of reasons he could find not to like Eishirou if he had wanted to. The man was hunting him. The man was older than he was by a lot. He had nothing at all to offer the rich crime lord. He was scruffy and violent and rough around the edges with little refinement. He had a partner that looked like the Michelin Man. He still wore his wedding band after nine years of being widower. He got drunk on the anniversary of his family’s death. That should have been more than enough to put the blond man off, but somehow, it wasn’t. He was determined to learn Eishirou’s true feelings for him.

He was also determined to have his enemy live with him and fuck him hard every night. Despite how refined Rin was, he was still a lecher and a man with an appetite. Like all men he hungered too. He lusted and craved and he would give the fortune he had for the tiny apartment Eishirou was now standing in, reminiscing about this all, just to sleep in close range on the officer’s couch.

He also known that giving that up would start a gang mutiny so he couldn’t. In his own special way, the young criminal was doing his part to keep the crime rate down as well but he could never admit that. Still he fantasized about having Eishirou for himself at night.

Bringing the young officer he’d invited to the Ball with him was only a stepping stone, dancing was only a stepping stone. Rin would have been fine with a normal ticket, but he wanted to watch the expression on Eishirou’s face when another man from his department laid hands on him. When Rin touched and flirted with someone other than Eishirou. Still it wouldn’t be genuine. He truly wanted the officer and though he had a hard time admitting it, he loved the older man passionately. But they were still enemies and Rin couldn’t be certain if Eishirou would ever come to accept him. Then there was his partner…

Rin watched fondly while Eishirou ate and when the older man told him how good it was the younger male smiled brightly. “Well…that is very good to know Officer. I’ll know what to make for you next year should I find you lying in the rain. You could have gotten sick you know, and then you wouldn’t have been able to go to work. Then who would follow me around and keep me from breaking all the laws?” Rin stood up a smile on his lips. He would let Eishirou stay as long as he needed.

The officer continued to eat. But he didn’t gorge. Instead, he only ate half of what Kei had left for him. He suddenly lost his appetite. The other had mentioned next year. It had just served as a reminder of what he lost. He already had less of an appetite after he found that Rin had someone. It was obvious now. Rin was only messing with him as a lark. It was a game a rich boy played to fill the time. Somehow, that hurt him in a way he didn’t really understand. “Kei will go on without me.” He stated, rather distantly.

The larger officer frowned and walked over to the pretty blond. “Hirokoba…A word...outside.” He knew his partner’s moods. And right now it seemed Eishirou was quickly getting into one of those moods that no one could get though to him. When he was cold and distant and rather vindictive. He took the other’s arm and started to tug. “Outside…Eishirou…needs to be alone right now.”

Kite had just sat quietly and stared at the rest of his food, lightly playing with the golden band on his finger. As if he was wondering if he would even make it to the next year. After all, now that there was nothing but business between himself and Rin, he had to take the kid gloves off.

Rin was, of course, unaccustomed to certain things. And being around Eishirou in the after affects of his drunken behavior, he could say he wasn’t used to this side of his beloved officer at all. He wanted to be sure of the other’s obsessive drive; whether it was hate, or if inside of him, there was a part that didn’t really want to see Rin behind bars for the rest of his life. Now that he saw his normally calm and collected officer sitting there, almost suicidal looking, playing with his ring, it took his breath away and not in a good way. Rin kept his love for the other man all to himself, but to hear the other say that everything would go on without him, that hurt.

“I…can’t…” Rin wanted to say he couldn’t go on if Eishirou really wanted to kill himself, but that would be out of character. He wanted to say that he needed the man so much, but instead he let the tub of lard posing as a detective drag him away. He closed the door behind him to be left alone in the hall with Kei and what the man had to say. Still it didn’t stop Rin from pacing up and down the hall and glancing up at the door while he waited for the man’s usual snappy comments and demands that never really affected Rin. He was too worried anyway. He was worried about Eishirou. The man would need a lot more care than he had initially thought. “Eishirou. Eishirou. He’s going to be fine. He is not serious…” Rin sounded sure, but his voice trembled a little.

When Kei had closed the door he had waited a moment after. He leaned against it, something he’d never do in Kite’s apartment, as the doors there were too weak to hold his weight. He stood in silence watching the man treading the carpet. He had never seen this man like this. His interactions with Hirokoba had all be strictly business, and not at all pleasant until yesterday. That was when he had told the man to take care of his partner. He just watched with narrowed eyes for a while before speaking, very slowly, very clearly. Still, he rested his dark head for a moment as if contemplating something. It was something he had never told anyone before. A secret between himself and his partner. “Kite almost shot himself once. No one knows that but me. I fear if I had not been there at that time, he would have done it. But no one knows but me, and now you do too.”

“You see, Hirokoba, you don’t understand him. My partner. He has a wound that never heals. He lives an entire year pretending everything is okay. That everything is perfect and normal and there’s nothing at all wrong. He does it really good too. It’s only this time of year when it’s obvious.” he tried to keep his voice neutral, but even this officer felt deeply for the troubled man behind that door.

Kei stayed against the door as if to keep the other man from getting inside while he spoke. “This time of year is especially hard on Kite. And he doesn’t like to be reminded of the fact that his perfect world is gone and never coming back no matter what he does or how hard he works. That’s the only reason why I told you about his trip. Because I know…He needed someone and not someone like me. I… would have taken advantage.” Not that he wasn’t so sure that Rin had not. It caused the officer no small jealousy to think that he’d given his partner over into this man’s hands to protect Kite from himself, only to throw the troubles man to even worse wolves. “To remind him why it is that he’s still going. You just happened to be the most convenient other person at the time.” Kei frowned. “It will be the last time, trust me. I won’t let you hurt him anymore.”

In the other room, Eishirou had remained silent, unaware. Withdrawn into that quiet for a long moment. He had sat and tried not to relive the memory of that strange and wonderful dream he had had. And when he could not it only hurt more. He could only force the pain away by making himself to move, starting to dress in his clean, dry clothing, unaware of the words being exchanged by two men who cared deeply for him in their own ways.

Rin barely listened to Kei as he usually did still pacing the floor. Though some of the things the fat man said he took with a grain of salt, when the youth called him convenient and the last thing the other had said, it caused Rin to stop. Of course he picked on Eishirou and he ribbed him and he teased him. The older man had been hunting him since he was nineteen years old. He thought the serious officer was taking it all in stride. Was he hurting the man that much? And what was with the partner? Did this wide detective want his officer so badly? He’d not even thought of that before. Suddenly Rin felt enraged with the other man. He had no idea what feelings he had for the officer. What was more was that he had lost people too, in the same infighting that had taken away Kite’s wife and five year old child.

He had always had this vision of his officer as a tower of strength to keep himself strong. Rin was not allowed to grieve or feel, only to move forward. He would. He probably would have been extremely powerful if it wasn’t for Eishirou, a man so connected with his past.

He moved towards his bedroom door where the huge man stood in front of it, blocking him, not permitting him entrance. But this was still Rin’s home and he wanted to see Eishirou for himself. Pressing his hand against the man’s chest, he suddenly came to the conclusion that it wasn’t all fat like he had initially thought. That made shoving the man aside that much more dangerous to him. Narrowing his eyes, his lips parted and for a moment he said nothing. Then he spoke.

“It’s because of that man in there that I can’t move forward and higher. That I can only think about the people I’ve lost but I don’t have the right to grieve for. And it’s because of that man I can’t move from this place where I’ve grown to accustom to. Because he is necessary to me. Now, this is still my house and you will let me pass into my room unless you wish to be brought up on charges of unlawful entry. I grow tired of these games…”

Kei’s eyes narrowed more and he bristled just slightly. To touch the large man at all was to be in large amounts of trouble if you were a criminal, but so far Rin had done nothing wrong. Nothing at all. So Kei could not self-defense him. Kei couldn’t act. He wouldn’t act. Not in a way that would make him seem the villain. Because in the end, he wanted to be seen as the one Kite could depend on most.

Still, he had wanted to drive a wedge between this man and his partner. He could only see the Hirokoba hunt for what it was. Ahab’s hunt for the whale. He didn’t want his partner of nine years ending up like the fictional captain. Yet, there were times he was afraid he could see the spiral bottoming out. There were so many times when he wanted to grab Kite and hold him tightly and make it all go away. But so far it never had gotten to that point he had once seen. There was always one more thing to investigate. One more connection that brought them back to Rin. One more piece of a very elaborate puzzle. It kept Kite living. But it also kept Kite hurting, which in turn made Kei hurt from the want he felt to comfort the man who had been his friend and partner since the police academy. But instead of a rift, his words seemed to have struck a nerve.

With his better hearing, Kei could hear the rustling of clothing and zipping of zippers. His partner was up then. “So…you’re tired of my games. What I told you about Kite was true. All of it. And I will not let you touch him again.” His stance at the door grew dangerous. It was rare for the big man to fight, but when officer Tanishi fount, people got broken.

“My my…such a violent little boy in blue…I see…” Rin’s eyes were narrowed and his face cut into something of a thoughtful expression, but his lips turned upwards ever so slightly. This man was a real nuisance, but there was no way that Rin could win over the huge man who had been with Eishirou from even before their own beginning. He could hear the older man behind the door, but Rin was hardly terrified of either one of the two visitors in his home. What were they going to do? Spank him and send him to his room without breakfast? Feed him something disgusting, like goya?

Curling his fingers against themselves to make a fist, he looked down for a moment before turning his back to the officer and walking down the hall his steps a bit calmer now. He was done worrying over Eishirou. His own mood changing rapidly, “Naughty little officer. You have no idea do you? No…you couldn’t possibly get it…either way he’s all yours…I wonder how long he’ll survive…without me. Enjoy breakfast and my hospitality, fat boy.” Rin really did have more important things to do than to play games like this with man like that and while he had intended to check on Eishirou just now. Even though he had wanted to say things to the older man, he wanted to confess his feelings for him, it would not happen. Because Rin had forgotten one rather large little detail, Officer Tanishi. The reason he could never tell Eishirou he loved him and it was a good reason. He didn’t want Eishirou to give up his only family left, his partner, and Kei was overly protective. In fact, Rin was sure that the other officer was in love with the man behind the door. There was no way he would be trusted in a relationship with Eishirou with such competition looming

Turning the corners to one of his many rooms he left Kei alone at the door once more. Of course Eishirou wouldn’t know which room, but Kei would, but even that didn’t really matter. He had to get ready. Off with the casual clothing and on with one of his dark and elaborately decorated cheongsams, black pants and kung fu shoes. He freshened up and took his time to let down his hair. This was the face Eishirou was used to seeing and this was better. It was better this way because there was nothing between them except a night of hazy passion. And even then he wasn’t even real to Eishirou. Pressing his hands firmly against the sink, his mind reeled. He wanted the officer but he couldn’t have him. It made sense. He had everything else, but it was all empty stuff. Am empty house with no love at all. Rin might as well have been a doll. And it all came back to that one frustrating thing. He wanted Eishirou.

He was frustrated now, and he glowered at himself in the bathroom mirror before picking up a vase that sat on the counter and smashing the vase, the mirror, and his hand at once. He didn’t feel it, he just left the room his frustration now quelled, but only a little bit. He was oblivious to the blood from his hand dripping on the pristine carpet. He just knew that he simply had to get to work and occupy himself with more pressing matters. He didn’t look for Eishirou or Kei. They could let themselves out or the butler would see to that. He just couldn’t bring himself see either one of them right now.

It wasn’t that Kei was vindictive. He was just highly protective of his partner. He knew that Eishirou needed to move on. But at the same time, Kei didn’t want to lose his Kite to just anyone. They had to be worthy of him. They had to be perfect for Eishirou. Nothing else would do. It was the only reason why he had yet to make a move. He knew he was far from perfect enough for Kite.

Rin was right though. He didn’t understand. He probably never would. But he bristled at the words. Was that a threat? Was Rin not going to keep Eishirou going anymore? Now, that was a problem. It would mean Kei would have to find a different criminal empire to channel his partner into if that were true. Or he could just wait until the next drunken night and bend his fellow officer over the tread bare couch in Kite’s tiny, dirty apartment.

Rin was gone when Eishirou opened the door and joined the large man still standing there stiffly. “It’s alright now, Kei. Now…Let’s say we don’t bother Rin anymore. I’m sure he had better things to do than host us anymore. Besides, my head still hurts and I have aspirin with my name on it waiting for me back home.”

Still, he head had snapped up at the distant sound of something shattering. He thought it must be just his imagination. This was a very protected house. He doubted there was any trouble within its walls. “Just give me a moment.” Eishirou wrote a very short note. It was a thank you to Rin. It was in his clear and precise writing. But there seemed to be a little more to it. Eishirou was actually very grateful to Rin. And he though it killed him to write it, he had wished the man well in his new romance.

He couldn’t help it. His final remarks were, ‘That officer of yours…is a lucky man. I will be sorry to take you away from him.’ Then he let Kei lead him towards the front door, hoping the man had driven. It would be quite a walk back to his tiny apartment.

Perhaps it was something Rin should have done a long time ago; to end Eishirou’s chase and let the man obsess over something else for a little while, maybe even forever. Still, it was something Rin couldn’t fathom. It was such a pitiful threat. But just maybe he would take a vacation. Maybe he did need a bit of time away from it all. He thought about this, all the while he paid no attention to his hand or the blood trail he was leaving. His head was still reeling with the things he should do and the things he wanted to do so badly. He’d made it, almost to the front door but not quite before he was accosted by servants trying to bandage his hand.

Rin shook off his fussy servants after one had already started cleaning the floor just as Kei and Eishirou had gotten there. It was a futile effort since Rin hadn’t stopped bleeding. The tiles were only stained more and the servant, for the moment, gave up on his task. Opening the door with his free hand Rin looked at one of his butlers, “A car…get the Avalon…I’ll be on my way out too…”

Rin pushed the front door open his voice very business-like when he spoke to Eishirou and Kei. “It was nice having you for a visit, though I do hope we don’t have trouble like this again.” His voice was lacking the affection he had that morning as finally Rin knew he had to rid himself of these ridiculous feelings. He couldn’t keep feeling this way. It was impossible. The sooner their relationship died the better perhaps. Not waiting Rin stepped outside and waited on the car of his choosing, the Spider…though he did lapse into a very uncharacteristic silence.

Eishirou was a sharp man. He had seen the blood. It had brought him to rethink the shattering sound he had heard. He wondered; had one of the help been hurt somehow? Still, it wasn’t his problem. He had to ride in Tanishi’s cramped car all the way home, with a hangover. He could really only think of one thing at a time right now, or his head would give him troubles.

Yet, he was stopped at the door by Rin. Rin in his normal clothing. A Rin that seemed so different than before. It was like Rin had changed, and Eishirou wondered what had happened. He could see the red oozing from the other’s hand. He’d not been talked to in such a business-like manner in a long time. At least not by this man. He thought they were past that. He was going to say something about it when Rin stepped past him as if he was nothing. Less than nothing. He supposed that was how it was going to be. Now that the secret was out and he knew Rin was already dating someone.

Stepping past, Eishirou dug though his pocket and came out with a white cloth. For a moment, he pushed past Kai and lightly reached out to take Rin’s hand. “You should be more careful. You need to put a lot more pressure on cuts like this. And a doctor. You go to a doctor, okay?” He carefully redid the gauze as the first aid classes all cops had to take had taught him before wrapping the entire thing with his clean handkerchief. With one perfect knot keeping it in place, he let the hand go and backed away. “I suppose I’ll just leave your ticket with your secretary.”

“Again… I thank you for your hospitality. I hope my partner and I didn’t put you out too much.” He would have said more, but the car for Rin had arrived.

Rin was trying to be stern; he was trying to be hard and cold. He figured that if his father could do it he was capable as well. His father had been a very stern and upright man; always business, never flirtatious, never crossing the boundaries, but he managed to maintain a kind image for the public eye. At first the young Hirokoba heir was doing just that, but then an officer name Kite Eishirou wheedled his way into the criminal’s heart, mind, and body. He was polluted with these feelings so it was difficult.

It was hard to keep that chilly atmosphere wrapped around himself, to not flirt and tease the older man. To not wish to get any closer, to fear getting closer. Now Eishirou was bandaging his hand so gently. Didn’t the man hate him? Did he like him? What about Kei? The officer was so confusing to him and he probably confused Eishirou just as much. Still the man’s kindness and this honorable act touched the tenderness in Rin that melted him and claimed his heart again quickly. Now, he knew why he had become so infatuated with the older man and why he had come to desire him so much, Rin could feel despite anything anyone had ever said to him. He could feel and he had been feeling for so long now, for nearly nine years and not once could he express it.

He watched for a moment as the Kei went to fetch his beater of a car and as Kite stepped up to it. His body had gone numb for all of a moment before his mind decided on what he wanted to do.

Rin was quick, in his line of business he had to be. He grabbed Eishirou with his uninjured hand he pulled the older man back to him. His intense eyes gazed up at the officer. For the first time in a long time there was true emotion in Rin’s face, “You wouldn’t be so grateful to me if you knew how terrible I’ve been. Such a terrible host. I found you there lying against your family’s grave stones, drunk, delusional. You though I was your wife. I was the one that kissed you in my car. I was the one wrapped my coat around you. I could have brought you to your home, but I brought you to mine. It wasn’t all a dream. You thought I was her and I let you believe it. I let you believe it so that you would touch me and look at me with affection and love. But you were seeing her in the bath and when we had sex last night. But those things were all real. But not between you and her. It was us…”

Rin released the other man. That was what he needed to say. If Eishirou could despise him as usual, things would get better he was sure of it. He was selfish. He had been selfish and he knew it. But he was kind to the other officer. Not once did he mention that the larger man had been the one to tell him where to find Eishirou. “Now you know the truth. I took advantage of your delusions. I wanted to because I wanted to be near you. I…” Rin stopped as his car pulled up. He wanted so much to tell the man how he felt but he stopped before he said words that would hurt them both, “I should not see you again officer…”

For a moment, he had looked rather perplexed. Then again, Rin always confused him. Whenever he was around the man, he was always confused and flustered and didn’t know what to really do. But his confused face turned suddenly very hurt and betrayed. He went from obviously confused to looking like Rin had just stabbed him. He actually stumbled back a step at the revelation. And instead of anger, all Eishirou could feel was numbness. Shocked numbness. He had dreamed all that, right? But then how did Rin know? And it had seemed so real to him at the time. So it was true. Rin had…used him.

Eishirou’s hands clenched at his sides. And they were shaking. His jaw clenched again. He was angry, true. But more so, he was very hurt by this. He didn’t understand why he was so hurt, but he was certain that it was the fact that Rin…no… Hirokoba had that little respect for him. His voice was flat. Almost the way he had spoken to Rin nine years ago, when he had been a shell of a man about to destroy and re-invent the police department. “I see. So that’s the way it was. I thought you an honorable man. You need not worry. I won’t tell your young officer about you indiscretions. Because unlike you, I am an honorable man.” He turned his back upon the man, and his shoulders seemed suddenly so stiff. “And you did give me a very very beautiful lie. I’ll be going now and I hope you get your best lawyers in order. Be glad, Hirokoba. I’m finally taking you completely seriously. Because I never knew that you hated me that much.”

Eishirou returned to the car, moving as a zombie would. He took his seat and just stared into the distance. To think…he had been starting to love such a man. Right now, all he wanted to do was go home, and take a very very long shower.

“Catch me if you can then…my darling officer,” Rin let Eishirou go this time. He said nothing, though the man had guessed completely wrong, so very wrong. The young blond man could not hate Eishirou. But a part of him was so glad the officer was oblivious. Kei would get exactly what his heart desired, the wedge between Rin and Eishirou. The other man’s own desires now heated once again to see Rin in prison. The other man seemed ever more determined now and Rin knew they were back at the beginning again and like it had been in the beginning Eishirou would still have nothing.

Eishirou said he was going to start taking their new relationship more seriously and so would the young Mafioso. When his car pulled up he got in and drove with his left hand following the old beater out and pulling up beside it to request that Kei roll the windows down for a few moments. He gazed at the officer and for an unguarded moment he looked very pained. It was only a moment before that flirty smile and steel eyes were the same as they had been nine years ago. He spoke loudly, as if to make sure Kei heard ever word.

“I hope your dreams are sweet officer and the memories of holding my body come flooding back to you soon. But if you really want me darling officer, then you’re going to have to rip yourself out of your slump and get serious. As you are now, all moping and nostalgic, you haven’t got a shot in hell. Not even with that fat lump driving. I wonder, darling, what you will do when I take my vacation in a few weeks to Tahiti. Maybe I’ll take that beautiful young officer with me, hmmm. Be safe officer…Tanishi…” Rin blew a kiss at the older man and smirked at the larger officer before his car the other way. He still had to visit the doctors for his hand.

It wasn’t necessarily true that they were back to the beginning. Just as it wasn’t necessarily true that Eishirou had nothing to go on. He could always go there. It would be a serious blow to his ethics, but sometimes to catch a snake of the underworld; one had to deal with other snakes of the underworld. Still, he wondered, could his own beliefs survive this encounter if he did do such a thing?

He heard the flippant words and just looked down silently. It was no secret what he must be looking at. He wondered if Rin could even hear his words from inside. He knew Kei could, but Kei was different, Kei had been with him from the beginning.

“It’s you…that never has a shot. You could never…be her replacement.” It meant he might have at one time thought Rin might have been so. This was the way this had to be it seemed. The fox and the hound could never truly be more than just adversaries. Yet, the young criminal seemed intent of tormenting him still, when he already had someone. From looking down, he just looked away at words about Tahiti. It was almost like the idea of the man going away hurt him more than anything else so far.

But that had been a week ago. For a week, he had been without his blond fox to hunt. His fellow hound seemed to come over to his pathetic excuse for an apartment. Kei was always there to take away his booze and make sure he took his anti-depressants and to clear out whatever was left over from his dinner. Kei had really been coming through for him lately. It it seemed different without an adversary to hunt. He straightening his tie on the one good suit he owned yet again and waited for the knock that would be his partner coming to pick him up for the Policeman’s ball. He just didn’t even know how he would be able to face Rin at that damn ball now. Especially if he decided to lose the rest of his dignity to make a deal with another devil.