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Rurouni Kenshin Fan-Fic - GOJOU	By : KikueMugen Category: Rurouni Kenshin > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 10110 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I am NOT the owner of Rurouni Kenshin or its characters, nor do I receive monetary PROFIT from the humble fan-fiction, "Gojou".

Chapter List
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Desiring to get that irritating, stalking ninja off his back, Cho rushed into the Kamiya Dojo's compound to call on Aoshi. Cho was beyond annoyance having to put up with the shinobi who was just waiting beyond the shadows to snatch his life away. Being on guard around the clock, even while sleeping, was getting on the Kyoto man's nerves mighty quickly.

Where the hell is everyone? Cho thought as he walked along the dorm rooms.

“Hey Kenshin! Aoshi!” Cho called down the, what seemed to be, desolate dormitory corridors.

Could be, they’re at the main house… Cho thought and proceeded to find out. “Doesn’t seem like anybody’s around this part of the compound,” he mumbled.

“Cho?” Aoshi called out from the other side of the dorm room row.

“Oh, there you are! I’ve been looking for you. I need your help…” Cho shouted back while trotting over to meet with his comrade.

“It’s time I move on that ugly shinobi asshole,” Cho held up his fist before him in his usual gesture for attack mode. “That dick came by Horie’s storefront and puffed his stuff attempting to add fear to his formula at getting to me. I want to bring that sucker down!”

Aoshi smirked a loose smile when he saw the zest in Cho’s eyes. He could tell that Cho enjoyed this line of work just as much as he did. “I already did some research on your friend, and I found quite a few helpful tidbits that will enable us to move close to him without being suspect.”

“Damn, you’re good Aoshi! I knew I could count on you to help me kick some ass around Sugimura’s compound. With a team like ours, we’ll see Tokyo’s filth drop like shit in a rapid river! We’ll flush crime out in no time!” Cho danced around with excited hand gestures as he bragged about taking down the bad guys. “Saitou’s strategy seems to be working like clockwork. Horie’s organization had been leading us straight to the main players.”

“Hmn,” Aoshi nodded in agreement. “One is not to underestimate Saitou Hajime. He did great work in Kyoto with Shishio and then with the task he recruited me to assist with after that. Now here in Tokyo, he is displaying undeniably incisive planning and superior tactics.”

“Heck, I have to admit that it’s awesome actually knowing a couple of the greatest and skilled samurai of Japan. Saitou Hajime, who is known today as Fujita Gorou. And the master of Hiten Mitsurugi ryu, the most feared, Hitokiri Battousai himself, Kawakami Gensai, whom we know as Kenshin Himura!”

At the mention of Kenshin’s name, a satisfying smile dawned on Aoshi’s face, knowing that Kenshin’s heart belonged to him. Aoshi took pleasure in seeing Cho’s eyes light up at the very mention of the two swordsmen names. A lot of people had that reaction at the mere mention of the popular warriors, for it hadn’t been that long ago that those men, and their abilities, were changing the face of Japan during the time of the revolution.

At that moment, Sano turned the corner after just arriving at the dojo. “Just passing through,” the weary, hung-over Sano sauntered past them with barely looking at either man on his way to his room.

“Must have been a bad, bad night,” Cho couldn’t pass up the opportunity to poke a little fun at Sano’s obviously pitiful condition. “My, my, it is amazing how one can run one’s body straight to hell and then return from there looking like a slab of dead meat that had been sitting on the riverbank for a couple of weeks.”

Too tired and troubled to play along with his rival friend, Sano ignored Cho’s remarks. Nevertheless, Sano had enough strength to extend a little birdie in passing and continued his trek to his dorm.

Sano was tempted to fall face first on his futon, but decided that wouldn’t be such a good idea, being that he was terribly behind with his chores at the dojo. Besides that, the very thought of Kaoru getting on his case about being a lazy bum deterred the urge. He glanced over at the two men and noticed that they were walking off toward the main house. Sano picked up fresh attire and left his room for the bathhouse.

The noon sun beat down on Sano’s head on his way, which made his headache immoderate. He couldn’t wait to strip his clothing and get some cool water on him, believing that it would help his overheated body that carried him from Katsu’s house, past Saitou’s and then to the dojo. It was a little too much to demand from his already abused self.

He noticed Kenshin exciting the bathhouse upon his arrival. “Hey buddy!” Sano managed to smile despite of the way he felt.

“I seen you looking better, Sano,” Kenshin said while drying his long red hair with a towel.

“Yeah, I have to admit, I’ve felt better than I feel right now. I think I over did the sake last night,” he weakly laughed.

“Oro? You and Saitou celebrating something special?”

“Nah, just the opposite,” Sano sighed. “The wolf and I got into it again, I stormed off and got plastered at the nomiya, and then I ended up at Katsu’s to sleep it off.”

Kenshin patted Sano’s shoulder, “I’m sorry to hear that. It seems like you and Saitou always had the knack to get on each other’s worst sides. That it does!”

Sano frowned in reluctant agreement. “His past usually triggers our tiffs. This time was no damn different. Saitou refuses to let me in on his past and... shit, I have to tell you, it drives me up the fucken wall! Aren’t lovers supposed to share everything?”

Kenshin looked like he was off in thought, which he was. Sano, mentioning the past, triggered Kenshin to think back on his, momentarily.

“The past is a mixture of good things and bad things, Sano. Each individual deals with its memories differently, and Saitou’s grapple with his past is apparent to you only because you are close to him. If you hold patient, you not only will be a leaning post for Saitou, but he may find the courage to someday share that part of him with you as well.”

“Strong enough?” Sano scratched his head. “Hell, Saitou is one of the most strongest guys I know, next to you.”

“Strength is not always measured by brute force… There are many aspects of strength, the truest form, is found within a man, or a woman, for that matter. There were many who died on the battle field who outwardly displayed implausible brute strength, but were inwardly weak. They succumbed because of their lack of inner strength, or integrity. And then, there were others, who seem totally frail outwardly, yet possess the strength to carry them through the most difficult and harshest circumstances. Do not forget that Saitou is a survivor of one of Japan’s most fierce and terrible times! He not only endured leading the troops of the Shinsengumi, but he had also been through battles and revolts as a leader! Yet, Saitou is here, alive, but perhaps he still struggles with his past recollection.”

“You know Kenshin, I never thought of it that way. I always took it personal, you know? Like he didn’t think I was important enough to let in on that part of his life… Shit, now I feel like a real ahou!” Sano shrugged his shoulders and looked at Kenshin, searching. “Do you find it difficult to talk about your past? I know you’ve been through a lot too, if not more than Saitou.”

“Hai,” Kenshin had no problem admitting his difficulty with discussing the past. “To recall and discuss such past events bring back the pain, shame and regret as though it were yesterday.” Kenshin stared at the ground and sighed, then looked back at Sano.

“Ahhh, I see, so… Whenever I bring it up to Saitou, it is like I’m asking him to open up some painful wounds, maybe even some that probably hadn’t had a chance to heal.”

“That’s a good way to view the situation between the two of you Sano! Keep that in mind the next time you find it necessary to question his past. Consider his feelings and be patient,” Kenshin advised reassuringly.

Sano reached out and took Kenshin up in a big bear-hug.

“Oro?”

“Kenshin…Thanks!”

Kenshin returned the hug, even though it didn't come natural for a samurai to do. He didn’t mind the new Japan so much. Not when it was turning out to be as free as this new generation seemed to be.

“I hope you feel better soon,” Kenshin wished Sano a good day, patted him on the arm and then started his way back to the main house.

Sano, on the other hand, started his affair with the bathhouse cleaning. It wasn’t a difficult job at all, but it will consume the better part of Sano’s day draining the bath-bin, scrubbing it down and then filling it up with fresh water again.

He usually didn't mind doing that chore, except for the fact his head felt like it was going to burst open on the spot! He stripped off his gi, down to his fundoshi and filled the bamboo bucket with water from the water-bin next that stood next to the to the bath-bin. Chilly, but refreshing, he let the water slowly trickle down his spine.

The water—titillating as it began to soak his fundoshi and surround his maleness with cooling moisture. As fatigued as Sano had been feeling earlier, he couldn’t deny the sexual build-up he was harboring from his intimate, explorative joint adventure with Katsu the night before. He couldn't get what happened just a few hours ago when Sano paid Katsu his tab for lodging. The sweetness of Katsu’s lips were still ghosting on Sano’s and the thought of Katsu’s arousal pressed up against his own made for a lasting impression.

Sano’s erection implored relief, but Sano felt the pangs of guilt swipe over him at the very thought of masturbating with anyone other than Saitou to spur him into the act. In fact, Sano was ashamed to admit that his old time friend was stirring the passion he reserved just for the wolf and he was appalled at himself for entertaining the thought this far, but at the same time, the temptation to quell his lust was overwhelming.

“Saitou,” Sano whispered. “Why the fuck do you have to be such a bastard? Shit, I can’t do this, I’ll fucken hate myself if I do.” Sano made up his mind. He grabbed the bucket of cold water and continued his bath, only to get dressed as soon as he had finished. Quietly he exited the dojo’s compound and started off toward Saitou’s house to settle this thing between them.

“I’ll deal with the flack over neglecting to clean out the bathhouse when I get back,” Sano muttered as he picked up the pace on the roadway.

Kenshin watched Sano slip out the front gate, obviously in a hurry to get somewhere. He smiled, knowing Sano well enough to guess that his young friend could no longer bear the distance away from Saitou with the situation the way it was between them. Kenshin shook his head and entered the main house to spend some time with Aoshi before the day got away from them. He heard voices coming from the gathering room and went to investigate.

“Hai, I will meet with you as soon as night falls,” Aoshi nodded at Cho in confirmation to their work plan for the evening. It would be wise for you to stay here, out of the shinobi’s reach until then. I seriously doubt that he'd attempt anything here, but be alert."

“You got a point about that, I’ll just take a look around and seek Himura out and tell him I don’t mind helping out with things around here. I need to keep myself occupied, especially today I got too much personal shits going on in my mind that I need reckon with.”

“Good timing—That it is!” Kenshin exclaimed as he entered the gathering room from the hallway. I was out getting some water to fill the bath-bin when I saw Sano sneak away from his task of cleaning out the bathhouse. If you considering lending a hand with that, it would be a big help.”

“Well it looks like this was a set up, but hell, I appreciate the opportunity to use my time wisely! You can count on me to get that place the best that it ever was! I just know I can do a better job than that RoosterHead, any-hooo!” Cho exclaimed as he rolled up his sleeves and set his hands on his hips.

Kenshin lit the room with one of his moonshine smiles, “I’ll show you what to do. I don’t know what’s gotten into Sano. I spoke to him only a few minutes ago and he told me he was on his way to do his task, but it didn’t take him long to change his mind."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was unlike Saitou to be drinking in the middle of the day, but occasionally, when the thoughts became impossible to contain on his own, Saitou kept his Sake stash well stocked for such times. After three large bottles of the opaque liquid, the plague of dark thoughts were suppressed. Saitou was still dealing with his thoughts about Sano. He couldn’t shake his guilt over the fact that he wasn't able to give Sano what the young man needed. Saitou hated to fail in every aspect of his life, and now that Sano had become such a big part of him, not being able to fulfill Sano's desire was a big disappointment.

Saitou went over to the wash bin and filled it with water thinking that a cool face-splash would sooth his red irritated eyes. Saitou felt better to have had the good emotional release earlier in his garden. It had been years since the wolf shed tears and he was well overdue for the soul cleansing. He regretted the fact that Sano had chosen such a time to become agitated. He was not in anyway blaming Sano for his present condition, but he couldn’t deny his need for Sano. This time, it became abundantly clear to Saitou that he was definitely dependent on the young man for emotional support.

Not wanting to give Saitou forewarning of his arrival Sano let himself in through the gate quietly. He hesitated for a few seconds before he got up enough courage to tap softly on the front door. He listened carefully for Saitou’s footsteps. Nothing. Sano tapped on the door a little harder.

"Hey, it's me... are you going to let me in?" Sano called while feeling like his heart was about to jump into his throat.

The door jostled and slowly slid open. Sano was afraid to look at Saitou in the eye almost certain that the wolf would see that he had been up to no good the night before. Saitou looked at the young man, terribly glad to see him standing there, but at a loss with what to do. Saitou didn’t want to seem too eager and excited, yet he didn’t want to set off another negative confrontation between them.

“Sanosuke,” Saitou said gently as he looked at the obviously forlorn young man from head to foot. He stepped aside, motioning Sano to enter his home.

“Hey…um,” Sano started to speak, but decided to wait until Saitou slid the door shut. How he absolutely hated feeling as uncomfortable as felt then and he longed for the liberty to throw his arms around the wolf in his usual playful manner again.

Saitou slid the door shut and deliberately ignored Sano’s attempt to start a conversation. The wolf walked past the obviously troubled young man and headed toward the gathering room.

Sano’s cheeks flustered red as anger rose within him once again. He followed Saitou to the room but as soon as they crossed over the threshold, Sano reached out and took Saitou by the arm, yanking him to a halt.

“I don’t know why I put up with the way you fucken treat me sometimes. I can’t take this shit anymore!” Sano voiced explosively.

Saitou turned to look at the exasperated young man, but said nothing. It had been a terrible day for the wolf and he was drained. After having three large bottles of sake, he didn’t feel much like getting into another tiff with Sano. Although he was certainly glad to have Sano back, he was just too numb to respond. Partly because of the alcohol and the other part being emotionally exhausted.

Sano looked at Saitou and his anger instantly dissolved realizing that something wasn’t quite right about the wolf. The look on his face, in his eyes… yes, something was not right, Sano sensed.

“Are you alright?”

The wolf said nothing.

“Hey, Saitou, come on, what’s going on, huh?” Sano looked into the wolf’s eyes and, if he didn’t know any better, he would have believed that Saitou had been crying. “Come on, I know something is going on, why can’t you tell me?”

Saitou pulled his arm loose from Sano’s hold and walked over to the zabuton and sat. Sano could tell that the wolf had been drinking by the slight swagger in his step.

“I feel left out,” Sano pulled up a zabuton and joined the intoxicated man. “It looks like you had yourself a party here and didn’t bother to invite me.”

“I believe you tied a little party on yourself after you left here, didn’t you?” Saitou looked straight into Sano’s eyes to see how Sano would react to his straightforward question.

“Yeah, so what if I did? There wasn’t much conversation going on over here. It was mostly one-sided, so why the hell should I had stuck around for that?”

“You’re not expected to stay here, Sanosuke. You are free to go as you please, as I would think that I would be free to speak, or withhold from conversation here as well.”

“Oh, okay… I see how this is going,” Sano was beginning to get irritated again.

“Suppose you tell me what you’ve been up to since you stormed out of here yesterday.”

“I don’t see why I should, if I so choose not to. Like you, I should have the same freedom, shouldn’t I?”

Saitou smirked and started to stand up.

Sano held his hand out in protest, “Hey, where are you going now?”

“I don’t see any reason for us to sit here and discuss clusters of idle words.”

“Okay! I’ll tell you what happened. Just sit with me awhile, I’m in a shit-load of trouble as it is at the dojo for running out on my chores just to see you.”

“I’m listening.”

Sano took a deep breath and stared at his fingers on his lap between his folded legs. “After I left here yesterday I went straight to a nomiya and had a few bottles of sake. I guess I stayed till closing. After that I needed a place to stay, so I went over to Katsu’s. It was late, he was already asleep, but I woke him up and he let me stay the night.” He looked over at Saitou to see the wolf listening—intently. “I woke this morning feeling like I was in hell, or in the land of the dead. I stopped by the dojo, cleaned up and couldn’t stand it not being right between us, so here I am.”

Saitou stared at Sano, trying to read every word that the young man uttered. It all seemed to check out with his senses, but Saitou was in no condition to pass judgment on the young man. For all he knew, Sano could be telling a tall tale, but Saitou was too drained for it to matter.

“I’m going to bed,” Saitou said suddenly, which didn’t help Sano’s frustration.

“Bed? It’s too damn early for bed. Damn, wolf… How much did you drink today anyway?”

“Enough,” Saitou huffed and stood to his feet.

“I’m sorry,” Sano whispered.

“What did you say?” Saitou turned around to peer down at the disappointed young man.

“I said I’m sorry. I obviously caused you to take to the bottle.

“Oh?” Saitou chuckled lazily. “You may not realize this, but there are other things going on in my life besides, “Sanosuke Sagara.”

Hurt by the comment, Sano was at loss for words. Deep down, he couldn’t really say much for himself remembering that it wasn’t even a day gone by when he was in the arms of another man. It was he that encouraged Katsu to start, and it was he who gave in to that second delicious kiss without the aide of alcohol. It was apparent that Sano also had a ‘life’ besides Saitou Hajime as well.

Sano stood to his feet. “Okay, I guess I’ll be going then. I wanted to patch things up, but I obviously picked the wrong time to do this.” Sano started to the front door, leaving Saitou behind to wonder why his mate was so willing to give up on the issues. It wasn’t like Sano to do that. Even through the sake’s fog, Saitou sensed that something had changed between them.

It was Saitou’s turn to grab a hold of Sano’s arm before he left the room and pulled the young man against him. “You’re leaving without giving me a kiss goodbye? Absurd.” Saitou set his lips upon Sano’s mouth and drove his tongue forcefully into the young man’s mouth.

The start of the Saitou’s kiss surprised Sano. It was hard and rough, which immediately had Sano flash back on the kiss he shared with Katsu earlier that day. This was all wrong. The guilt has wedged a barrier between he and Saitou that put fear straight into his bones. If Sano was feeling that there was something wrong between them, of course, Saitou would sense it even stronger than he.

Saitou took hold of Sano by the jaw with one hand, and with is other hand he held his hair on the back on his head and peered into the young man’s eyes.

“Suppose you tell me what this is all about, Sanosuke Sagara.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“What happened last night that you are not telling me?” Saitou tightened his grip on the young man’s jaw, while he knotted Sano’s hair between his fingers and jerked hard. “I can feel it between us, something is there and I’ll keep myself from breaking your neck, only if you tell me.”

“Shit Saitou, you’re hurting me.”

Saitou chuckled quietly, “That is the idea… And you will continue to hurt until you come clean.”

Sano knew that he wasn’t going to fool Saitou into thinking that nothing out of the ordinary happened the night before. Hell, Kenshin could read Sano as easy as reading the community's gossip written boldly on wooden boards in the center of town.

“Okay, okay!” Sano desperately agreed to confess out of sheer fear of a broken neck. “Just let me go and let’s calmly discuss this.”

“Fair enough,” Saitou agreed, releasing his hold of the shaken young man, and walked back over to the zabuton and sat again.

“I’m listening, for the second time.” Saitou sighed. “Make it count.”

Again, Sano sat on the zabuton next to the inquiring wolf. He took a deep breath and nervously looked at Saitou, then quickly avoided locking onto his stare. After all, if Saitou decided to pound him, he would not have to watch the blow come at him if he’s staring down at his folded knees in front of him.

“Yes, I got fucked up last night after I left here,” Sano reluctantly began his confession, “and yes, I did end up at Katsu’s place for the night. I was so fucked that Katsu had gotten irritated at me and pushed me backward to get me to lay on the futon.” Sano glanced at Saitou’s unnerving stare, and then continued. “I was drunk, pissed ass drunk and grabbed Katsu while he was above me and pulled him down for a kiss.”

Silence.

It seemed like an eternity to Sano, waiting for all hell to break loose, but—nothing. Not a word from the wolf who was just sitting there, with his golden eyes painfully glued to the tensed young man.

“Aren’t you going to kill me, or something?”

Saitou sighed and shook his head sadly. “No. I will not kill you.”

Saitou was torn as a ton of emotions cut through the numbness of the alcohol he had consumed earlier and flooded though his entire being. It hurt something tremendous, but damned if Saitou could justify losing his temper over it. He still felt responsible as hell for not being able to give Sano what he needed, and apparently, Sano was well versed in getting it elsewhere. That would be the answer to all of this craziness. At least it would be the end of Saitou’s guilt.

“Aren’t you even going to yell at me?”

“I have no reason to yell at you. I asked you a question, and for once you answered it.”

Saitou was surprised at himself for being so calm about it. The alcohol must be partly responsible for that, but then again… Saitou flashed back into his past. This scene was all too familiar to Saitou. It reminded him of an event that took place a long time ago. He lashed out in a jealous rage, which started a domino effect on his entire relationship with someone he had loved. No! Saitou was not going to allow it to happen again. Not between he and Sano.

“Aren’t you at the least bit angry with me then?”

“What I am, Sanosuke, is disappointed in you. But… you were always free to live your own life. I am not your keeper.”

“Oh shit, I’m so sorry. What the fuck have I done?” Sano lowered his head and the tears began to flow out of his control. He tried not to show Saitou his weakening, but a part of him didn’t care. He remembered seeing the wolf’s beautiful golden eyes tainted with hues of red and shrugged off the possibility that it could have been caused by tears. Now he was sure that the wolf had been crying, and…Sano felt terribly responsible.

Saitou felt compassion for his mate and put his arm around Sano’s shoulder and drew him close.

“I’m so fucking sorry, ”Sano’s voice quaked as sincere regret washed over him.

“Hmn,” Saitou nodded and took Sano by the chin with his fingers and kissed the young man’s tears that were now streaming down his cheeks. “Hush Sanosuke, I know why you left here yesterday. I want you to understand that I wanted to give you what you needed, but unfortunately, I was not able to.” Saitou drew the young man against him, but continued to explain. “You, Sanosuke, have been the medicine I needed that kept me from agonizing over the terrors of my past. Since you came into my life, I was able to find rest and peace within myself. It is not because I chose not to talk about my past, but rather, due to the pain I experience from it whenever I dwell on the memories, I tried to avoid discussing it.”

“You…you mean it’s not because I’m not important enough in your life?

“Sanosuke, where do you get such ideas? My decision to make you a part of my life was the best decision I made for myself. Contrary to what you may believe, I do try to be as open about myself as I possibly can with you. I have revealed more of myself to you than with anyone else I’ve known.”

The two stared at each other for a long while, then their lips converged. Lightly at first, but the kiss quickly turned deep and passionate. Their reunion was like a medicinal balm, mending all that had gone wrong, and setting things right between them. The two realized that they were both as good as lost without the other and they were determined to work at holding on.

Sano was exceedingly joyful to learn that he was a significant part of the Saitou’s life, and more importantly; he was made aware of the fact that Saitou actually needed him. Saitou was pleased to have Sano where he believed the young man belonged—right next to him, to share his life and repel the loneliness that used to haunt him. Yes, as different as they both were, they had what it took to compliment the other, developing a bond that was proving to hold fast under various pressures of life.
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Rurouni Kenshin Fan-Fic - GOJOU