fic: Storm Chaser [Kaoru/Miyavi]

[spinshadow]

I'll put Undesirable up later, if you want. Same with Polaris.

title: Storm Chaser
pairing: Kaoru/Miyavi
notes: I guess this'll be my working entry then. Hope to be done by the 23rd, since it's using that theme.

~*~*~

Kaoru tried to summon up a proper glare to throw at the dark clouds scudding across the sky, heavy with rain but refusing to deliver on the promise. And yet he couldn't help a sinking feeling that it wasn't working. Summer was coming steadily to Keimei Gakuen, the sky bearing witness that the rains would be returning soon enough.

“Glaring out the window isn't going to change anything, Kaoru-kun,” You said, nudging him with a foot from his place on the couch. “It's Sunday, in case you failed to notice. You should probably at least try to enjoy it. You'll never hear the end of it if Miya-chan finds out you spent all afternoon glaring at the weather.”

Kaoru spared a moment to redirect his irritation at You, but his roommate was completely unfazed. It was only his fifth day ... and the first morning he'd woken to an empty bed. Miyavi had been good to his word - he'd neither called him “koi” nor whispered so much as a word of having sex with him. But he had also spent every night in Kaoru's bed, ignoring his attempts to keep him out of it. It didn't even matter if he waited up for him or not; the one night he'd gone to bed early, someone else had let Miyavi into the room and Kaoru had still woken up to the feel of arms holding him close.

More annoying than his roommates' interference, however, was seeing how quickly he was getting used to the idea. Now that he was no longer pressing for sex, Miyavi was ... surprisingly tolerable. Quirky and good-humored, freely bouncing in and out of their circle, something the older teen apparently did with almost every clique in the school. And as much as he wanted to deny it, he was even getting used to the feel of someone in his bed, the warm reassurance that he wasn't alone.

“Oy, Kaoruuuu what kind of face is that?!”

The air huffed out of his lungs as Miyavi flopped onto the floor, half next to him, half on top of him, and all worry.

“It's Sunday, you can't possibly have gotten another detention already. What's wrong?”

“I hate summer,” Kaoru muttered, managing to edge his way out from under the other teen. He sat up then, firing another glare at the window before pushing himself up to his feet. “I'm going to vending. Anyone want anything?”

The usual round of orders surfaced at his offer from the cluster of teens that had settled in their study room, Miyavi immediately volunteering to help him. He couldn't really think of any reason to refuse, even though half the point had been to get away from the other teen. A feeling that only increased when, as soon as the lounge door closed behind them, Miyavi's arms wrapped around Kaoru's waist, the taller boy's chin resting on his shoulder.

“What's wrong? Talk to me, Kao. Please?”

“You were gone this morning,” he murmured, hoping he could throw Miyavi off the scent by pretending that was the problem. He could tolerate the other's enthusiasm if it would keep him from finding out the truth. But instead of a happy squeal as Kaoru had expected, Miyavi actually purred softly and pressed a gentle kiss to his neck.

“Sorry, honey, but I had to check on someone. You were sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to wake you. Not that I believe for two seconds that's why you're being extra grumpy today, but bonus points for effort. So what's really bothering you, hmmm?”

“Miyavi....”

“You know I'll find out sooner or later anyway, Kao. The sooner you tell me, the sooner I can help make it better.”

“I don't need you to ... to fix things for me, Miyavi,” he muttered, annoyed at the spiky tone to his voice and annoyed with himself for being annoyed.

“I didn't mean....”

“I can deal with things myself,” he interrupted, ignoring the hurt tone in Miyavi's voice. The last thing he needed was yakuza help, and who knew what it would cost him even if he did accept. A part of his soul, he supposed. He didn't want to talk about it, he just wanted to get everyone's drinks and go back to the relative safety of the group. Except Miyavi wasn't letting him go. The arms around him pulled away, but only to turn him around, fingers digging into his arms in the process. Miyavi's face was an icy mask that couldn't quite hide the anger in his eyes.

“I never said you couldn't handle things yourself,” the taller teen growled, “though the way you're acting I'm beginning to have my doubts. Half the point in having friends is that they can help you through things. And in case it's somehow slipped your notice, you've got a whole bunch of friends here, Kao. I still haven't figured out why we put up with your bullshit, maybe it's something to do with cutting you some slack for being the new kid coming in mid-term.”

“Miyavi....”

“I'm not done. Where do you get off thinking that just because of my father, I solve problems like that? And don't you dare tell me that's not what you meant. I know damn well they've told you at least that much.”

“Miya, you're hurting me.”

“Good! Fuck, I can't believe you! What the hell is wrong with your head, Niikura?!”

Kaoru bristled, somehow finding the strength to break free from Miyavi's grasp and feeling unaccountably pissed.

“I don't need this shit from you! I don't need your 'protection' and I sure as hell don't need your help with my personal life! I've been dealing with my father my whole life. If he wants to be an asshole, well, fuck him. It's not even news anymore. I can sort this out myself.”

“You are such a self-absorbed ass, you know that?” Miyavi muttered, but before Kaoru could protest the label, the other teen was kissing him again, hands capturing his face and holding him prisoner. He tried to protest, to push him away. Miyavi's hands shifted, one fisting in his hair while the other slid down to his shoulder. A demanding tongue slipped past his lips and his eyes closed seemingly of their own accord. The hand in his hair loosened to massage the back of his neck, a sound he refused to call a whimper catching in his throat. His own hands settled on Miyavi's hips, pulling him closer as he felt himself falling deeper into their kiss. Miyavi purred as he leaned into Kaoru, brushing against him.

Kaoru's brain suddenly screeched to a halt at the feel of something hard against his thigh, reality slamming back into place. He jerked back as if burned, then stepped back two more paces to get even more distance. What was he doing? He couldn't believe he'd just been kissing Miyavi like that, and practically in public. Sure, the lounge door was closed, but that didn't mean someone couldn't walk in on them at any time. Hell, he was half surprised no one had come to see what was taking them so long yet.

“You bastard,” he rasped. “You promised....”

“I promised not to talk about it. And I didn't. I never promised to stop wanting you. And I don't know why you're so pissed - you were pretty into it, too, you know.”

“That's not the point!”

“You're right. The point is you piss me off with this ... this attitude of yours. And what's worse? You're fucking sexy as hell when you're pissed. Even worse than that is knowing that if I don't start taking what I want, you're never going to give it to me.”

“What makes you think you have the right?! I'm not some toy, you bastard.”

Miyavi's mouth opened twice without saying anything, then clicked shut and he shook his head. “I'm not getting into this with you, not now and not here. Come on. Before they send someone after us.”

Kaoru could feel the scream welling up inside him. He wanted nothing so much as to grab the other boy and shake him until the answers came, but from the way Miyavi was stalking over to the vending machines, he knew there was no point in his even trying. He knew that look, the same one Miyavi had used his second night when he'd informed Kaoru that he was staying the night and Kao could either sleep with him or sleep on the floor. Closing his eyes, he counted backwards from ten, forcing himself back under control. The discussion was hardly over, but it would have to wait for later.

~*~*~

Arms full with precisely half the drink order, Miyavi stalked back to Kaoru's suite without so much as even looking at the other teen. He knew he needed to explain things to Kaoru, he knew the list of those 'things' was quite long indeed, but it was something to be done carefully. Rationally and calmly, not in the heat of anger. And at that moment, Miyavi was feeling decidedly angry.

What was Kaoru's problem, anyway? Miyavi knew he could be a nice guy, yet he seemed intent on swinging between book-bound uber-nerd and raging asshole. Hardly the most attractive combination, though Kaoru's roommates seemed content to blame the moodswings on Kaoru's repressive father. The whole clique, in fact, was showing him an awful lot of patience, feeling sorry for him because he'd been so suddenly and drastically uprooted from his entire life and throw into the somewhat alien landscape that was Keimei Gakuen.

Which didn't stop Yasu from confiding in him that he wished Kaoru would put a little more effort into adapting. The blond leader wasn't unsympathetic, per se, and it had only been five days. But really ... how long did Kaoru intend to cling to the past? It was, in Miyavi's opinion at least, past time the younger teen moved on and dealt with his life, instead of just letting it carry him away.

Even just watching Kaoru was making him angrier, which was completely irrational, but he couldn't seem to help himself, either. Waiting to see that everyone got what they'd ordered, he then quietly made his excuses to Yasu and slipped out of the room. The last thing he wanted was to have it out with Kaoru in front of everyone. He didn't particularly want to have it out with him at all, afraid of what he might say. Afraid of how the other boy would react. He'd meant what he'd said about knowing that Kaoru was the one; Miyavi had known from the moment he'd seen him that Kaoru was the only one for him. But making Kaoru see things his way was proving more difficult than he could have ever imagined.

He hadn't really planned on going over to the junior high dorm, but neither was he particularly surprised to find his feet carrying him to Keita's room. For a handful of seconds, he thought about just letting himself into the room; even if the door was locked, he had his own key. But Keita's lover tended to be rather prickly about such things.... Safer to just knock, tapping out a familiar code that would let his friend know who was on the other side, looking for him. Maybe it was unfair to make it sound like he really, really needed Keita's attention as soon as possible, but ... he did. Even if it was just for a hug.

The door flew open within seconds, worry plain on Keita's face. Worry that swiftly turned to an annoyed frown.

“Meev-kun....”

He didn't let the younger teen finish, pushing him back into the room with one hand and closing the door with the other. A heavy sigh of gratitude escaped him as he saw the room was empty; Ryuichi was out somewhere. Which meant he didn't have to worry about appearances, which in turn gave him all the permission he needed to pull Keita into his arms and hug him tightly. Keita hesitated for several long seconds before returning the embrace.

“Meev-kun ... what is it?”

“I can't do this, Kei-chan.... Every time I try to get closer, he pushes me away.”

Keita sighed softly, hugging him close for a moment longer, then pulled him over to his bed. Miyavi sat down willingly enough, then changed his mind and spread out on the bed so he could lay his head in his friend's lap. He closed his eyes, a ghost of a smile threatening at the corner of his mouth as long fingers combed through his hair. He supposed it was his turn to have boy trouble.

“Kaoru-san still presenting problems then?”

“I know it's only been five days,” Miyavi sighed, “I know he's going through a massive upheaval of his life, but ... he's the one, Kei-chan, I know it.”

“Didn't you say that about ... oh what was her name....”

“I was also astoundingly wrong and you've never let me forget it. This is different. But he's just ... I swear, he's going to drive me insane.”

“Sou na ... but would anyone notice?”

“Brat,” Miyavi muttered, swatting at Keita's arm playfully. “I just ... I wish he'd stop acting like he's not interested. I wish he'd tell me what's wrong. I was so close that first night, Kei-chan, but ever since it's been push, push, push. The only reason he lets me sleep in his bed is because I keep turning up.”

Keita's fingers stilled and Miyavi could hear the doubt in his voice when he finally spoke again: “Meev-kun, maybe ... maybe you should try easing off a bit? Make him come to you?”

“I would,” he confessed with a sigh, rolling onto his side to nuzzle into Keita's thigh, “but he never would. He clings to me all night long, Kei-chan. He's so lonely inside, but he won't let anyone near him. I know he wants it, Kei-chan, but I also know if I don't start taking, he'll never come to me. He was so pissed about me kissing him, but gods, Kei, if you could have seen him. He wanted it so badly and then ... I dunno, something spooked him, but I don't know what. And it's not like he's going to tell me....”

“I could ... make him tell me,” Keita offered, only half joking.

“Oh no, not a purple hair on his pointed head. He's mine, Kei-chan. He may be acting like a monkey-butted ass, but he's still mine. I just ... need to get through to him somehow.....”

“Just offering....”

“I know and ... I appreciate it, really. But I think I really need to sort this out myself, you know?”

“Yeah, probably,” Keita agreed and Miyavi rolled over to see a rare soft smile gracing the younger boy's features. He didn't bother thinking about what he was doing, his hand curling around the back of Keita's neck. A flickering instant of pause and then he was pulling the other boy close, his lips finding Keita's for a taste sweeter than memory. It was only a moment, a friendly reassurance that left him feeling warm all over. He was well past the period when the two of them had been intimate, he was happy for Keita and Ryuichi, but at the same time ... it was nice to know the younger teen still loved him.

“You ... you ... fucking....”

Miyavi knew nothing he did would make the moment look any better to Keita's overly possessive lover, so he didn't even bother trying. Keita was another story, however, stiffening at the sound of Ryuichi's incoherent enraged sputtering. So much for that. Fingers massaged the back of Keita's neck as he got in a last lick before letting go of the other teen and sinking back down into his lap. He then turned his head to smirk at Ryuichi.

“Hello, chibi.”

Ryuichi's sputtering only grew worse at that and Miyavi could tell that Keita wasn't especially happy with him. Long fingers prodded his side, but he wasn't ready to get up just yet.

“Ryu, this isn't....”

“I fucking knew it!!! You fucking bastard!”

“You knew what, chibi?”

“Don't call me that, you ... you ... you...!”

“Yes, well ... as much fun as this always is,” Miyavi murmured, grinning as he sat up. “I do have a few things I need to do yet.”

He could feel Keita's relief and he knew the best thing to do would be to leave well enough alone. But he also knew just how turned on his younger friend was and he just ... couldn't help himself. Couldn't keep the mischief from his eyes or stop the inner sense of glee at Keita's look of resigned acceptance.

“I meant what I said, Meev-kun.”

“Yeah, well, you know me,” Miyavi said with a lopsided grin. “But I'll keep the offer in mind.”

Leaning down, he cupped Keita's cheek and pressed another gentle kiss to his beloved friend's lips, lingering longer than he should have. Then he turned and winked at Ryuichi, ruffling the shorter boy's hair. “Be good, chibi,” he teased, letting himself out of the dorm room before the boy exploded even more. Keita would no doubt make him pay for that later, but for the moment, Miyavi didn't really care. The way he figured it, Keita and Ryuichi would have a nice fire-and-brimstone fight over Keita's supposed cheating with Miyavi until Keita couldn't stand it anymore, pushing his shorter lover against the nearest wall and kissing him senseless. They would make up by way of much angry and passionate sex. Then things would go back to being just fine ... until the next time. And there would be a next time, Ryuichi was too jealous of Miyavi's relationship with Keita for there not to be.

An hour was all he needed to keep his homework situation under control and then he was free to wander the dorms, checking in on his friends and circle of informants. Listening to complaints about teachers and other students, being his usual friendly self. He was one of the few students not attached to a specific clique, his outward appearance of buoyancy allowing him to float from one circle to the next with little concern for the turf wars going on between them. Or, well, without much concern.

“Miyavi-kun, how good of you to stop by,” Hakuei's familiar tenor purred into his ear as tattooed arms folded around him. Miyavi sank back against the older teen's chest with a low purr of his own, tilting his head up to nuzzle Hakuei's jaw.

“As if I could stay away for long,” he replied, a sultry note to his voice. As always, it was too easy to slide into physical intimacy with Hakuei, to touch and be touched. Knowing hands slid over the cotton of his shirt and Miyavi sighed, leaning into the other's solid presence.

“Five days now,” the older teen countered.

“You've been counting? My, Haku-chan, I didn't know you still cared.”

“Hard not to keep track when Sugi-chan's working up tighter'n a Swiss watch and getting worse every day you stay away,” he said, his smirk crawling into his voice. “He's been getting almost violent.”

“Are you suggesting I should stay away more often?” he purred, his lips faintly brushing against Hakuei's skin.

“Can't leave you two sluts alone for two minutes without you trying to get into each other's pants, can I?”

“What's the matter, Sugi-chan,” Hakuei teased, “jealous? What do you think, Miya, should we let him join us?”

Sugizo huffed in annoyance, stalking past them to spin his desk chair around, sit down, and then glare at them some more. Miyavi was actually surprised at the lack of people in Sugizo's suite. Not that he was objecting, but usually the study room was host to half a dozen of the older teen's clique. He was even more surprised when Hakuei's arms fell away, the other sensualist slinking across the room to stand next to Sugizo. His gut instinct was telling him something was very wrong, but he couldn't figure out just what it was.

“I've been hearing some disturbing rumors, Miyavi-kun. I've been trying to ignore them, but it's hard when everyone's talking and you aren't coming to see me, to set the record straight.”

“I've been busy,” he said with a casual shrug. “It happens, you know? Not easy being me.”

“Busy, yes, that's what they say. Busy spending time with Yasu's crew.”

“Now senpai, you know I'm not a part of the cliques or the feuds. The eternally neutral one, that's me, you know that.”

“I'd like to believe you, Miyavi-kun, but it looks bad. Five days now you haven't visited any of us. Not since Inoran was dishonored by that new whore of Yasu's.”

Miyavi's back stiffened, the humor draining out of him at Sugizo's words. Intellectually, he knew it was just the usual trash talking, that it was nothing he hadn't heard a thousand times from a hundred mouths. But this time was different. This time Sugizo was talking about his Kaoru.

“You will not speak of him in that way,” he said, his voice completely flat. He might not like his upbringing sometimes, but he was not above using his training to his advantage.

“So the little birdie was right, you've been spending your time with Niikura. An interesting idea of neutrality you've got there, Miyavi-kun, bedding one of Yasu's boys.”

“I don't remember anyone complaining when it was Hakuei keeping me company at night,” he challenged, a sliver of ice starting to appear in his tone.

“But this isn't Hakuei, this is some disrespectful little punk who doesn't know his place.”

“Inoran got what he deserved for pushing Kaoru's buttons.”

“You're involving others.”

“If I've asked Yu~ki to help protect what's mine, it's because his family has served mine for decades and, conveniently enough, he's in a position to do so. Who I take into my bed has nothing to do with anything else, Sugizo, and you know it. If you want to cut ties, then just say so. Don't waste my time with this bullshit.”

“What guarantee do I have of your neutrality? How do I know you're not going to start favoring that bastard's organization because of this?”

“The same assurance everyone else had when it was Hakuei: my word. I am not involving myself in any of the gang conflicts. I offer a listening ear and a neutral voice, nothing more.”

“And if I say that isn't good enough?”

“Then that's your problem. There's nothing else I can offer you.”

“Actually ... there is one thing.”

Miyavi frowned, all too certain he didn't like the look on the other teen's face.

“There's still a matter of honorable exchange. Niikura owes us. You're going to explain things to him, see that he clears this little debt.”

“And if he refuses?”

“As persuasive as you are, I find it hard to believe that you couldn't talk him around. I'm sure you'll ... think of something.”

He could tell from Sugizo's voice that the older teen considered their meeting over and for once Miyavi was in no mood to argue with his arrogance. Which didn't stop him from spitting at Sugizo's feet before turning and stalking out of the room. Sugizo liked to think he was a top dog, but the truth was the boy wasn't anything. Just another spoiled rich brat who thought he could get away with doing anything he wanted because his daddy had money and connections. Compared to Miyavi, he was nothing, a would-be sewer rat scrambling for what scraps of power could be found on a high school campus.

“Miyavi, wait!”

He ignored Hakuei's voice, rage still boiling in his core at Sugizo's attitude. A hand caught his shoulder and were it not for Hakuei's quick reflexes and familiarity with Miyavi's thought processes, he would have punched the other boy. Hakuei squeezed his wrist once before letting it go, a hand pushing blonded locks away from his face with an exasperated sigh.

“Miya, will you at least give me a chance to explain?”

“No. No, Haku-chan, I don't want to hear it. Inoran was a moron. I'm not going to force Kaoru into doing something just to satisfy Sugizo's power-tripping ego. If he's going to insist that's the only way of dealing with this? Then you tell him I'm through.”

“What if it was just me?”

“Hakuei....”

“I can talk him down to that, you know I can. You could even be there if you wanted, Sugizo wouldn't have to know.”

“It doesn't matter. I'm not going to ask him to do something I think is bullshit!”

“Dammit, Miya, it's just sex!”

“Not to him!”

Miyavi stopped short and closed his eyes, forcing himself to take deep breaths. This entire situation was completely ridiculous. Worse, it was precisely the sort of conversation that they didn't need to be having in the middle of the hall, where just anyone could hear them.

“Miyavi-kun, Tanaka-kun, perhaps it would be better if you had this conversation somewhere else?”

“Yes, Tsuzuki-sensei,” Hakuei murmured, normally defiant eyes lowering to the floor.

“Don't stay out too late, ne? I don't want to have to write you up for another missed curfew, Takana-kun.”

“Yes, sensei,” Hakuei repeated. The dorm advisor waved them off and Miyavi resumed his trek back to his room, moderately annoyed to note that Hakuei was still following him. An annoyance he took out on his roommates when he saw the three of them in the suite's study room.

“Find somewhere else to be tonight, all of you,” he growled. Only one offered even a muttered protest, the other two tugging him out of the suite by his sleeve. He would have to offer apologies, but later. As it was, he was having a hard time not lashing out at Hakuei again.

“Why are you doing this?” Hakuei asked, stubbornly following as Miyavi stalked into his bedroom, throwing himself down on his bed.

“I could ask you the same thing,” Miyavi muttered, sitting up to glare at the other teen yet again. “Honorable exchange? Does he really think I'm going to hand over Niikura to him just because Inoran got what he deserved? Fuck, since when is Inoran even interested in guys?”

“As sexy as you are when you're acting all innocent like that,” Hakuei murmured, a sly grin turning the corner of his mouth, “I know you too well. Don't tell me you got Niikura-kun a bodyguard just because you felt like it.”

Miyavi smothered the urge to argue; as much as he wanted to deny it, Hakuei was right. He'd involved Yu~ki because the younger teen had turned the wrong heads at dinner, because he wanted to make sure his Kaoru was safe. As much as Kaoru acted like someone who could handle himself, Miyavi couldn't help having his doubts. Doubts that had only increased in the last four days, and now....

“I won't do it, Haku-chan,” he sighed, scooting back against the wall. “I won't ask him to play Sugizo's game. I can't. I won't let him be a part of that.”

“You know Sugizo isn't going to let this go. He's made up his mind that this is Yasu pissing on his honor.”

“You're not getting it,” he sighed, running a hand through his hair before resting his forehead against raised knees. “Kao's friends with Yasu's people because he lives with them, because Yasu's grooming Gackt to take over from whoever gets the spot after him. I couldn't keep him out of associating with them even if I wanted. But he's neutral. Yasu isn't going to involve him in anything because he knows full well that Kao's mine. If Kaoru starts getting involved in things, then I'll be dragged into them, too, and no one wants that.”

“Funny, you didn't have this problem when I was the one keeping you warm at night....”

“That was completely different. For one thing, you were already involved.”

“And besides, what we had was just physical, ne?”

Miyavi looked up at the sound of Hakuei's voice so close, startled to find the older teen standing over him. The mattress dipped as one knee was planted into it, the blue butterfly flittering through blond fringe, pushing it away from fake blue eyes before disappearing into Miyavi's own hair. Fingers curled around the back of his head, Hakuei's breath warm on his forehead as his former lover pressed a gentle kiss there.

“It's been a long time, Miya. You even got rid of your roommates for the night. One might think you were wanting to seduce me.”

“No, I just didn't feel like having an audience if it turned out I needed to scream at you or something.”

“So you send them away for the whole night? Oh please do tell me another of your delightful little stories, Miya,” Hakuei purred, lips brushing against Miyavi's skin and hair. His mind was screaming at him to protest, but Hakuei's hand tugged his head back and the older teen immediately took advantage of exposed flesh. Teeth grazed against sensitive skin and he sighed, legs sliding down to circle Hakuei's hips. Miyavi could feel the other teen's smile, the whisper of words as Hakuei spoke again: “You're too easy tonight, Miya. Niikura not satisfying your needs?”

“He said he wasn't ready,” Miyavi confessed, annoyed with the frustration in his own voice.

“You poor thing,” Hakuei murmured between nibbles. His hand left Miyavi's hair only to reappear on his thigh, sliding upwards until it found Miyavi's awakening erection. “Why don't you let me help you with that....”

“Nn ... Hakuei....”

Before things could continue spiraling out of control, they were interrupted by what sounded suspiciously like the stairwell door being slammed open hard enough to pop its hinges. Miyavi could hear raised voices arguing about something, but they were indistinct; he couldn't tell who they were, let alone what they were arguing about, and his innate curiosity refused to settle for that. Pushing Hakuei away from him, he slipped off the bed and hurried through the study room to see what was happening. He wasn't quite sure what to think when he opened the door to see Kyou and Kaoru physically going at it by the stairwell while Yu~ki simply stood aside and watched. The rest of the floor was also coming out to see what was going on and Miyavi had the sinking feeling that Tsuzuki was going to be summoned if he didn't do something about the situation soon. However, Yu~ki seemed to come to the same conclusion before Miyavi could actually act, giving the two quarreling teens a shove towards Miyavi's open door. Which was apparently enough to break Kaoru's focused resistance as Kyou proceeded to drag the lavender-haired teen the rest of the way, pushing past Miyavi and Hakuei before finally releasing his captive.

“You little fucking punk!”

“Kao, Kyou ... what the hell are you two doing?”

“He's your boyfriend, you do something with him!” Kyou growled, fire blazing in his eyes. “He's fucking pissing me off! And I'm engaged to Gackt!”

“I didn't even do anything, you shit-faced little -.”

“Not doing anything? You were fucking sitting there like you'd just watched someone shoot your pet dog or some bullshit like that!”

“I was NOT!”

“You were, too! The whole fucking room noticed, they just won't say anything 'cuz Yasu-senpai tells them not to.”

Kaoru took another swing at Kyou but Miyavi intercepted him, firing a sharp look at Kyou before turning a frown on Yu~ki. Kyou was notorious for having almost as much tact as Keita's lover, which was to say none at all, but Miyavi was surprised Yu~ki had simply gone along with things.

“Hakuei, I think it's time you left. You can tell your partner what I said earlier.”

“I'll go,” the taller third-year consented, “but I still think we should talk about this.”

“I'm not going to change my mind, now good night.”

From the look on his face, Miyavi knew Hakuei wasn't done yet, but he would worry about it another time. His ex lover left, slamming the door behind him, which at least left them without an audience. It did not, however, improve Kaoru's mood.

“All right, let's take this from the top, shall we? What happened?”

“I told you,” Kyou muttered. “He was sitting there sulking and irritating the crap out of everyone. No one else was going to do anything about it, so I did. Biggest bunch of fucking pussies....”

“This coming from the one called nekochan,” Kaoru growled in response. “And I was not sulking.”

“Bull-fucking-shit.”

“That sounds painful.”

“What the ... what the fuck are you talking about? And don't call me nekochan, goddammit!”

“Yu~ki ... make them make sense?” Miyavi pleaded.

“He was not ... sulking,” Yu~ki said evenly. “He was ... pining.”

“I WAS NOT PINING! For someone who's supposed to be on my side, you've done nothing but agree with Gackt's kitten all night!”

“Don't talk about me like I'm not right here, you anal-retentive little shithead!”

“All right, that's enough, all of you!” Miyavi paused to rub at one temple, then sighed heavily. “Kyou, get your tail back up to Ga-kun before he starts worrying about you. Yu~ki, thank you for bringing them to me. And Kao, sit your fucking ass down.”

Kyou muttered something else that was probably less than polite before stalking back out of the room again. Yu~ki, on the other hand, actually bowed before taking his leave, while Kaoru remained where he was standing, looking more disgruntled than a wet chicken, particularly with the way his hair had been twisted and spiked again. Miyavi locked his door, then leaned against it to give Kaoru a proper look. Someone had been playing dress-up doll with his Kaoru again; everything from clothes to hair to make-up had the mark of someone else's doing. Black leather pants that hugged his legs without being too tight, a black tee beneath an open black button-down, and the barbed wire necklace from the first night. Someone had also carefully applied black eyeliner, then smudged his lids with lavender and grey, a touch of gloss gracing full lips. The spiked hair added height Kaoru didn't necessarily need, the entire effect making him look even more like walking sex. And Miyavi couldn't help thinking that had been the entire point.

“Someone's made a doll out of you again, haven't they?” Miyavi murmured appreciatively, sauntering over to his chosen and feathering fingers through spiky fringe. “Some special occasion I should know about?”

“Fuck if I know. Study break? Because they felt like it, I guess.”

“Well good for them, then,” he said with a small smile. “Or rather, good for me. Really, Kao, it's still early yet. Did you really think I wasn't coming back?”

“I wasn't thinking about you at all.”

“So what were you thinking about?”

“None of your business,” Kaoru muttered, refusing to meet Miyavi's eyes. And yet, for all his talk of wanting to be left alone, of not wanting anything to do with Miyavi, Kaoru wasn't actually leaving. “Don't you have roommates?”

“Most of the time, but not tonight. They'll be gone all night, in fact,” Miyavi murmured, stepping into Kaoru's personal space and looping arms around his waist. “You have me all to yourself, to do with as you please.”

“Miyavi....”

“Your father's done something, you already told me that much. What is it, Kao?”

“Leave me alone.”

“Now I know you don't mean that. If you didn't want me involved, you could have walked out that door a dozen times by now. There's nothing wrong with wanting to start your life over again, baby, nothing wrong with what you feel for me. I want to help you, I do, but you have to let me.”

Miyavi pressed himself against Kaoru's chest, nuzzling his chosen's shoulder. Kaoru's arms finally came up to hold him in return, a heavy sigh sliding out of the younger teen. He could feel himself almost purring, temptation staring him in the face in the form of the pale column of Kaoru's neck. He wanted to taste that soft skin, to feel Kaoru's hands on his body, but he was still terrified of pushing too far and scaring him off completely.

“Maybe I just ... don't want to think about it anymore,” Kaoru muttered.

“Then let me distract you?” he purred, fingertips teasing over black cotton. “I'm pretty good at that.”

He couldn't stop himself, pressing a kiss to Kaoru's lips. And as expected, Kaoru resisted, pulling back. What he hadn't expected, however, was the fact that the other teen didn't actually step away from him. Instead, hesitant fingers brushed black fringe away from Miyavi's cheek, uncertainty writing itself all too clearly on the other's face. He wanted to be encouraging, leaning into Kaoru's touch with a soft sigh of pleasure. The uncertainty faded from dark eyes, only to be replaced with a depth of sadness that made his heart ache.

“Miyavi, I....”

“You're thinking too hard. Stop that, it's not good for you. Just kiss me, let it go from there.”

“I ... I don't....”

Miyavi didn't want to hear Kaoru's reasons for staying alone and miserable. He pulled Kaoru close again, kissing him with everything he had. Kaoru whimpered, a hesitant tongue sliding into Miyavi's mouth and slowly tasting him. Hands buried themselves in Miyavi's hair, holding him captive to Kaoru's desire. He slid his own hands down Kaoru's sides, smoothing over his hips as he pressed himself even closer. Miyavi felt like he was being devoured by Kaoru's kiss. With subtle touches, he steered Kaoru through the study room, into his bedroom, and over to his bed. Kaoru didn't even seem to notice until Miyavi was pushing him down onto his bed.

“Miya....”

“Shh, don't think about it, baby, just go with it. I'll take care of you,” Miyavi murmured, pressing Kaoru into the mattress with one hand and pushing open his shirt with the other. Kaoru tried to protest further, but Miyavi was kissing him again, seducing him with the same irresistible techniques Hakuei had once used on him. Any lingering protests died swiftly enough, replaced with need and an undeniable heat. Clothes were swiftly discarded, thrown to the floor without another thought until there was only skin against skin. Kaoru was sweetly hesitant, but Miyavi's patience had long since vanished. And Kaoru felt even better than he'd imagined....

~*~*~

Kaoru slid out from under Miyavi's sleeping weight, feeling worse than he ever had in his life. Miyavi had seduced him, but surely he could have done more to resist? How could he be such a whore? Grabbing his clothes from the floor, he dressed as quickly as he could, constantly glancing over at the sleeping form on the bed, paranoid that Miyavi was going to wake up any second. He wasn't sure if he was happy that Miyavi didn't or not, even if it did mean he made a clean escape.

When he woke up the next morning, You was waiting for him, standing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. And the other teen did not look at all happy to see him.

“What are you doing here?”

“What are you talking about?” he grumbled as he shrugged into his uniform. “I live here, in case you forgot.”

“You were supposed to spend the night with Miyavi.”

“Yeah, well, that's my business, isn't it....”

“Screw this, I don't care what Yasu-senpai says.... You fuck this up, Niikura, and Miyavi's going to be the least of your problems.”

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“It means you're in it so deep the only thing keeping your head above water is Miya's support. If you fuck this up, we'll all be taking the fall right along with you. And I'm not going through that hell again, not for someone like you, you ungrateful little shit.”

Kaoru snorted and stalked out of the room, pushing his way past the other teen. He had no idea what You was talking about and first thing in the morning was no time to be trying to figure out riddles. But as the day continued, he became increasingly aware that the guys he'd begun to think of as his friends were watching him with disapproval. The study room was tense when he walked in after club, all eyes turned to him in censure. He did his best to ignore them, retreating to the bedroom. So much for the illusion that he could actually be accepted....

~*~*~

Keita had tried to honor Miyavi's wishes. All day long he'd fought against his instincts, going to class when all he had really wanted to do was track down the bastard that had hurt his Meev-kun. But when he went to check on his dearest friend only to find out that Miyavi hadn't gone to class at all, he couldn't keep silent any longer. He stayed with Miyavi until his friend had cried himself to sleep again, then put on his coldest mask and made his way up to the third floor. He hesitated for a moment as he stood before the door. What was he going to say? Or maybe he wouldn't say anything at all.

His knock on the door was answered by a vaguely familiar face, but he couldn't put a name to it.

“Tachibana-kun. Here to see Niikura?”

“Yes, if it's not a problem.”

“Of course not,” the older teen murmured with a slight inclination of his head.

“Yu~ki, who ... oh....”

“Tachibana-kun is here to talk to Niikura,” the one called Yu~ki said with an eerily familiar frigid tone, one Keita had heard from lower bosses his entire life. It sent a shiver down his spine, but he ignored it. Eyebrows and ears pricked up around the room and then the half dozen teens were gathering up their books and quietly exiting the suite until only Yu~ki and Keita were left.

“Tachibana-kun ... if I could say something before you speak to him?”

Keita doubted he wanted to hear it, but he nodded anyway. Yu~ki was someone Miyavi trusted, the one his best friend had charged with watching over Niikura. If the older boy had any information that could help him....

“Niikura ... he is a good person, underneath it all. If he has hurt Miyavi-san, then he deserves what he gets, but ... it would be unfortunate if he was permanently removed.”

“I'll ... try to keep that in mind.”

“I'll be out here if you need me.”

Keita nodded even though he had no intention of needing anything from the older teen. Neither did he bother knocking before letting himself into Niikura's bedroom. Miyavi's chosen was sitting on his bed, surrounded by papers and notebooks, no doubt doing his homework. A sour look twisted what many would have considered handsome features, and though Keita did not personally find him attractive, he could understand why Miyavi had felt the boy needed protection.

“Who are you and what the fuck do you want?”

“You really are an arrogant piece of shit, aren't you? Do you have any idea just how deep in over your head you are?”

“I'm not in the mood for more of this bullshit....”

“Did you think you could just fuck him once and walk away? You arrogant asshole!” Keita was lashing out at Kaoru before he even realized it and there was something viscerally satisfying about feeling the sting of contact, seeing the blossom of red on the other boy's cheek. That this teen thought he could just walk into Miyavi's life, use him once, and then throw him away.... “I should have you broken for insulting us like this!”

“He's the one that seduced me!” Kaoru shot back, shoving aside his notebooks to get to his feet. Only then did Keita realize how much taller the other boy was, inwardly cursing the lack of years that meant he still hadn't had his last growth spurt yet. “He's been pushing this from the very start and every single time I've told him to stop. I told him to stop and he wouldn't listen. I told him I wasn't interested, and he wouldn't listen. I told him to leave me alone and he wouldn't listen. And now everything's my fault? Well fuck you!”

“People who aren't interested don't cling all night long,” Keita countered, not about to let himself show any feelings of intimidation even as Kaoru stood too close to tower over him. “People who aren't interested don't start making out in the lounge. And people who aren't interested sure as hell don't have sex!”

“As if you know anything about it!” Kaoru snarled, fists clenching and for a moment, Keita thought the other teen might actually hit him. Then Kaoru snorted and turned around, stalking back over to his bed. Keita twitched at the nonverbal dismissal, but kept talking anyway.

“I know a hell of a lot more than you do! You've been protected your whole life, you don't know the first thing about gang politics. This school is full of posers and rich brats playing at being tough guys and believe me, your attitude doesn't mean shit to them except as a way to corner you into giving them exactly what they want. And what they want is to see you broken. They'll take down whatever gang you're with in the process if they can.”

“This is bullshit!” Kaoru declared hotly as he turned back around. “This is a school, not some low-class ghetto!”

“I can't believe this.... You're in so far over your head you can't even see daylight and you're either too arrogant or too stupid to even notice!”

“Get the fuck out of my room!”

“For some stupid reason, Meev-kun's in love with you, convinced that this time he's found The One. He's willing to stake his everything on the line for you. If you're not going to be with him, if you're just stringing him along for your own perverse reasons, then you need to tell me right here, right now. While there's still a chance of keeping him from ruining a decade of negotiations.”

“I'm not stringing him along,” Kaoru muttered, turning his back to Keita once more as he walked over to a window. He could feel the immediate flare of outrage at a gesture that, from anyone else, would have been a calculated insult. But from Kaoru ... it was too easy for Keita to see the older teen really had no idea what he was doing. “At least, I'm not trying to....”

“He'll break neutrality for you,” Keita murmured, hoping he could make the other boy understand. “I can't let him do that for someone who isn't going to be there six months down the line. I can't let him do that for someone I don't think is worth that price.”

“I ... would never ask him to do something like that for me,” Kaoru said softly, leaning against the window's sill, but he could tell the older teen had no idea what Keita was trying to tell him. Keita wasn't at all sure that this person was even worth the effort of explaining things, not when he still didn't believe Kaoru intended to be there for Miyavi.

“He won't go looking for your permission,” Keita muttered. “Are you going to fix this mess you've made or am I going to have to fix it for you?”

“What do you expect me to do?”

“Honestly? I expect you'll continue to fuck things up with him until I have to do something drastic to repair the damage. Meev-kun would be better off if you made a decision right now. Either you commit or you tell me you're through so I help him get on with his life.”

“You realize I'm only sixteen, right?”

Keita saw little purpose in responding. His own parents had been married by the time they were Kaoru's age, but why bother trying to explain when the older teen insisted on completely missing the point? Especially when he still didn't see what Miyavi liked about him.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because I am. What difference does it make?”

“Why should I believe any of this?”

“Do I look like I'm fucking lying to you?” Keita growled, annoyance surging upwards once more. “Stop answering my questions with more questions, dammit.”

“In case you haven't noticed, I've known Miyavi for less than a week. Now you want me to decide if I want to spend the rest of my life with him?”

“Don't be such a fuckhead,” Keita muttered. “Whether he likes to admit it or not, some day Meev-kun's going to have to get married and have a respectable family. Probably sooner rather than later. What he needs from you is the assurance that you aren't going to do what you did to him last night. That he isn't just some easy fuck to you. That he actually means something to someone besides me, because gods know he won't to his wife. But if you can't manage that, then just say so.”

“Where is he right now?”

“Where you left him.”

Kaoru didn't say anything else, ignoring Keita completely to stalk out of the room. Keita restrained himself from doing anything to hit the teen again, following him and giving Yu~ki a subtle cue to let Kaoru walk past him without interference. The older teen quirked a questioning eyebrow but did nothing more, the perfect subordinate. Keita didn't take the time to explain, instead continuing to follow Kaoru up to Miyavi's room. The study room was thankfully empty, but Keita set himself as a guard anyway. He'd give Kaoru his chance. This time.

~*~*~

Kaoru barely saw anything as he descended to the first floor. He only had one thing on his mind, and that was reaching Miyavi, making sense of this whole mess. How had things gotten so far out of control so quickly? He didn't even bother checking to see if there was anyone else in the study room, heading straight for Miyavi's bedroom instead. The older teen was curled into a ball on his bed, asleep but clearly miserable. Kaoru really was an asshole, treating Miyavi far worse than the older teen had ever treated him.

Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Kaoru found himself hesitating, unsure what to do next. How was he going to explain to Miyavi that the problem was inside Kaoru himself? What was he supposed to say? He really didn't have a clue, but he knew he needed to do something. Miyavi looked so broken.... More than a little afraid of the possible reaction, Kaoru brushed silken strands of black hair away from the other's tear-stained cheek

“Miya-chan....”

Miyavi suddenly bolted upright, eyes wide and fixed on Kaoru's face. He inhaled to speak but Miyavi slapped him before he could, fists then thumping against his chest in a fury that faded all too quickly into broken sobs and whimpers of “why?” Kaoru was too startled to even try to stop him, regaining his wits in time to pull the sobbing teen against his chest.

“I'm sorry, Miya-chan....”

“I didn't even hear you leave, you fucking bastard. How could you do that to me??”

“It's not you, Miya-chan, I swear. It's me. I don't ... I was so disgusted with myself....”

“Why? Why are you being this way? Kaoru....”

“I'm sorry, Miya, I'm so sorry. You deserve so much better than me....”

“I don't want better!!” Miyavi spat back, pulling free to glare up at him. Tattooed fingers cradled Kaoru's cheeks, damp eyes frowning up at him earnestly. “Don't you understand, Kao? What I want is you, but then you go and leave me. Did you even wait at all? Or were you back up in your room before the rush even wore off?”

“Miya,” he sighed, closing his eyes. How was he going to explain this?

“I don't know what they've told you, but I'm not some cheap whore!”

“What? No, they haven't ...,” he started, eyes popping open in surprise, but in his upset, Miyavi steam rolled over right him, barely even pausing for breath.

“I'm not involved in the petty turf wars, it doesn't matter who I've slept with. And sleeping with Haku-chan doesn't make me anymore of a whore than sleeping with Nao did or messing around with Tomohisa or Jin or anybody else! Whatever they told you, I'm not like that, I'm not trying to use you. I want us to be together, Kao, I want to be the one that makes you happy. I want to be the one that holds you all night long, I want to be the one that's there for you when you're afraid to be alone. I want so many things for us....”

“Miya,” Kaoru murmured, pressing two fingers to the older teen's lips in an effort to stem the torrent of words, “no one's called you a whore, not to my face anyway. I won't pretend to understand why, but ... they've all been pissed at me all day. They want me to be with you, or hadn't you noticed that with all their meddling? You-kun in particular was angry about me messing things up with you. I don't understand any of it, Miya, and no one's explaining, like they all think I should already know. I don't know what to think anymore....”

Dark eyes seemed to pierce through his, searching his very soul. Whatever Miyavi found there, it seemed to be enough. The other teen sighed heavily and burrowed himself against Kaoru's chest, arms circling his waist.

“I'll explain anything you want, Kao, just ask.”

“Everyone says I'm in over my head. In what? What did I do?”

“That's a long story,” Miyavi sighed. “Maybe we should get more comfortable, first; I've got some pajamas you can borrow. You're staying the night, ne?”

“I, well, um....”

“Here, let me give you a little hint - that wasn't a suggestion,” Miyavi said, a sliver of his old humor coming through his smile. Sliding off the bed, Miyavi padded over to his wardrobe, sashaying flannel-clad hips for Kaoru's benefit. Kaoru found himself entranced at the ripple of muscle, the curve of his ass as Miyavi bent over to rifle through drawers. And then the other teen was straightening, tossing a pair of flannel pajama pants at Kaoru.

“Those should be close enough to your size. I'll just make sure no one bothers us,” Miyavi said, winking before he slipped out of the room. Kaoru ignored the subdued murmur of voices coming from the other room as he stripped out of his school uniform, feeling oddly self-conscious as he pulled on the soft blue and green flannel pants. His fingers toyed nervously with the barbed wire necklace Gackt had given him, a gift that had sent Kyou through the roof. Intellectually, he recognized that it was stupid to feel nervous - he'd had sex with Miyavi once already, after all. And yet ... standing in his bedroom, waiting for him in the other teen's pants, he hadn't felt quite so nervous in a very long time. And while he knew pacing would get him nowhere, he couldn't seem to help himself.

He shouldn't have been surprised to feel arms circling around him, and yet he was anyway. His back stiffened at the feel of lips on his shoulder, a reaction that passed when Miyavi purred in his ear: “I think we're going to have to do this more often, baby. I like the way you look in my pants.”

“Miya....”

“Relax. Yu~ki is posting notice; we've got the suite all to ourselves. Come to bed, ne?”

It was still early, but at the same time he couldn't bring himself to object, letting Miyavi's hands steer him to the bed. A gentle push and he was falling into the bed, pulling Miyavi down with him. It felt completely natural to kiss him, eyes fluttering closed as he surrendered to the gentle exploration of lips and tongue. Fingers twined in silky hair and he sighed into their kiss.

“Miya ... this isn't going to explain anything.”

“Yeah, but it feels good and you're distracting, laying there half naked,” Miyavi murmured with another small smile. “Can I help it if I like it when you kiss me? Can I help it if I like the way you feel with your hands in my hair?”

Kaoru managed to stave off the urge to sigh and roll his eyes, if only just barely. He still wanted answers, after all, and he wouldn't get them if he managed to offend Miyavi again so quickly.

“Would it be better if I was wearing a shirt?”

“Nah, then I'd just want to take if off of you,” the other teen teased, “and then I'd probably never get around to explaining anything. Considering you want to know everything....”

Hesitant fingers brushed against his cheek, a riot of emotions colliding in the depths of Miyavi's eyes. Then the moment passed and Miyavi was up and walking away from him. Kaoru sat up and watched, uncertain what to make of the other teen's actions.

“Sorry,” Miyavi mumbled, hugging himself tightly as he leaned against the windowsill. “I thought I could do this, I thought I could pretend like everything was okay, but I can't. I don't even know if I can trust you anymore.”

“Then tell me what to do to make this better.”

“It's not that easy,” Miyavi sighed, staring out at the grounds of the school. “I know you're only here because of him, because of the things he told you.”

Kaoru felt the knife twist in his gut again as he watched the moonlight accent the misery writing itself on Miyavi's face. This was his fault, but he didn't have the first clue what to do to fix it. Even so, he couldn't ignore the pain he'd caused, intensional or not. Sliding off the bed, he joined Miyavi at the window, wrapping his arms around the taller teen's waist and gently tugging him close. Miyavi resisted, his body stiff and unyielding in Kaoru's arms. Sighing, he rested his chin on Miyavi's shoulder.

“I would have come on my own, he just ... hurried me along. Despite what you seem to think, leaving had nothing to do with you ... and everything to do with me. I don't have one-night stands.”

“Kao....”

“Let me finish, ne? I'm not in love with you, of course I'm not. I don't even know you. Yet. Last night was a mistake. A very ... wonderful mistake, but nevertheless ... it shouldn't've happened. I compromised myself, I let you get to me, and that was wrong.”

“You know, this isn't reassuring me.”

“Stop interrupting,” he scolded, pulling back a moment to nip at Miyavi's bare shoulder. That at least coaxed a shiver out of the other teen, and when Kaoru leaned close again, the body in his arms felt a little less stiff. “You were right about Izumi. He was the one for me, I was sure of it, and when my father found out, when things got tough, I lashed out at the only one I could. I don't ... deserve you. I'll only hurt you in the end....”

“You're doing a bang-up job of that already, Kao,” Miyavi sighed.

“I noticed,” Kaoru sighed. “I'm sorry. I don't really know what I'm doing here, you know....”

“Yeah, I kinda noticed,” the other teen murmured, tilting his head back to nuzzle his shoulder. “So does your being here now mean you intend to stay anyway?”

“I don't have one night stands,” Kaoru repeated softly. Miyavi wriggled enough leeway to turn around in Kaoru's arms, frowning up at him. “You were right after all - you're stuck with me, now.”

“I think I should be irritated with you for that remark,” he said, arching a pierced eyebrow. “Damn you anyway for being too sexy for my own good.”

Miyavi pressed a deliciously sweet kiss to his lips, pulling back before either of them could succumb to the temptation to linger. He watched the lithe form step free of his arms, offered no objection as tattooed fingers entwined with his own and gently tugged him towards Miyavi's bed again. Neither did he resist nor complain at the last tug that pulled him down on top of the other teen, the one he was now intending to claim as his lover, in the privacy of the night if nowhere else. Shifting to support more of his own weight, he sighed as fingers traced invisible lines over his bare skin.

“Miya....”

“There's so many things to explain ... are you okay with me copping out on most of it tonight?” the other asked in a softly worried tone. “I can explain why they were so worried, but the rest....”

“On one condition.”

“Anything, Kao.”

“Let me make love to you tonight.”

He could see the confusion in dark eyes, could almost read the thoughts running through the older boy's mind. Why ask permission to have sex after fighting against it for so long and why in such an odd way? He knew if he had to explain himself to Miyavi, the moment would be broken, lost. But if the other boy couldn't understand why he'd needed to ask....

“You've had my permission from the very first,” Miyavi murmured, one hand reaching up to cup his cheek. “But keep talking like that and I'm not going to get any explaining done.”

Kaoru turned his head to kiss Miyavi's palm, then subsided on the bed next to him, pulling the other close to him. A surprisingly comfortable silence rose between them, one in which he could only assume the other was trying to gather his thoughts.

“They have a right to be worried. Sugizo's insisting on being offended on Inoran's behalf because of what you did. Haku-chan says he's just using it as an excuse, and he's probably right. Either way, he's insisting you owe him. If you won't pay ... I'm not sure what he means to do.”

“Owe him? Owe him what, a fat lip?”

“Cute,” Miyavi murmured, snuggling closer, “but no. He's trying to claim honorable exchange, which is just a fancy way of trying to get me to hand you over to him.”

“For?”

“For unspecified duration and use, but between who's asking and what Haku-chan said, it'd amount to turning you over to be a sex slave for him and anyone else he decided to offer you to.”

“WHAT?!”

Anger coursed through him and the only thing keeping him on the bed was Miyavi's sudden weight on top of him. An anger that found its echo in the dark eyes of his lover.

“I won't do it, Kao, I already refused him. I know it's the way things work around here, but I know you'd never agree to it. And I couldn't ask. Even if you did agree, it would be sending the wrong message. You're mine, my chosen, and that makes you neutral like me. You aren't part of the cliques yet and Yasu won't let you get involved, either, not as long as I say you're mine.”

“How can you say I'm not a part of them when ... when I'm living with them, spending all my time with them. Hell, they claimed me the first night!”

“It's a grey area. But Yasu won't let you get involved any further than you already are. It's the other reason Yu~ki's practically attached to you - to make sure you don't get involved in anything. Because if you're involved, then I'm involved....”

“And you'd break neutrality and negotiations for me. And it would be the end of the world.”

“If you're trying to be cute, it's not really working, babe,” Miyavi said with a small smile. “Guys like Sugizo, they like to pretend like they're tough shit, but most of them wouldn't last ten seconds in a real fight. They're not like me or the other yakuza here ... and the smart ones know it. For the sake of everyone, yakuza clan politics are left at the gates when we come here, it's why I've managed to go to school with people like Kobashi-san for the last three years. We stick to our own in here and we don't get involved in anything. Works nicely for us because the rich brats are all afraid that we really might do something crazy. And it works out for the cliques because there's someone who can arbitrate. We keep things under control and the administration knows it, even if they pretend not to.”

“But if you start picking sides because of me, then everything falls apart,” Kaoru murmured. Miyavi nodded, sliding sideways to the mattress again. It sounded a little like something out of the movies, but it made sense. It didn't matter if his lover would ever actually order a hit on someone for insulting him, the idea that he might was enough to protect him, enough to enforce his neutrality. And by extension, enough to keep Kaoru safe ... if he could keep his nose clean. But it was still a bit hard to take, that this was now his life.

“Don't worry about it, Kao,” Miyavi murmured, nuzzling his chest. “I told him I wouldn't agree to his terms. If he wants to push this, then I'll cut ties and he'll be the one in trouble. The others will still deal with him, but it'll look bad.”

“Don't worry about it, you say,” he sighed. “You've told me there's a group of guys out there that have it in their head that I owe them sex and you tell me not to worry about it?”

“If you're saying you can't handle yourself in a fight, well ... if it helps, Yu~ki's not the only one watching out for you. The rest of them are just doing it a little more discreetly.”

“The unnamed other yakuza?”

“We look after our own, Kao,” the other teen murmured, running gentle fingers through lavender hair. “I won't let him do anything to you. I can be a selfish ass, too, you know, and I'm not interested in sharing you with anyone.”

Kaoru rather liked the sound of that.