[021] Andiamo (2/2)

[jackie]

Title: Andiamo (2/2)
Pairing/Group: Arashi, KAT-TUN, J-ent guest appearances. Jun/Sho/Toma (and variations therein); secondary - Nino/Kame, light Becky/Aiba, light Ueda/insanity.
Rating/Warnings: NC-17 for light drug usage, light dubcon, handjobs, blowjobs, frottage, library sex, and painfully hot threesome.
Word Count: 17,915
Summary: When Matsumoto Jun, private detective, agrees to take on a rather strange case, his entire world is flipped upside down.
Notes: PART ONE
•••••
Toma let the water flow between his fingers. Water had always fascinated him; how two gasses, when combined, could create the ultimate life-sustaining liquid was perplexing. At the moment, however, said liquid was less life-sustaining and more clean-inducing. Toma dipped the rag he'd been holding into the water and squeezed the excess water out. Jun lay on the chaise next to the window, shivering lightly.

Nino hadn't been home when they arrived at his flat that afternoon. They had assumed Kame (as the butler was commonly called) had rushed home to warn Nino of his implicated involvement in the murder. Toma just hoped they could get to him before Oguri and Hiro could. Jun, however, had decided it was an excellent time to go visit the local opium den. Again. Toma had thought he'd quit the habit, sticking to cigarettes and the occasional brandy. But he'd been wrong. Jun stumbled back in the flat several hours ago, eyes bloodshot, stomach ready to heave. Toma had done this before. He was prepared. The most they could do was sit and wait for it to pass.

Leaning across his charge, Toma wiped down Jun's forehead, pushing his hair back and dabbing at his cheeks and neck. It was one of the only times Jun would let Toma touch his hair. Jun was very particular about his hair - an odd quirk from a man who cared so little about so many other things. But Jun's hair was not to be trifled with. Except when he was hungover. Toma placed a new, cool rag across Jun's forehead. Jun's eyes were closed in what Toma hoped was a nap. The best way to come down from the high, much like alcohol, was to just sleep it off. Toma watched Jun for a moment, marveling, not for the first time, at the porcelain quality of Jun's skin, how his black hair stood in stark contrast to the rest of him, the strong eyebrows that wouldn't work on any other face. Jun's strong face was his downfall more often than not, unfortunately.

Toma felt, more than directed, his hand brush across Jun's cheek, up to the shot of dark hair. It was soft, lighter than a feather and fine to the touch. Toma ran his fingers through it, reveling in the silky downiness. The strands fell between his fingers like the water moments before, but much more satisfactorily. Letting out a little sigh of longing or perhaps regret, Toma tucked the strands behind Jun's ear and leaned to get another rag for his forehead.

A hand on his wrist stopped Toma in his tracks. He looked down in surprise at the slender fingers wrapped around his arm, then back up to their owner. Jun's eyes were clearer and dark. He opened his mouth to say something, but the words didn't come. Jun looked back down at their joined arms and shifted his hand, sliding it down to twine their fingers together. Toma felt a jump in his stomach. Surely this meant something. Surely this meant Jun saw him as something more than just a friend, a tag-a-long, an apprentice of sorts.

Toma squeezed their fingers lightly.

A knock at the door pulled them from the moment, and Jun let his eyes slide closed yet again, releasing Toma's hand. The knock again, this time more insistent, spurred Toma out of his chair to the door.

"Yes yes, what is it? Oh, Sakurai, hello." Toma held the door open for Sho. "What brings you here?"

Sho sauntered in, all arrogant confidence, setting his hat and walking stick down on the side table by one of the chairs. "I thought I would offer you gentlemen my services."

Jun snorted from his spot on the couch, not bothering to open his eyes. "Your 'services?'" he asked. "What, are you going to seduce us, take all our money and leave?"

Frowning, Toma turned to Sho, a clear question in his eyes. Sho cleared his throat.

"I've already had you, Matsumoto. Besides, you're not hardly rich enough for me," he replied. Turning to Toma, Sho smiled. "My apologies, Ikuta. Jun here likes to tease me about my travelling companions."

"Travelling companions?" Jun said with disgust. "More like crazy, rich old biddies you seduce, do lord knows what with, then leave to die alone and penniless. Try not to trip over your own self-righteousness there, Sakurai."

"You have no idea what you're talking about Jun," Sho replied, sniffing lightly. "It's not my fault I'm terribly charismatic and the ladies love me."

"Yeah, too bad you'll never love them back," Jun shot, sitting up and removing the cloth from his head. "Why are you really here?"

"I told you, I want to team up."

Toma nodded encouragingly in Sho's direction. "Sure!" he said, just as Jun gave another emphatic "No."

Toma turned to frown at Jun. "Why not? Sho is intelligent and quick and he obviously knows his way around London. We could use a third brain on this one."

Jun frowned, but said nothing more. Smiling, Sho settled himself in one of the arm chairs and helped himself to tea.

"A few years ago, Jun was right," Sho started, leaning back and taking a sip. "I had a terrible habit of picking up older women, travelling with them wherever they may go, befriending them, really. After a few months, they were prone to change their wills, leaving me a large chunk of money in their wake. It was hardly my fault they passed on shortly thereafter."

Toma felt his eyes go wide at the confession. "So you...?"

Sho sputtered a bit into his drink. "No no, I didn't kill them or anything. I just...used them, I guess. I got to see the world for free, make friends all over, and walk away with a healthy chunk of change. The one time I got involved in a real scam, with our mutual friend Ninomiya, Jun discovered it and tried to send me to jail. It's too bad I'm smarter than he is."

"Hardly," Jun muttered.

Sho ignored Jun, plunging ahead in his story. "About two years ago I met Masaki and Becky at a function in Kent. They were intriguing, amusing, and most of all, wealthy. Masaki was going on and on about how he wanted to go to India, see what all the fuss was about. I'd been once before, so I volunteered to go, hoping to get a cut of whatever he was bound to find. It turned out, however, that Masaki is actually a great deal of fun to be around." Sho smiled fondly. "He quickly became my best friend, and Becky with him. They let me stay with them and travel, donating whatever we happen to find to museums or private collections, taking almost nothing in return. You'll rarely find a pair of people so generous as the Aiba's."

"So why stay with them?" Toma asked. "Why not go find another old woman and get in her good graces?"

Sho frowned. "I longed for someone my own age to associate with, partly. And because Masaki is....intoxicating, almost. His energy is catching. You can't be around him and not smile. I fell in love with him a little bit. And Becky, as well. It's tragic that they can't have children. A world full of tiny Becky-Masaki hybrids could cure it of any ailments, I'm sure."

Jun shifted in his spot uncomfortably. "Fine, you've changed. Congratulations." He frowned. "Now what do you propose we do?"

"Have you tried speaking to Nino directly?" Sho asked, grimacing and adding another sugar cube to his tea.

"He was out when we went to visit him," Toma replied. He stood, collecting the cups, and paused. "How did you know we were going to talk to Nino?"

"Easy," Sho replied, shrugging. "He's sleeping with the butler."

--

Ninomiya's flat was located in one of the more densely populated areas of London, making it both cheaper and more dangerous to reside there. From what Toma knew of the man, however, danger didn't bother him. The carriage ride was short and Toma was grateful to whatever deity made that possible. Sho had stayed with them overnight, feeling it best to wait until the morning to go visit Nino. The tension flowed between Sho and Jun unchecked. Toma didn't know how to fix it or even if it was fixable. He chose to stay out of it for the moment. He knew something had happened between them, something bigger than either of them let on, really. Jun wasn't often flustered in the face of other people, but something about Sakurai shook him.

"Ikuta, sir!" The small, familiar voice of Oguri's errand boy, Yamada, broke through the throng of people near the entrance to Nino's building.

"Yamada," Toma nodded, acknowledging the boy's presence. "What do you have?"

"Nishikido Ryo was found dead yesterday afternoon, sir. A trump card was found on his person. The Joker. Mr. Oguri wanted me to tell you, as he knew you were going to stick your nose into the case anyway." Yamada paused, scratching his nose with one finger. "Those were his words, sir, not mine."

Toma fought the grin threatening to break his composure. "Thank you, Yamada," he replied, tossing the boy a quid and shooing him away.

"Nishikido?" Sho asked, eyebrows drawing together. "He and Nino are quite close, if I recall correctly."

"Like brothers, last time I checked," Jun replied. He pulled the door open to Nino's building and stepped inside, gracefully dodging the children running in and out. "You would think for a man with as much money as Ninomiya, he'd live somewhere with decorum."

"You have met Nino, right?" Toma joked.

Jun frowned and continued picking his way up the stairs to Nino's flat, Toma and Sho trailing behind him, hiding their grins. Sometimes it was best to just laugh at Jun, but never to his face.

The door to Nino's apartment was unmarked, save for the small "4B" hanging next to it. Jun pounded against the door with one fist, calling out, "Ninomiya! It's Matsumoto, I need to speak with you."

The trio stood silently, waiting for some sign of life. When nothing came, Jun knocked again, this time more forcefully. "Ninomiya!" he yelled. "You coward, open the damn door."

Toma very distinctly heard the click of a revolver on the other side and moved to stand out of the line of fire, just in case. Jun, however, held his ground as the door swung open a few inches, Nino's sharp eyes peering out from the crack. "I didn't do it." he said, and made to slam the door. Sho's hand was on it before it could click.

"We know you didn't Nino," Sho said, trying to put on his best responsible face. "But we need to talk to you. Figure out who did."

"Sho. When did you get back into town?" Nino asked, opening the door a bit wider and letting them all slip in quietly. Slamming the door behind them, Nino locked it, latching the chain and setting a chair under the handle.

"A few weeks ago. Paranoid?" Sho replied.

Nino motioned for them to sit, but Toma was hard pressed to find a horizontal surface not covered in books, cards, or various knickknacks. He chose to stand, holding his hat in his hand and watching the banter.

"Someone killed a medium, tried to frame me. Someone killed Ryo, one of my best friends in the world, mind you, and tried to frame me. Yeah, I'm a little fucking paranoid," Nino replied, lighting up a cigarette and puffing on it slowly.

"You're awfully well informed for a virtual recluse," Jun remarked. He was examining a dancing girl figurine closely, weighing it with one hand.

"Gotta be when you're being accused of shit," Nino said, lounging back against his chair. "How'd you figure it's not me?"

Jun sniffed and looked at the man carefully. "Jokers?" he asked. "Not your style. If it was an Ace, I'd buy it. Kings, maybe. I'd say the Queen of Hearts, but he seems to be out at the moment."

"You know I save the Queen for very special people," Nino shot back, eyeing Toma and Sho, who shifted uncomfortably and avoided each other's eyes.

"In any event, I figure the murderer was actually at the Aiba's with us this past weekend," Jun concluded.

"How do you figure?"

"The trump clue. And Taguchi's murder. Neither have been publicized or hit the papers yet. The only way someone would know about that would be if they were there or had an inside source, like you."

Nino frowned, but didn't argue for once.

The four of them conversed for an hour, maybe more, laying out theories and ideas. Nino was sure it was one of his (many) enemies, but Jun wasn't convinced. It felt different than just a revenge plot against Ninomiya.

"If someone was out to get you, why even bother with the Aiba's? Why go to them at all in the first place?" Toma asked.

"You've got me," Nino replied, avoiding Toma's gaze. "Look, if you want information about the underbelly of this town, you need to talk to Akanishi. He knew Ryo, too. The man knows more lowlives and criminals than Scotland Yard."

"I'm sorry, gentlemen, but I have other business to attend to," Sho said, standing. "I'll contact you later this evening."

Jun sneered in Sho's direction, but remained silent. Toma wondered, not for the first time, what the man had done to deserve Jun's disdain. Losing Jun's respect was not something Toma wanted to dabble in.

"Shall we to The Four Horsemen?" Toma asked.

--

The Four Horsemen was a dank, seedy pub on the south side of London. Akanishi Jin, proprietor and apparent owner, spent more time drinking and gambling than actually running the pub. His girls were known for being inexpensive and incredibly pleasing, an experience Toma hadn't taken the time to have quite yet. (Nor did he think he ever would.)

"Fine! You know what, Akanishi? Go fuck yourself." The blurred form of a very angry man went whizzing by Toma as he held the door open for Jun, who stared after the man for a moment before frowning and entering the pub.

The pub itself was one large room with a long oak bar along one side and a fireplace on the other. Small, round tables dotted the floor here and there, filling the space. At the far end, a set of rickety stairs led to the rooms for rent, largely occupied by Jin's girls, but also available for the occasional traveller or drunk. A small walkway next to the front door led to the wine cellar, which was more just a storage area for whatever random things Jin happened to collect at the time. If it had been well maintained, The Four Horsemen would have been an excellent bar. Unfortunately, its owner had gotten lost in the drink.

Nodding to the bartender, Toma glanced around. It was early afternoon and the pub was mostly empty. A few patrons sat around the tables, sipping at their drinks quietly. Walking over to the bar, Toma motioned to get the attention of the bartender.

"We're looking for Akanishi?" he asked, hoping the man would be there at that hour.

The bartender nodded once, revealing a tattoo (a flower maybe? Toma pondered) on his neck and headed to the end of the long walk, calling for his boss loudly.

Jun just stared at the man, unblinking.

"Jun," Toma started, one hand on Jun's arm. "Is everything okay?"

Shaking his head lightly, Jun smiled. "That bartender, I can't place him."

Toma frowned. Jun was known for his nearly perfect memory. For him to be unable to place someone was a bigger mystery than any murder Toma could think of. "Hm."

"Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the fucking camel, if that's Ka-oh. What can I do for you gentlemen?" Akanishi Jin stumbled out of his glorified office into the main bar, reeking of smoke and bourbon. Toma wondered how many of his girls he'd bedded before tucking away that horrifying thought.

"Nishikido Ryo was murdered yesterday afternoon. Any idea who did it?" Jun asked, ignoring the man's outburst and choosing just to get to the point.

Jin fidgeted in his spot. "You boys want a drink?" he asked. Toma could tell he was deflecting, but why? What motive would Jin have for dodging the question, he wondered. Unless he knew something.

"No, thank you," Toma replied. He moved to lean against the bar and thought better of it. He was wearing a rather nice suit. "Any information you could have about Ryo would be helpful, if you don't mind."

"Look," Jin said, turning to face them, drink sloshing a bit in the tumbler. "All I know about Ryo was that he liked my girls, my booze and my money a little too much. Nice enough guy, but not someone you'd want to hang out with."

"Do you have any idea who would want to kill him?" Toma pressed. The barkeep wasn't being terribly forthcoming with his information so far.

"Kid, I could list you a couple dozen people who would want to kill Nishikido. The guy was an ass. I doubt most of London would miss him too much." Jin laughed into his drink, slamming it back all at once and dropping the glass on the table. "We done here? I have important business to take care of." Jin motioned to his pants, then the open door of his office, where a scantily clad woman leaned provocatively.

Jun sneered in disgust and for once, Toma was completely on his side. "I think we're done, thanks," Toma replied, steering Jun out of the pub before he could say something to get them both in trouble.

They stood blinking in the afternoon sun, grateful for the relative fresh air outside. "That was completely useless," Toma grumbled, shoving his hat down on his head and tapping his walking stick on the ground. "Jun?"

Jun's eyes were glazed over in thought, head cocked slightly to the right as if trying to remember something. "What? Oh, I'm sorry. I just know I know that bartender from somewhere."

"No matter," Toma replied. "Let's get home. Maybe Sho will have picked up something useful today."

--

Sho had not, in fact, picked up anything useful at all. He'd spent his morning with Becky, picking out the new carpet for the Aiba manor library. Not an effective way to spend his time in the middle of a murder (now double murder) case, Jun thought. But he could hardly begrudge the man. Becky was a hard woman to say no to.

That night Jun holed himself up in the extensive library he and Toma had built between them, researching everything he could on memory loss. It bothered him that he couldn't place the bartender. He'd remembered everything about the last time he'd seen Sho, down to the number of buttons on his jacket, but Jun couldn't figure out where he knew this bartender from and it was driving him mad.

Lighting up another cigarette, Jun leaned back in the chair he'd pulled close to the shelves. Nothing had been terribly enlightening so far, mostly just things he knew already. One book had suggested drug use, like that of opium, could enhance memories. Jun had enhanced memories alright, but not the ones he needed - only the ones that haunted him at night when he longed for sleep, but was plagued by the heart-shaped face and strong arms of a love long gone.

The door to the library opened and shut behind him and Jun could feel a sense of deja vu wash over him.

"Thought I'd find you here," Sho said, coming around to look at Jun properly.

"It's usually a safe bet to check the library," Jun replied around his cigarette.

"That's a nice change." Sho motioned to the stick in Jun's hand.

"Toma won't let me have my fun in the house," Jun replied, catching Sho's meaning. Sho had never approved of Jun's opium use, despite the legality of it being just as valid as alcohol.

"The wife's really cracking down?"

Sho's voice was playful, but his eyes told another story. Jun stood and leveled him with a glare that very plainly said 'none of your business.'

"Oh, Jun, don't give me that look," Sho said, hands in the air in surrender. "You know I'm just joking. You'd be the wife, clearly."

Jun snapped, all the tension of the last few days building up within him releasing at once as he slammed Sho into the bookcase behind him. "You know nothing of my relationship with Toma. Don't try to pretend you do. You walked out the door years ago and he walked in. Why are you back, Sho? To torture me? To make me realize how utterly sad my life is? Leave me be. Just...just leave me be." Jun released Sho and made to move away, but found himself held fast.

Sho pulled Jun close by the belt loops, licking his lips and staring at Jun's. "I missed you," he said plainly before swooping in and stealing a kiss. Jun had to bite back the moan at the contact. It had been too long since he'd had Sho's lips beneath his and it almost hurt to feel them once again. Sho's hands moved up and down Jun's back, holding him close, feeling every bump along the way.

Jun leaned into Sho's embrace, enjoying the feeling of being held close. He moved to circle Sho's waist with his arms, tugging him closer still. Jun tilted his head slightly, changing the angle of the kiss and deepening it all the same. Sho growled a little in the back of his throat and Jun's eyes shot open. No.

"No," he whispered, pulling back, out of the kiss and away from Sho. "I can't do this. Not again. Not with you."

"Jun," Sho said, voice still husky with desire.

"No! Not again." Jun hurried out of the room, slamming the door behind him and slumping against it. It scared him how easily he could give in to Sho, how quickly Sho made him want to. It had been a lifetime ago that they'd been together. Life would be so much easier if he could just get over Sho and move on.

Jun wondered, as he walked back to his room, if he ever would.

--

Toma,

I apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused you by coming into your life and home. Thank you for being such a gracious host. I hope we may meet again someday. Please tell Jun I said goodbye.

-Sakurai
Toma gazed down at the note wordlessly. It baffled him to think Sho would just leave that way, but he hardly knew the man. Toma shrugged sadly and left the note on the table by the door. Jun would be sure to happen upon it soon enough.

Heading to his own room, Toma stopped to check on Jun. It had been a rough few days for the man's self-esteem, Toma thought. Jun loved little more than solving the case and saving the day. The last few days had been an endless barrage of problems they just couldn't crack. Poking his head in the door, Toma spotted Jun lying on his back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

"Jun?" Toma asked, stepping into the room. "Are you okay?"

Jun sat upright on the bed, glancing around nervously, eyes bright. "Toma," he said quietly.

"Jun." Toma moved to the food of the bed. Jun had been to the opium den again, his eyes and the sweet smell in his hair told the truth. Toma had hoped Jun would stop, would realize what the drug did to him. He hadn't yet.

Standing, Jun moved toward Toma purposefully, cornering him against the wall, one hand on either side of Toma's head. It was all Toma could do not to panic. The last few years had been simple, quiet years. Toma stopped denying his attraction to Jun long ago, but realizing that Jun was attracted to him, however marginally, was exciting and terrifying all at once. Toma wasn't sure how to handle the situation. Had Jun been sober, Toma would have had a harder time saying no. Jun leaned in slowly and peppered kisses across Toma's cheekbone and jaw.

"Toma, I want you," he growled, deep in his throat. "I want you now."

It was all Toma could to do breathe.

Jun moved closer, one hand sliding down Toma's body to undo the button of his pants before plunging in past the material to grasp Toma's cock fully. Toma gasped and Jun took advantage, dipping his head in for a deep kiss. He pulled back just far enough to lap at Toma's mouth, but not quite kissing again. Toma groaned as he was pulled free of his trousers, head thumping back against the wall. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew this was wrong, that Jun wasn't Jun, but oh god, how he wanted it. He told himself he'd regret it later as he moved his hips in time with Jun's pulls.

Jun's hand moved deftly up and down Toma's length, spreading the precome that gathered at the head and making him moan with every twist of his fingers and flick of his wrist. Jun was all too familiar with this, Toma thought, giving in to his desires and pushing into Jun's fist. Desire coiled in Toma's belly, and he wanted more. More heat, more friction, more Jun right here, right now. Jun pressed into him, forcing Toma back against the wall even further, stilling his hips and giving Jun all the control. He knew he wouldn't last much longer at this rate, hips desperately trying to buck into Jun's hand.

"Please," Toma whisper-gasped.

Jun obliged, picking up the pace and plunging his tongue into the white hot heat of Toma's mouth. They battled for dominance for a moment, Jun winning easily. Toma felt his body start to tense as his orgasm approached. He groaned, deep in his chest and thrusted into Jun's fist. Toma came with a stuttered cry, head knocking against the wall once again, messing Jun's pants with his release.

Leaning forward, Jun took one last, deep kiss before moving away to clean himself off. Toma stood there for a moment, panting and confused.

"What was that for?" he asked, barely forcing the words out.

Jun walked out of the room, not bothering to look back.

A few minutes later, Toma found Jun at the front door, holding Sho's letter in his hand.

"I-I was going to tell you about that," he started. "Sho's...gone. I don't know where, but he's gone."

"Did you see this?" Jun asked, flipping the letter over and pointing out a small symbol on the back. A club. One solitary club.

"What does it mean?" Toma inquired, puzzled to his core.

Something in Jun's eyes changed, snapping him into sobriety.

"We need to get to Nino. Now."

--

"Find Yamada, tell him to get Oguri and Hiro to The Four Horsemen immediately," Jun instructed Chinen, one of the local street boys. "There's ten quid in it for you." The child hurried off, clearly willing to do just about anything for a bit of money, and ten quid wasn't anything to turn one's nose up at.

"What's going on? Jun?" Toma trailed behind him as Jun strode purposefully through the door and up the stairs to Nino's flat.

"There's been another murder. Or there will be," Jun said, stopping at Nino's door to pound his fist against it. "Ninomiya!"

Nino popped out the door at once, revolver in one hand. "Where's Kame?"

"Note?" Jun asked.

Nino frowned for a moment, debating whether or not to argue the point, before disappearing and returning with a note - nearly the same wording as Sho's, with the same small club on the back of the note.

"I know who our killer is," Jun said, stalking out of the building and, presumably, toward the pub.

--

Jun looked down at the corpse before him, confident they’d come to the right place.

"Nakamaru," he said, confirming the identity of the latest victim.

Toma watched Jun work out the case in his head. The pieces were falling into place one by one. Jun crouched over Nakamaru’s body carefully, examining what he could without touching the body. The man’s dark gray suit was rumpled, blood stained along the side where his head had been bashed with something heavy - a dancing girl figurine lay broken nearby - as the red liquid pooled behind him. Toma guessed he’d been dead less than three or four hours.

Jun examined the body closely, looking for something Toma couldn’t see.

"Toma, your walking stick, if I may?" Jun asked, glancing up through his fringe at Toma’s quizzical stare. Toma handed it over without question, sure in Jun’s reasoning.

Standing, Jun flipped Nakamaru’s jacket open with the end of the walking stick, revealing the final clue - another Joker trump card.

"HA," Nino exclaimed. "It couldn’t be me. I’ve been with you all for hours now."

Oguri sneered in Nino’s direction, but nodded. "True. What about your paramour? The fake butler?"

Nino’s face turned to stone at the mention of Kame, his entire countenance solidifying in an instant. "He’s missing, you dolt. That’s why we’re here."

Toma stepped between them quickly, hands up in an effort to keep the two apart. The last thing they needed was two more murders on their hands. "Gentlemen, please. We know it’s not Nino, and I, personally, am confident it wasn’t Kamenashi. I suspect wherever Kamenashi is, so is Sho. We have to work together here or we’ll find them too late."

Oguri looked ready to argue, but Jun stepped in quickly.

"Would you like to know who the killer actually is, Detective?" he asked.

"Oh, please enlighten us, Mr. Matsumoto." Oguri leaned against a wall, crossing one long leg over the other and looking ready to discount anything Jun had to say.

Jun stalked around Nakamaru’s body once, examining it from all angles before stopping at one end and slamming Toma’s walking stick down solidly.

"Gentlemen, I have a confession," he started. "The first murder perplexed me."

"….and?" Oguri asked, waving one hand.

"And?" Jun replied. "And…that’s it! The murder made no sense whatsoever. Murder is simple, dear Oguri. Motive, means, and opportunity form the basic legs of any murder. Though I’m sure you learned that from your extensive studies at academy."

Jun continued, ignoring the protests from the detective. "The first murder perplexed me largely because it made no sense. Why murder a medium? Why leave the trump card and frame Ninomiya, who, admittedly is a bit on the shady side of the law, but has never done anything I would personally consider anything more than just petty crime? To what end would the murder take place in the home of Aiba Masaki, a man who already had a valuable vase stolen from him?"

Jun paused and Toma fought the urge to throw something at him. Jun loved showboating a little too much sometimes, he thought.

"It didn’t take long to deduce who had stolen the vase in the first place." Turning to Nino, Jun bowed slightly. "Mr. Ninomiya, how much did you get for the vase on the black market?"

Nino froze in his spot, eyes wide. "How…?"

Jun grinned like the cat that got the cream. "Your Kamenashi was acting as butler at the Aiba manor the night we were called there and the night of the murder. It didn’t take much deduction to realize he was your man on the inside, telling you how and where to get the vase."

"Yes, but where is-"

"All in good time," Jun continued, waving off Nino’s question. "It was after I concluded that you had stolen the vase that Taguchi was murdered. By Nakamaru." Jun nudged Nakamaru’s foot with the toe of his own.

"But why?" Hiro asked. Toma’s head turned to the other detective. He had nearly forgotten the man was in the room.

"I suspect, though I don’t have it completely confirmed yet, that Nakamaru was sent to kill me. Taguchi and I were of similar height and build, though he was several centimeters taller. The library was dark, but Nakamaru had seen me entering it earlier in the evening." Jun blushed slightly at the memory of Sho’s hands against his, leaning into him and remembering their past entirely too vividly. "Concluding that I was the only one in there, he murdered the occupant and stole away to his room to send a missive to his boss."

"Why Ryo, then?" Nino asked with a scowl.

"Unfortunately, Ryo was a diversion," Jun replied sadly. "You and Ryo were quite close at one time, yes? Practically brothers, if I recall correctly. Ryo’s death was meant to be both a warning to you and I. I suspect our killer knew you had the vase and was attempting to divert attention from himself to you. Unfortunately for our killer, I’m much smarter than he.

"I’ve told you before, Nino. Murder’s not your style. Thievery, underhanded deception and child-level tricks, yes. Murder? I don’t believe so."

Nino looked ready to protest, but merely nodded in agreement. Toma fought back the chuckle that would be terribly inappropriate and chose instead to ask the obvious question. "So who murdered Ryo?"

Jun paused and Toma could once again tell he was thinking it through.

"I suspect one of two people were responsible for Ryo’s death - our killer himself, though that seems unlikely given his past penchant for foisting the messy work upon others, or Ryo’s former friend and employer, Akanishi."

"The bar keep?" Toma asked incredulously.

"Akanishi knew more than he let on," Jun continued, ignoring Toma’s outburst. "The day after Ryo’s death, he was rattled, and more than one would be by the average murder in their neighborhood."

"Are we nearing the point of all this, Matsumoto?" Oguri shifted, impatience and tension seeping from every pore.

"The very end, sir." Jun turned his back on Oguri yet again and continued circling Nakamaru’s corpse.

"The first and last bit of the puzzle is Nakamaru here. He murdered our first victim and yet is our last."

"We hope," Oguri snorted.

Jun frowned in his direction. Toma stood up straighter, ready to diffuse any situation that should arise between the two.

"Yes. I do hope," Jun concurred. "Nakamaru was murdered by our killer, the grandmaster of this whole charade himself. The final trump card is the cornerstone and revealed to me all the answers to this little riddle. And it’s why I’m so confident we’ll be finding our respective…friends in good shape." Jun nodded in Nino’s direction.

"If you noticed," Jun continued, "each Joker has the four suits printed on them. And each one has all but one suit marked out - the club."

Something in Toma’s brain clicked as the pieces fell together. The club. The cards. The look the bartender at Jin’s had given them.

"Ueda," he breathed.

"Yes?" Ueda asked, stepping through the door. "Oh my god, Nakamaru!"

"Are you positive, Jun?" Oguri asked, moving toward Ueda.

"Yes."

Ueda looked around the room, expression slowly changing from disbelief, to recognition, to something more manic, dark. And then he started laughing.

"I was wondering how long it would take you, Matusmoto," he cackled. "Did you like my little game?" Ueda moved forward, each step like a lion hunting its prey.

"A bit low brow for my tastes," Jun replied. "But I can appreciate a good mystery. Now, where are my friends?"

Ueda threw his head back and laughed, loud and clear. Toma felt a shiver go down his spine at the sound. It was definitely not something he ever wanted to hear again.

"You killed my brother and you expect me to give it up that easily?" Ueda asked. "You fucking killed my brother. And if it’s the last thing I do, I’ll kill you."

"Hiro," Oguri said, motioning to Ueda’s side. Together the detectives walked Ueda out of the building, not waiting for his manic laughter to subside.

Nino watched them leave, eyes wide and full of fire. "This. This was all revenge. Toward you?" he asked Jun.

Toma watched Jun’s face. The carefully constructed mask of cool nonchalance was starting to crumble in the wake of the reveal. This wasn’t Toma’s first time solving a case with Jun, but it was his first time seeing him so affected by it.

"Yes," Jun whispered. "His brother was the lead suspect in a case I solved several years ago. He killed himself. Ueda swore at the time that I pushed him, leaving his family even more destitute than they had been. That was never my intention." Jun looked up at Nino with apologetic eyes. "I never wanted that boy to die. I wanted justice. Not murder."

"Kame." Nino murmured. "Kame." He repeated, louder this time. "We have to find Kame."

"And Sho," Toma said, one hand on Jun’s elbow.

Jun nodded, blinking back the tears that had formed and straightening his waistcoat.

"They’re downstairs in the wine cellar," Jun replied. "The boot marks on the flo-"

"Yeah yeah, okay, great," Nino interrupted, hurrying to the door leading downstairs and pushing it open. Several seconds later Toma heard the joyous sounds of reuniting, followed by footsteps on the stairs.

Sho popped his head through the door, eyes wide and curious, hair a bit askew. "Is it safe yet?"

Toma laughed and moved to embrace his friend in a tight hug. "Yes, Sho. It’s safe now."

--

The leather chair in Jun’s office was far too ostentatious for the space, he thought. But the rich fabric felt delicious against the palm of his hand as Jun massaged the armrest. Smoke curled delicately from the end of his cigarette, his light puffing the only sound in the room. They’d done it again: solved the case, saved the day, looked damn good doing it. Something felt uneven in Jun’s mind, though. Something was missing and for the first time in quite a while, Jun didn’t mind terribly.

"Toma out?" Sho asked, slipping into the room quietly.

Jun hummed thoughtfully. Plucking the cigarette from his mouth, Jun toyed with it between his fingers for a moment, watching the smoke waft upward and away. Everything went away in the end. "And you?" he asked, daring a glance at Sho and attempting to maintain some level of aloofness. "You’ll be leaving soon as well?"

Sho looked down at his feet, shuffling them a bit. "Yes. Time to move on. Nothing to keep me here."

Sho’s words stung Jun more than he thought they would. He’d seen them coming. He knew Sho had no incentive to stay in London. Their time had always been fleeting. The conman and the detective could never be together - not until one or the other gave up who they were at the core. Jun couldn’t ask that of Sho or himself. Yet again, they reached an impasse.

"Well, of course," Jun replied coldly as he stood. "There must be hundreds of rich women in the country ready to be seduced out of their money." Jun moved toward the door, strides quick and even. Sho’s fingers closed around his wrist and Jun stopped, an electric shock shooting up and down his spine. Sho always did have that effect on him, however annoying it may be. "Pardon you, but I have things to do if you don’t mind."

"I do mind." Sho pulled Jun closer than was respectable in polite society and growled lightly in his ear. "I believe we have some unfinished business."

Jun felt his eyes go wide as a shiver followed the electricity still coursing through him.

"I don’t know what you could mean," he replied quietly, staring Sho down. It was a familiar battle; they’d played this game before. Jun was stubborn, but Sho’s determination to win put that stubbornness to shame every time. He wouldn’t say it, nor would he ever truly let Sho know, but Jun let Sho win. So they both could win.

"I could be gone a very long time," Sho said, grip loosening. His fingers toyed around Jun’s wrist, lightly stroking the delicate skin there. Jun wanted to throw him out, curse him, tell him to just leave, never darken his doorstep again, but the thrum in his chest and the matching one in his pants stopped him. No one had ever loved him as Sho had, nor did he ever think anyone ever would.

"Please don’t," Jun started quietly. How was he to keep Sho there? Did he even want to? Looking into his eyes, Jun realized that keeping Sho was unfair to both of them. They were too similar - all fire and passion - to maintain anything. Jun’s thoughts flitted to Toma - sweet, stable, loving Toma, who did all he could to help Jun in every way. It wasn’t fair to him, either, to keep playing this dangerous game.

Sho’s hand moved, sliding up Jun’s arm slowly, as if cataloguing every bump and smooth span of skin over forearm and elbow. They trailed up the stiff linen of Jun’s shirt to his collar, stopping only at the base of his neck to toy with the tendrils of hair there.

"Don’t you think it’s about time for a haircut?" Sho asked with a sad smile. His fingers carded slowly through Jun’s hair. Jun opened his mouth to protest, but it died on his lips as Sho caught them with his own, demanding attention and permission without waiting for it.

Jun leaned into the kiss, breathing slowly and taking in as much of Sho as he could - the spice of his cologne, the fresh scent of his soap, the dark smudges his eyelashes painted on his smooth cheeks. Who knew when they’d get to be together again? Make the most of the moment, the voice in his head resonated. His hands went to Sho’s beltloops and tugged him forward, their hips meeting in the middle. Jun let his eyes slide closed and enveloped the moment with his mind. He loved this wonderful, infuriating, brilliant man. Jun chose to make a memory of the moment - one he could look back on in the years to come and remember as beautiful and comfortable.

They made their way to Jun’s bedroom slowly, tongues and lips moving against each other in an intricate dance long forgotten. Sho’s fingers stayed locked in Jun’s hair, holding them together as if the universe would wrench them apart. Jun moved backwards through the door to his room, breaking the kiss just long enough to ascertain their relative proximity to the bed before turning and lightly pushing Sho in that direction. The backs of Sho’s knees connected with the edge of the matress and he sat, hands sliding down Jun’s sides to rest at his hips and pull him close. It was Jun’s turn to run his fingers through Sho’s tresses. Sho turned his head, catching Jun’s palm with a soft kiss. Jun felt his breath catch in his chest. He struggled to release it as Sho pulled him closer and began unbuttoning Jun’s pants. Jun shivered lightly, his grip on Sho’s hair tightening as Sho’s hands moved between the waistband of his trousers and the firm roundness of Jun’s backside.

Sho’s hands continued their exploration, pushing Jun’s pants and undergarments to the floor before smoothing back over his stomach and attending to Jun’s shirt buttons. Jun felt exposed and vulnerable, his half-hard cock announcing their intent to the world. Jun leaned down and captured Sho’s mouth once again, nipping along the full bottom lip and savoring the flavor of sweet whiskey on Sho’s breath. He must’ve had to build himself up to come for Jun, but Jun hardly cared. Sliding his hands up Jun’s torso, Sho pushed Jun’s shirt off his shoulders. Sho moved his kisses to Jun’s newly exposed neck, standing for a better angle and drawing Jun’s naked hips against his clothed ones in a slow grind. Jun moaned - long, low and dirtier than a whore’s mouth. This man was the reason he’d maintained his bachelorhood for so long, he thought with a gasp as Sho bit down lightly on his collarbone, then lapped the mark lightly.

Jun pushed Sho back a few inches and made quick work of his clothes, nearly tearing the buttons out of their holes in his haste. He needed Sho and he needed him now. Sho’s hands never stopped their exploration of Jun’s body - smoothing across the firm planes of Jun’s chest, the crest of his buttocks, the ridges along his spine - only urging Jun on in his quest to have Sho naked and writhing beneath him. Gathering Sho to him once more, Jun stole his breath with a searing kiss. Their cocks rubbed against each other lightly, friction delicious in its timidity. Jun wanted more, needed more. He pushed Sho to the bed and crawled over him, tongue dancing along Sho’s smooth skin, marveling at the texture not for the first time. Jun had only ever felt skin this soft and delicious on the few females he’d had chance to bed. The inquisitive part of his mind wondered how Sho maintained that quality, but the ravenously horny part merely wanted to know how he could touch more of it.

Meeting for another breathless kiss, Jun’s tongue fought for dominance with Sho’s, the game never ceasing to be exciting, heady. He ground his hips against Sho’s, delighting in the gravelly sounds coming from his quarry’s chest. Jun smirked against Sho’s mouth and moved his attentions elsewhere, laving the delicate skin beneath Sho’s ear, the ridge of his jaw line, suckling lightly on his Adam’s apple. Sho’s breath quickened in his chest. He gnawed on his lips lightly, struggling not to make too much noise. Jun moved back up to release Sho’s bottom lip from his teeth with his thumb.

"I want to hear you," Jun breathed, their lips brushing, but not fully touching. "No one is around to hear you but me."

Sho let out the breath he’d been holding and the long groan that sounded vaguely like Jun’s name accompanying it. Jun couldn’t hold back his cocky grin. This was his. Maybe not forever, and maybe not past tonight, but he was the one making Sho moan in the moment. Pressing their lips into another heated kiss, Jun fumbled with one hand for the small crock of mineral oil in his bedside table. He slicked his fingers and drew them down Sho’s side teasingly, delighting in the little squeak he elicited. Jun slid his hand between Sho’s legs, bypassing his manhood in favor of the small ring of muscles just beyond. He moved his attentions from Sho’s mouth to a dusky nipple, biting down as he worked the first finger in, trying to keep Sho’s focus elsewhere. Jun ran his tongue lightly across Sho’s chest. A second finger was added and Sho’s breath quickened, his fingers turning to claws on Jun’s shoulders. Jun moved lower in response, nipping a light line down Sho’s stomach to tease around his cock. Sho whimpered. Jun nearly lost control at the sound and took Sho into his mouth, lapping and suckling, begging silently for Sho to make that sound again.

An endless train of pants punctuated by Jun’s name flowed from Sho’s mouth and Jun came undone.

Pushing himself up and withdrawing his fingers, Jun met Sho’s kiss in the middle, sharing the taste of Sho with its owner. Jun moved his slicked hand to his own member, preparing himself quickly and lining up. He pulled away from the kiss to gaze into Sho’s eyes.

"I love you," Jun whispered as he pressed in, urging one of Sho’s legs up over his shoulder.

Sho froze. One hand reached up to cup Jun’s face and pulled him back down for a kiss, soft and sweet this time. Sho brought their foreheads together and fought back a quiet sob. "I love you, too," he replied, rolling his hips up.

Jun moaned loudly as his cock was enveloped fully. For half a moment, all his brain could process was tight-hot-tight-hot-oh-god-yes-fuck-tight-slick-want. Sho rolled his hips again and Jun was spurred into action. He set a slow pace, wanting to cherish the time he had with Sho for as long as he could. They watched each other for a few moments, fingers ghosting across the other’s face, neck, chest, whatever they could reach. Jun twined his fingers with Sho’s and leaned forward for another kiss, unable to resist the tempting pout before him. Snapping his hips, Jun pushed into Sho deeper. Sho moved his hips in counterpoint to Jun’s, the leverage provided by his leg over Jun’s shoulder arching his back deeper and making him cry out as Jun hit that perfect spot again and again.

Jun leaned back again, shifting position to make Sho whimper with pleasure. His hand, still slicked with oil, moved to circle Sho’s member and stroked upward. Jun smoothed his hand along Sho’s length in time with his thrusts. He added a little flick of the wrist at the end, just how Sho liked it. If the keening sound that came from his throat was any indication, that hadn’t changed. Jun smirked and pushed in harder, faster, wanting more and more and more and getting closer with every movement. Sho’s hands twisted in the sheets as he pushed back, panting heavily.

"Jun, I’m....I’m...." Crying out, Sho spilled his release across Jun’s still-moving hand. Jun continued to stroke him through his orgasm, his hips snapping erratically as Sho tightened around his cock.

"Oh fu-" Jun came hard with a loud groan, hand and hips stilling simultaneously before falling forward on to Sho’s chest. They lay there for a moment, wrapped up in each other and the post-coital glow, Sho’s hands tracing meaningless words on Jun’s back, Jun savoring the essence of Sho.

Jun was the first to move. He always was. Grabbing a clean cloth from his washbasin, Jun wiped himself off, then moved to do the same for Sho, removing any traces of their lovemaking and carefully avoiding Sho’s eyes.

"Did you mean it?" Sho asked, face open and honest as he turned to his side.

Jun hedged for a moment, debating the merits of being dumb or coy, maybe firing off some sharp retort. He met Sho’s gaze and realized he couldn’t hide the truth. Not from Sho. He never was very good at masking his emotions around Sho. Jun suspected that was the ultimate downfall of their relationship. With anyone else, he could pop off a lie, play down his fears, insecurities, worries. But Sho alone saw right through him, every time.

"Yes. It’s completely illogical and irrational," Jun said, tossing down the cloth. "I shouldn’t love you. I should love someone who doesn’t turn the law to his own means. I should love someone who is stable. Someone who I know, without a doubt, loves me. Someone who doesn’t make me question my morals at every turn."

"Someone like Toma?" Sho ventured.

"Someone exactly like Toma," Jun continued. "But no, I have to love you." He threw up his hands in surrender. "I love you, Sho. And I hate myself for it."

Sho pushed himself off the bed and moved to embrace Jun. "I love you for it. I love you for your logic and your rationale and your morals and your beautiful brain. I wish I didn’t love you, but I do." Their lips met again for entirely too brief a kiss.

Sho moved away, dressing quickly. It was his turn to avoid Jun’s gaze. "You’re too passionate for your own good, Matsumoto Jun." Sho paused, meeting Jun’s eyes once more. "And I love you for it."

Without another word, Sho was gone. Toma arrived back at the flat ten minutes later to find Jun in his chair, palm smoothing the leather again and again.

"It hurts," Jun said, almost a whisper. "It hurts being this way. Make me a better man, Toma?" He turned his eyes to Toma’s confused visage and smiled sadly.

Toma leaned down, pressing his lips to Jun’s forehead in a chaste kiss. "I’ll do what I can," he promised.

--

EPILOGUE

Nearly six months had passed since the Ueda debacle and business was booming. Toma hurried through the busy streets of London to Baker Street, pausing to purchase a bouquet of wildflowers from a young girl. They reminded him of Miss Becky and her fondness for all things wild, including her eccentric husband. Toma smiled at the memory. The Ueda case was possibly Jun’s most and least successful. Three people murdered in his name. The way Jun spun it, of course, was that far more people had been killed in the name of God. And at least Jun was tangible. Toma just shook his head, patted Jun’s arm, and made tea at that.

The sun was just slipping past the horizon as Toma entered the flat, tossing his hat on the rack and divesting himself of his jacket. Something in the corner caught his eye - a walking stick that was most definitely not him. The ruby encrusted handle made his heart skip a beat. It wasn’t possible that he could be back so soon, was it?

Without warning Toma was grabbed from behind, a blindfold slipped over his eyes and a pair of strong arms manhandling him away from the door.

"Oi! Who’s there? What is this? Jun? Jun?" he called. His attacker remained silent, merely pushing him through the apartment. Toma tried to mentally block out the rooms as he was moved. It was useless to struggle, he was far weaker than his attacker, but being moved meant that eventually they’d have to stop and he could find his opportunity to get away.

Toma’s legs hit something soft and before he could register what it was, he was lying flat on his back, arms tied above his head to something solid. "What is going on here?" he exclaimed.

"Oh calm down, you whiny old man," came the answering growl in one ear.

"He never was one much for surprises," came another, smooth as silk, on the opposite side.

"Sho? Jun? What the-" The blindfold was yanked off to reveal his attacker. Or attackers, as they turned out. Sho and Jun stood on opposite sides of the bed, naked as the day they were born, eyes hungry. They both looked down at Toma, who squirmed a bit nervously.

Jun slid down onto the bed, nestling into Toma’s side and drawing a slow hand up his torso, toying with the buttons on Toma’s waistcoat.

"You’ve been working so hard, Toma," he started, voice barely more than a purr. "When I heard Sho was going to be in town, I thought maybe we could give you a break." Jun began undoing buttons on the garment as Sho moved to Toma’s other side.

"I missed you both," Sho growled, brushing his hand across the front of Toma’s pants.

Toma struggled slightly, hating that he couldn’t return the caresses. Jun’s nimble fingers worked quickly, tugging Toma’s shirt out of his pants and undoing the buttons with ease. Sho palmed Toma lightly through his pants. Groaning, Toma dropped his head back and gave in to the emotions and sensations flooding his system. They had him outnumbered, would soon have him naked and from the looks of things, both wanted him terribly. Who was Toma to deny them that? He’d spent months, maybe years, wishing Jun would touch him. When Sho had left, Toma was sure things would change, but Jun had remained standoffish, aloof. Toma was just about to give up hope.

His shirt finally undone, Toma gasped at the hot swipe of tongue across his stomach. His head shot up and he watched Jun taste him from navel to collar. He’d been waiting so long for that tongue to be on him and now it was. The realization was heavy and hot and went straight to his cock, still being furtively massaged by Sho. Toma wiggled his hips a little, hoping Sho would get the message. As his belt was undone, Toma was glad Sho was a brilliant man.

Long fingers enveloped him and Toma’s breath caught in his chest. He could feel both Sho and Jun’s lengths on either hip, rock hard and ready. Toma tried to resist the urge to beg for them, images of them fucking him in turn flashing through his mind and bringing him to full hardness in seconds.

"I think our sweet Toma may have been wanting this, Jun," Sho chuckled, adding a twist to the hand still stroking Toma far too lightly. The resulting moan confirmed Sho’s allegations and he laughed, catching Toma’s lips in a searing, breathless kiss.

Toma had kissed several people in the past, including Jun, who had arguably the most kissable mouth in London, but Sho’s lips were like heaven, he thought, sucking lightly on the bottommost and never wanting to let go. Sho’s tongue swiped slowly across Toma’s mouth, begging entrance. Toma released Sho’s lip and met his tongue in the middle. They began an intricate dance, tongues swirling and tasting, finding every secret place within each other.

As they kissed, Jun moved his attention to removing Toma’s pants, settling himself between Toma’s legs and pulling at the material. Toma lifted his hips in response. He was more than willing to join the legion of naked men. Sho’s hand on Toma’s cock never ceased its torturously slow movement as Jun finished divesting Toma of his garments. Toma’s mind swam with realization. He hadn’t been with another man, a fact he was sure Jun knew. Toma trusted the two implicitly, but nervous tension began coiling in his stomach, overpowering the heat of arousal.

Jun rubbed small circles into Toma’s thighs as he watched Sho dominate Toma’s mouth easily. The circles became smaller and slower the closer he got to Toma’s cock, knuckles brushing the soft wiry hair there. Sho pulled out of the kiss and glanced at Jun, eyes hungry. Jun nodded once, moving to replace Sho’s hand on Toma’s cock with his mouth. Toma gasped loudly at the warmth blossoming on the head of his member.

"Jun," he choked out, not sure what the proper response was when your business partner had your dick in his mouth. He felt Sho leave his side, but the sensations ricocheting through his lower half kept Toma well distracted. Jun moved slowly but efficiently, swirling his tongue around the head, toying with the slit, sliding down to take in as much of Toma as he could. Toma resisted the urge to buck his hips and plunge deeper into the velvet heat of Jun’s mouth. One of Jun’s hands grasped the base of Toma’s erection, pumping slowly in time with the swipes of Jun’s tongue. The other travelled south, drawing tiny circles around the ring of muscles hidden there. Toma tensed, nervous at what was to come.

Sho reappeared at his side. "Is this okay, Toma?" he asked carefully, turning Toma’s face with one hand. Toma found himself lost in Sho’s eyes, the deep brown pools concerned and loving all at once. He forced himself to relax and nodded once, choosing to trust them both implicitly. Sho leaned in to flick his tongue across one rosy nipple as Jun pushed one slicked finger past Toma’s barriers. Toma gasped again, trying to stay relaxed at the odd sensation. It wasn’t bad, didn’t necessarily hurt, and as Jun continued sucking and lapping, moving his finger in and out in time, Toma decided it was quite pleasant, actually. His gasps quickly turned to deep moans, surprising even himself with how much he enjoyed it. Toma heard Sho chuckle and wished, not for the first time, that they hadn’t tied his arms to the bed.

Jun slid a second finger in to join the first, pausing to let Toma adjust momentarily before scissoring and pushing again, picking up the speed with his tongue and other hand in distraction. Sho continued his exploration of Toma’s body, nipping lightly at his sides just to see him squirm and pumping his own erection as he watched Jun take Toma in as far as possible. Jun moaned around Toma’s erection as he slipped in a third finger, brushing his prostate and making Toma arch off the bed in pleasure. Toma’s brain exploded with stars as he fought to keep himself from coming too quickly.

"I think he’s ready," Sho growled, voice rough with desire.

Jun pulled off Toma’s erection with a soft ‘pop’, fingers still moving inside quickly and efficiently, pressing against that one spot again and again just to make Toma keen.

"Please," Toma panted, head thrown back and a sheen of sweat covering his body. His shirt was still bunched at his shoulders, but he hardly cared.

"If that’s what my Toma wants," Jun mumbled, removing his fingers and reaching for the lubricant to slick himself thoroughly. "Are you sure about this, Toma?"

"Fuck, yes," Toma gasped, desperate to have Jun inside him already.

Jun nodded once, sliding in slowly, not daring to go too fast. Toma fought the urge to clench every muscle in his body as Jun pushed in. It didn’t hurt so much as it was just slightly uncomfortable. Jun snapped his hips once, burying himself fully and Toma cried out in pleasure. A quick burn tore through his body like lightning, then quickly dissipated as Jun continued to move, giving way only to warmth and gratification.

Toma could feel Sho watching him. Forcing his eyes open, Toma turned his head to Sho, returning his hungry gaze and desperately wanting those long fingers on him. Sho leaned forward to catch Toma’s mouth in another heated kiss as his hands moved to undo the bindings holding Toma’s hands in place. Finally free, Toma’s hands shot to the sides of Sho’s face, securing him there and taking the kiss to the next level. Jun continued pumping slowly, getting off on watching the two of them kiss like tomorrow’s sun wasn’t rising. He moved one hand to Toma’s erection, stroking in time with his own thrusts.

Sho moved away from Toma again, allowing Jun to lean forward for a kiss of his own. Jun kissed the same way he did everything - as if it were a competition he simply had to win. Toma wasn’t willing to give up the fight this time, however, and he plunged his tongue into Jun’s mouth, challenging him to do better. Toma felt more than heard Jun gasp, his thrusts stuttering slightly. Pulling out of the kiss, Toma looked over his shoulder to see Sho smirking. One hand was visible on Jun’s back, the other elsewhere, but given Jun’s gasps and erratically slow thrusting, Toma could guess where it was.

Satisfied Jun was ready, Sho put one hand on each of their hips, stopping the motion for a moment as he pushed into Jun. Toma and Jun gasped in time as Sho’s weight settled into them, driving Jun deeper into Toma. And then they moved. Toma brought his hips up, meeting Jun’s as Sho pushed forward into Jun. They rocked slowly together, the three of them panting and cursing softly as the sensations shook them. Toma knew he wouldn’t last much longer, but as Sho reached around Jun’s middle to grasp him, he came undone. Jun’s hand met Sho’s on Toma’s erection, the pair of hands, both nimble and long fingered, pulling and tugging at Toma until he was a blathering mess beneath them. Sho snapped his hips hard into Jun, plunging him deeper into Toma and they all cried out.

Toma felt the white hot pleasure building in his stomach as the hands moved against him. Jun leaned down to kiss him once more and Toma was gone, coming hard on both their stomachs and Sho’s hand. Jun followed shortly thereafter, pushing into Toma through his orgasm and muttering about heat and tight and yes, hissing slightly at the end. His body went rigid against Toma’s as he came hard. Sho continued pumping into Jun, his hands on Jun’s hips and picking up pace. He came with a groan, falling on Jun’s back and panting lightly.

They lay in a heap for a few moments before Toma’s legs started to ache. He didn’t want to move - not now, not ever - but if he ever wanted to walk again, he needed to get comfortable.

"Jun," he whispered, drawing one hand through Jun’s sweat-slicked hair.

Jun looked up sleepily, content smile crossing his face. "Oh, yes." Jun nudged Sho with one elbow and he slid off to one side, Jun to the other. They both wrapped an arm around Toma’s middle. Toma pulled them in closely by the shoulders, dropping a kiss on each forehead.

"I really did miss you, Sakurai," he said, sated and happy.

Jun and Sho just laughed. Toma realized, as he drifted to sleep, that they would wake up sticky and uncomfortable, but that despite the odds, they had managed to find a happy medium. He could only hope this one wouldn’t be murdered in its sleep.