by Sessha Batto
“What do you want?” Pi-natsu growled when he realized who had summoned the pack.
“You may be a Takahashi, but we don’t recognize any ties to you,” Oushi added.
“This gentleman,” Genki indicated the glowering Takumi, “is the one who attacked Yoshi. I thought, perhaps, you guys would like to have a little talk with him about it.”
“The brat's hurt?” Pi-natsu asked. “Why hasn’t he summoned us?”
“This asshole almost killed him. Yoshi's still in the hospital. But if you don’t want to handle it—”
“We’ll be happy to have a talk with him.” Onchu watched as the frightened shinobi's eyes flashed between the wolves, calculating a way out. Before he could make his move, Oushi darted forward, catching the panicked man before he could escape and pinning him with a paw as he nosed his pants open.
“Not worth my trouble,” the massive wolf rumbled. “Any of you in the mood for sausage?” Oushi's query was met by a chorus of yips and howls, overpowering the screams of their victim as the demons took revenge for their beloved master. Eventually Takumi's protests faded to a few gurgled moans and then, silence reigned as the pack carefully washed the blood from their fur.
****
“You should have summoned us.” Pi-natsu hopped up on the chair next to the shadow wolf's bed and scrutinized him carefully.
“How the hell did you get here?” Yoshi looked over the edge of the bed at the assembled pack.
“The old man called us,” Onchu replied. “And don’t change the subject, whelp. Did you have any intention of telling us what happened?”
“No. It's none of your concern.”
“Oh, really? How do you come to that conclusion?” Pi-natsu growled angrily.
“I am no longer shinobi, hence you are no longer bound by our agreement,” Yoshi declared. “In fact, you might as well just go back to Genki. Obviously you listen to him better than you do me.”
“It doesn’t work that way,” Oushi rumbled. “I’m afraid you’re stuck with us, our pact can only be severed by death.”
“I assume you mean mine? I imagine it can be arranged.”
“That is enough.” The massive wolf growled menacingly. “We’re not just going to stand here and let you joke about dying, not when we’ve spent so many years protecting you from just that. We may not be real, but we have feelings.”
“We’re real, idiot,” Shinzui huffed. “We’re just not real wolves.”
“Whatever,” Oushi grunted. “The fact of the matter is, we have a right to know what's happening with you, like it or not.”
“Well, it's not going to be very interesting,” Yoshi explained. “Sitting around, watching me do nothing all day. I’d advise against it.”
“Look boss, if you tell us what the problem is we’ll take care of it,” Pi-natsu suggested. “Just like we took care of that fool who attacked you.”
“What did you do?” the elite demanded. “I specifically made everyone promise... except Genki. Shit. Takumi was Yuu's brother, you idiots. You just set diplomatic relations back fifty years.”
“He didn’t even taste that good, tough and kind of stringy,” Konki added helpfully.
“Go get Genki to feed you.” Yoshi shut his eyes and waved them away. “Get out of my sight for a while.”
“But boss—” Oushi grumbled.
“Just go,” the shadow wolf roared, glaring at the retreating pack until the door swung shut behind them. “Did you know about this?” he asked the interrogator.
“No. But I can’t say I’m unhappy about it,” Makoto said. “The bastard almost killed you. I hope he suffered.”
“What I had to do to secure the treaties in the first place almost killed me too.” the elite murmured. “I wouldn’t want to have to do it again.”
“You will never do anything like that again.”
“I know. No one wants a broken toy. Do you think Abe-san would come talk to me?” Yoshi asked, abruptly changing the subject and derailing Makoto's train of thought.
“I’m sure anyone you like will be happy to come and talk to you, sweetheart,” the interrogator murmured. “Shall I send for him?”
“Yes, please.” The elite settled back to wait for Shouhei and the discussion he didn’t want to have.
As soon as Makoto returned with Shouhei in tow the shadow wolf sent the interrogator off on an errand. “So, Abe-san,” Yoshi began hesitantly. “I’d like to talk to you about your relationship with Yuu.”
“Of course. I realize I rushed in with a marriage proposal. I should have talked to you first,” a nervous Shouhei babbled. “I hope I didn’t offend you, that bastard Takumi came in and threatened Yuu with an arranged marriage. I didn’t want to risk losing him.”
“I understand completely. That's not what I meant. This is awkward, so I’m just going to say it. Would you consider breaking it off with Yuu and going back home if there was someone there for you?”
“What are you saying?” Shouhei asked suspiciously.
“Makoto needs someone now that I... I can’t be what he needs. You two would get along really well, and he's amazing in bed. If you don’t believe me ask your friends Souta and Daisuke. You could have foursomes together,” the shadow wolf explained. “You wouldn’t have to leave your home and friends behind to be happy.”
“And what does Sasaki-san have to say about this plan?”
“I haven’t told him, any more than I told Yuu before I set you up. I’m a lot easier to replace than they imagine I will be. Once Makoto realizes how much better off he is... let's just say I’m confident everything will work out,” Yoshi decided.
“So am I,” Shouhei said. “I’m staying here. Please don’t think I’m unappreciative. You have made me a most generous offer, and it is very tempting, but I don’t think Makoto would agree. Besides, Yuu and I are happy together. If I did as you ask he would be alone again.”
“I actually have someone in mind. He's much closer to Yuu-sama's age, no offense Abe-san. I would never have asked you here if I had known how things would turn out.”
“I should have known you’d have it all planned,” Shouhei said. “Still, I think I’d just as soon leave things as they are.”
“That's alright, I had a feeling it was too late,” the shadow wolf admitted. “Maybe it can work the other way. I’ll have to try and set it up when everyone goes home.”
“You’re going back then?” Shouhei asked.
“For a while, I need to settle some things and I’d like to see Makoto happy with someone. Once that's taken care of though... let's just say I don’t want to stick around to watch. I’m getting tired, Abe-san, maybe we could speak again another time. And please, accept my apology for the inappropriate suggestion. I was only trying to find a solution where everyone was happy.”
“No offense taken,” Shouhei said. “I’ll stop back and visit you soon.”
As soon as the door clicked shut behind him Shouhei hustled Makoto down the hall, looking around suspiciously before whispering in the interrogator's ear. “He's planning on setting you up with someone and leaving Kobayashi shuudan for good. Whoever it is, he has them all picked out. Yoshi is a very determined man, he won’t give up easily so you need to be on your guard. Assuming, that is, that you aren’t interested in replacing him.”
“Of course not,” Makoto growled. “I have no intention of giving him up. I just need to find a way to convince him of that.”
“It's more than that,” Shouhei explained. “He wants what's best for you, and he's convinced that can never be him. If you want Yoshi you'll have to convince him that he's worthy of being loved. I don’t think that will be easy.”
“Well then, I guess I should get started. Thank you for confiding in me, Abe-san, I appreciate it more than you know.”
“Make him happy, that's all the thanks I want,” Shouhei explained. “Don’t let him run away from everyone who cares.”
“I won’t. This foolishness stops now.” Makoto stalked down th
e corridor and back into Yoshi's room, striding over to loom next to the bed and counting to ten in his head three times to control his temper before addressing the elite.
“We need to get some things straight,” he declared. “When you recover I will be taking you back home with me and we will be moving back into your house. Just like it was before. I am not giving you up. I have no interest in anyone else, and I will respond badly to any attempts to set me up with other men, or women, for that matter. I love you, really, truly, love you and it has nothing to do with sex.”
“But I can’t—”
“Can’t what?” the interrogator prodded. “Can’t hold me? Can’t eat dinner with me? Can’t cuddle with me by the fire? What can’t you do?”
“I can’t have sex,” the shadow wolf retorted. “I may never be able to.”
“Sweetheart, not that I don’t want you, because I do.” Makoto explained. “But, we’ve only had sex once and that was months ago. I want you, whatever that means. I lived without sex for years, but I don’t want to live without you. Please, at least let me try to convince you. Come home where you belong. Let life get back to normal. I still have to complete my mission and get you to fall in love with me.”
“You’re making a huge mistake,” the elite warned. “You’ll regret it.”
“I could never regret you,” the interrogator swore. “Just let me try to change your mind. Give me a year. If you aren’t in love with me by then I’ll let you leave. Will you agree to that?”
“One year. Then I’m on my way.”
“If you don’t love me.”
“When I don’t love you,” Yoshi insisted. “It can’t get here soon enough.”
****
“Today's a red letter day, 'shi-san.” The interrogator set a breakfast tray in front of the shadow wolf. “After the doctor checks you one last time you’ll be able to leave the hospital. I know you'll be more comfortable in our room.”
“We’re sharing a room?”
“A room and a bed. Don’t you trust me sweetheart?” the interrogator asked.
“No, I need to get used to it,” Yoshi decided. “You won’t hurt me.”
“I will never, ever hurt you. Now eat your breakfast so we can get you checked out of here.”
Soon they were headed toward their room, the shadow wolf shuffling determinedly along, mouth set in a grim line as he repeatedly refused all offers of help. “I’ve been lying in bed forever. I need to hurry up and get back in shape.”
“There's no reason to rush things,” Makoto insisted.
“You mean because I’m not ninja anymore,” Yoshi concluded.
“No, silly. You just got released from the hospital five minutes ago. You can start building your strength back up tomorrow. Today you’re supposed to take it easy.”
“Yare, yare, it's always something,” the shadow wolf muttered. “Why bother letting me leave if I can’t do anything.”
“You’re walking across town. I’d say that's quite a lot after spending weeks in the hospital. Besides, you need to save some energy for later.”
When they reached their room the pair was surprised to find the door open and Mayu sitting in a chair waiting for them. “Finally,” she exclaimed, leaping up to wrap her arms around a startled shadow wolf. She hugged him tightly and planted a kiss on his cheek, smiling to herself when red blossomed on his pale cheeks.
“What was that for?” Yoshi asked.
“I’m glad you’re out of the hospital. I’ve missed talking to you,” the kunoichi explained.
“You talked to me every day,” the shadow wolf retorted.
“That's not the same, silly.” She patted his cheek and settled him on the couch before fetching a cup of tea and pressing it into his hand. “Drink up, it will give you energy.”
Yoshi sipped his tea, careful to keep an eye on every move she made. He trusted Makoto not to overstep his invisible boundaries. “So, Mayu,” he ventured once he’d had a few sips of tea and caught his breath. “What brings you here?”
“I wanted to ask what you were wearing to dinner. I wasn’t sure what you had here. I’d be glad to go pick up something if you’d like.”
“Makoto said I could wear whatever I wanted,” Yoshi insisted.
“Within reason. No basic blacks,” Mayu scolded, seeing the thought ticking through both men's brains. “Sasaki-san, you can wear that outfit you got for your first date. As for you,” the kunoichi mused, tapping her finger on her chin as she studied the wary elite. “Show me what you have and we’ll decide.”
An hour later Yoshi was trying on yet another selection, hoping against hope that this one would pass Mayu's critical inspection. “Well?” he muttered sulkily, holding his arms out stiffly and spinning rapidly in place.
“No, that won’t do either. Why don’t you try this shirt instead?” She picked one out of the pile next to her, seemingly at random.
“I think that's enough excitement for today.” Makoto intervened before his lover dropped from exhaustion. “It's time for Yoshi to rest. He did just get out of the hospital.”
“Of course, you’re right. I’m sorry to have intruded for so long,” the kunoichi murmured.
“I didn’t mean to offend you, Mayu,” the interrogator explained. “I just don’t want him to wind up back in the hospital.”
“I understand, Sasaki-san. I didn’t think about how tiring it all must be,” Mayu assured him. “Tell Yoshi I’ll see him later.”
Once he’d seen her out, the interrogator returned to the bedroom, sweeping piles of clothes onto the floor before beckoning the shadow wolf over to sit next to him. “You,” he declared teasingly, “need a nap and I’m going to join you.” He pulled the startled elite into his arms, settling them together comfortably on their sides, Makoto's muscular arms wrapped around the lean torso as he snuggled close. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed holding you.”
The shadow wolf tried to resist, remaining stiff and rigid as he fought the urge to succumb to the pleasure of relaxing in Makoto's arms. The longer he lay there, however, the sleepier he became, until he finally slumped bonelessly against the interrogator's warmth, murmuring a pleased hum when strong arms automatically tightened to keep him close. “Love you sweetheart,” Makoto rumbled before shutting his eyes and relaxing into the first real sleep he’d had in weeks.
Yoshi woke from his nap feeling better than he had since leaving home. Although he tried to attribute it to the exhilaration of leaving the hospital, he knew that it was mostly due to the comforting presence of the man still cradling him tenderly.
“Did you sleep well?” Makoto rasped sleepily, running his hand soothingly up and down the shadow wolf's side as he waited for an answer.
“Yes, surprisingly well,” Yoshi admitted. “I feel better than I have in months.”
“That's because you belong with me,” the torture master decided. “Your body knows it, even if you aren’t willing to admit it.”
“Or it could be that I’m relieved to be out of the hospital and free to do as I please,” Yoshi shot back, unwilling to be pressured into admitting he enjoyed the interrogator's company.
“Well then let me remind you.” Makoto pulled the lanky shinobi back into his arms and kissed him deeply. Yoshi immediately opened his mouth, groaning into the kiss as their tongues battled. “Kami, you taste good,” the interrogator broke away to exclaim before diving back in and devouring the shadow wolf's mouth. His agile tongue mapping every nook and cranny for future reference.
For his part Yoshi was content to be swept away in the passion of the moment, only coming to his senses when the interrogator's erection rubbed insistently against his thigh. The elite pulled back, blinking away the glamor that had caught him up and rooting himself firmly, once again, in the real world. “Makoto, stop. I can’t.”
“Can’t what sweetheart?” the interrogator rumbled. “Your lips seem to be working just fine.”
“But you’re—” the shadow wolf gestured toward
the bulge resting against his thigh.
“You don’t need to concern yourself with that,” Makoto insisted. “I just want to hold you and kiss you. Can I do that?”
“But what about you?” the elite retorted. “You’ll only end up frustrated.”
“I promise I’m not frustrated. Believe me, I can think of much worse things to suffer through than an unsatisfied erection.”
“But eventually you’ll get tired of always being left unsatisfied,” Yoshi insisted.
“I doubt it,” the interrogator decided. “If not, I have two perfectly good hands. Now, shall we get back to what we were doing?”
“I think we need to get dressed now. After all, if we’re late for dinner Mayu is sure to come hunting for us. You wouldn’t want her to walk in on us in a compromising position would you?”
“Sweetheart, if I’m with you I wouldn’t care if the whole world strolled through to take a peek.” Yoshi shuddered at the thought. He slipped out of bed to go in search of clothes, glad for the excuse to escape. The interrogator watched him go, filing the details of his protests away for later when he could devise a plan to combat them. Content, for now, to bask in the pleasure of having the elite up and around again.
****
Later that evening everyone gathered in Yuu's dining room to celebrate the shadow wolf's release from the hospital. Yoshi slowly placed a few things on his plate, glancing around to see who was watching before carefully taking a bite.
“Would you rather wait and eat in the room?” Makoto asked.
“No. I need to get used to relaxing around people. Now that I'm no longer ninja I'll have to leave the shuudan and find some kind of job, after all.”
“Don't be ridiculous,” the interrogator insisted. “No one is making you go anywhere. Unless... is that what you want?”
“No, it isn't. I've never been comfortable out in the world. I've always been afraid someone will recognize me from one of my assignations. I don’t think I’d be able to stand that, especially if it was someone I saw all the time. Or during a fight, that could be a disaster. But...” Yoshi swallowed hard before continuing in a tight voice. “None of that matters because I’m a civilian now. There's no point in being embarrassed. Besides, even if I stay, I'll still have to deal with the rumors. By now I’m sure everyone in the shuudan's heard about me.”