Rikkai

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Branch

Lys ap Adin

The stories focusing on Rikkai and Angel Sanctuary's Belial. Yukimura/Sanada/Yanagi plus Belial/Rikkai/Rikkai.

Ink Burns

This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

This is a work of fanfiction, produced according to the principles of transformative fair use as put forward in US copyright law, and abiding by the custom and practice of fan-produced work in Japan, where the source texts were created. No author is in any way affiliated with any of the creators of the source texts, nor with the companies who distribute their products, nor any other rights holder, and these stories were not authorized by either the creators or the producers. Ink Burns is a fan site and the material here is freely provided for the enjoyment of fellow fan-community members; there is no commercial infringement.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 US license at the Ink Burns fanfiction archive (http://www.branchandroot.net/archive/).

"What's in a Name" published on 2005-09-23 17:20:21.

"Visiting Hours" published on 2005-01-04 21:28:53.

"Under the Knife" published on 2005-01-04 21:40:41.

"Long Story" published on 2005-01-05 13:11:01.

"Facing the Music" published on 2005-01-05 13:27:27.

"Interlude" published on 2005-01-05 13:43:12.

"The Shine" published on 2005-01-07 14:07:14.

"Talking Sense" published on 2005-01-05 14:12:10.

"Belonging" published on 2005-01-09 14:21:09.

"Nine Tenths" published on 2005-01-05 14:30:01.

"Understanding" published on 2005-01-07 15:03:41.

"Profession" published on 2005-01-06 15:21:29.

"Games Without Frontiers" published on 2005-01-06 16:27:54.

"Addition and Distraction" published on 2005-01-10 14:11:32.

"Marked" published on 2005-01-10 14:34:18.

"History Lesson" published on 2005-01-12 16:36:54.

"Over the Bone" published on 2005-01-16 17:50:49.

"The Dotted Line" published on 2005-01-10 18:10:28.

"Sealed With A Kiss" published on 2005-01-10 22:33:35.

"The Morning After" published on 2005-01-06 22:35:17.

"Baiting" published on 2005-01-25 14:18:46.

"Post-Game" published on 2005-01-12 15:01:15.

"Echo" published on 2005-01-07 15:52:35.

"Teacher" published on 2005-09-23 17:48:39.

"Logical Conclusion" published on 2005-01-12 17:50:55.

"A Demon and Hir Boy" published on 2005-01-10 20:01:22.

"The Sound of Music" published on 2005-01-11 20:10:49.

Attributions can be made by author's name and a link to the archive.

This ebook edition was published on September 6, 2019 by the Ink Burns fanfiction archive.

Cover illustration is "Effect of the Butterfly" by Anastasiya Markovich, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anastasiya_Markovich_Effect_of_Butterfly.jpg).

Cover design by Branch.

What's in a Name

Branch

Belial and Kanzeon have tea. Drama, I-2

Belial took another sip of hir tea and aimed a glittering smile at the being across the table. "So. We've caught up on gossip, traded fashion tips, and one has flattered your latest blend. Don't you think it's time we got around to business?"

Kanzeon lips curled up in a smile. "I still say sheer is the perfect look for you."

"One will keep it in mind," Belial promised. "You'll see it the day one sees you in a hat. A curl-brimmed felt number with peacock feathers, perhaps."

Kanzeon laughed. Belial half lidded hir eyes.

"Did you do it on purpose?"

"Do what?" Kanzeon asked, innocently, immediately continuing. "I would never interfere in the working out of a Heavenly sentence."

Belial took a demure sip. "Excellent delivery," se judged. "Good form, not over-exaggerated. But the gleam in the eyes somewhat detracts from the sincerity."

"I'll make a note of it," Kanzeon promised.

"You gave them their original names back," Belial murmured.

"Only my nephew, who has, no one could argue, been making excellent progress. Barring that lingering taste for guns." Kanzeon leaned back and crossed hir legs. "I certainly can't be responsible for what two random humans name their children. Perhaps the mothers thought the names would be efficacious against the demonic blood from the fathers." Kanzeon's smile was angelic.

Which was to say, Belial reflected, it was vicious, ruthless and hungry. Se couldn't help approving, really. "Well, one will keep an eye on them, then," se said, rising. "Since they are, after all, the children of one's own people."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Kanzeon purred.

End

Visiting Hours

Lys ap Adin

Mad Hatter visits Yukimura in the hospital. Drama, I-3

An individual of duller perception might have assumed se was seeking younger patients to entertain. A fool might have lashed out in a misguided effort to drive hir away.

It was not Seiichi’s judgment that was numb, and no one could call him a fool. “May I help you?” he rasped, and it galled him to find himself grateful for the ability to speak. Moving a hand to the call button, just in case, would have given away his weakness, and gained nothing, so he kept his hands folded and seethed at his body’s betrayal.

Belial smiled. “One,” se said, “was inclined to ask you the same.”

There were a multitude of possible responses to that. Seiichi considered hir smile, and tilted his head oh-so-carefully to the side. “I’m listening,” he murmured. “Go on.”

Belial sat, and made hir offer.

In the end, neither was surprised that he accepted it.

Under the Knife

Branch

Mad Hatter and Yukimura start to get acquainted. Drama, I-3

Seiichi was never sure what, exactly, alerted him to Mad Hatter's presence. Se moved like a shadow. He always knew when se arrived, though, as though the air pressure had suddenly dropped and painted the breeze with a hint of coming clouds.

"Experimental surgery, hm?" he asked without turning away from the window.

"One could just snap one's fingers." Hatter's breath was warm against the back of his neck. "One gets the impression from your other visitors that a miraculous recovery would be only what's expected from you."

"Miraculous?" Seiichi repeated in dry question.

"That was one's business, as a Virtue. His Majesty would probably forgive one moonlighting, just this once." Seiichi could hear Hatter's smile, and the darkness in it, delicate and raw. Dangerous. Which was fine as long as it didn't go beyond the two of them.

"And have you had much to say to my other visitors?" Seiichi inquired, turning slowly around and trying not to grit his teeth too visibly over the clumsy way his feet answered him.

Belial gave him a bright and charming curve of lips that didn't match hir eyes. "They are delightful boys, aren't they? But one finds you by far the most interesting." Mad Hatter ran a fingertip down Seiichi's cheek to trace his lower lip before falling away.

Seiichi sharpened his gaze to the edge that would hold Hatter. "Good."

End

Long Story

Branch

Belial introduces hirself to Rikkai. Drama, I-3

Masaharu nudged his partner. "Who's that?" he asked, nodding at the slight, lean figure in black lounging against the fence. Yagyuu finished a swallow of much needed water and raised a brow.

"I think that's Yukimura-san's visitor. The one from the hospital that no one ever quite managed to meet."

They both glanced over at Yukimura, who was laughing up at Yanagi. Masaharu smiled. He wasn't precisely pleased that he and Yagyuu had just been swept 6-2 by those two, but it was good to see Yukimura back in top form. Back to the question at hand, though.

"Oh, glorious leader," Masaharu drawled. "Did you invite the extra audience, today?"

For one heartbeat, Yukimura froze. "You noticed, then," he murmured.

Masaharu eyed their visitor's flamboyantly tailored tail coat and top hat. "A little hard not to."

Yukimura turned to face the watcher, eyes narrow. "Belial," he said, low and cold.

"Don't you think it's time one introduced oneself to your people?" the... man? Masaharu squinted... asked. Masaharu had to admit, he was impressed. He'd never seen anyone stand firm in face of an angry Yukimura, let alone stay so nonchalant.

"My people," Yukimura repeated, softly. "Yes."

"Of course, dear Seiichi-san, one wouldn't dream of interfering. Much." The man (?) brushed a rose in front of smiling lips, and Masaharu shared a startled glance with his partner. Where had that come from? Their visitor sauntered closer, running hooded eyes over all of them as the rest of the team drew closer to see what had caught their captain's attention. They received an extravagant bow. "So. Greetings. One is called Mad Hatter."

A frisson danced down Masaharu's spine as his gaze was caught by eyes blue as fire, and laughing. Laughing the way someone standing, somehow untouched, in the middle of catastrophe might laugh. His breath shivered in his chest, and he only realized that he'd taken a step forward when Yagyuu's hand on his shoulder jerked him to a stop.

"And under other circumstances," Mad Hatter murmured with a note of longing caress, "one would be delighted to have you for oneself. Ah well." He blew Masaharu a kiss, winked at Yagyuu, and turned back just in time to meet Yukimura's purposeful stride toward him with hands spread against their captain's chest. "One is most pleased to see you so fully recovered, Seiichi. One is sure the results will be well worth it."

And he was gone. Leaving Yukimura looking at the place he had been with a tangled mix of amusement and anger in his face.

"Who," Akaya asked, wide eyed, "was that?"

Yukimura passed a hand over his forehead and sighed. "Do all of you remember how my condition took a sudden turn for the better, a few months back?"

Everyone glanced at each other and nodded. Sanada and Yanagi, Masaharu noted, were hovering.

"Well, that was the deal I made..."

End

Facing the Music

Lys ap Adin

Sanada's and Yanagi's reactions to the whole story about Belial. Drama with Angst, I-3

Saying that Genichirou and Renji were not happy simply did not address the magnitude of their feelings on the subject.

Seiichi found that he couldn't really blame them; his own feelings upon seeing Mad Hatter's hunger for Niou were comparable enough that chiding them would have made him a hypocrite.

“What's in it for him?” Genichirou demanded, after his explanation, in simple terms, of the nature of his deal with Mad Hatter.

“That,” Seiichi said, coolly, with the weight of his team’s eyes upon him, “is a private matter between me and Hatter-san.”

His team allowed the matter to drop, for the time being, but Genichirou and Renji fell in at his side as he locked the clubhouse after practice. They followed him home, making small talk about the club and the team’s preparations for Nationals, and lingered in the kitchen to make small talk with his mother while she prepared a tray of snacks for them before Seiichi led them upstairs to his room.

Seiichi took the bed, Renji chose his normal seat at Seiichi’s desk, and Genichirou paced back and forth. The pacing lasted for some time before Genichirou whirled, crossing his arms and glaring at Seiichi. “Were you going to at least tell us?”

“If the need arose,” Seiichi said calmly, sipping his tea. “Which it did, today.”

That set Genichirou to pacing again, while Renji took a cake and asked, “A deal with the devil?”

“Not the devil,” Seiichi corrected him. “Hatter-san is a lieutenant of the devil’s, if I understand correctly.”

“And what does the devil’s lieutenant want with a junior high student’s soul?” Renji asked.

“I haven’t asked. Hatter-san is not the type to give away unnecessary information.”

“And knowing what he wants with your soul isn’t necessary information, Seiichi?” Genichirou was verging on an explosion.

“Not particularly,” Seiichi said. “When you’re not certain whether your body is going to be able to draw its next breath, and you can’t lift your hand to scratch your nose, and the tennis courts seem so far away that they might as well be on another planet, you find that the concept of hell loses a great deal of its terror.”

Genichirou stopped mid-stride, and when Renji spoke, he sounded stricken. “It was that bad?”

“Worse,” Seiichi said.

Genichirou turned back to him. “I don’t like it,” he said.

“I’m not asking you to,” Seiichi said, “but it was my choice to make, and I have no regrets.” He met Genichirou’s gaze and held it.

Genichirou nodded, satisfied, or at least placated, before grabbing his bag and leaving abruptly.

Seiichi laughed, soft and wry. “He took that rather well, don’t you think?”

“Well enough, although I suspect he’s heading off to disembowel straw dummies,” Renji said, rubbing his forehead. “I don’t suppose you’d care to tell me what the terms of your contract are?”

“That’s really a rather personal question, Renji,” Seiichi told him.

“If you tell me, perhaps I can find a way around it,” Renji countered.

Seiichi blinked, and then smiled honestly for the first time since Mad Hatter had revealed hirself to his team. “I doubt you’ll find one.”

“It’ll make me feel better to try,” Renji insisted.

“All right,” Seiichi relented. “I’ll see about getting you a copy of the contract, such as it is.”

“Thank you.” Renji stood. “I need to be going. See you in the morning?”

“Of course.” Seiichi stood as well, and saw him downstairs. After Renji had put on his shoes, he said, “Thank you.”

Renji looked back at him, and smiled. “You’re welcome,” he said, and left.

Interlude

Lys ap Adin

Sanada makes a further discovery. Angst, I-3

Seiichi knew the moment Genichirou noticed Mad Hatter’s seal, low on one hip and inconspicuous except to a thorough lover.

Genichirou went still. “What is this?”

“The Hatter’s mark,” Seiichi said, and there was no point in telling him how it had come to be there. “A seal for the contract.”

As he had half-expected him to, Genichirou pulled away and sat, back to Seiichi. “His mark,” he said, voice flat.

Seiichi sat up as well, and placed his hands on Genichirou’s shoulders. “Part and parcel of the deal, I’m afraid.” He kneaded the muscles that were already beginning to knot up again.

“Every time I have myself convinced that this has all been something Niou cooked up, something happens to prove me wrong.” He shook his head, and began gathering his scattered clothes.

“You’re going?” Seiichi asked.

“I—yes. I am.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I need to think. Sorry.”

Seiichi inclined his head. “I’ll be waiting when you’re done.”

“Will you?” Genichirou asked, doing up his last button.

“Of course.”

The Shine

Branch

Sanada and Belial talk about Seiichi. Drama, I-3

For once, Genichirou thought he might have spotted Mad Hatter's arrival beside the courts before anyone else. A quick glance at Renji, and a nod toward their captain detailed Renji to distract Seiichi's attention so Genichirou could take advantage of this.

They had discussed it days before.

"Hatter. I want to talk to you."

Bright blue eyes widened ingenuously. "Seiichi-san must have a tighter grip on all of you than one had thought," Hatter mused. "One was expecting you days ago. Very well, then, come along." When Genichirou hesitated to follow him, Hatter glanced back with a slow smile. "One wouldn't wish to distress Seiichi by doing this out in the open where anyone could see. Don't you agree?"

At another time the tone of lascivious suggestion might have made Genichirou turn around and head back to the court, but today he was far too angry.

"So?" Hatter asked, leaning against a tree.

"What do you want with Seiichi?" Genichirou asked, bluntly.

"His soul," Hatter answered.

Genichirou reminded himself, strenuously, of Renji's caution that he wouldn't get anywhere with Hatter unless he could keep his temper. He told himself it was just like dealing with Niou in a really bad mood. "What," he amplified through gritted teeth, "do you want his soul for?"

"To play with, of course," Hatter said with a bright smile. "It's lovely and shiny."

Genichirou knew it was a bad idea, and still couldn't stop himself. Red clouded his vision and he lashed out.

When the world stopped spinning he was flat on his back with Hatter kneeling over him, and his arms pinned under Hatter's hand and knee. The free hand was playing very, very sharp nails just under Genichirou's chin. "Did you really think one has lived this long without the ability to deal with people who want to kill one?" Hatter asked, amused.

"At the rate you must make enemies, I'm sure you've needed it," Genichirou shot back.

"You aren't entirely without interest yourself, you know," Hatter murmured, cold eyes glinting over a laughing mouth. "Now, one doubts Seiichi would be pleased if one damaged you too badly, so listen. One contracted for his soul, in return for some considerations and assistance. The bond of that contract gives one access to his soul, even now. One can touch it. Touch it, taste it, know it. And Yukimura Seiichi's soul is beautiful. One is really quite smitten."

Genichirou heaved against Hatter's hold, violently. "His heart belongs to us," he ground out, glaring.

"Of course it does."

Genichirou paused, staring up.

"One isn't actually blind, you know," Hatter said, patiently. "His heart belongs to you. And his soul will not come into one's keeping for some time yet. In the meantime, he's given a significant part of that to you lot, too. That doesn't mean one can't appreciate it in advance. And that," a nail flicked and Genichirou bit back a hiss, "is more clarity than you have any right to expect from a demon, let alone from oneself. Evidence of one's infatuation, no doubt." He licked Genichirou's blood, delicately, off one fingertip.

Genichirou gritted his teeth. "Is that," he enunciated distinctly, "supposed to make us feel better about Seiichi signing his soul into eternal torment?"

Hatter blinked. "One begs your pardon?" Then he paused, tapping a thoughtful finger against his chin. "Well, actually, no one doesn't, but in any case who said anything about eternal torment?"

Genichirou gave him a very suspicious look. "That is the general consensus on what Hell is."

Hatter's mouth curled in disgustingly smug delight. "There has been," he informed Genichirou, "a change of management recently. So there's no need to worry."

Judging from Hatter's grin, Genichirou's expression said quite clearly what he thought of that directive. Hatter did let him go, though, sliding away in a flicker of movement Genichirou couldn't quite follow. By the time Genichirou had gained his feet, the infuriating demon was nowhere to be seen.

"So?" Renji asked, as Genichirou joined him at the edge of the courts.

"It's all a joke to him," Genichirou stated, flatly.

Renji tipped his head. "What makes you think so?"

Genichirou narrowed his eyes, looking out over the practice in progress. "Because if he isn't joking then he's in love and I refuse to believe that."

"Hmm." They both fell silent for a time.

End

Talking Sense

Lys ap Adin

Kurai and Noise explain things to Sanada. Drama, I-3

“They are interesting; I’ll give them that,” Kurai said, after an afternoon of observation. “I can see what would attract Hatter.”

“They’re very strong-willed, for children,” Noise agreed.

“One would not let them catch one referring to them as children,” Belial observed, sliding out of a patch of shadow. “Have you considered one’s request, lovely Queen?”

Before Kurai could answer, Noise said, “This seems like an awful lot of effort just for a soul that’s already been signed away.”

Belial flattened a hand over hir heart. “One is a great believer in quality and thoroughness in one’s work.”

“I’ll just bet,” Noise grumbled. “...Kurai-sama?”

“I’ll do it,” Kurai decided. “Which one’s Sanada again?”

Belial indicated one of the humans. “That one.” Se paused. “One would mention that he is touchy.”

“And you have nothing at all to do with that,” Kurai said, absently, studying the boy in question.

“Perish the thought,” Belial murmured, as the boys began clearing the tennis courts. “Ah. It would appear that one has been noticed.” Se moved off to speak to the boy in question; Kurai and Noise trailed after hir.

“More friends?” the boy asked, with an assessing glance at Kurai and Noise. Kurai looked back at him just as critically, beginning to understand the attraction of this particular soul.

“Kurai, queen of Gehenna, and Noise, her retainer,” Belial said, with a sweeping gesture. “Your Majesty, Yukimura Seiichi.”

“And what brings you to my tennis courts?” Yukimura inquired, politely enough, despite the hint of steel in his voice.

“Hatter’s invitation,” Noise said.

Yukimura looked at Belial. “And are my tennis courts going to be a social clearing house for all sorts of demons now, Belial?”

Kurai felt her eyebrows hit her hairline, while Noise’s jaw dropped.

Belial waved a hand. “Not at all,” se said. “Her Majesty is here to relieve certain misapprehensions regarding her husband’s domain.” Se glanced pointedly in the direction of the boy se had indicated previously, who was standing a little ways off and obviously trying not to look too much like he was hovering.

Yukimura followed the glance. “Ah,” he said. “I see.” He looked back at Kurai. “In that case, welcome.”

“Thank you kindly,” Kurai said, drily. “We’ll try not to trouble you too much.”

“I appreciate it,” Yukimura said. He paused. “Your husband?”

“Hmph. We’re separated,” Kurai said, sparing a mild glare for Belial. “Hatter-san can explain, if you’re curious. Noise?”

“Ready, Kurai-sama.”

“Then we’re off,” Kurai said. She stuck her hands in her pockets and sauntered towards Sanada, Noise following close behind. “Hello.”

“And just who are you?” he asked.

Kurai hid a grimace, as Noise stiffened. Touchy didn’t begin to cover it. “This,” Noise said, “is Her Majesty, Queen Kurai of Gehenna.”

“Kurai’s fine,” she added hastily, placing a hand on Noise’s arm. “You’re Sanada, right?” He nodded. “Good. Now, it’s a lovely afternoon for a walk, don’t you think?” Without waiting for an answer, she linked her other arm in his. “Why don’t you walk with me for a ways?”

“What—” Sanada began to protest, but Noise seized his other arm, and the two of them managed to propel him forward while Yukimura and Belial laughed behind them and the rest of the boys stared in open curiosity. He struggled to free himself, and was remarkably strong for a human, but Kurai and Noise were demons and managed to keep their grips on him easily enough. “Let me go!” he hissed, as they pushed him away from the tennis courts.

“In a bit,” Kurai said, cheerfully. “First we need to talk.”

“I’m not interested,” he said, instantly. “I don’t want anything to do with your bargains.”

“Bargains?” Noise laughed. “You think we’re crazy enough to try and bargain with you after Hatter-sama’s declared you off-limits?”

Kurai silently applauded Noise. That had piqued Sanada’s curiosity enough to make him stop struggling for a moment. “Off-limits?” he repeated.

“Absolutely,” Kurai said. “And even if Hatter-san hadn’t, Yukimura-san’s expression when we arrived would have made it look like a bad idea. He seems very protective of what’s his.”

Sanada didn’t seem inclined to argue this. “If you’re not here to buy my soul, then what are you here for?”

“To talk,” Noise grunted. “At no small inconvenience to Her Majesty, I might add.”

“Not that much,” Kurai shrugged. “So, tell me, Sanada-kun—what do you know about Hell?”

“It’s where damned souls go when they die,” he said, promptly. “To be punished for their sins by demons.”

“Okay. And heaven?” Kurai said, encouragingly.

“Where good people go after they die,” Sanada said. “To be rewarded by angels.”

“Uh-huh.” Noise made a rude sound. “Those angelic bastards definitely have the better propaganda machine.”

“Like that’s news,” Kurai retorted. “But then, they’ve been playing a game rigged in their favor.”

“Who could forget?” Noise released her grip on Sanada, who had followed this exchange with a faintly confused expression. “Damned souls. Punishments. Rewards. Hah! Do humans ever get anything right?”

“Not often,” Kurai said, mildly. “I do hope you don’t have your heart set on that particular vision of Heaven and Hell, Sanada-kun. If you do, I’m afraid you’re going to be terribly disappointed when you die.”

“I will?”

“Oh yeah, especially if you’re planning on going to Heaven,” Noise muttered. “They’d soon kill you as look at you up there.”

Sanada blinked. “But... angels are good?” he ventured.

Kurai really couldn’t help the laughter, especially when he drew himself up, looking offended. “There’s no more saying that all angels are good and all demons are evil than there is saying all humans are good or all humans are evil,” she said, finally. “It’s a mix, just like it is with humans. Sure, the Host likes to pretend they have the moral high ground, but when it comes right down to it, all of us, angels and demons alike, tend to be bastards, really. Demons are just more straightforward about it.”

Sanada frowned. “He sent you here, didn’t he?”

“He?” Kurai echoed. Sanada jerked his head in the direction of the tennis courts. “Oh, you mean Hatter-san. He asked me to come, yes.”

“Then how can I believe a single word you’ve said?” he demanded. “Even if I were inclined to take the word of a demon?”

“I suppose you don’t have to believe us,” Kurai said, calmly enough. “It’s your decision, after all. Hatter-san is notoriously tricky.” Noise snorted, and muttered something under her breath. “But it seems to me that Hatter-san is going to extraordinary lengths to be reassuring.”

“Seiichi doesn’t need reassuring,” Sanada muttered. “He thinks everything is fine.”

“Not him, silly.” Kurai smacked him upside the head, but gently. “You. Hatter called us here on your account. She’d like to add you to her collection, but she’s abiding by Yukimura-san’s wishes, so she’s doing the next best thing and trying to make you see that it’s not as bad for him as you think. You don’t need to worry so much.”

“You’re a fascinating group of souls,” Noise observed, while Sanada looked flabbergasted. “Anyone in Hell—or in Heaven, to be fair—with an ounce of taste would be overjoyed to have you.”

“Have us?” Sanada managed.

“It’s fairly standard exchange—services rendered after death for favors received during life.” Kurai waved a hand. “Of course, I don’t know what terms Yukimura-san and Hatter-san have agreed to, but I doubt it’s anything exotic.”

“I still don’t know that I can trust a word you’re saying,” Sanada said, after a moment.

“Stubborn,” Noise muttered.

“I expect we should consider it part of his charm,” Kurai said. She unhooked her arm from his and stepped away. “In any case, I don’t believe we can say or do anything else to change his mind.”

“That’s probably true,” Noise agreed.

“Look, Sanada-kun. You trust Yukimura-san, right?” Kurai said. He nodded. “Am I right in saying that he has impeccable judgment?” Sanada nodded again. “Then trust that he knows what he’s doing. You’ll both be happier that way.”

Sanada considered this. “A question,” he said, finally.

“Yes?” Kurai waited.

“When you die, if you don’t go to heaven or hell, what happens?”

“Reincarnation, usually,” Noise said, promptly.

“In Yukimura-san’s case, he’ll probably serve in Lucifer-sama’s court, as retainer to Hatter-san,” Kurai added.

Sanada’s frown at this was less angry than thoughtful. “I see,” he murmured.

Kurai smiled. “I think we’re done here, Noise,” she said. “It was interesting talking to you, Sanada-kun. I do hope we meet again.”

He snorted. “I’m not sure I can honestly say the same yet, but—I do thank you.”

Kurai chuckled. “To be fair, that’s more than I really expected. Take care, Sanada-kun. See you around.” She gave him a little wave, and walked away.

Noise caught up with her after just a moment. “Think it worked?”

“Dunno, but we gave him plenty to think over,” Kurai said, with a little shrug. “Hatter-san can’t ask for more.”

“You never know,” Noise said, shivering. “So, home?”

“Well, we could go home,” Kurai conceded, “but since we’re in Assiah anyway, it couldn’t hurt to pop over and visit Setsuna, right?”

“And the real reason you agreed to this comes out,” Noise said.

“I prefer to think of it as being efficient,” Kurai said airily. “Come on, let’s see if we can find the Messiah.”

As they headed off, Sanada turned around and headed back toward the tennis courts, where Yukimura was waiting.

Belonging

Branch

SanaYuki make up smut. Porn with Characterization, I-4

"All right, that should do it for the Nationals lineups."

Seiichi stood and rubbed a hand over his eyes, and felt Genichirou's hands close on his shoulders as he swayed a bit.

"Seiichi?" He could hear the incipient panic in Genichirou's voice, legacy of the winter, and laid a soothing hand on his chest.

"I'm fine. Just tired, that's all. Truly." He smiled up at Genichirou, though he knew the stress he'd been under lately probably made it less convincing than usual. Genichirou's chest moved under his palm in a faint sigh.

"Seiichi..." Seiichi blinked; even when they were alone, Genichirou rarely let his voice soften so much. Genichirou's arms closed around him, almost lifting him against Genichirou's body. Seiichi released a tiny breath of his own and let himself relax into that support.

"I'm sorry," Genichirou murmured.

"For what?" Seiichi asked, a bit muffled, leaning his head down to Genichirou's shoulder.

"Everything." The hint of a laugh in Genichirou's voice made Seiichi chuckle. And then he sighed again.

"Genichirou," he whispered, leaning more of his weight against his lover. He didn't often ask, but tonight he was very worn out and didn't want to think or plan or even speak. Just feel.

Genichirou's arms tightened. As Seiichi looked up, Genichirou's mouth found his in a gentle kiss at odds with the power of that embrace. Or perhaps not. Seiichi smiled and let his eyes fall closed. Genichirou understood what he wanted. Perhaps Seiichi should send that little silver haired demon a thank-you note.

Genichirou moved back long enough to strip off his own clothes before he started on Seiichi's. The shirt was lifted off his shoulders, and Genichirou knelt to slide down Seiichi's pants and tug off his socks. Seiichi laughed, softly, and Genichirou looked up at him with a faint smile. Large, warm hands closed on Seiichi's hips, and Seiichi gave himself to them, let Genichirou take his weight and guide him down until they were pressed against each other and Genichirou's arms were around him again.

For a while Genichirou only ran his hands over Seiichi's skin; down his thighs, spread over Genichirou's; up his back and across his shoulders; over his ribs and the bones of his hips; threading through his hair. Soothing and strong, and Seiichi sighed into their kisses, comforted.

The sound he made when Genichirou's fingers dipped between his cheeks and stroked questioningly against his entrance was lower and more hungry. Seiichi leaned back, trusting Genichirou's hands to keep him from falling, driving their hips together harder, and a deep, rough sound in Genichirou's chest answered him. Genichirou's mouth, though, was still soft as it moved over Seiichi's chest, and, as Genichirou lowered him to the futon, his stomach, slow licks followed by open mouthed kisses. Seiichi stretched against the quilt, and gasped as his lover's mouth covered Belial's mark. Protest and acceptance at the same time; very much Genichirou's way, with him.

"Genichirou..." When the dark eyes looked up Seiichi held out his arms and Genichirou moved up to lie over Seiichi. Seiichi made a pleased sound at that weight on him. There was a solidity to Genichirou that made it deeply satisfying to be covered by him like this, when Seiichi wanted another's strength in addition to his own.

"Seiichi," Genichirou spoke, quietly, against his hair, "will you let me?"

"Oh, yes," Seiichi answered, laughing just a little. "Please."

From the convulsive way Genichirou's arms tightened around him, Seiichi thought Genichirou might need this as much as he did.

Genichirou nudged him until Seiichi was lying on his side and Genichirou could press up against his back, and he wriggled back a little more snugly against that solid body. Genichirou nipped lightly at the curve of Seiichi's neck as his hand slid down the back of Seiichi's thigh and urged his knee up, spreading him out. Seiichi released a harsh breath when Genichirou's fingers slid into him. Those fingers felt very good, working his body open, but it wasn't until Genichirou's hard thigh slid up against the back of his and he felt Genichirou filling him, stretching him open, that Seiichi finally moaned, breathless, clenching a hand in the worn cotton under his cheek.

This was what he wanted tonight, to have Genichirou inside him and around him, holding him and driving in and out of him, slow and close and hard. To have that weight and warmth against him. To let himself arch and buck, in Genichirou's arms, with complete abandon.

Genichirou's hand between his legs shocked Seiichi out of the slowness, and he cried out, hearing the sudden strain in his own voice. He jerked into Genichirou's tight grip, heard a soft groan against his ear, and fire ran over him, rippled out from the rasp of calluses against his skin, catching at the heavy heat of Genichirou moving inside him. The pulse of it spiked with a deep thrust, and Seiichi lost himself in brightness. The sharp edge of sensation twisted through him, harsh and then gentler, softer, until it subsided and he lay, limp. Genichirou was moving faster, now. Seiichi breathed deeply as Genichirou muffled a moan against his shoulder, and finally stilled. It took a few moments before Seiichi could gather himself to turn over and wind his arms around Genichirou. They lay, twined together.

"Forgive me," Genichirou said, almost too quietly to hear. "It was only that... I don't like the thought of what might happen to you."

Seiichi chuckled. "And you also don't like sharing," he added, lifting his head to press a kiss to Genichirou's forehead, and another to his lips, checking an indignant protest. "With outsiders," he added.

"Hmph."

"You know that I'm yours, Genichirou," Seiichi pointed out, lying back down. "It's only fair; you gave yourself to me. You know that's how I do things."

An even less articulate grumble met this statement, and Seiichi smiled as he settled down to let himself drift to sleep as well.

Just before he did, the door clicked, and he turned over, yawning, to see Renji smiling at them. Seiichi held up his arms, and Renji leaned down to gather him close, careful not to jar the sleeping Genichirou.

"Better?" Renji whispered.

"Yes." Seiichi buried his face against Renji's neck and breathed in. "Thank you." Then he tugged, demandingly, on Renji's shirt, and Renji smiled as he undressed and lay down to enclose Seiichi in a cradle of warm bodies.

Seiichi relaxed between them, very pleased.

In a distant room Belial looked up at the ceiling and wondered if se should look into acquiring Sanada-kun after all. Hir body still throbbed with the echo of his touch. At last se sighed, deciding that, no, he would probably die of heart failure at the mere suggestion.

Se did make a note, as se rolled over, not to mention to Seiichi this particular side effect of the mark.

End

Nine Tenths

Lys ap Adin

Possible answers about Kirihara's proclivities. Humor, I-1

Niou’s eyes narrowed. “So,” he drawled, “it’s one of yours that makes him do that thing with the red eyes and the violence?”

“One never said that,” Belial demurred. “One said that it was not an unreasonable hypothesis.”

“So it could be one of yours.”

Belial sniffed. “One of mine would demonstrate more subtlety,” se said, leaving no doubt that hir retainers would possess the utmost in delicacy, or else.

“So it could be some other—individual—who’s responsible for his, ah, episodes?” Yagyuu suggested.

Belial shrugged. “One does not care to speculate, but yes, it is possible.”

Kirihara broke into the discussion. “You do realize I’m standing right here, don’t you?”

“You say that like it’s supposed to bother us, brat.” Niou cocked his head. “If an opposing team shows up to a match with a priest, will that be a problem?”

Belial threw hir head back and laughed.

Understanding

Branch

Lucifer visits Rikkai. Drama, I-3

Renji, along with the rest of the team, was starting to get used to Mad Hatter's elusive, mocking presence among them. He supposed he should have known that would be the signal for a fresh turn into strangeness.

Today's strangeness started innocently enough with a voice none of them had heard before. "So this is where you've been, lately." A tall figure stepped out from under the shadow of the trees by the courts.

Hatter's face lit up even as she turned. "Indeed, my lord," she answered, stepping toward the man. The entire team stared as she sank to her knees at his feet.

"And are you enjoying yourself?" he asked one brow tilting up as he reached a hand down to pull Hatter back up.

"Immensely," she purred.

The man's eyes traveled over them all, ending at last with Seiichi. Renji tensed, suspecting who this must be, but Seiichi met the gaze coolly and only nodded.

"Lucifer, I presume," he said, quietly.

A crooked smile turned up the man's mouth, and he looked back down at Mad Hatter. "How calm. Have you finally found one you couldn't break, butterfly?"

"One hasn't been trying to break him," Hatter protested, looking up through her lashes. Genichirou, standing beside Renji, twitched, and Renji leaned against his shoulder for unobtrusive support and restraint.

"No, only my teammates," Seiichi put in, sharp and not particularly amused. "I hadn't realized it was an actual hobby."

"One seeks the truth and shows the truth," Hatter answered, voice suddenly harsh. Her head dipped almost to Lucifer's chest. "Few see it, even then."

This time, Renji noted, it was Niou's turn to pull Yagyuu back when he stepped toward Hatter.

"Belial," Seiichi and Lucifer murmured at the same time, in the same tone of mild exasperation.

Their eyes locked over Hatter's head for a long moment before Seiichi sighed. "So," was all he said, though.

Hatter cast a narrow look over her shoulder at Seiichi, but let the exchange go with a faint shrug. "Are you down here to visit her?" she asked Lucifer.

His eyes hooded. "Alexiel will be mine when she returns. For now, Setsuna and Sara belong to each other." His mouth tilted again. "Actually I was going to see what Michael is doing."

Mad Hatter threw back her head and laughed, eyes sparkling again. "Oh, can one watch?" she begged, hands clasped under her chin.

Personally, Renji would have been a bit alarmed by her grin, but Lucifer merely brushed his fingers through her wild hair. "If you like."

It was the first time they had seen Hatter's wings. The corner of Renji's mind that catalogued things observed that they were feathered, albeit black, not the bat-style wings that seemed traditional for demons in artwork. The rest of him was gaping at the sky along with his teammates.

Except for Seiichi. Who stood with a hand on his hip, the other raised to press between his eyes. "Hatter-san, you little idiot," their captain muttered.

Renji's brows rose. That was very much the tone Seiichi used about Akaya sometimes.

Interesting.

End

Profession

Branch

Belial chats with Sakaki, who turns out to be an old 'friend'. Drama with Humor, I-3

Sakaki Tarou paused on his way across the grounds of Rikkai Dai to visit his contemporaries on staff, and watched the junior high tennis team practicing. This team was always worth watching, but this time something specific caught his attention. Something about them had changed, since the last time he'd observed these players. It was most notable in Yukimura-kun, and Tarou sighed faintly as he contemplated the inherent disorder of what he was seeing.

"Taken," a light voice stated next to his ear.

"Belial," Tarou greeted his ex-associate. He didn't move at all as a very sharp edge scraped against his throat.

"There are, at this time, exactly two people permitted to call one by one's old name, and neither of them is you. You may call one Mad Hatter." The sharp edge vanished, and Tarou turned his head far enough to see Belial... Hatter, lounging against the fence, from the corner of his eye. "As one was saying, Yukimura Seiichi is taken. Signed and sealed, though a significant delay in delivery was part of the deal. And, as the rest of them belong to him, you can just keep your hands to yourself where they're concerned, too."

Tarou knew better than to cross a Demon Lord without better backup, and Hatter was clearly serious despite the teasing tone. His silence gave his answer.

"Delightful." Hatter pushed off the fence. "After all, it wouldn't do to have your boys notice anything odd about their dear mentor's associates and pastimes, would it?"

Tarou didn't even bother to glare at the implied threat of revelation. "They don't ask," he said, levelly, tucking his hands into his pockets. "I'm simply their tennis coach. And music teacher."

Tarou waited, with scant patience, for Hatter to stop snickering and go back to her humans.

End

Games Without Frontiers

Branch

Yukimura decides how to deal with Belial. Drama, I-3

Seiichi's expression toward the end of practice had indicated that he wished to speak with Belial, so Belial had obligingly waited for him in the small garden behind his house. It didn't take long for Seiichi to find hir there.

"Belial," Seiichi said, a bit wearily, "I'd appreciated it if you could stop trying to provoke everyone. Including me."

Belial chuckled low in hir throat. Se had rather suspected that hir human had caught on to the reason Belial toyed with his team. "But Seiichi-san, you have such strength in you." Se draped hirself against him and whispered in his ear, "One likes to feel it." Which was only the truth. When Seiichi was angry his soul had an edge on it that cut deliciously.

Seiichi was still for a moment before his hand lifted and turned Belial's face toward his. Belial breathed in when se saw his eyes—piercing as when he was angry, but softer. "Stop trying to use me to hurt yourself," he told hir. "I'm not pleased with the idea, however much security it gives you to be hurt when you expect it."

Belial shivered, and absently damned hir own weakness for those who saw clearly and spoke the truth. It was what interested hir in Seiichi in the first place, of course, but se hadn't honestly expected a mortal, however impressive, to see this clearly.

Seiichi was still looking at hir, gaze turned thoughtful. An edge of mischief crept into it. "I've been thinking that there are other ways to get what you want," he murmured. "And turnabout is only fair, yes?" He leaned forward. And kissed Belial, slow and strong. And Belial had to admit, hir latest acquisition had a point; his mouth was gentle, but the weight of his soul against hirs was powerful and demanding, and clear as a lake of glass.

Belial broke off and leaned back in Seiichi's arms, laughing. Seiichi merely took the chance to taste the skin of hir throat.

"You know," Belial observed, voice a little husky, "this is one of the things mortals and celestials really aren't supposed to do."

"I've already sold my soul to a demon," Seiichi noted, dryly, against Belial's collar bone. "Breaking another rule is supposed to concern me, why?"

"One thinks," Belial told the sky, dreamily, "one may just be in love."

Seiichi lifted his head and looked at hir, eyes dark and fathomless in the dusk. "Don't say that to me too easily, Belial." His voice held a hint of warning.

A breath of uneasiness blew through Belial, but se dismissed it. Seiichi had a powerful and fascinating soul, but surely no human could bind hir. "Will lust do?" se inquired lightly.

Seiichi's lips curved, though his gaze was level and serious. "For now."

Surely.

End

Addition and Distraction

Branch

Yanagi talks with Belial. Drama, I-3

It had been a long practice, and only got longer when Hatter decided to tease Genichirou. Renji sighed.

"Enough," Seiichi intervened, at last. He came between the laughing demon and a bristling Genichirou, and took Hatter's shoulders, turning her to face him. "Enough, Belial," he repeated, "I won't have this during practice. And you and I will talk, later, about your habit of trying to destroy the things you want."

Hatter waved a light hand. "As you wish, of course."

Renji observed Hatter's parted lips and the quick flutter of her lashes down over eyes gone dark as Seiichi let her go. That was not entirely surprising; he had spent years watching one person after another fall to Seiichi's charisma. What surprised him more was the fire and sharpness in Seiichi's gaze. That was not the kind of look their captain shared with outsiders, other than the very best of his rivals. And even then, only during a full out match.

Renji waited for Hatter after practice.

"Another talk hm?" Hatter asked, looking him up and down. "One hopes you're less volatile than Sanada-kun. Not that it wasn't entertaining."

"If it isn't an imposition," Renji said, staying polite and noncommittal.

"So?" Hatter prodded, as they strolled through the school grounds.

"What is between you and Seiichi?"

"One could have sworn he explained that some time ago," Hatter murmured, trailing her fingers through the leaves overhead.

It was an outside chance, but Renji decided to try shock. If nothing else, Hatter's reaction should give him a range for the next shot. "He looked at you, this afternoon, the way I've seen him look down at me when his fingers are stroking inside me," he said, softly.

Hatter's step paused, and she directed a half-lidded look up at the sun. "One can imagine," she said, low and husky. She leaned against a tree and smiled at Renji from the corner of her eye. "You want to know whether one has been in bed with him, don't you?"

"I already know you haven't," Renji corrected. The faint wistful edge in her reaction had told him that much. "But I would still like to know just what's going on."

Hatter blinked, and then laughed. "You're very good at this," she complimented him. "One would have thought, though," she added, mouth quirking, "that what is going on would be fairly obvious to one of you."

Renji considered that, and added it to his previous suspicions. "Seiichi does believe very strongly in reciprocality," he essayed.

"One gathered that, yes," Hatter said, dryly. "Generally, a mortal soul isn't strong enough to hold one."

Generally, Renji imagined not. So. Seiichi really had decided to gather Mad Hatter up into the circle of his own. Which left the question of what the rest of them were going to do with their newest addition. "Are truth and honesty the same things, to you?" he asked, another thought coming to him.

Hatter raised her brows. "No, they are not," she answered, softly, eyes intent on him.

Renji nodded. Knowing that, he could work with it. Genichirou, on the other hand, wouldn't deal with such a division so easily. "Could they be?"

"Are you bargaining with one, Yanagi-kun?" Hatter asked.

Renji smiled. "The bargain has already been made, Hatter. Genichirou says that you've tasted Seiichi's soul. I doubt you can leave us, now. It would make things easier, though, if you could moderate your use of the team for amusement."

Hatter stared at him. "One will take that under consideration," she murmured. She tilted her head and added, "You... don't mind it?"

"Seiichi shares his soul very freely, once he chooses to do so at all," Renji answered, quietly. "It's one of the things we love in him."

Pain flickered behind Hatter's eyes before they became shuttered. "I will consider what you say," she said, and vanished into the rustling shadows of the leaves.

End

Marked

Branch

Somewhat troubled, Belial seeks out Yukimura. Drama, I-3

Belial found Seiichi on the roof of his own house, watching the sky from a nest of pillows and blankets.

"Here to watch the stars, Hatter-san?" Seiichi asked, after a moment, not looking around.

When Belial didn't answer, he looked. "Hatter-san? Come out."

Belial took a few steps out of the shadow, not far enough to show hir face. Apparently, it was still too many, because Seiichi stood, frowning, and came to hir. He took hir face between his hands and gave hir a long, searching look before taking hir hands and leading hir back to his pillow-nest. "You're here now; come watch for a while," he said, tugging Belial down.

Se still wasn't beyond being surprised that someone who fought so fiercely could be so gentle, and se gazed up at Seiichi's face as he curled up beside hir and propped his head on one hand. Belial had no idea what hir face might be showing, but whatever it was made Seiichi smile. He ran his fingers through hir hair, dislodging today's small, round hat.

"You've spent a lot of time and energy courting me, working to gain my willing compliance to go along with my binding signature," he said, softly. "Is it so hard to believe that you've won me?"

The pleasure of hearing Seiichi say it out loud was promptly followed by the confusion that had set Belial to wandering so restlessly this evening. "Won you... and yet you haven't left them," se murmured, trying out the taste and shape of the words. Just how much room did hir human have in his heart?

"No, I haven't," Seiichi agreed, brushing hir cheek with the backs of his fingers. "I don't leave those I care for. I won't leave you, either." He laughed, barely a breath in the night air. "After all, aren't souls immortal?"

"They are." To stay with hir, to not leave hir... The idea tugged at hir even more sharply than the glowing clarity of Seiichi's soul. Belial belonged to Lucifer-sama, there was no question about that. But se was having trouble denying any longer that Seiichi had gained a claim on hir also; at least he seemed willing to share. Se reached up to thread a hand through his hair, like ink marking hir fingers in the dark. Se drew him down to hir, and he smiled, coming willingly, folding the brightness of his presence around hir like wings.

"Have you ever lost?" se murmured against his lips.

"Very rarely," he replied before opening his mouth to hir kiss.

End

History Lesson

Branch

Belial talks to Rikkai about the past. Drama, I-3

"So?" Renji asked, as Genichirou and Seiichi returned to the courts. "How did the drawing go?"

"We're on the same side of the chart as Seigaku," Seiichi answered with a small smile.

Renji chuckled. "Well, then."

Genichirou made a disgruntled sound. "Tezuka cornered me to ask if we were sure we knew what we were doing, getting mixed up with a demon, especially this one." He glanced at Hatter. "I can't imagine how you got such a reputation."

"No, you probably can't," Hatter murmured, looking away. Renji sighed. She'd been in a distant and cryptic mood all day.

Seiichi frowned and touched her shoulder. "Belial?"

"One is not kind," she said, very precisely, without looking around. "Nor benign. One has corrupted lives and souls and cities. Most recently, one provoked the Host to attack an ally and caused the destruction of Kurai's kingdom and people. One led Kurai herself into a marriage that would have sacrificed her life, by lying to her at nearly every turn. You should remember this."

Seiichi was silent for a long moment. "There must be some reason Kurai-san has forgiven you."

"She is a queen and a demon," Hatter answered, coolly. "She understands expedience." Her hands were clasped hard enough to whiten the knuckles, Renji noted. "Our lord was gone," Hatter added, far more quietly. "One did what was necessary to preserve Hell. Whatever was necessary"

Renji was not entirely surprised to see Genichirou pause, arrested.

"Yes," Genichirou said, at last. Hatter glanced at him. "I understand. We won't forget."

Hatter looked at him, head to one side. Finally she nodded.

Genichirou crossed his arms. "Watching tennis isn't about to calm you down, today, is it? Come on." He turned away and then looked back over his shoulder. "Live blades, if you want."

For the first time that day, Hatter smiled.

End

Over the Bone

Branch

Sanada and Belial spar a bit, verbally and otherwise. Drama, I-3

Genichirou had known it was dangerous to invite Hatter to spar with edged weapons. He had, however, been confident that Hatter wouldn't kill him, or even significantly damage him. He didn't normally like the idea of handicaps, but in the case of a demon he'd take it.

He was coming to the irritated realization that, even restraining himself, Hatter was fast enough to touch him.

After the third sting, he abandoned any thought of drawing Hatter out and lunged at full speed, hoping to at least gain a little maneuvering room. There was a sharp blow against the back of his ankle, and the next thing he knew Genichirou was staring at the ceiling with Hatter leaning over him.

Grinning.

Genichirou glared, trying to calm his breathing.

"Thank you, Sanada-kun, that was delightful," Hatter purred.

Genichirou opened his mouth and then snapped it shut. He was not rising to the bait this time. Hatter took his wrist and lifted his arm to examine the shallow slice along it.

"One is actually moderately impressed," he added. "One didn't think you would be able to avoid so many of these." He laughed at Genichirou's skeptical look. "It's true. Actually," a more considering expression, "one hadn't intended to cut quite so deeply." Hatter bent his head to Genichirou's arm and licked the blood from his skin.

Genichirou stopped breathing entirely.

It wasn't Hatter toying with him that alarmed him; he'd had time to get used to that. It was the shiver that the gesture dragged through him. When Hatter knelt over his hips and leaned down to the cut across his chest, Genichirou shuddered under the warm touch. His thoughts scattered, even as he tried to come to grips with Hatter's action, and his own reaction.

When Hatter's tongue moved over the cut on his collar bone, when Hatter's lips closed over it to suck gently, Genichirou finally grabbed Hatter's shoulders and pushed him away.

"Hatter," he gasped, "stop!"

Hatter's eyes were dazed for a moment before their usual mocking light returned. "Of course," he murmured and stood. After a moment, Genichirou accepted the hand Hatter held out to help him up.

"Don't tell me demons get drunk on blood or something weird like that," Genichirou said, suspiciously.

Hatter laughed. "Not exactly. Though blood can be a carrier for some... intoxicating things." He traced two fingers to either side of the cut on Genichirou's collar bone. "That will leave a mark."

Genichirou gave him a disgruntled look. "That's something you like doing, isn't it?" he asked, a bit snidely.

"Only sometimes." Hatter stepped back against the wall and faded into the shadows. Genichirou snorted, and started to collect his things.

It wasn't until much later that evening that he noticed the two shallower cuts were completely healed.

End

The Dotted Line

Branch

Belial gets a tennis team. Humor, I-2

"Absolutely no interfering in the games in any way, shape or form, or the whole deal's off," Sanada declared, firmly.

Belial leaned hir chin in hir hand. "Doesn't that conflict with the clause about injury-proofing, though?"

"Injury repair, not prevention, Hatter," Yanagi put in. "I have to agree on this; what happens on the court happens. The aftermath is the only place we can, in conscience, accept your help."

"One doesn't believe one has ever contracted with anyone particularly worried about conscience before," Belial observed. "It makes things far more complicated. Are you sure you can't do without it?"

"Belial." Seiichi's hands fell on hir shoulders. "Don't think I'm going to let you pretend like that while you're negotiating with my team." He paused, hands tightening. "For everyone's sake."

Belial declined to answer directly and heaved a put-upon sigh. "Fine, fine. What's next, then?"

"I don't suppose we could do a kind of floating assistance clause?" Masaharu asked with a dreamy look. "A monthly mayhem quota? We could collaborate."

"No!" Sanada, Jackal and Seiichi said at the same time.

Belial laughed. "Why don't we keep that a personal matter between friends?" se suggested, patting Masaharu's hand.

"Demons have friends?" Kirihara asked. He twisted around in his chair, crossing and uncrossing his arms.

Belial eyed his fidgeting. "Yes they do. Sometimes. And, in answer to your real question, when it happens it supercedes all sorts of contracts, including any previous allegiance of your theoretical possessor. You're Seiichi's first and one's own second, and, believe one, that will protect you from anyone else."

Kirihara snorted, trying not to look reassured. "So what happens with this," he jerked his chin at the contract, "when we play against each other?" His eyes fixed on Seiichi and Sanada.

"Another good argument for Hatter-san to stay out of it on the court itself," Jackal said, reasonably. "And you have to admit, Akaya, it will be a relief to have this kind of support. If we don't have to spend all our time worrying about getting a sponsor, or washing out from some stupid little injury, we can concentrate on playing our best. Against anyone."

Belial smiled fondly on Jackal. He was the serious type who was normally exasperated by hir, but they could appreciate each other's practicality.

"As if I would need help," Marui put in blowing a complacent bubble.

Belial raised hir brows. "Might one ask why you're taking part in these negotiations, then?" Se actually was rather curious. Marui and Jackal were the two se had least expected to agree, and while se had a better understanding of Jackal's motives, by now, Marui's were still rather a mystery.

Marui shrugged. "It's the team. The team, you understand? I think this is the only time we'll ever find anything this close. This important. I don't like the thought of leaving that behind."

Belial was silent as the eight mortals smiled or stilled or reached out to one another, each according to his way. Se fought down a shiver as Seiichi turned his eyes on hir, folding hir into that closeness as well.

"Very well. If that's everything, then I'll be around later to seal the contract with each individual." Se ignored the sudden quirk of Seiichi's lips as he gathered his people up and herded them out.

"I'm impressed you came up with such a detailed document, Yanagi," Yagyuu mentioned, as the team left. "It covered some contingencies I hadn't thought of."

"Oh, it's based on a standard manager's contract," Yanagi said, as the door closed.

Belial leaned back in hir chair and laughed. Eternity was looking more interesting every day.

End

Sealed With A Kiss

Branch

The seal of the contract. Drama, I-3

Seiichi remembered when Belial had set the seal of their contract.

Marui leaned back against the sheets.

Masaharu gazed up into blue eyes that burned in the darkness.

Akaya bit his lip as Hatter's fingers brushed over his cheek.

Hiroshi was silent as Hatter delicately moved his shirt aside.

Renji gasped at the coolness of Hatter's hands sliding cloth down from his hip.

Jackal took a deep breath at Hatter's teasing whisper to relax.

Genichirou bit back a moan at the burning heat of lips against his skin.

And it was done.

End

The Morning After

Lys ap Adin

Some embarrassment over the seal. Drama, I-3

Yagyuu fell in step with Masaharu's slouch to school without saying a word; they walked for five minutes before Masaharu spoke. "So," he said. "That sealing thing."

"It wasn't what I was expecting," Yagyuu said, and anyone who didn't know him wouldn't have recognized that tone for what it was.

Masaharu stretched. "Wild," he said, and prodded Yagyuu. "So, where's yours?"

Yagyuu gestured, discreetly, towards his hip. "Yours?"

"The same," Masaharu said. "I wonder if that means something?"

"It involves Hatter," Yagyuu said, after a moment, "and you have to ask?"

"Good grief, Niou, I know I'm good-looking, but didn't your mother ever teach you it's not polite to stare?" Marui demanded, catching Niou staring again. "You're creeping me out."

"That's because Niou-sempai is, by nature, a creep," Kirihara declared, and dodged the swipe aimed at his head. "Although he is being creepier than usual."

"He's just trying to figure out where your seals are," Yagyuu murmured, bent over his shoes.

"Is that all?" Marui rolled his eyes, and popped a bubble in disgust. "It's right here." He pulled down the waistband of his shorts and displayed Belial's mark. "Happy now?"

"Mm," Niou said, non-committal, and turned to Kirihara. "What about you?"

"Same," Kirihara said, "but don't expect me to go showing it off."

"Prude," Marui said, good-naturedly. He grinned at Jackal, who'd kept quiet so far. "So, since we're playing show and tell..."

Jackal rolled his eyes. "Same as the rest of you," he said. "Now are you happy, Niou?"

"Mostly," he said, and shrugged..

"Mostly?" Jackal echoed, and Marui felt he was right to sound worried.

"If you're planning on asking the three of them where their seals are, let me know when you're doing it," Kirihara said. "I want to make sure I'm nowhere in sight when Sanada-san goes off."

Niou grinned. "I'm not that crazy," he said, and everyone seemed to relax after that declaration, only to tense up when he added, "Doesn't mean I can't draw my own conclusions, though," and strolled out of the clubhouse.

Genichirou, Renji noted, seemed unwilling to look anybody in the face—no, that wasn't strictly accurate. There were specific people he wasn't looking in the face, and all of them had just signed the same contract. So. Post-commitment jitters, or something else? Renji pondered the question as Seiichi sent the doubles pairs out to the far tennis courts to practice, which was an excellent decision, given the gleam in Niou's eyes.

If he wasn't looking anybody in the face, Genichirou was definitely avoiding looking at Seiichi at all. Considering what had just changed... Renji sidled over to Seiichi while Genichirou was assigning drills to the non-Regulars. "I take it you didn't warn him about Hatter's seal, either?" he asked, quietly.

"No," Seiichi said. He gave a little shrug. "I thought the two of you wouldn't need warning," he added, "since you'd already seen one of hir seals."

"I don't believe it was the seal so much as the sealing," Renji said. "The process was..." He stopped, and shrugged. "Intense."

"Yes, it was," Seiichi agreed, but stopped before adding anything else, looking to Genichirou. "This could be a problem."

Renji was about to ask what he meant when Belial slid out of Genichirou's own shadow and spoke.

Renji and Seiichi were discussing him; he didn't have to turn around and check to know that much. Genichirou growled and the freshmen he'd been lecturing trembled and scattered to practice.

"One is curious as to why you are so irritable today," Hatter purred into his ear.

Genichirou couldn't quite keep from starting, but he did manage to stop the yelp. "Hatter-san," he said, and it wasn't retreating to move away in an effort to reclaim his personal space.

"Are you perhaps afraid that one will no longer respect you?" Belial continued in that light, mocking tone that set his teeth on edge, still entirely too close.

"Belial." There was steel in Seiichi's voice, and Genichirou's spine straightened of its own as he whipped around to see what it was that Seiichi wanted. Beside him, Belial had responded in much the same fashion, which was oddly reassuring.

Seiichi was—yes, stalking, there was no other way to describe that prowl or that particular glint in his eyes—toward them, Renji trailing behind. "We've discussed this habit of yours before," he said.

"Have we?" Belial asked, recovering his equanimity and batting his eyes. "One must have forgotten."

"There's no need to provoke him so much," Seiichi continued, still with that inflexible tone. "We are yours now."

"One hasn't forgotten," Belial murmured, his eyes hooded.

"Hurt yourself on someone else, then," Seiichi said, unmistakably commanding. He waited a beat, and then relented somewhat. "Why go to so much work to earn us, only to push us away?"

Seiichi had just spread the rest of the pieces out so neatly that Genichirou felt a bit of a fool for not having seen them sooner. From the way Belial had just gone still beside him, he did not care for this exposure. Genichirou considered what was needful, and chose his response carefully. "Seiichi," he said, keeping Belial in the corner of his eye, "if I can endure Akaya at his most insufferable, surely I can handle Hatter-san." It was just as well that their prickly kouhai was out of earshot; he would not have appreciated the comparison.

"Are you so sure you can handle one?" Belial asked, and trailed a hand down the side of Genichirou's neck, over the pulse that was beating fast enough to betray that Genichirou knew that as teasing as he had intended his comment to sound, and as detached as Belial sounded, this was serious. His hand came to rest over the other mark he'd left, pressing into sensitive skin.

Genichirou turned his head to look Belial in the eye. "Are you so sure I would have agreed to anything this important without being completely certain of myself?" he asked, and reached up to cover Belial's hand with his own.

Belial held his gaze for a long moment before stepping back, drawing his hand away from Genichirou's shoulder. "One finds oneself inclined to take you at your word." It must have cost him a great deal to say, because he stepped immediately into the shadow of a bench and disappeared.

"What do you suppose that is?" Bunta asked, with a nod in the direction of the Trio and Belial.

Yagyuu looked. After a moment, he said, "Settling frazzled nerves, I expect."

Jackal blinked. "What, Sanada's?"

Yagyuu pushed his glasses a little further up the bridge of his nose. "Possibly."

"Huh." Masaharu thought this over, and nodded. "I suppose I'll have to hold off on teasing him, then."

"How remarkably benevolent of you," Jackal murmured.

Masaharu grinned at him. "Is it? I was just thinking that I'll have all of eternity to play with, so a few days now won't make any difference in the long run."

Yagyuu huffed in amusement. "That's one way to look at it," he said, as Belial stepped away from Sanada and disappeared, whatever confrontation it was they had been having at an end. He looked at the other four. "Come on, let's play."

Seiichi moved up to stand beside Genichirou. "Thank you," he said, as Renji joined them.

"For what?" Genichirou asked. "Telling the truth?"

Seiichi smiled. "No, for being you."

Genichirou snorted. "If you like," he said. A thought occurred to him. "Did you even think about warning us?" he asked.

Seiichi's smile was a touch too innocent. "What, and spoil my fun? Don't be silly."

"I thought so." Genichirou couldn't manage to put any heat into the glare. "Is there anything else you've forgotten to mention?"

Seiichi shrugged. "Nothing that you don't already know by now."

"Is Hatter-san likely to need special handling?" Renji asked. "More so than usual?"

"For a bit, possibly," Seiichi said. "Until se gets used to the thought of having hir own tennis team." Upon reflection, he added, "We're getting there, I think."

"Good," Genichirou grunted. "Because enduring it doesn't mean I have to like being provoked."

"Don't worry," Seiichi said. "It shouldn't take Hatter more than a decade to work this out of hir system." He kept a straight face for as long as it took Genichirou to choke, and then chuckled. "Got you."

Genichirou sighed. "I'm doomed, aren't I?"

"Probably you are," Akaya informed him, "but can we have practice now and talk about our immortal souls later?" He shifted from foot to foot, swinging his racquet. "I've tried to be patient, but really..."

"Then come play a set with me," Genichirou invited him.

"Glad to," Akaya said, with a dark look. "I heard that insufferable thing, you know."

Genichirou just laughed, and headed for the court.

Baiting

Branch

Rikkai encounters shinigami at Nationals. Drama, I-3

The day was clear and hot, good weather for their first match at Nationals. Renji supposed it was cosmic parity for something else to go wrong. He sighed when he saw Hatter's eyes brighten, as the team made their way toward their assigned court. What had caught her attention this time? He looked in the direction she was starting to edge in and suppressed the urge to put a hand to his forehead. Of all the people for Hatter to decide to tease, of course it would have to be Fuji Yuuta, and, by extension, Fuji Shuusuke.

His concerns about stirring up the opposition unnecessarily were preempted rather abruptly, though, when two people materialized between Hatter and the increasingly nervous younger Fuji. Not that long ago, Renji mused, that would have startled him. "People you know, Hatter?" he asked, examining the newcomers. A young man, probably not too much older than they were, with very sharp green eyes and an older man with messy dark hair who probably looked sweet most of the time.

At the moment he looked both tense and angry.

Not that this appeared to concern Hatter.

"Ah," she tapped a fingertip against her lips for a moment, "Tsuzuki isn't it? How nice to finally meet you in person." She eyed the St. Rudolph contingent behind him and shrugged. "You can have them, if you like. It's not as if one doesn't have one's hands pleasantly full."

Tsuzuki now looked like he didn't quite believe he'd just heard the very clear sexual innuendo. His friend looked highly suspicious. And St. Rudolph's Fuji looked like he was considering making a run for it. Renji couldn't quite blame any of them. Hatter did often take people like that.

"Besides," Hatter added, thoughtfully, "One did say one wouldn't interfere with the games, and destroying all the courts probably counts." She glanced at Genichirou, brows raised, and got a glare. "One thought so. Which is the most likely outcome if we got into a tiff over the boys."

"That hasn't stopped any other demon I've met," Tsuzuki said, slowly, easing back just slightly anyway. Someone who would rather talk than fight, Renji noted.

Hatter sniffed. "One outranks you considerably, young one, so there's no need to kill you for that consideration. Equally, one has no intention of forgetting the strength of your bloodline. Sargatanas was an idiot and got exactly what he deserved. One laughed for days when one heard." A thin smile curled her lips. "Astaroth simply isn't having a good century. His lesser demons still, clearly, haven't learned anything from their fellow's destruction; no forethought among them at all. Please do feel free to kill them off. You can think of it as your contribution to the good of all our kind, if you like." She adjusted her hat with eloquent disdain.

Renji's attention sharpened as Tsuzuki and his friend both stiffened. "I'm not a demon," Tsuzuki said, low and hard. His friend took a step closer to him.

Hatter's expression turned tolerant, the way Renji had seen it when Kurai was around. "Far be it from one to interfere in someone else's denial. Take your time."

Renji was genuinely surprised that it was Mizuki who stepped forward and fixed Hatter with a sharp gaze. "Please don't think I don't appreciate the artistry of your goading," Mizuki drawled, "but is it not the case that celestials, just as much as humans, can choose their own paths whether for good or evil?"

Hatter laid a slim hand over her eyes. "Oh, tell one you're not thinking that we could only have Fallen through free will because God isn't enough of a bastard to have doomed a third of His own angels to that fate?"

"Oh, hardly," Mizuki assured her with wide, ingenuous eyes. "According to Raphael-san, He was exactly that much of a bastard."

Hatter took her hand away and tipped her head. "You've done your research. An advance on most demons. One doesn't suppose..." She trailed off, invitingly.

Tsuzuki looked indignant, while his friend looked suddenly thoughtful. The younger one must be rather territorial, Renji decided. Both Akazawa and Yuuta looked distinctly unsurprised.

"Thank you, but I think not," Mizuki replied, charmingly regretful. He was clearly enjoying himself, and Renji was starting to be amused. Then the dark eyes narrowed. "The point is that, while you may entertain yourself by implying otherwise, Tsuzuki-san's nature no more dictates his actions than mine does."

Tsuzuki blinked. And relaxed. For someone as powerful as Hatter implied he was, Renji mused, Tsuzuki didn't seem to have put much thought into his own strength or the presumed causes of it.

Given that, Renji wasn't entirely surprised that it was Seiichi who answered Mizuki. "Yes and no."

Hatter looked around, brow raised. "Seiichi, one hadn't thought you enjoyed these kind of games."

"I don't," Seiichi said, dryly, laying a hand on Hatter's shoulder, "so hush for a moment, Belial."

Renji had to stifle a laugh. That casual command earned some stunned expressions on the other side.

Seiichi took no notice, focused on Tsuzuki as if they were the only two present. "Having a nature beyond the ordinary doesn't make for an easy life," he said. "But denying your nature won't do you any service in the long run. The only way to deal with it is to claim it, to declare it. And to fight for it."

The words passed through the Rikkai team like a tangible thread, drawing them together. The young man's green eyes widened and he rocked back from them as if he could see it happening. Tsuzuki shook his head, though.

"No," he whispered.

There was kindness in Seiichi's gaze, but no mercy. "Then it will destroy you, and likely those close to you."

Tsuzuki flinched, and his friend shook off his surprise and stepped in front of him, eyes blazing. "Enough!" he bit out, slashing his hand down. His mouth, Renji noted, was tight, as if with pain.

Tsuzuki started. "Hisoka," he said, hesitantly.

"Be quiet," Hisoka snapped at him, "I'm fine. You're not." He turned his glare back on Seiichi. "You will stop," he stated.

"Yes," Seiichi agreed after a long, considering moment. "You should think about it though." He turned Hatter around with him and gestured to the team. "Come."

"You let him go pretty easily," Genichirou observed, as they walked on.

"Mm." Seiichi glanced over. "Renji? What did you think of Hisoka?"

"I think he could tell what people were feeling," Renji said. "His responses were too strong for someone just picking up on body language." That, too, was an answer that might not have occurred to him a short time ago.

Seiichi nodded. "He really wouldn't have let me push any further. And the seed is planted, now."

"For your second career, perhaps you should consider becoming a therapist," Hatter jibed, probably disgruntled that her fun had been cut short.

"If he's going to come to us eventually," Seiichi returned, coolly, "he should come well disposed and not insane, yes?"

Hatter's stride hitched, and she looked at him with suddenly wide eyes. Renji smiled. Every now and then Seiichi could still surprise Hatter by the unthinking ease with which he acted in her support.

"So what, precisely, were they?" he asked, hoping to distract her. Hatter liked it when Seiichi showed his cold streak, and left to her own devices tended to express her appreciation in ways that caused bystanders to stop and stare. It didn't help, he reflected, that Seiichi encouraged her if he was in a sharp enough mood.

Hatter eyed him sidelong, but consented to be distracted. "Shinigami. You asked once," she added to Genichirou, "what usually happens to human souls. Those two are part of the answer. Most souls pass through either Uriel's hands or Enma's offices and go on, but some do stay to be employed."

"They used to be human, then?" Yagyuu put in. "Well, mostly," he amended.

"Yes. Humans with strong spirits, of course, or they wouldn't have their current jobs." Hatter paused and looked thoughtful. "Seiichi," she said, slowly.

Seiichi raised his brows.

"How would you like to learn magic?" Hatter asked with a wicked smile.

Renji wasn't the only one blinking at that.

"Um," Seiichi started.

Hatter waved a hand airily. "After Nationals, naturally."

A laugh ran through the team. "Naturally," Seiichi agreed, smiling as they reached the court. "I'll think about it."

End

Post-Game

Branch

Michael taunts Belial about winning and Lucifer gets involved. Drama, I-3

"Hah!" Michael took his opportunity, as the teams filtered past each other on the way out of the stadium, to taunt Mad Hatter. "Told you we'd kick your asses."

Ryouma stopped to watch, Fuji-senpai and his brother pausing beside him.

Hatter looked Michael up and down with a glint in his eye. "Technically, in fact, you have not."

"Hiding behind technicalities, now, huh?" Michael was obviously enjoying himself a great deal. Tachibana-san was rubbing his forehead, though his small smile said he wasn't as exasperated as he tried to sound.

"Michael-kun..."

"What?" Michael grinned. "It's true."

Hatter flexed fingers that were suddenly full of... playing cards? Ryouma frowned, puzzled. Yukimura-san, though, made a fast snatch for Hatter's wrist. Hatter gave him a deeply disappointed look.

Yukimura-san shook his head. "I'm pleased with the performance of my team, Hatter-san. If the results don't entirely satisfy us, then we'll have to make sure they come out differently next time. It's well."

Hatter sighed, and the cards vanished. Ryouma was really starting to wonder how he did that.

Michael's brows were nearly in his hair. "Never thought I'd see the day you had two masters, Hatter."

One corner of Hatter's mouth lifted in something that was not a smile, and he turned slowly back to face Michael.

"I wouldn't borrow too heavily on reflected glory if I were you, Michael," Lucifer said from behind the smirking angel.

Michael whirled with a snarl. "You looking for another fight right now?!"

Lucifer lifted a brow, the curl of his mouth far more amused than Hatter's had been. "If you like. Little brother." Four black wings swept open behind him.

Ryouma sighed. This would have been the perfect opportunity for Lucifer to take his advice. Oh, well.

Michael tensed up even more, and his wings unfolded, too. Fire licked around him.

"How... tense. Brothers, hm?" Fuji-senpai stirred beside him, looking speculatively at the two. His step forward, however, was checked by Yuuta's very tight grip on his arm.

"Aniki, you're not allowed to get yourself killed before I beat you at tennis," Yuuta stated, not taking his eyes off Lucifer and Michael. "So don't suggest what you're about to suggest, okay?"

"You have to admit, it works," Fuji-senpai said, reasonably. But also quietly.

It looked like they had noticed anyway. Lucifer looked from Fuji-senpai and Yuuta back to Michael, and laughed softly.

Michael's jaw dropped. "You... what... what the fuck?!"

"Hm." Lucifer took a long step towards him and cupped the side of Michael's face with one hand.

Michael vanished in a skyward flash of wings and sputtered swearing. Lucifer calmly folded his wings back in.

"Excellent suggestion," he murmured, glancing sidelong at Fuji-senpai. "I can see why you like this one, butterfly."

Hatter smirked, leaning against Yukimura-san, and Fuji-senpai looked like he was considering whether to take that as a compliment or not. Tachibana-san, on the other hand, had his arms crossed and was looking disapproving.

"That was unnecessary, Lucifer-san," he said, quietly.

Lucifer tilted his head, examining Fudoumine's captain. "Perhaps. But if he truly wanted to fight me again, he could have done it by now." He turned and walked away, merging into the crowd just as a blond man and woman fought their way out of it to congratulate Tachibana.

Ryouma shook his head, sparing a moment to be glad Seigaku's angel didn't have as many Issues as the rest of them. Maybe he should add some psychologists to The Plan.

End

Echo

Lys ap Adin

Kirihara has a problem with spillover. Humor, I-3

No one had told him that he was signing up for this.

Akaya stared at the ceiling above his bed, panting softly, as the ghosts of Sanada-san's touches burned across his skin, and shuddered at the overlapping echo of Yukimura-buchou's response.

On his hip, Hatter-san's mark burned.

Akaya moaned into his fist, trying to muffle the harsh sound, as he felt Sanada-san stroke Yukimura-buchou open. His free hand snaked down the front of his pajama pants and closed over his aching cock, and he bit down on a knuckle to keep from crying out. It was probably wrong to be touching himself like this, but when the two of them got like this, he just couldn't help it, and—

A low chuckle rolled out of the darkness above him. "That looks uncomfortable," someone purred. "Would you like one to assist you, perhaps?"

Akaya opened horrified eyes to see Hatter-san lounging in the air above his bed, smiling a wicked little smile. He froze.

Hatter-san's smile broadened a touch. "Ah," he noted, voice light and cheerful. "One sees that it has taken care of itself." He tipped his hat to Akaya, and disappeared as suddenly as he'd arrived.

Akaya groaned, and buried his flaming face in his pillow. He'd hope for the relief of dying of embarrassment, but that wouldn't be much help any more, not if he was going to have to spend eternity with Hatter-san.

At least Hatter-san was right; one problem had taken care of itself, at least for the night. He didn't so much as twitch while Yukimura-buchou and Sanada-san finished what they were doing, and their mutual pleasure vibrated through Hatter-san's seal.

Akaya grimaced into his pillow. Enough was enough. He'd have to work up his nerve to talk to... someone... about this. Surely there was something they could do about this echo effect.

Teacher

Branch

Yukimura meets his new magic teacher and said teacher's housemate. Humor, I-1

"So, tell me about these people."

It wasn't really that Seiichi didn't trust Belial. He did. He just also had a lively respect for his demon's sense of humor.

"They're the children of two of one's people. They became friends in college, one believes, when they met up and started comparing backgrounds." Belial supplied, rather airily. "Don't mind the one who smirks all the time. He's the son of an incubus; he can't help it."

Seiichi eyed Belial. "And the other one?"

"You'll like him," Belial predicted with confidence. "He's an excellent strategist, under all that cheery smiling. And he has... extensive experience as a teacher."

"I see," Seiichi murmured. There was obviously more to the story, but it looked like he'd have to find it out on his own.

When the apartment door opened to Belial's brisk rap, however, Seiichi had to admit that Belial had told him the most pertinent details.

The smiling man who answered the door seemed harmless enough, until they entered the livingroom and the other occupant noticed them. Or, more precisely, noticed Seiichi and rose with a suddenly brilliant grin. "Tenpou, you should have told me she'd be gorgeous," he chastised his friend, taking a long stride toward Seiichi.

Seiichi gave him a look fit to freeze liquid nitrogen solid. "What did you say?"

The man who'd introduced himself as Tenpou, still smiling, deftly caught his housemate by the collar and hauled him back out of Seiichi's reach. "He, Kenren. I'd think you, of all people, could tell the difference." He examined Seiichi, and the frost creeping uncontrollably over over the windows, and gestured discreetly.

Seiichi started as he abruptly felt... warmer.

"I can see why Hatter-sama wants someone to teach you about magic," Tenpou noted, thoughtfully, gently shoving a pouting Kenren back toward the couch.

Seiichi looked at Tenpou with a sharper eye. "I assure you, I'm very interested," he murmured.

Tenpou's smile gained an edge.

End

Logical Conclusion

Branch

If the seal broadcasts sensation... Porn with Drama, I-4

One

"Niou," Sanada said, carefully, "are you really suggesting an... orgy?"

Masaharu gave him a patient look. "Okay, let's go over this one more time. When Yukimura takes Hatter to bed, or Hatter jumps you what happens?"

Sanada looked uncomfortable. Yukimura looked sympathetic, though not repentant in the least.

"And it isn't any better when Hatter gets in a mood and decides on Masaharu instead," Hiroshi added.

"Well, not for you, no," Masaharu allowed. "I don't think Akaya gets it quite as bad then." Akaya, despite not being able to meet anyone's eyes, nodded. "Anyway, the point is, since we're all participating anyway, why not close up the gaps in the formation?"

Marui grinned. "I'm suddenly picturing this as a new play style."

Jackal closed his eyes. "I didn't hear that," he declared.

Yanagi frowned, thoughtfully. "Niou, do you really have any idea how much choreography it takes with more than two people?"

"Renji!" Sanada protested.

"Genichirou," Yanagi returned, "do you have any idea what it's like when you're with Hatter? I never suspected your definition of sparring was so broad."

Sanada flushed. Yes, indeed, Masaharu reflected, it didn't do to forget who The Master was.

Hatter tapped on the door and leaned through. "There you all are. One was wondering. Planning anything entertaining?"

Masaharu grinned. "Well..."

Two

Belial sank into the water until it was up to hir chin and wriggled hir toes happily. "Whose idea was it to stage our little experiment at a hot springs?" se asked, leaning hir head back against the edge.

"Mine," Niou supplied waving a dripping hand without opening his eyes.

"Remind one to thank you, later," Belial sighed.

The team filtered back into the room in ones and twos and settled down, remarkably spread out for such a relatively small space. Seiichi's mouth quirked, and when he noticed Marui and Akaya fidgeting nearly in unison he couldn't help a laugh.

"It really isn't as difficult as all that," he admonished, coming to stand in the center of the room. "Belial," he called, softly.

"Yes?" Belial answered behind him.

Seiichi turned, smiling, and lifted a hand to run through Belial's bright, wild hair. "I think it's up to us to start." He leaned in and kissed their demon, coaxing, and Belial swayed against him, opening hir mouth to nip at Seiichi's tongue. It was an easy, laughing, flirting kiss; a good place for them all to start, Seiichi thought.

Belial shivered abruptly, and Seiichi drew back to see Genichirou standing behind hir, sliding the robe off hir shoulders. Genichirou's own robe was already undone, and Belial made a small pleased noise as se leaned back against his body.

Watching Sanada-san's hands stroking down Hatter's arms was making Akaya's breath shorten. Though not nearly as much as when Yukimura-san stepped back from those two and turned toward him, holding out a hand.

"Akaya."

It wasn't a command, and that might have been what made Akaya shiver. For Yukimura-san to ask him...

Someone was standing beside him, and Akaya looked up to see Yanagi-senpai looking down with a calm, familiar smile. "It's all right," he said, and moved past Akaya to where Hatter was arched back in Sanada-san's arms, one hand tangled in Sanada-san's hair, dragging his head down to Hatter's. Yanagi-senpai's fingers brushing along Sanada-san's jaw lifted his head again, and they smiled at each other. Akaya blinked to see such a light expression on Sanada-san's face.

Hatter laughed and twined his arms around Yanagi-senpai's neck. Sanada-san leaned forward to kiss Yanagi-senpai slow and deep before stepping back. They made it look very simple. Akaya looked back at Yukimura-san and swallowed. Yukimura-san was waiting for him.

Akaya stood, just a little shakily, and stepped forward. Yukimura-san drew him close, folded his arms around Akaya, whispering against his ear, "It's all right."

Akaya nodded and tried to relax into Yukimura-san's fingers rubbing his neck, Yukimura-san's mouth covering his. The closer Yukimura-san held him, the easier it was, and when Akaya finally let himself sag against Yukimura-san's support he was lowered to the floor.

Trailing his fingers one last time down the curve of Hatter's bare spine, Sanada stepped back. Masaharu suppressed a sigh of disappointment, because those three together made a very, very nice picture. He might not have suppressed it quite enough, though, because Sanada spoke without turning.

"Niou."

Masaharu made an inquiring sound, lounging on an elbow, and Sanada turned his head.

"What do you like?"

Masaharu's eyes widened a bit, because there was a glint in Sanada's eyes that he'd never seen there before. A light of amusement where usually determination ruled alone. Something about that glint suggested Sanada might already know at least a few of the answers, and Masaharu grinned as he replied, "Power." He wasn't quite crazy enough to answer Danger.

Not yet.

Sanada's lips quirked, and when Masaharu accepted the hand he held down, Sanada pulled him up fast and hard against his body. Looked like Sanada did, indeed, already know about the danger part of the answer. Masaharu bared his teeth, wrapping one leg around Sanada's hip. This promised to be interesting.

Jackal scooted over to where Hatter was curled in Yanagi's arms, nibbling on his shoulder. "Care to trade?" he asked, smoothing a hand down her shoulder blade."I think Akaya needs Yanagi."

Hatter raised her head, and they all looked over at Akaya, lying spread out and moaning helplessly under Yukimura's hands and mouth.

"You may be right," Yanagi agreed. He pressed a kiss to Hatter's brow and brushed another across her lips. "Would you mind?"

"We wouldn't want Akaya to be scared off from participating next time," she purred, stretching.

Yanagi laughed, and crawled the couple feet over to Akaya, sliding a hand under his arched back and murmuring to him in a soothing tone. Hatter smiled and leaned, bonelessly, against Jackal. He gathered her close and dropped a soft kiss on her neck, stroking her hip and back slowly.

"You're all so gentle with one," she sighed.

"I can not be, if you'd rather," Jackal offered, curious. "Do you like it better rough?"

Her eyes were just a little distant, just a little blank, as she looked at him. "One doesn't know. One never really paid much attention to one's own pleasure."

Jackal sucked in a sharp breath and held her closer. "And you have to ask why we're gentle with you?" he asked, softly, against her blood colored hair.

"Mm." Hatter pressed against him.

Hiroshi leaned over Marui's shoulder. "You're starting to drool," he murmured.

"Am not," Marui contradicted, not looking away from Masaharu, who had laced one hand with Sanada's and was sucking on Sanada's fingers. Looking him in the eye the whole while, of course. Hiroshi's partner did have a talent for provocation.

"You like to watch?" he asked.

Marui leaned back against him, grinning. "I like a lot of things."

"Hm." Hiroshi reached down and folded Marui's robe aside, closing a hand between his legs.

"Ah!" Marui arched, legs spreading. "Damn, you move fast!"

"You prefer slower?" Hiroshi inquired, squeezing.

Marui groaned. "Of course not."

Yagyuu laughed. Marui was Marui, whether on the court or in bed.

Masaharu moaned when Sanada's fingers pressed into him. It was swallowed by Sanada's mouth.

He arched against, or maybe it was into, that rough hardness thrusting into him bit by rocking bit. Sanada's arm around him held him still.

He panted and shivered as Sanada's fingers worked him open, and felt Sanada's lips curve against his neck.

When Sanada's fingers slowed, Masaharu growled a little. No fair setting him up for something hard and then not following through. Following Sanada's gaze, though, he had a hard time blaming him, and, in fact, couldn't help a little smile of proud pleasure.

Hiroshi had Marui down on his knees and elbows, head bent to the floor, while Hiroshi's tongue flickered over Marui's entrance. Masaharu could tell when Hiroshi actually thrust in by the breathless way Marui moaned. It probably didn't hurt that Hiroshi's hand was between Marui's legs, pumping him slow and strong, but Masaharu knew from experience that Hiroshi's tongue was enough to hold anyone's attention all by itself.

Hiroshi also hadn't bothered to strip off Marui's robe, merely lifted the hem over Marui's hips. Hiroshi's own was hanging open. They made an incredibly wanton picture, and Masaharu rubbed his hips against Sanada's just watching. Sanada's fingers curled, inside him, and Masaharu gasped.

At first he thought the wash of tingling heat was just from that, but it kept going, and he looked again to see Marui coming in long, hard shudders under Hiroshi's hands. Sanada's hold on him tightened enough to drive his breath out, if he'd had any left.

Jackal caught his breath against Hatter's mouth, and she melted against him with a long, low sound of pleasure in her throat.

Akaya tensed, where he knelt over Yanagi-senpai's folded legs, felt Yanagi-senpai's hands on his back dig in, felt Yukimura-san's fingers inside him twist sharply, felt Yukimura-san's teeth close on his neck. He buried a trembling moan in Yanagi-san's shoulder as fire plucked at his nerves.

Hiroshi had never come just from bringing his partner off before, but he was very close to it now, as Marui relaxed in his hands.

"Wow," Marui mumbled, pillowing his cheek on his folded arms.

"Very," Masaharu agreed, flexing his body against Sanada's. "So what are you waiting for, Sanada?"

"An invitation," Sanada answered, showing his teeth.

Masaharu was moderately impressed with how quickly he found himself naked and on his knees, with his back pressed against Sanada's chest. "Don't get to be this aggressive very often?" he suggested, slyly.

"Depends on what mood everyone's in," Sanada returned, and nibbled on Masaharu's earlobe.

Good instincts, Masaharu reflected, sagging back against Sanada's support. Though he couldn't help laughing when Hiroshi fished a tube out of his robe and tossed it over. His partner always planned ahead.

The feeling of Sanada pushing into him, opening him long and slow left him open mouthed and breathless.

He did make a strangled sound when Marui, with a grin, squirmed around in front of him and closed his mouth firmly around Masaharu's cock.

Hiroshi chuckled. Masaharu was trying to flex forward and Sanada's hold wasn't letting him. Which was not to say Sanada was going slowly, now he had Masaharu where he wanted him. His partner was in good hands, Hiroshi decided. Very good hands, if the surge of fever heat running through Hiroshi was any indication.

He glanced over at Yukimura and Yanagi, who were going slowly with Akaya, and probably just as well. He could see from here that Akaya was shaking just a little, in Yukimura's arms, as Yanagi rocked into him slow and careful. Or possibly he was shaking because of the way Yukimura was kissing him. Hiroshi suspected that Yukimura had it in him to be an utterly overwhelming lover. He looked forward to finding out.

For now, though, he thought the hunger in Jackal's eyes was stronger than his curiosity.

Jackal raised his brows as Yagyuu edged over to them and wound an arm around Hatter.

"You want to go to Yukimura," Yagyuu noted. "Hatter and I will be fine."

Hatter looked him up and down, eyes bright and languid. "Are you quite sure of that?" she purred.

Yagyuu smiled at her, his usual small, calm smile, made a bit disconcerting by the sharp, ice colored eyes that emerged as he folded his glasses. "Reasonably."

Hatter laughed, twining around him, and Jackal shrugged. Yagyuu was right, after all. He slipped up behind Yukimura and stroked a questioning hand down his back. Yukimura lifted his head from marking Akaya's neck and glanced back, smiling welcome.

He made a soft, enticing sound in his throat when Jackal pressed wet, open mouthed kisses down his ribs and over his hip. When Jackal slipped around him to continue between his legs, though, Yukimura's moan was full voiced, and Jackal liked that even better.

Hiroshi let Belial bear him down to the floor, cradling hir body with his. He'd been half expecting hir to want to turn the tables some time soon, and tipped his head back easily when se nipped at his throat. The strong, slim back under his hands curved sensuously as Belial pressed against him, and the lines of hir against his palms were one more source of enjoyment.

Se arched over him, caging him under hir body, laughing, and Hiroshi laughed with hir. He reached up, sliding his hands over hir chest, ribs, thighs, taking in the texture of hir. He had no trouble believing this was the one who had seduced whole cities.

"Yours," he murmured, brushing his fingertips over hir lips, and Belial leaned down to him, eyes heavy with pleasure.

Genichirou had positioned himself where he could see all of the others, though it had gotten a little difficult to concentrate on anything but the flex of Niou's body against his and the hardness of Niou's thighs spread over his. Niou's wildness teased Genichirou to be harder, rougher than he usually was. Genichirou was careful of his strength, unless he truly lost his temper. Niou...

Niou wasn't careful.

Genichirou made a harsh sound into pale, tangled hair as Niou drove back against him, skin sliding against hot skin.

Belial gasped against Yagyuu's mouth as his fingers stroked, lightly, between hir legs. Seiichi must have been telling hir secrets, se decided. Yagyuu wasn't hesitant enough to have been ignorant of Belial's body beforehand. Few people had ever bothered to discover, or been allowed to discover, that, just because the nerves weren't in either of the two standard arrangements, didn't mean their density or sensitivity was any less. And Seiichi was the only one of those people nearby.

Or, for that matter, still alive.

Se moaned softly as Yagyuu slid down hir body and his tongue followed the path of his fingers. It felt good; hot and smooth, with a bright shiver to the sensations that fluttered through hir. Good enough that Belial was panting for breath.

Seiichi had definitely been telling.

"Yours," Hiroshi whispered to hir again, "so relax for me."

Or perhaps they just all thought alike.

It was true, though. They were hirs, and the liquid echo of their pleasure in hir body was the proof of it. So Belial did relax, letting Hiroshi tease hir nerves and feed hir desire until se felt like fire was dancing over hir skin.

And then under hir skin.

And then Belial was arching into Hiroshi's hands as ripples of pleasure washed through hir, hot and sleek and brilliant.

Marui tossed his head back with a shiver, drawing away from Masaharu, and Masaharu might have protested that, except that the humming tingle of other people's sensations suddenly had an edge. The first wringing heat was already clamping down on him when Sanada surged forward, thrusting into him fast and hard, and Masaharu lost track of the world outside his skin for a while.

Renji sucked in a sharp breath as someone else's climax crested through him, jerking his hips up, wringing a desperate sound from Akaya. Renji's hand, which had been clasped loosely around Jackal's cock, tightened and Jackal bucked into it with a low, vibrant moan. Seiichi shivered and tensed, trying, Renji knew, not to thrust into Jackal's mouth, but he was swept along, too. His teeth against Akaya's throat made Akaya start, body tightening around Renji. And then again. And again. And Renji closed his eyes and let the heat drag him out of himself.

When Seiichi recovered enough breath and wits to untangle himself a bit, Belial promptly twined hirself around him. Purring. The content little humming noises in hir throat made Seiichi chuckle.

"One knew you were a good idea," Belial murmured.

"Have to agree with you there," Niou yawned from where he was lying with his head on Yagyuu's stomach.

"Mmm," Akaya put in, sounding a bit dazed.

"You didn't break him, did you?" Belial asked, eyeing Akaya. He revived enough to give hir a dirty look.

"Don't be silly," Marui yawned. "Just because Akaya was the only virgin here..."

Akaya made to get up, probably to go strangle Marui, only to pause with a wince and a dubious look.

"Asprin first," Renji told him, amusement lurking behind his practical tone, "and then a hot soak. Retribution later."

Belial collapsed on the floor, in the middle of them all, laughing. "You were all a good idea," se declared, looking immensely pleased.

Three

It was pure luck, really. Akaya happened to be the only one in the room when Genichirou woke from his nap. And Genichirou happened to be looking in the right direction to notice the covert glance Akaya gave his bare skin, and the faint flush that followed.

He did find it amusing that Akaya was still shy after the last forty-eight hours.

Genichirou considered his immediate urge to invite Akaya over to have a closer look. He had certainly had his own inhibitions lowered in that time period, hadn't he? But, after all, he and Akaya had not had, as Niou insisted on putting it, quality time together yet. Now seemed like a good time. "Akaya," he called, low-voiced, and held out a hand when Akaya looked sidelong at him.

Akaya was still for a long moment before he rose and approached. His eyes were wary, but also brightening, the way they did when he played practice matches against Genichirou. Especially matches that got just a little serious. The brightness pleased Genichirou, but the wariness made him sigh, silently. Seiichi had told him he would have to address that sooner or later. And while he'd managed to side-step the issue until now, Genichirou didn't much like the idea of a bedmate being afraid of him.

Nor did he deceive himself that this retreat would be a one time thing, not with Hatter, Niou and Seiichi all involved.

So Genichirou drew Akaya down and gathered him close, the way he held Renji or Seiichi when they were upset or troubled. He almost winced at the stiff surprise in Akaya's body. Genichirou stroked his neck and back, seeking to quiet him, and slowly Akaya relaxed. Bit by bit the tension in him uncoiled and he leaned more heavily against Genichirou's chest until, at last, he rested his head on Genichirou's shoulder with a faint half laugh.

"Sanada-san," Akaya said, breath warm against Genichirou's neck, "I know."

"Hm?" Genichirou inquired.

Akaya ducked his head down a little further. "I know. When I lost to Fuji and you let me go... I knew then. It's all right."

Genichirou was slightly shamed by Akaya's ready forgiveness. "Thank you, Akaya."

"Mm." Akaya ran his fingertips down Genichirou's chest, not looking up.

The shy touch reminded Genichirou of his initial intention, and he set a hand under Akaya's chin to lift his head. Akaya caught his breath under Genichirou's kiss, pressing against him. Akaya was tense again, in a different way, now, and he shivered as Genichirou eased the robe off of him. Genichirou was pleased with this responsiveness, but for this first time between them he didn't want tension of any kind. He wanted to reassure Akaya. Wanted Akaya to feel safe enough to answer him properly. So instead of pushing Akaya down on the sheets, he leaned back and drew Akaya along to lie over him.

Akaya made a small, surprised noise and wriggled a bit to get comfortable. And then he paused and stretched more slowly, eyes drifting half shut as their bodies pressed together, lean and hard and warm. Genichirou chuckled and wound his fingers into Akaya's hair, guiding him down to be kissed again. He swept a palm, slowly, up and down Akaya's back, over his shoulders; Akaya's legs tightened against Genichirou's hips when he rubbed his thumb, gently, over a nipple. When Genichirou slid both hands down to knead Akaya's thighs and rear, Akaya turned into a boneless sprawl and Genichirou had to laugh.

"You like that?" he murmured.

"Mmm," Akaya agreed against his neck.

"Good." Now Akaya was closer to where Genichirou wanted him; lax and pliant and ready to be pleasured. Genichirou fished briefly in the tangled sheets for the bottle of oil someone had dropped there. That addition to his touch drew some interesting noises from Akaya, half gasps and little murmurs caught short. The murmurs turned to genuine moans as Genichirou's fingers spread Akaya open and massaged his entrance. Akaya wouldn't stop moving, now, tiny twists and stretches that brushed his skin silkily over Genichirou's until Genichirou had a hard time remembering to go slowly.

When he finally pressed his fingers into Akaya, Akaya released a long breath. "Sanada-san," he whispered, soft and rough. The sound of it was enough to make Genichirou rock his hips up against Akaya's as his fingers thrust deeper. This time the sound Akaya made had no words.

Genichirou didn't think Akaya noticed at all when the door slid open. He, however, was well placed to meet Seiichi's eyes as they widened and then gleamed with a reflection of Seiichi's sudden, considering smile. Genichirou's lips twitched. Seiichi wanted to join the fun, hm? He didn't think Akaya would object; Genichirou knew he didn't.

Genichirou raised his knees and spread his legs, inviting Seiichi. Akaya gasped as Genichirou's legs pressed his own wider apart, shivered as Genichirou withdrew his fingers with a final, firm caress.

"Have you been wondering what it would be like to have Seiichi inside you, Akaya?" he asked, keeping one eye on Seiichi's amused expression as he came and knelt, silently, between Genichirou's legs.

Akaya shuddered. "Yukimura-san... he... yes," he stammered, tucking his head down deeper against Genichirou's shoulder.

"You have good instincts," Genichirou noted, dryly. "He can be rather intense. It helps to have someone else there. Someone else to hold you."

Akaya stilled. "Yukimura-san?" he asked, very softly, after a moment.

"Yes," Seiichi answered, laying his hands gently on Akaya's back. "I can leave the two of you alone, if you'd rather, Akaya."

Akaya shook his head quickly, though Genichirou could feel that his face was hot. He pressed against Genichirou, breathing fast, and Genichirou closed his arms around Akaya, anchoring him. He waited for Akaya to relax against him again and nodded to Seiichi. Seiichi shed his robe and settled between Genichirou's spread thighs. He took in a sharp breath as Genichirou reached down to slide an oiled hand down his hardening erection until Seiichi laughed and caught his wrist.

Genichirou smoothed his hands over Akaya's rear, spreading him open again, and Seiichi leaned down to place a soft kiss at the small of Akaya's back.

"Ready?"

"Ready?"

Yukimura-san's voice was gentle, as reassuring as the firm touch of Sanada-san's hands and body. Akaya managed to vocalize a "Yes," albeit a shaky one. Not that he was reluctant at all; he didn't think he'd ever been more ready for anything in his life. The careful strength of Sanada-san's hands had nearly dissolved him into warm, slack pleasure. And now the steady pressure of Yukimura-san sliding into him, opening him, pressing him harder against Sanada-san's body, nearly stopped his breath. By the time Yukimura-san drew back and pressed in again, slow and even and unstoppable, Akaya was panting in quick gasps.

"Easy, Akaya," Yukimura-san whispered to him, still moving with that unbearably even rhythm.

Akaya bit his lip. "Yukimura-san..."

Sanada-san's hands slid down his thighs, squeezing tension out of them, and Akaya's voice broke as his control washed away, again, under those hands. "Harder, Seiichi," Sanada-san said, voice husky. "Give him something to hold on to; Akaya won't break."

Akaya's next breath was almost a sob of relief as Yukimura-san's rhythm turned sharper, more powerful. He was moving now, too, hips flexing against Sanada-san and the solid heat of Sanada-san's body between his legs steadied him. The sensation flickering through him was raw, though, and the touches against him, inside him, were insistent. Demanding as the sparks flashing down Akaya's nerves. It wasn't long at all before shuddering heat raced up him, overtook him. He felt like it might have drowned him except for the two bodies pressing him between them. Held by their strength, Akaya jerked wildly with the bursts of pleasure, let Sanada-san's mouth muffle the sounds he was making, let Yukimura-san's weight pin him down until his muscles went slack and liquid.

He could barely moan at the hot, rough feeling of Yukimura-san thrusting against his body's lingering tightness. He did manage a small murmur when Yukimura-san's forehead finally came to rest between Akaya's shoulder blades, one hand stroking Akaya's side as if to soothe.

It took him a little while to remember that they should not, really, be done yet.

"Sanada-san?" he asked, a little hoarse, lifting his head.

"You can move again already?" Sanada-san asked, sounding both amused and just a bit strained. "I'm impressed."

"Well," Yukimura-san said, voice suddenly silky in a way that made Akaya shiver, "if Akaya is recovered enough to move a little, we can see about making you more than just impressed."

Sanada-san's smile showed his teeth.

"Wait." Akaya glanced down at Sanada-san, hesitantly. "Would it... is it all right if... um."

Sanada-san looked up at him, questioning. "Akaya?"

"What you started," Akaya said, softly, "would you... finish it?"

Sanada-san's brows rose.

"Akaya," Yukimura-san said, winding his arms around Akaya's shoulders, "if we do that you'll be very sore after."

"I'll be all right," Akaya insisted. "I just... I want..." He bit his lip.

Sanada-san's thumb tracing over his mouth coaxed him to stop. He drew Akaya down and kissed him until the tension Akaya hadn't noticed left his shoulders again, chased away by the wet heat of Sanada-san's mouth. "If you like," Sanada-san agreed.

"Yes," Akaya breathed, and then, as an afterthought, added, "Please."

Sanada-san's lips curled up. "I very much do," he said, voice deeper than usual.

Yukimura-san was laughing as he pulled Akaya up to lean back against his chest. Akaya let his head fall back on Yukimura-san's shoulder, reminding himself to relax, as Yukimura-san's hands guided Sanada-san against Akaya. Into Akaya. Stretching him open again, and it did ache a little but Akaya didn't care. He'd been right. It felt good when Sanada-san rolled his hips up, thrusting deep into Akaya. Even without the urgency of orgasm pushing at him, it felt good to be opened. Filled. Fucked slowly, and he could see in the line of Sanada-san's mouth that he was fighting to be slow, to be careful.

Yukimura-san seemed to have other ideas. "Doesn't he feel good inside you?" he whispered in Akaya's ear. "Do you like the stretch when he slides into you? The hardness of him?" Akaya shuddered. Oh, yes. He did like it. He thought, fuzzily, that the hot tingle of Sanada-san's pleasure in Akaya's own body helped; but he'd like this even without it. "Doesn't he feel good, Genichirou?" Yukimura-san asked Sanada-san in turn, and Akaya could hear the smile in his voice, could almost feel it in the hand Yukimura-san slid down Akaya's chest. "Hot and taut and yielding. So willing."

Akaya's breath stuttered. He didn't think he'd ever heard anyone sound so sultry. So suggestive. Eyes wide, he saw Sanada-san swallow hard, felt his hands tighten on Akaya's hips, felt him drive up harder. And then Sanada-san's rhythm broke into short, quick thrusts, and Akaya groaned with him.

This time, Akaya really did collapse completely, and was entirely content to let Yukimura-san and Sanada-san arrange him in between them on the futon.

"You've gotten your way all around, haven't you Seiichi?" Sanada-san noted as he leaned over to collect a kiss from Yukimura-san.

"Have I?" Yukimura-san asked, lightly.

Sanada-san snorted. "This," he ran a hand over Akaya's shoulder, "is how you've always regarded our team, isn't it? As devoted as any lover. And now you've charmed the rest of us to your way of thinking."

"It is pleasant that it worked out that way," Yukimura-san admitted, curling an arm around Akaya's waist. "Are you sure you're all right, Akaya?" he added, as Akaya shifted a bit.

"I'm fine," Akaya said, quickly.

Yukimura-san's hold tightened. "Akaya." His voice in Akaya's ear was soft, but edged with unmistakable command.

"All right, a little sore, but I really am fine," Akaya insisted.

"Hm." Sanada-san combed Akaya's hair back with his fingers. "Why are you blushing then?" he asked.

Akaya growled. He hated his complexion, he really did. He burrowed, grumpily, into the tangle of covers. "I wanted to make sure," he muttered. "I did. It's fine."

There was a little rustling over his head, and then Yukimura-san pressed a kiss to his shoulder. "I'll be right back."

"Make sure of what?" Sanada-san asked, as Yukimura-san's footsteps receded.

Akaya turned one eye up to him. Sanada-san looked curious; he also looked unusually patient. Akaya sighed. He was almost as bad at resisting Sanada-san, when he was calm, as at resisting Yukimura-san any time. "Sure of what it was I liked," he supplied. "I liked it when... one of you was... inside me." He hunched his shoulders in a tiny shrug.

Sanada-san pulled Akaya to him and held him tight enough to drive his breath out. "Good," he said, definitely. The heat and velvet in his voice were enough to compensate Akaya for the embarrassment of saying it out loud. "I know what you mean, though," Sanada-san added, relaxing his hold.

Akaya looked up at him, surprised. "You do?"

Sanada-san gave him an ironic look. "Yes, I do."

"Oh." Akaya settled down in his arms, smiling a little.

"Here," Yukimura-san said, coming back to their side, "turn over for a minute, Akaya."

Akaya started and then sighed at the cool damp of the cloth Yukimura-san stroked him with. Maybe, he decided, Hatter was right and all this really was a good idea.

End

A Demon and Hir Boy

Branch

Kirihara in Hell. Humor, I-1

"You... you... you ate Tash!" Jadis declared, pointing a shaking finger at Akaya. Or, possibly, at the cloud of smoke in front of him that had, until very recently, been one of Jadis' inferior demons.

"Yeah?" Akaya raised his brows and flexed his fingers. "And?"

Belial laughed. This was the most fun se had had in centuries, and learning that Akaya had managed to absorb the demon who tried to possess him was the icing on the cake. "Indeed. And one suspects that he'll do something even worse to you if you don't make yourself scarce and stop trying to assert spurious claims of loyalty. After all," se smiled, wickedly, "he isn't a tame human."

Akaya gave hir a pleased look as Jadis scuttled off. "This is fun."

Belial tucked a hand around his arm as they strolled on. "Isn't it?"

End

The Sound of Music

Branch

Sanada gets enspelled and everyone gets a surprise. Humor, I-1

Belial really couldn't help but find it entertaining that Genichirou complained about Hell's demons not being serious enough in their work.

"I mean, really," Genichirou was currently holding forth, "this is ridiculous, what am I doing here? I'm in the wrong story!"

He stopped dead and tried very hard to stare at his own mouth. Belial sat up, blinking.

"Was Sanada... just... singing?" Masaharu asked, slowly.

"Yes," Renji answered, not as if he quite believed it himself.

"Ah," Belial sighed. "One believes one knows what the problem is. Just a moment." Se threw a card to one side where it impaled a grinning demon in an extremely tacky red suit. "One thought you had been taken care of by that charmingly confused blond girl," se murmured.

"That was... a spell?" Genichirou asked, still a bit pale.

"Lesson sixty-two about living in Hell," Belial told them all. "Never accept jewelry from demons."

End