Shadow Wolf (Shinobi Saga)

by Sessha Batto

  “Yoshi.” The interrogator waited until mismatched eyes locked with his. “I think I’m going to move out for a while, give you some privacy.”

  “If that is what you want,” the shadow wolf whispered, breaking eye contact to study his hands. “Is this it then? Are you done with me?”

  “No. I’ll never be done with you. But you’re not ready to be loved. I’d hoped... I guess I hoped you’d fall madly in love with me, forget everything that's happened and our life would be perfect. Who’d have thought I was a closet romantic? I understand though, I really do. I’m not particularly lovable, am I?”

  “You’re totally lovable,” Yoshi retorted. “There's nothing wrong with you. I’m the problem. I’ve made so many mistakes and every time I screw up, someone I care for dies. I can’t help wishing I could make it right, but I can’t do that either. Some shinobi I am, I can’t seem to do anything for anyone.”

  “Boss, you’re being awfully hard on yourself,” Pi-natsu growled.

  “He's right. Besides, I disagree, you do a lot for me,” Makoto insisted. “You’re the only person to even try to get to know me in more years than I care to remember. When I’m with you I feel alive. I laugh and smile. I’m actually happy.”

  “You’re leaving me because you’re happy?” Yoshi arched an elegant brow. “I’ve never heard that one before.”

  “I’m leaving because you aren’t happy,” the interrogator corrected him. “What would you like me to do?”

  “You’ve already decided.” Yoshi stood and turned his back on the torture master to stare into the shifting water.

  “When you’re ready, I’ll be waiting for you,” Makoto assured him. “No matter how long it takes.”

  “You might as well go back to Daisuke and Souta. They’ll make you happy.”

  “No, they won’t. And I’m not going to make the mistake of giving it a try to be sure. I have no intention of doing anything other than waiting for you to come back to me.”

  “And if that doesn’t happen?” Yoshi asked.

  “Then I’ll be alone. It won’t be the first time. You’re worth waiting for.” The interrogator wrapped his arms around the rigid figure, pulling him into a tight embrace and kissing him passionately. “I love you, and I always will, just remember that.” Makoto broke away and headed into the house, leaving the shadow wolf to stare pensively after him.

  “You’re making a mistake, whelp,” Oushi rumbled. “Talk to him about what's bothering you, and none of that ‘I’m bad luck’ crap either.”

  “I can’t,” he admitted. “I’m afraid of what he’ll think.”

  “You have to. Trust me, he’ll listen and try to understand.” Yoshi glared at his familiar, sighing in frustration when Oushi just glared back before wandering into the house in search of the interrogator.

  “There are things about me you need to know.” Makoto turned to stare in shock at the man addressing his back.

  “You can tell me anything.”

  “Just promise you’ll let me finish without interruption,” the shadow wolf insisted.

  “Of course,” Makoto promised, only to be graced with a disbelieving look.

  “When I was very young Kobayashi-sama began to send me to visit other enclaves. The first place I went was Mochizuki shuudan. The Mochizuki no Shuhan,” Yoshi pursed his lips, straining for the right words, “became enamored of me, so much so he insisted we formalize our relationship. Kobayashi-sama agreed, but only on the provision I be allowed to return home for as long as he had need of me.” The shadow wolf began to pace, unwilling to see Makoto's reaction. “Shuhan-sama received a message from the Mochizuki no Shuhan several weeks ago demanding my return. We can’t afford another clan war, not over me. I told Shuhan-sama I would comply.”

  “You’re going to Mochizuki shuudan?”

  “Actually, I’m going to Nakamura shuudan. Hideaki will let me stay there and Shuhan-sama can say he doesn’t know where I am.”

  “You’re married?” Makoto roared as the realization hit home.

  “Technically I guess that's true, although I’m really more of a pet,” he husked bitterly. “I was only fifteen at the time and Kobayashi-sama arranged it.”

  “When were you planning on telling me?” the interrogator whispered, realizing Yoshi's true intentions. “You weren’t going to say anything, were you? You were just going to leave me.”

  “I didn’t want to,” the shadow wolf tried to assure him. “But I don’t know what choice I have. I can’t drag the shuudan into a war, so I can’t stay here. If I were stronger I’d go and face the situation. Perhaps in the Nakamura stronghold I’ll be safe. You are crucial to the running of Kobayashi shuudan. You can’t leave, no matter where I end up. Do you have a better solution?”

  “There has to be one,” Makoto declared. “I’m not giving you up.”

  “In any event it's silly for you to move out when I’ll be leaving,” Yoshi continued inexorably. “I know it's a lot to ask, but could you stay with me tonight? I’m going to miss you so much, I just... I just want a few hours more. I’m sorry, it's so selfish of me.”

  “I’ll stay. I don’t want to leave you.” The interrogator pulled the despondent figure into his arms, kissing him until the tense form began to relax into his hold. He scooped Yoshi up, continuing their kiss as he navigated into the bedroom and stretched out on the bed.

  “Is this alright with you?” Makoto husked as he unbuttoned the elite's shirt and pushed it back to expose the tempting planes of his chest.

  “Of course,” Yoshi murmured. “I’ve been trying to get you to move on for ages.”

  “I refuse to rush this,” the torture master muttered as he kissed his way across a prominent collar bone. “We will see each other again.” He followed a twisting scar from the side of the shadow wolf's neck down his chest to a soft creamy nipple, flicking it with his tongue before blowing gently and watching it harden. “Mmmmm, I love the way you respond to me.” Makoto repeated the action on the other nipple, drawing a startled gasp when he licked down the length of a broad ribbon of scar tissue to his lover's navel and kissed it softly.

  Yoshi shivered when large hands thumbed open his pants and slipped under the loosened waistband, fingers delicately stroking sensitive skin. “Shirt off please,” he husked, desperately trying to work the tiny buttons while his lover was doing distracting things with his tongue. “My turn.”

  “Not yet.” Makoto slid the pants off to land haphazardly on the floor. He took the straining length deep in his throat, growling excitedly at the taste. “You taste so good.” He hummed around his mouthful, causing the elite to moan wantonly and arch into the hot cavern. The interrogator's tongue traced circles around the head, flicking in the slit as he drew back before sliding the length deep in his throat yet again.

  “Stop.” Yoshi pushed the larger man off. “It's too much. I don’t want to come yet.”

  “And why not?” The torture master dove back down on the shadow wolf's weeping erection.

  “Because I want you inside me.” Yoshi thrashed his head when the interrogator cupped his balls and began to roll them.

  “Un uh,” Makoto grunted with a shake of his head. “Not until you’re mine.”

  “I want to feel you.”

  “That can be arranged.” Makoto stood and stripped before rejoining his lover on the bed. The interrogator positioned himself over the slighter man, bending to capture his lips as he lowered himself to press the full length of their bodies together. Frantic whines erupted from Yoshi's throat as their engorged lengths rubbed against each other.

  “Oh, Kami, more.” The shadow wolf nipped and sucked on a hard shoulder while his hands scrabbled for purchase on the interrogator's broad back. Makoto sat up, lifting the elite to perch straddling his massive thighs. He wrapped an arm around Yoshi to steady him before licking his hand and encasing both of their erections, rubbing and massaging the heated flesh. Both men eagerly thrust against each other as their tongues battled for domin
ance.

  Before long the shadow wolf broke the kiss to throw his head back and groan, hips snapping as he chased his release. He finally came with a long warbling cry of the interrogator's name. The sight of Yoshi, lost in pleasure, caused Makoto's balls to tighten, and after a few more thrusts he joined his lover, shooting his seed between them and letting out a deep grunt of satisfaction before collapsing next to the slender figure.

  “I love you, Yoshi,” he whispered to the drowsy elite. “I promise I’ll figure this out.”

  ****

  Makoto walked with the shadow wolf as long as he could, pulling him into his arms and kissing him, tongue diving into his mouth for one last taste before they parted. “Stay safe. I swear I’ll see you soon.” The interrogator dove back in to explore the delectable mouth yet again.

  “I hope so,” Yoshi mumbled back, returning the kiss just as eagerly. “I don’t want to leave you.”

  They reluctantly separated, Makoto watching after the departing figure long after he’d passed out of sight. Then he wasted no time, turning back to try and get things straightened out.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” he yelled as soon as he barged into the Shuhan's office. “Were you just going to let him leave?”

  “What are you talking about?” Daisuke snapped back, in no mood to play twenty questions with the angry torture master.

  “Yoshi. Who do you think I’m talking about? He just left, and he isn’t planning on coming back. Is this how you protect your shinobi? Because you’re doing a shitty job.”

  “Stop right there,” Souta growled from the shadows. “You have no reason to threaten him.”

  “What happened?” the Shuhan asked. “Where did Yoshi go? He didn’t request permission to leave.”

  “Of course not,” Makoto grumbled. “He wanted you to be able to deny knowledge of his whereabouts.”

  “To who?” Souta asked.

  “The Mochizuki no Shuhan,” growled the angry interrogator. “Yoshi's husband.”

  “His what?” The assassin gasped in surprise. “He's married?”

  “Not exactly. Kobayashi-sama sold him to the Mochizuki no Shuhan as a concubine when he was fifteen. But I told Yoshi not to worry about it,” Daisuke explained. “I had no intention of upholding such a ridiculous contract. I never expected him to go through with it.”

  “He wasn’t willing to put anyone at risk. He left in hopes of maintaining the peace. As usual, he was more concerned with other people than himself. You need to find a way out of this,” Makoto insisted. “I’m not ready for him to walk out of my life forever.”

  “I’ll think of something,” the Shuhan muttered. “Do you have any clue where he's gone?”

  “Yes, but I promised not to tell you. Yoshi seemed certain the Mochizuki no Shuhan would react badly if he failed to show up. He feared the shuudan might go to war if you tried to give him shelter.”

  “Let me send an envoy to Mochizuki. I’ll see if I can work this out.” Daisuke nibbled his lip as he cast his mind in search of the perfect person for the job. “Go do something. I’ll let you know when you can collect him.”

  “Please find a way to fix this, or I’ll go after him anyway,” the interrogator warned. “I really don’t think you want me as an enemy.”

  “Or Takahashi,” Souta added with a nervous bark of laughter.

  “No one is leaving,” the Shuhan snapped. “Go to work. Stop back later and I’ll fill you in on what I’m going to do, I need to talk to a few people first.”

  Makoto stalked out of the office, people scuttling out of his way, wary of the killing intent boiling off the stoic interrogator. “Boss,” his aide asked warily through a crack in the door. “I have some—”

  “No.” The door instantly snapped shut, leaving him alone to contemplate the many ways to kill a Shuhan.

  ****

  Yoshi made good time, arriving at his destination early the next morning. He greeted Hideaki deferentially, bowing deeply even though he knew the man couldn’t see the gesture. “I appreciate your offer of refuge, Shuhan-sama. I promise not to draw the attentions of Mochizuki shuudan here. I will move on long before then.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, senpai,” the Oonishi replied. “You’re Shuhan here now that you’re back. Wage your own war for your freedom.”

  “I will do no such thing. What a petty reason to risk so many lives.”

  “Kazuki-sama was right, you are unique.” Hideaki pursed his lips as unseeing eyes focused unerringly on Yoshi's face. “I can’t imagine putting the well-being of others before my own.”

  “Never-the-less,” the elite replied, “it is my guiding principle, and I will not abandon it at this late date. I’ll stay here for a few months and move on. I’ll stop back to check on you, of course.”

  “I have a possible solution,” the Shuhan offered. “But first settle in and get cleaned up. We’ll discuss things over dinner.”

  “Where am I staying?”

  “Your old room. Unless that is too painful.”

  “That would be nice. Perhaps I will find ease there once again.” The shadow wolf wandered down the familiar halls, stopping for a moment before hesitantly stepping inside, breathing deeply of the lingering scent of his departed lover. “I’m back, Kazu,” he whispered. “I wish you were here with me.”

  Hideaki paced the Shuhan's office, impatient for his other guest to return from training. He had a plan to put into motion and not much time to do it in. He felt the weight of his blindness most fully at times like this, unable to even contemplate the beauty of the room, or the garden he could smell just beyond the shoji. At least it's big, he consoled himself, measuring the space with his restless strides. I can't stand being cooped up in tiny rooms. Even in a large room, however, there was only so much pacing he could do, so he settled behind his desk, half-heartedly shuffling paperwork and tapping his fingers as the minutes ticked by.

  ****

  Yoshi took a long shower, washing the dust from his body and the fog from his mind. By the time dinner rolled around he was as ready as he’d ever be to talk about his predicament.

  “Yoshi, welcome back, it's good to see you.” Katsutoshi pulled the elite into a rough hug. “When did you arrive?”

  “This morning while you were training,” Hideaki explained. “Senpai, I’d like you to meet my other honored guest, Kai no Yuu, Shuhan of Kai shuudan.”

  The shadow wolf turned to observe the man in question, eyes lingering appreciatively on creamy skin and entrancing turquoise eyes. “Kai no Shuhan-sama,” he acknowledged deferentially. “It is a pleasure to meet you. I was acquainted with your father.” That's one way to put it.

  “Takahashi-san, the pleasure is mine,” Yuu replied. “We both know my father was a sick bastard. I am sorry for any pain he caused you. I am all too familiar with his attentions.”

  “Maa, not to worry,” Yoshi assured him. “What brings you here?”

  “He's here to offer you sanctuary, senpai,” Hideaki broke in. “Kai shuudan is closely allied with Mochizuki. Their Shuhan will never suspect you are living in the Kai stronghold.”

  “Why would you do that for me?” the shadow wolf asked as he turned to face Yuu.

  “We’ll leave you two so you can get acquainted,” Katsutoshi suggested. “Just ring when you’re ready to eat.”

  “So, Shuhan-sama,” Yoshi repeated once they were alone. “Why are you willing to risk your peace for me?”

  “My father always said you were the best he ever had,” the young man whispered, eyes locked determinedly on the floor. “You’ve earned your peace, Takahashi-san.”

  “And what about you?” The shadow wolf cupped a porcelain perfect cheek in one hand to tilt the Shuhan's face toward his. “What peace have you found?”

  “I used to be full of rage, killing came easily to me,” Yuu admitted. “Now I’m just empty inside.”

  “Aaa,” Yoshi murmured. “The world is a lonely place, is it not?”

  “Oonishi-san has to
ld me of the peace you helped Kazuki to find. I hoped, perhaps-” the Shuhan trailed off, pursing his lips in thought before continuing. “I, too, would like to find peace.”

  “I understand. I will do what I can to help you find ease, Shuhan-sama. I will be happy to take refuge with you.” The shadow wolf pushed all thoughts of Makoto to the back of his mind as his thumb stroked over flawless skin.

  “Call me Yuu.”

  “Only if you call me Yoshi,” he countered, smiling when the younger man nodded. “Great, now that that's decided I believe it is time to eat. I find myself anxious to see my new home.”

  ****

  Yuu and Yoshi left for the Kai stronghold two days later. The pair traveled in silence for the most part, both men lost in their own thoughts. I wonder what Makoto's doing right now. The shadow wolf conjured up images of the interrogator going about his day, overseeing contractors, heading to the market, fixing dinner, activities he missed desperately.

  “Who are you thinking about, Yoshi-san?”

  “It's not important,” the shadow wolf demurred. “I’m sorry, Yuu-san, I didn’t mean to daydream.”

  “You looked so sad. Are you sure you don’t want to tell me?”

  “Just a little homesick,” Yoshi assured him. “I’ll be fine in a few days. I imagine you’re looking forward to returning home. What's it like? The only part I ever got to see was the mansion.”

  “It's beautiful in its own way. Quiet and changeless, although it takes some getting used to.”

  “It sounds very peaceful,” the shadow wolf decided. “I’m sure I’ll enjoy it there.”

  “How can you say that?” Yuu asked. “You never enjoyed yourself there before.”