Shadow Wolf (Shinobi Saga)

by Sessha Batto

  “No,” Yoshi countered. “My purpose is to serve, without that I am nothing.”

  “Well, I have another purpose for you. A duty, if you will.”

  “Of course, what do you need from me?” the elite asked. “I am at your service.”

  “I want you to think about it before you agree,” she insisted. “Don't just say yes because you feel you have to.”

  “Tell me what you need, Mayu,” Yoshi reiterated. “I'm not going to say no.”

  “We're having a baby,” she admitted with a squeal. “I want you to be the godfather.”

  “Are you sure about that?” the shadow wolf asked. “I don't think I'm the best influence for a child.”

  “You are smart, funny, dedicated, loyal, caring. Where on earth would I ever find someone better to look out for my most precious person?” the kunoichi insisted. “And before you ask, Tatsuya's fine with it. In fact, it was his suggestion.”

  “I don't understand why you two would want someone like me,” Yoshi mumbled. “I'm just a whore.”

  “No, you're not. You're my friend, and that's something I don't have many of.”

  “If you're sure it's what you want.” the shadow wolf temporized. “Of course, I'll do it. So, when are you expecting this little bundle of joy?”

  “In about four months. There's so much to get done first. We need to fix up the nursery, and names, we need to choose names,” Mayu continued to babble obliviously. “I'd love it if Tatsuya would quit smoking first, but I guess that's too much to ask.”

  “It can't hurt to try. After all,” the elite reasoned, “he's probably feeling pretty generous right about now. Guilt will do that to a person.”

  “Guilt, why would he feel guilty?” Mayu asked. “What did he do?”

  “He got you pregnant, silly,” Yoshi teased. “Seriously, to a man that's foreign territory. Tatsuya's bound to feel guilty because you have to give birth. Believe me, that's an assignment no man would volunteer for.”

  “They'd just screw it up. Important jobs are best left to the women.”

  “Is it a boy or girl?” the shadow wolf prodded.

  “Yes, one or the other.” Mayu giggled. “We don't know yet. I want it to be a surprise.”

  “But that's so impractical. How will I know whether to buy the baby a baseball or a baby doll?” the future doting godfather fretted. “Really, you need to find out.”

  “Just wait until after the baby arrives,” she suggested. “It really isn't worth getting worked up over.”

  “But I need something to give the baby right away,” Yoshi explained. “So it knows I'm watching out for it.”

  “I'm sure you'll figure something out,” Mayu assured him. “Now give me a hug and then let's get to work. We've got a lot of planning to get done and not much time in which to do it.”

  ****

  It was already dusk by the time Yoshi raced to the market, intent on grabbing something easy for dinner and getting home before Makoto. He was pulled out of his reverie by a hand on his arm and a rough voice. “Oi, Takahashi. What's this I hear about you retiring?”

  “I had to retire from active duty. I lost a kidney.” The shadow wolf's eye flicked from face to face in the small group of elite shinobi. Two of them were men he had done assignments with in covert ops. The third was never so happy as when he was putting someone else down. Akako, Isamu and Masa, great, just what I needed, he thought with a groan.

  “So what are you doing with yourself then?” the tutor asked.

  “I'm opening a rare and exotic book dealer's.”

  “Isn't that a little... you know,” Isamu chimed in, voice dropping to a whisper, “gay.”

  “Excuse me?” Yoshi was confused about how they made such a deduction.

  “Oh, don't worry,” Akako added with a hearty laugh. “We know you're not one of them. It's just an odd choice, that's all.”

  “I see. What would have been a good choice?”

  “I didn't mean anything by it,” Akako stammered. “It's just a little soft for someone with your reputation.”

  “My reputation?” the shadow wolf hissed. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “You have the biggest bounty on your head,” Masa explained. “It would drop like a stone if people thought you were like that.”

  “Like what?” Yoshi reiterated.

  “A sodomite, like our 'illustrious' Kobayashi no Shuhan,” Masa sneered. “Hell, I don't understand why they even considered such a weak, worthless excuse for a ninja. Why on earth did they pass you over, Takahashi?”

  “I'm a sodomite,” Yoshi ground out, pleased when the three other nin fell back in fright.

  “That isn't funny,” Masa hissed. “It's disgusting. I can't believe you would joke about such a thing.”

  “Who says I'm joking? Haven't you heard? I live with Sasaki Makoto, it's hardly a secret.”

  “I know you don't worry about your own reputation, but I'd be careful with the way I bandy other's about. I'm sure Sasaki-san would be pissed to hear you disrespecting him like that. You're not beyond retaliation, you know.”

  “He won't care,” the shadow wolf said with a shrug. “He loves me.”

  “Good one, Takahashi,” Akako managed between snorts of laughter. “Sasaki Makoto loves you. I bet he calls you his widdle snookie-ookums, too.”

  “No, usually he just calls me sweetheart. I guess he couldn't come up with something quite that girly.”

  “I don't know what kind of game you think you're playing,” Masa retorted. “But I, for one, am not going to stand for it. If you do not stop disrespecting Sasaki-san, I will have to report your behavior.”

  “Be my guest,” the shadow wolf agreed with a smile.

  “You think I'm too afraid of you to back my words up, don't you? I'm not afraid of you, and I'm going to prove it.” He turned on his heel and marched off toward headquarters, Yoshi gleefully in tow, while the other elites followed at a safe distance.

  “I need to see Sasaki-san, please.” Masa stood stiffly, crossing his arms over his chest and tapping his foot impatiently while he waited for the interrogator.

  “What seems to be the problem here?” Makoto grumbled when he finally appeared, obviously straight from talking with one of his 'guests'. “Why did you need to see me in particular, Masa? I'm kind of busy right now.”

  “I'm afraid that would be my fault,” Yoshi explained.

  “Takahashi-san said horrible, disrespectful things about you, Sasaki-san. I did not think you, of all people, would want your reputation besmirched,” Masa explained with an offended sniff. “I brought him here so you could exact punishment for his transgression.”

  “Sweetheart,” the interrogator asked, “are you alright?”

  “I'm fine. Masa and those two,” the shadow wolf jerked his thumb towards the hapless followers, “are just idiots.”

  “What did they say to you?” Makoto growled.

  “It really doesn't matter what they said,” Yoshi husked. “They did refer to the Shuhan as a sodomite who wasn't fit to hold office. You might want to have a little talk with them about that.”

  “Damn. I was trying to make it home in time for dinner.”

  “It's okay, I was just on my way to the market when I ran into these three,” Yoshi chuckled. “I'll hold dinner till you get home.”

  “Are you sure?” Makoto asked. “You don't have to wait for me.”

  “Oh, but I want to,” came the husky reply. “We have celebrating to do, after all.”

  “Shit,” Akako mumbled. “We are in so much trouble.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Isamu whispered.

  “Look at them, and Sasaki really did call him sweetheart. Takahashi wasn't lying,” Akako whispered back.

  Masa watched the proceedings with an increasingly scandalized expression, finally interrupting the couple. “Enough, this isn't funny. I don't know what kind of game you two think you're playing, but I, for one, am not going to stand for it
. I demand you treat Takahashi-san's disrespectful attitude seriously. He's a civilian now, and he has to start following rules. The days of getting a free pass based on his reputation are over.”

  “Kiss me,” the shadow wolf muttered.

  “What?”

  “He's not listening to us. Maybe seeing will be believing,” Yoshi retorted impishly. “So kiss me.” He licked his lips, locking his gaze with passion-filled onyx as his mouth was captured in a deep, ravenous kiss.

  The shadow wolf melted against his lover's larger form, letting out a throaty moan when massive hands wrapped in soft strands and the interrogator took control of the kiss. Eventually the need for air drove them apart and they both blinked in surprise at the sight of a nearly purple Masa hovering inches away.

  The uptight nin was trembling with rage, fists clenched tightly at his side. “That was disgusting. I can't believe the two of you. And don't try to feed me some half-assed story about how much you like it either, Takahashi. I can see through your bull. If you like it so much, how come you aren't even aroused?”

  Makoto cringed as Yoshi instantly grew rigid, turning to fix Masa with a baleful eye. “Unfortunately I suffered an injury which left me incapable of performing sexually, therefore I am unable to reciprocate Sasaki-san's affections. However, I assure you it does not in any way affect the depth of my feelings. I do appreciate your pointing out my inadequacies, though. Obviously they had slipped my mind.”

  “'Shi-san,” the interrogator ventured. “Don't listen to that prejudiced shithead.”

  “I'm fine. I need to get to the market before it closes. We can talk when you get home,” Yoshi replied absently, although his eyes were suspiciously bright.

  “Just wait a minute, I'll go with you.” But the reclusive elite had already slipped out into the night.

  “Duty,” Makoto bellowed, and two masked black ops came running into the room. “Lock these three up. I'll question them tomorrow.”

  “Charges?”

  “Treason,” the interrogator growled, “against the Shuhan. I need to go now. I'll fill out the paperwork in the morning.”

  “Whatever you say boss,” the operative declared with a nod, only to realize Makoto had already vanished.

  He reappeared in front of their house, checking for the shadow wolf's ki before hurrying inside. He finally located his lover in the back corner of the garden, slumped next to the koi pond with his head buried in his hands, sobbing brokenly.

  “Sweetheart, please don't cry. Please?”

  Yoshi lifted his head and studied the interrogator through red, watery eyes. “I can't do this to you anymore,” he managed thickly. “I'm ruining your reputation for nothing. You need to find a nice girl to settle down with and just forget about me.” He dropped his head, hiding behind his bangs.

  “It's okay,” Makoto whispered soothingly as he stroked the shadow wolf's tangled hair back from his face so he could look into his eyes. “Everything is going to work out. Please just give it some time.”

  “I am giving it time,” Yoshi whispered. “Only nothing is changing.”

  “The doctor said it could take a year or more. You can't rush it.” Makoto pulled the forlorn figure into his lap and wrapped strong arms around him protectively. “I am happy to wait as long as it takes. I don't want to be with anyone but you.”

  “What if I never get any better? Then what happens?”

  “Nothing happens. It really doesn't matter. I mean, of course it matters,” he hastily backpedaled at the incredulous look cast his way. “But it doesn't change the way I feel.”

  “But it's not right.”

  “You're right, it's not fair that you should have to suffer so much,” the interrogator whispered. “I wish I could roll back the clock, I should have just stayed in bed with you that first morning after we got back from Kanegawa.”

  “Silly,” Yoshi retorted with a watery smile. “Wishing your life away on something like that. That's not what I meant and you know it.”

  “Wanting to see you happy is not silly,” Makoto argued, completely ignoring the inference to his own happiness. “You are as deserving of it as anyone in this shuudan. More than many.” He thought of the three hapless elite now cooling their heels in the holding cells.

  “Don't you deserve to be happy?” the shadow wolf countered. “By your measure you are just as deserving as I am, yet somehow you feel it's alright to cheat yourself.”

  “In a perfect world is this what I would have wanted?” the interrogator asked. “No, it's not. But the fact of the matter is, I'm much happier with you than without you. I'm not willing to give this up, not when it took me so many years to find. You're stuck with me I'm afraid, might as well get used to it.”

  “I should fix dinner,” Yoshi muttered. “Go get cleaned up.”

  “Let me help you,” Makoto offered. “Then we'll be able to eat sooner.”

  “You're hopeless in the kitchen. Besides, you're a little... blood spattered,” Yoshi decided after examining the stains more closely. “You should change.”

  “Yes, dear. If you give me a kiss first.”

  The elite leaned over and gave him an absent peck on the cheek before turning towards the house. “'Shi-san, wait,” the interrogator called. “What did Mayu say when you told her about the bookstore?”

  “She was excited, but her news was better,” he admitted.

  “What news?” Makoto prodded. “You can't just leave it there.”

  “Get cleaned up and set the table. I'll tell you over dinner.” Yoshi threw the interrogator a tentative smile before heading into the house.

  “I'd rather just go to bed. I'm bushed.”

  “But I wanted to celebrate,” the shadow wolf pouted. “I need to thank you for everything you do for me.”

  “Then come to bed,” the interrogator urged. “Let me hold you while I fall asleep.”

  “That doesn't seem like a very good deal for you.” Yoshi raised one eyebrow in disbelief. “I get a new life and you get saddled with an invalid.”

  “The way I see it I'll always have the better deal because I get to spend my time with you.” Makoto pulled the startled shinobi into his arms and began to press tender kisses all over his face.

  “What is up with you?” Yoshi asked. “Did you hit your head?”

  “No silly. I'm in love.” Makoto chuckled, the puffs of breath on his sensitive nape making Yoshi squirm.

  “Fine, bed it is,” the shadow wolf conceded, yanking the interrogator behind him until they reached the bedroom, where he carefully began to strip the larger figure.

  “What are you doing?”

  “What does it look like?” he replied almost crossly. “You certainly can't go to bed with all this on.”

  “I can undress myself,” Makoto assured him. “You don't need to do this for me.”

  “I didn't get to feed you, at least let me do this. Don't make me feel completely useless.”

  “You are so far from useless.” Makoto pulled the elite into his lap and sealed their mouths together almost desperately. The shadow wolf jerked back, searching the interrogator's face with feral, fevered eyes before diving back in for another deep, devouring kiss. “'shi . . wha . .” was all Makoto managed as deft hands relieved him of his pants. Soft crystalline strands tickled his thighs as Yoshi swallowed his erection.

  “Stop ... please—” The interrogator wrapped his hands in the shadow wolf's hair and yanked him up to face confused onyx eyes.

  “Why are you always stopping me?” Yoshi's plaintive, husky voice went straight to the interrogator's groin.

  “Kami help me, you're going to be the death of me.” Makoto groaned in frustration as he wiped a hand across his face and attempted to gather his thoughts. “I don't want to stop you sweetheart, but this feels so selfish.”

  “But I want to,” the elite insisted.

  “And I'll let you, once you're fully healed and I can return the favor. For right now though... would you like to play a game with m
e?”

  “I suppose,” Yoshi replied, alert for the slightest hint that things were about to turn violent. “Tell me what you had in mind.”

  “The name of this game,” Makoto teased as he divested the lanky elite of the remainder of his clothes and tugged him down to stretch out on the bed, “is reciprocity. The way we play,” he continued, bending his head to nip a tempting nipple, grinning against the skin as the nub instantly hardened, “is simple. I search all over this luscious body of yours, looking for what makes you feel good. Every time I find something you like, you can do the same thing to me.”

  “But—“ The shadow wolf searched for the trick hidden inside the deceptively simple offer.

  “But what?” the interrogator teased. “Sound like too much work for you?”

  “Anything you do to me, I can do to you?” Yoshi reiterated. “You promise?”

  “I'm looking forward to it.” Makoto turned his attentions back to the reddened nub he had been tormenting, suckling it fiercely before pulling back to blow lightly on the damp skin, fascinated by the ripple of goose flesh across the creamy torso.

  “My turn.” The shadow wolf pushed the larger man to lie flat and then straddled him. Yoshi wiggled gracefully until he was comfortably nestled in the cradle of Makoto's hips with the interrogator's erection tucked neatly between his cheeks.

  “Don't move,” the interrogator warned. The elite ignored him, twisting his hips as he turned his attentions to a flat coffee-colored nipple, worrying it with his teeth until Makoto called out his pleasure.

  The interrogator struggled to ignore the burning fire in his loins, trying to concentrate on the more delicate, but still exciting, sensation of having his battered flesh licked and suckled by those pale, perfect lips.

  “I think I'm beginning to like this game.” The shadow wolf chuckled throatily. “You do realize what this means, of course.”

  Makoto desperately tried to focus on what his lover was saying, but the constant grind of lean hips was robbing him of the ability to concentrate. “No,” he finally admitted. “You have to stop moving and let me think.”