Shadow Wolf (Shinobi Saga 2)

by Batto, Sessha

  “For what?”

  “For being jealous, for doubting you,” the spell-caster whispered. “I didn’t think.”

  “It's fine,” Yoshi soothed. “Just kiss me.” The legendary shinobi leaned forward and kissed his lover, putting as much emotion as he could into the gesture.

  “I will always love you,” Kazuki whispered. “And I promise never to doubt you again.”

  “I love you too … at least, as much as I am capable of love,” the shadow wolf whispered as he cuddled his pliant lover close. “You’ve given me a peace I’ve never had before.”

  “What will you do when I’m gone?” Kazuki asked. “Will you go back to Kobayashi shuudan?”

  “I’d like to. I don’t know anywhere else I’d be safe. Still, I don’t expect a joyous reception. At the very least I’ll be held for interrogation. Then there's the question of my punishment.”

  “Why would they punish you? Didn’t you get kidnapped? They must realize you aren't here willingly. How can they punish you for something beyond your control?”

  “I sent them a message,” Yoshi muttered. “I had Pi-natsu let them know Rin and Junko were dead and you were dying. I said I would only return after your death.”

  “Why would you do that? Now they’ll be imagining all kinds of horrible things about you. At the very least they're sure to question your loyalty. You've given so much of yourself to keep them all safe, it isn't right you be seen as a traitor.”

  “I didn’t want them to attack. You deserve some peace for the time you have left,” Yoshi insisted. “I was trying to protect you.”

  “Oh, pretty,” Kazuki said. “When will you stop hurting yourself for other people's benefit? I don’t care if they launch an attack against me or not. I care very much that you’ll be tortured because of our relationship.”

  “I don’t,” the shadow wolf insisted. “I only care about making you happy, however it is in my power to do so. If that means some risk to myself, so be it.” He lifted the smaller man, settling them both comfortably on the bed before sliding the kimono from his lover's shoulder to place tender kisses on the exposed flesh. “Now, as I recall, I was getting ready to make love to you, koi. You aren’t trying to distract me, are you?”

  “No, never.” Kazuki's heartbeat raced as strong hands slid inside his kimono to stroke and pet sensitive flesh and Yoshi made good on his promise.

  ****

  Makoto arrived outside the Shuhan's office at the same time as Hayashi Hoshu. He opened the door for the dark haired man and ushered him inside while he went to find Daisuke. “Hey, where are you guys?” The interrogator followed sounds back towards the bedroom.

  I am not walking in on them again. This can wait until they come out. “Shuhan-sama, Hayashi-san is here to see you,” he called through the door. “We’ll be in your office.”

  “Get your ass in here, Makoto,” the Shuhan's voice sounded a bit muffled and the interrogator's mind went wild imagining various reasons why. “Today.” The voice was louder this time, with an irritated edge that had him jerking the door open almost without thinking.

  “Hoshu says he needs to see you tonight,” the torture master declared. “What should I tell him?”

  The Shuhan untangled himself from his slumbering lover, slipping on a yukata and heading for the door. “Keep Sou company until I get back. That means getting naked and in the bed,” he added when the interrogator began to sit in a nearby chair.

  “Is that an order?” Makoto asked.

  “Yes,” came Daisuke's firm reply, although a smile quirked his lips. “I’m sure I’ll be back before he wakes up.”

  “I thought we were having dinner.” The usually stoic torture master was almost pouting.

  “We are, the main course is right there in front of you. Feel free to start without me.” The Shuhan winked before slipping out into the hall and heading for his office.

  “What can I do for you, Hoshu?” he asked as soon as he opened the door. “I had retired for the night.”

  “I need to get some things off my chest, Shuhan-sama,” the clan head said. “I have information about Kobayashi-sama's habits that I should have given you before now.”

  “Sit down,” Daisuke offered. “Would you like tea?”

  “No, although I wouldn’t turn down sake.”

  “Sake it shall be. Just give me a moment.” The Shuhan headed back into his quarters to snag a bottle and two saucers. He stopped for a moment to listen at the bedroom door, slurping sounds and Makoto's broken muttering sending him a picture of his lover sucking cock with his usual gusto. Have fun Sou, he thought before rejoining his guest.

  “So, Hoshu.” Daisuke poured them each a saucer. “What did you wish to tell me?”

  “Many years ago, I happened to see Kobayashi-sama and Takahashi Ren together… intimately,” the elder began. “I couldn’t stop myself, I know it was wrong, but I watched them. I even followed Ren and waited for the chance to do it again.”

  “It's not something to be proud of surely, but I don’t see where it changes anything,” Daisuke soothed. “Certainly it's nothing to get worked up about now.”

  “I suspected something was going on with Yoshi after Oonishi-san's death, but I chose to overlook it. I failed him. I was an elder, a leader of my clan. I should have looked out for all of them better. I did not protect my comrades or my village by my silence.”

  “I understand you’re upset,” the Shuhan stated. “But none of what happened is your fault. In fact, anything you might have said would have only made things worse, for you, if not for them. We all made mistakes where this situation was concerned. No one wanted to acknowledge what was going on right under our noses. It's becoming clear that many people had at least an inkling, if not outright proof.”

  He stood and strolled over to the glass doors that led to his balcony, staring up at the heavens as if looking for enlightenment. “I think we all need to move forward, dwelling on events long past won’t change the course of history, and if they did it might well not be for the better.”

  He fixed the elder with a pointed look, forcing him to hold eye contact. “Yoshi's ‘activities’ were pivotal in ending conflicts between the shuudan and forging alliances. Had they not occurred we might not exist. As much as I despise the idea of what was done to him, I can’t in good conscience say I wish it hadn’t happened. Do you have any idea how hard that is for me to admit? Good, kind, caring Daisuke has to finally admit that we can’t save everyone, and we shouldn’t even try.”

  The Shuhan sipped his sake as he fought to regain his composure. “It's late, I think we both need a good night's sleep. If you still feel the urge for reparation come back and see me. I’m sure we can figure out something fair.”

  “Of course, Shuhan-sama, I’m sorry to keep you up so late. Thank you for listening to me,” the clan leader said with an apologetic bow.

  “It's alright, that's why you chose me, right?” Daisuke showed the other man to the door, slumping against it in exhaustion as soon as it shut.

  “Hey guys, did you miss me?” he joked when he opened the bedroom door, although his voice was tired and lacked its normal joyous lilt.

  “What happened, Dai?” Souta moved to wrap a comforting arm around his lover. “Did Hayashi-san complain about your lack of morals?”

  “No, nothing like that. I’ve just had to face a lot of hard truths lately. I’m not the person I thought I was. Very few of the things I thought were immutable truths are actually black and white. I’m less and less sure I was the right choice for this position.”

  “Come here,” the assassin cooed, holding out his arms to enfold his lover. “Let us help you forget.”

  “That's right, Daisuke,” Makoto rumbled as he scooped both men into his lap. “I haven’t had my dinner yet.” He kissed the Shuhan passionately, devouring his mouth as if he would never get another chance before turning to a dazed Souta and repeating the action. “Now kiss,” the interrogator ordered, “I want to watch you love
each other.”

  The long time lovers melted together, passion fueled by their time apart and the excitement of having Makoto calling the shots.

  “Mmmmmm, you taste so good, Dai, like caramel,” Souta muttered before diving back in for more, hands sliding up the slender column of Daisuke's throat as he reveled in the trust his lover was showing him.

  Makoto reached between them and wrapped his hand around both of their bobbing erections, squeezing the silky flesh together. He stroked them roughly before linking their hands in place of his. He leaned back to watch the pair in appreciation for a moment before slicking his fingers and sliding one deep inside Daisuke. He then did the same to Souta, slowly thrusting and swirling as their sleek forms danced against each other.

  By the time he reached three fingers both men were moaning uncontrollably, desperately trying to reach their peak. “Nuh uh, not so fast. We’re just getting started.” The interrogator laughed at the wide eyed look of surprise gracing both men's faces. “You do still want this, don’t you?”

  “As if I’d let you back out now,” Souta rasped. “If you don’t fuck me soon I’m going to knock you down and take what I want.”

  “Pushy, pushy. Not that you’d get very far against me, but it's an interesting thought.”

  “You’d be surprised what I can do,” the assassin said, trailing off into a guttural moan as his prostate was targeted.

  “Daisuke,” Makoto sing-songed, “Lie down on the bed for me.” He helped shift the slender man, carefully arranging him on the sheets, legs splayed wide, before grabbing the startled assassin and settling him gently in the cradle of the Shuhan's hips. “Fill him, Souta. I want to see how you get him to make those wonderful noises.”

  Ever so slowly the assassin inched inside the hot furnace of his lover's body, coming to a stop pressed tight against sweat slick bronze flesh. Before he even had a chance to adjust, Souta felt large hands spread him wide as Makoto's thick cock slowly filled him, and filled him, and filled him. “Jesus, you really are huge,” he choked out as he was stretched far more than he had ever been before.

  “Not really.” The interrogator fought the urge to just thrust in to the hilt. “Yoshi's nearly as big.”

  “You’re not helping if you’re trying to talk me out of that foursome. No wonder Kazuki doesn’t want to let him go,” Souta mused, instantly regretting it when Makoto started to retreat. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it. Please don’t leave me hanging like this.”

  “I wouldn’t do that to you.” The interrogator slammed back in to the hilt, causing both men below him to let out wanton moans.

  “Oh Kami,” Daisuke grunted. “He pushes you so deep inside me, Sou, you wouldn’t believe how good it feels.”

  “Uhnnnnn,” was the snappiest retort the assassin could manage, so overwhelmed was he by the dual sensation of filling and being filled. Every snap of Makoto's hips sent electric fire racing up his spine, even as it thrust him balls deep inside his lover's clenching passage.

  When both men below him were close the interrogator stopped, easily pinning them in place as he teased Souta with series of shallow thrusts that had them both begging for more. “What was that? Did you say stop?”

  “No, no, no, nooooooooo,” the assassin begged. “Please, oh please.”

  “Please what, Souta?” the torture master asked. “Please stop now?”

  “Hurry up and fuck him, Makoto,” Daisuke threatened. “Or I’m going to take matters into my own hands.”

  “Oh really? And how were you planning to do that?”

  “Like this.” The Shuhan somehow managed to gain the leverage to roll all three of them over so Makoto was on the bottom of the pile. “There you go Sou, make me feel it.” He let out a deep sensuous moan when his lover did just that.

  Souta was in heaven, thrusting up into Daisuke, then back onto the hard length piercing him until the interrogator's hand managed to wrap around the Shuhan's weeping erection. After only a few rough strokes the younger man keened his approval as he came hard.

  Makoto saw his opportunity, hammering up into the trapped assassin until he screamed, clenching and writhing around the massive erection still pounding into him. Only then did the interrogator let go, sending Souta into yet another series of shuddering climaxes as hot seed poured out against his prostate.

  “Oh gods that was good,” the assassin gasped as soon as he regained his voice. “Why haven’t we done this before?”

  “We never had the opportunity,” Daisuke mumbled sleepily in reply. “Love you, Sou.”

  “Love you too, baby. Thank you for an earth shattering experience, Makoto. Feel free to join us anytime.”

  “Sleep.” The interrogator slipped out of the bed, leaving the lovers comfortably curled in each other's arms. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “You’re not staying?” The Shuhan snuggled deeper into the assassin's familiar embrace.

  “I’ll see you both in the morning.” Makoto pulled on his clothes, bending to place a tender kiss on each man's forehead before heading home.

  ****

  “Nakamura-sama,” the servant began as soon as he entered, “Oonishi Hideaki and a companion are here to see you.”

  “A companion?” Kazuki mused. “Do you know who that might be, koishii?”

  “Probably Katsutoshi, a swordsman from Mochizuki shuudan,” Yoshi decided after a moment's thought. “They were together the last time I encountered Hideaki.”

  “You’ve seen him recently then? When was that?”

  “We had a little run in a few years ago, before Kobayashi-sama's passing,” the shadow wolf said. “I’m embarrassed to say he caught me off guard.”

  “Did he hurt you?” Kazuki hissed.

  “Yes, but it doesn’t matter,” the elite insisted. “We were on opposing sides. It's the ninja way.”

  The spell-caster once again cursed the system they were born into. If only we weren’t shinobi, he mused, although not for the first time, then Yoshi wouldn’t have suffered so. “I’m saddened at the thought of you in pain, pretty. I wish I could go back and prevent it.”

  “That's very sweet of you. But I wouldn’t be the same person without my experiences. I probably wouldn’t even give you a chance.”

  “Send him in.” Kazuki wrapped a protective arm around Yoshi and pulled him close as the doors swung wide.

  “Nakamura-sama, Takahashi-san, how nice to see you,” Katsutoshi greeted them as he entered, carefully leading Hideaki by the elbow.

  “You sent for me?” The last Oonishi pressed both hands to his head and dropped to his knees.

  “Is it bad?” The swordsman knelt beside his companion and stroked his back.

  “What's wrong with him?” the shadow wolf asked, concerned eyes tracing over the huddled form.

  “It's his eyes. A side effect of the illusions he weaves,” Katsutoshi explained. “He's lost his sight already, and still the headaches continue.”

  “Yoshi-senpai?” Hideaki asked. “What are you doing here?”

  “He is my companion,” Kazuki declared. “Where else would he be?”

  “Be nice, koi,” the shadow wolf warned. “Kazu's apprentice kidnapped me. He brought me here and Kazu-sama saved me from him.”

  “Why did you call me here? Travel is difficult for me now. Everything is difficult for me now.”

  “The three of us have much in common. I know about Kobayashi-sama, and I know what happened to your clan.” Yoshi paused when Hideaki grew rigid, turning hazy sightless eyes in his direction. “Kazuki and I were also targets of Kobayashi-sama's attention. And, unlike the two of you, he also shared me with others. He even had Rin continue to do the same thing. I hoped…”

  “Hoped what, senpai?” Hideaki asked.

  “Hoped you could help us. That we could help you. I’m sorry I didn’t realize what was going on. I know you tried to talk to me. I was too closed off to listen and I am truly sorry. I wish to ease your pain now, if I can.”

  “It's a
bit late for healing don’t you think?” the Oonishi declared, pinning the elite with sightless eyes. “Now revenge, that's something I could support.”

  “Who would we target?” Yoshi asked with a shrug. “Kobayashi-sama and Rin are both dead. I refuse to punish the entire shuudan for the actions of a few.”

  “How about everyone who knew and did nothing to stop it?” Hideaki suggested. “They’re just as guilty.”

  “Then you might as well start with us,” the shadow wolf declared. “We both knew what was happening. I admit I thought I was the only one, but still, I did nothing.”

  “Sniping at each other won’t help anyone,” Kazuki declared. “Why don’t we all get comfortable.”

  ****

  Daisuke was sitting behind his desk, doggedly working through yet another stack of backed up paperwork, when the door burst open and Genki strode in. “I found some information in shishou's papers that you need to see.” He shoved one of the former Shuhan's bound journals into the surprised young man's hands.

  “Is it about Yoshi?”

  “No, just read it.” The Shuhan turned his eyes to the page in front of him, mind shying away from the meaning of the words dancing in front of his eyes.

  “This must be a mistake,” he declared. “There's no way this could be true and I didn’t know.”

  “I’m sorry, Daisuke. But there's no reason for him to put it in his private papers if it wasn’t the truth.”

  “I need some time alone please, Genki-sama,” the Shuhan said in a shaky voice. “Could you come back later?”

  “Are you sure you’re alright alone?” The sage peered into unfocused eyes.

  “I’ll be fine, besides I’m not alone,” Daisuke croaked. “Souta's here.”

  The assassin stepped out of hiding when his name was mentioned. “What did you do to him?”

  “I meant him no harm,” Genki answered warily, hands spread wide to indicate his intentions. “I just thought he needed to know.”

  “Know what?” the elite killer pressed. “He's got enough to deal with as it is.”