Pollen and Passion

A/N- **sigh** Ok, guys...come on! I got diddly squat last time...**huff** The boys need some fan love! Their arc is started now...so hopefully more of you at least know who Jakotsu is...show some love!!
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Bankotsu reverently polished Banryuu, thinking about the kills he’d added to his ongoing tally that day. Upon hearing a powerful sneeze, he snuck a glance over to a smirking, bloody Jakotsu who had just finished cleaning the final blade of his magnificent Jakotsutou. After the victory was effectually theirs, he had let the older man go play. He had set his sights on a young shorthaired manor guard, and Bankotsu knew it was pointless to deny his comrade that chase.

“Did you enjoy yourself?” He asked curtly, gazing up at the rapidly graying sky. He always let Jakotsu go, but that didn’t mean he liked it. He knew jealousy was childish, and in this situation, unnecessary, but he couldn’t keep that emotion from his eyes as he looked over to receive Jakotsu’s answer. Wide, apologetic eyes met his as Jakotsu’s soft voice met his ears.

“Aa.” The tall man looked down at the wooden porch. He hated doing this to Bankotsu, but it was a part of himself he had no control over, and after the first and only time they had come to blows about it, his beloved had grudgingly accepted that fact. The low sound of thunder rolled through the mountains and drunken cheers echoed from campfires in the surrounding areas. Jakotsu sneezed again. ‘At least a storm will get some of this thrice-damned pollen out of the air.’ He heard swift footsteps and then Bankotsu was beside him, sitting cross-legged, their knees touching.

“Gomen, Jakotsu. I was being an ass.” Bankotsu gave the taller man’s knee a budge with his own. “I love you.” He whispered, looking at him. Jakotsu’s head jerked up and he smiled at the cherished coppery skinned face, all forgiven.

“And I you, aniki.” Thunder rang through the sky again, and then the heavens opened, the rain pouring down. “Feh…another bad part about this hell-season.” Jakotsu groaned, watching the rain. Bankotsu looked at him. ‘Maybe not…’ The shorter man had seen Suikotsu amongst a group of soldiers running for a tent with sake and something that smelled delicious when the rain began, he was sure of that. Renkotsu had captured one of the daimyo’s concubines and carried her off on Ginkotsu, Mukotsu following behind. The gods only knew where they were now. Kyokotsu was no doubt off eating something. He and Jakotsu were alone in the house. It was almost too good to be true. The thunder rolled again.

“Jakotsu….” He touched the shoulder of the bloodied pink yukata his lover wore. At the tone in his voice, the black haired head whipped around, eyes incredulous. Bankotsu grinned, and leaned over to Jakotsu’s ear. “We’re alone, beloved. Everybody else is gone or accounted for.” His tongue flicked out and ran along the outside edge of Jakotsu’s ear before he nuzzled the soft spot under it. He felt the older man shiver, one hand reaching up to grasp his left shoulder as Jakotsu gasped. “Come inside, Jakotsu.” The leader of the Shichinin-tai whispered against soft black hair, standing up, lifting the slender frame of his dearest friend with him.

“Since when did you become so aggressive, Koishii?” Jakotsu whispered softly as they walked inside the house. The very knowledge of what was about to happen had his heart pounding, as well as affecting another notable part of his anatomy. They slipped inside the first bedroom they found, although Jakotsu really couldn’t have cared less if they had made love on the porch. Bankotsu slid the screens shut behind them before he found himself pressed between the wall and the tall body of his lover. He laughed heartily, answering Jakotsu’s previously ignored question.

“Since I haven’t been truly alone with you in what seems like years.” Lightning flashed, lighting up the room through the one shuttered window, and Jakotsu’s lips swept down to claim his. The kiss was intense and hard, and Bankotsu gladly melted into it, opening his mouth when Jakotsu’s agile tongue begged for entrance. A wealth of memories from what seemed so long ago flooded his brain. He moaned happily as the taller man took his mouth with his own, the crashing thunder nearly drowning out the noise, but Jakotsu heard it. His groin throbbed at the noise.

Slender fingers stroked tan skin as Jakotsu tilted his lover’s head up, deepening the kiss and uttering a moan himself into Bankotsu’s mouth. The rain was pounding against the roof and another flash of lightning illuminated the pair as Bankotsu’s fingers reached around Jakotsu’s head, yanking the butterfly hairpin he himself had bought the man from its place among Jakotsu’s thick hair. He clasped it in a fist as he opened his eyes and watched the mass of hair slide smoothly from the bun Jakotsu normally wore. It fell, shining in the diminishing gray light, in a black waterfall to flow over pink-covered shoulders. The fingers not clutching the blue glass hairpin tangled in the black strands, pulling the taller man closer. Jakotsu’s fingers flew over the fastenings of the blue-swirled armor, and the stubborn metal fell away. He had shed his own soon after he had returned, and now that Bankotsu’s was out of the way he pressed the length of the smaller body against his own.

Bankotsu broke the kiss, sighing happily as he felt soft, cloth covered skin pressed against his. His lips caressed Jakotsu’s neck as lightning from the springtime rainstorm flashed again, softly traveling down the side before his tongue lapped at the pale skin. Both of them were sweaty, and more than a little bloody still, but they had seen…. and made love to each other, in worse shape. As it was, the salty taste of sweat from the porcelain neck only served to fan the flames of Bankotsu’s desire. His fingers brushed more hair out of the way to grant him further access to his lover’s neck and the shoulders he was busily slipping the pink yukata off of. The cloth finally slipped off the graceful arms and the top part of the garment fell to hang from the sash still tied around Jakotsu’s slim waist.

Jakotsu had been fumbling with Bankotsu’s haori even before he felt the silky lips on his neck, the velvety tongue stroking his jugular, and now he was working frantically. ‘Damn all complicated sashes and hidden ties.’ Finally the unwanted covering came off and Jakotsu barely repressed a sob as he crushed his beloved’s frame to his own. He couldn’t stop the choked sound that ripped from his throat as his bare skin met Bankotsu’s for the first time in so long, and the crash of thunder didn’t drown it out entirely. At a questioning sound against his neck he hugged the younger man even tighter, almost to the point of discomfort.


“I’ve missed you so much. This is so hard.” He buried his face against Bankotsu’s neck, sniffing, torn between the urge to cry and the urge to make up for lost time. The latter won when Bankotsu’s hands stroked down his spine, slipping teasingly just barely under the sash holding his clothing to his waist. Jakotsu sighed and pressed an open-mouthed kiss to the tan neck beneath his red lips. Bankotsu froze expectantly, his body tensing as lightning flared again, giving the scene an eerie effect. Jakotsu licked lightly at the curve where neck met shoulder, and kissed the spot hotly. Bankotsu’s body was humming with anticipation, his hands gripping lean shoulders, head cocked to the side, stretching his neck taut. He felt a growl in Jakotsu’s throat and his breath caught, well aware of the dangerous game he’d started. Warm breath washed over the curve of muscle as Jakotsu opened his mouth fully.

“Jakotsu…. onegai….” Bankotsu whispered. Thunder sizzled through the sky and crashed on top of them as Jakotsu struck. His teeth sank savagely into the soft skin, bruising muscle and drawing blood. Bankotsu’s eyes shot wide open before sliding shut and he let out a soft, high-pitched cry. His tightly strung body went slack, leaning heavily against the taller man. Euphoria shot through him as he felt the skin break, the pain of it dulled by the intense pleasure awakened by the carnal action. Jakotsu gently brought them both to their knees, his teeth still embedded in Bankotsu’s neck. His soft tongue smoothed over the skin between his jaws, lapping up what little blood was spilt from the bite. The copper sweet taste left his body crying piteously. It had been such a long time since he’d held Bankotsu like this.

Thunder crashed again in the dark as Jakotsu disengaged his teeth, dragging his tongue over the wound, calming the angry skin. Bankotsu’s body still shook with shock and his eyes were screwed shut. Jakotsu could hear the short, sweet, soft moans that escaped with every shallow breath, and slowly brought his mouth to Bankotsu’s lips, kissing deeply. It took the braided man a few seconds to register the kiss before he began to respond. This time when his hands went to the sash around the slender waist, it wasn’t to tease, and he deftly untied the strip of cloth, it and the yukata falling away from Jakotsu’s waist. Midnight blue eyes followed the fall, breaking the kiss.

Tan hands slid down over slight abdominal muscles and caressed gently flared hips. Bankotsu’s thumbs dipped into the hollows of his lover’s hipbones before smoothing down over solidly muscled thighs. His thumbs grazed the noticeable bulge at the front of Jakotsu’s underwear on the way down, and a gasp escaped the inked lips. Bankotsu cracked a smile and caught glazed black eyes.

“What, did you like that?” He brought his fingertips back up and ghosted them over the bulge between those strong thighs again. Lightning flashed, Jakotsu’s naked skin colored a cool silver as the pounding rain intensified against the roof. Jakotsu gulped, his hips bucking towards the faint touch as the thunder crashed again. Gentle fingers reached toward the sash fastening Bankotsu’s hakama, but his hands were swatted away, and then lips were fastened to his chest, a strong arm supporting him around his waist.
Bankotsu’s lips and tongue assaulted his skin before finding a pale pink nipple to torture. He kept the ivory body close while his other hand intensified its harassment. He kneaded the fleshy mound softly, reveling in the groans he was evoking from the other man and feeling the thighs flex as Jakotsu’s hips bucked urgently. His tongue slid over the rosy nub and he nibbled at it greedily, the willowy frame in his grasp bending backwards gracefully, hair falling to cloak delicate shoulder blades. A long ragged moan echoed throughout the room, backed by thunder as Bankotsu bit down and slid his fingers underneath the side tie holding Jakotsu’s underwear up. He pulled his hand away from the wintry skin, the simple knot loosening and falling apart. He repeated the action on the other side, and the annoying barrier of cloth fell to the floor.

Jakotsu’s whole body was flushed, and as the cooler air washed over the heated flesh of his erection he gasped in brokenly, the air rattling in his abused lungs. His fingers snuck to Bankotsu’s hakama again and tangled in the sash, gripping convulsively as he felt a bare hand torturing his length. He gritted his teeth against the white-hot pleasure and proceeded to cause the loose pants to pool around his beloved’s knees. An evil smirk graced the red lips as he eyed one of his favorite parts of Bankotsu.

Screwing his eyes shut he forced himself to pull away from the warm grasp, Bankotsu making a noise of confusion and disappointment. He stood, stepping over his discarded clothing, and walked slowly to the futon lying against the back wall, across from the window. Blue eyes glittered, following every move of his slightly swaying hips. Jakotsu spread himself out seductively on the futon, facing his lover, giving Bankotsu a delicious unhindered view of his naked front. Bankotsu didn’t wait around. His own erection refused to be denied for any length of time, and he had no desire to hold himself back. Carefully setting the hairpin on the pile made by their combined clothing he slunk to the futon, sinking onto the soft surface. Jakotsu reached out creamy arms to him and he dove into the embrace, the taller man rolling over until his lighter frame rested on top of Bankotsu’s. His arms were locked around the muscular chest and he bent his head to kiss his lover’s collarbone. Bankotsu sighed happily as lightning washed light over their bodies

“Jakotsu-“

“Sshhhh.” Teeth nipped lightly at his collarbone and Bankotsu’s body responded, arching slightly, then again, desperately, that motion driving their arousals together. Jakotsu sucked in a breath of air against caramel skin and bucked his hips against the other man’s in a slow rhythm. Harmless bite marks appeared down Bankotsu’s chest and around each dusky nipple as the pace of their mutual thrusts picked up.

“Jakotsu, onegai…. I can’t take much more of this, beloved…onegai.”

“Koishii, I haven’t the strength to draw this out any further. I need you now….” Bankotsu pushed Jakotsu up at the words, and waited until the man was kneeling again before making a dive for the pale slender shaft. Jakotsu’s eyes shot open at the feel of that velvety tongue working over his skin, and he gritted his teeth against a groan as another roll of thunder played in their ears. Bankotsu licked at the heated skin, taking the time to thoroughly wash over it with his tongue. Tapered fingers were tangled in his bangs, tugging vainly at the hair trapped in the long braid. Hips bucked helplessly under his grasp and Jakotsu let out a strangled sound. Finally Bankotsu lay back again, blue eyes filled with lust as he almost purred with self-satisfaction. Jakotsu leaned over him, kissing him tenderly on the lips before threading brown knees over porcelain elbows. He looked to the side and kissed Bankotsu’s leg before leaning over further, planting his hands on either side of broad coppery shoulders. With his lover’s legs braced, Jakotsu found his entrance and pushed gently inside.

Bankotsu hissed in a breath, his arms pulling the wintry face framed in ebony down to his own for a sweet, lingering kiss. Tears sprang to his eyes at the forgotten feeling of Jakotsu inside him, and a soft sob of happiness escaped his lips and was absorbed by Jakotsu’s searching tongue. The kiss was promptly broken as Jakotsu asked if he was in pain.

“No, beloved. With you, what should be painful is always pleasure.” Bankotsu smirked through his tears as another intense clap of thunder sounded. It seemed the storm was right over them. He moved slightly, his hips inching up hesitantly and Jakotsu growled.

“ I love you.” That was all Jakotsu could manage to convey before he gave that first thrust and all coherent thought was swept from his mind.


It would have been wonderful to take their time and reacquaint themselves with each other’s hot spots, but their hormones and emotions, not to mention the time limit involved, caused them to set a pace that was fast and hard. The frequent thunder and lightning seemed to spur Jakotsu on, each loud booming instance causing him to thrust harder, deeper. The older man had moved Bankotsu’s legs to his shoulders and was leaning close over his lover, the sweating tan body bent at a severe angle. With every thrust he hit a spot in Bankotsu that made the man cry out, and occasionally yell obscenities. At such a drastic angle, the other man’s hard erection stroked against steeled abdominal muscles with every movement of the body above him, and between the two sources of such direct pleasure, Bankotsu knew he couldn’t hold out. His hips were slamming furiously against Jakotsu’s as he panted and begged the man above him for more.

“Onegai, Jakotsu…so close…harder, oneGAI! Hai! Jakotsu! Nngh! I need…! Harder!” With every pleading word Jakotsu found himself closer to that razor keen edge of oblivion. There was no way he was going to go over without Bankotsu, and he moved his hands, stretching his body over his lover’s, grasping at the sheets well above the braided head. He pulled hard, forcing his body towards his hands, using his grip as leverage. Bankotsu gave a long cry of surprise.

“Hai…. oh yesss…Jakotsu…” His insatiable partner’s rough thrusts were digging deep into his body, slamming against his sweet spot, making stars burst behind his glassy eyes with every powerful movement of the ivory hips. One of his own hands trailed to his burning shaft and began to stroke roughly as the other gripped Jakotsu’s forearm. Then, as Jakotsu rammed into him once more, something inside him burst, and sizzling pleasure flooded his body, rushing to where his hand was flying over his erection. “Ja…. Jakotssssssuuu” he hissed the other man’s name before a feral scream of smoldering ecstasy ripped itself from his throat, thunder crashing loudly to cover it.

“ Bankotsu!!” His lover’s muscles tightened convulsively around him. He pushed himself as deep as he could go once more before the white-hot lightning consumed his exhausted body from the inside out. He heard his own ragged voice crying out his partner’s name before the cry became soundless and his vision faded to white.

Their shuddering bodies lay on top of each other in a tangle of limbs as both struggled to catch their breath. Jakotsu began to cough and rolled off of the man beneath him. Bankotsu stiffly rolled over and held the sweaty form to his while the spasm worked itself out. The thunder was quieter now, the spring storm heading away from their location. Jakotsu rolled to face his caramel-skinned lover and buried himself into the shorter man’s embrace. He snuggled close while he could, stroking the smooth skin of arms and chest and neck. He smiled when he realized Bankotsu was doing the same. They were trying to memorize each other in this moment. Who knew how long it would be before they’d have this chance again?

That thought made the older man sad and he flung his face into the muscular chest. The feel of hot tears against his rapidly cooling skin caused Bankotsu to start. He stroked the head of black smooth hair, resting his forehead against it.

“Beloved, what’s wrong?” If anything, Jakotsu cried harder for the names they couldn’t call each other anymore, for the sentiments they could not verbally express, and for sleeping alone after such a fiery and utterly exhausting, long overdue session with his lover and best friend.

“B-Bankotsu…k-koishii….I hate this. I hate not being able to tell you I love you…I hate not being able to sleep by your side…I hate having to sneak physical affection whenever we can…I hate the fact that whenever it gets to the point where we are about to go insane from lack of contact, that contact is reduced to quick sex off in the woods, pretending to relieve ourselves…not like what tonight was…I miss nights like tonight. I hate that I cannot call you ‘koishii’ and that I rarely get to hear you call me ‘beloved’ anymore…” he broke off, sobbing and coughing and sniffing in horrendously. Bankotsu stroked his skin and hair, dropping light kisses on his shoulders and head and arms before lifting Jakotsu’s tear streaked face from its pillow of copper skin.

“Listen to me, Jakotsu. We do what we have to do.” His own heart sank at the fatalistic words. “I’d rather not be able to tell you I love you than to have you taken away from me permanently. You know what would happen if the rest of them found out, Jakotsu. We’d both be killed. That is why this is necessary. Damn hard…. but necessary.” His eyes blinked heavily and he leaned down to kiss away more salty tears. “Just remember that I do love you…I always will, beloved.” He wrapped the slender frame in a warm, intimate hug. They clung to each other until the thunder stopped, then reluctantly let each other go.

“The rest will be back soon.” Bankotsu’s eyes stared at the tatami mats on the floor. He forced himself to not reach desperately for Jakotsu when the taller man stood and went to his clothing. He watched his beloved partner dress again, and then pick up the blue glass hairpin. “Jakotsu?”

“Aa?”

“Would you mind…for tonight…if I kept that with me?” Bankotsu’s eyes were soft and sad as he looked sheepishly at Jakotsu. The wonderful, warm smile he knew all too well broke over his lover’s face.

“Sure, Bankotsu…. would you mind….?” A hand gestured to his braid and Bankotsu nodded, pulling it forward and removing the woven silver casing that covered the simple string holding the hair in place. It had been a gift from the man standing before him, on his fifteenth birthday well over a year ago. He handed the woven ring to Jakotsu, and received the hairpin in return. Armed against the lonely night with tokens of each other, the two parted company, Jakotsu leaving the room quickly for the one next door. Bankotsu clutched the hairpin and sighed, turning over exhaustedly on the futon. He drew his clenched hand to his chest and closed his eyes. Before he drifted off to sleep, he heard the noise from the next room, and couldn’t help but smile.

“A-CHOO!”

~Owari

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