Cold Water

Author's Note : I like this one, as it was fun to write, but I like Jakotsu/Bankotsu a little better.
Disclaimer : Since they're required... Renkotsu, Jakotsu, Bankotsu, and all the other Shichinintai... They aren't my characters. If they were, there would be a whole lot more yaoi in there.

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Underwater. He stared up at the surface expressionlessly, dark eyes focused on the undulating image of the sun upon the water. Silvery bubbles of air billowed up from his lips, and he felt his lungs empty at first gradually, then in deep bursts. Unloosing his feet from a clump of swaying water weeds, he retained his gaze on the surface as he floated upwards. At times like this, he felt as if this was a rebirth; when he reached the surface, he felt that he would be another person, in another land, perhaps many years from now. His front broke through the surface with a dull splash, crystalline droplets flying to create ever-expanding ripples around him. He sat up, taking a deep breath of fresh air as he treaded water, enjoying the cool water of the spring.

Even after his 'rebirth', Renkotsu was still himself. He swam over to a rock ledge at the rim of the pool, shaking water from his eyes, and then looked up at the massive stones that stood sentinel around his bathing place. Gray monoliths rearing to the sky, splashed with bright green moss in places by where a thin, semi-translucent waterfall flowed from some cracks near the centre of the cliff. It had flowed into a natural spring at the base of said cliff, and so a crystal-clear pool had formed over the years. The smooth, worn stones at the bottom, and occasionally a hardy little water weed or a lone fish, were perfectly visible even from depths of five or six feet above. He considered himself lucky to have found such a secluded yet beautiful place.

Slipping back into the water, he swam beneath the small waterfall and let out a sharp gasp at the icy liquid striking his bare skin. He had been prepared, somewhat, for the shock, and he gradually got used to it as he felt the rushing falls wash away the remnants of his painted facial markings, leaving him now completely exposed, without anything to show he was one of the dreaded band of seven mercenaries, the Shichinin-tai. Renkotsu wondered, without anything else to wonder about, of what could have become of him if he hadn't joined with the others. Probably still in training to be a monk, all alone with only other religious bastards on some shrine in the middle of nowhere... He growled quietly in the back of his throat at this thought, finding the secular and sensuous life of being a mercenary infinitely better. Coming back out from under the waterfall, he shook himself free of water droplets and ran his hands over his smooth head pensively. As hazardous as this profession was, he enjoyed it.

"Renkotsu-aniki? Is that you?" A rustle in the bushes, and then Jakotsu, the effeminate third-in-command of the Shichinin-tai, emerged from the underbrush. Renkotsu quickly got into a position that prevented anything from really being in good view, but when he saw that his team mate's eyes were on the ground he relaxed. The lipstick-wearing young man was known to be lecherous with other men, something that he was still struggling to accept. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that Jakotsu was a good friend and an even better soldier.

"Un, it's me... What are you doing here, Jakotsu?" Renkotsu looked over Jakotsu with scrutiny, realizing that his comrade was not wearing his armour and also had his kimono loosened, thus he was bare to the waist. Feeling heat rise to his face at the lean, lithe form of the other male, he ducked under the water again until he felt his flushed face return to normal. Jakotsu raised an eyebrow at the display, and shrugged vaguely at the question.

"I thought I would wash my hair... I didn't know you came here to bathe," He said, almost shy as he raised his head and looked his commander in the eye. Renkotsu held eye contact for a few moments before sighing and splashing his face with water. Might as well get this part over with. The older of the pair hated awkward moments like this.

"Then go ahead and get in, I'm not done," Renkotsu replied rather snappishly, then watched in something akin to a mix of horror and fascination as Jakotsu slipped out of his clothes. Despite all the time they spent out under the hot sun, travelling and fighting, the feminine young man had retained silken, porcelain-hued skin, near perfection... No, he realized it WAS perfection. As Jakotsu stood naked in front of him, Renkotsu could do nothing but stare at this tempting vision in front of him. Such a reaction to this disturbed him. Sure, he hadn't exactly seen any of his comrades naked before-- three of the lower-ranking members weren't exactly things that motivated one to take a peek beneath the armour or what have you. But now he was blushing like some virgin girl! Ridiculous.

When Jakotsu slid into the water, cautious as he, unlike Renkotsu, did not know how to swim, he shivered and let out a shrill yelp, "Eee, it's so cold! How can you just float there, Renkotsu-aniki?!" He squealed, crossing his arms in order to grip his shoulders and shivering. Cold water or no cold water, he still had the courage to wade out until he was in the water up to his waist. It was there he stopped, apparently unable to go any further due to the frigid temperature. Renkotsu merely shrugged and began weighing his options, and then chose one that was rather... Uncharacteristic. Walking over to Jakotsu, he put his hands on the dark-haired young man's shoulders, keeping a good distance. He didn't want to give him any ideas, after all.

He was caught completely off-guard when Jakotsu flung his arms around him, trembling softly as he strained to catch some of Renkotsu's heat, whimpering quietly in the meantime. Gulping quite audibly, he found himself returning the gesture, and felt extremely ridiculous as he stood there, waist-deep in freezing water, holding Jakotsu like they were lovers or something.

"Oh, aniki... You're so warm!" Jakotsu moaned kittenishly, breath puffing against his commander's ear, "It feels so good..."

Renkotsu made a whimpering noise of his own, feeling some of the warmth begin pooling in his belly as Jakotsu rocked against him gently. Was this really happening?! Was that boy REALLY turning him on?! He denied it voraciously, but in this case he could just let down his doubts for the moment and take advantage of this.

"Jakotsu... I have a question to ask of you."

"Nani?"

"Do you find me..." Renkotsu had an extraordinarily hard time finishing the sentence, "Attractive?"

Jakotsu's obsidian eyes widened, feeling something poking into his lower stomach due to how close the pair of them were. He thought about it for a moment. The older male was tall, well-built, he had a rather sexy voice, too... Hm. A conclusion was reached pretty quickly, "Renkotsu-aniki, I believe I do... But why do you want to know?" He tilted his head curiously, but he knew probably very well why his leader was asking him this.

"I want to know... Because I have the urge to fuck you to kingdom come, that's why you little slut," Renkotsu hissed, proving to him that indeed he was correct. The fire-user let out a deep sigh and relaxed his grip on Jakotsu, as he had tightened it considerably from the tension, "Ah, gomen nasai... I hurt you, didn't I? I did not mean to," After seeing the fear in Jakotsu's eyes at his previous statement, he realized he was both scaring the beauteous young man in his arms as well as starting to crush him. Niether was a good idea.

"N-no... Aniki, I... I'll just go find another spring... This one is too cold," Jakotsu pushed his superior away gently, then turned and waded towards the shore again. He was shivering, rubbing his shoulders to create a bit more warmth as he got to shore. Renkotsu stood there, slightly dumbstruck, as the younger male got halfway dressed and gathered up his extra clothing, giving him an apologetic look as he walked off into the forest again. The fire-user struck his fist against a rock in frustration; he had been so close! How could he have scared Jakotsu away like that?! The ultimate idiocy.

He glanced down at the need created by pressing close to Jakotsu, the creature who he now understood to be the object of his desires. The process of wooing the feminine boy would be long and most likely tedious, but he could pull it off. He was Renkotsu, and with the right amount of scheming, he was certain he could do anything. Wrapping a hand around himself, he slid his eyes shut and imagined Jakotsu's hands around him, stroking lavishly and panting raggedly until he at last was satisfied.

[ FIN ]