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Shadows stretch across the gray slate, sticks whittled by the setting sun, as Gorou trots down the steps past Shimura’s. His eyes are darting around for a familiar tuft of red hair as the warm, faintly floral air rushes past his lips in quick inhales. After he rounds another corner, he sees Kazuha, already looking up in his direction with an easy grin spread across his face.
Kazuha waves and watches as Gorou skips down and slams into him, practically shaking with excitement as his tail fans in the breeze.
“Kazuha!”
“Hello, General,” Kazuha replies, holding him tight and rubbing his back. He giggles. “Somehow, you seem even more excited to see me than usual.”
Gorou flusters a little, pulling away from Kazuha’s shoulder as his tail stutters. “I’m just happy to see you! I’ve been looking forward to this all day.”
Kazuha’s brow furrows slightly, but he keeps his warm expression. “Is something bothering you, my friend?”
Gorou sighs and slumps, “You saw right through me, just like she did…”
“Ah…Guuji Yae?”
Gorou nods.
“Every time I see her it’s always the same. I tried not to show what I was thinking this time, Miwa told me that’s what gives Yae Miko the advantage, but it didn’t even help because my tail gave me away.” Gorou groans, pulling his ears down.
Kazuha grasps Gorou’s hands and gently pulls them away before brushing his own through Gorou’s hair, eyes tracing around his face.
“How about this, would you like to go to the Aisa Bathhouse with me? I believe the hot water would be good for you, and later, we could eat. What do you think?”
Gorou’s face lights up with a twitch of his ear.
“That does sound nice…alright, works for me.”
Kazuha smiles, and the two of them head back up the steps together, Kazuha lacing his fingers through Gorou’s as sakura petals flit across their hair.
Once they arrive, Kazuha hands over the mora for a private bath. Gorou raises his eyebrows, but Kazuha merely shrugs.
“I assumed that you would want some time away from others at the moment.”
“Well, I would, but-”
“Don’t worry about it, it’s my treat tonight.”
Gorou opens his mouth, pauses, and shrugs his shoulders in resignation. He smiles gratefully.
“I’ll have to make you some ramen later, then.”
The two of them meander into the dressing room before stripping easily out of their clothes. The air is misty and warm, fresh like tea steam, coaxing him to relax. Kazuha looks almost serene as he slips his clothes off his body, the lamplight limning his scarred skin.
Gorou steps out to the bath and sighs as he quickly slides in, eyes barely closed as his tail drags through the water. Kazuha peeks over and chuckles.
“Feels good?”
“Mhmm.”
“Then let’s see…”
Gorou opens an eye as he hears Kazuha step over, and he steals a glance at his bare body before he sinks in beside him. Kazuha closes his eyes and a smile tugs at his lips as he melts like a cat on a windowsill.
“Are you sure you’re not the one who needed this?” Gorou jokes.
Kazuha chuckles. “Baths like this are not always a common pleasure,” he muses before he opens his eyes.
“Come here,” he adds. “I’d like to rub your back for you.”
Gorou’s ears perk up and he smiles. No one gives massages quite like Kazuha. Little ripples tickle the water as Gorou scoots over and Kazuha pulls him to sit facing forward on his lap. Kazuha’s embrace is familiar and warm, but Kazuha’s dick somewhere below the water prods at his thoughts the way rain does at sleep.
“Good, now relax for me,” Kazuha murmurs, a familiar cadence in his voice that soothes Gorou as he breathes deep and stretches his shoulders. Kazuha hums and starts rubbing just beneath them, quickly finding the places that Gorou likes. He lets out a low, satisfied sound, but his eyes open when he hears a soft laugh from Kazuha. He turns around to see him still smiling.
“What is it?”
“Your tail, it’s tickling me.”
“Oh,” Gorou chuckles. “I didn’t even realize.”
“It’s cute…” Kazuha murmurs before he leans forward to kiss just below Gorou’s neck. “You know...I love how easy it is to tell how excited you are.”
Gorou blinks, processing that, weighing how it makes him feel, before he settles on the tenderness suffusing Kazuha’s words. He looks back up again.
“Kazuha?”
“Mmmm.” Kazuha traces a circle on his back.
“Did Guuji Yae make your expressiveness out to be a weakness?”
“Well, sort of…she said that there’s no point in trying to hide how I feel, and then she started talking about my ears again…”
Gorou stiffens as he talks, and Kazuha leans forward to kiss his shoulder.
“Well, I believe that she is being…uncharitable. I do not care for the way she treats you.”
Kazuha leans in a little closer, whispering near Gorou’s ear. “Do you know, your openness in expression is one of my favorite things about you?”
Gorou’s ears prick up, eyes wide. “Really?”
Kazuha nods, smiling. “Just now, the way your ears twitched, and the little flutter of your tail when I praised you…it’s truly gratifying to see such joy from you, and knowing that it’s genuine. If you managed to quell these responses, and tried to hide them around me, at least…I would rather miss them.”
Kazuha reaches out to Gorou’s chin, moving gently to kiss his cheek. “I’m not saying that it isn’t worthwhile to seek ways of handling people like her. Just know that your expressions are something that I treasure.”
Gorou looks back at Kazuha, that warmth in his expression and the love laced between his lips, and he tears up.
“Kazuha…” he murmurs, turning around in his lap so he can pull Kazuha closer, tight against his chest.
“I mean every word,” Kazuha whispers, caressing the hair behind Gorou’s ears. “You’re so honest, letting me hear just how sweet you are, how compassionate.”
Gorou sighs, and as he relaxes against Kazuha’s body, he becomes keenly aware of the fact that his length is resting gently against Kazuha’s. His twitches slightly, instinctively, and he sighs.
Kazuha chuckles. “I like those responses, too…”
Kazuha brings his hands to Gorou’s shoulders, gently pushing him forward enough that he can kiss his cheeks before studying his face. “How are you feeling?”
Gorou giggles, wiping his eyes. “Well, much better, and…well, maybe a little excited,” he admits, his tail struggling to move in the water but matching his words, nonetheless.
Kazuha smiles. “In that case, would you indulge me in a little more of your sensitivity?”
Gorou shivers and nods softly.
“Good boy,” he replies, eliciting another twitch. “Come here,” he whispers, pulling Gorou close to his mouth before meeting his lips. Gorou groans as Kazuha licks at his lip, nipping so tenderly as he tugs him in close.
Gorou pulls back and whispers, “Kazuha…what are you planning, exactly? I’m not sure that these walls are soundproof…”
Kazuha chuckles. “Don’t worry. We’re tucked pretty far back here, and I can’t hear any of the rooms being occupied nearby. You should be able to quiet yourself just fine.” Kazuha brushes his fingers lightly across Gorou’s back in a teasing echo of his earlier touch.
“Chin up,” Kazuha murmurs, and Gorou eagerly complies, eyes closed. Kazuha presses soft, quick kisses below his jaw before running his nose up his hair and barely nipping at his ear. Gorou can’t quite muffle the small yelp that follows. Kazuha kisses his temple before taking him in.
“You look so wonderful like this, desire etched into each of your features, almost as if I penned it there myself. You’re as pretty as poetry.” He smiles when Gorou blushes.
“I…how do you expect me to respond to something like that,” he asks with a small laugh.
“You don’t have to."
He trails his fingers across Gorou’s sides until they rest on his chest. He begins teasing one of his nipples, circling it and brushing it with his thumb as Gorou bites his lip. Kazuha leans in to kiss him again as he gives his nipple a light pinch. Gorou moans against his mouth, gripping a little harder at Kazuha’s side as he pulls back and sucks in air.
Gorou laughs and raises his eyebrows. “Did you do that on purpose?”
“It kept you quiet,” Kazuha smiles, a bit innocently, before he smirks. “It also let me hear you so closely.”
Gorou makes a small noise and his dick jumps. Kazuha sighs before he slides his hands down to grip Gorou’s hips and grind him against his hips, frotting. They both moan, quiet and strained, as Gorou becomes very aware of how turned on Kazuha is.
“Kazuha,” he whines, trembling.
“Mm...is there something you need?” Kazuha asks sweetly, though the shake in his voice betrays his own pleasure. He squeezes Gorou’s ass a little. “Use your words.”
“Can…can you touch me, please."
Kazuha smirks as he moves his hand from Gorou's hip to drag over his cock. Gorou gasps and his face scrunches, trying fervently to keep quiet.
“How can I say no when you sound so earnest?” Kazuha says, sighing softly kissing Gorou’s shoulder.
Kazuha’s breath wafts over Gorou’s ear as he leans in close. “Especially when I’ve felt you twitching this whole time. So eager for me, do you know how good it feels?”
Gorou muffles a whimper with a quick hand, and Kazuha wraps his free arm around Gorou’s back while stroking his erection.
“That’s it, you’re doing great,” he coos, teasing the tip with his thumb before sliding his hand back down again. His motions are fluid, almost elegant if they weren’t so improper.
Gorou briefly uncovers his mouth, his voice strained, “Kazuha, what about-”
“Shhh, we’ll get to that. Just focus on my fingers for now,” Kazuha murmurs.
Gorou nods, brow furrowed as he moans into his hand. Kazuha grins as he slides his hand up and down his length, slowly building into a rather familiar rhythm.
“Were we in front of a mirror, and you could see how stunning you look...” Kazuha purrs, relishing every one of Gorou’s escaping noises like sunlight peeking through a curtain. “Flushed and red like a maple leaf. Perhaps I could tie you up and wear you on my hip with the others.”
Gorou laughs breathlessly before it's cut off by another moan. Kazuha starts stroking him a little harder and tighter, enjoying how warm and vulnerable he feels as he fucks him with his hand. Gorou trembles, gripping onto him as he messily grinds his hips, brushing against Kazuha’s hard length and pulling a pretty moan out of him.
“You sound good…too,” Gorou squeaks before whimpering into his hand again. Kazuha exhales.
“Let me do a little more to you,” he whispers, and Gorou whines as Kazuha pulls his hand away and cups his ass instead. Kazuha lifts him out of the water and sets him on the side of the bath, settling himself in front of his knees.
“Spread your legs,” Kazuha whispers, smirking.
Gorou’s voice is still breathy as he asks, “What if someone comes to check on us?”
“I’ll hear them, sweetheart. Don’t fret.” Kazuha raises his eyebrows suggestively.
Gorou sighs and slowly spreads his thighs apart, closing his eyes as he averts his gaze.
“Pretty,” Kazuha murmurs, as he leans in to kiss Gorou’s wet tip.
Gorou gasps. “Kazuha,” he mutters, blushing.
“Do you want me to stop?”
“...No.”
Kazuha giggles. He takes the head into his mouth, swirling his tongue and lapping up the clinging water. He savors it, tracing each contour like a pocketed keepsake. He gives a pleased hum when Gorou moans, and Gorou’s breath catches at the vibration.
“Kazuha…”
“Mm?” Kazuha pops off his dick. “What is it?”
“It’s…embarrassing,” he huffs, eyes darting away.
“Tell me,” Kazuha coos. “Won’t you be good and let me know?”
Gorou makes a little noise and blushes as he looks back at Kazuha.
“It’s just…you look so hot like that. With…with me in your mouth...”
Kazuha smiles and exhales.
“Good boy,” he replies, leaning up to press a kiss against Gorou’s lips. “Thank you for telling me.”
“...Do you like hearing it?”
“Did you like it when I told you that you looked pretty all spread out for me?”
Gorou looks down and notices Kazuha’s dick throb beneath the water. “...Mhm.”
Kazuha kisses him again. “You have your answer.”
Gorou watches Kazuha’s eyes narrow in thought before he shifts his weight to kneel between Gorou’s legs, raising himself a little in the water. He moves his hand to grip Gorou’s shaft again, thumbing at the tip. He starts rubbing with purpose, lengthening his strokes in a tight fist as he watches Gorou’s scrunched up face.
“Do you like how I’m touching you?” Kazuha whispers, reaching his free hand up to play with Gorou’s nipple.
“I, ah, o-of course I do,” Gorou whines, gripping at the edge of the bath.
Kazuha smiles before he leans in to suck on Gorou’s neck, trailing up to his ear to whisper more sweet praises as his hand pumps and slides along his length. “So pretty when you shake like that, so good for me. Such sweet noises...”
He can tell Gorou’s close from the shift in his breathing and the way his body tenses.
Kazuha quickly dips down to take Gorou in his mouth again, hand still working the shaft, pausing first to whisper, “Won’t you be a good boy and come for me?”
Gorou whines against his palm, and after Kazuha starts sucking, his hips stutter as he peaks inside Kazuha’s mouth. He pants and shivers, his back arched, and Kazuha moans as his dick pulsates between his lips. Kazuha strokes him through it, slow and soft, considerately catching every bit of cum. Gorou starts to relax, breathing out in hard exhales as the tension traipses away with his energy.
Kazuha lifts his head up and smiles.
“Easy there,” he murmurs, pulling himself out of the water to sit close to Gorou, pulling him against his side. Gorou grins weakly, eyes closed and expression hazy as he nestles himself in Kazuha’s arms. Kazuha presses kisses against his hair in an unheard rhythm as water laps at the side of the bath. Their breathing settles as the ripples fade.
Gorou eventually stirs, straightening up and locating Kazuha’s tender expression.
“You okay?” Gorou asks.
Kazuha smiles. “More than okay. You look so peaceful, General.”
Gorou giggles, blushing.
“Shall we stay here a little longer?”
Gorou thinks of the life waiting for him outside the bath house: his troops, his friends, and that opaqueness in everyone’s faces that sometimes seems as thick as a samurai’s helm. And he looks across from him, at Kazuha. His partner. The same helm adorns his face, but he’s covered it so dutifully with his thoughts, like another page of gifted poetry. Sometimes, the ink bleeds and renders it almost translucent. He nuzzles his head into Kazuha’s neck.
“Yeah, just a little longer.”