Business as Usual, XI
by Laura Bryannan

Mugen was downtown, having spent the last hour at Kohza's place, duking it out with her about Mukuro's attack yesterday. There had been hysterics, accusations and threats on both sides, but he'd finally made it clear that, no, they were not back together, there would be no more fucking, and if she sent her shithole brother after him one more time he'd never speak to her skanky ass ever again. He meant it, and she seemed to buy it, however reluctantly.

The encounter left him feeling disgusted, however, and too pissed off to go back to work right away, so he decided to walk the old neighborhood for a while to burn off some steam. Takeda Delivery wasn't too far away, and the idea of popping in seemed appealing. He found it interesting that he didn't know who he hoped to see.

Yuki's eyes widened when Mugen walked in the office, his excited expression quickly replaced by something more sullen. “If you're looking for Jin, he's not here.”

Mugen shrugged. “I didn't come looking for him. I'm happy to talk to you.”

“You are?” Yuki asked, eyes wary.

“Yep. I've been ignoring two people I shouldn't have,” Mugen said. “One I was glad to blow off, the other...well...I was gonna call you last night but then your boss crashed on me and I felt ripped off and....”

Yuki burst out laughing. “You didn't try to get him drunk, did you? That never works.”

“It worked once,” Mugen retorted, indignant.

“It did? Well, that must've been a fluke,” Yuki insisted, chuckling at Mugen's admission. “So what do you want, Ryu...er...Mugen?”

“Jin said it was OK to see you if I wanted to.”

“Yeah, he said that to me too.”

“So, do you want to?”

“Do you?”

“Duh,” Mugen rolled his eyes. “Would I be sitting here talking about it if I didn't?”

“Well, you've never even called me,” Yuki noted. “You could just be covering your ass since he's not here.”

“Nah,” Mugen insisted. “I been thinking about you.” He paused for a moment and looked Yuki in the eye. “OK, so I got this godawful, intense thing for him, right?”

“I know,” Yuki nodded. “I can relate.”

“But you're more what I'm used to,” Mugen told him. “He makes me insane-o, crazy horny. But...I don't know...maybe things are moving too fast there. You feel kinda comfy, like I can let my guard down. So, do you want to?”

Yuki was flushed, Yuki's breathing was faster, Yuki's eyes were shining, Yuki was going to say yes. “OK. When?”

Mugen smiled to himself. “Tonight works for me. Gimmie your number and I'll call you later.”

Yuki blissfully complied.

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Hojo Yukimaru's life changed on the day he walked into Ryu-san's office. For the first time...ever...he was fascinated with someone besides Takeda Jin.

Jin. The mysterious boy arrived in Yuki's life when he was six years old. A year ahead in school, Yuki could only watch from afar at first. But at the dojo, where Jin came to live with his uncle, Master Mariya, they were often assigned as sparring partners, Yuki being one of the small handful of students who could muster any kind of stand against him.

Their peers were put off by Jin's cold silence and unearthly skill—the infamy and tragedy of his parent's deaths didn't help either—but Yuki pursued him. It took a year, but Jin finally began to open up to his persistent kohai. By the time Yuki was eight, they were constant companions, and Yuki fell more and more in love with his beautiful, brilliant, but ever-guarded friend.

Yuki's grades improved from studying with the school's top student. His martial arts skills improved from training with the most accomplished fighter at the dojo. He was happily the captain's loyal second, who not only basked in the reflected glory but essentially stole it, as Jin never wanted anything to do with that. Yuki was as social as Jin was reclusive, and by the time they were teenagers he'd given up trying to lure Jin out to play with his circle of friends.

But no matter how busy his popular self was, Jin was always first and foremost in his mind. After they broke up Yuki often wondered whether his obsession with him was due purely to Jin's utterly tragic past and his need to fix it somehow. Jin was his life's project, it seemed, the goal being to pull the wounded soul out of his shell and make him happy.

Yuki exulted at every baby step, some of them taking years to accomplish—the first time Jin ever responded to his greetings, the first time he ever initiated conversation, the first time he smiled, the first time he laughed, the first time they touched, the first time they kissed.... These events were beloved milestones that he continued to savor even now.

After Jin left him Yuki stuck around. He continued to support Jin's company. And, yes, it was Jin's company, not their company. But he worked there gladly, happy to see his love every day and give him his best, as always. At night he played with his friends and experimented with many that lonely year, but no one managed to pull him away from his primary interest, much to his chagrin.

And so things had remained until his close encounter with Ryu-san. That afternoon had not gone as he'd planned, although he was never able to figure out exactly what his plan had been. But getting laid on the large mahogany desk, in an office with floor to ceiling windows so many stories up you could see the clouds outside...well, it was life-altering. Sex with Ryu-san was amazing. The man used his face and tongue in ways that left Yuki shuddering. And the steel in that tongue would tickle, tap or tug at him and he would melt at the idea of it just as much as the actual sensation of it.

Yes, he'd walked out of that office a changed man, and he'd hoped against hope that Ryu-san would call him, but it didn't happen. Yuki knew he was still seeing Jin. And although that stung somewhat, Yuki was so used to being second-best, the lesser of the two, it seemed understandable and he didn't question it. Their threesome together only whetted his appetite for the dynamic, exciting man. Yuki had been yearning for Mugen so long, it was almost unbelieveable to open his front door and find him standing there, crooked grin and all.

“Hey!”

“Wow!” was all the overwhelmed Yuki could muster. “Um...come in.” Mugen followed him into the kitchen. “I've got beer, sake, tequila or whiskey,” Yuki told him. “You want something to drink? I've been on this Mexican kick lately, so we're eating chips, beans and salsa.”

“I'll have shot of tequila and a beer, then,” Mugen decided, and he helped Yuki carry the food out to the living room. Yuki's apartment was a one bedroom, but the living/dining room area was large and well-lit. They plopped in front of the TV and got drunk, scooping beans out of the can and salsa out of the jar. “Great shit!” Mugen enthused. Yuki heartily agreed.

Mugen was crude and lewd and totally entertaining. Yuki couldn't remember when he'd laughed so much. Evenings with Jin were quiet. Jin didn't like the TV and preferred to have music on so they could talk or read. Mugen and Yuki caught the last hour of 'Young Frankenstein' and howled through it. He could just see Jin rolling his eyes, Haven't we seen that enough times, Yuki? Hanging with Mugen was so much fun, Yuki was almost reluctant to let that part of the evening go and move on to the sex...almost.

“See, I knew I could let my guard down with you,” Mugen told him, flopping back on the couch with a satisfied sigh when the movie was over. “Oh, sweet mystery of life at last I found you!” he sung in off-key falsetto, then fell to chuckling. Yuki too.

“That movie is too damn funny,” Yuki enthused.

“'S true,” Mugen smiled. “So where's your bedroom loverboy? You wanna go play?”

Yuki nodded solemnly, then stood up and beckoned Mugen to follow. They entered the bedroom and Mugen laughed out loud. “You know, your living room kinda looks like mine and your bedroom kinda looks like mine, except for this kickass bed. I don't have a king size one. It's great!”

They both stripped, got in, and Mugen pounced immediately, Yuki reveling in the ardent, demanding kisses he remembered from before. Mugen's body was warm and comfortable against his, and they snuggled together to grind, entwining their legs for leverage. The bandages worried him, however.

“What happened to you?” Yuki insisted on knowing.

“Mukuro beat me up,” Mugen told him. “Got thrown against a fence.”

“Mukuro!” Yuki gasped. “Oh my god! Are you sure you're okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Now quit'cher talking.” Mugen shut him up the only way he knew how.

Yuki was in bliss. There was something alive about Mugen. He was sensual, he was hungry. His skills brought the clinical precision of Jin's lovemaking into sharp contrast. Jin's technique was flawless but, oh, the passion was lacking. Yuki hadn't seen such a look in Jin's eyes since those heady days in their mid-teens when they were discovering sex. Mugen was passion with a capital P, and Yuki was swept away.

And then there was his cock—the girth of it unmistakable, unforgettable, impossible to ignore. But Mugen used it consciously, and didn't overwhelm him with fucking. He pulled out only an inch or so, gently stirring his innards and stroking his prostate. It was wonderfully good, and Yuki opened to him fully, letting Mugen position him as he wished. He felt so well-served and well-used, when he came he almost cried at the sweetness of it. Afterwards, as they floated, Yuki studied the brown fingers interlaced with his own, curious about the blue bands inked on the wrist.

“Do they mean anything?” he asked, not really expecting an answer, so he was surprised when Mugen spoke.

“Long time ago they used to tattoo these kinds of bands on convicts,” he said. “So when I got outta prison, I went and had 'em inked on...um...so I'd never forget, I guess. Don't ever want to be so stupid again.”

Prison?!? Yuki wondered, incredulous. He was dying to know more, but drowsiness was looming and Mugen was stirring. “You've got to go?” he asked.

“Next time I'll bring my stuff, if you want,” Mugen replied, “but I don't want to fight my way uptown in the morning.” Yuki nodded, feeling too content to be upset. Mugen grinned at him wolfishly as he got dressed. “You're pretty fun in the sack, samurai boy,” he said sincerely, leaning over to kiss the snoozy man still sprawled lewdly on the bed in the same position he'd left him.

“So are you,” Yuki replied. And then, after a pause, “If you don't call me, Mugen-sama, I'll be the one beating you up next, got it?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Mugen groused, good-naturedly, then he saluted and walked out the door.

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At work the next morning, Mugen debated plans for the evening. Who to call?

It had been a little off-putting to inform Jin last night that he was spending the evening with Yuki and receive an unhesitating, “Oh good. He's been a bear at the office. Maybe you can improve his mood.” He hadn't thought he was getting together with Yuki to make Jin jealous, but when Jin didn't blink he wondered about himself.

Jin was complicated, Yuki was not, so Mugen decided to approach Yuki first. “How about I rent us a swanky room with a hot tub somewhere and we all party tonight?”

“I'm into it, but Jin won't be able to come,” Yuki informed him.

“Why not?”

“He's going to Tokyo after work to visit his uncle.”

Mugen scrambled. As much fun as he'd had with Yuki last night, he was beginning to need his Jinfix. Yesterday he'd been feeling too vulnerable and beholden, embarrassed by the help he'd needed after Mukuro's attack and how good it felt to get it. Today, after some delicious Yuki distraction, that freakout was fading and he was feeling more himself. “What would it take to change his mind?”

“I don't know,” Yuki said. “His uncle is his guardian, and they had a falling out when Jin went to college. Things are still pretty tentative, I believe, so I don't know if he'd be willing to blow it off. He's trying to find a flight as we speak.”

Mugen thought some more and had an inspiration. “We'll kidnap him,” he decided. “I'll hire a flight to Tokyo, K? Go make sure he doesn't book anything until I get back to you.”

Yuki assented and Mugen set his secretary on it. He knew she'd come through, and she did—a private jet that could leave anytime after 3pm. He phoned Jin, “So I hear you want to go to Tokyo this evening. Lemmie take you.”

“What!?!”

“I gotta private flight all set up,” Mugen told him. “I invited Yuki too. We can drop you off at your uncle's and you can meet us at the hotel later.” He held his breath.

“You bought...a flight?” Jin was sounding uncharacteristically stupefied.

“Yeah, I hired a plane. I got money, OK?” Mugen was feeling impatient. “Come on! Say yes. It'll be fun. We can leave anytime you want.” After continued expert nudging, Jin finally agreed and the trip was arranged. Mugen thought he'd died and gone to heaven.

The limo picked up Yuki first, who entered and promptly squealed, “Oh my god, this is great!” Mugen jumped him to get in a little private make-out time before they got to Jin's place just a few blocks away. Licorice Boy, Mugen thought. Dark and sweet.

Jin got in with a quiet hello and Mugen jumped him too. Jin did not resist, although kissing him remained a battle. Mostly they played in the middle, for both resisted the plunder of their own mouths by the skilled tongue of the other. When defenses were breached and Jin finally opened, allowing Mugen to prowl and forage inside, the treasure discovered seemed extra sweet for all the hard work earning it.

After a while, Jin pushed him away, chuckling, “The airport's not that far away, Mugen.” He grudgingly admitted it would be better to wait.

The plane itself was as nice as Mugen expected it to be. Jin and Yuki tried not to appear impressed but he could tell they were, and that tickled him immensely. It was a six-seater, with a suite in the back. “There's a fucking bed on this plane,” Yuki informed them, even though they could both see it themselves—that and a few chairs, a loveseat, coffee table and entertainment system.

The captain and flight attendant, used to being discrete on such flights, came in to say hello and drone the necessary safety instructions, then essentially disappeared. Once the “Fasten Seat Belt” sign came off, they were free to play. Yuki and Mugen ordered drinks, and they flopped around the suite eying each other with a certain predatory air.

“It'll be the usual two and half hours to Tokyo,” Mugen told them. “You wanna watch a movie...or something?”

“Something!” Yuki decided.

Mugen turned to him with a smoky grin. “Who gets to go first?” He and Yuki squabbled until Jin roused himself.

“No one,” he announced. “I don't want to show up at my uncle's reeking of sex.”

Mugen and Yuki eyed each other, having plotted earlier on the phone. “So what if he resists?” Mugen had asked.

“I'm not sure,” Yuki replied. “He hasn't touched me since you and I...you know....”

Mugen liked the sound of that, but persisted. “Well, we should have a plan just in case. Who knows, you might get lucky again.”

They'd hemmed and hawed until Yuki announced, “Oh, I know! The perfect secret weapon. If you can keep him distracted, I'll bring out the big guns.”

And so, faced with predictably resistant prey, Mugen and Yuki initiated their plan. Mugen attacked Jin's mouth, and gave way so Jin could slip that long and talented tongue inside his own even though it made him feel invaded and woogy. He captured and sucked on it until Jin wiggled free and tickled the back of his throat, making him convulse.

Mugen was trying to get past Jin's defenses when suddenly his jaw slackened and a moan escaped like none he had ever heard. He knew Yuki couldn't be at Jin's crotch because his hand was resting proprietarily on the zipper of his jeans to keep the prize all for himself. But the moans were continuing, so Mugen raised his head to see what Yuki was up to. He had to look twice to believe it, but Yuki had Jin's shoes off and was busy massaging one elegant, narrow foot. Jin was clearly in ecstasy, and Mugen laughed.

Not to be outdone, he slid down next to Yuki and pulled the sock off the other one, sucking Jin's big toe, and then all the rest, into his mouth. Jin's back arched off the bed and he moaned again. “Oh my god!” he gasped, as both feet were lovingly attended to.

After a while, Mugen raised his head and grumped. “Shit. If I didn't know better, I'd say you like this better than sex.”

“It is better than sex!” Jin assured him, writhing in happiness.

“Nothing is better than sex,” Mugen insisted, watching Yuki's massage style and trying to copy it, secretly amazed at how melted Jin was after just a few minutes of attention.

“Another ten minutes of this and he'll be willing to fuck a duck,” he whispered to Yuki.

Yuki nodded gleefully. “Told ya!” he whispered back. “Works better than kissing.”

And so the stoic Jin's sharply defined boundaries began to blur, the lines dissolving like a sidewalk chalk picture in a rainstorm. Defenses lost, he was a puddle of undefined color and light when Mugen and Yuki removed his clothes, both contemplating the beauty of this stark white, blank canvas. What art belonged here? They nodded to each other and began to create.

to be continued