Business as Usual, XII
by Laura Bryannan

Jin dreaded the command performances, but they had always been a part of life with his uncle and so he'd learned to endure them. They never got any easier, however. And while he would always be grateful his uncle took him in after his parent's deaths, and life at the dojo had suited him well, his uncle's demands and expectations had been overwhelming from the start. The cherished and well-loved only child had been cast from an emotional oasis into the desert, and he had never completely recovered from the horror of it.

He knew he'd be faced tonight with words of duty and obligation. How his service was owed to the dojo, to his family and to the memory of his parents. He was aware of his ancient heritage—that his line of the family was powerful, respected and sometimes feared. He didn't know what kinds of enterprises had caused his father to be targeted by the assassin and he had never wanted to know, thus the neverending battle between himself and his only close kin.

Uncle Mariya stopped speaking to him on the day he left for Okinawa University. There had been a year of blessed relief, but then he'd mysteriously changed his mind and the cycle renewed itself. For the past three years Jin had been expected to make a showing when he was called to do so. Each visit had been depressingly similar...until now.

Jin roused from the blissful stupor his lover's attentions had placed him. “Thank you so much,” he said sincerely, his heart fairly bursting with appreciation. “I hate visiting my uncle, so this is a wonderful distraction.”

“Why do you go, then?” Mugen asked.

“I must,” Jin told him. “I've already thwarted his every ambition for me, so visiting is the least I can do.” He sighed and then continued, “I always spend the trip to Tokyo arguing with him in my mind, saying all the things I can't say to him when he's haranguing me. But this time....” He smiled and they were enchanted.

“Seems to me you need to get laid,” Mugen decided, “like for the next hour or so. What do you say, Yuki?”

Yuki beamed, “I'm definitely game.” They both turned to Jin, who was looking hungry but uncertain.

“You can't come in me,” he told them. “I can't be...leaking....”

“There's always condoms in the bathroom of these things.” Mugen jumped up and came back grinning, tossing some silver packets onto the bed. Snuggling next to Jin, he got nose to nose. “It'll help me keep it up longer, anyway,” he whispered huskily. And, with that, he opened Jin's mouth with his tongue and stole inside, leaving Yuki to take care of the rest of him...for the moment.

Jin drank in the familiar tea and tobacco flavor of the man who had become the passion of his life. Their kiss was lazy, unhurried, the steel-spiked tongue gentle and soothing, melting him as it always did. Mugen opened to him as well, and Jin delighted in Mugen's moans as he penetrated deep.

Cool hands tugged at his jeans, and a warm mouth explored where he wanted it most, displaying such a comfortable familiarity with his body that he relaxed completely, sighing in contentment. Yuki's tongue felt almost cozy, as leisurely in its activities as Mugen's. Jin was sure Mugen and Yuki were in some sort of unspoken conspiracy, for they continued in the same dreamy way until it became maddening, not taking pity on him until he was squirming and whimpering.

Finally Mugen raised his head, looking smoky. “What'sa matter?” he asked, while tossing a condom Yuki's way. Yuki gave him a wide-eyed, questioning look, but Mugen nodded and he didn't need to be told twice. Mugen turned back to Jin. “Yuki first, then me. You can't cum till me, though, K?”

Jin agreed, stroking his face as he backed off a bit to give Yuki some room, then Jin turned to his dearest friend. Yuki looked at him searchingly, a teasing finger encircling his entrance, but going no further. “Is it really all right?” he whispered. Jin nodded, pulling him into a kiss, remembering how he associated licorice with love. He gasped as Yuki's fingers entered him, moaning as they drummed a tune his body had always adored. And then there was Yuki himself, the warm length pressing inside as Yuki broke their kiss and smiled into his eyes.

“Are you happy, Yuki?” Jin asked, treasuring the shining face above him.

“I'm happy,” he replied. His eyes flickered in Mugen's direction. “You're very generous, Jin-nii. I'm grateful.” They shared another smile before a gentle thrust of his hips shut Jin's eyes. Gathered into the arms of his lover, Jin opened his thighs and accepted Yuki deeper even as his hand reached out to seek the tanned one laying near. He could hear Mugen chuckle and move upward so he could be stroked. Jin fondled the thick, heavy shaft, his attention only partly on the task, but Mugen's purring assured him his efforts were appreciated.

The pace remained dreamlike for a sweet, long time until suddenly Yuki gave a squeak, his hips lurching into Jin so that he gasped as well. Jin's eyes popped open to see Mugen leaning over Yuki, and assumed his fingers were in the obvious place. “Maybe it's gonna be my turn soon, huh?” he whispered. Jin shivered in sympathy to see his tongue dart out and encircle the rim of Yuki's ear before dipping inside. Yuki's cock was pulsing and it wasn't hard to imagine what Mugen was doing to cause it.

Gone was the languid movement. Yuki bucked and writhed, spurred on by Mugen's demanding fingers. Jin grit his teeth as Yuki shoved him hard, plunging deep, and then he collapsed with a moan. “Oh god, yessss,” Yuki sighed, panting into Jin's hair, as Jin pet him and whispered warm endearments. After his breathing normalized, Jin pulled his head up and kissed him again, feeling quite tender toward his ex.

But then Yuki was backing away, flopping next to him with a contented sigh, and Mugen was there—the dark, spicy presence dominating his awareness and commanding his attention. After another deep, soul-shaking kiss and some expert groping of his aching erection, how could Mugen expect him to think? “You wanna cum when I'm fucking you or you wanna cum down my throat after?”

Jin opened his eyes, melting at the lusty expression on his lover's face. “Anything...really....” was all he could manage. And then, shuddering, he whispered, “Just fuck me.”

Mugen smiled and obliged him, gathering him up and pushing carefully inside. But when he was fully seated he flipped them both over so that Jin straddled his hips. Pulling the pale, lithe form to his chest, Mugen snuggled him close and began to stroke his back. Long gentle strokes from shoulders to ass, curving around every now and again to massage the firm cheeks before petting and scratching the slender back again.

Jin was in heaven. Sometimes Mugen would travel past his ass to work on his toes and the soles of his feet. The sensations were so luscious, Jin couldn't believe he wanted more. Usually Mugen's cock left him a little breathless, but he'd been loved so long and so well by that point, he wanted everything Mugen had to give. Unfortunately, Mugen wasn't giving it to him. He remained motionless except for the tantalizing stroking of his fingers, so Jin began to undulate, lifting his hips and thrusting himself upon the member impaling him.

“Please, Mugen,” he whispered, sucking the strange earring into his mouth so he could nip the lobe and lick behind it. Mugen chuckled and rolled over again, pulling Jin's legs over his shoulders. Jin tensed, but Mugen leaned in, purring, “Easy...easy...I always do you nice, don't I?”

He began to thrust in his languid but insistent Mugen way and Jin relaxed, whispering it was so. Peeking at Yuki, Jin was relieved to find him watching with a contented face. They smiled at each other and Yuki brushed a strand of hair away from his eyes. Jin captured the hand and refused to let go, even as Mugen's movements increased in intensity, overwhelming his consciousness. Yuki reached between the two slick, sweaty bodies, found Jin and began to stroke. Mugen grunted his approval and picked up the pace, changing his angle of penetration so that Jin was gasping at every thrust.

There was a blissful moment when the orgasm hovered within reach, and then it blossomed into fullness and exploded with radiant fire. Jin crushed Yuki's hand and dug his nails into Mugen's back as the sensations washed over him, feeling as if his heart would burst with gratitude. Milked by the strong muscles surrounding him, Mugen could resist no longer and released as well, cussing and moaning as he pounded into Jin for those last few luscious thrusts.

The three snuggled together in blissful afterglow, breathing together, hands still exploring and memorizing, until the loudspeaker startled them, announcing they would have to take their seats in fifteen minutes.

Untangling with a sigh, Jin felt the reality of what he would soon have to face looming, but he was meeting it with a level of calm and nonchalance he had never known before. “Thank you so much. That was wonderful medicine,” he told them sincerely, and they agreed with him, nodding to each other smugly.

And so it was that Mugen and Yuki left a somewhat wobbly, but otherwise none the worse for wear, Jin at the ferry to Kisarazu. The address of the Regency Hotel safely in his shirt pocket, Jin told them it was doubtful he'd be back later tonight, but tomorrow.... Yes, they had better be ready for him tomorrow!

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Mugen and Yuki were eating a leisurely breakfast in bed...after...when Mugen spoke up. “So, tell me about him,” he demanded.

“What do you want to know?”

“Well, what's up with his uncle? Why does he hate visiting him?”

Yuki looked thoughtful for a moment. “You should really be asking him this stuff. Don't know if I should say.”

“Aw, come on.”

Yuki shook his head. “Jin's twitchy about his background. If I rat on him then all you'll need to do to get me out of the picture is tell him I talked about it and he'll never speak to me again.”

“I don't want you outta the picture,” Mugen insisted. “I won't tell.”

Yuki eyed him, debating, then sighed. “Jin's family is one of the oldest in Japan, and he's the last of his particular line of Takedas—a very anachronistic line, at that.”

“Huh?”

“Well, it's like they all belong in a different era, or something. Jin's uncle, Takeda Mariya, is his grandfather's youngest brother. He's the master of the dojo I studied at, and he's acknowledged as one of the finest martial artists in Japan. Jin's father was renowned as well, and he began training Jin from the moment he could walk, I guess. Jin's been groomed to take over the dojo his entire life, but he doesn't want to do it, thus the fights with his uncle.”

“Why doesn't he want to?” Mugen asked. “Sounds like a cushy job to me.”

“I imagine it's because of his parent's murders, but I honestly can't say for sure.”

“Murders?!?”

“Yes, and Jin killed their assassin...when he was six years old!”

“He told me he had a criminal record,” Mugen said. “Is that why? What the hell happened?”

Yuki nodded. “He's never spoken about it, but my family was close to his and my mother told me. You've seen the scar on his belly right?”

“Yeah, I figured it was his appendix.”

Yuki snorted. “They don't cut you all the way through when your appendix ruptures, stupidass. That's a sword wound, believe it or not. According to my mom, the night Jin's parents were attacked the security system noted an intruder but, by the time the police arrived, there were four bodies. Jin's was the only one alive, just barely. He'd heard his parent's screams, got the wakazashi from his great-great-great-grandfather's daisho—the one in his front room, by the way—and attacked the assassin. He managed to kill the guy, but not before he got run through himself.”

“Holy shit!” Mugen breathed.

“You got it,” Yuki agreed. “He spent a month in the hospital recovering, then came to live with his uncle. That's when I first encountered him. He started attending the school I did, although he was a year ahead of me. I didn't get to meet him until he showed up at the dojo. His father had kept him away, but his uncle threw him into training almost as soon as he arrived. He's an amazing swordsman, Mugen, although he laughs at his skills and believes them useless.”

“Well, they are kinda useless, aren't they?”

“I suppose,” Yuki conceded.

Mugen waited for him to continue, but he didn't. He had stopped eating and was picking at his food. After a few minutes, Mugen noted, “You sure got quiet all of a sudden.”

“Yeah, well you said before I talk too much. You're so fucking right.” He put his tray on the floor and was about to get out of bed when Mugen grabbed his arm.

“Come back here,” he ordered. “What's going on?”

Yuki gave him a troubled glance. “I feel sick,” he said. “I should never have told you all that stuff. I feel like I've betrayed him.” He tried to wrench his arm free of Mugen's grasp, but Mugen held on.

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Look, you don't know how it was for him at school and at the dojo. He wouldn't speak to anyone but the sensei for years. The disaster was supposed to be all hush hush, and it was kept out of the papers because of his age, but everyone knew. And since he was so weird everyone thought the worst, I guess. Some people even thought he killed his folks. He was so unhappy and he's come so far and....” Yuki sighed and hung his head.

“I was the one who sent him to you that night,” he continued. “All for money—for a fucking account. He didn't want to go, you know. He wanted me to cancel the meeting and I refused. Isn't that ironic?” He laughed bitterly. “First I throw him to the wolves and now I'm betraying him again...all because I can't say no to you.” He wrenched his arm away and curled up into a ball on his side.

Mugen blinked a few times, trying to understand, then snuggled up behind his very upset lover. “Hey, maybe I'm a wolf, but I'm not the enemy, OK? I thought he was glad we met. Do you know something about that I don't?”

“No.” Yuki turned and looked at him intently. “Just please don't tell him I spoke about this. I swear, he'll never forgive me if he finds out.”

“I ain't gonna tell, I promise,” Mugen said, sincerely. “I'm glad you told me. It explains a lot.” He leaned down to share a kiss, and after a while the tense and agitated body next to his relaxed. The information about Jin left him feeling exhilarated, as if a weight he hadn't known he'd been carrying had fallen off his shoulders. Hope bloomed. Maybe he'll understand after all, he thought happily. He broke their kiss, grinning.

“So what's your story?” he asked, poking the firm belly and swirling his finger in the curls below. “You gotta tragic past too?”

Yuki's brow arched, a sly look coming over his face. “I'm not saying another word,” he stated, tracing the blue bands on Mugen's wrist, “until you tell me what you did to land your ass in prison.”

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“...what your father wished for you. He and your mother were so happy when you were born, for it meant the family traditions would continue and....” Uncle Mariya was droning on, but Jin wasn't paying close attention. He'd heard every argument a hundred times.

Hungry mouths meeting, opening, tongues searching and teasing...the wiry body's simmering power enclosed in his arms...moans of satisfaction as hips grind together.

“...it's inconceivable you think you're doing anything useful with that business you run. You're nothing more than a glorified messenger boy. It's a pathetic waste of....”

Skilled tongue sliding up his length with such deliberate care his hips cannot keep still...arching upwards to meet the warmth, needing more, and then the explosion of pleasure as he is engulfed and swallowed.

“...time to settle down and find a wife. I know you're dedicated to your training, but you needn't take the culture of Bushido to heart the way you have. It's not seemly in this day and age. And another thing....”

Strong hands parting his thighs, opening him wide, thumbs at his entrance stretching, making way for the most exquisite penetration...tongue snaking inside, spine melting....

“Harunobu!” his uncle thundered. Jin cringed at the use of his given name. “Are you listening to me?”

“Yes uncle,” Jin replied.

“You can give the company to that Hojo boy and take your place as sensei here. I'm not getting any younger, and it's time that you....”

Jin touched the small bottle in the pocket of his jeans. It was becoming a talisman of sorts. He'd hunted down a shop that sold essential oils after Mugen told him the base scent of his cologne, and hit pay dirt. Vetiver oil smelled gloriously like him. Mugen's cologne had other notes, but vetiver was most definitely the base.

Every molecule in his being reacted when he breathed in the scent—bones quaked, cock pulsed and heart dissolved. He'd put a drop on his wrist before entering the brunchtime fray with his uncle, and it did all sorts of lovely things inside his body to raise his hand to his face and inhale the fragrance. And then there were Mugen's other tastes and aromas....

Jaw stretching to accommodate the thickness...senses reeling at the caramel and burnt sugar scent of Mugen in heat...spirit soaring at his gratifying moans...fingers exploring deep inside, making him gasp and sing.

“...and I must say how very disappointed I am in you, Haru-kun. You're wasting your talent on a bunch of ungrateful ghetto scum and....”

Candy to gobble up, biting hard, devouring it all...feasting on the sweet dessert...stroking the sweaty, coffee-colored skin, so mouthwateringly delicious...sinking deep into the hot, tight passage...head swimming at the ecstasy of it....

Uncle Mariya cleared his throat loudly. “Well, I hope you don't feel I've been too hard on you, my boy.”

“No uncle,” Jin replied automatically. “I understand your concern.”

“I'm glad to hear it. When can I expect your decision?”

“I will think about it, sir. I promise.”

“Good!” His uncle actually smiled. It was not reassuring. “Can you stay for dinner this evening?”

Jin blanched. “I'm sorry, but no. I have things I must do in Tokyo before I return to Okinawa this evening.”

He didn't like to lie, but there was no getting around it. If he said the flight wasn't until tomorrow, he'd be expected to stay another night and that was unacceptable. Leaving Mugen and Yuki alone together for an evening was one thing. Two would not be wise.

Jin breathed a sigh of relief when the ferry dropped him off at the Port of Tokyo and he was finally out of his uncle's grasp. He'd told Mugen he would arrive some time in the afternoon and it was three o'clock. There was a card key waiting for him at the front desk of the Regency, just as Mugen said there would be, and he made his way to the room.

It was on the top floor, one of the penthouse suites. Mugen and Yuki were not there when he arrived, so he could snoop to his heart's content. The space was beautiful and large, like something out of a movie set. Jin had never been anywhere so sumptuous. The contrast between this room and the stark décor of his uncle's house—his house as well, until he'd left for university—was startling, but Jin welcomed it. This place felt warm and friendly, as opposed to the other.

And then there was the bathroom. It made him drool. The jacuzzi looked like it was large enough to fit six bodies, and he set to filling it right away. Even if he had it all to himself, he needed to bathe in that tub. It was too amazing for words! Jin hadn't been luxuriating for long when he heard them come in.

“He's here,” he heard Mugen say. “There's his stuff.”

“I don't see him,” Yuki replied. “Maybe he went out.”

“Or maybe he's in the bathroom...in the tub!”

“Naked Jin in the tub. Let's investigate!”

Jin smiled, waiting, and Yuki appeared in the doorway. “Well hellooo gorgeous!” he said in his best Barbara Streisand, then lurched inside as he was shoved from behind.

“Get'cher flaming ass outta the way!” Mugen growled, pushing past Yuki with a flourish and a grin.

Jin laughed out loud, all the dour memories of the past twenty-four hours disappearing from his mind. He welcomed his beautiful lovers with a warm smile. “Come, join me.”

They didn't need to be asked twice.

to be continued