Warriors and Generals - Part Three: Tachibana's Folly

Characters (in order of appearance) : Niou, Yagyuu, Fuji, Yukimura, Yanagi, Sanada, Marui, Tachibana, Ibu
Pairings: Niou/Yagyuu, Marui/Kirihara implied, Sanada/Atobe mentioned
Rating: PG-13
Words: 7042
Summary: In which Niou makes his appearance, and his history is revealed. Yagyuu is devious and Marui is rather helpful. Fudomine appears, if just for a moment.

Part One: The Generals Part Two: Rikkaidai


‘Fuji Syuusuke,’ Niou Masaharu thought, ‘is a pretty competent spy.’

For one, he didn’t try to listen through the door like most amateurs did. Instead, he chose the ceiling.

It was most unfortunate for Fuji, and most fortuitous for Rikkai, that Niou was a spy as well. Trick like these were easy to spot if one knew that they were there, like he did.

Most unfortunate for Fuji indeed.

Niou smirked, eyes flicking towards the ceiling for a mere moment. Yukimura caught his look and turned to Yanagi, whispering to him. The latter nodded to Yukimura, but his gaze was on Niou as he did. Everyone would know of Fuji’s presence before the meeting starts; Yanagi would make sure of it.

Niou felt a hand brush his elbow seconds before Yagyuu spoke,

“It seems that our intrepid little spy is at work again. How admirable.” He sounded amused. “Perhaps you might be usurped of your prestigious position, Masaharu.”

Niou snorted quietly, knowing better than to take Yagyuu seriously when he was in a playful mood, “He still has a long way to go if he wants to try. For one, he has to find a Yagyuu, and you’re mine.”

Yagyuu’s hand slipped into his own, squeezing briefly.

“And you’re mine,” he said, tone fiercely possessive.

Laughing quietly, Niou’s lips twitched and he tried not to grin foolishly.

“Glad that we agree on that, hmm?”

“Of course.”

Yagyuu smiled, edges sharp, and Niou grinned back.

He remembered the first time he had met Yagyuu Hiroshi, three years ago. In fact, he remembered all of their first times.

He had a good memory for the important things.

--

Niou Masaharu, Fudomine’s spy, bowed to Yukimura Seiichi and hid a grimace.

He didn’t want to be here.

“I thank you for your generous hospitality, Yukimura-dono. This humble ronin is eternally grateful.”

Yukimura smiled slightly and waved a hand, “Do dispense with ceremony, Niou-kun. Renji,” he turned towards the man Niou knew to be Rikkaidai’s infamous strategist. “Summon Hiroshi here for me, would you?”

Yanagi nodded and left the room without a word. Yukimura turned his gaze back to Niou, who nearly gasped at the sharp intelligence he found in those dark eyes.

‘Does he suspect…’

“One of my men will show you around the manor, Niou-kun. If you have any questions, feel free to ask him them.”

“I understand, Yukimura-dono. Thank you very much,” he bowed again. He had expected this; it was actually more convenient for him – he could grill this ‘guide’ of his for information while pretending to be simply curious.

Just then, the sliding door opened.

“Yagyuu Hiroshi reporting, Yukimura-dono. You have called for me?” a low, silky voice spoke from just outside the door. It appeared that the ‘guide’ had arrived.

“Yes. I have a task for you. Come on in.”

Niou lifted his head; curious to see who the poor sap that Yukimura had stuck on him looked like.

His eyes widened, and he suddenly found that his breath had choked in his throat, when the ‘poor sap’ (“Yagyuu Hiroshi”, wasn’t it?) stepped into the room.

Brown hair, the colour of well-weathered wood, reaching just the above of his haori. Black eyes that reminded Niou of burnt ceremonial paper. A full mouth, as plush as a woman’s and almost as pink as sakura petals. A strong jaw, angular but not square. A slim, pale neck that geisha would kill to have. Muscled arms peeking from his wide sleeves, also pale. He was half a hand’s width taller than Niou, and just as slender.

He was the most beautiful man he had ever seen (though that, honestly, didn’t say much. Niou hadn’t many chances to see many beautiful people, men or women alike, in his life. Living in Fudomine tended to do that to a person).

Yagyuu turned, and looked straight into Niou’s eyes.

Well.

And here he was thinking that Yukimura’s gaze was sharp. He was so very, very wrong.

Perhaps this assignment would be more difficult than he initially thought (and he thought it to be hard enough already!).

--

They strolled around one of Yukimura’s many gardens in silence, watching the bees and butterflies as they flitted from flower to flower and sipping nectar.

Niou was deathly bored, but he didn’t speak. It was always better to let the other person get more comfortable before trying to get the information he needed. This was no exception.

Niou was a spy, and a damned good one at that, if you asked him. He wasn’t about to go spilling his secrets to the first beautiful and intelligent person he came across. That would be unprofessional.

“Niou-kun,” Yagyuu said softly. “Why did you choose to hide out here, in Rikkaidai? Hyoutei would’ve been a safer place; it’s farther away from Seigaku, and it is also larger in size.”

He had spun a tale on how he was being chased by Seigaku’s soldiers for accidentally injuring one of their top samurai in an informal duel, and how he needed a place of refuge until things had calmed down and he could return home without being persecuted.

Yukimura had, it seemed, bought his story and invited him to stay at the manor. Niou suspected that it was partly because of his skill with the daggers and katana, though.

Those lessons with Tachibana were of some use, after all. For one, it was rather difficult to try to act as a ronin when one didn’t even know how to fully wield a katana.

“I have considered Hyoutei,” he lied fluidly. “But Rikkai is the better choice. It’s power and influence is greater, also…” he trailed off, deliberately not meeting Yagyuu’s eyes.

“Also?” his companion prompted, cocking his head to the side.

Niou shrugged stiffly, “I do not mean any offence to Hyoutei, nor do I mean any to Rikkai, but I believe that Yukimura-dono is, by far, more lax in his ways. I was right in thinking that I would be accepted here.”

“None taken, though I cannot say the same for sure for Hyoutei,” Yagyuu said, smiling slightly. “Yukimura-dono is a great believer of judging a man mostly by his abilities and only partly by his character traits.”

Niou took a mental note on that. Yukimura was partly famous because of his ‘eccentric’ samurai, after all, Yagyuu not being an exception. This must be the reason.

“That is certainly an admirable stand to take,” he kept his tone neutral. “I have heard of many who speaks ill of him because of his ways, however.”

“Yukimura-dono is a man ahead of the era. It is unsurprising that traditionalists, so afraid of change, are jealous of his success,” Yagyuu sounded vicious and heated. He, quite obviously, felt strongly about this.

“There is no harm in playing safe and sticking to tried and true methods, Yagyuu,” Niou was surprised, and more than slightly amused, by his companion’s sudden passion.

“Yes, but if the new methods are more successful than the old, who are the stiff-necked conservatives to criticise? People, especially leaders and samurai, should not be stuck in a rut and refuse to advance. Is not ‘being traditionalist’ just an excuse to not have to think?” Yagyuu had stopped walking mid-rant and was now leaning against a tree, gesturing rather wildly with his eyes. His black eyes grew impossibly darker as he spoke.

Well. He was obviously passionate in addition to being beautiful and intelligent. Niou was starting to like him more and more already.

He gave a crooked smile, “You have no need to try to convince me, Yagyuu. Personally, I have certain distaste towards overly-conservative leaders as well.”

Yagyuu laughed softly, “I’m glad that you agree, Niou-kun. I was afraid that I have alienated you with my overly opinionated views.”

“You haven’t,” Niou said simply, for nothing more needed to be said.

“I am greatly relieved to hear that,” Yagyuu replied.

They shared a small smile. Niou’s was, for the first time in that day completely unguarded and unpremeditated.

Well. That was certainly unexpected.

-

Niou had been staying in Yukimura’s manor, seeing and speaking to Yagyuu and the rest of the inhabitants for five months when the news came:

Fudomine had been conquered by Seigaku.

There were no casualties in Fudomine’s Seven, nor had Seigaku’s best samurais been killed, the messenger reported. There was a good chance, he continued, that Tachibana might still have most of the power and control over his men. They seemed to have impressed Tezuka greatly.

To say that Niou was angry was an understatement.

He was furious.

‘So that bastard can’t keep his promise… Well, what did your glorious honour code do for you, huh? You couldn’t’ even kill the fucking enemy! Bastard!’

The wooden chopsticks in his hands snap into two with a sharp ‘crack’. His head jerked up, and he stared at the broken pieces of wood blankly. What had just happened?”

“Masaharu?” Yagyuu’s voice came from his right, concern very evident.

Niou closed his eyes and placed the four pieces carefully on the table, not meeting anyone’s gaze, not even Yagyuu’s. He took a few deep breaths before opening his eyes again, forcing a sheepish smile. It was surprisingly difficult.

“Ah, I’m so sorry! I must have used too much force without thinking. May I ask for another pair?”

He could feel Yagyuu’s piercing stare on his right shoulder, but he didn’t turn. Instead, he smiled emptily at the servant who brought him the new pair of chopsticks and started to eat. All the while, he studiously ignored everyone’s stares and looks. Eventually, the soft conversations resumed, his mistake brushed off like a careless accident.

But Yagyuu eyes stayed fixed on him all throughout the meal, even when Yukimura had decided Niou could do whatever he wished to.

“Masaharu,” Yagyuu said, grabbing his elbow just as he was about to escape the dining hall.

“What is it, Hiroshi?” He didn’t meet his eyes.

“Something’s been on your mind ever since the messenger had arrived. Do you want to talk about it?” his tone implied that Niou didn’t have a choice, and he was only asking for courtesy’s sake.

Niou sighed, “If you promise not to speak of it to anyone. Including Yukimura.”

Yagyuu’s eyebrow rose, silently question both the lack of honorifics and Niou’s request.

“I promise, Masaharu.”

“Come, then. We need somewhere more private than this, and I know just the place.”

-

“This is the garden I brought you to during your first day here,” Yagyuu stated, looking curiously at Niou.

“Yeah,” he shrugged, seating himself beneath a particularly large birch tree. He patted the slightly wet grass beside him, indicating that Yagyuu should sit.

Yagyuu sat, waiting.

Niou knew that if he spoke now, he wouldn’t be able to stop. He would expose himself as a spy. But that didn’t matter now, did it?

Fudomine had fallen to Seigaku despite Tachibana’s promise that they would become one of the strongest cities. Tachibana’s faith wasn’t enough, and now Niou wasn’t needed at Rikkaidai any more.

He was tired of this charade as well; all the lies he told people that he had came to like far more than his ‘comrades’ back at Fudomine. He didn’t want to act any more. It was far too tiring, and he had been doing it for so long that he was afraid that his lies had started to contradict each other. There was no end in sight, and he just want to tell the truth, for once.

There was a good chance that he would be killed for being a spy, so good that he couldn’t see a way out of that fate.

How ironic, considering that he was Fudomine’s best spy, infamous to certain people for being able to slip out of any sticky situation without any trouble.

Niou might be able to deceive the devil, as Kamio had said, once, but he would never be able to deceive himself. He was going to die, and he knew that fact as well as he knew the weight of his swords on his hip and his daggers in his sleeves.

Oh well. At least, this way, he would be killed by someone he respected and liked.

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, leaning back against the tree. He opened his eyes and stared up to the night sky.

“I lied, Hiroshi, I lied about a great deal,” he started.

Yagyuu opened his mouth as if he wanted to interrupt, and Niou held up a hand. “No, don’t speak until I’m done. Then you can do whatever you wish to me.”

“I’m not a ronin on a run from Seigaku. I’m not a ronin, period. Have you ever heard of the Fudomine Eight? No, of course you haven’t. There is no such thing, not to most of the world. Tachibana made sure of that.”

“I’m the eighth member of the Fudomine Seven; the one whom no one knows of, whom no one knows existed. Tachibana called me the ‘secret member’, and I always hated him for it. It makes me sound like one of Fudomine’s dirty little secrets.

“I’m the best spy they have. Yes, Hiroshi, you heard correctly: spy. They usually send me on short assignments to certain places to gather information. A week, at the very most. This one’s the longest one I’ve ever had, and it’s not even over yet. They probably sent me here and hope that I’ll be found out and you will kill me. It absolves them of guilt this way.

“See, I’ve always been the black spot in Tachibana’s record. Kind of like the mole in the middle of his forehead, you know? I’m rebellious, I question his orders, I hate working with the others as a team, and I don’t worship him as the others do. In fact, I often think that he’s really fucking stupid.

“Don’t give me that face. I’m not as refined as I usually act. You can’t be that refined if you grow up in Fudomine. Most of us are street trash. Except Tachibana, of course.

“Anyway, back on topic… Tachibana’s an idiot, in my less-than-humble opinion. He puts too much on morals and honour, and all of the others just follow him like blind dogs. Fucking stupid, I tell you.

“I don’t believe any of it, and I keep telling him so. He keeps trying to teach me, but I’m a stubborn bastard. That’s why I keep being sent out: he didn’t want to deal with me, I think. I can’t blame him for that.

“Whenever he starts on his ‘honour and morals and the bushido’ spiel, I’d interrupt him and ask him what’s the use of all that crap when a person’s dead. I don’t get his obsession with him. I’m a street kid, Hiroshi, and the first thing a street kid learns is how to survive. You don’t survive long if you play by the rules, because that’s just stupidity. And when I tell Tachibana that, he just smiles at me and tell me I’m not a street kid any more. Hah. As if I don’t know that. It’s annoying as hell when he does that, you know, kind of like trying to convince a tree to move. Annoying, a waste of energy and you don’t actually do anything. So I stopped.

“I’m right, aren’t I? Despite all of his prattling about honour and morals and whatever-the-fuck-else, Fudomine lost. I bet it’s because Seigaku didn’t play by the rules and got out a new player or something. The point is that I’m right. All that honour stuff is completely useless if it doesn’t help you to survive.”

Niou sighed, rubbing at his forehead as he finished his speech, exhaling softly. For some reason, he felt oddly light, as if a weight had been lifted off his chest. His throat felt parched, but he supposed that it didn’t matter now.

He took off his swords and placed them on the ground, between Hiroshi and himself. Untying an inner sash, he slipped off his haori and placed it on his other side. It’s better to have a soft ground to land on when he died.

“Masaharu, what are you doing?” Yagyuu spoke, sounding confused.

“I figured that since you’re going to kill me, I might as well make myself ready.” Niou shrugged as nonchalantly as he could, and tried not to tremble.

“I’m not going to kill you,” Yagyuu said quietly.

Niou blinked, “Oh, so I have to commit seppuku? Okay, but you have to lend me a tanto. I don’t have one.”

Yagyuu sighed explosively, and Niou blinked again as he reached forward and grabbed his wrists. “No, Masaharu, I don’t want you to do that either. You’re not going to die.”

“Why?” Niou stared at him incredulously. “Did you miss the part where I said I’m a spy? I’ve been sending letters back to Tachibana about Rikkaidai! About your manor, your skills, your armies, about… hell, everything! Do you really think that Yukimura will be kind enough spare my life?”

“Yukimura-dono already knows that you’re a spy. We all know. You are an awfully unenthusiastic spy, though. You’ve never tried listening to any of our conferences.” Yagyuu smiled a lopsided smile, like he wasn’t sure if he should be amused about something or not.

“Too dangerous and it’s not worth it. Wait, you said that Yukimura knows? Why am I still alive then? And how did he find out?!” Niou’s head was spinning.

“We don’t know who you are spying for, and Yukimura likes you. And about that… well, Sanada-taichou has good instincts, and Yanagi-sama had found out that the ronin who had injured Seigaku’s samurai had already been caught. They didn’t announce it, so you’d probably not know, but Yanagi-sama has his sources.”

“Ah,” Niou said flatly, blankly, as his mind tried to catch up to the new information. “So, what are you going to do with me?”

“I’m wondering if I can convince you to switch sides,” Yagyuu said calmly and released Niou’s wrists.

“Switch sides?”

“Spy on Fudomine and Seigaku for us. Give them false information about Rikkaidai when you have to report back. Seigaku’s going to be a threat sooner or later, and you, as Fudomine’s spy, will have access to things that we definitely don’t,” Yagyuu explained.

“Basically, you want me to be a double agent.” Niou said slowly.

“Yes.”

“How can you trust me, though? What if I give you rubbish about Seigaku and Fudomine, and I hand them all the real information I have on Rikkai?” Niou asked, cocking his head to the side.

“If you’re going to do that, you wouldn’t have asked me that question,” Yagyuu pointed out matter-of-factly. “Besides, I trust you.”

“You…” Niou’s jaw dropped, and he gaped. “Why do you trust me?”

“You could’ve lied and said ‘nothing’ when I confronted you earlier. You admitted to being a spy even though you thought you would die for admitting it. You admit that you hate your General and his ideals without me asking. How can I not trust you, Masaharu?” Yagyuu’s gaze was even more intense as usual as he smirked at Niou.

“What if I decline?”

Yagyuu sighed, “I really hope you won’t, because I would’ve to kill you if that’s the case. I really don’t want to. It’s been a long time since I’ve met someone who actually listens to my long-winded rants instead of tuning me out.”

Niou laughed, loud chuckles disturbing the still night air, “Fine, I’ll do it.” He stood, slipping his haori back on and placing his swords back where they belonged, “And Hiroshi, your rants are rather mild compared to the ones I’ve heard.”

Yagyuu lifted an eyebrow, chuckling also, “Oh? And here I thought you listen to them because you like them. I’m wounded.”

Niou just laughed harder, “Well they are rather interesting, I suppose.”

Shaking his head, Yagyuu smiled slightly, “That’s more like it. Shall we go back inside now? We should yell Yukimura-dono of his new double-agent before he goes to bed.”

“Yeah, we should,” Niou stopped laughing at the half-casual statement, giving a tensed shrug.

“Relax,” Yagyuu chided, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I told you he likes you, didn’t I?”

“That’s why I’m afraid of,” Niou muttered, almost soft enough to be inaudible.

Yagyuu, who had the ears of a cat, heard it anyway, and gave a short, amused snort. He didn’t say anything, however, for which Niou was grateful.

They walked back inside the manor in a comfortable silence.

-

“Are you willing to pledge your loyalty to me, Niou-kun?” Yukimura said quietly. He didn’t need to raise his voice for Niou to feel the utter command behind those words.

He nodded, keeping his eyes fixed onto Rikkaidai’s, and, soon, his, daimyo.

“Even after you have pledged to Tachibana?”

Niou nearly snorted, catching himself just in time, “Tachibana had never asked for us to pledge to him. He assumes that we will be loyal.”

Yukimura laughed, cold and sharp, sending shivers down Niou’s spine, “I see. More the fool is he, then. I do not make mistakes like this, Niou-kun. If you pledge your loyalties to me, then you are mine until you die. Are you willing?”

He didn’t hesitate, “Yes, Yukimura-dono.”

The meticulous, analytical part of his mind knew that this was the real Yukimura Seiichi. This was the man who turned Rikkaidai into the most powerful city currently from a small, rather affluent but powerless city in just over a decade.

He couldn’t help but feel admiration and perhaps a little fear. No wonder all of Yukimura’s men were deathly loyal to him, if this was what they see daily.

Yukimura was watching him, silently waiting. Niou pulled himself forcefully from his thoughts and met his gaze squarely before kneeling. He removed his katana from his obi and held it up high above his head towards Yukimura. His eyes didn’t look away from the other man’s.

The daimyo suddenly smiled, dark and full of hidden meanings that Niou didn’t try to decipher. He stood, walking towards him, and unsheathed Niou’s sword.

Niou let his right hand, his non-dominant hand, drop to his side. Yukimura tilted his head, looking almost curious before he nodded silently. It was acceptance, and Niou almost sighed in relief.

He had been frowned upon too many times to count just because he was left-handed. That was why, partly, he had pretended to be right-handed while in Rikkai. The other reason was that a left-handed was far too conspicuous, and a conspicuous spy was a dead spy.

Yukimura cut a shallow wound on his left arm, just below the wrist. Niou didn’t, couldn’t, wince, captivated by the sudden fire in Yukimura’s eyes. Blood dropped onto the bare floor, staining the wood red.

Yukimura cut his own arm next, and held it up. Niou stood and lifted his own bleeding arm above Yukimura’s, letting his blood flow into Yukimura’s wound, mingling.

He belonged to Yukimura now, just as his blood had flowed into Yukimura’s veins. He was now one of Yukimura’s samurai, one who was also his sole double agent.

Oddly enough, he didn’t feel any different. There was a mild stinging in his arm, and the stickiness that was blood clotting, but he felt the same, inside.

“Niou Masaharu,” Yukimura said in a voice barely loud enough to be heard. “You are now neither more a ronin nor a man of Tachibana Kippei. You are my, Yukimura Seiichi of Rikkaidai’s, man. I call, do you heed?”

“I heed,” Niou replied. There was no other possible answer.

The ceremony was completed.

A soft clapping came from behind him, and Niou turned. His eyes widened when he saw, all standing in a neat little row, Yukimura’s strongest and most trusted samurais.

Sanada Genichirou, the General, standing in the very forefront as always, was watching Niou with appraising eyes. Yanagi Renji, the Strategist, as unreadable as ever. Kirihara Akaya, Sanada’s young student, challenging him with a sharp, almost bloodthirsty grin. Marui Bunta, genius close-combat specialist, clapping slowly, eyes fixed on Niou. Kuwahara Washisuke, the ‘man with four lungs’, watching him almost lazily.

Yagyuu Hiroshi, master of the long sword, smiling at him with an air of pride.

Niou blinked at the sight, and then he almost smiled.

‘That smug bastard.’

Sanada stepped forward towards Yukimura and himself, holding out strips of white bandage. Niou took one and started to wrap them clumsily around his arm, staunching the blood flow.

“You’d better see Sengoku about that, Niou, Seiichi. It won’t do for both of you to fall ill due to an unclean wound,” Yanagi said quietly and suddenly from beside Niou, who had only repressed his urge to jump in surprise because he had barely heard Yanagi’s footsteps.

That man was eerily quiet sometimes.

“Yes, I know, Renji,” Yukimura said, sounding half-exasperated. “I’ll call him over soon. I still have some work to do. Niou-kun,” he turned. “Would you tell Sengoku to come to my room after you have visiting him?” It wasn’t a request.

Niou blinked. Well, he supposed that this was his first order.

“Yes, Yukimura-dono.”

“You’re dismissed, all of you. Renji, Genichirou, stay, please.”

The men bowed to him as one and started to leave. Yagyuu didn’t, choosing to walk towards Niou.

“Do you mind if I accompany you to the infirmary, Masaharu?”

Damn, and here he was thinking that he could just tell Sengoku of Yukimura’s orders and leave. He hated infirmaries.

“Of course not,” he said out loud. Bowing again to his new daimyo and the two men he trusted most, Niou left the room with Yagyuu on his heels.

They encountered a little trouble even before they managed to walk three steps down the hallway, however.

“I don’t like spies and backstabbers,” Marui stated, lounging directly outside the door. His eyes, usually friendly, were knife-sharp. It was almost as if he was daring Niou to say something to defend himself.

Beside him, Yagyuu tensed slightly. Niou didn’t speak, just tilting his head to the side and waited for him to continue.

“But since you’re on our side…” he trailed off, and his gaze softened. Grinning, he pushed himself away from the wall and turned away, as if he was leaving.

“I’ll make an exception this time. Plus, you’re a really interesting guy, do you know that?” Marui smirked, looking over his shoulder.

Niou smiled sardonically back, “Thank you for the compliment, Marui-san. I’m so glad you approve.”

“Bullshit. You don’t give a damn. Anyhow, I don’t care either way. Better make sure that he won’t betray us, eh, Yagyuu?”

Yagyuu smirked, sharper and more dangerous than before, “Masaharu won’t betray us, Marui-kun, but do rest assure that I will make sure of that. I always do.”

“Good,” Marui nodded, and started walking down the hallways, directly opposite of Niou’s room. “I don’t want to kill both of you.”

“It all depends on whether you can or you can’t, you realize? Maybe you will be the one killed if you try, Marui-kun.” Yagyuu answered quietly, and Niou almost smiled at the comforting weight of Yagyuu’s hand landing on his shoulder.

Marui didn’t answer, for he was already long out of ear-shot.

--

“Masaharu,” Hiroshi said, one day, as they were strolling down the very same garden that Niou had ‘confessed his sins’ barely a week ago.

“Hm?”

“’You can do whatever you wish to me’… do you still mean it?” Yagyuu had stopped, turning around to face Niou, who blinked.

“Yes, but it all depends on what you want me to do…” he trailed off as Yagyuu shook his head.

“No, no, Masaharu,” he smiled slightly. “I believe what you said was ‘whatever you wish to you’, therefore…”

Yagyuu leaned in, and pressed a quick, chaste kiss on Niou’s lips before backing away. He smiled again, and, before Niou could speak or even react, turned and walked away.

Niou blinked, ‘What the…’

Pressing two fingers against his own lips (Yagyuu’s lips were warmer than his, somehow), Niou watched Yagyuu walk away, still stunned.

Well.

This was an interesting development.

-

The second kiss was in Niou’s room, just before he left for dinner.

The third was in the dojo, just after his match with Yagyuu had concluded (Yagyuu won, but barely).

The fourth was outside the dining room, when Yukimura’s footsteps could be heard.

The fifth was when he was in his room, composing his letter to Tachibana.

He was getting really frustrated, and even more annoyed, at this game, now. What was Yagyuu trying to do? Kill him through frustration?!

He went to look for Marui.

“That’s odd,” Marui said through a mouthful of sweetmeats, chewing on them thoughtfully. Niou wrinkled his nose. “Insult my eating habits and I won’t help you.”

He cleared his expression hurriedly. Marui and he had gotten on rather well after the first confrontation outside Yukimura’s room, especially after Niou had caught him watching Kirihara.

Even though Niou hated Marui’s eating habits (the man had probably never eaten a meal without something excessively sweet in it) and massive ego (a few invented tricks did not a genius make) and Marui disliked Niou’s sneakiness (he enjoyed making him jump by walking without a sound) and overly-developed observation skills (Marui had to protest constantly to Niou that he did not like Kirihara that way, and that time was just a hallucination. Niou begged to differ), they were friends.

Of a sort, anyway.

“What’s odd?” Niou asked, tilting his head to the left.

“That Yagyuu would be the one to make the first move. I mean, I always thought you would be the one to,” Marui shrugged, waving a piece of sweetmeat around to illustrate his point.

“What?”

“We aren’t blind, you know. Half the manor is betting on who’d make the first move. Even Yanagi betted. It’s almost as bad as a year ago, with Sanada-taichou and Hyoutei’s Atobe-taichou. No one had solved that mystery yet, by the way. Well, Yanagi had, but he’s not telling.”

“Wait, wait,” Niou held up a hand, feeling decidedly confused. “What the fuck are you prattling about? Hiroshi and I aren’t like that!”

Marui raised an eyebrow, “Not yet, you mean. Everyone knows it’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that the two of you will get together. It’s just a matter of when and how.”

“I don’t get you. Why would anyone else think that Hiroshi and I are…why are you looking at me like that?!” Niou resisted the urge to wave his arms frantically.

“Wait a minute,” Marui stared at him, mouth half-open. “Wait, let me get this right. You don’t like Yagyuu-“

“I do like him,” Niou interrupted. He was speaking the truth. “Why do you think I spend most of my time here with him?”

“Okay, you like Yagyuu,” Marui took a deep breath and shook his head quickly, sending red hair flying around haphazardly in the air. “Do you like him as a good friend, as a comrade, or what?”

Niou blinked, “Of course I like him as a…” he blinked again. “Err…”

“Good friend, comrade, something else,” Marui ticked off his fingers, smearing orange-red sauce all over his hands. “Choose one of those three options. Elaborate if you choose ‘something else’.”

“Err,” Niou hesitated. Why was this question so difficult?

‘Good friend’ and ‘comrade’ both sounded woefully inadequate when used to describe what Yagyuu was to him. But ‘something else’ wasn’t helpful either. What he felt towards Yagyuu was completely different from what he felt towards, say, Yukimura or even Sanada.

The latter two he respected and admired as his leaders. He respected them for what they had done for Rikkaidai, and he admired their leadership skills. But that was all to it, really.

What he felt towards Yagyuu was completely different from that.

Niou respected him, yes. Yagyuu was an excellent swordsman, and he was intelligent and well-read. But Yagyuu was also a beautiful man, and he could make Niou lower his defences with just a word or a look. No one else could do that.

Marui was waiting for his answer, impatiently tapping his foot with an expectant look on his face.

“So?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” Niou said slowly. “He is definitely ‘something else’, but I don’t know what and-“

“How did you feel when he kissed you again?” Marui interrupted him.

“It feels good,” he struggled with his word choices. “I always feel so frustrated.”

“Why?”

“Because I want more than those short kisses,” he said, and suddenly, his mouth dropped open and he blinked rapidly as if he just had an epiphany of a shock.

“There you go,” Marui said with an easy shrug. “Your answer.”

“Oh.”

Oh.

Niou stood, bowing quickly to Marui before heading towards the door, “Thanks! You’re a great help! For once!”

“Is that how you speak to your genius?!” Marui called back, sounding offended and amused at the same time.

“I see no genius here!” Niou laughed before quickening his steps, half-running towards Yagyuu’s room.

Back in the room that Niou had just left, Marui chuckled softly as he popped a couple of sweetmeats around for his mouth.

“Idiots.”

-

“You,” Niou pointed accusingly at Yagyuu, who drew back slightly away from the finger. “Are a bastard and a goddamn tease.”

“Masaharu –” Yagyuu started.

“No, let me finish,” Niou glared at him. “Shut up for a bit. Look, Hiroshi, you’ve kissed five times now, without telling me why. It’s not that I mind, but I want an explanation and I want one now.”

“Because you wouldn’t have known otherwise,” Yagyuu said, voice low and calm. Niou felt like kicking him in the shins.

“Huh?”

Yagyuu leaned forward, “Masaharu, I care for you. As far more than a friend or a comrade, I daresay. You are completely oblivious to anything that concerns yourself direction, especially on emotional matters like this. I merely gave you a friendly hint.”

Niou gaped at him, “A hint? Well, I’m sorry, because I’m an idiot who knows shit about stuff like that, okay? I’m three years younger than you are, or have you forgotten?”

“I’m not asking for an apology,” Yagyuu leaned forward a little more, but Niou didn’t back away. “I’m asking for you to kiss me back.”

Yagyuu kissed him, then.

Niou gasped at the sudden feel of lips against his own, dry and plush and chapped, and Yagyuu took the opportunity to slip his tongue into his mouth.

Niou gasped again.

He had never been kissed before. Not like this, at any rate. For one, most women didn’t like a man who wasn’t even twenty yet. For another, a spy wasn’t exactly allowed to have relationships. Loosened tongues were a dangerous possibility. He had never mourned his lack of experience before, but he sure did now.

Because Yagyuu was obviously experienced and skilled. He was slowly drawing Niou’s tongue, stiff with shock, to tangle with his own. Niou shivered slightly, and felt Yagyuu smile against his lips.

‘Smug bastard,’ he thought, half-fond.

Before long, they had to break apart just to avoid suffocation. Niou panted slightly, feeling dazed and dizzy. The situation had long spiralled out of his control.

He really couldn’t care less.

“Masaharu,” Yagyuu said, and Niou almost wanted to hit him for the sheer amusement in his voice. “Have you ever kissed someone before?”

“Only you,” he admitted, quiet and unblushing. There was no shame in speaking the truth.

“I see,” Yagyuu said, and Niou blinked at then note of satisfaction and possessiveness in his voice. “I’m glad.”

“Why –” Niou started to say before Yagyuu kissed him again, taking his breath away.

“Because, Masaharu,” Yagyuu whispered against the corner of Niou’s lips. “You’re mine.”

He could feel Yagyuu’s sharp-edged smile a split second before he opened his mouth, further deepening the kiss. He smiled inwardly.

‘Smug, possessive bastard.’

--

“Masaharu, you’re spacing out,” Yagyuu’s breath glided past his ear, and Niou shivered slightly, the movement hidden under his heavy robes,

“Ah, sorry,” he murmured, forcibly jerked out of his thoughts.

“You were thinking of me, I hope?”

Niou nodded, smirking slight just as Yukimura finished his speech. He had gotten the general idea, and Yagyuu would give him the details later.

“Good,” Yagyuu whispered, sounding so satisfied that Niou wanted to laugh.

“… And now I shall conclude this meeting,” Yukimura said, turning towards them. Niou blinked innocent, and Yagyuu smiled politely. “Any questions?”

The group shook their heads. Niou shrugged; he did, but it would look too suspicious if he asked.

Fuji was still upstairs, after all.

“You’re dismissed,” Yukimura waved a hand, looking straight at Niou.

Well, he really should know that couldn’t fool his daimyo even if he tried.

“Masaharu?” Yagyuu asked, half out of the door.

Niou shook his head and pointed upwards, then jerked his head in Yukimura’s direction. Yagyuu raised an eyebrow before nodding and leaving the room, shutting the door with a soft ‘click’.

Niou waited, plopping down to sit on the floor. It didn’t take very long before he could hear a quiet shuffling from above as Fuji left the room upstairs. He smirked.

‘Not good enough. You should learn to be more patient and watchful, Fuji-san. Everything you have just learnt is useless garbage, do you know that?’

“Niou-kun, do you have anything to ask me?” Yukimura sounded amused again, but, this time, Niou wasn’t completely sure what he was laughing about. It unsettled him.

He shrugged, “Not really. However…” he paused, sounding as uncertain and respectful as he could. It didn’t hurt to be extra cautious, after all.

“However?” Yukimura queried, tilting his head to the side, looking at Niou with an inquisitive look in his eyes.

Niou stood and bowed formally, “Yukimura-dono, I request for a two days leave of absence. My family has sent a message: my mother is near her deathbed, and wishes to see me for the last time before her death.”

‘Worse excuse I’ve ever thought up. Well, it’s not as if I’m really trying.’

“Your honoured mother has admitted that you are her son?”

“No, sir, but such minor grudges do not matter to me right now. My mother wishes to see me, and I shall obey.” He was honestly trying his best not to let his amusement slip into his voice or expression.

“How admirable,” Yukimura’s eyes were almost literally twinkling with mirth. “Very well, then. I grant you this leave of absence. You may leave tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Yukimura-dono.” Niou bowed again, more because of the fact that he needed to hide his smirk than of any reason need to do so.

The daimyo smiled and nodded, “You’re dismissed, Niou-kun.”

“Thank you.”

‘Now,’ he thought as he left the room, shutting the door behind him. ‘I need to ask Hiroshi for the exact details of what Yukimura-dono was talking about. Then I believe a visit to the ‘family’ is needed.’

His smirk widened, and he chuckled softly.

‘How oddly appropriate that excuse is.’

---

“Yukimura is planning to lower the defences at the West Gate four days from today. Routine checks on the guards and all that,” Niou shrugged nonchalantly as he bit into a piece of pickled yam.

Tachibana, seated across from him, sipped at his tea and raised an eyebrow, “Why is it necessary for you to visit just to tell us this, Niou?”

“Because Yukimura’s getting a bit suspicious of all my letters out. I told him I’m visiting family. Plus, I’ve never seen your new headquarters, so I thought I’d visit.”

Frowning, Fudomine’s daimyo-General replied, “That’s very reckless of you.”

“I won’t get caught,” Niou waved a hand negligently as he nibble on another piece of pickled vegetables. “So when are we going to attack Rikkai?”

“It all depends on Tezuka-taichou. It’ll most probably be soon, so be prepared.”

Niou barely stopped himself from sneering, “So why does Seigaku want us to attack Rikkai first? It doesn’t make any sense logically.”

Tachibana sighed, setting down his cup, “We are the scouting team. We aren’t attacking Rikkai; we are supposed to check the situation out for Tezuka before the Seigaku army goes in. This is the least we can do for Tezuka-taichou when he had spared our lives,” the last sentence was spoken as a reprimand.

Niou scowled, not even bothering to hide it, “Yeah, yeah, I get it now. Do you have any more instructions, Tachibana-san? I have to leave soon. I was only allocated two days of leave, you know.”

“You’re dismissed, then,” Tachibana nodded.

Niou stood and bowed shortly before he turned, nearly stomping out of the room. His expression was carefully kept blank, but his thoughts were churning furiously.

‘Tezuka’s manipulating you, you idiot. Your honour code is definitely going to get you killed this time, and I’ll be there to tell you ‘I told you so’. Fucking moron.’

-

“I don’t trust him,” Ibu Shinji’s voice suddenly came from behind him, but Tachibana’s expression remained unsurprised as he turned. Ibu’s head appeared from behind the screen door before he stepped fully into the room.

“I don’t trust him,” he muttered under his breath, just loud enough to be heard, as he walked towards Tachibana. “He’s been away for far too long. Who is to say that he hasn’t turned on us? And he has never fit in here anyway. He doesn’t respect you as much as we do, Tachibana-san, and he’s weird. I don’t trust him and I think we should…”

“Shinji!” Tachibana held up a hand, shaking his head disapprovingly.

Ibu blinked, closing his mouth with an audible ‘snap’ when he registered Tachibana’s expression.

“We shouldn’t distrust our comrades. You should know that by now,” Tachibana said, quietly commanding.

Ibu sighed and nodded, “Yes, Tachibana-san. I’m sorry.”

“As long as you realize your mistake and take pains to correct it, you’re forgiven,” his expression softened, and he smiled. “Come, sit with me and have some tea.”

Ibu sat, biting his lip so as not to mutter his thoughts out loud and anger Tachibana again.

‘I still don’t trust him, Tachibana-san. No matter what you say.’

End Part 03: Tachibana’s Folly

Next in Part 4, we return to Seigaku and, specifically, Inui. What was his relationship with Yanagi Renji, all those years ago? And how would it affect the eventual confrontation between Rikkai and Seigaku?