Sanosuke fiddled nervously with the obi around his waist as he followed Saitou into their room. This was a date. Their date. He felt like dancing across the room, unable to squelch the bubbles of tentative optimism that welled up in his belly. Date equalled romance, and romance equalled... getting laid. Hopefully. Sano slid a glance to the man who was unconcernedly stowing his bag away in the cupboard. There was such cool composure in his whole attitude that an unwelcome suspicion that he had entirely misread Saitou’s comment downstairs suddenly entered his mind. No, not misread... just taken far more seriously than it had been intended. Sano felt his previously buoyant spirits unsettle. Of course, that was more like the truth. As if a man like Saitou could be serious about having a date with a street-kid. An idiot street-kid, he reminded himself with a bitter sneer. Sano folded his arms around himself as he watched Saitou remove his jacket and begin to fold it neatly. He forced himself to get real. No matter how painful it was to admit, to give up on the possibility of anything happening between them, it had to be faced. How could a former Shinsengumi captain, intelligent, powerful, ruthless and so far above him... how could he ever be interested? Even for a brief fuck, he could do better. "Sa te to..." Sano glanced at Saitou from under his lashes. The man was dimming the light of the lamp, yet the brightness of the room did not dim so much, merely the quality of the light changed from the cheery yellow of the fire, to the cool silver of the moon. Outside the window of the room it was shining large and full. "Time to get some sleep. We have a busy day tomorrow." Sano felt his heart plunge once again. Facing possibilities was painful, but it still was fooling oneself into believing that it prepared one for actually experiencing the reality. He was a fool. He deserved every epitaph that Saitou heaped on him, humiliating as it was. It served him right for getting above himself, and thinking he was any better than he really was. He forced himself to nod in reply, to blank his face before the thoughts could be read on it. "Sanosuke." The dark amusement in the voice made him look up. "Eh?" "Would you like me to help you undress?" It took a few moments before the meaning of the words registered, so surprising were they. It took another moment for the full shock of the implication to hit him. Sano realised by the tantalising smile that twisted the man’s thin, firm lips that this was his way of offering more than a simple service - and that it was the no turning back zone. Surprise choked up his throat so that he couldn’t speak, his topsy-turvy thoughts once again cautiously turning to joy, and though they couldn’t be trusted, he shuffled forward the few paces it took to stand in front of him, then settled into enchanted stillness when he was gently turned to face away from him. Saitou’s hands reached around his shoulders, and a forefinger gently traced the dip at Sano’s collarbone then trailed down to his waist where the hakama was tied. It was with sultry deliberation that he undid the ties and pushed the garment to the floor. Sano felt the arms close slowly but unescapably around him and the gentle motions of hands against his hips as they tugged at the strings closing his kimono. The warm, moist breath of Mibu’s Wolf echoed against his neck, an answer to his own sigh. With Saitou’s barbs at dinner about playing games still half in his mind, he decided that he should be honest about what he wanted. "Ne, Saitou" Sano turned to face Saitou, his eyes luminous in a serious face. "I know that in the past that it wasn’t unusual for a teacher to bed his student." Nervously he forced himself to meet those amber eyes and continued stiffly, "If... if you could ever want me like that... I want you to." He stood there for a few quivering moments, his simple pose offering more than words could convey. The reaction came swift for all it was ruthlessly controlled - Mibu’s Wolf allowed no violent movement, but he could not master the betraying dilation of black pupils, and the harsh intake of breath. "Innocent sensuality is the most cunning of all, and you know that inside, sweet tempter. In your submission you are powerful, like a siren." His hands slowly unclenched as Saitou took in another deep breath, a thrumming tension controlled before he allowed himself a black smile. "Be prepared for the consequences." Such words were none that Sano had ever heard before, opening before him an exciting new experience that thrilled him even as the last vestiges of child within him paused at the threshold, a little wary of the possible dangers that lurked beyond. Accordingly, he stood there frozen as a soft, controlled pace brought the man forward before him, solid and warm. His eyes never left Saitou’s own as strong arms reached up and smoothly inserted each forefinger under the lapels of his kimono just under the collarbone. Each finger softly caressed over the skin of his deltoids as they glided the kimono hem off his shoulders with deliberate slowness, then down his arms as a silken caress. The shivery sensation left goosebumps over sensitized skin. Sano sighed out, his eyes fell shut and he lifted his chin, offering his slightly parted lips to the man before him in what seemed the most natural response in the world. "That’s good..." Soft, warm air heralded the sensation of Saitou’s tongue tracing his own lips, which caused him to whimper, an aching breath which turned into a moan as his bottom lip was suddenly smoothly enveloped into warm moistness and rhythmically suckled. The simple action sent powerfully erotic feelings washing through the young man in an all-encompassing wave, leaving him breathless and shaky. He reached his arms up under Saitou’s, caressing up the strong, soft-clad back until he was clinging onto each of Saitou’s shoulders with abandon, pressing his half naked body against satisfying hardness. "Ah, Saitou----" When he began to suckle in turn on Saitou’s upper lip, tentative and curious, the Wolf angled his head to kiss properly. There was nothing to do but give himself up to Saitou’s keeping with pure joy, the strong, capable hands that cupped his head welcome as the fingers which tangled ruthlessly through his hair. Never before had his own body felt so good to him. His skin seemed alive to touch in a way he’d never thought of before, and the silken kimono fallen and caught at his elbows caressed the small of his back, a cool soft sensation. There was so many different kinds of pleasures being felt that he was almost like to drown in them- even the way he remained half dressed made him feel incredibly sexy, somehow more so than if he’d been completely naked. Soon he felt his panting moans were not enough to communicate his desire and with a sudden boldness he sucked on Saitou’s tongue hungrily. Saitou’s harsh groan was the reward for his temerity, and when Sano had finished he leaned back, with that ironic half-smile and a murmured chuckle. "I’ve always known that you had such an honest, earthy sexuality buried underneath that scruffy exterior. You don’t hold back and aren’t afraid to try things." He deliberately angled his hips to press against Sano’s own and smiled against Sano’s ear. "And your body is honest too." The silken whisper tickled against his earlobe, a swift moist lick followed then was gone again. "Mattaku, one kiss and you’re already ready?" Sano was too far gone in pleasure to drum up the slightest bit of annoyance- he merely sighed and pressed himself harder against the older man. "I’m young and horny," he said, by way of explanation. The sound of Saitou’s quiet laugh made him grin, absurdly happy. He suddenly wanted to feel more of Saitou’s skin, so he decided it was time for Saitou to start undressing too. With just a little reluctance he disengaged his hands from around Saitou’s shoulders and let the palms of his hands smooth over the extremely well developed back muscles as they travelled towards the ties of his hakama. The urgency to taste skin was so bad that the moment he felt the ties give way under his hands, he couldn't wait to undress further but impatient tugged apart the kimono to expose Saitou’s chest. He ran his hands admiringly over Saitou’s strong shoulders, delighting in the musculature. Only when he was undressed did the considerable muscle Saitou possessed become so evident, and Sano felt his knees go weak just looking. Again he pressed himself against Saitou’s body, slipping his hands under the material to encircle his back and rubbing his cheek against the smooth skin of his chest. It felt divine. He tilted his head so that his chin rested against Saitou’s broad chest and gazed up into amused amber eyes and smiled. "You feel good." Saitou’s lips twitched. "I’m glad you approve." Sano’s eyes narrowed provocatively. The man was still in control, and he wanted to replace that calm amusement with serious desire. Considering what to do for a moment, he decided on gently tracing his hands down Saitou’s back to that little triangle of area just below the small of his back and gently caressing his fingertips over the silky skin, while simultaneously tilting his head down to flick his tongue at the dip in Saitou’s collarbone. Just when he heard Saitou’s sharp intake of breath, he caught sight of Saitou’s nipples, protruding temptingly erect from his chest and he was unable to resist taking one into his mouth and sucking. The low groan of Saitou’s response was everything he could have wished for. Both of them were panting hard by now. Saitou leaned down a little to run his hands slowly up the back of Sano’s thighs, and the young man couldn’t help but reel at the sensual pleasure the callused palms left in their wake. But he startled as Saitou cupped his buttocks in his hands and felt the blood rush to his sex even harder in response. This sparked an instinctive clutch at Saitou’s shoulders, and he pressed his mouth to Saitou’s, deepening into a kiss as Saitou lifted him up a little then carried him to the futon and lowered him gently down. Sano blushed as Saitou made no move to join him, but just stood there for a long while and looked down at the young man laid out before him. With his silky hair fanned around his refined face, his nakedness enhanced by the kimono still partially worn and his long, long smooth legs and slender arms, he suddenly felt a little like a prostitute, and an expensive one, laid out for his pleasure. The thought should have disgusted him, but in truth he felt nothing but a delicious kind of sexy thrill, which was only enhanced by the naked desire intensifying those amber eyes. The sliver of anticipation that ran through his belly gave him a fleeting moment of nervous butterflies as the man lowered himself between his legs, yet he widened them to accommodate and wrapped his arms around the broad shoulders. A kind of satisfied purring sigh at the feel of the warm weight above him escaped his throat and he tilted his head back to allow full access to his slender neck as Saitou slowly and deliberately ran the tip of his tongue up the pale arch. Sano felt Saitou’s smile as the caress reached it’s conclusion in a kiss, and eagerly accepted the tongue that dipped into his warm mouth. It was at that moment that the door opened. "Excuse me, Fujita-san, I ha....AAH!" It was hard to say which face held the most horror: Sano’s or the young man, who was standing in the doorway blushing up to the roots of his sandy blond hair. Sano clutched at Saitou as a sort of shield and hid his face against the dove grey kimono as he lay there in dumbfounded embarrassment. What the /hell/ was that guy doing there and WHY NOW!? Saitou’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the young man levelly, cold and flinty. His dark velvet voice deepened into sharp steel as he spoke. "What is it?" The words were simple, yet the delivery conveyed volumes above what was said. The unfortunate young man gulped and stammered his reply, his sweating countenance giving testimony to his fervent wish to be anywhere else but where he was. "Ah... Fujita-san, you /did/ say that you wanted me to inform you if certain developments happened..." Saitou was silent for a moment, his teeth grit together, but at last he nodded impatiently and dismissed the boy with a wave of his hand. "Alright, I understand. Go." The young man was only too glad to obey this last command. He turned on his heels and fled. Sano stared at Saitou in bemusement, his lust-focused mind not yet willing to process this sudden reversal of circumstances. "Who was that guy?!" Saitou’s eyebrows were drawn together sharply in irritation, and his reply was short. "One of my operatives. He was ordered to inform me when the enemy arrived in town." Even as he was speaking, he was disengaging himself from Sano and the futon. With growing dismay Sano could practically see his mind irrevocably switching from pleasure to business. "You’re /going/!?" he demanded, the first stirring of anger making itself felt. "Of course I am," Saitou shot back coldly. "I need to find out who they go to." He gave Sano another long look and sighed at the desolation the expressive eyes betrayed. "Believe me, ahou, I don’t /want/ to go." Sano groaned and flipped onto his back, staring up at the low ceiling accusingly. "I don’t believe this," he grumbled. "It isn’t fair." He heard the sounds of Saitou rummaging in his bag and saw out of the corner of his eye Saitou pulling out a fresh black t-shirt. He sighed again and closed his eyes as he listened to the sounds of Saitou getting dressed in his usual uniform. "Life as a policeman often isn’t fair. If you end up working for me you’ll discover that fact and have to get used to it." Sano’s response was succinct and grudging. "Since I’m not yet, I don’t see why I have to suffer for it too." He heard the sound of an amused snort. "If I have to suffer, you have to suffer. I can promise you that I’m hardly going to prolong an investigation." Sano sat up. "Then I’ll come with you." Saitou quickly negated the declaration with a curt, "Forget it. You don’t know how to follow without being detected yet. Stay here until I get back." It was amazing how quickly one’s own body and emotions could return to normal even after everything that happened before, for his immediate response was familiar, bristling annoyance. He was just about to launch into a blistering argument when he caught Saitou’s eye. There was something about the quality of that gaze with stopped him. The strangest feeling that Saitou was trying to communicate something other than insufferability crept up on him, becoming a certainty. The eyes were intent, gazing at him without the half-lidded indirect look he assumed when teasing. Therefore he subsided into a half-hearted grumble. And decided to find out what it was when he came back. Saitou finished buckling his sword onto his belt and sighed. "I’ll be as quick as I can," he promised dryly, then left.