Tyger Tyger, burning bright, in the forest of the night...
-W. Blake

Ryou slept dreamlessly, alone for once, in the chaos that was collectively referred to as his bedroom. He had thought it a somewhat nice change of pace to sleep alone, although getting there was the end result of a long string of coincidences. Mia had an early day of classes to at the University tomorrow and wanted no kicking, twitching, blanket-hogging lover in bed with her, no matter how much they loved each other. Sage and Rowen had vanished into their room earlier, an unspoken conversation hovering in the aether between them. Kento had come home at seven, gloating over something contained in a brown paper bag, snagged Sai and the two of them hadn't been seen since.

Ryou rolled over in his sleep, murmuring broken phrases of no cohesive sense, unaware of the pair of brown eyes regarding him steadly.

You oughtn't, you know, He told himself sternly. No matter how long you've been silent, no matter how long you have loved him. A lock of Ryou's hair had tumbled into his eyes and long pale fingers reached out to brush them away, frowning at the contrast of white on honeyed tan.

It would change everything, part of him protested vhemently. He has enough lovers. Blessed flame, even the kid had gotten into the act.

Kid. He sighed, shifting his hips in the twist of sheets. Kid no more.

Mortals age so fast.

He tucked his knees up into his chest, folding his arms around his ivory calves. He wore no clothing, but the moonlight seeping in through the venetian blinds threw black stripes cross his body, cloaking him in chiroscuro. The white waterfall of hair that puddled around angular hips was so luminous it seemed to glow in the shreds and scraps of light.

How many nights have I sat here, watching him, guarding him, afraid even to show my true form? And how many nights since I dared be myself, here in silence and darkness, praying and yet terrified that he would wake and see me?

He leaned over and touched Ryou's silk lips, parted slightly, and felt Ryou's warm damp breath exhaled between his trembling digits.

If only to kiss you. Would you be afraid? Or worse, revolted? He shuddered at the thought. No. Better to have just this.

One of his slightly pointed ears tilted backwards a fraction, catching a sound. Danger? He listened carefully, hearing an odd phrase or two, Seiji's name sighed in that way he knew so well.

Ah. Just a pair of lovers who can have each other. Brown eyes slanted back down at Ryou, now frowning in his sleep. The way they have had you, Rekka no Ryo. The way I wish I could have you. The frown on Ryou's lips turned to disconnected sylables, he rolled over again, close to waking.

His guardian froze, torn between his own need and the fear of what was unknown. Immortal beings do not adjust well to change, no matter how they might want it.

His concern for the one he had always loved overrode his own desires.

"nn?" Ryou blinked, startled awake, and then sighed in releif, slumping back against the pillows. "Geez, Byakuen, MUST you ogle me while I'm sleeping?" He reached up to ruffle the soft fur on the white tiger's powerful jaw. "Nobody is going to snatch me."

The tiger blinked at him mutely, eyes of shifting gold and brown that would put the gemstone to shame.

"Go to sleep, White Blaze," Ryou chided, flopping over onto his stomach. "Y'know most people wouldn't put up with a two ton tiger glaring at them while they nap. You're lucky I love ya." He gave the cat a last parting pat between the ears and was asleep before he could recover his palm, leaving his hand dangling in the air. White Blaze carefuly nosed his master's hand back under the covers, and sat on the rug for a long moment before wrapping his tail around his haunches and purring into sleep.

Someday I will have you, Rekka no Ryou. Have as who I am.

And you will learn then not to judge a tiger by his stripes.

Darkness once again threw strange shadows over Ryou's room, creating specters and mythic beasts where none were before.

Save one.

Byakuen had always been there.

The shapeshifter sighed and stretched long white limbs splashed with moonlight and shade. His tail twitched slightly. The striped appendage was part of his tiger masquerade, but he had worn it for so long now that the lack of it made his balance precarious, and he always found himself trying to swish something that wasn't there.

His true form, almost human but blended with something close to fey, was being revealed more and more often of late, he was taking risks. He couldn't help it, so weary of the creature body. None of his kindred had stayed so long with those they chose to guide or protect, none of his kindred lingered so long in alien shapes. But then, to Byakuen's knowledge, none of them were in love with their wards. He could be wrong, mostly his kith communicated with small circles of each other. Byakuen could count on one hand those he had seen in the last five years. And most of those he saw had been on a weekly basis. Close knit, but small. He sighed. If they had been like the humans they would not be in their state of near extinction, anyway. Many years ago they had chosen this treacherous path to save themselves, to re-mold their bodies into beasts of black and white, and show themselves only as that to those they sojourned with. Their alignment chose their coloring, the beasts came to them to give up their lives so that he and his people could survive.

You know both light and darkness, the tiger had said to him, centuries ago. I choose you. Few of your kindred bear stripes. But you will need to know shadow and sunlight. Your name is now Byakuen. And he gave up himself, a rare creature surrendering to an even rarer creature. Byakuen stroked his parti-colored tail with pride, a rare smile lighting his features. Before the tiger he'd never had a Name of his very own.

Alorian had been very frustrated with him today, his white owl wings fluttering impatiently before he melted into the crimson-haired, green-eyed warrior. Alorian was a true friend and sometime lover, now offering either or both to his heartsick companion. Byakuen had known him since before he had been chosen by the tiger, when his name had been merely a collection of empathic sendings uniquely his.

If you won't tell him, Alorian had reasoned, come back and stay with me a while. You often disappear, there's no danger on the horizon, he won't worry! Either confess or spend some time away before you go mad!"

"I can't," Byakuen whispered into his knees, the same answer he had given Alorian. Alorian sighed but was always a comforter, soft feathers beyond the talons even when his animal guise was cast aside. He had pleasured Byakuen and held him for most of the afternoon, whispering strength and comfort to his friend.

He knew if Ryou and Byakuen were ever one that he would no longer have rights to him, and Alorian didn't mind. What was a mortal's lifetime to one such as he? Lover and comforter he could do. It was a role he had played once before, long ago, when Byakuen had for the first and before Ryou only time fallen in love with one he guarded.

He had shown himself then.

Kaos had understood beautifully and for several hours. Byakuen truly smiled at the memory, tinged now with sorrow. He mourned his loss and that of Sh'ten, even though the warrior turned Ancient had not had enough time for Byakuen to know him, he missed him nonetheless. He and Alorian were very much alike.

Byakuen hung his head, his hair that was only slightly paler and more luminous than he spilled wantonly over the mattress. He knew why his kindred did not linger with mortals. One can only bear to see a certain number of loved ones grow old and die. And not just those he desired. By choosing to walk with the young Samurai Kaos he had been irrevocably bound to the armors and to their wearers. Their faces and voices swum in his memory, not many, but more than the Troopers supposed. There had been quite a few before RyouSageRowenSaiKento. When he was the tiger he could not remember them clearly, but now he wept at the losses. He'd cared so much for all of them, beautiful bright mortals who flared and died too soon.

Ryou slept obliviously on the bed, unaware of the lithe form curled tearfully at the foot of it. The warrior had long since kicked off his blankets, snoring faintly on his side, white tiger boxers ridden up and showing a curve of smoothly muscled honey-colored thigh. His dreams were troubled though, by strangers that he knew who wore his armor and that of his friends.

Byakuen looked up at him, wiping his eyes on the heels of his hands and trying to stop the flood of memories from disturbing Ryou's sleep. He ached, recalling Ryou confiding in him today, unsure of how much the tiger really understood. His hands had been sure and steady over the smooth white coat as he brushed it. Byakuen had warred with himself, wishing it were this long limbed form Ryou had been touching, not the tiger that could never feel desire. He ran slender fingers down his legs, wondering what it would feel like. To be with Ryou- if only once- would be a dream he would never forget.

Byakuen started, glancing apprehensively at Ryou.

Forget. A Dream.

Surely he didn't dare...

Ryou walked Esher-esque landscapes in his dreams, Torii gates suspended from inverted stairways in the sky. Distance and mass twisted into mutated scenarios, just beginning to darken and take that inevitable curve down into nightmare. He whimpered fretfully in his sleep, trying to backpedal away from the blackness sucking him in-Warmth settled next to him, arms drawing him smoothly away from the cloying evil and back to the sanctuary of his room.

Ryou blinked drowsily, seeing an ivory shoulder and a slender throat. "Mm. Seiji?" Or was it Rowen? maybe even Sai-

The arms around him shifted, and a warm kiss was placed tenderly (reverently?) against his temple. "No. Not any."

The voice was unfamiliar but somehow he knew it, like light turned liquid and running through his veins, like the armor sheathing his body. His eyes flew open and he pulled back, trying to see who his bedfellow was.

Almond shaped brown eyes with shifting opal color- where did he know them from? Surely he didn't know any other part, not the fragile elfin features or the alabaster hair that spilled like low-laying fog over the beautiful ivory body. An unlikely but somehow appropriate striped and furred tail lay over one thigh; his ears showed delicate points through the soft cobweb hair. But besides that the person's form was stunningly, divinely human. And quite obviously male. For a moment Ryou could not tear his eyes away, let alone question what this ethereal creature was doing occupying his bed.

"Who are you?" he asked softly, and the smile he was given in return implied that he really ought to know.

"I'm a dream. You invented me." He sat up, slender body rippling with hidden power. Ryou's mouth went dry.

"Are you sure? I- I could never have dreamed... invented... anything like you."

"No?" He smiled, kneeling now, hands lightly on Ryou's shoulders. The ends of his hair stroked Ryou's folded legs. He smelled of sunlight and wind and fire. "Then why am I here? You made me- to be all your own, no one else's. Isn't that what you want?"

Ryou tilted his head, unsure if he was really asleep, he felt far too aware. "For me?"

"Were you not saying," Cool fingertips brushed Ryou's cheek, petting his throat, "Today that you do not have the privilege of loving one of your comrades singly? To do so would jeopardize your position as leader and you must care for them all equally, or not at all? Didn't you?"

Ryou's eyebrows lowered thoughtfully. "Yes... But how would you know about that? I was talking to Bya-" The end of a striped tail teased his calf, and Ryou's voice died bruptly, his eyes shocked and huge blue. "Byakuen?" his mouth shaped the word, but it was oundless. The shining stranger shook his head.

"Not the one you know. Merely a fancy of yours." The brown eyes regarded him steadily. "A dream." He stressed.

Ryou fervently wished he could wake up, if only to sit and figure this out. Or maybe ask Sage about it. Envisioning the warrior's cool glance and honeyed voice inquiring calmly 'You have a thing for tigers, Ryou?' he amended his thought. To ask SAI about it and then-

Byakuen, if it was he (and Ryou was afraid it was), seemed distressed by Ryou's hesitation. He withdrew, sitting back on his heels, hair sliding down around his body like rain. "You may wake up, if you wish. I won't keep you here."

Ryou frowned, seeing tears shimmering on the elegant cheekbone. Why would he cry? He sounded so... bereft. Ryou summoned a slight laugh. "It's my dream, isn't it? I got nowhere else to be."

Byakuen shivered as warm dark fingers brushed at his tears, banishing them. His face was lifted carefully, Ryou studying him intently.

"Are you the tiger, or is the tiger you?"

"I am the reality behind the shadow of the tiger."

Ryou thought very hard on this, and on what the- on what Byakuen had said about having someone all his own. Even Mia was entranced by and loved the others, the fact that she felt she should and was content with only being with Ryou did not alter that. None of them were HIS. Not even Yuli. But here... lovely and shining and warm was this dream, and what harm could a dream do?

It wasn't a tiger here in bed with him NOW, now was it? Seiji and his imagined snide comment could go hang. This fantasy was his.

And so was this Byakuen.

He's going to turn away, Byakuen thought face pressed miserably into his knees. It's not enough for me to be a dream, he's not sure enough of what's going on, and unless it's a fight or his friends are involved he won't jump in, damn his selective impulsiveness.

Ryou's fingers reached out cautiously to touch the silk hair, finding courage from the feel of it, and let it slide through his dark hands like snow. The shapeshifter shivered both from the contact and in surprise, glancing at Ryou confusedly.

"You.. don't want to wake up?"

Ryou didn't answer immediately, still fascinated by the play of the strands over his palm and wrist. Even Mia's hair wasn't so long or fine, and the color was so purely white that it reflected the tan of his skin, and even the blue of his eyes when he brushed it over his cheek. "No," he whispered at last, his eyes half-closed as he stroked the handful of locks over his throat and collarbone. So soft... the thought of it shining and sliding all over his body came unexpectedly to his mind. A quick sweet burst of desire shot through him, aching like his jaw did from the first tart taste of lemons. It shimmied up his spine and left a warm throb between his legs, humming in anticipation. Ryou sighed softly, leaning his head back and letting the hair tease his chest, all the way to his navel.

Byakuen's breath hitched in his chest, brown eyes wide. Never in any form had he seen anything so erotic as Ryou kneeling there and spilling Byakuen's knee-length locks over his skin, moving sensually to feel as much as he could. He had to touch him. He sat up carefully, making sure Ryou kept a firm grip on his hair, and brushed his fingers over you's nipples. The warrior hissed, muscles contracting, opening his eyes to see the elegant form coiled next to him, the pale hand resting above his heart.

"Do that again," he whispered, a request more than a command, and the shapeshifter pressed his head against Ryou's warmth, catching the tight bud and working it gently with his lips and tongue. Ryou groaned hungrily and lifted his hips as sharp teeth scraped carefully over the oversensitized skin, His hands coming up into the white fall of silk and lifting the alienly beautiful face to his.

"You have no idea how I've longed for this," Byakuen confessed in a hushed voice, hands still dancing over Ryou's body.

Ryou tilted his head, grinning impishly. "Since when does a dream exist before the dreamer dreams it?"

Byakuen flushed guiltily, and kissed the corner of Ryou's mouth, Ryou's breath against his lips. "I don't think this one did before now," He exhaled.

Ryou's only answer was to tilt his head the fraction required, and capture that pliant mouth with his own, claiming, commanding, surrendering, coaxing a hungry swirling tongue into his heat. The lithe form in his arms shivered, something salty and wet slid down the other's cheek, the tear adding a tang to the kiss. Hands that were no longer tentative roamed over his body as Ryou held him into the kiss. The barrier of clothing, however slight, was breached, and Ryou twisted to rid himself of the boxers, his pelvis pushing upwards towards the hands petting him.

Byakuen broke the kiss almost violently, pushing Ryou down to the bed, covering the warrior with himself. Ryou groaned at the hot velvet marble feel of heat pressed to his own, writhing as it pushed against his skin. Frothy white curls even softer that the waves cloaking him teased him. He spread his legs in invitation, no longer caring if this was dream or reality, only knowing that if some baka woke him up they better be prepared to take it somewhere tight.

The tiger that was not a tiger by any code of genetics raised his head, pausing only to memorize Ryou's face beneath his, then slinked down and left a warm trail down Ryou's body, his tongue darting out to taste the salt on Ryou's tip before engulfing him with his mouth.

The sound that ripped out of the warrior was worth a wait of a thousand years, gripping the head of his illusion and thrusting into the mouth clamped over his sex. Byakuen was taking him without so much as a hint of restraint, as though he tasted like paradise. Hands pushed his thighs wide, fingers eagerly delving for his secrets. Ryou was more than willing to yield them, almost frantic by the time one slender digit pushed in, waited and rocked back and forth, and then invaded him completely.

"More," he gasped, tossing his head on his pillow, thinking that this being must be a dream of his to know so completely what he liked, as two more fingers twined with the first and found what he wanted them to find, thrusting and rubbing and it was only a matter of seconds, his hands had released his lover and now clenched helpless fists by his side. "Unngh... ! please, god- whoever the hell you are, fuck meplease, c'mon, c'mon-do it, do it..."

His sex was freed from the eager mouth and his legs were lifted, each held secure on a white shoulder. Thighs slid under his own, supporting him, and not only did the shapeshifter's body look like ivory but his erection felt like it too, only so warm. Ryou panted out another pleading obscenity, his eyes lowered to watch as much as he could.

Forever, Byakuen thought, trembling with terrible knowledge of what he was doing. This will have to last you forever.

"nnn... Please..."

One

Slow

Push.

Resistance, yielding, hot wet sheathing him, and he was inside, buried within this beautiful fast lifespanned mortal who was sobbing his name. He pulled out enough to shove back in again, and Ryou was so ungodly sexy, begging for it harder, faster, asking to be hurt, desperate and deliciously wanton underneath him.

Maybe there was something of the tiger indelibly inked on his soul as well, no matter what shape he had. He took as only predators know how to, knowing what is theirs, knowing that the need for their prey makes them more a possession of what they take than the other way around.

Ryou never stood a chance, loud and uncaring as he was claimed by what was his and no others', something that didn't have to be loved equally or shared. His. His alone, kept and held deep inside himself.

"Mine," he breathed, hips rising to every motion inside him, closing his eyes with the vision of his lover engraved on them, and just let himself feel. So good it almost hurt, it DID hurt, but it was the kind of pain he would beg for again. Invaded and penetrated and accepting into himself the need of someone else- It wouldn't take much for him to like this better than being top. He couldn't manage to savor it long, brought too close to the brink before. A determined grip reached between their straining bodies, pushing the boundaries of his fragile restraint, and building the burn into a blaze.

White Fire.

If he screamed he didn't remember it, lost in the perfect pulsing wave that rushed over him. His lover was still taking, almost violent now, and Ryou opened his eyes in time to see the slender body tense, shoving foreword and then stopping. A groan escaped from gritted teeth and Ryou sighed, feeling the release that was almost cool in his heat.

Byakuen slumped forward, wrapping shaking arms around the sated warrior, and nuzzled soft kisses into his damp throat and hair. Ryou reached up and held tightly to the shapeshifter, biting lightly at the throat so close to his lips.

"Never let me wake up."

Byakuen closed his eyes; the sound of his heart breaking was silent between their deep breaths. "I haven't got a choice." Byakuen left Ryou like he was pulling a sword from a companion's body, a sob hanging in his chest at the terrible pleasure even so little caused him.

Ryou was fighting sleep, knowing when he slept in the dream that the dream would end. A warm tongue brushed against his abdomen, licking away all traces of his release he could find. Ryou moaned sleepily as the mouth brushed between his legs, nuzzling teasingly. "Will I at least... dream of you again?"

Say no. You've done enough you shouldn't already, deceiving him.

"Please? Byakuen?"

Ow. "Perhaps."

"That's all?"

No, much more than that. Not if I went a million miles could I not give in again. "For now, yes."

Ryou was too sleepy to argue, the possibility giving him enough peace of mind to let true sleep claim him. "You better, stupid tiger..." he mumbled, drowsing before he finished.

The shapeshifter stared at his sleeping form a long moment, then reluctantly, laid a hand on Ryou's forehead. The air around him shimmered like with heat, and then shone briefly around Ryou. Byakuen closed his eyes, willing from himself the most difficult word he'd ever had to utter.

"Forget."

"Man, what hit you last night?"

Ryou mumbled something incomprehensible and rummaged in the fridge, producing an open can of flat coke. What the hell. He downed it.

Kento eyed Ryou warily. He was in his tiger boxers and mirrored shades. He had "I got Lucky" practically engraved on his forehead, which was quite visible since his hair was almost completely vertical. "Dude, ya look like you stuck your finger in Sag-er, in a socket."

Sage, folded into a bizarre yoga position and balancing himself on a barstool by only his left index and middle finger, opened one eye to glare at Kento. "Hah. Come over here and say that."

"Like you could do shit to ROCK, pal."

Sage flipped delicately off the stool, landing like a cat. "Try me."

"Don't you two even start, or I'll have to knock your heads together." Sai glowered at the two of them until Kento returned to his eighth bowl of rice krispies and Sage, shrugging, poured a cupful of Miso soup. He'd rather shave his head than eat cereal. Eggs and other western fare were bad enough.

"Ryou, are you alright?" Sai touched Ryou's shoulder lightly, mother hen worried about the 'sensitive one' in her clutch.

"Yeah, Sai I'm fine." Ryou took off his shades and rubbed his eyes. "I just had a REALLY weird dream. At least, I think it was a dream. It's really foggy." He ran a hand through his hair, and then frowned at the single strand of long, pure white hair that had somehow been tangled with his, now caught on his fingertips. "A dream." He murmured to himself, and wondered.

"Heya White Blaze, the guys up yet?"

The tiger raised his shaggy head and wurrfled noncommittally to Yuli. Rowen, of course, wasn't up yet. Yuli dropped his skateboard down on the porch, and sat down on the porch steps next to Byakuen. "Why the long face, furball?" He scratched the tiger behind his velvety ears, as Byakuen turned soulful brown eyes to the lanky young man. Yuli blinked in astonishment, somehow knowing that look. "You TOLD him?"

The tiger shifted like water, and spilled a beautiful being into Yuli's arms. "I couldn't HELP it," he sobbed. "I just-"

"Shh, hush. How did he take it?" Yuli hugged him comfortingly.

Byakuen shook his head. "He.. he doesn't even REMEMBER... I made him forget it... If he remembers anything it's only like a dream..."

"Oh, Byakuen." Yuli held the shapeshifter as tightly as he held his secret.

He had kept the truth of who White Blaze really was ever since the tiger had been wounded so badly that he could not hold his animal shape any longer. Yuli had been alone in the cabin when it happened. Something tense and unpleasant had been hanging around Ryou and the grown-ups, probably because Byakuen was hurt so badly from that strange soul sword. Yuli, typical of a child, was not half as shocked as an adult would be. Byakuen asked for his promise, and the nine-year-old gave it, and for ten years had never come close to breaking it.

No matter how keeping it grieved him sometimes.

"Well... you told him it was a dream, right?"

Byakuen nodded, wiping his eyes on his hair. "Yes."

Yuli smirked. "Well, he can't be awake all the time, can he?"

Byakuen blinked. "But...I-"

"Of course you can, now change back before they see you!"

A door slammed inside, and suddenly Yuli had a lapful of tiger.

"Hey, punk."

"Good morning Rowen."

The archer had his head stuck out the back door, blinking sleepily at Yuli. His hair looked like Sonic the Hedgehog. "Quit fucking around with the tiger and make some of those blackberry pancakes, huh?" He vanished inside.

"I ain't the one fucking the tiger..." Yuli mumbled with an impudent grin, and walked inside, a tiger shaking with feline laughter behind him.

~owari~

by Tenshi no Korin
yoroiden samurai troopers
b i s h o n e n i n k