Sai's reflection stared hollowly back at him from the plate he was drying, the moon-pale porcelain making his image look as though it had been painted in faint watercolor. He sighed and set the dish in the cabinet, then rubbed the dishtowel on the oven handle. The kitchen sparkled, along with the rest of the house, but the polish Sai had put into it could in no way conceal its emptiness. Ryou and Mia were out on one of their expeditions, Likely to return with some bizarre rare artifact and a story worthy of Indiana Jones. Rowen had gone to a computer convention. He knew not to expect Sage to come with him, even their love had some boundaries. That much technology wasn't Sage's proverbial cup of tea. Lastly, (and this was responsible for the desperate shine to the household) Kento was visiting with his family, leaving Sai and Sage alone to rattle in the large empty house for a week.

Sai glanced over at Sage, perched elegantly on a stool by the counter. The faint hiss of a ballpoint on paper was the only sound in the room. Sage looked down at what he had written, then closed his journal with a soft noise of satisfaction, and pulled his mug of tea over to him.

Sai fidgeted with the dishtowel.

"He IS coming back, you know."

Sai jumped. It was the most Sage had spoken to him all day. "I know."

He shrugged and began folding the dishtowel into a tiny square. "I just- miss them. It's so quiet."

Sage's lips formed a smile around his cup. "I like quiet."

Sai gave up on the towel. "Nevermind. I didn't figure you'd understand." He frowned at the faded yellow flowers on the towel. They desperately needed some new kitchen items. Well, maybe not as desperately as Sai needed to get out of the house. Maybe he'd go do some shopping tomorrow. Sage wasn't a COMPLETE ice sculpture, but Sai thrived on the life going on around him. He could go the whole day without speaking- Sai couldn't.

And he hadn't realized he'd miss Kento so much.

"I do understand." Sage set down his mug with a slight clink on the formica. Sai refilled it automatically, before Sage asked. "Thank you. I miss them too, Sai."

"It's not that I think you don't miss them, it's just-" Sai gestured vaguely. "Forget it."

Sage looked down at his closed journal, the faintest touch of a frown tugging at the corner of his mouth as he thought of the poem he'd just penned. He felt the hollow ache in his breast too; it just showed in different ways. Sai's loneliness was more obvious.

They stood silently in the kitchen for a long moment, together and completely apart, lost in other's absences. The sudden scrape of branches in a breeze made Sai jump, exhaling as a spatter of rain landed on the dark kitchen window. Sai drifted to the back door like a moth to flame.

"I'm going outside."

Sage blinked and shrugged. Only Sai would walk OUT into a rainstorm.

"Have fun."

Sai waited a moment, for Sage to stop him, or at least offer to go with him, waited for Sage to pick up the hint that Sai was feeling bad and to say something nice.

Sage sipped his tea and flipped through past entries in his journal. He might as well have been alone. Sai scowled crossly and flipped his hair in a fashion that would have had Kento apologizing for his very birth, anything to make Sai un-miffed. Figures, Sai grumbled to himself. He loved Sage of course; Sai loved all of them. But there were times when it was genuinely hard to LIKE Sage. Sai paused on the porch only long enough to strip off his shirt, then stepped out into the deluge. The falling warm droplets kissed his shoulders and upturned face like ardent lovers, sliding in rivulets down his chest like the fingertips he so missed. Sai flung out his arms to welcome the downpour, soaked to the skin in moments, trying to let his element wash away the loneliness. It only worked a little, easing his heart somewhat, but he was only one part out of five.

Kento had asked Sai to come with him, but Sai had said no, knowing that there were times when you needed to be alone with your family. Now wasn't the first time he wished he'd given a different answer. Sai settled back into the grass, lying down so that the rain pounded his whole body, sinking into the embrace of earth at his back. He imagined it was Kento instead, holding him from, behind in one of those protective embraces, nuzzling his hair and the nape of his neck. Sai arched a bit against the storm, thinking of broad hands sliding down his abdomen, a soft and loving voice in his ear as the ache between his legs that matched the one in his heart was slowly stroked away. Sai choked back a sob, clutching the grass as though afraid the planet's velocity would hurl him away.

The rain tore down even harder.

Sage glanced up. The ticking of the clock was irritating him for some reason. It seemed it had for a long time... in fact as long as Sai had been gone. Sage's violet gaze swept over the immaculate kitchen. Shouldn't he be back by now? Sage sighed. Better go and get him. It was September, and starting to get cool in the evenings. Sai with a cold was a DREADFUL thing to behold.

Sage hesitated on the porch. The rain had slowed to a persistent soak; but that combined with velvet black night made it impossible to see across the yard. Sage picked up Sai's shirt from the porch swing where it had been flung, running his fingers over the soft fabric.

"Sai?"

There was no response. Sage's eyes narrowed. A flare of lighting tore unnaturally across the autumn sky, momentarily making the world daylight. Sage stepped out of the shelter of the porch roof, aiming for where he had seen the pale outline of Sai's body. "Umm...." Sai felt himself being raised slightly up out of the grassy nest he was curled into. Dry warm arms moved around his chilled wet form. "Sage?"

"I'm taking you inside."

I miss him.

Sage froze at the mental communication, hitting him with a barrage of desolate emotions. Sai's pain was raw and real and the bond between the two of them vibrated with the emptiness in his heart and body.

"Sai..."

Sage looked down at the warrior sprawled in his arms, clad only in jeans and soaked to the skin. He hadn't realized Sai felt so alone, that he needed affection that much. Sage had been too busy avoiding his own loneliness to notice Sai's.

I've been a complete ass, he thought, lifting Sai into a sitting position. He only weighed slightly more than Rowen. I'll make it up to him...

"Sage-" Sai began to inform him that depression had yet to affect his walking ability when he realized Sage wasn't taking him anywhere. He was just holding him, cradling him in his embrace and shielding him from the still falling rain.

"I do understand, Sai," Sage whispered, tracing the features that were almost too pretty for a boy. "How it hurts..." his hand pressed against Sai's breastbone, feeling the pound of his heart under his palm. "... here."

Not the only place it hurts, Sai thought, looking up at Sage with smoldering green eyes, surprising Sage with their intensity. Sage's touch on Sai's skin and the feel of arms around him inspired a different kind of ache. His own arms snaked around Sage; he cuddled his face into the swordsman's collarbone.

"Sage," Sai whispered, his lips teasing Sage's throat. "I..." Sai trailed off, looking up at Sage's almost indifferent features, only a trace of his compassion showing- and just that and no more: just compassion. Sai flushed and looked away, his lips pressing into a tight line. What was he thinking? Sage had certainly never seemed to have any interest in him. And just because they were both lonely and Sai's body was SO hungry, here he was, setting himself up for a cold shoulder. It was the least he could expect.

"Stop looking so grim," Sage murmured, lightly touching Sai's mouth. It reverted back to its usual pouty curve. "That's better. " Sage kissed Sai's cheek and his temple, smoothing down the damp audburn hair.

"Beautiful," Sage whispered into Sai's ear, before brushing his open mouth against it. Sai shivered at the ripple of sensation, blinking in disbelief at the unexpected affection. Sage the Bishonen was calling SAI beautiful?

"I wonder," Sage mused, "If you taste like rain." His warm mouth found Sai's, tasting the soft lips and stealing the raindrops that had settled there. He was so very sweet. Sai's mouth opened shyly for him in invitation, one cautious hand sliding into the soft blond hair at the base of Sage's neck. Sage kissed him completely, concentrating all his emotion into that one touch, focusing the desire. Sai melted against him in intense surrender, a soft moan escaping him. Sage's fingers ran over Sai's stomach, the skin silky and wet with rain, feeling the muscles contract as he moved his thumb in short strokes between Sai's navel and the top button of his jeans. He ended the kiss with a teasing nibble on Sai's lower lip, pulling just a fraction away.

They stared at each other a long moment, weighing things unsaid.

"Do you want me, Sai?" Sage's hand slid between Sai's legs, answering his question before Sai could. "Because I won't do this if you're just using me to replace someone else. I want you to want me."

"I do." Sai's hands came up tentatively to touch Sage's flawless features. "We all want you Sage, it would be impossible not to." His cheeks stained crimson briefly. "Even me. "

"I think I know what you mean." Sage smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping from Sai's trembling green eyes over the smooth definition of his bare chest, the narrow hips and his sex constrained by denim and Sage's palm, to the long legs sprawled in the wet grass. Hell, Sai even had pretty feet if you could believe it, slender and strong with long toes and delicate bone structure like his hands. "I'm not the only one everybody wants." Sage bent again to kiss Sai's startled open mouth, gathering him in closer and lifting him to his feet, holding Sai's wrists as he kissed him.

Rowen made it obvious he thought Sai was sexy, usually with a barbed innuendo or maybe a swat on the ass, but never more than that. Ryou looked when he thought nobody else saw. And as for Sage himself- he chuckled softly as Sai struggled to put his arms around him- Sage was finally getting to see if Sai's body felt as beautiful as it looked.

Sai hissed suddenly as one nipple was caught between even white teeth and flicked lightly with Sage's tongue. "Umm!"

"I'm going to learn every inch of you, pretty one," Sage released Sai's wrists to run his palms up and down Sai's sides. "See what Kento's been keeping to himself for all this time."

"You'd.. be surprised." Sai's eyes widened as Sage kissed down to the indentation of his navel, invading him gently there until Sai was shifting his weight, his hips twitching involuntarily.

"I wonder if I would," Sage purred, dipping his head down to lightly bite at Sai through the wet Levi's. Sai just about jumped out of his skin.

"Sage.. please..."

Sage thumbed open the top button of Sai's jeans, slowly kissing the inch of exposed pale skin. "What?" Another button was undone, Sage's teeth nipping just above the waistline of Sai's boxers. "Want me to stop teasing you, humm?" Sage slid his hands up the backs of Sai's thighs and squeezed him gently. Sai whimpered. "Maybe want me to go down on you, is that it?" Sage's cheek nudged Sai's aching sex, making his knees go weak with sensation, wobbling at the prodding. "Well?"

"No." Sai lowered his eyes to gaze steadily at Sage.

Sage blinked in utter surprise. "No?"

Sai bit his lip, looking heartbreakingly endearing. "I want... I want you to take me."

Sage's astonishment turned into a smile. Sai almost sounded.. demanding. He rather liked it. He kissed Sai's navel again and stood up slowly, making a path to Sai's parted lips and then winding his arms around the slighter warrior once he got there. Sai returned it with a unexpected violence, startling Sage with his eager decisiveness. Such willing sexuality was not something he would have associated with Sai. Sage felt a pang of guilt, realizing how little effort he had made to know his companion. The intimate bonding of their souls through the armor was so overwhelming and total that it was easy to skip small details. What was his favorite movie? Or Wine? What songs did he most like to play on his keyboard? Sage had no inkling, any more than he could have anticipated the way Sai was touching him all over, as though he was part of the rain itself, sliding over and around Sage's body, kissing him with lips as skilled as Sage's own.

"Not out here," Sage managed, as Sai's warm mouth found and plundered the vulnerable space behind his earlobe. "Inside."

"Yes," Sai nodded, moving his hips hungrily against Sage's, reaffirming how much each wanted the other. His eyes glittered at the double meaning. "Inside."

Sage tugged at Sai's shoulders, pulling him back to the house, their bodies never completely parting. They staggered across the kitchen, so caught up in each other that their inherent grace failed them, impeding them as they left a haphazard trail of clothing up the stairs and along the landing.

By the time they reached Sage's room there was nothing but rapidly evaporating rainwater on them. Sai groped blindly behind him for the bed, flinging the coverlet back and tumbling into the tangled sheets.

Sage practically fell on top of him. "Unn... God I want you." Sage tangled his hand in Sai's hair, arching back the pale throat to nibble at the soft skin. Sai put his legs around Sage's waist to draw him closer, smiling faintly and pushing his sex against Sage's.

"Did I do this to you, Sage?" He inquired coyly, his hand snaking between their twined bodies and touching Sage lightly. He finally wrapped narrow fingers tightly around him, making Sage hiss and toss his head at the pressure; he reached up with his other hand to trace Sage's ear with one finger. Sai seemed to be prone to long moments of staring into Sage's eyes, memorizing his features. Sage found himself liking the soft affection, concealing sharp-edged desire like velvet barbed wire. Sai shifted his shoulders in the sheets. "Take me?"

"Believe me, I will," Sage growled. "But not like this."

Sai's eyes flashed, he twisted easily in Sage's arms onto his stomach, pushing his hips back against Sage. He was as pliable as a eel, Sage began to wonder just how flexible he was. The prospects were.. intriguing.

"Like this, then?" Sai whispered.

Sage nodded, forcing his voice into calmness, trying not to show what effect Sai's gyrations were having on him. He wrapped an arm around Sai's waist to lift his hips, shaping their bodies together. Sai twined his fingers on the bedpost and moaned slightly.

"Please..." The silk topsheet had bunched up underneath him, now cool against his burning sex, feeling almost illegally sensual. He pushed himself into the soft fabric with a sigh, wishing Sage would touch him.

Sage, for his part, was entranced, sitting back on his heels to watch Sai, trailing his fingers over Sai's ivory back down to the sculpted curve of his hip. Sai arched under the slight contact like a kitten in heat, down to the soft mewling noises in his throat. And all just for Sage to take. Sage extended one arm over to the bedside table, retrieving a corked glass bottle. It contained a special recipe of oils and time honored ingredients: Sage was nothing if not traditional. If you wanted funky flavored gels, by all means, go to Rowen's room. Sage smiled, uncorking the bottle with a soft pwop noise. The scent of the oil was mystical and dark and exotic... Sage had been known to use it purely for aromatic purposes. Sai whimpered a bit. Sage had given him a bottle of the same thing once, on blushing request, and he knew full well what that scent meant.

"please..."

"Shh. Be patient, little one." Sage stoked Sai's shoulderblade soothingly. He was trembling. Sage was having difficulty keeping his own patience, presented with Sai's eagerness. And the way he was rocking himself against the sheets- Sage swallowed slightly harder than he should have needed to, carefully pouring some oil into his palm and re-corking the bottle one-handed, replacing it on the table. He dipped pale fingers into the amber liquid, then leaned over Sai, slipping his hand between Sai's thighs and slowly working it into him.

"uuunnnnnn..." Sai tried and failed not to writhe as the most intimate part of his body was stroked with warm slick fingers, stretching him gently. A hiss escaped him as one finger invaded him deeply, massaging him from within with madding slowness.

"God! ..Sage, please! "

"Please what, Sai?" Sage wrapped his other hand around himself, leaning back his head and exhaling as the warm oil coated his skin. Sai's body clutched impossibly tight around his finger, he couldn't wait to feel what it would do to him.

"Take me." Sai whispered. "Now," he added, expanding on his vocabulary of pleas, the last consonant degenerating into a snarl.

"Keep talking," Sage murmured. "I like it." He pushed another finger into Sai, kneeling behind him and urging his legs further apart. Sai spread easily, still moaning. "What do you want me to do to you?"

Convinced he was oiled enough, he reached around to grasp Sai's sex in his palm, sliding him in and out of his grasp.

"For god's sake, Sage," Sai growled, his patience gone, and the slick tightness around and inside driving him past pleading. "fuck me." He shoved his body foreword and back, god it was torture but it felt so good . "Hard," he added in a snarl, tossing Sage a smoldering emerald gaze over one white shoulder.

Sage's eyebrows went up in surprise. He had the distinct feeling that if he didn't do as he requested that Sai would have him flat on his back and take what he wanted. The realization that Sai was only being submissive because he wanted to be was the last straw on Sage's planned slow seduction. He wrapped himself around Sai, planting a kiss on the base of his neck. Sai felt the teasing fingers abandon him, replaced by a warm nudge. He all but purred.

"Ready?"

"mm." And strung so tight it was hard to breathe. It was torment just to hold still.

Sage leaned foreword relentlessly, his moan turning into an astonished gasp. " God, Sai... " He was so tight, too tight to have been taken frequently by Kento. Sage knew Sai wasn't a virgin, why else would he have asked him for the bottle of-

Good God.

Somewhere in the haze of Sage's mind it occurred to him that he'd assumed too much about the balance of power in Kento and Sai's relationship.

Oops.

"yessssss..." Sai's grasp tightened on the bedpost as Sage took him, sliding in all the way in one slow push, then holding still for as long as he could stand it, letting Sai adjust to the invasion. Sai's teeth were bared in a strange mixture of a triumphant smile and a grimace, the ache between his legs reaching unbearable levels as he was penetrated. God he loved this. He missed this. He'd caught himself wondering a few times what it would be like with Sage. Now he Knew.

Positively exquisite.

Sage pulled back almost reluctantly, dismissing the questions to be pondered over later, for now just wanting to plunge back into the embrace of Sai's body. Sai crooned encouragement at each thrust until the force of it left him breathless, Sage's body slamming into his every bit as hard as he wanted it to. Sage retained enough presence to gather part of the sheet in his hand, caressing Sai's sex with the soft silk as he worked him, feeling Sai constrict around him as he was taken closer and closer to completion.

"Sage-!" Sai's tone was almost frantic, he was being impaled so sweetly, Sage's expert touch on his sex making him want to fly apart. It was almost too much pleasure to take and remain conscious. "I'm... I'm so-" he broke off with a sharp cry as Sage began thrusting upwards, their heartbeats and breathing in fevered unison. Sage knew all too well what he was doing, and Sai could only lower his head and whimper.

So close so close so close so-

Sai gasped silently as he came a few seconds faster than he expected, totally unbraced for it. The release was warm and sweet flowing out of him, creaming into Sage's hand and the silk.

"Just.. for you.. Sai." Speaking was as much an effort as thought for Sage. Sai went taut underneath him, he gripped Sai's hipbone hard enough to leave a bruise as he exploded, the pleasure tearing neon streaks across his vision. Sai felt Sage spill into him just as the last aftershocks of his own climax faded, groaning softly at the sensation of Sage flooding his body.

"Perfect..." Sage gasped, collapsing on top of Sai, and only belatedly leaving him. Sai's knees refused to put up with anymore of this nonsense and he crumpled as well, wet with oil and sweat and more than trace of himself and Sage. He managed to realize what a mess he was, and also that he didn't care. They didn't move for the space of several minutes, until Sage at last rolled over with a groan and vanished into the bathroom.

Sai shivered in the air that suddenly chilled his skin. Well, he couldn't expect to be cuddled, now could he? He had after all, got exactly what he requested, no more, no-

"eeuuuooh!!" if Sai had had more energy he would have jumped. "What are you doing?"

"Cleaning you up. I don't think you could walk to the shower, and I certainly haven't got the strength to carry you." Sage finished with the washcloth on Sai's back and calves, rolling the other warrior on his back to attend to his front.

"Sage, if you give me a few minutes to remember where my legs are, I'll go and not bother you or soil your linens anymore, alright?"

The slow stroke of the damp cloth paused on his abdomen, then after a moment resumed. "I brought clean sheets, too," Sage continued as though Sai hadn't spoken. "because I don't know about you, but I don't want to sleep on these tonight."

"Why should it matter what I-" Sai stopped in mid-huff, finally looking at Sage. There was no hardness left to the set of his features, his eyes were the soft shade of violets painted in watercolor. Sai thought it the most beautiful he had ever seen him. Was he always like this, after...?

"You- want me to stay?"

Sage dropped the washcloth to the floor, adding the wadded bedsheet along with it. "I don't want you to go, if that's what you mean."

"I'd.. like to stay."

Sage smiled with the barest trace of his usual sharp edge. "then Get your ass off my bed so I can change the sheets, cos if I don't do it now I'm gonna sleep on these, dirty or not."

"mmmhummm." Sai rolled over once, and just kept rolling till he fell on the floor. "umph. Kay."

There was a sound from Sage that was suspiciously like a giggle. "Okay, Grace."

"Shuttup."

Sage made short work of making up the bed and flopped into it as soon as he was done, then stuck his head over the edge of the mattress. "Sai?" The only response was a faint snore. Sage grinned ruefully, hauled by one limp arm a only halfway protesting Sai into bed with him, tucked his body against his, and was asleep on Sai's shoulder within a minute.

"You aren't at all what I expected, Sage."

It was somewhere between three am and dawn, and the two of them were seated in a tubful of water (tinged a shade of pink that make Sage wince a bit.. or maybe it was all the bubbles that Sai poured in), Sai reclining lazily against Sage's chest.

"Why, what did you expect?" Sage dipped the sponge into the water and rubbed it absently down Sai's throat, past his navel, to the foamy water that just barely covered his sex. Sai stretched, smiling, under the soapy affection.

"Mmm. I thought you would be-" his eyes opened, verdant and puzzled. "cold."

Sage smiled faintly. He had thought he would be cold too. He could not see himself doing this with Ryou, maybe with Rowen but definitely the only tub toys would be the kind that needed batteries. It was in his nature to keep his pride above all else.

Prideful men do NOT have pink bubblebaths.

"I can be. I suppose it depends on.. my mood."

"Or whom you're with." Sai had a jar of bubbles with him and he removed the wand from the magenta plastic bottle. He brought it to his lips, exhaling a shimmering orb into existence. It hovered, shining, in the air above them. Sage stuck out a finger and dispersed it into water molecules.

"You popped my bubble," Sai accused, winking. He sighed. "I just didn't expect you to be so..." He sighed, not finding the words he wanted, and nestled back into Sage's embrace, absently breathing five more bubbles into the warm air.

"Let me have that," Sage said at last, holding out his hand. "I want to blow one."

"Really?" Sai drawled, holding the bottle out of Sage's reach. "I volunteer."

Sage couldn't help but return the grin. "A BUBBLE, you sex fiend in virgin's clothing. "

"I'm not in ANY clothing," Sai protested with a wicked chuckle, but surrendered the wonder bubbles. Sage bopped him in the head with the wand.

"You, sir, are making me frivolous and silly, and I don't approve of it. It's like eating too many sweets." Sage failed miserably at his attempt to blow a bubble.

Sai snickered. "You're trying too hard."

"Hush. I am perfectly capable of blowing a bubble." He proceeded to huff and splutter into the wand, ineffectively. "Idiotic anyway. What a waste of time." He thunked the bubbles down irritably.

Sai resisted the urge to rub it in by blowing more bubbles. "The mighty Korin no Seiji, blowing bubbles in the bath. Or attempting to, anyway. How darling."

"Breathe a word of it to anyone and I'll run you through in a way you WON'T like," Sage snarled.

Sai held up a hand. "Shan't say a thing, Troopers Honour."

"Good." Sage watched as Sai lazily splashed water over his abdomen, his long fingers running over the ripples of his lower stomach. Sai was a sweet lover, Sage had to admit. Not what he would like all the time.. but once in a while.. He sighed. it was like indulging in a strawberry sundae. Sage smirked. No wonder he and Kento were practically inseparable. Sai realized he was being observed and tilted back his head to look at Sage, gifting him with an upside-down smile.

"Thinking?"

"Hmm." Sage affirmed, running a hand absently over one of the thighs nestled between his.

"What about?"

Sage leaned over to kiss Sai's forehead. "That you aren't what I anticipated either, little fishy."

Sai shrugged. "I was as submissive as you needed me to be," he theorized, "So you didn't have to be demanding to keep control. Which you have to have, you know."

Sage blinked. "Thank you, Sigmund."

Sai glanced away in embarrassment. "Sorry, just an observation."

"A valid one," Sage admitted after a long pause. He didn't like being found out. So often he forgot Sai was not only the eldest of them, but also the most observant. He caught small nuances of personality that others overlooked. "Okay, then, why am I so demanding with Ryou?"

"you needn't tease me because I-"

"I'm not. I want to know what you think."

Sai stared up at Sage, surprised to realize he was sincere. "Well, Ryou is our Leader. 24-7, he can't ever forget that his decisions are the ones that ultimately make us or break us. Power can be a burden to him, and deep down he's got a need to surrender it." Sai paused to see if Sage was following him or if

he thought this was all bosh. Sage nodded encouragement. "but his dominant side won't let him, you see. So while he likes it.. NEEDS it on his end of the handcuffs, he's got to snarl a bit about it. He needs someone with as strong a will who can face up to that, and make him take what down inside, he really wants. It's probably good for him."

Sage was almost stunned. "Are we all that obvious?"

Sai smiled. "No. It took me forever to figure out Rowen. I see the two of you together and I can never figure out who's got the upper hand. He's so easygoing. Finally I realized it's just the affection that matters to him, whether he's giving or getting, no matter what form it's taking. He got so little real attention growing up, that intimacy is just a marvel for him. He changes to balance you. "

Sage mulled this over, remembering his question he had meant to ask Sai.

"You and Kento?"

"I have to keep some of my secrets." Sai's smile was enigmatic, his eyes sly, the set of his shoulders implying confidences of silk ribbon and pleasure.

Like the ocean, Sage thought. You think it's obvious and transparent, but really you have no idea what's going on.

"Well." Sage said, in a way indicative of a changing subject. "I must admit that this is some of the oddest pillow talk I've ever dealt in. "

"I never took you for a pillow talker in the first place."

Sage let his smirk turn fairly predatory, biting lightly at Sai's neck.

"I never figured you for a talker, period" he grinned. "Was that You, quiet one, telling me to do it harder... and now? "

Sai shifted with an uncomfortable slosh of water. Sage was turning him on again.. he made it so unfairly easy.

"Some words I didn't even realize were in your vocabulary, fishy. Like-" His lips teased Sai's ear as he repeated a few of the choicer phrases. Sage was pleased to note that the skin under his lips was flushing an embarrassed scarlet.

"Seiji!' Sai's tone was adorably mortified.

"Well, it WAS you, wasn't it?" Sage's hands slipped into the water to spread Sai's legs open over his own, lifting his sex, laced with bubbles, out of the water.

"Of course it was, but that's no reason to-" He made a frustrated noise, not only because Sage was making him blush, but because his desire was so obvious in front of him.

"Silly." Sage purred, his hand moving between Sai's thighs. Sai watched, entranced, as the long white fingers touched his hard length. "Silly fishy who wants it again."

"Mmm." Sai couldn't tear his eyes away. Watching Sage do it was only making it worse. He could feel Sage against him now, warm and harder even than he was. "Who's psychoanalizing now?"

Sage kissed a blushing cheekbone, his fingers stirring soft wet reddish curls. "This isn't psychology, it's anatomy." His fingers traced Sai's erection thoughtfully. "And very nice anatomy too, I might add." He smiled at Sai's spellbound expression. "You like to watch me touch you?"

Mutely, Sai nodded.

"Then watch," he whispered. He shifted until he could feel Sai, right on top of him, tight and too hot, and drove himself into him while Sai cried out, watching the hand working his sex. He fucked him harder this time, until Sai's release spilled over his hand and down into the water.

Sai never shut his eyes. Not even when he felt Sage finish.

"Seiji..." Sai slumped back against him. "Glad.. we aren't.. lovers.. all the time." He managed a sated smile. "Couldn't take it. "

Sage smiled back. He liked the way Sai said "lovers." "Not all the time." He kissed him. "Only on rainy days."

Kento dropped his duffel on the stoop and eyed the front door with trepidation. "Do you think I should tell him?"

Rowen scratched doubtfully at his tousled indigo hair. "Well I dunno, Kento. I don't think we should start keepin' secrets from each otha. Sides-" He adjusted his grip on his backpack. "How'dya know he an' Sage didn't-" Rowen made a slight gesture with one hand and raised an eyebrow, implicating an affaire d'amour.

Kento blinked. "Goody Two Shoes and the Snow Queen? No way."

"If you recall," Rowen reminded him smugly, "A similar comment could have been made about the walking computer and the human food disposal."

"Huh?" Kento looked puzzled, then flushed as Rowen pouted at him, reminding him. "oh."

"How soon they fahget-" He sighed, like a spurned lover.

The two of them had met to take the last leg of their journey together-the memory of that night in Osaka had a distant, unreal quality. They had both been drunk, true.. but not that drunk. And they'd been stone cold sober the other THREE times.

"I just wasn't thinking about that, okay?" Kento returned hotly, staring at the doorknob.

"Funny, it's all ya could think about the way up here." Rowen opened the door and elbowed past Kento. "Time ta face the music."

Oddly enough that's what they heard: music. Sai's keyboard, plunking out some dreadfully perky tune reminiscent of "Puff the magic Dragon" and.. TWO voices?

"Dream of Loneliness, masuguni kono sora o musubu-"

Kento looked at Rowen, and Rowen looked at Kento, and the two of them obviously had the same question in mind: Who was he, and what had he done with Sage?

"Tadaima!" Kento yelled up the stairs. The music stopped abruptly. Kento gave Rowen a worried glance. "Do you think he missed me?"

"KENTO!!" A blue streak vroomed down the hall, clotheslineing Kento.

Rowen smiled down at Kento being throttled to the ground by a hundred and forty pounds of enamoured Samurai Trooper. Sai was a million questions all at once, and the only time he paused was to kiss Kento, which prevented him from getting a word in edgewise.

"Not that I can tell," Rowen drawled, and strolled into the den. Sage was straddling the piano bench, waiting for him. They both smiled softly at each other.

"Good trip?"

"Mmhm."

Pause. Smirk.

Smirk.

"Did ya?"

Snicker. "Yes. Did you?"

Grin. "Yah." Rowen reached out a hand to touch Sage's features. It was always shorthand in their conversations- if they talked at all. "Was it nice?"

Sage kissed the inside of Rowen's palm. "Yes. But I still missed you."

"Really?"

"Really."

Pause. Smile. "Show me how much."

Kento was still trying to talk. "Sai I- oomph- I mmmmmm- geesh- I really have to tell you- JEZZ! something!"

"Can it WAIT?" Sai crooned.

Kento wavered, then shook his head. "No, Sai. It can't."

Anxiety made a sudden knot in Sai's stomach. "What.. is it?"

Kento sucked in a breath, let it out. "Sai, I- You know I love you, Right?"

Sai nodded.

Kento tried to swallow and couldn't. Here it goes. "Sai- I.. IsleptwithRowen. "

Blink.

Kento shut his eyes, waiting for annihilation.

"Oh is THAT all?"

Kento looked at Sai, sitting on his chest and pouting at him. "Oh good heavens love I slept with Sage, it's not so dreadful a thing." He beamed. "Rather nice really but it wasn't you at all." Sai bent down to kiss Kento on the end of his astonished nose. "Now is that all the news or do I have to wait to ravish you until you confess something ELSE?"

"Uh... Nono.. I um.. I think that's it."

"Good." Sai nodded once, firmly.

"Well, uh.. um. " Kento was trying to recall some form of protocol for this. "Uh.. how was the weather?"

Slow dark smile.

"It rained a lot."