New Beginnings

"Yeah, yeah, I know, just hear me out." Atsushi leaned against the bar as Yoshiki walked past to unlock the door. "No, I really think you should come down here.... Yes, I do." The dark haired man rolled his eyes. "I'll call you when we have a definate time. Yes, later." he closed his phone, then shot a grin at the blonde.

"You'd think he'd trust your judgement." Yoshiki said, leaning against the counter beside the other man.

Atsushi chuckled. "He's a bit tough sometimes, but after all these years of working together, he knows when I really mean something." He smiled brightly. "He'll come. He wouldn't dare miss an opportinuty like this."

Yoshiki nodded slowly. "Now to just convince the boys of this." he sighed. "This really is bad timing, you know that right?"

---

Tsukasa pulled into the parking lot beside a small white car and turned off the engine. He recignized the other car as Yoshiki's and he knew Hakuei had already arrived. His heart beat heavily in his chest as he fumbled with the door and stepped outside. The sun was just beginning to set over the pink and orange horizon

Tora had called him half an hour earlier, asking him to come over. He said Hakuei would be there as well; they could have dinner and then talk for awhile. He has agreed to come, obviously, but he was nervous. In most instances, having rivals of any sort in one room together was generally not a good idea, no matter what the situation.

He smoothed out his favorite t-shirt, then walked briskly around the shops, towards the back. He opened a service door to the bookshop and mounted the narrow stairway that led to the apartment above. After knocking on the door, he stepped back, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves.

The door opened and Tora warmly at him.

"Perfect timing, Tsukasa-kun," he said. "The food is just about ready." He stepped back and to the side. "Please, come in."

Tsukasa looked up and down Tora's thin frame, beautifully wrapped in a red silk shirt, black jacket and slacks, then with a smile stepped inside, taking his shoes off beside the door. Straightening up, his eyes went wide at th site before him.

All the boxes had been stacked against the walls, new black and red sheets draped over them. Candles, tall and thin, adorned the tops, and every available countertop, giving the small room a warm, moving glow.

Hakuei appeared from the kitchen, smiling down at the two men. "Sit down, please. I'll serve."

A small, low table had been placed in the living room, with three floor cushions surrounding it. Tora sat on one end, Tsukasa beside him. Hakuei turned around to retrieve a small sake set and a glass of water. He set the sake before Tsukasa and the water infront of Tora. He poured two small cups then handed one to Tsukasa.

"Arigatou." the younger man said, taking a small sip. The older man just smiled and turned away. He watched as Hakuei pathered small bowels, plates and a large serving of cold soba noodles, along with a tray of delicious looking sashimi, placing them all on a tray and carefully setting it on the table. Wordlessly he began seperating small portions onto their plates.

"Eat." he said finally. "Tora and I worked hard on this."

Tsukasa's brow raised in astonishmen. "You guys cooked all this?"

The two men grinned and Tora scooped up a small piece of salmon sashimi with his chopsticks, holding it out to Tsukasa.

"The market down the street had a great deal on their fish. Try it."

Tsukasa took the proffered morsel into his mouth, letting the thinly sliced meat melt on his tongue before swallowing.

"That was wonderful." he said, smiling.

They ate in relative silance for several minutes, but before too long Tsukasa couldn't take it anymore and set his chopsticks on his plate, staring down at his hands.

"Did something displease you, Tsukasa?" Tora sked.

The young man sighed and fingered the silk napkin in his lap. "No, nothings wrong with the food." He looked away as Hakuei stood.

"Perhaps we should finish the meal later." The taller one helped the other two to their feet. "I think we have much to discuss and it's weighing heavily on our minds. Let us sit down somewhere and have a little talk."

"We can sit on the futon in my room." Tora said and led the way down the short hall. Seeing as how he hadn't had time to buy any more furniture yet, it really was the only place they could sit, aside form the hard, wooden floor.

Tora's room had recieved a similar treatment as the livingroom, with boxes hidden behind flowing sheets, candles everywhere. Several pillows that looked like they had been new two decades ago had been thrown on the now quilt covered futon. Hakuei sat down on one side, crossing his legs, then patted the space beside him. Tsukasa's heart beat rapidly in his chest as he sat down by the taller man.

Tora took a deep breath, still standing. "Tsukasa I... well.." his voice faultered. He tried to speak, but nothing seemed to want to come out. He looked helplessly at Hakuei.

"Tora needs to tell you something very important," Hakuei said softly, "but he's afraid."

The younger man threw a wild look at the one sitting beside him, then turned his attention to the one standing. "What is it?" Tora hesitated again and Tsukasa frowned deeper. "Tell me!"

Tora knelt infront of Tsukasa, clasping the other's cold hands in his. "Tsukasa, I.. what I mean to say is.. the doctor's don't think I'm-"

"You're dying, aren't you?"

Tora closed his eyes and nodded slowly.

"You're not just sick, or hurt," Tsukasa barely managed to gasp out, barely breathing. "You're really dying..." Another nod and Tsukasa was shaking his head back and forth violently, dark hair flapping wildly around his face.

"No, no NO NO NO NO NO!"

Tora grabbed Tsukasa's face and brought it close to his own. "Listen to me!" the other man stilled, silent tears streaming down his face. "The doctor's, they don't know for sure what's going on. They say I might die tomrrow, or next month, they don't know." He sighed, choking back a sob of his own. "But no matter what, I'm going to be here, with you, until the very end, ok?"

Hakuei placed gentle arms around the younger man "It's ok," the older man murmered into his ear. "Just hear him out."

"Please..." Tsukasa wimpered.

"It's true." Tora said firmly. "You have to deal with it, one way or another." He sighed. "They've tried all they know how. I.. my head... I have seizures.. and when it swells..." he looked away. "Brain clots kill, and I've had one already. I'm damaged...." he looked back at the young man, eyes slightly shimmery in the flickering candlelight. "But I had to see you again, one last time."

Hot trears spilled down Tsukasa's cheeks and he threw his arms around Tora.

"NO! You can't die!" he cried, holding the man tightly. "You can't leave me again!"

Tora held the other close, patting his back. "I don't want to.." he whispered, "but I don't really have a choice." He pulled back slightly, his heart renching at the reddened face of the other man. He patted his cheek, then kissed his eyelids, pressing his soft lips against those wet tracks down Tsukasa's face.

The young man's breath hitched, body trembling as he closed his eyes, angry, sad tears leaking from his eyes. He pulled Tora's face to meet his and kissed him, hard and deep. The other leaned into him, pressing their bodies together. Suddenly, Tsukasa felt a hand on his back and he pulled away in horror at what he was doing. He twisted around, eyes wide, staring at the other man.

"Hakuei, I'm sorry, I-"

The older man smiled and pressed two fingers against Tsukasa's lips to silence him "Shh, it's ok. We both know what you want." His hands caressed the man's back in large, soothing circles. "Just.. forget all this, for awhile. Let us make you happy."

Tsukasa's eyes widdened as Tora pulled his face back towards him, kissing his mouth deeply, tongue pushing past his teeth and massaging his own. Tsukasa moaned and leaned into him, only to feel Tora's hands pushing him back further onto the bed. He crawled back, still kissing Tora passionatly, then stopped when he felt Hakuei's hands on him. He hesitated, pulling slightly away from Tora's sweet mouth, but the other man pushed his face back around.

"Don't worry about me," he whispered, kissing Tsukasa's neck, "just focus on Tora." He slid his legs around Tsukasa so the younger man was sitting infront of him, then slowly encircled him with his strong arms. As Tora climbed onto the bed, Hakuei's hands moved over Tsukasa's chest, eventually making their way under his shirt to tease the soft skin of his abbs.

Tsukasa moaned, finally giving in and pulled Tora closer, leaning back into Hakuei's arms. His fingers tangled in Tora's short, soft hair as he deepened their kiss, trying to taste all of him he could.

Tora grinned and pulled back, grinning at the moan of disapointment from the others mouth. He grabbed Tsukasa's shirt and in one swift movement had it up and over his head, dropping somewhere behind him. Now he attacked his creamy white chest, like he'd dreamed about doing for so long, laveshing over one prominant nipple while Hakuei's hands busied themselves by undoing Tsukasa's belt. Once that was out of the way and his pants unbuttoned, he slipped on hand inside.

With a gasp, Tsukasa arched his back, arms wrapping around Tora's neck. Tora's fingers made their way up Tsukasa's legs and grabbed his pants, pulling them and Tsukasa's boxers father down. Unfastening his hungry lips from Tsukasa's skin, he stepped back and pulled his clothing all the way off.

"No fair," Tsukasa groaned as Hakuei grabbed his growing erection from behind, "You guys are still clothed."

Tora grinned as Hakuei started stroking him and removed his jacket. Tsukasa waved him frantically over, grabbing his shirt desperatly, hastily undoing the small buttons as fast as he could. Tsukasa could feel Hakuei chuckle behind him, but he didn't care anymore. All he wanted was love and pleasure from both men. He pushed Tora's silky red shirt off his shoulders as the man stepped out of his pants, then crawled over TSukasa. As he kissed the other man, Hakuei pulled his hands away and took off his own shirt, then pulled Tsukasa back so he was leaning once again against his bare skin. He fished in his pocket for something and handed it to Tora.

Tsukasa's eyes widdened. "You guys planned all this, didn't you?" he hissed accusingly. Tora smiled as he spread the lubricant over his fingers.

"Just this part," he whispered, bending down to capture Tsukasa's mouth with his. Tsukasa moaned, his hands roaming over Tora's pale body, and leaned back, his knees rising up around the other man. Tora reached down and probed at his entrance before inserting one long finger inside. Tsukasa pushed against his hand and Tora inserted a second, slowly moving them back and forth inside him. AS he brought a third in to join the other two, Hakuei reached around TSukasa, one hand resuming his earlier minstrations, slowly moving up and down his length, while the other turned Tsukasa's head to the side so he could lavish his long neck with warm, sensual kisses.

After a moment of breathless actions, Tora removed his fingers and lifted Tsukasa's hips up off the mattress. Hakuei grabbed a pillow and placed it under the younger man's back as Tsukasa wrapped his long legs around Tora's waist. As Hakuei continued to stroke him, Tora slowly pushed forward, sheathing himself inside Tsukasa's warm body.

Tsukasa's eyes shut tightly and he grimsed as Tora burried himself deep inside, then stilled. Hakuei continued to touch him, caress him, soothing words flowing out of his mouth and into Tsukasa's ear. He forced himself to relax, to realize just what they were doing, and opened his eyes. Tora stared down at him, large, dark eyes filled with equal love and lust, and he smiled.

Tora began to move, very slowly at first, kissing and nipping at Tsukasa's neck and collarbone. When he felt hands moving long his back, urging him further, he picked up the pace, head swimming at the warmth surrounding him, the tightness engulfing his need. His breath came out in sharp gasps as he pushed harder, faster, taking all he could and giving his all to the man he loved. He looked up and caught Hakuei's eye, saw the love that filled the other man, and he knew everything would be ok.

Tsukasa rolled his hips in time with Tora's thrusts, pleasure washing over him as he felt that spot inside him touched just right, his cock being massaged faster and faster, and he realized he couldn't possibly last much longer. He could also feel Hakuei growing very hard behind him, but that thought was pushed aside as the world seemed to explode around him. He cried out, a deep throated gasp, and came hard. He arched his back, head pressed harshly against Hakuei's, mouth open, gasping for breath as he emptied himself in his lover's hand.

Tears formed in Tora's eyes as he heard Tsukasa orgasam underneath him and he thrust twice more, coming swiftly behind the other. He groaned loudly, burrying his face in Tsukasa's neck and spilled his seed deep inside the young man, thrusting as hard as he could, body tensing, vision swimming as spots of color exploded before his eyes. A moment later he lowered himself beside the other two men, panting furiously, eyes closed.

hakuei kissed Tsujasa's sweaty face, then slid out from behind the young man, reaching for a small towel to clean up their mess. Tora looked up at him through lazy eyes, then grabbed his hand.

"What about you?"

Hkauei looked down at his painfully hard erection straining against his pants and grimised. "Don't worry about it."

But Tora frowned and pulled him back down onto the bed. "Now that's not very fair, is it?" He sat up and climbed closer to the taller man. "Tsukasa-kun, what do you think we should do about this?"

He other young man grinned and stood up on his knees. "I certainly wouldn't want Hakuei to feel left out." He wrapped his arms around the older man from the side, slowly kissing the dark tattoos on his neck. Tora's hands moved to Hakueis pants, unbuttoning them swiftly and pulling them low. The other man hissed as the fabric brushed painfully against his erection, then gasped as Tora took him in his hands.

"Hakuei's been so kind to me," Tora purred as his hands slowly moved up and down, "I think he diserves a little thanks." As Tsukasa turned Hakuei's had to kiss him, Tora bent down and swallowed Hakuei's cock whole, taking him in as far as he could.

Hakuei groaned and thrust his hips forward involentarily. He hands flew to Tsukasa's head, fingers tangling in his long, sweaty hair as he deepened their kiss. As excited as he was, it only took Tora a minute to bring him close to the edge and soon he felt his stomache clench, his seed flowing out of him and into Tora's warm mouth. He slumpted forward, breathing hard, and the other two men caught him, easing him back onto the bed.

As the candles flickered around them, Hakuei rolled onto his back, heart beating rapidly in his chest. Tsukasa curled an arm around him, snuggling into his chest and closing his eyes. Tora hovered over him, looking into those carmel eyes, then bent down and kissed Hakuei softly on his lips.

"Thank you." he whispered.