#original-post

Hanzo lets out a sigh. “Yes,” he admits. “A long one. Genji...,” he trails off again.

Kakeru lets out a little snort. He does not need Hanzo to tell him. He had no sooner walked into his family’s house before his mother was telling him all the terrible things the younger prince did while he was working. Currently it seemed that he had stumbled into a rival drug den while in Tokyo, crashed there for three days, and almost started a tiny war if not for a substantial bribe.

“It is getting worse,” His lover’s voice has no fire. “What I thought was flight of fancy or rebellion is becoming compulsion. I mentioned possible,” he paused to think. “Solutions to Father, but he refused. The revisionists are watching too closely for that.”

“Rehab?”

“Yes. A nice facility in Hokkaido. Far, but the air there is good and it is world renowned,” Hanzo sighed again and his anxious fingers curled around Kakeru’s neck to tangle in his curls. “It does not matter. It will not happen. We must deal with it ourselves.”

Kakeru detangled Hanzo’s fingers from his hair and went to sit on his hips. “I still think that if you could only talk to Genji--,”

“I try. I tried. I lose my temper too quickly, or he is too strung out to listen, or we end up screaming at each other. I am too tired to constantly be my brother’s keeper,” Hanzo covered his eyes and scrubbed. “I cannot sleep. Night terrors overwhelm me. Work keeps me awake. Sores in my back and neck and headaches always...” He stops and does not uncover his face.

At a loss for words, Kakeru kindly rubs his lover’s side while he thinks. He has three older siblings, a brother and two sisters. They are quickly rising through the hierarchy of the clan and are his Mother’s pride and joy. In truth, his position as Hanzo’s bodyguard was a privilege, but not anything necessary to raise their position. He is the youngest, his father passed years ago, and his older brother had a marriage in the fall. He could not imagine the strain of being a father, mother and brother to a wayward little shit like Genji Shimada.

“If you are sore, I can remedy that,” He says suggestively, sliding his hand under Hanzo’s shirt to trace up his abdomen.

“I am far too tired for such things, you pervert,” The heir protests, hand going to Kakeru’s wrist.

“What things?” Kakeru says innocently. “I have no idea what perverted things you could speak of. I was merely planning...,” His hands slid back down towards Hanzo’s side. “To tickle you!”

Immediately he began the onslaught, and Hanzo has to slap a hand over his mouth to muffle his shriek of laughter. Despite his stern exterior, he was quite ticklish and suffered for it. He kicked and squirmed underneath Kakeru, attempting without much effort to dislodge him, all the while desperately muffling his giggles. “Stop! Stop,” Hanzo begs. “Please, my sides ache.”

“As you command,” Kakeru replied haughtily, moving his hands out from underneath Hanzo’s shirt. Instead he goes to cup his paramour’s defined jaw and lean down for a tender kiss. Just before their lips could meet, a shadow darkened the paper door.

“Hanzo,” Genji called from outside. “Hanzo, get your lazy ass up. Stop playing fucking WOW. Dad wants us,” Frenzied, Hanzo shoved Kakeru off of him bodily, and he went tumbling off the futon while Hanzo scrambled to sit up and make himself presentable. Mood soured, Kakeru stood as well and made it look like he had been standing at attention this whole time.

“If you don’t answer, I’m coming in, and I don’t give a monkey’s ass if you’re naked,” Genji called out once again, while opening the door. Despite his warning, he had a hand cupped over his face to avoid seeing his brother nude. With a peek, he saw that he was decent and slouched in. He was wearing typical traditional loungewear, but worn loose enough that the edge peeked open and Kakeru could spy his green and gold tattoo spanning his collarbones. He stuck a hand through the gaping opening and yawned. “C’mon, he was looking especially angry.”

“Probably because--,” Hanzo started, pulling some discarded socks onto his feet.

“Don’t talk,” Genji interrupted. He rubbed his temples. “I have a hangover and I need a fix desperately. Your grating voice would only make it worse.” With a harrumph, Hanzo stood. Kakeru moved to follow him, but Hanzo interjected, “No, Kobayashi-san,” he said. “Stay here. This will take but a moment.“ With nary a sympathetic glance his way, Hanzo left the room, expecting his younger brother to be on his heels. Genji turned to follow, but took his time to spare Kakeru a long up and down glance, slimy in nature, and wink heartily at him. He made a heart with his pointer finger and thumb as he plodded after Hanzo. He closed the door behind him.