Ten Men
by Mina Lightstar

Disclaimer: Sue me. Please? I've been trying to get rid of these college textbooks for months...
Notes: For Morgan D's birthday, '03 ^_^
Feedback: I love C&C. Flame me if you want - see if I care.
Warnings: Yaoi, Lemon, PWP?

There had been ten men in Bui's life.

The first had been his father, a man he barely remembered, let alone cared for. The second had been his rival, the one who had challenged him time and time again while they were growing up. Bui didn't really remember the second man, either. The early men had been from a time long ago, a past Bui had long since moved on from.

The third and fourth men were dead. He hadn't even had a chance to learn their names. They had met an early end when trying to bring one to Bui. A foolish way to die, really. Couldn't they have stolen their own horse from a stable? Honestly...

The fifth man had been his master. His master had taught him how to fight with only his bare hands and feet. Sure, Bui had known the basics, and had been well versed as far as wrestling went, but Ryuuen's teachings had been different. The older demon had been patient with Bui, showing him how to use his body as a powerful weapon, and teaching him how to remain calm and calculating in a fight. Bui's fifth man had been a rare treasure indeed. His death had been sad, but not extravagant. The old man had drifted away peacefully in his sleep one night. Bui had found that odd - the demon was old, but not that old - and had deemed the passing a result of an illness that Ryuuen had not made him aware of.

The sixth, seventh, and eighth men had been Toguro, Toguro Ani, and Karasu, respectively. But they had been hardly worth his time and effort. Toguro had driven him to be a better warrior than he had been at the time, but that was all, really. Granted, his three companions in the Tournament had been excellent sources of entertainment and learning...and, well, being with them had also given him ample opportunity to put his training to the test.

It was a shame that those men had been taken from him. Bui would have liked to show each of them what they had taught him during his months with them. But alas, he hadn't had the pleasure of expelling them from his life. That honor had been the opposing team's - and how well they had done so.

The ninth man was Yomi, Sovereign of Gandara. Yomi had been the one to offer him his new position, when he had appeared on the lord's doorstep for an audience one evening. Bui was now a general in the Sovereign's army, as well as the lord's contact with Alaric. With such a rank came immense responsibility, and Bui had accepted that. Among his duties were frequent trips to the Lady Mukuro's fortress. Which, incidentally, happened to be his point of destination at the moment.

And which, incidentally, led to the tenth man.

The tenth man in Bui's life was still a case of ambiguity. In a way, he had been part of Bui's life already. But in another way, he had still to become one.

The tenth man was a demon Bui had no claim to; he was Mukuro's. Though from what Bui had witnessed, Mukuro had no qualm with letting Hiei play with the other children. She didn't bat an eye at the leers he received - or gave. Bui took her apparent permissiveness as a sign of her confidence in Hiei's loyalty. The Jaganshi could go as far as he liked, so long as he came home afterward.

...Or maybe Hiei and Mukuro hadn't done anything with their potential relationship at all. Maybe they were, indeed, just friends. Or, perhaps even just Lady and Retainer. Bui certainly didn't claim to know anything about what went on behind the Lady's closed bedroom doors - nor was it any of his business. He had just assumed, seeing as how Hiei was always with her - and how they interacted with one another. Then again, was it proper in Alaric for the Sovereign to have an affair with her retainer?

"'Been a awhile, Sir Bui."

It was a moment before Bui realized that someone had spoken to him. He had let his thoughts run off without him, as he often did nowadays. Thankfully, he managed to recover before the sentry had to speak again and before one of his companions had to kick his calf.

"It has," he replied, smiling down at the soldier on guard at the gates to Mukuro's estate. "The day's greeting to you, my friend."

"How do you come?" the sentry asked, going through the traditional receiving even though there was no need for it. Bui had been to Alaric on countless occasions, and he was fairly certain he knew this particular sentry's name.

"In peace," Bui responded formally. "Our weapons remained sheathed. How do you receive us?"

"In peace. So long as you keep it, our weapons shall avoid your persons."

"Then let us keep it."

The sentry bowed his head, and Bui returned the gesture. He didn't have to glance at his companions to know they were doing the same. After keeping his head lowered for a few moments, a respectable amount of time for the sentry's rank, Bui righted himself again and gave the other demon a smile.

"May we tend to our mounts?"

"Nonsense," the sentry chuckled, gesturing for Bui and his party to enter the courtyard. "We'll have attendants tend to your steeds for you. No need to trouble yourselves."

Bui nodded his thanks and dismounted, allowing the stable-hand who had suddenly appeared to take the reins of his mount and lead the animal away. He didn't doubt the ability of Mukuro's men; he knew that both his and his companions' mounts would be handled with the utmost care. He turned away from the retreating stable-hands and admired the peaceful - if large - abode belonging to the Lady Mukuro.

To be honest, Bui was not visiting Mukuro's famous land-roving fortress. Instead, he and his companions had come to her summer estate. At this time of year, the Lady usually decided to take some well-deserved time off and spend a few weeks in this splendid establishment. It wasn't as dark or gloomy as her formidable fortress was, and was an excellent representation of the beauty Alaric had to offer. And the summer estate was, in Bui's opinion, the ideal place to discuss the upcoming festival, Daibui 'Na.

Daibui 'Na was his purpose for journeying to Alaric, and would be the item of much discussion for the duration of his stay at the estate. The term, Daibui 'Na, was of Far Eastern origin. Bui didn't even know what language it was, even if he did have a vague idea. He was also unsure as to its exact translation into Basic. He thought it meant something like "Moon Dance", and that made sense. The festival, celebrated annually in one of the major cities around the Demon World, emphasized moonlight and dance. For one week, thousands of demons would flock to the designated city to take part in the nighttime celebration. The activities were plentiful, but Daibui 'Na centered on dancing under the stars among an atmosphere decorated with colored lights and surrounded by loved ones.

While the rest of Makai had only to look forward to the festival and enjoy it when it finally arrived, some demons had much more difficult tasks to perform. Those being, of course, the activities involved in organizing Daibui 'Na. Not only did a dedicated staff have to be assigned to make the celebration a success, but a city had to be chosen each year. The discussion - or, in some cases, debate - over which city got to have the honor of hosting the festival was always interesting. As unbelievable as it was, it was also a conversation that took more than one day. Some years, it could take more than a week.

Of course, Makai did have a tentative schedule to follow, and it was quite a good system in terms of eliminating possible venues. In the case of this year's festival, the previous year's Daibui 'Na had taken place in Elsiar, in Antiquilla. Thus, the entire realm of Toranin was not permitted to host the festival this year. So, it was a choice between Alaric and Gandara. Typically, that meant much discussion between Yomi and Mukuro, but Yomi was busy at the borders. There wasn't any impending threat, as far as Bui knew, but it still demanded Yomi's attention. So, Bui had come in Yomi's place. He didn't mind; Mukuro was a wonderful hostess and Hiei was always interesting to talk to.

"Would you like to be escorted to the Lady Mukuro?" a new voice asked him.

Bui nearly rolled his eyes at his lack of alertness. Whether it was his age or the fact that he didn't feel threatened at all in Mukuro's territory, he was beginning to get sidetracked easily. Going deep into thought like that was an open invitation for an enemy to attack. Fortunately, he didn't have to worry about that here.

"Ah, yes, please..." He paused, studying the young sentry at his elbow, "...Curldirk." He smiled at the youngling's answering grin, pleased that he had managed to recall this one's name. "I would appreciate that."

"Please come this way, my lord," Curldirk said, bowing quickly and deeply before leading the way.

The pace they traveled was hastened, but not so fast that Bui couldn't admire the scenery of Mukuro's summer estate. He frowned, trying to recall its name. He knew it had one, as most keeps did, but he didn't make a habit of remembering secondary homes for nobles.

"Do you find the beauty of Quiet Crane admirable?" Curldirk asked moments later.

Bui smiled even though his young guide couldn't see the gesture. He both admired the tranquility and was pleased to have had the name handed to him before he'd had to ask. "Your Lady is a fortunate one. She has some of the most beautiful lands in Makai all to herself."

"And her summer estate is simply superb," Curldirk added, a mite enthusiastically.

Bui had to smile at the young demon's hint of pride. He was, without a doubt, proud to serve the Sovereign he did. Bui couldn't blame him. Mukuro was adored by many, and rightly so. He didn't reply to the sentry's words, but kept smiling at the smaller demon's back as they continued on their way to wherever it was Mukuro was spending her day.

As it turned out, Mukuro was spending her afternoon in the inner courtyard of Quiet Crane. When Bui was shown into - or out to, rather - the quad, the sight he was greeted with was akin to a scene an artist had painted.

The Lady Mukuro was dressed in the sort of loose, flowing robes that would befit a woman of her status lounging in the sun for an afternoon. They weren't white, since she was laying on her side on the grass - and without a blanket beneath her, at that. Instead, the fabric was a deep shade of purple. An appropriate color for royalty, Bui mused, even if Mukuro was not quite of royal blood. Noble blood, certainly, but not royal. She was lounging comfortably on the grass, propped up on one elbow, and was reading a book she appeared to be enjoying. She wasn't alone, of course. Three attendants were also in the courtyard, though none were actually attending her at the moment. One was tending to one of the rosebushes, one was knitting, and one was reading a book of her own. All four women raised their heads at the sound of Bui and his escort's boots.

"My Lady," Curldirk spoke, bowing low. Bui's ever-present smile widened a fraction more. Any further, and the poor boy would fall over on his face.

Mukuro certainly didn't look she was in the mood for formality. Nonetheless, she acknowledged Curldirk's respect with a fond smile and a warm command for him to rise.

Even though it was most likely apparent, Curldirk quickly ran through the procedure. "My Lady Mukuro, Sir Bui of Gandara has arrived. I have brought him directly to you, by your leave." He bowed again, but this time only his head lowered. "I hope this has not troubled you--"

"Nonsense," Mukuro interjected. "Sir Bui is a dear friend of mine, and I wouldn't ever want him to wait on me. You did well, Curldirk. Very well."

The lad's smile nearly broke his face in two. "My pleasure, my Lady. Entirely my pleasure."

"Off with you, then," she chided. "Go on. You have other tasks to attend to, I'm sure. Leave Sir Bui with me."

Curldirk murmured a quick "by your leave" and bowed on his way out. Bui was mildly surprised that the boy didn't trip as he backpedaled. When the sentry was gone, Mukuro was quick to send her attendants away, as well. The ladies left much how Curldirk had, only with less gratuitous bowing.

When Mukuro and Bui were alone in the courtyard, with only the chirping of birds for background music, they stared into each other's eyes. Bui waited for Mukuro to speak, and as soon as it became apparent that she wanted him to start, he gave her a polite bow.

"Ladies first."

"Oh, no. I insist that you go before me."

Bui remained lowered, but the smile never left his lips. "The Lady is a kind one."

"To her friends, she is."

"And how is the Lady this fine afternoon?"

"In a very good mood, as a matter of fact. How can I be in a foul one when immersed in the atmosphere I am?"

"You add to the scenery," Bui told her, straightening again. Mukuro was not self-conscious about her appearance, and Bui was glad for that. She was a beautiful woman, no matter what some would say.

"You, sir, are too kind." She didn't rise to sit up straight, nor did it look like she was going to. "May I presume I know what you're here for?"

Bui feigned mild offense. "And do you not think I would come all this way just to see you, my Lady?"

"I don't doubt that you would, but Yomi may have issues with that. He may not want to part with you."

"He loves me, too," Bui admitted sadly. "And is not as fond of giving free rein as you, my dear."

"He should try to unwind," Mukuro mused. "Really, it's all the sweeter after they've been with someone else for awhile."

Bui tried not to take that as an allusion to Hiei, but he did, anyway. Even if he and Mukuro were only playing... He didn't get a chance to finish that thought, wherever it was leading.

"You are here for Daibui 'Na, no?"

"Indeed I am, my Lady. You are a wise one." When she still made no move to rise from her lounging position, Bui raised an eyebrow. "When would you like to begin the discussions? There will be several, without a doubt; there are many fine cities in both Gandara and Alaric to choose from."

"There are," Mukuro agreed. "It is a pity there is but one festival per year. It would be better if there were three."

"But then the Lord Yusuke would want to host them all," Bui replied devilishly.

"He would. Such a little glutton, that one is. And a surprisingly excellent ruler. He will reign longer than Raizen, of that I am certain."

Bui nodded, not at all uninterested, but also eager to steer the conversation back to its original purpose. "I take it you're not keen on beginning the negotiations so soon after my arrival?"

Mukuro chuckled. "Bui, my dear friend, I've not seen you in... five months? We have much to catch up on, and you are not leaving right away. You'll be here for a week, if not a little more; there will be plenty of time for business." She waved a hand, as though dismissing the entire matter of Daibui 'Na away. "I'm confident we will reach a decision that is mutually beneficial - or at least agreeable to both sides. We've never had a problem in the past, and I can't see why we would have one this time."

Bui couldn't deny the slight rush of relief he felt. He was rather tired, and weary from his travels. He hadn't felt like beginning the discussion so soon, either. "My travel-weary body thanks you, my Lady."

The smile she gave him was, if possible, even friendlier than the ones he'd been given before. "And we can dispense with the formalities, too. I've no desire to listen to you 'my Lady-ing' me all week."

Bui sniffed. "I assure you, Mukuro, I wouldn't dream of dripping my overly excessive politeness all over you for such a long period of time."

"Good to know." Alaric's Sovereign flopped back onto the grass and put her hands behind her head. "We'll begin the discussions tomorrow afternoon, over tea. How does that sound?"

"It sounds wonderful, Mukuro. Thank you."

"No need to thank me; it should be common etiquette for a hostess. I wouldn't insist that we begin such trivial business before you and yours had a chance to relax. If war were coming, however, it would be a different story entirely..."

"It is fortunate war is not the case." Bui didn't add that war was more than likely impossible, during this new age. Differences had been reconciled, more or less, and any that remained were easily circumvented. Enki held a strong, secure grip on his throne as Emperor of Makai, and was a wise, renowned ruler. Yomi, Mukuro and Yusuke had, unsurprisingly, become friends over the years. With the three of them seated on the Three Thrones of Sovereignty, war was farfetched, indeed.

Of course, those circumstances didn't stop all conflict. But any skirmishes that did occur hardly brought an entire parent nation to war with another. Most disagreements took place in the nations within the parent nations, and were settled without even bringing the Sovereign in to officially act as an arbitrator. Combined with the fact that Makai was on relatively peaceful terms with Ningenkai, the Three Worlds appeared to have entered a sort of Golden Age.

"Off with you, then," Mukuro told him. "I'm going to try and finish my book. You can go relax. I'm sure your escort is doing the same."

"I will do so, my friend. Thank you." Bui bowed politely to her and turned to leave. He stopped at the doors back into Quiet Crane's halls, considering.

"Forget something?" Mukuro asked.

"No, I just..." He pursed his lips together, thinking. He'd been to Quiet Crane only once before, and didn't know the area well. Summer estate or no, it was a very spacious manor. "Mukuro..."

"Hm?"

"Is Hiei around?"

He wasn't sure of the expression on her face, since he was facing away from her. He was fairly certain she wore a smile, though. She knew of Hiei and Bui's tentative, awkward bond - the one they had formed once reuniting during one diplomatic mission when Bui spent two weeks taking advantage of Mukuro's hospitality.

"He's in his private suite," she told him. "I haven't seen much of him today; he broke his fast in bed, I think. Unusual for him."

"It's a cozy, lazy day," Bui said. "Maybe he's taking advantage of that." He paused before moving further into that direction. "Where is his suite, exactly?" He didn't think he blushed, but was thankful for having his back to Mukuro, nonetheless.

"When you go back inside, just head left until you see another entranceway to a garden. Hiei's section of the estate is across it." She didn't chuckle, and her voice didn't hint at what she might have thought of his asking.

"Thank you."

He didn't look back when he left the courtyard and returned to the inside of Quiet Crane. He didn't really know what he had to be embarrassed about; he'd done nothing wrong and he didn't have any intention of...well, anything wrong. He and Hiei were friends - rather good friends, at that - and... His thoughts were becoming unfocused and jumbled up together. Bui stopped in the middle of the hall, took a deep breath, cleared his mind, and started all over again.

Yes, he did want to see Hiei. And yes, he supposed he did have a little crush on the smaller demon. It had never been a private, secret joke with himself; it had never even been a denial, really. Bui had often entertained the thought - and sometimes, even the fantasy - of a tryst with the Jaganshi. It was something he hadn't really considered ever acting out. For one, he wasn't sure how Hiei would take to a proposition like that. True, Hiei had frequently made eyes at him, but that could have very well been just for effect. For another, he had no claim to Hiei at all. It was highly likely that the Jaganshi and Mukuro were, if not a couple, engaging in...liaisons. Bui was not one to go around snatching up Sovereigns' toys - especially if the Sovereign and the toy were friends of his.

Or maybe those reasons were just superficial; maybe they were the reasons his subconscious was using as excuses. Bui pondered that as he found the door Mukuro had spoken of and exited it. This courtyard was much like the other had been, only it had stone tiles set in place as a pathway. Across the garden was a set of double-doors, and Bui decided that they were the entrance to Hiei's suite in Quiet Crane.

But, yes... Maybe Bui's skewed reasoning was, in fact, superficial. Maybe it was based on pride; as he had concluded several times, Hiei was not his to seduce - even for a one-night stand. Besides, Hiei probably had Mukuro. Why would the Jaganshi want to roll between sheets with Bui when he had a powerful, kind woman he could play with?

Or maybe Bui was just mildly embarrassed at the lust he felt for the other demon. He was of high rank in Gandara; he most certainly had his own little band of courtesans to choose from. If he wanted to have sex, all he had to do was send for a woman who was paid to give pleasure. So why did desire burn in the pit of his belly nearly every time he saw Hiei? Why did his loins ache when the fire demon aimed those intense red eyes at him? Why did Bui enjoy talking to him alone, so he could have the scent of whatever unique soap Hiei used fill his nostrils?

The left door opened with ease and Bui slipped inside the new section of Quiet Crane.

...He was just going to talk to Hiei, wasn't he...?

The door slammed shut behind him.

He moved forward, deciding not to dwell on that particular train of thought for too long. To distract himself, he stared at the walls of the halls he walked down, searching for any sign of Hiei, or a servant who might know where Hiei was. Every seven paces or so, a tapestry adorned the wall. The designs weren't of anything in particular, so Bui couldn't say what they were supposed to represent. They were nice, nameless designs, though - and not too colorful.

Thankfully, he didn't have to be alone with himself for very long. Ahead, coming toward him, was a servant carrying two piles of towels, one on each arm. He came to a halt, moving to the side of the corridor so he wouldn't be in her way.

When she reached him, she dipped her body downward in a pseudo-curtsy, balancing the towels expertly. "The day's greeting to you, Sir Bui."

It was still nice, Bui mused, to have completely random strangers know who you were. "To you as well, miss. I don't suppose you could help me?"

"I'd be glad to."

"I'm looking for Hiei," Bui confessed, looking a trifle sheepish, "and I'm a little lost. This is only my second visit to Quiet Crane."

The woman chuckled, but nodded understandingly. "It is difficult to become accustomed to it. Especially for those of us who have been working in one place so long before moving to the other..." She pointed in the direction he'd been heading down. "Continue that way and you should come to an antechamber. You'll have a choice of either going upstairs to Hiei's chambers, heading down to the servants' quarters and kitchens, or continuing straight. If you keep going straight, you'll reach the gym. I do believe he's there. If not, he's in his room or with Lady Mukuro."

"Thank you very much," Bui replied, giving the serving woman a deep bow. She chuckled again and bowed her head, not bothering to test her balance once again. When she was again on her way, Bui continued down the hall.

When the hall branched out into a larger chamber, Bui saw the options that the servant had said would be open to him. He hoped Hiei was still in the gymnasium; he didn't know how he'd do if he had to speak with Hiei in his bedroom - a bedroom that most likely carried a thicker, heavier volume of the Jaganshi's scent.

I'm starting to sound like some sort of pervert. Gods, just what kind of hold did Hiei have on him? The fire demon had beaten him at the Tournament, once; if anything, Bui should feel resentful of the other man. But he didn't, for one reason or another. Maybe the pain of his pride's suffering had lessened, dulled, and faded over the years. Maybe...

Maybe Hiei had worked his way into Bui's heart. And maybe Hiei had worked his way into Bui's... Yeah...

At least it had been a gradual step. He could console himself with that. They had formed their friendship slowly and gradually, and it had been so long since their unofficial rivalry that their first meeting had been all-but forgotten.

Bui was glad Hiei hadn't killed him that day. Only by living on had he learned what potential he had, what he could live for, and...he had made some very close friends.

How many people could say that one of their closest friends had once tried to kill them?

Bui turned toward the gym, softening his steps in case his boots decided to become unnecessarily loud. The hall he followed was considerably shorter than the previous one, for soon, he had reached the closed door of the dojo.

He opened it and slipped inside. The door had led him to a smaller antechamber where boots and cloaks could be left. Bui couldn't see the need for it, since this was Hiei's private training room, but it was possible it was there just for decoration. Or not, he saw, catching a glimpse of a pair of Hiei's boots standing neatly against the wall. So, Hiei was here. Bui swallowed, told himself to stop being ridiculous, and kept going. He paused to toe off his boots, not wanting to get the floor dirty, and then entered the doorway. He stopped in his tracks and had to swallow.

The lump of saliva pushed its way down just as Hiei pulled himself up. The fire demon remained upright for a few seconds before lowering himself again. His eyes were closed, so he didn't see Bui, and simply repeated the process.

Bui was well aware that he was staring, but it couldn't be helped. He didn't bother trying to hide the fact, and leaned against the doorframe, waiting for Hiei to finish. His lips were suddenly dry, and he let his tongue sneak out to wet them again. Wet... Like the light sheen of sweat on Hiei's skin, that shone against the light illuminating the gym. ...Sweat... Like the beads of perspiration that continued to come from his skin as he moved. ...Skin... That was stretched out over the hard muscles he was working...

He's only doing sit-ups, Bui told himself sternly, and demanded some more control from his body.

But, still...did he always look like that while doing sit-ups? Stretched out on the slanted bench, feet hooked under the handlebars so he wouldn't slide off to the floor, arms behind his head, eyes closed... Bui shook himself, but it didn't do much good. His eyes went right back to stare at the flat abdominal muscles that Hiei was working, and kept staring as the fire demon rose, paused, and lowered one more time. This time, Hiei remained reclined on the bench, his face slightly flushed from the workout. Bui could hear his mildly heavier breathing, given the silence of the room.

Then the red eyes opened, and Bui swallowed. He felt somewhat embarrassed for being caught watching, and hoped that he wasn't blushing. He didn't even get a chance to explain himself. Which was good, he supposed, since his voice wasn't working just yet.

"When did you get here?" Hiei asked.

He struggled to find his voice, and managed to do so before becoming more embarrassed. "Not long ago."

"I see..."

Bui smiled, noting that Hiei looked rather silly upside-down. He wasn't exactly completely upside-down; he was lying on one of the slanted benches to help make sit-ups more challenging to do. But, still, Bui was standing upright and Hiei...wasn't.

"Am I interrupting?"

Hiei shook his head. "Not at all. I was nearly finished."

"Oh?" Bui cocked his head. "What number were you aiming for?"

"Figured I'd only go for three hundred today, given the nice weather and all."

"What number were you on?"

"Two-hundred forty-six, I believe." Hiei's face scrunched up a little as he thought about it. "I forget the exact number now. It doesn't matter, though. It's not important." The other demon rubbed his eyes with both hands. "Hold on just a moment. I'll talk to you properly in a second."

"Well, define 'properly'," Bui chuckled, but Hiei was already moving. Bui watched him lean up to take hold of the handlebars, unhooking his feet as he did so. The action gave Bui a nice, lengthy view of the Jaganshi's back muscles. The sight of the other demon's sinewy limbs moving around as he detached himself from the bench made Bui lick his lips again. Thankfully, he'd done so before Hiei had turned around to face him once again.

"Did you and your party travel well?" Hiei asked. "No trouble?"

"None whatsoever," Bui answered with a nod. "These are peaceful times, and for that I am glad."

"I can't complain." Hiei reached up to scratch behind his ear. "Daibui 'Na? When will the discussions about the venue begin?"

"Tomorrow. Her Most Regal Majesty has decreed that my party and I shall spend the remainder of today relaxing." Bui chuckled. "Are you going to be attending the conference?"

Hiei choked back a laugh. "No. To be honest, I couldn't care less where the festival is hosted. I won't be going, anyway."

"Oh, no?" Bui mused. "That's what you say every year, now that I think about it."

"I won't be going--"

"Sure, sure--"

"--of my own free will," Hiei added.

"Yes, that's what I thought."

Hiei shrugged one shoulder. "Mukuro will probably ask me to be her escort."

"It is your job," Bui pointed out, not really attempting to be helpful.

"But I might go to see the duels," the fire demon went on. "They're always interesting. Or at least humorous."

Bui nodded, trying hard to keep the smile from his face. The date, time and scenery may have been different, but the words they'd just exchanged were simply echoes of the conversation they had year after year. Hiei never wanted to attend Daibui 'Na, and he always ended up being there, anyway. Mukuro always had her way.

Well, most of the time.

He gestured to Hiei's state of undress. "So why are you training on such a beautiful day?"

"Time waits on no one," the other demon replied with a shrug.

"You won't get sluggish by skipping one day," Bui said, rolling his eyes for a brief moment.

"No, but I feel awkward unless I do something physical every day. I hate sitting around doing nothing. I don't mind it for awhile, but I hate doing so for long stretches of time, or all damn day."

"You could read a book," Bui offered with a grin. "I see your point, though. Though I must admit I find your persistence puzzling."

"A few decades ago you would have understood just fine."

A dip into the past, Bui realized. Not intended to attack or pry, but a dip just the same. Bui made it a point not to dwell on past men. "I suppose you're right, in that...

"Mukuro must like it."

"Like it?" Hiei asked, tilting his head as his brow furrowed. He did that kind of thing on purpose, Bui was certain. "Like what?"

"All the working out you do." He let his gaze drop briefly to the nicely chiseled stomach muscles Hiei possessed. "Mukuro must appreciate it."

Hiei's expression didn't change, remaining in the mildly confused frown. Bui tried hard not to roll his eyes. Hiei was not naïve; he knew exactly what Bui had been trying to say.

"I still fail to see your point..."

At the Jaganshi's declaration of something Bui knew to be false, he did roll his eyes. "Do I have to spell it out for you?"

"Well, no...but I'd appreciate it."

Bui enunciated the words very carefully, partly to make sure he wouldn't stumble while speaking them and partly to make sure Hiei got his message. "During sex. Does she enjoy the way your body feels during sex?"

Hiei didn't even blush, much to Bui's dismay. "Well, I wouldn't know, now would I? We haven't had sex."

Bui blinked, all at once feeling surprise, relief, and embarrassment. "You haven't?" Once the words were out of his mouth, he scolded himself for not coming up with something better.

"Well, no." Hiei sounded rather unsettled by the notion. "Does it seem that way?"

Bui wanted to stick his head in the sand and recover his composure. "I..."

"Were we a couple," Hiei went on, "I'm sure I could be engaging in a different type of exercise at the moment. It's such a nice, quiet day, and we're sort of on vacation, after all."

"Sorry," Bui offered, finding his voice. "I suppose it was wrong for me to assume it of you. Spending a lot of time together doesn't mean you two are sleeping together."

"No, it doesn't." The look in the red eyes changed. Bui couldn't quite define what had taken its place, but it made his heart skip a beat. "And I'm serious. We aren't a couple."

"Ah." He was impressed he'd managed to withhold his exhalation of relief as well as he did. For some reason, his knowledge of the nature of Hiei and Mukuro's relationship lifted a weight off of his chest. He hadn't been ogling someone else's lover. He hadn't been frequently exchanging looks with someone else's lover. He hadn't been...

"You sound glad for it." Hiei's voice carried a hint of innocent - or not so innocent - probing.

Bui held his tongue, not wanting to affirm or deny. Either method may reveal too much about what he felt - or about what he wanted to do.

"Is it good news to you?" Hiei prodded wryly.

Bui shrugged one shoulder, pretending to be nonchalant. If this was some kind of game, he wouldn't let Hiei get the upper hand. For someone who hadn't taken dips in the pool of flirtation, Hiei was known to test the waters at times. It didn't help that the company Hiei tended to keep excelled in seduction. He had learned a few tricks, and was definitely known for giving meaningful glances.

But Bui had never heard any stories about anyone's exploits with Hiei - only that he was a tease at the best of times. That was one reason why he'd thought Hiei and Mukuro were together: a "look but don't touch" doctrine.

If he started to appear uncomfortable, Hiei's little game would work. Bui didn't particularly like to lose. "So how heavy are the weights you lift?" The abrupt - and drastic - change of subject didn't appear to phase Hiei a great deal. He did look a trifle disappointed, though. "Why do you ask?"

"Just curious."

"Eighty pounds," Hiei revealed after a pause. "Sometimes ninety-five. It depends on how I'm feeling."

"Eighty pounds..." Bui murmured, raking his eyes over Hiei's supple body. He could have been simply taking in the solid muscles the other demon possessed. He was doing just that, and then some. More precisely, his package had run off without him and was already imagining the way that lithe, supple body would feel bucking under the weight of his own. Whoa... down, boy...

"Hungry?" Hiei asked suddenly.

Bui blinked, startled out of his examination. "No, why?"

"No reason. I was just wondering why you were licking your lips."

Bui felt his cheeks heat up, and he hoped fervently that they hadn't reddened. "Ah, I see." He didn't apologize. Apology meant admission of guilt.

"How heavy are your weights?" Hiei countered. "You didn't seem very impressed with mine."

Bui shrugged, turning his head away. "I'll tell you when you're older. You're not big enough for adult-weights, yet."

"Don't tease, Bui."

Listen to you... "Fine. One-hundred thirty-five."

"Pounds?"

"Kilograms."

Hiei barked a laugh. "Bullshit."

"I'm serious," Bui insisted, even though he wasn't. Not really. For a more intense work-out, perhaps. But for everyday touch-ups, never. He wouldn't inflict that on himself.

"Seriously lying," Hiei corrected.

"No, I'm serious."

"And I'm pregnant with Enma's love child."

"Invite me to the baby shower, then."

Hiei rolled his eyes and folded his arms. "All right. So, when do you find time in your busy schedule to spend an hour or two lifting these heavy weights? What kind of high commander spends each day inflicting that upon himself?"

Bui smirked and flexed his right arm. He was pleased to see the impressive muscles make themselves known. "And how do you think I acquired these?" he mused.

"Surgery," Hiei cracked, taking a step backwards to evade the swatting hand that normally would have followed the jab. He raised an eyebrow questioningly when Bui didn't move an inch.

"You doubt my strength?" Bui asked, making his voice a trifle threatening.

"No. Your skills in units and measurement, perhaps, but not your strength."

"All right, then, if that's how you want to play it..." Bui looked around the gym, taking in their surroundings. There wasn't a great deal of equipment in the room, as this was not Hiei's main training room. His fully-equipped dojo was located back in Alaric's fortress. This one was rather bare, with only the bench he'd been using for sit-ups, a rack of weaponry, and practice mats. It was obvious that Hiei didn't spend much time here, and didn't train very hard when he did.

When he completed his round of the gym, he turned his gaze back to the Jaganshi, satisfied. There was more than enough room so that neither of them would be injured.

"What?" Hiei wondered. He cocked his head and quirked his eyebrow. Somehow, he managed to look adorable and cynical at the same time. "What are you getting at?"

"Do you think you could hold your own against me?" Bui asked, deciding to simply throw out the challenge. It had been a long time since he'd sparred with Hiei, and he didn't think they'd ever done so with hands that held no weapons.

"You want to spar?" Hiei asked.

"Well...yes and no. It's rather more of a challenge. You claim I don't know how strong I am. I intend to prove you wrong."

Hiei gave Bui a tiny smile. "Well, I never said that..."

It was true, he hadn't. But Bui wasn't about to let him go so easily. "Well, now you're just trying to bow out before I beat you."

"Oh?" Hiei mused, glancing down at the mats covering most of the floor. "This isn't a play area, you know."

"We won't be playing," Bui assured him. He grinned, already looking forward to testing his strength against Hiei. "Shall we say...three pins? The first to pin down the other three times is the winner." Besides, maybe a fight would help him forget about how he wanted to take advantage of the other demon. Perhaps concentrating on keeping the other's body from harming him would make him overlook the fact that he very much desired that body.

Hiei's smile didn't budge, but it seemed to turn a little more cynical. "And what are the stakes?"

That was a good question. Bui thought about it. "Hm... well, if you win, I'll...polish your katana."

Hiei's quirked eyebrow rose even higher. Ephemerally, Bui envied that skill. He could raise one eyebrow, but not very far before the other decided it wanted to come, too.

"Really... Just my katana?"

Even though he was fairly certain Hiei hadn't meant to add any undertones that time, Bui felt his cheeks flush. "What else did you have in mind?"

Hiei shrugged. "Maybe my entire armory. It doesn't take long to polish one katana, you know."

"Fine, then." Bui nodded. "If you beat me, I'll polish all of your blades."

Hiei nodded slowly, his eyebrow lowering to its original level. His smile faded and was replaced with a searching look. It was no wonder Hiei was such a quiet person; he could say a great deal more with his eyes than he could with words. "And if you beat me...? What would you want?"

Bui chewed the inside of his cheek. "Well...I..." He thought fast, trying to imagine something Hiei wouldn't do otherwise. "Aha!" he cried triumphantly. "I know. If I pin you three times, you have to come to Daibui 'Na--"

"You know I'd be going, anyway--"

"--stay for the evening ball on the sixth night--"

"I probably would be--"

"--and dance."

"--but that's going too far."

Bui smirked. "But it's a challenge. Consider it incentive to win, hm?"

"Are you that eager to test your mettle?" Hiei teased. "I have quite an impressive collection of blades."

Bui chuckled, already unbuttoning his fine, blue coat. The material had been rather stuffy, and it was nice to be able to take it off. "You do know how to waltz, don't you?"

"Won't need to learn," Hiei assured him, watching Bui's coat tumble noiselessly to the floor.

Bui snorted softly, the sound muffled further by his shirt as he pulled it over his head. "You're being a little too confident," he chided. His shirt came off, baring his skin. It was still warm in the gym, but not as warm as it had been with his clothing on. Now they were both barefoot and bare to the waist, facing off on the practice mats. A quick glance downward revealed that Bui's hard muscle was also coated in a light gloss of perspiration. "We haven't even begun and you're planning your victory."

Hiei shrugged, but he was smiling. His eyes dropped briefly down from Bui's face - but not so briefly that Bui didn't notice the action. And he was fairly certain Hiei had wanted his glance to be noticed. "Don't use cheap polish, Bui. I want them to gleam in the sunlight."

It was Bui's turn to bark a laugh, but he didn't comment. "So, how do we decide when it begins?"

Bui broke into a quick dash as soon as the words were out of his mouth. He was well aware that a move such as that was practically cheating, but he didn't care. They hadn't really insisted on enforcing any rules. The aim was to pin the other three times; that was all they needed to know.

Hiei's mouth had opened when Bui had spoken, possibly to offer a suggestion for how to begin the match. When he saw Bui move, quick like the wind, his eyes widened and he pranced out of the way.

Bui laughed as he turned to follow, pleased that he had caught Hiei off-guard so soon into the match. He faced the smaller demon, planting each of his feet securely on the mat, crouching a little to signify that he was ready for anything.

"That was low," Hiei informed him. He didn't look angry, though. He appeared to be rather amused, actually.

"But nearly effective," Bui pointed out.

"Nearly, but not. What makes you think you'll get another chance?"

Bui smiled innocently, searching for another source of distraction. "Have you seen Kurama lately?"

"Sure - fucked him yesterday."

Bui started, that bit of disclosed information hurling him momentarily out of his void of concentration. And then, he was suddenly hurled off his feet, landing flat on his back against the not-so-soft practice mat.

A second later, the small, heavy gust of wind that had knocked him down was sitting astride his stomach. Two hands were quick to press Bui's arms hard against the mat, just as Bui had gathered most of his bearings. Hiei didn't try to pin his lower body, and Bui didn't try to move it. He couldn't believe he'd fallen for something as trite as that.

His mouth worked for a moment, and he blurted, "Flitting is cheating, Hiei."

The Jaganshi snorted. "And charging before the match starts is fair."

"You're too fast for a regular grappling session. No flitting."

Hiei raised an eyebrow, studied Bui for a moment, and then bent down. Bui's breath caught in his throat, his eyes staring straight ahead as Hiei's face came closer and closer to his own. He didn't know whether to be relieved or disappointed when the fire demon bent past Bui's face. But then he felt Hiei breathing into his ear and he suppressed a shudder, swallowing hard.

"...PIN!" Hiei shouted, bouncing off of Bui as quickly as he'd pounced onto him.

The force - and volume - of the shout left Bui rattling on the mat for a moment, stunned. Feeling Hiei's weight vanish from his torso, he shook himself and sat up. He aimed a mild glare at the other demon, who was now several feet away.

"No more flitting."

"The pin counts," Hiei declared.

"No flitting."

"It counts. One-to-zero, me."

"No flitting."

"It counts, damn it!"

"Fine! It counts, but no more flitting."

"Fine."

Bui stood up, an evil grin on his face. "I won't fall for that again."

Hiei tried to look innocent, but it appeared to be harder for him when locked in a fight. "Would my sleeping with Kurama bother you?"

"Don't get distracted," Bui instructed. "You wouldn't want me to pin you so soon after your victory, would you?"

"I'm not distracted," Hiei assured him. "Though, really, Bui, I expected better of you."

Bui snorted and charged again. He kept his eyes locked on Hiei's whenever possible, since the eyes would more than likely serve as a window into Hiei's intentions.

Speed was Hiei's strength, and the Jaganshi moved like lightning across the practice mat. Bui's leverage was in strength and size, and he put both to his advantage. It took several attempts to block Hiei's path and try to enclose him, but once he was able to intercept the other demon, Bui didn't waste the opportunity. With Hiei halted for a brief second, Bui moved fast, whipping his leg behind the Jaganshi's and dumping him on his bottom before the fire demon could attempt countering the move. Once Hiei was off his feet, Bui pounced him, pressing his weight down to keep his opponent pinned.

It had been a long time since he'd had a body pressed beneath his own. A long, long time... And given that Hiei was half-naked, sweaty, and smelling so good--

Maybe this had been a bad idea, after all.

"P...pin," Bui grunted, trying hard to hide the desire in his voice - desire that was beginning to make itself known in other areas. He bit his lower lip as Hiei wiggled underneath him, trying to free himself.

"One-to-one, then," the fire demon agreed. If he noticed the taut volume that was now between them, he didn't comment on it.

Bui rose and got to his feet before his arousal compelled him to take advantage of their positions. Once Hiei was on his feet, the match resumed.

Now tied, Bui had a feeling they both knew it would only be a matter of time before things would get a little more aggressive. Bui didn't know about Hiei, but he was certain that he hadn't expected things to escalate so quickly.

Before he could say "Battle Aura", Bui and Hiei were dancing all around the practice mats. Sometimes separately, sometimes locked together, always at odds. Combined with the warm temperature of the gym and their heated skirmish, both of them were covered in sweat, making them sticky and slippery. It was very hard for either one of them to get a good hold on the other.

The unexpected occurred when they charged each other, each intending to sweep the other and knock him down. With the speed, the movement, the slippery skin and their unyielding stances, the outcome was...a mite painful.

Bui's foot hooked onto Hiei's at the same time as Hiei's hooked around his other. When each pulled and pushed, trying to knock the other off his feet, the result was for both of them to lose their footing. They started, stumbled, grabbed one another to try and stop their decent. That just made things worse, and a moment later they were tripping over their own feet and tumbling painfully to the floor with twin thuds.

Well, actually, it hadn't really been twin thuds, since Hiei landed first and Bui fell atop him. Bui felt a twinge of sympathy for the other demon, who was pressed down onto his stomach. They remained quiet for several moments, trying to catch their breath.

"How...fixed was that?" Bui panted, still a little disoriented from the struggle. He let his head fall, his chin thumping hard against the back of Hiei's shoulder.

"I didn't do it on purpose," Hiei groaned, his voice sounding strained.

"Neither did I," Bui insisted. "I was just trying to pin you..."

"You just did." Hiei made a couple of token attempts to rise, a feat that was impossible due to his being held down by Bui's entire body.

"That's..." Bui swallowed, trying not to think of the body trapped under his. The hot, sweat-slicked... He swallowed again, knowing that his hard-on was nothing if not...apparent to anyone searching for one. "That's...two-to-one, me," he managed.

"I'm going to feel this tomorrow," Hiei muttered. "I landed oddly..."

"You and me both." But Bui considered himself fortunate. Certain parts of his body didn't bend very well. Luckily, he hadn't landed on any of them. At the moment, however, one of them was quite snug against Hiei. And if the Jaganshi hadn't noticed...

"Bui."

He froze, knowing for certain that he and his perverted fantasies had been caught. "...Ahn?"

"You're hurting me."

Bui relaxed minutely, and suddenly felt guilty. Hiei was small; for someone of that size to be trapped underneath someone of Bui's size and weight... "Sorry," he murmured sheepishly, and pushed himself to his hands and knees, preparing to rise.

Hiei had started rolling over as soon as Bui's weight had lifted from him. Bui didn't stand right away, his eyes locking onto Hiei's as the other demon settled on his back.

"You okay?" Bui asked.

"I'll live. You?"

He nodded. "Nothing fatal."

"Good."

Hiei studied him for a few moments more, with Bui growing more and more uncomfortable with each passing second. He wished he could get inside the Jaganshi's head, so he could know what the other demon was thinking. But Hiei didn't even offer anything in his gaze to help Bui figure out what he was pondering. They continued to stare at one another, until Bui realized that Hiei was probably waiting for Bui to get up so he could follow suit.

"Sorry," Bui murmured. "Here, I'll--"

The knee braced against his hard-on jolted his senses. It was both unexpected and...electrifying. He choked a little, resisting the urge to rub against his opponent's leg, resisting the urge to push down and take.

"Do you have a sword, too?" Hiei asked quietly. "Or are you just happy to have fallen on top of me?"

If the touch was supposed to be some kind of joke, Bui didn't find it very funny. Not in the least. "D-sto-p." His voice was hoarse and cracked, and attempted to make him shriek when the knee moved a little.

Hiei raised an eyebrow, obviously trying to figure out if Bui had meant to say "Don't, stop," or "Don't stop". Hell, Bui didn't know which he'd meant to say. Though he probably knew which one he'd wanted to say...

"So was it all a ruse?" Hiei asked. He kept his knee right where it was, moving it periodically to keep things interesting. One of his hands reached up to touch one of Bui's nipples. Bui moaned outright, and the erect, brown nub pebbled up harder, if that were possible. "Well? Was it all a ploy to get into my pants, or what?"

Well... He didn't really know, to be honest with himself. The line between original intent and unsuccessful attempts to discourage fantasy was so thin now... "No... No, it wasn't all a ruse." He shuddered as he finished the sentence, his sex throbbing almost violently. His pants were too tight...

Hiei's features twisted into something that could have been a pout. "It wasn't?" Before giving Bui a chance to explore that response further, Hiei gathered some of the sweat from Bui's pectoral.

The pink tongue that licked the perspiration from Hiei's index finger nearly shattered Bui's already tenuous control. "You're...you're cruel," he moaned faintly.

"Me?" Hiei asked. His red eyes blinked in faint bewilderment. "I do believe you brought this upon yourself, my friend." Hiei's knee moved, wrenching a guttural groan from Bui's throat. "That feels like it hurts."

"...It does..."

"How long has it been, Bui?"

"...Too long..."

Hiei blinked again, looking truly confused. "Gods, Bui...don't you...jack-off, or something?"

"...Not...really..."

The look Hiei gave him was part bafflement, part sympathy, and part...something else. Bui didn't know what, exactly, but he got a pretty good idea when Hiei's knee stopped teasing his rock-hard cock and Hiei himself was suddenly scooting further down the mat.

"Hey--" Bui didn't bother finishing his reply. His voice decided it would rather exhale a long, relieved "ahh" when hands started working at the belts and drawstring of his breeches. His penis was quick to inform him of its gratitude when it was freed from the confines of his stifling breeches.

He groaned again when both hands circled his member, exploring it casually, stroking it with featherlike tenderness. The rush of feeling was too much for someone who hadn't felt pleasure given from another in such a long time. Bui shuddered, feeling for a moment that he was going to come then and there, and then his arms gave out, refusing to do all the work while the rest of him was allowed to convulse at will from the enjoyment.

Somewhere in the shadow of the desire, Bui was able to consciously remember that Hiei was under him - that Hiei was the one doing it. When his hands failed him, Bui threw himself to the side so he wouldn't land on the fire demon. He ended up on his back once again, but he didn't notice how hard the mat was this time. His thoughts were focused on Hiei's hands, and where they were, and what they were doing - holding, touching, tickling, stroking...

Briefly, he wanted to ask if this was all right. He wanted to make sure that what Hiei was doing was okay. He managed to halt that train of thought before he made a fool of himself. If Hiei hadn't wanted to do it, why would he have initiated the entire thing...?

"Hiei," Bui choked, "you..."

He forgot what he'd been about to say when the mouth came into play. If the touching had been enough to make him collapse, the lips and the tongue were... Bui thought the gods had come to take him to the Heavens. He bent his knees and spread his legs wide, giving Hiei as much room as he wished. He could barely differentiate between the different techniques the Jaganshi was using. It had been so long, everything felt good. It was just a colossal, continuous tidal wave of pleasure. Each level of the ecstasy was so blurred at the edges he couldn't tell the difference. His hands found their way into Hiei's hair, needing something to hold onto and the mat had proved it was no help in that area.

"Fuck," Bui muttered, his voice rising into a near-shriek as his hips moved and Hiei's tongue pushed against him insistently. "Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck--!"

And Hiei's tongue pressed against his slit, kept him hovering at the peak. It seemed like Bui was floating there forever before Hiei finished it, milking him with skill and care that Bui envied.

He didn't black out, or anything of the sort, but the aftershocks of his orgasm left his muscles feeling as though they were filled with water. He was boneless, sated, his chest heaving up and down as he tried to catch his breath.

He was vaguely aware of Hiei settled down beside him. "Has it really been that long for you?" the Jaganshi wondered, sounding awed.

It was a few moments before Bui could convince his voice to work again. He wasn't tired, exactly, but drained. Very, very sated... "Yeah," he panted. "Too long..." He gulped down a lump of saliva and turned his head, opening his eyes to stare into Hiei's. "I..." There were many things he wanted to say. But he couldn't really find the words for them.

"Hm?" Hiei's voice didn't sound insistent, but curious. The fire demon was stretched out beside Bui's sated body, propped up on one elbow.

Bui eyed the black pants that were still covering Hiei's lower body, feeling rather guilty. "I'm sorry," he put forth, beginning to turn over, reaching out with one arm to encircle the other demon's slim waist.

To his surprise - and disappointment - Hiei pulled away from the prospective embrace. Bui halted his advance, utterly confused and knowing it showed on his face. A myriad of possibilities surged through his mind... He thinks I just wanted to be sucked off; he thinks I just wanted a whore; he thinks I don't care about giving as good as I get; he thinks - he thinks - he thinks--

Bui raised himself onto his elbows, aiming a mildly offended glare at the Jaganshi. "It wasn't what you think, you know."

Hiei blinked once, slowly, but didn't say a word.

Bui took that as a signal to go on. "It wasn't just...a quick blow. It wasn't just sex. No, wait." He shook his head, struggling to find the right words to say it. "It was just sex, but not...just sex..."

"Did I say," Hiei began quietly, "that you thought it was just a quick blow...?"

Bui couldn't say he had. "No, but--"

"Then why do you think that's what I think?"

How did someone so small make him feel so underpowered? "But you didn't... You didn't want me to--"

"Here," Hiei stressed, looking bemused. "Not here." Hiei pushed himself up and brushed his breeches off. "Gods, Bui, anyone could walk in on us... I shouldn't even have..." He shrugged. "Ah, well..."

Bui sat up and waited for his head to clear. "So...?" If Hiei was still interested, Bui definitely wanted to reciprocate. He wanted...to touch, to taste, and to... The thought of his cock, hard once again, thrusting inside that diminutive, solid body... If he wasn't sated for the moment, he would have taken advantage of Hiei's willingness right then.

"Business doesn't begin until tomorrow," Hiei reminded him, already on his way out of the gym. "I don't know about you, but I could do with a shower."

Bui nodded. No doubt he smelled strongly of sweat and dirt. He wanted to be clean, too. "And then?"

Hiei was outside the gym in the foyer pulling on his boots, so Bui couldn't see his face when he replied. "I should be back in my room in about half an hour."

Bui opened his mouth, intending to ask if he'd be welcome. Hiei beat him to it, poking his head back into the gym to give Bui a meaningful look.

"And for you, my door will be open."

The Jaganshi was gone before the smile bloomed on Bui's face. He didn't know precisely what kind of step it was, but his tenth man had most definitely become a part of his life.

And soon, he would see to it that he and the tenth man became one.

~End.

~ Birthday-fic ... for Morgan D, March 19th, 2003
~ Many thanks to Arishia for the beta.
~ I lifted the name "Quiet Crane" from the novel Cloud of Sparrows by Takashi Matsuoka. It's a cool name ^_^