It's a Mystic Monk Thing

Then Happy I, a slashfic in four parts

Rating: NC-17 for graphic male-male sex

Pairings: Anubis/Cye, Dais/Sehkmet, Kale/Ryo, Kento/Sage, Rowen/Yuli

Disclaimer: "The Ronin Warriors," with its related characters and themes, does not belong to me. I make no money from this venture.

Dedication: This slashfic is for Mink and Ewan McGregor and Laura.

Wherein Kento makes an inspirational speech; Dais quotes Shakespeare; and Sehkmet's sort of weird, isn't he?

"Then Happy I" Part Four: It's a Mystic Monk Thing

Downstairs in the living room, Ryo wasn't lying on the floor prostrate as before, but he was dumbstruck, sitting on the sofa in shock. Yuli was stroking his back and watching the others worriedly. Rowen and Sage were glaring and arguing; Kento was trying to take up Cye's usual position of defending and soothing. "You felt it," Kento said. "You can't say it isn't real. You can't say he's faking it, or he's only after Ryo's body. Kale is in love with Ryo like Cye's in love with Anubis, like Dais is in love with Sehkmet. If Ryo doesn't want to have anything to do with Kale, that's his business, that's his right, but we can't be angry at Kale for loving Ryo - - we all love Ryo."

"It is an insult," Rowen said.

"To be loved?" Kento asked, startled.

"To be loved by that demon of darkness. And look at how he's treated Ryo!"

"Maybe he didn't know how to do it right. He's been an evil guy for so long that maybe he forgets how real people interact," Kento said. "Maybe it's hard for someone with his past and his life to admit love, especially for someone like Ryo, who's all purity and light."

"It isn't necessarily easy for anyone to admit love," Sage said.

"If you're sure of acceptance, it might be easier," Rowen retorted. "Some people are easy to love. Some people make it impossible." Kento knew that they were talking about something else, so he kept quiet. Sometimes Rowen and Sage did that, had a conversation on one topic while seeming to talk about something else. Sometimes he understood and sometimes he didn't. He could guess maybe what they meant. Sage was probably speaking from experience, and Rowen was responding in kind. So maybe Sage was in love with Rowen, and Rowen was in love back, and they couldn't tell each other. He wasn't surprised for a second. Of course they loved each other. He'd always known it, even if no one said anything. Sage and Rowen were otherworldly creatures, beautiful and brilliant and existing on a level he could only admire but never reach. Like butterflies? What a dumb simile. Maybe he'd come up with something better.

"What do you think, Kento?" Sage asked, still looking at Rowen. "If you love someone, could you tell him?"

"I couldn't hide it any more than Ryo could," Kento said. "If I love someone, he'll know it, whether I want him to or not." It wasn't because he was simple-minded, only because he was too open, too giving. He was a generous person, generous with his affections, generous with his loyalty, generous with his strength.

Sage gradually stilled. It was almost visible. Kento wondered what was wrong and took a step back, just a little one, casting Rowen a worried look.

"No, Sage," Rowen said quickly, like someone trying to correct something that had gone too far and was hopeless now, couldn't possibly be fixed, but he was desperate to fix it anyway, like trying to stem a tidal wave with his hands. "No, Sage, it's you, you just don't see. It's right in front of you every day, every look, every smile, and you're so blind, you don't see what's there, what's being given to you every single day!"

Kento knew that he was missing something. He looked to Yuli, who looked back at him as though pleading for him to do something, but what was he supposed to do? He wished that he had a psychic link with Yuli so that Yuli could tell him what was going on, because Yuli seemed to know exactly what was happening and exactly what he should be doing right now. He looked back at Yuli, silently pleading just as much as Yuli plead with him, and Yuli's eyes widened in surprise at the depth of his ignorance, and Yuli whispered in Ryo's ear, and Ryo blinked and came back to them at this prompt, and Ryo looked at the three of them standing there on the carpet, and Kento waited for instruction, hoping that Ryo would know what was happening since clearly he, Kento, didn't.

Ryo took it in with a glance, and had a few seconds of conversation with Rowen, and then Rowen's eyes flickered from Sage's to Kento's, and Kento heard Rowen: "Touch Sage."

Touch Sage? He couldn't. Sage was untouchable, literally and figuratively. Especially right now, looking like a blonde statue, cold and remote, staring at Rowen but not seeing Rowen at all.

"Touch Sage." Ryo this time. Kento had never refused Ryo in his life. He'd learned that sometimes it was in everyone's best interests if he ignored Rowen, but he couldn't say no to Ryo. And if Rowen and Ryo both wanted him to do something, and Yuli wanted it too, then he supposed that maybe it was best. So he put a hand on Sage's elbow. "Sage?"

Sage jerked back into himself. Removed himself from Kento's touch. Left the room with grace and dignity.

Rowen looked ready to start a cursing fit.

"What's wrong with us?" Ryo asked.

"You won't talk to each other," Yuli said. "You and Rowen and Sage know what's happening, but Cye and Kento don't, and you won't tell them."

"What, we're supposed to tell them now?" Rowen asked.

"It doesn't change anything," Yuli said. "The armors link everyone."

"So someday I'm going to find myself in bed with Sehkmet?" Rowen asked.

"What?" Kento asked.

"And what happens to you?" Rowen asked Yuli.

"That's not up to me," Yuli said. "That's up to the nine of you."

"It wouldn't be fair to have nine of us," Rowen said. "An even number's better if we're pairing off."

"Pairing off?" Kento asked.

"Dais and Sehkmet, Anubis and Cye," Rowen said. "Kale's in love with Ryo. That leaves you, me, Yuli, and Sage."

"I'm supposed to fall in love with you?" Kento asked.

"Haven't you?" Rowen asked, looking at him.

"Are you in love with me?"

"God, Kento, of course I am," Rowen said, exasperated. "I'd haul off and kiss you right now, if I didn't know Sage would kill me."

"Because he's in love with you."

"Because he's in love with you!" Rowen shouted. "Could it be any more obvious?! Sage is in love with you, Kento. Which happens to work out perfectly, since Yuli's in love with me. Kento, listen to me. There are ten of us. We're not counting White Blaze. Ten of us. Everybody in love with everybody else. But for our own purposes, we all seem to be falling in love with one person in particular above everyone else. That's why Anubis wants to fuck all of the Dark Warlords but he's committed to Cye as his life partner. Got that?"

"You're in love with me?"

"Yes, I love you, I love Sage, I love Ryo, I love Cye, I love Yuli, and I'm guessing that some day I'm going to get all mushy and romantic over Dais, to everyone's horror. Especially his."

"You love me?" Yuli asked.

"I thought that you were the one who understood all of this stuff," Rowen told Yuli. "Kento, keep listening: I love you. You love me. But you want to spend the rest of your life in blissful union with Sage."

Kento swallowed. "That's why he touched me."

"Sage has been all over you," Rowen said. "He's practically groped you to death, in Sage terms."

"He loves me?" Kento asked. "Why? Not you, or Ryo?"

"I was hurt, at first, I mean, I know that he has to like somebody best, and it really shouldn't be me because I like somebody else best, but I sort of liked the idea of Sage lusting after me. Of course he does lust after me, he just lusts after you more. Which is for the best. We can do like the Dark Warlords, and once we've all settled into our established relationships we can go fuck each other's boyfriends, and then I'll get Sage to kiss me."

"So we're like them. We're all in love with each other and we want to be with each other and we will be with each other, but we'll each have our own private relationship with one person."

"Exactly."

"And mine's Sage?"

"Exactly."

"Sage Sage? Sage of the Halo? Koren no Seiji?"

"Exactly, you lucky lucky boy. God, he is so lucky to be the first to be fucked by you. You must fuck like a-"

"Rowen," Ryo said gently, smiling.

"Who's yours?" Kento asked Rowen.

"Yuli," Rowen said.

Yuli made a little choking noise.

Rowen turned to face Yuli. "What? You don't want me anymore? Don't tell me you're still worshipping Ryo. Great, no one likes me best, I won't even get White Blaze, since we all know whom he likes best."

"You love me?" Yuli asked. "More than Sage, more then Ryo, more-"

"Of course I do," Rowen said. "Why else do you think I invited you into my bed? Not that I'd mind sleeping with somebody else, but I didn't want you sleeping with anybody but me." And then Yuli's slender young body was pressing against him and slim arms wound around his neck and Yuli's soft lips were kissing his mouth. He took a step back for balance and started to investigate Yuli''s mouth. Ryo watched in fascination. Kento began to think that Rowen might be right about all of this general household lusting.

"What are you doing?" Cye asked, surprised in the doorway.

"Didn't you run off?" Ryo asked.

"Why is Rowen kissing Yuli?"

"Yuli started it," Kento said.

"Is there anyone not with anyone else?" Cye asked.

"Rowen says that Sage and I are in love with each other," Kento confessed.

"Is that what's been bothering Sage?" Cye asked. "I wondered."

"I think he's afraid that Kento doesn't love him back," Ryo said.

"Well, that's just silly," Cye said.

"I think he doesn't love me," Kento said.

"That's just silly, too!" Cye said. "Of course Sage loves you. He always has."

"He always has not!" Kento objected. "Ryo, maybe, or Rowen, or nobody at all, but-"

"I think that ever since you popped up out of that rock and showed Kale what for, Sage has had an awful crush on you," Cye said. "Only Sage doesn't do anything as petty as a crush, so it's love. Of course I loved you, too, but I recognized Sage's claim, so-"

"You love me, too?"

"Well, there's Anubis," Cye said. "But I love you, I love all of the Ronin Warriors, I love the Dark Warlords, I'm just a little Cye-slut."

"Cye!" everyone exclaimed, Rowen and Yuli finally breaking apart in their shock.

"Well, I am," Cye insisted, blushing. "I love Anubis first and foremost, I'll be with him always, but I also love eight other people and I want to - - do you realize what sex is actually like? There's kissing, and there's touching, and there's-"

"Orgasm after orgasm," Rowen said, running his hands down over Yuli's bottom.

Yuli leaned against Rowen, relaxing into Rowen's touch. To Cye, he said, "Did you just count me?"

"Of course you're included," Cye said, "you're one of us."

"If Dais and Sehkmet are together, and you're with Anubis, and you're with Yuli, and I'm with Sage, that leaves Ryo with Kale?" Kento asked. "Kale loves Ryo, but..."

"No," Ryo said, rising. "I will not be with him."

"Oh, Ryo, he loves you," Cye said, disappointed. "Won't you at least talk to him?"

"I don't want to talk to him, or hear him, or look at him."

"Cye?" Rowen asked. "What's it like to have sex with somebody with a psychic bond?"

"Well," Cye said, "Anubis and I bonded psychically at a late point in our physical union, and the psychic bond disrupted the sex anyway. I've only gotten to enjoy a brief kiss since, but even that...the only phrase I can think of is 'rocked my world,' which sounds just ridiculous but is really rather accurate. It was amazing. Powerfully erotic, also very intimate. It enriched my experience, and let me know how he felt and responded, which doubled back on me - - you'll see for yourself."

"But first I want some plain old hot sex," Rowen said, and kissed Yuli.

"Rowen, really," Cye said. "He's not even sixteen."

"So?" Rowen asked. "You want him, don't you?"

"Of course I want Yuli, we've established that already, but that doesn't mean that you should be groping him like that."

"He likes it," Rowen said. "But okay, if you want, I'll grope him a different way."

Kento pulled Yuli out of Rowen's arms before Rowen's hand made contact with the front of Yuli's jeans. He set Yuli down on the sofa and planted himself between Rowen and the sofa, penning in Yuli.

"You two cannot share a bed under these circumstances," Cye said.

"Is Anubis going to sleep in your bed?" Ryo asked.

"Yes," Cye said.

"Then Kento and Yuli can share Kento's bed and Kale can sleep down here where Kento's been."

"Kale can have my bed," Rowen offered. "I'll sleep with Sage. Or with you, if you lock up White Blaze somewhere."

White Blaze growled softly in dissent.

"Oh, you know I wasn't serious," Rowen said. "Come on, Ryo, Yuli and I can sleep together. I'll be good."

"You won't behave at all," Cye accused.

"You let Dais and Sehkmet sleep together, and Anubis and Cye."

"They're significantly older than Yuli," Cye said.

"It isn't like I'm going to corrupt him," Rowen pouted. "I've known him long enough, it isn't like we're jumping into the sack without getting to know each other first."

"Rowen," Ryo said.

"Besides," Rowen said, "the sooner I fuck him, the sooner I'll let you fuck him."

Ryo blushed.

"And the sooner you can fuck me," Rowen added. "If he lets you."

"Oh dear," Cye murmured.

Yuli was kneeling up on the sofa cushions now, watching around Kento's side, hands on Kento's hips. "Come on, guys, I've wanted Rowen since forever, please?"

Kento crossed his arms over his chest. He looked like a bouncer. He looked like he was made of stone and wasn't about to be moved.

"Come on, Kento," Yuli insisted from behind him. "I wouldn't stop you from being with Sage."

"I'm not fifteen, and neither is Sage," Kento said.

"I'm almost sixteen," Yuli whined.

"And he has such a nice body," Rowen added.

Ryo put a hand on Rowen's arm and looked into Rowen's eyes. Rowen let him, curious. Ryo poked into Rowen's mind through their bond. "Okay, you guys, but don't go rushing right into it."

"Ha!" Yuli bounded around Kento and right into Rowen's arms, and they started kissing again standing in the middle of the room.

Cye knew that he was supposed to go downstairs and start breakfast. And he'd planned on starting a load of laundry, too. But he was lying on his back, and Anubis was naked, and they were kissing, and he'd rather run his hands over Anubis' strong hard upper body than sort through other people's used underwear. You know, he wouldn't be surprised if that left a mark on his neck. And oh, that's nice, a slick finger in his ass and a hot mouth on his nipple. Forget dirty dishes and dirty clothes, Cye wanted to get fucked.

Sage was the first to notice Cye's absence. He came back from his run to an empty kitchen. He considered the implications, decided that Cye would rather be in bed with Anubis than feed a group of lazy dependents who could get their own cereal, and went to the living room. Kento was lying facedown, one arm up hugging the pillow, naked everywhere Sage could see which probably meant that Kento was only wearing boxers.

Sage was arrogant, and intelligent, and beautiful, and let everyone know it. He knew that he awed Kento, and made Rowen want him, and made Ryo admire him, and made Cye irritated. If they only knew that cool superior Sage of the Halo lusted after Kento like an adolescent boy having wet dreams over a curvy obsession. He amazed even himself. He'd denied it, and then he'd tried to hide it, but now it was gaining control over him. He'd let Rowen know, just yesterday - - was that only yesterday? - - and he knew that he'd hurt Rowen's feelings. But he and Rowen both knew, though they loved each other and wanted each other, that they both had somewhere else to be: Kento for him, Yuli for Rowen.

He knew that it would surprise people: the high and mighty Sage with big dumb Kento? But Kento was by no means dumb. Generous, loyal, stubborn, rash, brash, eager, yes, but not dumb. Kento, like Ryo, tended to act first and think later, while he and Rowen thought first and then acted. He admired Cye for managing to do both at once.

He put out one long-fingered slender hand; he'd have elegant hands if he weren't a swordsman. Cautiously he touched Kento's naked shoulder, slid his fingers down Kento's shoulderblade, brushed along Kento's spine.

Kento was awake now, and Sage knew it. He jerked his hand away as though scalded, and left the room hurriedly. When he got to his room he closed the door and leaned back against it, slipping one hand beneath the waistband of his shorts, stroking his sex, eyes closing, heart pounding.

Yuli didn't think he'd ever be happier. He'd gotten to kiss Rowen, and touch Rowen, and they'd both stripped to their jeans, and he got to roll around on the bed and rub himself against Rowen and feel Rowen come in his arms. He'd heard that most guys got tired after orgasm, but not Rowen; Rowen got more energetic, and Rowen had started to grope between his legs, and he'd wanted to-

But then Rowen stopped, and looked a little guilty, and said they'd better just go to sleep. But when they did go to sleep, Rowen kissed him and held him close, and they slept wrapped around each other, and when he woke up and tried to leave Rowen woke up and they made out some more, and then he went to go masturbate in the bathroom while Rowen fell back to sleep.

When Yuli went downstairs, Kento and Ryo were in the kitchen eating cereal. "Where's Cye?"

"In bed with Anubis," Kento said. "He's really liking it, too."

"You can feel that over the link?" Yuli asked. It looked different in the kitchen now, just bowls and spoons and the carton of milk and the box of old cereal. No charm and bustle, no good smells and ripe fruit and cheery service and firm reminders to finish his milk. It was sort of depressing. Yuli got a bowl and spoon himself and sat at the table with them.

Kale came in next. Kento was gone by then; Ryo and Yuli were alone in the kitchen when Kale entered. Ryo was wearing only pajama bottoms, and his long black hair was disordered. Kale didn't seem to care, which amazed Yuli. Yuli was infatuated with Rowen but still could easily admire Ryo. Kale took in the scene, poured himself some milk and cereal, and sat in Kento's vacated chair. Sehkmet arrived next and just leaned his forearms on the table, standing beside Kale. He took a drink from Kale's glass. The two of them seemed to be having a mental conversation, and Yuli watched with interest. Ryo wasn't leaving the room, which struck him as interesting as well.

Yuli noticed Kale's hand rise, fingers brushing Sehkmet's thick green hair. Slowly, Kale inched his way closer until they were side-to-side, ribs-to-ribs, Kale's arm around Sehkmet's waist, hand sliding up beneath Sehkmet's shirt. Sehkmet let him. He turned his head, tucking his face into Sehkmet's neck, feeling Sehkmet's soft spiky hair, inhaling against warm smooth skin. Sehkmet's fingers idly stroked the back of his head.

Kale was yanked out of his chair and thrown to the floor. His head spun, but he recognized the flash in his brain: Dais. Oh shit. Of all holy fuck - - Dais was one possessive bastard. He kicked Dais and jumped to his feet. Their was a brief, vicious scuffle before Sehkmet intervened. Kale and Dais exchanged threats and snarls and glares.

"What now?" Anubis demanded.

"You're out of bed?" Kale asked.

"Can't I leave you alone?" Anubis asked.

"I can't!" Dais shouted. "You," he told Kale, "get your own fuck and stay away from mine!"

"They weren't doing anything," Yuli said. Dais turned with a glare, but Yuli said, "Really, they were just being relaxed and comfortable. Maybe Kale's lonely, since all of his friends have somebody else."

"Maybe he's just trying to get into Sehkmet's pants," Dais snapped.

"I'm inclined to accept both theories," Anubis said. "Dais, you can't fly into a rage every time that someone touches Sehkmet."

"Until Ryo lets Kale fuck him, Sehkmet is mine, and mine alone," Dais said.

"Sehkmet?" Anubis asked.

"I'm not playing one against the other," Sehkmet told Anubis. "Kale's lonely and horny, but Dais knows that I wouldn't let Kale take advantage of my innocence just yet."

"I told you to back off last night," Dais told Kale. "I find you touching him once more and-"

"It's up to Sehkmet," Kale said smugly. "He hasn't told me to stop."

"He's not yours to touch!" Dais shouted. "You can have Wildwhore if you want him, but-"

Anubis smacked Dais. "Control yourself. Sehkmet, take him to bed." Anubis left. Sehkmet put his hand to Dais' cheekbone to check the damage, then left, and Dais followed him. That left Yuli with Kale and Ryo.

Yuli quickly dumped his bowl and spoon into the dishwasher, put away the carton of milk and the box of cereal, and split.

Kento heard a shout, a punch, and a struggle from the kitchen. Kale ran out, almost knocking him aside. He hurried in to see Ryo standing there leaning over the table, crying. "Ryo?" Ryo turned and hugged him. He embraced Ryo in return, startled. "Ryo, you okay?"

"He kissed me," Ryo said, arms tightening.

Rowen came in. "Ryo? What's going on?"

"Kale kissed him," Kento said.

Ryo stepped back, wiping at his eyes and sniffling. "He kissed me! Kale, the Dark Warlord, the Demon of Darkness and Corruption, he kissed me."

"And?" Rowen asked.

"And I hit him. And I kicked him. And he left."

"You're okay?" Rowen asked. "He didn't hurt you?"

"He wasn't trying to hurt me," Ryo said. "He only wanted to kiss me. And I let him."

"He didn't force you?"

"No." Ryo was ashamed and confused.

"Was it a long tongue-tangler or one of those little pecks?" Rowen asked.

"He, he kissed me, and I let him, and he tried to put his tongue in my mouth so I hit him."

"He probably got the message, then," Rowen said.

"You're okay?" Kento asked.

"Why is he kissing me?" Ryo asked.

"He's in love with you," Rowen said.

"He kissed me," Ryo protested, and Kento began to wonder if Ryo'd gone a bit loopy.

Rowen put his arm around Ryo's waist. "Maybe you'd feel better if you kissed him."

"What?" Rowen was the loopy one, in Ryo's opinion.

"Go ahead," Rowen said.

"I hit him."

"His friends hit him all the time," Kento said.

"He's evil."

"Not all of the time," Rowen said.

Ryo swallowed. "You want me to kiss Kale."

"Yes," Rowen agreed, smiling.

"Okay, but just once," Ryo said. He left the kitchen. Kento couldn't believe that Ryo was listening to Rowen; they all knew better than to follow Rowen's plans.

Anubis made love to Cye in Cye's bed.

Dais made love to Sehkmet in Yuli's bed.

Kale made love to Ryo in Kento's bed.

Rowen, feeling high from all of the sex-buzzes in his brain, made out with Yuli in his bed.

That left Kento and Sage. Kento was sitting on the living room sofa when Sage walked in. Sage, in fitted pale jeans and a T-shirt, looking extremely casual for Sage, walked right up and knelt astride Kento's lap, sitting on Kento's knees. Sage placed one hand carefully on Kento's right biceps, the other hand on Kento's shoulder, and leaned in close. "Kento," Sage breathed.

"Sage?" Kento asked, voice very small, holding very still.

"Kiss me," Sage said, leaning in close, eyes on Kento's mouth, lips hovering so close that Kento just dipped forward a bit and felt Sage's lips against his own.

I'm kissing Sage.

Kento made love to Sage right there on the living room carpet.

Once the wave of hormones passed and people were calm and dressed again, Anubis insisted that Cye'd done enough waiting on everyone hand and foot, so Ryo ordered a pizza. Everyone lounged around the kitchen, mostly on the floor, talking idly, eating, touching his significant other. Ryo was sitting half on Kale, half pressed against him, and kept one hand full of pizza and the other hand full of Kale. To Yuli's eyes, Ryo looked half-drugged. Sage was not a demonstrative person but was keeping one eye on Kento, who kept staring at Sage's neck. (Yuli learned later that Sage had asked Kento to mark him, but Kento hadn't dared to mar the perfection.) Cye was curled up cozily beside Anubis. Sehkmet and Dais were calm, smug, and quiet.

When the meal ended and everyone was going back to bed, Dais caught Cye's elbow and said, "Excuse me," to Anubis, drawing Cye aside. They went into the bathroom and he locked the door. "Ryo's in love with Kale?"

"Yes," Cye said, "surely you feel it as much as I do."

"You haven't fucked Anubis yet, have you?"

"No," Cye admitted, flustered.

"But you're going to."

"He said, tonight, I...Yes."

"You want to see him without any illusions between you?"

"The real Anubis?" Cye asked. "I didn't... Please?"

"I want to drop the illusions, but it won't be fair to do it without their permission."

"Oh, please. Won't they let you?"

"Sehkmet might not. But he won't stop Anubis and Kale, if they want to do it."

"Ryo doesn't know. He thinks that the Kale he sees is the only Kale that there is."

"We know Ryo's theory on our appearances, how richly deserved our differences are. That's why I haven't unmasked Kale yet. We wanted to force Ryo to love the mutated version."

They left the bathroom; Dais had a few words with Sehkmet and went up to Cye's bedroom with Cye and Anubis. Cye watched as Dais spoke mentally with Anubis. Anubis closed his eyes and stood very still. Dais pressed a pale elegant hand to Anubis' forehead and the illusion dropped. Dais left quietly. Dark, wide green eyes opened in a profusion of dark red lashes. Cye was breathless. Anubis chuckled.

Dais went downstairs again. Kale and Ryo were standing by Ryo's bed, kissing. As Ryo's hands tugged down Kale's zipper, Dais said, "Excuse me."

"Fuck off," Kale said, licking Ryo's mouth.

"Come see me when you've finished."

A few hours later, in the dead of night, Dais was awakened by a murmur. He opened his eyes and saw Kale. He was on his side, facing the door, holding Sehkmet; Kale was running a hand down Sehkmet's naked back. Sehkmet grunted softly and burrowed into Dais' embrace sleepily. "Kale?" Sehkmet asked. "What do you want?"

"Dais summoned me," Kale said.

"You're here now?" Dais asked.

Kale removed his hand and knelt by the side of the bed. He put his hand out again, stroking Sehkmet's naked side. Sehkmet nestled in cosily, half-asleep again.

Dais watched Kale's hand on his lover's body. "How's Ryo?"

"Everything I wanted," Kale said. "I just might have to be happy. Why did you want to see me?"

Sehkmet squirmed a little against Dais when Kale brushed a ticklish spot.

"I shattered Anubis' illusion. Would you like to lose yours?"

"I kind of like this scar," Kale mused, having worked his way gradually down to Sehkmet's hip. "Can you do it tomorrow, in front of Ryo?"

"As you wish."

"What about you? I see you're still playing pirate."

"I'll take care of it after I've done yours."

"And you?" Kale asked Sehkmet.

"No thanks," Sehkmet said into Dais' shoulder.

Kale's hand was under the sheet now, and skimming lightly along the curve of Sehkmet's ass. "I haven't seen you since the first day you came to the Dynasty. I don't even remember how you really look."

"I was beautiful once," Sehkmet said softly.

"I'd be inclined to argue that you're beautiful now," Kale said. "But I may have overstayed my welcome." He withdrew his hand, kissed the back of Dais' hand that rested on Sehkmet, and left the room.

"I was beautiful," Sehkmet said, and fell asleep.

"I know, love," Dais said softly, stroking his hair.

In the morning, Ryo woke up first, then woke up Kale for sex. Ryo figured that he'd fallen in love with the right person, because White Blaze had let Kale into Ryo's bed without a single protestation.

Kento awoke in Sage's bed. Surely he was in the wrong place. A slender, strong arm rose from the sheets and pulled him closer; Sage was still there, in bed, hadn't gotten up to run, had abandoned the exacting unfailing routine. Surely one of them was insane. "Fuck me," Sage said, kissing him. Okay, he could do that. He'd done it twice already, hadn't he?

"Sage?"

"What?" flashed briefly across his mind; Sage was too busy kissing him to waste effort in talking.

He almost passed out when Sage sucked on his tongue. "Will you make love to me?"

Sage broke the kiss; one hand came up to brush heavy blonde hair out of Sage's face in a futile gesture. Sage looked into Kento's eyes, searching. Kento held still, letting Sage look, wondering if he'd made a horrible mistake. Oh, please, had he said the wrong thing? Sage smiled, slowly, and rose over Kento, pushing Kento back on the mattress, kneeling astride Kento's body. Kento felt a flash of excited fear. Oh, this was going to be so good...

Rowen and Yuli were curled and tangled together on the end of the sofa while Rowen read poetry and Yuli giggled. Ryo had been talking to them innocently when Kale came in and started kissing him in the middle of a sentence. Rowen and Yuli were ignoring Ryo and Kale, for the most part, who were still standing there kissing. Kale sent out a brief mental call to Dais, who sauntered in casually and said, "Hello."

"'Lo," Kale said around Ryo's tongue. Another second and Ryo would be undressing him in the middle of the living room - - which was fine with him, but first he wanted to do something else. He gently removed Ryo from his person and put a generous mere inch of space between them. "What do you want, Dais?"

Anubis came in. "Yes?"

"Wow," Yuli said.

"Did you do that?" Rowen asked Dais. "Instant makeover?"

"Has Cye seen it?" Yuli asked.

"I did not do this," Dais said. "My creation is the Anubis that you've been seeing from the start. This is the real Anubis."

"I don't believe you," Rowen said flatly.

"Yuli," Ryo said, and Yuli closed his mouth.

"Talpa had me change our appearances to what he felt was more appropriate for Dark Warlords," Dais said. "He didn't want a bunch of pretty boys running around the Dynasty. He wanted us to look evil, to create horror and revulsion by action and by appearance."

"So what about the rest of you?" Rowen asked skeptically.

"Would you like to see what Kale really looks like?" Dais offered.

"Come on," Ryo said, "you don't have to do that."

"Why not?" Dais asked.

"I like Kale the way he is."

"Gratifying as that is, Ryo," Kale said, "I'm not going look like this just to please you. I want to look like myself."

"But this is yourself," Ryo argued.

"This is an illusion that Talpa had Dais create. Were you listening at all?"

"You're telling the truth?"

"Cye knows all about it," Kale said. "He's known for a few days. That's why he was in such a rush to get into Anubis' bed."

"Keep it up and you'll look like that forever," Anubis told Kale.

Ryo reached up and stroked Kale's scar. "This isn't real?"

"Nope. Totally made up."

Disappointment crossed Ryo's face. "I fell in love with you like this." Ryo kissed his mouth briefly. "Okay, I want to see the other you."

Dais stroked Kale's temple. The illusion melted to expose Kale. Yuli stifled a gasp. "Yee-hah," Rowen murmured. Ryo took one long look, then jumped into Kale's arms and devoured Kale's mouth.

"I think he likes this one, too," Dais told Anubis. "Well, shall I do myself next?"

"He really does look good," Anubis said, watching Kale and Ryo.

"As soon as he leaves Ryo's bed one of these days, he's going to head straight for Sehkmet."

"You'll mind?"

"I'm fine, as long as I get to watch once or twice."

"As long as they're occupied with each other, maybe you could turn to me for comfort."

"Maybe," Dais said, smiling slightly. "Cye won't mind?"

"We'll let him watch."

Dais chuckled. "He'll like that, won't he?"

Sehkmet entered. "Kale looks good. The parts that aren't obscured by Ryo's tongue."

Rowen had sent out a call to the other three Ronin Warriors, who entered one by one. Soon everyone but White Blaze was in the living room. Anubis tugged Kale free of Ryo and said, "Why are we congregating?"

"Why do you both look good?" Kento asked.

"Their former appearances were constructed by Dais because Talpa wanted them to look the part," Cye explained. "This is how they truly look without illusions."

"So do you two really look like that?" Kento asked Dais and Sehkmet.

"No, this is an illusion," Dais said.

"So how do you look really?" Yuli asked.

"An illusion," Kento said. "He's flat gorgeous and he's had to walk around all scarred because Talpa didn't want-"

"You're outraged on my behalf?" Kale asked. "How flattering."

"You had your own illusions used against you," Kento told Dais.

"Yes," Dais said, and smiled at Kento, a gentle smile of understanding, and Dais shone forth, and Ryo gave a start, and Cye marvelled anew. Sehkmet's fingers reached out, lingering in Dais' spun white hair.

"What about you?" Yuli asked Sehkmet softly.

Dais stroked Sehkmet's cheek lovingly, gazing into Sehkmet's eyes.

"Don't go back," Sehkmet said.

"I won't," Dais promised.

A month passed. Everyone became adjusted to the new situation. Anubis shared Cye's bed, Yuli shared Rowen's, Kento shared Sage's, Kale shared Ryo's, and Dais and Sehkmet used Yuli's. The disagreements between the Dark Warlords were almost nonexistent. Everyone got used to seeing the unadulterated version of all but Sehkmet. People started to talk, in vague references at first and then in private conversations with their first-best loves, of creeping into someone else's bed. Kale kept himself quite contented with Ryo and hadn't gone near Sehkmet, and Rowen devoted himself to Yuli and didn't flirt with anyone else. But people still felt tugged in other directions, and finally after a month, moves were made. Sage went first. He spoke with Kento, who understood perfectly and promised not to be hurt: as long as he was first in Sage's heart, he wouldn't begrudge anyone else who wanted a place. So Sage seduced Rowen all day long, with lingering glances and slight provocative comments. Rowen, drooling, knew exactly what Sage was doing, and Yuli was almost happier than Rowen was at the idea of Rowen and Sage in a tangle of limbs across a bed. Rowen could see that they had Kento's full permission, so when Rowen went up to bed he wasn't surprised to find Sage following him instead of Yuli.

Yuli wondered if this meant that he could sleep with Kento. He was about to go ask Kento that very question when he turned around and smacked into Kale. Kento was in the kitchen with White Blaze. Kale scooped Yuli right off the floor, to Yuli's astonishment, and carried the boy down the hallway and into Ryo's room. Oh, yes, this was going to be so very very good. Ryo was naked, in bed, asleep, and Kale set Yuli down right on top of Ryo before leaving and closing the door. Ryo's blue eyes opened sleepily. "Oh, hey, Yuli," and Ryo pulled him in for a kiss.

Cye didn't want Kento to be all alone, so he said, "Kento, if Sage is busy tonight, and you don't want to sleep all by yourself, I could," he licked his lips, "sleep in your bed with you."

"What about Anubis?"

"Well, if you'd rather sleep with him, I could always-"

"No, I didn't mean that," Kento said quickly. Although being in the same bed as Anubis sounded sort of intriguing.

"Neither of us is a shy little virgin anymore," Cye confessed. "I've been with Anubis, and I'm sure that Sage has expanded your horizons."

"Yeah."

"So will you take me to your bed and make love to me?"

"Why does everyone want me on top?"

"Just the first time," Cye said. "Then it's my turn."

Anubis, alerted by Cye that his bed would be empty, decided to fill it. He waited until everyone else had gone to bed before he went on the prowl. He met Kale outside of Yuli's bedroom door. They shared a smirk and he opened the door.

Dais and Sehkmet were lying pale in the darkness, wrapped up together on their sides, face-to-face, sound asleep. Anubis came up behind Dais, Kale behind Sehkmet, standing on either side of the bed. They reached down and separated the lovers carefully. He lifted Dais to his chest, Dais' silken white hair falling over his shoulder. Blue eyes opened. "Abducting me?"

"Yes," he answered.

Sehkmet rolled over in the bed, onto his stomach. He opened his eyes and looked around warily. "You're stealing Dais."

"And I'm stealing you," Kale said, running a greedy palm down Sehkmet from nape to ass.

"Put me down, Anubis," Dais insisted. Anubis set Dais to stand on the carpet. Dais knelt on the bed and kissed Sehkmet; Kale and Anubis watched the tender, erotic slip of tongues. Then Dais pinned Kale with an evil stare. "If you mark him, I'll mark Ryo."

"Fair enough," Kale agreed.

Dais turned to Anubis. "Where are we going?"

"Hope you don't mind being ogled by fish."

Dais moaned and left, still naked. Anubis followed. Sehkmet rolled to his back and waited.

Kale sat on the edge of the bed and stroked Sehkmet's chest. "You'll let me fuck you?"

"This time."

"You'll let me kiss you?"

"If you don't kiss me you can't have me."

Kale leaned down and pressed his lips to Sehkmet's. Sehkmet kissed him back, let him in, and he moaned, "Good god," and laid down with Sehkmet, lost. No wonder Dais was so possessive.

In the morning everyone lingered in bed, exploring new lovers, new bodies, new sensations. Finally people started to emerge for the day, and established lovers reconnected, whispering to each other about last night. They were already working out who was with whom next time. Sehkmet was going to take Cye, he announced firmly, because Anubis had marked Dais. Anubis made a disparaging comment about how sensitive weak little Dais was.

Kento asked Sage whom he wanted next. Sage had considered Ryo, but Ryo was Rowen's next target. Now Sage was choosing between Anubis and Dais. Kento was surprised. Sage said, "How about if I take Anubis, and you take Dais?"

"Me? And Dais? And me?" Kento asked, from surprise to shock. "Dais?"

"He's very pretty," Sage murmured, sliding a hand over Kento's thigh.

"Yes, Sage, but-"

"Isn't he pretty?" Sage whispered, kissing his jaw.

"Yes, Sage, but-"

"So pretty," Sage murmured.

"Yes, Sage."

"So silky, all that soft hair."

"Yes."

"And his skin, it looks very smooth."

"Yes."

"And his eyes, they're so pretty and blue."

"Yes, Sage," he breathed into Sage's mouth as Sage descended for a kiss.

"Fuck for him me, Kento," Sage said, settling astride his lap. "I want you to fuck him."

"Yes, Sage," Kento moaned as Sage's hand rubbed over the front of his jeans.

Sage informed Dais and Sehkmet later that Kento would be fucking Dais. Sehkmet decided privately that sooner or later he'd fuck that smug superior Sage of the Halo. Then Sage told Cye that he wanted to fuck Anubis. Cye suggested that it might go better if Anubis fucked first. Sage agreed and left Cye to inform Anubis. Rowen had already claimed Ryo, and Anubis would be with Sage, and Kento would be with Dais, and Sehkmet would be with Cye. That left Yuli and Kale. Kale was amused by the eager young boy, and was curious as to what Rowen had taught. Quite a lot, as it turned out.

After a month of strategic partner-swapping, everyone settled down more. Usually they slept with their regular official significant others. Occasionally someone wanted a different partner, such as perhaps Ryo and Cye, so their respective partners (in this case Kale and Anubis) would sleep together. Occasionally Rowen would organize a mid-afternoon threesome, and he had a tendency to make out with whoever was in the room. Kale liked to flirt with and seduce whoever was nearby, too. Ryo's on switch was ridiculously easy to find, and he'd let anyone take advantage of him. Yuli had the same affliction. Kento took it all matter-of-factly but wasn't as quick to bed-hop as some of them. Cye was careful to ask permission of his prospective partner, Anubis, and his prospective partner's partner. Sehkmet remained aloof but someone was always trying to coax him to bed. Sage didn't give head to anyone but Kento. Ryo gave the best head. Kento delivered a full hard fuck, and Anubis could fuck all night, draw it out until his partner begged for mercy. Dais talked so dirty even Rowen couldn't take it. Cye was eager to please. Rowen liked slap and tickle, lots of foreplay. Kale could do rough and dirty sex, either end. People kept trying to get Sage into their beds and ended up getting fucked themselves. Sehkmet kissed like a professional. Yuli would suck anything - - tongues, fingers, toes, cocks, and wasn't afraid to put his tongue into new places. Dais' cum tasted very sweet.

Ryo, Rowen, Yuli, and Kale were easy. Sage and Sehkmet were not. Cye and Kento took a little coaxing but once they were there, they were enthusiastic. Anubis and Dais let themselves be teased and flirted and coaxed, but tended to be teases themselves, getting the first four (Ryo, Rowen, Yuli, Kale) hot and bothered but not delivering on actual sex. Anubis got a lot of blow jobs that way.

Body comparisons were inevitable. Kale and Rowen discussed them openly, sitting on the sofa in the living room kissing Yuli, who was squirming between them.

"You get hard faster than anyone I know," Kale told Yuli.

"He does," Rowen agreed, pleased. "Wink at him and he's ready to go."

"Anubis stays hard longer," Kale said.

"He just keeps going," Rowen said. "Yuli, hold still. Of course, if we're talking size, Kento wins."

"Sage's is longer."

"Sage doesn't give head."

"Ryo does."

Rowen laughed. "Does he ever. Sehkmet has a better tongue, but Ryo sucks like a-"

"Yuli, stop fidgeting," Kale said.

"I'm in love with Sehkmet's tongue," Rowen said.

"I'm in love with Sehkmet's ass," Kale said.

"God, it's tighter than Cye's and hotter than Ryo's," Rowen marveled.

"Cye...that boy pets and pampers until I just grab him and fuck him to make it stop."

"Which is exactly what he wants," Rowen said.

"At least he delivers. Dais is a cocktease."

"Not like Yuli," Rowen said.

"Yuli'll spread his legs for any sailor in town," Kale said, and put his hand between Yuli's thighs. "Won't you?" Yuli whimpered and shoved his groin into Kale's hand desperately.

"Poor Yuli," Rowen whispered, licking Yuli's neck.

"Do you want a blow job?" Kale asked Yuli, kissing the corners of Yuli's mouth. Yuli tried eagerly to kiss him but wasn't allowed.

"Should we call Ryo?" Rowen asked.

"Sehkmet?" Kale suggested.

"Sage?" Rowen asked, and laughed.

"Maybe Cye will take pity on you," Kale told Yuli. "Shall we ask him?"

Rowen removed Kale's hand from Yuli's lap and said, "Hold still, Yuli, like a good boy." He opened Yuli's jeans and freed Yuli's erection. "Cye," Rowen called, raising his voice, "could you come here for a moment?" Kale chuckled and nibbled Yuli's ear. Yuli hid his face in Kale's neck.

"Rowen, what are you doing?" Cye demanded.

"Oh, don't be mean, Cye," Rowen pouted. "Yuli needs your help."

"I think you could use some help yourself," Cye muttered, frowning. Rowen licked his lips at the thought of Cye fucking him. Cye sighed and relented, coming forward, kneeling before the sofa. He tugged Yuli closer and Yuli quickly leaned forward for a kiss, but Rowen intervened, saying, "Now, now, you know the rules."

"What rules?" Cye asked.

"No kissing, no talking," Rowen said. "Yuli's going to sit still like a good little boy."

"Rowen, you amaze me," Cye said. "And I'm not going to kneel here and service Yuli like a prostitute. I want to kiss him first."

"Kiss me," Rowen suggested brightly.

"Well," Cye said, "I suppose that would be all right." So he kissed Rowen, and Yuli ached to come, and Kale considered the possibilities. Then Cye lowered his head and licked delicately at the head of Yuli's cock. Cye sat back after that taste test and proceeded to strip Yuli, who was already naked to the waist. When Yuli was completely naked, thighs spread with one leg in Rowen's lap and one leg in Kale's, Cye leaned in again and lapped at Yuli's balls.

"Cye?" Kale asked.

Cye sat back again. Yuli choked. "Yes?"

"Have you been spending time with Sehkmet?"

Cye flushed. "Well, no, but I know that he does this well, so I asked Dais to teach me how Sehkmet does it to him. I'm still learning." Rowen was leaning in for a kiss again so Cye kissed him. Then Sehkmet came in, having been paged by Kale.

"Are you torturing Yuli again?" Sehkmet asked. "And now you've got Cye in on it, too?"

"It's not torture, he likes it," Rowen said. "Don't you?" he asked, stroking Yuli's nipples. Cye leaned up and kissed Yuli's nipples.

"Who's going to fuck him?" Sehkmet asked.

"We haven't decided," Kale said. "Would you like to?"

"No, Sehkmet needs to teach Cye how to give a blow job," Rowen said. "You can practice on Kale."

"Then who will help you to watch Yuli?" Kale asked Rowen.

"Sage!" Rowen shouted. Yuli shuddered.

"You give great blow jobs," Sehkmet told Cye.

"He's trying to learn that tongue thing you do," Kale said.

"Tongue thing?" Sehkmet asked.

"Here, show him," Kale told Cye, and opened his jeans. Sage entered the living room and Rowen said, "Sage, come help me watch Yuli."

"Good god, Rowen, are you still insane?" Sage asked.

"He needs a fuck and a blow job and we're trying to decide who should do it," Rowen said. "Here." He handed Sage a tube of lubricant. "Grease him up while we decide."

Sage accepted the tube with a raised eyebrow but deigned to kneel before the sofa. Yuli's hips arched towards him eagerly and Yuli whimpered enticingly.

Kento watched one of Sage's slim fingers disappear inside Yuli before he cleared his throat.

"Kento!" Rowen exclaimed. "You can fuck Yuli. I think that he deserves it for being such a good boy."

"I think you need to be fucked," Sage told Rowen. "As long as Yuli wants a blow job, ask Ryo."

"Ryo's with Anubis in the kitchen," Kento said. "That's why I came over here, but I guess I made a wrong turn."

"No, you're in the right place, you're going to fuck Yuli," Rowen insisted. "When Ryo's finished with Anubis he can come in here. Sage, is he ready?"

"Feels like it," Sage said, slipping his fingers free. Yuli whimpered at the loss. Sage rose and went to Kento, stripping Kento efficiently and setting Kento to sit on Rowen's other side.

"Sage?" Rowen asked.

"What?" Sage asked, one hand about to get lubricant for Kento's cock.

"Oh my god," Kale said from Yuli's other side. Yuli watched with Cye in fascination as Sehkmet's tongue stroked and coiled and danced over Kale's erection.

"Will you let me watch you suck Kento?"

Sage's fingers hesitated. He glanced at Rowen. "You want to watch?"

"I know you won't do it to me, and I won't ask you to, but I want to see you do it, please?"

"Just this once," Sage said, dropping the lubricant, and sat in Kento's lap.

Anubis came to the doorway at the sound of moans. He saw Rowen watching Sage and a naked Kento making out, and he saw Cye watching Sehkmet give head to Kale. Yuli was naked and alone in the middle of the group. Anubis walked over to Yuli and stood before the boy. "Poor Yuli," he said. "Do you want to come?"

Yuli nodded eagerly.

"All right," Anubis said, and unzipped his jeans, stepping closer. Yuli without hesitation leaned forward, hands grasping, mouth latching onto Anubis' cock. Anubis closed his eyes, stroking Yuli's hair, adjusting his stance.

"Anubis!" Rowen shouted. "What the fuck are you - - Yuli, get away from him," Rowen insisted, dragging Yuli back. "Bad bad evil man!"

Anubis stroked himself lazily. Yuli watched with hungry eyes. When Anubis' fingers passed over the head, Yuli shuddered with want, legs spreading, jaw dropping.

"Oh, god, oh, Seiji," Kento moaned. Six pairs of eyes turned to watch Sage's golden head in Kento's lap. Rowen watched closely, then forced himself to say, "Wait, Sage, stop."

Sage raised his head. Kento tried to pull Sage close again but Sage gently resisted. "What?" he asked Rowen.<br>
"I want Kento to fuck Anubis to punish him for being mean and cruel and selfish."

"All right," Sage said, gracefully rising. He handed over the lubricant and said to Anubis, "Enjoy." Then he climbed into Rowen's lap and kissed Rowen.

Anubis, as Cye watched Sehkmet, gave himself a quick lube job and knelt astride Kento's legs. He kissed Kento, who seemed in a half daze, and slowly lowered himself onto Kento's cock. It took careful, aching increments, but he worked himself on until he was seated fully. Then Kento, with a powerful flex beneath him, thrust.

Anubis roared.

At that sound, Ryo ran in from the kitchen and skidded to a halt. He took in the situation at a glance, shook off his surprise, and dropped to his knees before Yuli, sucking Yuli's cock into his mouth.

Fifteen minutes later, the nine of them were crawling across the sofa and spilling onto the floor, when Dais finally gave in and entered the living room. "That's enough," he said, and grabbed Sehkmet, pulling his lover away from Cye and Yuli's greedy hands. Next he rescued his fearless leader Anubis, who was getting a blow job after all from Ryo of the Hoovermouth. Anubis extricated Cye and Kale, who pulled out Ryo. Sage gracefully shook off Rowen's hands and called Kento after him.

"You," Dais told Rowen, "started this."

Rowen moaned as Yuli's fingers plunged into his body. "God I hope so."

"No sex for a week," Dais said.

"I hope you're serious," Kale told Dais.

"Yuli," Dais said, and pulled Yuli off of Rowen. "Yuli, listen to me. Rowen's not going to have sex all week. That means that you can have all of us all week while he's waiting. And when the week is up, just imagine how badly he'll want you."

"Yuli, no," Rowen begged.

"All of you?" Yuli asked.

"Whenever you want," Dais promised, stroking the skin below Yuli's navel. "A whole week."

"And then I can be with Rowen again?"

"Yes," Dais said, and kissed him deep and wet. Yuli gave a little moan and wrapped his arms around Dais' neck.

It was the most wonderful week. Yuli was stroked and pampered beyond his dreams. Whenever he wanted a kiss, he got one. Whenever he wanted more, he got it. He got to do a threesome with all four couples, something Rowen'd been trying to do for weeks. He could sleep all warm and cosy between two lovers. He got to have sex with Ryo and Cye at once, which left him dizzy for the next few hours. Anubis and Dais spent a lazy afternoon passing him back and forth, and he spent that night with Sage and Sehkmet. Sage and Sehkmet. Both. Everyone wanted Ryo, but everyone could have Ryo; it was harder to get Sage and Sehkmet. He got them both.

The week ended. He got Rowen back again. Rowen tore from bed to bed, fucking Yuli and Sage and Yuli and Ryo and Yuli and - - finally Rowen collapsed, promising he'd never go near Dais again. Of course hours later he was licking Dais' balls, but he meant it when he said it.

Sehkmet settled at Dais' side. "You've looked like this for three months. I'm still not used to it."

"I keep thinking that I am," Dais said, "but... It was so long."

"Would you like to change me?"

"Am I allowed to?"

"Shall we do it tonight?"

"No," Dais said, "tomorrow, so that everyone can see. Then I'll bring you to our bed so that I can explore you in private. But I want the change to be public."

"All right," Sehkmet said.

"You'll let me?"

"Yes."

"Will you keep it? Will you stay yourself forever?"

"Yes. If I revert to my original form, I'll maintain it. I won't take the coward's way."

"I've wanted this," Dais said, "for so long. I love you as you are, but I want to see you behind the mask."

"You may be disappointed."

"No."

In the morning, Dais told Anubis and Kale. Anubis told Cye; Kale told everyone else. At noon they all assembled in the living room, Sehkmet and Dais facing each other, the other eight behind Dais, all eyes on Sehkmet. Dais kissed Sehkmet gently. Sehkmet closed his eyes, breathed deep, and opened his eyes again, nodding.

Dais put his palm to Sehkmet's jaw. The illusion shimmered, then snapped.

There were tears in Dais' eyes.

High, sculptured cheekbones. Straight nose, strong jaw, rounded chin. Soft wet lips begging to be kissed. Evenly arched brows over eyes of stormy gray. Pale, pure skin. Long, glossy green hair spilling over his shoulders.

Sehkmet raised a hand, after staring at it for a while, and touched his hair. "I forgot about this. Definitely getting rid of it."

"No," Dais said, "don't touch a hair of it."

"You're crying," Sehkmet said, alarmed.

"It hurts to look at you," Dais said, and embraced him.

Sehkmet squeezed Dais with one arm and used his free hand to pull his hair over his shoulder so that he could look at it. "It's so soft and slippery. It feels like-" He stopped talking when Dais pulled back and touched his face. "What?"

"You feel different."

Sehkmet touched his neck. "Mm."

"I didn't remember that you looked like this," Dais said. "I just remembered how handsome you were."

"Handsome?" Sehkmet asked. "Am I?"

"You're beautiful," Dais said.

"You're biased. Get me a mirror. Is my hair darker?"

"Yes. Just a little."

"Get me scissors, too. And make them stop staring. And you stop staring. What's wrong with my eyes that makes you look at me like that?"

"I've never seen you with anything but purple."

Sehkmet's eyes widened, which only showed off his lashes. "What color are they?"

"You don't remember?"

"What color are my eyes?"

"Gray. Cloudy gray. It's so beautiful, you're so..." Dais stroked his cheek.

"Damn it, stop crying. I'm going to get a mirror and find some scissors. You can all stop staring." He left, Dais following.

A moment later, everyone else followed, too.

It took time to get used to the new Sehkmet. He got a haircut against Dais' protestations, back to the same short thick hair of old, for the most part. He felt different to the touch. His skin was a much healthier color, pale with his dark hair. It was disconcerting to look into gray eyes with that thick fringe of green lashes. But he sounded the same, and he acted the same. And, after a while, Dais reluctantly let the others near him. Anubis was the first to kiss the new Sehkmet, and considered it a religious experience. Everyone else converted as soon as Dais would allow.

There was one problem. Yuli wasn't a Ronin Warrior or a Dark Warlord or associated with any armor whatsoever. He was okay with that; he didn't have the psychic link but he was a part of the group. These days he was more mature than Rowen and even Kale. But age was a problem. The Dark Warlords were old and older, but they weren't actually aging. They were in stasis, trapped forever in nineteen-year-old bodies. They could die, if they refused to summon armor and someone in armor struck a killing blow. These days, that was highly unlikely. Anubis told the Ronin Warriors that the same was true of them. In fact, they'd never passed their nineteenth birthdays. Which pleased Rowen, to be nineteen and have a sixteen-year-old lover; it didn't sound as criminal that way. But Yuli was only more depressed. They'd never age, but he would. He couldn't stay sixteen forever, or nineteen; someday he'd be twenty-five, then forty, then seventy, and then he'd die, while his practically immortal and forever young lover would be nineteen. Life totally sucked.

Anubis found him upstairs in Rowen's room, which was now Rowen and Yuli's room. Anubis steered him over to sit on the bed, and Anubis sat facing him. "Yuli, I want to talk to you."

"Okay."

Anubis tucked Yuli's hair behind one ear. "I'm more than a Dark Warlord. I also wielded the power of the Ancient, who was as mighty as Talpa. I have access to powers beyond normal existence."

Yuli nodded. The same guy who smacked Kale and tickled Cye and kissed until Yuli's knees gave out was immensely powerful. Got it. Maybe that related to Anubis' stamina somehow. He'd have to ask Rowen.

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes." Of course.

"Immortality is not all fun and games. Take Cye. He'll have to keep anyone from realizing his immortality. He'll have to hide from the public. He can't form long-term friendships because within a few short years people will notice that he hasn't aged. If he does happen to make a friend, he'll watch that friend age and die. The world changes. He'll have to keep up with the changes, watch civilizations fall, live through wars and chaos and disasters. Years after years of people hurting people."

"I know it'll be hard," Yuli said. "But you'll all have each other. That won't change. I know it's stupid to think that nine people as different as all of you will be together ten years from now, much less ten centuries from now, but I believe it."

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes." Hadn't they just gone over this?

"You're sixteen now. In three years, you'll be nineteen. Would you like to be nineteen forever?"

"Forever?"

"You can be one of us."

"One of... There's no armor."

"I can't give you armor. But I can make you immortal."

"Immortal."

"I can join you into our psychic bond. Once you've bonded to us, you'll be immortal. I can do it now, or I can wait until you're nineteen, or we can wait until you're twenty-five so you can be the oldest."

"You can... I could be one of you? I could be part of the talking insides the head thing? I could live forever?"

"Yes."

"I wouldn't have to leave you? I wouldn't have to leave Rowen?"

"We'd like you to stay."

Yuli hugged Anubis. "Oh thank you thank you thank you - - how?!"

"It's a mystic monk thing. It won't hurt."

"Does Rowen know?"

"I wanted to ask you first. It's your decision."

"Oh, please, do it."

They told Rowen, who screamed and kissed Yuli and kissed Anubis and kissed Yuli. "Do it now!"

"Now?" Yuli asked.

"Now. You could fall down the stairs and break your neck. You could be in a car accident. You could be-"

"Rowen," Anubis said.

"I won't go to Yuli's funeral just because he wanted to wait three more days to be with me forever," Rowen said.

"Oh, Rowen," Yuli said.

"Sixteen's awfully young," Anubis said.

"When do you think I should do it?" Yuli asked Anubis.

"Nineteen. Twenty. Twenty-five."

"No," Rowen said. "Too much could happen, too much can go wrong."

"I'm safe with you," Yuli said. "Nothing will go wrong."

Those words were supposed to be infamous for calling in the scary music, and stereotypically Yuli would have been trampled to death by a herd of gazelles only two days later. However, days passed without incident, and months turned into years, and Yuli was twenty-one when he was brought into their circle, completing the union of their group and ending this narrative.

matthew@matthewtime.com
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