Here it is, the final installment. I'm gonna miss the story; it's been a blast to write, excepting the blocked periods.

Warning - this chapter contains completely expected smut. Naoe and Takaya deserve that, at least.

Kuwabara Mizuna owns, I worship. And study Japanese. (Someone please translate MoB before I lose my mind.)

PENDULUM
Chapter 12 - Te Deum

"Naoe," the god-man greeted him with a smile. "I wish I could say I'm happy to see you here, but really, coming into the mirror was a foolish risk."

"Kenshin-kou." Naoe bowed low. "Forgive me. I allowed my heart to lead me here."

The place looked much like Kenshin's old receiving room in Echigo. He sat in a chair upon a raised platform, and Naoe came to sit before it, on the wooden floor beside Kagetora. He felt very much like a suitor facing a prospective in-law which, in truth, he was.

"Don't look so worried, Naoe, I don't intend to scold you. For every mistake you have made, you have punished yourself more than I could have."

"Yes, my lord, but...I have committed improprieties...I have no excuse." Naoe felt Kagetora glance nervously at him.

Kenshin's voice remained kind. "You have the only excuse I would accept. Love. I know you love my son, Naoe, I have always known. That is why I chose you to be his protector."

"Then why..." Naoe looked up, showing anger at his one-time lord for the first time in his existence. "Then why did you force me to be his enemy? Why did you order me to stand by Kagekatsu?"

Kenshin closed his eyes for a moment, his usual jovial manner swept away by regret. "I had my reasons, none of which made my choice the correct one. I knew of Kagetora's discomfort and thought I could ease it by keeping you apart. I felt guilt for preferring Kagetora to Kiheiji and wanted to make it up to him. I feared reprisals against Kagetora if I was seen to favor him too exclusively. Had I known the ends you would both come to, I would have done anything, everything, differently. Naoe, Kagetora, I am sorry."

"Father, you need not - " Kagetora protested.

"Child, let an old man keep his regret. It is part of what makes me who I am." Kenshin's smile returned. "I am proud of you both. You have come through four hundred years of great strife and hardship, and are so much the stronger for it. And somehow, you don't hate me for the burden I placed on you."

"My lord." Unable to think what to say, Naoe bowed again.

"I think, Naoe, in this place you have come to understand Kagetora better."

"I have, my lord. My heart breaks to know, but it's worth it."

"I too wish I had known, in our original lives."

"Father, you couldn't have," Kagetora quietly insisted. "But I apologize for not confiding in you."

"No need, my son, I understand why you did not. I hope you no longer blame yourself for something that was never your fault."

"I think I've begun to realize that, Father." Only his ages-old sense of propriety kept Naoe from taking Kagetora in his arms right then.

"You see, Naoe, I was watching you in my garden that day. You had the chance to take what you wanted, and for Kagetora's sake, you held back. You alone respected him enough to consider his feelings. That is why I helped Kagetora repress his memories of your transgressions."

"You, my lord? You did that?"

"I wanted to give you a chance." Kenshin laughed softly. "It was the least I could do after forcing you to be so hard on Kagetora. It's just, as they say, it takes one knife to sharpen another. Though your role has been a difficult one to bear, I believe I was right in choosing you."

"Father?"

"Speak freely with me, Kagetora, always."

"I have long wanted to ask you...why did you choose me to lead the Uesugi?"

Kenshin smiled fondly down at him. "In life, it was always my intention that you and Kiheiji rule Echigo together. I saw the leadership qualities you brought out in him, and the warmth he evoked in you. I saw you love each other as brothers, and desire to bring peace and justice to our land. I didn't fully consider the jealous feelings of the other lords, the tendency of men to choose sides and enemies. Had I instead decided to leave Echigo to only one of you, it would have been you, Kagetora. As strong as Kiheiji has always been, he is not the natural leader you are. And the power he holds now was with him then, however dormant. It would not have been good for him to be called on to use it before he was ready."

Naoe's mouth dropped open, realization having just hit him. Yuzuru-san. That's why he's so desperate to protect Takaya-san. That's why the two of them are as close as brothers.

"Kiheiji's power will be a great help to you, perhaps even a resolution, in your fight against the warring clans. But it makes him a vulnerable target while he is learning to use it. I'm counting on you, Kagetora, to protect your brother."

Kagetora bowed gracefully. "Always."

"As for why I chose you to lead the Yashashuu...I nearly did not."

Kagetora blinked in surprise, and Naoe felt the same, especially at what Kenshin said next.

"I very nearly chose Naoe. But ultimately, I needed the two of you to work together, and I knew I could count on Naoe to follow you. It would not have been so easy for you to follow Naoe." Kenshin laughed kindly at the amused half-smile on his son's face. "The power to draw people to you that caused you unhappiness in your earthly life would serve you well as general, I knew. Even before, your spiritual power was surpassed only by Kiheiji's, and you had a gift for tactics and strategy that the Yashashuu would need. I knew you would never use your abilities for your own gain, would never abandon your subordinates, would never waste a single human life, your own or anyone else's. I trusted and trust your heart and your strength. I knew no one else could do what you have done. Yet..."

The god-man, who had appeared to them middle-aged as he was when they knew him, looked suddenly very old and careworn. It was surely the deep sorrow on his face and in his eyes.

"Choosing you to lead the Yashashuu, Kagetora, to perform kanshou and live over and over without cleansing, was the hardest thing I ever did. Not an hour goes by in eternity that I don't wish there had been some other way, some other man's child I could have laid this terrible weight upon. I sent Kiheiji to help you as soon as he was ready to, in hopes of ending your war at last, because it has pained my heart to see you suffer as a result of my command. You are my son, not by blood but by our choice, which is stronger, which binds closely and forever. I love you with my whole heart and always have."

A tear escaped each of Kagetora's amber eyes and traced their ways down his exquisite face. He did not look away from his father, but his chin quivered and Naoe could tell he was deeply moved. Perhaps even healed a little, to hear spoken so simply what he surely had always known in his heart. Again, Naoe found himself unable to resist his need to touch him. He gently took Kagetora's lovely, long-fingered hand in his own, caressing it with his thumb. The young man looked at him in surprise, but smiled, the expression like sunlight shining through a brief rainfall. Kagetora squeezed his hand back, and let it be held. When Naoe tore his gaze away to look questioningly at Kenshin, he found the man smiling too.

"My lord, may I take what you have said as your permission to be with Kagetora?"

Kenshin "hmm"ed, almost teasingly. "In all honesty, Naoe, I would have been very hesitant to give Kagetora to you four hundred years ago. You were reckless and hot-tempered, perhaps not what he needed then. But I would have respected his wishes, and I will respect them now. Kagetora, is this what you want?"

There was a pause that was very brief, though it seemed an eternity to Naoe's anxiety and long-unrequited love. Then Kagetora looked at him with contentment, and with certainty back to Kenshin.

"Yes, Father."

"Then I give my permission. I will trust you with my son's heart, Naoe, as I have trusted you with his soul."

Knowing he was probably beaming a stupid grin, Naoe bowed low, and with his face near to the floor he took a moment to thank every god he had ever prayed to. The others stood at the same time, and Uesugi Kagetora, who had born his adoptive father's embraces even when it was frightening to do so, eagerly stepped into Kenshin's warm, protective hug. Naoe couldn't see Kagetora's face from where he sat, but he thought Kenshin's expression as he stroked the boy's hair was one of a man realizing his long-cherished wish. And as he got to his feet, Naoe could clearly hear Kagetora whisper, "I love you too, Father."

When they finally separated, Kenshin cupped Kagetora's face in his hands. "Your friends have succeeded. You can wake up now, Takaya. And by the way..."

"Father?"

"I like your new name. Though you will always be Kagetora to me."

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Takaya coughed weakly as he found himself slammed back into his seventeen-year-old body, as though he had just been pulled out of deep, dark water. He could feel unfamiliar, comfortable fabric clothing him, and the hard softness of grassy ground beneath his back. When he opened his eyes, there was the welcome sight of Yuzuru, Haruie, and Chiaki smiling down at him. Well, Chiaki's was more like a smirk, but there was more affection in it than usual.

"Welcome back, bakatora."

"I saw Kenshin."

"Really?" Haruie squealed. "Did he have a message for me?"

Takaya shook his head.

"Well, that's him. Never was one to waste words."

"How did you guys get the mirrors?"

"Yuzuru decimated a shrine and took out a ninja."

The blond boy shrugged modestly. "We couldn't have done it without Ujiteru-san giving us the other mirror. He had to leave, Takaya, but he asked us to tell you he loves you."

"Ujiteru-ani..." Still looking out for me, as he always did. He might have been the only one to really love me in that life, other than Father and - "Naoe! Where's Naoe?!"

Takaya tried to leap up, but Chiaki grasped his shoulders and turned him to face the other way. There beside him, thank all the gods, was the familiar form of Naoe, the first sight Takaya had ever had of him sleeping. Takaya scrambled to get closer to him, pressed his ear to the monk's broad chest and shuddered with relief to feel him breathing.

"He hasn't woken up yet," Haruie said. "But he should be fine. So what did Kenshin-kou say?"

Takaya ignored her, finding it easy as ever to do so. No longer caring who saw, who knew, he leaned down and pressed his lips to Naoe's, willing that mouth to open and move with his own. He felt a hand grope for and clasp his arm, and drew back to find Naoe's violet eyes staring up at him in adoration, his smile one of freedom from the past. He pulled Takaya back down by the collar of his robe and kissed him long and hard. The teenager finally had to jerk away to catch his breath.

"Ha, for once I woke up before you, Naoe."

"Um." Haruie had colored a becoming shade of bright red. (It matched her new sneakers.) "Does this mean what I hope it means?"

"Damn," Chiaki laughed. "Just when I was getting used to being a pawn in your gay drama. I guess it's a gay romance now."

"Don't label me, Chiaki. We never did that in our time."

"Takaya, Naoe-san." Yuzuru had blushed with embarrassment but quickly recovered. "I'm so happy for you."

Takaya's eyes very nearly began to fill at the sight of his best friend. "Thank you, Yuzuru."

Haruie playfully punched Naoe's shoulder as he sat up. "Geez, what did you guys see in the mirror that led to this breakthrough?"

"Well..." Takaya clearly didn't want to answer, not any time soon.

Naoe wrapped his arms around the boy from behind and set his chin on Takaya's shoulder. "Takaya-san will tell you when he is ready. Suffice it to say, we've reached an understanding. And Kenshin-kou has given us his blessing."

Chiaki snorted. "He must have a higher opinion of you than I do, Naoe. Maybe he hasn't seen you drooling over Kagetora's ass the last few centuries."

"Naoe can drool over me all he wants."

Naoe grinned. "And if I catch anyone else looking, heads will roll."

"My knight in samurai armor."

"Oh hell," Chiaki groaned. "Are you two really gonna be this sappy?"

"Don't be insubordinate, Chiaki. Or I'll make you run laps."

"Try it, brat, and I'll tell Nobunaga what your new weakness is."

Takaya tilted his head to look at Naoe, reached up to stroke his cheek, a little hesitantly out of inexperience. "Hardly a new weakness. Just one I took a long time to realize. Sorry, Naoe."

"I would have waited for you forever."

"Naoe, I'm not worth that - "

"You are," Naoe insisted. "I've been trying to tell you for four hundred years that you are." He kissed the boy again, chastely, willing to hold bck just a little longer.

Haruie was bouncing excitedly where she knelt. "This is so hot! You guys have to let me take naughty pictures of you!"

Takaya ignored her again. "Has there been any other sign of the Hojo?"

Chiaki shook his head. "My guess would be they're re-grouping, laying low while they plan their next attack. And they will be making another move to rule the Feudal Underworld. Ujiteru may not care about winning, but I doubt Ujimasa will let this loss deter him."

The memory of his brother's hands on him made Takaya shiver. Naoe held him tighter in response.

"Takaya-san, what is it?"

"I'll tell you later. We should all get out of here, in case they send scouts."

Chiaki patted the jacket pocket where he'd stowed the Tsutsuga mirrors. "Tomorrow I'll start researching how to destroy these things. They're too dangerous in the wrong hands."

Takaya nodded. "And I want you to stay with Yuzuru tonight. I don't expect anyone to come after him yet, but we don't know what the after-effects might be of using his power."

Resigned, Chiaki shrugged at Yuzuru. "I guess we can make s'mores and braid each other's hair, sure. Know any ghost stories, Narita-kun?"

The boy chuckled. "Not as many as you do, I'm sure."

"And Haruie, will you go to my house and stay with Miya? I'm sure she's worried about me and I don't want her to be alone."

"Of course, Takaya, but aren't you going home?"

Takaya stood up out of Naoe's embrace, but grabbed the man's hand. "I want to be with Naoe tonight."

Naoe's eyes widened slightly at the implication. The way Takaya smirked and nudged him seemed to confirm his delighted hope.

"Use a condom. Naoe's a playboy and you're no use to us pregnant."

"Nagahide!" Haruie beat him lightly with her manicured hands. "Don't be so vulgar."

The old Takaya would have picked a fight in his embarrassment, bt now he just rolled his eyes. "You have your orders. Now go away, all of you."

When they were finally alone, Takaya buried his face against Naoe's shoulder for a moment, and the monk held him patiently. When Takaya drew back with a sigh, there was mischief in his eyes.

"Well, where we goin'?"

"There is an excellent hotel not far from here." In his anticipation, Naoe's voice had a slight stammer.

"Good idea. Feel like sneaking past the Hojo to get your car?"

"Hardly. I'll have someone pick it up tomorrow. I'll call a taxi."

The car picked them up by the main road, and if the driver found Takaya's attire at all puzzling, he didn't show it. All he said was, "Out late, aren't you, kid?"

"Don't worry," Takaya said from the back seat, holding Naoe's hand. "I have a chaperone."

The lights of the nearest town made the Possessors breathe a shared sigh of relief, and the hotel they pulled up to was elegant as Naoe's choices of residence usually were. He happily tipped the driver well and walked, it seemed, on air to the front desk to ask for the nicest suite they had available. When they reached the twelfth floor, Naoe tried to pick Takaya up and carry him.

"Don't treat me like a girl."

"Never. I'll treat you better."

Despite his high hopes, Naoe was surprised to be pinned to the door the moment it was closed, with his arms full of Takaya's warmth and his tongue eagerly exploring the boy's hot mouth. He tried to keep his hands in Takaya's hair and around his waist, but they began to move of their own accord, sliding downward to experimentally stroke and squeeze the tight ass beneath the robe. Takaya moaned into his mouth, and Naoe forced himself, panting, to take the boy by the shoulders.

"You have to tell me, if I start to do something you don't want. I'll never do anything against your will, but if you don't tell me, I won't be able to stop."

"I think...I want to do everything. I'm just..."

"Takaya-san?"

"Really scared."

Naoe embraced the teenager tightly, caressing his back, wishing he could wipe Takaya's past away, replace every bad memory with good ones. I can at least give him some new memories tonight. Resolved, he lifted Takaya into his arms and marched toward the large bed.

"Hey! Not a girl!"

"I'm very aware of that, Takaya-san."

He lay Takaya down as carefully as he could manage onto the soft mattress, kicked off his shoes and crawled on top of him. He was obviously forgiven, as Takaya put both arms around him and accepted another kiss. Naoe made a trail with his lips down to the pale softness of Takaya's neck, adjusting the robe's collar to get at it, and sucked gently at the smooth skin.

"Mmm," Takaya groaned. "Naoe..."

Naoe wanted to hear more of his moans, to undo him past reason and fear. Slowly, taking his time, Naoe tasted all the flesh visible to him, then put his hands on the sash that held the robe closed, looking for permission at Takaya, who nodded. He untied it, and opened the garment reverently, with all the awe that was due such a momentous occasion. Takaya's bared body was as beautiful as he'd always imagined Kagetora's would be, slender and honey-white, lithe and developing muscles while retaining the softness of youth. As he salivated over it, Takaya shyly touched Naoe's awestruck face. He took the offered hand and kissed each finger.

"I'm not the pope," Takaya laughed.

"No, you are my - " God. No, not anymore, and yet, always. "My Takaya-san."

Naoe ran his open hands up and down Takaya's taut chest and stomach, feeling the muscles quiver beneath them. Takaya was breathing heavily, his eyes half-closed, clearly turned on by this and watching with interest to see what Naoe would do next. What Naoe did was put his lips around a dusky nipple and lave it with his tongue, teasing it in a circular motion as it began to harden, then began to eagerly suck it.

"Oh gods," Takaya gasped.

Naoe fingered the other nipple as he worked, then switched his mouth to it to give it the same treatment. When he had both glistening and erect, he blew on them to watch them puff a little further, and was struck by a random, mercifully brief thought.

I hope Kenshin-kou isn't watching this.

"No...fair," Takaya gasped.

"Takaya-san?"

"You get to see me, I wanna see you."

Willingy enough, Naoe tossed his suit jacket onto the floor, unconcerned about where it landed. His shirt followed easily enough, and he was pleased to see Takaya look appreciatively at his muscled chest. He had to stand up and balance to peel his trousers off, doing so quickly in case his looming position alarmed Takaya. And though Takaya was still wearing his boxer-briefs, Naoe decided to chuck his own underwear before settling down again. Takaya looked down at his bared crotch with wide eyes, and Naoe couldn't help but smile.

"Oh, quit grinning. So you happened to pick a body with a big dick, so what?"

"All the better to please you, Kagetora-sama."

"Naoe," Takaya said quietly, "please yourself, for once."

Naoe slipped his fingertips beneath the elastic of Takaya's underwear. "Can I...?"

"...okay."

Eager but wanting this to last, Naoe drew them down and off slowly, and just like that, Takaya was completely bare to staring eyes for the first time since...I don't want to think about that. Clearly, Naoe liked what he saw, if the saliva the boy had to wipe off his stomach was any indication.

"Hey, when I said you could drool over me, I didn't mean, like, literally."

"Sorry. You're just..."

"Like Kagetora?"

"Even more beautiful."

Takaya's protest at that was swallowed by a gasp as Naoe gently took him in hand. He had expected that piece of flesh to be as uncooperative as it always had been, but it willingly stiffened in Naoe's grasp. The enclosing hand slid up, then down, and a jolt of pleasure rushed through Takaya.

"Holy - "

"Is this okay?"

"Yeah. More than, actually."

Naoe watched Takaya's face very closely as he stroked him, partly because he needed to check for signs the boy didn't like it, but also because he couldn't turn away. For one who had little experience with this kind of pleasure, Takaya was giving himself over to it with such trust. He ran his hands up and down Naoe's arms - the movement seemed to reassure him - and moaned as he was drawn further and further toward the inevitable. It wasn't until he was nearly there that he tensed, and his hands shook.

"Takaya-san, it's just me. Look at me."

"Don't-don't stop...fuck!"

The fist had sped up, and continued to milk him as he spurted all over Naoe's stomach. The brief discomfort was gone as quickly as it had come, and he felt a boneless sort of happiness as Naoe leaned down to kiss him. And a strange sense of victory.

"Did you like it?"

"I'll never call you a slacker monk again. Well, I will, but I won't mean it."

Takaya yanked him down to move his lips over Naoe's neck, nibble at it lightly with his teeth. To his amused surprise, the tall man purred almost, like a big cat being pet. I guess he's not my dog, after all. Once releaed, Naoe rubbed his nose against Takaya's.

"We don't have to do anything else, if - "

"Fuck. That. What if I want to?"

Naoe's fingers traced the line of his cheekbone. "Are you sure you're ready?"

"After four centuries of only bad memories? I am. I want to be, at least, and that's good enough."

"I'll be right back, then."

Naoe returned from the bathroom with a bottle of massage oil and an individually-wrapped condom. Takaya tried not to feel panic at the sight of the lubricant, and took the condom away to fling it across the room.

"Screw that, I can't really get pregnant."

"Too bad."

"Shut up. You're clean, aren't you?"

"Yes. I've been with no one since I found you, anyway."

"Naoe," Takaya sighed, and pulled the man back on top of him to squeeze him close. "I'll make everything up to you. I really will."

"All I want is to be with you. That's worth a million years of heartache."

Naoe, you are so getting laid.

"I'll go slowly. But tell me if you need me to stop."

The first slick finger wasn't so bad, especially now that Kagetora wasn't hyperventilating in his head. It mostly felt weird, Takaya's muscles were so tight around it that he wondered how Naoe was ever gonna fit his dick in there. To his credit, Naoe kept his promise, sliding that one finger in and out patiently until Takaya was relaxed enough to admit another. With the second in, he made scissor motions in an effort to create some room, and then wiggled them around as though searching for something. A sudden, unexpected shock of pleasure made Takaya arch up, then make a choking sob.

"i knew you'd like this, you little slut."

"Takaya-san?"

Takaya threw his arms around Naoe's neck, breathing in pants he found himself unable to stop. Naoe gently lifted the boy's head to press his face to his shoulder, alarmed to feel wetness against his skin.

"Takaya-san."

"Just g-give me a second."

"Take all the time you need." Naoe paused for a few moments. "Did you ever cry about it?"

"I tried, but Ujiteru-ani never let me be alone afterward. I didn't dare risk anyone finding out, I couldn't even grieve what I lost. And..." Takaya was starting to catch his breath. "I don't know what the hell you touched in there, but it brought everything back. How much I loathed myself."

"It's a physical reaction. Nothing you could have helped." Naoe combed his fingers soothingly through the boy's hair. "Let's stop for now."

"No! No." Takaya looked up, eyes drying and defiant, but tempered by love. "I just need to push past it. I want you inside me."

"Are you sure?"

"Wash the past away from me, Naoe," Takaya murmured, and pushed the wet hand between his legs.

Two fingers went in easily this time, and Takaya seemed to accept each brush of his prostate only for how good it felt. He seemed to be trying not to blink, hard as it was, keeping his eyes on Naoe as though his life depended on doing so. Naoe kept his expression as gentle as he could, attempting to communicate all his love in a steady, unyielding gaze. By the time a third finger entered, Takaya was thrusting to meet Naoe's hand, and he was hardening again.

"Do it, gods, do it now."

Naoe quickly slicked his own erection, and wrapped Takaya's legs around his waist. Pushing the muscular thighs up, he slowly slipped the head of his cock inside, and waited for the flash of pain to leave Takaya's face. It was a few agonizing, patient minutes before he was all the way in, and his eyes looking into Takaya's from only inches away.

"Naoe," the boy whispered fondly. "Look how close we finally are." We fit together. I always knew we would.

"I love you."

"I love you too, you sap. Now move already."

Takaya threw his head back when the first careful thrust hit home, but quickly reestablished eye contact. His moans matched Naoe's in intensity, and with one hand on the monk's waist he helped to guide him in and out. Naoe pressed his forehead against Takaya's, stroked his cheek with his free hand, and caught a few of the boy's groans and expletives with his lips.

"Takaya, Takaya..."

"Fuck, you feel so good."

When Naoe knew he couldn't last much longer, he reached between them and began to pump Takaya again. It throbbed and pulsed in his hand, so close despite his slow ministrations, and when Naoe whispered, "Let go", Takaya did, howling as he erupted all over them both. The sight of him and the spasm of his orgasm pushed Naoe over the edge too, and with a few last thrusts he emptied himself into Takaya. Four hundred years of build-up. It had been worth every moment.

As his softening length slid out, Naoe managed to fall to Takaya's side and turn the boy to face him. Takaya was breathing heavily, his eyes shut from exertion, but he soon opened them and flashed a dazzling smile. Naoe found himself thanking the gods all over again.

"How do you feel?"

"Like a weight I never understood is finally off my shoulders. Like Kagetora and Takaya both, with no line between us. Also, sore. I'm not leaving this bed tomorrow."

"Then nor will I."

Takaya laughed. "Mostly just...happy."

Naoe pulled him closer. "Me too. At last."

"Naoe, I..." Takaya's eyes were fluttering.

"Sleep." The monk kissed his heavy eyelids. "We have time now."

"Love you," Takaya mumbled, before sinking into a pleasant dark.

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The dream he awoke out of was a good one, for once. He and Ujiteru were watching the sea on a peaceful, pale-mooned night. Kagetora was playing the flute, a haunting melody reverberating all around them, and Ujiteru was smiling at him with his usual steadfast adoration. He wanted to tell Ujiteru what had really happened in Odawara, and more importantly that he was okay now, but the music had changed to an annoying, pulsing tone, and -

Takaya awoke in the cool dark, slipped out from under Naoe's arm, and groped sleepily for the ringing phone.

"Hello?"

"Takaya? I'm sorry, I know you and Naoe-san must be, um, tired, but I couldn't wait another moment, not ater the dream I had again."

"Yuzuru? What dream? What's wrong?" His friend sounded as upset as Takaya had ever heard him.

"I keep dreaming of a snowy place, and being someone else, and a kind man who apologizes to me and tells me to stay close to you. It starts to fade as soon as I wake up, before I can remember who I was. And I saw you, well, Kagetora, and we would laugh together and practice our swords, but...I know I betrayed your trust, I did something horrible to you and I could never forgive myself. Takaya, I'm so sorry, I really am."

"Yuzuru, it's okay - "

"I loved you, but I was jealous of you too, that's why I believed them when they told me I had to fight you! I never wanted to hurt you, I swear."

"Yuzuru. It's really okay. I'm not sure if you're supposed to be remembering this...but since you are, I'll explain everything when I get back to Matsumoto, okay? For now, just believe me. I forgave you a long time ago."

There was a sound, like Yuzuru stifling a sob. "Really?"

"Really. You're my brother, you always have been. You always will be." Takaya smiled at the sigh of relief he heard. "Now go back to sleep, before Chiaki wakes up and starts lecturing you. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay. Thank you, Takaya. Good night."

"Everything all right?" Naoe murmured as he put down the phone.

"Yeah. More old wounds starting to heal, that's all."

Naoe opened his arms, and Takaya crawled back into them, pressing his ear to the Possessor's heartbeat as he was wrapped in a wonderful, human warmth.

"I'm surprised I didn't realize earlier, about Yuzuru-san."

"Me too. But I think, on some level, I always knew. Even when I forgot everything else."

"And now?"

"I remember everything," Takaya said softly. "Growing up in Odawara. My son's little hands. Minako."

"Then let me apologize again for what I did to her."

"Naoe, how I felt about her...you should know, it doesn't hold a candle to how much I love you."

Naoe kissed him, long and sweetly, and when he drew back, tears glistened in his violet eyes. As they escaped, Takaya brushed them away gently with his fingers.

"You okay?"

"As you said...old wounds beginning to mend."

"Forgive yourself. That's an order."

"As you wish, Takaya."

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In all the time he'd gotten to know Naoe again, Takaya had never been to the Tachibana family's temple. The boy had at first been avoiding the feelings Naoe brought up in him, and then Naoe had just been too protective of Takaya to expose him to his family's inevitable assumptions. Since they had become a couple, however, Takaya had begun to spend nearly every weekend here, learning to care for the place as much as Naoe did, especially the garden where they were now sitting.

"If you had told me sooner that you made this place a replica of Father's garden, I might have come right away."

Naoe lifted his fingers from the koi pond, used them to playfully flick water at the boy. "I suppose I wasn't ready for you to remember anything. Not even that day."

"It was a lot like this. That clear blue sky, the wind...except I'm happy now."

Naoe edged closer on the blanket, picked up Takaya's hand and kissed it. "Me too. I hate to mention it, but I saw Kousaka yesterday."

"Great," Takaya groaned. "What did he want?"

"Mostly to congratulate me on taming a tiger, that sort of thing."

"Funny. But I'll never forgive him for targeting Yuzuru."

"How is Yuzuru-san?" Naoe asked.

"Better, I think. He's still having dreams of Kenshin, but he likes them now that he understands who he was. Mostly he's just tired all the time, from all that training with Chiaki. He can use small amounts of his power now without fainting."

"Strange," Naoe murmured, "to think that with his help, we might be able to end the war in this lifetime."

"A lot of clans to fight, though."

"Kousaka also told me Ujimasa is actively recruiting more onryou for the Hojo. Takaya-san...did Ujimasa do something to you when he had you captive?"

Takaya sighed. "He tried to stick his hand down my pants. That's when I remembered the rape. Can you believe it? I even do that to my own brother."

A dark anger clouded Naoe's face, and he pulled Takaya onto his lap and hugged him tightly. "You don't do anything. That's something the monsters told you to try to excuse their own perversions. As long as I live, no one but me will touch you like that again."

Takaya recognized the jealousy in his voice. But there was more than that - Naoe's old protectiveness, his constant love. He put his head on the monk's shoulder.

"Naoe? What if we do win this war? Do we die and get cleansed, and lose each other forever?"

"We could refuse the cleansing. Otherwise...even without my memory, I would find you. You are my impulse to keep existing. No matter where you are, I will find you." Naoe pressed his nose into Takaya's sweet-smelling hair. "Death could never be stronger than what I feel for you."

"Naoe..."

The monk laughed. "But we should probably concentrate on this life. Maybe we'll defeat the Oda by the time you finish college."

"More school? Blech."

"Isn't there anything you want to be?"

With you. "Well, don't laugh..."

"Of course not."

"I thought about being a veterinarian. Is that weird?"

"Hardly. You always loved animals, and vice versa. Birds used to fly into your hands and sing to you."

"Really? They did that in this life too, when I was a kid."

Naoe "hmm"ed softly. "Are you going to tell Miya-chan about us?"

"I will, soon. She's gonna be crazy happy. I think she already considers you her brother-in-law. What about your family?" Takaya half-joked.

"The day you turn eighteen, I plan to introduce you to them as my soul mate."

"Naoe!"

"Any earlier, and my brother will think me a pedophile. Any later, and there will be little time to plan the wedding."

"Naoeeee..."

"Well, we don't need to legalize our union if you'd rather not. But I do insist we live together after your birthday. I'll get us an apartment. And I'd be delighted to have Miya-chan with us."

Takaya kissed him, long and slow. "Just until she gets married, okay. She's really gung-ho about that. I caught her phoning a matchmaker last week."

Naoe's eyes sparkled. "Not everyone meets Mr. Right in a garden and gets him four hundred years later. To each his own."

"And my dad will kill me for exposing Miya to our 'alternative lifestyle'," Takaya said with a smirk. "Well, first he'll try to kill you."

"He'll forgive us when we give him grandchildren."

"No way! Didn't Father forbid that anyway?"

"He'll forgive us when we give him grandchildren."

"Naoe!"

With a laugh, Naoe pinned Takaya to the ground and began to tickle him. The boy shrieked and tried to wiggle away, but Naoe persisted until he was nearly out of breath. He finally had to cast a goshinheki barrier to get the monk to stop.

"I may love you, but don't think I won't summon Bishamonten and stick his sword up your ass."

"That would be most improper."

"Which reminds me...you'll come into onsens with me now, right? We're over this bullshit unequal thing, aren't we?"

Faced with such earnestness, Naoe could only answer honestly. "I will try my best, Takaya-san. It will take a long time to undo four hundred years of habit."

"I'm naked in onsens, you know."

"...perhaps we should give it a try."

Smirking knowingly, Takaya accepted Naoe's weight on top of him and the hot tongue gently probing his mouth. He wouldn't let Naoe go too far even in this semi-private place, but contented himself with running his hands in circles under the monk's shirt and slipping a leg between Naoe's to rub at his erection. Naoe was just starting to think he'd need to take Takaya somewhere else when a dignified cough made them both look up.

"N-Niisan, I - " Naoe croaked.

"I knew it!" Tachibana Teruhiro said triumphantly, and walked away without another word.

"Well, that settles it. Guess you're a pedo after all."

Naoe buried his face in Takaya's neck and groaned pitifully. Takaya patted his shoulder.

"No problem, Naoe. We'll just explain to your family that you're Naoe Nobutsuna and I'm Uesugi Kagetora, and we've been in love for four hundred years and we've returned to the world to keep famous dead people from taking over Japan."

"They might buy that, actually. You'll back me up?"

"Always," Takaya said softly, stroking Naoe's cheek as violet eyes stared deep into his soul.

Naoe must have liked what he saw there, always, to have stayed with him this long, must have cherished a faint hope since that day in a similar garden. Maybe it hadn't been love at first sight, but that's not the only thing that binds people. Maybe the wish for love, the belief it will be granted, is enough to sustain a man for lifetimes. The scars that Naoe bore as a testament to unrequited love would stay with him, a reminder of a life that had been.

And the life that, all this time, was waiting to begin.

The End
June 26, 2013
11:26 p.m.

So...that's it. I hope it pleased you. I'm not perfectly happy with the ending, but since Naoe and Kagetora's relationship began in a garden, I wanted to leave them there. Also, I apologize if Kenshin comes off as slightly twee. I wanted to make up for the fact that he's kind of a bastard in the novels.

Let me know what you thought! Thanks for reading.