Author’s warning: This story contains graphic m/m sex and nonconsensual acts. If you are under the age of 18 or the legal age in your country to be reading this material, please turn back now. Furthermore, because of the content within this fic, it has a rating NC-17 which should be taken seriously. The timeline begins after Ryu and Ken have defeated Bison at the end of the movie.

Disclaimer: Ryu, Ken and the concept of Street Fighter: the animated movie are all the property of Capcom ©. This story has been written for entertainment purposes only and not for profit.

To Mend a Broken Heart
By: Silver Rayne

Too many hours went by before Ryu was able to stretch his legs. He had disliked being cramped in the economy class flight back to America. In his case, to America, since he had been born and raised in Japan. His best friend, Ken, was returning to his homeland after spending a week in Thailand. The circumstances of Ken’s stay in that country were far different than Ryu’s had been. Ryu’s time on the mountains had been spent practicing, meditating and contemplating life. Seeing as how Ken’s visit to Thailand was entirely unwilling and as a prisoner, Ryu didn’t want to even dwell on what had happened to his best friend. Better to go on with their lives. The bad days were over and behind them. Together, they could begin anew and that was partially why Ryu was accompanying Ken on his journey. He wanted to make sure that his friend made it home safely without any complications.

Now, here they were, stuck in the middle of farmland and cottage country. How could they possibly keep traveling for so many hours? Ryu didn’t know if Ken was up to it but he was certain that his entire body would cease functioning unless he grabbed a bite to eat. Anything would taste better than precooked flight meals and slightly stale crackers. No growing man like Ryu could survive long without refilling his stomach now and then. It sounded similar to a bottomless pit. The words, ‘feed me’ rumbled every hour on the hour, causing the karate master just a twinge of embarrassment. Ken would always jump into his thoughts by saying, "do you starve yourself?" or, "aren’t you eating right?" The worst had to be, "you eat more in one meal than I do during the entire day."

At the moment, Ken wasn’t saying any of his catchy, sarcastic phrases. His mind was somewhere else, far, far away. It didn’t help that the creepy looking guy at the counter was asking him something. Well, he did have every right to be outlining the terms and conditions of renting a room in his hotel. How nice of the manager himself to be serving them. Ryu wasn’t listening, had been looking at Ken who was in turn searching his pockets. If I have to wait any longer, my stomach is going to start eating my lungs. Ryu inconspicuously covered the growling noises with his arm.

"We require a deposit before you can move into your room," the manager was repeating himself. "Will you be paying by credit card, cash or traveler’s cheque?"

"I’m looking…sheesh ," Ken muttered under his breath. Where the hell was his wallet? Did he even have it on him? A clarifying thought popped into his head, these were not the clothes he had been kidnapped in. A red gi…yes, he owned several of them. But it wasn’t right, the outfit was not his own. Too raggedy, crumpled, dirty…smelled like…what? Ken shot Ryu a confused look, one of a few variations that he had resorted to lately.

Ryu scratched his head, wondering what Ken was thinking about. Whether the manager realized that Ken had just gone through all of his pockets, Ryu wasn’t sure. However, he watched Ken start again with the left side of his pants. Maybe he had forgotten that one, hadn’t put his hand right to the creased bottom of it. No. Not there either. Sighing, Ryu fished inside of his deerskin bag which had been slung over one shoulder. He usually found himself holding onto his money when Ken was around. His friend wouldn’t let him pay for even the barest of essentials. This time, it was Ryu’s turn to cover the costs.

"Here, two hundred dollars…cash." Ryu counted through the bills carefully, ensuring that there weren’t any extra tens in the pile. He expected some form of gratitude but got none from the man who was too busy to care that Ryu had just given up his life’s savings.

The balding manager handed Ryu a magnetic pass-card over the counter and leaned with it to point to the elevator. "Go up to the seventh floor, second room on the right. Enjoy your stay." Then, he was back to his computer, glancing up every so often to make sure that Ryu and Ken were heading for the elevator.

"Sorry about that," Ken apologized. He sounded like he was in a bad mood and the apology came out all wrong. More of an obligatory sentence to break the silence than much else. And why should he care how hard Ryu had worked for his money? Ken got everything handed to him on a silver platter, rich boy that he was.

Ryu knew that Ken was going through some tough times so he pretended to ignore the edge in his friend’s voice. Battling with Bison had left them both physically drained and mentally stupefied To have yourself fighting with an opponent, and defeat them by blowing them up…it was just too weird. Almost inside the elevator… A quiet pounding brought Ryu out of his reverie. What the…? He looked up to see the numbers above his head climbing down to their floor. It wasn’t coming from the elevator then. But, when he glanced to one side, he saw his friend rhythmically pounding the call button. Almost as if hitting it seemed like the most reasonable thing to do.

Over by the desk, the manager was staring at them, narrowing his eyes at Ken. "Hey!" Ryu hated to do it but his hand blocked the next punch, pushing Ken’s fist away. "You’re going to break it." He looked at Ken long and hard, watched the brown eyes snap back into focus. How long had they been glazed over like that?

The short ride up to the seventh floor was uneventful, thankfully for Ryu. He didn’t want anything falling off of the panels while they were climbing so many floors up. Something told him that if Ken felt like it, he would smash the panel anyway, even if it meant that the elevator would plummet back down the shaft. With them in it.

In front of their rented room, Ryu slid the pass-card through the scanner at the side of the door. He waited. Nothing. Probably had it upside down. He was going to try again when Ken’s fingers closed around the card. And it wasn’t an offer to help or speed up the process, more like a stubborn refusal to let go. Not again. "Ken…we need this to open the door." Ryu wouldn’t let give in but neither would Ken. They fought over the card, neither willing to release it. Until Ryu decided to pry Ken’s fingers away long enough to swipe the card again. He exhaled loudly when the door’s mechanism unlocked, allowing them entry. "See, you just need patience." But, Ken was halfway through the doorway, giving him first choice of the beds. Okay, now he’s giving me the cold shoulder. Maybe I was wrong to follow him here. I’m probably the last person he wants around. It must be guilt. Doesn’t he know that I can and would take whatever he has to dish out? It wasn’t his fault…

"Which bed do you want?" Ken appeared to be friendlier when Ryu flicked on the light switch. He was sitting on the edge of the bed closest to the door, legs idly kicking into the mattress. Maybe he was unaware of his odd mood swings. In any case, Ken was acting really eager to speak with Ryu. His eyes were another story, flitting nervously around the room, peering into the dark corners of it. They didn’t meet Ryu’s dark ones even once during the long flight or anytime after it.

Trying to be nice about it, Ryu dropped onto the other bed, closest to the window. "Well, you have that one and I really don’t mind the window." Again, there was that disapproving glance, saying that Ryu had made a mistake. "Unless…you want this bed?" In response, Ken lay down on the one he was inhabiting and stared up at the swirling design on the ceiling.

What an odd pattern…it just goes on and on. Although he wasn’t consciously aware of it, Ken was moving with those lines, in circles. They continued and joined into bigger circles, spreading out along that ceiling. But where did they go? Where have I seen these before? "The lines are hurting my eyes," he whispered, not hearing the words as they left his mouth. Why won’t Ryu sit next to me? Have I done something to offend him? I guess I have been acting like a jerk. I’m lucky to have someone like him who cares about me.

Ryu looked up from where he had been about to call for room service. "What?" His acute ability to perceive sounds above and below a normal person’s range of hearing told him what Ken had said. But, it didn’t make sense. What did it mean? When he himself paid some attention to the ceiling, he only saw random patterns. White stucco dancing in loops which may have been a cover up for leaks from the floor above. Could his friend be having a relapse of some kind? Ryu became perplexed when he suspected that Ken might still be recovering from the mind control effects. Why else would his friend be staring up at the ceiling with keen interest? Or was it submission? "Did you say something?," he tested.

‘Hmm…? Oh…no, why?" Had he said something? I thought… No, what could he have been thinking about? It hadn’t been spoken aloud even if he couldn’t remember what it was.

Still, his friend would not look at him. "Never mind." His attention wandered about the room to avoid looking at Ken. That’s the same wood that Sensei taught me how to carve. Ryu found that he was temporarily excited over discovering that he could identify the mahogany roots of their dresser. He went over to the darkened piece of furniture, running his hand over the top of it. It was smoother than anything Ryu could hope to sand down. His skills with wood were rudimentary at best, only a fleeting lesson among many. As he was feeling for any breaks in the surface of the dresser, Ryu heard Ken take a sharp intake of breath.

Not lifting his hand from the wood, he slowly glanced over his shoulder at Ken. His friend who was now in a rigid position, eyes fixated on Ryu’s hand. There were emotions in those wavering eyes. Identifying them nearly made Ryu lose his appetite. He felt Ken’s raw energy emanating outwards with absolutely no control. Aimed at Ryu’s simple action of taking pleasure in the handiwork of the wood craftsman. And those feelings spoke volumes. Ryu could hear them in his head, clearly screaming that he had committed an atrocious offense. His hand was doing a very dirty act by stroking that wood, violating it. No. Where are these thoughts coming from? They can’t be Ken’s. They just can’t be. But he knew they were when Ken’s eyes raised to meet Ryu’s.

Ken claimed his allegations, his eyes accusing Ryu of things that turned the man’s blood into fiery ice. "Why are you doing that?" There was too much innocence in Ken’s voice, the tone didn’t fit in with the expression. Another emotion was present, one which Ryu brushed off. He couldn’t deal with it, the truth of the situation right on the tip of his tongue. All he had to do was say it…but he wouldn’t. You’re just like him. Ken narrowed his eyes further, wishing that his friend’s hand would become engulfed in flames. How can he do this to me? I thought he was my friend…but he isn’t. Then, Ken’s mind blanked out once more. Ryu… I need you.

"I guess I’m bored." Quickly, his hand slid off of the wood, studying Ken through the mirror attached to it. His friend relaxed visibly when Ryu moved away from the dresser. "Do you want something to eat?"

"I’m not hungry."

"You’re sure?"

Ken flipped over onto his side, his back facing Ryu. "How many times do you want me to repeat myself?" Just shut the hell up! You’re worse than my mother.

More hostility. Why is he throwing all these emotions at me? What did I do? Of course it was pointless to give weight to either of those questions. Ken was obviously upset, would calm down later on. Return to his normal, cocky, energetic self. Or at least Ryu prayed that he would. This had to be the longest time that Ken had ever closed himself off from Ryu. And for what reason? They had both gone up against Bison, shared the duty of destroying him. What was so different from Ken’s experience that Ryu didn’t also receive? Idiot! There was one astronomically huge difference between his encounter as opposed to Ken’s. He hadn’t been held captive, tortured or… "Well, I’m going to get a couple of sandwiches…maybe a bowl of soup."

The service was very fast and before long, two ladies dressed in hotel garb were serving Ryu’s meal. After the food was sitting in front of Ryu, he was surprised to find Ken pining over particular items. He didn’t speak, only watched the progression of each bite going into Ryu’s mouth, being chewed and then swallowed. "Do you want some?" Ryu offered Ken half of the sandwich he was chomping on, seeing those brown eyes widen. But Ken gave no other indication that he was either going to take what was offered to him or move from his location on the bed. So, Ryu got up and made himself comfortable next to Ken. "Here." He had to practically place the sandwich into Ken’s hands and when he did so, he noticed they were trembling.

Ken went through that little bit of food very tediously, taking his time, savoring every morsel. He spent a long time chewing, sometimes forgetting that he had to do that in order to swallow. A couple of times, Ryu had to hand over his lemonade for Ken to sip to ease his choking. He really does love me. Regardless of the risk he was taking, Ken began to appraise his friend. Remembering all the good times they had spent together as well as the bad. Admiring the man he knew he could never have, could not accept him. But…if he loves me, then why wouldn’t he accept me? The polar opposites inside of Ken’s head picked away at him, telling him one thing and then contradicting it. I’m so confused! Everything was quiet while Ryu finished the crumbs on his tray. Ken hadn’t accepted anything else to eat and was playing with a lock of his long hair the last time Ryu looked up. Suddenly, everything was not okay and Ken was moaning, clutching at his forehead.

"Ken, what’s wrong?" Ryu became very worried when he noticed that Ken’s face was becoming flushed. He pressed a cautious hand to Ken’s face and yanked it back in shock when he felt his friend’s rising temperature. Ken was having trouble breathing, hyperventilating, wheezing and doubling over. "It’s okay. Try to calm down." But Ken wouldn’t, shoving aside Ryu’s calming hands. He didn’t bother to do it again when Ryu started to pat him on the back, instructing him to breathe and clear his head. At that moment, Ken felt like his whole world was caving in on him.

At one point, Ken assumed that he had regained control and was beginning to breathe steadier. Then it hit him. A flashback. A nasty, ugly memory of someone looming over him, laughing. That smell! Where is it coming from? Ken was repulsed by it, tried to refuse it by not breathing it in. He couldn’t block it out. Didn’t know what it was or why it was triggering a memory he wasn’t able to access. "You do know. Stop ignoring the truth, boy." That voice! When he inhaled, attempting to flood his lungs with oxygen, Ken choked violently. He shoved Ryu’s arms out of his way and rushed for the bathroom. He was barely on his knees when he started to vomit into the toilet, grasping the edges of it. Oh God! I’m going to die… Those were Ken’s only thoughts as he reeled with fear, trying to suppress the odor which wouldn’t let him go.

Ryu came up behind Ken, swept his long hair over one shoulder and held it back as Ken was ill. His other arm locked around Ken’s chest, holding onto him when his friend’s knees began to buckle. He was scared, afraid of the tremors which rocked through Ken’s body, the harsh sobs mixed in with his choking.

"Ryu…" A thin mist shielded Ken’s eyes, building, then streamed down his face in the form of so many tears when he shut his eyes tightly. Against the pain, the fear, and all the other emotions which were alien to him.

"I’m here…Take it easy. I won’t let you go," Ryu promised. His voice was oddly soothing, uncharacteristic of his normal monotone speech. He had to fight to keep the unsteadiness out of it, not show Ken that he was just as afraid. "It’s okay," he said, this time very gentle and quiet. Ken…you’ll never know how much I love you. Because of Bison…it’s too late.

Just when it looked like Ken’s quivering was dying down, he started to gasp again, collapsing into Ryu’s arms. "It won’t…go…away," he rasped, his throat torn up inside. Still, he continued to have dry heaves, relying on his friend to keep him from passing out.

"What won’t go away?" When Ken didn’t answer, Ryu insisted he do so by nudging his chin up. "Ken…what do you want to go away?"

Ken’s pupils dilated, his pulse quickened. "That…awful…smell. Please…take it away." Then, he shivered, fighting against the need to inhale again.

Ryu sniffed the air, couldn’t smell anything out of the ordinary. Except for… His gi. There is a vile odor coming off of it. The only problem was that Ryu knew what it was and paled when it registered in his brain. "Okay…I’ll get rid of it." He spoke softly, keeping Ken from panicking. His hands reached round to loosen and then untie the black belt keeping Ken’s gi closed. Ken resisted but Ryu easily kept him still, pulling the top half off and throwing it into the bathtub. It wasn’t gone yet.

It had been his gi and Ken had known it from the beginning. He just couldn’t understand why his clothing would smell so pungent and nauseating. What had he been doing in them? And then, Ryu’s hands were moving over his hips, grasping the bottom of his gi and pulling those pants off. "What are you doing?" Ken bounced back to life, digging his nails into Ryu’s hands, twisting in his friend’s hold to bite Ryu’s arm. Actually sinking his teeth into that flesh with the intent to make it a death grip.

"Ouch! What the hell? Ken! Get off!" Ryu shook his arm, pushed Ken onto the floor, releasing those teeth. His pain left him when he saw the tears sliding over Ken’s cheeks and over his trembling lips. There was too much going on, so many issues which Ryu had to deal with. To help Ken deal with. "Ken…?" It was like Ken was not his friend anymore, his personality was gone. His motivation towards each day had faded into the background. There was no hope in his eyes, only defeat. Ken had been defeated in every way possible, the most unacceptable one was buried below. Where Ryu would not have to face it. It was selfish of him but he couldn’t go there, not just yet. Not when things were already bad enough. And what had Ken’s bite meant to Ryu? Only instincts had been present in that action. The need to survive, to resist no matter what steps Ken had to take. "Ken…I’m not angry. I should have asked first."

"Stay away from me!" There was a bar of soap situated on the bathtub next to where Ken was sprawled on the floor. He couldn’t get up, didn’t have the strength to fight Ryu. So, he snatched the bar of soap and hurled it, missing by at least ten inches.

But, Ryu was not going to give up on Ken. He sympathized with the feelings Ken was riding out. Deep in his mind, he gave Ken permission to throw as many tantrums as he liked. It would never make up for what Ken had gone through. Never. "Are you cold?" Ken was shivering, his teeth chattering but his eyes following Ryu’s every motion. The first thing Ryu did was flush the toilet, not wanting to encourage Ken’s already weakened state. "Come on, let me help you up." He held out his hand, which Ken eventually took, being pulled to his feet. They were silent while Ken brushed his teeth several times to get rid of the acidic taste in his mouth. "You wanted me to get rid of that smell," Ryu reminded him. Now, it was for his sake as well as Ken’s. He found himself to be revolted by the dark scent which blanketed Ken’s pants. Knowing what it was and what it meant. Is this a personal message meant for me? Did Bison figure out that Ken and I were…? So close to being more than friends. He took Ken from me. "I’ll let you have my pants. Would that be alright?"

Ken nodded. "What is it?," he questioned as he shyly traded with Ryu. He stumbled once on the length of Ryu’s white gi bottoms, supported by Ryu’s strong arm. They were back in the bedroom and Ryu was holding what Ken had given him as if they were evil. And in a way, they were. Ryu kept any complaints he had about wearing plain boxers to himself. Usually, modesty was equally important to both him and Ken. Not today. And this was his best friend clinging onto him, calling out to him. Just a friend. Nothing more.

Should I tell him? I don’t even want to say it out loud. We’ve never discussed… Ryu lowered Ken onto the bed and amazingly stuffed the red pants into the garbage bin, then opened the door and put the bin outside along with the top and black belt. Once he had shut the door and locked it, he sat beside Ken, unsure of what to do. His friend had just finished off the last of the lemonade and was expecting an explanation. "I think…" No, he deserves to know the truth. "It was semen." The last word sounded more like a cough. Ryu expected Ken to look at him, ask him why his gi had been doused in semen. Or maybe verify that ‘semen’ was the word Ryu had used. Perhaps, he was waiting for Ken to deny it was even his gi. But, Ken gave Ryu a totally different reaction.

"Whose?" He acted like he really didn’t know. It was as much a mystery to Ken as it was to Ryu. There were no assumptions that maybe the substance had gotten there while Ken was actually wearing the gi. He was not in any condition to jump to conclusions. He could only tackle one issue at a time and put them into place at the end.

Unfortunately, Ryu was already way ahead of Ken, imagining something too horrible to bring up. "I don’t know…" But he did suspect that he knew who it belonged to. The essence of a monster named Bison. No. He couldn’t believe it. To even ponder about Bison having any sort of contact with Ken in the physical domain. No! Stop it! Ken didn’t mention Bison so it can’t be him. You just want to give him more reason to feel bad. He’s had enough. Ryu sighed when Ken gave in and took the uncertainty with an uncanny resolve.

If Ryu isn’t worrying then why should I?. He’s always been there for me. Ken smiled when Ryu’s arm snaked over his shoulders, bringing him close. I miss him holding me like this. Isn’t he more than my friend? If he only knew what I really thought of him. That all of my joking around is childish flirting. Would he forgive me for it? This was the kind of compassion he craved, the type which only Ryu could give him. It was too rare to have Ryu wanting to hug him, to comfort him. Ken relished his good fortune, forgetting about how he had nearly welcomed death in the bathroom. The taste of Ryu’s blood on his tongue and…what else? "I’ve been such a pain in the ass."

That brought Ryu’s gaze over to Ken’s face. To look straight into his eyes, taking into consideration his long, thick lashes. The way Ken’s big, brown eyes shaded hazel and even green in the warm lighting. Ryu felt heat wash over his cheeks when he began to caress his gaze over Ken’s pale skin, appreciating the smooth flesh drawn over small but taut muscles. Ken was a powerhouse waiting to happen but not in comparison to Ryu. And he liked that Ken was not as big as him or as strong. It made him feel useful, even overprotective when Ken could not hold his own. Ryu would willingly place himself between Ken and anything which threatened him. He realized that Ken was worth dying for but more valuable a cause to keep on living. I would do anything for you. His expression softened many degrees to one that Ken had never seen before. And Ryu never let his guard down to expose the part of him that he desperately wanted Ken to see…until now.

"No. You’re only a tiny nuisance," Ryu joked. He enjoyed the grin which crept over Ken’s mouth and held for the briefest of seconds. All too soon, it had vanished, taking with it any remnants of the Ken he had formerly known. The abrupt changes in Ken’s mood were hard to become accustomed to. Ryu wished that he could understand what was going on inside of Ken. All he saw was the confusion evident in every movement that Ken made. It occurred to him that Ken hadn’t stopped shivering and now that he was shirtless, his chills ran deeper. Along his spine, branching out to every bone and nerve in his body. In some location, the outer cold was intertwining with that of the one within Ken. There was no part of him which it didn’t cast into ice with harsh cruelty.

Taking one of the blankets off of the bed opposite them, Ryu paused to make sure Ken knew his actions were harmless. To shake Ken out of his brooding without warning was inviting punishment. And he could no more stand Ken’s sadness or fear than he could nails and teeth on one of his limbs. When Ken glanced up, Ryu folded the blanket tenderly around him, cutting off the air with his arms. Very timidly, Ken moved against Ryu, seeking more of his kindness. As if this was his last chance to claim something good for himself. A man whose intentions were not laced with hatred, deception and self gain.

Ken was almost comfortable when Ryu lifted him up slightly, letting him rest in his lap. That made Ken’s eyes catch with tears all over again, silently begging Ryu to set things right. To erase what had been done to him when he couldn’t even picture it, let alone Ryu imagine it. Was it a lost memory? If so, Ken could honestly admit that he didn’t miss it. Didn’t want to know what it was that he couldn’t recall.

"We have to talk."

Those four words shook Ken up. They were best friends, had been for countless years. And they never just talked. There had always been a reason for conversation. To talk about girls, Sensei, karate practice, the future, and for Ryu…food. No blunt suggestion or demand for it, just the natural flow of thoughts. How could they plan a conversation? And about what? He can’t want to…he isn’t serious. But the man was nearly one hundred percent serious. I don’t want to remember. Ken shook his head, avoiding the hand which touched the side of his face. Almost a caress…not quite. And what if it had been?

"We’ve put it off for too long already. You haven’t been able to speak more than a few words since…that damn Bison incident. And now, …do you know how hard it was for me to watch you being sick?" Ryu sought Ken’s right hand, drew it away from the blanket and into his own. "I want to talk about this because it can’t be ignored. This…," he held Ken’s hand up for him to see the bruises there, "is what we need to talk about." Although the hand went slack in his own, Ryu refused to release it. His fingers began to gently massage the swollen wrist, feeling the exact spot where it had been chained down. "Have you looked at yourself in a mirror? I can’t even count how many bruises are on your body." That hurt, a lot, to see Ken beaten black and blue but he brushed the picture out of his mind so that he could mentally heal his friend first.

As Ryu’s fingers skimmed over the jagged line of where the scar of an unhealed cut lay, Ken started to think that the nightmare was not yet over. He hadn’t seen those bruises, hadn’t felt the dried blood. Now it was a different story and he could see and feel those injuries. Bringing them out of the shadows and into the light. The sensation of touch became over-sensitized to him, causing him to hiss through his teeth. Even with Ryu being very gentle, the pain could not be dismissed. "I can’t remember anything." He pleaded with Ryu, the shining tears permanently glistening in his eyes. Please…don’t make me remember.

Ryu was reflecting on their encounter with Bison, conjuring up an image of his face. A face which Ryu had grown to hate. The only person who ever had or ever would receive a sentence in hell from the stoic martial artist. He loathed Bison, even after death. Would gladly walk into hell himself to punish the beast for how Ken had suffered. The hidden part of Ken’s torture which he couldn’t or wouldn’t admit to. As he did this, he watched Ken weep, each individual tear fluttering from his eyelashes, all the way to his throat before they slid below the blanket. It occurred to him that Ken made crying look like a beautiful art. Why am I giving into these thoughts now? This is not the kind of pressure Ken needs. Ryu fantasized that he was luring Ken closer, kissing those tears away, following them as low as they dared travel. No matter where they settled on Ken’s body, Ryu would let his lips dry Ken’s skin. Right before… Not now! His heart wore down his mental objections, asking him ‘why not’? Because Bison took him from me, that’s why!

"There has to be something…anything that comes to your mind. What about when Bison…" The name had no sooner left Ryu’s mouth when he felt Ken surge away from his arms. Struggling, acting as if Ryu were the enemy again. "Ken! I’m not here to hurt you. I’m your friend, dammit!" He wouldn’t loosen his arms from Ken, holding as firmly as he dared. In the dim lighting of the room, Ryu didn’t see and therefore couldn’t block the fist which gave him an uppercut to his jaw. Still, he kept Ken’s frantic wriggling to a minimum, speaking soft promises into his ear. At least he didn’t poke out my eye. Ryu could now boast over being pinched, chewed on, and swallowing blood from biting his own tongue. "Ken, please be sensible. Why do you keep fighting me?"

Having wasted any insignificant amount of energy he had reserved, Ken sank back into Ryu’s arms. Miraculously, his minor skirmish had cleared his mind. He didn’t have as much trouble focusing on who Ryu was and his purpose for being there. "I don’t know. Ryu, I’m sorry."

"Don’t be."

"Are you going to just stay here and let me knock you out?" Ken freed one arm to hastily wipe his damp face. "I appreciate you being here with me but…what good is it going to do? I keep losing it."

Ryu sighed and then stopped himself. The sound of exasperation and frustration was getting on his nerves. He didn’t want Ken to feel like he was any type of burden. "If that’s what it takes. But, you don’t pose any threat, even if you’re in excellent health." He goaded Ken, lightly running his finger over Ken’s ribs, underneath the blanket. A little grin was all he received for his efforts. It was a big reward considering the fact that he had to skip over the bruises to give Ken the positive sense of touch. To show him that regardless of the wrong things he had experienced, there were more good things to outweigh them. And the caring caress of a friend could override memories of a savage slap or an unwelcome lover. The latter was near impossible to cancel out but if Ryu could even ease the pain in the slightest, he would keep striving till he was successful.

I wonder if this is having any affect on him. Then, I can’t help but question if he’s ever had anyone in a loving manner before Bison. It’s been such a long time since I spoke with him. Is it right for me to hope that there is nobody in his life? Nobody who cares for him like I do, like I could. Another feather-soft stroke of fingers across flesh and Ryu could feel Ken’s muscles quiver with anticipation. It hadn’t been intended to be erotic or manipulative, only curing. Was he interpreting Ken’s reaction correctly? Did his touch really arouse his friend’s body? Am I doing it on purpose? Ryu couldn’t take that chance, the possibility of taking advantage of Ken in his vulnerable state. Whether Ken was stimulated or not wasn’t Ryu’s concern. His own evidence of readiness was straining against his white shorts, threatening to graze Ken’s outer thigh. Why did I want him to sit on my lap? Am I insane? The decent thing to do would have been to prod Ken into finding a better spot to sit. However, the second Ken moved, Ryu’s erection would be too obvious and perverse to ignore. He reprimanded himself viciously for getting turned on so easily. If Ken noticed, he would be deeply offended and hurt, maybe even frightened. It was a risk that Ryu was unwilling to take.

"Are you tired?" Tired? Of the endless slew of questions he kept fielding Ken’s way? He had yet to discover a more efficient method of getting Ken to talk. As it was, his friend would rather listen than speak.

Ken stifled a yawn. I don’t want to sleep. To dream. That’s where he can still reach me. I don’t want to be hurt anymore. "No. Are you?"

If you aren’t, then neither am I. "I’m wide awake." Where did that leave them? "Do you want to…?"

"No!"

"…talk?" Okay, this was going to be harder than the dialogue he was having with Ken inside of his head. Practicing how he was going to approach the next topic. If his friend kept evading his attempts to discuss their feelings, how could he get around that? Maybe if he went first. "Do you know Guile?"

"The man with the brush cut?"

"Yes, that’s the one. He flew all the way to Thailand in a helicopter to tell me that Shadowlaw had abducted you."

Ken knew where this was heading, into the recyclable box with Ryu’s other ideas. "I said, I don’t want to talk about it. If you’re really my friend, you won’t bring this up again." He went into one of his moods where he would neither listen to or look at Ryu. There were more interesting things outside the window. The stars, for example, shone bright in the sky. Was it night already?

"And you expect me to just drop the subject? I won’t because I’m your friend. It’s safer if you vent your emotions out on me, right here and now. That way, you won’t be alone when you have to face what happened. I’m not going anywhere until you start talking."

"About what? I don’t know why you’re treating me like I’m unstable. Nothing went on that you don’t know about. Nothing sinister. I was abducted, brainwashed and then…kicking the crap out of you. Big deal! So I have some wounds…they’ll heal. Everything will go away." Ken prepared to exit the room before Ryu could reply but couldn’t have escaped the angry explosion Ryu released.

"It WON’T go away. How can you pretend like it was just a normal day for you? You were there a whole damn week! Seven days of torture!" Ken’s hand raised to slap Ryu’s mouth but was seized at the wrist. And the man continued, demanding that Ken listen to him. "He raped you, Ken! There! I said it…and now I feel like a rotten bastard for pushing you into that truth."

The shock Ken felt made him go numb, his brain slowing down to a snail’s pace. It wasn’t real. None of it was real. Ryu wouldn’t yell at him. Not his best friend. Wouldn’t lie to him. But, here he was, saying something which Ken ferociously denied. "Don’t say that. You know it isn’t true."

"Do you need to have me shove your gi in your face before you admit it?" His dark eyes were blaring both hatred and love at the same time. A peculiar combination under any circumstances. But, Ryu looked at Ken and saw the damage left behind by a maniac and he hated Bison for it. He also found his best friend trapped in the midst of a broken heart and crushed spirit and he felt love. Love for Ken in every way that counted. The love for a friend, a companion and much, much more. That was an emotion which he had to make Ken see above the harsh reality. He didn’t look forward to his hatred of Bison being returned to him by Ken. "I will go and get it if that’s what you want."

Ryu’s arms started to move Ken over so that he could get up. But Ken didn’t need that level of coaxing to satisfy his friend. He was beyond dumping skeletons into his closet. It was too full, overloading them back at him with startling visions. And they were all verified by Ryu’s words. "Oh God…" Ken’s fist pressed to his mouth, his teeth clamping onto the knuckles. More memories were passed in full view for his eyes to see. A dry taste of blood seeped onto Ken’s tongue as his teeth closed tighter over his fist. He was trembling, crying, witnessing scenes which he’d spent hours burying. They surfaced, attacking him in the form of a wicked, dominating man. Bison.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t want to do this." Although Ryu kept apologizing, he couldn’t even get Ken to listen to him. "He’s dead. He can’t hurt you again." Ryu rocked Ken in his arms, not caring that he was kissing him as well. Pulling Ken’s fist out of his mouth, moving his lips over the bleeding knuckles to soothe Ken. His fingers combed through the long red-blonde hair which felt like fine silk beneath his palms. It was touching to feel Ken move closer, pleading for the attention, having had a much rougher pair of hands on him recently. Ryu’s affections didn’t bother him, couldn’t scare him because he trusted the man with his heart. It was Ken’s heart that led him, not his brain or intuition. Even if he relied on those areas of expertise instead, they would still point to Ryu as the best thing which had ever come into Ken’s life.

"Ryu…Ryu…Ryu…" Ken’s wrenching sobs were all punctuated by his friend’s name. He chanted it, using it for protection just as the actual person responded by smothering him with compassion. With the disgusting flashbacks of Bison clouding his mind, there was no more room for Ken’s prior brainwashing to join in on assaulting him. Somehow, it managed to find a secret place in Ken’s head to nestle and burn his teachings in with the memories. Teachings which had been drummed into Ken by Bison himself. Of how to hate, to rule, to conquer or be subdued as a result of being weak. Specifically, the necessity to fight Ryu, to kill his dear friend. Not to give up until Ryu was dead. I have to kill him. That thought reared its ugly head amongst the ones of terror. It was Bison’s final lesson to Ken, that he could be reached even from beyond the grave. The brainwashing had never ended. I’d rather kill myself first.

One minute, Ken was sobbing relentless in Ryu’s arms and the next, he was gazing up at the ceiling. Still an emotional wreck but now with a purpose. "Ken?" Again with those stupid lines on the ceiling. Why does he keep looking up there? Ryu was by no means a common man, he solved the riddle instantly. How Ken had mentioned the lines hurting, but he hadn’t meant it literally. It was a part of his brainwashing, the methods that Bison had used to control him. "Ken, look at me!" Now he knew why Ken kept striking out at him. His friend was not free of his commands, would never be until Ryu put his foot down. "KEN!"

The requirement to kill Ryu to silence the voices in his head wasn’t as important to Ken anymore. He was seeing things, specifically a pair of hands. Reaching for him, grabbing him, committing atrocious acts of evil with his body. "Make it stop!" Ken screamed, his hands reaching up to pull at his hair. Those hands gripped his wrists, forced them down, pinned them to the bed. "NO!!!" He struggled, yanking backwards, his eyes registering only darkness. That and a chair. Where did this chair come from? Why won’t it let me go? Flashing consoles surrounded Ken on all four sides, he was in a room filled with computers. Why? Why was he here? The chair…it was cold, metallic and also blinked with lights. Ken looked down at his wrists which were fastened tightly to the chair with leather straps. NO!!! This can’t be happening again! Please,…someone get me out of this nightmare.

"Ken…"

Bison! That authoritative voice sounded too much like Ryu’s, his friend’s voice. Ken was confused, couldn’t see Ryu anywhere. And he found that his limbs were held captive by the leather straps, binding him to the polished chrome. "Let me go! Please…let me go!" Then, a tall, very large man was hovering over him, leering menacingly. He shook his head, mouthed out the words but Ken couldn’t hear them. "You asshole!" A residual memory reminded Ken of what had been said to him. It had poisoned his ears with the filth which left Bison’s mouth.

"Ken…" It wasn’t Ryu’s voice anymore. Now, the man was entirely Bison and he was trapped with him. Where had Ryu gone?

Looking up at the unfeeling eyes which formed voids in Bison’s face, Ken began to wonder what the man thought to be so funny. He was roaming those dark pits over Ken’s body, from head to toe. "Quit staring at me like that!" Ken became incredibly aggravated when Bison refused to give his shouts merit. The dictator wouldn’t even acknowledge that he had spoken. "I said…STOP IT!" The man’s heavy hand swung back, then forward like a pendulum, slapping Ken against his restraints. It hurt more than sparring with Ryu ever had. Those had been playful times and ironically, also the only times which Ken could ever succumb to being hit. This was like having his head nearly knocked off of his shoulders. But Ken refused to make any sound, give Bison the pleasure of hearing his fear.

"Do not make that mistake again, Ken Masters. I am the man with the position of power, not you. I give the orders and you will obey them." Bison threw back his head and laughed, swishing his cape behind him.

"This isn’t real."

"Oh, but isn’t it? You tried to forget but I will never let that happen. I won’t allow you to ignore these memories because deep down…you miss them." The face slackened with a plastic grin. "You didn’t want to be rescued because you enjoyed your stay with me. We can still be together, with you as my dark prince."

"I HATE YOU!!!" Ken shut his eyes, awaiting another slap but it didn’t come. He looked up to a different pain, the touch of Bison’s hand on his face. Suddenly, his skin was crawling with spiders, stinging him, digging below his flesh. He remained absolutely still, hoping that Bison would get bored and move along. The man did the exact opposite, sliding his hand over Ken’s mouth. Slamming his head back into the frame of the chair. By then, the dizziness began to overwhelm Ken. The whole room appeared to be spinning in rapid circles.

The laughter ceased as Bison leaned over Ken, silencing his rebellious words. "Hate is what makes me the ruler that I am. It’s more powerful than love. That is what will make you my killer, Ken. Your hatred for me will guide you into murdering your despised rival, Ryu."

Ken tried to shake his head but it hurt too much. He didn’t like Bison’s hot breath so close to his ear, the hand sliding over his mouth. And then, just when Ken thought he could take no more, one of Bison’s fingers jammed between his lips, trying to get past his teeth. He wouldn’t budge, gritting his teeth harder, releasing a deep growl from his throat. It scared him that he was resorting to behaving like a house pet but Bison was treading on dangerous waters. I will never hurt Ryu! I’d rather die.

"I would prefer it if you cooperate with me, Ken Masters. The more you fight me, the harder this is going to be." Bison’s other hand clamped down on Ken’s throat, cutting off his air passage. He started to gasp, unable to keep his teeth locked from the finger which pushed into his mouth. Ken went wild, thrashing in the chair, attempting to eject the obtrusive object. Bison snickered at the boy’s efforts, knowing the bonds claiming him could not be torn off. The leather was thick, chafing into Ken’s ankles and wrists, denying him movement.

RYU! Get away from me! Get your dirty hands off of me! Ken felt the finger searching for his tongue which he withdrew quickly. It was like some perverted game which the dictator was playing with him. He barely had time to realize that Bison had big, sandpaper hands before he automatically sank his teeth into that finger. Crunching on it, protecting himself from it. That’ll teach you to keep your hands to yourself. Bastard! But it wasn’t over. The other hand belonging to Bison had slipped away and was now touching Ken in a place where no one ever had before. My clothes! Where are my clothes? That was his first thought. The next ones were not as calm. He screamed, raising his hips to try to kick Bison but his legs wouldn’t move. Straining against the straps, Ken arched his entire body to the point where it became too painful. He bit Bison again and again, tearing skin, making his way for the bone of that finger.

Bison stroked his hand between Ken’s thighs, marking his progress with the nails which sliced the soft flesh. He matched Ken’s biting by hurting him more, removing the finger to gain the use of both hands. His grip was firm on Ken’s thighs as he spread them apart, thumbs grazing the tip of his naked flesh. "Ken, I never knew you liked it rough," Bison joked. Then, he smiled as Ken’s thighs began to quiver as they were clamped shut, denying Bison easy access. That was when Bison really got angry, pressing Ken’s thighs painfully to the sides, moving his hand to grope him eagerly.

"STOP IT!!!" Ken felt his muscles weakening, his throat red raw from screaming. It went on and on, the dictator was tireless in his torture. Before he left Ken to continue the brainwashing, he verified that his captive’s spirit had been broken. Bison removed his pants and straddled Ken, his very erect penis pressing to the warm lips which he wanted around him. He received no invitation but once he had cupped Ken’s balls in a threatening promise of damaging him, he was taken in. Ken wanted to die right then and there. The shame and humiliation was too great, festering inside of him, building into a crescendo. Anything to stop the large organ in his mouth from ramming into the back of his throat, causing him to gag. To make him oblivious to the hand which tried to get underneath him to touch him even more intimately. But where? One finger crept upwards, occupying Ken with the thrusts of his hips so he wouldn’t notice. Anything but that! No! Not anything at all. Ken wasn’t going to bargain for the innocence of one part of his body to sacrifice that of another. But Bison wanted to be inside of him, to truly make him tainted goods.

"RYUuuuuuuu!!!" Everything vanished, except for the soaking wet gi which Ken was physically dressed in. And it was still wet, darkness enfolding him in a seductive embrace. His skin began to race with goosebumps. Freezing. I’m so cold. Why couldn’t he see? Had Bison blinded him? "RYU!" It was the only thing he felt safe doing. Crying for Ryu as many times as it would take for his knight to appear and rescue him. "RYU!" You’re always there for me. Please be there now. He tried once more, not even sure if the name was leaving his mouth. "RYU!"

"Shhh!!!" The soothing whisper reached his ear, met his neck with a gentle kiss. "I’m here." There was a splattering sound behind them, tapping on Ken’s head, dripping off of his slick, wet body. "Can you hear me?"

"Y…yes," he answered, burrowing into Ryu’s arms, almost out of the strength needed to carry on sobbing. "I can’t see. I’m scared! Ryu! Ryu! Please don’t let me go!"

"I won’t." Ryu shifted, stroking Ken’s hair, releasing the red bandanna from his friend’s eyes. "It was the ceiling…the pattern initiated a contingency plan that Bison implanted in your brain. I had to stop you from seeing it…even the tiles activated it." The bandanna went back to Ryu’s forehead where he fastened it tight. Ken had originally taken it out of his hair to bandage a cut on Ryu’s brow so many years ago. It was a symbol to Ryu, that helped him think of Ken when he missed him. He was thankful that his fast actions had prevented Ken from doing something horrible. He would not reveal how close Ken had come to taking both of their lives during his blackout.

"Where am I?" He glanced down to find himself naked and pressed to Ryu who was only sporting the white boxers. "Ryu..?" His eyes adjusted to the lighting in the bathroom. They were inside the shower, bathed in a frigid onslaught of pelting rain. "I’m awake…turn it off." First, he held out his palm to save some of the water which he thirstily drank to massage his throat. He shivered, clutching to Ryu as the dial was spun to the opposite side, heating the water to something desirable. "How long…?"

"You were unresponsive for nearly half an hour. Scared the heck out of me." Ryu’s arms were wrapped around Ken’s waist, holding him as if he were a fragile package. "I can’t live with the possibility that someone might do this to you again. One of the people in Bison’s organization who oversaw what you had to endure. They could still use you because of your susceptibility to their form of mind control." He lowered his face to look directly into Ken’s eyes. "I won’t ever allow you to be hurt like that again. Do you understand me?"

"Ryu…you can’t be with me…if they try again…" His own gaze couldn’t meet Ryu’s. That his future could be so uncertain, even absent from hope, Ken felt the same power of defeat. He had lost everything to Bison. Everything. A strange touch poked Ken out of his brooding. Something nudged his bottom lip while Ryu’s hand slid up his back. Ken glanced up fearfully to see Ryu’s tongue making its way across his lips.

"I can be with you." The intensity of Ryu’s stare made it impossible for Ken to look away. He spoke with one arm supporting Ken, the other hand wandering aimlessly up and down his back. "If you can accept what I want to give you."

This has got to be a trick. Ken was about to speak when Ryu’s tongue washed over his lips again, shocking him. This was the same man who discussed sex as frequently as he did radio stations? Meaning never in his life. He was about as emotional as a slab of wood. The seduction in Ryu’s licks was welcome even if the original atmosphere had been disheartening. It was a slow caress which reminded Ken of who he had been saving himself for before Bison. Ryu? Was it Ryu I wanted?

He isn’t moving. Should I stop? I ought to club myself over the head for bringing him into the shower. Ryu stroked his hand over Ken’s left hip, desperately needing to keep them separated from the waist down. Another hairline closer and he would be kicking his boxers off to rub himself to Ken. His teeth gently nipped at Ken’s lip, kissing him lightly. It was like a dream embracing Ken in his arms, feeling the softness of his skin, hearing the faint whimpering which could only be Ken’s moaning. "I want you," he whispered, drawing his tongue along Ken’s neck, absorbing the water there. The droplets continued to fall onto their bodies, making Ken’s body slippery for Ryu to hold onto.

"I…can’t." But Ken didn’t prevent Ryu from kissing him, one hand on the back of his head to keep him still. This was what they had both fantasized about in private for years. After Ken’s brainwashing, Ryu worried that advancing on his friend would only push him further away. That his affection would be no better than the mauling paws Bison had laid on Ken. That guilt had been nullified the moment Ryu had heard Ken screaming out his name. It hadn’t been just a call for help. The urgency and need from Ken had gone along with his shouts. He needed Ryu. To take away the harm which had been haunting him. To show him the touch of love, not of hate. I don’t know if I can do this. We’ve never… well, I don’t know what Ryu has been up to but I never… What if I freak out? I’ll really hurt his feelings. The rejection would make him hate me.

Ryu let Ken up for air briefly. "Any time you feel uncomfortable, I’ll stop. I promise." He met up with a wall of stone and glass when he tried to push his tongue inside Ken’s mouth. The stone was an impenetrable gate which would not allow Ryu to proceed any further. If he approached from the wrong angle, the glass would shatter and with it Ken’s trust. To taste Ken was a valuable liberty which was worth the slow process of getting there. The muscles under his hand tensed up when he brushed the tip of his tongue between Ken’s lips, forcing them to part. Ken’s arm reacted instinctively, ready to take off Ryu’s head. But, he trapped the arm beneath his own, moving the kiss along with restrained passion. He would have preferred to take Ken right at that moment, even standing upright with the water cooling. How romantic would that be? This was going to be their first time together. It had to be special, not a rushed blur dividing one scene from the next. This makes up for all those nights I spent alone. How can he taste so good? He ended the kiss so that Ken could have an ample amount of time to say ‘no’ but he didn’t. "Are you sure you’re okay with this?"

"Um…I think so."

Ryu tilted Ken’s chin up and gave him a searching look. "I’m not going to continue if that’s the answer you’re giving me. If we go too far…I just don’t want to hurt you. I won’t be able to stop at this rate."

"It doesn’t bother you that someone else has already done this to me?" His tone was bitter, resentful and still full of shame.

"Ken, I am not Bison. This isn’t going to be the same as that time he had his way with you. I will never repeat the abuse he gave to you. Don’t you trust me?"

"Yes." With all of my heart. But, don’t you want to ask if I love you? Isn’t that what counts?

"And I trust that you won’t be thinking about him while you’re with me." Another kiss found Ken swooning in Ryu’s arms. "Do you promise that I will be the only one on your mind?"

"Only if you do the same." An impish grin settled on Ken’s lips to be drawn off by Ryu’s hot kisses. "Ryu, the water is kind of cold." His toleration for frosty climates had reached the end of the line. There was a warmth in his leg, created by the friction of Ryu’s shorts rubbing to it.

"I figured that." He lifted Ken over the bathtub and onto the mat, passing him a towel. "Wasn’t I keeping you warm?" He pretended to pout only to be swatted with Ken’s towel.

"You were getting off on my leg." Ken grinned when Ryu blanched. He was trying his best to put the past behind him. His friend didn’t deserve to be a human punching bag for every memory that resurfaced. "I’m not blind, you know." Keeping the towel wrapped firmly around him, he exited the bathroom with his hair forming a wet trail to the bedroom. "Is there any particular reason why I’m the naked one?"

"No." Ryu was flattered when Ken caught sight of his exposed body and gasped. His friend was impressed with how he had kept in shape over the years. All of his muscles were toned, nearly a bronze tanned color from basking in the sun too often. Why should he keep Ken in suspense when he had been meaning to strip eventually. Ryu knelt on the bed in front of Ken and kissed him again, not getting enough of him. He marveled over Ken’s soft, creamy skin, how his hands flowed over it without discovering any flaws. Except for the numerous bruises which he avoided or touched gentler, not wanting to unintentionally hurt Ken. Then, his hands were moving lower as their tongues tangled inside Ken’s mouth. One swept down Ken’s spine, eliciting both a moan and shiver from him. The other slid down Ken’s tightly muscled stomach, his fingers delving into the silken curls which thickened the lower he went. He heard more moaning, a hand gripping his own, pulling it away.

I need to think. This can’t be right. Why am I doing this? Letting him do these things to me? Ken was panting, aching with desire but preventing himself from having it. How could he be happy when a week ago his life had depended on Bison? "I don’t want to do this." His body told a separate story as he tossed the useless towel around his thighs to the floor. And the look he gave Ryu…it was as if he were in heaven.

"Why not?" It wasn’t as if Ryu could accuse Ken of leading him on. If he had intended to bring that up, it should have been that first year when Ken did nothing but flirt with him. He’s always been interested in me. Why did I wait until now? Do I have Bison to thank for our male bonding? His eyes narrowed, anticipating Ken’s excuse. Bison can be condemned for an eternity of suffering for all I care.

"Bison…"

"Bison has no place here. Not now or ever. I want you. I need you. Me. Not that wasted, charred sack of flesh. If you let him influence you, then he’s won. Every day will only get harder for you if his evil isn’t put to rest." His fingers gripped Ken’s jaw, keeping him attentive throughout his speech. The timid brown eyes gauged his words, measuring their importance. He adored the look of surrender on Ken’s face as he crawled over, laying down to gaze up at Ryu. "What are you doing now?" He was amused by his friend’s display of mockery.

"Waiting." Ryu is right. Why should I let Bison keep me from leading a normal life? I was going to come out with my feelings before that bastard did… The sentence unraveled in Ken’s brain.

"Oh." The lust returned to Ryu’s voice as he bent down to tickle Ken’s ribs. "And who are you waiting for?," he teased.

Ken began to giggle, kicking at Ryu until he lost his balance and sank on top of him, their bodies flat to one another. They moaned at the same time, feeling the heat rising between them to intermingle. Watching Ken’s expression closely, Ryu raised his hips and then replaced his hand to playing with Ken’s light pubic hairs with his fingers. Ken hissed through his teeth, not aware of the lips which brushed past his nipple. "Ohh!" His next word was devoured by Ryu’s mouth which unleashed a volley of sensual kisses which Ken couldn’t take without trying to bring his hips up to Ryu’s. The man was holding back, saving that part for later but Ken couldn’t wait. His own hands grasped Ryu’s buttocks, driving the man’s waist towards him.

"Are you teasing me, Ken Masters?" Ryu gave Ken a sample of what was to come, rubbing the moist head of his penis along Ken’s length, pressing down a little before he pulled away. He wrestled Ken’s hands into one of his own, trapping them above Ken’s head, leaving him helpless. Another moan purred in Ken’s throat then tapered off to a panicked state. He glanced at Ryu, scared of the way his hands were held down, restricting his movement. It was too similar to having Bison strapping him to that awful chair of torture. "What’s wrong?"

"Please don’t pin me down."

"Sorry." He instantly released Ken, kissing him instead. "I’m trying, Ken. You have to believe me."

"I do. I want you just as badly." Ken gripped Ryu’s solid shoulders, hardly able to hold onto the muscled flesh. He pulled himself up to quiet Ryu’s next apology with a kiss. It was sweet of his friend to be so caring and considerate but he didn’t have to be. He hadn’t been the one who caused all the pain. To tell Ryu to stop being kind was like asking him to stop living. He would never do it, not even if it embarrassed Ken. What did I ever do to attract him? Ken wondered what it was that Ryu liked the most about him and was going to ask but he found his lover distracted. "Ryu?"

One of Ryu’s hands had been stroking Ken’s inner thighs when he stumbled across the pattern of long cuts ranging from the knee to as far as Ken could spread his legs. They were ugly markings which nearly turned his mood sour. He hadn’t been preparing himself to see so much evidence of inflicted harm. When he looked towards Ken, all of the shame had returned to his friend’s eyes. Ken knew what had placed a damper on their intimacy. Can I say anything that will make it better? Make it go away? I was a fool to think that I could deal with this. And even more selfish for holding my emotions above Ken’s.

"Ryu…if you have that much trouble looking at me…we shouldn’t be doing this." Ken shifted onto his side, one leg crossed over the other so that he could spare his friend the abhorrent sight of his scars. "I regret going this far." As soon as he had said that, he buried his face into the pillows to cry.

"I love you regardless of what you look like." Ryu joined Ken at the top of the bed to hug him. "And you’re still beautiful…even with the bruises and cuts. They will heal," he assured him. "Give them a few weeks and you won’t even remember that you had them. I stopped because I’m not sure if I can continue when you’re this badly beaten. Not because I found you to be unattractive." He paused to let his convictions sink in. "Do you honestly regret being with me…like this?"

"Don’t be an idiot." Ken rolled over to kiss the arm draped over him. "I’m just a bit temperamental today. I want to…"

"Are we going to talk the entire time?" A single finger traced down Ken’s spine, over the curve of his buttocks to linger there. "My imagination is conjuring up more pleasant things that we could be doing."

The warmth from that finger had Ken’s body on the verge of relinquishing itself to Ryu’s command. It also painted a very vivid portrait in Ken’s mind. "You want to do…that ?" He concentrated on his friend’s face, the sweltering hardness grinding to his hip, anything but that finger.

"Depends…if you feel up to it." He added quietly, "unless…you’re still in pain."

"Why would I be…? Oh! You think that…" The sentences kept tumbling out of Ken’s mouth, incomplete nonsense. He felt too insecure to say what they were both discussing. "He didn’t…" Why don’t I just come out with it? Coward! To avert Ryu’s gaze from his face, he purposely hid behind the flow of his red-blonde hair. "Bison didn’t get that…far."

"That’s a relief!" Ryu stroked another finger over Ken’s flesh, sliding between his buttocks but the touch was fleeting. "So, you haven’t done this with anyone before me?"

"Who would I do it with?" He blew his long bangs away and secured them behind one ear. "There isn’t anyone that I’m interested in."

"Your girlfriend," Ryu suggested until he realized how foolish that was. "Forget what I just said."

"For your information, Eliza and I were still in the holding hands stage and… Wait! How could…?" He groaned at his own ignorance. "I’m going to shut up before I say something incredibly gullible. What about you? Don’t pretend that you’re some sort of expert in this area."

"Ken…you are more virtuous than I am. You’re still a virgin. I’m not." Don’t ask…please don’t ask.

"Doesn’t this ‘virgin’ get to know who you’ve been with?" He poked Ryu in the sides, showing him how well he played the jealous boyfriend.

"I’m not one to brag." Ryu kissed Ken dutifully in order to end the unromantic conversation. His ex-lover was not any of his new one’s business. Mostly to prevent an argument based on American laws and customs. "Does it matter? You try traipsing from one country to the other with your hormones in knots. I got so bad fantasizing about you one night that I couldn’t go without it. Besides, I’m not giving you the third degree on Eliza. You shouldn’t be condemning me for a one night stand."

"Sakura?"

"KEN!"

"That girl who thinks you’re a god? Cradle robber!"

"I’m warning you…"

"Was this while you were baby-sitting her?" He teased and taunted Ryu for the sake of cheapening the affair that had taken his friend. "Aren’t you aware of the diseases floating around in today’s society? Did you use protection?" He started to giggle when Ryu gently caressed his sides.

"Yes. Now, are you through? I slept with her for physical reasons and she did it to…brag." His face reddened. "We both hurt the other." He grimaced. "We aren’t having sex…" There, I said it! "…without laying down some rules. As much as I need you…this instant…I will choose a cold shower over you if this is going to turn into some secret love affair. I don’t want you walking out on me or going back to Eliza." Luckily, I know he loves me and I’m going to be extremely satiated in the next minute. I can’t hold this for much longer. "I love you, Ken. I need to know if you feel the same way."

"I’ve loved you for the last five years. And I still love you. I will love you even more if you give your mouth a rest and become a man of action. Guys who talk too much rarely accomplish anything."

"I’ll just have to fix that misconception." He got off of Ken and staggered over to the snack bar at the far end of the room. The pain and anticipation in his loins had accelerated past any arousal he had ever displayed. Ken did things to him that no one could ever hope to match. Using the last of his spare change, Ryu retrieved one item from the box to lay behind Ken. "Want to see what I got?"

"Um… Do I get a choice?"

"Maybe later."

Something wet and warm flickered up the back of Ken’s leg and over the incline of his buttocks. His breath snagged in his throat when the motion was repeated very slowly. Ryu’s hands cupped Ken’s buttocks, his thumbs parting them to allow his tongue to slide slowly over the tight opening. A strange cry escaped Ken, his body overcome with tremors. When the reaction had subsided, Ryu pushed his slippery tongue along the route again, coaxing Ken to move his legs further apart. Then, the tip of his tongue squeezed inside of Ken, breaching what had been forbidden before but was now an extension of their friendship. The muscles which contracted around the welcome intruder made Ryu wonder how it was going to feel to be held inside there.

"Ryu…I can’t…please…stop!" Ken’s words said stop but his body screamed for more, keeping as still as he could to beckon his lover deeper. His fingers clenched the pillows beneath him as he stifled his moans with it.

"You want me to stop?" Ryu moved up to Ken’s ear, nibbling at the earlobe. "Hmm?" He whispered down Ken’s neck, tantalizing him to near insanity.

"No…quit teasing me."

"But, you’re so fun to play with." His voice was growing rough with his halted words and fervor. The proximity of their bodies had Ryu’s raging hardness rubbing frantically to the small of Ken’s back. It took every ounce of his training and skills to stretch the seconds into minutes. And the touches into caresses. If he gave in to his hormones, there would be nothing to cherish afterwards. He had to go about it at a leisurely pace to keep Ken from becoming intimidated. He kissed Ken’s neck, working his way up to the jaw and then drawing his teeth over the skin softly. It provoked Ken into turning around to begin exploring Ryu’s body. Kissing down the hard musculature of his broad chest, to the flat plane of his stomach. He enjoyed the revenge Ken gave him by licking over his abdomen. The sensations were so exciting that his hands grasped Ken by his hair, attempting to push him lower to where he craved more.

"Do you want something?" Ken smiled, going in the opposite direction to lave a path up to Ryu’s left nipple. He circled it a few times before catching it with his teeth, beginning to suck on it. His waist was trapped by shaking hands as Ryu pulled his friend on top of him, thrusting his hips to the sweating body above him. A moan trembled on Ryu’s nipple, interrupting Ken’s suckling. That made it worse, to feel his lover’s lips moving over his skin, leading teeth to bite him lightly. Ryu watched Ken sucking at him with his eyes closed, eyelashes fluttering against rosy cheekbones. Their activity had brought a healthy glow to Ken’s pale skin.

The foreplay had been extended to ease Ken so that he would be comfortable. Now that he was undoubtedly tranquil, despite the enthusiasm, Ryu’s patience had ceased to guide him. His lover was spending their precious time occupied with gnawing at his nipple like a vampire. It had been cute to watch…five minutes ago. If he doesn’t stop that…I’m going to… He brushed the back of his hand underneath the length of Ken’s penis, smiling when his plan worked. Ken collapsed so quickly that Ryu could barely hold his hips back from crashing into the painful erection he was containing. And it would not be contained much longer. "I’m a martial artist…not a monk," he scolded when Ken glared at him. "Hurry up…" He urgently whispered into Ken’s ear, "…I need you now!"

"Hurry up and what?" Ken swirled his thumb over the tip of Ryu’s erection, spreading the moisture there. He looked into Ryu’s face, watching the dark eyes trusting him, waiting for him. "I’m right here…unless you need me for something else?" He pressed his lips to Ryu’s, pinning his friend down on the bed as he kissed him deeply. It was okay for him to reverse their roles so long as it didn’t end up with him tied to the bedpost. "I love you…even if you’re a…boring…antisocial…monk." Each word ignited Ryu’s flesh as Ken kissed down his chest, and past his abdomen. "You aren’t moaning loud enough." Ken gave Ryu’s dark, pubic hairs a gentle kiss before settling his tongue along Ryu’s shaft. Very slowly, he licked up it, to the head where he sucked it dry. That made his friend groan desperately, clenching his hands beneath Ken’s hold.

With one smooth motion, Ryu had flipped Ken to the bottom and was panting harshly in his ear. "Tomorrow…I’m going to take you up on that offer," he promised. He made himself look away with Ken licked his lips, enjoying the taste on his tongue. "That isn’t nice, Ken." Another lick and Ken was sitting up to lap the precum which dripped from his lover’s erection. Ryu gathered up the mountain of pillows on the bed and cushioned them underneath Ken’s lower back and buttocks. He moaned again when Ken took him halfway into a very wet place before he pushed him back down. "Stay there," he insisted when Ken made a grab for his penis. "I didn’t picture you as a naughty, rich boy." He laughed when his lover grinned at him, promising to show him just how indecent he could be. Then, the bottle of lubricant that Ryu had coined out of the snack box came into view. He squeezed a liberal amount onto his fingers and knelt within Ken’s spread legs. "This hotel has everything one could ever require. Four flavors to choose from too. Hope you don’t mind vanilla."

Although Ken was nervous, he didn’t reveal it on the outside. "You chose candy over condoms? Ryu Hoshi, you never fail to surprise me."

"Keep it up and I’ll pick strawberry next time."

"Next time? We’re already planning a ‘next time’?"

Ryu gently probed one of his fingers inside of the taut entrance of Ken’s passage, slowly moving against the constricting muscles. At the same time, his lips found the head of his lover’s straining penis. He kissed it, startled a little by the cut off moan which had Ken thrashing underneath him. Neither of them were going to last if he persisted to prolong the act. Still, as a second of his vanilla coated fingers tested the looseness of Ken’s virgin hole, he couldn’t help but clamp his mouth over the aching flesh. Ken screamed, his hips ramming into Ryu’s mouth, claiming more of the wet enclosure offered to him. He came with frightening spasms which filled Ryu’s mouth with semen. Not one drop was to remain after Ryu had swallowed it all, draining the softening flesh with his lips.

Having satiated Ken, now Ryu needed to do something about himself. He got back on his knees, withdrawing his fingers from the pulsing contractions that had gripped them. The head of his penis aligned itself with the tiny entrance, almost by instinct. Ken was gazing up at him with tears in his eyes. But they were tears of joy. He was especially fond of the way Ken’s mouth opened and closed, drinking in a fresh supply of oxygen. Moistening his dry lips with his tongue. With both hands steadying Ken’s hips, Ryu pushed inside. It was so intense, the stimulation, and he barely had breached the opening. He pushed again, shaking, teetering on a precipice when Ken’s body stiffened, arced and then settled down. In that moment, he was led in deeper, the tightness enveloping him. Contracting and releasing. Getting hotter and hotter.

"Ohhh…Ken…you’re so tight," Ryu groaned. He thrust again into the flames which wrapped around him, massaged him, filled him with lust. This was unlike his experience with Sakura. She never could have felt the way Ken did. The way he writhed on the bed, knocking the pillows out of position, causing Ryu to plunge in again to maintain his descent. The soft moans which mixed with panting drove Ryu’s control out the window. He hardly realized that he was buried to the hilt and was now rubbing his heavy sac to Ken’s ass. His lover noticed and began to sit up, falling back from the effort. Still, Ken was not about to give up his right to participate. He stretched his arms, clamped his hands firmly to the backs of Ryu’s thighs and pulled his lover in faster. Matching the thrusts with his own, holding on for balance.

"Ryuuuu…please…harder," Ken begged. "Fuck me harder." The last appeal was muffled by a moan.

He had permission. That was all he needed to hear. Ryu pulled halfway out of Ken and then thrust back in, inventing a pattern out of the motion. "So hot…," he growled, digging his fingers into Ken’s buttocks. "I want inside of you," he pleaded, not aware that he couldn’t go any further again. Once more, he grabbed onto Ken’s waist, impaling him before letting go to increase the speed of his actions. He allowed himself to slip out so that his shaft was only visible. Then, he thrust in and out slowly and gently, watching Ken’s reaction as well as his progression. His resolve faded and then disappeared when Ken’s finger sneaked along one thigh, caressing his prostrate which needed no more coaxing.

"Ohhhh…Ryuuuu…" Ken clenched the pillows scattered around him to survive the final thrust which left him gasping. Ryu held his waist for a few more seconds while he ejaculated uncontrollably into the hot haven of his lover’s body. He was astonished at how he came so powerfully and repeatedly. "Mmm…that was so wonderful," came Ken’s soft whisper. He couldn’t describe how being filled with Ryu’s warm, wet seed had brought him to the brink of ecstasy.

Ryu waited until he was finished, then saddened at the loss of his union to Ken. He hurriedly embraced his lover, falling onto him, crushing him to the mattress. He was still inside of Ken, prolonging it as long as he could. They kissed for an eternity, moving their heaving bodies together. Ryu sighed, content that his fantasy wasn’t even comparable to the real thing. There were small things about their lovemaking which he hadn’t considered. Like the dampness of Ken’s soaking hair, the unbelievable exultation of being connected to him, his eyes drowsy under the lamplight. Or the only word which Ken kept whispering before he fell asleep. Ryu.

The next morning came pretty late for Ken after the night’s lovemaking had sapped him of his energy. Now, he felt energized again and charged with optimism. If the night hadn’t been so intense, being his first time, he would have asked Ryu for another round. But, he was content to wake up in his lover’s arms with the fond memory of their passion adding to the lifetime of happiness Ryu had given him. To see the sun shining brightly through the curtained window, glorifying his lover’s fantastic body. The way Ryu had somehow wrapped himself to Ken like a blanket. His soft murmurs which told Ken that he was not through dreaming. Everything that was Ryu, Ken vowed he would not let go of. This man had protected him, loved him and chased the nightmares away. He deserved the same in return.

"Ryu." Ken kissed Ryu’s twitching eyelids, smiling when one of the eyebrows raised. "Are you awake?" He snuggled up closer, rubbing his cheek to the darker one next to his. "Ryu…?"

"Yes, darling?"

"Oh? So, now I’m your darling." Ken laughed and shook Ryu until he began to stir, opening his eyes to allow the sunshine to pierce them. "Don’t tell me that you’re still tired."

"Loving you gives me energy." Then, Ryu was sitting up and straddling Ken’s waist. "Does this mean that you want to sleep in for the rest of the day?"

Eyeing the quickly growing erection that Ryu was pointing at him, Ken nearly agreed. "I wish…but I phoned my dad earlier on." He sighed with disappointment when Ryu dismounted him. "He paid for our hotel bill and sent Eliza over to pick me up with my car. The one that Bison left idling by the roadside."

"Eliza?" That was not a pleasant name to hear upon waking up. "Ken…can we talk?"

"Again?" Ken stroked his hand across Ryu’s chest, liking how solid it felt, the muscles greeting his touch. "If you’re going to tell me to break up with her, I have every intention of doing it as soon as possible. I love you, Ryu. Last night meant more than just finally losing my virginity." He ignored the look of shock he received. "Well, it was my first time," he reminded Ryu.

"I know. And I love you even more for it. Thank-you." They kissed again before Ryu got up to take a shower. "Before your chauffeur arrives, do you want to join me?" But, Ken hopped off of the bed and didn’t answer. "Ken?" His next words were nothing but swearing as his lover knelt on the floor in front of him to begin sucking on his erection. "One of these days…you’re going to give me a heart attack."

Later that afternoon, Ryu was standing at the roadside of a gas station a couple of miles down the road from their hotel. They had gotten bored waiting for Eliza and Ken had needed some clothes to wear. So, Mr. Masters had wired more money to the hotel where it had been used for a good meal and a pair of jeans and shirt for Ken. Then, the weather seemed to be so lovely that they took a walk down the road. They did so holding hands, occasionally kissing or hugging. Being apart from each other was hard for both of them but Ryu was giving Ken a chance to talk things out. To first break the news to his parents and then to Eliza. It would be best if he was not in the picture to complicate things more than they already were.

"Are you sure you won’t need a cab or something?" Ken wasn’t too fond of Ryu walking to San Francisco all by himself. It would take at least two days by foot at the rate his friend was going. And it wasn’t safe. I don’t want anything happening to him. Not after all we’ve been through.

"I could use the exercise. Try not to be so paranoid, my love." That distance should be enough for me to meditate, go through all of my oaths and incantations. By the time I meet Ken in two days, I’ll have more control over myself. If I have to discuss this with his parents and then lose control because he’s sitting beside me… "And I’m a world champion martial artist. I can take care of myself, darling. So, good luck with your parents. I hope they are open minded."

"They sent me to Japan to be with you, didn’t they? How can they object when this happened as a result of one of their decisions? Besides, my dad wants me to find a soul mate seeing as how he believes in everyone having one person specifically suited to them. And my mom likes you…although she did kind of want to see grandchildren."

"Um…you’d better straighten that out first." They laughed and shared one last look before a red Ferrari bolted towards them from off in the distance.

"Eliza drives like a maniac."

"And you don’t?"

As the car was getting nearer, Ken slipped a handful of bills into Ryu’s pocket. "I owed you." The man was about to protest but Ken only smiled. "There’s more than two hundred there so I expect you to promptly pick me up on Friday for dinner and a movie. And…whatever your imagination can add to that."

"Take care," Ryu said as the Ferrari pulled up to the gas station with a pretty, blonde woman driving. He glanced down at Ken’s tight butt, teasingly grabbing him as he entered the passenger’s side. But his lover was so good that he didn’t even flinch, acting very level headed. Not bad. Next time, we’ll see who has the best discipline.

I’m going to get you for that one, Ryu! "You’re sure you don’t want a ride?," Ken asked again while Eliza fidgeted in her seat. She handled the standard shift well enough but became nervous with two good looking men around.

"Nope. But…I’ll see you…later." He gave Ken one last glance before Eliza sent the car rocketing back down the road. His expression threatened to turn into one of tears until he looked up to see the words mouthed from Ken as he licked his lips. I love you.

The End.