The imperial bath was off limits to all but the emperor and those special few he allowed to accompany him. Looking around at the artful surroundings, Nuriko understood why. The floor of the pool was a mosaic of tiny hand painted tiles in the shape of a red phoenix surrounded by flame. Beautiful flowering plants in a rainbow of colors grew all around the modestly sized bathing pool.

"Lovely!" Nuriko cried in shear pleasure. The thin bishonen spun around, his slender arms flung out wide. A melodious laugh bubbled out of the delicate young man as his skirts swirled around him. Nuriko stopped spinning as his brown eyes landed upon the tall fair form of Konnan’s Emperor.. Nuriko let out a satisfied sigh as he watched a rosy blush paint the emperor’s cheeks.

Hotohori kept his chocolate colored eyes focused on the young man standing before him, despite the warmth he could feel coloring his face. He had never given much attention to his courtesans so he was surprised as how good it felt to simply display himself for someone else. Reaching a strong sword callused hand up to the top of his head, Hotohori pulled out the long pins holding his hair up. In a rush of liquid brown his hair slipped out of the bun it had been pinned into. Surrounding the pale face with a dark glossy frame.

After tossing the hairpins aside Hotohori began slipping his robes off. He almost stopped as Nuriko began removing his dress. The emperor watched dazzled as a flat chest and shapely figure emerged from the dress.

Nuriko’s eyes twinkled with delight as Hotohori watched him ease layer after layer of the voluminous court dress down his slender waist. Aware of every movement the violet hared youth gracefully stepped out of the clothing.. Stretching sinuously he allowed his eyes to roam over the beautiful body of his ruler. A smile spread across his lips as a noticeable shape began to lift the fabric of the robes the emperor still wore.

A lazy smile appeared upon the emperor’s lips as he followed the path Nuriko’s eyes had taken. The emperor’s own eyes were shining as he made a great show of undoing the clasp that held the remainder of his cloths on. The elaborate clothing fell from his shoulders with a soft hiss to pile unceremoniously in a heap around the ruler’s feet.

Twin flowers of fire struck Hotohori as Nuriko’s hands descended upon his waist. "Let me help you with these." The soft voice almost purred as the younger man’s hands tugged the emperor’s undergarment down to expose his need.

The tantalizing tracings of Nuriko’s fingers as he helped the garment down the ruler’s legs sent little waves of warmth flooding through Hotohori’s body.

Standing back to admire the view Nuriko tucked his fingers under the edge of his own undergarments. He was about to pull them down when Hotohori shook his head dark eyes gleaming with pleasure and amusement. The ruler’s hands gently pulled Nuriko’s from the undergarment before slipping his own in.

Shivering in reaction to the desire rising within as much as the soft touch Nuriko luxuriated in feel of Hotohori’s hands on the round forms of his rear end. A soft sound of disappointment escaped him when the garment was completely off.

Hotohori’s warm laugh suffused him as the emperor’s arm’s encircled his waist. "Do not worry. I don’t plan on stopping here." Confusion chased away the amusement that filled the sculpted features of the ruler’s face. He had never done anything like this before. "So what does one do next?" He wondered, not realizing he had spoken aloud until he saw Nuriko’s smile widen.

In response the purple hared man guided his emperor into the bath. The warm water lapped about them as Nuriko reached over for the soap decanter. Pouring some of the sweet smelling fragrance into his hand. Under the gaze of the emperor’s beautiful eyes he took the ruler’s sheath into his hands. With meticulous care he lathered the member. Leaning forward he licked at the left nipple. It hardened pleasingly under the soft touch of his tongue.

A moan slipped from the emperor’s lips as he reached out to touch the long braid Nuriko kept his hair in. A shimmer of violet and the long tresses slipped free of their bindings. He was amazed at his lover’s beauty as he watched Nuriko pause to shake his purple silk. It shimmered darkly in the dim light of the room.

Shyly he let his hands move down Nuriko’s chest. He smiled as he played with the hard nipples there. The smaller man leaned into the teasing with a wriggle of delight.

The emperor was actively leaning into Nuriko’s strokes when the graceful hands stopped moving. The lack of motion left a knowing ache inside of him.. The other’s laughter filled the room. "I it would please you Hotohori I would like for you to take me." Nuriko flushed prettily as he spoke.

An image of himself sheathing his need into Nuriko filled his mind and he found that a very pleasing thought. Inclining his head he watched as Nuriko sighed happily. Planting a long kiss on his lips the young man turned to face away from his ruler and bent down over the rim of the pool.

Leaning down over the other man Hotohori let his erection rub down Nuriko’s back and rear. When he was in place the mixture of water and soap let the ruler slide easily into his lover. He stopped moving as Nuriko gasped and the dark warmth surrounded him. It was soft, tight and felt incredibly good. But he didn’t want to hurt his friend.

Sensing the emperor’s hesitation began moving his hips to pull the ruler deeper inside. Encouraged by that motion Hotohori began to move again. Slowly they built a rhythm and the emperor’s breath deepened as passion took him up. As he pumped in an out of the smaller man Hotohori reached down to grab the equally hard member of his friend.

Nuriko arched his back at the touch his whole backside pulsing with sudden pleasure. A delightfully delicate cry came from him as he came into the warm water of the bath. The extra tightness combined with the soft sounds of his lover’s pleasure tipped the balance for Hotohori. His hands still locked around Nuriko’s sheath he lifted the slender hips upwards to penetrate as deeply as possible when the shock of pleasure shot its way through him like the strike of an arrow.

An incredible sense of completeness filled Nuriko as he felt the heat of the emperor’s seed. He thrust himself back into the arching ruler until the taller man leaned forward. He pulled Hotohori’s arms around to encircle his chest as the ruler draped himself over Nuriko’s back. Hotohori tightened his arms as he nibbled at Nuriko’s ear. "Now if only there was some way you could produce an heir I would be a most happy Emperor."

Nuriko lowered his head, glad that Hotohori couldn’t see his face. "My wish…"

"Mmm," Hotohori acknowledged. "Are you certain that is what you want most? I will find someone to marry and I will one day have an heir. But I would rather have you as you are."

Nuriko turned his head to look deeply into his emperor’s eyes. "You would?" A dizzying sensation he couldn’t put a name to was building up within his heart.

"I would." The emperor confirmed. "I have only just begun to learn the way of this sort of loving. I would have you teach me more. But if you change who would teach me?"

Nuriko’s eyes narrowed dangerously as his hands flew to his hips," If anyone else dares to touch you I will flatten them.

Hotohori couldn’t contain the smile Nuriko’s reaction was causing him. His eyes twinkled mischievously as he replied," don’t hurt them too badly. After all who could resist my lovely self?"

Turning around completely Nuriko wrapped the emperor in a tight embrace. "Oh Hotohori," He murmured into the emperor’s chest with a roll of his eyes.

They were both startled as the door to the bathhouse opened and one of Hotohori’s manservants entered. "The fitting sire..." The servant’s words dropped off as he noticed Nuriko.

The manservant was at the wrong angle to see anything. Even so, Hotohori pulled Nuriko more firmly into his arms so that the other’s chest would be less visible.

The servant’s eyes were as round as saucers. The emperor had never entertained one of his ladies before so he had expected the ruler to be alone. Blushing clear down to his boots he bowed down low to avert his eyes.

Hotohori nearly burst out in laughter at the look on the man’s face. Instead he schooled his expression into calmness. "Tell the tailor that I was unexpectedly detained. I will meet with him shortly."

The servant didn’t look up. He simply nodded his head before backing away slowly. When the door had firmly closed behind him, Hotohori took the chance to look down at Nuriko. He smiled down into the smaller man’s eyes. "Thank you, You have just succeeded in granting me a little bit of space."

Nuriko smiled in response though he was unsure of what he had just done for the emperor. Hotohori caught his blank look and tried to explain. "Once he has delivered my message to the tailor, that man will run to my advisors telling them no doubt that he found me in the bath with one of my," The ruler’s voice held a hint of amusement as he said the next word, "ladies. Perhaps they will stop nattering at me to find a bride for at least a little while in hopes of seeing something develop."

"I am glad I could be of service," Nuriko grinned tipping his head up to steal a kiss from Hotohori.

Sighing into the kiss Hotohori broke it off. "I should start to get dressed or that servant is going to be back here soon."

Nuriko made a face. "I wish you didn’t have to go. I was enjoying myself."

"I was too, but it isn’t my fault I agreed to the fitting. Someone was distracting me at the time I seem to recall. " Hotohori ran a hand over Nuriko’s chin as the smaller man chuckled. "Come help me dress. The sooner I get this over with means the sooner we can be alone again."

Smiling in agreement Nuriko beat his lover out of the pool. Grabbing a thick towel, he began to dry the emperor off.

As Hotohori watched Nuriko work a satisfied smile turned his full lips. " Sometimes it was a very good thing to be the emperor," he thought happily to himself.

The end /\_/\