The Sound of Silence.

4

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Tengen and Kyojuro sat on the couch, the rest of the house was quiet. Tengen's wives had all gone to bed, since it was late, and the duo decided to stay up and talk. What did they talk about? Nothing. At least, not for the first ten minutes of being left alone. They just sat and took in each other's presence. Eventually Tengen sighed, turning to the flame hashira and asking something the young man never thought he would be asked.

"What's your type?"

"Huh?" At first he was confused, his type? In what? Kyojuro looked at him to express his perplexed feelings.

"Men, woman, both?" Tengen continued.

Kyojuro was silent. He never told people his sexuality, when he told his father he got mad and made him sleep outside for a week. Kyojuro was only 14 then. Ever since that moment he never shared the fact he liked guys, except with Kanroji as the two had know eachother for a long while. She supported him but she was the only one to have discovered it and asked him about it.

He looked away, unsure how to respond to his waiting friend. Should he just say it? Lie? If he says it he might ruin their friendship, but Tengen was a genuinely accepting guy. He decided he wouldn't risk it.

"I don't know, never really thought about it.."

Tengen hummed, leaning back. After a few more minutes he turned to Kyojuro, "want to kiss me and figure it out?"

The flame hashira sat dumbfounded. A blush creeping onto his face, "w-what-?"

"Kiss me. You can figure out if you like it or not and we can go from there!" His offer was genuine, he honestly wanted to help his friend figure himself out. Tengen knew that he himself was a bisexual, he loved woman and men, but he had grown curious of his friends type for some time.

"I don't know.. are you sure? What if I don't like it? Isn't it wrong? Frowned upon?"

Tengen chuckled, ruffling his hair and stopping his questions, "1. Yes I'm sure, I honestly don't mind! 2. If you don't then you know your not into guys, or your atleast not into me. Either works. 3. No, people are just picky and dont like anything different from them. 4. Also same as question 3."

Kyojuro opened his mouth to speak, Tengen cut him off to speak, "and don't mention my wives. Our entire relationship is platonic. We're more so friends that were forced to get married but the benefits are great."

The two went quiet, Rengoku sighing then glancing at him, "I don't know how to do this-"

"It's okay. I'll show you!" Tengen leaned forwards and Kyojuro followed the action. Their lips hovered on top the other before they collided, the kiss was awkward at first. Kyojuro had no idea what he was doing but trusted Tengen's guidance. Wait why was he doing this, he already knew he was gay. Why did he agree?! Did he want to kiss his best friend? His extremely flashy, hot, amazing, accepting best friend? He brushed off the thoughts, might aswell enjoy this while it lasts.

Kyojuro soon grew desperate, wrapping his arms around the man's body and pulling his closer. They broke apart, Tengen smiling at the other, "I guess you like guys. You seemed like you wanted more~" he teased.

Kyojuro glanced away, mumbling to himself, "maybe I did."

Tengen managed to pick up the words, honestly shocked but he shrugged it off. He grabbed Rengoku's collar and pulled them close once more to reconnect their bodies. Kyojuro was taken aback by the action but eventually gave in as the stronger man pushed him down onto the couch. Their lips collided then broke then met once again, Kyojuro grew desperate once more and grabbed the sound hashira's sides.

"More?" Tengen asked, lifting his head and staring at the flustered mess below him. Kyojuro nodded and Tengen took it as an invitation. He began attacking his neck, kissing and biting at spots till he found where he was sensitive. He got to the base of his neck and his collar bone, Kyojuro moaning at the feeling.

Their adventure was soon interrupted, a light flicking on nearby. Hinatsuru stood in the door way, watching the two males with an amused look.

"How long have you been standing there." Tengen asked, sitting up and backing away from Kyojuro. Kyojuro sat up as well and backing up out of embarrassment.

"A minute or two.." She chuckled lightly and stepped forwards, "how long have you two been a thing?"

Tengen's face flushed red, he put his hands up in defence, "we're not dating! We're just friends and I was helping him discover himself!"

'Just friends..?' Kyojuro glanced away, the stars clear through the window. For some reason, perhaps the fact he did love his friend, that statement hurt.

Hinatsuru glanced at Kyojuro and noticed his saddened expression, "...uh-huh. Well you better talk to him about that." She said, leaving the room to a confused Tengen and an upset Kyojuro.

"What did she mean by that?" Tengen huffed, turning to Kyojuro. The flame hashira didn't look at him, his gaze was locked onto the hardwood floor as his eyebrows scrunched to hold himself together. Tengen placed a hand on his shoulder, "Kyo? You okay?"

"I'm going on a walk." Kyojuro stated, standing up suddenly causing Tengen's hand to fall from his friend. Tengen watched him leave the room, the front door opening then closing a few minutes later. The sound hashira had no idea what just happened. They were having fun, He was helping Kyojuro discover that hey he does like men! Awesome! But now the younger male seems upset at him? He was confused.

He thought over the conversation, one line stuck out to him and he realized that's when the feeling in the room had shifted. "We're just friends..." he repeated from what he had said minutes before. It hit him like a train. (the MUGEN TRAI- [im sorry])

Kyojuro likes him. Or.. liked. He wasn't sure. He may have just screwed it up for them both with that one slip up. He needed to go find Kyojuro and talk to him.