FIRE

FIRE 16

Jaejoong nodded, silently assuring Mother to follow the Royal Advisor Shim. The Great Emperor of Bakura might be a changed man but he's a man of his words and he'd vowed to protect them. Going back on his words is simply not an option. It's a natural trait for the people of Bakura that they would rather die than lie.

"Where will I-" Jaejoong's voice trailed off, overwhelmed with the sheer intensity of the Great Emperor's stare. He looked away immediately. He is undeserving of such adoration. He is no longer worthy for him.

"Will you not embrace me, my Love?" The Great Emperor suddenly croaked, voice breaking at his beloved's rejection. "Not once, had you even spared me a look. I had thought you were embarrassed in their presence but even now, my Love? Even when we are alone, will you not love me again? Will you not give me life?"

Jaejoong couldn't bear this. His Yunho rarely display his raw emotion so openly and his hurt pained him. Even back at the Academy, the older man had remained cold even with him. He shouldn't be this open.

It seemed like time had really changed them both.

Staring at his scarred hands, he spoke fluidly even though his gruff voice only made horrible sounds that tore his heart. "I am no longer your beloved, Great Emperor. The man you love is no more."

"Lies!" The Great Emperor roared, stalking forward and wrenching the man into his arms. "The man I love is here! Why are you pushing me away? Have you not punished me enough? I had lived a terrible life, a life worst than Death itself, remembering you! I had lost my heart and my reason when you abandoned me!"

The accusation tore him apart. Pushing away, Jaejoong spat ruthlessly. "It was you who abandoned me!" He heaved, not used to screaming eith his condition. "When you left the Academy, how I longed for your news! How I wished you would write back to me but never! Not even once had you pitied me!"

Instead of guilt though, Jaejoong found the Great Emperor's face painted with surprise. And growing fury.

"My letters... You never received them?"

Jaejoong frowned though he doubted the older man could see the difference. He had thought of this possibility before. Hyun Chul... You really are a fox. "It seemed like we're both been had."

The Great Emperor closed his eyes, growling low. "They will pay for this! I will skin them alive and feed their dying bodies to the birds! I will- I will-" He trembled, unable to think of a worst punishment and hating himself for that.

Despite Jaejoong's better thought, his body moved on its own to comfort the shaking man. As soon as his palm landed on the man's skin though, he found himself pulled and thrown on the bed. Jaejoong can no longer escape now, not when the Great Emperor crushed him under his heavy body.

"But their retribution can wait. I will avenge you, but now, now my Beloved Jaejoong, I beg you. Teach me how to love you again."

Jaejong whimpered. This is not real. "How can I teach you to love this?" He questioned, eyes filling with tears as he gestured to himself. "Can you not see these burns on my face...?! Can you not feel these scars all over my body?! Can you not hear these sounds I make?! I am no longer the same, Yunho of Bakura! I have lost all that you fell for!" Again, Jaejoong found himself crying for the same man.

The Great Emperor's eyes hardened. Wordlessly he grabbed a hand and forced it to his manhood still hidden behind his royal robe. "Do you feel that, Jaejoong of Yani?" He groaned, filling even more at the whimper he heard. "Throughout the years, Mother Queen had forced me to bed tributes and offerings when I become estranged... thinking I'd lost you... Do you know what become of those men and women? I'd killed them all. Every single one of them! Do you know why?"

Jaejoong shook his head, his head aching and so does his manhood. It had been too long...

"Because they couldn't make me hard." He informed heatedly, loving the way his beloved writhed under him after all this years. He recognized the signs and he knew, the man will not reject him for long. Even when he told him of the men and women, his love had stiffened under him though there's really no need for him to be jealous. He had only ever loved a man and one man only. "I will not fill unless when I thought of you... Unless I have you under me like this... So beautiful... My Jaejoong..."

That word struck him. Beautiful. The Great Emperor had called him beautiful. And the man truly believed his word, eyes bright with pride and love even though Jaejoong could clearly see his miseries reflected in the man's eyes. How could he still think of him that way after all that had passed between them?

"You... find me beautiful... still?"

"I find you perfect, Love."

"Even like this?"

"Any time, my Jaejoong... You are most precious to me, can't you feel it?"

Jaejoong slowly, unsurely, nodded. "How long had it been? 11? 12 years?"

The Great Emperor ruefully agreed, pressing harder against the willing body. "139 full moons had passed since I last saw you."

"That long?"

"Do not deny me anymore, please. I am yours... Love me, my Jaejoong, and let me love you again. Be mine again."

He'd lost. Caressing the Great Emperor's jaw lightly, he relented. "Yours, my Emperor. Take me. Remind me how to love myself again."