An Unlikely Love: (Rhongomiant X Canopus) - COMPLETE

CHAPTER 1

Rhongomiant watched the two lovers toss about on the grassy bank of the river.  Seeing them together was slow torture, but he couldn’t seem to look away.  Why he was there, he didn’t know, but when he’d seen Barbatos and Ikutachi walking hand in hand that morning, he couldn’t help but follow.  Keeping out of sight, he’d found a spot underneath a large willow tree.  It provided a perfect view and good cover, so he could watch without being seen. 

The two lovers were completely lost in one another; oblivious to everything around them. They made love like it was their first and last time, and the way Barbatos held Ikutachi was both frightening and beautiful to watch.  Even from his position, Rhongomiant could tell Barbatos was walking a thin line:  On one side he offered Ikutachi endless pleasure.  On the other, unimaginable pain.  Yet every time he thought Barbatos was about to lose control, Ikutachi would temper the Phantom’s passion with a gentle touch or kiss.  It was unlike anything Rhongomiant had ever seen. 

 He sighed longingly.  How he envied Ikutachi.  How he wished it was him in Barbatos’ arms.  What an incredible feeling it must be to be worshiped so…

“That could have been you.”   He whispered to himself bitterly.  “If only you’d confessed sooner.”

Rhongomiant had loved Barbatos for longer than he could remember.  For months, he’d tried to tell Barbatos the truth:  That he saw him as more than just a friend.  But every time Rhongomiant tried to broach the subject, he lost his nerve.  He was afraid that if he confessed, he’d lose his friend forever.  And wouldn’t that be worse?  Surely having Barbatos as a friend was better than nothing at all.  It seemed like such a simple concept.  Love him, but don’t tell him.  Easy, right? 

Not at all… The unfortunate truth is that love is not an emotion easily hidden.  It’s only a matter of time before all the feelings you tried so desperately to secret away, start bubbling to the surface.  And once it starts, it’s impossible to stop.

Rhongomiant reached his breaking point late one Friday evening.  It was the night he, Barbatos and a few other daemons gathered to drink and catch up.  It was a weekly event, and Rhongomiant looked forward to it since it was one of the few times he and Barbatos got to hang out.

Looking back, Rhongomiant wasn’t entirely sure how he and Barbatos ended up alone in one of Master Akasha’s bathrooms, but such details are usually forgotten when copious amounts of alcohol are involved.  One thing led to another, and the next thing Rhongomiant knew, he was trying to jump Barbatos on the bathroom sink.

Several things happened after that, but none of them included him and Barbatos making love and living happily ever after… 

Rhongomiant had never been so embarrassed in his life, but to Barbatos’ credit, he let him down graciously.  It’s hard to call flat out rejection gracious, but Rhongomiant could tell Barbatos was trying his damnedest to let him down easy.  So, despite feeling like he’d just had his heart ripped out and stomped on, Rhongomiant couldn’t bring himself to be mad at the Phantom.  Especially since his reason for turning him down was such a good one.  Apparently, Barbatos was in love.

That night, no one could have said Barbatos wasn’t a gentleman.  Sure he was rough around the edges, but even a demon like him could be kind and compassionate when he wanted to be.  And that fateful evening, in the middle of the first floor bathroom, Barbatos proved it.  Sadly, all the kindness and compassion in the world could not save Rhongomiant from a broken heart. 

Barbatos never told him who it was he loved, and Rhongomiant never asked.  In fact, that was the last time Rhongomiant went to see Barbatos.  It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see his old friend; it was more like he couldn’t.  Not without reliving the horrible rejection all over again.