Jesters & Kings

Jesters & Kings Part 3
A Love Mode Fanfic


"He hurts me and makes me cry. I'm totally pissed off but...why does it have to be that man-?"

Katsuki watched Jin walk away, the party around him completely forgotten. He was confused by the confrontation, and shaken by Jin's momentary closeness. His words still echoed around his mind. He didn't want to be at the party, no. The upperclass world he'd once aspired to had long since lost it's glamour to him. And Noe certainly wasn't his first choice in lovers. But he'd chosen his path when he'd accepted being Eiko's pet. He played the game because he had no choice. The only other option had been Jin's offer of a postition at the B&B. And that had only been another joke, hadn't it? He wasn't running from anything...was he?

A gentle hand on his arm snapped him out of his spiral of thoughts. He turned to find Noe looking at him, a mixture of concern and another emotion in his eyes. "Are you alright, my dove?"

The pet name reminded him of his position, and he turned to him. "Yes...of course. Did your conversation go well, Noe-san?"

"It did." Noe's eyes looked past him for a moment, and Katsuki somehow knew what his next question would be. "Who was that man?"

"An aquaintance." The words left a sour taste in his mouth. "We have a mutual friend."

"He seems to have upset you." Noe pointed out. "Are you sure you're alright? Perhaps we should go back to the hotel."

Possessiveness. That was a new one for Noe, and truly bad timing for it to come out too. "Don't be silly, the party's barely started."

"Still, if you aren't well..." Noe began.

"Is there something you aren't telling me?" Katsuki asked him, and watched a guilty look flash across his features.

"Of course not, my dove. I'm just concerned for your welfare."

"I just need to freshen up." Setting down his plate of appetizers, he leaned up to brush his lips against Noe's cheek. "I'll be right back." He headed out of the main room of the party, needing time away from Noe and the rest of the guests.

"You've been gone awhile." The young man stood to take Jin's arm when he approached. "Is something wrong?"

"Not at all." Jin assured him.

"We'll talk again soon." He told his companions, and gave a slight tug on the captured arm in the direction he wanted to head. Jin led the way away from the group, and his client sighed in relief. "If it wasn't expected of me, I'd never attend this event." He confessed. "It's so boring!" Taking one of the appetizer's off his plate he popped it into his mouth. "What did happen to Amagai?"

"Disappointed?"

"Of course not." His eyes sparkled. "Surprised, but never disappointed. Can we find an empty retreat for now, though?"

"I think that can be arranged, Tagawa-san."

Katsuki splashed some cool water on his face. He'd removed the suit jacket and tie to avoid water splashing on them. Taking a hand towel to pat his face dry he sighed. This wasn't how he'd expected the evening to go. It was supposed to be a simple night of agreeing to Noe's ideas and flirting with other guests when he found himself alone. He'd entertained hopes of finding someone new. Instead he'd been forced into a confrontation with Jin, and then had had to convince Noe to stay at the party instead of leave. Not at all what he'd expected.

He pulled on his tie as he exited, debating about whether to seek out Noe right away, or take some time to flirt with other guests first. He was passing one of the sitting rooms when Jin's familiar voice caught him.

"Feeling better?"

"Much, thank-you. A little privacy is always nice."

Katsuki bit his lip, and told himself to keep walking, but somehow he found his feet moving toward the door.

Tagawa collapsed into one of the seats. "Ah! Comfy!" He smiled up at Jin. "Another bite?" He held out his hands toward the plate that was just out of his reach.

"Feel free." Jin teased him, not moving.

The young man pouted. "I don't want to move, I'm comfortable."

"Than why do you need the food?"

"I'm comfortable and hungry." He explained. Jin moved the plate closer, but - when Tagawa reached for it - snatched it away. "You're a terrible tease, Jin-san!"

"Am I now?" He arched an eyebrow, amused.

Tagawa pouted for a moment, but couldn't hold it. Laughing he sat up, reaching for the plate, only for Jin to hold it farther away. "A challenge, eh?" With a grin, he stretched up to touch Jin's lips with his own, his hand still reaching for the plate.

Jin took over the kiss as Tagawa's hand crept closer to the food. His lips closing over the ones brushing against his. He knew the other man was still attempting to grab for one of the morsels of food, but a noise caught his attention. He saw the swinging door into the room was open a crack, and a pair of familiar eyes glaring through them for only an instant before they were gone. Footsteps, muffled by the door as it swung shut retreated down the hallway.

Tagawa's hand closed around one of the appetizers and he broke off the kiss, taking a deep breath as he collapsed back against the chair. "AH! You'll make me regret the terms of our contract." He smiled up at him. "But our evening ends with the party. No Sex. Don't forget." He winked and popped the food into his mouth - closing his eyes.

He didn't see the grim look Jin turned on the door, nor the small shake of his head.

'Stupid, stupid, stupid!' The words repeated themselves in Katsuki's head as he fled down the hallways of the hotel, losing himself in the maze of corridors. His tie flapped around his neck, still untied, and he still held his suit jacket clenched in one hand. He payed no attention to either fact, nor the concerned looks from the few staff members he passed. He was only aware of his heart pounding in his ears, the words repeating themselves over and over in his head, the image of Jin kissing the other man burning in his mind, and the sharp sting of tears behind his eyes.

Jin was a host, he was payed to flirt, to kiss, to SLEEP with other men. He knew that. And still, it hurt. It had been a long time since he'd last even seen the other man, and still it hurt. It didn't make one bit of sense, and yet he couldn't stop his feet from running, as if he could make himself forget by putting enough distance between them.

As he turned the corner he crashed into someone, and his speed sent them both sprawling. For a moment he lay still - dazed - then he slowly became aware of the hard body of a man below him, and a pair of hands resting on his waist. He pushed himself up, realizing his hands were resting on the shoulder of the man he was on top of. He found himself regarding the other man for a moment, as they both took in the situation they found themselves in, and eachother's appearance.

"This may be the first time I've asked this of a beautiful man straddling me, but can you get off now?" Despite the amusement in his voice and eyes, Katsuki flushed in embarrassment as he hurridly stood up, offering a hand to the other man.

"I'm so terribly sorry. Please forgive me." He hastily bowed in apology.

"Don't worry, I've had far worse things happen to me than ending up on the floor with a handsome youth in my arms." The man he'd bumped into grinned cheekily. "In a different time and place, I'd never have been so hasty to ask you to move."

Caught off guard, Katsuki felt his face burning in a blush. "Rather bold words to say to a stranger."

"As we just got alot closer than most strangers dream of a few bold words aren't unforgiveable, are they?" He replied cockily. "Besides, the stranger part is easily taken care of, isn't it? I am Akechi Imura." He bowed.

"...Katsuki Kyousuke." Katsuki offered. He found the man's ability to be so in control given the situation enviable.

"Broken love affair?" Akechi asked, catching him off-guard again.

"What?"

"You're running down a hotel hallway half-dressed...and you've been crying." He reached out a gentle hand to brush away a tear from his face.

Katsuki backed away, reaching up a hand to wipe away any remaining sign of tears. It was ironic really. His current love affair was ending tonight, and he hadn't been tempted to cry once. But the sight of Jin kissing his client had sent him over the edge. "No...it's nothing."

Akechi's face grew serious. "It's obviously something."

"I'm not in the custom of pouring out my troubles to strangers."

"We're no longer strangers, remember? Besides, you might be surprised at the help a friendly ear can serve. Not to mention an outside opinion."

Katsuki chuckled dryly. "Somehow, I think the situation would be a bit beyond an outsider."

"Once again, you might be surprised." Akechi's eyes wrinkled in amusement again. "Are you a guest at the hotel?"

"I'm here to attend the party."

"Well, then, perhaps I'll see you later." Akechi bowed. "I take my leave of you."

The words froze Katsuki in his place. He found himself watching Akechi walk away, too startled to form a reply.


To Be Continued...


Yes, things just got ALOT more complicated, for all parties involved. No, Akechi shouldn't be familiar. Like Noe and Tagawa, he's an OC. One that'll play a pretty big part in the story. So I hope you'll all learn to like him.

Salmon