“No, Hideyuki-san! You must not enter into manlove with Commander Masanao.” Kobayashi’s eyes were wide with fear.

Hideyuki studied the other samurai’s face in the dance of firelight. He rubbed his chin, badly in need of a shave, with thumb and forefinger. “And why not?” His own interview with the commander was for the following afternoon.

Kobayashi leaned toward him, bottom lip trembling. “Because he is perverse.” That last word blended with a shower of sparks from their campfire.

Hideyuki’s hand went to the hilt of his wakizashi, but then slipped away. Not only was it illegal to draw one’s weapon, there was no honor in slaying a worm like Kobayashi no matter what slander he put forth. The truth of Masanao’s character was evident in the dark pierce of his almond-shaped eyes, in his aristocratically rounded features and broad-shouldered stance. No other samurai was as fine or as handsome as Commander Masanao and Hideyuki had sworn to himself at age thirteen that when he found the samurai he could truly follow, he would submit to him, body and soul.

After thirteen years of watching Masanao advance in the ranks, and then serving in his unit when he came of age, Hideyuki was positive he’d found that warrior.

He narrowed his eyes at Kobayashi. Like so many of their class, the man was a samurai in title only. The warrior’s code, bushido, was not in him and Hideyuki could only guess that Kobayashi’s intense physical beauty alone had won him an interview with the commander. After all, Masanao was human and most humans, male and female, were taken with Kobayashi at first. “Tell me of this perversion, Kobayashi-san,” he said. “That way, I can never claim I wasn’t warned.”

Kobayashi swallowed hard and sat back on his haunches. “Masanao does not merely seek a companion to replace Kazuhiro.”

And why would he? Hideyuki pictured the commander with his kimono open, his tall broad body all smooth golden muscle. Masanao needs faith, service…loyalty. Kazuhiro was a fine swordsman as well as a faithful companion. However his time to marry and produce children had come and Masanao had obviously grieved the loss of his lover since he’d waited nearly two whole years to find another.

“When I went for my interview, he wanted me to…to…” Kobayashi’s lip continued to quake and his eyes stared into the fire.

“Never mind, Kobayashi-san.” He lay back on his futon bedroll and stretched his legs out toward the fire. Within his loincloth, his musuko tightened with need. He’d already decided that whatever the commander asked of him, he’d do. “No need for you to relive the distress. I will wait until tomorrow and find out for myself.”

And why would he? Hideyuki pictured the commander with his kimono open, his tall broad body all smooth golden muscle. Masanao needs faith, service…loyalty. Kazuhiro was a fine swordsman as well as a faithful companion. However his time to marry and produce children had come and Masanao had obviously grieved the loss of his lover since he’d waited nearly two whole years to find another.

“When I went for my interview, he wanted me to…to…” Kobayashi’s lip continued to quake and his eyes stared into the fire.

“Never mind, Kobayashi-san.” He lay back on his futon bedroll and stretched his legs out toward the fire. Within his loincloth, his musuko tightened with need. He’d already decided that whatever the commander asked of him, he’d do. “No need for you to relive the distress. I will wait until tomorrow and find out for myself.”