Haruka's Fanfiction

Contains spoilers for later episodes of Gekirangers (takes place after ep 47, as if 48 & 49 didn’t happen.) This is a prompt fic with the prompt posted at the end. Yaoi warning.

Betraying Past (Gekirangers)

By Haruka (haruka@ymail.com)

--

Rio ducked and countered, was met with a fresh attack and reacted in kind.

The practice duel at the Gekirangers’ headquarters had been going on for a while. The last time he and Gou had battled – either in practice or seriously – had been a long time ago, and the two were enjoying themselves now. Both of them had improved in skill since they last fought.

“You’re better than you used to be,” Rio remarked as they circled each other once more. “Someday you might even beat me.”

“Someday?” Gou laughed. “Try today, you arrogant son of a—“

He never got to finish as Rio launched a new flurry of attacks, his speed even faster than when they’d begun. It was all Gou could do to keep up, let alone counter-attack, and finally, Rio landed a powerful kick that knocked Gou off his feet, giving the young lion the chance he needed. He pounced on his fallen foe and straddled him, fist poised above his face. “You give?”

Gou debated trying to throw Rio off, but suspected he would get hurt before he would be able. “Yeah, I give.”

Rio stood up and offered Gou his hand. The wolf allowed him to help him up and they smiled at each other.

“It’s been a long time, Rio,” Gou said as they took a seat on the bench to have a much-needed drink of water. “It felt great, though.”

The former leader of the RinJyuDen nodded, his long dark hair falling forward. “It did. You’re not the challenger that GekiRed is, but it was fun.”

Gou smacked his own forehead with his fist. “Oh, man! You sure know how to give a backhanded compliment!”

Rio shrugged. “It can’t be helped, Gou. Jan is my destined rival.” He met the other boy’s eyes. “But you were my first friend. I’d like for us to have that again.”

Gou looked relieved and nodded. “I’d like that, too, and Miki would be really happy about it. I’m glad you’re back, even if it was a rough road getting here.” He looked down at the floor, then back at Rio. “I didn’t get a chance to say so earlier, but I’m sorry about everything Long did to you.”

Rio sighed. “You’re the last one who should be saying that to me. After what I did to you, and to Dan –“

Gou dropped the water bottle and caught Rio by the shoulders, shaking him. “Stop it, you hear me?!” You were being manipulated every step of the way, right from the moment Long murdered your family!”

Rio wrenched away and stood up. “Don’t you think I know that?! I KNOW I’ve been Long’s puppet and he’s played me for years, but it doesn’t stop me from feeling guilty for the things I did!”

Gou got up and moved closer to him. “Does it help at all if I say I forgive you? Rio, we were so close once, like brothers – even more.”

Rio saw the change in Gou’s expression and remembered earlier days. Times when the two of them would sneak away from Miki at camp to engage in mischief that they’d managed to keep secret to that day.

“I’m grateful for your forgiveness,” Rio told him honestly and smiled thoughtfully. “Back then … we were really something, weren’t we?”

“If I’d only known what was behind it all, I would have been more help to you,” Gou said and fingered the strands of Rio’s hair that brushed his shoulders. “I loved you, in so many ways.”

“Gou,” Rio started to say, then was cut off by the other boy’s mouth on his own. It was a shock, not only because he hadn’t been expecting it, but because it brought back a flood of memories. Stolen moments, whispers in the night, holding each other –

A vision of Mele’s face crossed his mind and Rio pushed Gou back. “I can’t,” he said. “You know I love Mele now – she and I are committed to each other. What we had –“

“It doesn’t have to be past tense,” Gou insisted, putting both hands on either side of Rio’s face. “We can recapture it. I know about Mele, but you and I were first, and it’s only fair that we see where we can go now that you’re back.”

“Gou,” Rio tried again and his friend kissed him once more.

“Just think about it,” Gou said. “Please. I’ll leave my door unlocked tonight. Think it over, and come see me.”

He left Rio standing alone with his mouth partly open, lips still feeling the tingling pressure of memory.

--

“Goodnight, Rio-sama,” Mele said, going up on her toes to kiss him. His arm encircled her, holding her there for a few lingering moments.

“Sleep well,” he said, and watched her head to her own room with a little wave back at him.

Mele was beautiful, smart, and a cunning fighter. The two of them had made a formidable team in RinJyuDen, and after Rio declared his love for her with actions if not words, they were formidable lovers. He had planned to be with her forever.

So why was he thinking about Gou?

His old friend’s kiss had stirred a lot of feelings that he’d thought were dead and buried. There was no question that it was his fault their relationship had ended; the nasty business of trying to kill Gou had changed everything. Amazingly, Gou now wanted to forgive him. That kiss made him think of nights they had lain in each other’s arms murmuring about events of the day, giggling at how clueless Miki was about their activities, softly caressing each other after wild lovemaking.

He had to admit it; he was tempted by Gou’s offer to visit him that night. Yes, he loved Mele very much, but the history with Gou that was brought to an abrupt end by his own actions … he was starting to wonder what might have been.

“This is crazy,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair, which only served to remind him how Gou had played with it earlier. In fact, he realized with a start, it was Gou who had first told him he liked it long.

“No!” he hissed. So Gou liked his hair; so did Mele! She was forever entwining her fingers in it, commenting on its texture, just as she complimented his muscles, his fighting skill and his ability to command. Not to mention his sexual prowess.

She adored him, and he loved her fiercely, protectively. He wouldn’t stand for her being with any other man, not that she ever showed an interest in exploring that possibility.

He glanced at the clock. Everyone would be in bed by now, and he was supposed to be there himself. The question was, whose bed would it be?

--

Jan was often up before anyone else; it came from having lived in the woods and rising with the sun along with the animals. Today he had decided to find someone to help him make breakfast, since he’d been told not to ever attempt it alone again. His first try had resulted in screaming smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.

No one seemed to be up yet in the hallway. Jan passed from door to door, listening for signs of life he could take advantage of. It appeared he was out of luck, and he had almost given up the idea when something caught his attention as he passed Rio’s room. His supersensitive nose didn’t detect Rio inside – the room was vacant. Lifting his chin, Jan sniffed the air. Rio was close, so he followed the scent until he reached Gou’s door. A couple more sniffs and he confirmed it; Rio was already up and visiting Gou! Maybe he could get both of them to help with breakfast. He opened the door and hesitated.

The boys weren’t up at all – they were both in Gou’s bed, sound asleep. Neither was wearing anything from the waist up, and they were laying very close together, Rio’s head on Gou’s shoulder.

Oh oh ….

“Jan, what are you doing?”

The young man jumped and turned, finding Ran there, dressed for her early-morning jog. “Ran, hi,” he said, trying to keep his voice down. “I … um ….”

She frowned. “What’s going on?” she asked, peering past him. She gasped. “Oh, my God ….”

Rio raised his head sleepily and saw Ran and Jan, then remembered where he was. He and Ran locked eyes.

“You jerk!” she accused, and he couldn’t deny it.

“Whazz goin’ on?” Gou mumbled, half-waking up but not wanting to, trying to pull Rio back down even as the other boy was struggling to sit up. When Gou finally opened his eyes and saw the others, he groaned.

“I don’t even KNOW where this came from!” Ran exclaimed. “But Rio, how could you do this to Mele?!”

“Listen –“ Rio started to get up, then realized he was naked. “Do you mind turning around?” he asked impatiently.

“YES, I mind! I think Mele should see you exactly as you are!”

“This isn’t your business, Ran,” Gou pointed out.

“Hey,” Retsu’s voice came from across the hall, “you guys are being noisy, what’s happening over –“ he stopped, seeing the scene in the bed. “Niisan!” He stared at his big brother. “What the --?!”

“Retsu, it’s nothing to get worked up about,” Gou tried to say. “Would you please take Ran out of here and –“

“I’m not going anywhere!”

“How can you say this is nothing?!” Retsu accused, turning his focus on Rio. “What about Mele?!”

“I don’t understand.” Jan scratched his head. “Lots of animals mate with different partners – people can’t?”

“They SHOULDN’T,” Ran stated firmly, eyeing Rio. “Not when they’ve promised themselves to one person.”

“Hey, losers,” Mele snapped as she stomped down the hall, “keep your voices down before you wake up –“ She stopped, staring into the room. “Rio-sama.”

“Mele,” he said, wanting to say more, but not in front of an audience.

Without another word, Mele turned and walked away. Rio moved to get up, once again having to stop because of Ran’s presence.

“Will you get the hell out of here?!” he yelled.

“What’s going on --?” came Miki’s voice as she approached from down the hall.

Rio hung his head. How had he allowed this to happen?

--

Mele was nowhere to be found and she wouldn’t answer her communicator. Ken had gotten up late and learned of it all after the chaos broke out. He offered to go out and hunt for Mele.

The others were all in the main room, looking at Rio and Gou with varying degrees of anger, disappointment, and amazement. Only Master Shafu was remaining quiet.

Miki shook her head. “I feel very foolish, not having realized that you two had been involved before.”

“We got good at hiding it,” Gou said.

“You sound proud of it, but it’s wrong!” Ran argued. “You can’t possibly be in love with each other after everything that happened, which means you hurt Mele for a casual fling and it’s disgusting!”

“Hey!” Gou said angrily. “We had something good back then and we wanted to re-live some of that! It’s got nothing to do with Mele!”

“How can you say that when she loves him so much, Niisan?!” Retsu demanded. “And for that matter, how can YOU treat things so lightly when Rio tried to kill you?!”

“Retsu, we agreed Rio and Mele were to be forgiven for what they did under Long’s influence,” Miki interrupted, looking at the boys. “But that doesn’t mean you have permission to engage in such activities in this place, and I agree that Mele’s feelings should have been considered, especially by you, Rio.”

Rio stood up, “I know that!” he exploded. “Don’t you think I feel terrible about this?! I LOVE Mele!”

“Then why did you do this?” Ran demanded.

“I ….” Rio looked back toward Gou and tried to think of an answer. Why HAD he done it?

Gou had been his first friend, and they’d had some great times together. Sex had been new and exciting for them then, and while he loved Gou, both then and now, had he ever been IN love with him? Had he thought about spending the rest of his life with him?

No, he hadn’t. There was only one person he wanted by his side forever, and it was the girl whom he had just – as Ran had put it – hurt for a casual fling.

“It was a mistake,” he said finally. “I’m sorry , Gou, but we never should have done this. I have to find Mele.” He turned to the door and saw Ken there.

“I already did,” he said. “I brought her back, she’s in her room.”

This is it, Rio thought, feeling uncharacteristically nervous. He happened to meet Master Shafu’s eyes and his teacher said sagely, “In honesty, there is training.”

--

Rio stood uncertainly outside Mele’s door. It was a strange feeling; he’d never had to hesitate with her before. He summoned his courage and knocked.

Long enough went by that he wasn’t sure she was in there at all, but finally the door opened and she looked up at him. Her eyes were red and there were tearstains on her cheeks. “Rio-sama.”

He winced inside at the honorific, knowing he really didn’t deserve that from her anymore. “May I speak with you?” he asked.

She turned away, allowing him entrance. He walked in and closed the door, then placed his hands on her shoulders from behind. “Mele … I’m sorry. There’s nothing between Gou and I but friendship, really.”

She looked back at him incredulously. “Is it customary among friends to share a bed that way?”

He paused, then shook his head. “Not exactly. Gou and I, our first times together were based on friendship, yes. And I loved him – I do still – but it’s not the same as being IN love with him.”

“But you slept with him.”

“I was –“ Rio stopped and sighed, brushing back his hair in frustration. “Ever since coming back here, I haven’t been sure of how well we’re being accepted. It’s looked like they’ve been all ‘forgive and forget’, but I didn’t know. And with what happened between Gou and I back then, it suddenly seemed like a way to recapture something I was afraid I’d lost.”

“I don’t understand,” Mele insisted, fresh tears starting to fill her eyes. “You had to sleep with him to regain his friendship?”

“Not exactly – well, sort of,” Rio said, then shook his head. “No. We could have been friends without that. I guess I just wanted to feel less like a villain, to recapture the way I was back then.” He touched her cheek. “Instead I made myself into an even worse kind of villain, by hurting the girl I REALLY love.”

She gazed at him with tentative hope. “You … you DO still want me then?”

“Yes!” He enfolded her in his arms. “God, yes, Mele, I love you! What I did with Gou was impulsive and stupid and completely wrong, and I wish it had never happened. If you can find it in you to forgive me, I promise it will never happen again.”

Mele gave a blissful sigh and nestled against him. “Oh, Rio-sama, of course I forgive you. You don’t even have to ask. I’ll forgive you anything.”

He knew it was true, and that made him feel worse. Mele didn’t just love him; she worshipped him as the one who had brought her back from the dead. He could do no wrong in her eyes. Even if he had told her that his affair with Gou would continue, she probably would still accept it, even if it broke her heart, because all that mattered was his happiness.

“But,” she added, “if that wolf touches you again, I’ll kill him.”

Or maybe not. Rio held her close and vowed that no matter what happened, he would be more conscious of Mele’s feelings in the future. They would get past this, and she would forgive him, but he knew deep down that neither of them would ever forget it.

--

(2008)

Prompt: ‘To err is human’ or a favorite character makes a bad choice (details here.)

Gekirangers belongs to Toei.

This fic is not to be reposted.