*When moonlight crawls along the street. Chasing away the summer heat.*

It was hours past dusk but the night sky was illuminated by the full moon that shone high above Kanagawa, outshining the glitter of the stars surrounding the luminious pale of globe. The warm season was upon them but for a good reason Mitsui had the windows to their room shut, and that reason was the panting young man underneath him. His lover is surprisingly loud, especially considering the man's nature to be very reserved. For a person as reserved as Kogure was, Mitsui had never guessed that Kogure could be so vocal. He had thought that his gentle superior would handle his passion as quietly as other things.
What people kept saying was true - it were the quiet ones that were full of surprises.
Not that he minded. Far from it. Every sound and expression his lover made he drank it up greedily like forbidden nectar and the knowledge that no one other than him sees the young man so open with this heady passion made him drunk with pleasure.

*Footsteps outside somewhere below. The world revolves I let it go.*

Mitsui thought he heard someone walking outside the compound. Maybe. Don't know. Don't care.
The world could blow up for all he cares. At that moment, his lover was his world.

Beautiful, gentle Kogure.

Kogure can be considered weak compared to the tough-as-nails fighters such as Sakuragi, Miyagi, Akagi and the better portion of the Toyotama divison who have no qualms of breaking into a full-fledged sword-fight to settle their differences but anyone who knew Kogure understood that there was a special kind of strength hidden underneath that gentle facade. The second-in-command might think that Mitsui holds dominant everytime they get into bed but little did he know that he holds the strings to the ex-gangster's heart.

*We practice love between these sheets. The candy sweetness scent of you. It bathes my skin, I'm stained by you.*

Ah. Nothing was sweeter than the innocent passion which Kogure gives freely to him. Imagine that. Him! Mitsui Hisaki, former bandit and occasional delinquent in the Shohoku army. Oh, he does make trouble in Anzai-sensei's castle sometimes, brought about by his lack of interest in literary studies made compulsory by the head of the division's army, and even if he does make trouble during combat practice as well (who wouldn't with the presence of that redheaded idiot in the team?) it was not often, for the art of sword-fighting holds a special place in his heart and after his initial awkwardness with Kogure after the infamous barrack fight between his gang of bandits and the Shohoku army division, slowly he has started to turn to the vice-captain as a source of advice and inspiration.

And soon as a source of affection.

He never would've guessed that the quiet boy who practiced swordfight with him two years ago would become his better half of life. And, who knows, maybe their bond will extend beyond life. Reincarnation? Hmm... did he believe in that? Probably. One does not live in this era not believing in things like that. If Kogure was to live again in another life, he would be sure to follow.

*And all I have to do is hold you. There's a racing in my heart. I am barely touching you.*

They have not done anything more than kiss and already his heart was threatening to leap out of his chest. And he wanted more.
Impatiently, he slipped his hand underneath the folds of Kogure's kimono to touch the soft but hard skin underneath. He groaned in his lover's mouth as his palms traced Kogure's neck reverently, down to the young man's chest, brushing over hard nipples and down to the washboard stomach made tough by hours of swordfighting practice.

*Turn the lights down low. Take it off.*

Earlier on they have limited the lights to one candle and the effect of the small golden flame bathing Kogure's slightly tanned body has turned the brown-haired man into some kind of spectre from a dream. A very good-looking spectre, Mitsui thought. Slowly, he tugged the kimino off, savouring the moment of exposing more of that beautiful expanse of skin.

*Let me show. My love for you, insatiable. Turn me on. Never stop. Want to taste every drop. My love for you, insatiable.*

When Mitsui has laid Kogure bare to his awed gaze, he gathered his lover up and crushed the man against him, kissing Kogure furiously as if he meant to devour him whole. And probably he hoped so, body and soul. To keep forever.

*Breathe in Breathe out. There is no sound.*

There was no other sound in their small room, other than their erratic breathing. It was the moment in time when everything seemed to stop in respect to the joining of two lovers who have given their heart to each other completely and without question.

*We move together up and down. We levitate our bodies soar. Our feet don't even touch the floor.*

Mitsui grinded Kogure against the matress, his feet digging onto the tatami covered floor for a steadier leverage while Kogure clawed at his back desperately. Their bodies writhed, fighting against each other as if in pain but in actuality they have transcended high into a realm of ecstacy where pleasure reigns. Their bodies were just a channel for this bonding, and their souls entwined as lovingly as lovers do.

*The moonlight plays upon your skin. A kiss that lingers takes me in. I fall asleep inside of you. There are no words. There's only truth.*

Mitsui lifted himself off of Kogure as soon as he regained enough strength to do so. The young man has yet to open his eyes but the quick rise and fall of his chest assured Mitsui that his lover has not passed out yet. As he waited for the soft brown eyes to appear underneath those frequently kissed eyelids, Mitsui stared wonderingly at him. The candle was already burnt out less than a minute ago and the only light that aided his sight was the pale glow of the moon shining through the rice-paper screen of the door. A sheen of sweat layered Kogure's skin and when he was before as beautiful as a living bronze statue, he was now as ethereal as a silver angel descended from heaven.
Finally, Kogure opened his eyes and he languidly gave Mitsui a smile that always sent Mitsui's brain to mush. They did not talk but merely stared at each other with a look full of love and affection. Slowly, Kogure lifted himself a little to place a lingering kiss on the scarred-face man's lips. Finding out how wonderful real love felt like, Mitsui thought that he could die a happy man. Exhaustion finally overcame them and they dropped off to sleep, bodies still joined.


****

A few days later a message arrived from the emperor ordering for reinforcements from every division of the Japanese army academies to dispatch ten of their best students to the assigned borders strategically planned to defend the land from foreign enemy. Mitsui was one of the fighters assigned to the Western border under Akagi's supervision while Kogure was to lead half of the ten warriors to the Southern division.

Before they left on their assignment, Kogure bowed to his captain, wishing him luck before he did the same to everyone in Akagi's team. When he came upon Mitsui, their gazes lingered for a moment before Kogure reluctantly turned away to mount his horse. That was the last time the two saw each other again.


****

(present time)

The gym was buzzing with tension. Yokota Chyu was heading the game with one point and Tawashi Chyu have only 12 seconds to spare. Everyone thought that Tawashi would not have a chance to win but somehow Kogure could not bring himself to agree. His belief for Tawashi came in the form of a basketball player wearing a number four jersey, who was at that moment conversing with his team in a loud voice. Even with the short time remaining, the player was positive that they could win and that Kogure thought deserved respect. He knew that many people would have given up by now.

When the game resumed, Tawashi's persistence presented their strong will to win. The spectators roared in excitement when Tawashi gained control of the ball but the climax came when the number 4 player of the team scored a perfect three pointer that would undoubtedly be etched in their memories forever.

"Amazing," Kogure breathed in awe before he joined in the loud applause with the rest of the spectators. A few minutes after the game ended, he walked away with his friends out of the gym while the Tawashi Chyu players celebrated their victory among themselves.

Mitsui Hisashi. I'll remember you.

Mitsui felt something strong tugging at his senses. Unconciously, he turned around, looking for the source of his restlessness but only saw the unfamiliar faces of the crowd making their way out of the gym. One face caught his attention though, but the boy has already disappeared before he had a chance to clearly evaluate other than geeky and uninteresting. Suddenly his team-mates were on him, and he forgot all about the boy with the soft brown eyes underneath the clear glasses.

Until their next meeting, that is.

*My love for you, insatiable*


~owari