*Boys in the girls room
Girls in the men's room
You free your mind in your androgyny*

Kogure did not know how it happened. Well, he had an inkling of it, but something tainted his blood circulatory system, making his thought process sluggish and unsure. What he remembered was that it started out as a birthday party for Sakuragi had now gone awry by the quick intake of soft-drinks (he quickly realised that someone must've spiked the drinks) and a joke on giving the birthday boy a kiss.

It began innocently at first, the drunken boys giving the equally drunken redhead friendly pecks on the cheek with manly claps on the back when suddenly Okita Mikeru from Ryofuku grabbed the surprised junior's face in his hands and delivered a lip-locking kiss that stunned the other players, especially Sakuragi, speechless. Catcalls and howls of laughter quickly erupted while Sakuragi's face burned bright red in embarassment.

Okita laughed. "C'mon, Sakuragi. Loosen up!"

"I'll loosen up your limbs after I'm done with you!" Sakuragi growled, advancing the blonde with clenched fists.

"Maa, Maa...It's not so bad is it? Being kissed. Kissing is one of the basic form of affection," Okita said cheerfully.

"But you're a guy!" the redhead sputtered.

Okita shrugged. "So? Guys kiss other guys all the time."

"Th-That makes you gay!"

"I don't like to stereotype but if you must, I'd rather call it as being androgynous," the blonde said.

"Huh?"

"Androgyous. Where the distinction between male and female is blurred. If you're able to free your mind, you can love both men and women. Both are beautiful in their own personal way. Just free your mind and your androgyny."

"Interesting," Kogure said, breaking the thoughtful silence which has befallen in the group. He pushed his glasses up his nose as he thought it over. His cheeks were a little rosy from the drink but he was still able to maintain enough sensibility in addition to achieving a relaxed state to accept the open-minded comment.

"You think so, Kogure-kun?"
The spectacled boy turned his head to the side to meet amused eyes of Fujima Kenji from Shoyo.

Kogure blushed, adding the redness in his cheeks.
"Hai," he mumbled before taking a hasty sip from his cup to hide his embarassment.

"Hey, where can we find more chips?!" someone demanded from another part of the room. Kogure, being the one who helped organise the food and drinks (sans liquor) with Ayako, replied loudly, "Kitchen! I'll go get it!"

Kogure excused himself with a bow of the head and left. Ayako has already retired early with Eri to sleep upstairs, leaving the boys to enjoy the party by themselves making him the only person in the party who knew where everything was.
At the kitchen, Kogure turned to the corner of the room to where the cabinet which held the snacks were and took a few bags of chips out. As he was about to walk out of the kitchen, Fujima came in with 2 litre coke bottles in both hands.

"Ano... they need more drinks. Where can I get it?" the Shoyo captain asked.

Kogure smiled, his embarassment having forgotten, and motioned for the boy to follow him.
"Here, the third cabinet from the right. Now, you're one less person to show where the food are kept everytime it runs out outside."

Fujima laughed. "Lucky for you that I came in."

Kogure chuckled and pulled the cabinet door open to show the player the storage of food and drinks.
"Here it is. Knock yourself ou-"

"What do you think about guys kissing guys?"

Kogure spun around, still holding the cabinet door open as he stared at the brown-haired boy in front of him. "N-Nani?"

"I mean, would you be able to kiss a guy without thinking that it was wrong?"

Kogure blushed before he cleared his throat as he thought of an answer.
After a while he spoke up, "I don't know. I've never tried it before. Thinking about it does repulse me a little, but how can I say it is a terrible thing to do when I haven't even done it. Technically, it's just lips touching lips, which I think is an intimate thing and should be done with someone you like."

Fujima was silent for a moment before he spoke up with a hushed voice, "Do you think you can like me?"

"N-Nani?"
Kogure vaguely realised he was being monotonously repetitive but the Shoyo captain has started to become a supply of never-ending surprise from the moment Okita kissed Sakuragi.

"I'm not asking for a relationship," said Fujima quickly, "I just want a kiss."

Kogure looked down and pushed the glasses up his nose in an unconcious manner of shyness. "You forgot the part about it being intimate. And I hardly know you. Except that you are Fujima Kenji, an exceptional basketball player and coach."

"And you are Kogure Kiminobu, an impressive basketball player who everyone respects including the loud Sakuragi, no matter how much you disbelieve it. You have the highest belief in people which brings about their strength. Combined with what I see in front of me, I find you an attractive person who I have no qualms of touching lip to lip if asked to."

Kogure stared at the boy in wonderment. "You find me attractive?"

Fujima smiled. "Hai." The spectacled-teenager blushed again. "Be as it may, I don't think this is an appropriate time to do this. We are both a little drunk and I don't want us to regret about anything when we become sober."

"Oh, I don't think I will regret it if I kissed you right now," Fujima said smoothly before he stepped closer to the third year. Before Kogure could stop him, Fujima grabbed a hold on either side of the older boy's face, following what Okita did to Sakuragi, and gave a definitely placed kiss on the boy's soft lips.
Fujima pulled back and regarded the third year curiously. "What do you think?"

Kogure squeaked. "I-It's... uh... n-nice?"

"Damn. I know I can do better than that," the brown-haired boy said confidently before licking his lips.

"Wait, what I mean is - mph!"
This time Fujima kissed Kogure for all he was worth, sliding their lips together and bringing his tongue into play with little swipes on the closed mouth.

"You know, it'll be better if you help," Fujima whispered against Kogure's mouth.

"Wh-What?" Kogure stammered breathlessly.

"Open you mouth," Fujima said before he kissed the Shohoku player again, coaxing the lips to open with gentle fingers on Kogure's jaw. When they did open, albeit hesitantly, Fujima's tongue swiftly slipped inside the wet cavern, shyly lapping at the sweetness inside before plunging in hungrily as fierce as the movement of Fujima's lips against Kogure's own. When Fujima let Kogure go the second time, the spectacled boy blinked, just realising that the other boy has pushed him against the cabinet, his height allowing him to lean his head leaning against the cabinet door. And now he rested there as he stared at Fujima who was smiling happily as if his team has just won a spot in the IH championship games.
Since he was as tall as Fujima, Kogure could clearly see the sparkle in the blue eyes looking intently at him.

"How was that?" Fujima asked, his breath raspy, "Better?"

"H-Hai," Kogure managed, still weak as he clutched the counter behind him.

Fujima stepped forward again. "Do you want to-"

Kogure recouped quickly and scrambled to get a handhold of the cabinet behind him, opening it up before pulling out two bottles of unchilled soft-drinks for Fujima to hold.
"They're waiting for us," he quickly said, "This is not the time."

The Shoyo player sighed with disappointment. "Yes, of course."
Fujima turned away with the bottles in hand but before he stepped out of the kitchen he turned back to Kogure and winked. "It's great that we're freeing our androgyny, Kogure-kun."

Kogure nodded mutely as Fujima walked out, leaving him dazed and feeling sober than he was a few minutes ago.


~~~~

Being unused to taking alcohol, everyone's inhibitions lowered dramatically with more consumption of the light beer that someone mixed in with the soft-drinks. Kogure never found out who spiked the drinks but he was more clear headed and sober among them all, therefore making it his job and also his responsibility as a host to have everyone stay in his house until they were all sober enough to go home. In most of the players' case with hangovers that could last the entire morning of tomorrow. Including Akagi who was singing his fourth song from Celine Dion's album with passion from Kogure's karaoke system.

Yohei, who was the only Sakuragi guntai member who had not passed out in that late hour, was laughing until tears came to his eyes. When Akagi finally finished the song, Yohei was lying weak on the floor, breathless for having laughed too hard and too long. Suddenly he sat up and made a face.

Yohei stood up and went to look for a toilet and finally found it by the aid of a cute wooden sign hanging on the door. Upon twisting the knob to open the door, he found that it was locked and decided to wait it out.

After 5 minutes, he began to fidget.

Ten minutes later, he was jiggling from one foot to the next.

When the next five minutes came, he lifted his fist to bang on the door when someone asked from behind him.
"Is someone in there?"

"Yes," groused Yohei, "And they're hogging the toilet."

Maki huffed in exasperation. "It must be Jin and Kiyota. I saw them come up half an hour ago."

The brunette grumbled, "And they're still in there? What could they be doing?"

"Knowing them, they're probably at it like bunnies," Maki answered casually.

Yohei spun around to stare at the Kainan guard with wide eyes.
"Okay. I did not need the visual," he groaned.

The basketball player grinned. "Why? Do you have a problem with... as Okita said, 'freeing your androgyny'?"

Yohei arched an eyebrow. "Do you?"

Maki motioned with his thumb towards the toilet. "I have Jin and Kiyota in the team, don't I?"

The shorter boy crossed his arms on his chest, apparently amused that their conversation was made up of questions rather than real sentences.

"Have you... 'freed your androgyny' before?" Yohei asked

"I have not, as I felt no need to," Maki answered simply.

Yohei chuckled. "But if you do, you will?"

"Probably."

"Like when?" Yohei smiled.

"Like now."

The brunette's grin disappeared at the answer, seeing now that Maki was looking at him with brown eyes that were impossibly bright.

Yohei gulped. "I wasn't really looking for a specific time period, y'know."

Maki shrugged. "I'm giving you one, anyway."

"Does that mean you're... err.. gay?" Yohei asked.

"I don't know. It's just a thought," Maki answered.

Yohei shuffled his feet nervously. "In case we're not on the same wavelength, you were talking about... errr... freeing your androgyny with... uh.. me... weren't you?"

Maki nodded. "Hai."

"Just checking."

"How about you? Have you thought about it?" Maki asked Yohei back.

"Haven't thought about it."

"I see... How about now?"

Yohei blushed, looking at the tall boy in front of them in a new light. He definitely found it a turn-on when someone found him worth freeing the androgyny with.
"Oh, yeah."

*The birds and bees they hum along
Like treasures they twinkle in the sun
Get on board and have some fun
Take what you need to turn you on*

Maki smiled before he stepped forward, bending down to give Yohei a kiss. It started as slow and careful but as soon as he was sure that Yohei has no complaint of what they were doing, the Kainan guard began to demand and dominate. When Maki released him, Yohei's mind was reeling.

Maki smiled again at the flushed look on the brunette's face and was about to give Yohei another kiss when a hand stopped his advance.

Yohei grimaced. "As much as I like to continue this 'freeing your androgyny' experiment, I really need to pee first."


~~~~

An hour later, the Shohoku captain was lying on the floor, still holding the microphone while mumbling tunes under his breath, his eyes closed as if to sleep. The rest were either passed out or still doing some drunken bonding of "I love you, man" and "No, man. I love you" strain.

Kogure sighed as he picked up scattered cups and empty chip bags at random along the way before dumping them inside the white trash bag sitting in the kitchen. Deciding to clear up the house tomorrow, hopefully with help from the others, he then made his way upstairs to his room. The guestroom, where Eri and Ayako were sleeping, was two doors away from his, silent with no hint of light coming from underneath the door.
How am I going to explain this mess to Ayako? Kogure wondered as he stepped into his darkened bedroom. Already knowing his way around the room, he did not bother to switch on the lights as he stripped himself out of his clothes until he was clad in his boxers before going into his bed to snuggle under the covers. He was nearly asleep that he did not notice someone entering his room until a warm body joined him under the sheets.

"How about now?" the boy giggled, shifting closer to wrap himself around Kogure's lean form.

"Fu-Fujima!? I- MMMPH!"

*No sweeter a taste that you could find.
Than fruit hanging ripe upon the vine
There's never been an oyster so divine
A river deep that never runs dry*


~~~

Sakuragi was nearly dead to the world, too drunk to take another step that he crashed whatever place was near, which inevitably was the couch where Okita sat on one end while Rukawa occupied the other. Rukawa, who was sound asleep was instantly jolted awake by something heavy dropping onto his lap. He opened his eyes, automatically looking for someone to hit when he realised that on his lap was a pair of legs. A pair of well-toned legs, encased in stone-washed jeans, the limbs seemingly to stretch forever. When he finally saw whose legs they belonged to, Rukawa's annoyance instantly flared to the surface like everytime the do'aho did something to irritate him. Which is practically everytime if you want to count his presence as one of them.

Okita, whose lap Sakuragi was using as a pillow for his heavy head, looked down on the redhead's slack face and smiled in amusement.

"Kawaii...." Okita mused.

"He's a do'aho," Rukawa said, still irked that the redhead's feet were on him.

"But he's still cute, ne?" the blonde asked.

Rukawa looked closely at the redhead for a moment before he looked back up at Okita and persisted, "He's a do'aho."

Okita laughed. "Free your mind, Rukawa. And your androgyny," he said before he slapped the redhead lightly on one rosy cheek.
"Hey, Sakuragi-kun. Wake up."

The redhead blinked unfocused eyes upon the blonde hovering over him. "Hhm? Huh? Wha-"

"I haven't given you your birthday present yet," Okita said cheerfully, his tone steady even if he was feeling a little intoxicated.

"Huh? Oh, okay - mmmrph!"

Rukawa stared as the American-Japanese teenager delivered Sakuragi a kiss that made the redhead go still in one minute and then struggling the next. Sakuragi, being drunk and lying down on Okita's lap had not enough momentum to push the blonde away but when Okita finally let him up for air, Sakuragi was sputtering with indignant anger. "Will you stop doing that, ya hentai?!"

Rukawa arched an eyebrow to that outburst. Just how many times did Okita kiss Sakuragi, anyway?

Okita looked surprised. "It wasn't that bad was it?"

"No - I mean... THAT'S NOT THE POINT!" The redhead fumed. "It's just-"

"Free your mind, Sakuragi-kun," Okita said, tapping the redhead lightly on the nose. "If you don't try it how can you know."

Sakuragi scowled. "I don't like it so far."

"Because I did it without your permission?" the blonde asked.

Sakuragi looked stumped for a moment. "I dunno."

Okita smiled again. "Then may I kiss you, Sakuragi Hanamichi?"

The redhead stared up at him before he nodded resolutely. "Alright."

Okita grinned and leaned down again, brushing his lips lightly on the redhead's before he opened his mouth, nibbling and licking at the redhead as if it was a delicious fruit to be enjoyed. And enjoy it he did, especially when Sakuragi opened his mouth wanting more and getting it.

When Okita broke their kiss away, he beheld view of the redhead looking flushed and debauched.

"See, Rukawa. Free your mind. It's not so hard if you allow yourself to. Then you can free your androgyny," Okita told the near forgotten brunette who was sitting silently across from him.

Sakuragi's curious hand lifted to touch the lips which nearly had him swooning a few seconds ago.
"It's impossible for the fox to free himself to anything other than sleep," the redhead snorted.

Rukawa's eyes narrowed. "Is that a challenge, aho?"

Sakuragi grinned, turning his attention away from Okita's mouth to the fox-eyed boy. "No, it's a statement, fox."

Rukawa glared at him before he shifted around and began to crawl his way on top of the redhead's body.
"I'm able to free my androgyny if you are."

Sakuragi felt goosebumps on his skin as Rukawa's face came closer to his own. Pushing his anxiety away, Sakuragi tilted his chin up in a show of a dare.
"Try me."

And Rukawa did, boring onto Sakuragi, pushing the firm body deeper into the soft upholstery before he began to give the redhead a sample of how free-minded and androgynous he could be.

*Boys in the parlor
They're getting harder
I'll free your mind and your androgyny*

Okita was enjoying watching the younger boys' transition onto a higher plane of self-acceptance, when he realised that the load on his lap was becoming heavier and putting too much movement that had him wincing in pain.

"A-Ano.... guys. This is good and all but-"
The baby-blue eyes widened when Rukawa's hand disappeared under the redhead's shirt. Hanamichi began to moan. Okita began to panic.

"Rukawa, I think Sakuragi already agrees how free-minded you can be now. You can stop now. Rukawa? Uh, guys? Shouldn't this be done in a private place? Guys? Help? Somebody? Help me!"

"What is going on here?!"

Okita opened his eyes and saw to his surprise his would-be saviour who was a curly-haired girl he knew to be the manageress of the Shohoku Highschool basketball team.

"Ayako-san... help me get out of here..."

The girl rolled her eyes before holding out her hands to pull Okita out. With that needed leverage, he managed to pull himself out of tight spot, leaving Rukawa and Sakuragi on the couch, still making out.

"What on earth happened?" Ayako asked, staring at the juniors getting busy on the couch, oblivious to their surroundings.

"I told them to free their androgyny," Okita told her sheepishly, "I just didn't count on them being free this far. With an audience, too."

Ayako sighed. "Trust on these two to take things seriously. Suddenly, I'm not thirsty anymore. I'm going back to bed."

"Ayako-san, you're taking this quite well," the blonde remarked.

"You guys aren't the only ones who are freeing their androgyny today," Ayako said, giving the boy a wink.

Okita blinked. "Oh? OH!"

"Yes, oh."
Ayako grinned and bounded up the stairs towards the guestroom where she and Eri were sharing a room. As soon as she dropped into bed, a warm curvaceous body snuggled close to her. Ayako opened her arms to receive the young girl, inhaling the soft sweet perfume and enjoying the feel of smooth skin supple underneath her fingertips.

"Where were you?" Eri asked, sighing as she settled herself comfortably in Ayako's embrace.

Ayako smiled in the dark. "Finding out that we're not the only gay couple in this house."

Eri yawned. "Not surprised. By the way, it's not being gay. It's being androgyny."

Ayako laughed as she kissed Eri on her pink lips.
"Of course."

*Behind closed doors and under stars
It doesn't matter where you are
Collecting jewels that catch your eye
Don't let a soulmate pass you by*


~owari

Note: Lyrics came from Garbage's song "Androgyny" from their album 'Beautiful'.