tribute

Morning.

Johann stirred, half-awake as he felt the rays of the sun warming his pale cheeks. He turned his back away from the light - that did not work as his back was exposed to the sunlight. Sighing, he gave up, slowly rising from the side of the bed. With half-closed eyes he groped around and jerked up his tights, grabbed his tunic and clumsily pulled it over his head. He ruffled his silky long blonde hair with such ease - that would make any maiden glare in jealousy - and trudged to the window, made a quick glance at his lute to see if it was still there, squinting, as his eyes tried to get use to the morning daylight.

The birds were singing their melodic tunes as they happily basked themselves in the peaceful greeting of the morning sun. Johann's vision cleared and he found himself gazing at the bright green leaves of the tree that stood by the window. He breathed in - and sneezed at the sudden rush of the cold morning breeze.

"Oh," he realised he had frightened the little birds as they fluttered away into the soft blue sky.

Johann's thoughts drifted as he stood transfixed at the beauty of nature before him.

"A year it has been, has it not.."

visual?

Hana sighed.

Cosplay.

"Now why in the world would anyone thought of that?! What, because we have a Japanese CEO and manager - of all managers it HAD to be in THIS department!"

A snicker from Ian got him poked in the ribs. Ignoring his yelp, Hana continued rattling until the cows could come home.

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As usual in the office everyone was furiously typing away, trying to meet their project deadlines - all except one.

"Oi."

That one was totally spaced out, eyes to the ceiling, going "hmmm..", immersed in thoughts.

"Oi. Te me."

That got his partner jolt in offence.

"This is an office. Remember whose department THIS belongs to."

"Wakatta nya.." an exaggerated nasal tone replied, "Demo.."

"Demo nanda," an exasperated tone replied.

"Don't know wat cosplay nya."

A thud and a yelp followed as two young - adults - got into a playful tussle in the office.

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But there was another event that got everyone talking in the company. Hana's off-casual remark seemed to get someone's attention and the Human Resource Department decided to go ahead with it.

Company calendar. With the prettiest/most handsome staff featured on each month.

That got everyone looking at one another whispering and giggling as they pointed excitedly at the "potentials".

Manager Tezuka Kunimitsu was not spared.

Everyday - day in, day out - he would be gazed at and he could heard off-distant (although they sound within earshot) squeals whenever he walked past. Even the seniors gave him looks of approval as they scrutinised him from head to shoe.

He had spoken to Fuji about it during a private lunch but in Fuji's mind could only hear Hana's squeals and teasings about Tezuka and could barely control his sunshine smile - that made Manager Tezuka a little exasperated.

"Oh I'm sorry," Fuji's azure eyes slightly widened at his close friend's reaction - but chuckled, just like everyone's reaction.

Of course Manager Tezuka was not spared in his department.

Both Hana and Ian had been teasing him everywhere with squeals, sighs and so on. The whole IT department had almost caused the server to crash with their overwhelming votes for their "suteki!!!" manager.

But what Hana and Ian did not know was - the rest of the department also voted their names together with Manager Tezuka.

It was too late when they realised that fact. Everyone in the department snickered, totally ignoring loud whinings of protests from both of their colleagues when they received emails that they had to follow their manager for a photo shoot.

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"Do suru!!!"

"Don't 'Do' me," Ian struggled as he tried to break away from Hana's grip, "your fault anyway. Who asked u to say so loud that i look good posing at the our 'company lovely-designed doors'?!"

"But u do wat!!!" came the loud protest.

"I'm going to kill you."

-------------------------------

The calendar was out and snapped up so fast that an extra order had to be made - a breakthrough in company's history of their products. What got everyone to buy was three of their staff had filled up more than one month's page due to overwhelming response because a few had pulled out in pressure after seeing how popular these three had been and other departments had changed their votes for these three in the "Most Photogenic Contest".

But the Most Photogenic Three staff did not buy their company's calendar.

One knew all three could pose so well that they didn't need the calendars for "posing-evaluation".

The other was embarrassed about it (but secretly had to admit that his friend was right about posing at the company doors and he enjoyed all the positive reactions he got whenever he walked past).

The third was too embarrassed to even think about it - even parking his car could be a problem because the female staff would fill almost the whole of his car's surface with stick-on love-notes - much to the overwhelming delight and teases of the two - and their "overall friend" - Fuji Syusuke.

Before You Go

All was quiet.

Darkness faded, greeted by the soft rays of the morning sun filling up the room. Clothes were tossed carelessly all around, surrounding the bed with its blanket half hanging at its side, saved by its other half which is also almost to its bedside, held on by a sleeping beauty.

The alarm rang, signalled by its radio. A hand weakly reached out, gropped around it and switched it off. A moan got the other to stir beside him.

"Morning.." was his usual greeting.."you have to go?"

In reply his lover kissed him on his forehead, stroking the stray strands of his fringe. "I have to."

"How long?"

"Months," was the almost curt answer as warmth left him replaced by a cold blanket.

"Will you...be back?"

The rustling of a shirt stopped.

Tezuka Kunimitsu sat onto the bed, right beside Fuji who reached out and trailed his fingers along his lover's member, softly laughing in delight at his lover who went hard immediately, "Syusuke.."

It was Fuji's idea to break the tradition of calling each other not by surname - more intimate that way, he told his lover who blushed - always immediately - whenever Fuji would tease him.

"..can't.."

"Can't what?" he had slid himself up towards his lover's ear, whispering silkly, taking his lover's hand to his own member, fingering his lovers' fingers to feel him.

"Fu.." he tried to dissuade - but it was always futile. At the back of his mind he asked himself if what they had been doing was right. How would anyone not notice the strange vibes of intimitacy they are silently exchanging with each other?

Poker face, just like that fella his lover had answered him.

Oshitari!

Fuji's eyes flared open as he grabbed his lover's hand away from him before he hurt him with his grip. Without a word, his lover shot up from the bed and began dressing himself quickly before another wave of suggestion would stop him again.

"That fella...you are thinking about him?"

Only Fuji's voice could stop what Tezuka Kunimitsu was doing - anything.

Fuji could only see his lover's back. There was no response - but he knew his lover was blaming himself again.

Inui was too strong - he did not underestimate their data collector. Neither did he blame his lover. He knew this would happen. And the same with Oshitari.

His lover knew something was amiss when he found Oshitari's racket in their sports room.

Broken. He was the only one who could pull his lover back to him.

That day practice had ended. Everyone had gone home. Except for two - in the sports room. 

They had not been speaking to each other since then. Fuji was the first to break the silence with a letter that almost made his lover ran almost frantically back to class from the restroom after the bell had rung, much to his delight, and smiled as Kikamaru saw the "flying captain" and came up with so many possibilities of why their captain's punctuality record been broken.

Was it yesterday..his sister would not be coming home. Fuji would be alone. He knew everyone was staring at their captain (who had been silent with a gaze that was stricter than usual) but he distracted them (their captain was really overwhelmed with their endless questions of concern and well-wishes) with his sunshine smile that would melt even the "kun" girls as they both left school for the day. Tezuka..t'is the night or never..

Tezuka would be leaving for Germany soon - today..

All he ever wanted was to be with him but he could not say it, only to find himself burying his tear-streaked face on the smooth strong back of his lover. His body was wracked with sobs as he felt his lover turning around and held him in the soft warm darkness of comfort. No one else could give him such security, such silent reassurance of loving him all over again.

"Suman," he heard his lover whispered. It was further emphasised with Tezuka's voluntary response to stay longer..in bed.

Event

"Urgh."

Tezuka hid his smile as he watched his interpreter struggled with her name tag.

"I hate the idea of being labelled," Johanna muttered in irritation. "And what - there aren't any English speaking receptionists?!"

"They came..after our arrival," his gentle voice calmed her nervousness - and only his embrace could calm her. Johanna looked around. No embrace, too public.

Sensing her uneasiness - it was her first time attending such a - as she put it - "overseas big business event" - Tezuka could only externalise his calm composure, knowing that his interpreter would always be beside him, and - as she put it - "taking the vibes off" of him.

The young manager smiled warmly as he silently observed his fellow young delegate who by now - nervousness slowly subsiding - was open-jawed in childlike fascination at the architecture of the building. Surely she would say - and she did, "If only I could take pictures of its structure!"

Johanna Syusuke. Distant cousin of Fuji Syusuke, the genius of Seigaku tennis club, a regular who participated in various tennis matches - and won against a competitor who sucessfully mimicked Tezuka's every technique. Or rather, Hana Syusuke, as Fuji shortened it for her as she told Fuji that she would like to have a Japanese name in honour of her cousin who donated his blood for her during her medical condition in her earlier years - and to have a - as she told her cousin - "a proper Japanese passport".

"Please do not mind Hana," Fuji emailed to Tezuka. "She's not impolite but she is shy to look at you. I noticed that she would blush everytime you talk to her when you were tutoring her and when she tries to talk to you. But ever since that unfortunate incident she couldn't look at you as the hurt is too great for her. She told me that she is grateful and willing to owe you for what you have done for her."

That incident..it happened at Hana's first year when some Hyoutei's students came spying on Seigaku's tennis regulars and found her all alone. Tezuka was the one who held her as Fuji tried to wrap her around with anything the regulars could find and he unconsciously muffled her crying screams as she buried her face to his chest.

So much has happened through the years as Fuji emailed him constantly. "Perhaps this is fate.." one of his emails stated, "please take care of her as I'm not always with her."

And slowly the droning noise of the crowd brought Tezuka Kunimitsu back to the present. He sensed Hana's readiness to move to the lift lobby.

A voice, warm, gentle and strong whisper into her ear, "Sa, yudan sezu ni ikou."

With such a rare gentle humour in his voice too. Hana Syusuke did not hide her blush as she lifted her gaze to his.

"Hai, buchou."

I sp-i with my littl' i (warning yaoi)

that mouthes just one letter

u

that chokes me
everytime i taste you
as you thrust yourself deep into the back of mouth, choking me with a happiness that i cannot describe, feeling your hips banging onto me, every single slam..i could hold no longer, really no longer as I want to be in your arms, holding me like tonight's the last night of our lives, to hear your gasp as you force yourself deeper

you stopped.."you're bleeding.."

"no..go on.."

please come..in..again..tonite..

It took quite some time for Tezuka Kunimitsu to walk out of the restroom.

Time

"WAKE UP!"

Hira was rudely awaken with a slap on his face.

"I'm awake," he muttered, with a stinging pain on his right cheek, "Chisa."

The little girl giggled at the mention of her name.

But it was the dark silhouette of a figure that got him scrambling to a kneeling position. "Captain!" He bowed.

"Be ready." The silhouette disappeared as he caught a glimpse of his Captain's departure through the room door, accompained by the all-too-familiar giggle.

It was then he realised he was not dressed at all.

The peaceful morning sky was almost sliced with a high-pitched male holler of revenge.

"CHISAAAAAAA!!!!!!!"

---------------------------------------

"Sir."

With a slight bow, a fair-skinned male with chin length blonde-hair set the teacup gently onto the red-clothed golden table as the figure gently lifted his teacup for a sip. There was no expression on the captain's face except for a tensed strain of a thin fibre his facial muscles unknown to even the sharpest eye - unless one has gone beyond one's state of actualisation to achieve a higher perfection of skill - to which the young male's eyes shone with warmth at the captain's approval.

"From the High Mountains of Grove, Sire," he bowed, noticing the unseen transition to the silhouette to the window - while the same figure had relaxed - almost daintily - crossing his leg over the other, eyes staring at its own silhouette by the window.

The resting lounge was huge. Walls of rosewood colour stood tall and stretched, protecting everyone within. The windows stood twice a man's height, its golden sills laying across the thick pane further fortified their protection. On the left was a curiously off-coloured turquoise velvet curtain hanging from the ceiling.

However the silhouette chose the conformed velvet curtain colour of deep red.

Sunlight poured into the lounge, spilling its rays, illuminating the silent, heavy - yet peaceful - atmosphere.

"Thy mother.." the silhouette spoke.

"She is well -" Hans fought back the depressing lump in his throat and added - "Sire."

It was a lie but a way to break the atmosphere. Being forced to marry an exiled Captain and raped to bear two sons while being in a family of high nobility was the shame that caused endless slanders and gossips until one of the Captains - in anger at the honour that was tarnished to his lover and her children - commited the highest offence of any Captain - to kill a mortal life before its destined time of death. Yet spared the Captain was - as the reason was of the numerous atrocious deeds of a notorious an exiled Captain who wrecked a mortal family's livehood whose punishment had risen and approved to an execution - only after its death.

The same thoughts that run through their minds everyday, everytime.

"If only I had.."

"No, Sire," Hans' voice gently consoled. "You did what you must." No Soul Captain is allowed to have any relations with mortals even when a Captain is assigned to appear to humans in the mortal dimension.

It was love at first sight.

Captain Bai Shou towered a good height which every woman would be wiling to be with him, even for a second. Gazing into his grey eyes related a story of a lost love while he lived in his Spirit dimension further drove all female - spirit or human - to a swoon. His long black hair streaked with white bore the pain of his lost, framing his slightly angular features. His fair skin pales in the white of snow - as if beckoning to end its existence - as it was when his love had passed away.

It was forbidden to love a princess. Bai Shou accepted his punishment to stay in the dark void of seperation - in a dimension of silence and darkness, except for a few visits from Hira.

But it was not the princess that Hira and Hans were borned of.

"Magdeline.." the voice by the window softly broke in grief. The figure at the table - the eyes have closed and jaw clenched.

"Sire -" Hans would run to the Captain but stopped as he sensed Hira's aura after he appeared in honourary position towards his Captain. A glower from Hans - and he disappeared immediately before Hira's full presence.

The silhouette turned, revealing his full form - the figure at the table had disappeared.

"Hans would be a better soldier." The Captain looked at his 2nd Vice-Captain.

"Captain." Hira acknowledged.

-------------------------------------------

It was the strangest of assignments to Hira - there was no assignment.

All he had to do was to walk beside his Captain while baby-sitting the First Vice-Captain who was squealing with girlish delight as she ran along the flower fields and chasing butterflies. That girl would cause the worst irritation of him someday.

"More than 20 years."

Hira's attention re-focused to his Captain. "Captain?"

The sharp glower from his Captain halted his steps.

"Sorry..father.."

If only his Captain would acknowledge.

But his Captain has left a good distance away from him. He knew the only one his Captain would acknowledge was - Hans. Hira reminded himself to excel as much as his younger brother as he tried to catch on his Captain's pace.

"More than twenty years, has it not?"

"Yes, Captain. Thank you for your protection and guidance. I -"

"You have improved."

Hira realised he was alone. Chisa had gone too.

The wind blew up from his back, whipping up his long ash blonde fringe as he stood alone, confused at the sudden disappearance of whom he called his surrogate father, his wracked sobs echoing, crying out for comfort as he spent the remaining hours of the anniversary of the death of exiled Captain Xue - his biological father.

It was one of those days that I had never expected

There I was, in a lift, after a smoke (and after spending quite some time brushing my teeth n gargling to get rid of the smell), smiling my thanks to the lady who pressed the "Door open" lift button.

"Are you from the IT department?"

I would assume she would be a manager, from the way she dressed: jacket and skirt in one colour. She could pass off as average-looking but her dominance surpassed that, not mention her height.

We were made famous at the company's Sports Day. Our manager and I were forced in a singles' tennis matches against rivals who were jealous of the success of our company. They hired professionals who incidentally had a grudge or two against our manager to which one of them just took me on, saying that I looked weak enough. I had no choice but to shock the opponent with a trick or two - aniki would know I would not like executing special techniques but with his approval I was allowed to. Our manager..well, as usual, he had not lost his touch.

Famous but I found myself stammering my answer at the lady's sudden question. She was looking through a small stack of huge envelopes and handed me one of them. Still looking through her pile she handed an envelope to me. "Pass this to Mr Tezuka and get his signature."

"Hai!" I bowed. "Wakari -" I blushed, realising what I had done - she was not speaking Japanese but she sounded so dictative that I could not help it (our manager - to blame). I guess she knew about our manager as well - because we ended up laughing.

----------

I remembered sitting down at my workplace and staring at the envelope for ages - and there was Ian, almost raving in frustration about not me being responsible. Ian would know - I would not dare to step into the office of my manager - my ex-high-school-senior of whom..

"I'll bet ten he'd talk to you."

I hated it. Ian's slinging his arm around my shoulder, teasing me. "Twenty he wouldn't."

"Fourty he will."

"Te me." Stupid money issues.

------------
The secretary ought to be sacked. There was my manager working his life off and there she was filing her nails. May I suggest: spike her drink and paste some Wolverine-like claws on her nails just to freak her out on Halloween.

"What is it."

May I throttle your neck? It looks thin like a rubber chicken. "I was asked to pass this to Mr Tezuka."

It was rare of her to take a second look at the envelope - and the urgency in her voice, "Go."

So youre not taking this document? Damn, I really wanna see you get into trouble and get sacked, not me, you f*king b-

and there was Ian, standing quite far from a distance, with his infamous disapproving scowl but mouthing just one word -

"Fourty."

and that was more than enough.

---------------

I though I would faint.

There he was, standing by the window.

Things had not been good between him and aniki.

"Buchou.." ..how I want to be in your warm embrace..to hide..and weep..in your embrace..

"'If you love someone, let go', so it is said?"

No..don't turn around..Kunimitsu..

He caught sight of the envelope.

"A-a. Suman."

Has he been waiting for someone familiar to be informal with?

----------------

I hated the door. I never wanted to leave.

"Buchou."

I would not wait for a response.

"Zette hanasehen de."

----------------

I had realised I did not ask aniki about the both of them, nor tell him about me entering buchou's office for the first time in so many months. We were just talking about - I couldn't remember - during our steamboat dinner before we left for the night.

Ma ii, I guess that would be how aniki would want to pass the night.

Alone.