i wrote this for my English teacher 'cuz she was leaving and i wanted her to remember me. We had the oddest class, and by this time, most of them knew of my yaoi obsession. So... i'm not sure if i like this, and the end is a bit... blah! but, whatever...

Yeah, there's yaoi/malexmale relationships. Live with it.

audi

When Legends Live.

There’s an awkward time between history and myths. A time when no one’s really sure what’s happening. This is the Age of Legends. Legends are born as history slowly dies out. Eventually the history fades into myth as the legends grow to be more and more unbelievable. The Age’s own history is shrouded with doubt as it becomes impossible to tell fact from fiction. People stop believing in the history of times past, and thus problems arise. Naturally this is a time of much dispute, as no one is overly happy with the New Age in the first place. So much becomes lost, especially since the Changing of Ages is usually initiated by wars and the like. Not pleasant, truly told. Suppression halts people from saving too much. There are precious few, however, that keep the old traditions alive.

There’s a small town where things always go right. Everybody works together for the good of everyone else and no one is left out. The inhabitants have a communal system worked out, making them absolutely self sufficient from the outer world. Actually, those from the outer world aren’t wanted. No one is born with any deformities, no one is different than the average in any way. No one argues, there aren’t rows of any sort. Everyone is born, raised and then marries to start a family of their own. Things are just that way, and everyone accepts it without challenge, like any good townsman.
The town, while ideal, doesn’t exist. Wait, that’s not right: the town exists, it’s name is Toya’s Lookout, and the ideals of the town are held true – to a certain point. In the small town, people don't like to understand that some people are different from others; some people have different wants and needs. No one is uniform and some people don't want to be uniform anyway. However, at Toya’s Lookout, they don't care. It’s their belief that the different ones are people gone bad, people the Gods Themselves shunned – therefore okay to be shunned by the townsmen.
But it’s not okay.
This town, Toya’s Lookout, did exist in all its perfection, or lack thereof. No one knows when this Age of Legends took place, as there have been several in the history of Xeen, but it did take place and things did happen. The Changing of Ages is always something that’s noted by texts as something everyone knows. It happens and everyone is immediately aware of that. While this does hold true for big cities where the action that initiated the Change took place, it does not in small, rural towns. In such towns as Toya’s Lookout, the only news that ever reached the people was via peddlers, travellers or refugees. If truth be told, they weren’t really wanted. The townsmen thought it was improper to travel from one’s home. Still, the children of the village listened to the tales that were told eagerly, obviously not caring if they were real or not.
One such boy was almost the age to be considered a man of the town. That is to say, he was full grown and ready to prove himself. He was also only fifteen. Something should probably be realized about this youth, his mother had died in childbirth and he lived with his father on the outskirts of the town in a small farm where they raised sheep. Furthermore, the lad was not, by any definition of the word, average. He was intelligent but witty and words simply could not describe his beauty. Whilst beauty is not usually a term for men, there were none other. His skin was pale and his eyes were green, a green that glistened like emeralds in the sun. His hair, a golden blond that fell freely to his shoulders, was enough to made any lass jealous. He was nothing less than perfection, and the villagers knew it and hated him for of it.
Jun, as the youth’s name was, knew what the people thought about him. He’d long since deciphered the long stares and discrete glares. He liked to pretend that they didn’t bother him, that he did, indeed, fit the town’s standards. But he knew he didn’t. His father lived on the outskirts because there was better grazing for the sheep, he lived on the outskirts because he didn’t know if he’d be able to survive in the town’s centre.
When the travellers came with their news and stories – that is, if one is different than the other – he’d listen and dream. No one ever left Toya’s Lookout, but Jun wasn’t a ‘normal’ villager. He knew he wouldn’t be, and he wanted to see the outside world. He wanted to visit Chishiki, the knowledge and shrine capitol of the world, and learn of the Gods. He wanted to preserve the history before it was lost to the next Age. He wanted to rid himself of the ties and live… truly live…

…And thus the New Age befell the land and the people basked in its glory. With the New Age, people were free from the trials and tribulations of the former Age. Under the leadership of the Emperor Akki IV, the troops of Ijin were driven back. No longer could the barbaric Ijin control the way people thought and acted, once again civilized people could be united under a civilized emperor. While that alone was cause for celebration throughout the Known Lands, people were excited that Akki IV renounced the Gods. He proclaimed that he won back the lands with his own sweat and blood, not with help from any Gods. The unified people began to reshape society to match their ideals for what the New Age should be seen as. They began to write laws and come to agreements. At the time, they thought the agreements were fair, and they might have been, but people became upset with them anyway…
Excerpt: Our Age, A History.

It was three days before the Autumn Fest at Toya’s Lookout. Biannually such fests were held, at autumn and at spring, and these were the only times outsiders were welcomed into the town. Outsiders, in this context, refers to people of the surrounding towns, maybe five in a fifty league radius. They all gathered to celebrate and there were tents everywhere. The actual festival lasted for five days and was filled with dancing, fun, games, contests, prizes and food. There was ale and wine and meat pies and apple pies… Whatever anyone could think of was found at the Autumn Fest.
Jun hated the time. When he was young and naïve, he used to have fun and play around following the other boys. However, he learned. He liked to stay as far away as possible from the activity. That wasn’t exactly the world’s easiest task, seeing as there were tents in his back garden. He wanted to go away and hide. There were so many normal people about, as the other towns were also full of normal people. People that weren’t like him. He was a freak of nature, and shouldn’t have been allowed to live to the time he did.
He walked about the town and its outskirts, looking desperately for a place to be alone. Until he was considered a man by his father and the town elders, he couldn’t leave Toya’s Lookout, so the only solitude he found was when he was alone and able to think and dream… He never had anyone to talk to, never had any friends, not even his father would sit down and converse with him like he was normal. Naturally, he hated it. How could people be so mean to each other? He knew that if the ideals of his town didn’t include a ‘no fighting’ pact, that he would constantly be beaten to a pulp. All the boys looked like they wanted to beat him and the girls always gossiped behind his back when they thought he wasn’t listening. He was listening. Among other things, they thought him too effeminate to be a man.
As if he could portray his thoughts to the villagers. Certain things just didn’t happen in Toya’s Lookout. Certain things were looked down upon more than others. Wasn’t he just the lucky chap?

Ryuujin sat and watched the utter chaos befall His home. One group of people was again killing another, one was dominating the other in the fierce battle, and the outcome looked dire. If the wrong side lost, They, the Gods, would lose as well. Ryuujin knew of the new potential emperor’s spiritual standing; he didn’t have one. If the emperor came into power and forced his new government among the people, the New Age would be worse than the old. The Gods had decided on a Change to help the right people win, all to no avail. Some ideas of the side the Gods Favoured were a bit… off… but, all-in-all, they were genuine. Their government had no corruption and each of the forty-three Gods was respected. If that were lost, the whole of Xeen would crumble away to naught. Would that it could be avoided!
If truth be told, the Gods were getting weaker. They were less and less able to do things for the good of Their people. They wanted to help, but found Themselves unable. Times were changing, along with the Age, and things were getting harder and harder to manage. There was little hope left in all of Xeen, and Ryuujin, the Almighty Father of All, knew it.

“Waiting for someone?” Jun didn’t have to look up to know that the owner of the voice was now sitting next to him, invading his solitude. Didn’t the villagers have anyone else to pick on? Just because he was different, didn’t mean he wanted to be tormented. “Hello?” the man prodded. Maybe he was an out-of-towner who didn’t know that people just didn’t speak to him of free will. Couldn’t he see that Jun was having a good enough time daydreaming by himself? “Um, are you okay?” Jun did look up then, only to catch sight of a man in grey travelling robes. He must not have stopped anywhere since he arrived at Toya’s Lookout, his dark brown hair fell over his eyes messily, and he looked worn and tired. Jun wasn’t sure if it was the robes, the man’s jewellery or the air of mysteriousness that reminded him of some kind of priest.
“The festival, sir, is that way,” Jun lifted a hand to point to the activities and then settled himself down as he waited for the man to leave.
“I noticed,” he commented, “I also noticed that you were sitting here, alone.”
“Yes, sir, I am.” Jun was getting annoyed. Where was the man getting to? Why did he feel like bothering Jun?
“It’s supposed to be a cheerful fest, and yet you sit here, secluded from everyone.”
“I like to be alone,” Jun muttered, hoping the man would take the hint. “I’d rather be here, alone, than down there at the festival.” He pushed himself up from the ground and began to walk away. If the man wasn’t going to leave, he would.
The distinct sound of shuffling cloth told him that he was being followed. “You shouldn’t be alone for the Holidays,” he answered the unasked question.
Jun stopped and hunched his shoulders, “don’t pretend like you care.” His eyes closed to try and will away the threatening tears.
“I’m a priest, it’s my job to care.” So, he’d been right about the man being a priest…
So, he wasn’t mocking him, but talking to him out of obligation? Was that any better? “What does it matter?” he asked angrily before running off. He didn’t stop until he got home and locked all the doors at home – his father was to be staying in the town with friends. Dusk was falling and those that had put up tents in his garden were returning and making bonfires and the like. The part of the garden they were staying in was what separated the house from the sheep, it had trees and a small pond and Jun’s father let people stay there during the festival for a small fee. Humph, ‘course his father never thought that Jun might want to get some sleep, too.
Knowing it’s be ludicrous to think he’d sleep that night, he curled by the fire with a book in hand. One of the only reasons he considered himself at all fortunate was his access to the small library in his home. His mother had been a scholarly woman who had a large collection of books and journals that were stored in what became his bedroom. His father hated the books, for they reminded him that his wife was gone and replaced with his son. Maybe that was what drove him to drinking. It didn’t matter. Jun liked when his father spent time at the inn, he liked to be able to read on the hearth.
Fantasies were the ones he adored, the ones where a young and trusting girl feel for the adventurous boy and things happened all whilst the world was facing obvious peril. They didn’t all concern a girl and a boy, but most of them in the library did. Frankly, he didn’t care too much about who the characters were, they were all lovely pieces of work, and he loved them.
“'It was nearly highmoon'" he read "', and everything glistened in its nightly glory. The starlings were dancing about the skies while the rest of the world slept. The rest of the world, excluding myself. It was almost as if the Lady Moon was mocking me, laughing at me. I made a fool of myself, I am, indeed, well aware of that. There’s no need for anyone to remind me, for I doubt I can ever show my face in the empire again, let alone at the palace.
“For all it’s caused, perchance my utter failures weren’t as bad as they seem. Sure, I might not be able to show my face again, but at least I know that I told him what I’d wanted…'”
“Glorious tale, isn’t it?” Jun looked up to see the priest from before sitting next to him by the hearth. “Supposedly it’s a true story, from the times when the Gods roamed the lands.”
“What are you doing here?” He shrugged in reply. “You know what? It doesn’t matter, just get out!”
“You mean you want to stay here?” the man asked. “I was going to take you to the capitol, but I can go alone just as easily.” Jun gazed up at him questioningly. “Caught your interest, did I?”
“Maybe,” he answered wryly.
“It’s your choice, of course, but I can't go back to the capitol without you.”
Jun eyed him suspiciously. This was his chance, the one he’d been waiting for. He would finally be able to leave Toya’s Lookout. But what penalties would there be? What did the man want in return? He wasn’t like the people that Jun knew, but he was from the city. Maybe city folk were all like him. Jun knew that he couldn’t fit in in a city, anyway. He did want to learn, though. Oh! He wanted to learn and he wanted to leave Toya’s Lookout.
He slowly closed the forgotten book on his lap and looked into the man’s eyes for any sign of anything. There was none. Jun allowed himself to nod in agreement before he could further think it through.

…People follow the Gods only when it’s convenient for them. somehow, it’s not always convenient, and that’s when They’re abandoned. Things only get worse, and that needn’t happen. Ryuujin, the Father, and His Children need the support of Their Peoples which, in turn, allows them the power They need to make sure Xeen doesn’t all-out fail. It is the constant warring of the people, caused initially by the Emperor Akki IV, that should be stopped and denounced. Why do people follow an imperial family whose very name means ‘demon’?...
Excerpt: Gods Above.

They were fifty leagues further than his home, fifty leagues further than he’d ever been before. Jun sat quietly on horseback, the priest had provided the mare, and watched the just-visible moon on the horizon. There weren’t any stars yet, and probably wouldn’t be judging by the clouds in the sky. When they started the journey a few days prior, the priest had silenced him as soon as he packed his belongings. He didn’t want to ever come back, which meant saying good-bye to the books. Thankfully, the priest had seen it fit to take a good number of them on, and they now sat on a packhorse he’d brought. There was no need to pack any food or money, the priest had seen to those, too. Clothing and personal items were all Jun really needed to pack. Much as he wanted to ask why, the priest’s look told him that all would be answered in good time.
He signalled a halt and Jun wearily dismounted and hobbled over to find something to sit on. He knew the priest would see to the horses and a fire, he’d forbidden Jun from helping the first night they were out. He was almost regretting leaving with the priest, but he knew he couldn’t go back even if he wanted and he couldn’t go forward without the man’s help.
Like before, he un-tacked the horses and gathered some firewood before circling the camp in a most bizarre fashion. He sat then, and began to pile the wood, and he spoke for the first time in days, “sorry if I’ve upset you, but we needed to get out of there.” Feeling there was more to the explication yet to come, Jun didn’t say anything. The priest set to work making the fire and starting something for dinner, all silently. “As you know, I am a priest, my Patron is Chih-Lung.” Chih-Lung, the only Dragon God other than Ryuujin Himself. Chih-Lung, the Patron of reptiles, wisdom and scholars.
“And do you have a name?”
“Kado.”
Simple answer to a simple question. Priests didn’t have surnames, he knew. They gave them up when they joined their chosen Order. His Order was that of the Patron to scholars, meaning Kado himself was a scholar. No wonder he recognized the book Jun was reading when he couldn’t have caught more than a peek at its words.
“Is there a reason you’ve been sent to get me, or did you have nothing better to do?”
“If I tell you the latter, would you believe me?” Jun shook his head slightly. “’Thought so,” a sigh, “with the Change, we’ve suffered immensely and we need to find a way to revive our strength. The Elders began to look through old prophecies and the like to try and find a solution. They found some of your mother’s journals and we were led to you.”
“My… mother?”
Kado nodded, “she was one of us. She left to go do some studies on Toya Toshi and, well, didn’t come back.”
“But, why me?”
“I don't know, I just volunteered to come out and get you.” Volunteered? Kado had opted to come and get him? “Anyway, it’ll be another week or so until we reach Xiuuyuu and then five days after that we can be in Chishiki. That’s assuming that we don't run into any trouble, there’s ears everywhere now, and priest aren’t thought highly of. It’ll only be a matter of time before religion is dictated again, Gods know what’ll happen then!” he seemed frustrated and upset.
The water on the fire began to boil and Jun took the liberty of making some tea for the both of them. It would be a bit longer until the dinner was ready, but at least they had the tea to warm them. It was autumn and it was getting colder, plus they were going north where it would only be that much colder. The very thought made him shudder.
“You know you’ll probably never be able to go back to Toya’s Lookout, right, Jun?” the priest asked him suddenly.
“I don't want to go back…”
Kado studied him, and Jun looked away from the caring eyes. He didn’t want to know what truths were hidden in them, what secrets might unfold.

…It was nearly highmoon, and everything glistened in its nightly glory. The starlings were dancing about the skies while the rest of the world slept. The rest of the world, excluding myself. It was almost as if the Lady Moon was mocking me, laughing at me. I made a fool of myself, I am, indeed, well aware of that. There’s no need for anyone to remind me, for I doubt I can ever show my face in the empire again, let alone at the palace.
For all it’s caused, perchance my utter failures weren’t as bad as they seem. Sure, I might not be able to show my face again, but at least I know that I told him what I’d wanted to. No one could accuse me of being dishonest, as if that truly meant anything. When I go away to the priesthood, at least all wouldn’t be in vain. He’ll go to the army, like the other first born sons of this age, and I’ll go to the shrines, like all the other last born sons of this age. If he ever knew who I was, he’d forget me as soon as he became a high-ranking official with his pick of all the girls. That’d leave me alone at whichever shrine I end up in to dream of what might have happened had all been as I’d hoped.
The tribes’ attacks are getting worse on the ‘civilized folk’ – that’s what the king calls us, why I don't know – and the Gods were still showing favour to us. They claimed that Ryuujin showed in the sky above the last battle, and that they won because of Him. I won't go to Ryuujin, if He supports wars, He’s not the Patron for me. I want a Patron who supports lost causes, perhaps Arikoruun, the Patron to alicorns, dreams and dreamers. Maybe that’s the path for me…
Excerpt: Courtly Pleasantries.

The farms were getting progressively closer to each other, as were little towns and checkpoints. The little towns and checkpoints were, in turn, getting larger to support the increasing number of people. They were nearing in on Xiuuyuu, and Jun was trying to picture a city in his mind. The most number of people he’d ever seen was at the biannual festivals, but he supposed there’d be so many more than that. Jun was having a hard time deciding if Kado was quiet by nature or if the priest thought the same of him that the villagers did. Ever the pessimist, Jun’s thoughts made him think the first. Growing up in a town where everyone shunned him for what he was by birth didn’t help the way he thought things out. In his mind, everyone was against him. However, Kado had said that his Order called upon him specially. Was it because he was Jun or because of his mother? He knew nothing of his mother other than what she’d written, but Kado did say that her journals were what led them to him.
He was grateful when Kado had told him that the wars were mainly east of where they were headed, and that they wouldn’t be caught in the retaliation, especially since the ‘enemy’ still worshipped the Gods and respected the priesthood. The priest’s opinions of the Emperor Akki were the exact opposite of what he’d been hearing from the peddlers in everyway. Granted, a change of dynasty would harm the priesthood above all others, but he didn’t think the man was able to sound so bitter. Yes, ‘bitter’ was probably the best way to describe the man’s feelings towards the new dynasty and, likewise, the New Age. Jun was still wanting to know what had changed from one Age to the next, but he didn’t bother asking, it would only give the priest another chance to think him an ignorant country bumpkin.
“We’ll stop here,” the priest’s musical voice awoke him from his train of thoughts. “I’d like to get a few more hours of travel in, but the rain’s threatening to come down any minute, and it doesn’t look like Raidon is going to show any mercy tonight.” As always, Kado seemed to answer Jun’s unasked questions.
The boy looked around his surroundings, they were at the entrance to a small cave, their shelter for the night and the Thunder God’s wrath. He followed the priest’s example and dismounted, leading his still-tacked mare into the entrance. Following routine, the horses were un-tacked, rubbed down and then the humans saw to feeding and warming themselves. Thunder had begun to sound in the near distance, and Jun began to shake unconsciously.
Kado handed him a cup of tea and squeezed his shoulder gently, “unnerved by the thunder?” Jun shook his head, but continued to shiver, the priest smiled comfortingly, “we’re safe from it in here, no need to worry.”
He clutched the teacup in his hands, trying to let its warmth soothe him. “On stormy nights, the all the adults and children would lock themselves inside, it’s not safe for weather like this at home,” he found himself explaining, “the older boys could then go about doing as they pleased and no one would ever know. On the nights my father got caught up at the inn and the weather wasn’t bad enough for a trip to my house, they’d come and… I’m weak, and they outnumber me by so many, I was never able to defend myself from them. When Father came home and saw the cuts and bruises, he only yelled at me and called me names.” At the end of his recollection, he found tears falling from his eyes and he tried to will them away. Kado’s arms wrapped around him comfortingly and they just sat like that.
“Why, then,” he asked after a time, “were you so anxious to stay?”
“I wanted to leave as soon as possible,” Jun answered, slowly becoming lost in Kado’s embrace.
“But?” he prodded.
“I guess I was afraid that the outside world would be the same as Toya’s Lookout, only with more people.”
“And what do you think of ‘the outside world’?”
“I haven’t really decided yet, but I think I like it.”
Jun felt gentle hands run through his tangled mass of sandy hair, and he heard a gentle whisper in his ear, naught but a single word; “good”.

…I don't know how long I’ve been sitting here, just contemplating my life, such as it is. I’ve decided that I want to know who said that only girls can dream after their knight-in-shining-armour. Granted, there really aren’t any more knights-in-shining armour, chivalry hasn’t existed, officially, for hundreds of years, just wealthy and powerful lords. So, why am I to be prohibited from watching the court lords like all the gaping ladies? At least I don't gape! Or giggle… Or… Okay, so I’m not a court lady, but what’s wrong with a lordling?
I was going to leave tomorrow anyway. The steward got back to me, and my horse and belongings would be ready for me two hours after dawn, and I’ll be off before the world knows. Since my father is still home, he’ll not have heard yet. I know that he’d order me to the shrines faster if he knew, though. And Gods know I don't want to see him again. I just can't face him, not after that. He didn’t say anything before, but from his face I knew what he was thinking… I just can't bear to look at him when he’s disgusted at me. I’m a weakling coward, I know I am.
Silhouetted in the morning’s half-light was in incantation of my dreams and of my nightmares, and he was walking towards me, ever so slowly…
Excerpt: Courtly Pleasantries.

The city gates marked the official entrance to Xiuuyuu. While it was, indeed, the sole entrance into the city itself, the were people living around the city for, well some distance. Jun guessed that the city had become too small to house all the people, and he dreaded to think of what that meant. There were a few people here and there that travelled about the city in pairs and grouplets, but most were scurrying along in a general flow – such that it reminded Jun of a flowing stream of people. He became thankful that they’d checked into an inn at the gate because he knew that the horses would be unmanageable in such a crowd. Kado pulled him close, holding on to his hands as they headed to their destination, wherever that may have been.
Jun really didn’t have time to be overwhelmed at everything, it was all going so fast with the pace that Kado set. He didn’t mind. It seemed like a nice city, but it wasn’t his dream place yet. When he got to Chishiki he’d look around and take it all in. And he’d be there for a long while… he hoped. Well, he’d be there for a long while if Kado stayed there. Somehow, he found it hard to think of life without the priest any longer. Granted, he’d only known the priest for a couple weeks, but he felt like he was getting to know him better every second. He wanted to know more. Never had he felt so—what was the word?—eager—?—to be with another person. All his life he’d been shunned, and Kado was the first person who truly welcomed his presence. Or was that all in his mind? It did seem like a novel, one of the rarer ones that didn’t feature a damsel and her knight. Jun could only pray that his life didn’t turn out to be a tragedy, like Enshrined and Courtly Pleasantries.
Kado’s grip on Jun loosened a bit, and the latter couldn’t help but feel a bit remorseful. They’d stepped from the mainstream of people and were entering a small shrine that seemed to have seen better days. Jun looked to the older man’s face, as per usual, there was no major change of expression, but he squeezed Jun’s hand gently to let him know he was there.
As it so turned out, the shrine was one for travelling priests and favoured no Patron God, but all, as well as the Honoured Ones. Kado fell to his knees to offer a prayer, and Jun followed him. After they broke away, Kado ushered him to stay put while he went to another room to grab something. They then rejoined the crowds, fighting the opposite currant, until they returned to their small inn and were alone in their room.
“Reports and statistics for the records,” Kado explained as he stowed the papers in his saddlebags. “We have a few choices here,” he sat down on the end of the bed – Jun had taken the chair –, “we can stay here for a few days and I can show you the city and its shrines, oh, and anything else you might wish to see,” he paused momentarily, “Or we can go to Chishiki tomorrow morning, get there earlier than planned and maybe steal a few days sightseeing there before I report in.”
Was that a smile creeping onto the priest’s face? “I think I’d like the second one, actually,” he answered slowly, hesitantly. Kado was willing to go against the flow in order to help him have fun? Gods forbid he’d ever be separated from him! Maybe Kado was the man that been frequenting his dreams for… well… as long as he could remember. And, then again, maybe he was just being too optimistic and would only find disappointments. Maybe Kado had a wife and kid waiting for him in Chishiki. Maybe…
“Are you okay?” Kado leaned forward, closing the breech between then, to place a warm hand on Jun’s forehead. “You don't have a fever, but you look a bit flushed. Why don't you lay down for a bit?”
“I’m okay, honestly,” he schooled his voice, giving himself a mental slap.
“Why don't you lie down anyway?” Kado suggested not sounding at all convinced. “You’ve seen a lot in such a little time, I don't want to see you get overwhelmed.”
Jun nodded submissively and made his way to the head of the bed where he curled under the covers. Kado’s weight never left the foot of the bed, and Jun could almost feel the priest’s gaze on him and he could almost taste the concern.
Those were what he was sensing, right?

…“Have you been out here all night?” he doesn’t stop, doesn’t seem to want to. He sounds worried. Gods…
“I… er… That is to say…” Great time to lose your nerve, Shen! “What I mean… Well…”
“How can you be so brave?” Okay, now that question came from nowhere.
“Brave? My lord, I’m a weakling and a coward.” Right, and now I revert to the old ‘my lord’ after he told me how we were equals when I came to the palace!
“Kuan-Yin,” he reminds me. “I mean, of course, your confession from this afternoon.”
“I’m… sorry, just…” I make a rise to leave. I don't want this confrontation. I don't want to hear him tell me how much he thinks I’m a freak…
He grabs my wrist to stop me from leaving. Involuntarily I turn to face him. I’m not sure what expression that is on his face, but it’s not hatred or disgust. “Be anything, just don't be sorry. Gods! Despite what others may think, you’re the one that’s got the courage and the strength, it’s all here,” he placed a hand over my heart and I tried not to whimper at the touch, or shortness thereof, “as for me? I’m the true weakling. I fall in with the expected, and you, dear Shen, are nothing if not different. That you could chose me! There just aren’t words. But I think, before I lose what nerve I have, I’m going to kiss you.”
And he did… I’ve been waiting for this moment for an eternity, and I’ve never felt anything so… so… blessedly right…
Excerpt: Courtly Pleasantries

They made excellent time to Chishiki, according to Kado, and found themselves at a small inn that vaguely resembled the one from Xiuuyuu. Kado had his own rooms at his Patron’s shrine, of course, but he’d promised a few days to Jun. Kado kept that promise well and the two of them walked – hand-in-hand – across the city. By the second day, they were worn out and too exhausted to go back to the taproom to grab their dinner. They arranged themselves as they had previously, Jun on the chair and Kado on the bed. Kado was openly studying the younger townsman whilst Jun was pretending not to notice, care or stare back – all at the same time.
Over the past days, after he’d realized his fondness for Kado, he’d admitted his feelings for Kado, if not to Kado at least to himself. That was one step in the right direction, right? Maybe, maybe not. The next step was the one that took Shen about two-hundred pages. The next step was the one he dreaded. What if Kado wasn’t like Kuan-Yin? What if Jun’d been reading far too much and not paying attention to the real world. Then again, until a few weeks ago, the books were his real world.
“Kado, I…” he didn’t want to sound cliché, but then again, he was mentally wondering why he began talking. Well, he had the priest’s attention. “ ‘I’m not going to pretend like I have a complete grasp on the situation, because I don't. I know what I feel for you, though, and that’s all that matters, right?’ ” Okay, so he’d failed. Maybe a quote would suffice? Or maybe Kado would just think him some stupid, country bumpkin.
“ ‘Be anything, just don't be sorry’ ” he replied, a reply quote from some fifty pages later. Gods! Despite what others may think, you’re the one that’s got the courage and the strength, it’s all here,” he placed a on Jun’s face, looking him straight in the eyes, “ ‘as for me? I think, before I lose what nerve I have, I’m going to kiss you.’ ”
Okay, so he did skip some of the quote, they both knew that, but the feeling of their lips as they met for the first time was just… so much better than a bloody book. He found Kado’s arms around him, and he never wanted him to let go. He wanted to sit in the comforting embrace for the rest of eternity, however long eternity might be.
He’d finally gotten away from Toya’s Lookout and to Chishiki, and what better place in Chishiki than in the arms of a man that made him want to melt? There was no doubt in Jun’s mind that the Gods existed and resided over Xeen, for how else could he have found the most perfect man under the moons holding him and kissing him?