CHAPTER 6

After a night of truly interesting dreams lying so near to Koji, Sanji went to shower, letting Koji sleep off his injuries. She couldn't help relieving some of her tension in the shower, and his family just happened to have one of those massaging shower head hose adapters, so she decided to try it out. The feeling was incredible, and as she reached her peak, her legs sort of gave way in the heat of the moment.

"Oh shi-" Sanji lost her balance and fell right into the sliding plate glass shower door, and it shattered under the stress. Before she could even move, Sanji found herself slashed and impaled by several large chunks of glass. A slight gurgle told her one of the jagged blades had pierced a lung before she could scream, and everything went black.

CRASH!

Koji sat up and winced at the pain, his dreams of Sanji offering herself interrupted rather jarringly by the sound of breaking glass. He checked for Sanji, and not seeing her on the futon, he ran weakly though the house, looking for signs of a break in, watching for Sanji. A protective part of him worried she was being attacked or hurt.

When he reached the bathroom and saw blood seeping out under the door, Koji's heart went into his throat. He slammed the door open to find his friend of so many years lying naked and male on the floor amidst a litter of shattered plate glass, unhurt. Koji cautiously woke the boy up, helping him sit up on the floor, ignoring his naked body for the moment.

"Are you okay? I heard the crash, I guess you got hurt and healed again... You're a boy again now."

Sanji looked up at Koji, who held him close with a arm around his shoulder, and nodded quietly. A certain part of his now male body reacted to the boy who had so recently filled his dreams. Maybe it was the post-adrenaline rush, too, that had to be it.

"Ummm, can I have a towel?" Sanji blushed deeply at the direction his thoughts were taking, but tried to shrug it off as a fluke. It didn't seem to work, however.

Koji, for his part, quickly grabbed a towel and turned his head, thinking, "Wow... He thinks of me that way when he's a boy too now?" Koji didn't know what to think about that, so he tried to put it from his mind, with small success.

Sanji draped the towel over himself, blushing deeply, and started picking up glass bits.

"What happened? Did you slip on something in the shower? Mom put in the traction pad things a long time ago, so I'm surprised you did..." Koji tried to change the subject, helping pick up glass shards.

"Ummm, well, to be perfectly honest... I had dreams about you last night, and needed to blow off some steam... My girl body is so sensitive, it's... I get so tense sometimes, you know? Kinda like you last night." Sanji giggled a little bit girlishly at that, sounding odd in his male voice.

"You were still awake?!" Koji felt like his face was on fire, so decided to return the favor.

"Well, you know, you were coming on pretty strong last night... And well, I'm a guy, what guy wouldn't in the circumstances? Hell, most of the guys at school would have tried to get you in bed, even with a broken rib. Now lets finish cleaning up this blood and glass, and you need to take another shower. You're covered in blood."

Sanji nodded, and they went back to cleaning up.

Later on, after the mess was clean and Sanji showered again, Koji lent him some clothes, and they sat down to watch television. Koji was a little more mobile today, though he still ached when he breathed too deeply.

Sanji sat next to Koji on the couch, mostly trying to watch the show, but he found himself distracted. Why couldn't he get Koji out of his mind? He was a boy now, wasn't it wrong to keep thinking about another boy? He carefully sneaked a glance at his friend, and almost sighed. It was just like when he was in girl form! Koji glanced over and noticed him looking, and he quickly looked away. Sanji wondered if his friend thought him a pervert now, after all, it wasn't normal for guys to sneak glances at each other. He had always felt close to his friend, but never like this, right? Sanji wondered...

Koji noticed Sanji glancing his way, and wondered at his own thoughts. Recent events were forcing him to reevaluate what he believed. A kiss in a photo booth years past kept coming up in his mind, a memory that had not left his mind a single day since it happened. He put a hand to his cheek, as if he could still feel it. Did it really matter what body someone was in? What was most important, who you love, or what they look like?

The pair watched television in a sort of awkward silence after that. But somehow, as one movie ended and another began, Sanji found his hand in Koji's. Maybe it would be okay fter all, maybe nothing mattered as long as two people loved each other.

After a few hours, Sanji tired of the inner conflict. After all, there was a simple resolution to the whole thing. He stood up and walked to the kitchen, making himself a sandwich, and carefully cut his palm with a kitchen knife. A shiver went down Sanji's spine and she knew she was a girl again. She washed her hands and finished the sandwich, then brought it to Koji.

"Hey, you hungry? I made a sandwich." She passed him the plate, and again sat next to him. Then she leaned against his shoulder gently, cuddling up to him to watch the show. He seemed confused for a moment, but then cuddled back. Something about the girl in his clothes just seemed so natural, so right.

Sanji got tired of television after a while, and pulled on Koji's arm.

"Hey, cripple, wanna do something else? If you're up to it, I mean... Maybe a video game, or something. There's just not much good on TV." Sanji rifled through Koji's game collection, coming up with an old favorite... "How about Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles? I wanna play a magic user type, but they're all pretty weak, so I need another player to keep me alive."

Koji nodded and took the proferred Game Boy Advance, and they started up the game. The hours literally flew by and almost before either of them noticed night fell again. Koji started to fall asleep in the middle of the game, so Sanji saved it and shut it off, and tucked him in right there on the couch. She kissed him lightly on the lips and brought her futon mattress down to sleep next to him again.

"Some weekend, huh, Koji? I wish I'd done worse to those bastards for hurting you..." Koji murmured something unintelligible, clearly asleep already, and Sanji lay there for over an hour, just watching him.

"You know, I think I always loved you... Even as a boy, I still felt the attraction... But maybe before I couldn't let myself feel it, and now, I already do... There's no taking back how I feel now, not that I would want to." Sanji watched Koji sleep a little longer before sleep claimed her.

She was lying on the bed, waiting, while Koji came out of the bathroom. He was so hot, wearing nothing but a towel and a smile. He came to her and they joined, blissfuly. Then Sanji was a boy again, and they were still together. It didn't matter, nothing mattered but the way they felt, sharing their lives, their bodies, their souls...

Sanji woke up with a sheen of perspiration on her skin and quickened breath. She stood up and hurried to the bathroom, knowing if she stayed next to Koji a single second longer in the state she was in, she might pounce on him without a care for his cracked rib. She thought of the shower, and how she had already broken the shower door, and decided on a hot soak instead. Anything to relax her raging hormones before she lost control completely. The rest of the night passed slowly for Sanji, the dream would not leave her mind. She didn't particularly want it to.

Koji stood before his lover, dropped his towel and came to her. He was still hot from the shower, yet she felt hot against his skin, and it was wonderful. Then suddenly her soft skin was rougher, her body larger, and Koji knew she was a boy again. He drew back, covering himself, and his best friend developed a look of utter desolation, lying on the bed. Koji wept too, he wanted to accept Sanji in both forms, but he couldn't. Dream became nightmare as Sanji melted away, leaving the bed unoccupied, and Koji knew Sanji was gone forever. Demons grew from the shadows, twisted cruel visages led by a red snake-like demon, hissing that Koji's love was now his to torment forever.

Sanji heard a scream of purest anguish from downstairs and leapt out of the bath, running for Koji. When she reached him, she found him asleep and fevered, soaked with sweat.

"Koji! Koji, wake up! It's just a dream!" She shook him gently, cautious of his rib, and he slowly roused, still waving his hands as if to fend off multiple attackers.

"Sanji! Give her back! I... I love her... I love him..." Koji opened his eyes, wet with tears, and Sanji shushed him, leaning down to kiss him, reassure him she was still there.

"It's okay, Koji. It was just a nightmare, you have a fever and it's messing with your head. But you're awake now, it's alright. I'm here." She cuddled close to him, uncaring that she was wet and nude, he needed her.

"Sanji... It was terrible... We were together, then you changed and I... I... I turned away. I love you so much, it shouldn't matter what body you're wearing, but I think it does and I'm such a shallow asshole and I'm sorr-"

"Koji, it's okay. It was just a dream, and besides, I like being a girl as much as being a boy. If that's what you want, that's what I'll be. I love you, I would do anything for you."

Sanji and Koji cuddled together the rest of the night, and they slept peacefully together. As if somehow the mere contact with each other drove away bad dreams and relaxed tense desires to an acceptable level.

When morning broke and warm Sunday sunlight poured into the front room to wake the loving couple, Sanji kissed Koji again.

"I think I'm getting addicted to kissing you..."

"I don't mind at all... In fact, when this rib heals and I can hold you better, I'll bet I can curl your toes!" Koji grinned winningly.

"You already do, Koji... Every time I kiss you. Every time I touch you. Every time I even think of you!" Sanji winked and smiled at the flustered Koji as she stood up and stretched out the sleep kinks, giving Koji a show that made his nose bleed.

"Ummm, shouldn't you get dressed, Sanji?" Koji stuffed a wad of tissue in his nose to stop the flow, and turned away, blushing.

"Oh, alright, but I don't think I can hold off too much longer, Koji... These new hormones are wild! I'm glad you heal fast." Koji blushed more and watched surreptitiously as Sanji dressed in clothes borrowed from Koji. His sweatsuit fit her like a glove, and he couldn't help staring.

"Yeah, me too... I'd hate to miss school, it's hard to keep up and finals are coming soon. I have to score high if I'm going to get into a good college."

"I'm hoping to get into a good art school... I have a few applications in already, but I haven't heard anything."

Koji sat up and hugged her gently.

"Well, I hope our schools are close together, my dad promised me a motorcycle when I graduate, and I could drive you to school."

"You're such a greasemonkey... I bet you're already planning on replacing the engine with a fuel cell. But that sounds great, I'll keep that in mind when picking a school." Sanji cuddled to Koji's chest, thinking about the future.

Koji decided he'd had enough of being cooped up in the house, so he went for a walk with Sanji. They strolled through a nearby park, skipping stones on the pond and just sharing a sunny day in each other's company. It was a moment of perfection in the whirlwind of teenage life. Until they ran into Sanji's new girl friends from the school.

"Tenba-chan! Is that you?" It was Miyuka, the class representative, and her group of friends. Sanji smiled and waved back, standing next to Koji.

"Hey, everyone! Nice to see you here!"

"We read about you and Koji in the newspaper... Are you okay?" Miyuka sounded concerned.

"I'm fine, but they broke Koji's rib, so I'm nursing him back to health." Sanji laughed as Koji blushed, "That red viper jerk attacked him because of me."

"Wow... So are you two an item or something now?" Miyuka giggled a little, and the other girls started chattering.

"Well, umm, yeah, we are." Sanji looked to Koji for confirmation. Koji was struck by a sudden inspiration, and swept her into a long, deep kiss while the girls gasped and whistled.

"It's Stockholm Syndrome. She fell for me while nursing me back to health." Koji laughed while Sanji recovered from the kiss, blushing deeply and giggling.

"Wow, you're a fast one, Koji... Just remember, she lost a cousin just a week ago, so you better not hurt her. Otherwise, we'll all gang up on you!" Miyuka looked serious for a moment, then softened up. "Still, I wish you both well, and I hope things work out."

Sanji and Koji spent the rest of the day in the park, just enjoying the sunshine and each other's company, and when it came on to evening, Sanji walked Koji home, then started off for her own home. Aftder all, the next day was school, and her father would not let her stay again. At the thought of staying over again, a thought occurred to Sanji, and she stopped in at a pharmacy on the way, buying a large box of condoms, which she hid in her purse... just in case.