The air was crackling with electricity. In their minds, 
a glimpse of the past surfaced. Rukawa was the first to regain
his composure, at least mentally, for his exterior was 
chiseled from marble. Emphatically, he stood up.

     "What do you want to drink?" Rukawa asked. I know you 
drink cappuccino. I just want to make sure. After all, I've 
been wrong many times, haven't I?

     What do I want to drink? The only drink that came to his
mind was...

     "Green tea." Sendoh replied. I don't know why, but I 
want to feel--
     "Don't have green tea." Rukawa answered without pause.
     "What?" Startled.
     "What do you want?" You heard me.
     "You don't have green tea?!"
     "I threw it away. I don't drink it anymore." I don't want
to be reminded.
     "Why!" Sendoh exclaimed heatedly. His remark did not faze
Rukawa. If it did, he didn't show it.
     "I gave it up a long time ago." The day you rejected me. 
Are you surprised? He felt like smiling.

     Sendoh gritted his teeth and remained silent. His anger 
was undeserved. He had no right to be angry. He had no hold 
on Rukawa. What if that drink was special? So? He had 
relinquished all of Rukawa the day he parted ways with him. 
But he could not control his unjustified emotions. He was 
angry.

     Rukawa waited wordlessly for Sendoh to speak. He would 
not repeat himself anymore. Sendoh knew that, and that ignited
his anger ten-fold. Why? Where was the fiery Rukawa he knew so
well? The Rukawa who would respond to his anger, the one who 
would show his emotions?? No, he never laughed with him, but 
that was something else. He wanted to get drunk--so drunk that
he would never be sober ever again.

     Kaede, I am so lost.

     "Beer. I want beer." Sendoh looked at Rukawa 
meaningfully. The first time they had alcohol together, they 
were at a pub. At that time, Rukawa couldn't stomach the 
drinks very well, and Sendoh laughed at him. He ended up 
vomiting the entire night while Sendoh took care of him.

     You want to drink? Fine, I'll drink with you...

     Rukawa turned away and went to fetch their drinks. He 
came out with two six packs. When he returned, he found Sendoh
sitting on the carpet, flipping and staring listlessly at the 
old album. Rukawa flung the beer onto the carpet, capturing 
the attention of Sendoh. He sat down cross-legged next to 
Sendoh and slammed shut the album. His eyes were icy, but a 
twinge of turbulence was in his eyes.

     Sendoh picked up a can and opened it. What am I doing 
here.I need to leave. He drank from the can. Kaede,I miss you
... He didn't let go of the can even after he finished the 
beer. Kaede,I.. He crushed the can in his hands. Pain. He 
opened another one.

     Rukawa, like Sendoh, was already into his second drink. 
He took one sip and then placed the can onto the table. You 
don't need the album. You wanted me gone, so let the memories
die--

     "Rukawa, how have you been?" Sendoh asked in a neutral 
voice. His face was buried in his hands. Kaede, I've 
realized. He took his hands away from his face and forced 
himself to smile. A sad smile.

     "Fine." He picked up his can and drowned himself in the 
beer.
     "Rukawa--" Sendoh looked at Rukawa in anguish. I--
     "..." Rukawa was opening his third can of beer.
     "Rukawa--" --love you--
     "..." Alcohol is a good anesthetic. I've been using it
since the day I gave up green tea.
     "Ru--"
     "WHAT?! Just shut up! I don't want to hear your voice."
With a crash, the can of beer in his hand landed on the 
table, overturning as it hit the surface. The fluid spilled.

     Sendoh and Rukawa stared at each other. Rukawa was 
boiling. Sendoh was---

     In one quick move, Sendoh lunged at Rukawa, knocking him
onto the floor.

     "I CAN'T STAND THIS ANYMORE. You want to know? I LOVE 
YOU! I realized that. I love you.. and I can't stand this! I 
missed you so much." Sendoh attacked Rukawa with the 
aggression of a lion. He used his strength to pin Rukawa on 
the floor while he kissed him ruthlessly. Roughly, his lips
traveled from Rukawa's lips to his pale neck and back, 
leaving a glistening trail of marks.

     Rukawa did not resist. Instead, he returned Sendoh's 
scorching kisses with his own scalding lips. Sendoh might be 
strong, but Rukawa wasn't weak. His powerful arms enfolded 
Sendoh with a deadly grip. He arched his lower body and with
a sudden lurch, reversed their positions.

     Their lips opened. Their tongues coiled and collided 
unremittingly.

     Rukawa heard a rip. Sendoh pulled at the white shirt on
his body. The tear was on the hem of the shirt. Cradled on 
Sendoh, Rukawa pulled away briefly to tear off his shirt. 
Sendoh's eyes imbibed on the skin that was revealed. The 
muscles rippled as Rukawa breathed heavily from their 
interlude. In less than a second, Sendoh reached up for 
Rukawa as Rukawa swooped down to continue their impassioned 
cry for release.

     Sendoh's shirt slithered off under Rukawa's deft hands.
Tanned skin contrasted with pale skin. Kisses rained on both
bodies. Hands sought and caressed muscular bodies. The 
excitement of the boys can no longer be contained. Sendoh's
hands slid down to the front of Rukawa's jeans. Rukawa 
responded. The zippers gave way to the seeking hands. 
Roughly, one pair of jeans was pulled down to the ankle. 
Another pair followed. Sendoh divested the last article of 
clothing on Rukawa. His hands touched the convergence of 
heat Rukawa exhibited.

     "Aaah~" Rukawa's voice was muffled in Sendoh's throat
under Sendoh's incessant stroking. The assault to his senses
rendered Rukawa powerless to do anything else except receive
the waves of rapture poured into his bloodstream.

     Sendoh turned Rukawa around and continued his 
onslaught. His blood boiled as he became one with Rukawa. 
Warmth. Tightness. Sweetness. Bliss...

     After the initial waves of pleasure passed, the boys 
caught their breaths only to reverse roles and start all 
over again.

     The storm raged outside. The storm raged inside. 
Tonight was the night when two become one. Endless passion. 
Endless night.

∼To Be Continued∼