Disclaimer: oh the usual...

Chapter 2 - Discovery

What Youji wasn't telling anyone even Natsuo, was that his mark had started to fade, ever so slightly and that the birthmark they both had on their left hip was getting darker. The Zero mark was on their right hip it was small and not easily seen, so even though he and Natsuo often bathed together, all Youji had to do was keep his hips turned just so and Natsuo was no wiser. What was getting harder to hide was his sensitivity to hot and cold things as well as the temperature outside. He and Natsuo made a point of dressing based on the weather report each day that way they wouldn't appear over or under dressed compared to their school mates. But now Youji 'knew' if it was cold or hot out, and when it was cold he got goose bumps.

Then one day while the two were taking a relaxing afternoon bath everything came to a head, literally.

Youji was sitting back soaking in the tub, thinking about how much muscle Natsuo had put on this last year, it was a very pleasant feeling, floating there thinking about his Fighter and how strong he looked. When Natsuo leaned forward in the tub and grabbing Youji's shoulder, whispered in his ear.

"Youji look down, Wha-what's that, what's happening to you?" Youji opened his eyes and peered down at himself. He was startled to find his penis had become enlarged, in fact it was several times larger than normal.

"Whoa, it's never done 'that' before." They both looked at the enlarged member, bobbing in the water.

"Does it hurt?" Natsuo asked his Sacrifice his hand starting to move to the strange phenomenon.

"No, actually It feels kind of….(gasp)" Natsuo had grasped Youji's engorged member with a cursory touch trying to figure out what was going on. At that first touch, Youji had gasped suddenly and backed up the side of the tub and out of Natsuo reach.

"Youji? Did I hurt you? Are you okay, do we need to call someone?" Youji slid back down into the tub.

"No, I-I don't know, it felt like nothing I can even begin to explain to you. B-but, I , well, except that I want you to touch it again." A rosy glow colored the cheeks of the Zero Sacrifice one that was not caused by the heat of the water in the tub.

"You do? But why?"

"I-it felt good, really good to have Natsuo's hand on it, maybe if you rub it, it will go away."

Natsuo looked at his Sacrifice as if he might be losing his mind, but what the hell it was worth a try, and he sure as hell didn't want to tell Nagisa about this, if she thought Youji was defective she might just follow thru on her threats to kill them both. So he grasped the swollen appendage again and began to rub and squeeze it sometimes using both hands in the process. The noises and faces Youji started to make were actually very interesting and Natsuo worked to see if he could get him to make the same face twice. It was the tension in Youji's muscles that told Natsuo that something was about to happen. Then without much warning other than that the swollen appendage seemed to burst, and Youji yelled his name.

"Natsuo!!!"

"Youji! Youji, are you okay, it burst! Oh my god, I've killed you!" After yelling his Fighters name Youji had sunk down into the tub. The strangest expression on his face.

"I'm not dead Natsuo, just sleepy help me to the bed will ya." The now sleepy Sacrifice mumbled. Natsuo helped Youji from the tub he noticed while toweling him off that his penis had returned to its normal size. He half carried the lethargic Youji to the bed and laid him down were the long haired teen instantly feel asleep. Natsuo began to worry again, Youji had always had a hard time falling to sleep it was Natsuo who could fall asleep as soon as his head hit a pillow. In desperation he called Soubi, he couldn't think of anyone else to call and maybe as an adult he might know what had happened to Youji.

"Natsuo? Hey whats up?"

"Soubi, i-it's Youji he just exploded."

"He WHAT! Tell me what happened."

"We were in the bath….." Natsuo went into detail, explaining to Soubi exactly what had happened."

"Oh Gods, Ha… hahahaha"

"SOUBI! This is not funny! Stop laughing, what if he's defective or something, Nagisa will terminate him."

"No, Natsuo she won't, I'll make sure of it. Really everything is fine, in fact he's better than fine." Soubi was still chuckling.

"Better than fine? But what happened to him."

"Something very very normal for teenage boys your age, go to Ritsu, no scratch that, bad idea he likes em young. Go to 7 and ask her to lend you some books from the 5th grade sex education class. Read those first and then you can find out more on the internet."

"That was sex? But he still has his ears."

"No not sex not fully, it was, how do I say this, a form of practice."

"Practice, huh I wonder if I'll be able to practice too."

"Oh I suspect so, if not now then eventually." Soubi began to chuckle again at the innocence of the male Zero pair, and here they had thought to lose their ears with Hitomi Sensei when he'd met them, silly boys.

"Oh and Natsuo, one more thing"

"What."

"When you're looking into this on the internet, research same sex pairings that will be the most help to the two of you."

"Same sex pairings? You mean it works between guys and I don't have to go out and fine some dumb girl, I can just be with Youji. Forever."

"Yes, you can be with only him, forever, if that is what the two of you want." Natsuo could hear the smile in Soubi's voice on the other end of the phone.

"Thanks Soubi, I'm so glad I called you."

"Anytime, Natsuo, Anytime."

Natsuo closed the cell phone, and looked at his peacefully sleeping Sacrifice. Youji, he was the most important person in Natsuo's life. He never wanted to be separated from him. Youji had been keeping secrets lately, he thought Natsuo hadn't noticed the changes in him, but of course Natsuo had, they'd been together since well always, anything that affected Youji affected Natsuo. Natsuo had known immediately when Youji had started being able to feel hot and cold. Natsuo had just barely started noticing it himself. Tomorrow they would go to 7 and get those books and start finding out what was going on with him and hopefully he, Natsuo would catch up soon, Youji had looked so happy before he fell asleep. Natsuo wanted to know what it felt like. He rolled his Sacrifice over and looked at the Zero mark, just as he thought it was fading.