For your entertainment and mine.

~ Heien Jie

Disclaimer: All familiar characters belong to Yamane Ayano

"It is the dim haze of mystery that adds enchantment to pursuit."

~Antoine Rivarol

~x~

Behind the Mystery

It had been a week since Akihito left and a certain man was so pissed off. The air at Sion turned cold as the man with a sleek black hair entered through the front door. Everybody held their breath for a while then they all greeted the man. After that tried to be as inconspicuous as possible. They wouldn't risk angering and already pissed off dragon lest he decide that they've already lived their life. When he entered his office and was already out of sight, everyone gave out a relieved sigh.

No matter how Asami tries to look stoic his aura radiated from his body. His employees must have felt it too for they went silent as soon as he entered. He sat on his leather chair and opened the first folder that was stacked on his table. It would be better to focus on the business at hand or else his head would be filled with nothing but his lover.

Kirishima was worried about the affairs at Sion. He was used to his boss being cold before but ever since his boss met a certain blond the mood at the office became warm. The employees felt that too. He turned to Suoh who just came out from Asami's office.

"We need to make a plan," Kirishima said. "That blond has to return or else Sion will turn into an ice palace. We are already walking on thin ice here."

Suoh nodded and followed him.

~x~

Akihito stopped on his tracks and placed his hands on his hips as he tried to catch his breath. He went with his grandma to the temple on top of Mt. Hakkyo. Mount Hakkyo is the highest Mountain in the Kansai region including Nara Prefecture. The name of the mountain literally means "Eight Buddhist scriptures." The easiest route takes 3 hours.

The adventurous side of him liked the idea of hiking but another part of him told that going there was ridiculous. It did not guarantee a solution to his problem but he was desperate. If there was a possibility of him returning to normal he would go anywhere and do anything.

"Grandma how much further until we get there?" Akihito asked between ragged breaths.

"Ayh kids these days. We'll be there in a little while," his grandma who was 15 steps ahead of him shouted out.

Akihito exhaled in annoyance. How could he, who had ran away from many thugs trying catch him, get so tired just from climbing a mountain. He looked ahead at his grandmother's moving form. He was amazed that his grandma could still have the strength to go on a hike.

Keep walking, keep walking he repeated to himself.

After another thirty minutes they finally reached their destination. Chieko talked with a priest while Akihito rested on a bench. There were few people besides them. He viewed his surroundings and noticed that among the people there most were couples. A wave of loneliness suddenly went past him. He wished a certain someone was beside him. They were not a normal couple he knew that but at some point he wished they were. They would be able to hold hands or even kiss without anyone batting an eyelash.

Homosexuality was already present in ancient and medieval Japan. Some scholars have noted a strong historical tradition of homosexuality among male Buddhist institutions in Japan. Homosexual relationships in the monastery were typically pederastic. This means that a male adolescent is partnered with an adult who is either a monk or an abbot. Both parties are required to treat their relationship seriously and honorably. Their relationship will end when the boy reaches adulthood or leaves the monastery. There was no religious opposition to this conduct even among non-Buddhist practitioners.

From religious circles this practice soon spread to the samurai class. A boy would undergo martial arts training under a more experienced man. If both parties consent the man may take the boy as his lover when the young man comes of age. Both are expected to remain faithful meaning they cannot take another male lover but there is no restriction when it comes to having female lovers.

Homosexuality spread to the middle class when the situation in Japan began to settle. In the kabuki theater some young men who act as women during the play became the object of desire of wealthy patrons.

Hundreds of years later Japan was opened to the world and western influences came pouring in. The people's view on homosexuality gradually changed. Homosexuality was outlawed in 1872. But after seven years this was repealed. The effects remained regardless of this. People frowned upon homosexual relationships.

At present there are no laws against this kind of relationship and the society has become more open and accepting about it. But this kind of relationship is kept under the table. Most often gay men are stuck with gender roles and family expectations. Even Akihito felt the pressure. He never imagined himself to be gay. He's had relationships with a few girls back in high school and college but had never been with men. But when Asami came into his life everything had changed. The man captured his innocent heart.

Akihito continued to gaze around appreciating the sites. It felt wonderful to breath the clean fresh air. He picked up the camera that dangled on his neck and took some pictures. Perhaps one day he and Asami would go there together. He smiled as he took more shots. He would show this to Asami when he gets back he thought excitedly.

~x~

Kichijoten otherwise known as Kisshoten is a Japanese divinity adapted from Hindu mythology. In Hindu myths she was the wife of Vishnu. In Japan she is known as a goddess of fertility, fortune, luck, beauty and merit. She once served as part of the Seven Gods of Fortune. She is depicted as a beautiful woman with a plump body that was said to be the ideal feminine beauty of old China. A statue of her made of wood can be found at the Joryuriji Temple. There is also a famous painting of her that is displayed at the Yakushiji temple.

The temple where they were was built in honor of her. Couples who want to have children but have trouble conceiving would often visit the temple to offer their prayers.

Chieko motioned for Akihito come with him. They burned incense and bowed to the portrait of a beautiful goddess before them. Akihito stared at his grandmother who was beside him. Her eyes were closed as she prayed in silence. He thought they were probably praying to the wrong deity. Akihito stared up at the portrait. He did not know if it was just his imagination but for a brief moment the goddess seemed to have smile at him. He looked at his grandma. Of course she did not see her eyes were closed. He stared at the portrait again. The smile was gone. The goddess looked beautiful. She had that motherly look on her Akihito thought.

Please turn me back to normal. He prayed silently hoping that the goddess would hear his prayers.

AN: This chapter was rather short. I wanted to update asap without compromising the flow of the story. The following chapter will probably be uploaded late.

The part about having a temple there is just made up though. Sorry. I am not from Japan and I do not know its geography and sites. I usually rely on mr. google for that part.

I haven't mentioned Akihito's hometown because I am not sure which place to choose. I would probably choose Nara, Japan since there are many temples there and also it is quite far from Tokyo. I said 'far' but with the shinkansen reaching it would take only four hours. Well this is according to google earth though.

How was it? Feel free to review.

~ Heien Jie