Author's Notes: I've had this idea in my mind for months and months and months. Reading something posted by Dark Ash(Kenichi's gal), talking about how she is a fan of yaoi, I'm sure we have many people here who are fans of Metropolis yaoi as well. I'm sure the first Metro yaoi up in this section is A Gay Metropolis which will continue to be a classic and one of my favorites. Also, the first of it's kind. ^ ^ There have been only a few other yaoi fics posted here. Anyway, having said this has been on my mind for a long time now, I thought it was about time I posted it to see what you guys thought. So please, if you have any questions, comments, or anything, just drop me a review. An author can never get enough of those. ^_^


Disclaimer: *Filing nails*


Warnings: There be some bad language ahead, children. Cover your poor, sensitive ears...T_T()



Told through the eyes of: Skunk Kusai, Minister of the State of Metropolis.

Pairings: None yet.

Rating: R

Title: Introduction:

OOC: Maybe, depending on how you look at it.






Bisses, Mr. Minister





It's my birthday next week and what I want please
Is to turn on the heat so the fish won't freeze
The fish in the tank froze and died last week
I wanna be a dog or I wanna be a leaf

- Paula Cole








Today, the sky was the color of neon blue Gatorade.


I'm not saying that's a bad thing, I've been told my eyes are that color at times. People tell me they're an unnatural blue, like I'm supposed to be worried that my eyes aren't normal enough or that something's wrong with me. Anyway, if their mother was from Ireland and their father from Australia......or was it France? Maybe he was a mix of both...? Great, now I'm a half Irish half don'tknowwhatthehellIam.......Whatever, the point is, they'd be fucked up too.


Pardon my language, but it's the truth. You'd think that my parents would know that by having a child it would result in overactive bladders, excessive bullying at school, bad luck in their house, and the occasional furry animal finding its way into their laundry room. But God help them, they had one anyway. I don't think the result was a very satisfying one. I mean, it's me we're talking about here. Now I'm a half Irish, a quarter French, a quarter Australian, a quarter English, a quarter don'tknowwhatthehellIam with eyes the color of Gatorade and skin so pale I glow a freakish, green, florescent color whenever I get in a pool. But, despite my numerous imperfections, they loved me anyway.


Or at least I think they did.....sometimes I'd get the feeling they were laughing at me behind my back. Like the time I tried out for the football team in high school, or when I wanted to join little league baseball when I was only six. How was I supposed to know that they THREW the ball at you? Don't answer that, it's rhetorical. I mean, what kind of jackass throws a ball right at your face?! Again, rhetorical. I bet it was a proud point for my mother and father to say That's our boy! as they pointed to the skinny and pale little youth as he screamed like a sissy girl and ran away from a baseball.


I told Lamp that story one time, but he just laughed at me. He's such a kissass anyway, always hanging around the president, complimenting him on shit that nobody cares about, doing his errands and his taxes and his paper work. But, I guess you could call him my friend, only because is too shallow a word and is far too strong. So yes, Lamp is my friend. Even though there are times I just wish he'd drop dead.


I still remember the day we first met. Would you believe it was in college? We had one class together, and that was it. We were teamed up in a lab and only talked for one week, then went our separate ways. About fifteen years later, we both applied to Minister of State. We talked for awhile, a few months maybe, neither one of us knowing if we'd get into the race or not.



.~.


Skunk? Skunk Kusai?


I turned around, not quite expecting who I was going to see. I had a vague idea, though. But, with these kind of debates, you never knew who you would run into.

He smiled, I never thought I'd see you again. I heard you traveled in Europe for awhile?

God, did I feel stupid. This man, obviously someone who knew me very well, wants to know everything I've been up to since...college was it? I recognized the dent in the back of his head. It almost looked as if you could stick a candle in it. But, how silly. I just kept staring at him.

....Lamp......Lamp, is it?

His smile broadened and he nodded his head quickly, enthusiastically, as if he was trying to prevent me from leaving by being interested in every little thing I said. Guess if I left he'd have no one to talk to.

I sighed in relief, happy that I didn't fuck up his name. I lifted my gaze to him once more, Jesus it's been long. I'm surprised you even recognize me....we did that lab report together, yes? Second year, first semester...?

His eyes brightened, as if he was recalling something, and he let out a short, hard laugh.

Yes, that's right. We only worked together because everyone else was taken. We didn't even know what the hell we were doing.

I couldn't help but smile myself, Yeah, we worked so hard on that paper and we still managed to fuck it up.

Our laughter ceased after awhile, and he looked back at me from our spot in the line of people.

I see your foul mouth is just as bad as it was fifteen years ago. His eyes were alive with sarcasm and humor as he grinned widely. I lifted an eyebrow but smiled none the less. I was embarrassed by the fact that the only thing I remember about him was his name.

His eyes drifted to the ground once more as he spoke, his voice obviously looking for a change in topic. what brings you here? I heard you were a graduate in law?

I snapped my fingers. That was it! I turned and grinned at him, As were you. I said with a chirp in my voice, happy that I remembered something else about him. He smiled and nodded, looking down at the floor again and shifting his weight back and forth from foot to foot.

It wasn't what you would call an awkward silence, it's just that we had nothing left to talk about. His eyes would be in my range of view, and we would just look at each other and laugh knowing that after fifteen years, not a damn thing has happened that's worth talking about.

After awhile, he looked up, a somewhat urgent tone to his voice.

he began, would you like to get a beer or something?

I shrugged. Sure, why not.

He nodded. I could tell a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Again, for the second time in our life, we went our separate ways, except this time we'd be drinking beer in a few hours. I filled out all my necessary paper work, praying to God I spelt everything right, and met him a few hours later outside the office. The impatient bastard all ready had his coat on. I frowned and walked over to the coat rack to get my jacket, hat and scarf, my eyes never meeting his. He had his whole weight shifted and was leaning against the wall, like I had kept him waiting forever. It made me angry, for some reason.

You ready? He asked, standing up right once more.

I said, buttoning up my jacket. Just gotta stop at the bank and pick up some money.

He waved his hand back and forth, as if dismissing the idea. Nah, it's on me.

Bull shit. I was busy wrapping my scarf around my neck. The days have been getting so cold in Metropolis. I said, straightening my hat, it would seem too much like a date.

I'm sure he meant to laugh good naturedly, but to me it sounded like a crude gibe. I never liked getting laughed at.

Is that what this is...? He sputtered between chokes of laughter, a date? His eyes were crinkled by the huge grin that plastered his face.

I said, fixing my coat so it looked decent, that's for you to decide. I took long strides right passed him and straight out the door, leaving him there to compensate the words that just came out of my mouth. I smiled gently to myself outside in the winter air as I heard his trotting footsteps moving quickly trying to keep up with mine. When he finally caught up, he looked up at me, hesitant.

So, ummm...any idea where you want to go? He asked, still moving at an unsteady rate trying to keep up with me.

How bout' my place. I love teasing people.

He said, not quite sure if what he heard me say was accurate, or afraid that maybe it was.

I said, how about the Three Bits Cafe I lifted my head up, only to keep my hat from falling in my face. Have you heard of it?

He smiled, nodding his head as he looked towards the ground once more. Yes, it's been up for a while, recently just escaped terminal damage... He looked up towards the sky and took in a large breath of air, just for the appetizing feeling of coldness invading your lungs. His gaze shifted towards me I guess they were gonna tear it down, to make room for a hair dressers. When I didn't respond right away, his eyes traveled to the ground and his head lowered once more.

There was something about him I didn't like. And it wasn't some natural dislike almost in the way someone does something stupid or idiotic towards you and you hate them for awhile because of it. No. This was something different. And it's hard to explain in words exactly, but you catch my drift. He must have felt my gaze on him for a while because he took in a large breath of air through his mouth, and exhaled in a nervous manner. Also, quickening his pace all the while. I took this time, these few minutes that we had together (for the rest of the world seemed to have disappeared), to study him, just scrutinizing. What exactly, I'm not sure, but who knows when will be the next time we're walking down the streets of Metropolis heading off to get a beer. Maybe there won't even be a next time. I'm just glad that he gave up on the idea about buying me a drink. At least I hope he did...

His skin is darker than mine. Of course, ANYONE'S skin is darker than mine. I remember my sister telling me one year for Halloween that I could go as a ghost. You wouldn't even need to put a sheet over you,' she had said, you could just walk around naked.' Yeah, that'll scare the kids all right. I might even blind a poor, helpless old woman. But, he had nice colored skin. I know it's weird to hear that coming out of my mouth, but, whatever. I was never going to tell him. He was tan, but not too tan as to look cheap. Now, his Cologne on the the other hand, was a different story. It seemed everything else about him was tacky. The color of his suite, his tie. Yellow with red polka dots. Of course, I wasn't going to say anything about it to him, his wardrobe is the least of my business. But still, little things like that annoy me, I guess. Even though they shouldn't.

I don't like when I judge people so much. I know why I do it, too. Always looking for flaws and imperfections in other people only because I'm so insecure myself. You wouldn't have guessed, now would you? I have confidence in everything I say, and almost am never left speechless. I have an answer for everything. Still, it's easy to blame other people for this, though. I can say it's their fault, they made me like this, they made me cold and distant from my family and everyone else. But I know that's not true. Still, there are times when I believe that I'm the victim, that it's the world's fault for being so stupid and arrogant. So full of themselves. Stupid fuckers. It's weird, though. Sometimes I see people, children and adults, on the street or anywhere else, and they're happy. Just happy. People who can see the good in everything, even when other people may fall back and bury themselves, they still have hope. People who smile. People who laugh. People who aren't afraid to let others get close to them, to let others in. People who feel good about themselves and help others feel good as well. People who aren't afraid to fall in love, to let other people touch parts of their bodies I would never dream of exposing anymore. People who get hurt, but pick themselves up right away and try again. People who don't worry. And sometimes, I just...I just wish I could be like that. I wish I could be someone who feels comfortable with himself. I wish I could be someone who isn't afraid to just open up and scream at the top of his lungs for no apparent reason.

Angels. That's what those people are. Angels.

But why should I care? In the end, we're all just gonna kill each other anyway. Morbid: yes. False: Hell no! But obviously, if those people could see how ugly and fucked up our world really is, maybe they wouldn't be as happy anymore. Or, maybe they do know this world isn't such a wonderful place. But showing that you're scared makes other people scared, so they just keep smiling. Just keep smiling. Just keep smiling...


Hey! Where're you going?

I looked around my surroundings for a moment, then back in the direction I heard his voice come from.

He was standing in the doorway of the pub. Apparently I had walked right past it. You coming in or not? His voice was teasing, knowing that he could rub this in my face sometime in the near future. That's the bad part about having a mind that wanders. You miss your cue almost all the time. The good part about it is when having a moronic conversation that doesn't seem to be going anywhere, like the ones Lamp and I have almost anytime that we're together, it helps to just tune out his voice for a while and just nod my head when his gaze meets mine. Yes it's cold, but what can I say? Lamp is stupid.

I shrugged my shoulders from a distance away, putting on an apologetic face. I could see his shoulders moving up and down as he laughed from his position in the doorway of the bar as I headed back towards it. As I got closer I could see he had that look on his face, the look that he gave me as I walked towards the coat rack back in the office. It's the look that a man gives a woman as he watches while she takes off her cloths. I hated that look. So I wasn't at all surprised when he held the door for me, positioning his arms and legs in a certain way so that he looked like a prince moving aside so that the princess could go ahead of him. I hated being treated like royalty, especially when it was meant to be a joke. So, while walking past him through the door I did the first thing that came to mind. Kicked him in the nuts.

He wrapped his arms around his middle and gave a few short gasps and moans, but never taking off that smile that was plastered across his face. I didn't find anything amusing about the whole situation. Well, actually, I guess it was somewhat amusing. Thinking about it again as we walked over to the counter I begin to smile. He saw this, and knowing that I wasn't mad at him, began to smile and laugh himself. I let a soft chuckle escape my lips, but quickly quieted down and wiped the smile off my face. I hated my smile. Ever since I was a little kid it had always been crooked and looked like a sneer or smirk, not at all like a good natured grin. I never smile unless I have to, and most of the time, I don't have to.

We found two seats at the counter. The atmosphere in the bar was thick with the smell of tobacco and liquor, but I liked it. Well, SOME people like it. There was one T.V in the corner, with bad reception. There was something on about the presidential elections, preferably about Mr. Boon. I don't pay much attention to the race anymore, but I have a feeling this man has the upper hand. I think everyone knows he's gonna make it, nothing's fair in politics and I'm sure he didn't get in just playing by the rules. I sat down in one of the chairs, taking off my hat and scarf. Lamp was all ready taking off his jacket. Come to think of it, it was a bit stuffy in there, but I decided to leave my coat on for a few minutes. He held his hand out to me, almost directly over my hat and scarf, which I had placed on the counter.

Want me to take those up for you? He asked, nodding his head over to the coat rack.

Um....yeah, thanks I stampered, as I handed him my belongings and watched him make his way across the room. I sighed. I really didn't want to be here.

When he made his way back he was laughing and started telling me about a funny bumper sticker they had hanging on the wall. Yeah, okay Lamp, whatever. I don't really care. He sat down next to me in the empty chair. The bar tender came over to us. He was a short man with a fairly big gut. He had piercings on both his ears, a mustache, and a poka dot button shirt under his apron. What'll it be, fellas? He asked, without even looking up as he wiped off the counter top. I was about to tell him I wanted a glass of red wine, any brand would do, just to relax after a long day. But surprise, surprise, Lamp decided to speak up and order for us both.

Separate tabs? The bartender asked, for the first time looking at us.

Lamp shook his head. Nah, put it on mine. He began to tap his fingers impatiently as he looked me in the eyes, a wide grin plastered over his face. I gave him my Are you fucking serious?' look as I lowered my head and lifted my eyebrows up. He just laughed. Of course, what else would he do? I threw my head back and let out an aggravated groan. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and then started patting me on the back.

Hey c'mon! Lighten up, buddy!

Lighten up? Buddy?!

After all, he said, picking up his beer bottle and lifting it to a toast, this is our first






.~.






Afterward, however, when we realized we were competing against each other, things just turned awkward, and our conversations ceased. When I finally won the position of Minister, he left.

I'm not sure where he left to exactly, maybe out of state, or maybe he just managed to hide from me for as long as he did. Six months went by and I still hadn't heard from him. Sure, I tried calling a few times, but no one ever answered. Another few months went by and I realized from a fellow colleague that he was working in the same department as I. He had become a top level advisor to the president.

He was right under my nose the whole time.

President Boon(for that man had made it after all) introduced us to each other, saying that we would be working close by from now on. We nodded, and shook hands. It was as if we were meeting each other for the first time.




Well, there you have it. A brief synopsis of my life. Well, maybe just a fraction of it really. It doesn't end here(though sometimes I wish maybe it did). There are still all the people I've met during my term as minister. Some people I will always remember, some that I wish I'd never met at all. But, this is me. This is who I am. A pale, skinny man with a button nose, crooked smile, who's a quarter Australian, quarter French, quarter Irish, quarter don'tknowwhatthehellIam with a mind that always wanders and eyes so blue they sometimes seem the color of Gatorade. Yup, this is me. I am the Minister of State. I am Skunk Kusai.

And this is my story.



End part 1








Author's Notes: *panting* Augh! This isn't very short for just a damn introduction!

Skunk: Hey, why are you yelling at me? YOU were the one who wrote it!

Author: True, true...I just need someone to vent all of my anger out on. Simple as that.

Skunk: Well, why don't you your anger out on Ham Egg? No one likes him.

Ham Egg: Don't leave me alone with her...(0_o)

Skunk: Eh....?

Ham Egg: She does terrible, terrible things...

Author: Allright, that's enough...(To readers) So, what'd you guys think? Send me some reviews, baby! :) Don't worry, your favorite characters will be making their appearances very shortly. Such as...Rock!

Fan girls: *screech and squeal*

Author: Kenichi!

Fan girls: *screech and squeal*

Author: Shunsaku Ban!

One Person: Yeah!

Author: And of course, the mother load, Duke Red!

Fan girls: *screeching, squealing, hollering, throwing panties and bras on the stage*

Author: (pulls bra off her face) Okay, enough of that. Tell me what you guys think of it so far. Questions, comments, opinions, I wanna hear them all! ^_^ Till next time. Love ya.