Volume 1, chapter 1

August 12, 2018

3:20pm

"Nezumi." A shrill, dry voice yelled from the room next to Nezumi's office. He stood up from his desk, with a few papers in hand, and proceeded over to the open door. When he walked through the gaping archway, he saw several people. Two were executives from No.3, a southern district, and the rest were either ambassadors for the other cities or accountant advisors. They were all gathered around the mayor, who was sitting in a chair, facing the window. Nezumi straightened his back, inhaled deeply, and began to speak.

"You called for me, sir?" He said in a low, discreet voice. He glanced at the loose papers in his hand, then back to his superior.

"Ah!―" The mayor exclaimed, turning the chair to face his subordinate. "―Nezumi, please tell these kind people that I'm doing everything I can at the moment to solve No.3's water conservation dilemma. After all, you know more on this situation than I do." His voice echoed sharply in Nezumi's ears.

"Sir? What are you suggesting I tell them?" Nezumi replied in an expressionless manner. What are you asking me to do? Get these pretentious, obnoxious governors off your case? How the hell am I supposed to do that? I don't have the same authority over the people like you do―they won't listen to me.

The mayor stared at Nezumi's grey, emotionless eyes. He thought they looked like the surface of a calm lake. But he knew that within those tranquil eyes, a beast dwelled, unable to burst forth and yell its emotions. A deep-seated hatred resided within the fibers of Nezumi's soul, and he knew that. He'd always known that. The man began to speak once more, addressing his commands.

"Well...tell them to go back home, for one. Then explain to them that I'm working as hard as I can to fix the problem facing No.3."

"Hah, surely you jest. Sir, if you think that a mere secretary can convince these uptight governors to leave without resolving their problem, you may need to have your head examined."

Nezumi didn't hold back on his sarcasm. He could care less if he's scolded or lectured, he just wants to get the day over with. As he was about to speak another sentence, one of the No.3 officials raised his voice.

"How dare you use such degrading words to describe your superior! You should be taught a lesson, boy!"

"Orji, calm down. My assistant was only stating the obvious, nothing more. He wasn't saying anything to degrade you or anyone else in this room." The mayor's tone was very assertive, yet serene. The man he called 'Orji' was starting to walk over to Nezumi. He was a tall man, probably 5'11", with brown hair and glasses, and he was about a head taller than the mayor. His height made it difficult to hold him back, since the mayor was only about 5'6".

"Heh..of course I was. I purposely used those words. Now, if you'll excuse me, Mr. Mayor, I have an urgent meeting to attend." Nezumi bowed to the people standing before him, as if he was on stage. Then, he began to walk away.

"This is an urgent meeting!" This time, the sound came from a representative of No.4, and he did not look pleased with Nezumi's sarcastic outburst. Some of the other officials started making a fuss as well.

"Everyone calm down, please." The mayor was now standing in the middle of the room, with his body in between Orji and Nezumi. He didn't wish for a fight to break out. He knew Nezumi was a good fighter and he didn't need more liability on top of everything else.

"But, Mr. Mayor, he's insulting us―and you. Are you just going to condone his behavior?" Orji asked, his voice bursting with anger.. He was glaring at Nezumi's eyes with an intention lacking of any humanity. I should teach this punk a lesson. But I can't while the mayor is here, he'll just get in the way.

"Of course I won't, he'll get his punishment later. Right now, we need to think of a solution for the greater good of No.3. Or would you rather leave and hold a meeting on a later date?"

"Give it up, Shion. These guys won't listen to a word you say at this point. They just came here to bare their teeth..." Nezumi said casually, glancing up at Orji for a split second.

"Pft, fine! I'll leave. We can consult a later date over hologram." With that, Orji stormed out of the room, and the other governors followed him.

Little did they know, Orji left to plan a revenge plot. And it was devised solely for the one they called Nezumi. I wonder when he gets off work..and when he leaves the building..hehe…you'll regret the day you crossed me, boy. You may be the mayor's lapdog, but that doesn't mean you can yap at anyone who comes near him.

"Orji, huh? Seems like a clichéd name for a character in a third-rate play." Nezumi retorted. He walked over to Shion's desk and placed his hand on the edge, leaning on it slightly. Shion was standing in front of a bookshelf, scanning through the vast number of books. They were mainly hardbound copies about Ecology and Biology. Not surprising since he was studying Ecology at Grand Pier Academy.

"Nezumi, why did you insult those men? They did nothing to you, so why?"

Nezumi chuckled, then walked over to where Shion was standing. He took the mayor's hands in his, and placed them around his neck. Shion looked down in embarrassment. He was blushing crimson. The color was similar to the shade of red that his eyes were.

Nezumi... You've never made a move on me at work. If someone found out...that would be...really bad. I'd be ridiculed for the rest of my life. I mean, no one knows about us. Except my mom and a few others who live near the bakery.

"N-Nezumi, we can't right now. Remember, we're at work. Don't you have a meeting to go to anyways?"

"It can wait." Nezumi said as he hooked a finger under Shion's chin, lightly pulling it up. He stared into the other's eyes, and leaned in. Their noses were touching at this point.

Nezumi! We...we can't! Stop, please...

"Nezu-" Shion was cut off abruptly by lips overlapping with his.

No!

His eyes widened, but quickly closed as he gave in to the pleasure. He could feel his knees getting weaker with every second, and his thoughts were scattered, like petals in the wind. Why couldn't you have done this at home? Nezumi slid his hand around to Shion's back, pulling him closer, and began to softly kiss down his neck. Shion's legs buckled. He used the remaining strength he had left in his arms to pull himself up, using Nezumi's neck as a support system.

"Ng...Ne-Nezumi...I...I can't...please stop."

Nezumi was now leaving love marks on his collarbone. Shion could feel a cold sensation on his back, it was fingertips. Nezumi had moved his hand without him noticing, and slid it up the back of his shirt. Their tongues were intertwining, leaving Shion with a trail of saliva trickling from his mouth. Nezumi, I don't know how much longer I can last. He felt like falling. If he did, Nezumi would stop. But it―it felt so good. They haven't done anything like this in months. Probably because Shion was the mayor, and his job kept him busy most of the day. It was the same with Nezumi. He was Shion's secretary, so they had the same hours.

"Shion? Are you ok?" Nezumi asked. He was out of breath, most likely from the excitement.

...when he asks me if I'm 'ok', that normally means...oh no...no, no, no... Nezumi, don't you dare.

"I...I don't really think...this is the best idea..."

What do you mean, Shion?

"Huh? Don't you want to?"

"It's not about me 'wanting' to, of course I want to! But...it's just―"

"You don't wanna risk jeopardizing your job, do you?"

Shion glanced down at the floor. He didn't want to look at Nezumi right now. Too much had happened today, he just wanted to relax. He wanted to go home, take a hot shower, slip into his pajamas, and prepare some Earl Grey tea. He yearned to get away from this place of conspiracy and illiterate people. The people in his office are so uneducated when it comes to books. Poetry, plays, satires, songs, stories...all of these things are something the people of the former No.6 never knew of. Everything was either an e-book or nonexistent to begin with. You never heard of Hamlet or Macbeth showing up in an ebook file record. They were all erased from the system soon after the Babylon Treaty was signed. Shion longed to hear Nezumi recite a verse from Macbeth, or sing with that captivating voice of his.

Home...

Shion snapped out of his daze, and felt Nezumi's icy touch against his face. He looked at Nezumi, then his gaze moved to the window.

"Nezumi."

"What is it, dear?"

"I thought we agreed not to call me that at work."

"Ok, ok. Seriously, what's wrong?"

Nezumi sounded worried, a little too worried. His hand was on the other's cheek, stroking it lightly. He was trying to calm Shion's racing heart. But no matter what he did, Shion's heart rate wouldn't go down, nor would he look at Nezumi. Then, an idea struck him: his voice. It was risky, but he was willing to give it a try. His singing calmed the soul of anything and anyone that heard it, so, why not use his gift to soothe Shion's heart? He took a deep, lengthy breath, and started whispering the lyrics to a song they both knew.

The wind steals the soul away, humans thieve the heart

O earth, wind, and rain; O heavens, O light

Keep everything here

Keep everything here, and

Live in this place

O soul, my heart, O love, my feelings true

Return home here

And stay

Shion finally looked over at Nezumi. He was gazing into his eyes, as if to ask him "Why?"

"Nezumi! What are you―"

His words were stolen from him as a finger was placed on his lips.

"Shh...hush now. Let my voice sink into your soul. Listen to every word with a determined hope."

Nezumi's voice, his words, his heart...they were everything to Shion. He was everything to Shion. Nezumi was the only person who understood him. No one else could decipher Shion's weird, awkwardness. No one else knew what resided in his heart. Only Nezumi...his important, special, irreplaceable partner.

"But―"

"Shh."

Nezumi continued to sing. Shion's legs finally gave in. He sank down to the floor, and subconsciously closed his eyes. Nezumi followed, sinking with him, whilst still singing.

The wind steals the soul away, humans thieve the heart

But here I will stay

to keep singing

Please

Deliver my song

Please

Accept my song

The sound of Nezumi's voice was so soft and quiet. It resonated in Shion's heart, and his soul went silent. Everything around them was still. The wind, the trees, the sounds, they were all listening to Nezumi's song.

Elyurias, are you listening? Can you hear it? Safu, can you hear it as well? I wish I could have introduced you to Nezumi, and let you hear his singing in person. You would've loved it... You would've loved him.

The singing subsided. Shion felt something land on top of him, it was heavy―and warm. He opened his eyes and saw Nezumi's head laying in his lap. He was sleeping. All that singing must've tired him out. Shion looked up at the clock across the room. 3:45pm...I'll let him sleep. We get off work at 4pm, so it should be fine. Shion gently picked Nezumi up, and laid him on the sofa. He then walked to his desk, picked up a mug filled with coffee, and strolled over to the window. He looked down on the city. He enjoyed watching the children play on the playground in the city square. Smiling, he sipped on the mug, savoring the bitterness of the coffee.

...Shionn...

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Alright! Thank you for reading this chapter. I appreciate it so much, you have no idea. I also love reading your comments. They can be hate comments for all I care. I just like knowing that someone reads my work and gets something out of it. Oh, the chapter's name is in French, I'm not French even though I wish I was. I just used Google Translate, lol. Anyway, the words mean 'A New Start' in English. Ok! Bye! Love you guys! ;)