Twenty One

We Are Young

"So, when was the last time we slept together?"

Kisa Shouta folded his arms and fired away at his lover, Yukina Kou. He was feeling vexed at the bizarre situation he was caught up in – stuck in a body that he had dreaded so much. As if puberty never quite reached full circle at the age of 21 for Kisa, Yukina seemed like the huge oak tree behind him. Kisa's audacious question attracted the attention of some of the university students who stopped to check out the commotion – a majority of them being Yukina's fans. Yukina's eyes were round with bewilderment, mostly shocked at Kisa's outburst.

"Kisa-san! We will talk about this later!" Yukina flustered and blocked Kisa's mouth with a poster tube. He grabbed Kisa's right hand and walked down the steps, into his faculty's building.

"Yukina!" Kisa struggled to catch up with Yukina's hurried pace. The only time he visited Yukina at the university was during the 123rd Annual Art Festival, when Yukina was a one-day fashion model. Fans from various art institutions flocked to the university to catch a glimpse of Yukina, after his university mate Rio uploaded a poster with Yukina as the event's mascot. Kisa recalled how Yukina caused such a huge ruckus when he kissed and lifted him off the runway stage, how he walked away from the fashion show despite being the highlight.

"Kisa-san, we will figure this one out together. I have school until 2pm, which is in another hour. I need to finish this class because of attendance. There is a café on the right. Take my student card and get a free Americano first. Wait for me there, okay!" Yukina kissed Kisa on the cheek and ran up the stairs to the auditorium on the third floor.

Kisa studied Yukina's university matriculation card carefully, and headed to the café. There was a younger Yukina staring back at Kisa on the card. Yukina used to have shorter hair before he entered university, like how Kisa was too. Sitting by the large glass windows of the café, Kisa wondered about his university days as he took a sip of the iced Americano. He majored in media and communications, and was exceptionally stellar. Kisa shunned from attention, as he was well-liked by most professors – that naturally drew a lot of jealousy from the other students. While he did not join any clubs, Kisa was active in the publishing of the faculty's monthly newsletters, where he would contribute articles. He also rendered help to the manga club, when the members needed help to check the flow of the storyline. Kisa loved both poetry and manga, and has always thought that perhaps one day he would be able to see these two contrasting elements come together. He never expected that he would end up being an editor for shoujo mangas.

Kisa often caught the attention of guys and girls alike, despite keeping it a low profile – he altered his fashion a few times, and decided on dressing down at almost every occasion to avoid standing out. He realized hoodies were not only perfect for hiding faces, it was also very convenient to wear between the university and home. The hoodie was sometimes not very effective – Kisa would be picked up by other male university students at the train station because they mistook him for a high school girl. Kisa also saw his large brown eyes as a hindrance, and wore geeky glasses to cover them up. He kept his fringe longer so that they would shield people from looking at him. Kisa was particularly afraid of himself, especially when he was inevitably drawn to guys…and he knew how he wielded the power to make them fall head over heels with him. Kisa's past relationships never lasted, as it was either one-sided on Kisa's end…or it was made up of one-night stands. Kisa has never fallen in love with anyone, at all.

In many ways, Kisa was very grateful for the arrival of Yukina in his life. There were so many things Kisa learnt from his relationship with Yukina – from the deafening thumping sound of his beating heart to the burning sensation of holding hands. Yukina was very skilled with words, and as Kisa would have put it, Yukina could be a writer if he had wanted to. He was very precise with the way he communicates, he never hides his feelings and he expresses them to Kisa boldly. He is always taking the leap forward, and no matter how much Kisa cowardly retreats, Yukina was always there to catch him. Yukina filled up every gaping hole of Kisa's soul with a tenderness he had never felt before. Kisa was very fond of overthinking and jumping to wild conclusions; Yukina, on the other hand, was straightforward and fearless. For that, Kisa was very appreciative how misunderstandings were always properly straightened out with Yukina, and how he found his way back to Yukina time after time.

As a manga editor, Kisa's efforts were not as apparent as the authors who thought of the plot, storyline and artwork – and Yukina was one of the few who pointed out how much he respected Kisa's works. Love, was a word that has never existed before in Kisa's world – and Yukina showed him what unconditional love felt like. Kisa never once felt jealous, or possessive, until he met Yukina. The way the world spun, happened to change little by little every single day for Kisa.

"Kisa-san!" A familiar voice rang in Kisa's ears. It was Yukina with his energetic perky twinkling voice.

"I am so sorry that I made you wait for two hours," Yukina placed his palms together, his head a little downcast.

"That's okay. What day is it today?" Kisa took a sip from the straw as Yukina sat down and placed his bag on the empty chair in between them.

"Friday,"

"Date?"

"April 26,"

"Year?"

"2019," Yukina replied seriously. He was also taking this opportunity to enjoy the view in front of him. Kisa-san was sitting in his university café, his long and bony fingers were resting on the straw. His pink lips were slightly pursed as he took a sip of iced coffee; his small shoulders bent forward so that he could rest his elbows on the table. If Yukina could, he would have taken out his sketchbook and pencil this scenery to memory.

"Ah, this means I am supposed to have work today. I need to call Takano-san," Kisa reached out for his phone, only to realized it was off. He scrolled for the chief editor of Emerald, and dialed the number.

"Takano," the stern chief editor of Emerald responded monotonously.

"Hello? Is this Takano-san? I am so sorry for phoning in this late…" Kisa-san rambled away in a panicky tone.

"Ah…Are you Kisa's younger brother? I don't remember him having a younger brother though. Is Kisa sick?"

Kisa recalled that he sounded different because of the current situation.

"Y…yeah, I am his cousin. Kisa is down with a high fever. He will return to work tomorrow," He fumbled a little with his lie.

"Okay, do tell him to have a good rest. I will see him tomorrow. Thank you so much for taking care of him. I will excuse myself then," Takano-san was extremely polite to the family members of the editorial team. He was completely different from the tyrannical wonky dude that has tonnes of crazy requests for his team at work.

Kisa exhaled in relief. One lesser thing to worry about for now. Kisa was supposed to hand in the readership analysis to Takano-san, and he had to call the printing house about the change in the type of paper for the spine card. Yokozawa-san had also arranged for a meeting during lunch, and there was Ricchan with his ambitious collaborative project for Emerald's anniversary celebration.

"Kisa-san," Yukina's voice interrupted Kisa's train of thought.

"What is it?" Kisa noticed Yukina's cheeks were slightly flushed. He blinked, feeling puzzled at the sudden reaction. Yukina looked like a high school girl, all nervous in front of the person she likes.

So Yukina goes for looks too, huh.

"Kisa-san, to answer that question earlier. We last slept together about three weeks ago,"

Ah, so that was on his mind.
My memory was in-sync with what Yukina said, so I did not time-slip into the past or the future.
It has been so long since we last met.

"Kisa-san," Yukina repeated. This time he looked cautious, as if thinking up the right words to say to Kisa.

I think if I met you at 21 years old… I would not have gone up to you and we probably would not have been together,"

"Why?"

"Your aura feels dangerous, in a scary way," Yukina's eyes looked away, as if he was intimidated. His smile was a little uneasy, and it was apparent to Kisa that Yukina has not come to terms with this strange situation. Yukina sees things in a very peculiar way – he sees through a person easily, and he is not aware of his own ability. Kisa always wondered why Yukina loved him so dearly, and Yukina never once mentioned about looks.

"So… do you hate it when I am being like this?" Kisa stood up and walked towards Yukina. His eyes peering down like a hawk onto its prey. He had uncontrollably turned on his assertive mode. Kisa had been pretty aggressive at 21. He would meet someone new almost every week, and he would have multiple sleeping partners at times. He was definitely not the nicest kid out there, and had no qualms playing mind games to get what he wanted.

"N…no," Yukina was not ready for the change in Kisa, who was positioning himself to sit on Yukina's left thigh by now. With his back facing the glass window and his side profile adjacent to Yukina's face, Kisa lifted Yukina's chin and was about to plant a kiss in the middle of a crowded university café. His devilish gaze felt like an infinite vortex, waiting to swallow Yukina whole.

"I hated it, Yukina," Kisa rested his forehead on Yukina's shoulder.

"Kisa-san," Yukina comforted Kisa with his right hand.

"You see, Kisa-san. If you had not experienced those things at 21 and become who you are today, I would not have met you,"

"Yeah…"

"I love you, and that includes the good and bad sides of you, Kisa-san,"

Kisa buried his head into Yukina's embrace. It was warm and fuzzy, and it was all encompassing. That tingly feeling Kisa felt tugged at his heartstrings, was definitely love. He wasn't sure how long he will be stuck in this body, but he was willing to face whatever challenges that might arrive with this strange situation. Yukina is here, and that is all Kisa needs for now. There was only one way to fix this level of awkwardness for Yukina, and Kisa knew how to handle this perfectly.

"Let's go home. I want to do it right now," Kisa whispered into Yukina's ears, which prepped up like an eager beagle.

"Your apartment?" Yukina asked earnestly, his eyes burning with passion. Kisa nodded meekly, his lips twitched in embarrassment.

"Yukina! Don't lift me up!" Kisa flustered as Yukina lifted him off the ground, much like in the same manner when he visited the university a few months ago.

Like a night sky that is full of stars;
You may sail through it for millions of years;
All that you see are just beautiful stars.

Alas, only one will pour light and warmth into your heart.
And that blinding star is you, Yukina.

"It feels good…," Yukina raised Kisa's arms and held them against the wall. His lips torched Kisa's skin as he trailed down his chest.

"Kou!" Kisa exclaimed, his breath much steadier than before. Yukina was already in a feral frenzy, even more so after he heard Kisa calling out his name. His hands drove Kisa insane with every firm stroke.

"Kiss me," Yukina demanded, and his tongue wrapped around Kisa's as he caressed him gently.

"I love you, Shouta-san,"

"We…" Kisa turned and sat up, his thighs pointing towards Yukina. He positions his palms on Yukina's abs and tapped lightly with his deft fingers. Yukina observed how Kisa was so much bolder today, he was also a lot leaner, and paler. His face looked smaller, like that of a girl's. Kisa had a face that looked like a high schooler, and Yukina felt like he was engaging in an illicit underage relationship. It was the same Kisa he knew and recognise, but Kisa seemed exponentially hotter with the fluid way he moved. He was also swifter in his pace, and his breath a lot steadier. There was something darkly alluring about the legendary promiscuous 21-year old that slept with practically anyone that matched his visual standards. Kisa was dangerous, reckless, and broken at 21-year-old, albeit looking like a flawless porcelain mannequin. He was also wilder, and definitely totally fearless.

His piercing gaze was rebellious, yet very hypnotic.

"We are going to set the world on fire," Kisa smirked, and it almost stopped Yukina's heart.

"Try and keep up, Kou," Kisa leaned in and took a deep inhale. He reached for the clavicle and bit it, his other hand circling around the rim below. One of Kisa's favourite spots on Yukina was the visible dip in between the clavicle. He loved the powdery scent on Yukina's skin, and even more so when he hears Yukina's smothered gasp. It could have been the lingering turpentine vapour on Yukina's fingers that got him somewhat delusional. Kisa was so used to smelling paint whenever they skipped showering, that he might be conditioned to find it therapeutic and calming by now. Yukina was always the one to take the lead, but not this time. Not in the near future, Kisa thought.

Perhaps reverting to his younger self might not be so bad after all.

"Shouta?"

"We are heading to the shower now," Kisa grabs Yukina by the arm, and pulls him to the bathroom.

We are both young.
Be it on the bed, in the shower, or on the kitchen floor.
Let's do this all night.

Writer's Note:
Thank you for reading!
I tried...to the absolute best of my abilities to follow guidelines - to keep it to the M rating, and not tip it over to MA (by not detailing too much).
As much as I love Yukina, I also love to see Kisa turning the tables. Not that he's out of character for doing that, but I believe Kisa is bolder in many ways.
Now that he has this newly acquired young body, I believe it is going to take Yukina by storm.

I will take Kisa to work, in the next chapter! :D