Chapter 17: A New Life (part 2)

Atsushi dressed in a fancy tux as he raised his navy tie. He gulped as this was his first day as…a survey researcher. Technically, he was supposed to have six years to develop his business and mathematic skills before he graduated. But he jammed packed summer classes and filled his classes during the fall, just so he would graduate with Yuki. He felt nervous since he only spoke to his boss on the phone. Even their interview was over the phone…he got the job and his basic job was to help the other surveyors until he could understand the process. He did not mind, but he still felt nervous. At college, he made some of the best surveys to help fix the colleges' food court and class council. His questions were deep and asked for more than "true" or "false." He asked for "why," "how," and "develop your opinion." His deep sense of understanding people came from his boyfriend…since before, he would just accept the information at face value. Yuki asked for more…so, Atsushi took this idea and developed it into a skill. He became better at seeing the root of problems by asking the right questions…than forcing answers out.

"Atsushi? Are you leaving soon? I need to…wow." Yuki said from the door as Atsushi smirked into the reflection of his lover in the mirror.

Yuki too had to be dressed up for his job as a translator for Marukawa Publishing, but he was not as fancy as Atsushi's full tux ensemble. Yuki wore a basic buttoned top, red tie and black pants.

Atsushi held his heart and said, "I am so nervous…what if they do not like me."

Yuki came into the bathroom and hugged Atsushi. He said, "You will be fine…just be yourself. You are a great researcher and make good questions. I have faith in you."

Atsushi rubbed his mouth over Yuki's for a brief moment as they stopped and looked at each other. They both were blushing but giggled at each other. Their hands united as they walked out of their apartment. Atsushi locked the door as Yuki turned and stiffened.

Yuki gulped and said, "Good…morning…" He held onto Atsushi's arm as Atsushi turned to the new man…this man had an aura of malice as his brown eyes examined their joined hands and their suits.

Atsushi rubbed Yuki's hand and said, "Hello, we are new in this building. It is a pleasure to meet you; my name is Sugisaki, Atsushi."

The man sighed and said, "Another couple…my name is Kamijo, Hiroki."

Yuki felt a little braver and said, "Kojima, Yuki."

Hiroki smiled at Yuki and said, "So…Lentos had a son…you look just like him."

Yuki removed himself from Atsushi and said, "How did you know my father's name?"

Hiroki smirked and said, "we were elementary friends…he moved before I went to high school. Of course, I had a few other friends that his moving away did not seem too emotional. How is he?"

Yuki smiled and said, "Good…wait, are you Demon Slasher?"

Hiroki smiled and giggled. He said, "He told you about our training matches…your father was pretty good at kendo, but I mostly won. He always called me that either when I lost or won. He told me that when I go for the final point…I look like a demon slasher…go figure. Well, I would like to see him again. When he comes to visit you, do you mind if I come over for a quick chat?"

Yuki smiled and said, "Sure! My dad still trains a little…he might like a rematch!"

Hiroki groaned and said, "I have not practiced in years, either way, seeing him would be a treat."

"Demon Slasher?" A large man with black hair and wonderous blue eyes came out of their apartment where Hiroki stood. The man locked the door and turned to Yuki and Atsushi.

This man had a friendly smile as he said, "are you two new here? Welcome, my name is Kusama, Nowaki."

Both Yuki and Atsushi smirked as all four men went to the elevator. They entered as Benedict yelled, "hold the elevator!"

Nowaki did as Benedict quickly got in and moaned at the sight of Hiroki. Benedict went to a corner and said, "Kojima, are you coming with me? I can drive you to work if you like."

Yuki smiled and said, "Yes…Atsushi?"

Atsushi gave Yuki's hand a slight squeeze before letting go. His face was slightly crestfallen since he hoped to walk with Yuki to work, but he knew this was good for Yuki. Yuki would need friends in that place…but still—

Yuki came to Atsushi for a small butterfly kiss on his cheek. He said, "Do you want me to—"

Atsushi smiled at him and said, "No, go with Parjure-san. You two need to—"

Hiroki gasped and backed to the wall as his eyes enlarged at Benedict. Nowaki turned to and from Hiroki to Benedict as Yuki and Atsushi watched the scene.

Benedict snorted and turned. He said, "yes, sir?"

Hiroki gulped and said, "you are not…Parjure, Benedict…right? No…no…you are WAY too young for that…kind of influence…"

Benedict snickered and said, "yet again, my reputation exceeds me. Yes, my name is B.A. Parjure."

Hiroki slightly lost color on his face as he stared blankly at Benedict. He opened and closed his mouth as he tried to find the words to say.

Nowaki opened his mouth as the elevator brought them to the ground floor. They exited as Benedict said, "I was a famous editor at the New York Post that is why your boy toy is gasping at….Haruhiko."

Haruhiko stood at the door and said, "Need a ride?"

Benedict snarled, "I have a godamn car! I do not mind spending my paychecks on car insurance, gas and…go away!"

Haruhiko came to them and looked at Yuki.

Yuki gripped Atsushi's arm tightly and looked down. Atsushi cuddled Yuki close as they backed away from Benedict and Haruhiko.

Haruhiko said, "Common, I am going that way anyways."

Benedict snarled but a slight flush was on his face. He said, "Kojima, coming?"

Yuki looked at Atsushi and almost said, "Maybe I should—"

"Go on. I trust you." Atsushi said as he kissed Yuki on the mouth. Yuki gave a tender kiss back as they parted. Yuki, Benedict, and Haruhiko walked out of the building.

Hiroki blinked and said, "Was I seeing things Nowaki…or was that Haruhiko?"

Nowaki shrugged and said, "I never met him. But…he looks like…Akihiko, a little bit."

Hiroki sighed and said, "Haruhiko is Akihiko's older brother."

Nowaki's eye brows rose and opened his mouth to say something. He closed it and turned to Atsushi.

Atsushi smirked and bowed while saying, "Have a good day Kamijo-sama and Kusama-sama."

Hiroki and Nowaki said, "thank you, Sugisaki-san."

Atsushi raised his head to a very red Hiroki and brightly smiling Nowaki.

Nowaki gushed, "We sound like a married couple already! I love you, Hiro-san!" Nowaki grabbed Hiroki into a tight hug as Hiroki moaned and turned redder.

Atsushi shook his head and walked away as Hiroki tried to break free. He went down the road as he wondered if Yuki and he would be like that in a few more years…saying things at the same time like a married couple…

He blushed also at the last moment when he raised his head…he saw Hiroki's engagement ring. Atsushi felt that was so darn romantic as he wanted to ask Nowaki how to properly ask your lover to marry you…but maybe at Christmas. Maybe after Yuki tells his and Atsushi's family about their relationship…Atsushi could ask Yuki to marry him. He always had Yuki in his life, so…marriage did not have to happen. But he felt it was sort of needed. Yuki could be his wife…or husband…he did not care as long as Yuki was with him.

Atsushi slowly came to the Karuiinochi Researcher building, which was his luck with the apartment…a few minute walk and he got to work. Of course, Yuki had a longer walk, but they agreed for now this was a better place than the apartments closer to Marukawa Publishing.

Karuiinochi Researchers have been the best spot for every scientists of every college possible as the floor were divided between life, environmental, social, and personal use. The building gave a friendly aura to Atsushi as he entered the ground floor.

The secretary said, "Welcome to Karuiinochi Researchers, how may I help you?" He smirked at Atsushi as he continued to type without looking at the screen. He was a blonde with brown streaks in his hair and his dark brown eyes gently stared at the newcomer.

Atsushi came to him and said, "I am new…my name is Sugisaki, Atsushi. I am in the survey lab…19, I think."

The secretary stopped typing and said, "My name is Utoro, and I will get your supervisor. Please have a seat before he comes down. It will only take a minute." Utoro pointed to the thin clothed chairs by the exit; as Atsushi sat, Utoro called the supervisor.

Atsushi took deep breaths as Utoro said, "the kid is here…yes, Sugisaki-san. Yes, I will not send him up yet. Thank you." Utoro hung up the phone and continued typing while he said, "Gotro-sama will be down in a few minutes. Please stay there until he comes down."

Atsushi nodded as Utoro stopped and looked fully at Atsushi. Utoro said, "relax, the guy maybe famous with all his articles published in twenty different languages, but he is a…" Utoro tried to think of a word and said, "Eccentric kind of guy. Real sociable and nice guy to work with, but do not, I repeat, do not say a word about his…tattoos. Okay."

Atsushi nodded as he started to feel dread. He turned to the elevator and expected this guy to be really scary…he gulped and sat up straight. His heart raced as the elevator made slight clicks from the lowering levels. He gulped and watched the top where a lever showed the number of floors in this building…nearly thirty-seven floors…Gotro-sama was coming from thirty-five as the lever went down quickly…the elevator opened to a dark elevator…smoke came out as Utoro moaned and typed again.

Atsushi blinked as Gotro-sama yelled, "HELLO SUGISAKI-SAN!" Gotro-sama jumped out of the elevator in…a hot pink jump suit that made him look four hundred pounds, green hair was spiked two feet tall, huge clown glasses, and his feet were in three feet long clown shoes…

Gotro-sama walked to Atsushi as his footsteps squeaked and he offered his hand. He said, "Welcome newbie."

Atsushi stared in disbelief…this man…could not be the famous, millions of articles, the best survey questions, and Atsushi wrote a paper on…Vou Gotro…no way! His face was very evident of the shock as Gotro-sama snickered and backed away.

Gotro spun around and said, "Like it? It is my new outfit! Every day I create a new one every day…so, tell me. What do you think?"

Atsushi mumbled, "I am at a loss for words…"

Gotro-sama stared at Atsushi and said, "common, tell me! What do you think?"

Utoro mouthed, "Say anything than the truth!"

Atsushi said, "honestly…Gotro-sama?"

Gotro smiled and posed as he said, "yes…be honest. Tell me what you think."

Atsushi said, "I expected you to be…more professional. This is…well, humorous but inappropriate …sorry."

Utoro stopped typing and stared at Atsushi with an angry glare. He mouthed, "You are going to get it!"

Gotro-sama stood tall and crossed his arms as his face darkened with anger. He growled, "You think I look like a clown, correct?"

Atsushi stiffened and said, "Yes…sir, I do."

Gotro-sama smirked and took off his glasses to show his brilliant plum eyes. He removed his wig to reveal normal gray hair, took off his jumpsuit to reveal a navy suit, his shoes slipped off to reveal leather shoes. He fixed his calm hair and said, "You will be an excellent survey researcher, Sugisaki-san. You will be facing these sorts of trivial and sometimes difficult tasks to obtain information. You need to be honest, clear and concise with your questions to get the proper answers. Utoro, my darling, thank you for playing along…as usual."

Utoro blushed slightly and said, "of course, you would not believe the comments from tourists…they cannot believe your costumes! You need to make more vampire ones…especially the real blood. I cannot forget that guy! He was puking so much that the hall rug stunk for a week!"

Gotro and Utoro giggled at the memory as Gotro-sama turned to Atsushi. He said, "I hope…you do not mind—"

Atsushi smiled and said quickly, "my lover is a man too! I never thought…Tokyo had so many homosexuals…I met two other couples already."

Gotro smirked and blew a kiss to Utoro. Utoro blushed more as he turned to face his computer and typed faster. He said, "Utoro and I have been together for quite a while…so many people in the building are used to our relationship. Please be careful by bringing your lover here…some people are still stiff about homosexuality. I understand it completely, but others feel that homosexuality is…confusing and a target for much angst." He sighed but smirked while saying, "Enough of that! We have work to do, and…do you want to do what we mentioned on the phone. You work as an errand boy or…do you want a challenge?"

Atsushi smiled and stood. He said, "A challenge, sir."

Gotro smiled and said, "The new marriage law for homosexuals; a few magazines asked for our survey researchers to help the process of the bill passing. The final courts are in a few weeks, so if we make a great survey to support the homosexual law…could you imagine it? Homosexuals could be still targeted for ridicule, but the ridicule may die down after a few years. A freedom of expression would be so much easy to express if homosexuals can be married just as much as heterosexuals. So, you can write the questions and make sure the answers are not bias. We need brief, concise and perfect questions that can help our representative in court for this bill to pass. Can you handle that kind of pressure, Sugisaki-san?"

Atsushi stood very tall and said, "I would be honored to represent my sexuality and this company with this challenge."

Gotro and Utoro looked at him with broad smiles. Gotro-sama said, "Well then, let's see what you can do. But be sure of one thing…"

Atsushi kept his smile as Gotro-sama finished, "do not use your relationship as a basis for your questions. Your relationship can a reason to pursue this assignment, but do not use your lover or his ideas in this challenge. You need to research and develop ideas from other homosexuals to make a proper survey, understand?"

Gotro smiled as Atsushi nodded and smiled back. He turned to Utoro and said, "darling, be sure to keep an eye on him. You will be his tutor for his questions' finalization. I need perfection for the passing of this bill since…" He smiled romantically and said, "Remember our promise, my wife."

Atsushi did notice the gold wedding ring on Gotro-sama's left hand…Utoro stood and showed his left hand as Gotro took his hand and kissed it. Gotro said, "I love you…"

Utoro smiled and said, "I love you too…even though we ran to America to get married…I will always love you either the bill passes or not. We made a pact to never leave each other…my beloved clown."

Gotro kissed Utoro's hand again and said, "Finish your damn reports and see me later, you dork."

Utoro sat down and continued typing quickly. He blushed a light crimson as he slowly turned and typed faster.

Atsushi smiled at their little romance…he found the same thing in other homosexuals he met: a happiness that could not be denied. If both partners worked and loved each other, the partners showed the glow of romance so simply…he followed Gotro to the elevator as Gotro dragged his outfit with him.

Gotro closed the door as the elevator's light was…a disco ball filled with many different colors. He started to redress as a clown once again…

Atsushi opened his mouth, but Gotro said, "Don't. I only wear this to be a humorous and a pain to the employees. I have seniority and own half of this building, so I have every right to dress any way I want. Besides…most people lie about my costume than being honest like you were."

Gotro looked at Atsushi's confused face and snickered. He said, "Like you said, you expected me to be professional, correct?"

Atsushi nodded as Gotro sighed.

Gotro put his glasses on and said, "Everyone expects me to be the 'highly respected scientist' with fancy tuxes and my nose is always in the air…I was…before I met Utoro. Utoro…he is my life and world…I love him deeply."

Atsushi flushed and nodded while saying, "I agree…I love my boyfriend deeply too."

Gotro said, "I hope so. This law could be helpful…and scary for homosexuals. A few picketers have been around the senator's home and the court building. Her face…wow, she is so strong by saying, 'my personal life is none of your concern but…this law is. I am making this possible for people like me; homosexuals need the same rights as married couples. Please do not disgrace our love as sinful. We are no different than you.'" He giggled and said, "that woman…if I was straight, I would kiss her. Her guts and amazing speeches took her this far. I hope she gets her dream…"

"Is she homosexual?" Atsushi asked.

Gotro laughed and slowly said, "nope…"

Atsushi almost said something as Gotro finished, "she is bisexual." He said, "How do you know?"

Gotro smiled happily and said, "that is Utoro's sister…she is pushing this bill…for us. She knows we got married outside the country, but our relationship has been very controversial for a few employees. She felt this would be worth the fight if she could help others like us to get rights as homosexuals."

Atsushi said, "but this only allows marriage…stereotyping and fear will always remain. So though her mission is very noble…it is not going to stop everything."

Gotro smiled as the elevator doors opened to a smiling woman…her looks were identical to Utoro. She wore a light pink dress that showed her small frame, but her presence was very professional even in front of Gotro-sama.

"Gotro-sama, are you free for a moment? I need to speak to you about the survey—"

"Uterena, this is Sugisaki-san. He will be writing the survey for you." Gotro pointed a smiling Atsushi.

Uterena blinked and said, "he is young…are you sure he can handle this? How long have you been here?"

Both men exited the elevator as the elevator went down. Atsushi said, "I just started today."

Uterena blinked twice and said, "Gotro-sama, I trust you fully. You sort of helped me to get into office…but this? He is just a puppy in this business and—"

"Uterena, when have I failed you? When have I made you doubt my decisions? Atsushi was honest about my attire, so…I think he has the stuff." Gotro said proudly.

Uterena laughed and said, "well, I was honest with your appearance too when I first met you! He might be the hidden talent we need to finalize this bill."

Gotro said, "I believe so too…"

Atsushi smiled weaker than before. He had huge clown shoes to fill…to help his relationship; he had to make a survey that was not bias about his feelings about homosexuality…this might be harder than he thought originally.

A/N: I know…I should stop creating new couples…but I cannot help it! Utoro and Gotro will get a few chapters, or at least be highlighted in a few chapters! I adore Gotro…he is so funny…