The whole story was supposed to be posted today in honor of Kyouraku's birthday... but I just didn't finish in time. Haha, maybe it's because I started at 1 a.m. this morning. ^^;; So I'll be updating as I get more written. I hope you enjoy what I have so far!

/

Jyuushiro was lying down underneath his favorite cherry blossom tree with his right arm over his eyes and his left arm lying on his chest. The air around him smelled sweet and the awareness of autumn lingered in his senses. It was fairly late in the afternoon and the sky was fading into a pale rose color as the sun started to set.

How many years has it been? He thought to himself. Definitely over two thousand... and he still makes me feel the exact same way – breathless. Images of Kyouraku flooded his mind and he couldn't help but grin. He loved everything about this man. His smile. His nonchalant attitude. His scent of sweet flowers and sake. The way his eyes lit up every time he saw Jyuushiro. The way his lips felt against his own. How their bodies seemed to melt together. Everything.

"Hey there! What's up with the grin?" A familiar voice called out. Jyuushiro removed his arm from his face and opened his eyes. He blinked a few times for his eyes to adjust to the sudden change in light. Kyouraku was towering over him with a huge smile that stretched from ear to ear. Jyuushiro sat up and quicky combed through his hair with his fingers and smoothed out his haori.

"Kyouraku..." Jyuushiro whispered as he returned the smile. "Just thinking about old times."

"Oh?" Kyouraku said as he lowered himself to the ground behind the fellow captain. He folded his legs and gently pulled back on Jyuushiro's shoulders, who allowed himself to sink into the comfort of his lover. Kyouraku wrapped his arms around the white-haired captain's waist and rested his chin on his shoulder, closing his eyes. "What about the old times?"

Jyuushiro could feel the warmth of Kyouraku's cheek against his. He lifted his hand up and placed it on the man's other cheek. "I was thinking back to the academy days... To the moment that I fell in love with you." He felt the man's face muscles move and he knew that he had just made Kyouraku's smile grow bigger.

Kyouraku chuckled. "Care to share the story?" He asked.

"You've heard it many times..." Jyuushiro said, surprised. "I'm sure you could tell it better than I could," he laughed.

"Hm. I know," he opened his eyes and looked at Jyuushiro, who turned his gaze to the dark-haired man. "I just love hearing it, though... It gets better every time."

"Hah," Jyuushiro chuckled. "Okay, but you have to tell me yours too." He smiled.

"Mmm..." Kyouraku said, thoughtfully. "Deal," he said, closing the gap between their faces and pressing his lips against his lover's.