"The moon is so beautiful tonight..." Oniru said as he looked at the blue colored moon." So this is how the moon looks from the Purgatory."
"...Serenity, I wonder how you would act if you saw this…" Oniru said.
He was dressed up in a white and purple kimono with his hair and ears covered with ornaments and platinum jewellery. He sat near a miniature waterfall and the ground was covered with flowers.
"Lord Star God" A woman said as she reached Oniru.
"Yes?" Oniru said.
"Lord Gatekeeper is asking for you." She said with her eyes casted downwards.
"Yes, thank you for telling." Oniru said with a smile and walked out of the huge garden. He walked through the hallways of the huge castle.
He reached the ballroom where the Welcoming ceremony was taking place. The hall was filled with Gods, fairies and some supernatural beings.
"Oniru." Akihiko said, dressed up in a black Kimono with cherry blossoms drawn on the fabric.
"Yes, Milord." Oniru said.
"...What are you wearing all these ornaments for? Are you a woman?" Akihiko said.
"I was dressed up like this by the castle maidens." Oniru said.
"Anyways, Oniru. I want you to perform something for these people here today."
"Today.... might be difficult, Milord. I can only play music when I'm extremely happy. Otherwise it might affect my health." Oniru said.
"OH SHUT UP! I couldn't care less about it. And make it a happy music, I hate those sad ones."
"B- but-"
"IT'S AN ORDER!" Akihiko said.
"...Yes"
Reluctantly, Oniru walked up to the podium in the hall. Everyone stopped and looked at him. He closed his eyes and waved his hands as a golden light enveloped him and some golden dust formed different instruments.
All the instruments followed the motion of Oniru's hands and arranged themselves into a Japanese orchestra.
Oniru took a deep breath and waved his hands giving silent instructions to every instrument.
The music started...
As soon as the music stopped, everyone in the halls brought their hands together.
"That was beautiful." A woman dressed up in a white kimono said, as she was surrounded by many star spirits and fairies.
"G-Good morning, lady." Oniru said as he bowed to his knees. All the people attending the party bowed to her except Akihiko.
"Who are you?" Akihiko said.
"So, you are the new gatekeeper. Congratulations, Lord Gatekeeper. I'm Ivsana, the Goddess of Heaven." She said with an angelic smile.
"So...you're a real God?" He said.
"Yes" She said.Then she looked at everyone "Raise up everyone, and please don't mind me, I need to chat a little with the new Gatekeeper."
"So....what do you wanna talk about ?" Akihiko said as he walked with Lady Ivsana.
"Do you know that after that gatekeeper ceremony, you and your star spirit are connected?" She said.
"What do you mean?" Akihiko said.
"What do we call it in the language of humans? Oh right, a marriage." She said.
"HAVE YOU GONE INSANE, WOMAN? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? WE ARE BOTH MEN!" Akihiko said.
"Yes, I do know it. But, it doesn't matter. He's the chosen one for you. Any form of infidelity may lead to you loosing your position as the gatekeeper. Many gatekeepers lost it that way." She said with a smile.
"You- you mean....I cannot approach other women? Not even castle maidens?" Akihiko said.
"Castle maidens are there just to help you, they are not your servants." She said.
"SO THAT MEANS BASICALLY I CAN'T DO IT WITH ANYONE EXCEPT ONIRU!!!" Akihiko said.
"Yes." She said.
"BUT HE'S A GUY!!"
"Yes....he is." She said with a smile. Akihiko stared at her for a moment.
"Lady, we have to leave now." A small child said she tucked Lady Ivsana's kimono.
"Of course. See you later, Lord Gatekeeper." She said and left the ball room.
At night
"Excuse me! Can I remove these ornaments yet? They are heavy." Oniru said to the castle maidens.
They all started giggling and one of them said "As per tradition, Lord Gatekeeper is supposed to remove all these ornaments."
"I see, then should I go ask him to remove them? I can't sleep with these, they are uncomfortable." Oniru said.
"Yes yes, please go ahead." They said then all of them ran away, giggling and whispering.
"Wait!" Oniru said but they were long gone.
"...Girls are difficult to understand." He said as he scratched his head.
Then, he walked towards Akihiko's room.
"I can't believe my luck!! Can't believe my dear wife is a man! That's just disgusting!!" Akihiko said as he smoked a pipe.
*Knock Knock*
"Who is it?" Akihiko said.
"Milord, it's me. I need your help." Oniru said.
'It's him' Akihiko thought.
"Come in." Akihiko said.
Oniru opened the door and entered the room.
"Oniru, let's drink." Akihiko said.
"Sorry, Milord, but I don't drink." Oniru said.
"I DIDN'T ASK YOU, I TOLD YOU THAT WE'RE GONNA DRINK. Pour me some sake, we're gonna drink it in the celebration of me becoming a gatekeeper." Akihiko said.
"Yes." Oniru said.
He took out a bottle from the closet while Akihiko stared at him.
"Are you...trying to seduce me?" Akihiko said.
"What?" Oniru said as he turned towards Akihiko.
"You're so dressed up tonight, talking in such a low voice and being so obedient." Akihiko said.
"But, I'm always like this...as per the dress, I told you the maidens made me wear it." Oniru said.
"Are you trying to say that I'm wrong?" Akihiko said.
"N-NO, I would never-"
"Anyways, let's drink. Bring your cup forward, I'll pour the sake." Akihiko said while holding the bottle.
"B- but-"
"Do you want me to repeat?"
"No, of course not." Oniru said and brought his cup forward. He gulped the sake in one breath.
"W- what's this. . . My head's all fuzzy." Oniru said.
"Huh? It's only one cup. Shows your low resistance" Akihiko said as he poured another cup. "Let's see how long can you stay awake."
After 4 cups, Akihiko asked "Oh, I forgot to ask, why did you come here?"
"HUH??!!" Oniru said with anger in his voice, then he suddenly realised and said "S- sorry Milord.... I was just-"
"You're a man, alright." Akihiko said.
"I'm terribly sorry." Oniru said.
"So....why were you here?" Akihiko said.
"Oh right! I want you to remove these ornaments Milord, I can't bear them anymore."
"I'm not your servant, do it yourself!"
"NO, you're supposed to it." Oniru said.
"Tsk! What a pain, come here!" Akihiko said.
Oniru moved towards him. Akihiko slowly started removing Oniru's earrings and then his necklaces.
'His neck is so slim.' He thought as he removed Oniru's choker.
"What the hell!! Why isn't this thing coming off?" Akihiko said as he stared at the choker.
"Huh? It's quite complicated." Oniru said.
"Your kimono is in the way. Remove it!" Akihiko said.
"Yes." Oniru said as he opened the upper half of his kimono. His pale skin shone bright golden in the dim light of the midnight moon.
'He's.... beautiful.' Akihiko thought as he looked at Oniru. He stretched his arms towards Oniru's face and pressed his cheeks gently with his thumb.
Oniru looked at Akihiko and said "...is something the matter milord?"
'He's got good skin, and his body is so slim and tender..just like a woman...' Akihiko thought.
"Milord?" Oniru said, confused.
"Oniru, you know what the custom says? What happens on the ceremonial night?" Akihiko said.
Oniru just stared at Akihiko for a moment then suddenly his face turned red, and flustered, he looked away.
'WOW! That's a cute reaction.' Akihiko thought.
Akihiko gently pressed his fingers on Oniru's chest.
"Mmmm" Oniru moaned as he looked away and tightly clenched his eyes.
"Are you. . . not going to resist?" Akihiko said.
"Un... it's my duty....as your star spirit, but I didn't see it coming so I'm…. kind of... not ready for it. But.. if you want... I won't resist" Oniru said as he stuttered and clenched Akihiko's kimono.
Akihiko just stared at Oniru for some time. He slid his fingers from Oniru's chest down to his waist.
"Ngh! Un... M- Milord, I-"
"Call my name, Oniru." Akihiko said as he intensely stared into Oniru's eyes.
Oniru looked at Akihiko with surprise. Then, he turned his face the other way and said "A-aki...hiko..."
Suddenly he hugged Oniru and said "....I want to...can I?"
Oniru's eyes widened with surprise.
-To be continued