In all this Time

---9---
___Standing before a massive ultramodern black glass door a pleasant young receptionist quietly mustered the courage to intrude on her boss’ office. “Excuse me… Sir?” she meekly called, finding President Rodgers dazedly staring off into the cityscape. Framed by his almost endless view of the sprawling metropolis below, he stood contemplating it’s dull gray contrast to the reddish orange sunset above. It was almost laughable to think he remembered when this had once been nothing more than forest and fields.
___“Yes Julz,” he tonelessly asked.
___“There’s a ‘Brian’ here to see you sir. He wouldn’t give any last name or business affiliation I’m afraid.” Julz explained, nervously wringing her hands. She was delectably self conscious, somehow completely unaware of the beauty she wielded. “Should I buzz him in?”
___For a split second the President actually forgot who Brian was, stifling a small smile before he responded.
___“Yes, always.” he emphasized, glancing over his shoulder with a devilish sparkle in his green eyes. “He‘s the only one who matters…”
___It was an expression she‘d never seen before and probably the only one he’d ever made. Normally the president was practically lifeless, ice cold and detached. And to this he soon returned, looking solemnly back out toward the manmade horizon once more. It was the silent indication for Julz to leave, although a last few choice words managed to keep the diligent receptionist bolted to the floor.
___“Julz, before you go… you‘re fired.”
___The words were deadpan and all the more biting for it. Hand poised on the door it took more than a few seconds for the impact to truly sink in. “Eh-excuse me?!” she stumbled, tears forming almost instantly. What did I do…?
___“Heh, I’m sorry, just kidding dear.” the president chuckled, fully aware of her panic. “You are free to go home for the evening. Cancel everything I have scheduled for the rest of the day.”
___“Huh…” she whimpered, drying her eyes confused. “Oh… certainly sir?”
___Apparently he was only joking and she’d promptly broken down like an idiot. The young woman felt like a damn fool, but it wasn’t at all her fault. The President never joked.
___Whoever this guy is he must really be special, Julz thought gratefully reclaiming her desk. Without a moment’s hesitation she pressed the intercom, “Jimmy, you can let Brian in. The president will see him.” The brief announcement was agreeably confident, a gentle smile somehow conveyed in the empty spaces. As soon as Julz’s finished though, her face twisted into a surprisingly furious snarl, the normally genial secretary beyond indignant as she replayed the incident with the President in her mind. “I can’t believe he said that!”
___Fuming, or more precisely pouting, Julz would probably be bitter about the president’s jest days from now. It wasn’t even his words so much as the irksome smile that accompanied them. As angry as she should have been she couldn’t shake the image from her thoughts, the alarmingly roguish expression forcing a new entirely unwanted perspective on her. Even if only for a brief moment, she realized the President was actually rather attractive… handsome even? Just considering it gave her an awkward shiver, the mere thought almost repulsive. The notion was quickly dismissed as foolishness, her attention returning the last few remaining emails left to be checked. She was halfway through her second reply when she got the security guard’s diffident reply. “Um, ma’am… I think he left already?”
---10---
___One hand in his pocket, the other holding a shiny white ipod, Brian could have easily been a model. His clothing was more than expensive enough, a masterfully tailored black pinstripe suit from some famous designer or another. He couldn’t remember which but it was of no consequence, he‘d already impressed the necessary people. All he had to do now was get to the President, and so he walked… slowly, lazily even, as if he had absolutely nowhere to go. Well, his pace was actually fairly average, but something about the way he moved seemed sluggish. His long smooth strides gave you plenty of time to memorize each small fluid motion. His expression was a major part of the illusion too, the way he seemed to look directly at you and see nothing at all. It was… interesting, the unexplainable power that radiated from the young man’s silence; exciting too, especially in those rare moments when he found a reason to smile.
___Three steps from the preoccupied secretary’s desk Julz finally noticed him, shocked surprise sculpting her round face. The faint scowl on Brian’s lips curled into a small grin in response. His eyes were no less lost but the gesture was incongruously endearing, the simple fact he would even try to be amiable with all that obviously weighed upon his mind. It was probably the defining moment when Julz fell in love with the brooding soul. Something in her kind heart wanted to heal him, to show him the love she simply assumed was missing. For some reason far beyond her immediate thoughts she wished him happiness.
___“Hello miss,” he softly offered, tired beyond reason. A miserable five hours of sleep spread across three hectic days were all he‘d managed and the young businessman looked the part. Work demanded such though and for whatever reason he preferred it that way.
___“Good afternoon sir,” Julz bashfully replied, eyes drawn to the brilliant red silk of his tie. It was the only real color he wore.
___“Is the master in?”
___“Hmm?” she hummed, adorably tilting her head to the side as the meaning surfaced. “Oh, yes, the president is expecting you.”
___“Thank you,” he whispered, heading past without even a fleeting glance. The dark brooding expression swiftly returned, her presence seemingly forgotten and then he was gone.
___I wonder if he liked me? I wonder if he likes anyone… Why am I thinking about this?! I need to go home! This place is gonna be the death of me…
---11---
___“You and your pretty things...” Brian sighed contentedly, sauntering over to one of the massive leather couches. He plopped down without formality, limbs sprawled out like a spent rock star. “Your girl is adorable as always ‘Mr. President’… or am I allowed to call you Winston?”
___The president merely arched a questioning brow at the mention of his name. Anyone else would have been foolish to try that, but Brian held a unique place in his affections. It was why he didn’t even bother to see the muted reaction, a small smirk on his face as his eyes drifted shut. The conversation was meaningless after all, the President more intrigued by Brian‘s appearance than words. The dapper attire was a far cry from his usual graphic t-shirt and ripped jeans.
___My how things change?
___“I’ll never see why you‘re so fond of these insipid names you‘ve made us…” the youthful president sighed, a pleasant warmth entering his demeanor with the new arrival. He wasn’t jovial by any means, but he was almost content even if just for the moment. Joining his guest on the opposite side of the sofa he managed to tolerate the ‘vast’ small space between them for maybe three full seconds. “ ‘Winston J. Rodgers’ looks great scrawled across my business cards, but it has no heart in it. Too many words I think? A single distinct moniker is all anyone should ever need.”
___“Well, Soketsu it is then…” Brian laughed, shaking his head as he glanced down at the familiar boyish face in his lap. His master was laying length wise across the couch using him as pillow as he spoke.
___“And such a pleasant sound it has Banyu,” Soketsu lightly breathed, squirming to get more comfortable. Soon his eyes were closed and breaths slowed in a manner only the knowing warrior beneath him wouldn’t mistake for sleep.
___Enslaved for almost two centuries now, Banyu was still clueless to the greater part of the Shaman’s thinking, their relationship just as jaded and indescribable as ever. Soketsu was never one to say the things that truly mattered, leaving Banyu to create any life he chose fitting within the boundary of his few rules. First and foremost his master was never to be denied… anything, and all the other rules just seemed to fit inside that one generalization. Banyu, or Brian as he was called now, really wasn’t one for conflict though, which coupled with the fact the Shaman only truly wanted the most trivial of nothings left them with a rather pleasant rapport. There was neither friction nor stress, only a visibly tranquil existence made all the more ironic considering neither could ever forget just how they came to be.
___“What is that ridiculous noise?” Soketsu abruptly asked, eyes popping open as the opening bars to some random rock song played through Brian’s pants.
___“My cell phone…” Brian casually responded, reaching into his pocket to fish out a sleek orange device. “Our QA Chairman needs something apparently. One moment-”
___“This entire corporation is just as superficial as our names,” Soketsu chuckled, looking up at Banyu with new eyes. The young man had proven quite resourceful, growing a humble side project into a global terror of capitalism. And throughout it all Soketsu was the silent figurehead, the acting president who never really acted on anything? It was rather boring really, a socially acceptable position of power all too similar to the rank of Grand Shaman. It was time for a change, and Winston already had the perfect scenario in mind. All that was left was to ‘inform’ Banyu and simply let him take it from there. Well, if he ever got off the phone…
---12---
___"Really…" Brian muttered, mild amusement playing across his face. His iPhone lay in a sad pile of shiny pieces, flung across the room by an irritated Soketsu halfway through his dialogue.
___"I didn't know a conversation could even be that boring," Soketsu droned, rolling his eyes. Something about botched serial numbers and product recalls just couldn't hold his interest. "Since you're done… I might as well enlighten you to our new endeavor."
___A maniacally excited glare flashed in the boyish Shaman's eyes and Brian knew without doubt his world was about to change. It had taken far longer than the warrior expected, but the Grand Shaman had finally reached his breaking point. He was bored, and like any normal person he was going to remedy the situation. The only question was how, because ‘normal’ was never a word associated with Soketsu.
___Unable to convey the real force of his message laying down the small President drew himself upright, somehow finding it necessary to sit across Brian’s lap. With their respective sizes it was an almost intimate position, one the Shaman assumed with an air of cool indifference. Brian seemed nonplussed as well, a sense of detached curiosity all that gripped him as the Shaman rested his back on the lavish couch‘s high arm. Face to face the Shaman’s emerald gaze enveloped his servant for a silent lilting moment before he finally spoke.
___“School… I think I‘d like to try it for awhile.”
___“School?” Brian slowly repeated, eyes widened in disbelief.
___Even after saying it himself he still couldn’t be sure if it was the same word his master meant. Soketsu gave him a moment to let it sink in, smiling warmly as his servant’s face hardened in contemplation of the request. Brian was trying desperately to rationalize just how this could work? The logistics were simple enough, but he couldn’t find a single solitary reason why the Great Shaman would want to waste the time.
___“No matter which University you choose, there is very little if anything you could actually learn…” Brian announced, question ringing in his tone.
___His words were perfunctory at best. The small smirk he spied curving the President‘s expression meant this course was already set in stone. If there were any greater reasons behind it he would have to gleam them later on his own. Nothing would ever simply be explained to him.
___“Alright,” Brian conceded, “Let me go about getting you enrolled then.”
___“My thanks,” Soketsu dryly quipped, “From what I’ve heard High School is supposed to be quite momentous. I‘m almost excited to make some new… friends?”
___‘High School…?’ How could he ever hope to pass for a… well, actually he is pretty small and with the right clothes... I can’t believe I’m even considering this!
___“Oh, and find a way to be near me. I know you aren‘t as well suited to being a student but maybe you could do something else… a janitor or something; I don‘t know. Figure it out.”
___“Heh, and so I shall,” Brian sighed, shaking his head. A grand ordeal loomed before him, and he could already tell he was't going to enjoy this half as much as his master.
___He made to get up and Soketsu merely shifted yet again. Head now propped against his chest, the Shaman let his eyes drift closed and wrapped both arms around Brian’s slender waist. Feeling the gentle rise and fall of his servants breathing, the president gave him one last command. It needed no words, Brian’s chin resting atop his head as the timeless warrior repositioned both of them with ease.
___School could wait until tomorrow.