Quick Match: Sumo Lessons

"Looks like you got a package, roomie."

Sauntering into their cramped dorm room, a very sweaty Spike--dressed in a crop top and lycra shorts (leg day, naturally)--gently plopped the taped-up package down next to his roommate. Kengo, looking very cozy in his light blue bathrobe, was currently splayed out on the bed, reading a graphic novel--he was the very picture of comfort. 

The gentle-hearted, very large man yawned, placed his book down and glanced over at the package. "Hmm...this is..." His eyes grew larger. "Ah!"

Spike grinned, nodding enthusiastically. "All the labels are in Japanese so I figured it had to be yours. You know, since you're the only guy at the school who speaks it, I just kinda assumed..." Spike paused and tapped the side of his head. "You know, I seem to be fetching a lot of people's mail lately. Huh..."

"Yes," Kengo said enthusiastically, pointing to the set of kanji. "This is my name! It's from my mother! Oh, this is exciting!"

"Well, open it up, big guy!"

Kengo set about the painful and delicate process of opening the tapped up parcel, while Spike stood on tip-toes, whistling a tune, secretly hoping Kengo's family and friends back at the temple had snuck in a little treat for him. Spike knew Kengo wrote to them often, and always had lovely things to say about this roommate. 

Still, he didn't want to seem too greedy or singular focused. "So...whatcha' readin', buddy?" Spike said, in his fey Brooklyn lilt. And why does it take you so damn long to open up a fuckin' box, huh?

"Oh! Purple Rain of the Detective Gato. It's the 208th book in a mystery series about a teenage detective who turns into a cat when it rains." Kengo smiled. "It's been running for thirty years and the story is nowhere close to complete. It's great!"

"Sounds...like a real page turner, buddy."

At last, Kengo tore open the box. However, the sumo was methodical and precise, and so he first took out the greeting care lying on top. To Spike, it seemed like a rather drawn out and ceremonial process. Aw, C'mon, Kuma...Just tell me if your mom sent those fish-shaped waffle things with the jam inside them...

The sumo's eyes went misty. He wiped away a tear from his handsome face. "They are so proud of me and my spellbreaking. I don't know what to say."

"Aww, that's great," Spike said, patting his roommate on the shoulder--but really peeking over it to see what treats awaited him. He noted the beautiful, opaque, pink bottle. "Oh, that looks delicious and alcoholic now, don't it?"

Kengo had been so preoccupied with his mother's heartfelt writing, that he hadn't even noticed the present. "OH! Junmai-shu!"

"Bless you," Spike said.

"No, you himbo, it's sake!"

Spike's eyes went heart shaped. "I-I love sake."

"Then we gotta drink it!" Kengo said. He took out the bottle and gasped, picking up the delicate little sake cups, etched with jasmine blossoms. "Look! She sent two cups along too. Awww, and they're so cute." He continued reading the note. "One for you, and one for your pretty roommate!"

Spike could have swooned--this really was the best gift, alcohol and 'well-wishes' from a hot guy's mother. "Minami Oyama, you absolute angel. I'm seriously blushing."

It didn't take either Kengo or Spike long before the two roommates--beefy sumo and statuesque (yet short) twunk were sitting on the ground, clinking sake cups together in celebration.

"'Kanpai' is what we say for 'cheers,'" Keno explained.

"Hell yeah, kanpai!" Spike cheered, throwing back the tangy rice wine.

"N--no you don't take it like a shot! You have to sip it!" Kengo sighed. There really was no helping the blonde prettyboy. He was very sweet, but he had the useless enthusiasm of a barely trained puppy (and probably the wits to match). As Kengo lamented his roommate's lack of self-control, he happened to glance over at the opened care package. In his excitement, he failed to notice the other item, wrapped in pink tissue paper. "Hmm?"

Kengo removed the wrapping and looked down at the silky piece of undergarment--a fundoshi, traditional Japanese underwear, not unlike the 'gear' Kengo wore during spellbreaking matches. This pair was super soft to the touch, white, and stitched with a blue anchor. Kengo read the note. "This is also for your roommate. You mentioned how great his a--" Kengo coughed, stopping himself.

Spike grinned wickedly, his face turned read from the sake rushing to his head. "What was that?"

Now it was Kengo who went beet-colored. "Um...I must have mistranslated that. My mom got you a fundoshi, just like the one I wear. But with your signature logo on it!" He passed the garment to his friend, as if he was bestowing a crown upon a king.

He might as well have done just that. Spike nearly spat out his drink, and he looked as if he might be moved to tears. "Y-you don't understand what the gift of skimpy underwear means to me. I'm...verklempt. I don't know what to say!" Spike nodded and bolted onto his feet, nearly tipping his half-drank cup over. With a swift motion, he removed his pants with the deftness and precision of someone accustomed to frequently taking them off in front of others.

Kengo choked on his sake, seeing his roommate in his skimpy pink, bulging briefs. "S-Spike! What have I told you! That gets me...it gets me too flustered when you do that."

"Then turn around, I gotta try these on now!"

Kengo didn't understand why, but he did as told. Not that he didn't want to sneak a peek. Oh no, we're both getting drunk too quickly...

"Wait wait WAIT--don't turn around yet. I need...to complete...the look. Yes...hmm...a top knot will do. Okay, turn around and feast your eyes."

Kengo did as told. He gasped. Needless to say, Spike filled out his fundoshi well. In the sense that it looked like he was hiding a whole orange in the pouch. He'd also grabbed a hair tie and pulled his ear-length hair into a very small, petit top knot. The sailor boy struck a silly pose--which somehow made him even sexier.

Kengo tried to compose himself. "Hmmm...I think we shall call you the 'Slutty Samurai'!"

Spike scowled, crossing his arms, and turning away from his roomie. "I admit, that was pretty quick of you, Kengo." Of course, the former pinup knew what he was doing, positioning himself so his beautiful, sculpted bubble butt was on full display, the string of his fundoshi swallowed whole beteen his cheeks. "Make it Sexy Samurai, and you have a deal."

He's...so hot, Kengo thought, trying to ignore the tightening in his boxer shorts. "You look like you are ready for some sumo!"

Spike nodded, and then a devious look bloomed in Spike's eyes. "Hmm. Let's do it, big guy! Team me some sumo lessons!"

"What!? Like, right now?" Though the thought had honestly crossed Kengo's mind. Seeing Spike in that tight, cute fundoshi--well, it had certainly gotten the beefy spellbreaker's attention. Alcohol tended to leave Kengo more uninhibited. This was dangerous territory. All he knew was that he could trust Spike. Because, just like a rambunctious puppy, he was a pure soul...even when he was humping your leg.

Spike jumped up, and Kengo watched as Spike's bulge and round pectorals bounced rhythmically in motion as he did. "Yeah! Let's do it, roomie! I got access to the practice ring. Buck gave me an extra set of keys."

"What!?" Kengo blinked. "How did you get that!"

Spike demurred, scratching his head. "Let's just say my mouth did the work. Don't ask too many questions, big guy." He then took a more dominant, challenging stance, extending his hands as if to get ready to grapple. "What do you say, handsome bear? Go put on your signature gear and meet me in the ring. Think you can take on Spike--the Sexy Samurai--in a sumo match?"

Oh, I love when he calls me handsome bear, Kengo thought, blushing. But he never backed down for a challenge, and honestly--he'd had a secret desire to utterly squash Spike for awhile. He would probably look really cute getting sat on...

Kengo stomped forward, drawing his shadow over Spike, who suddenly realized he may have stepped out of line. "Remember, roomie--I am the big bear," he said, glaring down at Spike hungrily, poking his roomies bulge--right on the anchor. "You are just a cub." He drew closer, making sure his belly jutted right into pretty Spike's perfect six pack. "And you'll be my cub before the night is over. So, let's do it. Let me show you how a sumo squashes a brat like you."

Kengo was surprise at how intimidating he sounded--those informal lessons from Cian were starting to pay off! Unfortunately, Spike only got more enticed by intimation. The sailor boy (or samurai boy right now) winked at Kengo, and flexed both of his biceps. "See these? I've lifted bigger than you, Kuma. Just call me the bear tamer, cuz you're goin' down--roomie or no!" He tugged at his fundoshi. "I feel more powerful in this."

Oh no! Kengo gulped. Spike was going to use his raw sexiness against him! It was on. The gauntlet was thrown. Now, it was time to rumble. Sorry, roomie--but I'm gonna need to crush you!

Spike stretched his arms, elbow nestled into the crook of his right arm, as he smiled from his side of the ring. "You ready to get trashed, big guy?"

It was just Spike and Kengo in the practice ring. Being a weeknight, most of the other crew were in bed at this hour. Kengo, at the opposite end of the ring, removed his bathrobe and tossed it to the side of the ring, giving Spike an eye-full of his broad backside, ornamental strings of his signature fundoshi hanging off his large butt.

"Wow, Kengo, you've definitely been eating healthy lately." Spike wasn't shy about giving his opponent's their fair share of compliments. Plus, he had a weakness for big men. "Say, aren't you really shy around nudity? Why wear something skimpy like that"

Kengo did a squat, and Spike reeled back at the size of his legs, how far the trained sumo could bend over and touch his toes. His legs were like wooden columns, unmoving. "Oh, the ring is the only place where I don't feel shy!" Kengo said, smiling innocently. "Which is why I don't mind this kind of gear. I feel like a big, beautiful boy when I'm crushing cute little twerps like you." He narrowed his eyes, the innocence vanishing. "Maybe it's just the sake talking...but the prettier they are, the more I enjoy putting all my weight on them and watching them struggle underneath me! Hehehe."

Spike felt his cock twitch. "W-wow. I didn't know that about you. Hey, who taught you the word, 'twerp'? You should stop hanging out with Cian jerk! He's a wannabe heel anyway."

"I'll show you that I can be a bit of a heel too!" Kengo said, striding closer. Spike thought he felt the canvas shake beneath every one of his footfall. Maybe this had been a mistake...  

Spike stared down at Kengo. How could a guy have that much muscle and gut at one time? He was like a giant!

Well, call me the giant killer, Spike thought, confidently. "Ok, so sumo wrestling..."

Kengo nodded. "Well, we aren't in the type of ring we'd need, but one way to win is to push the other guy out. We can just focus on a standard pinfall for this match, if that's okay with you. No spellbreaking, but you're welcome to use your glyph if you think it means standing a chance against me."

"Are you being shady, punk?" Spike balled up his fist and shook it in front of the smirking sumo's face. He seemed...unbothered. "I can lift two of you. Two! Once I drop anchor on your sweet, adorable face, it's over! I win!" 

Kengo laughed, and then slapped his rather large backside for emphasis. Sounded like a rock hitting hard cement. "Same to you. Ok, let's start. This is how sumo wrestlers start the match. It's called shiko." He pulled one leg up and slammed it down, then the other. "It's to drive away bad spirits. But don't worry, the only bad spirit here is Minoru." He laughed. "And he really wants me to smother you right now for challenging me. You need to be humbled, roomie!" He slammed down his other leg. The canvas shook.

Spike gulped, and then mirrored his pal, raising his wiry legs and doing the same. But this only elicited laughter from his partner. "W-what! I just did what you told me to do!"

"Hahaha. No, it's just...it's just cute." Kengo leaned over and put both knuckles to the mat. "So cute I could crush you. Get ready!"

But Spike had anticipated this and shot first. "You're going down, big guy," Spike said, going for a takedown. But it was like charging head on into an oncoming train. Kengo practically bulldozed poor Spike, pushing him into the ropes and knocking him off balance.

"And you're going for a ride!" Kengo laughed. He wrapped his hands around the length of Spike's arms and lifted him straight up into the arm for a throw.

Spike sailed through the air--fundoshi clinging on for dear life--and had just enough time to realize that perhaps sumo wrestling while tipsy was not a good idea. He landed on his back, his spine taking the brunt of the fall, and the cold canvas searing his exposed butt-cheeks.

Before Spike could come to his senses, he heard a heavy footstep behind his head, and had just enough time to shout, "Wh-" before nearly 300 pounds of beefy bear brought the weight of his legs down on Spike's poor midsection, knocking the wind right out of him.

Kengo reclined, keeping his roommate and friend trapped underneath his meaty thighs. "You wanted a lesson, right? Do you give up?"

"Hell no!" Spike squeaked, activating his glyph, transforming the blow into his raw power--enough to push Kengo's beefy legs right off him. "I'm...I'm too cute to lose! You think you're the only one who can weaponize their fantastic butt? I'm the king!" Spike leaned back and threw out his legs, getting onto his feet in an impressive, athletic recovery--enough to impress his heavier opponent. Then, he pivoted on his feet and hip checked Kengo. "Get a taste, bear!"

But the blow only bounced off Kengo's belly. The sumo laughed. "Such a naughty little cub," he smiled, before he grabbed Spike with both arms and brought him in tightly. "How about a hug for your roomie?"

Spike thought back to one of the drive-in B movies he'd caught with Buck, how one of the monsters was a giant anaconda that wrapped itself around the hero hunk to crush him. It was a bit like that. Kuma's bear hug was no joke! Spike felt all of his bones and organs start to compress. "Gugh....ughhh..."

"Hehehe. Would be a shame if you wet that cute fundoshi now, wouldn't it? But I don't want to defeat you like this. It would be too boring!" But Spike's struggle against Kuma had an unintended affect. The bear looked down, seeing Spike's bulge grinding against his own. It felt...well, not unpleasant. Kengo blushed. "Hey...hey don't do that!"

Face reddening, Spike looked up at his roommate. A lightbulb went off (a rare occurrence for the blond, himbo hunk) "Oh, that feel good don't it?" He smirked and gyrated his hips. "What's wrong...bear...cub got your tongue?"

Ahhh, it feels too good! Kengo felt himself getting hard. If his fundoshi burst off, it would be just like losing. He had to act fast! So, he stiffened his back and, like carrying a bag of flour, charged forward towards the nearest post. "Sorry, Spike!"

"What--" was all Spike before he found himself sandwiched, abruptly and violently, between nearly 270 pounds of sumo beef and the cold, hard turnbuckle. His vision flashed white, and the next thing Spike knew, he was on his back, hands splayed out over the ropes.

Kengo had him exactly where he wanted him now. "Think you have the deadliest butt in spellbreaking, do you?" he challenged, glaring. Now, he meant business.

"N-no, Kengo, maybe I spoke too soon!"

"You won't be speaking after this!" Kengo said, as he turned around, making sure Spike got a good look at his round backside, before he backed up and drove it straight into his roommate, like two boulders crushing a tiny insect.

"OOF!"

"You make a comfy seat," Kengo said. He made sure to put all his weight on his opponent's body, even grinding down to really drain the stamina out of his humiliated opponent. When at last he felt he was being too cruel, he let up, turned around, and smile down at his crumpled roommate. 

"...uggggh..."

"Heh. Now's the part where you get crushed, roomie."

Kengo was all too excited to finish Spike off, but he wondered if his poor opponent could take this much weight and force at once! Still, as he climbed to the second rope, he remembered how tough his roommate was.

"K-Kengo, wait!"

Kengo sneered. He was actually enjoying this! "Get ready to taste defeat from my 1,000 Spirit Shattering Drop!" He bounced up on the rope for good measure, gathering momentum. "Kuma, crush!"

"N-" 

Was all Spike got out before Kuma jumped up and delivered a devastating bonzai drop. The whole ring shook as sumo met hunk, squashing him utterly!

Poor Spike felt his bones buckled under the weight. He might as well have a refrigerater dropped on top of him! Thank goodness for his glyph. And thank goodness Kengo hadn't activated his. His 1,000 Spirit Shattering Drop, when fuelled by Kengo's spirit power, didn't just crush his victim's bodies, but their souls too, completely robbing them of the will to continue the match...if they had any air left in them that it is.

The force was too much, and Spike briefly blacked out, eyes rolling into the back of his head. It was a total knockout!

Kengo struck his signature 'victor's pose, folding his arms around his chest as he stared down at his helpless, crushed prey. "Don't need to ring the bell to know you're done," he said, glaring down at Spike, who was just starting to come to. "I am the superior bear! GRRRR!" He thought of stripping Spike's fundoshi off, just to hammer home the point and really humiliate him, but he just couldn't do that to his beloved roommate.

Besides, he was already fully turned on from the beatdown, and dominating his beautiful muscle-bound friend had only added to it. He looked down and noticed how hard he was!

Spike's eyes fluttered open. "K..." he said, before he realized he was still trapped under the weight. He shifted, his face contorting into anguish. "Gah...g-get off me! Come on, man!"

Kengo looked down. "Aww you look so cute...w-wait, Spike stop squirming around like that!" His cheeks started to burn. Spike's wiggling under his butt was just making him harder.

"G-get off me! Grrr..."

"N-no, don't growl like that! S-Spike. I'm embarrassed. And I get turned on my being embarrassed!" He gulped, feeling the strings of his fundoshi start to give, as his cock stiffened harder. He was rock hard now. "Oh NO!"

No sense in trying to hold it back now. Kego's fundoshi tore itself off his body, and a thick piece of bear meat eagerly greeted the open air, throbbing and leaking precum onto Spike, unable to wriggle his way free.

Spike briefly tore himself away from his struggle, and the fact that he was another few seconds away from passing out from the weight of Kengo on his chest. His eyes lit up in awe and arousal at his bear friend's thickness and girth. "What! K-Kengo, you're....you're huge!"

Kengo looked away. He couldn't dare move off Spike now, if he wanted to. Any vibrations would risk...expulsion. "D-don't say that, Spike, you'll get me-...NO! S-stop moving. Oh no, Spike, I'm gonna...I'M GONNA..."

Spike's look of awe turned to terror, as he tried desperately to struggle and push Kengo off. But it was like trying to free himself from being trapped under a house. He wasn't budging, and judging from the look on his face, he was two second away from bursting. This was bad.

"W-wait! Kengo, not the face. Not the face!" 

"I-I'm sorry, roomie--" Kengo winced, as the full force of his orgasm took hold, and he roared like a bear in heat. "GRRRRRR!!!!"

Hands free. A jet of hot, wet spunk dripped onto Spike's chin and face.

"ACK!" Spike said, opening his mouth just a bit too early. He winced, letting a rainfall of muscle-bear wet his face. This was a true defeat...

Sighing and heaving from ecstasy, a deeply shy Kengo finally sat up, hearing Spike's exhalations of relief. "I....I am tired."

Spike sighed, barely able to wipe the rivers of cum leaking off his face, and struggling to catch his breath on top of it. "...I'm...I'm covered in big bear. Towel please."

"Y-yes, of course! I'm so, so sorry!"

Spike felt a towel hit his chest, and he used it to wipe all that Kuma off. Wasn't the first time Spike had found himself in this predicament, and likely wouldn't be the last.

"Nah, it's all good." Spike sat up, wincing and gripping his sore torso. He would feel this in the morning for sure. "Ugh...I can barely move. You really squashed me."

"That's okay, roomie! I'll carry you back." With relative ease, Kengo dipped down and scooped Spike into his arms, carrying him out of the ring. "Kuma cuddles are the best medicine!"

Spike had to agree. "I'm lucky to have a big guy in my corner like you, handsome bear. Even if you do squish me from time to time."

Kengo smiled. "It's a small price to pay." But maybe a good idea to lay off the sake for awhile...

Kengo's Spirit - Epilogue

When Kengo was cognizant of reality, and free of the ecstatic trance, he looked around the pond for answers. It was daylight again. Minoru’s spell had lifted. So too had the fog. The forest, green and bright, greeted Kengo like a new friend. And if not for the pool of water in front of him, or Mr. Wheeler standing over him to make sure he was alright, Kengo would have thought he’d been transported somewhere else entirely.

“You okay there, champ?” Mr. Wheeler said, waving a hand in front of Kengo’s face. He tugged down on his long sleeve shirt, covering his cursed arm. Kengo noticed the black-purple skin had dulled. Without needing to confirm, he knew Mr. Wheeler had been cured.

Someone had draped Kengo’s robe over his lap, making sure to cover up the essential bits. Kengo assumed Mr. Wheeler had done this (which also meant he saw him stark naked). No matter. At least Kengo hadn’t been aware of it. He looked down at his fist, at the object he clutched in his palms. The tear-drop shaped stone was bright citrine, flecked with silvers and blues. It was like a holding a live coal, yet cool to the touch. Kengo felt the power inside the stone, and he knew Minoru was with him.

The young spell breaker exhaled. “I am very tired,” he said to Mr. Wheeler, patiently waiting for the young man to get up on his feet. His stomach growled at him—he almost mistook it for Minoru’s roar. “And very hungry, I guess...”

Mr. Wheeler smiled, patting his left arm for surety. It was hard to tell—and maybe it was just sweat—but Kengo thought he saw a wetness around Mr. Wheeler’s eyes. Tears of relief.

“All is good on this mountain today,” Mr. Wheeler said, rather poetically. “You did good today, kid. There aren’t enough words of gratitude in any language—Japanese or English—that I could use to express myself. I hope you are very proud.”

And for the first time in Kengo’s life, he was.

Kengo's Spirit - Part 4

Mr. Wheeler pointed Kengo towards the path ahead, the approximate direction from where Rai's horrified scream originated. It didn’t take long for the two men to go barrelling into the brush. The eerie mist overtook them, however, to the point that Kengo could scarcely see inches in front of his nose. No trees. No rocks. No path. Just a vague shape suggesting Mr. Wheeler, and an endless fog stretching onward into the infinite.

This is a spirit's realm, Kengo thought. He'd heard stories of powerful entities being able to warp reality in such a way as to create their own pockets of time and space. Unstable dominions, to be sure, but not unlike the supernatural equivalent of a spider web. There were many tales of humans vanishing into thin air in the mountain--quite literally 'spirited away'. 

Another roar, louder—angrier—pulled Kengo’s attention to the left. “This way!” He shouted—as there was little room for the element of surprise at this point. So much for the quiet approach!

All at once, the mist subsided. When Kengo stepped out of the subsiding fog, which lifted just as quickly as it had fallen, the day was suddenly gone, replaced by a cold, starless night. A vermillion disc, a lightless sun, loomed large in the endless black overhead. The pool of steaming light reflected it. All around the spring was a hollowness of atmosphere, an emptiness, an omnipresence of dread.

Rai sat on the pools rocky shore, flat on his butt and back peddling on hands and feet from the massive, glowing shape floating above the water. Kengo froze. Either he was so struck with terror, or captivated by the most beautiful, unearthly creature he had ever seen--Minoru of the Sun, King of Bears.

In essence, the spirit resembled the black bears commonly seen around the mountain, distinguishable by the characteristic “v” shape on their chests. But the guardian of the spring was larger than its cousins, ethereally transparent—as if made of black glass—and its eyes burned the same as the 'empty' vermillion sun above its dominion.

The creature moved like the after-burn of an image on film—impossibly fast. It bounded towards the spring's edge within the blink of an eye. Rai attempted to stand but fell backwards at its advance. The spirit roared, a deafening blow strong enough to shake the soul.  

Oh god, I want to go home! Kengo tried to push the thoughts away, but admittedly it was very hard to do so when confronted with a giant, phantom creature that was mere seconds from disembowelling a childhood friend—or eating their soul, neither which sounded like a good time. Mr. Wheeler, looking for the first time at a loss for words, turned his head to Kengo as if to say, “Sorry, but I’m a bit out of my depth here, kid.”

“O-o-oh great spirit!” Kengo called out. "Minoru of the Sun, Great King of Bears, I beseech thee."

The spirit turned from its intended victim, glaring straight at Kengo with its cold-fire eyes. It reared its head back and roared so loudly, and with such force, that Kengo felt a wind push back his hair.

“Foul apes!” The bear said. Well, it didn’t so much ‘say’ anything, as its jaws didn’t move. But it projected its voice all the same, through a metaphysical means that Kengo didn’t understand nor had the luxury of attempting to comprehend at the moment. “Atone for your transgressions by purifying yourself in your own blood. This spring is forbidden. You have intruded. These are the edicts. For breaking this sacred oath, your lives are forfeit!”

On his feet again, Rai threw back his arm to create a barricade between Kengo and the bear. “I got this,” he said—all too confidently. “You want to fight you big, dumb, bear? Come at me!”

Kengo, whipped his head between Bear and Rai, and tried to decide which problem was worse. “Rai, no!”

But it was too late. Kengo’s words were swallowed by the lightning-whip crack of Rai’s summoning. The spellbreaker dropped his robe—leaving him clad only in a fundoshi to cover his dignity. A dragon sprouted from his back in a blue tendril of light, corkscrewing up into the air and rearing back like a serpent ready to strike.

Blue and white light washed over Rai’s determined face. “Minoru of the Sun Spring. Lay down your assault and allow us passage!”

The bear didn’t even roar. It didn’t have to. It jumped through the air faster than any human could process, lunging for the dragon’s throat. Its jaws clamped down on the evanescent creature, tearing into its spirit substance. The dragon cried out, like a distant echo, before exploding into silver particles of light.

It happened so quickly that Rai didn’t have time to react. Minoru, the guardian, landed upright on the spring, without so much disturbing the tranquillity of the water. It bore its fangs at the challenger, who had been foolish enough to try and conjure a lowly spirit in its presence.

“As you were saying...puny human?”

Rai went white, and Kengo had never seen him take to his feet so quickly. “Run!” He shrieked, taking off near naked into the misted woods and leaving Kengo and Mr. Wheeler at the mercy of the spring guardian.

Rai, you massive idiot! But Kengo didn’t have time to call his name. The guardian now stood but meters away from him, daring him to make another foolish mistake. Spirit summoning was futile. Fighting was futile. There was only one way out of this now.

“Oh g-g-great spirit,” Kengo began, stumbling over his words. He bowed, but kept his eyes trained on the bear, lest it go for his neck. “We honor you and apologize for our companion’s grave indiscretions.”

The bear seethed with rage. “A little late now for apologies!” It took a step forward, sending the slightest ripple off on the pool’s deep surface. “Do you bot think so, little one?”

Kengo gulped. He refused to look at Mr. Wheeler. He was now solely responsible for both their lives. “Great Minoru, I am a spirit summoner from the temple, and I honor and respect all the guardians of the woods. We have come here not to disturb your rest, but to seek the waters of the spring for—"

“Enough ass-kissing, kid!” The bear roared. It held up its claws, glinting in moonlight. “Do you want to die slow, or quick?”

Don’t panic, Kengo thought, panicking. It was impossible to disguise the tremor in his voice, or how much he quivered in front of the spirit’s presence. So much for strong!

“I-I would prefer not to die at all, actually.” Kengo said. “I…am tired of death, in truth.”

The bear narrow’s its marble, white eyes. “What do you mean? Enough puzzles!”

“What do I—” Kengo gave Mr. Wheeler a fleeting glance. Oh well, if he was going to die, he might as well tell the truth, pour his heart out. "This man beside me has been cursed. He is not an innocent man, but he is not deserving of this. He is a father. He has come here to—”

“And these words are supposed to move me?” The bear laughed, hollowly. “Do you think your petty human needs are worthy of my time? I despise you apes. Long ago, you had a sense of decorum and respect, but now you are tainted. You kill only for selfish reasons! War. Greed. Insatiable hunger. All you do is take and defile! How the Shining Lady of Heaven ever bestowed mercy on your rotten souls, I shall never know!”

“Great Minoru, I know that foolish men took your mate from you, and I—”

“DO NOT SPEAK OF THINGS YOU DO NOT KNOW, APE!”

Now Kengo really was on the verge of tears. How was he supposed to get out of this situation? This was worse than any spellbreaking match. “I…I am saying that it was not fair. And I am tired of death because I lost my father when I was very young. It’s…not something one gets over easy. It affects one’s life in different, strange ways, forever.” He nodded to Mr. Wheeler. “This man here is a father too. I brought him here to cure the curse laid on him. I just don’t want his children to have to go through what I did.”

He stepped forward, even though every cell in his body resisted. The bear stood there, saying nothing, which he figured was better than charging at him, right? Kengo bowed again. “If death would slake your thirst, then I offer myself...if it comes to it. But please, spare this man.”

The bear looked between them, ‘breathing’ heavily. The flames in its eyes appeared to dull, but only slightly. “And what makes you think I’d keep that promise, human? I could just kill him right after.”

Kengo blinked. “Well, yes, I suppose.”

The bear laughed cruelly. “And what reason do you have for helping this man? Really? Amuse me with your game.”

“Because…it’s the right thing to do?" Kengo blinked. Was it not that obvious? "Because it is as I said, I do not want his children to suffer as I have.” Kengo looked down, failing to notice his voice had stabilized. “I have no quarrel with you, Bear King. If anything, I would like all spirits everywhere to be happy.”

Minoru bore its teeth. “I do not seek your pity, mortal!”

“It is not pity, Great Minoru, but understanding.” Kengo nodded. “I admire you greatly. I wish I had your strength. I admire how you have defended this sacred spring because you loved someone dear to you. If I could, I would take all the bad that has happened to you. I would do that for anyone. But…the truth is, I am not strong like you are.”

The spirit narrowed its sunless eyes. “You...you are a strange human.” Then, the Bear King laughed again, but this time, there was less venom in it. “Spirit is not measured in physical strength, you mortal idiot."

The great bear circle Kengo, who felt as if his whole body had frozen solid. He bit hit tongue and tried not to tremble, but it was no use.

The bear sniffed the air. "Hmm. You know, there is a quite a lot of meat on you, human. I have no hunger for flesh these days, but I must say, you are quite a tasty, beefy treat.”

“I…thank you?” Was...was the spirit hitting on him?

The bear growled softly. This was starting to get a little weird. “You...appear to have the body of a sumo.”

This conversation had taken a strange turn, not at all what Kengo was expecting—but he felt himself ease up, if only for a little. “I do sumo, actually, s-sir”

“Ah!” The bear nodded. “Then we must fight!” The bear reared up on its feet, like a human, and took a wrestler's stance.

“WHAT!” Kengo looked round, wildly, but Mr. Wheeler merely shrugged. He was right to do so of course. Whether he’d expected it or not, Kengo had taken control of the conversation, even if he did feel like passing out any moment now.

Now, how to argue his way out of this one? “What! Minoru. You’re a spirit, and I—”

The bear arched its back, and then squatted down, stomping the spring with each heavy leg, yet not interrupting so much as a drop of water water beneath. “No time for talk. I’m coming at you! Give me all you got, mortal!”

“OH NO!” Kengo shouted.

He readied himself, but it was like standing in front of an oncoming train. Just think of him like a human opponent, Kengo thought, though the time for thinking was nearing its—

Heavy claws came down at Kengo like boulders falling from a mountaintop. Kengo took a grappling stance at the last minute and caught both claws, which were cool to the touch, and surprisingly smooth. It was a lot like trying to hold back liquid; there was something semi-gelatinous and incorporeal about the spirit’s essence, as if Kengo was fighting against a heavy wind. Still, he struggled.

Kengo tensed. Oh Gods, I'm giving it all I got--I think I'm gonna break. Or hurl! ...BOTH!

“Not bad!” Minoru roared—with something that sounded a lot like honest amusement. “You have a very strong spirit, Kengo. It has been tempered with kindness—and it is indeed strong. But...will it be enough?”

Kindness? Kengo blinked. He struggled under the pressure. Claws crushed his hands, pushing him backwards. What would happen if he lost? Would this thing kill him and Mr. Wheeler outright?

“Come on kid!” Mr. Wheeler shouted some distance behind the action. “Give him hell!”

Show me your strength.

It was so strange. Kengo didn’t feel like he was using most of his muscle, but he was fighting back with something else. The will to protect. No animosity toward his opponent. No desire to seek approval or 'take a win'. Just a steady, simple calm. I am strong. I protect what I care about. I defend those who do not have the means to do so. 

Is this what the spirit fox meant?

Well, kindness or no, there was only one way out of this situation. Kengo lowered his head and met the bear’s gaze head on. He narrowed his eyes, which was probably quite foolish, but he needed to prove to this Bear King that he meant business. 

“Let this man pass," Kengo said, firmly. "I will hold you back forever if I must! I am Kengo Oyama, immovable. And a human I may be, but I too possess a bear's spirit! Hear...me...ROAR!”

Well, it was more like a heavy grunt, but Kengo did his best. He threw one, heavy leg forward, rippling with muscle as his feet tried to grip the earth...or water, rather. He pushed.

And Minoru moved.

The bear grinned—showing off a disconcerting array of phantom teeth. “Now...that's interesting..."

This is probably the stupidest thing I’ve ever done in my whole life. Kengo took a deep breath, channelled his energy, and thought about his mother, Mr. Wheeler, Rai, and even the old Reverend. He would lay down his life to protect all of them. He might not be a good spellbreaker, but it didn’t take muscles or spiritual mastery to try to be a good human.

Kengo ripped his hands free of the bear’s grasp, and then, as quick as he could, he wrapped is huge arms around the bear’s waist and arms, clasping his hands like an iron manacle around its back.

I’m really giving a bear a bear hug!?

“Spirit or not, you’re about to get crushed!” Kengo yelled. He squeezed as hard as he could, as if it meant holding back the tides. He struggled, trying to keep the bear’s claws fastened to its sides. “Go now, Mr. Wheeler! Run!"

But the bear laughed. “Hahaha! No need, kid. I submit.”

“What?” Kengo couldn’t believe it. Was this a trick? Should he let go?

He didn’t have a choice. The phantom bear’s mass contorted, and then became like liquid light, slipping through his palms. The light travelled back into the center of the spring, and the bear reformed itself on all fours again. Kengo could only stare.

Then, the dam broke. He started crying. This was too much.

A consoling hand on his shoulder. Kengo looked at Mr. Wheeler. “I…don’t—”

“Quit the waterworks, kid!” The bear called out. “Tears don’t suit you. In truth, that was probably the most fun I’ve had in centuries!”

Kengo wiped his face. He was too tired for games. “Great Minoru. I-I don’t understand.”

“Heh. Is that skull of yours as thick as your belly? That was a mean bearhug! I’m impressed.” The bear lowered its head, and the mood shifted. “So, you just want this old coot to use the spring, right? Hmm." It bowed its head. "Show me the wound.”

Kengo looked at Mr. Wheeler and nudged him in the side.

“Oh, right.” The man pulled back his sleeve, holding his arm out. It looked worse than Kengo thought. Indescribable.

“Phew,” Minoru said. “That’s a nasty one alright. But nothing I haven’t seen before.” He moved forward on his haunches, but without the same hostility shown as before. “That disrespectful runt who ran off reminds me a lot of the scum that fouled this place up so many moons ago. You’re right, kid. It’s hard to let go of something like that. But it looks like some of you humans aren’t half-bad...”

The after effects of adrenaline still took their toll, and Kengo couldn’t help but shiver. “I’m so sorry, Great One. What happened here was awful. I do not think there’s anything we could do to atone.” He smiled, and a pink bloom colored his cheeks. “You are…pretty strong too you know. It’s too bad bears can’t do sumo. I think my sensei might have a lot of questions if we invited you to train.”

To Kengo’s surprise, the bear laughed at the throw-away remark. “Kid, I’m stuck here. You’re from the temple; you know how it works. There’s no way for us guardian spirits to leave a place of tethering.”

The young spellbreaker nodded, sadly. 

"Wait..." the bear started. "You said you possessed the spirit of a bear. Well, how would you like to...for real?"

Kengo tried to discern what the bear meant, but he was still woozy from the fight and the negotiations. Then, he remembered something the Reverend had once said. Summoners did not seek out their bonded spirit; that the spirit would come to them.

“Great Minoru,” Kengo started. He bit his lip. Outside of combat now, the shyness came back tenfold. “I wish to ask you—”

“Spit it out, kid! I ain’t got all day.”

“Right,” Kengo said. He met the spirit’s sunless stare. “I want to help you too. Because I know that it sucks to be lonely, no matter how big and tough you are. Come with me. If you like wrestling--and beefy men--then I promise that you’d love hanging out with me!”

The bear cocked its head to the side, and even Mr. Wheeler gave Kengo a dubious look. “I dunno, kid. Maybe I am getting ahead of myself. A few minutes ago, I was ready to tear your limbs off one-by-one. This is all very sudden.”

Minoru lifted its head. “Then again...perhaps I have been here for too long, stewing in my anger. It’s not gotten me anywhere fast, has it? Yeah. Hmm. Maybe some travel could be good for me…til I meet with Ayase again.”

“Ayase is your mate?” Kengo guessed. He hoped he hadn’t just blown it by asking, but his heart hurt for the guardian spirit.

The bear looked towards the lightless sun. “Yes. Her soul is still out there. Somewhere. I never considered the possibility of being able to try to find it, thinking I’d be anchored here for another eternity or so." He huffed, snorted. That was enough dwelling on the past. "Well, with that out of the way, I guess we better formalize this thing, eh?”

The bear turned to Mr. Wheeler next. “Then your pasty, bearded fellow here can take a dip and get rid of that foul shit stinking up his arm. Poor bastard.”

Kengo grinned awkwardly. “Wow, you swear a lot for a spirit, don’t you?”

“Ah, don’t tell me you’re a goodie-goodie.” The bear laughed. “Now, get in here. Bathe yourself in the hollow sunlight and we’ll seal the deal.”

Bathe in--? Kengo pointed to his chest. “You mean…gg-et naked?” He sighed. His fear of nudity wasn't going to blow this now. He looked to Mr. Wheeler. “Umm...if you don’t mind—”

“I’m no peeping tom,” the man laughed, scratching his head. “To be honest, I’m still not sure I’m not hallucinating all of this.” He turned his back. “Do what you gotta do. I waited this long. Another minute won’t kill me.”

Not how Kengo expected to enter his soul contract with his spirit, but life was unexpected wasn’t it? And too often challenging of one’s limits. Kengo sighed. It was probably too much to ask the bear spirit to avert its eyes, but it was technically still an animal anyway, right?

Kengo shivered and removed his robes, letting them drop to the soil. Then, trying very hard to keep himself from turning completely red all over, he slid his fundoshi off from his body and let the cool, spring air onto his skin. Figuring he was more vulnerable the longer he staid above the surface, Kengo dipped a toe into the water, allow his body to adjust to the thermal temperature before he slowly submerged himself into the obsidian warmth. It felt like bathing in warm milk; a strangely relaxing feeling.

“Wow, kid,” Minoru said, coming face to face his new ward, who stuck out from the water from the chest upward. “I didn’t expect you’d be packing!”

It took Kengo an even more embarrassing long second before he realized just what Minoru was referring to. “OH MY GODS!” He cried out, drowning Mr. Wheeler’s offhanded laugh from the shore. Kengo gulped. “Let’s…just do this,” he sighed.

Fortunately, he had been preparing for this moment for most of his life—one of the few rituals he was able to recall with ease, every word practiced with rhythm and perfection under the supervision of his mother and the Reverend. “Guardian of the Spring. Minoru of the Sun. I humbly offer you the bond of my blood. Let it be engraved upon my flesh and soul. Bestow unto me your magatama.”

The bear snorted. Not the honorable reaction Kengo expected, but then again, on par with the course of the day so far. “So dramatic, you summoners,” the bear laughed. Nevertheless, it got onto its feet again, towering over Kengo in the warm spring water.

“Okay, kid. Get ready to be best friends!” With his mouth closed, his muzzle tight, Kengo thought it looked like Minoru was smiling at him before the vermillion sunlight intensified, dissolving the black sky into blinding daylight, washing out sight and sound and sense...

Next Chapter!

Quick Match: Laundry Day Knockout!

Laundry day at the ring. Spike had just finished his top-rope drills and was feeling pretty confident–and more than a little sweaty–when he noticed the laundry trolley outside the mat room next to the ring. Great, he thought, as he collected his Yankees T-shirt off the floor, I can just toss this and head to dinner. His stomach was already rumbling, as he thought about dessert. It was a churro night, a sacred and celebrated occasion among the other fighters. He'd need to get to the mess hall quickly or risk losing out...

As he got closer to the laundry trolley, Spike noticed a splash of bright color sitting atop all the socks, shirts, singlets, and towels that had accumulated Heaven-knows how much sweat (and other bodily fluids) the last few days. Spike looked over the edge of the trolley and a tingle of mischief ran up his spine, which was still awfully sore from the killer backbreaker Colt had delivered him the other day as punishment for a snide remark. At least the electrified massage afterword had been worth it--Colt always did take care of his boys...

Anyways, Spike laid eyes on the undergarment in question: an emerald green jockstrap–expensive looking too–with a generous pouch for whoever the well-endowed owner was.

Now, Spike was respectful of his fellow spellbreakers and trainees...but he was also a slut with an eye for good bulge, and he knew exactly who this sexy jock belonged to--Cian Enbarr, his rival, bully, and crush (the best triple-threat).

Ah, Cian. Red hair. Bulging muscles. Pale as a sheet, but which almost gave his body a Greek statue like quality. He was mean and cocky and meaty. And of course this was his jock strap, because who else on the GSA campus could ever look as good in green as him?

Well, maybe Gio, Spike thought of the hairy muscleman, an Italian Tarzan. But anyway...

Spike had lusted after Cian since their first encounter (on the night of his sensation debut, no-less) but the Irish stud played hard to get. And speaking of hard, Spike was getting harder at the thought of picking up those little green jocks and giving them a good sniff. Dirty, of course, but not beyond Spike’s limits. Cian’s third and forth best features–besides his Rugby-champ legs and gorgeous green eyes, was, of course, his distractingly large bulge. Spike had longed to get his hands, or mouth on that…

“What the hell are ya doing, boyo?”

Spike nearly jumped into the ceiling. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Cian had ninja-like stealth, and had a habit of getting the jump on Spike and scaring him witless.

Spike turned to face his fears. Cian, in his singlet, cheeks bright red and slicked with sweat from a workout. And worse, he had the devil’s look about him. 

“Cian, I can explain!”

“No chance,” Cian grinned wickedly as he tackled Spike and shoved him into the mat room with the force of a freight train. Spike’s glyph activated and took the blow, and the secondary impact from his face hitting the mat, but Spike wasn’t prepared for what happened next.

“N-no!” It was like watching an oncoming train. Cian wrapped his massive, steel-and-concrete legs around Spike before he could so much as squirm away or get to his hands and knees.

“You’re gonna get punished for messing with my stuff,” Cian said, sounding both pissed off and sadistically enthusiastic. “Time to become my latest sacrifice, boyo!”

The dreaded Pillars of Sacrifice! It was no use. Spike’s head was caught, like a fox in a brutally iron-clad beartrap. He felt the weight of Cian’s quads come from either side, compressing his throat and head like a vice. As much as he struggled and tried to back bridge his way out of it, there was no fighting it. His pretty head was being squashed like a grape!

“Cian…I give! I give!”

“Hahaha!” This only made the thick grappler squeeze harder, and Cian even positioned himself so his bulge was now right on Spike’s head. “After humiliating me in that match the other day, I thought I’d return the favor. Didn’t you want this in your face?”

“I…” Spike struggled to breathe. His feet struggled wildly, trying to grip the mat for any leverage. “I...never even touched your damn jock.” He began tapping, annoyed he'd submitted but not wanting to get choked out in such an embarrassing way. Besides, he couldn't get KO'd now--it was churro night at the mess hall!

“I know–and I don’t care! You’re going out now, boyo. Going out for a nice little snooze…”

Spike’s vision blurred. He could hear the pulsing of his rapidly beating in his heart, as the oxygen and blood cut off from his system finally took effect and he thought his head might crack like an egg. “...I…gi…..”

For good measure, Cian cranked his legs one last time, giving Spike a little squeeze. A gurgle of air escape Spike's lips...and that was it. Done. Out cold.

Cian thought it was cute how his eyes rolled up into his head and his limbs went slack. Still keeping his prey squeezed tight, Cian picked up Spike’s limp arm for good measure, letting it drop for the count.

“One…two…and…three.” The Irish beefcake kept his pretty blond friend locked up tight against his hardening bulge, and then got even harder as Cian flexed his bicep, giving it a good look over. “Who’s the fucking champ now, eh boyo?”

Finally, Cian let deeply unconscious Spike free, his head falling against the mat like a brick. Poor little guy. Cian couldn't help but reach down and pat the side of his face in almost gentle manner, before he stood and planted his wrestling boot right on the prettyboy’s washboard abs. 

“Sweet dreams, kid,” Cian said, as he wiped the sweat off his brow and flicked it down on the slightly twitching, defeated twunk laying flat on his back. Then, a wicked eye came to mind. How could he make this even more satisfying?

Cian reached down and pulled Spike up, easily flinging the twunk over his back in a firemans carry. He was a lot lighter than he expected! Cian carried his opponent real slow, over to the laundry trolley outside. He laughed. This is too good! Wait, but am I being too mean? Then he remembered Spike's emabressment, how he'd splayed Cian's legs open for Vincent, Gio, and Kengo to leer at. Nah, this was perfect!

Like dropping a sack of potatoes, Cian flung Spike onto his back amid sweat-stained shirts, underwear, and other pieces of fighter-worn laundry that was a few days past when it should have been clean. What a nice little bed for a loser, he thought, as he yanked his green jockstrap out of the bin, right next to Spike's face. He'd actually been wearing this one when Spike had submitted him two days ago--and wouldn't it be a bit of poetic justice, some salt in the wound, if he used it to pile on some extra punishment?

“You enjoy your dreaming session, Ol’ Spike. Sorry you’ll miss dinner--but I got you your dessert right here....you know, since I'm such a nice guy." He pressed his finger to Spike's lips, parting them slightly, before he slowly shoved the pouch of his sweaty, worn jockstrap into Spike's mouth, making sure it was tucked in there real tight. "Awww, don't that taste better than cinnamon and sugar? You can suck on that for awhile, loser."

Spike, worlds away, his brain still trying to reactivate, only responded with a muffled, unconscious groan. As if to add insult to injury, one of Colt's tight, well-worn, white briefs fell over his face. Double the humiliation.

He’s actually really cute when he’s knocked out, Cian thought, giving his junk one last tug before he left Spike to be discovered by the laundry team later on. Cian flicked the ring room light off and left his buddy to his forced slumber, satisfied that yet another muscle stud had fallen to his muscles. "Better luck next time, boyo.”