Tales of Auldrant
Part 1: Metamorphosis
Chapter 2: Karaoke
The cafe had been adapted for Karaoke Night; the tables had all been set around the large stage that had been erected at the far end of the dining area. The lights had all been turned down low and a screen had been placed above the stage to show the audience the lyrics. The karaoke machine was placed at the center of the stage so that the singers could see the lyrics to their song.
People were already beginning to file into the cafe. They were all chattering, and ordering their various meals by the time that Yuko, being the hostess, got up on stage. Ruku, being the first act, was standing beside the stairs, waiting for his cue. 
Tonight he was dressed in loose fitting, black Levi’s, a black, sleeveless half shirt that had a crimson triquetra on the front. The half shirt covered his chest, while leaving his furry abs exposed. Over top this he wore a black leather, sleeveless trench coat that also had a crimson triquetra inscribed on the back. Black and red sneakers covered his feet, and his tail swayed gently behind him, only the tip visible under the hem of the coat.
“I’d like to introduce our first act…” she pointed to Ruku, “Hiroki Ruku, singing ‘Born’!”
Ruku got up on stage and, after shifting through a very long list of songs, selected ‘Born by Kyyros Reinard’ as the song to play. As the drum beat began the song, Ruku closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to steady himself, gripping the microphone in his paws. Just as he raised the microphone to his mouth to start, he saw him. 
HIM! The fox from earlier. Sitting there in the café, front row staring up at him. He blinked, hearing the cue that he needed to start singing in 3…2…1…
“Namida ga ochita ato datte kanashimi ga ieteku wake ja nai…” he sang, above him the song, in kanji, appeared on screen with the English translation below each line, behind that the music video that accompanied the song played, showing Kyyros and his partner, Lio, performing the song, singing and dancing to choreographed moves.
 	“Dakedo shinjite ikitai, chiisana yume no hajimari o kokoro wa sukoshi zutsu arukihajimeteku, itami sae hikizurinagara…”
He took a deep breath, looking out into the audience at the fox, almost singing the song to him. “Tomadoi de ashita ga mienakutemo, omoi wa mirai o sagasu no deshou.. nakitsukareta niji no hate atarashiku umareta watashi ga iru…”
A very brief musical solo, Ruku looked out over his audience: they were on the feet, bobbing their heads and waving their hands to the beat. The fox remained sitting, smiling up at him. He’d take the time to enjoy this if he didn’t have to start singing again. 
“Kono machi wa sou itsu datte aimai na genjitsu miseru kedo..."
He set across the stage, singing the next verse, putting emotion into the song, waving out toward the audience, dancing in place, half performing the choreography from the video playing overhead. The crowd cheered and screamed as he did, and they only screamed louder when he sang the second chorus, completely performing the choreography with the exception of his left paw which gripped the microphone.
“Zubunure de amagumo hakisaitara, michibiku hikari ni dearu no deshou.. mizutamari ni yurete iru, taiyou ga watashi o terashite yuku..”
They cheered again as he moved into the bridge, putting yet more emotion into the song, holding his paw out over the crowd in direct mimicry of the dragon on screen. “Shiawase toka yasashisa toka, me ni mienai mono o.. koboshinagara atsumenagara..itsuka afurete yuku made…”
A brief instrumental solo. Ruku looked out over his audience as he danced to the choreography: they were captivated by him. He looked to were the fox was sitting: he was yet staring directly at Ruku. Ruku blushed, but thanks to his black fur, no one noticed. What was it about this fox? Why did Ruku always find himself staring or blushing whenever he saw him? He’d find out later, but now he had to complete the song.
The instruments quieted slightly for the next chorus, “Tomadoi de ashita ga mienakutemo, omoi wa mirai o sagasu no deshou.. nakitsukareta niji no hate atarashiku umareta watashi ga iru…” 
The instruments then resumed normal volume for the final chorus, “Ima amagumo hakisaitara, michibiku hikari ni dearu no deshou.. mizutamari ni yurete iru, taiyou ga watashi o terashite yuku..”
The instruments continued for a few more seconds, Ruku closed his eyes and danced in place to the music as it slowly played out, thrusting the paw with the microphone in the aer as the song finished. He opened his eyes; the entire audience was on its feet, giving him a standing-ovation, cheering and screaming his praises.
________________________________
What the audience saw on screen:
涙が落ちたあとだって
 悲しみが癒えてくわけじゃない
(It's not that the sadness is cured
After the tears fall)
 この胸に住み着いた
 臆病な自分をただ感じてくだけ
(I just feel that there's a coward settled in my heart)
 だけど信じていきたい
 小さな夢のはじまりを
(But I want to go on believing
The beginning of my small dream)
 ココロは少しずつ歩き始めてく
 痛みさえひきずりながら
(My spirit is starting to walk little by little
While it drags even the pain along)
とまどいで明日が見えなくても
 想いは未来を探すのでしょう
(Even if can't see tomorrow because I'm confused,
 My love will probably search for the future)
 なき疲れた虹の果て
 新しく生まれた私がいる
(Tired of crying,
I am at the end of the rainbow, newly born)
 この街はそういつだって
 曖昧な現実見せるけど
(This town is always like that
Showing a vague reality)
 たったひとつの願いを　感じていけばいい
 そう感じればいい
(But I wish I could feel just a single hope
Yes, I wish I could feel it)
 人は誰かとくらべて
 自分を見失うけれど
(People compare themselves to someone
And lose themselves)
 大事なものはそうココロにあるから
 汚さずに輝かせたい
(But things that are precious are in their hearts,
So they want to make them shine without making them dirty)
 ずぶ濡れで雨雲引き裂いたら
 みちびく光に出会えるのでしょう
(If the rain cloud bursts because it's soaking wet,
We can probably meet the light that leads the way)
 水たまりに揺れている
 太陽が私を照らしてゆく
(Flickering in a puddle
The sun will shine on me)
 しあわせとか優しさとか
 目に見えないものを
 こぼしながら集めながら
 いつかあふれてゆくまで…
(Happiness, tenderness
While the things we can't see spill and we gather them
Until they overflow someday)
とまどいで明日が見えなくても
 想いは未来を探すのでしょう
(Even if can't see tomorrow because I'm confused,
 My love will probably search for the future)
 なき疲れた虹の果て
 新しく生まれた私がいる
(Tired of crying,
I am at the end of the rainbow, newly born) 
いま雨雲引き裂いたら
みちびく光に出会えるのでしょう
(If the rain cloud bursts now,
We can probably meet the light that leads the way)
 水たまりに揺れている
 太陽が私を照らしてゆく
(Flickering in a puddle
The sun will shine on me)
________________________
As he bowed, Yuko came back on stage. Ruku returned the mike to her, as she said "Let's give it up for Ruku!" The crowd cheered and applauded as Ruku left the stage, heading toward the Fox. Yuko watched him with those soul-piercing eyes of hers, before addressing the crowd once more, introducing the next person who’d signed up to sing.
As Ruku moved closer to where the fox sat, he found that the fox seemed to be waiting for him. The fox was starring directly at him. Those gorgeous green eyes examining him, sizing him up, enticing him.  What would he do when he got there? Would this stranger be kind? Or unfriendly? Ruku's heart took up residence in his throat as he approached. 
Finally, mercifully, he reached the table where the fox sat and issued a timid, "He...hello."
The fox smiled, "Well, hello there." He seemed kind enough. Ruku smiled back and sat down. 
"I'm Ruku, Hiroki Ruku." he said, his right paw outstretched so the fox could shake it.
"I'm Jake Casey." he said, taking Ruku's paw. 
Ruku felt a spark. The sensation traveled all through him, igniting every nerve in his body, setting it a flame. This fox, Jake, possessed magick, strong magick, this much he could tell. How he could tell he didn’t know. What he did know was that he didn’t need to hide his powers from this male, and that made him all the more irresistible.
“You’re…a witch?” Ruku said softly, “I can sense the magick in you somehow. I’m a witch also.” He added hastily as Jake tensed.
“Oh, really now?” Jake said, said with a bemused smirk, seeming to relax. He withdrew his paw from Ruku’s grasp –much to Ruku’s displeasure; he’d been enjoying the warmth of that paw- and ran it though his hair. “Not really a witch, more an empath, though I can cast a few spells.”
“An empath?”
“Yes, means I can feel others’ emotions- can’t manipulate them, just feel what they feel. In a way, another person’s emotions actually can manipulate my own.”
“How so?”
“Well, if I’m already feeling what the other person is feeling, then their emotions mix with my own, making mine stronger. Sometimes this cause little mishaps, such as me lashing out at people I already don’t like when they did something to someone else.”
Ruku nodded, his paw subconsciously sliding across the table to where Jake’s arm laid. Just one touch of those muscles would be enough for him. Maybe if he could just cop a quick feel…
Jake caught his paw and placed it to his firm chest, smirking at Ruku who blushed, the red in his fur getting darker. “I can sense your emotions too, don’t think you’re exempt cutey.” Ruku blushed even harder at this as Jake reached down and drew the smaller foxes chair closer. “Bet you’d like to feel something else too, hmm?”
“Uh…I…”
Ruku’s mouth closed shut as Jake took his other paw and pressed it to his crouch, rubbing it against the large sheath hidden beneath his dark blue jeans. Ruku’s heart was in his throat again, blocking his ability to breath and he looked down at the larger male’s crotch, then back up into those gorgeous green eyes.
Jake chuckled and released the paw which stayed exactly where they were for a few moments before being drawn slowly to their owners lap. 
“I was right then.” Jake said, placing a paw on the side of Ruku’s muzzle and lifting his face so he could look into his eyes. “Say, why don’t we have a change of venue, hmm? Perhaps my place?”
Once Ruku remembered how to breathe again, he nodded,
"Alright, let me just go tell Rouge I'm leaving."
Ruku got up and went over to where Rouge was standing with Raven. They had both been watching him, and both had knowing, wicked grins on their faces. Ruku blushed ever harder as he approached them.
“Don’t worry Ruku, we can handle thing without you.” Rouge said,
“Go, go, enjoy yourself pup.” Raven said, ‘pup’ being his way of calling Ruku ‘kid’,
 After a quick good bye, he returned to where Jake was, ready to leave. 
Jake lead him outside to the parking lot where his Porsche was. Even in the dark, Ruku could tell that the slick, black car had been recently polished. As they climbed inside, Ruku wondered where Jake lived. That question was instantly put to the back of his mind as a new question presented itself. What was he doing? He barely knew this man, and he was going home with him? Was this a wise decision? Even if he was a witch..
Jake started up the car and pulled out of the drive way as Ruku decided he could decide about right and wrong decisions later. Jake was an empath. Empathy was hardly an offensive power. If Jake were too attack Ruku, Ruku had two active powers he could use to get away. So, for now at least, he’d let his heart lead him…or maybe it was something else leading…
They drove for about 30 minutes in silence. Ruku took quick glances at Jake, each time feeling himself blushing a little bit more. Tonight Jake was wearing a tight, short-sleeve shirt that revealed his muscular form. His shirt was tucked into the loose-fitting, dark blue jeans he was wearing. Ruku swallowed hard, and turned his view out the window. What was it he was feeling?
Suddenly, Jake said "So, you've been feeling the same attraction, huh?" Ruku looked up suddenly, and Jake added, "Sorry to invade on your emotions, I'm an empath after all. Ever since I saw you this morning, I couldn't get you off my mind, apparently you couldn't get me off yours either, eh?" Ruku nodded in response.
“And how old are you?”
“Nineteen.”
“Oh, I see.” Jake paused, “I’m twenty-seven…does that bother you?”
Ruku shook his head, “I like older guys.”
Jake chuckled then paused for a moment, as if choosing his next words, "Are you...gay? Or just bi." he asked finally.
"Gay." Ruku said, "I've never actually had a boyfriend before. I was the only furry in a school of humans, so, naturally, everyone thought I was a freak. Everyone except a guy named Takehiro, he thought I was cute. But when everyone started talking about him behind his back, and he learned it was because he always hung out with me, he eventually just stopped. Yeah, it hurt, but I realized he wasn't a good friend to let that stand in the way of our friendship."
Jake listened to Ruku talk about his almost relationship. "You're right about that." he said, when Ruku had finished. "Humans can be so cruel sometimes."
"Yeah," Ruku said, "But something I learned young was 'not all humans are the same.'"
Jake nodded thoughtfully. They drove in silence for a while before Jake asked, "So, what are your interests?"
"Well," Ruku said, "I love the singer Kyyros Reinard. He’s awesome, not to mention hot as hell."
Jake laughed, "Yes, I’m with you there. Kyyros is epic. I love his song ‘Love Games’."
"That’s a cool one, I like ‘Love Goes like’, personally."
Jake and Ruku spent the next few minutes talking Kyyros Reinard and which songs they'd heard and which ones they wanted to download to their respective iPhones. When they got to the subject of iPhones, they spent another few minutes going over their favorite features versus Android phones. 
Eventually, they got into the subject of their powers. Ruku told Jake about his powers of levitation and telekinesis. Jake's told Ruku about his Empathy, the power feel the emotions of others. He explained to work in greater detail how much of a pain it could be sometimes, feeling the emotions of all those around you and having to put up shields to block out any you didn’t want to feel.
"Empathy is quite annoying, really." he said, "Ah! Here we are." They had finally reached Jake's home. 
Home, more like mansion. Jake's home was a large estate. There was a driveway that led to the front door where, normally, a valet was present to open the door for you, and take the car to be parked. The valet had already left for home as his work day had ended earlier. So Jake parked the car himself, and led the way up to the house.
"Make yourself comfortable," Jake said as they entered, "Kitchen's through there, and the living room is through there." He said pointing to two doors at the far end of the entrance, which was the size of a mini entrance hall. There were two doors on either side and a staircase in the very center that led to the next floor. "I'll be right back." Jake said, as he ascended the stairs.
Ruku went through the door leading to the living room, and stopped short. It was huge! There was a large couch sitting in front of a 54in HD TV. Connected to the TV was an XBOX 360 system. Various games were spread out around it. There was also an entire theatre system, including surround sound speakers in the corners of the room. Ruku stood there a moment, taking everything in.
Regaining himself, he walked in and sat on the couch. No sooner had had sat down, his tail beside him, than Jake came into the room. 
"I'd have thought you'd go to the kitchen first, guess I was wrong." He came in and stood by the couch, “Guess you’re not hungry?”
Jake had taken off the tight shirt and was now in a white sleeveless tank top, revealing more of his muscles. Ruku blushed so much this time that the red of his fur almost blended in with the black. Both Ruku and Jake's breathing suddenly became heavy. They remained like that for a while, starring at each other, their hearts racing. Ruku stood up, and sighed,
"Why did you bring me here?" he said, not angry, just wanting to know what Jake's intentions were. This was mainly to try and start a conversation to drown out these growing feelings.
Ruku moved closer to Jake, who backed away, as if trying to keep out of range of Ruku's emotions. Ruku was now next to the wall, which had nothing on it. 
"You didn't bring me here just to avoid me!" Ruku said. 
Jake grunted and lunged suddenly at Ruku, pinning him against the wall. "Ruku...do you want this? Stop me before I do something you’ll regret." 
They looked into each other's eyes. Ruku's breath caught in his throat as Jake's face slowly got closer and closer to his. Heart pounding, and senses failing, Ruku managed to whisper a simple, "Kiss me…"
And, they kissed. It was passionate; it was mutual. After sliding Ruku’s trench coat and half shirt off, having to break the kiss momentarily to do so, Jake took both of Ruku's arms and raised them above his head, using one paw to pin them there. With his other, he slid rubbed and caressed along Ruku’s abs, eliciting a soft moan from the smaller fox. 
Ruku, whose arms were of no use at the moment, used what little concentration he had to telekinetically will Jake's shirt to come off, forcing Jake to release him and break the kiss once again as it slide over his head. Jake immediately pressed his body against Ruku’s once free of his shirt, keeping Ruku’s paws pinned firmly above his head and grinding his crotch against the Ruku’s.
Jake's free paw moved down to work on Ruku's pants. Ruku had more difficulty undoing Jake’s belt with telekinesis this time, but managed only after Jake stopped kissing him long enough to pull the pants down, and off his legs and along with his sneakers. He had a brief respite to focus his telekinesis into one powerful pulse, and ripped Jake's pants in two. Jake instantly returned to kissing Ruku, but slowly worked his way down to Ruku’s cock, which was already starting to poke out of his sheath.
Jake could no longer hold onto Ruku's arms. He was now working Ruku’s cock with his mouth, licking up and down the sides of the shaft, taking the whole member in his mouth as he switched between sides. The entire time Ruku panted and moaned in pleasure. Finally taking the whole of Ruku’s length deep into his throat he began sucking on it vigorously, as Ruku pressed his back against the wall. As Ruku moaned, bucking into Jake’s warm, wet throat gently, Jake dragged his claws down Ruku’s sides slowly, sending shivers along his body. 
By now, Ruku’s tip was dripping pre on Jake’s tongue. Jake took Ruku’s balls into his paw and groped them roughly, sucking deeper and faster on his cock.
Ruku’s body trembled as he came, whimpering softly and pumping his seed hard into Jake’s mouth as he gagged a little, pulling back off Ruku’s cock and allowing him to orgasm onto his tongue. 
“Mmm, tasty.” He said, licking over Ruku’s tip, eliciting another moan as the fox panted, leaning against the wall.
Jake gently guided Ruku to the floor, turning him onto his stomach. Jake then climbed on top of Ruku, licking gently along his neck as he pressed his tip against Ruku’s tight entrance. Ruku shivered and glanced back at Jake, who said, “Relax. This might hurt a bit.”
Ruku gasped and cringed, whimpering plaintively as Jake slowly pushed his cock into him. Pain and pleasure wracked his body, as he paws balled into fists, his claws digging into his palms, panting as Jake’s member went deeper, his heart pounding against his chest. 
Jake rubbed Ruku’s shoulder, making shh’ing sound and telling him to relax. As Ruku relaxed his body, lying on his arms, Jake began thrusting slowly into him, slowly increasing the speed as Ruku panted and moaned, feeling his walls spread around the larger fox’s larger, thicker member.
Jake grunted, pulling back thrusting his cock deep and hard into Ruku, the tightness of his anal passage causing his cock to leak large amounts of pre, Jake could feel his orgasm building quickly as his knot began to swell. “Mmm, I’m gonna cum soon.”
Ruku nodded in acknowledgement, breathing heavily, clamping his ass hard around Jake’s cock. He yelped as Jake suddenly grabbed his wrists and pulled them from under him, twisting them behind his back, holding them there, causing him to fall hard against the floor. Ruku whimpered slightly, oddly enjoying the pain and sensations he was feeling.
Jake pulled back and shoved in, burying the knot before it got to big, pressing his cock in deep and holding the smaller fox’s arms tightly behind his back. Jake panted and groaned as his orgasm built quickly, his thrusts becoming harder and more erratic. After a while, Jake grunted gave one final, hard thrust into Ruku’s ass, ramming his cock against his prostate and he came, filling the young fox with his seed as Ruku whimpered and came again, his seed spilling onto the floor.
Jake collapsed against Ruku’s back, turning the young fox’s head and planting a sweet, tender kiss to his lips. 
“Damn you’re tight.” He giggled, wrapping his arms around Ruku, who cuddled back against him. 	
They stayed like that for a while, until Jake’s knot he deflated enough that he could remove it from Ruku’s hole. He rolled over onto his back and pulled the young fox on top of him, kissing his lips gently and snuggling him close. Soon both of them began drifting off into the land of dreams…