When Kuni had announced to us that his "niece" would be visiting and he was going to get her to help one of us out of our little rut, I couldn't help but to be a little excited about it. Normally I didn't excite easily. Really, the only ones that did were Saeki and Yuta. And sometimes Kuni, but he got excited over silly things. Anyway, I was walking around the market before Kuni wanted us at the bar, doing a little bit of shopping and whatnot, when this lost-looking girl bumped in to me. Granted, I was a bit rude to her, but at the same time, I was very anxious. I did help her with her list though. She was very pretty. She had shoulder-length brown hair and big brown eyes to match. So I did make it up in a way by helping her out. Even though I continued to insult her...

After I got my groceries and took them home, I realised that I was late. I quickly ran to LI. I apologised to Kuni as I walked in huffily. Luckily, Ren was late too, so I wasn't the only one. Kuni did scold me, though. I was used to it by then. That was when I noticed that the girl there was the girl from the market and I suddenly became a bit less excited. Ren walked in not too long after and he and I just listened as Saeki, Takao, Yuta, and Kuni talked to the girl. Apparently this was Kuni's "niece." Her name was Kaina Takashi, according to what he told us. She didn't disagree, though, so I figured he wouldn't be making it up. Strange name, that was. I glanced over at the quiet boy sitting next to me. He was dozing off. I gently nudged the prince, kind of making him jolt, and he gave me a look, at first like he was going to kill me, and then it was a look of gratitude. I nodded vaguely, no longer listening to the others talk. Ren had seemed so much more out of it than usual as of late. It was a bit worrying. Though I chose not to push on the subject. He was working on that drug research, after all. And his time was up. So was mine.

"Yamato!" Kuni called, snapping me out of my own thoughts. I looked over at him with slightly wide eyes. "Don't tell me you've been tuning this out too?"

"I'm sorry, Kuni," I stated simply, looking down at the beer in front of me. "Just a lot on my mind is all."

"Well, Kaina is about to make her choice," my friend said cheerily. Is that so...He smiled at the brunette girl. "Who do you choose?"

"Well..." she started quietly. I imagined they'd covered for Ren and me. It's not like either of us were paying attention. "...I choose...Yuta."

I could kind of feel my heart stop for a moment. That was when I knew it was all over. Though...I knew Ren had it so much worse...Yuta was happy, though. Throughout the rest of the night, I just kind of ignored what was going on around me, drinking my beer quietly. Ren had his head on the bar and was sleeping rather soundly. Poor kid...He has too much responsibility for a 25-year-old...And I know I'll really miss him if he has to go back to his home country when Daniel comes to visit...Kuni was calling my name again, snapping me back to reality, and I just looked at him.

"What?" I asked him simply.

"Don't you have work tomorrow?" he asked, kind of smiling. Like he always was...

"And your point is...?" I wondered teasingly.

"Go home, Yamato," he laughed quietly. "And take Sleepy with you."

I rolled my eyes and nodded, gently nudging Ren awake. He jumped slightly and I told him I'd walk with him. He nodded his head once like he always did to show his "Okay." He and I walked out together and down the way. Kaina should have fun with Yuta. He's wild, but he's fun. That's why we stayed friends with him, after all. Though I couldn't get the thought of how down Ren seemed out of my mind. It actually really bothered me. And, hell, no one really knows why I was working in that high school. But we all knew what was going on with Ren.

"Ren," I finally said quietly as we reached where we were to part ways.

"Hmn?" he hummed, looking at me with drowsy and sad eyes.

"I'm sure everything will be okay." was what I told him, giving him a slightly reassuring smile. Though...it was more like I was trying to convince myself of that. "Your research has gone well. You can tell Daniel that your 'fiancée' is away, visiting family for a little while. And then after your conference, you can just tell him that she cancelled at last minute and there you go. Your research is done. Your whole objective will have been accomplished."

He was looking at me as if he knew I was upset. I usually did so well at hiding it. Him, on the other hand...? Not so much. To my surprise, he then moved closer to me and wrapped his strangely strong arms around me. This was seriously weird of him. He usually never really showed emotions.

"Things will be okay," he whispered.

I was thoroughly surprised at that point and just kind of awkwardly hugged him back. Once he let go, he gave me this little smile that I'd never actually seen from him before. He then gestured for me to walk ahead of him.

"But we part ways here," I said, confused.

"I'll see you home," he responded quietly.

I hesitantly nodded and walked with him down the way until we reached my apartment complex. Though...he even followed me up to my room, and inside. I greeted Roomba and gently patted him. Ren looked around like he was amazed. I imagined his apartment looked barely used.

"Ren, shouldn't you head home?" I asked him seriously.

He kind of shrugged and his face remained expressionless as it usually was. Though...there was this look in his eyes...like he didn't want to be alone tonight. I guess I understood that feeling. That's how I felt after my mother died. It made me sad, but I didn't let him see that.

"I like your home," he said in that smooth, quiet voice of his.

"Well...thanks, I guess," I said as I prepared a bit of before-bed-food. "It's really nothing special. Just your plain apartment."

I did watch him sit on the sofa, though. After a few moments, I walked to him with a plate, though he tried to push it away.

"Not hungry." was his statement on the matter, but I pushed back at him.

"Ren...eat," I said simply, plopping down beside him with a bottle of beer in my hand for me and one sitting on the coffee table in front of the prince for him.

He sighed and made a little face before starting to nibble at it. Then he actually started to eat. That meant he liked it. I sat forward, turning on the TV, and opening Ren's beer for him.

"Yamato..." he whispered, making me look at him questioningly as he placed his plate on his lap. "Thank you."

"For what?" I wondered, sitting back again and taking a swig of my drink.

"This." was all he said, but I knew what he meant. He meant the food and the caring words. Sometimes he was extremely easy to understand. Other times, it was ridiculously difficult. But I understood his hatred for broccoli. It happens when it's your home country's main dish.

I hid a small smile and said, "No need to thank me. Did it because I wanted to."

That was when he leaned over and hugged me again. Twice in the same night...It was getting very strange. Another instance in which I just chose not to ask. That was when my train of thought returned to the tracks of which brought the fact that I was going to get fired straight to the forefront of my mind. The fact that I'd never really get to know my father, the only family I had left. He didn't even acknowledge that I existed. I sighed quietly as I took another drink from my bottle and stared blankly at the television screen.

"Are you okay?" Ren asked in his sweet, quiet voice.

That snapped me back to reality and I just looked at him before returning my gaze to...whatever it was that we were watching.

"I'm fine," I responded, taking yet another, though longer, drink.

"You shouldn't lie to a prince," he smirked slightly.

This caught my entire attention as I looked at him quickly. He never played that card. He chuckled quietly, showing that he was joking, though sincere at the same time. He was trying to lift the tension, but at the same time, he wanted me to tell him what was bothering me. I just shook my head, a small smile spreading across my lips. Ren then leaned close to me, resting his chin on my shoulder and looking at me with sleepy eyes. I was looking at him out of the corner of my eye and smiling a bit wider with every second that passed.

"You wanna stay the night?" I asked him, knowing that's what he was waiting for.

He nodded and smiled slightly as he pulled back.

I sighed, though not in agitation or anything of that sort. Then, I stood, setting my bottle on the coffee table and motioning for the prince to follow me. I led him to the bedroom and pulled the covers back for him.

"You want some pajamas?" I wondered, looking at him seriously.

He nodded again, though almost like he had no intention of even asking.

I nodded in return. A universal sign between he and I. And I walked over to the dresser, getting him an old T-shirt and a pair of pajama pants that I never wore anymore. I tossed them to him and he went on his merry way to change in the bathroom. While he did that, I quickly changed myself. Though I didn't wear a shirt. It was more comfortable that way. He came back just as I finished slipping on the pants and I turned and smiled at him. He looked at the bed and then climbed in to it. That was when I realised that he went shirtless too and he'd lied the shirt on the vanity before he'd even left the room. He nuzzled in to the pillow, not even covering up. I sighed, shaking my head slightly, and made my way over to him to pull the covers over him. Though...in the process, he'd grabbed my arm and pulled me down with him. I just...looked at him...surprised. He had a little smile on his face as he examined mine for a moment and then nuzzled up to me, his arm draped over me and lightly grasping my waist. I guess I submitted or something...because I moved closer to him, turning on my side to face him. But the thoughts kept swarming my mind. What the hell were we going to do when it all came down to our problems. He would have to go home...to disappointed parents...and live a miserable life...and me? I'd probably spend the rest of my life...hating the only family I had left.

Ren had opened his eyes and was looking at me, though I didn't notice. I was so out of it. That was when he caught me by suprise. He'd lifted up and gently kissed my eye. I remembered Kuni reading that in one of those stupid magazines, what it meant, but I just...couldn't remember for the life of me. But...it was the fact that he kissed me anyway.

"Things work out how they're supposed to, Yamato..." he said quietly, kind of smiling at me. All I could really do was make myself nod and look away from him. "...I'm sure your father is a nice man."

That one sentence made my heart stop and I looked at him again with wide eyes. "You knew?" I squeaked out, sitting up and resting on my elbow.

"I've been to work with you," he replied, mirroring how I was sitting. "I've seen how you look at the principal. It's rather obvious. And knowing your objective...Pieces of the puzzle."

"You're way too good at analysing things," I sighed, hanging my head.

I could tell that he shrugged a bit before he moved even closer to me, lifting me up slightly and wrapping his arms around me tightly. His head was burrowed in the crook of my neck. It made me feel...warm...and nervous...I hesitantly hugged him back. This was much too strange, the way he was acting. Hell, even the way I was acting. Another thing I chose not to question. I'd learned it's best not to. He slowly let me go and smiled sweetly, his eyes flickering from mine...to my lips...and back. He wanted to kiss me? Seriously? But...we were both guys...and he was a prince, nevertheless. But that was when I found myself doing the same thing. Quickly, I retreated and lied back down, turning to face away from him. He snuggled up to me and I blushed lightly. I didn't even know why, but I did. I shook off the thought and closed my eyes, almost immediately drifting off to sleep.

I woke up to the sun hitting me dead in the face and had to shield my eyes from it. Then was when I looked over to see the prince sleeping soundly beside me. I'd convinced myself in my sleep that it had been some kind of warped dream. But it wasn't. I sat up slowly, still looking at Ren. He was so...cute...I shook my head to get the thought out of my head and I slowly got up, grabbing some clothes and making my way, silently, to the bathroom to shower. My heart was actually racing. The water was running and I was in the process of undressing when I heard the door open and close behind me, causing me to turn. Ren stood there against the door, smiling slightly. I tilted my head and all he did was walk over to me and wrap his arms around my waist. Jesus...something was really off.

"Ren, are you okay?" I asked him quietly.

He just nodded and slightly twisted me with him, almost like he was rocking back and forth. I just gave in and hugged him back, my cheek on top of his head. Once he pulled back he just smiled a little and started backing toward the door. I took a few steps after him before he met me again. We were standing chest to chest, staring into one another's eyes. His eyes were beautiful...Slowly and hesitantly, I lifted a hand to rest on his jaw while my other one rested on his waist, and I moved in closer to him, our lips nearly touching. I could feel his breath speeding up as well as his heart and I cracked a small smile for a moment before finally touching our mouths together. He gently grasped my forearms and deepened our kiss. This wasn't...right...was it? Ren gently bit my lower lip, making me sigh out a bit as I finally forced my tongue into his mouth, searching for his. His grip tightened on my arms as he moved in closer to me. This caused me to wrap one arm around his waist and the opposing hand to tangle within his soft blond hair. He kept his grip steady, but I could feel his heart beating so fast...or was that my heart?...I guess it didn't matter. After a few moments of that and the bathroom beginning to steam, he finally broke the kiss, his eyes still closed for a second. Slowly, they opened and he examined me before bowing his head and backing up.

"I'm sorry..." he whispered and turned, opening the door and rushing out of the washroom.

I turned off the shower quickly and stepped out after him. He'd managed to already change into his clothes, with the exception of buttoning his shirt and tying his tie, and he was slipping in to his shoes. I went up behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist. His hand gripped the doorknob.

"Don't leave..." I whispered.

There was a moment of sad silence before he twisted the doorknob and slipped away from me. "I'm sorry..." was all he said in return as he walked out, closing the door behind him, leaving me to just stand there.

I was actually...really heartbroken. I don't quite know why, but I was. My chest actually started to hurt a little bit. I slowly turned to go restart the shower. Once I finished and got dressed and all that good stuff, I exited my apartment, heading toward the school. I'd be a little later than usual. But not to the point of having a tardy to work on my profile. The entire way there, I thought about Ren. I thought about that kiss. I thought about how much it hurt when he left...Why was all of this bothering me so badly? It didn't even matter...We were both guys, he was a prince, I was a teacher...It's not like we were going to be together anyway.

The entire day, I was ridiculously distracted. I barely gave any of the kids any work, and if I did, it was busy work. Directly after work, I went to Long Island and sat at the bar. Kuni was getting ready to open, so no one was really there yet. He brought me a beer and then sat on the other side of the bar, resting on it, staring me down as I shrugged off my jacket.

"What?" I wondered, shrugging my shoulders and widening my eyes slighty.

"What's on your mind, Kougami?" he asked in return.

"Nothing," I lied.

"Don't spout off bullshit, because you know I won't leave you alone until you tell me," he huffed, readjusting his stance. "Tell me what's eating at you, Yamato. I haven't seen you this down in a while."

I looked down at my drink for a moment before I looked back up at him and sighed. "Hypothetically, what would you do if you started to develop strong feelings for someone that you knew you could never be with and they just ran out of your apartment, their only words being 'I'm sorry'?"

Kuni kind of tilted his head and stood up a bit straighter. "Who are you talking about, Yamato?" he questioned. "I can't even pretend to answer that hypothetically. Who ran out of your apartment this morning?"

I just shook my head and forced a small smile. "It's nothing, Kuni, it'll pass," I told him, trying to sound somewhat reassuring.

He walked around the bar and sat beside me, staring me down still. Gently, he rested his hand on my thigh and my heart kind of sped up. He never did things like that...

"Talk to me, Yamato," he sighed softly. "You haven't acted like this since...well...since your mom died..."

I kind of cringed at his statement, but I guess he had a point. Though it wasn't as bad. "It's not nearly as bad as it was when she passed..." I whispered, correcting him. "...but I guess you have a point."

"Talk to me," he said quietly, squeezing where his hand was.

Everyone was acting so strangely. What was going on? Slowly, Kuni rested his forehead against my temple, looking up at me, his hat nearly falling off. That was when Saeki and Takao walked in, making Kuni retreat rather quickly. We both turned to look at them and they had kind of a surprised look on their faces. I turned back to the bar and sipped at my beer as my friend stood, going back around.

"The normal?" he asked them, trying his damnedest to sound chipper.

From what I could tell, the two of them just nodded before each of them sat on either side of me. Saeki's eyes were down, examining his hands as if he felt uncomfortable. Takao's were slightly wide as he kept glancing from me to Kuni and back. As soon as Kuni walked into the back, they both turned to me, staring at me.

"What?" I growled, looking from one to the other.

"What the hell did we just walk in on, Yamato?" Saeki demanded.

"We were talking, Takamasa, is that a problem?" I growled, making him wince slightly.

Takao took a sweeter approach on the matter. "What were you talking about that called for you two to be so close?" he asked softly.

"Just stuff," I shrugged. "Look, I really don't feel like talking tonight, alright? I just wanna get as drunk as possible and watch the damn game."

They both nodded in understanding, though while Takao turned away from me, Saeki continued to stare me down, just as Kuni had been doing. I shot him a glare out of the side of my eye and he kind of looked a bit taken aback at it. He turned to face the bar just as Kuni returned with their drinks, setting it in front of them. Not long after that, Yuta came in with Kaina and the two of them just talked it up with the others. And then Ren walked in. He kind of stopped in the doorway, looking at me for a moment, before he slowly made his way in, sitting beside Saeki. My heart was going to explode. I still didn't even know why I was so hurt over the whole thing. I downed the rest of my beer and Kuni walked over, standing right in front of me.

"I still expect you to tell me what's wrong," he whispered, his face really close to mine.

I bowed my head and then glanced at Ren who hadn't looked at me the entire time he'd been there. Finally I just stood, swinging on my jacket.

"I can't do this." were the only words I uttered before I stormed out of the bar, heading home.

I had barely heard them calling my name as I left, but I ignored it for a reason. I wasn't going back. There was no way. Instead, I just walked straight to my apartment and entered, greeting Roomba as usual, and pulled off my jacket, hanging it up. Loosening my tie, I plopped down on my sofa, switching on the television. By the end of the night, I had quite a few beer bottles in front of me, my head was resting in my palm, and my elbow was propped on the arm of the sofa. My eyes were beginning to droop, but I couldn't even stand up. That's why I couldn't go get another drink. Even though I wanted to. So, instead, I just lied out on the couch, closing my eyes and beginning to fall asleep when I was begin rung on the monitor. I groaned and slowly, cautiously, got up to look at who it was. Kuni...After a second of just staring at him on the screen and him saying: "I know you're in there, where the hell else would you be?" I finally pressed the unlock button and hobbled over to my door, opening it. On the way back to the couch, though, I tripped on my rug and fell face first on to the floor. I just started laughing at myself. It was a pretty damn good thing I was wasted...because this was going to be a long night...