Notes: My first ever MisuShingyouji fic. Hope you'll find this satisfactory. This is, by far, the most difficult story I've written. Because it took two (2) whole weeks to materialize, for this chapter alone.

I decided to make this a series entitled "Ai no Ooku no Houhou". So Love and Strategies is the first part, Love's Worth is the second part, and this story is the third part. For all those who have been following since my first story, you will understand the flow. This part happened on the two (2) weeks after Takumi met with Gii's father and before Gii's birthday. Yes, now you'll know why Misu and Shingyouji didn't have much appearance on Love's Worth.

Dedication: Written for the one person who indulges my crazy ideas and shares my perversion, Sallindra, my friend slash confidante slash ideas exchange mate. A huge part of this story was based on her ideas.

To all who requested MisuShingyouji from me, it is my privilege and honor to present this fic to you.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Takumi-kun series. This story, yes, and some minor characters I created solely for this series.

SUMMARY: Shingyouji always hugs Misu, but he can never kiss him first. Misu always is the one who initiates kissing Shingyouji, but he never embraces the younger boy. This works just fine for them. But is it really enough?

He sighed. Looking at the tall and handsome Misu Arata so engrossed in his paperwork makes him feel inferior and it disturbed him. The upperclassman had always ignored him when they're in the student council room, always busy with things and papers he needed to finish and all other stuff related to his responsibility. He is used to it. But recently, he's been feeling left out. And there's this huge urge inside him that wanted to shout at the tall guy, tear and burn all those annoying papers and throw all random stuff in the room that he can get his hands on, just to get Misu's attention. But as much as he wanted to do that, he knows for certain he will not only get the serious guy's attention, but will earn his wrath as well. So what should he do? Forget that thought and just wait for his turn to be noticed, that's what. But I miss him so much. I want to hug him; I want to feel his kiss again. He put both hands on the table and rested his chin on them, still looking longingly at the object of his affection. An unconscious heavy sigh left him.

"If you're so bored here, you can go." Without looking up from his work, Misu Arata commented. Though the comment was sarcastic, Shingyouji Kanemitsu perked up. His Misu just spoke to him! "Uh no, I'm not bored. Yeah, I'm fine here." He replied happily. The always cold guy just snorted in response and was again lost in his work. Shingyouji can't stop smiling. Even with just one short sentence, at least he got his love's attention. He's happy. But will it always be like this? If I hug him now, what will he say? I bet he'd call me off and complain. If I kiss him, will he respond? He'll likely tell me I'm overstepping my boundaries as a pet. So let's just be the same as usual. "Arata-san, I love you."

"Uh—hmmm…" was the simple reply. What was he expecting, anyway? It's not like Misu Arata to say something stupid like 'I love you too'. I'm not expecting it. But it doesn't mean I'm not wishing for it.

Walking slowly in the corridor leading to his room, Shingyouji is deep in thoughts. Is our relationship really just purely physical? But we don't do it always. It was only actually that time. He blushed by himself, remembering Tanabata. He stopped halfway and leaned against the wall, palms half-covering his flushed cheeks. That time was so good, granted it was his first and it hurt so much, but he undoubtedly felt heavenly. Arata-san was so passionate. "Remembering something hot?" a teasing voice distracted him. Jolting up to see who caught him, he flushed even redder when he was face to face with Yamamoto Miyuki, the School Director's daughter, who is now in control of the school in behalf of her father. And in addition, their newest friend. "Miyuki-chan…I-"

Laughing, the gorgeous redhead playfully smacked him in the head, "You are very easy to read, Shingyouji-kun. Your face tells everything you're thinking. I don't even have to guess." The shy kouhai can only blush more and lowered his face, too embarrassed to speak. "It's okay, I understand. You don't have anything to be ashamed of." Yuki assured him. "Oh, the feeling of being in love is just so good, ne?" she ruffled his hair.

Still embarrassed but somehow appeased, Shingyouji looked up and stared directly in Yuki's eyes. "Can you really tell, Miyuki-chan?" he shyly asked. The redhead nodded, "Yes, you're very obvious." He can only lower his head again and in an almost inaudible voice, whispered, "But I'm the only one in love." He's just a pet, after all. Loving a pet is very different from loving a person. He felt Miyuki's hand on his head, patting him gently. Now he really feels a like a puppy. "Do you really think that?" she asked him gently. Then pulled away and pushed him to his room's direction. "Don't think about it too much. It's almost curfew. You need to be in your room." She almost shoved him to the door. "If you want to talk about it, come see me tomorrow. Good night, Shingyouji-kun." He hastily bowed down. "Thank you, Miyuki-chan. Good night too."

So the next morning, he found himself in Miyuki's room, sitting across the redhead, drinking tea and blurting out everything he wants to say that were kept bottled up inside him. Miyuki-chan listened to him attentively, occasionally nodding her head and voicing out comments and reactions. Surprisingly, he felt a weight had been lifted from him after talking to her. It really helps to have someone to talk to.

oOo

"Even though the school year is about to end, but due to unavoidable circumstances, the school accepted a rather late transfer student today. Please introduce yourself." The professor gestured to the young boy.

"Good morning, everyone! I am Hachiyama Kaoru. Pleased to meet you. Please take care of me." The new boy in Shingyouji's class bowed. He's a tall one, with slightly long black hair that framed his face up to his prominent jaw. But the thing that gets everyone's attention is his eyes. They're a pair of deep-set brown orbs that seemed to penetrate whatever or whoever he set his gaze on. "Welcome to Shidou High, Hachiyama-kun. Please take your seat. There, at the back beside Shingyouji-kun." The professor pointed at the empty seat beside Shingyouji. The new student walked to the back of the room and quietly settled on his seat.

Ever the friendly and bubbly one, Shingyouji smiled enthusiastically at his new seatmate. "Hi! I'm Shingyouji Kanemitsu. Pleased to meet you too." He held a hand in front of the other boy. The transfer student snapped his head to look at him then at his extended arm then back to his face, studying him. Then nodding as the only acknowledgment clasped his own hand on Shingyouji's extended one. "You're a quiet one, eh? But it's okay, you're still adjusting to your new environment. If you need help with anything, you can call on me." Shingyouji offered, then turned and focused on the topic the professor is discussing.

He felt the hair on his nape standing up on its end, it's the feeling he always gets when someone is looking at him. So as casually as he can, he turned sideways and was met with Hachiyama Kaoru's face, intently looking at him. "Erm, is there a problem, Hachiyama-kun?" he politely asked. The new guy shook his head. "No. But I was thinking about your offer. I'm new here. So I am not familiar with the school grounds and buildings. I was hoping to ask-" But Shingyouji cut him off with a sunny smile. "Of course I'll be glad to show you around. After our last subject today, I can tour you around the whole school." For the first time ever since he arrived, the transfer student gave a small smile but it didn't reach his eyes. "Thank you."

"This winding staircase will lead you to the executive rooms above. Now, this hallway leads to the library and the infirmary. The library is on the right side and the infirmary is on the left. On the other end is the big function room where we hold almost all school activities. Now up we go." Shingyouji chirped energetically. The two boys reached the top of the stairs and walked forward. "On your right is the faculty office; next to it is the office of the Head Teacher. Here on the left are two executive rooms where the teachers and directors hold their meetings." He pointed to each room. Then he motioned for the taller guy to follow him in the opposite direction. "This is the Student Affairs room. Now remember, this is a dorm school. So we are all staying in the dorms. You are not allowed to leave the school grounds unless you get permission from the Student Affairs. You need to get your request first. Okay, this next room is the Student Council." He almost stammered when he gestured at the room. He knows Misu is inside and it took a lot of his willpower not to take a peek inside.

But fortunately (or unfortunately), the door opened and the object of his thoughts walked out, holding a folder. Think about the devil and the devil will appear. A bit surprised to see him outside, Misu Arata quickly recovered and gained his usual unreadable expression. Shingyouji executed an unrefined bow and greeted him. "Misu Arata-san, good afternoon. I'm sorry; we are not trying to disturb you. I was just showing my new classmate around." He gestured to his companion. "This is my new classmate, transfer student Hachiyama Kaoru. Ummm, Hachiyama-kun, this is Misu Arata-san, the president of the Student Council." I want to hug him.

"Good afternoon, Misu-san." Hachiyama bowed in respect and Misu acknowledged him with a nod. "Ah yes, I was informed about you earlier. So you're a sophomore. Have you seen the dorms?" Misu inquired. "Not yet, Misu-san. I was hoping to familiarize myself with the school grounds first." The new sophomore answered, his penetrating gaze locked on the tall senpai. Shingyouji noticed they are almost as tall as each other. Misu nodded then turned to the smaller kouhai, "I'll leave him to you then, Shingyouji. Please guide him around. See you later." He excused himself and walked in the direction of the Head teacher's office, with Shingyouji looking at his retreating back with longing.

"Shingyouji-kun, shall we proceed?" He was pulled back to reality by Hachiyama Kaoru's voice. He guiltily smiled at the new student. He was lost in the presence of his beloved senpai that he almost forgot he had company. "Yes, let's go straight. Oh, there's only one more office here. That's the Office of the School Director." He pointed straight ahead to the big double-doors office that occupied the dead-end part of the hallway. "Well, that's all. You've seen the school grounds now. Time to tour the dorms. Let's go." He walked ahead of Hachiyama and took a last longing look in the Head Teacher's office before retreating downstairs.

The tall new student took a few strides and was beside him in no time. With a bland expression, he asked, "Are you and Misu-san in a relationship?" bluntly. The smaller sophomore stopped dead in his tracks. "Huh? What are you talking about?" he asked, though the color on his face drained and he was shaking inside. Now in front of him, Hachiyama also stopped walking and just turned his head to the side to look at him. "It was obvious. The way you look at him, you like him. And I can tell he knows it, though he tries to ignore you. Since he doesn't appear to be bothered by it, perhaps he's into it as well, thus my conclusion."

"That's not-" Shingyouji is now as white as a sheet of paper. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone, or the teachers." The newcomer interrupted him. Shingyouji released the breath he was unconsciously holding. "Thank goodness! You're a good person, Hachiyama-kun." He smiled at the guy and resumed walking with him to the dorms. "But it's not like that. We are not in a… errr, relationship, as you say. Ummm… I can't really explain it because I'm not sure too so… yeah, that's it." He really doesn't know what he and Misu are. He can't say they are a couple because, to Misu, he is a pet. Misu is his master. Can that really qualify as a couple?

"So the thing between you is unclear?" Hachiyama helpfully suggested, though it doesn't really help at all. Trying to end the topic, Shingyouji nodded. "Yeah, you can put it that way." The taller of the two hummed absentmindedly, thinking of something. Then with the same emotionless tone gave a suggestion that made Shingyouji tumble on the ground face-first. "Then why don't you clear it out with him? Or you can make it easier by showing your affection openly."

"Aww!" Shingyouji exclaimed. His face covered in dust and dirt, he was quick to recover and pushed himself in a sitting position, wiping his face with a handkerchief he always, thankfully, have with him. "Hachiyama-kun, do you know how absurd that is? This is a boys' school! And you're suggesting to show affection openly?" Do you really, honestly want me dead? Arata-san will not allow that to happen. He'll strangle me, for sure. Not to mention the punishment from the School Board. Though Miyuki-chan knows and accepts their situation, she won't be able to help them when it goes out into the open. The school doesn't allow this kind of scandalous behavior.

Hachiyama only shrugged his shoulders and wordlessly offered him a hand when he was about to get up. Thankful for the help, Shingyouji grabbed his hand and pulled himself up. "It was only a suggestion." "Uh-huh. Can you suggest something that will not get us into trouble, then?" Shingyouji replied sarcastically. It's just been a few hours but he feels comfortable with the new student's presence, so comfortable that he can throw snide remarks at him now. The other guy stayed silent. There again, his quick return to silence. Shingyouji studied the newcomer as subtle as he can. This guy sure is weird. He will just suddenly burst out something in that uncaring way of his and then suddenly turns quiet. But, thanks to that kind of attitude, I can trust him not to tell anyone about Arata-san and I.

Unknown to the two guys, a shadow has been following them since they walked out of the administration building to the dorms. The shadow stayed hidden in the thick bushes behind them, hearing everything they were talking about. This is weirdly interesting and I have a bad feeling about this. The shadow thought to itself. Deciding not to tail them any longer as the dorms don't have any good places to hide without being seen, the shadow slowly walked back where it came from. Taking a mobile phone from a pocket, it dialed a number. After a few rings, the call was answered. "Hello?" a guy.

"I have something for you. Get every bit of information you can on this person. I want it as soon as possible. This is of utmost importance. No one should know we're investigating him. You know what to do." The shadow ordered the guy. "Yes, I know."

"Good. I'll email you the subject." The shadow ended the call and typed a mail with a person's name and sent it to the guy. "Let's see what you are hiding and what you had set to do." With a mysterious smile, the shadow closed its phone and walked leisurely back to the building. "You may think you're the predator but you'll never know that you've become somebody else's prey."

A/N: Finally the first chapter is up! It really took me a while to write. I have the idea (lots of it, actually, thanks to Sallindra), but I had a hard time writing it down. They just seem to float and wander in my mind but won't settle down. Thankfully, due to a lot of thinking (and pulling of my hair), it invaded my dreams… Last night, I dreamt of Shingyouji. Of course, when I woke up, I can only recall a small part of the dream.

Recalling…

Me: Spit or swallow? (very direct, unblinking)

Shingyouji: Huh? (with question mark on top of head)

Me: Do you spit or swallow?

Shingyouji: (thinking hard)….. (after a few minutes) Swallow.

I almost fainted in delight.

End of recalling

Oh Baby Jiji (Shingyouji)! I really adore you! Because of that very good answer, I'll give you something: a fetish. *smiles wickedly*

Yes, reviews please! Love you guys!

Oh! Happy birthday to me! *sings birthday song for herself*