Chapter 1
Takahashi Misaki stood gazing out the huge nearly floor-to-ceiling window at the city beneath him. Even after five years, the sight of it never failed to draw the awe up from within him and register on his so-expressive face.
He jerked slightly as a large cool hand reached for his, enfolding his slender fingers in larger ones. Misaki looked up into contrastingly warm, violet eyes and tried to smile, but it was a poor effort. Suddenly he was engulfed in a tobacco-scented embrace and a warm gust of air feathered the top of his messy head.
"You have nothing to worry about - he can't hurt you."
The sound of the deep voice which never failed to arouse him - an admission he would take to the grave with him - made him smile but pull back slightly. Misaki sobered though as he answered his lover. "Usagi-san, I love my brother a-and I..."
His voice trailed off and he turned back to look out at the darkening sky, appreciating how the buildings' lights came on one by one. He turned back to his lover and sighed. "He's very traditional - I think he's always been over-protective of me since our parents died when we were so young."
Usagi-san nodded calmly, his striking eyes roaming over Misaki's sweet little face. "I know you love and respect Takahiro - I do, too, remember?"
Unbidden, a little twinge of residual insecurity made Misaki's stomach clench. He could never forget that his handsome lover had first loved his big brother. He sighed and moved away, his hand sliding from Usagi-san's, and sat on the extra-long couch. "I know, you don't need to remind me," he said a little sharply, and Usagi moved over to sit with him, a slight smile on his face.
"Misaki," he said, his voice deep and soft, almost thrumming. He waited. "Huh?" Misaki looked at him, slightly distracted by his lover's voice combined with the distressing thoughts running around like rats in his head. Soft, warm, firm lips descended on his and Misaki opened up reflexively, having been well-trained over the years.
Misaki never would have dreamt that men kissed as often as Usagi-san kissed him. Some days it seemed as if the older man wanted nothing better to do than pounce on Misaki every chance he got. Usagi-san, or Usami Akihiko as the whole world knew him, was a famous and infamously reclusive author. He was also Misaki's brother, Takahiro's best friend. And there was the rub.
For five years, Misaki had been, ostensibly, Usami's roommate, staying at the massive penthouse as a favor to Takahiro while Misaki prepared to enter university. In what seemed like no time at all, Misaki and Usami's relationship had become intensely sexual and then romantic. They had fallen in love - and it had not been an easy road. Usami-san's brother and father, hugely rich and powerful men themselves, had felt that Misaki - basically a commoner with nothing to recommend himself - was not a right fit for Usami Akihiko.
Usagi-san had set them right on that score, even to the point of threatening to give up his inheritance and cutting off any ties with his family if they tried to come between him and Misaki. He loved the green-eyed, shaggy-haired boy with a love that bordered on the obsessive and his father and brother had had to accept that. In a surprising twist, Usagi-san's brother himself had become attracted to Misaki, finding something almost noble in the way the boy defended Akihiko so fiercely whenever he or their father would criticize him.
It went without saying that poor Misaki had been somewhat taken aback by Usami Haruhiko's startling declarations of love. Still, things had settled down, life had moved on and now here Misaki was, worrying about his own brother's reaction to his upcoming announcement.
"Mmmf - Usagi-san," he sighed into the kiss. He savored the feel of his lover's mouth on his for a few more seconds and then pushed him back, his green eyes twinkling. "Horny, much?"
He grinned at the pout on his lover's face. Usagi-san - Misaki's nickname for Akihiko which meant Mr. Rabbit - never failed to look like a spoilt little boy whenever their kissing sessions were interrupted. He smirked now at Misaki and nodded. "I think we have a few minutes until Takahiro arrives," he purred, his hand sneaking up Misaki's thigh, and looking hopeful.
A huff of laughter escaped Misaki as he grabbed the large, sneaky hand and held it in place. "No, there is no way I'm greeting my brother looking like I'd just been rolling around with you!" He laughed at Usagi-san until he realized the other man was genuinely upset at his seemingly dismissive words. He leaned into the broad chest and whispered, trying to sound seductive: "But I'll let you 'mess me up' for as long as you like when he leaves..."
His eyes softened at the way Usagi-san relaxed, truly in awe of the way the older man loved him and couldn't seem to get enough of him. At first it had taken him quite a long time to get used to being loved that way, but Usagi-san's persistence and patience had paid off. Now, years later, they were at a point in their relationship where he was comfortable with what they did in the bedroom - and out of it, sometimes. He even looked forward to Usagi-san's apparent obsession with 'messing him up'!
The lovers smiled at each other, the warm light of the scattered lamps seeming to glow around them. Misaki had totally forgotten his apprehension during their little exchange and he leaned forward now to brush a soft kiss across Usagi-san's smiling lips. They jerked apart suddenly as the doorbell chimed loudly throughout the room and Misaki gasped as he pulled back. Usagi-san grabbed him, halting his jerky movement and turned his lover's face back toward him.
"Remember, nothing to fear, okay?"
Misaki stared into the hypnotic eyes, took a deep breath and nodded slowly. "Yes, nothing to fear," and he smiled when Usagi-san kissed him lightly. Akihiko let him go and watched the slender form make its way to the door just as the chime came again. Misaki flung open the door and smiled big and broad at his brother.
Takahiro chuckled at the sight of his little brother's face. He stepped into the apartment and gathered Misaki into a huge hug, almost lifting the shorter Takahashi boy off his feet. Misaki laughed and clung to the other man, genuinely happy to see him.
"Hey, what about my hug," the familiar voice came over Misaki's shoulder and Takahiro rolled his eyes but let his little brother go so he could pull his best friend forward into a hug.
Usami held the other man closely but shot a quick glance at his little lover. He was well aware that Misaki sometimes struggled with insecurity but he hoped five years with him were strong enough to combat it.
Misaki simply smiled as he watched the two men. No matter that Usagi-san had once loved his big brother, he was with him now, and that was how it would stay. He watched the two men back-slapping each other as they pulled apart and he turned to head to the kitchen area.
He always liked the open-plan layout that gave him an opportunity to feel included when they had guests and now he sorted out drinks for all of them. Laughter and chatter filled the air as they drank and nibbled on the hors d'oeuvres that Misaki had prepared from scratch. Despite the fact that he'd got his first degree from M. University and now worked at the same firm that published Usagi-san's books, he loved cooking and was quite good at it. The sky outside the penthouse deepened as the men chatted and Misaki felt that peculiar warmth that he associated with family. Smiling at his big brother, he asked after his family.
Takahiro's face lit up as he spoke about his wife. "Minami is great - she sends her love and asks if you're eating more. She thinks you're too skinny," and he laughed and held up his hands to ward off Misaki's play-scowl. "Her words - not mine!" They all laughed at that and then he continued. "Mahiro is dying to see you, wonders why Uncle 'Mitaki' doesn't come to see him more often..." He looked a little quizzical now as he watched Misaki's body language grow tense. "Misaki - what is it?"
Misaki stared at him wide-eyed, shot a slightly panicked look at Usami-san and jumped up, grabbed a couple of the glasses and headed over to the kitchen. "Ugh, ahhh," he stuttered, turned his back to the two men and started to fidget with the utensils and platters on the kitchen counter. "Uhm, nothing's the matter, Nii-chan!"
Takahiro looked over at Usami-san, expecting to see him looking amused in that slightly superior way of his, and was surprised to see a look of sadness appear and disappear rapidly. "Usami, is there something going on?"
Silence.
Takahiro looked between the two men, a sense of apprehension coming over him. He had always been happy that his best friend and baby brother seemed to get along so well. In fact, he and practically everyone they knew had been pleasantly surprised that Usami-san had accepted Misaki so readily into his life. Usami-san's reputation for being difficult, though brilliant, was well-earned. His physical beauty - gleaming silver hair, startling violet eyes and tall, well-built body - had attracted many people over the years but Usami had rejected them all. He and Takahiro had met in school and struck up a deep and abiding friendship. If Takahiro had thought at times that Usami could be a bit clingy, he never voiced it. He had been immensely proud that he was one of maybe two people that Usami could tolerate.
The Usami clan, mainly his brother Haruhiko and his father Fuyuhiko, were almost like royalty because they were so rich and powerful. Akihiko, though, never flaunted his wealth, never brought up his family to his people. In actuality, he seemed to go out of his way to make it as a writer all on his own. He had graduated from University with such high grades that he should have been the valedictorian. He had turned it down in that haughty way of his and ended up skipping the graduation ceremony altogether. Takahiro had long suspected Usami struggled with a painful family life but, being typical guys, they had never spoken about it. Takahiro had simply accepted Usami and never expected more than the other man could give. Simply put, Takahiro loved Usami as another brother. So, now, what was causing two of his very favorite people to tense up like this? He was beginning to get a baaad feeling.
He turned again to Misaki who stood now, wringing a dish towel in his small hands. "Misaki?"
No one spoke and then, suddenly_
"Okay, alright, okay, I'll tell you!"
Takahiro's eyes widened, his jaw dropped and his heart pumped in alarm. He leapt to his feet and he found himself hugging a shaking Misaki whose green eyes were swimming in unshed tears. "Misaki, what is it?!"
"Misaki, calm down, please," Usagi-san's deep voice came as he, too, stepped closer to Misaki.
Takahiro didn't know why he did it; maybe it was some latent over-protectiveness, but he scowled at Usami as he pulled Misaki closer to him. "What is going on here?" His dark eyes glared at his best friend. "Did you cause this?"
Misaki's eyes widened and he looked up at his brother, his breath hiccuping as his tension increased. "Oh, no, Nii-chan, don't blame Usagi-san!"
Takahiro looked from one man to the other, truly puzzled now but still clutching his brother protectively. "Will someone, please, tell me what the hell is going on?!"
Misaki took a deep breath, eased out of Takahiro's hold and sidled over to stand halfway between him and Usagi-san. "Please, Nii-chan, come back and sit down... I will tell you."
Takahiro came around the counter, waiting slowly and looking suspiciously between the two. He re-took his seat and the other two came with him. He forced himself to calm down and looked expectantly between them. "Well?"
Misaki's body language changed again as he straightened up, lifted his chin and spoke. "Nii-chan, Usami-san has done me the great honor of asking me ..."
For some reason unbeknownst to him, Takahiro's heart started pounding again but this time beads of sweat popped up on his forehead. "Yes?"
Misaki gulped and then continued bravely: "He has asked me to marry him..."
Silence reigned. Fury welled up in Takahiro but outwardly he appeared calm. He rose to his feet and turned to Usami-san, his control nearly slipping as the beloved violet eyes turned to him questioningly. Takahiro took a deep breath before looking back at his baby brother. "No."
A gasp was the only sound but it barely broke the silence. Takahiro said it again, more forcibly this time. "No!"
Both Usami-san and Misaki got to their feet, Misaki's hands clenched into fists at his side, his eyebrows lowered to a point over furious green eyes.
"What the hell?!" He yelled as he advanced on his big brother. "What do you mean 'No'!?"
Takahiro ignored him and stared straight into bewildered violet eyes and said it a third time: "No."
With that he turned, picked up his coat and left the apartment, two eyes with varying expressions, boring into his back.
TBC