Writers Block Part One
Ijuuin Sensei x Yuu Yanase

"Sensei is depressed again." One of the two interns at the long, slender desk whispered quietly as he finished coloring one of the pages for Ijuuin sensei's newest chapter of "The Kan". He lifted his work light over a bit so he wouldn't hit his head standing up. The woman beside him nodded and looked up hopefully at the dark haired man sitting at the end of the table drawing fretfully. He had missed the deadline again, the draft and the coloring of the front page were supposed to be turned in, but he still had at least three pages to finish.

"This…" He paused for what felt like dramatic effect, "…is impossible."

Maki looked to Kou cautiously and continued her drawing a little more diligently. The intern Kou Kiboto, who had just finished one of his pages, came over to Ijuun slowly and lowered himself down to his level when sitting. He was a kind faced man of about 26, younger than Sensei, but also a lot more lively at 2am.

"I know you don't often contract outside of Marukawa," he started tentatively. "But there's a guy, he's really good." He continued.

Ijuuin lifted his head up curiously and looked over at the intern. His eyes were blood shot red from lack of sleep. It was already late, and it didn't seem like he was going to be finished any time soon. He didn't, answer him, but stared, and the younger man took the silence as a sign to continue.

"His name is Yanase Yuu." He said pulling out Yuu's card from his pocket. "He does really good work… tell him how you want it, and he'll have it done in no time."

Ijuuin took the card hesitantly and looked it over underneath the table skeptically.

"Who does he work for?" he asked, the tone of his voice increasing as his curiosity grew.

"He contracts his skills. Everyone wants him though so he makes a lot doing it." He said standing upright. "He's that good." He proclaimed confidently walking over and grabbing his bag from the chair he sat in.

"Later Maki-chan." He said exiting Sensei's apartment, closing the door behind him. Ijuuin lifted his head slightly and looked at the card turning it around in his fingers slowly.

"Yuu Yanase." He muttered slowly. He lifted his head fully and looked down the table to Makisa, the last one left finishing the coloring for the front cover.

"You can go when you're done that Maki-chan." He smiled weakly, his hair disheveled looking paler than usual. She nodded and smiled back politely. A few moments passed in silence, until Makisa broke the aggravated tension.

"He's right you know, Yanase-san is really good." She agreed quietly.

"Do you guys always brag and boast about other people's skills I wonder?" He said raising an eyebrow a little irritably. Something about having a stranger touching his work made him uncomfortable.

Makisa shook her head vigorously looking a little wounded from Ijuuin's stab.

"Sensei…if you didn't need his help, we wouldn't have to suggest anyone." She said a little miffed, standing up and handing her finished coloring over to him.

He smiled stubbornly, and took the paper from her deliberately delicate.

"Thank you Makisa." He said pointedly.

"No problem," she said airily grabbing her coat. "I'll be busy for the next two weeks. Getting married next Saturday!" She squeaked excitedly grinning.

"And that takes two weeks?!" He asked a little desperately. She straightened her face immediately, crossing her arms.

"Some people go on a honey moon afterwards Sensei…" She said dryly. "You'd know that if you socialized outside of Marukawa." She said chuckling at her own cheekiness, moving towards the door.

"Alright...that's enough." He said sulking. Makisa always knew what buttons to press. "Go away...go get married or whatever." He replied guilelessly.

She laughed a little and waved merrily. "I'll see you next Saturday Ijuun-Sensei. Bring a date!" She laughed and closed the door behind her with a solid snap.

Ijuuin-Sensei sighed exhausted, pushing himself away from the work table.

"A date...yea right." He said caustically, laying down on his pillow top mattress with his legs hanging off the bed. Not that he was an unattractive man, or that he didn't have a sizeable fortune under his belt, but that he'd been turned down officially by a young man who'd caught his eye recently.

Misaki Takahashi. It was already his second year at Marukawa. He couldn't really blame Misaki, it wasn't like he made any indication he was interested, he loved "The Kan", not him. He'd finally got that, when Misaki came out about he and Usami-Sensei's relationship.

Ijuuin sighed and rolled over towards the right side of his bed, laying on his stomach picking up the phone.

"If this Yanase guy is sleeping this early, he's not even worth bothering with." He decided dismissively, turning the card over in his hands. He dialed the numbers quickly and waited hearing the beep like tone at the other end, it beeped 3 times and as he was about to hang up he heard a light voice on the other end.

"Yanase here." It said

Ijuuin-sensei, not really expecting him to pick up looked back at the card half expecting the name to wrong.

"I-is this Yanase Yuu?" He replied questioningly.

"Yes..." Yuu replied slowly. "Who exactly are you?" Ijuuin was challenging his cordiality.

"Well umm..." He started a little apprehensively. "I'm Ijuuin Kyo." He finally said, regaining his confidence at the other end.

"Ijuuin Kyo...the famous mangaka of "The Kan" that sold 75,000 copies last month? Works at Marukawa publishing? Noted for good looks, undeniable charm, but procrastinating and having a sketchy temper? Life time bachelor? Suspected homosexual?" Yuu laughed loudly on the other end of the phone.

"Yeah right Chiaki, stop joking around, what are you doing up this late?" He said boyishly, with the laughter still in his voice.

Ijuuin sat up off the bed and his lips curved upwards, grinning haughtily.

"Actually, it sold 100,000 copies..." Ijuuin said chuckling on the other end of the phone.

"And I was wondering, are you able to help me drawing that famous manga?" He continued smoothly. Somehow Ijuuin's discomfit disappeared hearing the youthful laugh of Yanase on the other line.

Yuu on the other hand was rightfully startled.

"Sensei!" He said back frantic. "I'm so sorry-I didn't realize-calling this late- a-and on a personal number." He shifted uncomfortably on his couch, with his ears reddening feeling his heart race mortified. He turned the TV down a bit and sat up straight breathing slowly to steady his heart beat and closing his eyes, calming himself from flustering.

"I'm available." He said in a shaky professionalism. "Just give me the time and place."