I´m making this fanfic for two reasons: First, I love Louis, he´s my favorite Brothers Conflict character. Second, I come from a yaoi community, and it´s impossible for me not to think of what a wonderful boyfriend Louis would make another guy if we just put Ema aside... so that´s what I´m gonna do here. Ema is in the story, but not as a love interest, but as a sister. The rest is Louis story... :D Please let me know what you think!

Chapter 1: Crush

Ryoko came to his house with her face drenched in tears. The vision was so unusual and scary Kazuhiko didn't know what to do. He could count on one hand the times he´d seen his sister cry and have two fingers left. On top of that, she´d never allowed him to comfort her before, so he felt inadequate and useless as he saw her crumble down in the couch at his apartment.

She´d been at it for about fifteen minutes now: head between her hands, her whole body shaking with violence, her sobs audible. It was a pitiful sight, really, not that he would ever say that to her face.

Instead, he looked down at the glass of water she´d rejected when she first arrived and waited for her to calm down. He knew she would talk when she was ready.

Finally, after another five minutes of crying, Ryoko raised her face and said, "Give me the glass of water."

He handed it to her… and waited again.

She gulped it down, took a deep breath and sighed.

"Are you alright, nee-san?" he ventured to ask.

"Of course not, you idiot. I´m not alright."

"… Alright. What happened?"

"And now you ask. Honestly, men are can be so standoffish."

Kazuhiko rolled his eyes. "Nee-san, don't you go and dump all your anger on me. I know you´re mad but it isn't my fault since I don't even know what happened."

Ryoko hiccupped. "I suppose you´re right," she mumbled, took a deep breath and said, "my wedding is ruined, otouto! Ruined! Absolutely and completely ruined." She hiccupped again.

Kazuhiko rubbed his temples. "Okay. Why?"

She took a deep breath, looked at him with puppy-dog eyes, then proceeded to tell him how the hairdressing and makeup company she´d hired for the event had cancelled on her for a higher-profile wedding. They had only called her to say they couldn't arrange neither her nor her bridesmaids and they didn't have anyone available to attend her.

When she finished, Kazuhiko said, "So? Hire another company."

"It isn't so easy! The wedding is in a damn week and you can´t get a replacement in so little time. It isn't something you can choose with ease. You have to have at least two rehearsals to make sure the company knows what you want and they would have to match the style of the dress and…"

"I get it, I get it. Don't panic again."

"Kaz! I´m going nuts."

"Well, then talk with Isao-san and not with me. I´m not the one you´ll marry."

"I know that, you dummy! I came to you because I want to ask for your help."

"I can´t do anything for you."

Ryoko gave him a look. "Yes you can," she said, tone firm.

He frowned. "What?"

"Your crush. She´s a hairdresser, right? I want to talk to her."

Kazuhiko blinked, then felt a slight heat on his cheeks and knew they were red. "You can´t talk to her," he said.

"Why? Because you haven't either? That's not my problem, you know. I´m not to blame for the fact you only watch her through the window."

"Nee-san, I don't mean it that way, it´s that it wouldn't make sense if you went and talked to her as if you know her when you've never even gone into her salon."

"Then you talk to her."

"If I haven't done it before I sure as hell won´t now," he said, horrified.

Ryoko gritted her teeth. "Yes you will, Akiyama Kazuhiko. You`ll do it for your sister´s wedding, the one who cares for you like a mother and the one who`s helping you with college right you. You`ll do it for…"

"Damn it!" he exploded. "Fine, stop it. I´ll talk to her. I don't guarantee anything but I´ll try to get you a hairdresser."

Ryoko smiled.

He sighed, then frowned. "Wait, how come you don't want a company but you want a lone girl?"

"Ah, that's simple. If she managed to catch your eye in the first place then she must be something very special indeed. I trust your judgment, and in this case, I need it."

"Uh-huh." He snorted, not believing her words at all.

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Kazuhiko stood outside a certain salon for the tenth time that week. Literally. If he counted all the times he´d stood there for the past six months, well, let's say the number was too large.

He had to admit he was a coward because all he´d done was look at one particular hairdresser all the time and had stupidly developed a crush on her, but what could he do? From where he saw her she seemed like the prettiest thing in the world and the way she worked the costumers´ hair was a thing he admired. So he liked her but had never talked to her… now it was time to change that particular fact. For Ryoko´s sake and only for her. Or so he forced himself to believe.

Sighing, he walked away from the window and grabbed the door handle, deciding it was time to be a man and face the pretty hairdresser. It was time to stop being a coward…

As soon as he pushed the door open he was bathed in warm air and instrumental music. He also found himself the center of all the costumers inside.

He frowned right away and was about to turn back deciding to send manhood to hell when a small woman came up to him.

"Good afternoon and welcome," she said with a bow. "What can I do for you?"

"Good afternoon. I am here to talk to one of your hairdressers," he said, bowing back.

"That would mean you don't have an appointment."

"No, I don't."

"Why aren't I surprised? Well, who do you need to talk to?"

Kazuhiko scanned the salon with his eyes. When he found the pinkish-ash hair, he nodded in that direction. "Her," he said.

The woman turned to look back, then said, "Who?"

"Her. The one with the side ponytail."

"Her?" she echoed with confusion, then stammered, "O-Oh, I-I see. Wait a second, please…" She raised her voice. "¡Asahina-kun! There is someone here to see you. ¡Asahina-kun!"

Kun?

Now Kazuhiko being the one confused, he watched as Asahina-kun stopped washing some combs and made her way to the salon´s entrance. He watched as a greyish-violet eye flicked to him through a curtain of hair and then to the woman.

"Yes, Fukui-san?" came a strangely masculine voice in a soothing and alluring tone.

"This young man here is looking for you."

"Yes?" the voice repeated, a bright but empty smile crossing pale lips.

Kazuhiko stared at… at her… or was it him? Well, the features were beautiful but not feminine, the body was slender but it completely lacked breasts, and the way the hairdresser stood, the voice… could it be…?

His crush was a man?!

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Asahina Louis wondered who the young man in front of him was and why he had asked to talk to him. Louis was pretty sure he´d never met him. Could he be a brother´s friend? He looked around Subaru´s and his own age, so it could be a possibility, but Subaru would have told him if a friend of his needed him for something.

With mild curiosity, Louis studied him. He was a few inches taller than him, about six-feet high. He had longish light brown hair which matched his round, caramel-colored eyes and gave him an overall warm appearance. He had fair skin and sharp features that were now twisted into an expression of soft horror.

"What can I do for you?" Louis murmured, tilting his head to the side. He waited for the man to speak.

"I… er… my name is Akiyama Kazuhiko. Nice to meet you," the man said, bowing again.

"Asahina Louis." He bowed back and endured another minute of silence before prompting, "I say again, Akiyama-san. What can I do for you? I don't think you´re here to get your hair done."

The man shook his head. "Not mine, no. My sister´s."

Louis looked at Fukui-san, who merely shrugged and went back to her business. He said, "Where is your sister?"

Kazuhiko seemed at a loss for words at that question, and Louis couldn't help but chuckle. "Akiyama-san," he drawled.

The brunette stayed quiet for a few more seconds. "I think it would be better if you talk to her. Will you be here in an hour?" he said finally.

"I get off at seven, so yes."

"I´ll return with her in that case. See you later… Asahina-san." And Kazuhiko fled.

Louis raised an eyebrow, shrugged and went back to washing the combs.

To be continued...