"Ren." Abe leaned over and kissed his boyfriend, who stirred in his sleep. He opened his eyes, gazed stupidly and then- Abe's breath caught in his mouth- Mihashi smiled in the awkward way that always took his breathe away.

"Good morning, Taka."

Abe sighed in nearly stupid glee. Was it wrong it be this happy? He was dating someone who trusted him and had given them all of themselves. Abe felt he didn't deserve it, but after all the awkward feelings and experiences they had gone through to be together... it felt justified.

Abe opened his cloud gray eyes and closed the gap between them.

Then there were Mihashi's lips.

...Whoa.

Sparks prickled Abe's spine and his toes curled. Yes. Ah, yes. This was it.

Abe wanted it longer. Wanted to feel Ren press harder against him. Tell Abe once again he loved him. Kiss him back. Kiss him. Feel those lips that matched his perfectly.

Like their battery they had formed not so long ago.

However... Abe was not one to be easily swept away. He pulled away and gruffly stated. "Come on." He moved back to his futon where he hadn't spent the night. "We have morning-"

Mihashi had dashed over Abe so quickly he felt a breeze and only saw a flash of orange.

"-practice." He finished weakly. Meanwhile Mihashi was nearly jumping into their team uniform. The only thing that came close to Abe for Mihashi was the thing that brought them together: baseball.

A rare smile lingered Abe's lips as he changed, because he knew two things. First, as silly and as girly (as much as Abe detested) it sounded, he knew Mihashi was amazing. The way he dedicated himself to baseball was unbelievable. Even through everything that he had been through in junior high, Ren still selfishly guarded the mound and clung to his ace title. All the pain he went through... just to prove himself. The kind of person... belonged to Abe. The lean, golden-eyed pitcher that understood what true sacrifice was Takaya's. That in itself was a miracle.

The second thing Abe knew was that his Ren was a total pervert. He wasn't even trying to hide his gaze as Abe stripped his shirt and started to tug at his pajima pant's string. He watched the pitcher out of the corner of his eye.

One small tug. Mihashi's golden eyes widened.

Another. They twitched very, very slightly.

The pull before the last. Takaya felt like a piece of meat the way he was being leered at. In fact, Mihashi was practically drooling when Abe quickly turned to him, cocked his hips and sneered. "What are you looking at? Go eat breakfast."

Mihashi blanched. "Wh-what?"

"You heard me. Go."

He looked rapidly from Abe's face to those pesky pants that refused to fall. The way they barely hugged his hips was sinful. The fact that his love's thumb and forefinger were on the string, but doing nothing was so frustrating. It was simply unfair. It was as if Takaya was... mocking him.

If you could see the gears working in someone's head, that was what Abe saw happening to Mihashi. To do what Takaya says or to not. The choice was simple really. Mihashi had not yet disobeyed one of Abe's signs. On or off the field. So he waited for him to leave (almost sadistically), crestfallen.

To the pitcher, however, the choice was not obvious. For the first of many times, Ren Mihashi would not follow Takaya Abe's signs.

He took a breathe and stepped forward- hesitated for the briefest of moments- before he boldly brought their lips together.

Abe froze as Mihashi's warm lips touched his. His pitcher's lips were slightly calloused from all the heavy breathing from practice, but Abe's were the same. He felt those lips cut into his and a chill went down his spine. A spike was added to that sensation as long fingers slowly began entangling themselves in his hair. Since Mihashi was being so sexy, Abe lost motor skills and his hand twitched. The result was his pants bunching up ungracefully around his ankles.

One more still moment passed then the pitcher pulled away. Abe's dark eyes- nearly turned black as storm clouds from lust- watched him run his tongue over his lips and declare, "That was a good appetizer. Thank you, Takaya." Deviously, he smacked Abe's ass, who yelped, before Mihashi descended to the kitchen.

A aroma of toast greeted him before he greeted his mother. "Hi, mom!"

"Oh!" Mihashi's mother jumped. "G-good morning, Ren! How did you sleep?" Mihashi's mother, who looked like her son, also had many of his mannerisms. She awkwardly smiled at him before setting toast and orange juice on the kitchen table. "Good morning, Takaya-kun!" She declared to Abe who had appeared at the bottom of the stairs(and apparently regained his motor skills).

He returned her greeting warming. "Morning. How are you, Mihashi-san?"

Mihashi's mother blushed lightly. Her son's boyfriend was so pleasant and polite, she sometimes couldn't help herself. "Just fine, thank you. Here," she gestured to a spot by Mihashi, "sit next to Ren and I'll get some toast and juice for you."

Abe thanked her and scooted his seat next to Mihashi. Though it had been uncomfortable and terrifying coming out to Mihashi's parents, both of them had taken it surprisingly well. Of course, Ren's father was still a little jumpy around Abe, but Mihashi-san had taken to him right away. Abe hadn't told his parents yet, but he would... eventually. He had promised Ren. When Mihashi-san's back was turned, he leaned in closely and hissed. "Don't think you're off the hook, Ren." as Mihashi devoured his breakfast like a wolf next to him. It took a bit of self-control to not reprimand his ace-pitcher. Abe had learned Mihashi was just an idiot sometimes. Simply, if given the chance, he could correct himself.

Yet... as a flying crumb hit his face, Abe felt a vein begin to pulse threateningly. Patience, Takaya... patience

Another crumb bomb-shelled.

He'll get it eventually... And he probably would have if his mother hadn't slapped the table and scolded. "This is a kitchen, not a pig pen!"

Mihashi not only slowed down, but remained silent for the rest of the meal. Abe was able to have a thrilling conversation with Mihashi-san the best baseball gloves.

Had Abe mentioned he enjoyed Mihashi's parents?

Soon, Abe and Mihashi were on their bikes racing toward practice.

It began like it always did.

Mihashi would somehow get too close to Abe and one of his rare smirks would be directed at his catcher.

A direct challenge. Alright. Abe thought. Bring it. The speed of their bikes grew and the boys quickly raced down the street. The cool morning air whipped past them and the still shining street lights lighted their way. A spray of water from yesterday's light shower hit Abe's leg when Mihashi raced through it, too close to the curb. He laughed uncharacteristically like a maniac as he left his slightly soaked boyfriend in the dust.

"Cheeky bastard..." Abe swore and pedaled faster. In no time, he was neck in neck with Mihashi, seeing who could get to the field first. Their field.

Their legs were pumping and so were their hearts... not only from the dangerous game of Chicken they were playing, but from what awaited them. Their field was perfect. The image of flesh dew on the grass, the smell of dirt mixed with morning air, and the shouts of their teammates' "Good mornings!" filled their minds.

It was their home away from home. The place they belonged.

The pitcher crept closer to Abe's bike, only a foot away. Abe grew slightly nervous, but he would be damned if he let Mihashi know that. He would not lose this game of Chicken. Not again.

He did.

Not being able to take the pressure, Abe swerved out of the Mihashi's way as the idiot nearly collided with him.

"You... IDIOT...!" The catcher roared, but the other boy only laughed at him in response.

Mihashi reached the field first, like normal, and greeted Tajima. Abe parked his bike against the rake and walked over to were Mihashi had carelessly dumped his. Sighing, picked up the forgotten transportation and parked it next to his.

Suddenly, a very short, very hyper clean-up hitter was very close to his face. "Gooooooood morningggggggggggg, Abeeeeeeeeeeeee..."

"Oh God! Tajima! What the HELL!"

He merely grinned that god-damned annoying grin of his. "Just wanted to see what was going onnnnnnn..."

"What do you mean? Mihashi and I just showed up for practice like normal."

"Yeah, I've been meaning to talk to you about that." Tajima glanced over his shoulder at the pitcher who was obviously waiting for Abe to start practicing with him. He waved to him and Mihashi waved back, smiling weakly. The clean-up could tell he didn't have much time, because his best friend was beginning to hop around foot to foot.

Hoping he wouldn't make Mihashi explode from anxiety, he smiled... before forcefully steering Abe behind the dugout.

"Tajima! What the hell!" The Nishiura catcher yelled for the second time that day. As Abe struggled, his neck was released from the somewhat claw-like grip; and he turned around to unleash a wave of abusive words... when he froze.

Tajima infront of him looked about ready to kill him. Had his once smiling hazel eyes turned demonic red? Abe almost shrank away in fear. Was this the same Tajima he had been practicing with since Freshman year? This... was weird.

"W-what, man?" Abe inwardly cursed himself for stuttering.

But something very close to a growl made Abe's hairs stand on end erupted out of the other boy's mouth. "What do you mean what, Abe? What in the hell is going on between you and Mihashi?"

"Mihashi...?" Abe had never considered this to be about anyone on the team, let alone Ren.

"Yeah, Mihashi. In case you forgot, Abe, I'm his best friend." He took a step closer and Abe stepped back. "And lately... I haven't been able to talk to him. It's always... I have to study at Abe-kun's!" or "Abe-kun needs me to practice with him!" or "I'm sorry, Tajima-kun! I already made plans with frickin' Takaya Abe!" Abe felt heat rush to his face at Tajima's accusation. "I feel he's avoiding me for some reason. It's weird. I don't like it. And it all seems to be connected to you."

Tajima had nearly pressed Abe up against the back of the dugout and he was little scared. He had never seen the clean-up hitter this aggressive. He wanted to shove the shrimp back and demand he back off, but Abe couldn't.

Tajima was right.

Mihashi had been acting strange lately... They had been dating for five months and as much Abe hated to admit it... he had been keeping Mihashi selfishly to himself. Now that they were together, he didn't want him out of his sight. Needless for baseball or hanging out, Abe guarded Mihashi zealously. It wasn't as if Mihashi COULDN'T hang out with his other friends, it was just that neither of them wanted him to. When a person is in a new relationship (Mihashi's first serious relationship and Abe's second), it's hard to focus on anything else.

Abe fumbled inside himself and eventually found his voice. "Mihashi can hang out anyone he wants to. Just because he's been doing extra practice with me, doesn't mean anything." Abe knew his face was red, and he was embarrassed. He turned away. "Geez, stop acting like a girl, man. It's embarrassing."

Tajima continued to stare at Abe for a several unbearable moments before he finally relented. "Fine." As he turned away, Abe dared to breathe a sigh of exasperation.

That did it.

The shorter boy was on Abe faster then a snake on a rabbit. "Listen to me, Abe-kun" he hissed, "and listen well. I'm not about to let you take over Mihashi again. He's always been terrified of you, because of your arrogant, cocky, overbearing attitude."

Had Tajima actually gotten taller? Because Abe felt like an ant as the furious teenager continued to berate him. "I want you to stop treating Mihashi like some sort of tool you're using to get to Koshien!"

Before Abe could say anything else, a voice exclaimed, "T-that's not true, Tajima-kun!" Both boys whirled around to see Mihashi panting. "Tak- I mean, Abe-kun doesn't use me! I like pitching to him and I'm sorry if you feel like I've been ignoring you!"

Abe winced, because he could see the true regret on Mihashi's face. "Please, Tajima-kun. Apologize to him." Tajima bite his lip from saying what he wanted and muttered "sorry". After a moment, he strode past Abe, then Mihashi.

"W-wait..." Mihashi began, but Tajima was already in the field, making fun of Hanai, pretending he there was nothing wrong.

Abe waited until he was sure Tajima was gone before he swore, "Shit. How did it get this bad?"

"It's not your fault, Takaya..."

"Then whose fault is it, Ren?" Abe couldn't even look at Mihashi. "We both know things have been getting weird on the team ever since we started dating. The guys don't know what the hell is going on with us and we can't explain it to them. I hate to think how many of them are thinking what Tajima is." He clenched his fists. "Shit, Ren. Just shit. This is not how baseball is supposed to be played."

"..."

Mihashi said nothing. What could he say? It was all true. They had fucked up royally in this their ignorant, idiotic bliss.

The worst part? Baseball was being damaged because of it.