Morning:

His hand gripping the metal handle, Souichi could hear through the door Morinaga's gleeful humming as he toiled in the kitchen, most likely preparing their breakfast. He could feel the optimism seeping through the solid piece of wood separating him from the outside world. Shit! Why the hell is he so goddamn happy? So irritating.

Somehow, Souichi still felt exhausted, even after a full night's sleep, and simply didn't feel like doing anything. Well, that wasn't quite true. His experiments needed to be tended to, and he did enjoy his work at the University. However, it would help a great deal if his experiments would give comprehensive results, or if Morinaga would be available to work in the lab, instead of doing some stupid side project for S-Pharmaceuticals. He wasn't in Hamamatsu. So why the hell is he still doing work for them? While he's in town, he should be working in the lab, with me! Sure, Souichi did have decent replacement assistants. Ok… they were really quite good assistants. But… it's just not the same without him. To top it off, New Year's Eve was just a week away, which meant he had a whole lot to finish if he wanted to enjoy his time off. With everything happening, the irritated man still standing in the darkness of his room simply didn't feel like dealing with anything else. All he wanted was for things to go as planned – to remain simple. Knowing fate though, he knew that he had no such luck. He always managed to be caught up in more trouble than he deserved. Life should be simple. He rested his forehead onto the wooden door with a soft 'thud'. But why is that never the case, though? He took a deep breath. Pulling down on the handle, the graduate student took a step out, leaving the comfort and darkness of his room.

Entering the light, he was greeted by the image of Morinaga's back as he tirelessly worked in the kitchen, a delicious aroma drifting through the air. Somehow, the combination of the soft warm light, the smell of good food, the warmth of the apartment and the look of his kouhai with that small content smile soothed his nerves. Looking at Morinaga filled him with a warm fuzzy feeling that he couldn't quite identify. Just being there, in his presence, made him feel… cozy.

"Ah! Good morning Senpai!" A luminous smile and bright cheerful eyes shone under a mat of soft, nearly black bangs.

"Mornin'." His own voice, still sounding tired and dull, was a stark contrast to Morinaga's upbeat and joyful attitude.

"Feel free to sit, Senpai. Breakfast is almost ready." With that said, his tall kouhai turned his attention back to the food still cooking on the stove.

His gaze roaming around the spacious kitchenette-joint-living room, Souichi noticed that the plates and condiments were already set on their coffee table. Being totally inept wherever cooking was concerned – or housework for that matter – there was little left he could help out with in the kitchen. All he was capable of was setting the table, making toasts, doing the dishes and… preparing the coffee. He made his way to the percolator and started to make a fresh batch of that delicious dark liquid while his roommate finished with the cooking.


Souichi sat on the floor facing his kouhai. A plate, nearly devoid of the delightful foodstuff that was occupying it mere moments ago, was lying in front of him on the mat protecting the glass coffee table. Looking up, he was able to tell now more than ever that something was off about his roommate. Usually he always gave him an almost undivided attention, which seemed almost stocker-ish. Morinaga never failed to notice and remember every single detail whenever his senpai was involved. It generally got on his nerves. But now it looked like he was avoiding him, his gaze directed anywhere but his tyrannical senpai. A look of confusion creased Souichi's eyebrows as he shot a leveled glare towards the dark haired man sitting nearly an arm's length away. Irritated, the older of the two picked up his mug. Once it touched his lips, he took a long satisfying gulp, the warm liquid gliding down his throat.

Tilting the mug back down to set it on the table, Souichi looked ahead. He froze. Determined olive green eyes finally met his own. They stared into each other, almost as if searching for something hidden within the depth lying beyond. One was about to speak, seemingly gathering enough courage to voice his thoughts; the other waiting patiently, his full attention captured in that single gaze.

"As you know, tomorrow I have to leave to go for nearly another week of training in Hamamatsu. So… I-… I was wondering if we could spend the day together." Halfway through his request, Tetsuhiro broke the eye contact, unable to continue staring at his love any longer, especially if he wanted to be able to finish his sentence which ended up being spewed out in a rush. Why am I acting like this?! Why am I so nervous? Receiving only silence, he returned his attention towards his lovely tyrant. Senpai just sat there. He looked confused, unable to understand why the other was acting so strange, unsure of the meaning of those words.

"I have to go to school, idiot. I can't spend the whole day with you. Some people actually have important work to do." Senpai sounded irritated. Why is that? Does he not want to be with me? … No Tetsuhiro, don't think like that. There's no point in being overly depressed about this… Maybe… Is he mad because I haven't been able to help him in the lab? Is that it? Hopefully it's just that.

"Of course, Senpai. That's… That's not what I meant. I was wondering if you could end school a little earlier today. Well, earlier than you usually do. Then that way we could have a bit more time before I have to leave. We could do something." Tetsuhiro held his breath. He wouldn't know what to do if he got rejected. It would be a whole week before he would get to see those hazel eyes and long soft blonde – well more taupe coloured since it was more beige than yellow – hair again. Then again, he'd be getting back New Year's Eve. That would mean he might not see him for another few days since Senpai was bound to spend New Year's with Kanako, with his family. That's why he really wanted to spend the little bit of time he had with his senpai.

"Oh yah? Like what?" Souichi was fairly certain that whatever that idiot had in mind, he wouldn't want anything to do with it.

"We could stay in and have a really nice supper. Or go out for a bit and go for a nice walk around the neighbourhood."

"Why?" Souichi wasn't a fool. He knew his dark haired kouhai well enough by now that he must have a reason behind this.

"Well… I won't be able to see you for quite a while. I wanted to spend some more time with you." Tetsuhiro tried to remain optimistic, keeping his intentions honest but pure. However, what followed felt like a full on blow to the gut.

"You're being too emotional. It's only a week. Stop acting like a love sick girl." A stab of pain pierced his chest.

"But… It is Christmas Eve, and I wanted to give you the present I got for you." Tetsuhiro was staring at his hands in his lap. He knew that whatever he said, he wouldn't be able to make Senpai do anything he didn't want to, so he might as well tell him everything. His experiments and work at the lab are very important to him. A silence stretched between them. Tetsuhiro suddenly felt really empty. Alone. There's no way I can compete with that.

"What?! I didn't ask you to do anything like that! You didn't have to get me anything." Senpai sounded genuinely surprised. In the way he uttered that last sentence, one could almost hear him blush. A spark of hope ignited. Tetsuhiro looked up.

"I know. But I wanted to." His cheeks warming at the undesired attention, Senpai turned his gaze towards the floor. His face got redder. He looked so adorably embarrassed.

"I don't have anything for you." He managed to murmur. Tetsuhiro leaned forward, warm eyes and a look of adoration adorning his face.

"That's ok Senpai. I'm happy just being around you. If you could finish your lab work a little bit earlier today that would be the best present you could ever give me." Senpai simply stared at him, surprised at the sincerity and innocence of the statement.

"Tsk… I have to go. The experiments are far from being complete. There's still so much to do before the year's end." Standing up, Souichi gave his roommate a side glance before quickly turning his attention away.

"… I'll see what I can do. But I can't make any promises. You understand?!" Souichi swiftly turned around to glare at his kouhai still sitting at the coffee table, frozen on the spot with a dumbstruck look on his face. The next second, his whole face lit up. How Morinaga could go from being so down to absolutely ecstatic was beyond him.

Pushing off from the floor, Tetsuhiro rushed over to where his senpai was walking away, heading towards the genkan. He wrapped his arms around a slender frame, giving the slightly shorter man a suffocating hug, crashing his chest to the other's back. Startled, Senpai struggled at the unexpected contact. Releasing his grip just a little bit, the giddy kouhai turned his senpai around in his grasp. Looking into the bewildered man's eyes, the taller man leaned in, soft lips touching in sweet bliss. Leaning back ever so slightly to stare into his love's face, Tetsuhiro took in the gorgeous sight that stood before him, from the rosy tint of a soft blush to the half lidded eyes.

"I understand, Senpai." Those words were whispered next to a reddening ear. Senpai resumed his attempt to push the other one away, now that his senses seemed to have returned. They were standing in the threshold between the kitchenette and the short hallway leading towards the genkan, surrounded by the wooden doorframe.

"Wha- What was that for?!" Souichi mentally cursed himself for sounding so breathless. Morinaga gave him a quizzical look before directing his gaze upwards. Following it, he saw something hanging above their heads.

"But Senpai, we're standing under mistletoe." Morinaga looked down, returning his attention to his senpai who was still in his arms, his escape attempt somewhat forgotten, for now.

"You're supposed to kiss if two people are standing beneath it at the same time." Staring back at the offending flora, while wondering where such a strange tradition could have come from, a slow realization came to him. They were still standing beneath it.

"That's so stupid!… Wha-?" Souichi was pulled into another mind numbing kiss. This one more heated as a sly tongue slipped through parted lips. Souichi moaned slightly as he tasted his idiotic roommate. However, the embrace and the kiss were so comfortable, tender and warm; he really couldn't think why this was wrong. They continued to taste each other, their breathing laboured as Morinaga held a narrow waist to his and Souichi grabbed onto strong, sturdy arms. They finally separated when they both needed more air. Distantly, Souichi felt his phone vibrate a few times in his pocket. Huh… Did I just get a text message? Wait… What time is it?... Shit! That was probably my alarm. That means I only have 30 minutes to get to school! Dammit, I'm late!

"Shit! Idiot! Let go! I'll be late!" Reluctantly relinquishing his hold, Tetsuhiro allowed his adorable senpai to finish getting ready for school. In no time, Senpai was slipping on his shoes, ready to go.

"Have a nice day, Senpai! Oh! Be sure to dress warmly. It's supposed to get cold from now on. They're announcing nearly freezing by the end of next week." Slipping on his coat, double checking his pockets to make sure his gloves were there just in case he needed them, Souichi slung his bag over his shoulder as he opened the door and waved back at his roommate.

"Ya, ya… Later." And with that, Morinaga was left to eagerly await Senpai's return.

Yay for finally having my laptop back after it nearly died and had to be sent away to get fixed… for a good whole month! Urgh… That took a while.

Well here's a new post… that's not a new chapter… Yah… Sorry for the uber long delay.

I got sucked into the whole holiday spirit thing and kinda got side tracked…

But hey! It's a new story! It's only going to be two parts long. I hope you enjoyed part 1!

Take care! Until next time!

-Getsuei