"thoughts"

"I promised that I wouldn't do this. These feelings were supposed to be locked away deep in my heart, so why? Why am I laying so close to him, watching these fireworks, exposing that I have loved him since we we're in high school. He'll probably never look at me the same. Maybe it's better to put in that form to transfer editors after all."

"Tori... Hatori?" Chiaki said in a worried tone, slightly shaking his editor. "You fell asleep on your desk again. That's the second time this week. Are you feeling alright," Chiaki asked placing a hand on Hatori's forehead. Hatori spun his chair back, "I'm fine." "No you're not fine," Chiaki said in a slightly smart- elic tone, "your face is all red!" "Well whose fault do you think that is, dangit!" "I said I'm fine." He then stood, grabbing the jacket from his chair back, "I'll be leaving first, make sure you get plenty of rest tonight." "I know, I'm not a child," Chiaki said with a flushed red face. "Why does he have to make such cute expressions, I don't know how much longer I'll be able to hold my self back. I want him; all of him!" Hatori snapped out of it. "Well if I don't take care of you, who will? Speaking of which, what have you eaten today?" "Uhhh..." Hatori huffed, "It can't be helped." He went and grabbed Chiaki, pulling him out the door. "I'll fix you dinner tonight." "Really?!" Chiaki was ecstatic. "But weren't you feeling." Hatori glared at him with an annoyed expression. "Ahaha... never mind," Chiaki stuttered as they left the office.

"Ahh," Chiaki sighed with relief as he fell back onto the couch. "Who knew my dream job would be this tiring? I thought they said when you love what you do, you never work a day in your life!" Hatori chuckled as he kept stirring the curry he had been preparing. Hatori had been used to taking care of the smaller man for as long as he could remember. Each year through school they had ironically ended up in the same classes. They also only lived a train station away from each other, so they always went home together. But it wasn't until that day, in their first year of high school that Hatori truly fell for him.

Flashback:

They were on the train home, just arriving at Chiaki's station. "See you tomorrow Tori!" "What did I tell you about calling me that!" "Bye" he exclaimed sticking his tongue out at Tori. He then wistfully jogged away into the distance. Hatori settled back down in his seat, pulling out his cellular device. "8:36 P.M. why did we have to get out so late today," he huffed. "Oh right, it was his fault..."

Earlier that afternoon:

"Tori I forgot my hat and gloves inside, I'll be right back!" "Idiot, we're going to miss the train!"

We ended up staying an extra hour for the next one because of that dummy! Hmph! "And he tells me not to treat him like a child," he thought. He glanced over to where his friend had been sitting, only to see a single bright blue glove laying in the seat. "Chiaki! He exclaimed angrily as he grabbed the glove and bolted off the train. "That boy causes me so much trouble. Now which direction did he live in again... shit!" He hung his head, "I should have just stayed on the train!"

Chiaki at the same time:

"Woah, it's getting pretty chilly out here, better put on my gloves so I don't catch a cold. That would just be one more thing for Tori to gripe at me about." He reached into his coat pocket, pulling ot his gear. He put on the hat, then one glove and... "Ah," he shot around looking down his previous path. "I lost it!" As he was still turned around facing his old footsteps, he felt a warm figure pressing against his back. As he was about to turn, one hand covered his mouth, while the other began to explore his body. It ran up his chest, and then back down to his waist line. He felt the hand undoing his pants zipper. "This can't be happening!" Chiaki began squirming trying to kick off the attacker. The man wasn't fazed in the least. The ominous figure leaned down to Chiaki's ear and whispered, "I like a challenge." Tears began to stream down his face. He was completely helpless within these grips, there was no way of escaping, all he could do was stand there and be violated. "Maybe if I just close my eyes this will all disappear, like one of those closet monsters I saw when I was a kid." Suddenly the hand that was in his pants ceased motion. Then with force, Chiaki's body was yanked forward away from the figure. He fell to the ground with a sense of relief, but was still in question of the current situation. When he glanced back the only things he saw were splattered blood and Hatori's fist, everything else went blank.

When he regained consciousness, he was lying on a pallet in an empty room with a sliding door closet and two windows on opposite sides. "Are you feeling alright, came form a familiar voice. "To-Tori?" He threw his arms around Hatori. "He-hey, what are you..." He looked down to see the small body clenched to him. "His arms and fingers are so slender. He has pure white skin with crystal blue eyes. His hair smells nice too." Hatori kept examining. "Tori... you... saved me," Chiaki muttered between hiccups. "Thank you..." Chiaki gazed up at Hatori with a look of pure innocence. Hatori's heart skipped a beat. He didn't know what was going on. He had always thought of Chiaki as an attractive guy, but nothing more than a bother. Yet when Chiaki was laying in his arms, Hatori felt like he never wanted to let go of him. His heart began to race even faster. Chiaki released his grip from Tori's waist. "Sor-sorry," Chiaki murmured. Hatori then patted his head, "there is nothing to be sorry for." Chiaki blushed. Tori walked over to the closet grabbing another pallet. He then lied down opposite of Chiaki. "You can stay the night with me. I live alone, and if someone tries anything I will be here to protect you." The room was completely silent. "Hey Chiaki," he sat up and looked at his guest, but Chiaki was already fast asleep. "Tsk, what a waste of a good line," he laughed. "Goodnight Chiaki."

After that day the two of them went back to normal, well one of them did. Hatori now equipped with his new found liking towards Chiaki vowed to himself to always be there to take care of Chiaki, but to never tell him his feelings. They stayed friends through the rest of school and university. Later they ended up in the same workforce and eventually co-workers. And now this is where they were, Hatori still keeping his vow.

Flashback End

"Dinner will be ready in a few minutes... Chiaki?" As he was speaking he noticed the small body appear next to him and snatch a shrimp filled rice ball. "Hey what are you doing, it's almost ready!" "But e'm hunrry," Chiaki complained with a full mouth. Hatori huffed, "well it was all for you anyways." "What, you're not gonna eat with me Tori?" "Well I was going to," Hatori stopped midsentence reaching down to wipe a piece of rice from Chiaki's cheek. The smaller man blushed immediately, "I'll, I'll go wait at the table," he said trying to hide his flushed face. Hatori just laughed.

"Man that was good Tori! You could become a famous chef if you wanted to," Chiaki exclaimed once again plopping down onto the couch, but this time beside Tori. Tori blushed slightly. "Oh, hey I was wondering Tori, why are you always so nice to me? All I ever seem to do is cause you trouble." "Well I'm your editor, so if something happens to you, I'm without a job too." he replied emotionlessly. Chiaki frowned slightly. "I just thought that maybe you treated me so nicely because I'm your favorite or something." Chiaki giggled. "You're my favorite Tori!" Hatori shot a surprised look at Chiaki, who didn't notice. "Did he just say that I'm his favorite..." Chiaki then got up from the couch, "well I'm gonna go ahead and get some rest." He winked back at Hatori. "You can let yourself out whenever you're ready." He was about to walk off when Hatori grabbed his wrist. "Why?" Chiaki was a bit confused. "Why what?" "Why am I your favorite?" "Well that's easy, your kind to me, honest about my work, take care of me when I can't even take care of myself, and you have always been there when I needed you the most, just like that night." Chiaki gave a light-hearted smile to Tori. Hatori still had grip on his wrist. Chiaki was confused once more. "Tori?" "Chiaki... I'm in love with you."