Sitting on the couch, Usagi grunted as Miskai began to fix the bow of his suit.

"You're the only person ridiculous enough to not be glad of getting another award." The boy reprimanded. The older man looked down at Misaki's hands as they laced.

"The fact that you can do this now, proves we've been to too many of these ceremonies." He said bitterly.

"That's a good thing!"

"It's just a waste of time. I am forced to be with other people instead of with Misaki."

"Be nice, Usagi-san, those people pay for our rent."

Purple eyes gleamed and the older man took hold of Misaki's own undone bow and pulled the boy's face close to his.

"We could just stay here…"

"N-no we can't! Isaka-san is waiting for us!"

Ignoring him, Usami pushed Miskai back and was soon on top of him.

"Stop playing around! We have to go!"

Usami pressed a kiss against his lover's neck.

"No thank you."

The kisses turned into bites and Misaki opened his mouth to argue once more but was interrupted by the front door being kicked open.

"Akihiko! Everyone is already at the event! We are leaving now!"

Usami stared at Isaka with contempt while Miskai just wriggled desperately under him.

"I'm in the middle of something."

"No you're not!" The boy's words went unheard.

"No time to play! I will not let you be late again."

"Isaka." Misaki stopped wriggling at Usagi's tone. "Wait downstairs."

The man sighed and lifted his hands in a sign of surrender.

"Fine. Try to not take too long, will you."

"I-I-saka-san! You can't let him win!" The front door closed and Misaki just stared at it with annoyance.

A kiss to his cheek brought his attention back to the man on top of him.

"Now, where were we…"

"Ladies and gentleman! We are proud to present this year's winner: Usami Akihiko!"

Misaki watched from afar as Usami made his entrance. The man was wearing his "fake and perfect smile" that irked the brunette so.

"Thank you everyone. Sorry for being late; the traffic was dreadful." Misaki muttered the word "traffic" under his breath with annoyance.

As the silver haired man began to give the speech Isaka had forced him to write, Miskai felt his annoyance fade away, a light smile appearing on his face. He was proud of his lover's work and felt he deserved the recognition even if the man himself didn't appreciate the gesture.

As he spoke, Usami made eye contact with Miskai, who gave him a thumbs up. Something in the man's face changed, and he cleared his throat before continuing. After the speech, the spokesperson thanked him for his words.

"Is there anyone you would like to thank for their support?"

Usami's smile never faltered, but Misaki caught the strain in his voice.

"Well, my editor of course. My publisher, who has to put up with me…" Purple eyes landed on green. Misaki felt his heartbeat increase. "and…"

Out of the corner of his eye, Misaki saw Isaka take a step forward. Usami saw him too, and his voice became cold. "… my fans."

Everyone clapped excitedly while Misaki let go of a breath he didn't know he was holding. Usami gave an angry look to Isaka, who seemed quite stressed. Misaki watched the scene with something akin to guilt. Was he getting in the way of Usagi's career again? He had to admit that there had been a part of him that had really wanted Usagi to mention his name…

Misaki looked at Usami as the spokesperson said his last words but felt suddenly too drained to clap alongside everyone. Usami wasn't bowing like he usually would. He wasn't smiling at all and Misaki wondered if it was his fault.

Maybe I shouldn't have come…

That was when Usami practically stormed off the stage. Misaki gasped as he watched the older man completely ignore the crowd of fans gathering around him, forcing them out of the way. The boy gave a light jump when he realized Usami was walking right to him. Before Isaka could do anything, the man took hold of Misaki's wrist and pulled him out of the room. As they left, Misaki could hear people whispering loudly, asking where the writer was going and who that person he had taken with him was.

"W-what are you doing! Usagi!"

The man just looked forward. His entire form was rigid and Misaki could almost feel the anger radiating from him.

Once they reached their hotel room, Usami unlocked the door and slammed it shut. He practically threw Misaki against the wall and stood over him.

"U-usagi san?"

They made eye contact and the intense anger in the man's purple gaze slipped away, leaving him looking vulnerable. Usami sighed in defeat and laid his forehead against Misaki's shoulder.

"I'm just so tired of this… I'm tired of pretending with all those people… Having all these girls talking to me when all I want to do is yell at them that I already love someone… you're the only one that matters…"

Misaki felt his heart clench. He raised his hand and gently laced his fingers through the older man's hair.

"I also… want to be like that with Usagi-san…"

Usami's body became tense. He quickly raised his head to look at Misaki with wide eyes. Many different emotions passed between them. Finally Usami acquired a determined look.

"Then let's do it." He took a tight hold of Misaki's shoulders. "Let's tell them."

Misaki's eyes widened and his heart began to beat like crazy.

"B-but-" He found himself almost chocking on his words.

The older man's face changed. His eyes became distant, as if he was thinking. For a moment, the brunette's heart missed a beat, thinking Usami was having second thoughts. Purple eyes blinked then stared intensely into green.

"Wait."

Misaki almost fell at the sudden loss of support. He followed Usami's figure with his eyes as the older man looked into the pocket of a coat he had worn the day before. Whatever he took out from there was easily hidden by his large hand. He quickly made his way back to Misaki, but the closer he got the slower he went until he came to a complete stop right before him. He stared into the brunette's eyes.

"I love you." For some reason, Misaki felt really nervous and excited at the same time, as if his subconscious knew something he did not. "I've loved you since that day when you cried over me. I was cold. I didn't allow anyone into my heart, but you found your way in and made it your own. You are the only thing that matters in my life… no… you are my life, and I want everyone to know that you are mine."

He opened his hand to show a small velvet box. Misaki felt his insides go numb in shock.

Is that…

Usagi fell on one knee and Misaki's own knees felt like they were going to buckle. He covered his mouth trying to control the overwhelming amount of emotions running through him. Even his eyesight was becoming blurry as he watched Usami open the little box and show a beautiful diamond ring.

"Takahashi Misaki… will you marry me?"

The brunette was having difficulty breathing. He forced himself to become calm enough to speak.

"B-but what about your career! W-wont it cause you trouble?"

"If my personal life changes people's perception of my writing then that speaks more of them than of my work."

Misaki couldn't believe this was happening. He felt tears slip from the corner of his eyes.

He really wants this… and…I really want this… if problems come, then we will face them together…

"Usagi-san…"

"Misaki…"

They both stared deeply into each other's eyes, knowing that the next word to leave Misaki's mouth would change their lives forever. Finally the brunette let out a laugh that sounded more like a sob.

"Yes."

Usagi's eyes widened and his face held a happiness that Misaki had never seen before. The silver haired man took a tight hold on his now fiancé and spun him around. Misaki's arms were around Usami's neck and the boy laughed at how incredibly giddy he was feeling. Any other day he would have chided himself over how much of a girl he was acting as, but today it didn't matter.

Finally Usami put him down and immediately kissed him, deeply and affectionately. Usami pulled back and took out the little box. As the older man slipped the ring onto Misaki's finger the brunette noticed Usami was shaking. The sight of it made Misaki's ridiculously fast heartbeat maintain its pace and kept the tears running down his cheeks.

Usagi's own eyes were looking watery and that made Misaki's heart feel like it could explode. He pulled the older man in and placed their foreheads together.

Misaki made a face as he noticed yet another group of girls whispering and looking at him.

His new ring had attracted a lot of unwanted attention at the university. He had always been the center of rumors, but the truth was that Misaki had had a fool's hope that once the rumors proved to be true they would get bored of him. If anything they seemed even more riled up. He sighed but shrugged off the thought and continued with his work. His eyes left the words he was writing on the page in exchange for his hand. A soft smile appeared on his face. From day one he had thought of taking off the ring during his classes but… he realized that he couldn't. It just… meant a lot to him. He looked back down and kept writing.

"Here's the extra copy of that assignment you wanted."

The brunette gave a startled jump as he heard Sumi-senpai's voice. He felt nervousness hit him as he forced a smile on his face.

"A-a right! Thank you…"

His friend seemed his usual self and did not comment on Misaki's newest accessory, but the green eyed boy caught him looking at it a few times. Misaki had no idea how his classmate was feeling. Was he angry that the brunette had certainly taken any of his chances of being with Usami? Was he sad? Misaki shook his head and forced himself not to worry about that.

Once class was over, Sumi walked Misaki over to where Usami would always pick him up. They were talking about random things and the brunette almost forgot about his concerns over the subject of his engagement. He waved goodbye to his friend and began to exit the school grounds.

"Misaki…"

The brunette stopped and looked back. His friend´s smile looked a bit tense.

"Congratulations."

The shorter boy's eyes widened. Those words felt genuine, and knowing how hard the situation must be on him made them very valuable.

"Thank you." He said with a smile. Sumi nodded and waved goodbye back.

Usami stared at the ring on Misaki's finger as the boy chopped up the vegetables for that night's dinner. The brunette was distracted from his work by the feeling of strong arms wrapping around him and lifting him up lightly.

"A-ah! Usagi-san! I'm cooking!"

The man buried his face against the boy's neck.

"Just seeing that ring… I'm still so overjoyed that Misaki is mine officially… I'm just so happy that I almost don't believe it's happening."

The brunette blushed but forced an unfazed look on his face.

"Well snap out of it! It's happening." That comment made Usami smiled even more. He was, for once, obedient and put Misaki down but kept his arms around him and rested his chin on his shoulder. The boy continued his cutting with a small sigh. "I wished the people from my school would snap out of it too. They keep staring at my ring all the time."

Miskai could feel Usami's teasing smile against his neck. "I honestly thought you would be hiding it while you were in class."

The brunette gave a light scowl. "What little faith you have in me!" He brought his hand closer to himself and looked down at it. "It's just… so important, you know? It's a symbol of so many things…" He turned to his fiancé with a pout. "I wouldn't take it off! I'm not that kind of person."

Usami blinked in slight shock before a lustful smile appeared on his face. He took hold of Misaki's wrist and began to pull him away from the kitchen. Immediately understanding his intentions, Misaki argued.

"B-but Usagi-san! Dinner!"

"I'll just have to ravish you."

Usami watched as Misaki was slowly drifting off to sleep. The older man traced his lips and eyes, which fluttered weakly but were soon closed once more. Usami petted Misaki's head softly and the boy leaned towards his touch. That was when he noticed the ring still on Misaki's finger.

"You really never took it off…"

He found himself pulling his sleepy lover towards him and cradling him against this chest. Misaki positioned his head comfortably over Usami's chest and finished nodding off. The silver haired man pressed a kiss to the boy's forehead and smiled. In that moment, his heart was completely content.

"Usagi-san! I gotta go buy some things for school!"

It was chilly outside so the green eyed boy put on his coat, and a new knitted hat his brother had sent him. He was about to open the door to leave, when his fiancé called out.

"Misaki…" The brunette froze and made a face. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

"Right…" Since they would begin their "married life" soon, Usami wanted them to get into the habit of kissing each other goodbye ("All typical married couples do it!"). The brunette walked the few steps back to where Usami was and gave him a light peck on the lips. "I'll be back soon."

Feeling a strange warmth in his chest, Misaki took a hold of his umbrella and went outside.

He looked at the ground as he walked towards the train station. Lost in his own thoughts, he crashed into someone.

"Oh! Sor- gah!" Before him was Usami's older brother, Haruhiko. The man had a deep frown on his face and his grip on his umbrella was very tight. "Y-you!"

"I supposed I would find you here. It is imperative that we talk. Follow me." He began to walk off, but Misaki stayed standing in the same place. He turned back. "Well?"

"I'm not going anywhere with you." Misaki didn't know what Haruhiko´s intentions were, but he remembered the last times this man had wanted to speak with him alone had ended in quite unpleasant situations. Also, Usami wouldn't like it. The man walked back until he was standing before him.

"Fine. Have it your way." He looked Misaki right in the eye. "You need to break off your engagement to Akihiko."

It wasn't just that wind that made Misaki shiver; there was something cold in his words. The boy frowned.

"Excuse me?" Haruhiko seemed to get frustrated.

"Do you even realize what you have gotten yourself into?"

"…Usagi can be a lot to handle sometimes bu-"

"That's not what I'm talking about!"

There was silence. Haruhiko spoke quietly.

"You really think our father will let this wedding take place?"

Misaki felt like he had been punched. The words Usami-chichi had once told him echoed in his mind… your existence is quite a nuisance…

The green eyed boy forced himself to look unfazed. He looked at Haruhiko with a determined look in his eyes.

"You really think that will make us back down? We can take on whatever you guys come up with!"

Misaki turned to walk away, but froze when he heard a whisper.

"… I don't want you getting hurt."

The brunette stood there, not knowing what to say or do. He looked down and caught sight of his ring on the hand holding the umbrella. With his resolve strengthened, he took a deep breath.

"Thank you for your concern, but there's noting you can do."

Without turning back, he walked away.

Usami had been taking a break from working on his latest novel. He was lazily lying on the couch, lifting Suzuki and frowning at the bear.

"I'm so bored. Why is Misaki taking so long?"

That was when his cellphone rang. The man lifted an eyebrow, thinking it was Isaka to tell him he was wanted for yet another press conference. He put down Suzuki and answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"… Akihiko"

Purple eyes widened as he recognized the voice.

"How do you have my number?"

"Is that really how you should greet your father?"

Usami's voice went cold.

"What do you want?"

"I suspect you already know." A growl was heard. "Now, now, Akihiko, I only want what is best for my children, even if they don't see it that way. This… scandal is not good for your future."

"The quality of my writing has no-"

"Your personal life has made people stop buying your books! How will they judge the "quality of your writing" then, huh? A great number of people who bought your books were females who were striving for your favor!"

"And I was sick of that!"

The older man sighed.

"Akihiko… you need to break all and any of your connections to Takahashi Misaki."

"Never."

"Akihi-"

"No! I'm done with having you trying to control my life! I broke my connections to you and rejected your inheritance! I want you away from Misaki, from me, and from my future!"

The older man heard the line go dead. He sighed as he put down the phone.

"Akihiko… you've left me no choice."

"I'm back!" Misaki called out as he entered the apartment. He took off his shoes and realized that Usami's were gone.

"Did Usagi go out?" The boy wondered. He walked into the living room and indeed found a note from the rabbit stating he had gone to buy cigarettes. "That idiot. He just bought a box yesterday." He paused. "Maybe he's getting stressed because of the wedding?" Misaki looked down worriedly. "Is he having second thoughts? Maybe he realized that the complications of marrying me aren't worth it…"

He shook his head.

"Don't think like that!" He sat on the couch next to Suzuki-san. He took the bear and laid back, looking at it. "Is there something you want to tell me about Usagi-san?" The bear stayed quiet. Misaki gave a small laugh before sitting back up with the bear in his arms.

He turned on the TV and began to mindlessly flip through the channels. That was when his own name caught his attention.

"-gagement to Takahashi Misaki. The writer had been known for being secretive but this was far more shocking than anyone expected. This has become quite a controversial topic, with some people describing the coming event as 'barely legal and quite morally questionable' while others simply say that 'everyone should do with their lives what they wish-'"

Misaki turned the apparatus off, suddenly remembering why he had been avoiding it. He knew that nothing they said would make him change his mind, it just hurt him to see so many people attacking Usami over him and made him wonder sometimes if the older man's life would be easier if he had never met him. Misaki looked down at his finger and laughed at himself.

"Imagine what Usagi-san would say if he knew you were thinking that. He would go on a rampage!"

Misaki decided to ignore his insecurities and finish listening to the report, when suddenly the door to the apartment opened. On reflex, the boy threw the remote control away, wincing at the sound it made as it hit the wall. He pretended to be staring at the ceiling. He heard Usami's steps stop before him.

"Misaki?"

The green eyed boy kept his eyes away from his fiancé.

"O-oh you're back! Welcome home…"

There was silence.

"What are you staring at?"

"W-what? N-nothing…"

He felt a hand take hold of his chin and pull his face down until his eyes were making contact with Usami's. The man had a teasing smile on his face.

"So I'm guessing that the reason why you threw the remote against the wall was because there was an insect and now it's on the roof?" Misaki blushed in embarrassment.

"F-fine! They were talking about us on television…" There was a pause. Usami's expression softened.

"And how does that make you feel?" The older man had learned that Misaki would keep his feelings bottled up to avoid causing trouble for other people. The brunette sighed, looking conflicted.

"I just… feel like I'm causing you so many problems…" Misaki heard a laugh in response. "D-don't laugh! I'm serious!"

"You just don't seem to understand. I don't care what anybody says. I literally couldn't care less. You are my everything, Misaki." He leaned forward and captured the boy's lips with his own. He pulled away and stared lovingly into those green eyes. "You are all I could ever need. I love you."

Misaki found himself sighing in something similar to defeat. Of course Usagi-san didn't care about any of the bad publicity. All of Miskai's insecurities were a result of Usami-chichi's insinuations.

If Usagi-san doesn't care about what other people say… then neither do I.

Misaki stood up and surprised Usami with a soft embrace.

"I understand." He looked up at his lover and forced himself to maintain eye contact. He blushed profoundly. "I- I love you too."

Although they were both well aware of their feelings, it was still rare for Misaki to verbalize them so freely. Usagi's eyes filled with joy as he pulled in his fiancé and buried his face against the boy's hair.

"I love you. I love you so much…"

Walking through the street, on his way to the supermarket, Misaki sighed as he realized he had brought along his school bag. He dreaded how it would add to all the weight he would be carrying soon.

"Maybe I should have asked Usagi-san to come with me…" He sighed again. The reason he had decided not to, was because being outside together still attracted a lot of attention. Misaki believed Usagi-san when he said he didn't care, but with the man's sudden increase of cigarette intake, Misaki thought it would be best to avoid any potentially stressful situations. "Hopefully… after everything is official… people will back down."

Perhaps it was because he was so distracted that he didn't notice a limousine suddenly parking next to him, but honestly even if he had noticed he wouldn't have been able to get away in time.

In a blink of an eye, he felt someone cover his mouth and lift him up. He heard his schoolbag hit the ground as he struggled. Soon it was a group of people pulling him into a car.

"There, there, Misaki. Everything is as it should be." The brunette's eyes widened as he saw Usagi-chichi standing outside of the door as he watched the scene unfold. Misaki stretched his arm towards him, somehow trying to get him to explain himself or to stop whatever was happening. The man grinned.

"Oh, and I'll be taking this." He pulled the engagement ring off Misaki's extended hand. Horror filled the boy and his fighting became even more desperate. Someone took the handle of the door and began closing it.

"Goodbye, Misaki."