Author's Note: I've had some health problems. Still not 100% but doing better.
Misaki
The shone in through the oversized windows in Usagi's condo. He was sleeping on the couch, a cigarette still burning in his hand. Ashes hit the floor and sizzled out. I'd woken up awhile ago in his bed. It smelled strongly of him, like cigarettes, cinnamon, soap, and something musky. I found myself deeply inhaling with my face buried in a pillow. I'd looked around for a little while before wandering downstairs. I went into the kitchen. It was packed full of food. Usagi couldn't cook though. It must just be so he could attempt. The least I could do was make breakfast for Usagi. I'd called Nii-chan and told him I was staying with a friend. He didn't really buy it. While Usagi got in the shower, I'd fallen asleep. He'd taken the couch and let me use his bed. I had to repay him somehow.
I was setting the table when a groggy Usagi appeared. He went into the kitchen and headed right towards the coffee. He rubbed his eyes as if confused. "Why is it already made?" He mumbled to himself. He looked around and spotted me. He looked at all the food and then at me. "You cook?"
"I used to a lot. Now it's Manami's thing." Usagi sat at the table.
"You didn't have to make so much." I could feel my face growing red. I hadn't cooked in so long I got carried away and made way too much.
"I'm sure you don't get to eat things like this often and I wanted to thank you for giving me a place to stay. I hadn't cooked in awhile so...I got a bit carried away. I didn't realize I made so much." Usagi shrugged.
"No problem. Like you said, I don't get to eat like this much." Usagi was odd. He seemed to consider his food's feeling or something. Either that or he just liked to stare at it. "How'd you make it taste like this?" Ah, so he wanted to know how to cook. Nii-chan had told me numerous times that Usagi had almost blown his house up and he had to go check on him.
"I don't know...I always liked to cook. I just learned from watching my mom when I was little." She always used to cook a lot and pay attention to me. She noticed I seemed to be amazed and taught me tons of things. Afterwards I'd write it all down. Recently I rewrote all her old recipes and made a cookbook. It was one of the few things I had left of her. I could feel tears stinging my eyes, and the lump in my throat growing harder to swallow. Usagi seemed to notice. I took a shaky breath and tried to smile. The result was probably poor.
I could feel the tears falling now. I was glad I wasn't crying like I did when I was alone. I always managed to hold everything in until I could be alone. Something about Usagi unnerved me. I felt like I could be too honest around him and I didn't like it at all. I was so used to being reserved and hiding things from Nii-chan that I hid things from everyone. Usagi got up from the table. I wouldn't blame him for leaving the room or kicking me out. It seemed like I was only going to cause him problems which was the last thing I wanted.
When I looked up his face was right in front of mine. I didn't expect him to kiss me.
Usagi
Misaki stared at me with those wide emerald eyes. All the tears stopped flowing after a minute. I didn't expect to be doing what I was doing, but I wasn't the sort of person that knew how comfort people very well. All I knew was that whenever I saw Misaki my chest would get tight and my mind would be clouded with thoughts of him. It was a familiar feeling, a dangerous feeling. "You stopped crying." I went back to my seat and continued eating. I didn't want to hope that Misaki had feelings for me, but I could feel myself doing it anyway.
"Yeah. I guess I did." He laughed. "Thank you. Usagi...I don't understand how Nii-chan could willingly lose a friend like you. He's an idiot."
After Misaki was done cleaning up he wrapped up all the food for me. I'd probably eat it all week. It was much better than anything I had to grab for myself. "I guess I should get going huh?" Misaki didn't look like he wanted to leave, but it would be more awkward for me to tell him to stay.
"Do you want a ride?" He shook his head no.
"I think I'd rather walk. I have some things to think about anyway. Thank you for letting me stay here...and thanks for cheering me up." When he left...it felt empty. It was why I didn't get used to having anyone over, but his presence felt so natural there. I went up to the bear closet and turned on the light. I hadn't been in there in awhile. I looked down at the boxes I'd put there so long ago. I opened them up. The new series would be liked more I was sure. I'd already finished the story. I rushed downstairs and dialed the number to Aikawa's office. She rarely came over anymore, just to get a manuscript. I couldn't blame here. I wasn't the nicest or happiest person to be around.
"Hello?" I could tell she was tired.
"It's me." She sighed.
"What is it sensei?" When'd she get so sarcastic? Probably awhile ago. I just didn't notice.
"If you don't want to hear good news I'll hang up. I mean I was thinking of you when I started this project." I could hear her going through papers.
"No! No! I didn't mean it like that." Things finally were seeming normal again. "What's the good news?"
"I'm going to start them again. So you'll have more work to do." She stopped what she was doing. "Aikawa?"
"I'll be over shortly sensei!" The line went dead. I hadn't really smiled in so long I almost forgot what it was like.
Aikawa
I'd been planning with Usami-sensei for hours. The last thing I had expected of him was to start up his BL novels again. I was interested in why he decided too, but he seemed to be in a good mood and I didn't want to bring up a touchy subject. I decided to go for it anyway. "Sensei why are you writing these again?"
"It might be better if I just show you." He hadn't been this enthusiastic in awhile. What could possibly make him this way? "Come on." He got up, car keys in hand, and walked out. I followed quickly. He drove to the park once we were in the car and stopped. It was mostly empty of people. Some kids were scattered around.
"What am I looking for exactly?" He pointed towards the track.
He had chestnut hair and emerald eyes. Sweat matted his hair to his forehead, but he breathed evenly and focused his attention ahead. I could here his feet hitting the pavement from the car. He didn't look like he'd be strong but I could see the lean muscles in his when he ran...he was cute. He was young. More my time than sensei's. He had a crush I was guessing. He was writing out all his fantasies again...falling into the same bad habit. There was no way that kid wanted him. "He's cute."
"You disapprove?" He was fixed on his figure, running another lap.
"He's a little young." He was still staring. Suddenly the kid stopped and ran up to the car.
"Hey Usagi." He stretched a little.
"Hi Misaki. This is my editor." He gestured towards me.
"I'm Aikawa." Misaki smiled.
"Misaki Takahashi." Takahiro's brother...not good. They didn't look anything alike. Sensei was unbelievable, but I didn't expect anything less.