Hi guys! :) Wow, I didn't expect there to be such a long gap between the first chapter and this one. But it has been a nightmarish couple of weeks for school, especially the last one. But I finally got free time to write this, and it feels nice to take my mind off work.

So enjoy the chapter and please review :)

It was a chilly winter that year, and the wind bit harshly at any exposed skin. At least, though, there were two bodies that were perfectly warm.

Ritsu and Saga had finally arrived at the park. Ritsu was slightly dizzy, but relieved to have gotten off the motorcycle, especially one that was going at a breakneck speed. Saga was usually a safe driver, but today he often surpassed the speed limit, so much that Ritsu was whispering "Dear God, Dear God" repeatedly into Saga's jacket. Saga himself couldn't explain why he did it, but brushed it off.

"Alright, let's get down to business," announced Saga, reaching down to his pants to undo his belt. Ritsu froze, mortified. Was he really going to do this right now, in the parking lot? Couldn't it wait until they got to bed?

Saga reached into his pocket, pulled out his cell phone, and readjusted his belt. "They were tight," Saga explained simply, slightly amused at Ritsu's reddening face. Damn, this guy could get flustered.

"Oh ha, haha, I see!" Ritsu laughed nervously.

"Anways, we haven't exchanged phone numbers yet, might as well do it now. What's yours?" Saga said, lifting up his phone.

Ritsu's face fell. "I actually don't have one..."

"Seriously? But don't you come from a rich family?"

"My mother doesn't really trust me with one," muttered Ritsu. This had some truth in it - Ritsu was notorious for losing his things so often that his parents had all the local lost-and-founds on speed dial. The only things he didn't lose were his precious books; those he guarded with his life.

"Well... would you happen to have a pen?" Ritsu dug into his coat pockets for his usual pen. He always carried one around, just in case he found out about a book he wanted to read.

"Here, let me write it on your arm," said Saga, pulling up Ritsu's coat sleeves, making Ritsu blush with the warm, gentle touch. Ritsu's arm was indeed littered with Kanji, spelling out book titles, and Saga squeezed the number into the little space that was unmarked. Saga pointed one of the titles, saying, "I've read that one by the way. It was pretty insightful, I liked it."

"Really? I'm going to read that one right away!" replied Ritsu excitedly. "It's a long walk until the actual park," he mentioned.

Saga suddenly grabbed Ritsu's hand and intertwined the fingers, and Ritsu blushed even more. "Then let's talk to pass the time. About you." Saga almost smiled.

Ritsu looked up at his senpai in wonder, tomato red now. So then he started to talk. He stuttered and stumbled on his words at first, but then got more comfortable the longer he talked.

Ritsu started talking about his childhood, describing his sheltered life. Growing up, he never went to primary school, but was tutored by some of the best professors in Japan, especially concerning literature. His mother saw public education beneath him, though Ritsu or his father never shared such a view. He never got to go out by himself, either, unless it was with the butler, Tanaka-san; incidentally, Tanaka-san was one of Ritsu's best friends. He basically had the upbringing of a pampered, miserable prince. One of his only other friends was An-chan, who was a family friend, and they both always joked about their childhood marriage promise (though An-chan seemed to becoming more serious about it recently).

Saga could understand Ritsu's gripes, but felt a little resentment himself. If only his parents cared about him a fraction that Ritsu's parents did. They just told Saga to stay out of their way; nobody wanted to deal with an obligation, thought Saga internally. Ritsu continued his rant.

One of the Onodera family's favorite activity together, however, was to go to this park together. Though Ritsu didn't look like it, he loved roller coasters and fast rides. They were exciting. But they had stopped going as Ritsu became older, his mom drilling his literature studies into his brain. He needed to take over his father's company anyway.

Then as Ritsu completed his ninth year, his father became concerned with his lack of exposure to the real world. He needed to go to real high school, his father asserted. But Ritsu vividly recalled his mother scoffing, "He would never survive in the real world anyway!" Ritsu, an inherently shy person, had been crippled by his mother's strict upbringing. But he had, finally, ended up in public school.

"I regret it." Ritsu blurted out. "I regret the pressure, the sheltering, and lack of respect from her. It's made me nervous and awkward and uncertain. I can barely talk to anyone without ending up a bumbling mess." The words spilled out, one after another, with Ritsu's eyes blazing. He sighed heavily.

Saga, who had been staring at Ritsu intently this whole time, was somewhat bothered by these words. "Well, I think you're fine the way you are," Saga murmured.

Ritsu finally looked up after talking down to his shoes the whole time. He flushed and became warm all over. "Really?" asked Ritsu. The answer was clear in Saga's eyes, and he saw that the words were genuine. "T-thank you." stuttered Ritsu. He noticed that his eyes had become moist.

They walked in silence for a few minutes, and then Ritsu shouted excitedly, "We're here! Better go on all the roller coasters before lunch, right?" Saga grimaced. How anyone could like those metal pieces of junk was beyond him.

"Let's go on that one first!" Ritsu positively chirped, pointing to a freefall ride. Saga groaned on the inside.

He hated heights.

Yup, Saga's slightly scared of heights. But he's not going to let Ritsu know of course XD

Sorry this story is going so slowly! It's been two chapters and Ritsu is still not lost. But this chapter was mostly character development of Ritsu, and I really enjoy exploring characters. Some of the ideas for Ritsu's past and character come from TheBlackFlamingo101's Uke Flu (you guys should totally read it, it's one of the best SIH stories I've ever read) since I think she captured it so well.

This story is turning out longer than expected. There will most likely be 3 more chapters.

I will also edit some minor details in the first chapter, and one glaring flaw (RITSU'S EYES ARE GREEN!). I feel ashamed. My penname is Ricchan and I don't even know him.

Anyway guys, I'm pleasantly surprised that this story got the attention it did. So thank you to all the people who followed and favorited, I really appreciate it :)

Thank you to Atka-Jane, Truelove17yugi-yami, BlackSoulStar, and Deathday1313 who reviewed. Your sweet words brightened up my day~