Author's Note: Third chapter done at last! (Is there anyone still reading?) I know the ending of the previous chapter was a little abrupt, so perhaps the ending for this one will be slightly better.

Belated thanks for your reviews, nicluvly!

"NORO HOUSE"

Chapter 3: Paper Cuts

After what happened, Kihara had barely spoken a word; he merely raised Hirota as gently as he could and asked in a tight, controlled voice for Kaoru to open the door. In silence, they escorted him from the printing room to the toilets, supporting the copy-editor on either side, and were dutifully ignored by the office as they passed. Apparently, Hirota's "episodes" were common in the publishing calendar – nothing really strange to witness in the office. All the same, to see someone faint like that was alarming to Kaoru and he had stayed in the toilets with Hirota until Kihara beckoned him outside. In that time, Kihara made Kaoru's position very clear, emphasising the fact by gripping a tie until the moment someone walked in then swiftly walked out again.

One word from Kihara and Yasushi would fire him. Kaoru knew it. He kept his eyes on the ground, following his soon-to-be-former colleague quietly down the corridor as he hoped that the Editor-in-chief would give him a pain-free exit. In fairness, Kaoru should never have done that to Hirota – not in a hundred, thousand, gazillion years – but something in the atmosphere had provoked him to do it, made him want to rile the uptight Kihara.

Secretly, he risked a glance at the proofreader's face, where the ever-serious mouth stubbornly carried its silence, twitching at the corners as it mutely struggled with rage. What if he apologised? Would that make a difference? Before Kaoru could decide, Yasushi interrupted, head poking out from their office with a look of disappointment.

'That's not Hirota.'

'I know,' Kihara snapped; then dropped his voice, aware of the neighbouring cubicles. 'May I have a word?'

'Hey! How's it going? Why don't you ever answer your phone?'

'Hey, Tono. Everything's going great. I actually got the job.'

'Brilliant! Knew you could do it! But you don't sound very glad… is something the matter? Do you want to tell Father?'

Kaoru rolled his eyes at the reference; the Host Club was such a long time ago. 'No, nothing I want to say,' he responded, directing a smile at the store clerk who was handing over the newly bound manuscripts. He paid with the company credit card and kept the receipt, just as Yasushi instructed, though he felt very petty for doing so. 'Listen, I have to get back now. Speak to you later.'

He ended the call and left the stationers in a hurry. There was plenty of time still to reach the office, but he wanted to return as quickly as he could in order to prove that Kihara was wrong. I'm not just some "rich kid", he thought, gripping the manuscripts to contain his inner fury. I really am here to work!

On the streets, people walking towards him jumped aside, afraid of his temper, and enabled Kaoru to reach the Noro building in less time than it took to get out. Forcing a smile for the receptionist (who assumed he had quit since she saw him storming out), he rushed through the foyer and caught the nearest elevator to the editing department. In doing so, it brought to mind his first sighting of Kihara, which caused Kaoru to seethe at memories of their argument.

'Your business card,' demanded Kihara, with deathly calm.

'Here.'

The proofreader accepted Kaoru's business card in his outstretched hand, narrowing eyes at the neatly printed kanji. 'Hitachiin Kaoru,' he read, 'son of Hitachiin Yuzuha?'

'Oh, you know my mother?'

Kihara ignored the question. 'Did Yasushi hire you?'

'Yes.'

'And what do you know about publishing?'

'Enough to be here!'

Faintly, Kihara smirked. 'You're not going to last. People like you just never fit in.'

Glaring at the mirrors, Kaoru fiddled with his hair, smoothing the cinnamon strands that fell longer towards the front. No one spoke to him like that and ever got away with it. No one. He glanced at the manuscripts in his arms and let out a ragged sigh. So much for keeping the third series a secret from Hirota…

'Hita-kun!' Yasushi exclaimed, as soon as the elevator opened.

Kaoru jerked away from the sudden noise.

'Do you have all the manuscripts I asked for? Especially the one you have to read for me tonight?'

'Yes, sir, I do.'

'Smashing! Marvellous! But why the long face?'

'Not sure what you mean.' Kaoru made to move past the Editor-in-chief just as the older man stepped forward, forcing him to reverse. The doors shut behind them and the air eventually stilled, blocking out the atmosphere of the building and its occupants. Kaoru's fingers tightened on the manuscripts.

'I never had you down as the sensitive type,' said Yasushi, after a ponderous minute. He folded his arms and leaned in so close that their heads were almost touching. 'Do you really care what others think?'

Kaoru lowered his gaze. 'Of course I don't,' he answered, grasping the manuscripts tighter.

'As long as you do your job and do it well, I couldn't care less how rich you are. Understood?'

'Understood, sir.'

'Great stuff!' grinned Yasushi. Then clasped his new assistant firmly by the shoulder. 'But giving the game away to Hirota like that was a pretty huge mistake, don't you think? That series was meant to be a secret and I wanted to keep it that way. So, to make up for it, you should take Hirota home before I truly lose my temper. Agreed?'

Kaoru gulped. 'Agreed.'

'Good. Now give me Kihara's manuscript before he explodes and I'll send Hirota down in a minute.'

Kaoru watched the Editor-in-chief briskly disappear. Was Yasushi trying to save him or simply choosing the moment? Worried, he stepped into the corridor as he cursed himself for a fool and warily turned his head to the vending machine beside him. We have to stop hanging out like this. It's really getting us nowhere. He jumped at the cell-phone droning in his pocket – another missed call from Hikaru?

'Hika, did you call me?'

'Kaoru! Where the hell have you been?'

'Sorry, I'm at work. I actually got that publishing job.'

'Really? Then why didn't you call me? I've been trying to get hold of you for ages! I was scared that something had happened to you!'

'I'm sorry. There were errands. I was honestly going to call, but something kept coming up…'

'Like what? I'm your brother – your twin! You're supposed to give me a call and tell me how everything went. Even Tono got to know the details before I did!'

'He's just teasing you. I've barely told him anything.'

'Then tell me everything now!'

'I can't, I'm at work! I have to go now, Hikaru…'

'But Kaoru–'

'Catch up later, okay? I have to go now – promise!' Kaoru set his cell-phone to voicemail and flung a flustered smile in Hirota's direction.

'Lover's tiff?' remarked Hirota, sipping some tea from a white disposable cup; he was lingering a few metres away, pretending to be deaf.

Kaoru pressed the elevator button one too many times. 'Something like that…' he muttered.

'Yasushi booked us a taxi. It's waiting in the underground car park.'

'Thanks.' Kaoru noticed the items in Hirota's left hand: tinted covers containing three suits and a brown leather satchel bulging with documents. 'Need some help?'

'No, I can manage.'

Hirota finished his tea and placed his cup into a nearby recycling bin. Instead of the olive-green and lavender suit, he now wore navy, trimmed with pale silk along the cuffs and lapels. Although his eyes were still tearful and red around the edges, he carried the look with a mesmerising dignity – one that made others turn as he passed them.

'I'm sorry about this,' Hirota apologised, once the taxi had dropped them off. 'Normally we'd take the lift and save ourselves the hassle, but it broke a few months back and I've given up complaining…'

'It's fine,' Kaoru lied, 'I'm used to climbing stairs.' He touched his forehead with a handkerchief and retrieved the satchel he had offered to carry. 'What floor are we on again? Think I've lost count.'

'We're on the second.'

'And what floor do we need?'

'The sixth.'

Kaoru laughed. Yasushi must hate me!

'By the way, what Kihara said to you…'

'Don't worry, I deserved it.'

They resumed their climb, only to stop a few minutes later so Hirota could rest. Exhausted, he leaned against the wall and retrieved a slim inhaler from his pocket. 'Seriously,' Hirota groaned, shaking the inhaler, 'if it wasn't for this asthma, I would get so many things done.' He drew a breath and gazed down the stairs they had managed to conquer. 'I'm sorry you got into trouble over this. I'll be sure to put in a good word for you.'

Kaoru's face darkened. 'It's fine.'

'See you tomorrow, then,' smiled Hirota, 'and don't let the manuscripts bother you.'

Kaoru stared at his reflection amongst the cans inside the vending machine and finally ordered a coffee. It was one of those with milk, lots of sugar and some Western flavouring such as caramel or hazelnut – the kind he grew to detest after drinking too much as a member of the Host Club. Why he chose to drink it now, however, had little to do with pleasing a girl and more to do with the fact he was just plain tired and desperately in need of a pick-me-up.

'Hunky-dory, Hita-kun?'

If Kaoru had the energy, he would have jumped at the sound of Jun's voice, but he merely waved the coffee can as acknowledgement. 'Akiyama-san, how are you.'

'Please, call me Jun.'

'Hi, then, Jun.'

'You're looking kind of beat. Yasushi working you hard?'

'Just a little.'

'What you doing right now?'

'Drinking this disgusting coffee then learning the in-house editorial style.'

Jun gave Kaoru a sympathetic wink. 'If you need any help, just let me know. I don't mind helping at all.'

'I'll remember that.'

'Try your best now, Hita-kun!'

'Sure,' Kaoru sighed, and watched the short-haired youth stroll cheerfully away. What a friendly person. Wrapping the can with a handkerchief, he returned to the office where Yasushi was waiting and braced himself for yet another lecture.

'Storyboards,' Yasushi greeted him, and to demonstrate the concept further, held up an example struck with various circles and lines. 'This is a series we were editing over a month ago, and although it sold well, it took us a while to get it off the ground. Can you tell me the reason?'

Kaoru sat on a box of manga currently blocking his chair and read the first storyboard, then the second.

'Well?' said Yasushi.

'Don't you use touch-screen?'

'Hmm?'

'If you utilised touch-screen technology, you'd save a fortune on printing.'

'Believe me, if we had that kind of budget, I'm pretty sure we would… but your thoughts on the storyboard, please.'

Kaoru looked again at the circles and lines, blinking really hard. 'There are too many panels with scenery here and they fail to add to the dialogue… Also, uh…' He blinked harder, this time seeing double. 'Sorry, did I get that wrong?'

'No,' grinned Yasushi.

'So what other reasons are there?'

'You didn't notice?'

'Notice what?'

'You fell asleep mid-sentence then carried on talking.'

Kaoru paused, heat rising up the skin of his throat. 'I'm very sure I didn't.'

'You can split, if you want, and we'll start this tomorrow.'

'No, it's–'

'Hita-kun,' whispered Yasushi, gently removing the storyboards, 'it's your first day and it's almost eight o'clock. To be honest, I'm surprised you're still here. I've put you through hell. Go home and sleep.'

Laughter escaped Kaoru's lips, followed by a prickle of tears. Yasushi was right. He was really tired. He really ought to go home. But the things Kihara had said to him kept running through his mind, as well as the embarrassment of making stupid mistakes. Only this morning he was rushing around, trying to sort his life, when he heard how his slimmest chance at a career in publishing had actually come true. It meant a lot to Kaoru – more than Yasushi could ever know – and now the man who had become his inadvertent saviour was telling Kaoru to go home, get some sleep, after stressing him out on purpose?

It was just too much.

'Sorry,' Yasushi mumbled, 'guess I'm a bit of a bastard.' With tender hands, he eased apart the fingers that were shielding Kaoru's eyes and studied the tears, cheeks, and mouth that were struggling to accept his apology. 'Kaoru, I'm sorry. I wasn't being malicious.'

'I – I know, it's just–'

'Everything okay...?'

Kaoru turned his head whilst yanking his hands from Yasushi's: in the doorway stood Jun Akiyama, bag on shoulders, ready to leave the building.

'You're working late,' Yasushi observed, the first to recover. 'Did you call a cab?'

'What's with Hita-kun?'

Kaoru forced a smile. 'Paper cuts,' he answered, and before the Editor-in-chief or Jun could respond, quickly left the office, raking his hair.

Afterword: Any thoughts would be nice :)