AN: I really like this chapter. That's all. Thanks to all readers and supporters again :) and enjoy, as always.

As the second morning of their trip rolled around, it was Junpei, surprisingly, who rose first. As he woke, he went through his morning routine- scratch, stretch, rub eyes, yawn, etc… When he was done, he took a cursory glance around the room, intending to check the time, and who was up- or who wasn't up.-general stuff. But on his sweep of the room, a very unexpected sight met Junpei's eyes.
"W-woah!... ohh man, no way!" Junpei's head whipped around, searching for Ryoji- he HAD to see this! As Ryoji tred to utter a complaint to being so violently shaken awake by his enthused classmate, the boy in question clamped his hand over the other's mouth and hissed "shh! Look over there!" Junpei jerked his head in the direction that Ryoji was meant to look. Ryoji rolled his eyes and turned to look at what was undoubtedly going to be something ridiculous and stup-
Ryoji's hand flew up to pry Junpei's off of his mouth, and his eyes widened as he turned to Junpei and mouthed: "No way, man…" Junpei grinned and whispered "I know, dude! It's hilarious! We gotta get a picture of them! Talk about blackmail!" Ryoji shook his head as Junpei reached for his cell phone, planning to take a picture of their two other sleeping roommates who were arranged in a rather compromising configuration.
They were, for lack of a better word, cuddling. Minato and Akihiko were facing each other, sleeping comfortably. Akihiko's arm was draped over Minato, whose head was resting on Akihiko's chest. They looked like a couple, and to the boys who were none the wiser of what had transpired between Minato and Akihiko, the moment was a priceless rarity as well as hilarity. Junpei clicked the camera on his phone, snapshotting the moment for later usage, most likely to exploit embarrassment from the sleeping duo. "Heheh, ohh man this is priceless" Junpei whispered. "I can't wait to see their faces when I- "But don't you think it's odd?" interrupted Ryoji.
"Well, yeah, but shit happens" Said Junpei.
Ryoji shook his head; "No, Junpei, think about it. Don't the two of them seem like they've been really close lately?" Junpei raised an eyebrow.
"You don't seriously think that they…?"
"I don't know, but you have to admit that last night they were being kind of weird…" Ryoji insisted. Junpei faltered, his face finally showing some signs of apprehension. "Well… now that you mention it, yeah. But you can't just jump to conclusions like that; I mean it's probably just a coincidence, bro."
Ryoji didn't look so sure.
"I mean, come on, they couldn't be…. Akihiko-Senpai has girls running after him 24/7, he can't be gay!" Junpei argued in a whisper.
"Yeah but… does he actually have a girlfriend? Come to think of it, he doesn't even seem to pay any attention to those fangirls at all!" Ryoji pointed out. Junpei paused, letting the realization sink in. "H-hey, you're right! But, that doesn't HAVE to mean that… you know…"
"But aren't you curious? Even a little bit?" Ryoji asked imploringly.
Junpei's gaze shifted around a bit, before he looked back at Ryoji and said "Well… kind of. But, as much as I wanna know, I really don't even wanna think about that… I mean, what if they are? How long has it been? Dude, I'm freakin' out!"
"Okay" said Ryoji. "I have an idea. Let's see how much each of us can figure out about their relationship. We'll act as though we don't suspect anything, just in case something really IS going on- and I would bet you anything that there is!"
Junpei's expression became devious. "You'd bet ANYTHING? Ha ok, how about this: we do what you said, but the first one of us who can get a confession outta either of them , wins the game and has to buy the other dinner! And if it turns out that there's nothing going on between them, since you'd bet ANYTHING, you'll have to… do my homework for a month!" Junpei declared, hissing out his conditions in a low voice. Ryoji laughed quietly, the both of them still making an effort to keep their slumbering classmates unconscious. "Okay" Ryoji responded in a whisper. "But if I win, you'll have to…." A thoughtful look crossed his face as he attempted to conceive something sufficiently horrible for Junpei to do. Their exchange was interrupted, however, when they heard shifting and groaning coming from the sleeping pile of teenage boy next to them. "Shit! Let's go dude!" Junpei hissed. As he and Ryoji scrambled to the door, trying to get out of the room before their stirring classmates regained consciousness, Ryoji hissed out "This starts now, Junpei!"

The door closed behind them as Minato's eyes blinked open slowly- sleepily.
He yawned, and then sat up slowly; stretching. He realized as Akihiko's arm slid off of him, that they had been practically spooning just moments before.
He whipped his head around, worried that they would be spotted by their roommates, but found that Junpei and Ryoji were already gone. At the thought of Junpei or Ryoji seeing him and Akihiko like that, Minato felt a blush creep into his face. "Dammit…" he said aloud. He looked down at Akihiko. He was still sound asleep. Minato chuckled at Akihiko's sleeping form, before shaking him awake. "Mmph, what?" Akihiko groaned out, tinges of annoyance lacing his groggy morning voice. "Ha, good morning to you too, sunshine" Minato said. "You'll never believe it, but Junpei and Ryoji have already left ahead of us. We should probably get going, too." Akihiko simply grunted and grabbed Minato's arm. "C'mere… you're warm" Akihiko grumbled. Minato couldn't help but laugh lightly. "Come on, Aki, we need to catch up with the others."
"They can wait…" yawned Akihiko, finally sitting up and the sleep out of his eyes. Minato rolled his eyes. "Not all day, they can't."
Akihiko shot him a look. "… What?" Minato asked. Akihiko sighed. "Fine, let's go."
Minato chuckled and asked: "Why so grumpy this morning?" Akihiko stood up, and said "I was having a really nice sleep, is all. I rarely sleep that well anymore." He looked down, a contemplative look passing over his features. Minato, perceptive as always, picked up on the fact that there was something on Akihiko's mind. "Hey…" he ventured, "what're you thinking about?"
Akihiko smiled lightly, and then said "Call me crazy, but I was just thinking that… having someone to… you know… hold…when you sleep, may help." He looked away, a slight blush showing up on his pale skin.
Minato couldn't help but smile. "I couldn't agree more, Akihiko." Akihiko smiled at Minato briefly, before huffing and saying "Ha, look at us, we're acting like a buncha sissies."
Minato laughed; "Akihiko… you are the least sissy person I know."
"Good!" Akihiko grunted, "I damn well better be!" Minato couldn't help but continue to chuckle.
"Oh, no worries…"
Akihiko smiled before raising his arms above his head in one final stretch. "So, are we gonna leave or what?" he yawned out.
Minato nodded. "Yeah, let me get ready…" He turned to go do so, but hesitated, turned halfway back around, and then said cautiously: "…You stay" then quickly turning back, a blush rising to his face. Minato couldn't believe himself. HE was the one acting like the sissy…
Behind him, Akihiko started, and then blinked a few times- stunned by the uncharacteristic tone in which Minato had issued the command- before he broke into a grin, chuckling lightly and shaking his head.
Minato heard Akihiko's voice from behind him saying: "Ok Minato…whatever the leader orders…"
He could hear the laughter in Akihiko's voice, and whirled around, ashamed to feel his cheeks heating up even more. "Oh, stop! Last time I act like a sissy around YOU!"
Akihiko shook his head, still smiling lightly. "No, it's okay… I shouldn't have said that. It was just unexpected is all, since normally you're so… well, you're a damn near perfect leader, and to hear that come out of your mouth… it just shows how much has changed, Minato." Akihiko said all this in an atypical gentle tone, all the while walking step by step closer to Minato.

Minato felt his heartbeat quicken...

"You're right…" he breathed out. "Things ARE different now…"

Akihiko cast his gaze downward for a moment, an anxious look crossing his features, before flicking his eyes back up; "But… not in a bad way. Right?"

Minato closed his eyes and exhaled, a relaxed smile playing across his face. "No… maybe even in a good way." He said, opening his eyes and locking his gaze with Akihiko's. His heart was in his throat; his breathing quickened. He had never felt these kinds of butterflies before. Well… maybe something similar, before he was about to fight a large shadow or something, but this feeling was one to be reckoned with.

He wanted an answer. Not just from Akihiko, but from himself. He didn't know what he really wanted, or what he was really feeling- if it was just lingering attraction and lust… or a burgeoning something else…
He wasn't scared. He just…

"Hey… Akihiko?" he let out, barely audible- almost a whisper.

Minato watched as Akihiko gazed at him, so very intensely while walking toward him. "Yeah?" he said upon arrival. His dark eyes were searching Minato's face- his body language- for any sign.

"…" Minato was nervous. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, before opening them and whispering to Akihiko

"I want you… to kiss me."

Minato could hear Akihiko's sharp intake of breath. He continued: "I am feeling so much… and I want to know…" Minato's gaze met Akihiko's- "What you're feeling." Akihiko's eyes were locked on Minato, and Minato could see that he was hooked onto his every word. This gave him assurance. "So kiss me…" he whispered, shifting his eyes around, taking in the whole of Akihiko's face.
Akihiko blinked a few times.
Silence.
Then…

"You're always so demanding…" Akihiko mumbled, before grabbing Minato by the front of his shirt and pulling him into a kiss.
Minato shut his eyes instantly; feeling like the world was narrowing in around them. His hands, which had been hanging by his sides, found a much better use in wrapping themselves around Akihiko, pulling his body closer. Oh it was so… good!

They parted, both faces pink cheeked- and both of them breathing heavily, with half lidded eyes filled with overwhelming emotion.

"Hmm…" Akihiko hummed, his eyes sweeping over Minato before focusing back on Minato's face. "I think… we should do that again…"

"Best thing that's ever come outta your mouth, Akihiko" Minato breathed as he pulled Akihiko's face in for another kiss, one hand resting on the back of his neck, the other one slowly trailing down Akihiko's back, until at his lower back he stopped, and used it to press the older boy closer to him.
They transitioned seamlessly into an open-mouthed kiss, their tongues eagerly meeting one another in a sensual contact.

"Mmm…" Akihiko moaned lightly as their tongues met. His hands were resting on Minato's hips, pulling them together.
Their kiss continued on as Akihiko started to grind his hips into Minato's, which elicited a moan from the younger boy. The both of them were starting to develop a problem, at the contact of their crotches.

It was all so intoxicating. He felt again what he had felt the night before last.
He wanted more…

Minato, his hands already low on Akihiko's body, started to caress the band of Akihiko's pants, hinting that at his readiness to continue. He brought his hands around to the front and managed to squeeze them in between him and Akihiko.

While they continued their string of kisses, Minato fumbled with the buttons on Akihiko's pajama shirt.

"Mmm, I thought we had to get going, Minato." Akihiko teased, smiling against Minato's lips.
Minato unbuttoned the top button and grumbled in a needy whisper. "You were right… they can wait."

Akihiko chuckled darkly. "Wow, look at you…I never thought you'd be the type to be so needy..."

He sighed "hmm I kinda like it." Minato could feel his smirk. He put his lips on Akihiko's once more and said into them: "Well good, because you feel so damn good, there's no way in hell I'd stop now."

He then pulled Akihiko backwards, until they reached where they had been sleeping less than an hour before.
They crashed down, on to each other once again, limbs entwining. "Mmmph, you feel pretty great yourself, Minato…" panted Akihiko huskily.

They were both drunk on lust, wanting nothing more than to go at each other for hours. Minato smirked at his lascivious partner before returning his attention to the buttons on Akihiko's shirt.
He got about two more done before he felt a hand rubbing him through his pants. He stopped and looked at Akihiko.

He had the sexiest expression on his face Minato thought he had ever seen. Akihiko was smirking; an assertive and confident look displayed on his features. And although Akihiko often wore an expression like that, this one was laden with sultriness. His eyes were dominating Minato's gaze as his hand continued to rub almost teasingly.

Minato just leaned his head forward, close to Akihiko's face, and moaned, his eyes sliding shut.
"Aki… god s-stop- "why?" demanded Akihiko. "You seem to be liking it just fine…"

Minato just moaned and pulled Akihiko into another kiss, shoving his tongue into the others mouth with no hesitation. They continued to make out, losing all track of the world around them.

Meanwhile, just outside the door, Junpei and Ryoji were standing, ears pressed to the wood, trying with all their might to hear anything they could. They had originally come back to change clothes (realizing they were still in pajamas) and to fetch their other two roommates, but curiosity got the better of them. Junpei whispered "what the hell are they doing in there…?"
Ryoji pulled away from the door and shook his head. "It's no good man, I can't hear a thing. Maybe they're still asleep. Let's just go in…" He reached for the doorknob.

"NO!" Junpei hissed, and grabbed Ryoji's arm. What if they're… y'know… having some alone time?!"

"Then I'll win the bet. Let go, Junpei, we need to get going or we'll all be left behind." Said Ryoji, annoyed.

"Ok…" Junpei let go, but had an anxious expression on his face. "Oh sheesh, here we go…" he said, just as Ryoji was putting the key in the lock. The door clicked. Then Ryoji reached for the handle, grasped it, and turned...

ooooh I know I'm evil. -

Love, the SlackerestSlifer