Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of the characters. And I don't own Junjou Romantica or Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi.
Note: This chapter took 3 months to finish. I apologize. Aaaanyway~! I am quite happy with how this turned out. I tried to fix as much as I could in my writing style but this is the best I can do for now~ Note 2: I don't know if this couple has a name (or any in S-IH for that matter) but I made something up just to mark the chapters.
Since Misaki got adopted the store became a bit boring. Sure, people were coming in and out, some adopted, but most didn't. It's around 3 in the afternoon and Ritsu is sure that there will be no more people coming in the store.
He may have thought too soon because the door was opened and a mumbled 'good afternoon' was heard. The door of the store was rather far away from the window in which Ritsu sat in currently. He watched as a tall black haired man who entered the store talked to Miwa about something. Ritsu didn't pay too much attention. The man probably came to buy himself a cute female kitten to mess around with.
Taking that thought in he turned around and looked down at the manga he was reading. He giggled a little until it was rudely interrupted by someone clearing their throat. "Are you Onodera Ritsu?" The voice sounded low and really masculine, but somehow soothing in the 'kittens' ears.
"Y-Yes..." Ritsu replied.
He didn't look up from his manga because he felt like he has heard the voice somewhere before, but couldn't put his finger on it. Maybe he came to the store before. He thought as he looked up slowly to meet with two light brown eyes which seemed to be taking in every detail of Ritsus face.
"M-May I help y-you?" Honestly, Ritsu was frightened by the male watching him. "Say, did you have any owner before? How old are you anyway? You look like a kitten…" The male spoke fast as he kept staring into Ritsus green eyes.
"I-I have never been owned b-before… I-I'm 26 so I'm not a k-kitten…"
With a hint of annoyance on his face, Ritsu swallowed his fear and stood up from his previously sitting position. "Why do you ask me, you have my papers right here!"
"Just wanted to make sure that I am not mistaking, which I seem I am. Sorry to waste your time, I'll be taking my lea—"
Ritsu suddenly moved and slid his slim hand trough the cage and took hold of one of the tall mans sleeves. They stood like that for a while before Ritsu realized what he has done. He hurriedly took back his hand and turned his now flushing face to the side in the hopes that the dark haired man didn't notice it.
"Hm…" The man hummed turning around anyway and started walking toward the front desk. He started talking to Miwa once again and then turned back around and walked back to Ritsus window. "I am going to be your owner." He took a small key which he got from Miwa and unlocked the cage of the window. "Come on." He said as he turned around once again.
Ritsu followed the man with hesitant steps. "May I at least know your name?" he asked with the slightest bit of anger and annoyance in his voice, keeping his eyes on the floor as he waited for his new owner to reply.
"Takano. Masamune Takano." Came the reply and Ritsu looked up once they reached the counter.
"Ah, Ritsu-chan, finally getting adopted, I'm so happy for you." said Miwa in an even voice as she eyed the tall male for the 3rd time.
Takano was quiet the whole time as he signed the needed papers and bought a collar for Ritsu. As Ritsu noticed that he won't be put on a leash he let out a small sigh of relief.
Collar around the young 'kittens' neck and all the needed papers signed, they exited the small pet shop and walk for a while in silence. A heavy mood formed around the two males as Takano suddenly cleared his throat. "Say, are you sure that you've never had an owner before?" The question hung heavy in the air, heavier than already too heavy mood.
"I am quite sure of my own lifes past." Takano seemed to be thinking that answer over and opened and closed his mouth as if trying to word his own answer. More heavy seconds passed the two as they kept walking in the very uncomfortable silence.
"I see. Well, I will not regret that I have adopted you, Onodera. But you do remind me of a long-lost kitten I had and grew attached to."
Could this simple walk be more uncomfortable? Thought the young neko as he walked beside his new master. After a few more minutes (which felt like hours to the poor neko) they reached a block of flats and rode an elevator up a few floors and down a few hall ways until they were in front of a casual looking door.
Once they entered the apartment Takano told Ritsu to take off his shoes and coat. Ritsu did so obediently before Takano lead the way to the living room. They each sat down on opposite sides of the small coffee table and sat there silently.
The flat was small, but kept neat. There were a few papers here and there but that did not make it look too messy. It was obvious that Takano lived alone. There were a few bookshelves on the walls, each filled with books (most of them seemed to be manga).
There was a small kitchen to the further left of the couch on which the two sat. Suddenly Takano stood up and walked to the kitchen. "Tea?" Ritsu nodded but noticed that Takano can't probably see him. Blushing slightly at his mistake he made a small grunt on approval.
"How do you like your tea?" Ritsu heard Takano walk around for a while, setting the water.
"Not too sweet."
Takano came back with their tea in a few minutes and sat the two cups down. Ritsu eyed the small white cup which sat in front of him, waiting for Takano to say he may take the cup. Ritsu might not seem like a trained cat, but he is. Back when he lived with his breeder he was trained to never do something before his owner allowed it.
He never had an owner other than his breeder. He lived there with his mother and siblings (1) until his breeder decided (after a few years of not being able to sell the kitten) to put him up for adoption. He just reached the legal age for adoption then.
Takano picked up his cup and took a sip, watching the 'kitten'. He smirked around his cup and Ritsu heard something like a… chuckle? coming from his master.
"Why aren't you drinking your tea?" He asked in a voice which seemed to be amused. Ritsu ignored the amusement in his owners voice and picked up his cup as polite as he could, taking small sips and trying to make as less noise as possible.
"I was trained to not do anything without approval. So I waited for you to approve." He said in a business like voice. One that someone would use when they are on a job interview.
Takano smirked again and leaned a bit on his right arm, looking at the younger male. "And who said I gave you my approval to drink it this time?" He teased the 'kitten' and Ritsu knew it.
"I just assumed. I guess I was incorrect, though." He spat at the mocking male next to him.
Another small chuckle (which to anyone who didn't listen carefully would sound like a grunt). Ritsu started wondering if he has something on his face so he used his hand to brush at his cheeks and eyes lightly. Still feeling the eyes of Takano on him he removed his hand and looked to his left making eye contact with the other male.
"What?" He asked in a harsh voice, glaring at Takano.
"Nothing, that was adorable." He smiled lightly. (Which looked more like a twitch of his lips.)
"I am not adorable!" Ritsu protested with the tiniest blush on his cheeks. After a while of pouting and glaring at the older he decided to give up and focused his attention on his slowly cooling cup of tea.
A few minutes passed in silence, just this time it was quite comfortable. (Even though Takano was sitting a little bit too close to him, but Ritsu let it pass. For now.)
After they had emptied their tea cups Takano decided to break the silence, standing up and taking the cups. "So…"
"Where do you work?" Ritsu cut in on Takano trying to avoid any questions which might make the whole situation uncomfortable once again.
Takano seemed a little surprised by the sudden question but recovered quickly. "I am the editor-in-chief in Marukawa Emerald." The answer seemed hurried and like he didn't want to talk about work. Ritsu picked up on that signal and decided to switch topic.
"Um… do you have anyone special?" Ritsu decided to ask. After a while, though, he regretted his question.
"No, I am single. I put work before relationships." He seemed to be trying to avoid even those type of questions, but not in the same way as about work.
There was a faint ringing from somewhere in the living room. Takano sighed in an annoyed manner and stood up, walking over to where the sound came from.
Ritsu watched as Takano picked up a phone. "Hello, Takano Masamune speaking." There was something which sounded like whispering to Ritsu coming from the other line of the call.
"Ah, yes. I am glad you got it ready. Yes. Sure. You know my address? Ah, alright than, see you soon." He hung up the call and turned around to walk back to his neko.
Ritsu turned around as quick as he could to not get caught eavesdropping. He turned back to the black TV screen and waited for Takano to return. Once he felt some added weight to the sofa he turned his head to look at the older male.
"Someone will come to visit in a few minutes. I have some cloths…" He stopped and stood up walking over to another door down a small hall way which Ritsu assumed was the bedroom. "…are you coming?" He asked in a louder voice.
Ritsu shivered a bit at the slightly louder voice and stood up walking over to the same room. He mumbled a small 'sorry' and continued to listen and watch Takano.
"Here are some cloths which seemed to be around your size. Put on what you like and come back to the living room." Takano closed the door and left Ritsu alone in the room.
He sighed and turned to face where Takano said the cloths were. He went through every piece and finally decided on taking a light gray tee-shirt with an image of a cat paw on it and some blue jeans. Great, what do I do about the jeans? How am I supposed to wear them if there is no hole for my tail… Ritsu thoughtas he looked at the pair of jeans.
Well, I will just have to call Takano and ask if I can make a hole in them… Just as he decided to call out for Takano he heard a knock on the door and a 'may I come in?'.
He sighed and made a grunt of approval. When Takano entered the room he stopped in his tracks. "Ritsu. Why didn't you put any cloths on?" He asked with just the slightest bit (big bit) of annoyance in his voice.
"Because I was just about to call out for you to ask you something." He spat.
"Go ahead." Takano replied as soon as Ritsu finished his sentence. "Ask what you needed. But please, hurry. She should arrive any minute now…" Takano got closer to the 'kitten' and took the clothing pieces which were held by said 'kitten'. "Is this what you'll wear?"
"Yes, yes that's what I'll wear." He paused to take the pants. "Anyway, as you PROBABLY know I can't wear jeans without a hole for my tail in it…"
"Yes?"
"Well, help me figure this out?"
"Just make a hole in them. I don't use them anyway."
Takano left without saying anything more, leaving Ritsu to figure everything out by himself. He found a pair of scissors in a drawer and sat to work to find the right place to make a hole in.
Almost 10 minutes later, Takano called asking if he is ready yet. After he replied with an 'In a minute!' he took at least 3 more minutes to be done dressing.
He exited the bedroom and went back to the living room, his tail making small movements behind him. He felt really proud of himself for doing a good job on those jeans.
Takano sat on the sofa in the living room. There were many papers and books all around the small coffee table and floor. Ritsu looked at him with confused emerald eyes. "How did you manage to make such a mess in such a short amount time?"
Takano looked up from a piece of paper and focused his attention on his neko. "Well, the person who should arrive any minute now is one of our better mangakas. She is a little over her deadline and she finished today. Her editor is having off days so she asked me earlier today at work if I could edit it for her. So I went through a few of her works to see the drawing style so I know what I am working with. She'll probably stay here for a couple of hours."
Ritsu sat down on an empty (paper-less) space on the sofa. He decided to let Takano work and he will do his cat-business. A few more minutes passed in silence like that until there was a faint knock on the front door. Takano stood up and walked over to the door, opening it. Ritsu heard them exchange greetings and Takano lead her to the living room.
"A-Ah. Takano… I didn't know you had a neko…" The girl said. She was quite pretty, had shoulder long creamy blond hair and chestnut colored brown eyes. She was around a head and a half shorter than Takano. Ritsu stopped licking his hand (Takano smirked at the sight of him) and stood up, extending his (unlicked) hand to the visitor.
She smiled and took the offered hand. "My name is Onodera Ritsu. It's nice meeting your acquaintance." The girl gasped a little bit (probably at the politeness of the neko).
"Likewise, my name is Wakahisa Maiko. I am one of your…owners… authors." Ritsu blushed a bit at her words and he was sure he heard Takano chuckle behind her.
After they exchanged their greetings and had a small conversation about nothing in particular, Maiko and Takano sat to work. (Takano checking the manuscript and Maiko drinking the tea that Takano prepared for them.)
After a few minutes Takano stopped on one page and looked it over multiple times. "Wakahisa… this scene looks wrong. Look, their heads are in an awkward angle and their lips don't seem to be even touching…" Maiko leaned closer to Takano to look at the page.
"D-Do you want me to redraw it? I was having a bad case of art block… and I don't… I don't really know how to draw people kissing…" Takano hummed in acknowledgement.
"Okay, look. Draw fast, I won't repeat this." Takano stood up and took Ritsu in an embrace. He took his chin in hand and pressed their lips together.
Ritsu blushed, his face taking the same red color as a tomate. His tail started to waved from side to side, panicked shivers running up and down his spine. After a while, though, he relaxed into the kiss but his tail kept waving.
Maiko started to draw what she saw with a big blush from the bottom of her neck 'til the tip of her ears.
After a minute passed Takano released Ritsu and the poor neko fell on the floor. "Got that?" Asked Takano, his voice the same as ever.
Rutsu sat on the floor in shock. His first day with his master (which was awkward from the start) just turned to be even worse than thought. He stood up and brushed himself off, the same blush over his face as the one during the kiss.
He sat back down on the sofa (making sure to stay further away from Takano) and waited for the two to be done.
Not too long later they were done and Takano walked Maiko out to the front door. He returned after exchanging goodbyes with his visitor. "Onodera, what do you want for dinner?"
The neko, still sitting on the sofa, replied with a dull 'Whatever there is.' Takano started cooking in silence while Ritsu wished he didn't even get adopted in the first place.
How am I ever going to live with this?
The rest of the day passed normally until it was time to go to sleep. Takano gave Ritsu something to sleep in and turned to go to the bedroom, leaving Ritsu confused. "U-Umm…"
"Yes, Onodera?" He asked without looking at the neko.
"Where should I sleep?" He asked with an unsure voice.
Takano smirked and walked over to Ritsu, easily picking him up bridal style. "You can sleep with me in the bedroom." He didn't even wait for Ritsu to reply.
The only thing heard in the flat were the protests of Onodera Ritsu.
(1) - I am not sure if Ritsu does have siblings, but let's just say he does in this story (I won't give them names nor will I mention them again in the story.) This ending sucks, I know...