Happy New Year!

And here's the next chapter at last! Please Enjoy!

Disclaimer & Warning: in first chapter

Chapter 6: Distance

Edward stormed out of the apartment and when Ivan chased after him making it to the door, he disappeared. Haunted by the idea that the redhead might leave him forever or never come back he nearly panicked as tears welled up in his eyes, until he heard his phone ring from inside the apartment. He immediately answered to it and Keith was on the other side of the line.

"Hello, Ivan?"

Ivan was already feeling vulnerable and couldn't bring himself to speak up without breaking into sobs but nonetheless tried to keep his cool. "K-Keith…" He dwelled.

"Ivan? What's wrong? You sound very troubled?" Skyhigh began interrogating concerned as well now by the other's worrisome voice.

"I…I don't know what to do anymore...I—I,"

"Say no more, where are you? I'll be right there." Keith invited himself, and at this point the blond didn't mind either. Personally he needed the reassurance. He technically just made the biggest confession of his life to his best friend, who also happened to be the person he loved and now that person was gone. What if this effected their friendship forever? He would never forgive himself for that.

In five minutes flat Keith was right beside Ivan in his apartment. Ivan mentioned that Edward, his roommate and old and dearest friend had disappeared after an argument. He didn't add on too many details of the confession or their possible relationship.

"Don't worry, we'll both look for him together." Keith placed a reassuring hand on the younger's shoulder.

"Thank you so much Keith, I don't know what I would've done if you had never called…I'm just so sorry for the trouble."

"It's no trouble at all, I can fly remember?" The sandy blond man reminded. Ivan nodded. "Hmph, this Edward really sounds like someone you hold very dear, doesn't he?"

"Yes…he is." The teen smiled. Keith's heart immediately clenched a bit upon hearing that.

…

Night had fell and they had no luck at all finding the redhead, therefore made their way back to the apartment for some hot coffee.

"You need rest now, I promise we'll search and ask around first thing in the morning." Keith promised.

"Thank you Keith for everything. Please, if it's okay you can sleep on the futon in my room if you want." Ivan offered. Keith couldn't turn that down.

"I will appreciate that." He smiled.

******Next Morning: 4 AM******

With the immense advantage of his powers, Edward erupted from the apartment floor standing in the living room now.

'There's no way he'd be awake right now, so I can gather some of my stuff and leave agai—' His attention was distracted when he saw a figure come out of the bedroom and towards the bathroom, half asleep. Fortunately, Keith was too sleepy to notice him but Edward recognized him instantly and snapped a vein upon seeing his rival in their house come out of the blond's bedroom.

"And just who gave you permission to stay here?!" He yelled royally pissed, startling Keith.

"…Wait are you the Edward, Ivan has been so concerned about?" The blond man insensately asked after a brief pause. That somehow just twisted Edward's mood even more.

"Don't pretend to act all considerate now…dammit! You're the bastard that's been after Ivan lately aren't you? So did you finely have fun?!" The redhead exclaimed again in raptures of jealously. All the screaming had managed to wake Ivan up who rushed to the living room as well. His eyes almost popped out of his skull when he identified Edward.

"Edward!" Was he glad and relieved to see he redhead return, little did he know that he was just going to get scolded in exchange.

"So that's how far your 'like' goes, huh?" The elder teen painfully looked at him trying to maneuver an insensitive smirk at the same time. He didn't bother sticking around for the answer he had already witnessed by seeing Keith from Ivan's room; therefore he turned about face and prepared to activate his sand powers again.

"NO! Edward wait!" Ivan scurried towards him unconditionally and tackled his waist from behind, wrapping his arms tightly. "I'm not letting you go—please don't leave!" The teen begged. Normally Edward would choose to punch the blond but he couldn't bring himself to execute that anymore.

There was silence for a moment until the sand bearer finally blackmailed: "Fine, I'll stay only if he leaves." He coldly glared at Keith. Keith found him to be quite stubborn/immature and stared at him unreasonably before finally sighing possibly accepting his defeat.

Ivan helplessly looked at Skyhigh. "Keith…" Uttering his name softly and apologetically hoping he'd understand.

"I understand, I'll leave." He walked towards the front door to search for his shoes. "But are you sure Ivan?" He walked towards them after putting them on.

"Yes, thank you."

He ruffled the shapeshifter's hair once and took his leave like a gentleman. Edward's vein twitched again and glared at the man's back until the moment he shut the door.

"You can let go of me, I'm not running away." Ed notified. Ivan abruptly released him. The redhead was hoping to avoid all this drama and hence chose such a time to stop by but there was no preventing it now and thus took a seat on the couch. The blond followed standing over him ready to bombard him with predictable questions.

"Edward, where were you? Did you eat? Where did you sleep?"

"I'm going to stay over at a friend's place." The redhead simply declared.

"But …why? I'll apologize. I'm sorry! So why do you have to leave!?" The blond questioned. The truth was that Ed also had to hide his infection and thus took advantage of the situation they were in.

"You won't understand, I need time to think things through and settle down with my own feelings." He replied irritated. Ivan faced his back towards the other to hide his clumsy tears. 'Time away from me.' The blond convinced himself. Edward sighed reading the other's thoughts.

"Ivan," he called, expecting the teen to look at him but when he didn't the redhead swung him around by the shoulder. "Ivan!" He forced the blond to look into his eyes. "Don't think for a second that I've come to hate you—because I don't! I just need to be on my own for a while, but I'll come back okay?"

"…how long?" The shapeshifter inquired.

"I don't know."

"…okay, I understand." The blond accepted his conditions, lowering his chin. Ed shortly smiled wanting to kiss the other's forehead goodbye but didn't find it fair enough to do so, hence patted his head instead and left. He was being selfish, he knew.

"I'm glad to have you but does your wife know?" Yui, his junior at the dojo asked curiously.

"He's not my wife, and yes he knows I'm staying with you." Ed responded.

"…I'm talking about your health condition."

"… Not yet…and it stays that way."

"What?! You're unreasonable! Do you even understand how bad this can get? How do you think he'll feel when he finds you in the hospital—ack" Yui was cut off by a headlock initiated by the elder.

"Gee, I didn't realize when you became such a busybody." Ed joked.

"Ow, okay , are you asking for a showdown?"

Edward chuckled but froze when he felt his heart pound against his chest once. Before he could ignore it and move on, it happened again exactly ten seconds later until he had to clench his chest unbearably tighter.

"Senpai?" Yui tried to comfort him. "Senpai?! What wrong?! Hold on, I'll call the ambulance!"

To be continued…

Edward please get a hold of yourself! Ivan won't be able to forgive himself! (Lol)

Ivan: Did someone say Edward? What happened?

Me: nothing nothing! What could possibly happen to such a hothead as Edward? Let's end here for today. ;P

Thanks again for reading, please don't forget to review!

Once again a Happy New year from our cute couple: Ivan and Edward! Stay warm! :D

~ZercoolDemon