Chapter 6:

It was the moment Misaki had been waiting for all week. Manami had left the house to go get some groceries and now Takahiro was the only one left with him. The older brother was relaxing in the living room, stretched out on the couch with a book in front of his face; the picture of ease. Misaki hated being the one to break that ease, but with his own bout of depression and hearing about Akihiko's… He couldn't help but want to go home. His home. The penthouse apartment with his own personal molester.

"Nii-chan…?"

Takahiro glanced up and smiled when he saw his brother. Sitting up he dog-eared the page he was on and patted the seat next to him. "Misaki! Why don't you sit down and talk with me? You've been here two weeks now and it seems like we've barely gotten time together besides meals."

"S-Sorry…" Misaki came and plopped himself down on the couch next to his brother. Looking nervous. "Um… Actually… I wanted to talk to you about Usagi-san."

"Usagi?" Takahiro repeated, cocking his head to one side like a curious puppy. But he was frowning softly looking confused.

The brunette nodded quickly, turning so that he was facing the other. "Y-Yeah! You see… I want to move back in with him." It was almost comical how Takahiro's face changed from curious to just plan confused. Or would have been comical had the situation not been so serious. Misaki started rambling almost right away, his thoughts a jumbled mess as he spoke without thinking. "See Nii-chan, the thing is… I-I really love Usagi-san!" He blushed darkly but continued. "I remember how before you said you didn't want me to go through just a fling, but we aren't just a fling. I used to think that too, but Usagi-san has proven he really cares about me.

"And you were saying how you wanted me to experience life, but there are some things I really don't need to experience. I'm already in love and I'm happy waking up beside the one I care about every day. Just because I can't get married to him doesn't mean I shouldn't try to love him. I-I know Usagi-san would buy me a ring if I wanted one and really, marriage is just that and a piece of paper. It doesn't change how people feel about each other. As for kids and a family… I have you for a family, Nii-chan. And Manami too. I don't need kids, either. Even you have to admit Usagi-san is enough of a trouble. He's like twins by himself."

Misaki stopped to catch his breath, avoiding Takahiro's stunned gaze. "I… I know you want what's best for me, Nii-chan, but I really think Usagi-san is what's best for me. We've been through so much already in our relationship… I used to think I was nothing but a replace to him, but he proved I was much more. And then his brother tried stealing me away but Usagi-san fought for me. I don't know why he didn't fight for me this time, but I know he must have had a good reason. I trust him with everything and I want to go back to him. I… I miss him, Nii-chan."

His little speech was over, but the boy was still nervous. There was the chance that Takahiro honestly didn't support his relationship. Maybe he didn't support two men falling in love or may he just didn't want his little brother with his best friend, or—

"Are you sure about this, Misaki?" the older asked, looking concerned. "Are you sure about Usagi?"

Misaki lightly bit his lip but nodded. "Of course…"

Takahiro sighed softly and ran a hand through his hair as he leaned back against the couch. He looked like he was deep in thought and he closed his eyes, not realizing he was making his little brother nervous with his actions. Finally, after what seemed like hours but was only a couple minutes, the phone rang and interrupted the older's thoughts. The phone being closest to him, Takahiro reached out and picked it up with a tired sounding, "Hello?"

"Takahiro, I think we should talk."

The man smiled gently at the familiar voice on the other end of the line. He ignored Misaki's puzzled stare for a moment. "Yes, I think we do," he agreed. "Sorry if I sound distracted… My brother was just telling me some things."

Misaki blushed and looked down at his lap, wondering who he was talking to. At the mention of the brunette, however, Akihiko's heart skipped painfully from the other end of the line. At the same time he was feeling nervous and slightly excited. He wanted to ask how the boy was doing but instead he said, "Misaki's with you? What are you two talking about? Is he doing okay?"

"He's fine!" Takahiro assured with a laugh, waving that off. "And I'm assuming you want to talk about the same things he just told me. Usagi…" At the name Misaki's head snapped up and stared wide-eyed at his brother. "I think I made a terrible mistake. How stupid of me, right?" He laughed again. "When I saw you with my brother, I thought you were going through one of your little phases. I'm your best friend. Of course I would notice when you seemed to date someone for a day and then break up with them. I didn't want my brother to go through that. It never even crossed my mind that you two could be serious! But since I have Misaki over here telling me how much he loves you and you calling to ask for him back, it must be true, right?"

"Misaki said he loved me…" Akihiko closed his eyes and leaned against the wall next to his phone. It was rare for the boy to say that, but if he admitted it to his brother then… "So he can come back and live with me?"

The same thoughts were going through the boy's head as he sat next to his brother, eyes bright and excited at the thought of Akihiko calling and asking for him back. So the man really did care. Takahiro laughed softly. "Yes. He can come back and live with you as long as you never hurt him. But Usagi…" Takahiro paused, his tone turning questioning. "I have to ask. Why did you let him go in the first place? If you loved him you should have told me instead of letting me assure things."

Wanting to hear the answer to this for himself, Misaki leaned across his brother and pressed the speakerphone. He stayed like that, laying across Takahiro's lap with his arms folded on the arm of the couch, his chin on them and his brother's hand now resting on his lower back.

For a minute there was silence. And then Akihiko's warm voice filled the room. "I thought it would be best for Misaki," he answered quietly. Misaki closed his eyes, joy filling him as he listened to the low rumble of his lover's voice. A voice he hadn't heard in over two weeks. "You're his brother so of course you know what's best for him. And you're also my best friend. I don't want to fight with you. Then you started naming all the things you wished Misaki could do… I didn't want to be the one to stand in the way of his happiness. After all, that's the most important thing to me."

Misaki felt himself tear up at the words and he sat up, biting his trembling lip before he whined, "Usagi-san! You're so stupid! I don't need any of that! I just need you…" Then the tears spilled from his eyes and down his cheeks.

There was a small, "Hn?" on the other end of the phone. A small, confused hum. "Misaki?" Anyone that new the man well could hear the small, gentle smile in his tone that very few people could bring out. "Misaki, don't cry. I understand that now." Then his voice grew back to usual haughty tone that it had been lacking that past few days. "In fact, I demand you come back home right now. Someone needs to cook for me. I haven't eaten in three days. And I think the microwave is broken, so you'll need to pick out a new one. I keep pressing the numbers but nothing happens. The house is a mess. Suzuki-san says she misses you and her ribbon hasn't been changed since you left. And you need to help me with my novels. Aikawa took one look at them and said she would fire me if I didn't rewrite every word. See what happens when you're not there?"

Takahiro couldn't help but find the words odd, but at Misaki's bright smile he had to grin as well. It looked like Akihiko had known the perfect thing to say to brighten the youngest one's mood, even if he was still crying.

"You're so stupid!" the brunette yelled into speaker of the phone consol. "Why haven't you eaten anything? You could have easily gone out to eat! There's nothing wrong with the microwave, you just have to press the green start button first. Suzuki-san likes me more than you, especially if you haven't changed her ribbon! Usagi-san, that's bear abuse! And there's no way in hell I'm helping you with your novels, you liar! Aikawa didn't threaten to fire you, you threatened to quit!" Misaki stood up, looking happier than he had in a very long time. "I'm moving back in whether you like it or not!"


A/N: The next chapter will be the last one! So sad~ This story is wrapping up nicely and coming to an end. Hehe... Thank you everyone who reviewed that I couldn't answer back to. I must admit, I find it really funny to be cap attacked for the suspense. Oh, and keep an eye on my profile. I'm going to be putting information on there about any new stories that I'm starting. Currently I'm working on a Masaomi/Mikado story so I'll keep updates on that one and when I'll publish it. Thanks everyone~!