Disclaimer: I don't own Junjou Romantica.

Thank you for all the reviews… I'm happy that this story is appreciated.

Chapter 7

Akihiko drove to their mansion as fast as he could with the goal of talking smoothly with Haruhiko. But, the moment he saw his brother, his blood boiled by the thought that the very man in front of him had hidden the truth about his past for three years.

He punched Haruhiko square on the face. Haruhiko stumbled back and fell on the floor, surprised at his brother's sudden attack.

"Why…" He gritted his teeth, anger rising inside him. "Why did you keep Misaki away from me? Three years… for three years you've hidden the truth from me! Why!"

"Akihiko," was all Haruhiko could say. How could he tell him when he had promised Misaki to keep everything a secret from his brother? He had carried the guilt for three long years just to fulfill his promise to Misaki. He knew it would hurt his younger brother once the truth came out. But, it was Misaki's decision to stay away from Akihiko.

"Say something…" Akihiko's grip loosened as he said those words, as if begging for an explanation. In a weak voice, he said, "I've trusted you… with everything. Do you know how much it hurts to find out that I've been living a lie for the past three years?" Tears blurred his vision as he remembered Misaki, as he thought of the things that his former lover might have gone through while he was away.

"WHERE IS HE, HARUHIKO?"

Akihiko was about to launch another punch to his brother's face when his father's voice boomed throughout the living room.

"AKIHIKO, STOP!"

Akihiko flinched a bit but this didn't stop him from connecting his fist once again with his Haruhiko's face. He was able to land to more punches while his brother didn't fight back. Even as Tanaka and fuyuhiko pulled him away from the older Usami, he still struggled, trying to hit his brother.

"What the hell is going on in here?" Fuyuhiko asked, worry etched on his face.

"You tell me." Akihiko retorted as he glared to his father. "Tell me. How did you make Misaki run away from me? What sort of tricks did you do, huh?"

"You remember now?" Fuyuhiko blurted.

Akihiko laughed bitterly. "You wish I didn't?"

"No… no… of course not. How could you think that way?"

"You mean, how could I not? You've hidden everything about Misaki from me!"

"It was Misaki's decision." Fuyuhiko said with a straight face.

"Misaki would never do that! He loves me…" Akihiko's voice faltered at the last words as doubt started to creep in. Misaki loved me, right? He thought as he tried to remember everything about their relationship. But, he couldn't get a definite answer. All that was clear was the image of that kiss under the lamp post. Everything else was blurry images that Akihiko couldn't make out. He felt his head ache as he tried to remember. Then everything turned to white and all he could hear was his father's voice calling his name.

Hours later, he woke up in his room. His father was sitting beside his bed with a worried expression. His brother was on the couch at the corner of the room, also eyeing him with concern.

"Akihiko…"

Akihiko sat up, clutching his head. "What happened to me?" he mumbled.

"You fainted. The doctor said it was due to fatigue. Akihiko, don't push yourself too much. He said your memories will come back bit by bit."

"Misaki… I have to find him…" he said weakly.

"Akihiko, I think it's about time we tell you everything." His father paused for a while, as if finding the right words to use. Haruhiko looked out the window.

"Misaki loves you, we know that. It's the very reason why he decided to stay away from you. It was his idea to keep everything about him a secret."

Akihiko could not believe what his father had said. Misaki wanted to stay away from me?He felt his chest tightened again, a lump forming in his throat, making it hard to swallow.

He uttered an almost inaudible "Why?"

Akihiko gazed back at his father, wanting to find lies in his father's words. Seeking for a little hope that Misaki would never do such a thing. But he was met with Fuyuhiko's solemn look. It felt like there was so much pain that his father had been holding.

"Because of the accident… Misaki's slowly becoming blind." His father whispered.

Akihiko felt his world collapsed as his father uttered those words. His Misaki suffered for years alone. That's all Akihiko could think of, he wasn't able to comprehend anything after that.

XXX

For a month, Akihiko searched for Misaki. The day that his father told him everything, he and Haruhiko immediately went to where Misaki lived. But, when they reached the address, the Takahashi family had already moved out, leaving no trace as to where. It had been a week before his brother got news that the Takahashi's went to Osaka.

Akihiko tirelessly searched the town, but, he couldn't find Misaki. He would've resorted using the media, but, it would cause more trouble than good.

While he searched, he would often think: What is Misaki doing now? Is he thinking of me?

Slowly, he remembered everything, from the kiss under the lamp post to Misaki's declaration of love. Every afternoon, he goes to the park near the hotel where he's staying, with little hope that he might come across his beloved.

Today was no different; he went to the usual park and gazed at the orange-stained sky. He wondered if Misaki could see it right now. Or is he blind already? His chest tightened as he thought of this. He wanted to see him as soon as possible, be able to comfort him if he's feeling lonely. Hold him tightly if he's cold.

He felt someone sit beside him, but he didn't care to look. His train of thoughts was interrupted by muffled sobs. Akihiko's eyes grew wide at what he heard next.

"Usagi-san… I love you…"

Slowly, he turned his gaze to the man sitting beside him. There he was, his beloved Misaki, staring blankly at the sky. His usual lustrous green eyes were hazy. Tears were streaming down his thin, rosy cheeks. He just watched, unable to form words. He felt like he was just having a dream. Unknown to him, tears were also flowing from his eyes.

"Are you alright?" was all he could say. He had imagined this happening, but, he didn't really expect it. He never expected that it would be Misaki who would find him. He noticed that Misaki's face had gone paler, like he had recognized his voice. This made him a bit happy, knowing that the younger male had not forgotten him.

Without looking at him, Misaki answered nervously, "Yeah… I'm alright…"

As if he was in a trance, he reached out for the younger man's face and wiped his cold tears. Misaki, on the other hand, backed away and stood up, his walking stick on his hand. Then he scowled at Akihiko, "Don't go touching strangers, you pervert!"

Akihiko knew it was feigned anger, but he couldn't help but feel a slight pang in his heart with Misaki's reaction. He hadn't gone this far to lose his lover again. So before Misaki could run away, he wrapped his arms around Misaki's lithe body, tightly pulled him into a hug. He felt his heart pound loudly against his chest as he inhaled the younger male's familiar scent, that scent that he had been dreaming of for years. He knew deep inside, that, by heart, he hadn't forgotten him.

Painfully yet lovingly, he uttered, "Misaki, I'm sorry it took three years for me to remember. Please, don't run away from me again."

One more chapter and we're through! Thank you for reading.