For some time, Ritsu found himself with another regular besides the man he swore annoyed him to no end. Unlike Takano, his coworkers made no point of teasing the cashier about this man- all of them agreed he wasn't a comfortable presence they wanted around.

Where Takano had a cool confidence with a pleasant smile and teasing gleam, this man had a nasty arrogance with a snarling grin and mischievous glint. That being said, he never… did anything other than maybe stare a bit too long or awkwardly try to make conversation, so they really couldn't do anything. Ritsu was just stuck with his fate.

He'd be leaving in due time anyways.

However, as it became more apparent that the young heir had a follower when he would walk home, he lost his pride, the thing that told him he could handle it on his own just fine, and became somewhat scared. No, he wasn't helpless, but he wasn't in a comfortable situation either.

In all honesty, Onodera figured that no Takano did not need to know that the reason Ritsu wanted to go to his place was because he was scared of his stalker.

Him having a stalker.

How hilarious.

The sick feeling that had blossomed in the pit of his stomach after he caught the man at the store staring at him for an extended period of time only grew once he received a letter with just his name and "heir of the Onodera family" written on it. While he really didn't want Takano to worry, Ritsu was finally going to tell him.

Maybe.

He didn't really know.

Maybe he was just being stupid.

Maybe it was just some prank and nothing at all and he was being paranoid.

Whatever- he'd burn that bridge when he got there.

Which happened considerably sooner than he was expecting.

There he was, innocenty squinting into the darkness and trying to let his eyes adjust so that he could find the stupid dumpster and actually open it to get the trash in when there was the cliché rustling that had the hairs on his neck standing. Before he could react any further, however, he felt a sharp pain on his back, a hand coming around to muffle the cry of pain he nearly let out.

A harsh reality awakening slam to the ground forced him to realize that this wasn't some tired induced dream in which he'd wake up in a few moments on the floor of his apartment or something- nope this was real.

Desperately Ritsu wanted to turn his head and face his attacker- see the face of the man he already knew was there, but a hand in his hair forced him down, the gravel biting into his cheek.

"I have no idea-" Yep that was the man's voice, the regular costumer- "why some rich brat like you is working at a low end grocery store but I know you'll be great at getting quickly loaded."

Great.

He was getting mugged.

This was some seriously thought out mugging though, well planned and patience for the perfect time- Ritsu would give the guy that much.

Hearing the swish of a switchblade being pulled out, the brunette tensed. Feeling that, the other man laughed. "Well, at least you know your place." Bringing the blade for the basic throat threat, he leaned in close, his warm breath making Ritsu cringe as he felt it on his ear. "Cooperate and we'll all be fine-"

Yeah- screw that.

Ritsu said it wouldn't take long, but after 15 minutes of waiting in gun wrenching anxiety and then hearing that yell- well of course Takano would have ran.

Ran to Ritsu.

Seeing his lover on the ground, a man with a bruise forming on his cheek (nice one, Ritsu) holding him down by the neck while a knife was in the air- well, who could blame Takano for seeing red and hauling the man up and off, throwing him into a wall before sending in his own well delivered punch.

Ritsu pulled himself with a gasp, hand quickly coming to his neck and revealing a steady flow of blood in the form of a worrisome cut- but before Takano could even say anything, the attacker sent a punch his way.

Not at first realizing how the assailant was actually a decently built guy, Takano tsked. The match was much more even- and while they both could land hits, neither one of them really had the upper hand.

Of course, the both also assumed it was a more one on one situation. Both figured that their prize for winning against the other would be the brunette, delicate and scared and-

Crashing into the other man's body, straddling him and launching one powerful blow with some trash object, clearly knocking the other out.

"Son of a bitch." The younger man hissed, green eyes narrowed as he stood up, reaching for Takano aimlessly for support as his other arm gripped his stomach. The stupor in which Masamune had found himself ended as he supported his lover, looking over him in worry.

"Ritsu, are you alright?" Stupid question- he didn't even look alright. "Where does it hurt?"

Knowing better than to argue, Ritsu gingerly held his midsection. "Here- but I think that's just bruising. It's not too bad" Said like he knew what worse felt like. "Also he cut my arm and that's still bleeding- have you called the police?"

Rubbing his jaw where the dirty bag of flesh landed a good one- by luck mind you- Takano set out to do just that, allowing the other to get his bearings… and throw out the trash while grumbling.

His demeanor was odd- so calm.

Hm.

OOO

Probably an hour or two later, neither were keeping count as both had been concerned on Ritsu's wounds- which really looked worse than they were but Takano was a worry wort, they both were finally able to trudge inside of Takano's apartment, neither commenting on Ritsu's natural instinct to go inside the other's apartment.

"I am so tired- ready to just drop dead." Ritsu yawned, rubbing his eyes tiredly.

Either his patience was overcome with curiosity or his exhaustion wiped away all tact, for Takano just had to ask. "How are you so calm with all of that?"

With how much he freaked out over little things, Masamune figured this was going to be a traumatic experience for the young man.

Shrugging, the cashier plopped down on the other's couch, wincing at his careless mistake and rubbing his bruised stomach. "It's not the first time I've been assaulted before. I mean it's never gone their way-"

"Are… Are you serious?" How his love could say it so casually was beyond him, as Takano was considering putting a constant body guard on the young man.

"Well, yeah." Green eyes blinked with confusion. "I've even been in a few hostage situations with my family…" Seeing Takano's wide eyes and gaping expression, Ritsu couldn't hold back a chuckle. "I'm the single son of a highly known and prominent family in Japan. This was bound to happen- when I was younger I did have a body guard if I wasn't with my parents, but they also made me take a few self-defense lessons. I'm no black belt, but I'm not a hopeless case either."

Slowly, Masamune's expression went from being in utter shock to confusion, squinted eyes studying the man before him. "You're perfectly okay with getting mugged, but go into shock when getting hugged?" Raged sputtering went ignored as he shook his head. "Truly a mythical being, I don't even know if you exist."

"I!... I don't need this crap from you." He huffed, cringing as a pain flared through his face at the movement of his jaw muscles.

"Are you okay?" All humor was gone, concern unmasked.

"Yeah," He grunted with a sigh. "Just sore."

"Do you need anything?" Takano asked, kneeling before him, eyes soft.

"…You know I love you, right?"

Some would say it was an entirely unromantic confession, but if one were to see the scene, the moment, their heart would have stopped at the sickly sweet sight before them.

A golden glow from the kitchen alone illuminated the living room, softening their features. Concern and love in those scared yet amazed and perfectly enthralled, amber eyes, causing warmth to spread through Ritsu's body, a tender smile on his tired face. His own gaze was locked onto those entrancing eyes, one of his hands having come up to gently cup his lover's face.

How couldn't he just say it then and there?

"I love you." Said so gently, so lovingly, as if the words alone would the atmosphere, revealing it be a horridly cruel dream.

Masamune could only gaze with awe, tears of joy and relief fighting their way to freedom, and he didn't care to stop them. His breath caught as Ritsu's hand slowly brushed them away, the brunette's eyes also wet with his happiness.

"Ritsu- you- I… I love you too." God did he love him. Finally able to choke those words out, rising to meet his loving in a tender embrace- not wanting to hurt the bruised man but also dearly wanting to squeeze him close, no space in between them ever again.

"I love you… so much… Masamune." With his own tears falling, it was like all his emotions broke through as he finally began crying, burrowing into the other man as he clung on desperately. "I love you. I love you. I love you." He ranted feverishly, voice quiet but loud with the amount of love it held. His lover couldn't do much but hold him, kissing the top of his head as he buried his nose in the brown hair.

He finally had the love he wanted so dearly- how could he do anything else but return it?

Finally, Ritsu became quiet, soft happy sniffled becoming even breathing. They both pulled back as they rested on each other's foreheads, sleepy smiles on their faces. God, Takano prayed, don't let Ritsu regret this in the morning.

"You have no idea how long I've been waiting to hear that."

A shy chuckle. "I… I have some idea." If anything was to go by Takano's absolute joy and tears of happiness, then yeah, he had some idea.

"Say it again..?" The whispered request made Ritsu's heart clench.

"I love you… Masamune."

"I love you too, Ritsu."

One more chapter, fam. :)

Be glad I took pity on you guys and didn't make you wait with that cliffhanger.