Hey guysss ( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ sorry for the late(ish) update, but I just started college with four classes and I'm doing research in a laboratory so my time is literally sucking away \((´д｀))/

Anyways, THIS IS THE CHAPTER GUYS
BE EXCITED
YAY ヽ(´▽｀；)/

So, please do enjoy this chapter, and if you truly to enjoy it (or if you hate it) please do REVIEW, I know every author says this, but it really does help with my writing. But please, no rude remarks. We're not made of stone, we do have feelings (_ _)

Chapter 10: The Needed Existence

Misaki's POV:

I dragged the heavy sports bag across the wooden floor, trying to be a quiet as possible. The early morning sun shone into apartment, setting the furniture and the polished floor alight with a bright orange glow. Dropping the strap of the bag onto the small mountain of suitcases and backpacks, I ran my hand through my disheveled hair, wincing as it caught on a slight tangle.

After deciding that it was impossible to sleep as a result of my constant pondering and wallowing in pity, I had gone around throwing my few belongings that cluttered the ever-so-familiar room into the suitcases I had brought with me the first time I moved in. It was surprisingly difficult, having gained a few number of possessions since then, a thought that had twisted the dull pain into a sharp pang of guilt and desire to stay.

I had left the room at 6am, eyes stinging from exhaustion, dragging the suitcases and wincing each time the wheel hit a small bump, making several dull thud sounds. The door of Usagi-san's room had been closed, the light in the corridor originating only from the thin window on the second floor.

As I did every morning, I prepared breakfast, going through the routine of preparing miso soup, eggs, and a decent supply of rice and grilled fish that could easily be reheated by the microwave and eaten as lunch and dinner as well. For a few moments, I had waited agonizingly by the stove, rethinking the plan. Usagi-san's complete inability to cook had both surprised and horrified me at first, and inevitably sent me into utter confusion as to how he managed to survive before I came along.

At this thought, a tiny spark of hope stirred, before it was quickly extinguished by a torrent of forced realization that, even without me in his life, he had managed to survive a good 28 years before I came along. No matter how much I tried to convince myself, I knew that I was not indispensable. I was not needed.

Sighing as the electrical watch fastened around my wrist reminded me of the time with a gentle beep at the hour, another silver, classic watch resting just right above it. Unable to leave behind Usagi-san's gift to me after entering university, I allowed both the cheaper, more sentimental watch Nii-san gave me for my seventeenth birthday and Usagi-san's expensive, silver watch to latch around my wrist, forming two shackles that reminded me of my indiscretions to both. I cast one last look around apartment, my mind flashing back to all every-day moments, filled with frustration, anger, shared sadness, even irritation, but all laced with small strings of happiness.

Ignoring the all-too-familiar tightening of my throat and the prickling behind my eyes, I grabbed the straps of the bags and clumsily pulled everything through the door, wincing at the dull sound of bags hitting the walls and door. I stared at the door for a moment, an inching suspicion that I had forgotten something making me pause for a moment, before I was suddenly reminded by the small weight in my pocket. Reluctantly, I reached in and pulled out that familiar silver key, slowly placing the key on the empty cabinet.

Pulling at my bags, I peered longingly back into the room, before I closed the door, the resounding click echoing both in the empty corridor and in my empty heart.

Usagi's POV:

I fought the fit of panic and nausea that arose in my stomach as my eyes rested upon the silver key.

After a very restless night, I had awoken at what I considered to be an early hour, and had walked down into the invitingly bright living room, catching sight of the familiar scene of a delicious breakfast, but with the unwelcome addition of a small note, with the familiar slightly untidy handwriting.

Usagi-san,

Thank you for taking care of me. You've already repaid Nii-san. I'm sorry I couldn't be his replacement to the end.

Misaki

Grabbing and crushing the small note in the palm of my hand, I had rushed to the door, prepared to catch him before he managed to completely disappear, only to be stopped in my path by the flash of silver from the corner of my eye.

Everything came clear from that key. it wasn't that he felt guilty, nor that he didn't want to inconvenience me, as I had originally considered, given his personality. No, he ran away intentionally, away from me. He left on his own, because he didn't want to be with me.

This revelation hit me much harder than I had expected it would, and had me staggering back, as if the silver key was causing me physical pain.

Again.

I was left all alone again.

A sinking feeling pulled me down, my back leaning against the wall, the remaining shadows at the doorway wrapping me in a protective hug.

My mind tried furiously to work through the pain, trying to understand his message. Thank you for taking care of me. That was blatantly clear. But what did he mean by 'You've already repaid Nii-san'? Did he think I was taking care of an eighteen-year-old university student to this extent, just for Takahiro? I snorted at this thought, then was immediately sobered at my initial intentions when I first impulsively picked him up. I just wanted to be as close to Takahiro as I could. And, at that time, it meant adopting his remaining, treasured little brother into my household.

The one part of that message that truly bothered me the most was his final sentence. 'I'm sorry I couldn't be his replacement to the end'.

If Misaki just didn't want to be with me anymore, I could accept that. I was not the friendliest and loveliest of people to live with. I enjoyed my freedom and solitude, and relished in the complete lack of expectations placed on me by distant acquaintances, including my family. But the very fact that Misaki had ever considered Takahiro his replacement was not something I could accept so easily. Takahiro could never be replaced. He was the jewel that I could not touch, only admire from afar, before he was so abruptly stolen and shrouded by death. And Misaki...

Misaki was the light that returned my world to me. A fact I had constantly been denying, but knew as truth.

What concerned me wasn't the sense of loss that I was now so familiar with. Instead, it was the strange need to fight, the need to find him, and even the unnerving desire to not only chase after him, but to catch him and lock him forever to my side.

Groaning, I slammed my head against the wall, finally accepting the revelation that I have been denying for the longest time.

I was in love with Misaki.

And nobody, not even Takahiro, would be taking him away.

Misaki's POV:

The new apartment was a fair deal. Despite it's pitifully small size compared to Usagi-san's large mansion, it was well-furnished and in decent condition, its walls and doors still in nice condition. The very few suitcases that I had dragged from Usagi-san's place fit nicely in the living room, giving me plenty of space to unpack, as well as an exhaustive shopping list to complete.

Grunting as I lifted a heavy stack of textbooks out of my suitcase, I sighed in frustration when I noticed that the bookcase was already filled, despite having only unpacked a little more than half of my books. My frustration swiftly changed to that of depression when I saw my phone, silently sitting on the table, yet to receive any calls.

Of all the changes I made, the one that I couldn't bring myself to complete, was changing my phone number. It remained my one last connection with Usagi-san. And yet, despite my pathetic hold on the little hope that he may call me back, the phone had yet to ring.

Dropping the stack of books on the nearest chair, I resolved to unpack the remainder of my school supplies later, instead focusing on the few small artifacts I had to decorate the place. Reaching into the smallest box of all, I retrieved the few remaining trinkets, placing them as strategically as I could on the few surfaces in the apartment.

I suddenly stopped when my hand retrieved that familiar photograph, Nii-san's innocent smile sending that familiar sharp nail of guilt throughout me once more. Tracing a figure around his face, I felt my lips turn into a wry smile as my free hand grasped the watches again, as I slowly placed it on the top of the small, round dining table, the smiling, innocent faces almost mocking me, but at the same time striking that one sentimental chord in me, reminding me of that gentle, dear brother that gave up everything to bring me up, now lying all alone in the ground.

Ignoring the rests of my boxes, I stood up, grabbed my keys, and promptly left the small apartment in disarray.

Usagi's POV:

I gently laid the red roses on top of the cold slab of stone, my fingers lingering briefly on the name carved upon the rock, that familiar despairing feeling appearing, but dulled by the desperate need to make amends, and to find him again. The stark contrast of red against grim grey and the dulling green of the well-tended grass as it slowly gave way to fall, made a picture perfect image. And it would have been such, were it not the fact that one of my dearest friends and first love lying under that cold stone.

I shivered slightly as the cold cut through the woolen jacket, reminding me that of the harsh winter cold, during when I first met Misaki at Takahiro's funeral.

"Takahiro," my voice broke slightly, being slightly overcome with emotion, "Takahiro, how are you?" A few months ago, I would not have believed that I could have dragged myself here without pulling myself even further into the dark despair that had enveloped me at the beginning of his departure.

"Your little brother," I continued, my mind still slightly sunk in my daydreams, "truly is a little treasure." A wry smile made its way onto my lips. "Not in the way you always told me though, mind. He's not the little, shy angel you described. He's a bit of a dimwit, stubborn, naive, sweet, kind..." I trailed off, noticing the significant change in adjectives. I let out a small chuckle, shaking my head.

"I'm sorry, Takahiro," my gaze landed on the carved name, my mind conjuring the image of his smiling, innocent face, "but I'm in love with Misaki. I'm sorry, but I'm taking him away."

I suddenly started when a scuffle and a slight grunt of pain sounded from behind me. I whirled around to catch sight of a flash of strands of brown hair and the shock and confusion of green eyes, as the owner of those distinct characteristics flew from the shadow of a large grave angel, and across the field of fading green and grey stones, towards the gates of black.

I immediately took after him without a thought.

Hehehehe (ﾉ≧∀≦)ﾉ

Finito babes! Sorry for the long wait despite the promised update, and a HUGE, HUGE thank you for those who are still with me and reading this.

I really hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. It actually did take a bit more effort in planning this, being such an important part of this story, I really wanted it to be a little better than usual (and I actually PLANNED what happened, it's a MIRACLE), so please do give me POLITE criticisms, I'd really appreciate you guys :D

So in general, READ AND REVIEW

Lots of love,

CherryDecaf o(^^o)