A/N: It seems the latest chapter has everyone interested in whose the mysterious caller right? Well that will have to wait since this is the beginning of the real set up, the past coming back for another round and a time to face facts… well at least for Syuusuke and Ryoma.

Read and Review and I'll continually update.

Heart- Well, they are stubborn when it comes to love right? The mysterious caller may be coming sooner than you think though.

Kvhottie- I really should thank you for reading it and all. Thrill had a couple scenes in here and Takumi far from done with his kisses, smugness, and everything else is just getting more complicated at time progresses.

Ria Sakazaki- I will… and hopefully you will too?

munkyaround- Suzuka is Oshitari's wife and Ryoma's physician but do look forward to more drama from this point on.

thfourteenth- Really? I really don't want to confuse anyone at all so if you say so, I'll try to tone the scene changing a bit and we'll see if it's less confusing for you XD

nicki-gurl- succumbing will be up to Fuji at the moment and yes, Tezuka's really in it for Atobe… the scene with Fuji has to do with rumors he's heard of from Tetsuro that made him want to protect Ryoma from Fuji.

wuzzgoinon- hopefully my schedule will stay about the same so I can continuously update every two weeks or so at the latest! Hopefully this chapter doesn't disappoint you!

Playgirl Eugene- ROFL, There's more to that scene then you may think as there's a scene in this chapter that flashes back to Atobe for a while on his "thoughts" about Tezuka's confession. Takumi definitely reappears in this chapter and Hiruki… maybe later :3

TeNsHi No ToIkI- It's a for sure it isn't Ryoga. He is not included in this story so no fear there.

tsub4ki- Hmmm… their may be more childish feats coming up since they can't seem to properly confess… but who knows… after this chapter's end… anything can happen right?

fan girl 666- I hope you'll continue to think that in the next few chapters :D

o0violetphoenix0o- It will continue to since I can say the end is in the spotlight already since everything is slowly being revealed so sit tight for the rest of the ride.

lilgurlanima- What Kirihara and Ryoma fear may very well happen. Fuji will become another way to hurt Ryoma and they now have to proceed even more cautiously. As for seeing your lover with another, the reaction would be walk out or attack XD

Club7

Rated: M

Summary: "Love is Lies," was Fuji's motto; "Love is fake," was Echizen's…so how did lies and fake become attraction? How did attraction become attachment? It all started in Club 7.

Pairing: EchizenXFuji

Chapter XIII: Denial

Tokyo, Japan

8:00 AM

Thursday Morning

"Here," Ryoma said carelessly tossing Fuji an envelope.

"What is this?" Fuji asked staring at the manila-colored envelope. The weight of it was familiar and a trigger in Fuji's head went off as he guessed it before Ryoma could answer.

"Your wages… after all, you were working for me right?" Ryoma asked as he poured himself a cup of coffee. "You could even leave tomorrow morning if you want…. after all you're quite ready to leave me right?"

"Ryo-"

"Don't worry," Ryoma said turning around with a smirk. " I'll have Kirihara arrange for your stuff to be shipped back to your apartment, it's still there you know."

"But this-"

"Not enough?" Ryoma asked with a raised brow as he took a small sip of his coffee. "I'll add another 500,000 yen into your bank account."

"It's not that I'm in a hurry!" Fuji said trying to get his sentence across.
"I'll leave with you and make it convenient… since I haven't really had time with my family… I'd like to stay."

"That's fine as well…" Ryoma said as he turned to walk back towards the desk where he stationed all his work.

"Would you go with me to see my parents?"

"Are we pretending to be together for them as well…" Ryoma asked with a raised brow.

"Well…"

"Suit yourself," Ryoma merely shrugged off as he settled himself in front of his laptop. "I don't mind."

"Thank you…" Fuji uttered although he was more than sure Ryoma could care anymore. He had been mean and insensitive towards Ryoma… he didn't expect anything else from Ryoma back.

Ryoma, on the other hand, was having a hard time getting used to the idea that Fuji wasn't going to be with him anymore. Yesterday he had been angry and irritated that Fuji had ran off and endangered himself… but he realized himself that he did that often enough to Kirihara and his guards causing them the same distress he had felt yesterday. THAT was the only reason why he withdrew firing the guards and warned them instead earlier that morning. Last night, he had been irritated that every time Fuji appeared in his mind, he immediately loss all his senses and intelligence and jumped into the stupidest physical actions and thoughts a man could do. Especially after Taku had even suggested that damn notion into his head.

'Did you ever think that you might love him?'

"Damn that man!" Ryoma swore softly under his breath as he stared at the computer screen not really seeing nor understanding the page before him. Taku had diagnosed him yesterday after hearing how he got shot. SURE, it was unusual that he would chase down a "lover" and YEAH it was crazy to think he'd let the bullet hit him and not his "lover".

BUT it was beyond reason to assume that he was infatuated OR in love with Fuji!

It just wasn't done! Echizen Ryoma did NOT fall in love with a host; he did NOT fall in love with a professional sweet-talker OR even for the least part LIKE him to that extent….

Well at least that's what he found himself repeating at the moment…

'Then why did you tell him you loved him during sex the other day?' Ryoma screamed at himself mentally.

He wasn't all there the other day but he wasn't totally ignorant that he had confessed something like that either. It was one of those spur of the moment things…. It didn't, SHOULD'NT mean anything more to him.

"It is not love, right?" Ryoma asked his computer screen as he reviewed their brief, yet eventful time together. They were just playing their parts…. Joking around, enjoying the others company and-

'Since when did we stop acting and feeling?' Ryoma pondered. So deep in thought, he didn't see the worried blue eyes viewing him from across the room.

xXx

Osaka, Japan

9:25AM

Thursday Morning

Shun crossed the street lazily as he made his way home. He was irritated…. Irritated that Echizen had an inhuman amount of luck in his cards since he was, once more, safe and not dead. He wasn't even on his way to being dead… instead his men were captured and he was once more mocked by the underground organization about his failure to rid the brat and bitch…. They had spent so long comparing him to his father… how his father had not managed not to kill the kid and niece.

'Yet he did a better job compared to his son ne?'

"Damn bastards!" Shun uttered in anger as he remembered their mocking faces and sneers.

"Not the welcome I wanted from Shun ne?"

"Eh?" Shun glanced up and saw a taller male leaning against the gate to his house. A small smile made its way across the man's face as he straightened himself elegantly as one hand brushed his dark hair back before removing his dark glasses to look at Shun.

"You-"

"Tetsuro Shun… you're still a boy," The man said with a chuckle, making his golden eyes twinkle a bit in mystery.

"Izumi-sensei?" Shun said in disbelief.

"Who else boy?" The man said as he patted Shun's shoulder. "I heard of your fathers tragic death."

"Aa… come inside…"

xXx

Elsewhere in Osaka

Kai walked into the small café as he searched for the commander of unit one of the Osaka Police in silence. Noting the wave he got from one of the customers sitting in the café, Kai walked forward and sat across from him as he ordered a cup of coffee.

"Hirasawa," Sanada greeted.

"Sanada-san…" Kai greeted in return. "What was the urgent business you had to see me about?"

"There was actually two." Sanada said taking a sip of the coffee he had been drinking since waiting for Kai.

"Really?" Kai questioned as he nodded his thanks to the waitress who brought his coffee. Turning his attention back to face Sanada, he noted that the commander was very serious from the look in his face.

"There was an incident in Tokyo…thankfully it was solved quickly at Echizen in alive so there should be no reason to worry Nanako-chan over that."

"That's good to hear," Kai said with a nod as he took a sip of his own coffee.

"My concern at the moment is your father," Sanada said looking at Kai intently now.

"My father?" Kai asked putting his coffee down. " What's wrong with my father?"

"He seems to be involved in something with Tetsuro Hana and I was hoping you could enlighten me as to why there is some involvement here…"

"Tetsuro…."Kai whispered as his forehead crinkled in worry and thought…. Why would his father associate with the daughter of the man who murdered Echizen's parents?

xXx

Tokyo, Japan

10:00AM

Small café inside Sakura Hotel

"May I put my two cents in?" Yuuta asked after listening to Syuusuke and Yumiko's intense talk of what happened yesterday morning.

"Sure Yuuta," Yumiko agreed although her disappointed eyes still rested on Syuusuke's face.

"Aniki…. You are being so selfish!" Yuuta summed up in one sentence as Syuusuke looked at his brother in surprise at that statement.

"But-"

"There are no buts- you just want a way out now that your boyfriend's being targeted huh?" Yuuta said with a frown. " I find that unlike you and despicable considering that you ran off in the first place for love."

"I was wrong-"

"So now you admit it was wrong to run for love? After lives are threatened? After he took a bullet for you?" Yuuta asked.

"I'm thankful he did and I feel a bit guilty but-"

"But what? All your doing is giving excuses… even a few minutes ago when he escorted you down here and left into the back, he was concerned first and foremost of you! It's quite selfish of you to be with him while its all good then when it gets rocky to run."

"You don't understand the full situation-" Fuji said with a frown.

"I understand to know that all your doing is running from him… I could clearly see how much you two care for each other… even at this moment, you're eyes have always strayed to the door where he went out to." Yuuta grilled.

"I was just worried for-"

"You don't worry for people you don't care about BAKA!" Yuuta said crossly.

"I'm disappointed in you…" Yumiko admitted to Syuusuke as well. "It's not that hard to admit you love and care for him… despite how the two of you began the relationship, it's only the truth that you two are now deeply in love with one another."

"We aren't!" Syuusuke insisted.

"The harder you pull, the more caught up you'll become." Yumiko said truthfully. " You can't hide what you feel from me Syuusuke…"

"I- Okaa-san…. Otou-san…" Syuusuke said spotting his parents as they walked towards them.

"Syuusuke!" his mother gasped out as she ran the rest of the way to pull her son into a hug. It had been a long time since he had been in her embrace or even near her.

"I missed you mom," Syuusuke said as he honestly gave his mother a tight hug as well.

"You've been well?" She asked backing up to look at her son.

Syuusuke nodded before pulling away to bow to his father in respect. "Otou-san…"

"Where is he?" his father merely asked sitting next to Yumiko.

"He- he'll be here soon, Ryoma had to finish a couple of-"

"Ryoma? I thought you ran after a teacher! Now it's a new guy?" his dad asked gruffly.

"I-"

"No matter, I doubt I'll give my approval either." His father said as he looked at the menu instead of Syuusuke.

"Anata… you said-"

"I'd try, I don't have to like him." He answered waving his wife off to her seat on his right.

"Sorry I took a while," Ryoma said announcing his presence to the family as he walked briskly over with Kirihara trailing him.

"Mom, Dad… this is Echizen Ryoma, the owner of this hotel and my boyfriend." Syuusuke introduced.

"Hn…" his father merely said looking Ryoma up and down. " If he's so damn rich, why is he playing around with you?"

"Kirihara, you may leave." Ryoma said pointedly ignoring Fuji's father's question. Pressing a quick kiss on Fuji's cheek he ushered for Fuji to sit back down while taking the seat Yuuta left to him.

"It's good to finally meet the both of you." Ryoma directed more to Fuji's mother than father.

"Likewise," Fuji's mother said with a smile. "We hope Syuusuke does more than trouble you because-"

"Why don't you try to wake him up and dump him so he can focus on his life with a woman, a stable job and better things in life?" his father asked landing a glare on Ryoma intimidating him to do or say something he could use against him.

"Why don't you realize that I'm not going to leave him nor wake him up if that's what you'd like to see." Ryoma said bluntly back not intimidated in the least by the glare or words. "I'd prefer to think you'd be happy for the both of us because I can tell you that a stable job doesn't need a woman, it only requites skills and someone who unconditionally loves you by your side."

"BULL SHIT!" Syuusuke's father said standing in anger. "Your rich, pretty good looking and all! You think I'd believe that you'd love my son for the rest of your damn life? Everyone knows rich people marry rich people to create more rich people!"

"I'd prefer that you DON'T classify me with the rest of the ton." Ryoma said as politely as he could at the moment. " I believe your opinion and one-sided view doesn't fit well with me at all. If you were but anyone else I'd tell you to shove your opinion and what else up yourself and all but since you're, unfortunately, the father of the one I love, I'll have to refrain myself from that and promptly pretend that you don't think so low of your son and me."

"Psh!" Fuji's father let out with a sneer. " Then what have you done for him? What assurance have you given him about the two of your futures? This hotel you own is nothing when your parents find out whom you are with! They'd never hand over their legacy to a son who can never give them a heir!"

"What I do now is a guarantee that I will definitely provide for him." Ryoma said with a glare to Fuji's father. "I personally own this hotel and all the others in other cities. Insulting me is one thing but saying my parents would not approve of my happiness is crossing the line! If they were alive to see Syuusuke, I'm not sure how they would react but being an ass like you is the farthest thing they'd be!"

"I believe we all need to calm down a bit don't you think?" Yumiko said sternly at her father. " We agreed that even if the difference of opinion is still in the air, we'd tone it down."

"How can I be sure this man won't just use my son and get rid of him?" Fuji's father shouted at Yumiko. "There is no proof! Nothing! He can be here today and gone tomorrow."

"You're right!" Ryoma said looking at Syuusuke's family intently from one to another. "But I can only hope you all trust me and the words I can offer. I love Syuusuke…. Despite how confused he makes me at times, despite the constant frustrations he may give me, I love that damn fool you call a son and I doubt that my heart will change."

Silence followed… no one could say a word as they, for a reason unknown, couldn't meet anyone else's eyes. The silence didn't change until Yuuta suddenly stood making everyone focus on him.

"I'm going to trust you then," Yuuta said with a slight frown. " I don't know why… but I'm going to trust you and the baka I have for a brother."

"Yuuta…" Syuusuke uttered finally finding his voice through all the chaos… he himself couldn't believe Ryoma would take their "relationship" this intense and defend him so honestly against his father's tirade.

"I-"

"Echizen-san?"

Ryoma glanced up to see a waiter by the door as he waited for Ryoma's approval to come forward. Nodding his approval the waiter stepped up and bowed before he mentioned his business.

"It seems Oshitari-san and his wife are wanting to see you urgently before they go on leave." The waiter announced.

"I see," Ryoma said as he motioned with a flick of his wrist for the waiter to leave. " It seems business has once more come up and I have to step out." Ryoma said with a small smile to Fuji's mother while nodding politely at Yumiko, Yuuta and Fuji's father. "Excuse me and please enjoy you're family reunion."

"I'm done here…" Fuji's father said standing to exit behind Ryoma.

"Otou-san!" Syuusuke called out making him pause. "Whether you believe it or not, I'm truly thankful you care about my future…. But I think I'm old enough to chose my path now."

"Hn…" Fuji's father merely uttered as he stepped out followed by Fuji's mother who gave her son an apologetic smile before running a bit to catch up to her husband.

"Well… that didn't go so well…" Yumiko said with a sigh.

'That's why I didn't want to see them…" Syuusuke uttered with a sigh.

"It had to be done sooner or later… although I'm still angry at you aniki."

"Eh?"

"Echizen-san does love you… and if you leave him now, I think you'll regret it." Yuuta announced with a frown.

"I agree with Yuuta as well… Syuusuke… where did my level-headed Tensai go?"

"I'm not sure…" Fuji said noting his sister's concerned face. "But Ryoma was only saying so for our parents sa-"

"BAKA!" Yumiko said with a fierce frown at Syuusuke now. "I looked at him when he said he loved you and there was nothing but sincerity from him… the problem is not him, it's you!"

"I-"

"There's nothing more to say… if you leave that man… then you're a baka…" Yumiko finished off as she ushered for Yuuta to leave with her. " Think about it…"

Syuusuke couldn't say anything as he watched his siblings leave…. He had thought they'd be on his side…. But why? Why were they siding with Ryoma?

xXx

Ryoma sighed as he walked out of the room and didn't look back as he followed the waiter out of the private room to another. He was so close, so close to landing a punch on Fuji's father and cursing that man out…. Yet he held back… because before the meeting he had come to a conclusion.

He had decided he may be in love with Syuusuke actually… and he had also decided that he wasn't going to let Syuusuke go after all…

So when he said he loved Syuusuke… it seemed to flow out easier…

"It's easier if you're truthful to yourself right Seishounen… that's how you should live above all, never let go of a chance… if I did, your mother and I wouldn't be here."

"Perhaps you're right Otou-san… it's easier to not fight against yourself…" Ryoma uttered as he walked through the door the waiter held open for him.

xXx

That Night

"We are what?" Fuji asked staring at Kirihara and Ryoma.

"Going back to the host club we went to when we first came." Ryoma announced getting dressed.

"Why?" Fuji asked feeling the bitter jealousy of seeing that stupid host again curl inside him.

"Why not?' Ryoma questioned with a raised brow.

Fuji didn't answer as he started to get dressed to go out as well now. He obviously wasn't up to seeing that host or even going out tonight actually.

"Takumi will be there as well right?" Yukimura asked walking in.

"Aa… he'll meet us there." Kirihara said as he followed Ryoma and Yukimura out to the living room to wait for Fuji to finish dressing. Not one noted that the name 'Takumi' raised a hell of a lot more jealously in Fuji's system though.

'Baka Syuu!' Fuji railed at himself mentally. 'YOU HAVE NO RIGHT to be jealous!!!!'

xXx

Tokyo, Japan

11:25PM

Tokyo Star

Fuji breathed, as they got ready to enter the club again. He was in no mood to be annoyed at Ryoma's actions or his own thoughts!

"Ryo!"

Fuji clenched his hands into tight fists as Takumi walked over as if he was under spotlight on a runway and swiftly distributed a 'close' kiss with Ryoma. He tried to ignore the wet kiss but the urge to hurt Takumi and Ryoma was swiftly eating at him so he tried to busy himself eliminating the lecher of a host Ryoma had been with last time… no luck! He was heading over right away!

"Echizen-san!" he all but cooed at Ryoma.

"Aa… Yusuke!" Ryoma greeted so informally as he went on to divest another eye-opening kiss on the greedy host.

Damn Ryoma for even remembering the guy's name. It was set that he was going to be in a bad mood!

"Can I sit with you again?" The host now known to Fuji as 'Yusuke' asked.

"Sure… maybe you can sit on my lap too…" Ryoma murmured loud enough for people walking by him could hear.

Yusuke merely smiled as his hands slipped and wrapped around Ryoma's hip to obviously display that he would even lick Ryoma's toes if ordered too.

"Stupid host!" Fuji uttered as he tried to smile at a host who came forward to accompany him. Focusing on the host who was talking to him, he tried to ignore how Takumi and Yusuke all but purred into Ryoma's pants. His level of irritation and annoyance was affecting his ability to be nice and relaxed.

"A bit annoyed?" Yukimura asked as he sat to Fuji's left forcing the host targeting Fuji to sit between Fuji and Takumi.

"What makes you think that?" Fuji asked as he half-listened to Yukimura and half-listened to the host.

"I know you too well?" Yukimura suggested as he turned slightly to smile at Fuji.

"Very funny Sei…" Fuji replied. He was irritated with himself now… his rough reply only made it more obvious to Yukimura that he was in a bad mood.

"So Fuji… can I fondle Ryoma?" Takumi asked

"How can you ask when you are already doing it?" Fuji asked turning away to pick up his drink. "Don't ask what you're going to do anyways."

"Are you jealous that I can do it better than you?" Takumi asked watching Fuji's expression.

Determined not to lose to him Fuji smiled professionally and looked at Takumi with no fear. " Why should I be when I occupy his bed and you don't?"

"You're quite confident aren't you?" Takumi challenged with a smirk.

"I fear I am…"

"How do you I haven't already been where you are?" Takumi asked curious as to why Fuji would directly challenge him tonight when he seemed so meek the other night.

"If you were, he'd have no need for me right?" Fuji stated turning away from Takumi as if he wasn't worth the explanation. "After all, you're no more than a perverted brother to him right?"

"Perverted you say?" Takumi asked ignoring Ryoma's laugh that he was trying to stifle.

"What other brother would have so much guts as to caress and make out with their brother in front of their lover."

"Are you his lover?" Takumi challenged. "No lover would allow the one they love to sit like this with a host and perverted brother would they?"

"I have no reason to ask Ryoma to hold back… if this is his game then I have no qualms with making out with another as well."

"Hn… you'll regret not holding him down."

"I wouldn't hold me down where he doesn't hold me down." Fuji stated. " If he wants to spend his time playing with you two, then it shouldn't bother me since I'm pretty confident of my skills in and out of bed without flaunting my assets." Fuji finished looking directly at Yusuke who was frowning at the development of Fuji as Ryoma's lover.

"Hn… Told you Syuusuke's not easily shaken." Ryoma informed Takumi who merely smiled and shrugged it off.

"Che! All he's shown me is that he's irritated that this boy and I are draped over you and biting back to protect his pride."

Yukimura chuckled at that… which only made Fuji want to kill the lot of them even more than three minutes ago.

'You're a professional Syuu…' Fuji chanted mentally in his head. 'Don't let the lines affect you, don't let them break your mask."

So lost in his own world, he didn't notice Ryoma eyeing him over the rim of his glass. He had no idea how happy he had made Ryoma with those words… it was almost as if he knew Ryoma meant what he said earlier that day… that he truly loved and wanted Syuusuke by his side.

xXx

Osaka, Japan

11:55PM

Atobe Corp.

Momoshiro laughter heartily as Atobe complained to him and Saeki about Tezuka's confession.

"So he finally got around to telling you huh?" Momoshiro said with a huge grin on his face.

"It's not funny you bird brain!" Atobe said with a fierce frown. "I was hoping that I had been reading the wrong signs for the last few months!"

"But we all warned you as well…" Saeki said with a smile at Atobe's outrage at being confessed to.

"I was hoping we were all wrong!" Atobe said with a groan now. He rubbed the temples of his head slightly as he sulked a bit.

"Well we were all right and what was your response?" Momoshiro asked, more interested in the outcome then the story.

"I haven't given him a straight answer yet…" Atobe said with as much maturity as he could. " it wouldn't do to just refuse right off without considering his feelings…"

"In other words, he feels almost the same to Tezuka as well." Saeki said with a sly grin to Momoshiro who nodded in agreement to his conclusion.

"I DO NOT!" Atobe complained at how he had thought they'd sympathize with him… sadly it seemed they came to enjoy his misery.

"Why didn't you give him a straight answer then?" Momoshiro asked pointedly. "You're not one to beat around the bush Atobe!"

"How could I?"

"What was your reaction when he confessed then?" Saeki asked.

"I pretended that I didn't know about it." Atobe admitted with a slight frown.

"You're leading him on!" They both concluded with grins.

"I AM NOT!"

"Atobe, we all know you are not that dense! Especially when Echizen always hints that he knows someone who likes you."

"But he always fakes innocence during those occasions remember?" Momoshiro cut in with a grin. "Pretending ignorance isn't going to make it any better Atobe."

"SHUT UP!" Atobe roared out in annoyance. " Why did I even bother telling you two? I should've just waited for Oshitari to return."

"He'd tell you the same thing," Saeki said with a grin as he ducked when Atobe tossed an envelope at him.

"Ore-sama is NOT pleased with both of your humors!"

xXx

Tokyo Japan

12:45PM

Friday Morning

"That was a good night wasn't it?" Ryoma asked as he tugged his shirt off.

"If you say so," Fuji said distantly.

"You were quite open with our relationship in bed."

"You never said it was a secret." Fuji answered as he stripped down to his boxers without looking at Ryoma. He was positively annoyed that Yusuke and Takumi got to French kiss Ryoma so thoroughly before they left the club. He had wanted to drag Ryoma away but he restrained the impulse… or else it would prove Yukimura right about him being blindly jealous.

'You're already in too deep… once he captures you, he may not let go.'

"Hn…" Fuji uttered as he crawled into bed while Ryoma turned off the lights. He was well aware of the game and damn Yukimura if he thought He would give in to Ryoma's way. He had traveled at his own distance till now and he wasn't about to change it!

"Shall we test out our bed life?" Ryoma asked pulling Fuji over to his side.

"Hn… you might not survive the attack." Fuji uttered a bit harshly although his body was betraying the anger and already jumping at the thought of coupling with Ryoma.

"Let's see who survives ne?" Ryoma whispered as he rolled above Fuji and pressed a hot kiss on Fuji's lips as Fuji didn't fight him entry.

Fuji tried not to think of his excitement… it was just sex… the same boring sex he did as a job… so it should mean nothing… right?

xXx

Osaka, Japan

10:00PM

Sunday Night

"It's good to be home ne?" Fuji said as he switched on the lights to Ryoma and his apartment while dropping his bag on the nearest sofa. " I'm quite tired…. Do you mind if I move out the day after tomorrow instead?"

"Syuusuke… I've been meaning to talk to you about that." Ryoma said locking the door as he slipped into slippers and followed Fuji to the hall.

"What?"

"I wanted to properly tell you something I've only told one other person besides you."

"Ryoma-" Fuji started. If it was what he thought it would be, he didn't want to hear it… because it'd only bring more guilt to him.

"I truly like you a lot Syuusuke!" Ryoma said stubbornly blunt anyways. "I want us to try to be together because I think I like…LOVE you.." Ryoma emphasized.

"Ryoma…I…I can't." Fuji protested as he looked at Ryoma's determined face. "I don't believe in love… we both don't believe in love… remember?"

"That was before we cam this far… I'm starting to believe in it again… you've made me think it may actually exist… perhaps it's not fake… because if it is, then what is this feeling I feel for you?" Ryoma questioned searching Fuji's face.

"You've fallen for my charms like other clients-"

"I've fallen for you… not your charm, not your wit… just you." Ryoma said advancing to take a hold of Fuji's hand with a slight frown. " Is that so hard to believe?"

"It is…." Fuji said looking away from Ryoma.

Nanako considered herself pretty sly as she snuck her way into Ryoma's apartment. Tomoe had informed her that they had returned tonight and she wanted to see how they were doing. What she didn't expect to walk into was a fight… a fight that made her re-think their relationship as she caught the last part of the argument.

"I swore Tezuka would be the last… I just don't believe in it anymore… Tezuka's betrayal for Tetsuro Shun was the last straw… I just can't bring myself into that again… especially not with you!"

"Why not?" Ryoma demanded, quite frustrated by the turn of events as well. He was a man who was used to getting what he wanted and this outright refusal from Fuji was NOT what he had been expecting at the moment.

"Because you deserve so much better than me… we live in different worlds Ryoma… we just can't jump into something so silly… we'd only end up hurting each other in the end."

"Why can't we take a chance…. Why won't you give me a chance?"

"Because I can't afford to take another chance without destroying myself! Is that okay with you?" Fuji said roughly with a frown.

"Why don't you tell me how Tezuka destroyed you then?" Ryoma argued

"Then why don't you tell me why Hiruki destroyed you?" Fuji shot back.

A silence filled the air as Ryoma scowled openly while his hands fisted tightly at his side at the mention of his ex.

"You can't talk about it can you? so why do you expect me to talk about an equally painful memory with you?" Fuji said as he turned away from Ryoma. "We're practically strangers… strangers who happened to cross paths!"

"I want to more than that to you!" Ryoma said softly.

"It's best we don't become more!" Fuji countered burying his head within his hands.

It was only the truth… Fuji had long come to terms that sex was a great way to forget about the world and fall into the abyss of memories… it could never mean anything more than a pure lust to mate, a need to feel another pushing against you….

'Not even you can pull me out…. Even if with you I saw the light, I'll never be able to reach it… he'll never let me go… he's branded me…tattooed me for life….'

In the living room, Nanako slinked back towards the door…she has heard enough to confirm that the trip to Tokyo had changed the relationship…or perhaps, there was no relationship.

Either way, she felt it was best to let them be tonight… tomorrow would be soon enough to gather enough data and question them.

A/N: The next chapter will go back to Club 7, Tezuka and Fuji's relationship, a bit more on Ryoma's past with Hiruki, dabble in Tokyo with the Fuji's and Takumi, and a death.

Do review and I promise, if not earlier, by Thrill Pair Day, the next chapter will be up.

A review of encouragement will be positively appreciated though!