Because everyone (Guests and Readers, all!) have been very kind in the reviews...i was so inspired...I have two chapters up for this update! since i know some are about to strangle me because of the cliffhangers..hahaha Please review to both. I just have to post two chapters tonight. Hehehe...THANK YOU FOR THE support!

Silent Witnesses

There's no pain in this world you feel, that I know love won't be able to heal

He had expected to receive a slap from his friend. But instead, he received a heartfelt hug from Arisaka that made him lose a tear. The arm around his shoulders was warm and comforting. And he could only sob on that shoulder.

"Hora, don't soak my shirt punk," Arisaka complained, finally releasing Misaki.

"I'm sorry for making you worry," Misaki started. His eyes fixed on the white linen of his hospital bed. The sky outside was dark, the night had already settled in. "My head was just all in a blurry...I wanted to run away..."

"I know."

"Eh?"

Arisaka stood and made his way towards the door. "You're like an open book to me," the man teased while grinning. "You're lucky. There are a lot of people who are worrying about you without you knowing it. So don't dare run away again."

"I'm sorry."

"Cut it out will you?" the man turned the knob and threw a final glance at Misaki who was already tucked in on bed. "I think I should let you know though it might not be able to let you sleep."

Misaki knitted his brows.

"Usami Akihiko, that beloved composer of yours, I was just shocked that he was willing to fly from Okinawa straight to Tokyo the moment I told him you were missing. See, a lot of people loves you."

The kid just stared at the man, not knowing what to say. Whether Arisaka mentioned it with double meaning or not, Misaki knew it not. But Arisaka as he said, Misaki was like an open book to him.

The door closed with a careful "click". Arisaka rested his back against the wall with a slight smile on his face. "Don't you have two men about to run around in circles because of your naivete?" he started walking away with his hands tucked in his jeans.

"Interesting..."

Misaki was lying on his side, the injured part of him a little elevated. He had been biting the fabric of his pillow for a while now. He frowned at his childlike act but he couldn't help it. What Arisaka told him did shoo away the tiredness and sleepiness he had after Ijuuin Kyo dropped him back to the hospital.

His eyes wandered from the floor towards the open window. The sky was really clear. He figured it would be another hot day the next day. He sighed.

"Come to think of it...why was Usagi-san in there?" he asked aloud. Quietness was the reply he got.

He shifted his body and rolled on his back. His eyes stared a hole on the white ceiling. "That was the place we first met..." his lips parted a little. His fingers started to grasp the soft cotton robe against his chest. His heart was beating wild. "Did he, perhaps remembered the me back then?"

He looked at the clock, eleven in the evening. Is he already asleep? He asked but he took his phone on the bed side table anyway. Sweaty fingers swiped on the screen.

"Sorry...thank you." he typed. But he didn't like the sound of it and off he erased the text.

"I hope we're still friends?" he read aloud. "What the hell is this?!" he deleted them. He didn't know what to say. But he wanted to send a message. After thinking and sweating his mind out, he ended up sending a simple "goodnight." Although considering the time, it might be very impolite.

He waited for his phone to ring. He waited for a reply. But five minutes passed and there was none.

"Idiot. Look what time it is. 'Course he's asleep...besides...why would he repl-"

You have a call! Shing Shing! A call!

Eyes and all ears at his phone beside him, Misaki felt his body tense up at the caller ID. "Usagi-san."

Misak sat abruptly. If his wound hurt, he didn't even know. He was busy picking up the phone with his clumsy fingers.

The green-eyed boy placed the phone on against his ear. He had stopped breathing in anticipation of hearing Usagi-san's voice. But the other line was filled with silence.

What's this? Will he not talk or something? In truth, Misaki was afraid to say even hello, afraid that his voice might sound too excited.

And his ear was filled with a soft laughter. "Why aren't you talking?" Usagi-san's cool voice from Misaki's phone asked.

There was nothing to blush about. Why is my face...so hot! "Uhm, I, I was just wondering about the last time we argued..."

There was rustling on the other line. Bed sheets? Misaki imagined that the composer was indeed already sleeping that time.

"I already forgot that. It's not a big deal. I'm to blame as well. So let's leave it at that."

I'm so strange. Misaki thought. The voice on the other line felt like a whispering breath against his ear. This is bad...

"I'm sorry to interrupt your sleep Usagi-san. I'll..."

"Takahashi, please be careful. Specially around Ijuuin."

"Ha? But he's a good per"

"Just be careful."

"Okay."

"And Misaki?"

"...?!"

"I'm glad you seem to be recovering well. See you tomorrow."

Ten minutes had already passed but Misaki remained sitting with the phone on his ear like a clay statue. He was sure that "Misaki" was not a product of his crazy imagination. And "See you tomorrow"? Meaning he'll come here?

Misaki felt that that night was the longest one. Waiting for tomorrow was a pain.

Water dripped on the polished reddish marble floors. He went out from the bath wrapped in a white robe, the steam of the shower following him. He mindlessly passed his bedside table where a brown envelope was calling out for attention.

As he was fixing his dark, lavender tie, the wireless phone not far from him broke the silence of his morning routine. He didn't right away answer the phone. He picked his rolex watch and carefully wore it on his right wrist.

His sharp eyes glanced at the clock on the bedside table. Nine in the morning. His lips curled into a slight smile as he walked towards the restless phone.

"Yes."

"Good morning Usami-sama. The car is already ready."

"Thanks."

"Sir, may I know if you already read the contents of the envelope?" the old man asked. His voice concerned. If his master have read the contents, the man would not be in a good mood. But there his boss even said "thanks". So he was curious.

Usami's gaze rested on the boring envelope and raised a brow. "I'll read it once I return tonight. For now, I don't want to think of anything else."

"Alright, Sir."

If only Usami Akihiko read the contents, perhaps he would not be so thrown out of the loop.

The view on the rooftop of the hospital wasn't bad. And besides, if he stayed the whole day in his room knowing that he could already move properly, without his wound being a discomfort, he would go insane.

So there on the rooftop, where a shade against the sun was coming from an overhang where a huge water tank was, Misaki sat, eyes at the fast movements of the thin clouds against the blue vastness of the sky.

One of the green earphones popped inside his ears, he rested his back against the cold brick wall. Now that he was sure that at least, him and Usagi-san was back in good terms, he once again found himself able to appreciate the littlest things around him. And it was really a peaceful and filling state.

In the corners of his green eyes, he traced the other green earphone. It was snuggly resting in the left ear of his favorite composer. The person he was secretly in love with. Usami Akihiko.

The man must have noticed Misaki was staring at him so he turned to look at the wide-eyed boy. "Bored?"

"No...ah...I was just thinking, don't you have any work to do? I mean, the great composer sitting on the floor?" Misaki stammered nervously. "Besides...aren't you going to visit...Io?"

Mentioning Io sure killed the dreamy atmosphere floating around Misaki's head. But he had to ask at least. Or he would be bothered the whole day.

The composer narrowed his eyes then rested the back of his head on the wall. His silky hair, softly moving with the occasional dry breeze.

"Io, was already released from the hospital. His sprain healed faster than expected," was his short reply before closing his eyes.

Misaki gaped at the man. He didn't know that. How come he didn't know it? Why wasn't he informed? He began to wonder.

A long moment passed between them. They were sitting close but there was still a decent gap in between. The CD inside Misaki's player spinning. The pair of earphones connecting the two of them while they mindlessly killed the time. Misaki didn't have the least idea, that the composer beside him, was already creating a new song inside his head.

"Takahashi?"

Misaki felt a light tap on his shoulder. He fell asleep without knowing it. He abruptly ran his hand on his mouth, checking for some embarassing drool or something.

Usami stood when he saw Misaki awake and raised his phone. "I have a call. I'll just go over there to answer it."

Misaki watched the back of the composer. The voice of the man sounded stiff and cold. Like his goodmood had been taken away.

Sighing, Misaki looked at the lonely end of the other earphone that had just been resting in Usami's ear just a while ago. He pressed the stop button, halting the Canon in D that they were enjoying.

Scratching the back of his head, Misaki turned his head left and right before lifting his hand to cover his mouth for a loud yawn. Usami had been gone for a long while now.

Impatience and concern filled his chest. The face Usami made before leaving Misaki was still etched on Misaki's brain. It must be serious matter, he thought.

He slowly stood, careful not to put any strain or stress on his wound. Leaving the player on the floor, Misaki stepped into the sun's rays and searched for Usagi-san.

The rooftop was still like a maze to Misaki. Some brick partitions, smaller water tanks for emergency use and the fluttering huge, white blankets hanging from a thin wire left to dry blocked Misaki's view. He chose to walk in the middle of the blankets that smelled of fabric conditioner. His face being hit by the soft material once in a while due to the strong wind.

He smiled. He finally saw Usami Akihiko standing by a rustic railing, his broad back facing him. His silent steps took him closer to the man, but he halted in surprise.

"I don't care. Did you just call me about that never ending matter?"

Misaki flinched. The man wasn't yelling or anything. But the way he talked, was of raging irritation and anger.

"Look, I was able to survive on my own for the past ten years. So you could just forget it. I am not after any Usami properties. Haruhiko can have them all."

"Akihiko, your father is seriously ill. I know you two have no good memories together. But as a son, please, visit him. Show your face to him and I as the Usami lawyer and property consultant, won't bother you ever again. I am asking you as your father's friend and..."

"What difference would it make? He might go crazy all of a sudden if he sees my face anyway."

Misaki knew standing there, listening in an obvious personal matter of the composer was not a good thing to do. But his feet won't leave the spot where he was. The broad back before him was...shaking.

"Uncle," Usami Akihiko began in a bitter voice. "Why should I act like a son, when he never acted as a father?"

"Akihiko, he's in the terminal stage. One year to to two years, give or take. For how long are you going to keep this distance between you two? He had always tried to reach out to you. It's you who won't budge."

"Terminal? One year...what?"

Misaki's hospital gown fluttered with the wind. His hair hitting his wide eyes. From the small pieces he heard, he knew that there was someone dying. And that despite the cold and strong voice, that back, that broad shaking back was hurting.

"Please, don't be stubborn. You're an adult now Akihiko."

"..."

"We'll be flying back to Japan next month. I really expect that by then, you'll forget all misunderstandings and visit him."

Usami chuckled. "Why do I feel like you're making me the bad guy here?"

"Akihiko, think about it."

Misaki watched with painful gaze as the tall man slowly inserted his phone back in his pocket. A deep sigh escaped the mouth of the man before his huge hands gripped the rustic railings. Head bowed, the wind was strong as if taunting him.

The young man saw something sparkling that went with the wind from the man's bowed head. "Are those...tears?"

His feet moved on its own accord. His arms moved on it's own and circled them around the tall man's waist from behind.

"I'm so stupid..." Misaki told himself.

"...?" Usami Akihiko turned his head shocked, and looked down at the chocolate head pressed against his back. "Oi...how long have you..."

"It's okay Usagi-san...you can cry, no one's going to see."

"Wait..."

But Misaki's hold just got tighter as he started crying himself.

"I am so conceited. All this time I thought Usagi-san as a perfect man. I know so little about him...he's just like any other human in the world. A man with problems he didn't want to let others know...If I really liked Usagi-san, I should have been more sensitive...instead...all I was thinking is about myself."

"Why are you crying, my back's..."

"Because you look so hurt! You won't cry openly and it makes me sad and pissed off!" the boy muttered, burying his face on the warm back.

The tension in his back relaxed. His gaze from the tossled chocolate mop of hair from the wind darted to the world below. He felt his chest, full of all the feelings he couldn't put into words escaped his mouth as a sigh. A contended sigh.

Misaki lifted his head a little when he felt a soft, cold hand ran on his bare arm wrapped around the composer's waist.

"Thank you."

It was just a soft whisper carried by the blowing wind. And yet, the smiling voice, shaking a little sent Misaki feeling happy. If this moment will stay forever, it would be the best thing that could ever happen.

"Usagi-san?" Misaki questioned when he felt his hands around the man's waist being slowly removed by the cold fingers gently.

Usami Akihiko turned around. It was only staring that Misaki could do, as he watched the face never in his imagination would be this close approach.

A breath's away, Usagi-san smiled. A breath's away and Misaki felt all his strenght leave his body. They all have flown together with the wind.

It was the clear sky, the fluttering white blankets, and the rustic rails that served as the sole witnessess of the very first, soft and sweet kiss that Misaki ever had in his life.

Dazed, not even able to close his eyes with surprise, Misaki felt his body being squeezed by strong arms around his back. The ticklish breath on his ear whispered a song.

"Tomorrow, do you want to see the surprise I was telling you before?"

Chapter end notes;

WOHOOT! OKAY..OKAY..FLUFFY? lOl ... allow Misaki to have it.! hahaha..don't fret/the next chapter is there. this chapter turned out to be very long so i just decided to make it a two -chapter update^^

THANKS!