Disclaimer: Umm…what was I gonna say?

Nowaki: Chey-chan, you're supposed to say the disclaimer.

Chey: Am I?

Nowaki: Yes.

Chey: Man, I don't feel like saying it.

Nowaki: Please?

Chey: Stop it.

Nowaki: *puppy dog eyes*

Chey: Fine, I know nothing.

Nowaki: Good.

Chapter 21

Hiroki and Nowaki got to the bookstore about twenty minutes before the book signing was about to start.

They found the entrance completely blocked by hordes of Usami Akihiko fans.

"Oh brilliant," Hiroki muttered darkly. "How the hell am I supposed to help him now?"

"Hiroki!" a voice yelled. Hiroki spun to see his best friend get out of a rental Jag. He waved then hurried to the other side of the car to open the other door. It was in vain though since the door was shoved open by a red faced teen. The teen looked toward Hiroki and paled instantly. Akihiko, however, was oblivious. "Come on, back entrance!"

Somebody noticed him and yelled in English, "OH MY GOD! IT'S AKIHIKO USAMI!" As one, the mob turned to see him.

"I would advise running!" Hiroki called as he and Nowaki started moving away quickly. The boy with Usagi was already scrambling to get out of the way.

The four ran from the mob of fans, hurrying to the back entrance which was being propped open by security. The door was shut quickly behind them and they all paused to catch their breath. Hiroki was the first. He straightened and looked towards his best friend. Then his eyes fell on the youth with him. The boy straightened to lock eyes with him. It was only for a second before the boy looked away, terrified. Hiroki raised an eyebrow. The boy did look familiar though he couldn't place him. His eyes passed back to Akihiko. "Who's the brat?"

"Takahashi Misaki."

Hiroki looked taken aback. "As in Takahashi Takahiro?"

"Little brother."

"And he's here because?"

"Because he's my lover. I didn't want him to be lonely while I'm in New York. School is on break this week."

"So you brought an underage brat on a book tour?"

"Oh stop."

Kusama watched the exchange with mild interest. Assuming that Usami-san was faithful to the boy that meant he wouldn't be hitting on Hiro-san any time soon.

"You know that that's weird, right?" Hiroki asked, refusing to let it go. "You're dating the younger brother of the guy you've been in love with since high school. I mean, he doesn't even look like Takahashi."

The boy looked down, his insecurities showing clearly. Akihiko looked annoyed at Hiroki. "Stop talking." The hint of venom in his voice silenced his best friend instantly.

"Misaki, why don't you go out into the store? All the manga here is in English. It will be a good way to practice since you're flunking it anyway."

Misaki gave him a dirty look but stalked off anyway. Akihiko looked guilty for all of a second before he leapt after the college student and spun him around to give him a brief but hard kiss. "Have fun," he murmured. The boy turned three shades of red before fleeing to the main part of the store.

Hiroki stared at Akihiko. "What the hell are you doing using a teenager like that as a substitute for Takahashi?"

"He's not a substitute. I love him."

Hiroki's eyes bugged. What the hell was with that? He couldn't believe this.

"He seems like a nice kid," Nowaki put in. Hiroki smacked himself on the head. Un-freaking-believable.

"You can't have him."

"That's fine. You can't have Hiro-san either."

Nowaki smiled. "Fine with me."

"I feel the start of a beautiful friendship."

Nowaki held out a hand. "Maybe."

Akihiko accepted the hand. Hiroki was floored. What the fuck was going on?

"Shall we?"

"Let's. Hiro-san, are you coming?"

Hiroki shook his head, trying to clear it. "Uh… yeah." He blinked a couple times then followed the other two, still completely confused.

In the main store, there was a table set up with a Japanese woman and several store employees beside it. "Aikawa-san," Akihiko called.

"Sensei! You're late! Misaki-kun already came. He's reading trying to read English manga now."

"Oh good, I hope he's having fun."

A ripe series of curses in Japanese alerted all of them that Misaki was less than pleased.

"Looks like he's not having much luck." Akihiko smirked.

"Shut up, Usagi-san," Misaki yelled, having heard his little comment.

"Do you want me to come help you?" he called.

"Sensei, you have to get ready for the signing." Aikawa looked terrified that Usami Sensei might take off…again.

"I'm fine!" Misaki called as well.

Usagi huffed but sat at the table and looked at the books around him. "Aikawa?"

"Yes?"

"Is this the new book?"

"Yes."

"I wrote this three years ago, why has it only been translated now?"

"Because you've only been popular in America recently. This is just the most recent book translated. People might have other books for you to sign as well."

"Whatever." Already bored, Akihiko's eyes wandered in the direction of the manga.

"Oi, focus," Hiroki growled. He wondered if this was why he'd been invited to this: to keep Akihiko in line so his editor didn't yell at him for sneaking off.

"Thank you!" Aikawa said, gratefully. "Sensei, don't misbehave." She turned to Hiroki. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I'm Aikawa Eiri."

"Nice to meet you," Hiroki said, trying to be polite. "I'm Kamijou Hiroki and that's Kusama Nowaki." He gestured to where Nowaki had been standing, but he'd wandered away to look at books and watch Hiro-san out of the corner of his eye.

Aikawa stared at him for a moment, assessing him and then turned walked quickly over to Akihiko and whispered in his ear. Hiroki found this quite rude. He watched her eyes flick to him and giggle. Akihiko answered whatever question she'd whispered in his ear with a nod and a smirk when she giggled louder. The pit of Hiroki's stomach dropped as he realized she must have edited his crappy porn books as well. He turned away, controlling his irritation only slightly as he stalked off to look at books.

To be continued…

Chey: Next up is the actual signing, should be fun.

Hiroki: Uh huh, fun.

Chey: Be quiet, it will be epic…I think…I have to think of what I'm going to write first.

Hiroki: There it is.

Chey: Shut up, anyway, please review or I will wallow in self pity until I drown

Hiroki: You're being childish.

Chey: Duly noted. Duly ignored.

Thanks for reading!

~Cheyanne