Cold fire around

Ritsu couldn't believe this. That after that night their relationship would turn down into this. They have never crossed past kissing. But more and more it was becoming intense, needy. And Ritsu, god forbid him he didn't care if he and Shin would cross that line. After all, before all this he was already attracted. He was suppressing it and now?

He didn't have anything to hide. Not when Shin himself was showing great interest.

"Hey Shio," Shin called right after Ritsu had closed the office doors. At the Umi Gari, Ritsu was still Shio. "I'm taking off too. Let's head home together."

Ritsu bit the urge to grin. What the hell was this sinfully convenient situation. The act of them as good and very close brothers was not an act anymore. Although it wasn't entirely as brothers either.

"You still have a meeting with the manager right?"

Shin crossed his arms as he rested his back against the doorframe. "I already finished it during lunch."

"Oh. Okay." Ritsu was starting to feel self-conscious as Shin's eyes bored on him intensely. "I-I'll, wait at the front of the store then."

Shin smirked. "I don't know what we're doing."

"..."

"But this is..." Shin haughtily smiled. "Kinda...sexy huh?"

"W-what are you-" Ritsu turned around and started walking away. "I'll wait for you outside Nii-san."

Hurriedly, Ritsu left the hallway to the Umi Gari offices and threaded his way into the front of the store. Dinner time at Umi Gari was starting to get busier, and the night shift staff was just settling in. He glided into rows of long and solo tables, passing a few real plant interior, until he reached the huge intricately framed doors with carvings of underwater creatures.

Ritsu started rubbing his hands together once he was outside. The autumn season was intense this year for some reason. It was as though winter was already trying to knock autumn down.

He drew a deep breath and slowly released the heated tension building up in his body. Whatever it was, there was a sense of freedom he could feel around Shin. That he was enjoying. That he was really liking.

That was why when he saw a new pair of deep-brown leather boots in front of him, he slowly traced his gaze up with a tightening in his gut. This presence, he knew. Takano Masamune.

"Takano-san."

Takano Masamune, who was turning heads over his direction only had his gaze fixed at one particular guy. Never did he look at the stylish woman who walked past him. Never did he even bother looking at the group of office ladies thinking whether what restaurant to raid that night. Takano was just staring at him. And that made Ritsu...uncomfortable.

"I'm waiting for you."

"You are?" Ritsu look felt unhappy. "For how long?" Ritsu asked although he really didn't have to ask. There was a paleness in the man's tone that could only be gotten from standing outside in the chill for far too long.

"Not long," Takano replied shortly. He smiled a bit. "Are you free tonight?"

Ritsu fought the urge to frown and shake his head fervently. He was looking forward to going home with Shin. If he was lucky, the man might cook again. And he loved eating Shin's food.

"Hey-Ritsu do you remember if-" Haitani Shin stopped in mid sentence. He was currently fumbling into his shoulder bag while talking he didn't realize the companion of the brunette. He slowly lowered his bag and amiably nodded at the raven. "Takano-san. It's...a surprise to see you here. Why are you guys outside?"

Takano nodded slightly in return. But his very act obviously looked stiff and calculating. "I...want to talk with his guy."

Shin's friendly smile was still plastered on his face when he looked from Takano to Ritsu. He nodded, as if seeing what this was about.

"I haven't talked with him since he met his family. That's a week ago. I just want to...catch up," Takano offered.

The bustling streets of that early evening seemed to slowly depart from the three men. The noises, the cars, they were all muted as three of them just stood there for what seemed like hours.

"Ritsu, you go and talk with Takano-san," Shin said graciously. "He's been waiting out here I assume."

With that, Shin gently tugged at Ritsu's snow-white scarf, as though shooing a non-visible dirt for all Takano to see.

"I'll leave him in your care then," Shin said in finality, smiling even as he nodded at Takano. It was all but very tense even Ritsu had to stop breathing. It was not because of Shin but because of Takano's rigid silence.

Both Takano and Ritsu watched Shin walk away back into Umi Gari. The man even gentlemanly pushed the door open for two ladies who were about to enter the restaurant. And both ladies giggled delightedly.

Left outside, Ritsu sighed, angling his green eyes at Takano and realized that the man was looking at him. Deeply, almost like the raven was confused.

"What now, Takano-san?"

The raven started walking, leading the way to where he parked his car to the public parking area at the other block. Why he even parked that far when there was a parking lot space for Umi Gari customers was a mystery. Ritsu walked a few paces behind, staring at the soft black strands of the taller man, occasionally dancing with the autumn breeze.

"I had to park over there...so you could somehow adjust yourself with me before you get in the car."

Ritsu's eyes widened as he heard the raven. Takano didn't look at him and just nonchalantly walked. Ritsu pursed his lips and was annoyed for feeling like Takano could see right through him.

"What do you want to eat?" Takano asked then still without looking back.

Ritsu sighed once more, tugging his shoulder bag properly on his shoulder. "Whatever's fine."

"So..." Takano sounded hesitant. They crossed the streets and finally could see the parking building a few yards away. "That guy...is calling you Ritsu now?"

Ritsu stiffened. As weird as it was, he felt a jab of guilt for whatever reason.

"Yeah, I told him my name's Ritsu. But to the outside, I'm still Shio."

"...I see."

Ritsu looked to his side, not wanting to watch the other man's back as they neared the parking area.

"Before we eat, can we go somewhere first?"

Ritsu stopped, watching Takano walk around a black car, pulling the door and smiling tiredly at him.

"Where?"

"Just somewhere."

Ritsu couldn't help but feel surprised the moment Takano led him to the small building. The maple trees surrounding it were too huge, their leaves were blazing reds and golds. They were too striking that the sign 'Vet' could be overlooked.

When both men entered, they were met by a lovely young receptionist, who by the look of her easy smile, had known Takano for a while now.

"Takano-san, here to pick the majesty?"

Takano nodded. "Yeah."

The woman glanced at Ritsu's direction. "Hi, I'm Taki. It's the first time I've seen you here. You a friend of his majesty Sorata too?"

Ritsu felt himself flinching. The word felt miles away but so familiar he felt a shiver down his spine as he shook his head.

When Takano pushed open the door to the right side of the hallway, Ritsu saw a number of little cages housing little to big cats. Every single one of those feline creatures jumping about and meowing and energetic they could rattle their little confines. Except for one. The one cage where Takano stood.

"Sorata?" Takano knocked to the cage and the feline opened one lazy eye before closing them again. "We're going home. How's that?"

Before Ritsu could open his mouth to anything, a male in white robe and a paw print on his colar came in. He instantly smiled at Takano and at Ritsu before doing a brief scan of the cats in the neat and spacious cages.

"Just give me a second and I'll help you with transferring Sorata back in the crate."

Ritsu didn't speak for the entire process. Takano seemed occupied as he carried the crate from the vet to the back of the car and securing it tightly.

Ritsu stood outside, breathing in the chilly night when Takano finally finished securing his cat at the back seat and he was standing outside too, on the other side of the car.

"Do you remember Sorata?" Takano asked.

"I know a kitten. Saw it just once. Not much I can say..." Ritsu looked at Takano's face, slightly dimmed by the lamp post as Takano was standing with his back from it. "Is...is the cat sick?"

Takano shook his head. "Just a bit."

"..."

"He's very spoiled."

Takano stood right outside of the driver's seat. Ritsu remained standing by the passenger's door. Both of them stood there, as though they were trying to catch the sound of each falling leaf from the maple tree.

It was Ritsu who spoke first after a considerable silence. "Why are you doing this?"

"...?"

"Those books you gave me...my parents...that cat..." Ritsu sucked in a breath. A chilly air came bouncing in their direction rustling all the leaves around them. "...why?"

Takano looked at him uncomfortably. "I just want to-"

"Turn back time?" Ritsu filled it in. There was an edge to his voice but more prominent was sadness in his tone. "Is that it?"

The raven looked away, throwing a glance at the closed door of the backseat where Sorata was. The car in between them felt like a growing wall getting thicker by the second.

"I would be lying if I said no."

"..."

"I've been waiting for you..." Takano continued, feeling the chill too and the way be swallowed looked as though someone scalded the insides of his throat. "I wanted to apologize...to make up..."

"Takano-san, you don't have to. You don't need to."

"That man...he called you in your name."

"Yes he did. Because I know I really am Ritsu. The only thing is that the Ritsu you knew before and the Ritsu I am today are different people. I'm sorry."

That made Takano's hard facade seem to crack just a tiny bit. "I'm sorry?"

"I don't remember much," Ritsu continued, trying to maintain the eye to eye contact that was getting harder the longer they continued with it. "I guess I will. Someday. But we can't go back Takano-san."

"What do you mean...suddenly-"

"I like Shin."

There was an obvious change on Takano's face. As though the man just heard a loud tearing. A tearing that he alone heard.

"I like him. And he...well...we're somehow..."

Ritsu pursed his lips when he suddenly realized something he didn't expect. Takano was looking at him with reddening eyes...eyes glistening, eyes hurting. It would have been better if there were tears in them. But there wasn't. The harsh redness in the other man's eyes looked more painful than if he actually shed them.

Ritsu held his ground. The man wasn't the kind who'd show utter weakness. And Ritsu didn't want to claw in it.

"Takano-san I'm sor-"

Takano abruptly raised a hand, making Ritsu stop.

"Come on, let's eat. Aren't you hungry?"

Ritsu just stood there, motionlessly as he saw Takano hurriedly pulling the driver's door open. Takano then smiled at him, as if nothing happened. As if the world was as still and calm. But it wasn't still. Not even a bit. Takano could feel his orbit going astray, going down. And it was only the last strong bits of his self-control he was able to do this.

Act fine. Instead of being a director of a huge company he should have been an artist, or maybe an editor. Because the way he could stir the direction of the surface of his story and make it seem alright was superb. The surface was fine. The paper beneath was bleeding.

"Let's go," Takano looked up the sky briefly and at the crawling maple leaves around their feet with the growing wind. "I'm craving for some soup. It's cold."

"Takano-san..."

Takano looked away, moving as though he was wiping something off the glass window of his own car. "I just want to be around you. That's all."

"..."

"I'm not asking for anything."

"You're telling me we pretend to be friends?"

Takano raised his gaze. His eyes deep in many things to name them would be impossible.

"Civil. Let me see you once in while. Let me talk to you sometimes. Let me know you're just there."

"..."

"I've longed for you for ten years. I know before and now are different..."

"..."

Takano chuckled softly. And it sounded way full of derision to himself than a merry sound.

"Now that the table had been turned around, I've really been a jerk huh? If I knew this was how much it would..."

The raven stopped with his words and just shrugged whatever it was away. He nodded to the car.

"Let's eat. What do you want? I've checked this one awesome-"

Ritsu stood there watching Takano pensively. He bit his lower lip softly, nodded and hopped into the car himself followed briefly by the raven.

"Okay," Ritsu mumbled softly once he found himself comfortable on the seat. He didn't and couldn't feel anything for Takano. It was like the same feeling one might have to strangers and people one first met. Only that he at least felt a slight pin when he saw Takano's shaking hand when the man steered the wheel. "Let's eat. I'm starving."

Chapter end notes:

Hi every one. I seriously still can't believe we're almost there! 2017?! OMG...

Haha, anyway, thanks for the time. Have a great weekend everyone!

Please share your thoughts.

~shuusetsu