Sorry again! Here continues December! Wow I haven't updated since June 26 of last year...
[Wow okay, so I just realized I went straight to December from August. Why did I do that? Why? WHY?
WHY DID I DO THAT. Was there like, a time crunch or something? I don't remember...
Okay so since I wasn't clearly thinking at the time, there will be slight chapter changes later when I fill in the gaps. (Me typing this on Jan. 10, 2016)]
Reminders: Takahashi mother's name is Kanae, and father's name is Takeshi (for now, unless Nakamura officially names them).
Hiroki really didn't know what to do at the moment. The child at his side was obviously not going to leave, and he couldn't just leave her. After waiting a few more minutes to see if Akihiko or Misaki was going to return (They didn't), he began walking with her.
"Oh." He looks to see the small child in thought, before she turns to him. "Maru... Marukawa Publishing. Ricchu is there! Can we go there?" She tugs on his pant leg, pouting, "I want to eat lunch with Ricchu."
Oh! Oh! 'Of course,' thought the older man, in relief, 'She may 'love' me, but it doesn't compare to her love for her brother.'
"Okay." At his answer, the little girl leads the way, knowing well where they were going. However, Hiroki didn't know exactly where Marukawa was, so he brought out his cell phone and searched on the GPS. However, by the time he looks up to tell Maeko where exactly they should go, the little girl was nowhere in sight. "..."
He was so screwed. It was all Akihiko's fault.
...
At Marukawa Publishing, Masamune was sure he wasn't seeing things. Well actually... he hasn't slept at all for two nights, so maybe he was seeing things...
This had to be real though right? He can clearly see Ritsu from where he was eating lunch, the latter picking something on one of the vending machines. Perhaps he's here for a meeting?
"Takano-san!" He turns to see Shouta, walking to him. "You remember Satomi... Satoshi-san right?"
"Yeah..?" At the mention of her names, he hoped he wouldn't have to deal with her in person for a long while. When he glances back to see where Ritsu was, he was disappointed to see that the brunet was gone.
"Well, the editor for her novels is here! Would you like to meet him?"
"Now?" He glances at his watch. "Okay." Lunch was ending anyway.
"That's weird," Masamune looks to see Shouta gazing around the room. "I swore I just saw Ricchan over there a second ago."
"Oh!" A co-worker from another division passes by, having heard Shouta. "If it was that man who was just here, he went after a man saying he was going to the bathroom but ran towards the elevator."
"...ah."
Masamune glares at Shouta. "Kisa..." So, he would have to deal with the actress in person. It wasn't long before his eyes widen at the two individuals walking to them from the direction of the elevators.
"I'm sorry! Really~" The dark haired man that was obviously Satomi in disguise was being pulled along by an annoyed Ritsu. "When I realized the situation, I thought it was best to run."
"What's with that..." Ritsu says, before he saw was she meant. The brunet felt his mouth go dry when he saw Masamune, who seemed just as stunned. "..."
"I'm so sorry Ricchan!" Shouta apologizes, sheepish. "I was too busy with lunch and looking for Takano-san to keep an eye on him."
"I-It's no problem, Kisa-san," Ritsu says, aware that Masamune was watching. "Next time, just keep an hold on him."
"Hehe..." Satoshi giggles, "I can pin Shouchin down in at least two seconds flat- heh eeekkmmmph..." he holds back a whimper with his mouth shut and cheeks puffed as Ritsu's grip tightened.
Ritsu absentmindedly brought out his cell phone with another hand. "Maybe I should call Sumiko-chan? Or Reika-chan-"
"P-please don't! I won't leave next time, promise!"
"You shouldn't be running away at all..." Shouta states, suddenly feeling more tired than usual. "Anyway, Ricchan, this is Takano Masamune-san of our Emerald Division. Takano-san, this is Ono-"
"RICCHU~!" Everyone turns their heads at the small child running towards them happily, not caring that one of the front staff going after her. She goes to latch onto Ritsu's side. "I made it here all by myself!"
"I apologize!" One of the front desk ladies bow frantically, "Before I could ask who she was and who it is she wanted, she was already in the elevator pressing on buttons."
"No no, it's alright!" Ritsu calms her, "I should be the one to apologize. Maeko," he looks down sternly at his younger sibling, gently pushing Maeko's grip off of him. "You apologize as well. You know very well that you're not supposed to go up here on your own."
"..." She puffs up her cheeks in a pout before turning to the lady and bowing slightly with Ritsu.
"I'm sorry to have bothered you."
"I'm sorry to have bothered you, Onee-san*."
"I-it's okay. Thank you," she says, feeling sheepish all of the sudden. "Since it is still a lunch period, I'm sure she'll be fine for a little more until it ends."
"Thank you very much," Ritsu says, Maeko mimicking him with a wave to the lady as she left.
"I'm sorry, Ricchu," Maeko says quietly to him, clinging on him again. "I'm hungry."
"It's okay, Maeko. I'm almost done here, and then we can go okay?" She brightens up at him.
"Hey, weren't you with Usamimi?" Satoshi asks, remembering what Ritsu had said to her in the morning. "Did he ditch you?"
"No, we saw Roki..." she pauses before her mouth parts in realization, and she tugs Ritsu's pants, "Roki didn't follow me."
"..." Ritsu felt bad for Hiroki, understanding what probably had happened.
"Oh!" Maeko points at Masamune, awed, and Ritsu blushes knowing what she was going to do. "Takano Masamu-"
"Ma-maeko, no pointing..." he interrupts her, guiding her pointing hand back down to her side. "What did I say about pointing at people?" He can feel Masamune staring right at him, and it felt as hot as the sunlight if kept in one place.
"Pointing at people is rude..."
"Hehe, so Takano-san is famous among little kids too huh?" Shouta chuckles, before being serious. "Sorry, Ricchan. I called you to come out here since you're off work today and this..."
"No! It's fine. I just didn't expect her to come looking for me so soon is all." Ritsu replies, totally aware of Masamune watching him. "And Satoshi-san is doing fine on your end at the moment so that is great." Nervous, he smiles at Masamune. "I-it was nice to meet you, Takano-san."
Oh. Oh...
He couldn't look away as Masamune greeted him back in a quiet, but rough tone. Those intense eyes were going to be the death of him.
...
Satoshi sighs as he sat across from Shouta, who was looking through his manuscript. "You really did it this time, baby face." Work time was back on, and Ritsu had left with Maeko to have their own lunch time.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"..." He gestures the older to come closer, their faces towards the other as he whispers. "They were a thing."
Shouta's eyes widen. "No..."
"Yes."
"No way!"
"Yes, it was!" Satoshi whispers back harshly, a warning to Shouta's obvious excitement. "And they had a very bad breakup, so try to spare Rits the pain will you?"
"What? What happened?"
Satoshi set his voice even more quieter, "I can't tell you anymore than that it was Ritsu who had to be the one to break up through a letter."
"Ooh," Shouta hisses, feeling bad for Ritsu. "It sounds like a long distance thing. Poor Ricchan. That's very brave of him though."
"Yeah, but anyway, keep them away from each other for now."
"About that..."
"Huh?" Satoshi was confused now. "What is it?"
"Since Ricchan can make you stay to work successfully, Takano-san's probably going to ask him to come in a lot."
"What? No way!" Satoshi whines. "Call my- hnnnn... No way... I'm-" 'Looks like I have no choice...' It wasn't like she liked bothering her sister and friends on purpose. Well, maybe some of the time, but...
"Satomi?" Shouta whispers worriedly. "What's wrong?"
"When... whenever Takano's involved," Satoshi begins reluctantly, "I won't run."
"Hah? You won't? You're seriously trembling..." 'Don't tell me,' Shouta thought, 'She runs on instinct?'
"Yeah... no matter how much my freedom calls for me, I will make sure they don't meet during work."
"You really are a good friend, Satomi..."
Hiroki was panicking, keeping still as he sat on a nearby bench. Thinking things over, going to a policeman may be a bad idea.
First of all, Akihiko was the original babysitter. Ritsu probably didn't even know- oh! Yes, cell phone. He can call him; he thought such a wonderful idea as he went through his phone.
Seconds later he curses; unexpectedly, he didn't have Ritsu's number. He thought he did. Oh? Wow okay, so his phone is dead now. He should really go home, but he felt too guilty to do so. After all, he did just lose a friend's little sibling. Maybe he should go to a pay phone and call Nowaki- no... he shouldn't bother Nowaki.
"Roki~" Great, now he can hear her voice, mocking him... reminding him of his failure at sudden responsibility.
"Roki~!"
"Oofff," Hiroki sputters, feeling as if he got punched in the stomach. He looks down in surprise at the young girl, smiling as if she didn't just run off. "Y-you..."
"Kamijou-san..."
"H-hahh!" Hiroki panics, seeing Ritsu standing nearby with a shy smile. "Onodera..."
"Maeko told me what happened; she found her way to me all by herself."
"I-I see..."
"Roki's slow!" Maeko exclaims, sitting next to Hiroki now. "I knew where it was the whole time and you're still here!"
"I see..."
"It's been about an hour, Kamijou-san," Ritsu says, concerned. "Have you been here the whole time?"
"From far way, you looked like you were thinking about something hard," Maeko comments. "I'm sorry I didn't wait you..."
"It's... okay," Hiroki pats her on the head. "I'm sorry too..."
"Oh, don't apologize," Ritsu says, "It wasn't your fault you suddenly had to watch her. I called them and Misaki-kun felt so bad; however, Usami-sensei was already driving towards the zoo so there was no way they could have turned back."
'That bastard!' Hiroki rages inside. 'You better expect I want payback!'
"Anyway, we just had lunch a while ago. You were going to go home huh?" Ritsu says, seeing the older man's groceries. "We'll help you."
"Yeah!" Maeko says enthusiastically, getting up to grab a bag from Ritsu, who carried the rest of them. "I'll help!"
"You guys don't..." He gives up and sighs before getting up and allowing them to come with him. These two siblings were so nice...
...
Masamune laid in bed, holding onto the next letter he was planning to leave on Ritsu's doorstep the next morning. He thought about the fact that they were in front of each other after so long...
And he still felt the same. The same towards him... the longing... everything. No, not the same.
It felt even stronger.
If they had found a way to meet more back then, would they be with each other now? Would Ritsu be here now, right next to him, cuddled against his side? He wanted him here beside him so badly...
He was elusive, that brother of his. Misaki never would have thought his older brother to be so quiet about this.
Takahiro was obviously seeing someone, for who knows how long.
No one knew who it was. Lately, he can see his mother look like she wants to ask badly, but she shakes her head and lets it go despite her worries. If Takahiro wanted to tell them, he will tell them.
'It's not like the person he is with is bad either,' Misaki thought one day, watching Takahiro look through his emails on his laptop. 'Nii-chan probably has thought about a perfect timing to introduce her to us.'
Right now, he was at Takahiro's apartment. It was as clean as it was back at home, except it was obviously a bachelor's place just by the feeling.
What really surprised Misaki was that no one other than their mother felt the need to know who it was. Even Akihiko wasn't really keen on simply asking even though he could. Satomi teases Takahiro about dating someone, but it was always playful and not nosy.
"..." Staring, the brunet wonders about it. He too wanted to know, but he can wait. Why was that? When it comes to Takahiro, he didn't want to press him. He just... didn't.
"Sorry, Misaki." He startles out of his thoughts, seeing now that Takahiro was smiling at him. "It must be boring here."
"Oh, no it isn't, Nii-chan. I was just... thinking about about to give you for your birthday!"
"Haha, you don't have to give me anything. I don't really want anything in particular..." Takahiro trails off, before getting an idea. "Actually, Misaki..."
"Hmm?"
...
Days later...
"It's been a while since we've been here together..." Misaki can hear his mother say to his father as he tasted his soup. It was their day off, so he declined their help with cooking so they could relax but they ended up tidying around the living room that was already clean enough.
As he tended to cooking some meat, he didn't hear the knocking on the door. Soon enough, something pat his behind and he yelped before turning to see Akihiko smirking. "D-don't do that! You scared me! And-"
"Misaki," he stiffens as his mother comes to check on him. He felt slightly relieved that she probably did not see Akihiko touching him. "Are you sure you don't need help?"
"I-I can do it," Misaki replies, feeling sure. "Nii-chan said earlier that he would come home around this time, maybe a few more minutes." He sticks out his chest a little. "And Nii-chan just wants me to cook for his birthday today."
"Yes yes, of course," his mother laughs, before ruffling his hair. "Your cooking has come a long way, Misaki."
"Why aren't you wearing my Christmas gift?" Akihiko asks, disappointed as he appraises him.
"Why would I wear such an expensive apron today?!" To be honest, he put it up in his closet, and was afraid to wear something so nice. It was supposedly water proof, had durable pockets, and was non-flammable on the inside, for whatever reason but it was cool. Every time he glimpses at it he wonders if he would ever have the courage to wear it sooner or later.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Takahiro's eyes widen at the poppers pulled by Misaki and Akihiko as he came in, surprised. Kanae smiles as she goes over to greet him, while Takeshi remained standing in front of the couch, smiling.
"Thank you so much you guys!" The older brother smiles, eyes twinkling at Misaki. "I would never have expected this!"
"Takahiro," Akihiko begins, before handing over a small gift box and watching Takahiro open it. "Happy Birthday. You've been wanting this watch right?"
"Yeah, but it was so expensive! Are you sure Usagi?"
"Nothing's wrong with getting spoiled once a year!" Akihiko laughs, patting his shoulder. As Kanae and Takeshi joined in with their own gift for him, Misaki goes to the front door to check if Takahiro closed it. "Guys, wait," he hears Takahiro say after a few seconds of chatter, "I also have a surprise for you!" 'A surprise?'
"..." He stares in surprise at the woman standing at the entrance when he looks to the door, who was now smiling at him bashfully. The brunet turns to see everyone was looking as well as Takahiro went to the woman to introduce her.
"This is Kajiwara Manami. We're going to be married."
'Ooh!' Misaki thought in surprise. 'Married... so soon? No, obviously they must have been dating for a long while then...' "C-congrats, Nii-chan! ...N-nee-chan!"
"Congratulations, Takahiro!" Akihiko beams, "She seems to be a very lovely woman."
Hearing a small thud, they turn to see Takeshi holding up a fainted Kanae. "Mom?!" Misaki flusters along with Takahiro.
"She's just surprised is all," Takeshi explains, ready to take her to the couch before looking at Misaki. "Is the food almost ready?"
"Y-yes!" Misaki goes to the kitchen, Akihiko following. "Leave it to Dad to move things along."
"I'll take out the plates."
"Thanks," Misaki says, making sure the heat was turned off on the stove before he looks to Akihiko, worried. "Are you okay?" The older man had really liked his older brother- and in the back of his mind, Misaki always was concerned if Akihiko still held such pure feelings for him.
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
"Oh well..." Misaki begins, "I just thought... You are really... attached to Nii-chan so..." He closes his eyes as Akihiko ruffles his hair.
"Misaki really worries a lot for me huh?" The brunet blushes at that, before feeling confused at the happy expression on the older man's face. He wondered how he could be looking so happy. "Thanks, but I'm feeling fine. I'm happy Takahiro found someone."
"I... I see..."
"But there is one thing..."
"Oh?!" Misaki looks at him in concern, heart aching in his chest for the latter. "What is it?"
"...That you decided not to wear my gift-"
"Won't you just let go of that already?!" Misaki swore his heart almost jumped out of his chest. 'Making me worry like that..!' Yet, he felt very happy at that moment, with him.
I didn't type it out, but yes, for Christmas, Akihiko got him a 'super' apron! More durable than most aprons, and is custom made! I felt no need to type out the whole Christmas scenes. But you'll see later hints of what happened you know, general family, couple-lovey hints of fluff (and loneliness for some)
Now... I wonder why I skipped September, October, and November...
* Maeko knows very well she should be polite to her elders.
