I feel like i didn't do my best in this but i don't have time to edit more. I got work and i want to post this up today.

Hope you guys still enjoy! Much love!

A month has passed since then.

Misaki kept himself busy accompanying Shinobu in his adventures to capture Miyagi's heart. Every single day Shinobu would stock the guy around the castle and study him. Sometimes when he was bored he would play jokes. Misaki watched with amusement as he and Shinobu hid around the corner in wait for Miyagi. They were crouching, Shinobu was in front of him peaking over the corner, and Misaki was behind him. Shinobu's plan was easy; as soon as Miyagi came into view Shinobu was going to push him into the room across from them and Misaki was to lock them in.

In the beginning, Misaki was hesitant to participate in these tricks, seeing that Miyagi got so mad every time they played a prank, yet as the days went by without them getting caught Misaki got used to it. Shinobu was a pro at pranking. He had to wonder where he learned all these dirty tricks from.

As they waited for Miyagi to come Misaki thought about Ritsu. A week after the curse happened, everyone but Ritsu woke up. Miyagi had been worried as days went by with no sign of Ritsu waking until he noticed that Ritsu was burning with fever. Miyagi had concluded that it was from so much stress and anxiety.

When Ritsu finally regain consciousness and was fit enough to speak, he informed Usagi-san about his experience outside the castle walls and how he met Ijuuin-sensei. They later found out that it was Ritsu who broke down the front doors in his fit of rage and was the one who broke Yukina's mask.

Ritsu didn't take any of this well. Misaki hasn't seen him since then. Hatori informed him that Ritsu had not left his room for the rest of the month.

Luckily, both Kisa and Yukina made sure Ritsu had something to eat every day.

What concerned him the most was when Miyagi mentions the fact that Ritsu left the castle. That has never happened before.

Shinobu grunts in annoyance gaining Misaki's attention. "Where the hell is he?"

Misaki shrugs. "He hardly leaves his room."

Shinobu scowls. "He's worse than that Demon of yours."

Misaki flinches at the mention of Usagi-san. The main reason why he was doing this was to avoid both Usagi-san and Ijuuin-sensei.

Ijuuin-sensei was put in a room just a few feet away from his. However, they barely saw each other due to work. Apparently he's been postponing his work in order to find him. Ijuuin-sensei hardly leaves his room now and the piles of paper indicated that it would be another few weeks before he had time to do anything else.

Of course he felt immense guilt over this and helped Ijuuin-sensei as much as he could. He would often bring food or drinks to his room.

But Misaki made sure to avoid him when not needed.

The day he and Shinobu sneaked by the drawing room and heard the conversation between the two men had changed Misaki's perspective.

Usagi-san was weird.

Ijuuin-sensei was a mystery.

He could never understand politics or proper communication and these two were very good at it. They attacked each other, not with fists, but with words and Misaki was awed by it.

Still...

What got him about Usagi-san was his reluctance to let him go. Was it really for Takahiro's sake? Or was there more Misaki missed? Usami was very angry at the prospect of him leaving. In the beginning, Usagi-san would act cool and indifferent. Usami would have taken that deal and send him off with Ijuuin-sensei to find Takahiro.

What changed?

What got him about Ijuuin-sensei was his cunning mind and his ability to blackmail. He understood why he did it. Ijuuin-sensei wanted him out of this place. It was just that Misaki never knew to what extent he'll go to have his way.

Misaki was uneasy with this.

"There he is!" Shinobu whispers fiercely.

Misaki's head snaps up. He peaks over Shinobu's shoulder to see Miyagi walking toward them with a book in his hand.

"You know the plan right?"

Misaki nods, "Yeah, I got it."

Shinobu's body suddenly went rigid causing Misaki to frown in concern. He turns his head back to Misaki and frowns. It was the lifeless tone that caught Shinobu's attention and now, seeing Misaki's eyes, he was an idiot for not seeing it sooner.

Misaki's eyes looks lifeless

"What's wrong?"

Misaki frowns, "Nothing. Why do you ask?"

There it was. Misaki was getting defensive.

Shinobu looks back to Miyagi and gave a long suffering sigh. The things he did for love.

Turning around so that his entire body was facing Misaki, Shinobu crosses his arms, and asks, "What's wrong?"

Misaki's eyes widen. "What are you doing?" He could hear Miyagi's footsteps coming closer. Misaki lowers his voice. "Turn around!" Shinobu stays where he was and refused to budge. Misaki's eyes widened more as Miyagi finally came into view. Misaki opens his mouth on a soundless, "What the hell?" They've been waiting for hours!

Misaki's eyes follows Miyagi as his disbelief grew more and more. What was the point of doing this then?

As soon as he was out of ear shot Misaki rounded on Shinobu. "The plan!"

Shinobu waves it away. "Who cares about that. Tell me what's wrong with you."

Misaki hesitates. "…It's nothing. Really."

"Bullshit. It's obvious you're upset. Is it about the whole Usami and Ijuuin thing?"

Misaki lets his shoulders sag in surrender. Shinobu had his chin up, an indication of his refusal to give the subject up. Misaki lets out a breath, "Yeah."

"What part of their speech are you stressing about?"

"…It's just…I wasn't expecting…that." Misaki looks down. Shinobu instantly knew that Misaki mean all of their speech. "I have so many questions…Is Onii-chan alright? What does Usagi-san want with me? What am I to him? Why would Ijuuin-sensei go so far for me? I…don't understand."

Shinobu narrows his eyes in anger. Oh, they were going to pay, that was for sure. No one messes with his best friend. Shinobu bites his lip as he loses himself in thought. What was the best solution to this…?

After a while, Misaki looks up find Shinobu frowning in thought. "Shinobu?"

Shinobu waves him off as he continues to think. After a few minutes, Shinobu grins slowly. "My god, I'm a genius!"

Misaki lifts a brow in amusement. What was he going about now? "What? Another plan to get Miyagi-san?"

Shinobu shakes his head. "Even better!" Shinobu grabs his hand and leads him to the room they were planning on trapping Miyagi. Once Shinobu had Misaki in the middle of the bedroom, Shinobu ran past him and closes the door.

Mouth gaping, Misaki runs to the door only to find it locked. "Shinobu!? What are you doing!?"

"For your own good." Shinobu shouts back.

"This isn't funny! Open the door."

No answer.

"Shinobu?"

Silence.

"Damn it Shinobu! Really!?"

-Usami

This past month was filled with nothing but hidden rage. He couldn't stand the sight of anyone coming to his room, not even Ritsu. He cast them away and closed the door to any who came. He wanted no company with them.

Except Misaki.

Usami had not seen or heard about Misaki since their argument and Usami found it suffocating to be alone in his room. He didn't know why this was happening. He'd been alone most of his life so this shouldn't be affecting him so much.

Usami sat on his desk and brooded. He had this whole month to think. Think of nothing but Misaki and this curse and love.

He believed himself loyal. If he loved one person then that was it. He loved Takahiro yet his attention was pointing to Misaki.

Usami winced. And what did that say about him?

Usami groans.

Was this what love did to a person? He felt like a madman!

Usami took a deep breath and let his thoughts whisker away with the wind. He didn't want to think about 'Love' right now. He needed to start writing his novel or Aikawa-san would have his-

"Demon!" Usami winces as Misaki's friend bursts into the room and grabs onto his shirt.

Couldn't he have one day of peace?

"I need your help! Hurry!" Shinobu tries his best to drag the man out of the room but Usami wouldn't move. It was a comical sight; Shinobu was pulling his shirt, practically taking it off in the process, but Usami wasn't budging an inch.

Growing irritated, Usami tugs his shirt back, "What are you doing?"

"I need your help!" There were tears in the boy's eyes that had Usami tensing a bit. He didn't know much about Shinobu but he knew that the kid didn't cry easily or at all. Something must have happened.

"With what?"

"It's Misaki!"

Usami froze; he felt his heart literally stop at the thought of Misaki in any type of danger. "What happened!?" Usami croaks out as he stood from his chair.

"I don't know! I-I found Misaki unconscious." Shinobu's voice broke at the end. He took a few breathes before continuing, "I put him in a room and came to find help."

"Where?"

"Follow me!"

Both men dashed out of the room. Usami was frantic. He cursed the boy who didn't run fast enough. His heart was hurting, aching. He needed to see Misaki now. The thought of him hurt or sick like Takahiro-

Usami sucks in a breath at this. No, Misaki was fine. He wasn't sick. He wasn't going to lose him.

Usami flinches at his own thoughts. Shaking his head, Usami forces them in the corner of his mind and concentrates on following Shinobu. Once they reached the room, Shinobu unlocks the door and ushers him inside first.

Usami took three steps into the room before he froze.

Misaki was sitting at the edge of the bed, awake and healthy.

He heard the door slam behind him and the lock resonating throughout the room.

Usami cursed.

"Damn it Shinobu!"