Disclaimer: apparently I don't say this enough so once more, I do not own Junjou Romantica. Nor will I ever.

Hey, does anyone know when the 11th and 12th books are gonna be translated into English? I want them real bad.

By the way, I want to thank the 20 people who reviewed the last chapter…I'm so happy cuz it's a new record for me so Arigatou gozaimasu *bows*

Chapter 38

Backing up a few minutes (I know you guys want the romance this second but it will have to wait a couple hundred words…don't make that face Usagi *glowering* you'll get your chance in a bit)

"Misaki, are you ready to start work?" Blossom poked her head into the back room to see Misaki tugging on the kimono shirt. The pants were already on, though they hung loosely; they were unbuttoned, giving Blossom something to distract herself from the constant pain that the longing for Valerie caused. Blossom stepped in and came over to help Misaki with the buttons.

"Almost." Misaki let Blossom do the buttons on his shirt while he buttoned his pants.

"I need to do your makeup again."

"Eh? But you only did that yesterday cuz I was crying."

"Yeah, but when I put makeup on you, you look so gorgeous that that I just want to eat you up." Blossom smiled down at Misaki, lying through his teeth, oh the gorgeous part was true, but the rest... Truth was, he just liked putting makeup on people and for some odd reason, his sixth sense told him something good was going to happen to Misaki tonight and she wanted Misaki to look good. She wasn't entirely sure what would happen but it would definitely be big.

"I guess," Misaki caved with a sigh.

"Yaaaaay," Blossom cheered, immediately putting Misaki in a chair. First, he applied that skin colored goop, followed by powder before murmuring, "Since you're not crying today, I'll add some mascara. Just don't rub your eyes, okay?"

"Uh, sure." Misaki grimaced when Blossom held a blackened brush before his eyes and ordered him to blink.

Just then, the dressing room door burst open, causing Blossom to nearly poke Misaki's eye out with the applicator. Kotobuki, dashed in squeaking like a moe fan girl. "Oh my Buddha(1) the hottest guy on the face of the planet just walked in the door. He is so so so so beautiful, and Henry-mama knows him from when they were kids. Oh, I hope he's looking for an escort. I hope he picks me, he's so gorgeous!

"Oh, and he's sitting at your table Misaki. I'm so jealous, you must tell me if he's even more beautiful close up."

Misaki stared at the man in his assless chaps and cowboy boots and open vest, his empty gun holster just covering his penis, although the holster was sticking out more than usual, revealing just how truly hot this guy must be. Most hosts had good control of themselves since Misaki hadn't noticed anyone else actually looking horny in the shop.

"I'll go out as soon as Blossom-san finishes."

"Mmm, better wait, Henry-mama got the drinks himself, so they may need a few minutes before they need more. Well, I'm off to take care of this." He gestured downwards and Misaki immediately turned scarlet under the thick paste.

"There's the real reason you need this. You turn red whenever anything even slightly sexual is mentioned." He finished applying the mascara and then said, "Now for the lip gloss."

Misaki shot up off the chair and away. There was no way he was letting Blossom kiss him again.

"Relax, I found the bottle this time." He held up a small tube with red goo in it. "Here, you can apply this yourself, I'm going to go check out this guy."

"Don't let Valerie catch you," Misaki said before he could stop himself.

Blossom raised an eyebrow. "Or maybe I will and see if she gets jealous." Misaki flushed and Blossom grinned and laughed. Misaki turned to one of the mirrors and held up the tube of lip gloss.

Misaki read the side as it caught the light. In silver, sparkly letters, it proclaimed that this was Cherry Passion Gloss. Misaki grimaced but opened the tube and squirted a bit onto his finger. He sniffed it and grimaced as he was reminded of the week when the apartment had been overrun by cherries. He sighed and rubbed the stuff on his lips, giving them fullness as well as a red and sparkly glimmer. In fact, they looked like they did the few times Misaki had escaped Usagi-san's embrace and managed to get to the bathroom and lock the door. His lips would be swollen and red and shiny from Usagi-san's tongue and teeth grazing them.

Misaki dropped the tube to the table and just stared at his reflection as he struggled to not think about Usagi-san. In a few days, he would have enough money to rent his own apartment for a month until he could get a job in Tokyo. Once he could afford to take care of himself, then he could go back to Usagi-san without being the burden he thought he was. He fought the tears that threatened to spring forth and bit his lip to keep the silent sobs that were wracking his frame silent. Soon…

His thoughts were interrupted when Hiroto-san, the bartender, stuck his head inside the dressing room. "Misaki? Are you alright?"

"Hai, I'm fine." Misaki managed to keep the strangled sobs from his voice as he addressed the other man. "What is it?"

"Henry-mama signaled for you to get him and his guests their orders."

"Ah, I'll be right out." Misaki took a couple of deep breaths. Then he stepped out of the room and over to the bar. There, he grabbed an apron and tied it at his waist and then grabbed an order pad and cast a glance over at the filled table in his area. He could see Costner-san, sitting at the table, reaching out to take something. The other person, or people, at the table, was blocked by Blossom's wide frame. Misaki grabbed a pen off the counter at the last second and started for the table. He was focused on getting the pad to a page that didn't have any drawings on it…evidently this pad belonged to whichever host was bored at that moment since doodles and messages adorned nearly every page. He didn't notice Costner-san's or Blossom-san's shocked faces until they both yelped simultaneously, "Misaki-kun?"

"Nani?" Misaki asked as he got the pen ready to write down the orders. The men, he had been unable to see before turned to face him. He stared into amethyst eyes which shown under silvery blonde hair in utter shock. "Usagi-san?"

Footnotes:

1) I just thought that would be funny since most Japanese people are Buddhist. And since all of these guys are so over the top, they might as well say over the top things

*bows* I know I told some people that I would write everything in this chapter but this is a good place to break it off also I have class in a few minutes and I have to study for a test and it was necessary to puting everything Misaki was thinking before he met with Usagi again because it was so deeply ironic. I will probably post again in the next few days, so please review. I hope I can get 20 again, or maybe even more:)

Thanks for reading, and for putting up with my drawing things out.

By the way, did anyone other than the brilliant Kasia-chan notice the cameos from Tyrant Falls in Love?