Proposition

Moments like these, were times his impressive cool and control always appeared. He could break down in just a snap in front of Ritsu. Bare the very fabric of his soul on his sleeves. But here in the face of the man taking the most precious thing in his life, he just couldn't. He'd rather swallow shit than show any weakness in front of this 'brother' figure.

A brother figure which had turned into so much more. They'd been a family first, then more intimate. Something that even Takano had to acknowledge he was definitely far behind.

He glanced at Ritsu's face and inwardly sighed. To the present Ritsu, he was nothing more than an acquaintance. Ha. Takano wanted to laugh. And cry. Because damn it if didn't hurt seeing the two together.

He'd imagined himself with Ritsu in events like these. He'd imagined themselves hoarding books, debating why such author sucks. Then in the evening they'd eat dinner, line their books side by side or maybe build a tower, whatever suited Ritsu. Then perhaps while reading Ritsu would fall asleep. He would take the book off Ritsu's hand, gather him into his arms and cuddle him till morning. So simple. Yet with the way things were going, almost impossible.

Such things hurt. Because every second Ritsu spends with this Haitani were seconds stolen from him.

"..."

Takano cleared his throat and nodded once. Not too cheery to give off his small happiness at running into Ritsu. And not too cold either to show how badly he wanted to rip off Haitani's head.

"Takano-san." It was Haitani. "Fancy running into you here."

"Yeah. How have you been?"

The man smiled. His eyes not mirroring the curve of his lips. "I'm great," he said glancing at Ritsu's direction. "We're great."

"I see."

Takano threw another glance at Ritsu. He could sense Ritsu's discomfort. The brunette's lack of acknowledgment stung. And while he was this down and nearing the depressed lane, he was too prideful to show it. He smiled a little at Ritsu and turned back to Haitani.

"Well, I'll be heading out first," Takano said, preparing to take that heavy first step back. "See you guys around."

To Takano's surprise, Haitani Shin grabbed Ritsu and rested his forearm on the brunette's shoulder. Takano wasn't sure if it was a show of ownership, possession or way to provoke him. But the guy looked comfortable, grinning meaningfully as he successfully stopped Takano from leaving.

"Me and Ritsu are just about to head out for dinner. Join us," Shin pleasantly offered, nudging the brunette's shoulder once. "I'm pretty sure the three of us could talk our way till morning if we want to." Shin moved to tilt his head closer to the brunette's. "What do you think? Is it okay?"

"Uh..." the very crease between Ritsu's brows showed the answer clearly. It was Takano who almost felt Ritsu's pain, torn from declining and being the innately polite person he really was. "It, it's fine. We're not strangers anyway."

Shin grinned. "Yeah, we're all like tangled in a looong leash aren't we?" The man darted at Takano. "What do you say? Of course I know you're a busy man so we won't force you."

Takano gritted his teeth, forcing himself not to show any tick of the muscles around his jaw. This cheery Haitani was grating on his nerves. He watched Ritsu's expression for a beat the next. But then, seeing Ritsu's flushed cheeks, the man's lips, those eyes. Why the hell not? For a moment he almost felt ashamed why he was taking the leave first. He was already in so much pain. Why stop now?

"Sure. I'm feeling hungry anyway."

Shin smiled, releasing Ritsu and tucking his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. "Cool. Now I know just the place. We came here by my car though."

Takano smiled in return. "I brought my car too so lead the way."

"I absolutely thought we'd be dining in Umi Gari," Takano commented after putting down the napkin he used to dab around his lips.

The raven glanced briefly around the casual diner. It had a classy, upper-class feel to it while maintaining the laid back feel he actually liked. Chandeliers warmly glittered in all places. Cream couches and and tapestry surrounded the spacious area while the dining set-up was intimate but wide enough to maintain privacy with the others in the diner.

Takano nodded. Laid back it was. The only one who wasn't was the brunette across him who nothing but only fidgeted around his food. He hated that perhaps it was because of him that Ritsu wasn't eating at all.

"There are rumors of you actually acquiring the first floor of Yesegai Building. Finally expanding your restaurant?"

Haitani grinned, sipped first of his white wine before settling back. "I didn't know you follow my side of industry. But yeah, it was pure luck I got the whole floor. But to turn it into a whole restaurant is still something I am thinking about." Haitani sighed. "It's a dream come true. But there are still so many things that I want to get. Far more... interesting things."

Takano almost rolled his eyes. The double meaning in that could be missed only by a daft idiot.

"I couldn't agree any more to that," Takano replied, eyeing Ritsu.

The brunette blankly swallowed a thick slice of blueberry cake. And not long after began coughing at the stuck bits in his throat. Takano almost stood from his seat. But Shin was reasonably much closer. The man reached out and began patting Ritsu on the back.

"What are you doing?" Shin groused, a hint of amusement evident. "How can you choke on a cake?"

Ritsu closed his eyes and swallowed, turning red perhaps from embarrassment. "I'm okay. Sorry."

Takano who couldn't help not to do anything reached for the glass of water and placed it at an easy reach for Ritsu. Once calming, the brunette mumbled an almost inaudible 'thank you' and sipped.

Shin was shaking his head, though his hand never left Ritsu's shoulder and Takano just plastered himself properly on his seat like a sane adult. Because really, there was so much jealousy a man could only take in one night.

Ritsu wiped his mouth and stood abruptly. "Sorry. Men's room."

The brunette didn't wait for any response. He pushed his chair backwards, walked and disappeared behind a tasteful abstract of walls without a single glance behind.

Both Shin and Takano remained watching where Ritsu headed until things had calmed down. Clink of bottles and forks and knives against plates filled in the air. Soft giggles and merry talks lingered in the background.

Both men sort of lost the neutral area when Ritsu left. And now both stared at each other like alpha wolves showing off their territories. It was somehow obvious who was at the advantage.

"So... this is weird, isn't it Takano-san?"

Takano just snorted.

The past and the future is clashing right at that table. And both men seemed to know that more than anything else, the present was the most important.

"Takano-san. You don't seem like you'd be giving up." Shin began. This was hardly an appropriate topic in the middle of a cheery diner but Takano guessed, there was no helping to broaching the subject.

I tried. But... "Not feasible I must say."

Shin leaned closer to the table, his hands clasped beneath his chin.

"I don't plan on letting go as well. Disregard the fact that we've been together for a decade, still... I just got him."

Takano smiled coldly. "That's a problem."

Shin returned the insincere smile as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Takano-san... will you listen? I have a proposition that may benefit us all."

When Shin finished, Takano wanted nothing but punching the man in front of him. He only held himself back because Ritsu was already making his way back to their table. He watched the brunette almost collide with a little girl. Ritsu smiled down, patted the girl on the head and said something to her that made the girl laugh. When Ritsu looked up, their eyes met and Takano could swear time snapped, stopped and his common sense wanted to disintegrate in the air.

Takano swallowed as Ritsu glanced at him one more time before taking his seat. What this Haitani Shin was suggesting was crazy, absolutely unacceptable. But in the recessess of his mind, also came this little deviant voice that was growing louder, stronger, saying 'yes'.

"Say Takano-san, just give it a thought. Temporarily," Shin had said. "Shall the three of us live together?"

chapter end notes:

hello there guys! i am still alive after all the mayhem that i've been throwing myself into. thank you a lot to the many messages of encouragement with my dream, and the constant reminder that people are waiting for updates.

i hope you enjoyed this update! Thanks for the support!

I'll be updating soon or soon-ish. haha

Take care everyone! Stay warm!

~shuusetsu