Some time later Gii's return from one of his business trips, this time a really short one, the Japanese Saki group's president sat at his desk where a pile of papers were waiting to get his attention. Among those there was a list of the titles of economic mags from that week; his collaborator in fact searched for every article about him and the group, public relation being his field, than gave to Gii a report of the info he gathered. This time even a mag was with it, but it wasn't one of his usual interest.
"A gossip mag?" Gii wondered as he took it, it really was out of place there. Wondering how it got there, Gii noted a bookmark so proceeded to open it.
There it was a picture of him next to a woman, it was one of the people he had to meet in his business trip, she was well known because of her job, a successful young woman, but he didn't give it any credit and closed the mag to get his work done, forgetting about it right away.

It wasn't the same for Takumi though, for some reasons these kind of things always get to him and can't shake them off, and it wasn't because he was worried about the stability of his relationship with Gii.

Back home when they met Takumi showed him his phone, with that same picture on the mag Gii saw that morning at his desk "So.. what about this?"
Gii turned around to see what he was referring to, and held a laugh when he saw it "Oh that" he didn't seem to take it any seriously, but it wasn't the same for Takumi. He looked incredulously at his lack of interest for a moment before he proceeded to read aloud a few lines "Those two looked in perfect sync and spent the evening together in a cozy restaurant"
Gii laughed "That's what's called artistic license I suppose" he joked lightly but Takumi wasn't finding it funny and continued "Something's definitely starting to grow between them" Takumi finished his resume and glared at Gii, who, looking at his expression got serious "Takumi, do you really think she's anyone to me?"
Takumi sighed looking down "But that's not the problem is it?" he said calmly. It wasn't that he questioned Gii's behavior, he knew him well, and knew his feelings.
Silence lingered and Gii stared at Takumi's head trying to hear his thoughts. Eventually he took a step ahead and as he whispered his name he caressed his chin, trying to get Takumi to look up.
Takumi smiled, realizing he spaced out, in a little apology.
"There's no need to worry" Gii confirmed.
Takumi put an hopeful smile on his face, but as Gii put their foreheads together that smile threatened to disappear.
Deep down Takumi worried because all of this enlightens how Gii's world is different from his, it puts him face to face with the possibility that he might be left out from his life, and lose him.

That was a dreadful through.

)( )(

Since that moment Gii knew that something was off, he could feel it and later he could also see it, right after the announce of their latest financial move went public. It wasn't in a way that anyone else could see. Takumi's eyes didn't pose on his as they usually do, the silly jokes disappeared. To anyone watching it could even look like nothing changed but to them it felt more like sadness than normality.

Takumi was trying to figure out a way to put his finger on what he was feeling and put it in words, and that was the reason he didn't go to Gii yet.
On the other hand Gii couldn't keep on letting it go just like that and reached his partner. "What's troubling you?" Gii gently pried, he wouldn't let it go now, Takumi knew and let him interlace his fingers between his.
This didn't surprise Takumi, he himself didn't want that uneasy air between them.
Takumi always talked to him most sincerely because he could tell Gii his real thoughts freely and he never regretted to speak without thinking first when it came to him "I'm not sure.." Gii won't be judging nor make him feel wrong, not even for not knowing, that was why.
Takumi could hardly look at him as his emotions were getting harder to control.
"Is it because of those articles? Not only the gossip, but all of them..?"
As his hand clasped on Gii's his demeanor told him he was right so Gii continued, since he didn't talk "Is it that that's making you feel like avoiding me?"
That sentence made Takumi look up with wide eyes and an incredulous half laugh. He let go of Gii and took a step away from him "Me avoiding you!?" he exclaimed as it was the most absurd thing, his expression changed completely from a moment before, "How can that be" he was saying as he was losing his calm "you're on-" he froze as the rest of the sentence he was about to say mockingly floated in his mind making him realize everything: you're on a completely different level. And as he realized, the fear to lose him because of that crushed on him and filled him. Takumi was completely aware of it and felt it completely as he covered his face, or better his eyes, with his hand. As if it could stop the forming of tears behind them.
Gii could do nothing but watch harmlessly at what was happening , aware that he couldn't understand it. And he couldn't get what caused this sudden change, and now watching his partner seemingly in pain, was starting to worry him.
"Takumi" he called and his partner's eyes, immersed in the most saddened dread, moved to Gii's.
Gii felt lost in that conversation so just waited for him to say something. But Takumi found it extremely hard to say it. Was there really the chance that he had to part from him? His chest tightened as this old fear appeared as a threat on his life again: the person in front of him was the famous Saki Giichi, his life is somewhere away from him..
"Takumi.." Gii put a stop on his thoughts, a stop on his wandering mind, taking him back.
Gii had to take away the pain in his face "I'm here with you" he reminded soothingly, "I'm your partner in crime" and smiled "remember? It goes both ways" he said wanting Takumi to share his burden with him. Gii's eyes were serene, free from any bad thought, his smile was just like when he was a boy. That look was as full of love as the ones he gave only to him when they were still students.
That changed something in Takumi, he was forgetting to consider the real person behind the known Saki Giichi. And it was right in front of his eyes.
His Gii.
He exhaled a sigh through his smile, a happy one as he closed his eyes playing behind his eyelids the times he had seen that look during their schooldays.
"I'm sorry" Takumi said at last "I didn't realise what was making me feel that way, and then I forgot to consider the most important thing" Takumi smiled looking at Gii's oblivious face, since he knew he still couldn't understand that sentence. "It's like you said, it was because of those articles, it doesn't matter the content; one after the other, it makes me feel distant to you, and I'm afraid that this distance will become real"
"It's because of me" Gii said feeling regret: this was a sore subject for him as well. "I never wanted to make you feel like this" and lowered his head for a moment.
"But Takumi I—" Gii wanted to assure him of his feelings, but Takumi never doubted him nor was blaming him, so stopped him "I know, Gii" Takumi smiled happily "when I look at you, and you're there with me, I see the person I know and love. The same person I knew back then when there was just you and me, together."
A bit embarrassed Takumi lowered his face on Gii's hand which was cupping his cheek, and felt him nuzzling near his ear.
"No distance?" Gii got assured
"Not that much anyway. I waver a bit when I'm put face to face to how famous you are because there I see Saki Giichi and not the person behind that"
"It's still me"
"I know, but it seems different on the internet" he defended himself, now conscious that it was all right.
"I'll make sure to make you see me" Gii stated as he finally let their lips meet.