*Dramatic entrance* Yo, I'm on! Wait I am, right? Waa, I can't believe it—it's just been so long! Glad I could make it just in time for the holidays/New Year's. How have you guys been?

*silence…. empty crowd*

I see, looks like I wasn't the only one who was so busy, eh? I'm deeply sorry, don't think I ran off, I really didn't—I just didn't have the time to inform you all of the terrible semester I had. And even though it's winter break, I have yet to prepare for a major exam but darn-it, screw that already for one day. I think I was at the verge of losing it with their thoughts constantly roaming in my head. So, without due let's move on!

Replies to Reviews:

AtashinoDarkSide: Hey! Haha no need to be sorry, I'm glad you still read it! Thanks a lot, that was really nice of you to review both the chapters even if the prior was already in the past. OMG I love that brother complex idea, it's soo true XD. Although I never thought of it that way, it sure does explain our behavior towards them lol. Makes perfect sense—I was really laughing at that one. Mikage is from now on your cute younger brother and Ayanami is my—I'd say hot 'elder' –brother would make more sense lol. I had a feeling you'd enjoy KonaHyuu, well honestly I kind of enjoyed writing that too, I'm glad they're finally an item—well sort of—but anyhow I can focus on the main couple now for a while at least. You really do love Mikage haha XD. Yeah, he's a pretty cool and strong willed not to mention such a bright character. Normally I wouldn't be a huge fan of character's such as those since they are the exact opposite of what I am…but oddly enough I fancy Mikage a lot, maybe because he's so unusually pure. I was hoping Ayanami would recall Yukikaze the time Mikage defended him from the spear and that's why he was so determined to heal Mikage but I wasn't clear on that. I do like the concept of bringing the memory of Eve and how that would make Aya react but sadly I need to do research on her because aside from the name I have no idea -_-; I will consider it bcoz I'm beginning to like the juiciness of that scene too *planning evil thoughts* Also I think it would be a great transition (u know, bringing up one of Aya's fragment from the past) to the saga that comes right after Teito *hint hint: focuses on Aya* Go for it (the fanfic)! I know I'll read it. You never know how it'll be unless you try : )) Thanks again for the great review!

Elly: That's a fresh reaction haha. Thanks a lot for the review!

Chapter 19:

Recall that Ayanami was in the middle of lazing in bed with Mikage until the chairman called him out yet again to continue their interrupted meeting from before regarding Teito.

"So, who was it? I wasn't anticipating you to disappear as well." Chairman Miroku claimed, still seated at his desk as the elder walked in.

"Apologies. It was only Mikage-kun." The silverette answered as he firmly stood a few feet before the desk.

"Oh, your begleiter?" He mouthed in a certain way that convinced Ayanami that the old man was scheming something in his head at the same time.

"Yes."

"Ayanami-kun, what would you say if I said, I would like to send Mikage on this quest as well?" The chairman questioned on a whim.

"What?" Ayanami was not expecting that and his sudden agitated reaction was certainly one the chairman was amazed to see. "And why may I ask would you request something like that?" The chief asked trying to comprehend Miroku's intentions behind this, equally retaining his composure.

"Why not?" Miroku raised a brow. "That child is your begleiter now, we all must see what he is capable of, since this was a decision you, yourself, decided—after you seemed to show no interest in any one as your partner ever since Yukikaze."

Ayanami found it hard to oppose the decision and was running out of adequate excuses other than the fact that 'he's my lover and I will not permit him to see his ex-love.' Just the mere thought, brought about a soft 'che' sound in his head. He stood there for another whole minute before finally replying. "In that case, I'd like to go as well."

Twice in a row did he surprise Miroku today. This time however the astonishment was so conspicuous that the chairman had both his brows arced on his forehead. "Come again?"

"I'll have Hyuuga and Katsuragi take over things here. If he is truly my begleiter than he should serve in my presence." He had a point.

"Very well, if that's what you desire. However, do remember you cannot continue risking your own life like this, chief." Ayanami nodded before turning on his heels, ready to leave this claustrophobic office already. 'Spare me the unnecessary advice.' He rolled his eyes on the way out. Who would've thought the predisposition he was avoiding the most was exactly the one he'd be faced with first. Tsk. Well…worst case scenario would have been if Mikage had to go on his own, then he might never consider returning—Ayanami stopped dead in his tracks, expression fading as he eyes widened slightly. No. That wasn't going to happen. He wouldn't allow the blond to leave him. His beloved would never betray him. That being of purity was his and his alone.

"Oh, welcome back Ayanami- san! You're early today." Mikage looked up from his homework when the other entered the living room and smiled casually.

The elder sighed and decided to stop by his office to check on things before going straight home. As he walked into his solo office first which still needed to house an extra desk for Mikage, he noticed another stack of papers that required signatures. Albeit that was no concern for him since that amount of papers would only take an hour or more. Next, he visited his subordinate's office and knocked on the door, ultimately opening it without approval.

"Hey, is it just me or do I get the feeling Aya-tan's been missing lately?" Hyuuga mouthed, arms spread across his desk.

"Maybe he just has urgent matters to attend too." Konatsu simply replied, eyes fixed on his work.

Mikage's face flashed before the brunette's sight once. "I…don't know about that…actually the truth is—"

"I see you never change." Ayanami interjected from the open-door frame.

"Eh?! Aya-tan? Oh hey! What a coincidence we were just talking about you!" Hyuuga immediately sat up straight. "How have ya been, buddy?"

"Is that so? What about me was so intriguing all of a sudden?" The silverette smirked.

"No, nothing like that." Hyuuga forced a crooked smile.

"Hyuuga-san was just missing you." Konatsu teased.

"In that case, don't stop yet. I'll be away for another mission soon, hence I'll need you to take care of things here at headquarters."

"What?" Both Hyuuga and Konatsu didn't see that coming.

"To Barsburg, in search for that runt." The elder informed.

"Eh, wow. Is… Mika-chan accompanying you?" Hyuuga asked and received a nod in return.

"I see, that makes sense. Well then good luck. Please let us know if you ever need back up—we'll be on our way anytime." The blond assured with alacrity.

"Of course, that goes without saying." Ayanami scoffed before making an exit. "Good work."

Mikage took the time to stumble out of bed, into the showers and then back to the room to change into a simple short sleeved orangish T-shirt and knee length shorts. 'There's so many marks…' The blond mentally noted as he eyed all the blue and pink bruises/hickeys across his chest, neck and arms before pulling on the shirt. These days he avoided shorts too since there wasn't a single inch on his skin that didn't have Ayanami imprinted on it but today some of them seemed faint down there.

He slowly made his way down the stairs and scanned the kitchen. Fresh cooked meals, appetizers and a few desserts had already been prepared and packaged. "Hm, I wonder when the chef dropped by and made all this stuff. Geez, I really should say thanks once." Mikage uttered to no one particularly, as he helped himself to some in a plate equally feeling a bit ashamed for the 'free food without work.' After the nice late lunch-not-breakfast-and-almost-dinner, he strolled around the living room in search for anything that would pass his time. Perhaps the next time he went back home or even outside for that matter, he was really going to buy some games. (He's only been going to the academy then training, some Black Hawk's work and back home just like that routinely). Ayanami was hardly at home due to work and hence didn't have any kind of entertainment, especially for sixteen-year-old teenagers—aside from the pool that is. The only other thing besides that was the library… 'Ah that's it! Let's explore the library. I'm sure I'll find something interesting there.'

The younger made his way upstairs again and creaked the doors open to reveal a huge library shelved with countless century old books. "Would you look at this place." He randomly selected an aisle and threw his eyes back and forth hoping for a book to catch his attention. Unfortunately, all of them were quite a turn off and only reminded him of history textbooks until he reached that one book that was smaller than its neighbors and colored differently. This one didn't even have any labels on the sides and immediately stood out as a 'photo album?' Very curiously, the teen pinched it out half way with a finger suddenly intrigued by the kinds of pictures he'd find in it but that excitement was quickly distracted by the front door unlocking.

'Looks like Ayanami-san is back. I should go greet him before he thinks I fell off the window cliff.' Which by the way was entirely possible since their second floor was higher than ordinary second floors and half of the room balconies on that floor also happened to be right above the ocean. He released the book and pushed it back into its space with the same finger, before rushing down the steps just in time for the door to open. "Welcome back." Mikage greeted benevolently as he landed on the last step.

"Hn." For some reason the silverette sounded even more apathetic than when he first left.

"Um, the chef left a lot of stuff in the fridge…"

"I already had a bite on the way here."

"Is that so," The conversation wasn't seeming to go anywhere and that was beginning to bother Mikage. It most likely had to do with the meeting but bringing up Teito was never a good idea and the blond already learned that the hard way. The teen let out an inward sigh, unbeknownst to the fact that Ayanami was staring at him, deep in thought as well.

'Is it possible that Mikage-kun would chose to defend Teito Klein if he goes with them? How will he react?' Mikage noticed his gaze and smiled. "-san? Ayanami- san? Is everything alright?" Without giving a response, at that moment the silverette just had the overwhelming urge to trap the blond in his arms, leaning his entire weight onto the teen and inevitably throwing him over. The younger landed on the floor with a soft groan.

"Ayanami-san?"

"You'll never betray me, is that right?" The silverette posed.

'Where is this coming from?' Mikage questioned for a moment. "Of course, I won't." He answered as confidently as he could.

"And you'll never leave me no matter the circumstance?" Now that one had some spooky connotations behind it but it wasn't such a big deal, right?

"I promise…Ayanami-san, did something happen?" The blond had to ask. After a long second, the elder lifted his weight from the other and sat up, Mikage followed and they were both face to face now. The chief took a silent breath before revealing the details of the mission.

"It's decided that I, myself will carry out this mission of recruiting the Eye of Mikhail." He flatly stated.

'Take me with you!' The words nearly jumped out of Mikage's mouth, but instead he forced a smile. What were the odds? "I see…then, best of luck."

"You are my begleiter, Mikage-kun. The chairman insists you come with me." The blond couldn't believe his ears and his awe was evident on his face.

"E-Eh? Seriously?" The teen didn't know how to mask his excitement and averted his eyes at all the possible scenarios that were proliferating in his mind. As though he could see through those fantasies, Ayanami interrupted and placed a gloved hand on the teen's cheek, caressing it with his thumb. Soon the elder man brought his expressionless face only inches away from the blond and stared deeply into his chocolate eyes.

"Who is it that my beloved loves the most?" Ayanami tested as he evoked a smile on his face, pecking Mikage's cheek once.

"Um, Ayanami-san?" Mikage was caught off guard by the abrupt inquiry. "I love you, of course." He willingly answered with a faint blush underneath his eyes. And surely, he didn't need to ask if the other loved him back. That answer had been made clear many times. The silverette's lips stretched wider, turning into a quenching smirk.

"I only love you as well, don't forget that." If Ayanami could, he would have etched the words into the others heart or flesh as he cupped his other hand onto the other side of Mikage's face and pulled him in for a passionate kiss. The kiss felt so affectionate and warm, that everything turned into a haze for the blond as he could only watch the fluttering of the elder's eye lashes before slowly closing his eyes too and focusing on the dancing of their tongues. Soon enough a deeper shade of red was beginning to form across his cheeks as he clutched on to one of Ayanami's shoulders and a sleeve. One of the elder's hand slid down his thin shoulders, past his elbow, then to his young chest and didn't stop until it reached the bottom of his shirt, automatically creeping in.

"Ah," Ayanami also shifted his lips down to the blond's bare neck and pecked under his chin while his second hand roamed the back of his lover landing on his hip. The teen unconditionally leaned forward when that hand gently pressed his butt evoking a sensitive reaction. "Um, Ayanami…san?"

"Mn?"

"Not here, please. It…it still hurts, a bit…" Mikage helplessly mumbled, facing the other's collarbone. It was the truth though, it hadn't been an entire day since the elder roughly did it and the floor was just going to make it worse if Ayanami did decide to pour his love in him this very moment.

"Anything you say." Without another syllable uttered, Ayanami got on his knees, flexed an arm around the teen and another under his long legs, hoisting him and leading them towards the stairs. Mikage couldn't ask for more, he almost laughed at the coaxing gesture, albeit it was one also filled with peculiar nostalgia. When was the last time he was the one carried like this? The blond nonchalantly tied his arms around his elder lover's neck and leaned his head on the other's shoulders wishing this flavor of calm would forever remain.

"Haha, this doesn't feel so bad." The blond chuckled as they were steps away from their bedroom. Ayanami scoffed at that, unrefutably agreeing with the younger.

"Mikage-kun, I'll be gentle this time—so let me love you." Ayanami confessed tenderly, laying his lover on the bed and nuzzling his face against his—forehead against forehead and nose against nose. The closeness was unreal every time.

Mikage didn't know what to say at times like this. "…Okay…" he would softly let out and then be the victim—or one would say—jewel of Ayanami's foreboding yet devout affection. When the silverette claimed something, he meant it and would follow through with it. Hence, the days that the elder admitted to being gentle, Mikage had nothing to fear.

To Be Continued…

Surprisingly, that didn't take so long. I'll get started on the next one soon too. Ah, wouldn't it be nice if life could only revolve around fanfics and manga. XD

Oops, we missed the chance to see the photo album- but keep that in mind, we'll probably be visiting it after Teito.

Do stay tuned, next chapter they'll be setting off—to Barsburg!/District 7—can't wait..That means two things: 1. Entry of Teito & Aya's jealousy as usual and 2. We're coming in line with the anime lol. But just different characters, different timing, with better scenes haha.

Thanks for reading, waiting so patiently and loving it so far!