Bankotsu fumbled to open the door to the dorm, swiping his ID over the keypad. In his hurried attempt to unlock it, it took him several attempts, several frustrated swipes of the card and numerous curses and rants.

He half expected Jakotsu to grab him from behind, so long was he taking to get the stupid door to open. But there was no sign that the older man had followed him, no sign of Jakotsu at all. That hurt him almost as much as what his friend was emotionally doing to him. Damn him! He doesn't care! He's going to destroy me with all this and. He. Doesn't. Care.

Finally succeeding in yanking to door open, he stormed down the hall, and, finding the door unlocked, barged into the common room.

Naraku looked up from his computer desk. "Fighting already, are we?" He questioned, noticing the furious expression on Bankotsu's face. "Didn't I tell you it would happen?"

"Shut the fuck up." The braided boy retreated into the bedroom, slamming the door behind him.

He flopped down on his bed, pointedly ignoring the curious stare of Inu Yasha, and buried his face in his pillow. I'm not going to cry over this…I'm NOT going to cry over this…I'm not; I'm not; I'm not!

He was acutely aware of Inu Yasha's scrutinizing gaze as he shifted and stared at the wall. Let the little punk stare all he wanted; this was his fault in the first place. If Inu Yasha wasn't a homophobe…If Inu Yasha wasn't his roommate…If Inu Yasha didn't exist…There would be absolutely no problem.

"What's wrong with you?" The blond asked tentatively. His skin was still crawling at the thought of what had been going on in the common room, but Bankotsu looked like he was either about to be violently ill or destroy something.

"None of your business." Came the muffled reply. Only that I want to kill you so I don't have to worry about my boyfriend going after you.

"Keh." Inu Yasha shifted on his bed, golden gaze never leaving his roommate's back. "You wanna explain what you were doing before?"

"That's also none of your business."

"You're gay aren't you?" Came the next accusing question.

Bankotsu sat up, whipping around to face the younger man, blue eyes wide with anger. "I am NOT gay." He shouted, "Why does every one keep saying that??"

"Maybe because he had his hand down your pants?"

"He'd stick his hand down your pants too if he had the chance!" Bankotsu roared, eyes welling with tears. "You want to know what my fucking problem is? Do ya?!"

"…" Inu Yasha's eyes were so wide at this point they threatened to consume his face, and he scooted back on his bed, his back up against the wall. "No…That's…okay…" He finally managed.

Suddenly exhausted, Bankotsu slumped down on the bed. "Look, I'm sorry. None of this is your fault anyway. You can't help it if he likes you. I'm going to bed. If he comes looking for me, tell him I need some time to cool down."

" 'Kay."

"Night."

"G'night." Somewhat bewildered, Inu Yasha clambered down off his bed and padded out of the room. Why was Bankotsu going to bed at nine-thirty? And what was he so worked up about anyway? Maybe he wasn't gay…Maybe that Jakotsu guy was trying to pull some shit with him that he didn't even want…Yeah, that was a reasonable explanation.

"Wow, he's really angry, isn't he?"

The freshman's head snapped up at the sound of Naraku's voice. He leveled the senior a glare -already they didn't like one another- his arms folding across his chest. "Keh."

"You do know why he's so upset, don't you?" The kinky-haired man asked, a slow smile spreading across his face.

Inu Yasha continued to glares at him suspiciously.

"Jakotsu has a huge crush on you, puppy." Naraku smirked, fingers toying with a lock of his wavy hair, "And the fruit fly is jealous. Really jealous. I heard him yelling about how he's not gay…I suppose that could be true. But Jakotsu is 'special' to him, in any case, and our flamboyant little friend has got the hots for you. Understand?"

Inu Yasha paled significantly. "That freak has a thing for me?!" He yelped in disgust.

The senior nodded smugly, leaning back further in his seat. "Big time."

Inu Yasha struggled to keep himself composed. This just went from bad to worse.

It seemed that Bankotsu had unplugged the phone.

Jakotsu stood between the double set of doors, dialing the room number over and over, all to no avail. It rang continuously with no answer before it crossed his mind that maybe -just maybe- he should try dialing Keba and Tsuchi instead. He had no way to get into the building without some one opening the door for him; his ID card was no longer active since he had graduated.

Kebakeba answered on the fourth ring, sounding slightly harried and breathless. He listened to Jakotsu's rushed explanation then promised he would be right down to let the older man in.

Jakotsu paced back and forth between the doors. It felt like it was taking Keba forever to walk the hundred or so feet down the hall. Finally the brunet appeared. Finally the door was opened and Jakotsu all but ran down the hall, Keba trailing behind him.

He was just about to open the door to 123's common room when it flew open and he found himself face-to-face with Inu Yasha.

The freshman stiffened, golden eyes narrowing down and a frown crossing his face. "You'd better get out of here, freak. He doesn't want to see you."

Jakotsu frowned slightly, staring down at the blond, dark eyes full of question.

"Go away, psycho." Inu Yasha insisted, his voice slightly tense, "Get lost. He told me to tell you to go away."

The black-haired man's brow furrowed and his frown deepened. He's really mad at me…Crap…Crap; crap; CRAP! I'm such an idiot.

Inu Yasha brushed past him out the door, pulling it shut behind him and leaving Jakotsu standing there in the hall.

"Hey man, you okay?" Keba wandered back down the hall, twisting the top off a bottle of vanilla Coke. He tipped his head to the side, studying Jakotsu, taking in his confused expression, before taking a swig of the soft drink.

"Shit…" Jakotsu muttered, his face twisting into a frown. "He's really mad at me." His eyebrows twitched, "And he won't even let me in." His head lowered, inky eyes diverted to the floor.

Keba smiled sadly. "Come on in. Let's talk." He offered kindly.

Tsuchi gave the two a funny look as Keba led Jakotsu into the bedroom. He was used to his boyfriend hanging out with the older man, but they usually just hung around in the common room. The sophomore rose to his feet and followed after the other two, stopping in the doorway and leaning against the doorframe, curious as to what was going on.

"What did you do, Jakotsu?" Keba sat cross-legged on his bed, leaning back against his favorite pillow, his stuffed wolf in his lap.

Jakotsu sighed, climbing up on to the bed beside the brown-haired senior and slumping down against him. "I said that I think Inu Yasha is hot and he stormed off. He accused me of not loving him. He said I don't act like I do. And I love him more than anything…" He trailed off miserably.

Tsuchi, from his spot in the doorway, watched curiously as Keba patted Jakotsu on the shoulder. "In the year and a half you two have been together, you've never seriously gone after any one else, have you?" The brunet asked softly.

"Of course not!" Jakotsu looked scandalized, "Why would I?"

"Then why now? What is the fascination with Inu Yasha? He feels threatened, you know. Poor Bankotsu already has to deal with you being gone and now you start lusting after his roommate? Give the guy a break."

"I can't help it any more than you can help loving Kiyaku still." The older man replied slowly, "You don't want to love him, but you do anyway, even though you know you're hurting Tsuchi." He glanced at the boy in the doorway, then brought his gaze back to Keba's. "I don't want to hurt him. I love him."

"Jakotsu, you are hurting him. Whether you want to or not, you are." The brunet accused, "You've got to cut out this shit or you might lose him."

Jakotsu looked away, staring at a Juppon Gatana poster on the wall. "Maybe I should just end it with him." He sighed, "It might be better for us both that way. I've made such a mess out of his life…"

"And breaking up with him won't make it worse?" Keba snorted, "He loves you. You'd kill him if you broke up with him. You'd destroy him. You don't want to do that anyway; you feel too strongly for him." He ran a hand through his hair and pulled off his reading glasses, "Besides, if you broke up with him, I would kill you. You guys are meant for each other and I'm not going to watch two of my friends through away something good because they're being stupid."

"Well I can't do anything if he stays mad anyway." Jakotsu scrunched up on the bed, hugging one of Keba's pillows. "We've never fought before." He muttered, "Not over anything important at least."

"He won't stay mad." Keba insisted, leaning over the older man, brown eyes glinting, "You'll make up soon enough." He ran one finger across Jakotsu's cheek, then leaned over and kissed his forehead. "Now go home and quite worrying."

Both Jakotsu and Tsuchi gave him odd looks. Keba had a habit of behaving strangely, but he had never before kissed any one besides Tsuchi and the girl he'd dated for two weeks in his freshman year. The sophomore frowned lightly, quirking an eyebrow as his eyes met Keba's. The brunet simply gave him a look, silencing any questions before they arose. "Don't worry, honey." He flashed his boyfriend a smile, "I've got more than enough love to go around." He blew the younger man a kiss, then looked back down at Jakotsu.

"Look, things will get better. We've only been back for two days. Give him some time to settle back down, okay? He's not used to you not being around, he's not used to Inu Yasha being here, he's not used to you being attracted to any one but him. I think that it's going to be good for you guys to have some time apart. You spend way too much time together."

"Not any more…" The dark haired man rolled over on his side, breaking his gaze with Keba.

"Jakotsu, if things don't get any better, have him move in with you in your apartment next semester. Then you won't be apart, he won't have to pay rooming fees and you won't see Inu Yasha nearly as much. It would be better for everybody that way."

"His parents would never allow that."

"He's an adult! They can't stop him. They aren't paying his tuition anyway, so what does he need them for?"

"His parents are nice, Keba. They're really nice and treat me kindly, even knowing that I only like men. But I know they don't like me being around him too much because they don't want him to turn out like me." A strangled laugh left his throat as he continued staring at the poster on the wall, "If they only knew…They would hate me. I think they already suspect something is going on, that I like him as more than a friend, but he's pretty good at hiding it. If he moved in with me…I don't think it would be good for his family."

"But what about what's good for you? His family should love him regardless of whom he loves."

Jakotsu twisted around, looking back up. "You know, you're really good at giving advice that you can't follow. Your parents know nothing about how much you suffered at the wedding and they don't know anything about you and Tsuchi. Why don't you practice what you preach, Keba?"

"My parents would slaughter me. You know they're into all that religious bunk. My mom couldn't even understand why I wanted to meet some one I met online. She doesn't understand anything. If I told her that Tsu and I are a couple, she would flip out. It's not going to happen until it has to." He concluded, shaking his head and causing his hair to bounce.

Jakotsu looked at him evenly, dark eyes full of criticism and curiosity. There was still much about Keba he had yet to learn; much the brown-haired man kept hidden. Tsuchi, he knew, was the only one who knew all the little secrets, but there was no use questioning him. All the details were apparently on a need-to-know basis and it was rare for a gap to be filled in.

"Go home. Get some sleep. Sitting around and brooding isn't going to help the situation. All of us are emotionally messed up after being apart for the summer. If you stay on my bed looking vulnerable, I might have to ravish you."

"Keba!" Tsuchi looked scandalized.

"I'm only kidding! Lighten up." The boisterous senior sat on the edge of the bed, stretching his arms over his head, "But I am serious about you going home, Jakotsu. Give Bankotsu some time to cool off and call him tomorrow. I think he's mad at you now, but it won't seem so bad once he has a little time to chill."

"I suppose you're right." Jakotsu sat up, fixing his hair and yawning. "I'll see you guys some other time." He slid off the bed, "And thanks for listening to me bitch."

"That's what friends are for." Keba dismissed him with the wave of a hand, "See ya."

"Bye." Jakotsu wandered out of the room, Keba's voice inviting Tsuchi up on the bed drifting out after him.

Bankotsu stared at the wall. There was no way in hell he was falling asleep any time soon. His resolve was weakening; he could feel tears tickling the back of his eyes and his throat felt tight. He was angry; so angry. Jakotsu had crossed the line this time and it hurt more than ever.

In his rage, he had trashed his desk, stuffing all the pictures of him and his companion into the drawers. He'd flung the stupid stuffed snake and it landed somewhere behind Inu Yasha's dresser, but it didn't matter. He never wanted to see anything that reminded him of Jakotsu again.

He never wanted to see Jakotsu again.

Never…

His blue eyes watered with tears. Dammit; I can't even stay angry with him! Even though he's hurting me and I want to be mad at him, I can't. I love him too much…The young man curled up on his side, staring blankly at the white wall, his vision clouded by tears.

Why can't he love me the way I love him? I haven't so much as looked at another person since we've been together. He means everything to me…And he can't even make a commitment. He still checks out other guys…He still tells me he likes other guys…Why did I have to fall in love with him? Why? It would be so much easier if we were only friends…

But I do love him.

And I don't think that will ever change. No matter how much he hurts me, I'll always love him. Forever.

Then a little voice in the back of his mind, whispering: "Forever is just a word…"

Tsuchi looked up at Keba. The senior was laying on his back, staring at the ceiling. He kept his loft bed raised as high as possible, a good four feet off the floor and the mattress came up to Tsuchi's chest. He leaned against it, his chin resting in his hands as his dark gaze settled on the sprawled figure of Keba.

"Keba, do you love me?" He asked quietly.

Keba rolled over on his side, brown eyes meeting Tsuchi's. He studied the pale face for a moment; features worn from years of pain and loneliness, eyes rimmed from lack of proper sleep. It wasn't Tsuchi's appearance or even his anguished past that had first attracted Keba; no, it was simply the fact that he had understood and accepted him, knowing that there were things he hated about himself. "Yes." He replied evenly, "I do love you."

"How do you know?" The boy challenged.

His companion answered without skipping a beat. "I would do anything for you. I would be any one and do anything. You asked me the same question when I would talk about loving Kiyaku, remember?" He paused for a moment, lost in silent contemplation as one hand stretched out to brush across Tsuchi's cheek. "Last night I put you through hell, didn't I?" He questioned softly.

A small frown crossed Tsuchi's face as he pondered over how to answer this. It had hurt, of course, to hear Keba speak so much about how he regretted missing his chance with Kiyaku and how he wished he could go back and do it all again. He had thought things were getting better, but the wedding had left Keba hurt and melancholy once again. It seemed like no matter what, things would always lead back to the fact that Keba was desperately lonely for his true love.

For the first time in many years, tears filled Tsuchi's eyes. He had tried to turn himself off and shut himself down; tried to keep himself immune to pain, but over the past few months it hadn't been working. "You don't love me as much as you love him though, do you?" He choked out, "I'm only a replacement…"

Keba's face clouded with pain. "No…No, Tsuchi, honey, don't think that." He frowned, eyebrows knitting together. His hand cradled the younger man's face, wiping away the tears before they fell, "Maybe I do still feel for him and maybe I was despondent after his wedding, but I do truly love you."

Tsuchi sniffled, jerking back from his companion's touch. "'Was'?" He questioned, "You were despondent? You still are, Keba! No matter what I do, it's not good enough for you! You still love him and you always will!" He ran a sleeve over his eyes, wiping away his tears and then backed out of the room. "I need time to think."

"Tsuchi, wait!"

"I don't want to talk about it now." Tsuchi said firmly as he pulled the door shut behind him.

Keba sat up, stunned. What just happened?