Disclaimer: I don't own Yami no Matsuei or any of its characters. I just borrowed them to satisfy such man-eating plot bunnies that resulted to the fic. Hanako, Chiaki, Ryu and Kuroyanagi-san are the only characters that I made up. Well, here is the new installment to the series! Enjoy!

While You Were Sleeping Chapter 5

(The Only When I Sleep sequel)

By elana-chan

"Oriya-sama, Kuroyanagi-san had just arrived."

"I'll attend to him in just a minute. Lead him to the receiving room and let Chiaki entertain him for a while."

Oriya nodded a dismissal to Ryu from his reflection on the mirror as he tightened the obi of his formal kimono. He was so into fixing his kimono that he didn't notice Ryu leaving or Hanako taking his place in Oriya's room.

"You're beautiful enough as you are, Oriya-sama."

"Was that suppose to make me laugh, Hanako-san?" Oriya raised a questioning eyebrow at the mentioned one as he finally faced Hanako by the door.

Hanako shook her head both in negation and exasperation at what her employer said. "I see that the maestro's arrival didn't faze you one bit. And I meant what I said as a compliment, Oriya-sama."

"Why would I be worried to face such a client? Kuroyanagi-san is just another client and his case is not that rare anyway."

Hanako sighed heavily at Oriya's words. "I know you, Oriya-sama, ever since you were a little child that prowled in kitchens. I just want you to remember that you are now the owner of Ko Kaku Rou. We have geishas for 'that' service."

Oriya looked sharply at the elder woman, whole body tensing brown eyes flashing with a myriad of emotions the old woman can't recognize. He then let out a deep sigh and forced to relax himself.

"I appreciate your concern for me, Hanako-san but I would appreciate it more if we left the past alone. I really need to take my leave. It would leave a bad impression on Kuroyanagi-san if I'm late."

With an almost-silent swish of expensive silk, Oriya exited the room and headed towards the receiving room with cold elegance and beauty. Hanako could only look on with concern and apprehension in her features as Oriya walked away. Both didn't notice the albino bat hanging from the ceiling and watching the whole scene unfold with eerie silver eyes. No one took notice of this bat leaving its post and flying out of the room.

"I apologize deeply for my tardiness. Some matters kept me to the last minute. I really apologize for being such a poor host, Kuroyanagi-san."

Oriya bowed low as he finally entered the receiving room where the maestro was situated. As he straightened, he avoided looking at the man in front of him. This was the first time he would ever see the renowned violinist. Besides being a celebrated violin genius, Tetsuya Kuroyanagi was also a renowned recluse, only showing himself in concerts and the occasional social gathering. Kuroyanagi even made it a point not to let the audience capture his image in anyway by hiding his face in the shadows whenever he performed. It was also a known fact that the man would only go out in public once in every city he visited. The maestro really valued his privacy and shied away from the media. There were just no pictures of the man for the public to see. Rumors had been going around that the man's face was disfigured that's why he his face in the dark.

A slender, gloved, hand started him out of his musing when Kuroyanagi approached his bent figure and touched his chin. Oriya jerked at the contact, surprised that the other man would initiate such a move. Clear chocolate-brown eyes unconsciously looked up at the man in front of him and then widened with surprise at the sight in front of him.

Tetsuya Kuroyanagi was Kazutaka all over again. The man was like a twin of the silver-haired doctor. If not for the eyes and hair color, Oriya would have thought that Muraki had come back to haunt him. Kuroyanagi had sun-kissed blond hair instead of Muraki's moonlight-silver locks. The former's eyes were a soulful baby blue while Muraki has frosty silver irises. It seemed like Kuroyanagi is the sun as Muraki is the moon. Light and dark. They are so alike that Oriya can't help thinking that…

"Mibu-san? Are you feeling well?"

Oriya was snapped out of his thoughts at his guest's tenor voice. Not Kazutaka, he reminded himself. He focused his attention on the maestro, noticing that the other's gloved hand was now on his cheek, cradling his face softly like one would handle a porcelain doll. Oriya mentally shook himself to free it of thoughts of Muraki. He smiled apologetically at the other as he tactfully shied away from the meastro's hand, hoping that the latter would get the hint and removed his hand from his cheek.

"I am terribly sorry again, Kuroyanagi-san. I was just…surprised. You reminded me of a… friend. I welcome you to our humble restaurant, the Ko Kaku Rou. It is to my deepest gratitude that you graced it with your presence. It is such an honor to have a world-renowned celebrity such as you to request an audience with a simple restaurant owner as myself."

"No need to be formal with such words, Mibu-san. I should be the one who should be thankful, Mibu-san. I was anxious that you would not grant me audience. And please call me Tetsuya if you may." Tetsuya gave him a warm smile as they settled in their places.

"Hai, Tetsuya-san. You might as well call me Oriya, then."

"Oriya-san it is."

Clearly not Kazutaka, Oriya said to himself. He started to prepare tea for two of them, the process of preparing tea calming him a bit. A comfortable silence descended between the two of them, the soft breeze from the gardens blowing into the room bringing with it the scent of fall.

As Oriya prepared their tea, he could feel his guest's eyes on him. He chose to ignore this as he concentrated on perfecting the tea ceremony. As he began to pour the tea into small cups for serving, thoughts began to invade his mind again. The memory of Kazutaka came unbidden into his mind, freed from their mental prison at this encounter with Tetsuya. But with the memory of Kazuzutaka, the scenes from his dreams also joined in his thoughts.

'Could he be the man in my dreams? I had thought that it might be Kazutaka…'

Oriya was cut off from his thoughts for the second time as he was serving tea to his guest. Their hands made contact as the swordsman served them tea. Oriya felt a jolt of recognition at the other man's touch. It was the same touch that his dream lover would always bestow on his skin, the worshipping touch of a devotee to its god.

Pulling years of training to the surface, Oriya schooled his features and calmed his beating heart as he and his companion drank their tea. He pushed thoughts of his dream lover at the back of his mind as he waited for the tea to start its calming effect on him.

"Oriya-san."

It was Tetsuya's warm voice that broke the silence that had descended when they were having their tea. Oriya calmly turned his attention to his guest as he once again poured them tea.

"Yes, Tetsuya-san?"

"I meant every word I said in the letter, Oriya-san." Oriya tensed a bit at this statement. "I also know what other 'services' this restaurant also offers. But I don't want that service."

"What do you mean, Tetsuya-san?" Oriya asked in his professional, no-nonsense voice. Inside, he was a bit relieved that he wouldn't need to perform that 'service' to this man who looks much like Muraki.

"I was quite taken by your beauty, Oriya-san. I don't want a geisha's service from you. I want to know you as who you really are."

"Why? Don't tell me, Tetsuya-san, that you have fallen for me with just a glance?" Oriya said with a hint of incredulity and sarcasm in his voice.

"Then I won't. I do not know what I really feel for you, Oriya-san. But I know that there is something between us. I want to explore these feelings I have for you. I want to know if there could be a chance that these feelings might be reciprocated in time. Will you give me, Oriya-san, a chance in owning your heart as you can own mine? But if I have offended you with my words, would you still consider me being a friend?"

At the maestro's sincere words, Oriya can't help but think about them. 'Could this be what my dreams meant? Could Tetsuya be the one that had haunted my dreams of late? Could he be the one who will make me forget about Kazutaka and move on?'

A few tense minutes passed but it seemed ages before Oriya finally spoke. He faced that face that resembled much of Kazutaka and yet it was so open and devoid of the madness that had graced the doctor's features. Tetsuya had that wistful look in him as he waited for Oriya's answer.

"What you are asking, Tetsuya-san, is so much…"

Tetsuya sighed in defeat at these words. Oriya took notice of this as he continued.

"…but I'm willing to give it a try. I'm willing to give us a try."

At these words, Tetsuya looked at him with hope and joy in his eyes. 'So open', Oriya thought. The maestro carefully took Oriya's hand into his and placed a chaste kiss on the back of the hand.

"Thank you, Oriya-san. You don't know how much happiness your words have given me." He gave the man before him such a sincere and beautiful smile that Oriya couldn't help but blush.

Oriya felt touched at these man's words and from such a smile on that handsome face. He felt a small smile of genuine happiness grace his lips, one of the few that he had made since Kazutaka's disappearance.

'I guess this decision might not be too bad. I have to move on. Kazutaka himself said that he would not be coming back. I can't let his memory hinder me in seeking happiness in the future. Even if it hurts me in the process, I know I have to let his memory go.'

"Tetsuya-san, would you like me to play for you? Maybe then you could tell me more about yourself."

"I would like that, Oriya. And no need to add the honorifics." Tetsuya nodded as he smiled at the other man.

Oriya returned the smile with a small one as he nodded to the request.

"As you wish, Tetsuya."

Unknown to both men, their entire talk had an audience. The albino bat that had settled outside the room since the restaurant owner entered was watching the whole interaction with bright silver eyes.

To be continued…

Author's notes:

Gomen! I'm so sorry that it took more than a month before I could update. I've been having a hard time writing fics nowadays that's why this chappie took a long time to be uploaded. Another thing that hindered the making of this fic is the fact that my laptop crashed because of a damn virus, taking my fics along with it. I had to retype it all over again 'coz my backup got lost. I hate this writer's block! Anyways, I'm really sorry if my grammar sucks. I haven't beta-ed this chappie 'coz my beta took a vacation and I had no ways of contacting her. So just ignore the wrong grammar and typos. Hope you liked this chappie! Cookies for you all! And a slice of blueberry cheesecake to those who reviewed in the last chappie! I love you guys! Til next time! Hope and pray that this writer's block would finally stop plaguing me! Ja people!

P.S. I dedicate this fic to our dear beloved Pope who had recently passed away. I really love him and I'm going to miss him. (sniff)