This chapter was editted to include both scenes. The other was way too short, and my chapters otherwise are getting much longer. I wasn't gonna waste space on another chapter. Thank you for reading!

Chocolate
Chapter Six, Scene One

Kotarou sighed heavily and slumped over his desk. He felt horrible. Figuring out that his dream about Takashi was merely the result of all of the stress he'd been under recently did nothing to help him. His life didn't become any easier. Rather, it had become much more complicated.

For the first half of the lunch break, he'd fought with himself on the issue. He knew that the idea that he was in love with Takashi had no chance of being true. It was impossible. So, when the idea of it being stress-related had come to mind, it had made enough sense that he could grasp on to it. It had to be true because there was no other way. There couldn't be. He couldn't afford it to be any other way.

But when he returned to his friends for the second half of the lunch break, he'd been in for a surprise. He questioned himself. He was still flustered even at the idea of looking at Takashi, and found himself unable to focus on anything besides the blonde. He couldn't think of anything else besides Takashi, and the dream, and the sweet words that were whispered in his ear as his neck was kissed, bit, licked and sucked on by him.

Okay, so the last part was just a daydream that he had had while he was silling there, but the rest was all true.

"...uchi..."

"I think I'm in love," he sang under his breath, sounding very unhappy about it.

"Higuchi!" Hiroshi bellowed. Kotarou jumped up in his seat. "Geez, I've been calling you... Ayanokoji's at the door."

"Huh?" he replied stupidly.

"Ayanokoji's at the door," Hiroshi repeated.

"Ah... Thanks, Dai-chan," Kotarou said softly. His eyes trailed over to the doors, where Takashi stood patiently. He felt his face flush. "Ten-chan..."

Hiroshi walked away, back to his own desk. Kotarou could hear him muttering something about commoners and being stupid. He smiled a little at that. Hiroshi was still Hiroshi, even after all these years. If he'd changed at all, it was still only slightly, and it was barely noticable. He was the only comic relief in the group, really. Kotarou appreciated that about him now, more than ever.

Kotarou pushed himself to his feet and hesitantly walked towards the doors. Towards Takashi.

His heart was racing. He could hear it pounding in his ears. His face was burning, too. He was probably smiling like some idiot, showing the world that he was happy-as-hell that his friend had come to see him. It was probably obvious that that was what was making him happy right now, that as much as he hated to think about it, it was true. He liked Takashi in a way that went far beyond friends.

"Hey, you feelin' okay, Kotarou?" Takashi's concerned voice interrupted his thoughts.

Kotarou blinked slowly and stared at his friend. He was standing right in front of him. When did he get there? He was sure that he still needed to walk, but there he was. Not even a foot away from the blonde.

I'm not okay, was what he wanted to say. The words got caught on the tip of his tongue and ran around in circles in his mind. He could only think them. Including, I think I'm in love with you.

"You look a little flushed," Hiroshi agreed, coming up behind Kotarou. "You've been spacy all day, and your face is always flushed. Are you sick, Higuchi?"

Kotarou looked down, feeling his face burn hotter. Of course, it had to be Hiroshi that had noticed all of his strange behaviour, and he had to mention it. If he denied it now, if he didn't go along and let them think that he was sick, how else could he cover it? It sounded too much like he was a love-sick school girl. Pretending to be sick would be the best way to keep this a secret.

He gave the briefest of smiles before saying, "I'm fine."

"You sure, man?" Takashi questioned. "We can talk later if you're sick. I can call or something..."

"N-No!" he yipped. It took all of the self control that Kotarou possessed not to grab on to Takashi's arms and make sure that he didn't even try to turn away. I don't know why, but... talking to him... it's making me feel good. I love the way his voice sounds. The way he's looking at me, too. It all feels good.

A few of the girls from his class pushed past as they walked by. Every one of them smiled and giggled at Takashi. He just waved back at them, and smiled flirtatiously.

Kotarou felt something stab him deep in his gut. A feeling, of some sort. Anger, and frustration... Was it jealously? All a girl had to do was smile, and he'd flirt with her. It was easy for her. If he wanted to get that same smile out of Takashi, what would he have to do? Giggle and smile, make a real idiot out of himself? Probably not. Takashi liked girls, after all. That was why it was so easy for them.

And short of a sex change, there was not much that he could do.

Why am I thinking this so far through? he wondered. A few hours ago I was telling myself that I wasn't in love. I must be crazy...

"Anyways," Takashi said loudly, "there's a hiking trip coming up."

"Oh... is there?" he asked. He couldn't remember anything saying anything about there being a hiking trip coming up. Had they been talking about it at lunch?

"The teacher just finished talking about it, Higuchi," Hiroshi pointed out. "Geez, are you sure that you're not sick?"

Kotarou sighed heavily. That wasn't going to be easy.

He decided to ignore Hiroshi.

"What about the trip?" he pressed.

"It's overnight," Takashi replied.

Damnit.

Kotarou was certain that he knew exactly where this was going, and he hated it. An overnight hiking trip meant that there would be tents. Tents meant that they had to break off into groups of so many people. Takashi probably wanted to share a tent. They would be together, with so many witnesses to his supidity, for one, maybe two, night. He really had no idea how long it would be. He hadn't payed attention in class.

How was he supposed to hide his feelings when they were so close? It would be so easy to say the wrong thing, or look at him the wrong way...

Still, despite his doubts and worries, he smiled a little. A part of his was absolutely delighted that he was being asked.

Definitely a school girl.

"Yeah, overnight..." he repeated his friend with a soft laugh. "It sounds like fun."

Takashi was quiet for a moment. His eyes studied Kotarou's face, as if he was trying to find something. Or maybe it was hesitation before he asked the question. Or maybe he was just looking into this a bit too much.

"You wanna pair up?" Takashi asked.

"...pair...?"

Then... they really would be alone, at night, in the tent. Just the two of them.

"Sure... Why not?" Kotarou agreed. It took a lot of effort to keep the smile on his face. It was bad enough when he thought that it would be a group of them sharing the tent, but now it was only the two of them. A pair meant that they would be alone. No distractions, just the two of them.

He couldn't survive.

"Alright, well, I gotta get goin'," Takashi mentioned. He smiled. "You go home and get some rest, man. I'll see ya tomorrow."

"Yeah... bye..."

Hiroshi snickered behind Kotarou. "See you tomorrow, Higuchi."

Kotarou blinked as he was shoved out of the Mitarai's way. The other teen was all bundled up with his books and bags. Was he leaving for the evening? Why? School wasn't even--

He turned around to face an empty classroom.

School's out... huh...?

Maybe some sleep would do him some good after all.

----------

Shima watched Misha closely as the pink-haired angel hovered over the purple-haired teenager, and frowned. Kotarou Higuchi. Misha had skills that rivalled her sister's, and she was one of the best angels that existed at that time, but all of that meant nothing when Kotarou Higuchi was around. Misha went from a complete professional to a complete idiot.

It was frustrating to watch.

"Misha-san... shouldn't we go?" Shima asked.

The pink-haired angel glanced back at her and just smiled.

Did she even realize how dangerous this was? Or was it that she was still in love with him? Would she stupidly love him until she ceased existing? How could she love a human that much? Didn't she realize that it could destroy her?

"Shima, making humans happy is our job," Misha said softly, as if she was reading the younger angel's mind. "I'm going to show you first hand why I love getting to be in the Human Realm to do my job."

The dark-haired angel frowned deeper at that. It sounded like they would be spending a lot of time here in the Human Realm.

"What do you mean, Misha-san?" she questioned, trying to keep the irritation out of her voice. As much as she looked up to and trusted her mentor, staying here and having Misha near Kotarou really bothered her.

Misha smiled again and pointed towards Kotarou. "He was the same way with me. I can see it. He's in love!"