holyhigh-lights: thanks for the reviews guys! here's the next chapter... it's mainly NurikoxHotohori. kk, on to the story!

Guy Trouble

Nuriko paced back and forth endlessly across his best friend's porch, wringing his slender hands. His long purple hair was pulled back into its usual braid and his equally violet eyes were filled with the emotions that flew through him. This was a bad idea. This was deffinately a bad idea. Why was he here?

Nuriko continued to pace, his nerves wound tight. He was sweating slightly, despite the cool breeze that enveloped him. His best friend, Hotohori, wasn't home at the moment, so now he was waiting nervously for Hotohori to come back from work.

The fact that Nuriko had recently discovered he was, in fact, gay was stressful enough for him to handle. But now, he had also found out that he had fallen in love with Hotohori... his best friend! They had been friend's since junior high and were now second-years at the same college.

Nuriko knew he had to tell Hotohori about his feelings, it would tear his mind apart if he didn't say it out loud, but he had never been so scared in his entire life. What would Hotohori do? Would he be disgusted and turn away from Nuriko forever? Or would he return his feelings?

Nuriko prayed furiously now that it would be the latter. He wouldn't be able to stand it if Hotohori turned from him.

'Damnitt! When is Hotohori going to get home?' Nuriko asked himself, still pacing. He was about to forget the whole thing and turned to leave when he spotted Hotohori coming up the walk. Nuriko looked his friend over as he strode gracefullytowards the porch. Hotohori was tall and slender, but with a sturdy build that his white dress shirt did little to hide. He had the most beautiful features anyone would ever see. His delicate hands were slid casually into the pockets of his black slacks and his brown hair cascaded around his face, tied in a loose ponytail. Hotohori smiled in a way that made Nuriko's insides turn to mush.

Hotohori studied his purple-haired friend with concern in his deep brown eyes. Nuriko's features were pretty feminine for a guy, but Hotohori had always found that... intruiging. His friend wore a black T-shirt and simple jeans, but what had Hotohori worried, was the fear and anxiety in the violet depths of Nuriko's eyes. What was he so nervous about? And why was there fear in those eyes?

"Hey Nuriko," Hotohori started casually, shaking the thoughts away. "What are you doing here?"

"I, uh, can I talk to you for a second?" Nuriko asked, still wringing his hands. Hotohori smiled but was still troubled by his friend's behavior.

"Sure," he answered. "Come on in."

Nuriko followed Hotohori into the house and kicked off his shoes as Hotohori removed his jacket. They entered the living room and Nuriko did his best to swallow the fear that was tearing him apart.

"So, what's up?" Hotohori started, sitting down on the edge of the forest-green couch. Nuriko didn't sit beside him, afraid that if he did he wouldn't be able to contain himself.

"Well, uh... I... ahem... I was..." Nuriko stummbled along for a moment, unable to put together more that two words.

'I can't do it! I can't tell him!' Nuriko thought a little ashamed at his own cowardice. Now Hotohori was really worried. He stood and approached Nuriko.

"Nuriko... what's wrong?" he asked gently. Nuriko suddenly found his feet extremely fascinating. Hotohori frowned. Why was Nuriko avoiding his gaze? What was going on with his friend? In all the time he'd known Nuriko, he had never known the purple haired boy to be shy, especially around him. And now, here he was, blushing and stuttering, and for some reason finding the carpet intensely interesting.

"Nuriko, you can talk to me. What's the matter?" Hotohori tried agian. Nuriko was mumbling something about how he should probably just go home. "Come on, Nuriko, look at me," he said, his voice firmer, but still gentle. Hotohori tipped Nuriko's chin up, forcing purple eyes to meet brown ones. That's when it happened. Nuriko couldn't hold back anymore. Leaning up slightly, he closed the distance between their lips.

Hotohori stood in shock of what was happening. After a moment, he started kissing back. He felt a tongue brush his bottom lip, seeking entrance. Hotohori allowed it to enter and found their tongues dancing around eachother. But suddenly, Nuriko pulled away, a look of terror on his face at what he had done.

"Ho-Hotohori... I-I'm sorry," he said breathlessly. When Hotohori didn't respond, Nuriko turned and fled from the house. It took Hotohori a moment to process what had just happened. When he snapped back to reality, Hotohori burst from thehouse anddown the streetafter Nuriko, realizing he had seen tears forming in his friend's eyes.

"Nuriko! Hold on!" he called, but the purple-haired boy didn't seem to hear him.

'You idiot! Why did you have to kiss him! What's he going to think of you now?' Nuriko demanded his mind. He had to get away from here. He kept running, ignoring the fact that his vision was now blurred by tears. He just kept running.

----with Miaka----

Miaka stared at the brown substance in her mug, her mother watching her with concern. Miaka didn't drink the cocoa, worried that it would just come right back up, but the warmth of the mug felt good on her hands. The two women sat in silence. Miaka's older brother was still at work and wouldn't be home for a few hours. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Miaka froze and then turned her horrified eyes to her mother. She responded by standing and placing a reassuring hand on Miaka's shoulder before she left through the kitchen door. Miaka heard the front door open, and then an exclamation from her mother.

"Oh my god! Tasuki! What are you doing here? Are you visiting for a few days?" her mother's excited voice sounded down the hall. Miaka immediately burst out the kitchen door. She spotted the orange-haired college student in the doorway, smiling his fang-toothed grin,but she didn't stop running to greet him.

"Hey, Miak-ah!" Tasuki was saying when Miaka threw her arms around his neck, embracing him in a bone crushing hug that nearly knocked him over. She had hardly seen Tasuki at all since he'd gone away to college, and until now, she hadn't really realized how much she'd missed him. Besides Taka, he had been her closest friend and because of what happened, Miaka knew he was her only friend now.

"Tasuki... I'm so glad you're here!" Miaka said, starting to cry into his shoulder. Tasuki had a firm grip on her as he hugged her back, shooting a worried glance at her mother. She shook her head in response, meaning 'I'll tell you later' and motioned to the living room. Tasuki managed to move himself and Miaka to the couch in the living room without breaking their hug. He just sat holding Miaka as she continued to cry into his blackjacket. Finally, she pulled away enough to look into his face. His golden eyes held a worried expression but he smiled anyway, displaying fangs.

"Hey now, what's this all about?" he asked, gently wiping the tears from her cheeks. His voice was just as husky as she remembered it. Miaka forced a smile.

"I just really missed you," she said. It wasn't all a lie, she had really missed him. It had been nearly five months since she'd last seen him. But she was also crying because of what had happened earlier that day.

"I'm flattered, but these tears ain't all for me. And they're not happy either," Tasuki said with amusement. Why did he have to know her so well?

Tasuki studied Miaka for another long moment when she didn't answer him. Miaka's mother brought in two new cups of cocoa for them and gave Tasuki a knowing look. Tasuki sighed and look back at Miaka who had her gaze focused on the mugs.

"Somethin' happened with Taka, didn't it?" he asked her gently, curling some of her brown hair behind her ear. Miaka swallowed hard, and nodded. Tasuki ground his teeth. He and Taka had never really been that close. At mostthey simplytolerated eachother, but neither would've ever called the other "friend". He had always worried something would happen.

"What happened?" Tasuki asked Miaka, trying to keep the edge out of his voice. In his head he had already sworn to beat Taka to a bloody pulp for making Miaka cry. Miaka shook her head and then looked at him with a cover-up smile.

"Don't worry about it Tasuki,"she started, trying to sound more upbeat. "You just got here! I don't want to burden you with my problems!"

Tasuki frowned at her and sighed.

"All right, but yer telling me later." It wasn't a question. Miaka didn't answer as they sat silently for a few more moments.

"Oh! I almost forgot,"Tasuki said suddenly, getting up from the couch and going to the entrance way. "Are these yers?"

He came back holding a single shoe and a purse. Miaka's eyes went wide, and then she blushed.

"I didn't know it was you I ran into," she said a little sheepishly. Tasuki laughed, a rolling sound that made Miaka want to laugh too.

"Don't worry about it, darlin'. I was headin' over here anyway," he said lightly, placing the items on the table.

"So, Tasuki," Miaka's mother started. "How long are you in town for?"

"I'll be here about a 3 weeks," he answered, already knowing where the woman was going with this. They had the same argument every time he visited, but he was one step ahead of her this time.

"Are you staying in a hotel?" Miaka's mother continued. Tasuki laughed again. Even though he had always said he'd hated girls, Miaka and her mother had always known they were the exceptions.

"Actually, I was wonderin' if I could take up some space in that ole' guest bedroom of yers? Yer the only people I really came to see, anyway," Tasuki grinned at Miaka's mother, who smiled warmly in return.

"Well, it seems you finally learned that I won't let you stay in a hotel, not when we have room!" she answered. "Do you have your things with you, dear?"

"They're on the porch. I'll start movin' them in," he told her, heading for the door. Miaka stood and put a hand on his shoulder. When Tasuki turned to face her, she embraced him again.

"Tasuki, I really am glad that you're here," she said quietly. Tasuki chuckled and gave her a hard squeeze before pulling away.

"So am I, darlin'. And don't you worry, everythin's gonna be fine," he assured her. Giving her chin a little tap with his finger, Tasuki returned to getting his bags. For the first time since that morning, Miaka was willing to believe that he was right, and that perhaps things would be ok.

----with Nuriko----

Nuriko leaned heavily against the tree, looking out over the pond in front of him. He sat on the cool grass, just watching the sun's light play across the water. Nuriko had finally been able to stop the tears while he was running, but he couldn'tstop the flow of emotions.He had found this small pond completely surrounded by trees in the middle of the college's enourmous gardens. It was his place to think, to be alone and clear his head. It was relaxing, and hardly anyone knew it existed, so he was pretty much garanteed a few hours of 'alone time'.

Nuriko absently pushed a stray strand of purple hair behind his ear, sighing. Why did he have to do that? How was he supposed to face Hotohori now!

'I'm sorry Hotohori,' Nuriko said silently. Just then, he heard the slight rustle of leaves and a twig snap somewhere behind him.

"Nuriko?" a smooth, calm voice sounded from the trees. Nuriko went rigid.

'That's right! I should've known he'd be aware of this place too!' he cursed himself silently as he turned to look at his best friend. Hotohori gazed back at him, standing with his hands in his pockets, a worried look in his eyes.

"I thought I'd find you here," Hotohori started, his voice shaking slightly. Nuriko stood and faced him, trying to keep the fear out of his eyes. Hotohori's forced smile faded and he sighed, eyeing the ground.

"We need to talk about this... Nuriko," he said so quietly Nuriko had to strain to hear him.

"I... I guess th-that's for the b-best," Nuriko agreed, unable to keep his own voice from trembling. This was the end of their friendship... he knew it! If he hadn't kissed him there might still be a chance! But now... it was over.

"How long have you known... your feelings for me?" Hotohori asked, still studying the grass.

'Damn it! Why won't he at leastlook at me?' Nuriko thought angrily.

"Almost four months," he answered, keeping the edge from his voice. If Hotohori was going to end their friendship, he could at least look Nuriko in the eye!

"I see," Hotohori practically whispered. Nuriko's anger overcame his grief at that moment.

"You see what?" He said a little harshly, feeling the sting of tears welling behind his eyes. "Damn itHotohori! If you're going to end our friendship, just do it already! I know what I am and I'm sorry! I can't change it and I understand if you don't want to speak to me ever again!But,damn it,if you're going to drag this out longer, then at least have the decency to look at me!"

Hotohori slowly raised his gaze to meet Nuriko's glare. Nuriko froze. It wasn't anger or disgust that looked back at him from those brown eyes, as he had been expecting. Instead they were filled withhurt and, what shocked him even more, love. Hotohori took a step forward.

"Nuriko, is that what you think I came here to do?" he asked, his voice laced with the hurt he felt from Nuriko's accusation. "End the only friendship I've ever cherished? Is that what you thought?"

Nuriko couldn't respond. Hotohori took a few more steps forward until he was only about a foot from his friend.

"I came here because I was worried about you!" he said sternly, his brown eyes a flurry of emotions. "You didn't give me a chance to... respond earlier and I can't let you just walk away without an answer!"

Hotohori grabbed Nuriko's shoulders and pulled him into him, connecting their lips firmly in the process. Nuriko went rigid from shock briefly, before relaxing in the older man's arms. The kiss was passionate, and filled with all the emotions Nuriko had hoped it would have. There was dessperation, and longing, but also love, heat, and passion. Nuriko could feel his back against the tree as Hotohori pressed against him.

Hotohori broke the kiss from a lack of air and pulled away enough to let himself breath without releasing Nuriko. They both panted for breath as they held each other. Nuriko grinned slightly at the man he loved.

"So... what you're... saying is?" he started between breaths of air. Hotohori chuckled slightly before looking back into those beautiful violet eyes.

"What I'm saying is, I love you too."

holyhigh-lights: Well, I think that's a good place to stop! That, and it's my bedtime anyway! hope you liked it and reviews always help... just please no flames! kk, later everybody! P.S. I think I need a better screen-name... any suggestions?