Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Junjou Romantica. All characters are copyright to Shungiku Nakamura. No profit is being made from the writing of this story.

"I love you. I love you. I send this message through my fingers and into his, up his arm and into his heart. Hear me. I love you. And I'm sorry to leave you." - Jenny Downham, Before I Die

As he puttered around, unpacking the last of his things, Misaki couldn't help but reminisce as he thought about what he'd gone through the past few months. Standing there, he observed his flat that he'd rented for the duration of his time here. It was a nice place and, surprisingly, the rent wasn't that overpriced. Since his brother didn't have to worry about his tuition for a year, he was helping to pay for his flat. It had been hard to hide what he was doing from Usagi-san, but he had endured it. His brother had come over to the apartment and helped him pack up his stuff that he wouldn't be taking with him. It would be stored at his brother's apartment until he could find his own place upon his return to Japan.

"Do you have everything that you need, Misaki? All your paperwork and what items you wanted to take with you?"

Misaki almost laughed at his brother's worrying. "I've got everything, nii-chan. Don't worry so much!" The only thing he was carrying onto the plane was his messenger bag and laptop case. All of his suitcases had already been checked in. He stood waiting for his flight to be called, with Takahiro and his wife by his side.

Takahiro had to chuckle at Misaki's words. "I don't think I'll ever quit worrying about you, Misaki. But I'm so proud of you! To be chosen as a freshman to study abroad. This is such a fantastic opportunity for you!"

Passing his finals had been a blessing and now nothing stood in his way for his journey to England. "Nii-chan, I wanted to thank you for everything. You and nee-chan have been a great help with getting all that I needed to do completed. And please, don't let Usagi-san know where I've gone. You know how he can be. Once he had that information, he'd be on one of his private jets so fast that you couldn't even blink first."

Takahiro nodded in agreement with his brother. "Yes, he can be very impulsive. But you know that he's going to call you, expecting you to be at the apartment. When you don't answer, you know what his reaction is going to be. Can you handle that, Misaki?"

Misaki sighed. "I know that, nii-chan. I don't want to worry him, but this is for the best. He'll probably either swamp my cell with voicemails or call you. If he does call you, you can tell him what I'm doing, but just not the location." He stopped, his eyes threatening to fill with tears. "If I'm doing the right think, nii-chan, then why does it feel so wrong? I feel like such a coward, sneaking off while Usagi-san isn't here." He felt arms embracing him as his brother pulled him into a hug. Shaking fingers gripped the cloth material of the older man's shirt tightly, as though he didn't want him to go.

Manami watched, worried, as her brother-in-law broke down. She'd deduced that the two males were together whenever she saw them interact with each other. And now, the poor boy had been reduced to thinking that he shouldn't be in a relationship with the one he loved. The thought that others were poking their noses into business that wasn't theirs made her angry. She reached over and stroked the young man's chocolate brown hair. "Misaki-kun, you know that we're here for you. You can call us, e-mail us, or even talk with us over the computer. You're not alone, please remember that."

Green eyes shiny with tears looked in her direction. "Thank you, nee-chan, I needed that." He heard his flight number being announced over the intercom. Feeling nervous, he said, "Well, this is it. I'll see you both in a year."

Walking to stand in front of the window, he watched the busy traffic and pedestrians walking down the sidewalks. Although England was much different than Japan, it was the same in some ways. Usagi-san had mentioned once about living in England and how he wanted to show Misaki the country one day. Looks like that would never happen now. But Misaki had decided to do a little sightseeing on his own while he was here, fervently wishing his lover was there with him.

He felt a sense of nervousness, knowing that next week he'd start his classes in what was an unfamiliar place. But that was overshadowed by the loneliness that he felt, knowing that his lover would have returned to Japan about now. And true to his prediction, he'd been getting a lot of voicemails from Usagi-san. All of them had the same frantic and worried overtones. His lover asked repeatedly where he was at and if he was all right. The younger man wanted to talk with him, but what could he say? How to explain to the older man why he'd decided to leave him? Misaki knew that sooner or later, the older man would contact Misaki's brother. And then all hell would inevitably break loose.

The door to the apartment flew open with a bang as Akihiko stormed like a madman through the door. A dark apartment met his eyes. No sounds emanated from inside the room. Hitting the light switch, his bags went flying as he hurriedly started to search for his missing lover. Every time he'd tried calling the apartment or Misaki's cell phone, he'd gotten no response. It wasn't like Misaki to ignore his calls. His heart hammered in his chest as he began to imagine situations that the younger man could have gotten himself into. Entering Misaki's room, his face paled as he took in the barren room. It looked the same as it had when Misaki first came to stay here. Dread filled his veins like ice water as he realized the implications. Damn it! He knew something was off the last time he spoke with Misaki!

Going back downstairs, he saw that Suzuki-san sat on the couch. As usual, the bear's brown eyes revealing nothing to help Akihiko's nerves. That was when his eyes caught sight of the envelope pinned to the ribbon around the bear's neck. Paranoia gripped him again as he unpinned it. His name was written on the front in Misaki's handwriting. Sliding a suddenly shaky finger underneath the flap, he pulled out a single sheet of paper and what appeared to be Misaki's key to the apartment. The floor seemed to drop out from under him as he sank down onto the couch, hands trembling in time with his suddenly shaky legs.

Dear Usagi-san,

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about us and what we are. With that being said, I'm afraid that I can't stay here with you any longer. I know this comes as a surprise to you, but trust me when I say that it's for the best. And before you get any ideas, it has nothing to do with you. So, don't even start thinking that, ok? The decision that I made has been from my own doing.

For now, just pretend that you never met me. It will be better for everyone that way. Nii-chan and I have already packed up my things. Please don't forget to take care of yourself.

Takahashi Misaki

Takahiro…he has to know where Misaki's at! Racing to the telephone, he dialed the familiar number. "Takahiro, this is Akihiko."

Misaki called it! Forcing himself to be calm, he replied, "Usagi, it's so good to hear from you! Misaki told me that you were on a book signing tour. So how was it?" Let's start with the neutral territory and see where it goes.

"It was fine. Boring, but fine. Takahiro, where is Misaki at? His things are gone and he's not answered my calls. All I have is a letter from him saying that he was leaving. Is there something going on that you're not telling me?"

"Like there was something that you didn't tell me? Misaki came here a few months ago and told me about your relationship. I had to reassure the poor boy that I didn't mind that you were both dating. But that wasn't the only thing he had to tell me about. Given the fact that you don't know where he's at, he probably didn't tell you. Earlier this semester, he applied to study abroad at one of Mitsuhashi University's sister campuses. He didn't think he'd earn a place there with it being so competitive. Misaki admitted that he'd even forgotten about it. Then that week he received his acceptance packet in the mail. And before you ask me, he didn't say where he would be going."

Akihiko stood there, stunned by what Takahiro had told him. Misaki had left him…not even telling him that he was leaving, except through a letter. Not to mention the fact he had confessed to his brother about their relationship. Why now? Not that he minded, but the timing just seemed off. Wetting his suddenly dry throat, he rasped out, "How long will he be gone?"

"Misaki said that it would be a year. And, honestly, given what he told me about people sticking their nose into his business, I think he needs the time away! Why should they dictate who he has a relationship with? I've never seen him in such a state as when he told me what's been going on."

Akihiko sagged against the table. A year…how the hell will I last a year without Misaki? Like hell I'm letting that happen! But then he thought about what Takahiro had said. Evidently, Misaki had let things get to him more than he should have. And Akihiko knew a particular someone he'd be having a talk with. "Are you telling me that I should just let him go, Takahiro? He means more to me than you know. I'm not letting him go without a fight."

"And I'm not telling you to do that, idiot! I'm just saying that maybe Misaki needs time away to think things through. I've told you how he feels about being a burden to people. It seems to me that people are picking at his Achilles heel and he's grown tired of it." Takahiro sighed before continuing, "Don't get me wrong, Usagi. Misaki does want to be with you. But until he's stood on his own, he's always going to let those comments bother him. And that will make him think he's being a burden to you."

"Maybe you're right, Takahiro. I just wish he'd confided in me. Not knowing how everything was affecting him…I just feel so useless."

Takahiro sighed in relief at Akihiko's acceptance of the situation. He'd been worried that the other man would have gone haring off after Misaki. But it seemed that he trusted Misaki more than he'd previously thought. "Then take this chance and start communicating with him. E-mails, talking to him over the computer – try these things, Usagi. That way, you're still talking with him even though he's not there. Try to make the best of this that you can."

Akihiko grudgingly conceded what Takahiro was telling him. "But first, I'm going to tell certain people to keep their noses out of our business. They need to learn what boundaries they cannot cross when dealing with Misaki. I thought I had warned them before, but apparently I was mistaken."

Takahiro sent his friend a quick text. "I've sent you Misaki's e-mail address. It's up to you what you do with it from here on out."

Akihiko glanced at his phone as the text came through. "Thank you again, Takahiro. And while I haven't mentioned it, I'm glad that you're supportive of our relationship. It means a lot to me and I know it does to Misaki." After saying goodbye, he hung up the phone. Treading wearily back to the couch, he sank down onto the cushion. He'd be alone again like he was before Misaki came into his life. Flipping through his phone, he looked at the last photo of Misaki he'd taken before he left on his book tour. The younger man didn't know the picture had been taken and Akihiko smiled as he lovingly looked at the photo. An entire year…would he be able to make it? It'd been bad enough that one time when Misaki had visited his brother. He'd almost lost him then and he was determined that it wouldn't happen again.

Chapter 3 Preview: We see how Misaki adjusts to life in England as Akihiko goes on a mini-rampage and tells people to stay out of his business.