There will be some non-explicit rape in this chapter, so I'll let you know when it starts and stops, in case you don't want to read it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Junjou Romantica.

-JR—JR—JR-

Misaki's POV (One Month Later)

Adjusting to life in the penthouse was hard to say the least. In fact, I wasn't sure that I'd adjusted at all. I avoided Akihiko as often as I could, only seeing him when I called him down for food. Despite how I detested living in the apartment, I still ate at the table with him, keeping the promise I'd made to eat with him all those years ago.

Most days, there was an awkward silence so thick you could cut through it with a rusty butter knife, save for the attempts Akihiko made to talk to me, which were always answered with a frigid silence. I was almost surprised the author didn't try to talk to me again, like he had the first night. Although, it was probably because he wasn't aware of just how much the living situation was affecting me. I'd been lucky enough that the nightmares I woke up from every night didn't have me screaming.

I knew for sure that if I woke up screaming from a nightmare, the silver haired man would come rushing into my room to comfort me, despite knowing how much I hated being touched. I began to get worried after a couple of weeks of being in the penthouse, though. The dreams had been getting worse every night, and I knew that at some point I wouldn't be able to keep quiet about them any longer.

A month after arriving was a testament to that fact. It was the first nightmare since being in jail that I woke from screaming.

-JR—JR—JR-

I woke from my dream with a jolt, surrounded by a thick darkness that I couldn't see through. Sweat soaked my hair and clothes despite how cold the dark room was. It seemed to be empty, as there were no sounds to be heard or movements to be seen, and yet I could almost feel someone's presence.

I slowly moved the duvet off of my body and stood from the bed, walking toward where I knew the door would be. I moved forward warily, a hand in front of me so I could feel something in front of me.

But I hadn't been counting on anything behind me.

A hand covered my mouth harshly, while a different on slipped up my nightshirt. I struggled in the mystery man's grip, but as soon as he spoke, his disgusting hands groping me, I froze in fear.

"Hello, my little kitten," Haitani hissed in my ear, lust painting his words. A sickened shudder ran through me, though the older man interpreted it as something else. "It seems like you're happy to see me."

A wave of nausea washed over me, but I pushed it back, keeping as still as possible in hopes that it would lessen the pain somehow. Haitani shoved me down onto the bed, facing him. A blinding light filled the room, and suddenly I was back in the jail cell, pinned on the uncomfortable cot that I'd been forced by Haitani to share.

-This is where the rape starts-

Haitani pulled my shirt and pants off of my limp body, and suddenly there was a ripping pain rushing through me. It felt as though I was being torn apart from the inside out. I bit back a pained scream, closing my eyes tightly to the intense and passionate look on the other man's face.

"Look at me, kitten, or I'll make this even worse for you," he whispered, leaning down to my ear and licking the shell with his slimy tongue. I swallowed the vomit that rose in my throat and opened my eyes slowly.

I was back in Akihiko's room, and said man was ripping through my body as though he wasn't causing me pain.

"Akihiko," I choked out, "stop. Ple-ease." He leered down at me, not slowing or stopping.

"As if, my sweet Misaki. I'm taking what's mine," Akihiko told me, then leaned down and pulled me into a crushing kiss. Tears slipped down my face and sobs ripped through my lips. I could stand having Haitani hurting me, because he meant nothing to me, but Akihiko hurting me like that was more than I could take.

I begged him to stop, but he swallowed my words in his crushing kisses. And finally he finished and pulled out, ending my torture. He whispered how much he loved me in my ear, kissing my tender lips almost lovingly, but all I could feel was burning betrayal.

-It's ended, guys—

I woke from the dream with a scream, tears staining my face. Loud, rushing footsteps sounded down the hall toward my room. I covered my face with my trembling hands, my breath coming in gasps. The door to my room was thrown open as my breathing began to even out.

"Misaki, what happened?!" Akihiko asked worriedly, and I flinched at the sound of his voice. It sounded so much like the voice he used at the end of the dream. I heard footsteps moving toward me and stopping by the side of my bed.

My breath hitched as his fingers brushed my forearm. I smacked his hand away quickly, curling away from the author. "Don't touch me!" I snapped, my body reacting automatically. There was hurt and surprise in his eyes, but understanding crossed his face a second later.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly, a pained expression on his face. I glared at him.

"I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me," I told him coldly, keeping my eyes on his. He didn't look as though he believed me.

"You're clearly not fine," he said bluntly.

"Then why ask?!" I bit out in frustration. "Or is it because that's what Ritsu would want you to do?"

The man looked confused. "What is that supposed to mean? Ritsu has nothing to do with this."

I scoffed. "You looked at me only when Ritsu pushed you to do it. He told you to come after me, so you did. How do I know you're not only asking this because that's what Ritsu would want you to do, that this is your own will? I don't. You may not even consciously know."

Anger and frustration flashed in his eyes, but both emotions were quickly hidden. "Why can't you believe me when I say that I truly do care about you? I do, more than you even know." Akihiko did a good job of hiding his emotions.

I couldn't help the tears that formed in my eyes at all of the reasons that piled up in my head. "You don't know?! You fucking left me without a word for some other guy! You just gave Aikawa a message for me and left! How am I supposed to fucking know what you feel when you clearly don't know yourself?!"

Akihiko's voice was quiet when he spoke next. "I know exactly what I feel, Misaki. I know that I love you, more than I've ever loved anyone, and nothing Ritsu said has anything to do with that. It was a mistake to leave for him, but I've only just realized that. I know I love you. I know I regret everything in the past few years. And I know there's nothing I could do to gain your forgiveness. I won't even ask you to forgive me."

"Oh, you're only realizing now?!" I snapped. "What, didn't Haruhiko tell you nothing about the time while you were-" I stopped myself with a curse, realizing that I'd let something slip that I shouldn't have.

Anger and confusion knit Akihiko's brow. "You went to Haruhiko?" he asked disbelievingly. "Why?!"

I glared harshly at the man. "Why, you ask?! Because you left me! You gave no excuse or reasoning, just took all of your things and left the country to be with another man! I felt like I wasn't worthy after that! I thought 'Maybe it was me. Maybe it was my fault he left.' I went to your brother because I needed comfort from someone who knew rejection, and Haruhiko was the first person that came to mind."

The anger that had shown on the author's face disappeared, replaced by guilt and regret. "Did you ever . . . ?" Akihiko couldn't seem to get the rest of the words out.

"That's none of your business," I told him in a clipped tone. "Now get out. Whatever goes on with me is none of your business."

Akihiko looked hurt by my statement, resembling a kicked puppy. I sighed. "Look," I started tiredly, gaining a hopeful look from the author, "I know you want to help me or whatever, but you broke my trust. You'll have to earn it back if you have any chance with even being my friend again. Alright?" I refused to look at the other man, but I knew there was happiness in his eyes.

The silverette was strangely quiet. I glanced up at him and saw a serious look on his face. He started speaking. "I will admit that what Ritsu said pushed me in this direction, but I want you to know that it was completely my choice to try to be with you again. I didn't know what I wanted, but Ritsu did. I'm not doing this because Ritsu told me to, I'm doing it because I want to. Please understand that." I stared at him quietly, saying nothing. He took that as his cue to leave.

I sighed heavily and closed my eyes. Despite my attempts to go back to sleep, I stayed up the whole night thinking about what Akihiko said and cursing myself for caring.

-JR—JR—JR-

The next morning I walked down the stairs sluggishly. I'd exhausted myself thinking the night before, and I could barely walk straight. I made a simple breakfast of omelets and water, barely having the energy to even do that. I called Akihiko down, collapsing into my chair and poking at my food.

Akihiko descended the stairs as gracefully as ever and sat down at the table. He glanced at me with poorly concealed worry. I took a deep breath. "I'll let you ask me one question. As a truce or whatever you want to call it."

The silver haired man stared at me with surprise, but concealed it quickly and took on a thoughtful look. 'He'll probably ask something about Haruhiko or jail, knowing his nosy ways,' I thought, scoffing to myself.

"What have you told Takahiro about us?" I raised an eyebrow at the question, but didn't comment. I guess this was his way of taking it slow.

"Nothing. Takahiro thought I was upset about you leaving because you were my 'male role model' thingy, but never suspected anything more. He didn't ask, and I didn't tell," I responded, taking a bite of my omelet and chewing slowly, taking a sip of water as my stomach churned.

Akihiko nodded, then continued to eat in silence. "What, no attempts at small talk this morning? It was starting to seem like tradition." My tone was playful, even if a bit strained.

The author snorted. "You've evaded all of my attempts, so I thought I'd get you to drop your guard before trying again." I rolled my eyes and made no more comments.

This was a good start.

-JR—JR—JR-

Almost two thousand words this time :D I made it a bit longer (I think) to make up for not updating for so long. Please let me know what you think.

Favorite, follow, review, and PM me! Until next time . . .

~O'Malley out!