A/N: Hello again, guys. Only one exam is left, the others went well, especially my two Japanese classes. Thank you very much for your great patience! Here is another chapter as I promised. I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

~~ Another Secret Exposed ~~

~~ 9. March, Late Night ~~

A little bit earlier.

Syusuke knew and understood the words Kunimitsu had said but it didn't hurt any less to hear them spoken so openly. He had been the one to destroy more than one relationship and more than two friendships. The game he was playing right now with Keigo, their little affair with soft kisses… it was all to anger Yukimura, to shove him out of his reserved and controlled hate against them. A way to punish his once very good friend for not even listening once to his explanations and apologies.

He had started the game after losing hope to get Genichirou back as a friend but now after their talk and agreement to continue their friendship…
Syusuke pleaded silently to receive another chance to prove his worth to his friend. He wanted to have at least his friend back if not his boyfriend.

The accidental kiss had happened after Syusuke had noticed the similarity between Genichirou and Kunimitsu over the months of their togetherness. Whenever the two couples, Yukimura and Kunimitsu as well as Genichirou and Syusuke himself, met, the brunette had seen it more and more clearer. It had surprised and somehow shocked him. Sometimes the two stoic teens would say and react the same way without noting it.

There had been more than one occasion where he had thought to see the other one of those two in front of him. Even after their fight had those occasions taken place, hurting him emotionally because of the ever existing presence of the missing and lost friend. The caring, sweet and sometimes clumsy friend who cherished and loved him dearly. Syusuke didn't want to lose him another time as he had missed him too much.

Even if Genichirou and Kunimitsu were similar...
It just wasn't the same. The one friend wasn't replaceable with the other one. No matter how similar their behaviour and gestures were sometimes, something special was always missing.

Therefore to protect this old but new friendship, he needed to repair the damage he had caused. He needed to end this thing between him and Keigo which had started out as a simple game of flirting and turned into a sweet kind of love story over the months. He didn't know how Keigo felt about him. They had never talked directly about their feelings for each other or about their future. The moments together had been focused on the present, allowing them to enjoy the moment of togetherness without complications stressing them out.

Their first real contact had been a few months after the big disaster. Syusuke could remember it quite clearly. He had been alone and depressed after school, hitting some tennis balls against a wall to let some of the still nagging emotions loose. It had taken him a while to recognize Keigo's lingering glances from afar as flirting attempts. The diva had watched him before joining him in his game against the wall. Keigo had asked him different things, done a lot to keep the one sided conversation going and at first it had annoyed the brunette but the annoyance had soon disappeared. He hadn't thought about the reason behind this innocent flirt because all he had thought at that moment had been to hurt Yukimura, who had just started his relationship with Keigo, as badly as possible. One flirt turned to one hug turned to one kiss turned to many moments kissing and cuddling and spending time together.

Their easy relationship had been without the stressing, committing and exhausting part of a relationship. Nevertheless, the bare thought about ending their relationship of some sort was strangely... numbing and sad.

Syusuke shook his head lightly, his eyes still focused on the falling raindrops. It was unthinkable that his chance of another friendship with Genichirou would last or even start if he or Yukimura found out about this little relationship. His wish for a second chance would shatter in a blink of an eye and even though this little secret could destroy a lot if not ended quickly, Syusuke didn't regret it. He had gained a new friend with it and knew he could count on Keigo whenever he needed a friend to listen. Hopefully he still had this friend after ending their time together.

A bitter laugh escaped his lips as he leaned against the wall of the house where Eiji, Momoshiro, Oishi, Jiroh, Kirihara and Kaidoh slept for the next few days. A view inside the house through the window told him the current sleeping state of his friends. Soft snores were even audible. Great, his friends were already asleep even though it wasn't so late. He had hoped to talk to Eiji about anything to calm his jittery nerves and the still lingering pain in his chest. It hurts to see his own mistakes and the following consequences, hearing them had been too much to bear.

The brunette sighed. He didn't have the heart to knock and interrupt his friend's sleep. He knew about Eiji's trouble at home and about Oishi's sleeplessness in the last few weeks. Eiji had told him about his boyfriend's strange behaviour. The mother hen of Seigaku had been fluttery and avoiding certain topics in conversations like dreams, jobs, final exams and their future.

Oishi's absence of mind hadn't gone unnoticed by the brunette. However, nobody of the team had confronted Oishi about it. Or more likely, Oishi hadn't allowed it by ditching them whenever one of the team wanted to talk. It had gone so far that Oishi spoke rarely with any of them nowadays.

A tall figure joined him under the roof of the blockhouse. He had no clue if it was good that the person was here with him or not. Nonetheless, it was the last person he had expected to join him and his body tensed up automatically.

"You will leave Gen alone and Keigo as well." Yukimura glared at him and didn't give him a change to reply. "Gen is weak, falling for your tricks but I will not. I can't understand why Keigo is actually talking and wasting his time with you but it doesn't mean you can grab and touch him whenever you see him."

There it was again… The evil green monster inside Syusuke, which wanted nothing more than hurt Yukimura and started banging on the doors of his mind. Syusuke fisted his hands at his sides, his nails digging into his skin deeply. He would not ruin his chance with Genichirou by continuing his game of throwing hateful comments at each other. He would simply ignore the bluenette. He had managed to use this tactic just fine with this stupid friend of Yuuta's. It would be… exhausting and nerve wrecking with the bluenette as Yukimura wasn't easily beaten in anything and the last thing he would do was giving up, no matter if it was in a tennis match or in some personal matter, but Syusuke would try his best.

When no further words reached his ears, he glanced from the corner of his eyes to the other teen. A few raindrops streamed down the pale skin and dark blue hair. It was a beautiful sight if it weren't for the rage filling those eyes, glaring at him. Syusuke needed to admit, Yukimura Seiichi was beautiful but his personality resembled most of the time those of a spoiled brat.

"Well, it's no wonder you can't stop touching other people's friends and boyfriends as your own seem to run away from you, always. First your younger brother, then Genichirou and now Echizen too."

Click

The switched was turned and the green monster inside him broke out and this time the brunette couldn't hold it back. Insulting him was fine but Syusuke wouldn't allow anybody to insult his friends and pulling Yuuta into their fight was the worst thing the bluenette could have done.

"You bark like a wounded dog, Yukimura. People run away from you as well and don't belong to you as much as you think." Someone in the heavy rain approached them slowly, still hidden from afar. "You say I don't deserve Genichirou but you are even worse than me. You should have noticed already what he feels for you but your selfishness doesn't allow you to confront him in fear you will lose him because you would reject him. Instead, you leave him alone with his one sided feelings, hurting him with it consciously. That's what I call being a horrible friend. I have, instead of you, never hurt my friends knowingly!"

Sharp blue orbs stared rigidly into violet ones. There was a mere flicker of uncertainty in the other teen's eyes, seemingly not fully understanding the harshly spoken words. The flicker disappeared as soon as it had appeared and was immediately replaced by pure rage. "Keigo slept with you?!"

"I haven't slept with Syusuke." The approaching person closed the distance and walked into the lightened area around the blockhouse, stopping in front of the two teens. Keigo stood under a purple umbrella. The situation was even bizarre with Keigo addressing himself with I and not Ore-sama.

"If it hadn't been Fuji, then whose scent do you wear sometimes after visiting a friend?"

Yukimura waited for his boyfriend to answer, to say something and the brunette saw the growing uncertainty and emotional pain in those amethyst like eyes wavering. Keigo just stared at his boyfriend, his lips staying tightly shut. The bluenette frowned, looking from Syusuke to Keigo. Syusuke knew whom Keigo had been intimate, the person had told him personally and he had agreed to it but he wouldn't be the one to destroy yet another relationship even if it was one of his enemy's. He had already lost the battle against the green monster and regretted letting those words slip his mouth. Anger at himself filled him.

Since when had he lost so much control over himself? A couple of weeks ago he would have been able to fight Yukimura without destroying more things and emotional bonds.

"Tezuka." One simple word, one simple name being spoken out loud and the air around them turned into icy coldness. Yukimura gritted his teeth, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "You three make a wonderful couple. All of you three being unfaithful bastards." The bluenette left with hurried steps in the direction of another blockhouse and slowly faded out of their sight.

Keigo sighed deeply and turned his attention to Syusuke. "You shouldn't have provoked him by telling him indirectly about my relationships with you two. I thought we had agreed to keep it a secret as long as the bonds between us all are fragile and nonexistent. I told you both about my relationship with you because I knew you two would understand... which you did."

"I know, I should have kept my comment back bu-"

"Ore-sama heard it." Syusuke felt weak, helpless and guilty. He had lost control and hated himself for it. He had done it again. The same mistake, just the one whom he was making out with wasn't the same. He really was a horrible person. The long desired revenge, the one thing which started everything, tasted awful and bitter.

"Ore-sama says we should head back to our house. Seiichi will probably sleep in Jackal's and Marui's house tonight. They have two free beds. I doubt he wants to see any of us tonight and it's best to leave him alone for now." Keigo grabbed the brunette's hand and pulled him under the umbrella, leading them back to their house.

The lingering gazes from Keigo in the direction where Yukimura had left didn't go by unnoticed. They walked in silence for once, only stopping when they reached the front door of their blockhouse. Dimming light shone from inside.

"I'm sorry for destroying your relationship too."

"Don't worry. Ore-sama has already a new plan to make everything right." Keigo smirked, dimming the sadness and hurt inside his eyes a little bit.

"What do you mean?"

Keigo folded the umbrella and leaned it against one of the walls, waiting and watching the other teen on the small patio. "Ore-sama had been jealous back then… over your relationship with each other. You, Seiichi, Kunimitsu and Sanada. You four had shone and looked like some sort of picture perfect family. None of you had noticed the great Ore-sama, only after your sudden breakup did Ore-sama have a chance to be a part of your world. Sadly, when Ore-sama finally reached you, nothing of the beautiful world was left."

Syusuke listened carefully, not quite believing what he was hearing but hearing nonetheless.

"You four had looked like one couple, one relationship. Happy. Ore-sama would like to see it once more just this time while being a part of it." Keigo smiled sadly, gazing directly into Syusuke's open eyes.
"Wouldn't you too?"

~~ 10. March, Very Early ~~

Kunimitsu was happy. Most people wouldn't know as he wasn't smiling on the outside but he was really happy. A long lost believed calmness surrounded him. How long had it been since he had played Go with Genichirou or mostly with anyone. After his grandfather died a few weeks after the incident with Syusuke, he hadn't had anybody to play it with. It was sad. All the greater was the joy now to finally play again.

The only thing being constantly nagging at his mind was sleeping in the bedroom next door and his boyfriend somewhere outside. His happiness was therefore only short living. Kunimitsu didn't know which matter worried him more. The unthoughtful words he had said to the person who accepted him completely or the sound he had witnessed. A scream, hoarse and rusty but loud and clearly audible.

Genichirou made his draw, glancing up at him and signaling him to make his move on the board. It seemed like he wasn't the only one being distracted. Kunimitsu grinned lightly on the inside. Genichirou had made a beginner's mistake. He rose one brow in question at his friend while his gaze wandered from the game board to his friend. He finished his draw, winning the game.

His friend was stunned, watching the game board closely, then groaning at his own stupidity and muttering something like: "I have been careless." Kunimitsu did smile this time. How long had it been? When was the last time when he had heard this particular phrase? "Congratulations on your win."

The brunette nodded in thanks, setting the game up for another round. He hoped Syusuke and Keigo would return soon. It had turned into a habit of his to be on good terms with his close friends before going to bed. He also wanted to apologize to him, not looking like some pussy cat.

"You haven't told Echizen the truth about us hearing him. Why?"

There wasn't really an explanation. He had seen the shock, the fear in those big golden eyes as the realization of the truth being true slowly sank in. He had instantly known what he needed to do… He had to lie. Echizen would have broken down or run away, he was absolutely sure of this theory. The teen's mind was the most fragile thing Kunimitsu had experienced so far and he couldn't and wouldn't begin to think about the reason which caused this fragility right then.

"You haven't told him what we had heard because you didn't want to scare him any further, didn't you?" How many months had he not spoken to his best friend? It seemed like it didn't matter. They still knew one another well. The game started while Kunimitsu explained his point of view. "You have seen what Syusuke's and Keigo's direct confrontation had caused. You have somehow managed to get him to sleep here with us in one room. He would have left as soon as he realized there are even more questions building up."

Another few draws were made in quietness.

"Do you really think his cousin will follow us?"

"Yes." Kunimitsu didn't just think it, he knew it. If he hadn't known Echizen Tsukiko being the female cousin of Echizen Ryoma, he would have expected them to be a couple with the way the woman had possessively clung onto the mute's arm… Well, the not so mute teen's arm.

Which brought him back to his nagging curiosity.
Why would someone who had a voice not use it? Why choose a life without a voice if you could life an easier life? Why choose a harder life?

Kunimitsu pushed his sliding glasses up his nose. They would need to wait until Echizen told them personally about it or a miracle happened in the next couple of days. Something in his mind urgent him for a quick answer because somehow he doubted Echizen's existence in Japan after the training camp. The teen would probably leave and return to the United States like his cousin will most likely ask him to do.

The front door opened and closed, revealing his boyfriends. At least he still saw Syusuke as his boyfriend. Kunimitsu stood up, pausing the game. He stopped in front of the other brunette, speaking sincerely while bowing down deeply. "I apologize for my words earlier."

Said brunette smiled, his eyes appearing darker from swirling emotions, and kissed him lightly on the lips. Fine hands framed his face gently, their foreheads touching lightly. "I'm sorry too for causing such trouble and disaster." Kunimitsu hummed in acceptance.

Someone cleared his throat and the moment of bliss between them faded. Hopefully nobody noticed the small blush on his ears. Keigo smirked. "Ore-sama is tired from all the drama and will go to bed. Good night." The diva walked to bedroom. Before entering it, a voice called out.

"Seiichi won't come back tonight?"

A slight tremble in Keigo's voice exposed his hurt feelings. "No, he is probably sleeping with Jackal and Marui in one house."

Genichirou nodded, accepting the diva's words silently and gestured to Kunimitsu to follow Keigo. The brunette agreed. It was time for them to go to bed and get some rest. Tomorrow would be hard and exhausting enough without them being tired.