Chapter 16

Ritsu and Misaki's Affair (Part III)

Misaki, of course, did not know how to react as he was whisked out of the kitchen, through a small living room and into what seemed to be Haitani's bedroom. He didn't know what he was supposed to do or say when he saw Onodera, strewn across a twin-sized bed with his arms stretched out behind his head and tied to the bedpost with a thin but seemingly sturdy bed sheet. All he knew was that Ijuuin-senei was the only one that had followed him and Haitani-san into the room, and however much he wanted Usagi-san to be by his side right then, he knew that it was probably impossible for the older man given the circumstances.

"Ijuuin-sensei," Haitani-san called, releasing Misaki from his gentle hold on the boy's shoulder, "shut the door, would you?"

Ijuuin-sensei complied, letting the white wooden door shut with a soft clicking noise. Misaki thought that panic might set in at that moment—after all, that's what a character in a book would do, right?—but he surprised himself at how calm he actually was.

"I must say, Takahashi-kun—you're very brave, contrary to your appearance," Haitani-san said, crossing the tiny expanse of the room and sitting on the mattress next to Onodera's small body. Misaki didn't know what to make of the comment, so he didn't reply but instead watched numbly as Haitani-san ran his long fingers up Onodera's side, nails tugging at the side of the older man's T-shirt and exposing a small slit of pale skin at his waist.

"Is Onodera-san…asleep?" Misaki asked, widening his jade eyes at the sight—wouldn't Onodera normally struggle against the touch of another man? He even struggled against Takano—and he was Onodera's lover…

Haitani-san shrugged, letting out an amused huff. "You could call it that, I guess. It's not like he'll remember any of this anyway—" He stopped short when he looked to Misaki and Ijuuin-sensei.

"What—"

"Ijuuin-sensei." Haitani-san took his hand off Onodera to face the two. "I'm giving you a hand here, are you suggesting you don't appreciate the fact that I gave you this opportunity?"

Misaki whipped around to face Ijuuin-sensei also, and saw that the good-looking mangaka was simply standing in front of the door, looking nothing more than a spectator. His arms were crossed, and he wasn't looking at Misaki—rather, his dark gaze was directed towards Haitani-san. It was a hard, cold stare, but seemed somewhat appraising, as well, almost like he was trying to analyze the other man.

"I just don't see why you're doing this, honestly."

Haitani-san tensed at that.

But Ijuuin-sensei continued, "I mean, even if this Onodera person doesn't remember what's going on now…his boyfriend out there will tell him, right? Where's the logic in making this guy hate you if you want to get closer to him? I mean…this sounded all well and good to begin with, but in the end, I don't want Takahashi-kun to hate me. And you would definitely hate me if I took you here, wouldn't you, Takahashi-kun?" For the first time, Ijuuin-sensei acknowledged Misaki's presence in the room, turning to grin warmly at the boy.

Somehow, the way Ijuuin-sensei said that last line made his words seem a bit dishonest, but Misaki turned his eyes away from Ijuuin-sensei and nodded all the same. "I don't like this…it's my fault Onodera-san is in this position, and I just don't want to see him or Takano-san hurt…"

Silence gripped the room for a good minute before Haitani-san had found the words to say to the two. Even so, he couldn't deny that Ijuuin-sensei was right, for the most part—though he didn't exactly have the same intentions as the mangaka. "True, this will bring Onodera-kun to hate me…he already does. But his affections weren't my goal to begin with, though he is interesting, I'll give him that." He grinned down at Onodera-san, whose back was turned to Misaki and Ijuuin-sensei. "But my main goal wasn't him."

Misaki was about to ask what his "real goal" was in that case, but at that moment, Onodera-san turned towards Misaki and Ijuuin-sensei after letting out a painful groan.

At the sight before him, Misaki blushed.

Onodera-san's bright emerald eyes were swimming in tears that were threatening to fall, and his face was tinted a slight red color. Even his usually unkempt hair seemed more disheveled. A larger portion of his abdomen had been exposed in the process, and his navel was now visible to the two other men. Misaki didn't see it, but Ijuuin-sensei turned his head away pointedly at the sight.

Putting everything together, though, was what surprised Misaki the most. Onodera-san had—more or less—been drugged.

"Onodera-san!" Misaki started towards his friend, but Haitani-san began speaking once more, halting the boy in his tracks.

"Look. It looks as bad at it is, I won't sugarcoat this for you. But if I don't do this, Onodera will be feeling more pain than pleasure, if you understand what I'm saying." He sighed. "It would have been easier for you to help me, Ijuuin-sensei, but I suppose that's not going to be the case. But, that's your choice, of course."

Misaki trembled. "Umm…why don't you just let Takano-san help Onodera-san, if that's…you know…"

Haitani-san brought a hand to his pale hair, letting his fingers trail through it slowly, exasperatedly. "Did you not just hear what I said? I said…" He stopped himself. After listening to the two idiots standing in front of him, he'd lost sight of the point of this stupid game. Slowly, he recalled his theory—that Takano would crumble if Haitani possessed Onodera-kun—but he realized the major flaw in his conjecture: the only way he'd devastate Takano was if he made Onodera-kun fall in love with him. And, well, he hadn't exactly done anything that would cause Onodera-kun to reflect positively on him, so that was basically out of the question.

So they were right, after all. Completely, one-hundred percent correct.

Haitani sighed in something like defeat, though he'd had nothing to contend with in the first place. "Fine, you're right, Takahashi-kun." After a slight pause, Haitani's gaze slid upwards to lock with Ijuuin-sensei's, and the sitting man nodded. "You as well, Ijuuin-sensei."

Ijuuin-sensei shrugged his arms, though the action was made a bit awkward due to the fact that he still had them crossed at his chest. "But really, I'm the one on the odd side of the love triangle? I won't give up, Haitani-san." Ijuuin-sensei flashed a small smile before reopening the door and coming face-to-face with Usami-sensei and Takano. As if he were expecting this, Ijuuin-sensei smoothly regarded the two men. "They're both fine, don't worry. But in case you didn't hear that last bit, Usami-sensei," he added, "I won't give up." He turned around to finally face Misaki. "And Takahashi-kun," his tone had become much gentler, somehow, "please don't hate me for considering this—okay?" Swiftly, before Usami-sensei or anyone could stop him, he placed his palm at the back of Misaki's head and planted a soft kiss on the boy's forehead.

He had only barely pulled away when Usami-sensei yanked the mangaka back and threw him against a wall. "You're out of your goddamned mind if you think I'll let that happen again, Ijuuin-sensei."

Unaware of Usami's predicament, Takano was at Haitani's bed, undoing the ties that held Onodera to the bed and scooping the small brunette into his arms princess-style—which the man would have protested if he were conscious enough to do so. Just thinking about Onodera yelling at him while blushing furiously almost made him smile—but only almost. If it weren't for the extremely unpleasant man sitting before him wearing a completely guiltless expression at the moment, he probably would have been more inclined to.

"I never want to see you talking to Onodera again, bastard. No, even if I'm not around. If I ever find out you've tried to contact him again, I will fucking end you. Clear?"

Haitani smirked. "Crystal, Takano. Have fun with your senpai, okay, Ritsu?" He reached out to stroke the dazed man's hair, but Takano whisked him away just before his fingers could reach. At this, Haitani laughed. Were you always this childish, Takano?

Usami watched Takano leave with Onodera, and grabbed Misaki's arm to do the same. Leaving Haitani and Ijuuin in the same room, the four men left, one nearly unconscious, two pissed off beyond belief, and another that was still bewildered at all the events that had taken place in the past hour or so.

Done with his laughing fit, Haitani sighed and lay back on his bed. He wasn't trying to be cliché, but he could definitely smell the distinctive scent of Onodera's cologne mixed with sweat. And even so, he didn't feel the need to wash his sheets anytime soon.

Ijuuin stared at the only other man in the room for a few more minutes, waiting for a dismissal of some sort—Haitani did seem like the type to be into that kind of thing—but when no kind of conversation transpired between the two, Ijuuin pushed himself off the wall he hadn't bothered to vacate since Usami-sensei had pushed him into it, and promptly left the room. Haitani didn't say anything then, either.

After gathering his things, Ijuuin found himself at the door of Ijuuin's apartment. He sat there for another minute or so, lost in thought, but his mind was blank at the same time. When he finally snapped out of his trance, he called a goodbye to Haitani, then opened the door to his apartment and exited.

Haitani smiled from his position on the bed. "'Bye, Ijuuin-sensei."

For some reason, he felt like buying manga.

"This idiot."

Usami glanced at the couple walking next to him and Misaki. Onodera was still somewhat out of it, but he was starting to get restless—he was beginning to moan slightly and rub at his groin area to try to get some sort of relief. Luckily, they were almost to the parking lot where Usami's car had been left.

"Sorry for dragging you into this, Takahashi," Takano added, not taking his eyes off Onodera. "You really didn't need to see that. Or be a part of it."

Misaki, in reply, shook his head furiously. "This is all my fault, Takano-san, I'm so sorry…I didn't mean…I mean…"

Usami reached out to his lover and ruffled his dark locks. "It's okay, Misaki."

Misaki looked up to him, eyes glistening in a near-tearful state. But before he could cry, Usami pulled the boy up and softly kissed his lips, before pulling away and murmuring, "Don't blame yourself, Misaki. There's no way you could have known. See, Takano doesn't blame you either. Do you, Takano?" Usami raised his voice as he asked.

"Of course not. It's more this idiot's fault than anything else."

Misaki brightened at Takano's words—though they were harsh, he spoke them with such affection that it was almost laughable.

"All right then, get in."

During the car ride, Onodera grew even more uncomfortable than he had been during their walk, and since Takano had decided to sit beside him in the back of the sports car, he took it upon himself to help Onodera release. Not like Usami could really protest that—the man needed it, after all. He only warned Takano to keep it as clean as possible.

Usami dropped the two men off at their apartment complex—after Onodera had been cleaned up, of course—and had only begun to drive away when Misaki sighed.

"What's wrong?" Usami took his eyes off the road for a moment to glance at his brunette lover.

He shrugged. "I guess…I just wanted to go out with Takano-san and Onodera-san, since they're friends, and they're fun to be around…I mean, not that you're not fun to be around, Usagi-san!" he added frantically, as if he had insulted Usami.

Usami chuckled and patted the boy's head. For the next few minutes, they drove in silence, each thinking about everything that had happened since they met the two manga editors—well, since Usami had reconciled with his old editor. Misaki took to gazing out the window as gray buildings flashed by, only adding to his monotonic mood.

When they arrived back at Usami's place, Misaki was about to head straight up to his room, but Usami stopped him. Pulling the younger boy onto a couch, Usami sat there holding him for a while.

Finally, after at least a couple minutes had passed by in silence, Misaki said, "Usagi-san, is something wrong?"

With that, the author turned to Misaki, and placed his hands on the boy's waist before hoisting him up to sit on his lap. "Not at all, Misaki," he replied, and Misaki couldn't help but blush at the small smile his lover offered him.

So in retort, Misaki took it upon himself to bring their lips closer, before Usami softly pulled on the back of Misaki's head to bring them together. They sat for a while, gently kissing each other, until the sun started to set and Usami finally decided it was time to take matters to the bedroom.

For the past half hour, all Takano had done was stare at the face of an unconscious Onodera, sleeping on his bed. He wondered if he should undress his subordinate, just to tease him a little bit, but with the happenings of Haitani still so fresh in his mind he didn't feel like joking around would be the best thing he could do to his lover.

"Well, Onodera. You sure cause trouble everywhere you go, don't you?" Takano asked the brunette, ruffling his already mussed head of hair.

"Mmn…" Onodera shifted in the bed as a reply, and was now facing Takano on his side.

Takano sighed. This man was definitely asking for it. He stood up from his crouch and carefully slipped into the bed, wrapping his arms around Onodera. He tilted his head to kiss the smaller man's head, and was content to do so for some time. Before long, Onodera shifted again, this time bringing a hand up to rub at his eyes.

"Nn…?"

Quickly, Takano took the opportunity to tilt Onodera's chin up and seal his lips. Onodera was either too sleepy to care or didn't actually know what was going on, but in any case he didn't shove Takano off like he usually would. In fact, when Takano pulled away, the man was wearing a stupidly happy smile.

"Takano-san…"

The raven-haired man froze at Onodera's murmur. Had he really…just called his name? Not "Senpai" or anything else? Slowly, Takano felt his own lips turn upwards, and he directed his smile at the still not-fully conscious manga editor before him.

"Ritsu," he whispered, "I love you."

And somehow, Onodera returned Takano's words with a small but undeniable smile.

~Owari~

A/N

WHEW. WOW. I'M DONE. WOAH. I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M SAYING THIS BUT FUCKYEA I'M DONE.

Dem this has been a roller coaster. A roller coaster of going between weekly updates and going on a hiatus for months, that is. I'm sorry lovelies, you can curse my pen name to the heavens if you must! I dunno though, you might not like the fic that much.

Anywhoozles. Thank you for staying with this little fic of mine! I'm pretty dead-set at ending it here, though you know, I could always change my mind. It's just that having three fics to update regularly really wasn't working out for me, as you can see ^^' But I really didn't do a good job of concluding things, I think, so if anyone's feeling a bit ballsy you can totally tell me that my conclusion sucks and I should make one more chapter to wrap things up. (I would completely agree with you)

So…THE END! I feel like the very end was a bit cliché but meh we can live with it, right? And unf to that sexual tension between Haitani and Ijuuin. Can there be a ship for that? WHO WOULD BE THE SEME UGH

For staying with me for so long, (some of you for a year!)

Arigatou gozaimasu!