I got fifteen reviews this time! Awesome! Okay, so I need to thank reviewer-people for the awesome reviews. Someone commented about why Akihiko left in the first place, and you'll have to wait a while for that to be found out. Sorry 'bout that. Anyways, here's my fanfiction.
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN JUNJOU ROMANTICA!
Chapter Eight
Akihiko's POV
The phone dropped from my hand, clattering to the ground and ending the call at the impact. "Usami-san?" Minami asked, "Are you alright?" I didn't hear her, though, and walked up the stairs just as Takahiro was coming down. I walked past him, ignoring the questions he was asking me, and went into the sleeping Misaki's room. I closed the door behind me softly, and then sat on the edge of his bed, grabbing his hand.
Misaki woke with a start, yanking his hand out of mine and backing away from me in one smooth, almost practiced, looking movement. I was stunned, not understanding why he reacted so violently to me holding his hand.
"Misaki . . .?" I asked, confused at his strange behavior. Then I saw the emotionless look in his eyes. That look disappeared, though, behind a mask of coldness when he saw me.
"What do you want, Akihiko?" Misaki's voice was laced with bitterness and sadness, and I doubted that he even noticed it.
"It's about Ritsu. I've just learned that he died," I said, and my voice cracked on the last word. A shocked expression crossed his face, along with a hint of fear that I didn't understand. I expected to at least see a little relief, but there was none to be seen.
"Do you know how he died?" Misaki asked me, his voice careful. He sounded as if he was scared of the answer. "Actually, no, don't tell me. Not yet." He scooted over in the bed and patted the space next to him, saying, "I can comfort you . . . if you need it." His bangs were covering his eyes, and I couldn't see them, so I could only guess what he was feeling at that one moment.
I got on the bed next to him, and was reminded of the night I first fell in love with Misaki, the night Takahiro announced his engagement to Minami. He comforted me then too. I wrapped my arms around Misaki and pulled him close to me, burying my face in the crook of his neck. Soon the fabric of Misaki's shirt was drenched.
We stayed like that for god knows how long until Misaki relaxed underneath me and fell asleep. Even through the pain of my grief, I managed to say, "I love you, Misaki," before falling asleep myself.
Misaki's POV
I woke up the next morning with a man's arms around me, and my mind immediately went back to all those times I woke up with Haitani's arms around me, and I panicked. I automatically pushed the man away from me on reflex, and I heard a heavy 'thunk', then a groan of pain. I finally remembered what had happened the night before and realized it hadn't been Haitani I pushed, but Akihiko.
After a one minute delay, I remembered what the last thing Akihiko had said to me, 'I love you, Misaki.' and felt anger boil up in me, ready to burst out at any moment. "You bastard!" I hissed angrily at Akihiko. There was a look of confusion on his face.
"How the hell could you tell me you love me when you're the one who left me in the first place?! You left me alone in that cold apartment, and while I was being depressed, you were being all lovey-dovey with Ritsu! How could you tell me you love me when you're the one who abandoned me in the first place? At least Haruhiko told me why he was leavin- God damnit!"
I cut my rant short when I realized what I was saying, and continued in a more quiet voice, deciding to finish what I started, "How the hell could I trust you like that when you left me for another man? How do I know you won't do it again?" My voice was low, a dangerous underlying tone.
Akihiko looked stunned, unable to reply or retort. Without realizing it, I had stood up from my bed. Unable to support my weight anymore, I sunk to my knees in front of Akihiko, looking at the ground, bangs covering my eyes. A couple of seconds later, the sound of rushed footsteps made their way down the hall. It was then that I realized how loud I had been.
My door was pulled open, banging back against the hallway wall. "Are you okay?! What happened?!" my brother asked, sounding close to panic.
"Nothing, Takahiro. I just lost my cool," I said quietly, still not looking up. "Can I talk to Akihiko alone? I need to tell him something." I looked up in time to see my brother nod and leave the room, looking troubled. Akihiko looked at me with wary, yet curious, eyes.
"Did you find out how Ritsu died?" I asked, unable to hold back the question.
"N-no," I heard Akihiko stutter, probably caught off-guard by the question. The pain he held in his voice made the agony I felt my heart increase tenfold, making me flinch.
"Can you find out?" I barely managed to keep the fear out of my voice. No matter how much I envied and resented the other man, I would hate myself even more if it was my fault he died. Lost in my thought, I didn't notice Akihiko call to find out and hang up the phone.
"Misaki!" I was snapped out of my thoughts by Akihiko.
"Hmm?" I hummed my response, tired of asking questions.
"Ritsu was walking to his apartment when he was pulled into an alley and beaten. The people who killed him were caught, but the police weren't there in time to save him." Akihiko's voice broke, and the pain in my heart increased once again.
"The names?" I asked shortly. Akihiko seemed confused at the question, but answered anyways, "Shouji Mao and Renji Fou," Akihiko said, and my heart almost stopped.
I covered up my fear before it could be seen, but my only thought was full of it, 'It's all my fault Ritsu died!'
I know this chapter is shorter than usual, but that only makes it more fun for me. This time I want 12+ reviews, and would appreciate PM's. Until next time, my favorite readers!
Dragneellover out!
