The song for this chapter is Say Something originally by A Great Big World. However, I prefer the version by Boy Epic. There's an amazing Junjou Romantica AMV with this song as well, which I why I ended up choosing this song. The AMV is made by the YouTube user RawLust. Go watch it. You won't be disappointed. You will bawl your eyes out though.

Chapter 27: Say Something (Part 1)

I tried to push everything out of my mind and just focus on the present. I had to pick Misaki up from school soon and I hadn't got anything done with my manuscript. Aikawa-san had already convinced the printers to extend the deadline twice now. A third extension was completely out of the question, especially with her. I was afraid she would kill me for sure if I didn't do at least a little bit of editing and cleaning up.

Unfortunately, even though my mind had been cleared, I still couldn't concentrate of reading through the story. I sighed and practically threw the papers onto the coffee table in front of the couch. It was me, Usami Akihiko, so surely the manuscript is no less than perfect.

Rather than staying home and straining my eyes, I got up and left the house early. I figured I should be at the university early just in case Misaki tried to take an alternative route home. Yesterday when I went to pick him up, I made it there right on time, but he didn't come out of the main entrance. When I went around the back entrance, I saw him walking around suspiciously. When he noticed my car, he tried to hide his face and walk faster, but I had already caught him. All the way home he lectured me about being too possessive and clingy.

After having just been degraded by my father, what the boy had said started to make sense. It really ate me up inside, but I knew deep down that it was just out of love and wanting to keep him safe and make him as happy as possible. Even though I am an author and know the power of words, in real life, words can only go so far, especially with love. Actually showing someone how much you care about them will get the point across perfectly.

When I got to the university, I decided to head to the back entrance where Misaki came out last time. Chances were he was going to go out that way again to try to get away from me. Even though I was early and he still had a few more minutes of class left, I didn't want to take any chances of him getting away. I sat patiently in the car and waited for a few minutes, all while still thinking of everything my father had said to me on the phone.

When I thought that he would be out of class and heading this way, I stepped out of the car and headed towards the gate. Just then, he stepped out and locked eyes with me. Unfortunately, his friend, that Sumi kid, was right behind him. I scowled, completely irritated. First my father, now this brat. Why couldn't things just go the way I want them to?

Misaki cried out and backed up from me. "Why are you here?!" He pointed a shaky finger at me.

"Why is your thought process so simple?" I had caught him sneaking off last time, of course he should have tried a different tactic if he didn't want to be caught again.

He hid behind his friend, staring at me from behind his shoulder. "I-I'm leaving with Senpai today, so go on home without me."

No way in hell was I letting him go out with that kid. He was trying to take Misaki away from me! I couldn't believe that this problem still existed. How did I not realize that they were still so close? I figured that they still talked at school, but I couldn't believe that they were still so close.

Sumi flashed a smile at me. "Hello, Usami-sensei!"

Ignoring him, I kept my eyes locked on my lover. "You can go out after school once you're completely healed."

"I'm better already!" He crossed his arms and kept babbling. I took the opportunity to go up to him and grab him. "Besides, whose fault do you think – "

I gently yet firmly grabbed him by his collar and pulled him away. It didn't take much strength to throw him into the backseat of the car. Luckily, the manufacturer had set up child locks on the doors in the back. I had never messed with them before so they were effective in keeping him locked in the car. He beat on the windows and yelled, wanting to get out. I knew I was gonna hear about this nonstop later.

"I believe you're aware that the school festival is this weekend," I heard the Sumi brat say as I was walking to the driver's side of the car. "But you should also know that Misaki will be helping out with my club's event."

No way in hell was I going to let my Misaki come anywhere near someone else who was interested in him. He was mine, and he was going to stay mine for the rest of his life.

"I imagine I'll end up controlling Misaki's actions for the entire day, but you won't mind, right?"

I got in the car and slammed the door, glaring up at the annoyance standing right outside. "Not happening." I rudely rolled up the window that was already down and drove off.

All the way home, Misaki was yelling at me for stealing me away from his friend and being too overprotective. I just could not understand why he didn't realize that I was doing this out of love for him. He'd realize it sooner or later. I'd make him see it somehow.

As soon as we got home and up to the penthouse, he threw his messenger bag on the couch and started complaining again. "What the hell?!" I went straight to the coffee maker to get some much needed caffeine. "Are you that intent on destroying my happy, exciting college life?!"

"I had no idea you were still hanging out with him," I responded. "I thought I told you to stay away from him!"

I heard Misaki let out a noise that seemed like a combination of a grunt, grown, and a growl. "You know, I might have said this before, but I think it's questionable how you just judge people without even getting to know them."

I rolled my eyes as I looked at him. "Which one of us here doesn't know him?"

"You, of course! Senpai is seriously a nice person! And he tells me all kinds of things!"

He turned to walk away from me, but I wasn't done warning him yet. I set down my cup of coffee and followed him back to the entrance way. I slammed my fist on the door to stop him. He turned around and I cornered him further. His eyes widened when he saw the anger in my eyes.

"Can't you tell that he's after you?!"

"Huh?! After me? Senpai is?" He looked frustrated and confused, but he scoffed at me and pushed my arm away. "That's idiotic. There's no way."

My anger only climbed as he brushed away my warnings. I grabbed his wrist to stop him from walking away from me again. "You're the idiot here!"

"Shut up! Let go!"

"You get swept along too easily."

"That's not true!" he yelled as he tried to pull himself away. "And anyway, it's not like I'm in grade school! Quit trying to control me because of a measly sprained ankle!"

Control. There was that word again. It was the same one my father had used on the phone earlier. It was the same one that I figured he would associate with me… But I wasn't being controlling, I was only loving him.

"Control?! This is love!"

"How is this love?!" he spat back at me.

My eyes narrowed at him and I squeezed his wrist. "At any rate, stop spending time with him."

"That's none of your business!"

I was tired of arguing with him. I told myself that I was going to show him that I did things like this out of love and care. Just saying something to him obviously wasn't going to work. So I pulled on his arm to close the distance between us. He cried out in surprise. My lips were aching to feel his and I could nearly feel them as I leaned in.

Suddenly, I felt him forcefully shove me. It shocked me so much that I even let go of his wrist. He had pushed me away. It's been a long time since he denied me like that. My pride and my heart were a little hurt by that. Normally, I wouldn't have paid attention to it, but I was a little more vulnerable that day.

"Enough already!" he yelled at me as he backed up a little. "Don't think that he's the same as you! Stop thinking that everyone else is a homo like you!"

I didn't realize just how hurt I was until he said this. It wasn't hurtful because he called me a homo. No, that part was true. What really made my heart ache was the way he said it and the context it was in. It was almost as if he was denying that he was the same… denying that he was in love with me.

"While we're on this topic," he continued, "let me make this clear. No matter whom I spend time with or what I do with them, I have no obligation to report it to you, and you have no right to have a say in any of it! You're not allowed to control me!"

I kept my eyes on the floor, on our feet… completely defeated. It had been a while since he had yelled at me like that. He was really pissed at me… for controlling him. But, it was all out of love. Didn't that make a difference? All I could think about was that phone call from earlier.

"Aren't you just controlling and forcing this one as well?"

"S-So, anyway, I think I'll go shop for dinner or something…" he finally said after a few long, silent seconds. He turned to leave.

"I… I love you." I finally said. I was at a loss of what else to say at that point. "That's why…"

He turned back around and began to babble about what to make for dinner later and what to do to make the dinner taste better. Suddenly, he opened the door and quickly slipped out, calling out a quick "See you later" before closing the door completely. I was left all alone, in front of the door, wishing he would just say something… anything to convince me that my father is wrong.

All I could think about was how he never said it back to me. Just those three little words. Why can't he say them? The only answer I ever had and the only one I could come up with now was that it was because those words weren't true for him… he didn't really love me.

But then, why does he stay with me? Why does he constantly take care of me? Why does he let me be intimate with him and have sex with him?

This is bad… if he doesn't say something soon… I'll really start to think that I am just controlling and forcing him.

The next few days continued as normal, except for the fact that Misaki and I didn't speak to each other. I drove him to and from school as usual, but no words were ever exchanged between us, not even when we ate meals together. He didn't sleep in my bed with me. Normally, he didn't come near my bed unless I brought him there to make love to him. I hadn't touched him or kissed him since before our fight. I felt like all I could do was wait for him to say something to comfort me.

Even though I specifically told him not to, he ended up going to the school festival. I knew he didn't go just for fun. He had went to help that Sumi brat. The bad part was that he didn't even tell me he was going to my face. He left a note on the kitchen counter. Steaming mad, I called his cell phone at least once an hour. When it hit 10 o'clock at night, I started calling nonstop. It was very late and he had been gone all day. I was concerned that Sumi had gotten to him.

"What?" he finally answered his phone, irritated as hell.

"You've been gone all day! Do you know how worried I've been about you?! You didn't even tell me you were going out or where you were going!"

"No, but like, I made sure to leave you a note."

"Misaki, it's really late."

"I know that."

"Where are you? I'll come pick you up. I don't think the trains run this late and I don't want you walking home alone in the dark."

"You don't have to come! I'm hanging up!"

"Misaki, wait!"

I heard a faint click and shortly after the phone began to beep. He really did hang up on me. I couldn't believe that was defying me like this. He was worse than a bratty teenager sometimes. Pissed, I slammed the phone down and went to the couch, waiting for him to come through the door.

A long time passed and he hadn't returned home. I had gone through an entire pack of cigarettes as I waited for him to come back. Patience was never my virtue. But I just couldn't help but worry about him. If he had answered his phone, then the festival must have been over. He should have gotten home a long time ago. Something must have happened to him.

Frantic, I rushed back to the phone and dialed his number.

"Hello?" a strange voice answered.

What the hell?

"Who is this?"

"This is Sumi, Usami-sensei." My breath caught in my chest. How dare he keep my lover with him! "Misaki's fallen fast asleep, so he can't come to the phone right now."

"Where are you?"

"My place. He put all his energy into helping us today, so he seems to have gotten tired. You should have come, sensei. Misaki was cute."

CUTE?! I was right! This guy was after him! How did Misaki not see that?!

"I'll come and get him now," I snapped. "Give me the address."

"I see. Well then, you should be able to find out where the author Ryoichi Sumi lives, right?" So that's who he was. What a small world. "If you don't come for him soon, I won't be held responsible."

My blood ran cold. "Hey! What the hell are you thinking?!"

I heard a faint "Who knows" before the line went dead. I slammed down the phone and scrambled to get ready. I had to hurry to Misaki. If I wasn't quick enough, who knows what this kid might do to him?

It was easy to find someone who knew where the guy lived. Aikawa-san knew the address right away. I owed her big time for that. I'd have to turn in my next few manuscripts ahead of schedule in order to thank her.

I plugged the address into the GPS in my car and got there in no time. All of my manners were gone as I opened the door and let myself into this stranger's house. He was right inside, just staring at me, with that shitty grin on his face.

"Welcome, Usami-sensei."

I scowled. "Where's Misaki?"

He didn't answer my question. "Why don't you come on in? Fortunately, my parents aren't here today."

A quiet growl escaped my throat. He wanted to play, huh? Fine. I'll play. And damnit I'm gonna win Misaki back.

"I had no idea you were that Sumi-sensei's son," I said as I slipped off my shoes, my manners suddenly coming back to me.

"The world's a smaller place then you'd think," he answered as he led me to the den.

When we stepped into that room, he slid the door behind us shut. I looked around the room but there was no one else in here. I thought he was leading me to Misaki, but he wasn't here.

"Where's Misaki?" I asked again.

"Would you like some tea?" he politely asked, completely ignoring me. "Or would you prefer sake?"

"No, I'll decline both. We'll be leaving right away."

The bastard kept ignoring me and went on making a cup of tea right there in the den. "Partly because my father was on the nominating committee of the new author award for your debut novel, I've heard all about you even since I was little. Thanks to that, I've read all your books… but it didn't stop at just books. Your interviews, columns, transcribed conversations… all of them. I found every bit of them disagreeable, though."

I scoffed. Is he really criticizing me at a time like this? All I wanted to get Misaki so we could go home. I didn't need some brat I hardly knew patronizing me.

"I hate novels to begin with," he continued. "They're fabricated tales people come up with in their heads, and then they force them on others. I think it's rubbish." It was just like my father and brother. "But when I read your debut novel, I ended up crying in spite of myself. If it was just that novel, it would've been one thing, but every book you've published… Somehow or another, they keep wrecking my sense of values." He set down his tea and glanced up at me with a stupid grin. "Doesn't stuff like that piss you off? What right do you have to do such a thing?"

"If you don't like them, then you don't have to read them."

"Don't like them?" He sounded very confused.

"I understand very well that you hate me," I tried to explain, just wanting to get all of this out of the way so I could leave.

"Hate you? Who said anything of the sort? Actually…"

Suddenly, he jumped up and grabbed the collar of my coat, pulled me close to him.

"I love you."

My eyes widened. This guy was crazy, absolutely crazy! I had no idea what was going on or what to do. His other hand moved up my chest and went to caress my face. I snapped out of anger and shoved him off of me. He came back at me full force and we struggled to the ground in a loud thud. He kept his distance from me but stayed right in front of my face.

"So this is why you got close to Misaki?" I said matter-of-factly after I caught my breath.

"Yes, that's right."

I sighed. "Enough joking around. Move aside."

"Joking? If I were really joking, I wouldn't push it this far."

"So?"

"I know full well that you love Misaki, but for starters, how about you let me sleep with you? You can get around to falling in love with me later." I sighed and pressed my hand to my forehead. This was getting way out of hand. "You're good at that sort of thing, right? I bet that's how it went with Misaki, too, right?"

His words hit me like a train. My eyes went wide and it felt like my heart was being squeezed. My chest ached. I couldn't breathe. It was true. It was all true. My father was right. Sumi was right. My heart sank into my gut and I suddenly didn't care if I stopped breathing right then.

"Wow, so it really did happen like that," he said, as if he was adding salt to my open wound. "Well, I could kind of tell from seeing how Misaki reacts to you."

All the times I spent with Misaki flashed before my eyes as Sumi reached up to cup my chin. Every time that I touched him, he struggled away from me. Every time that I kissed him, he tried to push me away. I didn't wait to know how he felt about me before we had sex for the first time. The day after, I didn't get a confession out of him. He refused to tell me that he loved me. He was constantly telling me to stop whenever we did make love. He hated how I wanted to spend all my time with him and protect him. He thought I was too controlling and possessive. He didn't realize that it was out of love.

He doesn't love me… He hates me.

And I only make things worse that I forced him. Every time…

"If you just think of this as the same thing…" Sumi leaned in close again before whispering, "It's just like…"

My ears were ringing, but I swore I could read his lips making out the word, no… name, Ryuto.