I just realized that there's no need for me to edit this fanfiction, considering I'm never continuing it again. Oh well. I'm doing it anyways.

It'd been two whole weeks since Takano had gone off to America.

Left would mean something that Ritsu didn't want to think about, so…he thought about his sometimes lover, sometimes boss' lack of presence as just a vacation. Just a short trip that he would come back from soon, because surely Emerald would crumble without their revered editor-in-chief, wouldn't it?

Right.

Besides, it wasn't as if the world was ending. It wasn't as if Ritsu spent every night waiting for a phone call or a text that never came, only to slouch in disappointment or sometimes cry himself to sleep. No, it wasn't even that. It didn't matter at all.

Didn't…matter. Right. Back to work.

Ritsu shook his depressing thoughts away and hunkered down as he typed out his next report for Sales, fingers tapping away a comfortable, repetitive sound. He settled into a haze of work and editing and work just so he wouldn't have to think about anything else. He answered calls on his work phone—not his personal cell, not many people called him on there anyways—went to make copies, and edited some storyboards that weren't his authors'. So all in all, a regular work day.

He didn't even notice when his personal cell started vibrating on his desk until, next to him, Kisa actually looked up from whatever he was doing.

"Oh. Ricchan, your phone," he said idly even as he slid the phone across the desk to see who it was.

"Hm?" Ritsu answered absentmindedly, still focused on the panel in front of him as he tapped his red pen on his temple. "What is it?"

He shouted in surprise as a bright screen forced its way in front of his face, still vibrating. Who the hell wants to call him? Especially during work hours, since Ta—never mind. Holding a hand to his chest like he'd just run a mile, he uttered a quick "thank you" to Kisa and hurried to an empty hallway before he answered.

"Hello? Onodera speaking."

"…"

"H-hello?" Ritsu was…mildly concerned. Was the person on the other line ok? They were just breathing down his ear without saying anything. How creepy. "Um…if you don't need anything, then I'll just—"

"Ritsu."

For a moment, he couldn't believe it. In the next, he managed to stop trembling and gather some semblance of control, even as his heart raced in his chest. "Takano?" He checked the time on his phone. Time zone differences…where did he say he was going again? It should be night there right now, shouldn't it? "Shouldn't you be asleep?"

There was an amused chuckle on the other end. "You should know by now that an editor never really sleeps, O-no-dera-san. Besides, it's only 10.22 in New York right now."

Ah…so New York. What an interesting place. I've wanted to go there. A thought came to him. "W-wait!" He spluttered. "This call is overseas! I'll be charged more for it."

Takano sighed, which sounded sort of staticky. "Is that what you're really worried about right now? Really?"

"Yes!" Ritsu retorted in outrage. "I may come from a wealthy family, but I don't exactly have money to throw around answering unnecessary calls from across the ocean."

Another sigh. "What do you count as 'necessary' then?" Even though Takano was over the phone, Ritsu could still imagine the eye roll that the older man sent him.

"Calls about work. If there's an emergency," Ritsu stated matter-of-factly. "Not impractical calls that will raise both of our cell phone bills at the end of the month."

He could feel the angry vein on his temple as Takano laughed again. "Oh, I see."

"If you see so clearly, then you won't find it rude if I end this call now?" Curse his polite upbringing, for making him wince in consternation for wording a question so disrespectfully.

There was laughter a third time. Jeez, did Ritsu amuse this guy so much? He should've just hired a comedian if he wanted to laugh. "No, it's fine. You should get back to work, anyways, Onodera."

Ritsu could only manage a vaguely furious sounding noise at the completely obvious smirk in Takano's voice as he hung up; but even so, he couldn't help but think that the day had become just a little bit brighter after that phone call.

A/N: I stand by my commentary from a few months ago: this was kind of lame.

-ChemicallyEnhanced