A/N: Over 1500 hits! Loving the positive response! Now if only you'll all review- it makes this rather ill author very happy! Thanks to my lovely reviewers Miera (here's the new one!), hiyokocchi (thank you!), I Know I'm A Dreamer(haha thanks!), Alana-kittychan (lol, it is, isn't it?) and Sakura (yes I caught you! XD) as well as ToAsTlOvInGnInJa (hope you'll review) for the favorite!
This is kind of a crossover, really. Misaki meets someone who causes him to reevaluate the power of love. Guesswhoguesswhoguesswho!
9.
Misaki sits in the cafe and wonders how the hell he ended up here.
There is a couple-fight going on in front of him and he doesn't know what's more awkward, his sitting there at a table for two with a manuscript and large unopened pot of tonjiru (which isn't even from the restaurant) or sitting there observing two people break up. There are more than a few curious spectators to this scene- it's rapidly evolving into a mini-soap opera. Misaki sinks back into his seat, wanting to simply disappear. The arguing couple is drawing more attention to both themselves and him- he can't believe this, and he chose the cornermost table too, like the editor had said!
"You never loved me! Hell, it was always work this and books that-!"
The brunet's eyes flash at his soon-to-be-ex. "I'll request you to keep the decorum of this place, Yui."
The girl sneers down at him. "Oh, what? Ashamed I'm going to let your little secret out?"
The guy doesn't back down- in fact he seems even more angry. "No, just ashamed of myself in general for ever agreeing to go out with you. I told you from the beginning that I wasn't looking for love, Yui- you were the one too blindsided by my name to care."
"How dare you-!" Misaki winces and looks down as the girl raises her hand. He really, really should've stayed at home and let Usagi-san come over like he said he would, but nooo, he had to be helpful and less burdensome and Usagi-san had said Pandasan was nice and peaceful- yeah right!
The blow isn't as harsh as he'd have expected, and the next thing he knows, the girl is running out of the place in a whirl of red and pink flowery skirts, tearful and blubbering. The guy merely sits down and puts his head in his hands.
Misaki actually feels sorry for him.
His feet automatically propel him towards the other table, tonjiru and plastic-wrapped manuscript in hand.
"Hey," he says.
The guy looks up. "What?" he says in a tired voice. "I've just finished breaking up with that-" he waved his hands towards the door, "and I'm really tired. Get it over with."
"Can I sit here?"
The brunet stares at him like he's dropped out of the sky. "What?"
Misaki repeats his question. The guy stares, and then deflates. "Go ahead."
He's never felt stupider in his life, but somehow he knows that his presence is appreciated by this guy.
"You're better off without the flower bouquet," he comments, and then looks embarrassed. The guy cracks a smile, surprisingly. "You're right about that."
His eyes, Misaki notes, are a lovely shade of green- bright green, not dark like his. All his features are exceedingly handsome, but his eyes stand out the most. Not just because of the color, or the contrast with the light brown bangs.
It's because Misaki has perhaps never seen eyes this unhappy before. Like something in this person's soul has been twisted almost beyond repair.
"I'm sorry," he blurts out the next second, realizing exactly who this is. "You're Usami-sensei's editor, aren't you?"
He looks startled. "Yes, but he was supposed to-"
"I'm his tenant," Misaki explains hastily, "and I was asked to meet you- he's kind of passed out after writing- and he made me carry this-" he indicated the pot, "and um. Um. Nice to meet you."
The guy nods slowly. "So you're Takahashi-kun?"
"Ah-yes," Misaki says, and blanches. "You wouldn't happen to be the one editing his romances, would you?"
"I wasn't aware Sensei wrote that genre," the other brunet says, bemused. Misaki squawks. "He doesn't! But he was going to write one, he said, and..." He isn't sure if he should be relieved or puzzled at the expression of distaste that crosses the other's face.
"As much as I am attached to Sensei's works, I have no interest in editing romance. I find it impractical."
This is beyond awkward. Misaki nods vigorously, wondering what the hell he should say next. He's saved by a ringing phone.
The guy shuffles out his phone and glares at it. "An-chan," he mumbles. "It's probably all over the house now-I'm sorry Takahashi-kun, I have to cut this meeting short."
"It's all right!" Misaki gets up and passes him the manuscript. "Please take the tonjiru with you, Sensei demanded that you have some."
"Ah-thank you!" The guy gets up and awkwardly takes the proffered pot as well. "Until we meet again, then."
"Until we meet again." With a half-bow, he's racing out of the exit. Misaki watches him go, before shrugging to himself and making his way to the exit as well.
It's snowing out on the streets, and Misaki ambles his way through the crowd. He wonders about that editor, with the lovely eyes full of pain.
"I hope you find your true love again," he whispers to himself, because he's never felt more sure in his life about the cause of someone else's pain.
Somewhere nearby, Onodera Ritsu and Takano Masamune brush shoulders.
Their story has ended, they think, but it will begin anew.
Soon.
End drabble nine.
A/N: OMG this is a monster. There is no way I can call this a drabble, the drabble gods will be after my blood. And this is so random. Oh well. Liked it? Hated it? Review!