A/N: Okay so my Microsoft Word 90 day trial is up. This means a number of things, but namely that I will have to actually read through my work after I throw it together for spelling errors ;m;! ZA HORROR ZA HORROR!
And apparently for formatting too. I'm so sorry you guys had to read this as a jumbled mess! Thank you Lacie Dive for bringing it to my attention!

It also means I need to check on my piercing, actually... Anywho! Meaningless banter aside: I am now venturing into territory I haven't planned for.
SORRY IN ADVANCE FOR THE SHORT!
WOOO! Here's hoping it doesn't go horribly 8D! I'll spare you more words and give you the story c:.
Enjoy if you can~!

ALSO!
If you haven't voted in my poll... which i know for a fact NONE of you have, you should check out my profile really quick and take it. It'll just be a few seconds and it'll help me decide exactly where I'm going ^^!

Waste Some Time
Chapter Eight
The Terror's Little Secret

It wasn't until he took off the headset to stretch and grab a bite to eat that he noticed the sun had already come up. With a grin slipping onto his lips, he looked back to his laptop fondly. Usually it was Ryou who first saw daybreak during their all nighters.

He made his way over to the window with muffled footsteps and propped himself languidly against the sill. It was already past midday, the sun tucked snugly amidst the only few clouds in the sky that day. He glanced down to his watch curiously. It was nearly three.

He took a bite of the apple in his hand and fogged up the glass with a sigh, finding himself oddly content. Though, considering he'd been up all night with Ryou (he ignored the suggestion as best as he could, but a blush snuck up on him despite it), it really wasn't all that odd. The only time he was really comfortable was when they were together- which is the exact opposite effect Misaki had on him.

Kaoru closed his eyes as he felt the cool of the glass touch his forehead, having another juicy bite. Every time he thought too hard about Ryou or his feelings for the boy, Misaki came to mind as well. It didn't matter the realization of precedence he'd had the day before or how many times he reminded himself of it, the frequenter of the cafe always stole into the forefront of his mind.

He refrained from the groan that tugged for release at his throat and peeled himself away from the window to stare down the pixilated screen, one hand resting on his hip. He finished off the apple after a moment of contemplation and threw the core into his overflowing garbage tin. Old habits die hard, but he'd have to remember to take that out before his apartment started smelling.

He wiped his hands off on his pants and dropped onto the cushion he'd occupied all the previous night, submerging himself again in his time with Ryou. M2D back in place, he looked to Haseo. The avatar he loved so grinned.
"That was pretty long, what took you?" the voice washed over him, leaving him to bat away the all-too-familiar feeling it brought forth.

Kaoru couldn't help the smile that came so easily. He could hear the boy tiring, moreso now than before his lunch break. "I distracted myself with the sky. I didn't realize it was past noon already."

Haseo frowned at him for a moment before looking surprised. "Already? I though it was still morning. Time's so hard to gauge when you're playing this all night," he mumbled, heading toward the shop. Endrance followed, but before he could access it to restock, something clicked into place with a fresh batch of butterflies to the midsection.

He had agreed to be there, but with how Ryou had reacted to Chigusa's intrusion on their time together- the Jealousy- he wondered if he should tell him the reason he'd need to log off soon. As the Terror spun around again to head toward the Chaos Gate, he realized he'd need to get off now before he got swept up in another dungeon and left the boy down in one alone.

"Aa- i just realized. Misaki gets out of school in half an hour." Haseo looked around at him, all confusion on his face. "I told him I'd meet him today. Would you mind if I went to see him for just a bit?" The complete lack of response continued long enough that Kaoru began to fret. "I could be back online by four. Earlier if you'd like... or if you want I can just stay online with you until you get tired of me..." his voice wavered as he cut off his babbling. A bubble of fear came to life. He wanted to make sure the boy didn't think he was abandoning him, but he wasn't sure how to go about asking in a way that wouldn't go full-circle.

Quite suddenly, Haseo snapped back to reality, looking rushed. He must have taken his headset off. "No no no. That's fine, Kaoru. I just remembered actually, I've been invited to a late lunch today. I'll talk to you later tonight! Bye!"

And he logged out, leaving a very stunned Kaoru in his wake. They'd gone through a few fields since their last save and... He didn't remember Ryou saving since they'd been in town. He must have been in a hurry. But that didn't seem very 'Ryou-like' to him. No he must have saved while Kaoru had been taking his break. Or maybe...

Did Ryou have a date?

He felt horrible at the thought.

...

He'd taken his time in the shower and still made it down to the cafe a few minutes early. Early enough to catch an angry earful from his miffed coworker about people getting the day off and sticking others with their duties and having the audacity to show up in their place of work- on a day they requested off!- for a date. Kaoru accepted the annoyed pestering with a sheepish grin until the college student wandered off to do his job.

The small buoyancy he'd felt at the thought of seeing Misaki was almost completely muted by the thought of Ryou being on a date. The love of his life; his best friend; his leveling buddy- Off smiling and laughing with somebody else. It was almost enough to make him sick.

He might even have a girlfriend, but Kaoru refused to let his thoughts linger on that idea for his own mental well-being.

A little earlier than he usually showed, Misaki came to a halt at the door looking ruffled and out of breath. Kaoru offered a little smile as he entered and approached the table.

"Misaki-kun! How was school?" he asked pleasantly when the boy sat down.

The brunette took a steadying breath, looking immensely more comfortable than he had at the door. "It went well enough. How has your day off been?" he returned, picking up the coffee Kaoru had bought for him and taking a sip.

"It's been pretty great. I got to spend it with Ry-... My best friend." he covered up the name, giving a forced smile.

Misaki blinked at him. A few seconds of silence reigned. "Are... you okay?" he asked. Apparently Kaoru needed to work on his fake smiles.

"Yeah, I guess I'm just a little jealous. He had plans with somebody today. He's never mentioned plans to me before. Not that he has to, but..." he glanced to the sky above Misaki's head through the window.

The student averted his eyes to the table, speaking quietly as he did. "But... you have plans too." Kaoru watched his face, though he had no chance of reading it correctly.

"You're right. I didn't really think about that."

Again they were quiet for a time. This time it was broken by somebody else.

"Misaki-kun...?" The boy frowned, catching Kaoru's eye.

Kaoru looked up over the boy's shoulder again. It was one of the girls that had taken to him, looking at Misaki oddly.

"Oi, Misaki-kun! Why weren't you at school today? You even dressed in the uniform!" she was looking more and more impatient. Kaoru blinked down to Misaki in surprise. He'd just said he was at school. Why would he lie about something like that? The boy suddenly looked nervous, staring determinedly at the table now.

The girl finally strode over, hands on her hips as she stood beside him. "Ryou!" she called rudely, glaring at him. "I'm talking to you!"

The boy looked up, fearful as he met Kaoru's eyes. Kaoru frowned at the girl for how rudely she had addressed Misaki- 'Ryou'? He looked back to his crush, confused. His given name was Ryou? He went to a school ten minutes away; apparently he hadn't been in school today, but he'd made a show of it looking that way; and his Ryou had seemed in a hurry to get somewhere... "...Misa- Ryou?" he breathed, eyes widening.

As soon as the name was said, Misaki Ryou was on his feet, the clatter of the sliding chair catching the attention of the other patrons. Red in the face, he turned and left the building in a few quick strides. Kaoru rose behind him, making his way to the door. He looked in the direction he usually left, seeing the boy's back retreating in the distance.

Kaoru followed him as best as he could.

A/N: TaDaaaa! Oh noes! Now you know who Misaki is... in case you didn't know that Misaki was Ryou's last name xD;;.
Forgive me for typos. I went through and corrected some, but i probably have some more in there that I didn't see. I just wanted to give you guys a chapter while I was home for a couple hours. Happy Fourth of July... tomorrow xD;;
Where I live, we're celebrating it today... Blah.