Disclaimer: All the rights belong to Kadokawa Shouten and Nakamura Shungiku

Author's note: I revised it a little, mostly spell check etc.

Office affairs

"Oi, where do you think you're touching?!"

"Come on, it was just an accidental brush with my hand."

"Like hell it was!"

Yokozawa was getting tired of it. For some months now conversations like this repeated themselves on an almost daily basis. This wouldn't have been such a big deal because he had known from the start that Kirishima was the rather touchy type, so he had learnt to ignore it most of the times.

Just recently something had changed, and he thought that ignoring the matter might make things even worse: They were at the office.

Since Yokozawa still refused to move in with the Kirishimas for a couple of reasons and they were both being busy with their jobs, it was a rather fortunate situation that both were working for the same publishing company. Although their work schedules were really tight, they could meet during breaks, have lunch together and leave together in the evening to head straight home or stop at an izakaya or bar to have a few drinks.

But bringing their private matters - namely, their relationship - to the workplace was something that he refused to do. Work was work and relationship was relationship. He, the sales representative for Marukawa's leading manga, had to maintain an atmosphere of integrity and credibility. For Kirishima as the editor-in-chief of one of Japan's best-selling shounen manga magazines, being professional was even more vital because he had to maintain the trust of his authors, subordinates and everybody involved in printing and selling 'Japun'.

So why was Kirishima so keen on crossing the border between company-related matters and private matters?

It had all started when only the two of them had been left at the company building at night while a tsunami was making it impossible to go outside. They hadn't done anything at that time - god forbid, if not for his lover, at least Yokozawa was able to control his hormones - but since then Kirishima seemed to be developing a liking to the idea of doing something forbidden at the office.

Another time they had stayed at Marukawa during a snow storm. And again the editor had tried to jump him like some hungry lion under the pretense of a 'White Day present'. How stupid was that?

In the following months Kirishima had grown even bolder, trying to feel him up at every given opportunity, regardless of time and place.

Right now they were standing in the elevator, fortunately only the two of them.

"Just get your filthy hands off my ass!", Yokozawa gritted through his teeth and slapped the other's hand to emphasize his words.

"We are alone and you haven't been over to our place for three whole days now! I need to charge energy."

"Then go and drink coffee."

"I need to charge Yokozawa."

"Not at the office!", he barked and stepped out of the elevator as soon as the doors opened.

Despite being at the floor of the 'Sapphire' and BL section, Kirishima followed him like a dog its owner.

The dark-haired salesman threw a deadly glare over his shoulder. "What do you want? Shouldn't you be working at your desk? The end of the cycle is close, as far as I remember."

"Just a tiny kiss."

"Go. Back. To. Your. Section."

"Holding hands at the smoking area?"

"As if that's gonna happen."

"Petting your hair?"

"This is sexual harassment."

"Then voice a complaint towards the management."

Just as he was about to shout at him, one of the editors of 'Sapphire' crossed their paths. Her hair was ruffled and dark shadows lay below her eyes.

"Yokozawa-san!"

He completely ignored Kirishima and bowed slightly. "Aokawa-san, I came to get the first draft of the promotion wallpapers for Satou-sensei's new series."

Her face became white in an instant and her voice shook as she replied: "Well, about that... It seemed Satou-sensei has a writer's block."

"You are kidding me, it is just one picture, isn't it", he claimed in a louder voice than intended and regretted it as soon as he noticed her flinch at that.

"Satou-sensei is sitting in the break room. I have been talking to her for over three hours now, but she still insists that she doesn't see the image in her mind."

"Sounds like a typical breakdown right before the deadline."

Yokozawa and Aokawa both turned around to Kirishima, who had his arms folded and was looking at them with a face that told hundreds of his own stories that were exactly the same. Because he was the editor of one of the best-selling mangaka with the worst breakdowns, one could go as far as to call him experienced on the battlefield.

"What kind of picture is it?"

"The manga is about an office relationship and apparently she intends to draw an intimate embrace of the two main characters, but her drafts just don't convey the feeling", Aokawa sighed and rubbed her head which worsened the state of her hair.

Kirishima gave her an assuring smile, all happy and handsome. Yokozawa hated it, and the churning of his stomach was no good sign either.

"Then Yokozawa-san and I should talk to her."

Before he even knew what was happening, slender but long fingers wrapped around his wrist and started dragging him to the break room.

"Why do I have to-"

"You are selling Satou-sensei's stories, aren't you? Try to be a bit more professional."

"That coming from your lips is like a bad joke, you notice that yourself?"

"As long as they aren't captured in a sweet kiss, my lips are free to do what they want. You should've accepted my offer from before."

They reached the room and it was not hard to notice the mangaka, slumped over a stack of white paper, surrounded by crumpled drafts and a dark aura wavering around her like black clouds. Yokozawa knew quite a few stories, especially from the 'Emerald', but it was rare that he came into contact with writers in a state of absolute devastation. Usually, he only saw editors at the end of a cycle in such a state.

His partner strode across the room and laid a hand onto her shoulder, supporting her immediately as she started to slide from her chair like a dead body. Given the instinctiveness of his motions, this also seemed to be nothing new to him.

"Sensei", he said to catch her attention. His voice was like silk, smooth and beautiful.

Slowly she lifted her head, her eyes locking onto his, and a light flush crawled across her cheeks. "Y-Yes? Are you an angel that came to save me...?"

"My name is Kirishima and that grumpy bear over there is the sales manager in charge, Yokozawa-san. We came to ask if there was anything we can do to help you get your draft done."

She looked at him, maybe lost in his handsome face, and clearly absolutely oblivious of the implication. Despite being dense at times, Yokozawa didn't need a second guess to know what was going on in his head.

And he really wanted to turn around and run.

"If you need two models for posing, we would be glad to assist."

Yes, he should have run.

Satou-sensei's face began to light up and she slapped her hands together in a pleading manner. "I know this is a really big request...!"

"Not at all." Again he gave her a charming smile, and Yokozawa fought the urge to throw a chair against his head.

Obviously he couldn't get that kind of satisfaction, but maybe there was still a chance to retreat.

"I believe I'm not suitable to be a model. We should look for someone with broader shoulders and a better built."

The mangaka jumped to her feet, fire burning in her eyes. That must have been what they called 'the right spirit'.

"No, it's perfect like this! Yokozawa-san fits just fine as the model for the uke of the stor-"

At the same time as he felt his own face grow hot, Kirishima bit his lower lip in a visible attempt to hold his laughter.

"Oh my god, I said unnecessary things!", she yelped and blushed, too.

"Don't worry, I absolutely share your opinion", Kirishima assured her and went to stand next to the other man. "We shouldn't waste time. So if you could give us some instructions so we can take the right position..."

"Yes, of course!"

She started to describe the pose she had in mind and also considered some of his ideas, as they followed her instructions. After some minutes she seemed to be satisfied with the result and asked them to stay like that before she sat down to start drawing.

Yokozawa tried his best to block out everything. The hand on his right hip. The other hand at his lower back, only a few centimeters above his butt. Kirishima's brown hair, tickling his forehead. Kirishima's breath, ghosting across his ear. Kirishima's hazel eyes, locked onto his own.

"I never noticed how long your eyelashes actually are."

"Shut up", Yokozawa muttered and tried to avert his gaze, failing, for he wasn't allowed to turn his head.

"Can I get a copy of the draft when it's done?"

"Yeah, I'll shove it up your ass."

"Woah, that's kinky."

"I believe I told you to shut up!"

"I'm trying to get you into the right mood."

"What kind of mood are you talking about?"

"The uke being embraced by his seme, of course."

A low growl emanated from his throat, before he looked over to the woman. "Sensei, how much longer will it take?"

"I'm almost done, you're doing a very good job", she praised them and pursed her lips in concentration. "I know it's another big request, but if Kirishima-san could rest his forehead against Yokozawa-san's, it would be a very big help."

Of course he complied without hesitation, deliberately ignoring his lover's flaming-red cheeks.

Yokozawa decided to bear with it instead of nagging anymore and risking prolonging the time he had to endure in this position.

Five minutes later Satou-sensei bowed over the table and thanked them for their cooperation. Yokozawa didn't waste a second before he hastily pushed the other man away.

"Sensei, please give it your best. If it's of any help to you, I will return in some hours for the draft."

"Yes, thank you so much!" She stood and bowed again to both of them, but Kirishima only waved her off.

"You're welcome to call us anytime if you need inspiration again."

When they started heading towards the open door, they noticed a crowd of female editors in front of the room, peeking inside curiously.

"Is this what you call work?", Yokozawa yelled. "Well, if that's so, we might consider saving money by cutting wages."

The crowd dissolved immediately, and he made his way to the elevator as fast as he could. Again Kirishima was following him on the heels.

"I have a good feeling about this!"

"Just go and die."

The next morning when Yokozawa entered the building, he had no idea that his day would turn into hell. As he rode the elevator to the floor where the sales department was located at and made his way to his desk, there was absolutely no indication.

Around noon he heard Henmi greet Kirishima, so he looked up to see his lover stop in front of his desk, smiling. Oh, and he knew that expression. Something had happened.

He just knew it.

"Look what I got!", he said in a cheerful voice and waved a piece of paper in front of his nose. "Somebody in the BL section gave it to me, but I had to promise not to tell any names."

Yokozawa didn't need to look at the paper to know immediately that this was really bad. Just to confirm his presentiment, he snatched the paper from the older man's fingers and looked at it.

It was a photo of them posing for the draft, and the worst thing was that he was blushing.

Without second thought he ripped it into tiny pieces.

"Hey!", Kirishima protested. "I intended to use it!"

"What would you use such an inappropriate picture for?"

"Don't make me say it in front of your co-workers, unless this is a secret turn-o-"

"Are you an idiot?!", he yelled and stood up, his chair almost tumbling over by the force.

Kirishima only laughed. "Don't worry. I still have the data in my mail-account."

"Don't you dare to show it to any living soul!"

"Of course this will come with a fee."

He just couldn't believe that he was just being bribed with a photo - again.

"... What do you want?"

"If we ever get the opportunity..." He bowed across the desk and dropped his voice to a mere whisper. "I really want to make out at the office."

"Is this some shitty kink of yours?!"

He just shrugged nonchalantly. "Maybe. Anyway, I'll come and get my reward someday. Just look forward to it."

Yokozawa scowled, but decided to give in for now. In case the moment ever came, he was prepared to fend him off like he had done before. And even if things shouldn't work out, this was just about kissing. He would handle that somehow.

"...fine."

"Nice! But, let me emphasize one thing. The deal is about me not showing the picture to anybody. I don't take responsibility for anything else."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

But he only gave him a gleaming grin, turned around and left the department.

Yokozawa sighed and stood up. "Henmi, I will go outside for a short break."

"Okay!"

He made his way to the elevator and didn't fail to notice that some of the people inside were throwing side-glances at him. Kisa Shouta from 'Emerald', standing next to him, was being even more suspicious by grinning like mad.

As soon as they stepped out of the car, Yokozawa grabbed the guy by the arm and forced him to look at his face.

"So, what's wrong?"

"Yokozawa-san!", Kisa chirped. "It really made my day! I wish we could get a photo like that at the end of every cycle. It really pushes the spirit."

He felt his body go cold. "Photo?"

A happy nod. "The 'Sapphire' sent the photo of you and Kirishima to the manga section chiefs to make the end of the cycle more bearable."

"W-wait...! They sent it to Takano?"

Kisa began to smile even wider. "Yes. His face was priceless."

"What do you..."

"Ah, I have to leave and retrieve a script. Have a nice day!"

He escaped Yokozawa's grip and ran away, leaving the other man utterly disturbed.

"... KIRISHIMA-SAN!"