-Izumi's POV-
Right before his eyes, Izumi saw Kuroda's determined demeanor turned into a look of annoyance. The slightly pinched lips that barely thinned; the minute dip of the man's eyebrows; the delicate flare of the other's nose; all of these sudden shifts in Kuroda's normally cordial demeanor were a shear sign the other was trying pitiably to control himself. Izumi couldn't believe that he had actually managed to crack that face with that one liner. Under previous circumstances when they were living under one roof, Izumi would have found some sort of perverse joy, but not now. Currently, his own annoyance took precedence.

He was the injured party. He was the one superseded by this interloper. He was the one licking his wounds. He should be the one annoyed by the mere presence of the other. Not the other way around. Why, he should be even congratulated for holding back from connecting his fist to the other's face right now.

That would have definitely made him feel better; however sweet as it was in considering that notion, he couldn't do it. For however convoluted and confused his thoughts and emotions currently were, he just couldn't. Something was holding him back. More precisely, the thought of Takamiya casting those infuriated blaming eyes upon discovering that his new lover was injured by Izumi once again stopped him from doing so. For a split second, Izumi felt elated in entertaining such a dare to do just that if it meant he'll be able to see Takamiya again.

But how pathetic would that be? It has been more than two weeks since he'd left, yet he had heard nothing from his former lover. No words of concern; no apologies wrack from guilt; none at all. It was as if, Takamiya was stating firmly that he was done with Izumi. It was as if the other wished to have nothing more to deal with him. That line of thought burst forth the door to a full wave of melancholy that immediately washed over him.

Izumi thought he was managing fine. He had kept himself busy: hunting an apartment, furnishing the place, finding employment, working overtime, spending tireless hours either at the gym or aquatic center, and basking every chance he can get within his family's loving environment. All was well; he even had a budding relationship to look forward too. All should be well.

He thought he was on the fast-track to mending his heart. Izumi should have known better. His heart was far from mending. The ache had only lain dormant, festering in his bosom, gently throbbing all the while. It was easy to delude his self when he fled all physical connections and restrained all mental ones within a thick barrier of self-help notions. He should have known better that he was far from over Takamiya the moment he went into a bookstore and without thought, bought not just one, but all of the translator's books that was available. He should have known better, the countless moments when he couldn't sleep, even when he was dead tired, then all he had to do was gaze at his former lover's picture on the back of one of the books and was ease into restless slumber. Yes, he should have known.

And all this painful revelation was caused by the mere presence of this person before him. Izumi couldn't stand the thought of it. Despite the nagging reminder that he should be the better person and act civil to the interloper at least, he couldn't do it. His heart is suffocating from the onslaught of returned emotions. His thoughts were in turmoil all because of him. Why is he here!?

Izumi couldn't help what was said then.

"How did you find me? What more could you want from me!?"

That last part was nearly shouted; Izumi winced at his lost of control. In a matter of minutes, as always, Kuroda had managed to expose his inner demons out into the open.

Izumi felt even worse when pity replaced the look of annoyance on the other's face. Great, just great.

Not only did he felt pathetic, he looked the part too.

Embarrass by his own outburst, Izumi turned and pulled away from Kuroda's slacken grip. He then proceeded to wipe his tears away with the sleeves of the borrowed dress shirt and asked quietly, "Why are you here?"

He heard a sigh coming from the other before his reply was given just as quietly.

"Why did you run away, Sakashita-san?"

Izumi release a quick gasp and walked several steps away from the other man. He then bit the insides of his cheek as he tried to suppress the sudden urge to let loose his tears again when the image of Takamiya and Kuroda in bed together came to mind. He couldn't respond to that even if he wanted to.

A long pause later, when no answer was supplied by him, Kuroda spoke again. This time his tone was soft and dejected-sounding, although spoken just as quietly.

"When we came back from the hospital ward and you weren't there, Takamiya-san thought you needed to cool down and let you be. I have never seen him so angry before. He gave me quite a scare. But when you didn't return the next day, we became frantic with worry. We looked everywhere for you. We thought something terrible might have happened to you, Sakashita-san.

Takamiya-san even called Scotland Yard, but they had no luck either. They told us that they alerted Interpol and will contact us if they have any news. We stayed and waited for three whole days, but still no word. So, Takamiya-san and I went to Shanghai, all the while hoping that they'll find something.

Then Naoya-kun suggested you might have flown back to Japan. I have never seen such hope in Takamiya-san's eyes, but it was soon replaced with the deepest sorrow. I don't know what he found out, but I have never seen him so despondent before. It nearly broke my heart.

Then the next day, Takamiya-san said that he'll have to tell your family that you've gone missing. He said it was the right thing to d—"

"Wait! Are you saying Takamiya spoke to my mother?" Izumi interjected hurriedly as he turned around to face the other with rounded eyes, not caring how he must have appeared to the other at all.

He had been reluctant at first to listen to Kuroda's beginning narrative, but it quickly soon rapt his attention. Heated tears had quickly overflowed his eyes and trickled down his cheeks like rain as he drowned in remorse. He had bitten his lips, trying to prevent sobs from coming out as he continued to listen. He couldn't suppress his sniffling however. But that couldn't be helped. It was not until he heard that last part that he was able to find his voice due to the sudden realization. Was the guest mother spoke of had been Takamiya all along!? Why did she not tell me!? Why did she keep this hidden from me!?

Because she wanted to protect you, that's why. Said his voice of reason. When this dawned on him, the numbness that permeated throughout his body began to recede as warmth flooded his heart once more to dull the familiar aching pain.

Kuroda tilted his head and flashed him a puzzled look upon seeing the sudden out-of-place smile on his lips. Izumi didn't bother to answer him and remained quiet as he wiped the new trail of tears away with his sleeves again.

Upon realizing that Izumi wasn't going to saying anything further, Kuroda supplied in returned, "Yes, I believe he did so yesterday afternoon. He came back and seemed preoccupied throughout the whole day. The next day later, when I came back from the clinic to get my stitches out, Takamiya-san seemed much better as we bid Aoe-san goodbye after he visited. You don't know how relieved I felt, Sakashita-san. Takamiya-san has been wallowing in pain for so long and to finally see him smile the way he use to made my heart flutter with warmth. I don't know what magic words Aoe-san had said, but it caused a miracle…"

The other trailed off with that comment or rather as Izumi was no longer paying attention. His heart, he thought had recovered from the initial onslaught somewhat, had been hit with another blow upon hearing Takamiya's returned happiness. Ironic that he'd actually felt justified and pleased even with the fact that his former lover had anguished over his disappearance. He was more pathetic than he thought possible. He didn't want to hear anymore. He was so tired.

Izumi ducked his head down and to the side as he hid his expression when he asked quietly and cut into whatever Kuroda had been saying, "Why are you here, Kuroda?"

From his peripheral vision, Izumi thought he saw anger flashed within the other's eyes. He might have been mistaken since it was gone in the next instant when the other started out rather hesitantly.

"I… I… found your address… in Takamiya-san's pocket when he went to bed early… I was preparing his clothes for dry cleaning service, you see. I was curious of course… and had a hunch…"

Surprised and somehow pleased by that piece of information, Izumi felt his heart beating loudly with anticipation. Somehow or other, despite his best judgment, he felt excited by the prospect of Takamiya looking for him. But the sound of the other hedging his speech made him felt uneasy. Unsure of what the man was getting at, Izumi decided to brace himself for whatever was coming out of the other's mouth. It was easier said than done when Kuroda finally stated his purpose.

Review Response:

COUGARS SHADES – lol. It's the general consensus review is that Kuroda is the bad guy. Well, I'm still mum about that. Thank you for the consistent review. It is nice to hear from readers since its a good gauge whether I should continue or not. Don't worry. I will finish this fic up. Only several more chapters to go.