-Naoya's POV-

Naoya had never felt such irritation towards Reiji before.

After making a phone call he did not wish to make, even though he wanted just as much as everyone else to find Izumi, Naoya had stated he wanted to talk to Izumi first before he hand over the information. Suffice it to say, Reiji had refused his request.

It didn't take much from his older lover to make him cave in, especially when he's in that particular mood of not indulging him. Naoya felt he's been reprimanded like a small child again, which always seem to bring the brat inside him that rarely shows to come forth. He sulked for the rest of that night and the day after when he learned he had been placed under house arrest. There was no reason for him to be, but Reiji had given him one long measuring look that said it all. Thus Kashima had been 'keeping him company' at the hotel suite ever since.

It frustrated Naoya to no end. It hurt him to think that his lover didn't trust him. In spite of his behavior towards Takamiya and Kuroda, Reiji shouldn't have to resort to such lengths.

Naoya hadn't plan on interfering despite what Reiji may think. For what Takamiya and Kuroda, the interloper, was concern: they deserve each other. Izumi is probably better off without Takamiya anyways.

In truth, once he'd learned of the whereabouts of Izumi, Naoya felt compelled to see him. Naoya knew how it felt to lose a love one. Even though Takamiya is very much alive, still to have that love suddenly be withdrawn and given to someone else must be devastating for his friend. He wanted to console Izumi. He wanted to be there and lend that shoulder for him to cry on.

And so, after much pacing and plotting, Naoya hatched a plan and proceeded to take action.

---

As soon as his lover left early morning to conduct some business meetings while they were in Kyoto, Naoya had woken up per normal, greeted Kashima, and entered the spacious bathroom he'd share with Reiji. Once inside though, he locked himself in, turned on the shower spray and sat on the toilet with the cover seat down. He than snatched the phone on the counter from right behind him and dialed a number he knew by heart.

When the phone went straight to a cheery voicemail, Naoya didn't have much time to worry about upsetting his lover as he quickly left a message. There would be time for guilt and regret later.

---

-Reiji's POV-
The instant his mobile phone vibrated, Aoe Reiji made his excuses to the small gathering and walked towards the lobby to answer it, "Aoe."

"I apologize for my incompetence, owner. Your brother just arrived and took the young master with him," informed Kashima on the other line.

Not expecting that, Reiji commented a bit too loudly, "What!?"

"Although sensei insists that he misses Naoya and came down for a visit, I suspect the young master must have called him," supplied Kashima.

"I see."

A frown appears upon hearing that. Reiji didn't like that bit of information at all. He knew he should have explained to Naoya his reasons yesterday or even this morning, but with his young lover's rare sulky behavior, Reiji just didn't want to deal with it. And so he'd put the task off for as long as he could. However, now that Naoya had brought Kiichi into the picture, the situation with his friend's love triangle could get much worse. Naoya ought to know better and not interfere. It shouldn't be their problem to begin with. Truth is, Reiji suspects that his brother may have influenced Naoya a bit too much over the years if the several days of sulking and meddling were any indication.

Determined to prevent the impending intervention, Reiji gave the following orders to Kashima, "Shuhei, call Haroumi and have him take Kiichi and Naoya back to the hotel. Tell him I'll be there shortly."

"As you wish, owner," replied Kashima before the phone call ended.

Reiji shook his head to ward off the imminent headache he knew would come as a result of this talk he'll have with Naoya, especially with Kiichi in the picture.

---

"What's the big idea, Reiji? Can't I come down to visit my favorite brother-in-law without you siccing your goons on me?" demanded Kiichi to his brother as soon as said brother entered through the doors.

Reiji turned to glance at the two 'goons' mentioned to see their reaction to that reference and weren't surprise to see both Haroumi and Shuhei doing a very good impression of mannequins. Not even a twitch of their eyes or a smirk appeared before their faces as they stood sentinel before the suite entranceway. Unexpectedly, that brought a smile on his face. He was actually amused by his brother's words since it wasn't at his expense for once in a long while. Although Kiichi did manage to add a dig in regarding Naoya as his 'wife' instead of 'kitten' again, Reiji decided to let that one slide.

He turned back to look at the irritable pair and couldn't help feeling a bit guilty when he witnessed Naoya's agitated pacing. His young lover was really at the end of his patience despite his normally calm and mature nature. In spite of Reiji knowing that Naoya's concern and protectiveness over Izumi was the cause, he couldn't figure out how to put his young love at ease without jeopardizing the trust Takamiya had placed in him. It really wasn't his place to comment or pass judgment on his friend. Nor was it Naoya's. But he knew, by withholding parts of the story he had already put his young lover ill at ease.

At that moment, Reiji swiftly decided that Naoya does have a right to know. Since as close friends to both Takamiya and Izumi, this situation between the two does affect the people around them most adversely. Thus with his mind made up, Reiji ignores Kiichi annoyed expression and bypass his brother sitting on the couch to reach Naoya who's pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace.

"Naoya."

Immediately, his young love stopped his pacing and pierced accusing eyes on him. Again the feeling of guilt emerges and Reiji reached out to pull Naoya within his arms. Even though there was a slight hesitation on Naoya's part, his lover returns the embrace and whispers his name, "Aoe-san."

"I'm sorry, Naoya. For making you worry," Reiji intoned apologetically before he continued with a sigh, "I know you don't like Takamiya for what he did to Izumi right now, but you have to trust me: he means your friend no harm. In fact, he still loves the boy."

Reiji felt Naoya pull back from him and he peered into accusing eyes again as the other voiced his indignation for his friend, "How can you say that, Aoe-san? Takamiya-san not only hit Izumi but he's cheating on him with Kuroda-san!"

Reiji release another sigh and shook his head in negation, "He's not."

Naoya's fine brows stitched together in confusion and he broke away entirely and began pacing again, "I saw them with my own eyes, Aoe-san. They were kissing on the balcony a couple of days ago. And… and Kuroda-san's sleeping in the same room as Takamiya-san. Ask Kashima-san, he was the one who'd told me so."

Thus Kashima, upon hearing his name to bear witness, stepped up to confirm the statement as he bows at the waist, "I'm sorry to interfere, owner. The young master inquired about the arrangement and I let the information pass without thought. Please forgive my indiscretion."

Reiji gave Kashima a slight nod in acceptance and return his attention back to Naoya. He knew he'd made the right choice then: to prevent Naoya from seeing Izumi again until the love triangle has been resolved. He decided to relate just that, "Naoya, do you know why I didn't want you to talk to Izumi?"

Naoya again stopped his pacing and face his older lover as he sulkily bit out his reply, "So that I can't encourage his choice to leave Takamiya-san?"

A smirk of amusement appeared before Reiji nod in agreement. He knew Naoya would know his reasons deep down and was honest to admit that. So he replied with the answers his young lover was waiting for, "Precisely. Since you only know half truths, you'll only make it worse between them. I know you don't like Takamiya right now, but you do want to see them back together again, am I correct?"

There was a slight pause, and then Naoya gave a small, imperceptible nod first before he affirmed strongly with a dip of his head in agreement.

Relieved that his Naoya was regaining his composure judging by his cooperation and the beginning signs of understanding, Reiji decided to tell him everything, "Well then, I guess you'll be happy to know that Takamiya had planned a romantic getaway with Izumi at Shanghai."

Seeing the surprise in Naoya's demeanor, Reiji couldn't help but smirk in amusement and decided to tease his young lover. "It was a surprise, of course. He even requested the staff to specifically decorate the room as such. If you had visited Takamiya at his suite even once, you would have seen that."

The expected blush appeared and Reiji felt more at eased, now that Naoya has calmed down and back to his normal self. Thus he continued, a bit more seriously this time for the information he was about to impart, "As for the kiss you'd witnessed… Takamiya said Kuroda confessed to him for the first time that night Izumi left."