AN: Thank you for everyone's support. I'm estimating about 2-3 chapters left along with an epilogue now. Yes, there will be a sex scene. Also, I'm working on a side story for Konno. The pervert is holding my muse hostage and demands he gets laid. So we'll see. Please enjoy!

-Izumi's POV-

Izumi stood hesitantly before suite number 1507. Nerves getting the best of him, but he was determined more than he ever thought possible. He's never done this before. Going after Takamiya was something unprecedented. After all, throughout their seven years relationship, it was always his ex-lover whom seeks him out, whom chases after him.

What he was about to do would either make him a very happy man or confirm what he feared most. It was the latter that cause him to stand before the suite's double doors, trembling with nerves.

He reached into his pocket once more and took a look at the card in his hand. It gave him comfort somehow, knowing from whom it came from. Remembering how it came to be in his hand yesterday cause him to smile.

"Here, you'll probably need this."

Konno reach for his back pocket and pull out his wallet. For a few moments, his friend shuffle through the contents before he pull out a rectangular card then hand it over to Izumi.

"What is it?" Izumi wondered aloud as he took the proffered card. It was a hotel calling card. He raised his eyes and squint at Konno skeptically. Did his friend wanted him to go and use this hotel or something? Just what was he hinting at?

Konno chuckled with humor upon reading his expression correctly. "It's not what you think dummy. Check the back."

Izumi flip the card over, gasp, when he read the back, it was a room number. But that wasn't what caused his sudden alarm. He recognized the scrawl handwriting anywhere. It was Takamiya's. Again, Izumi look up at Konno with wonder in his eyes. "How did you get this?"

And for the second time that week, Izumi witness his friend blush before he turn his face aside, looking rather sheepish. More like guilty. Since he'd seen that look before when Konno almost drown him, Izumi became suspicious.

His friend's hedging was slow in it's delivery but soon gain momentum. "I ah… uh hmm… I ah… would you believe I ah… oh alright… you know, that night when you were shit face drunk…"
Izumi nodded to hurry the man along on his recounting. He was very curious to know how this came about.

"Well, you had a late night visitor."

Realization dawn on Izumi and his face lit up with a burst of joy before confusion set in once more. This meant that Takamiya came to visit him twice and the man left him a calling card. But he never got it. "And you're giving this to me now?"

Konno flashes him an apologetic, lopsided grin that somehow doesn't make him seem contrite at all before he gave his reply. "I was already interested in you. Then this man name Takamiya shows up at your door demanding to see you. Of course I'm not going to let him waltz back in your life without giving myself a chance."

"What!?" Izumi couldn't believe what he was hearing. His friend had deliberately withheld information from him. But would it have made any difference then, Izumi wondered. Probably, since that night was before the night Kuroda drop by to stake his claim. If he hadn't spoken to Kuroda first, Izumi may still have his righteous anger when he confronted Takamiya. But then again, he may not have acted any differently whether he spoke to Takamiya or Kuroda first in this love triangle. Or perhaps love rectangle is more like it, seeing how Konno is involve too… Wait…

Something didn't sit well with him. Izumi had only told Konno everything two days ago. The day he was drunk was two days before that. Which meant…

Izumi gasp aloud once more before he pointed in accusation and declared, "You knew didn't you? Even before I said anything. How could you do—"

Konno rolled his eyes then lean across the low table to flick at Izumi's forehead.

"Ow— hey!" Izumi pouted at the method his friend chose to shut him up.

"You, my friend, are such a sorry drunk it's not even funny. Not only did I have to haul your cute ass home, I had to listen to you cry and bitch about your cheating lover. So of course I knew."

"Oh." Izumi felt embarrassment all over again. He didn't remember much after they went to the second bar, but that still doesn't excuse Konno from withholding information for his own benefit.

Izumi shook his head, partly from amazement and partly from dismay. "I can't believe I confessed everything to you like an idiot. And you, you just stood there taking it all in like you were serious—"

"Ow— hey!"

Konno flicked his forehead again before he cut in. It was a good thing he didn't choose his friend, Izumi thought. The man was more abusive than he was, he mused.

"Be glad that you did. I was planning on seducing you that night. If you haven't confessed with such candor, I wouldn't be as supportive about someone else getting laid now. So just take the damn card and go see him in the morning."

"But—" Izumi tried to speak and again was interrupted.

"No buts. Tomorrow is Saturday, so you don't have work tomorrow like the rest of us. So get your cute ass over to that hotel and get your man back. Then call me if A) you guys did it or B) he dumps you for the other guy or C) you guys have a threesome. In that case, I want in on the action."

"Konno~! You have a one track mind, you big pervert." Izumi chastise then grabbed a handful of wasabi peas and threw them at his friend playfully. Konno return fire and the rest of the evening were spent in easy camaraderie.

Izumi shook his head of the memory. He was lucky to have a friend like Konno. All these years, he's been hiding his relationship with Takamiya from his family, friends, and coworkers. It did felt like he was living a double life. And now, with his family and his good friend already accepting him for who he is, he felt relieved and finally at ease with himself.

The only thing missing now was Takamiya. They were once happy together, mayhap not all the time but the life they had was full of many good memories. Izumi was hoping to make more. He may not be the best lover or attentive companion, but he believes he could make Takamiya happy again. This time around without the bratty teenager who never grew up. This time, Izumi will try his best to be the person Takamiya would be proud to announce to the world that they are lovers.

However, if Takamiya has already chosen Kuroda… then he'll wish him the best. After all the pain Izumi put the man through, he didn't want anything less for Takamiya. Then perhaps, with time they will keep in contact. Izumi no longer wants to think fatalistically that all things have to be over between them. Takamiya is a good person and will be a good friend if not his lover anymore. He realizes that now.

This isn't going to be easy, is it? He hardly knew what to say or where to begin. Izumi took a deep fortifying breath and knock on the door.

The door opened immediately. Izumi hadn't expected that. He even catered to the idea perhaps the man might be out. Whatever the scenario though, he hadn't expected Kuroda to answer the door.

Kuroda's face was initially lit with anticipation and now crestfallen with annoyance upon seeing him at the door. "What are you doing here?"

Izumi didn't miss the emphasis or the unwelcome undertone. It would seem the polite Kuroda was no longer present. Izumi had to blink twice before he reconciled this change in the man. Perhaps ever since their confrontation, the editor no longer sees a need to keep the façade? Whatever the case may be, Izumi decided to be civil to the man. Ironic how the tables seem to have turn in part two of this confrontation he mused.

"I came to speak with Takamiya. Is he in?"

His question was met with Kuroda's own. "How did you find us?"

Izumi smirked and held up the card in his hand for show. "He left me a calling card. So is he in?"

Kuroda actually pouted and step aside to allow him in.

"Come in. Sensei went out to run some quick errands before we fly back to England tonight. Do you want to wait for him or leave a message?"

His steps falter upon hearing that. Izumi took another small, yet fortifying breath and inquire, "When will he be back?"

"Oh, he left about an hour ago. We took longer to get out of bed this morning, so he had a late start." The editor pause to smile at Izumi before he continues, "I'm sure he'll be back within an hour."

Izumi's nerves seem to be getting the upper hand on him. The fears he had before was gaining strength, convincing him that perhaps this was a waste of trip. He had taken in the state of the room. Some clothes were strewn on the floor from what he could see of the master bedroom along with the tousled sheets. Even Kuroda's appearance seems dishevel and unkempt, as if the man had a sleepless night, just woken up and quickly threw on some clothes to answer the door. It was a far outcry difference from the normally prim and proper editor.

Izumi knew what that meant as his heart constricted with pain. He himself has look like that on many occasions when Takamiya was overly amorous than normal and the next day later they have company. Perhaps I should leave before it becomes more awkward.

A big part of him though, wanted to see Takamiya even more before the man flies back to England. Izumi decided to try hardening his heart from Kuroda's words and stuck out his chin to stiffen his resolve. "If you don't mind, I think I would like to wait for him."

Kuroda flashes him a smirk before it turn into a smile. "Very well, would you care for some tea and crumpets while you wait?"

Izumi nodded and walk over towards the love seat sofa to sit down. This is going to be a long hour of waiting, he thought.

-Takamiya's POV-

He had everything squared and ready. In a couple of hours, he will be flying back to England to take care of the rest. It was strange to uproot again, but Takamiya knew that changes happen for a reason and one must learn to cope with that. He only had one more thing left to do. He had saved the most important task for last.

Takamiya closes his eyes and took a deep breath. He raises his hand and rap on the door. On the third knock, the door opens. He opens his eyes and immediately frowns in recognizing the person.

The young man from the previous night once again answers Izumi's door. However, this time the man gave off no challenging aura when he asked, "What are you doing here?"