"…ki…" Who is it? Who's calling? "Misaki…" Who's there? A shadow of a figure calls him, whispers in his ear with a certain husk. The voice of the man Misaki knows very well, but is too weak to rack his brain.

The sound vanishes and then all is silent again. Too quiet, too silent, too…too what? What is this eerie and fearful feeling that creeps into the pores of the college student, this familiar and scary feeling that bites into him and releases its poison?

A loud crash makes its way into the room and Misaki wakes up, his eyes staring up at the ceiling. Where is he? Where is this place? Right, my room. I haven't been in here since… Misaki's face burns up at the thoughts and images of unpleasant things, all circulating around Usagi-san. Blinking a few times, Misaki wobbles out of bed, tripping over the slippers in front of him. Damn you Usagi-san! Making me feel this way... Wait, this is strange. He is never this dizzy before, so why is he feeling it now? And why was he in more pain than usual.

"U-Usagi-san, you dirty…sneaky…old man," Misaki says, using the edge of the bed to get himself up off the ground. You couldn't wait until I woke up before you… Again, Misaki's face grows hot and the dizziness takes hold of him.

A loud crash is heard somewhere downstairs and Misaki immediately forgets his worries about what might have happened while he was asleep. Staggering out of the room, his vision blurs and he gropes for something solid to steady himself. You'll pay for this Usagi! I don't know what you were doing, but I definitely will not forgive you. He makes his way to the top of the stairs, gripping the railing with his sweaty hands and drags his unusually heavy body down the stairs. Each step exhausts Misaki even more, his limbs clumsy as they trip down each flat step. With his face burning up and his thoughts growing jumbled, Misaki begins to see a blurred vision of his brother…cooking?

His brother leaves Misaki's side for just a moment, but it is too long of a moment as the little boy begins to cry. "Don't leave me, nii-chan! I promise…I'll be good, don't go away like okaa-san and otou-san!" The little boy struggles to get up from his bed, but his brother is back again, trying to console the whimpering child.

"Don't worry, Misaki. I won't leave you, I promise. I just need to take care of your fever and you'll be all better, so just rest okay?" Nii-chan looks down at his brother, his worries written all over his face.

It was after that time that Misaki had realized his brother would never truly fulfill his dream of attending college. It was also after the fever that Misaki began to hide his own needs from the world. The boy shakes his head, ignoring the dizziness as he tries to calm himself down. He was not going to be a burden on Usagi, he hasn't done anything so far that would make the man unhappy.

If only he could find someone else to 'play' with...

The Great Lord Usami only wanted to care for Misaki. Since finding him in that state the night before, Usami felt one hundred percent responsible for causing the boy to catch a cold. How coul he have been so stupid? Usami only wanted to make sure that Misaki wouldn't run away from him while he took care of things with his editor. Did he really not think of Misaki's health when he closed that door? Was he really that insensitive a person to forget such a thing?

And to top it off, the new idea Usami was working on was ripped apart. So binding his lover to the bedpost was probably the worst mistake he could have made. But…but at least I got to see Misaki vulnerable. He never shows that side to me, even in bed. Last night's events still fresh in his mind, Usami relives that scene where he finds Misaki's sweaty, naked body. His legs tremble just from trying to hold up their master and his drooping eyes trying so hard to look at Usami… And his mouth attempting to form words, but the only word that escaped was Usagi's name before his feet gave way. Usami caught him, calling the boy's name in fear. What was he to do then except carry Misaki to his room and let him rest?

For some unknown reason, the water is boiling to slow for the great Usami and so he decides to turn it up high and leave it while grabbing anything from the fridge that could be ingredients for soup. Fruits, vegetables, bread, eggs, milk, everything he took out and placed on the counter and just stared at them. Usami never made soup before, but Misaki had made some for him when he was sick (although Misaki's other 'soup' tasted much better) so it couldn't be that hard to make.

Usami picks up the knife and starts cutting the vegetables one by one. Behind him, the pot cover begins to shake and the man turns toward the sound. Eyes widening, he drops the knife and his hands reach for the pot, forgetting that he can just as easily turn off the stove. "Tsk!" Hands dropping the hot metal…the pot dropping to the floor and spilling boiling hot water everywhere…the sound of it all loud in Usami's ears… He blows on his hands, cursing himself and cursing for his stupidity. If he wasn't so distracted by Misaki, he would at least be able to boil some water. When did I become so useless?

"Usagi-san! Are you crazy, you could've hurt yourself really bad!" Hearing Misaki's voice, his sweet voice meant only for him, Usami is surprised. He was supposed to be in bed, sleeping off his fever and getting better quickly. It doesn't dawn on the great lord that the loud noises he caused woke up the boy, thus coming down here to scold the man responsible for many things.

"Misaki…you should be resting,"Usami says, the control in his voice wavering. After years of perfecting his poker face and the wonders it did him as a child, it was now that he was unable to mask his emotions properly. He turns around, his feet padding around the counter to meet the boy halfway. His hands move on by themselves, reaching down to catch Misaki as he stumbles forward. One of them feels the boy's forehead, but his hand is too numb to even tell if the temperature changed. If only he hadn't burned his hands…

"Misaki, what are you doing?"

"Hah? I should be asking you that! I told you you're not allowed in the kitchen. Remember when you cut your finger last time or-"

"Misaki…" Usami tries to get the boy's attention as Misaki lightly pushes away from him. He slowly makes his way to the other side of the counter, making sure to step around the spill. He grabs a couple of towels from the mini cabinet by the fridge as if he was prepared for another accident.

"-the other time you accidentally burnt your hands because you thought the hot water was cold water when you cleaned the rice? Oh, and that other time-"

"Misaki-"

"-when you spilled the-"

"Misaki." The tone stops Misaki midsentence and he looks up to find Usagi crouched in front of him. Startled, Misaki looks down at the damp towels, his face growing hot. When did he get here without Misaki noticing? No, more importantly… Why is Usagi-san looking at me like that? What's wrong with him? A memory sneaks its way in to Misaki and he freezes. No, it's not possible…It can't be possible, but Misaki is ready. Hiding his face, he prepares his fake smile and the tears that wanted so badly to fall are pushed down forcefully.

"Hehe, don't scare me like that. Look, I'll forgive you for waking me up and for making a mess so you can stop giving me that look now okay?" I hate it… Don't look at me like that. I don't want to see that look again. Please…don't look…at me… Misaki struggles to hold back, but being so used to locking his feelings for the sake of others has given him enough experience to shut down those things called emotions. Those feelings that left his brother to struggle to give Misaki a good life, those horrible feelings that caused his parents' accident and those feelings that seems to burden Usagi. Burning his hands because I was not there to cook… These petty thoughts circle around Misaki like vultures, creating that empty feeling, that void he had accepted a long time ago.

"Misaki, I'll take care of it. You need to rest-" Usami stands, grabbing the boy gently and pulling him up, making sure to keep him steady using his arms as anchors. He can't help but worry about him. What was he to do if Misaki stayed sick? What would happen if Misaki was no longer by his side? Those feelings of loneliness as a child were the worst times of his life. Loving Misaki's brother for ten years but keeping a safe distance away was torturous enough, but to lose the one person who gave Usagi meaning? No, he could not let that happen. Even a simple cold could easily rip Misaki away from the man and he could not let that happen. He was willing to risk his own burned hands to take care of his lover.

"-I said I'm fine! There's no need to worry about me, I'm okay see?" Misaki avoids Usagi's touch, taking a few step back to show that he really was okay. His legs tremble beneath him and he loses his balance, but Usagi is quick to reach the boy, one hand slithering around his waist while the other from under his legs. He lifts the boy up, careful to keep him from falling, and begins walking to Misaki's room.

"Pu-put me down, Usagi-san! I'm in no mood for your games! I. SAID. PUT. ME. DOWN." Misaki struggles to break free, making sure to avoid eye contact with the man who is clearly watching him. Flashes of his brother with a worried expression makes Misaki pause, the memories that were supposed to be locked up wanting out. The same worried expression that Usagi is showing to Misaki trickles around the chains that bind the boy's emotions to the bottom of his subconscious. A rattle echoes in Misaki, the first of his emotions wishing to be free at this moment. No, he can't. He cannot be a burden to Usagi, the one person who has not left his side since the two had met. He cannot…not anymore…

"Don't leave me, nii-san!"

"Usagi-san, let me go and I'll forgive you for this." Stop giving me that look, that same look nii-chan gave me. Please… I don't want to be a burden to you…

"No, you need to sleep."

"Hah?! I told you I was fine! See?" What can I do to make you stop looking at me? Using his left hand, Misaki gently reaches up, his fingers tilting Usagi's chin towards him at a downward angle. What can I do…? His breath hot and rapid, Misaki lifts his head up and closes his eyes. He doesn't notice or see Usagi's eyes widen at the small gesture, his mouth opening in surprise just as Misaki's fevered expression entered his space, and certainly doesn't realize that he had completely mesmerized and unknowingly seduced the great lord Usami. The boy's lips tremble as they finally press on to Usagi's firm lips. The fever flows from his lips, the hotness melting away Misaki's state of mind. His lips break contact, his head suddenly aching from that little movement, and his energy drained from that simple kiss. Maybe now, Usagi would believe Misaki was okay.

"M-Misaki… That was-"

"I'm not sick, please believe me." Tears spill down Misaki's pleading eyes. His brother's face blurs his vision and the high fever effects the boy's ability to differentiate between what's real and what's not. The image of his brother looks down at him, the now eight year old Misaki as he is whisked back into his room. The boy cries because his brother had missed another chance at happiness, had already sold himself to care for Misaki. His brother gently places the boy on the bed, lingering a little longer than necessary.

"Misaki…" His brother whispers, the anxious tone tickling Misaki's ear. A hand strokes the boy's hair, but it seems wrong. This isn't his brother's hand, it's warmer and bigger; strong and protective and less fatherly, like a lover's hands…

"Get some rest, Misaki." No, don't go. Don't leave, please don't leave. The hand lifts away from Misaki's hair, leaving a faded mark that it was here, that the memory of the movement was real. Somewhere in this dream, his brother's back changes and becomes taller and more masculine. The hair changes, the appearance changes, the way he walks changes, the clothes change; everything Misaki knew of his brother begins to vanish.

"Don't leave me, Usagi-san. You promised you'd stay by my side!" Ruffle my hair like you always do, tell me that you love me every ten seconds in that annoyingly deep voice like you always do. Allow to be selfish this one time, please let me be selfish…just this once.

"Misaki-"

"I won't bother you again, just stay here! Stay…here," Misaki's lips tremble. Not knowing if Usagi listened to him, Misaki finally closes his eyes, succumbing to the exhaustion. The chains unlock within him, releasing a flood of various emotions from the dark corners of his subconscious. He falls into a deep slumber, dreaming of Usagi touching him and whispering his confessions in his ear, one of Misaki's most sensitve areas.

Usami pulls up a chair and sits down. Ranging from shock, surprise, happiness, worry, and turned on, Usami unable to sort out these different feelings. Never would Misaki blatantly ask Usami to stay with him or even kiss him like he did. Usami touches his lips, where Misaki connected with him; an innocent kiss from the boy, even under the duress of the fever, was still the most surprising to the man. He watches the sleeping Misaki, covering his mouth and trying not to blush. So erotic and adorable, the way he seduced the great Usami with small actions and words.

He crosses his legs, then uncrosses them after five minutes. During that time, the great lord Usami struggles with two problems: leaving Misaki to write down his new idea for his BL novel, or attack Misaki while he is trying to rest. Both seem like good ideas, but he would be patient and wait until Misaki is feeling better… Even though he looks so adorable.

With his other problem… Usami looks around the room, until his eyes glaze over at a pile of papers on Misaki's desk. Glancing back at the sleeping boy, Usami quietly gets up and grabs some paper and pen, his ideas beginning to flow. Sitting back down and crossing his legs for the final time, he smiles. The events that happened today will be tucked away in the man's memory, ready to be used against Misaki should Usami threaten him with sex. The pen swims across the lined paper and Usami smiles as he replays two of today's special scenes.