Please listen to "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri while you're reading this. It was my inspiration.
This is semi-AU I guess. Don't ask why.
It was strange not having Takano hovering over his shoulder on the way home from the subway. Normally the older editor would use any sort of excuse to be closer, but he'd left so quickly as soon as he finished with his work at Marukawa that Ritsu didn't even see him out. Not that it bothered him or anything. If anything, it was sort of a relief for him because he could actually relax just a little bit while walking home and sitting on the subway. Well he used that excuse in his mind, anyways.
Ritsu flipped open his phone; 21.30.
Sigh, it's getting late, isn't it? I should eat something... One look into his refrigerator revealed only energy packets and some rotten fruit in the back. Well, never mind then. I wonder if—er, no. Never mind that thought. He sighed again and sat down in front of his couch, skimming through a book that he'd gotten at the public library the week before. Tonight was the first in a long time that he didn't have to do any extra work. What a treat, huh?
He started when his cell phone started ringing in the empty silence. "Hello?"
"Onodera."
A faint choking/rage noise could be heard.
"Whatever you were doing, drop it and come out onto your balcony."
"A-ah…" Ritsu scattered some papers around to make it seem like he was doing something. "S-sorry, Takano-san. I'm busy."
"Liar. Just come out." Even across the phone, Takano's dry and deadpan voice could be heard.
Groaning in fake aggravation—because he'd stopped being truly annoyed a while ago—Ritsu shuffled over to his balcony doors and slid them open, stepping out onto the small overhang. "So? What is it?"
"Look down."
Ritsu did so—and very nearly dropped his phone. Standing there, 12 floors down, was Takano, phone pressed to his ear, CD player in hand, and the faintest smile on his face.
"See me?"
"Y-yeah…" Ritsu couldn't say anything more, really. What was Takano thinking? He was on the 12th floor, how could he hear any—okay, no. He wasn't anticipating anything, he wasn't. "What're you doing?"
Takano's low tone traveled through the phone. "Just listen." The phone hung up and Ritsu was left standing there, wondering what in the hell this man was going to do now.
Takano set the CD player down and must have pressed the on button, for the beginning sounds of music drifted up into the night air and onto Ritsu's balcony.
Then…he began to sing.
Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave
How can I love when I'm afraid
To fall
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt
Suddenly goes away somehow
One step closer
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid
I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more…
And all along I believed
I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more…~
And all the while Takano was singing, there was only the most sincere expression on his face, eyes as soft as Ritsu had ever seen them; no such arrogance or pride in his posture, just the hope that he would return the same feelings. Ritsu didn't know when he'd started crying. Maybe it was the way Takano's eyes had seemed almost pleading. Maybe it was when he sang "I have died every day waiting for you", because Ritsu had felt the same exact way all those years ago, after that misunderstanding. Or maybe it was because Ritsu loved Takano as much as Takano did him.
Ritsu covered his mouth with a hand, forcing the sobs not to burst out. Otherwise, he would never be able to stop.
This was…this was the most romantic thing anyone had ever done for him, in his entire life. And for Takano of all people to have done it only reassured Ritsu that his feelings for him were strong, and pure, and everlasting. He…loved Takano so much.
Takano stopped singing when the music stopped, and then he just stood there, hands stuffed into his jacket pockets and staring directly at Ritsu, waiting expectantly for his answer. It was…overwhelming, having that much power over someone like that. Ritsu wasn't sure whether he liked it or not. He did know, though, that Takano was the one. He was. There was no other person more fit for him, no other person he could love as much as Takano.
"Ritsu!" Takano called out, his voice quiet yet deafening in that cold autumn's night. He was still waiting, wasn't he?
Ritsu could only nod furiously, not trusting himself to say anything just yet. Takano just…lit up, as bright as the stars, as bright as the brilliant Christmas lights that were strung around the city every year. He was just so beautiful.
And as Takano rushed into the building the same time Ritsu rushed out of his apartment down to the lobby, they both knew, in their hearts, that there could never be a love as beautiful and as deep as the one they shared.
A/N: Just pretend Ritsu could hear Takano from 12 floors up. I know it's nearly impossible, but sh. Just enjoy it.
I thought this song really described them.
-ChemicallyEnhanced