Disclaimer: Erm, I own nothing as per usual.

Chey: This is the start of volume two. I stayed up really late last night and worked out the schedule for this book. It will take about fourteen chapters to get through it all the way, but hopefully those weeks will fly by.

Misaki: And hopefully you won't go on a three month hiatus after the second chapter.

Chey: Shut up, I won't.

Misaki: So you say now.

Chey: I'm sure it will all work out just fine.

Misaki: I'll believe it when I see it.

Chey: So mean. Just you watch.

Romantica Act Three Part One

Usagi Akihiko, age 18, studying at Mitsuhashi University and free loading at the great manga artist, Takahashi Misaki's apartment. Takahashi has won numerous awards for his manga and his artistic abilities and—none of that mattered when Akihiko knew the real him. He was a pervert who drew sexy pictures of himself and Akihiko's brother, Haruhiko…together. It was disgusting.

But now, Akihiko decided, pouring over Misaki Sensei's latest sketchbook, now he had gone too far. The pictures in this one featured Misaki and Akihiko involved in various sex acts. What was worse was that they seemed to be in manga format, although there were no words involved. He flipped through, rationalizing that he was doing this not because of a disturbing need to see more, but for some other reason…incriminating evidence! That was it. Sensei was drawing himself in an illicit act with a minor. He would have to hand this over to the proper authorities.

While this was going on in one part of his brain, another part was forming words that would fit the pictures. He had written BL before, to pass a class, but he'd never intended to do it outside of that one time. Now he couldn't help thinking about it.

As soon as the rest of his mind caught up with those thoughts, he snapped. He threw the book aside in frustration before picking it back up again and stalking upstairs to talk to his landlord.

Surprise, surprise, Misaki was sacked out at eleven o'clock in the morning. "Oi, Sensei, get up! I can't believe this! First my brother and now me? What the hell? Find somebody else to draw. Hey, are you listening? Get up!"

Misaki stared at him blurry eyed. "What do you want at this ungodly hour?"

"It's almost afternoon. It's unhealthy to stay in bed this long anyway."

"But I was having a dream about you."

Akihiko froze for a second before saying gruffly, "That's not important. Why the hell—" He fell silent as Misaki shot out of bed, grasped his wrist and pushed him down on the bed before climbing on top of him.

He looked down at the somewhat flustered teen. "Why do you hate my drawing so much?"

"Because I'm in them!"

"You should be honored." Misaki punctuated this by leaning down and kissing the teen softly. Akihiko started to hesitate then gave in—

And the bedroom door was flung open by a young, determined man. "Good morning, Sensei, I take it you've drawn, edited and inked your panels for me on time!"

Akihiko's eyes bugged while Misaki's merely glowered. The man rolled his eyes. "I'm guessing not. Get yourself dressed, I'll be waiting downstairs." He turned and left, not even mentioning the scene before him.

"Who was that?" Akihiko asked delicately.

"Sumi Keiichi. He works for the publishing house that owns the magazine I draw for."

"And what is he doing here?"

"He wants the pages I was working on last night."

"Are you finished with them?"

"Of course not, I was too busy dreaming about you. Now, where were we?" Misaki leaned down to kiss him again, but Akihiko, his heart stuttering pushed him off. "What?"

"He's just waiting downstairs, he'll hear us."

"So?"

Akihiko sighed and shoved the slimmer man off of him and said, "Get dressed, I'll go make coffee."

"Use heat resistant mugs," Misaki called after him.

Akihiko smirked, like he would forget to do that.

…

Misaki came downstairs and was greeted by the sound of shattering glass and loud cursing. He rolled his eyes at Usagi's foolishness and called, "Are you alright?"

"Fine," Akihiko acknowledged.

Misaki looked over to Sumi-san, who was trying not to laugh. "Usagi! Come here."

"Don't order me around," the boy in question griped, coming out of the kitchen.

"This is my editor, Sumi Keiichi-san. Please be nice."

"As if you are," Sumi muttered, earning an elbow to the gut.

"How do you do?" Akihiko tried for decorum. "I'm Usami Akihiko."

"It's nice to meet you."

"So, did you bring me crème puffs? You know I need them to finish before the deadline."

Sumi smirked. "Of course, how could I forget?" He gestured to the counter where a box of sweets sat.

Misaki's whole face lit up. He hurried over and ripped open the box. He popped one into his mouth and chewed with a blissful expression. Akihiko couldn't decide if this was child like behavior was adorable or mildly disgusting. He watched Misaki grab another and take a smaller bite before running upstairs to grab his panels for that month's act of some ongoing story.

Akihiko had attempted to read the part of the story that had already been printed into volumes but, like all manga did, it had bored him.

He sighed. There was no point in dwelling on it. "I'm going to school!"

Misaki turned to say goodbye, but Akihiko looked down and almost ran for the door. Misaki caught him though and spun him around. Akihiko looked into the mangaka's emerald eyes, which were so close to his own. "Have a good day," he murmured and nuzzled Akihiko's nose with his own. For a breath taking moment, Akihiko thought that Misaki Sensei might kiss him again but he pulled back and sauntered away to speak with Sumi-san, who was regarding Akihiko with a bemused expression. Without further ado, the boy turned and stalked out with as much dignity as he could manage.

He lost all his dignity at lunch though, and confessed everything that had happened that morning to Aikawa-Senpai.

"So his editor just showed up out of the blue this morning? Is that why you were late? Cause you're never this late."

"I know. I barely made it to lunch today."

"So does he come by often?"

"Apparently, though this is the first time I've seen him. He usually comes when I'm at school."

"Oh? And how does that work? Is Takahashi Sensei home all day?"

"No, he came in while we were in his ro—" Akihiko stopped, flustered. "When we were upstairs. I think he has a key."

"So he really can come in whenever. Isn't that weird?" She giggled suddenly. "It's a bit moe! Unless all the other editors have keys as well."

Akihiko rolled his eyes dully. "I think it's just him."

"Maybe they're dating."

Akihiko's eyes widened. "What?"

"Well, everyone thinks you and he have a thing. He's pretty, he's small and he draws shoujo manga. If he's gay, then it would make sense that he might have a boyfriend.

"They can't be."

"Why not?"

"Because—" Akihiko stared trying to think of a reason.

"Because why?"

Akihiko looked away, unable to think.

"Well, you can come stay with me if they get all lovey dovey." Akihiko rolled his eyes and ate his food quickly, as if that could speed up lunch. He just wanted this day to be over.

To be continued…

Yay, another cliffhanger.

Misaki: Not again.

Chey: Yes again…and it's not even really a cliffhanger so deal.

Misaki: *rolls eyes*

Chey: Please review, love love love:)

Thanks for reading!

~Chey