Disclaimer: Puppies are so cute

Hiroki: What the hell kind of disclaimer is that?

Chey: A fun one.

Hiroki: Baka!

Nowaki: Hiro-san, don't be mean.

Chey: Thank you, Wattchan.

Nowaki: You, say the disclaimer.

Chey: Ugh, fine, I own nothing. Now then, here's where the story starts to deviate. The story will get back to the manga somewhat but this chapter will be completely different.

Oh and, once again to the people who want tero: THEY DON'T APPEAR UNTIL VOLUME FIVE! This is Volume Two. So, I'm sorry but you're just gonna have to wait.

Egoist Act Four, Part One

"Not that I have a problem living with you, but this isn't even my apartment. I'm not even paying rent," Akihiko reminded Hiroki as the boy stood before him with his belongings in a large pack at his side.

Hiroki hated pleading, but he could not under any circumstance go home. "Please, Akihiko, it's only a couple days until I find another apartment."

"Weren't you living in your vanished boyfriend's apartment? Did he finally stop paying for it?"

"No, he came back."

Akihiko raised an eyebrow. "Am I missing something? I thought you only stayed there because you were waiting for him."

Hiroki blushed and looked away. "No, I was only staying there because it was a waste to leave it standing empty."

"You're such a bad liar." Akihiko smirked. "I'll talk to Sensei. I think I can talk him into opening one of the spare bedrooms for you to sleep in."

Hiroki smiled, changing his whole face. "Thanks."

Akihiko touched his cheek gently and it came away damp. Hiroki started. He hadn't realized he'd been crying. "Come on, Hiroki. Sensei will be here to pick me up. You can come too."

"Why does he pick you up? Isn't that complex like fifteen minutes walking distance?"

"He likes to pick me up." They started for the front gate to see Misaki's sleek car waiting for the student. When they approached the car a window slid down.

Misaki's eyes flicked from the blonde teen to the brunette. "Another friend of yours?" he asked lightly.

"Yeah, this is my childhood friend, Kamijou Hiroki."

"It's nice to meet you." He smiled flirtatiously at the boy who was still taller than him. Akihiko felt a slight stab of jealousy but shoved it down.

"Yeah, same here," Hiroki replied dully. He didn't even notice that he was being flirted with.

"Um, Sensei? Hiroki needs a place to stay for a couple of days and I was wondering if he could use one of the spare bedrooms."

"Did he have a fight with his boyfriend?" Misaki asked lightly. Hiroki's head shot up as he sputtered wordlessly. "Yep. Get in, I can't resist helping a boy in need." That last part implied he'd be willing to do more than just provide him with a place to stay which irked Akihiko for some reason. He was starting to feel less inclined to help his best friend. Still, he went around and got in the passenger's seat while Hiroki shoved his things into the back.

All the way to the apartment, Hiroki stiffened his resolve. He had to move on from this brutally screwed up relationship. He knew that Nowaki was passionate, loving and the most wonderful man that he'd ever met, or ever would meet, but he disappeared without saying a word. If he did that again, he doubted he would survive it. He recalled the last date he and Nowaki had gone on. Nowaki had kissed him hard and long from the street, all the way up to the apartment, into the bedroom, into bed and all night long.

And then he was just gone. Nowaki had shattered his heart into a million tiny pieces. His return had sewn parts of it back together but it was still covered with scars. He wanted to save his heart this time around. Even if it meant running away from his true love.

...

Hiroki stared up at the second story of the apartment in complete awe. This place was freaking massive.

"I'll get a futon to put in one of the bedrooms. Come on upstairs. You can pick the Bear Room or the Great Wall Room"

"Original titles," Hiroki murmured.

"Trust me, they're not." Akihiko led him upstairs and opened the linens closet to pull down a futon and carried it to the first bedroom and pulled open the door. Hiroki's eyes just about fell out of their sockets. The room was filled to the brim with teddy bears of all shapes and sizes. "And…" He moved to the next room and opened it to reveal a miniature of the Great Wall of China and a set of train tracks weaving around it. "So which do you want?"

"Um," Hiroki licked his lips. "Um the other room." At least if I roll out of bed, I'll hit something soft.

Akihiko nodded and pulled the door shut. They back tracked and Akihiko set down the futon to push and kick the teddy bears out of the way enough so that he could actually get the mat into the room.

…

The next day, Hiroki and Akihiko decided to walk to school because a young man was standing stiffly over Misaki who was on the floor, half awake, with art tools and paper spread out all around him. "You'll have to fend for yourselves today, I didn't have time to make breakfast," he'd said when we'd come downstairs.

"It's cool, work hard." Akihiko started to leave with Hiroki but the thunk of the coffee table being shoved into the couch turned them back.

Misaki was suddenly wrapped around Akihiko, grinding his whole body into the tall boy. "I'm sorry I can't drive you to school today."

"Um, it's fine." He hugged Misaki awkwardly.

What Akihiko didn't see were the possessive dagger eyes that Misaki threw at Hiroki. Those emerald orbs spoke volumes. They clearly stated that Akihiko was his and anyone who tried to take him was dead.

Instead of feeling scared though, Hiroki felt jealous. These two had a relationship. They lived together and made it work. Why had his cohabitation failed?

Because Nowaki abandoned him for an entire year.

Hiroki shut his eyes and turned away. "Akihiko, we're going to be late."

Akihiko nodded and detached himself from his Sensei's embrace. "I'll see you after school."

"Bye," Misaki said and returned to the young man who looked as if he was going to come over and forcibly drag Misaki back to the coffee table.

Akihiko joined him, trying to pull off his usual playful smirk, but all he could manage was a stupid grin. Hiroki wanted to smack him. Stupid, stable relationships! Hiroki wanted to cry.

To be continued…

Hiroki: Why do you keep making me cry?

Chey: Because I'm a sadist.

Hiroki: Evil demon woman.

Chey: that's rich, coming from you.

Nowaki: Now guys, stop arguing.

Chey: I suppose, now, everybody review and I will love you forever.

Hiroki: I won't.

Chey: Shut. Up.

Thanks for reading!

~Cheyanne