Disclaimer: I'm on a roll now.

Misaki: That's not a disclaimer

Chey: I know. But I feel like fighting right now.

Akihiko: I know this guy who's really good at fighting. He can beat it out of you.

Hiroki: Don't drag me into this.

Chey: Okay okay, I own nothing but the insanity in my own mind.

Romantica Act Five Part Two

EDIT 3/1/12: I messed up a bit in the middle where Haruhiko came home twice cuz I wasan't paying attention. Sorry for the inconvience. It's fixed now though.

Akihiko sat on in a first class plane seat, wondering why his brother went through all this trouble when a train ride took only a little more time. He sighed. Because now he had time to think. The incident with Misaki had caused a deep rift between them. Granted it had only been two days since the argument, if it could even be considered an argument, but neither of them had spoken much since Akihiko had grabbed him.

He felt guilty for what he'd done but Misaki had started it. If he hadn't suggested Akihiko was better off without him, then he wouldn't have been so rough. "Dammit," he muttered under his breath. He was just going to have to deal with what he'd done. He knew one thing though. There was no way he was going to let himself get stuck living with his newly married brother. As much as he was attached to his brother since their father had such little interaction with them, he did not want to interfere nor be interfered with in regards to his love life.

When he got off the plane, he was greeted by a chauffeur. "Welcome to Osaka. Your brother sends his apologies. In light of his transfer, he must quickly wrap up all of his work here. He will be meeting you at home."

Akihiko nodded and followed him to the waiting car. In the fancy apartment he'd been set up in, Akihiko was greeted by his brother's beautiful young wife, Usami Kanna. She smiled warmly. "Welcome, Akihiko-kun."

"Thank you." Akihiko stared at her with a mild expression.

"You're brother will be coming home shortly. I'm in the process of making dinner. Would you like some tea?"

"Yes, thank you." Akihiko took a seat as his sister in law went through the motions of playing nice. Whether she really was nice or not, he didn't know. Perhaps she was nice.

But if she was nice, then why was she with his older brother?

"How do you take it?"

"Straight." She brought a tea tray to the table and poured some for the both of them. "I hear you'll all be coming back to Tokyo soon."

She smiled and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "Yes, I did find all this rather strange but his boss wants him back at the head office."

"You mean, father wants him back in the home office."

Kanna actually laughed. "That's probably true. Will you also become part of the family business?"

"I'd rather not."

She nodded. "You should be able to do what you want." She sounded almost wistful.

Akihiko tilted his head. "Does Haru-nii not want to be part of the business?"

"I don't know." She sighed. "Sometimes, I think he loves it and sometimes…well, in any case, it's not like he could leave."

"Why?"

"Your father is the president and mine is the vice president. A perfect match and neither of us can get away from it...not that my husband really wants to. And now we've just started living here and already we're being recalled to the head office in Tokyo. So, Haruhiko and I thought you might want to enjoy Osaka without worrying about hotel costs."

"Father would probably just pay for it if I wished to go somewhere but I'm glad to spend time here."

She smiled crookedly. "You act a lot less like your brother when it comes to money."

Akihiko looked up curiously.

She smiled more widely. "He's so stingy." Then she actually giggled.

Akihiko didn't smile but he felt a slight affection for this woman. Clearly his brother's affectionless attitude hadn't quelled hers. "Do you like Osaka?"

"It's as good a place as any." She sounded wistful.

"Do you want to travel?"

She smiled a bit. "Always. I wanted to go to France for our honeymoon but…" she trailed off. Akihiko knew. He'd seen his brother and father talking at the wedding. They never talked unless it was urgent and absolutely necessary—much the way that the entire family communicated. "Anyway, it was nice to get away from Tokyo for awhile."

Akihiko nodded and sipped his tea. He heard the front door open and was saved from the awkward silence by the arrival of Haruhiko.

"Hello, Niisan." Akihiko didn't bother getting up although Kanna did.

"Welcome home," she said with a smile Haruhiko didn't return.

"Hello little brother," Haruhiko said, looking him over.

"Thank you for inviting me here," Akihiko said out of formality.

"Of course."

"My dear, would you like some tea?" Kanna asked. Her face was confused. She didn't quite understand the stiffness between the two young men. Haruhiko, at least, was usually more avid than this stiff man whom she'd only seen when in the company of their parents. But these two were brothers. Why was the atmosphere so dark?

"Thank you, Kanna," Haruhiko murmured and she caught just a hint of his usual affection. Then it was gone and he took a seat across from his brother who was carefully observing his tea. This was going to be a very awkward few days, she realized grimly as she went to get another teacup.

And to be continued…

Chey: Yay for having no clue where to go as of yet…Woot.

Misaki: You don't have to sound so miserable.

Chey: But I am. I can't even think straight right now. Sorry about that.

Misaki: You normally think straight?

Chey: Shut up. Anyway, please review and make me happy enough to come unstuck.

Thanks for reading!

~CheyanneChika