AN: Yes, I know I have lots of homework to do as well as another fic, but I did this one while I had a writer's block; it was inspired by a TV show, maybe? I don't remember… I write when I'm at my weakest point, mentally, so I apologize for any mistakes, whether they are due to my own ignorance of the Japanese culture, or just plain lack of sleep.

REVIEWS ARE LUV!

Warnings: Yaoi, light smut, spoilers up to vol. 8 (Byouin no Sempai cameo.)

Disclaimer: I do not own Junjou Romantica.

-.--.--.-

Kusama Orphan

Chapter One: Keiji-Kun

-.--.--.-

Kamijou Hiroki sipped at his coffee as he raked his fingers through his hair, struggling to focus his eyes on the different kana and kanji on the screen of his laptop. He hadn't slept in about thirty eight hours and was now on his sixth cup of coffee, sitting quietly in the comfort of his own living room.

"Hiro-san?" Nowaki spoke to him as he opened the front door, coming home for the first time in three days. "You're still up? It's one in the morning…"

"Ah," Hiroki looked up, blinking. "Nowaki, okaeri."

"Tadaima…" Nowaki headed over to the couch, sitting down next to his lover. "When did you get home?"

"Around midnight or so…" Hiroki replied, absently, eyes glued to his computer.

"You look exhausted, is it because exams are coming up?" His tall lover inquired.

"Mm…" Hiroki nodded. "Want a cup of coffee? I just put a pot on."

". . . I want to go to bed." Nowaki laughed, softly. "I'm sorry, Hiro-san, I have to be up early tomorrow."

"Oh, well you should get some rest then." Hiroki went back to his work and Nowaki smiled, leaning down and pecking his lover on the cheek.

Hiroki was so absorbed in his work that he didn't even bother to protest or explode at his lover, he just continued typing away and reading.

Even though he hadn't been scolded, Nowaki felt ignored, and today of all days, he simply wouldn't tolerate it. He needed some company tonight…

Slowly, his arms snaked around Hiroki's slim waist, and he buried his nose in the crook of his lover's neck.

This didn't go ignored. Hiroki froze before he reached up and rubbing his eyes, gently. "Mm… Nowaki, what're you doing?"

"Gomen, Hiro-san…" Nowaki mumbled, softly into his lover's soft skin. "…Today was rough… so if you don't mind, I just want to hold you for a moment."

Hiroki had come to learn what that meant, and he resigned himself to comforting his lover, even if all that meant was switching his attention from work to the man holding him…

And actually…

He could use a break…

-.--.--.-

Nowaki let out a soft noise as he was pressed into their bed, Hiroki's hands clinging to his thicker wrists, and the brunette slowly lowered himself down onto the younger man's body, his mouth covering his lover's hotly.

Nowaki wasn't used to being 'topped' so to say, but he knew that no matter how this started, it would end with his own seed filling up the lithe figure that now pressed into him from atop.

"Hiro-san," He breathed when Hiroki pulled back for a moment to pull off his own shirt.

His breathing became heavy with excitement as he watched his lover undress and he reached up for Hiroki's firm abs, running a smooth, warm hand up over them and settling one hand over the left side of Hiroki's chest.

"Nowaki…" Hiroki whispered, not sure as to how close his lover was with whomever had died, but sympathizing nonetheless. He reached down to caress both of his lover's cheeks with his hands. "…You sure you want to do this? You're so tired…" The back of his hand brushed gently across his lover's right cheek, and Nowaki smiled, happily.

"Hiro-san…" It was hard to believe that this surprisingly gentle man above him was the same man that would surely hit him with at least one book the next day due to the pain that was surely yet to come out of this night together. "I want Hiro-san…" He took the hand from his cheek and kissed Hiroki's knuckles, sweetly. "And actually, Hiro-san, I know you have a lot of work to do. Ideally, I'd prefer it if you slept with me in the bed… but I know-"

"Alright." Hiroki cut him off, leaning down and kissing Nowaki's neck. "I have to sleep tonight, anyway… you probably saved me from a lot of typos."

"…I see." Nowaki smiled, running his fingers through Hiroki's hair. "In that case…" He trailed off, quietly.

"…In that case?" Hiroki pulled away and blinked. Nowaki had fallen asleep.

Hiroki stared, a tad annoyed, but in the end, he wound up curling into his lover and resting his head on Nowaki's shoulder, arms wrapped tightly around his neck. The two slept together until Nowaki's alarm went off.

-.--.--.-

"Mmn…" Nowaki reached over, shutting the damn thing off before sighing, heavily. There was something latched onto him, and that certain something would be very grumpy when it woke up, he could already tell by the furrowed eyebrows… It might not even wake up after twenty times of being woken today, which wasn't good, because if it didn't wake up, Nowaki himself couldn't get ready.

Luckily for Nowaki, the thing grumbled, and got up on its own for the first time… probably ever.

"Nowaki, what time is it?" Hiroki rubbed his eyes, tiredly.

"Time to get up and get ready, for me that is, I'm sorry, Hiro-san, I-"

"Me, too, I'll head to work early and get back to work…" Hiroki rubbed his eyes again, yawned, then headed for the shower. "Hurry up."

Nowaki's eyes lit up and he darted into the bathroom after his lover.

Once both of them were situated inside, with the temperature of the water just right, Nowaki pulled Hiroki against him from behind and buried his face in his lover's neck.

"Nowaki, you'll be late." Hiroki muttered, still sleepy.

"It'll be fine. I'll just eat on the way instead of cooking breakfast… if that's okay with Hiro-san…"

Hiroki sighed, shutting his eyes and letting his lover's hands explore his body. He hadn't felt the touch of the other man in about a week, and with the stress that came with the end of the trimester, he knew he could use a little release.

"What time are you off, tonight?" He asked as his lover kissed the muscles on his back and neck, gently and lovingly.

"I get off early, tonight." Nowaki whispered. "And Hiro-san? You probably won't get home until early tomorrow morning?"

"I'll see what I can do." Hiroki replied, tilting his head back and closing his eyes as Nowaki pressed their mouths together.

He felt Nowaki's hot tongue slide along his own and he moaned softly into their kiss, unable to repress it.

A large hand wrapped around his dick and he reached his right arm back, bringing his fingers up to cling to the back of Nowaki's spiky head and his other arm lowered and he wrapped his hand around Nowaki's morning wood.

The two continued kissing wetly as their hands pumped at one another's erections.

Hiroki moaned softly into a kiss, the sound of their kissing and their actions echoed off the shower wall, turning the man on even more. He felt his lower abs tighten as his orgasm neared.

They both came at the same time, breaking their kiss to moan and whimper one another's names as they climaxed together.

As they held one another, both using the shower wall for support, they panted, struggling to recompose themselves… It seemed both of them had been neglecting their health due to work the last couple days, so neither of them had much endurance left when it came to somewhat strenuous activity….

They both knew that, at least for Hiroki, after the exams were over, there would be more attention paid to their health, but for now, they both resigned themselves to taking just enough care to avoid getting sick.

"One more week…" Hiroki mumbled, softly, and Nowaki kissed his forehead, happy that his lover's month-long period of misery was nearing its end.

"Then, Hiro-san, you should take a long nap."

"Nowaki, quit your part-time job." Hiroki snapped, suddenly, and Nowaki blinked.

"Please…" The older man whispered, and though it was barely audible, Nowaki had heard; no, felt the desperation in the other man's voice.

Smiling gently, he pressed his lips to Hiroki's cheek and nodded. "I'll consider it."

-.--.--.-

"Hiro-san, are we competing?" Nowaki asked as he hurried down the stairs to follow his lover, who was practically sprinting.

"Competing?!" Hiroki called over his shoulder without slowing his pace.

"To get to work, I mean." Nowaki called, smiling. "You're practically running!"

"I happen to be running so I won't be late!" Hiroki replied, but he stopped at the corner where the two of them had to part ways.

Nowaki caught up in no time, smiling brightly down at his lover. "Hiro-san, you look much better this morning than last night."

"I do?" Hiroki asked, bringing a hand to his cheek.

"Yes," Nowaki reached down, adjusting his lover's scarf. He definitely wanted his lover to be warm, and who knew, maybe running around like this would help keep him warm…

The weather had turned very cold, and Nowaki had been saving up to buy a kotatsu. He'd seen one in a picture Hiroki had had from when he was a child, but had never really had one himself. (1).

Whenever he saw the man shiver or breathing into his hands to warm them, Nowaki considered blurting it out; 'I'm going to buy a kotatsu, Hiro-san, I've saved up enough!' but he knew he had to wait to surprise the other man.

"I feel a little better," Hiroki broke Nowaki out of his stupor, and Nowaki blinked.

"What's that, Hiro-san?"

"You said I look better… I feel it, too… you look a bit better, too." Hiroki told him.

"Ah, yes… our skin, for example-"

"I gotta go!" Hiroki cut him off, annoyed, turning and hurrying off into the direction of the school. (2).

Nowaki pouted, raising a hand to his mouth to call after his lover; "Hiro-san! It's five in the morning! How can you possibly be late?!"

"I'm sorry! I'll see you at home! If I start early, I might be able to get off early!"

"Have a good day, Hiro-san!" Nowaki called before turning, and also hurrying toward the station.

-.--.--.-

"I'm here!" Hiroki exploded into his office, panting. "Sorry I'm… late…?" He looked around. The light was on, but no one was inside. He pulled off his jacket, tossed his gloves and scarf on his seat and looked around for any signs of his superior before coming to a conclusion that excited him at first, and then irritated him:

"I made it here first? I beat that bastard?! I win! Wait… HE SAID TO BE HERE EARLY! Miyagi, you BASTARD! You promised you'd help go over my-"

"BUUUU!!!"

"AAAAAH!!!" Hiroki jumped, pivoted, and landed on is rump, staring up at one Miyagi You, who was holding his briefcase in one hand, a bag in the other.

"I never EVER break a promise." Miyagi snapped, setting the bag on a desk and offering Hiroki a hand.

"…Y-you break them all the time." Hiroki snapped, taking his hand and getting up, pulling his hand instantly away as soon as Miyagi released it.

"What was that?" Miyagi huffed, annoyed.

"It's winter," Hiroki started cleaning his hands with disinfectant wipes, "You can never be too careful, and YOU happen to hang around a sniveling little brat all the time, so I'm not taking any risks."

Miyagi stared at Hiroki, and the younger man could tell that his superior was also neglecting his health. The man sniffed, then scowled at his subordinate, realizing he'd just absent-mindedly given the man a reason to fear his boss' touch.

"…And here I came and brought you a little treat."

"A treat?" Hiroki asked, annoyed.

"Remember that conversation we were having yesterday?" Miyagi turned to the bag.

"I've been working for the past forty or so hours before I slept, so I don't remember any conversations I had with anyone." Hiroki admitted, pulling out his chair and sitting down, setting up his laptop.

"Not even the conversation you had with the dean, yesterday?" Miyagi turned, blinking.

"…" Hiroki's eyes bulged. "I had a conversation with the dean?!"

"Yeah, you told him you'd have that paper written by today."

"WHAT PAPER?!"

"Ah, you're so much fun to mess with, Kamijou." Miyagi chuckled as he pulled something out of the bag. "No, you didn't speak with the dean yesterday."

"You bastard… why do you do that?"

"Gotta amuse myself somehow, and you're my favorite person to play with, Kamijou-sensei," Miyagi jabbered, pointedly ignoring a small 'I hate you!' that he may have heard slip from his subordinate's lips, "If I don't amuse myself, how am I supposed to stay awake? Uuugh, I'm almost falling asleep right now, just thinking of sleep…"

"Then don't say the word." Hiroki huffed.

"Anyway, the conversation I was referring to was that of the conversation we were having about coffee not working on us anymore… Was that… yesterday? The day before???"

"I remember it, vaguely…" Hiroki muttered, also trying to remember. After a while, all the days seemed to smear into one… especially after staying up without sleep for nearly forty hours…

"Well, I picked this up for us, it's a new espresso from this new coffee place that opened up down the street from where I live, ah, they're still hot, so wait a bit." He handed one to Hiroki, who stared at the warm cup that had been placed in his hand, then up at his superior, then back at the coffee, and he continued doing that for a minute.

"…What?" Miyagi snapped, finally. "If this is about germs, trust me, it's too hot, it killed any that may have been absorbed through the cup itself."

Hiroki just continued to stare.

"…WHAT?!"

"…You…? You…? Nice…?? For someone else?!"

"You really don't give me enough credit." Miyagi huffed, before smirking. "Or is it that you give me too much?"

"…There's a catch." Hiroki's eyes narrowed and he readied to pour out the coffee. Possibly on the professor's head. THAT would wake the bastard up.

"Not a catch so much as I just need you to be at the top of your game. Your performance is a reflection on me, after all! Therefore, if it'll take a little bit of caffeine to help you to perform at your best, then I will pump it straight into your veins if I have to!"

"That's not necessary… thank you for the coffee…" Hiroki went to drink it, but a paper came between him and the cup. He looked up with a glare.

"…I told you, it's hot! Pay more attention! That reminds me! There's something I found last night that I want you to hear about."

"Eh? What is it?" Hiroki asked as he turned back to his desk, logging onto his file on his laptop and opening what he needed.

"Found this in a book I was reading last night." Miyagi pulled out a piece of paper. "Are you listening?"

"Yes, yes, you know I listen to all your problems."

"IT'S NOT A PROBLEM! YOU WOULD KNOW THAT IF YOU WERE LISTENING!"

"Go ahead." Hiroki replied, reading over something himself.

"All it says is that most people don't listen actively. According to the book I read, there were tests that indicated that immediately after listening to a 10-minute oral presentation, the average listener has heard, comprehended, accurately evaluated, and retained about half of what was said. Within 48 hours, the effectiveness level drops to just 25 percent. By the end of a week, listeners recall only about 10 percent or less of what they heard."

"Uh-huh."

"Many people daydream or think about an unrelated topic when someone else is talking. Some people become angry by a speaker's remarks and fail to fully absorb what the person is saying. Others become impatient and interrupt, preferring to talk rather than listen."

"Uh-huh."

"When I read that, you know who I thought of? … YOU."

"…"

"…"

"…" Miyagi's brow twitched and after a moment, Hiroki looked up. "Uh-huh."

"What do you think?" Miyagi snapped.

"…Uuuuh…" Hiroki looked away. "I agree with you."

"About what?"

"…What you just said."

"… So you also feel that way?"

"I do, indeed."

"…Good, let's start by burning this one." Miyagi grabbed a book off of Hiroki's shelf and Hiroki gasped, leaping to his feet and reaching for the book.

"Burn?! NEVER!"

"But you just agreed that we should burn every book written by this author."

"What?! No, I meant… uh… err… okay, start over from the beginning…"

"KAMIJOU, YOU NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF LISTENING TO OTHER PEOPLE!"

"Are you implying that I'm not a good listener?!"

"…" Miyagi inhaled, sharply, rubbing his temples.

"Can we have this conversation after the upcoming exams?" Hiroki asked, annoyed. "Why're you always wanting to talk instead of work?"

"What do you mean?" Miyagi pouted. "I work! I work hard! Even at home, I always- oh… oh no…"

"Forget something?" Hiroki muttered, returning to his computer.

"I stepped on a spider…"

"Eh?" Hiroki looked up, annoyed as Miyagi sat down, cleaning it off of his shoe with one of Hiroki's disinfectant wipes. "Are you kidding me with this?"

"Try putting yourself in the spider's place, Kamijou! Sympathize!"

"SYMPATHIZE?!" Hiroki spat back, annoyed. "Kyoujuu, why don't you try sympathizing with me?"

"Mm?" Miyagi looked up.

"I am that spider." Hiroki pointed, then gestured to the mess on his desk. "This mountain of paperwork is your shoe." He snapped, hoping his implications that all the work Miyagi dumped on him being painful would somehow sink into his superior's brain.

"…That reminds me, I need to leave work early today."

Hiroki's jaw dropped. "H-how early?!"

"Around two or so…"

"TWO?!!" Hiroki gawked.

"Yeah, I got chewed out last night because I keep spending the night here, so I think two in the morning should be good."

Hiroki fell silent. "…Oh… two in the…in the morning?"

"Yeah…" Miyagi yawned. "Besides, I think I should go ahead and try to get some sleep, my brain's not functioning quite right."

"Oh, that's normal in your case." Hiroki took a small sip of his coffee. "Ah- professor, the coffee has cooled down considerably. It tastes really good, thanks…"

"I couldn't remember what kind to get you, so I got you something sweet… You like sweet things."

"I do?" Hiroki glared, knowing the bastard was insinuating something…

"SO!" Miyagi changed the subject. "You wanted me to look over something, right?"

"Please…" Hiroki dug through his bag and pulled out his latest thesis, handing it over. "I just want you to read over it and tell me what you think."

"Ah… like I said, my brain's not working too well, but I'll do my best… Have you eaten yet?"

"No, why?" Hiroki asked, sipping at the coffee. It warmed him from the inside.

"That same place I got the coffee from sold some pretty amazing scones with this honey butter stuff, I had one, but there're more in the bag, they're wrapped up, I didn't touch them! Now, if you'll excuse me…"

"Where're you running off to with my thesis? You're not going to the bathroom are you?!" Hiroki snapped.

"…I'm going to walk and read so I don't fall asleep, also, movement stimulates the brain… I'm not going to steal it, you know."

"I dunno… it's pretty good…" Hiroki gloated.

"I've already found three mistakes."

"No you didn't." Hiroki snapped. "I started it before I was sleep deprived."

"Ah… you got some sleep last night, too, right?" Miyagi asked, still lingering in the doorway.

"Ah, yeah… I thought I'd better. You should, too. Definitely get some sleep tonight, Kyouju. It worked wonders for me."

"Good for you… your skin also looks particularly smooth and shiny today, Ka-mi-jo-u!"

"…Leave."

-.--.--.-

"Sempai, you look tired." Nowaki stated as he and his blonde senior walked toward the subway together. "Maybe you should get some sleep tonight."

"I can't." Tsumori mumbled, shoulders slumped. "…I accidentally got myself hooked on this TV series and even if I tried to go to sleep without watching at least one more episode, I wouldn't be able to sleep."

"…"

"…But the thing is, I can't watch just one… every single episode ends in this huge dramatic cliff-hanger! Can you believe that?!"

"…Sempai… don't you think your physical health should take precedence over your love for this… TV show?"

"My head knows it, but you know how the brain and heart combat all the time."

"…Over Hiro-san, but not over a TV show."

"Well, maybe the TV show is to me what that guy is to you." Tsumori huffed, argumentatively.

"No." Nowaki replied, bluntly, and his blonde friend laughed.

"Well, I'd better be off. Take care of yourself. See you in a day or so…"

"I'll still be on call." Nowaki pouted. Even though tomorrow was technically his day off, he would probably get called in.

"I told them to give you a break, besides, things are slow enough now to where we should feel safe going to sleep. It's okay for them to call someone else in once in a while! They need to quit relying so heavily on us.

"But tomorrow isn't your day off…" Nowaki pointed out.

"No… no it isn't…" The blonde sighed, dejectedly. "See you."

Nowaki shook his head with a smile before heading off in another direction. An icy wind breezed past him and he shuddered, involuntarily, tugging his scarf tighter around his neck.

He smiled up into the gray sky. The lack of light, even in the early evening may have made most feel a bit dismal, but thoughts of winter always brought a smile to Nowaki's face. During the winter time, his lover Kamijou Hiroki often 'got cold,' presenting Kusama Nowaki with quite a few if not many chances to hold or touch the other man.

Giddy at the very thought, he quickened his pace, wondering if his beloved would be waiting for him at home. For a moment, he reconsidered the kotatsu idea… then again, even if his precious Hiro-san was slightly more likely to go to the heated table for a source of warmth, it meant more time spent between the two at home.

"Excuse me!" A man tapped him on the shoulder from behind, suddenly, and Nowaki blinked, turning to look at the raggedy old man, who was rolling his hands one over the other in an attempt to keep warm.

He had an almost skeletal frame, long white frizzy hair and a beard, liver spots all over his skin, and rags for clothes, it seemed. His toes were peeking through his shoes, as well…

"Err… yes, sir?" Nowaki asked.

"M-might you have some spare change on you, sir?" The man asked, and Nowaki dug through his pockets, unsure as to whether or not he had any to spare. He realized for the third or so time this week that he shouldn't have come this way.

He probably should have gone the longer route; this time of year, there were tons of bums and homeless people lingering around the streets. It wasn't that Nowaki didn't want to give what little change he had in his pocket, it was just that walking this way put a damper on his otherwise happy mood, as the thought of homeless people often made him feel a little sad and depressed.

"I don't have much, I spent what I had on me at work today, but here you go." Nowaki handed over what he had. The man looked into his hand, smiling happily as though he were a child who'd been given a piece of candy. He looked up at Nowaki, quite cheerfully, and said;

"Thank you, young man! Thank you very much!"

"He's just gonna spend it on booze." Snapped a voice from off to the side of the two.

"Eh?" Nowaki and the man both turned to a kid who was sitting on top of a wooden crate at the opening of an alley, knees tucked under his chin, arms wrapped tightly around them.

"That's not true!" The man snapped, annoyed. "I may have very little pride, young man, but even I have enough pride to-"

"Bull, bull, bull, I've seen you work these same streets over and over, every day and every night, and you only ever get about as much as that guy gave you, and what do you do with it?"

"Not what you think, you damn brat!" The man snapped as the boy stood, rubbing the snow off of his bare knees, annoyed before folding his arms.

"Well I don't know, but I do know that every couple weeks, I see you with a bottle of this or that, but it's always alcohol! Get yourself a job or something if you're going to take handouts!"

"Uuuh… is he related to you?" Nowaki asked the old man, who huffed.

"The only relative I have is my twenty four year old granddaughter who GIVES ME those bottles, thank you very much!" The man huffed. "That little brat's some punk orphan who needs to mind his manners and keep his own mouth shut."

"…You're… living on the streets?" Nowaki asked the boy. "How old are you?"

"What's it to you, pedo?" The boy huffed, turning his body as though he were ready to dash any moment

He looked energetic enough, for a bum... though most children around his age typically were… He appeared to be anywhere from six to nine, with a small, somewhat lanky frame, dark hair and tan skin, smudged with dirt all over, his clothes were just about as raggedy as the old man, but his shoes seemed to be in good condition. Perhaps someone had felt charitable and had given them to him- or perhaps the boy hadn't been on the street very long…

"…Well, if you're an orphan, there's this orphanage not far from-" Nowaki began, but was immediately cut off, as though the boy had been anticipating this statement;

"Yeah, where do you think I came from? I'm not going there, so quit with your kind Somerton act and keep walking! Oh, and for your own sake, if you see smelly old men trying to bum money off of you, you should tell them NO! Otherwise they'll just keep taking advantage of you."

Nowaki stared at the boy's trembling fingers and his glaring eyes, curiously. He'd walked down this path everyday for the past couple days and had never seen this boy before.

"…You see… I'm new walking this way…" Nowaki smiled. "You seem to have a better grasp on how I should go about getting home safely… you have some street smarts, huh?"

"Yeah, well…" The boy scratched his cheek, averting his gaze, annoyed, "I'm kinda new here, too…"

"But you seem to have more common sense than I do… how would you like to help me to make sure I get home safely?" Nowaki inquired.

"Huh?" the boy looked up, blinking.

"Kind of like a job… I'll pay you with something warm to eat… it's just that I simply don't know what might happen to me if I don't have someone who has some street smarts to accompany and … to protect me, that is." Nowaki smiled.

The boy stared at him with that piercing glare, and for a moment, Nowaki wondered if the boy was too smart to buy into his offer.

"…Yeah, well… I've got some time to kill; I guess I could be your bodyguard for a minute." The boy hopped off of the crate and walked up to Nowaki. "…Come on, then."

The other vagabond simply shook his head, smiling at Nowaki as he headed off with the orphan leading him.

-.--.--.-

"So you came from the Kusama orphanage?" Nowaki asked as the two made their way toward Nowaki's home.

"Yeah…" The boy replied as he walked, struggling to keep up his make-believe 'cool' persona; arms folded casually behind his head, eyes closed.

"You should know that I also grew up there." Nowaki smiled.

"…Grew up there?" The boy asked, glancing up at him.

"Well, actually, I was there from the time I was a baby, until I was old enough to get a job or two…" 'Or six…'

"So no one wanted you, either, huh?" The boy asked.

Nowaki froze, eyes widening as the boy continued walking on without noticing. Painful memories from his childhood returned… the feeling of making friends, loving other orphans like siblings only to have them ripped away, adopted because they were cuter, or smarter, or younger… Wishing with all your heart that someone would find you to be cute, or smart, or loveable enough to adopt…

Feeling pathetic, knowing you were smiling your hardest, and being on your best behavior, only to not get chosen, and then feeling so fake for having done so…

Sadly, he forced himself to continue on, catching up with the boy.

"It's not that no one wanted me-"

"Were you ever adopted?" The boy asked, again.

"…Well, no…"

"Then no one wanted you… don't tell me you lived there until you could get a job and then you STILL couldn't figure that out."

"…Is that why you left?" Nowaki asked, contemplating on whether or not he should risk handing over his scarf. This kid had a lot of pride, and he didn't want him running away from him just yet…

"It's one of the reasons… but, I'm not like those other kids."

"Oh?" Nowaki finally let his concern win. He removed his scarf and handed it to the boy. "Can you please carry this for me, my neck is getting hot.

"Yeah, I don't need some stupid grown up looking after me! I can look after myself." The boy continued, absently taking the scarf and wrapping it around his own neck.

"How old are you?" Nowaki smiled.

"Mmm… why do you keep asking that?!" The boy snapped, annoyed.

"Well, depending on how old you are, I might be able to set you up with a job..."

"I don't need your charity! You managed just fine on your own, and if a ditz like you could make it, I bet I can, too!" The boy huffed, glaring at the ground, but Nowaki could see the hopeful look in the child's eyes.

"Well, I was a lot older than you are when I went to go get a job…"

"…So what kinda job was it?" The boy asked, looking up, glad Nowaki hadn't dropped the subject at his blatant protest.

"A newspaper route… that was my first job, but I held onto it until I turned eighteen." Nowaki smiled.

"How old were you when you left Kusama?" The boy inquired, and Nowaki smiled, playfully, turning his head away as if refusing to answer.

"Why do you want to know?" He asked.

The boy blinked before smirking. "Hey, for a giant dummy who kinda comes across as a doormat, I kinda like you."

"Glad to hear it." Nowaki turned and the boy blinked, staring up at the large apartment complex.

"This is where you live?" The boy asked.

"Yeah, one of the apartments inside. It's nice and big and warm… we recently moved."

"We?" The boy asked, kicking a rock out of some snow at his feet as he lowered his gaze to the ground. "So you grew up and had a family, huh? A pretty wife and some kids, maybe? A pet bunny?"

Nowaki stared, stupefied at the boy's odd ideal family, but then he found himself laughing, softly. "Not exactly…"

"Well… anyway, thanks for helping me kill some time, I should be going now."

"But, I already offered to give you a bite to eat." Nowaki blinked. "Won't you come inside, just for a moment?"

"I'm not hungry." The boy lied, shrugging. Nowaki couldn't tell if he hesitated due to pride or stories of kidnappings or manners, or what, but he could tell the kid wanted badly to be pressured to go inside, even if only for the promise of a warm meal, or a chance to get out of the freezing cold. He was wearing shorts, after all, and even though he wore a rather large jacket, it only came down to his knees, same as his shorts, so his legs were pretty much exposed.

"Well, you could at least step in for a moment to get out of the cold." Nowaki told him.

"Walking keeps me warm." The boy replied.

Nowaki smiled. He wouldn't be defeated by the boy, nor would he permit the child to feel as though he'd lose any pride by entering. "I'm not going to report you. Anyway, you wouldn't be thinking of keeping the scarf I gave you, now, would you?" He headed inside without retrieving it.

The boy looked up at him with wide but angry innocent eyes. At the promise of not being reported, and refusing to enable anyone to consider him a thief, the boy reluctantly followed Nowaki inside.

The two made their way to Nowaki's apartment.

"So, what's your name?" Nowaki asked, hands in his pockets despite that the boy was trying to hand him his scarf back.

"…It's Keiji." The boy replied, defeatedly, putting the scarf back on, not that he needed it. The second he'd stepped inside, he felt his legs go less numb, and any part of his body he could feel, began to warm up. "You don't need my family name, they gave me up anyway."

"Ah, a cautious leader, are we?" Nowaki smiled. (3).

"Yeah, I guess…" The boy muttered, rubbing his nose with his over-sized sleeve. "So is your family inside?"

"I don't really have a family, just a lover." Nowaki replied.

"Gross." The boy huffed, blushing lightly and averting his gaze, like most rascal-type of boys would.

"What's gross about loving someone?" Nowaki laughed.

"I dunno, I just think girls are gross, that's all…" The boy snapped.

"Well, then, you're in luck. My lover isn't a girl." Nowaki smiled, twisting the key in the door and opening it.

"Y-ya mean… y-you're a… a… one of those… err…" The boy blushed, stammering. "A guy who likes guys? A homo? Or are you an okama?" (4).

Nowaki laughed at that. "I'm definitely not an okama. I'm just in love with Hiro-san, that's all."

"Who the hell are you talking to?" Hiroki muttered from the couch, where he was typing, his laptop warming his legs as he did so.

"Hiro-san, I was in some trouble since I made the mistake of walking in a dangerous part of town, but I was lucky enough to meet someone who's far more street wise than I am who helped walk me home. He protected me the whole way." Nowaki stated, and Hiroki stared at him like he was on crack.

"…Err, if my sexuality doesn't frighten you, wouldn't you please come in?" Nowaki turned to the nervous boy in the doorway, who huffed.

"I'm not scared!" He snapped, heading inside and finally tossing the scarf into the apartment. It landed on the couch beside Hiroki.

Hiroki got to his feet, eyes narrowing on the boy in confusion before he looked at Nowaki.

"You know, you're rather dirty…" Nowaki informed the boy, "But after what I said, I'd understand if you decline… at the same time, I'll still offer; would you like to use our shower and get yourself cleaned up? Preferably before you sit on anything?"

"Eh? Take a shower?" The boy asked, looking at his dirt-covered hands, blushing. "…How bad has it gotten? I haven't seen my own reflection in days."

"Days?" Hiroki repeated, confused.

"Kay, I'll shower… you make me something to eat and catch your uh… gay lover up to speed, I guess…" The boy shrugged. "But right after I eat, I'm leaving, okay?"

"Sure, sure." Nowaki smiled.

"…" The boy stared at the two before glancing at Nowaki. "So which of you is the girl?"

"Hah?!" Hiroki gawked.

"Neither of us… err… well… I guess the best way to explain it to a child, um… would be…" Nowaki tried thinking about it, but in reality, he'd never really thought about how to explain it to a child.

"Which one's the uke?" The kid asked. "That's what it's called, right?"

"THAT IS NO BUSINESS OF A FIVE YEAR OLD!" Hiroki bellowed.

"I'm not five, I'm seven and three fourths!" The boy snapped.

"Ah! Hiro-san, you got him to admit it!" Nowaki clapped, smiling. "Hiro-san is embarrassed, but I'm not. I'm the seme."

"Well no wonder you're not embarrassed. Youdon't play the role of a woman in bed." The boy snickered and Hiroki glowered at him. "Anyway, if that's the case…" Keiji took Hiroki's hand in his, suddenly, and kissed it.

Both Hiroki and Nowaki fell silent, gawking at him.

"Wh-what?" Hiroki tore his hand away, eye twitching. "Wh-why did-?"

"Well, before she died, my mother said to me, if I ever meet a homosexual, I should treat them like I would a lady, and not to contribute to the hatred in the world… anyway, where's your shower?" The boy asked.

"…Let's get one thing straight…" Hiroki snapped, on the verge of a nervous breakdown. "I am NOT a lady! I'm a guy! And I'm far manlier than this guy!"

The boy looked from Nowaki to Hiroki, then shook his head. "No you're not."

"Ah-!"

"Hiro-san, please show him to the bathroom." Nowaki piped up, nervously.

"…It's the room with a toilet in it." Hiroki pointed, and the boy glanced over his shoulder, then at Nowaki.

"…You sure it's okay?"

"Please." Nowaki smiled, and the boy shrugged, heading into the bathroom and closing and locking the door.

Hiroki turned, fuming to Nowaki, who had disappeared.

"NOWAKI!" He snapped, hurrying into the kitchen and opening up the pantry, glowering at his hiding lover. "What is the meaning of this?!"

"I can explain-"

"FINE! Go ahead and explain!" Hiroki snapped, biting his tongue. His boss' lecture on active listening resonated in the back of his mind. He would force himself to hear his lover out… was this, perhaps, some sort of test from the Active Listener Gods, or something? Anyway, he'd pass for sure! Besides, he was pretty much speechless about the whole ordeal anyway.

"…I was on my way home from work with Sempai-"

"What do you mean 'with Sempai?!'"

FAIL.

"…That's pretty much irrelevant to this story…" Nowaki sighed.

"Well maybe I want every detail!" Hiroki huffed.

"…Okay…" Nowaki blinked. "…I was walking out of the hospital with sempai, because he had gotten off at the same time as me, and for a little while, I tried to let him walk ahead of me, because I had this random itch on the back of my upper thigh, and I wanted to scratch it, but I didn't want him to think I was-"

"Not THAT detailed, you idiot." Hiroki snapped.

"Oh… well, he and I split up about a block or two away from the hospital, and instead of going the longer way, I went the short way toward the bus station, and then a guy stopped me and asked me for change-"

"And of course you said 'HELL NO! Go get a job!!!' …right?!"

"That's horrible, Hiro-san! He was an elderly gentleman! But Keiji seemed to share your feelings on the matter-"

"Who's Keiji? The old man?"

"No, the boy I brought home." Nowaki replied.

"…Okay, so he told you to quit being an idiot, and because he saved you from giving your money to some guy who would just spend it on who knows what, you brought him home?!"

"No, I still gave the gentleman what little change I had, it wouldn't have even gotten me something out of a vending machine… anyway, that boy is from Kusama orphanage… forgive me, Hiro-san, but I feel an affinity toward him."

"…" Hiroki sighed, frustrated. "This isn't another of your little 'A cat followed me home, can we please keep it?' sort of things, is it?"

"Not at all!" Nowaki replied.

"Good."

"I had to practically drag him here!" Nowaki informed the older man.

"WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!" Hiroki bellowed.

"Hiro-san, he's ten years old! Look what he was wearing; shorts in the winter time?! The weather channel said it would be freezing tonight, what if he gets sick? Worse, what if he dies, or gets picked up on by some crazy guy or pervert?"

"He did get picked up by a crazy guy and pervert."

"I am not a pervert when it comes to anyone other than Hiro-san…"

"How can you say that without hesitation?" Hiroki blushed, annoyed, shaking his head. "Alright, alright, he can stay the night, but you have to take him to the orphanage tomorrow!"

"But I promised I wouldn't report him."

"Ugh." Hiroki growled. "Then WHAT did you plan on doing with him?!!"

"…I don't know…"

"BAKA! How can you do things without thinking about them?!"

"Um, well…" Nowaki averted his gaze.

"Forget it… you know that's what you'll end up having to do, and if it just takes us warming him up to the idea, then so be it." Hiroki snapped. That boy was going back to the orphanage, no questions asked.

"Well, if that's the case, please leave it to me, Hiro-san…" Nowaki pleaded with his lover.

"Of course you'll be the one to take care of it! It's your mess." Hiroki snapped. "And if that brat steals anything-"

"Hiro-san, I've known you for six years, now… why didn't I ever notice how cynical and hateful toward children and homeless people you are?" Nowaki mock-pouted.

"I'm not- I don't HATE children! I'm a teacher, of course I don't-"

"You teach university scholars, and you throw things at them, that really isn't helping to disprove my point…" Nowaki admitted, turning to the stove and getting dinner started.

"…" Hiroki let out a soft sigh as he folded his arms, leaning against the wall beside Nowaki. "…Nowaki, if there is a single strand of hope in your mind that you're clinging to about taking that child in, know this: It is NOT going to happen."

"Hiro-san-"

"Because having a kid around means absolutely NO sex." Hiroki finished, heading out of the room, but Nowaki caught his wrist, stopping him.

"So you're going to withhold?!" Nowaki asked, frustrated.

"No, idiot." Hiroki turned, flushing red. "There's just no way I'll do something like that with a kid in the place! That's wrong!"

"…Then how do parents give their children younger siblings?"

"They don't."

Nowaki stared, perplexed at his lover, unsure as to whether he really believed that, since he was an only child, or if he was joking.

"…Hiro-san… I know you probably like to think that your parents never had sex after they had you-"

Hiroki's eyes bulged. He never EVER wanted to think of his parents having sex, EVER! How could Nowaki say that so nonchalantly?!!

"I was just kidding!" He barked, "From what my female friends tell me, what few I have that is, sex for women isn't pleasurable, therefore, they don't make noise during, and what noise they do make is fake and forced… obviously, the case is much different for me. He would definitely hear."

"Oh, you mean because Hiro-san is so loud during-"

Nowaki was DAMN lucky the water he was boiling hadn't even gotten hot yet, because Hiroki curtly flung the contents all over his lover, storming out of the apartment.

"Hiro-san, wait, where are you going?!" Nowaki exclaimed, hurrying after him and grabbing his hand. "Hiro-san, please wait, I-"

"Um… excuse me…"

The two both blinked, turning to the source of the small voice. Their gazes were both met by the young boy, now squeaky clean and wearing one of Nowaki's shirts, which was about a billion sizes too big on him, (the sleeves hung over his hands past his hips and the bottom of the shirt nearly touched his bony ankles.

"I realized, after bathing and stepping into such a nice-smelling place that my clothes really reeked, and… I didn't want to put them on after bathing, so… I… kind of helped myself to this…"

"That's alright." Nowaki smiled, and Hiroki huffed, shutting his eyes.

"Anyway… if I'm causing some kind of trouble, I'll go… without hesitation, I'll go, so if your wife has a problem with me, just tell me, and I'll leave right away." Keiji promised.

"WIFE?!" Hiroki fumed, again, and Nowaki sighed, patting his lover on the head.

"Hiro-san is not my wife…" Nowaki informed the child. "Look, let's go ahead and introduce you two, properly, now, okay?!" He pushed Hiroki forward by the backs of his shoulders, despite that the annoyed brunette was digging his heels into the carpet in resistance.

"Keiji-kun, this is my male lover-"

"Kamijou Hiroki." Hiroki muttered, annoyed, tacking on an obligatory; "It's nice to meet you…"

"Yamaguchi Keiji." The boy held out a long sleeve to shake Hiroki's hand, and Hiroki's glare faded and he accidentally let out a light chuckle.

Nowaki smiled with excitement as he watched his lover quickly cover his mouth, and Keiji blushed, furiously, struggling to roll up the sleeve before shaking Hiroki's hand, obviously going for a strong, manly shake.

"Um… you never told me your name…" The boy pointed out, looking up at Nowaki.

"It's Kusama Nowaki." Nowaki smiled.

"Oh, you took the name of the orphanage? What a dumb name! When you get married, you should take Kamijou's name, it's much cooler."

"…You realize something like that is impossible in Japan, right?" Hiroki's eye twitched.

"Oh, I wasn't born in Japan…" The boy shrugged. "Though… where I'm from, it's a bit impossible there, too…"

"Not from Japan? I didn't think so." Nowaki blinked.

"…The reason I haven't been adopted is probably because of my skin color." The boy shrugged.

"…What nationality are you?" Hiroki asked.

"Well, my father is Japanese, that's why my name is Yamaguchi, but my mother was American- err… half African-American. She was an English to Japanese translator. She worked for the American government, and my father was a politician, but he lost his job because of some stupid decisions he made… anyway, my mom died about four years ago… A little after that time, my dad dumped me off at the orphanage."

The two stared at Keiji sadly, taking in everything he'd told them before exchanging glances.

"Sorry, I haven't started dinner, yet." Nowaki stated, and Hiroki cut him off on his way into the kitchen, glancing over his shoulder.

"I'll make it tonight, you two can watch some TV."

"…" Nowaki watched his lover's back retreat into the kitchen and he sighed, turning to the boy. "…You like TV?"

"There's this show I'm kind of hooked on… I missed the last couple of episodes, and every episode ends with a cliff-hanger, so I think I'll just catch it when they start re-airing it…"

"…You realize you have more self-control than most adults, right?"

"Mm…" The boy shrugged and Nowaki pet him on the head, fondly.

"Want to come with me to do a load of laundry? We can wash up your clothes, too."

"Okay…"

"Better yet…" Nowaki placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "…You seem to have just gotten warmed up, and since you just got out of the shower, I'd hate to take you out of the warm apartment with your hair wet, so let's just wait until morning."

"…Morning?" The boy frowned. "I thought you just said-"

"Just stay the night, Hiro-san already said it's okay."

"…Are you sure?" The boy's large eyes slowly shifted to the kitchen, and he whispered; "I don't think he likes me…"

"Hiro-san isn't a big fan of children, but that's because he's a teacher."

"…Oh…" The boy blinked. "Does he have little brothers and sisters?"

"No, Hiro-san is an only child!"

"Hmm…" The boy sat down on the couch beside Nowaki, who lifted Hiroki's laptop and stared at the words on the screen, curiously. He wondered if looking at prescriptions and diagnoses would look to Hiroki like this odd commentary from his lover's superior looked to him… Shrugging, he set the computer to the side before hesitating, then glancing at the kitchen, and pulling it back onto his lap. "If you'd like, we can look up the last episode you missed and watch it."

"Really?!"

"Sure!"

-.--.--.-

The three sat in silence for the first minute or two of their meal. Hiroki was actually working while eating, and Keiji was busy enjoying the delicious meal.

"How long have you been gone from Kusama orphanage?" Nowaki inquired.

"About four days, now." Keiji shrugged, taking a long drink from his glass of milk, then sighing, as though he hadn't had a drink in years.

"Ah, you like milk?" Nowaki smiled.

"I hate it." The boy replied, and Hiroki glanced up from his work.

"Then why did you ask for it and drink it, and then sigh in such a satisfied way?"

"After seeing Kusama-san, I REALLY wanna grow up to be really tall and fit!"

Nowaki laughed, softly and Hiroki huffed.

"It has more to do with genetics than drinking milk." Hiroki mumbled.

"But drinking milk will help, right?" Keiji asked Nowaki, who nodded. "You're a doctor, right?"

"Well… not quite yet-"

"And you're a college professor?"

"Uh-huh…" Hiroki had gone back to typing.

"Me, I wanna be a writer!"

Hiroki looked up at this. "A writer?"

"Yep! I like books… but sometimes I think they get a little boring and cliché, so I wanna write my own books!"

"…Huh… I have a friend I'm sure you'd like…" Hiroki smiled, lightly. "So what're your books about?"

"Well, I like horror, so the one I'm working on in my head right now is about a guy who went to another country to capture a really poisonous kind of spider, it's his job, I guess, and they had it secured, but the plane hits turbulence and the glass aquarium the spider was contained in gets dropped and it breaks open, and the spider gets onto the plane and starts to kill the passengers one by one!"

"…" Hiroki just gawked at him. "Uh… th-"

"That's… morbid and disturbing…" Nowaki laughed, softly. "Do you like spiders?"

"I hate them."

"…" The lovers exchanged glances yet again.

"So… do you have any brothers or sisters?" Nowaki asked.

"…She got adopted."

Nowaki frowned. "So you did have a little sister?"

"She was a baby… she went pretty fast… I'm happy… she was taken to a really good home… sissy wasn't like me, father had another woman right after mom passed, so sissy's full Japanese."

"…I see… I'm sorry to hear that you were separated… it must have been very painful…" Nowaki frowned.

"…" Keiji stabbed a piece of meat and stuck it in his mouth, shrugging. "Like I said, I was happy for her. Besides, she's better off without me."

"That's stupid." Hiroki huffed. "If you have a sibling, you should want to stay with them to protect them, right?"

"…I was protecting her… by letting her go." Keiji glared at him. "You're an only child, right? You don't understand. All you have is ideals… maybe you're right… maybe I should have tried harder to work it out to where we'd be kept together, but… those two definitely wouldn't want me… Nobody would, so… keeping her by my side would only mean more loneliness for her in the future… as it is, she was adopted by a family who had two other girls. She'll have sisters… she'll live a nice life… and I'm keeping track of her… they were kind enough to leave me that much… when I grow up and become rich, I'll take her back! And I'll make sure she's well taken care of…"

"…Mm…" Nowaki frowned, sadly. "Keiji-kun…"

"Well, you're off to a crappy start, then, if those are your intentions." Hiroki spoke up, annoyed.

"What do you mean?" The boy huffed.

"You're homeless, jobless, and do you want to die out there in that cold?"

"…I'll live…"

"Bull." Hiroki snapped. "…Nowaki will take you to get a paper route tomorrow, and we'll see where things go from there…" He picked up his empty dishes. "If you'll excuse me, I have to finish my work."

"You sure work a lot…"

"It's almost time for some important exams… if you were in school, you'd understand." Hiroki huffed.

"I've only missed two days of school… if I go back, they'll tell Kusama- err, the orphanage where I am!"

"In my class, if you miss more than three days, you're not permitted to take the upcoming exam." Hiroki huffed. "You should go back to school and consider it your number one priority."

"I have my pride to consider!" The boy snapped.

"Good. Be prideful of the fact that you'll be attending school like a normal student, and that you'll have a part time job. Nowaki will work things out with the orphanage; he's a highly liked person over there."

"…I guess… we can see…" The boy averted his gaze, annoyed.

"Good. You two should go to bed, it's getting late, and you have a big day ahead of you, tomorrow."

"…Thanks, I guess… for everything…" The boy patted his belly. "The truth is… I haven't had anything to eat in a couple days, now."

"I'll make a bento for you for school tomorrow." Hiroki told him. "Go get some sleep."

"…Thank you guys…" Keiji mumbled, nervously. "…Wh-where shall I sleep?"

"Nowaki and I have different rooms-"

"Ah! Are you saving for marriage?" The boy's eyes sparkled with hope and innocence.

"…Yeeeaaah, let's go with that." Hiroki muttered. "…And the two of us will sleep in my room- err… we'll just have to work a little harder to uh… you know… resist… temptation… and all that…"

"This way." Nowaki led the child to his room.

Knowing he'd probably be hit if he tried, he refrained from tucking the boy in. The boy settled into his bed rather comfortably before smiling up at him.

"…What?" Nowaki laughed, softly, unable to resist.

"Just thinking… this must be what it feels like to have a loving family… who would have thought… my idea of the perfect family was always a handsome, strong, tall guy like you for a father, and a nice, pretty, sweet lady for a mother, and sissy, of course… some other brothers and sisters, and a pet bunny… but… this is equally as nice… I like Hiro-san."

"Ah… you probably shouldn't call him that…" Nowaki stammered.

"Oh? Hiroki-san, then?"

"…Well… you'd have to ask him, he's a bit touchy about certain names."

"Kamijou-san, then, I guess, is my safest bet… anyway, I like him. Kamijou-san. He's honest, and speaks his mind…"

"Yeah, he never holds back when it comes to speaking his mind… sometimes he's a little slow when it comes to expressing his feelings, though."

"…I can definitely understand that…" Keiji yawned, suddenly. "…You're sure it's okay for me to stay here?"

"Perfectly fine. Goodnight, I will take you to Kusama orphanage tomorrow morning, and then to school, and then I'll pick you up as long as everything has been properly worked out, and I'll take you to see my friend about getting you a job delivering newspapers."

"…Thanks for everything… Kusama-san…"

"Nowaki-san is fine." Nowaki smiled.

"Nowaki-san, then." Keiji smiled.

"…Before I leave… can I ask you something?" Nowaki smiled.

"Un!" The boy nodded.

"…Earlier, when we had just met… you told me you'd been watching that old jiisan for a while, a few weeks, right?"

"Ah- I've really only been on the street for four days, but… I've been keeping tabs on that old jiisan everyday after school…"

"Oh, I see… why is that?"

"I was hoping to learn from him for the day I escaped, but… the more I watched him, the more I realized I didn't want to be a bum like that."

"…What were you going to do if I hadn't come along?" Nowaki blinked.

"I had these." The boy got up and headed for the clothes that Nowaki had tossed in his hamper. He reached into the dirty denim shorts' pocket and pulled out a small zip-lock bag full of small black things.

"…?" Nowaki cocked his head to the side, curiously. "What is it?"

"Seeds." The boy replied. "Apple seeds. I was going to grow an apple tree and eat that…"

Nowaki stared at the boy incredulously before smiling and wrapping his arms around him.

"Eh?" Keiji blinked, blushing lightly and slowly hugging back. "Wh-why… are you…?"

"…Keiji-kun… that absolutely wouldn't work… don't you know how long it takes to grow apple trees?"

"…Well… it can't take that long… we grew one over night at the orphanage…"

"They planted a tree that was already grown…" Nowaki shook his head with a small laugh.

"Wh-why are you hugging me? Am I being made fun of?" The boy pouted, annoyed, but still didn't let go. It felt really good to be held by a kind adult.

His father had never held him like this… well… except the day he'd dropped him off at the orphanage… but the hug had been cold, and his father had abandoned him… and here was Nowaki, his embrace was warm, and he had taken him in out of the kindness of his heart…

"It's just that when you said that, you sounding so naïve, I thought it was very cute."

"I… I'm not cute…" The boy argued, letting his arms slowly lower. "I'm just weird-looking…"

"You're cute!" Nowaki smiled, petting him on the head. "…Now cutely lie down in bed and cutely go to sleep."

The boy, unable to fight the smile that had worked its way onto his face, nodded and he lay down under the blankets. Nowaki tucked him in and the boy didn't hit him.

"Goodnight, Nowaki-san."

"Goodnight, Keiji-kun." Nowaki turned off the light before gently closing the door.

"Um, wait-!"

He opened it quickly, blinking. "Yes?"

"…C-can you leave it open…? Just a crack?"

"…" Nowaki smiled. "Yes…" He left it open about an inch and a half before heading back into the kitchen.

-.--.--.-

Hiroki was just finishing with the bentos; one for himself, one for Nowaki, and one for the boy, setting them all on the table.

Nowaki wrapped his arms around Hiroki from behind. "Hiro-san?"

"Hmm?"

"I can't tell if you're putting up a front because of Keiji-kun… are you mad at me?"

"I am."

"Ah…" Nowaki pulled away, frowning. "Hiro-san, I had to-"

"Admitting to being seme in front of him! What's wrong with you?"

"Eh…? That's all you're mad about? You'd be surprised at what children pick up on in orphanages… it's like being in school all the time, and kids speak the truth… based on what they know… at his age, I already knew all about that sort of thing…"

"…Th-that is sad in itself…" Hiroki sighed, scratching his head.

"When did Hiro-san learn about sex? Hiro-san, you said you knew you liked men since you were ten years old… that's when you were in love with Usami-san, right?"

"…" Hiroki sighed, scratching his head. "…Yeah… but I didn't understand much about sex until later, of course."

"Ah… I see…" Nowaki nodded. "…Hiro-san, you had a mother and father who loved you very much, didn't you?"

"Yeah… you know… I haven't spoken to my mother in a while… maybe I should give her a call…"

"…Hiro-san… I love you." Nowaki told his lover, and Hiroki blinked.

"Mm… Nowaki… you get too mushy around kids, he really has to be gone by tomorrow." He teased, heading into his room.

"Don't say such things… if Keiji-kun were to overhear, he doesn't know you well enough to understand your sense of humor, and he would probably get the wrong idea and become upset."

Hiroki climbed into the bed and stretched.

"Don't you have some work to do?"

"I'll do it in the morning…" Hiroki replied, and Nowaki climbed in the bed beside him, snuggling close.

"Hiro-san… good night… I love you."

"…Nowaki-baka… I love you… sentimental idiot."

After a moment of quiet breathing and the sound of blankets ruffling together, Nowaki slowly raised his hand up, the backs of his index and middle finger brushing up and down against the skin on Hiroki's arm. "…Can we really not-?"

"NO." Hiroki snapped. "Go to sleep."

"…What if I just sucked on-"

"GO TO SLEEP."

"…"

"…"

"…But Hiro-san, you're already-"

"ZZZZZZZ." Hiroki feigned an obnoxious snore, and Nowaki pouted, cuddling closer.

To be Continued

-.--.--.-

REVIEWS ARE LUV!

Cultural Notes:

(1) Kotatsu- a kotatsu is a Japanese table with a heating blanket placed between the frame of the table and the table top. The type that Nowaki is referring to is one with an electric blanket, so it's a more modern type, whereas Kamijou probably had the traditional type, but it would still probably be sentimental for him.

(2) "Smooth and shiny skin," as is explained in the anime episode 10, (and manga vol. 5), is indicative of someone's having had sex. Supposedly, after you've had sex, your skin looks healthier, lol.

(3) "Ah, a cautious leader are we?" Nowaki says this because Keiji's name means 'one who leads with caution.' I chose the name after googling Japanese name meanings, because I felt it suited the character. Yamaguchi is simply a common Japanese surname.

(4) Okama- An okama is a Japanese homosexual who is viewed as feminine or who cross dresses. (Like a drag queen.)

Byouin- Hospital

Tadaima- "I'm home." (An expression that is used when you have just returned)

Okaeri- "Welcome home." (An expression used to greet the person who has just returned home- it is usually said after one calls 'okaeri!'

Gomen- Sorry

Kotatsu- (See above)

Sempai- Senior (title)

Sensei- Teacher (title)

Kyouju- Professor (title)

Uke- The receiver of a homosexual relationship ( the person on bottom. )

Okama- (See above- number 4)

Seme- Oposite of the uke, The 'attacker' in a homosexual relationship (the one on top.)

Jiisan- Jiisan means "grandpa" but is often a term used to refer to an old man.