Hey there! This is the final chapter of this story! (For now….). I might do a sequel, I might not. Thanks for all of the positive (and negative) feedback, and the criticism! I hope you all enjoyed the ride.

"Usagi."

Usami Akihiko opened his eyes slowly, testing the light in their room. Misaki's face moved into view, his lips twisted to the side, hiding his smile. Akihiko felt a warmth spread into his chest as Misaki laced their fingers together and let himself smile softly.

"Good morning." Akihiko murmured, his voice feeling scratchy and unused. "How are you feeling?"

Misaki showed his teeth as he grimaced, and sat down heavily next to him. "My ass hurts." He whined, making Akihiko laugh. The summer light shone on them through the window, and when Misaki's hair caught the light, it seemed to reflect gold, red, and brown. Akihiko reached up to him with a lazy hand, stroking Misaki's hair. Misaki turned toward him, watching him with half-lidded eyes. "You hurt my bum, Usagi." Misaki repeated, and giggled as Akihiko scratched his head.

Akihiko smiled at his boyfriend, and everything seemed right. It was a moment for only them, a moment that seemed to work for them, rather than against. They'd been together for so long now, and being able to stay with Misaki for hours on end was invigorating. The student had dropped his job after Akihiko offered to pay for the rest of his schooling and take care of him. Misaki, for his part, had insisted that the help wasn't necessary, that he could work to pay off his loans and build savings, but Akihiko had simply mentioned that if they were married, he'd do the same thing.

"Do you really think about me that way?" Misaki had asked, his eyes shining. "You would marry me?" There wasn't much argument after that, and Akihiko was content, as long as Misaki was.

"Hey." Misaki pulled at his hair now, in the morning. The student was clad in a t-shirt that was probably Akihiko's, and his underwear. He was wearing panties. Akihiko tilted his head toward his lover, obliging the boy's calls. Misaki wrinkled his nose and leaned down. "I said my ass hurts, Usagi. Can you kiss it and make it better?" Akihiko kissed him.

During the summer, Misaki studied at summer classes for most of the day, and would spend the afternoon and evening with Akihiko. The older man was fine with this setup, seeing as his novel had been a hit when released, and he needed time alone to go for written interviews and random appearances.

Since their breakup and subsequent reunion, a seed had planted itself in Usami Akihiko's mind. It was a feeling, at first, but then grew into a wonder, a thought. He wondered about it for weeks after Misaki moved into his bedroom, and after Misaki's old bedroom became a sort of den for the student. His friends often came over and studied or played music in that room. The seedling grew even more, and Akihiko began to give it some serious consideration, wondering about the consequences if things went negatively, or the possible outcomes from this point. The seedling became a sapling, and that was when Akihiko knew that he needed some advice.

Hiroki was blunt and truthful. "You can't marry a college student." Although, it wasn't what he'd wanted to hear, the author calmly asked for an explanation rather than cursing out his friend.

"Akihiko, he still has to finish school." Hiroki explained. "If college students are married in my classes, they're usually a couple of high school lovers who are making their way together, not kids who got picked up by creepy millionaires."

"I resent that." Akihiko told him, but his friend ignored the comment.

"You just can't. Maybe when he's older, when he graduates."

"That's not for another 2 years!" Akihiko whined, the inflection sounding strange with his deep toned voice. "And I'm afraid that he'll leave again if I don't propose now."

Hiroki sighed again. "You don't do things for people you love out of fear," he said. "You do it from love. From need, or want. You love someone, so you make love. You love someone so much that you need them to be closer, so you move in together. You don't do it because you're afraid that they're having an affair or because you're afraid that they don't think you're good at sex. You do things like that because you're in love."

Akihiko considered his friend's sentiments. "But I do love him." He protested, after a moment. "I also want to start planning the wedding, so it can be the best wedding ever, for Misaki."

"Wait until after school starts again." Hiroki offered, and Akihiko began to protest again. "Man, just wait! I'll-I'll do something too, if you wait until the school year."

There was silence over the line as Akihiko thought to himself. "You'll do anything? Like, we can do it together?"

"Within reason…" Hiroki warned.

"You have to eat at least 2 meals a day with Nowaki." The author replied, and waited for a response.

Hiroki was quiet for a long while, and Akihiko almost thought that he'd hung up before he spoke softly, "I'll try."

Akihiko grinned to himself, and tried not to show his happiness. "Good." He said simply, and hung up the phone. At his apartment, Hiroki tried to dry his tears before Nowaki returned.

….

"Would you like dinner, Hiro-san?"

Nowaki always asked, and he was always so polite that it broke Hiroki's heart every time. Every time, when Hiroki would say that he wasn't hungry, or that he would eat later. The worst was when he accepted, and then spent the entire meal pushing his food around. With each instance, Nowaki's bright smile became tighter and tighter, and then his glow began to dim. It hurt the both of them, and they didn't talk about the way that Hiroki's ribs showed during sex, or the way that it was easier for Nowaki to hurt him if they got too rough. Tonight, however, things would be different.

He couldn't even remember how it had gotten this bad. For years, Hiroki had battled with his inner demons, and he usually won. Maybe it had all gotten to be a bit much. The pressure of being called "Demon" by his students, the annoyance at students who filled his office with irritating demands of higher grades, better tests, easier readings. It was grating on him, and Nowaki's new position, as a 'real doctor' the way he put it, didn't ease the strain on him. The age difference between them, although not as great as the difference between his best friend and his lover, weighed on his mind as well. Nowaki was young, and so successful, and Hiroki had been in the same job for 5 years. With 3 promotions, but he ignored that on most days.

Depression had always been present in Hiroki's life, from the time that he was a small child. He just never thought that it would get this bad. It happened slowly, and it wasn't even noticeable until Hiroki realized that everything felt like the color of gray.He was embarrassed, in a way, of his mental illness, and refused to talk to a counselor. It would be mortifying. Although no one really seemed to notice at work (he was able to cover his weight loss with some easy alterations to his clothes, so they fit as snug as before), Nowaki noticed the difference in Hiroki's mood and habits.

"You're not eating." It was the first time that Nowaki mentioned it, and that was about a month after Hiroki had lessened his daily intake of food to nearly nothing.

"I'm not hungry right now. I'll probably eat later tonight, once I finish grading these essays. Some of these are really good, the kids must be learning." Hiroki had chirped in reply, sounding uncharacteristically happy. In reality, he felt like his insides were drowning, but he'd be damned if he let his persona show his true feelings.

Hiroki suddenly heard a slam, and looked up in shock to see Nowaki's plate on the floor, shattered. He looked from the floor to his boyfriend, and then back to the floor again. Nowaki stood across the room, in front of the stove. He held one chopstick in his hand, dangling between his fingers, and his other hand was shaking. Hiroki felt his heartbeat quicken as Nowaki's face twisted into something unimaginable, and horrifying. Hiroki watched as his boyfriend dropped his chopstick, kicked aside some shards from the plate, and strode over to him. It happened before either of them realized it, and Nowaki fell to his knees in front of his love, and sobbed. He laid his head onto Hiroki's lap, and pulled the older man's shirt into his fingers. Hiroki didn't think he'd ever seen anything so heartbreaking, and Nowaki seemed so long all of a sudden, much too long to be curled up and sad like this. The dam was broken.

"I miss you." Nowaki's voice was thick, and each word shot daggers into Hiroki's heart. The older man took his beautiful boyfriend's face between his hands and tilted his head up. Nowaki blinked, his eyes like big blue pools, like flooding oceans.

"Nowaki, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." He murmured, holding back his own tears. Nowaki shushed him and sat up straighter. He pulled Hiroki in as though he'd never be able to hold him again, and pushed his face against the older man's chest.

"Just let me in." Nowaki managed to get out. He kissed Hiroki's stomach and his thighs, and took his hand to kiss it as well. "We'll work on this together, please. Hiroki, I want to help. You need help, please, love, you're barely eating!" Nowaki's voice grew louder with each true word, and Hiroki closed his eyes, pulled away, did everything he could to block it out.

"You need help. We'll get you help, okay? I'll work on this. Please?"

This isn't happening. I'm okay. I'm okay.

"Hiro-san. We'll get help."

I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm okay.

"Hiro-san. I love you so much, Hiro-san."

Nowaki's hands were warm over his, the long fingers rubbing circles over Hiroki's skin. The professor opened his eyes and looked down at this boyfriend, the man who was the love of his life. Nowaki stared up at him in turn, waiting patiently.

"I love you too," was the first thing Hiroki said. The second was, "Do you know any good psychiatrists?"

When Nowaki embraced him, Hiroki felt lighter than he had for the past 5 months.

…...

"If I was a flower growing wild and free, all I'd want is you to be my sweet honeybee."

Misaki's English was still choppy and broken, but his sweet voice made up for that shortcoming, Akihiko believed. The two of them were sitting on a blanket by the lake, Misaki strumming a ukulele that Akihiko had bought him after the news that Misaki had enough credits to graduate at the end of this upcoming year.

"Only one year," He'd told himself. "Just one more year." Presently, Misaki was singing higher, and then lower, trying to decide which key he liked better. Akihiko watched him intently, a book in his hands. He was supposed to be reading a novel on which he needed to write a review, but his lover was much more enticing.

Misaki set the ukulele to the side and stretched his arms over his head. He flopped onto Akihiko's lap, and the older man let out a grunt that was louder than necessary, just so that Misaki knew that his weight was uncomfortable. He was rewarded with a cheeky smirk and a soft kiss to his hand. As Akihiko ran his fingers through Misaki's hair, and listened to the boy hum and mumble soft things, all of the world seemed right.

"Usagi?" Misaki had tilted his head up to look at him, and Akihiko ceased his strokes.

"Misaki." The boy pouted the slightest bit, and then leaned tighter against the older man.

"Do you ever wonder what would have happened if you'd never met me?" Misaki asked softly, taking one of Akihiko's hands and cradling it in his own two. The author stared at him, and then bent over to kiss the boy on his plump little lips.

"No." Akihiko said firmly. He brushed back Misaki's bangs and kissed him repeatedly, feeling his boyfriend's smile against his own skin. "I met you by miracle, whether you believe it or not." Misaki turned over and crawled up to straddle Akihiko's lap. He kissed the author, and Akihiko gripped Misaki's sides.

"I love you, Akihiko." Misaki kissed his cheek and moved his lips by his ear. "I love you so, so much." He kissed the older man's ear, and Akihiko thought he might melt into the sand from his boyfriend's ministrations. Misaki tangled one hand in Akihiko's hair, and moved the other to his pants zipper.

"You really saved me." Misaki whispered, biting his ear. Akihiko let out a shaky breath, and helped Misaki unzip his pants. The boy smiled coyly and began to massage his boyfriend's member through his boxers. "You may not know it, but you saved me, and I love you so damn much." The older man swallowed hard as Misaki began to kiss his neck, slipping a small hand under his boxers. Akihiko sighed in pleasure as Misaki kissed down his shoulders, and as the student moved between his legs, he thought of their wedding.

It wasn't until the school year began again that things got hard again. Misaki was at school from 10 a.m. until 4, and he also participated in manga club and practiced with the band. Akihiko considered dozens of ways each day to propose, and reconsidered at the last moment each time. He'd plan out every last detail, think and rethink his method, and then at the last minute, he'd reconsider. The ring was the easiest to pick out. Misaki thought that huge diamonds were tacky and unnecessary, but he'd still want to spoil his lover. He finally decided upon a simple silver band with 3 encrusted diamonds, small but still noticeable. There was an inscription on the inside that read, "My one, my only" in small kanji. Misaki would love it, or he'd take it straight back to the store and pay for another. Now Akihiko simply had to wait for the perfect moment.

The perfect moment ended up coming much sooner than expected. It was December, and Christmas lights lit up every square. Misaki didn't celebrate Christmas religiously, like Akihiko, but the boy still insisted that they would share Christmas gifts. December 25th happened to be a Friday, which worked perfectly for Akihiko's plan. Misaki came home early, and bounded into the house like an excited puppy.

"Hi! Hi!" He shouted, throwing his bag onto the floor and throwing himself into Akihiko's arms. The author caught him and laughed, kissing his boyfriend happily.

"Hello there." He rumbled, and Misaki giggled and coughed quietly into his arm, his cheeks red from the cold. What Akihiko wouldn't give to be sliding himself in between those cheeks right now….

That was for later. Now, Akihiko pulled Misaki from the ground and they kissed in the entryway. While the older man was ready for more (so much more), Misaki pulled away and bounded to their room to change.

Just a few more hours, Akihiko thought. A few more hours, and I'll have a fiancé.

Now that the time to propose was so close, the clock seemed to move slowly, even slower than it had all day.

"Misaki!" Akihiko called impatiently from the bottom of the stairs. He drummed his fingers on the banister and jiggled his knee. "Misaki, you're taking forever!"

Misaki yelled something unintelligible back at him, and then there was the sound of the door slamming. "Usagi-san, how many have I TOLD you…" The younger man's voice began, and Akihiko twisted toward the top of the stairs, where Misaki stood, looking impeccable and perfect in jeans and a red blazer. He started down the stairs languidly, each move tugging at his well-pressed white shirt, which was tucked into his pants.

Misaki reached the bottom of the stairs and leaned into Akihiko's chest, smiling coyly as the older man took a deep and indignant breath.

"Perfection takes time, old man." And with that, Misaki led the author out of the apartment in a state of near stupor, leaving him in utter amazement that this man could be his, would be his if all went well.

Dinner was as uneventful as usual, unless one considered having dinner with Misaki Takahashi uneventful. During their hour and fifteen minutes are the restaurant, the student had spilled soy sauce on his shirt, broken a plate, pretended to be a walrus with his chopsticks, and then blushed and hid them when a waitress gave him a disapproving look. He also fumbled over trying to hold Akihiko's hand across the table, which the older man thought was absolutely adorable. No one else could intrigue and captivate him in this way, and if this was a business dinner, he'd already have sent the other participant home. After dessert and a yawn from his sleepy lover, the author knew that he was ready.

Misaki didn't protest when they drove to the lakefront rather than the apartment. Instead, he ran out into the snow, laughing like a child. He turned back toward Akihiko, and with his arms spread wide, fell backwards onto the snow. Akihiko chuckled and pulled him up. Misaki responded by sneezing and snuggling against him. The wetness of the snow soaked through Misaki's coat to his own, but Akihiko didn't pay it any mind. He was already busy trying to fumble with the box in his pocket.

"Misaki…" Akihiko started, and big green eyes looked up at him with absolute awe. Akihiko felt his breath hitch in his throat at that look. Would he ever find a love like this again? It wasn't likely. And here was the green-eyed angel, waiting for him, smiling at him, loving him.

It should be illegal to feel such happiness.

"Misaki," Akihiko began again, and cleared his throat. Misaki simply hugged against him tighter, and smiled brightly, his round cheeks red from the cold. "I love you more than I've ever loved anyone else, and I don't think I'll ever love anyone like this again." Misaki sniffled and looked down as he wiped his nose on his scarf, and back up at his boyfriend again. "When I look at you, it's like I'm looking back at my reflection, like all the better parts of me came together and wrapped themselves up into the best person that I could be – and made you." He ran a thumb over Misaki's face. "I love you, Misa-chan."

With that, Akihiko pulled out the box from his pocket and gave it to the love of his life.

The significance and worth was not lost on Misaki, who stared at the ring in total shock. "You're kidding," he whispered, and took the ring gingerly from the plastic. Akihiko watched him, fear skirting up his back. Misaki slowly slipped the ring on over his glove, and stared at it some more, his mouth falling open in shock. He looked from the ring to Akihiko, and back from Akihiko to the ring. Without any warning, he turned and tackled his lover to the ground, holding the other man down with a tight embrace.

"So you like it?" Akihiko managed to sputter out.

"Like it?" Misaki almost shouted. "Yes! Yes, yes yes, a thousand, million times yes, Akihiko! I love you so much, we're going to have the best wedding ever!"

They lay there for a few moments more, before Akihiko finally pulled Misaki to his feet and took the young man back to their apartment. And even as they had clumsily made their way to their bedroom, kissing and laughing the whole way, and Misaki shivered with the cold and came closer, Akihiko felt warm. As he looked at his fiancé lying beside him, and thought of the snow dripping onto the floor, and the preparations that needed to be made, and if Misaki's family should be called, the author looked down at his love, and felt nothing but warmth.

And for now, it was all that Akihiko needed. Forever, Misaki was all that he'd need.