Ritsu's b-day part 2! It's been a while sorry! Read the last chapter if ya need to!

The sun was high in the sky as Ritsu walked with An towards the small park they used to play at, chattering away. It wouldn't be until the evening that he had to go to the train station to meet up with Masamune.

"Really?! So it wasn't in middle school that you guys first met, but here- and at the sandbox of all things..." An realizes aloud in amazement. "I do remember Dad pushing me, and getting tea for Mom..." Said parents had left earlier to prepare lunch at the house.

"We were really young then huh? Before they got officially married to each other too."

"Yup! …" As if she was suddenly lost in thought after saying that, Ritsu stops his walking in bewilderment when she stopped walking.

"An?"

Seeing that she wasn't responding to his call, he pokes her cheek. Startled, the brunette was brought out of her train of thought. "Ah, sorry Rittie, it's just..." She puts a hand to her chin, "How to put it...?"

"What is it?" Ritsu asks, concerned. He holds up his hand over An's face to shield her from the sun. "It is a bit sunny today, let's find some shade." Despite her light protests, he finds them a nice bench under the shade of some trees. Petals were everywhere though, so they spent some time brushing their seat off. An watched with a smile as the other began getting quickly fascinated with their surroundings. It was times like these that made her feel like the 'older' sibling despite them being around the same age.

"Rittie, you know..." An begins, facing away from him as they sat. "We've never been alone like this in a long time."

"...Oh." 'That's right,' Ritsu thought, as they contemplated about this realization. 'Someone else was always with us. I don't think we've been alone like this since I left home. Even when we're on the phone someone was around.'

"You know Rittie," She faces him with a serious expression, "Were you okay? When you first woke up."

"Huh?" Ritsu says, confused, "When I woke up?"

She brings her hands together on her lap, her brows furrowed. "We were so caught up with the fact that you woke up, I don't think we thought at the time about how you were feeling on the inside. You must have been very confused- I mean, last you saw me before then I wasn't pregnant and married."

"Ah, it was fine, really," Ritsu replies, not wanting her to feel bad. He can see that she simply wanted to know and talk with him more again in depth. "I think you still asked me how I was though..?"

"This is different Rittie, it's about how you truly feel. You..." She pauses in hesitation, "Even when we visited you other times, you always seemed confused about something. I was worried if the accident gave you occasional memory loss or something."

"...Eh?" 'Did I? I always seemed confused?'

"I could see it on your face Rittie! I wondered if maybe that was why Masamune kept coming back to the room to see how you were doing while he was working..."

'Masamune?'

'Ah,' Ritsu recalls, 'It's cause he became so different I wasn't used to it.' "That was..." He laughs lightly, understanding now what she was worrying about. "I suppose you can say that I was confused about him. I wasn't used to Masamune."

"You weren't used to him?" An mirrors, interest piqued. "Well, I guess he does talk more than he did back then."

"No, not just talking," Ritsu shakes his head, before blushing. "He feels way more intense- it took me a while to get used to. I also wasn't used to him being so attentive."

"Really? Ehh…" An tilts her head, thinking about her perspective of the older man. "I guess I can see what you mean. He was like a subtle intense but now he's just openly intense."

"He... he used to be... subtle?" Ritsu questioned. 'What the heck does that mean?'

"Oh, well," An tries to explain, seeing that the other wasn't understanding. "I don't think you never noticed it but, back before he knew I was your sister, there was a time he saw me holding on to your arm." She regards him with a serious expression. "That was the first time I felt chills."

"From the weather?" He promptly got flicked on the forehead. "Ack!"

An sighs, wondering how the brunet could remain so airheaded after all this time. "Honestly, no wonder Mom worries for you everyday."

"Haha," Ritsu rubs the back of his head. "I guess I just didn't notice." 'Ah. I guess he glared at her or something..?'

"Well, I guess it makes sense," An begins, "I remember when you told me that you would be okay if he decided he didn't want you to live with him anymore back then. You're really patient with him about stuff like that, but sort of dense with him at the same time." She giggles remembering the times she'd see the gentle stares Masamune would give to the oblivious Ritsu, or the glares Masamune would give off instead whenever someone else seems to get too close for comfort.

'I remember that time,' Ritsu thought, recalling those days of uncertainty; he had felt grateful that Masamune liked his company. Although, Ritsu now understood from the older man that he [Masamune] felt the same way. After all, they both loved each other very- 'Wait...' He looks at An in confusion with the slight tilt of his head. 'Dense? Hmm? Am I? Even if I am, I don't think I'm THAT dense...'

"Summer huh," Masamune murmurs to himself as he got off work; he had overheard some nurses talking about their hometown's Summer Festival. Thankfully, it wasn't too much late into the night- he just received a text from Ritsu saying that he arrived at the station and was waiting for him. Already he was excited to be off of work and able to see his lover- not that he'll show it in public while he's heading toward the station.

He wondered if Ritsu would be okay with going on a trip with him in the Summer to visit a certain someone. 'I... should probably get in touch with her soon.' In regards to that certain someone, he hopes that she wouldn't be too mad with him for not visiting or contacting her since then. Admittedly, he had forgotten about contacting her again ever since Ritsu woke up.

His grandmother...

He was planning on telling Ritsu about it- the only time he left his [Ritsu's] bedside and even work for a whole week. It had been roughly a year into Ritsu's comatose state; the other doctors had gotten together and decided to send him away to get some fresh air. They sought out his grandmother- since they knew he wasn't on good terms with his mother- and before he realized it, he was already on a plane to the boonies.

...

...

…

'Here..?' Masamune thought, a bit perplexed as he stared at the nursing home in front of him. The address he received wasn't his grandparents' home, so he wondered what was up. He knew his grandmother was starting to feel ill but she still seemed to have a lot of energy the last time he saw her during his last year of high school. "..."

'Don't tell me she's getting close to-' Masamune grimaced, wanting to hope that his grandmother wasn't near her final moments on Earth. He was supposed to come here to relax, supposedly, and not worry over a significant family member. 'Ritsu...' He wondered about the chances if the brunet happened to wake up while he was gone.

"Oh, are you a visitor?" A professionally dressed woman from the inside walked out to greet him seeing that he was just staring silently at the building. "Are you here to see someone?"

He sighs, tired. "...I'm here to see Takano Kotoha. I'm her grandso-"

"Oh yes!" She interrupts him, seeming elated. He reluctantly follows her inside to the front desk. "She's been expecting you! Would you please come inside and sign-in?"

…

To him, his grandmother seemed like a more relaxed version of his mother. Even now, as he walked in to her room he could see her relaxed posture. She was sitting near the window tending to something- he stilled as he saw the cherry blossom tree branch in a pot. He remembered his grandmother telling him about how his grandfather planted the tree in their yard because he loved cherry blossoms. "...Did something happen to your tree?" The older woman froze for a second, her hand hovering over the branch as she looked over to see Masamune.

"Masamune..!" His grandmother beamed gently, patting her hands on her pants before getting up to embrace him. His greetings were stifled as she hugged him unexpectedly tight. "Oh, how have you been? My, you're now taller than your grandfather back when we were young!"

"..Yeah."

"Is that cat of yours alright? Sorata was it?"

"Ah, he's living with a friend now."

"I see..." She trails off, gazing softly at him. "And you?" He stiffens. "I was surprised when your co-workers contacted me... but I'm glad you're here. That mother of yours hasn't visited me once since she brought me here."

"Did something happen?"

"Oh well, I tripped down the steps is all." Seeing that he didn't seem convinced, she sighed. "When I finally got Kotoko to tell me what happened between you two, I may have reacted badly... while on the steps. Next thing I know, I'm in the hospital, and the house along with the property were being sold." She gently takes a hold of his hands and sighed once more. "With all that has happened, I'm so sorry." He stares at her, taken aback at the apology.

"What?" Why was she the one apologizing to him? He swallowed thickly, tense. "Did you know?"

Did his grandmother know that Saga wasn't his father?

"It never occurred to me until Kotoko had said so... You know," She pauses, thoughtfully, "It... never mattered to me. Simply, you're my daughter's son- MY grandson, but now, I can see that you don't hold any of that man's [Saga's] features. I don't even care to know who your birth father is. For me..." He was startled as she took a grasp of both his cheeks to cradle his face, unsure how to feel as she regarded him softly.

"You remind me so much of your grandfather." She turned her head to look at the potted tree branch fondly. "Taciturn for the most part, but yet so serious and passionate for things that matter to you. I loved him very much." She turned her head back to look at him again and laughed half-heartedly. "You even make that face, just like him, when-

You're trying not to cry," Kotoha smiles sadly, brushing away Masamune's stray tears with her thumbs. She then brought him over to sit where she had sat near her plant, while she brought up a small stool to sit near him. "Sorry again, Masamune." He coughs, resisting the urge to cry. "You must have been through so much these past few years. If it's okay with you, why don't you tell me about what you've been up to the last time I saw you?"

He didn't know that his visit would end up like this.

To be able to share a part of his life so far to his grandmother came as a relief for him.

...

Before he realized it, he arrived at the station earlier than expected. 'Hmm, where is he?' Masamune scanned the area as he searched for any sign of the brunet after he texted from his cell phone. *Click* He startles at the familiar sound, but looks around to find no one in particular.

"Again?" He mutters under his breath, wary of his surroundings before he felt the small headbutt to his upper back that took him off guard. When he turned, his hand was grabbed, and his heart melted at the sight of Ritsu making sure his hand was properly held by his. "Yo," Masamune greets warmly. "Did you wait long?" He uses his other hand to ruffle the younger's hair. His suspicions about the clicking will have to wait.

"Oh, no. I got here just a few minutes ago. Look," He shows Masamune a flier with marine life on it using his other hand. "Remember that aquarium I mentioned this morning? They're hiring!"

"Oh?"

"The girl who handed it to me, she plays one of their mermaids! Ah, but I think I'll prefer to volunteer instead. I still want to find something in Literature if possible, but I need something to do in the meantime..." He glances up to see Masamune's displeasure from his wanting to work showing through his stoic façade. "I mean, I am getting better at cooking and such- being at home is nice but I need to find work you know?" They begin walking towards their assigned train to Kyoto as Ritsu continues talking. "Unless..."

"Unless what?"

"If we had a cat, I won't be so lonely at home if I end up not finding work..." Ritsu finishes coyly, avoiding the older man's amused expression.

"Ah." Masamune held back a snicker. "You'll definitely find a job. No need for a cat."

"But what about a roomba? If we are both tired from work..."

"Nah, then I'll clean for the both of us. It's no problem."

"But- but..." Ritsu pouts, the tips of his ears reddening in embarrassment as Masamune laughs. "It's my birthday!"

"Then, would you rather go to Kyoto? Or use the money instead to buy a cat or a roomba?"

This caught the younger man off-guard, and he answers quietly after a few seconds of silence. "That's not fair..." Ritsu mumbles, brows furrowed as he thought seriously of what Masamune was suggesting. "But, exactly how does the price of going to Kyoto compare with buying a cat or a roomba?" His eyes widen at a sudden thought as he looks up at Masamune, excited. "A cat AND a roomba?" Masamune held back a snort of laughter. "Ah, but-" Ritsu's excitement crumbles as he remembers the costs of taking the cat to the veterinarian, and supplies-

And then he was, for the second time today, flicked on the forehead. "Ack!"

"You're suddenly so serious it's hilarious." Before Ritsu could interject he was being pulled towards their designated area. "Maybe by next year... I'll think about it." As they past by a corner shop, Masamune glances at the ads for new apartments and rentals.

"You'll think about it?!" Ritsu huffs, stifling a laugh. "Really?" They pause in place, surrounded by other people waiting for the train to arrive.

"Yep. By then... we'll probably be in a bigger place and maybe we can get two cats."

"T-two cats you say..." Masamune looks to see the younger in contemplation.

[He really used cats as a way to get me to move in completely with him] '-Is probably what he's thinking...' The older man thought, watching and waiting for his response. He continued to wait as they got onto the train and sat in their seats. However, he grew worried at the serious expression his lover was wearing. 'Should I flick on him the forehead again?' "Ritsu-"

"That's probably better for you huh..." Ritsu trails off, surprising Masamune with a gentle grip to his hand as he gazes at him. "We should probably get a new mattress too."

"Huh?" He didn't expect that.

Ritsu flusters at the confusion his husband was sporting. "I mean, it's n-not like I'm so opposed to it that I wouldn't do it for you. Because we lov-I mean I-" He blushes, slowly panicking with what he was going to say. "I know I was reluctant at first about it but in all honesty at this point, I'm just worried about the costs. I'm aware that we have enough but I wanted to be able to contribute more so I wanted a job first."

"Also," The brunet continues, more quietly, "I looked up the tag on the mattress and it's over 8 years old. I read that that's around the time you need to replace it."

"Oh." Masamune recalls then that the mattress was from the previous tenant of his apartment. 'That saved money for me back then, so...'

"And, your mother," Ritsu brings up, "I could feel her judging me when I told her I couldn't work yet back then. And I know that you'd say that I shouldn't care about what she thinks but..." He looks at Masamune shyly, yet determinedly. "I want to be able to support and spoil you more regardless! So no matter what, I need a job. After all, I'm the one who proposed to you s-so if anything, I should be the one taking care of you more..." He trails off, embarrassed to his ears.

Ah. 'This isn't good.'

This did not bode well for the him that was in the train.

Ritsu looked on in confusion and concern as Masamune sucked in a breath and laid back his head at his seat with his eyes closed. "Masamune?" Before he could respond, Ritsu was immediately distracted by something outside the window and the older man sighed in relief.

Why couldn't they be at the hotel already?

Happy New Years! This chapter was months in the making and I'm sorry!

I've been mainly working and being lazy about starting up the laptop.

I'll try better! See you in 2020 for Ritsu's B-Day part 3!