Hello, it's me...

I was wondering if after all these weeks you'd like to read,

To catch up on everything...

Haha happy reading! xD I'm in winter break now! To warn, this chapter is rated M for reasons!

Shouta was a rather short man. Ever since he was young he was a housekeeper, handy for all the small spaces. Luckily for him, he was never meant for the heavy work, and blessed with the family he cleans for he maintains a rather youthful appearance despite currently being thirty years of age.

When the youngest lady of twenty-two years was sent to marry the first son of the Yukina Kingdom, the heir of the throne, she requested he come along with her.

To be clear, he did not want that at all.

The whole place was huge, meaning so much to clean, even with the other staff! Not to mention he would know no one there, and would be treated like the stranger he would be. Plus, it wouldn't be the first time a member of the staff would tangle him into messes that would be hard to comb.

However, he understood why the young lady wanted him to come. He was one of her closest companions, and was one of the few men her father trusted her with.

...

"Why did he choose me?" She asks him, arms spread out as she lay back on her new bed, wondering about her now-fiance. "I mean, I can't really complain since I let Mother and Father put me up as an eligible bachlorette."

"You also can't complain cause he's a prince. He's a prince! You can't get any better than that." He says, organizing her dresser.

"Shouta," she sighs, "Poor, poor, short, shorty Shouta. I hope someday you'll want to find love."

"It's not like I don't," he huffs, annoyed, but used to her name calling, "It's just that... this is really great for you is all. We were all worried you'd end up deciding to go off and become a mercenary."

"I was thinking of that actually, but..." She flips over, staring absentmindedly at her pillow through her dark bangs. "I realized that wasn't really what I wanted."

"Good." Shouta smiles. "You've really grown up."

"But don't think I don't need you here! I'm not all that grown up yet," she turns and sits up, facing him. He was reminded of the little girl he aided in raising, following him around back then as he did his work like a little duckling. "I still need my Shouta."

Shouta snickers at that, finishing up his current chore. "You really are still a kid, huh? Oh," he looks out the window and notices the change in light. "You were supposed to meet him for lunch right? Come get ready."

"Okay..."

Closer to the Usami Kingdom, An found herself on the verge of throwing everything on the ground and going off to sulk somewhere where no one would find her. Not even Ritsu.

This wasn't fun. Going shopping was fun. Going shopping while having wary eyes on you was not fun.

It was all because of that wolf.

A part of her said it was Ritsu who should be blamed. He insisted on bringing Masamune along. Another part of her said it was the wolf's fault for not being able to detach from Ritsu's side like a... like a...

"He's like a big puppy, isn't he?" An startles, turning to the girl next to her that Ritsu introduced her to, Reika. Subtly, she glances back at the man and wolf before looking back ahead, annoyed; Ritsu hasn't paid much attention to her at all throughout this whole trip. "You know I heard something interesting from my sister."

"Oh?" She tries to distract herself. "What is it?"

"The Yukina Kingdom is going to have a ball for their oldest son and his fiancee. My older sister is going and says if I want to bring someone I can. Do you want to come?"

"H-huh? Me?" An questions, "Are you sure? We barely know each other- you don't have a friend you want to take with you?"

"Oh, no... I don't. No one's really talked to me since I'm okay with him. The wolf."

"What?" An frowns, her brows furrowing. "Why?"

Reika shrugs. "I don't really know. He's not even a threat, honestly. When my sister comes back home after the ball, she'll help him return to normal." Noticing that Ritsu and Masamune were lagging behind, she steps back a little to wait for them.

'Return to normal?' An thought in confusion, wondering what the younger girl meant by that. Now that she thought about it, this place wasn't normal. She had met a mermaid on the train here after all. Putting aside her growing annoyance towards the beast, she did have to admit that Masamune being that size was not normal.

"So you want to come?" Reika asks, by her side again. "If you can't find a dress you like, you can borrow one of ours, or wait and go shopping in the Yukina Kingdom if you want."

"I... I want to come," An answers after a moment of thought, "It sounds fun, Reika-chan!"

"Okay, great! It's in a week," Reika says, before looking back at Ritsu. "I thought of asking him too, but he has work so..."

"Oh?" 'That's right,' An remembers, 'Even though he's here, Ricchan's still an editor.'

"You always say -chan a lot. Why's that?" Reika asks in curiosity.

"I-it's something we do back in Japan," An explains, realizing that people here find it strange. "Even though you guys speak Japanese too, you guys don't do that huh?"

"Yeah, we don't... well, I mean," Reika closes her eyes in thought, "I remember my sister talking to someone on the phone using -san and -chi..."

"On the phone? What does your sister do?"

"Oh she does a lot of stuff. Grandpa doesn't like half of it, so she doesn't like coming home a lot cause all he does is nag."

"Really?" An giggles, anticipating meeting the older sister. Upon hearing laughter behind them, she forces herself to stray ahead. She had no reason to feel jealous but...

Ritsu never laughed so happily before.

...

It had become a rather nice night; Ritsu stood out in front of the doors, soaking in the pleasant weather. An had decided to stay with Reika for the night, and he was happy she made a friend. He did feel guilty that he didn't spend as much time with her like she wanted. However, he felt that if he did spend more time with her now, she wouldn't get over him.

A wet nose nudging his hand gathered his attention, causing him to laugh a little as he was being pushed inside by the wolf. "What is it? Dinner for you will be done in a few minutes."

Masamune didn't seem to care for that, judging by the fact he was led to the couch after shutting the door. After he sat, the wolf took half the space, wanting to be petted. Smiling, he pet the soft fur. He really loves Masamune's company.

When his phone rang, he laughs a little at Masamune's whine before getting up to answer. "Hello? Onodera speaking."

He really didn't like that phone. Masamune sulks at Ritsu's side, leaning against him as the other answered the voice in a friendly, professional tone.

All he wanted was Ritsu's attention. All day, all night... He wondered what was wrong with him, but he didn't want to find out really what it was. He'd prefer not to know. Mmm... He began rubbing his sides against Ritsu, circling around him like a cat. He pauses when Ritsu's free hand goes to stoke the top of his head and ears, and closes his eyes. Leaning against Ritsu, he stayed put until the phone call was over.

"That was Isaka-san," Ritsu tells him, and he remembers the guy as being one of Ritsu's bosses from what Ritsu had told him, "Apparently, Usami-sensei is one of the princes here! I didn't know that," the man said in awe, "And Aikawa-san is currently caught up in something, so he wanted me to go check on his work on her behalf. Usami-sensei is notorious for handing things in late, so..." Ritsu still seemed to be in awe. "I can't believe he lives here... and a prince..."

Oh, he remembered faintly of the prince. Masamune promptly followed Ritsu into the kitchen after hearing the oven timer go off. The prince was a little older than him, if he remembered his age right, and he would travel back and forth to that other land for his job.

The king didn't really approve of the prince being an author, but since Akihiko was so well-received he had no choice but to let it go.

"He wants me to go tomorrow, so I'll leave in the morning. I've never went into the kingdom before..." Ritsu furrows his brows, "I hope no one tries to hurt you... unless, do you want to stay home?"

Masamune shook his head.

"Oh okay..." Ritsu gives a small smile. "I know I shouldn't take you to work with me, but I would feel much better if you came along." Secretly, Ritsu was also worried for that if he left Masamune alone, some of the towns people were going to go gang up on him. A few of the peoples looks seemed more hostile than last time, for some reason.

...

He wanted... something. That was the only way Masamune could put it. He wanted something... so badly...

Shaking his head, he left the mattress in favor of the floor, feeling too hot inside. Even from here, he can smell Ritsu's scent, and he shudders. He liked how Ritsu smelled. He can hear how softly Ritsu was breathing, and deciding to match up with it, Masamune tried hard to fall asleep to escape this strange sensation coursing through his body.

It was such a nice day today; Masamune laid back at the nice weather, putting his arms to the back of his head. Turning, he smiled at how peaceful Ritsu looked, the sun giving his hair a reddish glow to his brown. Careful, he gently pushed a few strands away from Ritsu's eyes, gazing at his face softly.

He wanted a kiss.

One couldn't hurt right? Or another? Masamune swiftly planted one before planting another, longer one, enjoying the others soft lips. He moved to loom over him. Ritsu murmured something incoherent as he woke, and they stare at each other before the brunet blushes.

So cute... He presses his lips against Ritsu's once more, taking advantage of his parted lips with his tongue. He couldn't tell with the hands on his chest if the brunet was trying to push him away or pull him closer. Ritsu's hands were clenching and releasing on his clothes.

"Mmm..." Oh, Ritsu's moaning through their kisses spurred Masamune on, pressing his kisses harder as he himself moans.

After a few seconds break he resumed his actions, one of his hands feeling the skin under Ritsu's shirt. His skin was so soft... He can hear Ritsu's muffled voice of surprise as he pushed up the man's shirt to kiss the others chest.

Little gasps excited Masamune as he continued to give Ritsu's chest attention, lapping and nipping before trailing back up to his neck. "Ritsu..." He whispered before giving a thrust of his clothed hips against Ritsu's own.

"Ah! Hahh..." Ritsu moans, before looking surprised and then mortified of himself, his blush by now reddening from his cheeks to his ears. Masamune gaped slightly as that turned him on even more, grinding his hips against the other in rapid rhythm. It felt like it could go on forever.

...

Why couldn't he get their clothes off? Masamune thought in frustration, grinding harder and faster in return. Ritsu began grabbing onto his clothed chest tighter onto him, moving his own hips now in want.

"Ritsu, Ritsu..." Masamune grit his teeth, seeking release. He wanted more of Ritsu... He cradled the other man's face as he kissed him deeply, continuing his clothed thrusts. "Oh-" He cursed as he felt himself reaching where he wanted, humping harder and faster. "Yes!"

"Ahh! Mph-!" He kisses Ritsu again, feeling the other shudder in pleasure before he came himself, hiding his face into the crook of Ritsu's neck, yearning.

"Ritsu... I-"

Ritsu snapped his eyes open, breathing hard and uneven as he settled his rapid heartbeat.

'What was that? What was that?!' Ritsu's lips tremble as he breathes in and out, a hand on his chest.

Did... did he just... have sex with his clothes on with another man in his dream? Or was there a name for that type of... whatever they did?

Oh, and it felt so good too... and the way his name was said was so no no no wait! Wait! Ritsu sat up, his hands on his face as he tried to think more calmly. He didn't even know he was attracted to the same sex let alone know he could make those embarrassing sounds!

He took his hands away from his face, gasping at the visible stain through his pajama pants shown to him by the light of the moon. It felt warm enough earlier, so he wasn't sleeping with a blanket on.

He wished he did now though.

Flushed, he gets up before tiptoeing to the bathroom. Holding back a yelp, he stared in shock at the white substance on the floor in front of Masamune's side. Some of it was on his fur too. 'Oh no...' Ritsu thought, horrified that his... thing... somehow... 'Did I.. do that..?' It shouldn't be able to flow that far right? Wait, his pants are still on too so..?

...He decided just to not question it; he had to wake up early, and... Ritsu sighs, tired. In the bathroom, he quickly wiped himself before taking a wet towel with him. Now, back in the room, he changed into new boxers and a pair of sweatpants before gently wiping Masamune's side and the floor.

Hearing a whimper, Ritsu smiled softly at the waking wolf, who looked sleepy and confused. "It's okay, just go back to sleep," he pet the soft head before finishing wiping and tossing the towel into his hamper.

After settling into bed, he smiled as Masamune got up to join him, nestling up against him. "Good night, Masamune." Faintly, while falling asleep and staring into those dark brown eyes, Ritsu was reminded of the man in his dreams.

Meanwhile, Masamune took back what he thought about all those months ago. He watched as Ritsu fell back asleep, a small smile gracing his lips. Right now, his paw would get in the way if he were to try to push the others bangs away from his face.

For the first time in his life... he wished he was human again.

Wooo... this was called dry humping right? lol I don't really know either.