Ritsu sighs in annoyance as he finds yet another error in the manga. He leans back on the leather chair and rakes his finger through his hair in utter frustration. What the hell was she thinking? She had loads of time to draw out her story yet this felt rushed and unorganized. It was as if she had no time whatsoever to fix the plot or the characters. It was messy, the story wasn't interesting, and the characters were horrible.

Ritsu rolls his eyes when he concludes that she probably did this last minute again. Honestly, when was she going to learn? There was only so much he could take.

Ritsu puts down the manuscript and contemplates on what to do. He did not want to deal with her today; or for the rest of this week for that matter. These was his days off, damn it. He wasn't even supposed to be working. Well…not that he could help it. Being the workaholic that he was he took more story boards to do than necessary.

Ritsu looks down at the manuscript again and sighs. It was probably because he babies her. Pushing back the deadline, giving her more time, multiple chances...Well you know what? That was it. She wasn't going to get any special treatment from him this time. If she didn't correct these by the end of this week then he was dropping her story.

Ritsu reaches for his phone in his back pocket and gives her a quick text saying that the story was terrible, she needs to fix everything, and it's all due by the end of this week otherwise her manga will be pushed back until next year.

Satisfied, Ritsu stands up and stretches his tired muscles, moaning in relief when his bones popped into place. He regards the manuscripts sprawled over his new desk and winces. Maybe he should give some of these manuscripts to his co-workers. It wasn't even noon and already he was stressed to the max. Luckily, hell week was over, and there wasn't much to do these days. Ritsu sighs. He'll fax the manuscripts over later. Right now he should make something to eat. He was starved.

As he turns for the door, Ritsu couldn't help but take a quick look at the empty bed, and wonder what happened to the wolf. When he woke up this morning he found himself alone. He thought that maybe the wolf had left the bedroom and went into the living room but his speculations were shot down when he saw the patio door wide open to the morning breeze. Ritsu had frowned at that. Didn't he lock that door last night? How did the wolf manage to unlock it?

Ritsu shrugs it off and tells himself the wolf was intelligent and probably unlocked it himself. Maybe his first assumption about the wolf being his grandmothers was true.

Ritsu heads out of the bedroom, making sure to close the door behind him, and walk into the kitchen. He hasn't taken the time to memorize the kitchen yet, so it took him a while to find anything. At least finding the coffee maker was easy. Looking around the kitchen, Ritsu wonders how long it would take to find the rest of the pots in all these cabinets, and decides it wasn't worth the time. He wasn't that hungry…

…Ok, fine. He was just too lazy to look for them.

Sighing, Ritsu turns the coffee maker on and waits for the water to boil. He leans back against the counter, crosses his arms, and looks out the window. The day looked beautiful; quiet. The sun's rays had a potent effect on the flowers, bringing their color to life, the trees swayed against the soft wind, and the birds were singing to a new day.

He wasn't used to this. He was expecting loud traffic, or people chatting away on the sidewalks, but all he heard was silence.

It was unnerving. It made him feel isolated. Alone in the world.

Ritsu shakes it off. He needed to keep active in order to take his mind off of it. But there wasn't much to do. The cottage was clean, the manuscripts would be done by his co-workers, he didn't have anything to read, and no one to talk to. He was used to biding his time with something. Doing nothing was foreign to him. There has to be papers to correct or calls to make or hell, even going to the printers to deal with whatever issue was wrong with the publishing.

But now…

Now what?

It was too quiet.

Empty.

Suffocating.

Ritsu slumps against the counter and sighs. "What the hell am I doing?" He mutters quietly, depression growing in his chest. This must be what true loneliness feels like. Sure he was used to being alone. He didn't have a girlfriend or visited his parents much, he didn't have any close friends, and he lived alone. But it was different. At least there was someone working with him, a person walking on the streets when he went home, or work calling. Resolve deflating, Ritsu wonders, "Maybe…Maybe I should just go hom-"

Knock, knock.

Ritsu jerks in fright, his head whipping to the direction of the door. His heart starts beating out of his chest as he wonders who could be out here in the middle of nowhere. His mind races with hundreds of different possibilities, each one causing his heart to beat faster and harder. Then he remembers that it must be his new neighbor, Takano Masamune.

Scowling at himself for forgetting and making a huge deal out of nothing, Ritsu angrily makes his way to the door and opens it.

Takano's kind eyes and soft smile greets him. "Good morning."

His brain shut down. There were no other words to describe the way his mind just melted at the sight of Takano-san's smile. He had no words to speak, no thoughts going through his head, and that freaked him out. His heart raced, his palms felt clammy, and his lips were suddenly parched.

Takano's smile falls into a concerned frown. "Onodera?"

Ritsu feels a light blush rush up to his cheeks. He takes in the way Takano-san's golden eyes seemed to glow with the morning sun behind him, how his hair looked so soft against his cheeks, and how snug his clothes fit over muscled-

Ritsu inwardly shakes himself. What the hell was that all about!? What was he doing checking Takano-san out like that!? He scowls at himself before nodding to Takano-san's comment. "G-good morning, Takano-san. Um, would you like to come in?"

Takano-san flashes him a wolfish grin, causing his heart to skip a beat. "Thanks. I would love to." Takano-san takes a step into the house just as Ritsu takes a step back to let Takano-san in. Ritsu was startled to realize that that one step did nothing to put space between him and Takano-san. It was like Takano-san was occupying more space than necessary. Even though Takano-san was at least two or three inches taller than him it felt like Takano-san was swallowing him whole.

Ritsu felt so small. Yet he felt safe in Takano-san's presence.

He felt intimidated. Yet he didn't want to move away but draw closer.

Ritsu frowns in worry and a little bit of fear. What the hell was wrong with him? He felt so at war with himself. His mind was warning him of danger, yet his heart reassured him to stay. He never in his life experienced anything like this before. He read about it, plenty of times, but to actually feel it? The writers don't do it justice, Ritsu concludes. Anxiety bubbled in his chest, his head was dizzy with so many sensations, and his heart ached in a bittersweet way.

"Onodera?"

Ritsu jerks his head up to Takano-san's confused eyes and realizes he's been silently staring at Takano-san while he was lost in thought. "A-ah, right." Ritsu tries his best to ignore the battle in his heart and mind and gestures to the kitchen, "Um, would you like some tea?"

"If it's not too much trouble, I would like some coffee." He rubs the back of his head sheepishly, "I just woke up."

"O-oh, that's fine. I-I was just making some." Why was he stuttering!? There was no reason to stutter! Damn it!

Takano-san grins. "Just my luck, huh?"

Ritsu nods absently as he shuts the door. He couldn't bring himself to look at Takano-san in fear that his emotions would go haywire again. He had no idea why this was happening to him or why Takano-san alone seemed to have this effect on him but he sure as hell didn't want to find out. The faster they get their coffee and conversation over with the better.

Ritsu beckons Takano-san to follow him and hurries to the kitchen. Takano-san casually sits at the table while Ritsu heads for the coffee maker. Ritsu could feel Takano-san's eyes following his every action causing him to fret uncomfortably.

"So, how are you doing?"

Ritsu shrugs as he reaches for the first cabinet near him. He had no idea where the cups were placed and he wishes that he had done this earlier. "Its fine, I guess. I'm still not used to it."

"Understandable." Takano-san chuckles, "I remember you hated it when you first came here."

Ritsu pauses in his search to look over his shoulder. "When I first came here?"

Takano-san nods, "As a child. You didn't like it here at first because you weren't used to it. I guarantee you; you'll love it again once you see the rest of your land."

"The rest of my land?"

Takano-san smirks. "What? Did you think it was just this cabin here?"

Ritsu nods. "The lawyers didn't mention anything else besides the cabin."

"Then I'll show you around once we finish with coffee."

Ritsu grins. Despite his emotional war earlier, Ritsu was glad that he wasn't alone anymore. Takano-san was a kind man and apparently an old friend. How can he be wary of that? "Thank you. I really appreciate that, Takano-san."

Takano-san suddenly shifts his gaze away from Ritsu, his expression going shy. "It's no problem, Onodera."

Ritsu was taken aback by this. How cute, his heart seemed to whisper and Ritsu couldn't help but agree.

He paused.

Cute? Cute!? What the hell was he thinking!? He was a guy, damn it! He had no reason to think of any guy like that! Ritsu quickly looks away and searches for the cups faster. What the hell? What the hell! What the hell!?

What was wrong with him!? He wasn't gay!

Ritsu's cheeks heat up as he recalls how tight fitted that V-neck shirt framed all of Takano-sans muscled body. Ritsu inwardly gawks. What the hell was he thinking!? He's a guy for crying out loud! Was he gay? Is this what gay people feel like when they suddenly realize they're gay? How did this work!? Can he reverse it!? He had no interest in men!

"Do you need help?" Takano-san whispers hotly in his ear.

Ritsu yelps, his body jerking away from Takano-san out of reflex, and openly gapes at him in disbelief. "Damn it, Takano-San! Don't do that!" He puts a hand over his heart and tries to catch his breath. Ritsu couldn't stop the shiver that ran down his spine as he recalls how close Takano-San stood beside him. How, being an inch away from Takano-san, felt electrifying…How his hot breath caressed his skin…

Ritsu's blush turns crimson.

Takano-san smirks. "The cups are over here." He points to the other side of the kitchen.

"O-oh. Right." Wait, how did Takano-San know that?

He was about to ask when Takano-San suddenly leans down, his face just inches away from his, and whispers, "Do I make you nervous?"

Ritsu tensed.

Takano-san bows his head down so that their eyes were even. This caused Ritsu to step back. Takano-san didn't stop, he moved until he had successfully caged Ritsu against the counter, his hands placed on either side of him, lessening any chance of running away. "Onodera?".

Takano-san had remarkable eyes, Ritsu couldn't help but note dumbly. They glittered like shards of gold sapphire, eyes that banked a touch of unmistakable masculine interest and intensity. It left him weak. Helpless.

Takano leans down so that they were a breath apart. His lips almost grazing his own and Ritsu was dumbfounded when he wanted nothing more than to close that gap.

"You know, we were very close as children." Takano-san breathed; his eyes going down to Ritsu's lips.

His heart skyrocketed. "O-oh?"

Takano nods slowly, his body tense. "We were inseparable."

Ritsu held his breath, waiting, aching, wanting, and yet fearing. He didn't understand how they ended up like this; he had no idea how to stop. He needed to stop this madness, needed to get away, and yet…

He felt his heart jerk painfully as Takano-san whispers achingly, "I missed you." Lips were less than an inch now, "So much."

Right when Takano-san was about to close the gap, to finally-finally-kiss him, Ritsu's phone starts ringing, bringing both men out of the trance.

Both Takano-san and Ritsu jerk away from each other, their eyes wide with surprise. "A-ah! Excuse me! I have to take this." Taking a step away from Takano-san, his fingers urgently pressed the answer button. "H-hello?"

"HOW DARE YOU, ONODERA!"

Ritsu cringes and quickly pulls the phone away from his ear.

"Onodera! I can't finish a story board in a damn week! Are you insane!?"

Ritsu groans. He was going to kill Isaka-san for assigning her to him. She was more trouble than she was worth!

He shifts his head to Takano-san, his eyes refusing to meet his, and mutters, "Sorry. I need to take this in the other room."

Takano merely nods.

Ritsu quickly walks away without looking back.