Disclaimer: See the first chapter

Misaki is lamenting over the fact that he'd like been duped by Isaka when something catches his attention at the corner of his eye. "Oh."

It's a flower shop, he realized.

'Come to think of it, I haven't gotten Usagi-san any kind of present yet. A bouquet is a little trite but you can't go wrong with flowers.' Glancing at his wallet, he nodded. 'If it's about 3000 yen, I can afford it.'

Mind made up, he crossed the street.

Pushing open the door, he heard the wind chime make a tinkling sound, signifying a customer. "Um, excuse me?"

Currently in the process of wrapping a bouquet, the florist glanced up, revealing dark blue eyes. "Yes, how may I help you?"

Glancing around the shop in fascination, Misaki said in a slightly distracted tone, "Can I get a bouquet for around 3000 yen?"

"Of course! A present for somebody?"

"Yes." Glancing at the owner of the voice, he started a little as he had to look up. 'He's huge!'

The florist ignored his gawking. "What kind would you like?"

"Uh…" For a second, he scrambled, flailing mentally. "Roses! I'd like some roses!" Misaki is confident in his choice since Usagi is so over the top, he'd appreciate something this extravagant (kind of).

"Okay, roses it is! In that case…" Reaching out for a peach colored rose, he plucked one free. "How about this? It's called a Baby Romantica."

Glancing at the flower in the tall man's hand, he smiled. "Yes, please!"

"Big brother, where did you say these flowers were being sent to again?" A rather tall youth emerged from the back area of the flower shop, carrying a box with several potted plants and a bouquet, the shoulder strap of a book bag almost hidden by his shoulder length spiky dark blue-black hair. "Oh, you have a customer. Gomenasai." He dipped his head in an apologetic half bow as his hands are full.

"E-Eh?" Misaki smiled, laughing awkwardly. 'They're both huge!' "No, no. It's fine. It's fine!"

"Apologies, this will only take a moment…" The elder seemed mildly embarrassed. Dipping his hand into the front of his work apron, he came up with a card and gently placed it amongst the bouquet so neatly that the floral display wasn't disrupted. "There you go, Yū-kun. Be safe on the train."

Much to Misaki's surprise, the younger boy didn't seem to mind the doting behavior and gave a two finger salute. "Will do. Ja ne, nii-san!"

The tinkling sound of the bell echoed through the store as he left.

For some reason, Misaki got the distinct feeling that he'd met the boy, Yū, some other time or place as he paid for the Baby Romantica roses. Shrugging, he put the thought out of mind as he picked up the pace a little, jogging to get to the train station. 'I wonder if he'll like this? Especially since others have already given him such extravagant gifts.' He unconsciously clutched the bouquet closer thinking of Usagi.

On the last step, the green eyed university student saw several people milling about, all getting their tickets and boarding the trains. Then he saw a tall, suit wearing individual staring at the arrival and docking times with a blank expression.

Yū stood behind him, shifting from foot to foot.

'What's this guy doing? He's just standing there. Hurry up and buy your ticket! There are other people waiting.' Just as Misaki was about to say something, the other boy spoke first, "If you need help, I can figure out how much it will cost you."

"Eh?" The man glanced at Yū.

"I was just thinking that you might not be able to read the route map." Yū remarked, trying to be helpful.

The suit wearing male adjusted his glasses. "No, that I can see. I want to go to Teito Hotel, but..."

'That's where I'm going.' Misaki thought to himself.

"Then that's going to Hibiya Station. It will be 160 yen." Yū and Misaki spoke at the same time. The taller boy looked around, confused before glancing down at the shorter boy (and wasn't that embarrassing as Misaki was probably older) with a bemused smile. "Jinx!"

Rubbing the back of his neck, Misaki glanced at the oldest of the three of them, he was clearly lost. "Um, if we're all going to the same place, maybe we can ride the rest of the way together?"

Yū happened to be carrying the most so he balanced the box of flowers and plants on top of his knees and his bookbag situated in between his legs, seated across from Misaki and the other tag along on the train.

The trio traded conversation back and forth, just idle chit chat, really.

Sometimes it's like pulling teeth to get the bespectacled male to answer anything.

Then came the perhaps inevitable break in conversation, with the difference of opinion about the novelist, Usami Akihiko, who won the Kikukawa award, is any good.

"He's an insipid writer."

'Come again?' For a second, Misaki wonders if his hearing has gone wonky. "Oh. You've read his books then?"

"They're not even worth reading."

"I might not like Bad Luck, of NG Studio's, music and prefer Nittle Grasper to them but at least I listened to some of their songs. You shouldn't speak so poorly of the guy's writing if you haven't read any of his works." Yū commented.

"..." Adjusting his spectacles, the eldest male glanced at the tall boy.

Yū smiled in an innocuous manner. "Just a suggestion."

/Hibiya. Hibiya! The next stop is Hibiya station./

When they arrive at the hotel, there's staff on hand that relieve Yū of most of his workload but he still has a bouquet to deliver. The building has undergone an expansion and although he wants to go his own way, talking to the front desk and finding out exactly where the room of the recipient's staying in is the next logical step.

Things unfortunately turned pear shaped quite rapidly though.

"Yeah, Usagi-san, I just got here." Misaki spoke on the phone with his lover. There was a ding from the elevators as he, Yū, and the oldest of the two of them walked by. The doors opened, revealing his lover and Isaka-san. "Wait, hey. Oi, Usagi! It's you. Awesome!"

"Chibi-tan, what a coincidence!" Isaka beamed, pleased to see the boy, but also glad that his scheming had born fruit, mostly.

Akihiko's eyes widened marginally as he caught sight of his brother.

"Hey, it's Haruhiko." Isaka commented, admittedly surprised by the sight of his childhood friend.

"Ryuuichiro? What are you doing here?" Haruhiko raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

"Work. I've got an esteemed author here and…"

"Why are you together?" Akihiko interrupted.

Panic is beginning to claw at his chest and throat. He trusted Misaki but, but-

"What? Eh, well, we all sort of met while boarding the train. We were going the same way, so…" Misaki had a sudden epiphany. "Wait, do you know him?"

"'Do you know him?'" Isaka is in a state of genuine disbelief as he strode forward. "This guy is Usami Haruhiko, Akihiko's big brother." Thumbing in the other's direction a bit rudely.

Yū face palmed and Misaki became slack jawed in disbelief.

"Did you by chance get the date wrong? The party is tomorrow." Ryuuichiro inquired, tilting his head to the side just a little.

"Party? For what?" Haruhiko was clueless about what the other was talking about.

"Huh? I sent you an invitation. Did you not even look at it? To commemorate Akihiko winning the award." The more he spoke, the more he regretted even bringing it up but he was hoping that Haruhiko could set aside his anger for once and just genuinely try to be there for his brother.

Haruhiko turned to look right at the ash blond haired author. "First I've heard of it."

"Oi, oi…" Isaka could sense the growing tension.

"I'm only here because I had a meeting today. I had no idea I'd be running into you in a place like this." Haruhiko spoke in a quiet voice that only became lower, colder.

"Thank you very much for going to the trouble of sending me flowers the other day." Hair shading his eyes, Akihiko uttered those words, knowing the reality, that his brother hadn't sent him anything, but the masochistic side of his personality still hoped, still yearned for understanding, compassion, from his half sibling.

'Somehow…' Yū wanted to walk away but like a train wreck, he couldn't stop watching the revealed brothers as they used their words to convey their displeasure with each other.

"Flowers?" Haruhiko raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "My secretary probably sent them without telling me. I had no knowledge of it."

'Thank goodness, an opening to quietly exit this situation!' "Speaking of flowers..." Yū piped up, finger raised.

"Misaki, let's go." Akihiko is already weary of his estranged sibling. "Isaka-san, I'll be going on ahead to my room."

Haruhiko is far from done, however. "Akihiko." At the sound of his voice, the younger stopped. "When do you intend to return home?"

The novelist glanced over his shoulder. "I'm not going back. I told you that several times already. Since I left, I have no further expectations and you can do as you please with the rest of it."

"Get real!" The outburst from the soft spoken man admittedly shocked Yū and caused him to flinch. There is real anger in his voice instead of the usual monotone as he continued on to say, "So you have no regard for me who has to clean up your mess and fill in for you?"

"If you don't like it, then you could just quit. I don't recall forcing you to do anything."

'No, that's not right.' Yū didn't understand what was going on exactly but he could make intuitive guesses.

Just quitting wouldn't cut it for someone like Haruhiko.

"So the one who ran away can say what he pleases after all." The sneer is audible in Haruhiko's voice if not shown on his face.

"I suppose so." Akihiko retorted flippantly.

"And as a result of running away, you become a writer. I suppose it's fitting, what with you flitting around in imaginary worlds, turning away from reality. How easy that must be. Weaving useless sentences together, getting your insipid books published, and on top of that, wallowing in your own self satisfaction. You must be on top of the world." Haruhiko's face is now twisted with barely contained fury and loathing.

He really hated his brother.

Yū couldn't stand to watch anymore of these soap opera antics and is about to attempt to speak up (again) but, "Get real!" Misaki shouted.

'Oh, he's upset?' Yū blinked, attention focused on the brunette now.

"What's with you? On the train earlier, you said that you hadn't read any of Usagi-san's books. If you haven't read any of them, quit talking crap about them. You've already been chewed out once." He jerked his chin in Yū's direction. Grabbing Akihiko's sleeve, walking backwards into the elevator, repeatedly tapping the button for their floor.

"BAKA!"

Then the elevator doors closed, he and the famous novelist gone.

'Don't involve me in this!' Rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish smile, giving off the aura of being clueless, "I really don't know that guy. I'm just a delivery boy." Waving his free hand in a helplessly flustered manner, he cleared his throat and then with a flourish, presented the bouquet. "Flowers from an admirer, Usami-san."

"Eh? What's this? Haruhiko has an admirer?" Isaka is insanely curious. "Did they leave a c-Ow!" His hand is swatted as he reached to take the bouquet.

"It's for Usami-san's eyes only." Yū wore a serene smile but his eyes promised pain if Isaka tried his luck again. "Well, sir…?" He glanced at the bespectacled individual in askance.

"I don't want them." Haruhiko stated. "Throw them away."

'...What?' "The person who ordered this particular bouquet cares about you a lot, you know? The least that you could do is let it sit on your office desk at work." Yū tried to compromise.

"I have no need for something so frivolous." Haruhiko replied, expressionless.

"Then you really are a moron." Yū said simply, calmly. "Flowers have a variety of meanings, the sender really put their all into conveying that to you but I see that you're not worth the effort."

A large, calloused hand snagged his wrist, stopping him from walking away.

"Let go." Yū ordered.

"You didn't let me finish. I have no need for something so frivolous unless it comes from you." Haruhiko's face remained neutral, changing the heated sentiment (from anyone else) into something dry, factual.

Yū jerked his wrist free, "Don't say such weird things! Stupid! Idiot! Moron!" Then he sprinted down the hall that they came, but there was no denying that his face felt hot.

'I'm blushing?! What the heck is up with that? We're both guys!'

In his mind's eye, the faces of his brother and Hiroki popped up.

'Okay, okay, so it doesn't matter about his gender. The guy is still a total jerk.'

"Crap, I dropped the bouquet." Groaning into his hands, Yū went through the pros and cons of going back to get it before eventually dropping that line of thought entirely.

Technically, the bouquet belonged to that jerk and he said to throw it away.

'Might as well just forget it. There's no way we'll meet again.'

Back at Teito Hotel

"Whoa, that's crazy. Two people to call Usami Haruhiko a baka since me!" Isaka is amused by the circumstances that had happened this afternoon.

Unfortunately, Haruhiko didn't see the humor. "Who was that?"

"Akihiko's special someone, currently living with him."

That garnered a reaction. Haruhiko blinked, shock visible in his eyes momentarily. "Akihiko? Impossible…"

"Sounds crazy doesn't it? I got a shock when I heard it too, seriously." Nodding with faux pity, he crossed his arms over his chest. "He's just a normal kid, nothing particularly striking about him. Well, no, no, I suppose being able to live with Akihiko is a feat in itself."

Saying nothing else, Haruhiko leaned down and picked up the bouquet, removing the card. He had very little interest in what was written on it, but perhaps it could be used to find the shop who sold the bouquets?

It was a long shot in the dark but not a possibility he could ignore.

I put more detail into this chapter and edited things. This is directly taken from the anime in some parts with Yū being interjected in there, obviously. Some snipits are undoubtedly added in to further along the story.