AU where Ritsu and Masamune never met in high school... and instead at work! And there are these little hearts...

lol I intended to post this on Valentines... oops. It's been like, 7 months give or take.

Ritsu wasn't sure how much more he could take.

The hearts he stuffed in his coat pocket were beginning to stir, along with the ones in his work bag to be taken home. He was almost there to the station, almost...

"Oy, Onodera!" He froze, the voice of his heartache's source halting him from fleeing.

"W-what is it, Takano-san?" Ritsu begins cautiously, trying to keep his coat and work bag still. "I'm in a hurry, you see..."

"Liar. I heard you earlier. All you are going to do when you get home is sleep."

"PLEASE, LET ME SLEEP IN PEACE." Ritsu honestly didn't need this right now. He began walking fast now, realizing that time was being wasted. Knowing the chief editor was following him, he asks, "What is it that you need, Takano-san?"

"What are you doing this weekend?"

"This weekend?" Ritsu frowns. "Why do you ask? I think I'm just going to clean up a little, and catch up on my sleep."

"You don't have plans with anyone?"

"Is that any of your business, Takano-san?" They were in the train now, waiting to get to their stop. Luckily, they were separated due to the crowd. Sighing, Ritsu stares out the window, feeling safe. However, his hearts were still stirring.

He didn't know what to do with them. Days back he tried for the first time to fry and squish them, but they seemed to be indestructible. "..."

...He was in love with Takano-san.

Ritsu realized that months ago when he was to work in the Emerald Department.

The strangest thing was though that he had never felt attracted to other man before, so he wondered why... why Takano-san. A man who managed to bring Emerald back up in a new light in one year, who most likely works harder than anyone else and yet manages to look over everyone else's work... A man that will hit someone if he feels to, and goes from bickering with him to giving out stern, well-meaning advice. Ritsu puts a hand over his mouth, his heart aching.

His admiration had ended up turning into something more.

...

'Aahh...' Ritsu cringes, reluctantly walking closer to his apartment door. Masamune was waiting outside, arms crossed.

"How is it that we were in the same train, but you take this long to come out?" The older man eyes the bag of bought convenience store food in Ritsu's hands. "Have I not told you to try cooking for yourself instead of buying those?"

"And have I not told you that I don't have time?!" Ritsu retorts, getting out his key. The brunet didn't remember exactly when, but now the other man would always nag him about his health choices. While it touched him at times, he found that overall it was a little annoying. "Why do you care?"

"Cause you work for me, idiot. We would have problems if our workers get sick so much."

"I-I see. Well, I'll try harder okay? Goodnight, Takano-san." Quickly he got inside before anything else can be said to him.

'That's right...' Ritsu tosses his coat and work bag before heading to the kitchen. 'I'm just a worker to him.'

'Just a worker...' It hurt so much, but it helped. Whatever he had for Masamune, he had to get over it. "..."

Or not. Feeling a nudge, he looked down at his feet to see another heart, bouncing happily when it saw that Ritsu was looking. "Geez," he goes to put it in his hands, and can't help but smile at it. "Where are you guys coming from?" Honestly, his place was almost clean now because he had to make space for them. They filled up his living room and blocking his way to his balcony slightly. Although, they did move for him when he wanted them to, so it was alright.

When he was with them, it eased him so, as if telling him that falling in love with the asshole boss was okay.

Love is hard.

Masamune peers up, staring from behind his glasses at the brunet working on his manuscript.

He's been love with Onodera for a long while now.

Working with him, watching over him as he furthers his career of being a shoujo manga editor... And then walking home, sometimes- most of the time- together... where they would occasionally talk and slips of book chatting and preferences would happen. They had more things in common than he thought.

Falling in love with him during the course of these past months felt so unusually natural. He never fell in love like this- it was so new. His earlier relationships never felt as serious as this. Normally, the closer they tried to get with him, the more colder he got towards them except Takafumi, who he had felt more friendship with despite all that they went through together.

Back to Ritsu, the brunet didn't seem to notice his advances. The thought of it had Masamune glaring at his papers, annoyed. Ritsu's blushes were already a sign that he might feel something towards him, but when it came to him actually attempting something he was brushed off. It didn't help that this was work; he had no time to properly woo the brunet when he has to get everyone working.

How was he supposed to attract Ritsu to him now? It did not help that his sort of foe Haitani seemed to be one of Ritsu's friends, and always poked at Ritsu about dating. It never escaped his hearing when he was close to them in the crowd. That bastard was totally doing this to get at him; He resisted the urge to rip his papers.

And that fiancee situation... he let out a frustrated sigh thinking of the girl who was cute and seemed more suited to be alongside Ritsu. Thank goodness Ritsu really considered her like a sister.

Feeling something poke his stomach, he looked to see one of his little hearts hopping on his lap. It seemed like it was trying to tell him- perhaps give him advice on what to do- but he couldn't understand it. He wish he did- he could use any form of help other than cliched shoujo material right now. He sighs.

Gazing back at Ritsu now, he wondered what the younger was thinking about. His lips were pursed, and his lids lowered and towards the side, almost shy. Maybe he was embarrassed about something?

Then it happened.

Their gazes meet. Eyes widen.

Blushing, Ritsu quickly averted his gaze, his hands finicky under his desk as he held a new tiny heart in place. Unknown to him, there was another one, shyly peering at Masamune from the top of his head.

'He...' Masamune couldn't believe it. 'He has one too... He has one too!'

'For me?' Surprisingly, he suddenly felt aggressive for it. 'It better be for me.' He will literally fight Haitani if those ended up being for him.

Suddenly he got up, accidentally slamming his hands on his desk. Surprised, everyone turned to look, wondering what had happened. To everyone else, the head editor's face looked determined and maybe a little bit... angry?

To his annoyance, Hatori had handed him a manuscript to check by him, and Ritsu chose that opportunity to flee to the bathroom. Then he had to go to a meeting while the brunet continued to hide; coming back hours later, Ritsu was long gone.

'Dammit...'

...

Ritsu didn't know what to do anymore.

They multiplied- the hearts are now filling up his room. This could only mean his feelings for Masamune grew stronger right? He groans. "No..."

'What... what do I do now?!' Ritsu frantically wonders. He was hiding under the sheets, tucked safely in bed. Hunger didn't hit him, so he just planned on sleeping after coming home from work. 'I'll just eat a lot tomorrow.'

That's right... tomorrow is Friday, the end of the current cycle. Finally, he'll be able to catch up on his sleep...

Well, this was odd. Masamune watched from outside his door as Ritsu came out in a rush. The brunet then shut his door quickly with a hard shut, as if he was escaping from something. "What's with you?"

"N-n-none of your business!" Ritsu sputters out, before heading into the elevator quickly.

"You still can't greet your boss in the morning?"

"G-good morning, Takano-san," the younger glares, before staring ahead, stubbornly quiet with a faint blush.

"So you still have no plans this weekend, right?"

"No, I do have plans."

"Sleeping and cleaning up doesn't count."

"Yes it does!" Ritsu ruffles up, annoyed. "Why this weekend anyway? You have Yokozawa-san right?" He and everyone else in the office knew the two were close. "Do something with him-" He was startled when two hands came down on his shoulders, and he was face to face with a serious Masamune.

"Yokozawa and I aren't together." Masamune says, feeling a little anxious that this was probably the reason why Ritsu didn't seem to be taking him seriously. Perhaps while he wasn't present whenever Haitani is with him, the man had been feeding Ritsu lies? It seemed just like Haitani to do that. "We're just friends. Just Friends."

"?" Ritsu blinks, confused. Well, this was sudden. He didn't think they were more than that.

"Okay, we used to date in college, and other things." The brunet's eyes widen, not knowing that. He just thought the two were very close. "But that's been long over. I could only see him as a friend. That's all we are."

"..." Ritsu blinks again, processing the information. "You dated Yokozawa-san?" Oh, wow... he couldn't really imagine them being all like a couple...

Masamune's voice echoed in his head, "..And other things."

...He couldn't imagine it. Nope. Just could not.

Now Masamune was confused about this, letting go of the others shoulders slowly. So Ritsu just said Yokozawa's name cause he was his only friend? He didn't feel that they were more?

Did... did Ritsu also think he was straight this whole time? The brunet seemed baffled that he and Yokozawa had dated.

He... He didn't just accidentally scare Ritsu from him, did he?

Ritsu, on the other hand, was thinking about something else. Slowly, the image of them together-together began to manifest. 'That...'

'The image of... them...'

'Augh... ugh, ugh!' Trying to will it away, Ritsu steps away from him and turns. The elevator opened now, and he gets off.

However, it was too late by then. His mind was fried. He blamed the Sapphire girls.

By the time he sat at his desk at work, Onodera Ritsu was gone... in spirit.

...

"Ricchan? Riii~chan!" Shouta waves his hand in front of Ritsu's face. With no response, Shouta turns to Mino and Hatori. "What do you think happened?"

"Well, it is the end of the cycle. He must be very focused now," Mino suggests, while Hatori simply nods and goes back to his own work.

"Are you sure?" Shouta looks back at Ritsu. "He doesn't seem focused." The short, dark-haired man was right. Instead of a determined, focused expression, the brunet looked like he was dead inside, and he was breathing through his mouth as if ill. "Ricchan?"

"..." Ritsu was trying so hard to feel nothing, think of nothing... to get that image out of his head...

"Oy! Get back to work!" Masamune passes by, hitting them on the head with a roll of sheets. Shouta rubs his head with a laugh before noticing that Ritsu was falling off his seat weakly, due to the hit. "R-Ricchan?! What's wrong?!" As he went forward to help him up, Masamune beat him to Ritsu quickly despite being the closest to him. "Takano-san..?"

"Onodera, what's wrong? Oy!" Masamune shakes the younger in his arms slightly, but received no response. In worry he put a hand on Ritsu's forehead, and while he was a little too warm for Masamune's liking, it was no fever.

"..." Hatori stares over from his desk thoughtfully, finding the situation familiar. "I think he hasn't eaten." Everyone looks over at him. "He most likely hasn't eaten well lately or at all."

"Ehhh..." Shouta glances around before spotting his small, packaged doriyaki at the edge of his desk. After opening it, he wafts the snack close to Ritsu's nose. "Ricchan, wake up wake up!"

"What the hell is happening here?!" They look up to see Takafumi, with crossed arms and his standard impatient expression. "What happened to Onodera?!"

"Nggnngh..." Ritsu comes to, the smell managing to wake him. However, the first thing he saw...

Was Takafumi. "Yokozawa...san..?" he whispers. His mind flashes back to earlier.

Oh no.

"Onodera, what do you think you're doing?" Takafumi glares, before he stopped, his brows furrowing. Onodera suddenly seemed nauseous. "Onodera? What's wrong?"

"Yokozawa-san..." Ritsu's eyes try to focus, and he becomes aware of who was holding him. "T-t... AAAAAahhhhhhh!" Ritsu tries to scramble away, but he got up too fast, knocking out when his head collided with the side of his desk. Everyone was speechless as Masamune secured him in his arms, again with his hand to the brunet's forehead.

"..." Everyone stares in worry before Hatori broke the silence. "I'll call in sick for him."

'It's too late, isn't it?' Masamune thought in disappointment, getting to their apartments with Ritsu on his back. 'He'll never consider me any more than this... He was practically freaking out and it was obviously because of what I told him...'

'What do I do now?' He hasn't seen those little hearts since yesterday. 'Were they my imagination?' Since he could grab his keys easier then getting Ritsu's, Masamune took him into his apartment. Happily, his hearts greeted him, before jumping at the sight of Ritsu like happy little puppies.

Now, reaching his bedroom, he sets the younger down on his bed. He watched as they crowded around the brunet curiously; this was the first time all of them got close to the person of his affections- the person of their affections.

When one heart began nuzzling against Ritsu's cheek he smiled. He couldn't help but feel a little hopeful, and caressed the other cheek with his thumb, lighting up at the sensation. Ritsu was so soft... Oh...

He had dreams of it after falling for him, feeling over Ritsu's cheeks with his thumbs, and getting his mouth to open up and kiss ever so messily with their lips and tongue. How he craved to feel how their tongues would work together. Since Ritsu was obviously inexperienced, Masamune was more than happy to teach him...

'Hmm..?' When Ritsu woke, the aroma of something delicious hit him, and he can feel his stomach grumbling. 'I'm so hungry...' he opens his eyes, bleary. After his vision clears, he widens his eyes seeing Masamune, and he remembers that they were at work but no more. "T-takano-san..."

"Sit up."

"H-huh?" Strong hands help him sit up, and he was aware of the plate of food being set on his lap. "Takano-san?"

"Don't talk. Just eat," Masamune says, cutting into the omelet rice and waiting for Ritsu to accept it in his mouth.

"A-ah, I can do it by my-" Ritsu took the spoonful that was lightly forced into his mouth, eyes widening at the delicious taste. He chews happily before accepting another mouthful.

"Good?"

Ritsu nods, accepting another spoon of it. "Do you eat good like this everyday?"

"...?" Masamune frowns, confused; it was just omelet rice. "What the hell are you eating at your place?"

"U-uh... um..." He was fed another spoonful.

"Geez. You can't even cook for yourself... Since it's the weekend tomorrow, just stay here for the night. You can help me make dinner and learn." The thought struck him then... Ritsu in an apron..! Ritsu wearing one of his t-shirts..! Ritsu in his shower..!

"D-dinner?" Ritsu stutters. "What time is it?"

It's a little past lunch. Hatori went ahead and put you in for a sick day, and I just took the rest of the day off. Yoshikawa-sensei's manuscript came though, so they're just wrapping it up at work."

"Aah, I see. That's good..." Ritsu swallows, fidgeting his fingers on the blanket. The older resisted the urge to link those fingers with his own. "I'm sorry... for what happened earlier. I didn't mean to act like that."

"It's fine. You were pretty out of it." Masamune feeds him another. "Do you feel okay now?"

"Y-yes... thank you. Um..." Ritsu hesitates. "Why..." he pauses, "Why did you want me to do something with you on the weekend, Takano-san? Is it work related? Are we going to visit an author or something?"

"No. I just..." Now Masamune was hesitating, wondering how to answer honestly and not scare him away. 'I just want to spend time with you. No, he'll just think I'm playing with him like always... even if I did mean it.' He was literally so close to him now, and feeding him too. So damn close... and on the bed...

"..." The air had suddenly become still, stretched in the minutes as Masamune decided to stall for time and slowed his pace in feeding Ritsu. He wasn't about to give up this moment with Ritsu so quickly, as awkward as it was.

While the brunet didn't see them, the little hearts watched from the shadows of Masamune's room, setting an unintentional but ominous feel. What they didn't know was that Ritsu's hearts were on the other side of the wall, pressed and yearning to be on the other side.

TBC...

The little hearts idea was spurred from this fan artwork for Once Upon a Time, I believe it was- with Belle and Rumpelstiltskin I think. The post I saw though, had no source for the one who drew it, nor signature. And haven't seen the artwork in a while, I can't find it augh...

(**and also, you see some snippets from the manga..)

But it was so very cute~