Title: Morinaga Tetsuhiro, Unmasked

By: EsTeLweNadia

Summary: Two-shot. Set after Souichi collapsed, Vol 8 Ch 10. Morinaga had been taking such good care of his Senpai when he was sick, and when it was his turn to fall sick, Souichi found himself repaying the favor. Then he learned a side of Morinaga he never really knew.

Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Friendship/Romance/Angst

Warnings: Senpai and his mouth… But I'll try to tone it down.

Disclaimer: Characters afflicted are not mine, and will never be. Except in my dreams, maybe. ^^

Author's Note: I am so totally in love with Morinaga/Tatsumi! They are just so… perfect! And my heart just goes out to Morinaga… he is such a poor, poor soul. And I wanted to torment him a little more. And Senpai. *smirks, eyes gleaming* I did this story in either Tetsuhiro's POV, or Souichi's POV. If it's Tetsuhiro's POV, Souichi will be referred to as Senpai, and if it's Souichi's POV, Tetsuhiro will be referred to as Morinaga. You will get used to it as we go along.

Author's Note 2: Any mistakes seen are mine, and mine alone. I am not perfect, and I did the best I could. Reviews are immensely appreciated, so please have them coming! Now what are you waiting for? Get on reading! ^^

Morinaga Tetsuhiro, Unmasked

Part One

Senpai had been sick.

Because of him.

Tetsuhiro just simply couldn't accept that.

He loved Senpai so much, yet all he had done was hurting Senpai, causing him trouble, making him fall sick.

It made Tetsuhiro sick inside.

"Tetsuhiro-san," Yamaguchi-san cheerfully interrupted his thoughts. "It's time for lunch! Aren't you going to eat with us?"

Tetsuhiro managed a strained smile. "I think I'll make a pass, Yamaguchi-san. I have to go and check on Senpai. I'll see you after lunch, okay?"

He gave his friends a half-hearted wave before turning away. Once he left the building, he quickened his pace, hurrying back home, where Senpai was resting.

"Tadaima!" he called out as soon as he stepped inside his apartment. His home.

Silence and darkness greeted him. Tetsuhiro sighed morosely. It seemed that Senpai hadn't gotten out of bed since this morning.

Chucking his backpack in one corner, Tetsuhiro immediately busied himself in the kitchen. A few minutes later, he carefully balanced a tray of food and brought it to Senpai's room. He knocked once, and when he heard no answer, he opened the door and let himself in.

Senpai was still sleeping. For awhile Tetsuhiro stood watching him sleep. The peaceful countenance, the pale hair that spilled across the shoulder and onto the bed like a gentle waterfall. The urge to brush that hair away, to lay a hand upon that cheek was so strong, Tetsuhiro inhaled sharply to battle the desires down. Now was not the time. Now he had to take care of Senpai.

Setting down the tray on the bedside table, Tetsuhiro bent down and gently shook Senpai awake.

"Senpai? Senpai, please wake up."

Senpai groaned, mumbling incoherently. Tetsushiro had to smile.

"Senpai, wake up. I know you are still tired, but you have to eat something and take your medicine." He insisted.

"Hmm?" Senpai blearily opened his eyes. "Morinaga?"

"You must eat something," Tetsuhiro repeated. "I whipped up some broth for you. I will only return to the university once you have finished your food, taken your medicine and gone back to sleep." He finished that with a challenging quirk of a smile.

Senpai fixed him a glare of sorts. "You and your blackmailing tendencies."

"I told you, haven't I?" Tetsuhiro grinned sweetly. "I don't fight fair. Now please eat your food or I will be late for school."

Senpai didn't look happy, but he complied. But then again, Senpai had never really looked happy. Except maybe in Tetsuhiro's own private fantasy. Or whenever Senpai was with his family.

"What the hell are you smiling about?" barked the older man, startling Tetsuhiro out of his musings.

"Oh, nothing," Tetsuhiro smiled, and his smile widened when he realized that Senpai had finished his food. "Good. You've finished your food. Now please take your medicine, Senpai. I have already sorted them out for you."

If glares could kill, Tetsuhiro figured he had been killed so many times from Senpai's glare alone. "I don't need you to baby me! I can take care of myself just fine!"

"I know that," Tetsuhiro sighed. "I am really sorry, Senpai."

He really was. It was his fault Senpai had fallen sick. Tetsuhiro studied his hands, feeling guilt and remorse overwhelming him.

"Whatever for?" Tetsuhiro knew without looking that Senpai was honestly confused at the change of his mood.

"I know you know how to take care of yourself, Senpai," Tetsuhiro began, almost whispering. "But because of me, you neglected to take care of your own health. It is my fault that you became sick. Countless times I have made you worry, have troubled you, but this one… this one is the worst. I am truly very sorry…"

"Morinaga…"

But Tetsuhiro didn't give Senpai a chance to counter. He reached up a hand and placed it gently on Senpai's forehead before Senpai predictably swatted it aside irritably.

"What the hell? So suddenly…!"

"Just checking your fever. Thank goodness it has gone down." As he brought his hand down, he caught sight of his watch. "Oh dear. Lunch time is almost over. Senpai, I am going to clean this up, okay? There's a glass of water on the bedside table, and I have already charged your cell phone for you. It's also there, on the table. You can reach me anytime you need me."

As an afterthought, Tetsuhiro suddenly leaned in and planted a brief, chaste kiss on Senpai's lips. "I have to go now, Senpai. Please rest and get well soon."

With that, he took the tray and left the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.

Leaning against the door, Tetsuhiro touched his own lips. He loved Senpai so, so much, but sometimes the pain of being so near, yet so far, was just too unbearable.

Blinking back tears, Tetushiro hurried to the kitchen to wash up, and washed away any traces of sadness. Time to put on a pleasant mask and head on to the university again. After he had made sure Senpai had fallen asleep. He went back to Senpai's room to check.

Later that night:

"You're late, Morinaga."

Tetsuhiro was so startled upon hearing Senpai's irritated voice the keys he was holding slipped from his grip to fall soundlessly onto the carpeted floor.

"Senpai!" He whined, putting a hand on his chest to calm his racing heart. "You surprised me! Are you even feeling better enough to be getting out of bed?"

Senpai shot him a dark look. "Tch. I'm not some weakling. So, aren't you gonna tell me why you're so late?"

"I'm sorry, Senpai," Wearily Tetsuhiro ran a hand through his unruly hair. "I was so busy I forgot to inform you that I was going to be home late tonight. Fukushima-sensei insisted that we showed him reports of progress of our experiments tomorrow, so I stayed behind to complete our reports. I did the best I could, Senpai, so you don't need to worry so much, okay?"

"Baka yarou," Senpai muttered. "That's not what I'm worried about."

"Oh," Tetsushiro suddenly remembered. "Have you eaten anything yet, Senpai? I go cook something really fast for you. You still need to take your medicine for tonight. Please give me a few minutes while I prepare supper for you. In the meantime you must rest, Senpai. You mustn't strain yourself too much."

"What are you, my mother?!" Senpai sniped back, annoyed as usual. "I said I'm fine, didn't I?"

"Hai, hai," Tetsuhiro relented, picking up his keys from the carpet. He flashed Senpai a bright grin. "Oh, and Senpai?"

"What?!"

"I love you."

Chuckling at Senpai's predictable blush and stuttered curses of embarrassment, Tetsushiro made his way towards the kitchen. He loved to do that, just to see Senpai blushing. True, it was nearly the same as skirting with danger, but the end result was always very satisfying. It just made all the troubles he went through all the worthwhile.

It was on Thursday when Senpai suddenly showed up at the university.

"Senpai?" Tetsuhiro stared at him dumbfounded. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to still be resting at home!"

Senpai glowered at him. "Have you forgotten? Doctor gave me a three-day medical leave. Yesterday was the third day of the leave, so of course naturally I come back to school the very next day! Idiot!"

Tetsuhiro had the decency to blush. "I guess I forgot, Senpai, but seriously, are you really feeling better?"

That earned him a hard punch to his face. Stumbling back in surprise, Tetsuhiro whined, clutching his injured cheek. "Senpai, what was that for? You're so mean!"

Senpai only snorted, "Baka."

But it was a good enough explanation. A violent, bad-tempered Senpai was a healthy Senpai. A Senpai that Tetsuhiro had fallen in love since five long years ago.

Several days later:

Blame it on his unusual fatigue; he was clinging onto Senpai every chance he got.

And unsurprisingly, Senpai wasn't happy.

"Do you even know the meaning of 'personal space'? Senpai roared, pushing Tetsuhiro hard enough the taller man actually tittered for balance. "What is fucking wrong with you?"

Tetsuhiro blinked dumbly at him. "Senpai… I…"

He couldn't think. He didn't even know how to formulate his answer. He just wanted Senpai to stay. He just wanted to hold onto the person he loved the most and would never let go. He just didn't want to be alone all over again. But how he could make Senpai understand?

"You know what?" Senpai snarled. "I think I'll stay with Kanako over the weekend. You can live all by yourself for all I care!"

Senpai angrily marched off, leaving Tetsuhiro pale and lost and alone.

"Senpai… wait…" A hand weakly reached out to the rapidly disappearing figure, but his shaky voice was lost in the wind.

And his tears were lost in the rain.

When he reached home, Tetsuhiro didn't bother turning on the lights, or changing out of his wet clothes. He stood stock-still in the darkness, drenched and shivering.

Am I fated to stay like this…. Unloved and alone… forever?

Tetsuhiro stumbled his way to the couch where he knew one of Senpai's jackets was carelessly thrown earlier that day. Clutching the soft fabric close to his heart, Tetsuhiro huddled on the couch in a fetal position.

Please come back, Tetsuhiro thought morosely, tightening his grip on Senpai's jacket like a lifeline. Please come back, Senpai. I miss you… I need you… so please, come back…

"What the hell is wrong with that idiot?" Souichi groused to himself as he crossly stomped his way through the street and uncaring of the weird looks people glanced his way.

Granted, Morinaga had always been so clingy, but for these couple of days, he had been worse than usual, latching onto him regardless of where they were. But Senpai had to admit, grudgingly, that there was something strange about that idiot.

"Tatsumi-san, is that you?"

Startled, Souichi turned around and saw Yamaguchi-san staring at him. Curious, he ducked into the shelter of the grocery store to join him.

"Yamaguchi-san, what is it?"

The younger man hesitated for a second. "I saw your fight with Tetsuhiro-san earlier… so I thought that there is something that you should know."

"What is it?" Souichi repeated, frowning. He hated it when other people tried to butt in their affair, when it should only be between him and Morinaga.

Yamaguchi studied him intently. "While you were on sick leave, Tatsumi-san, Tetsuhiro-san used his lunch breaks to check up on you, and when he returned, I noticed that he looked weary. All the entire time while you were not in school, Tetsuiro-san looked restless and anxious, to the point he was approached by Fukushima-sensei about his lack of attention during lectures."

Souichi was so shocked by the revelation he let it slip into his features.

"He cares a lot about you, Tatsumi-san," Yamaguchi said softly. "As his friend, I am only concerned for his well-being, and wish that you do the same, if not more. Please think carefully, Tatsumi-san."

He had a dim suspicion, but he never paid it any attention. Throughout the times he was laid up in bed, feverish and weak, Morinaga always visited him during his lunch breaks, to prepare him his lunch; made sure he ate it and took his medicine, and accompanied him until he was done. That alone took most of his lunch time, and after that Morinaga left for school. When Morinaga returned, he steadfastly prepared dinner for Souichi while happily filled him on what had happened in the university.

Souichi tried to recall if he had witness any moments of Morinaga actually ate something, but could come up with none. Morinaga had stayed with him during dinner, but he had never touched his food. Souichi remembered asking him about it, but Morinaga only gave a sheepish laugh and replied that he had eaten in school.

With a start Souichi realized that while caring for his health, Morinaga had blatantly neglected his own.

"But because of me, you neglected to take care of your own health. It is my fault that you became sick. Countless times I have made you worry, have troubled you, but this one… this one is the worst. I am truly very sorry…"

Knowing Morinaga, Morinaga probably did this to punish himself.

That baka!

Furious, Souichi ran all the way back to their shared apartment.

"Oi, Morinaga!" He banged on the door.

No reply.

And the entire house was dark.

Souichi tried the door. It was unlocked.

His eyes widened. The house was dark and not locked? Something must be really wrong with Morinaga if he became this careless.

Barging right in, the first thing Souichi did was to switch on the lights. And the scene that was revealed before him horrified him the second time that evening.

Morinaga, on the couch, a very familiar jacket was grasped tightly against his chest.

Upon closer look, Souichi realized that the kouhai was still drenched from the rain. And his eyes were closed.

"Oi, Morinaga!"

Panicked, Souichi ran over to him. A gentle hand to the younger man's forehead only determined his suspicions.

Morinaga was having a fever. And it was bad. Really bad.

- To be Continued -

So sorry for the cliffie! Couldn't help it!

And I had to stop anyway. Will continue the rest ASAP. And I will have to be even more focused for the next chapter, because it's going to be really intense.

It's really hard to find angsty or sick Morinaga fic. So I have no choice but to come up with one.

And if I'm motivated enough, I can come up with lots more. ^^

Hope you have enjoyed the story so far. Thank you for reading.

Be seeing you next time! ^^

Owari.