Onodera opened his eyes and saw Takano's throat. He breathed in the familiar scent of his lover and exhaled heavily. The soft rise and fall of Takano's side confirmed that he was still asleep, so Onodera didn't make a fuss about being held. In fact, he snuggled in closer and Takano made a small noise deep in his throat as he pulled Onodera tighter against his body.

Safe.

He was safe here in Takano's home. In their home.

Onodera shot up, knocking the heavy arm off of him. Takano grunted, but didn't get up. Visions of last night poured through Onodera's mind and pain lanced his heart. His parents had stopped by. They'd found out about them and reacted awfully. He closed his eyes and tried to control his breathing. He'd said such idiotic things…said that he and Takano lived together…called him "Masamune"...

He groaned and put a hand to his pounding head. That crying jag had done this to him. He hated crying with a vengeance. It did no good and always sent his head into a throbbing ache the next day.

Onodera climbed out of bed, trying not to jostle Takano, and went to the bathroom. The mirror didn't lie. He looked terrible. Red-rimmed eyes stared back at him and purple half-circles lined his lower lids. What times was it? He instinctively looked down for his watch, but he realized he was naked.

Had he and Takano had sex last night? No…but then where were his clothes? He blinked and thought back. After his parents had left, Takano had held him for hours and then Onodera had initiated an impassioned kiss that led to groping and desperate contact.

But Takano had simply taken his hands and stilled him. "I know you're upset, Ritsu. Don't do this now."

Onodera flushed in the blinding light of the bathroom, remembering. He hadn't felt rejected. Instead, he'd felt immense relief and had fallen asleep.

"Ritsu?" Takano's groggy voice stopped his racing thoughts.

Onodera turned to the doorway and saw Takano's naked form. Fresh tears came and he cursed himself.

"What time is it?" Onodera asked, furiously swiping a hand across his eyes.

"6 AM. Are you alright?"

Was he?

When Onodera didn't answer, Takano stepped into the bathroom and wrapped his arms around him from behind. "Come back to bed. We don't have to be up for hours."

He leaned his head back onto Takano's shoulder. What a mess.

"I need to get dressed. I've got a lot of packing to do."

Takano froze. "You really meant it, didn't you?"

"I told you last night that I did."

Takano chuckled. "I guess I just thought I was dreaming."

Onodera turned in those strong arms until he could see Takano's face. "I'm moving in with you, Masamune."

The kiss wasn't unexpected when it came, but Onodera still melted at the loving gesture. "I'll help," Takano said when he pulled away.

"I can do it-"

"I'm helping. Get dressed. We can get a lot done before we need to go into the office."

Onodera sighed. There was no stopping that man once he set his mind on something.

Once they were ready, Onodera returned to his apartment to begin the process of sharing his life with another person.

He hadn't had time to make any lasting memories in this place. Not really. As usual when they walked in, his living space was a complete wreck. He blushed a bit at the sight, knowing Takano was unabashedly judging him.

The man whistled. "I hope you don't think I'll let you soil our place with your dirty habits."

"I don't have dirty habits!" Onodera rounded on him.

"Don't you? This place is a-"

"I know it looks bad. I've been busy!"

"So have I. I still find time to make sure my home is tidy."

"Our home. And yes, I'll make sure to help out," Onodera scoffed.

Takano smirked and went into the kitchen. Without being asked, he started opening cabinets and pulling down cookware and dishes, spices and utensils. Onodera left him to it, heading into his bedroom to begin the process of cleaning out his closet and dresser. They didn't have any boxes, but since Takano's apartment was right next door, he figured they could just make a thousand trips and bring everything over.

"We'll have to downsize some things," Takano called from the other room. "I've already got a lot of this stuff."

Onodera nodded, though Takano couldn't see him.

Then he stopped. What in hell was he doing? He'd have to negotiate with his landlord to get out of his lease. Takano would have to get approval for a roommate. They were going about this the wrong way. Too fast. His hands stilled over the rumpled shirts in his dresser as he thought about the consequences of their actions. What if someone at work found out? What would they say? Could they get fired over what they did in their personal lives? Did Marukawa have rules against coworkers dating?

He scrubbed a hand over his face and groaned.

"Oh no," Takano said, sailing into the room as if on instinct. "You don't get to back out now."

"Takano, there are too many variables. We need to think about this seriously."

"I have thought about this seriously. We'll figure it out. I've already spoken to the landlord and gotten approval to have a roommate. You just have to do your part and we're in the clear."

"And what if the landlord finds out we've moved in together, hmm? What then?!"

Takano pulled him into a hug. "I don't care. It's not her business. She already suspects something anyway. The woman's not a simpleton and it isn't exactly hard to notice that we often stay over at each others' places."

Onodera flushed and narrowed his eyes. Takano was telling the truth. They had never been exactly discreet. A kiss pressed to Onodera's forehead and he closed his eyes, letting the sweet sensation spread from that point of contact. "Okay."

"Now then. I'm setting aside items that I already have so that you can take a look at them. We can take them to a thrift store once we have a pile of things."

At first, Onodera wondered about the furniture, but then remembered his apartment had come fully furnished. That was a relief at least. He would have hated to ask a someone like Yokozawa to come and help them move those sorts of things over. Besides, Takano already had all of those things.

Violent color bled into his cheeks when he realized that he and Takano would be sharing a bed every night now.

"What?" Takano asked.

"Nothing," Onodera mumbled.

"No, you're red all over. Did you just think of something naughty?"

"Like hell I did!"

Takano smiled and pinched Onodera's cheek. "You're adorable, you know that?"

Onodera swatted the hand away and went back to jerking shirts out of his dresser. "Leave me alone and get to work."

"Yes, sir."

They toiled all morning, piling up items to give away and taking loads over to Takano's apartment. As they worked, it occurred to Onodera that Takano could just as easily come to live with him instead of the other way around, but they'd already put too much work into everything to change their minds now. Besides, it was Takano who had talked with the landlord about things and if Onodera asked her about a roommate now, she'd no doubt figure everything out for real. So, he packed up his life and prepared to give it to Takano. The very thought terrified him even as a flame in his heart ignited. For a little while, as he picked up a pile of clothes and walked them down the hall, he was that shy high school boy again dreaming of a happy ending with his true love.

A/N - They're really gonna do it! Huzzah! Thank you so much for all of the comments, kudos, etc. It helps give me fuel to write! I really appreciate it. :D