Tainted

Summary: AU, Misaki/Usami. Usami Akihiko, one of the few demons left in Tokyo after all these years, meets up with a young man by the name of Takahashi Misaki, who isn't all that he appears to be…

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Akihiko sighed in annoyance as he tossed another manuscript onto the table for his editor to pick up. He'd just started over again, and this was his 'first' work. New city, new surroundings, new people, new life… however, unfortunately, a new heart wasn't in the equation.

How he'd fallen for that man was beyond him – after all, he wasn't immortal. He was a mortal. He could tell that much from Takahiro's scent. But he still loved him.

He heard his editor enter the apartment, announcing herself as she opened the door. He passed by the long-haired girl without a backwards glance. They'd worked together for years – she was, as he was, one of the few demons left. They were a dying breed, after all… "Sensei?"

"Hm?"

Aikawa sighed. "…Try not to let it bug you too much. In a hundred years or so, you'll forget."

Usami felt his heart tighten slightly, and he continued out of his new apartment, lighting up a cigarette. She was right. In a few hundred years, he'd forget about all the fantasies he'd had… about how much he'd wanted to make Takahiro his, and only his…

He shook his head, shaking the thoughts from his mind.

Then again, why had he done what he'd done? He'd given Takahiro the means to contact him, even though he was supposed to be making another 'new start' – supposed to have been erasing his old self.

He walked aimlessly through the park, waiting for inspiration to strike him again. After all, writing was one of the few things that could fill up his endless life of boredom. But it seemed that he'd written all there was to be written; he couldn't think of anything worth writing about.

His cell phone went off. He took it out of his pocket, glancing at the caller ID. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the name. "Takahiro…." He murmured, answering it.

"Usagi!" Takahiro greeted. "Oh, I'm glad that you picked up… You see, my brother's coming to Tokyo—"

Again with his little brother... Takahiro was forever the doting sibling. It was no wonder why he always seemed to be complaining about the little brat what's-his-name pushing him away.

"And his ride had to duck out at the last moment," Takahiro admitted, sounding worried. "I know this is really sudden, but Misaki's at the train station stranded… He doesn't have enough money on him to pay for a cab, and used the last of his cash on a payphone to call me."

"I'll pick him up," Usami sighed.

"Usagi, you're a lifesaver!" Takahiro exclaimed. "Thanks so much! I've been so busy, and then this came up… I was in a panic over Misaki…"

"Don't mention it. What does he look like?"

"Rather ordinary, actually," Takahiro admitted. "Except his eyes, actually. He's thin, and he was wearing some of my old clothes when he left, so they're sort of big on him… He'll have a pretty big suitcase with him and this bright red duffle bag with him – he's getting ready to move into the dorms at his college. Oh… He has green-ish eyes. Sort of unusual… maybe it'll help."

If I get close enough to the person to see their eyes so clearly, there's about a ninety-nine percent chance it would be awkward…Usami thought dryly. "All right. I'll pick him up and drive him to his dorms."

"Thanks again!" Takahiro said, sighing in relief. "Just tell Misaki your name, and mention that I called you; he'll recognize your name. Thanks again!"

"Yeah. Bye." Akihiko snapped his phone shut, and continued to stare at it for a few moments. The things he did for love…

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Akihiko pulled into the train station, ignoring the strange glances the humans gave his expensive foreign car. Sure, it was flashy. But it was also fast. And he enjoyed that. He opened the door, locking it behind him, and walked into the station. It was late already – the last train would probably have left by now. How long had this kid actually sat around before calling his brother?

He caught sight of the duffle bag that Takahiro had mentioned, and walked towards it. Sure enough, a large suitcase was next to it. A scrawny form was curled up on the bench beside the bags, a coat that Akihiko recognized as Takahiro's – he'd worn it in high school – as a blanket. He had rather ordinary coloring, but he was attractive enough. Raising an eyebrow, he stepped forward, prodding the sleeping boy.

He gave a groan, and opened his eyes sleepily. Takahiro hadn't been lying – his eyes were green. Something strange, to be sure… They were something like the shade of the sea after or before a storm. "Would you be Takahashi Misaki, by any chance?" he questioned.

Misaki simply stared at Akihiko for a few moments. "Yes," Misaki replied, not taking his eyes from Usami. "And you?"

"Usami Akihiko."

Misaki sat up, pulling the coat onto his slim frame. "My brother called you?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry to have troubled you."

"It's no trouble. I needed something to do, anyway," Akihiko assured him, grabbing Misaki's suitcase. "My car's outside."

Misaki followed after him, the duffle bag over his shoulder. He kept a few feet of distance between them, looking somewhat uncomfortable. Akihiko tossed Misaki's luggage into the back seat, and got in on his own side. Misaki ducked into the passenger's seat, buckling up. He looked somewhat uncomfortable, almost afraid.

"What's wrong?" Akihiko questioned.

"…It's nothing," Misaki stated monotonously.

"Liar," Akihiko sighed. "Be honest, for God's sake."

Misaki's eyebrow twitched. "Fine. I'll be blunt. You're in love with my brother, aren't you?"

Usami froze, and looked at the teenager. "What did you say?"

"That proves it, then," Misaki stated. "You love nii-san."

"How would you—"

"I'm intuitive when it comes to that sort of thing," Misaki stated bluntly. "You never saw me, but I've seen you plenty of times. When you and nii-san were in high school. I stayed out of the way when you two were working on school projects and things together, but… I saw this look in your eye. Like nii-san was precious. That look… along with some other things I've seen… It's obvious that you love him."

"Maybe so." Turning the wheel, Usami put the car into drive, and began pulling out of the parking spot. Misaki leaned against his hand, resting his elbow on the door handle.

"He's getting married."

That was news to Usami. He slammed on the brakes. Misaki's hand slipped, and he banged his head on the window with a dull thud. "He's what?"

"Ow… damnit…" Misaki cursed, holding his head. "He's getting married. Well… not officially, anyways. He's going to propose tonight. That's why he was probably in half a panic when he called you."

Usami gritted his teeth, and continued driving. It didn't take long for them to reach Misaki's dorm, but it was a silent and awkward drive. Usami had no idea why, but Misaki was still stiff and uncomfortable, as if he were sitting on stone.

Misaki practically threw himself out of the car when they arrived. Akihiko grabbed one of the bags, intending to help him take them up to his room. Misaki was currently struggling with the key to the dorms. He stuck the key in, and attempted to turn it. He didn't seem to be having any luck. Akihiko walked over, watching as the smaller male attempted to turn the key stubbornly.

He put his hands over Misaki's and was surprised when the younger boy yanked them away from the key, as if Akihiko's hands had burned him. He sent Misaki a look of slight annoyance, and tried himself to turn the key. It was stuck fast. He tried turning it the other way, and it still held fast.

He bit back a growl of irritation, and turned it again.

And the key bent. He stared at it for a few moments. Misaki stepped forward, and grabbed the key's end, and tried to gently tug it out.

It snapped in half, leaving half of the key still inside the lock.

Misaki stared at the lock, as if not believing it himself. Akihiko stared at it in annoyance. "We'll call the school and talk about it in the morning. In the meantime, it's getting late, and I'd rather be sleeping."

Misaki glanced over at him. "Yes, uh… go ahead. I've troubled you long enough."

"I'm not leaving you here alone," Akihiko said, stating the obvious. "Get in the car. Toss your things back in. You can stay at my place for the night."

"No, really—"

"That's not an invitation. You're doing it," Akihiko stated crankily. He was tired. He hated being tired. He'd been up for two days straight, and so he was in one of his 'bad moods'.

Misaki hesitated for a moment, but then decided that following him would be the best course of action.

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The drive from the college to Usami's apartment was even stranger than the drive to Misaki's dorm. Misaki was practically pressed against the door, as far as humanly possible from Usami without being outside the car.

"I don't bite," Akihiko said, smirking slightly, "and I'm not going to eat you."

Misaki's jaw clenched visibly, but he didn't reply to him.

Akihiko pulled into the nearest parking space in the parking garage near his apartment. "Do you need both your bags?" he questioned.

"Just the duffle," Misaki replied. He reached into the back seat, laying his stomach over the armrest of the front seat. When he brought it back up front with him, and he actually brushed a hand against Usami accidentally, despite his earlier careful avoidance.

Usami jumped slightly as a jolt traveled from Misaki's hand to him, seeming to travel up and down his entire body several times before fading. Misaki pulled himself out of the car, locking and closing the door behind him.

Usami exited the vehicle, his mind whirring a hundred miles an hour as he led Misaki to the elevator that would take them to his twelfth-floor apartment. Misaki followed him silently, obediently, but again, the teen was carefully avoiding unneeded eye or bodily contact.

Usami unlocked the door to the apartment, and allowed Misaki to enter before he did. They both kicked their shoes off. Misaki stepped into the living room, looking for a place to set his bag.

He set it by the couch, and began looking around himself at the large condo that Usami had found for himself.

"What are you?" Usami asked quietly.

Misaki looked over at him, as if he hadn't heard him. "What?"

"What are you?" Usami repeated, stepping closer. Misaki took a step backwards.

Usami closed the distance between them, putting a hand on either side of Misaki's head. "You're not human. What are you?"

Misaki's breathing hitched. He'd obviously struck a nerve. "What are you talking about, Usagi-san?"

"You're avoiding me."

"And that makes me, instantly, not human?" Misaki countered, looking left and right, for a way to escape.

Usami leaned forward. "You do it without even thinking. Even if you are human, you're no ordinary human."

He closed the distance completely, capturing the lips of his love's little brother.

Misaki gasped, and pushed him away, as if he were burning him. Usami had felt the jolt again. What the hell was he? He grabbed the other boy, bringing his lips back down on Misaki's, bruising them. The jolt was still there. No matter how many times, any new contact would create that same sensation.

Misaki yelped as Usami's hand snaked up his shirt. "Usagi-san," he choked out, breaking the kiss. "What are you doing?"

Usami didn't want to talk at the moment. There were things he'd rather be doing. And for some reason, his mind was completely at ease. This felt good. No… this felt right. Like this was what he was meant to be doing, to be with Misaki. Takahiro… Takahiro would always be his friend, but he paled against Misaki. He had no idea what drew him to the younger boy, nor did he truly care.

Whatever Misaki was, it wasn't human.

But at the moment, Usami didn't really care – Misaki was Misaki.

And tonight, he would have Misaki's body.

In the future, he would have his soul and, if at all possible, his heart.