Well… Many apologies for the long wait. I've had a lot of things happening lately, so please forgive me.

New chapter 8 btw.

This is Uso (Lies) by SID. So far, this is the first J-rock song I've ever used in a songfic. It's also an ending song to the Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. I don't listen to much J-rock, but after reading a translation of this I just loved it! So, please enjoy! (BTW anime translation might be different… I used multiple translations)

-/-

"The sky we saw that day, the crimson sky

Do you remember?

We made a promise,

Wrapped in the early summer breeze."

-/-

Misaki was cuddled up to Usami-san in the back of his car. The author had long fallen asleep but Misaki couldn't help replaying what he'd just done.

He was the worst. The absolute worst.

Yet, looking down at the man whom he was currently using as a body pillow, he didn't quite regret it either.

If he was in love with Usami-san then this should have been fine. In fact, for the first time for years he felt alive… But then, what about Shiki? He was supposed to be loyal…

He couldn't force himself to decide between the two. He just couldn't… There was no going back to how things were. He didn't deserve to be with either of them.

He would just have to go home and explain what happened, and agree to never see Akihiko again. That was the right thing to do, wasn't it?

But Shiki would be heartbroken. What if he felt Misaki for good? Surely, he'd cry.

Running away… That sounded like a good idea. It appealed to him the most.

-/-

"Now these feeling are unbelievably painful,

So it is goodbye for us."

-/-

He knew it was cowardly to run away like that. And it would only be worse wouldn't it? He wouldn't be able to hide forever. And it wasn't like he could untangle himself without waking Usami-san.

Then the answer hit him. He would lie.

It was an easy out and it wasn't so bad. There was still time. He could say they'd gone back out to eat as well. Akihiko could let him shower at home…

Did he still think of the condo as home?

Misaki sighed and shook Usami a couple of times. "Usagi-san? Wake up!"

After a few minutes, and some rushed kissing, they were back in the front seats. Driving back to Akihiko's condo.

"I've really missed you, Misaki."

He couldn't answer. There was no way he could without revealing anything.

"Hey? Your face looks pale?" Usami said, tilting Misaki's face toward his. "What's up? There's no way you stayed clean with that guy. You've improved way too much; don't even try lying about it."

"Usagi-san, don't tease me."

Usami opened his mouth to say something then stopped. He turned back to the wheel, looking thoughtful.

"You're not having regrets, are you?" he asked after a long silence.

"How could I not regret any of that?"

"You said you loved me, didn't you? Ditch the kid."

"No!"

Akihiko slammed on the brakes, "Are you telling me that after all that, you're not going to leave him for me?" *

"I can't."

"Why the hell not?"

"Because, it's not right!"

"Misaki, get out of the car."

"What?" Misaki asked, shocked.

"Get. Out. Of. My. Car." Usami said, seriously.

"You've got to be kidding." Misaki said, "You can't just ditch me here."

"Misaki, please don't make me force you." This time his voice was a little sad. Though he was obviously trying hard to fool him, Misaki knew what he said was hurting him.

"What's wrong with you, idiot? Can't you at least take me home?"

"Misaki, I've waited so long. I told myself you were happy where you were, and yet part of me still pined for you. If you're just going to toy with me, I'd rather you just leave. This is just too cruel."

"Baka! I'm not playing with you! And it's your fault if you thought…"

Misaki was cut off by Akihiko's lips as they forcibly crushed into his. It was over within a moment, and before Misaki knew what was happening Usami was at his car door dragging him out. And by the time things registered, it was too late.

"Baka Usagi-san! Stop it!"

The car was soon out of sight and Misaki was left to walk ten blocks back to his apartment. Shiki had luckily fallen asleep waiting for him so he was able to clean himself up before carrying the boy back to bed.

-/-

"The promise is broken

Vanished into the early summer wind.

We can't go back to the way we were."

-/-

The next morning, everything seemed normal. Shiki didn't suspect a thing, so Misaki didn't have to bother lying.

He knew what he'd done was horrible, but there was nothing he could do now. It was all said and done.

Weeks passed and there was no word from Usami-san. Misaki had no way of contacting him because his cell phone was always off. And after awhile Misaki just stopped calling. There wasn't anything he could do if the writer wouldn't talk to him. He'd come around, surely.

He didn't know what he hoped for the day the package came. It was addressed to him from Usami Akihiko. He hid it until Shiki went to work, and was anxious all day about it.

The letter said only three words: "We'll meet again." Inside was nothing more than an old T-shirt of his that he must have left behind that day, so many years ago. He could remember it perfectly. The rain was pouring and Usami wouldn't say a thing the whole drive down.

It seemed so simple, and yet it made him want to cry. Only later when he sniffed it and realized that Usami's scent was all over it, did he actually burst out in tears. *

But the letter gave him some hope.

-/-

"Saying that we'd meet again,

We waved good-bye.

But it seems we won't see each other again.

The final lie was a kind one,

I won't forget."

-/-

It's was months, maybe a year before it happened.

Aikawa showed up at his door, bringing him news that stopped his heart.

With her, she'd brought a last farewell. His final book.

Reading it a few times, he realized what Usami had done. He thought this would solve Misaki's problems, that it would be his escape… An easy way out. The thing Misaki'd been looking for that night.

"Damn fool." He muttered. He knew he was wrong. But he still didn't want to accept it. It was just too painful.

-/-

"The sky we saw that day,

The crimson red sky.

Hey, you'll remember it someday, right?

We cling onto a promise,

Neither of us can fulfill."

-/-

Well, take from it what you will. You have no idea how hard this was to write. In a way, I'm slightly proud of it. And yet, I feel like crying as well. I intended for the ending to be vague. It was less depressing for one thing and so that, those of you with a heart (Mine's been turned black, obviously) may come up with some other ending if you need to. Perhaps, he killed himself. Perhaps he just wrote about leaving Misaki for good. It's up to you. (Fantasy is always easier to accept than reality… And it is fan-fiction after all)

So, please don't hate me. Hey, how about I rework the mess of the second story in Lost In You (The alternate story… I really f*cked up the second version. And now that I think about it, it wouldn't be too hard to change.) It'll be a second alternate ending! Only, it'll be this one's other ending.

*I wanted to add here: "Don't you realize how many fan-girls I have? Dump me after this and they'll murder you and your little pet." :3

* I mean that Usami must have cuddled it a lot. Not anything nasty! Just clearing that up.

-/-

A Last Word:

Well, I plan to work out Lost in You, so please don't hate mail me! If anything, send me virtual hugs because this has made me very, very depressed. And maybe if you still crave that happier ending, check Lost In You in about a month and hopefully I will have forced myself to work on it. If not, feel free to yell at me in a message. :)

But also I want to say I'm very thankful to everyone. Without your encouragement the story probably would have ended with Iris back in Shadow of the Day. And I'm very happy to have entertained you all thus far. (Please, don't leave me! Lol) And that, a few chapters ago in this one, I realized Romantica was my favorite pairing. Beforehand I was an uber Egoist person. But, somehow doing these 3 stories, I began to love Misaki and Akihiko very much. And, for that, I have you all to thank. (Silly isn't it? All well, I love you all anyway.)