Chapter 3: Feelings Of Love

Hotsuma went back to the café. Even in there Shusei kept receiving chocolates. Many girls were stealing glances at the Wielder of God's Eyes, whispering to each other and blushing. Hotsuma just ignored the scene where Shusei received the chocolates and was talking to Tsukumo and Toko. Toko looked over at Shusei.

"Shusei sure is popular." Toko said and gave a smile.

"Yeah. Everyone just adores him." Tsukumo said and munched more chocolates. Hotsuma stared at his partner, who was smiling at the girls. Finally, when the last girl gave Shusei chocolate, the table was filled with nearly ten packages of chocolate. Shusei sighed.

"The prince sure is busy!" Toko smiled at Shusei's direction.

"It's not like I ask for this." Shusei sighed.

Tsukumo was looking at Hotsuma's direction and Hotsuma glanced up at him. He narrowed his eyes, wondering whether the Wielder of God's Ears was listening to his heart. Thankfully, the bell rang and everyone went back to their classrooms. Hotsuma separated ways with Shusei and went back to his class. He felt a little nervous.

'How would Shusei react to the letter? Would he be troubled by it?' Hotsuma thought as he walked inside the class. He scratched his head and wondered how he should face Shusei the next time.

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Classes ended for the day at 3.00pm. Everyone got up from their seats and was excitingly making plans for the day. Hotsuma just ignored them and went out from the classroom. He was about to make a turn to the second year block when he heard someone calling him.

"Renjo-kun….Renjo-kun, wait a minute." He heard. Hotsuma turned and saw one of the girls in his class, Yoshino Shiori running towards him. She blushed when Hotsuma was looking at her.

"Yes? What's wrong Yoshino?" he asked.

The girl then took his hand and placed a small chocolate package on top of it. It was in a small box wrapped in a red ribbon. She quickly said "Happy Valentine's Day" and ran back to the class, leaving Hotsuma stunned. Hotsuma stared down at the box in his hand and then quickly put it inside his bag. He continued walking towards the second block and bumped into Shusei on the way.

"Shusei…." he said.

"Go ahead first Hotsuma. I have a little work to do before leaving." Shusei said. Hotsuma looked down on the floor, feeling a stab of pain that his best friend needed to stay behind again. Shusei must have read his feelings because he took Hotsuma's hand and held it. Hotsuma looked up at his partner.

"I won't be staying long. I'll be back in about half and hours time." He smiled at him.

Hotsuma smiled back at him and just nodded. He then turned and headed towards the school gate. Shusei smiled as he was staring at his partner's back. After Hotsuma disappeared down the stairs, Shusei took out a piece of paper from his pocket and opened it. He stared at the paper for a long while and folded it back and kissed it gently. It was the letter that Hotsuma had left inside his desk.

'Hotsuma…were you the one who wrote this letter? You idiot, why didn't you just tell me your feelings instead of writing it to me?' Shusei thought.

He then put the letter back inside his pocket and headed towards the committee room.

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Hotsuma lay down on his bed when he entered inside his room. He felt himself going crazy as he was thinking to himself. 'Sheesh, is Shusei going to confess to the person he likes? After all today IS Valentine's Day…..was that why he wanted to remain behind in school? SHIT! I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!' Hotsuma thought and he buried his face in his pillow and punched the pillow with both fists. He felt himself sweating all over just thinking about Shusei together with someone else. He then got up and went inside the bathroom. He stripped from his school uniform and took a cold shower. After around ten minutes later, he turned off the water tap and dried himself with a towel. He then put on a pair of black jeans and a dark blue cashmere sweater, the sleeves pushed up to the elbows. Hotsuma dried his hair as he sat down on the sofa next to the window. A cool breeze came inside and freshen him up, ridding him of his current worries. He stood up and felt himself even more determined. 'Alright…I think I'll confess my feelings for him.' He thought.

Hotsuma went downstairs and sat on the single sofa near the front door. 'Grah! I don't think I can do this! Seriously, I take my hats off to all the girls who actually dare to confess face-to-face! How can someone actually do this without getting embarrassed?' he thought.

'But if you don't confess, then your feelings will never be known, and Shusei will be taken away from you. Which one do you prefer? The fact that you confess and stand a chance or the fact that he will never know your feelings?' the voice in his head said.

He gripped his hair with both his hands and shook his head violently. He stared up at the clock above him and saw that it was nearly 3.30pm. Shusei is going to be back any moment. Hotsuma tried to think of how he was going to confess. He gulped. 'This is harder than I thought. How do girls actually pluck up the courage to do such an embarrassing thing?' Hotsuma thought. He then closed his eyes and took deep breaths. 'Calm down, Hotsuma…calm down' he said to himself as he breathed. He was then interrupted from his thoughts when he heard the front door opening. He glanced up and saw Shusei entering the front door. Thankfully then, Hotsuma had managed to calm himself down and could still act normal.

"Welcome back." Hotsuma said and stood up. Shusei looked up at him and smile.

"I'm back." He smiled back.

Shusei went up to his room and Hotsuma followed him. He raised an eyebrow as Shusei placed the large paper bag of chocolates on the study table. Hotsuma had the thought of burning the bag up but held back since it might cause havoc and misunderstanding. Shusei didn't notice this and he went inside the bathroom and showered. When he came out dressed, Hotsuma was sitting on the sofa, at the usual place where both of them would sit together and stare at the sky.

"Shusei…are you alright?" Hotsuma asked.

Shusei looked up and blinked. "Yeah…why all of a sudden?" he asked.

"No…just that I'm glad that we are ok now. I'm so sorry about this morning. I'm such a horrible person for making you cry…." Hotsuma said and he leaned his head on his knees to hide his face.

He felt something warm on his hands. He lifted his face and saw that Shusei had place his hands onto his. His long and thin fingers intertwined with his and both of them stare down at their hands. Hotsuma felt himself trembling with excitement and his heart beat became louder. It was so loud that Hotsuma thought that Shusei might even hear it.

"Shusei….what are you doing?" Hotsuma asked softly.

"I don't know…it was just a reflex. We used to hold hands a lot when we were kids. Do you still remember?" Shusei smiled.

"Yeah…..well, we were kids then." Hotsuma mumbled.

"So now it is not normal for us to hold hands?" Shusei said simply.

"Not unless we are lovers." Hotsuma replied and immediately regretted saying it. He felt like slapping himself for even saying such a thing and was nervous at Shusei's reaction. He looked at his friend's face and saw that Shusei was just smiling. His smile was so sweet and gentle that Hotsuma couldn't take his eyes off him. It was like he was under Shusei's spell and he was entranced inside his gaze. Shusei's stare was pulling him in and Hotsuma lifted one hand slowly and cupped his cheek. His large hand trembled a little, as he wondered whether he had made a wrong move. It seems like he didn't. Shusei continued to stare at him, his brown eyes deep and bottomless. He also lifted one hand and held onto Hotsuma's hand that was on his cheek. Hotsuma couldn't contain his feelings anymore. He leaned forward and placed his lips onto his. Shusei didn't push him away. Instead, he leaned closer to Hotsuma. The kiss was gentle and full of passion. Hotsuma wrapped his arms around him and brought him closer. After the kiss, they slowly broke apart from each other. Both of them were flushed and a little embarrassed. Hotsuma leaned his head onto his shoulder. 'Now is the time to confess.' He thought.

"I love you, Shusei. Please don't go out the person that you like. I can't bear to see you together with anyone else…..I really love you…" he said and waited for Shusei's reply.

Shusei placed his hand onto the back of his head and his fingers gripped the blond hair gently.

"I know…you were the one who left the love letter right?" he asked. Hotsuma quickly sat up straight and stared at his best friend in a surprised face. He gaped.

"How? How in the world….." he stuttered.

"Come on…I can recognize your handwriting. Even though it looked a little different from yours, I could tell that you wrote this. Besides, no one else gave me a love letter today, only you. I only received chocolates so I was a little surprised when I found the letter in my desk." Shusei interrupted.

"You realized it immediately? Then why didn't you say anything till now?" Hotsuma asked.

"I wanted to hear your confession." Shusei smiled teasingly.

"WHAT?" Hotsuma yelled and a slight blush crossed his cheeks. He let go of Shusei and covered his face with both his hands. "Sheesh! This is so embarrassing….I can't believe it…." Hotsuma mumbled. Shusei smiled and hugged him again.

"I'm happy. I also have something to tell you. The person that I'm in love with is you. I love you as well, Hotsuma." Shusei said as he hugged him.

"What? You….love….me?" Hotsuma mumbled.

"Remember yesterday you were asking about who I like? Didn't I say that it was a very close friend of mine? And this morning as well, I was going to say that the person I like is you but those three boys interrupted." Shusei said.

"Cheh! Those stupid boys! I'm going to kill them for interrupting us….I think I'll really fix their faces the next time I see them." Hotsuma grumbled.

"Calm down….at least I get to hear your confession instead." Shusei smiled.

Hotsuma looked at his partner and finally gave a small smile. He then lifted up his chin and both of them kissed again.

"Shusei, you will always be by my side right?" Hotsuma mumbled in between their kisses.

"Of course. As long as I live." Shusei replied and kissed his partner again.

THE END

Comments: End of the short fanfic ^^. Hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading! And please review! =P ~kimihearts