This was originally going to be a one-shot, but I decided to split it into three pieces. The next chapter will be posted on Thursday unless I'm feeling especially inspired.

Chapter 1

It was basically a given that Ritsu would be home for the new year. Gathering together was a big family affair that heeded nothing during the year- not even a member officially breaking off his arranged engagement and getting together with another man. Not that anyone but his parents were aware of this.

On December 30th, Ritsu was painfully reminded of this when he finally checked his voice messages. Masamune looked over his shoulder, a mildly interested expression on his face. They were on the train back home after Masamune had convinced Ritsu to go out on a date with him.

"Do you mind?" Ritsu asked, keying in his voice mail password and putting his phone to his ear.

Masamune just smiled and brushed his lips against Ritsu's free ear, eliciting a surprised jump but not much else. Ritsu's frown deepened as he closed his phone, though. "What's the matter?"

"I need to call my mother once we get off the subway. She's expecting me home tomorrow." Ritsu sighed and slumped in his seat. "This year has been way too long." Then he eyed Masamune. "Are you going home for the New Year?"

"This year was not the year to make up with my family, I guess." He looked indifferent as he watched the tunnel lights fly by, but Ritsu knew better.

Before he could comment, though, their stop was announced. Ritsu pulled out his phone and started dialing as soon as they left the train. The call went through by the time Ritsu and Masamune were out in the open.

"Good evening, Mother."

"Ritsu! What in the world is the point of having a cell phone if you never answer?"

"I'm sorry, mother. I was… out with Masamune and wasn't paying attention."

"Why don't you call me by my first name?"

"Masamune is too long!"

"Then shorten it."

"I am NOT giving you a cutesy nickname!"

"Shame."

"Oh, Ritsu." That was all his mother could say. Whenever the subject of her son's significant other came up, she sounded tired, even though she hadn't yet met Masamune.

Well technically she had, once, when they were in high school, but of course his name had been Saga back then and his parents hadn't been told about that connection.

Finally, though, Onodera-mama took a deep breath and said, "Perhaps Takano-san would like to come over at some point? Of course he has his own family that he's obligated to."

"I'd love to," Masamune said, leaning close to Ritsu to speak into the phone. "What time should we be over?"

"Takano-san!" Ritsu yelled, temporarily reverting back to the flustered manga editor. He still called Masamune by his last name when they were at work, if only for show. It wasn't like the people in the department didn't know about their relationship by then.

"Oh! Um… Ritsu is supposed to be here for lunch." Onodera-mama sounded flustered. "Are you sure you can come?"

Ritsu glanced at Masamune before saying, "His family, um, doesn't live in Tokyo so it's been a while since he's made the trip." It was only partially a lie; his mother and her new family did live in Tokyo, but his father didn't, and it had been a while since he'd bothered visiting either of them.

Masamune agreed and finally stopped invading Ritsu's personal space. Ritsu was more than ready to hang up, but then his mother just had to add, "Ritsu, why did you call him by his last name?"

Ritsu froze at that, not even aware his mother had heard his exclamation. "That is, because-"

"Ritsu's still not used to calling me by my first name. We work together, after all, and must maintain a professional environment there." Masamune said it smoothly and after invading Ritsu's space in the most inconspicuous way possible.

"Oh, I see." The line went quiet for a bit, and Ritsu actually checked to make sure the call hadn't been dropped. "Ritsu was supposed to stay for a couple days and you're welcome to if you want…"

"Thank you. We'll see you tomorrow."

Ritsu glanced at Masamune, irritated, before saying, "Goodnight, Mother. We'll be there around noon." As soon as his mother said goodbye, he flipped the phone shut and glared at Masamune. They were outside their apartment building by then. "What the hell?" It was really all he could say.

Masamune smiled as he opened the door. "What, you don't want to introduce your family to your boyfriend?"

Ritsu's face went an incredibly interesting shade of red at that, and he decided it was better to just head for the elevator. Of course, they were going to the exact same part of the exact same floor, so he wasn't able to get away from Masamune for long. They stood there side-by-side for about three floors, before Masamune finally sighed and said, "Ritsu."

"What?" He faced Masamune with a scowl, but it didn't last long; Masamune leaned down and caught him in a kiss. It was chaste and quick, much different from how he usually kissed. Ritsu found himself wanting more, but, after several months, he still hadn't quite gotten the hang of asking for such things.

Instead, though, Masamune said, "I'm looking forward to it." He took Ritsu's hand and kissed him again, more passionate this time. Ritsu found himself lacing their fingers together and allowing Masamune to deepen the kiss, completely ignoring the ding signaling they were up to their floor, and also the rattle as the elevator doors opened.

He could not, however, ignore the woman standing there, watching them with raised eyebrows. It didn't take him long to recognize her as the neighbor who thought he and Masamune were part of a host club; he'd had multiple encounters with her since the first time. Each time, Masamune had managed to further engrain in her mind that they were hosts.

"Oh my," the woman said. Ritsu was desperately trying to wrench his hand from his boyfriend's grip, but to no avail. "I had no idea you served that kind of clientele as well."

Ritsu could've punched something at that, preferably the man with the vice-grip on his hand. He was still far too polite for that, though, and before he could even attempt to correct her, Masamune covered his mouth with his free hand and smiled. "We do have the occasional one, yes. Now, if you'll excuse us." He pushed past her, one hand holding Ritsu's and the other hand still over his mouth. It was only when the woman was on the elevator and they were in the space between their doors that he let him go.

"You idiot! Why do you keep making her misunderstand?" Ritsu demanded. Masamune, of course, looked indifferent. Instead of pissing him off more, though, this just made Ritsu deflate. "Goodnight, Masamune."

"What, I don't get sex tonight?"

Ritsu scowled and slammed his apartment door.

xxx

Ritsu had wanted to take the subway into the part of Tokyo where his family lived, but Masamune had told him to not be stupid and get in the car. After what must have been the most halfhearted fight they'd ever had, Ritsu ended up sitting in the front, giving directions while Masamune squinted at street signs through his glasses.

"I should probably warn you," Ritsu said, leaning against the door and staring out the window rather than at Masamune. "My parents have a big dog. She's trained to attack strangers."

"It's nice that you care enough to warn me," Masamune said, sounding only slightly sarcastic. "Did they have it when we were in high school?"

"Nah, they got it when I finished college and officially moved out. I guess Mother felt lonely." Ritsu had his cheek pressed to the glass of the window at that point, only vaguely paying attention as their surroundings got grander and more expensive-looking the further they drove. He only brought his attention back to the present when the car stopped. "…and Mother forgot to unlock the gate for us."

"One does not simply drive into Mordor," Masamune said, looking amused at his own joke. This earned a glare from Ritsu, which was promptly ignored in favor of watching as an old, foreign-looking woman approached the gate and stared at their car. "Who's that?"

"…um, Miller-sensei. She was my tutor. Taught me English, and things like that. She also took care of me during my foreign exchange." Ritsu averted his eyes as the woman started yelling at them, not, apparently, able to see through the windshield at the occupants of the car. Then he got out and walked over to her. In perfect English, tinged with an English accent that amused Masamune to no end, he said, "Hello, Mrs. Miller. It's good to see you again."

"Ritsu Onodera, what in the world are you doing in that car?" She was speaking in English as well, shifting her eyes between Ritsu and the car.

Ritsu ducked his head, waving his arm vaguely at it. "Didn't Mother tell you I had a guest coming?"

At that point, Masamune rolled the driver's side window down and poked his head out so Mrs. Miller could see him. His English was a little rusty, so all he dared to do was wave. Mrs. Miller unlocked the gate, but she was giving Masamune the stink-eye as he drove through. Ritsu looked uncomfortable as Masamune stopped the car in front of him and asked where he was supposed to park.

"Um, Mother and Papa have a guest garage right there. The brown building," Ritsu said, pointing vaguely.

Masamune just gawked at his boyfriend when he said 'guest garage' but nodded, pushing his glasses back up on his nose with his pointer finger and continuing on. The gravel driveway crunched under his car's tires, and Ritsu turned back to Mrs. Miller, who was still looking not unlike Sauron protecting Mordor. Ritsu fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable. "Mrs. Miller, it's okay."

Mrs. Miller sighed and folded her arms. "If you say so. You might want to watch out for Tsuyu, though. She's been excited all morning."

As if on cue, the front doors of the large house opened up, and a large dog came bounding out. Masamune had managed to park by then and was walking across the driveway, but when he saw all this happening, he stopped and folded his arms, just watching. The dog bounded at Ritsu and attacked, making him tumble backward as she licked his face.

"Hey, Tsuyu," Ritsu said, petting the dog on the head while trying to push her away. She was large, though, and quite determined to bathe Ritsu's face until it was shiny and clean. Suddenly she stopped, though, and Ritsu opened his eyes to see Masamune was standing there. Tsuyu started growling. "Tsuyu, it's okay. He's not an enemy."

Suddenly, Tsuyu started wagging her tail again, and she jumped off Ritsu, knocking the wind out of him, and bounded over to Masamune. Unlike with Ritsu, however, she didn't push him to the ground, instead sitting obediently at his feet and waiting to be pet on the head.

"Hmph," Mrs. Miller said, helping Ritsu to his feet. She was speaking in Japanese now, but she still had a hint of her accent. "I suppose if Tsuyu is okay with him, he can't be all bad."

"You'd be surprised," Ritsu muttered, rolling his eyes, but he didn't look too put-off with Masamune bonding with his dog.

Suddenly, though, Mrs. Miller seemed to realize something, and she whacked Ritsu over the head. "What are you doing standing out here? Your mother and father have been waiting for you!" Masamune suddenly looked interested at this, and Tsuyu started running back for the house. Mrs. Miller took Ritsu by the arm as if he needed a guide and said, "Well, come on, come on!"