A/N: Hi guys... It's been a while. I've fallen out of this fandom now, so I apologise if there are any mistakes. I felt that I just had to complete this, as I am cringing so hard at the first few chapters. I'll be rewriting them, so yeah. I hope you enjoy this rather short chapter as I continue getting back into the groove of publishing a multi-chapter fic. There will be probably two or three more chapters before I decide to wrap it all up.

Deepest thanks to my beta and friend, RosiePosieRW for sticking with me throughout the whole thing.

Jealousy bubbled up at the pit of Takano's stomach. Of course, he wouldn't dare admit it out loud, but he liked to be in control of his feelings. Or aware, at the very least. He tried his best not to wince at the sharp sound of a door slamming, but his efforts were wasted. He quickly turned his attention to the slightly scraggy looking girl standing in front of him.

"This is where I would like to ask you what was going on, but I know you won't answer." He sighed and gave her a look filled with authority. "So I will order you to tell me."

Normally, Mizuno would snap back and they'd have an argument, usually resulting in Takano sending her home. But now, Mizuno just shifted uncomfortably. She wasn't an idiot - she was able to put two and two together. (It made four - she wasn't lying.)

"You do know that Ritsu's in love." It wasn't poised as a question. It was flat - a statement, an accusation of sorts.

Takano gave no indication whether the comment was true or not. "Why would it be of any concern to me if my subordinate is in love or not?" he asked, coldly.

"Do you have any idea how stupid you sound? You - you're supposed to be smart, or at least the very least not be the man with the thickest skull in the whole world!"

His eyes flashed, but still stood silent, unmoving.

"You ask why it would be of any concern to you - I'll tell you why!" Mizuno raged. "Ritsu's in love! With you!"

Takano stood there like a statue, but Mizuno saw his eyes widen infinitesimally in shock.

"It happens. It's puppy love."

She opened her mouth to retort back, but he had already continued.

"Plus, isn't that what happened with you?"

Takano had a special talent of hiding his honest anger, which he rarely felt, especially with a double whammy of guilt to go along with it. His voice still remained calm, but Mizuno has harassed the older for long enough to notice his tense jaw and left leg tapping repeatedly on the floor.

"And what if it was? How has that got anything to do with what we're on right now?" Her voice slowly rose. And before Takano could stop her (not that he could, anyway), she kicked Ritsu's door, making a much larger sound that if she had simply knocked. Before Takano could protest, she spoke.

"I've decided to just join in on this match-making shit because I thought 'hey, why not?' and because An had asked me a favour. But I don't have the time or patience to deal with two stubborn idiots. I have my own love life to deal with right now, so you two have fun," she sighed, after calming down a bit.

The two stood in a rather uncomfortable silence for a few seconds while Takano eyed the door. Mizuno huffed. Takano continued tapping.

"Good night." She kicked the door again.

Takano grimaced. "Night."

Then the elder of the two was left standing by the door to the home of the boy who he had thought about for years. Puppy love. Must be it.

Ritsu was on the verge of falling into a slumber. Well, that was until he heard a large thump. Honestly, did drunk people really have to fall on his door? Couldn't it be Takano's? He mumbled something incoherently under his breath and rolled over, pulling a sheet over his head. That was nice. No drunk people banging on his d-

THUD.

Determined, like a Viking warrior going into battle (that's what he'd like to think, anyway), Ritsu charged up to his door whilst pulling up his sweatpants - which he really needed to replace - and flung it open. "What in God's name -" He stopped short when he realised who was at the door.

"T-takano?" he furrowed his brow and looked at him strangely, noticing the absence of the scent of alcohol. "Are you the drunk one who has been kicking at my door for the past twenty minutes?"

"No, that would be my friend," Takano said smoothly, while inside it was a different matter.

Ritsu tried his best not to think that it was Mizuno, but who the hell was he kidding; of course it was her. "Well, in that case, please tell your friend not to come within three metres of me." He yawned, still tired from being suddenly jolted awake again. Once again, he eyed up his neighbour/boss, but on a second inspection, the man looked more tired than usual and maybe it was the stupidest thing he had done this week. Letting his high school stalkeree (Ritsu had no idea what he called them. Victim works. Yes. Victim.), who he was still (unfortunately) very much in love with, enter his apartment? Good job, Ritsu. Your mother would have been proud at your judgement.

And while yes, Ritsu did occasionally fantasise about finding and kissing somebody, there was no way in hell that he was going to pine over them for ten years. Nope. But little twenty minute doses were healthy.

Glum-faced, the elder of the two entered Ritsu's apartment.

"Tea or coffee?"

"Do you have beer?"

"No."

"Shame."

Ritsu scowls.

"Can we talk?"

"Is there even anything to talk about?"

Takano considers this for a moment. He nods. "Yeah."

B/N: Thank you all very, very much for waiting so patiently on this story! Cindelina and I are ever so sorry for putting this story on hold for so long. I mean, it's been what, half a year since the story was last updated? Cindelina has admitted that she has fallen out of the fandom, a long time ago, but we're trying our best to finish off the story for you guys. :)

So please do enjoy this long-awaited (and rather short) chapter, and let us know once you've finished! What did you think of it? What did you like/dislike about it? What would you like to see happen next? Tell us in your review. :D

One more thing before I let you guys begin to read Chapter 9 - you can always check my profile page for notices and other things to stay on track. I update my profile very regularly - sometimes even daily - with notices and stuff to keep you guys up-to-date. If you're wondering why, it's just a really useful way to communicate with everybody without having to PM. :)

Happy reading, everybody!
RosiePosieRW