Ritsu's Short Tale.

Chapter One: Hello,

There once was a male. His name was Onodera Ritsu.

He had a job as a manga editor, he didn't like it at first, but with making short friends and loving the moments he has, he enjoyed it.

To make it obvious, his boss was making him a mess just by a glance.

Takano Masamune.

The name would leave him a heavy blush, only if his name would come up that isn't work related.

But enough with the introductions, because there is more to this story that meets the eye.

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Onodera Ritsu.

I walked out the elevator and walked to the emerald department. Its almost a year since I've worked here. And I haven't confessed either.

N-not that I was planning to.

I shook the thought off my mind and kept walking to my department.

A body quickly fell in front of me, making me startle back.

"Ritchan-" The voice said in a raspy way. "-please print these,"

I realized that it was Kisa, he held a stack of papers to me. With that, I calmed down a bit. I gulped and walked over his collapsed body, putting my bag on my chair.

My attention drifted to Takano's chair, it was empty.

I blushed as I remembered about this morning.

*Flashback*

"I'll go first," I told Takano, as I put on my bag and slipped on my shoes. Wearing the same clothes from yesterday and the pain on my hips reaching my attention.

"Okay, meet you there," Takano said and hugged me from behind.

A heavy blush crawled on my cheeks and I pushed him away.

"Moron, don't do these things!" I shouted at him.

He cornered me at his door, his brown eyes meeting mine.

"Are you alright?" He asked, a hint of concern.

My heart quickened, and heat rose more on my cheeks.

"W-what makes y-you say th-that?" I stuttered, the scent of sweat and little alcohol draining my nostrils.

"You look more pale than before, and also you were thinner." He said as he wrapped his arm around my waist.

I blushed and pushed his arm away, weakingly."D-don't do these things. I-I'm going." I said and left before he said anything else.

*end of Flashback*

I waited for the papers to finish printing, then I placed my hand on my stomach. It does feel like I lost weight. And the pain of it is killing me.

I winced, shifting my weight from one side to the other didn't help either. If Takano was going to be that rough, I shouldnt have swept away.

N-no, I mean. I meant that I shouldn't let him do that at all!

I blushed, then I saw a nearby mirror. I stared at it. The reflection wasn't me, it was someone who was dangerously thin, bags under his eyes, and looked like he was in pain.

I looked away, not wanting to handle to look at it anymore.

I got the papers and walked back to my department, this time Takano was already at work.

Kiss was still dying on the floor and Hatori just walked in with Yoshikawa's manuscripts. I put the printed papers on Kisa's desk and went to mine to see what I had in store today.

My stomach was hurting, I shrugged it off. The pain should go away if I sit around long enough to get sore and want to move around.

Takano Masamune.

I noticed that he was in pain. His expressions are showing it. But no one really noticed.

"I'm going," he said, he didn't take his things, proving he isn't going home.

I'm worried. Something is defiantly wrong. I noticed he hasn't eaten much, he hasn't even eaten this morning.

I looked at my paper. It seems like I was reading, but when I do, the words don't get in my head. All that is in my kind is Ritsu in pain.

I got up from my seat and went to the restroom.

I know he was there, a feeling. I opened the door and came in.

"Takano!" Ritsu said in a startled way. He was at the sink, washing his face and the paleness of his cheeks deepened.

"Tell me what's wrong." I said straight to the point.

"Nothing is wro-"

"Don't lie to me, I worked with you for a year and I know when you are in pain. Tell me," I said as I cornered him. He avoided eye contact, a fain pink color on his cheeks.

"There is n-nothing." He lied.

"Please tell me, I want to know what is hurting you so I can fix it. Share that pain with me." I said, getting his hands on mine. Feeling how cold they were.

He winced in pain again, and finally gave up. A sigh in defeat after his pain relieved.

"My stomach is hurting..... I guess it was because of......last night." He blushed.

I rested my forehead on his. He didn't seem to have a fever.

"W-what are yo-"

"Hush......you don't seem to have a fever. But you look terrible." I whispered as I took a look at his thin frame. Its scaring me.

"P-please care f-for your o-own health." He stuttered.

I nodded. "I love you."

"Takano! Don't say it in-" he was interrupted with a cough.

He choked and put one hand on his mouth, while pushing me away with the other.

I stared in fear as he coughed louder, each sounding like it's scratching his throat painfully.

"Rit-"

"N-no. I am not going," he said as his tired eyes met my feared ones. Reading my mind.

He clenched his hand that he coughed on, Ritsu turned around and washed his hands.

I can't look at this. He is looking thinner and thinner by the day that it's scaring me.

As I left the restroom, I pulled out my phone and dialed a quick number that I know.

"Kusama Nowaki," he answered.

"Hey, it's me Takano." I said.

"Oh hey, long time no see. What do you need?" Nowaki asked.

"I have a favor to ask. Its urgent. Could you put in an appointment for a patients as soon as possible?" I asked.

I heard shifting of papers."Yeah, tomorrow should be good. Around noon should do it. Why?" He asked.

"I have a subordinate, it seems he isn't feeling well and he is stubborn." I said.

"Ah, alright. Lets get to the appointment then." He said.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow." I said.

Then I hung up the phone, walking in the department and sat on my desk.

'This is orrying me, I can't let it slide.'