Forever and always

Prologue

It always happens when you least expect it, when everything finally seems to be in your favor. It was like a freak storm hit, and no matter what happens you always have to make sacrifices, even if it's just for a bit.

With all else failing they had to use their last resort and make a deal, no matter how much it hurt them to do so. It could be the very thing that would save their future together.

Trying to spend that last month like nothing was going to change and everything was alright only worked for so long till the final week approached. Each day leading up to the last got harder and harder till the ill fated day came. One last kiss that they didn't want to end but that wasn't even a new feeling for them.

Misaki left to Osaka to escape the feeling of fear every time he left his house, if he saw Akihiko he knew it would be hard to walk away again. Every time he thought of him, his heart felt heavy in his chest, a lump formed in his throat, as his eyes burned with tears. He couldn't imagine spending years without him, it was hard enough just going to visit his for such a short time brother.

He eventually decided to go to school to become a chef, cooking reminded him about his times with Akihiko. Plus he might have done that as a profession a long time ago if he hadn't tried to follow in his brothers foot-steps.

People changed, that wasn't a secret. Misaki wasn't an exception, over time he did grow and couldn't help but think "Finally" but wished Akihiko could be there to see it so...he could rub it in his face. His once bright smile began to fade away into the past like a distant memory of who he once was.

While his smile didn't widened, but his shoulders and chest did. He tried to take up activities to distract himself but it only worked for so long and eventually gave up on trying to forget, then in his free time he would live in his memories.

Was it healthy? No, not at all. Did he care? Not really.

He couldn't help but think.

Would Akihiko be disappointed in who he had become?

The last thing I would ever want to do is disappoint him.

-Takahashi, Misaki

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Akihiko...Akihiko...Akihiko, well to an outsider seemed the same as he had always been. Missing deadlines, evading parties, skipping meetings and interviews to the best of his ability with Aikawa around.

His father wouldn't leave him alone since Misaki had left trying to get him to agree to an arranged marriage with some wannabe actor. That woman had tried everything to get him to agree not getting the memo that he obviously didn't care for her.

He was going to hold out until he got his Misaki back and he could be the one he was going to marry. He would make sure of that. Akihiko remembered looking at him and wondering what he did to deserve Misaki.

His deadlines used to be what would keep him up at night now it was something completely different that he never had to deal with before. He wanted him back in his arms again, holding him tight at night and finally warming up the bed that now seemed so cold without him there. How could someone be so in love that it physically hurt to be away from them, that knowledge is absolutely beyond Akihiko.

I've never been in love with anyone like this before, I want him, no...I need him.

-Usami, Akihiko