Tatsumi, wrapped up in his warm coat, meticulously slid his long narrow fingers into his glove. Shivering slightly in the cold, he stepped onto the deserted hallway outside his apartment. Locking the door with his spare key, he silently returned it to its hiding space.

Turning around, he nearly ran into Tsuzuki.

�Tsuzuki-san!� Tatsumi gasped in surprise, pressing a hand to his erratically beating heart. �May I ask what are you doing here?� He wondered if he had fed a professional stalker last night.

�I live here.� Tsuzuki gave him a perturbed look, pointing at the door next to Tatsumi�s. �And I have to go to work.�

Tatsumi frowned, but managed to keep from saying anything. �What is it that you do?� He asked, maneuvering towards the stairwell.

Tsuzuki looked thoughtful. �You know,� He fingered his chin, gazing at the pale sky. �I don�t know.�

Tatsumi blinked in surprise. �How could you not know what you do?� He asked.

Tsuzuki smiled and waved disarmingly. �I know what I do; I just don�t know the name for it. I sign papers.�

Tatsumi shook his head, and continued walking toward the stairwell. �I believe those actions are similar to secretarial work.� He offered over his shoulder.

Tsuzuki ran to catch up. �No, I don�t think I�m a secretary.� At Tatsumi�s exasperated look, he continued. �I think I�d know if I was one.�

They descended the stairwell in an awkward silence, as Tsuzuki tried to think of a name for his job. When they reached a street corner, Tatsumi patiently waited for the crossing sign, while Tsuzuki turned to follow the sidewalk away.

�Well, I�ll think of it sometime, and then I�ll let you know.� Tsuzuki promised him.

Tatsumi shrugged indifferently. �My curiosity need not concern you.� He gave Tsuzuki a quick smile. �Good bye-�

�Wait!� Tsuzuki yelled a little louder then necessary. The few other people near them all turned to look at the two men. Tatsumi rubbed the bridge of his nose, hoping no one recognized him.

�Wait,� Tsuzuki repeated at a normal tone. �Are you doing anything for lunch?� He asked hopefully.

Tatsumi gave Tsuzuki a penetrating look. After a few moments of silence Tatsumi sighed. �Tsuzuki-san, I am quite busy during the work day, and although your offer is kind-�

�Oh, come on! You have to eat something!� Tsuzuki begged. Tatsumi shook his head. �But there�s this really cute little coffee shop, and I owe you for last night still!�

Tatsumi sighed. �Tsuzuki-san, please do not be concerned for last night. It is not your duty to repay me for anything.�

�No, really, I wanna spend lunch with you!� Tsuzuki begged fervently.

Tatsumi brushed the hair out of his eyes, giving Tsuzuki a penetrating look. �I do seem to remember that the main reason you and I ate dinner together last night was the fact that you had no money. I would not expect for you to go into any extreme measures simply to repay a person you met yesterday.�

Tsuzuki shook his head. �No, I get paid today.� He smiled disarmingly. �Besides, the coffee shop�s cheap.�

Tatsumi stiffened like a board, causing Tsuzuki to shrink, worrying that he might have said something wrong.

�Of course I will join you.� Tatsumi promised fervently, before shaking himself. �Another time perhaps. I do apologize, but my plans do not allow me to spend money freely.�

�I�ll pay.� Tsuzuki smiled hopefully.

�I will happily join you today.� The words rushed out of Tatsumi�s mouth before he could stop them. He shook himself again, looked at Tsuzuki�s euphoric face, and sighed. �I suppose this means I have no way of politely backing out of this now.� He asked himself quietly.

�Nope!� Tsuzuki called out cheerfully. Tatsumi blanched, realizing Tsuzuki had heard him. �I�ll meet you at around noon at the coffee shop over there!� Tsuzuki pointed across the street.

�Alright,� Tatsumi guiltily forced his jaw to support a cheerful smile as the energetic young man bounced off.

***

�Ouch,� Tsuzuki moaned, rubbing his hand. Two hours of signing forms did not do wonders for his delicate hands. He blew on the injured appendage, thankful he could eat with his right hand.

His office door swung open and the tall, dark man from yesterday evening sauntered in, helpfully dropping off another stack of forums and documents.

�Are you planning on taking a break now?� He asked in a bored tone. Tsuzuki smiled and nodded his head at the man.

�What�s wrong?� The man asked while pointing at the hand Tsuzuki was cradling protectively. Before Tsuzuki could reply, the man reached out and grabbed the wrist, nearly pulling Tsuzuki over his desk. �Cramp?� The person asked sympathetically. Well, his tone didn�t change, but Tsuzuki was sure he was sympathetic.

�Yeah, it�s nothing big.� Tsuzuki promised, trying to tug back his hand. The man�s grip was as strong as his size would suggest. �I�ll just run some warm water over it or something.�

The man kept a firm grip on Tsuzuki�s wrist, and pressed his fingers onto the aching tendon, causing Tsuzuki to cringe and whimper in pain.

Warily opening one eye, Tsuzuki glanced at the abused appendage. A pleasant feeling slowly started to emanate from the stiff tendon as the man�s warm hands massaged it.

�Better?� The man asked, his voice sounding oddly low and gentle.

Tsuzuki vigorously nodded his head. �Much!� He grinned thankfully at the man. The man simply shrugged his broad shoulders and stepped away.

�Do you need anything else?� The man asked.

�Oh, no,� Tsuzuki grabbed his coat. �But thanks. Anyways, I�m going out for lunch, I�ll be back in around maybe an hour?�

The man shrugged. �As you will.� He held open the door for Tsuzuki as the young man stepped through.

***

Tsuzuki strode through the doors of the coffee shop, and stopped immediately. Apparently, several other people had thought that the coffee shop was a nice place to at as well. Tsuzuki frantically looked for a space to sit.

He was about to give up when he noticed that someone seemed to be sitting alone. The table was big enough for four people, so Tsuzuki didn�t really understand why it wasn�t taken up.

He subtly slid up to the table while watching the person. The man seemed to have just finished his meal, and was calmly sipping tea, gazing at the crowded room with a morbid twist to his lips that could have been considered a smile.

Even if he wasn�t wearing clothes one would wear to a fancy restaurant, the man still would have made Tsuzuki look twice.

His hair had an odd silvery sheen that flashed in the soft afternoon sun. His skin was nearly translucent, making his figure seem more delicate than he was. He seemed ethereal, almost like a vision that was sitting in a corner and drinking tea.

�Hello!� Tsuzuki said. Startled, the man jerked his head up to lock gazes with Tsuzuki. Tsuzuki noted that the man�s tea water looked like glass, indicating that he hadn�t been startled enough. �Anyone sitting here?� He asked, gesturing towards a seat opposite of the man.

�Please do.� The man returned his tea cup to its saucer, focusing his attention on the man before him.

�This seems to be a popular place.� Tsuzuki commented, sliding into the seat. �Do you come here often?�

The man�s lips twitched into what seemed to be a more genuine smile. �Often enough. May I assume you do not?�

Tsuzuki shook his head. �Just moved here.� He confessed. �The outside looked cute.�

�Do you like this city?� The man asked politely. Tsuzuki glanced at the ceiling, hoping the man didn�t realize he was trying to avoid that penetrating look. �Oh, please forgive my manners.� The man said suddenly.

Tsuzuki tore his gaze from the ceiling. �Huh?� He asked confusedly.

The man extended his hand. �I am Muraki Kazutaka. I am pleased to meet you . . .?� He waited expectantly.

�Oh, Tsuzuki Asato.� Tsuzuki smiled, happy to find that at least one person in this city was willing to shake hands.

�Oh my,� Muraki said, still grasping Tsuzuki�s hand. �You have quite a delicate bone structure.� Almost reluctantly, he let Tsuzuki pull his hand back. �May I inquire as to your occupation?� Muraki asked delicately.

Tsuzuki let out a nervous chuckle. �I write on a lot on documents.� He said.

At first Muraki looked puzzled, before realization dawned on his face. �Oh, I understand.� His smile encouraged Tsuzuki to smile back. �You are a secretary.�

Tsuzuki cringed. �Um, not quite . . .�

�Oh, there you are, Tsuzuki-san.� A voice called out warmly. �I do apologize, but I was held up at work for longer than expected-� Tatsumi, coming into view, stopped dead in his tracks just behind Tsuzuki. His hand gripped the back of Tsuzuki�s chair, the knuckles going white.

Confused, Tsuzuki turned to Muraki, only to find that the pale man had gone rigid, his face devoid of expression.

�Muraki-san.� Tatsumi finally greeted.

�Tatsumi-san.� Muraki greeted flatly.

�I do trust you are well?� Tatsumi�s voice sounded as if it was on auto-pilot.

�I am quite well, thank you. Might I inquire as to your health?� Muraki�s formality took on a cold tone.

�I am as well as can be expected.� Tatsumi responded. �I trust all is well with the hospital.�

�What�s going on?� Tsuzuki asked, blinking confusedly. Tatsumi and Muraki focused their attention on him. As Tatsumi was behind and him, Tsuzuki could only see Muraki�s piercing look.

Muraki suddenly smiled, a hand stretching out to touch his, and Tatsumi�s grip on Tsuzuki�s chair tightened.

�Please excuse us.� Muraki smiled charmingly at Tsuzuki while tracing his knuckles. �Tatsumi-san and I-� Suddenly a high pitched beeping noise went off. Muraki froze, before leaning back and checking something in his pocket. A quick glance at Tatsumi confirmed he was doing the same.

�It is my pager.� Muraki reported, staring at it intently. Standing, he quickly picked up the remains of his meal and disposed of them. �Please excuse me, Tsuzuki-san, Tatsumi-san; I am needed at the hospital.� Though hurried, Muraki had enough time to give Tsuzuki one last piercing glare. �I trust we will meet again. Goodbye for now.�

As soon as Muraki exited the shop, Tatsumi let out a long sigh, and relaxed marginally. �Yes?� He asked Tsuzuki�s confused look.

�Do you and Muraki know each other?� Tsuzuki asked.

Tatsumi buried his head in his hands. �I would have thought you were paying attention during our exchange.� He replied darkly. �That way, you would have figured out that Muraki-san and I do indeed know each other.�

�Oh,� Tsuzuki shrugged noncommittally. �Well, how-�

�Tsuzuki-san,� Tatsumi interrupted. �Please forgive me, but I did not arrive to eat lunch and converse with you. I underestimated the urgency of my work this morning, and misled you.�

Tsuzuki felt his breath catch. �What do you mean?�

Tatsumi drew a deep breath before continuing. �I mean to say I will not be able to join you this afternoon.� He reported steadily.

�But you�re here, and I�m here, and-�

�Tsuzuki-san.� Tatsumi�s voice cut through Tsuzuki�s. �Please understand that I wished to inform you of this recent development in person. As I have done so, I must hurry back to my work.�

�Oh,� Tsuzuki coughed nervously. �I see.�

�Good.� Tatsumi nodded impersonally. �Another day, perhaps?� He offered.

�Sure.�

�Until then.�

�Bye!� Tsuzuki smiled and waved as Tatsumi quickly walked out of the building. Once he was gone, Tsuzuki slumped in his seat, lifting his head so he could feel the sun on his face.

Apple Pie sounded like a good lunch for today.

End of Part 2