Kenny Ichigoru's Story

Takano smirked to himself and laid back on his bed. It was obviously time for him to get to work, the pages needed to be sent to the printer in two days and he still wasn't finished.

I'll finish it, eventually. I've got two days. Besides the printers are fucking pansies anyways, if I don't finish it they'll give me more time. The only thing that's stopping me from just going to sleep is...

Takano sighed as he stood up and stepped in his now hot shower. Letting the water pour down his face he looked up.He'll be upset if I miss the stupid deadline again. After cleansing himself he pulled some underwear and a random pair of dark jeans on and hung his towel around his shoulder, going in the kitchen to make himself a small cup of coffee to last him untill he could go to Starbucks and get some.

Takano had given his editor a key long ago and knew if he stayed in his apartment too long that he'd come and probably say something Takano would think was adorable even though that wasn't the purpose of it. Not that he actually cared but he knew Kyouya would complain too.

Takano took a swig of this freshly made coffee and sat down on his couch, propping his feet on the coffee table. I'll miss the train at this rate.

Kenny flung up out of his bed after the alarm blared loudly falling off the desk. It always scared him, but it was good, it got him up without hesitation. With a slight groan he rubbed his throat, letting out a soft cough. "Oh no..I can't get sick now of all times!" Getting up fast he ran out of his room and past the packed up boxes he had everywhere.

Moving day was coming up too. Not being able to afford this rent anymore, Kenny had to move into a studio next week. The man who is owner of this apartment building is putting in new improvements and raising the rent up about 200 more, something he could afford. He might be a great Editor, but it didn't pay as much as people thought. Sure the studio is a train ride away now, but at least it will be one more train right closer to Hiroki and work.

The movement and rushing had got to his head making him a bit dizzy, only raising his temperature. He held onto his throat softly as he coughed, his cheeks turning slightly pink. "Only two days left and then you can rest Ichigoru...Come on you can do it!.. ~Cough~ ...Everyone is counting on you..." Speaking to himself as he reached for a cup and heating up some warm herbal tea.

While the tea was heating up in the microwave, he walked back to his room and pulled out a warm hoodie and scarf. Throwing on a thin sweater that was a bit big on him and went over his hands a bit, he then wrapped his scarf around his neck and slipped on some baggy orange pants with pockets everywhere.

With some soft coughs he manages to pull through that, not bothering with his hair today he left his room at the sound of the microwave buzzing. Pouring all the tea into a small thermos, he left the house with his editor bag, bread with an egg on it in his mouth, locking the door behind him.

Catching the train on time, he ate while waiting for his stop to arrive. Taking his time sipping on his tea, it hurt a bit. His throat was already getting sore with his little coughs here and there. Train ride started to make him tired, not like he wasn't already he felt like he was dragging himself now. With shake to his head to snap out of it, the train pulled up to a stop announcing their location. Quickly he got his things and rushed out before the doors shut behind him.

"~Cough~ Now time to see if Hiroki is awake, I hope he is." Starting his long walk to Hikroi's apartment, surprisingly it was somewhat nice outside. Even the birds enjoyed it. But with some clouds showing, it will probably rain tomorrow. "Ahh choo" He squeaked a slight sneeze, his face pushing into his scarf as he groaned from the slight pain it gave off.

When he was able to reach Hiroki's apartment, he leaned against the door for a while, closing his eyes at the coldness of the door. It felt good against his feverish skin, in hope of bringing it down so Hiroki wouldn't noticed. Kenny always felt it polite to knock first before going in, to always check if there was a slight chance Hiroki would be up, hardly ever would that be the situation. ~Knock Knock~

"Hiroki..." His voice was small, he didn't want to rise it and start coughing again. "Are you..up yet?.."

Takano grabbed the remote and switched the tv on the news. A knock at the door distracted him from his channel surfing, "Hiroki." He heard a low voice at the door. Ichigoru, why is he talking so softly? I could turn up the TV and pretend not to be awake but... Damn, I'm already worrying about him. Why is his voice so damn soft!

Takano turned the TV off and trodded to the door. "Just woke up." Takano opened the door. Its warm. Good, I won't have to find my scarf or coat. How is he not burning up in that? He's wearing a scarf and its nice outside. Takano smirked, "Its warm out today, perfect time for a scarf." He said, fingering the scarf.

"Do you want some breakfast or something?" Takano moved on. He had a small bowl full of candy on his coffee table that he'd acquired for the sole purpose of Ichigoru. Not that he didn't like sweets himself but he didn't eat them very often. Takano pulled his towel over his head and ruffled some of his jet black hair in order to speed up the drying process. Grabbing a grey tee and a worn leather jacket incase the weather got cold he put them on and walked back into the living room, grabbing his wallet and coffee.

His phone buzzed in his jacket pocket and from a quick glance it was Kyouya, inevitably calling to make sure he was going to actually come to work on time for once in his life.

"I don't know, just felt cold." Kenny shrugged, trying to hide him being startled at the door opening. Once Hiroki moved his fingers from his scarf he quickly pressed his lips into it, to keep himself from coughing. His eyes shifted to the grounded as he waited for him by the door, not walking inside. Not wanting to get his sick germs all over the place.

"Huh? Oh ah, no, I ate.." Hesitation was left in his words as he stepped back more outside and turned to the side, leaning against the wall with his back.

Kenny's head rose up a bit at the sound of Hiroki's phone buzzing, he had a gut feeling that he knew who it was, biting his lip and peeked up and looked at Hiroki. "We should hurry,...he is worse then me...when he gets mad." He was in denial, but that is how he is, never wanting to admit that he goes crazy as a mad maniac.

Taking in a sharp breath, he pulled his head back hiding behind the wall, covering his mouth, struggling to to surpass his cough. Refusing to cough in front of Hiroki. By doing that his fever went up, causing his head to throb and his chest to ache. Shivering a bit, he snuggled into his scarf and sighed.

Somewhere in his mind he wondered if Saionji was ok and not as sick. He knew that Hiroki was ok, but it was a bit weird seeing hi up so early, he now started to wonder if he was sick. "Hey..Hiro..." Kenny looked down frowning slightly. "Can you...check to see if...Saionji is ok?.." The worry was struggling in his voice as he clutched onto his Editor bag.

"Let him be sick." Takano muttered, and to think he'd gone through the trouble of staying awake. Takano typed a few words and gave a foul look when he got a response. "He's perfectly fine." Takano scowled. 'I'm fine. So why do you care? Don't expect me to return the favor. Is Ichigoru fine?' Who the hell does he think he is? I should tell him Ichigoru is in the hospital just to fuck with him.

Takano, soon ready to go as odd as that is for him, walked through the doorway. Why does he feel so warm? Oh yeah, maybe because he's overdressed. No- that's not it. Takano turned back around then shot his hand to Ichigoru's forehead. The results made his face darken, "You have a fever. You're not going to work." Takano said, not bothering to ask permission.

Takano grabbed one of Ichigoru's hands and pulled him in, shutting the door behind him, the task being simple due to Ichigoru's girly frame compared to his larger one. Why does he insist on- never mind, as long as he gets better.

The thought if picking the editor up and simply placing him in his bed briefly crossed his mind. But there was a small chance he'd be able to controll himself if he did. The next thought was to make tea, something that disturbed him because he'd always related tea with Saonji. But he didn't know how to make it, the only way he was going to get some tea is if he called over Saonji.

But, if Ichigoru needed it..... he would put up with Saonji. But there were alternatives, like chicken noodle soup. Saonji would be his absolute last resort.

"Wha?!.." Pulling back quickly away from Hiroki's hand, suddeningly he got pulled inside like he was nothing. "But I am fine! Don't baby me Takano Hiroki!" Slapped his hand away to cover his mouth he struggled to hold back his coughing from all the yelling he suddenly did, leaning against the wall bent over.

"Stop doing that!" He hugged his chest still like he was about to cry. "Always so cold and suddenly become nice!...It's confusing!" At this rate he began to talk to himself not realizing what he was saying or if he was even talking at all.

He cared, but being cared for, he wasn't use to it. Spending your whole life caring for others, of course it was weird when people returned the favor, it almost feels like people feel sorry for you for trying so hard to help them. To Kenny this was wrong. He did it because he wanted to, not to get anything in return back.

'Whoa..' He thought as his head spin in a circle from the rush of everything, he held is head now hoping it would stop. The fever had finally got to him and made it's way through his body. 'No you...got..to..wor..' His thoughts went blank just like his vision, the feeling of his body falling over, vanished when he passed out right there.

"Ichigoru- Ichigoru!" Takano yelled, catching Ichigoru as he fell then swooping him up in his arms. Shit! What do I do? Why does he do this?! He put Ichigoru on the couch, bending down and stroking his hair. "I promise I won't let you get hurt ever again. Fuck! Don't scare me like this!" Takano kissed the man's head very softly. He's burning up. Ok, I have all the generic medicine's. Ice pack, that's first.

"Ice pack......" Takano stood still in his kitchen. He'd never been really ever sick, when he was he just sucked it up and it wore off. After formulating his thoughts he emptied a ice tray in a Ziploc bag and coated it with paper towels. Next... what happens in a fever? Should I remove the jacket..... or maybe give him covers. Well he's hot so....

Takano pulled off his hoodie revealing a thin sweater, self control...... Takano then put a thin blanket over him. Takano pulled out his phone again, 'Saonji, what do you do when someone has a fever?' He texted. The reply came soon which induced a groan. 'Why would I want to help you.' Saonji said. He was only this way to Takano, not that it came as any suprise. 'Ichigoru.' Takano sent and that's all it took for Saonji to alert him that he was coming over.

"You're lucky that I love you." Takano mumbled. Saonji was only a assistant so he didn't get paid much. He did end up living close to Takano due to his father's money to the dismay of both of them. I'll make him some soup.... Takano got started on it in the kitchen.

Whimpering softly at the movement, Kenny whined softly at the pain in his head, while it throbbed aching. Feeling his body lift and then lay down again and lift again, he suddening shivered at how cold it became. His knees pulled up and he hugged. Relaxing at the warm again.

With a slight wince, he groaned rolling over hugging the back of the couch. "Ow.." He spoke in his sleep as light tears rolled out of his eyes "..Hiro.." He whispered and falling deeper into his sleep.

His dream ended up in about a bunny in a garden that led him to a maze near by. The maze was tall and green, with roses that went up and down each bush, wrapped with vines and leaves. The ground that it stood on had white stones everywhere and on the stepping stones had a leave printed on top of each one.

The sky was blue and the air smelt like sweet roses. It sent shivers down your back. and for some reason Kenny felt like he was here before, it was a feeling deep down inside him. It was also a feeling of him having to find it again someday.

"Ichigoru!" Saonji burst in without knocking. Takano scowled briefly but he was used to it, unlike Ichigoru, Saonji would just walk in without warning. Takano hadn't even given him a key, Saonji had made one for himself. "Unnecessary." Takano snapped at Saonji. "Did you take his temperature? Give him tea?" Saonji asked, putting the ice pack on Ichigoru's head. "Go home." Takano glared.

Saonji just gave him a smirk. When Saonji smirked it pisses him off because he did it as if he thought he was so high and mighty. Though that was the exact same reason it pisses Saonji off the Takano smirked. "Well, what kind of man can't even do the basics." Saonji said, opening his bag which had the ingredients to make some healing tea.

Saonji took it out of his bag and walked to the kitchen. "A straight one." Takano muttered, getting more irritated by the second. "Now now as much as I'd love to make you look like a fool we should probably focus on the task at hand don't you think." Saonji said with a smug smile.

After quiet analyzing, the pair had managed to fix Ichigoru up- his temperature still a bit high but close to the right temperature.

Saonji had gone to the convenience store to buy more soup leaving Takano with the strict orders to work on the last two pages. Takano played the scene through his head as he drew. Shouko bowed, confessing her 3 year long crush on Tsena who just smirked back. Seika interrupted the two, a psychotic grin placed on her face ' So you think you have a chance? ' Seika laughed. Tsena full and well knew the two were crazy about him and also knew the girls were supposedly best friends but held back by his desire not to get hurt he didn't say a word. Leaving Shouko stepping back slowly, thinking of the ways she could leave this world peacefully. Seika then-

He stopped, looking back at Ichigoru. He just couldn't concentrate if he was hurting.

His next dream was of Saionji and Hiroki fighting. Why did they bother do that? Aren't they best friends, sometimes he found it hard to watch. They all grew up together so why would they hate each other? It was confusing and hard to understand.

The sound of Kenny's phone went off, it started to sing a weird happy tune. The crazy frog ringtones. Always put him in a good mood so he never changed them, no matter how annoyed it will bother someone.

It was a girl from his college calling. He listed her under the name tag of 'Sallyan <3' All in cap letters with a heart next to her name. He liked her alot, but he didn't understand why he wasn't in love with her. It was as if his heart was someplace else.

"Um" Kenny shifted in his sleep, slowly waking up. He covered his eyes at the brightness. With a loud gasps he quickly rose up, yelling. "The dead line! I fell asleep! Crap! Ah.." he winces and held his head as it throbbed.

"Oh, thank you Hiro for so graciously taking care of me." Takano smirked. Takano on the inside was overjoyed that he'd woken up. "Ichigoru I-" Takano turned to face him when the door was opened. "I'm back with the soup since yours was so unsatisfactory." Saonji said walking in. "Your back. Well Ichigoru just woke up so he can take the tea and the soup now." Takano itched to tell Saonji just where he could put that soup but restrained himself.

"I'm so happy you're alright. You probably overworked yourself!" Saonji scolded him. He poured some tea in two cups, the tea cups themselves were of a high quality and wonderfully designed which Saonji took pride in. He had two saucers to rest the cups on to finish. Saonji took at least one tea cup and saucer everywhere, he refused to drink tea from regular cups.

"Huh?" Kenny was confused not sure what happened, when Hiroki said that, but his next sentence had him a bit in wonder. Just when Saionji walked in Hiroki was cut off.

Inching himself up to his butt he sat up criss crossed to make room for someone to sit down. Covering his mouth with his sleeve he let out a rough cough. "It's cold." Whispering as he looked up at the two. "Oh ah...thank you..sorry..cause of me we might not make the deadline...Gah I am so sorry!.." He hugged his knees and hid his face in them with a frown.

"Sorry to burden you two so much." He pointed over at his bag that was on the floor. "I finished the editing. All of it. I looked over it about 5 times. Out of it all there was only two mistakes, but I fixed them" He looked up an apologetic look on his face. "I wanted to get it done, cause I knew how stressed out everyone was so...i was wondering...if..when we are..done...we could.." Kenny sighed. "No, never mind...it's a stupid idea...sorry guise..I'll get better, promise."

Takano gave Saonji a knowing look and Saonji covered his mouth and let out a small chuckle. "Ichigoru what is it you want to do? There's nothing I wouldn't do with you, except maybe throw away perfectly good tea." Saonji handed Ichigoru a teacup. "It's not like I care about the deadline. But If you weren't my editor I don't think I'd be able to ever finish my work."Takano shrugged.

Saonji stood up and sat by Ichigoru. After sipping on the tea delicately he spoke. "You can't overwork yourself, but don't be a slacker like Hiroki either." He smirked. He just had to put that remark in there to remind Takano. "Maybe if you would help I'd be done." Takano snapped, but he remembered Ichigoru and put on a half-smile. "Take as much time as you need to rest. Ichigoru." Takano stood up, ruffling Ichigoru's hair then headed to the kitchen intending making more coffee

I love this man. was a thought running through both of their heads. The two only agreed on one thing and that thing was Kenny Ichigoru.

Kenny took the tea cup and looked inside it, keeping quiet for a while. Giggling when Saonji called Hiroki a slacker he looked up and smiled a bit. "Yeah that's true he is." Blushing at his hair being ruffled Kenny looked over at Saonji. "Hey Saon, do you mind if...I ah.." Hesitating he looked down at his cup biting his lip not sure what to say or if he could say it at all.

Hiroki needed to get this done before the dead line. Kenny already made them stop cause of him. It was already a big trouble as it is. "How about...if we finish on time....I tell you what...I was planning. But it has to be on time!" He looked up with serious eyes.

Kenny didn't like tea much, never really did. To him it wasn't flavored enough or it tasted stale. Putting the cup down he got up to his feet and stretched. "I need to finish my editing anyways. I am done but I still feel like it needs one more check."

His little feet pattered along the floor as he walked over to get his editing bag, pulling out the papers and placing them in order on the floor so he can see the full pages of each one. He even pulled out a red pen so he could mark the fails and fix them.

"So that's how it is?" Takano grinned, handing Saonji a paper to put a background in. Takano liked working in his 'office' better. All the other assistants were probably worried the Takano and Saonji hadn't shown up. But with Ichigoru being the way he is he'd definitely overwork himself so Takano decided against leaving. There was only a blank page and a unfinished one left anyways. "Then I'll definitely have to finish." Takano focused himself.

Takano stopped in mid-stroke of his character. "Hey Saon do you mind if.... I ah.." What did that mean? Takano asked himself. He had to shake away the horrifying idea of Ichigoru actually falling for Saonji.

Kyouya wondered the same thing, but inside he felt a bit happy. He continued to draw the background on the paper when he briefly looked up to see if Takano noticed. Kyouya smirked at Takano, enjoying his little moment. The chance that Ichigoru was saying something romantic was slim but even so. Saonji was so happy he could quote Shakespeare, telling Ichigoru exactly how he felt about him. But he wouldn't risk it.

Now that he thought about it, Takano and Ichigoru would be a difficult couple. Takano was a popular manga artist, homosexuality was controversial. If word leaked that could mean his sales going down. Nobody really cared about what Saonji did, it wouldn't cause any sort of scandal. Another thing that he was happy about.

After glancing through all the papers that he placed on the floor he noticed one marked in red and grabbed it, re reading the page so he could try and figure out what the word could be. It was no use and he frowned frustrated a bit.

"Oh hey Hiro, what does this word say?" Looking up at Hiroki, Kenny showed the paper from where he sat. The word was crammed up together and very hard to read even for him.

Getting up on his knees, he held the red pin in his mouth and the eraser in one hand. The pink in his hair slide over and curled back when ever he looked up at Hiroki.

Taking a clip out of his hair he yanked Hiroki down to him and clipped his bangs back. "There now I can see if you are paying attention or not." He pouted and then giggled at Hiroki's new hair style. "It makes you look less scary faced"

The clip he put in was in shape of a silver cross with. Kenny wasn't lying when he said it looked well on Hirko, because it did. Suited him just fine. It matched with his dark side he always gave off or the cool guy act.

"A..... hair clip?" Takano hesitated to take it out, not wanting to hurt Ichigoru's feelings and instead left it in. Kyouya tried to hold in his laughter at Takano looking obviously uncomfortable.

"Scary faced?" Takano gave a glance to Kyouya then back at Ichigoru. Both of them were alot more feminine than him but scary faced was something Takano couldn't figure out. I'm scary faced..... that's a bad thing isn't it. Is he saying he wants me to smile more? It's true that I usually half-smile or smirk...

Kyouya stepped in while Takano was thinking. "I think it says bastard." Kyouya reviewed the scene, the main character Tsena had once again double crossed both girls with a completely different girl. Not that Shouko and Seika ever learned from it. In the panel Ichigoru had been looking at Shouko had called him a bastard while running off. Or at least he thought that's what she said.

"Yeah a clip..it's so I can see your face that you hide all the time.." Kenny made the correction in red pin after erasing the fail so it is readable. "Thanks Saion"

Poking his lip as he was thinking while looking at the other sheets, he spoke to Hiroki. "It's scary cause, I don't know what you are thinking all the time and even though I known you for a long time....when you hide your face...it's a bit hard to tell...you speak more with your eyes then you do with your words..."

He finished correcting the papers and stacked them up in a pile on the table and smiles. "Saion speaks more with his hands." Stretching and yawning he got up to his feet. "Let's get to the office before everyone else worries."

Kenny never really liked telling them his secrets about the two, but Hiroki asked. It seems every time Hiroki's asks him something, Kenny always has to be honest. Same goes with Saionji. If he was to lie to them or not tell them, he feels as if he is stabbing them in the heart. He couldn't do that to his two most precious friends

Grrrroowll Kenny's eyes widened at the sound of his tummy when it growled loudly at him for not feeding him well enough this morning. "Ha..ha...I left in a bit of a rush. so....I ah,.." His cheeks turned a bright pink color as he looked away.

"If your hungry, I'll feed you before we leave." Saonji smirked. "Unnecessary." Takano hissed in reply. Saonji ignored him and went into the kitchen, grabbing some of the soup that was made and putting it into a bowl. After getting a spoon he trodded back to Ichigoru, fully set on feeding him, contrary to Takano's wishes.

"Say ah." Saonji filled a spoon with the soup and held it close to Ichigoru's lips. He'd honestly much rather be putting his on lips where the spoon was but- that would have to wait.

"I'm absolutely sure he can feed himself" Takano tried not to full out glare at Saonji. Takano didn't like the thought of other men-or women- being close to Ichigoru. It isn't as if he confessed yet so he had to keep control of his feelings but with Saonji...

"F...feed me?" Kenny was shocked and watched Saonji get up serving him some soup.

He could since Hiroki's anger and went quite a bit. "It's ok Saon I can do it." He touched his hand softly taking the spoon away and take the sip of soup so it won't spill on anyone.

Shyly he peeked over at Hiroki. "Come Come." Kenny patted the spot next to him. "Let me help you with the last of the sheets." A soft smile formed on his lips.

He thanked Saon and took the bowl of soup and started to eat it quietly. It felt nice on his sore throat. The feeling of the warmth shivered down his body and it made him giggle softly. "It taste so good!" Kenny was a big fan of all kinds of foods. All but spicey foods, they seemed to make him sick or end up with mouth blisters.