Kouta begins to feel optimistic about rekindling his relationship with Ryuu in Balance, Chapter 24. Here’s a bit:
Kouta smiled as he hung up the phone. He was waiting for Ryuu at their home. Ryuu had just called and told him that he was only a few minutes away. Kouta had heard his excitement through the phone. He’d eagerly been anticipating Ryuu’s arrival, as he nervously moved around the house, unsure what to do with all of his energy. He felt they were on the verge of a stronger relationship.
Tolrek’s misunderstanding about Darion causes him some frustration in Vaironian Tides, Chapter 24. Here’s an excerpt:
“I feel like a fool,” Tolrek admitted to his sister. He drove around the city, still trying to get the image of Darion and the pregnant woman out of his mind. Needing to talk to someone, he’d called Sheyla, trying to manage his pain. “I didn’t even know he was seeing someone. You’d think there would be news of it somewhere. How was he able to keep things quiet?”
Izdahl and Armando become frustrated with each other, in The Architect’s Guardian, Chapter 24. Here’s a portion:
“If you’re going to be angry with me all night, I’ll sleep in another room. I can’t be next to you and not at least hold you.” Izdahl hesitated. He was unsure if he should say the next words on his mind. However, after a few moments of indecision, he decided to be straightforward. “We haven’t exactly been all that intimate lately. Don’t eliminate the little bit of intimacy we do have.”
Kouta reaches out to Ryuu again. However, he remains unsure how far he wants to go in Balance, Chapter 23. Here’s a bit:
After cleaning up the mess, they made sure that the pets were properly fed. When the immediate reason for Ryuu’s return was out of the way, Kouta shifted nervously from leg to leg. He didn’t know what to say. He went to the living room and settled on the couch. Ryuu followed, sitting across from him in an armchair. Kouta tapped a nervous rhythm on the arm of the couch, trying to get his thoughts together.
Darion reacts to seeing Tolrek again, in Vaironian Tides, Chapter 23. Here’s an excerpt:
The rawness in his voice surprised him. He was thankful for the level of restriction on the top floor. Sensitive matters were often discussed in the various conference rooms. As a result, few were permitted to be in the area, unless expressly authorized. During a time like this, when he was struggling so acutely with his feelings, he didn’t want others to witness it.
Izdahl and Armando adjust to life after Armando’s coma in The Architect’s Guardian, Chapter 23. Here’s a peek:
Izdahl massaged his temples, releasing his breath slowly to let out stress. His assistant had just alerted him that Lorne Nieri, the husband of Avila, was waiting for him. He’d known that Lorne would want to have a discussion about the Resonance Ceremony. He was, however, not eager to talk at this particular time. There was simply too much happening in his life. The upcoming introductions with Matero and Avila, his two Shield matches, would happen soon. In the mean time, his responsibilities at work were increasing. He continued to wonder if Armando had fully recovered. And he was still sexually frustrated.
Kouta and Ryuu have a brief encounter, which is a precursor to more, in Balance, Chapter 22. Here’s a portion:
They ordered their food, having a quiet conversation about the weather, work, about everything but the most important issue. Often, Kouta locked eyes with Ryuu and so much raced through his mind. There were many things he wanted to say. He sensed Ryuu was feeling the same. This wasn’t the time or place. Yet that didn’t matter to Kouta. Right now, despite his confusion about our situation, being in Ryuu’s presence was enough.
Darion and Tolrek meet face-to-face after months have passed with them apart in Vaironian Tides, Chapter 22. Here is an excerpt:
The words echoed in Tolrek’s head. He hadn’t heard that Darion was seeing anyone. He searched his mind to see if he remembered anything about that. Darion looked at him out of the corner of his eye. He gave the rebel a secretive smile, enjoying his bit of cruelty.
Izdahl continues to be concerned about Armando’s health in The Architect’s Guardian, Chapter 22. Here’s a bit:
Armando’s doctors still believed that it was best for him to remain at Meino’s central hospital. Izdahl’s reservations about this lingered. He’d repeatedly heard the reasons behind the decision. However, that didn’t mean he had to believe them and he consistently challenged them. Kiana shared similar concerns, as she now understood Izdahl’s worries. While she’d known that Syrik disliked Dagmar, Izdahl had only recently told her his misgivings. He and Kiana were in the middle of discussing more about the extent of his anxieties, when the cause of them came to visit Armando.
Kouta’s temper causes him to do something he regrets in Balance, Chapter 21. Here’s a portion:
As much as Kouta was looking forward to seeing Ryuu, he ended up being in a foul mood when he went to his lover. He had argued with Yosuke, since he’d been three weeks late in providing lyrics for several songs. His focus hadn’t been the same as usual and Yosuke had strongly reprimanded him. Kouta knew he’d been preoccupied over Ryuu’s situation with Alexis. However, he didn’t want to explain that to Yosuke. As his manager had demanded answers, Kouta had opted stubbornly to keep quiet. Unused to that amount of belligerence from Kouta, Yosuke had speculated that there was an issue involving Ryuu. After over a decade of managing Kouta, Yosuke could figure out what circumstances affected him the most. He’d told Kouta that he should stop having a private life if it was so difficult to control. Livid over the comment, Kouta had left Yosuke’s office, slamming his door.
