Dee shook his head, “ This is unbelievable. You really think that entire kiss was merely posing?!”

Ryo shifted his weight taking on the posture of defiance, “ What? You trying to tell me it wasn’t? In case you forgot, this was your idea.”

Dee swung his legs around until they were off the bed. Then looking up through narrowed eyes he asked, “ It was my idea, but really, you think all that was just for some picture?”

“ You brought me back here. You told me to have me camera ready,” Ryo leaned forward clenching his jaw before he spoke, “ You ended the kiss so I could take ‘the best picture possible’. Now you want to bitch and moan because I didn’t succumb to your advances?!”

“ Oh, you succumbed!” Dee reached forward and boldly cupped Ryo’s erection.

Ryo jerked back with a cry, “ You bastard! Don’t touch me!” his dark brown eyes were almost black now in his anger, “ Is that what this is all about?! Dammit Dee if you were that hard up you should have picked up some random man at a bar!” Ryo turned and started to walk from the room, but not before he looked over his shoulder and said, “ According to you, you’re good at that.”

Ryo had made his way back to the front of the apartment and was reaching for the door when the rooms light was turned on. The sudden glare made Ryo start and shut his eyes. It was with his eyes closed that he heard Dee’s whisper.

“ Listen I am sorry I touched you that way,” Dee ran his fingers through his hair, “ and this isn’t about a quick fuck.”

Ryo turned with his brows furrowed, “ It’s not? You have been doing nothing, but pawing me ever since I asked you to be my model!”

“ That’s not fair,” Dee had pulled his eyebrows together as well, “ I told you I thought you were attractive. You know how I feel about you.”

Ryo shook his head, “ No, no I don’t. How could I? You find me attractive. So what! I am sure you found your one night stands attractive too!”

“ My god Ryo are you really that dense?!” Dee raised his arms in frustration, “ You didn’t find it odd that you picture was taken the way it was?”

Ryo was dumbfounded, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing, “ You told me to trust you!” slowly the volume began to rise, “ How can you tell me that you want some one who is true when you are willing to be a sneaky slime ball yourself?!”

“ I didn’t have sex in mind when I took you to my room Ryo,” Dee’s volume was slowly matching the other man’s, “ All I asked was if you felt something or was that kiss really all about the photo for you?! It’s not a hard question!”

“ Does it matter what I felt? Like I said before, you ended it. If you thought we were having a moment then why stop?” Ryo walked toward the kitchen and began going through Dee’s cupboard, “ God you are confusing the hell out of me,” Ryo found the glasses and after filling it with cool tap water turned back to Dee, “ What do you want from me? It was a nice kiss, but then again I haven’t been kissed in years...”

Dee watched Ryo gulp down the water in disbelief. How could he say that to him? Dee opened his mouth to speak then shut it, he needed to pick his words carefully.

“ So whatcha saying is,” Dee narrowed his eyes, “ that an orangutan could have kissed you and it would have been bliss?”

Ryo sat the glass down and sighed, “ Don’t be stupid.”

“ Don’t be rude.”

Ryo shook his head, as far as he was concerned this conversation was over. He walked toward the front door and was going to leave when Dee touched his arm. Ryo turned and looking at Dee let out a shrug.

“ What else can I say Dee? Look, after two days I will have all the pictures I need for this class,” Ryo felt Dee’s grip tighten on his arm.

“ So what? You never intended to consider a relationship with me?” Dee released Ryo’s arm, aware that if he didn’t he may hurt the man in his anger.

“ Dee!” Ryo turned fully, exacerbated, “ Dee, I had no idea you wanted that until tonight! All you’ve ever done was flirt! I can’t read your mind!”

Dee glared, fighting the urge to shake sense into the man, “ You were just going to play along to draw out all the feelings you needed? You were just using my trust in you to take a good picture!?”

Ryo was listening to Dee’s words, but truly didn’t want to fight anymore. He really didn’t think there was anything else to say. Ryo knew he was hurting Dee, he could see it in his eyes, but he didn’t want to address his own feelings right now. Ryo was okay with admitting that he found Dee handsome and that Dee could ignite desire within him. However, whenever Ryo started to think about how much he wanted Dee’s advances to mean more he found that he would become slightly scared at the idea. When Dee made it clear what he truly wanted Ryo felt his fight or flight mechanism kick in. For what ever reason Ryo felt like self preservation was in order and even now he didn’t want to examine what that was supposed to mean. He did know that he had to end this conversation and he knew exactly how he would do it.

Dee was still yelling, though Ryo had long ago tuned him out. Dee’s emerald eyes were flashing brilliantly, the green hard at the edges, his pupils merely pinpoints as his anger and disappointment overtook him. A red flush had washed over his olive tan skin as his body heat rose and his jaw muscles clenched every time he stopped talking. Dee was gorgeous in his rage, the personification of beauty.

“ Dammit Ryo are you even listening to me?!” Dee cried out in frustration. He paused waiting for Ryo’s reaction and the response the blonde made caused his body to suddenly began to shake as blind fury tried to take control. He held strong clenching his teeth so hard that the action began to hurt his gums. He fingernails dug into his palms as his fist became tighter. Through gritted teeth Dee commanded, “ Don’t. You. Dare.”

Ryo frowned behind the lens of his camera and with a whispered ‘sorry’, he snapped the portrait. When Ryo lowered the camera Dee looked painfully anguished.

Dee looked down and with a small voice whispered, “ Go.”

Ryo didn’t try to explain, he just turned and left the apartment.

Rose walked over to the caulk board and using the soft pads clipped one of the pictures up for the class to see. The portrait was of a middle aged woman, the only sign giving away her age was the age of her young teenaged son who was also in the picture with her. Though the boy was in the background and therefore a blur it was still clear what action was taking place. The young blonde had possession of a soccer ball and was making his way toward the goal. The beautiful middle aged woman, who was in foreground and therefore visible, was screaming her support her light brunette hair caught in the breeze.

Rose allowed the class time to take in the photo before speaking, “ I am not sure if my words were not heard or not understood, but this is a wonderful alternative to the word ‘Passion’. Obviously this woman is very passionate about her son to the point that she even wishes the best outcome for him regarding this game. Her passion is unbridled and the only thing that matters is the love and pride she holds for her son. This is a fantastic portrait,” Rose smiled down at Ms. Spacey, the woman who had taken the picture.

Rose averted his attentions back to the class and continued, “ I know what you are all thinking. You all want to know what is wrong with conveying the more common use of the word. The answer is that there is nothing wrong with it. Sex and sexuality is a valid description of the word therefore it can be viewed as such. Though none of you did anything downright lewd or offensive, none of you got it quite right either. Well, except one of you,” at this he turned and clipped the other picture up.

Ryo was stunned to see it was his rendition of Dee. He was for sure that turning in a picture of a topless man on a bed would fall under “obvious” meanings of the word.

Rose sat on the edge of the desk his hands crossed casually at the wrist on his lap, “ I am certain some of you are confused. I will explain myself. This is the truest meaning of passion when used in an intimate context. This man isn’t just...” Rose dropped his gazed to find the right word, but when the same one kept shouting out to him he sighed and pushing his glasses higher on his nose, decided to use it, “ horny,” he watched as some women blushed at hearing that word come from his lips, “ This man’s feeling are much deeper than the physical. Indeed, when you feel passionate about someone it will never be overshadowed by primal lust. It is evident by this photograph that this man is surrendering his entire soul to the one he is gazing upon and-“

Ryo stood abruptly then and without a word left the room with his head down. Rose followed his star pupil with his eyes and stared at the door long after it had closed. A feeling of sadness washed over him briefly and after a slight nod he turned his attentions back to the class. He would have to speak with his student later.

Ryo looked up with a nod, “ Sure.”

Rose sat without taking off his overcoat and placing his hands on top of the table he pushed Ryo’s portrait to him, “ You left this in the classroom.”

Ryo glanced at it, but didn’t touch it, “ Thank you.”

Rose crossed his arms on the light wood grain and leaning forward asked, “ Who is this man looking at?”

Ryo looked up at his Professor with a raised brow.

Rose nodded, “ I thought as much,” he smiled gently when he saw Ryo’s frown, “ I’m not judging you.”

“ I know,” Ryo bent down and after some time pulled out another portrait and placing it over ‘Passion’ looked at his Professor.

Rose looked down at the portrait and raised his brows in surprised, “ ‘Anger’. So soon?”

“ It was the same night. Last night,” Ryo shook his head slowly closing his eyes, “ The same night I photographed ‘Passion’.”

“ Oh my.”

“ Yeah.”

Rose frowned some, “ Why are you running from him? What he wants to give you?”

Ryo shrugged, “ I really don’t think I am.”

Rose lifted his head to meet Ryo’s gaze. Rose sighed, “ Of course you are. This man’s emotion is clear in your portrait for ‘Passion’, I don’t see how you could have missed it. ,” he looked down seeing the edge of ‘Anger’ nodded as if fully understanding for the first time, “ or perhaps you didn’t miss them at all,” he touched the picture, “ for if this was taken in the same day it is clear to me that you saw and understood his emotions perfectly,” Rose locked eyes with Ryo, “ so you provoked a fight and ran.”

Rose gave a soft chuckle at Ryo’s stunned reaction then he reached for Ryo’s portfolio that was atop the table. He thumbed through it gracefully looking for the first pictured he had seen of Ryo’s stunning model, “ You can track the progress of your relationship through your portraits of this man.”

Ryo looked at his Professor and upon seeing that the man had his attentions on the pictures, looked down at them as well.

Rose touched the photograph, the one taken at that very table, “ Here your relationship starts. A passing interest, an acknowledgment of his beauty,” he turned the page and ‘Sorrow’ was shown, “ Vulnerability. A trust has formed between the two of you and he his willing to show you part of his true self,” Rose reached under and pulled ‘Passion’ out from under the portfolio, “Here his true intentions are shown. They are so genuine, his...” Rose paused not sure if he should go on, but the more he looked at the photograph the more he knew he was right, “ his love for you has bloomed,” then he pulled ‘Anger’ back to the top, “ and lastly rejection.”

“ I didn’t reject him,” Ryo was frowning again, “ He started the fight. He was angry. That’s all.”

“ Oh yes, at first glance anyone would say this man is furious. However, take a close look at his eyes. Really study the picture, truthfully Mr. Maclean,” Rose’s gaze bore into Ryo’s, “ you could have turned this in as ‘Sorrow’.”

Ryo’s eyes widened at those words and the reality of how deeply it hurt to hear them.

“ I don’t know why the air would change so suddenly to produce this,” Rose tapped the picture taken in the middle of Dee’s rage, “ but I think you should try to make things right. Why, oh why would you throw this away?” Rose spread his palm over ‘Passion’, “Do you know what I would give to have someone look at me like this?” Rose’s eyes were pleading and sad. He stood slowly and with a small smile and a nod goodbye turned and left the coffee house.

Ryo looked after him for a minute before taking his pictures and laying them all out in order. He looked over the group and went over his Professor’s words again and again. At the end of it all Ryo had made up his mind.

He needed to see Dee and he needed to see him now.