Tohma let out a weary sigh then rubbed his eyes in an effort to try and keep himself awake. It had been a long drive so far, and it wouldn't be over for a few more hours, or not until he reached the hotel. The last thought was starting to become rather appealing. He was tired and so was his companion.

Then, for a brief moment, he entertained driving all the way back to Tokyo. They were getting close to home, and it would be nice to sleep in their bed rather than stay at a hotel. The past week had been hard on both of them, and Tohma knew of nothing better than relaxing at home. After a quick glance at his slumbering passenger, he immediately dismissed the idea. They were both tired and would benefit greatly from getting a good night's rest before they returned home than if he tried to risk it. While he was a businessman and knew risks were necessary in many occasions, there were also some things that weren't best left to chance. His companion wasn't a thing per se, but he still wasn't someone Tohma wanted to lose. He had become just as precious to Tohma as Eiri was, and there wasn't anything anyone could do to change what had happened.

As he drove, Tohma's mind wandered a little, but not so much as to distract him. He simply wanted to reflect on everything that had been and on the things that could soon be. There were times driving afforded him that one simple luxury.

His life had changed in many ways, and it was because of his partner. The younger man gave things an added depth and a brightness as well. Tohma knew it had to do with enthusiasm and passion. They'd always been present in everything his partner did. It had been because of those qualities he had decided to keep the younger man signed on to NG.

A soft smile touched his lips. Truth be told, it hadn't been his idea to keep the vocalist around, not at first. His concern and his desire to protect Eiri had prevented him from seeing such endearments for what they truly were. Now that he had, he was grateful to Sakano for fighting for the youth to come home and back to NG.

Next to him, Shuichi started to wake some, a yawn escaping the vocalist in the process. Tohma reached over and caressed the younger man's cheek, hoping his lover would fall back to sleep from the contact. The trip had been an exhausting one for both of them, and Tohma wanted nothing more than to forget about it, at least for a few more hours. Eventually, he'd find a way to work the last few days' to his advantage, but he didn't really want to put the effort into such activities at the moment.

"Are we almost to Tokyo yet?"

"No," Tohma replied, keeping the contact between himself and Shuichi going. "Go back to sleep."

"Mmmkay."

Shuichi settled into the seat once more, his eyes drifting close, and Tohma continued to drive. Yes. The vocalist was precious to him, and he'd find somewhere to stop for the night. It didn't matter where they slept, as long as he could hold the younger man in his arms at night. To Tohma, that was paradise.