Brother's Love

(Authors Note: I have not read all of the manga, but I have seen all the anime and read some of the manga. If there are any disruptions, I'm sorry...My bad! Also, I do not lay any sort of claim on the Gravitation Cast... )

The day was a lot like any other that had come around. The sun was out, there was a light breeze, the streets were only slightly crowded and...Yuki Eiri was inside, typing away at his laptop. Like he did most of the time, he chose not to go outside. He wasn't impressed with the outside world and simply decided to get to work on his newest novel, which was due in less than eight weeks. He had a lot of touching up to do.

Pinched in his back teeth was the filter of the cigarette he had been smoking for the last few minutes, and the end of it was collecting amber hued ashes. Every now and then, he would exhale the smoke and take another long draw-- he was busy, lost in this nicotine-enhanced writing session.

Part of his mind was expecting Shuichi to burst in at any moment, as the younger male had a habit of doing. Eiri's eyes narrowed at the thought. He would have to deal with the boy at least three or four times today, probably more, just like normal. It seemed he was getting harder and harder to wave off, and no matter how many times he repeated himself about "being too busy to to pay attention to a damn brat," Shuichi refused to listen to anything he said. He was like a beaten dog that just kept coming back for more. More, that Yuki would not give. He was far too busy with much more important things.

And cue, the rustling noise came from the next room, and a loud thud signified that Shuichi had probably thrown himself against the door to get it open in a hurry. Eiri didn't even bother looking at him. His countenance displayed his increase in annoyance, and he focused stubbornly on the illuminated screen in front of him. His train of thought had been interrupted, and so he held down the backspace key to get rid of a sentence that he couldn't remember why he had written. Shuichi was just a huge distraction. Eiri was a secluded person and worked better when he was alone. Knowing that Shuichi was in the room was irritating in itself.

"Yuuuukkkkiiiiiiii!" The boys voice stung into Eiri's ears, and he nearly cringed at the sound of it. His golden eyes sharpened as if shooting visual daggers at the screen in front of him. Shindou, refusing to be ignored, peeked around at Eiri, placing his head near directly in Eiri's visual path. "Yuuuukiiiii! My lyrics! I finished them!"

Eiri's eyes briefly met Shindou's with a sort of sarcastic glow. The boy was so excited about something that probably wasn't even any good. Shuichi's face was glowing with the pride that only came from a finished project, and that was saying something, knowing what a procrastinator Shuichi Shindou happened to be. In a brief instance, the happiness seemed to drain out of Shuichi's face as he noticed how indifferent Eiri seemed to be. Even after hearing about such an accomplishment, he had no interest in what was being said.

Before Eiri knew what was happening, a sheet of wrinkled paper was shoved in his face. The chicken-scratch handwriting was obviously Shindou's, and so apparently, these were his fantastic lyrics. Eiri took a mere moment to look them over, and his nose wrinkled in dislike. He couldn't believe that this boy was actually famous given the bullshit that he was writing. He looked away, trying to see beyond and too the flat screen of the laptop, which wasn't necessarily working out.

"Well? What do you think, Yuki? What do you think?" The anticipation was in his voice, and he was pretty much begging for feedback. Eiri narrowed his eyes once more and looked up to Shindou, momentarily surrendering to the fact that he couldn't write with Shindou's big fat head in the way.

"They suck." That was all Eiri had said in response. Shuichi seemed to coil up and away from the Romance Novelist in shame. It wasn't the first time Yuki had said something so cruel about his writing. He had become slightly accustomed to Eiri's behavior and learned that he was just a cold person. It took a lot of getting used to. Still, the words still hurt. Eiri was important to Shindou, and naturally then, so was his opinion. The only problem was, he never seemed to know what Eiri really thought. Shuichi's eyes stung with tiny remnants of tears, that he refused to let show themselves.

"You really think they're that bad?" The boy's voice was slightly wavering in his sudden sweep of depression, as he had pulled away and was now looking at Eiri from a bit of a distance now, having felt shunned by him.

He could hear the disappointment in Shindou's voice, and he knew that were he to look at him, evidence of the tears would be there. Something about Shindou had a tendency to sting a spot in Eiri he tried his best to hide from others, and he couldn't stand it. Shindou stimulated the little bit of conscience Eiri had.

"Maybe it's just me, brat." He didn't know what to say, really. He just didn't want Shindou to turn all whiny, like he did a lot of the time. Eiri could say one little thing and Shindou would become all tender and hurt. It was annoying as hell.

"So do you think people would like them? I worked hard!"

Eiri was laughing on the inside. Shindou worked hard on such a piece of crap? That was funny! So he spent valued time stewing over a piece of shit. Shuichi was entirely over-confident.

He must have muttered a quiet 'yes' because Shuichi was simply glowing. Eiri looked away and pressed a hand to the side of Shindou's head, pushing him out of the way of the computer screen in front of him. He had pushed Shindou away so many times in so many different situations and ways, it was surprising the boy didn't simply shy away out of depression or loss of hope. Even though he was annoying, there was one thing Eiri could admire inwardly-- his persistence. His inability to quit.

Receiving no answer, Shuichi assumed the worst. He was receiving another rejection from Eiri Yuki, famous novelist.

"You're so meaaaannnnn Yuki!"

And his whining was driving Yuki crazy.

"Quiet, brat."

"Why are you so meeeaaaan?"

Oh great. It was going to be one of those times when Shuichi wasn't going to shut up until Eiri gave him an answer. He kept his eyes on the electronic screen.

"Because you're annoying as hell."

This remark gave Shuichi pause. He was used to being called annoying, but that didn't mean he had gotten used to it. Shuichi was definitely the sensitive type, and Yuki had no doubt figured out and often used them to make fun of him, or take advantage of him. It seemed Yuki Eiri, this clever man, had figured out how to take Shuichi's flaws and even the good things about him and use them for himself. Shuichi frowned slightly. He had news for Yuki, but he just seemed too aggitated to even think about listening. He had to get it out soon though, otherwise he would be distracted by the fact that he hadn't asked until he actually did.

"Yu-...Yuki?" His voice was unsure and timid as he looked at Yuki, slowly edging closer. Eiri, as Shindou had expected, did not turn to look at him. He was attached to his laptop, like he became a lot of the time. No wonder why he was so secluded. "Yuki, will you come to my show tomorrow?"

Eiri looked away from the screen for a brief moment and arched an eyebrow at Shuichi. He couldn't believe that the boy didn't already know the answer. Eiri hated going places, and he certainly wasn't going to go to some damn concert.

"Come on, Yuuuuki! It'll be fun!"

Yeah, if your idea of fun is standing for an hour listening to an idiot recite highly defective poetry. He didn't plan on going. Nope, not gonna happen.

"Go ask someone who cares, damn brat."