On the Street of Dreams

I Want Us To Be A Family Series

Written by: chochowilliams

Disclaimer: I do not own Gravitation or the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Summary: What was supposed to be a one-night stand, changes their lives forever.

Warning: AU, Shouta, Angst, Drama, Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Family, Fantasy, M-Preg, Language, M/M, Hentai, OCs, OOC, Hermaphrodites (referred to as "Neutrals")

Pairings: Shuichi/Eiri, Shuichi/Taki, Shuichi/OMC, Ryuichi/Tatsuha, one-sided Eiri/Ayaka

Inserts: "Street of Dreams" by Rainbow, "Rage Beat" by Bad Luck

A/N: Originally, there were 26 chapters, including the prologue and the epilogue, but this story has since been edited and condensed into 10 chapters. The sequel is called, Still Raining. Check the A/N at the end for an additional note. Enjoy!

oOo

And you were standing by my side

I've seen your face before tonight

Maybe I just see what I want it to be

I know it's a mystery to me

Do you remember me

On the street of dreams

Running through my memory

On the street of dreams

There you stood a distant memory

So good like we never parted

Said to myself I knew you'd set me free

And here we are right back where we started

Something's come over me

And I don't know what to feel

Maybe this fantasy is real

Now I know I see what I want it to be

But it's still a mystery

-"Street of Dreams" by Rainbow

oOo

Chapter 1: One Night with the Man with the Angelic Face

Western Bar - Kyoto, Japan

Doubled over the sink, his hands gripping the stained porcelain so tightly his knuckles were white, staring at his pale reflection in the bathroom mirror, stood Shuichi Shindou; unseeing amethyst eyes stared back. A trembling hand released its death grip on the sink to press against his belly that was churning something fierce. When he started to feel as if he was slowly being boiled alive from the inside out and saliva and bile started to fill his mouth like leaky water, Shuichi dropped his head down and breathed in deeply through his nose and exhaled slowly through his mouth. In and out. In and out. In and-

"Oh, God," he moaned.

The teenager threw a hand over his mouth and raced into the nearest stall. Falling to his knees, he emptied his stomach of everything he ate that day. When he was left dry heaving, Shuichi spit into the toilet and flushed it. Shaking, he stood up and walked unsteadily back to the sink. Turning on the faucet, he splashed water onto his face and rinsed his mouth out.

He was patting his face dry when the door to the bathroom opened.

"Hey, Shuichi, almost done?"

Shuichi glanced over his shoulder at his best friend. Even though Hiro was the same age as Shuichi, sixteen years old, and had been playing the guitar for only four or five years, he was already in the same league as Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughan and so many other extraordinary musicians, or so Shuichi thought. Hiro wailed and made his guitar sing like no other person Shuichi ever heard. Hiro could do things with his guitar that professional rock stars could only dream of. Add his genius book smarts and his gorgeous good looks into the mix and Hiroshi Nakano was the most sought after man in Kyoto.

Hiro's long red hair was tied back at the nape of his neck. With a black and white bandana was tied around his head, he had chosen to wear a pair of black leather pants, black boots and a tight black sleeveless shirt. A white leather belt with silver studs cinched his waist and a matching cuff was snapped around his wrist.

"Yeah," Shuichi said as he crumbled the paper towel and tossed it into the garbage can.

Hiro studied him closely.

Shuichi's spiky pink hair was beginning to show its black roots. A pink and white bandana was tied around his forehead. Under a hot pink leather trail duster, he was wearing tight white leather pants and a plain white T-shirt. A white belt cinched his narrow waist and white boots peeked out from the hem of his pants legs. Behind him on the windowsill was a cowboy hat his older half brother bought for him during his last trip to the US.

Shuichi's brother was also a singer. In fact, his brother was none other than Ryuichi Sakuma lead singer of Nittle Grasper, which was one of the country's hottest JPOP/JROCK bands. Nittle Grasper had decided to take advantage of their steadily rising fame outside of Japan and had embarked on a long months long tour.

But as much as Shuichi loved, admired and respected his brother, there was one aspect of the man Shuichi had never been able to accept and that was the fact that he never saw his brother except for on television.

"Hey," Hiro called out gently. "You alright?"

"Yeah," Shuichi told him firmly. He walked to the ledge under the window and reached inside his backpack.

"Shuichi," Hiro sighed as he watched his friend. He knew Shuichi better than Shuichi knew himself and could always tell when there was something bothering him. Right now, there was something weighing heavily on the young singer's mind.

Shuichi ignored his friend and concentrated on reapplying his makeup.

It was clear that Hiro was worried about him, but he didn't have to be. Shuichi really was fine; he hadn't been lying. It was just a little pre-performance jitters is all, which was nothing unusual. The same thing happened before every performance. Though, he had to admit, it seemed a little worse this time in comparison, but that could be chalked up to the higher stakes that surrounded this particular performance. Tonight's gig was no ordinary gig. It was, in fact, a contest. Bad Luck was up against two other bands and the winner got one-hundred-thousand yen. What they do with that money!

And, also, he missed Ryuichi. His brother acted as a buffer between him and the rest of their family, including their parents, but with Ryuichi out of the country, life for Shuichi was…difficult, to say the least.

Their younger sister, Maiko, was a brain and tended to spend most of her free time at her zillion and one after school activities. Lately, she has been spending a lot of time with some guy she met on her last school trip.

Mom was trying desperately to keep her family together-at least, that was what Ryuichi claimed. "She's trying her best," he would say. Shuichi would always retort back, "She needs to try harder." For years, their mother went around acting as if nothing was wrong. In fact, she still did.

Then there was his father.

Shuichi told everyone that it didn't bother him that his father hated the ground he walked on and for the most part, it was true, because he had Ryuichi. His brother took care of him. Ryuichi did what his father did, could or would not. Ryuichi was the one who took him to games, played catch with him, and took him to the temple to pray. Ryuichi was the one who answered all his questions and told him what he was. Ryuichi was the only stable thing in Shuichi's life. Ryuichi never lied to him; he told him the god's honest truth, even if it hurt. When his brother was around all was right with the world, but when he was gone, the silence came crashing down and it killed bits of Shuichi every time. Ryuichi was more of a father than his father had ever been.

It was no secret that Shuichi hated his father with a passion. Hate was a strong word and should not be used lightly, but it was the only word that came close to the feelings that the man conjured up in Shuichi whenever Shuichi thought about the man.

When Maiko was born, their father was so overjoyed. He had a child! A perfectly, healthy, normal baby girl. He glowed, smiled, and laughed. Mr. Shindou was so glad to be blessed finally with a child! He showed Maiko off to everyone; everyone coddled her and praised him and his wife. It was if Shuichi did not even exist. He was nothing but a freak, a mutation of nature that just happened to live in the Shindou household. Ryuichi was not even that man's son, but he thought of Ryuichi more his son than his actual flesh and blood son, even though he did not approve of his stepson's career choice. When Ryuichi was around, Mr. Shindou showed even less affection to Shuichi, if that was even possible.

The pressure and stress of his very existence was starting to get to Shuichi. He had to find a way to make things better, find a way to escape from reality and the suicidal thoughts that continually plagued him. That was where music came in.

At a very young age, Shuichi taught himself how to play the piano from watching Tohma when he, Ryuichi and Noriko practiced. Then when he met Hiro, the two of them started jamming together, nothing serious, just a way to pass the time, but it helped. Shuichi could lose himself in the music the two of them made together. Then when they were introduced to Suguru one day when he came with Tohma to practice, the three of them jammed and the rest was history. What was done at first in fun became serious and Shuichi could lose himself even more into it. Bad Luck quickly became his life. Writing songs, helping Suguru with the music arrangements, helping Hiro find new gigs, new bars and clubs to play at, new contests they could enter to get their names out there.

Recently, though, it hasn't been enough. The crowds, the lights, the music...it was not the same. It became like medicine that did not work anymore because the body had built up a tolerance against it. He needed to find something else to help him escape reality.

And he did, in the form of Kizou.

The guy had walked into the bathroom after one of Bad Luck's shows the year prior at some club with whom he would later learn was his bodyguard, Yutoshi. While Yutoshi looked all "badass" in black leather pants, biker boots and jacket, tight black shirt and dark wraparound shades, Kizou looked as if he had just stepped out of a board meeting.

"You look like you could use some cheering up," was what Kizou had told him with a toothy grin. He'd reached into his suit jacket and pulled out an orange prescription bottle that was half-filled with little round white pills. "This one's on the house," he'd said as he handed them to him.

Yutoshi had been the one to answer when Shuichi asked what the pills were, "Something to turn your frown upside down," all the while chuckling as if he were the only one in on some joke.

Before leaving, Kizou had handed him a business card and told him to call if he needed anything, anything at all.

At first, Shuichi had been reluctant to take the pills. He had no idea what they were or what they would do. And he had no idea who that guy was that had given them to him. His first impulse had been to throw them into the nearest trashcan, but for some reason they ended up in his backpack instead where he forgot about them. That was until his father once again refused to come once again to one of his shows.

"Singing is not a job. It is not a career. You cannot pay the bills by singing and prancing around on stage like a whore. You cannot support a wife and children," was what his father would always say when Shuichi asked him to come to his show.

Shuichi had been tempted to tell the staunch ass wipe that he did not tend to ever have a wife and that he would rather "prance around on stage like a whore" than dress in a five-piece suit and work nine hour days in some office building where the AC was on so high it felt like you standing naked in a blizzard for nothing but pocket change. However, he'd kept his tongue and instead, he tried begging the man. Of course, it didn't work. It never did.

He'd been so upset, he'd raced crying up to his bedroom and started tossing things into an overnight bag, intending to spend the weekend at his brother's place.

Then his bag had fallen over. When he went to pick it, something fell out and rolled under his bed. What he'd discovered after crawling under the bed after it was the orange prescription pill bottle that he'd been given by Kizou all those weeks ago. Remembering these pills were supposed turn his frown upside down, he popped the cap and swallowed a handful of the small, round white pills. Instantly, it did not matter anymore what his father thought.

"Hey, guys, Mad Doggs are on their last song," said a young voice from behind them, snapping Shuichi back to reality. "Ready?"

"Hey, Suguru," Hiro greeted his friend distracted.

Shuichi glanced at his young keyboard player's reflection in the mirror as he finished applying his eyeliner. Capping the stick, he tossed it into his makeup bag and then zipping the small bag, tossed it into his backpack. Shouldering his bag, he reached besides him and popped his hat on his head. Turning around, he studied Suguru. "Looking good, Sug."

"Ya think so?" Suguru turned around, his hands out from his body. He was wearing a pair of Shuichi's white leather pants and his own white cotton turtleneck under a black leather vest that used to belong to his cousin.

"Sexy," Shuichi confirmed. "If ya were a few years older, I'd do ya," he said with a sly blink

Suguru blushed.

Chuckling, Shuichi patted the kid on the shoulder as he passed him. "You're bound to break a few hearts, Suguru."

The fourteen-year-old blushed deeper.

Hiro watched his best friend silently. Shuichi was putting on a brave front, acting as if nothing was wrong, but Hiro was not stupid or easily distracted. "Shuichi," he called.

"I'm going to go warm up," the singer said as he felt the bathroom.

Hiro sighed heavily.

Suguru stared at the vanishing singer than at a dejected Hiro. "What's wrong?"

Shaking his head, Hiro said truthfully, "I wish I knew."

oOo

Shuichi strode with long strides down the back gloomy hall to the back door. Pushing the heavy door open, he stepped out into the garbage-strewn alleyway. Slipping his bag off his shoulder, he reached inside, riffling among all the crap until he found the bottle of pills. Popping off the lid, he shook several into his hand and swallowed them dry.

Closing his eyes, Shuichi leaned his head against the side of the building. Immediately, he felt the tension he hadn't realized was there slide away. The fine trembling along his body stilled. Opening his eyes, he stared at the graffiti strewn building inches from his face with a growing smile.

Taking a deep breath, he pushed away from the wall, shouldered his bag and went back inside the bar. A chuckle was bubbling to life in his throat and he had a skip in his step. He suddenly felt as if he could do anything.

"Bad Luck you're on," came the call from near the stage.

Shuichi met his band mates at the door to the bathroom, grinning and giggling. "Let's do this, guys!"

"Yeah," Suguru echoed. "Let's win this battle."

Hiro smiled halfheartedly and followed his friends onto the stage. He studied his friend as the man walked up the microphone. Hiro picked up his guitar, waiting for his cue, wondering what had happened to change his friend in such a short period.

Shuichi smiled out at the cheering crowd. "Good evening! We're Bad Luck and we're going to rock you!"

The crowd cheered, clapped and whistled in response.

Grinning at his friends, Shuichi then turned back to the crowd. This was what it was all about. This was what he loved. Yes, he could do this. He would show them all. He would win.

oOo

It won't stop anywhere

ignore the unfulfilled emotions and get over them

In the trembling world of shyness

aim for the escape route

towards the place I'll arrive at

I want New World!

Shuichi's voice faded and the song ended to thunderous applause. He grinned and laughed as he stepped away from the microphone. Hiro and Suguru joined him at the front of the stage. Holding hands, the trio bowed. The audience jumped to their feet, whistling and clapping. The boys bowed again, feeling elated. They exchanged big grins.

The MC jumped onto the stage with a microphone in his hand. Cain Asakura also ran the Western Bar, which was where the battle was taking place. They sponsored it every year. It was getting so big they were talking about moving it next year.

The Western Bar was just that, an imitation of any bar you would find on any street corner in the States. It was dark, gloomy, smelled of blood, piss, smoke and way too much testosterone. At the back of the rather large alcohol establishment-by the door that led to the back where the bathrooms, storage closets and the manager's office were-was supposed to be where the pool tables and dartboards were, but tonight it was where the makeshift stage had been set up. Standing on the stage looking out over the patrons, the bar was located along the right-hand wall. Normally the bar could hold about hundred-fifty people, but as Shuichi looked at the whooping crowd, it seemed like they had packed in twice as much.

"Let's hear it one more time for Bad Luck!"

If possible, the cheering grew louder. As he and his friends and band mates left the stage, Shuichi caught the man's wince. The singer chuckled. Riptyde and Mad Doggs were already waiting backstage when Shuichi and the others trooped back there to await the results.

Riptyde was a quartet rock band with a drummer, guitar player, bassist and lead vocalist. Their rock ballad, "Mega Heart", had been beautifully written. The musical arrangement had been a little off, but otherwise fairly well orchestrated. The lead singer had a raspy voice but his range was amazing. It was said both of his parents were formally trained opera singers. The band's only fault was that they were still a fairly new band and had yet to establish themselves, but it was clear they had a very bright future ahead of them.

Mad Doggs were similar in style and sound to Bad Luck, but nowhere as good. The trio, like Riptyde, was new onto the scene. Their song, "Wonderland", was written by the keyboardist's father who taught poetry at a local University. The musical arrangement could use some fine-tuning and the lead singer was in desperate need of vocal lessons or should be fired all together. Not only had did he not know how to sing properly, but had been half a beat off the entire song. The man had also hogged the spotlight for himself. The band was going nowhere fast.

"Alright! Who will it be? Who will be the winners of the tenth annual Battle of the Bands? Will it be newcomers' Riptyde?"

The audience cheered politely. There were a few whistles and shouts.

"Or Mad Doggs?"

There was only polite applause this time.

"Or the reigning champions, Bad Luck," Mr. Asakura shouted.

The place exploded into deafening shouts.

Shuichi found himself grinning so much it hurt. He clapped his hands and squealed and jumped up and down. His eyes were shining when he glanced at Hiro and Suguru.

"It seems we have a winner," Cain Asakura said with a chuckle.

There were more whistles and a few calls for Bad Luck that were soon picked up and became a full out chant. "Bad Luck! Bad Luck! Bad Luck!"

"Ladies and gentlemen! Here they are! The winner of the tenth annual Battle of the Bands, Western Bar is proud to present.. Bad Luck!"

The audience jumped to its feet. The sound was deafening. Nobody could hear themselves think. Shuichi shouted and flung himself at Hiro and Suguru. "We did it! We did it!"

"Congratulations, guys," the lead singer of Mad Doggs said with a grin, holding out his hand.

Shuichi shook his hand and thanked him. The others exchanged congratulatories as Shuichi jumped onto the stage. Grinning like a madman, he threw his hands in the air and shouted. If at all possible, the audience fed off his energy and cheered louder. The teen walked over to the bar owner and took the hand offered.

"Congratulations!" Cain glanced over Shuichi's shoulder and waved the other members of Bad Luck over. "C'mon over boys!"

Hiro and Suguru rushed onto the stage. They bowed politely and shook hands with the MC.

"Congrats, guys! As the winner of the Battle," he reached into his suit coat and pulled out a rectangular sheet of paper, "here is the check for the 100,000 yen."

The audience clapped and whistled.

Hiro immediately took the check, thanking the man. He was the band's accountant and would deposit the check in the band's savings account. He kept a strict account of what went in and came out. If anyone took money out without his permission, he would know.

"But that's not all," Cain Asakura continued.

Shuichi exchanged a confused look with Hiro and Suguru.

"Let me introduce you to Mr. Kiaki Matsusaki, president of L8r Records!"

A man who looked to be in his mid-fifties stood up from the front row of seats and made his way onto the stage to shocked applause. The members of Bad Luck were astonished, to say the least. They exchanged confused, shocked looks. L8r Records was the record company that Nittle Grasper belonged to. It was one of the biggest labels in the country. What was going on?

"Mr. Matsusaki?" The bar owner handed the older gentlemen a microphone.

"Thank you, Mr. Asakura. First, I would like to thank Mr. Asakura and the Western Bar for the warm welcome and say what a wonderful job they're doing." There was polite applause. "Next, I would like to congratulate all of the bands. They were wonderful!" Again, the audience clapped. "And finally, I would like to extend a special congratulation to Bad Luck."

Shuichi, Hiro and Suguru bowed and thanked the man.

"And as the uncontested winners of the Battle, three years in a row, I would like to offer you a recording contract to L8r Records."

The place erupted into stunned whispers that gradually turned to thunderous applause once the realization set in, but Shuichi and the other members of Bad Luck stood stunned, unable to take it all in. Shuichi stared at his brother's boss blankly. He did not hear what he thought he had, right? This was a joke or a dream perhaps? That had to be it.

"Are you serious?"

"Of course! What do you say?"

"What do I...?" Shuichi blinked. "I say..." A huge grinned replaced the confused expression. "...hell yes," he cried. He shouted and flung himself at Hiro and Suguru. Their dream of making it big was one-step closer to being a reality!

oOo

"There ya go," Shuichi smiled at a young girl that could not be that much older than he was and handed her the napkin and black maker.

The girl squealed and hugged the autograph to her chest. "Thank you!"

Shuichi chuckled. As he turned toward the next person, a figure at the back of the bar caught his attention. His brow twitched briefly in recognition before the man vanished out the front door. Who...?

"Hey, Shu," called Hiro, as he signed an older woman's shirt. "Are you all right?"

"Huh?" Shuichi blinked and turned toward his best friend. "Oh, yeah. I'm fine."

He turned and smiled at a young man who handed him a pen and a notebook. Shuichi was surprised to find so many well-known names scribbled in it. As he added his own, his thoughts turned back to the man he had seen for only a second. Who had he been? Why had he seemed so familiar? Was it because he reminded him of another blond? No, Shuichi was sure that wasn't it. Maybe he saw him at previous concerts. That was certainly a possibility. Many of the same people showed up no matter where Bad Luck played. As he turned to autograph a girl's jean clad behind, his thoughts continued to take him back to that mysterious man he had seen for only a second.

oOo

Hidden in the shadows of the bar, a trio watched the teens with huge smiles on their faces.

"Didn't I tell you, Tohma? Aren't they great?" a man hidden under a baseball cap asked just loud enough to be heard above the loud din.

"You did Ryu."

"And?" the woman standing next to him prodded with a hand over her swollen stomach.

"And we should get outta here while we still can," Tohma told his friends.

"What?" Ryuichi whined. "No! Tohma! I want to see Shu-Shu! I haven't seen him in almost six months! Why-?"

"Ryu," Tohma sighed. "If we get recognized, it could start a panic."

"Yeah, Ryu. This is Bad Luck's night."

"Noriko is right, Ryu. Now let's go. You can see your brother tomorrow."

"Besides, he isn't expecting us to arrive until tomorrow night anyway. He might have made plans," Noriko told her old friend.

Ryuichi Sakuma sighed in defeat and followed the others out of the bar to a waiting car. He knew they were right. It Didn't mean he had to like it though.

As he slid into the back of the black limo with its tinted windows, Ryuichi glanced one last time at the bar. He could barely make out his Shu-Shu in the middle of all that mayhem, smiling and laughing. Ryuichi smiled at the scene proudly before getting into the car and vanishing into the night.

oOo

A tall, pale, foreign looking man walked confidently down the street that was not so surprisingly deserted at the late hour. He pulled his hat down lower over his face and turned the collar up on his leather jacket. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he pulled out his car keys and pressed the button on the small remote. A small beep that sounded unnaturally loud in the silence of the night echoed down the street and seconds later, the Mercedes purred to life.

Opening his car door, he paused before sliding in and glanced down the street at the bar with a smile and a shake of his head.

The kid was good, he had to admit and got even better every time he saw him, not to mention cuter. God was the kid unbelievably sexy. He found himself growing even more attracted to the kid each time he saw him. He just wished he had the nerve to walk up to him like every other damn fan, but that was not his style. Besides, the last thing he needed was for it to come out that he, Eiri Yuki, was spotted at a pop concert, a sixteen-year-old boy's pop concert. God, would the media have a field day with that. He did not know what would be worse. The fact that it was a pop concert, the person he had a serious crush on was a boy or the fact that this boy was six years his junior.

As an all too familiar car drove past, Eiri turned his head away, hiding in the shadows. If he was spotted, they would not let him live it down. They would be worse then the media.

Sliding into his car, he put his seat belt on and drove off to his apartment, thinking about a certain pink haired pop star.

oOo

It was nearing midnight when Shuichi walked through the park. There was a cool breeze blowing off the river. It was nature's answer for the sweltering summer day they had.

Walking over to the railing, Shuichi gripped the cool, damp metal and closed his eyes. Taking a deep breath, the singer hung his head back and let the gentle breeze finger his hair. Sighing, he lifted his head and leaning his cheek on his crossed arms, gazed out over the silent black water.

The bar had rapidly thinned out, leaving behind only the usual bar hoppers that had no interest in their eclectic sound. After, once again, congratulating their battle rival, both Riptyde and Mad Doggs left, claiming they had early classes.

Soon after, Hiro also flaked out. His brother Yuji was flying into town in the morning for a photo shoot and Hiro had to pick him up from the airport. Yuji was an up and coming model and the only family Hiro had left. Both Mr. and Mrs. Nakano were killed in an automobile accident several years ago. Neither had siblings and their parents passed away by the time Hiro entered middle school. Shuichi felt somewhat bad for his friend. His parents may hate his guts, but at least they were alive. When he brought this up to Hiro one day, the boy said, "You, Suguru, Ryu, Tohma, Noriko...You're all my family."

Suguru also bowed out from celebrating as well. He had early classes as well. Besides, his mother was a worrywart and was likely to call the police if her "baby boy" was out too long.

So here he was once again alone strolling through a deserted park in the middle of the night.

After banging his forehead against his hands, Shuichi pushed away from the railing and strolled over to lie on a bench. Closing his eyes, he placed his hat over his eyes and folded his arms under his head.

He could always go home. The thought made him laugh. Home? What was that? His so-called "father" pretended he did not exist. Mom was beginning to distance herself. Neither one cared what he did, where he went, whom he hung out with nor how late or long he stayed away. Hell, they did not even care if he came home. Shuichi knew his father would rejoice if he never stepped foot in his house ever again. Mr. Shindou believed that music was a pointless and useless art, yet he did not care if his son wasted his life on it. He did not try to play the guilt trip like he did whenever Ryuichi was there, trying to get him to get a decent job that would "put food on the table". His father did not seem to care that Shuichi had not gone to school in the two years since he flunked his first semester of his first year of middle school.

Shuichi lifted his hat off and set it on his chest, staring up at the night sky that should be teaming with stars but was not because of all the city lights. He soon found himself giggling. He still couldn't believe Bad Luck's fortune. After two years of playing whatever gig they could get at seedy bars, birthdays, anniversaries, talent shows and battle of the bands contests, two years of pushing themselves to be the best, it finally paid off. Shuichi chuckled, grinning happily.

Tomorrow evening, after Hiro and Suguru got out of school, they were to go to L8r Records headquarters and go over their contract. Hiro said he would ask Yuji to come with them and since Nittle Grasper returned home from their world tour sometime that afternoon, Shuichi would see if his brother could come with them. They had to, of course, get their parent's permission, but that would not be a problem for any of them.

Maybe now that emptiness he felt inside would disappear. One could only hope.

oOo

Eiri had gone back to his apartment after the Battle of the Bands with the intention of going straight to bed, but after spending an hour tossing and turning, he gave up on getting any sleep. Throwing on a pair of pants and a shirt he found on the floor, he decided to go for a stroll through the park not too far from his apartment. It was one of the only things that seemed to clear his head.

He had a meeting with his agent in the morning to submit his latest novel and try to reschedule some interview she set up-without his knowledge-because apparently, his father had some stupid family dinner planned.

With his hands stuffed in the pockets of his leather jacket, Eiri huddled against the breeze blowing off the river. His hands closed around his pack of cigarettes just as he spotted a tiny figure huddled on a bench up ahead. Normally, he would have just ignored the vagrant and moved on, but for some reason he found himself being drawn to this person like a magnet. As he crept closer, he realized it was a kid. What was a kid doing sleeping out in the park in the middle of the night? As he took in the small frame and the cowboy hat, Eiri's eyes widened. Could it be…? His pulse started racing. Standing besides the bench, he picked up the cowboy hat, his hands shaking in anticipation and gasped.

oOo

The phone continued to ring as Ryuichi's irritation grew into concern. "C'mon," he whispered as he paced the bedroom restlessly.

The figure on the bed stirred. A hand reached out from under the covers and patted the empty mattress besides it. With a sigh, the pillow covering the head that belonged to that hand was thrown aside to reveal a head of black hair. Flipping over, displaying himself unconsciously, he watched his lover walk from the closet to the bedroom door and back again. The silk bathrobe he wore flew out around him. "Ryu, honey, come back to bed."

Ryuichi shook his head. "In a minute, Tatsuha."

Tatsuha Uesugi sighed. "Who're you calling?" He checked the clock on the bedside table. "It's after midnight."

"Shu." Groaning, he flipped his phone closed and bit his lip. "He isn't answering."

"So?"

"'So'?" Ryuichi walked back to the bed and slumped down on the edge of the mattress, staring at the silver palm-sized cellphone in his hand. Where was he? What was he doing that he could not pick up his phone? "Tat-"

"Ryu, didn't you tell me his band won that battle tonight?" At his boyfriend's nod, he said, "Well, then, he's probably out partying or something."

"But-"

"Or, maybe he forgot to turn his phone back on after the concert. I do that all the time. Besides, you'll see him in the morning."

"But, Tatsu-"

The slightly younger man growled and pulled his lover down, straddling him and pinning all in a matter of an eye blink. "Stop worrying about Shu, alright? He's a big boy and can take care of himself. All right? Don't worry so much."

Ryuichi sighed in defeat. He had not seen his baby Shu-shu in more than six months, what was one more day?

Tatsuha, knowing a win when he saw it, laced their fingers together and rolled his hips with practiced ease. Tatsuha bit back a groan as Ryuichi arched off the bed and tossed his head back with a loud cry. Tatsuha licked his lips and whispered in Ryuichi's ear, "You know, you're going to have to be punished for waking me up in the middle of the night."

Ryuichi licked his dry lips and stared into those dark eyes, becoming lost within them. "Whatever you want, Tatsuha. Whatever you want."

oOo

The angelic face mere inches from his rendered Eiri speechless. He was unable to form a coherent thought. Even if he could, he would not be able to express that thought over his rapidly beating heart. All he could do was stare at the face that launched a thousand ships and a body that would haunt even a straight man's dreams.

Shuichi's amethyst eyes fluttered open. The first thing he saw was a man peering down at him. A sudden deluge of thoughts and fears rushed through him. Swallowing a scream, he jumped to his feet, hitting his head against the guy's chin in the process. He hissed and rubbed his head. Turning around to apologize, he saw his hat clutched in the man's hand. He reached out and yanked it back tentatively, his eyes never leaving the strangers face. "W-who're you? What do you want?"

"How about apologizing for smacking me in the face, first?" Eiri retorted, rubbing his sore chin, snapping out of his retrieve.

The teen opened his mouth automatically to do just that, but realized he had no reason to. "If you hadn't of had your face in mine, I wouldn't of knocked into you!"

With a glare, Eiri realized the kid was right, but the hell he was going to apologize. Instead, trying to ignore the rapid beating of his heart, the quickness of his breath and the sweet strawberry scent that wafted from the boy, he plopped himself down on the bench where just moments ago, his secret crush had been sleeping. "Fine," he finally said. "Tell me why a sixteen-year-old is sleeping on a park bench."

Shuichi placed his hat on his head and crossed his arms, looking this guy up and down. "What does it matter to you?" He blinked, realizing what he just said. "Wait. How did you know I was sixteen?" he asked suspiciously.

Eiri silently cursed himself. Idiot, he thought. "Lucky guess," was what came out of his mouth. He sounded bored. Dammit! What was wrong with him? Here he was, chatting it up with his crush. Here was his chance to tell the kid how he felt. Maybe they could go get a drink together or something, but no! He had to act as if he did not give a good goddamn. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the kid checking him out. A smug smile tilted the corner of his mouth and a slight blush tinted his face. He thanked the Maker for the fact that it was dark outside.

Who was this guy and what does he want, Shuichi asked himself. Whoever this guy was, he was definitely older than he was, in his twenties at least. He had a day's growth of stubble on his face that gave him that rugged look. The guy was taller by at least a foot, but then again, who wasn't? Light brown eyes that seemed to have a golden sheen to them twitched slightly as they stared out over the water. It was almost as if he was fighting not to look at him. A shock of dirty blond hair tumbled out from under a white hat that seemed to glow in the lamp light. He was wearing a rumbled white suit and a black shirt that matched the ribbon on the hat. Shuichi had to admit, the guy looked damned hot.

Eiri was beginning to feel self-consciousness with the kid staring at him like that. Clearing his throat, he leaned his head against the back of the bench and stretched his arms out on either side of him and crossed his ankles before him.

Shuichi continued to study the stranger. There was something about him that he could not quite put a finger on. It felt as if he knew this guy from somewhere. His heart was suddenly racing as those intense hazel eyes turned to stare back at him. Shuichi gulped audibly.

"What?" Eiri demanded.

"I, uh...Do I know you?"

Eiri raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Are you trying to pick me up?"

A warm blush colored Shuichi's face. Biting his lip to keep his smile hidden, the teen turned his reddened face away. "No," he whispered with a simple shake of his head.

Eiri did not believe him as far as he could throw him.

"I, uh...It's just that...you look familiar." His blush deepened.

Eiri's heart skipped a beat. Had Shuichi realized that for the past year, he had been at every single one of his shows? That that foreign looking guy at the bar was him? Please, God, I hope not. The last thing Eiri needed was to die of embarrassment. He would never admit to doing such a thing. Not out loud at least. But how else could this kid think he had seen him somewhere before? If Shuichi knew his brother than that would be one answer, but that was impossible. So, what...?

"I'm a writer," he blurted out. Yeah, that could work. He was always on television and in the newspaper, magazines, and such all the time.

Shuichi straightened. "Really?" He sat down besides the man, a sparkle in his eyes. "So am I," he confessed in excitement.

"Really," he asked in disbelief. "What could a sixteen-year-old write?"

"Songs! I'm a singer and I write all the songs for my band," he said, bouncing up and down on the bench.

Eiri blinked at that revelation. That surprised him. Shuichi wrote them all? Wow. He had to admit, the kid was good. It was not easy to write songs. Anyone could put down a bunch of words on a piece of paper and call it a song, or poem, or whatever, but it took real talent to make those words into something special and it was obvious this kid had that natural ability. "You wrote those songs?" As soon as the words left his mouth, he mentally cursed himself.

Shuichi blinked. "Have you been to one of my concerts?" he asked, cocking his head to the side.

The writer turned to look at the kid and found his heart melting. Before he could stop himself, he found himself telling him the truth. "A few."

"Really?" Shuichi's face brightened. "What did you think?"

Eiri shrugged. "Not bad, for a bunch of bratty kids."

The smile slipped off Shuichi's face, his happiness deflating like a balloon. To him that meant, they were not good enough. Tears formed in his eyes. He wanted to be the best in the music business. He wanted to supersede his brother! But if this guy's opinion was shared by everyone else…

Eiri felt like a heel. Dammit, he cursed. "I was kidding," he snorted. "Jeeze, take everything seriously why don't you?"

The smile reappeared, as if it had always been there. Shuichi's tears vanished. He squealed and clapped, throwing himself at the strange writer and hugging him tightly. "You mean it? Yea!"

A deep blush flushed the writer's face.

"So," Shuichi said, letting the man go. He sat back down besides him, bouncing as if he was on a sugar high. "Tell me. What do you write?"

"Suspense thrillers. However, in some circles, they are referred to as being part of the 'romance' variety."

Shuichi cocked his head to the side. Confusion etched his cute features. "Romance? Why?"

Eiri shrugged. "Beats me. I guess because most of my books have an underlining-romance angle."

"Huh?"

Chuckling, Eiri thought of a way to explain it a little more clearly. "For example, my latest book is about a serial killer who brutally tortured seven women before killing them. Then he just disappeared. He returns some years later and this woman is determined to find him. Along the way, she meets and collaborates up with this guy. They have an affair as they struggle to solve the case. Get it?"

"Ah! Like J.D. Robb! My mom and my sister read her books!"

Eiri chuckled. "I really don't mind what they're categorized as as long as people are out there buying my books; I really could care less."

"Are you any good?"

Eiri shrugged. "I seem to be. My novels always make the top ten best sellers list."

"Really? That's so cool!"

Eiri studied his lithe singer. He always thought it was just for the stage, but this kid was as high strung as a helium balloon. This kid could not sit still for more than five seconds at a time. That might not be a bad thing, he thought. He could think of one thing where that would be very useful.

Shuichi had changed out of the outfit he'd worn at the battle of the bands into a loose pair of low waisted tan khakis and a tight red half shirt under a white button down shirt that seemed to be a few sizes too large with the sleeves rolled up past his elbows. He was wearing fingerless red gloves and had a black bag strapped across his back.

"Tell me something."

"What?"

"Why are you out here in the middle of the night?"

Shuichi's face fell. He stared at his hands clasped between his knees. To his horror, he felt genuine tears in his eyes. He had been having such a good time with this guy that he totally forgotten about everything else.

Eiri felt his chest tighten as he watched a mask of depression and unhappiness slip onto Shuichi's face. That look did not suit the boy. Why was he so upset all of a sudden? Was it something he said? What could possibly make someone who was always so happy, so sad? "What's wrong?"

Shuichi shook his head. "My dad," he cried. Sniffing, he wiped at the tears that tickled down his face. "My dad...He..."

Almost of its own violation, Eiri's hand lightly brushed through the younger man's bright pink hair that felt so soft despite all the dye, hair gel and hairspray and whatnot he must use in it. He studied his downed, saddened face. "What," he prodded gently. "You and your dad don't get along?" He snorted. "I know that feeling. My father wants me to be someone I'm not."

"Really?" Shuichi looked up at the writer with large pleading, tear filled eyes.

Eiri nodded. "That's when I moved out. I can't be something I'm not, ya know?" He shrugged.

Shuichi nodded. He felt a little better, knowing that he was not alone. "My dad...He hates me." The tears flowed faster down his face.

Eiri could not believe that to be the truth, maybe an exaggeration, but how could a parent truly despise their child? "I'm sure that's not true." He reached out with his other hand and gently brushed his fingers across the boy's wet cheek. "I can't imagine anyone thinking that about you," he whispered huskily.

"It is," Shuichi protested. "I'm just a freak, a mutation, a waste of flesh...," he sobbed. "My brother was more of a father to me than Dad ever was! He ignores me like I'm not even there!" Great sobs racked his body, making him shudder. His face was red and wet from all the crying. "My father...he doesn't care what I do! I could show up dead as a doornail on his doorstep and he wouldn't care!"

Eiri had to fight the tears and the sob that threatened to show themselves. He also had to fight the desire to show this bastard of a father that his son was not a monster, but a gift from God. Maybe he could do that and at the same time, show Shuichi that he was loved.

Eiri's hand slipped from the boy's cottony soft hair to his upper thigh and gave it a squeeze.

Shuichi froze. He turned a tear soaked face to the stranger besides him.

"I don't think of you as a freak, Shuichi," Eiri whispered in the boy's ear. He smirked when Shuichi shivered. He squeezed the boy's thigh again and stroked it ever so slowly. "Let me show you. Let's show your dad what an asshole he is, how wrong he is. That you are loved."

Shuichi gulped painfully. "H-how?"

Eiri cupped the boy's chin and tilted his head back. He leaned forward and pressed their lips together. He pulled back enough to whisper, "Like this."

The singer's mind went blank. His eyes widened as a strange guy he had not even known before today kissed him.

Eiri lifted the cowboy hat from the boy's head and holding it over the back of the bench let it drop to the grassy knoll. Moaning against the soft lips, he slid his hand up Shuichi's neck and grabbed a fistful of his hair. He ignored the startled gasp when he jerked the boy's head back. His other hand slid between Shuichi's legs and cupped the throbbing heat between them.

Shuichi's gasp turned into a long, throaty moan as his hips thrust almost of their own volition into the hand that was cupping him. He slid his arms around the writer's shoulders and opened his mouth as teeth nipped at his bottom lip, silently asking for permission. He caressed the long, soft, wet object that snaked into his mouth with his tongue, shivering at the sensation. He let this man explore his mouth, loving the feeling of his tongue as it brushed around his mouth.

It started with a soft press and pull of lips, a gentle nip of teeth and lap of tongue, but then as both men felt the strong pull of lust that was making their arousals grow, they ate hungrily at one another's mouth. Shuichi felt jolts and shivers travel through his body as the large hand squeezed his hardening dick.

Reluctantly, Eiri pulled away. A thrill of satisfaction swept through him when the singer moaned in disappointment. Panting and with his heart racing, the author got to his feet and pulled Shuichi with him. "C'mon, before I forget myself and fuck you right here," he growled.

Amethyst eyes, heavy lidded and veiled with unhidden desire and lust fluttered open. "You do know I'm only sixteen," Shuichi whispered huskily as he tried to bring himself down from his lofty height.

"It's after midnight and I'm as horny as hell," Eiri growled, tugging Shuichi behind him. "I really don't care."

Shuichi licked his lips and allowed this strange man to drag him down the bike path to the parking lot. He had a flitting thought to let this guy know that he was a Neutral, but let it go. He did not want to take the chance that his revelation might spoil the mood. He was hard as a rock, horny as hell and he damn well was going to get laid. Besides, there was something about this guy, something Shuichi could not put a finger on, something that tugged at something deep within him.

oOo

Less than twenty minutes later, Shuichi found himself making out with a stranger in an elevator car as it made its way to the top floor of the hotel at an agonizingly slow pace.

The writer had the singer up against the elevator wall with his feet spread to keep himself and the fully aroused younger male who was strapped around his waist from falling over.

Shuichi's small fingers combed through the soft golden locks. Vaguely, he realized he lost his hat somewhere along the way.

Eiri's hand roamed up and down Shuichi's sides under the huge button up shirt. He pressed his too tight white slacks into Shuichi's swollen groin, rolling and flexing his hips, which earned him more erotic cries from his young lover. His lips pulled and licked at the swollen ones. When the mouth opened willingly, almost pleadingly, Eiri attacked it. He sucked and lapped at the boy's mouth, nearly growling. Shuichi was like a drug. He could not get enough, could not delve deep enough into the warm, wet cavern.

Distantly, they heard the ping, announcing they had arrived on their floor. Eiri walked out of the elevator and down the hall with Shuichi still hanging onto him. He groped the singer's behind with one hand as the other gripped his neck. Their tongues wrestled. Their lips and teeth abused each other.

Reluctantly, Eiri broke away, panting, as he stopped before the hotel room he reserved for the night. Shuichi attacked his older lover's neck, squeezing his legs around the man's waist. Eiri groaned, squeezing the boy's ass cheeks, arching himself into the bulge poking into him. Fumbling in the pocket of his pants, Eiri pulled out the key card as Shuichi trailed kisses along his jaw and neck. Blindly, he reached out and swiped the card in the slot, then turned the handle. Renewing his conquest of the boy's mouth, he walked into the room. The card fell unnoticed onto the floor. He kicked the door shut behind him and carried Shuichi towards the bed.

He dropped the boy onto the bed and stared down at him ravenously while he tore his suit coat off. He dropped it to the floor, then tugged off his shirt, and tossed it aside as well.

Shuichi pushed himself back onto the bed, licking his lips, as he slid out of the over shirt and then the tight half shirt. He watched the writer unbutton his white slacks with a hungry gleam in his eyes.

Eiri pushed his pants down and stepped out of them, flinging the hindering things across the room with his toe. He knelt on the edge of the bed and stared at his young lover with the same hungry, lustful glint on his face as the boy laid back and undid his khakis.

Shuichi rose his butt off the bed and slid his pants, along with his boxers, off. He tossed them over the side of the bed, not caring where they ended up.

Eiri licked his lips in anticipation as he gazed down at the wonderful sight before him as Shuichi propped himself up on his elbows, his knees bent and legs spread, displaying himself in all his fine glory. He took in the slightly toned chest and flat abs, the long slender legs and the engorged member standing at attention between them. His breath hitched at the sight.

Shuichi stared at the drop-dead gorgeous male before him. His heart, which was beating a rapid tattoo, matched his throbbing dick. He panted heavily as his gaze traveled down the slim, hairless body to the large penis that was already weeping. His gaze traveled back up his body to the face that was hard and intense with a look he had seen countless times before. A look that said, "You're mine." A look of confidence, of surety that he knew exactly how this night would turn out. A look that usually scared Shuichi, but it was different this time. He could not explain it, but being with this guy, or the promise of being with him, was not like anything he had ever experienced. In a way, it scared him, but on the other hand, he welcomed it eagerly.

Feeling the need to play the part of the enticing vixen, Shuichi lay back on the bed and opened his legs wider.

Growling, Eiri dropped onto the bed and crawled up the singer's body on hands and knees between the parted legs. He felt suddenly like Moses in the parting of the Red Sea. He leaned down and feigned a kiss.

"Tease," Shuichi whispered as Eiri pulled away.

Chuckling, Eiri attacked the boy's lips. He sucked and probed his mouth and tweaked his pert nipples. Shuichi moaned into Eiri's mouth and arched into the touch, as shivers jolted down his body.

That was the last straw for Eiri. Just hearing this kid's moans, muffled cries and feeling him shiver with need and lust underneath him was pushing him over the edge. He slid his body against Shuichi's, pushing himself against him. Their throbbing erections tangled in an erotic dance. Both men shivered, throwing their heads back with a cry and thrust their hips together again and again.

In a breathy voice, Shuichi whispered, "Do it! God! Do it!"

With a growl, Eiri sat back on his knees and lifted the boy's narrow hips. He pulled the boy none too gently towards him. Grabbing his own throbbing, member, he set it against Shuichi's opening and with a flex of his hips, rammed himself into his young lover until his balls slapped against his behind.

Shuichi arched off the bed and threw his head back, screaming as a jolt of pain raced like lightening up his spine. He clawed at the quilt beneath him. He clamped down around the large invader inside of him. Tears of pain trickled down his face.

Eiri cried out, thrusting deeper into his lover in response. Panting heavily, he paused and glanced down at the boy, watching as he shifted himself to get comfortable and the pain receded. "Are you okay?" he panted heavily.

Shuichi nodded, panting, as he wrapped his legs around Eiri's waist. "Yes," he said breathlessly.

"Are you sure? I don't want to hurt you." Neither did he want to stop. They had come too far to turn back. Maybe he should have prepped the boy, but he was too impatient to do that.

"You won't," Shuichi assured with a shake of his head. "Trust me."

Wondering what Shuichi meant by that, he took him at his word and pulled out slowly until the tip of him was barely inside. He gazed fully in Shuichi's face, pinning him to the mattress just as he was pinned to the bed. Letting go of the tiny man's lithe hips, he set his hands on the bed on either side of Shuichi's head, in a push-up motion and thrust into him, causing his young lover to cry out. He pushed himself inside as fast and hard as he could. Shuichi screamed but did not tell him to stop so Eiri did not. He continued his thrusts, using his impatience and eagerness. He buried himself deeper and deeper within his lover; pushing himself in as far as he could go. Soon, the room was filled with a rapidly creaking bed, loud vocal cries and the sharp slap of flesh on flesh.

Unconsciously, Shuichi's hands grabbed his cock and began pumping himself in time to his lover's frenzied thrusts.

Muscles tightened as warmth spread through both males. With one final thrust, Eiri climaxed, releasing his seed as he buried himself deeply within his lithe lover and let out a deep cry, echoed by another as legs tightened around his waist and a white spray enveloped them both.

With a sigh, Shuichi dropped his legs onto the bed, panting heavily. He took great gulps of air and tried to calm his rapidly beating heart. He felt as if he had been de-boned. His arms unable to support him, Eiri collapsed onto the bed with a sigh, drenched in sweat and just out of breath as his lover. Closing his eyes, he smiled to himself, allowing himself to bask in the afterglow.

Chuckling, Shuichi rolled over and draped his shaking, sweaty body over the older male. His arms encircled the writer's head as he pressed their lips together. Eiri opened his eyes as his arms encircled Shuichi's waist. Pulling away, Shuichi gazed down tenderly at the writer. Something clicked into place the instant their eyes met. In unison, they brought their lips together. Shuichi tilted his head and opened his mouth without his lover having to ask. Gently, with just a light press of lips, they kissed. Eiri's hand slipped up the boy's slick back and cupped the nape of his neck, holding him against him.

Shuichi was not sure what had changed. Their first time was fast and demanding. As Eiri flipped them over, reigning soft kisses down Shuichi's neck, the boy knew this time would be different and he welcomed it.

He wished he could stay in this man's arms forever.

oOo

When Shuichi woke the next morning, it was to a throbbing ache between his legs and sore jaw muscles. He hissed in pain as he sat up. When the pain subsided, he sighed in relief. Wiping the sleep from his eyes, he yawned deeply and stretched. Shaking his head, he blinked his eyes wide and glanced around, taking in the hotel room for the first time.

It was a decent sized room with a large bed, matching nightstands, dresser and a two-seater table in front of a large window. A narrow door behind the table Shuichi guessed was a closet. Directly across from the bed was a door that was partially closed. From what he could see, a small bathroom lay behind it.

He glanced besides him with a smile than instantly vanished when he realized he was alone in the large bed. Sighing heavily, he flopped backwards onto the mattress and stared up at the ceiling. A heavy weight settled on his chest at the thought of his lover up and disappearing in the middle of the night without saying so much as a goodbye, but he had known this would happen. Somewhere deep within his subconscious, he had known this was only a one night only event. It still hurt though.

A smile crept onto his face and a laugh bubbled up inside of him. What was that saying? It was better to have loved and lost then to have never loved at all. That certainly applied right now. Even if he never saw that guy again, Shuichi knew he would never forget the one night of wonderful passion. Besides, he could not wait to see the look on his dear old dad's face when he told the old fart where he had been all night.

He glanced back at the empty spot besides him and blinked, his smile slipping off a second time. Pushing himself up onto his elbows, he reached out and lifted a shinny object lying on the pillow. Sitting up all the way, he held the object in his hand, studying it in confusion. It was a ring, a solid silver band.

"What in the…?"

He blinked as a thought struck him. Could this be…?

oOo

At the corner, a tall man with blond hair looked back at the hotel even as he was jostled by the mid-morning rush.

He felt bad for up and leaving Shuichi like he had, but he needed time to think. Things were moving too fast. One minute, he was fawning over the boy and the next he was making love to him. It seemed surreal, like it had all been a dream. Then there was that look he had seen on the singer's face. Only in his fantasies had Eiri dreamed that his crush would look at him like that. Shuichi had not even known Eiri existed before last night, but the kid seemed to have developed some sort of feelings for him, or so he hoped. It was possible, because Shuichi was so young, that what the boy felt was not love, at least not the same kind of love that Eiri felt. It could just be a crush, or puppy love, not something that could blossom and bloom as the years go by.

Nowadays, people change lovers like they do underwear. There was no such thing as happily ever after and the thought that what Shuichi felt for him may fade and die like flowers in the spring really hurt.

As much as he loved Shuichi and wanted to be with him, he was not sure he could take the pain of being rejected, not after his mother dumped him and his siblings. Therefore, he had to think. He had to separate himself from the pink haired pop god and give them both time to breathe and sort things out.

He just hoped Shuichi did not hate him or think badly of him for leaving as he had. The last thing he wanted was a one-night stand. He did not just want a warm body to fuck and he certainly hoped Shuichi did not want that either. It would break Eiri's heart if that were the case.

Sighing, he ran his thumb over his middle finger unconsciously. When he felt no resistance, he blinked and looked down at his left hand. It took him a couple seconds for comprehension to dawn. The corner of his lips tilted into the beginning of a smile.

"We will meet again," he promised as he glanced at the hotel one last time. Shoving his hands in his suit coat, he looked both ways and raced across the street, vanishing into the thick crowd.

…To Be Continued…

A/N: I have to point out the Hermaphrodite (which I refer to as "Neutrals" in this story) in this series is nothing like the real life Hermaphrodite and is nothing like "hermaphrodite" Shuichi in the Building A Family series (who I refer to as a "Bearer"). In the Building A Family series, Shuichi isn't actually a hermaphrodite as his ability to have children comes from his demon heritage (another trait of this heritage are his psychic dreams). The Neutrals in this series are a true third gender. There are male Neutrals (like Shuichi) and female neutrals.

Preview: "Saying Goodbye"