"Idiot," Yuki Eiri thought to himself as he stared at his blank computer screen. "What kind of idiot would put up with me for this long?"

A few minutes earlier he had yelled at Shuichi for being too noisy. Yuki replayed the painful scene in his head.

"YUKI! YUKI! YUUUUKI! You'll never believe what happened! We had an interview today and-"

"Shut up, you brat! Can't you see I'm trying to get some work done?!" Yuki's heart ached as he had uttered those words, but he couldn't stop them from leaving his mouth. "Just leave me alone, Baka." Yuki felt another surge of pain go through his chest.

"Gomen, Yuki...I'll let you work," Shuichi muttered, defeatedly.

The wounded, pitiful look Shuichi gave him as he slowly dragged himself out of the room was one that would haunt Yuki for the rest of the night. The intense hurt in Shuichi's eyes made Yuki want to rush over to him, embrace him tightly, and apologize profusely for his rash behavior. He felt a strong urge to confess his love to Shuichi, but instead he turned away, unsettled by these unfamiliar, sentimental impulses. What was happening to him?

Yuki was suddenly snapped out of his daze by the sound of Shuichi's shrill, piercing sobs. He'd reassured himself of his cruel behavior in the past, resolving that if he kept pushing Shuichi away, it would be less painful for the both of them in the end. Right now, Yuki questioned whether that was true or not.

Suddenly overwhelmed by his longing for Shuichi, Yuki slowly rose up out of his office chair. He needed Shuichi. Right now. The thoughts of pushing Shuichi away faded as he made his way out of his office. He followed the sound of Shuichi's sobs and found him crumpled in a darkened corner of the living room. Yuki stood directly in front of Shuichi. His tall form made the corner pitch black, causing Shuichi to look up.

"I'm so sorry, Yuki. I didn't mean to bother you. I should've known you were busy. I'm just a nuisance and I don't-" Yuki interrupted Shuichi's apology by placing his long, lean finger across Shuichi's swollen pink lips. He loved the way Shuichi's soft lips felt against his skin.

"I should be the one apologizing, Shuichi," Yuki said. "You didn't deserve that at all. I didn't have to be so mean..." Yuki tried to restrain himself but was unsuccessful as tears began to well up in his eyes. Rivulets of hot, bitter tears fell down his face as he continued.

"I love you, Shuichi. It's wrong hurt the person you love. I didn't want you to get hurt or be disappointed by who I really am, so I pushed you away. I'm so sorry...so deeply sorry. You deserve someone better. I'm too messed up for you." Yuki, feeling exposed and vulnerable, bashfully looked down at the floor. All he could see through his blurred vision was a puddle of his own tears forming on the floor.

"Yuki...," Shuichi stammered.

Shuichi felt frozen in place, shocked by Yuki's confession, but touched by his heartfelt words.

"Yuki, I-I-I don't want anybody else. I want you! I would never be disappointed by you! You're so cool, Yuki! I love you so much, and I knew we were meant to be together the first time I saw you. I felt immediately connected to you, even though you did insult my lyrics." Shuichi chuckled as he fondly recalled their first meeting. "That wasn't a chance meeting. I believe it was destiny. Without you in my life, I would be nothing. I would die! It hurts me when you yell at me because I feel guilty for causing you pain. I don't want to hurt you Yuki, and I'll do anything not to hurt you."

"Shuichi…," Yuki whispered as he felt Shuichi's lean, muscular arms embrace him. Yuki allowed himself to be held by Shuichi, and wept into his shirt. He wasn't crying tears of guilt anymore, but tears of happiness and relief. Warmth illuminated from Shuichi's small frame, and for once in his life Yuki felt safe. Shuichi would always be there for him.

"I love you, Shuichi," he said tenderly. He looked up at his young lover and lightly kissed him on the lips. Shuichi leaned down and kissed his lover back, more intensely this time. As their lips slowly parted, Yuki gazed into his lover's sparkling blue eyes and quietly said "I'll always love you, Shuichi."