A/N from AH: This is to those who have a problem with me asking for the same recognition that I give when submitting a review. I will not continue to add said request to my reviews; however, I do ask that if you have a problem with my reviews then please send me a PM or sing in to "say it to my face" as it were. I apologize to those who have read this, and it does not apply to them; thank you for your patience. I hope you enjoy this fic.

Chapter 1 of Awakening

By: Amber Hermione and Casseia

Disclaimer: Gravitation, it's characters, setting, etc. are not mine or Casseia's. The plot belongs to us equally.

The car ride was silent, and neither occupant wanted to break that silence.

Shuichi Shindou kept glancing at the man next to him. It was obvious to anyone that his companion was not in a good mood. The pink haired vocalist of Bad Luck, the hyper talkative brat of Eiri Yuki, and all those other things people expected him to be were not present at the moment. After fidgeting for a while Shuichi contented himself with staring out the window so he wouldn't disturb his lover.

Eiri Yuki drove with his lips clenched around a cigarette and his fists clenched upon the steering wheel. He had noticed all the glances his lover had been giving him. He didn't like making the Baka uncomfortable if he could avoid it, but either that or hurt him worse by venting his frustration on the brat.

They were on their way to dinner with Tohma, Mika, and the members of Nittle Grasper and Bad Luck.

Flashback

"Eiri-san, Shindou-kun, the members of Bad Luck, and Nittle Grasper are meeting at Jourmon for dinner at 8:30 this evening. We have things to discuss, and I hope you are able to come."

The beep sounded to indicate the message was over. With a sigh Eiri reached for the delete button.

"Hey Yuki, you haven't put up the—Oh! We have messages!" and the vocalist pressed the play button. After listening to the message, "Yuki, Yuki, can we go? Please, Please?" he looked at the novelist with large hopeful eyes. "I bet this has something to do with the new album we're working on together."

"No brat I'm not sure it does…" Eiri frowned in thought wondering just what Seguchi wanted with them. He walked away from the phone, and went to re-enter his office.

"But, but, Yuki it has to be! What else could Tohma want with us?" The singer stopped his whining for a moment, "No, come on Yuki it's been over two years! They must have gotten used to us by now..."

An increasingly annoyed Yuki lent against his office doorframe, "Idiot, if that was the reason why would both bands be there? Look, if it's about work have Hiroshi take you, ok." Again Eiri turned to enter his office.

Shuichi grabbed his arm stopping him, "But, Tohma wanted both of us there! Yuki how often does he encourage us doing things together?" Shuichi crossed his arms in determination. "Yuki, it's important to me that you're there too."

'And somehow I ended up going with the brat.' Eiri mused as he drove, but he wasn't mad at Shuichi… he really blamed—'Stupid Seguchi! I have a deadline for my novelin a week, and I still can't think of how to…'

"Yuki!!"

Shuichi's voice interrupted the train of Yuki's thoughts, "What?!" he demanded turning to look at his lover. He saw Shuichi looking horrified past him. With a sharp turn of his head Yuki caught sight of another vehicle that would hit them if he didn't do anything. 'Shuichi!' he thought, and spun the wheel in his hands trying to maneuver the car so the passenger side was further from the approaching danger.

With an intake of breath Eiri turned again to Shuichi; their eyes met both wide with fear violet and gold were unable to disconnect. Then everything was light sound and sensation. A great lurch was accompanied by the grinding of metal. Sharp pain went through Eiri's body as he felt his internal organs collide with his skeleton before they jerked back with the recoil. The momentum of the other vehicle kept compressing the Mercedes. Everything was heat, painfully cramped, and then… nothing.

Eiri Yuki knew two things; 1. He was not dead because the annoying heart monitor was beeping somewhere near his left side, and 2. He wished he wasn't awake because he felt like shit. 'That brat had to drag me along didn't he…' With a grown Eiri managed to open his eyes. The room was dark, and there was no one there, or so it seamed.

"Eiri-san, you're awake."

The gold eyes flicked to the direction of his brother-in-laws voice. He did tried to sit up, but was impeded by the pain coercing through his nervous system. He lent back again and after a moment acknowledged the other's presence, "Tohma…"

The pale man rose from his chair near the foot of the bed. He wore no hat or coat indicating that he had been there for some time. Tohma walked over to stand beside the patient. "Eiri, what do you remember?"

'Something's wrong… without that smile of his I know there must be something.' "Uh, you called while we were out. I listened to the messages, and the brat played them again before I could delete them." The one on the bed turned his head slightly to look out the window, "I didn't want to go, but he convinced me, I went to shut him up. We… we were in an accident."

"What about the accident, Eiri…?" there was a hesitation, a waver in Tohma's voice that caught Eiri off guard.

"Cut the crap" Eiri hissed unable to shout at the moment, "What is it Seguchi?" he growled turning back to face him. "What's happened to the brat?"

"Sind… Shu—"

"No," Eiri barked.

Tohma looked startled, "Have you already guessed? I'm sorry but… Shuich—"

"Don't you dare" Eiri tried to sit up again, and the sudden fire in Eiri's eyes made even the great Tohma Seguchi take a step back, "Don't you dare tell me that he's gone! Not by name; not when you didn't show him the decency of addressing him as family while he… " Unable to continue, or to bear the spiking pain Eiri clenched his jaw, and turned his face from the other again.

"Eiri… your lover is… gone."

'No! No, I refuse to accept that' Eiri thought. Grasping at straws Eiri said, "Why did he leave? Where did he go?" Eiri needed gone to mean anything other than what he feared.

"Eiri," Tohma's voice held a new strength; he always held his own in times of crisis. That had been true from the beginning of their friendship, or whatever it was. "His funeral was yesterday."