The headlights belonged to an imported car of utmost quality and design; a Mercedes. The driver knew right where he was going, even though he had no inclination of wanting to be there. His idiotic younger brother had ended up blackmailing him into making an appearance. In the mind of Yuki Eiri, he would only be staying for one day. That was it. One day. Wild horses couldn't make him stay any longer. He had a deadline. And a lot on his mind.
His life had undergone a complete overhaul one year ago. He remembered, and sometimes regretted. His large apartment always seemed empty, bland, and lifeless. No matter what he changed, something was always missing. The soulless side of him never looked back and viewed his new life as perfect for him. The side of him that Shuichi had unmasked was in a constant state of turmoil and disquiet. He regretted ever making Shuichi leave his life.
He had reached the destination: Tatsuha's house. He hated these parties, but Tatsuha had forced him to come earlier in the day. Their sister Mika would be there. Angry and newly pregnant, she was altogether a force to be reckoned with even more than usual. Tatsuha knew some things that no younger brother should know and had clearly threatened to unveil his knowledge unless Yuki had promised to show up. So of course he had had no choice whatsoever. At the sight of the house and all of the cars, he couldn't help but think back to the conversation that had forced him to show up to this dreadful get together contrived by his imp of a brother.
"Hey Aniki! Long time no see…" Tatsuha's voice had called over the connection.
"What now?" Yuki had replied without bothering to hide his obvious frustration.
"How've you been? I haven't talked to you in awhile…" Tatsuha had replied.
"I don't care for small talk. What do you want from me?"
"I just wanted to check up on you. Mika asked me to…"
"Hmph."
"Aniki, we worry about you…especially now…"
"Why now, huh? Why the hell does everyone see fit to suddenly invade MY life just because they think I can't take care of myself?!" he had shouted into the phone seconds before throwing the receiver across the room. "I don't need him."
Seconds later his cell phone had chirped to life and informed him that his brother was calling. He had answered it with a sigh, regretting every second that he had to talk to his dreaded family.
"You shouldn't throw phones, Aniki. Money doesn't grow on trees, you know." Came Tatsuha's sarcastic greeting.
"Get on with it." He'd replied.
"Well, like I was saying…Mika wanted me to check up you."
"I'm. Fine." Was his stiff reply.
"I don't think you are. It's been a year, Eiri…" Tatsuha's voice had seemed far away. Distant even.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Stop wasting my time." With that he had closed his cell phone and then quickly pressed the power button so that his brother couldn't call him back.
"Finally…some peace and quiet." He had said aloud to his office. But then an interesting thought struck him. How had his brother know about him throwing the phone? Three seconds later his question had been answered.
DING, DING, DING.
"Shit."
"Aniki! I know you're in there! Open up or I'll start yelling about your sex life as loud as I possibly can!"
"I'M COMING DAMMIT!" He had screamed back at his worthless brother before answering the door. And sure enough, there was his brother smiling like the idiot that he was.
"Hi." Tatsuha said, throwing in a little finger wave. Before Yuki could slam the door in his face, he put his boot in the door and sauntered in.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"I'm checking up on you of course. Your life needs color anyway."
"Color? Get the hell out Tatsuha."
"Yes. Color. You're coming to a party with me. Tonight." Tatsuha had said matter-of-factly. "No questions asked, got it?"
"No. I'm busy. I have better things to do with my time, and unlike you I have a job." Came his angry reply. People were not tolerated in his apartment.
"Then I'll tell Mika you have someone new. I'll slander your name all over that temple. I'll lie like the dog that I am aniki. You'd better not tempt me…" Tatsuha had said while staying miraculously out of reach of his brother.
"How do you come up with these things?!"
"Well, there should have been someone new by now…it's been a year."
"It doesn't matter…" he'd said, running a finger through his messy golden hair.
"Alright then. You're coming. Pack enough clothes for a week, got it?" And with that Tatsuha had walked out of the door. "Don't be late, aniki."
He had watched his door close with his mouth hanging open in dumbstruck anger. His spitfire soul was absolutely enraged that his twerp of a little brother had such power over him. He knew he'd have to show up, or Tatsuha would start blabbing and wouldn't stop until Mika had left the house on a death hunt. He sighed and moved to start packing. Pregnant women were hell on wheels to deal with.
Now that he was here, he really didn't want to go inside. But he knew what would happen if he didn't. Mika would suddenly find herself informed of all the lies in Tatsuha's head. Because that was all there was anymore. Sure, a few one night stands now and then. But he had refused to let anyone stay in his life for more than a week. The part of him that had a heart left to care, cared. Deeply. He didn't want anyone to take Shuichi's place. Ever. Nor did he want him back. He didn't want to go back to that life.
Shuichi had started as a fling and evolved into something much more serious much more quickly than anyone had seen coming. Within a year, the boy had cemented himself into Yuki's life, heart, and mind. He was everywhere, and everything. And for once in his life, Yuki Eiri had been happier than ever before.
But then things changed as suddenly as they had begun. His split personalities had fired back up two and half years into their relationship, and his doctor had prescribed stronger medication. His ulcer came back, and he spent half of his time in the hospital for a good three months. He saw the pain he was causing Shuichi. The boy had always believed that everything was his fault, even though Yuki told him constantly that that was anything but the truth. Shuichi was the only thing that kept him alive, and no one but Yuki would ever know that.
Even after he got better and stopped partially living at the hospital, Yuki had still seen the wear and tear in Shuichi's face. Yuki hadn't wanted to hurt him anymore and had withdrawn back into his shell. He started pushing Shuichi away to save him, and had never bothered to tell the boy this. Shuichi slipped away and became distant in his own way. Sometimes he would try to get Yuki to come back to life. But he always failed.
In the end of things, Yuki had decided to make it all stop. He couldn't bear to hurt Shuichi anymore than he already had, but he couldn't stand the thought of opening up again. His mental deficiencies had made sure that that wouldn't ever happen again.
When everything ended, he couldn't bring himself to tell Shuichi why. To this day he regretted that. The poor thing probably thought that he hated him, didn't love him, or didn't care. None of it was true. Even though he denied ever thinking about Shuichi anymore, he did. He used to think about him all of the time. He tried not to because it only ever caused him pain, and in the last six months he had come far. The boy hardly ever crossed his mind. Nowadays, Yuki didn't know what he would've done if he had seen Shuichi in the streets. Six months ago, he would've apologized for all to hear and begged him to come back. But he had given up on that thought for his own good. His physiatrist had urged him to repeatedly. Dwelling on the past wasn't going to change the future.
After he had ended things with Shuichi, Yuki had just started walking. He didn't know where he was going, or where he wanted to go. He couldn't stand to be there and to see Shuichi's beautiful face in pain. It would have killed him more than it already had. His brother's voice brought his thoughts screeching back to the present.
"Are you just going to sit out there forever?" Tatsuha asked loudly as he ran up to the idling car containing his brother.
"Maybe I will. What do you care?" Yuki replied testily. "I'll come in when I'm good and ready. You're lucky that I'm even here."
"Well you're lucky that I don't squeal your non-existent secrets to Mika." Tatsuha returned with zest. "Don't make me."
"You lying sonuva-"
"Uh, uh. Behave. I will tell her…"
"Bite me."
"Oh Mika…"
"Alright, alright…I'm getting out of the car." Sighed Yuki. He was going to regret this. He could feel it.
"What do you want? She's sleeping." Said a silky voice belonging to a man with a black hat and platinum blonde hair. "Oh, Eiri-san! I didn't know you'd be here."
"Neither did I." drawled Yuki back as he angled himself out of the car and pulled out a bag from his trunk. He never left his laptop behind. Inspiration hit at odd intervals.
"Eiri-san, if you don't mind me asking, why are you here?" Tohma posed inquisitively as he scooted over to where Yuki was standing beside his car.
"Because my worthless brother is a blackmailing, lying piece of trash." Yuki said while he moved towards the house. There was a slight chill to the air. "Let's just get inside. I'm tired of standing out here." Truth be told, he only wanted to get the time he had to spend there over with. He had a deadline to meet.
This is a shorter chapter, but I wanted to get the beginning stuff out of the way quickly. I don't really have a good idea of where this story is attempting to go, but I'm trying to enjoy the ride nonetheless. Thanks for any support.
-Amaya
