Disclaimer: - I do not own Gravitation. Maki Murakami does but what a great manga-ka

Chapter Four

Yuki stared at his cell phone and frowned wondering why it wasn't ringing. He had been waiting all morning, but nothing. Flipping it open, he stared at it for a moment, and then looked up to find his editor staring at him curiously. It was as though she was expecting an answer from him.

"What?" he asked.

Mizuki leaned forward and said, "You didn't hear a word I said, did you?" Shaking her head, she sighed and asked, "What happened now? What did Shuichi do to make you distracted?"

Yuki glared at her and replied, "Nothing."

Nothing at all, he thought. Why did that bother him so? How many times had he wished that the punk could just cool his heels for a second? Frowning again, he stared at his cell phone and said "Mizuki, will you call my phone."

Puzzled, Mizuki stared at him blankly wondering why he needed her to call his phone. He was seated right before her. "Yuki-san-

"Just call it." Yuki ordered the words accompanied by his trademark bone-chilling glare. Nodding, she reached for her own phone and glancing nervously at Yuki, dialed his number. The familiar Bad Luck's rage beat song came on and Yuki cursed under his breath. Answering the call, then hanging up, he stood up.

"Yuki-san?" Mizuki asked quietly.

"It works. I was starting to think something was wrong with my phone." Pulling on his coat he looked at Mizuki, "Are we done?"

Noting the irritated look on his face, Mizuki got up and nodded her head 'yes', then said, "The deadline is in two weeks. Please try and keep it."

"Whatever. And don't call me to remind me." He nodded heading for the door. "See you later."

With that, he left her office and headed for the elevator. In the elevator, he looked at his cell phone again and wondered why it was bothering him so much. Shuichi had not called him at all. Glancing at his watch, he saw that it was already five o'clock in the afternoon. By now, he was usually fielding text messages begging him to cook dinner, or to come pick him up from work. Sometimes the messages were just stupid jokes, that didn't make sense. The elevator door opened and he stepped into the underground parking. Hurrying to his car, he decided to go pick the brat up from work. He needed to find out what was going through the younger man's mind. What could have happened to change him this way? Could he have decided-, no he could not think about that.

Shuichi loved him too much to ever leave him. What a stupid idea. Chuckling, he remembered how Shuichi had forcefully pushed his presence into his life. There wasn't a reason for him to leave it. So, it had to be something else. May be he was worried about his music. Smiling, Yuki decided that he was going to try to be nice to him today. Just until Shuichi was back to his normal self. Then it would be back to trying to tolerate the obnoxious characteristics that belonged to no other than his brat. It was shameful how much he was relishing that thought.

"Here are the keys, don't lose them." K said fiercely, handing a set of keys to Shuichi. "I'll be here to pick you up at exactly 0800hrs tomorrow. Be ready."

Shuichi took the keys and nodded his head slowly. K smiled and patted Shuichi's head, "Don't stay up too late. Try and get some sleep, okay. Tomorrow is a big day."

Waving at Hiro, he turned and grabbed Sakano by his elbow and led him out of the apartment. Once the door was closed, Shuichi sighed and sank down to the floor, lying on his back he stared at the floor. His mind going over the past hours since the moment that Suguru, K and Sakano had found out about his intention to leave Yuki.

He had barely uttered the words, when they were received with a collective gasp from the three men. Suguru had even deviated from his usual know-it-all personality and asked if Shuichi was feeling OK. The next thing he had known, K had been on the phone finding an apartment for him and Sakano had been on his phone calling Tohma. A little alarmed by their reactions, Shuichi had reminded K that he had an apartment waiting, but K had waved that idea away.

"Do you realize what the media is going to do when they know about this? I want you somewhere I can protect you. If you are really doing this, you had better be ready." K had ordered, holding Shuichi's shoulders firmly. "Are you sure Shuichi? Leaving Yuki, are you going to be alright with this?"

Shuichi had stared at him, his mind blank, unable to form any words. When had his leaving Yuki become a decision that affected every one else's life? Closing his eyes, he thought, this had nothing to do with anyone else. It was his and Yuki's problem, nobody else.

"I know what you are thinking. But you are wrong. You are a nationwide icon now; every decision you make affects your career. Your personal life is a public affair, Shuichi. Especially since you have not made an effort to keep it private what with your emotional outbursts at any given chance. So if you're leaving Yuki, you have to let me help you deal with it. It's the least I can do. Alright." K had explained, shaking him at the end of his tirade.

Tears streaming down his cheeks, Shuichi had wondered why everything had to be so complicated. All he wanted was Yuki to say he loved him, to care a little. What-, why- what was he supposed to do? This was too complicated, when had it gotten this complicated?

He turned his head and his gaze found Hiro's. Hiro had smiled and nodded his head reassuring him. Taking in a deep breath, he had turned back to K and nodded his head in agreement. With that one nod, he had felt his heart clench as the cold feeling of actually leaving Yuki had finally settled in his heart.

Within the hour, K had found a penthouse apartment in the closest building to the NG offices. It was the same building that Ryuichi Sakuma kept an apartment whenever he was in town. K had explained that the landlord was discreet and reporters wouldn't be able to harass him there. Since it was furnished, all Shuichi had to do was move his clothes in and whatever things he had at Yuki's house. A task that had been handled by Sakano, Shuichi wasn't even sure how that had been done.

"Are you hungry?" Hiro broke into his thoughts, seating down on the floor next to him.

Shuichi moved his head so that he was looking at the red head, under his eyelashes. "Do you think I'm doing the right thing?"

"Are you happy?" Hiro answered with a question.

Shuichi thought for a moment, an image of Yuki yelling at him for making too much noise coming to him. How had he become so used to that kind of treatment? Was he really so desperate that even Yuki's angry words were good enough? He was right to demand more wasn't he? Glancing back at Hiro, he said slowly, "I want him to see me. To love me, to miss me, and say it; I'll do what it takes to get that from him. That will make me happy."

Hiro nodded his head, "Then it's the right thing." Then jumping up, he held out his hand and said excitedly, "Now, come on, I'm starving. Plus we need to check out this new apartment. Did you know it's sound proof? We can have a party here with loud music, and we won't bother anyone. Hey, let's do that. I'll call Ayaka, Suguru, and Ryuichi. We can celebrate your new status."

Shuichi stared at that hand, wondering if he was ever going to consider it being the right decision. Yuki might not ever see him. He might even forget him. This was Yuki they were talking about. If I return to him, my heart will always be broken. If I leave, my heart will be broken. Shaking his head, he grabbed hold of Hiro's hand. He couldn't bare it living so close to the one person who was responsible for his heart breaking. So this was good. It suited them both.

Parking his car at the front entrance, Yuki got out of the car and lighted a cigarette as he waited for Shuichi. Just imagining the grin on Shuichi's face at seeing him, made his lips curl into a smile. Maybe tonight he would take him out to dinner, and they could have a good talk. Too involved with his thoughts, he did not notice Tohma approaching him until he was standing right before him.

Glaring in anger at being caught smiling to himself he demanded, "What do you want?"

Tohma shrugged and reached out, taking the cigarette from Yuki's fingers, and bringing it to his lips. He took in a deep drag then let out a cloud of smoke while Yuki watched. After a few seconds, Tohma said quietly, "He's not coming."

Yuki frowned and stared at Tohma for a minute before he said, "I'm not in the mood for your games tonight Seguchi. I still haven't forgiven you for what you did in Osaka."

"It wasn't my fault, I left a note. Shindou-san just didn't read it." Tohma replied, then taking a closer step to Yuki, he handed him the cigarette and said, "But I was right for doing it. I've been right all along, and you should have listened to me."

"Right about what? You being a pain in my ass?" Yuki questioned dropping the cigarette to the ground. "I don't want to talk to you at the moment. Run along, I'm waiting for Shuichi."

Tohma sighed and then with a solemn gaze, he said firmly, using his no-nonsense tone, "Shindou-san will not be coming home with you. He moved out this morning."

Thanks to all of you who have been reading and reviewing this story. I am glad you all like it, which gives me a lot of enthusiasm to keep writing more.

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