Author's Note:

Going back to school this January! I'm switching my major, which is a super pain in the ass, but I'm excited for my new classes. I was in English Education, but... while I think I'd be a good teacher, I think I would grow miserable as time wore on. I'm a Journalism major now!

Chapter Four: Something in the Air

Shuichi sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes. Throwing the silk sheets off his body, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and cringed as his bare feet connected with the cold floor. After stumbling too his dresser, Shuichi pulled out his T-shirt, cargo shorts, and orange hoodie. Slipping on a pair of socks, he made his way to the kitchen, where Yuki was already awake; smoking and drinking a cup of coffee over the morning paper.

"Morning Yuki!" Shuichi leaned over the table and planted a kiss on Yuki's cheek. "And how do you feel this morning.

Yuki grunted in response. Turning a page of his paper, he picked it up and held it in front of his face. Thin wisps of smoke rose from the other side.

"Alright, I get it, whatever. Be grumpy. But, I have the entire day off today, so you're going to have to acknowledge me at some point."

Without a word, Yuki threw his cigarette butt in his cup of coffee, stood up, and walked away. Leaving Shuichi in the kitchen, alone.

Curious, Shuichi walked around the kitchen, searching for what may have upset Eiri. On the marble counter was a hard cover book with the title: Tales of the Abusive Heart plastered over the front. In large, bold font, Yuki's name supported the title.

"I wonder if he has a press conference to go to. Why else would he be so upset about his book being out?"

There was a rush of cool wind behind Shuichi, lifting strands of pink hair off his neck. Turning around, he saw that Yuki had left the patio door open. Skipping over to the sliding glass, Shuichi shut the door and locked it.

He headed back to the table, ready to clean up Yuki's mess. Left on top the crumpled paper was a rose, in half bloom. Its delicate petals peeling back, ready to reveal its beauty and capture the sun. The stem was well shaved, every thorn was removed, but one. A single prick still clung to the bottom of the stem, and threatened to sting someone's finger.

Shuichi stared at it a moment. Memories of their New York trip flooded back to his memory. He threw the rose in the trash and stormed off to find Yuki.

That bastard! Shuichi thought, I know he's insensitive, but why a rose? Why one thorn? We've spent so long trying to put it all behind us... That evil prick. Why does he have to mock me with something so painful?

"Shuichi!" The boy froze when he heard his name screamed from the bedroom. Unable to move, he watched as Yuki burst out from behind the door and ran. Seizing Shuichi by the arms, Yuki glared deep into his eyes.

"When did we first meet! Tell me how we met!"

"Yu-Yuki!" Shuichi gasped, "What's going on?"

"Answer my question!" Yuki let go of one arm and wrapped his hand across Shuichi's throat. "How did we meet? Tell me before I crush you!"

"I-I was wal-walking t-t-to the park, a-and my lyrics blew out of my hands, and you ca-cau-ca- caught them," Tears welled in Shuichi's eyes, "Please don't kill me Yuki, please!"

Wincing as Yuki pulled his hand away, Shuichi's eyes widened as he felt Yuki pull him close for an embrace. Tightly entwined, Shuichi cooed and nuzzled his head against Yuki's chest. Warmth was shared between there bodies. He could feel hot tears fall on his neck.

"I'm sorry..." Yuki finally said, "I had to make sure it was you."

"Why?" Shuichi asked, Looking up at Yuki with big eyes, "What's wrong? You scared me." Shuichi had all but forgotten about the mocking rose.

Yuki stood up and led Shuichi to the bedroom and pointed at the bedsheets. Carefully placed over a pillow, was a white, porcelain mask. It's eyes, lifeless. The face stretched into a terrifying grin.

"There's a rose... in the kitchen," Shuichi said, "You... You don't think he's still alive, do you?" Shuichi shuffled his feet. The entire world started spinning around him.

"Of course not, that's impossible," Yuki pulled out his cell phone and started dialing, "I knew we should have killed that fucking Apprentice. Hello, K, is that you?"

"Eiri, why are you calling me so early? Shuichi has the day off. Is something the matter?

"I need you to call everyone together, I think we're being targeted by The Apprentice. We found two Dark Terror calling cards, have you seen anything?"

"Nothing... I'll call everyone. Meet us in the studio in a half-hour. We'll figure everything out then."

Yuki hung up, "Shuichi, pack a bag with nothing but the essentials. We're going to meet K and the others at the studio. We're not coming back to the house."

Nodding, Shuichi hurried and packed a few belongings into a duffel-bag. Yuki stood by the door, urging him to hurry. By the time they got everything together and left, it was almost noon.

Shuichi looked around the studio. Everyone on edge, but no one knows why. Standing and shaking his long, red hair, Hiro spoke:

"So... Exactly why are we here?"

Yuki responded, "We have reason to suspect that an A.F. imposter has found his way to Japan, and is tormenting us. I'm not sure if this person's intentions are lethal, but I can say for certain that they are malevolent."

There was a gasp throughout the room. Sakano and Fujisaki looked at each other, eyes wide and their face open in a frozen stare. Shuichi squirmed in place and shut his eyes. Only K and Yuki held a cool presence.

"The first thing we need to do," K said, "Is get in contact with Ryuichi and Touma. I'm not accusing anyone, but they seem like the most likely places to start searching for clues. I'll begin investigating and see what turns up. My first stop is going to be Yuki's place," he nodded towards the author, who responded with a simple finger raise, "In the mean time arrange hotel rooms for all of you under fake names. Tell no one where you are going are of any way to contact you. I need you all to drop off the map until I can figure what we're dealing with." K looked around and stared at each person. With a firmly set chin and expressionless eyes, he finished, "Any questions?"

No one said anything. K ended the meeting with a simple nod and they slowly began to filter out of the room, Hiro was already on the phone with a hotel, reserving under the name, DAMIEN COHL.

Alone with Yuki and Shuichi, the latter clinging desperately to the torso of the other. "Beside what you found today, has anything else been out of place?"

"Nothing," Yuki responded, "Today was a shock. I honestly didn't know what to think. It doesn't make sense. My only thought is that The Apprentice decided to carry on his legacy of revenge after all."

"It seems unlikely. He idolized the older A.F. to the point that he would respect his "brother's" final wishes, no matter the circumstance. Bonds of love are more powerful than you may think, Eiri. Not every man is completely for himself."

"This is bullshit. I didn't come here for a lecture on attitude." Yuki grabbed Shuichi by the arm and began to drag him towards the door.

"I never said anything about your attitude. You just did."

K's words were like ice, freezing Yuki in place. Eyes narrowing, a low growl escaped from the author's throat, "There is a point of intelligence where cynicism becomes necessary. Happiness is a joy known only by the ignorant. My only semblance of happiness arrives to me through watching the bliss of simpler minds."

"You don't believe that." K's voice was flat, changeless. "I know as well as you that you feel like the rest of us, perhaps more. Perhaps you're so sensitive that you've forced this thorny shell around you. When a spare flower should grace you by resting in your hands, you don't know what to do." Looking at Shuichi, clueless to what the men where talking about, K looked back at Yuki and smiled.

"Be careful you don't crush it in your strong grip, Eiri-san."

Not sure how to respond, Yuki went out the door, shouting, "Yeah, well, you're still an asshole." The couple could hear K chuckling to himself as they fled down the hall towards the elevator. The metal doors slid open at command of the button, and the two hurried inside

The instant the doors shut behind them,Yuki had Shuichi pinned against the elevator wall as he began to softly kiss his cheek. Immediately tensing at Yuki's touch, Shuichi cried out, "No! Yuki, there isn't enough time! The doors will open and people will see you doing nasty stuff!"

Instead of Yuki's slender hands ignoring Shuichi's protest, they merely caressed the boy's back, while Yuki brought his lips close to Shuichi's ear and whispered with a shaking voice, "I won't let anyone hurt you. Not again... I swear to the unloving god that I will save you from the bowels of Hell if I need to. I love you, Shuichi Shindou."

Breathless, Shuichi could only wrap his arms and hold Yuki as tightly as he could. His eyes watered as Yuki kept kissing him softly on the ear and neck. Bathed in the shadow of the larger man, Shuichi allowed his entire being to be swallowed by him. His scent, the gentle touch of his fingers, and the heated breath on his hair. Never wanting this moment to end, Shuichi clung to him as long as he could. Refusing to lose his grip for fear that it will all slip away into a dream.

"Do you mean it, Yuki?" Shuichi said between gasps.

"Of course I do... C'mon, we've got to check into our hotel. I want you so bad, I can hardly contain myself."

Shuichi could feel the bulge in Yuki's pants growing firmer, pressing against his inner thighs. A soft moan escaped his throat and he ran his fingers through the soft, blond hair. His thumb traced the contours of the author's face. His handsome features seemed perfectly sculpted by the greatest of artists. Pursuing beauty for no reason other than the sake of beauty.

Outside the studio, dusk was approaching. The world around them was falling under darkness. The alleyways seemed darker. The noises of the city roared together like the growl of a horrible beast hiding just beyond the plane of sight. Even the streetlamps seemed to only give the faintest of sparks. The only light Shuichi could see was that which was reflected off Yuki's pale face.

His beacon. His protector. Shuichi loved him and he loved Shuichi. Armed with this knowledge, Shuichi rested his head against Yuki's shoulder. Confident his soul mate would protect him from the mysterious dangers that waited ahead.

After Note:

Merry Christmas! I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday. For me, the most exciting part about this chapter was getting back to writing some other characters. On top of that, I got to write Yuki as a sweetheart. Sometimes, it's important to step back and remember that these two really do love each other. Still hard at work on my original work. I have multiple ideas cycling, but I only really write a decent paragraph at a time. The crappy ideas should weed themselves out, and hopefully I'll be left with a piece of gold ;)