Chapter 6

In the morning, Shuichi felt better than ever. He was finally free of Yuki's abuse and it felt so good. He went back to the studios that morning a different person and everyone could tell.

"Good morning!" Shuichi chirped.

"Good morning, Shuichi." Everyone said groggily. Shuichi frowned.

"Don't tell me you guys still have a hangover. I thought you could hold your liquor better than that. You guys kept feeding me that stuff and I'm fine." Shuichi lied. He was going to have some fun today.

"How can this be? I the strong American have been out-drunk by a Japanese teenager." K said. He placed his gun on the table and moaned. Shuichi laughed inside.

"Let's get to work, shall we?" He said as he started the computer up. Tohma came inside a little drowsy.

"Good morning, everyone." He said. They either nodded, moaned, or waved. Shuichi, however, happily replied.

"Good morning, Seguchi-san. You weren't out last night celebrating too, were you?" He asked.

"No, Shuichi. My wife's brother woke us up at three this morning."

"Yuki?" Tohma nodded.

"He woke me up too, but I hung up on him and went back to sleep. I was tired after getting these drunks home." He said and pointed to everyone else. Tohma smiled.

"I think everyone needs a break. Why don't you all go home today?" (A/N: See, if Shuichi isn't there for Yuki to find, then Tohma wins the bet. Bingo!) Everyone sat up at the idea, thanked Tohma, and started to leave, but blocking their way, leaning in the doorway, was Eiri Yuki. (A/N: Aw, it seems Tohma doesn't get to go to Venice. How sad. ….. Oh well, Bahamas baby! Woohoo!)

"Shuichi, I need to speak with you." He said. You could tell he hadn't slept. Shuichi nodded and lead him downstairs to a local coffee shop.

"What is it, Yuki?" Shuichi said as he took a sip from a decaff mocha latte.

"Is this what you really want, Shuichi?" Shuichi looked up at him.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Shuichi, don't play games with me!"

"Isn't that what life is though, a big game? And the one who wins, is the one who was most happy playing it, no?" This caught Yuki off guard seeing as Shuichi isn't the kind of person to be so profound and insightful.

"What are you getting at, Shuichi?" Shuichi finished his drink and waved down the waiter.

"When you treat me like crap, I'm not happy, Yuki. No one is ever truly happy when they are being treated like that. All I ever wanted from you was acknowledgment as a person, but I never got that. It's hard for a person to feel like something when you're telling them 'they have no talent' or you're calling them 'stupid', 'idiot', 'brat', or 'twerp'. Those things hurt, Yuki. You may not be able to see it physically, but inside I'm torn to pieces. Is that a good enough explanation for you, or do I have to go into detail?" Shuichi got up and walked out of the restaurant. He needed to clear his head.

Yuki sat at the table going over every word Shuichi just said. Sure he was a little harsh, but he didn't think he was ever that mead to the kid. Flashbacks filled his mind as he remembered every single time he belittled or insulted Shuichi. He could see the hurt and disappointment in his eyes. He had pushed him away. Slowly, but surely, he had pushed him away. He needed to talk to him. Yuki rushed out the coffee shop and looked everywhere, but he didn't see Shuichi. He turned down the street towards the park where they first met. He found him there sitting on the bench as if he was waiting for him.

"Hello, Yuki. I was wondering how long it would take you." He said and gestured for Yuki to sit down beside him.

"Shuichi, I'm…" He was interrupted.

"I don't want to hear it." Shuichi turned to look at him. "I never, ever want to hear you say 'I'm sorry'. You know why? Because only people who deserve to be forgiven should say I'm sorry." It was over. He had pushed him too far. Yuki started to get up, but Shuichi pulled him back down.

"I'm not finished. You don't deserve to be forgiven for you past Yuki. You deserve a second chance. I told you that when I met you. I'm giving you that second chance, Yuki. Will you take it?" Shuichi asked. They were quiet for a while. Shuichi leaned against Yuki's chest. Finally, Yuki smirked.

"When did you get so smart?" he asked. He looked down at Shuichi.

"I've always been this way, but I tend to act stupid when I'm around people I look up to."

"You looked up to me?"

"I still do Yuki. I'm not as smart as you anyway so it's okay for me to act smart because I'm still not like you. I can't write all that well and I certainly can't cook."

"You don't need to write well and cook to be smarter than me Shuichi. You just needed to prove that you had a little more common sense than me, and you did."

"Really?"

"Really. Now how about we go home?"

"I'd like that. I really would."

The End

(A/N: So, how'd you like it? This is my first Gravi fanfic and I dedicate it to Jessica Lloyd. How was it Yuki?")