I'm very, very sorry for the long delay. I hate this chapter with all my being, but I want to get it out and I'm lacking inspiration. Enjoy (if you can).

-o-o-o-o-

"Damn it." The frustrated novelist growled and roughly put his cigarette in the ashtray next to his laptop. Why couldn't he write anything? His mind was as blank the Word document that he was presently glaring at. 'Writer's block in the pits.'

It was 3:00 in the morning and hadn't gotten a wink of sleep. Eiri felt like smashing something against the wall. He wanted to watch it shatter into a million pieces. Perhaps his laptop…? But of course, that wasn't going to solve his problem. 'I thought taking this teaching position was supposed to help me find inspiration. Instead, it's sufficiently lowered the number of hours of sleep I get a night, and taken away the me time I value so much. If I last through this year, I'm definitely quitting afterwards.'

"Are you ever going to bed?" A quiet voice asked. Eiri spun quickly around and found himself staring at his friend, Shindou Shuichi. Oh, that's right. Shuichi was staying the night.

"How long have you been awake?" Eiri questioned. This whole time, he had naturally assumed that the younger man was asleep.

"Since about…2:30, and I've been listening to you type ever since then. Honestly, no wonder you're so grumpy all the time." He said and walked over. "You know, people generally sleep at night."

"Yes, well people generally aren't novelists with deadlines, now are they?" He shot back, and leaned into his swiveling chair. Shuichi nodded and yawned.

"Come on." He said, and began tugging on his friend's arm. Eiri pulled away and glared at him.

"Why?"

"Come to bed." Shuichi said and continued tugging his arm. Eiri sighed and turned his gaze at the empty document. The white screen never changed. It was blank, as blank as his mind. Out of ideas. 'Am I wasting my time?' With one last heavy sigh, he pushed himself up from his chair sluggishly and allowed Shuichi to guide him to his bed. Without bothering to change into pajamas, Eiri flopped on the bed and buried his face in a pillow. Shuichi pulled the soft sheets up to Eiri's shoulder like a mother tucking her child into bed. "Goodnight." He said softly.

A grunt was the only response heard.

-o-o-o-o-

Many hours later, two hazel eyes slowly opened, then immediately closed again to block out the light. Blink. Blink. Open.

Ueseugi Eiri stirred, rolling over to his other side. He looked at opposite side of the bed, which was empty. No surprise. He propped himself up on his elbows and yawned with his mouth wide open. Throwing his feet over the side, Eiri sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed his eyes. The glaring red numbers on bedside clock read 2:00 pm. "You're fucking kidding me…" Eiri mumbled his breath. 'I know I set my alarm for10:00 am yesterday.' He turned the clock around to see the alarm was "off." He growled and pushed himself up from his bed and walked out to the den. Just as he suspected, Shuichi was sitting there watching television and munching on an apple. "Did you disable my alarm?" He asked angrily.

Shuichi looked up and smiled "Well, well, look who's up! Did you sleep well?" Eiri glared. Shuichi smiled.

"Did you?"

The younger man sighed. "Look, it's Sunday! You don't need to be up at 11:00, especially when you were up at 3:00 in the morning. You need your sleep." Shuichi scolded.

"Who are you, my mother?" Eiri asked sarcastically. He walked over and plopped on the couch next to his friend.

"I may as well be! You need to take better care of yourself." Shuichi continued his rant, and Eiri closed his eyes in defeat.

"Okay, okay, would you shut up already?"

"…Fine." Shuichi said and turned away. Eiri still had his eyes closed, mulling over what to do with the little bit of day he had left. He could try to write something. Yeah, he'd probably do that. "It's snowing." His friend said lightly. He opened his eyes and looked out the window. The sky was grey and overcast, and little flakes of white fell silently to the ground. Frost already covered the ground, and very few leaves were left on the trees. The world was asleep.

"Yeah." Eiri replied. They stared out the window for a short while, just watching the quiet world outside. The snow had been on and off the past couple of months. Eiri liked it when it snowed, simply because he didn't have to feel bad about locking himself in his study all day.

"Hey…" A quiet voice broke the sleepy silence. Eiri cocked his head towards his friends and raised his eyebrow as if to say 'what?' A small smile slowly formed on Shuichi's face, the corners of his mouth stretching to the sides of his face. It was a grin the suggested he had an idea. He turned his eyes from the window to Eiri's face and stared into his eyes. "Let's go to the grocery store."

-o-o-o-o-

"Tell me why I'm here again?"

"Because," an accusing Shuichi pointed a slim finger in the blonde's face, "you missed the dinner with Kyo, so now we have to prepare a fabulous dinner to make up for it."

"Ugh…" Eiri sighed and pressed his forehead against the handle bar o f the shopping cart. Shuichi was riding inside the cart, telling Eiri to move along and pointing to different places around the store.

"Let's see…we need naganegi, (1)" Shuichi said. He raised his head form the list and looked around the packed store. "There!" He said, indicating with his index finger, "Isle 6!"

"Okay, okay." Eiri mumbled and pushed past crowds of people to get to the sixth isle. He wore a dark pair of sunglasses and a scarf to conceal his identity from the general public. Having reached isle six, he slowly moved along, his eyes wandering up and down the shelves trying to find naganegi. "Here it is." He said, and reached to the top shelf. He pulled it down and handed it to Shuichi, who smiled happily and looked back at the list. They did not have very much in their cart, thereby enabling Shuichi to sit in it. "You know you look like an idiot, right?"

"Yes." Shuichi giggled. Eiri looked around slightly embarrassed at the attention Shuichi was getting for his childish behavior. "But, you know, I haven't done this since I was a kid, and I'm having fun. Why should I care what they think?" Eiri watched the back of Shuichi's head as he scanned the list, wishing he had that kind of self-confidence. Sure, he had his fault, but Shuichi was a pretty special person. There weren't many people like him left in the world; fun, free of worry, and loving. He didn't walk around with a thick coat of armor all day. He expressed every emotion openly, and accepted them. 'I wonder what's it's like to be so carefree?' "Okay…" Shuichi spoke somewhat loudly, interrupting Eiri's thought pattern. The novelist's eyes back into focus. "We need bouillon cubes."

"I have them at home."

"Mayonnaise?"

"Got it."

"Sugar?"

"Have that, too."

"Great, "Shuichi smiled, "then we just have to get crab and we're out of here!" He moved a bit in the cart and almost sat on the naganegi.

"Okay, the seafood department was back at the entrance…" Eiri said, turning the cart around in as small a circle as he could so he wouldn't hurt other people.

"Alright, then: Onward!" Shuichi practically yelled, making a fist in the air in the direction of the seafood department. Eiri flushed with embarrassment and rolled his eye, but at the same time he had to laugh. Shuichi really was so carefree. The blonde pushed the cart with a smile on his face while listening to his friend chatter.

-o-o-o-o-

"Yum…that naganegi stuffed with crabmeat (2) was delicious!" Shuichi said, putting his plate down. They were sitting at the dining table next to the kitchen. Eiri was still eating, but Shuichi had gobbled it down within 7 minutes of getting it. "I didn't know you're such a good cook!"

"Yeah, well I live alone, so I don't have much of a choice." Eiri replied, setting down his chopsticks and taking a swig of his beer. Shuichi had already finished that, too. The raven-haired male piled carried the can and his plate over to the kitchen, where he disposed of and washed them. Shuichi then went to the fridge, grabbed yet another beer, and walked over to the navy couch. The novelist turned around in his chair and glared. "No, please; make yourself at home." Shuichi laughed.

"Don't worry, I will." Eiri sighed as he took the last bit of his dinner. He too washed off his plate, then grabbed 2 six packs of beer and brought them over to the sofa. His friend gaped.

"Man, we have school tomorrow!" He exclaimed.

"Wrong. It's holiday." Eiri said and opened another beer.

"Really?"

"Really."

Shuichi smiled and leaned back into the couch. "Awesome." He said, and brought the can to his lips. Eiri grabbed the remote and turned on the television in front of them. After flipping through the channels, to find nothing good on, he just left it on a ridiculous game show the Shuichi seemed to be fascinated by. They sat there for hours, talking of god knows what, drinking every last beer and becoming quite tipsy. "Who picked out this clown's outfit?" Shuichi babbled drunkenly, pointing the colourfully dressed game show host. "He's so bright I can't see a damn thing!"

"Trust me," Eiri muttered, "you're not missing much." Shuichi nodded and continued to stare at the screen.

Eiri was much better at holding his drink, and was therefore far less tipsy than Shuichi. He still felt a bit drunk though, and rubbed his temples. His eyes closed, and he leaned back into the couch. Almost at the same time, for reasons unknown, Shuichi leaned over and placed his head in Eiri's lap. Eiri's eyes snapped open and he looked down at his lap with one eyebrow raised. Shuichi was still staring at the screen. He thought it odd, but didn't say anything and instead reached with one hand and pushed the dark bangs out of his friend's face.

"You really are drunk, aren't you?" Shuichi smiled and closed his eyes, burying his face in Eiri's thigh.

"I suppose so."

Eiri continued touching Shuichi's hair, eventually drifting his digits lightly over the younger male's temple and cheek. His skin was soft, and a much darker colour than Eiri's. It felt like the skin of a child. He followed this course, all the while watching Shuichi nestle comfortably into himself. 'He's wasted.' Eiri chuckled at this thought and looked over at the clock.

"Oh, it's 10:45." He stated, and took his hand away from the man's face. Shuichi opened his eyes and looked over.

"Oh, yeah…" Much to Shuichi distaste, Eiri pushed himself up from the couch and headed towards the bedroom.

"Alright, well, I'm going to try to fall asleep early so I don't have to hear your bitching again tomorrow." He stated with a yawn. "Get some sleep."

Eiri walked into his bedroom, immediately removing his shirt and pants. He walked into his bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his tired face. Any other night, the blonde would have immediately crawled into bed. However, upon exiting the bathroom, he found someone already sitting on the edge of his bed, staring at him.

"What are you doing?" He asked, and Shuichi just stared at him with a drunken expression. This was not surprising, because Eiri was in boxers. The novelist walked a few feet forward. "Shuichi, what's wrong?"

Shuichi said nothing. He just stared. Becoming quite exasperated, Eiri stomped over and grabbed his arms, lifting him from the bed and intending to walk his obviously confused friend back to the couch. Shuichi stopped him, however, and gripped tightly on Eiri's sculpted biceps. He was staring down at the floor.

"Shuichi, what is it? What's—" He was cut off, however, when he felt two small hands working their way through his hair. Shuichi lifted his head and looked Eiri straight in the eye with an indescribable look. The blonde's eyes widened, and he could not help but wonder what the hell was happening as Shuichi's coming closer to his own. And yet, he did not protest or complain when Shuichi's own full lips came in contact with his own. In fact, he almost immediately responded. Their tongues intertwined as Eiri then backed up to the large bed. Shuichi fell beneath him, and the young man's head fell into the fluffy pillows. Eiri lay over top of him and continued the kiss between the two mouths.

Shuichi's soft hands trailed down his neck and spine, and back up. His jet black eyes were overflowing with want, and Eiri could only respond greedily. His skilled hands travelled down the small waist and hips of the man beneath him. Shuichi's back arched and he groaned. Eiri's hand wandered down his long legs, and back up his inner thighs.

"Mmm…Eiri…" Shuichi moaned and pushed so that they rolled over and he was on top of the blonde. He again graced Eiri's soft lips with his own. Working from there, he kissed Eiri neck, attacking it with a protruding tongue. Eiri sighed contently and settled his large hand on Shuichi rear. It had been so long since he last had sex. Kisses trailed down his stomach and sides, and Eiri watched Shuichi's plump lips forcefully touch his skin. Working farther and farther down, the young man's lips softly touched the front of his boxers. Watching this, Eiri could feel himself stiffen.

Shuichi straddled the larger man beneath him, and removed his shirt to reveal his feminine torso. Eiri placed his hand on the bare shoulder, and softly lead them down the creamy skin of Shuichi's chest. Said person closed his eyes and leaned his head back, allowing the novelist to touch him however he pleased. His mouth hung open, and he moaned as Eiri played with his erect nipples. "Hnn…" He moaned.

Taking advantage of the raven-haired man's vulnerable state, Eiri again gained control and flipped on top of Shuichi. Eiri's long fingers began to unbuttoned and lowered the zipper on Shuichi's skinny jeans. Shuichi writhed beneath him and pushed his hips up. "Eiri…" The name slipped past his lips as a soft whisper. Shuichi pushed up again, making his physical need known.

And with that, Eiri stopped in mid action and actually took a second to think about what was going on. What was he doing? Shuichi is his friend. Shuichi is a guy. Shuichi has a boyfriend.

"Mmm, please. Eiri, please." Shuichi begged. He pulled the older man down to him and kissed him with a strong passion. All thought was again lost, and he continued ridding Shuichi of his clothing.

Eiri had never had sex with a boy before but, as he found out, it wasn't much different from doing it with a girl. It was just as good. It left him with the same feeling of satisfaction.

Shuichi was loud, moaning at the slightest contact, crying out during climax. But what spoke loudest to Eiri was the unmistakable feeling he felt each time he took the young man, the blaring truth that stared him right in the face when he looked in his eyes:

'I'm in love with my best friend.'

-o-o-o-o-

(1) Naganegi means "leeks."

(2) "Naganegi stuffed with crab meat" Ingredients:

2 thick naganegi

5/6 cup water

1 teaspoon gelatin

½ chicken bouillon cube

2 tablespoons fresh cream

1 tablespoon mayonnaise

Dash sugar

3 ½ ounces crabmeat, cooked and shredded

There you go. You finally got what you want. But there's still story to come (no matter how bad it may be), so don't abandon me.