Yuki nervously followed K down the hallway that led to Kaemon's apartment. He'd never met Shuichi's ex-lover, and he wasn't particularly interested in meeting with him now. He just wanted to see with his own eyes that Shuichi was alive and well. His stomach churned uncomfortably when he remembered that once again Shuichi had been hurt because of him. If only I hadn't pushed him away…he would be alright now if I hadn't pushed him away.

Another thought entered Yuki's mind making his stomach twist into a ball of knots. Why do we have to go to Kaemon's apartment first? What is Kaemon's motive? Is he trying to take Shuichi from me again? If Shuichi had to choose between the two of us now, would he still choose me? Yuki painfully remembered the way he felt when he learned about Shuichi and Kaemon's engagement. I can't lose him again! Yuki was so deep in his tormented thoughts he didn't notice when they stopped or that K had knocked on Kaemon's door. The door abruptly opened pulling Yuki from his contemplation and revealing a handsome red haired man with brilliant green eyes.

"You must be Andrew," K said greeting him warmly. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine," Andrew answered sincerely. "If it weren't for you, Kaemon would have never moved to New York, and I would never have found my soul mate!"

"You're Kaemon's lover?" Yuki asked Andrew in shock.

"Yup!" Andrew blushed smiling straightforwardly.

"You…you knew about this," Yuki asked K an angry glare quickly replacing his astonished expression.

"Sorry, my bad," K said smiling uncomfortably at Yuki's menacing countenance. I'd better quit pissing him off, he admonished himself. This is the third time today, and by the look on his face now, I don't think I'll survive if I do it again! "Um…have you learned anything about this Kaori Nakamura," he asked Andrew in an attempt to divert Yuki's attention.

"He's a student at NYU currently working toward his MBA. He's a good student, not one of the best but well above average. His twin sister Yori also attends NYU. She's working toward a MA in counseling. Their father, Teijo Nakamura is the president of Yamamoto Corporation's branch office here in New York." Andrew looked at Yuki apologetically. "I'm sorry, but this is all I could find on such short notice."

"Did Kaemon get a chance to talk with Kaori before he left the clinic with Shuichi?" K wondered aloud.

"No, he didn't have the chance."

"Look, just give us Kaori's address so we can go get Shuichi," Yuki said trying hard to suppress the anxiety in his voice.

"I'm sorry," Andrew apologized sincerely, "but you're going to have to wait for Kaemon." He held his hands up to stave off Yuki's protest. "When Kaemon called earlier, he said his friend Jennifer would give him Kaori's address before he left work today." Noting the impatience on Yuki's face he added, "I realize it must be difficult for you to wait like this but, Jennifer could get into some serious trouble if she gets caught handing out personal information from a patient's file."

Kaemon suddenly burst through the apartment door. "Great you're already here! Have you already explained everything?" Andrew nodded in affirmation. "Good! I've got the address! Let's go get Shuichi!"

Kaori and Shuichi walked into the entrance of the apartment complex carrying the groceries they'd purchased for dinner.

"Yori's really gonna be mad at me for buying all of this food," Kaori said sheepishly as they waited for the elevator.

"You can blame it on me if…"

"Shuichi!"

Kaori and Shuichi both turned around equally shocked that someone was calling his name. Shuichi gasped as he saw four men hastily descending upon them. Outside of Kaemon, who he'd seen earlier, there was a man with long, blond hair pulled back into a ponytail, a red head with piercing green eyes, and possibly the most handsome man he'd ever seen also with blond hair and mesmerizing golden eyes. Kaori maneuvered himself defensively in front of Shuichi, as he stood there frozen in fear.

"Shuichi, we've come to take you back." Yuki exclaimed walking toward him. Kaori made an attempt to block his path, but one threatening glance from Yuki's angry eyes backed him quickly away.

"Who are you," Shuichi asked looking into those golden eyes which were as close to perfection as humanly possible.

"I'm Eiri Yuki, your real lover."

"But Kaori is…" Shuichi started unable to tear his gaze away from Yuki's eyes.

"Kaori is lying to you," Yuki cut him off. "For the past two years you've been living with me."

Suddenly Shuichi felt Kaori's strong arms wrap around him. "I love you Shuichi! I was the one who found you wandering lost and alone. If Yuki truly is your lover, why wasn't he there when you needed him? I was there for you. I'll always be here for you!" He gently turned Shuichi to face him and gave him a sweet, soft kiss letting his lips linger before he slowly pulled away with a triumphant look on his face.

Shuichi glanced at Yuki in trepidation. His eyes were shooting daggers into Kaori. "If you really are my lover," Shuichi began hesitantly. "where were you when those guys beat me up? Why was I left all alone? Why didn't you come and find me?" Unwelcome tears began to spill over his cheeks, and he buried his face into Kaori's chest.

Kaori wrapped his arms around Shuichi. "It's alright love, I'm here for you," He whispered soothingly and it was impossible not to notice the supreme pleasure he derived from Yuki's anguished expression.

"I didn't know you were in danger." Yuki mumbled his voice heavily laced with guilt and pain. It was distressing to have Shuichi looking at him with that distant, unemotional face. He was so used to Shuichi always looking at him like a love sick school girl. Why…why are you looking at Kaori the way you always used to look at me? "You're coming with me," he yelled suddenly grabbing Shuichi by his wrist and pulling him forcefully from Kaori's comforting embrace.

"What do you think you're doing?" Shuichi yelled indignantly. "Stop, you're hurting me! Let me go!" He began to struggle but it was to no avail.

"Get your filthy hands off him!" Kaori screamed throwing a wild punch at Yuki's face.

Yuki easily dodged his punch and accelerated his fall to the ground with a well timed shove. Kaori refused to let Shuichi go without a fight. He went after Yuki again, but this time he was caught from behind and held back by K.

Shuichi was really beginning to panic. "Let go of me! I don't want to go with you! I want to stay with Kaori!"

Yuki stopped suddenly and looked at him with so much pain in his eyes it made Shuichi wince uncomfortably. Then, in the blink of an eye, all of the emotion that was emanating from his pale, stunning face evaporated leaving behind a cold, indifferent expression. "That's the way it is," he said with a harsh, icy tone. "I'll leave you to your 'lover' then!" With that he turned on his heel and walked nonchalantly away.

"What in the hell are you doing Yuki?" Kaemon yelled as he followed him out of the building.

Shuichi watched him leave with a mixture of relief and anxiety. What is this feeling in my chest all of a sudden? He was trying to kidnap me! Why am I all upset by that pained look on his face?

Kaori shook himself away from a stunned K and once again enveloped Shuichi in a protective hug. "Are you alright?" Shuichi didn't hear what he was saying. He just kept staring at the rapidly retreating form of the person who also claimed to be his lover.

K walked into Shuichi's line of sight. "I'm K, the manager of Bad Luck. Could I have a few moments alone with Shuichi," he asked Kaori in a tone clearly stating that resistance would be futile.

"I'll wait for you by the elevator." Kaori said apprehensively as he gave Shuichi's arm a reassuring squeeze. Then he reluctantly walked over to the elevator and began to pick up the groceries that had been scattered across the floor during the scuffle.

"I know all of this must be terribly confusing for you," K whispered in Shuichi's ear keeping a wary eye on Kaori, "but regardless of the way he acted just now, Yuki really is your lover. He's been searching for you non-stop. I don't think he slept a wink last night, and I'm afraid he hasn't eaten anything since you disappeared yesterday." Noting the concern on Shuichi's face, he continued with renewed confidence. "Yuki loves you very much. He may be hurt and angry now, but he won't stay that way for long." He hastily scribbled something in the small notebook he surreptitiously pulled out of his pocket and handed it to him. "This is the address to the Windsor Hotel where Yuki is staying. He's in suite 816, just in case you change your mind and decide to go to him, but no matter who you choose, you still have an obligation to N-G Studios as the vocalist of Bad Luck. Eventually you will have to return to Japan." With that, he turned and resolutely followed Andrew out of the building.

"What was that all about," Kaori asked trying hard to hide the dread that was welling up inside him.

"We were just discussing my obligation to N-G Studios," Shuichi said hoping he would drop the subject.

"Is that all," he sighed in relief. "Well then let's get going, shall we?" As he started toward the elevator, Shuichi shoved the address K had given him into his pocket and quietly fell into step behind him.

"Damn it Yuki! What the hell is wrong with you?" Kaemon demanded running ahead of Yuki and planting himself firmly in his path. "Get your ass back in there! How can you just leave Shuichi like that?"

"Didn't you notice the way he looked at that guy? Did you not see how…well they were getting along? Shuichi's already fallen in love with him!" Yuki pushed him aside and continued walking toward Andrew's car.

"I saw the way he looked at Kaori," Kaemon argued confidently. "and I can tell you with one hundred percent certainty that Shuichi does not love him."

"You have no idea what you are talking about!" Yuki turned on him angrily. "You have no idea how quickly that annoying brat can fall in love with someone, or how stubbornly he clings to the person he loves!"

"Have you forgotten that I was once in love with Shuichi myself?" Kaemon yelled hastily closing the gap between them. "Shuichi looked at Kaori the way he always used to look at me." He pulled his wallet from his back pocket retrieved a tattered piece of paper from within and after carefully unfolding it, he handed it to Yuki. "Shuichi will never love anyone the way he loves you. This picture helped me realize that fact."

Yuki carefully took the picture from Kaemon. "Where did you get this?"

"I printed it off the internet. It served as a reminder to me…that Shuichi never had and never would love me as much as he loves you. Every time I would think about him, I would look at this picture and it would always remind me of that fact." He smiled as he saw his lover walking toward them. "Now that I have Andrew, I don't need it anymore."

"I don't understand," Yuki muttered in confusion. This must have been taken during our vacation last year. It was supposed to be a private beach! How did they get close enough to take this?

"This was the final shot in a series of three pictures that was taken when the two of you were kissing, "he said as he pointed to the photo. "You are the only person who could make Shuichi shine like this. It doesn't matter that he can't remember you. Shuichi's heart will always belong to you."

Yuki stared at the breathtaking expression on Shuichi's beautiful face. Memories of that perfect day flooded into his mind making his heart ache. If only that were true! "You're too much of a romantic," he said handing back the photo and walking dejectedly away.