Disclaimer: I don't own Gravitation or its characters

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"Hello?" Toby mumbled into the phone. "Yeah Tenchi one sec." Toby rolled over and nudged his wife. "Hunnie Tenchi is on the phone."

Rio rubbed her eyes sleepily not bothering to open them as her husband handed her the phone. "Tenchi, am I going to have to kill you?" she muttered into the phone.

"Sorry Rio I know you were sleeping, but I wanted to let you know we weren't going to be able to get calls for a few weeks."

"Huh?" She sat up, the man on the other end of the call having gained her full attention.

"What is it babe?"

"Tenchi what do you mean? Why won't we be able to get a hold of you?"

"Well seems like our friend is ready to make some changes, so Takken and I are going to do for him what you did for me."

Rio dropped back onto her pillow snuggling closer to Toby trying to regain the warmth she had lost. "You think it will work?"

"Honestly I don't know, but we will see. We will be heading to Shirakawa-go. I guess it's a little farm town or something. Takken got us a place off away from everything."

"You find out anything useful for me." Rio waited for her band mate to answer. "Tenchi?"

"I think you need to wait for him to tell you Rio. Having only one perspective on the situation can be dangerous."

Rio sighed, and relented. She knew Tenchi was right, but she was getting a little frustrated that Shuichi hadn't told them anything yet. "Tenchi you guys take care, alright?"

"We will Rio, tell everyone we said hi and we miss you all."

"Liar, only one you ever miss is Takken."

There was a chuckle on the other end of the phone, "Night Rio, love you guys."

"Hugs to both of you." With that she switched the phone off and handed it to her husband.

"So what are those two nutcases up too?" Toby asked after replacing the phone on the charge.

"They are going to try the stunt we pulled with Tenchi, except I think this Eiri Yuki is going willingly, unlike that kicking screaming idiot."

Toby chuckled as he rolled over to bury his face in Rio's hair. "Yeah, but we love the kicking screaming idiot."

"Lord only knows why," Rio chuckled back.

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"Hey Chi," Cody bound into Shuichi's room as he put away his English books. "Want to go shopping?"

"Shopping? What for?"

"Clothes, shoes, music, whatever strikes your fancy."

"Strikes my fancy?" Shuichi cocked his head telling Cody he had used a phrase Shuichi didn't understand.

"We can go buy whatever you want." Cody jangled his car keys a huge grin on his face. "Come on Chi, I only have three days left. I want to have some fun and the mall is calling."

"Do we get to stop by the arcade?" Shuichi smiled innocently.

"Oh yeah," Cody said dashing down the stairs, Shuichi right behind him.

They almost made it to the front door, before they were stopped. "And just where do you two think you are going?" Kenji's deep base had both young men cringing.

"Dude, Kenji you scared me." Cody smiled at the oldest member of Anime.

"I'm sure I did, being that you two look like your trying to sneak out."

"Kenji we aren't kids," Cody frowned at the snort he got. "We are both twenty-one come on."

"Do you think it would matter if you were fifty-one? Taking off with out telling Toby or Rio that your leaving isn't a good idea." Kenji was now standing directly in from of them arms crossed over his chest as he stared down at them.

"Alright, alright, we should have told them." Cody marched over to the stairs and yelled down at Toby. "Chi and I are headed to the mall for a bit, ok?"

Toby walked out to the base of the steps. "You two going to be home for dinner?"

Cody turned to look at Shuichi shrugging. Shuichi just shrugged back not sure what to say. "Umm, probably not."

"Do either of you need money?"

"I'm good," called Cody smiling at his brother before heading to the door, totally oblivious to Shuichi who was chewing on his lower lip.

Kenji frowned at Cody's back before pulling out his wallet. "Don't argue, I'll get it back from Toby." He handy Shuichi several bills, before pushing him out after Cody. "Call if you guys are going to be after ten."

Shuichi waved his thanks giving Kenji a brilliant grin. Kenji watched the red sports car take off before heading back down stairs. "Hey Toby, is Shuichi lighting up at all?"

"Yeah some. I know he talks to Cody a lot, but Cody hasn't really shared. Why what's up?"

"As much as I have been over here, he still only says hi, bye and the occasional thank you." The base player grabbed his interment and sat down to tune it. "He seems sad, even though he smiles."

Toby leaned against the piano thinking for a minute. "I wish I knew some way to bring him out of his shell. He will talk about his band sometimes when he is really relaxed, but that's about it."

"Wish I could tell you what to do." Toby smiled his appreciation to his friend. "By the way you owe me three hundred bucks," Kenji commented nonchalantly.

"What?"

---------------------------------------------------

"Cody, those are ugly." Shuichi had his eyes squinted as Cody twirled around in a pair of hot pink leather pants. "Those are beyond ugly."

"You're just jealous that they have a pair that fits me and not you."

"Cody, those are girl's pants," shrieked Shuichi.

"Dude, I know."

"That's because he is quire bait." The stupid grin that Cody had been wearing was replaced with a snarl as a growl escaped his lips.

Shuichi turned to see a tall brunette approaching them. He might have been handsome if he hadn't had the look he did on his face. Shuichi had seen that look before on the face of ASK's lead singer.

"Screw yourself David." Cody spat.

"But Cody I much rather screw you. Oh but wait, I did that already." Shuichi really didn't like this person and form the look on Cody's face, neither did he. "Who is your little friend Cody? Your latest fu…"

"He's my brother you idiot." Before Cody could step between them the brunette wrapped his arm around Shuichi pulling the younger man towards him.

Three weeks of constant training with Rio snapped into effect and Shuichi suddenly found the idiot sprawled flat on his back, Shuichi's foot at his throat. "Don't ever touch me," Shuichi growled.

He stepped back as Rio had shown him, ready to take what ever was thrown at him. The man backed off eyeing Shuichi warily, trying to figure out how he had ended up laid out like that.

"Go away David. I don't anything to do with you and neither does he."

David glared at them for several minutes looking to find a way to save face in the situation. "Stupid queers." With that he turned and walked away.

"Dude, Chi! That was amazing." Shuichi began to shack from the adrenalin rush as he stared wide eyed at Cody. Shuichi couldn't believe he had just done that, and to a guy so much bigger than him. He bit his lip for a moment before he smiled, a blush spreading across his cheeks. Cody chuckled at him.

"Cody?"

"Yeah Chi?"

"Those pants are still ugly."

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"You're joking, right?" Eiri looked around the farmhouse, uncertainty creeping back into his mind. So many times this past week he had wanted to call Tenchi and Takken and tell them it was off, but then he would catch a glimpse of the picture on his lighter.

"Nope," Takken said grinning. "Quaint little place isn't it."

"Quaint," Eiri shot him a look that said he was sure Takken had lost it. "We are thirty minutes from anywhere."

"Exactly," said Tenchi coming up behind him. He looked around the house himself, groaning when he saw the rooms were separated by screens. He silently hoped there was a plentiful supply of cold water for showers, because he was going to need it.

Eiri walked into the smaller room dropping his bag and laptop there looking around briefly before heading back to the main room. Tenchi was dropping his and Takken's luggage off in there room, complaining about his clothes horse boyfriend. Mean while Takken was stocking the kitchen with the food they brought.

Eiri sat down in one of the chairs, pulling out a cigarette he lit it, taking a long drag. Tenchi watched him for a minute before heading to the kitchen. A devious smile crossed his lips before he headed back to Eiri.

"He Eiri can I get one from you," he nodded towards the blonde's pack of cigarettes.

"Yeah but you have to buy me another pack, that's the last one I have." Tenchi reached down a grabbed the almost full pack heading towards the kitchen. "Hey what are you doing," Eiri yelled as Tenchi walked away. He had seen the smile on the drummer's face.

Eiri watched in horror and disbelief as Tenchi feed his pack of cigarettes the garbage disposal.

"No more alcohol, no more nicotine," Tenchi said smiling.

Eiri groaned, wondering what sort off hell he had put himself in.

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"I can't believe you wouldn't let me buy those pants," Cody said smiling.

"I can't believe you dated that idiot." Shuichi replies, shoving a french-fry in his mouth.

"Trust me," Cody said with a sigh, "You aren't the only one." Cody took several bites of his hamburger watching the people pass by. "Shuichi do you believe in true love?"

Shuichi looked at Cody, who was still looking out at the masses. He took a drink of his strawberry shake contemplating his answer. "I think that some people find true love, but not everybody."

"I come visit Toby and Rio and I really think it can happen, but then I go and see my parent," Cody shuddered.

"Your parents aren't together?" Shuichi looked at him in surprise.

"Oh there together, if you call living in the same house together. They don't care about anyone but themselves, and the bottle they are drinking." Shuichi stared at Cody in shock.

"Didn't Toby tell you?" Shuichi shook his head no. "Our parents are alcoholics, abusive ones."

"Abusive?"

"Yeah, when we were younger they would beat the crap out of Toby and me. We spent more time at Kenji's house then our own. Then there was the day Lance found us."

"Rio's step-brother?"

"Yeah. He had come home late from a party and saw me trying to drag Toby. My dad had beaten Toby up really bad." Cody smashed one of his fries to a pulpy substance. "Lance took us home and Rio's dad called the cops."

"Didn't they do anything?"

"Yeah," Cody snorted, "They took us home."

Shuichi's gaped in disbelief, "after what your father did."

"There wasn't much we could do, it was our word against our parents. My parent's said Toby had gotten into a fight coming home from a friend's."

"And the police believed them?"

"I don't think so, but there really was nothing they could do. Rio's dad helped us out though. He gave us both keys to there house and said we could use the spare room when ever we wanted."

"Is that where you are going back to?"

"Hell no, I have my own place. Toby bought it for me when I was sixteen. I have lived there ever since."

"I thought you had to be eighteen to live on your own."

"My parent's didn't care. They were glad I wasn't around to bother them."

The two sat in silence eating the rest of their meal.

Cody shook his head and smiled a Shuichi, "Chi want to hit up the music store? I want to buy some new CDs." Cody took off without waiting for Shuichi's answer, but he didn't mind, he wanted to buy some of his sister's CDs.

"Hey Cody," Shuichi said getting the other man's attention when he had caught up, "Where do you live."

"Washington," Cody said smiling.

"The country capital?" Shuichi scratched the back of his head knowing he had asked this question to someone before.

"Nope, Washington state. It a ways above California."

"Apples," Shuichi exclaimed excitedly.

"Yeah," Cody said laughing, "it is know for its apples."

"Why Washington," Shuichi asked picking up several Anime CDs.

"It's where my music scene is."

"Music scene?" Shuichi looked at him questioningly.

"Yep," Cody replied handing Shuichi a CD. One the cover was a picture of green eyes, and the band name, Cypress.

"Cody you have a band?" Shuichi all but yelled.

Cody gave him a brilliant smile. "I did, we broke up, that's our only CD."

"I can't believe you had a band and didn't tell me."

"You never asked."

Shuichi took the CDs to the cash register to pay for them. "So you going to autograph my CD before you leave." Shuichi asked taking the bag from the cashier.

"Only if you sign mine," Cody said holding up a Bad Luck CD.

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Eiri pulled the blankets over his head as the sunlight crept across his face. Why had he agreed to this? He wanted a cigarette so bad, but that psycho drummer had taken them. He punched the floor in frustration.

"Oh, you're awake," Takken's voice came from the now open screen. "You getting up today?"

"No!" Eiri snapped burying hi face in his pillow.

"Well lunch will be ready soon if you change your mind." Eiri did nothing more then raise his hand up far enough to give Takken a middle finger. He heard the screen starting to shut before it stopped, "Hey Eiri you might want to shower, you're cute and all but…" With that the guitarist left chuckling.

Eiri punched the floor several more times before pulling himself into a sitting position. He looked around dragging his hands through his hair in utter frustration. He missed his bed, his TV, his car, his beer and mainly his cigarettes. Eiri snarled out his displeasure before heading to the bathroom.

He stepped into the hot water of the shower letting the heat chase away the chill of the house. He scrubbed his skin viciously, attacking the grunge that had built up the last three days while he was sulking in bed. He continued his attack on the grime as he washed his hair aggressively. He cringed as he stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. The chill air of the house bit at his flesh, making him wish he had remembered to bring his clothes with him.

"So Eiri," Tenchi called to him a half smile playing at his lips. "You ready to hit me yet." Golden eyes met Tenchi's blue, clearly stating he was more than ready to do much more than just hit Tenchi. "Good, get into something you can move in, and hurry up."

Eiri gawked at Tenchi's retreating back. First the guy has the never to bring him out to who only knows where, they he destroys Eiri's only pack of cigarettes, won't let Eiri go get more and now he was ordering Eiri around.

Tenchi turned to look back his ice blues egging on the golden ones that were still staring at him. Tenchi smiled knowingly and walked back into the houses main room.

Now he was pissed. He grabbed a pair of sweats and a tee-shirt. If this asshole wanted a fight then he was going to get it. Eiri yanked his clothes on and stormed out to meet Tenchi. Tenchi was waiting for him, sitting cross legged in the middle of the now empty main room, a look of serenity now on his face. As Eiri approached he stood well aware of what was coming.

Eiri didn't even wait for Tenchi to finish standing before he threw his punch. His smile of satisfaction faded as he realized that Tenchi had easily deflected his assault. Eiri threw several more punches, but they to were quickly deflected. Eiri stepped back to watch Tenchi a minute, then unleashed another series of punch. Once more Tenchi deflected each blow easily. Eiri was becoming reckless but he didn't care. He was going to hit this arrogant bastard no matter what.

Tenchi watched the emotions play across Eiri's face. He was just throwing wild punches, hoping one might land. He saw the look in Eiri's eyes change from the 'I'm pissed" to the "I'm out for blood" look. Tenchi blocked Eiri's next volley of punches but this time retaliated. The base of Tenchi's hand connected with Eiri's chest sending him staggering backwards. Tenchi waited, knowing Eiri would come after him again.

Eiri ground his teeth together as he caught his balance. He growled his golden eyes smoldering, launching himself at Tenchi. He had every intention of tackling Tenchi to the ground where he could pummel him. Tenchi had other ideas though. Eiri was startled at how quickly Tenchi had stepped aside, but his mind didn't have time to register anything else as Tenchi grabbed his arm. The next moment Eiri had an instant of weightlessness before slamming down to the floor, the air escaping from his lungs.

Tenchi looked down at Eiri who was laying spread eagle on his back, the air knocked out of him. "Do you want to go another round or are you ready for lunch?"

Eiri lifted his head off the floor, his lungs still trying to work properly again. He watched Tenchi for several minutes before dropping his head again, closing his eyes in resignation. "What's for lunch?" Eiri said opening his eyes to see Tenchi holding out a hand to help him up.

"No clue, Takken is making it. My job was to beat the crap out of you."

"What the hell have I gotten myself into," Eiri said heading to the small kitchen sulking.

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"Do you have to go?" Shuichi was trying to fight back tears as Cody hugged him.

"Yeah dude, but don't worry I'll be back in a month or so for Christmas." Cody turned to Rio who also had tears in her eyes as she bid him farewell.

Shuichi hugged his sister as they watched Toby and Cody walk out to his car. "Annoying brat always manages to squirm his way into everyone's heart." They watched as Toby embraced his younger brother and watch the red sports car drive away.

Toby walked back in the house and leaned against the door. "Ah, it's way to quiet in here." He pushed away from the door and hit the play button on the stereo. Loud music blared from the speakers. It took Shuichi a minute to realize the voice singing was Cody's.

Suddenly the music stopped. "Toby Cypress you are not going to do this." Shuichi watched his sister advance on her husband, an ominous tone to her voice. "I am not going to sit here and watch you get all depressed because your brother left."

"Shut up Rio." Shuichi's mouth fell open.

"Don't you dare tell me to shut up. I don't want you getting all depressed and Cody wouldn't want it either. "

Shuichi swallowed not sure what he should do. It was pretty clear that Toby and Rio were about to have a pretty good row and he didn't want to be there to watch it. Quietly he made his way up the stairs while his sister yelled at her husband.

Shuichi sat on his bed, a mild state of shock overtaking him. He had thought Rio and Toby had a great relationship but to see them fight. He swallowed down tears.

"Maybe true love doesn't exist after all," he whispered to himself.

Shuichi sat there looking at nothing in particular when a door slammed making him jump. A few moments latter there was a soft knock on his door.

"Chi?" Rio stuck her head in looking for him. He smiled at her not knowing what to say. 'Shuichi I'm sorry, we shouldn't have started arguing in front of you."

"It's ok," he replied not wanting to make his sister feel bad.

"No it's not." She sat down next to him pulling him into a hug. "Want to go get something to eat?" Shuichi looked at her for a moment before nodding.

Shuichi was surprised when Rio walked over to her bedroom door. She didn't try to open. "Toby I'm taking Shuichi to get something to eat."

"Fine," came a muffled response.

"Do you want me to bring you back anything?"

"No."

Rio started down the stairs, Shuichi following. He was certain he heard a 'jerk' come from his sister before they reached the bottom.

As they pulled onto the freeway Rio took her cell out and told it to call Kenji.

"Hello?"

"Peg is your husband there?"

"Yeah, you ok Rio." There was a hint of worry in the other woman's voice.

"Yeah I'm fine, Cody left today."

"Ah," Shuichi could hear Peg relay that information as she handed the phone to her husband.

"I take it we are throwing a pity part," Kenji's soothing voice came through the speaker phone.

"Oh yeah."

"Rio where are you?" Kenji's voice had suddenly taken a different tone, one of concern.

"It's ok Kenji, I'm taking Shuichi to dinner and letting my pig headed husband cool off before I scream at him again."

Rio," there was a pause, "You be careful ok. I know how you get when you're upset."

"I am Kenji, I promise. After all I have Chi with me." Rio smiled over at him quickly, before returning her attention to the road.

"I'll go check on you husband," there was a chuckle "And we get to go through this again after Christmas."

"Oh don't even go there yet." Rio and Kenji said there good byes as Rio turned into the parking lot of her favorite restaurant.

Fifteen minutes later she was absently chomping on the carrot that had come with the appetizer when Shuichi asked her a question that had her knitting her brows together.

"Rio, are you and Toby going to break up?"

She regarded him for several minutes before responding. "Hell no."

Shuichi bit his lip looking down at his half eaten appetizer. "The way you two were yelling…" He stopped when she placed her hand on his.

"Shuichi," she said seriously, "Just because Toby and I had a fight doesn't mean we don't love each other. Hell, it took that ass four years to tell me he loved me."

Shuichi jerked his head up to look at his sister. Four years, he couldn't believe it.

"Toby has trouble expressing his emotions any where but on stage. It comes from his background, and I know it." She took a drink of her wine before twirling the remaining liquid around in the glass. "Toby and I love each other very much Chi, but despite that, sometimes we piss each other off."

She stopped while the server took away there plates and refilled Shuichi's soda.

"But you two seemed so…angry."

Rio sighed staring off somewhere over Shuichi's head. "Loud more than angry. It's like if we are louder than the other one they might actually hear us," Rio looked back at Shuichi, a smirk on her face. "Stupid huh?"

Shuichi was grateful that the server had returned with their salads. He took a bit hoping Rio wasn't expecting him to answer. They sat in silence again as they ate there salads both thinking.

"Chi, what do you think makes a relationship work?"

Shuichi gave Rio a look that reminded her of a child that got caught sneaking cookies.

"Umm, love I guess."

"What else?"

"What else?" Shuichi looked at her confused. Didn't it just take love?

"Ok let me ask you this, what is love?"

"That funny feeling you get when you're around that person." The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. Rio smiled and nodded for him to continue. "The way that person can make you feel, good or bad."

"That's a start, anything else."

Shuichi blushed a deep red and mumbled something. Rio started to laugh, "Yes sex is a benefit of it. What else?"

Shuichi sat thinking, "Being there for each other. Know about each others lives."

"Can you think of anything else?" Shuichi shook his head no. "All of those are correct, but there is much more to love. It's taking advantage of each other's strengths and help each other in your weaknesses. It's being there to support them when they have forgotten you're the one that keeps them up, and realizing the only reason your standing is because they are there supporting you. It's yelling at them when they decide to be an ass, and holding them when it's all said and done. It's not giving up on the other person."

There was silence for several long minutes as Shuichi took an extreme interest in his salad. "Rio?" a single tear slid down his face as he looked up, "Is there a time when you should give up?"

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Thank you for reading, I hope you are enjoying. Reviews and Corrective Criticism are welcome.