A/N: Hi! The poll on my profile is at a tie. Anyone care to break it? Thanks!

Shuichi brought back the tea to the studio, giving a forced smile as Suguru gave him a questioning look. He sat beside him and absently chewed on the end of the stick of strawberry Pocky in his mouth.

"So, Shuichi," Aika said with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "Who are you really dating? Joshuya Eiji or Suguru here?"

Shuichi's eyes rolled over to her wearily.

"I don't think he's in the mood, Aika," Kimi said quietly. "Why don't we go down to the lobby and annoy the new security guard you think is cute?"

"I guess," Aika said sullenly, then brightened. "Oh, can we make faces at all those stupid photographers outside through the window?"

"Sure, honey," Kimi said, shaking her head.

"Sorry if I said something wrong, Shu-chan," Aika said as they walked out of the door.

"Yuki-san?" Suguru asked. Shuichi nodded.

"What did he say to you?"

"That's just it. He didn't say anything," Shuichi said.

"Well, if it's any consolation, he really doesn't come to see Tohma all that often. I'm rather surprised he was even here today," Suguru said. "Are you going to be all right?"

"Yeah, I just -- I didn't expect it to be quite like that," Shuichi said.

"Maybe he just has a lot on his mind," Suguru said. "You know, this floor isn't exactly on the way to Tohma's office. Maybe he wanted to see you, but just didn't know what to say."

"It's no big thing. I was prepared," Shuichi said with a forced smile. "Hey, I was listening to one of the demos you had for Sand. Do you think we could use their bass player for the closing track? I think it would add a really cool sound."

"Oh, that's a great idea!" Suguru said excitedly, tilting his head back and closing his eyes as if he were imagining the sound in his mind.

Shuichi watched his face, smiling to himself at his friend's shared enthusiasm for the music. He felt the strangest urge pass through him, his fingers twitched, and words seemed to form in his mind like someone unseen were whispering in his ear. He shivered. It had been a long time since he'd felt that sensation.

"I'll be right back," Shuichi said, grabbing his messenger bag and running out of the studio, ignoring the confused look Suguru gave him.

OoOoO

It seemed to be a quiet understanding that neither of them even discussed when Suguru helped Shuichi repack the clothes strewn over the hotel bed and brought him back to his home. Ashia gave them a raised eyebrow as they entered, but said nothing.

"So, you liked Sand, huh?" Suguru asked as Shuichi gathered plates for the supper Suguru was preparing.

"Yeah, they've got a really neat style. Do you think Tohma's going to sign them?" Shuichi asked. Suguru was silent for a moment.

"Can you keep a secret, Shuichi?" Suguru asked, glancing at the kitchen door.

"Sure, what is it?" Shuichi asked.

"Those demos aren't for NG. They're for my own project," Suguru said with a smile. "I've been wanting to tell you about this for a while, and now is as good a time as any, I suppose."

"You're starting your own label?" Shuichi asked with disbelief, as Suguru placed a finger to his lips and winked.

"It's nothing personal against Tohma or NG or anything. I just want to branch out on my own now that I have the money and reputation, you know? I want something smaller, where I can focus my energies on just a select roster of artists," Suguru said.

"That's really great, Suguru!" Shuichi said. "When do you plan on starting it?"

"The building is already finished. Sister Moon's new album is going to be my last project with NG. Sand is going to be my first act for GL," Suguru said.

"GL?" Shuichi asked. "What does it stand for?"

"Good Luck," Suguru said with a grin. Shuichi laughed.

"Are you girls through socializing yet, or do I need to order pizza?" Ashia called through the door.

"Coming dear," Suguru answered sarcastically. Shuichi frowned as Suguru dutifully prepared his lover a plate and brought it to him.

Dinner was pleasant enough, despite Ashia's occasional jabs at his imagined rival for his meal ticket, Shuichi and Suguru excitedly discussing the possibilities of what they could accomplish in the studio with both Sand and Sister Moon. After their meal, Suguru and Shuichi sat at the grand piano, Suguru even coaxing the singer into doing a rendition of a few Bad Luck songs. Ashia rolled his eyes at them, before surprising them by joining in on a few traditional numbers.

After they'd turned in for the night, Shuichi carefully drew his notebook out of his bag, and laid across his bed to look at what he'd written. After crossing out and adding a few things, he restlessly wandered towards the kitchen to get a soda. On his way back to the guest room, he passed Suguru's, where he heard the unmistakable moans and creaks of bedsprings. He felt both nauseated and strangely aroused as he went back to his room, laying the notebook aside and instead fishing out a full bottle of vodka he was thankful had remained undiscovered at the very bottom of his box of clothes.

OoOoO

"Brat."

"Yuki."

The exchange went exactly the same, for the third day in a row, almost becoming a comforting sort of ritual, as Shuichi stepped out to get everyone tea.

"Why has he been coming here every day, when he usually comes by once every couple of weeks at most, I wonder?" Suguru asked with a knowing smile.

The tabloid papers were still abuzz with Shuichi's and Suguru's lover's spat that had thrown him into the arms of Joshuya Eiji, along with speculations that Shuichi was making music again, but without anything new to go on, the crowd outside Suguru's and NG's doors had slowly begun to thin.

"We've been working awfully hard," Suguru announced while they made dinner that night. "Why don't we give the girls a rest tomorrow?"

"But the album's almost finished," Shuichi said, leaving unspoken that a day away from the studio was a missed opportunity to see Yuki, if just for a moment.

"Well, we're way ahead of schedule. Wouldn't you like to have a day off?" Suguru asked. Shuichi shrugged.

"Yeah, I guess that would be all right," Shuichi said.

"Good, because I have a couple of places I want to take you tomorrow," Suguru said.

Another comforting ritual Shuichi had was quietly drinking himself to sleep alone in his room once Suguru and Ashia retired. It helped him face the long night and empty bed that awaited him, with Yuki still so fresh upon his mind, and the frightening sensation of being set adrift without Hiro in his life to ground him.

He stumbled back from the bathroom, cursing as he stubbed his toe on a chair and hopped over to the bed. The door to his room opened a crack, letting in the light from the hallway.

"Shuichi, are you okay?" Suguru asked.

"Fine. Stubbed my toe, s'all," Shuichi slurred, staring up at the ceiling and feeling dizzy. The door swung wider, throwing light across him as Suguru stepped inside.

"You're drunk aren't you?" Suguru asked. His voice did not sound accusing, just vaguely sad.

"Yep, pretty much," Shuichi said with a joyless laugh. Suguru sighed, shutting the door behind him and walking over to sit on the bed.

"Want to tell me why you're sitting in here in the dark getting wasted?" Suguru asked, timidly reaching over and smoothing the hair out of Shuichi's eyes.

"My mom used to rub my head just like that when I was a kid. Feels nice," Shuichi murmured. "Did you just ask me a question?"

"I asked why you were in here drinking," Suguru repeated, sighing.

"Beats the alternative," Shuichi said, awkwardly stumbling over the last word.

"You just need to refocus your energies. I thought being back in the studio would help," Suguru said, then froze as Shuichi snuggled up against him.

"I miss having sex," Shuichi murmured. "Gets so lonely."

"Uh, I'd better go back to bed now," Suguru said in a choked voice, sliding off the bed.

"Nobody wants me anymore," Shuichi sniffed, turning away on his side.

"Goodnight, Shuichi," Suguru said gently, crossing the room and going back into the hallway.

OoOoO

Shuichi woke to the sounds of raised voices from the front room. He stirred sleepily, trying to decide whether to go and investigate or put the pillow over his head and drift back into peaceful oblivion. He heard the front door slam and the voices fall silent, giving the ceiling a good hard stare before finally willing himself to move.

Suguru was crouched in the floor, sweeping up what looked to be the remains of the glass surface of one of the living room end tables.

"Be careful, there's glass," Suguru said, not looking up.

"Yeah, I can see that," Shuichi said. "What happened?"

"Just Raiden being an ass," Suguru said shrilly, his emotions getting the better of him for a moment. "I'm sorry if we woke you."

"No, it's okay," Shuichi said, taking a step closer.

"Shuichi, the glass," Suguru warned again. "I'll be fine. Why don't you just get a shower, and I'll make us breakfast, all right?"

When Shuichi returned, all evidence of the incident had been swept away, Suguru giving him a bright smile as he placed a pitcher of orange juice on the table. The shower had seemed to clear his head, and his stomach growled appreciatively at the smell of food.

Memories of the night before had begun to slowly come back to him while he showered, and he felt awkward, not quite meeting Suguru's eyes as he served him a plate.

"Suguru," Shuichi began, "I -- about last night --"

"You were very drunk. And while I don't hold you accountable for any actions you took while you were, I am kind of concerned that you were in the first place.

"So, everything's cool? With us, I mean?" Shuichi asked.

"Of course," Suguru said brightly. "We just need to get you into some sort of routine that doesn't involve getting plastered and sleeping with the nearest warm body."

"Hey!" Shuichi said indignantly, looking up.

"I'm just glad it was me and not someone who would take advantage of you," Suguru said, touching his index finger on the tip of Shuichi's nose scoldingly.

"What did you and Ashia-san fight about?" Shuichi asked quietly as their eyes met. Suguru flinched and looked away.

"It's not important," Suguru said, then nodded to Shuichi's plate. "Eat up before it gets cold. Tohma taught me how to make those crepes. They're awesome."

Shuichi nodded, watching Suguru as he turned to get his own food ready, a slight stoop to his shoulders.