Title: Maybe, This Time

Disclaimer: No. I am merely borrowing.

Summary: (sequel to "Bye Bye Baby") In America Suguru tried to leave everything behind. In Japan Hiro couldn't let go of what had been. What happens when Suguru returns to Bad Luck?

Author's Notes: DO NOT LIKE. NOT ONE BIT.

Chapter 10: It's a Disaster

"It's an incredible mess, but it's all we got now."

It had been another week of music and scribbles, of gentle kisses and loving glances. Also, it had been another week of that strange, just-being-watched feeling. And yet, he hadn't spotted that damn reporter again. The day after that dinner, the one that Kishimoto whoever-he-was had freakishly, creepily, watched over, he had gone to K and Sakano, just like Hiro had suggested. And the two of them had put out a warning—not quite a restraining order issued from the law, no, but this mere warning had the potential to be more frightening and effective than the issued order as many knew of the chaotic, destructive tendencies of the NG Studio employees.

Suguru glanced around the lot again and shuffled a little closer to the building. The area was dark in the night and he still had that creeping, prickly feeling, but he was just fine out here. He was waiting for Hiro and the lobby was still open, but then the receptionists would look over at him and coo and pry and bat their eyelashes until he felt like a right idiot.

And yet, a few seconds later, he was wishing he had done just that. A shadow shifted in the darkness of the lot and then started walking towards him. Just another person, he told himself, shifting his weight once more. The shadow walked closer and closer and then came right up to him.

Suguru scowled and glared as best as he could at the shadowy figure of the annoying reporter Kishimoto. Speak of the devil.

The man grinned at him, his teeth a bright sheen in the dim lighting from the building. "Fujisaki Suguru," he said softly, stopping only feet away from Suguru. "Since I've caught you here, I'd like to ask a few questions—"

"No," Suguru cut in sternly. "No questions, no reports, nothing."

"Are you sure about that?" he wheedled. "Just a few questions, nothing more."

Sneering, Suguru stepped back against the building. "I'm not going to answer any of your questions."

Kishimoto sighed and extracted an envelope from his jacket. "Now, that's not nice, Fujisaki-san." He waved the envelope through the air. "This here is some pictures that I think all the gossip mags would love to get their greasy hands on." He thumbed open the envelope, took a few glossy pictures out, and waved them in front of Suguru.

Squinting so he could see them in the dark, Suguru could make out him and Hiro as the main people in the photos. There were pictures of them dining together, laughing together, walking together…even kissing each other. A frisson of anger heated his cheeks, made him clench his hands into fists.

Damn it all. The fall-out of this would not be pretty.

Kishimoto placed the photographs back into the envelope. "Now, see, these pictures will stay safe with me if you just give me an exclusive interview on your reasons for leaving Bad Luck. If you don't, I send these pictures out to all the celebrity mags." His smile was greasy and ingratiating. "Now, what do you think of that?"

"I say you're an idiot," Suguru said coldly, voice soft. "I won't answer your questions. Send those pictures out and I'll just take this issue to Sacho Seguchi. I don't imagine he'll be pleased."

Kishimoto took a threatening step forward, expression morphing into a furious grimace.

He was only stopped by the doors of NG Studios opening and Hiro walking out, heading over to them. Something must have been off about their stances because his pace quickened. An icy, polite smile on his face, Hiro stepped between Kishimoto and Suguru. "Having a problem here?" he asked.

Not retreating, Kishimoto looked at Hiro. "Not at all," he said blithely.

Hiro's eyes narrowed. "Uh huh," he replied, unconvinced. Then his hand flashed out, snatching the envelope of photos out of Kishimoto's hands. He thumbed it open, peered in, and set a dark glare on the man. "Blackmail?" His voice was low, filled with the promise of vengeance, if so needed.

Kishimoto's eyes darted frantically between them. Then coming to some sort of conclusion, he smiled gently and took a step back. "You misunderstand. This is a private conversation between Fujisaki-san and I."

Obviously unmoved, Hiro raised an eyebrow. "You can have it later," he said calmly and then nonchalantly placed the envelope into his pocket. Ignoring Kishimoto's angry scowl, he turned to Suguru and said, "Come on," and started walking away from the building.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Hiro quietly asked, "Was that the reporter you mentioned?"

"Unfortunately."

"What was he even asking about?"

Lightly, Suguru sighed. "He wants an exclusive interview on why I left the band."

Now at the motorcycle Hiro stilled, hands frozen against the helmet. Hesitantly, he asked, "Are you ever going to tell anybody why you did that?"

Suguru had told Sybil his reasons, right when he was leaving. That counted, didn't it? His throat closed up at the mere thought of telling the truth to Hiro. "I don't think so, no," he said absently.

Hiro straightened even further, looking down at Suguru. His voice was soft. "Why did you leave?" A tense pause as Hiro just looked at him; cannibalistic butterflies erupted in his stomach at the silence. "Did it have anything to do with me ending things?"

Suguru looked away.

That, however, seemed enough of an answer for Hiro because his started talking once more. "I mean…I'm still sorry that I used you like that. You were my colleague and I shouldn't have done such a thing. You became my friend and I used you." The words held a tone of a litany that was often repeated. "It's just…me and Ayaka broke-up and she wanted me to wait. I…I couldn't do it for her. She only offered a possibility that she would come back."

Suguru swallowed bitterness and distractedly smoothed his fingers over the seat of the bike. The material was rough, worn. "You wouldn't wait for her?"

Hiro hesitated. "She offered me 'maybe' and 'someday'. I…just couldn't do it." Another pause, the silence filling up with unsaid things and mistakes. Hiro reached out and drew his fingers along the curve of Suguru's jaw. "If there had been more than a chance, if she had offered something real…" He stopped and retracted his hand, shaking his head bemusedly. "It doesn't matter now anyway. Though I still regret hurting you."

All his heaviness seemed to be pushed away with a quirk of his mouth. "And you? You left because…?" The sentence dangled, hoping for an answer.

Suguru pulled the helmet over his head. Hopefully, with the tint of the visor, Hiro would not be able to read the lie on his face. "Just because," he said. "Are we staying here all night?"

Hiro pulled his own helmet on and got onto the bike. They rode away from the building, wind rushing past them. As always, Suguru felt comfortable here, safe even. But those questions, Hiro's questions, could not be answered. He would not. Leaving himself open and vulnerable like that could not happen again.

When they pulled up to Hiro's apartment building, they got off the bike, pulling their helmets off. However, as Suguru started walking towards the building, Hiro paused, glancing around the lot suspiciously.

Suguru stopped, looking over his shoulder. "Something wrong?" he asked.

Hiro threw another glance around. "No," he said, the words belied by his frown and the furrow of his brows. "Just…" and then absolutely nothing. He shook it off and then stepped up to Suguru's side, both of them walking into the building and up to the apartment.

When Hiro unlocked and opened his door, he was smiling at something Suguru had said, a laugh in his voice. Then he turned towards the doorway and froze, eyes widening at whatever was in the room. "Mom?" he asked incredulously.

Stomach jumping, Suguru peered around Hiro's frame, eyeing the woman on the couch. She had dark hair, not quite auburn, not quite brunette, and there was a slight frown to her mouth. Eyes narrowing, arms akimbo, she stood and stared them down.

Hiro revved into action. He entered his apartments, ushering Suguru in also, and shut the door behind them. When Nakano-san said nothing, Hiro went, "Uh, hi, mom. What are you doing here?"

She crossed her arms and cocked her hip. "You know, it was your brother who had to call and tell me you were in a relationship." Her mouth pursed, expression darkening. "I had heard about your break-up with that Ayaka girl through the news, Hiroshi. And now this? Is it too much to call your mother and say something?"

She rolled her eyes, expression still extremely displeased. "Yuuji said that you were in love with this person and had been for a while. Why do I have to hear news about your life from you brother?" As Hiro paled and said nothing, Suguru's mind snagged on the thorn in her words and completely shut-down.

Then she spotted Suguru and everything about her softened. "Is this him? I mean, I had always thought Shuichi, perhaps, but…" and she trailed off and walked forward, placing her hands on Suguru's shoulders. "Oh, I am so very glad I get to meet you."

And then she flushed pink and stepped back. "I apologize. I haven't introduced myself. I'm Nakano Saya." She extended one slim hand.

Higher thought processes still dead, Suguru shook her hand and introduced himself.

She smiled at him and laughed softly. "Yes, you were the one Yuuji mentioned." She narrowed a glare at her youngest. "Not that Hiroshi would ever tell me anything."

Hiro had apparently found his voice because said, "Mom, I'm sorry. I've just been really busy lately."

One eyebrow rose as she leveled an incredulous look at him. "Yuuji told me that you've been in love for a while."

Frowning himself now, Hiro asked, "Do you really believe everything he says?"

"Well, when he gives me more information about your life than you do, I'm inclined to." She turned back to Suguru, sugar once more. "Now, Suguru dear, you've simply have to come by for dinner sometime soon. My husband also wishes to meet you." Her gaze went distant as she thoughtfully tapped a finger against her mouth "Though he'll be surprised that Hiroshi's gay for somebody not Shuichi." In the background Hiro groaned lowly in distinct horror.

Suguru smiled and lied through his teeth. "I assure you, I'll come by for dinner once Hiro takes me there, Nakano-san."

"Yeah, mom," Hiro agreed hollowly.

Smiling sweetly, she turned to her son and pinched his cheek. "Now you'll have to do that soon, Hiroshi or I'll be forced to do something not pleasant."

"Like break into my apartment?"

She laughed. "I didn't break in, child of mine." Her smile widened, viciousness lurking in the corners of her mouth. "Your brother gave me the key. Yell at him." Another silvery laugh, a wave of her fingers, and then she was walking out of the apartment as if she didn't do anything at all.

"My family's insane," Hiro said blankly.

There was still a thorn in Suguru's thoughts, so he could only absently reply, "Whose family isn't?" As it was the thorn was simply a distraction, easily grabbing all his thoughts; it had to be pulled out sometime. "Hiro…what did she mean about you being in love?" He was still tense from Kishimoto and Hiro's questions; this was simply ratcheting the tension higher.

"My brother," Hiro started, just as quickly coming to a halt. Something in his expression softened as he looked at Suguru. For a moment he just stared, eyes tracing over Suguru. "I—it's true," he said softly. He reached out, gently cupped Suguru's face in one hand. "I'm in love with you. I have been for a while."