At the same time that Eiri was escorting Shuichi to the elevator, Yuki found himself stopping in front of the N-G recording studio.
He couldn't help but stare at the huge structure of steel and glass. It was amazing that right at that moment, somewhere in there, the source of all his problems might be rehearsing.
It was just another thing that tied the building to his Eiri.
He stood, lost in his thoughts, until the huge front door suddenly slid open, and Eiri walked out.
Time stood still for Yuki. Eiri had grown into a handsome man, one worthy of Yuki's devotion. He was taller than Yuki himself, but Yuki didn't mind. If he were truthful to himself, he wouldn't mind being the smaller, more feminine of the two. Oh, to be Eiri's uke…
Suddenly, Eiri turned his lion-colored eyes to Yuki, and the older man felt his hands start to shake. His mouth went dry, and he recognized the moment for what it was. Now was the moment that he could run forward, push Shuichi, who he now noticed was clinging to Eiri's arm, away, and profess his undying love to Eiri.
Yet under Eiri's direct gaze, he found he couldn't move. The gaze was that of a wild animal, barely tamed. And Yuki realized in that second that Eiri's taming had come about under Shuichi's care.
Yuki could never be what Eiri needed. But even as that thought entered his mind, he pushed it away, suppressing the urge to scream.
He could be, would be what Eiri wanted, what Eiri needed. Not that pink haired brat.
Then Eiri lifted his hand and ruffled Shuichi's hair, and the moment was broken. Yuki could only watch as Eiri leaned down and whispered something in Shuichi's ear, which made the young boy pull away and grin up at Eiri, his eyes shining. Yuki took an involuntary step back, away from the precipice he'd been fully prepared to hurl himself over, head-long.
Turning away, he comforted himself with the thought that the edge was still there, and he had only to wait for the right moment. And when he acted, nothing and no one would ever be the same again.