Disclaimer: - I do not own gravitation.

Chapter 10

"Yuki." Shuichi said, before he started running. His heart was beating frantically as his eyes searched the few people walking along the corridor. When he couldn't find him, he grabbed on to the nearest person. "Did you see a man walk by with blonde hair?"

The woman looked at him with a puzzled frown, as though she could not understand him. Realizing why, he switched his language to Chinese and asked the same question again. His eyes pleading with her, "Please, you have to tell me."

"He went down the next corridor. I'm not sure what room." She replied with a little smile.

Bowing his head in gratitude, he rushed down the corridor she had indicated and knocked on every door. Each time someone opened the door, he was met with disappointment. He tried every door but nothing. By now, he had caused uproar in the whole floor and a manager with two waiters followed him as he frantically searched.

When they had tried the last door the flustered manager said, "I'm sorry sir, but I don't think he's here."

"He has to be." Shuichi insisted, "I saw him. I know I did. Are you suggesting that I'm losing my mind?"

"No sir. It's just that we have checked every room. I don't think he is here." The manager replied.

Breathing deeply, Shuichi shook his head and turned to the wall. How could it be? He had seen him with his own eyes. May be he had gone down the stairs. Glancing at his watch he realized that it was around lunchtime. He could have gone downstairs to the dining room. Thanking the three men, he turned and rushed toward the staircase. Down the two flights and into the lobby, he was in such a rush that he collided with someone bringing them both to the floor.

"I'm sorry." He started to say, but stopped when he saw that it was only Suguru.

"Shuichi, there you are." Suguru said seating up beside him. "Where have you been, everyone is looking for you. Rehearsal is about to start."

Shuichi got up and started walking toward the restaurant only to have Suguru grab his hand. "Wrong direction. We got to go upstairs first, K is waiting for you, because you forgot to give him the lyrics you said you wrote."

"I don't have time for this." Shuichi said, pulling on his hand. He needed to make sure. What if Yuki was waiting in the restaurant? All he had to do was go in there and he would find him. "I have to do something, will you let me go Suguru."

"Do what? You already took your walk. If you're hungry, there is food in the suite. Come on, we're going to be late." Suguru said, pulling him to the open elevator doors.

Shuichi sighed and shook his head. There was no escaping this. People were starting to stare, and whisper. It wouldn't be good if he were to cause a scene and end up on the evening news. No one would be happy about that. Giving the restaurant one last glance, he allowed Suguru to pull him toward the elevator.

Later on at the square where they were going to be performing that night, Shuichi came up to his best friend and asked,

"Hiro."

"Yes, Shuichi?" Hiro said as he tuned his guitar. Adjusting the strings and making sure the chords were playing just right. So he did not look up to see the frown playing on Shuichi's forehead.

"I have to tell you something. It might sound weird but jut hear me out." Shuichi said quietly.

Hiro nodded his head, "Sure."

Shuichi swallowed hard then said, "I think I saw Yuki today. In the stairwell, he disappeared in a corridor. I looked and looked but couldn't find him."

Hiro paused what he was doing and looked up at his friend. He wasn't sure what he should say; he wasn't even sure what was the right thing to do. Shuichi had just voiced the number one problem that he had been thinking about for a while now. Should I tell him? He wondered watching Shuichi carefully.

"Then again, I think I'm going crazy. It's easy for me to imagine these things. I could have been hallucinating." Shuichi continued, rubbing his forehead as he said the last sentence. "What do you think?"

He looked up, straight into Hiro's eyes.

Hiro sighed and looked away wondering how to play this one. Thankfully he was saved from answering or commenting because the next thing he knew, K was grabbing Shuichi and handing him a microphone.

"Let's get back to work." Sakano said from the front. "Shuichi, we should start from the bridge of that new song. Then we can go from there."

Shuichi nodded and brought the microphone to his lips. Opening his mouth he started singing, but his mind was not in it. He was still seeing the sight of that blonde hair in his mind. Could it be that easy? What would Yuki be doing in Taiwan? Was he seeing someone else?

"Shuichi!" Sakano screamed in a panic. Bringing Shuichi back to the present and to the fact that he had not uttered a single note yet. "What's going on? Have you forgotten the song?"

Shuichi frowned and stared at the microphone for a second. Suddenly feeling very tired. He had no wish to ever sing again, the excitement of it suddenly disappeared and he wasn't sure why he was standing on the stage at all.

"Shuichi?" Hiro called from beside him, staring at him with worry. The next moment, Shuichi's eyes closed and he slid to the floor, dead to the world.

A knock on the door brought Yuki back to the world as he sat typing away at the desk provided by the hotel. A cigarette hanging on the side of his mouth, he shook his head and wondered who would be knocking on his door. Had he ordered room service again without realizing it? He really needed to pay attention to what he was doing these days. Getting up, he headed for the door, and opened it lazily. Taking the cigarette between his fingers as he said,

"Yeah?"

"Yuki-san." Sakano said quietly in greeting, before he bowed low until Yuki was afraid that the man might break in half.

"Yeah. What's wrong this time?"

"It's Shuichi, he has collapsed on the stage. Please come." Sakano burst out on the verge of tears.

"What!" Yuki gasped, his eyes going wide in shock. "He was fine, a few hours ago. I saw him taking a walk."

"The in-house doctor says that it is exhaustion. But Shuichi keeps calling for you. I think you'll make him feel better."

Yuki did not wait to even close the door. He took off in a run up the stairs to the pent house suites where the band had been settled. He knew which room was Shuichi's so he rushed quickly into the room not bothering to knock. Walking through the living room and straight through to the bedroom where Hiro and Suguru were both seated on the side of Shuichi's bed watching him. When they saw him come in, Hiro stood up, grabbed a shocked Suguru and pulled him out of the room. Closing the door tightly behind them.

Alone for the first time since that morning at his apartment, Yuki breathed out a sigh, and moved closer to the bed. Seating down, he stared at his lover up close, taking in the sleeping features of his lover. Reaching out slowly, he brushed a lock of dark hair away from Shuichi's forehead and leaned down. Softly he pressed a kiss on Shuichi's smooth skin on his cheek.

Then under his breath he murmured, "Stupid brat, making yourself so tired that you get sick."

Perhaps it was the sound of his voice, or the familiar scent of cigarettes and Yuki, Shuichi would never know. But for some reason, he felt he had to wake up just then. Opening his eyes to the most beautiful sight ever. Tears stung his eyes, as his vision was filled with the familiar sight of his lover. "Yuki." He whispered, "Are you real?"

"What do you think, brat." Yuki retorted, leaning down and locking his lips with Shuichi's. He just could not resist the temptation.

Once again, I'd like to thank you all for taking your time to read and review my humble fanfic. I am glad you are all enjoying it so much. Don't worry I won't torture you too much. Hopefully I'll give a happy and great ending soon. Sincerely, elainanna.