Title: Regression

Chapter: 10

Disclaimer: We're into double figure chapters, but that doesn't mean I own Gravitation.

Summary: AU When Yuki's sessions with his psychiatrist increase, he hates it. Can a certain pink haired receptionist change his mind?

"Stupid bus driver. He couldn't be bothered to drive one more stop. Is that so hard? He's attacking a cripple. I should sue. Rotten, lousy bus company." Shuichi was muttering angrily to himself, still hobbling. Yuki could sure damage a guy's foot. The bus driver had kicked everyone off the bus the stop before Shuichi's and had left him to walk an additional five streets to his house. He didn't know what the world was coming to.

"Shindou Shuichi. Hi, how are you?" A cool voice cut short Shuichi's rant. Shuichi's blood ran cold and he whipped round to face the speaker. Taki.

"Get away or I'll call the police." Shuichi warned him, trying to sound as menacing as he could.

"Ooh, he's gotten cocky now." Taki jeered, making no move to back off. "He's got a dirty mouth on him. I like that. Do you bite too, or just bark?" He pulled one of Shuichi's bunches sharply and Shuichi slapped his hand away in fright. "He does bite; I knew that I liked the look of you. You remind me a lot of a woman I knew." He laughed cruelly and leered at Shuichi.

"Touch me and I swear you'll never live to see tomorrow," Shuichi growled more bravely than he felt. Taki only laughed again.

"Don't worry, Faggot-chan. I'm not going to touch you, it's not my place or my thing, really. I'll see you around. Oh, and try not to be so jumpy next time, it makes you look frigid – big turn off." He blew a mocking kiss at Shuichi and crossed the road, disappearing down a tiny side street. Shuichi's hands shook so violently that he held them in front of his face to see if they were really his. Taki had confused him; he could've done anything he liked to him, but he'd done nothing. Shuichi walked home as quickly as he could home, just in case Taki changed his mind.

"Hiro, I'm home!" Shuichi called as soon as he stepped through the door (he was using the spare key they had given to the neighbour until he got another set cut). He slipped off his shoes and went to the bedroom to talk to Hiro. He heard the shower running so he flopped tiredly onto the bed and started reading through the Open University course brochures he had picked up ages ago and never had the chance (or willpower) to read.

Psychology course, he read, Students will gain an understanding of four main groups if psychology: Social, cognitive, behavioural and developmental. No prior knowledge is required, and this course can be studied from home with tapes, videos and books. Psychology has never been so psymple! There were a few bullet points and comments from successful psychiatrists and psychologists who had once used the Psychology course. He knew that he was working towards his future, but couldn't the future be a bit more interesting?

The lock on the bathroom clicked and Hiro stepped out in a cloud of steam. He caught sight of Shuichi and smiled apologetically. "I didn't know you were coming home tonight, I just used up all of the hot water. Sorry, Shu." Shuichi flapped his hand, dismissing Hiro's apology. He tried to reread the information but his mind kept going blank and he found himself reading the same line over and over. Hiro sat down next to him and peered at the brochure over Shuichi's shoulder. "You've finally got round to looking for your class, huh? Somebody's inspired." Shuichi sighed in defeat and threw the brochure down angrily, burying his head in his arms.

"How come the future is so scary, Hiro? I don't know what to do. I hate having to sponge off you and your dad. Why am I such a failure?" Hiro sighed and pulled Shuichi halfway onto his lap. "See? I'm doing it again. How can you not be sick of me?" He groaned into his arms.

"Shu, I'm sponging off of my dad as much as you are. Think of it like this: we're a couple and you have an extremely generous father-in-law. Anyway, he says that the psychiatrist guy loves you. Nobody else works five days a week with full shifts. And as for me being sick of you…no way, our love is too deep Shu-chan."

"You're just trying to get into my pants you womaniser, you." Shuichi mumbled, his eyes tearing despite his joke.

Hiro heard his telltale sniffling even though his face has hidden. "What's up with you today anyway Shuichi? Was work hard?"

"Shut up and kiss me fool." Shuichi said flatly, avoiding the question. Hiro flicked his head affectionately, and then shifted Shuichi off him to get up.

"When you feel like telling me about it, I'll be next door, making the dinner you still owe me."

Shuichi must have fallen asleep because when he lifted his head off his hands Hiro was holding his mobile phone out to him and calling his name. He rubbed his eyes quickly and stretched out his arms and legs, then took the phone. "Hello?" He said mouthing 'who is it?' at Hiro. Hiro mouthed back 'my dad' and Shuichi smiled broadly.

"Shuichi-kun, I've got some great news for you. I had lunch with one of my colleagues today, and he has a friend working in a children's home for children with problems. Apparently, they're always looking out for new care workers there, and I recommended you. Do you think you'd be interested? You could go on weekends for a few hours, and what you'd be doing is talking to them, playing with them, helping with cleaning and cooking, things like that."

Shuichi's grin widened even more. "I'd love that! Thank you so much!"

"I thought you would," Hiro's dad chuckled at his enthusiasm. "I wish my Hiro would put as much enthusiasm into his work as you do, that lazy ass. Okay, my colleague gave me this number…" He read it out to Shuichi, who copied it down dutifully, "and he said you'd be put through to a Yoshiki. Hmm, no surname… You'd better take down her name and find out her surname from the reception."

Shuichi thanked him again and hung up, beaming. "Did someone hear your prayers, I wonder?" Hiro teased, smiling back at him. His best friend was so easily pleased, and it was adorable. He felt a tug at his heart when he thought of Shuichi leaving him to live with Yuki, leaving him alone. He'd grown so used to having his bubbly little friend around. His smile softened into a sad smirk.

"You're dad's the best, Hiro. You're so lucky, you know that?"

Of course he knew that. Having Shuichi as his best friend had taught him to appreciate how lucky he was. He had parents who loved him and a brother that he could see whenever he wanted. How could he be any luckier?

"Have you made dinner, sweetheart?" Shuichi asked him, sitting up and slipping his feet into a pair of hideous slippers that Hiro had once seen when he had visited Maiko with Shuichi. He grinned again, imagining Shuichi stealing the garish hot pink footwear from his sister's wardrobe.

"I haven't actually; I got a bit 'sidetracked'."

"What happened? Was it that saleswoman again or was it that fifteen-year-old school girl upstairs? I told you to stop talking to her. If you do anything with her I'll report you."

"Jealous much?" Hiro questioned him, eyebrows raised.

"No. Unlike you, Mr. Hetero, my heart is taken." Shuichi giggled to himself and Hiro felt another sharp tug at his heart. He felt protective of Shuichi all of a sudden. What if Yuki hurt him? Shuichi didn't deserve to get hurt again. What would happen to him if he had to suffer again like he had through high school? Shuichi frowned at him when he didn't reply. "I think you are jealous Hiro. Don't worry. You're the one who stole my heart love, and I mean that," He said sincerely. "If only you were gay, huh?" He joked now, winking at Hiro and punching his arm. "C'mere, you lovable lump. I know a person who needs some love when I see one." He hugged Hiro tightly and kissed him lightly on the lips, surprising him and amusing Shuichi.

"Are you going to cook for me then lover boy?" Hiro asked, smiling ruefully and raising his eyes to the heavens. Shuichi pressed his nose into Hiro's neck and let out a laugh.

"Food and sex is all you think about – what a good husband you are." He released him and peered at his face, checking to make sure that he had erased all of Hiro's troubles. "I'll cook for you, love. What do you want?"

"Well, apart from you, a pizza sounds pretty good."

"There you go again!"

"Riku, honey, you're having a visitor this weekend. Isn't that nice sweetheart?" Yoshiki cooed. Riku was lying quietly in his bed, staring blankly out of his window as he always did. He was only five years old, and was in the institution because both of his parents had died, and he'd been bullied at the first care home he'd been at. His mother had overdosed earlier that year. His father had died when he was just a baby. Yoshiki smiled broadly at him. "Riku, how about we go to see your mummy and daddy today, hmm? We haven't gone for a while."

He didn't answer. Riku hadn't uttered a word since he had arrived at the institution, although he did show a preference to what workers came to see him and help him eat and clean his room up. He stared at Yoshiki with big wide eyes and Yoshiki knew that he'd like to go. "C'mon poppet, grab your coat and we'll get going. This'll be our little secret okay? Otherwise everyone will want to come."

If you asked Yoshiki what the worst part of her job was, she would reply that taking Riku to his parents' graves was. He would silently put on his coat, silently walk to the cemetery with his hand holding tightly onto hers and then crouch silently between the two gravestones and stare at the ground. It was a heart-breaking sight and Yoshiki hated having to tear him away. She had never seen him cry.

Today, she bought a bunch of flowers from the miserable looking flower stall at the gates to the cemetery for Riku to distribute between the graves. He clutched the bunch in his small hands and moved between gravestones until he found his parents'. He crouched down and set the bunch out on the floor and counted out an equal amount for each parent. Yoshiki watched him work without interfering and smiled at him when he placed the two sets of flowers on each grave. "Aren't they beautiful Riku? Here, I'll help you move the old ones honey." She squatted down next to him and picked up the old bunches, and then put her arm around him. "I bet they're so proud of you sweetheart. You're being very brave and grown up."

Riku nodded solemnly and leaned against Yoshiki, staring at his father's grave. He stared at the writing on the gravestone and wished that Yoshiki would read it to him. His mother had told him a little about his daddy, telling him that daddy was a very kind man who had to work far away to make their lives better but had gone to heaven before he could get back to see his family again.

"What do you say to some ice cream? It's getting late and we'll have to get back soon." Yoshiki smiled at him. He was so adorable, with his big dark eyes and ash blonde hair – everybody fell in love with him – so it was not surprising that Yoshiki spoiled him rotten. He nodded slowly, but did not really feel like eating ice cream. He would just rather be alone with Yoshiki than stay in his room at the Home. Yoshiki held out her hand for him and he took it, clinging on tightly. He didn't want her to leave him too.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful readers! Thank you so much for your response to chapter 9. Without you this story would not be what it is. I love you all.

Replies to reviews:

Lacuna Miyamoto: You're so strange, but I love your reviews! -Glomps- Don't worry, your logic makes perfect sense to me, and I'm glad theres somebody out there that shares my love for floors (walking barefoot/lying/eating on) and for biting people they like. And your story made me laugh, I always mishear stuff and make myself look like an idiot. .

Loveless19: I tried to update ASAP as always. Here's you update.

XxTypoMasterxX: Aren't they? I wish they were the fluffy sort so I could write lots and lots of fluffy oneshots, lol!

v.c.musette: Shuichi is the shit at the end of the chapter. Can't you imagine him doing that? I don't know if you noticed but I had to throw in Eiri's ear thing, and Shuichi got it! Lol.

Stoic-Genius: There's HiroShuichi in this chapter. I totally agree with you about the manga/anime thing. And if you 'read' the remixes O.o Shuichi is not that innocent at all. The OOC thing is so true, but it does annoy me if Eiri is talkative and smiley, because its not him... its like you're just stealing a characters name and appearance, not writing about them and their lives, if you see what I mean. Maybe thats just me. Lol.

xXCrimsonTearsXx: Thank you, thank you, thank you for your review. It made me laugh - no, I have nothing for or against your president so I'm not offended, and yes, we do have red telephone booths on the street. Not on every street, obviously, but in the more tourist-y areas like around Hyde Park and Trafalgar Square and places like that. (Its not a stupid question, I have about a million and one questions for Americans about their school system lol. I still don't get it...)

gravichick: You're back! Lol. I love Shuichi cosplaying, its really cute. Especially with the cat ears...

noonsam: Thank you! You flatter me! Believe me when I say this but there is a LOT more to come on the Yuki and Shuichi front!

Patpat: Hello! Shuichi is way too kind for his own good (as you'll see later). I based his bitchy moment on when he's always bickering with Fujisaki in the manga (at the beginning anyway). Eiri is an idiot, his 'I love you' in the manga was pathetic!! But adorable. But still pathetic! I still can't believe your translating my fic! (Maybe I've said that before, but squeal!)

Thank you to everybody who read, favourite or alert-ed. I love you all too.

Revised on: 22nd February 2008. LOVE YOU BLAQKSILENCE!