I keep getting reviewers who are expressing their disdain for the protestors in my fic. Now while I agree that the world would be better if everyone could let some people just live their lives and keep their business to themselves. I sadly must admit that the protestors will never go away. While I hate them personally they have the right to have their opinion. I like to keep my stories in a world of reality, so while I hope to try and bring up a few more sides I will not be completely removing the protestors.

This chapter was supposed to be out last week, but I got held up in writing the middle part a bit. Trying to write from a view point not my own is harder than I thought.

I don't own Gravitation or "Collide" sung by Howie Day or "Predilection" sung by Yamaguchi Kappei

Chapter 11: Will You?

A flickering screen cast its gaze upon a strange scene indeed. One Eiri Yuki would never admit that he had fallen asleep watching nothingness at only three in the afternoon. The constant flipping of channels came from Eiri's right hand that, even in his sleep, continued to bounce upon the remote in his lap. While Eiri dozed unknowingly to the world the reason behind his tired state was a secret that he planned to keep till his grave. A week had passed since Shuichi had come running into his office after answering the phone. The conversation that followed was relatively short; a few pleasantries on both ends and the passing of knowledge on the progress of the couple's child. The end of the conversation had been the most important to Eiri, "finally Mr. Usegi and Shindou, I've liked to inform you that earlier today we placed your child into his artificial womb." There had been more after that, words that Eiri never heard as his younger lover began running around cheering. Since that day Eiri found himself each night pulling up the live video feed from within Mega Kuma, spending the early morning hours just watching his child grow. The child that only Eiri knew the gender of; Shuichi having put his foot down and insisting that it should be a surprise, its secret quickly jotted down in the deepest recesses of his mind.

Eiri was of course not the only exhausted one within the house. K had been working the band like dogs over the last few days, trying to push the group harder than ever before. This left Shuichi to arrive home about to collapse each night, only to be tucked in by Eiri. This tired state had allowed Eiri to carefully slip in a few more things into the nursery, things that may have led Shuichi to the truth of the child's gender if he were able to notice. As the day passed into early night Eiri never awoke from his doze, his finger never stopping its flickering.

This state of deep sleep is how Shuichi Shindou found his lover upon being dropped off by K just after ten. The sight before him would normally send Shuichi into a moment of squealing and mumbles about how cute Eiri looked, but in his own aching state Shuichi choose to simply remove the remote from beneath Eiri's hand. The TV finally stops flickering, the late night news filling in the void left by the continuous flickering.

"Tonight we are going to hear from Dr. Malcolm Flick from Harvard in the United Stated and Tsuki Yuna of the." Shuichi didn't look away from Eiri's sleeping face as he used the same remote he took from him to flip off the TV before falling into Eiri's lap and taking a nap of his own.

Across town Hiro was mixing up a few soba noodles as a quick midnight snack in his bachelor pad. Tucked beneath his chin Hiro balances a cordless phone. "So Sakano, the music has been approved right?" A few mumbles filled the room and Hiro shut off the flame before him so the noodles could cool. "Alright, thanks so much again." More mumbling filled the air before Hiro reached up and actually held the phone with his hand, "well I'm still thank full, have a good night and see you tomorrow at the photo shoot." Hanging up the phone he grabbed a bowl to throw the soba in before he headed for the living room and flicked on the TV.

Part of Hiro was insanely nervous; he had to make sure everything was perfect. He had hoped to already have asked Ayaka for her hand, unfortunately dinner had changed from a proposal to a simple fancy dinner, a dinner that had cost Hiro two weeks of grocery bills. The change had come when Hiro had called Ayaka's house to confirm her father's permission had been gained.

~Flash Back~

Hiro paced his apartment, mumbling Shuichi's words from a short few hours ago as he worked up his nerve. Catching his breath Hiro hit speed dial three and let the phone ring. Each ring echoed in his oddly silent head. Ayaka would not be the one to answer the phone; she had already told him she would be at a bridal shower from her friend Kasami that night, so he knew when a soft voice answered the phone that it wasn't her. "Moshi Moshi, Usami residence." Taking one last deep breath to still his heart Hiro began, "good evening Usami-san, can I please." Mrs. Usami's soft voice cut Hiro off, "Konbanwa Nakano-san, Ayaka isn't home right now." Feeling thrown off Hiro tried to resituate himself, "no Usami-san, I would actually like to speak to your husband." Mrs. Usami made a soft mumble like nose before she answered, "one moment." The few moments it took for Mr. Usami to get on the phone both felt too long and too short to Hiro.

Mr. Usami's rough voice contrasted his wife's so much that at first Hiro was unable to respond, "Well, are you still there." Stupidly stumbling Hiro tried to answer without revealing the embarrassed blush that had painted across his checks, "ye..yes Mr. Usami this is Nakano." "Yes, my wife said you wanted to speak to me." Hiro steeled his shoulders as if he were about to enter a battle, "I am requesting the hand of your daughter Usami Ayaka to be my wife." Silence filled the air in an eerie way. "If I give you my daughter's hand how will you prove to the world you are with her. I know you rock star types. Women fawning over you, no I want some assurance that my Ayaka will be the only girl in your life." Hiro wanted to choke but he instead pushed his voice out, "she won't be." Thinking quick Hiro threw out the first thing he could think of that sounded decent. "I'm planning to ask her after one of my concerts, in front of everyone. I swear Ayaka is the only one I want." The final words to filter into Hiro's head were, "see that you do."

~End Flash Back~

Crashing in front of the TV Hiro threw both his legs onto the coffee table and tilted back the bowl of soba like it was the sweetest shot of osake; a sake that than splattered across the room when a commercial for dog food ended. "Tonight I sit down with Dr. Malcolm Flick from Harvard in the United Stated and Tsuki Yuna of the 'ProGod to Procreate' movement." Hiro's feet flew to the ground and his soba bowl landed beside him on the couch.

In the studio Mio Taka straitened the cards in her hands before turning to the middle aged African American male sitting to her left. To her right a conservative looking late 20's Asian women crossed her ankles before squaring her shoulders. "First Dr. Flick you study reproduction at Harvard and you claim that the practice of artificial life between two same sexed creatures is in fact something that not only is proper, but one that is in line with religious practice."

Clearing his throat Dr. Flick crossed his arms. "Yes, at this time the use of same sex parentage to produce offspring is in its infancy and is only being used in a select few countries. Even in these early stages though there are 24 cases of same sex couples having healthy children within the last five years. Also over the last ten years we have seen a population increase in fifteen endangered species and six of those species have actually been removed from the endangered list and onto the threatened one. We have found a way to help people who have always wanted children to have them. We are giving human beings the chance to procreate the way God intended, so how can that be so wrong."

Head whipping to the right Taka nodded to Yuna, "do you have a rebuttal?" Yuna uncrossed and recrossed her legs before she began to speak. "Life is not something that can be created in a lab. It is a fusion of energy and soul that is blessed by God almighty. If we allow those that turn from God to make it artificially then we not only demean that gift, but deface it. In this day and age of science and blasphemy we can NOT allow this blasphemy to infiltrate and destroy the minds of children that were created with God's blessing." Yuna does not allow her voice to waver or for her stance to be moved. Each word is articulated precisely and as eloquently as possible.

Taka proceeded to tilt her head towards Dr. Flick; "do you have a follow up to Yuna-san's statement?" Dr. Flick smiled pleasantly at the camera before he flashed that same smile at Yuna. "We as humans have been tasked with protecting the earth and watching over the creatures God gave us, do we not Ms. Yuna?" Yuna gives an awkward nod to Dr. Flick. "Well that is something we as scientist are trying to do. Using this technique we have already shown that we can recreate, bring back, God's creations from the brink of extinction." Tossing his charming smile back at the camera Dr. Flick carried on, "we are bringing back that which we once destroyed. Wouldn't God be grateful for us doing that?"

Yuna's head flicks to the side as if she is seriously contemplating her answer. "Do you really think that bring back that which we have already killed in a way that will leave them cursed by God's hand is really something the Almighty would want done. We have already destroyed these species and left them to the waste side. God told us to protect them and watch over them, if we were unable to do that from the start, than we don't deserve to pass on these gifts from God to our decedents."

Jumping up Hiro flicks off the TV before throwing the remote he has been grasping tight enough to leave an impression on his hands for days, at the same TV he has just shut off. "I can't stand protestors, even when you put their own ideology back into their faces they still will twist it into hate." Forgetting his bowl on the floor Hiro instead heads to bed so he can collapse in his exhaustion.

Far away from our current scene an old man pulls the blanket thrown over his shoulders just a little tighter. Hs face is cast in shadows, but the sneer emblazoned upon it doesn't seem as sure or true as it did only a half an hour ago. The screen goes silent before a voice speaks with a small cocky undertone. "Really, do you truly believe God would want a creature as sweet as this gone for good just because we are selfish and stupid." A picture of a baby panda is thrown at the viewers, pulling awes and support from deep within. The old man shift uncomfortably before casting his ageing eyes at the few photos that grace the walls of the room he currently sits in. "Perhaps he is right, a child SHOULD always be loved. A parent must always find compassion and understanding, I should have found compassion and understanding." Head dropping once again the old man turns off his own TV. The room is cast into grey gloom before he stands to leave.

~TWO WEEKS LATER~

Screaming fans stomped their feet anticipation, the air electric with nervous hope. Shuichi Shindou's own excitement was leading him to bounce in place, driving crazy the hairdresser that just finished doing his hair. Beside him, seemingly calm, Hiro is tuning his guitar one last time, inspecting each string for that perfect tension and soul filled thump. Across the stage Eiri is smirking while running a finger along the cigarette box in his pocket. The box hadn't carried any of his precious cancer sticks for the last few weeks, when he bought the box during a moment of hidden weakness. Shuichi hadn't found the box till it was almost empty, though he had laughed when he got home to find Eiri not smoking the cigs on the porch as he once had. Instead Eiri had been lighting them on fire and left them sitting in the ash tray. The bitter smoke rising from the dish blending and dancing before his very eyes, had left Eiri in a state of calm that smoking no longer could. Shuichi had taken everything in stride, but Eiri still had slept on the couch for a few nights after.

Hiro trembled beside Shuichi when the auburn beauty Ayaka was escorted to him by a faceless security guard. "Hiro," Ayaka ran into Hiro's arms, a smile gracing her face. Hiro's trembling calmed as he gripped Ayaka tightly. "Hey, I'm glad you were able to come. Stepping back after a quick kiss to her lips Hiro handed his guitar over to Shuichi so he could lead Ayaka to the other side of the stage, where Eiri sat waiting for the show to start. "Here Ayaka, this is the best seat in the house. I hope you like the show." Ayaka only smiled, "I'm sure I will, now go out there and give them a show." Hiro cockily smirks, "you know I will" than heads back to his band with a small peck upon his angel's head.

"Take a seat Ayaka, YO bring us some water." Eiri's face has fallen into a plain smirk, nothing exceptional about it. A runner snaps at Eiri's command, two bottles of water are brought over instantly. Back straight and rigid Ayaka slowly lowers herself on the edge of the seat, the bottle of water tightly clasped in one head. "I want to say congratulations to you and Shuichi. I'm sure you will make fine parents." Turning his plain smirk into a pleased one Eiri responds lightly. "Thank you." With the lights blinding, the fans screaming, the music has started.

~NEAR THE END OF THE SHOW~

"Can't get enough. don't let me down. one more night... Can't get enough. Don't let me down. One more night. can't get enough..." Shuichi jumped in the air, headset mic bouncing against his face. "We can never get enough of all of our wonderful fans." Screams fill the air Shuichi, Hiro, and Suguru are waving at the screaming fans. "We love you all." The lights dim before the group leaves the stage to thunderous applause. From her seat Ayaka goes to stand, but Eiri places a hand upon her wrist, "it's not over yet." Falling back into her seat Ayaka watches as Eiri stands, "now I need to say congratulations to you."

The screaming fans bring Bad Luck back onto stage for their final song of the night. The music is calm, Hiro strumming softly.

"The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you
Yeah"

Shuichi swings his head right than left, behind him Hiro and Suguru join in. "Do..Do…Dooo... Do..Do…Dooo… Do..Do…Dooo…. Do..Do…Dooo" Stepping towards the front of the stage Shuichi gives a solemn smile before looking up into the spot light over his head.

"But I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again"

Looking out into the crowd Shuichi sighs, a few steps are taken back. The solemn smile leaves his face before it falls into a moment of calm.

"Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
You and I collide"

Picking up the pace of the rhythm on his guitar so that it slowly builds, crescendos, Hiro joins back in a line before Suguru also breathes new life into the music. "Do..Do…Dooo... Do..Do…Dooo… Do..Do…Dooo…. Do..Do…Dooo"

"I'm quiet you know
You make a first impression
Well, I've found I'm scared to know
I'm always on your mind"

The voice that joins them on the stage is not Shuichi's this time. This voice is too harsh and hard. The thickness of recovering lungs melds with rash words long out of use. It is the voice of one never trained to sing, but working on it none the less. The voice also causes fans to scream louder and Shuichi to turn from the stage. From behind a curtain on the right, the one and only golden haired bad boy Eiri Yuki slips out. His right hand grips the mic a little too tightly, but not out of fear, no more out of worry. This worry stems from a lack of skills and experience in a medium that is not his own, and partially of the trueness of the words he is speaking.

"Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
I somehow find
You and I collide"

At that moment they do indeed collide as Shuichi dashes across the stage into Eiri's arms. Taking a step back and away from his lover the couple takes a step so that they stand parallel with the stage edge. A goofy smile comes to Shuichi's face as the music slows a little.

(Shuichi) "Don't stop here"
(Eiri) "I lost my place"
A chuckle is heard before the response. (Shuichi) "I'm close behind"

Hiro and Suguru's voices combined in an embodiment of the movement, "do..Do…Dooo... Do..Do…Dooo… Do..Do…Dooo…. Do..Do…Dooo"

(Shuichi) "Even the best fall down sometimes"
(Eiri) "Even the wrong words seem to rhyme"
(Shuichi) "Out of the doubt that fills your mind"
(Eiri) "You finally find"
(Shuichi & Eiri) "You and I collide"

Starring into each other's eye Eiri and Shuichi seem to forget the world that is spinning around them, their voices showing the contrast between the two, even as the words bring them closer.

(Hiro & Suguru) "Do..Do…Dooo... Do..Do…Dooo… Do..Do…Dooo…. Do..Do…Dooo"

( Eiri) You finally find
(Shuichi & Eiri) You and I collide

"Do..Do…Dooo... Do..Do…Dooo… Do..Do…Dooo…. Do..Do…Dooo"
(Shuichi) You finally find
(Shuichi & Eiri) You and I collide

"Do..Do…Dooo... Do..Do…Dooo… Do..Do…Dooo…. Do..Do…Dooo"

The song ends on a final strum from Hiro before the couple kiss with great applause. The kiss is cut short though as Shuichi bounds back stage and grabs Ayaka's hand. Nervous Ayaka follows Shuichi onto the stage and dead center. Eiri has relocated himself to Suguru's right and a stage hand is walking away with Hiro's guitar. Center stage Ayaka looks nervous, but gains a reassuring smile from Shuichi before he retreats as well, a hand mic left in the hand he now leaves. Alone in the center of the bright stage Ayaka looks up at the audience. The stage is silent, the crowd not making a peep. A gentle breeze picks up a few strands from her hair. The hairs, caught by Hiro, finally steps forward. A gentle, but nervous smile is broken by an equally nervous chuckle that echoes around the pair from his own headset mic.

"Ayaka, we met under some interesting circumstances, but that was one of the best meetings of my life. Our band signifies the worst experience of life, a bunch of bad luck. The day I met you though, that was 100% good luck. I want that good luck to never end." Dropping to his knee Hiro takes the hand not holding the mic firmly in one of his own before he pulls a small ring box from his front pocket. Ayaka`s breath catches as the hand holding the mic flies to cover her mouth. This doesn't work, as the mic is right there, and instead her fevered breathing his picked up over the speakers. "Ayaka, will you please be my eternal good luck charm and say you will marry me." Pulling her now fiancé into her arms, Ayaka holds him tight, yelling into the mic behind his back, "YES!" The crowds cheering that follows is greater that the cheering that followed Eiri and Shuichi's kiss; immediately the lights dim and the group is left to have a moment while the fans filter out, still screaming.