SHURYU: More than Rivals?

A/N: Things are starting to get serious.

"Get out of my house."

Tohma stared blankly at the towering form of Ryuichi Sakuma as his mind began to process what had happened.

After an evening of trading insults and insinuations, tempers flared and his implications about Ryuichi's true nature had angered the man. It was only natural the vocalist lashed out. Hell, only moments before Tohma himself had done so when Ryuichi had questioned his character, so Tohma wasn't so upset at that.

He was upset, however, that when the vocalist acquainted his fist with Tohma's jaw, it hadn't been someplace else. Because of his close proximity to the surrounding furniture and the force of the blow, the blonde found himself careening into and then through Ryuichi's glass coffee table.

Wincing, Tohma shifted his weight to his elbows to try to keep pressure off of his back. Still, shards of glass bit into his tender flesh. Blood ran in sticky rivets down his back. Shifting again, he managed to haul himself to his knees.

"Ryuichi, my last comment was out of line. We were both out of line tonight," he struggled to pick himself up.

A hand came down to offer assistance but he didn't take it. Once he was standing, Tohma brushed some of the smaller shards from his clothing, before looking up at Ryuichi. Ryuichi for his part looked cowed, with his arms drawn across his chest and his hands under his arms. Still, Tohma could tell some of his anger still smothered underneath.

"However, I'll say this one more time: this has nothing to do with you. Shindo's happy, that should be good enough. Leave well enough alone."

This time, when Tohma tried to leave, Ryuichi made no move to stop him.

Grabbing his jacket and hat from their place by the door, Tohma looked over his shoulder at his long time friend.

"I hold a lot of power, Ryuichi. I would hate to have to use it, so please, don't make me."

Pulling the door closed behind him Tohma just caught Ryuichi's parting words.

"You are not the only one with power, Tohma. Remember that."

The next morning, when Shuichi arrived at work, he found the members and staff of Bad Luck convened around the meeting room table and muttering in low voices. Hiro and Fujasaki were exchanging expressions of disbelief, while Sakano seemed to be nodding to something K was saying while he polished his revolver.

"I still can't believe it," Fujisaki whispered, shaking his head."It just doesn't make sense."

"What doesn't make sense?" He asked, unsure if he wanted to know. He looked between his band mates, wondering if he should have stayed home again, when Hiro gave a small half smile and a shrug.

"The president scrapped the plans for our movie," the redhead elaborated.

"Seriously?!"

"It looks like you got your wish, Shuichi," K said somewhat bitterly as he clapped the younger man on the shoulder. " It was canceled as of this morning. Why the President would scrap a guaranteed box office smash I have no idea, but lucky for us, none of the details ever reached the media."

"So, it will be like it never existed," Shuichi supplied.

Now there was no reason to be upset or dread coming to work. His problem solved itself it seemed. He no longer had any reason to see or talk to Ryuichi Sakuma- at least until he made up his mind on how he felt about what happened between them- and the knowledge was freeing.

Shuichi couldn't help but start laughing.

"What's gotten into him?"

The bubbling laughter died in his throat. Slowly, he turned around.

"Ryuichi," K didn't sound impressed.

"The one and only! I just came to say, I can't wait to start shooting with all of you! This is going to be so much fun!" he elaborated, looking over the members of Bad Luck before settling on Shuichi.

"What are you talking about?! The project was canceled!"

Ryuichi didn't seem to register K's outburst, instead going through the pockets of his cargo pants. The brunette's face lit up once he found what he was looking for. Pulling his hand out, he thrust the fist-full of candy at Shuichi, who didn't immediately take it. " For you, Shuichi."

"Umm, I'm good, Sakuma-"

"Ryuichi"

The name was said by both K and its owner.

"What?"

"Ryuichi. I told you before to call me Ryuichi," the candy was once more offered.

"Damnit, Ryuichi! Just what are you going on about?!"

Easily, Ryuichi used the hand not holding candy to pat down his pockets again. Pulling a folded newspaper out, he held it up and over his head to K, who snatched it out of his hand in a blur. Spreading it out on the table, he read the headline out loud.

'Nittle Grasper X Bad Luck Movie Set to Start Filming This Week!

Lead singers Ryuichi Sakuma and Shuichi Shindo team up to make a musical explosion of epic proportions! N-G is planning for a nationwide release sometime this fall. As of yet, the details are fuzzy but everyone can look forward to the smash hit! Continued in section 2-A…'

"Isn't it great?!" Ryuichi cried out happily, grabbing Shuichi's hand and depositing the candy in it.

"Something's fishy." Hiro stated, earning a nod from Fujisaki.

"Tohma told me personally the plans were canceled, unless…" K locked eyes with Ryuichi.

"Anyway, why doesn't everyone take a break for now." He suggested, he tone of voice brightening.

He waited for everyone to leave the room before he pulled the retreating Ryuichi back into the room.

"Now what exactly is going on?"

Tohma tried his best to ignore the stinging pain in his back as he continually lent forward in his leather chair. He interlaced his slim fingers and rested his chin on them as he stared forward, poignantly trying to ignore the newspaper on his desk. His shades were closed and he basked in the darkness of his office.

"You are not the only one with power, Tohma."

So this is what Ryuichi meant?

Tohma was sure Ryuichi had been the one who leaked the information to the media.

Sighing, Tohma rolled up the paper and threw it into his trash can. Ryuichi knew there was not much he could do about it now. If the company backed out now, that would mean bad publicity for all involved, but he wondered. How far was Ryuichi willing to go?

Well, whatever the answer, this little stunt meant war…

TO BE CONTINUED…