A/N: Okay I get to write more hooray…….


Chapter Twelve

Shuichi arrived at the party that night, wobbling around on the pumps his sister had placed on his feet. So far he had tripped five time at least and was about to make it a third when his younger sister came up to hold his shoulder. "Slowly…that's the only way you'll walk in them. Don't be in rush to run out the door."

"I'm a guy! Therefore it's expected that I not be able to walk in these…"

"The more you do the more you'll get use to it…"

"I'm NOT dressing in drag again!"

"I promise to give you a case of Pocky now shut up…or do you want Dad to know what you do on your days off?"

Images of throw away gaming at the penny arcades flashed into his head; a rich young executive tossing his money away on small stuff.

"Fine…"

"That's what I thought now follow me..."

Maiko walked ahead of her brother in a stunning long black skirt and white sweater number. She had her hair piled on top of her head charmingly and stopped to gossip with all the folk she passed. Shuichi, however, walked timidly by trying not to speak to anyone. He would do nothing that caught anyone's attention. If that jerk sees my like this, he'll laugh in my face! There goes my reputation! I won't be able to hold my head high in front of Aizawa…Gods I hate this…He tugged at the hem of the short dress, the puffy skirt surrounded his slim legs. This was embarrassing! Several men turned their glances in his direction and he timidly smiled at them. Then afterwards he fussed with the rest of the dress, alternating between toying with the elegant choker his sister had picked out and the bangle on his wrist.

He looked up and noticed he couldn't find Maiko anywhere. "Maiko…Maiko…" He whispered trying not to raise his voice too much.

He began a frantic search for her when he turned around and rammed straight into the lead singer of ASK. "I'm-I'm sorry…" he stammered in the best female voice he could muster. "I'm so sorry." He stopped apologizing when he realized who it was. "You?"

"Have I seen you before?" Aizawa asked giving him a good once over. "Na couldn't be. I mean, I would never forget a cute thing like you?"

"I-um-well that is…"

"Saiya!" a harsh voice called out. "Where have you been!"

Maiko grabbed his arm and began to tug along. "I'm so sorry, but she's been taken…."

Taki smirked. "That's too bad."

"Yes, well…win some loose some…Right?" She laughed all the way until she had her brother out of eyesight and hearing range.

"I told you to stay close to me!" She snapped.

"How could I in these damn pumps, they're hurting my feet!"

"Deal with it, pain is beauty!"

"Fuck beauty."

"Be quiet…Eiri-san is over there and I want you to make a good impression on him."

"Why am I doing this again?"

"Because you screwed it up to begin with so you FIX IT."

With that she ushered her brother towards a group that consisted of Eiri Uesugi, Tohma Seguchi and Mika Seguchi. "Konbanwa, Tohma-san! Lovely night isn't it?"

"Quite." He smiled glibly at her then to Shuichi who was practically hiding behind her. "Who is this?"

"This!" She pushed Shuichi out front. "Is my elder sister Saiya…"

Shuichi blushed upon meeting Seguchi's open gaze and ducked his head down.

"Elder sister?"

"Yes, she's been abroad. Haven't you Saiya-chan…?"

"Yes." She mumbled.

Maiko elbowed him.

"I mean, I've been to Paris." Shuichi embellished much to his dismay, Maiko pinching his skin to make him talk. "It's very lovely over there this time of year….But Japan is so much nicer what with the cherry blossoms coming into bloom."

"You've missed that." Seguchi pointed out.

"Yes…Unfortunately I did. I was…um….studying..." His eyes flicked to a portrait above their heads. ".Parisian art."

"Is that so? My that sounds most interesting." He turned his head back. "Oh! May I introduce you to my wife, Mika…and her younger brother, Eiri. Say hello Eiri-san."

Eiri's eyes focused on him as if intensely studying the cross-dressing boy.

"This is her?"

"Yes. Isn't she as lovely as the picture, Eiri-san?"

He looked at Shuichi a bit more before deciding. "She'll do."

The boy flamed. What does he mean I'll do? Who the world does that Casanova think he is?"

He bent down and looked into the other's amethyst eyes. "You're kind of small, but I don't think that's a big problem. How about you come back to my place?"

The boy's eyes widened. He did not believe it. Did that jerk just proposition him in front of everyone!

"Like hell I will…"

"Shu-Saiya!" Maiko reprimanded afraid her brother was going to blow his cover.

"Oh, so you're not a bimbo." The artist snickered back.

"What would make you think I was? I said I studied art. How many bimbos do you know who study art?"

"One, but she was lying through her teeth."

"Well, I can assure you I know what I'm talking about…"

"Is that so? Then let's put it to the to my place and you can look over my work and give me your opinion."

"You have yourself a deal." Shuichi stated placing his hands firmly on his hips. "I'll show you what Saiya Shindou knows."

"And what do you know?" The man asked, leering with a devil-may care smile.

He was about to loose his temper again but thought better of it due to the look his sister was shooting him. "I happen to be the best computer design artist in my field."

Maiko groaned quietly.

"Design artist eh? I thought you said you were studying in Paris?"

"I am…merely a hobby of mine….What I truly excel is computer arts…They're very fascinating and so industrious."

"I guess you'll have to show me that….can you be as industrious as your computers." He was standing terribly close to Shuichi, smiling calmly and looking deep into the other's eyes.

"Maybe…but I've got clients…"

"Tonight?"

"Yes, tonight."

"I think you're just scared."

"What?"

"You're afraid of being alone with me. Are you a virgin, Saiya?"

"H-how dare you?" Shuichi announced in a squeaky voice. "I've never been so insulted in all my life."

"Then you are…"

He turned his face aside, blushing bright red. "That's none of your business…" He said this in a muttered voice between pursed lips. Tears almost sprang to his eyes.

"You're very good-looking." He took his arm. "Come back to my place…We can discuss my art." He said this in a very serious tone.

"Is that what you sex fiends call it these days?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." The blond lit a cigarette. "You're uptight. Kinda bitchy. You sound like that punk I met…whatever the hell his name was."

"Shuichi happens to be a good boy." He spoke up, playing the fictious older sister roll.

"Is that what you call him?"

"Don't put down my ototo. You don't even know him…you're acting rude."

"Just like him."

"You expected me to drool all over you. I'm not slut. I have brains you know!"

Yuki looked down at the girl.

"All right…tomorrow…I'll see you at my place tomorrow morning. Nine a.m. sharp."

"I would rather die."

"I'm serious…besides you're way too cute to let that mouth get in the way. If you're as good as you say you are…come by my place…If you don't show up I'll assume you have no talent whatsoever."

Shuichi bit the inside of his cheek, "Oh I'll be there all right…Damn straight."

The artist raised an eyebrow. "Then maybe what you have isn't mouth…maybe it's spunk. I'll be looking forward to see you…..Shall we continue the evening? Do you think you can? You look like you want to gnaw off my arm."

Shuichi swallowed his pride then fluttered his eyelashes and said syrupy. "I'm sorry. It's been hard on me ever since my fiancé left." He sighed hugely. "That's all.." He tried to look wistful.

Yuki examined her, she'd lost her spitfire.

"Forget him. If he pisses you off that much forget him."

"It doesn't make me mad."

"The fucker's not worth crying over." Yuki said harshly not being able too take it. He didn't care who the asshole was in particular.

"I'll go get us some punch.." Shuichi murmured and left the scene before the other could say a thing more.

What I'd like to do is throw it in his face! Even to a woman he's a royal asshole.


Ta da!