Yuki sat morosely at his desk staring at the few pathetic paragraphs he had agonized over all afternoon. With extreme disgust, he highlighted every word and deleted it all. He had wasted the past five hours writing something that would make a third rate novelist too ashamed to submit. It used to be so easy for him to churn out a bestselling novel, but now he couldn't even manage to write a single chapter. Closing his eyes, Yuki tried yet again to come up with a decent idea, but all he could see were Shuichi's wounded, tearful eyes.
"Damn it!" He got up in defeat and lit himself a cigarette. He was toying with the idea of having some lunch when the phone rang.
"Hello," Yuki answered gruffly.
"Hello Eiri. It's Dr. Schlucter. I just thought I'd call and see how you are doing."
"You're up awful early. It must be…five fifteen in the morning there."
"I've already been up for nearly an hour!" She replied cheerfully. "Anyway, how are you doing?"
"I'm fine." He answered guardedly. "Do you normally call your ex-patients like this?"
"No, but this isn't a professional call. I'm calling as a friend. I was wondering how things were going with you and Shuichi. Have you talked with him yet?"
"You've got a lot of nerve! When did I ever say I was going to get in touch with Shuichi?"
"Things aren't going well, are they?" She asked ignoring his indignation.
"Look, I don't have the time to talk with you right now. I have a lot of work, so if you don't mind…"
"Alright Eiri, I get the hint. Just try not to make any rash decisions based on your irrational fears. If you do, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
After hanging up the phone, Yuki stared absentmindedly out the window. He had already begun to regret what he had done to Shuichi. Would he really regret it for the rest of his life?
"Good work everyone!" K stated as we began packing up our equipment. "Please report to the stadium by three o'clock for sound checks and a final run-through of tonight's performance."
"I have an announcement to make." I said hoping my enthusiasm sounded genuine. "Kaemon and I are going to get married!"
Everyone froze in stunned silence. "Congratulations!" Suguru said snapping everyone out of their sudden bewilderment.
"Ah, yeah…congratulations," Hiro added hesitantly. He waited until Kaemon was distracted by Suguru and Sakano before quietly taking me aside.
"Isn't this just a little sudden?" He asked in concern. "What about Yuki? Now that he's come back…I mean…well, don't you even want to try to win him back?"
"How can you ask me that?" I hissed with aggravation. "You of all people know what kind of hell he's put me through. Why would I want to willingly go back to someone like that when I have someone like Kaemon?"
"Damn it Shu!" He quietly growled. "Just who do you think you're talking to? I'm your best friend. I know you too well! You will never love Kaemon the way you love Yuki!" Cautiously looking over his shoulder to make sure Kaemon was still busy, he added. "Should you be making such an important decision at this time?"
"Hiro," my voice waivered as a tear streaked silently down my cheek. "I met with Yuki yesterday. He…told me he…never cared about me. He said…I was nothing…but a plaything to him. He…he hates me!" I bit my lip and cursed silently to myself. I didn't want to cry and ruin this moment for Kaemon.
"I'm sorry…I didn't know." Hiro looked at him with a mixture of anger and sympathy on his face. He knew his friend was acting rashly, but he also understood how useless it would be to try to talk Shuichi out of his decision. "Have you decided on a date yet?"
"We were thinking about doing it over the holidays during the break in our tour." I looked at Hiro uncertainly. "I know you think this is a foolish decision, but please try to be happy for me."
At least they were going to wait a couple of months. "Alright Shu, you win." He reluctantly conceded. "I'll meet you at the stadium." Hiro said as he rushed purposely out of the room.
Hiro marched resolutely toward Yuki's apartment. This time he was really going to let him have it. Pounding on the door, Hiro seethed as he waited in the hallway.
Yuki abruptly yanked the door open. "What the h…" His retort was cut short by Hiro's fist slamming into his face.
"How could you be so cruel to him?" Hiro yelled as he shoved Yuki across the living room. "Do you have any idea how much he has suffered because of you?"
"Since when is my private life any concern of yours?" Yuki replied utilizing extraordinary restraint. He figured Hiro would confront him after the horrible way he had treated Shuichi.
"I warned you," Hiro continued unfazed, "what would happen if you hurt Shuichi again!" He threw a powerful right-cross at Yuki only to find himself in wide eyed shock face down on the floor with his arm wrenched painfully behind his back. "You bastard!" He screamed in impotent rage. "Why he still loves someone like you, I'll never understand. He's going to do something that he'll regret for the rest of his life, and it's all because of you!"
"You're assuming I still care about that annoying brat." Yuki grunted with the effort of keeping Hiro pinned to the ground.
"You really don't have a heart, do you?" Hiro panted wearily in defeat. "I thought Shuichi's decision to marry Kaemon was a mistake, but now I know he's making the right choice." Yuki suddenly released his arm and sat back in astonishment. Hiro gingerly massaged his wrist as he continued. "Although Shuichi will never love Kaemon the way he loves you, Kaemon loves Shuichi more than you could possibly imagine. I just hope Shuichi can let go of his love for you so they can have a happy life together." He slowly stood up and wordlessly walked out the door leaving a bewildered Yuki alone in his anguish.