Disclaimer: I don't own Gravitation, Maki Murakami does, she's awesome.

Chapter Fourteen

Love, what an insipid emotion, Yuki thought as he packed his suitcase, lust was understandable; he recognized it when it came to Shuichi. There was just something about the younger man he couldn't resist. Shuichi was hot, innocent and addictive. Yes, he'd indulged in the Shuichi buffet, but that was the extent he was willing to involve his heart. He couldn't go beyond that. He just couldn't.

"I love you, Yuki!" Those words filled his mind yet again. How naïve could one get? Picking up his suitcase, he grabbed his laptop bag and left the bedroom. It was already two in the afternoon. The living room was quiet except for the television that was rambling away. Yuki walked past the mess of orange juice in the living room, not giving it a glance, he placed his luggage on the couch and sat down to put his socks on. The entertainment news came on and Yuki paused as the presenter announced the start of the Bad Luck press conference. The scene changed and there was Shuichi seated behind a long table, his band mates on either side of him, off to the side stood K who was standing at a podium.

"Thank you all for coming," K said politely. "I am Claude Winchester and I will direct this press conference. This is a closed session; we will not be taking questions. Shindou-san will make a statement that will serve as our position on the matter at hand."

Yuki sighed at the extent Tohma was willing to go to remain on top of the situation. Shuichi certainly had a cunning boss, and he was a fool to go along with it. Shaking his head, he went ahead and put on his socks just as the camera focused on Shuichi. Those amethyst eyes were bright, his dark hair falling over his temple seductively; he was truly beautiful, Yuki thought.

Yuki looked away and got up to put his shoes on just as Shuichi started to talk.

"I want to thank you all for coming to listen to what I have to say."

Yuki drove sedately through the streets of Tokyo, his thoughts on Shuichi's words this morning. How could this boy speak so foolishly? Love was such a simple word that meant too much. It demanded everything and he knew what it cost to love, Yuki sighed, he suffered now because of love. He'd given up so much for love and learned his lesson thoroughly.

The reason for this press conference is to address the nature of my relationship with Yuki Eiri. When I woke this morning to the headlines, different decisions have been thrust at me, each one meant to be the best choice. So, here I am now, facing you all with the only option I think is best. That option is the truth.

Yuki parked the care at the NG Towers and got out. Hauling his suitcase, he walked into the building and got into the elevator. He was tired and his brain couldn't stop thinking about Shuichi and his infernal declarations. Why couldn't sex be enough for both of them? Why did it have to include emotions? Leaning against the elevator wall, he paid no mind to the man in black who got into the elevator with him.

Regarding my relationship with Yuki Eiri, he is the man I love. Because of me, Yuki-san has suffered great imposition, and I apologize to him for that. I now beg you for help. As you are all aware, there have been attempts made on my life. The authorities are doing everything they can to catch the person behind it, but so far there has been no success. I ask you now to help me protect, Yuki Eiri, my band mates, friends and my family. Those who are close to me, remain in danger until this person is caught.

Yuki let a sigh escape. His sister had called him to tell him that their father had cancelled the engagement. He'd wanted to spare the girl's family the embarrassment of being involved with the unruly mess that was Yuki's life. He was free and he could continue with his life as he chose. Mission accomplished, he thought. He should be happy to have his old life back. Writing, sleeping, slaking his lust on whoever was willing, closing his eyes, the soft moans Shuichi made when he was under him filled his thoughts, and Yuki couldn't stop the gasp at the memory.

I sit here not as the lead singer of Bad Luck, or as a rock star, but as a man. One who loves and hurts, one who's caused hurt to others and many inconveniences. The only thing I can offer those I love is the promise to protect them as best as I can. Please help me protect them, I ask you not to pursue, Yuki Eiri anymore, regarding me.

The elevator doors opened and Yuki pushed of the wall, clutching his suitcase. He was just stepping off the elevator when the man in the corner lunged at him, catching him unawares. Yuki dropped the suitcase, as the impact of the man slamming into him pushed him to the floor. He immediately grabbed at the fingers pressing at his throat. They were trying to choke the life out of him. Gasping, the weight on him was brutal, and vicious, relentless, he couldn't breath. Closing his eyes, he tried to pry those fingers away from his throat so that he could breath. With a free hand, he grabbed at his assailant's hair and pulled. Kicking at the man's abdomen, he fought with all he had.

"Shuichi, you're impossible," K said once the press conference was over. Shuichi stood leaning against the wall in t he conference room, his gaze on the carpeted floor. He memorized the NG logo on the carpet as K ranted. "I knew you were going to change something, but this?"

"I needed to," Shuichi said quietly. "Denying it would put him in danger and you know it. Admitting it would stop the press from persistently hounding him. If anyone has a problem, tell me now."

Hiro and Suguru both shrugged. "Actually, it's a brilliant move. It will be hard to tell whether it's a PR stunt, or the truth," Hiro said in approval. "After all, everyone thinks you and Sakuma-san are together, it will end up just being a love triangle, instead of a scandal."

"You're all playing with fire," K warned with a glare. "We have a full blown stalker in our hands right now. We can't afford to include more people on his list. It's bad enough Ryuichi might be a target; including Yuki-san is a mistake."

"He can't stop living because of a stalker," Suguru said then. "None of us should."

Surprised at Suguru's backing, Shuichi was about to talk when his cell phone buzzed at his hip. Grabbing it, he stared at the caller ID and was surprised to see Yuki's name. Answering it, ready to take any punishment the man chose, he was surprised to hear the gasp.

"If you want to save him, hurry to NG Towers Shindou-san," a cold voice said into his ear. "I want you to know that I can get to you, even through all that security. I can also get to those you claim to love. You remember that, you belong to only me. He's alive only because I didn't want to hurt him but if you don't break it off, I'll end his life."

"What have you done?" Shuichi demanded as fear took over. He was shaking and he couldn't move. He knew he should be running, trying to do something. "Why are you doing this? Oh God, please, don't hurt him, don't-

K rushed to his side and grabbed the cell phone. Bringing it to his ear, he frowned as he listened to the other side. A minute later, he held Shuichi's hand tightly, as he pulled him out of the conference room.

Yuki was in trouble. That man had found Yuki, and he was hurt. Shuichi pulled his hand out of K's and broke into a run down the hallway. His heart pounding in his chest at the thought of what that man had done to his Yuki. Yes, he was his Yuki. The elevator doors opened and Shuichi almost ran into Tohma who was on his way to the conference room, no doubt to yell at him for thwarting his plans. Seeing him, Shuichi suddenly didn't care about being yelled at. He grabbed on to Tohma's arm and said frantically.

"Yuki's in danger. Please help me."

Tohma didn't hesitate and instead hurried back into the elevator with Shuichi, K followed. Shuichi pressed at the ground floor madly.

"What's going on?" Tohma asked calmly.

"Our stalker called Shuichi a minute ago," K provided as Shuichi stared at the numbers counting down on the elevator. "He was at 917. I think something has happened to Yuki-san."

Tohma nodded and reached for his cell phone. As he talked quietly, the elevator doors opened, and Shuichi took off at a run, heading for the parking lot. K was already ahead of him, and led him to a black SUV which they all piled into with Tohma in the back still talking into his phone. The drive to NG towers was short, but it felt like an eternity. The things that ran through his mind about how they were going to find Yuki made Shuichi want to scream out in fear.

This couldn't be happening. Clinging to the door handle, he closed his eyes and tried to will away panic, but it just couldn't go away. May be he'd been wrong to declare his love so carelessly. Was he stupid or what? Yuki could die. That man had said he'd kill him.

"Shuichi," Tohma said from behind.

Shuichi looked back for a second startled by the gentle tone his boss was using. He'd never heard it before especially when it was associated with his name.

"He's fine," Tohma said. "He is okay."

Shuichi clenched his hands on the dark fabric of his dark slacks and closed his eyes. He would only believe it when he was looking into blazing golden eyes. The car stopped in front of NG Towers and he didn't wait for K to break. He was jumping out and running for the entrance in seconds. The elevator doors were thankfully opened, he jumped into one and pressed the appropriate number, he chanted all the safety chants he knew on the ride up.

Once the doors opened on Yuki's floor, his heart was already in his throat. It seemed to rally to jump out of his throat when he saw the suitcase in the hallway. The door to Yuki's apartment was open, and there were drops of blood on the white carpet in the hallway.

He ran into 917 feeling like the world was ending. Looking around the living room, he couldn't help yelling out. "Yuki, Yuki, where are you? Oh, please be alright, Yuki?"

Shuichi hurried for the lighted kitchen and stopped short at the entrance, his gaze fixed on the figure at the sink holding a wet towel to his forehead. His clothes were rumpled, and his hair seemed to be sticking up on all sides. Shivering at the sight, he stared at the white towel, and the blood soaking into it.

"Yuki," he gasped rushing to him. "Thank God, you're okay. I thought-, I thought-

"Baka," Yuki said gently, as Shuichi wrapped his arms around Yuki's waist tightly. "Stop squeezing my ribs so hard they don't appreciate it right now."

Shuichi closed his eyes at the irritated tone that was so typical of his lover. Pulling back gently, he reached up with trembling hands to touch the hand holding the towel. "Does it hurt? You need a doctor. All that blood, we should get you to the hospital. This is my fault. I'm so sorry, Yuki. I'm so sorry."

Still holding on to the blood soaked towel, Shuichi felt tears stream down his cheeks as sobs took over his apology. Yuki frowned at him, and when the sobs only increased, he found his face pressed to Yuki's chest, as Yuki held him tight trying to comfort him, which was strange because Yuki was the one who needed comfort right now, because a mad man had just tried to hurt him. The gash on Yuki's forehead was enough proof of that. How had he ever lived without this man? How could he even begin to survive without him?

That certainly went in a different way than I had planned, but I hope it's not too out there. Sometimes I just go with the tale and where it takes me. So, will Shuichi voluntarily walk away from Yuki? Will Yuki admit his growing love for our passionate Shu-chan? And who is this stalker than can get to Yuki at his home? Find out next time. Fedski, Saint Germain, Morlana, Lilgurlanima, you guys are the best, thanks so much for the reviews.