Author's notes and warnings:  You are all so kind!  Arigatou, na no da!!!!  I am so very sorry this chapter took so long but all these restrictions are cramping my creative style, ne?

Holy cow…I have now 4 couples flouncing around in my fic.  Chi/Tas is, of course, my priority and gets the most 'screen time'.  I'm trying to get Hotohori and Nuriko together as best I could, unfortunately I haven't devoted much time to them…but they will get together!  Ryuuichi and Tohma are a challenge.  (So sorry Hitari…)  I'm going to write a bittersweet past for them to reconcile…    Yuki and Shuuichi… @.@  What could I possibly say about this couple?  If your exposure to Gravitation is limited to this fic, I totally understand your confusion…  When I first saw the anime, I wanted to beat the crap out of Yuki!  He was so damn mean.  Then I got used to it and it became so f---ing sexy!  Heh, heh..  They will pop up here and there, just to further confuse you!  ~.~  

Hugs and more hugs to my fantastic reviewers:

Kawaii: You saw Gravitation? Did you like it?  Was I right?  Is Ryuuichi-sama the hottest bishie to ever walk the earth or what? (Besides Chichiri-sama, of course)

Sakata Ri Houjun: Arigatou!  Yes we do like to torture the boys…but I'm sure they enjoy it too, ne?  We give plenty of incentives in the form of delicious lemons…

Midori Himura: *snickers* Himura was Chichiri's reincarnated last name in Once Upon a Dream…I liked it because of Kenshin… and Chi/Ryu had me grinning idiotically too! *wipes drool*  Thank you!!!

Xellas: Heh, heh, heh. *twitches* That's what I said about your Chiri when I read 'The Fox and The Wolf'.  Hot!!!  Expect more totally dominating Chichiri…especially in a steamy lemon!

Anime Angel: I'm glad that you're getting interested in Gravitation…It's totally cool!  Check it out!  Even if FF.net is banning NC-17 stories, I'm planning to keep posting and when the contents gets too…um…hot, I was going to e-mailing the lemony parts to interested parties.  What do you think?  Thanks for the review!

Chisama: *LOL*  Yes, Tasuki needs to give it up, ne?  He will, trust me on this!  I'm an avid Chichiri/Tasuki fan, I may let them roam but they will always be together in the end…  Thank you!

TigerBlak: Sumen, ne?  But I got the next chapter out as soon as I could!  Arigatou for your continual support!

Uftaki: And here's the chapter!  I really hope you'll like it! 

Shadow Priestess: *LOL* Never ask a lady her age… but thank you for the sweet compliment. *blushes*  I'll make Chichiri all better, I promise.

Hitari: Aiya! *ROFL* I love that expression. I'm using it all the time now and nobody knows what the heck I'm talking about!  On LOTR, you're right, it's Nov. (darn it!) Now it's a month longer than I had thought!  I sorry about the Ryu/Toh thing… I couldn't make him evil… Quat would kill me!  I must redeem him!  And to answer your first question, YES I would e-mail the story to you.  I think I will have to anyways since I'm not suppose to write graphic lemons under 'R' rating… and believe me, for what I have in mind, it's graphic!

Nuriko: Hey! I planted an Australian Willow in front of my home and named him Nuriko…  Thanks for the review!

Lady Pyrrha: *snickers* Yes, Tasuki will definitely come to his senses and go to Chichiri, I don't know when yet… Then he'll make Chichiri all better! ~.~

Songs Of The Heart – Chapter 5: The Confusion

By Moonraven

"You had no right!"  Chichiri's controlled voice said softy.

Even though Ryuuichi was not sorry in the least, the legendary rock star managed to look contrite as he allowed his head to hang dejectedly.  He whimpered when appropriate and fidgeted with Kumagorou when called for, but underneath all that, Ryuuichi Sakuma calmly plotted his next Chichiri/Tasuki moment.

"Ryuuichi."  Chichiri gripped the older man's shoulder and force Ryuuichi to look at him.  "I know you, Ryu-chan.  I could hear the wheels turning in your head!"  He was now nose to nose with his scheming lover.  "What are you planning now, Ryuuichi?"

Ryuuichi blinked innocently at his lover.  "Anou, nothing, na no da.  I'm really sorry, Chichiri."

Chichiri narrowed his eyes as he peered into those bottomless blue eyes.  "Why don't I believe you?"  He asked, sighing in resignation as he slipped his arms around the older man.

Ryuuichi relaxed into the embrace and wound his arms around Chichiri's neck.  He leaned over and kissed the younger man's lips gently.  "Because you know me too well?"  The sexy rock star suggested softly.  He would miss Chichiri when the younger man finally surrender to his destiny and pursue Tasuki in earnest.  But that would take time yet; Chichiri wasn't ready to come out of his shell, he wasn't ready to risk pain even for the chance of healing.

Chichiri gave Ryuuichi a long look and pulled the other man closer.  "I don't want him."  He said simply.

Ryuuichi rested his head on Chichiri's shoulder and sighed.  "Liar."  He could feel the steady beating of Chichiri heart and rubbed his hand absently over the hard chest.  "Do you remember what you said after we've made love the first time?"  Ryuuichi asked quietly.

Chichiri frowned as he tried to recall something he had said over three years ago, after a moment of passion no less.  "Er… It was…great?"  He ventured.

Ryuuichi laughed and kissed him warmly.  He looked into that usually guarded eye and smiled.  "You don't remember, do you?"  Chichiri shook his head mutely.  "You said, 'You're not him.'"  Ryuuichi told the quiet songwriter.  "You looked so lost then, it nearly broke my heart."  He reached up and gently caressed the scar across Chichiri's eye. 

"Oh.  That."  Chichiri blinked and shook his head.  "I told you to forget about that.  It was just a stupid dream that I used to have.  I don't have them anymore."  Chichiri's lips captured Ryuuichi's firmly, compelling the older man to respond.  The kiss was rough and demanding, meant to divert the rock star from his present train of thoughts.  Ryuuichi knew this tactics well; Chichiri had been using it unfailingly ever since they had become lovers.  This time he was determined not to let the younger man get a way with it.

Ryuuichi pulled away gently and gave Chichiri a hard look.  "Maybe."  Ryuuichi said softly.  "But that doesn't change anything.  Deep in your soul, you are waiting for someone, Chichiri, and I think it's Tasuki."

Chichiri frowned and shook his head.  "Where do you get your crazy ideas?  Tasuki is an obnoxious punk who's loud, brash, has no manner, inconsiderate, and did I mention loud---"

"And sexy as hell."  Ryuuichi added playfully.  He watched as Chichiri' frown deepened and sighed.  "Don't think I hadn't noticed, Chichiri.  I think the boy feels something too; he's drawn to you.  Why are you fighting this so hard?"

Chichiri regarded him somberly before asking softly, "Why are you fighting your feelings for Tohma?"

It was Ryuuichi's turn to frown.  "We are not talking about me, we're talking about you."  He squirmed out of Chichiri's arms and walked to the desk at the corner of the room.  He picked up Kumagorou and hugged it to his chest tightly.  At the sound of Tohma's name his emotions swirled in confusion and pain and he needed his anchor to continue.

Chichiri came up behind him and wrapped strong arms around the older man.  "I'm sorry.  Just like you're not ready to face whatever demons to be faced with Tohma, I'm not ready to face the feelings that this…child is waking in me.  He's stirring something primal that's better left dormant."  He hugged the older man tightly.  "I can't lose whatever control I had gained…I just can't…" 

Chichiri buried his face in the back of Ryuuichi's neck and the older man sighed sadly.  Ryuuichi had thought as much.  Chichiri's wall of icy control was wavering the minute he'd met Tasuki.  Ryuuichi had felt it the moment he saw them together.  It was as if the heat in Tasuki's life force was melting away the carefully constructed shield that Chichiri had placed around himself, the shield that he had hoped would protect everyone from the demon Chichiri had thought himself to be.  The demon only Chichiri could see…

Ryuuichi tuned around and hugged the younger man tenderly.  "Alright, Chichiri.  I'll let you handle this at your own pace but I'm watching.  If you let this one get away, I'm afraid you'll never heal, na no da."

Chichiri gave him a small smile.  "Just like I'm keeping an eye on you and Tohma, na no da.  If you don't do something soon, I'll be forced to go to him, no da."

Ryuuichi narrowed his eyes at the man threatening him.  "And do what?  Glare him into dumping Mika-san?"

"He doesn't love her.  He loves you."

Ryuuichi's lips quivered as more turbulent emotions used his body as a battlefield.  "He loves Eiri."  He whispered unsteadily.

Chichiri frowned and shook him gently.  "I don't understand how you could be so damn insightful when it comes to other people but so dense when it comes to your own love life.  He loves YOU.  Eiri was a passing fancy.  The guilt is slowly killing him, Ryu.  When will you forgive him?"

Ryuuichi looked up at his lover and caressed the angry scar over Chichiri's left eye gently.  "When will you forgive yourself?"  He asked softly.  He rested he head on Chichiri's shoulder and sighed.  "I wish I was in love with you.  I wanted so much to love you but we're too much alike.  We're both hiding from the world, hiding from the pain…"

"That's why we're perfect for each other."  Chichiri said softly into Ryuuichi's hair.

Ryuuichi shook his head against Chichiri's neck.  "There can be no life without pain…it's all part of living.  We are not truly living if we are still hiding."  Ryuuichi scoffed at himself for being the hypocrite that he was.  It was all fine and good to tell that to Chichiri but could he follow his own advice?  Did he dare risk the pain again?

"Then I don't need to live."  Came the eerily quiet voice of Chichiri.  Ryuuichi shivered violently at the tone despite the warmth of his lover's arms.  He was afraid that Chichiri had more in mind behind that statement than he was letting on.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Shit, shit, shit, shit…" No other words came to mind as Tasuki rounded the corridor that would take him far away form Chichiri and the emotional roller coaster he was going through.  No, the emotional roller coaster that ASSHOLE was putting him through.  What the fuck happened?  When was he EVER attracted to men? And what the hell was he feeling?  Even with the women he'd been with, Tasuki had never felt this…this intense longing, this aching lump that grew and threatened to burst from his chest at the mere thought of Chichiri.  Nor could he fathom the empty feeling in the pit of his stomach when the man was not around.

"What the hell do I do now?"  He mumbled to himself, more confused now than angry.

"Gee, Tasuki-chan.  What the hell DID you do?"  Nuriko's voice jolted him back to reality and he looked into the warm hazel eyes, perplexed.

Nuriko frowned at the expression on his friend's face; he had never seen that lost look before.  "Anou, Tasuki…are you alright?"  He peered into his friend's eyes as he touched Tasuki gently on his shoulder. 

"Nuri…"  Tasuki started but didn't know how to finish.  He knew that Nuriko was probably the best person to talk to about what he's feeling but dared he?  All of their lives Nuriko had been the 'gay braided baka' and Tasuki, the 'straight loud mouth'.  How did he feel about being the 'gay loud mouth'?  WAS he gay?

Nuriko was looking at him funny; he must look a damn sight.  "Nuri, can we talk somewhere?"  He asked thickly.  He certainly didn't want to discuss his insecurities about his sexuality here, in the damn hallway.

"Sure."  Nuriko said readily, pulling the redhead a couple of doors down.  The video room was empty and his braided friend closed the door after them as Tasuki slumped listlessly onto the sofa.  Nuriko came to sit next to Tasuki, taking the redhead's hand gently into his own strong ones.  "Tell me."  He urged.

Tasuki closed his eyes, trying to come up with words that wouldn't sound so lame.  "I love women!" He blurted out suddenly.  He winced inwardly at the defensive tone that small sentence had taken.

Nuriko's eyebrows rose in surprised.  "Yeah, Tas-cha, I know.  I think half of Tokyo knows that and the women love you right back.  So…what's the problem?"  He squeezed the redhead's hand gently, encouragingly.

"I…um…well…you see…"  Shit!  Nuriko was looking more confused that HE was.  Get it over with you idiot, he scolded himself.  If anyone could understand, surely it was Nuriko?  He took a deep breath and look at his friend with determination.  "How did you know you were gay?"

Nuriko blinked then blinked again.  "Did you just ask me how I knew I was gay?"

Tasuki swallowed and nodded.

"O-kay…"  Nuriko removed his hands from Tasuki's and folded them neatly in his lap.  This was much more serious that he'd thought.  Tasuki and he had talked about this before, of course.  They didn't get to be the best of friends for the past…well, for ever since he could remember if they hadn't shared such intimate talks.  But for Tasuki to ask again and in this state, something must really be eating at him.

"You remember the first day Hotohori moved to our school?"  Tasuki nodded, recalling the neatly dressed, well-behaved boy standing alone in the yard. All the other kids were playing but this boy just stood there looking at them with sadness in his eyes.  He remembered Nuriko picking up their soccer ball and running to the new kid, Hotohori.  The energetic six-year-old thrust the ball at Hotohori and literally dragged the stunned boy with him as he bounced back to Tasuki and their group of friends.  From that day onward, Hotohori had always been with them.

"But how did you know you were gay?  You were, what, six years old?"  Tasuki said rather impatiently. Not only that, Nuriko had also taken Tasuki under HIS wings, what did THAT have to do with being gay?

Nuriko sighed and rolled his eyes.  "Let me finish, will you, Tas-chan?"  Nuriko looked down at his hand and smiled a wistful little smile.  "I knew the second I set eyes on him that I would never love anyone else.  I didn't know anything about sex or who should or shouldn't love whom, all I knew was that this little boy was going to be my whole world."  Nuriko looked over at Tasuki, his hazel eyes soft with memories.  "I used to wonder why I was never interested in girls, especially when both you and Hotohori were beginning to.  I tried to like them but all I could think about was Hotohori."  Nuriko grimaced as he remembered a particularly unpleasant incident, hands clenching tight in his lap.  "And when he kissed that bitch, Suzuko, I just wanted to bash her head in, I was so damn angry!  I used to think that I was mad at Hotohori because he'd found a new friend but then I realized that it was more than that."  Nuriko's voice had dropped to a mere whisper as he lowered his head.  "I had wanted to BE Suzuko.  I had wanted Hotohori to kiss me."

"That was the time you started to wear your hair long."  Tasuki said softly.  "We were about twelve at that time…and you've never hid the fact that you were gay.  You were never afraid."

Nuriko snickered and held up his fists.  "I could beat up half the school, ya think someone was gonna mess with me?"

Tasuki smiled at the memories.  "No, but you'd always let Hotohori come to your rescue when someone teased you, you big fake!"  But Tasuki also knew that Hotohori had enjoyed being the knight in shining armors for his braided friend.  That's why Tasuki couldn't understand Nuriko's hesitation in telling their handsome tall friend how he really felt. 

Nuriko smiled at the accusation and shrugged.  "Hey a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do."  He turned to his friend abruptly.  "What's going on, Tasuki?  Is it Chichiri?"

Tasuki looked at his friend sharply, shock shown clearly in his amber eyes.  Was he that transparent?  Was his emotional turmoil that obvious?  His mouth opened and closed soundlessly.  Yep, can we say fish out of water?

"Give me some credit!"  Nuriko protested at Tasuki's astonishment.  "I DO know you very well, Tas-chan.  You've been acting strangely especially when he's around and now you're questioning me about being gay?  Again?"  He took Tasuki's hands in his own again and scooted to face the other young man.  "Tell me."  He urged gently. "You know I love you and I would never do or say anything to betray you"

Tasuki sighed.  He knew that.  Nuriko would rather die than hurt his friends.

"I…I don't know how I feel…"  He hesitated.  "I've never felt anything like this before.  I hated him and I…wanted him at the same time."  He lowered his head as he felt blood rushing to his face.

Nuriko saw Tasuki's embarrassment and wanted to ease his friend's pain.  "I totally know the latter part, Tas-chan.  He's, like, totally hot!  Such great ass!"  Tasuki groaned and covered his face.  "What?  You don't think he has great ass?"  Nuriko nudged his friend.

Tasuki looked up and moved closer to Nuriko.  "Kiss me." 

"Eh?"  Nuriko leaned back a few inches, eyes wide, mouth opened in confusion.  "What…?"

Tasuki leaned in after his friend.  "I need to know."  He said desperately.  "I need to know that it's not just him…or that it is him…I…"  Tasuki paused to search for word but they failed him yet again.  "I've never kissed a man before…just him.  I want to see…feel the difference.  You're my best friend, you ain't gonna take it wrong, Nuri. Please."

Nuriko's interest perked and he raised himself closer to his friend.  "You kissed him?"  His hazel eyes wide with curiosity and disbelieve.  He looked at Tasuki's lips for signs of freezer burn but found none.  "Hontou ni?" 

Tasuki snorted and moved back to his side of the sofa.  "It' was more like him kissing me. I was just standing there."  He colored thinking about other things Chichiri did and how he had responded to those expert hands…

"HE kissed YOU?  And you let him?  That's so great!"  Nuriko squealed, clapping joyfully.

"What's so fucking great about that?"  Tasuki growled and Nuriko subsided.

"How did you feel, you know, when he was kissing you?"  Nuriko asked gently but Tasuki remained silent, the only thing that changed was the color of his cheeks; they were much more flushed.  "Tasuki, you either liked it or you didn't.  And judging by your confusion, I'm guessing that you liked it, quite a bit, am I right?"  A mute nod from the redhead was his only answer.  "Did you kiss him back?"  This time Tasuki's face was two shades brighter than it was and he nodded again, reluctantly.  "Was there MORE than just kissing?"

"AGH!"  Tasuki cried out and buried his face in his hands.  He did NOT want to go there.

Nuriko stared at the bowed head in surprised.  There WAS more!  Oh, my poor Tasuki, Nuriko thought as he draped an arm over his friend's shoulder.  "A lot of people are bisexual, Tasuki.  I wouldn't worry about it.  You just haven't found someone to ignite that hentai little flame until now."  Nuriko pried Tasuki's hands away from his face.  "Were you disgusted at all?  Did it feel wrong in the least?"

Tasuki searched his feelings and found that all he felt was elation and his blood sang to be touched by that man again.  He shook his head in answer to the questions.  How could he be disgusted when he had wanted it to never end?

"Then I suggest you explore it."  Declared, Nuriko the sage.

"I don't know…"  Tasuki was still not sure.  This was all so new to him.

"Look, if it was a girl you wanted, what would you do?"

"He's not a fucking girl, Nuri."  He glared daggers at his friend.

"That's your problem, Tasuki."  Nuriko frowned at him. "Remember what I told you about my feelings for Hotohori when I was six?  I didn't know there was a rule somewhere that said I had to love a girl.  I feel what I feel and you feel what you feel.  Don't follow imaginary rules someone else's made if it's not what you are…who you are.  Follow your instincts, Tasuki, your feelings."  He tapped gently at the redhead's chest.  "Follow your heart."

Tasuki stared at the misty eye Nuriko in awe; he didn't sound like such a baka after all.  "So when are you going to follow your heart and tell him?"

Nuriko bit his lips.  Big mouth, he scolded himself.  How's he going to follow your advice if you yourself won't?  Nuriko took a deep breath and smiled at Tasuki.  "Let's make a deal.  If you tell Chichiri, I'll tell Hotohori.  Ne?"

"Wait a second."  Tasuki held up his hands in protest.  "You've been in love with him forever, I don't even know how I feel."

"The more reason for you to explore!"  Nuriko said quickly. "I already know how I feel, I just have to tell him.  You have a much longer road ahead of you to test, I suggest you hurry."  He got up from the sofa and pulled Tasuki up with him.  He then hugged Tasuki tightly.  "I will always be here for you, Tasuki.  No matter what."

Tasuki hugged the smaller figured back, thankful that he had such a good friend in Nuriko.

The sound of the door opening had both of them turning towards the intruder.  Nuriko gasped and froze.  "Hotohori-sama…"

"I'm sorry…am I…interrupting?"  Hotohori's handsome face was blank and expressionless, which was the very thing that gave away his pain.  Tasuki pulled away from Nuriko and smiled innocently at his manager and friend.

"Nah."  He said as he walked towards the door.  "Nuri was just helping me find myself.  I didn't know I have such great friends in you and Nuri, Tori."  He clasped the older man's shoulders and gave him a squeeze.  "Thanks man."  He turned and nodded to Nuriko meaningfully before he left them alone in the room.

Now to find that cold bastard and see if he can't melt the ice cube Chichiri had for a heart…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"What do you mean, you can't find it?"  Tohma hisses at K as he peered at the pacing Ryuuichi behind the taller blond.  Ryu-chan was tearing at his hair, crying and babbling incoherently.  Shuuichi was trying desperately to calm the hysterical rock star to no avail…Kumagorou was missing.

"Have you tried Chichiri's room."  He asked and felt the familiar pang in his chest at the thought of Ryuuichi and Chichiri.

"We did."  K said in his deep calm voice.  "He's out and his room is locked.  And you know better than to go into Chichiri's room when he's not there."

"But Ryu-chan has the spare keys.  He goes in there without Chichiri all the time."  Tohma frowned, none of this made sense.

"The keys are on Kuma."

Ah! NOW it made sense. 

"Toh…MAAAAAA" Ryuuichi wailed and glomped onto the stunned blond.  "Kuma's been kidnapped!  We must save him!"  The tall singer held on tightly to his friend and former lover as he felt his world crashing around him.  "I need Kuma, no da!"

"Mou, Ryu-chan, we'll find him, don't worry."  He rubbed Ryuuichi's back soothingly.  The ache in his chest grew at Ryuuichi's nearness.  Ever since the incident at the airport where Ryuuichi had hugged him, Tohma had been avoiding any kind of physical contact. The younger man's touch was both sweet and painful, Tohma wasn't sure he could keep his promise to be just friends if Ryuuichi was so near… His whole being was remembering all the exquisite pleasures they had shared before he had stupidly thrown it all away.  Before he had turned his strong lover into…

"I have Chichiri on the phone."  K said quietly as he handed the phone to Tohma.  Ryuuichi was in no condition to talk to his lover so Tohma took the phone.

"Chichiri-san."  Tohma said with some relieve.  Ryuuichi minus Kuma was not something he wanted to deal with.

"I won't be back for a couple of hours yet, Tohma, so you're going to have to go get Kuma for him."  Chichiri wasted no time on the greeting.

"The doors are locked Chichiri and I don't think you'll approve of K's solution…" He said as he eye K and the magnum nervously.

"Tell K that I will kill him if he so much as scratch my door."  The steel in Chichiri's voice was hard to miss and Tohma quickly relay the message.

K snorted as he put the gun away.  "Then how does he propose we open his door?  Did he forget that he made us destroy all the other copies?"

"The door's unlocked."  Chichiri's remote voice said and Tohma frowned.

"They checked, it was locked Chichiri."  Tohma looked over to K and Shuuichi and they nodded confirmation.  He shifted uncomfortably as Ryuuichi snuggled even closer to him and was practically climbing into his shirt.

"It's…probably stuck, but YOU need to go and get it and YOU need to be the one that give it to him."  Chichiri's voice was deadly serious.  "Do you understand, Tohma?"

Tohma understood.  "Hai."  He whispered into the phone.  Trust.  It was all about earning Ryuuichi's trust again.  Kuma had become Ryuuichi's lifeline and Tohma could find his way back into the younger man's heart again through Kuma…  "Why…?"  Why was Chichiri doing this?

"Because you love him.  If you don't, I wouldn't trust him with you."  There was an audible click that told Tohma the other man had hung up.   Because you love him…

"Ryu-chan."  He whispered softly as he unconsciously brushed his lips against the soft strands of dark hair.  He closed his eyes as memories flooded his mind…memories of soft skin underneath his lips, memories of insistent whimpers and urgent cries…

"Ryu-chan."  He tried again and gently pushed the sobbing man away.  "Stay with Shu-chan and K, alright?  I'll bring Kuma back to you."  He gazed into the tear filled blue eyes and gently kissed them away.  "I promise to return with Kuma, stay here."  He steered the wide-eyed Ryuuichi into K's arms and left.

Shuuichi and K looked at the closed door then at each other in shock.  Did Tohma just kissed Ryuuichi?  

Apparently Ryuuichi was thinking the same thing; the sobbing stopped and the stupefied rock legend stared open-mouth at the closed door.  No one spoke and the silence filled the air until the jiggling of the doorknob signaled the returned of Tohma.

Tohma held Kumagorou gently in one hand as he closed the door.  He held up his prize and smiled gently at Ryuuichi, but before he could say anything, he was painfully knocked back against the door and a very grateful bundle of Ryuuchi Sakuma was all over him.  Kuma was no longer in his grip but that didn't matter for he found that his hands were quite filled with Ryuuichi.  The rock star had buried his face in Tohma's neck and whispered strings of 'thank you's into the blonde's shoulder.  Ryuuichi's soft lips brushed repeatedly against the sensitive skin close to Tohma's collarbone and his hard lean body pressed urgently into Tohma's.

"Ryu-chan."  Tohma whispered as he returned the pressure.  He vaguely recalled hearing the side door open and close as K dragged the gaping Shuuichi out.

"Tohma…Tohma..."   Ryuuichi flicked his tongue out to taste the all too familiar taste of his former lover.  He sighed contentedly as his sanity slowly returned with Kumagorou.  "I missed you…" He whispered as he licked along Tohma's jaw line, bringing himself nose to nose with the flushed blond. 

"Ryu-chan."  Tohma gazed into the endless pools of blue fire and surrendered to the aching needs of his body.  He reached behind the back of Ryuuichi's neck and pulled the younger man in, his lips parted before they even made contact.  Ryuuchi whimpered softly as Tohma slipped his tongue between those soft full lips and caressed the insides of Ryuuichi's mouth.  Gods, he tasted the same, so sweet.  Tohma had never forgotten the intoxicating taste of the beautiful singer in his clutch.  Never in a million years could he forget what they had shared, what he had done…

The thought of his betrayal froze Tohma in his track.  Could Ryuuichi ever forgive him?

Ryuuchi noticed the change in Tohma and sighed as he pulled away.  He knew what he must do but was he ready to open himself to this man again?  He looked at the returned Kuma and tugged it securely into the front of his shirt.  "Arigatou, no da, Tohma."  He said softly.  "I will never forget this."  He leaned over and brushed his lips against the blonde's briefly, his eyes never leaving the green pools.  He pushed away from Tohma and walked towards the side door.  He opened the door and before he stepped through it, he turned and smiled brightly at Tohma.  "Kuma has forgiven you, no da, and so have I."  With a small wave, he slipped out and closed the door softly behind him. 

He only wish he was right in following his own heart…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Author's notes:

Whew!  That was an interesting chapter to write!  I know there was no interactions between Tas and Chi but I think this is an important 'filler' chapter.  Next chapter will have Tasuki following Chichiri around and get caught!!!  OOOH, what punishment! 

Please let me know what you think and there will be lime/almost lemon in the next chapter!!!

Feed back, na no da!!!!!