Ah- this is when I believe I get to chuckle evilly to myself because this is the official beginning of The Game! [giggles madly] Um... I might as well clear this up before I get more people telling me... they're confused. Yes- I know you're confused- YUKI IS CONFUSED TOO! That's basically the point. At the end of the story, you'll understand everything and then you get to laugh evilly amongst yourselves. But until then- I can't spoil the fun and everything I'll subject our dear Yuki Eiri to. ((if you watch the movie, you'll get it, too ^_^.)) Anyway- replies!:

SKIPPY: Lol- you were the only one who tried to guess where the name "Nine Spiral" was from- and I guess I'll send you the skin and everything ^_^. I won't post in this chapter how I got the name ((in case any other people would like a try at it)) - but you're close- well- sorta close. It's related to music and everything!

KAMIKAKUSHI: Well- thanks for the unpredictable compliment ^_^. I don't know- I see a lot of the same things around here and I figure a Yuki/Shuichi story would be interesting with a LITTLE twist! Muahahahaha!

CHIBI-CHAN: Arg- the whole link deal gets on my nerves! . I would post the exact links to my lemon sections and everything, but they don't show up like they're supposed to at all! It's a pain in the ass! And my Yuki? Well, I'm trying as hard as I can to not make him too OOC- but eventually I might step onto that a bit too much for my own liking... maybe I should get a beta for this story... interested?

What else, what else? This chapter is sorta long... I actually didn't force myself or anything- but I think it's alright. [nod nod] enjoy!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

/.../: Thoughts

The Game: "That Pink Haired Waiter"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The blond starred down at his meal but was silent as his publisher rattled on with her high pitched words.

"Well, I like it and I think so far you've got your talents coming back. You were having a slump at the beginning of the year. I trust that you're feeling much better now?" Noriko was fingering the bottom of the braid of her silky purple locks [1] ]. Yuki's honey colored eyes danced up to hers and he nodded. It wasn't that he trusted Noriko- but to some extent he had respect for her. She'd gotten his first book published after all.

"Alright then, Yuki- then I trust you're not recovering still and can have wine." The woman smiled lightly and motioned for a waiter to come to their table. The entire restaurant was full of high ranking people- every one dressed as if to impress people with their lavish spending and the waiters were professionals. A pink haired teenager [2] had immediately arrived and stood there looking serious and apprehensive- as if he KNEW he was worth less than the people sitting at the tables.

"Can I help you, ma'am?" The young man glanced at Yuki, then back at Noriko.

"Hmph- let's have some Orvieto. What's the oldest year you have?" Noriko was poking at her salmon as she spoke, half attentive.

"I believe its 1952, ma'am."

"Alright- we'll have two glasses." The teenager bowed and walked quickly away to carry out the order. "So anyway, Yuki, we have high hopes for this new novel. Have you come up with a name for it yet?"

"Iie." Yuki went back to looking at his food. There was really only one thing on his mind that night- it was that damned warning from that male on his television screen the night before- Suguru?

"Well, my superiors think something like... 'Walk Down Tokyo Square'. What do you think?"

"Hmph..."

"You should think about it because if you're going to meet the next deadline you'll have to have a title by then." By now the pink-haired waiter was back and was carrying a wine bottle in a small bucket along with a tray with two wine glasses. He set the glasses down onto the table and showed the label to Noriko, who nodded. "The next deadline is going to be in a month- where do you plan on taking your story?"

"I'm not completely sure." Yuki was watching the waiter expertly open the bottle and pour Noriko her glass. He was somewhat handsome- in a cute sort of way, and his pink haired locks made his complexion much more placid and clear. "I was planning on Shinji killing Max out of spite. There should be jealousy-" And his words were immediately cut off.

The waiter had spilled wine all over Yuki's suit and silk shirt. /Ah shit.../ The blond frowned and looked at his clothes in sudden disappointment.

"Oh my god- I'm so sorry!" The teenage waiter bowed and dropped to his knees, reaching inside his pocket for cloth napkins which he immediately started to pat Yuki's chest and upper thigh with.

"How dare you! You've better be sorry!" Noriko was immediately angry and the blond writer looked up at her a little surprised.

/Since when did she act this way about someone ELSE getting their clothes dirty./

"Gomen nasai, gomen nasai..." The waiter was repeating, trying his best to clean the white wine that was leaving a slightly pink stain on Yuki's clothes. But the blond stopped him and pushed his hands away.

"That's enough." Yuki said sternly, causing the teenager to drop the cloth napkin he was holding and stare a little scarred. He immediately bowed and walked quickly away.

"I'm so sorry about that." A strange man had come to the table and was bowing to Yuki. "He's new around here and I should have known to never hire him if he was going to do such things as spill wine onto one of our most prestigious costumers. I can't apologize enough."

"It's fine..." The writer muttered and he unfolded the napkin on his leg to refold it again- but something caught his eye. There was something written on the inside of it in black ink.

"Ha- fine- you've better do something about that young man. How dare he do something as idiotic as spilling wine on him!" Noriko was speaking and when the man -that was apparently the manager- was talking to the female, Yuki was reading what was written on the napkin.

/Don't let that waiter leave./

"Of course, ma'am. We'll have this situation taken care of as soon as we can. Your wine and dinners are on the house. Excuse me." The manager bowed and left, going to a pink haired waiter that was off on the other side of the room. Yuki could vaguely hear their conversation. "You're fired!"

"But- I can't get fired- I need this job!" The teenager was speaking as if he was scarred.

"You should have thought about that before you decided to spill wine on some of my best costumers! They spend at least 200 dollars every time they come in- and because of you I've had to give them their meal free!"

"But-"

"Collect your things, Shuichi. I don't want to see you around here ever again." And the manager stalked off, leaving a stunned waiter staring after him.

/He was fired?/ Yuki looked down at the napkin then glanced back to where Shuichi had been standing, but he was gone.

"I'm so sorry about that..." Noriko was muttering, looking at him in a disappointed way.

"It's fine..." The blond pushed his chair back and stood. "Let me just try and take care of this." He motioned towards the black suit he wore and excused himself from the table. Why did he get that message with the napkin?

The tall male walked in the direction of the bathrooms- and when he knew Noriko couldn't see him anymore, he made his way towards the kitchens. /What's with the message...?/ He pushed the swinging door of the kitchen open and let himself inside, avoiding the confused looks the cooks were giving him. /Damn it- where the hell did this Shuichi guy go?/ He made his way deeper and deeper through the noisy, white kitchen until he spotted a pink-haired teenager pulling on a jacket as he stepped out a back door.

"Matte!" Yuki ordered, but the ex-waiter didn't seem to be listening, he kept walking and let the door shut behind him. /Damn it.../ The writer picked up his pace, swung the back door open and looked around. The door had led to a back alley- and Shuichi was almost near the exit to the street outside. The teenager's walk was brisk and hurried and Yuki began to jog to catch up to him. "Matte!" Not until Shuichi was near the street did he stop, looking at the writer slightly angered.

"What do you want? If it's about the suit- I don't have the money to pay for it." He turned and began walking away, but the blonde's strong hand gripped his arm, halting him. "Let go of me."

"Who gave you this napkin?" Yuki held the white cloth napkin up to the pink haired male's face.

"Does it matter? You just got me fired!"

"It's not my fault you're clumsy."

"Well EXCUSE ME!" Shuichi tried to pull away, but Yuki's grip increased.

"Who gave you this napkin." His eyes were narrowed and the smaller male looked at him intently- but there was an obvious fear in his eye. Then suddenly out of nowhere, someone began to cough and choke.

"Ne?" Shuichi looked around- and an old man had fallen to the ground, holding his chest and breathing heavily. The teen yanked away from the blonde's grip and went to the man's aid, kneeling besides him. "Hey- are you alright?" He looked around. "Hey- calm down... calm down..." But the man wasn't- his breathing was becoming more labored and Shuichi looked like he was beginning to panic. There was no one around for the most part and he knew he needed help.

"Don't just stand there!" Shuichi looked at Yuki with worry. "Do something! Call for help!" The blond frowned, reaching for his cell phone in his coat pocket and dialing 9-1-1.

"Hello- yes... In the alley behind June Drops Restaurant- a man is... chocking..."

"Tell them he's having a heart attack!" Shuichi looked desperate and he was trying to calm the man down- but it was to no avail.

"He's having a heart attack. Alright." And Yuki hung up the phone, placing it back in his pocket. "Don't look so desperate, baka. You're one of those dramatics, ne? The ambulance will be here in a few minutes- the hospital isn't far away."

"He needs treatment right now- how can you be so calm?!" Shuichi was holding the old man's hand and had tears in his eyes. "You act as if you've been around this stuff all the time!"

"You act as if you've never seen a person get hurt in front of you."

"How can you be so inconsiderate?!"

"Hmph..." Yuki looked away- people were starting to gather- all of them suddenly starting to look worried.

"Have you called the police? The hospital?" A woman asked the pink haired teenager.

"Hai." Shuichi responded. "They'll be here soon-" And the siren of the ambulance was heard, making it's way down the street. The crowds immediately parted and the white van stopped in front of the alley. Men filed out the back, stretcher in their hand which they immediately moved the old man onto.

"We need you to come with us." One of them told Shuichi- who sought out Yuki's eyes. "Who made the phone call?" The pink haired young man pointed and the ambulance worker asked the same of the blond.

"I was just here and made the call- why do I need to go?" Yuki narrowed his eyes and gave an angry glare.

"Because, sir, we need you to fill out the paperwork. Please- this man needs to go to the hospital right away. Please- this way." And the suddenly pushed the tall male into the ambulance, Shuichi following close behind.

"I hope he's alright..." The teenager mumbled, looking at Yuki with worry.

"It's not my concern." Yuki watched in detachment as two men started to try and work on the old man in the center of the van.

"Well you've gotta make it your concern- thanks to you this man won't die." And the van started to move, sirens louder as it made it's way though the dark streets.

~*~*~

The ride to the hospital was much longer than the blond thought it would be, but as soon as the back doors of the ambulance were thrown open, the stretcher with the old man was pulled out by a group of nurses. Yuki followed suit and was vaguely aware of the happenings with the old man as he looked around. They were in an garage lot- the entire place was empty and gray- only lit by a few neon lights far away. He could make out the doors to an elevator.

/What the hell... this isn't a-/ And immediately the lights were turned off- everything went pitch black.

"What the hell..." Yuki muttered as his eyes adjusted to the dark. He could hear rustling around him- then silence.

"What is going on here...?" Shuichi spoke softly and the tall male could feel the teenager's presence besides him. Then suddenly the lights went on, causing both males to shut their eyes in the sudden dilation of their pupils. "Arg..." Shuichi groaned, as the two finally got used to the bright lights.

/Hospital...? Yeah right./ Yuki frowned as they looked around. The entire place was empty. There were no nurses, no hurt old man- nothing in the giant underground parking lot except the ambulance behind them.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[1] Yeah- I know Noriko doesn't wear her hair in a braid, but saying "pig tails" isn't very mature-sounding... so it's a braid. If she ever shows up again, I'll just have her with different hair styles, k?

[2] I know that in a snazzy place like the one Noriko and Yuki are eating in there'd be NO waiters with pink hair- he'd get kicked out... it's just that I needed to have him here!

I think I did pretty damn good in this chapter...!

No Updates till I get 20!

NEXT CHAPTER!: Where the hell are Yuki and Shuichi? And who are those people chasing them as well?