Disclaimer: Schmibble. Like I'd ever own anything to do with these characters (Muse: you own this fanfic Em.)...they all belong to Maki Murakami and her wonderful brain. Don't sue me! >. Notes: Bwehehe. I notice how only ONE person felt sorry for poor Kaori. Personally, I think Yuki's a tad out of order as well…
MWAHA. Thankies for reviews, this is the MOST response I've ever got, and I luffs you all for it *glomps minna* And I've never been to Japan, so my locations are far off. (Research bites)
Everyone's all floopy-noopy OOC. Dammit.
WARNING: Shounen-ai, hints of yaoi…maybe even some yaoi later. This means maleXmale partnerships. If you happen to disagree with this, then turn back now by hitting the "back" button. *Happens to wonder why you're reading Gravitation fanfiction*

Key-desu!
'…' = Speech
blahblah = flash back
"La li ho" = thoughts

----

The pain in his chest was torturous…just like before. The whole world became deaf to Shuichi. His eyes were blind with tears. And, unlike before, he felt rage. He was on his knees, crumpled over on the floor, cursing Yuki. It was always Yuki. Why did that one person have that ability to tear him apart?
He dropped forward, his head coming to rest on the hardwood floor. He wanted to scream, kick and yell. Hurt the one who hurt him. Anything to stop the growing hurt in his chest. He writhed sobbing on the floor.
After a while, the anger overcame the hurt and he pulled himself off the floor. 'I SAID I'D NEVER LET YOU HURT ME AGAIN!' he raged. 'Why?' Seeing a paint can, he lifted it and heaved it at the wall. It crashed against the stark white wall, smattering it with blue paint, the can crumpling in the force of the impact.
Shuichi's breathing was heavy and slow. His shoulders slumped.
'Yuki…'
The rage seeped out of him, and all he felt was the loneliness. He stared at the result of his out of character rage fit, and felt fresh tears in his eyes.
He had to get out and away. He wiped his eyes clear of tears, took a deep shuddering breath and looked towards the door. Ryuichi and Tatsuha would be back soon. Attempting to remain calm, he strode over to his wardrobe and pulled the door harshly open, the hinges creaking in protest. He stared for a moment, before pulling all the pictures down from around the mirror, tearing them in his haste. He didn't care; he couldn't stand the staring faces, especially Yuki's.
The frayed photos fell to the floor at his feet, torn images of his past. When the door was completely blank apart from the odd piece of blue tack and the mirror, Shuichi ducked down and pulled out a duffel bag. He selected clothes; sweaters, long pants and long sleeve t-shirts. It was cold outside, and he had no idea where he was aiming to go. When that was done, he picked his cell phone up, dropped it on the floor and crushed it with his foot. Then he grabbed his coat and wallet and left the apartment.

*

Yuki stared hard at his front door. Behind it was the sleeping Amaya Kaori…he felt anger rise towards the girl, but quickly calmed it. This was his fault and he would have to sort it.
He entered the apartment, took of his shoes and slipped on his slippers, dropping his keys on the side table. His usual routine, but it seemed so out of place. He enters the living room to find the girl awake and sitting on the sofa. She looked bored and out of place in the large room.
"She dresses almost like Shuichi…" Yuki mused, and steeled himself. His heart ached from his, probably last, encounter with Shuichi. He felt so miserable in the fact that he would probably never see the man again.
'I'm home.' He mono-toned.
The girl looked up at him and leapt from her seat so fast it was as if she'd been caught doing something wrong.
'I'm sorry Yuki-sama.'
He sighed and sat down; 'We need to discuss what we're going to do. Sit down.'
She sat and stared at him like a deer caught in the headlights, she looked scared and unsure.
'You said your family's strict, so maybe we should marry. Buy a new apartment,' he looked at her wide startled look. 'Will that do?'
'Marry?'
'Yes. Its not like theres any other option.'
She stood quickly from her seat and backed away from him. He heard her murmur something to herself as she paced up and down the apartment floor.
'Whats the matter?' He said, not really caring but her constant shuffling and muttering was already beginning to annoy him.
'I'm sorry Yuki-sama. I really am. I thought I could do this but I can't!'
'What?'
'My friends…they said I should. They said its your fault, after all.'
'Wait…hold on. Can you explain what the HELL your rambling on about in some sensible form for me to understand?'
She looked at him, her eyes glistening. 'The baby…it isn't yours.'

*

Shuichi's eye snapped open, somewhere along the way, from the lull of the train, he had drifted to sleep. But apparently the sleep had lasted barely ten minutes. Across the train, a girl stared at him. He looked away from her quickly and pulled up his coats collar, ducking his head down.
By what he approximated, he had five minutes left until the train arrived at Kannai Station. He shifted in his seat, and stared down the almost empty train carriage. They'd already passed Yokohama station and Sakuragi station, so most of the passengers had departed.
An announcement over the intercom proved his estimation right, so he hoisted his duffle bag onto his back and stood. His bones felt weary and all he wanted to do was sleep. It was late now; he had spent about four hours after leaving his apartment just wandering around and pondering where to go. He hadn't been to Yokohama for a long time, and the last time he had been with family, on vacation. He smiled vaguely at the memory; it had been fun, playing in the park and seeing the sites.
Shaking off the thoughts, he racked his brain for where to go. The last time he had run off, he hadn't gone so directly to one place. He had somehow ended up in Okinawa and had to fly home.
The train pulled into the station, and with a quick check to make sure he had everything, he alighted the train, the girl who had been sitting opposite him following.
He cast a look over his shoulder, feeling nervous. Fans had a tendency to make him nervous when he was on his own, but he wasn't even sure if she was following him. All the same, he sped up, while thinking of where to stay. He was in the Kannai and Isezaki-cho areas of Yokohama…and he only knew of two hotels there, the Chatelet Inn or Yokohama Garden.
He didn't care which one he stayed at, the first one he came across he would book into.
He reached the Chatelet Inn first, after almost being run over twice and still having the creepy girl behind him.
He pulled open the door and stepped inside.
'Irashimasu!' Called the girl at reception, before she realised who it was. 'Oh my god! Its Shindou-sama!'
'No no, my name is Sh--Shirai. Shirai Hiro. I just happen to look like Shindou Shuichi a lot. It gets me all the girls,' he stared at her wondering if she'd believe him. A lot of people in the lobby were already staring.
'Oh,' she smiled weakly, looking disappointed, 'I'm very sorry, Shirai-san. How may I help you?'
'Urm…I'd like to book a room.'
'How long for?'
'I'm unsure. I -- I just moved, but am looking for an apartment. So, I'm not sure how long it with take.'
'Okay then,' she took some details, which Shuichi hesitated on. He really hated lying.
'You pay on checkout, enjoy your stay.'
Key in hand, he went off to find his room. He glanced behind him to notice that, thankfully, creepy stalker girl had gone.

*

Ryuichi and Tatsuha arrived back at Shuichi's apartment an hour after Shuichi had left. They carried two bags of groceries between them, one full of candy, and the other full of foodstuffs to make sandwiches.
'Shuuuuuuuuichi!' Ryuichi called, happily announcing his arrival back.
Tatsuha looked at the paint splattered wall, the drips running down the blank canvas semi-dry.
'Shuichi?' He called out, worried.
'Tatsuha-chan…' Ryuichi grasped on to Tatsuha's arm tightly, pressing his body against Tatsuha's. The young monk's mind wandered elsewhere as he felt Ryuichi mould to him, but he sharply told himself to snap out of it.
'Where's Shu-chan?' Ryuichi said slowly, afraid.
Reluctantly, Tatsuha untangled himself from his idol and told him to sit down. He went over to Shuichi's 'bedroom' and noticed the torn pictures; the clothes scatted over the floor. Then he noticed the crushed cell phone.
'Oh shit.'
'Tats-chan?' eyes filled with tears, Ryuichi bit down on one of Kumagorou's ears.
'Don't worry, Ryu-chan. I'm sure Shuichi's fine,' he smiled uneasily and pulled out his own cell phone. 'I'll be back in a minute. Please don't go anywhere.'
He stepped outside of the apartment and called Maiko.

*

Yuki felt numb. For a moment, the whole world stopped as he stared disbelievingly at the girl.
Gathering himself together, he uttered in disgust; 'Excuse me?' barely able to choke the words out through anger.
She stared at him terrified. 'The baby isn't yours! I'm really sorry for causing you all this trouble…'
Yuki bit back his urge to shout; 'You don't know what trouble you've caused,' he muttered bitterly. He stood and marched over to her, looking her directly in the eyes. 'Why exactly did you choose me?'
'My friends…they…they said you should take responsibility. I wasn't lying when I said my family was strict, I'm only twenty-one. They'll kill me for being pregnant and unmarried. I'll be disowned!' She was shaking.
'You didn't answer my question,' he said coldly to the hysterical young girl.
Looking up to him earnestly she said; 'We slept together…I've only ever slept with two people. My boyfriend and you. Our silly one nightstand ruined my relationship with him, and now I'm stuck with his child! My friends told me to make you take some responsibility, so I did.' She glared at him.
'This doesn't make any sense. How did you get the test results to show the child was mine?'
'It was easy. A friend of mines a doctor…I asked for a little help.' She stepped back from him. 'You're not as nice as I thought you'd be…you've treated me horribly.'
'Its obviously no more than you deserve!' Yuki had finally lost his temper, 'you just don't realise how much damage you've done, you stupid bitch!'
She flinched away as if she had been slapped. 'I said I was sorry!'
'You ruined the only good thing in my life! You made me end it with Shu--' He broke off and walked away.
'You were with someone?' She blurted out her words, and looked shocked, 'but…the media said you were single. Have been since you broke up with Shindou Shuichi.'
There was silence.
'Wait a minute…Shu…Shu. WERE YOU WITH SHINDOU-SAN?!'
He glared at her, amazed how blind and unbelievably annoying she was being.
'Just get out.' He snarled.
She looked at him, biting down on her lip again, her eyes filled with pleading and pity. 'Yuki-sama, I'm sorry.' She passed him quickly, on her way out and stopped at the opening to the passage. 'But…I'm- I know this is none of my business, but…' she sighed, 'I wish you all the best in getting Shindou-san back.'
After a moment's hesitation, she dashed over a lay a quick kiss on his cheek, before running from the apartment.

*

Shuichi's apartment had now become hunting-for-Shuichi-headquarters. On the couch sat Hiro, Ryuichi and Ayaka, cradling baby Hijiri. Maiko was pacing up and down the living room, worried about her brother, while Tatsuha prepared some food for people to snack on.
'What the hell could've upset Shuichi so much?' She suddenly blurted out, causing them all to jump.
'Maiko,' Hiro said, 'we've been over this, and came to the conclusion that we don't know.'
'But he's been so happy the past month! It doesn't make any sense!'
On the coffee table were the shredded photos, looking forlornly up at them all. 'The last time he did this, it was because of Yuki,' Ayaka pondered.
'He doesn't see Yuki-san anymore.'
Tatsuha set down a plate of sandwiches on the coffee table by the photos. 'Hey, maybe he was having a secret love-love affair!'
Maiko and Hiro glared at him and stated point blank in unison; 'He would of told us.'
'Un, Shu-chan can't keep secrets,' Kumagorou offered, with the help of Ryuichi.
'But he seemed perfectly happy before we left to get food!'
Someone's cell phone began to ring and Maiko grabbed at her pockets, 'Everyone, shut up. Its Onii-chan.'
'How the hell did she know that?' Tatsuha quizzed as Maiko stormed out of the apartment berating her brother.
'Bad Luck ring tone.'
'Oh.'

*

'Maiko, will you please calm down?'
'No, Shuichi, where are you? Come home.'
'Maiko…I can't. I need some time to think.'
'Well, at least tell your little sister whats wrong, you goon.'
'It's a secret.'
'Onii-chan, I'm am super pissed off at you right now, if you want to make it worse, fine go ahead and keep your secrets…you know what will happen when you get back though.'
'Gulp? I'll just have to stay away then.'
'What about Bad Luck? Your friends? Your family?'
'I'm sorry Maiko, I need some time to think.'
'Onii-chan.'
'I'm in Yokohama,' he blurted out suddenly.
'Good. And why exactly are you there?'
'Maiko…'
She raised an eyebrow and said poignantly; 'Onii-chan.'
'Okay, okay.' There was a long pause, with the sound of Shuichi shifting in the background. 'I… Well…Urm--'
'…'
'I got back together with Yuki.'
'Eh?'
'About a month ago, after Hijiri-chan was born.'
'Excuse me?'
'I kept it secret, because…well, I don't know why. I just wanted it to be mine again…I wanted his love. I didn't care about everything else.'
His voice sounded strained over the phone, and Maiko could sense him holding back tears.
'But…he gave me this choice. He told me to decide what I wanted, before he did anything else!'
'Shuichi…slow down, nii-chan. I don't understand.'
'This girl, she's pregnant, with Yuki's ba---baby,' he choked back a sob, 'and he came to see me, and I told him to make the right choice, and he chose her! He said it wouldn't be fair. He never loved me; I was always just a toy. Why didn't he choose me? Shouldn't I be important?'
'Don't worry Onii-chan, we'll come and get you.'
'NO! I want to be on my own.'
'Listen, where are you staying?'
'Maiko…please. Just, leave me alone.'
The phone went dead.
With controlled calm, Maiko went back into the apartment, greeted with eager faces.
'Well?' Hiro asked.
'He's in Yokohama.'
'Great! Lets go get him!'
'He doesn't want to see us.'
'What? Why?' Ryuichi sobbed.
'He's very upset, and I'm going to sort it out. I have a better idea than going to get him.' She grabbed her keys from the sideboard. 'I'll be back in a little while. Don't leave this apartment.'

*

The door was being banged on noisily.
Yuki glared at it, but to no avail, the banging didn't stop. 'Annoying,' he grumbled, moving from his spot in the hallway to answer it.
The door glided open and he was greeted to a very female looking Shuichi.
No, it wasn't Shuichi, the hair was all wrong and the eyes were slightly too small.
'Uesugi Eiri!' the girl raged.
Oh, right, he remembered her now; she was the bossy younger sibling of the Shindou family.
She pushed him in the chest, sending him stumbling as she stepped into the apartment. 'You broke my nii-chan's heart again! Do you think I'll ever forgive you for this?'
'Do you think I care?' He asked, regaining his composure. In all honesty, the woman was kind of imposing when she was acting protective.
'I know you damn well do. You may think you can hide it all, but you can't.' She stopped and asked quietly; 'Do you love him?'
He stared blankly at her. 'What is this?'
'I want to know! I'll tell you where he is if you tell me the truth. You can go get him. Mend his heart…be the knight in shining armour for him! Please, Yuki-san.'
'What does it matter anymore? I've ruined it…'
'It doesn't matter! If you love him, isn't that the most important thing?' She stared at him. 'Get my brother back, or I'll beat you to death with a stick.'
'I do love him…but-'
'God, its always with the "buts". What, can't leave your girlfriend alone?'
'Its not my baby.'
'Oh…then you have no reason to prolong the agony.' She kicked off her shoes quickly, stumbled over her feet to the hallway table and threw his car keys at him. 'GET HIM. Or I will be forced to fulfil my threat,' she said darkly.
Yuki opened his mouth to say something, but Maiko simply glared. 'He's in Yokohama. Probably near Kannai or Yamashita, we took vacations there as a family in childhood.' She tapped her foot impatiently.
Without another word, Yuki left, practically running to his car.
"Will Shuichi want me back?"

To Be Continued…

Footnotes: Mwoiiiiiii. One more chapter too go! Me thinks I've been reading too many romance type stories. >. OH! OH! Shuichi has yet to make up his mind in my mind whether he would ever want Yuki back...soooo, I'm asking you to say what you'd like. Although I'll probably do my own thing in the end.o.O Ja ne