Wednesday afternoon
Eiri was disgusted with himself. He still couldn't decide whether to travel with Bad Luck or not. He had to decide by tomorrow. Shuichi had packed his stuff last night. He had cast Eiri significant looks while he did it, too, until Eiri had yelled at him and gone for a walk in the park. When he returned, his suitcase had been set out, open, near the dresser. Shu had been asleep. Even the main character in Eiri's book was waffling. One moment Eiri was sure he was strong enough to be alone for a month. In the next moment, he was just as certain that he couldn't be alone for more than a day. Compromise at one week? Tatsuha would be around Thursday and Friday. That would only leave five more days in the week. That was do-able, right? Arrgggh. When had become so dependant??
He saved and closed down the word processor program with the latest chapter of his book. He'd been picking at it for the last hour— re-reading it and changing a word here or there. He just hadn't been adding to the story. Why? Because he couldn't keep his mind on it. DAMN IT. He lit a cigarette and accessed the internet.
First, he scanned his e-mail. Hmm. One from Mizuki, one from Shu, and a bunch of junk mail. He clicked on the one from Shu. It was a comic strip about music. Shuichi had probably thought it was hysterical. Eiri shrugged. Next he checked an on-line news site. As he scrolled down the page, a minor headline caught his attention, 'Eiko Publishing Swallows Competitor'. He clicked on the link and read the article. It claimed that Eiko had taken on the debt and holdings of the Mikuno Book Company for an undisclosed price. The reporter cited speculation from different sources who disapproved of Eiko's decision, claiming that the lesser company's debts had been too big for Eiko to absorb and said there was little to be gained from the deal. The article concluded that Mikuno was now being called 'Never Ending Dream' as a new division of Eiko.
Eiri did a search for a Mikuno Book website. He dead ended in a 'page not found' message. He checked the Eiko website, to see if they had anything new to say to the public. Their 'news' page only featured new and upcoming book releases. He went back to the e-mail. Mizuki had sent him three links and she had pasted an 'attention all employees' message at the bottom. He scrolled down, reading. It was basically a request for Eiko personnel to not speak with the media.
The first link took him to a stock-watch site. Eiko stock had fallen over the course of the week. The second link was a pessimistic article about the new division. A publisher, cited there, said, "In the business of publishing, it is suicide to pin profitability on the hopes of a single author." From the context, Eiri was pretty sure that person was referring to him. Contemptible moron, he thought derisively. Eiko actually had a large group of romance writers; he was simply the most prominent. The third link brought up a database style document. It was titled, 'Authors Transferred to Never-Ending Dream'. Authors were listed alphabetically. Eiri recognized some of them, either from meetings or conventions, or book covers. He was certain that some of them were new to Eiko. He saved the document to his hard drive. He sent a reply to Mizuki thanking her for the information.
So, it looked like Eiko had bought out Mikuno and turned it into Never Ending Dream. There was nothing wrong with that; it must happen all the time. Big fish swallow the little fish and that's the way of the world, right? Eiri drank some coffee. In his opinion, it was risky for Eiko to take on a lot of debt in exchange for the smaller company's holdings, but it wasn't without merit. He wondered just what factors influenced taking on Mikuno. Did they have better distribution, a paper mill, a better printing factory? He would watch the situation. It still felt like he was missing a piece of the story. If Eiko failed, he'd just have to find another publisher.
He was about to disconnect from the internet when his mail alert beeped. It was another message from Mizuki. It said, "You're welcome. A bit of advice for your main character: have him go ahead and do it. Then he can have adventures and you can torment him. If he doesn't go, the whole book would be about him being depressed and mopey. Besides, you already did a character like that in 'Fear of Fate'." Eiri snorted. Sometimes Mizuki was a little too wise about what went on in his head. He disconnected and shut down, setting his glasses on the desk. He was out of coffee and needed a break.
---
When Shuichi came home, Eiri's suitcase was packed. The two cases sat beside each other near the door and would be obvious to Shu when he came in. Eiri would pack up his computer tomorrow. He wasn't likely to get anything written between now and tomorrow night's concert-- since Shu would be home during the day— but he could try.
He was sitting on the couch, surfing TV channels when he heard the door open... there was the sound of Shu's bag hitting the floor, then, "TADAIMA, EIRI!" Shu came skidding into the living room, sliding on sock-feet. "Eiri! You'll come!?" Shu sat at his feet, settling between his legs and laying his head on Eiri's lap. "I'm SO happy," he squeaked, hugging his calf.
Eiri rolled his eyes, and placed his cigarette between his lips to free his hand to run it through Shuichi's pink hair. Shu sighed happily, closing his large, expressive eyes. Eiri leaned over his lover to put his beer down and turn the TV off. When he sat up again, Shuichi crawled up his body to straddle him, tucking his head under Eiri's chin. Eiri held his cigarette, blowing smoke. He sighed in temporary contentment, knowing the quiet wouldn't last for more than 10, 9, 8, 7...
"Hiro won the bet," Shu said slyly. Eiri grunted. "There was bet down at NG about whether you'd come with us for the first part of the tour. If you don't change your mind again, then Hiro wins the bet."
Eiri brought his cigarette to his lips and inhaled. He wasn't sure if he should be offended that people were making bets about his decisions or if he cared at all. Okay, he decided quickly, I'm pissed! They had no right! Why does everyone think they know what goes on in my head! "Who bet?" He asked.
"Oh, just about everybody. Shu sat up and held out his fingers, ticking off names; "Tohma, Noriko, Hiro, Fujisaki, Sakano didn't bet but K did, and Tomino," the choreographer, Eiri's memory supplied, "and Hikaru—"
"Stop. Was Hiro the only one who thought I'd go?" Shuichi nodded. Hah. I guess that shows how much they know about what I'm thinking. "You didn't bet?"
Shu's eyes got big and he violently shook his head 'no', followed by a breath-shortening hug. "I don't try to second-guess you, Eiri! I love you. I'll accept whatever you decide. I want you to come, but . . . I know other things are important to you and that I can't always have you to myself and you—"
Eiri kissed him. It was the most effective way to shut him up. He also wanted to do it. It was a deep, passionate kiss. Without words, it should tell his little lover how much Eiri felt for him; how important the kid was. Eiri intended to pull back, but Shu pursued, chasing his lips and licking them, raising himself up to reach Eiri's face and molding his body against his lover's. Shu sucked gently on Eiri's lower lip and the writer responded by holding Shu's head and taking the younger man's breath away. He pulled back, letting go just long enough to remind him, "You have me all to yourself now, Idiot."
Shu answered with a grin, stripping off his shirt and reaching for Eiri's shirt buttons. When Shu had the shirt open, he ran his hands up from Eiri's waist, spreading his fingers over every inch of the writer's chest and sliding his fingers under the shirt where it still clung to his shoulders and pushing it off his arms. Eiri obliged him by leaning forward enough to finish removing the shirt. Shu trailed his fingers over Eiri's bare arms, caressing his skin.
Eiri consumed Shu's lips and ran his hands over Shu's back. Goosebumps of anticipation sprang up on the younger man's sides. Shu's hands reached for his pants. Pressed together, half-naked was how K found them. The kissing stopped.
"OH! Excuse me," the tall man said in English. Eiri looked up in surprise and deep annoyance. Long bits of blond hair hung around the man's face, loosened from the long ponytail that sprouted from the back of his head. He wore sun glasses, a white shirt tucked into khaki slacks, a blue tie at half-mast, a shoulder holster with a large pistol, and a rifle, and a sub-machingun.
Why is this man standing in my house and why does everyone I know walk in and out of here and use this house like it's a train station!! "GET. OUT. NOW."
Eiri moved one hand to prevent Shu's hands from completing their self-appointed mission. Shu blushed, realizing they'd been interrupted. He had a look of shock on his face before he sagged, putting the top of his head against Eiri's bare chest.
"Sorry, I can't do that," K said. Switching to Japanese, he announced, "I'm going to stay here and protect Shindou-kun."
Eiri frowned. "From what?" He hoped that the gun-toting lunatic couldn't give him a good reason.
Shuichi chuckled weakly, turning toward his manager. "Uh, K-san, uh . . . you don't need to . . . be here."
K frowned at the boy and strode forward, offering Eiri a piece of paper, pulled from his pocket. "Yes, I do," he replied.
Eiri took the paper and read it. It was a death threat. He had to admit that that was a good reason. He asked K, in English, "Who knows about this?"
K shook his head. He answered in Japanese, "It just came to NG studios. We're arranging body guards for the tour, but until then, I'll be here." K grinned, drawing and chambering a round in his favorite handgun.
Tadaima I'm home. Standard response should be Okaeri welcome home.
Author's Note: This is kind of a holding chapter, setting up for the next action. I hope it's enjoyable, anyway. Sorry to set up a lemon and mess it up for them, but that's life!
