A/N: Almost finished people!!!!! Thanks to Pato San (Don't worry Shu has his memories almost back! Torturing Yuki-time is as good as over!), AISH (I definitely learned sth. while writing this story though. Some people just don't understand that this story was an experiment and each chapter was made up when I wrote it -except the last five when I gave in and outlined a plotline- and secondly never ever give a deadline when to post the next chapter. Sure I'd love it when I read a story but not when it's me who has to write it.;), driven to insanity (I agree totally.), JadesRose (When I saw the anime it wasn't really clear to me what had happened to Shu but the manga is very clear about it. Yuki is also much more funnier in the manga.), Devona Wolfe (Yeah, nice change, or?! Yuki is just too frozen up sometimes.), Kaouru (Did I already mention that I always write your pen name wrong while writing this? I always have to go back to correct it. I never know where is the 'ou'…), Showndra Ridge (Yeah, though I doubt Shu really knew at that time what really had happened to him. Sometimes panic is leading you in a wrong direction. Though we all know what had happened to poor Shu.), Inari K (You amaze me. You could give lessons how to write a good review. I hope I can count on you for this chapter also. I can use your comments perfectly when I'll edit this thing finally. I'm going to e-mail you once I'm done with this story to tell you my side. Gotta defend at least some of my nonsense.), Akiyama Sagara (My my lot's of you guys are so violent….), Vera-Sama (Ah, I don't think I could make Tohma the bad guy. I rather like him.), panatlantic (Nope. It's from an artbook. Someone send me the pic for their review.), Joan Mistress of Magic (You make it seem very logic. Thank you!), Yuki Kurai (I'm even one day early this time.), jasline (I'm getting hungry with all those talk about ice cream.), CassiToTheStars (Well, Shu reacts. Though Yuki won't like it I think.), Mickee (It's a good thought but since people demanded a plot line. I can't put in more chapters. Sorry!), mirai aria (Well, I hope he'll have a long wait…), Lara (Well, Yuki didn't do that much. I can't see him getting in a real combat. He's much too cool for that. He's more like quick and painless – for him at least….), imayb1 (I have to admit I only write Gravitation fics but I don't read them. So I don't really know what other stories exist.), Sapphire Rains (That's good to hear. This one week limit is bad for the muse but at least you guys get something to read that way. If not I'd only read fanfiction…), Megamie (Thanks god I'm taking care of small kids. I doubt I'd be much of a help if I had to help them with their homework – in French…), Fallin' From Grace (Coming right up!) and to Aja & Joe Legatz (Thank you for your art book scan!!!!)
Chapter 18: A simple thingYuki drapped a blanket around Shuichi's shoulders and then went into the kitchen to get the tea. It was way past midnight but his mother had always said tea is appropriate for every situation. So he took the tablet with him and carried into the living room where Shuichi sat motionless on the couch lost in his own world. Without a word the tall blond settled beside his smaller lover, lit a cigarette and dumped his lighter the one with the sticker of him and Shuichi on the table. Eyeing his lover he resisted the urge to groan.
'What a mess. Of course it was too much to ask of one day without any disasters. Obviously not possible when Shu and me are involved.'
He took a long drag from the cigarette and got up and started walking around. "You want to hear the story, right?!" Yuki stated as a matter of fact.
Shuichi nodded slowly still not looking up. The blonde raked his hand through his hair faltering for a moment not knowing where to start.
"Okay. I don't know what the others told you but our relationship wasn't really what one could call a model one. It was rather something more like a crazy roller coaster ride with its up and downs and a barely avoided crash at the end. I told you how we first met and about the places we went to. You have to know that it was you who was the driving force in this relationship. It took you almost a year to beat in to my thick head that you were the best thing what has ever happened to me no matter what I may say sometimes." Yuki smiled a bit forelorn.
Then he continued his pacing fumbling with his lighter he had picked up from the table. "With you becoming a star and me already famous we had a lot of trouble with the media and certain jealous people who nothing else wanted than to see us ripped apart by the newspapers." Yuki snorted. "They almost succeeded. But nobody outwitted me yet." The blonde kneeled in front of Shuichi who looked up. "Well, besides you." Yuki flicked his lovers nose which drew a small smile on Shu's lips. Yuki smiled back. "You always managed to surprise me."
Then his expression went serious again. He dumped the lighter on the couch beside Shuichi and walked over to the window. "And that's what got us or better you in that situation in the first way." Yuki paused for a moment gathering his thoughts. "I didn't want to believe you. Didn't believe there was something as happiness for me or a future for us. No. So I quit and walked away from you. In a way I wanted to make sure that the media would quite down but in the end that should have been my least worry."
Yuki turned around and focosed himself on the small form on the couch who listened quietly while playing with Yuki's firelighter. "What has happened today had already happened once before. Though the first time I wasn't there to help you."
Shuichi looked up. Looked directly into his eyes. And Yuki didn't know what to say next. Feeling the guilt nagging at him. The blonde turned his back on Shuichi and leant his forehead against the window still feeling his lover's questioning gaze bore into his back like fire. Swallowing a few times he continued quietly. "I didn't even know what has happened until later. Hiro caught me at my appartment and told me the whole thing. How Aizawa tricked you to come to his appartment, then let his friendly mask drop and dragged you with the help of some guys down to the garage where…where…" Yuki could speak no further and angrily pressed his eyes together to hold back the angry tears for not being there when Shuichi had needed him most when his lover had always been there for him.
The young man on the couch was silent clutching the lighter in his hand staring at the mocking smiling faces of Yuki and himself. The blonde turned around to finally face Shuichi. "It's true they did violate you, they hurt you and … and they took pictures."
Shuichi's eyes went wide and his face suddenly got very white still staring at the unsignifant article in his hand as if it could fix this mess. Yuki rushed over to his lover explaining. "I took care of the film. It's destroyed and I payed Aizawa a visit. I thought he was out of the picture forever but I swear he'll-"
But Shuichi didn't wait for the rest. Suddenly he stood up in a rush, swaying for a moment but then steadied himself and pushed Yuki away when the taller man wanted to help him. "Shuichi? What? Wait where are you going? There is more things you should-"
Shuichi didn't seem to hear him and stumbled past him. "Let me be." Was the only thing he said and those mumbled words rooted Yuki to the spot unable to believe his ears. A few secondes later the door clicked and Yuki stood alone in the empty appartment.
'Why does that happen? Did Shu felt like this when I walked out on him all those times?' Yuki sank on the coach unable to believe that his lover had just left him. Then another thought crossed his mind which let his blood run cold. 'Does it mean it's over?' Stunned he turned the thought over and over in his mind but always came down with the same result.
There was no life without Shuichi. Too much had happened as that he could go back to how he had been living before. Regret filled Yuki. How much did he wish now to have told the truth right from the start. There he had thought he had found his lover again only to loose him merely a day later.
Yuki buried his head in his hand searching with the other for his cigarettes and lighter on the table. When he only found the package of cigarettes he looked up. "Fuck!" The blonde yelled. "He still has the damn lighter." Yuki threw the package carelessly on the floor. He didn't want to deal this. The pain was crawling in his throat threatening to sweep him away and so he focosed on something he could more likely deal with. Anger. He wanted to hit something. Nobody was around to see so who cares? No one would see how Mr. Pokerface lost his cool. But before he could determine a target his cell phone rang. He cursed, grabbed the phone and barked in.
"What?!"
A feminin voice laughed. "Moody, aren't we?! Well, I'll make it short. Sunday at 20.30h at the airport. Not one second later do you-"
"I know." Yuki almost screamed into the cell before flinging it at the wall in outrage. "Stupid woman!"
He grabbed his car keys, his jacket and left the appartment. Maybe speed would help. Maybe he could forget for awhile. And if he was lucky he'd never have to face this mess ever again.
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First I have to apologize. This chapter is a total rush. I wrote it an half an hour and only read it once. I would have loved to skip this week's update since somehow I managed to rip of half the nail of my right index finger and it's annoying to type like this and then I've been topld yesterday the grandma will already arrive tomorrow at noon so I needed to get everything done today. You know the PC is in the living room. What a hectic. Anyway since I'll edit all of this in Germany once I'm back it won't be too bad. I'll count on your reviews to fix this chapter later on. God, actually I'm happy I'm almost done with this story. Btw, did you guys ever read X-1999/ Tokyo Babylon fanfictions with the pairing Subaru/Seishirou? Go read them I'm sure you'll love it. It's my newest obsession. Also thx for your ice cream flavor suggestions. I'll put it in in the edited version.
