Take me by the Hand
by: Sesus Shuuichi

Disclaimer: Welcome to Part 2 of "I'm With You". Hope you all like it. I haven't gotten any reviews yet for the rest of the fic....but it's cool. It's only been up for a day, after all. Remember, I ADORE reviews....though flames will be fed to Ruri's dragon, Illasyl (sorry if I spelled that wrong, Tessith).

Thanks...and enjoy the show!!!!!!!!

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Part 2

Shuuichi got to his quarters, stepping over the people who had fallen asleep in his common room. They were mostly admirers of his who refused to go home until he gave them a chance to "woo" him....though he wasn't interested in one of them. All they seemed to care about was his status...and the fact that he was "beautiful"

Which is not what he saw when he looked in the mirror every morning.

He was soaked....and Titus, his bodyguard, was going to kill him for staying out so late. He should have been home three hours ago...Titus was probably worried.

Shuuichi unlocked the door to his private chambers, knowing that there was, probably, no one there other than Titus. He used this place to study, entertain his personal guests, and to live his life when he wasn't in the Council chambers. No one else was allowed to enter there...a few of his "admirers" had learned that lesson the hard way. A hook-daiclave to the neck did wonders to deter unwanted guests, Shuuichi had learned.

Shuuichi knew that it was fruitless, but he tried to be quiet as he entered the room, just in case Titus was asleep. He often waited for Shuuichi to get home after one of his dates, just to be sure of his safety. He would then go to his own rooms, only to be there in the morning to be sure that Shuuichi was awake and ready to start his usually hectic days. Tomorrow was one of the few exceptions to that....Shuuichi had absolutely nothing to do...so he planned on sleeping in a little late, having lunch with Ruri, and maybe getting in a martial arts lesson with Eclipse-san. It would be nice to spend some time with his Circle for once. He missed them, though he saw them everyday. Rarely did he have time to really talk to any of them for very long.

Just as he thought, Titus was awake and tending a fire as he entered, his friend not seeing him as he entered. Most likely, Titus knew he was there, as he seemed to be able to sense such things. The man turned, standing to his full height of 6'5". Being from Blue Haven, which was Shuuichi's home-town, they both seemed to have alot of the same characteristics, though Titus was much larger than Shuuichi. He was strong, weighing about 200 pounds of solid muscle. He and Shuuichi both had black hair that was rather feathery, though Titus' eyes were a dark, midnight blue and Shuuichi's were a bright, emerald green. Titus tended to wear alot of black and red....though he wore his armor, a breast-plate of solid soul-steel, constantly. Titus was, after all, a rather powerful Dusk Caste Abyssal Exalted.

And as much as Tyriel and Eclipse disliked him, he was one of Shuuichi's best friends.

Titus smiled upon seeing him. "My lord Shuuichi, I was beginning to worry." he stated, putting the fire poker down before he approached. His eyes widened as he came closer. "By the Sun, my lord, you're soaked."

Shuuichi shrugged, letting Titus help him out of the coat. "I was on my way home when it began raining. A wonderful night for me to decide to walk, ne?" he said as Titus wrapped a warm towel around his shoulders. "I can be so dense sometimes..."

The man instantly switched to their home language, knowing that Shuuichi could speak almost every known language that there was. "My lord Shuuichi, you shouldn't talk that way. You're one of the most intelligent people I know."

Shuuichi brightened at that. "Thank you, Titus...though I think that the Full Moon Representative would be inclined to disagree with you. She thinks I'm a complete imbecile."

"Yes...but she is reaping the benefits of Coruscant's protection. She should be thanking you for giving her the opportunity to live here." he stated. "I know that I'm thankful for such a place."

Shuuichi took off his shirt, not noticing as Titus' face reddened a little as he put on his nightshirt. "I'm glad that I could help to create such a place. Freedom for all humans and exalts is something that should never have been taken in the first place."

Titus sighed. "Well, my lord Shuuichi, I will see you tomorrow morning. You...are going shopping with Lady Ruriel, am I correct?" he asked, putting on his long cape. "Should...I be prepared to escort you??"

Shuuichi shook his head. "I'll be fine, Titus." he answered. "Besides, I have a martial arts lesson with Eclipse-san tomorrow...."

"Then I shall see you sometime tomorrow evening then." Titus stated, seeming just a little hurt. "Shall I bring a bottle of wine?"

Shuuichi smiled, "Of course." he said. "I look forward to it."

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"So...did you like Tsuzuki???"

Shuuichi cringed, eyes not quite meeting Ruriel's as he answered. "Ruri...he's not my type. I like him well enough as a friend, but...not....."

Ruriel frowned, eyes narrow. "Shu-chan...no one we've set you up with is "your type"." she stated, obviously preturbed. "It seems as though you're not even willing to try. You just assume that you won't like the person."

Shuuichi sneered a little. "Not all of us have it as easy as you do, Ruri-dono." he countered, taking a bite of his flounder. They were at the restaurant they often stopped at while shopping and Shuuichi was hoping that this subject wouldn't come up in their conversation. He hated arguing with Ruriel with anything. She had a way of making him feel bad about things that he had no control over. He loved her as his sister, but he couldn't help but feel that they were growing further and further apart. After all, she had Typhon....and he had, inadvertantly, become the third-wheel in their relationship. "I'm picky....I can't help it. Sorry that I'm such a damn disappointment."

"Don't be that way, Shuuichi." Ruriel stated, obviously becoming angry with him.

His eyes narrowed. "Why shouldn't I be a little jealous? You have everything you've ever wanted....and barely had to work for it. Typhon adores you...and I want something like that for myself." he answered.

"You just have to be patient."

"I'm sick of being patient." he said, taking a drink of his tea.

Ruriel sighed. "I understand that you're lonely, Shu-chan." she said, paying the check. They both took turns buying lunch and it was her turn this time. "Just....give it time. You'll find him, Shu-chan. He's out there, probably looking for you."

They both left the restaurant, heading further into the merchant district. They were in a tailor's shop when Shuuichi finally remembered the night before.

"Ruri...."

"Yes, Shu-chan?"

He sighed. "I...think I might know who he could be." he stated. "But...I have no clue where to find him."

Ruriel's eyes widened in disbelief. "What do you mean?" she asked, obviously intrigued.

Shuuichi was looking at a piece of satin fabric as he spoke. "I was walking back to the palace last night when I saw him." he answered. "It...was just like Eclipse said it would be. I would see someone when I least expected it and I would just....know that the UnConquered Sun wanted me to see him at that moment. He was practicing archery....and he waved to me when he was finished.....

"What did he look like?" she asked.

"Blonde hair...and dark brown eyes." Shuuichi whispered, closing his eyes so that he could remember more clearly. "And...he had a gentle smile...."

Ruriel suddenly laughed. "By the Sun, Shu-chan! You were attracted to him!"

Shuuichi opened his eyes, blushing a little. "No! It wasn't like that!"

"Yes it was!!!!" Ruriel said, laughing as she hugged him. "There's nothing to be ashamed of. You haven't been physically attracted to someone since...."

"Since Tyriel-san."

Ruriel suddenly sobered. "I'm sorry for reminding you, Shu-chan...."

"It's alright, Ruri." he said, shrugging. "Tyriel-san was a childhood crush....nothing more. He could never feel that way for me. It would never have worked out anyway. We're too different."

Ruriel smiled. "OH!!! There's a shoe store that I found not long ago...you were too busy with the council to come with me...but I know you'll love it. Come with me!"

Shuuichi returned the smile with one of his own. "Alright." he stated, letting Ruriel take his hand and pull him from the tailor's shop and down the road. The shoe store was across the street from one of their favorite restaurants...it was a wonder that Shuuichi hadn't noticed it before. They entered and Shuuichi began looking at the selection they had, not believing how much there was. Most of the time he had to order things from other cities like Nexus or Lookshy. This was incredible.

Ruriel was looking at selection across the store when someone came out of the back room, making a beeline for Ruriel. Shuuichi didn't pay much attention to it, as he was too busy looking at one of the displays. "Ruriel!!! I thought you weren't coming back!"

Shuuichi turned at that, watching a young man wrap Ruriel in a brotherly embrace. "Then again, you love me too much. You'd never take your business somewhere else."

Ruriel laughed, looking at Shuuichi over the man's shoulder. "Oh!!! You need to meet my half-brother!"

The man released Ruriel, turning to look at Shuuichi.....

And Shuuichi couldn't move. The man pushed blonde hair out of his face, brown eyes seeming to laugh as he looked at Shuuichi. He walked forward, stopping not 5 feet from where Shuuichi was standing.

It was the man from the night before.

"Hi!" the man stated, offering Shuuichi his hand to shake. "I'm Alexiel. And you are?"

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YAY!!!!! Alexiel is here!!!! Fred, I need help on how to write your character. Alexiel is pretty unpredictable.

But you'll all find that out soon enough. MUWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!