Author's Note: YxS, Yaoi

[I don't know where to begin to apologize for my absolute tardiness. It's just that so much has happened since my last posting. (For example, I was recently promoted to Senior Assistant Director! Yeah, one step till I'm a full fledged Director!) I'm glad to see that there are some of you who are still interested in this story. I enjoyed every one of those reviews. It was your encouragement that pushed me to finish writing this chapter.]

[There might be some glitches because this was written in several sittings. Again, I'm sorry for such a long delay.]

Warning: None. Fluff perhaps?

Last time...
That was why I was going home to wait for him. Because Yuki was going to tell me I was important.

Certainty

I don't know why I end up here every time I was troubled with our relationship. Maybe it was because we met here and this was sort of a sacred ground for us where you wouldn't toss hurtful words or throw mean glances at me. I sighed as I came across the bridge where you had caught my lyrics and blatantly told me that they were horrendous. There was so much between us, yet sometimes I felt like we were going no where; unable to forget the past, at a stand still in the present, and unwilling to see the future.

I caught sight of the latest music magazine and frowned as I read the headlines. 'Shindou Shuichi, Still Yuki Eiri's Current Boy-Toy?' I was already in turmoil by the doubt I had in our relationship. It really hurt when the media thought my relationship with Yuki was a complete farce. Even more so when I wasn't sure if I weren't just a boy-toy to you—something to fuck when you needed to relieve stress.

I let myself fall into the bench, sagging against the hard wood, barely feeling the coldness seep into to my body, as if I were numb to the world. I've noticed this recently. Everything around me seems to just pass by without my noticing. I felt as if I didn't exist in the same universe that everyone else seems to be so engrossed in. Has it really come to this? Where I depended on you to anchor me to this suddenly harsh world? Where I could no longer function as an independent individual?

I sat up at the sudden realization. Was that it? Was it because I lost my sense of independence? Was it because I needed you more than you needed me and that made you feel trapped? Were you feeling trapped? Did you want to be alone again? To be in a place where you weren't saddled with me? To just be without me?

Stopping myself before I continued through that thought pattern, I sighed and dropped onto back onto the bench. No, I couldn't let myself think that way. If I kept this up, I'd give myself another headache. It was one thing to be insecure about where I stood with you; it was another to doubt if we were even going to be together.

When had it come to this? When did I start feeling so negative and unable to see the positive of the situation? Where had all my enthusiasm gone? Argh… Too many questions, too little answers. I got up, headed towards the rail and leaned against it, starring into the setting sky. I think my scream echoed across Tokyo when a pair of arms wrapped around my waist from behind. I turned, shock evident on my flushed face, "Yuki!" I admonished, "You scared me half to death there. I thought I asked you to go home and think."

"Baka. I don't need to think. I knew what I needed to say before you even hit this slump of yours."

Eh? Was he psychic?

As if reading my mind, you responded with, "No, I'm not psychic. I just know when you go through your monthlies like a woman."

When I looked up, you had this smirk that was so sexy (made me want to jump your bones at the moment) and at the same time had me really aggravated. I was very serious about our situation, and you had the nerve to play it off with a devilishly handsome smirk. Grrr… I was ready to pounce when you pulled me close, my head resting against your firm chest.

"Listen to me before you get all banshee on me." You walked us over to the bench, sat down and pulled me into your lap so that I was straddling you with my head pressed against the crook of your neck and arms arranged loosely around your waist. Your arms were wound around my back, one hand stroking it in soothing motions. My eyes closed at the gentle ministrations and I couldn't help but breathe in your wonderfully spicy and manly scent.

It was too quiet even though we were settled comfortably. I was about to break the silence when you began talking again. "Shu, I know this past year hasn't been easy on you. I know that the media hasn't been helping either, what with their venomous words that mess with your cute little head." You must've caught sight of the headlines on the magazine lying next to us because you picked the magazine up and chucked it at a nearby trash can. "What they say is garbage. Complete and utter nonsense. These people still have me dating women; women that don't even exist. So you see how unreliable they are when it comes to news. Right?"

I nodded dumbly not knowing what I should say. I knew that we were at least exclusive, so I guess you had a point there. "I also know you're practically living in constant doubt." Your hand came up from my back and fingers threaded themselves into my pink strands of hair massaging my scalp lightly. I felt your lips brush across my temple in a soft, reassuring kiss. "But it is my fault that I haven't made myself clear. And I guess I take your ability to understand me for granted sometimes."

I lifted my head from your shoulder and found myself looking into unwavering, determined golden eyes that have always been my source of access into your soul. I felt your hands move together and cup my face, a thumb gently caressing the smooth curve of my cheek. "You, Shuichi, plain and simple, are the one I want. I have no question in my mind about that." Shaking your head to emphasize your point, "You shouldn't either. I love you." You pointed to the center of my chest, poking at it while saying, "You should know that in here."

Just like that, you said it.

No faltering, no fumbling, no hesitation, no indecision, nothing. Just like that you said three simple words that could make the world go right again.

It was all I needed to know before I flung my arms around your neck, throwing whatever weight I had into a bone crushing hug and knocked you forcefully against the back of the bench. Tears streamed from my eyes and sobs of 'me too' escaped from my throat, rendering me completely a disastrous mess. I barely felt the returned embrace that was equally powerful and doubly comforting.

Any reservation I had with our relationship flowed into the night along with the crystal drops that soaked your shirt. Having you in my arms; holding you so closely to me only solidified the heavenly sense of fulfillment that I was currently experiencing. The euphoria from your declaration carried me above and beyond the skies. I felt as if I were floating; everything I was experiencing felt hazy, if not dreamlike. But I knew one thing for sure, I definitely wasn't alone anymore.

I had your love now. It was as you've said, plain and simple—you loved me. I knew that now.

I had no idea how long we stayed like that, entangled within each other's arms. Could've been seconds, could've been hours. I lost track of everything when I was engulfed by your strong arms and warmed from your body heat. But, honestly, right now, being held wasn't enough. I wanted to feel you—next to me, against me, inside me.

My head lifted from its resting place and your hand caught my chin before tilting it upwards to meet your lips in a soft kiss. Mmm… It's been a while since we kissed so slowly, so gently just to enjoy the sweet art of kissing. I've always thought these teasing ones were the best. They were so relaxed, but at the same time I felt the need to rush it along. Pushing it to the point where we were gasping for gulps of precious air before diving under to taste each other again. God… how I wanted you right now. You were driving me insane with such tender treatment.

In between our smooching, you somehow managed to say something along the lines of, "We should go home before I decide to take you right here on our bench." You stood, sliding me off your body but still keeping me close to you. My body was tingling from your touches; my lips were burning from your kisses and I was aching for more. You were right, we needed to go home and we needed to go now before we did something embarrassing in public.

We walked home pretty quickly, both of us wanting so much more than those tame brushes of skin contact. And when our apartment door shut, it closed with such finality that everything seemed to settle the way I always wished it would—the two of us coming home together where we were free from troubles and worries, where I knew exactly how you felt for me, where we both knew that our home was built from pure, unadulterated love.

°

-- Owari. [Okay I lied, I have a lemon in mind, but I'm not sure if I want to brainstorm another sexy idea.]

[I'm having trouble with spacing. Can't seem to get it right even though I save it as a web page. Can somebody help? Help would be greatly appreciated.]

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