AN: Wow... I've gotten a lot of reviews for this story... It's kind of cool. grin Anyways, I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed!
LoveDeeper: I had asteriks in there to separate the views, but I didn't know that they didn't show up. -pout- I fixed it in the later chapters, though. I'm glad you like the idea... I thought it was cute. -rin-
Yazzy: Glad you're enjoying the story so far. 80 pages seems like it's a lot, huh? Well, he did condense it very well into his song... About the NG pjs... All really big fans have merchandise of their idols... So, I figured Shu would have had to have NG pjs, even if he made them himself... (and he did..)
Chika of the High Mts: Glad you're enjoying the story... This is the next part, so I hope you like it!
I love Athrun: Glad you think it's good... The next part is up, so I hope you enjoy!
ShuxYuki: Before I thank you for reviewing, I have to say, I love your pen name! LOL Anyways, thanks for the review, and I'm glad you like it. -grin- The story is almost done, so I hope you continue to enjoy!
Bram: Thanks for the review... The next part is up, and I hope that cheers you up like the last part did!
Shlandria: Thanks for the kind words. I wanted to see how they work, because it's never really focused on. Plus, I thought it would be better to let people see the process Yuki is going through instead of just going from Chapter 1 to the end. Hope you continue to enjoy!
EiriYukiLover: Glad you like. Hope you like this next part!
Miki: It makes me happy that I made you laugh. LoL But, the 80 pages was sadly cut down to about a page so he could write the song... And that's in the next chapter... -grin-
Lanasha: Wanna know what happens next? Here's the next part.. There's only one more chapter after this, so the wait won't be long!
Kitty in the Box: I'm glad that you like Suguru and Maiko. Nothing is ever really mentioned about Maiko, and I didn't like her dweeby boyfriend in the beginning... I'd much rather like her with Suguru... -grin- Tohma, NG, and Yuki is a deadly combination. I'm surprised the pjs are still around... Hmmm...
Tsugath: I liked the pj bit, too. -grin- It was fun to write! LOL Next chapter you'll find out how much they like their gifts... So stay tuned!
Mizuky: Glad you liked, but, andI know I'm going to sound dumb asking this but, what's a lemon? Anyway, here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
And, now on to our story...
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Eiri woke up to the insistent ringing of his phone. Groaning, he turned his head to glance at the alarm clock. The big red numbers told him that it was 10:50 am, which, in Eiri time, was "too fucking early to be calling."
Rolling onto his side, he grabbed the phone on the bedside table and growled into the receiver.
"Good morning to you, too, Yuki-san. May I please speak with Shindou-kun?"
The voice on the other end was female, and Eiri's sleep-fogged mind registered that it was familiar. So, instead of trying to figure it out, he merely growled out, "Who is this?"
Feminine laughter flitted through the receiver into his ear. "This Kanna Mizuki." There was a pause. The woman on the other end sighed. "Your editor, Yuki-san."
Finally registering the name, Eiri groaned. "I told you the manuscript is done, Mizuki."
There was another sigh on the other end. "I know, Yuki-san. I'm meeting with you Tuesday at 4. I was calling to speak with Shindou-kun."
Eiri looked at the phone with a puzzled expression. "Why?"
"Because he asked me something, and I wish to give him an answer."
Knowing his editor could be a real pain when she wanted to be, Eiri rolled over and looked at his sleeping lover. He looked so peaceful that Eiri almost regretted having to wake him up.
Almost.
Putting his mouth close to the sleeping man's ear, he purred, "Wake up Shuichi."
Shuichi snuggled into Eiri, mumbling "No… Wanna sleep more…"
Smiling, Eiri started trailing kisses down Shuichi's neck, knowing full well that the younger boy would start moaning and wake up, which Shuichi promptly did.
Handing the wireless to his lover, he said, "It's Mizuki."
"WHAT! WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT IF SOMEONE WAS ON THE PHONE?"
Eiri smirked. "Because I can. Now, don't keep my poor editor waiting."
Glaring at his lover, Shuichi took the phone. "Hello?"
"Ah! Shindou-kun. Sorry to wake you up so early, but the story is bound, and I thought you'd want to know as soon as I had it back."
Shuichi smiled. All he had to do was pick it up, and finish up his shopping with Hiro later that afternoon. "What time can I get it?"
After a moment of page shuffling, Mizuki finally replied, "How is 12 o'clock for you? We can meet at the restaurant we met at yesterday."
Shuichi agreed, thanked her, and hung up. Getting out of bed, he made his way to the bathroom, intent on getting in a quick shower before leaving.
Eiri sat in the living room, drinking a cup of coffee when he heard his lover start the shower. He smiled to himself, picturing Shuichi with the water running down his naked body.
The phone rang again before he could get any farther in his fantasy. Growling, he got up and made his way to the kitchen, where the only other phone in the apartment was located. "Hello?"
"Good morning, Eiri-san!"
"Tohma. What do you want?"
Tohma laughed on the other end. Cheerily, he replied, "Is that any way to address your brother-in-law?"
Eiri growled into the receiver, and Tohma let out another laugh. Bastard, Eiri thought. "What do you want?" he growled.
Tohma tsked him, but continued. "The CD is done. I can drop it off anytime. Also, I added another track, so it was your song with your vocals, and the instrumental, in case you wanted to sing it for Shindou-san yourself."
Eiri looked at the phone. Surely this wasn't Tohma, the bane of his existence, being thoughtful when it came to his and Shuichi's relationship was it? "Fine. You can come by at 2. Shuichi should be gone by then." Without another word, Eiri hung up.
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Shuichi was ten minutes late for his meeting with Mizuki. Mentally cursing himself for being distracted by Yuki, he looked around the patio for the editor. Finally spotting her, he made his way over to the table.
As he neared the table, he noticed another person sitting with the editor. Curious, Shuichi quickened his pace. As he got closer, he realized who it was.
"Hiro! What are you doing here?"
At the mention of his name, the guitarist looked at his best friend. Smiling, he motioned to a chair while answering the question posed him. "You said to meet you here at noon, Shu."
Shuichi racked his thoughts before he finally remembered that, he had in fact, told Hiro to meet him there. Turning to Mizuki, he bowed, then took his seat. "Sorry I'm late, Mizuki-sama."
Mizuki shook her head, waving his tardiness away. Reaching into her purse, she pulled a think paperback out and placed it in front of Shuichi. "No problem. Anyway, here is your story. We used your drawing as the cover. It was very appropriate." Shuichi beamed, and Mizuki smiled softly at him. "I read it over, as you asked. There were a fair amount of errors, but I didn't correct it."
"Why not?" Shuichi looked at Mizuki, puzzled.
The editor laughed. "The reason I left it as is, is because the way it was written had a part of you in it. If I were to make those corrections, then the story wouldn't have and real resonance. Those flaws are indicative of you, and to correct them would take you out of the story."
Shuichi looked confused. Looking at the brunette beside the singer for help, Mizuki felt helpless. She couldn't explain it to Shuichi.
Noticing that Mizuki was having trouble, Hiro spoke. "It's the same reason that we don't mess with your lyrics after you write them. They're a part of you, and they're personal. If we were to change them, then it wouldn't be personal, and they wouldn't be yours."
Shuichi nodded, understanding finally dawning on him. "Okay. Thank you, Mizuki-sama! I owe you one."
"Well, there is one thing you could do to help me, Shindou-kun."
An hour later, Mizuki and the two men parted ways. Mizuki had let Shuichi know how he could help, and the pink haired man had promised to think about it. He wasn't sure how he felt about having his feelings bared publicly.
"You know, it's a good opportunity, Shuichi. You're story would appear in Yuki-san's book, and that would get us more publicity."
"I know, Hiro, but… This was supposed to be for Yuki only. I don't want other people to read it, even if the characters aren't named after us."
Hiro smiled softly at his friend. He knew that whatever Shuichi decided, it would be Yuki-san who influenced it. If Yuki liked it, and told him he wanted it in his novel as a bonus story, like Mizuki had suggested, then Shuichi would do it. "Don't worry about it. Give the story to Yuki-san."
Shuichi smiled at his best friend. "Thanks Hiro. Now, what do you want to get for Ayaka?"
Hiro pondered the question for a moment. Finally, he responded, "How about a necklace? She likes roses, and there was a nice silver chain with a small rose on it at the jewelry store near the studio."
Nodding, the two men made there way to the jewelry store.
Entering the store, a ring display caught Shuichi's eye. Glancing at Hiro, he noticed his friend making his way to the necklace display. Shrugging, he made his way to the rings.
He knew what size ring Yuki wore, but he wasn't sure whether or not he would wear it if he got one. Yuki had changed, but he was still hard to predict.
"Whatcha looking at, Shu?"
Shuichi jumped at the voice in his ear. "Don't scare me like that, Hiro!"
"Sorry."
Calming down, Shuichi picked up a plain silver ring. "Do you think Yuki would wear this if I got him one?"
Shrugging, Hiro looked at his friend. "Honestly, I don't know. I suppose it would depend on his mood."
Shuichi stared at the ring, and decided to buy it. Walking to the register with Hiro in tow, he looked at the sales clerk. "Do you have this ring in a size 8?"
The sales clerk excused herself to check. Shuichi twirled the ring in his hand, waiting for the sales clerk to return. When she did, she had a box with her. "We do, sir. This is our last one, though."
"I'll take it."
Putting the display ring on the counter, the vocalist pulled out his wallet. "How much?"
The cashier rang up the ring. "That will be 2,000 yen, please."
Trying not to show his shock at the price, Shuichi gave the girl his credit card. While his card was processing, the girl asked him, "Would you like to have the ring engraved?" At Shuichi's look, the girl hurried on. "It's free, and only takes an hour."
"Free" was all Shuichi needed to hear. Telling the girl that, yes, he would like it engraved, and telling her what he wanted it to say, the pink haired man signed his credit card slip and left, promising to return in an hour.
"So, what do you want to do, Shuichi?"
Shuichi looked at his friend. "What time is Ayaka coming into town?"
"Not until seven or so. I didn't tell her we had the day off, so I had time to clean and set everything up. I just need to pick up some candles and roses on the way home, and I'm all set."
Shuichi looked at his watch. It was only three. He had three hours before he needed to get home to change for his date with Yuki. "Wanna go to the arcade? We can play for an hour, go pick up the ring, then go to the florist to get your roses, and then you can get some candles at the shop next door."
"Sounds good, Shu."
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Eiri was sleeping when a pounding on the door woke him up. Thinking that Shuichi had forgotten his keys again, he made his way towards the door. Glancing at the clock, he noted that Tohma was half an hour late.
It didn't connect that Shuichi wasn't due to return until six, and that Tohma was due at two.
Opening the door, Eiri blinked. Shuichi seemed to look a lot like Tohma. "Shuichi, why do you look like Tohma?"
"Shuichi" looked confused. "Are you alright, Eiri-san? I am Tohma…"
Eiri shook his head. Tohma was still at the door. "Where's Shuichi?"
Tohma looked at his brother-in-law suspiciously. "Have you been drinking, Eiri? Or, perhaps, you're on one of your medications again?"
At the mention of medication, the last vestiges of sleep disappeared from his mind. "Tohma, what are you doing here?"
Sighing, Tohma held out a CD. "Dropping this off, like you asked me to."
Grabbing the CD, Eiri nodded his thanks at Tohma and shut the door. He hadn't taken more than ten steps when the doorbell rang.
Silently, Eiri debated against answering the door. Suddenly, he remembered he was expecting a delivery, and this might be it. Turning around, he made his way back to the door.
Looking through the peephole, he saw a young man dressed in a uniform that was vaguely familiar. Opening the door, he said, "Yes?"
The youth perked up at the voice. "Hi! I have a delivery for a Uesugi, Eiri."
"That's me."
The young man smiled. "I just need your signature here, please." He held out a clipboard, which Eiri took and signed.
Handing the clipboard back to the delivery boy, he waited for the other man to give him his package.
After checking the signature, the delivery boy pulled out a small velvet box and handed it to Eiri.
Giving the boy a tip, Eiri took the box and shut the door. Opening the red velvet box, he looked at the contents.
It was a silver ring. He gently picked the ring up out of the box and looked at the inscription inside: Forever Yours, Eiri.
Smiling slightly, he put the ring back in the box. Walking back to the coffee table where he had placed the CD, he grabbed the CD and went to his office. Putting the ring in the last drawer of his desk, he looked at the CD.
He hadn't really looked at it after Tohma gave it to him. The cover was a picture that he had given to Tohma of him and Shuichi. On the other side of the cover, there was an empty space for Eiri to write a handwritten message. The CD itself had the title of the song, the writer, composer, producer, and tracks written in a flowing font that he had also chosen.
Picking up a blue pen, Eiri added the handwritten note. Making sure the ink was dry, he shut the case, and put the CD with the ring.
Then he went back to bed.
AN: One more to go…The final part is the long awaited date and gift exchange… And it's going to be up as soon as I can get my stupid computer to load it! Don't forget to review!
