A/N: Hee. Did you think I died? WELL I CAME BACK TO LIFE! Anyway, I apologize for being slow. UU;;. This is a re-write though, so please read the chap again even if you have before.

If you'd like the reasons for the rewrite, please read my notes at the end. I don't want to detain you from reading the story. o I will write chap 2 soon.

Disclaimers: Standard ones apply. As in, they are not my characters.

Chapter 1

Warm droplets of rain made their way down the hazy Los Angelos skies; the heavily-polluted city looked gloomier than ever. Pedestrians scurried about frantically here and there searching for much-coveted shelter, and cars honked noisily as drivers withered in the endless traffic. In short, the metropolis was bustling with sounds and movement.

All of which was lost on a certain Shindou Shuichi.

The twenty-year old Japanese singer was silent as he gazed out the airport windows, long lashes framing his abnormally dull eyes. His mind saw not his present surroundings, nor did it bother to process that which took place around him; instead, it was years away, conjuring up a past that was so much more preferable to the present.

It was a park. Or perhaps, the park. It was the park where all his troubles began, where he met Yuki and became forever entangled in the strings of love.

But on that day, such thoughts did not plague him and the park was his haven. Happiness wafted through his entire being as he lied with a smile on the soft green grass, cushioning his head on Yuki's strong arm.

It was one of those days that Yuki decided to temporarily forget his past and treasure his present. He had hugged Shuichi close. Of course, no sweet words had escaped the author's mouth, but Shuichi understood. He always did.

Or rather, he thought he did. Now, he wonders if he ever came close at all.

"…ichi. Shu-chan!"

Violet eyes snapped to attention and focused confusedly on the sight before them. It was Sakuma Ryuichi.

"Hello, Sakuma-san," murmured Shuichi with an embarrassed and decidedly forced smile. "Nice to see you again."

Quickly, Shuichi took in the surroundings that he had hitherto ignored and finally registered that he was sitting on a plastic chair in a crowded airport. The air smelt stale and the foreign language of English buzzed through his tired ears.

The older man standing before him grinned widely and in a but a split second, enveloped him in a crushing hug.

"Good mooooorning, Shu-chan! I've waited so long for this moment! I've missed you lots! Kumagorou too!"

So saying, the singer shoved his prized pink bunny (with a slightly damp ear) into the arms of Shuichi and dragged the pink-haired one up.

Quite unprepared for this, Shuichi attempted to wrench his wrist out of the strong grasp and squeaked out a "Sa-sakuma-san!" in mild protest.

At this, the famed Sakuma Ryuichi frowned.

"Why in the world are you still calling me that," inquired the man with a slight glare. "It's –Ryu-chan-! Or at least Ryuichi."

A light blush dusted Shuichi's cheeks as he nodded. Really, all this hyper-activeness radiating from his idol was starting to tire his already worn-out body. Sleep seemed to reside at the edge of his mind, ready to infringe at any given moment.

And somehow or other, Ryuichi seemed to sense this.

"Come on, Shu-chan," said the star in a slightly more subdued tone, "We're going to my house! Are you all ready with your luggage?"

Shuichi glanced around the area he was sitting and picked up his meager suitcase.

He hadn't been in the mood to pack.

"I'm ready," he replied with a tiny, real smile. Truth to be told, he was looking forward to seeing his idol's home for the first time. It had always been his dream when he was younger.

Ryuichi returned the smile and took his junior's hands, leading him out the crowded airport.

All the way, the older one told amusing anecdotes punctuated by exaggerated hand motions. By the time the two reached the car, Shuichi couldn't help but allow his smile to expand a bit.

He also couldn't help but drift asleep on the car, drowning himself in Yuki-centered dreams.

The large studio of NG was, for the first time in a while, rather quiet. The reporters had finally evacuated after Shuichi departed from the country, no longer able to plague him with their endless questions.

All in all, things have settled down quite a bit.

Or so it seemed.

In his spacious, opulent office, Seguchi Tohma wore a frown on his perpetually young face. Worry clouded his sharp mind, and he continuously glanced at his phone as if expecting it to ring at any moment.

But it never did.

For hours, Tohma brooded on the situation while waiting for news, but finally, he gave up and glided out of the building with all his usual grace. As no information was forthcoming, he decided that it was time to look into this himself.

So off he drove in the dead of the night.

His destination: Yuki Eiri's empty apartment.

End Chap 1

More notes:

1. So I was re-reading the chapter I previously wrote and I was like…huh? I wrote this crap! How could I! I absolutely absolutely absolutely despised it in its entirety! For one, it actually sounded happy, and god forbid that! This is –not- a happy story! For another, the grammar was utterly appalling! And as for the last straw, I actually used capital letters to express loudness. I can't believe myself. I'm a failure to mankind. commits suicide

2. I was distracted from Gravi by PoT and Jrock. TT Jroooockkk. Tell me someone here listens to that stuff? And reads the fanfic? I'll totally write a Rose (The Trax) x Shinya (Dir En grey) fanfic sometime soon. Hee. If you know them, give me ideas! ) Okay...I'll stop spamming jrock stuff. Gackt is so not hot anymore.

3. I just read Vol.11 of Gravi and I was wowed by the cuteness! Yuuuukiiii is adorable. I don't hate him as much now. . However, I would like to state here that my story doesn't follow the Gravi storyline, so despite having read Vol. 11, I shan't let that disturb my plot.

4. I'm on summer vaca! Yaaaaaaay! I'll write more… Hopefully… That is, if the Rose x Shinya fanfic doesn't get in my way. )

5. Thank you, reviewers! You make me haaapppyyyy! o Comments are always appreciated and suggestions will be taken into consideration. XD