Chapter 10

Love and Adventure

Authors Note: Sorry it's taken me so long to update yet again. I know I promised to be on the ball, and keep up with the deadlines I set for myself, but it's been hard. Since it's the end of the year, we've been getting alot of work, and it's been difficult for me to balance both the task of writing a good chapter and getting all my homework done.

Well, this is it! This is the last chapter of the story! I hope everyone's enjoyed it. It was very fun writing it. I'm very glad that I recieved so many reviews for this story. I've never gotten this far before. Please stay tuned for the sequal to this story called 'Lovers Journey'. It picks up just where this story ends, and then some!

Yuki's golden orbs narrowed as he watched Hiro leave the room with a shooken up Ayaka at his side. Was the jerk suggesting that there was someone else in Shuichi's life that could actually take care of him? If that was true..who could it be? Shuichi talked about everyone and everything with Yuki. If there was anyone that the brat was amazingly close to, Yuki would know, and so far the only person who met that standard was Hiro.

Was Hiro the mystery man? No, too obvious. He snapped out of his thoughts as he heard some noise coming from outside. There were atleast five people on their way to the room. Yuki was sure it was the police coming to investigate the scene. People sure did work quickly here, but of course Yuki knew that. The people of New York took murder very seriously. It was for that reason that Yuki decided to make his leave before he ended up surrounded by cops that wanted to take him in for questioning.

After taking one quick glance around the room at the horror he had just experienced, he crept out of it, heading down the left hall to avoid running into the officers. As he walked down the hall, it dawned on him that he hadn't bothered to find out what hospital they had been taking Shuichi to. What was the closest hospital? Obviously, they would go there.

He stopped at the bottom of the stairs and sat down on the last step to think about what he would do next. The door opened with a loud screech because of rusty hinges. "What are you doing here Tohma?" Yuki asked with a gentle glare. Was Tohma the man of mystery Hiro had mentioned?.

"Eiri" Tohma began speaking gently. "I came as soon as I heard what had happened, are you alright?". He was sure that even though he hadn't been physically hurt, his mind was probably very damaged.

Yuki pulled a cigarrette from his coat pocket and lit it with his lighter. He put it away slowly, allowing his eyes to linger on the picture of him and Shuichi together. "How? It just happened Seguchi. I'm not in the mood for games" Yuki replied, releasing some smoke from his mouth. Tohma stared at Yuki with pitty in his eyes before he approached the blonde writer. He pulled Yuki into a tight hug and rested his head on top of Yuki's.

"Everything is alright Eiri, theres no need to be upset anymore" he spoke gently. Yuki's arms moved slowly, wrapping around Tohma's back, and slowly the tears began to drip from his eyes.

"I didnt mean to hurt him Tohma. I didnt wa-"

"It's okay Eiri, we know. No one will be hurt anymore. I will make sure of it"

"I just want to see him Tohma. I want to find Shuichi...Will you help me?" Yuki closed his eyes. The cigarrette fell from his mouth and onto the floor next to his feet. He pressed his face against Tohma's chest and took deep breaths as he waited for Tohma to reply. It had taken it some time, but finally, what had just happened was beginning to take a toll. "Well?"

"I will help you Eiri. You know I will...but for the time being, it is you that I am concerned about. Perhaps it is best that you return home"

"No" Yuki protested, pushing Tohma away slightly. He stood, head straight, composing himself. In the past, he had allowed himself to be pursuaded by Tohma, his sister, and his shrink, but this time, he knew what he wanted to do, and he didn't care what anyone else told him. "I don't need you anymore Tohma" were his last words, as he exited the building, re-lighting another cigarette.

Tohma watched Yuki leave and he frowned slightly as he reached into his pocket, pulling out his cell phone.

'Mr. Seguchi?' The voice questioned on the other line.

"Yes, he reacted just as we thought he would. I hoped we would not have to resort to this, but he has left me no choice" Tohma spoke, staring at the door of the building.

'So we go on as planned?'

"Yes. We go on as planned. Now, if you will excuse me, there are some people upstairs I need to speak to" Tohma hung up the phone, then dropped the mobile device back into his pocket as he headed up the stairs.

If there was anyone in this world who knew what was best for Yuki, it was Tohma. Tohma would protect Yuki at all costs..

Whether he liked it or not.

Hiro hung up his phone and sighed loudly as he hung up his cell phone. K was on his way over, and though he meant well by doing so, Hiro knew he would only make matters worse. He always did. Hiro looked down at his watch and pushed away from the wall. He had decided to stay with Shuichi until Ayaka got back with the coffee. Really though, he hadn't had a choice, Hiro was the only one who knew enough english to speak with the doctors, even if his vocabulary wasnt the best.

He turned his gaze over to Shuichi, who rested on the medical bed, wrapped up in two white sheets. Even as he rested, his face looked exhausted. He admired Shuichi, for being able to deal with so much. Hiro wasn't sure how he would have reacted if he had been in Shuichi's shoes.

A loud screech and some yelling snapped him from his thoughts, and he smacked his forehead. K was here. He counted down to the very minute the door burst open and K stood at the door way, his hands at his hips. "Sorry I'm late" he apologized, entering the room. He stopped infront of Shuichi's bed before whistling once.

"You told me he was in bad shape but..."He pressed his hand against his forehead. "Well, I guess I have to do something about this.." he reached at his holster, ready to put his gone to use.

Hiro turned and grabbed his wrist, glaring slightly. "I'm not in the mood for games K. Thats my best friend laying in that bed. My best friend" he snapped, shaking his head slightly. He felt guilty for allowing this to happen.

K looked at him for a moment with a raised brow before taking his other hand and ruffling Hiro's hair. "Don't worry Nakano..he's going to be fine. Shindou always bounces back"

"That isn't the point K" Hiro sighed, letting go of K's wrist and crossing his arms over his chest. "The point is that I let this happen...I shouldn't have come to New York with Ayaka. I should have been at Shuichi's side"

"If you hadn't come to New York with Ayaka, you wouldn't have been here to help Shuichi when he was being attacked" K pointed out, taking on a serious tone. "If you hadn't of come, he could have been more than just raped"

"And the only reason I was able to help him was because I got a call telling me what was going on..."

K's brows furrowed. "A call? Someone called you and told you Shuichi was being attacked?" He scratched his chin. That sounded a little odd to him. "Who was it?"

"I don't know" Hiro replied, then turned to look at K, "I didn't pay attention...Damn it. What if the one who called was working with Maxwell and Hiraji?" he pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers.

K placed a hand on Hiro's shoulders, "Don't worry, I dout that's the case. We'll take care of Shindou. Nothing like this will ever happen again" he gave the shoulder a squeeze, and Hiro turned to look up into K's blue eyes.

"It better not happen again..."

"It won't" K assured him with a small smile. He stared back down at Hiro, locking his eyes with the other's. After a minute, he realized he was staring, and turned away. "It's my job to watch all of you"

"I don't need to be watched" Hiro reminded him.

K laughed a bit, "Yeah, but it would be my pleasure"

For some odd reason, Hiro blushed at his comment, and went back to staring at Shuichi. The pink haired boy stirred gently, opening his eyes, then slowly sitting up, groaning. "I feel like I've been hit by a truck..." he complained.

"Look like it too" K pointed out with a laugh. "We're sorry Yuki couldn't be here"

"Couldn't? More like didn't want to.." Shuichi smiled softly, "but that's okay I guess..I never thought I'd say it...but I..I need to stay away from Yuki..."

This caught both K and Hiro by suprise. "What?" they asked in unison.

"I know I was the one who was raped...but..I know Yuki's the one who is hurting the most..having to relive something that he tried to hard to forget..I don't want to hurt him..the only way to do that is to stay away from him"

"Your not getting away from me that easily brat" Yuki spoke from the door way, his arm resting against the frame as he stood there with his eyes closed. "I'm not letting you get away. I've finally realized...how much I love you"

"Yuki" Shuichi felt the tears build up in his eyes and a smile came onto his face.

Yuki looked over to Hiro and K, giving them a cold look. K coughed and began heading towards the door, pulling a reluctant Hiro out behind him. Yuki approached the bed once the two were out and sat on the edge of the bed. "Listen Brat..." he began speaking.

Shuichi listened to every word that Yuki said, his spirits soaring with every word. Once Yuki stopped speaking, a suprised look came onto his face, and he hugged the blonde tightly. Slowly, the blonde hugged him back. "Shuichi?" he leaned over and whispered something into the boy's ear.

Meanwhile...Outside, K and Hiro sat in the waiting room, watching the TV, waiting for Yuki to leave. While they waited, K's cell phone rang, and he lifted it to his ear. Hiro turned in his seat to look at K, wondering who was calling. K tensed up but hung the phone up shortly after.

"Who was it?"

"...Mr. Seguchi..."

"What did he want?"

"For us to get Yuki and Shuichi back home"

K stood up from his seat and headed back to the room. He knocked gently, and when he recieved no answer, he pulled out his bazooka and backed up. "Here I go!" he shouted and blew down the door. Once the smoke cleared, Hiro and K stepped into the room.

"Damn. This isn't good..." Hiro muttered.

The room was empty, and there was no sign of Yuki or Shuichi, aside from their two cell phones resting side by side on the bed and a small note that said: Off to Paradise

Hiro picked it up and growled a bit, just as Ayaka entered the room holding a coffee tray. She blinked a bit and looked at Hiro. "Is...everything...alright?"

"Just fine Babe. But I'm gonna have to steal your boyfriend here" Turning to look at Hiro, K grinned. "Private, we've got a new mission to acomplish"

A/N: Well..what'cha think? Be sure to check out the sequal!