Disclaimer: I, of course, do not own Gravitation, Murakami Maki has that honor.

AU My take on what might have happened if Shuichi had not managed to get there in time to save Reiji from Yuki. Manga Vol. 9.

Chapter 11

K arrived back at the hotel suite just before 6:00 am on Monday morning accompanied by two Brooklyn plain clothes detectives. He motioned for them to remain sitting in the front room. He first checked the bedroom on the right, where Shindou had slept the night before. In Bad Luck's singer he found Nakano and Uesugi curled up together on the same bed, since they both had their clothes on he wasn't sure what had happened there, if anything.

Closing the door quietly he motioned for the two detectives to continue to wait. He walked towards the other bedroom feeling a sense of dread. The door only gave a slight squeak as he pushed it open and all of his fears were confirmed. Shindou was lying lengthwise over Sakuma with an arm wrapped around his waist. From their positions and their lack of clothes, there was very little doubt what had happened here.

K was so stunned by the sight in front of him he didn't realize that the two detectives had followed him to the door until he heard a low chuckle by his ear. He turned to see both of the men staring over his shoulder.

"So, Mr. K," the black-haired detective continued to laugh, "Which one of these beauties are we supposed to be guarding? Although," K watched the other two men lock eyes, "I wouldn't mind joining them." The russet-haired man at least had the decency to blush.

K threw his hands into the air, "Fucking musicians, fucking cops, can't I ever get a break!" At his outburst the men began laughing hysterically. Falling into a chair he buried his head in his hands trying to hide the stricken look he knew he was wearing fearing it would only be a cause for more laughter.

Shuichi awoke to the sound of strange laughter. He raised his head from Ryu's chest and saw that their door was open. Without actually moving he caught a glimpse of two strange men standing in the front room. Quickly wrapping the sheet around his waist he bolted to shut and lock the door. Ryu was still soundly asleep and Shu had to shake him awake.

Confused eyes stared at him briefly before a beautiful smile spread on his love's face. Ryu reached to pull him into his arms. Shu gave a brief hug before pulling back.

"Not now Ryu-chan. I need for you to get up and get dressed. There are two men in the front room. I don't know who they are. We need to get out of here."

It didn't seem that Ryu even took the time to think before quickly rolling out of the bed and pulling on his clothes from yesterday. He dressed in his leathers from yesterday. Turning in panic, he knew he was probably trapped.

"How do we get out of here?" He whispered to the man who looked just as panicked as he felt.

"I don't know Shu. Let's just look around."

Ryu immediately went to the window and looked out. Shu only vaguely heard the shouts and the pounding coming from the door. The window opened enough for them to slip through. He looked out to see that the nearest landing was only one floor down. Ryuichi motioned for him to come over and before he realized what was happening he was dangling out the window, still at least six feet from the landing.

"I love you." Ryu whispered before letting go of his hands.

He was falling off balance and landed with a hard thump on his rear end.

"Are you all right?" At his nod Ryu started climbing out.

Just as Shu nodded that he was okay, Ryu heard the door crash open. With a jump he was heading out the window head first, probably not a good idea but his fall was stopped by a pair of arms wrapping around his legs.

"Dammit No!" he screamed as his eyes met the deep violet of Shu's panic etched in every feature. He could not, would not allow them to be separated now. He watched Shu's lips from his name but he couldn't hear the call due to the beating of his own heart.

Struggling with all the strength he had, he finally felt a foot connect with something solid and from the grunt he figured he had gotten the man in the face. Then he was tumbling freely from the window. He was lucky to be able to twist around enough so that he landed on all fours and not his head. A quick glance told him that Shu had waited and was now running towards him. He spared a look over his shoulder to see a black-haired man staring out the window at him open-mouthed.

Shu grabbed and arm and pulled him to his feet. Hand in hand they ran back into the hotel. They had landed on a restaurant balcony. They took the stairs down running until they hit the freedom of the streets. He didn't have any clue where Shuichi was taking him and it didn't really matter as long as they were together.

"What the hell happened!" K shouted as soon as the black-haired detective, Laytner, came stumbling back into the sitting room holding his mouth. "Don't tell me you let them get away Laytner." He advanced a couple of steps ready to kill the man until he saw the thin line of blood running down the man's chin.

With an angry swipe the man wiped the trail of blood onto his sleeve. K could now see the swollen and split lips. "Dove out the fucking window, they both dove out the damn window." Laytner spit out at him. "Almost had the brown-haired one, that is until he kicked me in the mouth.

Taking off at a run, K checked the window and gave a relieved sigh to see the landing only floor down. He turned back only to run right into Nakano, Uesugi at his side. He had to hold back a laugh at his original thought that both Shindou and Sakuma had leapt to their dooms just to get away.

"It wouldn't have mattered." He went back into the sitting room to see the russet-haired detective, McClean, carefully dabbing at his partner's lips with a handkerchief.

"What do you mean?" McClean asked.

"Only that the one your partner grabbed was Sakuma. It's the other one, Shindou, you needed to get your hands on.

"Sakuma? Ryuichi Sakuma?" At K's nod McClean turned back to his partner and smiled, "Look at it this way Dee you just got thumped by a big star."

"You think this is funny!" Uesugi suddenly shouted startling everyone. He had forgotten about the presence of him and Nakano. Uesugi was standing with tears in his eyes, Sakuma's Kumagorou clutched to his chest. "They're both gone now. My Ryu-chan has jumped into the lion's den. Now he…he's…"

It was Nakano who stepped over to wrap an arm around Uesugi's shoulder and led him out of the room pink bunny still tightly clutched to his heart.

"Would you like to tell us what is really going on here Mr. Winchester? We were led to believe that this was a simple protection assignment." McClean gave him a look that clearly stated that he knew when he was being lied to. "Both of those men were clearly panicked. So panicked they were both willing to risk life and limb just to get away."

Glancing at the clock K noted the time at only a little after 6:30 am, late enough in his opinion. Going to the in-suite bar he poured himself a stiff shot of whiskey. He downed the drink in one gulp before beginning.

"Shu, please, I have to stop." They had spent the past half an hour zigzagging through the streets of New York. He stopped immediately worried at the amount of strain he heard in Ryuichi's voice. Their fingers were still laced together and he just now noticed how loose his were being held. He turned to see that Ryu was extremely pale and he was gasping for breath. "Need to sit for a minute Shu. Sorry can't run anymore."

Without thinking he pulled him into the nearest cafeteria. Ryu's hands were shaking as he opened a pill bottle and dropped some of the medicine into his hand. He waved off the offer of a glass of water and placed the pill in his mouth. Within minutes his color returned and his breathing was easier.

He was staring at Ryu in shock. The man's eyes had been tightly closed when he opened them their gazes locked. "I'm fine now. We can move on."

"Not until you tell me what just happened."

"I promise," Ryu held up a hand, "but not now. Do you have somewhere for us to go? Somewhere safe?"

"Yes, and I have a friend who will help us too." He gave a quick glance around the café, "Ryu do you have any money? I don't and we're going to need it. Or, at least I am."

"What do you mean you?" Ryu's face had gone slightly pale again, "I'm going with you."

Shu shook his head, "No, you're going back. I don't know what's wrong, but you're sick Ryu. And, I don't want you involved anymore than you already are. I already knew there were people looking for me."

"None of that matters to me Shu. Just please don't make me leave you. Not when I finally managed to…find you. Besides, you made me a promise." The look on Ryu's face clearly stated what was going through his head and his heart and Shu felt himself caving.

"Money?" he really didn't want to get into anything else right now. They were still too much in the open and Ryuichi did not have a disguise.

"I have a little with me, but I can get more if we need it."

Shu hurried them out and into a taxi, he wouldn't make Ryu run anymore today. It turned out that Ryuichi's idea of a 'little' money was actually a couple of thousand American dollars. It made him wonder just how rich the other singer really was.

In the taxi the trip to his old home took about twenty minutes. He tried to keep his mind carefully blank. Right now, there was too much to think about, too many questions that needed answered. He had the driver stop a block away and led Ryu through the back alley, just in case. His key for the back door was still in his pocket and he used it to let them in.

No one should be here now except Michael, a man who had proven over and over again to be a friend. Before speaking with Michael he needed to get Ryu hidden. He needed somewhere safe so that he could rest.

Quietly making his way to his old bed Shu grabbed his blanket and pillow and led Ryu up the stairs to the attic. The other singer fell asleep almost immediately and he couldn't resist leaning down to gently brush their lips together. If there was one other person in this world he could ever love besides Yuki, Ryuichi was that person.

Sitting next to the man that had inspired most of his life, he tried to decide what exactly it was he did feel, and love was certain. Ryuichi made him feel happy, content, and safe just by being there. It was an entirely different sensation from he felt when he was with Yuki. With Yuki he felt he had to please, with Ryuichi he wanted to please, there was no work to it. Maybe that was why he didn't recognize the love at first.

He had already cheated on Yuki sexually, to fall in-love with someone else was the ultimate betrayal. There was no doubt though, he was in-love with Ryuichi and he knew he was loved in return. He could see every time he looked into Ryu's eyes. He had never seen the same look in Yuki's eyes. He did still love Yuki too, but he didn't think he could ever forgive what Yuki had done.

Getting quietly to his feet Shu whispered, "I love you Ryuichi; Aishiteru, diasuki da, my future is with you." He saw a smile spread on the Ryu's face in his sleep. He was almost certain he had been heard.

"Get you hands off of me!" The entire hotel probably heard Tatsuha's scream. Hiro found his arm being roughly shoved off the other man's shoulder. The younger man ran to his bed and buried his face in the pillow, Kumagorou still clutched to his chest. The kid looked devastated, broken.

Hiro took a seat on the bed, "I'm sure he'll be all right Tat-kun. Shu won't let anything happen to him."

The tears continued for a while, pitiful keening wails of loss and grief. He started to leave to let Tatsuha cry out his loss in peace.

"He left Kuma-chan." The croaked voice stopped him at the door. Hiro walked back to take a seat. "I really did love him you know. No matter where we went or what we did Kuma-chan was always with us.

Hiro was confused now, not really sure what Tatsuha was trying to say, "I'm sure he didn't mean to leave him," he answered hesitantly.

"No, probably not." A slight chuckle followed. "Always, when we were together, Kuma came first. He would reach for the bunny before he took my hand. I doubt he even thought about his lifelong friend before he dove out that window."

Hiro finally thought he understood, "He does care about you Tatsuha, you know that he didn't want you to come. He didn't want you to get hurt anymore. He didn't you to be in any danger."

"I told him I was going to be here to catch him when he fell. But, he's not going to fall, is he? He always gets what he wants and unfortunately that's not me."

"I know that you're hurting right now and you are right, I think that Shu is falling hard." Tatsuha now allowed him to place a hand on his shoulder.

"Have you ever been in-love Hiro? I know that you and Ayaka are…involved. I also know that you have feelings for Shuichi, although yesterday was a surprise."

"You have no idea," Hiro gently brushed back the bangs that had fallen over dark eyes, "I've been in-love with Shu since high school, when I would have had a chance. Back then I was too proud to admit that I was attracted to men."

Tatsuha finally sat up and met his eyes, "Then he met my brother."

"Yeah, and what a disaster that was from the very beginning. This is different I know that you feel it too. Those two, Shu and Ryuichi, together they are so much alike it is like they were made for each other. They are going to make each other happy."

"That's what I hate so much. There will never be another chance for either one of us. Ryu was trying to tell me goodbye back in Tokyo. I refused to listen."

"It really is goodbye you know," Hiro finally leaned down give Tatsuha a hug, "For both of us."

Shuichi quietly crept down the stairs only to find Michael standing at the bottom waiting.

"I didn't think I'd ever see you again." Michael had a grin on his face but there was worry in his eyes also. "You shouldn't have come back here. Since you left there has been nothing but a constant stream of people through here, some had warrants and some just forced their way in. They practically tore the place apart looking for you. Now, we may lose our funding."

"Sorry Michael," he apologized in his broken English, "I'll make up, okay?"

The look on his friend's face softened, "I know you didn't mean for anything to happen…Shuichi."

"Shu, just Shu Michael."

"All right…Shu." An arm dropped over his shoulder and Michael led him to the kitchen. He was given a glass of lemonade and a sandwich before the other man took a seat across from him staring directly into his eyes. "I can't get over the purple eyes, amazing."

"Japanese no have purple, weird."

"Weird for anyone," Michael laughed, "So, tell me why you came back and who do you have with you?"

Shu tried to cover his shock, Michael must have seen them coming in. "Need favor. Have money, will pay." He was really hoping Ryu would be forgotten.

"I don't need paid I'll be glad to help, you should know that."

He gave a quick nod, "Need you go hotel," he pulled the address card out of his pocket along with the room and key and handed them to Michael, "find who there. Say message for Hiroshi Nakano, only talk Hiroshi. He with long red hair. Find out what is happening. Come back tell me. Will you do?"

Michael gave him a wide grin holding up a finger, "On one condition; you tell me who is upstairs."

Shu felt his stomach sink a little, he didn't want Ryu's name drug into this. There was no was around it now and he did trust Michael, "Koi…boyfriend," he corrected himself, "Ryuichi…Ryuichi Sakuma." At least he hoped the Ryu wanted to be his boyfriend.

"SHIT!" It was obvious that Michael had heard the name, "You, you're famous in Japan, Sakuma is a superstar. And, he's what…sleeping in the attic?"

"Sleep, yes. Meet later, after you come back?"

"Yeah, I'll go. You need to stay hidden, go back upstairs and stay there. Take a few sandwiches and drinks. I'll get back as soon as I can."

When Yuki closed his eyes all he could see was a pair of delicate hands placing a gun into his. He could even remember that the gun was still hot.

Flashback

"Yuki-sensei!" the brunette turned his large dark eyes and a smile formed on his lips. Eiri felt his heart thump.

"Eiri-kun, you're early today."

"Hai Sensei. I wrote a new story and I thought you might want to read it. Seguchi-san said that I could come and show you."

Eiri had thought this scenario over many times and now thought he had a plan. He had been fighting his feeling for a long time but now understood that he was in-love with his sensei. He thought he had loved him since he had first seen him. He had thought that what he was feeling was bad, his father would have said it was evil, men don't love men.

He had been confused for months. Then the past weekend Seguchi-san had a guest over, Sakuma Ryuichi-san. He knew the two were good friends and that they were in the band Nittle Grasper together.

The night that Sakuma came to visit he had wanted to stay up, but his mentor had ordered him to bed. Sleep didn't come easily. When the apartment became quiet he crept out to get a book. The lights were out in the living room but he could hear muffled noises.

As young as he might appear, Eiri was no child. He knew what he was seeing the minute he stepped into the room. Seguchi and Sakuma were having sex in the middle of the floor.

At first he was too shocked to move, he could only stand and stare. The longer he watched the weirder he felt. They were both men, it was wrong, wasn't it? He couldn't believe that his mentor was evil. If it was all right for Seguchi-san, wouldn't it be right for him and his sensei?

At his sharp intake of breath Seguchi-san's glazed green eyes turned to meet his. "Eiri-kun!" Seguchi gasped out.

Sakuma-san's eyes also turned to meet his and a small chuckle escaped the man's lips, "He is gorgeous Tohma."

Seguchi quickly scrambled off the floor to pull on a pair of pants. Sakuma remained on the floor nude just smiling at him. His mentor hurried him back to his bedroom and closed the door.

"Eiri-kun, I…I'm sorry," the normally very cool man seemed extremely flustered; "you were not meant to see that." The pale blonde head dropped as he spoke, "do you understand what you saw?"

"I understand Seguchi-san and I don't at the same time. You…you're both men!"

Seguchi raised his head to give him an odd look and a smile. "Do you think that's wrong Eiri-dun?"

"Father says its evil, that people who…those people are mentally ill and should be locked up."

Seguchi was still looking at him with that same odd smile and he laced their fingers together, "Do you think that about me?"

"No! I think you're nice and wonderful, not crazy at all."

End Flashback

Yuki's eyes flew open. He must have drifted to sleep again. A nurse was shoving a lunch tray in front of him; at least it was solid food this time, some sort of greasy, gravy covered mess. He grimaced but tried to eat.

The dream was still fresh in his mind. He had forgotten that night with Seguchi and Sakuma. At the time he had not understood the looks that Seguchi had been giving him. He did now. Seguchi had wanted him, even then.