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.

This is the conclusion to the story, just tying up a couple of loose ends. I really hope everyone has enjoyed it. The fic was actually written over two years ago and the course was set before I ever started posting it. I still have another fic, What Would You Have Done, currently being posted and I plan on starting another older one in a few weeks. I do not have a name for the new fic yet but it is stalker kidnapping fic. It is very graphic and features many time shifts. The new fic is really just a Prologue to much longer work.

Epilogue

True to his word, Shu took a hotel room his first night back in Japan. Yuki had tried to argue with him but he managed to hold firm. To himself, he felt he grown up some in the past few months and had actually managed to grow a backbone. He had spent the entire night awake, lost in his own thoughts.

He knew that did still love Yuki, he probably always would, but he couldn't count on him. How long would it be before he was thrown out again? How long before Yuki had him doubting himself again and feeling miserable?

There were no guarantees with Ryuichi either, his moods were legendary. But, he thought he could take the boisterous child-like persona better than the cold-hearted bastard routine. After all, he could be very immature himself at times and he and Ryu were so much alike with similar interests andsimilar personalities. The other singer always made him feel good about himself and he did love Ryuichi enough to give it a try.

The next afternoon he found himself knocking on Yuki's door. In a typical maneuver, the author opened the door and gave him a smirk.

"I knew you'd be back."

He didn't know if it was the snugness of the statement or maybe it was the smirk, but something finally gave him the nerve to do what he came to do.

"I have just come to pick up my things Yuki."

The fight that ensued had been horrific with accusations flying from both sides at the start and quickly dissolving into guilt and blame. He couldn't help but to feel guilty. Yuki had gone through a lot for him. But, the situation would never have happened in the first place had it not been for the author's actions.It wasn'tjust breaking up with him for Seguchi, but dropping Reiji off that building had a lot to do with his decision.

He was of course called a lying faithless whore who was only waiting for an excuse to go running to Sakuma. In the end none of it mattered, it really was over and had been for a long time. When he walked out of the apartment for the last time andhe left with nothing. Yuki could burn his stuff for all he cared. It was just things and could be replaced. The things that he needed were no longer there anyways, that part of his life was over.

Instead of running straight to Ryuichi the way Yuki predicted he would do, he spent another night in his hotel alone. Sakuma needed to get some Nittle Grasper business settled. Since Seguchi was gone the band would need to be retired, permanently.

The fate of NG itself was still in question. He had heard a television report that Mika was trying to take over but right now it was an all out war and Ryuichi was a major stockholder.

Two days after he had spoken with Yuki he had called Hiro and Suguru for a meeting. They didn't seem surprised to learn that he would be returning to America with Ryuichi. Suguru was angry, of course, and threw a small fit. Hiro's reaction was the strangest, he only nodded and smiled, he didn't seem upset at all. After Suguru had left he asked if Hiro wouldn't want to come with them back to the States. His friend told him that he would be starting college now and had even arranged for ronin status at Tokyo University so that he could get his entrance exams passed. Before Hiro left he was given a smile and a kiss on the forehead. "There is something else I want to do here Shu."

When Hiro left he felt he had managed to get a few thing accomplished, but the also had the bad feeling that he would never see his friend again. There was only one thing he had left to do and he dreaded this most of all, even more than having to face Yuki. He needed to face his family.

His family didn't disappoint and gave him the reactions he expected. He did not mention Ryuichi in his plans, only that he was moving to Los Angeles to continue his career. His mother was of course hysterical. His father practically ignored him. Maiko predicted disaster and a fast return.

After he left his family's home he checked out of his hotel and made his first trip to Ryuichi's apartment. There he found all out war.

It seemed to Ryuichi that they had been through this at least a hundred times now but Noriko was refusing to back down. She was determined that Nittle Grasper would continue. If Bad Luck was breaking up then Suguru could take Seguchi's place. She even had suggested adding Nakano.

"You'll be doing it without a singer." He released an exasperated sigh. Right now he felt like grabbing Kuma-chan and thumping the woman in the head repeatedly, it might work, he had tried everything else. K wasn't being any help either, he just grinned and stood there polishing his Magnum.

"I am going back to Los Angeles Nori-chan." He finally disintegrated into yelling. "I'm not saying you can't come. Shu and I are going to need a keyboard player."

"Shu this and Shu that," the woman screamed shrilly, "I don't see him here Ryu, what makes you so certain he's not back with Yuki?"

He couldn't help but bristle at the question. The fact was he didn't know. He had promised to give Shu some time and had stayed away. The truth was, he hadn't seen him since they had been back. It had been the hardest few days in his life.

Luckily, he was saved from answering Noriko's question by K.

"He's not," his agent stuffed the rag into a pocket and put the gun back in its holster; "he's been holed up in a hotel room. He did go to see Yuki but he left shortly afterwards looking very angry."

"That doesn't mean anything with those two." Noriko's stubbornness was really getting on his nerves or maybe the stress was starting to get to him. He found himself grabbing Kuma-chan and running from the room. He only stopped to lock the door before collapsing on the bed.

"Where are you Shu?" He asked the dark room.

Noriko was pounding on his door, still yelling.

Shuichi could hear shouting through Ryuichi's front door and knew that it was Noriko. He would recognize that high-pitched shriek anywhere. Making sure he was loud enough to be heard over the din, he pounded on the door. He wasn't really surprised when it was opened immediately by K who just gave him a lopsided grin and ushered him in.

"It's about time." K's voice was dry. The American helped him to get his luggage inside before closing the door. He could hear Noriko still screaming and Ryuichi was nowhere in sight. K led him back to where Noriko was still pounding on a door. A hand on her shoulder brought instant silence and she stepped away glaring murder at both of them. K pulled out a key and he entered the dark room to the sound of sobs.

Ryuichi was curled up on the bed, pink bunny clutched to his chest.

"I'm here," was all he said.

Shuichi and Ryuichi were leaving this morning. They had only remained in Tokyo four days. Shu had explained there was just too much pressure for them to stay, especially since the press had gotten wind of Shuichi's breakup with Yuki. Word had even reached the press that Shu had broken up with Yuki over Ryuichi and that they were now a couple.

Hiro had gone to the airport to see his friend off, Tatsuha had even come to say goodbye. They had managed to move fast enough that the press didn't get word of their leaving so the send-off was a quiet one. K had decided to return to America with them.

He really was going to try for Med School and there was no way he was going to fail his exams this time. He knew he would always fondly remember his brief time of fame. The only thing he was going to miss was Shuichi.

The first thing he had done on returning was break it off with Ayaka. She acted just as relieved as he felt. The feelings just weren't there on either of their parts. Hiro secretly felt that she thought she might be able to get Yuki back, but he didn't think that was going to be possible.

Watching the plane rise into the sky Hiro felt a hand come to rest on his shoulder, "Let's go get something to drink, we could both use it I think." Tatsuha was grinning at him but it was the tall blonde slipping through the doors that caught his attention.

With a small smile he allowed Tatsuha to lead him to a club. A couple of drinks was just what he needed for what he was about to try. Just as Hiro knew he would, Tatsuha disappeared after the first couple of drinks to go party and he was free to do what he wanted.

It was only a short ride to his destination. He wasn't even nervous when he knocked on the door.

"What the hell do you want?"

"Hello Yuki." He said with a smile.

THE END

I would really like to thank all of my reviewers:

buff200020002002--Thank you so much for your continued reviews.

DeMoN4EvA--I will try to get that to you, I admin two websites and have been really busy with GFX the past couple of weeks.

Bloody Dead Rose--Sorry it couldn't be Yuki/Shu in this one. I like to work with unusual pairings, the one I am working on now is a Shu/Tatsuha one.

Catmum56--Sorry if some of the words didn't get spaced. I did the final edit in the documents section. They weren't together when I did the final viewing. Must have been some sort of glitchy thing.

Aki Kotasho--Thank you again

Animegirl12182--I appreciate your continued support.

To all others who have reviewed in the past and to all of my current reviewers a heartfelt thank you and I really do love the cookies.