I know it's been a long time, but truth be told I had gotten a little lazy. See my computer had crashed and I had to wait at least a week for it to get fixed, but when I got it back I just didn't want to do anything. I'm soooooooooooooo sorry. I know that is a sucky excuse but I'm really sorry and I'm sorrier because this chapter has to be short until next week. I'll make it up then, promise.

Shuichi felt like crap when he woke up that morning. Every little noise was echoed 1000 times inside of his head. Getting dressed that morning was harder then usual. When he looked at himself in the mirror he had to quickly look away. Shuichi took a long hot shower and when he got out of the shower he felt a little better. His cheek was red from when his father hit him. Shuichi ran his finger down his cheek slowly, anger gnawing at his stomach.

On the way to school the only thing Shuichi could think of was how to torture his father slowly.

"Shuichi!" A voice called. Shuichi turned and looked to find Nikka running towards him and waving her hands wildly in the air. When she got to him and leaned against him breathing hard.

"Man, I need to work out. Didn't you hear me calling you?"

"No, sorry. So what's up?" Shuichi said. Nikka wrapped her arms around Shuichi's shoulders and started to walk.

"Nothing really. I had so much fun last night, I can't wait till you guys come back next week!" Nikka said. Shuichi winced at Nikka's happiness.

"Why are you so peppy? You had more to drink then I did." Shuichi mused out loud.

"Well there's no point in acting all sad is there? I mean life is too short to worry about a little hangover. Plus, most of my drink was just soda. You sure can hold down your liquor!" Nikka laughed as she patted Shuichi on the back. Shuichi couldn't help but smile. All through the night Nikka had offered them beer but she never had a sip herself.

"Look at the time. I've got to go. See ya later Shuichi, and tell Hiro and Fujisaki I said hello." Nikka said as she walked away waving Shuichi off. Shuichi had felt temporarily better with Nikka around but now that she was gone his headache came back with new ferocity. Shuichi groaned out loud as he made his way to his classroom and sat down letting his head fall down on the desk with a dull thud. Hiro was sitting down already and he didn't look too much better then Shuichi.

"Morning Shuichi." Said Hiro. His voice was dull and flat. Shuichi lifted up his head so that it his chin rested on his desk.

"You look worse then me." Shuichi said. Hiro had bags under his eyes and his hair was a mess.

"Yea, well, you didn't have to drive Nikka home. She wanted to stop by and get something to eat, and then she had to go and buy this outfit she saw yesterday. Then she decided that Fujisaki and I had to drive around until she felt sleepy. That girl nearly drove me crazy!"

"Why did you come to school at all then?"

"My parent's would have suspected something. I never miss a day of school unless I'm about to die, which doesn't happen to often."

"I would laugh but I think it would use up all of my energy." Shuichi said. Hiro smiled weakly.

"Look, there's Fujisaki, he looks worse then us." Hiro said pointing at his younger friend. Fujisaki dragged his feet behind him and his eyes weren't even open. He collapsed in his seat and sighed. "Hiro, I'll have to kill you when I'm feeling better."

"Why? What did I do?"

"You left me with Nikka. After she left she started to fix me more drinks and like a fool I drank them all." Fujisaki sighed heavily. "I don't know how I can survive school, I shouldn't have even come, but my mother was mad about me staying out all night and not studying." Fujisaki sighed again. Shuichi laid his head back down and his mind started to wander.

"Shuichi!" A voice startled Shuichi out of his wandering mind. He looked around and noticed that he had dozed off and everyone was looking at him. He looked around to see who was calling his name.

"Shuichi!" The voice called again.

"Yes?" Shuichi said. His eyes were out of focus and the voice was booming inside of his head. It was K-sensei and he had a gun pointed at Shuichi's head.

"It seems like you were sleeping in my class. I don't tolerate that, detention after school today."

"But I. . .never mind." Shuichi said as K-sensei turned the safety off his gun.

"Glad you can see things my way. Don't worry, I'll make this afternoon very interesting." K-sensei walked back to the front of the classroom and continued his lesson. Shuichi rested his head in his hands and tried to pay attention, but his mind wanted to think about someone. Eiri Yuki. Shuichi wondered what he was doing now. He was secretly overjoyed that he was the only student in this whole school who knew Eiri's secret identity. Shuichi didn't know why he was so happy over that small fact but somehow it just made his day.

"Shuichi! The bell has ringed! Why are you still here?" K-sensei said.

"Sorry." Shuichi said getting up and walking away quickly before K-sensei pulled out his gun. Shuichi walked around the school inside of going to whatever class he was supposed to be going to seeing as he had no clue what time it was. Instead of turning right to go see what class he was supposed to be in, Shuichi made a left to go upstairs to the balcony of the school. The balcony also had the green house and the flowers were just blooming. Shuichi walked over to the rail where he could look out over the parking lot. The wind blew his hair softly and Shuichi sighed. Everything seemed . . .perfect.

"It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" Said a voice from behind Shuichi. Shuichi didn't wince at the sudden noise. Somehow Eiri's voice was soothing and it didn't hurt to be heard.

"Yuki." Shuichi said as he turned around and looked Eiri who came to stand next to him and look over the parking lot.Shuichi smiled and looked up at the sky. "Hai, it's a beautiful day. It's almost to perfect."

"Shuichi," Eiri dragged his finger down Shuichi's bruised cheek. "What happened?"

"Nothing." Shuichi said to quickly.

"Does it hurt?"

"Not really, nothing around here can hurt me." Shuichi frowned darkly but quickly covered it up with a smile.

"You don't have to pretend around me." Eiri said. He leaned close to Shuichi's ear and whispered, "I've seen the real you." Shuichi shuddered. "I like that Shuichi better."

"Yuki." Shuichi said. Eiri turned so that he could hold Shuichi's cheeks in his hands. "Why do you insist on calling me that?"

"Because it suits you better and I love that name." Shuichi started to close his eyes as Eiri got closer to Shuichi's slightly parted lips. "I don't understand, what about Ayaka, don't you love her?"

"Stop asking so many questions, why does she matter?"

"She does matter, because she has feelings too. She adores you Yuki. Plus we are two boys and . ." Shuichi opened his eyes when Eiri let go of him. Eiri pulled out a cigarette and lit it up taking a deep breath.

"You piss me off kid."

"I'm sorry." Shuichi said. "But I can't allow myself to . . .because Ayaka was so nice to me and . . .oh hell. Forget it." Shuichi said as he started to walk away. Tears came to Shuichi's eyes as he thought about what he just said, but he wouldn't cry. There was no point in crying because crying didn't make it better.

"Shuichi," Eiri said surprising himself. Why he was he calling him back? Why did it make Eiri feel bad if Shuichi was troubled?

"Yes?"

"I—never mind." Eiri said. Shuichi looked hard at Eiri and smiled weakly before walking away. Today wasn't such a bad day after all. Except of course for his headache and his detention, but those will eventually go away. The bell ringed while Shuichi was heading down the stairs and Shuichi saw kids walking around coming back from lunch. The day was almost over; he could last until after school.

Okay, that's all I can write. I know this probably isn't a good chapter, but review anyway. School is finally over and I'm so happy! I'll get the next chapter posted as soon as possible. BYE!