Just Another Love Song
Beat 2: My Place

The weekend passes pretty quietly. I did doubt that Yuki would even notice I never came home until Monday after work, when no screams of "I'm back" echo through his apartment. It's been a long time since I entered and said "I'm home" and somehow I doubt he ever noticed that. But as far as Yuki noticing, I wasn't disappointed. Hiro called one time on Saturday, just checking in as usual. Ever since I stopped coming to his place whenever Yuki and I fight he's been calling every day off to check on me. I don't know what he expects me say since I'm not about to tell him about my apartment or the numerous amounts of times I've had to use it since he got married.

But he's my best friend and despite the fact that he hasn't had to comfort me while I sob my heart out, he's worried about me. And I appreciate that. Only now he knows that I do. I tell him every time he calls. Monday comes all too soon, though I know everyone will be happy. I managed to get three new songs written. They still need to be edited and played around with but it's two more than K had asked for. I still write love songs, but not nearly as many as I use to. Yuki stopped being my inspiration for writing a long time ago. Too volatile. If I waited for him to do something romantic to inspire me into writing, Bad Luck wouldn't exist and I'd be telling customers at K-Mart about the latest Blue Light special by now.

That brings a new thought to mind while I get dressed. I wonder what Tohma's going to think about me leaving Yuki. Even after three years he still doesn't approve of Yuki and my relationship, even though he finally backed off of trying to keep us apart. Tohma only wants what makes Yuki happy. It's a nice thought and all on Tohma's behalf, but he's only allowing Yuki to continue to think that his happiness is all that matters. I'm tired of being the doormat and sucking it in for his verbal abuse. I'm not going back until I know for sure things will change. And that's if I go back at all. Which I'm not.

I lock the apartment behind me, stretching slightly and sighing at the wonders of sleeping on a bed again. Yeah, three years and Yuki's couch is still where I've slept. I've only graced the presence of his bed a few times after sex when he was too lazy to kick me out; otherwise, I've pretty much made the couch my bed. I'm almost going to miss it. I had a nice little Shuichi's indent made out from sleeping there so long.

It takes less than five minutes to walk to NG studios and I'm humming the melody for one of the songs I just wrote as I wait for the elevator to arrive. I'm interrupted, however, by a scream and a sudden weight appearing on my back.

"SHHHHHUUUUIIIIIICHHHHIIIIII!"

I somehow get turned around and manage to chuckle, even though the weight of having Ryuichi Sakuma pinning me to the floor is slowly cutting off my air supply. Fortunately he noticed this and got off before I started turning purple again.

"Good morning Ryuichi!"

"Morning! I missed you! So did Kumagorou!" he grins happily then forces the pink bunny into my face.

"I missed you too!" I say, patting the stuffed rabbit on the head. "How was your tour?"

That was a good question and the rest of the elevator ride was filled with Ryuichi's thoughts on every city and fan he met while on Nittle Grasper's latest tour of Japan. We have to part ways when it reaches my floor, since Ryuichi was heading to Tohma's office, and I'm slightly grateful. He may be my idol, but sometimes he's more energy than even I can handle. By the time I reach the studio I've started humming again.

"Hello everyone!"

The usual chorus of greetings goes by until a cold metal is pressed against my skin. Turning around slowly, I'm greeted first by the business end of a gun and then by K's smiling face.

"And do you have anything for me Mr. Shindou? Hmmmm?"

I resist the urge to say something that might make K actually pull the trigger and smile instead.

"Sure do!" chirping that out, I thrust several sheets of paper his way. That, fortunately, gives a reason for the gun to be put away.

He looks over the lyrics for a few minutes then grins. "Let's get to work!"

K gives Hiro the papers and he and Fujisaki go over them several times before looking at me.

"What?" I ask. Surely there's nothing wrong with them. I might have been a little pissed off about the microwave breaking down and not being able to heat up that last slice of pizza but they can't be that bad.

"These are, without a doubt, your best work ever Shuichi!"

After hearing those words from Fujisaki's mouth, I have to pick my jaw up off the floor and force my eyeballs back into their sockets. We've worked together long enough that you could call us pretty good friends, but words of praise like that are still rare from our keyboardist. I can see Hiro grinning as well.

"Definitely. Where'd you get inspiration for these?"

I shrug and scratch the back of my head. "Umm…actually I was pissed at the microwave…"

I can see the disbelief covering their faces since they still believe Yuki's my one and only inspiration for everything I do. So I start laughing. Better to just let them think I was joking. And a few seconds later, that's exactly what they believe as they laugh with me.

I can't help but wonder what they'll think when they find out I left him.

By the end of the day, we're all tired. But it's a good kind of tired; the kind that says 'job damn well done'. We all walk out of the studio together, laughing at a joke Hiro told before waving good-bye to Suguru. The two of us watch as he disappears around a corner then turn back to each other to say goodnight.

"Want a ride? I'm sure you're eager to get home tonight."

I give him a look. Eager to get home? For what? "Nyah. I'll just walk."

I get a look in return. "Don't tell me you of all people forgot!"

Since I'm tired of the whole trying to convey questions with looks thing, I decide to just ask. "Forgot what Hiro?"

He sighs and shakes his head. "I can't believe you forgot your own anniversary."

Now I know my eyes are ready to pop out of their sockets. I rack my brains for a few minutes and then come to one conclusion: I did, indeed, completely forget the three-year anniversary of Yuki and I being together. Morbid as it seems, I was glad for it. Yuki might not notice, but there's was something in the revenge part of my brain that was secretly happy I left the novelist right before our anniversary. Strange things.

"OH SHIT!" I scream. I run around like an idiot, babbling on and on until I realize something.

Hiro's not buying it.

Seeing this, I stop and sigh.

"He kicked you out again, didn't he?"

I may not have wanted to reveal this so soon, but what the hell. Everyone's going to know eventually.

"Yeah. Friday night."

Now it's time for Hiro's eyes to bug out. "FRIDAY? Where the hell have you been staying since then?"

Damn it. I don't like lying to my best friend. "Well…"

I sigh again. I'm not about to start now.

"I've been at my place."

Hiro gives me a weird look. "Your place? What do you mean your place?"

"Got time to talk? Or do you need to get home soon?"

He shakes his head. "Ayaka's in Kyoto visiting family this week, so I've got all the time in the world."

"Then let's go to my place and talk."

He's probably still confused, but Hiro gives me the benefit of the doubt and just nods.