Okay, everybody! Here's the second chapter! But they might be OOCy. Are they OOCy? If they are, tell me. I think Shuichi might be a bit less spazzy than normal. He's certainly holding back a bit more than usual. The wording's a bit strange at some points, and there are like a million run on sentences. You have been warned!
...And Now a Bright and Sunny Morning
He woke to a quiet sunrise and an unknown bed. For a second, he did not know where he was, but then the previous night's events came flooding back to him. with a muffled wail, he rolled onto his bruised stomach and forced his head beneath the pillows.
He was at Hiro's house, in Hiro's bed, and wearing Hiro's warm, flannel pajamas opposed to the rain-soaked clothes he had shown up in. An odd, sighing laugh escaped his throat. He must have looked absolutely horrible when he had shown up at the door!
He had got to stop appearing like this.
He turned onto his side and pulled the pillow from his head.
"I'm a leech!"
"You just figured that out?"
Hiro stood at the door, smirking and working out the kinks in his neck.
"While you slept like a rock in here, I was stuck on the not-so-comfy couch. Thanks to you, I won't be able to look at my guitar for a week!"
"Sorry."
Shuichi sat up, swung his legs over the side of the bed, misjudged his momentum and landed in a heap on the floor.
"Don't be sorry,"
Hiro pulled him from the ground.
"You're my friend. It's the least I could do."
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"I hurt him. I really hurt him. Why would he want to come back?"
Yuki stared at the cordless phone; its little neon screen taunting him. Shuichi's number blinked out - the phone deciding that it wasn't needed. He retyped the number, slumping down in his office chair and sighing.
"I should just get it over with!"
There was a soft beep as the phone cleared its screen.
259-3741 call.
"That wasn't so hard now, was it?"
He started as Shuichi's ring tone cut through the near-silence of the apartment.
"Of course he wouldn't have it with him! He was in his boxers, dammit!"
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"Are you hungry?"
"No."
"Do you want something to drink?"
"No, I'm okay."
"Are you tired?"
"What?"
"Should I take that as a yes?"
"Nnnh..."
"Looks like you had a long night."
Shuichi sat on Hiro's lumpy couch, watching his fried stir something before taking a quick swallow.
"What happened, anyway?"
"Huh? Oh, Yuki kicked me out."
"Well I know that, but what happened after that?"
"What do you mean 'What happened after that'?"
An impatient sigh.
"When I was fixing you up, your stomach was starting to bruise, your nose wouldn't stop bleeding and you had a goose egg on your head the size of my fist. don't tell me nothing happened after he kicked you out."
Ice settled in the pit of Shuichi's stomach. Hiro didn't really approve of Yuki, and even though he promised to support his friend every step of the way, the fact that Yuki had laid a seriously violent hand on him would probably send Hiro over the edge.
"Yuki hit me."
Hiro choked on his drink.
He didn't know why he had to say it so straightforward like that. His mouth was always running on autopilot.
"He hit you?"
"I deleted his story."
Like an explanation would make it any better.
The electrical hum of lights, a failing analog clock and the distant sounds of a traffic jam all merged to make a heavy faux silence.
"Are you going back this time?"
Hiro's eyes were dark and somber.
"I don't know. Maybe."
A bang startled Shuichi as the bottom of Hiro's glass violently met the end table.
"Why should you?"
"Hiro, I've always -"
"I know, I know... You've always gone back, and he's always kicked you out and then you're always going back again... but this time is different! This time he hurt you! I can't stand that you'd let him walk all over you and then go back to him, but I guess you're weird that way..."
"Hir?"
"Yes?"
"Are you pissed?"
"Do you want me to be honest about that?"
Shuichi gave a curt nod.
"Actually," he said wryly, "I'm not sure. I'd like to think that when it comes to Yuki i actually have some say in what you eventually do.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Hiro flopped defeatedly onto the couch.
"It means that when I drive you over to Yuki's I'll be waiting outside for your ass to get kicked out again."
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Most people have a hard time writing with a distraction.
Some people have a hard time writing without a distraction.
Apparently Yuki was one of them.
Deciding to get a jump on his next novel while he had 'proper writing conditions' proved to be near impossible. It was hard trying to write when Shuichi wasn't around. Of course it was hard when he was around, but now the apartment was quiet.
Too quiet.
So in a vain attempt to get his mind off of his writers' block and the guilt from last night, Yuki tried to take a nap.
Usually, Shuichi would want him to get up and take him somewhere. Or worse - he would want to make something so Yuki could fall asleep easier. Sometimes he would try to take a nap, too; Yuki spent enough energy fighting him off that once his heart rate slowed he would fall victim to a deep, restful sleep in a matter of minutes.
This time however, there was absolutely no way to effectively burn off his energy due to the absence of you-know-who. Lying in between the sheets with thoughts whirling chaotically through his mind wasn't as tranquilizing as say...listening to a relaxation tape.
He was about to drag himself out of bed and go look for his before he remembered that it had wrecked in the player a few days ago when Shuichi was trying to calm him down. It wasn't really his fault - he knew how to work a tape player. This time he was merely a victim of circumstance. Even so...
Maybe he should have kicked him out that day even though it was raining. Maybe if he had kicked him out he would have had time to get his anger straightened out before he did something serious.
Like hitting Shuichi.
That was serious.
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"Are you really sure that you want to go back today? I mean, he could still be mad."
Hiro felt his friend either cringe, nod, or shrug behind him as the motorcycle zipped through the side streets and under the now clear skiestowards Yuki's house.
"I mean, we could always wait a few days or something. It's not like he'll disappear.
A look of thought crossed his features.
"Or maybe he will."
Shuichi dropped his head against Hiro's back and moaned.
"You're supposed to be reassuring me..."
Hiro patted one of the arms slipped around his waist.
"Of course he wouldn't be gone! He loooves you - he's been with you for months now. there's absolutely no reason why he would leave except for the fact that you annoy the hell out of him! Of course you'll never know whether or not he'll want to kiss you or kill you based on his Defunct Emotion of the Day, but that's all fine and dandy because no matter what he does to you, you'll always run right back into his loving arms!"
Shuichi pretended not to notice the prominent sarcasm.
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The doorbell drew Yuki from a fitful slumber.
It took nearly all of his willpower to think about climbing out of bed and even more to actually do it.
He was about halfway to the door when he realized that he had a major case of bedhead and as well as no shirt and an unzipped fly. There was absolutely no way he was going to go back to his room and put on a top.
Figuring that whoever it was would just have to deal with his 'indecency' and that 'whoever' was either his editor or Shuichi's overprotective friend - He ran his fingers through his hair, pulled up his pants, opened the door and greeted the person on the other side.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"I'm glad to see you, too."
"Did Mika send you?"
"Not this time. Come to think of it, she's never sent me."
As an afterthought he added -
"I feel so wanted."
"You shouldn't. Do you realize what time it is?"
"And exactly why can't I drop in at three o'clock in the afternoon?"
"I don't know. Think of a reason. I'm busy."
"Oh... Is Shuichi in there with you?"
"No. Besides, you would've heard him complaining. I'm brooding."
"Then seeing as this place is otherwise unoccupied, may I come in?"
"Sure, Tohma."
Yuki plastered on a fake smile.
"Come on in."
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"Is now really such a good time?"
Shuichi pondered as he doggedly marched up the stairs.
"Maybe I should've let Hiro come."
He could imagine the scenario - him stumbling over the same useless apologies over and over again - Yuki becoming more and more frustrated by the second. He'd say something sarcastic to shut him up and then Hiro would start in on Yuki for being such a cold heartless bastard. They'd probably start fighting and somebody would call the police to take them away. Bad Luck would then have Bad Media Coverage - probably something about their crazy guitarist attacking famous author Eiri Yuki.
The the reporters were bound to ask him what they thought about of the situation he'd lose all his 'cool' and spill the whole story about him and Yuki and the fight they had about the computer and -
Maybe it was a good thing Hiro hadn't come.
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"Eiri?"
The author nodded, rummaging in his drawers trying to find a decent shirt.
"I've been thinking about this for a long time... I don't know how to tell you..."
"Me what, Tohma?" He selected a light blue polo shirt with white cuffs.
"I don't - I mean I-"
"Come on, Toh-chan, spit it out."
"Stop badgering me; let me think for a second and maybe I'll be able to -"
"No, seriously. I have to go and -
find Shuichi
"- pick some stuff up."
Tohma Seguchi took a step forward and kissed him hard on the mouth.
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"Front door's open. That's strange."
Shuichi pushed gently and the door swung into the wall.
He was greeted with an unusual silence - usually there would be the soft clicking of Yuki's keyboard or the monotonous hum of the microwave and the television on with the volume turned all the way up.
"Maybe he did leave. I wouldn't put it past him...When he gets upset..."
Shuichi spoke animatedly to the empty room.
"I should check." He frowned slightly and wrung his hands.
He's gone again.
And it's my fault; Just like before.
"I can't give up now..." He said decidedly to himself.
He strode towards Yuki's bedroom door and threw it open with a bang.
"Seguchi?"
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For once in his oh-so-perfect life, Tohma Seguchi was faced with a - heaven forbid - difficult situation.
Yuki's current boyfriend had just flung open his bedroom door where Tohma was caught standing mouth-to-mouth with a surprised and topless Eiri. He quickly assessed the situation and knowing Shuichi wouldn't fall for the 'he was changing and he choked on a french fry and I had to do CPR with him standing up' routine, decided to try plan B and hoped Yuki would be stunned and sane enough not to kill him.
Well, here goes.
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"You interrupted us, Shindou."
Shuichi made a noise halfway between a hiccup and a moan.
"What?"
"Me and Eiri..." Tohma slid his arms around Yuki's waist, "Were busy."
"Na...ni? Yuki? is he telling the truth?" Shuichi's face crumpled and his eyes filled with tears.
"My Yuki." Tohma placed his head on Yuki's bare chest.
"Tohma..."
His lips traced Yuki's collar bone and Shuichi made one of those funny noises again
"Tohma, it's not funny anymore."
"It wasn't funny last night, either."
Yuki gripped Tohma's upper arms - hard - and the offending hands fell from his hips.
"Look, Tohma. What do you think you're - "
"It's okay, I guess."
Shuichi sniffed and wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
"It's not like I made your life better, anyways."
Yuki sighed and let go of Tohma.
"You shouldn't say stuff like that, Shu."
"Why not! It's true."
Yuki didn't say anything and Shuichi interpreted his silence as agreement.
"That's why you'd want to be with Tohma..."
"No, Shuichi. I don't want - "
"Yes you do. I know you do. You say I'm stupid, lazy... I can't write worth shit... Of course you'd want him; After he brought you to New York and after what happened -you can still love him unconditionally... I delete your story and you beat me up and kick me out!"
"Shuichi? About that...It was sort of a misunderstanding. You see - "
"Door, Yuki."
"What?"
Four sound knocks came again at the door. Yuki sighed and once again returning to his disgruntled author mode left his room and went to answer the door.
Tohma picked the blue shirt up off of the floor and followed, Shuichi trailing behind him.
"Eiri!"
He tuned around and a wrinkled blue polo hit him in the face.
"Thanks, I guess."
He put it on before opening the door.
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"Konichiwa, Yuki-san. Have you got the manuscript?"
Kanna Mizuki smiled and waved from the doorway, completely countering Yuki's disdainful look.
Damn cheery editors.
"I haven't printed it out yet. Can I get it for you on a disk instead?"
"Hai! Dajibou, Yuki-san. Ikuzo!"
"Kami! It's morning! Can you not be so happy?"
"I'm sorry. But it's not morning and it's in the contract."
Somehow, I seriously doubt that.
He walked briskly back to his study, grumbling about stupid job descriptions.
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He had it?
His story - How could he --!
What about last night?
Why would Yuki have done something like that if his story hadn't been deleted?
Maybe...
"I don't get it..."
"You wouldn't want to." Tohma's lips twitched into a grim smirk.
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"Here, Mizuki. It's the one called 'Heartstorm'. When's the next one due?"
"Oh, maybe in a couple of months? I'll have to get back to you on that one. Until then, you've got a few days off."
"Hurry up, okay? I need to sort out my busy schedule."
"As if. you never do anything anyways."
Yuki rolled his eyes in mock irritation.
"Get out of here. You're wasting precious loitering time."
"Arigatou, Yuki! See you later!"
"Sayonara."
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"So it wasn't gone?"
"Huh? oh, no, it wasn't."
"Then why'd you get so mad?"
"I...Uh..." Here, Yuki's face grew slightly redder.
"I... accidentally opened a new document."
"Then why'd you get so mad!"
"Shuichi - listen -"
"I'm not stupid you know!"
"What? I never said -"
"You probably were fucking him. You kicked me out for no reason except to get Tohma to come over and-"
"You know that's not true."
"Do I?"
"I've changed Shuichi."
"You used to be straight and unfaithful and now you've just switched gender preferences!"
"Shuichi..."
"I'm going to Hiro's to... and..."
The air was thick with tension, and Yuki's anger flared.
"You - what? Get over here!"
"Don't order me around! I don't belong to you!"
"What -"
Shuichi turned to leave - Yuki grabbed his arm and roughly slammed him against the wall, wrists pinned. Something in the house shattered and something in his wrist popped.
"Owww...Yuki..."
"Listen, Shu. I am not in love nor will ever be in love with Seguchi."
"You're not in love with m- Yuki, My arm..."
"Quiet! I have never felt anything more than friendship - probably less than friendship now that he's -"
"Yuki - You're hurting me!"
"I don't care! Will you let me finish before you interrupt me with your stupid - "
Somehow he had gotten his hand loose. Blood rushed to Yuki's battered face where Shuichi had slapped him; He touched his bruised cheek and studied the blood on his fingers from where the boy's nails had bit into his skin.
"You don't care. that's exactly why I'm leaving."
"I didn't mean it like that..."
"Too bad."
"Shuichi?"
"No."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm leaving."
"Shuichi?"
"No! I said no! what part of NO don't you understand?"
Shuichi stepped backwards towards the door.
"I'm sorry. I need time to think, Yuki. Don't call me."
He stepped out of the apartment and closed the door roughly behind him.
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"He's gone."
"You've still got me."
Yuki gave Tohma an incredulous look.
"It was a joke!"
"You do realize it's your fault."
Tohma said nothing.
"Half my life just walked out that door because of your stupid -"
Half my life?
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"Hey, Shu. You seem different."
He took the motorcycle helmet from Hiro's outstretched hand.
"Take me somewhere, Hiro."
He pulled the helmet firmly over his head.
"Wh - Where?"
"Anywhere. Anywhere but here."
Hiro started the bike's engine.
"Are you okay?"
It's all over...
Shuichi sobbed into his best friend's jacket.