My exams are finally over! I'm really sorry for taking sooo long. But I've got no choice but to first concentrate on my exams. Sigh. But I still think I'm going to do badly for 2 of my papers. Anyway, sorry to keep everyone waiting. Here's the latest chapter of Mou Ichi Do…

WARNING: This chapter contains some sort of a lemon. If you're uncomfortable with it, please skip the ending.

I know the warning doesn't really make any sense because I've already rated this fic M. Haha… Honestly speaking, I never planned on writing another lemony part. I just felt that a lemon would fit well there, and so I wrote it.

DISCLAIMER: Gravitation does not belong to me.

MOU ICHI DO
Chapter 24 – Say It Again

It had been two days since Shuichi collapsed due to a high fever.

"I wonder how Shindou-kun is doing…" Sakano muttered worriedly.

"Shuichi will be fine na no da!"

"But, what is Shindou-san planning to do about Eiri-san?" Suguru frowned.

Hiro sighed as the elevator doors opened. "Shuichi… you idiot. After all this while, it comes back down to Yuki-san. But it's expected, isn't it? What Sakurai-san said last night is so true…"

Flashback

"I can't believe this! I won't consent to it!" Jun hissed furiously, still in shock.

"Jun…"

"Weren't all those reports about them being together just a fluke? Shuichi has Haruko!" She whipped around to face Tsuyoshi. "Aren't you going to say anything? Haruko is your sister!"

Tsuyoshi met her gaze, unwavering.

"Don't tell me…" Jun's eyes widened in shock. "Don't tell me you knew about it! And you didn't say or do anything… How could you? Aren't you worried for your sister?"

"It's ok, Jun."

Jun turned to Haruko, her expression softening. "Haruko…"

"I knew about it too."

"Huh?"

"From the time that Yuki-san saved Shu-chan, I had already suspected something. And when he came back from visiting Yuki-san, it became all clear to me… that… Yuki-san is someone very special to him. Besides, I've broken up with Shuichi."

"But aren't the both of you planning to get engaged soon? How can this be?" Jun forced herself to smile. "Don't worry, it's impossible for them to be together. I mean, they're both guys…"

"You might want to take that back," K smirked. "Shuichi's world revolves around Yuki Eiri, like it or not. And, apparently, that's never going to change."

"In other words, no matter what I do, Shuichi will never be mine, right?" Akiha muttered softly and smiled.

"Akiha! Don't tell me that you're giving up as well? But what about Haruko?"

"Shuichi… He is someone who needs to be taken care of, not someone who takes care of others. He belongs in someone's arms, not with someone in his arms. And the person he decided on is Yuki Eiri. Not me, not Haruko, not anybody else. There's nothing that can be done about this."

End of flashback

"Sakurai-san was right about Shuichi being someone who needs to be taken care of. It's just too bad that he chose a bastard like Yuki Eiri." Hiro shrugged.

"Nn, I agree." Suguru stepped up behind Hiro as the latter opened the door to Shuichi's ward.

"Shu- Huh?" Hiro frowned in confusion as he spotted the figure on the bed. "Sakurai-san?"

Akiha cracked one eye open as he shifted on the bed. "Oh, hi!"

"Uh… where's Shuichi?"

"He's not in."

Hiro cleared his throat carefully. "We can see that. Do you have any idea where is he?"

"Mmm… the sheets smell of Shuichi…" Akiha buried his face against the pillow. "My honey…"

Everyone sweatdropped, all except for Ryuichi.

"I don't think we're going to get an answer out of him." Noriko muttered in exasperation. "Ryuichi! Don't!" She snapped and caught hold of the back Ryuichi's collar as he struggled, wanting to jump onto the bed.

"But Ryuichi loves Shuichi's smell too! He smells of strawberries!"

"No!"

"Wahhh!"

"Hey!"

"Ouch!"

xXx xXx xXx xXx xXx

Shuichi jumped as he heard 3 successive distant crashes coming from the direction of his room. However, he was too preoccupied at the moment to take further notice of it. He raised his hand, pausing inches away from the door.

In the end, I don't think I can do this! I'm not ready for this… I… I…

"Damn." He cursed at himself and unconsciously started to bang his head against the door.

Before he knew it, he had fallen face flat onto the floor.

"Ouch!" He sat up, rubbing his nose. "What…"

He trailed off as he found himself staring up at the last person he wanted to see.

"Shindou-san, are you okay?" Atsushi smiled, somewhat sarcastically.

"Suzuki-san… Why… What…?"

"I'm here to visit Eiri-san."

Shuichi watched as Atsushi sauntered back to Yuki's bedside, and continued peeling an apple for the injured author. A bitter and sour taste crept up the back of his throat. At the same time, he felt as if a black, empty hole was trying to engulf his heart from the inside of him.

"I told you to leave."

"I know." Atsushi murmured and placed the peeled apple on the table. "Take care of yourself, Eiri-san. Goodbye."

Casting one last glance at Shuichi, he left the room without another word.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you guys. I'll go and get him back." Shuichi stammered and turned towards the door.

"What for?"

Shuichi turned back and stared at Yuki, confused and hurt.

"Come here."

"But he… You…"

"I told you to come here."

At this, Shuichi felt his anger rose. "Don't you order me around! I'm not your pet or your servant! And the last time I checked, I'm definitely not one of your stupid lovers!"

Yuki raised an eyebrow. "The last time I checked, you were going on and on about how still love me."

Shuichi stiffened and grew red in the face. "I- I- I was just blabbering nonsense! Who wants to be your lover? You've got enough lovers! All those flowers and presents are from them, aren't they?"

"Shuichi."

"Stupid! This is stupid! I'm not doing this anymore!" Shuichi cried and hurried towards the door.

"Idiot, wait- Ouch…" Yuki groaned and pressed his hand against his wound.

"Yuki!" Shuichi dashed to Yuki's side, his heart bursting with anxiety. "Yuki, are you all right? I'm going to get the doctor now. Hold on!"

He turned and headed for the door once again, but stopped when he felt Yuki's hand clamped over his.

"Yuki?"

"Don't go."

"Huh?"

"Stay here with me."

"What?"

Yuki tightened his grasp on Shuichi's arm. "What you said that night… Did you really mean it?"

They were silent for a few moments before Shuichi replied: "Does it matter? Even if I said yes, it wouldn't change anything."

"How can you be so sure?"

Shuichi smiled wryly. "Well if you had to ask me if I meant what I said, it proves that you still don't understand anything. Anyway, you've already got a perfect lover. He's nice, caring, and doesn't bug you so much. And there are also countless women who would die to be with you."

"They don't mean anything to me."

"That's the point, Yuki. Nobody ever meant anything to you."

Yuki released Shuichi's arm slowly, and the latter smiled sadly.

"I'll go get the doctor."

"But, you do."

Shuichi looked up in surprise. "Huh? What did you say?"

"If you happen to be in my mind most of the time, you must mean something, right?"

Shuichi stared at Yuki, dumbfounded.

"You said that you would do anything if I woke up. That's why I'm telling you to stay with me. Don't go…" Yuki turned and met Shuichi's gaze. "Don't go back to America."

"Wha-what are you saying so suddenly…" Shuichi struggled to rein in his racing heartbeat. "You don't really mean it, right?"

"I mean it." Yuki reached out for Shuichi and pulled him close.

"You… You're doing it again…" Shuichi gritted his teeth as he blinked back tears. "You're lying to me. You're doing this just to make me stay. And once you get tired of me, you'll throw me out again!"

"I won't." He pulled Shuichi even closer and frowned up at that tear-streaked face.

Shuichi trembled as he slowly wrapped his arms around Yuki's neck. "I'm scared… I feel so stupid. Even though I know that it's possible that you're lying to me again, I still can't help but believe you…"

"I'm not lying." Yuki brushed his lips against Shuichi's. "And besides, it's your fault that this is happening."

"Huh?"

"You came back with your lovers, and started messing with my head."

"Lovers? Akiha's not my lover! How many times do I have to repeat that? And I've broken up with Haruko…"

"Hn. Whatever. I don't give a damn about them." Yuki scratched his hair lazily. "So you promise to stay?"

"I…"

"You don't want to?"

"It's not that… You know that it's not that."

"Shuichi."

Shuichi gazed back at those beautiful golden orbs staring at him, waiting. He bit his lip hesitantly. "Well, if you're lying to me, could you please lie to me forever this time round?"

"I said that I'm not lying, stupid brat."

"I- Nn… Nnn…"

Deciding that he had heard enough, Yuki sealed Shuichi's lips with a hungry kiss.

They broke apart startled when they heard someone clapping from the doorway.

"Seguchi." Yuki narrowed his eyes, pissed off at the intrusion. "We're not finished here."

"I'm glad that you made up with Shindou-san, but Eiri-san, you're still injured. Whatever unfinished business you have, please leave it till you've recovered fully." Tohma proceeded on to sit down on the couch near the door. "So I take it that Shindou-san is staying in Japan then?"

"Uhm… I…" Shuichi stole a quick glance at Yuki and cringed when he saw Yuki glaring at him, as if daring him to say otherwise. "Yes! Yes! Of course I'm saying in Japan!"

I can't believe he's threatening me with that look… He sighed, feeling helpless. As always, nobody can resist Yuki. Damn. I'm a fool.

Tohma beamed. "Does that mean that you're coming back to work for me, Shindou-san?"

"Eh? What?" Shuichi jumped. He was stunned as he had never thought of this before. "You mean that you want me to… sing again? But I can't!"

"Why not?"

"I- I just can't! I haven't been singing for so long, and I've been smoking and drinking and, and, and… I'm a model now!"

"You sang very well on TV. And about your modeling contract with Sakurai-san, I can talk to him about it."

"But about my singing on TV, it was only because I was singing for… for Yuki…"

Yuki leaned back down onto his bed. "Then you have just got to continue singing for me."

Shuichi gaped at Yuki in disbelief. This arrogant bastard!

Yuki continued, yawning. "But don't you go around writing lyrics. You have absolutely zero talent for songwriting."

Shuichi felt his eyebrow twitched. "Don't say that, you egoist bastard!"

"What? Am I wrong to say that?"

As Shuichi opened his mouth to say something back in reply, a loud crash interrupted them. Puzzled, he asked: "What was that?"

"Oh, I forgot to mention it earlier." Tohma smiled at Shuichi. "I passed by your ward and found Sakurai-san fighting with Ryuichi-san over your pillow."

"WHAT?" Shuichi cried out in disbelief. "Akiha must have done something strange. I've got to stop him! I'll come back to visit you later, Yukiiii!"

Tohma watched as Shuichi raced out without closing the door behind him. After a few moments, he asked softly: "Is everything going to be fine now, Eiri-san?"

"…Yeah, I think so…" Yuki stared in silence after Shuichi, watching him disappear around the corner.

xXx xXx xXx xXx xXx

"Where's Shindou-san? I heard Mika mentioning that he refused to leave your side since yesterday afternoon…" Tohma asked as he stepped into Yuki's ward the next morning. "He was discharged from the hospital yesterday, right?"

"I made him go back to the hotel to change and to take a rest." Yuki answered without looking up from his laptop. "He was getting annoying."

"You say that but you don't mean it."

"Shut up."

Both heads turned when the door of the ward swung open and revealed a disheveled brown-haired boy.

"Shindou-san?" Tohma asked, startled and amused by Shuichi's strange behavior.

Shuichi ignored him. In fact, it seemed as though he did not see any of them there. His eyes darted around the ward frantically. Suddenly, he dove under Yuki's bed.

"Shuichi… what the hell are you doing?" Yuki asked coolly, as if this was what Shindou Shuichi does everyday – diving under beds for no apparent reason.

"Quiet! Can't you see that I'm trying to hide myself?"

Tohma's smile widened. "Shindou-san, I don't think that that's a good place to hide yourself because I can see you very clearly."

"What? Really? Oh shit! What should I do?" His voice rose to a hysterical pitch. "Yukiiii! Can I borrow your bed and your blanket? I really, really, really need a good hiding place. Ouch!" In his struggle to get up, he knocked his head accidentally.

Yuki's eyebrow twitched menacingly. "What the hell are you talking about? Get out from under there now!"

"But, Yuki…!"

Crash!

The door swung open once again, revealing a handsome man dressed in a slick white suit.

"Shuichi, my darling. Haven't you learned by now that you can never hide from me?"

Shuichi froze under the bed.

"Come on out, you naughty kitty…" Akiha grinned while grabbing Shuichi's legs, dragging him out.

"Nooo! Let me go, you pervert!" Shuichi screamed and clawed at the floor, trying to crawl back in under the bed. "Don't touch me!"

However, Akiha was much stronger and he scooped the flailing and kicking Shuichi into his arms. "Let's go, princess. You promised."

"But-"

"I'll let you go after that."

"But… I still can't do it! I just can't! Let me go! Let me go!" Shuichi was close to tears now. "Yukiiiiiiii!"

"What in the world is going on?" Yuki drawled in a murderous tone, setting his laptop aside.

"Yuki!" Shuichi managed to break free, throwing his arms around Yuki, burying his face against the crook of Yuki's neck. "I don't want to do it if it's not Yuki."

Yuki narrowed his eyes at Akiha as he interpreted that particular statement. "Would you mind explaining this?"

"Well, excuse me, Yuki-san. This is between Shuichi and me. I'm just trying to enforce my end of the deal. Earlier, he had promised me some NUDE photos in exchange for my help."

Silence filled the ward.

Shuichi tightened his arms around Yuki. "It's not what you're thinking! I was desperate for help and had no choice but to agree." He swiveled around and glared at Akiha. "You tricked me into it!"

"I did not. Anyway, the legal contract between us is still valid. Therefore, I'm your boss and you have to do what I say. Come with me…"

Yuki frowned. "You-"

"Sakurai-san, I think we need to talk. About Shindou-san's contract, NG Productions is most willing to pay any amount if you would agree to release him. Of course, this means that Shindou-san will have to work for NG Productions then." Tohma eyed Shuichi carefully. "He'll have to work really hard to make up for the amount that the company spent in order to get him back. Don't you agree, Shindou-san?"

Shuichi trembled slightly under Tohma's creepy gaze. "Uh… ye-yeah…"

"Please remember that you have to come up with the lyrics for the new song." Tohma then turned to Akiha. "Sakurai-san, would you mind joining me for lunch?"

Akiha hesitated for a moment, before sighing in disappointment. "Fine, I'll let you off this time. Since you look as if you're going to cry any second now… and that's so cute."

"What?" Shuichi sputtered indignantly. But before he could yell back, Tohma and Akiha were already out the door. There was nothing much he could do but curse. "Stupid Akiha! He's such a big idiot. And Seguchi-san is so scary! I've got to work on my lyrics soon, or he'll kill me... Waahhhh!"

Shuichi yelped as Yuki yanked his arm, causing him to fall onto the bed. The not-so-pleased author then flipped their positions around skillfully, and started licking Shuichi's neck.

"That boyfriend of yours is irritating."

"He's not my boyfriend! You… You are… right?"

"Hn."

(NC-17)

"Yu-Yuki? What are you- Ahh!" Shuichi jumped as he felt Yuki's hand pressed against an extremely familiar place. He struggled uncomfortably, gently pushing against Yuki away.

"Haven't I told you that you have absolutely zero talent for songwriting?"

"Stop saying that! Wait, Yuki…"

"Shut up." Yuki whispered and increased the intensity of his attacks. He slipped his hand into Shuichi's shirt, brushing against Shuichi's nipple, causing the boy to arch his back longingly. "Don't you want to celebrate the hundred-and-fiftieth anniversary of me reminding you that you have zero talent for songwriting?"

Shuichi's eyes widened in surprise. "You still remember that?"

"Of course I do. Because it's a well-known fact that your lyrics sucks."

"Shut-" Shuichi gasped. "Yuki, stop it… Ah… We're still… still in the hospital…"

"Nobody's going to come in at this time of the day…"

"How can you… be so sure? And besides, your wounds… Stop…"

"I don't think you really want me to stop." Yuki smirked slightly as he tugged Shuichi's pants down, and then ran his tongue over the exposed tip, earning himself an alluring moan. After some teasing and sucking, Shuichi came once, and Yuki decided that he liked the taste of Shuichi best. This urged him on, and as a result, Shuichi was not given much time to recover.

Within seconds, Yuki's finger, which was slightly lubricated with cum, was already stretching and preparing Shuichi for what was to come next.

"Yu-ki… No more… Now… Want you now…"

Yuki used his free hand to brush Shuichi's hair aside. "Say it and I'll give you what you want."

Shuichi whimpered pitifully. His mind raced. Say what? What am I supposed to say?

"I… want you…"

"Not that."

"Need you…"

"Not that."

Shuichi groaned. Tears of agony slipped from his eyes. He couldn't take it any longer. But Yuki had clamped a hand over the tip of his length to stop him from coming.

"Yuki… please… let me come…"

"Not that."

He was sobbing quietly by now. With one last desperate attempt, he cried out: "I love you!"

With that, Yuki slammed into Shuichi and sealed the boy's scream with a searing kiss.

Panting in pleasure after their lips broke apart, Shuichi continued chanting those three enchanted words while still in tears.

"I love you-"

Thrust.

"Ahhhh! I love you, Yuki…"

Thrust.

"Yuki, Yukiiii! I love you, love you, really love you."

With each repetition, Yuki slammed hard into Shuichi. It didn't take long for Shuichi to come hard. However, this signified not just physical release for Shuichi, but a mental release too.

I swore never to say those words again, and I never thought that you would someday want to hear them…

He laid there crying, feeling tired but relieved, as if a heavy burden had just been lifted off him.

"Shuichi?"

"I love you, Yuki. I'll always love you… only you… for all my life." Shuichi mumbled as he wrapped his arms around Yuki tightly, and soon drifted off to sleep.

Yuki continued lying beside Shuichi for a few minutes, before removing himself from Shuichi's arms carefully. After making sure that his clothes were in order, he helped the slumbering boy get dressed (at least to a fairly decent state), staring at Shuichi for a long, long time.

"…I think I feel the same way too."

xXx xXx To be continued xXx xXx

Done! I hope that it was ok… Actually, I had some trouble with the middle part. It's hard trying to bring them back together again naturally, and at the same time making sure that Yuki doesn't get too OOC. Looking back on what I've written, I've got to say… Shuichi seems to be too easily pleased. Hmm

Thank you so much for reading!