Yes, this took a very, very long time to write. No, I don't know why… I've just having this terrible writing block lately. I'll write a sentence, stop, and fix it 20 times, and write another sentence, stop, and do the same thing. There's just nothing around to inspire me; the place I live in is so cold and lifeless. I've grown to be that way too, I suppose.

Thank you for all the lovely reviews, I wasn't expecting to get that much. Reviews are what keep me going. And if you have anything to suggest of me, I don't mind, or if you want to critique me, not flame, I don't mind that either.

Enough of my silly rants though. Onto the story!

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Chapter 2

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Eiri had made sure that Tohma was asleep for at least an hour before he slipped up from out of his grasp. He sighed, holding himself and rubbing his hands slowly up and down each pale, exposed arm, hanging his head and closing his eyes as sleepiness over took his emotions. The scent of sex was still strong in the air, his intestines feeling as if they were tingling and jumping with nervousness from it. One side of him wanted to slide back next to Tohma, the man he had known, and who had saved, and had been with him, for as long as he remembered. The other half wanted to get away, stay away, and be alone.

In the end, he told himself to stay away. Eiri just didn't see why he deserved Tohma. Sometimes he was an annoyance, yes, but he knew Tohma cared about him much more then he should have. He wondered why as he leaned down, looking into Tohma's sleepy face, and murmured tiredly,

"Tohma? Are you asleep?"

No reply. Yup, he was out. Smirking a little, Eiri nuzzled his nose against Tohma's cheek, and then kissed it, pulling away and standing up. He would have never been able to do that, had the other blonde been awake… He'd never hear the end of it.

So, tiredly, and in the dark, Eiri felt around for his scattered clothes—picking them up and putting them in a pile at the end of the bed. He then went into the bathroom to clean up some of the mess they had made, because they'd both simply passed out after they were through. Cleaned up, Eiri went back into the room, dug for some fresh clothes, and slipped them on some thing casual. Much more casual then he'd usually dress, anyway. Some black jeans and a white-button up shirt, with his usual black leather trench coat.

He did his best to stay quiet as his socked feet padded across the floor and into the hallway, then into the dining room—making a small, pat, pat, pat sound. It took him a moment to find his shoes by the door, but he eventually found them. He put them on, snuggling his feet into them, and opening the door to the other side world—leaving without a second thought.

It didn't take him very long to walk from the house, down the lit streets, to the city. He'd followed the path many times. Of course, none of which Tohma knew about. Breathing the fresh air, he was thankful for the night. The wind whipped his hair around back and forth, letting the breeze full him with a new sort of energy. He could smell smoke, and the dirt on peoples clothes, and alcohol, and the fresh wind, perfume—a scent of life, he noted to himself, that came with living in a city.

Passing the stores, restaurants, and bars, Eiri's golden eyes glanced at them all. He wanted a place that wasn't so full of noise, where he could sit there and drink himself sick—Tohma didn't like it when he was drunk, and Eiri could barely stand it when Tohma's face held a smile, but his eyes were full of concern—so, he drank in the dead of night, when Tohma could never see him.

He needed alcohol to stabilize his mind, even though Tohma could and would probably never understand it. Not wanted, needed.

Finally, he found a bit of a dark looking place, at the corner of the street. Slicking his hair back a bit, he pushed the door open and let himself in, looking around. They were playing jazz music softly, some round chairs were set up all over the room, and there was a stage, but it was empty. In the corner of the room was the bar, which looked as if it just served alcohol and other drinks. Shrugging, Eiri walked towards it, and took the seat furthest away from the only people at the bar as possible. A few girls stared at him and whispered. He propped his elbows up on the table, and ran both his hands through his hair, looking down, just as the bartender came around and asked,

"May I get you anything sir?"

The bartender bowed after the order was given, and walked down the aisle to retrieve the drink. Eiri sighed again, staring at his reflection in the marble of the bar table. God, how he had changed. He knew it, too. Shaking his head, he looked up, his eyes sort of clouded and glazed as he thought—as he pretended to watch the people who had begun to set up their equipment on stage. He thought about an old, demolished house in America, and of the things that had occurred their, and how his life had built on living in gruesome environments that became steadily became worse and worse until it fell completely apart. Eiri felt himself shake, but nothing more—sighing, he looking up—there was his drink. Lifting it up with ease, he chugged the whole thing down with in seconds, his pain fading away as the alcohol played with his mental state. One after another, he emptied glasses, until his vision made shapes look fuzzy and like blotches of color. He shook his head, pushing the glass back, taking some money out and paying for everything. He stood, stumbling, leaning against the wall to walk out the door. No one looked at him as he passed by. Just another face in the crowd.

Eiri gripped the sides of the buildings as he walked, doing his best not to trip over each foot as he moved in the direction he knew his house was by instinct. Blurs and shapes faded in and out of his vision. People brushed past him, but to him, it felt like they were completely pushing him over. He slipped into an ally, where the people could be avoided, gripping each worn brick. He heard a voice, but couldn't tell whose it was. He spun around, looking down the alleyway, and seeing nothing but blurs and smudges.

Eiri's heart raced. Some one was watching him. Even so, he continued down the cold, rock-hard path, tripping over some thing, and falling, his body giving out. He passed out.

Eiri woke up to see some one with dull red hair and warm violet eyes staring at him inquisitively. He groaned, shook his head, and tried to recollect what had happened.

"You're finally awake," The boy mumbled.

Now he had to get up. Leaning up, he moaned, a head rush coming and fading. He shook his head, cupping his forehead with one hand and his stomach with the other… nausea coming…

"W-where am I?"

"My home…" The boy mumbled, looking around the small alleyway. Ripped and worn curtains hung from two buildings, creating a wall, and three other walls surrounding helped to make a small square. Eiri noticed a box full of some rotting apples, newspapers, ripped clothing, and what looked like a small pile of worn pillows in the corner that could pass for some thing of a bed.

"Mmmph…" Eiri closed his eyes again, tilting his head up and rubbing his temple. Tohma would be furious… he didn't give a shit. If he could pay a taxi a little extra money to speed, he'd be home before Tohma even knew he was out. The boy peered closer to Eiri's face as he thought, and Eiri opened his eyes again, frowning.

"I found you passed out in the alleyway… you smell like you've been drinking. So, I brought you here."

Yuki paused for a moment, rubbing his eyes, his head aching and pounding. He stared at the boy for a moment… why would this little brat help him? He was at that, a complete and total stranger… A second or so later, Eiri's vision focused and cleared, and he recognized the warm violet eyes. He felt himself stiffen at the sight.

"Thanks… I guess." Eiri heard himself saying without even realizing it. Wondering why he was being kind, he snapped a little, adding, "Why would you help me though? I'm a complete stranger. Didn't your parents ever tell you not to talk to stranger's kid?"

The boy before him flinched slightly at the word 'parents'. Eiri put a thought aside not to mention it again. He then spoke up," That's not a very nice thing you say to some one who helped you." He frowned, continuing, "I'm not an idiot… besides, I'm not a complete stranger… I saw you earlier, didn't I?"

"What?"

"Remember…" He said, swaying from side to side. "I met you in the alleyway…. We didn't say anything, but…. Still….. I saw you and, and you… saw me… and," Yuki frowned to himself; what an idiot this kid was. Yeah, sure, they saw each other—but you see a lot of people walking down the street—and it didn't mean anything. They were just another face in the crowd.

"My name's Shuichi."

"Did I ask what your name was?" Eiri muttered, shrugging against the wall, moving his hand back to his forehead and rubbing it gently. Urg… migraine… He shrugged his shoulders a little more to ease himself. He was tense... tired… sick… And he knew he'd go home to Tohma being pissed as hell.

"Are you alright? You look sick…. Can you tell me what your name is?" The boy—Shuichi, peered closer. Eiri grunted his response almost,

"My name is…"

He paused, wondering if he should tell him.

"Eiri… Uesugi."

Sure, his old name. Why not? No one knew him by it anymore.

"Eiri…" Shuichi repeated, smiling. He tucked some of his dull red hair behind his ears and pulled back. "Well, Mr. Eiri Uesugi, I don't have a phone, but there's a pay phone down the street from here. You could call your family and tell them where you are and that you're alright." He smiled again.

Eiri didn't show his surprise for at the boy's obvious over-concern for him. "I don't have a family." He said simply.

"O-Oh… well… um… me neither… small world." The brat blushed, his dirty cheeks becoming a flashy red. Confused a little, Eiri looked away, wondering one—why he was blushing, and two—if he should bring the boy back home with him to clean up. He shut the thought out with remembering what Tohma had said earlier about this 'Shuichi'.

"I had better get going…" Eiri stood, balancing himself on the wall, almost falling over with just that movement. He held his head, suppressing a moan.

"Are you sure? You look really, really sick. I wouldn't mind if you stayed here."

"No, I need to get back." The violinist sighed, looking dully over at the kid. "Make sure that you don't help people again kid, other people might take advantage of your kindness." Sure, the brat helped him. Give him some advice on life as a thanks. Why not?

"But… I like being nice…" Shuichi looked down. Eiri grunted; pathetic, weak kid.

"See ya."

"Wait!" Shuichi called just as Eiri had turned around to leave. The man turned back around, eye's narrowed, sharp as nails piercing through his skin. "U-um…" Shuichi, not sure as to why he called for him to stop, paused, doing his best to hide his nervousness. He looked up—freezing up—why am I so nervous around him, he wondered.

"Yes?" Eiri asked irritably.

"Y-You can stop by here anytime you like…" Shuichi finally decided on saying, smiling his best, taking the violinist aback once more. The blond considered it, answering,

"Will do."

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"WHAT were you thinking! When I saw you weren't here, I was scared half to death! Could you AT LEAST leave a note?" Tohma yelled, glaring at his companion who sat on a kitchen stool, one elbow propped on the small bar they had, other hand helping him to nurse a cigarette.

"I'm hungry."

"Don't change the damn subject!"

Eiri shifted in his seat; it really annoyed him when Tohma yelled; Especially when Tohma yelled while he was in the middle of a hangover, which increased his sickness growth to a dramatic pace.

"You have a performance tomorrow! How are you suppose to practice if you're sick? That piece is difficult!"

"Shut up, I'll find a way around it, stop babying me. I have a headache and you're making it worse." Tohma quieted at that, asking,

"You're sick?"

"Uh-huh."

"Let me get you some pain killers." Tohma smiled at his 'friend' and turned to the cabinets, digging around for some medication, which was scattered all over the house. Living with Tohma made Eiri need –a lot- of medication. "Here," Tohma pushed a bottle of pills towards him, then went to fetch him a glass of water to go with it.

Eiri took the glass, sipping water, and then swallowing the pills with ease. He sighed sleepily, and the other blond watched in concern. "Why don't you go rest a little bit?" Eiri smirked at that—it was funny how Tohma lost his anger the second he heard his friend was sick--it never failed once.

"Sounds good."

"I'll cook something as you rest."

"That too." Eiri shifted off his seat and lazily moved into the hallway, finding his; no, their bedroom, his and Tohma's, clean as a whistle. He normally slept in his own bedroom, but the bed in the room that they some times was bigger, softer, and just had nicer pillows to lay on. Eiri collapsed onto it, sinking into his comfort. Strangely, before he dipped off into his sleep, he found himself thinking of the red-haired idiot back in the alleyway.

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chapter 2 end.

Hope you enjoyed! Now press the review button. You know you want to. Yes, you do. Do iiiit. :3