DISCLAIM: even though I wish I did, I DO NOT own Gravitation or any of the characters mentioned in this chapter.

WARNING! OVA and episode 7 spoilers in this chapter.

A/N: I couldn't get Blackie to BETA this for me before I became impatient...so this is the original, plus a few edits I made. Please enjoy!

CHAPTER 2

Yuki stopped at the entryway to the kitchen and watched as Shuichi fanned out the tray of cookies. Most of the smoke had cleared up and the oven still looked the same. Satisfied that he'd still have a home if he were to lock himself away for a few hours to work, Yuki turned around. But it wasn't quick enough to keep from being seen by Shuichi.

"Yuki!" Shuichi called for him, making Yuki stop in his tracks and lean backwards to gaze back into the kitchen. Shuichi stood right in front of him holding out a half burnt, chocolate chip cookie. "Want one?" He asked pleadingly to Yuki.

"I…uh…" Yuki looked at the cookie and wrinkled his nose slightly. That's when he remembered the bet he and Tatsuha had just made. The thought of Tatsuha winning, because of a batch of burnt cookies, made his stomach turn. He quickly grabbed the cookie and shoved it in his mouth. He closed his eyes and swallowed the cookie, almost whole, to avoid it being in his mouth for too long. "That was very good, Shu." He'd managed to say through a forced smile.

"Good?" Someone exclaimed from behind them

Both Yuki and Shuichi turned around to face Tatsuha who stood at the counter shoving the cookies one by one in his mouth. "These are great!" He exclaimed.

Shuichi's eyes lit up as he ran over to Tatsuha eagerly, "You really think so? I made them from scratch! I thought I ruined them when I burnt them!"

"No!" Tatsuha swallowed another cookie, "They're fantastic! I don't think Ryuichi can even make cookies this good!" He glanced up at Yuki who stood at the doorway glowering at them both and stuck his tongue out as far as he could. Yuki's eye twitched in anger and he made his way over to Shuichi.

"I did forget a few things though." Shuichi added, completely oblivious to what was going on. "Like, I forgot a cup of flour, and I accidentally put in baking soda…instead of powder…" He gave a big grin and tossed the recipe off to the side, "As long as you guys like them, that's good then!"

"We do like them." Yuki said grabbing the last cookie from his brother's grasp and shoving it in his mouth. The taste was just as horrible as before, but he made himself swallow it and put ona look of pure joy.

"Are you okay?" Shuichi looked at him questioningly. "That's the second time you smiled today."

Yuki forced the remains of the cookie down his throat, "Your cookies are just that good." He said sweetly. Tatsuha stood behind him with his arms folded, feeling completely ignored. He glared at the back of Yuki's head and looked around trying to find something else to get Shuichis's attention back.

Shuichi squealed with happiness and jumped up into Yuki's arms, wrapping his legs around his waist, "Really! Then I'll make more tomorrow!" He had a huge smile on his face. "The same way too!"

Yuki's stomach began to turn at the thought of more of the disgusting cookies. He tried to think of something quick to say to try and talk Shuichi out of it, but Tatsuha beat him to it.

"We should go finish watching that Nittle Grasper concert video." Tatsuha suggested and grabbed Shuichi's arm, prying him off of Yuki, causing Yuki to fall forward in the process of being pulled along. He waited until they were back in the living room before getting up and dusting himself off.

"Damn brats." He muttered and left to go to his study.

-----------In the living room--------

Shuichi and Tatsuha sat mesmerized by the video concert .Well, Tatsuha was anyway. Shuichi was too busy dwelling on other thoughts. Something wasn't right, and he knew it. "Hey, Tatsuha?" He finally decided he'd ask him if he knew anything.

"Yes?"Tatsuha answered back, not taking his eyes off the TV.

"I was wondering…Is Yuki feeling OK?" Shuichi asked, watching Tatsuha closely for any signs that he might be hiding something.

"Yeah." Tatsuha glanced at Shuichi and gave him a big, reassuring smile, "I'm sure he's fine.You shouldn't worry about him. I bet he just has a stomach ache or something. Why were you asking?"

"Because…" Shuichi began to blush a little at the what he was about to say. Now that he thought it over, it seemed pretty childish.

"Because…why?" Tatsuha urged him.

"Because he smiled!" Shuichi blurted out, "Twice!"

"Well you're cookies were good.He even said so!" Tatsuha said wrapping his arms around Shuichi.

"I know…But they were just cookies…I mean, the last time he smiled was when I was tied butt naked to a rolled up mattress while he had the pleasure of teasing me with a whip.He didn't even smile that time I dressed up in the girl's sailor outfit and I even shaved my legs!Or the day after that, when I was in the flower dress and you helped me get to the temple before he could marry his fiancé!HE PUSHED ME IN THE RIVER!" He blurted this all out in just one breath and began to pant after he finished. He looked up at Tatsuha, who had the biggest look of shock on his face that he'd ever seen. Shuichi's face immediately turned bright red and he clasped his hands over his mouth, realized he'd blurted out a bit too much.

"Y-you….M-mattress…W-WHIP?" Tatsuha stammered out, almost in tears. Shuichi, with his hands still over his mouth, slowly nodded. "Oh! My poor, poor Shu-Chan!" Tatsuha gave Shuichi the biggest hug ever, that almost strangled our poor, pink haired friend. "I would've used two! What a cheapskate!"