"Absolutely not."
"Shuichi I'm coming with you."
After a tearful goodbye to Hiro, Hiro's mom, and Suguru, Shuichi is packed and walks out the door to meet Kayan at the airport only to be faced with a no nonsense Eiri Uesugi who is hell bend on coming with him.
Shu's jaw clenches.
"Eiri, I thought I explained it clearly. This could be dangerous. Kayan's dad was most likely in deep where he shouldn't have been."
"I understand that. You explained everything clearly and I'm still going with you."
"Eiri, I told you the gist of the situation, but not everything. Even Hiro doesn't know everything that happened. It's dangerous."
Eiri steps closer to Shu and they both stare each other in the eyes. Stubborn.
"Shuichi, I will go anyway. I want to help you. I can take care of myself. You may not need me to protect you, but I want to be there for you."
Shuichi sighs and closes his eyes. "If anything happens to you…"
Eiri touches their foreheads. It makes Shuichi melt inside.
"Let me be there for you."
"Okay."
Eiri smiles content. Kisses Shu on the temple. Can't help himself. He may not quite be ready to confess his feelings but, he can show him. Show him that he can be the one Shu can lean on.
"Alright lets get to the airport then."
Shuichi tried to prepare himself. He's so happy to see Kayan again, but he found out this morning that Taki will be there as well.
Isn't sure if he's ready to face him again.
Eiri is great company and keeps him well distracted from the growing pit in his stomach.
They leave their taxi and walk to the entrance of the airport. The air is clear, and Shuichi takes a deep shaky breath, then he sees them. Kayan and Taki are in a heated conversation. K is behind Kayan, arms secure at his hips offering silent support.
"Is that them, Eiri asks. Shuichi nods and smiles a little fondly.
"Yeah, lets hurry before the make more of a scene."
They quickly walk over to them, and Shuichi interrupts their conversation.
"The years haven't changed much, have they?"
Three sets of eyes turn to him and it's no time at all before he's wrapped in Kayan's arms.
"Oh, I missed you so much. I wished we could have met again under better circumstances."
"I know, whatever happens we'll find out what's going on without getting sucked in to all the misery again."
Kayan nods and they both look at Taki.
He looks tired. "We should talk."
Shuichi nods. "Indeed."
After introductions, the five of them sit in the living room in a nicely decorated apartment. K was able to pull some strings so the can temporarily rent the place.
While most of Shuichi's hometown remains the same, some apartment complexes and houses were renovated.
It was strange walking through town and recognizing so many faces. Some people stopped to greet the others didn't. That's the way it goes in the small town of Lakeside.
He feels much better with Eiri by his side.
" Okay," says Kayan to Taki, explain it again please. What the hell is going on?"
Taki takes a deep breath, "I'm not sure of the details. Your dad and mine got into a huge argument awhile back. It was something about a deal, I think. My dad wasn't to happy with him and from my understanding they stopped working together, even though your dad was still in some pretty significant debt."
Shuichi raises an eyebrow, "well what about recently? What was going on before Mr. Hunter's disappearance?"
Taki swallows and shifts nervously. Umm well I'm not sure I haven't been here for a while."
"Where have you been and how long is a while?"
Taki looks sad, almost mournful.
"I've been in jail for the past year to take the heat off my dad. I was supposed to be there for five, but he kept his end of the deal and got me out in one."
Anger bright and hot rips through Shuichi so fast he feels dizzy.
"What the hell Taki. Why are you still working for your father? After everything…"
Taki stands, and Shuichi does as well. Staring each other down like they did so many times in the past. Arguing, and arguing and arguing some more.
"It's not that simple, you know how my dad is."
"Yeah, I do, you should have gone to stay with your mom. You're not even 18 and he had you in jail for a year!"
"You always make it so simple; I'll never forgive my mom for what she did."
"Oh yeah, forgive her for what? Leaving your abusive scum of a father for a better life."
"She was only thinking about herself she..."
"Taki wake the fuck up; you should have gone with her."
Taki clenches his fists. "It was always so easy for you to judge me, you never listened never..."
"I never listened because you always took your father's side! Always trying to be a good little boy to get his attention."
"Oh, fuck you! I'm putting myself in danger by even trying to help either of you!"
Shuichi takes a deep breath, heart racing he looks deep into Taki's eyes. He used to feel comfort in them. Now he feels contempt.
He smirks in a dark way. "You wanted daddy to see you huh. Wanted to be recognized as more than a fuck up in his eyes. And you know what you tried to do to prove yourself Taki? You tried to make a little money, not knowing what you were really getting into. Got in deep with some loan sharks."
'You couldn't possibly come up with the money on your own, but you wouldn't dare ask daddy for help."
"So, what did they do?" Shuichi voice cracks, but he can't stop.
"They came looking for you, but did they find you? NO! They found me. Caught me off guard. Blindfolded me and took me to some dingy ass basement. Beat me, laughed, and took pictures."
"All to choke the money out of your evil ass dad."
"Do you remember that Taki? I do."
"I remembered it when my dad was yelling at me in the hospital about it, so much so that I wanted to shove my I.V. bag down his throat to get him to shut the hell up."
"I remembered during the court case over my custody."
"I remembered during therapy. I remembered every night that I was questioning if anyone gave a damn."
"I remembered Taki, and I had to learn to live with what happened."
"So that the poison of your stupidly would stop stopped poisoning me."
Shuichi voice is a soft broken whisper now. Tears are freely falling down both their faces at this point.
"So, tell me Taki, why are you still working for him?"
Kayan finally intervenes then. He thought it would be a good idea to let the two break the air between them. He's not so sure now. He's crying to. Hates this.
"Stop, stop. Both of you just."
Shuichi swallows a sob and leaves deeper into the apartment. Eiri stands torn, face stricken.
Taki leaves the apartment completely. "I'll be back tomorrow afternoon."
The door shuts leaving a deafening sound to the now quiet apartment.
Shuichi showers chocking on sobs. Therapy was so good to him. If he hadn't got the help, he needed that would have gone very differently.
He cries, yells. The cries some more.
Goes into the bedroom him and Eiri picked. Wraps himself in blankets. Hoping that with his dreams he can will away the pain.
Hours later it's late evening. Shuichi is awake and Eiri helps him eat some soup.
"I'm sorry you had to see that."
Eiri shakes his head. "How are you feeling?"
Shuichi hums, "I feel a million things and I want to tell you what happened."
Eiri shakes his head again about to speak but Shuichi stops him.
"I trust you, and now that you're here with me I want to tell you everything. It'll make more sense if you know."
Eiri sits back giving Shuichi his full attention.
Shu gives him a small smile and tells him.
Explains that Kayan, Taki and himself all grew up together. That the three of their fathers were good friends, however financial problems soon struck all of Lakeside. Taki's father turned to using his company to push drugs. Shuichi and Kayan's fathers started to take out loans.
Money was scarce and it was making everyone desperate. Taki's father made more and more of money and got into more shady business practices slowly growing a small empire.
"Our dads were dragged in and eventually were taking loans from him."
"Taki trying to please his father at the time try to make some money himself by double crossing a loan shark. That company hired some men to take Taki for ransom, they ended up taking me instead."
"My father going more and more in debt took it out on me and my mom most of the time. Didn't help that I was gay and dating Taki as well."
"After I left the hospital Kayan's uncle fought the court for custody over me because my mental health was declining. Kayan's uncle finally won, and I was able to live with him and Kayan in Europe to finally get the help I needed to heal."
"Therapy worked wonders, and then I met Hiro online. I wanted to finish my senior year in Japan with him and his mom."
"I met you and all our friends, and I finally felt safe and accepted. I got to write music and live freely in a way I never got to before."
"Then you had to come back here." Eiri says quietly.
Shuichi hums. "Then I had to come back here."
They're silent for a while, quietly holding hands. Once he's processed all this new information, he grows courage himself.
Shuichi, "I want to tell you about my past as well."
Large amethyst eyes look worried. "You don't have to for my sake."
Eiri takes a deep breath. "I trust you to and I want to."
Shuichi nods, giving Eiri all his attention as well.
Eiri thought it would be different telling what happened after all this time.
Only his therapist and brother know what really know the whole story.
He watches many emotions cross Shuichi's face as he tells him about his past with Kitazawa. Pain, horror, anger.
A deep understanding of what it's like to go through such trauma at the hands of someone you thought you could trust with all your heart. Being messed up like that. Being sad and angry at the world. Not knowing how to express the pain of the memories. The hurt of your own family not supporting what you truly need to heal. To move on.
They share more tears. Hug fiercely. The warmth in Eiri heart mixes with his vulnerability. He's fallen so hard for Shuichi. Wants to keep him close and protect him form everything. He's scared, so scared to get hurt again. But he's willing to face everything if he can have this beautiful man at his side. Taking on whatever challenge life wants to throw their way.
They fall asleep that night tangled together, holding each other close.
In the early morning Shuichi, Eiri, Kayan and K share a quite breakfast. Kayan and K leave shortly after to get some toiletries and food.
Eiri turns to Shuichi. "What do you want to do?"
"Honestly, I just wanna watch cartoons and cuddle on the couch."
Eiri smiles. "Sounds perfect to me."
They watch cartoons and eat candy, laughing and finally dozing off a little while after.
Shuichi wakes up, head warm and in Eiri's lap. Eiri is awake already his eyes are slightly lidded. He's got a sleepy look blond hair flowing into golden eyes.
Shuichi sits up and gently caress Eiri's cheek. Eiri leans into his touch and gently kisses his palm. Shuichi can't stop himself; he kisses Eiri on the lips, sweet and chaste. He moves away a little scared he made a mistake, but he doesn't feel that way for long.
Eiri glides a hand into his hair, bringing their lips together once again. Shu feels like he's on cloud nine. Their lips graze into a slow tender kiss.
Eiri bites his bottom lip and Shuichi doesn't hesitate to climb in his lap. He needs to be so much closer to him. Impossibly close. Their kisses grow more heated. Shuichi slips his tongue in Eiri's mouth, and he whimpers, hands grasping Shuichi's hips.
Their tongues are caught in a sensual caress. Eiri is an excellent kisser and Shu doesn't want to stop.
Shuichi's hands slide from Eiri's neck, one stopping to play with his earring before sliding into his hair.
His core feels on fire, stomach tangled in warm knots.
Eiri's mind is fuzzy with happiness and adoration Shuichi feels so good everywhere, lips like petals. His hot tongue stroking his, melting him, giving him goosebumps.
They both pull away to breathe foreheads gently resting together.
"Eiri… I like you so much. I want this, want us."
Eiri isn't sure if he's ever felt this happy. He's ready.
"You've got me baby; I like you so much it was starting to hurt not to tell you. I wanted to support you, wanted to be there or you. I didn't' want to mess this up by bringing any fear or doubt into us."
"I want to build a healthy and happy relationship with you, for however long you'll have me."
Shuichi's eyes are bright with happiness. Tummy full of butterflies he replies.
"I have the best boyfriend."
Eiri smirks and kisses his Shuichi again. "And so do I."