a/n: If it's too hard to tell, Hiro is a little tipsy at the beginning. Language warning, if you happen to be sensitive to that stuff.

Chapter 2

This was a long day. Thank hells it's over. Well, it's not over yet. Not technically. Wait, I don't—maybe it is? Why is it so hard to see...? I'm somewhere dark, it seems...um...crap...oh, hi, Ayaka. You look nice tonight.

"You alright, Hiro?" What a sweet smile she's wearing. I think I'm leaning on her.

"Yep." Yeeeah, I'm alright. I'm just damn fine, even if my heart hurts and I'm pissed as hell and I don't even know why. I must be really frustrated...I mean, I am. I am right frustr—whoa...the room...where is it going? Oh. Miss Ayaka, please don't look at me like that! You have no idea how cruddy I feel right now. No idea...

Um, penguins.

"Shuichi," I groan into the table I've fallen over on. "Where's he?" Ayaka's small hand rests on my shoulder and I'm just glad I can hold alcohol well. She'd probably put me out if I retched on her now...and why doesn't she answer my question?

"Do you want to lay down, sweetie?"

What a soft voice she has. Such a tranquil, understanding look. I admire that, Ayaka...thanks for being so patient with me. I'm such an ass. Sweetie, sweetie...you know what? I bet you anything that Yuki never called Shuichi "sweetie," and I bet you anything and a dollar that Shuichi would throw his damn self off a building if Yuki did call him that. It doesn't make any damn sense.

That frigid bastard—Ow! Owww.

"Crud...thanks...Aya..." I massage my head where I hit it on the wall, and the girl comforts me with soothing words—at least, she tries. I can't make sense of what she's saying, 'cause all the frick I can hear, see, smell...is Eiri Yuki. I can practically see him smirking at me...where are you right now! Probably saying something cold to Shuichi, I know it.

I'm going to have to deal with the aftermath. I'm going to have to deal with the damn whining.

"Why do I have to comfort him when I'm not the one who hurts him? He...shouldn't be with Yuki."

A cool hand covers my face. Lilacs...

"Shh, Hiroshi. You're talking nonsense." A smile, and Ayaka's sweet breath on my lips. I bet mine smells like crud. She kisses me gently and runs a hand through my hair. Somehow, I don't feel like I deserved that kiss. The soft purity in a girl's lips; the care, like something so sweet...really, Ayaka...my teeth will rot...you're spoiling me.

But, still...how...nice. God, I'm so tired. I don't get it, I've never gotten even this slammed...I hope she doesn't hate me after this. What the hell has gotten into—

...(tormenta)...

...Hrrm.

What time is it...? I must have fallen asleep. Thank gods I seem to be in my own bed, though.

"Come on, Hiro, you're acting ridiculous..." I tell myself this as I lay here and stare up at the ceiling like an idiot. For some reason, though, I'm not tired at all...I feel like I've been awake for half a day already. Don't even feel like I need to blink.

"Heh heh heh. You're insane, talking to yourself."

Ah, what? Ayaka stayed over?

"No, retard." My nose is flicked. "It's Shuichi."

Mental note to stop thinking aloud.

"Shuichi..." I bite back a groan and sit up on my bed. I'm still fully clothed, but it seems someone was kind enough to tuck me in. I really do feel like an idiot. "What the heck happened?"

The guy grins from where he sits, cross-legged, on a stool a few feet away. "Ayaka asked me to hang around until you woke up. She thought you might have poisoning or something."

I scratch my head and attempt to soften my crazily tangled hair, getting up off the bed and stretching out. "Why were you here?" I don't bother to think about what an asinine question that is. It's not like he's the master of intelligent conversation, anyway.

"I wasn't!" He jumps off the stool and his grin widens. "She had to go somewhere, so she called me over. I think she reaaaally likes you, Hiro. She was so worried."

Normally I'd worry about the heat that's building in my face, but I'm too dazed to really care. I just wish Shuichi would skip the smug look. I feel like I'm in high school again.

"Yeah," I answer. "But, I mean, I probably just fell asleep on her. I was exhausted." Wait, was that really why? Honestly, I didn't drink that much, so it couldn't have been because I was slammed. I just don't remember doing anything "exhausting" today, either.

"Pthh." He sticks his tongue out childishly. "Yeah, right."

"Eh." I shrug sheepishly and look to the side, dumping myself down on the bed again. "What's the time?" I'm not even remotely eloquent when it comes to subject changing...but hey, whatever works.

"Probably 2 or 3," Shuichi replies, his eyes widening for emphasis. That smug grin turns into one of pure amusement. "You don't look tired at all!"

2 or 3? In the morning? I sure do pick great times to wake up.

"Well, what the heck?" I turn my head to look at him, speaking in a light tone. "Shouldn't you be shacked up with Mister Universe right now?" Leave it to The Brilliant Hiro to bring up the one topic he's never remotely wanted to talk about.

Shuichi's smile falters, but his wine-toned eyes become very intense.

"You owe me a night, Hiro!" He whines. I won't even bother to mention what images come up in my head at that comment. "Eiri kicked me out again! He was SO pissed when Ayaka called. He hasn't gotten much sleep since he's got that deadline, and he's been brick tired 'cause when I got home, he had to make dinner and then I kinda forced him into-"

He stops abruptly and a slight blush graces his full cheeks. I laugh weakly and wave it off, thankful that I didn't have to hear the rest of that sentence...though we both know quite well what he was about to say.

I guess this time isn't really Yuki's doing, but, look, I'm always the one Shuichi goes to for a place when the guy kicks him out. Eh. I don't even know what I'm complaining about. This was my fault anyway, and since when have I minded Shuichi's company?

Hey, Eiri Yuki...It's your loss, right?

Right...

Except I'm going to have to stay up listening to him TALK about Yuki all night!

I smile tolerantly as Shuichi starts telling me about something Yuki said...or maybe something he did...I'm not listening, in all truth. All I really care about is watching that smile; letting him show off his bright, happy glow. There's something frighteningly real about the emotions in his expression. The look in his face, it practically screams...

I am in love.

It's the most confusing and painful thing for me to have to do, listening to him talk about the novelist. I won't say anything, though; I won't stop him and I'd never consider it.

Shuichi...for now, just let me watch your smiling face.

a/n: it's light-hearted now, but it'll get darker. Just you wait.