-1A/N: Phew! Well, I've been learning my physics pretty well… I'm definitely understanding more now that I'm putting more effort into this course. I just hope I can keep it up! Otherwise, there goes another 3 weeks of computer again. That'd be a bummer. Anyway, I have finally gotten this chapter up, but don't be too hasty for another one to come up any time soon. I'm still carrying out my punishment you know. Well, enjoy!

Chapter 8: No Rumbly in My Tumbly?

Shuichi and Hiro were using their once in a life time day off to hang out with each other, since they hardly were able to see one another anymore besides band practice. It would probably be the first day that Shuichi decided not to spend it with Yuki.

"So, I heard your diet thing is going okay. Do you think it's working?"

"Yeah! I can definitely see the results, Hiro. This way, I'll be ready for that shoot." The boy was extremely happy that day.

"I know. It'll be a great honor for you, Shuichi, to take this gig. Er, whatever it is."

"Mm-hm! I just hope that they get the good shots of me. I do have my bad sides, ya know." He struck different poses to show Hiro how prepared he was.

"I see that." The guitarist laughed. The two friends were making a quick round about the park and then heading toward a smoothie shop just down the block from there. It was one of their trademark places to be when they had something on their mind, whether it be happy or disturbing. At least that's what Hiro thought. Shuichi didn't seem to realize it yet.

"See, Hiro? This is where I met Yuki! I was right over here…" The pink-haired pop star ran over to the correct spot. "And Yuki…" He ran all the way back to a street light near a park bench. "… was right here!" He chirped, flailing his arms every which way. "Then my lyrics blew out of my hand and came straight toward him! He picked it up, said some cool lines… er, well they were more like cruel than cool, but… you get the idea. I've told you before right? Hiro?… HIRO!" Shuichi yelled in his ear.

"Huh? Wha…?" The red head shook his head looked at his flustered friend.

"You're not listening!" He puffed up his face in a pout.

"Oh, uh, sorry." He apologized sheepishly. "Say, let's go get a smoothie. I'm pretty thirsty." He smiled.

"Okay!" The singer immediately perked back up and ran ahead.

Hiro just stared at the ground mindlessly and thought to himself, 'Shuichi… when he was close up, I didn't notice but… when he was far away… he looked so much smaller than normal. Is that diet thing really helping him? It seems to good to be true that it works that fast. I wonder if Yuki-san sees it…'

"Hey Hiro!"

The guitarist looked up.

"I'll race ya to the shop!" Shuichi sprinted off in a head start.

"Oh yeah? You won't beat me so easily!" Hiro ran after him at a pretty fair pace, taking the lead in only so many seconds flat.

DING DONG

Yuki raised his head from concentrating on the coffee maker and went to answer the door. When opened, a bright n' sunny smile greeted him, complete with feathers and derby hat.

"Ohaiyo, Eiri." Tohma tilted his head to the side in a sickeningly cute way.

"Great…" Yuki rubbed the back of his neck. "Come to check up on me like always?" He said without hesitation.

"You know I always do." The boss of NG said brightly, that same smile plastered upon his face. He made his way in without any consultation since he knew Eiri couldn't refuse.

"Ah, this place still looks nice. Even after Shindou has been living here…"

"That's because I just got done cleaning it up." The novelist said, exhausted.

"I can see that." Tohma giggled a little at the state his brother-in-law was in. His hair was scruffy, he had a small wet spot under his arms where sweat seeped through, and overall he looked like he just escaped a trash compactor.

"Oh! I brought something for you!" The smaller blonde pulled out from behind his back… a box of goodies!

"…You always bring food over."

"Oh? Is that a bad thing?" The older man blinked.

"Well, no… but I do have food back in my fridge, you know."

"I know, but it's usually all left over take-out and alcohol." Tohma smiled and made his way to sit on the couch. Setting down the bag of treats on the coffee table, he patted the space next to him and beckoned, "Come, sit with me Eiri."

With an exasperated sigh, which the president was used to, Yuki fell back on the dark blue cushions and rested an elbow on the arm of the sofa. There was a moment of silence that passed between the two before the novelist spoke up.

"So… why did you come here Seguchi?" He asked nonchalantly.

"Why would you think I came here for a specific purpose?"

"Because that's usually the case."

"Why Eiri, I'm hurt! Is it a crime to visit one's own brother-in-law?" The president smiled.

"No, but don't get into a habit of it." The author had pulled out a cigarette in the meantime, lit it, and began puffing it calmly. He always needed his nicotine when with someone like Tohma. The guy was easy to be around, yet nerve wrecking at the same time. It was an odd feeling to Yuki, but he had gotten used to it long ago. Unfortunately, the people who didn't know him as well had to face that strange tremor whenever they were with him.

"So, what do you want?" The younger blonde asked rudely, though Tohma was used to it.

"Well…" He began. "It's about… Shindou-san."

"Tch… figures." That's usually the topic he chose to bring up anyway. What had the little idiot done now?

"What'd he do, what'd he break, what'd he want?" Yuki asked without hesitation. It seems like he got those particular house calls from Tohma a number of times.

"He didn't do anything… I think…" The boss said unsurely to himself.

"What do you mean 'you think'?" The writer asked, perturbed.

"He's been acting differently lately. And I don't mean your every other day depressions, Eiri. His physical appearance has changed as well."

"Yeah, well, that's what happens when you have some big shot magazine shoot coming up. Oh, and may I remind you that it's the most popular magazine throughout Tokyo now?" He informed sarcastically, mocking Shuichi.

"I do know of that. I'm the one who gave him that gig." Tohma nodded. "What I don't understand is that… the boy seems to be, how should I put this… hiding something. From everyone." He added in.

Yuki eyed him suspiciously. "Hiding something?"

"Yes. One day, I called him into my office to talk to him about a certain song of his and how it needed more volume in it. The whole time while I was talking, Shindou-san was fidgeting and seemed really nervous. I asked him what was wrong, but he didn't say. He just smiled, like always and told me it was nothing important, that he was just thinking about the new song he wrote. I continued, but then noticed something else. I asked him why his shirt was so loose on him.

Yuki watched his relative closely.

"He said that… he had accidentally picked up a size 'large' in this shirt instead of a 'small'. Then he grinned and shrugged. I let him go a few minutes later, but I knew something was wrong. Usually if it was something with you, he would have spilled the beans fast. It seems to me like this is a personal problem that he's dealing with alone."

The two men looked down for a moment.

"I didn't know if you knew what was going on or not, so here I am. Do you know what's bothering that boy?" Tohma asked carefully.

Yuki thought blankly to himself, pondering over the possibilities of what was occupying Shuichi Shindou's mind. Shuichi always wore loose-sized shirts at home, but for work he always had on something either tight, stylish, or just baggy. There was a difference between loose and baggy, at least that's what Yuki thought.

'It couldn't be… the diet? Maybe that's why the shirt was so loose on him?' The novelist's eyes tensed as he filed through the knowledge in his head as to why else the boy would be acting so strange. If it was about the diet, then he didn't want to reveal to Tohma what Shuichi was doing. It wasn't the guy's business anyway to hear about other people's problems. But what if this was something that the president of NG could help the singer with? What if it was really about Shuichi's weight program? Then again… oh, it was too difficult to figure out during this stage of curiosity. He hadn't noticed too many things happening with the vocalist before, so he wouldn't know if there was something wrong with the diet he's on if Yuki didn't ask first.

"Eiri?" Tohma raised his eyebrow at the taller man.

"I don't think there is anything wrong. He did say earlier on this week how nervous he was about his next song because he was afraid that his fans wouldn't approve of it." Yuki lied.

"Ah. I see. So it is just anxiousness after all. That's good. I was afraid that something was happening to our little rock star." The man gave off his disturbing smile again. The author shuddered. Something told him that he knew Eiri was lying.

"Well, I'm sorry to have bothered you, Eiri. I'll let you back to your work." The short blonde stood from the sofa and headed toward the door. "I hope everything is really all right." He turned his head back for one last glimpse of his brother-in-law, and exited the condo.

Yuki wondered for the remaining time if it was the right thing to not tell Tohma what was going on. His curiosity pitched in when he heard about the loose shirts and all. What was that boy up to?

A/N: Hey everyone! Wanna hear about which characters from Gravitation I think should go to hell (pardon my French)? Okay then, here they are! Tohma Seguchi, Taki Aizawa, and Ayaka Usami! Yes, I hate them all. And I shall name which ones I hate in order. 1 being this highest of hatred. First off, is Taki Aizawa. He's number 3 because he raped Shuichi, tried to come between Yuki and Shuichi's relationship, and is annoying overall for his relentlessness. He just keeps trying to sabotage them! It's getting really aggravating. Give it up Taki! You'll always be number three on the charts next to Bad Luck and Nittle Grasper! Anyway… number two is Ayaka Usami. I hate her second because she slapped Shuichi (die bitch!), tried to come between Yuki and Shuichi (like she can ever be good enough for Eiri… pfft!), and is just a weak little girl with no heart and a manipulative soul. And that fact that she and Hiro get together REALLY ticks me off. HIRO IS MINE (and all the others fan girls of Hiro's!) I mean, come on, he's practically the only straight guy in this series. And last, but most definitely not least… Tohma Seguchi. Even the NAME fills me with a burning animosity. He sickens me people! He's the worst out of ALL of them because he was always in the way of Shuichi and Yuki's relationship, he's too overprotective of Eiri (my gosh he treats him like a child!), and… he's a complete MONSTER in the manga! He even went so far as to thinking about killing Shuichi! I'm glad he didn't, but I hate him just because he had the intention to. The only thing good about Tohma is his style. It can be weird sometimes, but he's pimpin' man! YEAH! PIMPIN' TOHMA! I have a hat that looks like his. It's furry and has zebra strips on it. But enough about pimps. That's all I wanted to express in today's A/N. I just wanted you guys to know how I felt about those three particular people. I hope they all die a slow… and painful… death. I hope at least some of you agree with me! I won't love you any less if you disagree, kay? See ya next chapter!