Disclaimer: They aren't mine.
Shuichi awoke, still collasped on the bathroom's soft rug. Yuki had gone. He knew he would. He'd been expecting it. But that didn't make it hurt any less. His closed his eyes, trying to bring from his memory all fragments of the conversation they'd had earlier that morning, when he'd awoken e.
"Shuichi?"
Shuichi's eyes had opened, he was to tired and sore to move, so he had simply stared at his lover, who was sitting up, using his arms to support himself, his limber body practically glowing in the soft light of the bathroom.
"I'm sorry."
Shuichi had given him a questioning look, his lips not moving and his voice failing him.
"I wanted to tell you that..." Yuki continued "There's so many people I wish that I could say that too... but... I can't. So I'm telling you. Shuichi I... I l--. I do." He swallowed, blinking, but his amber eyes not meeting Shuichi's. "And I know you love me... but... I'm afraid."
Shuichi tried to move again, but was unsuccessful. He wanted to touch his lover. To push his worries to the back of his mind, no, to erase them completely. He wanted to say... to do something, anything to make him feel better.
"I'm afraid... that if I tell you... If you know what I've done... you won't love me anymore. That... You'll fear me. And I couldn't take that. It'd break me."
Finally, he turned to Shuichi, a soft, yet forced, smile on his face.
"So... I'm going to wait... just a bit longer. Before I tell you."
Yuki's hand reached down to cover his eyes, and Shuichi closed them, feeling Yuki's warmth cover him, sending him swiftly back into dreams.
Still on the bathroom floor, Shuichi slowly sat up, clenching his fingers into fists. He sighed. He hadn't wanted to fall asleep. He'd wanted to tell his lover that he was his and that he'd love him... no matter what.
"So, you're back?"
Eve stood in her door way, stretching in the afternoon light.
"You're still here?" Yuki challenged
"Don't get full of yourself. I couldn't find another motel."
"There's like six around here."
"I'm picky." She said, moving and letting him in
"About what?"
"The walls." Eve replied, closing the door and locking it.
Yuki looked around the room, eyeing the walls. They weren't white like most hotel rooms, instead they were a shade of purple.
"Hm."Yuki remarked and turned to Eve
"So, did you go to him?" Eve asked casually, picking up her box of chinese and continuing to eat
"Yeah."
"Hm. Cute." She replied "So what is it today?" He asked "More story time?"
Yuki nodded.
"Yeah."
Eve sighed.
"Fine. Where did I leave off..."
"With all the people that I--."
"Yeah yeah..." Eve said, interrupting him. She then looked up at him, her quick green eyes finding his "You say it so calmly. Are you at peace with it?"
Yuki shook his head.
"Never."
Eve sighed.
"Let's see." She swallowed "Well... like I said... over and over again." She muttered "You killed them, one by one. Cutting down bodies one by one, galloping, galloping still they'll come..." She put her hands behind her head "Where have I heard that before?"
"Eve." Yuki said firmly
"Well..." Eve said "Tohma... began to get kinda... well, you know how Tohma is."
-----------------------------Flashback!-----------------------------
"Eve, this isn't right!" Tohma shouted
"Bull."
"You're letting him..."
"I'm giving him... solace."
"You're exacting vengence!"
Eve crossed her arms, and stared back at Tohma, her face challenging.
"I don't see you helping him."
"I am!"
"What? With therapy and drugs!"
"That's what he needs! Not more blood on his hands!"
"That's what he wants!"
Tohma sighed, then laughed softly.
"You're still the same, aren't you?" He asked "Still... very much the same child you were when I first met you almost a year ago."
"Shut up!"
"Still willing to do anything for Eiri. Anything to make him... see you."
"Tohma--."
"He doesn't love you Eve. He never will." Tohma replied "But are you still willing to do anything for him?"
Eve nodded.
"Yes."
"Hm." Tohma replied "Well that may come in handy then."
Eve cocked her head at him.
"I don't... under--."
"I won't let you do this anymore Eve." Tohma said "This hunting, and stalking... I won't. I refuse to..."
"Try and stop me."
Both heads turned. Eiri stood in the corner, a freshly lit cigarette hanging from his lips.
"Let's go." He said, walking past Eve and grabbing her hand, pulling her towards the door
"How long?" Tohma asked
Eiri stopped.
"How long will you do this? To them? To yourself? How long will you live like this?"
Eiri walked to the door and opened it, then turned, bringing his cold amber eyes to Tohma's.
"Until I am done." He replied evenly, leaving and shutting the door behind him
Several hours later, Eiri returned alone. Tohma still sat on the couch, a dim light shining in the room, giving it an eerie glow.
"You're back."
"I am."
"Where's Eve?" He asked
"I left her."
Tohma looked up at him, grabbing his wrist and raising an eyebrow.
"Left her!"
"Yeah." Eiri replied, starting to brush past him again.
"Where?" Tohma asked
"In the park. I handcuffed her to a railing."
"Eiri! You-- why?"
He shrugged, a small smile on his face.
"I got tired of her."
Silence. Tohma was the first to crack, laughter spilling out of him, and he leaned into Yuki to support his weight. Pretty soon they both were laughing, the sound echoing off of the walls.
"Go get her." Tohma said, almost amused
Eiri cocked his head at Tohma, and smiled. Tohma softly smiled back, suddenly realizing that Eiri had him wrapped around his finger. Eiri smiled and left, leaving Tohma to slump back onto the couch, lost in thought.
----------------------End of Flashback!--------------------
"Slowly... you began to get... well... better... I suppose. When you stopped... killing... when'd you'd gotten your solace... you slowly returned back to normal. And I... I lost you."
"I was never your's Eve." Yuki replied
Eve looked up at him.
"I never loved you..."
"I know." She said, turning to him "Do you remember now?"
"Bits and pieces. Fragments. Bodies and blood. Death and screaming. Tohma was right Eve."
"Huh?"
"You weren't helping me. You... were giving me vengence... not solace. You damned me. To these blood red memories."
Eve lowered her head, her green eyes growing sad. She looked up at Yuki, reaching out to touch him, he brushed away her hand.
"There's more... isn't there?"
Eve nodded.
"Just one more..."
"One?"
Eve sighed, poking a chop stick at a piece of meat.
"I think Tohma's more suited for this story." She said "Ask him."
Yuki cocked his head at her.
"Why?"
"Maybe... I think he knows it a bit better than I do."
"Huh?"
"Let's just say... about that time... my memory get's a little hazy. You'll understand when you hear the story." She stood and moved to the door, opening it "Now, get out."
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A.N. Nice long chappy, I hope you enjoyed it!
