Chapter 6:

The lesson was really boring…Tatsuha couldn't imagine what had possessed him to take up religious studies…oh wait, he did…it had been his father. Tatsuha wished he could be sitting in his anthropology class which was a hell of a lot more interesting.

The professor droned on and Tatsuha let his mind wander. For some reason, his mind kept wandering to the clumsy kiss he'd been given, last night. He wondered why Taki had kissed him…if it was only because he was a blast from the past, looking like the man who'd hurt Taki or was it because the older man really had feelings for him.

If Taki did have feelings for him, then what was he going o do about it. he had never actually looked at Taki like that, sure he was a lot more open and caring with the guy, but that was only because Taki had gone through a lot of shit….it was because of that wasn't it? He shuddered to think what Eiri would do to him, if he fell in love and started dating Taki.

He could still see the red-brown eyes and dark hair falling into Taki's eyes. The way Taki danced was way too awesome; the man looked like he'd been born dancing! The sinuous movements were really sexy! Tatsuha shook his head a bit. Shit, he was thinking too much about Taki! Almost like he was mooning over the man. No…Tatsuha liked Ryuichi and made do with women in between lusting for Ryuichi and letting go of sexual frustration. Even though he was bi sexual, Taki was just a friend and it was going to stay that way.

He looked up as he noticed the teacher staring at him. The man had been a priest before he started teaching and reminded Tatsuha eerily of his father. "Mr. Uesugi…will you please repeat what I had been saying? You don't know? Well, I think you had better pay attention instead of shaking your head and talking to yourself." Tatsuha sighed. Yes his life was hell!

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Taki was having a really good time apart from the nagging headache. It felt really good to be able to sing again and Hughes had allowed him to take more voice training lessons, so he could beat Shuichi! Ma had worked on a few good songs and they'd tried it out. Taki smiled he'd got it perfectly after the first rehearsal!

Ma came up to him with a smile. "Tachi, Hughes says that we should take the rest of the day off. Since everything's coming along really well and all, I think we should go to the café down the street and celebrate!"

Taki nodded with a grin. "Yeah, sure. Let's do it."

Ma followed him out noting how Taki smiled more easily now. That dark haired boy was having a very good influence on him it seemed. But what was going on? He hoped Taki wasn't falling for the boy…

They ordered a small meal each and got to talking, trying to catch up on some already known news like most friends do. Ma decided to ask Taki about it.

"Hey, Tachi…Wassup up with you and Tatsuha man?"

Taki choked on his drink. "What…what do you mean? What is up with me and Tatsuha?"

Ma saw he looked a little panicked. "I don't know Tachi; don't you think you should tell me? Really Tachi if you say nothings going on, I'm not buying it! I've known you for almost all you life."

Taki grimaced. "Actually, I don't know what's going on either. I just know that he's an awesome person and he makes me feel good about myself."

"don't fall for him, Tachi…he's Yuki Eiri's brother and he has that crazy obsession with Sakuma Ryuichi…and well, since he's Tohma's brother in law, he might meet the singer and that will hurt." Ma said seriously. "And well, you don't want that happening after what happened with Ken. And I know for a fact that he reminds you of Ken!"

"It's not like I want to fall for him! I don't know what's happening; I'm too scared to figure it out myself." He frowned thoughtfully. "You know what, you're right. This has to stop. I'm not going to fall for him, I don't think I could live through another thing like that. Don't worry about me." He stood up.

"I think I'll head home guys, I want to just go to sleep."

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Taki got home and switched on the TV, before becoming absorbed in the show. It was Matrix 3. Taki had wanted to watch it for ages, but hadn't gotten around to doing so. He watched the movie, at the sam time trying to convince himself that he did not like Tatsuha.

Tatsuha was his best friend almost and he was there when Taki needed comfort. The wet dreams were just a part of the deal that's all. It wasn't like he had never gotten turned by someone. Ma was right; he shouldn't fall for or depend too much on Tatsuha!

Somewhere inside, Taki was actually panicking; he was getting too close to the boy. If he was rejected it would hurt sop damn badly, slowly Taki started putting a lid on his feelings. He started to concentrate more on the movie and forgot about Tatsuha.

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Tatsuha was riding slowly today, he didn't have much today and it was doubtful that Taki would be home. Suddenly he saw someone signaling to him. He stopped and glanced at them.

"Hey, can you please give me a lift…I have to get to this place really fast!" the voice sounded oddly familiar but Tatsuha couldn't place it.

He grinned. "Sure get on and hold on tight will you…I drive totally fast."

The man smiled and jumped on wrapping his arms around Tatsuha. Tatsuha frowned, the man seemed damn familiar. Oh well. he followed the directions driving at breakneck speed.

Wait a minute, these roads look so familiar! Tatsuha stopped in front of NG and stared at the man! "You work here?" he saw the nod. "My brother in law owns the place! What a coincidence man."

The man stared at him. "Your brother in law owns the place?"

Tatsuha nodded. "Yeah, well…it isn't much of a help anyway. I'm a die hard fan of Nittle Grasper, but the bastard won't let me meet my idol Ryuichi! Which band do you work with?" he saw wisps of hair from under the cap the stranger was wearing. "Hey, your hairs coming undone." He reached to tuck it back in, bringing his face close to the stranger's. Suddenly he found himself looking into cobalt blue eyes.

"You…you're…" Tatsuha couldn't help stammering. He didn't know what to say.

The stranger chuckled. "Yeah, I'm Sakuma Ryuichi. And you are…?"

"I'm Uesugi, Tatsuha…Tohma's brother in law."

"Yes, you all ready informed me of the fact." Ryuichi grazed his lips against the boys. "You're really cute, Tatsuha…what do you say we go out to dinner tonight?"

Tatsuha went beet red. "Um…ok?"

Ryuichi smiled. "I'll come by and pick you up from your place. Tohma will give me the address, now I'm getting late, see you later."

Tatsuha nodded mutely. Then he screamed loudly startling everyone around before zooming off home to look for something to wear.

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When Tatsuha bounced in Taki was watching the end of the movie. He looked up and greeted Tatsuha with a smile. "Hey, Wassup?"

Tatsuha bounced up and down. "You'll never believe what happened!"

Taki smirked. "Why don't you tell me? Instead of breaking my couch?"

Tatsuha grinned at that. "I have a date tonight! I can't believe it! Gosh I'm going to go get showered, it's getting late. I'll be right back, Tachi!"

Taki raised an eyebrow. "I never gave you permission to call me TACHI!"

He got up and made some eggs for himself, Taki usually liked to eat before seven as was the Japanese custom. He could hear Tatsuha singing and tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his gut. Whoever Tatsuha was dating it was going to be the love of his life. He told himself.

At last Tatsuha emerged from the shower. He was dressed to die for in a dark green button shirt and black dress slacks. He hugged Taki from behind, smearing all the deodorant on him too. "Taki, I can't wait!"

"Who are you going with baka?"

Tatsuha recounted the day's events and then squealed. "You'll never guess who it was…it was Sakuma Ryuichi!"

Taki felt something inside him shrivel up and die. The lid he'd put on his emotions had just cracked. Ma was right this had to happen sometime! Oh well…

He humored Tatsuha, wishing that Ryuichi would come soon and get the bouncy guy away. Outside a car honked. Tatsuha went out and then ran for his shoes. "It's him." think of the devil…

Taki waited until the door shut and then continued to eat his cheese omelets in tiny bites. He wasn't sure he could hurt more than this…Ok he had hurt more when Ken had been around. Ken had been his first love, he looked a lot like an older Tatsuha. Taki had actually thought that things could go somewhere with ken, when the guy had casually informed him after fucking the life out of him that he was getting married. Taki had been seeing him over a year and the announcement had torn him. Supposedly for Ken it had been a casual thing, no love involved though he had proclaimed it a thousand times.

Sighing Taki decided to make it an early night retire when the phone rang. He picked it up it was his mom, she sounded hysterically.

"Taki? Taki! You have to come here right now! Please Taki!" she broke down crying.

Taki wondered what was wrong. "Mom? What's wrong mom?"

"Oh, Taki…it's Rei…he had a heart attack an hour ago. I'm at the hospital and they say he's in critical condition and they're not allo0wing anyone in! Please come…I can't get through to your brother!"

Taki was seized with a sudden tightening in his chest. "I'll be right there, mom. I'm leaving right now, ill throw some clothes together. Don't worry, everything will be fine."

Taki threw some clothes into a bag and called for a cab. While waiting, he informed Hughes that he wouldn't be coming in tomorrow. He didn't bother writing a note to Tatsuha it would only scare him and make him worry. And anyway he's with Ryuichi now…I'm not supposed to care.

The cab arrived and to his luck, it started to rain as well. Great! Taki tried to calm his nerves, he was shaking with fear. If anything happened to Rei…he couldn't lose Rei. The man was his father…he was the only person who'd helped Taki be himself apart from Tatsuha. He couldn't help but think of how much Rei had helped him after the Ken incident.

Where was his brother? Taki tried to call him, but no one picked up either on the cell or the land line. He was frantic with worry. He couldn't help but pray and keep praying until he reached the hospital, it took him two hours to get there. Then he turned off his cell phone and entered too bright place with the white walls. Oh god, why didn't I apologize?

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Tatsuha was really happy; the date with Ryuichi had been really good. Though it was a little spoilt by the fact that h couldn't forget the look on Taki's face when he had told him about it. Anyway, Taki was at home so he could ask him about it when he got back.

He rang the doorbell but no one answered. Maybe Taki was sleeping. Tatsuha used his set of the keys and entered. Turning on the lights he saw Taki's plate of omelet lying on the kitchen counter, everything was just the way it had been when he had left.

"Taki?" tatsu8ha looked everywhere the only thing that indicated that Taki had been there was the open closet. Tatsuha walked up and found, the small travel bag Taki had was gone along with most of his clothes. What the hell? He called Taki's phone, but it was switched off.

Tatsuha suddenly felt depressed, he already missed Taki. In fact he had missed the man all evening even though he was with the great Sakuma Ryuichi! He sank onto Taki's bed, reveling in the older man's smell. Where are you Taki?

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A/N: that's it for now! I plan on ending this after one or two chapters. So please review and tell me how it was!

Taka