Chapter 9:

Shuichi stretched and stood up, turning to fold the sleeping bag. Since Tatsuha had the couch, he'd asked Eiri to give him an old sleeping bag in his closet. He didn't want Tatsuha to think they were sleeping with each other. He finished and went into the living room. Tatsuha and Eiri were sipping coffee sitting at opposite ends of the couch, looking like twins. Both had their early morning scowls firmly in place and both just grunted when asked a question.

Tatsuha put the mug into the sink and began making eggs…for himself. Shuichi tried to whine and get his food, but it didn't work on Tatsuha like it worked on Eiri. The boy just ate quickly and informed them that he wanted to leave for home…his teacher would kill him for missing school. This way he could at least be in time for afternoon classes. Eiri drove him to the bus stop and made sure he got on the bus.

Shuichi dressed quickly and rushed to his dorm. He told Hiro that he'd found Tatsuha and that he was safe. On his way to his first class he got a call from Tohma to go into work. Shuichi sighed; it looked like it was going to be a packed day.

This time during sociology he barely concentrated. He was too busy trying to figure out, exactly what it was that was going on between him and Eiri. Given that there was a lot of physical attraction, but what else was there? Shuichi wondered of if it was love. He did love Eiri, but was he in love with Eiri? He couldn't fall for Eiri until he knew why the man was being such a bastard. The two of them had changed so much! He knew that until Eiri told him what was up or faced whatever it was that was holding him back from having a relationship…Shuichi could not fall for the man.

It would only mean pain if he did. Shuichi made a decision to find out, exactly what had happened in New York. Somehow, he would…if he didn't he would go mad! When class finished, he walked to the cafeteria, to get some food before Eiri's class after lunch.

Someone suddenly placed a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see a senior sneering at him. He recognized him as the lead singer for a band that he'd opened for. Also working for NG.

"Um…do you need something?" Shuichi asked.

"Let me see…yes I do. I need you out of NG; I need you to get out of my way!" Taki smirked. "If you don't listen then I'll make you get out!"

Shuichi glared. "Like you'll be able to… scared that I'm better than you?"

Taki narrowed his eyes. "Scared of a pipsqueak like you? Don't get too big for boots, or I'll have to make sure you know you're place?"

"Are you threatening me? Let's take this out side hall we?" Shuichi smirked, though he knew he'd be creamed. But he wouldn't back down to this asshole!

Taki caught him by the scruff of his neck, leading him to an isolated spot. "You have it coming…stupid brat!"

Eiri was pissed. The brat was late for class. Ten minutes late in fact…Eiri needed to talk to him but, he had said anyone late for class, would have to have a valid reason. He turned back to the blackboard and went on teaching. Today he was to teach Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, he gave his class the background of the poet and was about to start on the society in those times, when the door opened and a bloody Shuichi stumbled in.

Eiri looked him over, worry in his eyes. Shuichi stood there with a black eye, split lip and what seemed like a broken arm. Eiri tried to keep his voice steady. "Shindou-san…where have you been? And have you seen the nurse yet?"

"I got into a bit of trouble, Uesugi-sensei. No I have not yet seen the nurse… I didn't have time…" Shuichi sounded kind of faint. If Eiri guessed right and that arm was broken, then the boy was in a lot of pain.

Eiri moved forward. "Shuichi, go see the nurse." The pink haired boy glared and then tried to take a step forward. It was good that Eiri was so close, because he was able to catch Shuichi as he fell.

"Shit. Class, you're on your own for now. I'll just get him to the nurse." Eiri picked Shuichi up and walked out quickly. He wondered who the hell, the boy had tried to fight. As if Shuichi even knew how to fight!

Having delivered the boy into the nurses hands, Eiri sat down. He hoped everything was all right. He had never been able to stomach Shuichi being hurt. He couldn't help remembering the last time he'd had to see Shuichi hurt.

They were at a party, that dad's friend was holding. It was the first time they'd been to a party like this one with dancing and a DJ, it was a wonder dad had let them come! One song that Shuichi loved was playing, called Seven days. Shuichi jumped around like a mad, trying to get Eiri to dance with him, but the blond refused.

Shuichi shrugged. If Eiri was going to be a party pooping dumb ass, then he'd ask Tatsuha. The dark haired kid had approved and they headed to the dance floor. Shuichi moved fast and clumsily, as it was his first time dancing. Eiri had watched with a scowl forming, wondering why he couldn't get up the courage to go up there himself.

Then suddenly, Shuichi yelled losing his balance. Eiri ran up trying to catch him and did so by throwing himself at the pink blob. He caught Shuichi, but the boy's face crumpled and he began to cry holding onto his ankle. Uesugi-san hurried forward and examined the boy's ankle. Then he announced that he was going to take Shuichi to the hospital, so he whole family had rushed there.

Eiri was scared though he hated to admit it. Fifteen year olds in his opinion shouldn't have been scared of anything! He hated the fact that Mika looked all calm and collected, but then she was nineteen after all. Tatsuha had begun crying, afraid for Shuichi. There was chaos everywhere.

At last after the doctor had taken a look, he'd assured them it was nothing more than a twisted ankle. Shuichi would have to be at home for a while and have his food bound up. Eiri had almost sighed with relief. Later when they'd got home, he'd gone to this twenty four hour store and picked up ice-cream for both his little brothers.

Eiri almost laughed as he remembered how chaotic that day had been. For the next three days everyone had been at Shuichi's beck and call, worshipping their pink haired prince. Even father had been coddling him. He looked up as the nurse came out.

"Well, he broke his left arm, in two places. Lucky that the visiting doctor was here, we were able to put it in a cast. I gave him pain killers, so it didn't hurt too much. He just needs to rest it for a while, he can put it into a sling though." She looked at him. "Um…though is there anyone he can stay with?"

"He…" Eiri sighed. "Well, he can stay with me. I'm like his older bother." E saw her questioning look and elaborated. "He was adopted into my family…"

"Oh. Ok then…you can go into to see him now." Then she left.

Eiri walked into the room and saw Shuichi lying all pale on the bed. He sat down next to the bed, looking into the purple eyes that were watching him. Shuichi blinked and sighed. "Well…aren't you going to say anything? You know give me a talking to or something?"

Eiri shook his head. "I just want to know who you were fighting…"

Shuichi frowned. "No way. This is my fight Eiri, you stay out of it! I can take care of myself!"

Eiri raised an eyebrow. "Yes, you have been taking care of yourself I see…a broken arm and a black eye…no I couldn't do better than that…"

"I just got hurt, because I didn't know the basics…I'll learn and I'll kick his ass! Now can you tell me how long I've got to be here?" Shuichi asked pumping his right am p and down.

Just as Eiri was about to reply, Hiro burst in. "Shuichi! Baka, what the hell happened? The whole class is talking about you being beat up! Which guy…?"

"This is my fight! I can handle it! Great! So now I have to prove to the entire college that I'm not a pipsqueak!" Shuichi pouted. The other two rolled their eyes.

Eiri cleared his throat. "Well, the nurse said that you'll be fine. You just need to stay with someone. So being the charming person that I am, I offered my house."

Shuichi smiled then. "I'd love too! But then, Eiri, its home…not house."

Eiri said nothing. It wasn't a home…how could it be, when it was just a roof over his head? A place to sit and brood in…? Shuichi caught a fleeting look in his eyes, and his own purple orbs saddened a bit. Hiro caught the mood and made his excuses.

Eiri looked at the gaki. "So, gaki…you'll be here for an hour and then I'll come get you. I'll have to pick up your medication as well." He walked out, but turned back when Shuichi called out to him.

"Eiri, if you don't mind could we call Tatsuha over? He could take the couch you know…I have a feeling he needs to get away from Kyoto…and school. When I heard from my sources, he was sill depressed…" Shuichi looked at him worried.

Eiri threw his hands up into the air. "All right, whatever." He walked out, wondering what the hell Shuichi was up to. Had he joined forces with Tatsuha to invade Eiri's house? Oh well, at least they were better than aliens!

It was a day later and Shuichi loved the amount of flowers he'd been getting. There were cards from soo many people that Eiri had to get four boxes to store them in. Tatsuha was a great help, keeping Shuichi company when Eiri was at class and downloading college lectures for him. He even put the flowers in strategic places so it wouldn't irritate Eiri. The tension had cleared up and but Shuichi could see there was still something bothering Tatsuha.

They were sitting in Eiri's bedroom, Shuichi on the bed, his arm on a pillow and Tatsuha at the foot of the bed talking about some fight he'd had at school, when the doorbell rang. Tatsuha jumped up to get, telling Shuichi to hold on.

He ran up to the door and opened it. He found himself drowning in two blue eyes. He cleared his throat and looked away. "Sakuma-san…"

Ryuichi watched as the teen turned away, not meeting his eyes. He sighed and put on a bright smile. "Hey there, Tatsuha-kun! This is Kumagoro! Say hi to Tatsuha Kumagoro!"

The pink bunny landed on Tatsuha's head. The teen who would have been jumping for joy, just smiled. "Hey Kuma-chan, nice to meet to you. Why don't I take you and Sakuma-san to meet Shuichi-nii?"

Ryuichi followed the dark haired boy, who moved away without another look at him, to Shuichi's room. Tatsuha stopped at the door. "Shuichi-nii, Sakuma-san is here to see you. I think I'll be stepping out to get some cheese, we're all out." Then he went out the door and Shuichi heard the front door shut.

Shuichi frowned. Cheese? There were two packs of cheese in the refrigerator! Then he turned his attention to Ryuichi, trying not to wonder what was up with the boy. He should have been dying to meet Ryuichi.

Ryuichi grinned and handed Shuichi a box. Shuichi squealed when he opened it. It was full of strawberry pocky! Yay! They talked about NG and Kumagoro and other nonsense. Then suddenly Ryuichi stopped looking a bit serious.

"Your brother hates me now doesn't he?"

The suddenly serious voice startled Shuichi. He looked at Ryuichi wondering what the man was talking about. "Who? Eiri? Eiri is juts like that…"

"No, Tatsuha…for giving him up, to you guys. Do you know, he told me how much he loves me? He didn't know it was me and it must have made him feel embarrassed and hurt saying such things…" Ryuichi stared at the ground. That betrayed gaze of the boy's had hurt.

"I guess so." Shuichi turned to give Ryuichi a serious look. "I think maybe you need to apologize…I mean, you did right overall, but to him it wouldn't be right." Shuichi sighed. "You know, I've often wondered…he doesn't seem to want you in a crazy fan boy way…it seems like hat sometimes, but I don't know if there's something deeper. I'm worried about him. And Ryuichi… I get the feeling you're interested…don't play around with his feelings! I'll kill you if you hurt him…"

Ryuichi nodded. "I uses I'll apologize then!" he nodded and Kumagoro nodded too. Then Shuichi smiled and they went back to discussing the best villain in power-puff girls. It was after half an hour that they hard the front door open. Ryuichi got up o take his leave. He gave Shuichi a hug and hit him with a Kumagoro beam. Shuichi announced that he could die happy.

When Ryuichi stepped out of the bedroom, he saw Tatsuha removing his shoes. The teen looked up, dismay crossing his face. Ryuichi stifled a sigh and walked up to the boy. "Listen, could I have a word?"

Tatsuha nodded and they went to sit on the couch. Then Ryuichi cleared his throat a few times. "Well, I want to say I'm sorry for giving you up the other day. I know I should have told you who I was…I'm sorry I embarrassed you. But then I'm not sorry I stopped you from running away…it isn't the answer to anything."

Tatsuha was staring at him open mouthed. "You're apologizing to me?"

"Yes I am. Do you accept it?"

"I guess." Tatsuha tried to think of something else to say, but his mind remained blank.

Ryuichi ran a hand through his hair. "Listen. Let me make it up to you. Why you come by the studio the day after? I'll inform Tohma. We'll be rehearsing for a new album. You can watch it and then I'll treat yo at any restaurant you want. Does that sound ok?"

Tatsuha nodded. "Why would you do that?"

"Because I think you're a nice guy. And it would be fun to spend time with you; it was fun the last time. And I want to make up for being such a pain in the arse last time. I have to go now, see you." Ryuichi picked up Kumagoro and they both said goodbye before walking out, leaving a tongue tied Tatsuha behind.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: yeah I think I'll just leave it here. I'm sorry for the long wait people, but it might be faster now ok? I had college and had no time to eat let alone write! Now that holidays are coming up, I'll update faster! Ja ne!

Taka