Author's Note:

I guess some of you are wondering why you haven't seen this updated for a long time. Okay, well things happened of course, one of those was my computer has been broken for awhile. I have other issues as well. I had a lot of trouble with chapters; just make sure it connected with the rest of the story. I think it does. Anyhow, here's the next chapter of Just a Show. I warn you: this may not be my best work, I haven't written in months, but I do assure I will be back up to my normal level - however poor that maybe - before long.

Just a Show

Chapter Nine:

Central Conflict

Standing in the middle of the living room he stared out the window while puffing on a cigarette. Yuki was grateful for the break from the brat. The idiot was more clinging than most of the bimbos he had been with, though he suspected part of that had to do with the younger man losing his virginity.

It also didn't help that the fangirl journalist had decided to write a poorly constructed piece on how Yuki was desperately trying to evade reporters to be with his one true love. It was giving the brat hope, not something he was sure he wanted Shuichi to have. The idea of being permanently tied to the moronic singer for life, well…maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

"Fuck!" He quickly inhaled another dose of his cancer stick. The fact he was contemplating that it wasn't such a bad thing was indeed a 'bad' sign more specific a sign of something he never believed in before: love. Now, he had to get rid of the brat and for good. He wouldn't fall love, not a chance in hell. He remembered he had been in it once and how that turned out to be quite painful, as a matter of fact he was still paying for it today. He didn't want to think about the after-effects of it again, especially with an idiot like Shuichi, though he supposed it was better than.... "Damn, I really have to get rid of that brat!" He scowled as he looked up at the clock. He needed to have the next chapter of his book done by tomorrow. He made his way into his study and smashed the cigarette in the ashtray near his desk, before proceeding right to the next scene in his story:

He didn't need this mess! He kicked the nearest object in his vicinity which happened to be a poor innocent trash can that managed to cause more pain to him than he did it. He growled. "What the hell are you doing to me Elle?" He asked to nobody in particular as he made his way to his car at the corner of the street. Before opening the door he gazed up at the window, noting the silhouette of the slender woman that was Elle Camla.

She knew little about men, so she wasn't aware of the normal signs that were pointing to things going wrong. She had no clue that when she walked into their hotel room she would only find a slip of paper with the word 'goodbye' written on it. She stared at the piece of paper, wondering what it meant while at the same time knowing the truth.

Hiro smiled, Shuichi's jaw dropped and Suguru wanted to straggle someone. They were all in the studio working on another song, when Ayaka had suddenly interrupted them. How she got in nobody knew, (though Suguru would have guessed Mika had something to do with it), but however that wasn't the biggest surprise. The real one was to find Ayaka bowing her head in a manner of giving an apology.

"You see, I understand now." Ayaka bowed politely, "that I was never the one who had the gift of giving him happiness. It was you, Shuichi Shindo." Tears began to pour down out of her brown eyes. "I wish it was me. I really do, I guess that is why I was so mad when I found out about you. So I apologize!" She slowly raised her head up to see what he would say.

"I…I…I," the singer stuttered, for once not really having anything to say. An arm went around his shoulder and a smile greeted Ayaka. Irritation was what took a ride on Suguru's nerves. "He accepts your apology."

"How do you know that? He hasn't said anything yet?" Suguru pointed out, crossing his arms. "And she slapped him on public television, how can one forgive that so easily?"

"Shuichi is just that kind of guy!" the guitarist tightened his grip around the pink-haired man's neck, giving a wider grin.

"And you know this for a fact?" A sneer was heard in the keyboardist voice as he clenched his fists at his side.

"Yes, I do," firmly standing his ground, he looked Surguru right in the face.

"And you know because…?" the keyboardist inquired meeting his challenger. Shuichi's head was going back and forth, Ayaka was much more polite, only darting her eyes.

"Shuichi is my best friend." His grip tightened even more, and Shuichi began to struggle for breathe, moving his arms in panic.

"Um, Hiro," Ayaka interrupted, meekly raising a finger up.

"Yes?" Immediately giving her all of his attention, along with a huge grin.

"I think you should let go of Shuichi." She suggested softly, still looking down at her shoes.

"Huh," he turned to see his best friend turning a different color. "Oh," he quickly released the grasp on his best friend. "Sorry buddy," patting him on the back, the pink man regained his breath.

"Thanks."

"You okay, Shindo?" she asked politely.

"Yes, and I guess about your apology…"

"You forgive her, right?" Hiro asked hopefully. He looked over to Suguru who glared at him.

"I'm not one to hold grudges to be honest." He replied staring at his fingers as he poked them together. "The truth is I wasn't hurt much by you. It just bothered me that he had a fiancée I didn't know about, you know." How could Yuki not tell him about having a fiancée? It hurt a little because it meant the novelist didn't trust him. It left him wondering if things were actually getting better or worse with Yuki.

"I understand. Well, I'm glad for your forgiveness."

"Yeah… um you're welcome," he rubbed his head sheepishly.

"Well, goodbye," she bowed once more and turned to leave.

"Ayaka," Hiro gently grabbed her wrist, "are you hungry?" There was a pain in Suguru's heart, which nowadays he was just starting to understand.

"Well…I'm afraid I must decline." She replied sweetly as her eyes gazed over see Suguru. She recalled a conversation that they had earlier about their feelings for Hiro. She knew were they both stood with him. Her heart wasn't ready to love again, nor was she free too. She was daughter of duty and tradition. Suguru however, had not only loved the guitarist for a long time, he was more than free too. She couldn't dare force Hiro to return Suguru's feelings, but she surly couldn't mislead him either. "My ride is scheduled for another hour or so, and I have a lot of packing to do."

The guitarist frowned, "You have to leave so soon? Will you be back?"

"I'm afraid not, my father will certainly arrange another suitable marriage and that will be somewhere far away from here." She smiled sadly thinking of how nice it would have been to stay and gotten to know them more. She surly would miss them, the Uesugi's as well Bad Luck.

"But I…"

"Hiro," she spoke softly, she thought she could do one good deed before she left. She smiled, but it wasn't directed the guitarist but the keyboardist. He frowned. "Perhaps you could give me a ride home?"

"Great, you guys don't have a problem working without me for awhile?"

"Well…" Shuichi thought about all the work they had to do. Images of notes swirling in his head, but then he saw the eager grin on Hiro's face.

"Of course we do, Tohma's ridiculous' deadline still needs to be met if we are going to keep our jobs."

"And so you can surpass him right." Hiro snapped, though he understood why Suguru had so desperately wanted to surpass his uncle, he was just a little annoyed with how he was acting. It didn't make sense. It was like he was doing everything to prevent him from going with Ayaka.

"There is nothing wrong with having a goal."

"Yeah, if it is your only motivation for being in this band."

"Well it is not!"

"And what possible other reason can you have?"

"Just go on your date," Suguru growled knowing he couldn't say what he really wanted confessed.

"I will," with that Hiro grabbed Ayaka by the arm and headed out.

"Aww," Shuichi whined falling to the floor, "You mean we have to all this work ourselves." The keyboardist rolled his eyes, and walked over to his keyboard.

"The closet is a classic and the simplest tactic," Maiko stated holding pointed with a stick on a spot on a white board which consisted of poorly drawn stick figures and other shapes. She was dressed in a military uniform walking around the room like she was an officer in charge.

K grinned leaning back in his seat, enjoying the sight very much. It was time for some military assistance! Sakano nervously paced around the room, panicked over a little tiny fact:

"We don't have a closet! Anywhere near where they work!" he threw his arms in the air and began to increase his pacing to a full freak out mode running.

The fangirl slammed the stick onto the table. Both set of eyes turned to her. "Stop panicking, there will not be such a thing in my unit!" She pointed at the producer, who immediately ceased in more fear of her than the lack of a closet. "We will follow through with our battle plan! K!"

"Yes! Commander of the fangirls!" K saluted her and smirked, this was so much fun.

"What is the nearest closet to the studio floor?"

"The nearest closet is exactly 10 feet below, 20 feet west!"

"Alright, Sakano!" She slammed the stick against her hand, "Ow! That hurts, mmm…anyway… Sakano!"

"Yes?" He tried to remain as calm as possible but sweat beads where pouring down fast.

"I want you to go to the security cameras and locate are targets."

"Yes ma'am," he nervously saluted her.

"Alright you two are dismissed!" She slammed the stick once more and the two men took off.

Walking up towards her hotel room, Ayaka began to feel this was her opportunity to leave a few words of wisdom, "Hiro, I think you're very sweet, but my duty is to my family." She bowed her head.

"I don't understand why you're dumping me before we even get started."

"I'm afraid so," giving him another half-hearted smile. "It is only fair that I told you now, instead of leaving you wondering." He frowned.

"I really thought…"

"Hiro," she grabbed his hands and gazed into his eyes, "don't you know somebody already loves you."

Why did a lot of people think him and his best friend were more than that. "Shuichi and I are just…"

She shook her head. "No, not Shindo. Someone else close."

"I don't have anyone else close." He was totally confused. What was she talking about?

"Perhaps you just can't see it right now?"

"What do you mean?" he asked trying to get her to clarify, but she wasn't going to do that.

She let his hands. "If I told you…you wouldn't be able to discover for yourself. And…" she lingered in the doorway for a moment, "I think that would be sad." She said before disappearing into her room.

Suguru didn't even notice the pink-headed singer sneaking out the door, because he was lost in his music. The melody was taking over his mind. He had been searching for the perfect notes for Shuichi's song, but before long, it had been forgotten. Soon he found himself searching for a completely different melody. The sound was sorrowful and sweet. The pain in his heart was taking over. He had tried to ignore it by burying himself in work. Now it seemed it was blending with his work.

There was no acknowledgement of when another person entered the room. The music overtook Hiro, he had never heard that song before. Was it Shuichi's? No, couldn't be, he could never write something that sad. No this was purely Suguru's work. He grabbed his guitar from across the room. He plugged it in before strumming across the strings, catching the keyboardist attention.

Suguru just nodded before going but to playing the music. It was much like when they first met, they always played well together, from the very beginning. It was what had made Bad Luck special. The keyboardist had fulfilled the missing piece in a perfect puzzle. Though, some could question that with the lack of sales, but Hiro had no doubt they would make it to the million mark.

It was an hour or so later before the keyboard was longer touched by talented fingers. "I'm tired," Suguru admitted his hands, resting lightly on the keyboard.

"Yeah," Hiro agreed, setting his guitar down, "I'll take you home."

Normally he would try to seem more independent but he was really tired, emotionally and physically. As much as he loved his music the devotion to it sometimes took more out of him than he liked to admit, so instead of arguing he just replied: "Alright."

Suguru followed Hiro into the elevator and leaned on the back wall as he let him press the buttons. The lights went out and it wouldn't move at all. The guitarist pressed the button again. The keyboardist just let out a sigh.

"We're stuck."

"An elevator will do!" Maiko declare throwing a "V" in the air, while jumping out of her chair. She was full of glee at the screen before her. "Great job boys!"

K nodded and grin.

Sakano however was feeling a sense of panic and began biting on his nails. "What if they starve or…." He looked up at the silver shining weapon at his head.

"Don't doubt the genius of our commander!"

"Gulp, of course I won't."

"They'll be fine." Maiko waved his fears off as if they were nothing. "We'll come back and let them out in the morning. Maybe by then, there will be so hot yaoi action!" She squealed. "Or at least a kiss or two." She swayed in delight.

Shuichi walked towards Yuki's apartment, singing a tune of happiness. Last night had been wonderful, though he originally had been nervous about the whole thing. The older man had been rather gentle and sweet. Things were really working out for him, though…he stopped for a moment. Yuki didn't tell him he loved him yet, but he supposed that could wait, perhaps for a wedding day. His mind drifted into a dream:

Shuichi was dressed in a purple tux that brought out his eyes. Yuki was dressed in off-white tux that complimented all his beautiful features.

"Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do," Shuichi replied.


"Yuki, has written his own vows, would you please read them off now?"

Golden eyes were filled with nothing but love as he gazed upon the love his life. "You are my everything Shuichi, my laughter, joy, and hope. My life would be meaningless without you. Without that smile on your face I wouldn't be able to awaken in the morning, for I have grown accustomed to it. I love you, my darling Shuichi, and I do!" He declared for everyone.

Shuichi's lovesick vision was ruined with a very sad and sudden realization that Yuki would never be like that. He could write romantic mush, but he wasn't very good at spewing it out, if it was actually to mean something to him. Besides, how could he marry someone that he didn't trust? A weight seemed to have landed on his shoulders, as he felt very depressed at the moment. He felt like he was now dragging on his way home.

"Ah, where's the shine?" Ryuichi wondered walking in front of Shuichi. The pink-headed man hadn't notice he had been followed home.

"Oh hey! Sakuma I didn't…I mean, I'm…" he lowered his head, "just distracted."

"Mr. Yuki isn't very nice to you, is he?" The elder singer waved a finger around in a taunting manner.

"Sometimes, he is." A blush seemed to creep onto his face as he thought about how gentle Yuki had been with him the other night.

"He should make you shine all the time. I would make you shine every moment!" Ryuichi insisted and the manner in which he did so was so different from his usual demeanor. It was serious, far from childish.

"Um," Shuichi rubbed his head, grinning. "I really need to go home. Is there something you needed?"

"You mean Yuki's home?" There was a slight bitterness to his voice that the other singer didn't really pick up on.

"It's mine…," but it wasn't, not really. He was just there as long as Yuki wanted him there. That depressing feeling was really starting to overwhelm him.

"My home would be yours," Ryuichi leaned in closer. He looked down at those lips, he wanted to touch them so bad. "Shuichi, don't you still want to be like me?"

"I…I…, of course." He stuttered, aware of the sudden closeness. Something was telling him that this wasn't quite right.

"Then why don't you want to be with me?"

"I'm with Yu—," before he could finish soft lips collide with his somewhat forcibly. Warning bells seemed to have gone off in his head and his violet eyes widened in shock.

Quickly, Shuichi pushed him away, but apparently not in time. A flash came out of nowhere, before the two singers turned to see a pretty girl in blue pig tails with bright green eyes that were glistening with tears and a handsome Japanese man. They instantly recognized as Saki Isumi had Kiyoshi Yusuo, the two reporters from the night him and Yuki... Heat rushed to his face, as a blush made its way to his face.

"How could you!" Saki cried stomping her feet and putting her hand on hips.

"I…" The words just wouldn't make it to his lips. All he could think of was to run away, and so he did. He ran as fast as could with the two reporters trailing on him. However, they couldn't keep up with the panic induced singer.

Ryuichi pouted his lips staring at the pink haired man running in the distance. "I just wanted to make you shine!" He stayed there wondering what Shuichi would do next about the kiss. Though, he had a clue. It seemed Shuichi had already made a choice, Yuki over him.

Yuki ran his hands over his face. He wasn't sure what was supposed to happen next between Elle and Skylar: does she die tragically now and have the hero regret his decision of leaving her? Or does the story drag out some more? Yuki wasn't quite sure what else could happen. There was the introduction, the romance, and now the goodbye, yet it didn't feel quite final. What the novelist couldn't figure out was why? Why didn't it feel like it was coming upon the end? What else was supposed to happen? Skylar was indeed a loner and Elle was meant to be a heart-broken character, so it should be nearing the ending, yet it felt as if something else was supposed to happen. The characters didn't seem to be broken enough. The story was way past a hundred pages now.

He glanced over at the clock and frowned. The brat should be home now, though he really shouldn't care. He supposed Shuichi could be working late, the ridiculous goal of trying to get a whole C.D. by next week was impossible and definitely an idiotic plan. Only a plan his Shuichi…Oh shit not that! He didn't own that brat nor did he want to. It was time to end this! He needed to find the break first, though. He grabbed his coat on the way out.

Yuki saw a depressive Shuichi sitting on a park bench staring at the ground letting his pink hair cover up his beautiful purple eyes that were shimmering with tears. He looked rather pathetic in an adorable way, and the blonde couldn't help but let a smirk appear on his face.

"Shuichi," he called, taking a seat next to him.

"Yuuuki," his voice sounded rather hoarse and soft. He didn't even raise his head or tried to wrap his arms around his love. No, he just stared at the ground and tried to hold the tears back. He felt as though he had betrayed his love in the worse possible way.

He removed his cigarette, he wasn't quite sure why, but he didn't have the heart to tell the adorable man that it was time to end this. He sighed, "Let's go home."

Tohma laced his hands together and stared at a rough draft of tomorrow's paper: Cheater Caught in the Act. The head of N.G. studios had planned this out perfectly and it seemed everything would be working out in his favor. There was no way he would let Shuichi take his place. He would have to see what tomorrow would bring. If this plan failed, well…he had been contemplating on hiring a new manager for A.S.K.

Author's Commentary:

I'm trying get to the point across that Yuki likes Shuichi, he just hates the idea that he does. Shuichi is blissfully, but not completely unaware that things aren't quite right.

The scene with Hiro and Ayaka was giving some problems. It just didn't seem right that she would be insisted of not eating dinner with him, and then end of up doing it. I didn't want to completely delete the scene either. It took awhile to come up with the simple solution of just taking her home.

The original plan was to have Hiro and Ayaka as a couple, but I decided Suguru and Hiro was much better.

Next Chapter Possibilities:

I'm pretty certain, that the Shindo family dinner is in the next chapter. Also we may have a reaction to the newspaper article. Also a new character may show up, as the role of Yuki's ex, and she wasn't just a one-night stand fan.