A/N: Augh, this chapter was a pain. I got sidetracked by a new story idea, and so I had to plan it out and everything before I lost it, and… Here it is! You're lucky it was half-written when I posted chapter three. Please Review; if you don't have an account here, I think you can review too, because someone was really nice and told me my anonymous review was disabled. (Thank you!!) I'm pretty sure I fixed it. Kumagoro gets sad when you don't review. (Kuma: I do.)

EDIT: There are spanses of time that are not accounted for in this chapter. These include: Yuki and Shuichi's fight, and Ryuichi writing the lyrics for their duet. THESE WILL COME IN DUE TIME AS FLASHBACKS. Thank you for reading.

Chapter Four: Sing for Me!

"Shuichi, I love you."

Shuichi stared in shock, violet eyes wide. "Wha-what? R-Ryu-ch-chan… Surely, you don't…"

"I do."

The room was silent except for the television's soft buzz. If anyone were to step in on the two, it would look very odd indeed.

Ryuichi was on the bed propped up on his elbows. Shuichi lay on the same bed, under the brunette, his cheeks cradled in the idol's slim hands, blushing like mad. Writing materials were strewn on the mattress with them, and Kumagoro lay, almost helplessly, forgotten on the strip of floor between the two beds.

Shuichi broke the silence. "Ryuichi, I… I'm… I…" he stammered around his heart, which seemed to have taken up residence in his throat. Finally he settled on an answer. "Why?"

Ryu smiled. "Your voice… your personality… your heart… your body," he purred, tracing a smooth finger against Shuichi's trembling jaw. "I love how you so clearly express what you feel without meaning to do so… Even in your songs… They resonate with such passion and pain. …Shuichi… he doesn't love you back!" the older man blurted softly. He knew he was already treading dangerous waters, so why not wade a little further?

Shuichi blushed and frowned. "Of course he does," he protested weakly. "I mean, I lo—"

"Please don't say that you love him, Shuichi. You know you don't anymore," Ryuichi pleaded, his voice no louder than a whisper. "He's hurt you so many times, surely you can't…"

"I don't know," Shuichi whimpered. He didn't know what to do. This was Ryuichi Sakuma! Ryuichi Sakuma, the man he had worshiped and emulated for years and years. Ryuichi Sakuma, who had kissed him twice today, who had slept in his lap, whom he had called cute in his very mind… He's far from cute now, just over the thresh-hold of being fatally sexy! … This was Ryuichi Sakuma, who… who was kissing him again at this very moment!

Shuichi couldn't hold back a moan as the older man pressed his lips a bit harder to his own.

Ryuichi pulled away, leaving Shuichi gasping, blushing, and stunned. "You don't have to give me an answer at all," he mumbled sadly, sliding off the bed. He gathered the writing materials, and Kumagoro in his arms, then headed towards the door. "I'm going to go check out the score for the song."

And then he was gone.

I don't know what to do… What do I do?
Ryuichi sank to the floor of my room and I was utterly shocked.

"You're his best friend, please, help me a little," he begged.

I took my eyes off of him and looked at my guitar, frowning. "It just depends on what you need help with," I said slowly, rolling the options around in my head.

"Tell me how he's felt about his relationship with that novelist."

I stare back at Ryuichi. Sighing, I come to one conclusion. "You love him, don't you?"

Ryuichi looked up with wide, pained eyes. It was almost like looking at Shuichi. How weird… their uncanny likeness to each other always weirds me out a bit. He nodded.

"I don't want to hurt him, but I don't want him to be hurt either," the man said.

That was an unhelpful statement there, but I get his drift.

"It's rocky at best. Yuki still hasn't figured out if he loves him or not. They're not on the best of terms all the time. A fight here, a kiss there, the norm for them."

Ryuichi sat for a moment, and then sighed with a resigned air about him. He stood. "Thank you Nakano-san."

I shrug and go back to tuning my guitar. "I'm sorry I can't help you more, Sakuma-san. As long as you don't hurt Shuichi, I can help a little more. It hurts to see the little guy in a one way relationship."

"It hurts me too." And with that cryptic answer, Ryuichi left.

Suguru came out of the bathroom, drying his hair. "Was that Sakuma-san?"

"Yuh-huh," I said serenely, looking down the neck of my guitar to make sure nothing was knocked out of line over the flight.

"Why?"

"Just discussing the score for their new song," I lie, knowing that Suguru wouldn't want to get caught in this sticky love triangle that had been weaved.

"Oh. I almost thought it would be something about Shindou-kun…"

Shuichi lie on his bed, holding his cell phone limply. He felt the slim object slide from his fingers and clatter to the floor. He knew he shouldn't have called Yuki for advice…

He knew it was a bad move… Yet here he was, still numb from the fight that they had over it.

Shuichi whimpered and covered his eyes with his forearm. It was the worst fight yet.

There hadn't been any yelling, just cool disappointment, and waves of contempt he could feel over the phone.

'He'll get over it, I know he will because he loves me…'

"…Shuichi… he doesn't love you back!"

"Bu-but if I love him long enough, he'll come around!" Shuichi protested softly, trying to push the memory of Ryuichi's pleading eyes, strong voice… and soft lips, from his mind.

"Please don't say that you love him, Shuichi. You know you don't anymore."

It suddenly hit Shuichi. He… didn't… love… Yuki anymore… It was over and gone with, just like that… It left him feeling empty, but alive… It was like he was in love with the idea of being in love...

"I mean, I love him… but," Shuichi mumbled. "How odd…" he mumbled, sitting up as Ryuichi entered their room.

The older man looked strangely guarded. There was some pain in his eyes, and he handed the writing tablet to Shuichi.

"Thank you… Hey, Ryuichi, I—"

Ryuichi put his finger up to his lips. "I'm sorry for forcing myself onto you like that, Shuichi. This is my part, and the chorus of our song. I would love it, if… when you sing… I know you sing your songs for Yuki, and I respect that… but when we sing this… would you sing it for me?" he asked softly, a childish hope spreading into his voice. "Please, Shuichi?"

Shuichi frowned. "Y-yeah, I will…But, Ryuichi, I—"

Ryu shushed him again. "No need to tell me, I already know…"he murmured. Shuichi brightened, he knew! He wouldn't have to awkwardly explain how he realized—it really just sort of hit him in the chest—that he didn't like Yuki the way he thought.

Ryuichi saw Shuichi perk, and he sighed. "I know that you don't love me anymore than a friend, Shuichi. I'm fine with that…"

It was really stupid of me to force myself onto him, but I couldn't help it anymore.

I tossed a rock at the pond, watching the ripples undulate across the glassy surface. I felt like shit. Not even Kumagoro could cheer me up with his hugs and smiles…

He was so cute; I could have said I was thinking of Kumagoro or something for my inspiration! But it's always him that comes to mind when I get ready for a concert, or ready to write a new song…

Those lyrics for our duet… it will be no problem to pour that emotion into my voice…

My heart is breaking…It hurts, and aches … Is this what it feels like to have a heart attack? My heart squeezing itself into its core… if it collapses anymore… I'll have a black hole for a heart.

Maybe I already do.

I put Kumagoro on a branch, then leaned down and pick up another rock.

I sigh and lean against a tree, a round, smooth stone enclosed in my hand. I take aim, and one-two-three-four-fi…

Four and a half times it skimmed the surface… Just how I skimmed the surface when I told Shuichi why I loved him… At least I can hear his voice filled with love for me in that one song… One song… That's enough for me.

"SAKUMA-SAN!"

I turned, half expecting a fan, but was instead tackled by a speeding pink blur…

"What the fu--?!"

"I read those lyrics, Sakuma-san," Shuichi said, hugging my waist tightly. "And don't worry, I'll sing it for you!" he cried, pushing his face against my chest. "I'll sing all my songs for you!"

I blinked, and then wrapped my arms around Shuichi tightly, laughing. I couldn't stop laughing.

Hell, who was I kidding?! One can never be enough!

I squeezed the crying Shuichi, my own laughter changing to tears as well.

Kumagoro watched us from his perch, smiling in approval.