A/N: This is the end folks. A meeting with Eiri Yuki is coming; who will Shuichi choose?! Anyway, this story is thanks to a friend of mine on Gaiaonline (though I do know her in real life). I really hope you like my ending, because I am not personally good with ends. I'd rather prefer to keep the story going for forever, or kill someone to make it end. But then, I'd be run off of the site with by towns people brandishing pitchforks and torches. So, enjoy. Don't forget to review even though the story is over. And do go read my other stuff.

Chapter 9: Resolution and Absolution

It was the dead of night. Surely Yuki was asleep. Shuichi shakily put his key in the lock.

Ryuichi gently put a hand on Shuichi's shoulder, knowing that the boy was nervous.

Biting his lip, the pink haired singer dropped the key. "I can't do it."

"Of course you can," Ryu said. "I believe in you; Kumagoro too."

"What if I decide to go back to Yuki?"

Ryuichi frowned, then sighed sadly. "Then I would have to be okay with it. Whatever makes you happy, Shu-chan."

"But it would make you sad… I don't want that."

Ryuichi shook his head. "Go on, Shuichi. Do what you think is right," he urged. He really did want Shuichi to choose him, but he braced himself for anything.

Shuichi nodded and picked up his key, shivering as he slid it into the lock and opened the door.

Off of the entrance hall there was a faint light flickering. Shuichi frowned. That was the television.

Shuichi gulped. He strode purposely towards the light to find Yuki on the telephone, watching a repeat of the concert in New York.

Yuki caught Shuichi's movement out of the corner of his eye. "I have to go, yeah… He's here," he said.

Shuichi wiggled nervously. "Um, hi. Tohma said that you saw the concert…"

"You never returned my phone call," Yuki said, scowling.

"I never got it," Shuichi mumbled, sitting uncomfortably on the arm of the sofa.

Yuki's frown deepened. "If you had gotten it, which would you have chosen?" he asked, staring at Shuichi.

"I…" Shuichi bit his lip. "I would have still chosen Ryuichi…" he whispered.

"There's nothing I can do to get you back?" Yuki asked.

"No… you should've worried about loosing me before you did!" Shuichi mumbled, tears pooling in his violet eyes.

"Did you ever love me? I mean, you just turned your back so quick," Yuki accused coldly. "Or was this one of your poppy love songs?"

Shuichi shook his head vehemently. "No! I love you! I still love you! I've always loved you," he whimpered. "But, I… I love Ryuichi too, Yuki… please… it's confusing, and it's not simple at all!"

"I'd love to be enlightened."

Shuichi winced at Yuki's harsh tones. "I'll always love you, Yuki. But, we… weren't going anywhere… We were stuck, and neither of us… I loved the idea of a couple in love, and you loved the idea of having someone there, I'm sure!"

Yuki softened considerably. "So you're saying it never would've worked at all?"

"Maybe… I don't know… I wanted to stay with you," Shuichi mumbled. "But… Ryuichi just felt right, you know…? He clicked in away that you stopped along time ago…"

Yuki sighed. "I know when I've lost."

"Yuki… can we still hang out… I think I'd die if I never got to see you again," the boy whispered.

Yuki sighed. "Fine."

Shuichi lunged forward and hugged Yuki tightly. "Thank you for understanding, Yuki…"

Ryuichi walked in through the main entrance. Yuki sighed and shot the older man a brazen scowl. "I want a talk with you, Ryuichi Sakuma," he muttered, standing only after Shuichi had let go.

The two stood, face to face, scowling at the other with what seemed like utmost hate.

Shuichi sat, staring wide eyed at the two, utterly helpless. "Um!" he squeaked, reaching a hand out towards the two men he loved.

"You'd better watch out for me, Sakuma," Yuki growled. "If I see a chance, I'll take it."

Oh god! Is Yuki talking about killing Ryuichi!? Shuichi wondered frantically.

Ryuichi on the other hand, knew exactly what Yuki was talking about. "Like I'll ever give you a chance; I intend—unlike you—to treat Shuichi right."

Yuki gave a heavy sigh. "Whatever. Just make sure you do," he muttered, turning his back on Ryuichi and making his way back to the sofa. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to Shuichi's cheek. "Take care of yourself, moron," he said fondly.

Shuichi grinned, and stood. "I will. I'll see you later." Ryu made his way over to Shuichi and took the boy's hand, leading him out.

Shuichi sat on Ryuichi's bed, holding Kumagoro. "I seriously thought Yuki was going to kill you!" he mumbled, still on edge from earlier that night.

Ryuichi laughed, and pulled off his shirt. "You just need sleep, Shu-chan."

Shuichi blushed, watching his new lover strip and pull on pajamas. "You've been awake for as long as I have," he pointed out childishly.

Ryuichi smirked, and climbed onto the bed, hovering over Shuichi. "And I'd like some sleep too," he mumbled, pressing his lips to the younger man's in a tender kiss. He pulled away after a moment, then crawled under the covers.

Shuichi followed suit, snuggling up to the brunette. "Love you," he sweetly whispered.

"I love you too… I'm so happy I won you," Ryu mumbled, holding Shuichi close. "I won't give that man a chance to get you back."

Shuichi lay his head against Ryuichi's chest, closing his eyes sleepily. "You won't need to," he said. Then they were quiet.

As he settled down into sleep, Shuichi was happy. Blearily, he wondered, if in some other world, there was another Shuichi, cuddling up to Yuki, being so blissfully happy that he wanted to burst.

The thought almost made him sad, but as he looked up at Ryuichi's sleeping face, that creeping gloom was banished entirely.

END