a/n: Minna! It's been a while since I updated! And here I am giving you the last chapter. Oh how time flies! (And yeah, I should be concentrating on school work instead of this because I'm a graduating student)

The song I used here is not mine. It's from full moon wo sagashite, entitled Eternal Snow. (English translation)

To those who are asking about Gravitation EX scans, it could be found on gallery(dot)yukieiri(dot)com, if you still have questions about this, send me a PM, and make sure your email address is still active for me to reply.

oh yeah, special thanks to Mayumi chan!

Chapter 17

Mind or Heart, Mind and Heart

Shuichi removed his clothes and prepared for his cold bath. It was summer and he needed to freshen up. Maiko greeted him on the airport yesterday, convincing him to live with her. But he couldn't do that. He doesn't want to do that. He wanted to be alone, even for just a little time.

And so he welcomed the cold drizzles of the shower, wiping his face and applying shampoo on his hair. He rested one palm on the cold tiles and for a moment he was lost in thoughts. He watched the water run down the drain, like a little whirlwind. He didn't know why, but he felt hot water running down his cheeks.

"Baka Shuichi." he told himself and wiped his tears. He turned of the shower and dried himself.

It has been two days since he left Japan. Hiro said Ryuichi wanted to contact him regarding the final band competition but he kept silent. There are many things to do than sing.

"I'll heal my heartache first." He said to himself and sighed.

He got his notebook and pen to write a song. As he flipped the pages, he noticed the front cover of the notebook has a small shining part. He made a closer look and bit his lip.

It was a shining neo print of him and Eiri, taken during their date in Odaiba.

"Fake date." He remembered and threw the whole notebook on the floor.

"It's wrong to throw that away, Shuichi." said a low voice from the window.

In an instant, Shuichi jumped in shock and ran to hide behind a cabinet. The curtains were swaying with the breeze.

"I – I closed that window earlier." Shuichi whispered to himself and gasped when a pale hand gripped the window pane. Slowly, he saw the figure peek in. It walked inside the room, picked the notebook, and handed it back to Shuichi.

Shuichi stared at the person in front of him, ignoring the notebook that was being handed to him.

"What's wrong? Why are you staring at me like that?"

"You. W – why are you here? H – how did you –

The figure placed the notebook on the bed and cornered a confused Shuichi on the wall. When Shuichi's back was already rested on the wall, he leaned forward and greeted him with a kiss.

"Gah!" Shuichi pulled away and ran towards the door, but the figure was faster than him.

"What are you doing?!" Shuichi shouted and tried to push the taller man away from the door. "I want to go out! Help – somebody help me!"

"Don't shout, baka! If someone hears you –

"Help! Hey! I said help!" Shuichi shouted more and started to cry.

"W – wait. Shuichi wait, d – don't cry. Pease baby, don't cry." The figure slumped with a crying Shuichi and hugged him. "I won't do anything to you."

Shuichi kept on crying. "Why are you here? I don't want to see you again, Eiri."

"But I want to see you. I know you want to see me too."

Shuichi kept silent while inhaling Eiri's familiar scent. It scared him how Eiri always appear on windows and on places that was impossible to reach.

"How did you? How did you know I was here?"

"Hiro."

"Hiro? You threatened my best friend! You are really –

"What are you talking about? He helped me! He was the one who approached me."

Flashback

"Aniki? Com'n open up the door. Dinner's ready." Tatsuha called out.

"Go away. I don't want to eat." There was a faint grumble from inside. Tatsuha sighed. Eiri wasn't coming out of his room since yesterday and he was worried. He heard from several rumors that Shuichi left the school and went to another country.

"Aniki. Sulking inside your room wouldn't bring Shuichi back. At least try eating something."

Tatsuha pressed his ear on the door. There was no sound, or whatsoever. "Yeah, be just like that. Stay depressed and kill yourself. I hope Shuichi will not come back to you because you're a loser." He shouted. "Cheater!"

At that instant, Eiri opened the door furiously and grabbed Tatsuha by the collar. "Shut up! You don't know anything!"

Tatsuha gasped. He never saw his brother look so pale and wasted. He had dark circles under his eyes, his hair was a mess and his clothes were crumpled. He made a sour look. "I don't know anything huh?" he removed Eiri's crumpled fist on his shirt and pushed his brother on the floor. "I may not know what really happened between the two of you but I know that you are in love with him."

Eiri glared at his brother and stood up, walked back inside his room and locked the door.

Eiri went to his bathroom and washed his face. He concluded that Tatsuha was right. He sure looked like he was sulking.

He went to bed and stared at the picture of him and Shuichi.

Minutes passed and his eyes were tired of staring. He hid the picture on his drawer and went to sleep.

When he woke up, he could smell the aroma of pancakes sitting on his front door. He tried to obey his brother's advice and ate a little of his food.

"Damnit Shuichi. Why can't I stop thinking of you?" he asked himself.

He went to school with a heavy heart. He was about to go on his seat when he noticed someone was already sitting on it.

The said person looked at him from head to toe.

"What?" Eiri asked irritably.

"I don't know why Shuichi liked you. You sure look handsome but in the inside, you are the opposite."

"Nakano kun. Just get straight to the point. I want to sit down, if you don't mind."

"Shuichi left this school with a lot of memories." Hiro said while standing up. "You gave him both good and bad ones. Judging from your appearance now, I think you're feeling the same as what Shuichi feels today."

Do I really look wasted? Eiri asked himself, but remained calm.

"I really don't know if this is a good idea, but," Hiro got a thin piece of paper on his jacket and handed it to Eiri. "Shuichi needs you. You should follow him, and say everything you want."

Eiri looked at the paper on his hand. It was a ticket to America. When he looked up, he saw Hiro walking away.

"W – wait. Wait a minute." He called out, but Hiro just waved his hand carelessly.

"If I'm wrong about my intuition that you like Shuichi, go ahead and throw that. Anyway, I'm rich. That ticket only cost a small amount of money to me. " he said and left the room.

Eiri stared at the ticket and gulped. Going to class is not in his options, and so, he ran away to pack his things.

He later found himself in front of the large Narita station, one bag in hand and the ironed ticket on the other. He didn't know why, but his whole body felt like he was being watched. Shrugging off the feeling, he quickly ran to the waiting area, and sat patiently, for his flight to be called.

"I'll bring you back to Japan, Shuichi."

End Flashback

"That's not true. I don't want to see you." Shuichi remained like a brat and tried to free himself away from Eiri.

"Fine then." Eiri muttered angrily and sat on the window pane. "Tatsuha said I should just kill myself."

"Heh. You wouldn't." Shuichi spat and glared at him. But deep inside, just seeing Eiri on that dangerous position was like stabbing his own heart with a knife.

"Wouldn't I?" Eiri challenged him and scooted to a much dangerous position.

"Uesugi. Stop joking around. If you want to die, then don't do it here!" Shuichi commanded. Baka Eiri. Get down from there before something bad happens!

"I won't fall from this window unless you say that you forgive me." Eiri said darkly, his eyes showing seriousness.

The brat bit his lip. I don't want you to die Eiri. "How could I forgive such a bastard like you? You made me believe that you love me. You even slept with me just to get that fucking money. Worst of all, it was from Tachi!"

"That's why I'm here to say sorry. Please forgive me Shu. To be honest with you, all I wanted back then was Tachi's offer. But when we started dating, I felt something different. You were pure, innocent. I can't believe I was –

Eiri glanced outside the window, as if trying to figure out something he forgot, and then he continued. Shuichi knotted his eyebrows.

- I can't believe I was fooling someone as kind as you, so I tried to be cold. But you were still clinging on me, no matter what."

"Didn't you know I was hurt? I'm sorry Eiri. But I cannot forgive you and –

"Shuichi, I love you."

Shuichi's eyes widened and before he could say anything, he saw Eiri move again to a more dangerous position. Eiri stood on the window pane.

"You're black mailing me!" Shuichi shouted, angrily this time.

"I won't jump from this window unless you tell me that you love me." Eiri warned, he loosened his grip on the curtains.

"Eiri, no!"

"Say it. Say that you love me, or I'll jump." Eiri said with finality on his tone. He completely let go of the curtains.

Shuichi didn't know what to do. He had mixed emotions. His mind kept on telling that Eiri betrayed him and he shouldn't forgive the blonde. His heart though, was telling him to forgive Eiri and pull him back for a hug.

Even though his heart and mind was arguing, both were shouting the same words:

I love Eiri.

It happened in an instant. The gentle breeze blew hard, causing Eiri to be off balanced. Shuichi saw it all. Eiri's left foot slipped and his whole body fell down. Shuichi saw the shocked expression on Eiri's face before he finally went out of sight.

"EIRI! I LOVE YOU! PLEASE DON'T DIE!" Shuichi shouted and ran to the window. He attempted to save Eiri.

"Eiri please don't – die?"

"Ow. Ow. That hurts!" Eiri shouted.

Shuichi covered his mouth. How can he be stupid again? He forgot that his room was located at the ground floor. And there's no way Eiri would die if he jumped from his window.

"Ouch. Oh, it hurts so bad." Eiri said and rubbed his back.

"Oh no, Eiri kun, are you ok?" a female voice came beside him.

"Maiko?! What are you doing here?"

"Oh, hi brother!" she waved.

"MA – I – KO! What's the meaning of this! What's that large paper doing in your hands?" Shuichi jumped from the window and grabbed the paper from Maiko's hands.

Shuichi read it.

Please forgive me Shu. To be honest with you, all I wanted back then was Tachi's offer. But when we started dating, I felt something different. You were pure, innocent. I can't believe I was fooling someone as kind as you, so I tried to be cold. But you were still clinging on me, no matter what.

"You! What you said back then was scripted!" Shuichi cried.

"Oh, brother, you are such an idiot." Maiko stood up and punched his brother on the face. "That was really Eiri kun's feelings. I just wrote it down in a much romantic way."

"You planned this with him. How could you Maiko! You are my sister! And that bastard hurt my feelings!"

"I know that." Maiko said and helped Eiri to stand. "But this guy here is sincere. He even followed you here. Forgive him Shu chan. And you said it yourself. You still love him."

Eiri looked at Shuichi's eyes intently. "What I said earlier. They were all true." He tried to walk towards Shuichi, standing up when he trips. "I really love you."

Shuichi burst into tears. He felt a hand touch his hair, and the next thing that followed was an embrace from Eiri.

Maiko sighed contently and left them.

"Baka Eiri." Shuichi whispered and embrace Eiri back. "Baka."

The blonde took this opportunity to look at Shuichi's eyes. He kissed his eyelids, cheeks, and gave him a sweet kiss on the lips.

"You're the one who's stupid." Eiri smiled at him, and hugged once again.

"Alright! Let's do our best, Hiro and Fuji – kun!"

"That's the spirit Shuichi!" Hiro hugged his best friend and clasped hands with Fujisaki.

"Ah, I have a bad feeling about this." Fujisaki started to worry while Shuichi was busy entertaining himself with Ryu – sensei's kumagoro.

"Don't worry baby. If Shuichi's spirit is like that, we'll be in good hands." Hiro gave him a peck and whispered seductively. "Let's got out and have dinner at my place after this."

Fujisaki blushed and nodded.

"Good luck Shu chan! It's nice to have you back." Ryuichi gave him a pat of encouragement. "I hope you'll win this competition."

"He surely will." Eiri came from behind and squeezed himself between a flirting Sakuma and an excited Shuichi.

"Thank you ASK, and now, the last band to compete – it's non other than, Bad Luck!" the announcer said, and all their schoolmates cheered for them. Eiri gave Shuichi a quick kiss before letting him go on stage. Fujisaki and Hiro held each other's hands while walking on stage.

The lights dimmed. And a soft tune played in the background. A few seconds later, Shuichi's warm and gentle voice was heard.

Hold me tight, strong enough to break me

If we meet in a biting cold blizzard

I won't feel cold, and

I miss you everytime I think of you

Eiri listened to the song carefully. Of all the songs that Shuichi sang to him, this was definitely something new.

Shuichi glanced and smiled at him.

This scarf that I knit for you

I'm holding it alone tonight

If there were an eternally falling snow

This feeling I have for you, could I hide it?

It surely was dedicated to him. Days after they reconciled, which by the way is one week ago, he couldn't find time to be with Shuichi. or rather, it was Shuichi who couldn't find time for him. He was always with Hiro and Fujisaki, practicing until the end of the day. Worst of all, they were with their coach, which was non other than Ryuichi sensei.

Hold me tight if I think like this

I didn't want to know

What it was like to fall in love with someone

He's so jealous, that he didn't realize he was already squeezing his own brother to death.

"A – aniki. You're killing me!"

"Oh." He said and let go of Tatsuha, who was beside him at the back stage.

I love you; my chest fills up

I want to cry out to the winter sky

I want to see you now

But, with this song, because of this song, he had nothing to worry about. He was sure Shuichi loves him.

"Thank you Bad Luck, for that heart warming song. So, you chose a different beat this time huh? It's too different from the other bands' performance of rock songs." The announcer said.

Shuichi jumped on Eiri's arms after going backstage. "Did you hear my song? I composed that just for you." He said sweetly.

"You really have zero talent." Eiri said.

"Heh, getting all lovey dovey at this point? Why don't you pick up your things and go home Bad Luck? What a lousy performance." Tachi greeted them from behind.

"What's so lousy about being unique?" Fujisaki said and stuck out his tongue.

"You bratty little shit!" Tachi attempted to punch him but Hiro grabbed his arm.

"Don't even think about it." He glared at Tachi who stepped back.

"Let's go Tachi, we are being called on stage." Ma kun said.

He gave one last glare at everybody, and gave Shuichi a smirk.

"You must be very sad, Tachi." Shuichi said, and walked past through him.

Tachi's eyes widened. Why are you not affected at all!

Once on stage, the announcer waved a white envelope to the audience. See here guys, the winner is in my hands." She winked and opened the envelope. "Oh my. Just as I expected."

"Garnering an average of 88.9 percent, this year's third placer is, ASK!"

The crowd hooted and someone from the panel of judges gave their trophy.

Tachi smirked at Bad Luck. See this? We are third place in this overall competition.

Fujisaki and Hiro replied with a sour face.

"Garnering an average of 89.1 percent, this year's second placer is Spring Way!" she clapped her hands as another judge handed them the trophy.

"And now, with an average of – oh my, they are pulling away! An average of 96.7 percent, this year's winner, champion, number one –

The lights dimmed again and spotted Shuichi.

"This year's champion is Bad Luck!"

"Yeah!" Shuichi shouted and jumped on both Hiro and Fujisaki. "We won guys! We won!"

The crowd clapped for them and a judge gave them their trophy and a contract to work on one of the largest music companies in the country. "Congratulations Bad Luck, and thank you for singing that song. It touched our hearts."

Shuichi received the trophy and waved at the audience.

Fujisaki and Hiro stood beside 2nd placer Spring Way and got the chance to stuck out their tongue just to irritate ASK.

After the competition, Hiro and Fujisaki went to Hiro's place to celebrate. Shuichi on the other hand went with Eiri to the park, bringing with him their trophy.

"Ah, I'm so happy we won." He snuggled on Eiri's arm.

"Heh, I wonder how. That was a crappy lyric you wrote."

"Hidoi." He pouted. "That song was for you." He pulled away from Eiri and snuggled his trophy.

"I was just teasing you, dummy." He said and pulled Shuichi back for a passionate make out kiss.

They stayed silent for a while, enjoying each other's company. Shuichi rested his head on Eiri's chest. "I love you."

Eiri smiled. "Congratulations Shuichi."

And I love you too.

a/n: what?! I can't believe that's the ending! Maybe that's what you are thinking. But, honestly, that's seriously the ending of this fic. Ah, finally, I can focus on Who is Eiri's Star and Truth behind the Dare!

Thanks to those who reviewed!

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wow! really, thanks for all the support. aw, i feel like crying..

tammy love: by any chance, do you play club penguin? i saw your codename there.

darkmetalangelod destruction, thanks for your reviews and suggestions!

shabi- thanks for the long review

and of course, mayumi chan! thanks for constantly emailing me!