Chapter 3

Yuki turned on the TV in his hotel room. As the glare subsided from his glasses, he was greeted with a blown-up picture of Shuichi.

"The famous Japanese band Bad Luck will be gracing the stages of several Canadian cities this month."

Yuki turned off the TV after watching the clip of Shuichi and the band waving goodbye to Japan and boarding the plane. He saw the guilt in Shuichi's face. He deserves to feel guilty. He promised that he would stay in Japan. The phone rang.

"Hello?" Yuki answered.

"Yuki?" It was Shuichi. His voice was timid.

"Yes."

"You've probably seen the news by now."

"I have."

"Then you know I'm on my way to Canada."

"Yes."

"I'm sorry, Yuki! I promise you, I knew nothing about it!"

"I should care about this why?" Shuichi paused a moment.

"I thought you would be angry since I promised to stay in Japan."

"I don't care what you do. I thought you would have realized that by now." Shuichi didn't answer. Yuki heard a female voice in the background.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we will be landing in fifteen minutes. Please turn off all electronics and end all phone calls for your own safety. Thank you."

"I have to go Yuki. Please don't be mad at me." Yuki hung up and stared at the phone for a minute. Mad? Why would he be mad? He doesn't care about what the little brat does. A part of him denied it and made him feel guilty for a second. He promised me that he would stay in Japan. Part of him was angry that he broke his promise and another part was a little forgiving seeing as he knew what kind of a manager Shuichi had. Yuki turned out the lights in his room and went to bed.

Shuichi got off the plane and quickly headed for their taxi. Fans and news reporters were everywhere. He got in followed by Fujisaki and Hiro. K got in front with the driver. They drove to the hotel in quiet and checked into the lobby. Shuichi retrieved his room key and went to the elevator. He had requested a room on a completely different floor from everyone else. He leaned against the elevator wall and watched the number rise, feeling a bit of déjà vu. He got off and walked down the quiet hall to his room. He sat on the bed and looked around. It was quiet and he felt a bit lonely. Just like home. He picked up the phone and dialed the number for Yuki's room.

"Hello?" answered a groggy Yuki.

"I'm sorry Yuki. Did I wake you up?" Shuichi asked.

"Yes you woke me up!" Yuki yelled.

"I'm sorry." Shuichi replied timidly.

"Don't you have to perform in the morning? Why are you calling me in the middle of the night?" Yuki asked.

"I just wanted to talk to you."

"Can't you talk with Hiro?"

"I'm not in the same room as Hiro and Fujisaki. I requested one of my own. I'm on the sixth floor. They're on the fourth."

"Why in the world would you do something like that? Someone's got to make sure you don't do anything stupid." Yuki was getting irritated.

"It reminds me of home." Yuki was silent.

"Home?"

"Yeah. There was no one at home when I left and there's no one in the room with me so it feels like I'm at home." Yuki hit the wall in frustration. A painting in Shuichi's room moved.

"Are you trying to put me in a guilt trip or something? I told you I was going away for a month three weeks before I left. You could have went over to Hiro's or your parents. You didn't have to stay at the apartment."

"Yuki?"

"What?"

"Did you just hit the wall?"

"Yes, why?" Shuichi didn't answer.

"Why, Shuichi?" Again, there was no answer. Someone knocked on Yuki's door. Yuki put down the phone and opened the door. Shuichi was standing there.

"Because I think you're next door to me." Shuichi said. The cigarette in Yuki's mouth almost dropped to the floor. He slammed the door in Shuichi's face. Shuichi didn't knock again. He went back to his room. He knew it. Yuki was mad at him. He got into his bed and quietly cried himself to sleep.