Chapter 5

Bad Luck's tour in Canada was a huge success. K and Sakano leapt for joy when they saw the increase in sales and ratings. They celebrated back in Japan at their favorite restaurant in Kyoto. They were having a lot of fun.

"And here's to Shuichi, who managed to pull himself together every time and perform with inexplicable talent." K said as he did his twentieth toast of the night. Several of them were getting quite drunk. Strangely enough, the one who kept his head on straight was Shuichi. He didn't drink that night and was more than happy to keep his friends from getting killed by taking them each home.

After making sure that everyone was safe and sound in their homes, Shuichi caught a cab downtown to an unfamiliar apartment building. He pulled out a key and went inside.

"Todaima!" he called out to no one. He walked inside and looked around at his apartment. It looked a lot like Yuki's except for the way the furniture was arranged. He went and sat down on the couch. His cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out. Yuki was calling him.

"Hello?"

"Where are you? I know your plane landed six hours ago."

"We went out to celebrate."

"For six hours?"

"They got drunk. I had to take them home. K doesn't happen to live in the city, you know."

"He couldn't live that far away."

"It was a ninety minute drive, to and from."

"Where are you now?"

"At home." Yuki was silent. At home?

"You're at your parents' house?"

"No." No? If he wasn't at his parents' house, where was he?

"What are you talking about, Shuichi?"

"I moved out. Haven't you noticed? Didn't you think that things were a bit clean when you got home?"

"When?"

"The day before we went on tour your sister came by and saw me packing my things. I was originally going back to my parents' house until I found an apartment, but she was kind enough to help me look for one. She even helped furnish it. I must say, she has good taste. I think she went back to your apartment and cleaned it for me too."

"Why?""Lost for words, Yuki? You haven't used more than eight words in a sentence. That's not like you. You could at least at the usual 'brat' or 'twerp' at the end. You should know why Yuki. When you treat people the way you do, you lose them eventually. Even I can't take that much abuse." They were both silent for a while.

"Listen Yuki, I've got to go to work in the morning. I'll see you around." Shuichi said and hung up. It hurt to tell him that way, but Yuki left him no choice. He wasn't going to be treated like a rag doll. Shuichi got off the couch and got ready for bed. He turned over on his side with the determination that he would never cry for Eiri Yuki again.

Yuki stared at the phone for a little while after Shuichi hung up. He was gone. Just like that. No notice. No anything. He was just gone. Yuki dialed his sister.

"Hello?"

"Mika."

"Yuki! Ugh! It's three a.m. in the morning. Is your clock not working or something?"

"Where is it?"

"Where is what?" Mika paused. "You mean Shuichi's apartment, don't you?" You could hear Tohma in the background. "What are you two talking about at three o'clock in the morning?" "Be quiet and go to bed. You'll find out tomorrow."

"Hello, Yuki?"

"Yes."

"I'm not telling you."

"Why not?"

"Because Shindou-kun told me not to." You can hear Tohma again. "Are they having problems again?" "Yes, now go to bed or I'll knock you unconscious."

"You'll have to find him and talk to him yourself, Yuki. Goodnight." Mika hung up.

Yuki stayed on the couch that night, knowing that was where Shuichi was last.

Mika turned over in her bed. Tohma sighed.

"What now?" He asked.

"Shuichi moved out." She said and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Why?"

"He was tired of Yuki treating him like crap so he moved into an apartment on the other side of town." Tohma laughed.

"He finally had enough of Yuki Eiri, huh?"

"No."

"What do you mean no?"

"He's teaching Yuki a lesson."

"What?"

"Yeah. He's teaching him a lesson, all right. Watch and see how long it takes for Yuki to crack."

"All right."

"I'll make you a bet."

"How much."

"I bet that Yuki goes crawling to Shuichi by the end of the day tomorrow. If I win, we go to the Bahamas for two weeks."

"Okay, but I say the end of the week, and if I win, we go to Venice."

"Fine with me."

"Deal?"

"Deal."