Hiro glanced at the strange looking lawn decoration – a white reindeer woven out of some wicker-like material and strewn with lights – before returning his attention to the building before him. He had heard from a rather reliable source that Shuichi would be in this particular building, helping those inside to decorate for the upcoming Christmas holiday. According to his informant, the building was home to the 27th precinct for the New York Police Department. The source had also informed the guitarist that his best friend was currently living with one of the detectives, and Shuichi was quite content to be where he was.

It still did not make the guitarist feel any better about how things had turned out. Hiro wanted Shuichi to be happy. That much was a given. However, he had spoken some very harsh words to his best friend before Shuichi had left Japan. He did not remember most of them as he had been drunk when they had been spoken, but Hiro knew he had been part of the reason why the former vocalist had left his home country. The guitarist wanted to make amends and to hopefully take Shuichi back to Tokyo. If he could not . . . well, he did not know what he would do. He just wanted his best friend back, and Shuichi had not been the same since Eiri had been found murdered in their shared apartment. Hiro had an idea as to how he could help his long-time friend.

Hiro inhaled deeply then started to walk up the snow-covered steps of the precinct building. He had come this far. He was not about to turn back now. He had to see Shuichi.

As he entered, the sound of Christmas music greeted him along with the laughter of happy people. One person's laugh stood out above the rest, and Hiro found himself pulled in that person's direction. It took a few moments for Shuichi to come into sight but when he did, Hiro paused.

Amethyst eyes shone with great happiness and slender arms were wrapped around the arms of another, presumably the detective Shuichi lived with. The two looked very comfortable standing next to each other. There was nothing forced about either Shuichi's posture or the other man's, and Hiro had the answers he had been asking himself since the vocalist had disappeared.

Shuichi did not need him in the wake of Eiri's death. He never had, and it hurt like hell. Still, he would approach Shuichi while he remained in New York. He just would not walk up to the vocalist now, not when his best friend of so many years wore a smile on his face. Hiro would not be the reason it disappeared. He had promised himself as much.

As quietly as he had entered, Hiro left, his mind in turmoil but his heart feeling lighter than when he had first entered. He would leave Shuichi to his happiness.

"Merry Christmas, Shu," he murmured as he started his trek back to his hotel. "I hope you get what you've been looking for."