Chapter 3

Yuki didn't know what their destination was, all he knew was that Shuichi had some kind of plan, which was a scary thought. Shuichi was holding his hand, skipping as he walked.

"Yuki, I'm so glad you came with me." He said as he stopped. Yuki noticed they were standing in front of the Eiffel Tower.

"Not even I would pass up on a chance to go to Paris for free." Shuichi smiled and turned back towards their destination.

"Eiri Yuki. Fancy running into you here." A familiar voice called out, stopping the couple in their tracks. Yuki turned slowly.

"Tohma?"

"Oh, brother, what brings you to Paris?" Shuichi stepped in front of Yuki.

"Hey! Tohma! You already know why we're here! I told you last week at work!" Tohma grinned at Shuichi.

"Oh, did you? I must not have been listening..." He scratched his ear as he gave them an innocent look. Shuichi leaped forward, but Yuki stopped him midair.

"Is there a reason you tracked me all the way to Paris, Seguchi?" Tohma stepped up to Yuki, leaning on his shoulder.

"Oh, I just think we need to have a little chat is all. Won't you please join me for dinner?"

"I think I already have plans." Shuichi tapped Yuki on the shoulder.

"It's okay." Yuki raised an eyebrow at the singer.

"What do you mean?"

"Go ahead. Tonight. But after that, you're mine." He shot Tohma a hard stare.

"Well, you heard him! Let's go!" Tohma grabbed Yuki's arm, jerking him away.

"Wait!" Shuichi shouted, pulling Yuki's other arm. The two tugged the writer back and forth a few times.

"Let go! Both of you!" Yuki shouted, pulling his arms away. He turned to Shuichi. "What?" Shuichi rose to the tips of his toes and kissed him.

"I love you." Yuki rubbed Shuichi's head playfully. His silent way of returning Shuichi's feelings.

"I'll see you later tonight." Yuki called, waving.

"Maybe..." Tohma added, giggling.

"Damn, I hate that guy..." Shuichi mumbled to himself as he made his way back to the hotel. "Just wanted a romantic night with Yuki... why does Seguchi hate me so much?... he's just jealous..."

"It's kind of cute, the way you talk to yourself..." Shuichi looked up to see the Japanese man from the fashion company.

"Y-you again!"

"*Bonjour Shuichi! Comment allez vous?"

"Um... I don't speak French..." Shuichi said, looking confused.

"Oh nevermind. So, your Yuki didn't come with you? Is that it?" Toshiro stroked Shuichi's cheek, cupping his chin. Shuichi pulled his face away.

"Your wrong. Yuki did come with me." The strange man looked around.

"I don't see him..."

"That's cause he's out. But he'll be back soon." Shuichi said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"You mean he could have you all to himself, but he would rather be off somewhere else? He's an idiot."

"Hey! Don't say bad things about Yuki! He's not an idiot! He can't help it if sometimes he has stuff to do!" Cold drops of water began splattering Shuichi and Toshiro.

"Shit. Rain." Toshiro cursed as he grabbed Shuichi's wrist, running into the hotel lobby. "Damn it. My ride won't be here for a half an hour." Shuichi looked up at the tall man.

"Um... I'm sure you can wait here in the lobby...until they get here, that is..." Toshiro stepped towards Shuichi, pinning him against the wall, his hand resting on a sign.

"Can't you read?" Shuichi looked up at the sign. Non flaner dans le hall.

"I told you already, I don't speak French." Toshiro placed one finger below the first word.

"No..." He glided to the next word. "...loitering..." Next. "...in the..." the last word. "...lobby. He moved so that his and Shuichi's noses were almost touching. "So you see, I can't wait here. So why don't you go ahead and invite me up to your room?"

"You have thirty minutes. If your ride isn't here after that, you're stuck in the rain..." What the hell is wrong with me? I don't want to be alone with this guy... he's creepy... Shuichi cursed himself.

"Is there a reason we're here, or did you just want to lure me away from him?" Yuki asked as a waiter set two glasses of wine in front of them.

"A little bit of both, I suppose."

"So...?"

"I'm here to once again attempt to bring you to your senses." Yuki rolled his eyes, drinking his wine in one sip.

"Tohma, I'm going to be with him. Deal with it."

"Eiri, please, listen to me. He's no good for you. He only causes you more stress."

"I've told you, I don't care."

"I see I am fighting a losing battle there, but to my other point... I want you to return to Japan with me tomorrow. Shindou will be fine by himself. It's only two weeks."

"Tohma, you know as well as I do what would happen if I left him here by himself. He doesn't speak the language, and well, let's be honest, he's not the sharpest tool in the shed. He would never make it home alive."

"Would that really be so much of a loss?"

"I will leave."

"Oh, Eiri, I finally got through to you?" Tohma leaned in, grinning ear to ear.

"No. I mean, I'll leave you here and go back to him right now, if you keep saying things like that."

"Ah. I knew you cared about him, but apparently he is even more important to you than I am." Yuki rubbed his forehead out of frustration.

"You can't compare the two relationships, Tohma." Tohma sighed.

"See, but that's the problem..." It was almost a whisper. "Look, Yuki, I have a bad feeling about this trip. Something is going to happen. K can come watch over Shindou, if you insist on that, but won't you please reconsider and return home with me?"

"You've always done a great job, you know? Of protecting me. I take you for granted sometimes. You care for me. You always look out for me."

"That's because I love you."

"The problem is, Tohma, I'm all grown up now."

"What exactly are you saying, Eiri?"

"Something I should have said a long time ago. I'm cutting the cord. It's time you stop trying to protect me, and start focusing more on my sister."

"But Eiri! You could get hurt!" Tohma was on his feet, his hands flat on the table.

"That's one of the things he's made me see. It's not always about the end result, sometimes you just have to enjoy the journey."

"That's just plain foolishness. Things between you two will never work out."

"Shuichi doesn't think about what will happen even five minutes in the future, much less ten years. Yeah, it backfires. But he's always happy. And he makes me happy. So what if I end up hurt, or dead, at least I was happy. Don't you want me to be happy, nii-chan?"

"Of course..."

"Then sit down and decide what you want to eat. I don't want to talk about this anymore." Tohma nodded, realizing he was fighting a loosing battle.

Shuichi fumbled nervously through his hotel room as Toshiro took a seat on the couch.

"Do you want some tea or something?"

"I'm fine. This is a nice room, isn't it?" Shuichi sat in the floor on the other side of the room.

"Yeah, it's really great..."

"Why are you sitting all the way over there. I don't bite... often..." The smirk he gave made Shiuchi's skin crawl.

"No, it's okay. I'm great right here... Um... Can I ask why you were outside my hotel?"

"Well, Shuichi, I'm going to be honest with you." He stood up, walking slowly towards the singer. "I am a connoisseur of beautiful things. Ever since the first time I heard you singing, I thought to myself, J'adore. Je tiens sa beaute**." He crouched down in front of Shuichi as he spoke French that the pink haired boy didn't understand.

"I've told you, I don't speak French. What are you saying?" Toshiro smiled and patted Shuichi on the head.

"If I told you, it wouldn't be as fun." Shuichi scanned Toshiro's face.

"What are you? I've met a lot of strange people in the past couple of years, but there's definitely something off about you."

"What am I? I am the reason you are in Paris right now. In this luxurious suit. With that writer of yours. And do you know what I think. I think that you are a fool." Shuichi stood to his feet.

"Hey! You can't go around talking to people like that! Who do you think you are?" Toshiro rose to Shuichi's level.

"I thought that was how you liked to be treated. After all, you are with Eiri."

"You don't know what you're talking about! And what do you mean by you're the reason I'm here?"

"I am the designer of that ensemble you have on right now."

"Designer? You mean?"

"That's right." Toshiro walked closer to Shuichi. "It's my outfit. I designed it especially for you to wear. I picked you."

"Why?"

"Because, I like beautiful things. I make beautiful clothes. I want beautiful people in my beautiful clothes. Beaute est tout.***"

"Will you stop it with the fucking French!"

"Shuichi, you are beauty. And I will have you for my own. I am ten times the man Eiri Yuki could ever be!" Toshiro placed his hand on the back of Shuichi's neck, pulling him closer.

"You don't know anything about Yuki. You are wrong. I will never be yours. He is all I ever need."

"I know more about him than you, I'm sure. After all, I knew him before his name was Yuki."

"W-what?"

"I see he's never mentioned me. It figures. America changed him. He's pathetic now."

"You obviously don't know anything about him! Don't you ever say bad things about Yuki!" Toshiro pulled Shuichi forward, pressing their lips together. Shuichi pushed away, backing into the wall. "H-Hey! Don't! I told you, I want Yuki, not you!"

"I don't take no for an answer. I always get what I want." Once again he grabbed Shuichi, pushing him to the ground and climbing on top of him. He pinned his arms to the ground, kissing him. Shuichi kicked and screamed. Yuki... please help me... He thought to himself as he fought the man off.

*Hello, Shuichi. How are you?

**I adore him. I want his beauty.

***Beauty is everything.