Chapter 3:
What's in a name?
Yuki settled back into his office chair and watched with mild amusement as his editor paced around his study.
She held up his manuscript and shook her head. "Mr. Yuki, please tell me that this isn't all you have."
Yuki smirked and removed his glasses, sitting them on his desk. "I'm afraid it is."
The editor bit her lip. "Mr. Yuki, this isn't nearly enough!" she cried worriedly.
"I'm well aware of that."
She stomped over to where Yuki sat and slammed the manuscript on the desk. "I don't understand how you can be so calm! You only have the first part of you novel completed, and you informed me a few months ago that you were going to have three installments for this particular novel! Where is the other two? Hmmm? Hmmm!"
Yuki closed his eyes. "I'm working on it!" he said roughly.
Yuki's editor stopped her tirade and stared at him curiously. "Mr. Yuki, is something wrong?"
Yuki avoided her gaze. "I...it's just...I..."
The editor cocked her head. "Regardless of the fact that you only have one of your installments completed, what I have read so far simply amazes me; I'd have to claim it as your best yet."
She put a finger to her lips. "However... I'm astounded that you would write about yourself so openly," She paused then said: "Is this book a biography about you? Because if it is…I find it a little strange that you have already concluded all the things in your life in the first installment; wouldn't it be better to stretch it out?"
Yuki sighed. "It's not all about me." He said quietly.
"Pardon?"
Yuki swiveled around in his chair so that he was facing away from his editor. "I…this book, it's not about me. I-I just can't find the words or phrases to capture his movements on page! He…it's…too special…and I…"
Yuki's editor looked thoughtful. "Are…are… you… planning to write about Shindou?"
Yuki spun back around. "Huh?"
She shook her head. "Never mind. Mr. Yuki, have you even come up with a title yet?"
Yuki bit the inside of his cheek. "No." he murmured.
Yuki's editor glared. "The people of Harlequin publishing are going to be very disappointed, they are expecting the first copy next week and you haven't even finished the manuscript!"
Yuki shrugged. "What's done is done…I'll get it to them eventually."
Yuki's editor picked up the manuscript and began to flip through the pages idly. "Very well, Mr. Yuki, I'll see what I can do in order to delay the release of your new book in Japan and in America too for that matter."
Yuki nodded.
Yuki's editor sent him a searing look. "I will not, Mr. Yuki, indulge in the way you have conducted your book in such a disorganized manner; ever again. If this happens next time, I can assure you that my company will drop you. There are plenty of other promising authors that are just dying to have me for their editor. Remember that, Mr. Yuki."
Yuki nodded again, his mouth set in a hard line.
"Good day then, Mr. Yuki, the next time we meet, I hope it will be on better terms." The editor tucked the manuscript under her arm and without a backward glance, left Yuki's study. A minute later Yuki heard the front door close.
A few days later Yuki sat in his study, staring at his computer screen dejectedly, his editor's words plaguing his mind.
What he had written on the screen was, part Two. Shuichi Shindou was…
Yuki ran a hand through his mass of blonde hair and sighed heavily. This wasn't working, at the rate things were going he wouldn't have more than two sentences to show his editor the next time she came by, and she was going to be absolutely furious.
To make matters worse, the day Yuki had been dreading had arrived. At the moment though the house was silent and Yuki earlier had been relishing the fact that he could use this time to write, which brought him back to this vicious cycle of him feeling like a failure.
Yuki leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. Images of his lover bounced into his head unbidden, and Yuki felt a smile tug at his lips. Perhaps it would be better to start out the second part with a quote that Shuichi said constantly that would depict his absentminded stupidity, his child-like simple ness that made Yuki love him all the more.
However, since Shuichi said stupid things all the time, it would be hard for Yuki to chose.
Yuki opened his eyes and sat up, glaring at his computer with renewed intensity. He used the mouse and scrolled up to the sentence that said: Shuichi Shindou was, deleted it and replaced it with; "Some day I am going to rule the world! Ha ha aha ha ha!"
Yuki smirked. "Much better." He murmured. He flicked a glance at the clock that sat beside his desk. The time was past for when his lover usually got home, and Yuki was a little unsettled. Nevertheless he turned his attention back to his computer modem and continued working, undaunted.
"Yuki! Oh Yuki, I'm hoooooooome!"
Yuki flinched and resisted the urge to cover his ears as he heard his companion bound down the hallway screeching his name happily.
The door burst open and there stood Shuichi looking a little flushed, but also excited. "Yuki! Yuki! Yuki!"
Yuki spun around in his chair and faced him. "What is it, punk?"
Shuichi wrinkled his nose, but chose to ignore Yuki's comment.
"Guess what day it is!" he called out in a chipper voice.
Yuki narrowed his eyes. "Get out."
"Awwwww, Yuuuuki! I got you a present! Don't kick me out yet!"
"Is it food?"
Shuichi winked. "That and more besides!" he put up his thumb in the good luck gesture and giggled.
"On second thought, I don't need to see any of it. Just get out."
Shuichi flounced over to where Yuki was sitting and began to paw at his shirt. "Yuki! Please! I know your gonna like it! Just give me two minutes to get the presents!" he pleaded.
Yuki rotated his shoulder and Shuichi let go. Shuichi stared at him with bright eyes and Yuki had to turn away. "Alright. You have two minutes." He held up his finger and continued: "Not ten minutes, not five, not three, not two and a half…just two."
Shuichi let out a squeal of child-like excitement. "Yes! Oh Yuki! Your gonna love it! I can feel it in my bones!"
"Your…bones?"
"I'll give you two of your presents now, but the third," Shuichi blushed. "Well, that might take awhile to give you…"
Yuki raised an eyebrow. "Huh, lets see it."
Shuichi turned redder still, but with another wink, he was gone.
Yuki shook his head. "Jesus. What have I gotten myself into?"
Shuichi returned moments later cradling a large basket. He stood in front of Yuki, and with a slight blush thrust the basket into Yuki's arms.
Yuki settled back into his chair even further and eyed the basket warily. "What the hell is this?"
"Open it and See!"
Yuki set the basket on his lap. He glared at Shuichi who beamed at him, unaware of the exasperation Yuki was feeling. Yuki pulled back the blanket that was adorning the basket and looked at the ball of fluff lying inside. He looked at Shuichi then looked at the ball of fluff again. "Shuichi…"
Shuichi clapped his hands. "Yuki! Don't you just love it! Don't you think it's the cutest thing you've ever seen?"
Yuki stared at him. "Shuichi. What is it?"
Shuichi deflated. "Eh, Yuki! It's a kitten!"
"A what?"
Shuichi cocked his head. "You know, a kitten, a thing that purrs and curls up with you at night, and goes meow, meow, and likes milk…. And…fish…. And…"
Yuki poked a finger to his throbbing temple. "I know what it is! I want to know what in the world possessed you to get it for me!
"'Cause it's cute."
Yuki smirked. "Strippers can be cute too, I don't understand why you couldn't have just gotten me a stripper."
Shuichi glared at him. "Because I love you. And I think the strippers would have just cost me more money."
"Huh. Cheap much?"
Shuichi crossed his arms. "Well, aren't you gonna name it?"
Yuki set the basket on the floor, and shook his head. "No. If I have to name it then that means I'd have to be responsible for it."
"It's YOUR birthday present!"
"I didn't say I wanted it! Did I tell you this year, 'Oh Shuichi, I really want a cat for my birthday! I think it would be the best birthday present ever!' did I? Did I?"
Shuichi puffed out his cheeks. "No…but I could tell that that's what you were thinking."
Yuki shook his head. "Your hopeless."
"Come on! At least give it a name!"
Yuki glanced at the kitten that was curled up inside of the basket and smirked. "A name huh? Alright then." He cleared his throat. " I now dub you, little kitten, Shit head."
"Shit head! Why the hell would you name it that! That's not a cute name!"
"It's not a cute cat."
"What do you mean it's not a cute cat! What's wrong with it!"
Yuki pretended to think. "Hmmm…well, the color of its fur is dark brown and it's face is all mashed into a big blob. If it was a dog, I think it could be considered equivalent to that of a pug."
"A pug! The only reason I bought it for you was because I thought that it's face had character!"
"It doesn't. It looks disgusting."
"It does not! It only looks a little homely, and if you don't give it a proper name, then I'll name it for you!"
Yuki turned back to his computer and studied the screen. "Knock yourself out."
Shuichi took a big breath and stuck out his chest. "Ok! We're gonna call it, Strawberry Shortcake!"
Yuki turned back around and raised his eyebrows. "Don't you think that name is a little feminine?"
Shuichi grinned. "The lady at the store checked the kitty for me."
Yuki glared. "Why did you get me a female? Why not a male?"
Shuichi brightened. "I thought you needed a little more womanly influence in your life."
"I get enough of it from you."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Yuki shook his head. "Nothing. Did you get me anything else besides this stupid cat?"
Shuichi nodded. "Yeah I got you…" he trailed off and his face paled. "OH NO! The cake! The candles! I left them burning!"
Yuki stared at him. "You what!" he exclaimed angrily.
"The candles!" Shuichi howled, bolting from the room.
Yuki scrambled out of his seat and ran after Shuichi. "Shuichi! If you've burned down my kitchen, I'll kill you!"
Yuki arrived in the kitchen mere moments after Shuichi and found him lying on a heap on the floor, sobbing hysterically. Yuki flicked a glance at the kitchen table and found what only could be the cake sitting in a forlorn lump, wax trickling from the sides due to the burned out candles.
Yuki sighed and walked up to the distraught man. "Shuichi…" he started.
"Waaaaaaah! The cake! The cake! It's Ruuuuuiiiiiinnnnneeeed! Nooooo!"
Yuki knelt down and tried again. "Shuichi, wait a minute…."
"AAAAAAHHHH! I knew I shouldn't have lit the candles when I got home!"
"Calm down…."
"Yuki's gonna hate me for sure! I hate myself! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Yuki's brow twitched and he gritted his teeth. "Shut up." He growled.
Shuichi ignored him and instead writhed about on the floor, sobbing incoherent words.
Yuki managed to grab Shuichi's arm and tugged him into a sitting position. "Enough!" he bellowed.
Shuichi abruptly fell silent and looked at Yuki. He gave a hiccup and turned his gaze to the lump on the table. "The cake…" he whimpered.
Yuki shook his head. "Honestly, does it really matter if we have cake on my birthday? I don't care…its just another form of sugar that's going to rot our teeth anyway."
Shuichi looked at him despairingly. "It was such a special cake Yuki…it was so pretty…"
Yuki shrugged. "With you, this stuff always happens. You should be used to it by now." He got up from the floor and straightened out his shirt.
Shuichi stared at him in disbelief. "Your not mad?"
"Why would I be mad?"
"'Cause I burned the cake."
Yuki sighed. "Like I said before, cake's just sugar that's going to rot our teeth. If it means that much to you, you can buy me an exact replica of the cake again tomorrow and give it to me then."
Shuichi scrambled to his feet and threw his arms around the older man. "Yuki! You really care about my feelings! Hee!"
Yuki flushed and jerked away from the pink haired boy. "I-I have to work some more on my novel. Leave me alone." He turned around and walked out of the kitchen and went back into his study.
Chapter 4:
Birthday Shenanigans
