Once again I found myself staring at the Paradise Club's garishly flashing lights. I'd spent all of the day and night in anguished anticipation. Now, as the first few minutes of the new day slipped silently by, I stood bathed in its multicolored glow and tried vainly to keep my frayed nerves in check.
This is it, I mused silently. Soon I will have the chance to be alone with Shuichi.
As I fought to control my racing heart, I couldn't help but laugh at the irony of it all. Ever since the day that little brat forced himself into my life; I'd been looking for a way to get out of this relationship. But every time I embraced him, my soul became more and more infected with his love. So much so that when the perfect moment to get away presented itself, I found to my surprise that I just couldn't let him go.
On the contrary, I whispered sullenly. Our situation has been completely reversed. Now I'm the one who has to pursue him.
I pulled Tsuneo's mystic stone out of my pocket and looked at it pensively. Tsuneo said the reason Shuichi and I have been pulled into this… alternate universe was because his wish hadn't been fulfilled, and my wish wasn't what my heart desired. I cringed at the thought of our last conversation before I'd made that stupid wish that threw our world into chaos.
"What did you wish for? No, wait let me guess. It was either a case of strawberry Pocky, or the complete set of Nittle Grasper's remastered CDs." My careless words echoed accusingly through my mind and the memory of Shuichi's pained expression tore at my soul.
I took a deep breath to banish those thoughts from my head. Being regretful about what's already been said won't do a damn thing to help me now. Absentmindedly, I rubbed my thumb across the smooth surface of the stone. Shuichi's wish was pretty obvious, but my wish? Damn it, I wasn't seriously making a wish. How in the hell am I supposed to know what my heart desired when I wasn't even trying to make a wish in the first place!
Sighing in frustration, I shoved the mystic stone back into my pocket and walked into the club.
"Do you have a membership card?"
I stopped short in surprise. Instead of Tiny, there was another person stationed at the club's entrance. Although he wasn't nearly as large as Tiny, he was equally as intimidating.
"What happened to Tiny – er, I mean Kuma?"
"He's been reassigned. Do you have a membership card or not," he repeated irritably.
"Yeah," as I handed him my card, I struggled to keep myself calm. This sudden change of personnel, which just happened to take place after Takahashi lost his twisted little game, was a little too suspicious.
He examined my card closely. "You may enter, Yuki-san," he replied as he returned my card.
"Thanks," I answered wryly in apprehension. I didn't like the way he said my name. It threw my already suspicious mind into overdrive.
As I walked slowly through the club, my sense of dread became even worse. There was something off about the atmosphere in here. It felt as if I was walking into the Tokyo Stock Exchange the day after the market crashed. Although the people were trying to look as if they were enjoying themselves, their normal enthusiasm was obviously lacking.
Warily, I approached Teijo. "What in the hell is going on around here?"
"I'm sorry Yuki-san," he began in an uncharacteristically serious tone of voice, "but we're going to have to cancel your appointment with Shuichi."
"What's happened to Shuichi?" I growled through my grit teeth as I leaned threateningly over the counter.
"I don't know," he surreptitiously whispered before reverting back into his previous business-like tone. "As an apology, the Paradise Club is offering you a voucher good for an extended session with any of our other capable hosts. Unfortunately, all of them are currently entertaining other guests. Of course you are more than welcome to wait for one of them to become available."
"Thanks, but no thanks," I retorted acidly. "I kind of had my heart set on Shuichi," sighing impatiently I continued. "Just reschedule our appointment. I don't care how long I have to wait."
"I'm afraid that won't be possible," he answered quietly his voice filled with sorrow. "It seems that Shuichi won't be returning to the club."
"What… why…" gritting my teeth I stifled the myriad of questions that threatened to burst out. I could tell by the remorseful look on Teijo's face that he honestly didn't know what was going on.
"I'm truly sorry, Yuki-san." Teijo looked as though he wanted to say more, but a glance toward Takahashi's booth stopped him cold. Guiltily he avoided my gaze, and began to sort through his already immaculately ordered paperwork. I took a casual glance in that direction as I turned to leave. The only person seated there was Takahashi's blond boy toy. He was glaring directly at me as if he was a wolf and I was his prey.
I glowered back at him. You want to have a go at me, pretty boy? Bring it on! I'd like nothing better than to beat the living hell out of Takahashi's pet.
A split second before he averted his eyes it looked as though he'd been intimidated by my unvoiced challenge. Sniggering triumphantly, I left the club and stormed down the street. Although I loathed the thought of doing it, I knew I'd have to go see Tsuneo.
Damn it, I cursed under my breath.
Tsuneo was the last person I wanted to see right now, but one unfortunate fact drove my reluctant feet forward – he is the only person in this damned city who can help me find Shuichi.
As I made my way through the nearly deserted streets, I tried to keep my over-imaginative mind from spiraling completely out of control. My head was filled with countless, demented imageries which progressively became more cruel and sinister with each passing vision. The thought of Shuichi being abused by that bastard made my blood boil, but unfortunately that wasn't all. Deep in my heart, a seed of despair had begun to take root.
What if I manage to save Shuichi, but I can't figure out a way to get us out of this mess – or worse yet – what if I'm too late to save him? The emptiness in my heart that had been a persistent dull ache flared instantly into an inferno of agony. Suddenly, in spite of always bitching about how annoying the little brat was, I couldn't bear the thought of never being able to hold him again.
By the time I reached Tsuneo's apartment, I knew it would be futile to maintain a calm façade with the amount of turmoil brewing within me. Inwardly cursing my misfortune, I pounded mercilessly on Tsuneo's door.
"Well this is a pleasant surprise," Tsuneo crooned with his usual smart-ass feigned innocence that even in the best of circumstances instantly infuriated me. This was definitely not the time to try my patience.
"Don't give me that 'this is a pleasant surprise' bullshit," I yelled in his smug face as I pushed roughly past him. "I've just come from the club. I had an appointment with Shuichi, but when I got there, I was told that he was unavailable."
"You must have made quite an impression the other night. I've never known Takahashi to cancel an appointment…"
"Shut up and listen to me," I interrupted impatiently. "It wasn't just my appointment that got cancelled. All of Shuichi's appointments were cancelled – permanently."
"Ah, I see," Tsuneo answered with such uncharacteristic seriousness it instantly made my heart freeze. Then lapsing into silence, he walked absentmindedly away from me, and deep in thought he began to pace throughout his apartment. Much to my chagrin, I found myself following him around like a puppy tagging along after his master. I had never in all my life felt so useless.
After several agonizing minutes, I finally couldn't take it anymore. "What in the hell is going on?"
"I never thought that it would come to this," Tsuneo mumbled to himself.
"What the hell are you talking about," I yelled in exasperation.
"I'm sorry Yuki," Tsuneo replied quietly.
"Sorry about what," I exclaimed. Grabbing his shoulder, I forced him to look me in the eye. "What in the hell is going on?"
He stared intently into my eyes for what felt like an eternity, and an eerie sense of déjà vu slithered slowly up my spine. Once again it was as if he was looking into the depths of my very soul.
"Soon you will face the greatest tribulation of your life," he answered ominously as if awaking from a trance. "You should go home and get some rest."
"Goddamn it Tsuneo," I yelled lividly. "Quit playing around and help me find Shuichi!"
"For once I'm not playing around," he answered sadly.
"This is bullshit," I exclaimed trying desperately to quell my quickly rising panic. "There's no way in hell I'm going to go home and relax! Come on," I urged grabbing his arm and pulling toward the door. "You're going to help me find Shuichi!"
"You really have no idea what you're up against, do you mon ami," he asked delicately.
"What are you talking about," I questioned warily.
"Takahashi is not your average two-bit hood," Tsuneo patiently explained. "He's the second son of Takahashi Keitaro."
"So what…" I began to protest.
"I'm sorry, I forgot," he interrupted with a nervous chuckle. "In your timeline, the Takahashi's are just another middle class family, but in this timeline they are one of the richest families in Japan. They own a great deal of real estate not just here, but throughout the world. If Takahashi hasn't left the country with Shuichi yet, I may be able to track them down in a few days…"
"A few days," I exclaimed in disbelief.
"Well, at least not more than a week or two," he amended dismissively. "But if they've left the country, I don't know if I'll ever be able to find them."
"Quit screwing around with me," I growled at him gravely.
"Believe me," Tsuneo replied gently, "this is one time I truly wish I was joking." Taking my arm, he slowly guided me toward the door.
"Wait a minute," I protested angrily. "You know what that bastard is planning, don't you? I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on!"
"I do have an idea," he conceded reluctantly. "But I don't want to say anything about it until I know for sure. Just listen to me for a minute," he added hastily cutting off my objection. "I'd rather not make you any more upset than you already are, especially if my hunch is wrong."
"Fine," I snapped. It was taking every ounce of my willpower to keep my anger under control. "But you can't expect me to just go home and wait for you to figure out what in the hell is going on. Damn it Tsuneo! I've got to do something!"
"Yuki, you already have something to do. It's the most important task in fact," Tsuneo replied. He was trying to revert back to normal, but his usual 'know-it-all' expression was tinged with apprehension. "You still have to figure out what your heart desires the most. If you aren't able to do that, then all of my efforts to find Shuichi will be in vain."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean," I growled challengingly.
"Do you honestly believe that Takahashi will let you take Shuichi away from him without a fight," he asked.
"What in the hell is he going to do," I protested hotly. "It's not like he's all powerful."
"No, thankfully you're dealing with Takahashi Akihito and not his older brother. Takahashi Taro, who recently took over his father's legacy, is about as close to all powerful as a mortal can get. However," Tsuneo cautioned, "don't underestimate Takahashi. Even though he's not as influential as his brother, he's still more than capable of crushing someone, and right now you're the person he wants to crush the most."
"What's the worst he can do… kill me," I asked in exasperation.
"No," Tsuneo answered seriously. "That would be much too easy and not nearly entertaining enough for someone like Takahashi. He'll want to make you suffer first, and the best way to do that would be…"
"To hurt someone I care about," I whispered in defeat.
"Go home and rest," he urged as he ushered me toward the door. "As soon as I figure out where Takahashi and Shuichi are, I'll give you a call. In the mean time, you'd better figure out what your heart desires the most. It's the only way you can truly save Shuichi."
Grudgingly I gave in and allowed myself to be led out into the I was fighting desperately against it, I could feel an overwhelming sense of helplessness threatening to engulf me within its endless dark depths. Once again my masochistic imagination threatened to torment me.
NO, I berated myself. I refuse to give in to despair, not while there's still a chance to save Shuichi!
In the distance I could see the full moon's pale glow peeking at me from behind the city's endless skyscrapers. It reminded me of my last moonlit stroll with Shuichi. My heart ached as I recalled the way his petite silhouette was illuminated by the soft, pastel moonlight.
"Damn it," I cursed at the emptiness that threatened to swallow me. I never thought I'd miss such an annoying, little brat. God I've been such a fool!
My solitary footsteps echoing through the deserted streets reminded me of a ticking clock in an empty room. A small, bitter chuckle escaped suddenly from my lips. That's about all that is waiting for me at home now.
Memories of that night flooded my mind; each image was tinged with a dull yellow as if it was a century old photograph. One image in particular caught my attention. Consciously I stopped the flow of images so that I could fix this picture firmly in my heart. Shuichi had paused to gaze at the moon. Its pale light reflected beautifully in his large, violet eyes making his face glow as luminously as an angel. At the time I almost impulsively kissed him, but as always I resisted that urge. Right now I desperately wished that I hadn't.
How many of those moments had I let slip away from me?
Again my eyes were drawn to the slowly sinking moon in the brightening predawn sky.
Shuichi wherever you are, can you see this beautiful moon too?
Regret washed over me in an icy wave. Even if he was gazing upon the moon just now, the Shuichi in this reality won't remember that night. As I continued toward my lonely apartment I wondered if I would ever get my Shuichi back again.