So… I'm back! Hah. I say that like I've been gone a long time. I apologize for the last chapter. I had no intention of ending the story that way. I would never do that to you guys. Really. I apologize for those that found it offensive of felt like I was 'copping out', but it really did hit me, the idea of creating a controversy. Alas, I tried to give people hints to show that it was a gag, but not well enough it appears. I apologize as well if I upset anyone. It wasn't my intention, actually. I just thought it would be interesting to see people's reactions. This won't happen again. Promise! It's all serious from here out. Heh. I guess the only thing it could do for me would be to lose subscribers, Hm…? So, I'm plugging away at this chapter so I won't get abandoned. Sorry guys!

Broken Files

Chapter Nine

A small gasp and cry left his lips as he sat up quickly. His heart thumped hard in his chest. His eyes opened wide in a bewildered state. He gulped down trying to gain bearings, a small whimper caught in his throat. And the tears. The tears wouldn't stop falling down his cheeks. He trembled, a shaking hand reaching up to feel his forehead. There was nothing there. He felt over his skin, it was drenched with sweat, but no hole. He let out a shaky breath. He felt like a large weight lifting off his shoulders.

But the car was stopped. He gulped down a large thump in his throat again and slowly looked out the window, his eyes finally able to focus through his panic. There was a small building out in front of the car. His eyebrows creased up in confusion and looked out to the side. A few cars were still next to the taxi. He let out a pant of breath.

The taxi was parked at a rest stop. He sat back, his shoulders slumping. He stared out of the window beside him. He began to cry; he sobbed. He was alone in the car, the driver and Yuki probably inside the small building for a bathroom break, so it was okay. Neither of them would see him like this. Yuki would probably and certainly make fun of him if he saw him like this….Or would he? Shuichi didn't know. He shook his head and wiped at his eyes, trying to look as normal as possible. He sniffled and swallowed down the rest of his tears.

A door in the front swung open and Yuki popped his head in, staring at him. Shuichi felt like smiling, but he couldn't manage it. He stared back at the blond, holding back everything he wanted to do; he wanted to break down crying, smile, and hug Yuki, never letting him go.

"Hey…We're at a reststop, so you should go take a piss, if you need it. Hey…Are you okay?" Shit.

"Yep! I'm fine! I'll be right back!" He jumped out of his seat in the car and out onto the parking lot, his legs shaking under him. He felt like he was going to fall over. He steadied himself quickly and stood as tall as he could. He walked past the driver, who raised a brow at him.

He let out a long sigh as he disappeared into the empty bathroom. He glanced around and wiped at his eyes again. Damn, he was too emotional. It had been a nightmare. Thank god. He composed himself and moved over to the urinals, picking one and unzipping his pants.

The bathroom door opened. He didn't turn his attention however, too busy to care or worry about it. Footsteps echoed through the bathroom and a shuffle. Someone moved over to the urinal beside him on his right and then someone else appeared on his left. Shuichi blinked, catching sight of both out of the corner of his eye. This was…Weird. He glanced at his right. The male was wearing a black suit with a black tie, hung loosely. His hair was a light, chocolate brown and in a messy sort of state.

The strange male glanced over at him, the blue eyes, dark and innocent in appearance seeming to look him over. Shuichi blinked as a grin appeared on the strangers face. What the heck was that look about…?

"You're pretty." Shuichi's eyes went wide. What the heck?!

He glanced over at the other side of him to the other stranger. He too wore a black suit and a black tie. His skin was a slightly tanned color. He was also looking Shuichi over, a smirk entailed on his face; a face somehow very familiar to him. He had dark brunette hair, darker than the male on his other side.

Well, Shuichi was most certainly finished now. He zipped his pants up quickly and made a speedy retreat from the bathroom. He didn't know who those two were, despite one of them having a face he somehow knew well, but they were both strange. They wore those suits. What were they, the FBI or something? So weird and the smaller one with big blue eyes, saying what he did seemed like the creepiest thing of all.

He climbed in the back of the car quickly, ducking down in his seat. The blond glanced back at him with a raised brow.

"What…?"

"Um...Nothing! I'm just ready to go." He looked sideways out the window, trying to hide his flustering state. Today was just all so crazy. First that stupid and horrifying dream and then those strange men in the bathroom.

The taxi car backed up and began along to the highway. Shuichi didn't bother to look back, for fear of seeing those weird guys. He folded his arms across his chest, not feeling safe at all. He had a bad feeling. It wasn't just because of what had been said, but also the look they had in their eyes; both of them reminded him of cold blooded murders. Then again…He glanced at the back of Yuki's seat. Yuki had that sort of look sometimes too. It made Shuichi shiver. But…Yuki wasn't a killer…Right?

"Damn…He got away." The taller and darker male popped a white cig on the ground.

"Yup! He sure did!" The other chirped in his always cheery voice. His counterpart glanced over at him with a trademark smirk.

"You thought he was pretty?"

"Mmhm! I think so! Shuichi-kun is so cute! Even Kumagoro thinks so!" He held up an unbelievably pink hand gun, waving it in his hand a bit.

"Whatever you say, boss."

The small male with the pink gun grinned.

It was a boring, long drive. The car was always a stuffy place. It was hours after the event at the rest area before they even arrived in the city. The sun began to set and was almost gone when the taxi made its way through the many buildings and streets. Shuichi's heart pumped anxiously; unaware of what he was going to do when he finally reunited with his father. There was no guarantee that his old man would welcome him back with open arms. Shuichi was only guessing that his father might even be in town. If he was gone, he wasn't sure what he was going to do.

The worst thought in Shuichi's mind, however, did not concern his father at all. It was a matter that Shuichi had to face. Yuki was probably going to leave him, once he met up with his father. What reason did the beautiful blond have to stay with a stranger he probably saved on a whim? He'd done so much for Shuichi already that Shuichi didn't know how he could ask for any more. To ask him to remain would be rude. Yuki had things to do, surely. It made Shuichi feel depressed. He had to swallow down his own personal wants. Yuki would probably hate Shuichi for his idiotic feelings, something that the pink-haired teen had no control over. It almost made Shuichi wish he could spend more time with the blond; he wished he had more time.

He sighed against the window and blinked at the condensation build-up. It was hardly winter at all, but as his palm pressed against the surface, he found it surprisingly cold.

"Hey…What's your address?" Yuki's voice sounded strange. If it were possible, his voice sounded more…Stern. He sounded tense and as Shuichi observed, even as the male sat he looked very tense indeed. His shoulders didn't seem very relaxed to Shuichi. "Hey…I'm talking to you!" Yuki snapped.

Shuichi jumped a little. "O…Oh! Um…It's…one-thousand-one Cherrytree lane…"

And then something about the back of Yuki changed even more. It almost looked as though the male flinched for a split second before quickly retaining composure. 'What was that about?' Shuichi tilted his head a bit.

But Shuichi didn't want to go home.

He stared out the window, not daring to move. There stood his childhood home. It was the typical upper middle class suburban house. It was two-stories and generic as hell. He glanced up at the front. Yuki hadn't said anything or moved since they had parked outside of the house. It looked dark inside, so maybe no one was home. His hesitance was probably as clear as day. He took in a deep breath before pushing the car door open.

"Uh…Do you mind waiting for me Yuki? I mean, it just doesn't look like anyone's home. Maybe we should come back tomorrow?" Yuki stood up on the other side of the car.

"…Yeah…Go…Knock." The blond seemed hesitant. Was he hiding something? Shuichi was starting to get suspicious. But why? He had no reason not to trust Yuki. Except…he didn't know Yuki very well at all. All of it was ridiculous; this was ridiculous.

His legs felt heavy as he walked to the door. His throat felt suddenly dry and he licked his lips. His heart and breathing rate went up alarmingly as he reached the door. It looked looming over him. He took in a deep breath as his small hand reached over to the doorbell and lingered over the small button. He managed a glance back at Yuki, wishing. Finally his finger moved, pressing against it. He could hear the bell inside chime loudly. Now all to do was wait.

Shuichi waited, the anxiety almost seeming to pour from him as he rocked back and forth on his heels. The minutes seemed long; too long. He waited for moments of time before ringing the bell again. It seemed that lady luck was smiling on him. It felt weird, but he wasn't quite sure what it was. Something, some kind of intuition was brimming up in his stomach, but he didn't know how to take it or interpret it. He glanced back at Yuki and shrugged with a stupid grin on his face. Yuki just stared blankly back. He was acting so weird.

"Just…Come back! Your old man is obviously not here!" Did Yuki sound…Impatient? Well, it wouldn't be unlike Yuki to sound like that. Shuichi shrugged it off as he headed back to his place in the taxi. He didn't want to see the old man now anyway.

They were in another hotel very quickly. Yuki didn't bother for another luxurious like suite and went with a Motel 6 instead. Shuichi didn't mind. It had two beds and that was all they needed for the night.

Yuki stood tensely at their hotel window, staring out at whatever there might be to see. Shuichi couldn't imagine there was anything particularly gorgeous to see. It troubled him, though. He could tell there was something wrong, but he wasn't sure how Yuki would take an 'intrusion' from Shuichi into his personal thoughts. Sitting there awkwardly on one of the beds did nothing for him though. He slowly stood up from his bed, throwing away whatever apprehension might be left in his mind at this point. He moved to the troubled taller male, glancing out of the window. It was a dirty city scene. So, Shuichi now figured that the other must be deep in thought. He didn't even seem to acknowledge Shuichi standing there, very close to him.

"…" What was he going to say though? "Yuki…I…" Damn, he couldn't think of anything to say! "Yuki…Is there something wrong?" He asked, the concern not hidden in his voice.

The blond didn't turn towards him, as though he hadn't heard at all.

"…Yuki?"

The blond finally managed a glance with those strangely beautiful and golden orbs. Shuichi gulped down his own awe.

"Are you okay?" He managed to ask through his nervousness.

Yuki nodded a bit, hardly a nod at all, before looking back out the window. This was frustrating. Shuichi rubbed at his arms, unsure of what to say or do.

"Um…" Well…There was so much he wanted to say. "Tomorrow…He'll probably be there." No response. "Then, I'll probably stay with him, for a little while. After that, he'll probably give me one of his cars to go back home." Now he was just rambling. What the hell was he doing?? "Tomorrow, I don't…" He couldn't say it. "Yuki, I…" Damn, he couldn't say it! "I don't want you to leave!" It came out as a small cry. The words seemed to echo through the room and even Yuki seemed to freeze.

The blond glanced toward Shuichi after a long silent pause, to which Shuichi found himself meekly shrinking himself a bit. How stupid could he be to just say that? It wasn't exactly a confession at all, though. It was more of a request.

"You…" Yuki was finally speaking, but it was low and Shuichi had to strain to listen clearly. Suddenly, the beautiful eyes turned a blank gaze into a hard and cold one. "You've fallen for me." He was glaring at Shuichi!

"N-no! I--"

"You have!" He accused him. "You're pathetic." He hissed harshly, making Shuichi want to cry. "We've hardly known each other at all and you're in love with me?" Yuki moved past him and sat on his bed, not looking at him.

Well, Shuichi wasn't going to take this lightly.

"You jerk!" He stomped towards him. "I-I…I don't love you! Don't think you're so…So…" He couldn't think of anything brilliant. "I don't love you…" It was a weak reply.

Yuki glared at him, his hand moving up and grabbing the collar of his shirt, yanking him down towards his face. Shuichi gasped at the action, but remained still, swallowing down the heavy tension now between them. The blond continued to grimace at him and all Shuichi could do was stare back at him weakly with some anger.

"You're an idiot."

Suddenly the grip on his shirt loosened and Yuki leaned up just the tiniest bit, his lips grazing Shuichi's. Another gasp left his lips as Yuki's own pressed firmly against Shuichi's. The younger male stared with eyes wide as Yuki kissed him more and pulled him closer.

Without another thought, Shuichi found his eyes closing. He tilted his head into the kiss, returning Yuki with his own weak kisses. He felt breathless as Yuki kissed him.

It wasn't awkward. It wasn't cruel. It was everything Shuichi had been secretly dreaming about. It was what Shuichi had wanted all along. It was all very perfect and Shuichi forgot to be confused as their kissing turned to deepness and passion.

-End

Okay guys, I just wanted to clarify a bit more about the last chapter. Someone reviewed the previous chapter saying something along the lines of 'It seemed like you didn't know where to take this', which, to an extent is true. I had a plot going, I knew where it was going, but I didn't know HOW to get it there. And believe it or not, what happened in the last chapter actually helped a lot. It gave me inspiration on what to do. Without that last chapter, this one wouldn't be possible, and I think this one is very important for the story to continue. So, whether you think what I did the last chapter was right or wrong, it helped me out a great deal. Perhaps, I shouldn't have put the message I put at the end, as it seems like a practical joke, but it helped the effect of seeming like the end, when in reality the end of that chapter was merely a cliff hanger. Again, it was never my intention to anger or upset people. I promise you, I'm not going to end this story with either of the main characters dead! I apologize, again.