\Hey they're everyone. OMG…OMG….OMG. I seriously can't believe that it has been over a year since I actually posted anything for this and I am sorry. A lot has happened since I have last seen ya all. I am now a third year apprentice and I am just off to phuket for a long awaited holiday and I am planning to move out in a few months but don't worry I could never forget you guys.

Enjoy.

Chapter 19

'Shuichi.' Yuki said in marvelled surprise. When he had opened the door moments before; Shuichi was the last person he expected to be standing there, dripping wet from the rain with a look of deep sadness imbedded in those purple eyes. His eyes where puffy and red which meant the brat had been crying. He also seemed to be in a daze because he didn't seem to notice Yuki standing there, calling out his name.

'Shuichi, you damn brat.' Yuki repeated again hoping that would break Shuichi out of his languor. It was slightly disturbing the way Shuichi stood there, eyes downcast and standing in a puddle of water at his feet. 'Shuichi.' Yuki said again softly, trying a different approach and took a step forward. The softness of Yuki's voice seemed to break Shuichi out of his blank state and liquid purple eyes looked up into golden ones, before exhaustion over took him and his eyes closed as he fell forward and collapsed into Yuki's arms.

Yuki stood there for a moment, just cradling Shuichi to his chest before he sighed. 'Come on.' Yuki said and picked Shuichi up, bridle style and brought him inside his apartment. He walked through to the living room and laid Shuichi down on the couch. His cheeks were a soft tinge of pink and his breath was deep and shallow that Yuki was curious. He touched Shuichi's forehead and felt the hotness on the back of his hand and sure enough, it was a fever. His clothes were still wet and sticky that Yuki wondered whether to remove them but shrugged it off. He had seen Shuichi naked before anyway and besides, if he stayed in those clothes; he would have more then a fever on his hands.

With familiar hands, he began to peel off Shuichi's wet clothes and began to dress him in an old shirt and pants that Yuki had lying around that he had out-grown. When he was finished Yuki look down at the boy and couldn't help but notice how much he had changed over the last couple years. All of his childish features had gone; replacing them with more defined muscular ones. The back hair made him look older, but help shape his beautiful face. Shuichi was now a man.

Beautiful. Yuki blinked and shook away such thoughts. He had left for a reason, Damn it. And reasons being his own, he didn't want to relinquish what he took so long to build. The life he took so long to reframe. At the moment when he had decided to leave Shuichi two years ago, if was not just for Shuichi's sake but his own as well and he had promised himself never to look back. Was he being selfish?…Maybe.

He sighed tiredly and sat up. He felt Shuichi's forehead again and notice his temperature had risen a bit. Yuki went to the bathroom and grabbed a hand towel and a bowl of cold water. He returned to Shuichi's side when he started to mumble something so low and incoherent that Yuki had to bend down to hear what Shuichi was saying in his fever-induced sleep.

'Akito.'

Yuki stared at the boy or a moment before he dipped the cloth in the water and placed it on Shuichi's head, hoping that would be enough to bring down his fever. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out as to the reason why Shuichi showed up to his apartment, hysterical and soaking wet. The brat mumbling his name was prove enough and it made him angry to know this man was the one to hurt Shuichi. The one who claims to care about Shuichi so much.

He knew that he had never been a good lover to the brat but if he had to be honest, if only to himself, that he did genuinely love him. Even though he never expressed it openly he had hoped that Shuichi understood. The hyperactive singer of Bad Luck, that pink-haired baka was the one that had kept him down-to-earth. Made his life a little brighter and for that, he had come to respect Shuichi, even though he never showed it when they were together.

The song he had heard the other day replayed in his mind like a broken record. The deep, anguish words barrelling deep into his heart. It's too late to apologise.

Yes, maybe it was too late to apologise. Two years was along time. And without so much as a letter of phone call. He couldn't fault the brat for holding a grudge or wanting revenge against him. It was natural. It was expected. Then why dammit, why did it hurt so much. He was supposed to have forgotten all these petty, secondary emotions but they just kept coming back, and it was all thanks to that Akito.

'You loved him, didn't you.'?

Were he and Shuichi lovers now? The man would have never approached him asking questions about his love life with the brat if they weren't. How he felt about that, he was uncertain and it didn't help matters any when Shuichi was lying here on his couch, wet and exhausted.

Yuki sighed again addlingly and ran a hand through his blonde locks. He dipped the washcloth in the basin again and rang out the water. He placed the cloth back on Shuichi's pale forehead when a low moan escaped faint lips. Yuki removed his hand as eyelids opened to reveal pools of familiar amethyst. They darted around the room for a moment before finally landing on him. Eyes widened in what Yuki could see as shock.

'Welcome back to earth.' Yuki said emphatically and piercing golden eyes locked on to Shuichi's.

'Why I am…'

'Why are you here. I was just asking myself the same question.'

Shuichi had to look away from those familiar eyes. There was so much in them that was so intimate and natural that old memories were threatening to rise to the surface. He felt something cold on his hot forehead and reached up to find a cool cloth there.

'You have a fever so I placed it there to bring it down. I also had to change your clothes. They were wet from the rain.' Yuki said beside him. He took the cloth from Shuichi's head and placed it back in the bowl. He stood up without a word and walked back into the kitchen. Shuichi watched him go and sat up slowly and sure enough his clothes had been changed to something drier. And what was worse was; they were Yuki's clothes.

How did he end up here in the first place? He could remember driving through the rain, with no destination in sight. The image of Akito kissing Hide flashed through his mind and it all made sense. He had to get away, to where he was uncertain but somehow, he ended up at the last place he expected to be.

'So, are you going to answer my question? Or do you want me to guess.' A deep voice said from the doorway. Shuichi looked up at Yuki who was leaning against the doorframe. Shuichi hadn't even realised he was standing there. They remained in silence for a moment when there was a tiny 'flick' and Shuichi looked up to see Yuki light a cigarette. It was then that he looked at Yuki. Really looked.

Two years had not done the man justice. He had the same handsome, defined face, which he notices was more tanned from being out in the sun. His golden hair had grown out a bit to just brush his broad shoulders, making him seem even sexier and refined. But what got him were his eyes. There was so much depth lurking inside them. They almost seemed foreign, with only bits of the old Yuki shinning through.

………………………………………………………………………..

'What the hell have you done.'?

Shin banged his hands on the table in enmity and Akito flinched away from the sudden heavy noise. He sat in front of the enraged man and looked down at his hands, guilt and dejection written on his face.

Shin, calm down. You shouting is not going to help matters.' Mira said calmly he sat on the other side of the table, a cigarette dangling innocently from his mouth.

'Akito is not to blame.' Hide stood behind Akito and gently laid a hand on the man's shivering shoulder. 'If anyone is at fault, its me.' Shin's eyes flashed and he walked swiftly around the table and grabbed Hide by the shirt.

'You have some nerve; you come here and slander your way through the middle of everything those two built together. They have been through so much together and now because of you…'

'Shin, please stop.' Shin was cut off when Akito jumped up and grabbed his arm. The living door opened behind them and all glanced over to see May's silver head pop out and quietly close the door. She turned around and scowled in disapproval at the men around the table.

'Will you please keep your voices down. I just managed to get Monica to sleep. She kept asking when Shuichi was going to come back.'

Akito's guilt double and he ran a shaky hand through his hand. What had he done? How could he have been so stupid? As he continued to berate himself, Mira blew out a puff of his cigarette and sighed. 'We can sit here all night and blame each other but I don't think that is going to bring Shuichi back. Akito! Do you know where Shuichi went.'

Akito sniffed and nodded. 'I have an idea.'

All pairs of eyes widened 'you don't mean…. why would he go there. To him.' Shin asked in total shock.

'Its not uncommon. When frightened or upset, we run to the first place were we feel safest or are familiar with. It is the safest bet the Shuichi went there. To Eiri Yuki's.'

………………………………………………………………………..

'Was it worth it.'? Shuichi asked softly.

Yuki glanced over at the boy sitting on his couch. His knees tucked neatly underneath his chin and his arms wrapped tightly around his legs. His head was rested on one knee. 'What was.'?

'Leaving.'

Yuki sighed. He knew this conversation was going to come up one of these days. ' It would be selfish to say that I did it for my sake. But since it has long pass the time for trivial speeches I will cut to the chase.'

Shuichi held his breath.

'What would we have achieved if we had stayed together. We were both suffocating. And I had to do something we did something we both would of regretted later. You were at the peak of your career and so I wanted to help you along.' Yuki sighed more deeply and closed his eyes. 'But I fear my help may have backfired.'

'I loved you, you know.' Shuichi said and lifted his head.

'I know you did.'

'Then…why did you try? Why did you tell me that this is how you felt? W e could have worked it out. Not even a letter of a phone call.' Shuichi aid quietly, hoping Yuki couldn't detected the disappointment in his voice

'If I did…would you have listened.'? Yuki blew out a puff of smoke and looked out at the rainy sky. Shuichi glanced up at him then rested is head back on his knees. After all this time. He had come to believe that Yuki had left because he didn't love him anymore. No, he had left to preserve what they had. To save what they had been. But they could never go back to those times. Those times were gone and Shuichi had come to realise this long ago.

'I… would have tried to understand.' Shuichi said truthfully. They sat in silence once more before Shuichi spoke up. 'I'm glad you didn't, though.'

'What.'

'Tell me the truth. I mean I was still upset that you left and all, but it gave me an opportunity to assess myself and realise just how much I needed to grow up. It hurt at first but I had managed to find someone to help me through it. Someone who was hurting has much as I was.'

Yuki listened quietly. 'You see Akito's wife died a few years ago, leaving him and their young daughter behind. I met him when I was transferred to the Big Bells Clinic in Nagasaki to deal with my breakdown. He seemed so sincere and genuine that I couldn't help but like him and then he got me a place to stay and a job. Everyone was so friendly that I decided to open up. As I got to know him and learn of his situation I knew that I had to help this man, just like he had helped me.'

'I see. So you have made up your mind then.' Yuki paused. 'Do you love him.'?

'Yeah,' Shuichi said softly without hesitation, before smiling to himself. 'Yeah, I think I do.'

……………………………………………………………………………….

'What are you going to do Akito.'? Shin asked with restrained anger.

'I don't know.'

'You have to go and get him back Akito. You can't let him go back to that man, can you? Back to the man who abandoned him.'

'But what if I am too late. What if he doesn't come back? What if he doesn't want to come back.'? Akito crushed the handkerchief in his hands. 'I've ruined everything.'

'That's not true.' Hide spoke up and knelt down next to Akito and placed a reassuring hand on his arm. 'From what I have seen, I know that Shuichi loves you. And I am sure that he is waiting for you, right now. if anyone here is to blame Akito, it's me. I just didn't see just how much Shuichi means to you.'

'Hide.'

'I promised Aya that I would look after and watch over you while she was gone. But all I have done is hurt you.'

Akito's eyes softened as he looked down at his brother-in-law, whose grip on his arm tightened a little. He reached up and placed a hand on the one on his arm.

'That's not true Hide. After Aya died, I thought that I had no one left in this world. In those first few years I was in a daze that I could barely take care of Monica by myself. But you were always there, helping me. And because of all you constant support and encouragement I was able to hold my daughter again.' A single tear escaped down Akito's cheek but he quickly wiped it away.

'Akito.'

'I'm ok now.' He smiled and patted Hide's hand in reassurance.

'I'm glad that's over. So are you ready Akito.' Mira asked slyly and stood up. Akito look up at the dark haired man dumbfounded. 'Ready for what.'?

'To get Shuichi back of course.' Mira grinned.

'Its too late. I've lost him.'

'Are you going to give up even before you've started. Fight for your man, Akito. Be honest and I'm positive that Shuichi will understand.' Shin cut in and nodded to Mira. 'And if he doesn't, then we'll just have to bring him back, kicking and screaming if we have too.'

Akito looked around and found May smiling gently at him and gave him a thumbs up. He then felt a tender squeeze on his arm and Hide was smiling at him as well. It was as if everyone was lending him their courage and strength. And with renewed vigor, he nodded and stood up.

'I'm ready.'

They all grinned and nodded their heads in approval. 'Then let's go get him.'

To be continued…

Well here we are I have finally gotten out this long, long, long awaited chapter and I would like to say thanks for all those who have stood by me during this whole story.

Luv ya all.