Since my boyfriend and I are celebrating our four year anniversary, I won't be able to write much today. Luckily I finished this next chapter yesterday :) Thanks for reading and reviewing! Now, back to that sad scuffle...

Disclaimer: I don't own Gravitation

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Chap 5: "Caring and regret"

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Sunset came and went during the altercation. Sobbing and cars passing on the nearby highway were the only sounds for a short while.

What did he say?... Did I break up with him?...

Shuichi's mind attempted to put the situation together, but wine (mixed with the colorless liquor Mr. K poured several drops of into his glass) was clouding and inhibiting everything, primarily his control of this emotion he was unaccustomed to: anger.

"You dontrust me, doneven like me" he choked out, backing away from the blonde.

"Nakano-san I think you should look after Shindou-san tonight" Tohma instructed. Putting a kind hand onto the singer's shoulder, "You'll feel better after some rest Shindou-san".

Feeling insulted by the turn of events, "I can take care of him" said Eiri.

Red hair blowing as the wind picked up Hiroshi angrily spat, "Obviously you can't". Putting an arm around his best friend's back to steady him, they walked to his car.

The author put his sunglasses back on, fists clenched.

"Eiri let me drive you home" his brother-in-law urged. "We can take the long way to clear your mind".

Watching the car drive away, "I'm fine Tohma" he said.

The older male had seen all faces of Eiri Uesugi, and surely knew better. "Well, I can't force you" he concluded, disappointed.

The one-night-stand-two-week-dating man had never been in a committed relationship before, so the ache he likely felt was unfamiliar.

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After inhaling two cigarettes, one after the other, Eiri got in his car. Meanwhile, Tohma informed the party-goers that the birthday boy had too much to drink and Hiroshi drove him home.

Watching the distraught man drive out of the parking lot, he entered his car.

Eiri noticed early on that Tohma was following close behind, although he changed lanes and slowed down to disguise it.

Adjusting the mirror, he peered at the man reflected there. His appearance was pathetic: sweat visible on his collar, blue eyes lined with worry, blonde hair darkened and matted by sweat...

"Dammit", he slammed a fist against the steering wheel.

In half the time it would have normally taken, he pulled into his usual parking spot. Entering the empty apartment, he lit another cigarette, then grabbed an unopened bottle of vodka. No light guided his way, but he knew his way around the apartment.

Despite furniture in each room, the house felt empty.

Tripping over an object, he fell onto the couch. Laying the vodka bottle on the cushion beside him, he said sarcastically "My companion tonight".

Looking to the floor, he caught sight of what tripped him: a ball with a Frisbee taped to it. At another time it would have simply annoyed him, but seeing Shuichi's face on each item turned his emotions.

Removing sunglasses from his pocket, he threw them across the room. Smashing against the far wall, plastic instantly littered the floor.

With a deadline to meet, it would be sensible to type more than the three junk sentences he wrote over the past week. Presently he couldn't be sensible though. Living with Shuichi Shindou changed his life more than he could have ever predicted.

After bringing up his true name and past out of the blue, he thought his boyfriend would soon return to the annoying, bright-spirited, kiddish personality he initially saw as a nuisance, a pest who moved in without permission; however for one entire week he was silent.

He so disliked the quiet that met him when he came home that he began spending nights pacing long routes throughout the city. At sunrise he started his trek back, arriving after Shuichi left to practice with his band. Throughout the day he slept. Waking before the singer returned, he began the moonlit walk.

Tonight, although he wouldn't leave to walk for hours, he still wouldn't see his boyfriend. "Is he my x-boyfriend now?" he questioned aloud.

After downing the majority of vodka from the bottle, he became unconscious, the remainder of evening left to dreamless sleep.

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"Shuichi you've gotta calm down" Hiroshi repeated for the dozenth time, rubbing his pal's back as he vomited all of the expensive food into the once white toilet.

Each time his muscles stopped constricting he sobbed to the point of vomiting, and so the night went.

In a reassuring tone, "Shuichi whatever happened between you and Yuki-"

The name initiated more sobs and agonizing regurgitation.

It pained him greatly to see Shuichi in such a state. No matter how much he wanted to end Yuki's life for the turmoil he caused, he couldn't. Despite what Hiro himself thought, the stuck-up author was an essential part of his dearest friend's life.

The night dragged on much the same way, until Shuichi fell asleep on his friend's bed, tears still flowing from his eyes.

Hiro watched over him, plotting until laying down on the couch to sleep.

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End of chap 5

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:(