As always, thanks for the review! I’ve taken into consideration some suggestions...I’m having too much fun with this story to end it soon! I’m gonna try and set a pace of one chapter a day, but depending on my schedule, it might be every few days (like tomorrow I have a major essay to write...so x.x) Anyway, enjoy, minna!

 

~CHAPTER 3~

Shuuichi walked out of the shower, ignoring the flashing red light on his answering machine. He didn’t want to talk to anyone at the moment. Throwing some sweats on, he padded over to the kitchen and fixed himself a light snack...he had just realized that it had been over a day since he’d last eaten anything. Well, with all that was going on, he hadn’t even turned a thought to his growling stomach.

Just as he took the last bite of his leftover pizza, a knock came on the door. *Great...just what I need...* Shuuichi wearily got up and opened the door, surprised at who greeted him.

“T...Tatsuha-san? Why are you here?” Shuuichi backed up a little bit, almost stumbling over a pair of his shoes thrown on the floor.

“Alright, something isn’t right...Yuki’s been sulking in his room ever since I got here. You’re gonna tell me what’s wrong, hear me?” Tatsuha strolled in past Shuuichi, taking a seat on the couch, determined not to leave until he got some answers.

“I...I don’t want to talk about it...” Shuuichi said lightly, closing the door and dragging himself over to sit on the couch as well. “I...I’ll just tell you...I made a terrible mistake...”

“Dammit Shuuichi...you’re GOING to tell me. I won’t leave until you do. You’re the only one I’ve seen my brother latch onto like this...hell you were making him more of a person and not just a cold monster. So tell me...what...the *hell* happened?”

*Looks like there’s no getting out of this one...* Shuuichi looked down at his lap, idly running a hand through his pink locks.

“I...well...Hiro seduced me...and...I was too stupid to refuse...and Yuki found him here...and...oh god Tatsuha...what have I done...” Shuuichi curled himself into a ball for what seemed like the tenth time that day. The tears didn’t hesitate to flow down his face.

“I see...” Tatsuha looked over at the sobbing singer who reminded him so much of Sakuma-san...wait...now wasn’t the time to think about that. “I don’t think Yuki’s gonna forgive you easily for this...even if you do apologize...he’s a stubborn asshole like that...” Tatsuha reached over and patted the crying boy on the head. “I don’t know what to tell you...except for the fact that this will test whether you two truly love each other or not...”

Tatsuha stood, taking another glance down at Shuuichi. “And you might want to check your messages. I think Yuki might have tried to call you...” With that, he walked out, leaving a sobbing and hurt Shuuichi sitting on the couch.

*Alright...I have to stop crying...maybe calling Yuki isn’t such a bad idea...but...will he forgive me?* Shuuichi sighed as he picked up the phone, fingers automatically dialing the number he knew so well...

~~~~~~~~~~~

Yuki woke, wincing at the headache he’d given himself. Sitting up, he glanced around, noticing night had fallen. Groggily he walked out of his room, noticing Tatsuha was no where to be found. *Just as well...I don’t want to face him at the moment anyway.*

Yuki had made up his mind...it would take Shuuichi a hell of a lot to get him back. He’d put all his trust in Shuuichi, just to have it all end like this...not to mention that now Yuki had a very expensive useless ring on his hands. Things just got worse.

Yuki grabbed a beer from the fridge, downing it in no time. He grabbed the TV remote, hoping to somehow distract himself from the many thoughts that plagued his mind. Just as he pressed the power button, the phone rang.

Sighing, he grabbed the phone, not sure if this call was going to be a pleasant one.

“Hai?”

“...Y...Yuki?” The timid voice on the other line was all too familiar. Great...

“What.” Shuuichi inwardly winced at the harshness in Yuki’s tone. This wasn’t good at all...

“...I...g...gomen Yuki... I didn’t mean...t...to...” Shuuichi stopped, tears welling up in his eyes again. What exactly was he going to say anyway?

“You expect me to let you go that easily? One apology and everything’s fine? I think you’re mistaken.” Yuki’s words sounded harsh even to himself...why was he being such a bastard when what he really wanted was to run to Shuuichi.

“...D...demo...Yuki...h...he seduced me...I...please forgive me...it was just once...I messed up...forgive me...onegai...” Yuki could hear the tears straining in Shuuichi’s voice. Was Yuki supposed to believe all that Shuuichi was telling him? How could Shuuichi expect him to?

“I’m supposed to believe you?” Yuki snapped, hearing a wince from the younger boy. “Unless you can think of a damn good reason for me to take you back, its over. Don’t even think of coming near me.” Yuki clicked the phone off, staring at it a good few minutes after the fact.

He hadn’t meant to be that harsh...that unforgiving. But to him, this was the worst thing Shuuichi could have ever done to him. It would take a lot more than that to convince Yuki of anything. He knew it was for the better...

But did the better have to hurt this much?

~~~~~~~~~~

Shuuichi broke down after Yuki hung up. Over...the words resonated in his mind, ate at every part of his being. How could he have been so stupid? Why did Hiro have to do that? A million questions raced through his mind.

Shuuichi collapsed to the floor, arms wrapped around himself, too upset now to even shed any tears.

He’d never felt this bad...ever...

~~~~~~~~~~

Shuuichi dragged himself into the studio. It had been over a week since Hiro quit, over a week since...

Yuki left him. Shuuichi hadn’t spoken to anyone after that phone call with Yuki. He’d spent all that time since crying, sleeping, and sulking...he didn’t even bring himself to eat. He couldn’t...Yuki was gone, what was the point?

Sakano practically jumped Shuuichi as he entered the studio. He’d been a wreck since Hiro quit, and not hearing from his singer for over a week was a bit much for his nerves. K and Suuguru looked up at Shuuichi, surprised that he’d come at all. They’d left him a message saying when the session was, but no one actually expected him to show up. They’d all heard what had happened...

“You showed up?” Suuguru asked plainly, noticing Shuuichi didn’t look well at all.

“H...hai...let’s get to work...”

~~~~~~~~~~

Yuki couldn’t continue his book. Despite demands from his publisher, he had no inspiration. The one he drew all his creativity from was gone, and therefore he saw no point in writing anymore.

There hadn’t been one word from Shuuichi since that call. Yuki was actually starting to get a bit worried...he figured Shuuichi would have been throwing himself at Yuki, begging to come back. But he hadn’t...

He’d spent his time mainly staying indoors...his brother was STILL camping out in his living room, but the two hardly spoke. Touma had come and gone a couple times just to check up on Yuki, even though Yuki could tell Touma was glad that they’d parted. Was the world that against their relationship?

Yuki had heard that Sakano had scheduled a session for today with the now two member Bad Luck, and Tatsuha had insisted on going to make sure Shuuichi was even still alive. Tatsuha could sense that Yuki was still very worried about the pink haired boy, so he figured it would be best.

Yuki actually did appreciate the move. He’d spent all day pacing, waiting to hear back from his brother as to whether or not Shuuichi showed up.

*When did I come to rely on Shuuichi so much? Without him I’ve been a wreck...I lived without him before, right? But...I was a heartless shell then. Shuuichi brought life back into me...and now that life doesn’t know what to do without its maker there.*

Sighing, Yuki lit another cigarette, making sure to stay close to the phone....

~~~~~~~~~~

Tatsuha looked in on the studio. Shuuichi was there, and he was singing, but he lacked the feeling he usually put forth behind his words. And he looked like crap. He seemed thinner and sickly looking, not at all the Shuuichi he remembered. And Shuuichi seemed to miss Hiro being there...he kept glancing over to where Hiro normally stood, hurt shining in his violet eyes. The eyes that were now almost a dull gray.

Tatusha walked out, flipping out his cell phone and dialing his brother’s house. He knew Yuki was probably sitting by the phone waiting, and wasn’t one bit surprised when Yuki picked up on the first ring.

“Is he there?” Yuki asked, sounding a little more anxious than he meant to.

“Yeah, he’s here...but he doesn’t look the same. He looks almost sick...he’s lacking his usual energy and feeling...he looks actually rather pathetic...”

Yuki winced as Tatsuha described him. On one hand, Yuki was glad to confirm Shuuichi was still around, but on the other hand, it hurt him to know what he’d done to him. But...something inside Yuki told him not to give in to Shuuichi so easily.

“I...I see...thank you Tatsuha...” Yuki clicked the phone off, bringing one hand to his head.

Tatsuha put his phone away and decided to grab something to eat in the studio cafeteria before heading back out. He walked down the hallway, turning the corner to run into something.

Actually, someone. Tatsuha lost his balance and fell back, falling flat on his butt on the floor behind him.

“Hey why don’t you watch where you...” Tatsuha froze mid sentence as he looked up at just who he had run into. “A...anou...S...Sakuma...san?”

Sakuma Ryuuichi looked down at Tatsuha, offering a hand to help him up. Tatsuha just froze, blindly taking his hand and standing. Just the touch sent shivers running down his spine...was he sure he wasn’t in a dream?

“Ahh...gomen nasai...are you okay? I guess I really should watch where I go, no da...” Ryuuichi smiled, and Tatsuha was taken aback at how truly...childish...Ryuuichi seemed in person.

“I...I’m fine...” Tatsuha blurted out, knowing he sounded like some silly love struck teenager.

“Are you new? I’ve never seen you around here before!” Ryuuichi grinned, promptly bouncing up and down.

“I...I’m...Uesugi Tatsuha...I’m a friend of Shindou Shuuichi...” Tatsuha was suprised he’d managed to blurt out that much...his god was standing RIGHT THERE! At the mention of Shuuichi’s name, Ryuuichi perked up.

“You know Shuuichi?! Wai! Sugoi! I’ll have to scold him for not introducing us sooner!” Ryuuichi again hopped, leaving Tatsuha bewildered but at the same time fawning. “I was gonna go get some food! Want to come with me? We can become friends! Kumagoro would like that!” Ryuuichi stated, holding the plush bunny out in front of him.

Tatusha could only dumbly nod. “U...uh...sure...” he blurted out, but not before Ryuuichi was already dragging him towards the cafeteria.

~~~~~~~~~

“That’s enough for today...” Sakano said, a bit worried about how Shuuichi had preformed. Shuuichi’s gaze cast itself back to the floor as he silently walked out of the studio, leaving everyone there silently questioning if Shuuichi was really alright or not.

K just kept a straight face. “Hmmm...looks like we need to get Hiro back and soon. Maybe that will give Shuuichi some incentive to work harder...” K mumbled to himself in English, following Shuuichi out of the room. He was on a mission, and whoever tried to stop him would find themselves with a new hole in their body.

Suuguru just sighed. Why did things have to be like this?

~~~~~~~~~

Shuuichi got home and flopped on the couch. He had no energy whatsoever...what little he’d had was used to sing. Things just weren’t right...Hiro wasn’t there to joke with...and more importantly, he didn’t have Yuki to come home to.

Shuuichi had thought he was over him...he’d convinced himself that he was. That’s the only reason he’d gone to the studio. But being there and singing the same old songs he sang when he was with Yuki only made him want Yuki there more and more. His heart was torn, and at this point he wasn’t sure if there was a way to fix it.

Shuuichi finally decided that sitting around moping wasn’t going to do him one bit of good...he was going to do something about this. He’d tried to keep himself from running to Yuki and begging for him to come back, but he couldn’t help it now. He didn’t know how much longer he’d last without him.

Shuuichi grabbed his bag and ran out of the house, determined not to stop running until he was at Yuki’s door.

Across town, Yuki sat on the couch, trying to figure out what to do.

Things just weren’t right.

~~~~~~~~

Hiro was sitting on his bed, flipping through the channels on the TV, when his door burst open. Before he knew it, he had a gun stuck in his face, and a very angry looking blonde American on the other end.

*Crap...* Hiro thought with a sigh. He knew this would happen eventually...

“Alright...” K started in English, looking Hiro straight in the eyes. “You’ll do what I say or I’ll shoot. Any Questions?”

Hiro gulped. “N...no...”

“Good...now lets talk about your return to Bad Luck....”

This was going to be a long day...

~TO BE CONTINUED!~

 

*hops* wai wai! I hope you all enjoyed chapter 3! I was having problems on where to go, but I figured it out! As always, please R&R, and I’ll see you in the next chapter!!