Heyo! As promised, here’s chapter 5! I was quick with this one, so forgive me if it stinks...you all aren’t getting mad at me for delaying things too long are you? Don’t worry...Things’ll get better soon! ^^ For now, enjoy this, and let me know what you think as always, ne ne? Oh yeah...things might move kinda fast in this chapter, so forgive me!

~CHAPTER 5~

Shuuichi fell back against the couch after Hiro left. He was tried, that was for sure. Sleepily he looked at the answering machine, finally noticing the flashing red light there. Wearily he pressed the play button, wondering what anyone could want from him.

“Shindou-san, this is Seguchi-desu. Yuki has collapsed. He’s in the hospital. Just thought you should know. Ja ne.” Shuuichi’s eyes went wide. Yuki...collapsed? This wasn’t the first time, but it still took Shuuichi completely by surprise.

Grabbing his bag, Shuuichi ran out the door, running all the way to the hospital. He didn’t slow down once he was there, though. The pink haired boy kept running until he got to the reception desk.

“A...anou...what room is Uesugi Eiri in?” Shuuichi knew they’d most likely use Yuki’s real name for his room. The nurse flipped though some papers, giggling as she recognized Shuuichi. *Great...a fan...*

“I can’t let you in unless you’re on the list they’ve specified...what’s your name?” The nurse shyly smiled, already knowing very well who he was.

Shuuichi sighed. This girl was getting annoying. “Shindou Shuuichi...” The girl flipped through the list and frowned. “They’ve listed to have you wait out here until one of them comes out to go in with you. I’ll let them know you’re here...please have a seat.”

Shuuichi looked shocked, to say the least. He couldn’t even see Yuki? Shuuichi sat, defeated, and closed his eyes. *I guess Yuki really doesn’t care about me anymore...* Shuuichi curled up on the small uncomfortable chair and fell into a light, uneasy sleep.

Touma walked out of the room, finding Shuuichi snoozing on one of the waiting room chairs. When Yuki had regained consciousness, he had asked that they made sure Shuuichi wasn’t to come in unannounced...Yuki needed to know he was there first so he could prepare himself.

Touma walked over and was about to shake the singer awake when he mumbled something in his sleep.

“Y...Yuki...d...don’t...can’t...live...w...without...” Shuuichi’s mumblings died off and the young boy shivered, obviously having a bad dream...Touma sighed and resumed his quest to wake the pink haired boy.

“Shindou-san...Shindou-san...you can see Eiri-san now...” Shuuichi blinked his eyes open and looked hazily up at Touma.

“H...hai...” Shuuichi stood and silently followed Touma back to Yuki’s room. All he wanted was a few moments alone with Yuki...but from the looks of it, he wasn’t going to get it. Shuuichi walked in to see Yuki talking quietly to his sister, and Shuuichi’s gaze lowered to the floor as he stepped closer.

“Yuki...d...daijoubu?” Shuuichi timidly looked over at Yuki. He looked worse than he had earlier...

“Aa. I’ll be fine.” Yuki said flatly. Inside his emotions were battling one another, and Yuki was trying to hid it as much as he could.

Shuuichi looked down and closed his eyes. He wanted to run and hug Yuki and cry his eyes out, but Mika and Touma watching him so closely made him decide against it. “I...I just wanted to check on you...I...I don’t want anything happening to you...”

All this got from Yuki was a light “hmph”. Yuki had turned his gaze out the window, trying to fight the emotional battle still waging inside him. Why wouldn’t it stop? Why wouldn’t Shuuichi leave him alone? Even if the pink haired singer left, Yuki knew he could never rid himself of that loud, obnoxious, silly, bratty...HIS...love...Yuki knew deep down that he’d love Shuuichi no matter what, but some part of him was fighting it. Why? Why couldn’t Yuki let go of his cold shell and for once open up to the world? If not to the world...then at least to his beloved...

“I...I guess I’ll leave you then...” Shuuichi turned to go...he really wanted to stay longer, but the tears welling in his eyes threatened to spill over, and he couldn’t show weakness right now...he’d never had a problem about crying in front of others before, but somehow, this time Shuuichi didn’t want to. *Heh...maybe I’m the one starting to develop a hard shell now...*

Yuki started to open his mouth in protest, but promptly received a glare from Touma and closed it again. Yuki whispered to himself the words he longed to say to Shuuichi yet couldn’t... “Don’t go...I need you...I...love you...”

Touma was the only other one who heard him. Scowling, he walked over and shut the door behind Shuuichi.

~~~~~~~~~~

Tatsuha finally returned to his brother’s apartment after the longest, best day of his life. He thought it was strange that his brother wasn’t home this time of evening, but ignored it. Tatsuha sat on the couch, staring at the little piece of paper in his hands.

Ryuuichi had given him his own personal phone number! Tatsuha smiled, falling back on the couch as he clutched the paper to his chest. Ryuuichi had commented on how much fun he’d had that day with Tatsuha, and he insisted that Tatsuha call him first thing the next day so they could ‘play some more’.

For once, things in his life were beginning to look up. He actually had a shot at being with Ryuuichi! The thought was one he could only dream of, yet at the same time he was scared it would happen. Could he ever do that...with his god?

A million things were running through Tatsuha’s mind as the phone rang. Sighing, he picked it up. “Hai hai?”

“Tatsuha...its Mika. You better come down here to the hospital...we’ve been trying to get a hold of you all night. Your brother is sick...this time worse than before.”

Tatsuha’s eyes went wide, yet at the same time, he expected it. “Alright, I’ll be right there.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Yuki lay still in his bed, staring at the ceiling. He’d finally convinced Touma and Mika to give him a few moments to himself, and Yuki somehow relished the quiet that surrounded him. But it couldn’t soothe the raging thoughts inside of him...nothing could.

The doctor had come in a few moments prior with his observations. Yuki had already forgotten most of it, except for the fact that this could be fatal if not treated the right way. But, to tell the truth, Yuki didn’t mind dying...except for the fact that he figured even in death, he could never fully escape Shuuichi’s grasp.

Yuki hated to admit to himself that he had completely fallen in love with the singer, and this little bump in the road had done nothing but make him realize he loved him more. And inside, Yuki knew the reason the stress had been eating away at him so much faster now was the fact that he didn’t constantly have the object of his affections around to cheer him up. So why was he being such a bastard and making Shuuichi wait? What was he himself waiting for?

Yuki didn’t know the answer to any of these questions...or if he did, they were hidden behind his inner self doubt and worry.

Why was this happening to him? Why?

Just then, Touma re-entered, Tatsuha following him in. *Great...can’t be alone for more than two minutes...*

*I wouldn’t mind being alone if it was with the one I need...*

~~~~~~~~~

Yuki went home the next day...but he was ordered to stay indoors and take care of himself. And he was ordered to stay in bed for a day, so he constantly had Touma fretting over every little detail. But, all in all, Yuki had said very little to anyone...he’d just remained silent, staring out into space and lost in his own little world.

Touma had gotten worried about Yuki, but tried his best to take care of him anyway. The blonde was fixing Yuki lunch when someone knocked on the door.

Touma answered and glared at who stood there. “Nakano-san...what do you want with Yuki?”

“I need to talk to him...I promised someone I would. Now let me in.” Touma sighed, stepping aside and letting the guitarist inside. Touma led him to the door to Yuki’s room, and Hiro went in, getting ready for hell.

Yuki just looked over at Hiro, barely acknowledging him. “What.” It was more of a statement than a question.

“I promised Shuuichi I’d come over here and straighten some things out, and you’re gong to listen to me whether you want to or not.” Hiro sat in the chair next to Yuki’s bed, staring at the blonde. He looked so much softer than he had last time they’d met...and he looked like he’d been to hell and back.

“Whatever...just talk if you’re going to.” Yuki closed his eyes and listened to Hiro with faint interest.

Hiro nodded and started his well thought out speech. “Alright...first of all...don’t blame Shuuichi for what happened. I’m a jerk for not telling you all this sooner...but I took advantage of him. It was my fault...I waited until he was tired and weak and I seized the opportunity. He loves you, Yuki. He always has, and I was wrong to ever thing that I’d take your place in his heart. I should have stopped when he told me to...I made him cry, something I can never forgive myself for. But the reason I know he truly loves you is in his sleep he called out to you...confessed love for you. He would never intentionally do anything to upset you...he felt he always upsetted you enough as it was. He’s doing horribly without you...and don’t try to tell me you don’t feel the same. I didn’t realize that day just how much he meant to you...and that you had come to propose to him. From what I know of you, that must have taken a hell of a lot of courage, and I feel like shit for taking that away from you. So...please...take Shuuichi back. You’ll both feel so much better if you did...and I swear I’ll never touch him again.” Hiro stopped...he’d talked enough...it was time for Yuki to give his opinion.

“I see...I’ll take that into consideration. Now please...leave me alone. My head hurts.” Inside, Yuki was overjoyed that Shuuichi really was in love with him that much...and a part of him somehow changed.

~~~~~~~~~~

Shuuichi sat at home that day, wondering how Yuki was recovering. He’d have gone over to check on him, but he was sure that Touma would be guarding him like a hawk, and Touma was one of the last people Shuuichi wanted to face at this point.

Six more days. That was all Shuuichi had to wait.

~~~~~~~~~~

Tatsuha had been spending the past few days with Ryuuichi, and the two were becoming closer and closer. Ryuuichi had been opening up more to him, glomping and huggling him more frequently, along with telling him how much he liked having him there numerous times.

Tatsuha was overjoyed that he was making such an impact on Ryuuichi...he was so lucky! That day he and Ryuuichi had decided to meet for lunch, so there he was, impatiently waiting on his friend.

Without warning, Ryuuichi came up behind him, glomping him and shoving Kumagoro in his face. “Kumagoro missed you na no da!” Ryuuichi beamed, taking his seat across from Tatsuha. “And so did I...”

Tatsuha smiled back at the energetic singer. “I missed you too Ryuuichi...even though we just saw each other yesterday.

“Mou, but yesterday was so long ago!” Ryuuichi argued, pouting and looking down at Kumagoro. “Ne ne Kumagoro?”

Tatsuha chuckled. “Alright, alright. It was a long time ago. Now...what do you say we order and spend a lot of time together?”

Ryuuichi nodded...he had a surprise for Tatsuha that evening....

~~~~~~~~~~

The six days came and went, Shuuichi and Hiro returning to the studio, and both of them anxiously awaiting what Yuki’s answer would be.

After recording that day, Shuuichi went straight to Yuki’s, and again he found himself hesitating to ring the bell. This was it...his heart would either be healed or broken...it was almost as bad as life or death for the young singer. Nervously, he rang the bell, hoping that Yuki’s answer would be what he wanted it to be.

Shuuichi looked up as Yuki opened the door....

~TO BE CONTINUED!~

lol, I know I’m evil ~.^ I love to keep you in suspense! I’ve decided the next chapter is going to focus on Tatsuha and Ryuuichi, so you’ll have to wait most likely to find out Yuki’s answer...Keep reading guys! and ENJOY!