Something In-Between

Disclaimer: I do not own Gravitation nor do I make any money from using the characters.

NC-17

If you have time, please review. Of course, I live for them.

Note: This is the follow-up to Realities of Life, which in turn is a follow-up to Illusions of Life. My lovely, fantastic beta, has dubbed this series “The Epic of Life.” This is to be the final installment. I think. Well, never say never, I guess.

In this story, I will focus on several different characters and because of that, the chapters will tend to overlap. I hope you like it.

Thank you to everyone that has given me reviews in the past, you have given me the courage to continue to post.



Something In-Between


Chapter 1
Love Hurts

Love hurts, love scars,
Love wounds, and marks,
Any heart, not tough,
Or strong, enough
To take a lot of pain,
Take a lot of pain
Love is like a cloud
Holds a lot of rain
Love hurts

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

After I finished my phone conversation with Tohma, I lay on my back in bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking about the fact that Shuichi was coming to London. I didn’t think his coming to London meant what I wanted it to mean.

That brat. That adorable, irresistible brat.

I sighed as I sat up and lit a cigarette. This one really hurt. This one hurt me to my core.

I hadn’t felt this intense about anyone since my first love, Lee. In fact, I never thought I would ever feel this way again. In life, I have found that having lovers is a relative simple thing.

Being in love is much more complicated.

Shuichi would never be mine. I could pretend and joke around about it, follow him around like the dog I am, but the truth is, he would never be mine. I wasn’t even sure that he knew that. I don’t even think he knew that he had called out for Yuki the one time we had made love.

Right before he hit me with a sucker punch.

I sighed again and resumed feeling sorry for myself. I couldn’t possibly see what that grumpy, mean romance novelist could have that made him a better catch than me. Although, I can’t deny the fact that the guy is unbelievably hot. I touched my sore eye. He also had a pretty impressive punch for someone who typed love stories for a living.

Very soon, I would really have to face the fact that Shuichi would never be mine. Maybe, if I kept repeating that, I would accept it at some point.

My thoughts wandered down a dark road. Maybe Shu could be mine if I took care of that Yuki character. You know, got him completely out of the picture. It would be tricky, but it was possible.

I flopped onto my back again. Nah. That would tick Tohma off. And it would make Shuichi cry, not to mention the whole Yuki-is-wonderful-now-that-he’s-dead thing that would inevitably happen.

I sat up, realizing that I really needed to get out before I made myself crazy by continually thinking in circles.

Grabbing my coat, I stepped outside and into the chilly, wet city. I love London. It’s loud and friendly and diverse. Not as crass and scary as Bangkok or uptight and seemingly straight-laced like Tokyo. Of all my houses in the world, the flat in London is my favorite. For a person who roams the world and doesn’t really belong anywhere, I’m sure that London is the closest thing to a home that I will ever find.

Not to mention the fact that there is always lots of music.

I began walking towards my usual hangout, a local bar that had live music almost every night.

I knew I would try to woo Shuichi when he showed up. I wouldn’t be able to stop myself. It was a losing proposition, but I would try nonetheless.

Sometimes losing was what love was all about.

There was a certain irony in the fact that the surly romance novelist couldn’t seem to figure out the first thing about love. Or maybe he had and I just couldn’t see past his nasty disposition to see it. Perhaps Shuichi had the ability to see beyond the impenetrable wall of anger that Yuki had. That wall around him; it was so much like a blanket that covered the author, keeping him safe from any emotional intrusions.

I considered the blond-haired, mean-thing to be a truly lucky guy. Try as I may, (and believe me, I have tried,) I’ve never been able to cut off my emotions like that.

What I found to be most sorrowful was that Shuichi had turned into a mirror image of the seemingly soulless author. So much so that the singer had lost sight of himself and no longer knew what love was about. I wasn’t sure what had happened to the wounded, violet-eyed love of my life to make him lose it the way he did, but it was heartbreaking to see.

Tohma had told me that Shuichi’s change was due to a combination of many things, but I wasn’t sure I could buy that. I couldn’t help but wonder that if I had stayed, maybe things wouldn’t have turned out the way they had. Maybe Shuichi and I might have ended up together.

But my leaving had not been an option. It had been imperative. My mother’s illness was a long, drawn-out, and horrible thing to be a part of, but she and my father, both, had needed my presence. I wanted Shuichi to go with me—I had asked him. But he had turned me down. That had hurt me very bad.

After my mother’s death and the funeral rites were complete, I couldn’t bring myself to go back to Tokyo. I stayed away intentionally, trying to get Shuichi out of my system. I knew he was still hung up on the author and I couldn’t stand being second on his list any longer.

I hung out in London for a while, trying to lay low while I licked my wounds and tried to forget him. After a month or so, I had a very fortunate evening where I met up with Suspended Animation at one of my favorite clubs. They remembered me and they told me that they had recently fired their manager. After a several nights of music and speaking of music and my connections, they asked if I would be interested in the job.

Why not? I needed something to help sooth my aching, lonely heart.

I had only been with the band for about six weeks when I got the call from Tohma. He was surprised to find out that I was involved with Suspended Animation. Apparently, he had been searching for me for some time. Something was wrong with Shuichi and he wondered if I might want to come see Bad Luck’s singer to help him through a “rough patch,” as Tohma lovingly put it.

Oh, and by the way, would I be interested in bringing Suspended Animation to the NG label?

That Tohma, he really likes to streamline his work as much as possible. Not to mention how clever he is at figuring out every move everyone might make. He’s all about the big picture and the long-term investment. I admire that about him.

However, I did find it odd that he would be totally off base when it came to Shuichi’s feelings for me. Tohma had told me once that if I had showed up in Tokyo a month earlier, Shuichi would have been totally mine. I hadn’t figured out if he was screwing with me or if he was trying, in his own way, to be kind to me. You know, to throw me a bone over the situation.

There was no doubt; Shuichi belonged to the mean, surly, romance novelist. The singer might be fighting his feelings for the author, and he may not want to belong to the grouchy Yuki, but there was no denying it. All you had to do was watch them together to see it.

Hiro-kun was right when he had told me that it was futile to even try to get between them.

Sometimes love really sucks.

I entered the bar and Iain, the bartender, began pouring me an IPA before I sat down.
“Oi! ‘ow’s it goin’, Kyo?” He grinned at me with his crooked teeth.

I smiled as I slid onto a bar stool, “Good, Iain. How’s business?”

“Bloody busy, today ‘as been,” he grumbled. “So, ‘ow’s your love life? Any better?”

Shrugging I said, “He’s coming in tomorrow.”

“Really?” He grinned again, “Must be love, mate.”

“Nah,” I said as I sipped my beer and lit a cigarette. “He’s just avoiding his real love.”

He leaned on the bar, “You know, Kyo, I’ve avoided pointing this out to you in the past, but you ‘ave a damsel in distress complex-thing.”

I quirked my pierced eyebrow at him.

“Yes, sir,” he nodded emphatically. “Didn’t you tell me that the singer wasn’t the one that caught your attention first? Didn’t you say that it wasn’t until you saw ‘im cryin’ that you really took a shine to ‘im? And let me guess, ‘e’s ‘ad a fight with ‘is boyfriend so ‘e’s running to you to feel better, am I right? See, damsel in distress. ‘e’s safe for you to love, ‘cause you’ll never get ‘im.”

I jolted as I was confronted with Iain’s observations. The bartender was right. How had I missed that?

And here I thought I was the practical one.

“Can you just be friends with ‘im?” Iain smiled at me.

“I’m not sure,” I said slowly.

“Maybe you should try. Maybe you should check up on the one that drew your attention first. I find that it’s always best to follow your first instinct,” he winked at me.

“Yeeeah,” I smiled back, shaking my head, “I don’t think that’s an option.”

“Why? Is ‘e straight?"

“Iain,” I said as I stared at him.

“Yes,” he grinned at me.

“Enough.”

He dissolved into laughter, “Oi, Kyo, you are too much. Go for ‘im, I say. After all, nice guys finish last.”

I grabbed my beer and moved to be closer to the stage, his laughter following me. I hate it when my bartender knows me better than I know myself. But I had to admit, it was something to think about.

Friends with Shu, could I do that? Could I keep my hands to myself? Could I quit dreaming about him? Could I transform my feelings of lust into friendship? Was I that good of a guy? It was true that I had always had the ability to remain friends with my ex-lovers, but had I ever felt this intense about any of them?

But then again, did I really feel intense about Shu? Or was it like Iain said, that Shu was safe because I could never have him? Sometimes we do funny things, things we are not even aware we are doing, to protect ourselves.

Wouldn’t that just be silly if it was true?



I picked up Shu and Hiro-kun from the airport the next day. Neither looked like they had slept in a week. I could tell that something bad had happened to Shuichi, something other than having his boyfriend try and run him down with a car. Whatever had happened, I would bet my life that it involved one blond-haired romance novelist.

I looked at Shu and grinned with surprise, “What did you do to your hair?"

He touched the spiky blond mess and gave me a sad, weak smile, “Pretty lame, huh?”

“Nah,” I grinned at him, trying to make him comfortable, “we can fix it up. Maybe give it green tips since you are going for a new look.”

Nodding absently, he followed me towards the parking garage. I looked over at Hiro and he shrugged his shoulders at me. Hmm, I would have to talk to the guitarist alone later on to get the whole scoop. If he would talk to me, that is. Sometimes Hiro was uncharacteristically mean with me.

Finally, after weaving through the throngs of people, we managed to get to my car.

“Are you kidding me?” Shuichi huffed and stared at me, “A Jaguar?”

I nodded and grinned, “I believe in supporting local business.”

“How do you afford this?” he went on.

“Family money,” I coughed. “I come from a wealthy family, dummy.”

“I didn’t know…” he said quietly.

I got in the car, “You never asked.” I suspected that Shuichi didn’t know anything about me.

“So, what business is your family in?” He asked with some interest.

“Uh, trade, you might say,” I lit a cigarette as he slid into the passenger seat and Hiro piled into the backseat behind Shuichi.

“Really,” he looked at me, his eyes bright now. “What do they trade?”

Now what would I say? “Well…”

“Hey, Shu,” Hiro said suddenly, “Look, it’s a double-decker bus.”

“Wow!” the excitement evident in the singer’s voice as he turned away from me and peered out the window.

I glanced in the rearview mirror and met Hiroshi’s storm-colored eyes as he watched me. Don’t tell me he knew what my family background was? I guess it wouldn’t surprise me. In my experiences with him, I had learned that very little escaped Hiro’s notice.

In our phone conversation, Tohma had mentioned that Ryuichi and Hiro had recently split up. Well, those two were a weird combination anyway. Hiro was way too adorable to be worried all the time and there was no question that being involved with Sakuma Ryuichi would tend to make one worry. Evil genius to idiot child and back again, you could never be sure which card you would draw when it came to Ryuichi. Nittle Grasper’s singer was a very interesting character with a sizzling hot body on him, but he was too bizarre for me.

But, other than looking like he hadn’t slept in a while, Bad Luck’s guitarist seemed fine. The quiet and steady Hiro. I wondered what went on beneath that calm exterior of his. I wondered what it would take to get that calm to shatter and to hear him…

My thoughts were interrupted suddenly.

“Kyo?”

“I’m sorry, Shu,” I tried to recover quickly. Now, that was weird. “I was off in dreamland. What did you say?”

“Where are we staying?”

“My place,” I said softly.

He shook his head, “You don’t have to do that. We can stay at a hotel. You’ve already done enough for us.”

“Nonsense,” I said as I looked over at the spiky haired, goofball. The look in his eyes was enough to let me know that he was wrestling with some major guilt. It also let me know how sorry he was. I couldn’t say I was disappointed by that fact. I was still pretty mad at him. After all, he had used me to get even with Yuki. Of course, I suppose I couldn’t ignore the fact that I had let him use me.

Oh yeah, have I mentioned that I think love stinks?

My eyes moved to the rearview mirror, Hiro was watching me again. I found it to be… unnerving.

“Tohma said that Suguru would be joining us in a few weeks,” I said, trying to change the subject.

Shu sighed heavily, “Yeah. The little bastard.”

“Oh, come on,” I grinned at him. “He’s not that bad.”

“Oh yeah?” He challenged me, his eyes starting to sparkle again. “If he’s “not that bad,” as you put it, why do you go out of your way to rearrange his notes and music all the time?”

“That was you?” Hiro said and our eyes met again in the mirror. “You were the one making him crazy by getting his stuff out of order?”

“Uh, yeah,” I said with a smile. “Sorry?”

Hiro started laughing.

My heart skipped a beat.

What was that?


That night, after taking them out for Indian food, Shuichi literally collapsed from fatigue. Once we made it home, I threw the ridiculously lightweight singer into his bed. After that, I retrieved a beer from the ‘fridge and wandered into the living room. Hiro was there with his own beer, smoking a cigarette and looking out over the city.

“It’s lovely, isn’t it?” I said to him as I flopped onto the other end of the couch.

“Yes, it is.”

“So, Hiro-kun,” I started slowly, “are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

He shook his head, “I don’t know. Something very bad happened between him and Yuki. Something beyond the normal bad, but…”

“I know,” I sighed. “Something bad is always happening between them.”

He smiled at me, “Nice to see that you are finally starting to figure that out. Took you long enough.”

“Yeah, sometimes I’m a little slow,” I agreed.

Hiro’s eyes slipped away from mine, “Did you know that Shuichi did the same thing to me?”

“What?”

“So, you really didn’t know?” he asked.

“Know what?” I looked at him but he still would not meet my eyes. Finally, I asked again, “Know what, Hiro-kun? Did you and Shu…”

He nodded, “After you left to be with your mother, Shu just sort of melted down. It was as if he became a totally different person.”

Hiro inhaled deeply before going on, “He… he told me that he was in love with me. That he had always loved me and that he knew I felt the same. He wasn’t himself, but I thought I could… that we could make it all okay. I wanted it to be true, but I knew in my heart it wasn’t.”

Finally, he let his tear-filled eyes meet mine, “I wanted you to know that you aren’t the only one that he did that to. I know how much it hurts and I haven’t been very understanding to you about it.”

“Oh, Hiro-kun,” I had the sudden, overwhelming urge to hold him as he cried, but I didn’t think he’d let me. So I said the only thing I could, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

He shook his head, “I let him, even though I knew… Loving someone doesn’t mean they’ll love you back.” He rubbed the tears from his eyes, “I don’t even think he’s aware of how much he is hurting the people around him. He’s so filled with pain himself.”

“Yes, I agree,” I said quietly. “At this point, I’m certain he feels that life is all pain. He didn’t used to be like that.”

We sat in silence for a few minutes before I asked, “Hiro, did Shu and Ryuichi, you know, also?”

Hiro leaned back and gave me a sad smile, “Yeah, they did. But I’ve since learned that it would be hard to say who was manipulating who in that scenario.”

“Well,” I smiled back at him, “at least one out of three of us got away without damage.”

“I didn’t say he wasn’t damaged by it,” he corrected. “But with Ryuichi, there’s already so much wrong that it’s hard to see any new scars.”

The silence, again, enveloped us for several moments.

“So, just out of curiosity, how was he?” I grinned. Dog that I am, I couldn’t help but ask. As an added attraction, it was always fun to rattle the normally stoic Hiroshi.

“You mean Ryuichi, right?”

“Of course, I mean Ryuichi. How is he in bed?”

He shook his head and smiled, “I don’t kiss and tell.”

“Just as I suspected, he was boring. Well, that takes care of one fantasy for me,” I nodded.

Hiro sputtered at me. “I did not say he was boring!”

I leaned closer to him, “Well then, how was he?”

Our eyes met and I could see that there was something straining to break loose in him. Was that because of me? Wait a minute; I thought he didn’t like me…

“Hiroshi?” I said quietly.

He stood, “I’m tired. Which room is mine, again?’”

“At the end of the hall,” I sighed and leaned back.

He turned to leave but paused at the doorway, “Kyosuke?”

“Yeah?” I grabbed a cigarette.

“You should keep your hands off of him. He won’t do it intentionally, but he’ll hurt you again if you pursue him.”

“Why, Hiro-kun,” I cooed at him, “it almost sounds as though you are worried about me.”

He furrowed his brow and nodded in obvious confusion, “Yes it does, doesn’t it?”

Well now, what do you think about that?




The next night, I managed to talk them both into going to a bar that had an acoustic “open mike” night so we could go and jam with some of the locals. Actually, they were both pretty excited about it. After all, it was rare that the two of them could go anywhere in Japan, or many parts of Asia even, without being recognized and mobbed. The thought of going to a pub, picking up an instrument, and playing in front of people that didn’t know them must have been a very attractive idea to them.

I knew the owner of the club and he was happy to have “any friends of Kyo’s play at any time.” I’d helped Andy out of some “trouble” a few years earlier, so he was very loyal to me. Almost embarrassingly so.

My drummer, Tanaka Aki, from Suspended Animation was there when we arrived. I was glad. I didn’t think that Shu and Hiro had gotten much of a chance to play acoustically in quite a while. This would be good practice for the upcoming tour.

Tohma would be pleased.

Of course, it would not be long before he was wondering how we could market the “acoustic” Bad Luck/Suspended Animation merge. We’d have to have a new name. Maybe Bad Animation or Suspended Luck? Nah, too obvious. Of course, I supposed it wouldn’t be long before Tohma or someone else showed up from Nittle Grasper. After all, the tour would start right here in England.

Hmm.

Shu handed me some music. I raised an eyebrow at him and he nodded.

It was a David Bowie song, “Let’s Dance.”

He shrugged at me, “I know the lyrics.”

Hmm.



It was a little over a week later when Shuichi finally apologized to me. He looked me in the eye and told me that Yuki, like it or not, was his true love. He also told me that he was sure his relationship with the author was over. He didn’t say why, in fact he wouldn’t answer any questions about Yuki at all. It was frustrating and painful and infuriating.

But at least it was definite.

He let me hold him while we cried together and he told me how much he wished that I was the one instead of Yuki.

I didn’t tell him that I wasn’t sure if I felt the same way anymore.

Hiro hunted me down at my favorite pub later on that night. I was totally inebriated by the time he showed up. Iain was just thinking of calling a cab for me.

He sat down next to me, but didn’t say anything. He ordered a lager and I teased him about being a beer wuss.

Looking over at me, he placed his elbow on the bar and his head on his hand, “Uh, huh. And you’re the macho beer drinker with your head on the bar, two sips away from total oblivion.”

“Hey, broken heart here,” I slurred at him. “Try and have a little sympathy.”

“Huh,” he smiled softly at me, “you’ll be okay. It’s not like you weren’t prepared for this.”

I sat up and nearly fell off my stool. The ground looked as if it was very long way away from me, “How is the little runt, anyway?”

The guitarist took a sip of his fizzy, yellow beer, “He’s sad that he hurt you. I think that’s bothering him more than anything.”

“Did he tell you what happened with him and Yuki?” I said with more venom than I meant to.

“No, not really.” He said hesitantly.

“Meaning you’ve figured out what happened.” I glared at him. “You know him better than anyone, Hiro-chan. So, come on then, spill it.”

Chuckling at me Hiro said, “All right, all right. No need to shout.”

Was I shouting? I was too drunk. “Uh, Hiro-chan?”

“Yes?”

“If I can’t remember this in the morning, will you tell me again?” The chair started swaying so I grabbed at the bar.

He was laughing openly now, “Yes, I’ll tell you again, but only if you quit calling me Hiro-chan.”

I’d been calling him Hiro-chan? That was rather forward of me, wasn’t it? His lovely hair was in a messy braid and I had the overwhelming desire to pull it loose.

“Okay!! Sorry about that, Hiro-chan.”

He sighed.

A few minutes past until I finally remembered that he was supposed to be telling me something, “Hey, what about Shu?”

Hiro lit a cigarette and shook his head, “I think Yuki might have… forced himself on Shuichi.”

“WHAT?” I was aware I was shouting this time. “No, he wouldn’t do that to Shu. Not that, no way. That is too much, even for him.”

“I agree,” he nodded. “But I’ve only seen Shu incapable of being able to communicate what happened to him once before. That was when he was raped.”

“Shit!” I shouted.

Hiro jolted.

“Sorry for the language,” I slurred again.

“No, that’s okay. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you swear before, it just surprised me.”

I shook my head like a lunatic, “Do you really think that’s what happened?”

“I don’t know for sure. He told me that he’s sure he still loves Yuki. If Yuki had actually raped him, I don’t think Shu would be able to get beyond that. But if Yuki lost control, which he has done a time or two, he might have scared Shu.” He sipped his beer again, “Maybe not actually raped him, but maybe stepped over a line with Shu some other way.”

I shook my head, “They have a totally messed up relationship.”

Hiro shrugged, “Have I, or have I not, been trying to tell you that?”

It was my turn to laugh, “Yes, you have been trying to tell me that, Hiro-chan. Will you take me home, now?”

He swallowed the last of his beer and threw some money on the bar. Standing, he looked at me with his eyes full of amusement as he said, “Come on, Kyo-chan. I’ll take you home.”

“Oi! Kyo!” Iain shouted at me as I tried to stand and Hiro steadied me with his arm around my waist.

“That the one?” my bartender nodded at Hiro.

I shook my head, as I started the inevitable slide to the floor, “Nah. I’m taking your advice, Iain. This is the one that caught my attention first.”

“What are you talking about?” Hiro asked me as he tried to keep me on my feet.

Who knows what I told him or if I told him anything, because after that, everything went dark.



It was a couple of weeks later when the first of the reporters showed up at our acoustic jam sessions. Hiro noticed her first, of course, even though the reporter was attempting to be sly and incognito.

“Perfect,” I smiled at Hiro. We hadn’t gotten completely past our awkwardness since the night at the pub, but we were very patient people. We both had a lot to get through before we could deal with what was happening between us. “Are you sure you are okay with this?”

He met my eyes and I watched as the storm raged inside him. “Just take it easy, okay?”

I grinned at him, “Yes, dear.”

I moved towards Shuichi, “Hey, Shu, do you have a minute?”

He nodded at me, “Sure, Kyo. What’s up?”

I took his hand and lead him towards the alley door, “Come on, let’s go somewhere more private.”

“What’s going on?”

“Shuichi,” I started as we stopped a few steps outside the door in the alley. “Are you ever going to tell me what happened between you and Yuki?”

He shook his head and I stepped closer to him, he stepped back until his back was against the wall.

“Shuichi, did he rape you?” I hissed.

“No! No, he didn’t,” he defended his blond-haired monster.

I placed my right hand on the wall, next to his head. “You’re sure he didn’t force himself on you?”

He shook his head, panic setting in, “Why are you doing this, Kyo?

“You know why,” I leaned into him, pressing my body against him. Desire exploded in me and I had an instant erection. Hmm, I guess I wasn’t even remotely over him yet, at least not the lust part, anyway. What came as a total surprise was that I felt his body react equally to me.

Well crap, Hiro had been right. That guy is always right.

I kissed Shuichi, deep with hunger and want. Oh gods, it was so good. My tongue touched his lips and he opened his mouth with a moan. His tongue tangled with mine and we lapped at each other. I pressed my body tighter against him, feeling his hardened cock as Shuichi rubbed against me with tortuous friction.

So good.

I felt his fingers entwine with my hair as my hand slid down and grabbed his hip.

I would have screwed him in the alley, then and there. I really, really wanted to.

That is, if the alley door had not opened and drawn our attention. We both looked towards the door as the camera flashed.

I saw Hiro standing behind the reporter. That is, before the reporter turned and darted away, like a carrion bird with a prize of reeking flesh.

“Oh!” Shuichi said, “Fuck! Eiri will see that!”

“Yes,” I panted as I pushed away from him, trying to get myself back under control. “And I’ll bet money that will bring him running to you.”

Shuichi’s eyes turned dangerous, “You set me up! You bastard!”

“No, Shu,” Hiro stepped into the alleyway. “We set you up. Yuki will come for sure now. Do you want him to? Or, do you want us to keep him away from you when he shows up?”

“I don’t know,” he glared at me. “I do know I don’t want to see either of you right now.”

“Fair enough,” I said to his retreating form.

I leaned against the wall and exhaled with frustration.

Hiro lit a cigarette, “I told you not to get carried away.”

“Hiro?”

“What?” He glared at me.

“You’re mad at me aren’t you? It was just a stupid kiss. We talked about it beforehand, remember?” I defended myself.

“Yes, I remember,” he took a drag. “But it doesn’t mean that I have to like it.”

“Hiro-kun, are you jealous?” I asked him with surprise.

“Tch. You wish,” he scolded.

“Maybe I do,” I smiled at him. “Hey, can I kiss you?”

“Give it up, Kyo,” he sniped at me. “You’re just horny.”

“Well, duh…” I snapped at him. “Come on, just one?”

He threw down his smoke and stomped on it as he gave me a challenging stare. I moved to him and put my arms around his waist. I was a little surprised that he let me. Then I leaned down and…

If what I had felt when I kissed Shuichi had been a flame, then with Hiro, what I felt was a supernova. My knees almost gave out. I was moaning and pulling him to me and there wasn’t even any tongue involved.

In only seconds, he pushed away from me, his breathing ragged, “Enough.”

“Oh, gods,” I was panting again. “Did you feel that? That was incredible!”

“Come on, Kyo,” he smiled as he moved towards the door. “We both still have some lingering feelings about other people to sort out before we can consider something new.”

“But,” I said as I followed him, “you felt that, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” he said, but he did not turn to look at me.

Right before we re-entered the club, I slid my arm around his waist from behind and whispered into his ear, “Don’t make me wait too long, okay? I am so dreaming about you tonight.”

He didn’t say anything, but I felt him shudder.

Hmm. Maybe love doesn’t always suck.



TBC


Lyrics for Love Hurts by Nazareth

BTDTGTT (Been there…): Thank you so much for your review and lesson. I do have a beta but sometimes we both miss things (like apostrophes.) I must admit that grammar has never been my strength (I’m more driven by plot) so I appreciate all the help I can get.


Cait (hey! I WAS trying to tip my hat with Kizuna reference and I didn’t know about Kyosuke’s name, that’s pretty cool! Thanks for the info,) Amethyst-eyed Koneko (hang on- Ryu gets very interesting in this story. More Tohma coming, too,) Gingitsune (I think Kyosuke is hot, too,) Miztikal_Dragon nsi, Ladyfiend, A. Lafaye, Alethea!, Joukaibamokie, femaleYuki, libellule, and anyone else that I have missed: I can’t tell you how much your reviews mean to me. And I listen, sometimes you guys help me decide what might happen down the road. Thank you so much!