Ghost Monk

A/N:Gah! Real Life is a hellbeast!! I have no time to write anymore, no time to THINK anymore. I'm working four jobs which, HOPEFULLY, two will end by the end of June and I'll be able to write more. So sorry for the delays. Thank you all who've waited so patiently for a next installment! Your praise comments mean a lot, though still, I don't withhold chapters until I get more reviews! I just can't find time to write!

Chapter 16 - Honestly, No More Alcohol For You

An hour's distance from the outskirts of Tokyo, Kitazawa paused in his flight to Kyoto. Eiri was closer to him than he'd thought he'd be. The bond was still strong between them, even after eight years. It meant that the grumpy blonde had finally abandoned the sanctuary of the Shrine. Really, the boy's ability to ignore things and others, something he'd stoically built up over time, seemed to be rapidly degrading.

It had only taken the novelist a day and a half to run this time. It was probably Shuichi's fault, since the pink freak was constantly yelling at Eiri to pay attention to him. Now that he had a location, he headed for the car that his favorite possession had boosted from his sister.

---


Still feeling queasy from overdoing the booze, Shuichi allowed Eiri his blessed silence. Instead, he took to staring out the window to watch the countryside jet by at ninety miles per hour. He'd long since given up wondering by what sort of miracle ensured that all of the Uesugi children never receive speeding violations. He just figured that, between them and the scarily connected Tohma, some miracles had a price tag.


Though Eiri did, indeed, enjoy the quiet permeating the car, it still unnerved him. It wasn't normal for Shuichi to be THAT still for over two hours, even when he slept. In fact, he didn't think it was possible. Of course the kid HAD calmed down but even so, he'd continued to make some noise!


Every so often, he'd glance over at his koi, keeping a wary eye on him in case he got ill or fell over. After all, it looked like Tohma had just had the interior cleaned and he didn't want to get bitched at for the mess.


Yeah.


Right.


"Ne, brat. I'm stopping for breakfast." Eiri finally tried, swallowing his medications dry as he looked for any reaction out of Shuichi. However, the sickly green shade clashed with the bright pink of Shuichi's hair and Eiri decided that it was one reaction he hadn't wanted. "You can stay in... NEXT TO... the car." Better to correct that mistake before it was made than having to clean the interior by hand.


"......." Shuichi tossed a half-hearted glare at his lover, before opening the window and leaning partially out of it to get some fresh air and settle his stomach. "Whatever."


"Get your ass back in the window before I swerve into something heavy and slam your face in." Eiri growled, irritated at Shuichi's behavior. Maturity was one thing, acting like HIM was another thing altogether.


"Like that's anything new." Shuichi muttered, pulling himself back in before Eiri made good on his threat, since the car took the exit to head for a restaurant the older man knew of nearby.


It was Eiri's turn to toss an annoyed glance Shuichi's way. He growled, "What was that, punk?"


"Nothin." The pink-haired singer knew that there was no use trying to be genki or placating while Eiri was in this tone, so he would give back what he got. It was this ideal mood that would prove most advantageous in the next few minutes.


Choosing to ignore Shuichi's hangover bitchiness, Eiri pulled into a spot next to the restaurant and got out of the car, letting his lover get out before he manually set the locks. Once done, he headed into the restaurant without bothering to check if he was being followed.


Shuichi stared at Eiri's back for a moment before shoving his hands in his pockets and shuffling towards the entrance, deep in thought. Having caught up to them finally, Kitazawa found him a moment later, smiling faintly as he watched Shuichi's movements.

Perfect.


Standing right in front of the door, Kitazawa waited until Shuichi pulled a hand out of his pocket and reached for the handle. The singer frowned as his hand and arm felt that weird tingling as it touched the handle, pulling it back and rubbing at it. Maybe he was having a stroke. That'd make Eiri's day, he was sure, get rid of a nuisance.


Shaking it off, he reached his hand out again, right through Kitazawa and grabbed the handle, pulling it open. An unreadable expression on his face, the ex-tutor placed his hand on Shuichi's, then disappeared.

TBC