Kin no Shuichi

Kin no Shuichi
Written by: Chochowilliams
Disclaimer: I do not own Gravitation or the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Summary: Shuichi and Eiri are working things out after a mistake on both of their parts nearly ended their five year relationship. But what about Bad Luck? What does the future hold for them?
Chapter Summary: Yoshio returns, but not with good tidings.
Warning: M/M, romance, angst, OOC-ness, language, Shuichi/Eiri, implied Eiri/oc, implied Shuichi/oc
Insert: Gravitation manga volume 4
A/N: Thank you to Mrs. Hatake Itachi, S. Ryo, Acherona, Kaoru Sayuri Kamiya for your reviews. I always love hearing from you guys.

+---+---+---+

Chapter 14: Between the Devil and the Blue Sea

“Sir, this is Yuri Akizuki from the front desk.”

Shuichi blinked. “What happened to Naoki-kun?”

“He’s off today. His sister’s getting married,” Yuri answered in a bored matter of fact tone.

“That’s right! He said something about that the other day…but didn’t their father pass away not too long ago?”

“Yes, sir. Quite suddenly I believe.”

“Wow. That sucks.” Shuichi folded a leg beneath him as he sat on the stool in the kitchen. “So,” he continued a little too brightly. The air had become quite gloomy. Not at all the kind of mood he wanted to fall into after this morning’s sensuous wake up call. He was becoming flustered just remembering being tasted and teased and violated. “What’s up?” he asked after violently clearing his throat. God! I hope Yuri didn’t notice, Shuichi thought.

“There was a delivery for you, sir.”

“…A delivery? For me?”

“Yes, sir. Would you like for me to have it brought up, or…?”

“Uhm…” Shuichi thought about that. Sayo was napping and Eiri was in the study working on his novel. There would be hell to pay if either of them were bothered. So maybe it would be best if instead of Yuri coming up here, he went down to the lobby. “No, I’ll come down there.”

“Very good, sir.”

Shuichi pushed the talk button ending the call. Standing up, he crossed the kitchen and placed the handset in the cradle.

He wondered what this delivery was. As far as he knew, he wasn’t expecting anything. He hadn’t ordered anything or entered any contests. Maybe his mother sent him something. Possible but unlikely because she would have said something. Maybe his secret admirer sent him flowers again. Just like he did for last Valentine’s Day. Shuichi grinned. Violet eyes sparkled mischievously. Eiri would completely have kittens. He was a very jealous and very possessive individual.

Exiting the kitchen, Shuichi made for the foyer where he slid into his sneakers. Grabbing his keys, just in case he locked himself out (which has happened embarrassingly enough), he stepped out into the hallways and shut the door behind him.

+---+---+

Shuichi skipped out of the elevator and up to the counter. “Hello?” he called. Grabbing the inner edge of the polished marble top, he rose up on his toes and peered over the counter. “Yuri?” Dropping back down, he planted one hand on his hip and scratched his head in confusion. Had Yuri gone to take a dump, or something? “Strange.”

“Looking for someone?”

He glanced over his shoulder. “Hm?” He was met with dark sparkling eyes and a wide toothy grin.

“Hey,” said the deep baritone voice.

Shuichi gasped. His eyes went wide. “Oh. My. God. Yoshi!” Ecstatic at being able to see one of his best friends for the first time in fourteen months, Shuichi threw himself at the taller, older male with a cry.

Yoshio staggered under the sudden weight, but managed to catch himself. His face softened as he hugged Shuichi back. Albeit one-handed. Burying his face in Shuichi’s soft pink locks, he breathed in the herbal scent.

Grinning, Shuichi pulled away enough to glance up at Yoshio. “You jerk! What’re you doing here? When did you get into town?”

“Late last night.”

“You should’ve called!”

“Mm, yeah, but then I wouldn’t have been able to surprise you.”

Shuichi laughed. Hugging Yoshio’s arm to his chest, he glanced up at his friend with a wide toothy grin. “You can stay…right?”

Yoshio’s heart skipped a beat. Was it hot in here? Or was it just him? Clearing his throat, he nodded. “Of course.”

The pout transformed into a grin. “Cool!” He giggled. “C’mon!” Shuichi pulled an all too willing Yoshio to the elevator bank.

Yoshio breathed a sigh of relief. His heart was still racing though. Now he knew why everybody who met Shuichi couldn’t help but like him. How could you not? He just hoped Shuichi still liked him by the end of the day.

+---+---+

Yoshio whistled as he stepped into the condo behind Shuichi. “Wow.”

“What d’ya think?” Shuichi asked.

“Impressive.”

“Thanks.” Shuichi beamed. He shut and locked the door.

“You live here with your daughter?”

“Yup. Just me, Sayo and of course Eiri.”

Yoshio chocked. “Yu-Yuki?”

Shuichi straightened from changing into his slippers. He glanced over his shoulder at his old friend with a puzzled expression on his face. “Well, yeah. He is my husband.”

“But I thought, I mean…”

“Huh?”

Yoshio shook his mixed bag of thoughts and emotions aside and plastered a smile on his face. “Nothing. Never mind.”

Shuichi studied Yoshio in silence for a few seconds longer. “Okay,” he said brightly. He started to turn away, but something in his peripheral vision caught his attention. When he turned back, there was a bouquet of beautiful red roses in full bloom, purple irises and in the center, a single white lily. His eyes grew wide. “Yo…shi…what?”

Yoshio averted his gaze in embarrassment. Shrugging, he scratched his cheek. “I saw them and though of you. Besides, your birthday was not too long ago, right?”

“Oh! Yoshi! They’re beautiful. Thank you.” Shuichi rose up on his toes and pressed his lips against Yoshio’s stubble filled cheek. A strong sensation of déjà vu washed over him. Thrown, Shuichi slowly lowered himself back to the floor.

Seeing the troubled look on his face, Yoshio dropped his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Shu? Are you alright?”

“Huh? Oh! Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine,” Shuichi replied brightly, snapping out of his thoughts. But what was that? Strange. Very strange. That was the first time he’d kissed Yoshio so why would he get a feeling, a very strong feeling, of familiarity? Maybe it had to do with the unshaven aspect. He and Eiri had certainly had “relations” before either of them had properly washed in the morning. Yeah. That had to be it. Eiri had the tendency to get off on taking him when he was still scratchy. Shaking the lingering feeling off, Shuichi started towards the kitchen. “Let’s get these in some water.”

“…Yeah.” Yoshio watched Shuichi vanished around the corner. There was the sound of a cupboard opening and then rattling and clinking dishes. He wondered what that had been about.

Over the sound of running water, Shuichi called out to him. “Would you like some tea?”

“Sure,” Yoshio called back. He made his way to the kitchen. Standing in the threshold between it and the dining room, he watched as Shuichi peeled away the cellophane wrapper from around the flowers. “…Shu.”

Smiling, Shuichi put the bouquet in the water filled crystal vase. “Hm.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Confused, Shuichi glanced at his old friend briefly as he carried the vase passed him into the dining room. “’Sorry’? What for?” he asked with a smile.

Yoshio reached into the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out an envelope.

“What’s that? Get me a card, too?” Shuichi teased.

“…No.”

The serious expression on Yoshio’s face wilted the smile on Shuichi’s face. “Yoshi?”

“Shu…I know we went over this before, but…will you reconsider?”

Shuichi tilted his head. “Reconsider? What?”

“Doing a spread in Blaze.”

“…Yoshi…”

“Please, Shu! I’m begging you. The premier issue was our biggest seller and it was all thanks to that interview you gave!”

Shuichi saw the desperation on Yoshio’s face. But as much as he wished he could help him, he just could not do it. And it had nothing to do with Eiri, even though his husband would have his head on a platter. He just did not feel comfortable taking his clothes off in front of strangers just so some perverts had something to masturbate to. As much as he loved Yoshio and as much as he wanted his magazine to do well (despite it being a gay porn rag), Shuichi just could not do it. He couldn’t. He couldn’t.

“Thanks for waiting guys.”

“It’s time to earn those dollars. Take care of him.”

“It’s shocking enough that you were getting down with some dude…But how are people going to react when they find out it’s with a famous lady-killer?”

“What’s that I hear? Could it be Bad Luck’s career ending?”

“If I told everyone your little secret, the press would bury you in a second.”

“I’m sorry Eiri Yuki has to suffer because of you. He seems all right.”

“Maybe if you’re a good boy and do as you’re told, I’ll leave him out of it.”

Hands.

Touching him.

In places they shouldn’t.

Hot breath.

Against his neck.

As the memories broke through the barrier that had been erected all those years ago, the room spun. The floor tilted.

The vase slipped out of Shuichi’s hands and exploded against the floor.

Yoshio became alarmed as Shuichi’s naturally tan complexion went white. Even his lips were pale. “Shu? Shu! What’s-?”

Shuichi’s stomach churned. He felt feverish. Shaking his head vigorously, Shuichi cried softly. “I-I can’t. I just…I can’t.” The first tear slid down his cheek.

“Shu…”

Shuichi recoiled from his friend’s outstretched hand. His stomach rolled. Slapping a hand over his mouth, he spun about and tore through the dining room. He pushed open the door and vanished down the darkened hall way that led to the master bedroom suite.

“Shu…” Yoshio whispered after his friend. He sighed. Lifting the white envelope up, he stared at it. His gaze shifted to the door through which Shuichi had disappeared. He tightened his grip on the envelope. “I’m sorry.” The last thing he wanted was to hurt Shuichi anymore than he obviously was. But he had to do this. He had to. Without Shuichi, Blaze was history and with the failure of his magazine, he would lose everything. Stepping forward, Yoshio laid the envelope on that bale. With one last glance at the door, Yoshio turned and left the condo.

+---+---+

The door creaked open. Yawning, Eiri stepped out into the living room. He’d been working on his novel since that wakeup call he gave Shuichi early that morning and his eyes had finally give out. “Shu? What’s all the noise? I swear if you wake up Sayo-“

He stopped dead. Hazel eyes golden like the sun took in the mess under the dining table. A mass of flowers sat in a puddle of water and crystal shards. His eyes narrowed.

“Oh, what the hell,” he growled.

If that mess was the vase he spent all that money on, he swore to God, Shuichi was dead.

“Sh-!”

Shuichi’s name died on his lips when he caught sight of the envelope on the table. Crossing the room, he skirted the mess and picked up the envelope. A card? He turned it over. Nothing. It was blank. Curious, he lifted the flap and pulled out what turned out to be a photograph. Not a card. Eiri’s eyes grew wide. The photo shook in his hand.

“What the fuck! What the bloody hell is this?!”

---TBC---

Preview: “Compromises”

A/N: Can you guess what the photograph is? And why he’s giving it to Shuichi? Let’s just say that there won’t be much a friendship left after this.