Hiro Breaks It Down!

Chapter 4—The End or the Beginning?

Summary— Hiro finally makes it to the inn with Shuichi, now what? Will feelings arise? Will Yuki show up and put the smackdown on the whole thing and Hiro? What’s K up to? What happens to Ryu’s spanking ass lace pants?

Original Character —This chapter contains an original character named Miko. She’s the unflappable, eerily deadpan receptionist at the inn where Hiro takes Shuichi. I like her so much I am going to use her again.

The rental car sped along the highway in the late afternoon light.

I’ve lost my mind, thought Hiro. He glanced over at Shuichi who was sleeping in the passenger seat. Shu had regained consciousness at the car rental a few blocks away from Yuki’s building while Hiro filled out the paperwork to get the keys. Relieved that he’d suffer no lasting damage from the konk on his noggin, he’d given Shu some aspirin to take away the headache and Shu promptly fell asleep after groggily asking where they were going. Since he’d fallen immediately asleep, Hiro saw no reason to wake him with the awful answer.

I’m taking you to a secluded inn to seduce you into being my lover. We’ll hole up in a room called the “I’ve Been Seduced and I Feel Fine Suite” and I will kiss away your fears, your doubts and any urges to return to Yuki until you’re completely and totally mine. You’ll thank me in the morning.

What a day! What a bloody day!

Hiro couldn’t count how many laws he was probably breaking right now. He was speeding. He’d caused a riot…twice. He was running from the scene of the crime and now, with Shu in the car, he was probably on the hook for denying the injured medical assistance and kidnapping too. All in the space of one day.

Well, he thought ruefully, you always were efficient with your time, Nakano. They don’t call you the Genius Guitarist for nothing. If he hadn’t been staring at serious jail time, jail time he was sure Yuki and his blood sucking lawyers would make sure he served, he’d have found the whole situation funny.

He could see himself in court. “I’m sorry Your Honor, but look how sweet he looks and just look at that tight ass. You’d have done it too!”

He turned off the highway and followed a winding country road for a few miles before slowing the car to turn into a long, tree lined driveway. He pulled the car to a stop a few minutes later in front of a rustic inn nestled in the heart of a grove of cherry trees.

It was beautiful. Even in his desperate situation, Hiro found much to admire about the neat, quiet place. Better look good, I doubt I’ll be seeing such sights in prison. Yep, I’m going away for a long, long time.

He looked over at Shu still sleeping in the passenger’s seat.

Better make tonight count then.

He reached over to gently wake his sleeping love.

*** ***

Eiri Yuki was not a happy man. He didn’t know quite what he was at that point in time, but he was certain that it wasn’t happy. He had plenty of time to mull over exactly how unhappy he was as he waited for his “talk” with K back at his flat.

It had taken well over an hour to clear the lobby of the onlooker crowd and at least another hour for everyone to make it out of the parking lot. Miraculously it was nearly incident free. Everyone was still riding on the high of witnessing the most spectacular Nittle Grasper/Bad Luck live performance they’d ever seen. They all left in a dream like state, riding on the vibes of love they’d shared all the way to the parking lot.

Everyone except the unfortunate deliveryman, that is. It’d taken most of an hour for an ambulance to make its way through the crowded parking lot and the paramedics to get inside the lobby. They’d had to drag him kicking and screaming on a stretcher to the ambulance. His screams of pain and lawsuits rattled the building management whose nerves were already frazzled from seeing their high end luxury building being turned into a zoo. The phone lines had been lit solid for hours on end with complaints from the well heeled tenants:

The elevators don’t work.

I can’t find a parking space.

I can’t get through the lobby.

There are panties on my balcony. Panties??? (Are you sure they’re not yours, sir?—I’m a 52 year old happily married man, what the hell would I be doing with some Sailor Moon panties?—Pretending to be R. Kelly?)

How the hell panties got up on a third floor balcony no one wanted to even speculate. Politicians, celebrities, old money families and the nouveau riche all called breathing down the neck of the poor swamped concierge who’d quit after the first hour, leaving the frazzled receptionist to pull double duty. To say that no one was happy right now was an understatement.

It’d taken K yet another hour after that to calm every one down and another 30 minute, closed door session where everyone not involved was sure a pair of matched Desert Eagles made frequent appearances in an effort to ensure that building management was not going to sue NG Productions for a laundry list of infractions, both real and imagined.

While the “negotiations” were going on, Ryu, Tatsuha and Suguru loaded the equipment into a second NG van that K had called to come pick them all up. Only Suguru had ended up leaving however. Riding high on the success of his performance, Suguru had had enough of gay drama for one day and decided to call it a night. Ryu and Tatsuha on the other hand decided to stay and accompany K up to Eiri’s flat to make sure that a. no one got killed and b. no one got killed.

When the three got to Yuki’s door, they found it open and went in. Yuki was sitting on the sofa in the dark. Somewhere in the distance Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” was playing on the stereo. There was a Bass Ale on the coffee table.

What shall we use, to fill, the empty spaces…

Where we used to talk…

This was not a good sign.

Tatsuha flipped on the light only to be met with the most hateful look he’d ever seen from his brother. And that was saying something.

Nope, not a good sign at all.

Tatsuha and Ryuichi (who was back to being Ryu), both took an involuntary step backward. K on the other hand sat down opposite Yuki, all cheer and love songs.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting,” he smiled sweetly, “it’s been hell trying to straighten everything out!”

Yuki said nothing. K continued talking, ignoring the daggers being stared at him. Ryu and Tatsuha made a move to sit down only to have to dodge daggers suddenly being thrown in their direction. They clutched each other and continued to stand.

“I’m glad you agreed to this little talk. It won’t take long and I’m sure you can appreciate that as I am sure you have things you want to do.”

“Where are they?” growled Yuki.

“They’re at a place called the Secret Inn.” K gave him precise directions to get there, ignoring the horrified gasps Ryu and Tatsuha made, vocalizing their dismay at having had their plan and Hiro sold out so easily.

Yuki stood.

“Not so fast, Eiri.”

Yuki visibly bristled as the ignorant American casually used his given name.

K sat back in his chair. “You can run up there in a stomping rage like an insolent child and ruin everything, or, if you really love Shu and want to salvage the wreckage of your relationship, you can stay a few minutes longer and hear me out.”

Yuki had half a mind to leave on principle alone. He wasn’t used to being talked down to. But...at the mention of his tattered relationship, Yuki stopped short. He considered it a few seconds more before sitting.

“You’ve got five minutes.”

“More than I need.” K picked up the stereo remote and turned off the music.

“You don’t mind do you?” He put the remote back on the table next to the beer and let his hands drop to his sides. He motioned with his head to Ryu and Tatsuha. “Would you two sit down before you wear out that spot on the rug?”

More bristling from Eiri. He hated how this American had just effortlessly assumed control over this situation. He was part to blame for the mess here today. Only part though, Yuki thought as the events that led up today replayed unbidden in his mind. He looked beside K at the Hello Kitty limited special collectors edition wheelman luggage case he’d packed for Shuichi just hours before when he’d thrown the love of his life out. Just part of the blame….Yuki sat back and sighed.

“Eiri, if you really love Shuichi, and I mean really love him, not just as a distraction from your own miserable life or a convenient body to hump when you need to, you’ll do something very hard and very painful.”

Yuki said nothing.

“You’ll let him return on his own.”

At this Yuki sat straight up. “What??? And leave him and your manufactured lover boy to their own devices all shacked up in some secluded love trap??? No fucking way!” Yuki jumped to his feet.

“Do you doubt Shuichi’s love for you?”

“Of course not, it’s Hiro that I don’t trust.”

“So you DO think that Shindou loves you?”

“Of course he does! He tells me every minute of every fucking day!”

“Do you think he’s lying?”

“No.”

“How do you know he’s not lying?”

“He’s too much of an idiot to lie about something like that. Besides, every time he tells me I see it in his eyes.” Yuki’s voice caught. “His eyes…light up…he tells me…and…and he smiles—no, grins is more like it. From ear to ear.” He sat heavily back down again.

“That’s how I know.” Yuki fell silent. He cast his eyes down.

“Do you love him?” K asked softly.

Yuki closed his eyes. After a few seconds of steady, concentrated breathing he said “Yes, I love him with all my heart.” He said it so softly, they almost didn’t hear him.

Tatsuha squeezed Ryu’s hand. Ryu squeezed back.

“Well, if you’re sure of his love for you and your love for him, why don’t you trust that he’ll come back on his own?”

Yuki opened his eyes, exasperated.

“Because he’s vulnerable right now. After all I put him through.” His voice caught again. He breathed. “Right now he’s in a position to be taken advantage of. He’s up there with Red Casanova who’s apparently just been waiting for his chance to take Shu away from me.”

It was K’s turn to get exasperated.

“Oh for Christ’s sake, you know that’s not true! As elaborate as today’s set up was, surely even you could see through the smoke and mirrors to know that while Hiro’s method might not have been…conventional, his motives were pure and more to the point, open, clear and direct. From day one he’s laid aside his feelings and promoted the relationship between the two of you. He’s been there for both you and Shu through thick and thin, listening to Shu go on for hours about you, picking him up when you throw him out and giving him a shoulder to cry on when you hurt him. If he had been waiting for a chance to take Shu away from you, you’d have been alone again on day two. Hiro is a man in every sense of the word and yes, even on the level to compete with you and what did Shu do? He came running back to you each and every time. Does that sound like a man who was plotting against you? Subterfuge is not in his nature. Now, what does all this tell you?”

K didn’t wait for an answer.

“It tells you that Shu loves you more than anything and that Hiro, acting on the despair that you caused in his friend, turned to his own feelings to comfort both Shu and himself against the pain this relationship was causing everyone.”


There was a long silence.

“So is it too late? You want me to just let him have Shu? You think Shu’s better off with him?”

“Answer your own questions, Eiri. Is it too late? Do you want him to have Shuichi? Do you think Shuichi is better off with him?”

Yuki thought long and hard about the answers.

“Yes, I do think it’s too late. While I don’t want them to be together, I do think Shuichi’s better off with him. He’s managed to convey more of the feelings I’ve wanted to in the space of a song than I have the entire time I’ve known Shuichi. I think Hiro would be good to him. I think he would love him as Shuichi deserves to be loved.” Yuki sighed. “Shuichi is definitely better off with someone like that.”

Ryu and Tatsuha gasped…again.

“Calm down you idiots.” Yuki said returning to his normal self. “I said that’s what I thought, I didn’t say that’s what I was going to let happen. I am a selfish bastard after all and frankly, Shuichi’s mine. He chose me against my wishes, so now he’s stuck with me.” Yuki actually grinned.

“Besides, I need Shuichi to hear from me how I feel about him. No matter what happens tonight, I will tell him that I love him and accept him and accept everything, no matter what.”

K smiled. “Well, what are you waiting for? My five minutes were up ten minutes ago. Go get your man!”

Eiri Yuki stood up and headed toward the door.

“Be patient.” K called after him “Don’t push. If you love them, they will come.”

Yuki closed the door behind him. He immediately opened the door again and walked back in. He walked over to K, giving him his patented glare, then stooped and picked up the handle of his Shu-chan’s Hello Kitty limited special collectors edition wheelman luggage case.

“It’s so he THINKS that he has the option of leaving me.” Yuki stated flippantly as he walked back toward the door. “His ass ain’t going nowhere.” He wheeled the case out into the hall, then closed the door and was gone.

K stretched, immensely pleased with himself. “You two got any problems you need old K to straighten out before he goes? He’s still got a long night of work ahead of him, but he could probably spare you a couple of minutes if you hurry.” He grinned at the two sitting on the loveseat.

Tatusha spoke. “K, I have to say, I’ve never seen you this…gentle, before. You completely defused my brother the ticking time bomb and you never pulled your gun out once.”

K raised an eyebrow and shifted a little revealing the hidden gun he’d been holding while his hand was resting at his side.

“I take it all back,” said Tatsuha.

K laughed and stood up. “Ok, kids, be good. Daddy’s gotta go finish working miracles. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

He closed the door softly behind him.

“That doesn’t leave a whole lot does it?” Tatsuha joked.

“Not really!” K’s voice floated through the door from down the hall.

Tatsuha blanched. “He truly scares me.”

*** ***

Shuichi looked up at the name plate on the door of the suite. It read: “I’ve been Seduced and I Feel Fine.”

“That’s the name of the suite???” he asked horrified.

Hiro reddened. “Believe me when I tell you that’s the best of the lot. I can’t even bring myself to tell you the other names.”

Hiro unlocked the door and they went in.

Despite the tawdry two dollar ho sounding name, the room was actually very well appointed and tastefully furnished. Simple and elegant, the room held a large four poster cherry bed in the center of the room, on which were beautifully carved Katakana and Kanji symbols representing love, luck, fortune, happiness and other like minded wishes. A similarly carved trunk sat at the foot of the bed, on which sat a cushion making it a place to sit.

Two clean, comfortable looking yukata had been carefully laid out on the bed which was covered in a rich pale peach tapestry patterned comforter. Dried flower arrangements sat on the two small tables on either side of the bed and a chair upholstered in the same material as the comforter sat to one side of the room. Shoji screens separated the bed from the bath, which after they had both made use of after their long ride and even longer day, found to be clean and well stocked with quality towels and amenities.

“So,” said Shuichi, sitting on the bed as Hiro came out of the bathroom, “this was your plan? To seduce me over the weekend and make me yours?”

“That’s about the size of it.” Hiro said. He was unsure of what to do next. He’d never considered how to go about pulling off the actual seduction once he got to this point.

Hiro sat in the chair, separating himself from Shuichi with his head down and his hands in his lap.

“Shu, if you want to call Yuki to pick you up, I won’t stop you. I know all of what I said today and the leather pants and the song and…” Hiro had tried to sum up his feelings in a logical way, but once he started they just all started coming together in a torrent and gushed forth without control.

“It’s just that I can’t stand to see you hurt, Shu. I’ve been your friend for how long and through all that time I’ve tried to look out for you, to protect you and now, you’re in something that I can’t protect you from. That look on your face I see after you and Yuki have a fight or the sound of your voice breaking when you call, it’s killing me Shu. I know I’m not being a good friend right now, but it’s all I can do to keep myself from taking you in my arms and holding you and kissing you to make it all right again. I still love you Shu. Is that so wrong? Would it be so bad to be with me, somewhere where I know I can protect you? Why does Yuki get to have you when he doesn’t even appreciate what he’s got? Why…why…” Hiro trailed off and tried to catch the tears that were coming. He breathed faster. “Why…” he sobbed into his hands. “I’m so sorry, Shu. I’m so sorry….”

He felt Shuichi’s small arms wrap themselves around him.

“I’m the one who should be sorry.”

Hiro gave a derisive chuckle. “Why should you be sorry? I just humiliated you in front of probably the world by now and abducted you on top of that.”

Shuichi sighed amid his own sniffles. “I’m sorry that I never saw what I had before me the whole time, Hiro. You. I’m sorry that I didn’t fall in love with you.”

Hiro looked up and saw Shuichi looking down at him with such sad honesty that he couldn’t help but feel a little bit better.

“You’ve always been there for me and I took it for granted that you’d continue to be there for me. Whenever I need something, you get it for me. Whenever I need comforting, you’re there. Whenever I needed the answers to a test, you gave them to me. I wouldn’t be where I am today—NG, Bad Luck, even Yuki…it’s all because you’ve carried me for so long. Yuki needs me. You can take care of yourself. You’ve never asked me for anything. I guess…I guess I just needed someone to carry. I guess I needed to be needed. I’m not as strong as you Hiro. I never will be.”

“Shu…” Hiro breathed his name as he wiped tears from his friends eyes. “I think you’re…” before he could finish his sentence, Shuichi kissed him. Shuichi kissed his lips, kissed his right cheek, kissed his left. Shuichi kissed his forehead, kissed his nose. Then went back to his mouth and this time, Hiro parted his lips and felt Shuichi’s tongue enter, deeply, sweetly. Hiro felt his heart quicken.

“Shu…”

And suddenly their hands were all over the other, touching, caressing, pulling, sliding…

Hiro stood and walked Shuichi backward to the bed. He sat his love down and took off his shirt.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. With everything that happened, I still need you…”

Hiro bent over and savored the taste, the feel, the sensation of Shu’s sweet kisses. He memorized every thrill, every nuance, every thing he felt. How Shu felt when he laid him down. How his prince sank into the soft mattress and sighed. The softly scented skin, the sound of Shu’s soft moans and whispers of his own name being called in his ear. A sound he never thought he’d ever hear. He touched Shu everywhere.

Gently, gently, softly, softly…

He searched for arousal in Shu’s eyes and found it and more. He undressed Shu and admired how he looked there, naked against the pale peach comforter, flushed and smiling. Hiro almost cried, when after taking too long, his sweet Shuichi reached up for him, pulling him down beside him.

Shuichi had never experienced anything like what he was feeling then. He still loved Yuki. Loved him like nothing else in the world. More still he was sure that Yuki loved him. Down underneath it all, yes, Yuki loved him maybe even more desperately than Shu loved him in return. But never had such joy filled him while making love. Quiet joy. Warm, strong, the giving, the receiving the taking of each other, the demanding of nothing in return but getting it just the same. The sound of Hiro calling his name while nuzzling his neck made him warm from head to toe. The feel of Hiro pushing his pink hair out of the way so he could gaze into Shuichi’s eyes. Gaze into them and smile. A smile so beautiful and so sad. The way Hiro attentively paid attention to every square inch of skin.

Patiently, patiently, tenderly, tenderly…

Shuichi moaned aloud when Hiro, after working his way downward, careful to not miss anything at all, found the center of Shuichi’s pleasure. No, that was wrong. That was the center of Shuichi’s pleasure when he was with Yuki. With Hiro, his whole body trilled with pleasure, but more than that, his mind and his heart felt loved and cared for. No, Hiro slowly and deliberately taking Shuichi into his mouth was just another part of an already wondrous sensation. Hiro continued to lick and caress and kiss and tease and pull until Shuichi cried out loud.

Warmly, lovingly, intently, passionately…

Their mutual breathing and hot sighs mingled and became hard to separate. They called each others names and exhaled together. When Shuichi arched with jolted stimulation, Hiro arched and countered with yet another jolted sensation. When Hiro reached for Shuichi’s hand, Shuichi offered it to him and clasped his Hero to him. Laying together, Hiro nestled between Shu’s thighs they moved in and out, round and round.

Together, together, moving, moving…

Finally, when Hiro could take it no more, he reached into the night stand and felt around for the lube he was sure was there. When he found it, he opened the top and applied a generous helping to his finger tips. He kissed Shu’s blushing lips already kissed swollen…

Kissing, kissing, sighing, sighing….

Shuichi closed his eyes as he felt Hiro preparing him. The familiar sensation of the lube sliding across his entrance, around and massaging. He arched again, filled with impatient desire.

“Please…”

The one word overwhelmed Hiro. He applied more lube and ever so gently, ever so slowly entered Shuichi.

Slowly, slowly, deeply, deeply…

It was maddening.

“Please…” Shuichi asked again, this time more insistently.

Hiro began sliding his finger in and out, out and in, moving with Shuichi as his short lover’s body moved in time with his rhythm. He entered Shuichi a second time with two fingers and fell into the same rhythm, taking Shuichi with him.

Dancing, dancing, moaning, crying…

“Please! Hiro, please take me.”

The pleading in Shuichi’s eyes, a look he never thought he’d ever see, drove him so close to the edge he nearly gave himself to the bliss he knew was waiting there. Instead he pulled back and gave himself a final generous helping of the lube.

“Are you ready?”

Yes, yes, please, please…

Hiro entered with such deliberate care the friction alone was enough to throw Shuichi against the wall of release, desperate to break through.

Hiro continued, filling Shuichi, who fit him like a custom made glove. So tight. So soft. So…so…Hiro and Shu moved together, clutching each other…

Giving, taking, responding, needing…

Again and again he hit Shuichi’s sweet spot, again and again causing the sound of his name to be called over and over. Hiro picked up the pace.

Faster, faster, moaning, calling…

He began the climb and took Shuichi with him.

Climbing, climbing, higher, higher…

He felt himself near the edge and thrust heavily into Shu, holding him preciously. He thrust and thrust, Shu calling his name louder and louder when they suddenly…

Falling, falling, dying, dying…

Hiro stiffened and thrust hard once more. He pushed himself over the edge and Shuichi jumped with him. They clutched each other, convulsing with release, currents of tingly ripples washing over them. Hiro held Shuichi, never wanting to let go. Shu clutched back. No fireworks, no explosions, no shooting stars. Just the overwhelming sensation of warmth and love, renewing each other, giving each other strength.

They stayed like that for ages.

Gently, gently, softly, softly.

Finally, Hiro carefully untwined himself from Shu’s embrace, went into the bathroom and got a towel. He gently cleaned Shu, then himself and laid beside Shu once again, spooning him.

They lay like that, listening to the sounds of silence for a while before Hiro spoke.

“Do you feel like you cheated on Yuki?”

“I’d be lying if I said no.”

Silence.

“Do you regret it?”

“No, never.”

Silence.

“Do you hate me?”

“No, never.”

More silence.

“Will you still be my friend?”

“Yes, always.”

Nothing.

“Hiro?”


“Yes?”

“You know that I am going back to him.”

“Yes, I know.”

Silence.

“Shu?”

“Yes?”

“Will you stay here like this with me until he comes for you?”

“No.”

Hiro stiffened.

“I’ll stay here like this.”

Shuichi flipped over to face his friend and threw his arms around him, drawing him closer.

“You’re the best friend I’ll ever have. Hiro, you are a real man of quality.”

Hiro teared up.

“You liked the song?”

“I loved the song! We’re going to have to put it on the cd.”

“I couldn’t do that.”

“Of course you could. You’ve already sung it before God and everyone! Keep it up and I’ll be out of a job!”

“Never.”

“You’ll do it.”

“How will you make me?”

“I’ll think of something. Maybe I can have K beat you up!”

“No way, K likes me!”

“Not as much as he likes me.”

“He won’t like you much longer if you don’t come to work.”

“I’ll be there with bells on, come Monday.”

“Thank God! I was worrying over what to tell Fujisaki. I had to promise him you’d live in the studio for the next six months if he’d help me out today.”

“He looked so cute today!”

“Yeah he did, and did you see Ryu?”

“My god, the pants…”

They passed the night in this manner, never sleeping, never moving, just enjoying each other’s company and the one night they’d shared.

*** ***

Morning.

It was past 9 am when the two finally emerged from the suite. This time Shuichi chuckled at the name on the door.

“I see why they named it that. You know what? I HAVE been seduced!”


Hiro smiled.

“Do you feel fine?”

“You betcha. I also feel hungry. Let’s see what kind of food they got going on around here before we leave, ok?”

“Yeah, you’re buying.”

“Why?” Shuichi whined.

“Cuz I seduced you and you’re still going back to Yuki. The least you can do is feed me before you go.”

“Whine, bitch, moan.”

They stopped by the reception desk to ask about breakfast when the receptionist stared at Shuichi.

“You’ve got pink hair,” she stated matter of factly.

“Umm…yeah, it’s more of a dusty rose, I think, but close enough.”

The receptionist frowned. “There was a man here looking for a guy with pink hair late last night.”

“What’d he look like?” Shuichi’s eyes widened with excitement. It was Yuki, it had to be.

“I dunno. We don’t see nothing, know nothing, recall nothing.”

Exasperated Shuichi said, “Well, what did you tell him, do you RECALL that???”

The receptionist rolled her eyes at him. “We’re the Secret Inn!! Don’t you get it? If they found out about it, it wasn’t from us. I told him that if we DID have a guest here with pink hair, it probably wasn’t his real color.”

“Thank you, you’ve been helpful.” Shuichi rolled his eyes back.

“We aim to please.”

Shuichi threw up his hands. “Let’s go, Hiro.”

They walked away and Miko went back to her book—“Cool” by Eiri Yuki. She looked at Yuki’s picture on the back cover and smiled...well…almost.

“And I definitely did not see you here last night, sexy.”

Outside, Shuichi had gone into his usual manic tirade when he stopped short. Parked directly in front of the door, so he couldn’t possibly miss them if they came out was Eiri Yuki. A pile of cigarette butts littered the ground outside the driver’s window and a Yuki looking more rumpled, and disheveled than Shuichi had ever seen him stepped out of the car.

“Good morning, Sunshine. Sleep well?”

Both Hiro and Shuichi blushed.

Yuki willed himself to ignore it.

“Are we going to have a problem this morning?” Hiro asked. The last thing he needed was a confrontation. He just wanted to know how much trouble he was in and get it over with.

“No problem. I just came to give Shuichi his bag.” He pulled the “Hello Kitty” limited special collectors edition wheelman luggage case from the backseat.

Shuichi slumped. He didn’t want him back after all.

Hiro frowned. “You came all this way to give him some drawers and a toothbrush?”

“As a matter of fact I did. That and a choice.”

Shuichi looked up.

“Choice?”

“Yes. You can take this bag and go with Hiro and I’ll wish you a good life. Or you can take this bag and come back with me and let me prove to you how much I care about you. I know I don’t deserve a second chance…hell this is about the 20 th or 30 th chance by now, but I am telling you…no…I’m asking you to give it to me. I may not be a real man like Hiro here,”

Hiro blushed furiously.

“but…I..I do love you Shuichi. I don’t tell you, I don’t show you and you’ve got no reason to believe me other than the fact that I’m here, at the crack of dawn after having slept in my car all night because Attila the Receptionist wouldn’t tell me whether or not they had at least one guest with pink hair. I love you and I want to prove it to you. Will you let me? Please…Shuichi? Before I met you I had no real reason to live. Not family, not money, not fame. None of it made me happy. You’re the only thing on this earth that does. You make me crazy. You make me mad. You make me feel like tearing my hair out. You use my toothbrush! But you also make me feel like my heart is going to burst when I hear you say you love me. It won’t be easy and I’m not promising wine and roses like Don Juan here, but I do give you my word that I will do my utmost to make it clear that I love you.” Yuki frowned and held out the suitcase.

Yuki braced for it before he even saw it coming.

“YUUKIII!” Shuichi shot himself through the air like a pink bullet and landed in Yuki’s arms, showering him with kisses and hugs.

“I’m sorry, Shuichi.” Yuki whispered in his ear.

“I know.”

Shuichi got down and took his suitcase. “Are you going to be ok, Hiro?” He looked with concern at his friend.

“Yes, Hiro. Are we going to have a problem now?” Yuki narrowed his eyes at his rival.

“No problem. So long as you keep your promise.”

“Deal.”

Yuki took the suitcase from Shuichi and put it back in the car. Shuichi looked at Hiro one more time, questioning.

“I’m fine. Really. Go ahead and make sure that he does keep his promise or this real man will have to kick his monkey ass.”

Shuichi hugged Hiro close and even as ecstatic as he was that he and Yuki were really going to work it out, his heart ached for his friend. He looked at his friend all the way down the long driveway of the inn til he could no longer see him.

“Did I really have a choice, Yuki?”

“Fuck no. Did you think I was going to lose you to a man with red hair?”

Shuichi smiled.

Hiro watched them until they turned onto the main road and was suddenly aware of how empty and quiet it was around him. Just moments earlier everything had been relaxed. Everything had been ok. Even now, he should be relieved that Yuki wasn’t going to sic some bloodsucking lawyer on him for kidnapping his lover. But he wasn’t relieved. He was…he was…tears blurred his vision and his strength finally failed him. He fell to his knees and sobbed. With no one to see, he let his tears flow freely and his whole body shook with grief. He hurt so much. He didn’t think he could bear the pain that was drawing his heart into quarters.

He never heard the footsteps come up behind him. He only felt strong arms enclose around him and hold him close. Hiro knew who it was without looking. So deep was his sorrow that he didn’t even wonder why or how. He just accepted and continued to weep like a child, while K held him, on the ground, in the parking lot, surrounded by beautiful cherry trees.

*** ***

Miko watched the whole scene from the reception counter window. That whole business about not seeing anything was a crock. Miko saw and knew everything. From the square root of pi to who the entire Diet was sleeping with and whether or not they were related, Miko didn’t miss a beat.

When she first started watching though, she had thought there was going to be a confrontation. But it soon became evident that Red was going to step aside and hand Pinky over to Slick without a fight (she frequently referred to her customers by their attributes rather than by their so called names—it was the Secret Inn after all.) She was glad. The last thing she needed was the authorities here scaring the shit out of her guests. They were here at the Secret Inn for a reason and she was sure that reason has nothing to do with being identified by the cops.

Then, minutes later, when she saw Red crumble and break down after Pinky had gone, her heart went out to him. She sighed. Maybe he should have put up more of a struggle after all. No one should have to cry like that over a broken heart. Then something happened. Another man stepped in and took Red into his arms. At first, again, she had thought she was going to have to call the authorities. Even from this distance she could clearly see that Blondie was packing serious heat.

Jesus, there’s going to be a slaughter right in the parking lot and I can’t claim that I saw a thing, she thought. But just as she reached for the phone, Blondie looked up and caught her eye. He knew she was looking.

Shit, there was going to be two slaughters! Blondie just smiled, however, and shook his head slightly and to her it seemed maybe a bit sadly. She relaxed. They stayed like that for a long time. Maybe it was a good thing Red hadn’t put up a struggle after all she thought after observing them for a while—how tenderly Blondie held Red, how lightly he stroked his hair. Eventually she went back to her book. When later she got up to check on them, they were gone.

*** **

Tatsuha fell back into the jumble of pillows on Eiri’s bed, exhausted, tired, sweaty and the happiest man on the face of the earth. What was this, the sixth time? The seventh? He was going to have to get some sleep soon. He was getting on in years (Oh, please! On to what, 17? 18?) and his body just wasn’t what it used to be.

“Are you done already?” Ryu snuggled closer to Tatsuha.

“What do you mean already?” Tatsuha never thought he’d see the day when he thought he’d seen too much action, but the day’s exhausting events, plus the fact that he had to look forward to, at the very least, a maiming and crippling by his brother when he returned (worse, if things went badly at the inn) and being in the presence of “The Pants” for hours on end… add to that several straight hours of headboard breaking sex with no break, no food, no water, well, there was only so much a man could take before a man could take no more.

“Ryu, please. I’m only human.”

“Just once more?” Ryu cooed.

Tatsuha squirmed and pulled the covers up over his eyes, actually scared of what “just once more” might do to his health.

“Pretty please?” Ryu batted his big blue eyes at him.

“Fuck! There’s no pleasing some people! Ok, Ryu, but after that I have to rest for at least 15 minutes—15 CONSECUTIVE minutes! or the next place you’ll be fucking me will be in the hospital, ok?”

“Ok!” Ryu began kissing his Tatsuha and nuzzling his neck. He followed this with gentle chewing.

Tatsuha closed his eyes and surrendered himself to the moment. “Oh yeah, that’s the spot, keep doing that…mmm—Oh!” He jumped up suddenly.

“What’s wrong?” Ryu asked slightly alarmed at the brusque interruption.

“Nothing, I just forgot something is all. Hold on a minute.”

Tatsuha eased carefully out of bed and began hunting around for something in the dark.

“What’re you doing Tatsuha?”

“Hang on a second, will ya? Oh, here we go.” Finding what he was looking for he padded painfully over to Eiri’s closet (Jesus, I need a wheelchair!) and rummaged for an empty hanger. After several long seconds of this and coming up empty, he selected a suit at random and unceremoniously dumped it on the floor, keeping the hanger for his intended purpose (--doesn’t matter, at this rate, I’ll be dead long before Eiri gets here.)

Finishing, he limped back over to the bed and got in beside Ryu. “I swear, that man has more clothes than a woman. Ok, I’m ready. Be gentle!”

*** ***

On the way home, Eiri and Shuichi talked non stop. They talked about big things. They talked about little things. They talked about things in general. They talked about things in specific. They talked about their relationship. They talked about the events of the previous day. Finally, they settled on talking about Hiro.

“I hope he’s ok.” Shuichi said quietly.

“He’ll live.”

“That’s mean Yuki. Love hurts. You of all people should know that.”

Ouch! Yuki flinched at the barb. One night away from him and he’d become caustic?

“All I’m saying is that he’ll get over it. Time wounds all heels.”

“That’s time heals all wounds.”

“I liked mine better.”

Shuichi ignored him. “I’m going to call him when we get home to check on him.”

“You just spent the entire night with the man! What, you didn’t get enough?”

Shuichi blushed.

Yuki sighed. “I’m sorry Shuichi. That was unfair of me. Listen, far be it from me to say that I’m happy about yesterday and last night or that I want to be Hiro’s best friend, but…he’s a good guy Shuichi. I mean it. Good guys usually do alright in the end. It’s selfish bastards like me that end up with problems.”

Shuichi smiled. “You’re not a selfish bastard! I don’t think you’re selfish at all.”

Zing number two! “What the hell happened to you last night? The Shuichi that I woke up to yesterday morning would never have said anything like that. Especially not before the make up sex.”

Shuichi thought for a minute. “Am I different or something?”

“Yeah. You’re, I dunno, more confident or something somehow. Relaxed. Stronger. Certainly more cheeky.”

That’s strange, thought Shuichi. I do feel more confident. More confident in myself. More confident about Yuki. More confident in our relationship. Wow, has one night with Hiro done all that for me? He’s a better man than he thinks!

Yuki watched Shu’s eyes flicker with thought. Finally, Shu turned to him and asked,

“Do you really want to know what happened last night?” Shuichi watched him intently.

“NoIdon’tIacceptyouforeverythingyouarewillbeorhavedone,includinglastnight.”

“You said that awful fast. I can’t tell where one word began and another ended! Are you sure?”

“Positive!”

They said nothing as they pulled into the parking lot of Yuki’s building, finally back home. Yuki parked the car, then leaned over and kissed Shuichi. It was a deep, exciting, electric kiss. The way his kisses usually were.

Shuichi smiled. It was like coming home after a pleasant vacation.

“I’m definitely positive.” He got out, got Shuichi’s bag, took Shuichi by the hand (this startled Shuichi to which Eiri replied, you wanted “Real Man PDAs” you got ‘em, so gimme that hand!) and walked with his love into the building. The lobby seemed dismally quiet and empty after yesterday’s spectacle. Yuki could see Shuichi looking around and remembering. He sighed.

They waited for an elevator.

“Anyhow, back to Hiro.” Yuki continued, watching Shu, “In a way, I have to thank Hiro. If not for that horrid display of desperation he put on yesterday, I wouldn’t have this.” He held up Shuichi’s hand and kissed it.

“I won’t change overnight.” Yuki said, peering down at Shu.

“I know. I wouldn’t want you to. This is a good start, though.” Shuichi smiled up at his lover who actually smiled back. It was a beautiful sight.

The elevator opened and they got on.

“Know what I want to do?” Yuki said huskily, pulling Shuichi to him.

“Can I guess?”

Yuki leaned in for a kiss when suddenly a foot jammed in the elevator and another tenant got on. The tenant, jabbering on the phone, gave the two a rude look before punching his floor button.

“What do you mean you can’t find him? Look, I called y’all yesterday well before noon…”

Yuki and Shu gazed at each other and smiled.

“Well fuck him then, where are they?”

Shuichi’s life had been turned upside down in the last 24 hours. He’d been sung to. He’d lost and gained a boyfriend. He’d lost and gained a friend…

“I already paid for them is what I’m saying!”

He’d been loved in a way that’d he’d never been loved before--by two different men no less. He’d lost confidence in himself and gained back more confidence, strength and internal peace than he’d ever had to begin with. And it was only noon. Today was shaping up to be a very good day.

The elevator stopped.

“Look, I’m not trying to be rude,” the man continued, “but I already paid for six, count em, six beef bowls at 11:30 yesterday morning and come today noon, I haven’t seen hide nor hair of them!” The doors opened and the man got off. “Today is shaping up to be a very bad day!”

Yuki and Shu kissed all the way to their floor, and continued while walking down the hall. Yuki didn’t even break the kiss while fumbling for his keys to open the door, opening the door, backing Shuichi into the apartment, pulling the Hello Kitty limited special collectors edition wheelman luggage case in behind him or picking Shu up and carrying him to the bedroom.

He DID break the kiss however when he saw his $3,000 dollar Armani suit thrown on the floor.

“What the hell?” The hanger which USED to hold the suit was now serving the higher purpose of holding a carefully folded and hung pair of white lace pants with diamond cut outs on the legs. The pants had been lovingly hung on the closet door.

Yuki looked over to find his brother and Ryu still lying in his bed, both in the grip of a very, very deep sleep.

“ Tatsuha!!!”

End.

Authors Note: This has been an absolute blast to write. If you can bear with me just a little bit longer, please go to the next chapter and read the Epilogue and find out what happened to everyone and everything after the “Event” as it became known as.

PDA’s are public displays of affection.

The song used at the beginning of this chapter is “Empty Spaces” by Pink Floyd. It can be found on their “The Wall” album.