Gravitation Fan Fiction ❯ This I Promise You ❯ Waking Up! ( Chapter 16 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

By: Chocho

This I Promise You

Prequel to: Because of You

Written by: Chocho

Disclaimer: I do not own Gravitation

Story summary: Everybody assured him Rinjin Yasashii was just another obsessed fan with a crush and that there was nothing to worry about. Little did they know how wrong they all were.

Chapter summary: Oh my god! Shuichi! You're awake! Thank God!

Warnings: M-preg, explicit sex, language, violence, angst

Key: [Blah] or Blah blah blah: flashback/dream

BLAH or Blah: stressed words

*: change in POV or time

***

Chapter 16: Waking Up

(Two months later)

There was absolutely nothing to see. It was an endless sea of nothingness, like being trapped inside a large opaque bubble. Wherever you looked, you saw nothing. The ceiling,the floorand the wallswere nonexistent; the vast whiteness seemed to go on forever. It gave you a sense of vertigo and kept you off balance, like trying to walk a straight line after being twirled around to the point of nausea.

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes as a seized me, making my jaw popping and my eyes watering. I was lying on the floor staring blankly at the ceiling, or what I assumed was the ceiling. There was nothing for as far as the eye could see. Frowning, I sat up, leaning backonto my elbowsandglancedaround in confusion.

Where am I? What was going on?

I sat up and tried to get to my feet, but realized that they were not moving. I stared at them with a frown. Watching them intently, I flexedmy feet, then my toes, but nothinghappened. My legs remained as still as a corpse with rigormortis. Sighing, I began to grow frustrated. Holding my breath, I willed my legs to move, even if it was just a twitch. I exhaled noisily when once again nothing happened. It was like trying to move that antique vase with your mind when you did not have telekinesis.

“Dammit.”

Once more, I tried to bend my legs so I could stand up, but it was useless. I could not move them. Silent laughter bubbled up inside of me. I could not move my legs. My laughter turned to sobs of frustration. Tears filled my eyes, blurring my vision. I slammed fisted hands into my thighs and wept harder, my silent sobs turning into heart wrenching wails when I felt absolutely nothing.

No! This was not happening!

With a muffled scream, I slammed my fists into the floor. I suddenly froze and blinked back my tears as I heard the loud splash and felt something cold, wet and slimy encase my fist. Lifting my hand, I stared at the dark red coating dripping onto the cold, white floor.

“What in the…”

Curious and confused, I glanced down at the red puddle that circled me, trapping me like a lone island in the middle of the sea. My heart quickened. I had a really bad feeling. Where was all this blood coming from? I glanced down at myself. Igasped, myheart skipped a beat. For the first time, I realized my pants were saturated in the thick, syrupy liquid. It was like someone had washed them in a basin of blood and put them back on still dripping wet. With my large muscular organ beating a rapid tempo in my chest, a horrific thought flooded over me. Was this blood coming from…me?

I sobbed and fresh tears traced already worn groves down my cheeks. Breathing rapidly, I stared blankly at the wall. This was not happening! Dear Kami-sama, this was not happening!

Trembling, bloody hands flew to my stomach. Please let this be just another nightmare!

Suddenly, a loud hiss reverberated through the white chamber. Startled, I glanced around. Right there, behind me, what had sounded like escaping air was a section of the white nothingness vanishing into a door-sized section of absolute blackness. There was no way in hell I was going to go through that doorway, even if it was to get out of here and back home to Eiri.

In stereo, a double dose of what again sounded like escaping air echoed through the space. A quick look told me the doorway to nowhere was gone. There was not even a seam to indicate one had ever been there. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed another chunk of space had vanished. This time, instead of a starless, lightless room on the other side, there was what appeared to be a small, private room.

Confused and a little curious, I studied the room. In the center of the bedroom was a single hospital bed with white crisp sheets and a wool blanket folded at the foot. Surrounding the headboard was a variety of machines that blinked and beeped. I had no idea what any of them were. Part of me did not want to know. A window on the wall was covered by white blinds. Opposite were two metal chairs the same muddy brown as the wool blanket, the only color in the lifeless room. There was a lump underneath the sheet on the bed.

I gulped, wiping at the drying tears with the backs of my bloody hands.

Into the picture stepped a man I knew all too well. I gasped at the rumbled form of my husband. His blond hair was sticking on end and was in desperate need of a cut. His handsome face was hidden behind a grizzly mass of coarse beard hair. Dark circles made him look like he had two black eyes. His face was gaunt and his clothes were loose and baggy as if he had not been eating.

“Eiri,” I sobbed. My vision blurred behind a veil of tears. Eiri was not taking care of himself! “Eiri,” he whined. Nothing was more important than the health and well-being of my soul mate, nothing.

Frantic to get to the man I loved more than anything, I flopped onto his stomach. Grunting and gritting my teeth against the effort, I used my arms to drag himself towards my husband, a red trail following in my wake. I huffed and puffed, the effort of dragging my half lifeless body across the floor strained the muscles in my arms. In a short matter of time, they began to shake uncontrollably.

Through tear blurred vision, my sobs barely heard over the fierce beating of my heart, I watched my husband drag one of the chairs by the door towards the bed. The blond writer reached out and clasped a small hand between his own and placed a kiss on the knuckles.

I had to get to my husband. “Eiri,” I sob hysterically. “Eiri!”

Crocodile tears gushed freely down my face. I forgot about my paralyzed legs dragging lifelesslybehind me and my blood soaked pants and what that implied. I ignored my cramping arm muscles, everything. The only thing on my mind now was getting to Eiri.

The door was now only inches away. A sudden surge of adrenaline pushed me forward. I settled myself onto the floor and reached out with one hand while the other one clawed at the floor, propelling me onward.

“Eiri,” I cried. “Eiri!”

As I crawled towards my husband, I unconsciously crossed the threshold. The room began to brighten and dissolve into a blinding white light.

“Eiri!”

Eiri settled himself into the uncomfortable chair and reached out to brush aside a stray strand of hair from his beloved's face. He smiled softly down at him. “Hey, baby,” he whispered. “You got tons of `get well' cards in the mail again today and another couple hundred stuffed animals and flowers.” Eiri snorted. He sniffed and dropped his head back, blinking away a stray tear. “We're going to have to either get a bigger place or rent a second apartment just for all these damn things you seem to collect.”

Behind him, the door creaked open.

Eiri turned and watched as a small, blond haired figure stepped into the room.

“Or you could donate the stuff to an orphanage, or something,” Tohma Seguchi suggested.
The writer thought about that. It was not such a bad idea. Mizuki was always trying to get him to do something to help overcome the womanizing, playboy image he had not been able to shake, even though he had been a faithful and loving boyfriend, and now husband, for about ten years. Besides, donating that thousands of toys and other gifts Shuichi had received over the years by his zillion and one fans would free a lot of space in the apartment, space they could be using in the near future. Shuichi might not like that he was going to get rid of his things without his permission, but that was an issue they could discuss later.

“Do it,” croaked the broken whisper.

Eiri froze. His eyes grew wide. Slowly, afraid it was just his imagination, he turned around. He was vaguely aware of his brother-in-law dashing out the door and racing down the hall. Eiri's mind blanked as he stared at the man on the bed.

Violet eyes blinked up at him. Cracked, dry lips moved into a smile. “Ei...ri.”

“S…Shu…Shuichi?” Eiri was floored. Was this a dream or reality? He could not tell any more. Every night for the past two months, he has had a reoccurring dream where he walks into the hospital room to find his husband awake, greeting him with a smile only to realize it was all a dream and his husband was still asleep. “Is it…Are you…” He reached out with a trembling hand and traced the thin face.

Shuichi smiled. The muscles in his face protested, but he ignored them. “Eiri,” he whispered with more confidence as his vocal cords got used to working again. He licked his lips and took in his husband's haggard appearance, his smile slipping. “You look…like shit,” he whispered brokenly. Tears filled his eyes. “Eiri, why-“

With a sob, the blond writer threw himself at the smaller man, being careful of the wires, cutting off Shuichi's whiney exclamation. “Thank God,” he cried into Shuichi's hair. He held his husband in a viselike grip. If this truly was a dream, he never wanted to wake up. Pulling back, he clamped his hands on either side of his husband's head and stared deeply into his eyes. “God, Shuichi…” He had not realized he was crying until Shuichi scooped up a tear and he licked the drop of water off his finger. Eiri kissed Shuichi long and hard, still crying, and then engulfed him in a bone crunching hug. “I was too worried about you to worry about my damn appearance.”

Shuichi blinked in surprise. “You…you were…worried about me?”

“Baka, what do you think?”

Shuichi smiled as he wrapped his arms around his husband. Eiri was making it difficult to breathe and was crushing him to death, but took it all in stride. As he felt his usually reserved husband's body shake with sobs, Shuichi cried with him-unable to stop himself- and stroked his blond hair, comforting him. “I think…you missed me.”

“Baka,” Eiri cried, hugging him tighter.

Shuichi unconsciously tried to move, to get more comfortable and pull his husband down next to him, but realized all too quickly that no matter what he did, nothing worked. His eyes popped open. Pulling back from his husband, he stared at his legs. “E…Eiri.”

Eiri cupped Shuichi's face, staring tenderly at him. “What, Love?”

“My legs…why won't they…”

Shuichi's cheek grew cold when Eiri dropped his hand. The writer lowered his head and closed his eyes briefly, gathering his thoughts. “Shuichi…”

Both men lifted their heads as the door to the private hospital room sprang open.

Eiri found he was unable to tear his gaze away from Shuichi. He held onto his husband's hand, his thumbs making pattern's on Shuichi's knuckles. He loved his husband so much it was almost scary.

In stepped a winded Dr. Ohtani whose face was red and drenched in sweat. “Shindou-san,” the man breathed, trying to catch his breathe.

Behind him was Tohma, who seemed as cool as always. “Hello, Shindou-san. It's good to see you finally awake.”

Shuichi smiled at both men. Just as the door was closing, he caught sight of two black men standing sentry outside of the door. Shuichi remembered from the last time Bad Luck and Nittle Grasper toured together. His smile slipped. But what were they doing here? What happened to Jacob and Ko…

Shuichi raced out of the room. His gaze swept over the railing that separated the occupants from a twenty foot plummet and caught sight of the two prone figures lying sprawled out in the middle of the living room.

He had hoped they were alright, that they had just been knocked unconscious, but he knew that was not the case. He felt a strong surge of guilt for the deaths of his guards. They had been tricked by Yasashii Rinjin, all so that they could protect him.

“Jacob and Koji...did-“

Tohma nodded. “NG took care of all funeral expenses and arrangements. We even set up scholarships for their children.”

Shuichi nodded. It was the least they could do, but still…

“Stop it,” Eiri snapped. “Don't you even start blaming yourself.”

Shuichi blinked and turned towards his husband in shock. Was he that easy to read?

“They were tricked by that bastard and died in the line of duty. They knew the risks and the consequences when they became bodyguards.”

Shuichi nodded. That made him feel a little better because Eiri was right, but he still could not help but feel a little guilty. Those two men were dead and he was alive. They died protecting him. That just sounded…He did not know. It just did not seem right.

“Survivor's guilt,” Dr. Ohtani said aloud.

The others stared at him, waiting for him to explain.

“It happens all the time. You have a bunch of people living through the same experience. Some die and some make it out alive.” He shrugged. “We'll have one of our counselors come in and talk to you, Shindou-san. Alright?”

Shuichi was not too sure about a shrink, but then again…If Eiri could suck up his pride and see one, then the least he could do was the same. He nodded.

“I'll go call the others,” Tohma said. “They've all been very worried.” He tipped his head and left the room.

Eiri stood up and walked around the bed to stand on the other side, giving the doctor room to examine Shuichi. He kept his hands linked to Shuichi's. He hated to admit it but he was afraid that if he let go, even for a second, the singer might somehow disappear.

“Do you remember what happened to you,” the doctor asked.

A picture of a pitch black room flashed through his mind. He recalled that falsely sweet voice calling out, “Shu-han.” There was a carpeted hallway and a scuffle. He remembered Eiri bursting through the front door of the apartment to save him. He had decked that bastard Rinjin, then…The last thing he could remember was feeling a sense of weightlessness and a pair of horrified golden eyes vanishing room view, then nothing.

He took a shaking breath. “I fell.” Shuichi shook his head. “What happened to…?”

“Rinjin-san?”

He nodded.

“Rinjin-san did not make it.”

“Bastard broke his neck,” Eiri supplied.

Shuichi's eyes widened in shock. Tears filled his eyes and trailed down his face. Another surge of guilt flooded through him. He was dead? Oh, God! He had not meant to kill the man! He had just been trying to stop him! What had he done? “I…I didn't mean to,” he cried. “I just…I tried to stop! I didn't…Eiri!”

Eiri sighed and rolled his eyes. It was they had gone back in time! Shuichi had not pulled this crap in years! Maybe that concussion had done something to his head. “Baka,” he snapped, tired of it already. “Stop with the fucking ego trip! Stop fucking thinking everything is your fault! It was not your fault the railing snapped. The police checked it out and discovered the support was loose. The damn thing would have fallen over had you sneezed on it!”

Shuichi blinked tear filled eyes. “Really,” he asked softly.

“Yes, really,” Eiri assured him just as softly. “Baka,” he added for good measure.

“So you don't-“

Eiri hissed and smacked the singer upside the head.

“Ow!” Shuichi's hands flew to the back of his head. “What the hell was that for?”

“Oh my,” Dr, Ohtani muttered.

“If you even utter those words, I swear I really will hate your guts,” he hissed.

A bright smile lit Shuichi's face. Eiri could not help but smile back. His energy and optimism were contagious. Shuichi reached out and grabbed Eiri's hand, giving it a squeeze.

Dr. Ohtani smiled softly. It was obvious that the two of them really did love each other. It was as plain as the nose on his face. His smile fell as he realized he would have to be the barer of bad news and erase that smile off his patient's face. “Shindou-san,” he sighed.

Shuichi tore his gaze away from his husband with much difficulty.

“There are a few things we need to discuss. First things first.” The doctor paused to take a breath. “I don't know if you're aware of this, but you've been in a coma for two months.”

That surprised Shuichi. Two months? That was hard to believe. It felt as if no time had passed at all. It was like one minute you were tossing and turning in bed, trying to fall sleep and the next the morning sun was shinning in through your bedroom window and you had no memory of the last eight hours. Shuichi shook his head.

Dr. Ohtani exchanged a look with Eiri over the singer's head. “There's no easy way for me to say this…but, I'm sure you are already well aware…that your legs…”

Shuichi's smile vanished as he remembered his unresponsive limbs and blood soaked pants from his dream. Shuichi dropped his gaze to his legs stuck under the sheet. He tried once again to make them move, even a little bit, but like before, they remained stubbornly still. It was like the link between them and his brain had been severed or compromised in some way. Tears filled his eyes. Did this mean he could never walk again? That he would be stuck in a wheelchair? He almost laughed out loud as he realized he had been looking for a way to break the news to his bandmates that he was thinking about quitting, or at least taking a year off, or something, but this was not how he pictured getting his time off.

“I'm paralyzed,” Shuichi muttered. A heavy weight settled on his shoulders. His throat tightened and tears trailed down his face. There, I said it, he thought sadly. I cannot walk. He chuckled softly. “I'm paralyzed.”

Eiri glanced at his husband with a frown. He laid his free hand on his shoulder and squeezed it gently. He startled when Shuichi shook his hands away.

“Don't touch me,” the singer hissed, sobbing. “Just don't…touch me!”

“Shuichi, what…?”

“Stop,” Shuichi screamed, batting the writer's hands away.

Dr. Ohtani had seen this coming. It always happens. “Shindou-san, it's not as bad as-“

Shuichi shook his head. “Just…How can you…” Shuichi buried his face in his hands, sobbing. He was half a man, broken. Forever would he be dependent on someone else. He would need help just going to the bathroom, to get in and out of bed, to just get up the steps to their bedroom. Eiri once told him, okay, so he told him several hundred times, he hated how clingy he was. So, how different was it now? Eiri would have to take care of him like the invalid that he was. How could Eiri want a man that would not be able to take a piss by himself? How could he say “I love you” to half a paralyzed man? Was it just pity or out of a sense of obligation? He did not know how he would be able to accept it if that was the case.

Eiri studied his husband in growing disgust. Shuichi's emotions played across his face like a movie screen and right now the idiot was feeling like a useless, half dead man that did not deserve the love and support of those around him. “You stupid asinine,” Eiri snapped angrily. He slapped his husband upside the head once again. He could not believe the thing that went through Shuichi's mind.

Shuichi's head snapped forward and he hissed in pain. He covered the bump on the back of his head. Tears continued to pour down his face. “How,” he cried softly. “How could-“

“Shut up you stupid idiot,” Eiri yelled.

“But-“

“No! I don't want to hear any more of your ego trips, hear me? I nearly lost you, you damn brat!” Eiri pulled Shuichi to him, hugging him close. “Idiot,” he whispered. “Do you have any idea what you've put me through these past two months?”

Shuichi buried his face in the crook of his husband's neck and bawled, his body shaking with his sobs. He wrapped his arms around the man's waist.

“I don't care if you can't walk, Shu-chan,” Eiri continued. “I'll be your legs! I'll carry you everywhere! Besides,” he added, “it just means you won't be running all over the house and jumping me the second I come into the door.”

That got Shuichi laughing. He slapped Eiri's arm.

“And we'll have to come up with some more creative ways to have sex,” Eiri whispered huskily.

A rosy blush tinted Shuichi's face. He peeked at the doctor before burying his face in Eiri's chest, embarrassed he would say such a thing in public.

“Besides,” the writer continued, “Dr. Ohtani said there's a possibility that you might be able to walk again.”

Shuichi pulled away from Eiri with a gasp. He stared at him, in shock, and then turned towards his doctor with wide hopeful eyes. “Really? Is that true?”

Dr. Ohtani nodded. “Yes, it is. We could do two things. One, you could go in for surgery and have an eighty percent chance that that would fix your spinal injury and help you walk again, but there's also a twenty percent chance that the surgery may cause you permanent paralysis. Two, you could skip the surgery and go straight to rehab. You have a forty percent of walking if you do it that way. Either way, if you learn how to walk again, you will most likely have to use a cane for the rest of your life.”

Shuichi felt as if all his energy had been sucked out of him. He slid out of his husband's arms and collapsed onto the bed. He was not sure what was better. He had a better chance at walking again if he went in for the surgery, but if the surgery failed he would not get a second shot. On the other hand, there was always a chance that he would walk if he went straight to rehab. He leaned his head aback against his pillows and stared at the ceiling, fighting the need to cry.

“Don't worry about it now. Sleep on it. Alright?”

Shuichi nodded.

“In the mean time, there's a few other things we need to discuss.” Dr. Ohtani paused and took a deep breath. “In the fall, you received a mild concussion. Are you experiencing any headaches, lightheadedness, memory problems…anything at all?”

Shuichi shook his head to each of them.

“Good,” Dr. Ohtani nodded. “You also broke arms and legs. They've seemed to have healed properly, unless you're experiencing any pain or discomfort?”

Shuichi again shook his head. His arms felt fine, but as for his legs…How was he supposed to know? Seeing as if they were just like bumps on a log?

“Good. Good.” Once again the doctor exchanged a knowing look with Eiri. He glanced down at the singer. “Shindou-san, in the fall…”

Shuichi blindly reached out for his husband's hand. When Eiri linked their fingers together, the singer's vision blurred with fresh tears and his throat tightened as he fought back his sobs. His other hand flew to his flat stomach. The image of his bloodied pants popped into his mind. “My baby…”

Dr. Ohtani shook his head. “I'm sorry, Shindou-san.”

A loud sob burst from the singer's lips. He let go of Eiri's hand and buried his face in his hands. He had hoped all that blood had been from some internal injury, not from the life he and his husband had created together.

Eiri studied his husband sadly. He rubbed his back in slow lazy circles. “It's alright, Shu-chan. We'll try again. That's all.”

Again? Try again? As in get a replacement? No, that was not right. Children were not things. “No,” whispered through his tears, shaking his head.

Eiri's hand stilled. “What?”

Shuichi lifted his head. “No.” He turned a red face shinny with shed tears towards his husband. “I…I can't! Please! I don't want…I don't think…”

“Shh,” Eiri hushed the depressed man, enveloping him in his arms. “It's alright, Shu.” In reality, Eiri had gotten used to the idea of having children with Shuichi and hearing him say he did not want to go through it again was a little upsetting, but he loved Shuichi and would support his decision, even if he did not agree with it. “I sorta got used to the idea of having a baby with you, but if it's not something you want to do…”

“What?” Shuichi sniffed and stared at Eiri through his tears in shock. “You mean…You're not angry that I never told you…?” He stared at his husband astonished. “A-and you…you want…”

Eiri smiled at the man. Cupping Shuichi's cheek, he wrapped his other arm around his waist and nodded. “When I first heard you'd had a miscarriage, I thought it was all a mistake that they'd looked at the wrong x-rays, or something. Then Dr. Ohtani told me about you being a hermaphrodite.” He shook his head. “I couldn't…I thought he was joking. I mean, only plants and animals can be hermaphrodites. I've never heard of a human…It took me awhile to wrap my mind around the fact that not only was the doctor not joking, but the fact that you'd lied to me for ten years.”

Tears tickled down Shuichi's face. “I'm sorry! I-“

“I'm still a little mad that you've been lying to me but …I've had time to think about it and…I would love to have a baby with you.”

With a sob, Shuichi cried into his husband's button down dress shirt.

“Who else knows?” Eiri asked quietly as he rubbed his hand in lazy circles around his husband's back.

Shuichi lifted his head and wiped at his tear drenched face. “Just, uhm, my parents, Maiko and Dr. Ohtani.”

“Why didn't you ever tell me?”

“I was afraid, I guess,” he muttered, wrapping his arms around Eiri's waist and leaning against his chest.

“Of what?”

“That you think I was some sort of freak and that you'd leave me.” He stared earnestly into his husband's face. “When I thought you'd leave me, I just…I just couldn't face you! I couldn't tell you!”

“Oh, Shu.” Eiri hugged Shuichi tightly. “I won't leave you because of that! I love you for you! I fell in love with you, not your gender, not because of who you are or aren't…you.”

With tears trialing down his face, Shuichi squeezed Eiri, thankful his fears had been dumbfounded.

Dr. Ohtani cleared his throat, slightly embarrassed to be witnessing such a private moment. “Uhm, Shindou-san, Uesugi-san, I have other patients that I must see to, but if either of you have any questions, or something, press the call button next to the bed and the nurses will be happy to help you. In the morning, we'll move you to a private hospital room and do a full physical exam, alright?”

Shuichi nodded and wiped his wet face.

“Oh and the police are going to want to speak with you about what happened.”

The color drained from Shuichi's face. He pulled away from Eiri and stared at the doctor, trembling as the events of that day two months ago hastened to the surface. He turned when he felt Eiri squeeze his hand. Shuichi laced their fingers together, gaining courage from the support of his husband. Licking dry lips, Shuichi turned back towards the doctor and nodded. “Alright.”

“Okay. Get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Eiri said, bowing.

Dr. Ohtani bowed back, said goodbye and left the two lover's alone.

Eiri pulled away from Shuichi and reached into his pocket. “I think this belongs to you,” he told his husband holding out something to him.

Shuichi blinked and sitting back, took it. He held it in his palm, studying it. A smile brightened through the tears. “My wedding ring.” He started to slip it back on, but Eiri snatched it out of his fingers. “Huh? Eiri, wha-“

Holding the small hand within his, Eiri gently slid the gold band onto his husband's ring finger, right where it belonged. He lifted Shuichi's hand and placed an open mouth kiss on the deep, rich rose Sri Lanka Spinel. “I love you Shindou Shuichi,” he confessed, holding his hands lightly within his own, his thumb rubbing over the wedding ring.

Shuichi blushed deeply. “I love you, too, Uesugi Eiri.”

Eiri pulled his husband against him, snuggling against him. It felt so good to be holding his little baka again.

Shuichi giggled and pulled away. “No booty until you freshen up.” He ran a hand over the foreign hair growth. “Especially not until you shave this Ewoke from your face.” He jabbed a finger into the writer's stomach. “And eat something. You look like you're wasting away.”

Eiri snorted. “Anything else, Master?”

“Nothing for now,” Shuichi laughed.

Eiri nudged him over and laid down besides him, wrapping him close. “Shu…I'm sorry,” he whispered against Shuichi's hair after several minutes of silence.

“Uh?” Shuichi tried to pry himself away to get a better look at Eiri's face, but the man's grip on him was unmovable.

“I was an idiot for not listening to you about Rinjin.”

Shuichi smiled. Usually, he argued with Eiri whenever he apologized because in his mind, Eiri could do no wrong. He, Shuichi, was the idiot who screwed everything up. But he has learned to savor those moments when Eiri decided to step off his high horse and apologize like the rest of the common folk. He always ended up accepting it anyway. So, why bother?

Suddenly a huge yawn seized him. “Shit,” he yawned.

Eiri chuckled. Shu was more predictable than the weather. All his crying and the roller coaster ride his emotions have gone on seemed to have taken their toll on the singer. Sliding off the bed, he placed a chaste kiss on Shuichi's head. “Get some sleep. I'll be back in the morning. Freshly shaven and after having eaten breakfast,” he added when Shuichi opened his mouth.

Shuichi pushed himself down on the bed and snuggled under the blankets. Eiri leaned over and brushed their lips together. “I love you, Eiri.”

“I know.”

With a smile on his face, Shuichi closed his eyes and fell into a restful slumber.

***