Author's notes:

You hollered, Cali replied. And thus the second chapter was spawned. ^-^

Yesh. I know. Not your everyday couples. =3 Please, just to let you know, Yuki and Shuichi are my all time favorite pairing (even if their relationship borders on emotional S&M ^_~). I also love TatsuhaxRyuichi nearly as much. Why did I write this then? ~grins~ Unfortunately I can't find the exact words that would explain my insanity. ^____^

Well, this is for all those nice people who gave me pretty comments! ~glomps 'em~ Cali luvs yew!!! ^O^-Wai! Send me more at crimson_jaded@yahoo.com. Cali always wants to meet other rabid gravitation fans like herself. ^-^

Oh yeah. The whole gravitation stuff ain't mine. Their hers. ~jerks a thumb at Murakami-sama~ M'kay? ^_~

Oh yeah, take note of this:
"spoken aloud"
'thoughts'
~actions~

~*Duet*~

Chapter 2: ~Was this a good idea?~
Written by: Cali-chan

"Ohayo Shu-chan!"

Shuichi rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he stepped into the kitchen, drawn by the fragrant smell of bacon, eggs, and other morning scents. This room like every other place in the large house was taken over by Kumagurou's as well. Two of the four chairs of the kitchen table had pink bunnies sitting primly on them.

Ryuichi gestured to one of the empty seats. "Sit down Shu-chan! I'm almost done!"

Shuichi started forward. "Can't I help?"

"I-ya!" The green haired man led him to a chair and pushed him down. "Shu-chan has to rest!"

After a few minutes Ryuichi set the plate of food in front of Shuichi, the two Kumagurou's and on his own. "Itadakimasu!"

Shuichi echoed him then quietly tasted the food, spooning a small portion and chewing on it slowly. His eyes started to glitter. "Oishiii~Ii!"

Ryuichi beamed. "Arigatou!"

"I could eat this kind of food for the rest of my life!" Shuichi said in between mouthfuls.

"You could if you want to."

Blue eyes looked up in surprise. "Na-nani?"

"You can stay with Ryuichi as long as you want!" Green eyes shone fiercely. "I can take care of you!"

Shuichi couldn't help but think that it would be the other way around. But then Ryuichi had been full of surprises, revealing another more serious part of himself when he sung and when he had comforted him last night. It was almost as if he were two persons in one body...

"I don't know..."

"Please Shu-chan." Ryuichi's expression was suddenly sad. "Me and Kumagurou are very lonely." Green eyes shimmered. "Please?"

Shuichi's heart melted at his friends adorable look. "Okay..."

"Really?!" A wide grin played on the older man's face. "Promise?"

Shuichi nodded and grinned right back. "Promise!"

Suddenly Ryuichi's eyes narrowed, the energetic smile turning into something more sly. "That's a promise Shuichi." He reached over the table and tapped his nose. "Forever ne?"

At the predatory gaze in the other man's eyes Shuichi couldn't help but feel a tad bit nervous.

What had he gotten himself into?

~*~*~*

"Shuichi!" Hiro ran over to his best friend, anger replacing the worry on his face. "Where the hell were you?! I went over to Yuki's house but nobody answered the door!"

Ryuichi stepped up from behind Shuichi, smiling winningly. "Shuichi, Kumagurou and I had a sleepover at my house!"

Hiro frowned. That made no sense. Shuichi was so excited to be seeing Yuki again he was practically bouncing in the car. Why would he suddenly change his mind? And he knew his best friend as well as he knew himself. He could practically taste the pain and grief that was practically radiating off Shuichi's slight frame.

"Hurry Shu-chan! Let K see you so he'll know you're here!" Ryuichi smiled brightly. "If you're late any longer he might bring out his gun again!" He gave the pink haired boy a firm push towards the door.

"But-"

"Ryuichi will tell Hiro-kun everything ne? Don't worry!"

Shuichi nodded, a small smile finally rising. He walked in, the loud voice of K blasting out as soon as he entered.

"So Mr. Rock star has finally decided to grace us with his presence! You're late! Not to mention-" K stopped, his eyes narrowing. "Are you alright? You don't look well."

Shuichi waved it off. "I'm fine."

After a few minutes Hiro and Ryuichi finally entered. His best friend's face seemed to hold no emotion, but Shuichi could see the barely contained fury that behind those narrowed brown eyes.

K smiled when he caught sight of Ryuichi. "What brings you here Sakuma-kun?"

"I'm guarding my Shu-chan from evil!"

K blinked. "Eh?"

Thankfully before the American could demand an explanation Suguru's head appeared from behind the door to recording room, a scowl on his young face. "C'mon! We're late enough as it is!"

Hiro nodded and dragged Shuichi inside by the arm, giving Ryuichi a curt nod. Both of them would do what was needed to help Shuichi through this. Even though they didn't entirely agree on what was the right way to do it.

//FLASHBACK//

"That asshole!" Hiro's punched the wall furiously. "Shuichi gave him everything he had to give! What more did the bastard want?"

Ryuichi nodded. "He's hurting." Hiro took a moment to take in the sudden strange serious mood the older man was in. "He'll be staying with me from now on. I won't let anyone hurt him."

Hiro frowned. "What do you mean he'll be staying with you? If he's going to stay with anyone it's me. We're like brothers." He pointed out. "You on the other hand are used to living by yourself. And you've only knew him for about a year! What makes you think you're capable of taking care of him?"

"I..." Ryuichi's eyes lowered to the ground. When he looked they were filled with childish defiance. "I -can- take care of him."

"Oh? Give me a good reason why you can?" Hiro challenged.

Ryuichi stared deep into the young man's eyes and told the truth. "That's true. I've been by myself for most of my life... but I'm tired of being alone."

"So this is all about what -you- want?"

"No! I know how it feels to be rejected, to be betrayed. If you've never really felt the pain that comes from it, you would never be able to really help him." Ryuichi brushed his bangs away from his face. "I don't want anyone to go through what I did. I'll do anything I can to protect him."

Hiro frowned. The only time he'd seen Sakuma-san like this was when he sang. Then he took a moment and looked deep into Ryuichi's eyes. Seeing what he needed to see, a slight begrudging nod was torn from the younger man. "I'll trust him with you Ryuichi-san. But if you dare hurt him..." Hiro's eyes flashed with threat. "Just don't ever hurt him all right?"

Ryuichi smiled and nodded. 'Never Hiro. I could never hurt him.'

'Because hurting him would be like hurting myself.'

//END FLASHBACK//

Ryuichi blinked as the song started. Once behind the mike Shuichi seemed to forget all of his problems, once more his professional self who loved what he did. They had that in common as well. The song was an upbeat one, and Shuichi performed in with flourish, a bright smile on his face. It made Ryuichi smile to watch him.

Suddenly he heard the door open from behind him. Ryuichi turned to see who it was, smile fading as Yuki and Tohma stepped inside.

Shuichi saw them as well, his clear beautiful voice stopping in mid-word as a pained look came upon his face. Yuki wasted no time, immediately walking into the recording room and grabbing Shuichi by the shoulders.

"Shuichi. We have to talk."

"There's no need for that." Hiro reached out and pulled his friend away. "Shuichi already knows all he needs to know." He flashed an obviously forced smile. "Though I'm kinda pissed you let him know in such an shitty way. But I guess it should be expected from someone like you."

Tohma walked inside the room as well, Ryuichi trailing behind him. "Don't talk to Yuki like that Hiro-san. It will prove unhealthy." The blond man murmured, cold brown eyes piercing the youth where he stood.

"Shuichi." Yuki's face was annoyed. "Stop being so dramatic and come home. Tohma and I can explain."

"You asshole-" Hiro started but Ryuichi interrupted him.

"But Yuki-san, why are you inviting yourself into my house without asking me?"

The writer turned to the innocent looking man, a confused expression on his face. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Shu-chan's house is my house now! He promised!"

"What?!" He turned to Shuichi. "Is this true."

Shuichi nodded. He couldn't find the words to speak, any sort of speech deserting him with Yuki so close and yet further than he ever was in the past. Ryuichi reached out and slung an arm over the young man's shoulder and Shuichi allowed himself to draw warmth from the comfort he offered. Yuki merely scowled at them.

"We'll get his things from your house later 'kay? Then we'll have dinner at my place and talk!" Ryuichi beamed happily up at everyone. "You all have to come!"

K and Suguru took one look at the small group and gave up. The practice was now ruined. There was no way Shuichi or Hiro could perform in their agitated states.

"Dammit! This is the worse band I've ever had to work with." K fumed.

Suguru nodded. "I entirely agree."

"Practice is postponed till tomorrow. You all better have this fixed by then!"

"Hai!" Ryuichi nodded. If he had his way it would be all fixed by tonight. Then before Yuki or Hiro went at each other's throats he announced. "Well, I guess we'll be going now! Go ahead Hiro-kun and Shu-chan! I'll just talk to Tohma-kun for awhile."

Hiro spared Yuki one last furious glare before leading the silent Shuichi out. As they walked away Ryuichi turned to the two blond men, eyes sad.

"Tohma-kun..."

Tohma laid a hand on his friend's shoulder, feeling a flash of hurt as the other man flinched. "It wasn't what it seemed to be Ryuichi."

"You hurt Shu-chan... just like that man hurt me."

"Ryuichi-"

"I can never forgive anyone who does what Akira did to me! I thought you were my friend!" Ryuichi slapped Tohma's hand from his shoulder, taking a few steps backward. "You have to come later and explain why you did it, just so Shu-chan will know and not think it was all his fault. Then I want you to leave Shu-chan and me alone!"

Yuki glared at him. "What gives you the right to-"

But Ryuichi didn't give him a chance to finish, spinning on his heels and running after Hiro and Shuichi.

~*~*~*

Tohma's eyes were pained as they watched the trio leave the building from his office. "Ryuichi... he compared me to Akira."

"Akira?" Yuki asked.

"His best friend in the past." Tohma placed a shaking hand to his forehead. "The man who had hurt him so badly as nobody can."

Yuki slumped down on the chair in front of the desk, head tilting to gaze at the roof. "What a mess we're in..."

Walking up to him Tohma touched the other man's cheek tenderly. "I don't regret any of it Yuki." He knelt and rested his head on the writer's knee. "Do you?"

"I don't know... I really don't know." Yuki hesitantly reached down to place his hand on Tohma's head, drawing a small smile from the other man. "I love him Tohma. But It's almost the same with you." His hand tightened on the older man's hair. " I think I-"

Tohma interrupted him. "Don't make promises so soon Yuki. We're going to have to face this later at Ryuichi's house and I don't want you going back on your words once you've said them." Brown eyes narrowed. "You'll have to chose between us Yuki."

"I know that." Yuki rubbed his forehead feeling an impending headache rising. Now he was in hell. Later he would be in something much worse.

He would have to chose, between the two men he loved. And he was far from looking forward to it.

~TBC~

Author's note:

Finished second chapter. Phew. Writing fics makes me tired. My wrists hurt. My eyes are barely staying open. ~sighs~ I know I'm whining. I'm such a wuss. ;_;

Neway, next chapter'll be fun! Confrontations!!! XD Arguments! ^O^ Orgies!

...

^-^

I'm just kidding. Kidding kidding. ~smiles~ Had ya there for a moment didn't I? ;p Actually I already finished the third chapter. I just feel like letting you all simmer and wait for it! ^O^-Hah!

...

Just kidding again! ~giggles~ It's done but still has to be edited. I'm acting crazy tonight. Must be all those chocolate I ate. ^_________^

Neway, c ya'll in my next post! Till next time! Which will be like, tomorrow if I'm not lazy. :P

~huggles~
Cali-chan