Author's notes:

Hora! ~neko smile~ Third chapter is here! And quite faster than expected ne? ^_~ For me the one chapter every month writer at least. ^.^* That's cuz the people reading this have been so nice to me! Not to mention I was threatened by Ran-san with an 'Evil Kumagurou of doom' O_O ... ~glomps everyone~ Thanx for your comments! ~snuggle~ I saved all your names for future reference and gift fics! That is if anyone wants any. ^.~ Cali wants to do something in return for your kind words! ^-^ And the people who left their e-mails, expect a rabid Cali at your mailbox soon. ^_______^

No lemony goodness in this chapter though. Maybe later. ^O^-OhohOhoho! This is RyuichixShuichi and YukixTohma. More pairings prolly later. Characters may be OOC. I haven't seen enough of the show or manga to judge how they act. :P Oh yeah! I don't own Gravitation. If I did everyone would be drawn as pathetic stick figure's and be having sex every few pages. ^O^-Wai! Murakami-sensei does. But you need to buy her REMIX doujin's to see the lemon stuff, which means bidding a month's allowance on it in ebay. ^.~

//Duet//

Chapter 3: ~The chicken wuss and the brave bunny~

Shuichi tried to make no sound as he tiptoed quietly towards the door. 'Almost there...' He reached out and gripped the doorknob, turning it slowly.

"Shu-chan! What are you doing?!"

Busted. He turned around, trying to look innocent as he caught sight of a glowering Ryuichi. "I was just going out to get some soda!"

The older singer didn't look convinced. "We already have soda Shu-chan!"

"But-"

"Everything's ready! All we have to do is wait for Tohma-kun and Yuki-san." Green eyes widened. "You're not... scared of facing them, are you Shu-chan?"

Shuichi blushed and shook his head. "Why would I be scared?"

Ryuichi frowned, realizing Shuichi was denying his fear. The teen was so nervous his hands shook, his usually pink lips pale and quivering. The older singer smiled cheerfully and tackle-glomped him, sending them both sprawling on the hardwood floor. "You don't have anything to worry about Shu-chan! Me and Kumagurou will protect you!"

"Ryuichi-san!" Shuichi gasped. "Your heavy!"

"Ryuichi-san ja nai!" The green haired man pouted. "You make me feel old... Call me Ryu-chan!" He picked up his pink bunny and thrust it into Shuichi's hands. "And Kumagurou says that we're family now so you can snuggle with him as much as you want!"

Shuichi's wide blue eyes blinked, then softened as he smiled. He held Kumagurou close, kissing the stuffed toy's head. "Thank you Kumagurou."

They both sat up, the mood considerably lightened. Ryuichi beamed. "Kumagurou is happy you treat him nice. Some people treat him like he's just a toy."

Shuichi brushed his pink bangs away from his face and met the bunny's beady black eyes. "At least me and Ryu-chan believe in you ne? Did you know I had a friend like you Kumagurou-chan?"

"Honto Shu-chan? Who was he?"

"Sora was a little blue neko. My mother took her away when she said I was too old for her."

Ryuichi gasped. "That's terrible!"

"I know." Sad eyes peered up at him from under shaggy pink hair. "I can't believe I'm telling you this. Yuki would laugh..."

"You can tell me -anything- Shu-chan. And if you don't want me to laugh I won't."

"... really?"

"Un!" The older man nodded genkily. "And we'll look for Sora tomorrow okay? I'm sure she really misses you." He ruffled Shuichi's hair fondly.

Thin gangly arms suddenly wrapped around Ryuichi's neck, a warm cheek resting on his shoulder. "Why are you so nice Ryu-chan... I haven't done anything for you to be nice to me..."

"I-ya". Ryuichi stroked his friends hair. "You make me happy just by being you Shu-chan. I feel good when you're around." He wrapped his arms around Shuichi's waist, holding the youth close. "And I want you to be happy too. I don't like seeing you sad Shu-chan... I get sad too."

"Ryu-chan..." Shuichi lifted his head and their eyes met and held. Ryuichi felt himself freeze underneath the boy's searching gaze. He could only smile uncertainly as the youth's unwavering blue eyes ran over his features.

"Ryu-chan..." Shuichi had never realized how adorable his friend was. He took in the innocent sort of beauty the older man possessed hungrily. It was so different from Yuki's. Where Yuki was ice Ryuichi was fire. Where Yuki was indifference Ryuichi was attention. While Yuki pushed him away Ryuichi held him near. Slowly, uncertainly, he cupped the older singer's cheeks with shaking hands and leaned forward.

Ryuichi's eyes widened as the youth moved close. "Shu-chan?" Then Shuichi's lips brushed over his, a soft tentative touch. Ryuichi could taste the lingering sweet strawberry breath as the young man moved away.

As silence followed his action, Shuichi finally realized what he had done. He blushed bright red and started to babble apologies, "Go-gomen! I didn't mean to do that! I don't know what got into me! I was just comparing you to Yuki and I realized how different you were andandand-"

Ryuichi's eyes narrowed as he placed a hand over the stammering boy's mouth. His childishness slowly faded away, expression suddenly serious and very wise. Then when Shuichi finally calmed down, he moved forward and replaced his hand with his lips, closing it firmly over the boy's own. One hand settled on the teen's thin waist, the other caressing a soft flushed cheek lovingly.

Shuichi whimpered softly as he allowed himself to be laid back on the floor, Ryuichi's weight settling firmly on top of him. His pale hands clutched at the front of the older singer's shirt as Ryuichi nibbled on his lower lip, hands moving to touch Shuichi's firm stomach. When the youth let out a soft sigh Ryuichi took advantage of it, slipping his tongue into the younger singer's mouth. Shuichi tasted like ripe fruit, innocent and near bursting with sweetness.

They parted, their breath mingling as they kept their mouths still near the other, lips almost touching. Shuichi's mind was near overdrive, he had never had a kiss that made his body weak and hungering for more. Ryuichi started to lavish his attention on Shuichi's pale neck, licking and kissing the tender flesh. It was all Shuichi could do not to cry out. Ryuichi made him feel -so- good.

Shuichi knew he loved Yuki, why else would he have stayed by the blond man's side even when he tried to push him away. And yet he suddenly realized that he loved Ryuichi as much as he did Yuki. The thought itself wasn't what surprised him, it was the fact that it took him so long to realize it.

From an early age Shuichi had always adored the older singer. His old room in his mother's house was still wallpapered with posters of the Nittle Grasper. When he finally met Ryuichi, it seemed like a dream come true. They had become friends so quickly, like it was meant to be. Now, with Ryuichi watching him with hungry love filled eyes and him knowing he felt the same, Shuichi couldn't help but wonder if it had only been adoration then. But that meant he loved -both- Yuki and Ryuichi! ... Shuichi had never been more confused in his life. You couldn't love -two- people, could you?

"Shuichi..." It wasn't the childish Ryuichi now. Wisdom glinted behind those long-lashed green eyes. He leaned forward and nibbled an earlobe, drawing a soft whimper from Shuichi's parted lips. After a moment he let go of the tender flesh, his breath sending a shiver down the young singer's spine as he whispered, "Did you like that kiss?"

"Ha-hai..."

A small amused smile. "Would you like another one?"

Shuichi blushed. "Hai..." He closed his eyes as Ryuichi stroked his hair, feeling warm breath tickling his lips as the man moved his mouth over his.

A sudden knock on the door caused them to sit up abruptly from their position on the floor. They moved apart, fixing their rumpled clothing self-consciously.

"Ryuichi?" Tohma's voice floated in.

"Coming!" Ryuichi was once again all innocence and smiles, bounding over to the door and throwing it open. Tohma and Yuki came into sight, both wearing impeccable black suits. "Ara? Why are you both dressed like penguins?"

Tohma smiled. "We just came from a party." At Ryuichi's saddening expression he added quickly. "But we didn't eat anything. We were saving space for your wonderful cooking!"

The green haired man grinned happily. "Honto? Well, let's hurry and eat before the food gets cold." He grabbed Tohma's arm and led him into the kitchen. Ryuichi seemed to have already forgotten his anger over what his old friend had done.

Shuichi felt Yuki's eyes on him and looked up, blue meeting green. The writer looked like he wanted to say something, but faltered as Shuichi broke eye contact.

"We better follow them now." Shuichi turned his back on him and walked away. Yuki, eyes pained, followed close behind.

~*~*~*

"Dinner was delicious as expected. You should invite me more often Ryuichi-kun." Tohma murmured, ever polite. "Now I realize how much I've missed your cooking."

Shuichi held out his plate, blue eyes shining. "More please!"

"Maa." Ryuichi smiled as he took it and piled it with more food. "Shu-chan will get fat. This is your third plate!" Shuichi shook his head. "I burn if off quickly enough!"

Yuki sniffed. "Yeah, by running around the house and making a complete nuisance of yourself. I've lost count of how many of my vases you've broke."

Shuichi looked pained, pushing the plate away. "I-I'm not hungry anymore." The room fell into sudden uncomfortable silence.

Tohma stood slowly, eyes trained on the pink haired youth. "Shindou-san. If you will, I would like to speak to you in private."

"Ha-hai."

"Please excuse us." Yuki and Ryuichi watched as the two walked to the balcony, sliding the door closed behind them.

~*~*~*

"Maa! What wonderful weather we're having Shindou-san!" Tohma turned to smile at his younger companion. "Tomorrow it might rain a little but-"

"Please... Seguchi-san." Shuichi's fist clenched as he tried to keep a firm hold on his anger. "Stop acting like nothing's wrong. It hurts when you do that..." When the tears finally did fall Shuichi made no movement to wipe them away. He was too busy trying to numb himself against the pain as he remembered how this man had appeared so suddenly from beneath Yuki's covers. The Nittle Grasper member's small triumphant smile kept mocking him, the image repeating itself in his head.

Tohma reached out and tried to wipe away a tear but the youth flinched, slapping the hand away. "Don't touch me!" Shuichi took a step back before slumping down to sit on the floor, drawing his knee's up to rest his chin on them. "You touched Yuki with those hands... when you knew I loved him! How could you Seguchi-san?! How could you try to take him away when you knew he was with me?!"

"A petulant boy like you wouldn't understand."

"Why are you acting like I was the one who did something wrong?!"

"Because you did."

Shuichi's blue eyes flashed angrily. "What did I do?!"

"You fell in love with him, and made him fall in love with you."

"What's wrong with that?!"

Tohma sighed in annoyance. "Such a child. Do you want me to explain it to you?" He took Shuichi's glower as a yes.

"What made you chase after Yuki Shindou-san? What first attracted you to him? It was his looks wasn't it? His strange American features." Shuichi felt the truth behind those words. Yuki had been cruel to him the first time they met, but the man's good looks had imprinted itself in his mind. That was the reason he had gone looking for him.

"And when you got together, can you call your relationship a healthy one?" Tohma asked. "You always in tears, Yuki always in pain as you brought back the past. You had tender moments, moments that made your love seem worthwhile I'm sure. But let me ask you, how often do those things happen?"

Shuichi realized that Tohma was waiting for him to answer. His voice came out soft. "I don't remember..." He knew Tohma saw through the lie. Shuichi could count those moments of love with one hand.

"And now that Bad Luck is famous, won't that take you away from him more often than not? Like your month long absence just recently?" Tohma's voice became harsh. "So you though it would be okay to just leave him all alone while you went about your business? Did you know what pain he was in when you left? He was all alone, gazing at your picture everyday. I couldn't stand it! I couldn't stand to see him in pain Shindou-san! I promised him he wouldn't hurt anymore when I found him, in shock over commiting murder. I promised him!"

Shuichi lifted his head up, surprise rising as he saw a single tear fall from Tohma's expressionless face. Then the mask broke, the despair and love clear in brown eyes. "Then here you come, hurting him as badly as the events in his past hurt him! I couldn't do anything when that man did those things to him Shindou-san! I came to late to stop it! But I won't make a mistake like that again." He turned away, his back facing Shuichi as he tried to compose himself. "So I took him from you Shindou-san, before you could do any real damage. You require special care and attention, it is the way you are. But Yuki can barely take care of himself much less a young teen with issues. You are ruining him."

Shuichi watched the back of the blond man's head, Tohma's words striking his mind like a slap to the face. "I can't make you understand my actions Shindou-kun, but I can say I'm sincerely sorry for hurting you. And yet I am not sorry for having done it. Yuki's well being will always comes first, even before mine."

Shuichi stood then. Slowly, reluctantly, he rested his forehead on Tohma's back. The blond man stiffened in surprise, head turning slightly to gaze down at the pink topped head. "You... really love him, don't you Seguchi-san?"

Tohma didn't deny it, he owed Shuichi the truth. "I do. Ever since we were children. From the first time I saw him."

"Why didn't you do anything then?"

"I... was frightened. I wasn't sure how to love him. He was so innocent, so pure. Then after what happened in America, he changed. His was in such pain I didn't want to burden him with my petty feelings."

"But you still loved him?"

Tohma moved away and turned to face him. "I love all of him Shuichi, who he was in the past and who he is in the present."

Shuichi nodded. Then before Tohma could move away he wrapped his arms around the older man's waist and drew him into a tight hug. "Take care of him Seguchi-san..."

"Shi-Shindou-san?" Tohma was too surprised and unused to physical affection, much less from someone he had slighted, to return the embrace. He could only stand stiffly as Shuichi's head fell to the crook of his neck.

"You were the one who loved him first, you deserve him more than I do. I know you can make Yuki happy. You can help him deal with his past since you were there with him. You're more responsible than me. You can take care of him." Shuichi started to cry then, hot bitter tears of loss. "You're right, I can love him but it won't be good for the both of us. We only bring each other pain. I have to let him go..." Little white hands fisted over Tohma's black suit. "But it hurts... it hurts so much to give him up."

"Shindou-san..."

"Take care of him... please. Promise me you'll take good care of him. Stand by your promise and make sure he never hurts again."

Tohma placed a hand beneath Shuichi's chin and tilted it up, gazing fondly into the tear filled eyes. "I promise Shindou-san."

Then Tohma held the shaking youth as he broke into a fit of sobs, noting dryly Shuichi certainly loved to cry. But he couldn't help resting his cheek on the teen's soft pink head, allowing himself a moment's weakness.

'I understand now, Eiri-kun, why you fell in love with him.' Shuichi started to calm down in his arms, sniffling slightly. 'He seems to be such an idiot child at first glance, over emotional, unbearably loud. But when you see past that... he is beautiful, and he thinks with his heart.'

Then Tohma made a new vow, a new promise. In Yuki he had found love. Now, in Shuichi, he seemed to have found something else. Something more than friend, perhaps a little brother. He carefully wiped Shuichi's cheeks and eyes dry with the handkerchief of his suit. 'I will protect you Shuichi-kun.' He thought silently. And he sealed his promise with a delicate kiss to the boy's brow.

'Since I have already hurt you so badly, you will feel no more pain if it is in my power to stop it.'

~TBC~

Author's Notes:

A nice sweet closure to this chapter, to make up for the angsty last one. See! Tohma isn't so bad! ~glomps him~

Tohma: ^_^

Well, next chapter will answer the question of what Yuki and Ryuichi had been doing in the kitchen while this whole drama thing was happening. Dun dun dun duu~uuuun. O_o And no, they weren't just eating the entire time. ^^* And since Kari-chan wondered what Mika would think about Tohma and Yuki's relationship I'm slamming that kakkoii Eiri girl into the next chapter as well. And a few more problems for Ryuichi and Shuichi to deal with too. *_*

Shuichi: You sadist! You just love messing up my life don't you?!

It's what I live for. ^-^

Ryuichi: Stop picking on my Shu-chan! ~smacks her with Kumagurou~

Ow! What's in that thing?! Bricks?!

Ryuichi: ~nods genkily~

O_o More brain damage. Neway, till next time! Which will be like... I dunno. I haven't started the next chapter yet. ^.^* Soon though. And I'm -really- sorry if this chapter wasn't that good... I think it still needs a bit more editing. ¬_¬