Disclaimer:

I do not own Gravitation or any of its characters. I just love them to no end and have a very twisted imagination. Please be aware that I am extremely poor so suing me will do you no good. Thanks.

Warning: Lemon Yaoi / Explicit Language / Angst / Rape / Violence / AU

Pairings: Yuki x Shuichi / Ryuichi + Tatsuha / Hiro + Ayaka / K +Sakano / Tohma + Mika

FYI: Inner thoughts -- [ Flashback ]

Author's Notes:

Hey, everyone! Finally, chapter four has arrived! Be ready for some angst people and for flashbacks galore. Not only will we be able to get another glimpse into Shuichi''s past but we''ll get a dose of Yuki's history as well. Both instances will be quite revealing and will allow us to understand our bishounen even more. Not completely, of course -Have to drag things out some more- but, just enough to get your mouths watering. Also, as an added treat, Aizawa finally joins the cast of key players that will eventually determine the future of our beloved couple. I hope my depiction of him is to your liking.

Chapter 5 is already whirling around in my mind and I'll get it out as soon as some of my other fics are updated.

Thanks to all for your support and patience. I hope this chapter was worth the wait.

Well, that's it for now. Enjoy the fic and please don't forget to review!

Thanks again,

Forsaken

Beautiful Stranger

"What are you doing?"

At the unexpected sound of Yuki's voice thundering through the air, Shuichi jumped up in fright and lost his balance.

"Shit!" he cursed in despair, as his cane fell to the floor with a clatter, leaving him to wobble on his bad ankle. He hissed in pain, his leg giving way from under him as he felt himself falling forward.

"Idiot," was all he heard before a pair of strong arms encircled his waist, managing to stop his fall.

Shuichi grabbed onto Yuki's shoulders, trying to balance himself. He looked up and found himself a mere two inches away from Yuki's face. Time froze for Shuichi then as his violet gaze locked onto Yuki's chiseled mouth. Oh my God. His heart, now beating in a nervous tempo rammed against his chest as those perfectly shaped lips inched closer. Holy ……

Yuki abruptly pulled away, shattering the moment.

Shuichi stared at the blonde from where he stood near the smoking stove, his mind reeling from the sensations that one instant had evoked within him. Had he just imagined that? He watched with dazed eyes as Yuki stalked over to the kitchen window just above the sink and opened it, letting out some of the smoke that was consuming the area. Blazing yellow-green eyes bore into his own and Shuichi swallowed in sudden apprehension.

"What the hell are you trying to do? Burn the place down?" Yuki asked angrily.

Grabbing onto the counter for balance, Shuichi took a step back from the irate man and shook his head. "I was hungry and I was trying to make something to eat," he replied meekly as he eyed the other man warily. He didn't think Yuki would actually hurt him, but old habits died hard and Shuichi stood ready to run away if he had to.

Yuki moved toward him and Shuichi took another step back; the need to keep a safe distance between them coming as an instinctive reaction. The blonde didn't approach him, however. Instead, Yuki walked to the stove and pushed the smoking pan away from the burner.

He turned toward Shuichi and glared at him with cold eyes. "The next time you get any bright ideas check with me first. Understand?"

Shuichi nodded quickly and felt himself relaxing, knowing somehow that Yuki was attempting to reign in his temper. He still looks really mad though. Shit, what can I do to fix this? "I'm sorry about the mess. I'll clean it up right away."

"Leave it," Yuki commanded, stopping Shuichi just as he moved toward the sink.

His violet eyes watched Yuki bend down and pick up the cane from where it had fallen near the stove. The older man looked at him; the look in his eyes undescribable as he handed Shuichi the metal cane.

"Go sit down in the living room. I'll take care of this."

Shuichi blinked. "But----"

Yuki's eyes narrowed menacingly.

"O …… Okay," Shuichi replied quickly, as he lowered the cane onto the tile floor and used it to walk out of the kitchen.

"And whatever I make, you'll eat. Got it?"

Shuichi stopped walking and turned his head, his astonished eyes locking onto the grumpy blonde across the way. He really didn't know how to respond so he simply nodded. Yuki mumbled something under his breath as he turned his attention back to the sink and Shuichi made himself move away.

He limped to the sofa and sat down as carefully as he could manage. Not able to hold back a grimace as he lifted his throbbing ankle onto the soft black cushions. Once settled, he grabbed the remote and turned on the television set on distracting himself. His mind, however, was not allowing him to concentrate, his thoughts revolving around the aloof man just a room away. God, he's so goddamn confusing! What's his problem anyway?

No matter how hard he tried, Shuichi couldn't read the man; something he was usually really good at. It was an ability that had enabled him to succeed as a thief and he'd been quite proud of himself over it. But now, as he sat here trying to figure out what made the blonde tick, Shuichi had to admit that Yuki was confusing the shit out of him. He just couldn't get past the mask of indifference Yuki presented toward the world. It was as if Yuki didn't want anyone to see him for whom he really was.

Shuichi's hand tightened around the remote. You're one to talk, his mind chided. Shuichi let out a somber breath. He and Yuki were the same in that regard. Both of us are hiding behind masks.

Leaning his back against the pillow he'd propped against the sofa's arm, Shuichi stared in the direction of the kitchen, where the sounds of clanking pots and running water could be heard, and thought about his past.

Once upon a time, his smiles had been true and joyful and his eyes had been crystal clear windows into his soul. He had been innocent and carefree, full of life and happiness, unaware of life's darker facets. Shuichi rested his head against the sofa, his watery eyes staring into space as his mind shifted to a time when life had been worth living.

[ "Maiko!" he yelled as stood in the doorway of his sister's room, glaring daggers at her.

At her desk, the petite brunette turned toward him with large innocent eyes. "Yes, Shuichi?"

He stomped over to her. "Don't give me that innocent look, you thief! Where are my notes?"

Maiko gasped and brought a hand dramatically to her small bosom. "Why, whatever are you talking about, Shuichi?"

Absolutely furious now, he stood in front of his sister with steam practically coming out of his ears. "Maiko, I swear to God, if you don't give me back my notes," a wicked smile suddenly blossomed over Shuichi's face, "I'm gonna tell Mom that you've been cutting class this whole week."

Maiko paled at the vicious threat and he was just about ready to do a happy dance. Gotcha, he thought.

"You wouldn't!" his sister exclaimed as she flew off of her chair, her blue-violet eyes blazing with fury.

Shuichi smiled. "Try me."

For a full minute, they stared each other down but in the end, it was Maiko who turned away. Triumph through devious means …… Such a wonderful thing, he thought.

Angrily, his sister trekked across the room to her dresser and opened up her underwear drawer --No man's land; the perfect hiding place. She was a shrewd one, his sister. A formidable enemy indeed. She removed a few folded sheets of composition paper from within the drawer before slamming it shut. She turned and walked back toward him, flinging the sheets at him. With her chin in the air, she walked over to her desk and sat down, keeping her back to him.

Too satisfied to be angry, Shuichi bent down and retrieved his music notes. When he'd collected all of the white sheets, he straightened and walked toward the open doorway.

"You know," Maiko stated, as he neared the door. "They're pretty good."

Surprised, Shuichi turned around and stared at his sister. "You think so?"

It was a stupid question, he knew. A perfect opening for his malevolent sibling. But the evil retort he'd been expecting never came as his sister looked at him with serious eyes.

Maiko smirked. "I wouldn't have taken them if they hadn't been."

Shuichi smiled, his anger over his sister's act of thievery gone in an instant. He couldn't help it. He just couldn't stay mad at her for long.

"You could've asked me for them instead of taking them, you know."

"And see you get all big-headed over it? No thanks." Maiko smiled. "Seriously though, the songs are good, Shuichi. You should pursue something in music. After all, I am a member of a band. I know what I'm talking about."

An eyebrow shot up his forehead as he looked at his sister. "You're a friggin keyboardist, Maiko. Not a composer. How would you know?"

Maiko shrugged. "I may be just a keyboardist now, but you never know. So shut up and listen to your older sister for once. You have talent," she told him, motioning toward him with her hand. "Don't let it go to waste by letting your stuff collect dust at the bottom of that chest of yours."

Shuichi's eyes narrowed at the mention of the chest. He was going to have to find another hiding place or he'd be back in his sister's room in a matter of days.

"Shuichi?"

"Yeah?"

Long slender fingers tapped on the desk near a large dictionary. "Can I?"

Shuichi grinned, knowing what his sister was asking. "Nope."

The dictionary flew his way a second later, landing hard against the door just above his head and Shuichi ran out of the room, his sister's ''colorful' language echoing throughout the hallway right along with his teasing laughter. ]

Shuichi sighed and ran a hand down his face as his last memory of his sister faded back into the recesses of his mind.

I miss you, sis. I miss you so much. Tears sprang into Shuichi's eyes as the pain of her loss speared through him once again. Why? Why did you have to die? Why did you leave me all alone?

He could still remember that night six years ago when his life had changed forever. When he'd watched his house burn like an inferno as he sat numbly next to his sister's dead body. A white sheet had been draped over her still form, hiding her from the world, but Shuichi had seen her, had seen the damage done to her by the fire.

The memory would be forever etched into his mind.

Shuichi had cursed himself that day. Cursed himself for having sneaked out of the house when he shouldn't have. Cursed himself for not having been there for his sister and his parents when they had needed him the most. Cursed himself for being alive.

I wish I had died with you, Maiko. Maybe then I'd be at peace. Then again, Shuichi thought to himself. When Nao finds me, he'll take me back and ... Shuichi knew what would happen and he smirked even as the tears continued to stream down his face.

I'll be with you soon, Maiko ... I'll be with you soon.

"So what did he want?"

Tachi Aizawa closed the car door and gazed out of the passenger side window before he answered the questioning blonde next to him. His hands fisted his lap as his dark eyes narrowed. "He wants me to be his goddamn bloodhound."

"Bloodhound?" asked the brunette in the backseat, his sunglasses glinting under the sun as the black sedan pulled into the street.

"Yeah," he replied bitterly. "It seems that one of his ''employees' disappeared about two days ago during a job. He wants me to find the little bastard and return him."

The blonde next to him sighed. "What do you know?"

Tachi patted his jacket's breast pocket. "Gave me a disk with all of the details on the kid. So far though, I know that his name is Shuichi Shindou. He's twenty-two, about five foot three, has red-brown hair and ... violet eyes."

"Violet eyes?" the brunette asked.

Tachi smiled. "Narrows it down, doesn't it?"

"Sounds simple enough," stated the blonde. "So why did he ask you to do it?"

The smile on Tachi's face faded as he became pensive. "I'm not too sure. Something's up though. That much I know. And until I figure out exactly what's going on, I'll do what he wants ... for now."

"You mean ''we', don't you?"

Tachi smiled, knowing full well what the blonde's words were implying. "Of course."

"Yeah, man," added the smiling brunette sitting behind him. "Three musketeers and shit like that."

Tachi rolled his eyes, but he found a measure of relief and comfort in the fact that his two companions were so loyal to him. Years ago, they had sworn themselves to him and til this day that pact had remained true, despite the dark path he had chosen to take.

There were times when he regretted the decisions he'd made in the past. But as he gazed out of the passenger side window, watching life pass him by, Tachi knew ... What's done is done. There's no turning back now. He had sold himself to the devil, to Naoko Murao and until his debt was paid in full, he had no choice but to serve the bastard, fulfilling the man's every decree.

He had no choice but to obey.

I'll find you, Shuichi Shindou, Tachi declared silently, determination lighting the depths of his dark eyes. I'll find you and I'll bring you back to your master.

"There's not much to tell. He's ... I don't know ... nice."

Sitting down on the sofa next to Hiro's desk, Ayaka rolled her eyes as she opened her laptop.Idiot. "And?"

"His name is Shuichi Shindou. He's got brown hair, sorta reddish brown actually, and has these big violet eyes. He looks like a fairy. Trust me," Hiro assured her. "He's not the money grubbing type."

Ayaka raised an eyebrow as she proceeded to nonchalantly tap into a restricted government file. "And how do you know?"

"I just do, alright," Hiro said quietly.

At the change in her lover's tone, Ayaka looked up from her laptop. "Hiro?"

Hiro stopped typing and swivelled around to face her. She was surprised to see the confused frown marring her fiance's handsome face.

Worried, Ayaka quickly closed out the file she'd been messing around with and closed the laptop. The look was unusual, even for Hiro. "What is it?"

Blue eyes, usually full of laughter and lust, looked at her seriously. What the hell?

"I like him, Ayaka," Hiro said finally, his voice hesitant. "He's really friendly and ... you can tell that he's got a good heart. He's shy though and his eyes ..."

Ayaka tilted her head in question, her long brown hair falling over her shoulder. "What?"

Hiro's eyes grew thoughtful as he tried to voice his thoughts. "His eyes are full of pain. Like ... like mine once were."

Ayaka's heart clenched at the reminder of what Hiro had been like long ago. She didn't even want to think about that time, let alone want Hiro to. Truly concerned now, Ayaka pushed her black colored laptop aside and moved to stand in front of the now somber redhead. She went down on her knees, pushing his legs apart enough to fit in between them and placed her hands over his as she gazed into his turbulent blue eyes. She didn't say anything to prompt Hiro into saying more. She merely waited patiently for him to speak, knowing that Hiro would do so eventually.

A few tense minutes passed before she felt a gentle hand lightly caress her hair. Relief washed over her. Come on, love. Talk to me.

"Sorry."

Ayaka reached out with her hand and placed it on Hiro's cheek. "Shut up."

Okay, so she wasn''t exactly the model girlfriend. But as a grin began to tug at Hiro's lips, Ayaka could care less about her inexperience in the comforting department. Hiro was grinning and that meant she'd said the right thing.

"It's just that he was smiling the whole time I was there and ... not once did they reach his eyes." Hiro looked at her with imploring eyes, begging her to understand what he was trying to convey. "He's running from something or someone, Ayaka. I just know it."

Not good. "You're worrying me."

"Not more than I'm worrying myself," Hiro replied, as he motioned for her to look at his monitor. "Take a look at this."

Ayaka recognized the file system immediately. "You checked into his background?" she asked, her eyes gazing upon Shuichi Shindou's picture for the first time. Lord, look at those eyes. Crap ... He's cuter than me.

Hiro nodded in response and pointed a finger at a particular paragraph. "Read."

Ayaka was already halfway down the paragraph. "So he's an orphan and a runaway."

Hiro looked at her. "Just like me."

Ayaka swallowed, shifting her gaze back onto the monitor. "Looks like he's been on his own since he was about sixteen." She looked at Shindou's birth date. He's twenty-two. Same as Hiro. God, he's been on his own for so long.

Thinking of the life Shindou must have lived since the tragic death of his family tugged at Ayaka's heart. She looked at the boy's picture again and wondered sorrowfully how he'd survived so many years on the streets. Ayaka looked over at Hiro and her chest tightened in pain ... She had an idea. He's the same as you, isn't he love? That's why you're so upset.

"I was thinking about showing this to Yuki."

Ayaka's eyes widened in surprise. "You are? Since when? You never share anything with Yuki unless the man has you by the ..." Ayaka paused, already blushing.

Hiro smiled, a familiar light once again shining within his beautiful blue eyes. "Balls?"

Ayaka cleared her throat, lifting her chin a bit. How crude! "Privates." So there.

Hiro chuckled and Ayaka was actually overjoyed to have her vulgar boyfriend back again. Jesus Christ.

"You're right. I usually don't. But, I think I should make an exception this time." Hiro shook his head. "Yuki's a 'Grade-A' bastard Ayaka. He's going to be a total asshole toward the kid."

"Oh, I don't----"

"Who are you trying to kid?" Hiro interrupted her. "This is Yuki we're talking about."

Weell ... Ayaka shook her head. "Maybe so, but you didn't see him this morning, Hiro. Shindou's presence is affecting him."

Hiro looked at her with disbelieving eyes and Ayaka glared at him. As her fiancÉÉ, he should have more faith in her intuition, dammit. She let out a frustrated breath. Yuki is interested in Shindou. He is. I just know it. Why couldn't her bonehead of a boyfriend realize that? Because he's a man, that's why. Poor idiot.

She was about to reem into Hiro for being such a dolt when a sudden thought occurred to her. "Hiro?"

Clicking the mouser, his attention already back on the screen, Hiro replied distractedly, "Yeah?"

"You said Shindou was running from something or someone."

Hiro looked at her with knowing eyes, nodding in response.

Ayaka tensed. "How bad is it?"

Hiro shifted his gaze back onto the monitor and clicked the mouser once again. Ayaka followed his gaze as a picture of a handsome dark haired man popped onto the screen.

"Naoko Murao," she stated out loud as she read the name posted at the end of the picture. "Who is he?"

Hiro kept his eyes locked onto the screen. "There's no way that Shuichi could've avoided being brought into a gang or an organization for this long. More than likely he was initiated into one or the other his first year out on the streets."

Ayaka was getting worried again as Hiro's voice became harder and deeper with each sentence.

"Around here, this guy is the number one asshole."

Ayaka paled. "You mean a crime boss."

Hiro nodded. "Yeah. He runs the show. Which means that Shuichi more than likely belongs to him."

What? Belongs? "He's not a piece of property Hiro."

Hiro looked at her then, his eyes cold and deadly serious, making Ayaka shut up instantly. This wasn't her Hiro. The look in her lover's eyes didn't belong to the man she loved -- cherished above all else and she shivered. She was looking into Hiroshi's eyes; the eyes of the man who had succeeded in destroying the lives of hundreds of government officials with one click of a button with absolutely no remorse.

"That's where you're wrong, Ayaka. Shuichi is exactly that. Property," Hiro stated defiantly. "Once you're integrated into an organization nothing short of death can get you out of it. And believe me, Shuichi belongs to one. More than likely to Murao's being that he was working the area around here."

"How did you surmise that?" she asked, once again reminded of how much of a genius Hiro really was.

Hiro glared at the picture on the screen. "I had Suguru play today's tapes. I heard Yuki's conversation with Tatsuha ---- about how he picked Shuichi up last night."

Ah, Suguru Fujisaki, an eighteen year old genius who, despite Yuki's threats, kept all of the phones in the building tapped. Whether the kid was paranoid or just a plain nosey ass, Suguru had the place wired at all times with the best equipment he could get his hands on. For once, the black haired youth's baffling habit had panned out.

"Yuki was by the park," Hiro continued. "And from what I've read in the guy's file, that's a hot spot for Murao's people."

"Shit," she cursed, unable to hold back the expletive.

"Shit is right," agreed Hiro.

"This is why you want to talk to Yuki. You're afraid this Murao person's going to find Shuichi."

Hiro eyed her grimly.

Ayaka's eyes widened slightly in comprehension.

Shit.

[ "Why are you doing this?" he implored as his arms were twisted painfully behind him. A pair of expressionless honey-brown eyes stared back at him from across the way. Eyes that no longer held the warmth of the man he'd respected and cherished. The brown orbs were now looking at him with cold disdain. Eiri couldn't help but shiver at the malicious hatred being directed toward him.

"You really are a fool, aren't you Eiri?"

Yellow-green eyes widened as a gun was raised into the air, cocked and already taking aim. No, his mind whispered. No, this couldn't be happening.

"You see my dear Eiri. You've taken too much of an interest in Mr. Tamura's dealings. In doing so, you've become a nuisance that must be eliminated."

Eiri's confused eyes narrowed, even as fear crawled up his spine. "What do you have to do with Tamura?" he asked angrily. "Answer me, dammit!" His arms were suddenly raised higher over his back by the bastard holding him and Eiri gasped in pain.

A grin curved the other man's lips. "Well, since you'll be dead soon, I'll grant you your final wish by telling you that," the grin widened, "I work with Tamura."

"What?" Eiri asked hoarsely, his eyes widening in astonishment. It was a lie. A goddamn lie!

The brown haired man chuckled, apparently amused by Eiri's stunned face. "I'm his partner, actually. The same partner you've been trying to track down these past few months."

Tamura's silent partner!

Eiri pulled at his arms, trying to free himself. Suddenly, his legs were kicked from under him and he was thrown onto the floor, his face scraping against the concrete floor. He hissed as weight came down on him, holding him in place with his arms still locked behind his back. Pain shot through him but Eiri didn't cry out. He would be damned if he allowed the faceless prick holding him down to get the satisfaction he was surely seeking.

"I've been careful," his former mentor continued, still holding the gun in his direction. "Very careful in keeping my identity a secret. For years, I've managed to avoid discovery, always staying head of those foolish enough to try to find me ... Until now."

The man walked closer, footsteps echoing along the floor, and Eiri gritted his teeth. He was helpless, unable to move away from the man whom he had loved like a father, the man who was about to kill him without remorse.

How could it have all been a lie? Had his teacher, his idol always hidden himself behind a mask of deceit? Had all of the gentleness, the kindness, the love he had been shown by this man been false? Had it all been a game, a trick to keep him at bay, completely unaware of the truth?

"Damn you," Eiri rasped as the heel digging into his arms pressed into him even harder. He winced and gritted his teeth, his gaze never losing sight of the man approaching him slowly. "How could you do this? How could you betray the principles you swore to uphold?"

The brown haired man smirked as he kicked Eiri in the ribs. Eiri nearly choked on the cry threatening to explode into the darkened room as pain spiked along his side, escalating with his every breath. Shit.

"Principles? What good are your so called principles when they give you 'nothing' in return for your loyalty?"

Another kick to his side had Eiri curling into himself, coughing and trying to catch his breath; the restraining hold over his arms having released him on impact.

"Principles have no meaning for me."

Eiri grimaced as a hand grabbed him by the hair and pulled his head up, yanking on the golden tresses with little mercy. Eiri looked up with pain filled eyes and swallowed as the gun was placed directly onto his forehead.

"Eiri, Eiri …… How I wished it wouldn't have to come to this." His mentor sighed. "You were quite useful to me. I had even hoped to bring you into the organization one day."

"What?"

"I trained you with only one purpose in mind. For you to become my protege. My heir. But unfortunately for the both of us, you developed a sense of morality that even my influence couldn't bend. You became what I hate the most."

Eiri couldn't move, could hardly breathe as his world began to shatter around him. He had been used, used by the man who had meant everything to him.

The gun was suddenly removed from his forehead but Eiri no longer cared. The anger that had been burning within him but a moment ago was now slowly fading …… just like his world.

"I gave up on you long ago, Eiri and I was merely in wait for the right opportunity to kill you. Kill you for being such a disappointment to me."

Eiri's heart clenched in pain. Disappointment? Everything he'd ever done had been for 'him'. Everything! Eiri winced as the hands buried within his hair pulled at him yet again.

"Oh, Eiri. My beautiful Eiri," the older man whispered into his ear, as the cold metal of a gun ran along his cheek making Eiri shiver in disgust. "You could have become so much more. But," his mentor sighed woefully, "such is the cruel twist of Fate."

Stars exploded before his eyes as something hard struck the side of his face, causing him to fall on his back. Eiri could feel what had to be blood oozing a crimson path along his cheek as he tried to push himself onto his elbows. But before he was able to manage it, another hard kick was delivered to his side. His mouth opened in a silent cry as agony swept through him, gripping him in a tight vise, threatening to consume him.

Dammit, he swore silently. He wasn't about to die here. Not now. Not like this. Ignoring the pain flooding into his battered body, Eiri moved slowly, reaching with his fingers for the small retractable knife hidden beneath his wrist watch, his clouded eyes still locked onto the man who had betrayed him.

"It's time now, Eiri. You'll not stand in my way any longer."

Eiri's heart rammed against his chest as he saw the cold glint of the gun now rising once again to take aim. Shit! Move now! his mind screamed.

Faster than he could've thought possible in his current condition, Eiri opened the retracted knife, lengthening its form and quickly threw it in the direction of the gun. The weapon shot off, resounding along the walls as the bullet went wild; the knife now embedded into the barrel of the gun.

Curses filled the air as chaos erupted.

Eiri sprung forward and tripped the man who'd held him down. A gun clattered onto the ground next to him and Eiri picked it up just as he saw his mentor once again taking aim.

"Stop!" he yelled shakily. "Don't make me fire, Yuki!"

Yuki's eyes narrowed, even as a wicked grin curved his lips. Eiri heard the ominous click of a gun being cocked and he felt his heart begin to shatter.

Why? Why had it come to this?

Two guns fired simultaneously, their explosive release lighting the darkened room briefly. It was in that instant that Eiri's life changed forever.

Eyes shaking with emotion, watery and stunned, watched in horror as Yuki Kitazawa crumpled to the ground, lifeless and bloody. The trembling hand holding the still smoking gun lowered into Eiri's lap as he stared sightlessly at his mentor's dead body. All around him time stilled as he watched in detached fascination as the other man's blood began to pool on the floor.

"Eiri!" a voice called out to him, distant and hardly discernable through the darkness descending upon him.

What ... Who was calling him? Pulling him out of the blessed void he was falling into?

"It's okay, Eiri. It's okay."

Ryuichi? Ryuichi was calling him.

He felt a pair of strong arms wrap themselves around him just as he heard a scream pierce through the deafening silence, a scream full of agony and despair. It took him a moment to realize ... that it was him.

He was screaming.

Screaming ... ]

"Yuki?"

Eyes began to flutter as consciousness returned.

"Yuki?"

Yuki's eyes snapped open; the hesitant voice calling out to him bringing him back from the nightmare that had for the past five years haunted him. Shit, I fell asleep.

He and Shuichi had eaten the simple pasta dish he'd made in an uncomfortable silence. Afterwards, he'd come directly into his office in order to get his mind off of the distracting brunette. But now as he sat in his seat, sort of dazed, his mind was a blank from there on.

His name was once again spoken, this time accompanied by a soft knock and Yuki turned his head toward the closed door.

"Yuki? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he snapped, harsher than he'd intended. He grimaced and ran a hand through his golden locks. "I'm fine," he repeated, his tone a bit more gentle.

"I heard you ... Are you sure you're okay?"

Yuki's eyes widened. Had he ... Fuck! He sighed and rose from his chair. Running a hand over his face, he reached out and opened the door to his office.

His heart rammed into his chest and his insides clenched as he was once again struck down by Shuichi's beauty. Emotions that had been set off my his nightmare flared once again as Shuichi looked at him with concerned yet wary eyes.

Damn.

"I'm sorry ... I didn't mean to----"

"Be quiet," Yuki whispered as he gently pushed Shuichi back against the wall behind him.

Unable to hold back the need now coursing through him freely, Yuki raised his hand and slowly traced Shuichi's soft cheek. Violet eyes stared at him, wide and full of an emotion Yuki couldn't quite discern as he brought his lips a mere inch away from Shuichi's parted ones.

"Yuki?" Shuichi whispered hesitantly.

"Shut up," Yuki whispered in return just before his mouth descended.

Lips met in a passionate kiss, purging all coherency from Yuki's mind.

He buried his hand within Shuichi's reddish brown hair and lost himself to the heat emanating between them, completely unaware that this would be the beginning of his destiny's unfolding.

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