Unlocking My Love

Author: JadeHeart
Fandom: Gravitation
Warnings: bad language
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this, they belong to the creator of ‘Gravitation’.


Unlocking My Love: Chapter 14

“Yuki!”

He turned and was surprised to see Shuichi standing at the kerb, waving. He finished lighting his cigarette before picking up his bag and walking over to where his partner waited.

“Thought you said someone else would be collecting me,” he commented as he reached Shuichi. “What are you doing here?”’ He suddenly stopped, eyeing the vehicle. “Don’t tell me you’re driving?!” He couldn’t keep the horror out of his voice. Shuichi’s prior attempts at driving had never ended well and Yuki had sworn that he would never be a passenger to his diver as long as he was alive. If he did, living would be exactly the problem!

Shuichi grinned at him. “Nah, don’t panic. We’ve got a driver! Get in,” he motioned.

Yuki tossed his bag in the trunk and slipped into the back seat next to Shuichi, who was still grinning broadly at him. Their driver was separated from them by a pane of glass with a small sliding panel built into it. He also noticed there was an intercom system for if the passenger required to speak to the driver. Pretty flash. But then again, he wouldn’t have expected anything less. Tohma Seguchi made certain that NG Productions had the best of everything.

“So are you surprised? I thought it would be nice to meet you in person.” Shuichi was saying. “We’d finished up earlier than I expected so there didn’t seem much point sending someone else.”

“So how was it?” Yuki asked, puffing on his cigarette. The faint whirr of the air conditioning sucked the pollutant away efficiently, leaving almost nothing behind as the faint lemon freshener scent almost completely over-rode any lingering aroma.

“What? The concert?” Shuichi looked surprised at his interest, but his smile soon returned. “Great!” he exclaimed, his eyes lit with remembered excitement. “Opening nights can really go either way; a total flop with nothing coming together, to just mind blowing. So much depends on the people. Tonight though was really good and the crowd just fantastic! You should have heard the screams!”

Oh, Yuki could imagine that part easily enough. Especially if Shuichi had been wearing his new ‘look’. Leather, bare muscular skin and fake tattoos were a turn on for most people, no matter how much they might try to deny it. Anyway, it was for him!

In a matter of moments they had reached the hotel and Yuki followed Shuichi through the wide doors swished open as they approached and greeted by a doorman in a dashing uniform that had been pressed to within an inch of its life.

“You don’t need to bother about checking in.” Shuichi said, taking them past the reception area. “I’ve already let them know you’re going to be here with me and given them your name and details. The cost is going to be picked up by NG anyways.” Shuichi grinned a little evilly. “I didn’t think Tohma would mind since it’s you!”

“Huh.” was Yuki’s only response. Stuff what Tohma minded anyway, he wasn’t about to leave now!

They went up the lift in silence, Yuki using this moment to look Shuichi over. He was looking good, as usual. He had that glow about him that he always had after a show, the eyes were always much brighter and the grin much wider. Playing live seemed to bring out another layer of Shuichi’s more than exuberant energy and it usually took a while for it to dissipate. Of course, in the past he had been more than able to take advantage of that state. He had soon discovered that Shuichi was far, far more sensitive and passionate during this time, not to mention that his stamina levels went up. Although Yuki had never admitted it to him, more than one time he had been close to exhaustion from a session with Shuichi after a concert. It was just lucky that he’d been able to satisfy his younger partner enough that he was content to just go and watch tv or play video games to expunge the last of any residue of that energy!

However, on the other side, he couldn’t help but feel almost constantly surprised as he continued to grapple with this more matured and even organised Shuichi. He seemed nothing like his usually idiotic self now and that was something that Yuki still found slightly unnerving.

He waited as Shuichi unlocked the door and waved him inside, following after. Looking around the spacious suite laid out before him, taking noted of the plush décor, it now made sense why Shuichi had extended the invitation to him. The place was huge!

He made his way over to the second bed which didn’t have clothes of all types strewn over it and set his bag down on the cover.

“If you want to smoke you can do so on the balcony.” Shuichi said. He looked a little apologetic. “This is a non smoking room, sorry.”

“That’s fine,” Yuki said, even as he made a bee-line for the balcony door. He really did want another cigarette. The one in the car hadn’t lasted long enough and he needed to keep himself occupied and calm his racing pulse now that he was here.

“Do you want a drink?” Shuichi called out from inside the room.

“Yeah, a beer,” he answered, lighting up.

Shuichi join him a moment after, holding out a beer, a second in his hand for himself. “Here you go,”

“Thanks,” Yuki accepted.

“So what are your plans while you are here?” Shuichi asked, leaning on the railing.

Yuki glanced over at him. “Nothing in particular,” He took a swallow of his drink. “What about you?”

“Well, tomorrow morning we’ve got a post-concert meeting,” Shuichi grimaced. “It’s standard practice just to go over how it went. We may make some technical changes and if necessary rehearse a bit as well so I may not have a lot of free time before the concert that night.”

“Hmm,”

“But we could maybe still do something!” Shuichi said hurriedly. “Something that won’t take too long or stuff.”

“It’s no big deal.” Yuki replied, taking a drag on his cigarette.

“Don’t…you want to do anything now?” Shuichi asked in a small voice.

Yuki mentally slapped himself and tried to think of what to say which wouldn’t be misinterpreted, and preferably didn’t sound so sickenly mushy that he would want to throw up!

“I meant, that if you were busy, we can do something some other time. I understand that you’ve got a job to do and that comes first.”

“Oh,” Shuichi’s face cleared and his voice brightened once more. “Oh, okay. Well, there are quite a few things to do around Osaka. I don’t know what you’ve seen before.” He looked questioning over at Yuki.

Yuki thought back and realised that he probably hadn’t seen many of the normal sights of the town. He had never been one for crowds so the usual attractions held no appeal to him, and to be honest, most of the things were better enjoyed with company and not on your own.

“I really haven’t had the opportunity to look around much myself,” he told Shuichi. “So probably anywhere would be okay. Within reason.” He couldn’t help but add, dreading to think that Shuichi would haul him off to a drag queen show or something equally bizarre.

“Really? Yeah, I guess you’re normally busy too if you’re visiting here.” Shuichi’s smile spread widely. “That just means there’re heaps of things to choose from! Are you sure there isn’t anything special that you might like to see?”

Yuki stubbed out the cigarette and let it fall from the balcony, disappearing in the darkness on its descent to the ground. “I said no, didn’t I?” he growled. “You think of something and just let me know.”

“Okay, okay! Just don’t complain about what I choose!”

Shuichi then suddenly yawned. “Sorry,” he said sheepishly. “Guess I’m a little tired.”

Yuki could see his eyes beginning to get that slightly glazed look which meant that sleep was not far away. It was really quite adorable, even appearing on this more mature person.

“So am I, so why don’t we call it a day?” he said, amending what he had been going to say. It had sounded wrong to ask Shuichi if he wanted to go to bed – that just had way too many connotations attached to it at the moment!

“You can stay up if you want to,” Shuichi said, smothering another yawn. “It won’t keep me awake.”

“It’s fine. It’s been a long day for me as well.” Yuki replied, turning and heading inside.

Shuichi locked the balcony door behind them although Yuki couldn’t imagine what they would have to worry about being on the 20th floor so who the hell was going to be trying to sneak through their windows?!

“Do you want to take a shower?” Shuichi asked. “I’ve already had one so you can help yourself.”

“Yeah, I will.” A cold shower might be well and truly in order, though firstly he was going to have to get something else out of the way so he didn’t feel like he was going to burst. He’d been able to keep his desire in check up to now but it had been more than a little difficult and he knew that spending the night so close to Shuichi in this way was only going to make it more uncomfortable. So he intended to take things in hand and get it over with now so hopefully his dreams would not be too disturbed. Or worse, he tried to jump Shuichi again!

He rummaged through his bag and gathered his toiletries and change of clothing, then headed for the door leading to the bathroom that Shuichi had indicated.

If he had thought that all the space had gone to making the other rooms as large as what they were, he had been wrong. The bathroom was equivalent in size; a large spa bath taking up one corner with enough seating for eight, a double shower stretched across the other wall, mirrors stretched from the top of the double bench vanity to the ceiling. He almost expected there to be mirrors on the ceiling also and couldn’t stop himself from looking up to check. No, thankfully.

As he made his way towards the shower, the plush mats soft under his feet, the gleaming tiles showing his distorted reflection, he couldn’t stop his racing thoughts. If he had hoped that by coming here he would be able to calm them he was being sadly disabused. This room generated far too many fantasies, almost more than he could cope with. The shower was more than large enough for two people, no matter what they were trying to do. The vanity bench was just the right height to sit someone on it and he could either be kneeling before them or doing something far more intense. The fact of the mirrors alone was enough to add further excitement to his dream images as he could imagine being able to see Shuichi’s naked form from all directions at once.

Although the spa bath could seat a number of people all he could think of was that it was certainly large enough for the two of them and the thought of being able to wrap himself around Shuichi entirely, their bodies buoyant in the water was quite intoxicating.

He remained standing where he was for a moment longer, frozen in place as he gazed at the bath. The best image that came to mind was Shuichi in there alone, floating, bath foam thick over the surface of the water with just tantalising glimpses of bare flesh now and then as an arm was lifted or a leg was raised.

Then Shuichi standing and the foam clinging to his body slowly sliding down his limbs, leaving glistening trails behind on every portion of exposed skin. Ah, what a vision that was!

He forced himself from his immobilised state and almost staggered to the shower, turning it on quickly. He almost turned it directly to cold but instead left it as a pleasant warmth and stepped under it as soon as it was ready.

He closed his eyes and leant forward with one hand against the tiles before him as support and then proceeded to swiftly give himself relief. It didn’t take long. Under any other circumstances he would have been embarrassed at such a lack of control but he wasn’t here trying to impress anyone or prove anything. He just needed the release and he had needed it desperately.

He leant there for a moment after the final shudder had subsided. His thoughts were too often filled with Shuichi, and too many of them were sexually charged. Yuki knew that he was a sexual creature. He had used sex has an emotional crutch for a long, long time, a way of feeling something, anything during a time in his life when he was no longer in touch with his normal feelings. That brief fleeting moment during climax where he could actually ‘feel’ something was just that – brief and fleeting. It never lasted beyond the finale.

Until he had begun to have sex with Shuichi. Then that feeling had kept lasting longer and longer afterwards until it had spilt over into his entire life and permeated his every waking moment until he could no longer live without it. He wanted to have that back.

He took a deep breath and cleaned himself up, washing quickly. He didn’t want Shuichi to start wondering what he was taking so long for and beginning to get worried or anything. He had to make certain that he maintained his calm and gave Shuichi no indication that he was going to lose control again. No matter how difficult it was on him.

He retuned to the bedroom to see Shuichi stripped down to nothing but boxers, pulling back the covers of the bed. His heart skipped a beat as he noticed the scars that he hadn’t seen before. The winding one stretching from those on the neck that he had noticed in Quebec and now could see ran down his back. As Shuichi moved he saw the white and red puckered mark spreading across his stomach also. Letting his eyes move downwards he saw the long thin scar running down Shuichi’s leg, final proof of that injury that he had only noticed previously from his occasional limp.

His chest tightened, almost hurting as he took in all the harm that had been inflicted upon this small form before him. None of these denoted minor injuries. They would have been deep and painful and would have hurt. No, they would have been agony and Shuichi had had to live with that. Live with it and survive it.

And he’d had to do it on his own. Yuki could barely comprehend how he could have done it. Completely alone and in such pain with no-one there to hold him, to reassure him, and wipe away his tears. Yuki almost wept then himself, cried for the pain that Shuichi had had to suffer, cried for the fact that he hadn’t been able to be with him at that time.

Shuichi noticed that he had returned to the room, starting a little in surprise. “Oh, I didn’t see you there!”

He reached out and picked up a tank top, slipping it over his head. Although it didn’t hide all the scars it did block from view the worst on his back and stomach. Yuki guessed that Shuichi was probably a little self-conscious of them after all although his movements hadn’t been particularly hurried. He forced himself to keep walking, pretending as though he had seen nothing out of the ordinary.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” he muttered, clearing his own bed and turning down the covers.

“You didn’t take that long,” Shuichi replied. He smiled as he bounced onto the mattress. “I hope you’ll find the bed comfortable,” he said, pulling the covers up. “It’s a little harder than you like.”

Yuki sat and bounced a little. Shuichi was right. Usually he did like it softer but it wouldn’t be unbearable.

He laid back, tucking hands behind his head, looking up at the ceiling. Not that it was a particularly interesting ceiling, he was just trying to think of what to say. As usual, Shuichi beat him to it.

“Thanks for taking the time to come down,” Shuichi said.

Yuki turned his head to look over at the other occupant of the room. Shuichi lay on his side, looking his way.

“Not a problem,” he said a little uncomfortably. “Thanks for the invite.”

“Not a problem,” Shuichi mimicked him with a smile. He yawned then widely, showing gleaming white teeth.

“Shut up and go to sleep,” Yuki told him.

Shuichi stuck his tongue out and wriggled a little, obviously getting more comfortable. He yawned again.

“Then turn off the lights,” he said, closing his eyes. “You were the last one in bed. You know the rule.”

Yuki glared at him. It had been a rule they had had, only because he made absolutely certain that he was always the first in bed so Shuichi was forced to get the lights. Unless he was up doing an all-nighter with his writing. But when they were heading to bed together, Yuki made certain that rule was enforced.

Now the damn idiot was calling him out on it!

“I am the guest,” he growled. “Which means it is your job to get the lights!”

Shuichi opened his eyes. “Hey, you said that you were thinking of coming down anyway, so if I hadn’t agreed to it you wouldn’t have been a guest but an uninvited interloper. So you should get the lights!”

Yuki sat up. “That is the most stupid thing I’ve ever heard! Only a moron would come up with that?!”

“And only a jerk would have thought up the rule in the first place!” Shuichi snapped sitting up also.

They glared at each other across the space separating the two beds, covers rumpled around their waists.

“Why you….” Yuki began, and then was cut off as a pillow came sailing through the air and caught him full in the face.

“Wha……!!!!!” He sat there stunned for a moment, the pillow now resting in his lap as he stared at the red-faced Shuichi as he tried to muffle the laughter and only succeeding in making him snort in his mirth. That damn brat had just thrown a pillow at him!

He swiftly picked it up, returning it in kind, and quickly following it up with a second snatched from his own bed. The first caught Shuichi on the top of his bowed head, the second directly in the face when he looked up in surprise at the return volley.

“Hey!” The pillows returned to Yuki’s side of the room, only to be flung back with now a third added. On the returned journey they now numbered four and Yuki managed to capture them all with no sufferance and lobbed them back at Shuichi as one large mass instead of individuals.

The younger man looked for a moment like he’d been buried under a cave-in of while blocks from which he erupted with a growl and suddenly the pillows began to fly in earnest.

Yuki hadn’t realised when he started laughing. He wasn’t laughing uproariously the way Shuichi was, hiccups and snorts punctuating the sound. No, his laughter was more of a quiet chuckle. He refused to consider that it sounded sinister in any way, despite the fact that it even gave himself a little bit of a weird feeling doing it.
Finally, the pillow fight stopped. More due to the lack of ammunition than intention to cease the battle, as the pile of white shapes littered the floor between them with not a single one surviving on the beds they had been intended for.

Shuichi threw himself onto his back, still laughing, a broad smile on his face. He reached up to wipe the tears of laughter from his face.

“Oh, man,” he said, still chuckling. “That feels so good!” He looked over at Yuki. “I can’t believe that you just had a pillow fight! Hardly goes with your suave, cool romance novelist image!”

Yuki scowled. “It was only because you started it!” he defended.

Shuichi rolled his eyes and then, without getting out of bed, reached to the floor and snagged a pillow, bringing it back to his bed. “Well, now I really am ready to go to sleep. That was damn hard work!”

Yuki copied his actions and pulled two pillows up, settling them where he wanted before lying down. “I’m still not turning the lights off.” he stated, closing his eyes to make it quite clear.

He heard Shuichi’s quiet chuckled. “You don’t have to,” he said, and then a click plunged the room into darkness. “The controls are right here.”

Yuki suppressed a quiet snort of humour. Damn idiot had deliberately tried to rile him. All to just have a pillow fight!

He rolled over to his side, looking over to where Shuichi lay. In the darkness all he could make out was a slight bump in the bed, nothing more. He felt his lips still curved in a smile. Ah, well, it was a good pillow fight, he thought.

And he was sure that he had won.