Sugar Cane

Disclaimer: I do not own Gravitation.


Sugar Cane
By 11


Chapter 09

“Hey, is this a bad time?”

“What do you think, K?” Ryuichi almost hissed into the receiver, thankfully Shuichi being out of hearing distance of the phone.

“Ah, so sorry,” K sounded apologetic and then it sounded like someone grabbed the phone away.

“Hey! Ryuichi? Where are you and Shuichi? We lost you at the theater, what happened? You guy’s okay?” Geez did this guy ask a lot of questions… dang did he and Shuichi have something he was unaware of?

“Yeah we’re fine, we couldn’t find you either, we’re at my place right now watching a movie,” he wanted to bite back this last part, but if he didn’t ask it’d be suspicious and the guy would probably ask anyway, or barge over unexpected. “You guys can come on over here if you want, how far away are you?”

The phone was grabbed back. A yelp of ‘hey, I was using that!’ was heard by Shuichi’s friend and K was back on the line.

“We’re not that far, we’ll be there in just a bit, okay? Cool see you soon,” K said cheerily. Ryuichi barely had time to respond before the connection ended.

He heard Shuichi enter the room behind him. “Who was it Ryuichi?” he asked, all too innocently for what he had been so close to doing just a couple of minutes ago. D@mn freaking phone!

“Hiro and K are coming over in a little bit,” Ryuichi told him truthfully putting the phone back on receiver and turning to face the other boy with a grin. Shuichi looked at him confused when he put a finger to his lips in the universal sign for silence.

“Our little secret,” Ryuichi told Shuichi simply, “You can’t tell anyone about the games we play, it’s a special secret between two friends.”

“Oh, yeah!” Shuichi nodded, that much he understood, a secret between friends, sure.

The knock on the door came sharp and loudly three times. K wasn’t kidding; they really weren’t far. The knocked came again after a moment more persistently. Ryuichi headed for the door.

“Hiro… I already knocked no need to start banging like that,” K said when Ryuichi opened the door, Hiro nearly tumbling in having plastered himself and his pounding fist to the freaking door.

Possessive much?

There was definitely something going on between those two he didn’t know about. He’d have to get K to do some snooping if the gunman hadn’t done so already.

“Oh hey Ryuichi,” Hiro greeted, and Shuichi followed around the corner into the entry way, “Shuichi, hey you okay.”

“Yeah, we were just watching a movie,” the violet-eyed boy told his friend with a smile, the music video still going somewhere in the background on the apartment.

“Another one?” Hiro asked, “you’ll rot your brains that way you know.” Shuichi turned his head to the side in a mock pout.

The auburn-haired youth gave a glance over at Ryuichi. Shuichi wasn’t hurt, he said nothing was wrong, and from the looks of it nothing had happened, that managed to put the guitarist at rest for the moment.

“Either way, we need to get home, it’s getting later,” Hiro said shaking his head at his friend who followed him out the door, “we’ll see you guys later, Ryuichi, K.”

“Sure, see you!” Ryuichi said as he and K waved after them.

“You sure nothing happened over there?” Hiro asked after they were out of view and certainly earshot of Ryuichi’s apartment complex.

“Of course Hiro, what would have happened?” Shuichi gave his friend a quizzical look. Hiro shook his head.

“Never mind,” Hiro said. He had been foolish for that, how could anything have happened? After all Ryuichi and Shuichi, they were way too alike, probably sat excitedly chatting about whatever film they were watching or otherwise discussing miscellaneous and more-or-less unimportant things.

Silly.

Just silly…

`

“But all of this is unimportant now,” Said Shuichi jovially as he dumped all his books in his locker after a day of school. “Because it’s the end of the week and starting this Saturday is spring break! That means Yacht Party!”

“With your sworn enemy, remember?” Hiro reminded the hyperactive boy.

“I don’t care, I’m going to a party on a yacht, that’s still the coolest thing to happen all year… well next to a lot of amazing stuff that happened this term… I have a list. Want to hear it?”

“No, let me guess. Starting your own band, meeting Ryuichi Sakuma, getting a gig, and winning the talent show?” Hiro asked. “Not necessarily in that order.”

“Yup but you forgot one,” Shuichi aid grinning as he finished putting the padlock on his locker and heading down the hall to the glass doors.

“What was that?” Hiro asked arching an eyebrow, which one could he have possibly missed?

“Finding my wonderful guitarist and convincing him to start my band with me,” Shuichi said his wildly foolish grin sliding into a slightly more comfortable almost smirk. It surprised Hiro for a moment but was gone almost before he noticed it was there. Maybe he had imagined that.

“See you at the party then Hiro!” Shuichi said bounding off down the road, while Hior headed in the other direction. He had cram school tonight, so he couldn’t walk the way with Shuichi, as he had after ASK attacked him.

They hadn’t been seen around for a while either. Idly he wondered if they’d even be and the yacht party as well. Oh well, the entire reason he was going was to protect Shuichi, so if they were there he would be safe.

`

Well it was now official; this was the most whacked out party Yuki Eiri had even had. Which was really odd, since he’d given several parties several of which were very odd.

But with the noticeable mix of junior high and high school kids, Eiri just had to wonder how many of the junior high kids would be acting like delinquent high school kids by the time this week was over.

The cooing crowd of high school and several junior high girls crowded around in one area where a tall blonde with a gun stood shooing off the crowds from one Ryuichi Sakuma who was enjoying the banquet table. Good thing there was enough food there to sink the yacht, a wonder it stayed afloat really.

“Ah! Ryuichi-sama!” one cry rose above the rest. Yuki grimaced as he saw his brother trying to claw his way to the front of the pack, all the while declaring his undying love to the eating teenager.

Oh well, if he heard gunshots, it would probably be a good thing.

The crowd was pretty thick, but would have been much thicker if the ship was much smaller, this way it was bearable, sure several kids had to bunk together to all fit for the week, but no one was complaining so far.

But the most annoying thing so far… because of the masses he couldn’t find that Shindou kid anywhere!

`

Yes… it was an odd party, but it looked like fun! They had a karaoke machine in the corner, bit of a line though. A huge buffet table at the far end, and it looked like several groups had formed, some for games, some for trying to molest certain idols. Looking around though Shindou couldn’t help but smirk, not only could he not see Eiri anywhere in the crowd, but he couldn’t see his fandom sitting around him ooh-ing and ah-ing as per usual at school.

“Feeling any better now that we’re on deck, Hiro?” Shuichi asked looking back at his chagrined friend who had a hand over his stomach still looking a little sick. Ever since they got on the boat and it started on it’s four day cruise down the coast Hiro had come down with a terrible sea sickness, and it had been difficult to persuade him he’d feel better out on deck, then he’d have the fresh air.

The auburn-haired youth shook his head falling back to sit down in a, amazingly vacant chair, a hand to his head. “Want something from the buffet, punch?” Shuichi suggested. Hiro shook his head standing up.

“I’m fine, just needed to sit for a second,” Hiro told him looking around the deck, he actually felt worse out here, there was so much dang noise, and this horrible mesh of girls perfumes and food. It just made him even sicker to his stomach.

“If you say so Hiro,” Shuichi shrugged still giving him a look that said he knew Hiro wasn’t feeling all that good. Shuichi started heading towards the buffet table, typical. Hiro followed but when they reached the table the smell of the food was almost enough to make him retch right there.

He covered his mouth and groaned, the din of the crowd around them should have been enough to cover it but Shuichi heard it anyway. “Hiro, you sure you’re okay?” Shuichi looking back at him in alarm, wondering if the older boy was actually going to do on deck, here, what he’d been doing back in their room for the past few minutes. A stinking activity called emptying the gut.

“Maybe you should go back to the room, sorry to drag you out here, guess that just made it worse…” Shuichi said moving them away from the food smells, but back past that pack of girls so perfume was no clouding his lungs. Hiro nodded, and finding his feet moved them to start back down the hall to a comfy bed with a bucket he knew of.

“I’ll have to see you later, sorry Shuichi,” Hiro said apologetically as he moved away.

“That’s okay, it’s not your fault. I made you come out.” Shuichi assured him, “You’ll get to the room okay?”

“Yeah,” Hiro nodded not turning back from his single-minded goal of reaching bed and bucket. He vaguely heard Shuichi call back and okay and take care before he headed back to the party. Why anyone would want to be there was beyond him, but maybe that was just the seasickness talking…

`

The food wasn’t bad, Shuichi decided after taking a bite. Not the sandwiches anyway, nice selection too, though there didn’t seem to be much difference between, beef, cucumber, turkey, and ham. Poor Hiro, I feel so sorry for him getting sick on spring break. That’s gotta be tough. He mused taking a handful of the sandwiches before heading away from the crowding buffet table line.

Shuichi remembered that there were still some vacant chairs over by the side of the deck, he could pull one down and sit by the karaoke area to finish his sandwiches, then maybe get in line to sing. Over the chatter of the crowd he could hear one of Nittle Grasper’s songs being sung by someone, it was a brunette girl; he didn’t know her.

Turning back to face forward, he was a little late to avoid slamming into a person standing right in front of him, moving in the opposite direction. However, as Shuichi was not expecting this he soon found that his sandwiches had all fallen to the deck and a few were getting trampled on.

He frowned, he knew he should have wrapped them up in a napkin to hold them all together or something…

“Oh, sorry about that Shindou, I didn’t even realize you were there,” Shuichi’s frown increased, he knew that voice. Looking up he saw a familiar face, familiar, not friendly.

“Taki,” Shuichi muttered in recognition.

“Ah, so you remember me, that’s good I guess,” Taki said with an uneasy smile. The other boy did not return the friendly gesture. If Taki was onboard the yacht, than Ma-kun and Ken must be aboard somewhere too, even if not in the immediate area.

“What do you want?” Shuichi questioned after a moment, the start of a glare ebbing into his eyes.

“Hey, hey,” Taki said stepping away a little as he saw the dark look he was receiving, “I didn’t mean to bump into you, sorry. I’m also really sorry about the other time… a few days ago…”

Why do I feel a lack of sincerity Taki? Shuichi wondered still watching the other boy with mistrustful detest.

“No really,” Taki assured him seeing the skepticism on the other’s face. “I have no idea what got into my head, I just went crazy for a bit or something… I’m really sorry. I never meant for anything like that to happen. You’re not still smarting from it are you?”

Not as much as before… no thanks to you and the rest of ASK… Shuichi replied in his mind still not fully believing Taki’s words.

“Geez, just not talking to me huh?” Taki asked sighing slightly, “I’m sorry, don’t know what else to say really. Guess I’ll be going-”

“Okay everyone – it’s DDR so let’s turn up the volume!” it was that brunette girl, her song had finished and now she was putting on a CD list. All the people on the floor were starting to join in with the music meshing to their partners starting to dance to the loud techno rock music that had started to blare from the speakers as the volume was raised.

Shuichi put his hands over his ears, he could barely hear anything right now but the music, and sadly it was good music… just too dang friggin’ loud.

“Hey, come on, lets get outa this,” Taki said taking Shuichi by the arm to help drag them both out of the crowd. Even though he didn’t know if the other boy even heard him. “In here, this is my room.”

Shutting the door behind them Taki breathed a sigh of relief, the pounding rhythm of the music dulled by the walls and closed door. “What the heck are you doing?” Shuichi asked with a scowl rounding on the other boy.

“Yeah, sorry about that, I just wanted to get out of the noise,” Taki explained, “You can leave, I didn’t know you wanted to be out there in that mess.”

“I don’t…” Shuichi muttered turning away from the other boy looking over the room in front of him. A lot like his and Hiro’s actually, Taki looked like he was sharing his room with some guy who really likes video games and movies. One movie caught his attention straight away; the one that came out a few years ago and his mom wouldn’t let him see. The Matrix, supposedly one of the best movies of all time, from America with Japanese subtitles, this one was open and still looked to be in great condition.

“You like ‘The Matrix’ too, huh? Pretty good film, I loved it,” Taki said looking at the cover Shuichi had picked up from the shelf. “My bunk mate brought it and we got to see it when we were unpacking our stuff.”

Lucky you… Shuichi thought bitterly, his fingers consciously gripping the cover tighter.

“You wanted to see it?” Taki asked noticing the reaction.

“Uh… would that be okay?” Shuichi asked hopefully suddenly forgetting he was talking to the same guy who had almost beaten him to a bloody pulp a couple of days ago.

“Sure, my bunkmate’s pretty lenient and as long as we return it to it’s cover and stuff he should be okay with it,” Taki nodded, taking the DVD cover and taking it over the small TV and DVD player that the said bunkmate had brought along as well.

Shuichi sat down on a pillow he grabbed from one of the beds and sat down with a grin to watch the movie; from the beginning to the end the nonstop action was riveting. The mind games of the computer systems were diabolically evil and calculated to precision. Right until Neo finally defeated Agent Smith, leaving an anonymous message to the system that one day he would free all humanity, Shuichi’s eyes never left the screen.

“Pretty good, huh?” Taki asked as he pressed the eject button and put the DVD back in its case.

“Pretty good?” Shuichi repeated, “It was freaking awesome! I can’t believe my mom thought it was too violent, the best part was when they shot up the building lobby area, that was fantastic!”

“And then they go through the metal detectors with a ton of guns, if anyone actually ever did that they’d be so busted,” Taki said laughing at Shuichi’s animation.

“And learning kung fu through a computer program in only a few seconds, that would be so awesome to be able to actually do!” Shuichi exclaimed happily. If even a fraction of the Matrix world was reality, it would be the most awesome thing in the whole world.

Looking back at Taki, the guy didn’t seem so bad right now. Just talking; he seemed to have actually gotten over whatever it was he was mad about before. He was being a regular guy like him; it was kind of nice too, talking about movies and martial arts.

“Yeah, sorry to interrupt our fun Shuichi, but there was a reason for this,” Taki said standing up, Shuichi puzzled over that for only a moment before Taki opened the door. Five other guys Shuichi had never seen before entered the room, each more rough and thuggish looking than the next.

“Taki… you…” Shuichi started as he stood up, the glare returning to his eyes, to think in the last few minutes he had actually started to think this guy wasn’t so bad.

“Sorry Shuichi,” Taki said, but there was hardly anything apologetic about it. Those thugs had already blocked the only door. Seeing a small break Shuichi lunged forward trying to make it through that break, however seeing the movement the thugs’ arms went out and blocked his path, shoving him to the floor on his back.

“Tie him up,” Taki ordered in a dull voice. Shuichi’s back still hurt from the impact with the floor, and he offered little resistance when he was lifted by his arms and they were twisted around uncomfortably behind him and bound there. “Do with him what you want.” Taki told them as he took a seat to watch whatever it was these guys wanted to do with him.

“Taki you bastard! You’re insane!” Shuichi yelled glaring over at the older youth. The impact of a fist to the side of his face sent his head to the side, the sting of the flesh like a million tiny pinpricks that threatened to bleed, blood boiling to the surface turning the skin red.

“Better gag him,” Taki suggested, and one of the thugs took a thick cord of black cloth and tied it around Shuichi’s mouth, with some difficulty as the boy kept moving his head. This earned the violet-eyed boy another fist in the face, the same place at before. Shuichi wondered if they hit him enough if his cheekbone would break.

One of the thugs’ rough hands pushed against the underside of Shuichi’s chin, lifting his face to look at him. Dark beaded eyes scrutinized the pink-haired boy’s features; “He’s pretty. Girly.”

The guy smirked and dropped his hand, “Let’s take a look at the rest of you then.” He said lifting the younger boy’s shirt upwards. Shuichi set his jaw against the thick cord, the guy’s hand made its way up to his collarbone before ripping forward through his shirt.

Shuichi tried to shout out, but it came out muffled by the gag, he jerked against the guys standing holding him up by his bound arms, one lost their grip, but jerking the other way, the guy grabbed back onto him, a knee hit him in the back.

Taki watched the scene with mildly disinterested eyes. He didn’t know why he hated Shuichi so much, was it only because the other singer threatened what place could have been his? No, somehow this went deeper, he hated the other boy for what he was. For what he made him. It was true, even if the other didn’t know it; Shuichi made Taki a freak.

The boy jerked again in yet another attempt to break free of the older boy’s hold, needless to say in a five against one fight, he failed. A slap across the face and a fist in his gut was his effort’s reward before they let him fall back to the floor. A muffled yelp escaped around the gag when he hit the floor. The other boys gathering around him on the floor, finding some part of him to hold down hard enough to bruise. One of their hands undoing his shorts and pulling them away from his body.

Shuichi’s eyes had been shut tight, and he jerked against them again, trying again to get away, in a futile struggle that ended with the sound of struck flesh, leaving Shuichi’s skin red. He had already decided he wouldn’t cry, he wouldn’t give these bastards that much power over him, but he couldn’t help the cries of defeat and fear from starting to consume his mind. One thought, ‘help…’

But who would hear a cry in his mind? No one, Hiro had gone back to his room for the seasickness, there was no one else…


Opening the door to Taki Aizawa’s room Yuki’s disgust could not be kept from his face. He had heard from Ayaka after the DDR session that Shuichi had bumped into Taki and they had gone off somewhere. She also told him that Hiro had left when he started to turn green in the face.

That was odd, Hiro must have been pretty sick if he had to leave Shuichi, after all based on Ayaka’s intelligence the only reason that Hiro had come to the party was because Shuichi was there.

“Yuki Eiri…” one of the guys holding Shuichi’s shoulder said in surprise looking at the blonde in the doorway.

“What the hell do you want?” another asked. Yuki’s eyes narrowed at him, kneeling between Shindou’s legs, in the middle of pulling the boys lower clothing off.

“Get off my yacht.” Yuki ordered his voice low and cold. Taki sat frozen his eyes looking up at the blonde. The thugs all stood, but the one laughed.

“What are you talking about pretty boy, this is Tatsuha’s yacht,” the guy said.

“I am Yuki Eiri, Tatsuha’s brother. I said, get off my yacht.” Yuki ordered again golden eyes narrowing further.

“You better do it,” Taki said softly, as if not really speaking. The guys looked over at him.

“Weakling,” the young man snorted and threw a hay maker fist at his opponent. But it never contacted, Yuki ducked under the blow moving straight in, his own fist hitting under the other’s jaw throwing his head back, a snapping sound in his neck and a grunt.

With a knee to the stomach the blond knocked the guy out of the way, another fist flying into the face of the guy to his left. Turning delivered an elbow to the ribs of the guy that would then be behind him.

“I. Said. Get. Off. My. Yacht.” Yuki ordered pronouncing each single syllable word clearly and distinctly, “Can. You understand. The words… Coming out. Of my mouth!?”

The other two in the room went to their buddies; the one Yuki had punched after the lead thug managing to stagger up on his own, the group of five slowly edging around the irate blonde and out the door. Their heavy feet thudding as they ran down the hall, desperate cries to leave, stemming from fear of the madman they had fled from.

“Taki,” Yuki said with a slight smirk as he approached the sitting youth. Aizawa’s eyes were already dilating and he was shaking, his mouth slack, undeniable fear; and right now Yuki’s anger and hate fed on it.

“Get up.” He ordered. Taki gulped and stood slowly, his legs shaking, not fully stable to hold him up right without the wall behind him for support. Eiri only waited a moment before burying his fist in the other’s face. Taki stumbled away towards the door, falling down clutching his nose, blood seeping from the nostril.

“I want you and your crew off this boat in an hour, got it. I don’t want to even hear about you for the remainder of my break, understood?” Yuki commanded rather than asked. “Now I’m going to give you a piece of advice, because I’m a nice guy. If you don’t get out of this place or ever cross my path again, I’ll kill you painfully, dismember you, and then run my brother’s car over you for good measure.”

Taki only vaguely nodded before strength came to his legs and he darted away out of the room, the door still left open from when Yuki had opened it with a spare key. With the absence of the scum, Yuki breathed a moment, before turning back to the victim of Aizawa’s act.

From the looks of things they hadn’t fully been able to complete their plan. But Shuichi didn’t look good by any means. One side of his face swelled up and bright red from blows. Similar marks covered his arms, and ran across his stomach. His shirt was torn open, and his pants pulled down, he had turned on his side and was huddled into a half ball, his wrists marked by the ropes.

There was no movement in his except for the small rise and fall of his center as he breathed, long and pretty close to calm. Is it even possible the idiot had fallen asleep.

“Shindou?” Yuki questioned as he undid the ropes, and the gag at the back, turning the boy to face him. He pulled the gag away from his mouth and pulled his shorts as far up as they could come while he was still half laying on the floor.

The blonde sat back to allow the other the space to sit up, and pull on his shorts all the way. Gold eyes stayed on the red marks that covered his arms, and ran along his backside at well. He wanted to ask, ‘are you okay’ but he obviously wasn’t. What else was there to say?

It was a disgusting idea of what those guys were going to do, it was detestable what they did to him, even if they didn’t complete their whole plan. He was glad he’d gotten there in time, but since when was Shuichi Shindou always so quiet? Turning away he tried to concentrate on the dark room. It was slightly cool in here, and he could acutely feel the warmth emanating from the other boy seated just a few inches away. His right hand was on the carpet floor and Shuichi’s thigh was only a few inches away, his shoulder a little farther. Normally quiet didn’t bother him, but for some reason right now it did. A lot.

It would be simple to ask what was wrong, course that would include a lot of things. What did he want Shuichi to say anyway? The other shifted slightly a soft grunt as he rubbed against some bruise the wrong way. Yuki glanced over at him, the other boy looked almost as confused as Yuki felt, it would be easy also to reach out, wrap his arms around the other boy, then he could hold that warmth close. Maybe try and somehow comfort him about what almost happened, kiss away those bruises that marred his skin. But why would he?

He had no reason. Why did he even want to hug the kid? Wasn’t his whole plan before to beat up this guy?

“Thanks,” Shuichi said as Yuki finally stood up. “Really. I’m grateful that you stopped them. Sorry if I’m quiet right now.”

“I don’t want your thanks,” Yuki growled, he wanted Shuichi to… no wait what was he thinking? What did he want from this kid anyway. Looking back he saw the puzzled look on his face. “You’re just in my debt now.” Yuki explained a little more quickly than he’d intended, making it in his own ears sound almost like an excuse. He didn’t make excuses.

Shuichi snorted and stood up too, nothing he could do about his shirt now, he’d just have to go back to his and Hiro’s room and change. “Well still, thanks.”

Shuichi said offering the blonde a smile. Not one of the big goofy ones he so often had, it was softer, more genuine it seemed to Yuki. Far cuter than any of the others he had seen. But were any of them cute? Of course they weren’t. This train of thought was pointless, and Yuki stalked off down the halls.

Shuichi left only moments after. It seemed something had happened there at that place. Something unspoken, but still meaningful. They weren’t adversaries anymore. Were they friends? Neither were sure of that, but there was the one sure thing, they were no longer enemies.

`

“Yuki Eiri did what?”

Hiro’s outburst was expected, Shuichi himself had been very surprised by the blonde’s actions just a few minutes ago.

“Well… wow…” Hiro breathed laying back in his bed, the sleep had helped to get rid of the bulk of the sickness at least. “But it’s your own fault, you’re so foolish. I told you to watch out for that guy.”

“I know, it’s just odd when they’re suddenly being nice,” Shuichi said, “I don’t think we’ll be hearing from him again though.” Shuichi knew he should have been shocked and appalled at what he’d heard Yuki Eiri threatening, at what he had done to those boys, but he was also horrified by what those same boys might have done to him. Yuki wasn’t so bad. A little cold, and scary at times… but there was something about the guy. Something he couldn’t explain. Not that he could tell Hiro that, he probably wouldn’t understand, that or laugh at him and call him a fool again.

“It’s odd to think that guy helped you out, but I’m really glad you’re okay,” Hiro said reaching up and pulling Shuichi into a quick hug.

“Okay, stop, I don’t want to get sick too.” Shuichi laughed, before pulling away and starting up for his bunk on the top for sleep. His body felt so worn out but his mind felt like it was suddenly on a sugar high, is blood becoming nothing but glucose. And his own name repeated over and over in his head, his name said in such a gentle tone by his once enemy.

Hiro could hear Shuichi slip into a peaceful sleep, and that was expected it was now evening, almost seven thirty actually. But Hiro had napped all the afternoon and felt a little restless. This room was nice and warm, but even taking off the blankets didn’t make it any cooler. He could use some fresh air, it might bring back his sickness, but he wanted to get out for some air. It didn’t matter, if he did get sick again he’d come back and puke his guts out and then go back to sleep.

The journey out onto deck was fairly short, and it was marvelously vacant. The ocean breeze coming in from off the water, not a gale, just a breeze enough to cool his slightly fevered skin and fill his lungs with the salty smell. It was a clean smell, and the boat wasn’t rocking so much right now.

“Hiro, that you?”

Looking up onto the above deck Hiro saw the blonde youth above him leaning over the rail, his blue eyes seeming to almost glow in the dim light provided by the moon and stars. “K? What are you doing up?” Hiro asked as he started up the stairs to the second deck.

“I could ask you the same,” K returned.

“I couldn’t sleep, and I felt like getting some fresh air,” Hiro explained.

“I thought you were seasick earlier, why would you want fresh air?” K asked arching an eyebrow.

“I was, but it was the constant rocking earlier, it’s calmer now,” Hiro told him, “probably because everything onboard is still, everyone’s asleep.”

“Except for us,” K corrected.

“Except for us.” Hiro agreed taking the place next to the blonde on the rail looking out at the dark blue horizon. The line just faintly outlines by the shine of the moon on the water. “So where was Ryuichi most of the day? Shuichi and I didn’t see him.”

“I was mostly keeping him away from the bulk of people, we had to get back to our rooms and find a suitable disguise for him, and his bunny,” K shrugged. “What about you and Shuichi?”

“I got sick as you heard and headed back to my room,” Hiro answered, not feeling like relating to anyone what happened to Shuichi. Either everyone already knew, like they knew about him getting seasick, or Hiro was going to play dumb since he was very sure Shuichi didn’t want that incident told to the world.

“I wouldn’t get too attached to him,” K said off hand after Hiro’s silence progressed, the look of the auburn-haired youth’s eyes tipped K off as to who he was thinking about.

“What do you mean?” Hiro asked, “Are you talking about Shuichi? Why?”

K only shrugged in answer, an answer which was no answer.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Hiro asked somewhat angered by the lack of response. K stayed silent, and Hiro turned his face forward again, that stubborn gaijin.

“You just shouldn’t get too attached to your friend,” K said in the same offhand tone, “It might not work out.”

“I wasn’t asking your opinion,” Hiro said slightly more snappishly than he’d intended. It didn’t seem to phase K but Hiro still bit back on his tongue, inwardly wincing at how bitter it had sounded.

“Hah,” K snorted, turning away from the ocean to face back at the deck of the yacht, “It doesn’t matter,” he said with a shrug. Whether to Hiro or himself was the green-eyed youth’s guess.

“What do you mean Yuki! You can’t mean that!”

It was a girl’s voice from somewhere a little farther down the deck. Hearing it both Hiro and K left the railing to peek around the corner to the front of the boat where the voice came from. At the front Yuki stood with the brunette girl Ayaka, who had been going around claiming to be the blonde’s fiance for a time.

“I mean it. I don’t like you, never did, so I’m asking you to leave me alone,” Yuki told her coldly, golden eyes regarding her with bored unconcern.

“But Yuki…” she started, but he cut her off.

“No more ‘I’m your fiance’ trash either.” He told her, the words biting into her visibly. “Understood.” She nodded, tears starting to brim in her eyes.

“I just… I just wanted you to like me…” she started looking down at the wood floor.

“Well I don’t, get over it. I told you from the beginning I didn’t like you,” Yuki said as he turned and started away.

“You meanie! I hate you! I don’t need you, you’ll see!” she cried running off in the opposite direction, her eyes so blurred by tears that she didn’t even see the two teenage boys who she ran by. Yuki’s footsteps faded slowly after Ayaka’s pounding steps disappeared back into the interior of the yacht.

“I can’t help feeling a little sorry for her,” Hiro said absently thinking back on her face red with embarrassment tears streaming down from her eyes. “Yuki is such a jerk.”

“Hm.” K agreed, “But you know,” he continued, “that girl has also caused a lot of pain to others as well.”

“So you think what Yuki said was right?” Hiro asked almost accusingly, inwardly slapping himself for how hateful he had sounded. But studying K’s expression it didn’t change from its neutral poker face. It never did, did it?

“I didn’t say anything,” K said absently. “Nothing at all.”

---

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Old Comments (it's old, last beta didn't work out so hot, but they were wonderful while they lasted)[I offer my apologies for lack of editing.]:
Lots of people complain about the nonexistent editing…