DISCLAIMER: Wish as we may but we can never own Gravitation and will never be.

In the End

12:00 midnight. Saturday. Yuki's bedroom.

"Get off me!" Yuki grimly said.

"Eh? Nani?" Came the confused reply.

"I SAID GET OFF ME!"

"Yuki…." Shuichi was more puzzled.

"I SAID GET THE HELL OF ME, BRAT!"

Shuichi falls off the bed and endures a hard thud on the floor. Yuki had actually pushed him off the bed. He could not understand what was wrong again. He crawls back on the bed thinking this must be one of Yuki's play acting again.

"Demo….Yuki….it's our anniversary. I was hoping I could stay beside you until we wake up at least."

Silence.

"Yuuuuuki!"

Shuichi tries to coax Yuki by playfully tugging on his arm but all he got was a grunt in response.

"YUUUKIIII!"

Shuichi hugs Yuki's back and presses his face closely to his body.

The next thing he knew, Shuichi finds himself pinned to the wall.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT FROM ME, YOU SPOILED SHIT?"

Yuki's eyes were glaring. He had one hand holding up Shuichi's hand on the wall while the other was vised around Shuichi's throat.

"WE SPENT THE WHOLE NIGHT TOGETHER! HAVEN'T YOU HAD ENOUGH ALREADY?"

Shuichi desperately struggles to free himself from Yuki but his efforts are in vain. Cold sweat on his forehead. He squeezes his eyes shut to avoid Yuki's menacing glare.

Yuki….let me go, please. I beg you! I can't breathe, Yuki!

Yuki abruptly releases him and shoves him out of the bedroom and slammed the door. Shuichi almost collapses to the floor. He gasps and coughs loudly. He runs to the bathroom and turns on the shower. He is naked. Yuki didn't even give him time to pick up his clothes.

What's going on Shuichi?

What are you doing?

What's happening to me?

Cold water from the shower beats on his body. He slumps on the floor. He hiccups. He is still gasping and coughing.

He reaches for the knob and turns the shower off. His whole body chilling from cold and fear. He proceeds to the bathroom sink and splashes warm water on his face. He looks up to see his reflection on the mirror. His neck was bright red and still bore fresh finger marks.

Oh God!

He opens the medicine cabinet and fumbles on the items inside. He is looking for a skin ointment. He finds it and applies an amount on his neck only to give him a burning sensation. He shrieks. He drops the bottle on the sink.

Oh no! I made a mess on Yuki's bathroom. No! He musnt see this. He'll get mad for sure.

He starts to pick up the broken bottle quickly. One of the fragments suddenly slices right across his right palm, almost reaches his wrist. He drops it again and turns on the faucet to wash off his hand but the blood continues to ooze.

What's going on, Shuichi?

What's happening?

Shuichi? Shuichi?

He grabs for a towel and robe and dashes out of the bathroom.

Oh no! I'm bleeding….

Get a hold of yourself, Shuichi!

He carefully wraps the towel around his hand and applied pressure to control the bleeding. The contents of the medicine cabinet have been littered on the floor. The bandages rolled on the wet tiled floor. It was useless.

He proceeds to the guest room and gets his bag. He pulls out a checkered blue shirt and gray pants. He struggles to put on his pants with one hand. The towel was already soaked in blood.

Shit! I can't stop bleeding!

He proceeds to the kitchen to drink some water. He loosens the towel and drops it on the floor then grabs a kitchen towel instead.

He looks around. His hands were shaking. He needed a doctor. He proceeded to dial on his cellphone to call for a cab. He grabs his wallet from his bag and quietly left the condo.

Not very long he waited outside the cab arrived.

"Where to sir?"

"Take me to the nearest hospital. Hayaku!" Shuichi raises his bleeding hand and tries to refasten the blood-soaked towel.

"Hai."

They arrive in the hospital. Shuichi is beginning to look very pale. The second towel he is using was seeping with blood.

"We're here, sir. Are you alright?"

Shuichi weakly shakes his head. The driver gets out of the car and escorts Shuichi to the emergency room.

"Could we get some help here? This man's bleeding!"

Emergency room staff emerges, "We'll take it from here."

"No, wait!"

Shuichi grabs the driver's arm just before being assisted inside.

"What is it, sir?"

"Please wait for me outside. Keep your meter running whatever. I'll pay you. I'll be there as soon as I get my hand treated." He gasps.

"As you say so, sir." He nodded.

Shuichi gives a weak smile. "Thanks."

The driver walks back to his cab. He lights a cigarette. He checks the meter and logs the register. He turns it off. He chuckled to himself. There was perfect sense to the young man's request. Injured like that, he didn't feel like turning the meter on. How was he going to get a cab at this hour anyway?

The driver hears a tap on the window. He gets out of the car and opens the door for the newly bandaged Shuichi.

"I see you didn't keep the meter running."

"It's okay, sir."

"I see. That's very kind of you." Shuichi smiles.

"No problem. Should I take you back to where I fetched you, sir?" he chuckles.

He panics, "NO!"

"Eh?"

"Betsuni. Gomen ne."

"It's okay, sir. Where would you like to go instead?"

The driver starts the engine and proceeds to leave the hospital grounds. Shuichi rests his head on the seat.

"What's your name, driver?"

"Yamaguchi Kaede desu."

"Yamaguchi-san."

"Yamaguchi: Kaede will do, sir. We don't have to be too formal."

"It's okay, you're a lot older than I am."

Yamaguchi laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing, sir. It's just that no one really bothers knowing a driver's name much more even address them as a senior. But you're quite different. Thank you, sir."

"Call me Shuichi."

"Shuichi-san."

"Now we're even." He smiles.

"Shuichi-san, where would you like me to take you?"

"Do you know any good restaurants around here?"

"Hai."

"Take me there."

Shuichi leans further backward on the seat. He cradles his right hand. Yamaguchi glances at the rear view mirror to look at Shuichi.

"Shuichi-san, if I may say so, you look kinda familiar but maybe I could be wrong."

"About what?"

"Anou…you look like someone on the billboards I see when I'm driving around Tokyo."

"A lot of people say the same thing."

"Well, I could be wrong." He shakes his head.

Shuichi remained silent and looked out the window. He was unmindful of the driver's inquisitive glances at him through the rear view mirror.

"AH SOU DA!"

Shuichi was still looking at the window, "Doushite?"

Yamaguchi snaps his finger. "You look like that…..that….ahm…..singer."

Shuichi seemingly distracted looks at him. "Really now?"

"Something about luck or something. Nice luck. Lucky. Good luck. Ah! Yappari! It's Good Luck, ne? Am I correct?"

Shuichi could not suppress it and burst into laughter.

Yamaguchi was excited. "I got it right, didn't I?"

"Almost. But you're a funny man, Yamaguchi-san."

"I'm just glad you loosened up a bit, Shuichi-san. You didn't look too well earlier."

"That bad, ne?"

"Well, you could say that. Oh we're near the restaurant now. It's a nice place really, not too classy though but the ambiance is warm, the staff is nice and the food is excellent."

"Ever been inside?"

"Oh just once, maybe twice. A friend of mine invited me when we celebrated his birthday."

"Hiro and I usually frequent fastfood."

"Hiro-san?"

"Tomodachi desu."

"Ah sou desu ne. Would this place be okay for you or would you like me to take you to another?"

"This is nice enough."

"Hai."

"Yamaguchi-san?"

"Hai?"

"Would you care to join me?"

"Eh?"

"I'm asking you."

Yamaguchi smiles. "It's okay, sir. There's no need."

"Is it the money?"

"Oh no! You've been a very nice passenger and it's been a real pleasure to talk to you."

Shuichi smiles. "I would appreciate it very much if you could join me and besides I will be needing a place to stay for the night and you'll have to take me there."

Yamaguchi nodded and looked at the smiling Shuichi. Strange. But he swore there was a sadness much deeply etched in his eyes.

"No problem."

He logs his record of the taximeter. They enter the restaurant.

Waitress greets them. "IRRASHAIMASE! Kochira douzo."

The waitress escorts them to their table. Then hands them a menu.

"May I take your order, sirs?"

Shuichi browses on the menu. "What's the special?"

"We have cream chicken….anou…..sumimasen, but are you by any chance, Shindou Shuichi of Bad Luck?"

Yamaguchi taps the table. "Bad Luck! I knew there was a Luck to it!"

Shuichi smiles and takes the waitress' hand "I appreciate the recognition but I was hoping I would have a quiet meal in this place if you don't mind?"

Waitress apologetically but excitedly replied.) "Oh most certainly, sir."

"Doumo."

"What would it be, sir?"

"I think I'll have chicken and a salad and also give us a pitcher of beer."

"Hai. (looks at Yamaguchi) and you, sir?"

Yamaguchi gulped when Shuichi said beer. He looked at the waitress but is unsure.

"Oh, c'mon Yamaguchi-san. It's my treat."

"Thank you sir, but…."

"Okay, he'll have what I'm having too."

"Green tea please."

"Would that be all, sir?"

"Hai."

The waitress takes the menu and leaves.

"You don't drink, Yamaguchi-san?"

"Well not really and I'm driving."

"Oh."

"So why didn't you tell me you're really that guy from the billboards?"

"I think it's nice being with someone who didn't know me."

"Oh I see."

"Well now that you know, will it change anything?"

"I suppose not really."

"Good."

"Besides, I don't really know much really, sir. I'm just your average taxi driver. I'm an old man and I'm not too keen to what these young people are listening to nowadays."

"It's a rock band. I'm the vocalist. Hiro, my longtime buddy is the guitarist and together we formed the band way back in high school. It was nothing much really. We mostly did covers for our favorite rock band Nittle Grasper. Ever heard of them?"

"Not much. Last I heard their lead vocalist left for America."

"It's old news. He's back after three years and since has reunited with the band."

Yamaguchi scratches his head. "Ah! I'm really slow at these things."

"That's okay. Later, Fujisaki joined our band. I say the kid is a prodigy. He was only 16 that time. He's our keyboardist and also handles musical arrangement."

"Wow."

"Yeah, we make such a good team."

"I feel rather strange talking to you and not know these things."

"It happens."

The waitress returns. "Sumimasen desu. Thank you for waiting. Here is your meal."

"Doumo."

"Anou…sumimasen, Shindou-san, would it be okay if I could ask for your autograph?"

Shuichi waves his hand.: "Not at all."

She hands him a pen and paper.

"What's your name?"

"Maiko desu. Hajimemashite."

"That's my sister's name too."

"Hontou ni?"

"Here you are, Maiko." He hands the pen and paper.

She bows. "Hontou ni arigatou gozaimasu. I love your music so much and I listen to all your songs. I've even been to your concerts."

"That's really sweet."

"I'll leave you now to enjoy your meal. Oh, thank you so much. I'm so happy to have met you in person. This is really special."

Yamaguchi fondly looks at her. She was almost in tears but was trying very hard to keep her composure.

"Itadakimasu!"

"Oishii desu ne! You're really good at picking restaurants, Yamaguchi-san. I'm gonna tell Hiro about this place soon."

"Yokatta. How's your hand, sir?"

"Well the anesthesia seems to be wearing off earlier. Good thing I took some of the pain medication at the restaurant."

"Would you like to proceed to a hotel now, sir?"

"That would be good."

Hotel

"Well will you look at the time! It's almost 3 in the morning. You need some rest, Shuichi-san."

" Funny. I'm supposed to be tired but I don't feel like that at all. Would you care to join me for some tea at the hotel café?"

" Shuichi-san?"

"Not unless you need to go now."

"Well, I'll be returning the car to the car barn in two hours. Why not?"

"Don't worry it's on me."

"Shuichi-san, demo….."

"It's no trouble. I'm just so grateful now. Don't stop me."

"As you say so."

"So tell me, do you have a family?"

"I used to be married once. No kids. She died in a work-related accident."

"I'm so sorry."

"It's okay. It's been 10 years ago."

"What's her name? How did she die?"

"Her name is Suzuki. It was at chemical factory. One of the machines malfunctioned and she suffered third-degree burns."

"Where were you that time?"

"Working."

"I'm really sorry."

"We've been married for only six months. Looking at it now, I'm just glad it happened sooner. At least that way, we didn't have too much memories to suffer from."

"How long did she stay in the hospital?"

"Two days."

Shuichi fell silent. He reflected on those words just said

At least that way, we didn't have too much memories to suffer from

"I'm sorry, I'm depressing you."

Shuichi shook his head. "I just remembered something."

"What is it?"

"Nothing important."

"Oh."

"So any relationship may I ask?"

"Shuichi-san, you're really a fascinating creature are you?"

"That's me!"

"Nothing serious really. I don't think I'll ever get married at all."

"How about your other family?"

"I have a younger sister but they have migrated to Australia with her family a long time ago. Our parents already died. I'm an old man, Shuichi-san."

"You don't look like one. How old are you anyway?"

"55."

"That's not old!"

"Why thank you, Shuichi-san!"

"I think I'm getting rather sleepy already. It's been really nice talking to you."

"It's been an honor, Shuichi-san."

"Well, who knows I just might call you again."

"Very good, sir. This is my card. You can contact me directly without having to go through the operator."

"Thanks. You've been very patient with me."

"No trouble at all! I've had fun too."

"Oh, how much for the long trip in total?"

"Anou…."

"No, I insist, you must tell me."

Yamaguchi hands him a receipt uneasily.

"Here you go."

The older man was still uneasy. "Arigato. Ah! This is too much!"

"I've had a great time."

"Me too. It's been great talking with you. It's the first time someone of your popularity would take the time to know a mere taxi driver like me."

"Don't ever say that. I never thought of it that way. My manager used to tell me that we're all important no matter who we are."

"I'll remember that."

They shook hands and bowed to each other.

"I'll have a room, please."

The front desk clerk greeted him. "What kind of room would you like?"

"A room with a view would be nice."

The front desk clerk handed him a key and the register. He signed, Yamaguchi Keisuke

"Enjoy your stay, sir."

"Thanks."

Room 406. He put a "Do Not Disturb" sign at the door knob.

He proceeds to the bathroom. Takes off his clothes. Puts on a robe and slippers. He looks at his hand.

He checks the mini refrigerator. It had juice and miniature alcoholic drinks. The freezer had chocolate bars. He took one.

He lies on the bed and turns on the cable tv. It was MTV Asia. It was featuring a video of Bad Luck performing "Spicy Marmalade".

He quickly turned it off.

He munches on the chocolate bar. He slides the glass doors and looks at the view. It was facing the hotel swimming pool. There were a few people down there.

He enters the bathroom to brush his teeth.

He then lies on the bed. But sleep would not come to him as he had expected. He tossed and turned. The pain on his hand was disturbing him. He took another pain medication and tried to bury himself in pillows.

He stares at the mosaic-painted ceiling. Everything seemed to be moving around him.

What's going on Shuichi?

What's happening to you?

He closed his eyes. Tears began to flow.

Gods! What have I been doing all this time?

What the hell am I doing here?

Please let me fall asleep.

Please make me forget.

Yamaguchi's words echoed in his head,

"I'm just glad it happened sooner, that way, we didn't have too much memories to suffer from."

He whispers softly. "Me too, if only you knew."

Author notes: Finally my story has been resurrected. Many thanks to my savior. To all those who have missed this story, I share it once again. Please look forward to more updates in the future. Thank you for reading and reviewing. You are the best readers a writer could ever have.