Disclaimer: I own only the plot.
Story: Part two.
Set after the TV series (not manga).
Spoilers: Maybe.
Pairings: Tohma/Shuichi, Eiri/ Shuichi
Warnings: This is Gravitation…you should know the drill.
A/n: I got inspired when I saw and read Gravitation EX (RYU/SCHU action !!). This is the final chapter, like I said there were only going to be three. Though it was supposed to be one chapter, but I was persuaded…
Finally finished. I'll probably go back and edit the first chapter and maybe a little of the second. This chapter was skimmed edit, so yeah...

If anyone cares to know, my official reason of absence will be posted on my profile.

Moonlight Sonata
Chapter Three: Strawberry Waltz

Shuichi smiled as he listened to Tohma's rendition of 'Your Moonlight Sonata', lowering the volume when he saw Eiri smoking outside on the balcony. Laying his head on his crossed arms, the pink-haired singer leaned onto the table.

He hummed softly, daydreaming about a life he could've had. In his mind's eye, he saw Tohma's genuine smile directed at him and singing along with the lyrics.

His eyes drifted close and he fell into a deep sleep.

"Wha –what's going on? Where am I?" Shuichi blinked in surprise, looking around at the park.

"Shuichi, come along," Eiri's cool voice reached him, and Shuichi walked towards the writer.

"Wait, Shuichi! Come back," he heard another voice.

Turning he saw Tohma, smiling sadly at him. Shuichi gulped, walking back until Eiri called out as well.

"Shuichi?" His head turned towards…the love of his life.

Eiri Yuki was actually smiling brightly at him.

His resolve crumbling, Shuichi turned back to Eiri and clasped onto the writer's hand. They started walking away, but Shuichi couldn't help but look back.

Tohma's broken smile and loving eyes haunted him.

Shuichi's head shot up and his eyes rapidly blinked away the sleep. It was nighttime already, and there was no sign of Eiri anywhere.

He sighed, supposing he should be used to it. Only he wasn't. He was tired of it too.

His heart ache and he couldn't help but remember the Tohma in his dream. He rubbed his forehead with the heel of his palm, feeling like he was going to cry at any minute.

He really did start to cry when the American song 'She Will Be Loved' started playing, on the still working radio.

"Tap on window, knock on my door

"I want to make you feel beautiful…

"I know I tend to be insecure, doesn't matter any more.

"It's not always

"I don't mind spending everyday

"I know your corner in the pouring rain

"Look for the girl with the broken smile

"Ask if she wants to stay awhile

"And she will be loved

"And she will be loved

"And she will be loved

"And she will be loved."

In his mind, he kept replacing 'she' with he. Hesitantly making up his mind, Shuichi wrote a small note and left it on the table.

Yuki,

I'm going over to –here, Shuichi paused –Hiro's for awhile. I'll see you later, bye!

Shuichi

He hoped Tohma was home.

It was fitting it was raining outside, just like in the song.

He had already called Hiro and asked him to relay the same message in the case that Eiri called there, but his brunet friend had made him promise to tell him the truth later.

But right now he was worried about what he was doing…going to do.

Biting his lip nervously, Shuichi raised his hand and slowly knocked on his boss' door. Knowing that he had to ring the doorbell for Tohma to actually hear him, considering it was night and the blond was probably in his room, Shuichi resignedly used the doorbell. He wasn't sure this was such a good idea…

"Shuichi?" Tohma's surprised voice greeted him, bringing him out of his thoughts. "Why're you here? Why're you crying?"

In all the time he had stood there, Shuichi hadn't noticed the tears dripping down his face.

Eiri smoked uncaringly in the house, clutching the piece of paper Shuichi had left. He had called Nakano to make sure the brat was there, and even though the brunet confirmed it Eiri couldn't help but think it was a lie.

His gut was screaming that Shuichi was somewhere he shouldn't be.

His stupid editor had called and told him his deadline was extended for another week, but she had offered advice he didn't need.

"Eiri-san, be careful won't you? I've been around you for a long time…and I don't think Shindou-san will stay any longer than he has too when happiness is offered. The only reason I haven't left you is because I don't live with you 24/7 like Shindou-san."

He had promptly told her to shut up and mind her own business. In those exact words.

The doorbell rang and he scowled, standing up and striding over. He harshly threw the door opened and his surprised sister was standing at the other side, looking bewildered at him. He scowled and gestured her in, leaving her to close the door as he returned to his place at the table.

"Eiri, I need to talk to you about something."

He sneered, in a bad mood, "What? About your precious husband being a slut and trying to weasel his way into my Shuichi's heart? I guess he won't ever be satisfied with you."

Mika's eyes watered and she slapped him. "For your information, Tohma and I are divorced. And Shuichi isn't a possession of yours. If this is the way you act all the time, no wonder he wants to leave you."

She stood up and left him, slamming the door on her way out. Eiri cursed and took out a cigarette, lighting it up. Things weren't going his way at all.

Shuichi couldn't handle it. As soon as Tohma mentioned him crying, he ran away. He had nowhere to go though. He didn't want to go to Hiro's and explain everything, didn't want to go back to Eiri's, and he certainly couldn't go back to Tohma like this.

So he just wandered around the streets, minding his own business, when suddenly his eyes were assaulted by two mobs. On one side, there was a whole group advocating the union between Eiri and him, while the other side was advocating the Tohma and him.

"Eiri Yuki and Shuichi Shindou's love will outlast all obstacles!" Maiko, his sister and apparent head of the Y/S supporters, yelled out.

The T/S supporters hissed.

"Down with Eiri Yuki!" Ryuichi screamed, scaring the crap out of Shuichi, who realized his idol was heading the Tohma/Shuichi supporters. Noriko cheered beside Ryuichi, apparently part of it.

Freaking out, Shuichi ran away. He didn't really understand what was going on, but decided he didn't want to. Heading to his old home and hiding in his old bedroom sounded like a good idea at the moment.

It was only hours later, nighttime, when his sister returned home from the rally. He didn't want to talk to her, but after realizing he was there, she'd searched him out.

"Shuichi?" she called out hesitantly, entering his room with trepidation.

"What?" he answered back shortly, not looking at her. He was lying on his bed, throwing a softball into the air and catching it.

"I was wondering if you were okay…"

"As okay as a bunch of people trying to decide who I should be with for me, in the middle of the city."

She winced, "Oh…you were there."

"Just for a little bit, before I had to run away."

Maiko moved closer, gingerly sitting next to him.

"I may support you with Yuki, but that doesn't mean I don't care what you feel. I was just doing what a fan would do, support my couple insanely. But as your sister, I will love whoever you choose to love, accept whoever it is that you have accepted into your heart. Because you are my brother and I will always support you."

Shuichi sniffled, sitting up and hugging his sister. "Thanks, Maiko. I really needed that."

"No problem, Shuichi. What are family for?" she smiled.

He laughed and tickled her lightly, "Family are for teasing!"

It is with a light heart that Shuichi entered the studio the next day. There, everything was going fine until Shuichi noticed everyone staring at him. There was also some outbreaks between people, fighting about who Shuichi should be with.

It wasn't until Shuichi was in the studio that he broke down.

"What is wrong with you people?! Stop staring at me like I'm some kind of display at the zoo! And whoever I want to be with is my choice! Mine! Not any of you!"

Shuichi collapsed to the ground, curling in on himself and crying. His fellow band mates crowded around him, worried out of their minds, while Sakano was panicking in the background. K looked speculatively at the scene before him, before taking out a gun and shooting several times into the ceiling.

"Break time," K said softly. "Shuichi, go ahead and leave early. I don't want you stressing yourself out."

Stunned, Shuichi nodded and left them behind, only to bump into Ryuichi.

"Ah, Shuichi-kun, na no da! There you are! I've been everywhere for you!" the flying form of Ryuichi Sakuma was all Shuichi saw before he was tackled to the ground, underneath said singer.

"Sakuma-san, I can't breathe!" the pink-haired singer gasped out.

"My bad! And I told you! Call me Ryuichi."

Ryuichi got off him, offering a hand. As soon as Shuichi grabbed it though, his idol had yanked him up and then took him into his arms, running off with him.

"Ryuichi! What are you doing?" Shuichi asked frantically.

"I'm kidnapping you," he answered cheerily.

"Don't you have work?!"

"Nope! And you don't either now!"

They ended up in a café two blocks away from work, disguises on.

"Ryuichi, why did you take me here?" Shuichi whispered.

"Because. We're friends, aren't we? It should be alright for us to hang out every now and then," Ryuichi didn't even bother to whisper, and was strangely serious.

Shuichi was quiet, staring at him. And then, "You're Tohma's friend, right Ryuichi?"

"Of course."

Shuichi finally snapped, tears brewing in his eyes. "Why, then?! Why did he have to suddenly decide to have feelings for me?! Why is he making things so confusing?! I thought I love Yuki, but now I'm not so sure."

Ryuichi gently pulled him close, "It sounds like your problem isn't with Tohma, but trying to understand your feelings."

The younger of the two sniffled, "It's not fair either. Everyone keeps pushing and pushing me. They want me to go with Yuki or Tohma, but it's my decision and they're all trying to make it for me. And they want me to make the choice right now! I haven't been able to properly think about it with so many people forcing me to!"

Ryuichi's cheeks tinged pink, "Ah, I'm guessing you were at the rally."

Shuichi sniffled in answer.

"Look, don't mind us. It is your decision, no matter what the rest of us feel. Don't be pressured into choosing one or the other because everyone wants you to choose Yuki or everyone wants you to choose Tohma. It's your decision, not ours. And don't choose just like that, because you're pressured into choosing. Be sure of your choice. You have to be absolutely certain you'll live happily with whoever you choose."

"Thanks, Ryuichi. I feel so much better now than I have for days, ever since this whole thing started."

"Don't worry about it. Now you should go and take a break. Find somewhere nice and quiet, so you're able to finally think about your situation in peace."

"Mmkay," and Shuichi smiled.

At the same time, Tohma had driven to Eiri's, determined to straighten things out. He had no idea why Shuichi had gone to his home yesterday, crying his heart out. But he needed to know if he was alright.

"Seguchi."

"Eiri."

They both scowled at each other, but Tohma was resolute in making this quick.

"Why are you here?" Eiri glared at him.

Tohma frowned, "I want to see Shuichi."

"He's at work. You should know that. You probably stalk him at work. Not that I would let you see him, even if he was here."

"He left work. I assume he would be here," Tohma retorted, ignoring the last part.

"Well, he's not. Now kindly leave."

Eiri was about to shut the door in his face until Tohma slammed his hand against it, forcing it to stop closing. Slipping a foot in the opening, Tohma gritted his teeth.

"I'm not leaving until I find out why Shuichi came to my house yesterday crying."

Eiri was quiet, but then, "He left me a note telling me he'd gone to Nakano's. I didn't know he'd gone to your house."

In his surprise, Tohma was caught off guard and Eiri was able to slam the door on him.

Shuichi had made up his mind finally. He'd spent the entire day, after leaving Ryuichi, in an abandoned lighthouse at the beach, watching the waves and then the sun setting, thinking about the past week and then his life until then. After, he'd looked deep inside himself and found the answer to his problem.

That was why he stood in front of Eiri's apartment, slipping his key into the lock and going in.

"Brat…you're home," Eiri stated hoarsely, beer cans strewn around him and cigarettes littering the ash bowl.

"Yuki, what are you doing?" Shuichi asked, concerned about the writer.

"Brooding," the blond grunted.

Shuichi winced. "About?" he hesitantly ventured.

"About why you would lie to me about being at Nakano's when you really went over to Seguchi's."

"…I was there, but I left as soon as I got there. I couldn't stay."

"Why not?" Eiri asked harshly, bitterness coloring his voice.

"Because I didn't know what I was doing. I was too afraid and confused. Things were going too fast. I wasn't ready to face him."

"You're…leaving me, aren't you?"

Shuichi came closer, sitting next to him. He hugged the writer, surprised when Eiri hugged back fiercely. He could even feel damp moisture dropping onto his skin and clothes, belatedly realizing Eiri was crying.

"I'm sorry, Eiri. I can't stay with you," Shuichi whispered into Eiri's chest.

"You –you used my name. My real name," Eiri muttered.

"I have to say goodbye."

"Goodbye…Shuichi."

Shuichi gave one lat lingering kiss to Eiri, who tried to savor it as much as he could.

At the door, Shuichi looked back. "Bad Luck and Nittle Grasper are having a joint concert in two days. Will you come?"

Eiri couldn't look him in the eye. "I'm sorry. I can't. It'll probably be too painful," he whispered.

Shuichi nodded and then with one last hesitation, left.

The joint concert was a hit. Each member of both bands sung a solo, and together they all performed each other's songs. Ryuichi and Shuichi even managed a couple of duets, which drove the crowd wild.

And then Shuichi specifically requested he be able to do one last thing to close the concert.

He began to sing Tohma's song to him.

The crowd quieted, listening to Shuichi sing Tohma's song while tension was building. By the beginning of the second verse, Tohma had snapped out of his stupor and began to sing along with Shuichi, doing one last duet for the crowd.

The arena still quiet, their voices rang out and echoed, melding beautifully. They finished and then the crowd erupted into cheers and hoots.

But when they'd gone back inside, Shuichi was nowhere to be found and Tohma's high, along with his wide smile, deflated as he realized the pink-haired singer wasn't anywhere close.

"Seguchi-san, I just got intel that Shuichi is off to America. With Rage."

"XMR?" Tohma asked grimly.

"Looks like."

"Drive me to the airport, K-san. You're the only one I trust to get me there in record time."

K nodded and both of them were off.

Despite everything, Shuichi was still not ready to face Tohma. Nor was he sure about the man, someone he had been sure had hated him not too long ago. He wasn't sure if Tohma was sincere or understood how the pianist really felt. Shuichi was just too used to being hurt and disappointed.

Why did Tohma like him?

How did he begin to feel this way towards Shuichi?

Since when?

Was Tohma truly being truthful about his feelings?

Would he be different from Eiri?

There were too many things going on and things he needed to know. Shuichi felt too confused and rushed. Everything was moving too fast and Shuichi thought maybe he needed time.

So he decided to run away to get that time.

A coward's way out, but Shuichi had always been unsure of himself and unwilling to put himself out there for a second time, not after Eiri.

He hadn't expected Tohma to be standing in the airport with K next to him, a stubborn look on his face. But then Tohma looked at him and smiled lovingly, taking Shuichi's breath away with the soft, adoring look Tohma was looking at Shuichi with.

And when Shuichi ran forward, slamming into the man and holding on tightly, he was glad to hear Tohma murmur into his hair, "I'm not letting you go."

And all the confusion cleared.

Started 8/13/08 –Completed 9/18/08