This story begins after Yuki and Shuichi's "Million Copies Sold" date and branches down a parallel "What if…?" canon.

In vol. 8 of the Gravi manga, Tohma orders Shuichi to stop his relationship with Yuki --a choice I found uncharacteristically foolish on Tohma's part (for reasons pointed out in this chapter). This fic's core premise is, "What if Tohma had gone to Yuki instead of Shuichi?"

Also in volume 8, Tohma muses that Yuki is only with Shuichi because he "clicks" for Yuki. Tohma figures that all he needs to do is find someone else that clicks, and Yuki would go for that. Thus, rather than tearing Y/S apart, Tohma inserts himself in as an option in hopes that Yuki will choose him…

Tohma/Eiri, Yuki/Shuichi

1,600 words

Rated: R (for lemon in future chapters)

Comments and criticism will be put to good use (and a sure way to make my day!)

Enjoy!

Collateral

Yuki strode into the president's office without knocking. Tohma rose from his black leather throne at the sight of his visitor, a warm smile immediately on his face. An unannounced disturbance such as this would have been inexcusable sin in anyone else, but Yuki had always been an exception to such rules. Tohma began to cross around the desk towards his visitor to embrace him, but Yuki dropped into the chair on the other side of the desk before he had the chance.

Tohma's smile did not falter a moment. He had expected just such a reaction. He perched on the corner of the desk, looming over his guest. "A visit from you is always a pleasant surprise, Eiri-san," he said warmly.

Yuki ignored the greeting. "So what's this about you dropping Bad Luck?" His expression showed only bland indifference, but the hard edge to his voice betrayed him.

Tohma nodded slightly. His face formed a perfect pantomime of somber resignation. "I'm afraid the group is simply too unstable," Tohma explained. He folded his hands and searched Yuki's eyes as he spoke. "While I agree that they show great potential, they are simply not a risk that N-G can afford. More specifically, Shindou-san seems to be the unreliable one, but he is synonymous with the group's image. If I drop Shindou-san, I'm afraid I may as well drop the entire band."

Yuki's expression darkened. "That's odd," he said, "With the CD sales lately, I would have thought dropping Bad Luck would be the risk you couldn't afford."

Tohma shook his head slightly. "Certainly, their popularity has gone far beyond our expectations, but I need reliability not just sales. Shindou-san calls in sick often and goes missing for days at a time. He refuses to rehearse when the mood doesn't suit him. He suffers writer's block with lyrics, and on more than one occasion he has been defiant of authority.

"I simply can't have a loose cannon like that on my label. I could easily see him being truant to a sold-out concert and that would reflect poorly on us. No, Eiri-san. He certainly had the potential of a rising star, but he completely lacks the self-discipline required for this business."

Yuki's mouth was a hard line. "But the kid said that being dropped was just a rumor at this point."

Tohma's eyes glittered now, locked onto Yuki's. "True. Certainly nothing is set in stone yet."

Yuki sighed. Blackmail appeared to be the order of the day. He ached for a cigarette, but he knew that was one thing Tohma would not allow in his office and he didn't want to remind Tohma of his advantage of power. "Let me guess. You want me to leave Shuichi in order for you to keep him on? Why don't you just deliver your threats to him personally?"

"And make a martyr of him?" Tohma asked, a faint smile on his face. "No, no. I'm not about to ask either of you to leave the other. I've gone the route of taking your toys from you before, Eiri-san, and I find it only leads to resentment towards me."

"Then you admit your motivation for dropping him are personal," Yuki said.

Tohma would not be riled. "I stand by what I said earlier. My reasons for dropping Bad Luck are strictly professional." He paused a moment, then leaned forward. "However, I would be willing to forgo my better judgment for a personal incentive."

Yuki hesitated. He had expected that Tohma would make him leave Shuichi and that would be that. What more could he ask for? His mind wandered down jagged paths of dark possibilities. Did Tohma want him to give up writing? Would he ask for Eiri's royalties to force him into financial dependence on him and Mika?

"Then what do you want?"

Tohma could feel tension crackle through the air between them like electricity. Yuki was poised in frozen anxiety, like a gazelle braced to flee. Tohma felt distantly aroused by Yuki's helplessness. It put him in a hunter mood, but he kept his expression one of easy camaraderie.

"All I ask is a chance to spend some quality time with you, Eiri-san," Tohma said, "If I tried to take Shindou from you, it would only make you resent me. You would rebel against me to keep eating that forbidden fruit."

Tohma found a speck of dust on his desk and brushed it away. "So I've given up on that. I feel it would be more prudent and far more enjoyable for us both if we do it this way. I can show you a positive reinforcement rather than punishment."

Yuki's eyes flickered across Tohma's face, searching for weakness. He didn't trust this. But what choice did he have? The reason he was here in the first place was because of Shuichi. Ever since he had overheard the rumor of Bad Luck's demise, the usually energetic boy lurked around the house like a mournful phantom. The spark of life that Yuki secretly loved was gone from Shuichi's eyes. He was just a husk of his former self.

The boy was usually sentimental to the extreme--quick to tears at the slightest provocation but in dire situations like this, Shuichi remained dry-eyed. He stared ahead and died a little inside with each passing hour. The singer needed his music the way plants need sunlight and like it or not, Yuki was addicted to Shuichi's vibrancy. As long as Shuichi wilted, Yuki withered with him. He needed to set things right, even if that meant stooping to Tohma's terms.

"So… What? Like a date?" Yuki asked finally.

Tohma infuriated him further by chuckling into his hand. "Call it what you will," he said, "But I simply want some quality time with you. Some mature conversation--a chance to discuss poetry, culture, and your writing together. Enjoy pinot noir and Camembert instead of your usual Coca-Cola and Pocky."

Yuki's scowl deepened. He hated the way Tohma trivialized Shuichi by pointing out his childish tastes, but he couldn't deny the edge of truth in those words. He felt insulted by association, but held his tongue. Tohma could have demanded far worse from him. Besides, a guilty voice in the back of Yuki's mind whispered that mature conversation and fine food with Tohma did not sound so bad.

"And it won't bother you that Shuichi lives with me in the meantime?" Yuki asked. His voice was thick with skepticism.

Tohma spread his hands and shrugged. "All I ask is that you meet with me on occasion when and how I specify. But the rest of your time is your own."

Yuki balked. That was uncomfortably vague. What sort of things would be expected of him? He was temped to ask, but what difference would the answer make? If it were something he could handle, then he would bear it for the sake of keeping Shuichi happy. If Tohma's demands were ever so extreme that losing Shuichi was preferable, Yuki would be forced to cancel their arrangement.

"For how long?" he asked. The possibility of an eternity in Tohma's debt loomed in his mind.

"As long as necessary," Tohma said casually, "But I won't press my point beyond reason."

Yuki wondered what Tohma's definition of "beyond reason" entailed, but he would look cowardly if he asked. At least it sounded like if Tohma's plan failed and he was not able to capture Yuki's heart, he would give up eventually. In either event, it was Tohma's game and Yuki was trapped into playing it. The best Yuki could do was even the stakes.

"If I do this," he began, "I want your absolute assurance that Shuichi has a place here at N-G. And no threats or intimidation directed at him." After only a flickering pause he added, "In fact, I want you to give the band more backing than they have now. If I do what you're asking, I want Bad Luck to thrive."

Tohma's maddening smile remained. He was not about to let Yuki ruffle him. The request was a trifle in the end, after all. If all went well, Yuki would leave Shuichi behind regardless of Bad Luck's success. In fact, Yuki's departure would be easier for Shuichi to take if the boy was swept away in the swift current of fame. "Certainly. He will have the full support N-G has to offer. Of course, if you choose to break our agreement all bets are off."

And Bad Luck will be finished was the unspoken conclusion

After a stiff silence, Yuki asked, "So… When?"

"I was hoping we might meet tomorrow night," Tohma said. He reached into a desk drawer and pulled out a hotel business card. "I've made us reservations at the Hotel Seiyo in Ginza. Dinner will be ready at 8:00 in the penthouse suite." He slid the card across the desk.

The younger man regarded the card in front of him as if it were a venomous spider and not a slip of paper. Tohma had the card ready in his desk drawer; he had already made the arrangements. He knew from the start that Yuki would willingly step into this trap. There was never any question of that. Humiliation prickled Yuki's skin. Was he really so predictable?

"I know the place," Yuki said, without taking the card. It was true; he'd taken at least a dozen women to the luxury hotel over the years. "I'll be there." He rose and left the room before Tohma could say anything else.

Behind his back, the president's smile turned from measured courtesy into something unrestrained and savage.