A/N: THANK YOU FOR READING AND REVIEWING! I had to add that, because I'm grateful but always forget to say it outside of replies to comments.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gravitation, Hotel Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills , or any information from: : / / w w w . Universal studios holly wood attractions /; o : / / gocalifornia . About od / calamenu / ss / los – angeles – beaches . H t m ; : / / losangeles . About od / gaylesbian / a / gaypride . H t m, Star Wars, or Planet of the Apes

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Chap 8: "Snap shots"

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Their adjusted route was calculated to be about twenty minutes, but surely lasted the entire day with this collection of band members.

They stopped for lunch in "Beverly Gardens Park"; Shuichi made lunch for everyone. Concerned initially as to the contents, Noriko followed the others' lead. After a few moments of chewing her eyes grew wide. Hiro looked over and started cracking up- "Have some water Nori". She glared at the detested nickname he chose without permission.

Hiroshi was accustomed to Shuichi's food, while everyone else present had less sensitive pallets; Shuichi so enjoyed decorating food he prepared, especially with highly spicy Wasabi.

Noriko made to smack Shuichi for what she saw as a prank, but Eiri caught her hand; "Don't be so ungrateful, he spent hours on these dishes".

Shuichi snuggled up to his boyfriend for defending him.

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After the picnic, everyone scattered. Suguru went to see the Star Wars exhibit. Ryu ran off on a hunt: to give Mickey Mouse a high-five, because last time the mouse ignored him. Between monitoring Ryuichi, Tohma talked with directors business about setting up his bands with movie roles, or including their music in motion pictures. Hiro goes to a fancy looking restaurant, Noriko pushing past him to go straight for the bar.

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Eiri hated the numerous kids and countless "No smoking" signs as he looked after Shuichi and Ryu (high-five achieved) on the rides.

At every request, the author bought whatever his boyfriend wanted, including what he assumed he may want. When Shuichi ecstatically begged for them to wear Mickey Mouse hats, Eiri complied.

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When he'd finally had enough, Eiri took a taxi back to the hotel to return to the work he'd been slacking on; he wanted to maintain a steady flow of income.

His boyfriend and friends took a twelve minute ride to "Point Dume State Beach". The travel guide read: "To see the Hollywood sign at the vantage point Hollywood & Highland Center. Between sand dunes and the ocean, Point Dume provides not only a nice, sheltered beach but also some nice vistas from the top of the sand. The final scene of the original Planet of the Apes movie was filmed at the location.

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Looking at the guide Ryuichi, announced in a grand voice: "The Hollywood & Highland Center is located on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue in central Hollywood".

Nearing the "Hollywood Sign" they encountered a tour. The athletic-built Hispanic female guide explained;

"For many visitors to Los Angeles, there is no more coveted photo than a shot of the world famous Sign. Though it is visible from all over the city from its lofty perch on Mt. Lee, it can actually be surprisingly difficult to get a well angled shot. Many are surprised to learn that it's actually illegal to hike to (or basically get anywhere near) the Sign, which is set well back behind restricting gates and protected by security cameras and Park Rangers.

The intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and North Highland Avenue, in the center of Hollywood, sits in a bustling walking area filled with many must-see attractions. On the northwest corner of Hollywood and Highland, you'll find the Hollywood & Highland Center, home of world-class restaurants shops and, most famously, the Kodek Theater the (home of the Academy Awards).

The Center's designers made it a point to feature the distant Hollywood Sign as the centerpiece of their architectural composition. The result is that Sign 'photo opps' abound throughout the facility" she concluded.

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As they finished capturing photos of the Hollywood sign, Shuichi and Ryu literally ran into a teen with neon-purple hair streaked with blue, dressed in clothes much like their own.

The boy was dumbstruck, "Y-y-y-y-yyou".

"Are you hurt, do you need help?" Shuichi asked.

"That accent- you've gotta be... are you Shindou Shuichi from "Bad Luck" and Sakuma Ryuichi from "Nittle Grasper"?"

"That's us" Ryu said, throwing an arm over his companion's shoulder.

The American boy looked like he would faint. "I can't... believe this... it's unreal" he expressed between hyperventilating.

"You should sit down, and eat something" Ryu suggested. "Yeah, Eiri says that sometimes if your blood sugar is low you get real tired and stuff, is that how you feel mister?"

"Mister! Oh you can't call me mister- I-I mean you're Mister- Shindou-san and Sakuma-san. And oh my god when I heard the rumors about you and Yuki Eiri's relationship were true!..."

"Come on kid", Shuichi lifted one arm, and Ryu the other. "We passed a cafe a ways back, we'll take you there and buy you something to eat. "

"You're touching me, these amazing stars are actually touching me!"

"No problem helping a friend in need" the elder pop-star said.

"I'm your f-friend?"

"You're a fan of our music, and that makes you our friend" he smiled.

"Oh my god none of the others will believe this!"

"If you know other fans, we'd be happy to hang out, sign autographs, take pictures" Shuichi said with a smile.

Face turning pale, the boy looked like he would faint. "Oh my god I'm sorry, I know your names, but I never told you mine, it's Tim Owen, but my friends call me Tammy".

"Nice to meet you Tammy" both stars shook his hands.

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"Yuki said we need to know where we're going and who's going to be there" Shuichi said, turning away from his phone. "It's a gay pride parade! Everybody will be there" Tammy cheered.

Eiri handed his phone to Tohma, "Shindou-san, if everyone here agrees, I can have you all perform in that parade". Eiri glared at him.

"Alright Seguchi-san, I'll bring it up when I find them".

Tammy said nervously, "I- I know that in one part it's like "Carnivale", and I- I know what shops sell those clothes."

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After spending the day purchasing extra Carnivale clothing, for their friends, and also because Shuichi liked it, they said "See you later" to Tammy, with his bunch of autographed band shirts, and went to the hotel.

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Opening the door to dim light, Shuichi glanced around, seeing his boyfriend laying on the bed. "Eiri? Is everything okay?" The blonde would never admit his jealousy, least of all toward a transgender teen, but after all the exited text-message, pictures, and calls his boyfriend sent throughout the day, he couldn't help being envious seeing another man spending such festive time with his boyfriend.

Dropping his stuff onto the floor, he assumed the author was asleep, so he undressed and got into bed. Slow, tender kisses greeted him, "I missed you" Eiri whispered, pulling him closer.

Shuichi could live and sleep and die in those arms.

"I missed you. Ryu and I bought stuff for everybody, and since it goes on for three days, I bought you some clothes to wear to the Pride Parade with me tomorrow. You'll come see my performance, right?"

"I'll be right there with you"

"So, you'll wear these clothes- I-I mean unless you don't like them"

"I'll try them on" he kissed that messy mop of maroon.

"I love you Eiri"

"I love you"

"Did you eat?"

"Not yet"

"I'll make you something" he turned to jump from the bed, but was held back by his lover.

"In a little while, for now why don't we just lay and relax?". The anxiety he felt throughout the day focused on whether or not someone would attack Shuichi again, or steal him away continued to rattle at his bones.

No one but a small few were to be trusted.

Eiri would surely accompany his lover, and guard him against any attacks. He drank some tequila Mr. K left in everyone's "a care-package", then laid beside the man he loved.

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End of chap 8

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Hope you liked it, please review :)