Never Let Go
Story By: inuyashacat13
Summary: AU. Shuichi and Eiri have always been perfect for each other. However, their social classes and parents have always kept them apart. Now many years have passed and their lives are completely different. However, they're bound to meet again at some point. What will happen once they meet? Will they remember one another? Moreover, what effects will their meeting have on the rest of their lives?
Warning: Contains M/M, romance, some bad words, some suggestive themes
Disclaimer: I don't own Gravitation, never will =w=
Prologue: How it all began
A/N: Hello everyone :3 this is my very first story I'm uploading on here so I hope you all like it! For now it's rated T but it might go up to M at some point, though I don't know if I'd ever be able to actually write anything M rated for this story…I'd die giggling xD…Enjoy
It was just another boring day for Eiri as he sat and looked out the window of the Uesugi manor. He was currently waiting for his parents to return so he would have the absolute pleasure of taking his sister, Mika, out for a stroll. Of course, Eiri Uesugi never objected to his parents wishes, for he was a model child, and the pride of the Uesugi's. Eiri never really liked the title though, and he found himself constantly wishing he could be more rambunctious like his younger brother, Tatsuha.
Eiri sighed as he noticed the manor's gates begin to open and he quickly got up and rushed to the door to get his sister.
"Now Eiri, keep a good eye on your sister, we'll be back around dusk." Eiri's mom told Eiri as she handed over Mika. Eiri inwardly groaned as his sister quickly pounced upon him and dragged him outside, begging to go on a stroll already. Today's going to be real fun, Eiri thought sarcastically as he led his sister out the manor's back gate.
Eiri had only been walking with his sister for a few minutes and already he was bored out of his mind.
"Oh Eiri, you should have seen the look on her face when!-" Mika continued rambling on as Eiri continued to tune her out. Luck seemed to be on Eiri's side today, because right when he was reaching the brink of boredom one of Mika's classmates appeared.
"Tohma!" Mika excitedly squealed as she quickly veered away from her brother. Thank god, Eiri thought as Tohma smiled and began conversing with his sister.
"Oh, I'm sorry, am I interrupting your walk?" Tohma suddenly asked, finally noticing Eiri once Mika had stopped talking.
"No, no," Eiri replied politely, "if you'd like, Mika, you two can play and we can meet back up later." Tohma seemed a little disappointed that Eiri wouldn't be joining them while Mika jumped at the chance to be alone with Tohma.
"Alright then Eiri, I'll catch up with you later!" Mika hastily shouted to Eiri, as she was already sprinting away with a disappointed Tohma in tow. Eiri breathed a sigh of relief as Mika disappeared from view, now what should I do, Eiri wondered as he continued walking down a path leading from his house. Eiri pondered this for a moment, and then just decided to keep walking in peace. There's nothing else to do around here anyways, Eiri thought disappointedly as he began to pass a large lake not too far from the Uesugi manor, Eiri sighed.
Because the Uesugi's are incredibly wealthy, they figure anything to do with normal or lower class citizens is below them. Which means Eiri and his siblings only go to the top rated private schools and to have to stay away from any lower class people, schools, parks, etc. Eiri never thought the lower class citizens were bad in any way though, he never got why he had to stay away from them.
Eiri had just begun to daydream when something across the lake caught his eye, it was a person, someone he'd never seen before, though with his strict parents he'd only ever met wealthy, and usually bratty, kids. Eiri stared over the lake at the lone kid, the kid certainly stood out, with his or her bright cotton candy pink hair. As Eiri continued to stare at the child, his curiosity peeked and he decided to see what the kid was doing.
It took a few minutes to reach the other side of the lake but Eiri had finally made it to where the kid was. The kid was huddled in a little ball facing the opposite direction when Eiri walked all the way up to him or her. Not sure what to do, Eiri did the first thing that popped into his mind.
"Um…Hello…Miss?" Eiri greeted sounding confused. I think the kid's a girl… Eiri thought as he watched the kid jump, clearly the kid hadn't noticed Eiri come up behind him or her.
In one swift movement, the kid was facing Eiri, big purple eyes entrancing him as the kid looked up curiously.
The kid smiled at him, and then suddenly frowned, "I'm not a girl!" the kid, now known to be a boy, suddenly remarked. He's a little slow, Eiri thought humorously as the boy attempted to glare at him.
"Then why are you wearing a dress?" Eiri asked, honestly confused by this strange boy.
Instead of responding, the pink haired boy just continued glaring, giving Eiri a chance to get a better look at him. The boy was wearing a very dirty and worn, orange piece of clothing, which to Eiri looked like a dress. He had vibrant purple eyes, a messy head of pink hair, no shoes, and was over half a foot shorter than Eiri. By the time Eiri had finally stopped observing the boy, the boy was looking down sadly.
"It's not a dress," the boy said sadly, "it's a rag, and it's all I can afford to buy to wear."
"How come that's all you can afford?" Eiri asked, curiosity peeking once again.
"Because my mother left a few years after I was born and my father's too sick to work. I'm the only one who can provide for my father, my sister, and I." the boy replied, eyes cast downward.
The pink haired boy generally shocked Eiri, he'd never met anyone like him, not with his looks, family life, or…even social class. Eiri had never met a poor person before, and although the boy seemed dirty, he was kind. Once again, Eiri questioned why he was supposed to stay away from people of a lower class. To him there was nothing wrong with lower class people. As Eiri began to wonder into his own thoughts, the pink haired boy looked up as if he had just thought of something of great importance.
"I'm sorry, I should've introduced myself by now," the pink haired boy said suddenly, looking embarrassed. "I'm Shuichi Shindou!" the boy excitedly exclaimed to Eiri, reaching a hand out in greeting.
Eiri stood dumbfounded for a second before he reached out his own hand and shook the now over excited boy's hand, "I'm Eiri Uesugi," Eiri greeted.
Shuichi's eyes went wide as soon as he heard Eiri's name. "You're one of the Uesugi's?" Shuichi questioned, sounding surprised.
"Unfortunately," Eiri grumbled back. Is my family really that well known, Eiri wondered as he looked back to the now frowning again boy.
"I'm sorry," Shuichi said as tears started to form in his eyes, "I shouldn't be bothering someone as high class as you." Shuichi tried to run, but didn't make it one foot before Eiri grabbed his arm and yanked him back.
"What are you doing?" Eiri asked, surprise and irritation in his tone, "Why are you trying to run away?"
"My dad told me to stay away from high class people, said I'd only be a bother to them," Shuichi sniffed as he looked sadly into Eiri's eyes.
Eiri just laughed and ruffled the boy's hair, "I don't think you're a bother," Eiri assured Shuichi, "I don't get why people say higher and lower classes can't interact with each other."
"Because people like me are looked down upon as the filth of society, many people think we're just beggars and shouldn't be let around the well off people," Shuichi muttered quietly, staring at his feet.
"Well many are just fools to think just because someone isn't as well off as they are that person is a lesser person," Eiri replied, smiling as Shuichi met eyes with him and smiled.
"So…you don't mind that I'm poor?" Shuichi questioned Eiri, happiness coming back to his eyes.
"Of course not," Eiri responded smiling, happy to have finally found someone different from all the rich snobs he knew.
"I'm so glad!" Shuichi suddenly exclaimed, happily pouncing on Eiri, causing them both to fall over.
Eiri usually would've been agitated if anyone pounced on him, but Shuichi ,who had somehow ended up below him, only made him want to smile.
"Oh sorry!" Shuichi quickly apologized as he sheepishly looked up to Eiri's face. At seeing Shuichi's embarrassed face Eiri began to laugh, laughing harder when Shuichi started to blush.
"Quit laughing at me!" Shuichi shouted embarrassed as he pushed at Eiri's chest, failing to get him to budge, "and would you get off of me already!"
Eiri only then truly realized the position he was in, he could've gotten up right then, but decided it'd be more fun to continue teasing Shuichi. "I don't know, I'm tired, and getting up takes so much effort," Eiri responded sarcastically to Shuichi's last command.
"I said get off!" Shuichi yelled at Eiri, trying hard not to blush.
"Make me," Eiri taunted childishly, aggravating Shuichi.
Suddenly an idea came to Shuichi and he smirked at Eiri, "Alright then," Shuichi said calmly. However, there was a glint in his eye.
"What are you-" Eiri was about to ask what Shuichi was thinking when he felt something press against his lips.
For a few seconds, Eiri didn't move, it was as if he was frozen, and then once he finally gripped the situation… "WHAT THE HELL!" Eiri yelped as he jumped back from Shuichi, who was now laughing.
"You told me to make you get off," Shuichi simply stated as Eiri glared at him.
"I told you to make me get off of you! Not to kiss me!" Eiri shouted, not exactly sure why he seemed so angry.
"Well it worked," Shuichi replied smugly, mocking Eiri.
Shuichi's smug attitude was really starting to annoy Eiri, so he did the only thing he could think to do to even out the score. Shuichi stared curiously as Eiri moved his face closer to his, not really sure what Eiri was doing. A moment too late Shuichi realized Eiri's intentions and immediately lunged back as soon as he felt Eiri's lips on his.
"What was that for?!" Shuichi yelled at Eiri, as he stumbled backwards blushing.
"To even out the score," Eiri dead panned to Shuichi, smiling triumphantly as he looked down at said boy.
Shuichi pouted as Eiri smirked down at him, "But you stole my first kiss," Shuichi told Eiri, still pouting.
Eiri just rolled his eyes, "And you stole my first kiss, so we're even," Eiri responded, eyes traveling anywhere but Shuichi's face.
Shuichi just stared at Eiri wide eyed and asked, "Up until now you've never been kissed?"
"Yes, what's so shocking about that?" Eiri in turn asked Shuichi.
"I thought someone as well known, wealthy, and as good looking as you would've kissed someone by now," Shuichi replied, curiosity in his eyes.
"Well I haven't, all the kids at my school and in my neighborhood are too snobby for me," Eiri told Shuichi, he was about to drop the matter when he remembered something else Shuichi had said.
"You think I'm good looking?" Eiri asked Shuichi, smirking when he blushed and started stuttering.
"I-I meant from any p-person's general perspective you'd be good looking," Shuichi stuttered, turning away from Eiri.
"Whatever you say," Eiri told Shuichi as he continued to smirk.
It got quiet for a few minutes until Shuichi finally broke the silence, "I think we should kiss each other," Shuichi dead panned as Eiri, who had been staring calmly across the lake, snapped his head around and looked wide eyed at Shuichi.
"And why do you think that?" Eiri asked, confusion slipping in his tone.
"Because," Shuichi began, "Your first kiss should be special, or at least not stolen from you, so we should kiss to make up for it."
"No," Eiri stated, trying to stay calm as he once again looked across the lake.
"Eiri pleassee," Shuichi begged, "I want to make up for stealing your first kiss and you should want to also want to make up for stealing mine."
"Isn't there something normal we could do to make it up for each other," Eiri asked, trying to keep the inevitable from happening.
"Kissing is normal," Shuichi stated, as if it was the most obvious thing in world.
"Not for two boys," Eiri replied, he'd never seen a movie or anything with two men kissing.
"So? It's not like you're doing what normal high class citizens do anyway," Shuichi told Eiri.
"True," Eiri stated after thinking about it for a minute.
"So you'll kiss me?" Shuichi excitedly asked Eiri.
"I guess I have no choice," Eiri sighed, finally giving in to the pink haired boy's wish. Shuichi smiled happily and jumped on Eiri, linking his arms behind Eiri's neck in the process. Eiri was nervous, I can do this, Eiri thought as he looked into Shuichi's vibrant purple eyes. Finally, after gathering up the courage, Eiri leaned down and brought his arms around Shuichi's waist, forcing him up and into a kiss.
Eiri immediately felt Shuichi's lips press into his. They were warm and soft, and seemed to match up with his perfectly. Eiri and Shuichi continued to kiss for over a minute until they both remembered they had to breathe.
Shuichi looked up at Eiri, face completely flushed, and said, "Now that wasn't too bad, right?"
Eiri quickly averted his eyes so he wouldn't end up blushing as well and replied, "Yeah, I guess."
Shuichi smiled and brought his mouth up next to Eiri's ear, "Thanks Eiri," he whispered sweetly.
"Sure thing," Eiri said nonchalantly, still averting his eyes.
"So what do you want to do now?" Shuichi asked Eiri casually, lifting his arms from around Eiri's neck and stretching.
"We could just…talk, for now," Eiri suggested.
"That's fine with me," Shuichi responded, sitting down in front of the lake, "So what do you want to talk about?"
"I don't know," Eiri said, shrugging his shoulders as he sat down beside Shuichi, "Why were you sitting all alone here earlier?"
Shuichi sighed and averted eye contact, "Sometimes it's really hard to be at home with my dad being sick," Shuichi began, "so I come out here to escape for a little."
"I've never seen you here before though," Eiri commented.
Shuichi smiled at Eiri, though his eyes were sad, "That's because I usually just hide behind the bushes, kids always bully me if they see me," Shuichi told Eiri. Eiri frowned and vowed to punch the next kid who dared try to bully his new friend. He didn't care if it wasn't what a model child should do.
"I'll kick their asses," Eiri growled, Shuichi just laughed.
"Then you'll just be stooping down to their level," Shuichi scolded Eiri, though only playfully.
"Doesn't matter to me as long as they stop bothering you," Eiri retorted, head turned in defiance.
Shuichi just smiled and jumped onto Eiri, "I'm so glad to have met you!" Shuichi uttered happily, as he knocked himself and Eiri onto the ground again.
For a few seconds Eiri just glared at the Shuichi but he soon found himself smiling with him, Eiri rarely ever smiled any other time. There was just something about the boy that made Eiri's usual stolid exterior crumble, not that it was a bad thing. It was…refreshing for him.
"Okay," Shuichi started as he rolled off Eiri, "It's my turn to ask a question."
***
Shuichi and Eiri had been talking and playing for hours when the sun started to set. Eiri had been chasing Shuichi, when Shuichi suddenly stopped causing Eiri to crash into him.
"Ow," Eiri said, rubbing his head, "Why'd you stop?"
"Oh no! I completely lost track of time!" Shuichi panicked, completely ignoring Eiri's question. "I've got to go! I'm sorry Eiri!" Shuichi quickly yelled as he began sprinting off.
"Shuichi! Wait!" Eiri yelled after him, trying to catch up.
For a second Shuichi stopped and yelled, "Come meet me again here tomorrow!" before smiling and sprinting off too fast for Eiri to keep up.
Shuichi sighed as he sprinted, watching the figure of Eiri grow farther and farther away. His house wasn't far from the lake but he had forgotten to come back earlier and check on his dad and sister, he also had to get dinner started. In a matter of minutes Shuichi's small shack, which his family had made into their home, came into view.
Once Shuichi opened the wooden door of his small shack, his sister, Maiko, greeted him.
"Hello Shu-chan," Maiko said, as she pulled on her usual long left-sided brunette braid, "I'm glad you're home, me and daddy are hungry." Shuichi smiled at his sister as she looked up at him happily with deep blue eyes, she always looked so shy and innocent, though she was only four.
"Alright Maiko," Shuichi told his sister after a minute, "I'll get dinner started, why don't you go play and I'll call you when it's finished."
"Alright, Shu-chan!" Maiko said happily, as she ran into one of the few rooms in the shack. As soon as Maiko disappeared, Shuichi immediately went to the kitchen, which was very small and didn't have much in it, and started preparing dinner. Living as he did Shuichi, often times, felt like a working mom. How manly, Shuichi thought sarcastically and laughed. He'd never been masculine anyway though so it didn't bother him.
After about a half hour Shuichi had finished making dinner, which included a big bowl of homemade pot roast soup and some rolls.
"Maiko! Dad! Dinner's ready!" Shuichi yelled once he had gotten the small wooden table in his kitchen set, "Don't forget to wash up!" Soon everyone, whom was only three people, was at the table and they began to eat their dinner.
"So dad…" Shuichi started in between bites of his food, "how are you feeling today?" Shuichi's eyes met with warm purple eyes much like his own as his dad looked up to answer.
"I'm feeling okay," Mr. Shindou replied, while running his hand through his short dark brown hair, "I'm able to get up today at least." Shuichi smiled at the answer, it was always nice when his dad could join them for dinner, some days he couldn't get out of bed at all.
"I'm glad," Shuichi responded warmly, smiling at his small family as he continued eating dinner.
Hours later Shuichi sat on his bed in the room he shared with his sister, though he didn't mind sharing a room. After all, there were only four rooms in Shuichi's shack, which included two bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen. The woods were the Shindou's bathroom, since they didn't have any electricity or running water, and they took baths in the creek that was deep in the forest behind their shack. So they didn't the fanciest home, at least they had each other.
Shuichi smiled as he lay down to go to sleep, thinking of everything that had happened that day. He couldn't wait to see Eiri again and really hoped he would show up the next day. Once content with the sleeping position he was in, Shuichi closed his eyes. Finally asleep, Shuichi dreamed of the boy who had become his friend, even with the knowledge that to most it was completely unacceptable to be near him. Shuichi smiled as he dreamed.
***
Months seemed to fly by as Eiri and Shuichi started meeting each other whenever they could, though sometimes they would barely able to see each other since Eiri was busy pleasing his parents and Shuichi was busy with odd jobs and taking care of his family. However, they were content and soon became the best of friends…and maybe even a little more. Not that they really knew what more then friends was for them, they'd never really had friends to know what platonic feelings were and what weren't.
Though eventually they seemed to figure out someone who's just your "friend" doesn't make your heart skip a beat or make you have urges to kiss them. So as the months and weeks continued to fly by Eiri and Shuichi eventually became something like a "couple".
While Shuichi was gleefully able to tell his dad and sister, Eiri had to keep everything secret. For Eiri would be banned to go outside or something along those lines, and although his parents hadn't figured out anything yet, they were starting to get suspicious.
Eiri and Shuichi desperately tried to keep Eiri's family from finding out what was going on, but they were finally found out when a family friend, who had been told to snoop around after Eiri, saw them together and immediately told Eiri's family.
Eiri's parents were beyond outraged when their son came home the day they found out what was going on, and not only did they lock Eiri up in his room and ban him to leave the house, they decided to move so Eiri could no longer see his more then friend. With only a week before Eiri would be forced to move Eiri spent all his time trying to escape, and when he finally did, he went to see Shuichi one last time.
***
As Eiri ran towards the now, oh so familiar, lake he noticed a bright pink haired kid on the other side.
"Shuichi!" Eiri called out as he ran as fast as he could to the other side of the lake.
"Eiri?" Shuichi questioned as the blonde Uesugi boy turned up panting in front of him.
"Shuichi I'm so sorry! My parents found out that I was-" Eiri started, but then was stopped when Shuichi latched on to him. "Shu, what's wrong?" Eiri asked as he felt he shirt begin to get damp.
Shuichi looked up with sad purple eyes and said in a broken voice, "My dad's gotten worse, he's going to…to die…"
Shuichi broke down in Eiri's arms as he finished his sentence, while Eiri felt his own sadness increase for he now had to give Shuichi some news that would make everything even worse.
"Shuichi…" Eiri mumbled as he held said boy tighter and tried desperately not cry.
Shuichi noticed Eiri's actions and seemed to sense the utter despair rolling off him, "E-Eiri…what…?"
Shuichi never got to finish as Eiri interrupted him, "I'm leaving," Eiri said, his voice sounding completely empty.
Time seemed to stand still for a few minutes until Shuichi finally, really grasped the news, "You're…leaving…" Shuichi stated, seeming calm for a minute until he completely exploded, "Why?! Why are you leaving?!" Eiri slightly jumped at the sudden outburst, and tried to calm Shuichi down.
"Shuichi, I'm sorry! I told you my parents found out about me meeting you and they're moving away so I can't see you anymore! I don't want to leave though! I just want to be with you, you're the only one who…really makes me happy," Eiri rushed out, hoping Shuichi would calm down a bit.
"Eiri," Shuichi whispered quietly as he began to cry again.
"Shuichi," Eiri mumbled back as he held Shuichi and let the tears he'd been holding in for so long escape.
"I…I don't know what I'll do without you," Shuichi muttered into Eiri's shirt, which he was desperately clinging on to.
"You'll figure it out," Eiri whispered to Shuichi, "you need to be strong for your family."
"B-But, I don't want to figure it out, I just want to be w-with you," Shuichi mumbled back.
"I promise I'll find a way back to you," Eiri affirmed, "no matter what."
"Really," Shuichi asked, looking deep into Eiri's eyes.
"Of course," Eiri replied with a small smile.
"I-I'll miss you," Shuichi told Eiri, "I'll never forget you."
"I'll miss you too," Eiri responded, "you'll never leave my heart."
"Oh Eiri," Shuichi said pulling closer to said boy, "you'll never leave mine either." Eiri smiled once again and continued to hold Shuichi, and they stayed like that for hours, only moving to gently kiss and then move back and smile.
Though it'd been hours, it felt like minutes when they finally heard Eiri's frantic, outraged parents. Eiri frowned and turned sadly to Shuichi, who for some reason looked very serious.
"What is it?" Eiri asked Shuichi, who had turned to Eiri with his somber expression.
"I want to be your first," Shuichi deadpanned, looking Eiri strait in the eyes.
"Wha-What?" Eiri stuttered, taken aback, "What does that mean?"
Shuichi looked puzzled himself and shrugged, "I don't know," Shuichi replied honestly, "but my dad always told me the one you first give yourself to, whatever that means, should be the one who means the most to you…"
Even though Eiri was confused, he smiled anyway, "Then we'll be each others firsts," Eiri replied with as much happiness as he had left.
"So you'll find me again, and you won't let anybody else be your first?" Shuichi questioned, with innocence clear in his eyes.
"I promise, one day we'll be each other's firsts," Eiri replied, while smiling.
"Kiss on it?" Shuichi asked shyly, blushing slightly. Instead of replying Eiri brushed his lips against Shuichi's, who's immediately brushed back against his.
When they finally broke apart they smiled at each other, and Eiri pushed back a stray hair behind Shuichi's ear. They probably would've kissed again, but they were interrupted by loud yelling, which was quickly getting closer. Eiri frowned as he knew the inevitable had come, "Bye Shuichi, " Eiri said, in a solemn voice that held the promise they would meet again. "Bye Eiri," Shuichi whispered as tears began to slide down his face.
With a remorseful look on his face Eiri let go of Shuichi and watched as he walked away, looking back at Eiri with tear filled eyes every few steps. This was really goodbye, for the boys who'd later call each other their "first love". By the time Eiri's parents reached him he didn't even notice, he was too focused on the last place Shuichi had been before he disappeared. He was so focused on that one spot…he didn't even notice he'd been crying… not even as his parents dragged him away…Shuichi…Eiri thought as he left the spot he was certain he'd never be able to go to again…
End A/N: So that's the end…of the prologue :D (Wow, that was longer than I thought it would be^^) Dontcha' just love little kid Shuichi ^-^ he has the best ideas x3 cause little kid logic is awesome xD And hurray, I didn't think I'd ever finish this, I started it months ago, got distracted by something else, then finally finished it today… But I'm really into this story now so expect updates soon enough. (Hopefully…reviews will inspire me to continue!) I really liked writing about them as kids but if I didn't fast-forward everything at the end this prologue would be soooo long, and then I'd never get to the present time story x3. Plus Eiri's more ooc as a kid and I'm sure some people don't want too much of that, don't worry, he'll be a cold bastard again soon^^ Love you guys for reading this, please review, constructive criticism is fine but flames will be shunned till next time ;)
~Kitty