Author's note: This is my first Gravitation story. I am most familiar with the animated show and my story is based on it. It has been many months since I wrote in the fanfic world, so this fanfic has crossed a bunch of hurdles. I had a ton of fun writing for such diverse personalities. If I can bring any enjoyment in your life with my story, please leave feedback! It is most appreciated!
Disclaimer: Gravitation's characters aren't mine. They belong to Maki Murakami.
Undeniable
An interview, a couple meetings, and vocal practice made up Shuichi Shindou's day at N-G Productions. It had been tiring as soon as the day started and he was glad when the time to go home got announced. He wasn't the only one; lead guitarist Hiroshi Nakano let out a whoop as soon as their boss let them go. Shuichi grinned at his best friend's sudden enthusiasm. Hiro didn't usually act so happy. "What's up, Hiro? You look like you're going to burst."
"From joy, you mean!" Hiro returned the smile. "Ayaka is visiting tomorrow. We've been so busy recording for our new album, I've barely had the chance to see her."
That comment Shuichi couldn't argue with. Bad Luck had been preparing for a new album and the crew's schedule put a strain on social lives. Days off work seemed to be a rarity lately. He loved singing, but he did want a break. "I know how it's like to miss a loved one," Shuichi agreed while looking around the meeting room for his belongings. He really had to stop flinging things everywhere when he got excited.
Hiro laughed as he took a sip from his water bottle and pushed sweaty chestnut bangs off his forehead. "Miss? What's to miss? Yuki-san is letting you live in his apartment and you get to see him everyday. How can you complain?"
A little blush crossed the singer's face at the mention of his lover's name. He really couldn't argue over that point either because Hiro was right. He did get to see the face of the man he won over just two months earlier day after day. The thought of being able to see Yuki's face now caused a goofy grin to split Shuichi's face. "Yeah, but you gotta admit love is great, no matter how far apart you are."
"True, true! The thought of being with Ayaka tomorrow gives me a rush." Hiro's eyes began to sport a similar kooky glaze like Shuichi.
"Are you two going to be like this forever?" interjected a question by Suguru Fujisaki. Bad Luck's final band mate, he was a fantastic keyboardist, but his logic and self-restraint boggled Shuichi's mind. Ramen noodles without a ton of condiments, fizzy soda without a mix of another type... the simplicity drove Shuichi crazy, but since crazy was in his blood, he could understand his preference towards the complex.
Hiro also had self-restraint, but bouts of fun did flare up and he could turn into an energized lunatic like Shuichi. The mention of girlfriend Ayaka resulted in the same bubbly reaction. "Hey Fujisaki, if you learn to let loose, you can have a ton of fun like we do."
Fujisaki's mane of short raven hair shook in disagreement. "You two have enough wild fun for me and yourselves combined. I'd rather stay sane. See you guys later." He waved goodbye on his way out of the room.
The remainder of a donut was stuffed into Hiro's mouth and he spoke around it, "It's great to have someone as level-headed as Fujisaki in the group, don't ya think Shuichi? To balance out our wacky adventures and everything?"
"It sure is." Shuichi tossed in a shirt and some notes into his backpack. "How long is Ayaka staying for?"
"Three days."
Even as the skeptical eyebrow raised from his psychotic friend, Hiro drew back, his tone sharp. "Hey, I'm going to be a perfect gentleman. Don't you even think about it!"
An enormous grin crossed Shuichi's face . "Think about what?"
Hiro just nodded. "Good boy. You can be a pervert on your own."
Jumping up and down, Shuichi could also nod simultaneously. "You're right. I have to see Yuki now. Bye!" He shot out of the room and probably was out of the NG building before Hiro could comprehend that his buddy had left. Shuichi didn't like to leave him hanging, but he'd understand. Best friends always did.
After a half-and-half running and walking race back home, the 19 year old skidded to a stop at Yuki's apartment door. He managed to unlock it and tumble on through before the excited greeting left his mouth, "La li hoooooo! I'm home Yuuuki!"
No response. The red sneakers on his feet seemed to kick themselves off when he ran to the study room Yuki holed himself in whenever he typed up a new novel. He flung open the door, only to be met by the glow of the familiar laptop and an unattended rolling chair. Disappointment didn't have any chance to set in when Shuichi darted to the kitchen. Nobody there. A tiny frown began settling on Shuichi's forehead and he slowed his bullet-train pace. The bathroom revealed no presence either and a double check of the entertainment room didn't fare better results. That left only one place.
Feet tapping softly on the hardwood floor, he cracked open Yuki's bedroom door -their bedroom, the novelist grudgingly conceded a week ago- and finally got his reward, if not better. Sprawled out on the mattress was none other than Eiri Yuki, who lay in a tangled, if not peaceful slumber. In still moments like this, Yuki wasn't his testy alias Eiri Yuki, but his true self, Eiri Uesugi. There weren't any deceptions or barriers, but a raw unguarded self that gave Shuichi shivers whenever he saw it. Shuichi felt happy to know he was one of those rare people who didn't have to see the sleepyhead as just the popular love story writer. Yuki's penname had grew on Shuichi, so he kept calling him by it. The blond never seemed to mind.
Lying on his stomach as usual, Yuki looked like he had tripped into sleep. The plum covers weren't pulled up over himself, but they sure liked his legs because it was the one part of him they made contact with. He had on his "working clothes", as Shuichi dubbed them: an oversized long-sleeved shirt of some dark color -charcoal gray in this instance- which de-classed the stylish khakis he wore. Why on earth he wore such nice pants when he wasn't going to be seen by anyone public remained a mystery.
Shuichi entered the bedroom and wondered if he was in the dangerous mood: should he let out a jungle yell and startle awake Yuki? It didn't happen often and now was a great opportunity. His eardrums would ring as a consequence, but it sure would be worth it to see the man shocked. Shuichi's mouth opened, but then recalling Yuki's reminder about an approaching deadline for his latest novel, he slowly sighed instead. No point in shattering the quiet. Besides, the older man had been a tad more moody lately, and the deadline was probably the reason.
Gingerly, Shuichi sat on the bed, just looking at his lover. Cheek, tuft of bangs, parted mouth, a pale ear poking out from his tangled straw hair...these things Yuki couldn't admire with the same mindset as his enthusiastic partner did. If he did, he would be incredibly vain and Shuichi refused to believe he was that kind of person.
Asleep, asleep the writer was, but he ought to be awake just for him... Leaning over, a small nip on the ear did it. Olive eyes blinked open and a low groan was the reaction. For a suspended moment, there was nothing but a hazy stare. The sleepy look vanished and Yuki slapped a hand against his warm ear, apparently solving how he woke up. His face turned a tinge of pink and he greeted with utter kindness, "What the hell are you doing, disturbing my sleep?"
Shuichi's eyes rolled. He had gotten used to these kinds of snarky greetings, but that didn't mean they never got annoying. "Hi to you too. And don't tell me you didn't like that." He slyly nudged him. Yuki made no comment, only sat up. Shuichi kept going. "So don't I get a better hello than that? I've had a hard day too. That interview today was plain bad! The lady who asked the questions sat next to me and wouldn't stop pawing at me and Hiro sat there on her other side and didn't help me in the slightest because he didn't want her going after him and I could tell he thought of Ayaka then because he got this look-"
The hard press of lips against his own halted his tirade. Then Yuki was right in his face. "You did tell her you were taken, right?"
Shuichi tried to sound neutral. "I wouldn't be here otherwise."
"What did you say to her?"
"Well, I didn't tell her exactly."
"Because?"
A playful giggle. "News about us travels around fast and I figured she already knew. It's no secret."
"That didn't stop her from going after you, did it?"
"Are you jealous? Is Eiri Yuki jealous of lil' me?"
"Hnh." Yuki's face came into view as he pulled back. Upon doing so, Shuichi noticed the beginning of dark circles under his eyes. He felt concerned. "Have you been staying up? You look tired. I mean, you're such a night person and seeing you in bed so soon in the evening surprised me."
Yuki leaned back. "I'm fine."
"Maybe you should go back to your nap."
"I'm awake now. There's no point."
"I didn't mean to wake you."
"I said I'm fine."
A sigh escaped the pink-haired teen. This was nearly identical to the conversation they had yesterday and the day before when he probed about Yuki's health. As excepted, the stoic guy brushed it off easily like a fly on a picnic table. Unfortunately, Shuichi was the fly, and this fly was getting rather mad at being swatted at. But he kept his temper in check when he tried one more time. "How about something to eat? I'm getting better at making coffee if you want to stay awake."
It took a little while, but Yuki untangled the mess of blanket around his feet and abruptly rose from the bed. "What part of 'I'm fine' do you not understand? I don't need a nap right now and I'm not hungry. All I want at this very moment is a smoke." To prove his point, he walked out of the room without waiting for a response.
Shuichi's teeth gnashed as he followed the writer to the kitchen where a cigarette box and lighter were sitting on the counter. Yuki deftly opened the carton and in went a stick between his lips. Shuichi demanded, "This is what you want? What about me?"
The metal lighter flicked on. The tip of the mentholated stick glowed orange and Yuki savored a drag. The smoke wisped out of his mouth like a kiss. "What about you?"
"Why do you choose a dumb cigarette over me? I'm a human being, you know!"
Yuki's bored gaze didn't break. "This seduces me more than you."
Was Yuki trying to infuriate him? "I come home and I want to know how your day's been and I get this? I even have the day off tomorrow! I know you're busy with your next novel and all, but this attitude of yours isn't helping."
The sardonic laugh that came next was creepy. Yuki's slim fingers balanced the cigarette and he replied dangerously, "My attitude? Let me tell you why my attitude is the way it is now. You come home during the past few days and you scream in my ears like a banshee while I'm working. You know I work best in the evening and yet you still bother me to no end. You also know about my deadline. Do you expect me to concentrate on my work with all this noise?"
Shuichi winced slightly. Ok, sure he turned a little rowdy when he got home, but his excitement over seeing Yuki was the reason. Depending on both their schedules, they would set aside time to eat dinner together or go outside and get lost in the din of Tokyo's bustling city life. It wasn't much to ask from Yuki, but Shuichi counted the seconds until they spent quality time together. He would often haul the recluse out of his dark room whenever he had writer's block and Yuki would do the same when he caught Shuichi banging his head on the table when lyrics for a song didn't show up on paper. The person being persuaded was always reluctant to go, but five minutes outside turned their view right around.
Dinner, a ten minute walk, a half hour make-out session; whatever the activity, Shuichi threw himself in it 150 percent. Disasters did happen on occasion, but Yuki never meant any harm when he yelled at him for being an idiot. The singer didn't think his enthusiasm was such a nuisance...well, except for their bedroom stints. Yuki never complained then.
Biting his lower lip, Shuichi wracked his brain for a good answer, but all that occupied his thoughts was how much of an idiot his lover was acting. "I...I get really happy when I see you! Why is that wrong?"
Yuki scoffed. "Acting like a six year old when I'm concentrating on writing is what's wrong. Do you have an ounce of common sense in that brain of yours?"
Once those words processed themselves through Shuichi's mind, he found that he didn't get it. More precisely, he wouldn't try to figure it out. Instead, his eyes teared up the way they always did when he couldn't think of a better reply. He turned and went to the entrance where his shoes lay and jammed his feet into them. He had picked up his backpack when Yuki wandered over, his stupid smoke still in hand. With a smirk, the older man said, "You start to make some sense and now you're going to leave? Such bad timing, Shuichi."
The door banged shut.
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A/N: An angry Shuichi is never a good thing! The next chapter awaits..
