Summary: What if Yuki were the rockstar? What if Shuichi were the novelist? Would the two have opposite personalities: Yuki being hyper and Shuichi being agressive? Would they meet in the same fateful way as they did that day in the park? Or, will the two forever live in ignorance of each other?
Disclaimer: I do not own Gravitation or any of the songs (italicized). Gravitation belongs to Maki Murakami, the songs belong to their singers/groups/bands. The song in the first chapter belongs to Three Days Grace.
Chapter Two
"Shindou-san, how is the next chapter coming?" Mizuki said in her would-be-friendly voice, a fake smile plastered on her face. She already knew the answer to this question, but it was her job to ask.
"Um...well, I--"
"--Haven't finished it, yet?"
"Yeah..."
Mizuki rubbed her head to calm the throbbing vein in her temple. She hated it when Shuichi completely shrugged off his deadlines. Yes, his books eventually got finished, and yes, the books sold well, but publishing was a business, and it was improper to do turn in anything late.
"I'll get it done, Mizuki-chan, I always do."
"You need to stop slacking off, Shindou-san. At this rate, nothing will get done."
"It will." Shuichi whined, poking a pocky stick into his mouth.
Mizuki sighed and stood. She knew she was done for the day. There was no talking sense into the boy.
"I'll be back at the end of this week for the next chapter. HAVE IT DONE!"
Shuichi watched Mizuki as she led herself out of his apartment, slamming the door behind her. That woman was so moody! He slouched into the couch and looked up at the clock. He had a good three hours before the concert. He figured her would watch television for an hour or so, and then take a shower and get ready. He wanted to be one of the first ones there, so he could get a good seat.
He had never seen a flyer for the band, any pictures, or anything at all of the band, so he didn't completely comprehend as to why he wanted a good seat. There was a feeling in the pit of his gut telling him to do so. He figured it wouldn't hurt anything.
After an hour of randomly flipping through the channels and only stopping to see if any interesting cartoon was on, Shuichi stood and decided it was a good time to take a shower. He went to the bathroom and readied himself, then turned the water on, making sure it was nice and hot.
He let the water run down his body, awakening his senses. Showers made him feel better, like they were cleansing his very being. He raised his eyes to the ceiling and watched clouds of steam rise. He wondered if his spirit was amongst all of that mist...rising and then disappearing into inexistance... He finished washing himself and got ready.
The air was cold when he stepped outside. He wrapped his jacket around him tighter, wishing he would have chose something to wear other than the thin jeans with the rips at the knees and a Cute Is What We Aim For shirt. He continued to walk down the street until he came to a busy spot where he signaled a taxi. A yellow taxi saw his signal and slowed down, picked him up and asked him lazily where he wanted to go. Shuichi told him the name of the arena the concert was taking place.
"Ah, going to see Bad Luck? Fine new group, fine indeed." the taxi driver said with smile, his old and wrinkled face not matching well with is jet black hair.
"Yes, that's what I hear..." Shuichi answered, not paying much attention.
"The lead singer, Yuki Eiri, they say he's a vocal prodigy. Say he can match up to Sakuma Ryuichi himself."
"Is that so?" Shuichi replied, watching his breath steam up the window.
The driver pulled up to the entrance of Shuichi's destination. He handed the taxi driver some yen, which the taxi driver gratefully took. He turned in his seat to look at Shuichi and grinned.
"You won't be disappointed."
"Thanks."
Shuichi stepped out of the car, grateful to leave that scary taxi cab driver behind. He shivered once again in the cold and steadily walked to the entrance to warm his body up. He had his ticket checked at the entrance (and of course the checker recognized who he was and had him escorted to his seat) and he sat in the front row facing the stage, right in the middle. He looked around at the empty stage and then around at the steadily filling arena. Hopefully, this would be worth his money.
About a half hour later the arena was filled and the band began to approach the stage. The first person that caught Shuichi's eye was the blonde one...
He intrigued Shuichi... His blonde locks and the way they swayed with no wind, his golden, amber eyes scanning the crowd, his body...everything about him made Shuichi shiver.
"How're you guys tonight?" the blonde man's deep voice rang through the microphone.
There was a loud roar from the crowd. Shuichi didn't seem to hear it, he was perplexed in the blonde man.
"As you might know, we are Bad Luck. We hope that you will enjoy us. We are a new band, and our success lies in you guys." the blonde man continued. "Now, I think I should introduce you to the band. One the guitar over there is Nakano Hiroshi, and he's a GENIUS not only on the guitar but in school! Something I never was! Over there on the synth and keyboard is Fujisaki Suguru, he's a prodigy, I swear it. And as for me... I'm Yuki Eiri and I hope that you all enjoy the show."
Yuki...
For one moment Shuichi felt himself lock eyes with the blonde man who called himself Yuki. For that one moment, time seemed to stop. They stared at each other for what seemed like years, Shuichi's heart racing. He came to realization that he must look like an idiot, blushed hard, and turned his face. How embarrassing!!!
When the music started, though... The man called Yuki sang with intensity. He sang right at Shuichi...
Pain, without love
Pain, I can't get enough
Pain, like it rough
'Cuz I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all
Hiroshi opened the music with a heavy guitar beat, followed by Suguru's syth creating a deep drum beat. They played music along for a couple of notes until Yuki's voice rang out clear, deep...right to him.
You're sick of feeling numb
You're not the only one
Trust me and take my hand
And I'll show you a world that you can understand
This life is filled with hurt
When happiness doesn't work
Trust me, I've got a plan
When the lights go out you'll understand
Oh...
Shuichi's palms began to sweat and he felt his heart thump along with the beat of the music. Not only was this Yuki guy singing from his soul, he was staring straight at Shuichi the entire time, like he was singing the song directly to him. Shuichi's only reply was to continue to stare up at him, trying to put on an expressionless face... He knew right then and there that he had a crush on this Yuki guy. He didn't know how or why, but he did... He liked broads, for crissakes!!!!! Why was he infatuated with a man?
But, there was no hiding the admiration and glow in Shuichi's eyes. He could feel that his face was so easy to read, that what he was feeling was completely obvious. Okay...maybe he could come to terms with the fact that he has a little puppy crush on the lead singer of a band (come on, who wouldn't!), but he was afraid of love. He was a celebrity, this Yuki was a celebrity, and celebrities get together. But..he couldn't let that happen. No way! Nothing ever worked out for Shuichi, so rather than let himself get hurt he'd avoid the very thing that would hurt him in the first place.
Besides, who's to say that this Yuki guy feels the same. So what if he looked at Shuichi, sang to him? He's an artist, that's his job. Shuichi's eyes dropped in sadness. What was he letting come over himself. First a crush on the same gender, and now already ruling out the possibility that a relationship could sprout? What was wrong with him?
Pain, without love
Pain, can't get enough
Pain, like it rough
'Cus I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all
Was this pain worth it? Did Shuichi really want to live in loneliness? He had to face the facts, a simple look in the eye didn't mean anything, but... the moment he laid eyes on this Yuki guy he knew that it felt right.
I know, I know, I know, I know
That you're worried
You know, you know, you know, you know
That I'm here to save you
Did he really want to put himself through all of that stress? He avoided relationships, he avoided people because it always turned out the same. He just left it alone and found that he couldn't get hurt. He had always been told that he needed to take risks, but if he took a risk it always ended that some chick wanted to jump down his pants and leave him the next morning without so much as a goodbye or and I'll call you later.
Was it any different with a guy? Most guys that Shuichi had known were jerks, treating their women wrong and cheating on them frequently. Is it the same with male-male relationships? What was he talking about??!?! He's STRAIGHT!! Besides, he didn't know if this Yuki guy went one way or the other way or if he would even care. He didn't know the man. Probably never will..
You know, you know, you know, you know
I will wait here for you
I know, I know, I know, I know
That you'll thank me later
Pain, without love
Pain, can't get enough
Pain, like it rough
'Cuz I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all
At the last note Shuichi stared up at the Yuki man and watched him. For the rest of the concert all he did was watch Yuki. His body movements, the way his mouth moved... He could feel himself wanting that man more and more the more he watched him. He had to get out, he had to leave..but he didn't want to waste the time he did have watching Yuki...
After the concert, the audience began to file out. Shuichi decided to wait until most of the building was cleared out, to be more secure about his identity being kept at bay (he didn't want to be swarmed by fangirls). He watched people leave and his head was buzzing with many thoughts. The band was good, really good. There was something about Yuki's charisma that made them so appealing. What else was bothering him was the fact that in such a short time, he had become confused about his sexuality.
"Do I really want that man, or am I losing my mind?" Shuichi said to himself.
"That was some concert, huh?"
Shuichi turned his head and saw a young girl standing behind him, grinning from ear to ear.
"Uh...yeah... It was good."
"That Yuki Eiri is something else. I would soooo sleep with that man if I could!!"
Shuichi faked a grin and turned back around, now making his way toward the exit. He felt someone grab his shoulder tightly and thrust him around. He found himself face to face with the girl behind him.
"I know who you are!!! You're Shindou Shuichi, the novelist! OH MY GAWD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Shuichi silently cursed as the hundreds of girls in the building started going frantic in a search of Shuichi. Silently telling himself to wear glasses next time, he started to run, trying with all his might to escape the fan girls.