Story: Reverses Collide by Lt-Tomoe87
Anime: Gravitation by Maki Murakami
Chapter 2: Losing vs. Misplacing?
Disclaimer: Kay, guess not.
Eiri had decided to keep his last encounter with Shuichi a secret from Tohma knowing that he would tease him even more this time since he didn't catch his name. Again. Something about Shuichi made Eiri want to punch the living hell out of the guy and yet…something else made him want to talk with him. Learn at the very least. He seemed like such a good person after helping him. But since Eiri was Eiri, he only saw insults and rejected any of his kindness.
Both of them were on there way to BD studios to hear from Suguru about them being employed as a band there. It was all going ok until half way there; Eiri realized he didn't have the important contract with him.
"WHAAAATT??" Their manager, Noriko, had just about had it with these two. She was always making up the mistakes for these morons.
Eiri stared at the ground. "I didn't lose it…I…misplaced it…"
Tohma sighed, frustrated. "That's the same thing, Eiri."
"Who asked you?!" The boy shot back.
"Alright, you two can it." Noriko bopped both of them on the head. "You'll just have to tell Suguru-san you lost it."
"Somehow," Tohma sighed again, rubbing the now sore spot on his head, "I don't think that he'll take it that easily, Noriko-san."
"Well we'll just have to take our chances now won't we!!" Noriko put on an obviously energy ridden optimistic smile and dragged the two into the building of BD Studios. "If you two don't pick up your feet, we'll be late!"
"Maybe we could walk if you weren't dragging us!" Eiri yelled back earning stares from the employees of the building.
It seemed forever until they reached Suguru's office. And when the three of them did, they were all out of breath. "You morons wait here." She caught her breath and entered the office. It probably would have helped them a great deal if the elevator hadn't been out of order and if Suguru's office wasn't on the top floor.
While waiting for the cue to join their manager in the office, Tohma and Eiri leaned against a wall, still catching their own breath. Tohma had his arms crossed and Eiri was on the floor, his back against the wall. You'd think being Suguru's distant cousin, that he would cut Tohma a break about being employed to BD Studios but no. He said that he needed to work for his position which he knew was true, but he was also hoping he'd get some advantages being related to the man.
Finally willing to ask the question, Tohma made sure Eiri was listening. "Eiri…where did that contract go? It's not like you to lose things like that."
As usual, Eiri glared into nothingness trying to come up with an explanation in his head, but failed miserably. "I got into a fight with a few thugs in an alley. I must've lost it there."
Tohma uncrossed his arms and looked down at the boy. "You told me those bruises were from falling down the stairs in your apartment!"
"I lied, moron." Eiri rolled his eyes.
Even Tohma was a bit bothered when Eiri talked to him like that. "How did you get into a fight?"
"Some guy was trying to grab my wallet. When I resisted he and his friends decided to beat the crap out of me for attempting to stop them."
"Did you get it back?"
"Yeah…but that contract was in the same pocket as my wallet…how did the contract fall out and not my wallet?" He pondered for a minute until he realized exactly where it was. "That jerk!"
"Eh?" Tohma asked surprised, but didn't get to ask who Eiri was referring to when Noriko opened the door to Suguru's office and ushered them in.
Suguru let the three of them stand and he had his elbows at his desk, resting his chin as he thought over what to say to them. "Noriko-san has informed me that you have lost your contract."
Eiri only nodded, ashamed.
"Well, you won't need it."
All three of them were taken by surprise by his words, "What…?" Tohma asked.
"You're music isn't good enough with just the two of you."
Eiri would have yelled at the man, but instead swallowed his pride literally knowing that this meeting could determine whether he and Tohma were going to be employed as a band.
"How so?" Tohma asked calmly.
Suguru took in a deep breath, "Eiri-san's voice is very clear and although he needs to work on his lyrics, he is a good singer." He turned his attention to Tohma, "While you have excellent keyboard skills I'm going to have to suggest that I let my friend Nakano Hiroshi assist you two as the guitarist for Nittle Grasper."
Now, even Eiri had a hard time not letting his jaw drop at the suggestion. "A- Are you s- serious?!" He managed to make out.
"Yes, Eiri-san. I'm totally serious. I'll get that contract rewritten with Nakano in mind." Suguru smiled, "You three are dismissed until further notice." As they turned around in disbelief to leave, Suguru said something else, "Actually, Eiri, I'd like to speak with you privately."
Eiri nodded and let Tohma and Noriko leave. "Yes?" He faced Suguru.
Just as Suguru was about to say something, his speaker beeped telling him that his receptionist needed to pass him a message. "Suguru-san, Shuichi Shindou would like to come to your office, would that be alright?"
Suguru smiled as he had not seen his friend in a long time. "Send him up here."
"Yes sir." The receptionist replied and hung up. Suguru sat back in his chair, surprised but satisfied that Shuichi was coming to visit him.
"You were saying?" Eiri asked him.
"Ah, yes." Suguru remembered that Eiri was present and continued where he left off with his train of thought. "I know we've discussed this before, but I believe you need to make more of an effort with your lyrics. They are far too dark for what this company is looking for. I'm giving you a chance because Tohma is my cousin. But if you continue to present me with lyrics titled such as, 'Suicidal Rage' I'll have to decline any other requests for you to stay with BD Studios." He paused to let Eiri soak the information. "Am I understood…Eiri-san?"
Eiri cleared his throat. "Yes sir." Just then, the office door opened, and Suguru smiled widely as saw the figure come into the room. Eiri was frozen as he recognized the man immediately.
"Ah! Shindou-kun! It's been so long." Suguru got up from his desk to greet him.
"I wanted to return this to you," Shuichi handed Suguru the piece of paper that he had found on his couch wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible. "It appeared to be from one of your upcoming employees, so I thought I would return it." He hadn't noticed that Eiri was in the room still.
Suguru laughed lightly as he opened the folded paper and looked it over.
"What is it?" Shuichi asked as if he had just missed a joke.
"Shindou-san…That upcoming employee," Suguru directed Shuichi's attention to Eiri. "Is right here."
Shuichi stared down at Eiri. His face didn't register surprise. His face painted a fake smile remembering the boy's rudeness. "Ah. Nice to see you again, Eiri-san."
Eiri froze. He didn't know whether to respond or not. If he did, an insult would probably fall out rather than a greeting.
"Oh? You two have met?" Suguru asked surprised.
"Not formally." Shuichi answered and looked back at Suguru. "I should get going. My editor is already bugging me about a new story. I'll call you later."
Suguru nodded in agreement again, not paying attention to Eiri's presence. "Yes, it'd be nice for us to stay in touch more."
Shuichi flashed an appropriate smile, and left the office.
"You're excused, Eiri-san." Suguru gave him the strong hint that he had other things to do.
Eiri only blankly nodded and left Suguru's office. He then chased after Shuichi. Now he understood. He had heard about the man's popularity. So that's who he is! Shindou Shuichi…and he's a writer! That's why he was able to criticize me so openly. He looked around to see where the man might have gone. The stairs was the only other option as he didn't see the man in any of the other halls and that elevator on this side of the building was out of order.
Nearly tripping over himself, Eiri made it to the stairwell surprised to find that it was not flooded with employees but instead the faint sound of footsteps heading downward. Jumping down the stairs two at a time, Eiri was almost caught up with Shuichi. "WAIT!" He finally yelled out of breath. Surprisingly, the footsteps ceased.
"What?" Shuichi replied rather irritated. He didn't feel like putting up a happy act at the moment. He felt his body going through early withdrawal of his depression medication that he had tried to wean himself off of with out his doctor's consent. He knew that she'd probably bite his head off for it, but he was just so sick of being on damn pills already. Right now all he wanted was to stop being such a moron and just take his dose of medication to cure the quickly progressing nausea.
Eiri was at loss of words as he came down the last set of stairs to meet Shuichi.
"How do you know Suguru-san?!" He finally asked.
Shuichi smirked, still annoyed that the kid had stopped him just for that. "Is that all you wanted to know?" Figuring that the silence meant 'yes' Shuichi started, "I used to sing with Fujisaki-san when I was younger with Hiro." He said noting that Eiri was shocked that he also knew Hiroshi. Not only did he know them, he used to sing with them.
"Wh- why did you quit and let Ryuichi Sakuma take your place?" He asked trying not to stutter.
"What gives you the right to think you should know my past?" Shuichi walked towards him. He was now pissed off. Who does this kid think he is?
Eiri felt cornered as once again he couldn't find a come back against the writer. He only glared at his large amethyst eyes. "Why do you have to have such authority in your voice?" A drum roll of obvious questions started to drain from his lips. "What makes you think you can say what my lyrics are and aren't?"
Shuichi was now getting annoyed also as Eiri's questions continued fire. The writer cut into his words like a knife, "You don't shut up do you?"
Eiri silenced himself at the harshness of Shuichi's voice.
"Not considering what trouble it is for another to deal with your teenage angst." He smirked as got into Eiri's face and grabbed his chin. "You really are a stubborn brat." The only way to shut the kid up came to his actions before he was able to rationalize them. He stared into Eiri's eyes as their lips met. Eiri's eyes read defeat and surprise as he couldn't believe this man was kissing him of all things. Shuichi pulled away, "Satisfied?"
Eiri could only stare at the air as Shuichi walked the rest of the way down the stairwell and collapsed as he heard the door slam letting him know that Shuichi was no longer there. He brought his fingers to his lips, still shocked at what had just happened to him. Was…that…real? He sat there, "DID A GUY JUST KISS ME?!" He screamed probably telling the news to the rest of the employees in the building.
A/N: Well, I'm glad I have this on a roll now. This really fun to write :D
dbskxsuju: Aha, glad you think so. XD It was hard to pick and choose what I'd keep the same.
Serenity Usagi Tenou: I was debating that but I'll have to think about it X3
TEWG: Ah, I'm glad someone caught that XD Yes, that's what I meant for Daisuke's song to be in the end, but I had forgotten about the idea. & 801: Well this is your first then XD
sana-chan9: Thank you!