We've now come to the moment of truth…da duh duh. Shuichi will now meet the contestants who are willing to do anything to get his heart. Prepare for backstabbing, catfights, etc.
Disclaimer: I don't own Gravitation or its characters. They are the sole property of Maki Murakami.
The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed. – Carl Jung
The day was finally here. The hopes and dreams of 32 people would finally be realized today. Everyone involved in this endeavor was now on their way to Yokohama. The mansion they would be staying at was owned by an old friend of K's from the States. The man had been successful in business and when he moved to Japan, had a mansion custom-built to his liking. Mixing both American and Asian themes, the house was by far larger than most homes in Japan. Since he would be out of the country for a year on business, they would have the run of the house provided there wasn't too much property damage.
Shuichi sat in the back of the limousine that K had hired. He was excited, yet nervous. To him, this was a large step, but hopefully, it would help him find someone who loved him. He knew that Seguchi had talked to Yuki and that he had been informed of the show. Shuichi had hoped that he would come storming into Hiro's apartment and bring him back. But there had been no sign of the author and now it was show time. Maybe this was his sign that Yuki didn't really care about their relationship and that he was right to do the show.
Hiro glanced over at his friend. Shuichi appeared to be nervous, which was understandable. I mean, to go on a show and have 32 people pawing over you like a piece of meat up for auction? Yeah, he could see where that would be nerve-wracking. Reaching over, he gently patted Shuichi's now dark purple hair that was streaked with chunky, blond stripes. The change in hair color had been K's idea, stating that a little change wouldn't hurt things. "It's okay to feel nervous, Shu, but in the end, it'll all be worth it. You'll charm them so much that you'll probably have quite a selection to choose from!" Seeing Shuichi's small smile, he knew that his friend was probably starting to feel a little bit better. Shuichi and Hiro weren't alone in the limo. Suguru and Ayaka sat across from them. K was in the front seat along with the driver, carefully polishing his precious Magnum that he always kept holstered, ignoring the suspicious glances from the driver.
"You're right, Hiro, it's just that…"
"You wanted Yuki-san to show up, didn't you? Well, all I can say is that his loss will be someone else's gain, Shu. You can't wait forever for him to finally show you some measure of affection. It's high time that you found someone who isn't afraid to show his or her feelings and prove that they'd do anything to be by your side!"
Shuichi smiled at Hiro, tears making his violet eyes shiny. "Have I ever told you how grateful I am to have you as my friend, Hiro?"
Passing Shuichi some tissues, Hiro snorted as he replied, "Only every day since we first became friends."
Suguru cleared his throat to get their attention. "As much as I hate to break up this tissue moment, I thought you'd like to know that we're here."
Shuichi looked out the window to see that, sure enough, the mansion was looming ahead of them. The nervous feeling in his stomach increased, knowing that in a few minutes he would be meeting the 32 contestants who would be pitted against each other to gain his affections.
Yuki fought to keep his temper as he sat sandwiched between two people whom he considered to be the world's biggest idiots. His brother, who sat on his right, kept switching between fawning over Sakuma Ryuichi and Shuichi. The idiotic banter he kept babbling was sorely tempting Yuki to just knock his brother out if only to shut his mouth up. Then there was Idiot #2, aka Sakuma Ryuichi, who sat on his left. The older man, who seriously did not act his age at all, was practically jumping up and down in his seat, happy at the fact that he'd be seeing his Shu-chan in a short time. Yuki could feel a migraine starting to build up behind his eyes as he struggled to keep his sanity in check. He was beginning to wonder what it was about him that attracted idiots like a magnet. A muscle twitched in his jaw as he heard Sakuma's words, once again reminding him why he was there. He had vowed to himself when he stepped into the limo, that he would do everything in his power to keep those rabid, slobbering lunatics away from his Shuichi. He had sworn that when this was all over that he'd strangle Tohma for forcing him to endure this torture. All he could keep thinking was that Shuichi had better appreciate the lengths Yuki was willing to go to prove how much he cared for him. When he could take no more, he finally shouted, "Would you both just shut up?! No matter what crazy delusions you might have, Shuichi isn't yours! If you think I'm letting either of you loons get hold of him, then you're more brain damaged than I previously thought. And here's my final word on the matter: Shuichi is mine – got that?"
Ryuichi looked surprised at Yuki's outburst while Tatsuha fought back his snickering. Damn, aniki's got it bad! Too bad it took him this long to realize it. Guess I can have some fun at his expense while getting closer to Ryu. "What's wrong, aniki? Can't you stand the fact that Shu-chan just might not choose you after all?" He said nothing as the older male turned and leveled him with a frosty glare. Yuki should remember that, by this time, Tatsuha was used to the glaring and it didn't faze him in the least. Having made his point, he resumed chattering to Ryuichi, using all of his talents to get closer to his god.
Finally, after what seemed to him to be an eternity, the mansion lay ahead. Once out of the limo, Yuki had to resist the urge to fall to his knees and kiss the ground, grateful that he had survived with some modicum of his sanity intact. Looking around, he could see that there were more limos parked in front of them as their passengers got out. He didn't see a trace of Shuichi, but he suspected that Tohma had him arrive before the contestants. Yuki could envision the pandemonium that would arise if Shuichi showed up now. It'd be like a rabid mob of dogs after a nice, juicy steak. He shuddered at that thought. It was best not to think about that right now. Sighing in resignation, he followed the throng of Shuichi worshippers into the mansion, hoping that once again he wasn't making a mistake.
Walking into the huge foyer of the mansion, his eyes could only widen at the theme they'd chosen to decorate the mansion in. It was like someone had vomited a Las Vegas casino in there. Slot machines lined one wall while a blackjack table sat on the opposite side. A roulette wheel hung on the wall and Yuki had to wonder how they'd got it to stay securely like it was. Deep burgundy and black drapes hung from the ceiling as in each entryway there were crystal beads hanging. He honestly didn't know whether to laugh or cringe at the sight. Whoever designed this must have subconsciously wanted it to look like a bordello. Praying that the rooms were slightly better, he and the other contestants awaited their instructions.
Tohma smirked to himself as he saw the contestants lined up. Three, in particular, caught his eye and he had to restrain from laughing aloud at Yuki's annoyed expression. He coughed and looked over at K, seeing a similar expression in the manager's eyes. "Well, K-san, looks like we should get things started, hmm?"
Heads turned their way as they watched Seguchi Tohma and Winchester Claude, aka "K", walk into the room. Dressed in his normal apparel of a tailored suit and trademark hat, Tohma could feel the tension from one particular contestant but chose to ignore it. "Welcome everyone to "The Luck of Love"! I am pleased to see that you all made it here safely. However, before I introduce Shindou-san, I will go over the rules of this show. They're actually quite simple, so please pay attention." He paused to make sure he had their complete attention. "First, you are not to injure any of your co-contestants. Anyone who violates this will be immediately disqualified from the show. Second, I am the one who will decide which contests you participate in to win a date with Shindou-san. Third, while I know you are here to win Shindou-san's heart, please remember that your behavior will be monitored by both me and others in this mansion. If there is behavior that occurs that we think Shindou-san should know about, trust me he will. This will affect who is eliminated in each round, so please tread carefully. I think these rules are simple enough for you to follow." He nodded to K who turned and walked out of the room.
K walked to where Shuichi was waiting, nervously, along with Hiro and Suguru. "It's time, Shuichi. Tohma's gone over the rules and everyone's waiting for you to make your entrance. Are you ready?"
Shuichi breathed in and out slowly as he tried to calm his racing heart. Singing onstage was one thing, but to know that his personal and private life was about to be aired to millions of people around the world – well, it could be daunting. "As ready as I'll ever be."
K slapped a hand onto Shuichi's shoulder. "Don't worry, you'll do fine. Remember, Shuichi, we're here to back you up. If you ever need to talk about something, we're here." Before he turned to leave he said, "There's a surprise awaiting you when you walk out there. Just thought I'd let you know about it so you wouldn't be so shocked."
A surprise…what's he talking about? Shuichi glanced over at Hiro and Suguru and nodded. "Let's go, guys." K's pep talk hadn't prepared him for what he saw once he walked into the foyer where the contestants were waiting. He could hear faint squeals from some of the women as he entered the room. Ignoring them for now, his violet eyes ran over the contestants. He could barely contain his shock when he saw three certain people. Was this what K had been talking about? Hearing Hiro's muffled gasp of shock beside him, he knew that he wasn't the only one who had been taken unaware. Thirty-two sets of eyes stared intently back at him, but he found himself staring back at only one person. Yuki…you actually came here! Does this mean what I think it does? For a moment happiness ran through his veins before an ugly thought zeroed in on his insecurities. Wait a minute, Shu. You know how possessive he can be – I bet he's only here to keep his "territory" to himself. It has nothing to do with him caring for you, but everything to do with guarding what he considers his! Shuichi's eyes narrowed at that thought. Now that he thought about it, it did make sense. I mean, why else would Yuki willingly humiliate himself on national television? But then why were both Tatsuha and Sakuma-san here? Knowing Tatsuha, he was probably here because of Sakuma-san. Though it did make him feel special that Sakuma-san was trying to compete to win Shuichi's affections.
Shuichi straightened his back and shot Yuki a dirty look, taking satisfaction in the way his eyes widened in shock. He'd deal with him later – right now he had to welcome the rest of the contestants. Confident that his clothes made him look smoking hot, he knew that he'd raised the playing field for the contestants. The singer was clad in a crimson-red Dolce & Gabbana long-sleeved tee with black trim around the wrists, waist, and neckline that fit him like a second skin along with skin-tight, black leather pants that fitted low on his hips. His jewelry consisted of a simple chain with a silver winged heart pendant and a tribal leather bracelet. Hiro wore a black leather vest with low-rise black jeans, his trademark long auburn hair pulled into a low ponytail. Suguru, perhaps the most conservative out of the three, wore simple black slacks and a navy blue, long-sleeved shirt. His earlier nerves having long since fled, he allowed a smirk to cross his features. Oh, yes…I'm definitely going to have fun with this. Some might view it as spiteful, but Shuichi was already planning ways to get back at Yuki and have some fun while doing it. I think I need to have a little talk with Hiro and Suguru about this.
Yuki couldn't take his eyes off of Shuichi as he practically sauntered into the room followed by Hiro and Fujisaki. He walked in like he owned the room, his deep violet eyes watching all of them with an interested glance. What Shuichi was wearing should be considered illegal with the way his clothes clung to his body like a possessive lover. And when did he dye his hair purple of all colors? Correction, his mind told him, his hair is purple with blond streaks. Reining back his impulse to go over there and cover Shuichi up, he could have sworn that he heard the pitter-patter of saliva hitting the floor from the other contestants. For the umpteenth time, he wondered why his ex-lover, it hurt to think that word, would allow himself to be paraded in front of these jackals like meat. Seeing both Hiro and Fujisaki glowering at him gave him the unsettled feeling that he wouldn't be earning a lot of points with them. And ironically enough, they were the ones he'd have to impress to get anywhere near Shuichi, giving his fellow competitors an edge over him. Damn it…this was unacceptable! Seeing the look that suddenly crossed Shuichi's face, he knew he was in trouble.
And with Tohma being the one to decide what they'd do to win dates with Shuichi…that was like throwing a drowning person in a pool with a shark. A hungry one at that! Before the night was through, Yuki was certain he'd be downing headache medication to ease an impending migraine that was slowly, albeit tortuously, building in his skull.
"Welcome! First, I have to say congratulations for making it past both K-san and Seguchi-san, who both chose who would be on the show. As you all know, I'm officially on the market again, and I'm looking for someone who not only understands me but will treat me as I should be treated." He sent a significant look at Yuki as he said that, noting that he actually had the decency to flush a slight pink. "That being said, it's time to hand out your die." Nodding to K who'd come back into the room and now stood behind him. He picked up one of the dice and held it up. The dice were made of dark pink satin with each person's name written in cursive script decorated with black rhinestones. A silk, matching dark pink cord was attached to each one. "Each week there will be two less of these as you are eliminated. Please step forward when your name's called."
Each person that came forward gave Shuichi a flirty glance, hoping that they could ignite a spark between him and themselves. Shuichi could hear Hiro's barely contained snickers in the background and he had to fight the urge to roll his eyes. I mean, could these people be any more obvious? He was glad that he'd be weeding out six people from each side tonight. Wasting his time was not an option and he didn't want some starry-eyed groupie. Was it too much to ask for a meaningful relationship?
Yuki impatiently waited his turn to receive his die. Inwardly, he cringed at the gaudy looking thing he'd have to wear around his neck. Seriously, couldn't they have chosen smaller nametags or something? As he walked to where Shuichi stood, he saw his ex-lover stiffen as he eyed his approach. Taking the die from Shuichi's hands, he made it clear with his expression that there was going to be a full-on discussion later. Annoyed, he watched as Shuichi smirked back at him, his expression stating that he accepted the challenge.
The man he saw walking up to him almost made Shuichi groan in dismay. He knew that he'd have to see Yuki sooner or later. The look he shot him spoke volumes, telling him "We are so going to talk about this!" He smirked back, his violet eyes shooting their own message of "We'll see." Choosing to ignore Yuki as he handed him his die, stubbornly choosing to ignore the electricity that still sparked between them when they touched, he smiled warmly at the two men who came after his ex. Uesugi Tatsuha and Sakuma Ryuichi were sure to make things more interesting during the next few weeks. Getting a sudden devious idea, Shuichi bent over and whispered into each of the men's ears as they came up to get their die. Their faces soon sported a bright pink blush at his words.
Having just gotten back into his position in the line, Yuki looked up in time to see Shuichi whispering something into both Sakuma and his brother's ears as they came up, gold eyes narrowing as he saw how closely the brat was learning towards them. His mood further soured as he saw their faces turn pink…leaving him no choice but to imagine what had been said. Shuichi's glancing up at him gave him the chance to voice his displeasure. If his glare had gotten any colder, the brat would have developed frostbite. Oh, no…things were not over by a long shot. If the brat wanted a fight, then he was going to get one!
He heard Suguru coughing, although it sounded as though he was trying to cover up his laughter. To make the straitlaced Suguru laugh, it had to be something very entertaining. Glancing up out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yuki glaring at him so intensely that the very room temperature plummeted several degrees. He smiled sweetly back, his face hurting from the effort it took to not laugh hysterically. Oh yes, he was going to have a lot of fun these next few weeks.
Chapter 4 Preview: *dingdingding* In this corner, we have a showdown between Shu and Yuki. There might be trash talking, lots of expletives, etc. Watch as Shu gets to know the contestants. The first round of eliminations will begin with 12 people getting the boot.