Chapter 4: Nittle Grasper part 1

*****

Ryuuichi was roused by his alarm clock. It was time for him to go to school once more. He glanced over at Kumagorou and gave it a kiss on his forehead before heading out to the bathroom. Everything was clear to him now after that night. He didn't need them nor did they need him. He just had to fend for himself now. He cannot just simply trust on others or he will just end up hurting himself all over again.

Warm water bursting from the shower refreshed his tired body. He had been thinking a lot about that incident yesterday regarding Himizu and his class. He of course, blamed himself for all of these. Why did he pretend to be so happy when he really wasn't? The world was indeed harsh to those who didn't deserve it.

Or did he? Not that it mattered to him now. All he deeply cared about was his singing… and Kumagorou.

"I better talk to Seguchi-san today about that job he was offering me…" he told Kumagorou as soon as he got his hair fixed. He looked into his mirror for a last check before getting his things for school. Kumagorou reminded him about his math homework and he assured him that he already had done it during lunch break.

"Since no one ate with me, I decided to get it done instead so I won't have to do anything when I get home." He puffed his chest proudly as Kumagorou praised him for being a good student.

"Anyway, Seguchi-san talked to me about being part of his band… He said he heard me sing once and he liked my voice." Ryuuichi blushed as Kumagorou admitted that he liked his voice too. "Haha. You too? Thanks a lot Kumagorou. You're the bestest best friend a Sakuma Ryuuichi can ever have!"

He didn't bother keeping Kumagorou in his school bag anymore. He hugged it around just like an ordinary kid. Everyone minded their own business and a Sakuma Ryuuichi regressing isn't part of it. He still was the happy kid despite what Himizu said although he knew that he couldn't count on anyone anymore. Himizu sneaked in from his class that day and it was the first and last time he ever saw his former friend ever in that school. Not that it mattered. He could die for all Ryuuichi cared.

He caught Tohma in the lockers that afternoon. "Seguchi-san!"

"Ah Ryuuichi." Tohma smiled kindly and closed his locker after placing his shoes inside. He glanced at Kumagorou and smiled at it as well. "Kumagorou too." He looked back its owner. "What is it Ryuuichi?"

"A-anou… Seguchi-san—"

"No, Tohma is ok"

"Oh ah… Tohma then." He smiled goofily. "Well, about that band thing you were talking about? I think I like the idea…"

Tohma's huge emerald eyes glittered. "I knew you'd agree! I'm glad your grandmother recommended you to me. She told me that you loved to sing and you were part of the choir before." He clasped his hands in a joyful manner. "I'll go introduce you to her at once!"

"Her???"

"Ryuuichi, this is Ukai Noriko. She's a pianist just like me."

The purple haired girl regarded him with a curt nod. "What's with the toy?"

Ryuuichi beamed. "This is Kumagorou! Kumagorou, meet Ukai Noriko-san." He held the pink stuffed toy up for her to see up close.

"Thrilled." She drawled then turned to Tohma who was seating beside her and whispered. "Are you sure you want this retard with us?"

"Of course."

The three of them were meeting in Tohma Seguchi's house that night. He was so excited that he practically dragged the both of them into his house at once for their very first practice. He was usually in good spirits as he had a smile plastered on his face as he spoke.

"Noriko-san took piano lessons with me when we were in elementary so I have a good measure of her capabilities." He explained to Ryuuichi as the three of them walked towards the Seguchi's music room. "I'm sure she'd like to see yours"

"You mean I have to sing like in an audition?" he asked eagerly.

"Well, sort of."

"SUGOI~!!!" Ryuuichi cried out as soon as they entered the said room. There were instruments of all kinds neatly kept on shelves and various other containers. On the center, a tiny stage was placed surrounded by five chairs. There were paintings of composers on the decorated walls. It seemed that Tohma was actually anticipating this event as the stage had a microphone on its stand ready.

The brown haired boy ran up at once. "Is this where you want me to sing Tohma?"

"Yes." And he took a seat right next to Noriko.

"What do you want me to sing?" he asked through the microphone. There were probably hidden speakers in the room as his rich voice boomed everywhere.

Tohma shrugged. "Anything you want. You can also just sing a portion of a song."

Noriko raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you'd like to sing with that toy around?"

Ryuuichi blinked twice. "Oh yeah!" He proceeded downstage and placed Kumagorou on a seat beside her. "Don't worry Kumagorou, Noriko-san won't bite you and I'll just be on stage for a while." He beamed at the other two and went back onstage.

He was singing acapella but that didn't matter to him now. His comical smile was wiped out of his face as he opened his mouth to sing.

"It would be nice if we could put away and throw out

everything except what really mattered, but

reality is just cruel."

It was just one stanza. And it blew Ukai Noriko away from her seat. Ryuuichi's face made he shudder as he sang the gradual and soulful song. It was hard to believe that HE was able to cook up a face like that while just a while ago. To her, it was as if he just suddenly had a personality change.

Ryuuichi hopped down the stage and promptly took Kumagorou on his arms. "Was that good enough Tohma?" his old face was back.

Noriko stared at him bewildered. Tohma's lips displayed amusement as he observed Noriko's expression. "Of course it was, Ryuuichi..."

For the first time after many days, Sakuma Ryuuichi was eating happily with other people during lunch time, Noriko from class D and Tohma from class A. They always spent time together talking about music and their plans of becoming famous. Tohma had all the right connections, Noriko's keyboarding skill were impeccable and most especially… they had Ryuuichi. Both keyboardists knew that he was their ace to success. With talent like that, no one would be stupid enough to overlook him. But more than that, they saw him as a little brother they never had.

******

One day Ukai Noriko saw Ryuuichi pondering alone under the tree they always had lunch under. He had Kumagorou clinging loosely on his chest and he stared at the leaves above him dancing in the wind.

"Ryuu-chan~!" She greeted brightly. It was almost a year since they've met and they already have been comfortable calling each other by nicknames. "Tohma said that we go ahead because he has to talk to your grandmother about something for a while."

He gave her a grave smile. "I didn't know you were classmates with Himizu."

"So?"

"So… you know, don't you?"

"Know what?"

"About me."

Noriko sighed and took a seat beside him. "But that doesn't change anything does it?" she placed her arm around his neck and leaned on him.

He gently placed his head on her shoulder. "Noriko-chan… of course it does. Won't it affect the future of our band? If they know I'm the son of that man--"

"Ryuuchi." She always called him in his full name when she was serious. "You'll have to change that mentality from the people now. And that's the only thing you can do. Don't dwell under the grim shadow of your father. You are not him. You are Sakuma Ryuuichi and you can prove that to the world."

Ryuuichi smiled as his eyes danced just like the leaves around them. "Thanks a lot Noriko-chan. Kumagorou was right after all. You're a very nice friend and we love you."

Noriko chuckled. She actually felt honored to be loved by both Ryuuichi and Kumagorou. She didn't pretend that Kumagorou could really talk just like the other people around them. She thought of it as a part of Ryuuichi himself. And both of them loving her meant that his whole self loved her. It warmed her heart with the simple thought of it.

Do not mistake their love for romantic. For one thing, Noriko was a girl who was not interested in boys their age. She already had a twenty five year old boyfriend who happens to be their science teacher. Another is that Ryuuichi thought of their love as platonic. Lastly, romance is not the only kind of love that exists in the world. Nevertheless, her love for their band's vocalist was undoubtedly strong and unwavering.

"Why do you think Himizu did that?" Ryuuichi asked as he broke their silence.

Noriko rolled her eyes. "I think he just needed a good fuck in the arse…" she said a-matter-of-factly.

"Noriko-chan! Kumagorou does not need to hear about gay sex!" he admonished, covering the poor bunny's ears. "He's very wholesome, y'know."

"Baka, I was just kidding. I'm not Himizu but if I were him, maybe I'd feel hurt and at the same time betrayed that you didn't really become really honest to him."

"I was afraid really. I was afraid if they'd know me, they wouldn't like me anymore. I only wanted everyone to love me."

"In the first place, if they don't like you for being you then you don't deserve those assho—I mean, friends." Noriko explained. She loved playing big sister at the moment.

Ryuuichi pouted. "I just wanted everyone to like me. But now, it seems nobody likes me…"

"That's not true. I love you. So does Tohma. And your grandmother too. We all love you." She wrapped her arms around his neck and embraced him tightly. "We love you because you are our Sakuma Ryuuichi."

"Uh Noriko-chan?"

"Hmmm?"

"My face is on your chest."

She quickly released him and blushed. "Oh. Sorry."

*****

Author's notes: A lame attempt to lighten up the fic. *sticks her tongue out* Wowie! I've never done anything that surpassed 4 chapters before *rejoices* I usually get tired after the 4th or 5th chapter that I leave everything hanging!  The stanza Ryuuichi sang is the English translation of the 1st stanza of the song Dearest by Ayumi Hamasaki. *major sweatdrop* Hehe. I already mentioned that there was supposed to be a surprise cameo appearance… but that'd be for part 2! Who is it? I'm still not telling. But it will hint one of my favorite yaoi pairings in Gravitation (although it won't be that blatant =P) As usual; none of these beautiful characters are mine. But if I could own them, I would.


Aishiteru-san, I assure you it won't be a Tohma/Ryuuichi fic. I don't agree with the pairing myself... Sigh... I guess I just wanted Tohma to do a long narrative of sorts that's why there are a lack of action scenes on the firstch chapter. Scenes... hmm... prolly on the next chapters. Argh! typos! *erase erase* gomen, gomen! I wrote the fic in notepad and forgot to do a spellcheck on work (I have their names saved in the dictionary XD). Oh no, your not over critical at all! Thanks a lot for your comments, they won't go to waste =D

Ayako-san, Thanks a lot for the comments about the spacing and stuff =D They won't go to waste either.

Shido-san and Recowa-san, I'm glad you liked my very first Gravi fic ; ) Hai desu! I'll be writing more desu!

*hands boxes of tissue to Echiko-san and Toko-san* Maa... don't cry! I won't kill Ryuuichi-sama or something... he's too hot to die XD XD