-Chapter 4 – Never Look Back-
Lesson #4- Put the past behind you. Don't ever look back. Keep your eyes forward, and focus on what's ahead.
A few days passed by, and Shuichi was still staying at his idol's apartment. Over time, the two of them became closer; sleeping together all the time, not just on stormy nights. The young singer hadn't heard from Eiri since he left him. That is, until today.
"Hello?" The boy placed the small cell phone to his ear.
"…Shuichi…?" The deep voice replied.
"…Y…Yuki?" His violet eyes widened to the voice, and the phone almost fell from his hand.
"…I've been trying to get a hold of you for days." There was a sob. Hardly audible, but the singer could tell it was there. "I called your cell, but you didn't answer before. So, I called Hiroshi…he told me."
"…Told you…told you what?"
"Everything…why you left, where you went…" There was a short moment of silence.
("I can't believe he told him!! Damn you, Hiro!!")
"Shu-chan?" Ryu came up behind the boy, wrapping his arms around his waist, and nuzzling into his neck. "Who're you talking to? …Come back to bed, Shu-chan."
"Shh!" Gently, he pushed a finger to the other's lips. "Yuki, listen. I have to go, I'm kind of…busy." The cell beeped as he hung up, and turned it off.
The boy was, in a way, "busy". It was a special occasion; first day off work in a week. So, the young singer decided to spend it "wisely".
"That was Eiri-san, Shu?" Ryuichi blinked, pulling a naked Shuichi back under the sheets.
"Yeah…sorry about that. I didn't know it was him…" Letting a deep sigh escape, he nuzzled into the elder's bare-chest.
"No need to apologize, Shu-chan." The elder smiled, wrapping an arm around the young boy.
"Hehe…well, I'm sorry anyways." He smiled, closing his eyes a bit. Right exactly when he had gotten comfortable, the doorbell to the apartment rang. "…Who is that, this early in the morning?" Although, it was actually around mid-day, the boy was a little confused due to that fact that the clock broke some time ago.
"Oh…that must be Touma with my medicine!" Quickly, he jumped out of bed, giving Shuichi a picture-perfect view of his, in Shu's words, 'Glorious Ass'. "Shu-chan, stay here and get dressed, kay?" He smiled, pulling on some pants, and rushing out to greet the hatted man at the door.
"Ah, Ryuichi." Touma smiled, and walked in. "Here is your medication." He smiled still, handing the vocalist a white and blue paper bag.
"Thank you, Touma-kun!" He grinned, rushing to the kitchen to put it away.
"Oh, that reminds me, where is Shindou-san?" The keyboardist peeked his head around the corner of the kitchen. "I heard he was staying here."
"Oh! Shu-chan is in the back getting dressed!"
"Getting dressed, eh?" Touma smirked, twirling nimble-digits around his hat. "Well, I wanted to congratulate him on Bad Luck's latest album-release."
"…Thanks, Touma-san." Shuichi smiled, as he walked out of the bedroom, pulling on a shirt.
"Ah, no need." He chuckled lightly. "So…what have you two been up to?"
"Oh, you know…" Shuichi grinned sarcastically. "Drugs, Alcohol, Violence…the usual."
"Hehe, glad to see you're still sarcastic as ever, Shindou-san." He patted the boy's shoulder lightly, before stuffing his hat back on. "Well, I really must get going. Mika-san is waiting for me at the office. Good-bye Ryuichi, Shindou."
As the eldest one waltzed out the door, Shuichi gasped, blushing, and leaning on Ryuichi.
"That was so close!" He looked up, his wide, violet orbs staring at Ryu's sapphire. "It was scary!"
"I know!!" The elder clung to the boy's shoulder. "He almost caught us having—"
"Shhh!!" Shuichi quickly put a hand to the other's mouth. "Don't say it out-loud! He might still hear us!" The elder nodded to this, removing the hand from his mouth. They were silent for a moment.
"…I think it's safe, Shu-chan." He sighed, and un-clinged.
"Yeah…I think so too, Ryu-kun." He too sighed, leaning off the other, and onto the kitchen counter. "…What'd you want to do now…?"
"…Well…" Smiling, he walked forward to the boy a bit. "Shu-chan, I've…been meaning to ask you something, actually."
"Hm? Ask me…something…?" Shuichi blinked, blushing, and looking to the elder.
"Yeah…" Smiling still, his once wide orbs now narrow, and sympathetic, staring deep into the boy's violet. He grabbed a hold of the other's hands. "I know that we've only been together for almost two weeks…but…I…I love you, Shuichi."
The boy's blush grew, and his heart began to beat faster. He knew what was coming next; he didn't know how exactly he knew, but he did.
"Ryu-kun…" Shu was speechless as his elder lover got down to one knee, pulling a small, black box from his back pocket. "…Uh…"
"Shuichi Shindou…will you…will you marry me?" He smiled empathetically, and opened the box that contained a silver ring, with a small, sparkling diamond attached.
"Ryu—" The singer's face lit up with a smile, and he began to cry euphoric tears. "Of…of course I will, Ryuichi!" The other gently placed the ring on the boy's left hand. Afterwards, the younger vocalist tackled his fiancé's shirtless torso to the cold, tile of the kitchen floor.
"Gah! S-Shu-chan!" He laughed, and wrapped his arms around him.
"Oh! I love you, I love you, I love you!" Going a bit more feminine than usual, he made a small squealing sound, and passionately pressed his lips against the elders.
The two of them lay there for a moment, the warmth of their bodies contradicting the coldness of the tile.
"Shuichi…" The elder broke the silence. "We're going to have to get up sooner or later, you know."
"No" He groaned, burring his face in the other's chest. "I don't want to move"
"Come on, Koibito-chan." Ryu grinned, and picked the boy up in his arms. "Let's go out and celebrate. Tell everyone."
"…Oh, yeah!" He smiled widely, his eyes sparkling. "I have to tell Mom, Dad, Maiko, Hiro, Touma, Fujisaki, K-san, Sakano-san—" He went on for a while, naming what seemed like half of Tokyo. "—And my Friend's, Brother's, Aunt's, Cousin's, Wife!"
"H…how about we just send invitations, Shu-chan. That'd be way easier…"
"Oh, yeah…good idea!" Grinning, he hopped out of the elder's arms, and back to their room. "I got to get dressed!"
"…But, you're already dressed, Shu-chan." Ryuichi tilted his head, and pulled on a shirt.
"…Oh, yeah…Duh! I forgot…" Shu laughed, and walked back out. "Hm…you looked sexier without the shirt." He giggled, pulling on some shoes.
"So…we are going to tell everyone…" The elder sighed, also putting his shoes on.
"Well…not everyone." He smiled, waltzing out the door. "Just a select few."
"Oh, oki doki." Ryu smiled, and hopped into the car. "So, where to first?"
"Uhm…how about the studio first! With Touma, K-san, and Noriko!"
"Oki!" He started the car. "Uhm…Hiroshi-kun already knows, by the way. Hehehe…"
"WHAT?!" He spazed, and flailed a bit, as the car drove off. "You…you told him?!"
"Well, I needed help!! It still took me forever to do…"
"Aww I wanted to tell him" The boy pouted and looked out the car window.
"Hehe" The elder smiled, parking the car in front of the N-G building. "We're here. Shu-chan"
"Yatta!" And before one could say 'Kumagoro', Shuichi was out of the car, and at Touma's office door. "Touma-san!!"
"Hai it's open." The president's voice spoke out, and Shuichi walked in, Ryuichi shortly behind him. "Shindou? Ryuichi?" Touma cocked his head, and stood up from his desk.
"T…Touma-san!" Shu spazed again. "…Kyaa!"
"…Shindou-san? Are you feeling well?" The elder blinked, raising a brow to the small vocalist.
"I…I…we" He blushed, clinging to Ryu's arm and squealing. "Kyaa!"
"…Ok, ok. I'll tell him then." The eldest vocalist smiled, his eyes narrower that usual. It was odd to see him acting so mature for such a long time. "I…I asked Shuichi to marry me." Touma was silent.
"And…and…I said yes!" The boy squealed again, and blushed as his fiancé leaned down and kissed him.
"You're invited to the wedding, Touma-kun." Ryu smiled still, wrapping his arm around Shu. "It's in two-months, right, Shu-chan?"
"Hai" The boy smiled, nuzzling into the other.
"Uh…" Touma stuttered, but smiled anyways. "Heh…Congratulations, Mr. And Mrs. Sakuma" Touma smiled as Shuichi giggled at the sound of 'Mrs. Sakuma'.
"A…arigatou, Touma-san."
"Mm" He smiled again. "I'll pass the news on to the others."
"Hai!" Ryuichi grabbed a hold of the other's hand. Arigatou, Touma-kun! We're going to go celebrate now!"
"Hehe Have fun you two." He grinned, waving them off.
"Ryu-kun! Where are we going now?"
"Out!" He laughed, and began to run.
"Out? Out where, Ryu?"
"Hehe, you'll find out" He grinned and chuckled, pushing the younger one into the car. They drove off, the elder trying to shield the younger male's eyes.
"R-Ryu-kun!" The boy wiggled, trying to pry the other's hand off of his face. "I can't see anything!!"
"I know!" He smiled, stopping the car at a familiar place. "Besides, we're here." Smiling still, he took his hand away, and helped the younger one out of the car.
"…Ryu-kun" Shu blinked, looking around at the park; the same one they had their ice cream at.
"Well, I wanted to bring you here later tonight…" Ryu smiled, pulling him to a clearing among the trees. "But, I just couldn't wait…here"
"Oh Ryu-kun" Shuichi was speechless at the current scene. Among the tree, in the clearing, was a small, two-person table. A few roses lye in the middle, and a glass of champagne on either side of them. A small wicker-basket sat next to the table.
"Come, sit, Shuichi." The elder's eyes narrowed slightly, as he pulled out one of the chairs for Shu to sit down. The boy did so, smiling as the chair was pushed back in. Ryu sat opposite of him.
"Ryuichi," He laughed a small, cute laugh, his fingers fondling the petals to one of the roses. "You didn't have to do this, you know."
"I know, but, I wanted to." Smirking at the laugh, he held up the glass next to him. "Besides, I wanted to celebrate with you romantically."
"Hehe, you're so sweet, Ryuichi." He too picked up his glass. "…I love you, Ryu."
"I love you too, Shu." The sides of the glasses clinked as they toasted, and sipped the champagne. "…Huh?" Ryu looked toward the entrance to the clearing.
"Hm? What is it, Ryu?" Shuichi too looked, the small glass of alcohol clasped between his hands.
"…I thought I heard something…" He got up from his seat. "I'll go look. Stay here, Shuichi." Shu nodded as he watches the elder walk out of the clearing.
"Ohh be careful, Ryuichi" The younger one bit his bottom lip, keeping an eye on the entrance.
"Hello?" The eldest singer called out. "Is someone there?" He squinted, looking around. It had gotten a bit dark since they left the apartment.
There was another noise, kind of like the rustle of bushes. The vocalist quickly turned toward the sound.
"…So, it was true then." The noise spoke. "What Hiroshi told me…"
"E…Eiri-san?" Ryu blinked. "Is…is that you?"
"You…" The novelist walked out of the dark, and into the light of a streetlamp. "You're the one he left me for, aren't you…"
"…Eiri-san." The elder's eyes narrowed. "Are…are you drunk?"
"Ryuichi…" The boy poked his head out of the bushes. "Are you o—" He stopped his question, seeing his ex-lover.
"Shuichi," The elder novelist smiled an inebriated smile, and walked toward the young singer. "You're here…I'm glad." Quickly, and without any warning, he wrapped his arm around the boy's neck, and pulled him in close.
"Y…Yuki" He winced at the weight of the elder and the arm that was nearly choking him. "You're hurting me…ah, itai"
"Eiri-san, let Shuichi go." The eldest singer approached. "Now." His eyes narrowed even more.
"Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?!" The alcohol was beginning to mess with his emotions. "Fuck you!" He tightened his arm around Shuichi's neck, pulling him up, and off the ground.
"Kah Y…Yuki" Shuichi managed to choke out, clawing at the arm on his neck. "Tasu…kete…Ryu-kun…"
"Ah…Let Him Go!!" Ryuichi ran at the teller male, but he kept hold of the pink-haired one. He swung a punch, hitting the blond, and knocking his sunglasses off. The blow to the face made Eiri drop and already unconscious Shuichi to the ground.
Eiri stumbled back, and Ryuichi dragged Shuichi away from the fight. He ran at him again, but the taller male blocked the next punch, swinging one of his own.
"You Took Him From Me!!" The younger man swung another two blows. By now, Ryuichi was on the ground, the blond holding onto his shirt, and straddling him.
"Y…Yuki…" Shuichi stumbled up from the grass. Eiri pulled his fist back to hit the eldest singer again, but the boy wheezed, and grabbed a hold of the hand. "S…stop…onegai…"
"Shuichi…" Eiri let go of Ryuichi's shirt, making him drop to the ground unconscious.
"Stop this, Yuki…" The boy's face had a hint of sadness and fright, as he pushed the elder out of the way, and knelt beside Ryuichi, who was now bleeding from the nose and mouth. "…Ryu-kun…please wake up, Ryuichi..." He shook him gently.
"…Uhn…" The vocalist moved a bit. "I…itai…"
"You're still alive…yoroshii…" He smiles sadly, a few tears running down his face, as he wiped away the blood with the sleeve of his shirt.
"Heh…yeah." He smiled a little, sitting up. "Are you ok, Shuichi?"
"I'm fine…but, are you ok? You're really beat up…" He frowned, cleaning more of the crimson.
Eiri's face dismayed, as he watched them from the railing of the park.
"Go…Gomen, Gomen Nasai…" He whispered softly, and slid down the rail, and to the ground.
"Are you sure you're going to be ok, Ryu-kun?" Shu smiled, and helped him up off the ground.
"Hai, I'll be fine…" He frowned, looking over to Eiri. "What about him…?"
"…Hm" Shu too looked over to him. "…I don't care…" Unhurriedly, he got back into the car. "Let's just go home…"
"…Hai." He too got back to the car, and drove off, leaving the novelist in the park to cry silently.