NOTES: First off, sorry if it took me forever to update part 5 and 6. I was modem-less, so I was shut off from cyberspace for about a month or so (::wears her "I Survived A Month Without Internet" shirt proudly::) So to those who were worried I stopped the fic, don'cha worry! ^_^ I've no plans on stopping anytime soon, the pull of Gravitation's just too strong to resist. ::grin::
Standard disclaimers apply. Wanna sue me? Setsuna's backing me up; let me see you try. ~o^
Shuu-sama
By Kuroi Tenshi
Part 6
"Alright then, put him on hold and I will be the one to deal with the…man," Setsuna said, almost spitting the last word out. Sayuri, who had been lounging at her suite's living room couch looked up from channel surfing and raised one perfectly sculpted eyebrow.
Shuuichi had gone off with Hiro, drowning whatever misery he was feeling through buying CDs and other music goodies he opted to ignore before due to lack of funds. The youngest Shindouchi was being reunited with one of his oldest and truest friends: his MasterCard.
"Shall I alert the paramedics? You're willing to talk to the scum," Sayuri said, a smile gracing her lips as she switched the channels. She brought her legs closer to her and straightened her back.
Setsuna rolled her eyes. "As you've probably been told, he's been trying to check in for the past three days—like all others—but they've been refused. He's given the operator an ultimatum: either he speak with Ukan or his sister's burning the hotel down."
"Shall I alert the police then?"
"Don't bother. I'll handle him," Setsuna said with a smirk. She heard the now-familiar clearing of throat and smiled as she got ready for what she knew was coming. "Why, good day to you, Uesugi-san."
"You can cut the crap, Setsuna. I want to talk to my boyfriend" was the annoyed grunt from the other end of the line.
"Excuse me? I believe you've got the wrong number. Oh, if you mean Hiro, I'm sorry but he's out as of the moment. He's with his best friend, you're ex. Would you like to leave a message?"
At the other end, Yuki had banged his hand on the wooden counter in frustration. "I'm not calling to play games, Setsuna. Let me talk to Shuuichi and I promise you that I'll explain and everything will be okay. He needs to hear my side of the story."
"Seeing you with that boy is explanation enough, he's told me many times, I assure you. There's no need to waste our time. Now, Uesugi–san, if you are not satisfied with what I'm telling you now, would you care to meet and discuss it with me?"
"I need to discuss it with my boyfriend, not with his sister."
"Ah, but you forget," she smiled as she paused, "he is currently your ex-boyfriend. Maybe I can remedy that for you but if you do not wish for that chance, then I'm afraid things shall remain as is. Well then, have a good day. I shall send Hiro your regards."
"Wait!"
Setsuna smirked. "Yes?"
"Would you really help me?"
"I am willing to talk to you to set you straight on certain…matters that concern Shuuichi. But I am not promising you to go back to being that disgusting lovey-dovey tabloid tidbit couple that you are. Maybe a little explanation on your part and me, for his part shall do the trick."
Sayuri grinned from where she was listening at their conversation at the couch. She had turned the volume of the TV so low and thanks to her bionic ears she could practically hear Yuki's breathing. Setsuna drummed her fingers on the side table distantly as she waited for him to decide.
"When can I meet you?"
"You're in luck, Uesugi, as I have a few hours free this afternoon before I rush off to another meeting in Chiba. How does four this afternoon sound to you?" she asked, twirling the cord around her finger.
"I'll have to cancel my book signing for this," the novelist said in response.
"We can always skip the meeting and leave things as is. I'm not the one whose relationship is on the line. And might I inform you that the hour during which I am willing to accommodate you is usually reserved for my recreation? You're lucky I even offered to meet you."
Yuki knew he should be thankful enough as is. At least he would be getting somewhere with the sister. So he uttered the two words he had difficulty saying throughout the twenty-two years of his existence: "I'm sorry."
The longhaired brunette smiled and Sayuri giggled as her sister told him where to meet her. She would have tagged along since she knew how fun it would be but did not. Someone had to keep their brother company. But she still wished she would see the drama unfold. It would be so damn funny, she was sure.
~*~*~*~
Setsuna nodded her thanks to the young man who assisted her getting off the helicopter. She then straightened her satin dark green top and accompanying black vest. Bag in hand, she moved toward the door that led indoors where she could sit and relax for a while until she was ready for her sport.
The short trip to Kawasaki was uneventful. It was the game she was excited for. She often came to this particular place to unwind and forget about all her troubles concerning the company and the clan. This was her own private sanctuary. The place gave her a sense of peace. The welcome sounds filled her ears and she smiled. Ah, peace.
Yuki's brows furrowed. He stared at the sign and checked the piece of paper he had scribbled the address Setsuna had dictated him. It was correct. But…
"Welcome to Artillery Paradise," the middle-aged man wearing a pair of camouflage shorts and forest green shirt greeted him as he rolled the window down. "First time? We have a couple of beginner's courses you can take. And you're in luck since we have a paint war going on," he said with all smiles. "You can shoot and fire all you want till you've had enough, all in the incredibly low prize of 700, 000 yen."
The blond stared at the man for a second. Was he for real?
Upon finding out that the "special place" Setsuna had was in another town, Yuki was forced to cancel his book signing (his ears still hasn't recovered from the lecture from his editor) and drove to Kawasaki. He drove three hours straight with no stop since he knew the traffic that would welcome him at the highway and Mr. Perky greeting him at the gate was not exactly the reception he had in mind. He would have preferred to come in and come out with the least amount of fuss. Though obviously, where the Shindouchis are concerned, nothing could be done discreetly without anyone falling over their feet serving and pleasing them. [1]
The man continued to look at him expectantly, the smile never wavering. He decided to have mercy on the poor man's facial muscles. "I'm supposed to meet a member here. I believe the name's Shindouchi Setsuna?"
"Ah! Shindouchi-sama!" the man's eyes lit up and he nodded. "Yes, yes, I heard she'd be flying here from Tokyo for a few hours. She really likes this particular branch, you know," he said with a conspiratorial wink.
Yuki sighed inwardly. So what? Did he seem like the type to care? "She's expecting me," he said pointedly.
The man sighed and shook his head. "Fine, fine," he said as he stepped back into the guardhouse then came back out and motioned for him to bring the car closer. The novelist waited for the man to lift the bar so he could come in with thinning patience. The guy was taking his damn sweet time.
"I need your name and the member's name," the man chirped from his stool in front of the computer. "And the reason, if you don't mind. We've had recent events where a visitor attempted to attack a member—crazy foreigners—the previous had been shouting in English phrases as he demanded a member to come out and talk to him."
"Yuki Eiri. Due to reasons personal in nature, I'm here to meet Setsuna, she's probably getting impatient by the second."
That did the trick.
"Well, here's a pass for you and your car—we tow cars without these passes—and then you can go on your merry way," he said with one of his brightest smiles despite the obvious growing annoyance from Yuki.
He took the laminated papers from him and growled when he gave him a wave as he drove past. Restraint, Yuki, he told himself. There's no need for bloodshed. Not yet.
Setsuna grinned in satisfaction as she surveyed the fallen bottles fifty feet ahead. The young man attending to her handed a new gun with reloaded ammunition and she nodded her thanks. Another series of firing and the young lady once again left no bottles standing with no effort at all.
"Shindouchi-sama, Yuki Eiri is here to see you," a woman in her mid-thirties said, trying to keep her voice under control, but she heard the excitement in her voice. Hn. Must be another damn fan of his.
The longhaired brunette nodded and the woman clad in the standard camouflage and green top disappeared into the building where the novelist was surely waiting. At the corner of her eye, she saw Yuki Eiri slowly making his way toward them.
She noticed his actions were a bit uncertain. He still moved with the flawless grace and confidence most women died for but she noticed the way he kept his hands in his pockets. Setsuna took the magnum from the young man and aimed it at the blond. She gave him a sweet smile before pulling the trigger.
Yuki stiffened when she aimed at him. But his blood ran cold when she pulled the trigger. Would she really kill him in broad daylight with the young man attending her to serve as witness? Did she hate him that much?
He was surprised when the bottle only a foot behind him crashed onto the rocky ground. Setsuna smiled, pleased with herself. She should have taken a picture of Yuki's face when she fired. "Kodak moment."
She handed the gun to the young man and motioned for him to leave them alone. Walking toward the shaded table already provided with refreshments, she plopped down on the chair. "I do hope you didn't have a hard time getting here." She knew the kind of traffic drivers crazy enough to go to Kawasaki from Tokyo encounter at this hour. She was sure his ass was numb from sitting all that time cramped in his expensive little black car.
"I was stuck at traffic for three hours. What about you? How was the trip to get here?"
"Quite uneventful. It was a bit short. You know how helicopter rides are. It only took a few minutes to get here," Setsuna said before she took a long sip of her ice-cold water.
Yuki sighed. It was apparent she was not going to make it easy for him. "Why don't we go straight to the point of me being here?"
The woman shrugged. "Sure. I've got a meeting I need to prepare for anyway. What would you like to talk about?"
"You know damn well what."
She replaced the glass on the table and leaned closer, staring at him intensely. "If you're expecting me to say that my brother's decision to leave you was wrong, then I'm afraid you'll have to be terribly disappointed."
"But he doesn't understand. It's all a misunderstanding. I need to talk to him and explain," Yuki said. He knew there was a tinge of desperation in his tone but he didn't give a damn. His relationship with Shuuichi depended on this.
"Isn't that boy explanation enough? Uesugi, the fact that you were doing it on the living room floor when Shuuichi's already living with you is all the explanation we need. There's nothing to talk about. You cheated on my brother and that very well made him realize what a bastard you truly are. I'm only sorry he didn't realize it sooner."
"I know I'm a bastard but I didn't cheat on him!"
Setsuna smirked as she played with the straw of her drink. "I wonder how the press will eat this up. Yuki Eiri, novelist with the badass attitude acting all desperate to have his boyfriend whom he cheated on, back. This is really unlike you, Uesugi-san."
"This shows how much I want Shuuichi back."
A pregnant pause followed and she stared at him in the eye. Then…"But why would you want him back? I know all about the way you treat him. He didn't have to tell me. I've got sources telling me you treat my brother worse than you treat a dog. And I'll have know," she paused and took a deep breath, fighting to contain her anger, "I do not appreciate anyone being anything but nice to my brother. I'm sure you know by now who he really is."
"That's another thing. We need to talk about this whole Shindouchi-thing. We have a lot difficulties together but I think that given a chance to patch things up, we can work things out."
"'Patching things up' is already too late. Face the facts, Yuki. You don't deserve Shuuichi. How many time had you locked him up? How many vile words escaped that filthy mouth of yours that did nothing but hurt him? How many nights do you think did he cry himself to sleep because of an offhanded but definitely offending and hurtful word you said?"
The man in front of her only sat in silence. He knew every word she saw was true. But… "I love him."
"I think refuting that statement would be a lot easier than proving it."
"Why don't you get off your high stool from the rich and powerful and listen to me? The problem with your kind is you stick your nose too high!" Yuki exclaimed, standing up and glaring at her. "I'm trying to change for him, okay? I'm trying really hard so if it's not too much to ask, just give me another chance."
"Regarding your comment about 'my kind', please forgive me if I seemed so heartless as I am trying to protect my brother from any more pain. He's experienced enough and to be honest, a bulk of that pain was caused by our father. And the last thing I want is for him to be hurt. Much more by you. You don't deserve Shuuichi."
"Why? Because our family in Kyoto is from a line of monks rather than imperials princesses and business tycoons?"
"No, because you don't love him. So you don't deserve him. It's as simple as that. Shuuichi already gave so much love to you. And yes, maybe at certain points of your former relationship, there were times he felt loved. But the times he felt hurt outweighs those times. And a chance, you say? I believe we've all lost count on the chances you blew," she said calmly, once again replacing the glass on the table.
"How can you remain calm at a time like this? Your brother's happiness depends on this so-called talk and all you can do is sip your glass of water and smile!"
Her eyes flashed fire and she glared at him. "Don't you dare talk to me like that! Shuuichi's happiness is my number one priority. Why do you think I'm doing my best to make you realize how futile your attempts are in reconciling with him?"
"Shuuichi and I belong together," Yuki stated, staring straight into her metallic lilac eyes that was just a shade different from Shuuichi's.
She snorted. "I really wish you can hear yourself," she shook her head as she smiled sardonically. "Shuuichi's from the Shindouchi clan. Do you think we'll let just anyone be with one of us? You have to be worthy of the love of a Shindouchi. And right now, I'm giving you my verdict: you're worthless. You don't deserve anyone's—especially Shuuichi's—love as long as you can't learn to love others."
"But I love Shuuichi." Setsuna merely raised an eyebrow and Yuki felt his frustration and anger mount. "Shuuichi loves me."
"LOVED," she corrected. "I was hoping it wouldn't lead to this because I know that uncaring and callous you may be, this may hurt a bit. But Yuki Eiri, whatever gave you the idea the feelings my brother used to have for you still exist?"
Setsuna stood up from her sitting position and stared at the blond man standing in front of her, staring at nothingness. She knew she got him. Placing a hand on his left shoulder, she leaned closer and softly whispered into his ear, "It'll be better to move on with your life. There's nothing to gain pining after a man who no longer feels anything but contempt for you."
With that said, she gave him a small pat on the back and started to walk toward the building. She knew the 'talk' went well. She may have shaken the blond a bit but that was inevitable. She considered it as a small payback for all the shit Shuuichi had to go through because of him.
Straightening her clothes, Setsuna smiled at the man who opened the door for her. She went directly to the elevator that would lead to the room where she could take a bath and change her clothes. She still needed to be on Chiba for her meeting at seven.
~*~*~*~
Mika pounded on the door and sighed, her frustration mounting by the second. Fifteen minutes have already passed since she started banging on her brother's door and still she got nothing.
She rummaged through her handbag for her mobile phone and punched the numbers with vehemence. When it reached the fifth ring, she exhaled loudly, willing the growing annoyance away with the air she was breathing out.
"This is the third day you've been hiding from the world, Eiri," the longhaired Japanese muttered through clenched teeth. She was starting to get really worried. The blond would not answer any of her calls, would not open his door even after she threatened to break it down and she was beyond vexed.
She knocked on the wooden door again. "I know you're in there! Open this door, Eiri!" she shouted, hoping he would get tired enough of hearing her voice from the other side and open up.
She didn't have a clue on what was going on. Her brother simply called her three days ago telling her to stop calling the Shindouchi hotel and leave things be. Then he hung up and that was when he started locking himself in.
Mika, being the eldest, knew something was wrong with Yuki. She was practically their mother; hell would freeze over if she didn't do something about her brother shutting himself from the world and making a hermit out of himself.
"EIRI!" she shouted, kicking the door angrily despite the pain it brought her leather-booted left foot. "Damn it, this pair was especially made for me, this isn't supposed to be for kicking people's doors," she mumbled to herself, still alternating from savage kicking and vigorous pounding.
Her prayers were finally answered when the door slid inward and Yuki glared at her from inside. "You'll have me kicked out of here, you barbarian."
She stuck out her tongue on him and made a face. "If you answered sooner then I could've saved my boots and I wouldn't have busted my lungs for the whole complex to hear." Once inside, she stared at him closely and frowned.
"What?" was the annoyed grunt from ahead. He sat on the couch and she followed suit, looking around the house carefully.
"Is it just me or is your house a bit clean?"
She was answered with a glare. Shrugging, she stood up and surveyed the place a bit more. "Can you blame me if I'm a bit shocked from not finding the usual mess your house usually is in?"
"Shuuichi no longer lives here so his garbage isn't strewn all over the floor like it used to," he replied simply, opening the can of beer in his left hand. "What do you want?"
"Can't an older, loving sister visit her brother to check on how he's doing from time to time?"
"No. You've exceeded your five-minutes a month privilege as my sister. I'll see you in a month. Close the door on your way out." He turned away and switched the TV on. A shower of pink filled the screen and in seconds, Shuuichi's face appeared, with the other members of the band following.
Mika noticed the visible tightening of Yuki's hold on the remote. "Would you like to tell Mikarin about it?"
His amber eyes rested on her and after a while of staring at each other without saying anything, he looked away. "It's nothing. It's over."
"Hey, hey, I thought you already agreed on the plan of scaring the hell out of them by planting a bomb on the hotel till they let you see Shuuichi. What happened? You don't think it's romantic enough? All right, fine. I'll arrange for him to be kidnapped then I'll sneak him on a yacht with just the two of you together to work things out. Much better?"
"Don't bother. It's no use. It won't work out any way. It's just best to leave things as is."
"Would you mind explaining to me why you suddenly changed your mind? Don't tell me you're actually thinking that boy—whoever the hell he is—is better than Shuu-chan. I'm personally going to strangle you if you do."
"It's not that I don't love him, rather…"
"Rather what? You're giving up?" Mika asked with her hand son her hips. "That isn't like you, Eiri. If there's one thing you're not, it's a quitter. You don't quit. Remember when we were young? You were the one who used to motto 'try and try until you die' for yourself. I found it funny then—I still do now—but I know it fits you well. You're not the type to give up. If you love him then fight for him!"
"I love him and I want to be with him but it doesn't necessarily mean he loves me and wants to be with me the way I do. He doesn't. Not anymore."
"Are you telling me that Shuuichi—the pink bundle of energy—is capable of totally erasing you out of his life in a span of seven days? Eiri, be realistic. This is Shuuichi we're talking about!"
"But he thinks I cheated on him so how farfetched is the idea of him not loving me anymore because of that?" Yuki asked hotly. "You should be the one realistic. I have to move on like he's done. Nothing will happen to me if all I do is mope around for the rest of my life hoping Shuuichi changes his mind about leaving me. I know he won't. So I have to stop hoping."
Mika's eyes filled with tears and rushed to his side. Cradling his head in her arms she held him as he silently allowed the tears to fall. "It's over," he whispered. "It's over."
Tbc
===
[1] I'm not familiar [at all] with Japan's cities and stuff. So I'm not sure if it really takes three hours with traffic to get to Kawasaki from Tokyo. I'm just guessing. So if it's wrong, then I'm sorry. But if you know how long it'll really take and would like to correct me, then please do. I'd be happy to rectify things if necessary. ^_^
NOTES: [Related to fic..kinda ^^;;] I realize the whole make-Yuki-suffer has dragged on too long now. Forgive me if it's a bit too much but just give me until the next one where he suffers and I promise I'll stop. I'm already halfway done with part 7 so I'm not that eager to totally scrap it because Yuki's shed more than his share of tears. ::evil grin:: But I really will slow down with the drama after part 7, I swear. ::nods fervently:: So stick with me, 'kay? One more mild-angsty part and I'm done making him suffer [too much]. ^_^
