A/N: It's my 7th anniversary! I can't believe it's been this long already but it has :)
I'm happy to have come all this way with all of you faithful reviewers who stuck through the thick and thin with me. This mass update is for all of you as a thank you.
Thank you again and Read/Review for me as usual! It took a lot to bring this all to you so give me a little feedback.
So Close to the end I can taste it!
Vanilla-Tenshi Markings- That update didn't happen due to lack of funds for a motherboard to fix my computer. But for sure imma aim for this summer to finish this fic!
littlemissy3 – I do my best to. Especially now with everyone getting back into spazzing over Ryoam's re-appearance I should expect twice the PM's and review edging for a update XD
Dimensional Roamer – Yes, Drama makes the world go round so I do have a very healthy dose of it ready at hand.
Lanashe – I don't mean to always put a cliffhanger but then again I purposely do it sometimes. I'm glad you enjoyed the fic and even gave it a try because I never did think a simple want of wanting to write about host boys would turn into this fic XD
MARYLOVER – Must be my tendencies at work again. But we'll see if Ryoma gets there on time or will they permanently go their separate ways as usual for a host and client situation.
The Fuzzy Ficus –Yeah, I really have to be more consistent with updates on my story to save all of you guys the trouble of having to re-read everything but between life and inspiration is a huge gap of having time to write.
Tensai Fon Ryoseii – Yes, better late than never for sure on Syuusuke's part. Let's see what the future holds for them though.
Anon- Ryoga's one of my favorite characters for PoT so I cringe when people wanna kill him off. Nonetheless reunion is on the way.
Trees of leaves- I like to be original since it brings something new instead of the obvious to the table.
Kvhottie – I missed writing this story too XD
The Red Undertaker – well… a meeting is imminent.
Club7
Rated: M
Summary: "Love is Lies," was Fuji's motto; "Love is fake," was Echizen's…so how did lies and fake become attraction? How did attraction become attachment? It all started in Club 7.
Pairing: EchizenXFuji
Chapter XI: The One I Want
Recap-
"Thank you Yamaguchi-san!" The traveler said standing with a smile. His gaze shifted over to the other man that he hadn't met yet and stopped as recognition sunk into him.
Wasn't that man Echizen Ryoma who owned the Sakura Hotels?
0o0
Fuji smiled a bit. He had tried to resist Ryoga for the last month but he was persistent… almost as persistent as his Ryoma as a matter of fact. But slowly he wondered how this might turn out if he gave the green light to Ryoga… as everyone constantly told him.
He had a right to be happy as well so perhaps… he needed to move forward?
XxX
Osaka, Japan
Mount Tenpo
Rihito frowned as Yamaguchi fussed over Osaka's richest resident to his knowledge as if he was a boy who couldn't do anything for himself. It seemed a bit crazed like a stalker and it didn't help that he never left the man alone so he could ask if he really was THE Echizen Ryoma. It was too bad he had just come back from overseas to know if the local news was broadcasting the disappearance of the rich hotelier or not either. After all, he could be wrong and this person just resembled the rich guy. He did have a similar name too…
Walking away to wander around the house a little, he decided to ask the questions that were bugging him.
"Yamaguchi-san?"
"Yes?"
"How long have you and Ryoga been living here?"
"A couple of years now… we're lovers." Yamaguchi stated. "It was only recently that Ryoga suffered a head injury that he's a little off."
"Why don't you take him to a hospital then?" Rihito asked.
"No!" Yamaguchi said with malice. "They'll take him from me."
Rihito didn't say anything as he weighed the confession of that statement. Could it be he had something to do with the fact that "Ryoga" didn't remember anything? Turning to his backpack, he bent to find his book to kill time for a while only to have something else capture his attention under a stack of paper beside his bag. Tugging on it slightly, Rihito's eyes widened to find the ID of Echizen Ryoma. Stuffing it into his bag, it was all the confirmation he needed to know he needed to get Echizen away from this stalker-ish man and back to civilization.
XxX
Osaka, Japan
Sakura Hotel
Nanako leaned against Kai as they both sat trying to finish work that normally Ryoma would be taking care of. They were slowly adjusting to his presence no longer being here crouched over the desk. Even the workers who once thought their boss was too blunt missed how precise and reliable he was as opposed to Nanako who tended to forget one thing if not another.
Ring Ring
"Want me to get that?" Kai asked after the third ring when Nanako made no move to neither get her cell phone nor answer it.
"If it's not from someone outside of work don't pick up. "Nanako said with a frown.
It had already been three full months since that evil day and yet Kai and Nanako were still restless and running whacked schedules.
"It's Takumi,"
Nanako held her hand out and when Kai handed it to her she picked up.
"Takumi?"
"How are you holding up Nana-chan?"
"As good as it'll be Taku," Nanako said with a sigh. "How was Syuusuke's stay with you?"
"That's kind of why I'm calling." Takumi admitted.
"What's wrong? He's been back for a while now I know but I haven't had time to see him yet and- oh god! Is he suicidal? Does he want to die?"
"Whoa Whoa! Slow down love…" Takumi said through the line. "it's just that while he was here someone picked up interest in him and I think it could work if he allowed himself to fall for it."
"So you want me to encourage him to move on?" Nanako asked after a small pause to think what Takumi had just told her.
"Yes… he doesn't have anyone like the rest of you have someone to help move them on… I know you probably wouldn't want to help since it's your cousin's lover we're talking about but-"
"I'll do it," Nanako said suddenly.
"You sure? Because I can always ask-"
"No," Nanako said confidently as she looked at Kai and gripped his hand hard as tears gathered in her eyes. "
I will not hold a person's life back because of Ryoma… he wouldn't have wanted that."
"…thank you for understanding love…"
"Sumanne (excuse me)"
"What is it Tomoe?' Kai asked looking at her in slight curiosity.
"Sanada-san has informed me that he has not given up hope and till there is a body for that grave, he won't stop looking." Tomoe said clearly to both though her eyes rested on Nanako's tear-filled eyes.
"Cho arigatou…(Thanks a lot)" Nanako whispered as she closed her eyes wondering how she was to tell someone to love the person they love by loving another.
XxX
Osaka, Japan
Police station
Sanada lifted a corner of his mouth in slight amusement as he stared at his new nametag that sat on his new desk.
"Do your job and one day I'll make you the chief of police!"
He had said that on the day that he had met Sanada but what irony was it that it was his case but he wouldn't live to see his promise through?
KNOCK KNOCK
"Come in," Sanada said and glanced towards the door. He remained immobile as the door opened to reveal that it was Tezuka. They both didn't speak as both seemed to wait on the other to talk. The silence became unbearable to Sanada so he tore his gaze away and tried not to think about what he liked in the doctor when it was partially his fault he hadn't been with Ryoma to prevent the events that day on the ship.
"Thank you," Tezuka finally said breaking the silence between them.
Sanada nodded knowing that some things didn't need a full explanation to know what it was about. Sanada never felt proud of those moments even when people praised him on it. He had let the mastermind and the one he should've kept safe go.
"Did you love him?" Tezuka asked after a while since Sanada was making no move to verbally accept his thanks.
"I loved him," Sanada agreed. "like any father who would lose his son when there was a chance of saving him."
"Sou…" Tezuka said and the silence continued until the door flew open with a unannounced person.
"Atobe…" Tezuka said recognizing the domineering figure at the door.
"They found his body."
Sadness gripped Sanada as he stood and rushed past both to go see for himself.
XxX
Osaka, Japan
Club 7
"You've changed quite a few things about this club," Yukimura said looking at the newly designed bar and area.
"Something Ryoma mentioned to me…" Fuji said with a slight smile. "He was trying to tell the Daihyou how to manipulate the owner to bring in more customers."
"He's taught you a lot hasn't he?" Yukimura asked after studying Fuji's look for a second.
"Yeah… although I hate to admit it, that man taught me quite a lot about myself." Fuji said with a small smile.
"Will you tell me what Izumi told you?" Yukimura asked.
"Perhaps… one day…" Fuji said. "It's one of those painful things I don't want to rip open yet."
"Syuusuke,"
"Nanako-chan, Kai-san… what bring you two here tonight?" Fuji asked leaning down to hug Nanako while reaching out to shake Kai's hand.
"We heard there's someone who's interested in you and you may be as well." Nanako said bluntly. "I just wanted you to know that Ryoma would've wanted you to keep on going."
No one spoke for a long time and Fuji figured that the reason they all sought him out today was because a bird from Tokyo enlisted help. There was still doubt in his heart that he could move on but when he saw the concern in their eyes, he wanted to reassure them as well… so what else could he do but put on his best smile and play host.
"You are all right; I need to because the one I wanted is too far for me now."
"Maybe not so far…" Yukimura said looking at Nanako. "The one who wants to date him is named Ryoga…"
Nanako teared a bit but she nodded her understanding and reached out to hold Fuji's hand.
"What else?" Nanako asked as if she was truly interested and not ready to burst into tears.
"He looks like Ryoma…"
Nanako started crying.
XxX
Osaka, Japan
Mount Tenpo
Rihito watched until Yamaguchi's figure disappeared and even a few minutes more before he finally turned to look for Ryoma. He had said he'd be back in a few hours but Rihito was sure in a few hours he could at least be halfway down the mountain with Ryoma.
"Ryoga…." Rihito said approaching Ryoma though his eyes were glued to the horizon Yamaguchi had disappeared into not even five minutes ago.
"What is it?"
"Do you want to stretch our legs a bit? Take a walk you know?"Rihito suggested as he slung his bag onto his shoulder.
"But Taiki said to not leave the house-"Ryoma started.
'It's just a little walk and we'll be back," Rihito said with a nod. "You can do that right?"
"Yeah…" Ryoma uttered after a while.
Thought Rihito felt horrible for lying to him, there was no time if they needed to make their escape.
"Let's hurry so we can get back ne?"
Ryoma nodded and caught on to Rihito's brisk pace never knowing that they were not coming back.
It'd be almost two hours later of following the stream downhill that they reached the lake near the foot of the mountain. It was where Rihito had started climbing thinking he'd be back in a day to go home since he loved hiking but he had been wrong when he got lost on the mountain.
"Come on Ryoma."
"It's Ryoga and I think we need to head back now, it's getting dark and none of this looks familiar." Ryoma said glancing back up the mountain. "Yama-"
"Listen to me Ryoma…" Rihito said as calmly as he could to not alert Ryoma. "We have to get you away from here and to a hospital."
"No! We weren't suppose to go this far, It's bad and-"Ryoma backed away as Rihito feared he's do. It was understandable that if you awoke to lies it'd be the thing you trusted the most as opposed to a guy who had come to stay for a day.
"I'm going back," Ryoma decided and started heading back up in a rush but Rihito jogged to catch up.
"Wait!"
He shouldn't have because Ryoma ran and in his hurry slipped off a slippery path of grass from the incline and fell into the shallow lake side.
"Ryoma!" Rihito yelled.
Ryoma panicked immediately even if it only came up to his neck.
"Ryoma!"
"Let go, I have to- Ryoma!"
The only thought in his head was
'Syuusuke…'
"Ryoma?" Rihito said pulling back to the edge of the lake as he stared into the golden eyes to see if he was responding. It was so shallow and Rihito didn't think the CEO of Sakura Hotels was afraid of water. But he was… he had stiffened and sunk and Rihito had to drop his bag and hop in to join him in the cold lake to retrieve him.
"Syuusuke…" Ryoma uttered slowly as he rubbed his throbbing head. He went unconscious after that and Rihito panicked. How were they going to get to a main road and make a getaway if he was going to suffer from something? Could his head have hit anything?
XxX
Osaka, Japan
Club7
"Can we date?"Ryoga asked as he stared at Fuji who was currently taking stock on alcohol.
Fuji paused in his writing and glanced up at the man who followed him around from place to place as he wrote and worked.
"I don't see why we can't go out everyone once in a while like we did in Tokyo-"
"That's different from belonging to me Syuusuke…" Ryoga said with a sigh. "I want that much now without the friendly every once in a while like a friend."
"I'm not ready for that step… I told you I just lost someone I love very much." Fuji said tightly.
"But would he wish you to be like this?" Ryoga asked pulling Fuji to face him. "Would he condemn you to be alone because he left you?"
"He's not like that," Fuji said almost angrily now. Who was this guy to judge his Ryoma?
"Then give me a chance to prove that I can be that person you need." Ryoga said seriously.
Fuji didn't speak for a long moment that Ryoga was going to give him more reasons.
"Okay…"
"Really?" Ryoga said with incredulous eyes.
Fuji merely nodded.
XxX
Osaka, Japan
2AM
"Where am I?"Ryoma asked when he got up.
"We're headed into the heart of Osaka Ryoma." Rihito said from above him.
"That guy awake?"
"Yes, thank you so much for picking us up as well." Rihito said to the man.
"What happened?"
"You fell into the water… do you remember?" Rihito asked. "Do you want to go to the hospital…"
"No, I need to go home… I need…" Ryoma squinted as he tried to sit up but he couldn't seem to concentrate and everything was hazy when he tried to remember or recall anything.
"Relax then… we'll get you to where you need to be soon. Rihito said.
"Here we are at the Sakura Hotel." The man said.
"Thank you…" Rihito said and dug out some cash he had been carrying. "Sorry, I don't have anything more than 5000 yen are me."
"It's fine," Ryoma uttered as he sat up. "Please leave me your name and number and I'll more than reimburse you for the trouble."
After exchanging contact, Rihito slung his bag over him and handed Ryoma's id back to him.
"How'd you-"
"The crazy guy that had you hid it in his stuff and I happened upon it."
"I'm not clicking with the events of my life right now so maybe when it all does, I can fully thank you."
"No problem," Rihito said with a smile. "I'm going to head on home and-"
"Leave me your contact as well." Ryoma said as he held out a hand for it.
Rihito wrote it out for him and handed the kind-hearted driver's information to him as well before waving a hand.
Ryoma walked into the Sakura hotels and up as his mind started to clear up more. He was seeing Syuusuke in his head and that's who he wanted to see before thinking about how long he had been gone to what was happening with the business with him gone. His fingers danced across the code more from unconscious memory rather than knowing to get into his suite in the hotel. He quickly changed out of his wet clothes and into his dry ones. He was a bit suspicious as to why his things were being packed into boxes but thankfully his clothes still hung where they were.
Shaving off his growing beard, he searched for his cologne and put a dab on his neck in memory. He walked back out into the bedroom area and headed towards his closet. Opening his safe behind his tie rack, He grabbed a couple hundred in bills and headed out after one last look. He was looking like he always used to look now. Clean black slacks, business shirt with his sleeves rolled up. Light jacket, damp dark green hair and the normal bored look on his face. It was as if he never left in Ryoma's opinion.
Glancing at the clock on the wall he assumed that Fuji would be still at work and closing up in a couple of hours. Ryoma left the room and down the hall. He'd right up his room later with Nanako and Tomoe, right now he wanted to make sure Syuusuke was all right.
XxX
Osaka, Japan
Club7
2:15 AM
Fuji sighed as he locked the doors. It was a slow night so he let the crew off three hours early. Ryoga had left earlier as well telling him that he'd see him tomorrow. It was a long day but Fuji almost enjoyed going home as much as before. The smell of Ryoma lingered at their apartment and sometimes, it seemed as if Ryoma was merely gone for a while and not forever.
Fuji tried not to think about it so much as he entered the elevator and pushed up. He thought of other things than Ryoma and wondered if it would work in his favor if really gave in to Ryoga's advances.
Stepping out of the elevator, Fuji's heart rate sped up as someone grabbed him by the hand suddenly.
"Hey,"
"Ryoga!" Fuji breathed out as he looked at the grinning man. "I thought you left-"
"I did and then I came back to get you." Ryoga said with a slight smile.
"I was just heading home-"
"I will come too if you don't mind since we are dating now…"
"Well…" Fuji started fighting the NO that welled into his head first. He was possessive of his space with Ryoma but if he made no effort to break away then he wouldn't get anywhere.
"Come on…" Ryoga said tightening his fingers that weaved through Fuji's.
"Um-"
Fuji couldn't finish answering as Ryoga pressed a kiss to lips. Fuji didn't resist as he tried to join the enthusiasm that Ryoga eluded. Yet Fuji felt no spark or flames, he felt the simple joining of lips, of hunger from his partner but no excitement was rectified from his part.
Little did the couple know that behind them Ryoma was entering a taxi headed back to the hotel in anger. He was hurt that Fuji was doing things with a client so soon, angry that he missed someone who barely seemed to miss him and it brought back the feeling he once had of hosts. Money was flashed and they would do anything that was how they lived life. There was no commitment only fun and games and it seemed that was all done now between them.
A/N: dun dun dun…. And Ryoma is back but Fuji is tied
-sighs
Well review and we'll bring about the conclusion to this story.