"Wish I was Your Kumagorou"
by Sachiko
Disclaimers: I do NOT own the anime Gravitation. This is only a fanfiction.
Summary: It's Christmas time! Everyone's gathering at Shuichi's party, and Ryuichi decides to buy everyone a little something. But when he went shopping, he lost Kumagorou! (O.o) How will he get his precious bunny back and have a good Christmas? Who will comfort him? (A little TatsuhaxRyuichi shounen-ai-ness)
++++ Ch.2 - Oh no! Where's Kumagorou? ++++ Date: 12/22/02 - 12/24/02
Ryuichi drove to the shopping center the day before the party. He was really excited about it, for he loved lots of merriment and fun. He loved Christmas and all the people he knew that's going to the party. Ryuichi held out Kumagorou and talked to it, "If I give everyone a gift at the party, they will be happy, right Kumagorou? Let's go and shop for the presents Na no da! I even made a list like Shuichi did already on whom I will buy stuff for. Oh, and we better be careful to not to make a big crowd, or I'm going to be in trouble no da."
He looked at the list, and this was what it read:
Shuichi -- stuff cat
Tohma and Noriko-chan -- Snow globe
K -- Water gun
Yuki -- Notepad
Ayaka-chan -- Lip gloss
Sakano-san -- A Christmas-style handkerchief
ASK -- ...Um...each little ornaments!
Tatsuha -- ?
"Hmm...Who is Tatsuha? Oh well! I will buy whatever I can for him Na no da! Then we will meet a new friend too." He wasn't concerned of some eyes staring at him as he was talking to his bunny friend. It was better to move along, he thought. As he stepped in, he saw many people swarming back and forth for the same reason as he was. Definitely, Christmas spirit was around the corner. But with that amount of people, the slightest chance of a crowd was peak, and he knew he better get the shopping done before anything else.
Looking at the list, he began to scamper around the areas and isles to find his presents. Every isle was nicely decorated with glimmering pom- poms and ornaments. On the one with stuff animals, Ryuichi saw an orange striped kitten with a red bow tie to its neck, sitting upright and seeming to be smiling at him. "Look, Kumagorou, it has a red bow like you do! Do you think Shuichi will like it?" He nodded Kumagorou's head, signifying that it's telling him a "yes". Ryuichi picked up the little stuff kitten and placed it in his shopping basket, and then he took out a blue crayon to cross his name out from the list.
Following, he found the section of toys for kids and spotted a green & yellow, eight-inch water gun. "K will have a lot of fun with this." He grabbed it and crossed K's name with his crayon. Conveniently, the area next to there was a display of on-sale Christmas accessories of different varieties. He decided to grab one ginger-bread boy, one Christmas tree, and one candy cane shaped ornaments for the band of ASK. He hadn't thought Shuichi would invite them. The thing was that Ryuichi himself wasn't that close to them either, but he still wanted to give something to them and get to know them. He crossed out ASK. There were also mini round glass snow globes on the other end of the shelf. He grabbed one with a chubby snowman in the center for Tohma and one with a snow fairy for Noriko. Ryuichi crossed out his two Nittle Grasper co-workers.
Then on the corner of the shopping center, Ryuichi saw a person dressing up as Santa Claus, ringing a silver bell to grab attention. "OOOhh!! Santa Claus!" His eyes sparkled and slid his way toward the man. "What are you doing here, Santa Claus? It's still early to be passing out presents.." His actions and baby face looked so naïve that the person dressed as Santa would've never guessed that he was a thirty one year-old lad and more rather in his late teenage years, which in fact was far from the real truth. Santa laughed. "Hohooho! Hello, there, young man! You're in high spirit today. This is a place for donation and giving to the poor. Would you like to contribute some few coins or something? It will certainly make all the children out there happy."
"Eh? So contributing some coins will make children happy?! Alrighty no da!" Ryuichi rummaged into his pocket and took out a few changes he had with him and slipped them into the coin basket. In return, 'Santa' gave him a small wrapped packet, displaying what seemed to be a Christmas tree emblem on it. "What's this Na no da?"
"This is a handkerchief, a gift for contributing."
"I really can keep it? Cool! Thanks!!" Ryuichi waved bye-bye to the dressed up Santa and took out his crayon to cross out Sakano on the list. It solved yet another of his problem. Also, he was really proud of his action because he was able to help the people out there with his money and as well as buying present for Sakano, so his chest warmed up with that deliberation.
Only Ayaka-chan, Yuki, and...Tatsuha were left uncrossed on the list. Who was Tatsuha? Ryuichi really never actually met Tatsuha, but he'd only heard from Shuichi that he was Yuki's younger brother, and that he has got the hots for him. He wondered what was he like... will he be as serious, and perhaps, as handsome as Yuki? Or maybe, since he's a friend of his buddy Shuichi, the cheerful type like Shuichi himself? He hoped he could become friends with him. Then Ryuichi snapped back into reality. Why was he thinking of someone he barely known of? As he moved his eyes around, he found himself squashing tightly Kumagorou between his arms. He took his prized bunny out and held onto him lightly. "Aww...did Ryu-chan squash Kumagorou? I'm sorry! Here...I'll put you here, so you won't be crushed!" Ryuichi nicely rested Kumagorou in his shopping basket with its head out sticking outside.
Afterwards, he continued on his mission. Ryuichi went to the female accessories section. It was hard for a guy to pick out something like that for a girl, so the only weapon was by instincts. Ryuichi scratched his head, not knowing which brand or what kind of lip-gloss Ayaka-chan would like. "Mou...this is really hard..." He frowned. "Hmm...Maybe Ayaka-chan might like this pink and white one! I think it fits her very well. It also has glitter in it too, so I'm sure she will like it!" A notepad was easy to find, for all Ryuichi had to do was looking in the stationery section. He glanced at the different writing instruments and finally picked out a notebook with appealing Christmas designs on it. He crossed out Ayaka-chan and Yuki.
Now...Tatsuha was the only person left on the list... "I don't know what does he like... Let's see what I can find Na no da!" He swung his basket back and forth, skipping up and down like a little kid. ...Half of his mind on his last present, and half on the expectancy of surprising faces at the party when he hand the gifts to them. But nearly as he wasn't looking, swinging at a rapid swift speed, a corner slammed noiselessly into his pink companion's head, and it fell to the ground without its master knowing... "Ryu-chan." a soft voice cried.
+++
It was December 23. Shuichi had told Yuki to go buy sushi, noodles, cake, refreshments, drinks, and all the necessities in the party. He also told Sakano-san, Hiro, and Suguru to bring their music equipments along to have a karaoke section. He planned it to be a very loud and boisterous party. However, Hiro did warn him of a delay for him because he offered to pick up Ayaka-chan. "Those two..." Shuichi thought. "Oh well! All lovers deserve to have their deep romances! Especially the graceful time of CHRISTMAS!!!" He shouted across the hall.
"What the hell are you shouting out now?"
With dotted eyes, still in his hero-posing stance, Shuichi found Yuki staring at him. "Yuki!! Arigatou for helping out! Thank you thank you thank you!!!" He spread his arms apart, running toward Yuki and preparing to pounce on him. However in contrary, Yuki stood aside, allowing his pink-hair boy to fall face flat on the ground and crash with a loud "BOOM". "Mou...! Is that anyway to treat your lover in the time of Christmas!?"
Yuki sulked and slapped his forehead. "I can treat you however I want to, you know that?" He starred at Shuichi and can't help but chuckle a little at his whiny nose-bleeding face as he stood up.
"BUT YUKI!! You don't have to do this to me! How can I face the others when they come!? Oh...I better get a tissue to stop this--" his words were interrupted with a contact of a kiss from the blonde writer. Shuichi held onto Yuki and caressed.
Yuki let go. "There...that should stop your nose bleeding."
Shuichi touched his nose and wiped his remaining bloodstain. "You're...you're right! Su-ge su-ge, Yuki!! You even have the marvelous power of stopping a nosebleed!" There were his big glittering eyes.
DING-DONG.
"Oh! Someone's here! Wait Yuki, I'll go get the door."
He went to open the door and found his whole NG studio crew in front of him. "Sakano-san! K-san! Suguru-san!" He pranced on all of them and shouted with joy. "Oh I'm sooo glad you guys came!!!"
"Yo!" K replied. "We made it just in time!"
"Ahh...it was difficult look to carry all those equipments with us." Sakano complained.
Then Suguru said with a calm voice, "Oh yes, we have some more guests."
"Really? Who? Who?" Then looking back, Shuichi saw that some more people were coming. "Wel--!" It was ASK, the group that abused him and Yuki before, the group of their arch-rivalry. Shuichi saw that they were just as reluctant as he was, for on Tachi's face, there was a particular remorseful and sad look on it. Tachi knew he wasn't welcomed, yet he was invited without the courage to face all the humiliation. Ken-chan and Ma-kun were trying their best in the back to consult Tachi.
"C-come on in!" Shuichi said to them. They did as were told. As they passed by Suguru and the others, they sensed a dart of hatred behind those stares. What was even harder was when Tachi came face to face with Shuichi. He could just hear the young boy calling him bastard already... But instead, Shuichi patted him on the shoulder and smiled. "Don't worry about it... Let's have a merry Christmas together!" Tachi can't help but smile back at him and slapped lightly on Shuichi's shoulder back. "Thanks..." Ma-chan and Ken-kun in the back glanced happily at each other, and Suguru and the others did the same.
A while later, as the equipments were installed, Tohma and Noriko arrived, surprisingly at the same time with Hiro and Ayaka. They found the house neatly bedecked with Christmas lights, and there was even a Christmas tree in the main hollow room (where the sofas were) set up. In the dining room, they discovered everything tidily prepared with food and utensils. Candles were also set up on the table too. Tohma was dumbfounded. "Shindou-san, did you and Yuki do all this?"
"Thank you for inviting me to your party, Shindou-kun" Ayaka politely bowed to the host. Following, Hiro flattered, "Wow, Shuichi, you've really outdone yourself..."
Shuichi redden a little and scratched his head. "Hehe...you think so? I'm really happy Yuki agreed with this idea. O-oh, Tohma-san, Noriko- san, where is Ryuichi? Didn't he come with you guys?"
Noriko replied, "Well...I tried calling him, and he told me he will come later. Ryu-chan sounded awfully down though. Let's hope he'll come soon! I know Ryu-chan has his own business. Well then!" She placed her arms around Shuichi. "Let's party!!"
Around 15 minutes later, another doorbell was heard and interrupted the karaoke section they were having. Shuichi went to get it, and there was Tatsuha, trembling with enthusiasm, quaking and dying to see his honey lover. He was dressed not too formal, but more formal than usual with a bow tied around his collared shirt. He even had a bouquet of flowers held in one of his hands. "Tatsuha-san...!"
"H-Hey...is Sakuma...Ryuichi r-really here...?" He whispered nervously to Shuichi.
Shuichi sweatdropped. "Um, nope...he hasn't arrived yet." With that reply, Tatsuha melt to the ground in relief. He could for the moment release his tensions.
"Oh, so it's my trespassing brother at the door?" Yuki said after glancing at who it was.
"Hehe...call me whatever you like, aniki... There's no way I'm slipping this chance of meeting the man of my life..." Tatsuha responded, still sitting on the floor out the doorway. Rapidly, he stood up and allowed himself to enter into the house, but his mouth dropped when he noticed the other two Nittle Grasper members. The band in which Ryuichi's in was right in front of his eyes... "H- Hajimemashite!! I'm Uesugi Tatsuha, Yuki's younger brother." He bowed for the ninth time and thought, "Oh God...how can I face Sakuma Ryuichi if I'm already trembling like this...?"
Tohma smiled warmly at him. "I never knew Yuki had such a lively younger brother. Probably it's because he seldom mentions about you." Tatsuha evil-glared at Yuki. "At any rate, from what I heard you said, you seem to be in love with Sakuma-san, is that right?"
"Well...I..." The young black-hair man blushed hard and was speechless. "D-damn..."
Noriko winked at him. "Don't worry, many have fallen for our Ryu-chan before. Tatsuha-kun, if you want to go to him, you must past through me!!" She made a peace sign. She was obviously teasing him. This just made him to burn hotter on the cheeks. The gang of ASK began to find their big family very fascinating.
Another 15 minutes have passed already, and still, there was no sign of Ryuichi showing up. Everyone was worried, but they started chowing on the food already. Noriko gave another three phone calls to his apartment, but apparently, no one answered them. Tohma now and then glimpsed at his watch to look at the time. And Tatsuha...he was disappointed. Very disappointed. He was waiting for this very chance to meet him, to meet him in person... It was unlike seeing him on TV or on books and magazines or even in concerts... He wanted to get to know Ryuichi in person, to touch his hand and feel him, to become just as close to him as Shuichi was. And most of all, he wished for a chance to tell him that he adored him, that he loved him. But with his absence, all his hopes crushed into tiny bits... He just sat in his chair, pressing his elbow onto the table and clutched onto his forehead. He wanted to cry. Everything just sunk down.
Tohma finally came to the conclusion. "Maybe Sakuma-san just isn't coming. I'm sure he would've been here by now."
"No...Sakuma-san will show up..." Shuichi said quietly. "He would've made a phone call or something if he wasn't coming... He told me he would be coming to the party, and I know he won't break his promise. Something must be wrong." He looked at the sad face Tatsuha bared and began to head for the door. "I'm going to look for him!"
"Wait, Shindou-kun! Where are you planning to look for him at?" Sakano shouted.
"At his apartment. Ryuichi gave me his address before, and that's where I'm gonna go. If he's not there, then I will continue to look until I find out."
Suguru stepped forward. "Hold on, Shindou-san! Aren't you over reacting? Not showing up at a party is very normal. Maybe Sakuma-san is just busy with something; what if you disturb him?"
"I'm just worried, and I feel like looking for him. Just wait for me! I'll be right back!" But before he ran out the door, Tatsuha stood up and told him that he was going to follow as well. He scuttled toward Shuichi and the two of them ran ahead. Everybody remained silent, not knowing whether to stay behind or go after them. Soon, more people left.
+++
Shuichi drove in Tatsuha's car, and the two of them arrived at a small apartment that was the most unexpected from the eminent singer. The quality of it wasn't luxurious, but it wasn't destitute either.
"Tatsuha-san, how come you followed me? Is it only because you want to meet him?"
"It's part of the reason. But the other part is...well...I want to do something for Sakuma-san. It's this urge that I have inside that's telling me to come along instead of waiting back there."
"Ok..."
They ran up the building to the room where Ryuichi was living. Catching their breath, they rang the doorbell and shouted out his name, hoping to receive some answer. "Sakuma-san!!! Please, are you there!!" Finally, Shuichi decided to hammer on the door, and which Tatsuha didn't dare to do, he finally followed the pink-hair boy's example afterwards. "..Sakuma...Ryu-chan! It's Shuichi!" After three minutes of patient knocking, they finally heard someone's voice mumbling. "...Shuichi...?"
"Yes, Ryu-chan!" They heard footsteps behind the doors; someone was coming to open the door. There was Ryuichi, starring back at them. Tatsuha felt his cheeks warming up. It's really him...
"Ryu-chan, everyone was worried about you at the party. Why didn't you go? Oh, this is Tatsuha, Yuki's younger brother." He introduced, but his hand was aiming empty air. Tatsuha snuggled right behind him. "Korah, Tatsuha-san..." He shifted to the side and impelled Tatsuha so that Ryuichi could see his shy peachy face.
"So you are Tatsuha Na no da? Hi, I'm Sakuma Ryuichi of Nittle Grasper! Let's be friends." He held out his hand and shook Tatsuha's.
"N-n-n-nice to meet you, Sakuma-san!!" Oh heavens...he could faint that very moment. He was shaking his god's hand, and trailing forward, he was staring at the whole body of Ryuichi. Something didn't feel right... It wasn't him that was trembling, but it was the young vocalist. But then why? Tatsuha look intently at his face and saw something strange. His eyes were a bit swollen and even red, but he still smiled. What happened, he asked himself.
Shuichi felt happy for Tatsuha, for he finally got to meet him. "Ryuichi-san, is there anything wrong and you can't go to the party?"
Ryuichi turned around, pulling his hand away. His tone changed. "I was shopping yesterday...you see... to buy presents for everyone at the party. It was a fun adventure, you know, to shop around everywhere!" He choked. "Kumagorou came along too...but...when I came back, I found that he wasn't with me..." His words were cut off by a sob. He couldn't bare it and hide it anymore. Ryuichi finally got himself to face Shuichi but with his face covered by his right arm. "Ryu-chan lost Kumagorou!!!" He was crying... crying for a lost companion...
"Oh Sakuma-san...I mean, Ryuichi-san..." He couldn't bare that face that was once smiling a happy adorable face. It was hard to watch as Ryuichi painfully ran toward his sofa, burying his face, and not knowing how to comfort him. Shuichi quickly ran out the door, and no one knew what he was up to. Now Tatsuha and Ryuichi were left alone in that room. Kumagorou...Tatsuha remembered reading a certain article interview about Kumagorou. It was Ryuichi's precious pink bunny. To lose something so cherished is a very painful feeling. "Sakuma- san...crying..." His first impression of Sakuma Ryuichi had to be this scene. He wanted to go hug him and soothe him and really wanted to be there for him, but how could he? A pauper like him isn't worthy of hugging the elegant prince! Yet...the temptation... *SOB SOB*...Tatsuha could cry any minute too just listening to his god crying in grief. He took a step forward.
"Pss...Tatsuha-san!"
Tatsuha looked back. Shuichi waved his hand to signal him to come over. Tatsuha looked sorrowfully at Ryuichi, not wanting to leave him, and then went to Shuichi. "What is it now?"
"Here, wear this." He handed Tatsuha what seemed to be the same bunny costume Ryuichi wore once before. "I don't know whether this will comfort Ryuichi-san any better (or even worse), but... Tatsuha-san, be his Kumagorou for the moment!"
"W-What?!? What the hell does that mean?!"
"It means dress up and go and comfort him. And I mean YOU go do it."
"But I can't..."
"This is your chance! You said you want to do something for him, so here you go!" Shuichi shouted loud enough to intimidate his companion but not loud enough to let others hear. "Look...I know it sounds hard...but I know you can. Meanwhile, I'll be going to the shopping center to find Kumagorou."
After a while thought, Tatsuha decided to give it a shot. Right when he finished dressing, they heard footsteps, and they saw couple people from the party coming. Shuichi raised his finger to his lips to hush them. Finally, with courage, Tatsuha proceeded into Ryuichi's apartment (or room) and knelt down in front of him. Ryuichi looked up with watery eyes. "Tatsuha...kun...?"
Tatsuha could feel the tension of blood rushing up to his head again as he spoke. "Sakuma-san...if...if you want...I could be your Kumagorou for the moment..." Ryuichi just gawked at him in the costume that seemed so familiar without saying anything aside from sniffing and gushing out more tears. "...Well...if you don't want..." He felt a tug.
"...T-Tatsuha-kun..." With no warning, Ryuichi swiftly embraced Tatsuha, crying on his chest. Tatsuha blushed badly and wasn't able to conceal that fact. He could feel those cheeks burning as Ryuichi held on tighter. "Oh Tatsuha-kun...! What if Kumagorou is forever lost? What if I'll never see my pink bunny again?!" A tear fell from Tatsuha's face. It was almost as if he threw away everything that moment and focused on the baby that was holding him, and then in return, he stretched out his arms and embraced Ryuichi back. "It's ok, Sakuma-san... It's ok..."
+++
Outside the door, the others were peaking into the scene playing inside. Then Shuichi told them (Hiro, Suguru, Tohma, Noriko, Yuki) the whole simple story as they walk outside the apartment. "Oh poor poor Ryu-chan...It was because he was buying presents for us that he lost it...I feel terrible...!" Noriko exclaimed.
"Me too...Who wants to follow me to go and find Kumagorou?!" Shuichi shouted. Noriko, Hiro, and Suguru volunteered.
"No matter what! I can't let Ryu-chan be sad like that for Christmas!!"
"Well, Shindou-san, since you such a great compassion, I can't help but accompany you on this. It's the only way to fix things up." Suguru commented. Hiro agreed.
"Thanks Noriko-san, Hiro, Suguru..."
Yuki, after being silent most of the way, spoke up. "Shuichi, but wasn't it a foolish idea to leave my brother behind with Sakuma Ryuichi? There's no telling what he might do to him..." He turned toward the apartment.
"Eh...for that part I was a little worried... But Tatsuha-san deserves a little too."
+++ End of Ch.2 +++
Waahhh!! @_@ That was a long chapter! It took forever = =;;; But as I said before, this is my first shounen-ai fic, not to mention the first Gravi one too XP I'm sorry if I can't write! I want to thank all that reviewed so far! Please stay tune for the next chapter. R+R PLEASE!!! (purty please??) MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!!!
BTW, for those who doesn't know, here's a little Japanese defining: Aniki - older brother; Hajimemashite - Nice to Meet You; Su-ge - wonderful.
by Sachiko
Disclaimers: I do NOT own the anime Gravitation. This is only a fanfiction.
Summary: It's Christmas time! Everyone's gathering at Shuichi's party, and Ryuichi decides to buy everyone a little something. But when he went shopping, he lost Kumagorou! (O.o) How will he get his precious bunny back and have a good Christmas? Who will comfort him? (A little TatsuhaxRyuichi shounen-ai-ness)
++++ Ch.2 - Oh no! Where's Kumagorou? ++++ Date: 12/22/02 - 12/24/02
Ryuichi drove to the shopping center the day before the party. He was really excited about it, for he loved lots of merriment and fun. He loved Christmas and all the people he knew that's going to the party. Ryuichi held out Kumagorou and talked to it, "If I give everyone a gift at the party, they will be happy, right Kumagorou? Let's go and shop for the presents Na no da! I even made a list like Shuichi did already on whom I will buy stuff for. Oh, and we better be careful to not to make a big crowd, or I'm going to be in trouble no da."
He looked at the list, and this was what it read:
Shuichi -- stuff cat
Tohma and Noriko-chan -- Snow globe
K -- Water gun
Yuki -- Notepad
Ayaka-chan -- Lip gloss
Sakano-san -- A Christmas-style handkerchief
ASK -- ...Um...each little ornaments!
Tatsuha -- ?
"Hmm...Who is Tatsuha? Oh well! I will buy whatever I can for him Na no da! Then we will meet a new friend too." He wasn't concerned of some eyes staring at him as he was talking to his bunny friend. It was better to move along, he thought. As he stepped in, he saw many people swarming back and forth for the same reason as he was. Definitely, Christmas spirit was around the corner. But with that amount of people, the slightest chance of a crowd was peak, and he knew he better get the shopping done before anything else.
Looking at the list, he began to scamper around the areas and isles to find his presents. Every isle was nicely decorated with glimmering pom- poms and ornaments. On the one with stuff animals, Ryuichi saw an orange striped kitten with a red bow tie to its neck, sitting upright and seeming to be smiling at him. "Look, Kumagorou, it has a red bow like you do! Do you think Shuichi will like it?" He nodded Kumagorou's head, signifying that it's telling him a "yes". Ryuichi picked up the little stuff kitten and placed it in his shopping basket, and then he took out a blue crayon to cross his name out from the list.
Following, he found the section of toys for kids and spotted a green & yellow, eight-inch water gun. "K will have a lot of fun with this." He grabbed it and crossed K's name with his crayon. Conveniently, the area next to there was a display of on-sale Christmas accessories of different varieties. He decided to grab one ginger-bread boy, one Christmas tree, and one candy cane shaped ornaments for the band of ASK. He hadn't thought Shuichi would invite them. The thing was that Ryuichi himself wasn't that close to them either, but he still wanted to give something to them and get to know them. He crossed out ASK. There were also mini round glass snow globes on the other end of the shelf. He grabbed one with a chubby snowman in the center for Tohma and one with a snow fairy for Noriko. Ryuichi crossed out his two Nittle Grasper co-workers.
Then on the corner of the shopping center, Ryuichi saw a person dressing up as Santa Claus, ringing a silver bell to grab attention. "OOOhh!! Santa Claus!" His eyes sparkled and slid his way toward the man. "What are you doing here, Santa Claus? It's still early to be passing out presents.." His actions and baby face looked so naïve that the person dressed as Santa would've never guessed that he was a thirty one year-old lad and more rather in his late teenage years, which in fact was far from the real truth. Santa laughed. "Hohooho! Hello, there, young man! You're in high spirit today. This is a place for donation and giving to the poor. Would you like to contribute some few coins or something? It will certainly make all the children out there happy."
"Eh? So contributing some coins will make children happy?! Alrighty no da!" Ryuichi rummaged into his pocket and took out a few changes he had with him and slipped them into the coin basket. In return, 'Santa' gave him a small wrapped packet, displaying what seemed to be a Christmas tree emblem on it. "What's this Na no da?"
"This is a handkerchief, a gift for contributing."
"I really can keep it? Cool! Thanks!!" Ryuichi waved bye-bye to the dressed up Santa and took out his crayon to cross out Sakano on the list. It solved yet another of his problem. Also, he was really proud of his action because he was able to help the people out there with his money and as well as buying present for Sakano, so his chest warmed up with that deliberation.
Only Ayaka-chan, Yuki, and...Tatsuha were left uncrossed on the list. Who was Tatsuha? Ryuichi really never actually met Tatsuha, but he'd only heard from Shuichi that he was Yuki's younger brother, and that he has got the hots for him. He wondered what was he like... will he be as serious, and perhaps, as handsome as Yuki? Or maybe, since he's a friend of his buddy Shuichi, the cheerful type like Shuichi himself? He hoped he could become friends with him. Then Ryuichi snapped back into reality. Why was he thinking of someone he barely known of? As he moved his eyes around, he found himself squashing tightly Kumagorou between his arms. He took his prized bunny out and held onto him lightly. "Aww...did Ryu-chan squash Kumagorou? I'm sorry! Here...I'll put you here, so you won't be crushed!" Ryuichi nicely rested Kumagorou in his shopping basket with its head out sticking outside.
Afterwards, he continued on his mission. Ryuichi went to the female accessories section. It was hard for a guy to pick out something like that for a girl, so the only weapon was by instincts. Ryuichi scratched his head, not knowing which brand or what kind of lip-gloss Ayaka-chan would like. "Mou...this is really hard..." He frowned. "Hmm...Maybe Ayaka-chan might like this pink and white one! I think it fits her very well. It also has glitter in it too, so I'm sure she will like it!" A notepad was easy to find, for all Ryuichi had to do was looking in the stationery section. He glanced at the different writing instruments and finally picked out a notebook with appealing Christmas designs on it. He crossed out Ayaka-chan and Yuki.
Now...Tatsuha was the only person left on the list... "I don't know what does he like... Let's see what I can find Na no da!" He swung his basket back and forth, skipping up and down like a little kid. ...Half of his mind on his last present, and half on the expectancy of surprising faces at the party when he hand the gifts to them. But nearly as he wasn't looking, swinging at a rapid swift speed, a corner slammed noiselessly into his pink companion's head, and it fell to the ground without its master knowing... "Ryu-chan." a soft voice cried.
+++
It was December 23. Shuichi had told Yuki to go buy sushi, noodles, cake, refreshments, drinks, and all the necessities in the party. He also told Sakano-san, Hiro, and Suguru to bring their music equipments along to have a karaoke section. He planned it to be a very loud and boisterous party. However, Hiro did warn him of a delay for him because he offered to pick up Ayaka-chan. "Those two..." Shuichi thought. "Oh well! All lovers deserve to have their deep romances! Especially the graceful time of CHRISTMAS!!!" He shouted across the hall.
"What the hell are you shouting out now?"
With dotted eyes, still in his hero-posing stance, Shuichi found Yuki staring at him. "Yuki!! Arigatou for helping out! Thank you thank you thank you!!!" He spread his arms apart, running toward Yuki and preparing to pounce on him. However in contrary, Yuki stood aside, allowing his pink-hair boy to fall face flat on the ground and crash with a loud "BOOM". "Mou...! Is that anyway to treat your lover in the time of Christmas!?"
Yuki sulked and slapped his forehead. "I can treat you however I want to, you know that?" He starred at Shuichi and can't help but chuckle a little at his whiny nose-bleeding face as he stood up.
"BUT YUKI!! You don't have to do this to me! How can I face the others when they come!? Oh...I better get a tissue to stop this--" his words were interrupted with a contact of a kiss from the blonde writer. Shuichi held onto Yuki and caressed.
Yuki let go. "There...that should stop your nose bleeding."
Shuichi touched his nose and wiped his remaining bloodstain. "You're...you're right! Su-ge su-ge, Yuki!! You even have the marvelous power of stopping a nosebleed!" There were his big glittering eyes.
DING-DONG.
"Oh! Someone's here! Wait Yuki, I'll go get the door."
He went to open the door and found his whole NG studio crew in front of him. "Sakano-san! K-san! Suguru-san!" He pranced on all of them and shouted with joy. "Oh I'm sooo glad you guys came!!!"
"Yo!" K replied. "We made it just in time!"
"Ahh...it was difficult look to carry all those equipments with us." Sakano complained.
Then Suguru said with a calm voice, "Oh yes, we have some more guests."
"Really? Who? Who?" Then looking back, Shuichi saw that some more people were coming. "Wel--!" It was ASK, the group that abused him and Yuki before, the group of their arch-rivalry. Shuichi saw that they were just as reluctant as he was, for on Tachi's face, there was a particular remorseful and sad look on it. Tachi knew he wasn't welcomed, yet he was invited without the courage to face all the humiliation. Ken-chan and Ma-kun were trying their best in the back to consult Tachi.
"C-come on in!" Shuichi said to them. They did as were told. As they passed by Suguru and the others, they sensed a dart of hatred behind those stares. What was even harder was when Tachi came face to face with Shuichi. He could just hear the young boy calling him bastard already... But instead, Shuichi patted him on the shoulder and smiled. "Don't worry about it... Let's have a merry Christmas together!" Tachi can't help but smile back at him and slapped lightly on Shuichi's shoulder back. "Thanks..." Ma-chan and Ken-kun in the back glanced happily at each other, and Suguru and the others did the same.
A while later, as the equipments were installed, Tohma and Noriko arrived, surprisingly at the same time with Hiro and Ayaka. They found the house neatly bedecked with Christmas lights, and there was even a Christmas tree in the main hollow room (where the sofas were) set up. In the dining room, they discovered everything tidily prepared with food and utensils. Candles were also set up on the table too. Tohma was dumbfounded. "Shindou-san, did you and Yuki do all this?"
"Thank you for inviting me to your party, Shindou-kun" Ayaka politely bowed to the host. Following, Hiro flattered, "Wow, Shuichi, you've really outdone yourself..."
Shuichi redden a little and scratched his head. "Hehe...you think so? I'm really happy Yuki agreed with this idea. O-oh, Tohma-san, Noriko- san, where is Ryuichi? Didn't he come with you guys?"
Noriko replied, "Well...I tried calling him, and he told me he will come later. Ryu-chan sounded awfully down though. Let's hope he'll come soon! I know Ryu-chan has his own business. Well then!" She placed her arms around Shuichi. "Let's party!!"
Around 15 minutes later, another doorbell was heard and interrupted the karaoke section they were having. Shuichi went to get it, and there was Tatsuha, trembling with enthusiasm, quaking and dying to see his honey lover. He was dressed not too formal, but more formal than usual with a bow tied around his collared shirt. He even had a bouquet of flowers held in one of his hands. "Tatsuha-san...!"
"H-Hey...is Sakuma...Ryuichi r-really here...?" He whispered nervously to Shuichi.
Shuichi sweatdropped. "Um, nope...he hasn't arrived yet." With that reply, Tatsuha melt to the ground in relief. He could for the moment release his tensions.
"Oh, so it's my trespassing brother at the door?" Yuki said after glancing at who it was.
"Hehe...call me whatever you like, aniki... There's no way I'm slipping this chance of meeting the man of my life..." Tatsuha responded, still sitting on the floor out the doorway. Rapidly, he stood up and allowed himself to enter into the house, but his mouth dropped when he noticed the other two Nittle Grasper members. The band in which Ryuichi's in was right in front of his eyes... "H- Hajimemashite!! I'm Uesugi Tatsuha, Yuki's younger brother." He bowed for the ninth time and thought, "Oh God...how can I face Sakuma Ryuichi if I'm already trembling like this...?"
Tohma smiled warmly at him. "I never knew Yuki had such a lively younger brother. Probably it's because he seldom mentions about you." Tatsuha evil-glared at Yuki. "At any rate, from what I heard you said, you seem to be in love with Sakuma-san, is that right?"
"Well...I..." The young black-hair man blushed hard and was speechless. "D-damn..."
Noriko winked at him. "Don't worry, many have fallen for our Ryu-chan before. Tatsuha-kun, if you want to go to him, you must past through me!!" She made a peace sign. She was obviously teasing him. This just made him to burn hotter on the cheeks. The gang of ASK began to find their big family very fascinating.
Another 15 minutes have passed already, and still, there was no sign of Ryuichi showing up. Everyone was worried, but they started chowing on the food already. Noriko gave another three phone calls to his apartment, but apparently, no one answered them. Tohma now and then glimpsed at his watch to look at the time. And Tatsuha...he was disappointed. Very disappointed. He was waiting for this very chance to meet him, to meet him in person... It was unlike seeing him on TV or on books and magazines or even in concerts... He wanted to get to know Ryuichi in person, to touch his hand and feel him, to become just as close to him as Shuichi was. And most of all, he wished for a chance to tell him that he adored him, that he loved him. But with his absence, all his hopes crushed into tiny bits... He just sat in his chair, pressing his elbow onto the table and clutched onto his forehead. He wanted to cry. Everything just sunk down.
Tohma finally came to the conclusion. "Maybe Sakuma-san just isn't coming. I'm sure he would've been here by now."
"No...Sakuma-san will show up..." Shuichi said quietly. "He would've made a phone call or something if he wasn't coming... He told me he would be coming to the party, and I know he won't break his promise. Something must be wrong." He looked at the sad face Tatsuha bared and began to head for the door. "I'm going to look for him!"
"Wait, Shindou-kun! Where are you planning to look for him at?" Sakano shouted.
"At his apartment. Ryuichi gave me his address before, and that's where I'm gonna go. If he's not there, then I will continue to look until I find out."
Suguru stepped forward. "Hold on, Shindou-san! Aren't you over reacting? Not showing up at a party is very normal. Maybe Sakuma-san is just busy with something; what if you disturb him?"
"I'm just worried, and I feel like looking for him. Just wait for me! I'll be right back!" But before he ran out the door, Tatsuha stood up and told him that he was going to follow as well. He scuttled toward Shuichi and the two of them ran ahead. Everybody remained silent, not knowing whether to stay behind or go after them. Soon, more people left.
+++
Shuichi drove in Tatsuha's car, and the two of them arrived at a small apartment that was the most unexpected from the eminent singer. The quality of it wasn't luxurious, but it wasn't destitute either.
"Tatsuha-san, how come you followed me? Is it only because you want to meet him?"
"It's part of the reason. But the other part is...well...I want to do something for Sakuma-san. It's this urge that I have inside that's telling me to come along instead of waiting back there."
"Ok..."
They ran up the building to the room where Ryuichi was living. Catching their breath, they rang the doorbell and shouted out his name, hoping to receive some answer. "Sakuma-san!!! Please, are you there!!" Finally, Shuichi decided to hammer on the door, and which Tatsuha didn't dare to do, he finally followed the pink-hair boy's example afterwards. "..Sakuma...Ryu-chan! It's Shuichi!" After three minutes of patient knocking, they finally heard someone's voice mumbling. "...Shuichi...?"
"Yes, Ryu-chan!" They heard footsteps behind the doors; someone was coming to open the door. There was Ryuichi, starring back at them. Tatsuha felt his cheeks warming up. It's really him...
"Ryu-chan, everyone was worried about you at the party. Why didn't you go? Oh, this is Tatsuha, Yuki's younger brother." He introduced, but his hand was aiming empty air. Tatsuha snuggled right behind him. "Korah, Tatsuha-san..." He shifted to the side and impelled Tatsuha so that Ryuichi could see his shy peachy face.
"So you are Tatsuha Na no da? Hi, I'm Sakuma Ryuichi of Nittle Grasper! Let's be friends." He held out his hand and shook Tatsuha's.
"N-n-n-nice to meet you, Sakuma-san!!" Oh heavens...he could faint that very moment. He was shaking his god's hand, and trailing forward, he was staring at the whole body of Ryuichi. Something didn't feel right... It wasn't him that was trembling, but it was the young vocalist. But then why? Tatsuha look intently at his face and saw something strange. His eyes were a bit swollen and even red, but he still smiled. What happened, he asked himself.
Shuichi felt happy for Tatsuha, for he finally got to meet him. "Ryuichi-san, is there anything wrong and you can't go to the party?"
Ryuichi turned around, pulling his hand away. His tone changed. "I was shopping yesterday...you see... to buy presents for everyone at the party. It was a fun adventure, you know, to shop around everywhere!" He choked. "Kumagorou came along too...but...when I came back, I found that he wasn't with me..." His words were cut off by a sob. He couldn't bare it and hide it anymore. Ryuichi finally got himself to face Shuichi but with his face covered by his right arm. "Ryu-chan lost Kumagorou!!!" He was crying... crying for a lost companion...
"Oh Sakuma-san...I mean, Ryuichi-san..." He couldn't bare that face that was once smiling a happy adorable face. It was hard to watch as Ryuichi painfully ran toward his sofa, burying his face, and not knowing how to comfort him. Shuichi quickly ran out the door, and no one knew what he was up to. Now Tatsuha and Ryuichi were left alone in that room. Kumagorou...Tatsuha remembered reading a certain article interview about Kumagorou. It was Ryuichi's precious pink bunny. To lose something so cherished is a very painful feeling. "Sakuma- san...crying..." His first impression of Sakuma Ryuichi had to be this scene. He wanted to go hug him and soothe him and really wanted to be there for him, but how could he? A pauper like him isn't worthy of hugging the elegant prince! Yet...the temptation... *SOB SOB*...Tatsuha could cry any minute too just listening to his god crying in grief. He took a step forward.
"Pss...Tatsuha-san!"
Tatsuha looked back. Shuichi waved his hand to signal him to come over. Tatsuha looked sorrowfully at Ryuichi, not wanting to leave him, and then went to Shuichi. "What is it now?"
"Here, wear this." He handed Tatsuha what seemed to be the same bunny costume Ryuichi wore once before. "I don't know whether this will comfort Ryuichi-san any better (or even worse), but... Tatsuha-san, be his Kumagorou for the moment!"
"W-What?!? What the hell does that mean?!"
"It means dress up and go and comfort him. And I mean YOU go do it."
"But I can't..."
"This is your chance! You said you want to do something for him, so here you go!" Shuichi shouted loud enough to intimidate his companion but not loud enough to let others hear. "Look...I know it sounds hard...but I know you can. Meanwhile, I'll be going to the shopping center to find Kumagorou."
After a while thought, Tatsuha decided to give it a shot. Right when he finished dressing, they heard footsteps, and they saw couple people from the party coming. Shuichi raised his finger to his lips to hush them. Finally, with courage, Tatsuha proceeded into Ryuichi's apartment (or room) and knelt down in front of him. Ryuichi looked up with watery eyes. "Tatsuha...kun...?"
Tatsuha could feel the tension of blood rushing up to his head again as he spoke. "Sakuma-san...if...if you want...I could be your Kumagorou for the moment..." Ryuichi just gawked at him in the costume that seemed so familiar without saying anything aside from sniffing and gushing out more tears. "...Well...if you don't want..." He felt a tug.
"...T-Tatsuha-kun..." With no warning, Ryuichi swiftly embraced Tatsuha, crying on his chest. Tatsuha blushed badly and wasn't able to conceal that fact. He could feel those cheeks burning as Ryuichi held on tighter. "Oh Tatsuha-kun...! What if Kumagorou is forever lost? What if I'll never see my pink bunny again?!" A tear fell from Tatsuha's face. It was almost as if he threw away everything that moment and focused on the baby that was holding him, and then in return, he stretched out his arms and embraced Ryuichi back. "It's ok, Sakuma-san... It's ok..."
+++
Outside the door, the others were peaking into the scene playing inside. Then Shuichi told them (Hiro, Suguru, Tohma, Noriko, Yuki) the whole simple story as they walk outside the apartment. "Oh poor poor Ryu-chan...It was because he was buying presents for us that he lost it...I feel terrible...!" Noriko exclaimed.
"Me too...Who wants to follow me to go and find Kumagorou?!" Shuichi shouted. Noriko, Hiro, and Suguru volunteered.
"No matter what! I can't let Ryu-chan be sad like that for Christmas!!"
"Well, Shindou-san, since you such a great compassion, I can't help but accompany you on this. It's the only way to fix things up." Suguru commented. Hiro agreed.
"Thanks Noriko-san, Hiro, Suguru..."
Yuki, after being silent most of the way, spoke up. "Shuichi, but wasn't it a foolish idea to leave my brother behind with Sakuma Ryuichi? There's no telling what he might do to him..." He turned toward the apartment.
"Eh...for that part I was a little worried... But Tatsuha-san deserves a little too."
+++ End of Ch.2 +++
Waahhh!! @_@ That was a long chapter! It took forever = =;;; But as I said before, this is my first shounen-ai fic, not to mention the first Gravi one too XP I'm sorry if I can't write! I want to thank all that reviewed so far! Please stay tune for the next chapter. R+R PLEASE!!! (purty please??) MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!!!
BTW, for those who doesn't know, here's a little Japanese defining: Aniki - older brother; Hajimemashite - Nice to Meet You; Su-ge - wonderful.