A Gravitation Fanfiction
Author's Notes: Hey it's part 5! Well, no comments really . . . just read on! ^_^ - UNEDITED VERSION
Warning: Spoilers for the entire series and shounen ai. (duh! It's Gravi!) Also expect some rampant OOCness!
Disclaimer: All rights to Gravitation belong to Maki Murakami-sama, SPE Visual Works, Sony, and WOWOW. But don't I wish that they were mine! ^_~
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Sabrinne: *gazes lovingly at her chocolate collection* Well . . . I accept other gifts too . . . ^_~ Though that chocolate Tatsuha looks mighty tempting.
Ryuichi: Chocolate Tatsuha, where? Where?
Sabrinne: Ryu-chan, when did you get here, you're not even in my story!
Ryuichi: Exactly why I am here! Why am I, this kawaii superstar not in your story?!
Sabrinne: Eh he he. *Laughs nervously*
Ryuichi: Well? *Raises Kumagoro threateningly*
Sabrinne: Ack! Here's the next part everyone . . . *Runs away*
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Part 5: Reminders
Shuichi glanced around Seguchi Tohma's spacious office with a sulky expression. The luxurious furniture, colorful paintings, and breathtaking view within the large room spoke volumes about the young president's exquisite taste, and not to mention enormous amount of wealth. Turning his gaze to Hiro, who was seated next to him, Shuichi tugged on the other boy's sleeve. "Ne, ne, Hiro, why are we here in Seguchi-san's office?"
Hiro only gave Shuichi a small but nervous smile before turning to look out at the skyline view of Tokyo downtown. "Patience, Shuichi, is a virtue." He quoted.
"Hiiirrooo!" Shuichi whined as he gripped the piece of cloth harder within his fist. "You're being mean!" Sensing that Hiro was not going to give him any information, Shuichi moved on to Suguru, who sat on the other side of him. But after one look of the keyboardist's closed expression, Shuichi sank back into his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. Fujisaki Suguru was a lost cause.
Minutes ticked by as the tension rose rapidly in the room in the absence of Seguchi Tohma. Shuichi by this time had become a small puddle of nerves as he fidgeted in his chair. Why did Hiro and Fujisaki drag me all the way here so early this morning? He wondered as he looked down at the neatly trimmed nails of his right hand. The morning had started out normally when he arrived at the studio at nine on the dot. But the moment that he stepped into the recording room, Hiro and Fujisaki ushered him up to the president's office with nothing more than a few telling glances and secretive smiles. It was the smiles that were driving Shuichi insane. Shuichi absolutely abhorred people keeping secrets from him.
"Sorry to have kept all of you waiting." The soft voice of the NG president rang out clearly as he pulled open the door that led to his office. Calmly, he walked to his desk and sat down in the plush chair. Linking his fingers together he smiled directly at Shuichi and the rest of Bad Luck. "I have both good and bad news."
Shuichi, whose thoughts were disrupted by the sudden entrance of Seguchi Tohma, looked at the blond man curiously. Good and bad news?
"Have you considered our request?" Hiro asked almost hesitantly as he sat up straighter in his chair.
"Yes, and that is the good news. Your request has been approved." Seguchi Tohma said with a faint smile. "But the bad news is that you have three weeks to be ready. I want to hear a brand new single from Bad Luck by then." He added as he raised an eyebrow, almost as if he was challenging the band.
"We will do it." Suguru said as he uncrossed his legs to stand up from the chair. "You'll have that single in time."
"Huh?" Shuichi glanced between Suguru and Hiro who both seemed to know what was going on at the moment. "Ne, ne, what approval, for what?" he looked hopefully at Tohma for answers.
"Oh? Nakano-san and Fujisaki-san didn't tell you?" Tohma managed to look amused by Shuichi's bewilderment. "Bad Luck will be doing a live concert to promote your new CD in three weeks. The concert will be at Zepp Tokyo, and as I said before, I need a single from you before this concert."
"Live Concert?" Shuichi's eyes began to fill with happy tears as he jumped up from his seat. "Don't worry Seguchi-san! We'll get that single to you right away!" Fisting his left hand, Shuichi raised it his right and formed a "V" with his outstretched fingers.
Even with his excitement, Shuichi didn't miss the looks of relief that were passed between Hiro and Suguru. Sitting back down in his chair, he only barely listened to Seguchi give them the details of the concert. Hiro and Fujisaki, they must has noticed how down I was this week. Shuichi realized that after his encounter with Yuki in the park last week, he hadn't been able to record as he had the first day they came back from the break. It wasn't that he didn't want to record, but as much as he wanted to sing, he just wasn't able to do so, at least not well. If I hadn't run into Yuki. If only I hadn't given in to that kiss. If only I hadn't let myself believe in that moment there was a future for us. If only . . . If . . . His mind was full of those sentences, the what-ifs that haunted him day and night. But this concert that Hiro and Fujisaki had asked Seguchi Tohma for approval for would be a welcome distraction for Shuichi. Thank you. Shuichi thought with a small smile as he turned to look first at Suguru and then Hiro.
"I believe that that's all of the details I can provide for you at this time." Seguchi ended his small speech with another lukewarm smile. "Any questions?" There was silence in the room as the Tohma looked at the band members. "None? All right, then you may all go, except Shindou-san. May I speak to you privately?"
Shuichi saw Hiro tense visibly from the corner of his eye as the redhead opened his mouth in protest. But his words were cut off as Shuichi placed a hand on his arm and gave him a pleading look that asked him not to fight with Tohma. Hiro acknowledged Shuichi's request and stalked out of the office with Suguru following close behind him. With the final slam of the door to the office, Shuichi was left alone with the producer.
Several uncomfortable moments of silence passed before Tohma said anything to Shuichi, only the sound of Seguchi Tohma clearing his throat lightly broke the silence. "Shindou-san, I believe that you know why I requested this private meeting with you."
Shuichi nodded as he felt dread climb up his spine. He knew exactly what Seguchi Tohma wanted to speak to him about and it was the one thing that he didn't want to talk about.
"I heard that you and Eiri-san are no longer living together." Tohma paused, waiting for Shuichi to confirm this fact. He was seemingly satisfied by the look on Shuichi's face as he continued. "Are you sure about your decision?"
"Ha-, hai." Shuichi stammered. He winced when he heard the indecisive tone of his voice.
"You don't sound like you are, Shindou-san." Tohma had also picked up on the hesitant sound of Shuichi's answer.
"Seguchi-san, I don't think that my personal relationship is any of your concern." Shuichi replied cautiously, he was sick of Seguchi Tohma questioning him every time there were problems between him and Yuki.
The producer looked a bit surprised by the forcefulness of Shuichi's answer. He quickly hid the emotion in a smiling mask as he leaned closer to the singer, his eyes glinted under the dim lights of the office. "When Eiri-san is involved, then it becomes my concern, whether you like it or not."
Shuichi sucked in a deep breath as he returned the other man's gaze. A chill ran down his spine as he watched the ruthless glitter within those aqua-blue eyes, it contrasted horribly with the angelic features of the man. This is a person I don't want to make my enemy. Shuichi thought with a small amount of discomfort, but fear or not, he wasn't about to disclose information about him and Yuki to the other man.
"I can tell that the rumors are true and frankly, I am somewhat disappointed." Seguchi Tohma continued.
"Why are you disappointed? I thought you would be the one who would most approve of my decision!" Shuichi blurted out unintentionally.
"Oh I am quite happy, let me assure you of that." Tohma said in a soft and amused voice. "I am glad that I have Eiri-san all to myself now, but I don't approve of anyone hurting him."
Shuichi tensed when he heard Seguchi Tohma's words. He always had the niggling suspicion that the producer felt a little more than friendship towards Yuki, but after hearing the confirmation through his words, he felt irrational anger course through his body. "You leave Yuki alone!"
"Why? Because he's yours?" Tohma laughed quietly at that, as if the mere thought was extremely absurd.
Shuichi wanted to reply with a fiery retort, but the words were lost in his throat as he felt coldness run through his body. Seguchi-san is correct. I don't have any right to say that. Yuki's not mine anymore, I was the one that didn't want him, didn't want us. Bowing his head down in defeat, Shuichi looked at the patterns on the thick carpeting and rose to his feet. "Seguchi-san, if you have no more to say to me, I'd like to leave now."
Seguchi Tohma studied the boy before him with a mixture of anger and annoyance. Anger that the boy seemed to love Yuki Eiri just as much as he had while they were still together. Annoyance that he had no choice but to give Eiri up to this naïve idiot. "I don't have anymore to say to you. You may leave."
"Thank you, Seguchi-san." Shuichi replied quietly as he turned away to walk from the office. Twisting the knob, he walked out into the hallway and quietly closed the door behind him. Shuichi turned to head in the direction of the elevators, but his path was blocked by another person that he hadn't wanted to see, Seguchi Mika.
"Hello, Shindou-kun." Mika said, as she scrutinized the singer's carefully composed face. After a few moments, she let out a small sigh. Looks like my idiot husband got to talk to him first. "Whatever Tohma said to you, it isn't true." She continued, pleased by the startled look on Shuichi's face. "I wanted to talk to you later today, but I guess now is as good of a time as any. I want you to start over with Eiri." She stated plainly.
"Huh?" Shuichi blinked as he tried to absorb what Mika had just told him. She wants me to be with Yuki?
"I know that Tohma and I have never approved of your relationship with Eiri, but I've changed my mind. My brother loves you and is happy with you. That is all I ever wished for him. So, please, I am asking you to consider becoming his lover again."
Shuichi laughed softly at the turn of events. He never would have thought that Mika would ask him to go back to Yuki. Seguchi Mika had always warned him that his relationship with Yuki will end in both of them being hurt, and when he finally believed that she had been right, she took back those words.
"Mika-san, you're wrong about one thing. Yuki doesn't love me. He's attracted to me, yes, obsessed with me, maybe, but he isn't willing to feel anything more for me beyond that. You and I both know that I still love him, but I can't be in the same relationship with Yuki any longer."
Mika looked startled for a moment, as she listened to the unusually serious words of the singer. After his small monologue, she smiled to herself. My baka brother, he's really dug himself in a hole this time. If he wants Shuichi back, he'll have no choice but to reveal all of himself to him. This experience will be good for him, as long as Shuichi is willing to give him a chance. "Shindou-kun, do you really believe that my brother doesn't love you?" Mika asked in a soft voice determined to get her point across.
"Yuki has always kept me at arms length. What else am I to believe?"
"You and I both know of what happened to Eiri in New York. Do you think that he truly will be able to share everything that you want him to share with you? You are the only person who has been able to get close to him. You have made more progress with him in 2 years than I have in almost 10 years, and I am his sister, his family. If Eiri were truly just attracted to you, he would have been bored with you a long time ago. Shindou-kun, Eiri loves you, that is one thing that you should never doubt. Though he may never say the words you want to hear from him. But as long as you can live with that fact, then I believe that you can be happy together. Eiri's past may have rendered him completely unable to say or even believe that he can love again, please understand this. I am begging you." Mika ended her words with a sad smile. Without waiting for Shuichi's reply, she walked past him and into her husband's office.
Shuichi stood rooted into the ground as he watched Mika disappear into the office. After listening to her reasoning, he felt absolutely terrible. She could be wrong but the worst possibility in his mind was that she maybe right. Then, it would mean that he had hurt terribly the person that he loved the most in this world. Walking to the elevator, Shuichi mechanically pressed the down button as he stared into the ground. Mika's words had left him a lot to consider. No matter what, he would have to deal with them.
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Mika closed the office door behind her and leaned into the cool wood. I can't believe that I said all of that to Shuichi. She thought with a faint smile, her musings were interrupted by the sound of her husband moving his chair back and the sound of feet striding across the office to stop in front of her.
"I take it that you had a good discussion with Shindou-san." Tohma looked at his wife with some amusement.
"Well, I wouldn't exactly call it a 'discussion' Tohma. I did all of the talking." Mika laughed softly. "Do you disapprove of my actions?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Does it matter?"
"No, not really."
Tohma smiled at her reply, he had no doubts that Mika would defy him. At least their marriage wasn't boring that way. "Did you have something to speak to me about, Mika-san?"
"Nothing really, I was just hoping to see Shindou-kun." Mika replied as she turned around to leave the office. "I also wanted to know if you were coming home today for dinner."
"I'm going to be out with some of our sponsors tonight. I'm going to be home late." Tohma replied politely as he walked back to his desk and sank into his chair with a sigh.
"All right, then I won't wait up. See you!" Mika answered with a bright smile as she walked out of the office. I guess not everything will work out for me today. She thought wistfully. Tohma, someday I'll make you see the truth.
Tohma leaned back in his chair and stared up at the ceiling. Slowly, his hand reached for the phone as he considered canceling the dinner with the sponsors. It had been weeks since he had eaten at home and it was about time that he did, but before he could pick the receiver up, the phone rang.
"Hello? Seguchi Tohma here." He answered politely, he rarely got phone calls on his private line.
"I have a favor to ask you." The voice on the other side sounded.
Tohma recognized the person even without identification. "Eiri-san, it's a pleasure to hear from you. Of course, I will do anything for you."
"I need you to deliver an item to Shindou Shuichi." Yuki said after a short period of silence.
"All right, I will arrange it." Tohma replied. His voice was polite, betraying nothing.
"Thank you. I will drop by sometime next week with it." Yuki said before hanging up.
"You're welcome. Good-bye." Tohma finished the conversation to the sound of the dial tone. Setting the receiver back into its cradle, Tohma picked up one of the many files on his desk. Pushing away all of the events of the morning, he sifted through the papers, his mind was focused only on the matter at hand.
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Shuichi stepped out of the elevator to be greeted by K, who was toting a particularly dangerous looking gun and Sakano, whose tears were threatening to fall at any moment.
"K-san, Sakano-san?" Shuichi looked at the two with a puzzled expression.
K and Sakano looked at each other and then looked at Shuichi. Seconds later, they burst out laughing.
"Huh?" Shuichi wondered if the two had lost their mind.
"Nothing, nothing." The two of them said as they grabbed Shuichi by the collar. "Now get back to work, you have to get that single done in 3 weeks remember?" They said in unison with each other, as they pulled the singer along.
Shuichi smiled happily as he was dragged willingly. K and Sakano, they came to rescue me from Seguchi Tohma. He stifled a giggle at the mental image. "Hai, hai! I'm working, working okay?" For now Shuichi would focus on the band, but he would have to deal with his personal life soon.
-TBC
Author's Notes: So how did you think of this part, well things are wrapping up soon, errrr, I hope. Thanks for all of your lovely support! Remember to R&R! ^___^ 'Til next time! Ja ne!