Chasing After Me
A Gravitation Fanfiction
Author's Notes: Many apologies, but personal problems, writer's block, and school caused this terrible delay. My thanks for all who emailed me with encouragement and reviewed this fic, you know who you are, this chapter is dedicated to all of you. UNEDITED, if anyone has time for editing, let me know, my regular beta-reader is having problems with her computer
Warnings: Will contain some spoilers, shounen ai (duh! Its gravi!)
Disclaimer: All rights to Gravitation belong to Maki Murakami-sama, SPE Visual Works, Sony, and WOWOW.
Part 6: Promises
*~*~*~*~*~*
Fujisaki Suguru cocked his ears to the side much like a puppy when he heard rhythmic thumping coming from the adjoining wall of the studio. Curious to the nature of the sound, he crept out of the studio and opened the door to the small office by a crack. In the dimly lit room, he could see a pink haired head fall against the wall again.
*Thump* *Thump* *Thump*
Suguru's head fell forward slightly as he let out a pained sigh. Shindou Shuichi was having writer's block. Again. Stepping into the doorjamb, he was about to push the door wide open when a blur knocked him, face first, into the wooden panel. Rubbing the spot on his forehead where it had smacked into the door, he glared at the offending newcomer.
K looked back over his shoulder with eyes widened, innocently large. "Oops. Sorry Fujisaki-kun, I didn't see you there." His tone was less than apologetic.
Suguru stamped down a irritated retort by lifted his chin up and giving K a cold look.
A long whistle sounded from the manager's lips as he did his best wounded look. "Maa, maa. Fujisaki-kun is so mean to me! Don't you even have the smallest feeling of forgiveness for your loved manager?"
"No."
Large tears threatened to fall from wet eyes as K turned to Shuichi for comfort. "Fujisaki-kun is so cold!" Sniffling, he resembled a much larger version of Sakuma Ryuichi minus Kumagorou.
Shuichi, still slightly startled by the violent entrance of K and Suguru, patted K's back with a dazed expression on his face.
Crossing his arms across his chest, Suguru just shook his head in frustration. "What are you doing here anyway? I thought you were in a meeting with Seguchi-san."
A highly suspicious grin lighted on K's face as he dug through the shopping bag that he held. "I brought something for Shu-chan's writer's block." As if the endearment of Shuichi's name wasn't enough, a pair of imaginary fox ears popped up from K's blonde head. He pulled out a large container of red liquid and several glasses with a huge smile. Pouring liberal amounts in three glasses, he handed one to Shuichi and Suguru, leaving the last for himself.
Suguru sniffed the contents warily, he didn't trust K at all. But the red liquid smelled alright as he tentatively took a small sip. Surprisingly, the liquid tasted of strawberries with a light, curiously pleasant after taste. Taking a larger mouthful, he turned his head, and saw Shuichi happily gulping the drink and K just as happily pouring more into the singer's cup.
"This is pretty good!" Shuichi grinned as he took another drink from the cup, grateful for the small break that K was providing him. When K had first come in, he had thought that the manager had come for another update on the new single. He wondered what kind of hell he would have gotten from the blonde when he told him he had to throw away another draft. None of the lyrics he had written in the past week had been any good and they had to start recording by the end of next week.
"Ready to write again?" K laughed loudly, slapping Shuichi in the back.
"Hai, hai!!" Shuichi lifted his glass to the question.
Several moments later, Shuichi was on the table passed out.
Suguru looked between Shuichi's sprawled figure and K's knowing smile. "What did you give him?" He demanded and quickly threw the rest of his glass away.
"K's special writer's block mix." K replied with a wink.
Picking up the container holding the juice, Suguru swayed a little as the contents started to effect him. "How much alcohol is in this thing?"
"Se-cr-et!" K dodged as Suguru made a lunge for him. "Calm down, Shuichi is just getting some much needed rest from this lyric writing business." His expression turned serious.
Slumping down in the only other unoccupied chair in the office, Suguru brushed back some of the pink strands of Shuichi's hair in time to watch a small line of drool drip onto the table. Grimacing, he shot K with a calculating look. "Something has to be done."
K nodded in agreement. "That's what I thought you would say."
"Oh? You sound like you have a plan."
"Of course! Ha Ha Ha."
Suguru recoiled slightly with the laugh, it made him nervous, and rightly so too.
"I think its time to share what we know." K said with a glint in his eye. "I saw you talking to Yuki Eiri the other day, what did he say?"
"The man's hopeless." Suguru shook his head sadly after recalling the conversation from several days earlier.. "But he also definitely loves Shindou-san."
"Then there is hope." K flashed a toothy grin.
"Not if they never talk or see each other again." Suguru replied glumly, as soft snoring escaped from Shuichi's gaping mouth. "And I don't think Shuichi will go to see Yuki Eiri again, at least not willingly."
"What about unwillingly?" The blonde manager smiled evilly.
A nervous look later, Suguru tentatively shifted his full attention to K and lifted one eyebrow. "I suppose you have a good idea to get them together?"
"Well he's not in any condition to argue with us right now, is he?"
Suguru slapped a hand to his head in frustration, mussing his usually perfect hair. "Baka, he's also not in any condition to talk things out with Yuki-san, either."
"That does pose a slight problem doesn't it?" K rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "But I trust that Yuki is smart enough not to take this chance we're giving him for granted. Besides, we can just leave him somewhere until he wakes up, by then, he should still be complacent."
Silence ensued in the room as Suguru worked out the details of what K was suggesting.
"You want to leave Shindou-san here passed out and then deliver him to Yuki Eiri's doorstep??" Suguru exploded as he mulled over the sheer idiotic simplicity of the plan. "It's . . . it's"
"It's what?"
"It's positively barbaric!" Suguru shook his head. "But it might work." and then conceded.
"My thoughts exactly!" K laughed deeply and slung Shuichi's limp body over his shoulder. "Let's go!"
"Where are you taking him?! I thought we were going to wait until he was at least slightly coherent before taking him to Yuki-san's." Suguru sputtered.
"Are you kidding me? God knows what our Shu-chan will unleash on us, if he ever figures out that we were the ones to deliver him to Yuki. I have a much, much better plan." K said as he and Suguru made their way to the elevators. "You see, Fujisaki-kun, actually may I call you Suguru-kun?"
"No." Suguru was still as cool as ever.
"Mean!" K cried. "Suguru-kun is so cold!"
Suguru felt a muscle begin to tick violently in his forehead. "Now WHAT is your brilliant plan K-san?"
"Oh yeah." K scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "You see, I have this friend who owns a Karaoke bar . . ."
*~*~*~*~*~*
The karaoke bar was empty save for a few late night stragglers singing with drunken cheerfulness. The lone waitress winced slightly as she passed by a especially loud table when a middle-aged man tried to hit a note that only a soprano could have made. The incident was quickly forgotten, as this was usually a nightly occurrence, but as she reached a small booth in the dimly lit corner of the club, her brows furrowed.
"Would you like to have something to drink?" She inquired politely to the back of a young man with a shock of bright pink hair, noting the lack of glasses on the table.
She gave a startled gasp when the figure slowly turned around with a ghastly look on his face. The dark circles underneath his eyes was illuminated clearly in the lighting.
"Where am I?" He groaned, head obviously spinning.
"You're at a karaoke bar, sir." She squeaked when she recognized the face.
"Karaoke? How did I end up here?" He mumbled to no one in particular.
"Shindou-san, I don't think you should have anymore to drink." She replied gently, noting the nonsensical speech and the flushed cheeks. Remembering the odd note that she received from her boss earlier in the night, she dug the small scrap of paper from the pockets of her uniform.
'The customer at the corner booth, he will need a ride home when he wakes up. Send him to the following address.'
Her eyebrows lifted at the address, it was in a fairly ritzy part of Tokyo.
Helping the young man into his jacket, she left him swaying in the booth humming a happy tune to call the cab company. Several minutes later, she returned to the table and walked with him to the entrance of bar.
"Where am I?" He asked in a puzzled tone, repeating a question that he had asked not too long ago.
"You're going home, sir." The waitress smiled softly.
"Home? Don't really have one." He replied, plopping down on the pavement.
The waitress frowned, but her confusion was short-lived as she realized that the singer was probably too drunk to know what he was talking about. Helping him into the backseat of the cab, she quickly gave instructions to the driver. It wasn't until the cab's lights had disappeared into the distance before she walked back into the building.
Everything seemed to be a blur as Shuichi stared out of the window of the cab. Several minutes later, the world seemed to stop moving at such a frantic pace as a strong pair of hands helped him out of the seat. Fumbling for his wallet, Shuichi was about to pull out some bills to pay the driver when he finally glimpsed his current location. Looking up at the apartment building, he recoiled slightly, dropping the wallet. However, he had no choice but to follow as the cab driver dragged him towards the building.
"Do you have the key?" The driver asked gruffly, he hated to see young people drinking themselves to such a stupor.
"This isn't my home!" Shuichi struggled weakly.
The cab driver only sighed as he searched on the intercom for the apartment number, after several buzzes an irritated man's voice came over the line.
"What?" He barked.
"Sir, I have your son here." The cab driver guessed at the nature of the two's relationship. The only reply he got was a click and then the dial tone. Had it been anyone else, they would have given up, but this driver was coming from an all night shift and was less than pleased with this last customer. He pressed the buzzer several times again.
"What?" The same voice sounded over the intercom.
"I don't know who this person is to you, but he wanted to be sent here. Come down and get him."
There was silence on the other side. Several moments later the front door opened to reveal a blonde with mussed hair in a loose shirt and slacks.
The cab driver thrust the boy at him.
Yuki Eiri just managed to catch the small body in surprise. Looking down at the pink head that was lolling on his shoulders, he almost threw the boy back at the driver, but he only paid the man and slammed the door closed rudely. Carrying Shuichi's limp body upstairs, Yuki laid Shuichi on the couch that he used to inhabit. Brushing pink strands away from his face, he resisted the urge to grab the fragile body and hold it close.
Shuichi blinked slowly as he managed to open his eyes after a while, the exchange outside passed by him completely as he zoned out. His eyes widened as he recognized the figure huddled over him. His struggle to get away was quickly aborted as Yuki pressed on his shoulders, forcing him to lay back down.
"This is all a dream. This is all a dream." Shuichi repeated to himself. The last thing he remembered clearly was being at the studio working on the single and sipping on some drink that K had brought over. "If this is dream, then I can do this." He looked up at Yuki with brighter eyes, before putting both of his arms around the writer's neck and pulling him lower.
Looking up at the face that he remembered and loved so well, tears threatened to fall as he spied a gentle expression that he had never seen before. This really must be a dream. He thought. Yuki would never have looked at me like that.
Yuki felt Shuichi's body loosen ever so slightly, before a small, cold hand reached back to caress his cheek. He flinched as ice cold skin made contact with his, Shuichi always had the warmest skin, it was a harsh contrast to how he had been. Reaching up, Yuki enveloped Shuichi's hand in his much larger one, rubbing the skin as if to warm it.
Shuichi's eyes drifted shut as he basked in the warmth of Yuki's touch. Yuki's usually so cold. He thought sadly. He gasped loudly when his body came into full contact with almost unbearable warmth. "I've been so cold." He whispered to no one in particular as he gave a small shiver. The dream Yuki only held him tighter, bringing their bodies into a sweeter embrace.
"When will I let go?" He asked the dream Yuki in an almost inaudible whisper.
"Soon, soon, I promise, love."
Shuichi shuddered as the endearment tore through him. Why do dreams have to be so different from reality? He wondered, wishing that his alarm will jerk him awake.
Basking in the warmth that surrounded him, Shuichi refused to let his dark thoughts interrupt this wonderful feeling. Slowly, his felt his heart beat and breathing even out and he wondered if one could fall asleep even in their dreams. Before he gave up consciousness he thought he heard words being murmured in his ear.
"What if I don't want you to let go?"
He sighed. What if I don't want to let go?
But all Yuki heard was a short murmur as Shuichi fell into a deep slumber.
"Good night, love." He whispered. And when he was sure Shuichi was asleep, he kissed the soft forehead. "Good bye love."
As dawn broke over the horizon, bathing the awakening city with its pale golden light, the only evidence that anyone had laid upon the sofa was a single pillow on the floor of the apartment.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Shuichi rubbed his head as a sharp stab of pain shot through his brain when he moved a little bit too fast. This was K's writer's block relief? He looked around the room with squinted eyes, he was sprawled all over the table in the recording studio. Did I stay here all night? He wondered glumly. Probably, K and Fujisaki must have left ages ago.
Stretching his body out, Shuichi slumped back into his chair as memories of the previous night's dream filtered into his sleepy brain. I have such an active imagination. He smiled sadly. Before he could analyze anymore, he was startled by the sight of K and Suguru stumbling into the room.
"Wow, thanks K-san for the 'writer's block releaser'." Shuichi said with a knowing grimace.
K-san ran a hand through his hair and laughed long and hard. "No Problem!" replied in heavily accented English.
If Shuichi had not be distracted by the sight of Sakano stumbling in as well, he would have noticed the pained looks that were passed between K and Suguru.
"Shindou-san!" Sakano cried, hurrying over to the singer. "Did you stay here all night?"
"I think so." Shuichi replied as he straightened out in his chair. "K-san gave me his special remedy for writer's blocks. IF he ever offers it to you, refuse." He warned still holding his head. "I think I'm ready to go back to work now."
"Good, good." The producer nodded and handed Shuichi a large glass of water.
"Thanks."
*~*~*~*~*~*
After escaping to a small equipment room, Suguru and K looked at each other and groaned.
"I totally overestimated that cold bastard." K ground out.
Suguru nodded his head in agreement. "At least Shindou-san has no idea of what we did."
K agreed with a grateful shake of his head. "True, true. Shall we try again then?" He continued with a mischievous grin.
The green haired keyboardist gulped loudly. "Not today, K-san. Not today."
"Hm. Okay Suguru-kun."
"K-san!!"
*~*~*~*~*~*
Several minutes later, Shuichi was startled by a tap on his shoulder as Sakano held out a telephone receiver. Bouncing in his chair, Shuichi answered the call enthusiastically.
"Moshi Mosh!"
"Shindou Shuichi! Where were you last night?" His sister's infuriated voice could be heard clear across the room and caused Shuichi to jump up from his seat.
"Gomen, I was at the studio all night. I think I fell asleep after K brought over his special recipe for getting over writer's block."
Her voice went strangely quiet. "I got a call from a cab company, they have your wallet. So where were you really? Did you have any idea how worried I was about you? Then the cab driver complained to me about some rude, blonde man. Did you go see Yuki Eiri?"
Shuichi let the phone drop to the floor as he looked down impassively at the receiver. Last night, was a dream, wasn't it?
Soon, soon, I promise, love.
What if I don't want you to let go?
Good night . . .
love.
He could barely hear his sister's confused voice as he picked up the phone again. "Nee-chan, I'll call you back."
"O-, okay." Maiko's voice was still confused as she let him go.
Shuichi sank into the chair that he had occupied moments before. Slumping forward, he heard only one voice, one phrase, one meaning.
I promise, love.
*~*~*~*~*~*
A brightly lit computer screen reflected off a pair of wire rim glasses as slim fingers typed up several emails. Saving several word processing documents, Yuki Eiri removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose between two fingers. His novel was finally finished. Staring at the manuscript, he almost ripped the neat stack of papers into pieces. He had already decided that this novel would be his last romantic story.
Picking up the phone, he quickly dialed the number that Seguchi Tohma had given him days ago.
"Hello. Tokyo travel." A cheerful female voice answered the call.
"I need a plane ticket."
The woman faltered at the cold, uninformative line. "Where would you like to go sir, and when would you like to leave?"
"New Y-, no make it Los Angeles." He answered, it was time to make a new beginning and that meant no ties to the past. "In two weeks."
"Will you be needing only one ticket sir?"
"Yes."
A moment of silence ensued as the woman typed in search information. "What name will the ticket be under?"
"Uesugi Eiri. Put the bill on my credit card." He spoke quietly telling the sales woman the numbers and expiration date.
"Alright sir. We have made a reservation for you in exactly two weeks, flying directly to Los Angeles. The flight will be taking off at 7:30 p.m. Thank you very much for using Tokyo Travel. Do you have anymore questions sir?"
Yuki hung up the phone without replying.
Leaning back into his chair, he looked up at the ceiling of his apartment. Two weeks and I'll be out of Shuichi's life forever.
Closing his eyes, he let the memories come.
-TBC
Completed 12.25.2002