A/N: Yes, "Heaven on Earth" is drawing to a close and I would like to ask for a little help from my readers. I'll be following this fic up with another fan fiction if you guys want me to keep writing. Can you help me choose which fic I'll be starting?
A. Beyond Forgetting - Unlike Heaven on Earth, this is not an AU fic and it picks up from Furuba's manga until Tohru and Yuki are in college. But just before graduation, a car accident robs Tohru of her memories while Yuki is subjected to one of Hatori's 'treatments' as per Akito's instructions and his own torment in failing to protect Tohru. Enter freshman year at Tokyo University and a misunderstanding places Yuki in a dorm full of women. And his dorm mate from hell turns out to be none other than a girl named Honda Tohru. ^_^ This is slightly comedy, waffy, and Tohru's rediscovery of the Jyuunishi's curse!
B. Everything You Want- An AU fic with a high school setting. Tohru is the heiress of a prominent Japanese family and she's feels she's in love with Sohma Kyou. But Sohma Yuki, Kyou's enigmatic cousin is everything she wants. Yes, this is a classic Yuki-Tohru-Kyou love triangle.
Anyway, here's chapter 8-- please review and let me know what you think. Happy readings!
PS. As requested by a reviewer, this chapter also goes out to Nikki who's celebrating her birthday.
Chapter 8- Baby Blues
***
It's been three months since Japan and Heaven is back to touring the world once more. She has finished Asia, Australia and is now making her way to America for an MTV TRL special presentation.
"Uncle, please don't move about that much, you're making me worry," admonished Heaven as she watched her Uncle managing the production crew even on crutches and with bandages around his head. The corrective surgery was successful and Tetsuya now just had to use crutches to lessen the pressure in his once crushed ankle. Tetsuya gave Tohru a cocky grin and said, "I can't help it my dear, I want this to be absolutely perfect for you."
Tohru averted her eyes as she quelled the feeling of nausea and nervousness. She felt the make-up artist raising her hair up and she told her uncle, "Please, this is really nothing special. Just one of my many shows."
Tetsuya hobbled over to Tohru and pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "But this will also be your last! You told me you plan to announce that you'll be taking a year long break from the music industry when Carson interviews you later," reminded Tetsuya softly, his eyes dimming at the tears that brightened Tohru's eyes.
Tohru placed a protective hand over her abdomen. She smiled through her tears and said, "It's all for the best Uncle. It's all for the best..."
***
"My Yuki, isn't it a coincidence that Tohru is also here in America when we have an important business deal? And in the same city and state too," goaded Momiji as he walked beside his cousin, unmindful of the number of stares they've been generating from the female and male Americans. They were both dressed in conservative dark business suits, carrying briefcases.
Yuki, tensely silent, turned to Momiji with such a dark look on his face that the blond automatically took a step backward. "Don't you ever dare mention the name of that woman. SHE, rejected me," said Yuki in a low tone. Three hellish months of unbearable loneliness, all because of a woman who could never accept him.
"She rejected your money!" exclaimed Momiji, exasperated as he dogged his older cousin's heels.
"She rejected me, refused to take my hand and went to Tetsuya instead," corrected Yuki furiously as he tried to shake Momiji off his side.
But Momiji persisted. It was the first time he had the chance to talk to Yuki in three months. Yuki had firmly imposed no private talks and refused to take calls through his private line and visitors in his penthouse and ship. He lived like a recluse except when he works and goes to the office. Even Hatori couldn't get more than five words from Yuki. He's going to make Yuki see the truth even if he had to beat Yuki up (which is unlikely). "Tetsuya's foot was severely crushed by the cargo and Tohru was only coming to save him! She also embraced Kosen because he was used like a pawn by his father! She didn't love him!" pointed out Momiji.
Anger boiled and simmered in Yuki as he recalled those painfully wrenching scenes. He was so emotional those moments that he perhaps, acted like a fool and demanded an ultimate choice from Tohru. Him or Tetsuya. Tohru chose Tetsuya, obliterating all hope in Yuki's heart. In a ragged voice, Yuki said, "She doesn't really love me! If she loved me--"
"She would have what? Abandoned her wounded Uncle? Refuse to show compassion for a fellow victim in that obsessive man's plots? Chosen you when all you wanted was to own her and provide material security but not love?" exclaimed Momiji.
Yuki bowed his head. He suddenly felt shame, guilt and regret flood his being. How can he hate Tohru for all the traits that made him fall in love with her from the very start? "I-- I never wanted to own her-- I just didn't know how to tell her--" he whispered.
Momiji gave a rueful smile. "Then go to her and let her know-- by putting your skills to use! If not in words then in--" began Momiji as he grinned thinking about one of Yuki's servant's reports. The servant said that Yuki played the piano nonstop since Tohru left. And he kept playing a very unfamiliar sounding song.
Yuki stood, rooted on the spot. "I-- I'm not worthy of her--"
"Aw shucks Yuki! Tomoyo wouldn't have gone through all the trouble of scheduling a business deal here in America if you're not worthy of Tohru! And besides, according to Tomoyo, you're going to be a daddy," said Momiji with a mischievous grin. He laughed when he saw Yuki's eyes widen and then Yuki's face turn pale. He readily caught his cousin when Yuki staggered and nearly fell down in shock.
"A father--?" croaked Yuki as he felt faint.
Momiji thrust a crumpled piece of paper on Yuki's hand. "Here's the song Tohru wrote before. I remember Tomoyo telling me that Tohru wrote this 7 years ago, when she first left for England. This song was for you and she's performing it on TRL solo, with some guy playing the piano for her." Momiji laughed loudly as Yuki bolted out of the building anime-style, with smoke rising from his tracks.
***
"So Heaven, your decision to leave the industry is final? Is this really your last album?" asked Carson as screaming fans in the studio and down the street all cried out Heaven's name.
Heaven gave a charming smile. "Well, I'm not exactly leaving music for good, it is after all, my passion. I need a year to take care of things that truly matter," answered Heaven, waving through the window at the fans below. Her fans screamed in delight upon hearing her announcement.
"So that's it, your not retiring?" asked Carson.
"No Carson, I'm not retiring. Just taking a break," clarified Heaven.
Loud clapping and screams overwhelmed the audio. And with a grin, Carson announced, "Looks like you guys are already excited to hear Heaven's newest single off her last album for this year. So now, let's all give it up for Heaven as she sings, "Say Goodbye" with renowned pianist, Jim Brickman--"
A spotlight suddenly flashed on the grand piano and everyone gasped when they saw a beautiful man on the piano bench instead of Jim. It was Yuki! Tohru, who turned to the pianist gasped and swayed from where she stood as she gazed at Yuki's somber profile.
Yuki began to play the piano, the opening notes of the song they played on the ship. There was a hush in the studio as graceful and skilled fingers danced over the keys. The tone changed from what Tohru originally practiced, but in the end, it was exactly how she wanted her song to be.
(A/N: In case you're asking, "Say Goodbye" is my own creation!)
Tohru vocalized automatically, her alto voce flawless as she skimmed over the notes Yuki was creating. It was such a perfect combination everyone watching felt goosebumps rising over their arms as they watched the couple. Everyone gasped when Yuki opened the song by singing, his baritone voice smooth and a perfect foundation for Tohru's alto.
Yuki: I hate to say this but I know I must
I have to let you go 'coz I love you so much
I hope you'll remember the times that we spent
Give a little thought to me every now and then
There was a short instrumental before Tohru sang her part. It was a stirring ballad that made everyone sniffle. Tohru's voice was more powerful and emotional, her voice an octave higher.
Tohru: I know I'll miss you and I'll cry all my tears
But don't worry, I'll help you face your fears
No don't you worry that you're hurting me
It was my decision to go and set you free
Everyone listened with bated breaths as the chorus started. It was as if Yuki would call and Tohru would answer with each note, each lyric.
Chorus:
Yuki: The day I let you go, Tohru: please don't look back
Y/T: You'll only see me crying on your fading tracks
Yuki: I have to let you go, Tohru: be free and fly high
Y/T: Just remember this, I love you Tohru: say goodbye.
There was s short instrumental once more, the piano perfectly tuning each unsaid emotion.
Tohru: You say you love me but I know you don't
But never mind 'coz i know I won't
I won't ever blame you for not loving me
I know, I'm not such a beauty
Yuki was looking at Tohru as Tohru moved closer to him and the piano. It was as if they were the only two people in the room and there were no cameras, no fans, no family. Momiji was standing beside Tomoyo and Tetsuya. Tomoyo was sniffing, her handkerchief covering her eyes and both Tetsuya and Momiji were occasionally wiping away their tears and grinning like idiots.
Yuki: If only you know, your heart I won't break
That the love we share, I'll never forsake
But I know these things happen only in dreams
I can never touch your heart, I know how it seems
Yuki's voice was as compelling as Tohru's, although in a much lower octave. It was as if they were both trying to put into the song what their hearts were trying to say. Tohru was hovering above Yuki as she looked down at him, her heart in her eyes and in her voice. The piano fairly vibrated with the emotions Yuki seemed to draw from the keys with passion and expertise.
Chorus:
Tohru: The day I let you go, Yuki: please don't look back
Y/T: You'll only see me crying on your fading tracks
Yuki: I have to let you go, Tohru: be free and fly high
Y/T: Just remember this, I love you, say goodbye.
The chords were playing and slowly fading. Their voices were rising, Tohru's voice is very much like a diva's.
Yuki: The day I let you go, Tohru: don't look back, don't you ever look back
Y/T: You'll only see me crying on your fading tracks
Yuki: I have to let you go, Tohru: be free and fly high (Tohru held the note of 'high' long and powerfully)
The piano started again, the last 16 notes Yuki and Tohru made in the ship.
Y/T: Just remember this, I love you...
The piano stopped and Tohru's solo was left.
Tohru: Say goodbye...
The both of them were trembling with emotion when the song ended. The audience was so mesmerized by the performance no one moved a muscle or made a sound, as if afraid of breaking the spell. Tomoyo was openly sobbing and most of the girls were also crying. It was so silent you can hear a pin drop. And then slowly, as Yuki and Tohru were still staring at each other...
Applause exploded from the people. Loud and rambunctious cheering, screaming fans despite the emotions the song stirred in everyone's heart. Carson immediately stepped up beside the pair and holding his MTV mike, he said, "Wonderful, wonderful performance from Heaven and mystery guy. Incomparable to other TRL performances ever. That was quite a different version from your original single "Say Goodbye". Is this pianist the one you've been waiting for?"
With a smile, Tohru touched Yuki's hand and said, "Yes."
"So may we let the fans of Heaven know who you are? You certainly changed the whole song with that killer piano chords and this song became quite an awesome duet!" exclaimed Carson.
Yuki gave a smile as he placed his hand over Tohru's as he answered, "I'm Heaven's fiancée, Sohma Yuki."
TBC
Final A/N: Hehehehe. ^_^ This author sincerely thanks chibicherry, juuji, amulak, and agent cloud summer for their encouraging reviews. Please review and let your voices be heard.