Title: Autumn's Raine
Chapter 5: The Con
Disclaimer: I don't own the Gravi characters. I do "own" Raine. o.o She's mine… yes, mine. Mwahahaha ::blinks:: …oh… sorry ^^;
Warnings: Yaoi, a little AU, OC (forgot to put that before. o.o), and probably some OOCness.
Notes: Just to warn a few of you who read this. I'm not sure when the next part will be out. I have projects I need to get started on for two of my classes and also I am behind on updating my GW fanfic. (I swore I wouldn't put it aside, but I have once again! Grrrr on me.) But no one ever knows with me. I might be saying this and then finish the next part tonight. ^^ We'll just have to see. And now, without further delay, read on!
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Raine frowned as the two lovers were talking. She decided not to interfere and just sit on the couch, eat the Pocky Shuichi had offered her and wait to see what they decided.
For the past twenty minutes Yuki and Shuichi were trying to figure out what to tell anyone when they saw Raine. Raine told them they couldn't tell anyone about her being a Sprite. Most wouldn't believe them anyway, but the ones that did might start a commotion and she didn't want attention drawn to her. They had agreed and were now trying to figure out a story they could give people that would be believable.
"I still say she could be one of your old friends from high school, or something." Shuichi offered, sitting on the couch next to Raine; he was resisting the urge to take some of the Pocky he had given her.
"That wouldn't work." Yuki sighed, taking a drag from the current cigarette he was smoking. He was leaning against the wall, next to the couch and Shuichi. "She looks more like your age, then mine. Besides Tohma knows all of my old school friends, he would know I was lying."
"…" Shuichi frowned as he glanced over at Raine. She was just taking another bite from the current piece of Pocky she had and blinked as he looked over.
"How about we say she is your sister?" Yuki offered, pointing the cigarette at Raine.
"No, Hiro knows most of my family. And he knows I only have one sister, Maiko." Shuichi sighed, this was getting hard.
"Alright." Yuki frowned, taking another drag before continuing, "Fine, how about she is your cousin. You can say she is just visiting from Nagasaki and if Hiro asks you can say he never met that side of your family. How's that?"
Shuichi looked down at the floor for a few moments, and he thought that over. It sounded good, and even he couldn't really screw a lie like that up. Could he? "Okay, that'll work! Raine!" Raine blinked, just about to take another Pocky stick from the box --she was now addicted to the chocolate flavored sticks-- and she looked over at Shuichi.
"Hm?"
"You will now be known as Shindou Raine, my cousin from Nagasaki." Shuichi smiled brightly and patted her on the back. He suddenly blinked. "Hey, I didn't notice before. Where are your wings?" He frowned.
"Oh, they disappear when I am in human form… cousin." Raine giggled, winking at Shuichi.
"Okay." Shuichi blinked again, and then continued to smile. "Now that we have a story down, for the most part, I can take you to work with me on Monday! You can see how we record."
"Record?" Raine frowned, thinking for a minute before it clicked. "Oh, that is how they get your voice on those… CEs?"
Shuichi laughed, "CDs, and yes."
Raine blushed, "CDs, right." She chuckled softly. "You can not understand how excited I am. It's been YEARS since I interacted with humans. There have been so many things to come along since then."
"Oh? You've been around humans before? I thought this was your first time." Shuichi sat back on the couch, his eyes glancing at Yuki and he mentally patted the seat next to him.
Having finished his cigarette Yuki had been going to put the butt out in the ashtray when he caught sight of Shuichi looking at him. He didn't say anything, finishing the task of disposing of his cigarette, and then he moved to sit next to Shuichi. Shuichi smiled and leaned against his lover and was now waiting for Raine's answer.
Raine just sat there for a moment, trying to figure out how to word this right. "Well… when I was younger I used to visit the human world often. I liked to watch the humans and how they interacted with each other. It was so different from the Sprites. But then…" She paused for a moment, shaking her head. "It's been almost one hundred years since I've been around the humans. I felt it was time once more."
Shuichi and Yuki just sat there, eyes slightly wide. Shuichi was the first to speak, "Almost… one… hundred… YEARS!?"
Raine stiffened, and then blinked as she glanced over at the other two. "Um… yeah?"
"No way! You look like your eighteen, nineteen maybe!"
She laughed, "Oh, well Sprites age differently then humans. We live many, many years."
"Interesting." Yuki whispered, sitting back fully on the couch.
"Wow! You look so young!" Shuichi leaned over, examining Raine's face closely.
"T-thanks." She blushed.
"Wow, I wish I would look this young forever." He sighed, leaning back against Yuki. "Don't you, Yuki?"
"Hn. You look too young." Yuki offered flatly.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Shuichi frowned, turning on the couch to face his lover. "Too young?"
"Yes. I know you are nineteen, but you sure as hell don't look like it. People probably look at you, and then me, and think I'm some kinda of pervert." Yuki sighed, and wondered why he even said that. He knew what would be the result.
"No they don't!" Shuichi frowned, "You are being silly! I don't look *that* young."
"You do."
"Bah." He waved a hand, dismissing the thought before he leaned back against Yuki once more. Sighing at his lover's quick dismissal, Yuki wrapped one arm around Shuichi's waist and became content with just sitting there.
Raine listened to the exchange in silence, eating the last piece of Pocky as she did so. She could definitely feel the love from both of them now, even if Yuki would like to deny it. It gave her a warm feeling in her soul, she remembered a time when she felt the same way. The same kind of love they felt, she missed those days. She let out a soft breath of air as she sat back on the couch, a little saddened at her reminiscing.
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"So… that's all I have to do?" Raine looked over at Shuichi, frowning and looking rather nervous. She wiggled her toes and felt the cool plastic against her skin. Shuichi had talked her into playing on his PS. She wasn't sure what that was, the only PS she knew was when people wrote letters, the "Post Script" at the end. This grey machine with cords and the pad with the arrows she was standing on didn't resemble a letter.
He had just finished explaining the "game" she was about to play. Something called DDR. Raine began to wonder why all of these new things were just letters. She wondered if they were random letters at that. But, not wanting to appear stupid, she didn't ask what they meant.
"Right." Shuichi nodded, "All you have to do is watch the screen." He pointed to the TV, which was still off, as he began to go over the basics once more. "You'll see arrows going up the screen in different directions, matching the ones on the pad. Up, down, left and right. When the arrow reaches the top, aligning with another arrow pointing the same way, then you step on the arrow, on the pad, that matches that arrow on the screen!"
"Idiot. The way you word it is horrible." Yuki just shook his head from his position on the couch. Shuichi had gone over the instructions with him several times and Yuki still didn't get it and he never watched Shuichi play to finally understand. But he figured this time he would, see Raine try her hands at the game.
"Yuki~" Shuichi pouted, glancing over at his lover from across the room. "I know what I'm talking about."
"Ah." The writer just left it at that. He really didn't want to argue over Shuichi's teaching abilities.
"Okay, Raine." Shuichi turned back to the Sprite. "Ready to try? Think you got it?"
Looking even more nervous, Raine slowly nodded. "I think so."
"Alright! I'll give you an easy song, don't worry." Shuichi smiled brightly, 'This is so great! No one ever wants to play DDR with me. Not even Hiro will. Waaaah, this is great!' He quickly moved over to the Play Station console and turned the power on. He was quick to get past the main menu, setting the game on easy, and he picked a song Raine might like, it was called 'Bumble Bee'. "Okay, here you go! As soon as you see the arrows get ready."
Raine nodded, her blue eyes instantly coming up to the screen. 'Okay…' She thought to herself, letting out a soft breath. Raine quickly became focused as she heard the song begin to play, and the girl on the screen began to move. 'This TV is amazing.' she thought with a smile. She would have to ask more about that machine later. Then she saw them, the arrows Shuichi had been talking about. They were moving up towards the four arrows that were aligned to at the top of the screen and to the left.
At first Raine was slow to put her feet down on the pad, getting several poors. She glared a little as the voice from the TV began to say "You can do better then that." and other comments Raine found mean. It was then she became more determined and by the end of the song she was getting goods.
Breathing a little heavier, Raine glanced over at Shuichi. She was glaring slightly. "I want to try that again. That man saying I should quit while I'm ahead! Some nerve!" Raine huffed, taking the comments to heart.
Yuki snickered, shaking his head. 'She's worse then the brat.' He thought to himself.
"Okay." Shuichi laughed, finding Raine's reaction funny and promising. It looked like he had a new DDR partner.
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Raine collapsed onto the floor, her legs stretched out in front of her and her hands in her lap. She was panting softly, her forehead covered in a light sheen of sweat. She glanced over at Shuichi who was in the almost exact same position as her on the other side of the pad. For the past three hours they have been playing DDR almost none stop. Raine had been hooked, and Shuichi had been overjoyed. Yuki had gotten bored after the first hour and went into his room to nap.
"Wow Raine!" Shuichi smiled, looking over at her. "You are good for a beginner!" She just nodded, still trying to get her breath back. Shuichi seemed to have gotten his back. "Wow, the last round there you were getting greats and perfects!" He leaned over and patted her back roughly. "Wow, you definitely have to play that with me again!"
Raine's eyes widened and she fell back, lying on the cold wooden floor. "I'm too tired Shuichi. You humans sure have tiring games." She puffed out.
Shuichi laughed, "I wasn't thinking now. I'm rather tired myself, but definitely later. Now let's play-" Before he could finish his thought both were startled by the loud sound of Shuichi's stomach.
She chuckled, glancing over at Shuichi, "Sounds like someone needs to refuel."
"Yep!" Shuichi jumped to his feet with a sudden burst of energy. "Are you hungry?"
"A little actually." Raine sat up, pushing her hair behind her ears.
"Okay! I'll make us something!" Just as Shuichi was about to turn and head for the kitchen he heard a snort coming from behind him. He spun around to see his lover standing there with his arms crossed. "Yuki! Enjoy your nap?" He smiled sweetly.
"I would have if you didn't have to TV up so loud." Yuki mumbled, his voice sounding a little tired.
"Oh, sorry Yuki." Shuichi's smiled disappeared. "You should have yelled for me to turn it down."
"I did."
"Oh… Sorry." Shuichi's eyes fell to the floor.
Raine slowly got to her feet, "Yes, Yuki-san. I'm also sorry for that, since it was my fault as well."
Yuki just waved his hand, sighing. "It's alright. Now, *I'll* go make us dinner. I don't need you cutting your finger off." His eyes were locked on Shuichi as he said that part, the pink haired singer having looked up as Yuki mentioned cooking. He then turned around and headed towards the kitchen, leaving Shuichi behind to swoon.
"Waaaah, Yuki is cooking! Yuki doesn't cook for me often!" Shuichi swayed back and forth on his feet, once again lost in his own world of Yuki worshiping. Raine shook her head, and she was beginning to get used to Shuichi's little trips to Yuki-land. She decided to let him enjoy the trip and she padded after Yuki into the kitchen.
Yuki was just pulling a stir fry pan from a cupboard when he noticed a figure standing in the doorway to the kitchen. He glanced up and spotted Raine. He didn't say anything and did nothing other then continuing his quest to get dinner started.
Raine smiled, "Would you like some help, Yuki-san?"
He glanced over at Raine, having just moved over to the fridge. "No, that's alright. Besides you are our guest, you don't need to help out."
"Oh, but I don't mind. Though…" She glanced over at the stove, pointing to it, "I'm not familiar with that."
"It's okay. I can handle it. Go keep the pink tornado busy. Otherwise he'll come in here and delay dinner."
Raine nodded, chuckling softly as she turned around Shuichi had just come out of his trance and was heading towards the kitchen. She quickly moved over to him, grabbing his wrist gently.
"Raine?" Shuichi blinked. "What's up? I was just going to see if Yuki needed any help."
"He seems to be doing fine. Let's play another game, Shuichi." She lead the young man away from the kitchen and back towards the TV. "You must have more games for the… PT?"
Shuichi laughed, "PS, and I do."
Raine blushed, "Too many letter combinations." She sighed.
"Oh, it's okay. It's cute when you mix them up." He laughed, her hand slipping from around his wrist. "Let's play a fighting game!"
"Fighting game?" Raine frowned slightly. "I don't like violence… plus I don't want to hurt you."
Shuichi laughed again, shaking his head. "No, no. It's only play fighting. And we don't actually fight. Well, here I'll show you." He went over to where his games were and picked up one of his CD cases. He loved the game 'Soul Blade', so that's what they would play next.
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Yuki had begun stir frying some vegetables when he heard screaming from the living room. It sounded like Raine. Moving the pan off of the burner he dashed down the hall and into the living. That's where he found Shuichi blinking and Raine with both her hands on her cheek.
"You killed her, Shuichi!" Raine now pointed to the blonde woman who was lying on the "raft" on the TV screen.
Yuki sighed loudly, "Shuichi! What are you doing!?"
Shuichi continued to blink, startled by Raine's scream a minute ago. "Huh?... We were just playing Soul Blade."
Raine looked back at Yuki, "That man… Siegfried… he… he killed Sophitia!"
Shuichi shook his head, "It's just a game, not really. See." Shuichi pushed one of the buttons on the controller he held and the next round begin, both Siegfried and Sophitia were ready to fight once more.
Raine's eyes widened as she looked at the screen. "What?..." She frowned, now she was just confused. "I don't think I like this game…" Slowly, very slowly, she placed the controller she was given on the floor. "I don't like this fighting."
Shuichi looked over at Yuki, who was now glaring. "Why don't you show her that puzzle game?" Yuki offered and then turned back to the kitchen mumbling the word 'unbelievable' over and over.
"Okay, Raine. No more fighting!" Shuichi leaned over and turned of the Play Station. "Let's play this Puzzle Bobble."
"…" Raine wasn't sure that that sounded any better. She was never very good with puzzles or riddles. She always gave up to easily.
"It'll be fun! I promise!" Shuichi crawled over to his games once more, going through the CD cases.
"That's what you said about the last one." She frowned, shaking her head. 'I don't like killing…' Her eyes saddened suddenly. 'I don't like watching people die…'
===to be continued===
CCT: So? o.o How was that? Raine is starting to give some things about herself away. Well… at least to the readers. ^__~ Her past will be revealed in one chapter, not sure which yet. And I'm thinking of skipping "Sunday" in the fic and moving on to Monday morning when Shuichi goes to work. Hm… I'll have to see what I am in the mood for. ^__~ Hehe. As always reviews are greatly appreciated! And thanks to all who have been reviewing for each chap. ^__^ It helps to motivate me! Keep it up!