Title: My Angel, My Savior
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I own diddly squat, Gravitation and all it's wonder belongs to the amazing Maki Murakami. I do own all OOC characters, but other than that: I got zilch.
Notes from Nori: This may be the last chapter of My Angel, My Savior. I might just add one last chapter to lead into the sequel that I planned to make if my responses are right, but.. otherwise, My Angel, My Savior has come to an end. I want to thanks everyone for their encouragement and support on this story. I hear by dedicate this to all of you: the fans.
____________________________
"For once in my life I have someone who needs me,
Someone I needed so long
For once unafraid I can go where love leads me,
Somehow I know I'll be strong
For once I can touch what my heart used to dream of
Long before I knew (long before I knew)
Someone warm like you
You make my dreams come true
For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me
Not like it's hurt me before (not like it's hurt before)
For once I have something I know won't desert me
I'm not alone anymore
For once I can say this is mine you can't take it
As long as I know I have love I can make it." For Once In My Life by .....some country guy, I think..
________________________________
Ryuichi's heart stopped. The world seemed to shatter around him and everything suddenly became so surreal. He didn't hear Tohma calling to him to stop, he didn't register running through the crowds after his heart, and he hardly remembered when the tears started. Everything was in such slow motion, such agonizingly slow torture. It wasn't until a bundle of pink on the floor caught his eye that he realized what was going on. Stooping to lift the pink bunny into his arms, Ryuichi's hand trembled.
"I hate you, I hate you! If you didn't want me you should have said so! I hate you!" she'd screamed.
Her words burned and he wished he could make them stop, but they simply kept twirling and repeating through his head. Over and over again. 'Mio- chan......I would hate me, too.' Ryuichi thought sadly, his vision suddenly blurred. A small droplet of liquid fell onto the pink bunny's tummy and Ryuichi wiped his tears shakily with he back of his hand.
"What was I thinking?" has asked himself softly, getting to his feet with Kumagoro clutched to his chest. "I can't let her go."
"Ryuichi-" Tohma's cool voice sounded behind him, barely audible over the booming music. "What are you going to do now, Ryuichi? Think about this before you make a decision, is this really what's best for-"
"I think that I will be the judge of that, Tohma-kun." The vocalist said softly, turning his intense sapphire eyes to his friend and band mate.
Hugging Kumagoro tightly his eyes fell shut silently. The blonde watched him, an unspoken question hidden in his eye's deep teal pools. Suddenly the blonde inhaled sharply, blinking at the sight before him. Ryuichi's eyes were slanted in an intense gaze and his face was completely changed. It was that same face of complete sincerity he wore on stage when performing. It was so heartfelt and real, Tohma was always surprised to see this side of his friend, a side so few got to see.
"Ryuichi-san...?"
"Tohma I know that I may not be the perfect person for Mio and I know I can't give her all the attention and devotion that she needs, but...I will try my hardest to make her happy. I can't be the perfect father and I can't be her best buddy all the time, but I can promise her that I will always love and care about her.and I realize that that's more than most people can do for her. I love her and my life would be incomplete without her." he said softly, his intense eyes boring into Tohma. "Please accept that and if you can't then, please, just leave us alone so we can be happy together. For me."
Tohma's face fell and his lips pulled into a thin line. They stared intensely for a moment before Ryuichi turned away.
"I have to find Mio, I could never forgive myself if I lost her now."
Watching Ryuichi weave his way through the crowd, Tohma frowned. He felt like he was losing his best friend now, they'd never be the same again. It was hard letting go; it was almost as if the brunette had taken a piece of Tohma himself as he walked away. A gentle hand on his shoulder shocked him back into reality and he looked over his shoulder to see a still slightly tipsy Noriko leaning her head against his back.
"Yoo can't keep him forever, Tohma-kun." She said softly, slurring only a bit. "He needs to grow up sometime.."
"I know, but I don't think I'm ready for him to leave me yet, Noriko-chan. I wish...just not yet."
~__________________________________________~
Mio hiccuped as she stared out the window, her sad reflection staring back at her. The blonde at her side exhaled the smoke form his cigarette and tossed it out the window, keeping his amber colored eyes locked on the road. Another hiccup sounded from Mio and he sighed.
"Stop hiccuping!" He instructed harshly.
Jumping slightly at her companions sudden speech, Mio hiccuped a few times rapidly and slightly louder before she feel silent again. Her watery green eyes looked at him with confusion before she sniffled again.
"I think you scared them away." She whispered, looking back out her window.
The orphanage came into view and as they pulled up, Yuki stopped the car. They sat there for a moment, in complete silence. Finally Yuki let out a sigh and leaned back in his seat, letting his head fall back against it. Running a hand through messy blonde tresses he looked over at the child with him.
"Would you like to talk about it?" he asked monotonously, already knowing the answer.
"No,"
"Was it Ryuichi? He didn't hurt you did he?"
"No," Mio sniffled, tears building up again. "He would -never- hurt me....Or at least, that's what I thought."
Covering her face with her small hands, Mio's body racked with silent sobs. Yuki'd never been one for comforting others, not ever. He was always to shy or afraid he's say something stupid and nowadays people who cried grated on his nerves. However, given the circumstances he couldn't bring himself to tell the poor child to "suck it up and move on". Instead he unbuckled his seat belt and leaned over the seat to tentatively bring the child in for a hug. Mio sucked in a shaky breath before throwing her arms around Yuki and burrowing her face into his chest.
"He said he was going to take me back, Yuki-ojisan." she cried. "He said he couldn't take it anymore and he was taking me back."
The novelist vaguely wondered how he got the title of uncle, but pushed it aside and comfortingly rubbed the girl's back in small circular patterns. Mio's sobs began to lessen as Yuki softly stroked her back and whispered to her calmly until he breathing became normal and she merely sniffled.
"Why doesn't anyone love me, Yuki?" she whispered, sniffling again. "Why doesn't anybody want me to be theirs? Am I never going to be loved, Yuki- ojisan?"
"Mio..." Yuki began as he heaved a great sigh. "Sakuma-san does love you, more than you could know, I'm sure. And-"
"But how?! How do you know what he feels? Did he tell you!? Then how-"
"Shhshhh..." he said calmly, putting a finger to her lips.
He pulled back so he could look at her and with as much tenderness as he could possible muster he cup her face within his hands and gently stroked her cheek with his thumbs. A small smile graced his face and his amber eyes locked with emerald.
"He loves you and he would never do anything to hurt you. I know, because it's evident every time he's with you. He does care and he does want you, the only reason he would ever hurt you is if it was for your own good. Sakuma-san must have had a reason for this, I'm sure of it." the writer spoke, eyes still locked. "Even if he didn't love you Mio, Migel would still love you, Shuichi would still love you and....deep down somewhere in this bitter heart, I know I love you too."
A single tear slipped form her brilliantly colored eyes, but not like the ones before them. It was a happy tear which Yuki wiped away gently for her, kissing her forehead afterwards.
"I-I love you too, Yuki-ojisan. Thank you for everything." she said giving him a final hug.
They broke off their embrace and Mio went to open her door. She stepped out and to her surprise so did Yuki. Looking at him oddly she rubbed her eyes. Yuki came around the car and bent down, pulling Mio up into his arms. Pulling away slightly to look at him as he carried her, Mio sniffled.
"Yuki-ojisan? What are you doing? You don't have to take me in, I can go by my-"
"Actually," he interrupted. "I have some business here to finish with Lydia. An early birthday present for Shuichi if you will...That is a birthday/Christmas/Easter gift anyway." he added the last part under his breath.
Mio smiled sadly and relaxed against him as they came to the door of the dumpy old orphanage. Even if her dream wasn't coming true, perhaps Migel's would if Yuki meant what she hoped he did.....
~_____________________________~
Shuichi glanced at his watch, pausing in his enticing dances for just a moment to make sure he wasn't running late. His koibito said he would pick him up, so Shuichi didn't want to make him wait. Making a small noise he tapped the redhead who had been dancing behind him with an attractive blonde girl on the shoulder. The redhead, none other than Nakano Hiroshi, turned around and grinned at his friend.
"Hai, Shu? What's up?" he asked, turning to face him.
"For one thing you should probably tell busty back there that your seeing somebody," Shuichi grinned, pointing at the blonde eagerly awaiting Hiro to finish talking. "Secondly I wanted to say goodbye, Yuki should be here soon, so I better get ready."
Hiro grinned sheepishly and scratched the back of his head. "I'll tell her..eventually." He laughed. "Well, I'll see you around, Shuichi. Call me if you need anything, alright?"
"Right!" Shuichi nodded, winking at his friend before dashing away through the crowd.
He made his way quickly to the entrance of the ballroom and scanned the crowd for his blonde bishounen. Yuki was nowhere in sight however, a certain idol of his was. Ryuichi was headed towards the exit himself, his face showing absolute concern and fear. Surprised by this look Shuichi pushed his way over to Ryuichi and gentle put a hand on the vocalist's shoulder to stop him.
"Sakuma-san?" Shuichi asked. "What's going on?"
The brunette looked at Shuichi through intense sapphire eyes for a moment before frowning deeply. He turned to face Shuichi, but kept his eyes downcast.
"It's Mio, I sort of said..I said I was taking her back and..." he paused. "She told me she hated me and ran off."
"Nani?!"
Ryuichi looked up at Shuichi, the pain still evident in his eyes as he did so and took Shuichi's hand in his.
"Somebody said they saw Mio with a tall blonde man and I figured maybe it was Eiri-san. Do you know if Eiri-san was here or not?" Ryuichi asked eagerly.
"Yeah, Yuki was coming to pick me about now, it could have been him." Shuichi nodded, trying to sooth the man's nerves. "Do you have any idea where Mio would want Yuki to take her?"
Ryuichi paused for a while, still scanning the crowds absently as he thought. As the strawberry haired boy watch him he couldn't help, but feel sorry for him. Mio had been his whole world since he got her, Shuichi could only imagine the chaos his world was in now without her. That and those three small words hurt very much, Shuichi knew from experience. 'I hate you' was never a very encouraging or easy thing to let go of, even when you did know they didn't mean what they had said.
"Maybe," Ryuichi began, unable to keep the anxiety from his words. "She's back at your place or probably the orphanage, I should look there first."
Nodding affirmatively Shuichi pat Ryuichi's shoulder comfortingly, flashing an encouraging smile at his idol.
"Alright, let's go, er, I hope you have a car......."
Ryuichi tilted his head, "Shuichi......Don't you want to stay at the party?"
"Well sure, it'd be fun, but my friend is in need! I can't just leave you alone, especially when your in such a mess, besides all that.....I promised you I'd help you, didn't I?" he said smiling at Ryuichi.
The brunette looked at his friend and smiled weakly before throwing his arms around him in a brief hug. He dug around for his keys and brought them out, nodding to Shuichi.
"Ok, let's go."
~_________________________~
Lydia looked highly surprised to see both Yuki and Mio at her door so late in the night. She moved to the side and bustled them in, fussing over how they were going to miss sleep and be groggy tomorrow. Upon seeing Mio's puffy 'I've-just-cried-my-heart-out' eyes she held her chest as if she were having a heart attack.
"Mary, mother of Jesus!" she gasped. "What's happened to the poor thing? Mercy me, so this is a heart-attack!"
The old woman fanned herself with her hand and looked up at the tall blonde for answers. Yuki continued to hold Mio in his arms and sighed.
"It's nothing to worry about, Lydia-san." Yuki assured her, his eyes saying a harsher message of 'don't you dare ask'. "All that you must know is that things didn't exactly work out like they'd planned them to."
"Good Heavens, I guess not! She looks like she's been through a living Hell, poor lass." the woman fussed, even though it wasn't quite so serious.
"I'm going to go lay Mio down and get the boy while I'm at it." Yuki said, brushing past the woman to the stairs that led to the children's room.
Lydia bustled up behind him, muttering under her breath as she went.
"So late at night, can't it wait 'til mornin', Mr. Eiri?" she asked, sounding impatient.
"Migel won't mind," Mio piped up, looking back at Lydia over Yuki's shoulder. "He'll be happy that eh was woken up for something like this."
Lips pulled into a thin line to keep from protesting, Lydia nodded and turned away towards the backroom to get the papers they needed ready. Yuki took Mio up the stairs and she directed him to the older kids' sleeping area where she and Migel slept. Mio's bed was right beside Migel's and the boy was already sleeping peacefully, a book opened up on his chest. Setting Mio down on her bed, Yuki turned to Migel and took the book, closing it quietly as he set it aside. Migel stirred slightly and Yuki gently shook his shoulders.
"Mmh, Yuki?" Migel asked, not even opening his eyes. "Why are you here?"
Yuki stopped a moment, wondering how the boy knew it was him, but quickly shrugged it off and sat down on his bedside. As he sat, Migel moved his head to Yuki's lap, cuddling up against him with a small smile.
"This is such a nice dream, please don't wake me." he whispered, smile still lingering on his lips.
The novelist watched him silently, unsure of what to do for a moment. His hands went to his hair out of habit and brushed it away from his young face. The bed shifted again and Mio peered over his shoulder at her sleeping friend.
"Don't ask me how he does it, but he always knows who's there." she whispered, looking at Yuki with a weak smile. "Do me a favor and take care of him, would you? Migel deserves a good life."
"Of course." Yuki whispered, carefully lifting the boy into his arms.
He got to his feet, Migel adapting and wrapping his arms around the writer's shoulders naturally. Mio watched them go and Yuki turned back before he left the room.
"I'm sorry things didn't work out, Mio, but you know your always welcome with Shuichi and I." he said, leaving the room of slumbering children.
Mio smiled slightly, "Heh, I guess that's something." she whispered.
~__________________________~
Under any other circumstances, Shuichi would have been squealing with joy and chanting, 'Faster, Ryuichi, go faster!', but alas these were very serious times and no such joy was needed. Ryuichi was speeding along the busy streets of Tokyo, weaving through the traffic in a hazardous manner. Shuichi didn't mind nor, apparently, did Ryuichi. At one point they had even been going the wrong way down a one way street, but like before, Shuichi didn't mind in the slightest. When the orphanage did finally come into view, Ryuichi slowed and squinted ahead.
"Hey, that's Yuki's car!" Shuichi piped up, pointing to the vehicle parked by the curb.
Nodding, Ryuichi pulled over across the street and turned the car off slowly. After that the pair sat in total silence before Shuichi muster up enough courage to ask:
"Eh, Ryuichi? Why aren't you getting out?"
"I-I......." he started softly, eyes locked on the steering wheel before him.
"You what, Ryuichi?" Shuichi asked, looking at the man with concern.
Ryuichi looked over at Shuichi with a sad face and lowered his eyes.
"What if she doesn't want to see me Shuichi? I betrayed her trust and I-"
"That's not true, Sakuma-san!" Shuichi interrupted putting his hands on his idol's shoulders to shake him a bit. "That's not true at all! You told Mio you couldn't promise her anything and you were only doing what you thought was best for her. You just need to let her know why you said what you said! She'll just have to forgive you then, I know I would!"
Ryuichi blinked at the strawberry haired man oddly and Shuichi blushed slightly from bursting out like that. After a moment of blushing and staring, Ryuichi grinned slightly. Then, unexpectedly the brunette pulled Shuichi in for a glomp.
"Shuichi is the best!" he cheered.
Pulling back he ruffled his mop of pink hair and dashed out of the car towards the porch. Shuichi sat in shock for a moment before snapping out of it and bounding after his god. When Ryuichi reached the door, he shot straight past Yuki and Migel straight to Lydia. Bowing deeply he took her hands in his.
"Lydia-san, is Mio hear? I need to see her right away! If I don't then I may never be able to tell her how much I care about her and love her and that I never meant all those things I said and that I want her to come back and be my daughter forever and ever and ever until the die that I die!" Ryuichi said in one breath.
Lydia blinked rapidly n surprise and looked absolutely flustered by the outburst. Then a small smile pulled across her lips and she laughed lightly.
"Mr. Sakuma, that was lovely. Now I dunna know what's been goin' on 'round 'ere, but I think if ye tell Mio what ye just told me, things will be better. She's up in her room, the one on the right an she's in the second to last bed in the left row." Lydia said with a nod. "Now go on then and then meet me in the backroom, I'm assuming we have some business to finish up."
Ryuichi nodded happily and took off up the stairs, slowing down only when he remembered that the kids were trying to sleep. He crept softly into the room and looked around at all the sleeping faces of the children. Another sad smile came to his features as he looked at them all and then tiptoed his way towards Mio's bed.
"Mio-chan?" he whispered, peering over at the bed.
Much to his surprise the bed was empty and still made. A sudden panic kicked in and Ryuichi glanced around at the other beds. Where could Mio be? He'd gone to the right room and this was the bed Lydia said wasn't it? As he turned his head he heard a soft whisper in the bed beside him.
"Pssst, hey down here!" came a tiny voice.
Looking down Ryuichi spotted the same blonde girl from the first time he'd met Mio at the orphanage, hiding under her blankets with her teddy and a flashlight. Her bright eyes looked at him intensely and a small smile lit her face.
"I know where she is and I just might tell you, too."
~________________________________~
Shuichi arrived only minutes after Ryuichi had to the door and looked innocently confused at Yuki who stood there holding a half asleep Migel in his arms. Tilting his head he opened the screen door and allowed Yuki outside, the novelist shutting the door behind him.
"Yuki---?" Shuichi began.
"Shh, you're going to wake him." the writer mumbled, beginning off the porch and down the walkway through the yard.
Still quite confused, Shuichi stood there for a second before fumbling after them. Catching up to Yuki he walked backwards so he could looked at him in the face.
"But Yuki, what about Lydia? Did she say we could keep him overnight-"
"Sh."
Falling silent again Shuichi stopped dead in his tracks and the writer continued on to his car. Turning to look at his lover's back completely bewildered, Shuichi pondered.
'Why would Yuki want to get Migel so late at night?' he asked hismelf.
Yuki reached the car and unlocked the backseat, setting Migel in and buckling him in safely. Panting slightly from sprinting over, Shuichi waited until Yuki shut the door the put his hands on his lover's shoulders and stop him firmly. He gave him an annoyed look and stood on his tiptoes so he was almost the same height as the blonde.
"Why didn't you tell me you want to pick up Migel? I wouldn't have gone to the party then!" the younger man snapped. "And it's so late, didn't Lydia have anything to say about this? I mean he's not even-"
"Ours." Yuki finished, but stated as well.
Shuichi blinked, eyes going slightly wide for a moment, his brain on over load trying to figure out what this meant. He let his hands fall to his sides and tilted his head.
"Ours?" Shuichi repeated.
The blonde just nodded and opened the passenger door for Shuichi to get in. However upon looking back up at the usually genki vocalist, Yuki couldn't resist a small smile.
"Ours." he confirmed before walking round the driver's seat.
Shuichi's whole face split into the hugest smile he could muster and he dashed into the car as Yuki entered. Engulfing his lover into a giant hug he squealed quietly. Upon pulling back he kissed all over Yuki's face, stopping to nibble on his lover's earlobe a bit. Once he stopped he beamed at the novelist.
"Yuki, you're the best boyfriend ever!" he cheered, delight radiating out of every pore of his body. "I can't believe you did this for me--for us! We'll be so happy together and-"
Migel stirred, mumbling something in his sleep. Both Yuki and Shuichi glanced back at him and Shuichi grinned, looking at his koibito out of the corner of his eyes slyly.
"Aw, isn't he so cute, Yuki!" he whispered excitedly. "I could tell that you liked him since day one!"
Putting his keys into the ignition, Yuki snorted. "Quiet, baka or you'll wake -our- kid."
For once Shuichi obeyed and leaned his head on the seat, staring back at Migel. He hoped vaguely that everything worked out for his friend, but was too happy about their new addition to think too clearly about anything. All he knew that when he was with Migel he was one of the happiest people in all of Japan, but now that Migel was theirs he could have died the happiest guy in all the world.......
~______________________~
The swings creaked in the chilly night breeze, gently rocking it's inhabitance. The girl's tiny feet brushed the ground only slightly as it did and the cool air against her skin made her shiver. A single tear rolled down her soft cheek and she sniffled.
"That what happens, I should have known." she scolded herself. "You get your hopes up and-"
"Then that person let's you down, I know the feeling." came a familiar voice, floating through the chilly air.
Mio's head snapped up and she saw Ryuichi standing before her, smiling a sad smile. Glaring just a bit she sniffled and turned her head. A sigh sounded from the man and then the swing set creaked as a new weight was added. There was a lull of silence for a minute where neither spoke, but soon it was broken.
"What do you want now?" Mio asked, sniffling under control.
"I want a lot of things right now....I want to go back and take those words that I said away, I want to hug you and kiss you and ask you to forgive me for being so stupid and most of all I want you to come back and stay with me.....forever." he whispered, shuffling his feet on the dirt below them.
Looking up, she cast the vocalist a sidelong look from her swing. He looked so sad and lost sitting there on that swing. Shutting her eyes tightly, Mio balled her fists in her lap.
"No you don't, you said you wanted to get rid of me and-"
"Only because I thought that you'd be better off without me, Mio-chan. I thought if I just pretended that I had never entered your life that you could go back to the way things were before and you'd be happier.....without me." he explained, looking over at her earnestly. "I didn't think I could do this and as time went by I realized that no matter how much I try I can't give you all that you need from me. All I can promise and I all I can give you is a vow that I will love you and care for you as best as I possibly can. I know I may not be prefect, but I want to try.......if you'll have me."
Jumping to her feet, Mio stood before Ryuichi, head bowed covering the expression on her face. He hands were clenched in fists at her side and her body trembled just a bit. Ryuichi wondered if perhaps she was going to slug him one, but to his surprise she looked up at him with a teary eyed smile and gave a sort of sobbing laugh.
"After all we've been through..? How could you ever think that you were less than perfect for me, tousan?" she whispered.
Ryuichi's breath caught and his vision blurred slightly as happy tears came to his eyes. Laughing a bit, Mio threw her arms around him in a tight hug and hiccuped slightly. Standing up he lifted Mio up into his arms and twirled around with her. Laughing together they stopped and continued their embrace. As she pulled back to look at him she smile a true smile. Brushing a few stray tears from her face, Ryuichi kissed her forehead gently.
"Tousan," Mio sighed. "My tousan."
The vocalist smiled and nodded lightly, running his fingers affectionately down her pale cheek. Leaning into the embrace Mio fell limp against him and sighed.
"Promise me you'll love me forever." She whispered to him. "Please."
"Forever," he said swiftly with certainty in his voice. "Forever and ever, Mio-chan."
The moon and stars as his witness, Ryuichi swore with all his soul that no matter what, he would never doubt his heart and feelings ever again. He vowed that he would love Mio forever...and ever..
________________________________________~
Wow, it's actually over. I'm going to add a sort of epilogue that's leading into the sequel (which is very different from MAMS and centers Migel more), but other than that..it's all over for little Mio and Ryuichi. *Sigh* I had such a great time writing this story and I wouldn't trade any strenuous moment of it. :) Thanks to all my reviewers and loyal readers, you guys are truly the inspiration to my work. I could never thank you enough. And with this said and done I bid you ado..at least until next time anyway. *wink* Thanks again! - Nori
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I own diddly squat, Gravitation and all it's wonder belongs to the amazing Maki Murakami. I do own all OOC characters, but other than that: I got zilch.
Notes from Nori: This may be the last chapter of My Angel, My Savior. I might just add one last chapter to lead into the sequel that I planned to make if my responses are right, but.. otherwise, My Angel, My Savior has come to an end. I want to thanks everyone for their encouragement and support on this story. I hear by dedicate this to all of you: the fans.
____________________________
"For once in my life I have someone who needs me,
Someone I needed so long
For once unafraid I can go where love leads me,
Somehow I know I'll be strong
For once I can touch what my heart used to dream of
Long before I knew (long before I knew)
Someone warm like you
You make my dreams come true
For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me
Not like it's hurt me before (not like it's hurt before)
For once I have something I know won't desert me
I'm not alone anymore
For once I can say this is mine you can't take it
As long as I know I have love I can make it." For Once In My Life by .....some country guy, I think..
________________________________
Ryuichi's heart stopped. The world seemed to shatter around him and everything suddenly became so surreal. He didn't hear Tohma calling to him to stop, he didn't register running through the crowds after his heart, and he hardly remembered when the tears started. Everything was in such slow motion, such agonizingly slow torture. It wasn't until a bundle of pink on the floor caught his eye that he realized what was going on. Stooping to lift the pink bunny into his arms, Ryuichi's hand trembled.
"I hate you, I hate you! If you didn't want me you should have said so! I hate you!" she'd screamed.
Her words burned and he wished he could make them stop, but they simply kept twirling and repeating through his head. Over and over again. 'Mio- chan......I would hate me, too.' Ryuichi thought sadly, his vision suddenly blurred. A small droplet of liquid fell onto the pink bunny's tummy and Ryuichi wiped his tears shakily with he back of his hand.
"What was I thinking?" has asked himself softly, getting to his feet with Kumagoro clutched to his chest. "I can't let her go."
"Ryuichi-" Tohma's cool voice sounded behind him, barely audible over the booming music. "What are you going to do now, Ryuichi? Think about this before you make a decision, is this really what's best for-"
"I think that I will be the judge of that, Tohma-kun." The vocalist said softly, turning his intense sapphire eyes to his friend and band mate.
Hugging Kumagoro tightly his eyes fell shut silently. The blonde watched him, an unspoken question hidden in his eye's deep teal pools. Suddenly the blonde inhaled sharply, blinking at the sight before him. Ryuichi's eyes were slanted in an intense gaze and his face was completely changed. It was that same face of complete sincerity he wore on stage when performing. It was so heartfelt and real, Tohma was always surprised to see this side of his friend, a side so few got to see.
"Ryuichi-san...?"
"Tohma I know that I may not be the perfect person for Mio and I know I can't give her all the attention and devotion that she needs, but...I will try my hardest to make her happy. I can't be the perfect father and I can't be her best buddy all the time, but I can promise her that I will always love and care about her.and I realize that that's more than most people can do for her. I love her and my life would be incomplete without her." he said softly, his intense eyes boring into Tohma. "Please accept that and if you can't then, please, just leave us alone so we can be happy together. For me."
Tohma's face fell and his lips pulled into a thin line. They stared intensely for a moment before Ryuichi turned away.
"I have to find Mio, I could never forgive myself if I lost her now."
Watching Ryuichi weave his way through the crowd, Tohma frowned. He felt like he was losing his best friend now, they'd never be the same again. It was hard letting go; it was almost as if the brunette had taken a piece of Tohma himself as he walked away. A gentle hand on his shoulder shocked him back into reality and he looked over his shoulder to see a still slightly tipsy Noriko leaning her head against his back.
"Yoo can't keep him forever, Tohma-kun." She said softly, slurring only a bit. "He needs to grow up sometime.."
"I know, but I don't think I'm ready for him to leave me yet, Noriko-chan. I wish...just not yet."
~__________________________________________~
Mio hiccuped as she stared out the window, her sad reflection staring back at her. The blonde at her side exhaled the smoke form his cigarette and tossed it out the window, keeping his amber colored eyes locked on the road. Another hiccup sounded from Mio and he sighed.
"Stop hiccuping!" He instructed harshly.
Jumping slightly at her companions sudden speech, Mio hiccuped a few times rapidly and slightly louder before she feel silent again. Her watery green eyes looked at him with confusion before she sniffled again.
"I think you scared them away." She whispered, looking back out her window.
The orphanage came into view and as they pulled up, Yuki stopped the car. They sat there for a moment, in complete silence. Finally Yuki let out a sigh and leaned back in his seat, letting his head fall back against it. Running a hand through messy blonde tresses he looked over at the child with him.
"Would you like to talk about it?" he asked monotonously, already knowing the answer.
"No,"
"Was it Ryuichi? He didn't hurt you did he?"
"No," Mio sniffled, tears building up again. "He would -never- hurt me....Or at least, that's what I thought."
Covering her face with her small hands, Mio's body racked with silent sobs. Yuki'd never been one for comforting others, not ever. He was always to shy or afraid he's say something stupid and nowadays people who cried grated on his nerves. However, given the circumstances he couldn't bring himself to tell the poor child to "suck it up and move on". Instead he unbuckled his seat belt and leaned over the seat to tentatively bring the child in for a hug. Mio sucked in a shaky breath before throwing her arms around Yuki and burrowing her face into his chest.
"He said he was going to take me back, Yuki-ojisan." she cried. "He said he couldn't take it anymore and he was taking me back."
The novelist vaguely wondered how he got the title of uncle, but pushed it aside and comfortingly rubbed the girl's back in small circular patterns. Mio's sobs began to lessen as Yuki softly stroked her back and whispered to her calmly until he breathing became normal and she merely sniffled.
"Why doesn't anyone love me, Yuki?" she whispered, sniffling again. "Why doesn't anybody want me to be theirs? Am I never going to be loved, Yuki- ojisan?"
"Mio..." Yuki began as he heaved a great sigh. "Sakuma-san does love you, more than you could know, I'm sure. And-"
"But how?! How do you know what he feels? Did he tell you!? Then how-"
"Shhshhh..." he said calmly, putting a finger to her lips.
He pulled back so he could look at her and with as much tenderness as he could possible muster he cup her face within his hands and gently stroked her cheek with his thumbs. A small smile graced his face and his amber eyes locked with emerald.
"He loves you and he would never do anything to hurt you. I know, because it's evident every time he's with you. He does care and he does want you, the only reason he would ever hurt you is if it was for your own good. Sakuma-san must have had a reason for this, I'm sure of it." the writer spoke, eyes still locked. "Even if he didn't love you Mio, Migel would still love you, Shuichi would still love you and....deep down somewhere in this bitter heart, I know I love you too."
A single tear slipped form her brilliantly colored eyes, but not like the ones before them. It was a happy tear which Yuki wiped away gently for her, kissing her forehead afterwards.
"I-I love you too, Yuki-ojisan. Thank you for everything." she said giving him a final hug.
They broke off their embrace and Mio went to open her door. She stepped out and to her surprise so did Yuki. Looking at him oddly she rubbed her eyes. Yuki came around the car and bent down, pulling Mio up into his arms. Pulling away slightly to look at him as he carried her, Mio sniffled.
"Yuki-ojisan? What are you doing? You don't have to take me in, I can go by my-"
"Actually," he interrupted. "I have some business here to finish with Lydia. An early birthday present for Shuichi if you will...That is a birthday/Christmas/Easter gift anyway." he added the last part under his breath.
Mio smiled sadly and relaxed against him as they came to the door of the dumpy old orphanage. Even if her dream wasn't coming true, perhaps Migel's would if Yuki meant what she hoped he did.....
~_____________________________~
Shuichi glanced at his watch, pausing in his enticing dances for just a moment to make sure he wasn't running late. His koibito said he would pick him up, so Shuichi didn't want to make him wait. Making a small noise he tapped the redhead who had been dancing behind him with an attractive blonde girl on the shoulder. The redhead, none other than Nakano Hiroshi, turned around and grinned at his friend.
"Hai, Shu? What's up?" he asked, turning to face him.
"For one thing you should probably tell busty back there that your seeing somebody," Shuichi grinned, pointing at the blonde eagerly awaiting Hiro to finish talking. "Secondly I wanted to say goodbye, Yuki should be here soon, so I better get ready."
Hiro grinned sheepishly and scratched the back of his head. "I'll tell her..eventually." He laughed. "Well, I'll see you around, Shuichi. Call me if you need anything, alright?"
"Right!" Shuichi nodded, winking at his friend before dashing away through the crowd.
He made his way quickly to the entrance of the ballroom and scanned the crowd for his blonde bishounen. Yuki was nowhere in sight however, a certain idol of his was. Ryuichi was headed towards the exit himself, his face showing absolute concern and fear. Surprised by this look Shuichi pushed his way over to Ryuichi and gentle put a hand on the vocalist's shoulder to stop him.
"Sakuma-san?" Shuichi asked. "What's going on?"
The brunette looked at Shuichi through intense sapphire eyes for a moment before frowning deeply. He turned to face Shuichi, but kept his eyes downcast.
"It's Mio, I sort of said..I said I was taking her back and..." he paused. "She told me she hated me and ran off."
"Nani?!"
Ryuichi looked up at Shuichi, the pain still evident in his eyes as he did so and took Shuichi's hand in his.
"Somebody said they saw Mio with a tall blonde man and I figured maybe it was Eiri-san. Do you know if Eiri-san was here or not?" Ryuichi asked eagerly.
"Yeah, Yuki was coming to pick me about now, it could have been him." Shuichi nodded, trying to sooth the man's nerves. "Do you have any idea where Mio would want Yuki to take her?"
Ryuichi paused for a while, still scanning the crowds absently as he thought. As the strawberry haired boy watch him he couldn't help, but feel sorry for him. Mio had been his whole world since he got her, Shuichi could only imagine the chaos his world was in now without her. That and those three small words hurt very much, Shuichi knew from experience. 'I hate you' was never a very encouraging or easy thing to let go of, even when you did know they didn't mean what they had said.
"Maybe," Ryuichi began, unable to keep the anxiety from his words. "She's back at your place or probably the orphanage, I should look there first."
Nodding affirmatively Shuichi pat Ryuichi's shoulder comfortingly, flashing an encouraging smile at his idol.
"Alright, let's go, er, I hope you have a car......."
Ryuichi tilted his head, "Shuichi......Don't you want to stay at the party?"
"Well sure, it'd be fun, but my friend is in need! I can't just leave you alone, especially when your in such a mess, besides all that.....I promised you I'd help you, didn't I?" he said smiling at Ryuichi.
The brunette looked at his friend and smiled weakly before throwing his arms around him in a brief hug. He dug around for his keys and brought them out, nodding to Shuichi.
"Ok, let's go."
~_________________________~
Lydia looked highly surprised to see both Yuki and Mio at her door so late in the night. She moved to the side and bustled them in, fussing over how they were going to miss sleep and be groggy tomorrow. Upon seeing Mio's puffy 'I've-just-cried-my-heart-out' eyes she held her chest as if she were having a heart attack.
"Mary, mother of Jesus!" she gasped. "What's happened to the poor thing? Mercy me, so this is a heart-attack!"
The old woman fanned herself with her hand and looked up at the tall blonde for answers. Yuki continued to hold Mio in his arms and sighed.
"It's nothing to worry about, Lydia-san." Yuki assured her, his eyes saying a harsher message of 'don't you dare ask'. "All that you must know is that things didn't exactly work out like they'd planned them to."
"Good Heavens, I guess not! She looks like she's been through a living Hell, poor lass." the woman fussed, even though it wasn't quite so serious.
"I'm going to go lay Mio down and get the boy while I'm at it." Yuki said, brushing past the woman to the stairs that led to the children's room.
Lydia bustled up behind him, muttering under her breath as she went.
"So late at night, can't it wait 'til mornin', Mr. Eiri?" she asked, sounding impatient.
"Migel won't mind," Mio piped up, looking back at Lydia over Yuki's shoulder. "He'll be happy that eh was woken up for something like this."
Lips pulled into a thin line to keep from protesting, Lydia nodded and turned away towards the backroom to get the papers they needed ready. Yuki took Mio up the stairs and she directed him to the older kids' sleeping area where she and Migel slept. Mio's bed was right beside Migel's and the boy was already sleeping peacefully, a book opened up on his chest. Setting Mio down on her bed, Yuki turned to Migel and took the book, closing it quietly as he set it aside. Migel stirred slightly and Yuki gently shook his shoulders.
"Mmh, Yuki?" Migel asked, not even opening his eyes. "Why are you here?"
Yuki stopped a moment, wondering how the boy knew it was him, but quickly shrugged it off and sat down on his bedside. As he sat, Migel moved his head to Yuki's lap, cuddling up against him with a small smile.
"This is such a nice dream, please don't wake me." he whispered, smile still lingering on his lips.
The novelist watched him silently, unsure of what to do for a moment. His hands went to his hair out of habit and brushed it away from his young face. The bed shifted again and Mio peered over his shoulder at her sleeping friend.
"Don't ask me how he does it, but he always knows who's there." she whispered, looking at Yuki with a weak smile. "Do me a favor and take care of him, would you? Migel deserves a good life."
"Of course." Yuki whispered, carefully lifting the boy into his arms.
He got to his feet, Migel adapting and wrapping his arms around the writer's shoulders naturally. Mio watched them go and Yuki turned back before he left the room.
"I'm sorry things didn't work out, Mio, but you know your always welcome with Shuichi and I." he said, leaving the room of slumbering children.
Mio smiled slightly, "Heh, I guess that's something." she whispered.
~__________________________~
Under any other circumstances, Shuichi would have been squealing with joy and chanting, 'Faster, Ryuichi, go faster!', but alas these were very serious times and no such joy was needed. Ryuichi was speeding along the busy streets of Tokyo, weaving through the traffic in a hazardous manner. Shuichi didn't mind nor, apparently, did Ryuichi. At one point they had even been going the wrong way down a one way street, but like before, Shuichi didn't mind in the slightest. When the orphanage did finally come into view, Ryuichi slowed and squinted ahead.
"Hey, that's Yuki's car!" Shuichi piped up, pointing to the vehicle parked by the curb.
Nodding, Ryuichi pulled over across the street and turned the car off slowly. After that the pair sat in total silence before Shuichi muster up enough courage to ask:
"Eh, Ryuichi? Why aren't you getting out?"
"I-I......." he started softly, eyes locked on the steering wheel before him.
"You what, Ryuichi?" Shuichi asked, looking at the man with concern.
Ryuichi looked over at Shuichi with a sad face and lowered his eyes.
"What if she doesn't want to see me Shuichi? I betrayed her trust and I-"
"That's not true, Sakuma-san!" Shuichi interrupted putting his hands on his idol's shoulders to shake him a bit. "That's not true at all! You told Mio you couldn't promise her anything and you were only doing what you thought was best for her. You just need to let her know why you said what you said! She'll just have to forgive you then, I know I would!"
Ryuichi blinked at the strawberry haired man oddly and Shuichi blushed slightly from bursting out like that. After a moment of blushing and staring, Ryuichi grinned slightly. Then, unexpectedly the brunette pulled Shuichi in for a glomp.
"Shuichi is the best!" he cheered.
Pulling back he ruffled his mop of pink hair and dashed out of the car towards the porch. Shuichi sat in shock for a moment before snapping out of it and bounding after his god. When Ryuichi reached the door, he shot straight past Yuki and Migel straight to Lydia. Bowing deeply he took her hands in his.
"Lydia-san, is Mio hear? I need to see her right away! If I don't then I may never be able to tell her how much I care about her and love her and that I never meant all those things I said and that I want her to come back and be my daughter forever and ever and ever until the die that I die!" Ryuichi said in one breath.
Lydia blinked rapidly n surprise and looked absolutely flustered by the outburst. Then a small smile pulled across her lips and she laughed lightly.
"Mr. Sakuma, that was lovely. Now I dunna know what's been goin' on 'round 'ere, but I think if ye tell Mio what ye just told me, things will be better. She's up in her room, the one on the right an she's in the second to last bed in the left row." Lydia said with a nod. "Now go on then and then meet me in the backroom, I'm assuming we have some business to finish up."
Ryuichi nodded happily and took off up the stairs, slowing down only when he remembered that the kids were trying to sleep. He crept softly into the room and looked around at all the sleeping faces of the children. Another sad smile came to his features as he looked at them all and then tiptoed his way towards Mio's bed.
"Mio-chan?" he whispered, peering over at the bed.
Much to his surprise the bed was empty and still made. A sudden panic kicked in and Ryuichi glanced around at the other beds. Where could Mio be? He'd gone to the right room and this was the bed Lydia said wasn't it? As he turned his head he heard a soft whisper in the bed beside him.
"Pssst, hey down here!" came a tiny voice.
Looking down Ryuichi spotted the same blonde girl from the first time he'd met Mio at the orphanage, hiding under her blankets with her teddy and a flashlight. Her bright eyes looked at him intensely and a small smile lit her face.
"I know where she is and I just might tell you, too."
~________________________________~
Shuichi arrived only minutes after Ryuichi had to the door and looked innocently confused at Yuki who stood there holding a half asleep Migel in his arms. Tilting his head he opened the screen door and allowed Yuki outside, the novelist shutting the door behind him.
"Yuki---?" Shuichi began.
"Shh, you're going to wake him." the writer mumbled, beginning off the porch and down the walkway through the yard.
Still quite confused, Shuichi stood there for a second before fumbling after them. Catching up to Yuki he walked backwards so he could looked at him in the face.
"But Yuki, what about Lydia? Did she say we could keep him overnight-"
"Sh."
Falling silent again Shuichi stopped dead in his tracks and the writer continued on to his car. Turning to look at his lover's back completely bewildered, Shuichi pondered.
'Why would Yuki want to get Migel so late at night?' he asked hismelf.
Yuki reached the car and unlocked the backseat, setting Migel in and buckling him in safely. Panting slightly from sprinting over, Shuichi waited until Yuki shut the door the put his hands on his lover's shoulders and stop him firmly. He gave him an annoyed look and stood on his tiptoes so he was almost the same height as the blonde.
"Why didn't you tell me you want to pick up Migel? I wouldn't have gone to the party then!" the younger man snapped. "And it's so late, didn't Lydia have anything to say about this? I mean he's not even-"
"Ours." Yuki finished, but stated as well.
Shuichi blinked, eyes going slightly wide for a moment, his brain on over load trying to figure out what this meant. He let his hands fall to his sides and tilted his head.
"Ours?" Shuichi repeated.
The blonde just nodded and opened the passenger door for Shuichi to get in. However upon looking back up at the usually genki vocalist, Yuki couldn't resist a small smile.
"Ours." he confirmed before walking round the driver's seat.
Shuichi's whole face split into the hugest smile he could muster and he dashed into the car as Yuki entered. Engulfing his lover into a giant hug he squealed quietly. Upon pulling back he kissed all over Yuki's face, stopping to nibble on his lover's earlobe a bit. Once he stopped he beamed at the novelist.
"Yuki, you're the best boyfriend ever!" he cheered, delight radiating out of every pore of his body. "I can't believe you did this for me--for us! We'll be so happy together and-"
Migel stirred, mumbling something in his sleep. Both Yuki and Shuichi glanced back at him and Shuichi grinned, looking at his koibito out of the corner of his eyes slyly.
"Aw, isn't he so cute, Yuki!" he whispered excitedly. "I could tell that you liked him since day one!"
Putting his keys into the ignition, Yuki snorted. "Quiet, baka or you'll wake -our- kid."
For once Shuichi obeyed and leaned his head on the seat, staring back at Migel. He hoped vaguely that everything worked out for his friend, but was too happy about their new addition to think too clearly about anything. All he knew that when he was with Migel he was one of the happiest people in all of Japan, but now that Migel was theirs he could have died the happiest guy in all the world.......
~______________________~
The swings creaked in the chilly night breeze, gently rocking it's inhabitance. The girl's tiny feet brushed the ground only slightly as it did and the cool air against her skin made her shiver. A single tear rolled down her soft cheek and she sniffled.
"That what happens, I should have known." she scolded herself. "You get your hopes up and-"
"Then that person let's you down, I know the feeling." came a familiar voice, floating through the chilly air.
Mio's head snapped up and she saw Ryuichi standing before her, smiling a sad smile. Glaring just a bit she sniffled and turned her head. A sigh sounded from the man and then the swing set creaked as a new weight was added. There was a lull of silence for a minute where neither spoke, but soon it was broken.
"What do you want now?" Mio asked, sniffling under control.
"I want a lot of things right now....I want to go back and take those words that I said away, I want to hug you and kiss you and ask you to forgive me for being so stupid and most of all I want you to come back and stay with me.....forever." he whispered, shuffling his feet on the dirt below them.
Looking up, she cast the vocalist a sidelong look from her swing. He looked so sad and lost sitting there on that swing. Shutting her eyes tightly, Mio balled her fists in her lap.
"No you don't, you said you wanted to get rid of me and-"
"Only because I thought that you'd be better off without me, Mio-chan. I thought if I just pretended that I had never entered your life that you could go back to the way things were before and you'd be happier.....without me." he explained, looking over at her earnestly. "I didn't think I could do this and as time went by I realized that no matter how much I try I can't give you all that you need from me. All I can promise and I all I can give you is a vow that I will love you and care for you as best as I possibly can. I know I may not be prefect, but I want to try.......if you'll have me."
Jumping to her feet, Mio stood before Ryuichi, head bowed covering the expression on her face. He hands were clenched in fists at her side and her body trembled just a bit. Ryuichi wondered if perhaps she was going to slug him one, but to his surprise she looked up at him with a teary eyed smile and gave a sort of sobbing laugh.
"After all we've been through..? How could you ever think that you were less than perfect for me, tousan?" she whispered.
Ryuichi's breath caught and his vision blurred slightly as happy tears came to his eyes. Laughing a bit, Mio threw her arms around him in a tight hug and hiccuped slightly. Standing up he lifted Mio up into his arms and twirled around with her. Laughing together they stopped and continued their embrace. As she pulled back to look at him she smile a true smile. Brushing a few stray tears from her face, Ryuichi kissed her forehead gently.
"Tousan," Mio sighed. "My tousan."
The vocalist smiled and nodded lightly, running his fingers affectionately down her pale cheek. Leaning into the embrace Mio fell limp against him and sighed.
"Promise me you'll love me forever." She whispered to him. "Please."
"Forever," he said swiftly with certainty in his voice. "Forever and ever, Mio-chan."
The moon and stars as his witness, Ryuichi swore with all his soul that no matter what, he would never doubt his heart and feelings ever again. He vowed that he would love Mio forever...and ever..
________________________________________~
Wow, it's actually over. I'm going to add a sort of epilogue that's leading into the sequel (which is very different from MAMS and centers Migel more), but other than that..it's all over for little Mio and Ryuichi. *Sigh* I had such a great time writing this story and I wouldn't trade any strenuous moment of it. :) Thanks to all my reviewers and loyal readers, you guys are truly the inspiration to my work. I could never thank you enough. And with this said and done I bid you ado..at least until next time anyway. *wink* Thanks again! - Nori