Disclaimer: Gravitation is the property of Sony and Maki Murakami and X Japan owns the titles.
Miscast
It wasn't too long after Ryuichi's muddled exit of Tokyo International Airport that Suguru was becoming more anxious, waiting for Tohma and Shuichi to follow the rest of the group in suit and arrive at the van where everyone was waiting. Constantly he was checking his wristwatch. Not much time had passed, but the teen's out of the ordinary edginess was making the ticking seconds feel like minutes. When he wasn't looking at the time, he was glancing at the various automatic double doors across the way. Leaning against the closed rear baggage doors with him, Hiro was noticing the keyboardist's impatience, and it was making him unsettled as well.
"I'm not risking a cold with Ayaka-chan in town. I'm waiting inside for Shuichi," Hiro declaimed, rubbing his arms as he stepped away from their spot, circuitously trying to convince him the chilly weather would warrant him to wait inside the vehicle for his cousin too. Suguru made no move or comment, only giving a brief nod of the head, continuing to watch for Tohma. While he wasn't an avid talker, Suguru appeared to be in a world of his own.
"Aren't you coming?" Hiro asked, trying again with an added sidestep in front of his line of site to grab his attention.
"I'll be right in," Suguru vouched with a passing smile, taking another glance at his watch, seeming to do it unintentionally. "I'm not cold." When he looked back to Hiro, he spotted the apparent interest in his behavior on his face. "Nakano-san?"
"You were the one person I thought was worry-free, but ever since we landed in Tokyo, you've been solemn," Hiro remark, his brows furrowing together, as he eyed his fellow band mate's clothes. "You keep checking the time, and since we've left the bathroom, you've changed some of your clothes. " The strange gaze he was giving him suddenly went bright, and Hiro began to smile, holding a laugh behind his clenched teeth and causing Suguru's grave face to get flustered.
"What!" Suguru interjected in alarm, looking down at himself and then over his shoulders, straightening the long, azure wool coat he was sporting over a simple magenta and slacks. "It doesn't look silly, does it?"
"Oh no, it's fine," Hiro guaranteed, patting his hands in the air to pacify him. "You look very nice."
"Then why are you looking at me with that goofy grin?" Suguru questioned on the defense.
Clearing his throat to cease his snicker, Hiro shrugged his shoulders. "Well, with those clothes and the haircut you got the day before our flight was diverted to Osaka, you kind of look like Seguchi-san." Suguru brushed his coat once more, and then observed his reflection in the car window, touching his freshly trimmed, dark hair, trying to envision it blond. Though it was small, Hiro was successful enough to get Suguru to crack a smile.
"I do look like Tohma," he agreed with mix mirth and complaint.
"All
you need is the hat," joked Hiro. "I know you probably don't want to hear
that Fujisaki-kun, considering you want to separate yourself from Tohma
professionally--."
"Not
necessarily," Suguru cut short with a sigh, trying to hold on to his alleviated
mood. "Besides, maybe my parents will think the same thing and be happy."
"Ah!" Hiro interposed with illuminated understanding. "So that explains the look and why you're waiting for Tohma. He's escorting you to your family's home. It's been a while since they've seen you in person. You don't seem very glad to be seeing them. Besides, I don't see why someone who chose to enter the music profession would even care about what his parents would think of his clothes."
The obvious comment made Suguru laugh. "I'm not out here moping, if that is what you're implying. I'm making my appearance as fine as possible and showing up on time, making sure that my mother and father won't have any reason to deride me, but if Tohma and Shuichi don't get here soon, they just might. Standing in this parking lot may be the last moment's peace I'll get. I've finished high school early and come home from an exhausting tour, but that doesn't mean the Fujisaki estate will allow their only son to work on his 'pipe dream'," he stated flatly, not appearing insulted by expressing his parents thoughts.
"That sounds harsh," Hiro remarked perplexed. "Tohma does the same thing you do, and even got you to where you are today, but they are proud of him?"
"He's also the president of his own record company," he reminded. "Having a business and a music career makes him responsible and intelligent. I'm used to it. They say that in order to motivate me into doing more than rock and pop music. I don't let it get to me. They're proud, though they don't say it. It's one of the reasons why I'm waiting out here for Tohma."
"I'm sure they are proud of you. You're a whiz at our arrangements," complimented the tall brunette. "Now come on. Let's wait inside. Seems the one thing Shuichi and Tohma have in common is that they like to keep people waiting, as long as it isn't each other." Suguru didn't express his thanks as Hiro rounded the van, opened the sliding door and disappeared inside; however, he was grateful to his words.
Though youngest of the group, Fujisaki Suguru felt more comfortable with Bad Luck and its crew than anyone his own age. When his cousin Tohma assigned him to the duo rock band with personalities that were far from like his own, he questioned not only if Bad Luck would ever be a success with the haphazard work ethic of Shuichi, but also if he could fit in with the close friendship the singer and Hiro shared. The fear of the third wheel didn't stop him from joining, but he used to think about it all the time. And where Suguru was serious, Shuichi was laid back and habitually unpredictable. He didn't want to be the kid who was given an unearned job by his famous Nittle Grasper relative or the third wheel.
Many long and hard months later, Suguru was returning from a very lucrative tour with Bad Luck, a group he called his friends, though he didn't like discussing his family with them.
Personal relationships with his family were not close. Being back in Tokyo wasn't as exciting to him as it was to everyone else. Seeing his mother and father felt more like an obligation than a homecoming. It wasn't that he didn't love his family, but he felt more comfortable in a studio with his synthesizer than around the dining room table. Tohma was the nearest thing to a family member he could relate to, but rarely did they ever spend time together. However, for now, if waiting for his cousin gave him the time he needed for a quick moment's peace, it was worth it.
Reaching into the pocket of his coat, he pulled out a yellow Post-It note upon which was jotted a simple note to himself: ASK TOHMA FOR HELP. Reading the reminder again, it wasn't actually help Suguru desired, but a welcomed distraction. Leaving his spot, Suguru quickly crumbled the paper in his hand and put it back in his pocket, letting the frustrations that were rising out with a sigh.
"I
should pay for the dry cleaning," came the voice of Shuichi, stopping Suguru's
leave. His leader appeared to be staring at a blemish on Tohma's
sleeve. "It was sort of my fault that the coffee stained your coat."
"Nonsense. You need only worry about yourself starting now," replied Tohma with eyes face front, waving to Suguru, causing Shuichi's head to snap up.
"Fujisaki-kun?" Shuichi quizzed as if surprised. "What are you doing out here?"
"We've couldn't have taken so long that you were going to leave without us," Tohma jested.
"I was waiting for the two of you obviously," he replied. "Leave us stranded while you go on a caffeine hunt, Cousin? You didn't bring back enough for the group I see."
"Feel free to hold this then," Tohma retorted, holding out the coffee cup in his hand. "I've got to get whatever Shindou-san has in this backpack off of me anyway."
"Why does everyone complain about that?" Shuichi asked, grabbing the handles to the rear doors and tugging them open. "Only things that are in there are a couple of shirts, some games, my cell phone, stuff from the concerts, souvenirs from the places we toured, my wallet--"
"You
and Ryuichi do share like habits," Tohma cheerfully interrupted, sliding the
bag off his shoulders with a groan and into Shuichi's waiting hands so he could
carelessly toss his things above the others' luggage.
"Hey
Shuichi!" Ryuichi's voice called over the stack. "Kumagorou saved you a
seat. We want to hear all about your trip."
Suguru watched as Shuichi smiled lightly, seeming to have calmed down much since the last time he saw him. "He'll be right in, but he's had a long night, so don't bother Shindou-san too much, Ryuichi," Tohma said, answering for the vocalist which Suguru found a bit out of place. Closing the doors, Shuichi ran past Suguru and into the van. Following him with his eyes, the teen wondered why Shuichi wasn't protesting Tohma like usual?
"We're all set to depart!" Tohma announced.
"It's about time!" everyone heard K comment from where he sat in the passenger's seat up front near the driver.
"Want me to leave you here, Cousin?" Tohma asked, sidling up next to Suguru, taking him away from his thoughts and taking back his coffee. "I doubt your parents will be very pleased with me if I did."
With
the mention of his family, suddenly Suguru was back to his original
frustration. "Tohma, you are the one who is causing me to be late with
your sidetrack. You know as well as I how they can be with their schedules.
They've engrained into me the importance of being on time."
"Do have faith," Tohma replied, passing by him.
"Faith?"
Suguru repeated.
"Yes,
faith," Tohma recurred. "I told your parents we wouldn't be arriving for
another hour. I know you and I should be the first ones to be dropped
off; however, I thought perhaps you might want to be last. We've been
requested to attend breakfast. It should give you plenty of time to
summon an appetite."
Watching the impeccable man raise an eyebrow of satisfaction before entering
the van, Suguru shook his head with a huff. His cousin's way of caring
could only be defined as perplexing, even more so than his mother and
father. Never was Tohma an evil villain or selfish individual. He
always cared about everything as a man who was knowledgeable and decent.
However, Tohma had a tendency to care too much, or perhaps it would be better
stated to say the leadership quality inside him would possess him to instruct
and rule over people's problems. This wasn't often. Usually Tohma
was generous and understanding, and this tiny favor he did for Suguru made the
young man relax with content. Briskly following after him, Suguru
was glad that this time he was getting the better half of Tohma's attention and
not his lesson on how things should be.
* * *
Soon into the drive, Suguru was bored, leaning against the armrest, staring out the window to watch the passing cars and buildings as they made their way into the city of Tokyo. While he was thankful for the delay the cousin sitting in the row of seats in front of him arranged, he didn't have much to do. Everyone was into his own conversations, and while none of his band mates would object to him participating, Suguru wasn't interested in joining, to busy thinking of the Post-It note in his pocket. He had hesitated to this point to ask Tohma about his suggestion, fearing a rejection he was most likely to get. So while he lingered in hopes of finding a way to word what he wanted to ask, he listened in on Ryuichi and Shuichi's talk they were having next to him.
"While
you were away, Noriko-chan and I helped Tohma redecorate the studios at NG,"
Ryuichi beamed. "Noriko-chan has excellent taste. She made me stand
on ladders for a very long time to adjust paintings and frames. She got
very upset and yelled at the deliverymen when they were late, and even
threatened to throw Kumagorou off the roof if I didn't stop painting funny
portraits of her with the lavender paint. You know how she can be."
Suguru knew exactly what he meant. Ukai Noriko was the hottest female keyboardist he'd known, both in her beauty and temper. She could be very nice and innocent, unless you crossed her, and she'd become dramatic and livid. It wasn't uncharacteristic for her or Ryuichi to be helping at NG Records. They were successful musicians, but they also helped Tohma make the company what it was today. Noriko could sometimes act like she was just as much as in charge as Tohma. It wasn't wise to upset her.
"Yeah when she tried to pay us a visit in Kyoto while making arrangements, one of the security men didn't recognize who she was, and when he refused to let her backstage, she almost attacked him after a shout fest," Hiro added, apparently leaning over the back of the row of seats he shared with Sakano and Tohma to join in. "We could hear her all the way in the dressing room. Shuichi had to almost tackle her to pull her backstage."
Shuichi made a brief laugh; the first thing Suguru heard him say this entire time in the van since removing the sunglasses and returning them to Hiro. "She then tried hitting me for doing so."
"Noriko-chan and I think you'll like the new changes we made to the hallways," Ryuichi continued. "We put up a lot of NG's new artists awards and posters, including number one band, Bad Luck!"
"Sounds great Sakuma-san," Hiro remarked, "but with Ayaka-chan in town, I'll have to wait on that."
"That's okay," Ryuichi assured. "Tohma says you've had a busy tour, so I understand. But I do hope you'll come by sometime during your break. Nittle Grasper goes on tour soon, so I should be around working if you do stop by."
That's when Suguru's ear perked up. He had forgotten that in only a week, Nittle Grasper would be doing a short tour of Japan's major cities. Once Bad Luck's hype lulled down and they started their vacation for the month, Tohma had decided to keep NG's buzz alive with his band; the only other artists currently that rivaled Bad Luck. Suguru had to ask Tohma his question now, not only because he would be gone, but also because this would suit his timing perfectly.
However, as his friends were having their conversation, Sakano was occupying Tohma's attention, though unlike the three to his left, Tohma looked very uninterested in what the producer had to say. He was droning on and on about Bad Luck's various demographics in the cities they performed and mistakes along the way. In short: business. Turquoise eyes occasionally flashed glances over his shoulder to the trio in the back row, while Tohma nodded along and made 'un' sounds in response, but Suguru knew Tohma distasted work at, by the watch on his wrist, 9:29AM, and when the day was early and he wasn't on the clock (he was here only by what seemed like a request from Yuki Eiri), Suguru knew his cousin didn't like to delve into work. Yet there was one other thing Suguru knew well about Tohma, as did most. Never would the elegant business savvy man let another dominate a conversation that disinterested him. Tohma was kind and let others talk, but he never lost his assertiveness, and would politely stop anyone who tried to do anything he found displeasing. And yet he let Sakano continue. Only when his cousin was distracted by something would he let that happen. Yes, Tohma was distracted, but Suguru wasn't sure by what. The glances warranted Suguru to come to the rescue.
Clearing his throat, he leaned towards the two. "I'm sorry to interrupt, Sakano-san, but I need to speak with my cousin," Suguru chimed in. "Family matters, you see."
"Oh
dear," Tohma interjected. "Excuse me Sakano-san."
"Yes Sir," Sakano answered understandingly.
Shifting away from the producer to meet Suguru face-to-face closer towards the window, Tohma smiled and muttered, "Thank you"
"I know you didn't need saving," Suguru voiced, resting his arms on the back of the seat. "You were allowing that to go on. Care to tell me what's on your mind?"
"Being twice your age allows me the right not to discuss that with you," Tohma responded in a whisper, leaning an arm on the backrest.
Taking
that as a clear sign Tohma wasn't going to tell him, Suguru shrugged his
shoulders. "That's okay, because I wanted to share what has been on my
mind."
"Oh?" he said with interest.
"Ever since we've been on tour, I've been working on a separate project of my own," Suguru began, his smile already bright with fulfillment. "I've been working on my own arrangement, well, more like a composition really. It's really good, I think."
"You work very hard, so I don't doubt that," Tohma commented.
While those were nice words, Suguru was becoming a bit nervous the closer he got to his point. "It's not finished. Not yet. It has the potential to be a lot more than played on the piano. I think it would be an excellent song as an opening, and with Nittle Grasper going on tour soon--"
"You
would give this piece to me?" Tohma butted in, wearing a face of
graciousness. "Suguru, your compositions are important to you."
"Yes, so I was thinking we could work on it together, since it isn't finished."
"A collaboration is what you are getting at," Tohma concluded, his head tilting to the side in thought. Suguru didn't see any immediate negative response, and the fact that he was thinking about it was a good thing. He was actually taking the time to consider his proposal, a gloved finger rubbing the dimple in his chin.
"Something tells me that there is more to this offer, and that something is your parents," he answered.
"How clairvoyant you are Cousin," Suguru grinned, not attempting to hide behind false pretenses. "But I have been working on this for sometime, and I really think--"
"Don't
worry," Tohma assured lightly. "Cheer up. With work and nights,
you'll have plenty of time to work on your new composition. I won't stop
you from working or having access to NG facilities, but it is only proper to
stay at your family's estate instead of working more than you have to with
me. Mika and I can't house you this time."
"Because the break is too long, I know," Suguru sighed in defeat, already slumping backwards into his seat. All along he knew this wasn't going to work out the way he wanted. Tohma was going to be at breakfast with him, but then he would be departing afterwards, leaving Suguru to spend quality time with his family, or alone. Quality time was a vague term meaning how breakfast went would determine the rest of the day.
"I can't collaborate with you at this time," he said suddenly, stopping Suguru's descent, "but I haven't rejected it. Your work is incomplete, after all. I have a suggestion."
"A suggestion?" repeated Suguru, finding something about the situation turning odd. Tohma just made his views clear that he wasn't going to work with him before he leaves for his tour. What was he getting at?
"Shindou-san?" Tohma called, whose violet eyes left his group and skimmed over to the placid face of the caller. The look between them gave Suguru pause.
"Seguchi-san?" he acknowledged, pushing himself towards the edge of his seat, his seatbelt stretching with him as he leaned forward.
"It seems you are not the only one working on a song," he announced. Immediately Shuichi's eyes darted to Hiro, who was the only other person besides Tohma to know about his work until now. Suguru was surprised by the news, considering Shuichi usually wrote out of sudden inspiration, no matter the chaotic mess that he would cause others by being over deadline or having writer's block. Despite Tohma keeping his voice down, everyone else heard.
"Eh?" Sakano gasped, spinning around so fast to lean over his backrest. Everyone couldn't believe he hadn't given himself whiplash. "Shindou-kun? Is it true?"
"Well…yes but…" he muttered.
"What for? Are you sick? This isn't a farewell song is it?" panicked the producer. "Oh please don't do this to me, Shindou-kun?" The car hit a bump in the road and Sakano hit his head on the roof, forcefully sitting him back down in his seat.
"He stresses too much," Ryuichi commented.
"Breathe, Sakano-san!" pleaded Hiro to the man nursing the bump on his head. "Shuichi isn't doing anything severe."
"It's just a song," Shuichi explained. "I don't have any lyrics yet. Is it really so odd that I'm writing on my free time?"
"Yes," everyone answered in unison.
"That's harsh," he pouted.
Suguru
understood why his cousin exposed both of their projects, and honestly Suguru
wasn't terribly upset. If Tohma couldn't work with him, then someone else
could gladly save him from his boring home every so often, even if that someone
was Shuichi. "Shindou-san, we've never written a song between us. I
wouldn't mind working with you, unless this is a private matter."
"It was," Hiro stated firmly, glaring at Tohma.
"Nonsense," Tohma debated with narrow eyes. "Shindou-san has experience with the piano and compositions. They could surely collaborate. I think it would benefit both of them to spend time together outside of touring, while you are with Ayaka-san. It's something new; different; a change of pace. Is there some reason you are speaking for him?"
Suguru was picking up on a touch of hostility in both of their tones. "Um…I wasn't hinting at needing help. I've been fine working on my own. I brought this up not knowing--"
"I'll do it," Shuichi accepted, all eyes returning to him.
"What?" Hiro questioned.
"I think Seguchi-san is right," explained Shuichi. "I'd like to dabble in the melody. Besides, it might help me think of lyrics."
"Wonderful! It's settled then," Tohma proclaimed, shifting to face front in his seat, but briefly giving a warm smile over his shoulder to Suguru and then Shuichi.
"Shindou-san, it'll be great to work together, but are you sure?" asked Suguru, a tension he continued to feel making him question Shuichi.
"I'm sure, but I still want time to write, and we are on vacation," eluded Shuichi.
"Take your time," responded Suguru, taking the hint to his statement. "My family will be keeping me busy in the meantime."
"Thanks Fujisaki-kun," Shuichi said.
"Sir, we've arrive at our first stop," the driver announced to Tohma, as the van came to a stop. Looking out the window, Suguru noticed they had parked in front of a large, white apartment complex in the city. An expensive complex based off the distance between each unit and the large balconies on each floor.
"You're home, Shindou-san," Tohma said.
"Oh good," Shuichi replied quickly, unbuckling his seatbelt. Suguru pulled his legs back so he could pass, but Ryuichi grabbed the pink-haired singer back down in a tackle.
"Aw, you just got here!" he whined.
"I know Sakuma-san, but I will be seeing you soon," assured Shuichi.
"That's a promise, na no da," stated the friend, letting him go.
"I'll help you with your things," Hiro offered.
"No, you stay put Nakano-san," ordered K forcefully. "I said no more delays for us." With his guns returned to him, no one would dare chance disobeying him.
"Oh
wait Shindou-san!" exclaimed Suguru once Shuichi had a handle on the sliding
door, reaching into his coat pocket, revealing the scrunched yellow paper, the
eyes of the singer watching him closely. Uncrumpling the note, he looked
to the producer. "Sakano-san, may I borrow a pen?" Reaching into
his dress shirt pocket, he gave him what he asked, and Suguru flipped the paper
over to the glue side. Uncapping the pen and jotting quickly as to not
delay Shuichi any further, Suguru wrote a series of numbers. "Take this,
Shindou-san. It's my personal number. Call me when you are ready to
work."
"All right," Shuichi accepted, opening the door and stepping out. Suguru was content with how his request turned out. Going home didn't seem as bad of a situation, if Shuichi didn't decide to blow him off, which was always possible, especially with Yuki Eiri returning to Tokyo. Relaxing back into the extra space now available, he looked around to see Hiro, Ryuichi and K were busy rolling down their windows. On the other hand, Tohma reached for the handle of the door as if to close the door for Shuichi, but it was then he overheard something unusual.
"Get some sleep," Tohma whispered to Shuichi. "Do take care and don't forget what we talked about, Shindou-san." Shuichi nodded and went to retrieve his things from the back with the help of the driver, while Tohma pushed the sliding door into place. The words his cousin said didn't seem strange, but the seriousness in his tone and Shuichi's face was all too familiar, and suddenly Suguru was hoping his cousin wasn't doing anything to prove Hiro right, not that he could tell him anyway with everyone in the van. No, Suguru pushed it aside, for no one else had noticed and he wasn't prepared to distrust his cousin after the nice things he did for him.
With the slamming of the back doors and then the motor being restarted by the driver, the ebony van pulled away from the curb. Those who had rolled down their windows stuck their heads out, waving and shouting, "Goodbye Shuichi!"
It had been a long three months together, but now it was time to go home and get back to normal lives.
TO BE CONTINUED
Another chapter's done. REVIEW please. Suguru needed a turn in the spotlight. While not the most interesting character, I wanted to make him an intricate character in my story, perhaps making him more interesting. As a writer, I wouldn't put in all that information if it weren't going to be important to later chapters.
And FF.net has been giving me problems lately, screwing up my chapter orders and not letting me in at times. Bear with me…
Thanks to all who take the time to write reviews. I take what you write to me seriously, so feel free to express yourself, as long as you aren't flamers. Feel free to tell me any characters you wish to see or what you think is going exceptionally well in the story currently.
And to the following reviewers of chapter 5:
Psycho Setsuna: If K doesn't have his guns, he just isn't K!
Panatlantic: Tohma coaching Shu-chan is fun. He can't help it.
Purified Darkness: Look, I updated!
Yanagi-sen: I had a friend who visited Nagasaki, though now he's back in the USA. At the time I had started this chapter (it was months ago), he was telling me about his day and that the weather was mild (I've been using him to help me with my descriptions of Japan—God how I wish I could go), so I put it in my story. Then I got sick and hadn't been able to finish or post chapter five until recently. I completely forgot to update the places of interest. Please forgive me ^_^
One last thing: I have no one to edit for me, so please forgive the mistakes caused in my fan fic. I even made up a word (uncrumpling should be one though). I work on this story all day and type it up late at night. It's usually not until later that I find out my mistakes or become unhappy with a chapter. I have to give the readers what they want! No time to wait!
