By Anomay
Rating: PG-13 (for now, anyway)
Genre: Angst/Romance
Note: Gravitation does not belong to me. I'd like to thank Anahita and Genesis Grey for being my beta readers. Special thanks to Janette for helping me come up with a better summary.
Thanks for your reviews and your patience with me. Hopefully I can update more often from now on. ^_^ This story has nothing to do with Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne - I just happen to like the opening song very much.
Constructive criticism is very welcome, but of course, any kind of feedback is nice as well. Ok, enough babbling. Onto the show!
*~*~*
Chapter Four: Revelation
"You're Uesugi Tatsuha "Ryuichi said.
Tatsuha only nodded. At least Ryuichi hadn't forgotten his name yet. That was a good sign.
Tatsuha took a deep breath. His fingers played with the threads on a piece of fabric sitting on top of a broken cupboard. He had so many questions to ask, but he didn't know where to start. Besides, who gave him the rights to ask Sakuma Ryuichi anything? He barely knew this super-star. He was just a fanboy. Nothing more.
He didn't deserve to talk to him. He didn't deserve to stay in the same room with him. He didn't deserve to stay so close to him, breathe the same air, or even look directly into his eyes.
I'm sorry! Please forget what I said the other night! Ryuichi bowed like a salesperson welcoming customers in front of a retail store.
Tatsuha almost dropped dead on the floor. His head banged painfully against the corner of the cupboard.
Ouch! No it's ok, it's fine, it's perfectly ok, I wasn't mad or anything I was just upset and wanted to know why. Tatsuha winced and rubbed his sore spot. Please! Don't bow to me! You're making me all nervous if you want to apologize, I'd prefer a kiss actually what the hell am I saying? Really! It's fine, Sakuma-san! Look at me and we can talk! Please?
Face flushed scarlet, Ryuichi slowly got up and stared at Tatsuha. So you aren't mad at me? Really?
No! Of course not! How could I? Tatsuha started laughing nervously.
Thank goodness! What a relief! Kumagoro said I should say sorry because I was very rude to you that night. I shouldn't have acted that way. Ryuichi scolded his bunny and gave a playful punch on its head. It wasn't your fault.
Tatsuha wiped his forehead with a shirtsleeve, trying to ignore the pain on the back of his head. He felt dizzy, and the pain was clouding his consciousness. Can I ask why? His voice tailed on the last syllable a little longer than he intended.
Ryuichi held up Kumagoro and flopped its ears around like an electric fan. You reminded Ryu-chan of that scary, bad person that he doesn't get along with. You two are related after all.
Tatsuha could only blink. Shaking his head, he tried to concentrate. Somehow bothering Ryuichi didn't seem such a crime anymore. When his head felt like it was going to split in half soon, he didn't care so much for being a pain in the ass. He had to know.
Ryuichi covered up his bunny's mouth with both of his hands. Sheesh! No more! You said you wouldn't tell, Kumagoro! He looked at Tatsuha with pleading eyes. I don't want to talk about this. Can we just drop the whole thing?
There was no way Tatsuha could pretend nothing happened. But who could resist Ryuichi when he looked at you with that pair of bright innocent eyes?
Err – that was really nice of you to offer to play with the children. Tatsuha quickly changed the topic to something else.
Ryuichi beamed like a sunflower getting sunshine. It was fun! You know that girl with two pigtails? Her name is Karou and she's eight. She's like the sweetest thing ever, and she reminds me of Saki-chan. Ah, you know, Saki is Noriko's daughter. She's six. I'm her godfather.
She was too loud. She mistook me as my brother the last time we met, and she almost got me killed by his fans by screaming that Yuki Eiri was with her. It was really scary. Tatsuha shuddered at the memory. He knew better than to dye his hair blonde again. For the last time, he cursed whatever out there to give him and Eiri an almost identical face.
Ryuichi winked. Saki-chan is the nicest little girl you'll meet as long as you get on her good side. I haven't seen her for a while now. And you know the boy who is missing a front tooth earlier? He's Sousuke, and he likes to sing too!
Tatsuha couldn't help but smile. You really adore the children very much.
You bet! They're like family to me!
Tohma and Noriko-san are like family to you too, aren't they?
Yeah! You know Tohma and Nori-chan too? But of course, you are his brother-in-law. I always forget about that. You're nothing like Tohma though.
Tatsuha swallowed hard. Here it goes nothing, he thought. If you know I'm related to Seguchi, why do you say you hate one or all of my relatives then?
Ryuichi's face quickly lost its colour and his lips started to squirm. I thought we aren't going to talk about it anymore!
I never said that. Tatsuha felt his temper rising above the ceiling. His head was still bothering him as he grabbed the wall to steady himself. He glared at the floor like a stubborn child when his parents interrogated him for nicking food from a jar. He wouldn't crack until Ryuichi rewarded him with something better than sweets – the truth.
An unpleasant pause filled up the room until Ryuichi got up and crawled through the garbage on the floor. Well, we gotta go. Kumagoro and I had something planned ahead of time, so we'll talk to you later! Hopefully you'll come again next week! The kids loved you!
Tatsuha ran towards the only door in the room and blocked it with his back. No, I don't think so, Sakuma-san. He took a deep breath and wished to Buddha that his voice stayed steady for the rest of the speech. I don't need an apology. But don't you think you owe me an explanation?
Ryuichi tried to shove Tatsuha away from the door. Trust me, you don't wanna know. I said I'm sorry, isn't that good enough?
I won't be able to sleep for the rest of my life if you don't tell me! Tatsuha staggered towards Ryuichi, who backed off until they hit the wall. I have to know or
Tatsuha's words were cut off when he felt Ryuichi's soft breath brushed on his lips. Tatsuha gasped. He couldn't believe what was happening. Ryuichi was kissing him!
Hands wrapping around the slender shoulders, Tatsuha pulled the man into a tighter embrace by instinct. Ryuichi's lips felt so soft – like melted marshmallows and cream mixed together, only he tasted rougher around the corners. His body was warm and muscled, and it took every bit of self-control that the boy had to stand up straight and not be swept away.
By the time Tatsuha's brain decided to work again, Ryuichi was already at the door, giggling, far away from his body heat. The kiss started too suddenly, and it ended too quickly.
Tatsuha groaned in frustration.
Ryuichi chuckled. You got your kiss. Happy now? You can't ask me any more questions! See you next week!
Ryuichi quickly opened the door and slipped out. Just when Tatsuha was about to get up, Kumagoro's head suddenly poked back as if it had forgotten something. The stuffed bunny nodded to Tatsuha and said, you'd better show up next week or I'll cry! It too disappeared from sight.
Tatsuha couldn't help but laugh at their departure. Ouch. Touché. You win, Ryuichi.
*~*~*
Shindo Shuichi wasn't a terribly impatient person.
Living with Yuki Eiri for a year had taught him that, patience was indeed, a virtue. However, since he hadn't spent any quality time with his boyfriend for the longest time because of the gigantic workload that K and Sakano put him through for their upcoming CD album release, anyone could understand why he wasn't the best host around when an unannounced guest showed up at their home on that particular night.
Shuichi glared at the man sitting opposite of him and Eiri on the couch and pouted.
So, you wanted to know if Sakuma and I had crossed path before. You came to Tokyo just for this simple question. Eiri raised an eyebrow and smashed the cigarette butt into the already full ashtray on the coffee table. Have you ever heard of a household item called a phone before, by any chance?
Yeah, sorry for disturbing your perfectly peaceful evening. Come on! I had to ask you in person, because the answer is way too important to me! Tatsuha breathed in deeply before exclaiming. It's a matter of life and death!
Shuichi jumped up from the couch. I can answer for you! As far as I know, Yuki and Sakuma-san have never met before, and so, there's no chance in hell that they could have pissed off each other! Does that answer your question?
Tatsuha sighed in relief. He looked at Eiri. Is that true?
Eiri snorted. No, actually I have met him before.
Tatsuha tightened his fists. He forced himself to calm down. Losing his temper was the worst way to deal with Eiri. He could strangle Eiri after he knew how exactly Eiri had hurt Ryuichi.
Shuichi blinked and tugged at Eiri's shirtsleeve, apparently not happy that he got some detail about his boyfriend wrong. Shuichi thought he knew everything about his Yuki! He pouted more when Eiri ignored him.
We had met during Aneki's wedding. Didn't you remember? Well, if you can call that a meeting, that is. I don't think interacting with a talking stuffed toy counts. So whatever you were thinking, you were wrong.
Tatsuha loosened his fists, picked up the coffee in front of him, and drank the whole cup in one go.
Her wedding! Of course. How could I forget about all that? I missed seeing Ryuichi just because I had a high fever! Tatsuha said darkly. If Father hadn't tied me to my bed, I would have met him ages ago!
Count your blessings. Aneki was especially bitchy during the wedding. You'd think Father forced her to get married for the sake of the family or something, except we all knew that she loved tying Seguchi to her little fingers and bossed him around.
Shuichi whimpered as he remembered how exactly Mika had bossed him around in the past.
Well, it doesn't matter now, because I've finally met him in person! Tatsuha grinned.
Curiosity got the better of Shuichi when Sakuma-san was concerned. Really, Tatsuha-san? You've finally met him? How did it go? Shuichi asked in a flat voice, trying not to sound too interested. He wanted Tatsuha to leave them alone as soon as possible after all. Where did you meet him? I haven't seen him around in the studio for a while, and I wonder if he's doing ok
Tatsuha couldn't help himself and grinned even wider like a cat that had just swallowed a bird whole. We met at Kyoto. It went well enough! Ryuichi was fucking amazing!
So you finally got laid by him, huh? Congratulation, now you can throw the disgusting posters you have of him away. They weren't exactly spotless after you jerked off to them. Eiri threw a box of tissue papers at Tatsuha. Wipe your drool. The couch you're sitting on came from Italy and cost me a fortune. Leave before I kick you away.
Shuichi nodded most eagerly at Eiri's suggestion.
Tatsuha smirked. We didn't fuck, but it's any day now. We'll send you an invitation when we get married in Las Vegas. Thanks for your oh-so-wonderful concern, Aniki. He looked at the clock. Now that my question is answered, I should leave you two lovebirds alone. Wow, look at the time! I'd better go to Aneki's place right now before she slams the door in my face. Enjoy the rest of your evening.
About fucking time.
Bye, Tatsuha-san! It was nice having you over, but next time, please call before you decide to drop by! Shuichi dashed off to the closet and took Tatsuha's leather jacket out. He even opened the door for him.
Gotcha. Sorry for interrupting, Shuichi. Tatsuha gave a little wave without looking back.
Shuichi sighed happily when he closed the door behind Tatsuha. He danced back to the sitting room and launched onto Eiri.
Yeah, we're finally alone again! He started to unbutton Eiri's shirt and unzip the fly on his pants.
Eiri pushed away Shuichi's hand. Forget about it. That damned horny teenager ruined my mood. Let's just go to bed and call it a day.
Aw! No way! We haven't been together since last week! Shuichi rubbed his face against Eiri's chest, which was now bare because Shuichi had yanked away the shirt. You can't do this to me! I miss you very much, really!
Another horny teenager that I have to deal with in my life. Eiri shook his head, but his eyes betrayed that he was damned amused by Shuichi's reaction. He got up suddenly, causing Shuichi to slide down the floor.
That hurts! Don't just drop me!
Are you coming or not? Eiri said as he closed the bedroom door.
Of course! Beaming widely, Shuichi followed him.
*~*~*
It was fortunate that Tatsuha knew his way around Tokyo very well, or he would have gotten lost on his way to Mika's house. He had debated about calling Tohma and had his dedicated driver to come pick him up, but he decided that he would rather take the subway and use to time to ponder over everything.
He was taking the escalator down when two giggling high school girls bumped into him. They apologized, winked at him, and left grumpily when Tatsuha was too deep in thoughts to realize that they were checking him out.
Since there was nothing wrong between Eiri and Ryuichi, that only left Mika. Tatsuha couldn't understand how his sister and Ryuichi could have any connection whatsoever with one another.
The train arrived when Tatsuha got off the escalator, sucking all the breath out of the passengers' lungs as it came to a temporary halt. The passengers around him eyed the empty seats inside the cart like hunting hounds; they poured into the train the moment that the doors opened a crack just barely wide enough to let them in. Tatsuha strolled towards an empty corner, where he was away from everyone else.
He frowned at the advertisement on the walls of the tunnel through the glass windows. Ryuichi left him so confused. He would gladly kill for Ryuichi, but not before he completely understood the situation. One moment Ryuichi was slamming the door on his face, and another moment he kissed him just so Tatsuha would stop asking questions.
How did Ryuichi feel about him actually? Was he amusing, annoying, or interesting? Did he make an impression?
Tatsuha felt like he was a puppet – and Ryuichi could control him however he wanted by merely lifting his fingers. It was enchanting, yet very frustrating at the same time. Tatsuha wanted to understand what was going on, but Ryuichi wasn't likely to answer him directly it seemed.
Tatsuha closed his eyes as the train left the platform, balancing his body delicately over the metal bar he was leaning on and the cold glass door behind his back.
He hoped he wouldn't fall over when the train stopped at the next station.