Title: Understated
Chapter Two: The dissatisfied with the satisfied
Author: Occurs
Series: Gravitation
Rating: PG
Summery: Nothing lasts forever, and Tohma and Mika are forced to go
their separate ways for the moment.
Notes: Wow, I can't believe how wonderful you guys were about chapter
one! I wish I could thank everyone who reviewed or wrote about it
personally, but for the moment a big group thank you will have to
do! If any of you guys ever need help or betaing, just let me know.
Ya'll are great!
I also can't believe I forgot to put Gravitation is © Maki Murakami.
But I think everyone knows it's not mine. ^_^; Other notes at the
bottom.
Understated: Chapter Two
They were lost. Again. Mika gave a low growl as they passed
the same all-night karaoke bar they had passed at least three times
before. It had been fun, wandering around the city, dashing into
whatever clubs or parks caught their eye and sampling Tokyo's
bountiful nightlife, but the stars were fading and Mika knew if she
wasn't on a train back to Kyoto within the next hour there would
be some decidedly unfun consequences. Frustrated she kicked at a rock
and let it scuttle across the sidewalk, stopping under a streetlamp
to think.
"If I was a train station, I would be..."
"Two blocks to the left, right across from that restaurant
with the ponds." Tohma supplied helpfully, leaning against the light pole
and peering at her from underneath his bangs with an amused expression.
"How do you know? And why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"We have been here three times, Mika-san." He smiled back at her,
and Mika gave a small huff, not nearly as annoyed as she looked. Tohma shook
his head lightly and took her arm to lead the way, not particularly trusting
her to find her way without getting lost and making a fuss. Mika reluctantly
accepted his guidance as they walked down the block, the few people still
on the streets making way for the young couple. They did make quite an
attractive pair, Mika had to admit to herself as she caught a glimpse of
their reflection in a neon-lighted window. It was harder to admit that she
genuinely liked this man. Mika rarely allowed herself the luxury of being
attracted to anyone. She had far too many responsibilities at home and
far too much self respect to be drawn into such trivial things. With
Seguchi Tohma, however, it was difficult to avoid fascination. Suppressing
a sigh she looked up at him as they continued to walk, her brain fuzzy
with a lack of sleep, a few drinks, and the annoying effect that was a mix
of relaxed cheer and sensual enchantment that happened whenever this man
lay a hand on her. Her mind ran through a list of questions she still wanted
to ask him, things that were pieces of leftover conversations that went
unsaid, but his palm slid across her sleeve and her mind blanked, apparently
preferring the comforting fuzziness. Her head lolled dangerously close to
laying contentedly on his shoulder before Mika caught herself, turning the
movement into a small shiver.
Tohma glanced down at the thoughtful girl and caught her eye with a smile
as they made their way down the steps to the train station, not letting go of
her arm even though she was perfectly capable of following the signs and getting
herself on the train. Idly he wondered if she knew how stunning she was. It wasn't
a matter of her appearance, though she was certainly exquisite, but her bearing
conveyed an intense fiery strength that made heads turn and crowds part. He had
always admired headstrong women, those who wore their drive and intensity on their
sleeves and kept their hearts locked safely away. They excited and challenged him
in general, but Mika in particular had a separate quality he was surprised to
find. It was rare that he found a woman who attracted him on so many levels, and
rarer still that the one who had managed such a feat didn't seem to care.
"Let me buy your ticket." He offered, drawing her up closer beside
him as they walked through the throngs milling around the train station.
"I've got it." She answered, reaching for her purse, but he stepped up to
the ticket counter anyway, putting his yen on the counter before she could protest
further.
"It is, after all, my fault you have to take the train home."
He explained as he the woman handed him the ticket, and Mika
coolly took the paper from his hand. He followed her to the platform,
hands in his pockets. Mika stared down the tracks, tucking her hair
behind her ears and wrapping her arms protectively around herself. They had made
it just in time; if she didn't catch this train it would be almost two hours
before there was another transport to Kyoto. But there were only a
precious few minutes before this train arrived to steal her home, and
Mika turned back to her companion.
"Will I see you again?" Mika looked him in the eyes, setting her
hands lightly on her hips. Tohma smiled and inclined his head towards her.
"I was thinking that would be up to you, Mika-san." But he already
knew that the answer would be yes. His intuition told him that it didn't
matter if the answer was yes today, tomorrow, or five years from now;
they would see each other again if he had to play fate and arrange it
himself. It certainly wouldn't be the first time he had done so.
Mika studied him carefully, thoughtlessly reaching out to straighten
his lapel. She let her hand linger on his chest, continuing to look at him. Her eyes
darted over his face, trying to read the expression hidden in the shadowed planes.
Even after a night together she could barely understand this man. There
were moments when he seemed to be letting himself slip into honesty, but all
too often he presented a facade Mika could clearly see and would dearly love to
break. For a brief moment she considered making up some excuse for her family
and staying at least another few hours. Long-practiced duty easily shoved aside
desire, however, and Mika trailed her fingers against the silk of his shirt with
a regretful exhalation. His arm caught her around the waist, and the platform
rumbled under their feet as the train approached.
"Maybe if I hear you're in Kyoto I'll look you up." She answered
finally, looking away. Tohma nodded, letting her go and stepping back. He
bit his tongue before he could ask her why; It wouldn't matter if she had an
explanation or not. Briefly he entertained the thought that perhaps she
already had a lover, but he just as quickly dismissed it as he watched
her hand her ticket over and step up into the train. He wasn't surprised that
she didn't look back. He would have done the same.
******
Mika gave a quiet sigh as she slid open the door to the Uesugi household,
the familiar action breaking the lingering feeling of fairy-tale unreality that
had surrounded her all night. Home sweet home...even in the shadowy morning light
Mika moved easily around the foyer, lighting the morning incense and letting the
portrait of her mother that rested at the entrance to their home catch her eye.
She smiled softly at the image, imagining what her the woman would have said if
she had caught her daughter sneaking in at daybreak.
"You wouldn't have gone with him, would you?" She frowned slightly as
the traditionally garbed and delicate figure of the portrait seemed to give
you an answer. She often wished her brothers could remember more of the woman
who had brought them into the world. She had died Tatsuha was just a baby,
and though her father had remarked on Mika's stunning resemblance to his wife,
she had none of her mother's feminine patience. A rustling noise from the
common room caught her attention and she turned from the picture, ready to
throw out the cat, brother, or whatever else was causing the disturbance.
It was the second. Tatsuha and Eiri lay sprawled awkwardly on the
couch, her blonde brother sound asleep and trapping the eight-year who was squirming
to get up without waking his sibling.
"What are you two doing out here?" Mika stared at the pair with concerned
confusion as Tatusha worked his way free and ran over to her, almost tripping
on his pajamas in the process.
"You didn't come home." He accused, looking up at her with dark eyes.
"And Eiri was the only person I had to watch "Killer Atomic Supermen from Planet
9" with and he's worse than I am and we had to sleep on the couch because our
room was scary and you weren't here to beat up anything that tried to get us."
Mika shook her head. "I've told you not to watch those stupid movies."
She chided lightly, tapping the boy on the chest. "And Eiri's almost
thirteen...can't he beat up anything that wants a little boy for a midnight
snack?"
"No," Tatsuha made a face. "He's as much of a scardy-cat as I am."
"I am not." Eiri rubbed his eyes and sat up, staring blearily at his
siblings. "Why are you up this early?"
"She just got home." Tatsuha clarified helpfully, and Mika gave him
a 'shush' look.
"You just got home?" Eiri echoed, cocking his head and stifling a
yawn.
"Not that it's any of you two's business, but yes." Mika admitted,
smoothing down Tatsuha's hair and hauling Eiri off the couch. "And it's too
early for you. Go to your rooms and go back to sleep."
"Well, I'm up now." Eiri stretched and sat back down. "Dad's not
going to like that you just got home."
"Well, I have brothers who love me and want their breakfast, so they'll
keep their mouths shut about when I get in, won't they?"
"Maybe." Tatsuha looked up at Mika with a small smirk." Can we have
pancakes?"
"Absolutely not, you know father hates that kind of junk."
"Well, will you make him traditional whatever and make me pancakes?"
"Tatsuha, I really don't fe...Fine." She agreed, looking down at his
earnest face. She had taken care of her brothers for far too long, they had
her wrapped around their fingers far more tightly than any real mother would
be. They were what she lived for, and they used it to their full advantage
without even realizing it.
"Did you have fun?" Eiri questioned, sinking back on the couch and
trying to reclaim some warmth from the indented cushions.
"It was nice." Mika answered non-comittally, and her brothers exchanged
a significant glance. The fact that their Onee-san could call something nice at
six o clock in the morning spoke volumes. "I've got to go change. Tatsuha, be
good and get out the ingrediants, will you?"
"Okay." He agreed politely, and looked back at Eiri as she retreated down
the hall. "Do you think she stayed out with a boy?"
The blonde scrunched up his nose as he tried to picture their big sister
out with someone. It was an odd image that didn't compute. "Maybe."
"Weird. Onee-san shouldn't date. And I feel really bad for whoever she
does date."
Eiri glanced down to where Mika's door was shut. Safely assured that
their sister couldn't come out and yell at them, they laughed as they padded into
the kitchen to help.
****
Tohma took his time getting back to the hotel, watching the sunlight creep
over the city and chase away any traces of things that transpire in the darkness.
When he finally resigned himself to going back to his room and catching an hour
or two of sleep he found his bed already occupied. A largish lump was moving
fitfully under the covers and a stuffed pink rabbit lay its head on the pillow
with the barest view of the fingers clutching it poking out from beneath the
heavy comforter. The blonde rubbed the bridge of his nose and sat gingerly on
the bed trying not to jostle anything any more than necessary. His mind was already
preoccupied...the last thing he wanted at this moment was the distraction that was
Sakuma Ryuichi. An enthusiastic squeal and the feel of arms glomping and pulling
at him told him that he was too late. Tohma shrugged off his annoyance and forced
himself to turn and smile at the vocalist. Ryuichi had always been a morning
person.
"Ah, Ryuichi, good morning." Tohma nodded and struggled to arrange himself
more comfortably in Ryuichi's grip. It was small comfort that the man probably
wouldn't ask where he was or care if he found out that he had spent the night out
with a woman. The whole reason he had taken up with the singer was the practicality
of the situation...Ryuichi had been attracted to him almost from the outset, and
when they formed Nittle Grasper it was simply understood that any outside pursuits
would be put aside. Tohma had enough professionality for both of them to make
the situation work, and no one expected anything else from Ryuichi. With effort
he managed to prop himself up on his elbows as his lover clung to him affectionately.
With a little more he wriggled free, much to Ryuichi's disappointment, picking up the
hotel phone in his left hand and pencil and paper in the other.
"Would you like breakfast?" Tohma inquired as he dialed up room service,
using the pencil to jot down the first strains of a melody that had been lacing through
his thoughts.
"Yeah!" The man beamed as he ticked off on his fingers the number of things
that appealed to him and to Kumagoro. Tohma ordered miso soup, toast, and coffee,
ignoring the requests for tiramisu and sugar-coated strawberries. Ryuichi had more than
enough sweets stashed away to keep him up for hours, and there was no sense in ordering
more. His hand continued to move across the notepad almost of it's own free will as
he set the receiver back on it's hook with a soft click. Ryuichi peered excitedly
over his band mate's shoulder, humming the tune that the transcribed dots signified.
"We like it." He approved with a grin, tossing Kumagoro up in the air and
catching the toy gently. Tohma made a small noise of acknowledgement and continued
to work, rubbing at his tired eyes. He realized that in theory he should take out
his contacts and bunk down for a bit before stressing his mind with the work of
composition, but inspiration had called in rare form forcing him to make sense
of his thoughts in this most natural way of expression. Ryuichi lay down beside
him, close enough to feel his warmth but not enough to be disturbing. He knew Tohma
well enough to know that when he began to work there was nothing that the blonde
found more important than penning his intensity onto the page. Tohma barely noticed
when room service brought the breakfast, and didn't notice at all when Noriko came
in to see if he was up and if he had the missing Ryuichi. When, long minutes later,
he set down the pencil to flex his cramped hand, Tohma was genuinely surprised to see
Noriko and Ryuichi staring at him from where they were finishing the last of the
coffee at the small hotel table.
"So whatcha got there?" Noriko was the first to speak, walking over to the
rumpled bed and stealing the hastily scrawled pages from his lap.
"Our next number one hit." Tohma answered without any hint of the smug
arrogance that should accompany such a bold statement. He stretched out comfortably,
his green eyes fluttering closed for a much-deserved break. Noriko nodded as she
shuffled through the sheets, then tossed them to Ryuichi for close inspection.
"I think you might be right."
Ryuichi nodded enthusiastic agreement, softly matching lyrics to tune and
drumming his fingers on the tabletop to keep beat as he tested the new material.
Tohma smiled to hear him; Everything sounded sweeter sung from Ryuichi's lips than
it ever did in his mind. The pleasure of the music was almost enough to refresh
him alone, but Tohma forced himself into a standing position, now eager for a
shower and rest. Noriko gestured to his clothes and raised an eyebrow, but Tohma
met her inquisitive gaze with a benign smile and a polite 'Excuse me, you two.'
as he locked himself into the hotel's bathroom. Noriko glanced suspiciously at
Ryuichi, but the preoccupied boy didn't look nearly perky enough to have been the
cause of Tohma's sleepless night. With an elegant shrug she slid the song
back over to her sliding a fingernail and creasing the paper slightly over her
part in the arrangement. Well, whatever his muse, it had produced beautiful work.
Nittle Grasper would have it's next hit, and she traded smiles with Ryuichi as
they settled down for an unplanned morning of artistic endeavor.
Authors Note: This chapter just about killed me, and I'm still not entirely happy
about it. The situations had to be set up somehow, I guess. I kept wanting to
diverge off into other little projects, such as a songfic. Has anyone else heard
the Indigo Girls' 'You and Me of the 10,000 wars'? For some reason it strikes me
as such a Mika/Tohma song. ^-^ Oh, and does anyone know if drinking games are
considered lists and not acceptable on ff.net? I wrote a little gravitation
fanfiction drinking game for my own amusement and posted it in my livejournal
(http://www.livejournal.com/users/missoccurs/), and I may want to post it here. ^-^