Disclaimers: Gravitation does not belong to me. I only wish it did (as does most everyone else).
Warnings: Um…Shounen ai (no shit)
Notes: Okay, let's hope the plot makes its way into this chapter.
~*The Bible of Kumagoro—Getting Closer to Your God*~
I woke up to the alarm going off, sitting up quickly my first thought was that I was late for school. What else was I supposed to think? I don't necessarily set my alarm for anything else. Blinking and whipping sleep from my eyes when I realized it was summer vacation I took notice of my surroundings. Oh yeah, Eiri's place. Concert was rained out, ended up here. How fun THAT hike had been.
Gods big bro's bed was comfy, I could fall asleep in an instant on it. Wish I had one like it at home, but he didn't like to spend his money on getting us things. Stupid dad. I'd never tell him but I kind of missed having Eiri around. Mika was there all the time, 'looking after me and dad' and just generally wasting her time. I was kind of glad she didn't leave me alone there, though. The house gets kind of lonely where there's only you and an elderly fart that only likes you because you're still stuck there with him.
Yawning I crawled over the where Eiri's alarm was and turned it off, glancing at the time. It was friggin' five thirty in the morning! "Who the hell gets up this early in the morning!" Geeze! Big bro really was a mystery sometimes. Why would you wake up at six if you didn't HAVE to? The sounds from outside showed that obviously I HAD been the only one up. Oops. Oh well, if his alarm was on he wanted to be up this early anyways, right?
Sliding off the edge of the bed I walked over to the door and opened it slowly, peering around the edge, fully prepared to duck back inside in case they DIDN'T want to be woken up and something was mysteriously found flying towards my head.
"Sorry, Tatsuha-san. I forgot to turn off the alarm yesterday since you came over," Shuichi apologized from where he was sitting on the couch, smiling at me innocently. Well that was a bit of a relief, as was the fact that Eiri didn't seem to be processing things very well at the moment.
"S'okay, just wondering. Besides, I though one of you might want to get up since the alarm went off," I apologized, knowing damn well that I hadn't given a thought as to waking either of them up.
"Go back to sleep." And brother was down, dragging a giggling Shuichi with him and rearranging himself more comfortably. I smiled slightly to myself at that one. I remember when we used to make forts out of blankets and pillows and stay up late pretending every noise was another animal out to get us. I'd always end up clinging to him for the next week after that so I'd have to curl up right next to him to sleep. I kind of missed playing around with him like that, too.
I made my way back to Eiri's bed and lied down; glad the opportunity to sleep some more was given to me. I REALLY didn't feel like walking around after getting so little sleep, as I'm sure was big brother's thought, too. Although, it was kind of hard to sleep when you could hear Shuichi and Eiri talking (more like arguing) in the other room.
After a good ten minutes of not being able to sleep due to their argument I made my way back outside the room and, for the first time since entering, left his room and the comfy bed behind. Shuichi blinked and looked over at me as the door clicked shut behind me before smiling brightly and hopping up to speak.
"Take the brat out somewhere so I can get some sleep," Eiri demanded before Shuichi could make a sound, and I had to wonder which one of us he was addressing as brat. He stood up and made his way towards me. "You can do whatever you want, just get him out of the house," he stated again before opening the door and disappearing into his room. I smiled happily to myself as Shuichi blinked at me innocently, looking around to find what it was I was smiling about. So dumb, sometimes.
"Hey, Shuichi, did you have anywhere specific in mind?" I asked as I sat down on the couch he and Eiri had been occupying earlier. Chances were he did, but I didn't care at the moment. Getting Shuichi to forget about his little…distrust…of being alone with me was the first thing on my mind.
"Yeah! First, I was thinking we could go out and get some breakfast, since it's SOOOOOOOO early…" it was at this point that he sat down on the couch next to me and I completely forgot to pay attention. Wrapping my arm around his waist I think he forgot about it, too. "Umm…Tatsuha-san?"
I leaned over to covers his lips with a finger and smile seductively. "No need to be shy. You want me, you just don't know it yet." Anything to confuse the little idiot into a little bit of free time was good. I was technically already kicked out of the house; so getting thrown a second time in an hour wasn't a problem for me.
"Riiiight…" Okay, did that mean it worked or not? He looked confused, but he sounded more annoyed than anything else. I HATED it when they tried to confuse me like that. Was that giving Shuichi too much credit?
So there was a good two minutes wasted of my brilliant plan trying to figure out whether Shuichi was trying to confuse me or not while he just stared at me innocently. /Dumb, isn't he?/ I asked myself as I stopped my contemplating and leaned over to kiss him. Who knew, maybe he did really want me and had just found it out himself? Wouldn't I just be sooooo lucky?
"Tatsuha-san!" Okay, so scratch that one. But either way, I won out. He was so cute, blushing like that. Made me wonder if Sakuma-san was so shy, too. 'Tatsuha-san, Yuki's trying to sleep. We can't just do it here. What if he hears us and forces us apart?' I blinked a couple times as Shuichi lied down on the couch, staring up at me innocently. 'You wouldn't want Yuki to ruin something so niiiice, would you?' he asked seductively as a hand roamed up his shirt, the other stroking himself through his jeans. I had to be in HEAVEN or something. It could only get better if Sakuma Ryuichi was there with him!
"Tatsuha-san! Are you okay? You're not blinking?" Shuichi asked as he waved a hand in front of my face, making me jump back a little bit. Hadn't he just been lying down? His face scrunched up worriedly before he leaned over a bit and reached his hand up to feel my forehead. Dammit! Was my mind TRYING to torment me or something, showing me such heaven when it was forbidden to me? Not like I gave a damn whether it was forbidden or not, but STILL. I should have known Shuichi wasn't going to give in so easily. Stupid, stupid, STUPID me!
"Sorry, I think I just sort of zoned for a moment." /Do it again./ Shuichi frowned before sitting back and smiling.
"That's okay. I don't have work today but I know Tohma has to be there, so I was thinking we could do by NG records after breakfast, what do you think? Or maybe we could go out for food afterwards. Hm?" I shrugged and figured I'd do whatever he wanted. It wasn't like hanging out Shuichi was some sort of nightmare. My earlier daydream proved way past otherwise.
"Either way's fine by me." If I didn't know any better I could have sworn Shuichi's smile turned evil at that moment. Before I could reflect on it, however, he was up and pulling me off the couch.
"Come on then, let's hurry and get ready so we can go. I'll go dig you up some more of Yuki's old clothes!" he exclaimed happily, bouncing off towards my brother's room happily. Within a minute he was back out, changed, with more clothes for me to wear and a deep red blush marking his cheeks. "Yuki's so MEAN sometimes," he whined while he handed me the clothes.
"I can be meaner," I stated offhandedly and Shuichi shook his head. I smirked before removing my shirt and throwing it on the floor next to the couch. I'd ask Shuichi where to put it later.
"Tatsuha-san! You can't change right here!" He screamed loud enough that I was SURE Eiri was going to hear him and rip my head off.
"Tease the brat all you want but tell him to keep quiet!" Eiri screamed from his room and I had to laugh. I hadn't been expecting THAT, although I know I should have been. I finished changing right where I'd started, smiling satisfactorily to myself as Shuichi had managed to turn the shade of his hair by the time I was finished.
"So…are we going?" I asked casually and Shuichi just nodded quietly, following me to and out the door before shaking his head and latching onto my hand.
"Come on!" I didn't see what he was in such a rush for, but oh well. A hyper Shuichi latched onto my hand was a sure ticket to something good. Whether it was GOOD good or just good, I wasn't sure, but who cared? I sure as hell didn't.
So, after a good half hour walk to Shuichi's work (all the time listening to him talking about where to go for breakfast) we finally arrived. He almost immediately let go of my hand and bounced in through the automatic doors, announcing happily (and loudly) to what was most likely EVERYONE in the building that he was there.
"Shuichi!!!" What was this, some sort of mating call or something? I blinked a couple times as Shuichi went falling down in front of me, lying on his back and giggling happily. "Did Shu-chan come to visit Kumagoro and Ryuichi? That's so SWEET na no da!" It took all my strength not to faint or attach myself to the little wide-eyed ball of energy sitting on Shuichi's stomach and giggling happily.
"No, actually. I came to intro…"
"Oh! You brought a friend na no da!" he squealed before Shuichi could finish and scrambled off him quickly to stand in front of me. "Hi! I'm Ryuichi na no da! This is Kumagoro!" he cheered happily and I smiled, bowing as low as I possibly could without falling over. This was the very reason I breathed every day. "Oh! Fan!" He cheered happily and I blinked, standing upright and watching in amazement as he dropped to his knees on the floor and bowed.
I could hear my heart beating in my chest as he looked up at me with narrow eyes and a genuine smile on his face, bangs hanging in his eyes. "Fans are everything to Kumagoro and me, na no da," he explained softly, almost so I couldn't hear him. Picking himself up off the floor he extended one of Kumagoro's furry hands towards me and smiled apologetically, eyes wide again. "Kumagoro doesn't know anything about Japan," he apologized and I smiled back at him, reaching out and taking Kumagoro's paw in mine, shaking it.
"Nice to meet you Kumagoro. I'm Tatsuha Uesugi," I managed in English. I'd learned quite a bit from Tohma while he was teaching Yuki before they went to New York. I was still sort of surprised I remembered as much as I did. Ryuichi's eyes lit up happily and he hugged Kumagoro to himself tightly, forcing me to let go.
"You know English?" he asked in near-perfect English, making me feel kind of silly about my own accent.
"A little," I somehow managed again and Ryuichi nodded, placing Kumagoro on his head before turning to Shuichi.
"Does Shu-chan want to do something na no da? Ryuichi and Kumagoro are bored." Shuichi picked himself off the floor and brushed what LITTLE dirt could still remain on an NG building floor. Tohma was sure to keep those squeaky, break-your-neck clean.
"Actually, I brought Tatsuha with me because I was sorta hoping we could all go out for breakfast," Shuichi stated cheerfully, smiling. Ryuichi blinked before looking up as best he could at Kumagoro, waiting to hear his opinion, I guess.
"Okay! Kumagoro's hungry too, so let's all go na no da!" he cheered, grabbing onto my arm and pulling me out of the building with him and Kumagoro, smiling up at me like a child in a candy store. I was a little surprised by how he acted, at first, but I was slowly getting used to him, and I found I wasn't nervous around him, especially not as much as I though I would be. Then again, I was raised around Yuki and Tohma, and knew Shuichi fairly well. I was used to being raised around celebrities.
"So, where are we going?" I asked after a while of being led around, Ryuichi humming a happy little song and swinging back and forth cutely as he walked down the street, still attached to my arm. That was a little strange, but after a while I just ended up swaying slightly with him. Every once in a while he would look over his shoulder to talk to Shuichi, and that was the only way I was ever reminded that he was there.
Ryuichi stopped suddenly and blinked a couple times before looking over his shoulder at Shuichi. "Shu-chan, where are we going na no ka?" he asked softly, letting the silence stretch awkwardly until I couldn't help but laugh a little. He blinked a couple times as he stared up at me. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing really." And indeed, nothing really was particularly funny. It was just so damn cute, him leading us around Tokyo without a clue as to where he was supposed to be taking us. He pouted and stood on his toes so Kumagoro was shoved in my face, his own face twisted into an adorable little pouty frown.
"If you don't tell us I'll hate you na no da," he demanded and I snatched Kumagoro from off his head and held him out in front of me.
"Would he really hate me?" I asked his as Ryuichi reached for him, keeping him JUST out of reach for him.
"I'll really hate you if you don't give Kumagoro back na no da!" he threatened and I looked down at him as he reached over my arm for the little stuffed toy, smiling brightly even as he threatened me.
"What if I take him hostage?"
"We'll both hate you na no da!" I laughed to myself and held Kumagoro out to Ryuichi, letting him take him back.
"Ask Kumagoro if he hates me," I begged and Ryuichi stuck his tongue out at me, giggling even as he did so.
"Kumagoro, Tatsuha's a big meany-head, huh?" he asked the stuffed rabbit in English and I laughed, picking up on it immediately. One could hardly toss an insult at me in any language without me knowing it. He made Kumagoro nod before sticking him back on his head and turning to talk to Shuichi. There were quite a number of people staring at us at the moment, but none of us cared. People stared at anything remotely different. We were having too much fun to care about their stupid idea of normality. At least, I was.
"How about we go over there?" Shuichi asked, pointing to the small little restaurant across the street. "I've never been there, so it'd be worth a try, right?" Ryuichi nodded before turning back to me.
"You wanna go?" he asked and I blinked a couple times before crossing my arms and turning my back to him.
"Do you hate me?" I asked, waiting for him to answer. Of course, I KNEW what his answer was going to be, but I wanted to hear it.
"Of course not! And Kumagoro forgives you na no da! Let's go!" he practically begged as he pulled at my hands, trying to drag me along with him.
"Okay!" I cheered, wrapping an arm around his neck and holding him in a loose lock as I dragged HIM towards the restaurant, laughing and trying to get free. He even hit me with Kumagoro a couple times while we were waiting to cross, swearing between laughter that he'd hate me if I didn't let go. If he'd really tried to get out he could have, but I wasn't going to ruin his fun…
Finally, after two public scenes and a walk across the street, we were at the restaurant and I let go of Ryuichi, opening the door for him and Shuichi before following myself.
"Tatsuha's MEAN!" Ryuichi whined playfully as he stuck his tongue back out at me on our way to the table (it was one of those self-seating almost hang-out places for friends to get together). He seemed to be doing that to me a lot. Oh well, at least he was enjoying himself, and it wasn't like I was taking it personally or anything. I knew it was all in good fun.
"Oh! What's Shu-chan going to get?" Ryuichi asked as Shuichi put down his menu, leaning over to look down at his menu like it was going to tell him. Shuichi laughed and caught Kumagoro as he fell off his head, setting him on the table.
"I was just going to get the French toast. Yuki tells me I'll be fat when I'm older if I don't stop eating so much," Shuichi answered, blushing slightly. I laughed and reached over the table to pat his head.
"He's just afraid you'll turn out looking like the old man." Shuichi made a face and sunk down in his chair slightly, crossing his arms over his stomach protectively. Ryuichi blinked before leaning over the table even farther and staring at Shuichi.
"What's wrong, Shu-chan? Does your stomach hurt?" he asked innocently, making Shuichi sink down lower in his chair. Ryuichi's eyes got really wide all of a sudden and he pulled back to sit in his seat. "Is Shu-chan PREGNANT na no ka!" The entire restaurant was looking at us by that point and Shuichi blended in with the red carpet on the floor as he sunk down until all I could see of him was his eyes.
"No…" he whined, sounding like he was going to cry in embarrassment, and I didn't blame him. Even if I were a girl I wouldn't want someone screaming that out in the middle of a restaurant. Ryuichi blinked a couple more times before grabbing Kumagoro and I pulled him to sit back down next to me.
"What's wrong with Shu-chan na no ka?" Ryuichi asked me quietly, leaning over so no one else would hear. I smiled evilly as I answered him loud enough for Shuichi to hear as well.
"He thinks he's FAT," I answered with a slight accent, making the table next to us look over at him. Shuichi kicked me from under the table and I jumped, making Ryuichi investigate what was going on under there, which made the people at the table next to us move. I smiled and waved at them cheerfully as they walked past us, sending us dirty glares. Damn preppy women. There were times I just couldn't STAND their attitudes.
I couldn't help but laugh as Shuichi jumped and stood up, pulling away to hide behind his chair from Ryuichi. "Shu-chan isn't fat, na no da. He's just not really, really, teeny-tiny thin" he cheered reassuringly before I felt him move around by my feet and reemerge in the seat next to mine, hair an utter mess.
"Th-thanks," he managed as he sat back down, still covering his stomach from further abuse.
"What are you getting, then?" Ryuichi asked as he swung his legs happily under the table, bouncing Kumagoro on his knees.
"I was just going to get some coffee." Ryuichi's eyes widened before he leaned up to stare at me.
"You drink coffee? That's so COOL!" he cheered even before I could answer, falling back into his seat and holding Kumagoro up to eye level. "Did you hear that, he drinks coffee! Tohma drinks coffee, too, but he says I'm not allowed to have any," he explained and I nodded. I could see why Tohma wouldn't let him have any; he was energetic enough as it was.
The waitress came around and I could have SWORN she was staring at Shuichi as he ordered, and I didn't blame her. Maybe that would help Shuichi realize he wasn't fat. She also flashed me an appreciative smile and flashed one of those 'I LOVE kids' smiles that girls have stored away somewhere in their facial muscles that guys don't have, at Ryuichi.
Ryuichi had decided to steal some of Shuichi's food since he was so worried about getting fat, and I had my coffee. All was good.
"You know, I don't mean to pry or anything, but you look a lot like that Yuki Eiri fellow. I haven't read any of his books but I've seen him on TV," she managed conversationally as she poured my coffee, casting a short glance over at Ryuichi as he continued to play with Kumagoro.
"I get that a lot, actually. Never looked into it. Maybe he's a long lost relative or something. Doubt it, though." She smiled and nodded, standing back up and smiling politely.
"You never know. Your order should be ready in a few minutes," she offered to Shuichi before leaving. Ryuichi blinked a couple times before pulling on my hair a bit. I grabbed my hair from him protectively and turned to see what he wanted.
"You DO look like Yuki na no da," he exclaimed suddenly, blinking a couple times more. "See? Doesn't he, Shu-chan?" he asked, turning my face so Shuichi could see. I couldn't help but laugh at the look Shuichi was giving us.
"Yeah, he does," he managed while trying to stifle his own laughter.
"What'd I miss, na no da?" Ryuichi asked, looking between the two of us in confusion.
"I forgot to mention. Tatsuha is Yuki's little brother," Shuichi cleared up after a while, stirring his water with the back of his spoon for who KNOWS why. "Although I don't know why you didn't tell her that," he asked me and I smiled slightly.
"Eiri doesn't want us involved in the media over him, and I'm not going to ruin that." Shuichi smiled brightly in return and Ryuichi attached himself to my arm.
"No fair keeping secrets from me and Kumagoro! Apologize na no da!" he demanded and I did so, taking a sip of my coffee with my free hand. "Can I try?" he asked hopefully, leaning over to look inside the tiny little cup.
"Sure, but I doubt you'll like it," I offered and he dropped Kumagoro into my lap to pick it up, and I had my hands underneath it just in case it was too hot and he dropped it. I had fairly good reflexes when it came to catching things.
He tasted it and immediately made a face, pushing it into my hands. "It's bitter na no da!" he whined, picking up his water and taking a drink to clear the taste from his mouth. "Tohma's is lighter than yours, does it taste any better?" he asked, leaning over to inspect the color of the liquid. I sighed and poured a small container of cream into what was remaining (whish was actually quite a lot) of my coffee.
"Like that?" I asked as I stirred it and he nodded, taking the cup quickly and tasting it almost as fast. He made a face again and put it back on the table, grabbing my water and drinking it, seeing as he'd drank all of his.
"It hurts na no da! And it still tastes bad!" he whined, leaning his head on my shoulder for a split second to accent his miserableness. I reached over and grabbed a packet of sugar as well and dangled it in front of Ryuichi.
"Would you be willing to try it one more time?" I asked and Ryuichi's eyes gleamed slightly at the packet of sugar I was holding.
"Yes!" So I forfeited the last of what had once been my coffee and deposited the sugar into it, stirring it thoroughly with my spoon. Ryuichi took it cautiously and tried it, blinking a couple times before smiling. "It's yummy!" he cheered and I smiled, pushing the little saucer over next to him.
"You can drink it then, I don't like it like that," Ryuichi pouted and patted Kumagoro's head on my lap.
"For being nice and letting Ryuichi have your coffee you can play with Kumagoro na no da!" Ryuichi exclaimed happily as he drank the rest of my coffee as quickly as I could so I could get a refill and have my own coffee faster.
Breakfast was eaten in general peace, as far as Ryuichi, Shuichi, and myself are concerned. There weren't all THAT many complaints of us being loud, and by the end we had a little area all to ourselves. All was good.
"Hey, Tatsuha, do you wanna come back to Ryuichi's house with Ryuichi and Kumagoro and watch movies na no ka? We have all sorts!" Either I was COMPLETELY delusional or Ryuichi was BLUSHING when he asked me that, clinging to Kumagoro tightly.
"Of course. I could never turn down an invitation from Kumagoro himself," I offered and Ryuichi smiled brightly, hugging Kumagoro tighter. Today was destined to be a perfect day.
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Flashes her 'I LOVE kids' smile. RYUICHI IS MY FAVORITE!!! Gee, can you all guess where this is going??? NOPE! I BET NOT!!! BUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! *Coughs and gives up* Okay! So chapter two is out, and the plot has risen it's little furry head in the form of Kumagoro and Ryuichi!!! ^_^ Now we can actually work with this!