Thank you Serena and chibiukyou (I like long [positive] reviews!) for reviewing! There are a bunch of (ok only three) shounen ai couple hints in this chapter, but I won't say which ones (you can pretty much guess). I want to do a RyuTatsu or Tohma x Sakano one-shot PWP fluffy lemon scented songfic soon. I know the song – it works best for the latter pairing, but * shrug* What do you all think?
Oh, and if I figure out whether or not they had hand lotion, lube, or Vaseline back then, I might do a lemon in this story. It just depends on what was available. If none of the above were (please someone tell me!) then I won't attempt one. And please forgive me if I have a lot of errors in it! I'm my own beta-reader .o I'm not that keen on the uptake. I'd gladly accept a beta-reader if anyone here has Yahoo! Messenger and wants to do it. * begs* Please!
Cast:
Yuki Eiri - Edward Young - 22 - Accomplished Novelist
Shuichi Shindo - Stuart Shubrook - 19 - Aspiring Poet and Song Composer
Seguchi Tohma - Thomas Savage - 32 - Wealthy Publishing Company Owner
Sakano - Kenneth Saunders - 29 - Stuart's Agent
K - Claude K. Winchester - 36 - American Ex-Mafia gunman, works for Thomas as an Agent
Sakuma Ryuichi - Reece Swift - 31 - Accomplished Poet and Song Composer
Nakano Hiroshi - Hugh Norris - 19 - Aspiring Violinist
Uesugi Tatsuha - Timothy Ulysses - 16 - Schoolboy
Suguru Fujisaki - Frederick Sullivan - 16 - Schoolboy and Aspiring Conductor/Composer
Noriko Ukai - Natalie Udell - 28 - Accomplished Pianist
Ayaka Usami - Anna Udolf - 17 - Schoolgirl
Rating: PG – PG-13
Disclaimer: Me not own Gravitation. You is not stupid enough to believe me does is you? Maki Murakami does. I own Mr. Avery and the plot. Maybe Stuart's mother (in the STORY, not in the manga... sheesh silly people) but I don't wanna put claim on her, she's annoying.
Roses
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Chapter 3
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"I want that brat out of my house, now!"
Thomas sighed, walking into the study. He stood behind Stuart, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. Gently, he whispered to him that he'd calm Edward down and to give him time. Of course, that was before he noticed that Stuart was practically glowing red and threatening to explode any moment. Thomas coughed and looked between the two. Meanwhile, Mr. Saunders was banging his head against the doorframe to the study, mumbling something about being fired.
"Oh I'm going! I wouldn't stay in this house if you paid me!" Stuart turned to leave, stopping only when Thomas grabbed his arm roughly.
"Please, both of you, calm down. What is all this about?"
"It's his fault!" they chimed in unison, then turned around, their backs facing. Thomas sighed walked over to Edward, figuring he'd be more likely to tell him what was wrong.
"I'm not tutoring him, Thomas. No matter how much you nag me I won't."
"Would you tell me what happened?" He stepped in front of Edward, "Please?"
"I'll tell you what happened!" Stuart ran over to Thomas, pushing Edward aside. "He ran into me at Mr. Avery's, while I was carrying a bag of sugar, and knocked me down and got sugar all over me and had the nerve to tell me it was my fault when it was his fault because he wasn't looking where he was going and – "
Edward grumbled and pushed Stuart away, "Little brat. I knew you were trouble."
"Oh is that was all this is about...?" Thomas sweated a bit, watching Mr. Saunders have convulsions on the study floor, "Well, how about you both just apologize and we get on with the tutoring?"
"Apologize? To him? Never!" Stuart huffed and crossed his arms, looking away.
"It wasn't my fault."
Thomas groaned and rubbed his forehead slowly, "Look, I really don't want a headache today, so either you two apologize and be civil or you go through this lesson with me and – " he glanced at Mr. Saunders, now in a dazed and comatose state. "Well, go through this lesson with me watching your every move like a hawk. And for every lesson after."
"Fine with me!" again they shouted at him. Thomas sighed and grabbed hold of Edward's collar, sat him down on the couch next to him, then grabbed Stuart's arm and sat him down in the chair across from him. Then, he walked over to Mr. Saunders, pulled him up into a crawling position, and ushered him to the chair next to Stuart. Thomas sighed again and sat down next to Edward.
"Now, we will be calm and we will be civil. And if you're good I promise I'll only stay for half of the session next time. And, please," he glanced at Mr. Saunders, "don't do anything to make him have a heart attack. Please, I don't want to go to a funeral so early this year."
Stuart and Edward grumbled, their arms crossed, and looked out the window next to them. Thomas smiled and looked at Stuart, crossing his legs, "Now, Mr. Shubrook, you brought examples of your work, correct?" Stuart nodded, "Well, please hand them to Mr. Young."
Stuart grumbled and remained still. Thomas sighed and stood up, walking over to Mr. Saunders, and pulled a briefcase from the dazed man's arms. He then walked back to the couch and sat down, handing the briefcase to Edward, "They're in here, I assume?" Stuart nodded again. Thomas smiled and opened the briefcase, pulling out the top papers. "Now, read them Edward."
The writer grumbled and shoved the briefcase off his lap and into Thomas's, then looked at the paper. A scowl formed on his face, more menacing then before, and his eyes scanned the page. Stuart squirmed uncomfortably in his seat and glanced at Mr. Saunders. Slowly, he poked the man's head, giggling as he didn't even twitch. He amused himself for awhile, poking the poor agent's face in several places, stopping only when Thomas cleared his throat, "Mr. Shubrook."
"Sorry." He placed his hands in his lap, bowing his head. Occasionally he'd glance back at Mr. Saunders, watching for some sort of change in his demeanor, but gave up after a minute and concentrated on his hands.
"Humph." Thomas glanced at the blonde sitting next to him and quirked his head.
"Edward?"
"I have to teach this crap?" The writer put the paper down in his lap, glancing at his publisher, "I can't teach him. Nobody could teach someone who wrote," he picked up the paper and shook it at Stuart, "wrote this kind of crap!" Edward looked at Stuart, glaring, "I've seen five year olds that wrote better than this. Useless."
Thomas sighed and leaned forward, resting his forehead in the palms of his hand. Mr. Saunders twitched. Stuart stood up from his seat and glared at Edward, "You only say that because you're bitter! And lazy!"
Edward walked over to his study desk and pulled a cigarette from a box, then grabbed a match from one next to the other and lit the cigarette. He put the match out and dropped it in his garbage pail, then dropped Stuart's papers in after. The man walked around the desk and sat down, breathing in the unfiltered smoke.
Stuart ran over to the desk, slamming his hands on the wood, "Listen to me!" The writer didn't look up, just closed his eyes and blew out a puff of smoke into the boy's face. "Damnit! I bet your stories are crap! People probably only say they're good cause they know how vain you are and they don't want to hurt your feelings!"
"Even if that's true they certainly sell more than yours ever will." Edward opened an eye, looking at the fuming boy. He stood, walking around the desk, past Stuart, past Mr. Saunders, past Thomas, and to the door. "Don't expect me to do this again, Thomas."
His publisher groaned quietly and kept his head down. Mr. Saunders convulsed and fell out of his chair. The writer glanced over at Stuart briefly, "I gave you all the teaching you'll need. Don't write again, it's worthless. Garbage. Try something else, like cleaning. Maybe someone would hire you to sweep their chimney." He turned towards the door, taking a step forward.
Just then, Stuart's head practically exploded. He'd never met anyone in his life so vain, so self involved, so, so, so stupid in his whole life! He ran to the couch that Thomas was sitting at, grabbed a pillow from it, and then ran over to Edward, throwing the pillow at the back of his head. Edward stumbled an inch, quickly recovered, and kept walking until he was out of the study and turned, walking down the hall.
"I'm very sorry, Mr. Shubrook. Mr. Saunders." Thomas sighed and stood up, walking over to Stuart; "He's... like this a lot. He'll be better next time."
"'Next time'? There won't be a next time, I'm not coming back!"
Mr. Saunders took this opportunity to awaken from his dazed convulsing sleep and stagger to Stuart, "No, you can't! I mean you have to! I mean, please, come back! I mean – " he rose a hand to his forehead, staggering a bit. Thomas stepped next to Mr. Saunders and put an arm around his shoulder, helping him stand straight.
"If you don't come back then Mr. Saunders might have a heart attack."
"Another one I feel right now..." the agent replied, glancing at his superior with glossy eyes.
"I don't care! That man is selfish, arrogant, stupid, I don't want to deal with him again!"
"Well, I'm sorry, Mr. Shubrook, but," he let go of Mr. Saunders momentarily and took a step to Stuart. The agent fell over, fainted, "I'm afraid that's not an option. I have it scheduled for both of you to work together. You're both clients of mine, and I like it if my clients get along."
Stuart crossed his arms and turned away from the older man, "I don't care..."
"Please, I promise I'll work on him. He'll have better manners next time."
The red haired boy remained silent, arms crossed. If you looked hard enough, you could see steam rising from his head. Thomas turned and picked Mr. Saunders up, depositing him on Stuart's back. The boy turned quickly and grabbed hold of his mentor, then looked at Thomas, "Do I have to?"
"I'm afraid so."
Stuart sighed and nodded, then pulled his agent out of the room, "Does he know when I have to be back...?" he hefted Mr. Saunders up an inch, then left him fall back.
"I think so. I'll contact him in any case and tell him." Thomas escorted them to the door, "I really am sorry about all of this. I know that if I can just get him to be civil that he'll offer you useful advice."
"He already told me to stop writing!"
"Yes, well.... As I said, he's like that. You're not a bad writer, really Mr. Shubrook, and he is a vain man, even if he won't admit it. I'm sure I can get him to be a little kinder next time."
Stuart slapped Mr. Saunders and watched the man wake up and stand straight. He nodded to Thomas, then elbowed Mr. Saunders, causing him to nod, and they both left the house. Thomas turned abruptly, smelling cigarette smoke enter the room, and watched Edward lean against the doorframe leading into the parlor.
"I'm not tutoring that boy."
"Yes, you are." Thomas walked over to him.
"No, I'm not."
"I don't care what you say or do, Edward, you are going to tutor that boy. And you are going to get along. And if I have to stay here the whole time guiding you both through it, I'll do it. But," he walked into the parlor, Edward following; "If I have to attend Mr. Saunders funeral then I'm going to kill you. Understood?"
Edward nodded slowly and put the cigarette out in the ashtray on the parlor's table. Thomas smiled and sat down on a red couch, "Good! Now, we have to work on this little attitude problem of yours, since you scared away your student and we both have the rest of the afternoon off, I'm going to teach you some manners."
The writer groaned and looked around for cigarettes. Noticing there weren't any in the room, he moved for the door, but stopped when Thomas jumped up and slammed the door shut, "And we'll start with the matter of you blowing smoke in peoples faces!"
"He makes me so angry!" After Stuart and Mr. Saunders left Edward's house, Stuart dropped Mr. Saunders off at his place and told him to rest. Then, after some convincing to his agent that he was no longer at Mr. Young's house, he left for the neighborhood park to meet Hugh. Every day since they were boys they would meet there and walk around the place, talking about things that troubled them or what they were doing in their life. It was rather relaxing. Except for today, when Stuart stomped along the cobblestone path, kicking stray rocks.
"He's just trying to get you angry." Hugh glanced down at his petite friend, then at the victim rocks along the path. He was glad there weren't any sleeping chipmunks or dogs – which Stuart would probably kick if he saw. "You shouldn't let it get to you."
"I can't help it! He's so mean and stupid and arrogant and oh I just wish he were dead!" A dog barked a few feet away and Stuart's angered gaze shot towards the sound. Hugh coughed and clamped a hand on the boy's shoulder, pushing him forward.
"If you just be the adult in this situation... no, if you just try to be at least some-what civil then you both can get through this. You're both... not children. So act like it."
Stuart crossed his arms, continuing to walk and kick stones at the same time. A few girls walking towards them further down the path watched the distraught red-haired boy and the older, handsome brunette walk by him. The girls swooned quietly as they passed, whispering behind their hands. Hugh noticed and smiled at them, causing the girls to blush, Stuart just kept kicking rocks. "If only I could do something to show he's not the big-shot he thinks he is! Then he could be brought down a few pegs."
"Well, since you both seem to be so hot-headed, I doubt anything either of you do would be beneficial. Except to get feelings hurt."
"Humph..." Stuart stopped at a rowan tree and ducked beneath the branches, leaning against its trunk. Hugh followed suit, only standing just in front of him. The taller man smiled reassuringly and placed a hand on the redhead's shoulder.
"It'll work out. And if it doesn't, then it's ok. You've had worse critics before."
"Yeah, well, he's just so... ugh!" Stuart looked away, seething, "There's just something about him that makes me really angry!"
"What is it?"
Stuart shrugged Hugh's hand off his shoulder and took a step away from the tree, "I don't know. He's just so arrogant about it and thinks he's so much better than I am! I can't stand people like that."
"You've known other people like that and this is the first time I've seen you act like this."
"Well, he's different." An indescribable look flashed in Hugh's eyes and his expression seemed to fall a bit, but it happened to quickly for Stuart to notice or care.
"I see..."
"Anyway!" Stuart walked past Hugh and onto the path again, "What happened at your audition?"
The violinist smiled, turning to face Stuart, "It went rather well, actually." He walked over to the shorter man; "They seemed to like how I played."
"Did you get the position?" They started walking.
"Well..."
"Did you?"
Hugh paused, stopping his stride. Stuart blinked, turning back to face his friend, "Don't tell me that – "
"I got it." Hugh smiled widely, looking off down the path. Girls within a ten-yard radius swooned and blushed, "It took a lot of work, but I got the position."
Stuart gave a shout of encouragement and lunged at his friend, hugging him, "That's great, Hugh! They made a good choice! I'll have to write some songs for you to play!"
"I've got a better idea," he smiled and fell in step with Stuart again, "how about I write the songs and you write the lyrics and you can be a famous singer?"
"Opera!"
"Or club."
The two boys smiled and continued down the pathway, talking about their futures. Stuart forgot about Edward for awhile and Hugh was glad – something about the way the boy talked about him made him uneasy.
"Stuart?"
He yawned, stretching his arms out as he entered his family's house. "I'm home!" The red-haired boy walked a few steps, then stuck his head into the kitchen, "Hello, mother!" Stuart's mom looked up at him, her hands covered in water. She flashed him a distraught grin and walked towards him.
"Stuart, I need you to get me some things."
"What kind of things?" he walked over to the table, grabbing the last apple from their fruit basket.
"Things like that. Can you go into the market square and get me some fruit and sugar? Maybe flour?"
Stuart nodded, biting into the juicy red fruit, "Jus' gi' meh the mone'."
His mother sighed, shaking her hands out, "What did I say about talking with your mouth full?"
The boy swallowed and looked at her, "Don't do it?"
"Exactly. Stuart, how did your tutoring session go?"
He coughed, taking another bite of the apple. Nervously, he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. Stuart's mother rose an eyebrow at him and walked over to the sink, "Well?"
Stuart shrugged, "Can I have the money? I'll go get the – "
"No. How did it go?"
"Um..." he sweated, taking another bite of the apple.
"Stuart, I want you to tell me what happened." The boy pointed to his mouth and shrugged, signaling that he couldn't talk. His mother groaned and raised her arms in annoyance, "Swallow and tell me what happened."
He complied, "Ah, Mr. Saunders fainted... several times. And I met Mr. Young."
"Oh poor Mr. Saunders. What is the writer like?"
"He's an ass."
"Stuart!" His mother walked over to him, placing her hands on her hips.
"What? Mr. Savage said the same thing!"
"I don't care what Mr. Savage says, you won't use that language in here."
The boy sighed and took another bite into his apple. His mother walked over to the kitchen counter and picked up a few pounds, then walked back to Stuart. "This should be enough." she deposited it in his free hand, "Now, I would have you sit down and tell me everything that happened but I really do need some fruit, sugar, and flour. You have to tell me when you get back." She nodded to the kitchen door, "Go on, now."
Stuart nodded and took a couple more bites of the apple, then pocketed the money into his vest pocket and hurried out of the house.
"Ah, Stuart!" Mr. Avery stepped out from behind his store counter upon the boy's entrance. "Got all cleaned up, I see. I'm sorry that happened to you, that man has just recently started to come to my store. I guess he's not the most courteous of people."
Stuart shrugged and walked over to the counter, leaning against it, "Oh well. I need flour and sugar." Mr. Avery nodded and went to get the boy's items.
"I would have given you another bag if you wanted. I've known your family for a long time; you're good business. Tell you what." he walked over to the weights and placed a bag of flour on it, "How about the sugar is on me. Two pounds, right?" Stuart blinked and nodded demurely, "Well, that's not too bad. And it's not like you used it. I have plenty."
He smiled and placed the sack of flour on the counter, then went to get some sugar, "Well, what have you been up to today? Not often you come in twice in a row. I heard from your mother that you had a tutoring session today. How did it go?"
Stuart coughed and looked off to the side, "Well..."
"Ah, here you go!" Mr. Avery smiled and placed the sugar on the counter. Stuart nodded and handed him the money.
"Is it ok if I come by later and get it after I get the fruit?"
Mr. Avery nodded to him and Stuart left the shop. It wasn't all that busy, the market street, at this time of day. A few of the fruit sellers were meandering, talking amongst themselves about the weather and what kind of business they'd had. Stuart smiled and walked towards a vendor that his family frequented. The fruit seller stopped his conversation with the seller next to him and smiled at Stuart, "What'll it be today?"
"Hm... A bushel of apples, I think."
"Might I interest you in some of these oranges?" the vendor smiled and rose a ripe orange, "They're very good!"
"Not at this time of year."
"How about these bananas?"
"Too expensive."
"Pineapple?"
"Too prickly."
"Uhm... plums?" the vendor coughed and raised a plum. Stuart shook his head and took a bag of apples, then paid the man.
"Maybe some other time. All I need are apples right now." The seller nodded and took the money. Nobody ever wanted the exotic fruit. Well, except for that one customer that happened to come up just next to Stuart and pick up a few bananas. He paid the vendor then turned, but not before Stuart looked up and saw his face. And noticed one thing – he looked very familiar. And had blonde hair, goldish gray eyes, and was rather tall. And bared a striking resemblance to Edward Young. Wait a minute...
"Hey!" The writer turned slightly, looking over his shoulder. "Yeah, you! What are you doing out here? Come to stalk me and tell me how inept I am?"
"I'm here for fruit." He calmly responded, raising the yellow fruit in his hands. Stuart seethed and took a step forward, fist clenched.
"Yeah right!"
Edward shrugged and started to walk forward again. Stuart's whole body started to twitch and he felt a very strong urge to hurt someone. Like Edward. With a blunt object to his head. Like – he reached and grabbed an orange – this fruit right here. Stuart reared his arm back and threw the orange, smiling as it hit the blonde's head. The man paused, rubbing the back of his head with his free hand, and looked over at Stuart, "What is it with your obsession with hitting me?"
"I am not obsessed with hitting you!"
"That's the second time today." The writer replied, and turned to leave again.
"Well that's the second time today I've had to see your face! Next time I'll hit that instead!"
"There you go with your obsession." He said, just loud enough for Stuart to hear, and walked away, ignoring the loud obscenities the younger man shouted at him. It was bad enough he'd had to deal with him yesterday and that afternoon, then with Thomas, but to have to get hit by the boy in the evening when he was trying to get food? Cruel.
The aforementioned boy stormed in the door of his family's house, dropped the bag of apples at his feet, and ran upstairs in fury. His mother came out of the kitchen, shouting up at Stuart that he wasn't allowed to get groceries anymore since the apples looked mealy and he'd forgotten the flour and sugar.
Stuart just ignored her and slammed the door to his room. He'd get that writer – oh yes. Next time he saw him, he'd hit his face! With an iron or something!
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Well yay there's another chapter done! I'm not all that pleased with the first half, but I kind of like the second half of the chapter. Hiro/Hugh's a hard character for me to keep IC, I don't know why. So is Yuki/Edward. The rest are pretty easy. Although Shuichi/Stuart is creeping up on me... Sakano/Mr. Saunders is the easiest! He has the most extreme personalities and those are always easy to keep in character.
Me be happy if you review, me would, yes. ^_^;