Chapter 3: Shuichi's Little Helper
Yuki continued tapping on his computer. The words were flowing right out of him. He knew that it wouldn't take long until he could submit his newly-finished chapter. He felt somewhat relieved that he could accomplish one of his best works, thanks to the silence.
Yuki stared at the screen. The tapping had stopped. He watched the blinking line at the end of an unfinished statement.
He looked over at his bed, gazing upon the slumbering infant that was amidst all the pillows and the stuffed toys.
"Shu…" Yuki thought to himself.
He looked at his desk clock. "3 AM… Where could that idiot be?"
He pushed his chair backward, and stretched his back, diverting his gaze towards the ceiling. He pulled out a cigarette, placed it in his mouth and closed his eyes.
"Where is he?" He contemplated once more.
Yuki suddenly found himself thinking about Shuichi's outcry earlier that evening.
"What's the matter with me?!" He heard, as he pictured Shuichi's heart-broken expression.
"What's the matter with me…" Yuki repeated to himself.
He opened his eyes once more, and gazed at Cliff, who was still in a deep slumber. He got up, and walked towards him, and peered down. His eyes were no longer sharp and cold, but soft and slightly melancholy. He looked at Cliff with affection.
"What's the matter with me… can you tell me?" He muttered, the unlightened cigarette following the action of his mouth.
"Can you?..." Yuki repeated once more, slowly holding the infant's hand.
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"Yeh Yeh yehhh!!! GO Shu!!!" Ryuichi cheered as Shuichi glomped down a whole pack of Strawberry pocky.
Shuichi chewed as if there was no tomorrow. He gulped down, and held up a "v" sign with his fingers.
Ryuichi held up Kumagoro, controlling the doll's hand to make it look like it was clapping.
"Kumagoro says you're amazing, Shu!!! Ahahahahaaa!!!"
Shuichi smiled, but slowly drifted into his thoughts again- his sad expression could not be hidden.
"What's wrong, Shu-san??" Ryu asked in a comical tone, peering over Kumagoro's head.
"It's… it's just that…" Shuichi stammered, his hands shaking.
"Huuuh?" Ryu said in a catty tone, with eyebrows raised.
"It's just that… every time I'm in trouble… You're always there. I feel so happy, Ryu, honest!" Shu said, smiling, then changing back to a sad expression, "But… I wish I could at least do the same for you… I feel… well.. It makes me feel a bit guilty…" Shuichi bowed his head.
"Nah!!!" Ryu said in his childish voice, "Ryu and Shu-kun are best friends!!!" He said triumphantly, making Kumagoro dance.
"Ryu-kun…" Shuichi looked up, sniffing.
"Which reminds me…" Ryu interrupted. "Kumagoro is wondering why Shu-kun was out so late at night!" He said with a puzzled look on his face.
"o-oh!" Shuichi shook his head, "i-it's nothing… Yuki and I… er… I just got a little disappointed, that's all... so I went out for a while and---"
"Hn?" Ryuichi nudged Shu, "You can tell us what's wrong, Shu-kun!" He smiled reassuringly.
"W-well… I don't know… but…" Shu stammered, clasping his hands.
"It's okay, we can keep a secret!!!" Ryu nodded.
"Oh… okay…" Shu tilted his head, his sadness evident once more. "You see… I thought Yuki and I… well… I thought we could have a new member in our family…"
"Family?" Ryu asked in a childish tone.
"Y-yeah…" Shuichi continued, "Someone new who I really loved came to our family… and I thought that it would be perfect! …but Yuki tried telling me that it was not going to happen. But the strange thing is—one day---" Shuichi paused, looking at Ryu, wondering if he should mention anything about Tohma.
"Hai?" Ryu uttered, his eyebrows raised. (*yes?)
"Well, one day… Yuki didn't act the same to me anymore. And—and I think I'm jealous because the new family member can make Yuki laugh… when I couldn't…" Shuichi tried to fight back the tears. Ryuichi's eyebrows slanted, as he felt sad for Shuichi as well.
"Well…" Shuichi continued, "I thought that I was special… but now someone else seems more special for Yuki… and it just feels terrible to think that Yuki doesn't care about me anymore…"
There was silence all over the room. Shuichi bowed his head, sniffing, and yet still trying to suppress the tears.
Shuichi felt a pressure on his shoulder, and saw that Ryuichi had his hand on it. He looked up, seeing Ryu no longer in his childish facial expression, and instead, looking like Hiro-- serious. He gazed up at Ryu's soft, amethyst-colored eyes, and his heart-warming smile.
"R-ryu…" Shuichi said in a soft tone.
"Shuchi…" Ryuichi said in a serious-yet-sincere tone, as he took his hand off Shuichi's shoulder and knelt down once more. "No one can allow you to be feel bad but you…"
Shuichi could only gaze at Ryu. Seeing the transformation of character was enchanting and at the same time, comforting.
"I don't know about Yuki… but maybe you just don't know what he's really feeling. He may act that way to someone else, but I'm sure that the one who really matters to him is no one but you... Ne?" Then Ryu suddenly changed back to his childish cat-like smile.
"Ryu-kun…" Shuichi said once more, feeling his tears starting to flow from his eyes. "A-arigatou…" (*thank you.)
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Yuki woke up to a loud racket coming from his living room. He realized that he had fallen asleep beside Cliff— kneeling on the floor and his hand still holding onto Cliff's soft hand. He blinked and rubbed his eye, anger was evidently on his face.
"Shu…" He said in an irritated tone.
He got up, looked at the still slumbering Cliff then opened the door and walked right to the living room. He noticed the wall clock—
"9 AM." He mumbled to himself. "If he thinks making me worry will—"
Yuki stopped in his tracks as he saw a dark-haired man on his couch, watching a video of Bad Luck at ear-piercing volume.
"Tatsuha???" Yuki yelled, looking at his brother with disbelief.
Tatsuha turned his head and waved at his brother, suddenly turning down the volume.
"Hahaha! Heya, Onii-san!! Did I wake you?" He grinned and waved.
Yuki walked towards him, placing his hands in his pockets, "No… I'm sleep-walking." He answered in a cold tone. "What are you doing here?!"
"Oh! Hehehe!" Tatsuha scratched the back of his head, "I just wanted to drop by and see my onii-san! And I was also planning to ask Shuichi if I could borrow that Nittle Grasper video Ryuichi gave him… " Yuki shook his head as he thought he saw a momentary evil sheen in Tatsuha's eyes.
"That reminds me… Is Shuichi here?" Tatsuha asked.
"No… he's not." Yuki coldly answered. "…And why are you watching Bad Luck videos?"
"Ohohohohoooo~!" Tatsuha giggled in a girlish tone, "Well you see, now that I don't have any videos of Ryu, I thought that Shu was basically very much like him and that he… uh could be… uh, don't get me wrong! He's all yours but---"
"Stop using Shuichi as a stunt double for your erotic fantasies…" Yuki said with an eyebrow raised.
Tatsuha smiled sheepishly.
"Anyways, about Shuichi…What time will he come—"
"I don't know." Yuki interrupted as he shifted his gaze towards the video.
The soft volume was still audible enough for both of them to hear the words clearly. It was Shuichi's song during that Music Fest…
ORENJI iro tsuki yoru ga kuruto kimi no koto o omoi dasu
kakko tsuketa ore no SERIFU wa hoka no dare kano SERIFU de
*(When an orange-colored moonlit night comes, I think of you,
as though the chic affectations in my words were someone else's words.)
fui ni miageru SHIRUETTO kimi no yokogao o terashita
awai hikari wa ima demo
(*Even now, (I can remember) the pale light
that illuminated your silhouette as you suddenly glanced up (at that night's
sky).)
nani o matteru kimi wa inai heya
tokei dake ga ashi oto no youni nemurenai mune ni hibiku
ima mo matteru hitori tomatteru
futari mita anohi no tsuki o ima dokode kimi wa miteru
(*What is it I'm waiting for, in this room without you --
it's just the clock's ticking, but it resonates in my sleepless heart like
the sound of footsteps.
Even now I'm waiting; I stop here alone.
From where do you now see the moon we saw together on that day?)
(*In the Moonlight)
Tatsuha could see that, though his brother tried to hide it, he was really worried about Shuichi. But he didn't bother to tell Yuki—he might end up dying young.
"Oh yeah, Onii-san… Mika asked me to give this to you." Tatsuha pulled out a slightly crumpled letter envelope from his pocket. "I tried to read it but—"
Yuki shot out a cold look.
"Hey hey! I'm just kidding!" Tatsuha waved his hands, defending himself.
Yuki didn't hesitate to open it. His golden eyes scanned through the entire content of the letter. Tatsuha could only look up with a slight frown on his face as he watched Yuki's eyes. There was pure silence.
Yuki then put the letter down, blinked slowly, and folded it back. He placed it in his breast pocket.
Tatsuha blinked, as if awakened from hypnosis. "Hey, Yuki. What did it say???"
"Nothing…" Yuki said coldly as he turned and walked back towards his room. In the silence, Tatshua heard even the opening of his door- and the continuation of his typing on his laptop.
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Shuichi opened his eyes, and blinked repeatedly as he could only see a pink blur…
His vision cleared and he realized that Kumagoro was right in front of his face.
"EYYYAAAhh!" Shuichi shouted as he immediately sat up.
"Ohayoooo~!" Ryuichi greeted in a childish way. He giggled as he pulled Kumagoro towards him. (*good morning!)
"Is Shuichi-kun okay now??" He asked cheerfully as a stick of Pocky dangled from his mouth.
"M-mmm…" Shuichi nodded.
"That's good!!! Ryuichi and Kumagoro are glad!!!" Ryuichi chewed on the pocky.
"How did I end up here?" Shuichi thought to himself. "Oh yeah!!! Last night… Oh… OHHHHHH!!!! Yuki is going to kill me!!!"
"Ryuuu-kunnnnnnn!!!!" Shuichi cried out at the puzzled Ryuichi, "W-what time is it??"
"Hn?? It's 9 AM, Shu-kun!" Ryu nodded reassuringly.
"OH noooOOOOO!!!!" Shu screamed as he immediately got up and put on his sneakers.
"Shuichi-kun has to go?" Ryu sadly asked, with Kumagoro seemingly wiping his eyes.
"I'm sorry Ryu-kun, but I have to go now. But---"
Shu ran up to Ryuichi, stood in front of him, paused and hugged him. Ryuichi's was surprised for a moment, but then his surprised face melted into a smile.
"Thank you! I owe you so much!!!" Shuichi sincerely smiled.
"Mmmm!" Ryuichi smiled once again, finally swallowing the stick of pocky.
"uhm… I don't know if this means much but…" Shuichi let go of Ryu and dug into his pockets. A clash of sounds emanated as he shuffled through it.
"Hn?" Ryuichi asked as he bit onto another stick of pocky.
Shuichi finally pulled out something—three lollipops and a rubber duckie.
"Please accept this as a token of my gratitude!!!" Shuichi held up as he suddenly knelt down.
Ryuchi's eyes were misty, and the stick of pocky fell from his mouth as he embraced the items into his own hands.
"Thank you, Shu-kunnnn!!!" He screamed in delight.
"I'm glad you like it!" Shuichi smiled, then sped towards the door, "Well then, bye now, Ryu-kun!!! Best friendddd!!!" He waved and went out the door.
Shuichi ran as fast as his feet could take him. He ran through any obstacle.
Traffic was bad down at the intersection, but he found his way through.
"Such insensitive men!" Shuichi mumbled to himself, "How could those guys sleep on the sidewalk like that- with a knife and all?!"
Shuichi's heart raced as he turned around the corner- just a block until Yuki's apartment. He was starting to hear his heartbeat in his ears, and it was now in synch with his racing footsteps.
He finally got to the familiar apartment, and immediately opened the door.
"YYYYYUUUUUU-" Shuichi screamed as he entered the house, until he saw someone seated on the living room couch. "KIIiiiiiii…"
Tatsuha turned his head, and in a blink of an eye, was in front of Shuichi, smiling and holding his hands.
"Shuichi-kun!!!" Tatsuha chanted, "You're hommmee!! Hehehe! I was wondering if uh---"
"Tatsuha-kun?" Shuichi asked, still slightly surprised.
"Could I borrow that Nittle Grasper video???" Tatsuha asked with puppy dog eyes.
"Ahhh… Sorry Tatsuha-kun… it's in my house… you know… far away…" Shuichi smiled wearily.
"Ah." Tatsuha bowed his head, his grip suddenly loosened.
"ehe…" Shuichi smiled nervously.
Their conversation was suddenly cut short as Shuichi saw Yuki walking out from his room, but suddenly detouring towards the kitchen… he didn't even seem to see him. Tatsuha looked at his brother, his eyebrow raised.
"Y-yuki?" Shuichi said softly.
"Shu…" Tatsuha looked at him with sincerity and smiled, "Since I'm already here— maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea that I treat you to a meal! Let's go!"
Before Shuichi could agree, Tatsuha pulled him towards the door, and they both left the apartment.
Yuki walked back, carrying a can of beer in his hand. He paused, looking at the living room. A slightly sad expression was on his face, but it disappeared as he returned his stern expression and, as if awakened from a dream, he continued to walk back towards his room.
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Tatsuha and Shuichi sat across each other at the restaurant. Tatsuha ate slowly, and tried to chat with Shuichi, as he noticed that Shu didn't touch his food.
"Hey Shu! Eat up, I'm sure you're hungry."
"Uh… okay…" Shuichi said wearily as he slowly picked up a chunk of beef with his fork, but kept poking the meat at his mouth.
"Uh Shu… you have to open your mouth." Tatsuha said as he felt a sweatdrop forming on his forehead.
"o-oh!" Shuichi said, as if broken from hypnosis once more. He opened his mouth and chewed the chunk of beef slowly.
"Shuichi…" Tatsuha said with concern. "I don't know what's wrong with you and Yuki… but it's evident that Yuki---"
Shuichi looked up.
"It's obvious that Yuki is slipping away… breaking down… the longer that you're drifting from him. Please, let me know what's wrong. He is, in fact… my brother."
Shuichi looked at Tatsuha, and saw that he was indeed deeply disturbed by the chain of events. He thought one moment, trying to think if he should tell Tatsuha about Cliff…
"Ah… it doesn't matter anymore." Shuichi thought sadly.
"Shu?" Tatsuha asked, noticing Shuichi lost in his thoughts again.
Shu then nodded, and started to tell Tatsuha... everything.
Tatsuha kept silent… waiting for Shuichi to finish.
::After a while…::
"And so now, I don't know why Yuki's like this just because of Cliff and all…" Shuichi ended his story.
"So…" Tatsuha said, his hands resting upon each other. His gaze was not at Shu—it was through him.
"Tatsuha? Are you okay?"
"You have a baby?... wow."
~~BLAGAAAAGGGGGG!!!~~
The customers looked as they saw a man unconscious on the floor.
"T-tatsuha!!!" Shuichi screamed.
"Hurry! Get a doctor!!" a waiter shouted as he attended to Tatsuha, who had a fixed smile on his face and eyes in a swirl…
"They have a babyyy…" Tatsuha chuckled.
Author's Note: Thanks very very very much for reviewing the last chapter!!! *wallows in so much delicious food* :3~ Oh, oh! Thank you especially to panatlantic (mmm! Pudding!!! :D), Numero13, tidus2529, noali, Inori-Sakura (aaahhh! Pockyyy!!! :D~), Kawaii Usa, Zaphi (ohmygosh! I'm someone's fave author??? THANKKKSS!!! *bows endlessly like Sakano*, DI (ahhh!! *gulps down smiley cookie* You're my cookie supplier! THANKKKK YOUUU! :3) AND punky girl (best pwen!!! *huggles in chibi form* you ah! you're using our shared account ah! *checks out punky girl if she has new fanfics* ngihihihiiii! :3 *gives strawberry pocky c/o Inori-Sakura) Thank you soo much!!! Oh, and one more thing---*in K-san's voice* "It's Gravitation!"
