Chapter 4: Don't Cry For Me
The sun was a soft yellow, the breeze was slightly cooler and the sky was a cool blue.
It was a beautiful afternoon.
Shuichi walked slowly, gazing up into the clouds. He was smiling, despite the heavy load Tatsuha was being. He supported Tatsuha by letting his arm rest around his shoulder. Tatsuha walked slowly, still a bit dizzy from the fall-- he had a band-aid on the back of his head. He didn't notice the uneven (sharp) ornament on the floor, which was supposed to be part of the restaurant's confetti. They had just fixed up six-star ornaments in celebration of someone's birthday request.
"Awwww..." groaned Tatsuha, his head bowed. "I can't believe they used that extra old Blue Cheese as a substitute for smelling salts..."
"...and people actually eat it..." Shuichi mumbled, as he continued to stare up at the sky.
The two continued to take slow steps, they were heading back to Yuki's apartment. Shuichi just tried to contemplate on the beauty of the afternoon-- he didn't want to imagine Yuki's reaction... since Shu hadn't returned since last night.
"Hey Shu..." Tatsuha interrupted.
"Huh?" Shu looked at him.
"This baby..."
"Hm?"
"He... I... I think I agree with Yuki... it won't be good if he stayed with you two."
"I wish Yuki thought the same thing." Shuichi pouted.
"You know Shu... oni-san... he's very... weird."
"Yeah...I think I know that already." Shuichi smirked.
"But I mean, I'm his brother and all-- I think I can tell when he's trying to be something he's not..."
"Huh?"
"Shu... just because Yuki is trying to be with Cliff... it doesn't mean he loves you any less. I don't know, but... I think he thought that he needed more peace and quiet. And since you guys are complete opposites... well, sometimes maybe he didn't get what he wanted..."
"Oh..." Shuichi frowned, diverting his gaze to the sidewalk.
"But you know, Shu. I think it's about time that my brother realized how much he needs you. Just seeing him this morning..." Tatsuha trailed off.
"What happened this morning?"
"O-oh!! Nothing..." Tatsuha gave a reassuring smile. "Well then!..."
Tatsuha slid his arm off Shuichi's shoulder,momentarily stumbled, but soon got his footing steady. Shuichi could only gasp at how close Tatsuha could have fallen into the open manhole.
"Urk..." Tatsuha realized the manhole, "Ah, Shu-chan... this is where I leave you two!"
"Are you sure? Why don't you stay? I-I mean, with your head bleeding and all..."
"Nah!" Tatsuha waved his hand, "I was just supposed to come here for that video! And besides, I doubt that I can sleep peacefully with you two having problems and all!" Tatsuha winked.
Shuichi only watched as Tatsuha slowly walked, leaving him behind at the intersection where they were supposed to take a turn to Yuki's apartment.
Tatsuha paused, and turned around.
"Oh, and Shu-chan..." He smiled, "If onii-san asks where I went... tell him that I planned to go home and that I'm not coming back unless you two settle things!" He gave out a mischievous smile.
"Ah-hahaha... Hai..." Shuichi nodded as he smiled, and waved. (*Hai- yes; onii-san- elder brother)
Shuichi then turned left at the intersection and, looking up at the sky, he continued to contemplate.
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Yuki was driving home. He turned up the music as he momentarily gazed at the chuckling baby. He didn't realize that he softly smiled at the sight.
He made a turn at the left, and then stopped-- traffic was terrible. He shifted his mirror, checking if he can back up... but a car immediately blocked the path behind him.
"Great... We'll be going home late." Yuki mumbled.
Yuki grumbled at the situation he found himself in. What was the cause of this traffic jam?
The car slowly moved, and traffic was becoming smooth once more. Yuki drove the car slowly, trying to see the cause of the ruckus at the side of the road-- he barely saw anything through all the crowd.
"This just in--" The radio suddenly interrupted, "A traffic jam was caused at..."
"Okay... about time they said what was wrong." Yuki mumbled.
"Authorities have now cleared up the area, and claim that the cause of the traffic was a drunken man who got into a brawl... and then fell into the open manhole near the construction area. They have gotten him out but..."
"That's stupid..." Yuki grinned.
"WHO SAID I WAS DRUNK?!" A voice suddenly interrupted in the radio.
"Hey hey sonny, calm down... and come with us quietly" other voices bumped in, as a sound of chains were mixing in.
"Oh my..." the female reporter erred.
"No! what are you doing? don't you see the band aid on my head?! No, NOO!! Let go of meeee!!!"
"Hey hey, quiet down sonny, if you don't want to cause more of a scene!"
"I need medical attentionnnn, my head's bleeding~~ !!!"
"yeah... you do need medical attention, now, now... (a sound of metal chains breaking interrupts) UMPH!!! HEY!!! COME BACK HERE!!!"
~~~BLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP~~
"Ahem..." the reporter continued, "So... uh... there you have it, folks... a deranged, drunken man... and he's on the loose. But not to worry; Police will get to him soon."
"Hmph... that's a relief..." Yuki said sarcastically as he watched a silhouette running and then turning at the next intersection, police cars chasing after him.
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Shuichi tapped his shoes as he sat on the living room couch. He leaned forward, resting his hands on his lap. The waiting seemed like forever.
He glanced at the wall clock.
"7 PM..." What's taking Yuki so long?
Suddenly, the phone rang. Shuichi got up and went to answer it.
"Hello?" he said in a weary voice.
"Shuichi-kun?" he heard a familiar voice at the other line.
"Ah... I'm sorry, who's this?"
"It's Tohma..."
"Oh... OHHH!!! A-a-ahh... H-hello Tohma!!!" Shuichi stuttered.
"Is Yuki home?" Tohma said in his usual soft voice.
"Uh.. n-no. He hasn't come home yet."
"Oh, I see. Well then, please tell him that I called, Shindou-san. Thank you. Oh! And congratulations on the release of your third album."
"A-ah! Th-thanks!!!"
::Click::
Shuichi returned the phone in its cradle. He paused for a while, then shrugged off what had just happened. He sat down on the sofa once more, trying to wonder whether his third album would sell as good as his last two albums.
"I wonder if they liked that rock version of the other songs..." He asked himself.
Just then, he heard the click of the door. He immediately stood up. He saw Yuki, walking into the living room, carrying Cliff.
"Y-yuki!!!" he screamed, his eyes showing his joy. "where were you?"
"Shouldn't I be the one asking that?" Yuki coldly answered, putting the baby down on the sofa.
"Oh..." Shuichi looked sadly, "You see... I felt so awful yesterday that--"
"That you just left me here to worry?"
"N-NO!!!" Shuichi shook his head, "...were you... worried?"
Yuki gave no answer.
"uh... anyway... Yuki... I just wanted to tell you that my new album has been released and if it pays enough... I'm planning to do what it takes to find Cliff's mother."
"Hn?" Yuki had a slight look of concern on his face.
"You see, Yuki... I realized that Cliff can't stay with us. I know you tried to tell me but--"
"Oh... so you're tired of him now?"
Shuichi shook his head, "It's just that--"
"Well then..." Yuki interrupted. "It's your turn to take care of him now. I have to finish my novel... and if you're wondering where I went... I went to the publisher."
"Y-Yuki!" Shuichi held out his hand to Yuki, who had his back turned and walked away.
Yuki paused, then said something that left Shuichi in disbelief.
"It's almost over."
Then he walked to his room, leaving Shuichi to hear the audibility of the door shutting and the continuation of Yuki's typing on his computer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shuichi woke up to the sound of crying. He looked at the clock.
"2 AM?" He rubbed his eyes as he yawned. He got up and did his best to mix the milk solution as fast as he could so that he could go to sleep once more.
Cliff happily received the milk bottle and soon dozed off once more. It was very peaceful but, Shuichi suddenly felt like he couldn't sleep again. He had dozed off only an hour earlier, trying to shrug off what Yuki had vaguely said. And now, he seemed to find himself thinking about the statement once more.
"It's almost over." Yuki's cold voice echoed in his head.
"What is, Yuki?" Shuichi whimpered, "This problem? The novel? My album?... but my album's done already... or were you referring to US?"
Shuichi placed his hands under his head, supporting it as if the thoughts were affecting its weight as well. He sighed as he thought whether Yuki could probably have been talking about them.
"Why does he have to be this vague sometimes?" He thought then pouted.
Shuichi tossed and turned, and finally rested on his left, where he fixed his gaze upon Cliff.
"How could it end?" He said in a soft tone. "Can you tell me why?"
He knew that no answer could be given by this slumbering child, but deep within him, he felt comfortable just knowing that he was able to tell someone-- even if he was but a child.
Shuichi slowly closed his eyes, succumbing to the darkness and the depth of his thoughts...
"How could it end?"
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::The next day::
Yuki groaned as he got raised his head. He had fallen asleep in front of his laptop again. He stared at the myriad of useless letter combinations onscreen.
He got up, then went to the bathroom to wash himself up. As he wiped his face with the soft towel, he suddenly realized something peculiar...
"This towel... smells like spring morning..." He mumbled.
He quickly stepped out of his room, almost slipping. It was a good thing that he held on to the door handle. He realized the spotless wooden floors, all nice and shiny. He walked slowly, looking around the house in amazement. Everything was in order, all so clean and fresh-smelling.
The scent of bacon caught his nose. He followed the trail- to the kitchen. He stopped as he stood by the doors. He saw a brown-haired girl in an apron and Cliff, sitting happily in his chair while eating pancakes.
"w-what... who are you?" Yuki said, slightly irate.
The girl turned around. It was Shuichi.
"Ohayo YUKI!!!" He greeted joyfully.
"Sh-shuichi?!" Yuki stammered.
"You like?" Shuichi patted the skirt of his maid uniform, "I dyed my hair brown again, since it really was the original color. Hehe!"
"What the heck? What's wrong with you Shuichi?" Yuki shot back, starting to get confused with what he saw before him.
"Things need to get straightened out in this house!" Shuichi cheerfully smiled. "Now that there's a baby and all, we need to have it child-proofed!!!" Shuichi lectured as he held up a magazine.
Yuki walked towards him and read the magazine's name, "Mothers Monthly..."
"There's nothing else that we can do but give Cliff the best that we can offer!"
Yuki turned to the page where there was a paperclip, "There's nothing you can do but give your child the best that you can offer..." He mumbled.
"DAMMIT SHUICHI!" Yuki bonked the magazine on Shuichi's head.
"Ow!!!" Shuichi cried, as he rubbed his head. He whimpered as he did.
"Yuki... that hurt..." He whined.
"Shuichi..." Yuki closed his eyes, and gave out a stern look on his face, "You don't need to pretend to be what you're not..."
"But..."
"Even if Cliff is staying with us, you can never take the place of his mother. Don't pretend to be a woman!"
Shuichi's eyes started to fill with tears. "But... but I thought..."
"Damn... Shuichi... you never think... you always act! Why can't you just be yourself?! You can't be what everybody always wants."
"Y-yuki..." Shuichi choked as the tears started to fall. Yuki only looked at him.
Shuichi pushed Yuki aside, and ran, slamming the door behind him.
Author's Note: OMG!!! I'm so sorry I took so long to update. And this chapter isn't very long either! *scratches head*. So sorry everyone! I'm working on this fic as much as I can, but I really want it to have a nice ending that everyone will understand completely... without having to mess with any of the characters' attitudes. There's nothing worse in a fic than an OOC, right? (er... maybe for me ^_^;;)
Oh yes, I really want to thank those who supported me by reviewing the past chapter! You really gave me the motivation to at least continue. :D Thanks especially to: Yume no Usagi, iloveAkira, Ban's lover named 'Pia' (*winks*), CharlieTheOtakuNymph, noali, Dead Insomniac (Thanks for the kuma cookie!!! *glomps*), and Zaphi!!! Arigatouuuu!!! *bows silmultaneously like Sakano*
