Chapter 4
Yuki and Shuichi managed to pry themselves from bed a little after noon. Ravenous from the morning's exertion, Yuki made pancakes while Shuichi showered.
Yuki, still clad in PJ bottoms and a robe held the morning newspaper in one hand and a fork in the other. He was steadily eating his way through a pre-cut and maple syrup drenched pile of pancakes without once looking up from what he was reading. Shuichi, fully dressed in cargo pants and a sweat shirt but still toweling his hair dry, sat in the chair opposite Yuki and started covering his pancakes in the orange marmalade Yuki'd already set out for him.
"Yu-Eiri, what are you planning to do today?" Shuichi asked.
"Writing," Yuki answered, not taking his eyes off the newspaper.
"But you just finished a book," Shuichi protested.
"Three weeks ago. I should have already started the next one," he said, still reading.
"Three weeks isn't that long a break," Shuichi pointed out.
"You only had a two week break and are going into the studio today," Yuki countered.
"But, Yu-Eiri, that's different," Shuichi insisted.
"Because you don't have a bleeding ulcer or because you didn't just nearly kill yourself?" Yuki asked, finally putting down the paper and looking at Shuichi.
"Both... neither... I don't know. Yu-Eiri, I just worry about you. You always work too hard and don't take care of yourself," Shuichi replied.
"Idiot," Yuki said affectionately, "I'm fine, I have to get back to work sometime. You're going to be gone all afternoon so I have to take advantage of the peace and quiet."
"If you say so," Shuichi said reluctantly. "I'm not going to be home for dinner, promise you'll take a break and eat something."
"Promise," Yuki agreed rolling his eyes at Shuichi's mother hen tendencies. "And, brat, just call me Yuki."
"But this morning you said--" Shuichi began to protest.
"I know what I said this morning, and you can call me anything you like." Yuki paused a second, then amended his statement to add, "As long as it doesn't involve a -chan. If I'd realized how hard it'd be for you to change I wouldn't have made the offer. I'd hate for you to strain yourself."
"Yu-Eiri," Shuichi began.
Yuki quirked one eyebrow.
"Eiri," Shuichi corrected himself, "that's mean. You make it sound like I'm stupid or something just 'cause it's taking me a little while to get used to calling you a different name."
"If the shoe fits..." Yuki replied with an unconcerned shrug.
Shuichi glanced over at the microwave clock and gasped, "I was supposed to be at the studio ten minutes ago!" Shuichi pecked Yuki on one side of his mouth, grabbed his favorite orange parka, and ran out the door shouting back, "Don't wait up, I'll be home late."
Yuki cleared the breakfast dishes off the counter, left them in the sink for Shuichi to take care of later, and retreated to his office to begin work on his next book.
"La li ho!" Shuichi called out cheerily as he bounded into the studio, only fifteen minutes late.
"Good holiday," Hiro observed more than asked.
"The best!" Shuichi agreed, nodding enthusiastically as he took off his parka. "I spent the whole two weeks with Yu-Eiri, and he wasn't mean once! Not really mean, anyway," Shuichi added his smile dimming just a tad at the thought of some of the snide comments Yuki made during their vacation.
"I guess that means you didn't have time to work on lyrics," Suguru said sourly, distinctly unenthused by Shuichi's usual habit of rampant unprofessionalism.
Shuichi brightened back up and pulled a folded piece of paper from his back pocket. "Yes, I did. Here it is!" he said waving the paper triumphantly, "Or most of it anyway. I had some more verses, but they weren't very good, which is why they're crossed out, and I was going to come up with something better, but I kinda forgot," Shuichi babbled as Hiro and Suguru looked over the much revised and scribbled on piece of paper.
"This is good," Hiro said, surprised. Hiro and Suguru didn't agree with Yuki's usual assessment of Shuichi's lyric writing abilities. They thought Shuichi tended to do a pretty decent job on the final product. However, getting him started was usually a challenge and his first attempts were almost always total drivel.
"Really good," Suguru seconded Hiro's assessment. "It might turn out to be our best song yet."
"You don't have to sound so surprised," Shuichi grumbled. Then quickly getting over it he added, "It still needs another verse or two."
"No, it's perfect," Hiro contradicted. "Fujisaki and I have been working on a guitar solo arrangement that would go perfectly with this."
"The chorus is great. With a fantastic hook like that, we don't need a lot of verses," Suguru added enthusiastically.
The perpetually worried Sakano walked into the studio with, what else, a worried expression on his face. "Shuichi, you're finally here," Sakano said, partially relieved.
"He was only fifteen minutes late, for him that's practically early," Hiro said in Shuichi's defense.
"Shindo-san completed the lyrics over the holiday," Suguru added soothingly. "And the music never takes us very long to work out, we already have a few ideas. The track should be finished tonight."
"Tonight," Sakano repeated in a tone of wonderment, tears streaming down his face. "The tour starts tomorrow, and the song will be finished tonight." Ebullient in his relief Sakano impulsively embrace Suguru, who just stood there looking extremely uncomfortable. "I must tell Seguchi-san the good news."
Six hours later, the song was mostly done. Suguru was mixing the final product, while Hiro and Shuichi sprawled on the couch. Their bit done, they were only hanging around as a formality, so they could give Suguru's work final approval. Musical genius that he was, Shuichi and Hiro's approval of Suguru's arrangement was never really a question, but they liked to go through the motions anyway--it was the principle of the thing.
"How was your visit to Ayaka-chan?" Shuichi asked.
"Fantastic," Hiro said, sappy smile on his face. Then leaning toward Shuichi, he whispered, "I asked her to marry me."
"What!?" Shuichi exclaimed in shock. He knew Hiro and Ayaka were serious, but he had no idea how serious.
Suguru looked up from what he was doing just as Hiro clamped a hand over Shuichi's mouth. Hiro smiled and waved with his free hand. Suguru just shrugged and went back to what he was doing.
"Keep it down," Hiro hissed to his best friend. "We don't want the press to know just yet."
"Did she say yes? She said yes, didn't she? Of course she said yes, you're Hiro, she couldn't not say yes," Shuichi babbled excitedly, but in a near whisper.
"She said yes," Hiro agreed, sappy smile back in place.
"Congratulations!" Shuichi squealed as he launched himself at his best friend for a congratulatory hug. "I know you and Ayaka are going to be so happy together," Shuichi said, returning to a whisper after Suguru shot them another curious glance.
"Thank you," Hiro said, "But, don't tell anyone, not even Yuki."
"Why not?" Shuichi asked plaintively. "Yu-Eiri doesn't talk to the press, and I tell him everything."
"Yuki does talk to his family every once in a while and they talk to Ayaka's family and she hasn't told them yet. They're not exactly happy that she's dating a musician. She wanted a chance to talk them around before we tell everyone about the engagement."
"Oh," Shuichi said, face screwed up in concentration as he tried to work out what possible objection any parent could have to Hiro.
The pair fell silent for a second, pondering Hiro's good fortune. Then Hiro, changing the subject, broke the silence with a question, "Uh, Shu, what's with all the Yu-Eiri's? You've been calling him that all afternoon."
"I can't believe I didn't already tell you!" Shuichi said, clasping his hand and bouncing up and down on the couch, too excited to sit still. "Yuki told me he loved me and said I could call him Eiri if I wanted!"
"Yuki actually said the words 'I love you.'?" Hiro asked incredulously. Everyone suspected the author loved Shuichi, but no one thought he'd ever actually say it out loud.
"Well, he actually said he was going to tell me he loved me but I kept interrupting so he changed his mind," Shuichi admitted, "but it's the same thing."
"Ah," Hiro said, nodding in understanding. That sounded like Yuki. "And is Yu-Eiri some new nickname? Term of endearment?" Hiro asked teasingly.
"Not you too," Shuichi groaned. "Yu-Eiri, Eiri, already made fun of me about it this morning. I'm trying. I'll get use to saying Eiri eventually."
"Why?" Hiro asked reasonably.
"Huh?" Shuichi returned, scratching his head in confusion.
"Why start calling him Eiri after all this time?" Hiro clarified.
"Because... because that's what his family calls him, and... and he said I could," Shuichi answered, clearly fishing around for a reason he didn't have.
"But, from what you've told me, he doesn't really get along with his family, mostly because they want him to be something he's not. It seems to me that the reason you can't switch from Yuki to Eiri, is because Yuki's who he is," Hiro argued.
"Hmm," Shuichi said, nodding understandingly as if considering what Hiro had to say. Then he said, "I don't get it."
"Okay, I'll put it another way," Hiro said. "Eiri is the responsible eldest son who was going to marry Ayaka and take over the temple one day. Yuki is a successful romance novelist living with a pop star."
"So Yuki's really Yuki and I should just call him that," Shuichi said, light finally dawning. "Thank you Hiro, calling him Eiri was really hard."
Just then, an incensed K followed by a frantic Sakano came into the studio. "Please, K-san, try to understand. I'm sure Seguchi-san is only doing what he feels is in Bad Luck's best interests," Sakano was pleading.
"Ha," K contradicted. "I know what is best for my band and canceling the tour isn't it. I don't care what twisted ulterior motive he has, I won't let Tohma do it."
"Cancel the tour?" Hiro asked, concerned.
"Seguchi-san didn't cancel the tour, he merely postponed it indefinitely--to allow you plenty of time to work on the movie soundtrack," Sakano said reassuringly.
"But we're almost done," Shuichi said confused.
"I informed Seguchi-san that the first song will be done tonight. He thinks you should take your time and produce several choices to present to the music director when the time comes," Sakano explained. "This is such a big step for Bad Luck's international career, Seguchi-san wants to make sure we put our best foot forward."
Suguru, who'd only been half paying attention as he put the final touches on their composition, finally joined the conversation. "You can tell my cousin, 'Thank you for the generous offer, but we don't need more time,' This song is the only one the director needs to hear."
"Pack your bags, we'll be leaving in a week," K ordered. "Tohma can cancel all the appearances he wants, I will arrange bigger, better, more stupendous gigs," K declared laughing maniacally.
"Uh, Mr. K, perhaps it'd be better if we don't piss off Seguchi Tohma. He does own the record company, after all," Hiro pointed out.
"Then I will reason with him first," K said pulling out his side arm. With his gun aimed in the air, K whirled around and exited the studio.
"Mizuki-san," Tohma said, smiling a pleasant business-like smile and giving a slight nod to the woman who'd just entered his office. "I appreciate your coming to see me on such short notice."
"Your secretary said the matter was urgent Seguchi-san," Mizuki replied with the same pleasant business-like smile plastered on her face. "I am curious to know why you would need to see me. I'm a book agent with no connections to the music industry."
"Actually, Mizuki-san, I wanted to speak with you about a personal matter," Tohma explained motioning Mizuki toward the chair in front of his desk. "Can I offer you some refreshment? Tea? Coffee?"
"No, thank you," Mizuki said as she sat down. "Personal matter?" she asked.
"Yuki Eiri."
"He is my client. What is it exactly you want to discuss about him?" Mizuki said primly, easily conveying where her first loyalty lay by the tone of her voice.
Cutting right to the chase, Tohma explained, "You are aware that Eiri-san has been under a great deal of stress of late?"
"I sent flowers when he was hospitalized with an ulcer," Mizuki acknowledged.
"I see," Tohma said, his expression and tone of voice implying that although he did in fact see, Mizuki was obviously clueless. "I won't reveal any details because that would be a violation of Eiri-san's confidence, but I will say that the ulcer was merely the tip of the iceberg." Here Tohma held up one hand to ward off Mizuki's concerned interruption. "Eiri is improving and shall soon be as well as ever," Tohma continued reassuringly. "However, at this juncture, I believe a book tour would be detrimental to his health. The demands of travel and being separated from friends and family for long periods is stressful for everyone, no matter what the circumstances. Eiri is simply too fragile at this point for his recovery to be risked in such a manner."
"I understand your concerns," Mizuki began, "but my first concern is Yuki-san." Now it was Mizuki's turn to hold up a hand to stall Tohma's protests. "I won't push him to do something he doesn't feel ready to do, but you must understand that canceling the tour at this juncture would be detrimental to Yuki's career. I will look into promotional media appearances and interviews as possible alternatives to a standard book tour and present my findings to Yuki for his consideration. The final say in the matter rests with him. If Yuki-san is prepared to tour, he will tour," Mizuki said, her smile never slipping, but in a tone carrying the weight of finality.
Tohma, not one to give up easily when it came to his brother-in-law's well being, was about to further his argument when he was rudely interrupted by Mr. K bursting into his office and aiming a rather large hand gun directly between his eyes. "You're not canceling Bad Luck's tour," K told Tohma.
"The tour is not cancelled, merely indefinitely postponed to give Bad Luck's members time for some rest and relaxation. It would be a shame if a new shining talent like theirs was allowed to burn out before its time due to stress and over work," Tohma explained reasonably, seemingly not at all worried by the gun pointed at his face.
K tossed his head back for a loud braying laugh which cut off abruptly before he said, "Don't you actually mean that as long as Yuki wants the brat he's going to have him and Bad Luck's tour is cancelled until Yuki comes to his senses and dumps Shuichi?"
"Perhaps," Tohma acknowledge with a strained smile.
"Uhmm..." Mizuki interrupted nervously. Unlike most of NG Records, she wasn't used to K's bizarre behavior. She'd only met him once before and that was a very brief introduction. "If that's the case, and Bad Luck's tour really is being cancelled for Yuki-san's sake, go ahead and uncancel it. Yuki isn't going to be here himself. The new book goes on the shelves next week and he has to promote it."
"Is that so?" K asked sounding pleased, and finally lowering his gun.
"There's a slim possibility that he's going to back out, but most likely he will be touring Japan promoting his book a week from now," Mizuki explained. "A very slim possibility," she added to reinforce for Tohma her own position on the matter.
"Ah, Mizuki-chan, you don't mind if I call you Mizuki-chan?" K said giving her his most winning smile.
"Not at all," Mizuki agreed quickly--he still hadn't put away the magnum.
"Mizuki-chan, I have an idea."
"An idea?" she asked.
"Joint tour," K said, finally holstering his weapon. "Is it not perfect?"
Mizuki thought about it for a second, "I can see the benefits... shared travel and lodging fees, overlapping fan bases..."
"Shu-chan not crying for hours missing his Yuki..." K continued.
"Someone else to handle Yuki-san when he's in one of his moods..." Mizuki added getting into the spirit of things.
"Come Mizuki-chan, let us discuss the details in-depth over lunch," K said, offering Mizuki his arm.
"An excellent idea K-san," Mizuki agreed taking his arm. "Do you like Italian? There's an excellent little restaurant that just opened not too far from here."
Mizuki and K exited the office, already coordinating a travel plan. Tohma sat at his desk staring into space and wondering when exactly had the lunatics taken over his life. Ryuichi had been around since the beginning and he did have a way of absentmindedly messing up plans, but Ryuichi was just a little eccentric and easy enough to manage once you got used to dealing with a pink bunny instead of a person. Somehow, since Bad Luck arrived, it seemed that nothing ended up going exactly the way Tohma wanted it--which was unusual for him.
"Yuki! I'm home!" Shuichi shouted as he kicked his shoes off and tossed his coat in the general vicinity of the coat rack. As soon as he was bare foot and in shirtsleeves, he pelted into Yuki's office and jumped into the author's lap. "Miss me?" Shuichi asked snuggling against his lover.
"No," Yuki said, as he pushed Shuichi off his lap.
"Yukiii!" Shuichi whined from his usual chair beside Yuki.
"You're back early," Yuki observed.
"We already finished the song, and it's really great!" Shuichi said excitedly, bouncing in place just a little.
"I guess that means the tour is still on for tomorrow," Yuki replied expressionlessly. "You should go pack and let me finish this chapter."
"Uh, I'm not sure what we're doing. Seguchi-san said the tour was cancelled but K said he wouldn't let it be cancelled. Last I know about it K was going up to threaten Seguchi. I don't know if we're going on tour or not, but I don't think we're leaving tomorrow," Shuichi explained.
"Too bad," Yuki commented as he slowly typed another sentence in his manuscript.
Shuichi shrugged, and said, "I don't know. I mean, I love being on stage but I hate leaving. Maybe it's good that we won't have to be apart."
"I wouldn't count on it," Yuki said dryly. "Mizuki has me scheduled for a book tour starting a week from tomorrow."
"You're not going to be here? I'll be stuck here all by myself?" Shuichi asked, getting extremely worried.
"Uh huh."
"Waah! K's gotta get the tour uncanceled, he's just got to!" Shuichi said, sniffling just a bit.