I'll wait for you
A/N: Not exactly following the way the original story is, this is my own little warped thing as some of you have noticed. I continue it onward, wondering how in the world I'm going to pass Geometry with a B. If anyone has suggestions to THAT, then I am eternally grateful.
Disclaimer: I'm butchering "Everything but the Girl's" song "Missing" this time. And I still have no copyright ownership over them. Unless someone wants to give it to me for my birthday, which is in two months (August 6th) YAY!
Oh, and take note of this being five years AFTER the previous chapter.
Chapter 3-Welcome Home
Step off the train
Walking down your street again
Past your door
But you don't live there anymore
Finally Friday, and finally home. Shuichi had just finished his tour through England, having not understood how they could live in such a rainy climate. It felt good to be back home in Japan.
"Well," he said to Hiro, who had just parted company with Sakano, crazy as ever, yet for once not threatening anyone, "looks like we're finally back home."
Hiro looked up into the sun, acting like he heard nothing of what Shuichi had just said. "Hmm?"
Shuichi frowned at him, then poked him in the sides, causing Hiro to double over with the tingling flowing through him now.
"Hey! That was cheap!" His supposed glare only made Shuichi laugh even more.
"I have to go now," he said, backing away from the slowly recovering Hiro who just looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "I have to do some catching up, you know. See how mom's doing and stuff, maybe even drop by Maiko's." He had wanted to include the little stop he was going to make by his former lover's house.
Hiro studied his momentary detached expression, then waving away his worry. "Just be sure to be at the studio on Tuesday, alright?" Hiro waved at Shuichi's retreating back as he crossed the airport and hopped into a taxi. ::Heh:: he thought in amusement, walking past security guards and hyped up fans.
Shuichi had taken off as soon as Hiro had given his consent to allow Shuichi to go without the tedious security around. ::Please be there:: he prayed silently as the taxi driver swerved around cars and turned up a number of different roads. ::Please be home and glare at me, saying 'You're late for dinner'::
The taxi stopped in an abrupt halt, causing Shuichi to slam forward into the back of the front seat. "Sorry 'bout that", the taxi driver said through his hairy beard.
"That's okay," Shuichi muttered, leaning back and rubbing his forehead from where he had slammed it. "Are you leaving again?" Shuichi dug into his pocket and pulled out 2,000 yen.
"Can't hang around in one place forever," he joked, accepting the money and watching him close the door.
"Thanks anyway," Shuichi said, standing in front of the house and watching the taxi retreat down the hill it had come from.
He sighed, his back still turned to the white house that lay beyond. ::It's been so long:: Shuichi thought, finally deciding to face what he had missed.
It's years since you've been there
Now you've disappeared somewhere
Like outer space
You found some better place, And I miss you
Shuichi slowly walked up the all-too familiar steps, taking it tread by tread. If he turned away now, he knew he would never be able to face this door again. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the doorbell, waiting for the reply, the familiar critical voice.
No voice came.
Shuichi buzzed again, no reply, tried one last time, again no response, then dared to repeatedly push the button in until someone came out.
"Yuki", he whispered, leaning his head against the door, wondering where he could have gone. He slowly moved back to the entrance, guessing he'd have to call Al to come pick him up. The door creaked open and out poked a shy little head. It was a girl.
"Who are you?" she whispered in a tiny voice that sounded like a chime.
Shuichi stared at her. She was pale, and had dark hair. But her eyes were a magnificent blue. He didn't want to believe. "No," he whispered.
She moved out a little more so he could see her whole now. She was small, no older than four, probably, and very pale, ghostly even, wearing a white dress that made her seem transparent. "Daddy isn't home right now," she said in her faint voice.
"Do you know where he is?" Shuichi swallowed repeatedly, refusing to burst into tears in front of her. He didn't want to believe the possibility, the feeling of betrayal. He wouldn't believe it.
She looked at him a little longer, her blue eyes fixed intently upon him, then began to cry.
"I'm sorry!" Shuichi rushed to her and knelt down in front of her, gently patting her head. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry!"
She sobbed some more, her whole body trembling in the process. "Daddy leave me all alone! All alone and alone again!" She leaned into Shuichi's embrace, her sobs slowly dying down. "Yuika isn't bad, but still all alone."
Shuichi held her close, feeling her warm tears fall onto his shirt. He could picture Yuki leaving him without saying good-bye, but his daughter? She is so pure and innocent, not knowing right from wrong, and Shuichi could see she did her best not to anger him. "It's okay now, Yuika," Shuichi said, thinking her name matched her perfectly. "I'll stay with you until Daddy comes home. It's okay now."
Could you be dead?
You always were two steps ahead
Of everyone
We'd walk behind while you would run
Yuki thanked the grocery store manager and slowly made his way across the parking lot. As he looked up into the sky he swore that he heard Shuichi call out his name.
::That's absurd:: he thought, shaking that out of his head. ::Shuichi is on his way to become the best rocker in the world, now:: Yuki sighed in slight regret of having let him go. Not even a week had passed after he left and Yuki could feel the loneliness consume him again. But Shuichi hadn't even written to him in all these years past. If it weren't for the continuous media stalking his every move, Yuki would have been convinced something terrible had happened to him, and not once did he say anything nice to him. But his last letter was for him to meet Shuichi in the park to say good-bye before he started his tour, but Yuki hadn't gone. Well, he'd made it too late.
"Crap!" He walked on, his bag swinging in step with his long strides, wondering if Yuika had woken up already. A year after Shuichi had left, and Yuki's sister dumps her kid with him. Not that she didn't love her, but she was missing the money to support and father surely wouldn't help out there. Starting up the car, he thought of how odd it had been raising her. It made him feel needed, wanted, loved for what he could be, for what he had been, not for what he was. Rich, good-looking, famous, she only saw him.
::Just like Shuichi:: he mused, watching the lights turn from red to green, to red again.
Shuichi sat on the couch with Yuika, playing rock-paper-scissors. Five out of nine chose the show they were going to watch. Doraemon, or Crayon Shin-Chan.
"Scissors cuts paper!" Yuika exclaimed, her eyes shining with joy. She was happy.
"Man, I'm about to lose," Shuichi supposedly pouted, having fun just watching her bounce around. She seemed so much alive now, not like before where she compared to a forgotten child.
"Three to three," she counted out, though holding up four fingers instead.
"Three to three," Shuichi agreed, patting her head and grinning just as wide as she.
Yuika sat there giggling, enjoying the sense of victory being near. "Ready?" she asked, watching Shuichi sit and ponder, tilting his head from one side to the other, his arms crossed.
"Give me a couple more minutes," he answered, now leaning back once to look at the ceiling, then down to be fascinated by the carpet. The same carpet from five years ago. "Ready!" he said, sitting up as soon as she'd tapped him.
"Rock-paper-scissors-shoot!" Yuika's rock against Shuichi's paper.
"Ha! Now it's three to four," he said, laughing a little victory laugh.
She was fibbing her anger, he could tell, but after tickling her into complete senselessness, she gave up, her eyes watering with all the laughter.
"Do you talk to the wind?" she asked after she'd caught her breath again.
Shuichi shook his head at her, not understanding what she meant. "No, I don't think so."
She looked at him, her eyes flashing with something else, discovery maybe? "Come follow," she said, tugging his arm off the couch. "Come follow, come follow."
I look up at your house
Where I can almost hear you shout
Down to me
Where I always used to be, And I miss you
Yuika led him to the balcony of their bedroom, where Shuichi got choked up somewhat, his eyes threatening to brim over again. Only the iron will he'd slowly developed over the years kept them in.
Standing on the balcony she climbed onto a chair to get a better view of the neighborhood in the radiant sunlight. "Don't fall off", Shuichi warned, swallowing once and moving outside to stand next to her. She was truly adorable.
"Call out!" she said, her dark hair shimmering in the sun. "Call you him!"
"What?"
"Call out him!" she commanded, taking in a deep breath to demonstrate.
"EIRIIIII!" It rang for a moment into the space in front of them, echoing to bring back a faint answer from the distance somewhere. "It makes you forget," she said, turning her head in that shy manner at the front door. "It makes you feel happy again."
Shuichi looked at her, looked out at the scenery, at what he had once pictured Yuki's and his kingdom, a place they had ruled together. ::In my dreams:: he thought, grimacing without knowing it.
"Shu-kun?" Yuika asked, leaning over on the chair's edge, making it shake slightly with the sudden imbalance. "Shu-kun?"
"It's nothing", he smiled, getting rid of previous memories. "All right! On the count of three, we call 'Yuki'!"
"Yay!" she clapped her hands in giddy delight.
"One-two-three!" he counted.
"YUKIIII!" they shouted, their joined calling making it seem more than just random shouting, it made it something magical, a summon.
Both of them inhaled deeply, preparing for another shout-out. "Ready?"
"Hai," she said, grinning at him.
"YUKIIII!"
"EIRIIII!"
Their combined yelling made something stir in the wind, a little urge of need, of longing as well as of love. And this time, the echo would have an answer of it's own.
Yuki had to stop at a tank-station to refill before driving the rest of the way, even if he did live five more minutes away.
Walking back out of the station and into his car, he heard his name. Once, twice, third time's the charm. "Huh?" He spun around, looking for anyone who might know him, have recognized him. But there was no one, only the warmth and a slight breeze. ::Am I losing it?:: he asked himself, shaking his head in disgust.
"Yuki", his name was whispered, said, called out from far away.
But there wasn't anyone here, and the voice that it came from was definitely not around. He ignored it and drove back home, his window down to feel the rushing of cool air, and to let the cigarette smoke escape.
"Yuki, Yuki, Eiri Yuki."
::Is it me, or is it getting louder?:: The closer he got to home, the more positive he was the whisper on the wind was increasing to a call from right in front of him. And coming in view of his house, it was. Two people on the balcony, both slim-framed, one his niece, young and quiet, the other . . .
"Shuichi!" Yuki said under his breath, the pink hair recognizable from any distance, though a shade darker than before. "Shuichi!" He slammed the car door shut, leaving the groceries behind for later. This was important to him now.
Back on the train
I ask why did I come again
Can I confess
I've been hanging 'round your old address
Shuichi was ready to take out another call, feeling lighter than what he had in a long time. His name being called stopped him from saying another word. The blond rushing towards his house, unlocking the door downstairs, Yuika taking on a slightly panicked look.
Yuika began whimpering slightly, having not noticed Yuki coming home, either. "Don't worry," Shuichi said, he himself not prepared to face Yuki anymore, any kind of confidence leaving him. "Act like I was never here," he patted her head, then climbed up to the rim of the balcony. Yuki's steps were already on the stairs.
::I'm so sorry:: he thought, jumping off the balcony, landing on his knees in the garden. He closed his eyes because of the sudden impact of the ground.
"Shuichi!" Yuki called out, pulling Yuika away from the edge of the balcony and holding her, looking across the lawn where Shuichi had fallen just a few seconds ago.
But Shuichi had already gone.
"You're back," Yuki whispered, hugging the trembling Yuika closer. "You came back."
"Dammit!" Shuichi said, slamming his fist against the window of the subway, going over to Hiro's to spend the night. He couldn't go home, too many neighbors and fans. Maiko he hadn't called in over three months, and suddenly appearing on her front doorsteps to spend the night would definitely get him on her bad side.
::Why did I go back there? Why, why, WHY?:: "SOMEONE ANSWER ME!" his sudden outburst rewarded him with looks of amazement, some even with worry, and lots of muttering about delusional people, very disturbed childhood. "Crap."
He stepped off, taking slow steps back to Hiro's place, hoping he didn't have some random bimbo from the streets spending the night as well. Lucky, he was alone.
"Shuichi?" Hiro buzzed him up, opening the door for him and pouring him a cup of tea. It was already past six when he finally arrived. "Why aren't you at your parent's house?"
Shuichi gave him that What-do-you-think? Stare, which was enough for Hiro to turn back and watch the News.
"I went to his house," he confessed, looking down into the cup of steaming green liquid.
"What was that?" Hiro turned back to face him, having not quite heard him.
"I said I went to Yuki's."
Neither of them said anything for a moment, both of them remaining that quiet for the rest of the evening, until Hiro decided he should go to bed and Shuichi could make himself comfortable anywhere.
Shuichi thanked him, took the blankets and went to make himself cozy on the couch.
"G'night," Hiro called from his room.
The darkness around him made him feel cold, even if it was a warm summer's eve. It reminded him of being in a tomb, closed up from all humanity, locked away to remain alone, enveloped in utter silence for the rest of eternity.
And the years have proved
To offer nothing since you've moved
You're long gone
But I can't move on, And I miss you
Shuichi awoke early Saturday, 2:30am. Too early for anything, yet wide awake for nothing. Shuichi sat up, rubbed his eyes, and was hit with a sudden force of loneliness.
::I want to go back and see him:: he thought, finally allowing unshed tears to fall. ::I want to see him right now.::
He quietly krept through Hiro's apartment, found a pencil and some paper, and wrote a quick thank-you.
Sorry for Causing you so much trouble.
You're the greatest, man. Thanks
Shuichi
He laid it on the couch, along with the re-folded blankets he had borrowed, and silently left the house of the dozing Hiro.
The morning air was slightly damp, a little foggy even.
Shuichi walked along the concrete sidewalk, making sure to keep close to lampposts. Just because he's gotten more stubborn, doesn't mean he's any better in defending himself.
He hurried his steps, somehow amazingly making it to the subway in time to end up near Yuki's house. The rest of the morning seemed to pass in a daze, without much thought, just action.
Step off the train
Walking down your street again
Past your door
But you don't live there anymore
3:00am. He found his way to the front doorsteps of Yuki's house. He had promised to never come back here, yet here he stood anyway, his fingers running across the smooth surface of the door. ::Where . . . here we go.:: He had kept the spare key Yuki had given him on a fastened necklace tucked underneath his shirt. Now he was grateful to have not stashed it at his parents' house.
He swallowed once, twice, put the key in the lock and slowly turned, hearing the faint 'click' as the door became unlocked. Shuichi was very nervous now. There we still time to go back, return to the feeling of utter lonesome, or come back here, where he had only endured pain. ::But there were happy moments:: he thought in defense. And true enough, they did appear in his mind again, making his eyes water.
Shuichi shook his head, pushed the door open and slid inside, gently closing the door behind him. He was doing his best trying not to make any floorboards squeak with the sudden weight.
"It took you long enough", came a mesmerizing voice out of the shadows. Shuichi caught his breath, having not expected anyone to be awake as well.
Yuki came up behind him, touched his neck with this lips, his arms finding their way around his silhouette.
Shuichi trembled under the touch, trembled at the memories, at the hopes all arising within him at once. "Yuki", he breathed, sighing as well as he could suddenly rest against him.
"Don't say a single word." Yuki continued to nuzzle his neck, turned him around to face him, then caught his lips in a heart-breaking tender kiss. "I've missed you very much," he admitted, then held him tight, not letting him get away again. This time he would keep him, this time he would make Shuichi his. This time, he could tell him he loved him. Maybe.
And I miss you
Like the deserts miss the rain
And I miss you
Like the deserts miss the rain
A/N: Finally I found a song that could work, though sometimes it seemed there were parts of it that didn't quite fit. But hey I tried, so any criticism, compliments, random ranting are allowed. And I think I will have one last chapter, then that's it for this thing. This was odd enough for me to write. Until next time!
C.S.
A/N: Not exactly following the way the original story is, this is my own little warped thing as some of you have noticed. I continue it onward, wondering how in the world I'm going to pass Geometry with a B. If anyone has suggestions to THAT, then I am eternally grateful.
Disclaimer: I'm butchering "Everything but the Girl's" song "Missing" this time. And I still have no copyright ownership over them. Unless someone wants to give it to me for my birthday, which is in two months (August 6th) YAY!
Oh, and take note of this being five years AFTER the previous chapter.
Chapter 3-Welcome Home
Step off the train
Walking down your street again
Past your door
But you don't live there anymore
Finally Friday, and finally home. Shuichi had just finished his tour through England, having not understood how they could live in such a rainy climate. It felt good to be back home in Japan.
"Well," he said to Hiro, who had just parted company with Sakano, crazy as ever, yet for once not threatening anyone, "looks like we're finally back home."
Hiro looked up into the sun, acting like he heard nothing of what Shuichi had just said. "Hmm?"
Shuichi frowned at him, then poked him in the sides, causing Hiro to double over with the tingling flowing through him now.
"Hey! That was cheap!" His supposed glare only made Shuichi laugh even more.
"I have to go now," he said, backing away from the slowly recovering Hiro who just looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "I have to do some catching up, you know. See how mom's doing and stuff, maybe even drop by Maiko's." He had wanted to include the little stop he was going to make by his former lover's house.
Hiro studied his momentary detached expression, then waving away his worry. "Just be sure to be at the studio on Tuesday, alright?" Hiro waved at Shuichi's retreating back as he crossed the airport and hopped into a taxi. ::Heh:: he thought in amusement, walking past security guards and hyped up fans.
Shuichi had taken off as soon as Hiro had given his consent to allow Shuichi to go without the tedious security around. ::Please be there:: he prayed silently as the taxi driver swerved around cars and turned up a number of different roads. ::Please be home and glare at me, saying 'You're late for dinner'::
The taxi stopped in an abrupt halt, causing Shuichi to slam forward into the back of the front seat. "Sorry 'bout that", the taxi driver said through his hairy beard.
"That's okay," Shuichi muttered, leaning back and rubbing his forehead from where he had slammed it. "Are you leaving again?" Shuichi dug into his pocket and pulled out 2,000 yen.
"Can't hang around in one place forever," he joked, accepting the money and watching him close the door.
"Thanks anyway," Shuichi said, standing in front of the house and watching the taxi retreat down the hill it had come from.
He sighed, his back still turned to the white house that lay beyond. ::It's been so long:: Shuichi thought, finally deciding to face what he had missed.
It's years since you've been there
Now you've disappeared somewhere
Like outer space
You found some better place, And I miss you
Shuichi slowly walked up the all-too familiar steps, taking it tread by tread. If he turned away now, he knew he would never be able to face this door again. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the doorbell, waiting for the reply, the familiar critical voice.
No voice came.
Shuichi buzzed again, no reply, tried one last time, again no response, then dared to repeatedly push the button in until someone came out.
"Yuki", he whispered, leaning his head against the door, wondering where he could have gone. He slowly moved back to the entrance, guessing he'd have to call Al to come pick him up. The door creaked open and out poked a shy little head. It was a girl.
"Who are you?" she whispered in a tiny voice that sounded like a chime.
Shuichi stared at her. She was pale, and had dark hair. But her eyes were a magnificent blue. He didn't want to believe. "No," he whispered.
She moved out a little more so he could see her whole now. She was small, no older than four, probably, and very pale, ghostly even, wearing a white dress that made her seem transparent. "Daddy isn't home right now," she said in her faint voice.
"Do you know where he is?" Shuichi swallowed repeatedly, refusing to burst into tears in front of her. He didn't want to believe the possibility, the feeling of betrayal. He wouldn't believe it.
She looked at him a little longer, her blue eyes fixed intently upon him, then began to cry.
"I'm sorry!" Shuichi rushed to her and knelt down in front of her, gently patting her head. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry!"
She sobbed some more, her whole body trembling in the process. "Daddy leave me all alone! All alone and alone again!" She leaned into Shuichi's embrace, her sobs slowly dying down. "Yuika isn't bad, but still all alone."
Shuichi held her close, feeling her warm tears fall onto his shirt. He could picture Yuki leaving him without saying good-bye, but his daughter? She is so pure and innocent, not knowing right from wrong, and Shuichi could see she did her best not to anger him. "It's okay now, Yuika," Shuichi said, thinking her name matched her perfectly. "I'll stay with you until Daddy comes home. It's okay now."
Could you be dead?
You always were two steps ahead
Of everyone
We'd walk behind while you would run
Yuki thanked the grocery store manager and slowly made his way across the parking lot. As he looked up into the sky he swore that he heard Shuichi call out his name.
::That's absurd:: he thought, shaking that out of his head. ::Shuichi is on his way to become the best rocker in the world, now:: Yuki sighed in slight regret of having let him go. Not even a week had passed after he left and Yuki could feel the loneliness consume him again. But Shuichi hadn't even written to him in all these years past. If it weren't for the continuous media stalking his every move, Yuki would have been convinced something terrible had happened to him, and not once did he say anything nice to him. But his last letter was for him to meet Shuichi in the park to say good-bye before he started his tour, but Yuki hadn't gone. Well, he'd made it too late.
"Crap!" He walked on, his bag swinging in step with his long strides, wondering if Yuika had woken up already. A year after Shuichi had left, and Yuki's sister dumps her kid with him. Not that she didn't love her, but she was missing the money to support and father surely wouldn't help out there. Starting up the car, he thought of how odd it had been raising her. It made him feel needed, wanted, loved for what he could be, for what he had been, not for what he was. Rich, good-looking, famous, she only saw him.
::Just like Shuichi:: he mused, watching the lights turn from red to green, to red again.
Shuichi sat on the couch with Yuika, playing rock-paper-scissors. Five out of nine chose the show they were going to watch. Doraemon, or Crayon Shin-Chan.
"Scissors cuts paper!" Yuika exclaimed, her eyes shining with joy. She was happy.
"Man, I'm about to lose," Shuichi supposedly pouted, having fun just watching her bounce around. She seemed so much alive now, not like before where she compared to a forgotten child.
"Three to three," she counted out, though holding up four fingers instead.
"Three to three," Shuichi agreed, patting her head and grinning just as wide as she.
Yuika sat there giggling, enjoying the sense of victory being near. "Ready?" she asked, watching Shuichi sit and ponder, tilting his head from one side to the other, his arms crossed.
"Give me a couple more minutes," he answered, now leaning back once to look at the ceiling, then down to be fascinated by the carpet. The same carpet from five years ago. "Ready!" he said, sitting up as soon as she'd tapped him.
"Rock-paper-scissors-shoot!" Yuika's rock against Shuichi's paper.
"Ha! Now it's three to four," he said, laughing a little victory laugh.
She was fibbing her anger, he could tell, but after tickling her into complete senselessness, she gave up, her eyes watering with all the laughter.
"Do you talk to the wind?" she asked after she'd caught her breath again.
Shuichi shook his head at her, not understanding what she meant. "No, I don't think so."
She looked at him, her eyes flashing with something else, discovery maybe? "Come follow," she said, tugging his arm off the couch. "Come follow, come follow."
I look up at your house
Where I can almost hear you shout
Down to me
Where I always used to be, And I miss you
Yuika led him to the balcony of their bedroom, where Shuichi got choked up somewhat, his eyes threatening to brim over again. Only the iron will he'd slowly developed over the years kept them in.
Standing on the balcony she climbed onto a chair to get a better view of the neighborhood in the radiant sunlight. "Don't fall off", Shuichi warned, swallowing once and moving outside to stand next to her. She was truly adorable.
"Call out!" she said, her dark hair shimmering in the sun. "Call you him!"
"What?"
"Call out him!" she commanded, taking in a deep breath to demonstrate.
"EIRIIIII!" It rang for a moment into the space in front of them, echoing to bring back a faint answer from the distance somewhere. "It makes you forget," she said, turning her head in that shy manner at the front door. "It makes you feel happy again."
Shuichi looked at her, looked out at the scenery, at what he had once pictured Yuki's and his kingdom, a place they had ruled together. ::In my dreams:: he thought, grimacing without knowing it.
"Shu-kun?" Yuika asked, leaning over on the chair's edge, making it shake slightly with the sudden imbalance. "Shu-kun?"
"It's nothing", he smiled, getting rid of previous memories. "All right! On the count of three, we call 'Yuki'!"
"Yay!" she clapped her hands in giddy delight.
"One-two-three!" he counted.
"YUKIIII!" they shouted, their joined calling making it seem more than just random shouting, it made it something magical, a summon.
Both of them inhaled deeply, preparing for another shout-out. "Ready?"
"Hai," she said, grinning at him.
"YUKIIII!"
"EIRIIII!"
Their combined yelling made something stir in the wind, a little urge of need, of longing as well as of love. And this time, the echo would have an answer of it's own.
Yuki had to stop at a tank-station to refill before driving the rest of the way, even if he did live five more minutes away.
Walking back out of the station and into his car, he heard his name. Once, twice, third time's the charm. "Huh?" He spun around, looking for anyone who might know him, have recognized him. But there was no one, only the warmth and a slight breeze. ::Am I losing it?:: he asked himself, shaking his head in disgust.
"Yuki", his name was whispered, said, called out from far away.
But there wasn't anyone here, and the voice that it came from was definitely not around. He ignored it and drove back home, his window down to feel the rushing of cool air, and to let the cigarette smoke escape.
"Yuki, Yuki, Eiri Yuki."
::Is it me, or is it getting louder?:: The closer he got to home, the more positive he was the whisper on the wind was increasing to a call from right in front of him. And coming in view of his house, it was. Two people on the balcony, both slim-framed, one his niece, young and quiet, the other . . .
"Shuichi!" Yuki said under his breath, the pink hair recognizable from any distance, though a shade darker than before. "Shuichi!" He slammed the car door shut, leaving the groceries behind for later. This was important to him now.
Back on the train
I ask why did I come again
Can I confess
I've been hanging 'round your old address
Shuichi was ready to take out another call, feeling lighter than what he had in a long time. His name being called stopped him from saying another word. The blond rushing towards his house, unlocking the door downstairs, Yuika taking on a slightly panicked look.
Yuika began whimpering slightly, having not noticed Yuki coming home, either. "Don't worry," Shuichi said, he himself not prepared to face Yuki anymore, any kind of confidence leaving him. "Act like I was never here," he patted her head, then climbed up to the rim of the balcony. Yuki's steps were already on the stairs.
::I'm so sorry:: he thought, jumping off the balcony, landing on his knees in the garden. He closed his eyes because of the sudden impact of the ground.
"Shuichi!" Yuki called out, pulling Yuika away from the edge of the balcony and holding her, looking across the lawn where Shuichi had fallen just a few seconds ago.
But Shuichi had already gone.
"You're back," Yuki whispered, hugging the trembling Yuika closer. "You came back."
"Dammit!" Shuichi said, slamming his fist against the window of the subway, going over to Hiro's to spend the night. He couldn't go home, too many neighbors and fans. Maiko he hadn't called in over three months, and suddenly appearing on her front doorsteps to spend the night would definitely get him on her bad side.
::Why did I go back there? Why, why, WHY?:: "SOMEONE ANSWER ME!" his sudden outburst rewarded him with looks of amazement, some even with worry, and lots of muttering about delusional people, very disturbed childhood. "Crap."
He stepped off, taking slow steps back to Hiro's place, hoping he didn't have some random bimbo from the streets spending the night as well. Lucky, he was alone.
"Shuichi?" Hiro buzzed him up, opening the door for him and pouring him a cup of tea. It was already past six when he finally arrived. "Why aren't you at your parent's house?"
Shuichi gave him that What-do-you-think? Stare, which was enough for Hiro to turn back and watch the News.
"I went to his house," he confessed, looking down into the cup of steaming green liquid.
"What was that?" Hiro turned back to face him, having not quite heard him.
"I said I went to Yuki's."
Neither of them said anything for a moment, both of them remaining that quiet for the rest of the evening, until Hiro decided he should go to bed and Shuichi could make himself comfortable anywhere.
Shuichi thanked him, took the blankets and went to make himself cozy on the couch.
"G'night," Hiro called from his room.
The darkness around him made him feel cold, even if it was a warm summer's eve. It reminded him of being in a tomb, closed up from all humanity, locked away to remain alone, enveloped in utter silence for the rest of eternity.
And the years have proved
To offer nothing since you've moved
You're long gone
But I can't move on, And I miss you
Shuichi awoke early Saturday, 2:30am. Too early for anything, yet wide awake for nothing. Shuichi sat up, rubbed his eyes, and was hit with a sudden force of loneliness.
::I want to go back and see him:: he thought, finally allowing unshed tears to fall. ::I want to see him right now.::
He quietly krept through Hiro's apartment, found a pencil and some paper, and wrote a quick thank-you.
Sorry for Causing you so much trouble.
You're the greatest, man. Thanks
Shuichi
He laid it on the couch, along with the re-folded blankets he had borrowed, and silently left the house of the dozing Hiro.
The morning air was slightly damp, a little foggy even.
Shuichi walked along the concrete sidewalk, making sure to keep close to lampposts. Just because he's gotten more stubborn, doesn't mean he's any better in defending himself.
He hurried his steps, somehow amazingly making it to the subway in time to end up near Yuki's house. The rest of the morning seemed to pass in a daze, without much thought, just action.
Step off the train
Walking down your street again
Past your door
But you don't live there anymore
3:00am. He found his way to the front doorsteps of Yuki's house. He had promised to never come back here, yet here he stood anyway, his fingers running across the smooth surface of the door. ::Where . . . here we go.:: He had kept the spare key Yuki had given him on a fastened necklace tucked underneath his shirt. Now he was grateful to have not stashed it at his parents' house.
He swallowed once, twice, put the key in the lock and slowly turned, hearing the faint 'click' as the door became unlocked. Shuichi was very nervous now. There we still time to go back, return to the feeling of utter lonesome, or come back here, where he had only endured pain. ::But there were happy moments:: he thought in defense. And true enough, they did appear in his mind again, making his eyes water.
Shuichi shook his head, pushed the door open and slid inside, gently closing the door behind him. He was doing his best trying not to make any floorboards squeak with the sudden weight.
"It took you long enough", came a mesmerizing voice out of the shadows. Shuichi caught his breath, having not expected anyone to be awake as well.
Yuki came up behind him, touched his neck with this lips, his arms finding their way around his silhouette.
Shuichi trembled under the touch, trembled at the memories, at the hopes all arising within him at once. "Yuki", he breathed, sighing as well as he could suddenly rest against him.
"Don't say a single word." Yuki continued to nuzzle his neck, turned him around to face him, then caught his lips in a heart-breaking tender kiss. "I've missed you very much," he admitted, then held him tight, not letting him get away again. This time he would keep him, this time he would make Shuichi his. This time, he could tell him he loved him. Maybe.
And I miss you
Like the deserts miss the rain
And I miss you
Like the deserts miss the rain
A/N: Finally I found a song that could work, though sometimes it seemed there were parts of it that didn't quite fit. But hey I tried, so any criticism, compliments, random ranting are allowed. And I think I will have one last chapter, then that's it for this thing. This was odd enough for me to write. Until next time!
C.S.