Chapter 5: Interlude--Hiroshi

Standard Disclaimer Applies

You guys rock...I seriously can't believe I have over THIRTY reviews for this story already! Thank you so much, everyone, for FAR surpassing my expectations for this story...keep being so kind and supportive, and I'll kindly and supportively belt out more chapters for you guys.

Ah...this is another perspective chapter, this time taking Hiro-san's perspective on things. The next one will be Ryuichi-san, because he's an even bigger challenge for me to write as...and I happen to enjoy a good challenge.

The English translation to a snippet of the lovely lyrics to, 'Secret Sorrow,' the X TV Series's ending theme, comes from Anime Lyrics. They are located at the very beginning of this chapter, and I'd really like you to check out Secret Sorrow...it's a beautiful, mellow song that fits Hiro's feelings towards Shuichi, (in this story, anyway), perfectly, and I used it to get myself into the feel of this chapter. Maybe you will to, if you give it a look-see.

Since I don't want to bore you guys with the insignificant details like my gripes, squealing, and review replies, I'll wait until the end to drop you with things like that. Enjoy chapter five, folks; and remember that this story is made possible by readers like you.

And boy, did that sound like a cheesy PBS sponsor commercial or what?

If I love, I'll be hurting as much as I love

From tomorrow onwards,

What should the both of us do?

What repeats is the days that haven't changed for the better

You have to walk but...

I want you to know that I want to be by your side...

If there's one thing that I hate more than anything in the world, its being unable to stop the worst things from happening to the people I care most about.

Yes, I know about that fickle notion people call, 'Destiny,' and, 'Fate.' Quite honestly, I believe in both of them, knowing that despite the unrealism of it, there probably is some otherworldly apparition out there watching our every move; controlling every action and event we do and see. I understand that there may even be a God that will save us in our most imperative moment; and, one day, when I actually experience it, I might actually take those things more seriously.

This, however, is something I have to take seriously now.

He can smile as much as he wants, but I can tell it's not real. Shuichi's only smiling so we think nothing's wrong, and that's probably the most selfless thing anyone can do in this kind of situation. He smiles, so we can pretend that he didn't break down in front of me last night, trying to explain what the problem was with him. He smiles, so that when night finally comes around, and the tears will come again, no one will think it could happen. Smiling, always cheerful Shuichi...only this time, he's putting the act up as a shield to hide his pain.

Damn it, why do you have to be so selfish, Shu...? We're all here for you, and whenever you need to talk, you've probably got more people to talk to than anyone else in Tokyo about your problems. No matter how tough they are to get past, we can always try our hardest to make them go away; if not forever, then just for a short while...

After we start looking around in the local music store, Shuichi breaks away from our small circle and goes off to look for CDs by himself. Reluctantly, I let him leave; and the only reason I'm willing to do that right now is because I need to talk to Ryuichi alone. Otherwise, you can bet as sure as hell I'm not leaving him alone for one second—certainly not in his state, anyway.

"Ryuichi...you probably need an explanation for all this, so...should I start?"

The normally uncomplicated adult frowns, clearly serious and listening. "Uun...I'll listen, no da."

"Listen, the reason I said we should bring him out here is because...well...Shuichi's not feelin' too good right now."

"He's not?! Is he sick? Does he have some incurable disease or something that's acting up again after many, many years?! C'mon, you've gotta tell me, Hiro-san!"

Shaking my head lightly at Ryuichi's anxiousness and childlike words, a small grin creeping onto my features. "Ryuichi, that's not it...I think Shuichi's been raped."

"W-What?! Seriously...? But WHY?" Kumagorou was hugged tighter to its owner's chest.

"Seriously, Ryuichi. And I have no idea why, but we'll work on that later." For the first time that week, I felt as tired as I know I must have looked—earlier this morning, upon inspection at the bathroom mirror, I realized that the lack of sleep last night over worrying for Shuichi had caused dark circles under my eyes. Thank God for the invention of concealer, found while purging my mom's drawers. I'll have to apologize to her later if she brings it up. "For now...for the moment, let's focus on ways to keep Shuichi's happy, alright?"

"...I understand." Ryuichi nodded grimly. "I think that if I keep up the happy act, he'll get into it also...just try to help me out, too, okay, Hiroshi-san?"

...I swear, you can't stay sad for too long around this guy...he really is like Shuichi is every possible way. A bit upset by the thought, however, I continued the impassive visage. "You don't even have to ask. I'll make sure Shuichi stays cheerful, if just long enough so I can talk with Yuki-san and get him to let Shuichi back into his place...you know Shu's happiest there."

Ryuichi was adamantly nodding, back to his old, genki self again. "Mm-hmm! Shu-chan always talks about Yuki-san, no da! And he's always shiny when he does, too!"

"That's a weird way of putting it, but...okay..."

Suddenly, Ryuichi looked straight ahead intently, squinting at something, as if there were a faraway object that interested him.

"Hey...what're you looking at, Sakuma-san?" I figured if anything could get him out of that trance, it could be using an honorific—which, we all know, he does NOT like happening.

But it didn't; and by now, I'm starting to think something's seriously wrong with this guy. The people Shuichi idolizes sure are strange. "Ryuichi, what the hell are you staring at...?"

As I turn around, though, the line of vision Ryuichi is focusing on seems to include someone a few rows of shelves away, though I don't really recognize him. He seems like any other average Japanese teenager around my age, if not a bit younger, I suppose, by the way his face looks. Dark hair, dark eyes, and tall, strong-looking build—well, maybe he ISN'T around my age. He might even be an adult already, and just looks young, like Ryuichi. There are a few people like that, after all.

"...That's him..." I heard Ryuichi murmur quietly to himself, his grip on his pink bunny loosening a bit.

"...What?" I'm sorry, but now I'm REALLY confused. What does he mean by, 'that's him?' Who the hell is, 'him?'

The stranger glances up—perhaps he felt eyes on him, or something of the like—and begins staring owlishly at us with obsidian pools. A taut silence followed soon after, the music playing on the overhead radio suddenly dimming with the aura around us. Ryuichi and the young man could stare at each other all they wanted—but this annoying quiet was beginning to freak me out. I finally spoke up, unable to deal with the deathly stillness anymore.

"Hey...do you guys know each other?" I ask hesitantly, a bit uncertain to speak.

Ryuichi suddenly brightens, as if he were a light bulb shining at the words I had just said. He then excitedly leaps over the shelves acrobatically—shocking both the strange boy and myself—and flings himself into the dark-haired male's arms once he reaches his destination.

"TATSUHA-SAN!! It's really you, no da?! I don't believe it! When did you come back from Kyoto?! Did something happen? Did you come to see me or Yuki-san or Shu-chan!? Wai, wai, I can't believe you're back!! It's been such a long timeeee!"

By now, a fair amount of people were uncomfortably staring, including the faraway Shuichi. And, far too confused to be able to do anything, I just stood there, wondering what would possibly happen next.

clari chan: You observant little gal. How did you know? Yes, Ryuichi will play quite an important role in this story, mainly for—wait, I can't spoil it for anybody! My plans are HI-MI-TSU! Well, as a hint, just remember how everyone describes Shuichi and Ryuichi as one of the same...and think of others will observe the both of them, now that Shuichi is being angst-y. That's all I'm going to say for that, however. Yes, I will try to make this story as great as I can, and I hope you will think so too. Welcome back, and sankyuu for the review!

deppfan1016: I'm happy you were happy with me including Ryuichi in these chapters. Keep an eye out of him, then; he's going to play a role in the plot big time later on, so consider him as much a central character as Shuichi. Yuki IS secretly missing Shuichi, but he's probably not returning heavily into the story until about chapter 6 or 7...so please wait until then, and we'll have our Shu x Yuki romance again. I like that coupling as much as the next girl, so I hope you will enjoy that, too! Sankyuu for the review!

driven to insanity: Hai, hai, I'm back to writing more... I've had a slight writer's block for a few weeks, but I'm back in business now! High school was a bit busier that I accounted for... Oh, well. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, too, and sankyuu for the review!

i love athrun: Sankyuu for the review!

kanilla: Sankyuu for reviewing all my other chapters, too, kanilla-san! Hope you'll stick around for the next chapters as well!

Kitty in the Box: I'm trying the, 'simmering down the angst,' a bit, mostly not because I don't like angst, but because I'm aiming to capture the spirit of Gravitation AND my own personal writing style into this story. - I'm glad you like Tatsuha's whining—in that chapter, I wanted him to be more the Ryuichi-fan boy, but my Tatsuha is really quite mature in comparison to the way he is normally seen. I like a mature Tatsuha, and I think that would be a good idea...wouldn't it? Please let me know what you think of that, and sankyuu for the review!

Ochako107: Jakukie-san, you're such a sweetheart LOL. I hope you know that our AIM conversation on Friday inspired me to write this chapter, after this story has been stuck on a LONG hiatus for a while now, (as well as my other ones)! You sounded so sad at the end of our talk, though, and while it's not my place to pry, (and believe me, I HATE prying people ), I hope that you will be back to your genki self when we talk again, and that this chapter I wrote for you to cheer you up! So...I hope you read this review reply, and thank you so much for being there to review my stories, (God knows I probably pester you enough about it :P), and for just being one of the coolest anime-loving friends, (AND THE FIRST!! THAT'S SPECIAL, TOO, NO DA!), I've ever had. - Hugs! Hakkai-san sends his regards, too, by the way! And even Gojyo-san, even if he doesn't know you that well. Hakkai-san made him do it, he says...hehe.

I'm so sorry for the long wait, everyone...high school made me more busy than I thought, and I had been procrastinating with my fan fiction more than every lately. But fear not! With new vigor and renewed will, I will continue ALL of my multi-part stories and attempt to work on them to the best of my abilities! Readers AND reviewers: keep up the support, please, and I will continue to be genki and show my support with more chapters. Well, until next chapter...see you next time!