Disclaimer: If great an anime character could be bought for a box of pocky, I would have lost all my life's-savings just shipping boxes of pocky eons ago… and I wouldn't be writing this disclaimer ;
Chapter 6: Trade
Shuichi took a deep breath as he recalled how he actually agreed to having lunch with Miraku the next day. It was a quiet walk for him and Hiro, which was why Hiro was bothered even more.
"What happened? What did he tell you?" Hiro asked in monotone, not even glancing at Shuichi.
"E-eh.." Shuichi awoke from the daydream, "nothing… he just… said I did a good job."
"Did he touch you while he was congratulating you?"
"Er, I don't think so…"
"I mean, TOUCH you…" Hiro raised an eyebrow and smirked at Shuichi.
"HIROOOO!"
Hiro let out a chuckle. For once he had something to tease Shuichi… it had been a while since he could do that…
"So what did he really tell you, Shuichi?" Hiro asked again, now looking straight into Shuichi's eyes.
"H-huh! I told you, I—"
"You're not a very convincing liar, Shuichi…" Hiro cut him off.
"So how was the take?" K interrupted.
"K-san!" Shuichi greeted in relief… he never thought he would.
"I heard it was O-K!" K smiled widely as he held a thumbs-up.
"You bet! Hahahahahahaaaaaa!" Shuichi suddenly felt better after hearing how well he did.
"What's say I treat you guys to lunch today? You deserve it."
Shuichi's puppy-dog-eyes effect answered for him. Hiro simply nodded.
"But wait, what about those two… uh.. get-whatevers?" K asked.
"Getbackers." Hiro corrected.
"Getbackers, whatever. I didn't see them anywhere in the studio, will they be alright?"
Shuichi paused a moment… "K is CONCERNED? What exactly did this guy have for breakfast today?... they should serve it to him more often," he smiled to himself.
"Well?"
"Uhm, I have no idea either… maybe we'll bump into them later, I dunno." Hiro replied.
"Well then, shall we?" K smiled as they walked back to meet up with the others and set out for lunch.
……………………………………………
"Ban chan… do you think that kid lives nearby?" Ginji asked as the two walked down the snow-covered sidewalk. As soon as they saw Shuichi doing well in his performance, they decided to set out to keep their word about finding the lyrics. But so far…
"Well, the shopkeepers did say that it happened often…" Ban replied pensively.
"I don't get it Banchan… why didn't they even try to look for that kid? I mean, why did they allow him to go around stealing people's wallets and all? It doesn't make sense…"
"I don't really get it either, Ginji…" Ban frowned, frustrated at the puzzle at hand.
"Pardon me!" A voice called from behind, "I need a little help…"
The two turned around to see a man in a black trench coat. His brown hair was in disarray, as if he had been running around for days, and his purple-colored eyes showed fatigue, it was heartless to even ignore this stranger.
"What's the matter?" Ban asked the man who ran up to them, gasping for air.
"Y-you see.. this kid… he…"
"Pick pocket?" Ginji smiled.
"Not exactly… oh! How impolite…I almost forgot, I'm Tsuzuki." He extended his hand, and smiled as he heard the names of the two, although he was still taking in gasps of air.
"So… this kid is?.." Ban reminded.
"Oh yeah… uhm, he's blonde, has green eyes, and has quite an attitude. He's a friend of mine, actually… it's just that… well… when I woke up today, he was gone and…"
"Ohhh…" Ginji nodded.
"Well, wish we could help ya, but we didn't see him. And we're pretty much on a quest ourselves." Ban scratched his head.
"Oh… okay. Thanks anyway. Nice meeting you." Tsuzuki smiled gently, which took away his rugged appearance for a moment, and ran off.
"Nice guy." Ginji smiled.
"Yeah… too bad he couldn't stick around, huh?" Ban teased.
"What do you mean-"
"Let's go and get some more info about that kid." Ban ignored and walked faster, causing Ginji to catch up with him.
……………………………………
Yuki was exceptionally disturbed that day. Even after awakening, the dream —or nightmare, rather— still sent chills up his spine. He took 3 cups of coffee that morning, and the feeling still wouldn't go away. He tried watching television, but every channel showed him items which only made him recall even more. He took a cold shower, but the sound of water reminded him of the thirst he felt as he stumbled through the shadows. He attempted to drink it away with beer, but even that didn't help him—it only gave him an upset stomach.
So there was Yuki, slumped on the living room couch, staring at the ceiling, sulking for half a day. It was already noontime, and he didn't feel the least bit hungry. He was able to recover from the upset stomach, although from time to time he felt spasms which made him want to throw up. He couldn't think of anything else that day but that nightmare and how horrible life had been to him for the past few days. To begin with, he couldn't contact Shuichi (although he hated to admit it, he was pathetically missing Shuichi now…), then freakish things have been happening to the only calls he could make. And now, he is being hunted down by some psychopath who criticizes him for his past! What could possibly happen next?
Yuki groaned, hoping that nothing would happen next. He didn't need any more of this crap. He was sick and tired of it all, and to be honest, he didn't even believe in dreams. And there he was, sulking all because of a nightmare that felt so real that he didn't plan to sleep until Shuichi would come back. It was so ironic, that he felt like laughing it off… if only it wasn't so eerie…and if only it wasn't happening to HIM.
"I must be going nuts…" Yuki mumbled as he continued to stare at the ceiling, "I need to get out…"
But where would Yuki go? In the middle of the day, traffic was so awful that he'd wish he'd never stepped out of his house. On the other hand, he felt too drained to go walking. As for the bars, it would be too early to drink… and besides, he already had his fill of alcohol and caffeine. Maybe there was only one more place to go… somewhere safe…
Yuki reached for the phone, hesitating at first. But as soon as he heard the dial tone, he punched in a set of numbers… then there was a succession of rings.
"Hello?" an irate, female voice answered.
"I'm coming over…" Yuki answered, "now…"
"My, my… don't tell me you broke up with Shuichi…" she teased.
"Shut up! It's none of your business!" Yuki shouted… the idea was preposterous!
"If you're going to be that way, Eiri…" she sounded like she was going to hang up.
"N-no… wait…" Yuki's voice grew gentle, the forcefulness obviously being suppressed, and yet he sounded credibly sincere, "I-I'm sorry Mika…
please… I need… to.."
"What have they done to you?" she cut him off, her voice in a mix of sarcasm and concern in it, "fine, come over."
Yuki replaced the receiver, went to his room to get his coat and keys. He packed his laptop, just in case, and then headed for the door. As he opened the door of his apartment, he turned as if to say goodbye. But seeing no one there, he paused a moment. Then went out, shutting the door behind him.
………………………………………
"Hisoka!" Tsuzuki cried out as he saw his emerald-eyed companion standing on the sidewalk. Hisoka was leaning against the wall, his arms folded across his chest. He was eyeing at something ahead, and was seriously focused.
"Hisoka!" Tsuzuki cried out again, as he finally stopped and gasped for breath beside his friend. He frowned at Hisoka, who took some time before he actually turned his head to notice him. And his expression was not that surprised either.
"What?" Hisoka asked indifferently.
"Where were you!" Tsuzuki scolded, "I was running around the whole town trying to look for you. Why didn't you even wake me up? I mean, I'm no morning person but I'd get up anyway. Besides, I'd be more of a morning person than you'd probably be…"
"I wish I had time to argue Tsuzuki, but…" Hisoka looked straight ahead once more, which brought Tsuzuki to look at whatever his companion was staring at as well…
"What are you looking at?" Tsuzuki asked, forgetting his anger for the moment, and squinting…
"You see the read head?" Hisoka asked, nodding his head as if to point.
"Uh… yeah?" Tsuzuki nodded, seeing the red-haired teenager who was walking into a restaurant, and then disappearing through the restaurant's doors.
"That's our target."
"Shindou Shuichi?" Tsuzuki gasped.
"And to think we bumped into him yesterday." Hisoka scoffed, and glanced at Tsuzuki.
"Hisoka, you're a genius!' Tsuzuki smiled and threw his arms around his comrade, which made Hisoka glow a bright red.
"S-stop it!" He stuttered as he did his best to fend-off Tsuzuki's arms. Tsuzuki chuckled.
"So why did you leave me behind this morning?" Tsuzuki suddenly changed moods.
"W-wha? I can't believe you!" Hisoka said with annoyance, "I had to chase this guy! It's not like I'd just shrug off the sensation… I felt his presence and went after it as soon as I could!"
"Oh… okay…I understand…" Tsuzuki sniffed, pretending he was about to cry.
"Stop being such a crybaby…"
And the two kept watch-and in constant banter- of the restaurant until the red-haired singer would finally come out. After all, they did have to keep an eye on him…
…………………………………….
Shuichi sat down, trying to smile convincingly as he took his seat. Across him sat K. For some reason, the manager had reserved them a table in a more private area of the restaurant. It had Sakano surprised a moment, but upon hearing that it had no additional charge, he happily agreed. So there they were, seated happily and stating their orders to the waiter, who took no time to hesitate and go back to the kitchen.
It was cheerful as always, everyone was chatting about how the commercial had been progressing. But Shuichi often got distracted by what he had promised Muraki the day before. He was supposed to meet him for lunch, and he said that he was going to take care of everything but…
"Where is he?" Shuichi asked himself.
"Who, Shuichi?" Hiro asked him while everyone continued chatting.
"U-uhm… uh…" Shuichi stuttered, "Ban-chan… ehe.. aren't they supposed to be with us for lunch?"
Hiro raised a brow.
"I-I mean… er… uhm… n-never mind…" Shuichi sighed, hoping Hiro would stop looking at him suspiciously.
"So Shuichi-kun, what happened earlier?" Sakano interrupted, smiling cheerfully for once, "I heard your performance was better today than any other for past week, Miraku-kun was very impressed too!"
"Oh, uhm… heheee.." Shuichi smiled awkwardly and noticed Hiro looking at him intently again. He could feel the intensity of his friend's gaze, it wouldn't be long until he was going to ask something…
"Here are your orders, sirs!" The waiter returned and carefully placed the dishes in front of everyone. Coincidentally, he did so in between Hiro and Shuichi too...
"Saved…" Shuichi exhaled.
The dished were sumptuous. And the smell was so appetizing, that you could have eaten just rice and sniffed the air to feel full. No one hesitated to smile, clasp their hands together and cheer, "Itadakimasu!"… well, everyone except Shuichi.
Shuichi took in small pieces of the main course, placed it on his rice, and slowly placed a portion to his mouth. He breathed in before he took a bite, and chewed slowly, while his gaze remained on the bowl of rice he held in his hands. Hiro noticed him, although didn't bother to ask him anything. The others noticed it from time to time, tried to encourage him to eat more, but it seemed that Shuichi only answered them with a smile then returned to his chewing.
K, who sat across Shuichi, could not take his expression any longer, and even more since he didn't know the reason why he was acting that way…
"What's the matter with you, Shuichi?" K demanded, his voice more of annoyed than furious. He slammed his bowl on the table, and if it were not for the thick mat, it would have definitely resounded in the whole restaurant.
He then reached into his pocket, only to grow even more annoyed to remember that he left his magnum in the car- since it was a bother to be questioned by the security guard at the entrance. He breathed in, looked straight at Shuichi who looked scared as a rabbit coming face-to-face with a starving wolf, then began to speak slowly. Everyone could not swallow the food in their mouth.
"I can't see the reason why…" K tried so hard to speak slowly, "why can't you at least, for once, on this trip, at least 'pretend' to be happy. Why do you have to pout every time the stage lights are finally turned off and you're back here with us? Why do you always have to be that way? WHY? Why can't you, for one day, stop thinking about Yuki or about anybody and just be HAPPY, DAMN IT!" K's thoughts were colliding with each other, and instead of expressing his frustrations, he decided to end it with that question.
"K…" Hiro said with concern, he looked at K, trying to tell him through his facial expression to go easy on Shuichi. After all, the whole week had not been a cup of tea for Shuichi either…
"I…" Shuichi stuttered, the bowl in his hand shaking.
It was silent, and the tension was unspeakable. Sakano was confused, his food stuck in his throat and still in need of chewing. Hiro looked at Shuichi, then glanced back at K, trying to calm him down silently. Fujisaki leaned back on his chair, also holding a bowl in his hand, and swallowed hard… it was audible to everyone…
K grunted and shut his eyes. He looked at his bowl, picked it up angrily and handled his chopsticks roughly, "Nevermind… forget I said that…" He began to take in large amounts of food, as if not having time to breathe.
Shuichi directed his gaze at K for a while, looked at the bowl shaking in his hand.
"I'm sorry… I've been so much trouble…" Shuichi choked in between the statement, "maybe it would be better if… if I," Shuichi paused. He placed the bowl on the table, then bowed his head to his friends, "Excuse me…" Shuichi stood up, not even looking at Hiro, and picked up his bag.
"Shuichi?" Hiro protested, "what are you—"
"I'll be back for tomorrow's session, don't worry… I think…I need time… alone…" Shuichi was stammering, and Hiro could feel that his friend was about to cry, but fought against the urge just to show that he was standing for himself for once…
Shuichi put on his bag, and walked out through the entrance, as the waitresses looked at him questioningly. One attempted to cheer her idol, by cheerfully saying, "Please come again!", but Shuichi didn't even notice her, and continued to walked out the restaurant and then down the street…soon disappearing from view.
………………………………………..
"Ban channn... I'm getting…"
"Hungry, I know…" Ban looked at his companion and soon heard his stomach grumble, it was audible enough for Ginji to hear.
"Don't we have any more money from the amount K gave us yesterday?" Ginji wearily asked. It was true, K had given them a considerable amount of money, although they weren't sure if Shuichi knew about it. But it's amazing at how having a magnum pointed at you really convinced you to keep you mouth shut.
"Huh? I thought it was with you?" Ban looked at Ginji, the hunger starting to make him irate.
"Uh… oh… w-wait a sec…" Ginji dug in his pockets, only to pull them inside-out. "Nope…" He grew teary-eyed.
"Grrrr…" Ban grumbled as he kept walking, and staring at the restaurants they were passing by.
"Ban chan… are you…" Ginji transformed himself into his adorable form, leaving Ban even more irritated… it was hard to feel sore at the guy—he was so cute, you'd end up hating yourself being angry at him.
"NO NO NO! I'M JUST HUNGRY SO JUST KEEP WALKING!"
Ginji sniffled, "well… as long as you're not angry at me… fine then…"
Just then, Ginji felt a tug at his shirt. He looked down and saw a child who seemed to be at awe just looking at him.
"Uhm… Hi…" Ginji smiled, and stopped walking for a moment, "are you lost?"
Ban was so occupied with finding a place to eat that he hadn't noticed and kept walking…
"No..." the child answered with a sniffle, "I just thought you looked like my favorite uncle, mister."
"Oh really?" Ginji smiled and then crouched, so that he was talking to the child face-to-face.
"Yeah…" the child smiled back and pulled on his cap, "I guess it was my mistake, hehe… oh well, sorry…" then he ran off.
Ginji, still crouching, watched the child as he ran down the street. "Strange kid," he thought to himself. He suddenly felt a pressure on his shoulder, and looked up, and saw Ban looking at him with annoyance.
"What are you doing?" Ban scolded, "We're trying to find something to eat, aren't we? What are you doing stooping like that?"
Ginji defended himself, "A-ah, this kid was tugging at my shirt and so I stopped and he said that I looked like his uncle and-"
"A kid!" Ban interrupted.
"Yeah… a…" Ginji paused then gasped. The two looked at each other in surprise; eyes and mouth wide open in a mix of frustration and realization.
"Which way did he go?"
Ginji ran in the direction the boy took off, Ban following him. Despite the hunger that haunted them, they still found enough energy to run down the long stretch that they had spent the whole day patrolling on. Soon enough, they saw a small figure in the distance. Ginji immediately recognized the cap.
"There he is!" He screamed, then gained speed.
The child looked at them, then broke into a run, but Ban and Ginji would not allow themselves to be eluded by a child.
Through an alleyway, the boy ran and slid, trying to lose Ban and Ginji through the gates that blocked the way. Then, they passed through yet another terrain that seemed even more undeveloped. But soon enough, the child was out of breath, his speed decreasing just as Ban and Ginji also started to lose their stamina. But the child would not give up, he kept running. They soon came to a dead end in one of the alleyways, and the boy screamed in horror, panting heavily, and looked back at the two men who were also out of breath
"Guilty… as… charged… it…seems…" Ban casually said in between gasps for air.
"Where…are…they?" Ban reached out his hand, his chest moving up and down as he too was out of breath.
"P-please don't hurt me…" The boy whimpered, "I-I didn't mean to…"
"Didn't mean to?" Ban took in a deep breath as his breathing grew steady, "this has been going on for months and you say you 'didn't mean to'?"
"It…it's for my mom… she's sick… and…" the child looked up at Ban, trying to persuade him with pity.
"Your mom?" Ginji repeated, with a hint of doubt.
"She's been sick… terribly sick… the doctors… the medicine… we can't pay for them anymore…" The boy looked at Ginji, his tears starting to stream down his cheeks, "I didn't know what else to do…"
"Pft…" Ban looked away, he started to feel moved with sympathy for the boy, and he wouldn't allow it, "We won't hurt you… We just want something back. It's a wallet you might have stolen the other day… it belongs to a red-haired boy, a bit older than you… and that's all he needs…"
The boy looked at Ban, then at Ginji, who seemed more compassionate, "I…" he recalled quickly, "I don't… have it…"
"What!" they both replied.
"A man bought it from me, he said he would buy it more than how much it really contained," the boy smiled for a moment and let out a chuckle, "and he was right, all that wallet had was loose change and a piece of paper with scribbles on it." The boy grimaced, as if he too had a comment on what he thought about the scribbles he read.
"What? Wait, what man?" Ban came forward, squatted and firmly placed his hands on the boy's shoulders. The boy looked at him with a hint of fear, trying to answer without stuttering.
"I… I don't remember… He was…" he looked away.
"TRY to remember! You have to!" Ban shook him, and Ginji stepped forward, reaching out as if to calm Ban down.
"I-I…" the child stuttered and shut his eyes, trying hard to remember, "He was a businessman, in a white suit. He looked funny… but all I remember was his eye… it was… different. Not normal… Yes, his right eye…"
"Different?" Ban looked at the boy in the eye, wondering what he meant.
"Yes, different. I've never seen it before… that's all I remember… please believe me… please…" The boy looked back at Ban, teary-eyed.
Ban sighed, releasing the child from his grasp, and stood up once more. He looked at Ginji, who also was relieved that Ban had finally calmed down. Ban smirked and nodded to Ginji, "At least, we're finally getting somewhere today." Ginji nodded in approval.
The boy looked at them, and wiped away his tears with his hand. He looked at them curiously, and they took notice of it.
"Are you guys detectives or something?" He asked.
"Not really, but could be…" Ginji smiled, and then looked at Ban, convinced that they should go and find Shuichi soon. But before they left, Ban turned to the boy who was still clueless of what was happening.
"You better stop tricking people like that, kid… it's as good as stealing from your mother, you know."
The kid blushed at Ban's advise, and he retorted, "Sure… if only you could be in my situation! You think it's easy to tell me what's bad or good? You people think that it's easy to face these kinds of situations, that we're weak, and that we don't know any better. But I swear if you people could only feel the same way I did and had gone through what I did, you might realize that your advice was not that helpful after all. You think I enjoy this? Spending each day with uncertainty, with only the thought of my mother dying because the medicine was too expensive? I'd rather do this than lose my mother… I can't lose her now… I just can't…" The child paused as Ban and Ginji looked at him with concern, "I can't live alone… not now… I don't know where to go, what I should do… My father… he was supposed to… he was supposed to be there… but…" And he gave in to his tears, whimpering. He cried quietly, nothing more left to be said.
Ginji stepped forward, placing his hand on the child's shoulder. The boy flung his arms around Ginji, who- though surprised at first- calmly welcomed him. He pushed the boy back gently and looked at him. He smiled, and carefully replied, "I know it's hard to accept these responsibilities. You're very young and yet you're suffering all this just for your mother. I think she's lucky to have a son as caring as you… but…" Ginji paused, looked away and then returned his gaze to the wide-eyed boy, "Do you really think your mother, once she gets well, would be happy to know that she recovered through stolen money—by her own son? Do you really think she would want you to turn to this kind of life just for her sake? I don't think good parents would ever want to sacrifice their children just for themselves, and I do think your mother is good since you treasure her so much."
The boy looked away, and sadly replied, "But how? How do I get that money for her? How can I save her now? I'm too young to work, I don't have enough time to make a business, and I don't think I can make as much money in a day…"
Ginji looked at Ban, who nodded. Ginji smiled and then reached into his vest pocket. He pulled out a small vial containing a purplish liquid, and then pulled out a small, empty vial. He transferred a considerable amount of the liquid into the other vial, then handed it to the boy, who looked at it with curiosity as he accepted it.
"What is it?"
"It's a special medicine. One that cannot be found anywhere," Ginji calmly explained, "Just let your mother breathe in the scent, once a day, and she'll feel better."
The boy looked at Ginji, holding the vial as if he was holding gold in his hands, "This will really help? Are you… please don't tell me you're…" the boy raised his brow.
"No jokes… see for yourself. Besides, if you uh—what's your name?"
The boy bowed his head, embarrassed, "u-uhm… Hoshi…"
"Hoshi," Ginji grinned, "if ever that medicine won't work, you can tell the police that we sold illegal drugs and then tell them the names—"
"O-OI! GINJI!" Ban screamed in protest, "What are you doing! Don't give him ideas!"
Ginji chuckled then continued, "Tell them the names, 'Ginji Amano' and 'Mido Ban', the GETBACKERS. And they'll get us for sure."
Ban groaned as slapped his hand on his forehead.
Hoshi smiled then pointed, "He must be Ban… coz he acts like one…"
"Ha-ha… I won't even ask what THAT'S supposed to mean" Ban replied sarcastically. "Ginji, we better go!"
Ginji scratched his head and bade Hoshi farewell, and went on their way.
"You better leave enough of Himiko's remedy for us, ya know. You might give it to some lonely circus clown next." Ban murmured.
"Ban chan!" Ginji laughed, "It feels good to help, I think you're aware of that!"
And as the two disappeared into the distance, Hoshi was left in that alley, the dead end, looking at the vial in his hand. He held onto it tightly. Smirking, he looked up to the sky, placed the vial in his pocket and ran to see his mother.
……………………………………….….
Outside, Tsuzuki and Hisoka noticed that Shuichi had left the restaurant. Tsuzuki gulped down the last piece of the donut he was eating then looked at Hisoka, his brow raised.
"What happened?" He asked, "Why is he going alone?"
"I don't know, but we should follow him…" Hisoka, serious as always, started to walk.
"Woi, wait for me!" Tsuzuki scurried after his partner.
Shuichi stopped, and sat down by the sidewalk, his hands holding onto his legs as he sat still, obviously preoccupied with something.
"Poor guy, he seems so sad." Tsuzuki sympathized, "I wish we could help him."
"Yeah, sure…" Hisoka shrugged, "as if we could just approach him and say, 'Hi! A madman is after you, and we're here to help.'"
Tsuzuki looked at him with disdain, "You're so cold, Hisoka… so cold…" then proceeded to shiver, his hands clasping his arms tightly.
"Whatever…"
Just then, a car stopped just inches away from Shuichi. Shuichi looked at it. Soon, a man with silvery hair came down, waving at him.
"Tsuzuki!" Hisoka exclaimed in alarm. Seeing that familiar face stirred something within him, something that he neither understood nor liked.
"I know! Muraki! Wait, let's wait… maybe…" Tsuzuki wanted to run across the street, but he knew it wasn't that easy to protect Shuichi.
"We can't make a scene here…" Hisoka agreed.
Shuichi stood up immediately, smiling widely and making amusing gestures. From afar, the two could tell that he was faking his happiness, probably to send Muraki off soon. Muraki walked towards the red-haired boy, who tried so hard to inconspicuously move away. Soon enough, the two were walking back to the car.
"Hisoka! What's going on!" Tsuzuki watched in alarm as Shuichi got into the car. But as he looked at Hisoka, it seemed that even his companion could not understand what had just happened.
"What is he thinking!" Hisoka scorned, not even noticing Tsuzuki.
The car drove off, with the two passengers in it. And all the two could do was watch, completely clueless of what to do at the moment. Hisoka then looked at his brown-haired companion.
"It seems Muraki has planned this out in advance… more than what we thought." Hisoka hated to admit it, but it was obvious.
"Since they know each other, and since it seems that they're friends..." Tsuzuki paused and looked straight into Hisoka's eyes with worry, "…It seems… also… that…"
"We'll be having a bigger problem…" Hisoka sighed as he looked across the road. He paused for a moment, then replied, "we better go to the place they're staying…"
"W-what?" But before Tsuzuki could finish the question, Hisoka began walking again, and he could only catch up.
………………………………….
Shuichi clenched the bottom of his shirt tightly. He looked straight ahead, and sat upright, in perfect posture. He was shaking, but not enough to catch Miraku's attention. Afterall, Miraku was busy driving. He could hear his heart beating, almost as if they were in his ears. He looked at his chest, and the cloth of his shirt seemed to move in accordance to the beating of his heart. It was silent, and he was only inches away from Miraku. They were going somewhere, somewhere only Miraku knew and he had the power to do what he wished… anything he wished… and Shuichi had no idea how to defend himself if ever he found himself in a 'tight' situation.
He still recalled the moment he agreed to ride in the car with him…
"Shuichi-kun," Miraku waved at him, smiling kindly, "it seems I arrived just in time."
"M-miraku-kun!" Shuichi brought himself to stand up, he tried desperately to show that he was okay, but he couldn't help thinking to himself the irony he found himself in again,
"Of all the times, why now?" He asked himself.
"Awww…" Miraku cooed, then smiled as he walked towards Shuichi, "come, we have a meeting, don't we? I promise it'll make you feel better…"
"E-eh? No, really, I'm all right, Miraku-kun!" Shuichi shook his head and rocked his arms back and forth, "I just needed to think, that's all! Hehehe!"
"Really now?" Miraku raised a brow, "well then, too bad, I thought you needed the money too… Well then, I better go… I hope you feel bet—"
"H-Huh? N-no wait, I didn't say that I wasn't going to come! Ehe, I'm sorry, I really didn't mean it that way…" Shuichi laughed and scratched the back of his head.
"Oh! Wonderful!" Miraku smirked, and the reflection of the light on his eyeglasses made Shuichi blink for a moment.
"What was that?" Shuichi thought to himself, he saw something funny about Miraku's eye.
"Heh, must be my hunger…" Shuichi dismissed the thought and realized that he barely had 5 portions of his rice, and was even more convinced to join Miraku for lunch.
Then, they walked to the car, got in, as Miraku reassured Shuichi…
"You're going to enjoy this."
Shuichi heard those words play over and over in his mind. And whenever he tried to look at the man who was beside him, it seemed that Miraku always knew—and smiled at him. But there was just silence… nothing but the sound of the car…
Shuichi took a deep breath, hoping to break the silence by complimenting Miraku's suit or asking him about something. Shuichi opened his mouth, about to ask him if he knew about Yuki Eiri…
The car stopped, and Miraku happily- yet calmly- exclaimed, "We're here!"
Shuichi looked out the window and there it was, the restaurant Miraku had promised. It looked fancy, unlike the other one earlier. He felt his stomach grumble, and he unconsciously soothed it by rubbing it.
"Let's go, Shuichi-kun?" Miraku smiled, and then got out of the car.
"Let's…" Shuichi gulped, as he opened the door and stepped out.
………………………..
Yuki knocked on the door. It wasn't long before his sister opened it. She was dressed-to-kill, as always, and she tossed her hair as she walked in the house, leaving Yuki to shut the door behind him.
She sat down on her posh couch, sitting comfortably and then reaching for the half-filled glass of wine. She acted as if Yuki was not there, and only acknowledged him by handing a cigarette for him. Yuki just stared at her offer, "I have my own, thanks." Mika shrugged then placed a cigarette in her mouth and lit it, inhaling it and releasing a smooth gust of smoke.
"Just get a glass in the kitchen if you want to drink," and she took a sip from her glass of wine.
"Thanks," Yuki answered, and sat himself down across her. He stared at his reflection on the glass table in front of him. And he became aware of how wasted he looked—more than usual. He decided to change his gaze towards his sister.
"Is Tohma here?" Yuki asked.
"No, he's out, and busy…" Apathy in her words.
"I see…"
"Out with it, Eiri-kun…"
Yuki looked at Mika, as if asking her to repeat what she said.
"Either it's a blue moon, or the era of flying pigs… It isn't very often that you come to me when you feel bad, Eiri kun… And, yes, I can tell…" she smiled seductively and took another sip of wine.
Author's note: It's been a loooooong time, I know. And I have to be honest—I was going to delete this story ;. …If it wasn't for my friend who convinced me to keep writing. Sorry guys, I've been in a terrible writing slump for a while … Feel free to tell me if this chapter was in any way dragging or whatever, I'd really appreciate all your comments:D Thanks so much for all those who read and still read my fic! Gives Shuichi-cookies to them all