Author's note: I extend my thanks to Regina who was kind enough to inform me that Maiko is in fact a brunette in the anime. So, I'll be referring to her as such from now on and will correct the early chapters too. (smooches) Sankyuu!
Three to Tango
By Akaru
Chapter two: Mystery in the air
"I'll see everybody later, okay?" Shuichi shouted as he trotted to the door of the recording studio. Suguru nodded before turning back to his keyboard, and K-san waved his pistol in the air genially.
"See you on time tomorrow morning, right?"
"R-right," Shuichi responded as Hiro threw him his sweatshirt.
"Tell the little Shindou I said 'see ya'."
Shuichi nodded as he shrugged the bright green sweatshirt on. He shut the door and stepped out into the hallway, before promptly tripping over something just beyond the door and falling flat on his face.
Shuichi looked back, and studied the oddly-shaped obstruction just beyond his feet. "Shuichiiii, can't you watch where you're going?" the huddled mass moaned piteously.
"Maiko? What are you doing? Why are you sitting out here on the floor?" Shuichi pushed himself into a sitting position and turned to face Maiko, who immediately catapulted herself into Shuichi's arms.
"Oniii-san…" She murmured into Shuichi's sweatshirt. "Scary…."
"Eh?" Shuichi looked down at his sister's brown curls. "What's the matter?"
"Well, hello there, Shuichi." A familiar voice resonated down the hall, and Shuichi glanced up to see Seguchi strolling toward them. Maiko snuggled further into the folds of Shuichi's shirt.
"And Miss Shindou. It was my pleasure to make your aquaintance. I hope you enjoyed your tour of NG records."
Shuichi prodded Maiko with a finger, and she managed to look up and nod. Barely.
Seguchi smiled politely and Maiko shrunk back again. "You'll come to visit again, yes? Shuichi, you'll have to let me know when this simply charming young lady will be back." He nodded to both Shindous, and then he turned and continued down the hall. "Have a nice day, both of you."
Maiko shivered.
"What…" Shuichi began, staring incredulously at his sister. Sure, Seguchi could be intimidating, but this was just a little over the top. What exactly had happened during that aforementioned tour?
"L-let's go, Shuichi…" Maiko clutched her brother's hand in a vice-like grip as she all but dragged him to the exit.
'…The hell?'
Yuki braced himself as the ominous sound of the door opening echoed through the quiet apartment. Any second now, his little lover would come flying through the expanse of the spacious abode with inhuman alacrity, to launch himself at the petulant novelist and chatter his ear off.
However, Yuki did not see any flashes of pink as he stared intently at the door. Nor did he hear any loud shouts or shrieks, nor even the pounding of heavy footsteps down the hall.
Yuki could actually hear the clock tick, and he wondered if he had imagined the sound of the door. No…there was someone in the house, talking…not loudly, nor to him.
Something was terribly wrong with this picture.
Suddenly, unreasonably irritated, Yuki left his laptop and stomped out into the living room, where he finally spotted the familiar head of pink. "Oi, brat," he said, glaring.
Shuichi didn't seem to hear, and it was apparent why. Beside him the petite brunette was chattering away about her day at NG. "…and then this bouncy guy came in and ate brownies with me and it was Ryuichi Sakuma, and we talked, and then we went to go find you but then…"
Yuki glared. He didn't think there was anyone who talked more than Shuichi, but he had just been proved wrong. He cleared his throat loudly, causing the singer to leap to his feet and whirl around. "Aa, Yuki. I didn't know you were there."
"Obviously. I've been trying to get your attention for five minutes now." Yuki exaggerated grumpily.
"Sorry," Shuichi said sheepishly. "Maiko-chan was just telling me about her day."
"I noticed. I'm sure it was very exciting." Luckily, neither of them noticed the sarcasm. "Well, I'll be in the kitchen preparing dinner if anyone needs me." He started to head off, slightly miffed.
That was until Maiko leapt to her feet. "Hey! Why don't I take care of dinner?" She caught Yuki's look of terror and grinned. "Don't worry, I can cook much better that Shuichi can." Without waiting for a response, Maiko skipped past Yuki into the kitchen and immediately began rifling through the cupboards.
"Hey, I'll come sit in the kitchen so you can finish telling me about your NG tour, Maiko." Yuki could only blink as Shuichi, too, passed Yuki into the kitchen, leaving the bewildered novelist in the living room, ignored.
Generally, Yuki was happy to distract the brat so he could work, but this…this just burned. "Fine, I'll be in my office," he snapped moodily and stormed off.
"Shuichi?" Maiko asked tentatively as she filleted a fish for dinner. Shuichi was sprawled near the doorway, doodling in some notebook of his. He looked up at the peculiar tone Maiko's voice carried. It was akin to the one he had heard when Seguchi had met them in the hall. His curiosity about what exactly had happened with Tohma re-emerged with full force.
"What is it, Maiko?"
Maiko stared forward for a moment, her face grim, as the knife stilled. "H-have you ever heard of a band called Star Dust?"
Shuichi thought hard. He did recall a band with that name, though only vaguely. If memory served him, the band had shown up on the J-rock scene some six years ago, shortly after Tohma-san had launched NG records, yet a good year or two prior to the break-up of Nittle Grasper. He recalled that they were wildly popular—almost rivaling Nittle Grasper at their peak. "Yes, I remember them. They were Nittle Grasper's competition a while back." He shrugged. "Why do you ask?"
"Well…do you know what happened to them?" Maiko asked quietly, ignoring Shuichi's question.
Shuichi tilted his head, taken slightly aback. Why the sudden interest in a band that hadn't hit the airways in years? "I don't know. They just stopped making music. They probably broke up."
"But you don't know for sure?"
"No, Maiko. I don't. Now, what is this all about?" Shuichi asked exasperatedly.
"D-do you think their disappearance has anything to do with the broom closet across from Seguchi-san's office?"
Shuichi's eyes widened. "What? Maiko, you're not making any sense. What does a closet have to do with Star Dust breaking up? Get to the point, Maiko!"
"B-but, the closet has a padlock on it, and…and Seguchi-san, he…" Maiko shivered "He mentioned something about a meat grinder and a stiletto heel…."
Shuichi decided at that point that he really didn't care to know.
(Me either.)
Despite the ominous conversation during preparation, dinner was particularly jovial. Well, at least on the side of the table that the Shindou siblings sat on, chattering away as always. Yuki had given up on getting a word in edgewise after two minutes. Instead he stabbed irritably at his fish and vegetables with a scowl on his face.
"Ne, Yuki? Yuki?" Shuichi leaned toward the novelist, his face filled with concern. "What's the matter? Is something wrong with your fish?"
Yuki glanced up. "No, nothing's wrong. The fish is fine." He picked up a bite of the fish and popped it into his mouth for good measure.
Shuichi smiled. "I'm glad. Maiko is an excellent cook, isn't she?"
Maiko smiled and blushed. "I try my best."
"Ne, ne, Maiko is the best! Nobody cooks better than you, Maiko!" Shuichi exclaimed.
Yuki glared at this last remark.
"Oh, stop, Shuichi! You're making me blush!"
"But it's true." Shuichi nodded eagerly.
"Are you trying to—"
Yuki cleared his throat loudly, cutting off the younger of two Shindous. "So Shuichi, do you have any plans for tonight?"
"Um…" He glanced at Maiko, who shook her head. "I don't think so."
"I was thinking that we could—"
Maiko piped up, interrupting Yuki. "I know! Let's rent some movies."
"That's a good idea!" Shuichi agreed.
"All right then! Let's go!" Maiko exclaimed. "Just let me get my coat."
"I'll grab my wallet."
With that, the Shindou brother and sister disappeared into other rooms of the apartment, leaving Yuki alone at the dining room table.
"…play some card games," he muttered to the empty seats.
His only response was the click of the front door.
Poor Yuki! Nyaha. He seems a little OOC in this chapter…competition can do that.
Still, who expected Yuki to get jealous?
And yes, I'm aware that Ryuichi and Tohma's…quirks… are grossly exaggerated. I assure you this is intentional. Also, that it does not represent any personal sentiments toward either character, (Ryu-fan that I am… ) and that it is for the sake of comedy alone.
Is Tohma really hiding the bodies of his competitors in the broom closet? No, he was just playing with Maiko's mind. (As Tohma is apt to do. )
Thanks for reading!
