Disclaimer: Do we have to do this EVERY time!
Author's Notes: YAY! Ahead of schedule! Good for everyone! The title makes no sense when I reread it, but whatever. Enjoy!
Noriko's Story
It's hard to pinpoint a specific time in your life where something changes so completely, nothing can ever go back to being the same. Suddenly, after the unknown change, you become reminiscent on things that aren't truly from long ago.
We, as humans, want the world. We want the total control, the security in knowing nothing bad will ever happen to us. And, it's through control do we ascertain this feeling of protection. We don't accept change easily. I guess, to some degree, some of us do take it well. They can smile and encourage through it, but on the inside the rage about with fear that their ways are going to alter.
Change is ever-present. It is the flow of the world. I hate it. There are days when I wish we didn't get so big, to days when I wish we had never met. And guilt for these thoughts soon follows, proving again how weak I am. I don't have the strength to walk away, no matter how much I want to some days. I don't have the strength to say 'stop!' and walk out the door. But I want that strength. I need it.
Because I am nothing but trouble.
I'm Moving Out
We made a CD over the course of time, and were promoted heavily before its release to the public. TV shows, radio talks, commercials… then, finally: Concerts.
We were the opening act for a lot of bigger bands, but we had too much fun with it to care about the odd looks and random boo's we received at first. Once we started playing, they had shut up immediately. Looks of curiosity turned to ones of awe, boo's and taunts turned to cheers and screams. Our name was heard more often at a concert, than the headlining band. And we loved every single second of it. We had control over where we were going, what to do next and we were always having fun with it.
Our CD sold off quickly and it was only a matter of time until we would make another and start a tour. Kazuki was more than pleased with our efforts… if that's what you had to call it. It didn't even feel like work! It was fun! We were getting paid to have fun and dress up. But, we wanted something more than my little place. We wanted to get out and start living like the stereotype said we should.
That, and everyone from school kept coming around. So it was kind of a must that we moved.
So, we began searching in our spare time. I wasn't as enthusiastic about this. Ryuichi and Tohma were looking for a place together, and I didn't want to impose. Once again, I was on my own. Tohma found something suitable to his expensive tastes. When he first showed me, I was a little thrown off. It had three rooms. Two would've been suitable. One for them, another for a guest.
"Incase anyone visits, it has to look like Ryuichi and I don't sleep together," the blonde explained quietly.
Ryuichi was just beaming though, and I wondered if Tohma had explained that to our singer. His childish glee made me think he was pleasantly unaware of it, but with Ryuichi, one learned to read between the smiles.
I got myself a small place close to Tohma and Ryuichi, my parents already knowing what I was doing. It was hard not to know when our faces were everywhere. It was a very cold, clipped conversation and I was glad to hang up the phone after that.
We packed up and headed out and I had modest tastes, so I was perfectly comfortable in the small place I had and a little intimidated by the larger place Tohma had purchased. But, if we were all happy, then there was no real reason to complain. Although, I wasn't exactly at my place too often. I spent as much time with Tohma and Ryuichi as I could. So this time around, my stuff was at their place, and I was the constant guest.
Then, it was decided: We were going on tour!
This was the big moment, we were going to tour, what seemed to be, all of Japan. I was so excited, you could've mistaken me for Ryuichi on a good day. We decided to have a party in honor of our leaving tomorrow. Us three (of course) and Mika and her brother, Eiri. Nothing big or fancy, just friends enjoying one last night with others.
I went to Tohma's after going back to the bar. I wanted to thank them again, and tell them our good news! They were all so happy, and I couldn't help but feel a little silly signing autographs. I still felt like me, not some pop star. Kenichi sent me off with a bottle of rum, which I knew Tohma would love. I presented it laughingly to the blonde and told him about my excursion. He regretted not being able to join me, but he wanted to make sure Ryuichi would be okay.
We were futzing around for a bit when Mika arrived with a slight, blonde eleven-year-old. Apparently this was Mika's little, but not youngest brother, Eiri. I wasn't shocked so much by the blonde hair (I DID know Tohma after all) than by his eyes. Such an odd gold color. A warm honey color. The kind of color you'd get when taking a jar of honey and held it to a window, letting the light filter though it.
"Mika-san, Eiri-kun, how are you?" Tohma asked, smiling as he let then in, leading them into the living room.
Ryuichi was sitting on the couch, legs crossed, one leg jiggling slightly, arms crossed. He was smiling, but his eyes were hard. I gave Mika a hug and Eiri a small wave.
"Hi! I'm Noriko," I introduced, smiling down at the little blonde.
He blinked up at me with big eyes, blushing slightly as he greeted me, smiling.
"So, are you excited about starting the tour?" Mika asked me, taking a seat.
I poured out drinks for everyone, taking one myself, smiling at everyone, trying to ignore the evil vibes coming off of Ryuichi. They only intensified when Tohma sat next to Mika and again when she spoke.
Oh, scary.
"You have no idea! I've always wanted to do this," I told her, laughing
slightly.
"Yes, Nori-chan only excelled in music," Tohma said, smiling wider.
I stuck my tongue out at him. "I could argue, but then I'd be lying."
Mika chuckled, hand resting on Tohma's arm, distracting him from the pouting singer.
"So, Eiri-kun, what do you like?" I asked the child, trying not to sound like an adult talking down to a child.
I always hated that as a kid. Annoyed the living shit outta me.
"Reading… writing," he said in a little chirp.
"What kind of books?"
I'd never been much of a reader myself. If a title caught my eye, I'd pick it up, but other than that… yeah, no. And that's how the night progressed, Ryuichi grunting out answers to questions when asked, but sitting there glaring mostly. Then, he had gotten up, excusing himself to the bathroom.
Pleasantly buzzed, I waved him off. "Don't fall in!"
To which he flipped me off, unseen by everyone else. Not until Ryuichi came out, face blank, but surprisingly calm, a full ten minutes later, did I start to worry. With a little sniffle and a push of his hand at his nose, he sat next to me, an arm draped over my shoulders. I couldn't help but tense up and blush as I tried to carry on conversation. Tohma frowned ever so slightly at us and nodded as Mika asked him something.
"Let's play a game," Ryuichi said smoothly, overriding any other conversation.
Oh… well, that sounded… friendly of him, actually.
"What did you have in mind?" Tohma asked, leaning back. He looked wary of the singer's plans.
"We'll play 'I Never'," he told us with a fleeting smile.
I never… I never… I never what?
"What game is that?" I asked him, lost. Mika didn't look any more familiar with it than I, and Eiri was nodding off near Tohma. Oo, must be late.
Ryuichi chuckled and leaned back, almost mimicking Tohma. "This is how you play: Everyone has a drink. Someone goes 'I never' and say something they've never done before. Anyone who's done it takes a drink."
Oh, simple. Got it.
Taking up a bottle, I refreshed everyone's glass and waited patiently.
"Who goes first?" I asked, feeling a nervous twitch in my gut.
I just realized how many secrets Ryuichi knew about me. This was a damn good way to get someone back.
"I will," Ryuichi piped up immediately.
"I don't think-" Ryuichi cut Tohma off.
"I never… lied about my boyfriend," he said calmly.
Tohma and I took a drink. Everyone lied just a smidge… right?
Well, I was closest, so I guessed I was next. "I ne-"
"I never lied TO my boyfriend," Ryuichi said, cutting me off, eyes fixed on Tohma.
Mika was silent as she watched Tohma and I drink again.
Ryuichi could be commanding when need be. It was like he had a switch. He flicked it alright.
"I never engaged myself to a slut."
Everyone froze. No one even twitched.
"And whom might you be referring to, Ryuichi?" Tohma asked, voice strained.
"Oh, no one. It is just a game after all," he smirked haughtily.
"A game we've played long enough," Tohma said firmly, placing his cup down.
"I never went through with something because I was scared to be myself," Ryuichi went on, a fevered look in his eyes. "I never wanted to live a lie. I never did anything so hurtful to the one I loved!"
Mika rose silently from her seat, nudging Eiri awake. They were leaving, seeing as they were unwelcome. Obviously.
"And I never hated you more for going to marry that fucking slut!"
Mika apparently snapped then, from being talked about like she wasn't there, or continuously being called a slut, I didn't know. But it was scary seeing her like that. It made me make a mental note to never get her pissed off. Scary.
She straighten up, glaring at the singer, hair falling over one shoulder. "Listen here, Sakuma," she snapped. "This is all well and good with 'my' this and 'my' that. But you can't own people!"
Cat fight! She was mad because she felt Ryuichi was stepping in on her man! I really had to stop watching daytime television… It was starting to rot my brain.
"I can too!" he cried out, looking scandalized. "And I do! He. Is. Mine!"
Mike rolled her eyes. "You just can't own someone, it's not right!"
Eiri stirred, waking up slowly, blinking at the raised voices.
"Stupid bint, what would you know!" Ryuichi yelled angrily, stepping forward.
Oh no… this had better not get physical.
"More than a five-year-old in a twenty something year old's body!"
And then there was a resounding smack. Bare flesh hitting bare flesh. The sound was unmistakable.
Ryuichi struck Mika.
A pressing silence closed in tight, and Mika said not another word as she turned towards the direction her head had been smacked in, motioning for Eiri to follow. Tohma's mouth was open slightly in shock, and my body had melted into the couch. How could he have done that?
The Uesugi's left silently and the three of us were left in the suffocating quiet.
"Get out," Tohma said softly, getting up from the couch, walking to their room and shutting the door.
Ryuichi burst into silent tears. Tears of remorse or pain, I didn't know. I got up, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, leading him towards the door.
"Give him a day," I murmured softly into his ear. "He just needs to think."
My words seemingly went wasted on his choked sobs, and I helped him grab some things, leaving a note for Tohma, telling him I was taking Ryuichi to my place so he could think. He had our numbers if he needed us. I walked him to my place, I was in no state to drive, and helped him into the extra bedroom, settling him in. He croaked for his bunny, and I handed it to him, remembering to grab it before we left. He cuddled to his chest quietly and I took that as my sign to go.
Slipping into my room, I changed and tucked myself in, wondering about what tomorrow would bring. Tomorrow was our last free day before we left. And it would be spent with all of use packing things we would bring. We were going to be stuck.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn't even realize Ryuichi had slipped into bed with me until I rolled over, nearly screaming. Why does he insist on doing that to me!
"You okay, Bunny Boy?" I asked him. Why I was whispering, I didn't know.
"No… I just want him back," he whispered, voice trembling.
I sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You never left him, and he never left you, this is just a little bump in the road for you two."
But was Ryuichi willing to fix it?
"He is leaving me! For that… for her," he stopped himself.
"Sleep now, think on it tomorrow," I told him, snuggling into him to sleep.
I received silence and assumed he was done talking for the time being. Everything would be better come the morning.
I hoped.
Good, bad? No one tells me anymore!
Pwease review! PWEEEEAAAASE!
Bah, welp, off to do the next chapter!
SL