A/N: Hm...first of all, I personally hate this chapter >>;; It took way to long to type and now it just seems...choppy. I like the end bit though Oh! And in terms of Japanese words used last chapter, 'kowai' means scary and 'kawaii' is cute I believe...coughs Or it could just be me getting mixed up. Why have words so similiar when they mean completely different things? Ugh, anyway! This chapter has not been Beta-read so...read with warning? At least I went over it this time...Enjoy and review! XD
Disclaimer: You know it, I know it, Gravitation is out of my hands...sadly enough. Bah humbug.
Not Supposed to Be... by Sumi-chan
Chapter Three
Shuichi stood up when he heard the harsh knocking of the door, clearing his throat quickly and asking what the person wanted.
An agitated sigh on the other side followed by more knocking forced Shuichi to walk to the bathroom door and open it, sticking his pink head out to see who was there. He only just ducked the fist that came flying at him, aiming for the place were the door had been, the fist flying by his head, ruffling his hair.
Noriko quickly stopped, looking at him in annoyance and slight surprise. "I wonder how Tatsuha knew you'd be in here...Oh never mind that. You're wanted in the living room." She gave him a brief smile, patting him on the head as she walked ahead of him back towards where she'd come from. Shuichi slowed his walk down to a mere shuffling of his feet as they entered, facing the floor so he wouldn't have to see them.
"I brought him back," Noriko pronounced, shoving him out from behind her to show he was there before dragging him over and thrusting him onto the couch.
Shuichi ended up in the more-or-less comfortable position of being squashed up against Yuki. And in his books, this happened to be a very good thing. Especially because he could feel Yuki's body heart through his clothes, the warmth of him scorching Shuichi's own body and making him sigh and snuggle closer. Yuki merely rolled his eyes, muttering a 'Don't get any ideas' before turning back to his conversation with Tohma.
'It's not supposed to be like that.' The thoughts echoed through Shuichi's mind as he was forced to simply sit back and watch the others, silent beside the blond author sitting next to him. 'I'm the one supposed to talk to Yuki, I'm his lover, I'm his friend, I should be his everything! But no, Seguchi-san has to take a part and steal him, talking to him, leaning his face in close...' Closer than Shuichi had ever been, he understood Yuki, understood him completely, knew more about him than Shuichi probably ever would. Shuichi could be close to him, sitting right next to him, and yet there was an irreparable distance that Shuichi doubted he could cross.
"Maybe Seguchi-san can," he muttered bitterly, pulling his legs up in self-defence of his own feelings and kneeing Yuki in the jaw. When he realised what he'd done a torrent of apologies left his lips, eyes wide as the rest of the people assembled laughed their heads off. Yuki simply glared at him, chin turning a distinct shade of red. "I'm sorry Yuki! I didn't mean to!"
"Shut up, idiot!"
Shuichi dropped his head, standing up and walking off, not wanting to sit there any longer. He hated it. He stumbled slightly, feet not wanting to leave the safety of the ground as he travelled, kicking slightly at the carpet. He could still hear them laughing from the safety of the kitchen a few minutes later, hear their hearty conversation continue without him.
"Damn it!" He turned on the cold tap, sticking his head under it and letting the water run through his pink hair, feeling his brain beginning to freeze from the onslaught of cold water but not caring.
"Shindou-san, I don't think that's healthy." A voice came from the doorway, a pleasant, off-standing voice that he was beginning to hate. Dripping sweetness, warm charity and brilliance, in walked Tohma Seguchi, disturbing Shuichi's attempt to freeze his brain and efficiently turning off the tap, shoving a towel into the singer's hands. "We don't want your vocal chords to become effected by such a display of ill will now, do we Shindou-san?" Tohma continued, his voice turning cool as he looked at the singer.
Shuichi silently shook his head, emotions numb, but not from the cold of the water, more from the icy glare that was sent his way as Tohma backed him up against the counter, hands out on either side, successfully trapping the younger boy.
The pink-haired boy gulped, looking away from the blue eyes of the owner of NG, looking anywhere else in the kitchen.
"Shindou-san, I'd like to have a talk to you," Tohma said simply, leaning in closer to him, forcing Shuichi to bend his back to get away. Like he had any choice, Shuichi thought desperately, looking for someway to escape. Did he have to stand so close?
"Eh? What about?" He finally got the courage to reply, voice shaking slightly as he prayed to the Gods above, or whatever else was up there, to save him the wrath of his possibly-pissed of boss. 'I didn't mean it, whatever I did!'
"You conduct Shindou-san, it is unacceptable."
"My conduct?" Shuichi was stumped, what the hell was Tohma going on about? He hadn't been doing anything out of the ordinary lately, unless you counted running into an almost-rapist, escaping by a strand of his hair. He knew he was going to have to talk Yuki about that sometime, maybe warn him that such men were about.
"Yes, your conduct. Particularly the way you act around certain people." That simply confused the pink-haired boy even more. He never acted as anything but a best friend to Hiro and an almost-sort-of-maybe-friend with Fujisaki-san! What was the blond-haired man referring to?
"I don't...understand Seguchi-san."
An impatient sigh, the breath almost searing Shuichi's skin as he gulped, afraid of the sparking blue eyes now trapping his. Sparks of fire flying out to burn him, and all manner of ill things. He was dead, simply put. Roasted on a Tohma-made fire, made only for him. This wasn't fair!
"It's pretty simple Shindou-san," Tohma replied. Shuichi couldn't understand how the other could keep his voice so...level and calm as he talked when his eyes were all but spitting flames at Shuichi. "It all boils down to one person: Eiri-san."
Yuki? What about Yuki? He hadn't done anything that might have upset the older man had he? Well...other than hitting him accidentally just seconds ago, but why would Tohma want to talk to him about that? He knew he'd done wrong! He'd apologised right after, so what was the problem? Shuichi stared at Tohma, not comprehending anything about the blond-haired man. "I don't...understand what you're getting at Seguchi-san," he finally said.
Tohma frowned and finally dropped his arms, stepping away from Shuichi and walking over to the kettle, turning it on and listening to it start up for a few minutes whilst he contemplated how to go on. Did he have to whack the pink-haired singer around the head before it got through his thick impenetrable skull? He truly was one of a kind.
"You know of my...relationship with Eiri-san, am I correct?" He asked finally, facing Shuichi.
Warning bells rang off loud and clear in the singer's mind, keening for all to hear as Tohma turned around. The words 'not good' repeated, circling in his mind at the blond haired man's words. And that just about summed it up, not good. Tohma and Yuki's relationship was 'not good', at least, not in Shuichi's eyes anyway.
Cautiously he shook his head, earning a patented sigh from Tohma and a whistle from the kettle as it finally announced the completion of its job. Shuichi eyed it as the blond haired producer took down an assortment of mugs from the cupboard next to him, putting tea bags in some and coffee beans in others. Shuichi guessed that this had been Tohma's excuse to out here in the kitchen, to follow Shuichi and corner him.
"Me and Eiri-san have an...understanding of sorts between us." He smiled, his face a picture of calm serenity as he looked over at Shuichi, his eyes hard and forbidding. "I am his protector and I will do anything to keep him out of harms way. If I see one instance of you hurting him, Shindou-san you will have me to answer too, and I do not take kindly to the way you are treating him lately. You're constantly bothering him and getting in the way of important business. I won't stand for it."
Shuichi was lost, completely and utterly floundering as Tohma continued, all the words washing over him as he kept his silence, simply blinking at Tohma to show he was still alive. Even his breathing had slowed, caught in his throat as Seguchi once more took over his personal space, coming closer to him and poking one refined finger at his chest. "If Eiri-san is put into hospital because of you, or becomes any less happy, you will personally be answering to me. Do you understand, Shindou-san?" His words this time were mocking, the respective placed on Shuichi's name only there for appearances.
Shuichi nodded, gulping down more of the precious air around him, smelling something that was entirely too dangerous to be trifled with before Tohma stepped back. His pleasant smile once more in place as he picked up the tray carrying all the mugs of tea and coffee on it, stepping out of the kitchen once more. "Good to know we agree on something Shindou-san." And then he was gone.
Shuichi stared after him, not moving from his spot as he slid down the counter, being jabbed unpleasantly in his side by the drawer handle. "Ow," he muttered as he finally made contact with the floor.
He sat there for an uncountable amount of minutes, simply trying to take into account everything that Tohma had just said to him, stewing the words in his mind. "I'd rather boil them, fry his words in a pan," he said angrily, reaching out a fist and sending it into the laminated floor, giving a small cry of pain as he lifted it up again, seeing the red mark where contact had been made. Looking at it mournfully he simply stuck it into his mouth, sucking on it. He'd read somewhere, or maybe someone had told him, that sucking on an injury made the pain go away.
Maybe if he sucked on Yuki it'd make all his pain to do with the tall blond-haired man go away. Shuffling back into a corner he gave a small sigh, trying to make himself as small as possible. Maybe he should go somewhere, home, Hiro's, anywhere but here. Yuki didn't want him here, neither did any of the other's currently laughing and talking and generally having a good time.
Laying his legs out flat in front of him, he rested his head back against the wooden cupboard behind him, closing his eyes for a moment and imagining himself somewhere else. "But I don't wanna leave..." He muttered, opening his eyes and glaring down at his knees. "It's Seguchi-san's fault I'm in this mess! He should be the one to leave!"
Standing up he felt his hands once more fist at his sides and he stuffed them into his jeans' pockets, his face set into a stern scowl as he returned to the living room. "You can't bother someone who loves you!" He announced to the room, a hush starting up at the end of his striking sentence. "And...er...Yuki's important business is my important business because we're together now! At least...that's what I think. And I don't care what anyone else thinks about it!"
"Baka," said a dry voice, matched by a small, embarrassed shaking blond head. Yuki looked at him through serious golden eyes and Shuichi could feel his legs become shaky beneath him, quickly sitting cross-legged on the floor before he fell down. "Is that all you have to say?"
Shuichi gulped, looking down at his shoes and playing with the laces of his new trainers, pulling them undone before retying them quickly. He slowly shook his head and Yuki raised an eyebrow in response. "No...I have more to say, but...I won't."
"Why not?" A new voice this time, Tatsuha's low tone adding to the conversation. "I'm sure aniki wants to hear whatever you have to say, Shuichi-kun."
Shuichi frowned in reply, stubbornly remaining quiet and staring down at the carpet, feeling the inquisitive eyes cast in his direction. "I don't want to though."
"Shu-chan's being silly!" Ryuichi inputted, bouncing up to squat down next to Shuichi and poke his head, making it wave from side to side before the pink-haired singer brought his hands up to stop it.
"I am not!" Shuichi replied, batting Ryuichi's probing finger away and shifting himself away from the older singer.
"Yes you are, you wuss!" Mika finally spoke up, standing from her spot beside her husband and coming over to pull Shuichi up, looking him up and down before turning to the rest assembled. "I'm taking him with me on a drive, we'll be back soon." And then she dragged the struggling singer out of the door.
The rest of them simply sat, staring at the rectangular piece of wood long after their retreat. "Er...Mika-san's angry?" Ryuichi asked, wincing as the door slammed after them.
Tatsuha grabbed hold of the older man, bringing him down to sit next to him, snuggling with him on the couch and patting his head. "Don't worry Ryu-chan, don't mind her." He said, kissing him soundly.
Yuki rolled his eyes, wondering why he was in such a meeting when he could be having some alone time. Just him, his computer, and his new story idea, instead he was sitting here in-between his younger brother, currently making-out with a singer double his age and Tohma who seemed intent to lie on him. "God help me," he muttered, looking towards the door. He'd definitely have that talk with Shuichi when he came back.
"Mika-san?" Shuichi asked, looking at his two index fingers as he tried to line them up together, focusing on them completely as he tried to ignore the speed they were currently travelling at.
Seguchi Mika merely took the cigarette she'd lit up as soon as they'd got into the car, and threw it out of her open window. She pulled the car to an abrupt stop, not caring where they were as long as they stopped.
Shuichi thanked whatever Gods looked after him that they were currently in a more-or-less deserted lane. Where exactly they were, he didn't know, just that they were far from Yuki's apartment. "Er Mika-san? Where the hell are we?" He asked, peeking his head out of the window to look before he was abruptly pulled back, Mika's hand wrapping around the cloth of his collar.
"Are you too much of a wimp to fight for the man you love!" She demanded angrily, shaking him. "Well? What was that little display back there, huh? What happened to Shindou Shuichi declaring his love from stages? What happened to that!"
"I grew up," Shuichi replied glumly, looking away from her as Mika threw him back against the seat, an expression of almost disgust on her face as she hurried to get out of the car, throwing the door closed behind her with enough force to rock the whole machine. Shuichi quickly followed her, watching as Mika lit up another cigarette, walking for a few metres before abruptly stopping and turning back to him.
The lights from passing cars lit up her figure, shining in her hair as they safely past her by and Shuichi had to gulp as he saw her. Seguchi Mika was an imposing creature, a beautiful woman of perfect stature with an attitude to match her almost perfect looks.
"You did not grow up Shindou Shuichi," she said, glaring at him. "I haven't seen such a pathetic display since...no, I've never seen such a ridiculous display!" She stopped for a moment, breathing in deeply before she carried on, seeming to haul in her raving emotions. "Look, I know Tohma had a talk with you..."
"You know what Seguchi-san said to me!"
Mika rolled her eyes, tapping her cigarette before taking a long drag of it, closing her eyes momentarily to enjoy the breath of nicotine before she took it out again to talk. "Anyone with half a brain could tell that was his true objective to go into the kitchen. I don't pretend to know just what he said, but I can guess what the topic was. It was my brother, Eiri, wasn't it?" She asked, her eyes imploring.
It struck Shuichi then as he stared at her, Mika looked lost at that moment. She stood in her usual relaxed posture, smoking like she wouldn't get lung cancer if she did it too much, looking at him through eyes that seemed to have almost lost their spark.
"He doesn't...love him." Shuichi began, looking down at his feet. "Seguchi-san that is, not that way I do, I don't think."
"Oh?" Mika replied, her voice almost chilling as her eyes flashed dangerously. "And how would you know?"
"Because," Shuichi went on, biting his lip, scuffling his feet slightly in the dirt. He heard Mika's impatient sigh and swallowed all his courage, looking up at her almost desperately. "Because he can't!" He burst out, wrapping his thin arms around himself, hugging his own body tightly. "Yuki's mine and...Seguchi-san is yours, right?" At Mika's nod, he continued. "I...don't think he loves Yuki, he just wants to look after him, but...he doesn't feel...he can't feel...love for him, because that's my job! And no one can love Yuki but me!"
Mika smiled, for the first time that night that Shuichi had seen, a simple lifting of her lips but Shuichi felt a spark of hope light up in his chest, growing wider as Mika began to talk. "I think you're right Shuichi," she said, moving closer to him and wrapping her arms around him. Shuichi tensed up immediately, his body going as tight as a board as Mika kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you...I guess." She moved away, returning to her abandoned car and pocketing her packet of cigarettes, seeming to have finished her smoking spree as she sat back in her seat, Shuichi copying her example and buckling his seat-belt.
"It's...strange. Feeling gratitude towards someone like you," she said simply. Shuichi didn't know whether to feel annoyed at that sentence or not and in the end remained quiet. "You're a mixture of unprovoked emotion, waiting to spill out at the slightest notion. I like that about you, even if it can get annoying at times." This time he uttered a sound of dismay, which she quickly stopped by waving her hand. "I am only speaking the truth as I see it, Shuichi." She said, starting up the car. "You can be a trying person to know at times and yet...knowing you reaps in rewards as well. We are going to return to the party, and you, Shindou Shuichi, are going to save my brother from the tyrants of my husband whilst I knock some sense into him. This...protective streak of his is getting too large now and as his wife, I won't have it!"
This time, as they went back to the house at what seemed to the singer to be fifty miles per hour, he smiled. A small part of him knowing that everything was going to come to a head when they got back, and feeling strangely giddy about it.
And Yuki is mine, he promised himself as he looked out of the window at the passing buildings and cars, and I'm going to make him realise it!
Glossary
Baka- idiot
And that's this chapter done. One more to go I believe, the big confrontation between Shuichi and Yuki, woohoo! Any other Japanese words I've missed just tell me and I'll tell you next chapter.