Disclaimer: I, of course, do not own Gravitation, Murakami Maki has that honor.
AU My take on what might have happened if Shuichi had not managed to get there in time to save Reiji from Yuki. Manga Vol. 9.
animegirl12182--Yea to less Mika? or just yea in general?
DeMoN4EvA--I know I really didn't try to give Alex much of a personality, he just sort of happens to be there.
Laura--Uhhhhh, no plot giveaways
Aki Kotasho--Thank You so much for reviewing, I appreciate all I can get.
Chapter 9
Unexpected Visitors
He and Hiro had finished tying to beat the crap out of each other and were now standing on opposite sides of the room both panting and staring daggers. This was only round one as far as he was concerned. As soon as he caught his breath, he planned on going after the red-head again. Hiro had actually made a move forward when there was a knock on the door.
They both nearly jumped out of their skins. Giving Hiro one last warning look, Tatsuha limped to the door. Grimacing down at his own foot he realized he must have twisted it in the tussle. He yanked the door open, ready to give hell to whoever had the nerve to disturb them. As soon as his mouth opened, he was forced to snap it closed again. Ryu and Shu were standing in the doorway looking very chummy.
"If you two are finished beating the crap out of each other do you suppose that you could let us back in now?" Ryuichi asked with an amused look on his face.
"Sure," Tatsuha sighed and moved to unblock the door, "Come on in and join the fun. Maybe with the four of us we can form tag team matches." The comment earned him small chuckles from the pair of singers and even Hiro managed a smile through bloodied lips.
Between him and Hiro, he was the biggest mess. The red-head had gotten through with only a split lip. He had an eye that was swelling and was probably going to go black, his nose was bleeding, as well as his lips, plus the twisted ankle.
"Don't you say a word," he quipped to Ryuichi after taking stock of himself, "It's not often someone gets the better of me in a fight but he did." He looked over to Hiro and gave a small nod. Hiro only grunted and nodded back.
"Since you two seem to have reached some sort of agreement and Shuichi and I have also reached an agreement," Tatsuha noticed that Ryu couldn't keep a grin off of his face, "I think that we all need to sit and discuss the business at hand."
"The original plan for today was for Hiro and you to go to the water park. Kumagorou and I are supposed to walk the Long Island Mall. We need to stick with what we planned to do just in case we are still being followed." Ryuichi was in his full adult mode and was staring daggers at everyone in the room. General argument started at once, especially Hiro who didn't want Shuichi left alone for even a minute.
Shuichi finally cut in to end all discussion, "Ryu's right," all noise stopped at the sound of his voice, "you need to keep to any plans you might have made. You need to act like nothing has changed." Everyone agreed that Shu was right but no one looked happy about it.
To his dismay he found Hiro tugging him by the arm, "Come on, we need to get ready." Hiro urged him towards his bedroom but Tatsuha couldn't help but notice his eyes strayed back to Shuichi, "You'll be here by yourself Shu will you be all right?"
"I'll be fine," that familiar grin was on his face for the first time, "as long as someone orders me some food before you go."
Hiro and Tatsuha left the room to get ready together. Within minutes they were gone acting as friendly as ever. Ryuichi staying only long enough to order room service and wait for the arrival. Now that the others were gone he couldn't seem to make himself step out of the door. "Shu are you sure you want for me to go?"
"Ryu you don't know how much I would like for you to stay and share more of those amazing kisses, but I really think that I need to be alone for a while. I just want to eat, sleep, and get a shower. I especially want to wash these off," Shu licked a finger and swiped at one of the tattoos to show that it was fake.
He couldn't help himself seeing the adorable pout on Shu's face, he crossed the room and delivered one more heart felt kiss before turning to leave.
Mika awoke to the sound of a baby mewling next to her. It was only now that it fully hit her; this was her baby and she was a mommy. Sitting up slowly due to her continued soreness, she pulled the port-a-crib closer to the bed.
She could do nothing but stare at the tiny infant lying in the crib. Pulling back the blanket she examined every inch including counting every finger and toe. She even pulled back the diaper to make sure it was a girl. Only then did she reach into the crib to cradle her new daughter in her arms. Running her fingers through the fine golden brown hair she felt an incredible rush of love and protectiveness, feelings that she had never had when she was pregnant.
"Anna," she sang at her child, "You look like your uncle Eiri." Thinking about what she had just said she realized this was a blessing, if the child had looked like Tohma she didn't know if she would have been able to feel the love she was feeling now.
Alex watched Mika through the glass of the door. He had been sincerely afraid that she was going to reject the child because of the relationship with the father. One glance at Mika holding the child alleviated all of his fears. With a smile he poked his head in.
"Are you awake now?"
"Alex," he could practically hear a purr in her voice, "come in and meet Anna."
"She's beautiful Mika, just like her mother." He leaned over to pull the blanket back to gaze at the tiny face.
"Do you think she looks like me?" Mika's eyes showed that she really wanted an honest answer.
"Of course she does. She is maybe a little lighter completed, but she still looks like you."
"You should see my brother Eiri if you think she's light. Eiri is actually blonde and looks western."
Now that she had brought up her brother he decided now was the time to deliver the news. "Mika, I need to talk to you about your brother." I was a good beginning but now he didn't know how to continue.
"It's all right Alex. I already know what you're going to tell me. You're going to try to talk me out of going to the trial on Monday. I really want to go to support Eiri, but I am deeply afraid that Tohma will be there. So, I'm thinking that may not be the best idea either. No matter what I do, I need to speak with him."
"I really am glad you have decided not to go." Taking a seat on the edge of her bed he made sure Anna was secure, "But, that isn't what I needed to tell you. Your brother, Eiri, is here in the hospital."
"He's here! Did they let him out to see me? Where is he?" He didn't like having to crush the hope in the woman's eyes.
"No, they didn't let him out. What I'm trying to say is that he is also a patient here."
"A patient? What happened? Is he all right?" Mika's voice held a not of panic and he saw that she was beginning to grip the baby a little too tightly. Anna was starting to fuss. He quickly took the baby from her arms and carefully placed her back in the crib.
"Tell me Alex."
"Your brother is in a room just down the hall. Apparently he was raped and beaten in the jail last night. He was pretty seriously injured in the attack."
"Raped, Eiri was raped?" The horror was clear in her voice.
"I'm sorry Mika." Tears were falling freely and he could hear soft mumbles of "not again, please not again". He had to give the woman credit, she was able to pull herself together quickly.
"You said that he was injured too, how?"
"My brother Phillip is his physician and I only know a few of the details. I know that he has some broken ribs, a broken leg, and a lot of bruises." He couldn't meet Mika's eyes as he finished.
"That's not all is it?" her eyes seemed to have him pinned to the bed.
"Well," he couldn't control the slight blush that spread on his face, "He was also pretty badly torn, rectally. Phillip has had to clean up some pretty bad messes in his life, but this was one of the worst he had ever seen."
Mika reached over to take the baby into her arms again and buried her head in the blanket. No matter hard she tried to hide them, he could see the tears streaming from her eyes. But, unfortunately he wasn't finished yet. "There are a couple of other things that I think you should know. He is not cooperating with the doctors. He refuses to tell anyone what really happened to him. Most of the time he will speak only in Japanese and when was delirious from the pain and the medications he continually called for someone named Shuichi and saying that everything was all his fault."
"I have to go see him Alex, maybe I can help, I am his older sister and he has listened to me in the past. Besides," she gave another loving glance at the small bundle in her arms, "he needs to meet his niece."
It only took about thirty minutes to get all of the arrangements made. While this was happening Mika had her first experience and feeding and changing her newest family member. Anna did not seem really impressed and immediately fell back to sleep.
The only problem they had was with the guards outside of Eiri's door. They were not allowing anyone inside. Phillip showed up before there was any real problem and stated that the visit was doctor's orders. With no more argument they were shown straight in.
Mika handed Anna to Alex while she took a seat at her brother's bedside. Eiri had always had the sweetest face when he slept. Now, with his face so pale he looked like an innocent child. At least his face was unmarked. She gently took his hand. This entire time she had it in her head that Alex must have been wrong. There was no way this could have happened to Eiri again. However, the peaceful sleeping face definitely belonged to Eiri. Before trying to wake him she leaned over to place a small kiss on his forehead.
"Eiri," she called gently still stroking his fingers, "Eiri can you wake up? It's Mika Eiri, wake up." Her voice was getting louder each time she spoke until she was nearly yelling. She knew her brother well. Nothing short of a nuclear holocaust would wake him. Fluttering of eyelids told her that was going to be successful. "Eiri wake up." She shouted one last time before the golden eyes finally opened.
"Ummm…Mika?"
"It's me Eiri can you wake up the rest of the way? I need to talk to you."
"Trying, groggy, need a drink, water?" She watched as Eiri tried to stretch and winced instead.
Alex poured the glass of water and assisted Eiri with sitting up to drink it.
"Better?" Mika asked when the glass was empty.
"Some, at least I can talk now. I could use something to eat though."
Mika couldn't keep the smile off of her face. This was a good sign. She motioned for Alex to go order a dinner tray.
"Mika," Eiri finally seemed to be coming to his senses, "What exactly are you doing here and where is Seguchi?"
"I'm here to see you silly." Yes, Eiri was definitely regaining his senses, he was the bastard again.
"Don't try to kid me Mika. What are you doing in the United States? Where is Seguchi, I need to speak with him."
She couldn't disguise the involuntary flinch at the question but decided the truth was the best course, "I left Tohma. It is a really long story so I will just give you the basics." Without sparing any details she told of everything that had happened in the past twenty-four hours.
"I don't think that is any real reason to leave him Mika. I think you should go home and try to work this out."
"I have a couple of other things that I need to tell you first." Alex had reentered the room and she turned to give him a smile holding out her arms for the baby. "Eiri this is your niece Anna. Anna say hello to your uncle Eiri-san." She gently handed the baby into her unsuspecting brother's arms. She watched as the golden eyes latched onto the small face and unprecedented look of wonder appeared in his eyes.
"She's beautiful Mika, she looks like you."
"That's funny Eiri look at her complexion. I thought she looked like you."
The room remained silent as the usually stoic author gazed down at his new niece. Eiri still wasn't very strong and when his arms began to tremble she motioned for Alex to come and take the baby again. "Take her back to my room for a while please Alex." She whispered into the man's ear, "What I am about to tell is not something a baby should hear about her father."
Mika waited until Alex was out of the room. The dinner tray arrived right after Alex left and her story was delayed while Eiri settled to eat. Eiri grumbled at seeing the food presented. The most solid thing he was given to eat was gelatin.
"You go ahead and eat I will do all of the talking."
He began grimly spooning soup into his mouth but she could tell he was listening to her.
"Here lately Tohma has been talking in her sleep. At first I just laughed it off, he has been under a lot of stress. Only after a while I couldn't ignore it anymore and started to listed to what he was saying. I didn't like what I was hearing and I know that you're not going to like it either. You probably already know that Tohma has men out looking for Shuichi. If they find him, they have orders to kill him." Mika paused to get her own glass of water before continuing.
"Also, Tohma was planning on leaving me after the baby was born; he was planning on leaving me for you." Mika carefully watched her brother's face for any sort of reaction. Eiri did not seem at all surprised.
"He would not have been welcomed Mika." Eiri quickly reassured her.
She felt sudden relief in her very soul. She hadn't realized that she had been worried about this. "He was planning and taking the baby away from me also." The only look on the blonde's face was concern. "I can see that you are not at all surprised. But, you have always known what Tohma was capable of. What I don't understand is why you continued to trust him. It goes beyond reason sometimes."
"You know exactly why I have trusted him Mika." Eiri was giving her a sharp look.
"Well, when I get done telling you the truth maybe you will finally see the light, like I did." She gave an evil smirk. "Tohma knew the family of that boy who tutored you the Kitazawas. He knew that they were poor. He paid Kitazawa to do what he tried to do. He was there watching the entire time, he could have stopped it at any time. He was in-love with you even then. He wanted to rush in so that he would look like a savior to you. However, things did not go as he planned. Kitazawa did a double deal on him. Those other two men showed up and messed his entire plan up. He did manage to get the gun from one of those other men." Eiri seemed to have forgotten about his dinner and was staring at her now. "He was the one who killed them. Tohma killed your sensei, not you. Afterwards he put the gun in your hands to try to cover his own crimes."
"That's bullshit Mika," he tossed his spoon back down on the tray, "Tohma would never…"
She watched as faraway look come onto his face. "Try to remember Eiri," she urged, "for all of our sakes please try to remember."
The dreamy look was suddenly replaced by one of horror, "It couldn't be true?"
"You finally remembered, didn't you?"
"I do remember Tohma putting a gun in my hands that's all." There was still doubt in his eyes.
Eventhough the memory was only starting she knew that in time he would eventually come to believe. "This is everything, don't you see? You can't go back to being friends with him now. I'm not going back to him, not ever. I took half the money and I am going to take Anna and run as fast and as far as I can."
"I have to go back Mika." Eiri looked defeated already, "They are going to send me back to Japan after the trial on Monday. But, it's not just that. I have to go back to try to convince him to call his dogs off of Shuichi."
"To hell with Shuichi," she was nearly screaming in frustration, "why is he so important?"
"Because he is innocent Mika," he shouted back at her, "none of this was his fault. Just like I was Tohma's victim all those years ago, Shuichi is the victim now. If he really did what you say, I cannot allow him to ruin another life!"
She was shocked by his vehemence, "I know I have asked you this before Eiri but I am asking again now, are you in-love with Shindou?"
"Mika you know that I not good at expressing emotions, but if constantly thinking about someone, constantly wanting that someone with you, and caring more about that someone than you do yourself is love, then yes, I am in-love with Shuichi."
Mika kept her smile to herself, "It's about time you realized it. I really do wish you luck Eiri." She ran a hand through the blonde locks, "Now you should wish me luck too. As soon as I am able to get Anna and myself out of here we are leaving. If I stay much longer Tohma will find me."
"Promise to at least drop me a line from time to time. You don't need to tell me where you are, just let me know that you and Anna are safe. And, if you can," he finally managed a small smile, "send me some pictures of my niece. I want to see her grow to be more and more like you."
Mika stood holding her tears at bay this might be the last time she ever saw her brother, "I love you Eiri."
"Get out of here Baka, before you make me cry. And Mika Good Luck, I love you too."
Shuichi was sleeping soundly and not hear the door to the hotel room open. He did not hear the footsteps as someone crept from room to room. He didn't know anything at all until he felt the blankets being pulled off of him and the cold metal of gun barrel was placed against his head.
"Get your ass up. You have run off for the last time. And, what the hell have you done to your hair?"
After the first few words Shuichi recognized the voice. He turned over slowly to stare K directly in the eyes. "When are you ever going to learn to tell us apart?"
Shu was amused to watch the astounded look on the American's face and almost laughed when the man dropped his gun. "Shindou, shit, is that you?"
"Of course it's me K. Now, either shoot me or let me go back to sleep. Right now I don't really care which."
Pulling the blankets back over himself and rolled over, waiting on K's decision. The only sound he heard was the blonde pulling up a chair. A quick glance told him that K was sitting beside of the bed like some kind of guard dog. Sighing, Shu fell back to sleep.
K knew that Ryuichi had skipped town with the pretense of coming to look for Shindou. It was almost impossible to believe that he had actually found him. Here was the proof right in front of him. Now, he needed to figure out what he should do. Where did his loyalties lie? Reiji and XMR would be very interested to learn that Shindou had finally surfaced. Rage wanted him back in the worst way and it would also make his wife very happy with him. As an employee of Seguchi and NG he had loyalties in that direction also. Seguchi had been more than a little obsessive in trying to locate Shindou; he would kill to know his current location.
As he sat and watched the cause of so much strife and controversy sleep, all that he could see was an innocent child that was currently being used as a pawn in games he didn't even have a clue about. It was no wonder the kid ran. He found he actually had to admire the singer for having the courage to come back.
In the end K decided to do nothing. He remained unmoving in the chair, watching the kid sleep and vowed to shoot anyone who might come in and try to do him harm.
Next Chapter--Tohma arrives in New York, Ryuichi goes shopping, and Shu and Ryu get much closer.
There are no more really long sessions with Mika and Alex, but I don't leave her completely hanging.
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