Disclaimer: Don't own Gravitation or any of its crazy characters and I don't want to either. I'm just here to play.
Broken Promise
Chapter 2
DAY 1
The drive from the airport to Ryuichi's house was uneventful, the three men making small talk as Ryuichi drove. He had a house outside the city limits that was set at the top of a hill with a driveway that was half a mile long. It was surrounded by manicured gardens and Shuichi saw a gazebo in the distance next to a small lake as they walked in the door.
"Wow Ryu, this place is beautiful." Shuichi turned in one big circle, taking in the expansive two story living room as Ryuichi looked down from the balcony that overlooked it. "Isn't it kinda big for just you though?"
"Well, the studio takes up one whole floor, and I promised I would always have rooms for Tohma and Noriko. And now I have a room for you. Come on, I'll show you guys to your rooms and give you a quick tour."
The quick tour turned into two hours as Ryuichi showed them his 'memory room' as he liked to call it, which was full of Nittle Grasper memorabilia as well as little things that he collected in his travels with the band that meant something to him.
Hachiro was entertained by Shuichi and Ryuichi reliving their crazy days with NG. They forced him to stop taking pictures at one point and join them as they dressed up in Ryuichi's old stage costumes and several of Tohma's hats which Ryuichi had stolen through the years.
The tour stalled once again when they hit the recording studio in the basement. Hachiro had only heard Shuichi sing on disc and sat mesmerized as the writer joined Ryuichi in an impromptu duet. Without instruments playing along Hachiro could hear just how well both could sing and how well their voices complimented each other.
"It's getting late. Are you guys hungry?"
"Starving!"
"You're always hungry Shu. What about you Hachiro?"
"Definitely need food."
The trio ended the tour in the kitchen where Ryuichi prepared dinner. They ate and talked for several hours before Ryu ushered them to bed.
"But I'm not tired!"
"You'll be asleep within five minutes."
Hachiro gently pushed the back of Shuichi's head as they ascended the stairs. Ryuichi enjoyed the site of the two bickering friends. He missed that greatly. Although he had friends here, he didn't have the kind of connection with them as he did with Tohma and Noriko and Shuichi. But whereas Tohma and Noriko were always looking out for him, Shuichi was next to him. He didn't realize how much he missed having someone by his side until he looked up from the floor of the airport into those sparkling lavender eyes.
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DAY 2
The day started off with Ryuichi making omelets for breakfast then whisking them away for a day at the zoo. Hachiro marveled at Shuichi's and Ryuichi's relationship. He figured Ryuichi was about ten years older than Shuichi, but the two men seemed perfectly in synch with each other. If he didn't know better, he'd say they were lovers. But oddly enough, he never felt left out. One of them was always dragging him somewhere or employing him to take their side of a debate. Ryuichi even stole his camera and started taking pictures of him and Shuichi.
After lunch they continued through the zoo and by dinnertime they were driving into downtown and eating at a sushi bar.
"So Mr. Shindou, are you ever going to conduct an interview or are you just going to write some fluff piece?"
Shuichi smiled around his chopsticks. He'd been trying to figure out how to approach the interview. This was Ryu. He didn't mind asking the questions, he just felt like he would be betraying his friend's trust by printing their conversation.
"No, I'm planning on doing an interview. I just don't think doing it here is very appropriate. I thought we'd talk back at your place, that way Hachiro could take pictures."
"During the interview?"
"Shuichi loves getting pictures of the interviews, even when he knows he's not going to use them. And they're always in black and white."
"Why?"
"I like candid shots and I prefer to see people in black and white. I put the pictures with the article in my journalism log. That way, not only do I get to look back on the article itself, I have pictures of it being created."
Ryuichi had a wistful smile on his face and Shuichi felt himself blushing under the gaze of the cobalt blue eyes. What are you thinking Ryu and why is my heart pounding at the prospect of finding out?
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By nine o'clock that night, the two singers were seated in the living room ready to conduct the interview while Hachiro wandered the perimeter prepared to take pictures.
"I already know your background with Nittle Grasper and that you're now a talent scout for Sunrise Sound. Parents deceased, sister still lives in Japan as high profile lawyer. Your birthday is April 1st, your favorite color is purple and you're afraid of heights. There's not much left to talk about."
Ryu scoffed and tilted his had to the side. "Wow. You really do know everything about me, don't you?"
Shuichi smirked at the sarcasm, ready to start his interview.
"Well, there are a few questions I'd like answered. Such as why did you quit singing?"
Ryuichi sat back on the sofa with a sigh. The question was easy enough, but he had a feeling they were going to get a lot worse. And whereas he didn't mind telling his friend Shuichi the truth, he wasn't sure if he wanted to tell the writer of Music magazine.
"It was my second time around with Nittle Grasper and even though I'm glad we did it, we could tell that it wasn't like the first time around. It had become more like work and less like the three of us having fun playing our music. Hell, even when I went solo I could tell it was becoming more like work but I just figured that was because it was just me. But even Noriko and Tohma couldn't recapture that magic. So we unanimously decided it was time to stop."
"You stayed in Japan for awhile, working for NG as a talent scout. Your departure to America was very sudden. You barely said goodbye to your friends. What was the reason for that?"
Hachiro heard the edge in Shuichi's voice and wondered if the writer was using this interview to get some personal issues resolved with his friend. Is this an interview for you Shuichi, or a personal quest for answers?
Ryuichi gave Shuichi a sad smile and his voice carried his regret. "I'm sorry Shu. You deserved better, I know."
"Just answer the question."
The singer's smile faded and he sighed as he stared down at his fingers which were playing with the hem of his shirt.
"My life….my life was unraveling. I was unraveling and I needed to get help. But I knew the press would be all over me and my friends if I stayed in Japan so I left for America."
"What kind of help?"
"Tohma….he convinced me to go see a psychologist. He was concerned that my 'child-like exuberance' wasn't fading as I matured and that I was using it as a front."
"Were you?"
The anger had faded from Shuichi's voice and now he practically whispered, seemingly afraid to ask his question.
"Yes." Shuichi just waited for Ryuichi to continue. He'd waited this long for the truth, he could wait a few minutes more. "I started intense therapy, checking myself into one of those voluntary rehab centers. I was there for six months and even after I left I still remained in therapy for a year afterwards."
"Why…why didn't you ever tell me? I would have helped you. I would have come to America and---"
Ryuichi sat up and grabbed Shuichi's hands in his own. "That's exactly why I didn't tell you. I made Tohma swear he would do everything in his power to keep you from knowing. Shu, I needed to do this myself. I had to take control of myself again. And you had other things you needed to do. I was so proud of you for leaving Eiri and going to college. And I would never want to get in the way of that. Look how wonderful your life is now. You're amazing Shu."
"Ryu…"
"Shu…" Ryu didn't want to continue this conversation with Hachiro in the room so he tried to move Shuichi along. "Are those the only questions you have?"
"Huh? Uh, no I have more."
Ryuichi chuckled and sat back on the sofa again, his happy confident demeanor back in place for the camera.
"So ask away Mr. Shindou."
Ryuichi and Shuichi continued their interview for about another hour until Shuichi started to yawn.
"I'm sorry, I didn't understand that last question Mr. Shindou."
Shuichi stuck his tongue out at the mocking singer and he caught the sound of a click nearby.
"Hey! You're not supposed to take a picture of that!"
"I'd like a copy please."
Hachiro winked at Ryuichi. "I'll blow it up for you if you want."
"Perfect!"
"Ugh! You guys are jerks! I'm going to bed."
"Sweet dreams Shu."
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Hachiro couldn't sleep. He always had trouble sleeping in strange beds, so it was a good thing he was very good at functioning on little sleep. He quietly made his way downstairs and into the kitchen, grabbing a beer and heading out to sit on the porch. When he opened the sliding door, he found Ryuichi already there.
"I'm sorry."
"No, come on out and join me." Ryuichi took a sip of his drink and looked out over the light dappled landscape. "Can't sleep?"
"Nope. You?"
"Night owl."
"Ah."
Hachiro reached over with his bottle and the two men clinked bottles in a toast. They sat there in silence for a few minutes until Hachiro spoke up, hoping he wasn't overstepping his bounds.
"You really care for him, don't you?"
Ryuichi looked over at the photographer, studying what he could in the dim light of the late evening. He could tell Shuichi and Hachiro were good friends. They reminded him a lot of the way Shuichi and Hiroshi acted together. He was glad to see Shuichi had good people looking after him.
"How could anyone with a heart not care for that man after meeting him?"
Hachiro chuckled at the evasive answer and took another drink of his beer. I'm going to take that as a 'yes'.
"How long have you known Shu?"
"About four years."
"Are you the only photographer he works with?"
"No. I'm the one he prefers. We get along really well and our artist visions don't clash."
"How is he doing, really? I know he works a lot. He emails me with all sorts of stories about his coworkers and his assignments. He mentions his family every once in awhile and Hiroshi of course, but….does he have a life? He hasn't mentioned dating anyone."
"Well, I haven't known him to have a boyfriend in four years, and I'm pretty sure he's not a man whore." Hachiro smiled as he imagined his friend's reaction to being called a man whore. "He definitely works too much. You know it's bad when your boss tells you to take a vacation. I guess he's happy. He doesn't seem to be projecting a false sense of happiness. I've seen him depressed before about things but he always bounces back." Hachiro shot the singer a sideways glance. "You worried about something specific or just making sure you're not horning in on someone else's territory?"
Ryuichi smiled at the observant photographer. "Actually, I was testing you Hachiro. I'm glad he has someone like you looking out for him. Thank you."
"You're welcome." Hachiro took another sip of his beer. You're lying Ryuichi. I see right through you and the funny thing is Shuichi is oblivious. Then again, I think Shuichi is lying to himself about Ryuichi. This assignment could prove to be very interesting indeed.
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Shuichi padded down the stairs for a little late night snack and as he reached the bottom of the stairs and turned the corner towards the kitchen he heard voices. He crept over towards the balcony and stopped when he saw Ryuichi sitting in a chair drinking. Then he heard Hachiro's voice. He hesitated, debating the merits of spying on his friends. No! That's low! I'm going to get my snack and go back to bed.
Shuichi sat in bed for several hours, wondering what Ryuichi and Hachiro were talking about for so long. He watched TV but it didn't hold his attention for very long. He went online and tried to loose himself there, but he couldn't keep his mind off the conversation going on downstairs.
From his perch on the bed, he looked around the room and the first thing that caught his attention was a picture on the high dresser. He went over and pulled it down for closer inspection. It was a picture of Ryuichi, Tatsuha and himself backstage. All three looked crazy happy.
Shuichi smiled as he replaced the picture and continued to inspect the room. He'd been so excited about seeing Ryuichi that he'd thrown his bags in the room without noticing a thing. But Shuichi realized as he looked around that when Ryu said he had a room for him, he meant he had a room for him.
There was a series of three framed pictures along the wall above the bed. They were Bad Luck's first release cover, Nittle Grasper's first release cover, and the magazine in which Shuichi's first article was published.
"Ryu…."
Something occurred to Shuichi and he went into the bathroom, scanning the soaps and shampoo and such that were there. He picked up the bottle of shampoo in wonder. Everything. Everything is exactly what I use at home. How did he know? Or was it just the luckiest guess of all time?
Everything about this room was done with Shuichi's tastes in mind. Right down to his preference of blinds over curtains and using his favorite color, royal blue, as part of the room's color scheme.
Shuichi was so happy and awestruck he completely forgot about Ryuichi and Hachiro. He turned off the light and slipped into bed, drifting off to sleep with a small smile on his face and Ryu in his dreams.
To be continued…