Hey guys! Thanks for all your reviews! Please continue reading!
And toSnug-san: I know that it is spelt as 'Tohma' in the English subtitles for the anime. But I was thinking… there's so such thing as an 'h' by itself in the Japanese language.that's whyI thought thatin romaji, his name is actually spelt as 'To-u-ma' instead. Maybe I'm wrong… I'm not sure, 'cos I've only started learning Japanese a while ago. Hee... Butsince it bothers you so much, I'll use 'Tohma' from now on…
This chapter is not really special or exciting, but i still hafta put it in. Will put up the next one soon.
Oh, and ignore Haruko's different ways of addressing Shuichi. I know that in the earlier chapters, I used "Shu-chan". At first, I just wanted it to be cute and to show that they're close. But "-chan" is normally used for guys, right? So I swtiched to using "Shu-kun" and "Shuichi".
DISCLAIMER: Gravitation belongs to Maki Murakami, not to me.
MOU ICHI DO
Chapter 4 --- Double Date
Shuichi and Haruko, Hiro and Ayaka were having a double date this afternoon. But currently, Haruko and Ayaka were out somewhere shopping, while Shuichi and Hiro were seated in a café, chatting to catch up on the good times.
Hiro chuckled. "Haruko-san sure is lively and full of energy. Just like you… You two make a perfect match! What stage are you at now? Far enough to get babies?"
"Hiroooo!" Shuichi blushed.
Hiro burst out into laughter. "God… I'm so glad to see you so happy… Maybe you were right in leaving a year ago…"
Shuichi's eyes soften and he smiled, touched.
Flashback:
"Seguchi-san, I want to quit Bad Luck. I want to quit as a singer. I want to leave this place…" Shuichi kept his face down, clenching his fists, willing himself not to cry.
"What do you mean?" Tohma narrowed his eyes.
"I broke up with Yuki last night. I won't be going back again. I want to leave… I need to… Please…" Shuichi was trembling by now.
Tohma sighed sadly as he took in Shuichi's pained look. "Shindou-san… after what you and Eiri-san have been through, I do not intend to interfere in your relationship with Eiri-san again. I do not object to this relationship, do you understand?"
Shuichi nodded slightly.
"But if you've made a decision, and so has Eiri-san… I'll respect this decision. Don't worry about your contract. I'll settle everything. You may leave anytime you want…"
"Thank you…"
xxxxxxxxxxxx
"What! You've quit Bad Luck!" Shouts of surprise and anger could be heard. Sakano spun into a tornado.
Shuichi nodded.
"What do you mean by this! You can't leave!" Hiro grabbed Shuichi by the collar. It was only then did he notice the pain and hurt and wounds in Shuichi's eyes. It was only then that he realized that Shuichi was breaking down completely.
"What has Tohma got to say about this?" K held out a gun at Shuichi.
"He told me I could go…" Shuichi's voice broke and he cried. "I'm really sorry… sorry… sorry…"
Suguru prepared to speak, but Hiro stopped him.
"It's ok… let him ago… He needs to go… Right, Shuichi?" Hiro pulled Shuichi into a hug. "It's ok… Take your time to recover. We'll be waiting for you here. Always…"
End of flashback.
"It seemed like it was only yesterday…" Hiro sighed. "So, are you ready to come back? We're ready to welcome you back anytime. Even Sakuma-san…"
Shuichi shook his head. "No… I don't think I'm going back to join you guys. To tell you the truth, I've stopped singing completely over this period of time. And I don't think I'll ever sing again. I don't intend to…"
"Is it because of Yuki?"
"No... It's just that I've lost my previous interest for singing as I make my way into the modeling. Singing is not my first priority anymore. In fact, I've got more confidence in modeling than singing now." Shuichi laughed to himself before continuing. "Besides, the relationship between me and Yuki is now past… everything's over. Though I met him last night and we talked."
"What? Really!" Hiro gaped in disbelief.
Shuichi nodded. "Though we hardly had anything much to say… but I hope we can still be friends… He was with this other guy too. Seems to me that they're lovers..."
"Yuki-san... with a guy again!" Hiro stared agaped. "His relationships with others are really complex eh?"
Stupid me! What am I saying! Hiro chided himself as he caught Shuichi's uneasiness. "Sorry... I didn't mean anything."
"It's okay. Like I just said... It's all in the past now..."
Hiro's expression softened. "Shuichi… Anyway, tell me, how did you become a model? I mean, with your crazy character… in front of a camera? " Hiro laughed, trying to change the subject.
"Hey! I'm not crazy! Hmm… do you remember K giving me the address of his 'trusted friend'? That dumbass K! That address didn't exist at all! I was going crazy trying to find my way through that English-speaking country when I stumbled into an outdoor photo shoot. And there was Akiha. He took a few looks at me and invited me to be his model. I didn't want to accept it initially, but the pay was really good! Besides, the whole crew spoke Japanese. So, eventually, I decided to give it a try. And after some time, I actually love doing this job!" Shuichi blabbered on and on.
"It doesn't mean that I have to stay still in front of the camera. I just have to act natural. In the beginning, it was quite difficult. I mean, how do you act natural when everyone's staring at you! It's so embarrassing! But eventually, I got used to it. Akiha said the key was connecting. And he said that he felt that he could see lots in me, and it was easy to connect with me to bring out the hidden special side in me…" Shuichi paused to take a breath.
"Hmm… the art of photography… it's hard to understand." Hiro mused out loud.
"Yeah… but I'm starting to understand what Akiha meant…"
"Sounds like Sakurai Akiha's really talented."
"Yup! We work in a small crew as Akiha works only with the people he likes. He claims that he could only connect with people he likes…"
"Oh, and his winning photo was one of you?"
"Ha… I was so surprised and happy that that photo won the award! Sometimes I wonder how did that happened. Akiha and the rest commented that I looked really good in that photo, but… I don't really like it…" Shuichi gave a small laugh.
"You're just too modest!" Hiro grinned. "Bet it was beautiful…"
Shuichi looked away. His bitter-sad smile caught Hiro by surprise.
"We're back!" Haruko burst in with Ayaka, radiating with triumph and happiness. She glomped Shuichi and pecked him lightly on the cheek.
"Shu-kuuun! Look what I've got! This is for you!" She placed a cap over Shuichi's head. "It matches your outfit!"
Shuichi laughed. "Thank you! You've gotten so much stuff in such a short period of time!"
Both Hiro and Ayaka smiled too.
"That's because there're so many great stuff on sale!" Haruko took a seat next to Shuichi, hooked her arm around Shuichi's and rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm a little tired now…"
Shuichi turned, breathing in the flowery scent of Haruko's blond hair. "Shouldn't you eat something? I'll order a cake for you…"
"Okay! But I want-"
"Yes, yes, I know. Strawberry cheesecake, right? And ice lemon tea…"
Haruko giggled. "You know me so well!" She cuddled closer to her boyfriend.
"Lovers are supposed to know each other well…" Hiro winked at Shuichi and Haruko. "Their likes and dislikes…"
Haruko nodded. "Well, I know that Shuichi loves strawberry pocky!"
They laughed.
"Hmm… this cake is delicious!" Haruko exclaimed after the cake was served. "Do you want to try some?" She held out a forkful of cake to Shuichi.
"Well… ok." Shuichi moved forward and ate the cake while Haruko held onto the fork. "…It really tastes quite nice…"
"I told you so! Do you want more?"
Just then, Hiro laughed while Ayaka stifled a giggle.
"What!" Shuichi and Haruko exclaimed together.
Hiro stopped and grin at them. "You guys are so loving… it's so mushy… And you two aren't getting any younger… maybe you should just get married soon."
"What!" Both Shuichi and Haruko blushed beet red, and started babbling: "What… are you talking about? We're… we're still… young. And… and, and…"
"Hahahahaha! The two of you are quite alike in a way… shyness…" Hiro smirked.
Shuichi narrowed his eyes. "Oh? But I remember that we're of the same age, Hiro. Doesn't that mean you're not getting any younger too? Why don't you propose to Ayaka-san. Besides, the two of you have been dating for a longer period than us…"
This time, it was Hiro's and Ayaka's turn to blush.
"Shuichi!" Hiro whispered harshly in embarrassment.
The two couples stared at each other for a moment, before bursting out into laughter.
Shuichi shook his head, and turned to Haruko. "Anyway, we had better get going. We're supposed to meet Tsuyoshi right?"
"Ah! Shindou-san! We almost forgot… It's Tatsuha-san's birthday today, and he has invited everybody to a dinner party at Sakura Restaurant, including you and Haruko-san. He wants us to pass you this message. Will you be going tonight?" Ayaka and Hiro both looked at Shuichi.
Shuichi frowned. "Oh… but Akiha's reaching Tokyo tonight."
"It's ok, Shu-kun. I'll just go pick Akiha and Jun up with oniichan. You should go celebrate with your friends. Besides, we'll be extremely busy soon. You should use whatever chance you've got to meet up with your family and friends." Haruko encouraged understandingly.
"Okay then. Tell Tatsuha I'll be there…" Shuichi helped Haruko with her shopping bags. "See you guys tonight!"
He took Haruko's hand, picked up her shopping bags with his other hand and led the way out, both of them smiling and chattering at the same time.
xxxxxXxxXxxXxxXxxXxxxxx
Yuki sat in front of his laptop, stuck at his second page. He tried to recollect his thoughts and focus on writing, but his mind kept wandering back to last night's talk with Shuichi, feeling helpless and upset at how their meeting turned out.
We didn't even have much to talk about. If it was the past, that brat could never keep his mouth shut… and last night, he hardly called my name…
Truth to be told, he actually missed the endless calls of "Yukiiiiiiiiiiii!" from Shuichi.
He reached for his lighter to light his cigarette.
(Flick. Flick.)
Damn… this lighter isn't working at all! What a stupid lighter Atsushi got me…
Cursing, he reached for his reliable old lighter… and the smiling face of Shuichi came into his view. There, on the lighter, was the neoprint of the two of them. The color had faded just a little by now, but it was still stuck there.
That brat was smiling so happily…
The ringing of the phone snapped him back into reality. Cursing again, he reached for the phone.
It was Tatsuha on the line.
"Aniki! Don't forget the dinner party tonight! It's my birthday! You have to come with a present!" Tatsuha yelled over the phone in a commanding tone.
"Why do I have to attend such a stupid party? I'm not celebrating the birth of an idiot."
"Aniki! …I don't care! Get your ass here for dinner!"
"Ok, ok. Whatever. Just stop shouting!"
"Oh, and Shuichi will be-"
But the line went dead as Yuki replaced the phone.
Shuichi? He'll be there?
Sighing in frustration, the novelist stepped into the shower, beginning his preparation to leave for dinner.
xXx tbc xXx
This chapter talks about Akiha's work. The thing about connection and all? I wasn't the one who came out with it. It's adapted from Hana Kimi… Hope that it wasn't too boring. And, I needed to show that Shuichi and Haruko are a loving couple… hope that this was conveyed successfully!
Next chapter: the appearance of two new characters, Akiha and Jun.
There's very little direct contact between Shuichi and Yuki… even for the next few chapters. Only touching on their relationship. Misunderstandings, jealousy, uneasiness, pain, hurt, etc… POVs? Direct contact will only come later, chapter 8 or 9. But I'll make up to you guys for having writing it late by having them talk more, touch more, blah blah blah! Haha…