Ripples in Red Water

Chapter 3: Spilling Milk

Part 2

Across Boundaries

By: Empathic Soul

Disclaimer: Gravitation is a wonderful anime. It is sadly not mine.

PLEASE READ AT YOUR OWN RISK

Thank you once again to those who reviewed! I really love the reviews! Hehe! Helps me and makes me inspired to write the story again!

Thank you once again! Please read and review and as Ruruouni Sesshouhen remarked: Read with you heart!

Thank you!

Well, this chapter focuses on probably three of the most important characters in this story. nonetheles it still has Sakuya in it. Don't worry. This story would not be Sakuya-centric. It's just that Chapter 3's major character is Sakuya. It's like I have explained, the original number of chapters is just 1-10. But for me and my motivation to re-write this, I have chopped the chapters into 3 sections each.

So, please bear with me. I'm sorry though. Please continue to read and thank you again for the wonderful reviews!

Yuki is currently typing or rather pretending to be typing. Though he had to give himself some credit—with being able to type the words "I think" for about a page and a half. It just speaks that his brain can only manage to form the word I think and nothing more.

Yuki sighed. He ran his hand through his hair feeling a bit unnerved, or rather feeling VERY frustrated with the situation that he is in, plus his lover is IN. There are several problems that he's currently facing.

The first and most important one—even though he refuses to speak of it's importance—is the delicate situation of his lover. Well this one, he manages to become so un-Yuki like. For instance, he woke up early this morning just to prepare the other's breakfast. He also stayed beside him the entire night and kept a watchful eye in case he had nightmares. To add to his uncharacteristic behavior, he held Shuichi's hand the entire time.

In short…

He's being NOT himself.

How utterly annoying

Second situation is the fact that his home is a devastated apartment that had the smell of a garbage bin! Okay he was exaggerating, but can you blame someone like him who had always been an obsessive-compulsive man especially regarding his property.

Again…

How utterly annoying

And finally, the fact that his novel was nothing near being finished plus a very angry editor, his day—his week, is nothing short to being perfect.

He already asked for a deadline for his paper and with all due honesty, he could practically feel the negative vibes coming from his editor. If he knew better, he'd say the editor was willing to choke him to death or even summon some kind of evil spirit and possess him at that moment. Of course, being the "professional" that his editor is, the person remained silent. Of course, with a slight nod and a twitch, what more can Yuki ask for? At least the deadline was moved for a couple more weeks.

But then again, at this rate he's going, even for a month he would not be able to finish his novel. And with additional…

Problems to match…

Yuki sighed. It was just yesterday that Shuichi regained consciousness and Yuki's a bit perturbed with the situation. The wound remains to be unhealed and still the boy refuses to eat normally. Ha! Yuki sneered to himself. The idiot lover of his pretended to eat his meal and Yuki always manages to catch him merely throwing it away.

Does he think that I'm some idiot? Yuki thought to himself. He certainly got our roles mixed up!

Again he grumbled under his breath. His hand reached to the side to grab one stick of cigarette but to his utter horror, the pack is not there. Of course, how could he forget, Shuichi took all the packs and burnt them yesterday as well, claiming that his fragile situation may get worse if Yuki smokes in front of him.

Shuichi was laughing as he did it and looked as if he was enjoying observing Yuki's horror.

And today was starting to become a worse day. He could barely imagine what the rest would be. He just had to wish, at least that one comes without tax.

Yuki continued to try to think… and hope that he'd get somewhere this time.

"SIR!"

A voice snapped him out of his trance as he opened one of his lazy eyes only to reveal an old woman with her hands on her hips looking extremely annoyed at him. He blinked a few times only to clear his vision and smiled at the secretary that he –oh-so-dreaded- so much.

"Were you sleeping on the job again?" Accusation was dripping in her words laced with annoyance, sprinkled with irritation, and a dash of anger resulting to HER.

"I was just thinking, Ms. Lina." Sakuya smiled at the woman and looked at the folders in her hands. "For me?"

"Yes sir." She slammed the folders on the table and it echoed in the entire office, which was a very big room. The resonance was so eerie that Sakuya forced himself not to wince.

But then again he failed. Sakuya winced and looked at her, with that fake, permanent smile on his face. He never knew why he hired her though, but it would be so bad to fire her judging at her age. No one would actually hire her, and she needed this job. So he never really got the heart to show his annoyance with her rather he resulted into obeying his patience and continue to suffer under her unnerving presence.

Sakuya watched her quickly trudge towards the door and was about to leave when she turned to face him suddenly. He fidgeted under her scrutinizing glare. Then the end of the world began, when she suddenly smiled, he thought he was judged to go to hell.

"Seguchi Tohma is here to see you." She informed him and Sakuya gaped.

Why is he here and how dare she simply inform him that when she was about to leave?

The door opened when she left and was closed by a new person, namely Seguchi Tohma. As usual, the president of NG Studios seems to be over-confident about himself. That smile on his face is starting to make Sakuya dizzy with annoyance and he was sure that the feeling was mutual as he plastered his own business smile. As far as their past could have gone, they had become rivals since Tohma decided to support NG. But then again, they were still partner companies. It's just a complicated situation. He could still remember that very day, after their trip to America, Tohma, Ryuichi, and Noriko approached him.

"Sir, you have visitors." The secretary informed him and he gave a slight nod since he was so busy with the papers. Stocks were rising, some record stores were still requesting for more Nittle Grasper CDs. Their clothing apparel design was boosting so he needed to keep the supply with the demand.

He heard the door close and he did not need to ask who came in when he heard Ryuichi speak.

"Waaah! You're working really hard!" Ryuichi went to his side. Tohma sat on the sofa and Noriko took a cup of tea. Well, they indeed felt at home in the office.

"I have to." Sakuya muttered with a soft smile. He pulled his drawer open and took out a bar of chocolate. "Here."

"Ah! For me! Yipee!" Ryuichi hopped up and down. "Na-no-da!"

Tohma grunted and then stood up impatiently. He slammed his hands over the desk and Sakuya squinted his eyes and glared at the blond. His emerald eyes were met with the same set glaring back. The two other members remained quiet.

"Yes?" Sakuya asked calmly.

"We're breaking up." Tohma said in an even tone.

Noriko choked on her tea and Ryuichi dropped his chocolate. Sakuya's eyes widened a fraction and stared at Tohma.

"Excuse me? I never thought we had something going on between us." Sakuya mouthed and Tohma's face reddened with a blush.

"Aiyaaa! You and Sakuya-sama?" Noriko exclaimed looking incredulous.

"What? But why Sakuya-sama!" Ryuichi rushed towards Sakuya's side.

Tohma gritted his teeth. He was embarrassed. He did not mean it that way. Of course there was nothing going on between the two of them. He was about to clear it up when the three laughed. He stared at them. Sakuya was first to regain composure.

"At least you know that the meaning of what you said…it's double barreled you know." Sakuya snickered. Ryuichi was laughing.

"You teased me?" Tohma raised a fine brow.

"Well, you're so uptight, lighten up, Tohma!" Sakuya advised and nodded. "And yeah, I knew about your feelings of breaking up the BAND a long time ago."

"What?" The three were now staring at him. He nodded and reclined his back to his chair.

"I have no objections. Do as you wish."

Yes and it was then that the ties between NG and Musica Studios were created.

There was not really that many people that knew of his relationship with the president of NG. What relationship you say?

He stood up to greet the man in front of him as he gestured towards the sofa in his office where they both could possibly settle down after he took the hand of Tohma and shook it formally. The other man simply nodded and sat willingly in one of the available spaces as Sakuya gave him a cup of coffee and placing a cup of his own in front of him.

"This is a surprise. I don't remember having an appointment with you." Sakuya sipped some of his coffee as he observed the guy who sat across him.

"I don't have an appointment." Tohma replied nonchalantly. Shrugging as he threw his coat on the rack.

"Oh so to what is the occasion as to why I am blessed with YOUR presence here." Sakuya smiled.

Tohma took his cup of coffee and sipped as well. He placed it back and relaxed his hands on his lap and smiled at the Vice-President of Musica Studios. Sakuya felt like strangling the man and tell him to stop smiling. But he managed to convince himself to act civilized.

"To nothing of course. I simply wanted to check up on you and to see if you finally decided to take the position of president." Tohma smiled again as he knew that it—being the topic of presidency—annoyed the other man so much, he was enjoying it. It was like annoying Eiri to an extent.

"Ah, of course, with a best friend such as this, who needs enemies?" Sakuya's lip twitched in annoyance. It was true, and still IS true. Seguchi Tohma is Sakuya Hale's best friend—a very persistent, annoying, and downright bossy one at that.

"Tohma, how many times do I have to tell you that position belongs to somebody else already." Sakuya was already tired to repeating this kind of conversation with Tohma.

Every month, Tohma would come by and insist on that same topic and it would always end up in a bad argument. It was only lucky that the partnership of both companies did not suffer in their usual arguments. At least they both have enough sense and reason to know those personal matters should not affect their work, at least that they have.

But how can Sakuya say the reason why he did not occupy the position? How can he tell Tohma the real reason? He can't just come out saying:

"Hey Tohma, the real president of Musica Studios is actually working under you. You know, Shindou Shuichi…." That would ruin everything of course.

Tohma has been known as a very observant person and right now this man in front of him is having a hard time dealing with this conversation and at the same time having a conversation with himself. Tohma simply looked smug but then he focused his eyes on the silent man as if seeing him for the first time.

Tohma thought about a lot of things. The one he asked a while ago was only one of the reasons why he wanted to spare his precious time and give his 'partner' a visit. Actually, the other one was concerning the lover of Yuki Eiri, when he saw Sakuya talking to him last Wednesday. He never mentioned that he saw them talking to each other.

When he saw Shuichi falter that day, it worried him. Had this man hurt Shuichi? What happened during that conversation? Why did things start to turn out badly between Eiri and Shuichi and at the same time Shuichi and BAD LUCK. He had to know. If this man had something to do about that, then someone has to start paying up his bills.

"Well, then, since I noticed that you're quite uncomfortable with that topic, let's change it." Tohma muttered as he crossed his legs and looked straight towards Sakuya who relaxed when he mentioned that there would be a change of topic.

Oh yes, I'm changing the topic, but it's no way than hell that I would make it easier for you. Tohma thought.

He started—this time with a smirk. This time, I'm catching you like a deer!

"What were you doing in NG Studios talking to Shuichi-kun last Wednesday?" Tohma asked bluntly, straight to the point, bull's eye! And noticed a sudden flinch in the appearance of the usually calm man in front of him.

He struck the bull's eye and they both knew it. Sakuya slowly turned his gaze to meet Tohma's questioning one. He felt the urge to suddenly look away but pride spoke: he won't.

"How do you know about that Tohma?" Sakuya asked challenging the glare that the young president is sending to him. "I never knew you spied on your employees."

"I don't spy on them. But I DO worry about my friends." Tohma actually resisted the urge to laugh at himself at that statement. He did not know if he should interpret it as worrying for Shuichi being his friend or worrying for Eiri.

"Well then, you don't have to worry. There is nothing going on between me and Shindou Shuichi." Sakuya defended and looked at the man with stern eyes. "If that was what you were thinking. And I have absolutely NO intentions of destroying his relationship with Yuki Eiri, I won't hurt him either."

Exact to the point.

"You certainly have done your homework. You know a lot about him, don't you?" Tohma smirked seeing the tense features of the businessman.

"Who wouldn't know the things I said? It was on national television." Sakuya grunted and crossed his arms over his chest.

Tohma was amazed with this man, putting aside annoyance of course. He knew exactly what he was thinking and to be exact he really respected this man, a lot as a matter of fact. Sometimes it worried him about his position in the Studios, being alone and all, but he also knew Sakuya was more than able to handle it all to himself, alone or with someone.

Well, now that it was all cleared, he's got nothing to do in this place any longer. He prepared to stand up and was surprised to see that the man in front of him had a smirk plastered on his face. Tohma was wondering why he was smirking. Was he joking about that reply? Did he actually have a relationship with Shindou Shuichi and he was just playing with him this time?

"What's so amusing that you find it worthwhile to smirk?" Tohma challenged looking at the younger businessman in front of him. Stupid Jerk.

"Aren't you gonna ask me what we talked about? And here I thought you would be more curious than that. But then again, you were satisfied with my previous answer. Mind you though, that was the truth." Sakuya took another sip of his coffee and exhaled a sigh of relief.

Tohma sat back on the chair while heaving a huge sigh of relief as well knowing that there really is nothing going on with him and Shuichi. He stared at the man who continued to smirk at him as if he was mocking him.

"Well then, if you put it that way, how would you like to tell me what you talked about?" Tohma took the cup of coffee and took a sip when Sakuya replied.

"I asked him to be the president of Musica Studios." Sakuya looked for the expected reaction and true enough it came out.

Sakuya resisted the urge to laugh. But he can't so he simply smiled to be polite. Indirectly though… he added in his mind.

Seguchi Tohma was not expecting that as the reply. He suddenly spit out the coffee that he was drinking and scattered coffee drops all around the table and on the gray carpet of the office. It was one of the moments that he has entirely humiliated himself in front of another person, except for his wife.

And true enough, there was a satisfied smile on Sakuya's lips as he watched silently. Tohma took out a white handkerchief and wiped his lips. The blond checked Sakuya's eyes if he was plainly pulling his leg but there was a glint of truth plus a whole lot of mirth in his eyes and Tohma somehow balanced feeling extremely annoyed at the man and appreciating him from speaking the truth.

Tohma managed at least to take easy breaths after the information was shared with him.

"You ruined my coffee table. You will have to pay for that, Tohma." Sakuya pointed at the table where coffee stained the perfectly carved wood. "It's antique too…"

Ah the benefits of having to win against Seguchi Tohma! Simply, priceless! Sakuya thought with elation.

"I'll give you a check later." Tohma muttered while he tried to regain his composure, which was surprisingly hard.

Sakuya raised an eyebrow towards him and sighed. His smile vanished replaced by a scowl.

"Is it that impossible to imagine Shindou Shuichi being the president of Musica Studios?" Sakuya inquired innocently. Well, since he knew the boy when he was 14 and even when he was younger, he also wanted to discover who Shuichi is to this people.

Tohma's mind is currently flashing images of Shuichi wearing a business suit and causing a lot of disturbances in the company. There are a lot of strawberry candies—pocky—in the room, pictures of Yuki would be stamped over the walls, and eh would be singing with Ryuichi all day instead of working on the papers needed.

That was a definite end of the world marker. This guy does not know Shuichi at all.

"Yes, it's as impossible as making the ocean disappear." Tohma countered placing a hand over his forehead to calm a growing migraine.

"Tohma, the earth's water supply is starting to deplete and you know that the ocean water level is decreasing in height. Soon enough it would disappear." Sakuya related and saw Tohma give him a death glare. He only smiled in return. "Although it would take another thousand or more years to happen, but definitely not impossible."

"Okay smart ass…" Tohma glared at the man.

Oooh, one of the rare moments… I pissed him off!

And it was through a joke!

Jot down one for Sakuya! Home run!!!

Sakuya thought although to anyone else he appeared to be concentrating on the discussion…argument.

"Why the hell of all the millions of people in the world would you choose Shindou Shuichi as the president of the company?" Tohma argued eliciting a sigh from the other.

"Tohma, why do you think of all the people in the world, Yuki Eiri still picked Shindou Shuichi as his lover?" A reply from the redhead who had a gleam in his eyes was such.

The answer to that question is almost half of the answer that Tohma wanted. But Sakuya knew how to hit two birds in one stone. And this was one of the moments that he knew he's winning against the president of NG Studios.

Tohma's eyes are as big as saucers as of the moment and he could not help but smirk at the sight of the USUALLY calm Tohma reduced to this…hehe, he's anything BUT calm now.

Tohma gritted his teeth. That was a FOUL!

"Don't venture into unknown territory, Hale." Tohma's tone took a different side and Sakuya knew playtime was over. Calling him by surname is definitely the mark that said stop.

"Okay, But I was not kidding Tohma. Half the answer to your question was the answer to that question of mine." Sakuya raised his hands in surrender but he knew anyway it was his victory.

Sakuya loosened his necktie to relieve him from the stress that he's feeling right now. He watched as Tohma removed the scarf that he wore and his white gloves to get more comfortable. This discussion is getting longer than expected.

"Okay, let's presume that we both know that half already. So why don't you spill the other half and enlighten me in this confusing way your mind works. I presume you did not only ask him to be president because of THAT." Tohma babbled and Sakuya laughed this time, not trying to hide it.

"And you tell me I'm confusing. Listen to what you said Tohma, you're babbling." Sakuya took out his blazer leaving him with only a white button down tie and a loose necktie as an accessory.

"Clearing it up for your simple mind, I admit Shindou-san is a very good man. He's talented in singing and even getting along with other people. He'll probably pass for a position as a Public Relations Officer but a president? It's like saying I should give up my position to Ryuichi." Tohma looked at the man in front of him who handed him a cigarette.

As much as Tohma hated to admit it, this guy is probably the closet guy that could resemble Yuki Eiri. They're both cold to some extent, the only difference is this one in front of him actually knows the meaning of 'I'm kidding' and knows how to smile in public.

"Then you probably don't know anything about Ryuichi." Sakuya took out his lighter and lit the cigarette in his mouth before letting go of a puff of smoke away from his guest.

"Are you saying that I do not know my friends? How dare you! Ryuichi has been my band member ever since!"

Tohma gritted his teeth at the dawn of realization. Come to think of it, how much did he really know about Ryuichi specifically after he came from America?

But he's not letting someone else degrade his ability in knowing his friends. NO! His pride won't simply let him.

"No Tohma, all that I am saying is, there is more behind their exterior of acting like men with bottomless pits of energy reserve. There is something beyond that smile that you see everyday. There is still more behind that small pink thing that he kept carrying around and that goes the same with Shuichi." Sakuya sighed as eh turned his cigarette off while scrunching it on the ashtray.

"You act as if you knew them a lot. You only probably know Ryuichi because you hired him…us." Tohma took off his black coat and tossed it on the vacant spot next to him. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned on the backrest once again making himself comfortable.

Sakuya laughed at Tohma's reply.

"You can't even being to imagine." Sakuya replied without even looking at Tohma.

Shuichi continued to stare at the empty room. Yuki is currently at the study finishing his novel and of course, he was still bedridden. He felt somehow strange. It was a weird feeling that he was getting. He just did not know how to describe it in a few words.

Sitting here feels at the very least, awkward. He did not know why, he had been to Yuki's room for several times now not mentioning the reasons of course. But sitting here feels foreign to him. It was simply not normal. He usually adored Yuki's room. The bed had sheets made out of silk, the pillows soft as feather, and the musky aroma of his lover enveloping the entire room.

The problem is…

He just did not feel right.

And that in itself was weird…

Of course, its not about the feeling with Yuki.

He still loves the author more than anything else—especially now that he's being EXTRA nice. If Shuichi were normal, then he would have…

Okay, no details…

But the feeling that envelope his character as of the moment, is the feeling that he had to be somewhere else rather than this place. He felt as if he should be doing something rather than just staring here in this empty room.

The second thing was that he felt like someone was talking about him. He could feel it in his guts and somehow it just annoys him to hell. It's definitely uncharacteristic of him to be like this but can he help it? With the way things are turning right now, it just seems that no one could actually predict what happens next.

So, Shuichi sighed. He took the small pink stuffed animal sitting beside him and embraced the tiny little stuffed toy. He closed his eyes and gently pressed his head on the soft object. After only a few moments, he raised his head up and was surprised with what he saw.

Tears were falling down his cheeks.

Tears were falling uncontrollably.

He wipes his eyes with the back of his hand and continued to shake his head. But to his surprise he continued to weep. He was continuously crying and crying, he did not know why. His shoulders were shaking as his breath became shallow with the heavy weeping.

He gave up trying to stop crying and merely pressed his head on the pink stuffed animal.

"Yuki…" Shuichi mumbled as if crying for help. It was not loud for it was simply a mutter a soft mutter. But it was loud enough for that person by the door.

Yuki stood there staring at Shuichi with a gentle look in his amber gaze. He decided to check up on Shuichi and he found him crying. It was tearing him inside to see his usually enthusiastic lover so devastated and so…

Broken…

Yuki merely stood there watching the young boy as the other continued to weep and to sob with that pink object that Ryuichi Sakuma willingly left yesterday. He knew he had to do something but his character was simply not made to do so. He could feel an inner war inside him. He wanted to embrace the boy and simply comfort him saying all the words that he wrote in his novel. But a part of him, still resisted, still did not want to show much of his emotions.

Afraid to be betrayed once again…

Afraid to be alone once again

But…

Yuki sighed. There are things more important than simply a person's pride. There are things far more important than one's self. It was something that person on the bed taught him for the past two years. And right now, that person needed him. What was he to do?

He took that one step forward. And he knew at that moment, there was no turning back. He had moved on from the past and is moving to the future.

TBC

Please Read and Review!

Thank you so much again to those who reviewed

theiviousracoonness: wow! that review was most flattering! I can't believe that this fic can be considered to be the best. Hehe, thank you so much! That was really inspiring and I hope that I continue to be such in the next few chapters! I promise to do my best especially with Ryuichi as the payment! HEHEHE! Thank you so much! You inspire me!

Mistress of Anime: Thank you again! Wow! Hehe your reviews mean a lot to me and the more the merrier! I get really motivated with so many reviewees! Getting sugar high on cookies huh? Hehe! Keep the reviews coming! Thanks again!

Ryuichi Sakuma: Wow! The god of singing reviewing my story! HEHE! Wheehee! Please do continue to read my story!

Yakari Taito: Sweeet! That was a good review for me! Again please continue to read and review!

Dana: I really hope this story gets better.

Reiannah: Sakuya is really essential as Suzu and Shun (hint, hint) there would be no story without them. I included them percisely because they would help develop a more mature character and a more developed plot with Yuki and Shuichi in the center and their relationship as well. I need them to strengthen the two. It's going to be a long tough process. Thank you so much for accepting Sakuya. I promise this would not be Sakuya-centric, I mean the entire fic. But some parts would include him really. And Suzu's on the way to be presented. Again, thank you for the wonderful reviews! You're the best!

Clari-chan: Hehe, I didn't really like Sakuya just because of that, I like him more because of this chapter! hehe, but do tell me if I'm being a bit out of the story. I just think that there should be a break in every story. Just like RPG's. You have side quests before the main plot. Hehe, but do continue to review!

Kanilla: That was cool! I like the way you point out parts that you like it makes me feel proud of it hehe! But really I do appreciate your constant reviews and pelase do continue to do so! I feel inspired!

iloveathrun: I really love athrun too! hehe!

deppfan1016: You're my first reviewer for this chapter and I really really really appreciate it! Blood thirsty huh? well, It would be rated R if I add it up hehe, but really I was suprised myself with what I wrote, it could rival Kill Bill hehe, but at any rate thank you and keep reviewing.