Ripples in Red Water
Chapter 5: Rave
Part 3
Shun
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!
A few things to ask:
Why do you think this story is entitled Ripples in Red Water? I wanna read your opinion! Hehe!
Thank you! And please do try and read Education by Professor Tohma. It was meant to be a refresher for this story!
Too much angst is bad for your health.
BE FOREWARNED: This chapter includes angst, drama, and a LOT as in a LOT of violence! Please do read this with care and understanding. Absorb it so that you would get some of the subtle hints for the plot and do so understand the characters as well. Thank you so much!
Tohma went near the lovers and knelt down beside Yuki. The other blonde raised his head to look at him and then back to Shuichi.
"Eiri-san, I think we should place Shuichi-kun on the bed now. He needs to rest and so do you." Tohma requested looking at the vocalist in Yuki's arms sleeping soundlessly and then to the novelist. Tohma smiled with relief and joy.
Yuki gave a nod and stood up carrying the boy back to the bed. Hiro hurriedly pulled the covers open and prepared the pillows. Yuki placed him gently and while watching Shuichi grunt a little and then return to sleep's realms...he, being Yuki, sighed. Tohma placed the thermometer on Shuichi and waited a few minutes. The rest exited the room except Hiro, Yuki, Ryuichi, and Mika.
"That was something Eiri." Mika smiled at her brother who sat beside Shuichi gently touching the boy's pink hair.
"I have to admit I am impressed. It was actually the first time I saw you smile like that, Eiri-san." Tohma added, while looking at the clock to see how long does the thermometer have to remain in Shuichi's mouth.
"Say one more word and I'll shove you guys out of the house." Yuki threatened giving them all a glare.
"Whatever." Hiro shrugged and Ryuichi laughed softly knowing that he might disturb Shuichi if he laughed louder.
Yuki was not in the mood for those things. All he wanted to do was stay by Shuichi's side until the boy wakes up again. Somehow deep inside him, he was blaming himself for leaving Shuichi alone in that room at a time like this. He almost lost the boy permanently.
But amidst that, there was still that worry. Always, when he seems to be recovering his memories, he's mumbling about incoherent things. His eyes get clouded and his senses seem to disappear. What could it be that is standing in the way of his lover's memories? He wanted to know all of them.
But the reason is not something that the concern of being able to simply know about his lover's past, not even just knowing everything about him, or even anything that would just satisfy his curiosity. Maybe those were a part of it, but most of all he wanted to know because for once, he wants to share Shuichi's pain. Shuichi has always been there for him and shared his pain. This time, he wanted to be the one that would actually share the pain that Shuichi is feeling.
Everyone in the room felt that the silence was needed at that moment. Tohma only broke the silence with a huge sigh of relief.
"His temperature is going down. He's getting more stable. It means he passed the critical stage already." Tohma informed the people there.
"Yahoo-na-no-da!" Ryuichi cheered but was glared at by the blonder novelist at how loud he is. He suddenly fell back to the bed and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry-na-no-da!
But Ryuichi was happy because Shuichi is now fine. Nothing could make him even happier. His friend, companion, confidant, rival, and brother is alright. And now, he can breathe knowing that Shuichi would be able to appear with him with his smile once more.
Ryuichi looked at the pink stuffed bunny near the bed and smiled. That was the Kumagoro that Ryuichi gave Shuichi. He took it from the table and placed it on the arms of the pink haired vocalist and whispered something in his ear. No one spoke against it since they knew that they both have a certain king of affect, not romantic in kind, between themselves. Ryuichi knew that he just had to say it for him and for Shuichi.
He closed his eyes remembering what he said to the sleeping pink bundle.
You will never be alone anymore…I will always be here…Everyone will be…
He smiled and hopped his way out the door leaving the rest of the people inside. Everyone was looking at Ryuichi in a weird way as he bounced out. They turned their attention to Shuichi who simply nodded unconsciously agreeing to whatever Ryuichi told him. Hiro sighed and shrugged the feeling of pain in his shoulders. He placed a hand over Shuichi's head and smirked.
"Wake up soon alright! You have a lot of things to tell me!" Hiro declared looking happy now that he knew that Shuichi would be fine. He trusts Tohma's words and simply by looking at the vocalist lying on the bed with a soft snore, he knew that this time, the boy is having a peaceful sleep or better yet a beautiful dream.
"I'm going out now. I'll tell the others that he'll be fine." Hiro informed.
"Go and spread the news. At least that way, you people would leave the place immediately! It's getting too crowded." Yuki muttered under his breath and continued to tuck some strands of Shuichi's hair.
"I'm relieved too." Hiro simply waved back at Yuki and proceeded out of the room.
"Rude as usual, aren't you, Eiri?" Mika raised an eyebrow at her brother, who continued to stare lovingly at the boy on the bed. She added, "And down right, lovey-dovey…"
"Shut up!" Yuki looked at sister or rather glared at her.
"Touche!" Mika raised her arm as if doing a fencing strike.
"I'll fix something up in the kitchen. There are a bunch of hungry wolves out in your living room and I don't presume that you would be kind enough to feed them." Mika looked dryly at her brother.
"They came willingly, they suffer willingly." Yuki replied without even blinking, but stopped his movement on Shuichi's hair. "And don't you dare touch a thing in my kitchen. I don't want you burning the entire complex."
"The nerve of some people." Mika grumbled as she went out of the room with a loud stomp.
Yuki sighed. It was his way of showing affection towards his sister. But until now, he could not make her understand that. He would have to explain somehow but since he's not much of the verbal kind, he did not know how.
As Yuki continued to glare at himself and wince at his thoughts, Tohma merely smiled watching Yuki's face in amusement. There was so much emotion in it. A while ago, there was fear when Shuichi was staring into space as if there was something there that he was watching.
Then there was loneliness during the time that Shuichi pushed him away and even went into a stance to defend himself from any possible onslaught from any attacker.
Then the feeling of pain when Shuichi told him that he did not need Yuki. The pain was so evident that tears were even forming in his eyes. Tohma could actually swear that he heard the broken shards of Yuki's heart clatter on the ground. Tohma merely looked away for a moment. Yuki was already near his breaking point but Tohma was amazed when the said man took a step forward instead of taking one step back.
And of course, there was relief washing over Yuki's expression when Shuichi leaned back at him finally accepting him once again. The recognition on the face of the vocalist earned relief not only for the blond author but also to the rest of the people in the room. Everyone seems to be afraid at first, but then again, they all seem to be relieved after the light of recognition appeared in the eyes of the vocalist.
And then love…
It was beautiful love, unconditional as much as Tohma would want to say. He was happy for the two. He had to admit that he was wrong in trying to separate or even tear them apart a few years ago. But now, he did not want that. He would be one of the people that would protect their love as much as he can. He had come to realize that they need each other.
And now…there was worry
Tohma was happy…
Yuki is worrying about Mika.
That is one accomplishment of the day.
Tohma left the room happily, simply leaving the basin behind for Yuki to take care of his lover with. He entered the kitchen and prepared himself for the assault that Mika has in her hands as he knew that anger is seething in the veins of his wife. He would have to endure her shouting and the screaming of fury until the day that Yuki finally explains why he's acting like that towards her.
Tohma did not want to complain. He loves Mika and will try to understand her, even though he had to sacrifice his hearing for it.
Okay here goes…Tohma entered the kitchen and saw Mika near the kitchen stove.
"The NERVE of that BROTHER of mine! Did you hear what he said?" Mika looked at Tohma who simple made himself sit as comfortably as possible. He did not want to strain himself.
This would take long
And the narration went on. The two in the bedroom however remained in that position as soon as Tohma left them without a word. Yuki knew Tohma understood now. He did not have to explain anymore. He looked downwards towards Shuichi and smiled despite himself.
"I'll protect you, I promise…and Shuichi…I…" Yuki bent down to his ear and whispered the last parts of his sentence merely eliciting an unconscious smileon the face of the sleeping figure.
Yuki settled himself comfortably on the bed and lay his head down on the bed while twining his fingers with his lover's.
Meanwhile, a few kilometers away from the apartment, Shut sat on a sofa while looking at the television in front of him. He smiled proudly at the sight of a television rerun of his younger brother's concert.
Yes, he was very proud of that boy.
He reclined and closed the book that he is currently reading, settling it down on his lap.
It was about a month now since he was finally off his probation. It has been a year and a half since he was freed from prison because of an extremely good lawyer that volunteered to get his case. He was able to bail out. After giving him, the lawyer that is, the right explanations and the true details of the story, he became even more dedicated with his case and forced to pull him out of the cellar. HE was glad that he was free once again and to finally be able to feel the freshness of the air around him, it was definitely refreshing.
It has been a while since he last felt the warm breeze having spent years in prison. He has completely forgotten what it felt like to be authentically free. But then again, he wasn't that free at first. Now starting a month ago, he was free.
He simply rested his head as he removed the reading glasses that he had on. His blue hair fell down to his eyes as he blew them a way by a puff of air. He sighed and then looked at the books that he picked up since last year.
After hearing about Yuki Eiri and Shindou Shuichi being together, he immediately went into reading the books of the said novelist. He believed that even though he would not be able to talk to him personally, at least all together, he can know the person through the books that he had written. So from the very first book of Yuki Eiri to the last and most recent book, he read them all. That was the only thing that he did as part of his past time apart from working as the assistant of the lawyer that freed him.
He smiled. His lawyer was smart as he told him to change his name just for safe keep. Right now, he's no longer Shindou Shun, he's currently Tsuchiya Shinji. Of course, he took fondness towards the name Shinji because it is his father's name. He stood up showing that he is wearing a maroon dress shirt with two buttons open to reveal his chest and a pair of black slacks to match. He placed his hands in the pockets of his pants as he prepared to go to his room and take a nap.
After reading Yuki Eiri's books, he always got sleepy. But nevertheless, he knew a lot about the author already. He knew somehow that the author had a bad experience in childhood. He also had a bad family who treated him badly because of his blonde hair and foreign looks. He also knew that he was happy with Shuichi and that they love each other. IT was all reflected in his novels. Shun wondered if the people who read his novels were actually interested in that, of do they read it in their own perception rather than that of the author.
"Interesting person, that Yuki Eiri…" He muttered to himself.
He resigned to his bed placing his hands behind his head as he remembered the time he went to the parking lot at NG Studios by chance. He knew that Shuichi is working in that building but he did not want Shuichi to see him. He would be better off not knowing that he exists. At least that way, his brother would be spared from the harsh realities of life. But he stopped when he saw Shuichi being clutched protectively by Yuki Eiri. The boy seems to be in pain….
Then a few minutes later, Shuichi was unconscious. Then Sakuya appeared shouting at what appeared to be Suzu. Shun was shocked at how much she grew up to be. She was different now…but…
Shun covered his eyes for a moment, covering his ear after to prevent himself from hearing all these. He shook his head. No, not this again. He hated arguing. He thought that with what he did 7 years ago he would have ended this argument in their family…
But it seems, not…
I finally found him…He mentioned. But tears slid down his face. He could not bear to continue at all. He opened his eyes to reveal a ceiling to face him and his eternal dreams of suffering and injustice.
"I finally found him…but…it's repeating again…the cycle…its repeating once again."
Tears fell down his cheeks as he surrendered himself to darkness letting sleep claim him. He knew that when sleep claimed him, he will once again dream of the same nightmares, which plagued him for so long. He would again feel the pain as his unconscious recalls it for him. He would once again see what happened 7 years ago in that simple…
Yet very lonely…
White room…
TBC
Please Read and Review!
Thank you to the previous reviewers. I humbly apologize that this chapter is short and very vague. It was meant to be since this is the true beginning of the story! The true prologue!
TADAH!! Welcome to Ripples in Red Water!
Kuramamybeautifulroseboy: thank you for reading Education by professor Tohma! It's really meant for a laugh. This story is too angsty! haha! but read this too!
Animewackywitch: HA! So you finally reviewed my fic! Haha! I will tell you though, this is quite different from the original! So I suggest you read it if you have nothing to do, as of the moment! hahaha! bribe! Anyway, thank you once again! I'll continue to update it's just that it's a really long chapter and it becomes difficult to type! hahaha!
Silver on the Tree: I agree! Sheer Genius Tohma!!!! And on RIRW, I always beleived that 'baka' for Yuki was not equal to baka at all! It must have been thought to be an effect of zero talent comment but then again, it's like saying koibito in a different way, in a Yuki-way. Right? Well anyway, thank you so much!
Strawberry noodle bunny: waaaaaiiii! Such a cute pen name!!!! Well, again, thank you for reviewing my fiction!And yeah, I guess there are less typos!
Person Personage: Will do!
Reiannah: ehehe, well that's okay! I'll still give you pocky and ramune soda becasue you've been constantly reviewing my fics! NICE!!! And no more gun threats! Here's the next chapter! hehe! And thank you for your greetings, cards, and reviews! They mean a lot to me! Friend!
Deppfan1016: I am again flattered with your compliments on the story! You're right about Sakuya benig partly Yuki! Although, Sakuya is also Shuichi. He's also playful and at the same time emotional. Somehow, Sakuya portrays what Yuki might have been if he were a bit emotional and 'alive' and portrays what Shuichi might have been if he were a bit serious and mature than he is in the series.
Kanilla: wow, again I am breathless with your compliments! thank you very much! And I won't really say that it's the ending because we're just half-way through! And like what I said above, this is where Ripples in Red WAter really begins, I mean the real story that is! Its like what you read is a very long prologue! hahaha
Mistress of Anime: thank you so much! Good luck with your classes and hope you do well! You've got wonderful foreign languages so just keep doing your best and I'm sure you'll be great! See you soon!