Author's Notes: Here we are again, back with another chapter of Leaving Affection. Sadly, this will be the last chapter. As I said before, the entire thing will be in Hiro's POV so don't be disappointed with me. I hope you enjoy this finale!
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: I don't own Gravitation, sorry.
Chapter 12 (epilogue)
Happily, I sat in Shuichi's dressing room waiting for him to come out.
Today was going to be a good day. I know because it was the day of my best friend's wedding. Of course, he's not getting married to me but a certain novelist whom I've come to admire.
Yes, I said it. I admire Yuki Eiri. Simply, because he could do things for Shuichi I simply couldn't; like making Shuichi happy. And not just that... he's doing something I am very grateful for.
"Hey! Shuichi! Come out already!" I yelled to him. It shouldn't take this long to get a suit on.
"I'm coming!" He yelled back me. I sighed. It's his wedding and he's not even slightly nervous or uneasy. I don't know how he does it. "OK. Now look."
I turned... What the fuck? "How do I looook?" He asked me, placing a hand on his hip.
"S-Shuichi! What are you wearing?"
"The lady at the store said it was perfect. And I wanna look cute for my Yuki." He beamed at me as his eyes went big and googly. "I thought Yuki might like it."
"I'm not too sure about Yuki liking you in a pink wedding dress... with a floral train." I sighed. Shuichi was just too out of it.
"Hiiiro! Come on! I have the heels and everything!" He cried out, shoving a strangely high heel in my face. It looked like hooker's boots.
"..." I simply stared.
"The pretty bride asked you a question!" He yelled at me, snapping me out of the shocked and confused state.
I had to laugh at that one and after a few seconds he joined me, and we laughed together. It was such a simple feeling of joy, yet it meant so much more than that.
"Come on Shuichi... what are you really wearing?" I asked.
"..." He had a look of shame to his face. "I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO WEAR!" He cried out to me. This was going to be a problem. "I didn't think I would have to change! I really like this dress!"
Shuichi was the only person who could get into these types of problems. How did he even get to live this long is beyond me.
"Okay... all we have to do is-"
"GIMME YOUR TUX!" He yelled at me, already tugging at my suit with surprising force.
"NO! What am I going to wear?" I asked him, holding down his arms so he wouldn't try anything funny, and that's when I saw his silly grin. "...no..." I stated firmly.
"Hiiiro..." He sang to me. "Pleeease." He batted his eyes and that's when I knew I was losing this little fight. "It just one daaaay. I can't get married in this but it's okay if yooou wear it!"
I sighed. This will be the first and LAST time I will ever do something like this. "Okay. Fine. But it's only because we've got no choice!"
Ans so, we did a little changing of clothes... pink is really, really not my colour.
"Aw! You look great in my dress!" He said to me, which only made my frustration worse. Every person I ever knew was going to be at this wedding, and here I was, going to the biggest affair in entertainment history... in a frilly pink dress. Oh, the things I do for a friend. I sighed.
Just then K burst through the door, holding a gun bigger than his arm.
"K-K!" Shuichi stutters while I was speechless.
"Hiroshi, what are you wearing?" He asked me and all could do was blush. I really did look insane... and I guess I can't blame him for asking.
“Um. Shuichi was going to wear a dress so I told him not to and gave him-" Before I cold finish my sentence, K's gun was at my forehead.
"I liked that dress." He grinned at me with that I-Cant-Wait-To-Pull-This-Trigger grin. "Besides, I've got another suit for Shindou-san so you can get back into your own."
"Great!" I quickly agreed.
K. Turns out he's part of the reason all of our recent drama cleared up. Along with Mika, of course.
And as if on cue, Mika walked in—more of a strut than a walk but no one's complaining. She wore a light green dress with matching gloves and shoes with strange high heels.
She was the one who made everything happen. If it wasn't for her... Shuichi would have still been with me and Yuki would still be in the hospital. In fact... it might have been me getting married instead of Yuki if it hadn't been for her. Don't get me wrong, I'm not angry, not in the least bit. I'm not angry because all I've ever wanted was Shuichi's happiness and now that he's happy... I can move on and be happy for myself.
"K-san. I think we have enough bombs in here... we don't need a gun to put on top of that."
"Yeah yeah... I just love the feeling." He grinned.
"Well, Shindou-san you look very handsome this evening."
He smiled at her and she smiled back. "Thank you, Mika."
It's almost hard to believe there was a time she didn't want him around Yuki, and now she's at their wedding. Funny how time changes people. And it's funny how time can make you, break you, and even force you to grow up.
"Are we all ready?" I heard a voice and turned to see that it was the priest in all his jolly glory.
"Yes." We all said in unison before heading out the door.
8888
I watched from the sidelines as everyone took their seats. K sat next to Sakuma Ryuichi, who, by the way, knows nothing about what happened. He was in America this whole time and basically came back just a few days ago. All he knows is that there was going to be a wedding and he was invited. He was excited about it. Really excited...Strangely excited. But, hey, what else would you expect from a guy like him?
I looked further down the bench and saw Mika sitting next to Tohma. Heh. Put simply, Tohma learned his lesson.
He can't change what he can't touch. And Shuichi and Yuki's love is really untouchable.
He apologized and even cried a bit. Of course, I wasn't quick to forgive. I didn't want him even around me after what happened, but Shuichi could never hold a grudge even if he wanted to, and simply forgave the producer. It took some time but I would followed Shuichi's ways and let it go.
And there at the end I saw Suguru sitting next to Sakano. Not much to say about them. Except that Sakano tried to jump out of an open window four times because of the stress the wedding planning was putting on him. Too bad every single time he was on the first floor and would get more than a bump on his head.
Then suddenly I couldn't help but gaze over to the man of the day. Yuki Eiri.
He stood quietly at the altar.
I smiled as I remembered the last conversation I said with the novelist.
"What are you doing here?" Yuki asked in a low calm tone. I guess he didn't have anything against me.
"Shuichi told me that you're getting married..." I started. "And so, I wanted to ask you something."
"..." I guessed by his silence that he was wiling to hear what I had to say, so I continued.
"Here." I put out my hand revealing a small velvet box. "I-I won't be needing this anymore..."
He had stared at me for so long that I thought he had fallen asleep with his eyes open. Then, finally, he took the box.
"And what do you want me to do with this? Give it a meaning and a purpose?" He chuckled coldly.
I lowered my head. Maybe I was fooling myself to thinking I could ever give this ring a purpose. Just then, when all hope was thought to be lost, he kept the ring and decided to use it.
"I hold nothing against you. Never have, never will. I'll use this ring simply because I owe that much. In fact, if you haven't stolen my Shuichi from me... I wouldn't have realized the things I know now."
And on that note, we shook hands and a small but understanding relationship was born.
Suddenly, loud music started to play. I laughed at myself when I realized that Shuichi had insisted on playing Nittle Grasper's "Sleepless Beauty" when he walked down the aisle. Really, it's completely embarrassing but he's not the type to get embarrassed by the things that he was proud of. And he was proud of his music and his love.
Finally, Shuichi made it to the altar and the ceremony began.
"Do you, Uesugi Eiri, take Shindou Shuichi to be your lawfully wedded ...err...husband?"
"I do." He answered. There's such a gleam of pure happiness in his eyes.
"And do you, Shindou Shuichi, take Uesugi Eiri to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do."
I could see it. It was the most clear answer you could ever get from Shuichi. I smiled brightly as I handed Shuichi a gold ring and then Yuki's father handed him Shuichi's ring. Honestly, I have no idea how he got here. I guess his father decided that trying to keep him from Shuichi would only make thing worse.
And so they kissed, beginning the rest of their lives together.
Everyone clapped and cheered while the media gasped and hollered.
Suddenly, I found myself standing next to Ayaka. She looked beautiful in her white and red kimono.
"I guess I was never meant to be with him after all." She said slowly but I found no sadness in her voice but relief.
"Are you disappointed?" I didn't mean to ask, it just slipped.
She smiled and looked up to me. "It was like his happiness was I wanted to accomplish. But he wasn't happy with me. Now that I know Shuichi-san will take care of him, I can work on my own happiness."
Wow. Did she read my mind or what?
"I know exactly how you feel."
"...Hiro?"
I glanced down to her. "Something wrong?"
"No. Just wanted to know if... if you were going to be free this we-" Before she could finish her sentence a bouquet of flowers fell into her small hands. I blinked. "Wha..?"
"Ayaka-chan caught it!" I saw Ryuichi laughing brightly. "Your next on the list to get married. Congratulations!" He shook her hand and was off in a flash.
She looked down at the flowers then back at me. I couldn't help but feel my face burning. I looked at her and saw that she was blushing just as much as I knew I was.
"Ayaka... Want to go out sometime?" I asked with a grin.
She smiled and me and then she agreed.
Heh. I knew it was going to be a good day, I thought as I took Ayaka's hand into mine. Yes, a very good day.
And maybe, if we all allow it to be, it's going to be a good tomorrow.
Author's Notes: This story is simply perfect to me. Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed this story. I hope I cleared everything up and left you with a great ending. Please review... simply because... It'll be the last chapter you'll ever have to review. (teary eyed) Hehe. Good bye!
