Chapter 6 – The Turn Around
The sun had risen into the horizon and illuminated the room through the sliding doors in Hiro's apartment. Hiro was already up, prepared breakfast and brewed a fresh pot of coffee. Summer was on its way and the day was bright and warmed; it seemed to be a perfect day for a picnic or to go to an amusement park. Hiro called Suguru and suggested his ideas and both agreed to go to the amusement park; the rides and games there should keep Shuichi from thinking about what happened and though neither of them admitted it, this should also help them reduced their own stress.
Shuichi was still sleeping, twisting and turning his body around as he started to gain some senses, a voice transmitted to him, "If there is another life, then I'll be waiting for you…" but in his current state, he didn't hear it.
"Morning, sleepy head." Hiro came into the room to wake up his little friend. "Are you hungry?" He asked. "I've made some breakfast, so eat up because we have a long day ahead of us." He grinned widely as he tabbed Shuichi on the shoulders.
"Huh, but its Sunday." Shuichi protested and crawled back under the blanket.
"Yeah, Suguru and I thought that we should take a trip to Tokyo Disney. It's been a while since the three of us went out together, so what do you think?"
Shuichi peeked out from underneath the cover and smiled. "Okay." He got out of bed, ate some food and drank some coffee. Without saying a word, his eyes doubled up to show his appreciation for his friend's hospitality.
Hiro smiled back accepting his friend's gratitude.
"Hiro, do you mind if I take a shower?" Shuichi asked.
"No, go right in." He replied.
A shower should freshen up Shuichi and helped him start a new day. He went into the bathroom and undressed. He stood in front of the mirror and felt disgusted from the reflection that he saw. He dropped to the floor and hugged himself, "Why?" was all he could say and cried in silence. Negative thoughts ran through his mind, 'I'm a freak… that's it… He doesn't like me. But my dreams and he… felt so right… His kiss… warm and gentle… Why? Why? Did I make a mistake? Is he not for me?' After a few minutes, he wiped off his tears and started the shower. He didn't want to worry Hiro anymore than he had already done. He let the shower rinsed away the salty residue from his tears and tried his best not to burst out crying. As much as he wanted Eiri Yuki to return his feelings, it seemed that it was impossible now. He should let it go and try to forget about him. 'Could I forget about him… just like that?' Tears somehow made their way out from his purple eyes as his chest pinched tightly and his breathing got faster. He stood under the shower until every trace of him crying was washed away.
Hiro knew that Shuichi was going to cry in the shower, but didn't want to impulse the situation. He stood by the door just to make sure that Shuichi was alright and wasn't going to do anything stupid like killing himself.
Shuichi got out of the shower wearing a dark blue robe that was too loose for him; the sleeves were hanging over his hands. He looked like a little wet duck wearing something that was obviously not his.
Hiro tried to act as normal as he usually was and laughed, "You look ridiculous!"
"You meany!" Shuichi responded as usual. "Do you have anything that I can change into?" He asked. He wanted to change into something fresh and to put away the dammed clothing from last night, the ones that still carried Yuki's sense on them.
"I don't know." Hiro smiled and went to search his closet. "Here try these." He handed Shuichi a white t-shirt and a jean overall."
Shuichi looked at him with a funny face. He had never thought that Hiro would ever wear an overall; the picture of Hiro in an overall was so wrong. He lightened up with a chuckle and put them on. "So where are we meeting Suguru? At his house or at NG?"
"Actually, he's coming over here." Hiro replied.
"Cool."
An hour later, Suguru arrived with K, Mr. Sakano and Ryuichi. This was a surprised; how did the other knew about their trip? Hiro welcomed them inside and offered them coffee.
"So which park are we going to?" Ryuichi asked with his usually childish voice.
" Tokyo Disney." Hiro replied. "How did you guys know that we were going out today?" He asked looking from Ryuichi to Mr. Sakano and finally to K.
"Yes, it was I. I had your phone tabbed." K smirked while waving his guns in the air and laughed.
"Don't you know anything about respecting other's privacy?" Suguru asked.
"No, not really." K replied.
"I give up!" Hiro sighed. "Okay, let's get going, then."
"YEEAAAHHHH!" Ryuichi screamed. "Shuichi are you excited? We're going to ride the roller coaster together, okay?" He asked his sparkling vocalist as he held onto Shuichi's hand and played follow the leader.
They arrived at Tokyo Disney in about half an hour. Ryuichi ran to the admission booth dragging Shuichi along like his teddy bear. Speaking about his teddy bear, he left Mr. Bear at home because Mr. Bear didn't like the amusement park, he get lost every easily. "Shuichi, lookie lookie… there are so many rides, which one should we go on first?" He furiously turned his head left to right trying to decide what he wanted to do first. The other caught up with them into the park and all gazed at the same time. "Wow!" The park was huge! Everyone had been here at least once, but it had been so long that they didn't remember how big it was.
Shuichi didn't seem to be thrilled about going to the park, but with Ryuichi by his side; he should lighten things up. Ryuichi was holding hand with Shuichi like two little boys on a field trip together swinging their hands back and fort. Hiro was glad that they were going to the park today and thankful to K for bringing Ryuichi along. Everyone could see that Ryuichi liked Shuichi, but to what extend they didn't really know. Hiro thought to himself, if Ryuichi was ever serious about Shuichi, it may work out since Shuichi had admired him for so long. He may be Shuichi's salvation, but it would be up to them to decide, whether they should go forward or remain just friends. In the mean time he suggested, "We should stick together in a group so that we don't lose anyone." By that, he meant losing Ryuichi and Shuichi.
"I agree." Mr. Sakano said as he turned over and stared at K's two 9mm guns. "K shouldn't you put these away?" He chuckled nervously as he thought to himself, 'How in the world did he get into the Disney's park with those guns hanging on his shoulder?'
"No worry, no one will notice them." He smiled back at the frantic Sakano. "I made it through the entrance didn't I?" This made everyone felt a bit nervous, why didn't anyone else, but the NG staffs noticed those guns? K must have some kinda weird trick under his sleeves.
"Well now that we all agreed to stick together, where should be go first?" Suguru asked as he trailed he eyes over to see how Hiro was doing. He must been exhausted from last night, but he showed no sign of fatigue. Suguru wondered if something had happened last night. He rolled his eyes to Shuichi then back to Hiro; they didn't seem to be any different, so that could only mean nothing happened.
"Roller Coaster." "Games." "Haunted House." "Disney on Ice." "Fairies Wheel." "Merry-go-round." They all said at the same time and each looked at each other then burst out laughing.
"Let's start easy with the Merry-go-round." Suguru suggested with Hiro and Shuichi in mind.
'I can do this. I'll have fun with everyone and forget about what happened.' Shuichi thought in silence.
"Okie. Okie. Let's play. Let's Play. To the Merry-go-round!" Ryuichi gripped harder on Shuichi's hand and ran to get in line.
"Ryuichi, slow down! You're hurting me!" Shuichi finally spoke.
They ran so fast, that they had left quite a distance between them and the rest of the gang. Ryuichi didn't understand why his sparkling friend was being so quiet and distance today. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to… I just wanted to play with you. I like you. I like you a lot Shuichi." He turned puppy eyes begging Shuichi for forgiveness.
"I like you too. I didn't mean to snap at you." He closed his eyes, inhaled and breathed. "I'm sorry too. Let's go play together." Shuichi creased a big smile and held out his hand for Ryuichi. They got in the line and waved to their friends strangling behind. The Merry-go-round was slow and steady, each time it rotated 360 degreed Shuichi got a little dizzy, but he enjoyed it; he always loved the Merry-go-round.
Next, they went onto the Fairies Wheel where everyone paired up in two; Shuichi was paired with Ryuichi of course, Hiro with Suguru and K with Mr. Sakano. They all went on the ride consecutively, one pair at a time. While on the ride, Suguru asked Hiro about last night and what was his thought about Shuichi. Would he just give up and forget about Eiri Yuki or would he try to meet the guy again to ask him why. Hiro didn't give it much thought, but for now it was better not to mention about what happened and see how Shuichi would handle it. Suguru agreed and enjoyed his moment alone with Hiro. The seating was small each wheel had only one bench big enough for two person to sit together. They were only inches apart and Suguru had slid his hand over touching the tip of Hiro's fingers with his. Hiro didn't seem to notice it or maybe he was still occupied with Shuichi in his mind to notice it. Yet, at this moment, Suguru could only wished that he could stay like this longer and feel his heart raced along with his blushing checks.
It was getting around noon time when they finished their second ride. Ryuichi was crying his hunger out, "I want some food. I'm not going to an ice ring being hungry, I'll freeze to death!" The group looked at him swimming on the cement like a shrimp and pulled him up to a burger stand to get some burger and fries. After they finished eating, Mr. Sakano led them to the stadium where the ice ring was. On today's agenda, the park will have a short version for the Lion King. Mr. Sakano was very delighted; he enjoyed the outstanding performance of the play especially the orchestra piece of it. He cried himself a puddle of tears and was still sniffing when they left the stadium.
The Haunted House was gloomy, Hiro always loved to go in these kinda places with Shuichi. Shuichi would get all scared and gripped onto his shirt so tightly that he could feel Shuichi's warm chest against his back. Ryuichi was pouting, "Shuichi! I scared too! I want to be with you!" He pulled Shuichi away and clung to him tightly as a three headed demon covered in blood with no eyeball suddenly jumped out in front of them. "AhHHHH!" They both screamed and hugged each other like two little boy about to piss into their pants. At the end of the trail Ryuichi was crying like a baby, "I'm… not… going in there again!" They all laughed while Hiro looked at the shocked Shuichi standing like a zombie staring at nothing. He was glad, despite of the condition Shuichi was in right now, he had started to enjoy himself as the day progressed. K calmed the crying Ryuichi down and promised to get him a prize at the games and arcade area.
As anyone would have expected it, K was great with playing game especially with the one that involves shooting. He shot down two giant stuffed bears; a pink one with a red ribbon he gave to Ryuichi as he promised and a grizzly brown one for Shuichi. Both vocalists gazed at their prizes and their eyes tripled in size as they squeezed the stuff animals which were about three quarter of their height and double their mass in width.
Now it was about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, after all the walking and waiting in line everyone was worn out, but there was one last ride that they hadn't gone onto yet and that was the roller coaster ride. No one but Ryuichi wanted to ride it and he wanted to ride it with Shuichi; he was not going to let Shuichi backed out on him. "Shuichi! You have to, you promised… remember?" Ryuichi nagged, looking hurt. Shuichi didn't remember making any promises to Ryuichi, but he couldn't let his violet eyed friend go crying again, so he agreed to catch the last ride with him.
They split into two groups, Ryuichi and Shuichi approached the coaster line and the other group turned around to look for a rest spot. As they walked toward a bench underneath a shady tree near the coaster, a voice called out to them, "Hello, there!"
"Tatsuha? What are you doing here?" Mr. Sakano asked.
"I'm here with my cousin from Kyoto, her family just moved to Tokyo two days ago. I met her at your Bad Luck's concert last night and she asked if I can take her here today, so I did." Tatsuha replied while his head was spinning around to see if he could find Ryuichi.
"Where is she?" K asked.
"She dripped some ice cream on her dress, so she went to the restroom to clean it."
"Who is he?" Suguru asked while staring at Tatsuha.
"Yeah, he's Tatsuha Uesugi, Mr. Seguchi's brother-in-law." Mr. Sakano replied.
"Why don't we ever see him around NG?" Suguru asked curiously.
"I live in Kyoto with my pop. I come around whenever there is a Nittle Gasper Concert and for other personal interest." Tatsuha replied.
Suguru turned and whispered to Hiro, "Hey, doesn't he look like someone we know?" Hiro took a closer look and whispered back, "Eiri Yuki." And both nodded.
"Where? Oh where is my Ryuichi? Isn't he here? He wouldn't miss a trip to Tokyo Disney." Tatsuha asked still spinning his head around.
"Yeah, he's on the coaster with Shuichi?" K replied.
"Shuichi Shindo? NO!" He cried pulling his elbow down to his waist.
"Hey, if you're a Ryuichi's fan, then why don't you ever come to NG to see him?" Suguru asked.
"There is complication." He said with an uncomfortable tone of voice.
"What? Isn't Mr. Seguchi your brother-in-law?" Suguru continued.
"Well, you see Touma and my bro Yuki had some kinda misunderstanding and since I look like my bro, I feel very uncomfortable around Touma. He gives me the creeps, so I try to avoid him if possible." Tatsuha explained.
"Yuki?" Hiro suddenly asked. "Do you mean Eiri Yuki?"
"Yeah, I thought you all knew." He replied as he rolled his eyes over to the roller coaster ride and saw that it was about done.
"Tat…su…ha…!" His cousin waved at him. As the she came running over Hiro and Suguru stared like they have seen a ghost.
At this moment, Shuichi stormed out from the coaster ride and rushed out to find a trash can. The ride twisted and turned, up and down, and fast and slow; all the movement made him sick and he hurled all the content from his stomach into the trash can. He hurled so much that his stomach burned and his throat felt sour.
"Are you okay?" A sweet and familiar voice asked Shuichi from behind.
He slowly turned over feeling a rush in his head as he replied, "I'm o… k" The person in front of him, Eiri Yuki, why was he here? 'Is this a mirage? Am I hallucinating?' Shuichi thought to himself as the rest of his friends rushed over. His head started to spin people around: Yuki, Hiro, Suguru, K, Mr. Sakano, Ryuichi and another Yuki with black hair. 'This must be a dream, how can Yuki be here? Blonde hair or black hair?' The thoughts twirled in his head as he collapsed.
Everything was dark. Shuichi felt that his head weighted more that a thousand tons; he couldn't lift it. He could only hear voices, different voices talking to him, yelling to him and spinning back and forth in his head.
"Shuichi! Are you okay? Wake up! Please wake up!" Voices from his friends.
"No! Yumi, please don't leave me!" Another voice that he had heard before yet still not recognized it.
"Death does not part us; we'll always be together if not in body then in spirits." The lovely voice of his dream reappeared and slowly vanished.
"Yumi. No! YUUMMIII!" Shuichi shouted as he opened up his eyes and saw her standing in front of him. 'Impossible!' He thought.
Everyone was shocked to hear Shuichi screaming like that, but they were also relieved that he had gained consciousness. "I'm so glad." Hiro managed to say while holding his friend in his arms trembling.
"I'm sorry. Did I startle you?" The sweet voice asked again as Shuichi looked up to meet her golden eyes caressed by her elbow length blonde hair. 'This is not a dream. She is standing here in front of me.' He stared at her then dropped back down; his head flooded with confusion, more than ever. 'What does this all mean? Why are there two Yukis?'