Just a Show
Chapter Three:
Moving In
Twitch. Twitch. Twitch. That is exactly what Suguru's eyes were doing at this very moment. He couldn't believe what Hiro was telling him. This made killing Shuichi move currently to the top of his priority list, he gripped the table tightly in angry. The handsome man with long hair sighed. Then he put his hands on the green head man's shoulders, and massaged them. "Relax, this just means you get to yell at Shuichi more."
"Do you actually think I enjoy doing that?" The keyboardist questioned, turning to glare at his band mate.
Hiro held his hands up, "I didn't mean it like that! I was trying to lighten up the situation, anyhow," he put his hands back on Suguru's shoulders, "We can do this! We'll have to work Shuichi harder, but…it is his fault, so he'll get over it. I don't see what he sees in that idiot, Eiri Yuki."
Suguru broke away from Hiro's wonderful hands and gazed up at him with interest, "Do you mean Yuki Eiri, the novelist?"
"Yeah, what's it to you?"
Yuki stumbled out of bed due to the loud pounding against his door. (That sure happens to him a lot). He glared at the guest room, which Tatsuha was quietly resting in and there didn't appear to be any signs of him getting up anytime soon. Opening the door, he frowned, "What the hell do you want?" Mika pushed past him and threw the newspaper down on his coffee table. He just yawned then picked it up. He scowled while reading it. "Shindo and Yuki: A Lover's Quarrel?" It talked about how they must have never gone out in public together, but considering their behavior they had to have been dating awhile, but they had never been seen together before. Wasn't the T.V. saying something similar last night? They are all idiots.
"Who the hell is he? And how could you keep this from me?" if Mika pouted this would be the moment she did it, but Uesugis did no such thing. Though, she was seriously hurt, she would try her best to cover it up.
"I can't see how you wouldn't know." He searched for a cigarette and a lighter. Dealing with Mika without his smokes was just plain stupid. He loved her, but she drove him fucking nuts. "It was your husband who introduced us."
"What?" Mika was stunned. "Well you know…," she whispered to herself, but Yuki heard, "he never tells me anything." as well as the sorrow that was in her voice.
"Well anyway it is none of your damn business who I date." He opened the pack of cigarettes and pulled one out of the pack.
"Eiri, he is just a boy…a pop star who just wants to make a rise in his career. He is using you!" Desperation could be heard in her voice, but Yuki chose to ignore it as he lit up his source of nicotine.
Inhaling deeply before answering her, "Don't try to figure out things you can't possibly understand. I don't give a damn if he is using me. It doesn't bother me, since I'm doing the same. It is what all humans do in the end."
"Eiri-chan, please, don't say such things."
"I'll say what I want." He walked over to the door and opened it, "get the fuck out of my house!"
"Don't you try to push me out," she pleaded, "I want to know who this boy is, now!" She grasped the paper and pointed to the little brat in a grayish image.
"The papers say he is Shuichi Shindo." He tried once again to escort her out, by grabbing her arm.
"That's not what I meant!"
"How I am supposed to know what you mean?" he was trying to throw her out without hurting her, but she was making it kind of difficult. She pulled her arm out of his grasp and glared upward.
Tatsuha at this moment popped out from the guest room and smiled at the entertainment unfolding before him.
"Hey sis," he called, giving a quick wave with a grin.
Mika looked at him with a harsh expression, "What are you doing here? You should be with father. That's where I sent you to."
"Yeah," he scoffed throwing himself onto his brother's couch, "like I really want to be home with the old man, right now."
"You know what! I deal with you in a minute. Now Eiri tell me who this boy is?" Tatsuha looked at the paper Mika was holding.
"You know Mika he looks a hell better on T.V., but in here he still looks pretty cute." Yuki glared at him, "Which reminds me, when you are done with him can I have him, Eiri?"
"Shut up!" Both sister and brother yelled.
"Now," Mika turned to face Eiri, once more. "Tell me. Who he is. Now!" She pointed once more at the image of Shuichi.
"It's none of your business now both of you get out of here!"
"No, tell me."
"Ah, Mika don't you know that he is the lead singer of Bad Luck. Actually…thinking about it…I wonder if this is some kind of publicity stunt."
"What?" Mika blinked, "Eiri is that true?" She looked over to the elder Uesugi brother.
Yuki twitched his eyebrows. One. Two. Three. And he lost it, "GET THE HEL OUT!" The next thing the siblings were forced out by the raging storm of Yuki Eiri. The next moment he never thought he would be grateful for a phone call from Tohma, but he was. It gave him the greatest excuse to leave his house, so they couldn't bug him anymore…that day.
"Yuki Eiri, the romance novelist?" Suguru asked as Hiro pulled a chair next to him.
"Not sure, but…I think so…he is someone Tohma knows."
"Yeah, he is his brother-in-law,"
"Oh, so you know him then, since you're Tohma's cousin and everything."
"Yep, he is a bit of bastard...," Suguru tapped his chin in a thoughtful gesture. "No wait… he is a complete bastard." Hiro frowned. "But he is that way to everyone. I don't know him very well. I know that he is cold because something happened to him to make him that way, but I also know he doesn't exactly take pleasure in other people's suffering."
"So that's all you know. Is his reputation with the women as bad as they say?"
"Yeah, well not lately, but yeah I think so. I know when he came to Tohma and Mika's anniversary party—that I believe he was dragged to—he brought a woman, (who wasn't exactly classy) Mika had a fit. I think he did it to piss her off."
"I thought he didn't take pleasure in other's people pain."
"No, but pissing people off seems to be a sport for him."
"Sounds like he's one sadist bastard." Hiro clenched his fist.
"Don't worry." The guitarist blinked his eyes several times.
"What?"
"He'll be fine. I believe that if you think highly in Shindo as I believe you do, you shouldn't worry so much. He will be fine."
"I…don't…don't…know, but I guess I can't get in his way, if this guy really makes him…happy."
The blonde novelist sat across from the table of the head of N.G. "So," he drew out his cigarette and glared at the short blonde man. "What the fuck do you want?" A paper was slammed down in front of him, "Yeah, I've seen it already." Smoke was blew into the air, Tohma simply waved it way.
"Yes, and this isn't exactly what we were hoping for."
"So we cut our losses, it's not like I expected to work out. The guy's a brat."
Hands clasped together and a creepy smile made Yuki cringe. "I didn't say it won't work, actually I believe we can make this situation even more desirable. You see…I think you should let him move in with you." First a cigarette fell causing a slight burn to the writer's pants, followed by a "Damn it!", followed by Yuki patting himself down quickly, followed by stomping the cigarette out, and finally ending with a glare from golden eyes.
"No fucking way, I'm letting that brat move in!"
"Well, you could move in with him…?" Tohma scratched his chin.
"No way, there is no telling what kind of living arrangements he has!"
"Then he'll move in with you."
"No, I'm not doing that. We are going to end this right now." Yuki slammed a fist on the desk.
"Alright, I'll tell your father that you will finally accept Ayaka's hand in marriage."
"I'll never do that!" slamming his hands on the surface in front of Tohma.
"Oh but you will have to." Tohma said with a smile and Yuki got a sense that the man had another card up his sleeve.
"What are you talking about?"
"Do you remember that little contract I made with your father that allowed you to go to New York for college, hmm."
"Yeah,"
"You must also know then that there is this rule in your contract regarding your relationship with Ayaka." Tohma handed it over with the important circled. Eiri reads all around it to make sure the head of N.G. wasn't just trying to manipulate him, by taking the contract out of context. He gripped the piece of paper tightly.
"Damn you!" He growled. "I need another cigarette!"
"As you can see…," Tohma watched amused as the novelist pulled out his cigarettes then desperately searched for his lighter, once more. "If you are not in a serious relationship by your next birthday you will be forced to marry her. Of course, at this time I was just worried about you being lonely and not having…,"
"Bastard, you just needed another card to hold in your hand if in case the time came. Damn You!"
The head of N.G. smiled. "So, if you don't want me to remind your father who has forgotten the contract and if you want me to break it then you will let Mr. Shindo move in with you."
"You said if this plan blew up, that it didn't matter."
"Well, only if it blew up, not if you gave up."
"Damn it! Fine, but you better start working on Mika and Tatsuha, they were at my place this morning."
"Alright, then,"
"And the moment the brat…,"
"Of course," Tohma smiled, "Thank you for your cooperation."
"Manipulative bastard," Yuki lit his cigarette. He should have put more of a fight. Why didn't I? I'm not that desperate…I could have figured…no it's the brat. No…damn it why did I just give in?
"No! I don't care how much it helps my career!" Shuichi shouted into Sakano's face.
"Please!" The producer was on his knees, begging with all his might.
"No, you can tell Tohma to screw himself. I won't do it!" The pink-haired turned away, staring out the window, clenching his fist. "I'm willing to agree to another date," he answered softly, something inside him was a little warm at the thought of trying again. Not understanding his feelings and not liking being controlled, angry arises, "but that is it. You understand." Swiftly, turning to face the producer, he delivered a harsh look of defiance.
"If you don't do it…then!" Panic dominates from Sakano's voice as he makes a dash for a window.
"Don't you dare! Hiro! Help!" Trying to yank him away from the window, Shuichi grabbed his suit jacket, pulling it off.
His producer stood on the window sill looking downward, "I don't deserve to live! Oh, I am failure to you and Tohma."
"Oh okay! I'll do it!" Sakano stopped for a moment.
"Really, thank you!" the dark-haired man bowed, "Thank you! Thank you!"
"Alright, I'm only going to do this only for about a month or so. The guy is a jerk!"
"That's all we need Shindo-san." The man stepped off the window sill, and then bowed again.
"What have I gotten myself into?" Shuichi wondered, looking over to the table were his notepad laid.
"What are you talking about and what was wrong?" Hiro asked entering the room.
"Oh nothing, Shindo-san and I were going over some ideas for the music video, so we thought you might be able to help."
"O-kay," Hiro looked questionably at his friend and their producer. Shuichi was a little surprised, until he remembered his best friend isn't supposed to know about this stunt. Really, what mess have I gotten myself into? And what I am going to do, since Hiro might not be able to help me out?
Mizuki looked down at the paper in front of her, "This is very good." She smiled.
"Yes, I believe so, too," another female voiced piped up. "They were in the paper and on T.V."
"It seems it is working in both our favors and Tohma thinks he is the one running this show."
"When it comes to Yuki Eiri, Tohma will never have full reign."
"Yes, I suppose nobody can really have such power over him." Mizuki agreed.
"So what is our next move?"
"For now let's see how the cards play out, I'm working on the details of our next move, as of now."
Shuichi was a wreck, thinking about moving with a guy he barely knew made him very scared. What if the guy turned out to be a psycho? What if the guy's personality is a lot worse than it is now? What if they become close and something happens? What if that something is Shuichi falling in love? He shook his head, as he continued to throw things into a blue bag.
"Shuichi!" Maiko yelled coming into his apartment, "Big Brother, I brought dinner! Mom says she wants you to come over this Friday!" She set supper on the countertop and went over to his bedroom, peering through the doorway, and was surprised to see him packing.
"Where are you going?"
"Nowhere!" he tries avoiding eye contact.
"Then why are you trying to fit everything in your blue bag? Hmm?" She leaned in closer to him, and tapped her foot.
"I'm…cleaning up…yeah." He rubbed his neck, sweat dropping.
"I don't think so!" She put a finger on his nose, "You are preparing to leave for somewhere…yes." Tucking a hand under her chin, she began to act like a detective, "I believe that is so…"
"You've been watching the American detective shows again! Haven't you?" Shuichi accused, slightly annoyed.
"Yes, of course my dear Watson," she giggled a little bit, "and my conclusion is that you are moving somewhere."
"No, I'm cleaning."
"You don't clean, mom still comes over every once in awhile to do such a thing."
"Okay fine…I'm moving in with Yuki Eiri!" Maiko froze. Shuichi gulped. "I mean I'm…we are…"
"You are moving in with Yuki Eiri!" She stated in complete disbelief.
Shuichi knew it was too late, he looked ashamed at the floor, "Yeah." Then in the next moment she jumped up on him.
"Ah! Will you get me his autograph?"
"Ah! Maiko! Get off of me!"
Another demanding sound at his door aroused him to growl as he woke from his nap. His muse still didn't want to cooperate with him, so he had stayed up all night trying to come with the next chapter for his editor. Happiness was not with him at this moment, especially when he opened the door. At first he was a little surprise but then he recalled his conversation with Tohma. He wished he would have specified a time. The blonde writer glared down on a pink-haired brat with a huge blue bag of stuff. How could anyone hold that much stuff was beyond him?
"Hello, I was…," nerves claimed Shuichi as he stared up into beautiful golden eyes. "I just…,"
"Quit stuttering brat and come in!" Yuki began to franticly search for his cigarettes as he walked away from the door. Shyly, the younger man came in and dropped all his stuff on the floor. He stood waiting to see what he needed to do next. Eiri found his packet of cancer sticks on the coffee table and quickly pulled one out, lighting it just as fast. Removing it, he gazed into violet eyes. This boy's behavior was already getting on his nerves, so how the hell was he going to last long enough to satisfy his stupid brother -in-law. "Pick up your junk and follow me." Shuichi did as told.
"Here is your room," Yuki opened up a guest bedroom door. He didn't even know why he had these rooms, considering he rarely had guest, though Tatsuha did use one of the rooms when he came to invade his space. One of the other rooms was of course his study. "It might be a mess my idiot of a brother stays in here, sometimes…"
Shuichi examined it. There were a few beer bottles on the floor, and condom wrappers. Yuki raised an eyebrow when he noticed them. He was going to have a talk with that moron, he didn't care his brother slept around, but he sure as hell shouldn't be doing it in Eiri's apartment. "It'll be fine, nothing that I can't clean up." Shuichi replied.
"Good, then now put all your junk in there and come in the living room so we can…talk." With that Yuki walked away.
In a couple of hours, Shuichi had cleaned up the mess, washed his hands several times and had everything unpacked. His Nitter Grasper C.D.s was on the shelves, along with his manga, the walls looked like a collage or a shrine to Nitter Grasper. Everything was nice and neat, but by tomorrow it wouldn't look even close to that. He made his way out into the living room were Yuki was waiting and smoking.
"What took you so long brat?"
"You know," Shuichi's confidence was slowly making its way back, "if we are going to pretend to be lover's I'd prefer if you wouldn't call me brat."
"I'll call you whatever I want," a puff of smoke was released into the air, "now the rules: first of all I don't want to see my apartment in a mess ever, stay out of the kitchen, stay out of my study, and don't touch anything outside of your room. Did I miss anything?"
"Bastard! What are you trying to do keep me locked up in my room all day?" Shuichi shouted.
"Brat… I need my hearing," He covered his ears for a moment, "and if I wanted to lock you up I would have a few padlocks on the door." He flicks his cigarettes, "Though…that may not be such a bad idea."
"Asshole, you are telling me not touch anything, even though I am expected to live here."
"You don't have to,"
"Well, maybe I just won't." Shuichi headed back to his room and started packing his stuff. Yuki hadn't believed the man would seriously be so quick to leave. He was just having a little fun arguing with him, panicked hit him, though nobody could see.
"Brat," He took a deep breathe of his nicotine. "Fine, just because I don't want to deal with your bosses annoying me. Why don't we say this: you stay out of my kitchen, and study, you can watch the T.V., even use the stereo system. You can practice when I'm out and I suppose anything else can be to your disposal, as long as you don't brat anything."
"What am I supposed to do for food? I don't have time to go out every night!" the pink brat had his arms crossed in defiance.
"I'll cook or you can order something in."
"Fine," Shuichi moved in closer to be defiant.
"Good,"
They were close, real close. Shuichi could feel the warm breathe from Yuki on him. "Well…I got to go." The pink haired brat said without thinking, he just needed to get away from him, before he…did something he would regret.
Yuki put his Third cigarette out. He was extremely annoyed, it was early morning, and the brat wasn't back. Not that he cared…He just didn't want to be awoken by another pounding. Damn brat, where the hell is he? And why the hell do I care?
There it was the pounding sound. He opened it, preparing to growl, but sight before him…he hadn't expected. The brat was soaked to the bone. Wet bangs hung in front of his beautiful violet eyes, and his clothes clung tightly to that little body, revealing some interesting things. Even looking like a drenched rat…the brat was…cute.
"Sorry, guess I should have asked for a key?" Dripping, he hesitated to come inside, but Yuki grabbed him by the wrist.
"Yeah, I say so, get in here." Then he went into the back, grabbing a towel he threw at Shuichi's face.
"Hey!"
"Hmph," Yuki pulled out another cigarette.
Shuichi's violet eyes stared at the wooden floor, "Thanks." The soft words were spoken with sincerity, and Eiri couldn't help but wonder when was the last time somebody thanked him without it being a formality.
"Hmph, whatever, I'll have a key made this afternoon." Shuichi finished drying himself then began to head towards his bedroom.
"I'm going to sleep, if a gun-loving American comes here, don't tell him I'm here."
Unfortunately, Yuki didn't have to tell K anything. The man came in, knocking his door down. Eiri who had been enjoying another morning smoke, barely looked up at the man as he moved his cigarette. "You are replacing my door."
"Of course, now where is Shindo?"
"I'm sure you already know or you wouldn't have broken my door down." Yuki glanced over at the blonde man holding two guns in hand, "Then again, you probably think that was fun."
K just grinned as he made his way down the hall, and then promptly dragged one Shuichi Shindo out from a peaceful slumber.
"Ah!" Shuichi ran out in his boxers and jumped on Yuki, "Save me." The novelist shoved the brat to the floor.
"Don't cling to me!" he growled. The brat stood up, glaring at him and was about to say something when K drug him back to his bedroom, forcing him to shower and dress in five minutes. Which the brief second Shuichi was down the hall gave Yuki a great view of the brat's body that he rather enjoyed.
K had brought Shuichi into a private conference room where Sakano was waiting. The producer bowed politely, and in the next moment, Shuichi felt like his brain was pounding. He was given a lecture on how to deal with everyone, what to say to the press, and what he was allowed to say to his friends and family. Ultimately everyone was supposed to think that Shuichi was having problems with Yuki, but that he wanted to be with him anyway, because he was so desperately in love.
"Which, knowing you Shuichi, is the most believable thing." K finished putting his gun back into its hostler. "Now, I believe we are done here, right Sakano." He looked over to the producer who nodded his head.
"Shuichi, I just think that you are rushing into this. Moving in with a man you hardly know." Hiro stated as a concerned friend.
"Yeah, you're telling me," the other man mumbled.
"Huh?"
"Well, yes but don't you think I'm old enough to make my own decisions?" Gosh I feel like an idiot parrot, repeating everything K and Sakano told me to say.
"That may be so, but as your friend I'm supposed to tell you when I feel that a decision you make could be bad for you."
Oh Hiro always looking out for me, unfortunately you can't help me out with this one. "I think that is good and all, but I can't depend on you for everything, can I?"
The guitarist look at his friend strangely, "You don't seem like yourself."
"I'm fine. You know what…I think we should practice for tomorrow's performance." He looked over to Suguru, who nodded. Shuichi had to hide his relief that the green-haired man came to his rescue. If this kept up, he just might let Hiro know what is going on.
Shuichi was surprised at how many reporters were shoving microphones in his face. He wasn't used to this much press coverage, especially over his personal life. Somebody had even asked him about his sex life with Eiri Yuki. Luckily for him, K rescued him by shooting off a few warning shoots, unlucky for him was that K drug him off for another lecture. They ended up going into deep detail about dealing with the press.
"If they ask how you met?" Shuichi sighed. Metal was on his head again, it was sad that he was getting used to that.
"I say I met him at of one of Tohma's parties and that my boss helped set us up."
"And when they ask you about your sex life?" Sakano asked.
"I say something like 'How good do you think he is?' and wink."
"Okay and if they ask if you are in love?" the producer questioned.
"I…I…say…I don't know." Both men shook their heads. "I say yes." Again. Sakano began to panic.
"Oh I don't think he is going to get it!" He tugged on his hair.
"I say, can't you tell?" Shuichi replied, and then both men smiled.
"Perfect." K said with a wide grin putting his gun away. The pink-haired man took a deep breathe.
Yuki was typing away on his computer. He needed to get this chapter done by tomorrow or Mizuki would have his head…not that he really cared, but he would be seeing her for lunch so he figured he better have something.
Elle didn't know whether to be relieved or angry. The man hadn't figured them out after all, and she was slightly disappointed. There was apart of her who wanted this scandal to end. Of course…there was this part of her who was strongly trying to deny that would have been broken if the man had found out their little plan.
For some reasonshe was really starting to get into the role of playing Skylar's wife. Though, the guy was a complete jerk but still…there was something special about this man and it wasn't just his looks.
Yuki heard the sound of someone coming in. "Must be the brat," He grumbled. "Can't he sneak in quietly?" He heard a loud 'ow' then 'I better be quiet or I might wake him up and I am tired'.
Shuichi stumbled through the door of the apartment, bumping himself on the couch, "Ow! Oops, better be quiet or I might wake him up," He stated, "Bastard." He muttered, "Yawn… I'm tired."
He was so exhausted from today's interrogation. Everyone wanted to know what was going on between him and Yuki. After all the questions from the people out the studio, K and Sakano wanted to go over some details for a date such as how he should act this time. Hopefully, it wouldn't be hard because they told him to continue the whole couples in love fighting thing. I can't believe people are actually falling for this!
"I'm so tired," stretching his arms as far as they could he fell backwards onto the couch "This will do just fine," with that said he fell asleep.
Yuki needed a beer. He headed into the kitchen passing, an adorably disturbing sight on his way. The brat was sprawled on the couch, drool falling from his mouth. His getting drool all over my leather, he thoughtIn the next moment the boy clung to himself, shivering. The novelist rolled his eyes, "Baka, why aren't you in your bed. There is a blanket there." He then headed to get his beer. Coming back with a beer, he stopped again. He is kind of cute when he isn't speaking. Eiri opened his can of beer before shuffling off to the closet where he grabbed a blanket. Looking at Shuichi again, a small smile creeps its way onto his face but he shook it off before gently draping the blue blanket over the pink-haired boy. "Brat," he said almost fondly. He found himself wanting to run his hand through those pink locks. He then glared. What the hell is going on with me?
Author's Note:
Adorable! I love the ending of this chapter a lot. Tell me did you? Lots of manipulation going on here and a mystery guest! Ah ha! Not that mysterious, believe me she is part of the original cast, so who do you think it is! Originally that scene wasn't going to be in there, but I thought it might put a twist on Tohma if he wasn't the one really pulling the strings. Actually there were a lot of additionally scenes added in here, making it much longer than plan. The next chapter was actually going to be part of this chapter, but it was too long, so it is now going to be chapter four.