Sorry for the very late update. Plot trouble. Lots of it. Still not quite smoothed, actually. Suggestions are VERY welcome. :)
Gravitation: One big NOT MINE.
Usual warnings apply.
VERY AU.
Never let it be said that Ryuichi was undedicated. Even those who knew him as a harmless overgrown child agreed with this.
Much more those who actually knew him.
All his life, he'd thrown himself into one goal. Shuichi's happiness. His only brother's.
His only real family's.
His "father" was a worthless drunk. Scum. And his mother, in his eyes, had lost all value the moment she let the scum look at Shuichi. She was a fool that let blind rebelliousness ruin her life, and a coward that let fear rule Shuichi's.
That man wasn't always so bad. In fact, he could believe it when that woman said that she had loved him.
But he was scum that couldn't handle failure, couldn't handle the rejection of anything. Prideful cretin that crumbled at each disapproving glace.
Grandfather had known, had warned her. But she didn't listen. It was her life, after all.
Ryuichi was ten when the scum began drinking, eleven when he became an alcoholic, and twelve when the harmless drunken stupor turned into violence.
Shuichi had only been a month. A month, and he nearly hit him. If grandfather Makoto hadn't visited…
Ryuichi'd have seen Shuichi die.
It was at that moment that he decided that he'd protect Shuichi, no matter what.
A week later, he threatened to testify against him. He left both children under Sakuma Makoto's care easily enough, and she let herself be dragged away with no fuss.
And then, two years later… she took him.
And Grandfather Makoto… had let her. Had let her take his brother away. To suffer.
Better one than both, Ryuichi. Please. Please forgive me.
He and she were unforgivable. But grandfather wasn't so bad. Even if the old man was a betrayer, he pardonable.
Because grandfather had let Ryuichi sing, had let Ryuichi search for his brother, had found K and permitted him to help with both grandchild's career and goal.
And after all, it was grandfather that would save Shuichi. His money, his connections, his guilt.
(sighs forlornly) I hope I haven't disappointed you guys too much. My story is totally not cohesive. (hides in a corner) Any help/suggestions/constructive criticism or comments/etc... will be welcomed with open arms.