Chapter 5: So I Don't Get Lonely
(FLASHBACK) ((A/N: See, I told you.))
Shuichi looked down at the tablet that contained Ryu's messily written lyrics.
He sniffed slightly, and ran a finger against the title. "Heart Attack…"
It certainly felt like he was having one at the moment.
Tohma poked his head through the door, then looked around, taking in the quiet and crying Shuichi. "Shindou?" he asked, stepping into the room. "Where's Ryu?"
Shuichi gave a shrug. "He left. Something about not wanting to bother me anymore… said he was going to the park," the boy mumbled.
Tohma frowned. "Well then, you should go look for him," he said coolly.
"Why should I?" Shuichi said sullenly, still staring at the lyrics that were clearly written for him. "He wanted to get away from me."
"Because," Tohma said loudly, cutting over Shuichi's dull excuses. "You are the only person that can cheer him up."
Shuichi looked up at his boss, who was cool and calm as ever, but there was an odd glint in his eyes.
"Shindou, you need to make up your mind. I know you've had a fight with Yuki."
That settled it, Tohma knew everything.
"I think it's time you make some serious decisions in your life. You should do it now, lest it get a hold of your entire life," his blonde boss said assertively, just as he would criticize Bad Luck's demos until they got it right. "I expect you to have found Ryuichi, and have your lyrics done by tomorrow. We have only three days until the concert. Good night." And with that, Tohma left the room.
Shuichi frowned. Lyrics…
'What inspires me?' he thought. A grin spread across Shuichi's face as he began to scribble down his parts. "I'll be able to sing that for him!" he cried happily. "In fact…" he mumbled.
"So it was Tohma who basically helped me realize it," Shuichi mumbled sheepishly, walking hand-in-hand with Ryuichi.
"What did you realize, other than your boss's ultimatum was to find me?" Ryuichi laughed, squeezing the boy's hand.
"That somewhere along the line… I had fallen out of love with Yuki, and in love with the idea of being in love," the pink headed boy mumbled, blushing embarrassedly.
"Mn…" Ryuichi frowned. "And what does thaaaat mean?"
Shuichi gave a nervous chuckle. "We-well, I just liked the idea. I mean, it would seem rather hypocritical if I kept singing love songs and wasn't in love with someone, right? And I guess I got caught up in the ideal relationship and trying to make ours one, too…" Shuichi mumbled.
Ryuichi guided Shuichi across the street to a coffee shop. "And Tohma, our Tohma Seguchi helped you realize this?" he laughed, his voice ringing with incredulity.
"Not so much that as he presented the fact that he knows everything in the world," the vocalist for Bad Luck laughed.
"What did he manage to astound you with this time?"
"That me an' Yuki had a fight…"
"Just today?"
"Yeah. I called him and told him what happened," Shuichi admitted sadly, looking away.
Ryuichi stood, dropping Shuichi's hand in shock. "Shuichi, I'm… I'm sorry," he mumbled, acutely aware that they were standing right in front of the coffee house door, probably blocking all sorts of traffic… But all Ryuichi wanted to do was make the obviously saddened Shuichi feel better.
"He didn't yell or anything, he was just mad… and disappointed," whispered Shuichi, shuffling his feet.
Ryuichi gently pushed Kumagoro into Shuichi's arms, the boy looked like he was about to cry.
Shuichi held the stuffed bunny tightly. "H-he said it was o-okay if I wanted to let you u-use me, bu-but to not expect him to l-let me c-come c-crawling b-ba-back," the boy whimpered.
Ryuichi lead Shuichi inside, and put him in a booth. "Shh, it'll be okay," he mumbled. "I'm going to go buy you a cake and something to drink."
Shuichi nodded, pressing his face into the pink plushie.
A few minutes later, Ryuichi laid a chocolate cupcake and a tea in front of Shuichi, a cup of coffee in his own hands. He slid into the booth next to Shuichi.
Shuichi leaned against Ryuichi sniffling. "I-I don't know why I'm so upset a-about this…" he mumbled apologetically.
Ryu smiled sadly at him. "Kumagoro thinks you love Yuki even though you say you don't," he said softly.
Shuichi opened his mouth to speak but Ryuichi gently pushed a silencing finger against the boy's pink lips. "This may make no sense, but…. While you don't love him, you love the time you had with him, and you really don't want to let it go. You're connected to him because he was the first person you were really ever involved in like that, right?"
Shuichi nodded, hugging Kumagoro.
Ryuichi gently ruffled Shuichi's pink tresses. "It's fine to still love him."
"But I want to be with you!" Shuichi protested.
Ryuichi's cheeks flushed as pink. "Well… yes," he mumbled, happily embarrassed. "But it's still okay."
Shuichi scuffed his feet against the floor as he shrugged. He picked up his cupcake, and pulled of some of the side and rolled the cake between his fingers.
"You shouldn't play with your food, Shu-chan, Kumagoro says it's bad manners," Ryu said nonchalantly, sipping his coffee.
Shuichi giggled happily, popping the balled up cake into his mouth. "Well, Kumagoro has his elbows on the table, so he's not one to talk," he shot back.
Ryuichi eyeballed the bunny in imaginary shock. "Why, Kumagoro, that's just plain rude!" he said, seating the pink plush toy between them.
Shuichi bit back a grin, and looked at Ryuichi for a moment. Both of them burst into helpless giggles.
Shuichi slumped over, grabbing Ryu's arm as he tried to catch his breath. "Th-that was sooooooo funny!" he wheezed between slowing laughs. He beamed up at Ryuichi, squeezing the older man's arm. "I feel lots better now. Thank you, Ryu-chan."
Ryuichi's face lit up at Shuichi's smile. "It was no problem at all, Shuichi-chan," he mumbled, resisting the urge to kiss the pink haired boy.
"Um," mumbled the petite singer. "Yuki's not letting me back into his house… and… well, I was wondering if I can hang with you…" Shuichi's cheeks flared scarlet as he asked. "Have someone to talk to… so I don't get lonely…"
Ryuichi smiled warmly, bringing Shuichi into the best hug he could allow in the booth. "You may stay with me as long as you want. I get lonely too, sometimes. I know how you feel."
"Then I'll stay for a long time."
Ryu chuckled at the boy's reasoning skills. "Finish your tea, if we're not back soon, Tohma will call the police."
"Ugh." Shuichi gave a visible shudder, and he drained his tea in one gulp. "Let's go. I'd like to show you the lyrics I wrote."
The brunette stood, helping Shuichi out of the booth "Alright."
They walked out of the shop, arms wrapped around each other's waist, and unspoken tenderness and love blossoming between them. It was the kind that would comfort them, and make sure they would no longer be lonely during long, rainy nights, or cold, dreary days.
A/N: I realize that the end of this chapter could be considered an ending. It is by no means the end. I'm not that mean. It's just a closing of Shuichi's uncertainness, and the start of his and Ryu's relationship. It's kinda like the ending of Part One of this story… maybe. But, anyway, there's three or so more chapters coming. I planned this out before I started writing the story. No worries, be happy.