-Chapter 3 – Don't Grieve-
Lesson #3- You have to learn to control your emotions. Don't cry over the lost, be happy that you got rid of something else in life.
It wasn't till two days later, the pink-haired pop singer finally got out of bed. What he did the few days earlier, took a lot out of him, leaving him weaker and more fragile than before.
"Hiro…" He stumbled out of the bedroom, his hair a mess, and his boxers crooked. "What's for breakfast…?"
"Hey, it's about damn time you get out of bed." The other smiled, patting Shu's shoulder. "How'd you feel about eggs?"
"Oh, eggs sound gr—" He urked, and sped off to the bathroom; the sound of vomiting could be heard.
"…Guess I went too hard on him last night…" Sighing, he flipped a few of the eggs that were cooking in the pan.
"…Anyways…" The singer waltzed out smiling, a pair of shorts now around his waist.
"That was a quick mood change…" Hiro grinned, glancing over to the boy. "Was it because of last night? Eh, Shuichi?" He grinned again, leaning on Shu.
"H-Hiro!!" His cheeks turned magenta, and he wiggled his way out from under the taller male. "D-don't mention that to anyone!!"
"Yeah, yeah. I won't." He dished out the eggs, giving a plate to Shuichi, and keeping the other for himself. "Besides, we were both drunk anyways…"
"…Yeah…true." The singer sighed, gulping down the eggs. He jumped as the doorbell buzzed. "—Gah!"
"Calm down, someone's here…" The guitarist got up, dropping the dishes in the sink, and answering the door. "Huh…Oh, hey. Never thought I'd see you here." Hiro smiled, waving the bunny-carrying man inside.
"Well, I came to see Shuichi." Ryu smiled, adjusting the bunny on his head. "But, when I went to Eiri's house, no one was home…"
"Oh…well, Shu's in the living room if you want him." He directed him to the room, where a spazing-out Shuichi was trying to pull a shirt on over his head; only to end up stuck.
"Damn, damn, damn it!" Wiggling around the room, he bumped into the elder. "Oh, is that you Hiro? Can you help me, please?"
Ryu just smiled, not saying a word, as he pulled the shirt down over the boy's torso.
"Ah, thank yo—" He stopped. "…GAH!!" Blushing deeply, he spazed again, hiding behind the couch.
"You're funny, Shuichi!" The man laughed, pulling the singer out from his hiding place.
"No!" He whined, the blush still consuming his face.
"Shuichi," Hiro peeked over at the two of them. "Don't you have something to tell Sakuma-san?" He grinned, going back to his bedroom. "I'll leave you two alone."
"Huh? Shu-chan has something to tell Ryu and Kuma?" The elder cocked his head, looking to the younger vocalist.
Shuichi looked back and forth between Ryu and Hiro's room.
("Damn you Hiro! I thought you'd at least help me!")
"Uhh…uhm…" The boy's gaze moved to the ground. "Ryu-san, do you…like me?"
"…Of course I do, Shu-chan!" Grinning, he stuffed the bunny in his pocket.
"Well, I mean…" He turned his violet orbs to face the other's sapphire. "Do you like me…more than a friend…?"
"…Like…" The elder blinked and rubbed the back of his head a bit puzzled. "Like you like Eiri-san…?"
"…Yeah…" Sighing, he took a few steps closer. "I wasn't at Yuki's apartment because…because I left him…" He reached the other male, lying his head on his chest. "I…I like you, Ryu-san. I like you a lot, I really do…"
"S-Shu-chan…" Sighing, his eyes now serious, he pulled Shuichi to the door. "Let's go for a walk…we can talk then."
"…O-ok…" He allowed himself to be pulled out of the apartment. "I…I'll be back, Hiro!"
They exited the building, and began to walk down the street to a near-by park. Once there, they took a seat at one of the many picnic tables.
"…I'm sorry, Ryu-san, for just—"
"There's no need to be sorry, Shu-chan." Smiling, he sat on the table next to the younger one. "I'm…glad you told me, actually."
"You…you are?" His breathing deepened as he realized how close he was to the idol.
("Less than a foot away…oh my god, oh my god…")
"Yes…" Smiling again, he scooted his body closer to the other's, making the boy blush deeply.
Shuichi looked up from his feet, only to be confronted with Ryuichi's face. It was serious, no-longer hyper or childish, and staring right at him.
"R-Ryu-san…"
"Shuichi, to tell you the truth…" He got closer yet. "I…I like you too. But, I was always afraid to come out and say it. I was always kind of jealous of the relation of you and Eiri-san…I wanted one of my own and…I thought you deserved better than him…"
Shuichi's heart began to beat faster, his breathing heavier, and the blush growing.
"R-Ryu—" Before he could finish, the elder vocalist pulled him into a tight embrace; his violet eyes wide with surprise.
"Shu-chan." The other smiled into the boy's hair. "You left Eiri-san for me, didn't you…" He nodded to the question, too shocked to speak. "Heh…as long as you don't regret doing that."
"I…I don't regret it…but I am sad. I'll always be sad about it, but I will never regret."
"…Good." Smiling still, he released the hug, and proceeded to grab the boy's hand. "Come on, let's go back to Hiroshi's place…you can get your stuff."
"Get my stuff…?" He tilted his head as he was pulled along down the street.
"…Well, Hiroshi only gave you a few days, and you have no where else to stay, so…"
"…Thanks, Ryu-san…" Smiling, he tightened his hand around the elder's as they walked along the building-lined street, back to the guitarist's apartment.
"Hiro!" Shu called out, walking through the door. "I'm back!"
"Ah, took you long enough." Smiling, Hiro handed him the suitcase and bag from before. "I took the liberty of packing your things."
"…You just can't wait to get rid of me, can you?" Smiling, he took the bag, Ryuichi taking the suitcase. "…Thanks, Hiro…"
"Yeah, yeah." Grinning, he pushed the two of them to the door. "Just get out." He smiled still, as he closed the door behind them.
"Are…are you sure it's ok that I stay with you, Ryu-san?" The boy looked over to him as he fastened the seatbelt around himself.
"Of course, Shu-chan!" Smiling, he started the car. "…I mean what I said before…" The car raced off down the street, and to the elder's own apartment.
"…Wow!" Shu dropped his bag as he walked through the doorway. "Your…your place is…Awesome!"
"Hehe, oh it's nothing." Smiling still, he picked the bag up. "Well, there's a guestroom just back here. You can stay there, until…"
"Huh? Until what?" Shu looked up to him, his wide orbs blinking.
"Uh…oh, nothing! Nothing!" Blushing, the elder led the young singer to one of the back rooms, gently placing his things on the bed of the guestroom. "Uhm…why don't you get some rest…we can hangout tomorrow…"
"Oh, ok, Ryu-san." The boy smiled as the elder closed the door behind him, and headed to his own room. "…Ah, sleep…" Slowly, the young singer slipped into his boxers, tossing his belongings on the floor. He curled up on the pillow, underneath the soft sheets of the guest bed.
It was only a few hours later the young boy woke again to the sound of thunder.
"Uhn…a storm?" Sighing, he slid out of bed, and over to the window. "…Rain…" The boy pouted, watching the cold rain slowly roll down the equally cool glass; the lightening brightening the room for a split second. He sighed again, exiting the bedroom, and going out to the kitchen.
"…Shu-chan…" Ryuichi peeked Kumagoro around the corner to stare at Shuichi. "…Shu-chan is awake too…?"
"…Oh, yeah, Ryu-san. The storm woke me up…"
"Ryu and Kuma-chan don't like storms…" In the darkness, the elder male looked like a small, frightened child. "…And the lights don't work either…"
"…You're right. The power must've gone out…" Smiling, he grabbed a hold of the elder's hand. "Come on, Shu-chan will give you company."
"…Ok, Shu-chan…" Sniffling, Ryu stumbled slowly back to his room, Shuichi next to him.
"No need to be scared." Smiling that empathetic smile still, he lit a small emergency candle, and placed it on the end table next to the bed. "See…it's ok."
"Shu-chan…can you stay with me tonight…?" Blinking, the small, pink bunny against his chest, he curled underneath the covers; his wide eyes looking up to the younger boy.
"Uh…" The singer paused for a moment, before climbing in next to him. "Of course I will, Ryu-san."
"…Thank you, Shu-chan…" The older singer smiled lightly, closing his eyes, and cuddling against the other's side.
"…No thanks is needed…Ryu-kun." The younger male wrapped one of his arms around the elder, slowly closing his no-longer wide orbs.
("…This…this is what I've longed for…my whole life, I've wanted this…") He smiled faintly, hearing the other begin to snore. ("I didn't have this with Yuki…no…I'm happy now…") Smiling again, he stopped his thought, and nuzzled into the elder's brunette hair. The boy slowly, but surely, fell to sleep next to his future lover.
With company, both of the singers slept peacefully. Not making a single sound, nor waking from their slumber. Both of them dreaming of one-another.