Disclaimer: Gravitation is not mine.
Warnings: have not changed.
Summary: same
(Chapter 4: Sing to me Ryuichi!)
Tohma Seguchi stood leaning against a wall in one of N-G's recording studios. Sample music played over the stereo system, and he folded his arms. He closed his eyes and listened intently. When the song was over, Tohma looked around the room and saw everyone nodding their heads in approval. He smiled and turned to the producer standing next to him.
"Well, Sakano-san, what do you think of this band?"
Bad Luck's producer jumped at the sound of his name and trembled a little.
"You're really asking me?"
"Yes."
Sakano-san pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off of his forehead. His glasses slid down the bridge of his nose and he pushed them back up with his index finger.
"U-um, well…in my opinion sir, this is a great misuse of time. Don't you think it would be better if we focused more on Bad Luck?"
Seguchi chuckled softly, "That's exactly what I expected you to say, but why don't you leave that kind of thinking to K-san. I am the owner of N-G records, and as such I must constantly be searching for bigger and better things. I'm a part of Nittle Grasper, but I will always keep my ears open for new and interesting sounds…"
Seguchi walked over to the sound system equipment and pressed the "eject" button. He walked back over to Sakano-san and lifted a demo C.D. into the air so that the producer could get a better look, "…and I hear them in this."
Sakano responded so quickly, that he almost tripped over his own feet. "Sir, I respect your decisions, but does N-G really need to sign another group?"
"My dear Sakano-san", Tohma sighed, "You have not yet begun to realize how beneficial this will be to N-G. Now that we've signed the contract with Wani, I see nothing but opportunity for this company. You will see it too, soon."
Sakano's nerves began to get the best of him and he sat down.
"This will be good. Oh, and Sakano-san?", Seguchi walked towards the door and turned towards Sakano-san one last time before exiting, "Stop worrying about N-G's productivity, that's my job."
Tohma stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind him. He began heading in the direction where his office was located, but was stopped by a familiar voice calling to him.
"Toohmaa!"
At the other end of the hall, Noriko waved her hand frantically in the air and continued to call to him.
"Toohmaa! Wait!"
As she walked up to him, Tohma was able to get a closer look at her. She was wearing a halter top and had her hair up. When she got closer to him, he realized that she was accompanied by a woman who he couldn't recognize. The woman had long blond hair and wasn't modest about the way she dressed. Her skirt was very short. It barely covered her thighs and showed off her long, toned legs. She had very large breasts and the top that she wore was low cut to the point where it revealed the blue lace of her bra. Her lips were red with lipstick and she wore high heels. Her whole outfit hugged every curve of her body.
Tohma tried to pretend not to notice the woman and focused all of his attention on his band mate. When Noriko caught up to him, she smiled in her usual cheerful way.
"Tohma, I'm so glad I've caught you. I thought you'd be busy."
The blond-haired woman stood back and watched. She had obviously wanted to keep her distance and Tohma had felt he should do the same.
"Noriko, this is a bit of a surprise. I hadn't expected you to come into the studio today."
"I'm just getting ready for the concert," she replied, then she motioned for the woman behind her, "I was also planning to take my 'friend' shopping."
"Friend?" Tohma looked at the woman again, and caught her staring at him. She was frowning and squeezing her hands behind her back anxiously. She moved her head up and down when she looked at him, as if she were scanning him for something. It was like she was waiting for something…impatiently.
"Yes, my 'friend'. She'll be yours too soon, hopefully." Noriko put her hand up to Tohma's ear and whispered in it, "For Ryu-chan's sake, all three of us should at least try to get along…however difficult that may prove to be."
"Difficult? Just who is she, Nori--?"
"WHERE IS RYUICHI?!"
The blond-haired woman interrupted Tohma's question with one of her own and proceeded to interrogate him.
"Where's Ryuichi?! Huh? Where is he?!"
Noriko pressed a finger to her lips to silence her. "Now, now, Terra-san, calm down. I was just going to ask him."
The woman turned to Noriko and voiced her complaints.
"But I'm worried about him and you were taking too long. You should get straight to the point!"
The woman nudged Noriko to the side and came face to face with Tohma, who was now confused and annoyed.
"I'll ask one more time, and then I won't ask again." The woman folded her arms and looked Tohma straight in the eyes. "Where is Ryuichi?!"
Noriko didn't know what to do as she stood to the side and watched the woman have a staring contest with Tohma, blond against blond, blue eyes staring into blue eyes.
Tohma laughed softly, "My, you're a bold one."
"You have to be bold in the business I'm in", she smirked.
"And what, pray tell, would that be?"
"What?" she sounded surprised. "You can't tell by looking? You don't know who I am?!"
"…No."
"Geez, then I don't care who you are. You're a nobody until you've known me. I'm Terra Brown, one of the most famous American actresses to have ever graced the big screens. If you have any doubt about that, you can ask one of my seven Oscars back home."
"Oh. The Terra Brown? Forgive me. You are very well known, especially in Japan. However, I must ask, what business do you have with Ryuichi-san?" Tohma maintained his composure very well, despite the rude woman in front of him.
The woman stepped back and placed her hands on her hips, "He's my boyfriend."
"Oh, so you're the woman Ryuichi-san has told me about. Forgive me for not remembering your name. I'm sorry, but I do not know where he is."
Terra's body was heavy with disappointment and she tried very hard not to let it show on her face. Instead she looked at her shoes. Tohma had grown tired of speaking to her and was even more eager to get to his office.
"Excuse me ladies," he said as he turned away from them, "but I have a lot of work to do. The concert is tonight."
"Tohma!" Noriko called to him and he stopped, "If you do see him, please, make sure he's alright."
"I will."
Noriko watched Tohma disappear at the end of the hallway, and sighed when she realized she had been left with a pushy, spoiled actress to tend to.
"Come on, Terra-san." She smiled, "I'll show you all the hot spots Tokyo has to offer."
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The top floor of N-G where Tohma's office was located was practically empty. Most of the employees were on the lower floors either helping label artists in recording sessions or sitting in meetings discussing the promotion of N-G Records. A select few where chosen to help prepare the Tokyo Dome for the concert that would take place that night and most of Tokyo was in an uproar over the last Nittle Grasper concert. It was talked about on most of the television stations (with help from Wani) and Tohma was very pleased with all the attention Nittle Grasper was receiving.
He walked through the halls smiling and feeling very good about the upcoming performance, when suddenly a beautiful sound stopped him dead in his tracks. He paused and listened to a melody that was soft and soothing to his ears. The sound was light, smooth, and gentle, like wind on an open field. It was memorizing, and strong enough to pull any person's attention away from anything else and draw them in. A voice like no other filled the hallway and Tohma followed it directly towards his office. As he got closer, the sound grew louder, and each word carried a hint of sadness. It was a song that Tohma had not heard before and it was coming from his office. He reached the office door, ready to find out who it was behind it singing so beautifully. He turned the doorknob, opened the door and found…
"Ryuichi?"
At the sound of his name the surprised lead singer jumped in his seat. A little black box fell from his hands and onto the floor. He turned around on the couch and faced Tohma, who stood stunned but expressionless in the doorway. "You're here. What're you doing all alone in my office?"
"Tohma! Heellooo!" Ryuichi greeted with a warm and cheerful voice as he waved Kumagoro above his head.
Tohma still stood in the doorway, "That song you were singing, I've never heard it before."
"I wrote it last night. Do you like it?" Ryuichi grinned
"Yes, but…why was it so sad?" Tohma watched as the smile on Ryu's lips shrank into one that looked insincere. It was the kind a person wore when they felt uncomfortable talking, or was hiding something. Ryuichi turned away from Tohma and answered his question. "…I don't know."
Tohma closed the door and walked to his desk. He sat down in his chair and looked at Ryuichi.
"It's a really nice song, Ryuichi-san," he assured, "It's just, I didn't even recognize your voice. It was…different somehow. I think it's worth recording though."
"No." Ryuichi's reply surprised Tohma, "I want to keep it for myself. It's my song and no one else's.
"…o.k."
Ryu's childlike side was showing, and he tossed Kuma-chan up in the air and caught it many times. Tohma sat at his desk pondering. He placed his elbows on the desk's surface and braided the fingers of his hands together.
"Ryuichi-san,--"
"Tohma," he interrupted, "I was thinking, can we go over to your house right now for some drinks like the old days? I…I want to relax before the concert tonight."
"I'm sorry, but that doesn't seem possible right now." Tohma moved his arms and supported his head on one hand. "I've got a little problem living with me at home."
"Living with you?"
"Yes," Tohma sighed, "There's this kid living with us. He's Mika's little brother and he's a pain in the ass. All he does is get into trouble, and his presence is bothersome."
"…That bad?"
"Yes. He's very difficult to control. Just a few days ago, he stole Mika's car. It was not a pretty scene when he returned. That was just his first strike."
Tohma took a deep breath and rubbed his forehead, "Just thinking about him gives me a headache. I've got too much work to do. I don't have time to baby-sit some troublesome brat."
Tohma was aggravated and Ryuichi couldn't help but laugh as he stared at him.
"It's not funny."
"Ha ha ha, I'm sorry," Ryuichi covered his mouth and tried to stop laughing, but he couldn't hide the amusement in his eyes, "It's kinda funny. He really stole Mika-san's car?!" The sound of his muffled laughter was growing louder, "He sounds like he's quite a handful…kinda like me."
"He is absolutely nothing like you." Tohma replied, "You two are on completely different scales". His voice was a little low as if he was annoyed and Ryuichi thought it best not to push him any further.
"Geez Tohma, I haven't seen you this upset over someone since Shuichi and Yuki-san got together."
"…I just don't know if I can take it. He left a mountain of clothes on his bed that the maid had to clean up the first day, he stole Mika's car, he plays his music way too loud, he walks around in his underwear, and he's flirted with every single maid in the house and even our male driver. We avoid each other for the most part though. Luckily his part time job keeps him busy and out of the house most of the time."
Ryuichi got up from the couch and walked over to Tohma. He wrapped his arm around Tohma's shoulders, "Poor, poor Tohma. You need to rest. I'll leave you alone so you can relax. I need to go anyway."
Ryuichi turned and walked towards the door. Tohma stopped him halfway there.
"Wait"
Ryu turned around in time to see Tohma picking up a little black box off of the floor. "I think you dropped this."
Ryuichi froze, and stared in his direction. He couldn't move.
"What?" Tohma smiled, "You don't want it?"
He opened the box, and his smile disappeared when he found himself looking at a diamond ring. Ryuichi rushed over to him and snatched the box away. He quickly shoved it into his pocket.
"Ryuichi, what was that?"
"Nothing," he answered quickly, "I'm leaving now." His reply made Tohma suspicious. Tohma gave him a stern look, like that of a father about to scold his son.
"Ryuichi, I ran into Noriko and Terra-san on my way here. They were looking for you."
Ryuichi squeezed Kumagoro under his arms while Tohma continued. "You know, you never answered my question. What were you doing all alone in my office...were you hiding from them?"
Ryuichi sat back down on the couch and pulled the box out of his pocket. "Ever since my girlfriend came to Japan from America, she's been very needy," he confessed, "When I'm not around her 24/7 she gets in bad moods."
"I know, I've already had the pleasure of meeting her." Tohma replied sarcastically as he folded his arms.
"I just needed some time to my self. She puts pressure on me. I had to get away for awhile."
"I understand Ryuichi-san, but what's the ring for?"
Ryu breathed in and out slowly, "Three days ago, when I went to pick her up from the airport, I had planned to ask her to marry me."
Ryuichi stared at Tohma in silence for what seemed to be the longest five minutes of his life. He waited for any type of reply, and just when there seemed to be no chance of one, Tohma spoke.
"That's a big step. I'm happy for you." His tone did not match his words.
"Well, I was going to ask," Ryu continued, "but I couldn't. Something in the back of my mind kept telling me to wait a little longer."
"Are you sure it wasn't doubt?"
"No, it wasn't that. It was like the feeling I had before. It just said to wait 'till after the concert. So, that's what I'm gonna do."
Tohma sat down next to him, "I think waiting is a good idea too, Ryuichi-san."
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Tatsuha sat on a stool at a sushi bar waiting for his waitress to come back with the lunch he ordered. The small sushi restaurant was a few buildings down from Wani T.V. where he now worked part-time on the show "Hit Stage", and he was on his lunch break.
"She's been gone for awhile. Damn it, I'm hungry. Where is she with my food?" he mumbled to himself, as he looked around. Despite the fact that it was lunch hour and the restaurant was located in Tokyo, there weren't many people there. The restaurant wasn't very popular. But the price was right and Tatsuha had cause for celebrating. He pulled out a small piece of paper from his pocket.
"I've got it! I've finally got it! It's mine!" He thought to himself, "My concert ticket! Tonight's going to be the best night of my life!"
He held his ticket up to the ceiling and used it to shield the lights from his eyes. The lights formed a golden halo around his concert pass, and at that moment nothing looked more heavenly.
"Tonight, Ryuichi…I'll see you tonight." Tatsuha pulled his ticket close to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on it, "Tonight, you will sing to me!"
"Am I interrupting something?"
Tatsuha looked up and saw the young waitress with a small tray of sushi in her hands. He blushed a little from embarrassment.
"No."
"Good.", she laughed, "Here's your sushi."
"Thank you."
"So, if you don't mind me asking, what was that you were kissing? A picture of your girlfriend?"
"No." The red on his face was darker and he quickly stuffed the ticket into his back pocket. "It's a…it's a concert ticket."
"To the Nittle Grasper concert? Cool! I looove Nittle Grasper!" The waitress got a little flirty, and she ran her finger down the side of his face, "So, you don't have a girlfriend?"
Tatsuha was not interested, so he lied to get her to leave him alone, "No, I do have one."
The girl pouted cutely, "Aww, that's too bad."
And before she walked away, she gave his ass a tight pinch.
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"Ouch! Noriko!"
Ryuichi sat in front of a mirror in Tohma's dressing room and Noriko stood next to him.
"Ouch! Stop it Nori-chan!"
Tohma sat in a chair and was reading an entertainment magazine. When Ryuichi's voice interrupted his concentration, he put the magazine down on top of a small table next to him and turned his head towards them.
"Noriko, what are you doing?"
"Tohmaaa," Ryuichi whined in an effort to gain his sympathy, "Noriko keeps pinching me!" He rubbed a pink spot on his arm and pouted, "Make her stop!"
"I wouldn't have to pinch you if you'd just listen to me!", Noriko shouted, "I'm trying to talk to you, Ryu, but you keep gazing into that mirror and your mind keeps wandering off…"
Noriko stopped talking and looked at Ryuichi again. He sat facing the mirror and stared blankly into it. She pinched his arm.
"Ouch! Waaah! Noriko!"
"See what I mean?"
Ryuichi put on his best "forgive me" face and gazed directly into Noriko's eyes.
"Gomen Noriko, I have a lot to think about that's all."
The smile returned to Noriko's face and she gave her friend a big hug. "Awww, it's alright Ryu."
She released him and ran her hand through a tangled spot in his hair, "But really Ryu-chan, next time you want some alone time you should tell Terra-san. You shouldn't run away. She was very worried about you."
"I know," he replied, hanging his head low, "It won't happen again."
There was a sudden pounding on the door and a voice called in to them. "Nittle Grasper! 15 minutes 'till show time!"
Tohma smiled. "Well," he sighed, "now that you're both done talking, let's get on stage." He got up from his chair and headed for the door. Noriko was not far behind him. As they walked out the door, Ryu called after them. "I'll be there in just a minute."
The door closed and Ryuichi was left alone. He put his earphones in and closed his eyes. He listened to the fast beats of his music and the sound of his booming voice, and concentrated on the music, "…only on the music."
When he opened his eyes he looked at himself in the mirror. Long strands of hair fell onto his beautiful face, and his eyes were strong and piercing.
"I'm ready"
He got up and opened the door, and as soon as he walked out of the room he came face to face with Terra.
"I can't talk. The show's starting." Ryuichi brushed past her, but she grabbed his arm. He turned and looked at her. Her face was pale. "I just wanted to give you a good-luck kiss." She pulled herself up on her toes so she could reach his lips, and then pressed hers against his. Ryuichi accepted it, and kept his eyes open while she closed hers. When she finished, he turned and walked towards the stage without a word.
"Good Luck! I'll be watching you!" she called after him. When he was gone she stood still, staring in that direction as the stage crew ran past her towards the stage. She clenched her fists at her sides in frustration.
She took short deep breaths and mumbled to herself in a shaky voice, "He didn't kiss me back!"
This isn't the end! I split this chapter up too, to make it easier to read. The next part is short and should be up in a few hours, if my computer doesn't mess up.
Thanks for reading!