Summary: They always stuck together through thick and thin, the good times and the bad. All different personalities, but they share one thing in common: love can't be masked and gave up on by admitting human frailty...rather by following what their heart says, not their heads.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gravitation, at all. End of story.
PS: I am a huge pervert, so please excuse... XD
Chapter 3:
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Violet eyes slowly opened, looking halfheartedly around him in search of the culprit of the noise.
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Spotting the "cuplrit" aka "cell phone," a small hand reached over the body lying beside it to the beside table to grab the ringing demon.
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii--
"Hello?" the violet eyes squinting in anger and in sleep.
"Shu? Hey! You up?"
"I wasn't until you called. What do you want?"
"Suguru and I wanted to know if you and Yuki wanted to go to a concert today. Tatsuha racked in some tickets."
"What concert?"
"Nittle Grasper, duh!"
"A Grasper concert? How did Tatsuha get Grasper tickets?"
"His sister is married to Tohma, remember?! I am sure he got them from her. So, you wanna come?"
"Well, heck yes, I do. Lemme see about Yuki.."
What Hiro hears through the phone while he is on hold:
"Yuki? Wake up, I have to ask you something."
"What do you want, brat? We had a long night, lemme sleep!"
"Hiro wants to know if you and me want to go to a Nittle Grasper concert today. I'm going no matter what you say, so do you want to go?"
"Nittle Grasper? I have to deal with Tohma enough as it is, why would I want to go see him perform?"
"Because, Sakuma-san will be there!"
"Who cares about that hyperactive crazemonkey?!"
"I DO! You know I love Grasper! Please, Yukiiiiiiiiiiiiii!! I want you to come!!!!"
"You want me to come?"
"Yes!"
"Well, just reach your hand down there..."
"Yukiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! Not that kind of come! I mean come to the concert with us! PLEASE!"
"Okay! Fine, I'll go to the stupid concert! Now, can I go back to sleep?!"
"YAY! Thank you, YUKI! Fine, go back to sleep!"
"Okay, I am back, Hiro."
"You and Yuki are...strange."
"No more than you and Suguru. I bet poor Tatsuha didn't get any sleep last night. "
"Ah, now, now, Shuichi, we weren't that loud."
"Are you kidding me?! You two scream! There is no such thing as a moan with you!"
"Okay, whatever you say, Shu. So, Yuki is coming, right?"
"Yeah."
"Alright. Su and I will be over there later. The concert is at 3 p.m. so you had better be ready."
"Alright. See you then, Hiro."
"Bye."
Shuichi hung up the phone and curl up next to Yuki, who wrapped his warm arms around his lover. He cradled his head in Shuichi's pink, strawberry scented hair, letting the flavor relax him, and sleep overtake him.
"Yuki?" Shuichi whispered.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"For?"
"Agreeing to come to the concert. I know you aren't into things like that, so I wanted to thank you."
"Don't worry about it."
"No, Yuki, I'm serious. I know you hate going to concerts, even going to mine, so I-"
"I don't hate going to your concerts. I like watching you on stage. You're all sweaty, and you know just how to put on a good show." Yuki whispered in Shuichi's hair.
Shuichi felt himself blush. He snuggled closer to Yuki, letting his warmth take him over. The two fell back into deep sleep, only waking up after hearing a banging on the door.
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"Shuichi! Shuichi, I know you're in there!"
BANG BANG BANG
"Who in the world is that?" Yuki said angrily, getting up from bed, putting a bathrobe around him, and going to the door.
He threw it open angrily. Outside was an angry Taki.
"What do you want?" Yuki asked in a cold voice.
"I need to talk to Shuichi." he answered, just as coldly.
"About?"
"His pet."
"What about his pet."
"I'm sorry, but I don't think your name is Shuichi. Let me talk to Shuichi."
"Anything you need to tell Shu you can tell to me. So, what about Shu's pet?" Yuki said, his eyes glaring, both hands on the doorframe to assure that Taki couldn't get in.
"His pet, if that is what you can call the demon, has gotten out, and it has gotten into my flowers. I suggest, he get down there and take care of that creature, or I will personally see to it that it meets a fate worse than death."
"Oh, poor Taki, doesn't want his precious flowers hurt. You know, only faggots have flowers." Yuki said in amusement.
"I'm not the gay one here, you are! And, yes, I don't want my flowers hurt! I am growing them for my agriculture class, thanks!"
"First of all, there is a difference between gay and faggot. I might be gay, because I have a boyfriend, but you are the faggot because you're desperate...and girly."
Taki fumed.
"Watch what you say, Uesugi! I--"
"You'll what?" Shuichi said angrily, slipping under Yuki's arm and out into the hallway to face Taki. "You'll what?"
Taki growled. "Go take care of your demon mouse before I kill it."
"First off, you won't touch anything. Second off, I don't have a pet mouse."
"Yes you do. I saw it come out of your room."
"It's not a mouse...it's a guinea pig. Second, he won't hurt you, so just pick him up and put him back in his cage. We have something to do today, so I don't have time to go back to the dorm. Quit being a baby and do it yourself."
"Like what? Bang your boyfriend all day?"
"We are going to a Nittle Grasper concert. Have a good day, Taki."
Shuichi pushed Yuki back into the dorm and slammed the door behind, leaving a fuming Taki in the hallway.
"You had better watch out, Shindo Shuichi." Taki whispered angrily to the door before turning and walking away.
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"Shu, come on! We have to go!"
"JUST A MINUTE!"
Five minutes later.
"SHUICHI, COME ON!!! WE HAVE TO GO!!!"
"JUST A MINUTE!!!!"
Yuki growled.
"SHUICHI, YOU TAKE MORE TIME TO GET READY THAN ANY WOMAN I KNOW!"
"WELL, SOOOOOOOOORRY FOR BEING INSECURE ABOUT THE WAY I LOOK!" Shuichi replied aggrivatedly.
"Insecure? What have you go the be insecure about?"
Yuki twisted the knob on the bathroom door to find it, much to his dismay, unlocked. He walked in and his mouth dropped at the sight of his lover.
"AH! DON'T LOOK AT ME! I'M HORRIBLE!!!" Shuichi yelled in panic, looking around to find something to hide behind.
"Horrible? You look...great..." Yuki said exasperatedly, staring his lover down from head to foot. To him, anything looked good on his lover.
Shuichi blushed and looked at his appearance in the mirror. He frowned. He wore a muscle shirt underneath an extremely, too loose, "Shuichi-improvised" (torn sleeves, stretched neck to reveal more chest) Nittle Grasper shirt, tight, hip-hugging jeans that drove Yuki to break into a sweat, and black Converse.
"Shuichi, you look good...real good..so come on, okay?" Yuki said taking his lover's hand, trying to lead him away from the mirror.
"Are you sure?" Shuichi said, his eyes begging for reassurance.
"Yes, I am sure. Come on, Hiro and Suguru are meeting up with us in a few minutes."
"Okay, Yuki." Shuichi smiled, giving Yuki and quick kiss on the cheek, spraying some "come grab and rape me" cologne (that's what Hiro calls it). "I'm ready."
BANG BANG
"Oi, lover boys, ready to go?" Hiro yelled, banging on the door.
"Come on, aniki! I wanna see Ryuichi-kun!!!!!!!!!!!" Tatsuha squealed.
Yuki opened the door and he and Shuichi stepped out to join Suguru, Hiro, and Tatsuha.
"You're a real pussy, Tatsuha. You know that?" Yuki said, more or less playfully.
Tatsuha stuck his tongue out at Yuki.
"And a big baby."
"ANIKI!!"
"I sent in a demo tape of us to Tohma." Hiro said to the others. "He told me to send him one yesterday, so I mailed it last night. He should get it soon."
"A demo tape? Does he know about Bad Luck?" Shuichi asked.
"Yeah, I told him about it. He was curious to know about us, since we are really popular amongst the community and all."
"That means...we might have a shot at STARDOM?! FOR REAL?!" Shuichi yelled, his eyes glowing at Hiro, begging that he wasn't playing a joke on him.
"For real, Shu. For real." Suguru said. "I was there when Tohma told Hiro to send the tape in."
Shuichi grinned. "I have amazing band mates."
"We have an amazing vocalist." Hiro, Suguru, and Yuki (though he isn't apart of the band) said simultaneously.
Shuichi blushed and looked at the ground.
"Don't be so modest. I'm not that great..."
"AS IF! You're awesome!" Tatsuha said crossing his arms. "Almost on Ryuichi's level. But, my Ryu-chan is a GOD!"
"Your Ryu-chan?" Shuichi asked.
"He's been dating Ryuichi for the past year." Yuki said nonchalantly. Shuichi and Hiro fainted, while Suguru stared at them like they were idiots.
"You didn't know that?" Tatsuha said confusedly.
Hiro and Shuichi shook their heads, getting off the ground.
"Losers. Come on. We don't want to be late." Yuki said, ushering them all to follow him so they could all pile in his car and head towards NG, where the concert was taking place.
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"WHA!!!!!! YOU GOT FRONT STAGE, TATSUHA?!" Shuichi yelled, falling back into Yuki's arms, filled with shock.
Tatsuha beamed. "Sure did! I had to do a little 'convincing' with my sis and Tohma. They eventually got tired of me and gave me the best seats in the house. Right at the stage. So close I can probably feel my darling's body heat." His eyes started glowing and he began drooling.
"Why do I have such a loser family?" Yuki said shaking his head.
"Look on the bright side, at least you are in with the stars." Hiro said taking Suguru's hand and sitting in their seats.
(They were seated as follows: Hiro, Suguru, Tatsuha, Shuichi, and Yuki.)
"Oooooh, this is going to be sooo good!!!!" Shuichi said exasperatedly.
"I know!" Tatsuha said in the same tone as Shuichi.
Suguru chuckled. "You two really admire Ryuichi, don't you?"
"ADMIRE? HE'S A GOD!" the two said at the same time.
"I'll take that as a yes." Suguru said, turning to talk to Hiro.
"Oh, Yuki, you have to enjoy yourself! Nittle Grasper is really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really awesome!" Shuichi said, leaving Tatsuha to his daydreams.
"Are you aware that you just said 'really' fourty times?"
"Yes, I am very aware I just said 'really' fourty times. Will you please try and have a good time? Please?" Shuichi pouted, giving Yuki the puppy dog look that he can never resist.
Yuki gulped and turned his head. "I'll be too busy watching you, so don't worry about me."
"Watching me?"
"You look smoking in the outfit, especially when you move." he said, giving Shuichi his sexy look that he can never resist.
"Ah, Yuki, don't turn me on now." Shuichi blushed and settled into his seat.
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The lights dimmed.
"Ah, it's starting, it's starting!!" Tatsuha said excitedly.
Shuichi started getting figity.
"OOOOOOOOOH, IT'S STARTING, IT'S STARTING!" the pink haired brat yelled happily.
"Kanichiwai, Sakuma Ryuichi here!!" could be heard through the speakers, though the stage was still empty.
Some screamed, some looked around in search of Ryuichi. Shuichi shivered. Though he was the biggest Grasper fan he knew of (besides Tatsuha), this was his first actual Grasper concert.
"I know you are all probably wondering where I am right now. Well, you'll see me pretty soon, but right now, I have a little suprise."
"Suprise?" Hiro said confusedly.
The five friends looked at each other in confusion.
"As you all know, Tohma is the president of NG Productions. You also know that he gets many, many demo tapes a day. Well, I was informed by him that he has found an certain tape he wanted me to listen to. Let me just say that they are AWESOME! Okay, okay, you all probably want me to tell you who this band is, right?"
Screams from the crowd.
"That's what I thought. Well, here you go. This exceptional band is none other than the band, Bad Luck."
More screams erupted from the crowd, but none louder than Shuichi, who screamed, "WHAT?!"
"Sounds like these guys are already well-known. Good. Well, congratulations, Bad Luck! Tohma will be getting to you soon."
Screams from the crowd.
"I have two more suprises guys, so chill. HaHa. The second suprise is, we are going to let Bad Luck play for you all tonight after our show! YAY, right? They are sooo awesome! And, this is just because of me...I was especially intrigued by Bad Luck's singer, Shindo Shuichi...him and I played our own version of Star Wars the other day! It was fun! Oooh, I am getting off subject, Tohma is going to kill me. hehe. Anyways, the third suprise is...Shuichi, come on up stage, you get to perform with me!"
Shuichi sat frozen to his seat. He...Ryuichi...no way...
"Come on, Shu-chan, I know you are there. I see you sitting on the front row...even though you can't see me...woo, weird.. Come on, don't be shy!"
"Go, Shu! Don't leave my darling waiting!" Tatsuha said, he and Yuki pushing Shuichi out of seat.
Shuichi still in shock, climbed onto the stage and approached a lonely mike. He stood behind it looking out into the crowd.
"See there, Shu-chan, it's all good! Now, look behind you..."
Screams erupted fromt he crowd. Shuichi slowly turned around to see a beaming Ryuchi behind him.
"Hi hi, Shu-chan!!!"
"Ryuichi! You scared me!!" Shuichi said putting his hand to his chest, taking a heaving, steadying breath.
Ryuichi chuckled and patted him on the back. "Sorry about that! Suprised, aren't you?! Being up on stage with me?"
"Yeah..I really am."
"Well, it's time we stop all this chatter and rock! Right?!"
"Yeah!"
Ryuichi waved his hand and lighted blasted on over the stage, revealing Tohma and Noriko behind their keyboards and sythesisers, both waving to the crowd.
"You guys ready?!" Shuichi yelled into the not-so-lonely-anymore mike.
"I'm ready, Shu-chan!" Ryuichi said happily, seeing Tatsuha and winking at him (over course Tatsuha swooned and melted into a puddle on the floor. Yuki kicked him.) "Tohma, Noriko!"
Music blared.
Tooku de me o hikarasete mezameru monotachi matte iru yoru
No jouheki sasowarete utsurisumu mure no nukegara ni (deguchi no nai)
Shougeki ni taeru tsumori nara
(Kuzureru hodo) itsuwari o misete
Umarekawareru anata yo
Hitori hohoemanaide hitomi o irodoru
Nozonda sekai ga
Totsuzen hai ni natte mo kiseki ni mada meguriaeru
(Sotto dakishimete kowasu you ni)
Shuichi looked out into the screaming, dancing crowd, his heart pounding. He was on stage with his idol...the two were singing together, acting like they have known each other for years, their voices perfectly in sync. Looking down, Shuichi saw that Yuki, standing up with Hiro, Suguru, and Tatsuha, was smiling at him, admiration and a slight proudness filled in his amber eyes. This gave Shuichi more encouragement. He began to let the music flow through him, allowing himself to become one with Ryuichi's voice, following exactly as Ryuichi did, every up or down in his voice, every slight change, Shuichi followed along.
Sleepless Beauty was finished, ear bleeding screams from the crowd, more swoons from Tatsuha when his and Ryuichi's eyes locked, Shuichi's body heat rising seeing the smile play on Yuki's lips, Hiro and Suguru cheering...this was the feeling that fame brought you. The feeling that everyone knew you, was one with you, admired you...Shuichi loved it. He loved pleasing the crowd, loved pleasing the one's he cared for most.
The rest of the concert seemed like a warm up to Shuichi. He felt like he could go on forever. He and Ryuichi bonded, because music brothers, letting the melodies sink into their blood, binding them. From now on, the two were going to be rivals. But, that wasn't an important matter at this time. The two were too enveloped in the music. It was a disappointment when it ended. But, Shuichi remembered that his band, Bad Luck, got to perform before everyone left. This filled him with a new kind of blood. The disappointment left him as his band members were welcomed onto the stage by Shuichi, Tohma bringing out Hiro an electric guitar, Noriko allowing Suguru behind her keyboard, Shuichi staying where he was, mike in hand, ready to put on his best show yet. He was going to leave an impression here and now.
He looked back at his bandmates with a determined look in his eye. By the smile on his face they knew exactly what song he wanted to play. They smiled back...This was the song they had been working on, been trying to perfect, and through all the times they were struggling to get it right, Shuichi felt like this was the time, this was the time to play it, this was the time to get it right, this was the time they were going to blow the minds of everyone in the stadium, and the one's watching it on television or hearing it on the radio...they were going to blow the minds of the world.
"ALRIGHT GUYS!" Shuichi yelled into the mike after Ryuichi nodded and stood to the side of the stage with Tohma and Noriko, an intent look on his face to watch the band. "TIME TO SHOW YOU WHAT BAD LUCK CAN REALLY DO! THIS IS 'NO STYLE'!"
Suguru beginning the beat, Shuichi's head bowed, mike at his side, slowly lifted it to his mouth, waiting for his que.
Furi dashita totsusen no ameni seka sareru agesuru ome no
Nai biikuno seni shikame suiteru kodoku kamisaimo
Yurusani aeni futari miseraretata ore ni bakare sumeru
Maeni joshiki nante suteru yo
Shinufukirukirushi o
Kigan nakono koini
Oretahi moichi dou dake onna
Shiumai kakete miose
I have no style jiyuu no
I have no style subasete
Tori mottochite style omaeto kasanetakodo
I have no style omae no
I have no style subetede
Atsuku suwagi kara no nagusamete
Presperation trickeled down Shuichi's face, back, and chest. He loved the way music did this to him (not to mention Yuki liked it, too). His sweat seemed to set off a trigger with his fans, waking them up from a sleep they didn't know they were in. It set them wild, it drew them in, seeing him so into what he was doing, the way his voice stayed so perfect, the way his body moved..
Shuichi especially liked touching himself, and letting his knees cave in fake weakness, letting himself go to the floor, looking up into the crowd, hands all over himself...it was an attractor to all the sexes, and his Yuki. Every show, in at least on song he would hit his knees, and it never got old. Every time he did it, it seemed fresh and new, and attracted more and more people. Hiro and Suguru figured it was Shuichi's sex appeal that drew so many to him, and though they knew that Shuichi was selfless and innocent when it came to the music, it never showed when he was on stage. He was there to please the crowd and he would do what it took to give them the best show possible. That was his way of thinking. And it worked. It was something only Shuichi could pull off. His curvy, almost woman-like body, his vibrant hair and eyes, there was nothing or no one that could ever compare to Shuichi.
Tohma was pleased at what charisma he saw in the band. He liked their style, he liked their moves, he liked how they put their heart into what they did. Noriko felt the same. Ryuichi was definatly pleased with Shuichi.
"Tohma, his song reaches out. I like him." Ryuichi said, his tone serious, his face intent, study Shuichi. "They would be a good rival band, I believe."
"I agree, Ryuichi. I want to see them promptly after they are done." Tohma replied, turning to go backstage with Noriko.
Ryuichi nodded, his eyes never leaving Shuichi.
"Kid really knows what he is doing. Tatsuha was right all along...he had talent."
The song ended, the crowd screamed louder than Shuichi had ever heard a crowd scream. Ryuichi smiled and walked back to Shuichi, taking the mike.
"Thanks for coming! Hope you enjoyed yourselves! Stay tuned, Grasper's new album is coming out really soon!"
More screams. Ryuichi turned off the mike, returned it to the stand and the crew men came in to put up the equipment.
"Well, guys," Ryuichi said to Bad Luck as they assembled, hugging and congratulating each other, "great job. Tohma would like to speak with you backstage. Come on."
They followed Ryuichi until the saw a smiling NG President.
"I have to congratulate you." Tohma said. "And, to say that, you are in. Welcome to NG."
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"WE'RE IN YUKI! WE'RE IN!! TOHMA HIRED US!!!!!!" Shuichi yelled happily, jumping into Yuki's arms.
"That's great, Shu." Yuki said, hugging his lover back.
"YAY, I GET TO COMPETE AGAINST SHU-CHAN!" Ryuichi said happily, returned to his normal, childish self.
"Oi, Ryu-chan..miss me?"
"TATS-KUN!" Ryuichi glomped Tatsuha, covering his face in many, many kisses.
Shuichi ran to Hiro and Suguru and glomped them.
"It's all thanks to these two that we got in! You guys are great!"
"No, no, don't be like that!" Hiro said, grinning from ear to ear. "It was you that got us in. Did you see how you set that crowd off, Shu?"
"Hiro's right. We should be thanking you." Suguru said, also beaming.
Shuichi blushed. Yuki wrapped his arms around him.
"I think this calls for a congratulations party." Tatsuha said, finally not getting showered by Ryuichi kisses, the singer still in his arms.
"YAY, PARTY! WE CAN GO TO MY HOUSE! PWEASE, TATS-KUN!"
"Alright..." Tatsuha said. "Party at Ryuichi's house!"
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Taki fumed. That pink haired idiot got to jam with THE SAKUMA RYUICHI! How is it that the idiot got to go this far, got a JOB with NG, when Taki tried for most of his life and failed?
"I'm better than that stupid brat!" Taki said angrily, slamming his fist down onto the arm of his chair. "How did he outdo me?"
Taki remembered it like it was yesterday. It was a talent show held by the city of Tokyo. There were no prizes to be one, it was just for fun, but it did lead you one step closer to actually becoming a big star. It also gave you a reputation, made you well known. Taki was ready. He and his band ASK were ready. It was the finals between ASK and Bad Luck. ASK was higher on the charts, coming in with more votes...they were going to win, Taki knew it!
The final performance came, ASK was awesome, or so Taki thought. Apparently, the crowd thought so also, because they scored in bonus points for originality in Taki's dancing. Then Bad Luck performed. They were behind by too many points, there was no way that they could win. Taki was preparing to take the glory when Bad Luck somehow raked in one more point than ASK.
"They must have cheated..they must have. There was NO way that they could have won, no way!"
Ever since that talent show, Taki held an unwavering grudge against Shuichi, determined to ruin his career. He was the one that ratted him out, telling the whole university that he was gay with Yuki Eiri. Much to his dismay, no one cared. They actually praised them. Taki had tried numerous things, and nothing ever worked.
"I'll ruin you, Shindo! I will!"
He heard the door open. He shot his eyes over to see Shuichi coming in, smiling from ear to ear.
"Bye bye, Yuki. See you tommorrow...well, technically today...hehe"
"Bye. And congratulations again."
"Thanks. I love you!"
"Love you, too."
Kiss. Door shut, Shuichi pranced into his room without a glance at Taki, who looked over at the clock on the table beside him. 12:32 a.m. He got up and went to his room. He needed sleep so he would be ready for class.
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(A/N): Sorry that this chapter was sooooooo long. I wanted to get a lot of stuff through so I could get ready to get into the drama in the next chapters. These past chapters have been more introductory, so you can get to know the personalilties of the characters a little better, because a few of them are a little off character. PLEASE REVIEW! Thanks for reading. Updates are soon to come.