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 5:
Working at NG took much time away from the gang spending time with each other on the weekends. Tohma's schedule consisted of them working on the weekends until they get a single out.
"AGH! Why do we have to work on the weekends? I want to spend time with YUKI!" Shuichi said exasperatedly, laying his head down on the table that he, Hiro, and Suguru were sitting at in a conference room.
"Calm down, Shu, we'll be out of here by lunch." Hiro said reassuringly.
Their schedule also consisted of only working from five in the morning to one in the afternoon. It was eight hours of work and still gave them time to enjoy their weekend, just as Tohma had wanted. It didn't wear them out, and they got paid. Around thirty dollars an hour, and that's just to start. Tohma had informed them that once they kick started and worked full time the salary would shoot up, especially if their albums sold well.
"Just think, though, Shuichi," Suguru said, calculating numbers in his head, "if we keep working on this schedule Tohma made, we will get paid one thousand nine hundred and twenty dollars just this first month. Then, we will get into the big leagues, and who knows what kind of money will come it from that."
"Yeah..."
"And, this is just our first day. We haven't even met our producer yet." Hiro said, leaning back in his chair.
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Ten Minutes Later:
The three friends were sharing small talk when a black haired man with glasses came in. He looked at the three, smiled, and bowed to them.
"Hello, Sakano-san." Suguru said nodding his head to the man that just enter.
"Ah, Suguru-kun, Tohma told me that you were in this band. He praises you three." Sakano said nodding back to the green-haired teen. He turned to Hiro and Shuichi. "My name is Sakano. I am your producer."
"You're the producer man?" Shuichi asked, his head cocked to the side slightly.
"Yes..." Sakano said, raising an eyebrow. "And, you must be Shindou-san. Sakuma-san has told me all about you."
"Ryu-chan has told you about me?!" Shuichi squealed, his eyes wide and glazed over.
"Yes..."
Shuichi fainted anime style out of his chair.
"I-is he..."
"Alright in the head? No." Hiro answered. "But, don't hold that against him. He doesn't play around when he's singing."
"I would sure hope not." Sakano said rubbing the back of his head.
Shuichi regained conciousness and took his seat again, his eyes still out of focus.
"Alright, fellows, we need to get down to business here. Seguchi-san is expecting a lot from you, and I think the quicker we get a single out, the better. Let's head over to a recording room so I can hear what you guys have to offer."
They stood and followed Sakano out of the conference room and down the hall to the nearest free recording room.
"This will suffice. I'll send for some equipment. What is it that you need?"
"A keyboard and synthesiser, and an electric guitar." Suguru answered.
Sakano nodded. "I'll be back in a few minutes. Why don't you guys go into the room to your right, and get ready to record?"
They nodded and went into the room to the right like they were asked to. Shuichi stood behind the mike that was hanging down from the ceiling, the veins in his temples pulsing, his heart pounding with excitement.
"This is it, guys. This is our chance. We can't let Sakano-san down." he said, fingering the microphone lightly.
"It'll be fine, Shuichi." Suguru said patting his friend lightly on the shoulder. "Sakano-san finds the best potential he can in the bands he has produced for. He even produced for Nittle Grasper for some time."
"He did?! And he's our producer now?!"
Shuichi fainted again.
Hiro rolled his eyes and looked at Suguru. "You must feel really lucky that you are so 'in' with the music crowd."
"Being related to Tohma I get to meet lots of people. Tohma helped teach me to play the way I do, so I have grown up around this stuff."
Sakano returned to the room, some crew men bringing in the equipment and set it up for the three men. As soon as it was set up he gave a thumbs up to the band signaling that he was ready to hear them. Everyone positioned.
"The Rage Beat, guys."
They nodded. Suguru started the intro...
Obieta mezuki de iradatsu omoi
Uwaki na kaze ni hakisutete
Hibi-wareta rojou ni toketa shigunaru wa kizuato dake nokoshite-iku
Sakano tapped his toe to the beat, a pleased smile on his face. These boys really do have potential.
Doko ni mo tomaranai mitasani Emotion
Shikato kimete oikose yo
Furueteru shai na sekai no
Nuki-michi o nerrate tadorisuku basho e I Want A New World
Sakano clapped as the band wrapped up the song. He motioned them to come out when they were finished.
"Great job. You are impressive."
"Arigatou, Sakano-san." Shuichi said bowing.
"I have a feeling you three are going to do just fine in the music world."
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One O'Clock That Afternoon:
"We are done!" Shuichi said stretching his arms above his head and soaking in the fresh afternoon sun. "Time to get back to Yuki!"
The three friends began to make their way back to the university when they were stopped by a familar, and strangely unwelcoming voice.
"Shindou!"
They all turned to see Taki standing five feet in front of them, hands balled into fists at his sides.
"Oh, hello, Taki. What are you doing here?" Shuichi asked cooly.
'How dare he talked to me so smugishly...'
"How? How did you do it?"
"How did I do what?"
"How did you beat me at that talent contest? There was no way, NO WAY that you could have won. How?!"
Shuichi stared at him like he had three heads.
"First of all, I didn't beat you. We beat you. Fair and square. Why? Because, we, as in the band, us together, worked as a team. None of us focused the contest on our own selfish desires. We were in that contest for fun. We weren't aiming to win. We won because we put on a better show and because we love what we do. So, why are you so beat up about it? It was just a contest."
Taki fumed.
"It wasn't just a contest! It was my chance, MY chance to make it in the big leagues. Just LOOK where it lead YOU! There was NO WAY you could have beat me! We were too many points ahead!"
Shuichi frowned and shook his head.
"That contest has nothing to do with how we made it here to NG."
Taki opened his mouth to say more but Shuichi put his hand up to silence him.
"I don't want to hear it. This conversation is over."
Shuichi motioned for his two friends to follow and they made their way back to the university, leaving Taki behind, so angry his head could explode.
"Way to handle the situation, Shu. I wonder what his problem is." Hiro said putting his arm around Suguru's shoulders.
"Who knows, who cares. He's jealous and he's selfish. The music world doesn't need someone like that."
Suguru and Hiro looked at each other, an impressed look on their face.
"Do my ears decieve me? Did Shindou Shuichi just say something that actually made sense?!"
Shuichi blushed. "Shut up..."
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"YUKI!" Shuichi bounced into Yuki's room, eyeing his lover sitting on the bed, typing away on his laptop. "Yuki, I thought you said you were done with your newest novel. Your deadline isn't until five days from now."
"Just thought I would get a headstart on another one." Yuki answered, saving what he has typed and shutting the laptop down. "Come here."
Yuki set the laptop aside and pulled Shuichi into his lap.Shuichi nuzzeled his nose in the blonde's neck, taking in his fresh scent.
"Mmm, you smell good Yuki." Shuichi whispered, licking Yuki just about the collarbone, tasting cologne.
Yuki bit his bottom lip and squeeze Shuichi tighter, his cheeks becoming flushed, his body heat rising. He brought his face down to meet Shuichi's in a tender kiss. Soon, the two's tongues danced with each other, leaving the two breathless after breaking for air. Loud moans could be heard from the living room. Shuichi rolled his eyes.
"Sounds like Hiro and Suguru are getting busy. Pretty soon they'll be letting out ear bleeding screams."
Yuki smirked, taking Shuichi off of his lap, getting up and walking to his desk on the other side of the room where he put on some light music, turning it up just enough to drown out Hiro and Suguru. He returned back to Shuichi, pushing him back onto the bed.
"You know, what...I have always wanted to know what it was like to sleep with a famous person."
"Yuki...I'm not famous yet. You're more famous than me with your novels."
"My novels haven't left the city of Tokyo, yet. I'm still in college, remember? My editor won't let them go national until I have more credintials."
"Still..."
"Hey, Shu..you are famous enough for me. Besides, your voice sounds good no matter what kind of sounds you are making." Yuki bit Shuichi lightly on the neck, making him let out a small moan. "I especially love hearing those sounds."
"You, you animal."
Yuki's lips curved into a smile. He pressed close to Shuichi's body, slowly stripping of clothes, and enjoying all the little 'sounds' that came out of Shuichi's mouth.
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Shuichi, after several hours of him and Yuki being 'rabbitts' (as Hiro likes to call them), Shuichi decided to take a walk on the campus for some air. The temperature was cool, crisp, and felt good against his flushed cheeks. His mind was so led astray by thinking about Yuki he didn't notice someone step up behind him.
"Hello, Shindou-kun."
Shuichi stopped in mid-step, frozen, chills sent down his back from the familiar, unwelcoming voice.
"You look well, Shindou-kun. How has life been treating you?"
Shuichi sensed the person step closer and soon felt arms around his waist. This person took advantage of Shuichi's silence.
"I hear that you are with another guy now, Shindou-kun. Is that true?"
Shuichi gulped.
"Ah, not denying it. Then, it must be true."
'Leave me alone...' Shuichi thought desperatly. 'You're not allowed here, go away... Yuki, help me...'
"Come on, now, Shindou-kun, I want to hear that pretty voice of yours."
Shuichi bit his lip, refusing to give in to this monster's wishes. He felt the person lean in, his lips resting on his ear lobe.
"Do you remember, Shuichi-kun...it was four years ago wasn't it?...You were with me, remember?"
Shuichi felt his knees cave in. That was something he was trying to forget.
"Think back, Shindou-kun...You were hiding me from Hiro and Suguru...You didn't want them to know your past life, the things you used to do. Do you remember that?"
'Shut up, just SHUT UP!'
"But, they did find out, didn't they? They caught you. Ran me off. You were forced to admit ever single bit of our relationship. Do you remember that?"
'Stop, I don't want to hear it!'
"You spent all those months in the center. Do you remember, Shuichi-kun? They thought you were crazy! Do you remember, Shuichi-kun?! Do you?!"
"STOP IT!" Shuichi screamed.
"Do you remember it, Shiuichi?! How you were constantly raped over and over, there?! Huh, do you?! Trying to forget?! You can't forget that past, Shuichi?! You can't forget me?! Can't forget all the things we used to do together?! All the havoc we would cause?! Do you remember, Shuichi-kun?!"
"SHUT UP!!"
"I think you do remember, Shuichi-kun. In fact, I know you remember."
Shuichi sunk to the ground, the person falling down with him. The man let him go and walked in front of Shuichi, his cold, grey eyes shining down at Shuichi.
"I'm disappointed in you, Shuichi. I thought you weren't looking for happiness. I thought you wanted to drown in your misery forever. You told me that once, remember?"
The man squatted down and grabbed Shuichi's chin roughly and forced Shuichi to look him in the eyes.
"A happy Shuichi is an ugly Shuichi. It's fake. Give it up. You're too much of a mistake to even think that you of all people can ever be happy."
Shuichi sobbed, his head hanging low.
"That's not true..."
"It's all true, and you know it."
The man's voice lowered to a threatening whisper.
"One day, Shuichi, you aren't going to be able to escape your past. What will you do then? Hm... You'll come running back to me just to abuse yourself again...just like before."
"Leave...leave now..." Shuichi whispered through his sobs. "I don't want to see you ever again! What's done is done! Leave me alone! Take your jealous rants somewhere else!"
The man smirked at Shuichi and stood, turning to walk away. He looked over his shoulder at Shuichi's slumped form.
"You know where to find me."
"Go!"
With one last smirk the man left. Shuichi pounded his fist on the ground, ignoring the pain that surged through it.
'He's right..he's so right. I do remember, as much as I don't to, I do remember. I..I can't let this get to me..I have to talk to someone. Oh, Yuki...you don't know about that part of me, do you. You don't know anything about my past. I know I should tell you...that way..that way maybe I can overcome this.'
"Shuichi..Shuichi, are you okay?"
Shuichi turned his head to see Yuki, Hiro, and Suguru coming towards him. The three looked down to see Shuichi was crying.
"Shu, are you okay?" Yuki said, squatting down and taking Shuichi in his arms.
Shuichi looked up at Hiro and Suguru.
"He came."
Hiro and Suguru's eyes got wide.
"Who's he?" Yuki said, turning his head to see Hiro and Suguru's wide eyed expressions.
Shuichi clung to Yuki for dear life.
"Yuki, there is something you need to know about me. Something about my past..."
"Shuichi.." Hiro started, but Shuichi cut him off.
'Hiro, he needs to know."
"He's right, Hiro." Suguru said putting his hand on Hiro's shoulder. "Yuki is the only one that doesn't know."
"We were keeping it a secret for a reason." Hiro said, more to all of them, than to just Suguru.
"What reason?" Yuki said, feeling his worry and curiousity rise.
"Everyone, besides us, left Shuichi when they found out. His family, his so called friends, everyone who knew, except us. Su and I stayed with him through all of it."
Shuichi sobbed again. "I...I just don't want you to runaway, too. That would kill me."
"I won't run away, Shu." Yuki held Shuichi tighter.
"You won't like what you hear."
"I don't care. I...I have had my own crosses to bear. I won't leave you."
"Let's go back to the dorm. We can talk there."
Shuichi looked up and nodded. He clung to Yuki every step they took, his knees feeling weak. He was afraid to tell out his story to Yuki. He didn't want Yuki to leave.
Shuichi's past wasn't something to take lightly. He shuttered everytime he thought about it. He had worked for so long to forget about it. He used to think that he could never be happy. He used to think that he couldn't trust himself. He would put himself in many life or death situations because he liked the rush. It proved he was alive. He never regretted at single bit of it. At least, he didn't until Hiro and Suguru found out. After that, he chose nothing but death. He was thrown into that place that he called prison, and things got worse in there.
Hiro and Suguru were the only ones that didn't see him any differently than what they thought he was before. They looked at him sadly because they didn't approve of what he had become, but they wanted him to heal. If it wasn't for them, Shuichi would most likely still be the mess he was before. Even though he had gotten better, he was never completely healed. He still suffered from severe depression and nightmares, but he slowly had those less frequently. It wasn't until he met Yuki that all his troubles were completely forgotten. When he met Yuki he felt new.
Now, all that pain was starting to come back. He had no choice but to let it out, or things would get out of hand...again.
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(A/N): Another cliffhanger.. Please don't hate me! Please::crouches down behind a big rock to avoid the cannons and bullets that are being shot at me:: Please review!