Title: Normally Yuki
Chapter 2: Drunk On Water
Fandom: Gravitation
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I don't own Gravitation or anything else mentioned in this story.
He wasn't entirely sure how many antidepressants he had been prescribed, but he was pretty sure that it wasn't supposed to be the four that he had downed about an hour ago. Shuichi would have had a coronary if he found out about the accidental overdose. Not that the grump cared what the brat thought. Nope, Eiri couldn't care less about what Shuichi thought, or about how he felt, or about anything involving Shuichi in general!
Who in their right mind would give a flying rat's behind about their ex?
Light brown eyes surveyed the plush carpet spread out before him. Empty and half full water bottles, dirty laundry, and overflowing ash trays littered his view towards the door. A door that was supposed to open and let the tiny dancer hip hoppity into the apartment they were sharing. But the damn thing didn't move, not even an inch. It stayed shut, a castle wall strong and impervious, keeping out all those who dared to get close to the man inside. Fucking door.
It might have been a year ago or so, he wasn't sure any more, that his boyfriend last graced their home with his presence. Eiri flicked his wrist to peek at his watch. Yeah, it was a year, two months, three days and approximately seven hours ago. Not that he was counting, because really, it didn't matter what the hyperactive pop star did with his time or with his life for that matter. Nope, not a care or concern in the world, especially in regards to Shuichi.
In the time since Shuichi hadn't walked through his door, Eiri had changed. He admitted it to himself with pride and a bit of revelry. Despite what some people thought, he didn't become an alcoholic or a drug addict… antidepressants and nicotine notwithstanding. He kept away from suicide and severe depression and his writing was none the worse for wear. Everything was absolutely perfect about him. Even his temper had simmered and he was cordial and easy to get along with.
At one point he had actually invited his father out for dinner!
Then again, the old man fretted and mumbled incoherently about the stress and sadness building up in his oldest son. The son in question chose to ignore the old man choosing instead to grace the elder with a smile and polite conversation about life in Kyoto. See? Eiri was just fine, if not better since Shuichi. Yet, those who knew him treated him like a fragile puppy ready to die from neglect.
Eiri really couldn't understand why the people around him thought that behaving normal was abnormal. Or why abnormal was normal for him... gah, it was just too weird! Weren't people suppose to commend him for his change instead of treating him as if he were about to have a nervous breakdown?! He was convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that his family was made up of nothing but crazies.
His eyes scanned the living room once more. Furniture wasn't overturned, it was still standing and still properly used. True, Eiri had become a tad bit messier, but that was okay with him. It wasn't required by law to make sure you kept your living area tidy, hence the dirty clothing strewn about the room and the wide variety of water bottles, not to mention the ashtrays that were in desperate need of cleaning… and that was just the living room!
Eiri had moved his study, piece by unassuming piece into the room Shuichi vacated long ago. The only reason was because the room was more aesthetically pleasing which was more conducive to writing. When his sister found out she had gathered him up in a bone crushing hug, tears streaming down her face as she patted his head mumbling reassurances and such. The writer was forced to try to persuade her to realize her mistake. Though, she couldn't see the wisdom in his words. Stupid Mika.
He had kept Shuichi's furniture because it was more comfortable, not because he was reminded of that cute tush when he sat in Shuichi's chair. He surely never thought of Shuichi sitting at the desk working on his next song when he took his seat there. Thoughts of Shuichi never bombarded him when he would lie on the twin bed turned daybed.
Nor did he have the heart to acknowledge, at least aloud, that he no longer slept in his own bedroom. He figured that if he did, if they found out that his sleeping could only take place in his new office or on the couch that Shuichi once slept on, he would be certified insane and hauled off to the loony bin. Yet, at this point if the loony bin would keep them away from him, he might consider it.
Truly, he was still the bastard that Shuichi had walked away from. He was still bitter, still cold and no moppet could change him otherwise. That incident with the original Yuki still haunted him, in new ways this time, but still it didn't leave him. He was still a serial author, pumping out romances like anthrax coated candy to the masses. His Thursday appointment with his psychiatrist still occurred on schedule just as it always had and he still loved strawberry cheesecake.
Everything was the same.
Eiri was still a lonely, pathetic bastard wishing that the one he loved would just stop leaving him.
Chapter 3 Preview: Kana Mizuki's Proposition