Title: When all you could do is love yourself
Author: BlackFenra
Warning: YAOI! Boy's LOVE! Read at your own risk!
Rating: Mature
Character: Shuichi Shindou
Disclaimer: Gravitation is not mine to own. It's Murakami-sensei's. After reading YukixHiro pairing, I felt that Shuichi needs a space within which he could breathe and cry his heart out after being betrayed. I feel for poor Shu, though I must admit YxH pairing is hot in their own right.
Chapter 4: The Devil in the Works
TOKYO, 9:00 a.m.
Tohma was back inside his office at NG Studios. He massaged his temples and leaned back on his executive chair. He was not in the mood for entertaining people right now or even get some work done, which is very un-Tohma-ish. The things that happened back at K's villa were enough headaches for the day. As he was contemplating about the morning events that bring him into a foul mood, Tohma suspected that he was somehow affected. The pangs in his heart are returning, this time not for Eiri, but for one Shuichi Shindo.
Catching a sight of a broken Shuichi has brought back Tohma's memories of New York, Kitazawa Yuki and Eiri. He can't comprehend how on Earth Eiri let Shuichi experience the same betrayal pattern, minus thugs and guns. Tohma loves Eiri, which can never be changed. But taking a grasp of the situation, he is sure to tell Eiri how underhanded his ways was to make Shuichi leave him. He has somewhat foreseen the results of the hidden tryst between his brother-in-law and his new muse, but he had never predicted the outcome for Shuichi.
He had to make a clean breast that yes, at the beginning of Eiri's relationship with the singer, he had come up with so many ways to pull them apart. He thought that his beautiful money maker was the one reason why Eiri had to be hospitalized, why his trauma was haunting him and that he was simply annoying Eiri. He thought he would see the end of that when Shu decided to go to America with XMR, and yet, disappointed that Eiri had followed the kid all the way there. Since then, Tohma had silently cut all the strings he attached to Eiri to let him live his life.
He hates to confess to the world that he still found the couple odd. Shuichi is a very peculiar choice for Eiri. The kid is loud, obnoxious, sometimes stupid, and sometimes crazy, might even be all of it, and is very dumb at times. Too childish at that as well. But he was also very energetic, sweet, gentle, kind, and very dedicated to his occupation, which beats all of his negativeness. He has a very good heart, because if he hadn't, the kid could have ditched Eiri by now, with the way he is treating him. The amazing thing about the singer was that he made Eiri go out and live with the rest of the world. The kid desired his brother-in-law too much, which brings him to where he sat at the world right now, with his music for Eiri raking in millions for him.
It was heartbreaking how Eiri killed the innocence in Shuichi that should have been left untouched.
But his surprise extends to the unbreakable link of Eiri and Hiroshi Nakano. Truth be told, when he knew about it, he was flabbergasted. Not only because they did it inside his precious NG, but because he knew they were both deceiving Shuichi, the angelic-faced bubble of joy the world loves. There were times when he would simply try to reveal to the kid the secreted, yet he doesn't want to give Eiri away. But everything that's happening is all so wrong he thought he is going to lose his mind, add to that trying to bury the unknown away from his wife.
Looking back, he knew where his sympathy, if ever he has any, lies now. Yes, he loves Eiri. But this once, just this once, he knew he had to control the damage done. He had to get Shuichi away before it's too late. And he had to do it now. But he can't do this without a household of help.
Once again recalling a certain pink-haired singer in his misery, he took his phone and started dialing numbers.
NEW YORK, 8:00 p.m.
Reiji sat at her newly-bought mahogany desk, courtesy of the great Judy Winchester, when her personal phone rang. She swiftly took it off her jacket's pocket and to her astonishment, the caller was someone she knew won't be as nice to give her a phone call, let alone make one, unless it is business-related. She is not sure why, but she answered anyway.
"Hello, Seguchi-san! It is quite a surprise for you to call this beautiful lady."
The other line chuckled a bit. "Good evening to you, too, Reiji-san. If it is possible, may I have a word with you?"
Reiji raised her pretty brows and smiled, though she knew the person on the other line won't know that she did. "But of course. What is it that I may be of help to you?"
"It is about Shuichi Shindo and Bad Luck." There was a hint of serious tone on Tohma Seguchi's voice that piqued the interest of Reiji. She knew this was going to be a long conversation so she chose to sit on the available sofa nearest to her.
"What about Shu?"
She was sure the other line sighed. "If such can be granted, I would like to have this conversation with you in personal. But as of this time, it would be impossible for me to go to New York…"
"You are talking to me as of this moment," Reiji was quick to answer. But she must ask the purpose of this call or both will be just wasting time, though she knew that Tohma won't like that either. "Is something wrong with Shu?" Reiji hope there isn't though. She come to care for that boy.
"That is the reason why I need to see you personally. I know this would be impossible, perhaps you are now very busy. But it is of utmost need that we talk in person."
Reiji sighed. "Mr. Seguchi, please just get me straight to the point. What is wrong?"
"If you can come right away to Japan…"
KYOTO, 9:30 a.m.
Uesugi Tatsuha woke up to the loud banging on his bedroom door. Whoever it is must pay dearly for disturbing his sleep. Just when the dream is getting to the good part...
"Hey, Tatsuha, wake up! Tohma's on the phone!"
So it was his father. Tatsuha yawned. "Huh? What is it dad?" He proceeded to open the door. "Why would Tohma be calling?"
His father shoved the phone to him and walked out of his sight.
Tatsuha had second thoughts if he should answer the phone or not. Tohma can be so intimidating even if he only speaks through those telephone lines. Tatsuha shrugged his shoulder and decided to take it.
"Tatsuha? Awake by now?"
Tatsuha smirked. "Hey, what's up?" He slowly closed his bedroom door and lie back down on his bed.
"I already asked Father that I'll be borrowing you for the day."
Tatsuha was confused. "Huh? What for?"
"Can you make it here to Tokyo alone, Tatsuha? Or shall I have you fetched? Your license has just passed its expiration date, right?"
What the heck is he trying to say? Tatsuha thought. "Hey, Tohma, what is this about? You better have good reasons for trying to disturb my sleep."
"Oh, I have more than just good reasons, you see..."
Tatsuha's interest is now at extremity level. "Spill it out, Tohma."
"When you've arrived. And by the way, Ryu is on the way to your house now to fetch you. He must be closer now. Better be grateful."
End call.
"Eh?"
Ding dong. Ding Dong. Ding Dong.
Tatsuha ran to open his windows and eventually passed out after he did. He just saw a God. He'll remember to thank Tohma later.
"TAT-CHAN!"
SHINDOU RESIDENCE, 10:05 a.m.
"Maiko, darling, phone for you," Mrs. Shindou called out to his daughter.
Shindou Maiko, younger sister to the famous rock star Shuichi Shindou, ran downstairs and grabbed the phone her Mom left on the coffee table.
"Moshi moshi, Maiko here."
"Good day, Maiko-chan. I am your brother's boss, Seguchi Tohma." The other line introduced himself.
Maiko furrowed her brows in confusion. Why would her Oniichan's boss call her?
"Did something happen to Nii-chan, Sir?"
"No, nothing of the sort. I just have important things to discuss with you."
"Well then, what do I have to do, Sir?"
"Please come right away to NG Studios. Do you need directions?"
Maiko pondered. For her brother's boss to call, something's really cooking behind the scenes. "Alright, just give me some minute to ask for permission. Can you hold the call for a bit?"
"Certainly."
Maiko ran to the kitchen where her Mom was stewing something for lunch. "Mom, I'm going out for a bit. I'll be late for lunch."
"Alright sweetie, take care." That and her mother proceeded to what she was doing at the moment.
Maiko once again held the receiver to her ears. "It seems I have the permission, Sir. So may I gladly ask for directions?" She hurried to get a pen and a paper and started to write.
"Well then, after taking a cab..."
RYUICHI SAKUMA, 10:30 a.m.
"Ryu, are you in the car now?"
"Yup!" giggled the bunny-loving singer.
"And Tatsuha? Is he with you?"
"He passed out a while ago, so I have to drag him out."
Tohma almost laughed. "But I did warn him about your arrival though. Guess I was late."
Ryuichi let out a loud laugh. "Kumagoro and I did drag him out. But we have to cover our nose, na no da! Tat-chan stinks!"
Tohma made a mental note to make Tatsuha take a bath at K's house. "Text me if you've arrived at K's."
"Of course na no da!"
Tohma sighed as he finished doing his rounds of call. He knew deep in his heart he did the right thing. No, he isn't going to have Eiri killed in the hands of those who cared too much for Shuichi. For everything that he could have done to prevent it, this was the only way he saw deem to pay his debt for keeping a secret that destroyed a dream. And he wouldn't want another Eiri in the making, will he?
He finally thought about those who he had phoned. He first called Ryuichi, who in return agreed to fetch Tatsuha for him, knowing that his wife's younger brother is not very willing to come to him at whim. Ryuichi didn't know anything about his plans but he was still feeling thankful that his ex-vocalist is willing to give him a helping hand when he needed. But he will be sure to fill the Kumagoro-fanatic singer when everything is settled.
He would still have to wait for XMR's Rage. After their phone conversation, Rage is now on her way with a private plane. She should be arriving anytime in the afternoon.
He was pulled back to reality when his phone vibrated in his hands.
"Hello?"
"Shu's not waking up!" It was Suguru.
"I'll be there." Tohma is quick to call Maiko's phone. He was glad that he has a copy of Shindou's contacts.
"Where are you?"
"Sir? I am 3 blocks nearer to NG."
"Meet me at the entrance. Fast."
And that he was out the door again.
AN: Awwww 3 I know Tohma had been sooo OC! But at least, I want to show that he is still human, capable of feeling, capable of showing human emotions.
