-Chapter Three/Make Me Shine-

Tatsuha's father tried to keep him from leaving that night. He tried to take his son's bags from his hands, but the younger monk tied all of his bags to his motorcycle. All reasoning fell on deaf ears. Tatsuha stayed at Yuki's that night, and Shuichi was very sympathetic.

"So, um, Tatsuha… Ryuichi told me you guys went to the zoo." Shuichi tried to be light-hearted at the dinner table, but both his boyfriend and Tatsuha ignored him. That "one night, please, bro?" turned into a week, and Yuki was getting pretty testy. The singer gave up with a little sigh, shifting in his chair. Usually the brothers got along, but living under the same roof, with such a clash of wills, was straining the three men. Yuki silently picked at his main course, glaring at his brother, who sat across from him. Tatsuha noticed. "…What's up?" "'What's up?'" Yuki repeated sharply. "You've been staying here a week now. Go home." The former monk set his chopsticks down, and leaned back with a sigh. "…I can't." Shuichi leaned forward. "Why not…?" Tatsuha smirked. "I can't. If I do, I'll go crazy. Look, I'm really sorry, but-" "So you think that you can just stay here? Get a job, you mooch. I hate babysitting brats." Yuki got up with his dishes, shoving in his chair.

"Yuki!" Shuichi whined plaintively, putting on those puppy dog eyes. "This is your brother! Be nicer, please!" Yuki snorted. "I don't care. He's not my problem." Shuichi looked to Tatsuha helplessly. He knew, had that comment been directed at himself, it would have stung. But Tatsuha was still smiling. "…Yeah, you're right. I've got somewhere I can try, I guess. Thanks for letting me crash." The teen stood up, and slowly walked for the door. "I'll be back for my shit in a few hours, Eiri." Shuichi cringed as the door slammed, hesitantly casting a glance to his lover. Yuki only lit a cigarette.

Tatsuha wandered Eiri's posh neighborhood aimlessly, thinking hard. Eiri was so terrible! Weren't they brothers? Siblings are supposed to do things like letting each other stay when they hit a slump… right? "Goddammit… you're the worst brother ever, Eiri." Tatsuha said dramatically, meaning it as a joke, but stopped walking. He stood under a flickering streetlight, looking up at the darkening sky with hard breaths. "…But I can't hate him. Jackass." Tatsuha glared at the streetlight as if it was its fault that he had no place to go. And then, as he started walking, he heard the most beautiful voice in the world. "Tatsuha-kun? Is that you?" The teen whipped around to face a smiling Ryuichi. "R-Ryuichi-" "Yaaay! I found you, na noda! See how good I am at hide-and-go-seek? It's your turn to 'seek', Tatsuha-kun…" The vocalist was about to skip off before Tatsuha grabbed his shoulder. "Wait! What are you doing here, Ryuichi…?" Ryuichi threw his arms around Tatsuha with a brilliant grin.

"Tohma had to go to Yuki-san's house to give Shuichi a schedule! Tohma was taking me home, and then when we stopped, Shuichi told me you left walking!" Ryuichi looked proud of himself. "I knew that you couldn't have gotten far. If you needed a 'seek', you should have just called, Tatsuha-kun. I'm up for a game anytime!" Tatsuha stared at the singer that hung around his neck, and Ryuichi suddenly felt like Tatsuha wasn't playing. "…Tatsuha-kun? Were you even playing hide-and-go-seek? 'Cause you look very serious, like this…" Ryuichi pressed down on his eyebrows, making them furrow, showing Tatsuha what he looked like, "…And it is impossible to look upset when playing, Tatsuha-kun, so you must not be playing, after all!" Ryuichi finally concluded, and Tatsuha smiled. "Pft…" The teen burst into laughter, suddenly forgetting all his troubles. Ryuichi looked confused.

"Tatsuha-kun, what's so funny? Are you thinking of a joke, na noda?" Tatsuha waved a hand. "N-no… ha. I was sad, Ryuichi, but you cheered me up." Ryuichi beamed. "I cheered you up, Tatsuha-kun? That's great! I love cheering people up! It makes me happy." Tatsuha nodded. "You're good at it, Ryuichi." They started walking; Ryuichi had a bounce in his step. "But, Tatsuha-kun, why were you so sad? Did somebody yell at you?" Tatsuha shook his head. "No, not really. But… my parents kicked me out." Ryuichi looked up abruptly. "…Really?" Tatsuha glanced down. Ryuichi had that… look again. "…Yeah. My dad doesn't want me living there anymore." Ryuichi stared ahead. The look in his eyes; it was as if he was staring beyond just the street ahead. "…So you have nowhere to go?" He muttered, and Tatsuha sighed, running a hand through his raven locks.

"Nope." He smiled quickly. "I might move in with this chick I know. Roommates!" The teen laughed, and Ryuichi stopped walking. When Tatsuha turned to see what was the matter, Ryuichi straightened. "…I have… a lot of rooms. Maybe you can… you know?" Tatsuha almost fainted. Was Ryuichi asking him to move in with him? A dream come true! He fervently agreed, bowing so that he folded in half like a hairpin. "You have no idea how much this means to me, Ryuichi! I'll find a job, so I don't inconvenience you more." The older man chuckled. "Don't worry about money. I have enough to live comfortably, Tatsuha. You just worry about fixing your relationships." Tatsuha shivered. He loved how Ryuichi could go from playing hide-and-go-seek to taking full charge of a problem in a matter of seconds.

Once the two arrived at Yuki's place, Tohma came out with an umbrella since it had started to sprinkle. Tatsuha and Ryuichi were on the porch, talking. Tohma gestured to his car as he opened his leopard-print umbrella. "…Would you like me to take you home, Ryuichi?" The singer jumped up from his chair. "Okaaaay! But hang on while Tatsuha-kun gets his things, okay? Thank you, Tohma!" The blonde shot a curious look at the door that Tatsuha went through. But Ryuichi, who was telling Kumagoro that they'd have a new house buddy, looked so happy. Tohma would have to make sure the press didn't find out.

Once Tatsuha had loaded his two bags in the trunk, they packed in, grateful to be away from the rain. Within fifteen minutes they were pulling up to Ryuichi's beautiful European-style villa. Tatsuha was amazed that he'd be staying here, with his idol. "Tatsuha-kun! This is my house, na noda. We'll have so much fun. It'll be like a sleepover every night!" Tohma walked them up, holding the umbrella above their damp heads. "Tatsuha…" He whispered once they were inside and Ryuichi ran off to put Kumagoro to bed. Tatsuha's head snapped up. The older man looked fierce. "…You may be my brother-in-law, but I won't allow you to hurt Ryuichi in any way. You break his heart…" Tohma tapped Tatsuha's chest with a daring smirk, "…I'll break your entire reputation. Please remember that." He pulled away with a cherubic smile, leaving Tatsuha to sweat. "I'd never…" "Good. I'm happy to hear that." "Okay, Tatsuha-kun!" Ryuichi bounced back in, waving a blue blanket. "This is one of my blankets; I slept with it for a long time, na noda. But now I'm giving it to you. You better take care of it, 'kay?" Tatsuha took it gingerly from the older man's hands, nodding with a smile. Tohma saluted. "Well, I'm off. Thank you for your help earlier, Ryuichi." He bowed, and Ryuichi waved him off. "Uh-huh. No biggie, Tohma! Tatsuha-kun, look! I've got movies! Do you like movies?…" Tohma shut the front door behind himself with a small smile. It had stopped raining, so the smell of grass was in the air. "…A new beginning. I can't wait to see where this leads us, Tatsuha-san; Ryuichi…"

"Hey, Tatsuha-kun? You look bored. You don't like 'The Aristocats?' I love this movie. The black kitten is really cute." Ryuichi smiled at Tatsuha, but the younger man did not smile back. This was the last thing he thought he'd be doing if he ever found himself in Ryuichi's house. Watching a marathon of old American Disney cartoons? How did this happen…? "Yeah, he is cute. Ryuichi…" Tatsuha stopped himself. What the hell was he doing? So what if they only sat and watched Disney movies? 'I'm so greedy…' The teen thought, biting his lip as Ryuichi stared at him, processing something. "Oh. Are you tired, Tatsuha-kun? Would you like to go to bed? Because I have a room set up for you. It's right beside mine, na noda! Just in case you ever need me…" The vocalist jumped up from his leather couch, gathering Tatsuha's things in his arms. Tatsuha sighed, lightly touching Ryuichi's forearm. "Ryuichi… it's okay! I'm not tired. Let's watch the rest of your movie." Ryuichi looked amazed. "…Really?" "Of course." "Yay! Tatsuha-kun, you're the best friend ever! A lot of times, people don't like my movies, but you do!" The singer tackled Tatsuha onto the couch, laughing so hard he shook, while Tatsuha barely managed to keep himself under control.

Tatsuha quietly turned "The Fox and the Hound" off, setting the remote down with a sigh. Ryuichi's head was lying on his shoulder; Tatsuha didn't dare move. Stealing a look at his love's face, the teen smiled. Ryuichi's mouth was open slightly, air rushing past his perfect lips. Tatsuha couldn't help but stare. The vocalist was beautiful; absolutely perfect, and Tatsuha wanted nothing more than to be a part of it. 'But…' Tatsuha brushed back Ryuichi's bangs, and the singer jammed his thumb in his mouth, '…It's not possible. He's so far away… mentally, and in age. I couldn't keep up… could I?' "And besides…" Tatsuha spoke aloud, "What if he doesn't even like me? That's what I'm afraid of most. To him, I'm just a bumbling teenager, just a playmate… He doesn't want to be my lover." Ryuichi's breathing quickened suddenly, and Tatsuha nearly jumped when the vocalist's arms were wrapped around his middle. Once he'd gotten comfortable, the sleeping Ryuichi sighed, murmuring Tatsuha's name. The monk held baited breath as the other man lay still, and finally patted his head, getting settled in.

"My first night in his house… heh. I'm in no hurry, Ryu-chan. I'll make you fall in love with me sooner or later. I mean, how can you not love me?" Tatsuha laughed softly at his poke at the Uesugis. Taking a moment to gaze into Ryuichi's closed eyes, he finally noticed the faint laugh lines circling his chocolate eyes. Even without makeup, the older man was absolutely beautiful. Tatsuha almost dared to kiss Ryuichi's slightly parted lips, but instead clutched the blanket that the singer had given him. "…I'm so happy."