A/N: Alas, chapter ten is here. Sorry for the extremely long wait, real life tends to get in the way of my writing lately. That and my muse apparently has gone on strike .
As always a big thanks to Inu-midoriko for beta-ing this story.
Disclaimer: I own: my coffee, insomnia, and my new cell phone (it's orange and reminds me of Naruto) Sadly I still don't own Gravitation.
Warnings: None at this time.
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Chapter 10: Resolution
Tony made his way up to Seguchi's office at NG, once inside the elevator he thought of how his day had started.
It had gone from making sweet love to Shuichi, to having melancholic sex, and now. Now he was leaving him alone in the same city where his past love was.
It's not like he had a choice, he couldn't abandon his career. He had his obligations, his business. The person he trusted for the job had failed horribly. She forgot appointments, failed to show up at photo shoots and overall made a big mess. Now he had to try and mend relationships with important magazines and a few advertising companies, but first he had to deal with Tohma.
As he stared blankly at the numbered buttons been highlighted in red one after the other, he thought about how the singer would cope with been alone. Well, he wouldn't be alone technically, Mizuki and Takeshi were staying, and there was also Hiro. Still, he was going to be alone in a sense and that frightened him.
What if he starts drinking again?
No. He had already given order that no alcohol was to be allowed in the house, plus Takeshi was to keep an eye on him.
What about Yuki? He might want to find solace in him…
Over that he had no control. He was well aware that Shuichi would have to see Yuki at some point. It's not like he could keep him from the writer, after all they were lovers once. There was history between the two and if it came to Shuichi choosing Yuki over him, well, then he had no business being here.
The elevator bell signaled his arrival at the top floor.
After seeing the way Shuichi smelled the lingering aroma in that old shirt belonging to his ex, how he still cherished the memories of their lovemaking, it made him recognize that no matter how much he wished it, there was a chance that Shuichi will choose to give that relationship a second chance.
He saw the sizeable mahogany doors get closer and closer as he walked towards them.
If that happened, if Shuichi chose Yuki over him…
No. He had to believe, he had to convince himself that the singer would not chose to go back into a relationship that only brought misery to his life. A relationship that almost ended his career, that turned him into an alcoholic. A relationship that left an open wound in his heart.
He knocked on the door.
For whatever time he had left to be with his lover…
That's right, Shuichi was his lover not Yuki Eiri's, Yuki was 'the ex', the 'has been', 'the past'. Tony was the now, and Tony was going to be the future, Shuichi's future. He was going to do whatever was in his power to prove his love, starting now.
"Come in," said Seguchi.
The photographer opened the door, "Good afternoon Seguchi-san." he closed the door behind him.
"Good afternoon Mr. Cortez." Seguchi signaled the man to have a seat. Seguchi looked as calm as ever, "Can I offer you something to drink?"
"I appreciate the gesture but no." Tony responded with a smile.
"Mind if I do?" Tohma asked the man across from him.
"Not at all."
Both men studied each other, smiling like if they were old friends while going through papers and signatures, but in reality they wanted to cut each other's throats. They were true businessmen. Rich, powerful, manipulative, and scarier than hungry sumo wrestlers.
"I hope you find the new terms reasonable," asked Tony, "there are no big changes."
Seguchi reviewed the papers in front of him, "No, everything seems fine."
"Good, then as promised," he handed the blond a yellow envelope, "this are all the pictures."
Tohma took a look inside, "Are you sure?"
"You keep your end of the bargain and I keep mine," he narrowed his dark brown eyes, "if you don't, let's say things could get complicated for a certain friend of yours."
Seguchi nodded, "I only have a question, how did you get hold of this?"
"Did you forget I'm a photographer?" Tony answered sarcastically, "But if it will satisfy your curiosity I'll tell you. I happen to know the crime scene investigator that took those pictures, a few drinks, feed the guy some bullshit, and voila. Just remember this, the case is what they call 'an unsolved case', you wouldn't want me to give the investigation a turn, would you?"
Seguchi kept his smile in place, a little tighter, but it was still considered a smile, "I'm a man that keeps his word Mr. Cortez. As for Shindou, don't worry about him; he would have the same treatment as my other employees minus K's bullets, of course, or me pushing him too hard. I will still expect him to work to the fullest."
"And you should, Bad Luck is your best selling band, if they don't perform accordingly you can indeed dismiss them, after all this is a business."
"How pleasant to find a person with my same vision." the hypocrisy-meter was going out of control.
"Before I go I should warn you," he said while standing up, "I'll be gone for an unspecified amount of time, Shuichi will be accompanied at all times by Takeshi, his bodyguard, let's say he does his job extremely well, he's not a man you want to cross. Just thought you should know." he said with a smirk, "One more thing, under no circumstances is Shuichi allowed to consume any alcohol, at all."
"That won't be a problem," as both men continued their conversation the office door opened.
An obviously angered Yuki entered the office, "Why the hell did you order security not to let me in?" he yelled.
Seguchi's smile was gone that instant, "Eiri…" he said while shoving the envelope inside a drawer in an attempt to hide it.
Tony turned to face the writer, his expression the same as before, "Apparently our meeting will have to be cut short Seguchi-san."
Yuki stared at the man before him; there was something oddly familiar about him. He looked at his brother-in-law who was looking rather pale, "What the hell are you playing at?"
The synth player pulled himself together hoping that Yuki didn't notice his concern, "Eiri, you are very rude. Barging into my office like this, can't you see that I was in a very important meeting?"
The rivals looked at each other, "I believe we haven't been properly introduced," said Tony with a smile, "my name is Antonio Cortez, pleasure to meet you." Tohma was in shock, Tony was standing in front of Shuichi's ex, his first love, and yet, he smiled as if he was just another regular person.
Yuki raked his brain, he knew this guy from somewhere, and the name, it was so familiar, "I'm-" he started to say when Tony interrupted.
"The novelist Yuki Eiri, you are also Seguchi-san's brother-in-law. I know everything about you." he smiled at those words.
After shaking hands with a very confused Yuki he turned to Tohma, "I'll leave now, it's almost time for dinner and Shuichi hates to eat alone," he smiled at Yuki, "as a matter of fact he must be waiting for me."
Yuki released the photographer's hand, his face contorted into something almost animalistic, and Seguchi almost pulled a Sakano. Tony's smiled was now accompanied by a pair of brown menacing eyes, "Gentlemen, if you excuse me," said Tony, although he wanted nothing more than to stay and toy with the writer some more.
Yuki grabbed the retreating form, "Now wait a goddamn minute, what the hell is going on here?" He turned to look a Tohma.
"I recommend you let go of me," said Tony, the smile gone.
"Or what?!" said Yuki.
"Or I'll be forced to make you let go." The keyboardist, started to lose his patience at the distasteful display of male supremacy.
The blond writer raised his fist and so did Tony.
"Eiri Uesugi!!" yelled Tohma, "That's enough."
Tony pulled his arm free from Yuki's grasp, "I'm sorry about this Seguchi-san, apparently your brother-in-law has some self-control issues." he smirked.
"Please, if you don't mind, leave me alone with him." He bowed slightly.
Tony nodded, "Just remember our conversation," he said before closing the door after him.
"The hell is going on here Tohma? First, you don't want me to see Shuichi and now you're all friendly with his new lover? Have you been infected with some rare virus?!" Yuki yelled, his face completely red in fury.
Tohma was losing his temper rather quickly, "Sit down and shut up for once." he barked.
The novelist looked at him, it had been so long since he saw Tohma this angry, "Fine," he hated to feel scolded.
The older blond sat down on his luxurious chair, "Listen to me and listen well because I will not repeat myself," he looked directly at the novelist, "Shuichi Shindou will be returning to NG sometime this week, you are not to go near him, do you understand? I have an agreement with Mr. Cortez and I intend to respect that." Seguchi's gaze went soft, "You are my family and I want nothing more than for you to be happy, but above that is your safety, so if I have to make you suffer in order to keep you safe then I will."
"What on earth are you talking about? I don't need you holding my hand I'm an adult, capable-"
The older male threw the yellow envelope at Yuki, "take a look then." He walked to the bar to refill his glass with the strongest liquor he could find.
The novelist opened said envelope and as soon as he did he went pale, "What… what is this?"
"That is the reason why you need to do what I say."
"But… but how-"
"That's not important. What is important is that if you do anything to anger that man, not even I will be able to help you." Seguchi sat next to his brother-in-law, "Please Eiri, just let him go."
Yuki sat staring blankly at the graphic pictures in front of him, three men were lying on the ground in a pool of blood. One of them had his pants down to his ankles, the other was face down and holding a bottle of liquor. The third man sat on the floor, surrounded by his own blood shirt half undone and a ten-dollar bill in his hand. Yuki's stomach turned and he made a run for the bathroom. As he retched, he kept seeing the third man's face, a face from his past, Kitazawa's face.
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Shuichi held the envelope tightly, he had been standing in front of the garbage can for fifteen minutes, his brain told him to get rid of it but his heart said to read it. He decided on listening to his brain and threw the white envelope in the trash. Soon the singer found himself walking to his bedroom but as soon as he reached the door his heart screamed at him, so he found himself again in front of the trash can only this time he had to decide whether to leave the letter with the trash or pick it up. The heart had won.
"I'm such a fool," he thought. The singer locked his bedroom door and sat on his bed, "Oh, Yuki" he thought as he caressed the envelope. Should he open it or should he not? Opening the letter and knowing it's contents will, no doubt, be like a betrayal to Tony, a man that not only loved him sincerely, but had helped him get out of a deep dark corner, the corner Yuki had put him in. But not opening it might be even worse for the singer, how could he possibly live with the uncertainty, wondering, asking himself and eventually regretting it.
Shuichi wasn't sure of how long had he been thinking and contemplating the envelope before he decided to open it. Slowly he ripped open the envelope, his heart raced and his lips felt dry. Half way through he heard the front door slamming shut and a familiar, "Tadaima,"
Shuichi quickly stood up; he looked around the room searching for a hiding place for the white envelope. He listened as the steps got closer, desperately searching for a safe place to put his possession. He folded the letter and placed it under the bedside table, hidden from prying eyes.
Tony got to the bedroom door, "Shu, are you in there?" he asked turning the doorknob, finding it locked. "Shuichi," he said louder, and just then the door opened.
Shuichi was yawning and scrubbing his eyes, "You're home," he said trying to hide his nervousness by posing as if he had just been awoken.
"Why did you lock the door?" he asked.
"Did I? Uhm, probably by accident, I was so tired…" his heart was racing and he struggle to not faint from the nerves.
Tony, who knew Shuichi too well, opted to ignore the feeling he had, the feeling that his lover was hiding something from him, "Sorry to wake you," he gave Shu a kiss on the forehead that almost made him cry from guilt. He felt so wrong to hide something from Tony, but he had to, at least for now.
"Shuichi," Tony said almost in a whisper.
"Y-yes," his lip trembled as he felt Tony's arms wrap around him.
"I met him," he said tightening his embrace, "I met Yuki."
TBC
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