Damn, this came to me while I was making tuna salad.

Summary: She was blind, but he was drawn to her.

Pairing: Ryuichi Sakuma x Kagome Higurashi

Disclaimer: Inuyasha, Gravitation and the song 'Kizuna' belong to Rumiko Takahashi, Maki Murakami and Orange Range respectively.

Additional notes: English is underlined.

Blind Ambition

I met her in the summer of 2002, my first summer in America. I was in New York, the scorching heat was driving me insane with boredom so my new manager, K, had suggested that we take a walk to Central Park and get an ice cream. I obliged of course. He was offering me ice cream, how could I not! I faintly remember receiving queer looks from the New Yorkers as I bounced down the street with K on my heels. But it was okay, because I was used to weird looks. I'll have you know I'm very childish!

I still wonder how K managed to put up with my antics, and still does. He is my friend though, so I never question. Now, where was I…?

Ah yes, how I met her…

XOX

Ryuichi lapped at his ice cream happily as K stood guard over him. He wasn't too well known yet, but that would all change in a matter of time. Ryuichi was still a fresh face here, but K had every faith that his solo career would take off in a foreign land. Ryuichi was, after all, Ryuichi. He drew people to him like flies to sugar. The heat was starting to become a little unbearable and K knew it was time to leave.

"Ryuichi, we really should be getting back." The blond stated.

The hyper bundle leapt up and began to run in the direction of home, his irate manager running to keep up behind him. Alas, poor K never knew what hit him when Ryuichi came to a complete stop.

"K, do you hear that?" Ryuichi asked excitedly. "It sounds like Nittle Grasper! Come on, we need to go see!"

K rolled his eyes in exasperation as he was dragged into a small art studio where the music was coming from. Once again, Ryuichi stopped and watched in awe as the figure of a dungaree clad woman danced around with her back to them as she dipped her brush into a bucket of red paint and splayed it across the canvas in front of her. He cleared his throat and she stopped.

As she turned around to face them, she groped for the correct knob on her stereo. "May I help you?" She said, looking in their general direction. Silence greeted her and she frowned. "I know you're there, I can hear breathing."

Realization hit K and he looked into her cloudy blue eyes.

She was blind.

"Yes actually, we are just looking around." K said. He began to study the paintings on the walls and left Ryuichi to go about his business.

Ryuichi tilted his head to the side as he watched her run her fingers over the tabletop. He frowned. This woman was acting strangely.

The strange woman sighed and bent down to where a large white dog was lying, watching her. Running her fingers over its fur, she spoke to it in Japanese. "Inuyasha, help mummy find her paintbrush."

The dog leapt up and wandered over to the bucket of red paint where she had left it. He picked it up and took it back to her. She smiled and ruffled his fur. "You are a good boy Inuyasha."

Ryuichi shrugged at the antics of the pair before walking over to her. "I love your paintings, you have tons of talent no da!"

"Thank you." She replied softly. "I get told that a lot, but it's not really talent."

"Oh yes it is!" Ryuichi said happily. "Talent comes in many forms."

He watched her as she turned the music up a fraction and go back to her painting. "I must say, you speak perfect Japanese. Not many New Yorkers can speak to me in my native tongue, I usually get people trying to speak to me slowly, like I'm stupid."

Ryuichi chuckled. "That would be because I am Japanese. What's your name strange lady?"

"Kagome." She replied. "Why am I strange?"

"The way you do things." He replied innocently. "It's like you're blind or something."

"I am blind. She replied casually. "But I won't be fore long, I almost have enough money for a retina transplant."

Guilt flooded him as Ryuichi finally took notice of her eyes. "Oh I'm so sorry!" He cried, tears gathering at the corners of his eyes. "I've never met a blind person before and I didn't know."

Kagome sighed and put the paintbrush down. "Please, don't pity me. I hate that."

"Sorry." He replied, sniffling a little. "It was the music that drew me in here you know."

A far away smile crossed Kagome's face. "I adore Nittle Grasper. My cousin sends me all of their albums as they are released."

Ryuichi grinned. He just loved it when his music was appreciated! "I like them too. What's your favourite song?"

"I don't have one." She replied, taking a seat and motioning for him to do the same. "Every single song they have is just heaven for me."

"Well, who's your favourite member then?" He asked, his ego inflating some as he sat down.

A blush stained her cheeks. "The lead singer. His voice is just so…sparkly? I think that's the right word. My brother told me that sparkly things are things of beauty, things that make you happy inside."

"That's the word I use to describe it too." Ryuichi said happily. "Why do you think it's sparkly Kagome?"

She sighed, suddenly feeling a little foolish. "Because he made me fall in love with him with his voice. I don't even know his name." She shook her head with a giggle. "He's one of the reasons I want this operation so badly, I want to be able to put a name and a face to the man I'm in love with."

Ryuichi sat stunned. This woman…Kagome…was in love with him. Not because of his looks or his money, but because his voice had touched her. "Why do you say that Kagome? Why are you in love with him?"

"Because if it wasn't for his voice, I'd never have lead the life I did." Kagome replied. "As a child, no one wanted anything to do with 'the blind girl' and I pretty much grew up without any friends. But when I was fifteen, my cousin sent me their first album, and all I wanted to do was listen to it." She giggled. "It drove my parents up the wall, but by the time their second album was released, I had taken up painting and I felt like I had something to live for at last. Since then, it has been my life ambition to see the man who changed my life just once. After that, I can die happy."

Ryuichi was truly happy. He had touched someone's life. He couldn't hold the tears in any longer and broke into over emotional sobs.

K walked over and took him by the arm. "Thank you for your hospitality Miss, but I am afraid that we must be on our way."

"Come back any time!" She said as they left.

By the time that they had gotten to Ryuichi's apartment, the tears had subsided and Ryuichi was unusually quiet.

"You're uncharacteristically somber Ryuichi." K said as he made them both teas. "What's bothering you?"

Ryuichi sipped his tea and sighed. "She's in love with me K."

K quirked an eyebrow. "Normally you'd be happy about someone loving you. Why not her?"

The hyper singer cast a gaze to the New York skyline. "Because I touched her life and she doesn't even know my name."

XOX

Ryuichi spent a few days locked away in his room, slaving over song lyrics. When he did emerge, he informed K he was going back to the art studio. Stepping into it, he smiled as Kagome put down her brush and looked in his direction.

"Welcome back stranger." She smiled.

"Ryuichi." He said. "My name's Ryuichi."

He took a few steps toward her, but shrunk back when she reached for his face. "What are you doing?"

"I want to know what you look like." She said as her fingertips ran over his face. She smiled. "You're very handsome."

He blushed. "Thank you, so I was wondering if you wanted to go out for ice cream in the park with me."

She nodded. "That would be lovely. Just let me get Inuyasha and we can go."

Disappearing into the back, Kagome leashed up her dog and grabbed her stick. She smiled as she came back out. "Alright, lets go."

"Why are you swinging that stick around Kagome?" Ryuichi asked curiously as they walked to the park.

"So I don't bump into things." She replied. "Inuyasha and my stick are like my eyes, without them, I could…I dunno…run into traffic or something."

Ryuichi chuckled at the way she said it. "So how much longer until you go for your operation Kagome?"

"Hmm, a few more years probably." She replied. "I don't quite have enough for the operation and my move."

"You're moving?" He asked suddenly. "Why? Where to?"

"I'm moving to live with my cousin Miroku in Tokyo while I have my operation." She explained. "He's going to take care of me while I'm there."

XOX

So there you have it. That's how I met Kagome. Shortly after we met, I went on a tour of the states. It took me a year as I performed all over the country. By the time I got back to New York, she was already gone. It's quite sad really, because even though we kept in touch while I was on tour, I still didn't make it home in time to say goodbye to her. That was a year ago.

I'm sitting on a chair in the cafeteria at NG, writing lyrics on my jeans in red sharpie. I already have a tune picked out for it. Want to hear what I have so far? Of course you do! Haha!

Ima nani shiteru ka na?
Kimi mo mite iru ka na?
Orenji iro ni somaru sora wo.
Asa hi ni kawaru yuuhi wo.

(I wonder what you're doing right now?
I wonder if you're looking at this too?
The sky dyed an orange color.
The setting sun that changes into the morning sun.)


It's kind of obvious that I'm thinking about Kagome, huh? Well, after I came back to Japan, I kind of realized that I'm love with her too. People just don't miss their friends that much. It makes me feel all sad inside knowing that I probably won't see her again. Excuse me a moment, I have to write this down.

Namida koboshi atte naita yoru mo.
Kudaranai hanashi de asa made waratta hibi mo.
Wasurenai ima no boku wo sasaeru takara mono da kara.
Hanarete ite mo kanjiru anata no yasashi sa.
Da kara doko ni itattte mou hitori ja nai.
Donna koto atte mo kujikenai.

(The nights when we cried, both of us shedding our tears.
The days that we laughed until morning, having pointless conversations.
I won't forget either of them; they're treasures that anchor me as I am now.
I feel it even when we're apart, your kindness.
So no matter where I go, I'm not alone.
No matter what happens, I'm not crushed.)

I should really stop moping and take this to Tohma; he'd like this. Kuma-chan and I need to see Tohma, now!

XOX

I was right, Tohma did like it, and now I'm in a recording booth holding my jeans as I sing the lyrics.

"Sora to umi ga kasanatta ano shima no you na,
Hanarete mo onaji iro ni yasashiku mazari au.
Hora yori sou kizuna.

Dore dore wo shittari dore dore wo shiranakattari.
Tomattari mae ni susundari ushiro ni sagattari.
Mizukara korogaru toki mo areba te wo karite korogaru toki mo aru.
Karan koron mata hirogaru.
Karan koron mata korogaru."

(The sky and sea met, and like that island,
Even if we're apart, we're blended gently with the same colors.
Hey, we have a close bond.

I knew what the matter was, I didn't know what the matter was.
I'm halted, I'm moving forward, I'm backing off.
When I fall down, I am lended a hand, and fall down again.
Karan-koron, I open up again.
Karan-koron, I fall down again.)

Kuma-chan thinks this is going to be a hit and I agree with him. I really like this song. I wanted to call it 'The Kagome Song' but Tohma smiled and told me 'Kizuna' sounded better. Noriko is looking at me again, and I realize I must have missed my cue. "Sorry Noriko, I forgot!"

She just sighs and indulges me. She once told me that I was like a spoiled child that she couldn't help but indulge. "Alright Ryu, just pick it up from your left back pocket."

I giggle a little and go back to singing.

"Mizukara korogaru toki mo areba te wo karite korogaru toki mo aru.
Karan koron mata hirogaru.
Karan koron mata korogaru.

LaLaLa...
Hora yori sou kizuna.

(I knew what the matter was, I didn't know what the matter was.
I'm halted, I'm moving forward, I'm backing off.
When I fall down, I am lended a hand, and fall down again.
Karan-koron, I open up again.
Karan-koron, I fall down again

La la la...
Hey, we have a close bond.


Tohma's phone rang and we stopped again. This time I sighed. I was almost done with the song! I watched him speak into the receiver and put the phone away. "Alright, pick it up where you left off Ryuichi."

I nodded and looked to the back of my right knee where the rest of the song was.

"

"Ippo ippo tada mae e ippo ippo hohaba awase.
Korobisou nara sou te wo tsukame Say Wo! Wo! Wo! Minna de utae.
Ippo ippoi susume mae e ippo ippo hohaba awase.
Korobisou nara sou kono te tsukame Say Wo! Wo! Minna de utae.

Ima nani shiteru ka na? Kimi mo mite iru ka na?
Ame wa yami sora ni kakaru aachi niji de tsunagaru kimi to boku."

(A step, a step, I just move forward, a step, a step, our paces match.
If it seems like you're going to fall, yes, grab my hand; Say wo! Wo! Wo! Everyone sing.
A step, a step, I just move forward, a step, a step, our paces match.
If it seems like you're going to fall asleep, yes, grab my hand; Say wo! Wo! Wo! Everyone sing.

I wonder what you're doing right now? I wonder if you're looking at this too?
The rain has stopped, an arch hangs in the sky; you and I are connected by a rainbow.)

I smile as the music comes to an end. Tohma looks at me with the same expression he gives me whenever we have another hit on our hands.

What I wouldn't give for Kagome to be here with me.

XOX

I'm walking down the street with Kuma-chan on my head…what? He didn't want to walk!…when I stopped for a brief moment because déjà vu struck. I was hearing the same song that I heard the day I met Kagome coming out of a nearby store. Reminiscence got the best of me and I had to walk inside. Taking in the store, I couldn't help but notice it was set up the came as Kagome's gallery in New York. I looked at some of the paintings when I heard a gasp.

"Ryuichi?"

I know that voice. Oh please, don't let me be wrong. I turn around and gasp also. "Kagome?"

She is standing there, as beautiful as ever with tears in her clear blue eyes. Clear blue…? That must mean.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asks quietly. Her voice has raised a notch. "Why didn't you tell me you were he?!"

I knew then what she was talking about and I felt instantly guilty. "What difference would it have made Kagome?"

"I wouldn't have told you how I felt." She said quietly. "God I feel like such a fool."

We were both silent for a moment before something struck me. How did she know that it was I before I even spoke? I asked her.

She just smiled bitterly. "I never forgot your footfalls. I never could."

"I'm so sorry I didn't tell you Kagome." I said.

She sighed and shook her head. "Don't worry about it. So, how have you been?"

"Good." I replied. "I just got out of the studio. I was recording the new single."

"That's wonderful." She smiled at me. "You know how much I love Nittle Grasper."

We chatted for a while before the clock told me I had to go. I smiled at her. "The new song will be out in two days, I want you to listen to it Kagome."

She rolled her eyes at me. "You know I will Ryuichi."

"No really listen to it. I wrote it for you." I kissed her cheek and walked out, leaving a blushing Kagome behind me.

XOX

When I walked into her store a week later, she smiled at me. "I loved it."

I blushed. "I though you might. I wrote that while I was thinking of you."

She blushed and refused to meet my eyes.

"I thought about you a lot while you were away Kagome." I said, my feet were moving me closer to her. "About what you said to me when we first me. About how my voice kept you going, but you didn't even know my name."

I kept my eyes on hers as she backed up, away from my advance. "I had never felt more…accomplished…than when you said those words to me. I felt like nothing mattered anymore, because I had changed someone's life."

"That's really nice Ryuichi, but you're scaring me." She said as her back hit the wall.

I placed my hands on the wall either side of her and smiled. "You're scaring me too Kagome. I'm scared that I'm going to lose you again, that you're going to take off. Scared of the fact that I have never felt this way about anyone."

She refused to meet my eyes again so I touched her chin and made her look at me. "I love you Kagome, it took me a year to realize it, but I love you more than anything…more than the feeling I get when I sing, more than Kuma-chan, more than music."

I don't know why I did it, but I kissed her. Nothing had ever felt better than the feel of her lips on mine, or the taste of her. She smiled at me and I knew that I was never going to leave her side again.

As I held her there against the wall of her studio, making promises with my lips and hands, I could hear music playing softly in the background.

"Ima nani shiteru ka na? Kimi mo mite iru ka na?
Ame wa yami sora ni kakaru aachi niji de tsunagaru kimi to boku."

(I wonder what you're doing right now? I wonder if you're looking at this too?
The rain has stopped, an arch hangs in the sky; you and I are connected by a rainbow.)

Owari x

It was a bit of a rocky start, but I'm quite happy with it, the ending in particular and I'm so pleased I managed to squeeze my fave song in there!

Much love always

Squishy xxx