Disclaimer: Nobody in the Gravitation universe belongs to me. I claim no kinship whatsoever and sing Maki Murakami's praises. The only thing I'm getting out of writing these is sick sadistic pleasure out of making the character's lives even more difficult.

Ghost Monk

By: Zemia

A/N: "I had lost my notebook that had the next stuff written for Ghost Monk! Then when I found it… I realized it was Tohma/Mika and Shuichi/Kitazawa and …. ran into a wall of Writer's Block. I think it was a subconscious attempt to not think about it. Ah well. Yes, this chapter is somewhat shorter, but it's one of three chapters I'm in the process of typing up which I hope to have finished by the end of the weekend."

Xedra - lol. I don't even want to think about a Gravitation/Xena crossover. If you looked at my profile you'd see WAY too many stories unfinished as it is. I hope to go through them one by one and finish them up, since they're being brats about sharing time in my head chapter by chapter. *laughs* Yes, Kitazawa is manipulating Shu, but now Shu knows he's being manipulated, which gives him some room working at being a brat.

catbaker - Mwahaah. Yes, Shuichi has to do all of that. And I'M the lucky one that has to make that all work and have the story remain coherent. That's not as easy as it sounds with this crew. Ryu will show up during the N-G Party that I'll eventually get to. Evenetually. Kitazawa has his reasons for doing what he's doing. But I'm not telling.

Angel hacker - Well, depending on how Shuichi reacts will determine how often he gets to be 'awake' lol. In Gravitation, they're ALL brats.

dbskxsuju - No worries. He will. Shu's also stronger than he usually appears to be, remember.

Tsubasa no Ryu - Um, not sure who Soma and Sylv are, but .... Shuichi's not all that bad, you just have to get used to the drama. lol. I'm actually more used to playing Eiri, so once in awhile being Shu is kinda fun. Kita's not 'evil' he's just 'greatly misunderstood' and 'weak against his desires'. Many a man can claim the same.

Chapter 26 – "Seguchi Moment"

"Well, what do you think?" Tohma asked, moving from the window to sit in his chair behind the desk. Leaning back in it, he took a moment to study his wife's features. Despite how they may behave towards each other in public, during their private moments each were allowed to drop all of their masks and just be themselves. That's how their relationship had survived for so long, through so much and all of the craziness around them. "The tapes are pretty horrific. I wished every day that Eiri-kun would never have to go through something like that again. Unfortunately, it seems as if he is."

"I think I'm surprised that he'd only had that one bottle." Mika replied, sighing as she rubbed her eyes. "I think it's time to sit down and get him to talk to the shrink. Even if the ghosts are real, she might be able to let him deal with it."

"Mmm. I have to agree with you. She might do him some good." Tohma replied, sitting back up in his chair. "I think I can get him there without too much trouble." He reached into the drawer next to him, pulling something out.

"How? He'd get suspicious of you in a shot." Mika asked, crossing her arms in annoyance. Her brother really was a pain in the ass at the best of times.

Tohma smiled slightly as he held up the two jars of pills that he'd apparently taken from Eiri's house. It seemed that the supply that they'd brought him at Kyoto were due to have run out even as they spoke. That meant that his brother-in-law would have no choice but to go to the hospital to get himself a refill. Even if they weren't the same medication that he'd been taking two years ago, he still had a prescription for anxiety and stress which kept him calm.

The female Uesugi stared at the little bottles in shock for a moment before her eyes lifted to meet her husband's. An answering smile made its way to her features. "I'm sorry for doubting you, Tohma."

"Now, while I'm busy with Eiri, I would like you to do a little favor for me in return." Tohma murmured, putting the pills in his pocket.

A favor. Favors were never asked lightly. Whatever the sneaky bastard was up to couldn't be good. "What do you want this time?" Mika asked suspiciously.

"I need you to speak with Shindou-san." Tohma replied immediately, his tones even and smooth, knowing he was risking a long-shot. His smile turned pleasant as he continued, "While managing to refrain from doing bodily harm, of course. I do need him intact for a concert soon."

'WHAT?!" came the immediate screech before Mika managed to suppress herself, growling softly under her breath. That smile didn't have the same affect on her that it did for everyone else, but even she knew to be wary of it. "You want me to get within ten feet of him and not…."

"I know you're still mad at him, but technically it wasn't his fault…. this time." Tohma got up and went around the desk, placing a hand on her shoulder in placation, trying to mollify her. "He couldn't have known that Eiri was at the house. Even I thought Eiri would be on his way to Hokkaido for the book signing."

"Tohma, the baby almost wound up with pneumonia from being out in the cold for so long. Even wrapped in Shindou's jacket…"

"Something which he selflessly gave up, risking freezing to death himself, to prevent that pneumonia." Tohma murmured, leaning down closer to Mika, lowering his voice as his fingers went from her shoulder to stroke down her hair. "I'm still not always happy with him being around, especially Eiri, but he did what he could and sought help as fast as he could. That counts for something."

"He's still a fucking idiot."

"Maybe so. But he's your brother's idiot, whether we like it or not." Tohma bent his knees a bit, so that he could stare into her down-turned eyes. "For Eiri. For me."

Mika felt her walls crumble as she listened to his soft request and she turned her head to stare out the window instead of him. After a long moment, she murmured, "Fine. You owe me, Seguchi."

Tohma's answering smile reached even his eyes as he stepped back a pace to give her personal space back. "I never doubted that for a second."

With a sigh, Mika rose from the chair and felt her masks slide back into place. Heading for the door, she flipped her long-brown hair over her shoulder. "I'll go find him. Keep your cell phone handy."

"Of course, Mika-san." Tohma replied, amusement laced in his voice. When she was gone, he lifted his coat off of its rack, pulling it over himself in an elegant shrug. Doffing his hat, he headed out the door as well for his own 'date'. He should be there in plenty of time to watch some of the fun.

TBC