Author's
notes:
Hora! ~neko smile~ Third chapter is here! And quite faster than expected ne? ^_~
For me the one chapter every month writer at least. ^.^* That's cuz the people
reading this have been so nice to me! Not to mention I was threatened by Ran-san
with an 'Evil Kumagurou of doom' O_O ... ~glomps everyone~ Thanx for your
comments! ~snuggle~ I saved all your names for future reference and gift fics!
That is if anyone wants any. ^.~ Cali wants to do something in return for your
kind words! ^-^ And the people who left their e-mails, expect a rabid Cali at
your mailbox soon. ^_______^
No lemony goodness in this chapter though. Maybe later. ^O^-OhohOhoho! This is
RyuichixShuichi and YukixTohma. More pairings prolly later. Characters may be
OOC. I haven't seen enough of the show or manga to judge how they act. :P Oh
yeah! I don't own Gravitation. If I did everyone would be drawn as pathetic
stick figure's and be having sex every few pages. ^O^-Wai! Murakami-sensei does.
But you need to buy her REMIX doujin's to see the lemon stuff, which means
bidding a month's allowance on it in ebay. ^.~
//Duet//
Chapter 3: ~The chicken wuss and the brave bunny~
Shuichi tried to make no sound as he tiptoed quietly towards the door. 'Almost
there...' He reached out and gripped the doorknob, turning it slowly.
"Shu-chan! What are you doing?!"
Busted. He turned around, trying to look innocent as he caught sight of a
glowering Ryuichi. "I was just going out to get some soda!"
The older singer didn't look convinced. "We already have soda Shu-chan!"
"But-"
"Everything's ready! All we have to do is wait for Tohma-kun and
Yuki-san." Green eyes widened. "You're not... scared of facing them,
are you Shu-chan?"
Shuichi blushed and shook his head. "Why would I be scared?"
Ryuichi frowned, realizing Shuichi was denying his fear. The teen was so nervous
his hands shook, his usually pink lips pale and quivering. The older singer
smiled cheerfully and tackle-glomped him, sending them both sprawling on the
hardwood floor. "You don't have anything to worry about Shu-chan! Me and
Kumagurou will protect you!"
"Ryuichi-san!" Shuichi gasped. "Your heavy!"
"Ryuichi-san ja nai!" The green haired man pouted. "You make me
feel old... Call me Ryu-chan!" He picked up his pink bunny and thrust it
into Shuichi's hands. "And Kumagurou says that we're family now so you can
snuggle with him as much as you want!"
Shuichi's wide blue eyes blinked, then softened as he smiled. He held Kumagurou
close, kissing the stuffed toy's head. "Thank you Kumagurou."
They both sat up, the mood considerably lightened. Ryuichi beamed. "Kumagurou
is happy you treat him nice. Some people treat him like he's just a toy."
Shuichi brushed his pink bangs away from his face and met the bunny's beady
black eyes. "At least me and Ryu-chan believe in you ne? Did you know I had
a friend like you Kumagurou-chan?"
"Honto Shu-chan? Who was he?"
"Sora was a little blue neko. My mother took her away when she said I was
too old for her."
Ryuichi gasped. "That's terrible!"
"I know." Sad eyes peered up at him from under shaggy pink hair.
"I can't believe I'm telling you this. Yuki would laugh..."
"You can tell me -anything- Shu-chan. And if you don't want me to laugh I
won't."
"... really?"
"Un!" The older man nodded genkily. "And we'll look for Sora
tomorrow okay? I'm sure she really misses you." He ruffled Shuichi's hair
fondly.
Thin gangly arms suddenly wrapped around Ryuichi's neck, a warm cheek resting on
his shoulder. "Why are you so nice Ryu-chan... I haven't done anything for
you to be nice to me..."
"I-ya". Ryuichi stroked his friends hair. "You make me happy just
by being you Shu-chan. I feel good when you're around." He wrapped his arms
around Shuichi's waist, holding the youth close. "And I want you to be
happy too. I don't like seeing you sad Shu-chan... I get sad too."
"Ryu-chan..." Shuichi lifted his head and their eyes met and held.
Ryuichi felt himself freeze underneath the boy's searching gaze. He could only
smile uncertainly as the youth's unwavering blue eyes ran over his features.
"Ryu-chan..." Shuichi had never realized how adorable his friend was.
He took in the innocent sort of beauty the older man possessed hungrily. It was
so different from Yuki's. Where Yuki was ice Ryuichi was fire. Where Yuki was
indifference Ryuichi was attention. While Yuki pushed him away Ryuichi held him
near. Slowly, uncertainly, he cupped the older singer's cheeks with shaking
hands and leaned forward.
Ryuichi's eyes widened as the youth moved close. "Shu-chan?" Then
Shuichi's lips brushed over his, a soft tentative touch. Ryuichi could taste the
lingering sweet strawberry breath as the young man moved away.
As silence followed his action, Shuichi finally realized what he had done. He
blushed bright red and started to babble apologies, "Go-gomen! I didn't
mean to do that! I don't know what got into me! I was just comparing you to Yuki
and I realized how different you were andandand-"
Ryuichi's eyes narrowed as he placed a hand over the stammering boy's mouth. His
childishness slowly faded away, expression suddenly serious and very wise. Then
when Shuichi finally calmed down, he moved forward and replaced his hand with
his lips, closing it firmly over the boy's own. One hand settled on the teen's
thin waist, the other caressing a soft flushed cheek lovingly.
Shuichi whimpered softly as he allowed himself to be laid back on the floor,
Ryuichi's weight settling firmly on top of him. His pale hands clutched at the
front of the older singer's shirt as Ryuichi nibbled on his lower lip, hands
moving to touch Shuichi's firm stomach. When the youth let out a soft sigh
Ryuichi took advantage of it, slipping his tongue into the younger singer's
mouth. Shuichi tasted like ripe fruit, innocent and near bursting with
sweetness.
They parted, their breath mingling as they kept their mouths still near the
other, lips almost touching. Shuichi's mind was near overdrive, he had never had
a kiss that made his body weak and hungering for more. Ryuichi started to lavish
his attention on Shuichi's pale neck, licking and kissing the tender flesh. It
was all Shuichi could do not to cry out. Ryuichi made him feel -so- good.
Shuichi knew he loved Yuki, why else would he have stayed by the blond man's
side even when he tried to push him away. And yet he suddenly realized that he
loved Ryuichi as much as he did Yuki. The thought itself wasn't what surprised
him, it was the fact that it took him so long to realize it.
From an early age Shuichi had always adored the older singer. His old room in
his mother's house was still wallpapered with posters of the Nittle Grasper.
When he finally met Ryuichi, it seemed like a dream come true. They had become
friends so quickly, like it was meant to be. Now, with Ryuichi watching him with
hungry love filled eyes and him knowing he felt the same, Shuichi couldn't help
but wonder if it had only been adoration then. But that meant he loved -both-
Yuki and Ryuichi! ... Shuichi had never been more confused in his life. You
couldn't love -two- people, could you?
"Shuichi..." It wasn't the childish Ryuichi now. Wisdom glinted behind
those long-lashed green eyes. He leaned forward and nibbled an earlobe, drawing
a soft whimper from Shuichi's parted lips. After a moment he let go of the
tender flesh, his breath sending a shiver down the young singer's spine as he
whispered, "Did you like that kiss?"
"Ha-hai..."
A small amused smile. "Would you like another one?"
Shuichi blushed. "Hai..." He closed his eyes as Ryuichi stroked his
hair, feeling warm breath tickling his lips as the man moved his mouth over his.
A sudden knock on the door caused them to sit up abruptly from their position on
the floor. They moved apart, fixing their rumpled clothing self-consciously.
"Ryuichi?" Tohma's voice floated in.
"Coming!" Ryuichi was once again all innocence and smiles, bounding
over to the door and throwing it open. Tohma and Yuki came into sight, both
wearing impeccable black suits. "Ara? Why are you both dressed like
penguins?"
Tohma smiled. "We just came from a party." At Ryuichi's saddening
expression he added quickly. "But we didn't eat anything. We were saving
space for your wonderful cooking!"
The green haired man grinned happily. "Honto? Well, let's hurry and eat
before the food gets cold." He grabbed Tohma's arm and led him into the
kitchen. Ryuichi seemed to have already forgotten his anger over what his old
friend had done.
Shuichi felt Yuki's eyes on him and looked up, blue meeting green. The writer
looked like he wanted to say something, but faltered as Shuichi broke eye
contact.
"We better follow them now." Shuichi turned his back on him and walked
away. Yuki, eyes pained, followed close behind.
~*~*~*
"Dinner was delicious as expected. You should invite me more often Ryuichi-kun."
Tohma murmured, ever polite. "Now I realize how much I've missed your
cooking."
Shuichi held out his plate, blue eyes shining. "More please!"
"Maa." Ryuichi smiled as he took it and piled it with more food.
"Shu-chan will get fat. This is your third plate!" Shuichi shook his
head. "I burn if off quickly enough!"
Yuki sniffed. "Yeah, by running around the house and making a complete
nuisance of yourself. I've lost count of how many of my vases you've
broke."
Shuichi looked pained, pushing the plate away. "I-I'm not hungry
anymore." The room fell into sudden uncomfortable silence.
Tohma stood slowly, eyes trained on the pink haired youth. "Shindou-san. If
you will, I would like to speak to you in private."
"Ha-hai."
"Please excuse us." Yuki and Ryuichi watched as the two walked to the
balcony, sliding the door closed behind them.
~*~*~*
"Maa! What wonderful weather we're having Shindou-san!" Tohma turned
to smile at his younger companion. "Tomorrow it might rain a little
but-"
"Please... Seguchi-san." Shuichi's fist clenched as he tried to keep a
firm hold on his anger. "Stop acting like nothing's wrong. It hurts when
you do that..." When the tears finally did fall Shuichi made no movement to
wipe them away. He was too busy trying to numb himself against the pain as he
remembered how this man had appeared so suddenly from beneath Yuki's covers. The
Nittle Grasper member's small triumphant smile kept mocking him, the image
repeating itself in his head.
Tohma reached out and tried to wipe away a tear but the youth flinched, slapping
the hand away. "Don't touch me!" Shuichi took a step back before
slumping down to sit on the floor, drawing his knee's up to rest his chin on
them. "You touched Yuki with those hands... when you knew I loved him! How
could you Seguchi-san?! How could you try to take him away when you knew he was
with me?!"
"A petulant boy like you wouldn't understand."
"Why are you acting like I was the one who did something wrong?!"
"Because you did."
Shuichi's blue eyes flashed angrily. "What did I do?!"
"You fell in love with him, and made him fall in love with you."
"What's wrong with that?!"
Tohma sighed in annoyance. "Such a child. Do you want me to explain it to
you?" He took Shuichi's glower as a yes.
"What made you chase after Yuki Shindou-san? What first attracted you to
him? It was his looks wasn't it? His strange American features." Shuichi
felt the truth behind those words. Yuki had been cruel to him the first time
they met, but the man's good looks had imprinted itself in his mind. That was
the reason he had gone looking for him.
"And when you got together, can you call your relationship a healthy
one?" Tohma asked. "You always in tears, Yuki always in pain as you
brought back the past. You had tender moments, moments that made your love seem
worthwhile I'm sure. But let me ask you, how often do those things happen?"
Shuichi realized that Tohma was waiting for him to answer. His voice came out
soft. "I don't remember..." He knew Tohma saw through the lie. Shuichi
could count those moments of love with one hand.
"And now that Bad Luck is famous, won't that take you away from him more
often than not? Like your month long absence just recently?" Tohma's voice
became harsh. "So you though it would be okay to just leave him all alone
while you went about your business? Did you know what pain he was in when you
left? He was all alone, gazing at your picture everyday. I couldn't stand it! I
couldn't stand to see him in pain Shindou-san! I promised him he wouldn't hurt
anymore when I found him, in shock over commiting murder. I promised him!"
Shuichi lifted his head up, surprise rising as he saw a single tear fall from
Tohma's expressionless face. Then the mask broke, the despair and love clear in
brown eyes. "Then here you come, hurting him as badly as the events in his
past hurt him! I couldn't do anything when that man did those things to him
Shindou-san! I came to late to stop it! But I won't make a mistake like that
again." He turned away, his back facing Shuichi as he tried to compose
himself. "So I took him from you Shindou-san, before you could do any real
damage. You require special care and attention, it is the way you are. But Yuki
can barely take care of himself much less a young teen with issues. You are
ruining him."
Shuichi watched the back of the blond man's head, Tohma's words striking his
mind like a slap to the face. "I can't make you understand my actions
Shindou-kun, but I can say I'm sincerely sorry for hurting you. And yet I am not
sorry for having done it. Yuki's well being will always comes first, even before
mine."
Shuichi stood then. Slowly, reluctantly, he rested his forehead on Tohma's back.
The blond man stiffened in surprise, head turning slightly to gaze down at the
pink topped head. "You... really love him, don't you Seguchi-san?"
Tohma didn't deny it, he owed Shuichi the truth. "I do. Ever since we were
children. From the first time I saw him."
"Why didn't you do anything then?"
"I... was frightened. I wasn't sure how to love him. He was so innocent, so
pure. Then after what happened in America, he changed. His was in such pain I
didn't want to burden him with my petty feelings."
"But you still loved him?"
Tohma moved away and turned to face him. "I love all of him Shuichi, who he
was in the past and who he is in the present."
Shuichi nodded. Then before Tohma could move away he wrapped his arms around the
older man's waist and drew him into a tight hug. "Take care of him Seguchi-san..."
"Shi-Shindou-san?" Tohma was too surprised and unused to physical
affection, much less from someone he had slighted, to return the embrace. He
could only stand stiffly as Shuichi's head fell to the crook of his neck.
"You were the one who loved him first, you deserve him more than I do. I
know you can make Yuki happy. You can help him deal with his past since you were
there with him. You're more responsible than me. You can take care of him."
Shuichi started to cry then, hot bitter tears of loss. "You're right, I can
love him but it won't be good for the both of us. We only bring each other pain.
I have to let him go..." Little white hands fisted over Tohma's black suit.
"But it hurts... it hurts so much to give him up."
"Shindou-san..."
"Take care of him... please. Promise me you'll take good care of him. Stand
by your promise and make sure he never hurts again."
Tohma placed a hand beneath Shuichi's chin and tilted it up, gazing fondly into
the tear filled eyes. "I promise Shindou-san."
Then Tohma held the shaking youth as he broke into a fit of sobs, noting dryly
Shuichi certainly loved to cry. But he couldn't help resting his cheek on the
teen's soft pink head, allowing himself a moment's weakness.
'I understand now, Eiri-kun, why you fell in love with him.' Shuichi started to
calm down in his arms, sniffling slightly. 'He seems to be such an idiot child
at first glance, over emotional, unbearably loud. But when you see past that...
he is beautiful, and he thinks with his heart.'
Then Tohma made a new vow, a new promise. In Yuki he had found love. Now, in
Shuichi, he seemed to have found something else. Something more than friend,
perhaps a little brother. He carefully wiped Shuichi's cheeks and eyes dry with
the handkerchief of his suit. 'I will protect you Shuichi-kun.' He thought
silently. And he sealed his promise with a delicate kiss to the boy's brow.
'Since I have already hurt you so badly, you will feel no more pain if it is in
my power to stop it.'
~TBC~
Author's Notes:
A nice sweet closure to this chapter, to make up for the angsty last one. See!
Tohma isn't so bad! ~glomps him~
Tohma: ^_^
Well, next chapter will answer the question of what Yuki and Ryuichi had been
doing in the kitchen while this whole drama thing was happening. Dun dun dun
duu~uuuun. O_o And no, they weren't just eating the entire time. ^^* And since
Kari-chan wondered what Mika would think about Tohma and Yuki's relationship I'm
slamming that kakkoii Eiri girl into the next chapter as well. And a few more
problems for Ryuichi and Shuichi to deal with too. *_*
Shuichi: You sadist! You just love messing up my life don't you?!
It's what I live for. ^-^
Ryuichi: Stop picking on my Shu-chan! ~smacks her with Kumagurou~
Ow! What's in that thing?! Bricks?!
Ryuichi: ~nods genkily~
O_o More brain damage. Neway, till next time! Which will be like... I dunno. I
haven't started the next chapter yet. ^.^* Soon though. And I'm -really- sorry
if this chapter wasn't that good... I think it still needs a bit more editing.
¬_¬