Author's
notes:
Wai! I finally got Gravitation episodes 1-8! And Fruits Basket 1 & 2! And
Pretear 1 & 2! ~squeals~ I'm so happy I could cry! ;_; cries anyway~ I was
so inspired I managed to get off my butt and write the next chapter. And I was
in a slump too. Cali had been depressed lately... ~sighs~
Well, hope ya'll like this one! This is the calm before the storm, meaning the
fluff before the angst in fic terms. ^_^ Not like the four chapters before it
I'm going easy on the characters and giving them a good time. They'll need it,
the next chapters will be hell. Oh yeah, they're chibi a lot here too. ^-~
Many thanx, huggles and glomps to Kari-chan and Ran-chan who have both been
reviewing almost every chapter. You make me feel special. *_* ~sparkle sparkle~
I luv you!! ~glomp snuggle~ This is also dedicated to the memory of Mikage-chan,
my best yaoi bud who I love to death. She's not dead but she's practically an
ocean away so it feels like it. ;_;
Saa... ~sniggers~ I'm having so much fun with this fic now! ~beams~ And the
Harry Potter movie is out!!! ^O^-Wai! I'm gonna watch it later after I finish
this! I love Harry Potter. *_* Now on to the fic so I can go watch it already!
Btw, translations of Japanese terms I used are at the bottom.
Oh yeah, I don't own gravitation. Damn. ;p
~*Duet*~
Chapter 5: ~Iku ze! Zoo da yo!~
Written by: Cali-chan
"The zoo! We're in the zoo!" Ryuichi clapped.
Shuichi glanced around, taking in his surroundings. "I haven't been here in
so long! The last time was two years ago with Hiro."
Ryuichi's smiled happily, eyes soft. "I'm glad you came with me. It's no
fun coming here by yourself." Shuichi felt himself warm beneath his friends
expression. Suddenly Ryuichi's eye was caught by a flurry of color. "Shu-chan!
Look! That man is making balloon animals!"
"Sugee! Let's see if he can make a Kumagurou, Ryu-chan!"
"Ya! Great idea!"
They ran over to the Balloon man, both turned chibi with large eyes glittering
in excitement.
"Make me a Kumagurou!" Ryuichi demanded. The man blinked.
"A what?"
Shuichi pointed to the stuffed bunny. "That's Kumagurou."
"Uhhh... alright." He reached for a yellow balloon. But was thrown
back suddenly by Ryuichi's loud shout.
"Kumagurou is pink! Not yellow! Why are you making him yellow? He's
pink!"
"A-ah... sorry." He grumbled slightly to himself as he proceeded to
make a pink rabbit. When he finished he thrust it into the green haired singer's
arms. "Here! Now are you happy?"
Shuichi sniffed. "Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed today."
"Waiii~iiII!! The tigers are this way!"
"Ara?" Shuichi blinked as Ryuichi half-dragged half-carried him
towards one of the more larger cages. They both leaned over the bars, eyes
glittering as the orange striped felines came into view.
"Aren't they cool! I love tigers!" Ryuichi gushed, his lithe body as
far over the bars as he could move it. He held Kumagurou over his head so the
pink bunny could see as well. "So does Kumagurou! But as long as their far
away of course. They might eat him."
They watched the large cats avidly for a few minutes before Ryuichi's stomach
let out a low grumble. The green haired man blushed, hiding his face behind
Kumagurou.
'Kawaii~ii!' Shuichi couldn't help himself and reached out to huggle him. When
Ryuichi snuggled closer he asked. "Na, you hungry Ryu-chan?"
"Un!" A small nod, wide glittering green eyes gazing up at his friend.
"I want ice cream or cake or cotton candy or PIZZA!!!" The last word
was screamed out loud as Ryuichi spotted a Pizza stand nearby. Shuichi was once
again dragged quickly towards it by his chibi-fied friend.
"May I help you?" The man behind the counter asked as they came to a
pit stop right in front of his cart. He blinked as a drooling chibi Ryuichi
leaped up to the to the glass case containing the food, and by some miraculous
defiance of gravity, sticking there.
"Shu-chan! I want the cheesy one! Kumagurou likes the one with
pineapples!" Ryuichi suddenly launched himself off from the glass to
Shuichi's chest, hanging on to him like a little spider. "And I want the
pink juice! It's the same color as Kumagurou's fur! You're treating me out ne?"
Green eyes were impossibly big on his little chibi face.
"Mochiron!" Shuichi grinned, patting the older singers small green
head. Then sweat dropping he turned to the man selling pizza. He had already
forgotten Ryuichi's order. "Na, did you catch what he said?"
"With his loud voice it would have been impossible not to." The man
muttered dryly, preparing the order. "And what would you like to
have?"
"One of the pepperoni pizza's please! And a can of Pepsi. And that box of
strawberry Pocky too!" When they were handed their order they went over to
sit on one of the more hidden benches, closed off from the rest of the zoo by
high bushes and tree's. Happily they dug into their food, content to stop all
conversation for the moment.
Shuichi watched Ryuichi from the corner of his eye as he ate. The older man's
eye were shut as he relished every bite of his pizza, lips stained red with
tomato sauce. Shuichi had the sudden urge to lick it clean. Ryuichi's green eyes
opened suddenly and caught him watching, a wide grin playing on his lips.
"What are you looking at Shu-chan?"
"A-ara? Nothing! You just have some sauce on your mouth!" Shuichi
blushed bright red and stuffed an entire slice into his mouth. He was such a
hentai, thinking such thoughts in a public place. His cheeks bulged as he chewed
the pizza. When he reached out to grab his can of soda his wrist was quickly
snatched by Ryuichi's hand.
"Naa, Shu-chan..." Blue eyes met green. "I have sauce all over my
face and I don't have a tissue! Kari-san said if I dirty this expensive shirt
she'll have my hide so I can't wipe my mouth on it!"
"Kari-san? Who's she?" Shuichi managed in between chews.
"My housekeeper. But she only comes on weekends though." Ryuichi
scooted closer until his face was right next to Shuichi's. "So can you help
me?" Blue eyes widened as the strange change in Ryuichi began again, eyes
losing their innocence. The older man's face moved closer. "Can you please
lick it off Shu-chan?"
Shuichi promptly choked. By sheer will he managed to swallow the food and blink
the tears away from his eyes. He jumped when he found that Ryuichi's face was
now mere inches from his, breath dancing over his lips. "Ryu-chan! A-ano...
demo... ara..."
"That's alright." Ryuichi pulled away and stood, disappointment clear
on his face. "I'll just go get tissue."
"Ma-matte!" Shuichi reached out and grabbed a hold of his sleeve.
"The people will laugh if they see you like that." Ryuichi merely
glanced down and waited for him to continue. "C-come here..."
Ryuichi complied, sitting back down next to him. Shuichi turned beet red, his
nose threatening to bleed as he argued with himself. 'You can do this! You've
already kissed him before!' Gulping nervously he leaned forward, one hand moving
to Ryuichi's cheek to keep him still. Then his pink tongue darted out and he
lapped at his friend's warm skin eagerly like a kitten.
A sigh was torn from the Ryuichi's lips as the warm wet flesh darted dangerously
close to his mouth. His cheeks heated up, his head tilting into the youth's hand
which was so softly holding his cheek. When Ryuichi opened his mouth to let out
another sigh Shuichi's lips suddenly covered his, tongue slipping in to taste.
The kiss was heated and deep, their arms encircling around each other in order
to leave as little space between them as possible.
When Ryuichi's hand slipped into his shirt Shuichi's pulled away and ended the
kiss, lips slightly bruised. "Ryu-chan!"
Ryuichi's other arm, which was wrapped around the youth's waist, kept Shuichi
from moving away. His finger found the small nub of the teen's left nipple and
he pinched it teasingly, leaning in to nibble the youth's ear. His breath danced
over the wet flesh as he whispered softly, causing Shuichi to shiver. "Shu-chan..."
He pulled away slightly to drink in the image of Shuichi's flushed face before
reaching out and tugging the teen into a tight hug. His love for the boy was
suddenly so overwhelming that he had to put it in words. "Suki da... honto
ni suki da."
Shuichi's heart stopped. Ryuichi... loved him? Ryuichi who was perfect. Who was
famous, rich, gorgeous, and had a voice so much more beautiful than his, loved
him? This was the man he had always admired and adored from afar in the past,
the man who had given him a dream which he had miraculously reached. Shuichi
couldn't believe it. This had to be a dream! He reached out and pinched his own
cheeks, wincing slightly as he felt the sharp pain. It wasn't a dream then. So
that meant it was an hallucination! He, Shuichi Shindou, had finally gone crazy.
Ryuichi watched Shuichi's face with interest. It kept changing from awed to
frightened, then suddenly to disbelief. Perhaps he had moved too soon. "Naa,
Shu-chan. It's okay! You don't have to answer me now. Just think about what I
said okay?" He withdrew his arms from Shuichi and stood, holding out his
hand. "Let's go! Let's look at the Panda's next!"
Shuichi reached out and took it, eyes hooded beneath pink bangs. "I'm
sorry... I just don't know what to say." He allowed Ryuichi to pull him up.
"It's just that... other than my mother, nobody has said 'I love you' to me
before. I'm not sure what to say..." Blue eyes misted with tears.
"Your not joking are you? I almost can't believe it. Ryuichi Sakuma just
said I love you to me. This has to be a hallucination. Hiro always said I was
crazy. Now I know it's true!"
Ryuichi smacked him lightly on the head before drawing him into a hug.
"You're an idiot."
"I know." Shuichi sniffled.
"Haven't you watched enough television to know what to say in a love
confession?"
"It's much different when it's happening to you! It's much scarier!"
Shuichi could feel the older man's chest shake as Ryuichi chuckled softly.
"I guess your right." He started to stroke the teen's head, merely
content to hold him.
Shuichi melted in the older man's arms. It was true. He wasn't sure what to say
in a love confession. He had never been on the receiving end of one after all.
He had always been the one chasing and begging for whatever Yuki would give him.
Now here was Ryuichi, someone he felt deeply for, offering his love like he had
done for Yuki in the past.
It was almost too good to be true. Here was someone who wouldn't hold back, who
would give his love freely and openly. If he returned Ryuichi's love then he
would have a friend and lover in one, someone who he could confide in without
being ashamed. And yet, Shuichi was slightly hesitant to give in. He didn't want
to be hurt again like he had been with Yuki. The pain from his former lovers
betrayal was still fresh, a wound not yet healed over. Shuichi wanted to love
Ryuichi... but he was unbelievably frightened.
Ryuichi, sensing his friends hesitation, kissed the teen's forehead and
murmured, "You're scared, aren't you Shu-chan?" Shuichi nodded, once
more a bit shocked that Ryuichi seemed to know him so well. Ryuichi continued.
"I know how you feel... exactly how you feel."
Shuichi looked up in surprise as he caught the faint sorrow in his friends
voice. "Ryu-chan..?"
"I was hurt too. By someone whom I trusted with my own life." He
nuzzled the youths baby soft hair, hands pulling Shuichi closer. "That's
why I could never hurt you. I could never put someone through what I myself had
been forced to feel. It hurt so much, Shu-chan, when he did it. It hurt so much
that I was forced to change or go crazy. Maybe I have gone crazy. Sometimes I
feel like a child, other times like an adult. I don't know who I really am any
more."
Shuichi felt his heart clench as tears escaped from Ryuichi's eyes. He tiptoed
and kissed them before they slipped off the man's chin. Then he reached out and
returned the hug, kissing the older singer's neck. Ryuichi would never hurt him.
Shuichi wanted so badly to love someone and be loved in return. It wasn't nice
being alone. "I love you too Ryu-chan."
Ryuichi look so surprised, like he never expected to be given a positive answer.
"Shuichi..."
"Iya!" Shuichi summoned up a grin, tapping Ryuichi's nose. "I'm
not Shuichi! I'm Shu-chan remember?" He grin grew wicked. "Or you
could call me koi if you want."
Green eyes grew impossibly large and sparkled. "Honto?"
"Honto!"
"Honto ni honto ni?"
"Un!" Shuichi's blood circulation stopped as Ryuichi squeezed him
tightly. "Geh. Ryu-chan! I can't breath!"
Ryuichi let go and started to swing the chibi-fied Shuichi around. "I'm so
happy! Isn't this great Kumagurou?" He grinned at the pink rabbit that sat
on the bench, a silent observer to all that had happened. "Shu-chan said
he'd be my lover!" He held the tiny Shuichi in front of his face and
announced, "I'll take such good care of you! I'll give you strawberry Pocky
everyday! I'll buy you anything you want! I love my Shu-chan!"
Shuichi laughed as Ryuichi set him back down on the ground, only to rain his
face with kisses. He was starting to get used to his lover's personality swings.
When he finally managed to calm Ryuichi down, Shuichi reached out and covered
one of the older man's hands with his own. "What do we do now?"
"Let's get Sora! Then we can go home and play!"
"Ara? Play what?"
"Bed games!"
Shuichi fell, a large sweat drop sliding down his head. "Na-nani?!"
"No worries!" Ryuichi winked. "I'll make sure you have fun!"
He clapped, excitement clear on his face. "I always wanted to play bed
games with Shu-chan!"
Shuichi laughed. "Ryu-chan no hentai! Do you even know what your talking
about?" He had never before liked anything that had to do with sex, and yet
to his surprise his was faintly excited at his lover's proposal. There was
something about Ryuichi. He could make anything seem fun for him.
Suddenly the bushes nearby rustled and a purple head popped out. "Mataku.
If I could only draw I'd be writing a yaoi manga about you two."
Shuichi turned beet red and fought the sudden urge to faint.
"Noriko-san!"
"Noriko!" Ryuichi glomped her. "What are you doing here?"
"My daughter wanted to go to the zoo so I brought here. Then I saw you two
so decided to followed. I was just curious to see what you were both
doing!"
Shuichi's voice shook. "You were eavesdropping?"
Noriko nodded, a sweet smile on her lips. "Yup!"
"... how much did you hear?"
"Everything! Uwaaa~Aaa. It was a yaoi dream come true! You will let me
watch you two, won't you Ryu-chan?"
The green haired man blinked. "Watch what?"
"You know, bed games?" She winked.
"Sure!"
Shuichi promptly fainted.
"Shu-chan!" Ryuichi caught him before his body hit the ground. "Nooo~ooo!
Shu-chan's dead!" Tears started to waterfall from his eyes.
"Baka!" Noriko smacked his head. "He just fainted!"
"Shu-chaa~Aaan! Talk to me!" He shook the pink haired singer's body.
"Shu-chaa~aaaan!"
Noriko slapped her forehead. "I give up! You two idiots do deserve one
another." She moved to walk away. "Stay here. I'll call my bodyguards
to carry your boy home since you apparently didn't bring your own."
Ryuichi nodded, eyes glittery with tears as he watched her disappear. Suddenly
Shuichi twitched and woke up, eyes glazed.
"Where am I?"
"At the zoo! You fainted!" He hugged the pink haired teen so tightly
his head swelled.
"Is Noriko-san gone?"
"Yeah! We're going to your house now ne?"
"Ha-hai."
"Let's go!" Ryuichi grabbed Shuichi's hand and dragged him off, nearly
running into Noriko. She had been her way back her daughter and three bodyguards
in tow.
"Where are you two going?!" She demanded, arms crossed.
"Jaa ne Noriko! We have to go!"
"But Shindou is-"
"I'm feeling okay! See ya!"
They both disappeared in a cloud of dust. Noriko's daughter sidled up to her,
eyes wide. "Who were they mommy?"
"A pair of idiots." She muttered irritably. "You want to see
their family?" Her daughter nodded. "Then let's go to the monkey
cages. They have a lot of Shindou's and Ryu-chan's there."
The little girl burst into giggles. "Mommy!"
Noriko smiled down at her before taking her hand. "Let's go dear."
"Haa~Aaaii!"
~*~*
"Achoo!"
"Bless you!" Ryuichi called from his side of the attic.
"Mataku. Mom never cleans this place up!" Shuichi complained. He and
Ryuichi were currently digging through the dust filled room for his stuffed cat.
A sudden burst of giggles caught the teen's attention. Ryuichi was hunched over
in the corner, shoulders shaking as he laughed. Shuichi moved next to him and
peered over his shoulder. "What's so funny?"
"Shu-chan's baby pictures!" Green eyes glittered. "You were so
cute! Look at you on Halloween! What a cute vampire costume!"
Shuichi smiled, resting his chin on Ryuichi's shoulder as he knelt next to him.
"You can have that album if you want. Mom won't miss it."
"Honto?" Ryuichi clutched it to his chest, eyes wide.
"Un!" Shuichi stood and dusted the dirt off his pants. "Let's
continue looking."
Shuichi had begun to look inside a large box when he felt his lovers arms wrap
around his waist, warm breath tickling his neck as he asked. "Naa, Shu-chan.
You have a lot of good memories ne?"
"Yeah." He leaned back into the embrace. "I guess so."
Ryuichi nuzzled his ear. "I want to make good memories with Shu-chan
too."
Blue eyes softened as he turned his body around, still remaining in Ryuichi's
hold, so that they were facing each other. "You already gave me so much
good memories, even before I met you."
"I guess so. I never knew you had so much pictures of me in your
room!" Ryuichi pouted. "But none of Kumagurou. Kumagurou is mad."
"Gomen! It's just that none of your pictures that came out then had him in
it!" Shuichi patted Kumagurou's head. "I promise to take as many
pictures of you soon m'kay?"
"Kumagurou says he forgives you!" Ryuichi made the stuffed animal hug
Shuichi's neck.
A sudden flash of blue caught Shuichi's eye. "Hey! What's that?" He
jumped up pulled out a small stuffed cat from beneath a pile of books. It was
all blue except for green button eyes, the velvet soft fur rubbed off slightly
in some places. He dusted the dirt off lovingly, a small smile playing on his
lips. "Sora."
"Is that her? Is that her?" Ryuichi hovered nearby. "Can I hold
her?"
Shuichi turned and handed the toy to him. "She looks exactly the same. A
bit dirtier, but the same."
Ryuichi took her carefully, eyes reverent. "She's beautiful..." He
made Kumagurou look her in the eye. "Kumagurou says it's love at first
sight."
"Can we get out of here? I'm gonna sneeze again. And I wanna get her
washed." Shuichi walked towards the door. "Not to mention mom might
make us stay home for dinner. Her cooking's terrible!"
Ryuichi followed his new lover. They snuck quietly past the kitchen and out the
front door, running towards the car before Shuichi's mother could come out and
stop them. As their driver pulled out of the driveway Ryuichi reached out and
took Shuichi's hand, moving it to his lips and kissing it. Blue eyes fluttered
closed, a soft moan falling from Shuichi's lips as his fingers slid into
Ryuichi's mouth. The older singer sucked on it slowly before letting go, leaning
forwards to place a chaste kiss on the youth's forehead.
Shuichi felt a burst of happiness flash in his chest. He wished this moment
would last forever. "Thank you..."
Ryuichi blinked. "For what?"
"For everything." Shuichi lay down to rest his head on his lover's
lap, smiling as Ryuichi started to stroke his hair. "For
everything..."
~*~*~*
Author's note:
This chapter was so nice to do. ~sighs~ I was able to relax and have fun and
write fluff. Cali luvs fluff. ^-^ I think I've been spelling 'kumagurou' wrong
the entire time. ^.^* Not mention I just discovered that Ryu-chan's eyes were
brown not green, and Shuichi's were purple not blue. But since I started with
those colors I'll just continue with them m'kay? ^__~ It's their fault! Their
eye color keeps changing in pics. ¬_¬
Well, next chapter may take a bit longer cuz I gotta work on my Saiyuki fic too.
I watched Harry Potter!!! ~claps~ It was so kyewl! And I was sitting next to an
old couple too. Shows Harry is for everyone. ^_~ Watch it! ^O^-Wai!
Saa, ja na! ~waves~ Thanks for all your reviews! I can't tell you how they
inspire me. ~smiles~ And they make me so happy too! =^_-_^= ~Neko smile~ Thanks
to this fic I made so much new friends! I treasure those e-mails like Ryuichi
does his new Shuichi photo album! Yes I'm talking about you Bishie-chan and
Caro-chan. ^_~
~huggles~
Cali-chan
Translations:
Sugee: Wow
Kawaii: Cute
Mochiron: Ofcourse
Matte: Wait
Suki da... honto ni suki da.: I love you... I really do.
Koi: Beloved
Honto ni: really?
Nani: What?
Ryu-chan no hentai: Ryu-chan you pervert
Mataku: Geez