Gravitation Fan Fiction ❯ Apogee ❯ Chapter XIII ( Chapter 13 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: Gravitation is not owned by me, it is owned by Maki Murakami. I own nothing.

Author's Note: Again, thanks to all of my reviewers everywhere this has been posted. I know this has taken a few turns some of you are having trouble with, but please just remember that Shuichi is a very confused little idiot lately, and his decisions don't always make sense, even to himself. But, on to the fic! Enjoy!





Shuichi looked over the side of the bed and sighed. Even though they had shared a bed several times when Shuichi had stayed at Hiro's when they were in school, Hiro had slept on the floor. Not only that, he'd slept on the cold, hardwood floor with only a folded blanket underneath him. Shuichi reached down and shook Hiro's shoulder gently, only sighing when he remained asleep. Shuichi lay back on the bed, picking up the remote and flipping through the channels until he found a morning variety show he liked. He thought about getting up and starting breakfast, but that might wake Hiro, and Shuichi didn't want that. If he were sleeping through Shuichi shaking him the little he had, he would sleep through the television, but not Shuichi attempting to cook anything.

His arms were hurting, but he pushed aside the thought of asking Hiro for another pain pill when he woke up. He had been the idiot who'd thought everything was his fault, he would put up with the pain as best he could. It was penance, in his mind. His thoughts drifted back to the night before, and everything Hiro had said. He knew Hiro was right, that it hadn't been his fault, that obviously, Yuki and Tohma had made their own choices. Still, he couldn't believe he'd been used by both of them. Tohma had been so vulnerable; Shuichi couldn't believe the whole thing had simply been an act to get what he wanted. Yuki had just been Yuki in Shuichi's opinion. He thought it was possible that Hiro was right, but something inside said he was wrong.

He looked up at the TV as he heard a familiar voice, and turned up the volume a bit as he saw Sakuma Ryuichi on the screen, talking about Nittle Grasper's latest release, due out the next week. The camera view widened to show Noriko sitting next to Ryuichi, and Tohma next to her. One of the two hosts of the show leaned forward a bit and looked pointedly at Tohma, asking him if Nittle Grasper would be touring soon in support of the new album, to which Tohma replied with a smile and a simple statement that tour dates would be released the day before the album. Shuichi found himself smiling slightly as he watched the interview, amused as Tohma deftly avoided any question not dealing with Nittle Grasper or their new album.

Shuichi heard Hiro stirring but didn't look down as he sat up slowly. He turned up the volume on the TV, frowning. The host who had been asking most of the questions had become very insistent that Tohma give the fans a statement about Shuichi's health and the state of his relationship with Yuki. Tohma still smiled, but Shuichi frowned as Tohma answered.

"I will guarantee the fans that Shindou Shuichi-san is just fine, but it is not my place to comment on his personal relationship with Yuki Eiri-san."

"Then what about a comment about your relationship with Shindou-san? The two of you have been seen leaving NG together nearly every night for the past week, and Shindou-san's neighbors state they have seen you frequently visiting Shindou-san at his home."

Shuichi felt a chill go down his back as the smile slid from Tohma's face. Shuichi knew that look, and he thought they should keep the camera focused above waist level until after the commercial break, since the host looked like he might have just wet himself.

"I have no desire to comment on that. The media is welcome to make any assumptions they wish, since they will do so with or without my blessing, but I do not appreciate being gossiped about in such a fashion."

Shuichi turned to Hiro as he heard a snort of derision. Hiro was scowling at the screen and made a comment that sounded like something about stealing his brother-in-law's lover. Shuichi let the comment slide, not wanting to argue with anyone. His arms were starting to throb slightly, and he began to rethink his whole idea of penance and not asking for any of those pain pills. Hiro suggested he go bathe and dress while Hiro threw together something for breakfast. He got up slowly, his legs feeling a little weak. Hiro didn't offer help, but he was close by just in case and Shuichi glared at him.

"I can get to the bathroom by myself."

"Fine, but if you fall, just don't hurt yourself. We need you in no worse shape than you're in now."

Shuichi stuck his tongue out at Hiro's retreating back, the childish gesture making him feel a little better as he slowly walked to the closet and then to the bathroom. He took a minute to relax in the bath, carefully peeling off the gauze bandages on his arms and looking at the damage he had already done to himself. The doctor had put in a series of small, neat stitches, close together to reduce the scarring as much as possible, but the evidence of his stupidity would be there forever, as a reminder. He sighed, draping his arms over the side of the tub, letting the cool porcelain of the tiles numb the pain for just a minute before he carefully got up and drained the tub.

When he walked out into the main room, Hiro had miso soup, rice and a bit of fish ready and Shuichi sat down and ate without comment. He waited to look up at Hiro until he was done, feeling Hiro's eyes on him.

"Umm, Hiro?"

"You ok today, Shuichi? We can take today off if you want, but I need to talk to K, first."

"Umm, yeah, sounds fun, Hiro. Umm, can you help me with something?"

He pulled back his sleeves and showed him his bare arms and Hiro only nodded. He retrieved the first aid kit and a pair of scissors, applied the antibacterial cream and then wrapped Shuichi's arms in gauze again, all without saying a word. Shuichi watched him carefully as he worked, watched the play of emotions on Hiro's face and wondered why he didn't speak. Hiro and he had always been close, Hiro had always told him what was on his mind. Shuichi wondered if maybe Hiro thought he couldn't handle things right now, considering what he had so recently done. Shuichi frowned at that thought and dropped his head, letting is hair cover his face, thinking as he did that he needed a haircut, and maybe have the color in his hair re-done. Maybe he'd get blue streaks instead of the pink. He was getting tired of the pink. He knew it was his signature thing now, but it wasn't very mature, rock star or no.

Shuichi tried to help with the dishes, but Hiro refused to let him, saying that he didn't want Shuichi to get his bandages wet. So, Shuichi went out and made his bed and straightened up the bathroom, biting his lip once when he moved wrong and some of the stitches pulled a little. Hiro hadn't offered him any of the pills yet, and Shuichi was determined he wouldn't take them. He didn't know what he needed to feel better, but he knew it wasn't drugs.

When Hiro was done with the dishes and Shuichi considered the apartment clean enough, the two left and sped across town on Hiro's motorcycle. They stopped at Hiro's apartment, and Shuichi waited patiently, sitting on the bed and watching television while Hiro showered and changed. When Hiro came out of the bathroom, dressed and rubbing at his hair with a towel, he had a serious look on his face, and Shuichi frowned.

"Hiro, is something wrong?"

"Hey, Shuichi... Would you be all right with staying here while I go over to NG and talk to K? It shouldn't take too long, and I don't see the point of both of us going."

Shuichi blinked, trying to decide if he wanted to stay or to go. He thought Hiro might be trying to protect him, keep him from seeing Tohma, but that didn't make any sense. Tohma hadn't really done anything. Sure, he had started things, but Shuichi had made a choice, too. Shuichi yawned. On the other hand, he was sleepy.

"Go ahead, Hiro. I'll just take a little nap while you're gone."

Hiro chuckled and ruffled Shuichi's hair before finishing with his own hair and finally leaving. Shuichi watched him go, and then changed the channel on the TV. Finally settling on music videos, he let it play as he lay down and looked up at the small bit of sky he could see through the slats in the blinds over the window. He could tell Hiro was planning something, he just could never figure out what Hiro was thinking before he did it. It had always been that way. Shuichi had never paid enough attention, not really caring to in school unless it was music-related or a chance to burn off some excess energy in gym class. Hiro had been the genius, the one always at the top of class. Hiro had been the one who had almost given up their dream to follow his parents' dream for him. Shuichi sighed, closing his eyes and letting the sounds of the music from the television lull him to sleep. Hiro would have made a good doctor, he mused, but he was glad Hiro was with Bad Luck instead.

Shuichi woke in pain, opening his eyes to see K sitting on the edge of the bed next to him with Shuichi's right arm in his hands, poking and prodding at the stitches. Shuichi sat up quickly, pulling at his arm and howling in pain.

"Hey, that hurts, let go!"

"Sit still, Shuichi. Just let him look," Hiro said, putting his hand gently on Shuichi's shoulder.

Shuichi sat back, but still flinched and hissed while K prodded the wounds on his arm. When K released it, he pulled it close, cradling it to his chest and yelped, throwing himself backwards and nearly falling off the bed as K reached for the other arm. Hiro caught him, nearly falling with him as Shuichi's weight hit him, barely managing to keep him on the bed. Shuichi felt Hiro's hands on his shoulders and glared at K as he held out his left arm. K pushed back the sleeve and unwrapped the gauze, then proceeded with his poking and prodding, again ignoring Shuichi's hisses and yowls. After a particularly loud yelp, Hiro smacked Shuichi lightly on the back of his head.

"Quiet, Shuichi. The neighbors will think I have a cat in heat in here."

Shuichi just glared and stuck his tongue out at Hiro for the second time that day before gasping sharply and yanking his arm forcefully from K's grip as a particularly sore spot was touched.

K rose but didn't speak for a minute. Finally, he looked at Hiro and nodded before leaving the apartment without a single word to Shuichi. Hiro retrieved some gauze and tape from a drug store bag at the end of the bed and took a pair of scissors from the kitchen, ignoring Shuichi's attempts to glare him into talking. Finally, Shuichi had enough and decided to just ask.

"Hiro, what the hell was that?"

Hiro sighed. "K wanted to see the damage you did to yourself. We're going on a trip soon, and he wanted to make sure you would be up to it."

"So you let him just poke at me like that? I was sleeping!"

"I noticed, Shuichi. I didn't think you'd agree if we didn't catch you by surprise."

Shuichi only scowled. "So, where are we going?"

"Don't know. K just said we're going somewhere and to bring a passport. You haven't lost yours, have you?"

"No, K decided he should keep it after the last time."

Shuichi watched Hiro's face, long association with his best friend letting him see the subtle signs that hiro was lying to him. He definitely knew more than he was letting on, but Shuichi decided not to call him on it and let him think he was getting away with it. Hiro was nearly as bad a liar as Shuichi, if you knew what to look for. Shuichi thought Hiro must think he had a good reason for what he was doing, so letting things play out would probably be the best way to get answers.

When Hiro had finished re-wrapping Shuichi's arms a minute later, he put away the supplies and gave Shuichi a bright smile, even though the man was still sitting on the bed and scowling at him. Schuichi continued to scowl as Hiro ruffled his hair.

"I think you could use a haircut, Shuichi. How about we go shopping and we can get it done while we're out? We should get some new things for the trip, huh?"

Shuichi chuckled. He was still a little angry with Hiro, but he had to admit that he'd like to get some new clothes, and he did need a haircut. He could get them to color his hair, too, and make Hiro wait for him, just as a little bit of payback. Shuichi laughed harder, the sound slightly maniacal, and Hiro sighed. Today Shuichi was going to have fun at Hiro's expense and there was nothing Shuichi was looking forward to more at that moment.