Gravitation Fan Fiction ❯ Break Through ❯ Glaring Dream ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Gravitation or any of Maki Murakami's wonderful characters. As well as any other manga/anime mentioned within this story

NC-17 for adult content and sexual situations.

Many thanks to Ember for her wonderful, insightful and super speedy beta efforts

Part One "Bad Luck"

Chapter One: Glaring Dream

"Hey." Shuichi sat next to Hiro in the school cafeteria. He looked as if he had just woken up.

"It's freaggin' lunch time. You might as well have stayed home Shuichi Shindou." Hiro let out with a bored expression on his face.

"I would have if I could have… goddamn, even when talking I'm trying to rhyme!" Shuichi yelled, grabbing his hair and pulling it hard, apparently in a pathetic attempt to wake himself up.

"So…did you finish it?" Hiro asked, not at all shocked by the bizarre behavior.

"Yes!" Shuichi shot himself up and stood on the seat while bowing to an invisible crowd. "And it's the best song EVER! If NG doesn't think so, I'm shoving the demo tape right up their asses!" Shuichi yelled as he tried to stuff a rice ball down his own throat. Hiro just rolled his eyes and grabbed him by his uniform to calm him down.

"Chill dude, we don't even have a demo tape yet." Hiro said matter-of-factly.

"Yeah, about that, you need to come to my place later on to record one. I have mostly all the synthesizer work done, all I have to do is refine it a little, your guitar and my genius lyrics, and we're in business! ` Shuichi changed into a businessman - cool as ice Shindou-san.

"I told you, my mom is giving me a hard time lately, it's not like we're gonna get a break tomorrow or something. Let's let it ride for a little while ok?" Hiro replied offhandedly eating a fry

"LET IT RIDE! What do you mean by let it ride? Hiro we must focus, we must not lose sight of our dream… Hiro!" Shuichi's eyes were tearing, his lips quivering, and all the signs of an upcoming scene were coming into place. Hiro rolled his eyes getting ready for the worst.

"Here you two losers are, I been looking all over for you." Both teens looked up in unison, Hiro smiled radiantly and Shuichi just shrugged and blew a hair off his face looking none all too pleased.

"Not too bright if you didn't start with the obvious place" Shuichi replies sarcastically.

"Hey you." Hiro said getting up and taking Maiko's hand, kissing it delicately.

"Whatever, Hiro." Maiko slapped Hiro's hand away, wiping her own on her uniform.

"Yeah man, that bit's getting kind of old," Shuichi agreed, a mocking expression on his face.

"What? Can't a guy be polite? You two are the worst!" Hiro snorted."Anyways… didn't you guys hear?" Maiko snapped hitting Shuichi on the head with a magazine.

"Ah!" Hiro brought a finger pensively to his mouth. " Let's see… no"

"Ouch! What did you do that for?" Shuichi complained rubbing his ead

"And you call yourselves fans. I tell you, if I didn't inform you of what's going on all the time, I swear…."

"Yeah whatever - spit it out already." Shuichi cut in.

"Maybe, dear brother, if you didn't have your head stuck so deep up your ass and actually found things out on your own, you wouldn't have to bother with me."

"Shut up! Unlike others, I follow my dream and work hard for it. I have no time for pettiness." Shuichi defended his pride.

"Pettiness? You call Yuki Eiri sama getting engaged `pettiness'!" Both Hiro and Shuichi's eyes bulged out of their sockets.

"What?" they yelled in unison.

"You heard! It's all over the media. It happened yesterday. Apparently a maid from Yuki-sama's house spilled the beans - they've even got pictures of the engagement party!" Maiko rushed excitedly.

"Wait a damn minute." Hiro interrupted halting a hand in front of Maiko's face. "You mean to tell me that Mr. cool as ice, higher than royalty, I have no feelings or emotions Yuki Eiri sama, actually had a girlfriend stashed away somewhere?" Hiro stood aback and feigned shock. Shuichi on the other hand fell silent all of a sudden.

"And you're never going to guess who this girlfriend is!" Maiko continued, not noticing her brother's sudden change of demeanor.

"Do tell," Hiro continued getting into gossip mode.

"Mika Costa" Maiko said, Hiro halted and Shuichi's expression changed from dull and seriousness to plain hurt.

+++

Mika Costa: She grew up in a very poor family - the youngest daughter of five. Love was never an issue, but space was, growing up in a very small and crowded house, it had been especially hard on her, never having any privacy whatsoever. From a young age it was instilled in her that she must grow and learn how to be a good housewife, and to find a good man who could provide for her. Of course, Mika had a very deferent picture of what she wanted her life to be like. She wanted to be an actress. Maybe even move to the United States to start a Hollywood career.

By the time she was in high School, those were nothing but foolish, childhood dreams. All she wanted to do was be the best she could in everything. In school, she would get the best grades, surpass everyone and ensure herself a scholarship at the best University in Japan. At home, she would be the most useful daughter to her parents, to make them feel proud of her. Everywhere else, she had to shine and make everyone acknowledge her existence. Mika told herself that in order to become someone, she must sacrifice everything, step on anybody's head, just so long as she got what she wanted. This meant leaving all she'd ever known behind, poverty and deprivation.

By grade eleven her goal was almost upon her. Valedictorian was in the bag. Already Mika was sending her applications to the best Universities, as she was very confidant that she'd pass the entrance exams with flying colors.

While everyone else was obsessed with parties and love, Mika had never been clearer of her goal.... That is until hecame along.

+

Eiri (Yuki) Uesugi: Born to a very wealthy family and very old lineage of Monks, he was cursed since birth: He looked different.

By age two, he was already too tall and his hair and eyes hadn't changed color as his mother had hoped. Blond, honey-eyed kids had no place in a temple. He looked more suited to be a movie star rather than a respectable servant of God.

By age six, Eiri was too terrified of school to continue going. His parents were all too happy to hire private tutors to teach him at home - it kept people from talking.

Then his mother, already giving up on the idea that Eiri would become a decent human being, did the unthinkable. At age forty she became pregnant again to ensure the family name and reputation would be preserved.

Eiri hardly spoke to anyone and after this blow he grew even more reserved - never leaving the house. He ate his meals mostly by himself, allowing only his older sister to accompany him from time to time. She was the only one he showed any sort of emotion to.

By age ten, he was deeply involved in manga. Every Wednesday Eiri would have one of his tutors get him the latest volumes of Dragon Ball and Contra. For some reason he was obsessed with super powers and space travel. Manga was his life. He counted the hours of the day when he could go to his room and submerge himself in that world of fantasy - that world he so desperately longed for.

By age twelve he already had his own characters, his own fantasy world, where he could live happily if he wanted to. He would write until the wee hours of the night, but still it was not enough. His creations needed life. He begged his parents to hire an art tutor. It was unthinkable that monks would waste time in such a frivolous thing, but since it was Eiri, and he'd never asked for anything before, they thought there might still be hope for him.

By age fourteen his story and art took a whole new meaning… his life… it was not to entertain himself or kill time anymore. To Eiri there was nothing more sacred or important. He hardly ever came out of his room. Day in and day out he would make up excuses to his tutors to miss his lessons and draw all day. He stopped speaking to everyone, including his older sister Mika. She would knock, he would lift his head from his drawings long enough to tell her to go to hell, and then they would do it all over again in a couple of days. Sometimes, when she felt particularly cruel, she would send their younger brother Tatsuha in to bother him. Mika knew he hated the brat more than anything and that he would come out of the room long enough to literally kick the kid out of it. She would confront him then with the same hogging questions.

Eiri would ignore her. His parents didn't bother him, and life was good.

Until one day, one of the maids came to inform him that his parents wanted to see him. Eiri walked into the family room to see that everyone was there. Mika and even Tatsuha. He was wearing a small replica of their father's ceremonial clothes and looked ridiculous, Eiri thought as he turned his gaze to his father, whom he hadn't spoken to, even though they lived in the sane house for years. Upon seeing his face Eiri knew there was something terribly wrong.

+++

His first day of high school had not being as bad as he expected it. He would never forgive Mika for doing this to him. He'd already told her that much.

With the exception of the one girl who kept on staring at him, everyone had been civilized. Nothing like the horrors from his childhood that still lingered so vividly in his mind. Regardless of that, he desperately wanted to go back home… to his Evas.

"Excuse me," a little voice said behind him. Eiri turned around sharply to be met by the same girl whose eyes had been burning a hole on his back all day long. He didn't respond, just looked at her calmly, waiting for her to speak.

+

"I… hi… I'm Costa Mika. I'm the student body president, so if you need anything at all don't hesitate to let me know." Mika said turning red from head to toe. Never had she felt anything like it. To say that the new student was beautiful was a serious understatement. Tall, lean, deep-set honey colored eyes that missed nothing. His longish blond hair flew with the breeze in just the right way.

"Fine," he responded dryly. Good god! His voice was so deep and it gave her chills just to hear it. To imagine the things that voice could whisper. Suddenly the room got hot all over and she had to close her eyes to calm herself down. When she regained her senses and opened them again, Uesugi Eiri-kun was already gone.

+++

"No way!" Pop princess herself, is the mysterious fiancée of manga mogul Yuki Eiri sama?" Hiro whispered in gossip mode once more. Maiko nodded her head, and handed Hiro the magazine she was holding. Shuichi snatched it from her hands and looked at the pictures with a horrified expression on his young face.

"Shut up… just shut up! That's not true; Yuki-sama wouldn't get involve with that bimbo! Shows you how far the paparazzi is willing to lie to sell a few magazines." Shuichi screamed as he rummaged through the pages of the magazine, halting half the cafeteria and making the other half choke on their food. The pictures were indeed very personal, there he was, Yuki-sama, his hair longer then the last pictures Shu had seen of him, and there was that bimbo as well. Indeed they looked very familiar with each other, there were even pictures of Yuki-sama putting the ring to her finger. But as she looked radiant and happy, Yuki-sama wore the same expressionless face on every shot. Shuichi put down the magazine and sat back down… the world as he knew it was over.

"Chill out dude… What is it to you who Mr. Perfect shags?" Hiro joked grabbing the mag and looking at it intently, turning it this way and that, "Man… I can see why he would shag her though." Hiro continued with a smirk.

"Shut up!" Both siblings shouted in unison.

"Don't disrespect Yuki-sama like that!" Maiko snapped, hitting Hiro on the head with a notebook this time.

"That's right, how dare you talk about him so loosely!" Shuichi hit Hiro as well.

"Ouch… goddamn, sorry! I'll be more careful not to insult those I don't know again. Anyways, I totally see this as true; I mean who better for Mr. Unreachable than the sexiest woman alive herself." Hiro said rubbing his head. Shuichi went to his sulking and Maiko began crying.

"I can't believe Yuki-sama is getting married." Maiko sighed after a while

"Hold on, the fact that he got engaged doesn't mean that he'll get married tomorrow, besides, you know how it goes with famous couples… it never works out. Hell, it may be a publicity stunt." Maiko turned her hopeful eyes to Hiro.

"Really?" She asked.

"Sure! He's still fair game, ne Shu?" Hiro asked elbowing Shuichi, who in turn just smiled ironically.

"Now, what's wrong with you? Don't tell me you're in love with Mika-san?"

"Shut up man… you're not funny." Shu responded gazing up, a sad, somber expression on his face, Hiro didn't see it however.

"Or are you afraid Yuki-sama is gonna take married life to heart, and slack on his work? Don't worry man; I'm sure his manga will be out right on time. Hell, maybe since he's married, he might release twice a week… we all know women can burn a hole in your wallet. And Mika-san seems pretty high maintenance to me."

"I said you're not funny man!" Shuichi yelled again and ran out of there with tears streaming down his face.

"What the hell was that about?" Asked Maiko concerned.

"Beats me."

+++

Shuichi ran all the way home… it can't be, it can't be! His mind screamed. He rushed to his room ignoring the concerned questions his mother yelled behind him. He went into his room and locked the door, throwing himself on his bed and finally letting it all out. He cried the way he hadn't done in years. Shuichi never thought this day would come, to him. Yuki Eiri was not an ordinary human being… he was God. No woman on earth deserved him. After his emotions sort of calmed down he turned around on his bed and stared at the ceiling remembering the first time he realized he was in love with God himself.

+++

`How long do you think we're going to stand here man?" Hiro always with his impatience, Shuichi had won the privilege, after sending a thousand entries and begging Maiko to send another few hundreds, to be- with a guest- one of the selected few to be able to see Yuki Eiri- sama in person. NeoGenesis Evangelion was the rave those days. And everyone was talking about the young artist who came up with such an intricate and interesting story. The manga was on issue fifteen and they were already talking about making it an anime. Shuichi had fallen in love with the art and the writing style from the time he saw the issue at the manga store. Back then there were a few copies, but now there were, every Wednesday, big displays of NeoGenesis. Every other manga didn't seem important in comparison. Shuichi was the proud owner of every single "first print" issue there was. Naturally when he heard that the man himself would, for the first time, make a public appearance, he had jumped at the opportunity to be part of it and get his number one issue signed.

"I don't know Hiro, they said from four to six, is not even four yet" Shuichi said annoyed.

"You're the only freak who had to camp out here."

"I should have come alone." Shuichi said, just as annoyed.

"No, c'mon man you know I'm just playing, I like NeoGenesis like any other demented fanatic… you know that, besides I want to see what this guy looks like. I can't fathom a twenty year old creating such a work of art."

"You said it man… work of art…" An announcer came out and ordered the couple of hundred fans to form a line according to numbers in front of the set up that had been prepared for Yuki-sama. They all obeyed the way they never did to their parents or in school. A reporter from "Shonen Jump" came out… only one. Shuichi couldn't believe it! The guy was hotter that rice balls and all they had for him was one measly reporter? Then two huge guys came out standing on either side of the chair in front of them, and finally, a tall, blond man. Shuichi was enthralled, he hadn't known what to expect, he knew Yuki-san was young, but he had never expected him to be this… beautiful! Only a nerd could have spent countless hours thinking and drawing the awesome world of the Evas, instead Yuki-san looked as if he could be a model. The man bowed to everyone and thanked them for their support and devotion. His voice alone sent Shuichi into a realm he'd never known before… what was this feeling?

"Oi, Shu… doesn't he look foreign?" Hiro whispered. Shu couldn't form words to respond. The line began moving quickly. Shu noticed that Yuki-sama's only comment to the praises everyone was obviously giving him was, "thank you". He didn't smile or even seem interested in the crowd around him. To Shuichi he even looked as if he didn't wanted to be there. For some reason this saddened Shuichi a great deal.

Finally his turn came, Shuichi put the comic in front of Yuki-san, who looked up to meet his eyes. Shu swallowed at the intensity of the man's gaze.

"Name?" Yuki-san asked, marker in hand, not taking his eyes off the thirteen-year-old Shuichi.

"Shindou Shuichi," Shu said shyly with great difficulty, he had wanted to say so many things! The whole time while standing in line he had planned the perfect conversation.

"What… aren't you going to tell me how much you love my work? Or how much it has changed your life?" Yuki-san asked with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, of course Shuichi didn't understand that then. He swallowed again.

"I do love it, but I cannot say it has changed my life. You are very talented Yuki-sama, and there is nothing I can say that hasn't been said. Besides you don't look in a very talkative mood." Shuichi ended regretting the fact that he had been so direct, he couldn't help it, it was the way it always went. He prepared himself to be kicked out for his insolence, but instead, the hazel eyes deepened on his, then Shuichi was graced with a smirk from the master. Yuki-san looked at his copy of NeoGenesis and on the cover drew an Eva with his black marker. The man drew so fast Shuichi's eyes almost filled with tears from the emotion. Once done, Yuki-san wrote something in what appeared to be English. He reached out to one of the men and he gave him a manila envelope, which Yuki-san in turn gave to Shuichi back with his newly arranged manga.

"Thank you," Yuki-san said as he handed Shu's things. Shuichi bowed and graced the man with his warmest, easiest and most gorgeous smile. Hiro who was the next person in line had not been so lucky to get his issue drawn on. What Shuichi didn't realize was that no one else did.

After Yuki-san was done he exited the room as silently as he had come. Both Shu and Hiro could not wait to get home and translate the writings on Shu's comic. Upon reaching home they pulled Maiko, who was learning English in school, and made her translate the short phrase.

You just made my day; the phrase read once Maiko was done. Shu smiled from ear to ear. That day would stay in his mind forever.

"What's in the envelope?" Maiko asked. Shu and Hiro looked at each other, with all the excitement they had forgotten all about it. Shuichi opened it and inside was a 8x10 autographed photograph and issue #0 of NeoGenesis Evangelion… Shuichi fainted.

"What was that about?" Maiko asked as Shuichi regained consciousness.

"That issue has never been published… it's got to cost a fortune." Hiro let out in awe.

+++

A/N: Well, yes I did change the story quite a bit, but no so much that you'll be totally lost. I'm also taking the time to explain the backgrounds, so that you can understand their personalities a bit better. For the most part I will try to keep everyone "in character" but that might slightly change^^ The OC was going to be named Maki Murakami- he he^^- but I decided against it, she is no way a Mary Sue of anything of the sort, she won't even make an appearance until the second part of the story (the story is divided by Chapters and parts)Hopefully you guys are enjoying it so far, if you are… drop me a line I'm always happy to hear from readers.

Next Chapter; "Predilection" A new character will be introduced, who will change the course of Bad Luck's "luck" forever^^