Gravitation Fan Fiction ❯ Break Through ❯ Tearless ( Chapter 8 )

Disclaimer:I do not own Gravitation or any anime/manga within this story.

Many thanks to Ember, for her very insightful and speedy beta efforts.

NC-17 for language, Yaoi and sexual situations.

Chapter Seven: Tearless

"Whatever you do, don't embarrass me in front of my boss." Shuichi warned Maiko as they waited for the Maitre d' to attend them.

"May I help you? As if on cue the man raised his gaze to them, eyeing the two pop stars up and down, making them feel painfully underdressed.

"Yes, Seguchi Tohma should be expecting us. My name is Shindou Shuichi, and this is Nakano Hiroshi and a guest." Shu said with confidence, the man looked at them, then turned to his list, opening his eyes a little wider upon finding the mentioned names there.

"This way please." The man's disposition immediately changed. They walked through the expensive and trendy restaurant. Shuichi spied a few celebrities he could recognize, his inner self jumped with joy and excitement. His outer self, however, remained cool and collected. He rolled his eyes as he heard the little gasps that escaped his sister's lips. They were taken to the furthest end of the place and up a set of stairs, to an even more elegant and lavish setting.

"This way please," the Maitre d' said gesturing for them to follow. Maiko gasped again at the same time their producer and boss Seguchi Tohma came into view.

"Right on time." The agreeable, and fashionably dressed man smiled at them. He was by far the coolest person Shuichi knew or ever hoped to know. He wanted to steal a glance at Hiro so badly, his dumb friend always seemed to blush upon seeing Seguchi-san, and as much as he fought it and proclaimed the man to be evil, Shuichi knew better, he himself was on the same boat with a certain blond haired mangaka.

`Hiro-kun!" Seguchi-san began, and this time Shu did steal a glance at his friend-- who was, of course, blushing hopelessly. Upon closer inspection, Shu realized Maiko was holding Hiro's hand. " I didn't know you had such a beautiful girlfriend stashed away? Although if I had such a pretty flower I would hide her as well," the man said tightly, ignoring the lead singer altogether. Shuichi wasn't sure whether that comment was supposed to be a compliment or not.

"Seguchi-sama, Maiko is, well…" Hiro began nervously.

"Shindou Maiko." Maiko introduced herself bowing low- Shuichi only prayed she'd behave. "I wanted to thank you for all you've done for my brother and boyfriend," She bowed low again and Shu almost laughed out loud as Hiro's shocked up cough made its way to his ears.

"Ah! You are Shuichi-kun's sister…what a small world we live in, ne?" For some reason that comment didn't sound as warm as it was intended to be, Seguchi-san even looked a little scary for a second. "But please let's sit, what are we all doing still standing?" He continued, returning to his usual cheery self.

The waiter who still lingered set the menus in front of them, and bowed. "Anything to drink for our guest?" He turned to Maiko first of course.

"Midori Sour," she immediately said without even glancing at the menu. Shu could tell he wouldn't be able to enjoy the dinner affair with her here-- their mother always told them never to order expensive things when someone else was paying. He rolled his eyes trying his best to ignore his obnoxious sibling, and glanced at the menu, keeping an eye on Hiro, poor guy looked like he was having a worst time than he… why? The fact that Maiko called him her `boyfriend' should have made him happy --- happy!

"Ah that's my favorite drink!" Seguchi-san chirped, "I'll have one as well."

"I'll just get a coke." Hiro said politely.

"Designated driver?" Seguchi-san asked warmly.

"A coke?" Maiko raised a brow, rudely cutting off Tohma. "You're celebrating your first number one single ever, and you're drinking Coke?"

"You know I don't drink honey," he smiled, playing along the charade… smooth Hiro-kun. Shuichi thought smiling.

"But, we're celebrating."

"I'll have a Coke too," interrupted the forgotten lead singer. Maiko looked at them with a puzzled look on her face but said nothing else.

"You can have whatever you like." Seguchi-san said, referring to what he told them before at the studio.

"Seguchi-sama, I am the biggest fan of yours!" Maiko began before Shuichi or Hiro could say anything. "I mean of Grasper. Oh my God! I think I cried when I heard about the break up." Shuichi wanted to dig a hole and bury himself in it. In all the months he'd had the good fortune to be in contact with one of Japan's biggest celebrities, he had not once mentioned Nittle Grasper to him. He had wanted to, Oh god, how he had wanted to! Almost to an unbearable urge to be disrespectful, but he had not. "My brother used to dress up like you and Sakuma-san and sing and dance in front of the mirror for hours." Hiro gave a loud laugh-of course Shu had never told his long time buddy about that embarrassing part of his life-He wanted to grab Maiko by the neck and wring it until the bones popped.

"Maiko… Seguchi-san doesn't want to hear what I did as a child!" Shu begged for a miracle. Maybe Seguchi-san wasn't paying attention; maybe he suffered from short-term memory… maybe…

"Nonsense, of course I want to hear it, what did Hiro-kun did as a child?" Seguchi Tohma smiled naturally again. Hiro looked at Shu, with a scared look on his face…why the hell did they bring Maiko?

"We met when he was 13, he used to dress like a vampire and chase every big breasted girl at school."

"Maiko-chan!" Hiro gasped.

"Big breasted huh?" Seguchi-san repeated with a half smirk. The drinks arrived and Shu wanted to grab his Coke and dump it on Maiko's head, and by the looks of it Hiro wanted to do the same.

"I know what I want to order," Seguchi-san mercifully changed the subject. The waiter who remained lingering took his order pad and came closer to the table "Fillet Mignion and American style French fries, I love those fatty and salty things" He smiled at them.

"They are the best!" Maiko once again opened her yap. "I eat McDonalds all the time, when I come back to Japan, that's what I'm going to miss the most, the fast food joints… Wendy's, Taco Bell, they're the best! Its not the same here."

"Are you schooling abroad?" Tohma asked, leaning forward in his seat and arching a brow, as if this interested him very much.

"Yes, I'm going to Harvard University in America."

"Very impressive," Tohma-san smiled. "Do you speak English?" He asked perfectly in the said language… was there anything this man couldn't do?

"Of course I been studying it since I was nine, the whole reason I went to America was so that I could practice it." Maiko responded in the language, Shu could only hope she was not saying something idiotic.

"How long have you and Hiro-kun been together?" Shu heard Hiro… Seguchi was asking something about Hiro; he glanced at his friend's pallid face compassionately.

"About three years," What the hell were they talking about? Shu was almost to the point of pulling his hair.

"That's so nice, that you know each other for so long, very important in relationships… am I prying too much Maiko-san?" Did he call her Miko-san? That's gonna go right to her head-thought Shuichi, as frustration was taking a whole new meaning.

"Oh of course not! Seguchi-san, you are doing so much for them. When we get married I'll make you Hiro's best man instead of my knuckle head brother."Seguchi-san gave a short laugh, one that people usually give when they were laughing at a joke that was not funny at all.

"I'll have the Caesar salad, and also braised chicken with French fries as well." Hiro interrupted in the hopes to shut Maiko up.

"Yeah, me too." Shuichi cut in, he hadn't even looked at the menu, he only wanted to change the subject very badly.

"What no steak Shu? I always thought you were like a lion - the redder the meat the better."

"I don't want steak, Maiko" Shuichi articulated tightly.

"Have it, this place is the best for it, believe me I have tried everywhere else," Seguchi sided with Maiko. "Do it as a favor to me, you can eat chicken everyday, besides this is a special occasion… Nittle Grasper's genius keyboardist." Maiko almost spit out her drink as she laughed loudly. Shu's face got so red, that he would have put a tomato to shame. "About you Hiro-kun, have a steak."

"Well… Ok," Hiro responded shyly looking away.

"Hiro doesn't eat red meat." Maiko said matter-of-factly. "He insists on not eating those poor defenseless animals who are brutally slaughtered, as if fish and chicken are not slaughtered." Hiro, for the first time ever gave Maiko a hateful stare.

"Oh. My apologies," murmured an embarrassed Tohma.

"Please, not at all, you have to excuse my "girlfriend" she doesn't get out much" Hiro mumbled tightly, still glaring daggers at her.

The food was brought and the conversation seemed to have deviated to their music-thanks god-Seguchi-san spoke of future projects, TV appearances, mini tours, the works. When he spoke business, Tohma Seguchi was a totally different person. Shuichi also noticed that every so often their boss would look at Hiro with strange glassy eyes, and at Maiko, with even stranger ones. He himself almost seemed nonexistent. Not that he minded at all, Shuichi hated to be the spotlight of any conversation, especially one his sister was participating in. A phone rang, and Seguchi-san excused himself, taking it out from within his jacket and answering it.

"Eiri?" He said immediately, apparently knowing whom it was. Upon hearing the name, Shu's heart skipped a beat…could it be? Nah, it would be too much of a coincidence. Seguchi Tohma listened for a moment, then his face changed dramatically.

"Hold on," he said and looked up to them.

"If you'll excuse me, its a personal call." Then he got up and walked a few paces away from them to continue his conversation. Hiro looked intently as if trying to decipher what was being said. Maiko ate her food as if nothing was happening, and Shu was reminded of his god so couldn't care less of what was going on. A moment later he came back with a darkened and somber expression.

"I very regretfully have to cut our evening short," he said tonelessly. "Please do enjoy yourselves, and again congratulations on a job well done." He smiled bitterly and signaled for the waiter to come.

"Is everything alright Seguchi-sama?" asked Hiro, looking very much concerned. It was very strange for him to pry into other peoples business. Seguchi Tohma looked as if he wanted to give him a hug, but gave a little bitter smile instead.

"My best friend and wife's father just passed." The waiter came and Tohma reverted his attention to him. "These gentleman and lady are my very important guests, see to that they get everything they might want." He pulled a credit card out of his wallet, handed it to the waiter and walked away.

"Seguchi-sama!" Hiro called standing from his chair, the man turned, "I am very sorry about your loss." He looked at Hiro for full thirty seconds, then smiled and walked away.

"I didn't know he was married, did you?" Maiko said absently, reassuming her meal. Shuichi looked at her disgustedly and Hiro just sat and stared ahead. "What? You don't expect me to feel sorry for him, I don't even know him." Maiko looked from one disapproving male to the other.

"You know, sometimes I wish god would have given you more of a brain, how tactless can you be?" Shu accused.

"You guys are too much!" Hiro snapped and left, leaving the siblings to bicker over their pettiness.

+++

"What happened?" Tohma asked as he walked into the family room of the Uesugi shrine. Eiri's mother cried on Mika's shoulder, Eiri stood leaning against the furthest window and Tatsuha knelt on the floor with his head in his hands.

"He had a heart attack when he found Tatsuha fucking a man." Eiri said tactlessly. The Uesugi threesome's mother cried louder and Mika shot a glare at her cold brother, while Tatsuha remained immobile.

"Eiri!" Mika admonished sternly.

"It's the truth," the cruel mangaka responded coldly. Tohma didn't know what to say, he knew about Tatsuha's less than adequate choice of partners, but he never thought he would be stupid enough to get caught, and by his father no less. He turned his tired gaze to the teenager, feeling a bit sorry for him, true, he didn't always like the libertine boy, but surely no one would hold him accountable for the death of his father. As if on cue Uesugi-san screamed at the boy.

"Get out! Get out of my house, murderer!" Tatsuha lifted his head; tears stained his usually cheerful face, guilt and pain written all over it.

"Mother…" Tatsuha reach out to her.

"Get out!" The woman screamed again, Tohma had to look the other way, not able to take in Tatsuha's pained expression.

"Why are you so surprised brother?" Eiri said with a hint of sarcasm. "They had you to replace me. I wonder if she'll do the same now." The older woman shot a tearful glare at her older son, dropping her eyes as his cold and accusing stare penetrated her very soul.

"Eiri!" Mika snapped angry, hugging their mother tightly.

"What?" Yuki smirked. "Are you going to tell me that I'm lying? I owe nothing to this family, I can say what I please." He turned to Tatsuha, who was just staring at the floor in disbelief. "If it makes you feel any better I fuck men too." Both Tatsuha and Mika turned to him as one, and Tohma just shook his head. "But since I'm not the graced son, it doesn't really matter, does it?" Eiri continued with his cruel lashing.

"Eiri, stop it!" Tohma begged unable to take it anymore, he knew Eiri's real feelings about the whole situation and as tough as a front he was putting up now, he knew he was hurting as well. Mika began crying along with their mother and Tatsuha stared at his older brother mortified.

"Fine," Yuki relented. "Who's taking care of the burial?"

"I don't want either of you to do it," Uesugi-san let out in a small voice.

"Don't worry… mother, I have no intention in dirtying my hands with either one of you."

"I will." Tohma intervened before Eiri could do anymore damage.

"Fine," Yuki snapped again, pulling himself from the wall he leaned on, and walking towards the door. He passed his mother, giving her a cold merciless look. "Tatsuha, get your things ready, you're coming with me," he said dismissively as he walked passed the. teen.

"But…"

"You heard her, she wants you out, and I will not offer again." Tatsuha looked at Tohma who nodded silently, and the youth rose and followed without looking back."

+++

"Isn't Mikka-san going to be mad?" Tatsuha asked trying to start a conversation with his older brother as they rode the snowy streets of Japan.

"What for?" Eiri said dryly.

"Y'know, you're bringing me to live with you and all… without asking her."

"Who said anything about you living with me, I'm keeping you while your mother cools off." The young monk looked down disappointed, it had been too good to be true.

"She's your mother too." Tatsuha pouted.

"She stopped being my mother the day she conceived you." Yuki responded with no regards toward his younger brother.

"You resent them that much?"

"To resent someone would take to have feelings toward them… I don't."

"But you…"

"Enough of this senseless talk, if you don't shut up I'm turning this car around." This was said without looking at the passenger. Yuki took a cigarette and lit it without missing a turn. They rode in silence the rest of the way, each with their own dark thoughts. Once at the elegant penthouse of one of Tokyo's most expensive buildings-where Yuki Eiri lived along with Mikka-Tatsuha couldn't help but to forget his tragedy and guilt, and be awed by his surroundings. He'd never been to Eiri's home before. He barely knew him, or the woman he'd been engaged with, like…forever.

"Is it true what you said?" he asked remembering the shocking confession.

"About?" Eiri asked setting his keys down and lighting another cigarette-the man could smoke like a chimney-A maid came in to take their coats, "Bring me a beer, is Mikka home?"

"Yes sir, and no sir, Costa-san isn't back yet." The woman replied, bowed and went to do what she was told.

"Y'know… about… what you said, at the house." Tatsuha lowered his face, too embarrassed to just blurt it out.

"About me fucking men? Why would I lie, certainly not to protect you?" The teens face got redder; he couldn't even begin to imagine his high and mighty brother, plugging or being plugged by a guy, the desire to know who his partners had been made Tatsuha forget all about his dilemma. "Listen, here's the rules." Eiri changed the subject as if they had been talking about the whether. The maid came back with the beer and a cup of cocoa for the younger Uesugi, which he took gratefully. Yuki opened the can took a big gulp of it and continued. "Stay away from me, from my studio, and my imported beer." And with that he began to walk away.

"What about Mikka-san," Tatsuha slapped himself inwardly for being such a moron, but his sharp tongue was more often than not faster than his brain. Eiri perked a brow.

"Giving your sexual preference, I doubt I'll have to worry about that. In any event, you're welcome to try." And with those astounding words the blond mangaka left, leaving his guest alone in the room. Tatsuha threw himself on the couch and looked intently at the patterns on the ceiling, he sighed loudly. He wanted to be sad over the loss of his father, he wanted to feel guilty, but he found that he could not. He wasn't the biggest fan of the old man either, plus, finding out about his godly brother's "earthly" habits, and the prospect of spending some time in Tokyo was just too exiting.

…Wait for me Ryuichi… I'm coming to get you…

XXX

A/N: Whaaaaaaaa Yuki is gay!? And I didn't know about it, how could he tell Tatsu-kun before he told me ^o^

Well, well, well… more people to the equation eh? I wonder what role will Tatsuha play in future chapters… if he's around that means that a certain someone else will be around as well… OMG this is getting to complicated *pulling hair frustratingly*

Next Stop: Seven Days Tohma comes back from Kyoto to find a few complications with one his "boys" and yet another twist and turn in the path of Bad Luck's future… don't miss it!

To answer the universal question… When is there going to be Yuki/Shu action? I have this to say *rubs her crystal ball* Two chaps, the next one and one more (hopefully I don't feel the need to blabber some more or to add another turn to the plot) Is highly unlikely though, my hentai heart is demanding a hot lemon with the asshole writer and our boy as well^^