Gravitation Fan Fiction ❯ Break Through ❯ Spicy Marmalade ( Chapter 15 )

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

NC-17 for adult themes, cursing and Yaoi

Thanks to MelizaMac for her wonderful and speedy beta efforts

 

Chapter Fourteen: Spicy Marmalade

 

 

Tatsuha got into the limo and sat next to Mika, crossing his arms and looking down with poorly hidden contempt. After he and Eiri left the Karaoke bar, his brother had not uttered a single word, making the short walk to the car seem like miles. Tatsuha was so embarrassed. Eiri never cared about him before… why now? And in front of Shuichi on top of everything; first Mika now him! His crazy siblings were going to scare off his friends before he could even secure them. But that aside, the teen had never seen his brother so angry; at one point, Tatsuha thought he heard Eiri's teeth grind.

 

“Oh, thank god you found him!” Mika cried and threw her arms around Tatsuha; the teen instinctively stiffened looking at the others, scared.

 

“Was he with… Shuichi?” Tohma asked tactfully. After Eiri had left the car, the two women were left to wonder - very vocally - the meaning of his anger. The mangaka turned a sour face to his old friend but made no reply.

 

“I don't get it. What is it to you who I see?” Tatsuha blurted, after freeing himself from his sister's grip.

 

“Because you're sixteen, and because is not natural for you too see boys,” Mika was quick to reply. “Tatsuha, why can't you get a nice looking girl, I bet you have them dropping from the sky” she ignored her brother's scowl, “And a rock star on top of that! We know all about those.”

 

“What is all about those… enlighten me please, because I don't know!” Tohma said defensively.

 

“You are different Tohma,” Mika replied softly, remembering that Tohma had been in Nittle Grasper when they got married… god it seemed like eons ago.

 

“I wasn't referring to me per se,” the producer grumbled, turning to Tatsuha and ending the subject. “I didn't want to get involved, but your mother gave me full leave in making decisions as far as you are concerned, and since I see you get in one blunder after another, I will take matters into my own hands. We cannot have your past… mistakes repeat themselves.”

 

“I'm not going back to Kyoto!” Tatsuha snapped sternly.

 

“No, you will not, at least not yet, I doubt your mother would want you there right now, and since you will be living under my roof: first, you will be enrolled in school, and you are not to see Shuichi again.”

 

“What!?” Tatsuha yelled in disbelief. He had not wanted Tohma to get involved, although his brother-in-law was one of the coolest people he knew, he was strict to the core… probably the reason he went so far in life at such a young age.

 

“You heard me,” Tohma replied calmly.

 

“Shu-kun is my friend; nothing's going on between us!” Tatsuha appealed the harsh decision.

 

“Judging by what Mika told me, I'm inclined not to believe you,” Tatsuha shot his sister a glare.

 

“It's not so, she just jumped to a conclusion without even asking… as always.”

 

“You were kissing him!” Mika exclaimed, eliciting a wince from Eiri - which was not lost to his less than happy fiancé.

 

“Regardless,” Tohma intervened before the conversation could escalate to a full-blown argument between the two hotheaded siblings, “I don't want you to see him anymore.” Tohma was angry, and even if he didn't loose his composure like Mika, or had an evil aura glowing around him like Eiri, everyone in the car could tell.

 

“Why?” The young monk asked defiantly. Tohma didn't have a valid reason other than the fact that Yuki had been obsessed to the point of stalking, and was now involved with the singer. Also, the fact that his old lover was beside himself with jealousy - or so it seemed. At any other time Tohma would have resented Shuichi, the boy had gotten more emotions out of Eiri in these past few months than he himself had in all the years they knew each other, but now that he had Hiro, Tohma completely understood Eiri… god knew he would retaliate against whoever tried to come between Hiro and himself.

 

“Because you can't be trusted,” Tohma replied. Tatsuha pursed his lips and crossed his arms stubbornly once more; there would be plenty of time to appeal his case later.

 

“As long as he goes to school and stays out of trouble, I say let the brat see whoever he wants,” Eiri blurted, surprising them all. Tatsuha snapped his hopeful eyes to his brother, “If he does it here, at least we'll be sure he won't kill the bitch back in Kyoto of a heart attack too.”

 

“Eiri!” both Mika and Mikka exclaimed in unison. Tatsuha lowered his head - in shame this time - but said nothing.

 

“I don't think it is a good idea…” Tohma began, only to receive a glare from the blond mangaka.

 

“Where to?” came the driver's voice. Both women looked at one another, as if deciding what to do.

 

“I'm getting off here,” Eiri added opening the door.

 

“Eiri…” Mikka whispered but knew better than to antagonize her fiancé when he was mad. Eiri got out of the car and slammed the door shut, neither Tohma nor his wife tried to persuade him to stay. Tohma turned the intercom and instructed the driver to get Mikka home, and then to head of to their own penthouse in the middle of the city.

 

“I so wanted tonight to be special… like old times,” Mika sighed as the car drove off. Mikka just lifted her head long enough to give her friend a small, ironic smile, and Tohma kept on staring out the window; if he heard, he showed no sign of it. Tatsuha just sat there, wanting to be invisible for the moment. Mikka had turned to him, and was now glaring, as if wanting to say something but deciding against it. The minutes passed and the tension in the car could be cut with a knife. This was worse than being back in Kyoto on the day their father died.

 

“Where do you suppose Eiri is going?” Mika asked, trying to ease the mood.

 

“To his studio I suppose,” Mikka lamented, she had wanted the night to be special as well. She couldn't really blame Eiri; he had tried, if only his family wasn't so dysfunctional, none of this would be happening.

 

“So… am I going to your house Mika?” Tatsuha asked, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

 

“Yes,” his sister replied.

 

The young monk flashed a smirk and dialed a number; both women watched him, wondering who in the world could he be calling. A few moments later he spoke:

 

“Hey, Shu… I just wanted to apologize…I know you're mad, I won't bother you long, I just want to make sure we're cool,” All others in the car turned to the impetuous youth and glared with incredulous faces.

 

“You've got some nerve!” Mika begrudged through her teeth, and Tatsuha only smiled at her sweetly.

 

“I'll talk to you tomorrow, I gotta go before my sister beheads me,” He closed his phone, put it away, and looked out the window much like Tohma had been doing.

 

“Tatsuha,” Mikka said carefully, “What is your relationship with that boy, and how did you meet him?” The young monk turned to her.

 

“I already told you, we're friends; I mean, I'm trying to be his friend, but you people keep butting in and embarrassing the hell out of me,” He pointed a stern look to his sister, then continued, “I met him at NG, he bumped into me and we hit it off, he's friends with Sakuma-san, so if you guys leave me alone long enough to establish a friendship with him, maybe I can get him to help me get an autograph from my all time idol… since someone I know won't do it,” Tatsuha looked to Tohma this time, who didn't seem to hear.

 

“All that for an autograph!” Mika shouted, “I can get you one, I know Ryuichi too. I don't like him, and I can't fathom why everyone does, but I can get one for you, so please Tatsu-kun, stop being so… irresponsible.”

 

“No can do… I like Shu, so I want to be his friend, besides you laughed at me when I begged you to help me before,” Tatsuha flashed a smile, happy to see his sister so distressed.

 

“Tohma say something!” she snapped.

 

“You're such a baby, you always run to Tohma-kun when you don't know what to do… See he doesn't care, he can't even hear you, he's totally tuning you out,” Tatsuha laughed watching his sister get red faced.

 

“Tatsuha,” Tohma warned sternly without turning.

 

“I am older than you! You will respect me you little brat, or it's back to Kyoto with you. See how you'll get to see your precious Shuichi or Ryuichi all the way from there.”

 

“Snake!” Tatsuha snapped, loosing his cool.

 

“Whore!” Mika retorted back.

 

“Both of you stop!” Tohma snapped loudly, Tatsuha jumped in place, it was the first time he ever heard his brother-in-law raise his voice. “Let's just drive home in peace,” the blond man continued in his usual soft tone.

 

They rode in silence the rest of the way. Once in front of Mikka and Eiri's place, the pop singer kissed Mika and nodded her farewell to Tohma.

 

“Walk me up,” she directed Tatsuha.

 

“Yeah, I gotta get my stuff,” the teen replied. He immediately got out of the car and walked toward the building with her. Tatsuha didn't particularly talk about anything with her, the charming man in him was dying to, but he knew better. He had sensed a lot of turbulence between his brother and his gorgeous fiancé in the little time he stayed with them. Once in the elevator, she looked him directly in the eye.

 

“How well do you know that boy?” she asked.

 

“Who… Shuichi?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Not too well, I only met him about a week ago,” Tatsuha replied wondering why Mikka would care.

 

“I see… do you know anything about him? I mean, if he has a girlfriend… boyfriend, you know that sort of thing,” It suddenly became very clear to the monk, what she was driving at. He remembered the show, and the expression she had had. It was almost funny that she would be jealous of Shuichi, but considering how Eiri had acted that night… and tonight, he couldn't really blame her.

 

“I don't know, we haven't gotten that close yet. He does want me to help him get Eiri's autograph though,” Tatsuha said, testing the waters.

 

“Why would you need to help him, I suppose he can ask him himself,” Mikka replied.

 

“I met him before the show,” Tatsuha watched her flinch, at the mention of that fiasco.

 

“Oh, you saw that,” she murmured.

 

“Half of Japan did… if not more,” Tatsuha observed.

 

“Whatever, can find out for me what his intentions with Eiri are, please. Can I trust you?” Mikka put emphasis to the last part.

 

“Yeah,” Tatsuha said as if stating the obvious, even though he had no intentions of letting her know more than it was necessary for her to find out, of course he wasn't going to tell her that, but he played along. “I'll ask him next time I see him.”

 

“Please don't tell him Tatsuha,” Mikka stressed with a glint of worry in her voice.

 

“I'm not telling him, is not like we're blood bonded or something; besides, I've known you for a lot longer, I know where my loyalties lie.”

 

Satisfied with the answer Mikka smiled and rewarded the precocious teen with a kiss on the cheek. “Now, get your things quickly and get going before Mika throws a fit.”

 

They both smiled rolling their eyes. Tatsuha knew exactly what Mikka meant.

 

+++

 

Yuki walked down the street, letting the cold breeze hit him in the face and soothe his rage. The whole scene played itself over and over. At the NG studio, then at the bar.

 

“Fucking whore…” Yuki swore lowly, lighting a cigarette; it served him right though, he should have known better than to fall for the little punk. And the worst part was that it hurt, it hurt more than he'd ever hurt before. Part of him wanted to dismiss the whole thing as a “good fuck” and that's it, but another part wanted to confront the singer and

demand an explanation. Yuki had thought about going back to the bar, but then decided not to; he had no business demanding anything from the child, especially since he had treated the kid so shabbily that very same morning. He hailed a taxi and went to his studio, maybe a good dose of drawing would make him feel better… god knew he'd been neglecting his only friends in the world long enough. Forget that any of this ever happened, forget about the beautiful singer who stole his sanity, and go back to live his life as he'd done before. At least he had learned one good lesson out of the whole thing… never fall for anyone again.

 

+++

 

“I'd say this has been one long night,” Mika sighed as she threw herself onto the spacious bed. Dealing with her brother was something she had not prepared herself for. She turned her head over to look at her husband… her beautiful husband. The man who had swept her off her feet at first sight with his charm, his soft voice, his elegance, the man who had given her the most intense pleasures, as well as the most acute pain. Mika loved him; she loved Seguchi Tohma so much it hurt.

 

Since they'd married, and even before then, she had known that he didn't return that love. She'd even known about his affair with Eiri, but had been too in love to care.

 

She had been right on one thing in the end; both Eiri and Tohma got each other out of their systems and moved on. Eiri with Mikka, and Tohma… well. Mika had never been able to make him love her in the same infatuated and unfathomable way she loved him, but he was with her, and that was all that mattered; although these past few months, Tohma's rejection was piercing her soul.

 

She watched him take off his jacket and set it on one of the chairs in the room, his every movement so flawless, so perfect. He hardly ever slept in their bed anymore, and he allowed her to have affairs with whomever she pleased. Sometimes she did it to hurt him, to humiliate him, but he didn't seem to notice nor care. He hadn't even touched her for almost a year, and yet… she would not give him up.

 

“You seem very absent-minded today Tohma,” Mika observed absently, admiring for the first time in months, the man who supposedly belonged to her.

 

“I've got a lot of things on my mind,” Tohma replied with the same elusiveness as usual.

“I'm very sorry about tonight; I wanted it to be a special evening.”

 

Tohma turned to her and watched her curiously for a few moments. “I don't know why you are so surprised.”

 

“I'll make it up to you,” Mika husked making her way to him, and pressing herself against his back, as she put her arms around his narrow waist. Tohma walked towards his closet as he undid his tie, easily freeing himself form the loose embrace. Mika watched him, hurt stinging her eyes, and then followed.

 

“No need for that,” Tohma muttered, realizing she was behind him.

 

“Tohma… am I that disgusting?”

 

He gave her a little smile and shook his head, “Now why would you say that?”

 

“Because you avoid me like the plague that's why! We don't see each other anymore, and when we do, you don't have anything to say. I am your wife dammit! And to talk to you, I need an appointment. I bet Mikka, Eiri, and even those Bad Luck boys see you more than I do!” To this Tohma turned with a stern look. Mika vowed not to cry in front of him, not to show him how frustrated he made her feel, but the hot wetness made its way down her face nonetheless.

 

“Mika, I am very busy at the moment, I have a lot on my plate,” was all Tohma said, and coldly turned, going into his closet and closing the door behind him. Mika stood looking at the closed door stupefied.

 

“Tohma you are a coward!” She screamed at the top of her lungs. A second later the door opened to reveal a half naked Tohma. Even as mad as she was, Mika couldn't help but to admire his perfectly toned upper body.

 

“Don't I give you whatever you want, don't I let you do anything you wish… what do you want from me? Tohma's pitch sounded almost out of place from the angelic face. Mika pursed her lips, and stood her ground, she would not let him get away… not this time.

 

“I don't care about money, and what good is freedom if I cannot share it with the one I love? Maybe I want you to care about what I do, what I feel,” Her tears were blinding her, but right now she didn't care.

 

“I care not for your affairs,” Tohma let out, throwing that in the already thick air.

 

“Have you wondered why I have affairs Tohma… it isn't because I don't love you.”

 

“Whatever the reason, I'm tired; I want to go to bed. You already rendered my evening to waste; and I have to go to the studio early,” Tohma continued matter of fact, completely disregarding Mika's admission,

 

“Say what's on your mind Tohma… let me hear it please, let me not believe that you are a heartless doll!” Mika screamed, frustrated at his evasiveness, carelessness and disregard. How can the man she's given herself to so completely, care so little for her?

 

“What's on my mind, you really don't want to hear,” Tohma begrudged, darkening his gaze.

 

“I do, I really do want to hear it!”

 

They stood facing each other like in one of those old western movies, one waiting for the other to falter. After what seemed like hours Tohma sighed and went into his dressing room, closing the door behind him.

 

+++

 

 

“I want to see you,” the soft voice whispered.

 

“Seguchi-san?” Hiro said uncertainly, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

 

“Hey, what's that? I thought we were more… acquainted than that,” Tohma joked softly realizing that it was past two, and Hiro must have been asleep.

 

“Sorry… old habits die hard.”

 

“Can I come over?” the need-dripped voice gave Hiro a pull in his loin. Of course he wanted Tohma to come over, and run his hands over his hot skin, soft hair, kiss the sensuous lips and hear the man moan under him… but then a picture of the man's wife came immediately to mind.

 

“Shuichi is home, I'd rather he not know about us yet,” Hiro murmured, trying to omit the jealousy from his voice.

 

“Of course, I understand… let's meet somewhere then. I need to see you badly,” Hiro thought about it, it would be so easy to submit, pushing his own feelings aside, but his pride screamed otherwise.

 

“I can't… we have to be at the studio early… you too. K-san said we're doing a colab with your band in the morning… we'll see each other then,” Hiro could feel Tohma's disappointment, but moments passed and the man said nothing.

 

“Alright,” came the low reply, “I'll see you then.” The line went dead. Hiro laid awake the rest of the night, wanting, but also dreading the morning to come.

 

+++

 

Shuichi had sat on a stool at the bar, staring blankly at the wall, until the staff kicked him out at closing. He wanted to die, crawl on his bed and sleep forever. Or wake up next to Yuki, to find that this had been nothing but a nightmare. But no such luck, it was real, all real. The man of his dreams hated him; and their possible relationship was over before it even started. He walked the streets aimlessly, until his feet were numb.

 

“Why me?” he whispered into the night. He found a desolated park and sat on one of the benches, willing a gang to come and beat him to a pulp… anything to take his mind off Yuki, if only for a second. No such luck - the place was as lonely and dark as his soul. Shuichi threw his head back, looking at the stars as if they held the answer to his question. He pulled a pad and pen he always carried with him for whenever inspiration hit him… and poured his heart and soul onto it.

 

+++

 

The next morning, after writing his last love song to Yuki Eiri, and roaming aimlessly all night, Shuichi decided to forget anything ever happened with the mangaka. Hard as it might be, there was no way the man was ever interested in him, and as things stood, not even for a good casual fuck. He should have known the minute Yuki asked him to go to his studio that he was never meant to be anything but a one-night stand. And he had willingly played the whore; just thinking about it made Shuichi mad. He had been so heart broken at the bar, even felt guilty, but after analyzing the situation he thought himself in, he realized - much to his hurt - that Yuki didn't even care.

 

“Look who decided to grace us with his presence,” Hiro smirked.

 

His best friend looked very happy… at least somebody was, thought Shuichi jealously. He took in the rest of the faces staring at him, noting several he didn't know.

 

“Shu-kun, Hiro has been trying to call you all morning,” Suguru began. Shuichi shot him a glare that told the teenager that he was in no mood to be antagonized.

 

“Who are these people?” Shuichi asked, not bothering to reply Suguru's comment.

 

“They are Grasper's people… did you forget? We are to record a collaboration with them… your idea, if I may remind you,” Shuichi nodded, noting that said band was not around, which meant that he was not that late.

 

“Where are they?” Shu asked.

 

Hiro shrugged and began playing a few notes on his guitar.

 

“Are you alright?” the longhaired man asked, after a few minutes of watching Shuichi closely.

 

“Yeah, I just need some coffee,” the singer replied absently, making his way to the kitchenette.

 

“You sure?” Hiro insisted - Shuichi did not drink coffee - earning a similar glare as Suguru had before Shuichi walked away.

 

“Alright man, that's what I get for worrying about your ass. Anyway, if you don't trust me enough to tell me what's on your mind suit yourself, its not like I don't have my own shit to worry about. I just thought since you've been acting weird since “First Stage” I'd check on you… sorry if I stepped out of line,” Hiro ended sarcastically.

 

Shuichi softened his expression and gave his friend a grateful look. It's true that Hiro had always been there for him, but there was nothing anyone could do now. He would have to deal with the loss of Yuki all on his own.

 

“Shuuuu-kun!” In spite of his sorrow, an unconscious smile made its way to Shuichi's somber face at the sound of that familiar voice. Then it grew wider as the arms that followed it came around his neck.

 

“Is your boyfriend still mad at you?” Ryuichi's lips were right next to his ear, and for some reason, his tone didn't have that staple innocence that made Ryuichi… well Ryuichi. The timbre Shuichi so loved from his idol was simply not there. He turned slightly to avoid touching Ryu's lips with his own.

 

“He's not my boyfriend Ryu-kun. Tatsuha is just my friend, he's just… weird like that.”

 

Ryuichi smiled widely; Shu wasn't sure if he liked that smile at all.

 

“Where's Kumo-chan?” the singer asked suddenly worried.

 

“Kumo-chan?” Shu repeated confused, then it hit him, “Oh, bunny-kun, I'm sorry, I forgot to bring him,” Shu apologized, not wanting to make his “other” idol mad. Ryu's arms went from his shoulders to his waist and held him tight, startling Shuichi.

 

“It's ok, I can get him later. Did you sleep with him… does he smell like you?” Ryuichi muttered softly in his ear, tightening his arms around him all the more. Shu was taken aback by this sudden aggressiveness from the older man.

 

“Sorry we're late everyone, we were having a meeting and it dragged a little longer than expected,” Tohma Seguchi explained while entering, followed by Sakano-san and Ukai Noriko. It was the first time they all got to see her in person - except for Suguru of course.

 

She smiled widely, taking in everyone in the room and waved. K-san, of course, had to make his entrance very vocally - and annoyingly.

 

Nakano-san went to Hiro and began talking to him as if he were the leader of the band, not that Shuichi particularly cared at the moment. Seguchi walked past Hiro and Suguru, completely ignoring them; in fact, he seemed in a pretty sour mood… great! Thought Shu rolling his eyes… a great start for a stressful day

 

“Ryuichi,” Tohma Seguchi called sternly. The singer let go of him and sauntered over to his band member, but not without giving Shuichi a look that gave the younger singer the chills.

 

“Here are the lyrics to the colab song. Shuichi, here is your copy of the score, learn them by tonight, the same goes for you Ryuichi. We'll rehearse all day today and record tomorrow; if we want to release on time it has to be that way. I will accept neither mistakes nor excuses of any kind,” Tohma looked around the room, his eyes falling for a second or two on each and every person in the room, to emphasize the fact.

 

“Shining Collection…” Ryuichi read aloud, and smiled from ear to ear. “I like it!”

 

“Like I said, today we concentrate on learning the score and coordinating our styles, and tomorrow we record,” Tohma walked to Suguru's keyboard, the teen instinctively moved aside to make way for his mentor. Tohma turned the synth on and set the score on its proper place. “I'll play it once on my own, to give you the feel, then we'll do it together.” Then, the blonde producer looked around, as if realizing something he hadn't before.

 

“What's wrong?” Noriko asked.

 

“It seems there are too many keyboardists,” Tohma announced matter of fact, Noriko began laughing hysterically, and poor Suguru looked scared, naturally, since he was the new comer, the obvious choice would be to cut him off the project. “Noriko, please, I have a headache,” Tohma added tonelessly, but with a stern face that said it all.

 

“Sorry, sorry, it just sounded too funny,” the voluptuous woman replied still snickering.

 

“Noriko will play for Grasper, and Suguru for Bad Luck, Hiro will play his guitar, and both Ryuichi and Shuichi will do vocals.”

 

“What about you?” Hiro jumped the gun, “…Seguchi-san,” he added as an after thought.

 

“I'll mix the arrangement,” Tohma replied without even looking at Hiro, then turned his attention toward the score, after setting the instrument to his liking, he began to play. Shuichi realized why the man was called master; he played effortlessly, as if he had played the song a thousand times. He changed the setting and styles a couple of times. Shuichi could tell, because he had a trained ear, and played synth as well, but to anybody else the song would have sounded flawless. Finding the right sound for it, Seguchi-san stuck with it until the end. Once finished, everyone was speechless. Shuichi thanked god he didn't have to play in front of the man; he was simply too good, impossible to match. Ryu began applauding and rooting.

 

“Man… Tohma-kun you're better than I remember!” Suguru turned to the older singer with a lost expression on his face. Shuichi could tell that he was feeling pretty intimidated as well.

 

“Hmph, a little rusty I see, ne Tohma?” Noriko let out… rusty, did that mean he could actually do it better? Shuichi didn't know what to think, in that moment he felt so small and undeserving of his good fortune.

 

“Unlike others, I do not have time to practice,” the mogul returned sarcastically.

 

Shuichi wondered why he was so angry, and then he froze, thinking that somehow he was responsible for it… damn Tatsuha! Shu cursed inwardly

 

“What's wrong with you? I better have a talk to Mika,” Noriko smirked, earning a glare from Tohma… and Hiro.

 

“Yeah Tohma-kun why are you so mad?” Ryu followed, and Seguchi just rolled his eyes.

 

“I have a few things to take care of, I trust you all will do what I told you… or do I have to send Usagi to supervise?” Tohma said looking straight at K-san, who miraculously had remained quiet throughout the whole session.

 

“Hey… you doubt me Tohma?” the blonde man laughed lightly. “I'm the one in charge of Ryu's career remember?”

 

“Exactly,” Tohma replied coldly and K-san fell silent, whatever was bothering Seguchi- san, Shuichi wished he could fix it; he was scared of this vicious person who acted exactly the opposite of the generous producer he knew.

 

Tohma Seguchi went out the door without a further word. They all stood looking at one another, as if not knowing what to do.

 

“I've got something to do. I'll be right back,” Hiro muttered and went out as well.

 

“Hey! You heard the boss, you're supposed to rehearse!” K-san shouted after the longhaired man, without getting any reply.

 

“Let him go,” Suguru added absently, “If you all want to have a pleasant day, let him go talk to Tohma-kun.”

 

Everyone turned to the youth.

 

“What do you mean?” Shuichi asked puzzled.

 

“You're pretty dense to be adults,” Suguru smirked at the confused crowd.

 

“I am dense, so if you know something I don't, why don't you tell me?” Shuichi said annoyingly, he hated the way Suguru thought himself so damn smart.

 

“I thought he was supposed to be your best friend,” the teen looked accusingly, as if Shu was supposed to know what was going on.

 

“No!” exclaimed Noriko all of a sudden, then began laughing hysterically again, “And I said I should talk to Mika, when the root of the problem was standing right next to me!”

 

She could hardly keep her voice straight. Ryuichi exchanged looks with Shu, and they all ran out the door at the same time.

 

++++

 

A/N: OMG! Don't tell me they'll find out about Hiro and Tohma!! Kyaaaaaaaa… I hope they do, psst… is not like Tohma tries to hide it or anything. Yuki and Shuichi deserve an award for being such morons. They love each other… so suck it up and just be together man!

 

Next Stop: Far East of Eden, A lot of thing will happen... but my lips are sealed o.O All I can say is this: DON'T MISS IT!