Gravitation Fan Fiction ❯ Cats, Crutches and Babies? Oh My! ❯ If Everyone Cared ( Chapter 17 )

The first thing Tatsuha noticed when he woke up, was that Ryu was no longer in bed with him. The monk had rolled over happily, hoping to wrap his arms around a firm warm body and maybe even start a round of wake up sex, but what he found was quite the opposite. Instead of Ryuichi lying next to him, Ryu's stuffed pink bunny was there instead.

 

`I guess he didn't want me to wake up alone,' The teen thought sleepily as he plowed his face back into the pillows in a comically frustrated fashion, inhaling deeply as he smiled. He loved the smell of Ryuichi and his pillows were absolutely saturated with his scent. It was soft, musky and a bit like the bunches of purple freesia his sister always kept in a vase on her kitchen table.

 

Tatsuha would have been perfectly happy to lay in Ryu's huge, warm bed all morning, but the nag of curiosity pulled him from the covers and led him to seek out his boxers. He had to go find out why Ryu had left him -more of less- by himself. Before he left the vicinity of the bed however, he leaned over and quickly grabbed Kumagoro off of the dark red sheets.

 

As Tatsuha got further from the bedroom he began to hear Ryu's muffled voice coming from what was probably the kitchen.

Getting closer still, the monk realized he was hearing Ryu's half of a shared argument. He peaked around the corner and could see that the singer was flustered and pacing in the kitchen, his cell-phone plastered to the side of his head.

 

“….Not like that at all! How could you think something like that Tohma!” Ryu cried angrily into the phone, “He's different then every one else!……..What do you mean Tohma?………..I wouldn't even think of-……Tohma, I know we're going on tour, but that shouldn't change anything…….Really!……..I haven`t really thought about it. Can't he just come on th-…..Why not?! He'll come! I'll ask him Tohma, I'm sure-…………..I don't care what his father says! Mika-san could-……………Oh and how would you know, you barely say two damn words to her! He'll come with me I know he will!”

 

Tatsuha couldn't believe that his brother in law, Seguchi Tohma, was having an argument with Ryuichi over him! The monk felt guilty for eavesdropping on the conversation, but it sounded like the fate of his and Ryu's current….well, whatever they had together, rested on it. He needed to hear this.

 

 

“…never comes on tour with you doesn't mean-…….. Yes, but Saki and Ukai-san came with Noriko when we went to Osaka! Remember? She was only four then! And Ukai-san is a grown man! Tatsuha wouldn't be-….. I know, but Tatsuha's way older then Saki! He wouldn't-………mhmm …. yes I know but-……that's not it at all Tohma! No!……….. I will not leave him just because you think I'm only momentarily infatuated with hi-………..No! Why do always have to be such a meany? You big meany!! You've never liked any of my lover's or my friends! Not Karu-san, not Seki-kun, not Genji-kun! Not anyone! You don't even like Shuichi-kun do you? and I've never even slept with him! Nobodies ever good enough for you are they? You know what I think it is? You're just jealous, you insensitive jerk! You're just jealous because I don't want you anymore!……No! Don't call me that Tohma! We`ve been over this dozens of times, I'm not in love with you anymore …. I`m sorry but that's just how it is. I care for you deeply and you know that, but I ….just can`t…. love you. I`m sorry, I really am.”

 

So Tohma and Ryuichi used to be lovers?' Thought Tatsuha, `That explains a lot…'

 

It hurt Ryu to say it but it really was the truth. He had a special place in his heart for Tohma and he knew that he always would, but that didn't alter the fact that they had both changed in so many ways since their early days in the band, when they would share hotel rooms and even be openly intimate on stage. There was no longer any real chemistry between them, and that was what Ryu missed most of all.

 

“……Tohma, I love Tatsuha, and Tatsuha loves me-…………….He doesn't care about the age gap between us and neither do I! He's coming on the damn tour with us and I don`t care what you have to do to make that happen!

You aren't anything without me Tohma! If Tatsuha doesn't go on tour, Then I don't go on tour, and if I don't go, then Nobody goes! I AM Nittle Grasper, and don't you ever forget it!”

 

 

After shouting those final words into his phone Ryu snapped it closed and slammed it onto the table. He ran a hand through his long, messy brown hair and just stood there for a moment, calming himself down. Tatsuha wanted to go to him, but he wasn't sure he wanted him to know that he had been listening in.

 

Just as Tatsuha made up his mind not to go and comfort his lover, Ryuichi turned around with a scowl on his face and tears in his eyes and headed determinedly toward the hallway where Tatsuha was hiding. The monk scrambled up and ran back to the bedroom. It looked like the singer was still in one of his “Determined” mindsets- where he pretty much acted like someone of his age and profession should- and Tatsuha had yet to fully encounter what that Ryuichi could be like one on one. He dashed out of his boxers and clambered back into bed as fast as he could.

 

The brown haired singer slid almost noiselessly into the bedroom just as Tatsuha was pretending to wake up.

Ryu threw himself face down onto the bed near Tatsuha, hugged his lover's quilt-covered leg and started crying.

 

The young mans years as a monk where finally coming in handy. If it was one thing he knew how to do, it was console people. It was a skill that sort of came with the profession he had been gently urged into.

 

He carefully slid in front of Ryu, making soft `shhhh'-ing noises. The singer looked up at him and gave a sort of half smile before starting to cry again. Tatsuha straightened out the covers in his lap and smoothly lifted Ryu's head into it. The rock singer quickly adjusted to where he was comfortable and hugged himself to Tatsuha's lower body. The monk smiled sympathetically as he stroked his lover's hair and back, all the while still making soft crooning noises and gentle sounds.

 

“Want to talk about it?” Tatsuha asked carefully after Ryu had stopped crying and the two of them were sitting together in heavy silence.

 

Ryuichi lifted his head and sat up.

The monk could tell from his facial expression that Ryu didn't really want to talk, but he felt that he needed to.

 

“Tohma called me this morning and…said that he wanted to talk. He said he was at a hospital and I thought maybe Mika or somebody was hurt so I left you here and went into the kitchen to talk to him.”

Ryu stopped talking to snuggled closer to Tatsuha and put an arm around his waist.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Tohma, is somebody hurt there?” Ryu asked, concern flooding into his voice.

 

“Ryuichi,” The blonde stated firmly, “That is not the issue right now. I would like you to tell me what you're doing with Tatsuha-kun.”

 

“Well,” Ryu started, “He's sleeping right now so I guess we`re not doing anything. Why?”

 

Tohma was getting agitated. He needed to speak with the serious Ryuichi if he was going to get anything accomplished.

 

“Ryuichi, Do not play dumb with me. You know as well as I do that it won't work, now tell me what you're doing with my brother in law.”

 

Ryuichi closed his eyes for a moment and then spoke.

“I picked him up from the Shinkansen and we had sex here last night. Is that what you wanted to hear Tohma?”

 

The keyboardist had hoped that Ryu wasn't going to say that, but he knew deep down that the man was definitely not as innocent as he appeared and so such hope was pointless.

 

“So now that you're done with him, is he just going to be another name to add to your collection?”

 

Ryu was shocked.

“It's not like that at all! How could you think something like that Tohma!”

 

The singer began pacing uncomfortably. He knew that Tohma had every right to assume that Tatsuha was just another one of his spur of the moment indulgences, even though he was wrong.

 

“He's different then every one else!”

 

“Yes and that's exactly what you said about me, wasn't it?”

 

“What do you mean Tohma?”

 

“You have your fun and toss them out when you get bored. That's what happened to all the other's and that's what's going to happen to Tatsuha-kun.”

 

“I wouldn't even think of--”

 

“No of course you wouldn't. Would you? You know we're going on tour soon, don't you?”

 

“Tohma, I know we're going on tour, but that shouldn`t change anything.”

 

“Really?” Tohma asked venomously.

 

“Really!” Ryu said forcefully, as if challenging Tohma to tell him other wise.

 

“And what happens when You're gone for a few months and then suddenly you come back?” The blonde asked in his soft, sickeningly sweet voice that Ryu knew masked his true feelings.

 

“I haven`t really thought about it. Can't he just come on th--”

 

“No Ryuichi, I'm afraid he can not.”

 

“Why not?! He'll come! I'll ask him Tohma, I'm sure--”

 

“And what about his father, Ryu-chan? Do you really think he will allow his nineteen year old son to travel with a rock band in a foreign country for three months?”

 

“I don't care what his father says! Mika-san could--”

 

“Mika would not allow such a thing. She wouldn't go against her father's wishes, especially when it is about something like this.”

 

“Oh and how would you know, you barely say two damn words to her! He'll come with me I know he will!”

 

“You really think so Ryu? We'll be gone for months, three maybe four. Do you think somebody his age would be willing to just drop his entire life to go running across Europe with you? Mika wouldn't come with me for that long unless I begged her to and still, my chances would be slim!”

 

“Just because Mika never comes on tour with you doesn't mean--”

 

“Is this really so different Ryuichi? Do you know how many problems having someone with you creates?”

 

“Yes, but Saki and Ukai-san came with Noriko when we went to Osaka! Remember? She was only four then! And Ukai-san is a grown man! Tatsuha wouldn't be--”

 

“Don't you remember how Saki got under everyone's feet and was constantly running around back stage?”

 

“I know, but Tatsuha's way older then Saki! He wouldn't-”

 

“And Ukai-san was always ordering people around and making them bring him things?”

 

“mhmm….yes I know but--”

 

“And think of how often we'd have to track you down and drag you away from him so you could do your job. You just want him to come so that you can keep him close for whenever you need him, is that it?”

 

“That's not it at all Tohma! No!”

Ryu was furious that Tohma would imply such a thing about him. He could get any one he wanted, whenever he wanted them and Tohma knew that better then anyone. He could get men, women and teenager's; Whoever, so why would he need Tatsuha to come along just for that?

 

“I've had enough of this conversation Ryuichi. I think that it will be in your best interest if you break off whatever it is that you have with him and let it go. We both know that this is just a passing obsession.”

 

“I will not leave him just because you think I'm only momentarily infatuated with hi--”

 

“Calm down Ryuichi. Don't be difficult. You know I'm right.”

 

“No! Why do always have to be such a meany? You big meany!! You've never liked any of my lover's or my friends! Not Karu-san, not Seki-kun, not Genji-kun! Not anyone! You don't even like Shuichi-kun do you? and I've never even slept with him!

Nobodies ever good enough for you are they? You know what I think it is? You're just jealous, you insensitive jerk! You're just jealous because I don't want you anymore!”

 

“Ryuichi-han, Don`t say tha-”

 

“No! Don't call me that Tohma! We`ve been over this dozens of times, I'm not in love with you anymore …. I`m sorry but that's just how it is. I care for you deeply and you know that, but I ….just can`t…. love you. I`m sorry, I really am.”

 

It hurt Ryu to say it but it really was the truth. He had a special place in his heart for Tohma and he knew that he always would, but that didn't alter the fact that they had both changed in so many ways since their early days in the band, when they would share hotel rooms and even be openly intimate on stage. There was no longer any real chemistry between them, and that was what Ryu missed most of all.

 

“Tohma, I love Tatsuha, and Tatsuha loves me-”

 

“Ryu this is absurd! He's sixteen years younger then you! That's almost two decades! Can you honestly believe that there's something between the two of you!”

 

“He doesn't care about the age gap between us and neither do I!

He's coming on the damn tour with us and I don`t care what you have to do to make that happen!

You aren't anything without me Tohma! If Tatsuha doesn't go on tour, Then I don't go on tour, and if I don't go, then Nobody goes! I AM Nittle Grasper, and don't you ever forget it!”

~~~~~~~~~end flashback~~~~~~

 

“And then I hung up on him and now I feel terrible.”

Ryu wrapped both arms around Tatsuha and hugged him tightly.

 

“Please promise that you'll come with me. Please Tatsuha?”

 

Tatsuha smiled and reached a hand up to hold and rub the back of Ryuichi's neck.

He turned his face to place a kiss on the side of Ryu's head and then moved his mouth down to the older man's ear to whisper, “I promise.”

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>& gt;>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

“What was that all about Tohma?” Mika asked impatiently as her husband moved from outside to join her in the anteroom between the two pairs of sliding doors that separated the outside weather from the inside of the hospital. He wouldn't be allowed to make cell phone calls from inside the hospital so he had been standing outside while Mika waited for him where it was warm.

 

Tohma sighed and put his cold hands in his pockets as they walked into the hospital lobby.

“It's your brother. Ryuichi seems to think that he's in love with him.”

 

“What?!” Mika shouted, causing some of the nurses to give her disapproving looks, “What do you mean he`s in love with him? They're not….oh god…They're not together, are they?”

 

Tohma adjusted his hat and sighed again. Smiling at his wife he said, “I'm afraid so. I tried to get Ryu to break it off, but he refused.”

 

Mika groaned and put a hand on her forehead. This couldn't be happening. Both of her brother's couldn't be….Their father would not stand for this.

She was furious with Tatsuha and her mind was starting in on Eiri now as well. How could they both desert their heritage, and their upbringing. People were the life blood of a successful temple, if the people found out that her father had raised two homosexual sons, what would they think? They'd stop coming and the temple would have to be closed.

In a way, she felt ashamed for thinking such things about her siblings, because she knew that if Shuichi hadn't come along, Eiri would still be the same miserable hermit crab that he used to be. Tatsuha did seem happier and more dutiful to his position at the temple these days and that was a definite improvement over his usual slacker attitude.

 

“Mika? Are you alright?” Tohma asked as he gently steered his wife into the elevator and pressed the number three.

Mika shook her long brown hair and smiled.

“I'm fine. I was just thinking.”

 

“You looked a little far away,” Tohma joked as the elevator dinged open and the two of them stepped out, moving quickly to the side as a teenage girl was wheeled into the now vacant car by an elderly couple.

 

They both headed past the nurse station and took a left at the end of the hall, as they had been told by Shuichi over the phone.

As they continued on, Tohma decided it would be a good time to bring up Tatsuha going with them on tour.

 

“Mika-chan?” He asked softly as he reached out to take her hand.

The women was surprised that he had touched her. Normally they didn't express much affection in public.

 

“Yes?” She answered, still looking down at their clasped hands.

 

“There's one more thing I forgot to mention. About Ryuichi and Tatsuha-kun.”

 

This wasn't sounding good to her and it took Mika a few seconds to ask him what he hadn't mentioned.

 

“Ryuichi is dead set on bringing Tatsuha with us when we go on tour.”

 

That was the last straw. There was absolutely no way in all the seven circles of hell that Tatsuha would get away with this one.

 

“I hope you told him that he can forget about it! There is no way Father or myself will allow that to happen! He's only nineteen years old! He's got duties at the temple, a job…No!?” Mika stuck her right arm out and in a “That's final!” kind of way and shook her head, “Absolutely not! He can't go with him Tohma! I don`t care who Sakuma-san thinks he is, I simply won`t allow it!”

 

Tohma knew Mika would react his way, but he didn't really have a choice. Tatsuha had to come with them, for Ryuichi's and the bands sake, and he was the one that was handed the difficult job of convincing Mika and her father to allow Tatsuha out of the country.

 

“Mika, please. It is a lot more complicated then simply telling Ryuichi no--”

“I don`t care! Do something, anything! My brother isn't going to be his…his…concubine Tohma!”

 

Stepping in and putting his arm around Mika's shoulders, which by now were trembling with anger, fear and frustration, Tohma spoke to quiet her and reassure her.

 

“Mika, Tatsuha is nearly a grown man. He's smart and he knows what he's doing and, in this case, who he's doing it with. I know that this might seem awkward, but I have faith in Ryuichi's decisions. He doesn't' make them lightly and if he says he love's your brother, then I truly and honestly think he means it. He…doesn`t use the word love, lightly.”

 

Mika stopped walking and looked up at her husband. “Do you…really think so Tohma?” She asked softly as a tear ran down her cheek, “Are you sure?”

It was all just to much for her. Her baby brother was the only member of her family left for her to mother and nurture. He was going to go off and leave and then who was she left with? Tohma worked all the time and with her being Pregnant, it was all just a little too scary to think about.

Tohma wiped away the tear and tenderly kissed his wife, something he rarely did in public.

“Yes.” He said as he patted her hand and led her down the hall toward Eiri's room.

 

Mika smiled and sniffed. The last thing she wanted was for Eiri or his insane brat of a lover to see her crying. She remembered that she still had to yell at him for being an idiot and falling down the stairs.

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>& gt;>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>.

 

Hello hello again!! Wowwy wow wow! I can't believe I wrote that in under eight hours! I wasn't planning on writing that at all, but I took some time out and skipped out on an afternoon class to get it to you all before the school day ended! In commemoration of this stories 100threview I saw it only fitting to update. Thank you again to Water Sprite for that Review!

 

Well well….About this chapter…..well I don't exactly know what to say…. Mika's pregnant…how about that….. Ryu's got quite the aggressive streak doesn't' he? Lols! He's fun to write when he's angry!

 

Well anywhooooo…Bey!