Gravitation Fan Fiction ❯ Demon Ring ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Ru: I'm so sorry that I haven't updated in so long. I have so much work that it's been impossible to sit down at the computer to write this. *clasps hands together* Forgive me?
Rui: No.
Ru: *glares* Shut up idiot. I wasn't talking to you.
Rui: No...you were talking to all the people out there who are reading this horrible thing you're writing...wait...trying to write...you can't even write this can you?
Ru: *glares viciously* Easy for you to say! You don't do anything except eat, sleep, and throw ofuda around!
Rui: Don't forget that I insult you too.
Ru: T_T

Disclaimer: I do not own Gravitation or any of its characters. If I did, well...I wouldn't be writing fanfiction. I'd be making money off my wonderful creation somewhere where the weather doesn't vary between 30 above and 30 below.*pause* I love this country.

Warnings: Other than the obvious yaoi/shounen ai warning (didn't the last chapter clue you in?) I have to tell you that the characters will be OOC. Probably Ryuichi more than anyone because I can't write hyper people for my life. It just somehow seems very alien to me. Therefore...don't flame me if you don't like Ryu-chan in this chapter. I'm not very good at it. Actually, don't flame me at all unless you have no problem being laughed at.
...

Demon Ring
Chapter 3
~

Mika glared impatiently at the apartment's closed door. It had been almost a month and Tatsuha had yet to return a single one of her calls. Their father had been asking more and more questions about both her siblings, and Mika had been hard pressed to come up with excuses to prevent him from calling them himself.

Tatsuha wasn't answering the door. Mika irritably shoved hair out of her eyes and pressed the buzzer again. When no response seemed forthcoming she pounded on the door with her fist.

"Open the door Tatsuha! I've been calling you for weeks damnit! I'm not leaving until you answer me!" Mika could feel her tenuous hold on her temper slipping rapidly and raised her hand to beat the door into oblivion, when it opened, revealing a beautiful, annoyed looking, male, stranger. "Who the hell are you?!"

"Tatsuha isn't home." He said cooly, a smirk playing on his lips. Mika's eyes narrowed dangerously in response, her hand clencing into a fist at her hip.

"When will he be back?" She asked acidly and her eyes were icy.

"I don't know and I honestly don't care." The stranger's smirk widened and Mika twitched, resisting the urge to erase the smug expression from his face with her fist. "You're his sister aren't you? The one who keeps calling."

"My name is Seguchi Mika." Her voice could have cut glass. "You still haven't told me who you are." The man stared back at her calmly, the smirk everpresent.

He was older than Tatsuha, Mika decided. Probably older than Eiri as well. The way he carried himself spoke of experience, and experience didn't usually come without age. Unless...Mika's eyes narrowed further. Just what was this man to Tatsuha?

"Sakuma Ryuichi." The measured response cut through her train of thought. Their gazes met and held, both cooly challenging each other by maintaining eye contact.

Mika was the first to blink, but she wasn't the first to look away as she subtly tilted her head to one side and asked the question that truly worried her. "Why are you here?" She regarded him suspiciously. "What are you to Tatsuha?"

Ryuichi broke eye contact for a brief moment, his blue eyes quickly skimming over the hallway before returning to meet her own. His smirk faded into a bitter smile and his eyes clouded in a way that somehow made him seem almost tragic. "His slave."

Mika stared at him speechlessly for a moment before regaining her composure. "Could you tell him that I stopped by?" She finally managed. At his short nod she turned away and began walking down the hallway. On impulse she turned back, only to see him watching her go, his expression blank. "It...was nice to meet you." She said lamely, and quickly continued on her way.

Behind her, in the doorway, Ryuichi smiled.
...

Tatsuha impatiently ran a hand through his dark hair as he waited for Tohma to finish talking on the phone. His brother-in-law had kept him waiting for hours while he chattered inanely to some business acquaintance, well...not really chattered, since Tohma was the epitome of cool professionalism...except where any of the Uesugi siblings were concerned. Then he was just scary. He almost reminded him of Ryuichi when he was in his adult phase and Eiri when he was...himself.

That was lame. Tatsuha scowled as he tried to come up with a better word for his brother while Tohma continued speaking. It couldn't be going well for the poor person on the other end of the line, because Tohma was acting oddly...cheerful. Damn him anyway. Why the hell was he taking so long? It couldn't be that entertaining to scare some poor soul half to death...could it?

Since Tatsuha had never had that particular pleasure he wisely kept his opinions to himself. In his head. Which was a bit strange to tell the truth...Who kept opinions to themself in their own mind.

Could someone else be listening? Tatsuha had always thought people who said they were psychic were either trying to make money or were a little...off. Then again...he'd never believed demons could be sealed into pieces of jewelry until some hapless idiot read the bloody incantation off the bloody inside of the bloody ring.

Speaking of which...could Ryuichi read minds? Had he been reading his? Tatsuha blanched at the thought, the blood draining from his face as he considered this possibility. There were some things he really didn't want the demon to know. Especially since he was sure Ryuichi'd get a kick out of some of the soap opera angst circulating in his head.

Tatsuha really hoped he couldn't read minds, but the only way to know for sure was to ask and asking adult Ryuichi was not an option. Maybe little Ryuichi would be able to give him a response. Tatsuha tried valliantly to wrap his mind around the idea of little Ryuichi giving him a serious answer and felt his mind shutting down.

Never mind then. He'd just drift along, pretending that the fact that Ryuichi had demon powers he couldn't even begin to describe didn't freak him out. It didn't. Not at all. If Ryuichi were listening he could kiss his cute little behind because Tatsuha did not care. Not at all.

Hmph.

A quiet click brought his mind back to Tohma's office and he found himself staring up the length of a Magnum and the arm holding it, its blond owner grinning in a decidedly maniacal way.

"You should pay attention when Tohma-san speaks to you Tatsuha~chan~." Tatsuha felt himself begin to sweat and an uneasy smile broke out on his lips.

What the hell was going on?

"Really K-san, that isn't necessary." Tohma was calmly leaning forward onto his desk, his chin balanced delicately on his entertwined fingers, a wicked gleam in his eyes. "Tatsuha-kun merely drifted off while waiting for me to finish my phone call...ne Tatsuha-kun?"

Wide-eyed, Tatsuha nodded and, after a brief moment of hesitation, K reholstered the gun, a disappointed expression on his face.

"Now now K-san." Tohma sounded amused. "Why don't you see how our dear Shindou-san is progressing with his lyrics?"

Tatsuha was slightly disturbed to see K perk up at the suggestion and, looking decidedly gleeful, practically sprint out of Tohma's office and down the hall. He was starting to feel really sorry for this Shindou guy...wait...

"Shindou? As in Shindou Shuichi?" " He asked and Tohma's eyebrow arched. "He works for you?" A smile lit up Tohma's face and Tatsuha perturbation increased exponentially.

"You know Shindou-san then?" Tohma's smile was really creeping him out and Tatsuha felt his body automatically lean back in the chair.

"I met him a few weeks ago at aniki's apartment." He frowned, studying Tohma's smiling, too calm countenance, suddenly irritated. "How long have you known?"

Tohma's smile became impossibly wide. "I signed Shindou's group about six months ago. I believe Eiri-san met him during that time." He sighed as Tatsuha merely continued to stare at him. "Really, Tatsuha-kun...you and Mika surprise me. I thought you would have found out months ago, but it seems Eiri-san is too good at hiding things from you two." He sighed again when Tatsuha's eyes narrowed angrily. "Shindou-san has been living with Eiri-san for about four months now. The relationship shows every sign of being serious, despite Eiri-san's penchant for being...how shall I say this..."

"A frigid bastard?" Tatsuha supplied and Tohma's eyes hardened for a moment before softening with amusement again.

"If I didn't know that you really care about him, I'd have to hurt you for that." Tatsuha grinned back at his brother-in-law, too used to Tohma's psychosis to be very afraid. "So...that brings us to Mika and your apparent inability to call her back-"

"TATSUHA!!!" Both men jumped at the sudden screech as Mika stormed into Tohma's office, her face red with anger.

"Oneechan..." Tatsuha suddenly felt very small. "Umm...hi?" As Mika bore down on him, he tried to sink into his chair, avoiding her gaze as much as possible.

"Why the hell haven't you been calling me?! I've been worried sick about you and your brother for weeks now! You're both always taking me for granted, thinking I'll always stand between you and father, but no more! You're going to tell me everything that's been happening since the last time we spoke, why you've been ignoring me, and who the hell Sakuma Ryuichi is!"

Mika paused to take a breath before continuing. "I went by your apartment this morning otouto and that man answered the door and acted like he knew you..." Her face screwed up into an almost disgusted expression. "...intimately."

Inwardly Tatsuha began to panic. Obviously Mika had met adult Ryuichi and he had said something...suggestive. Now Mika thought Tatsuha was involved in an illicit relationship with an older man. He felt his face begin to redden. Damnit! Now she would really believe that he was sleeping with Ryuichi! As if this could get any more complicated.

"Tatsuha?" Mika's voice had taken on a decidedly dangerous tone. Tatsuha resisted the urge to squeak like a terrified schoolgirl and looked up hesitantly to meet her now icy gaze.

"He's my roommate." He said softly. His face grew redder and he found he couldn't hold Mika's gaze any longer. "We're not...intimate." The resounding silence that answered him made Tatsuha decidedly uncomfortable, and he could feel his face getting redder and redder.

'Damn me!' He thought angrily. 'Why the hell am I blushing so much? I don't usually act this embarrassed!' He chanced a quick glance at Mika then at Tohma, both of whom were smirking at him in a decidedly amused fashion. 'Shit!'
...

Ryuichi looked up at the sound of Tatsuha's key turning in the door, then returned to flipping through the sketchbook he had found with all of Tatsuha's art supplies. There had been quite a few books piled up against the wall, and it was likely that they were personal. He smiled to himself.

Whatever.

He heard Tatsuha take his shoes off in the front hall and his footsteps as the young painter moved into the living room. He heard them stop as Tatsuha realized what he was flipping through and then heard them start again, only to stop when Tatsuha was standing right in front of him. Glancing upwards briefly, Ryuichi offered Tatsuha a brief smile before returning to his perusal of the painter's work.

"Welcome back." Dimly he was aware that Tatsuha's hands had clenched into fists, and that the young man was trembling with barely suppressed anger.

"What are you doing?" Tatsuha's voice was pleasantly soft despite the rage Ryuichi could feel coming off of him in waves.

"I'm looking at your art." Ryuichi responded calmly and looked up at Tatsuha, an indifferent expression on his face. Tatsuha's eyes were burning darkly, his lips pressed together in a thin line as he tried to control his anger. Ryuichi smirked inwardly as he delicately arched one eyebrow, his expression a picture of innocent inquiry.

"I'd rather you didn't." Tatsuha answered, his voice even.

"I know." Ryuichi replied and his smile transformed into a smirk. "I wouldn't want people to see my art either if I drew like this." Looking up at Tatsuha he felt a flash of victory as he noticed the painter's eyes darken with hurt.

Tatsuha's mouth twisted into a sad parody of a smile. "That is why I keep these hidden away Sakuma-san." His tone was shaky enough that the attempted quip fell flat.

Silence reigned until Ryuichi closed the sketchbook and stood, stretching like a cat. "Well, I'm off now." He caught Tatsuha around the waist and pressed his lips to the painter's cheek in a false show of affection. "Catch you later." With that, he was gone, and Tatsuha was left alone in the dimly lit living room, his eyes shadowed with pain.
...

Later that night as Tatsuha sat in bed reading, his bedroom door opened quietly. Cautiously, Ryuichi poked his head into the room and, when he had made certain Tatsuha was awake, fully opened the door and let himself in. Tatsuha watched him silently, trying to figure out which of the Ryuichis was looking back at him, and what this Ryuichi wanted.

"Tatsu-chan?" Tatsuha relaxed against his propped up pillows at the quiet sound of little Ryuichi's voice. Calmly, he closed his book and set it down next to him before turning back to look at him.

"Yeah?" Little Ryuichi looked slightly nervous, as if he wasn't sure he should be there. Carefully, he cleared his throat before hesitantly approaching the bed.

"Tatsu-chan...I'm..." He cut himself off and pouted, hiding his face in Kumagorou. Tatsuha smiled despite himself. Where had the pink bunny come from anyway?

"What is it Ryuichi?" One look at the expression on Ryuichi's face and he quickly corrected himself. "I mean Ryu-chan. Are you alright? Did you need something?"

"You draw really well Tatsu-chan!"

The sudden statement threw Tatsuha off guard and his eyes widened dramatically. "Umm...thank you?" Ryuichi looked like he was going to cry so Tatsuha smiled softly at him. This seemed to be all the encouragement Ryuichi needed, because the next thing Tatsuha knew, he was leapt on by a hyper blur of pink and brown. "GAH!"

"TATSU-CHAN!!!" Tatsuha gasped for breath as Ryuichi bounced happily on the bed. Painfully, he closed his eyes and tried to recover from Ryuichi's lunge until..."KUMAGOROU BEAM!!!" The pink bunny smacked Tatsuha in the head and sent him crashing to the floor in a heap.

"Itai..." He whimpered softly as Ryuichi blinked down at him owlishly from the bed.

"Mou...you should pay attention when Ryu-chan is talking to you Tatsu-chan...Kumagorou was getting mad at you!" Ryuichi was pouting cutely, the pink bunny safely back in his arms.

Tatsuha managed to pull himself back into his bed before replying. "Gomen nasai Ryu-chan, but I'm kind of tired now." He yawned slightly. "How about I tell you a story and then we go to sleep ok?"

Ryuichi brightened visibly and leaped off the bed, running into his room. "HAI! I'll be back in a moment with the book Tatsu-chan!"

Smiling, Tatsuha leaned back against his pillows until Ryuichi came back and leaped into the bed again, this time curling up against Tatsuha as the young painter read from the book, looking intently at the brightly coloured pictures and listening avidly to the soothing tones of Tatsuha's voice. Tatsuha relaxed against the bed, reading softly to Ryuichi until both of them fell asleep still curled up together, content in the knowledge that, at least for one night, they weren't alone.
...

Ru: Chapter Three done...I'm so sorry that I haven't posted for a long time, but there really was no time and this was a difficult chapter to write for some reason.
Rui: Excuses will get you nowhere.
Ru: *ignores her* Ryuichi's being so mean to Tatsuha...I'm almost guilty for all the torture he's going through...
Rui: Almost.
Ru: Well the story won't work otherwise. Tatsuha needs to suffer now in order for this to be believable.
Rui: He kissed him.
Ru: On the cheek and it wasn't meant to be nice.
Rui: You suck.
Ru: I won't answer with the obvious comeback to that. I'm not that perverted...I'm not!
Rui: Whatever. This still sucks.
Ru: Everyone...I'm sorry that it's been so long. I hope you will still review...I know I don't deserve it...
Rui: I'll drink to that. *raises wine glass*
Ru: You don't drink. What is that anyway? *grabs glass and takes cautious sip. White grape juice?
Rui: I don't drink alcohol.
Ru: Baka.