Gravitation Fan Fiction ❯ Iridescent Fates ❯ Sparkle Like a Diamond ( Chapter 4 )

Iridescent Fates

Chapter 4 Sparkle Like a Diamond


You know when he thought about it the idea of Tatsuha and Eiri being brothers really wasn’t that strange of a notion. If their looks didn’t give it away, their suave way to make you melt without even trying should have. What he couldn’t understand was the severe difference in their personalities.

Tatsuha was one of the friendliest people he had ever come across, and yet his older brother was an iceberg. It had been a week since they had met, and yet Tatsu, him, and Hiro had hung out almost every day. He was really fun to be around, and they liked practically all of the same stuff. Tatsuha even spent hours upon end kicking his ass on the playstation. Unfortunately none of their quality time together ever included hanging out with his brother.

Shuichi didn’t want to seem desperate, and so he refrained from asking Tatsuha about it, but every time he was around him he just wanted to break down and beg the raven-haired actor to bring him to Yuki’s house so that he could see the sour puss one more time.

He had to admit that it was almost hell every time Tatsuha gave him that heart-melting smile of his, or grabbed his ass while trying to flirt. Tatsuha had even asked him out on a date, and it had taken everything in him to actually say no. He had laughed at Shuichi’s answer, telling him that he was holding out for something that didn’t exist. That was one thing that drove him crazy about the kid; he always seemed to be able to read him like a book.

Tatsuha had asked him out again just the day before, and it was even harder to say no that timeÉespecially when the young actor stole a chaste kiss as he was doing so. He was slowly wearing down his walls, and Shuichi was more than relieved to be spending the evening at home instead of at his dingy apartment with the younger Uesugi brother. The whole younger Uesugi thing had confused the hell out of him for the longest time, but Tatsu had explained that Yuki was just the blond’s penname. Though when Shuichi asked why Yuki had chosen the name, Tatsuha had actually gotten quiet, and with a forlorn smile just explained that it was a personal matter.

“Shuichi man, you gotta snap out of that la la land you seem to be inÉ.Maiko’s gonna be here and I’d prefer if you didn’t bring your pining lovesick drama home with you.” Shuichi couldn’t help but smile at his friend’s jovialness. He looked like a little kid at Christmas at being allowed to come home with him. Not only because the actor was going to set him up with Maiko, but because his mother was known for being an amazing gourmet cook.

Hiro really did seem to sparkle the closer and closer they got to his house. Though something told him it was more for the sake of the food. It was weird, but after pining after his sister for over a year, Shuichi could tell that the spark Hiro once held for her had dimmed down. No, now he could see that spark lit for another person entirely.

This week of rehearsals gave a good inclination of just who Hiro had his eye on. Ayaka Usami had gained all of his best friend’s attention during practice, and Hiro practically drooled in excitement whenever he got to do the ‘Roxanne’ scene with her.

Turning towards his friend, Shuichi scoffed at the redhead’s comment. “Oh come on Hiro, I don’t think I’m the only lovesick person around here.” He smirked devilishly as he elbowed his friend in jest. “So tell me how long are you going to hold out until you ask Ayaka outÉhuhÉhuh?”

Shuichi laughed at the small tinge that appeared on the longhaired actor’s face. So he was rightÉHiro really did have a thing for Ayaka. Well good for him. Though he always did hear that dating coworkers was a risky business, but if anyone could have a good breakup, it was Hiro. It was practically impossible to ever hate the guyÉno matter what he did.

“It will never happen.” Shuichi’s daydream about Hiro and Ayaka’s relationship was cut short at his friend’s forlorn tone.

“What are you talking about? I’m sure she’d love to go out with you!” He exclaimed, not at all liking this downer his friend was giving him. Hiroshi was always the one full of self-confidence, and he was the one that always needed the reassuranceÉit shouldn’t be the other way around.

“Well thanks for the confidence in me Shu-chan, but you see I’ve heard her talking, and pretty much all she ever talks about is her beloved fiancŽ.” Shuichi’s face fell. Engaged? Poor Hiro, it must really suck to want something that you can’t have. He scoffed to himselfÉwell wasn’t he preaching to the choir. Here he was feeling sorry for Hiro over wanting something he couldn’t have, and the thing he wanted was untouchable.

Gah! He was doing it again! He had promised himself that he would stop being depressed over this stupid matter with Yuki, and here he was sulking again. Well fuck that! He was not going to be down in the dumps when his friend needed his support.

Jumping on Hiro’s back, Shuichi playfully ruffled his hair. “Aww don’t sweat it buddy, we’ll just get you together with Maiko so that she gets insanely jealous and leaves this fiancŽ of hersÉall you have to do is be a sneak and do your best to sweep her off her feet.”

Shrugging, Hiro continued to give him a piggyback ride the rest of the way to his house. “Yeah, well I wish I shared your enthusiasm ShuÉbut I just have a feeling it won’t work out as romantically as you make it sound.”

“Aww Hiro, but just imagine if everything was as romantic as I make it soundÉthe world would be great.” Shuichi’s mind wondered to him riding on a unicorn with Yuki while sliding down a rainbow, and sighed in contentÉif only.

Shuichi snuggled into his friend’s back as they made it to his family’s house. Hiro didn’t bother knocking, and just went in through the door. The bright lights from the house managed to snap Shuichi out of his daze, and he looked up to see his sister scowling at him.

“You two are so weirdÉif I didn’t know any better I’d say something was going on between you bothÉbut then again I know better.” A more feminine version of Shuichi with long brown hair met them at the doorway. Maiko smiled, putting her hands on her hips as she looked them both up and down. “After all Hiroshi would never be stupid enough to actually date you.” She said to Shuichi, smacking him off her as he jumped off Hiro’s back and snarled with indignation in her face.

“Maiko you’re so mean! Hiro would sleep with me any day! Anybody would sleep with me!” He waggled his eyebrows and shook his hips. “I can be very sexy when I wanna be yeh know.”

“I don’t need to hear that.” Shuichi froze mid swing at the sound of his mother’s voice, and he timidly swung around to see her holding a plate of cookies behind him.

He gave a glare towards his sister, before turning back towards the woman in embarrassment. Rubbing the back of his head, he gave his mother a small wave. “Oh hey mom! Did you miss me?”

The woman smiled, before casually passing the plate off to Hiro. After that Shuichi found himself trapped in the tightest bear hug he had ever had in his life. “Oh my baby! I missed you so much!” His head was covered in kisses as he struggled to such in much needed air as she continued to squeeze him like a boa constrictor. “You never come to see me anymoreÉyou didn’t even come to tell me the news of your part in person. I had to hear it from Maiko! Oh Shuichi, why don’t you love your mother anymore?”

Hiro shook his head at the woman’s antics, and turned towards the pretty brunette girl smiling in the corner. “Does hyperactive insanity just run in your family or something?” Of course this turned out to be a very bad move, because it caused all three Shindou’s to stop what they were doing and turn on the redhead with murder in their eyes.

“Who the hell are you calling crazy!” Came three simultaneous responses, and Hiro placed his hands in front of him to calm them down.

“Geez I’m sorry alright? None of you guys are crazy.” The three of their fires died out, and they all turned back into their cheerful selves. Shaking his head once again, Hiro managed to mumble under his breath. “You guys can be really scary when you choose to be.” Thankfully it seemed they were too much into bonding with each other to hear him and attack again.

Shuichi’s stomach grumbled out a complaint, and he realized that he hadn’t eaten anything all day except a package of pocky. He wanted to hold out all the room in his stomach for his mom’s home cooking, and now that he could smell the delightful scents coming from the kitchen, he couldn’t hold out any longer.

“Mom I’m starving,, can we eat?” His mother beamed with excitement at just the thought, and without another word of encouragement had already headed into the dining room.

“Of course we can dear, I made your favoriteÉBeef Pot and Miso Soup with Strawberry Shortcake for desert.” Shuichi drooled. It was like he had died and gone to heavenÉhe would definitely have to visit his home more often if his mom was going to spoil him like this.

His nose led him to follow his mother and Maiko, but right before he made it into the dining room his hip was grabbed from behind. Not at all liking the prospect of being kept from his food, Shuichi glare full heartily as he turned around towards Hiro, but when he saw the indecisiveness on his friend’s face his anger immediately faded.

“What’s up Hiro?” He asked, not at all liking how the longhaired actor seemed to be completely nervous about what he was going to tell him.

Hiroshi hesitated for a moment, but then after taking a deep breath went right into his explanation. “You know that thing I came here to do?” Knowing he was talking about his plan to get Maiko, Shuichi gave him a nod. “Well forget about itÉI’m gonna hold out.”

Shuichi’s eyes widened to saucers at just the very thought. Here he was finally giving his friend permission to go out with his sister who’d been after for ages it seemed, and now he didn’t want to? He knew that he liked Ayaka, but she was engaged. Did he really think he stood a chance? Well he knew, maybe the girl’s fiancŽ was some ugly old fat guy. Winking, Shuichi gave his friend the thumbs up at the prospect. “You go get ‘em tiger.” His stomach growled once again. “Now can we please go eat?” Giving a small laugh, Hiro nodded and followed Shuichi in to eat what would prove to be one hell of a tasty meal.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

“How much pretty thing?” Shuichi almost jumped out of his skin when his ass was unceremoniously grabbed from behind. Yelping! Shuichi spun around to face a man that had to be in his late 50’s with a senile grin on his face as he waggled his pepper and salt eyebrows at him.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing!?” He screeched. Here he was just waiting for practice to start on some old geezer comes up and molests him. What the hell did he do to deserve such at thing?

The old man looked confused, and after scratching his head in thought pulled out 100 yen. “Oh I’m sorry, do I have to pay you before I can touch?”

Shuichi’s eyes practically bulged out of his head. Pay him? PAY HIM!? “I’M NOT A FUCKING HOOKER YOU BASTARD!” Shuichi was about to deck the senile asshole, but unfortunately someone decked him before he had the chance.

A burning white pain filled the side of his head as he grabbed it after his attack. After the stars had stopped spinning around his eyes, he glanced around to see who his attacker had been, and groaned in misery when he saw just who had been the one that dealt the blow.

A girl with long light purple hair and probably one of the best bodies he had ever seen stood glaring in front of him, and he swallowed in dread at his predicament. He thought that she was still on vacation with her family! It just had to be her, didn’t it? He was actually more scared of her at times than K, but that still didn’t explain why his agent had just hauled off and punched him like that.

“Geez Noriko, what gives?” He rubbed his sore head, switching between glaring at the one who had caused him his grief and the one who had tried to pay a ridiculously low price for him because he thought he was a prostitute.

Noriko’s glare faded a bit, and a look of concern came upon her. For a second Shuichi thought that that concern might have been for him, but she quickly proved him wrong when she rushed over to the old man, hugging him and cradling his head into her chest.

“What gives Shuichi? I’ll tell you what givesÉyou just called my husband a bastard!” The pink haired actor’s jaw dropped in horror. HerÉhusband? He had heard that Noriko was married to an older guy, but this was just ridiculous!

By all standards Noriko was very beautiful, and so why she would marry someone like him was beyond the actor’s imagination. He’d say it was for his charming personality, but from what Shuichi had witnessed so far he couldn’t imagine that that was it either.

His purple haired agent was consoling her husband, and at seeing such a thing Shuichi couldn’t help the anger that came flaring back into him. “So what if I called him a bastardÉhe is one! He tried to give me money because he thought I was a whore!”

Still glaring, Noriko looked him up and down before scoffing. “Well Shuichi have you looked in the mirror todayÉI’d say it was a honest mistake.” Now it was Shuichi’s turn to glare.

He so did not look like a whore! Shuichi looked down at himself. Okay, so maybe he wasn’t wearing the most clothes, but it wasn’t his faultÉit was laundry day and he had to wear all of his stuff from junior high. His jean shorts were so raggedy that they were ripped up one side and had a hole in the butt. The button was also missing, making this zipper tend to slide down a little. It also probably didn’t help that they were so short that they barely covered his ass. His shirt was equally as bad. It was a black skintight belly shirt that accentuated all of his curves and musclesÉleaving little to the imagination.

Okay, so it wasn’t the most modest, but that still didn’t make him a hooker! “I don’t look sluttyÉand why exactly is it that you’re not mad that your husband tried to pick up a hooker in the first place? A male one at that!”

She rolled her eyes at him as if the explanation was the simplest one in the world. “He was just getting into his part Shuichi, and helping you get into yoursÉyou play a hooker in this, do you not?”

“Well yeahÉbut.” That was when something important occurred to him. “Wait! What do you mean part?”

Placing a kiss on her husband’s cheek, she once more rolled her eyes at the young actor. “Duh ShuichiÉdidn’t Tohma tell you?”

Feeling left out of a huge secret, Shuichi could do no more than dumbly shake his head. Thankfully he was given a break from Noriko chastising when the man stepped forward, holding out his hand.

“The name’s Tetsuya Ukai.” Shuichi shook the hand offered to him, still completely confused. “I’m going to be playing the part of Harold Zidler.”

Shuichi’s mouth dropped open in an ‘O’ at that. Noriko and her husband smirked at his shock as he seemed to digest all of the information. So he was going to play Zidler huh? He had always wondered about that. Tohma had mentioned something about the cast character being away on vacation, but it was only now that he put two and two together.

The pink haired actor had never been good at digesting such information, so with a bow, he quickly excused himself and walked to the other side of the playhouse. Who knew Noriko would have married such a coot, and that he would have ended up working with said coot? ÉHis life was so weird.

Scanning the theater, Shuichi tried to find someone he knew to tell this odd occurrence to, but he came up empty. He saw Hiro, but would be damned if he was going to go over and tell him now. No, his longhaired friend was much too busy stalkingly staring at the engaged girl practicing her lines in the corner. Honestly he didn’t know why Ayaka practiced so muchÉshe had like five lines.

He was still surprised that Hiro hadn’t once hit on his sister while he was at their house. It was kind of disappointing to not have to jump in there and protect her virtue. Shuichi knew she would never admit it, but he had a feeling Maiko was to. She acted like she hated him, but he knew that she loved the attention Hiro doted on her. In a way he almost felt sorry for herÉnow she would have to find some other silly sap to dote on her.

Shuichi jumped for the second time that evening when two arms wrapped around his waist, pulling him close so that he was cradled against a strong chest. “I have a present for you.”

Closing his eyes, Shuichi allowed himself to bask in Tatsuha’s arms for only a moment before pushing the younger Uesugi away from him. He didn’t yell at the dark haired actor for touching him this time though, because honestly the mention of a present had perked him up. “You brought me a present?” He tried not to sound so eager, but he figured he failed miserably when he started bouncing up and down in excitement. “What is it!? What is it!?”

Giving him that seductive smile that always made him melt, Tatsuha reached into his pocket, but stopped just short of revealing his prize. “Close your eyes Shu-chan.” Tatsu commanded, and without hesitation the actor did as he was told.

His eyes were brimming with tears of excitement, and he couldn’t help from pacing back and forth as he waited for his surprise. His movement was stopped however when Tatsu grabbed both of his hips, pinning him in place. Shuichi shivered as Tatsu’s hand traveled down his bare stomach to his bellybutton, slipping something cold inside.

Snapping his eyes open, Shuichi looked down to see Tatsuha on his knees smiling up at him. Tearing his eyes away from him, Shuichi instead looked towards his belly button and saw a shining clear jewel fitted perfectly inside. He moved his hips to make the jewel shimmer, and couldn’t help but smile at the way it sparkled.

Tatsuha got to his feet, smirking in satisfaction at Shuichi’s infatuation with the jewel. In midst of his examination, Shuichi paused and turned curious eyes up towards the other actor. “I don’t get itÉwhy would you give this to me?”

Poking him on the nose, Tatsu smiled and let his finger travel all the way down to the jewel he had just bestowed upon him. “Because Shuichi, diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”

Shuichi glowered at that. Okay, so the thought behind it had been sweet, but still! “Tatsu how many times do I have to tell youÉI’m not a fucking girl!” He barked.

Unfortunately Tatsu, like many others, seemed immune to his temper tantrums. He playfully rubbed his pink locks while giving him a smile. “Oh yes Shu, I know you’re not a girlÉyou just play one on TV.” He scratched his head in thought. “Or I suppose in this case it would be play one on stage, but that’s not really the point.”

Shuichi glared, crossing his arms over his chest in indignation. “You’re such a jackass Tatsuha. Must you constantly remind me?”

His glare faded when an arm was wrapped around his shoulders as Tatsu leaned in close. “Only until you agree to go out with me.” Shrugging the hand off from around him, Shuichi couldn’t help but scoff.

“Like that’ll ever happen.” He turned back towards Tatsu and was about to tell him that he’d be waiting forever, but he never got the chance.

“SHUICHI!” The actor barely had time to react as a barrel of energy came charging at him. Shuichi’s head smacked against the ground as the force of the impact sent him sprawling backwards. As he rubbed his head in pain he looked up to see a very happy looking Ryuichi Sakuma sitting on his chest with Kumagoro on his head.

No matter how many times this happened, Shuichi could never get over the shock of having his greatest idol be so friendly with him, or hell even tackle him to the ground. Every time it happened it was like he had walked into a dream.

Giving his idol a smile, Shuichi attempted to sit up, but was pushed right back down by the hyperactive brunette. “Guess what!? Guess what!? Guess what!?” He attempted to ask what, but he was never given the chance. “I’ll tell you what!ÉTohma said there’s going to be a surprise today, and so in honor of that surprise you get to sing Sparkling Diamonds in front of everybody!”

It took him a few moments to digest what he had just been told, but once he did he couldn’t believe what he had just heard. “WHAT!” Jumping up from his place on the floor, he sent Ryuichi flying across the floor.

This couldn’t be right! Why would Tohma make him sing in front of everybody? True Tohma had praised him over and over for his voice, but what possible reason could he have to just to make him sing? Ryuichi mentioned a surprise, but what surprise could possibly merit such a performance? Of course he loved singing in front of everybody, but that song it was soÉso slutty! At least if he was just singing in front of everybody he wouldn’t have to molest everybody on stage. Unconsciously he fingered the fake diamond Tatsuha had placed in his bellybutton and he couldn’t help but scowl.

He hissed like a cat as he turned his claws towards Tatsuha. “You knew about this and you didn’t tell me!” He exclaimed. That bastardÉhe probably wanted to get him as riled up as he had.

Tatsuha shrugged, eyes widening a little at Shuichi’s irrational anger. “Well I didn’t think it would be that big of a dealÉactually I thought you’d be happy.”

“Well I am happy about it, but that’s not the goddamn point!” Still glaring at Tatsu, he turned towards the still upside down Ryuichi who was throwing Kumagoro up and down while laughing. “I’m so sorry Mr. SakumaÉI got a little carried away.”

Grabbing both of Ryuichi’s ankles, he flipped the legs that were hanging over the brunette’s head so that he rolled back onto his butt. He didn’t seem to have minded his upside down position, as a matter of fact his lip stuck out in a pout when he was turned right side up again.

“Aww Kuma-chanÉ.we’re not in upside down world anymoreÉno fair!” Shuichi laughed at Ryuichi’s antics, and to appease the strange actor did a headstand in front of him, loving the smile that came back on the brunette’s face. “Yayyyy! Shuichi made it all better!”

Flipping back over, Shuichi got to his feet and helped Ryuichi up as well. “So Mr. Sakuma did Mr. Seguchi tell you what this surprise was?” As he asked the question, he couldn’t help but notice how Tatsuha looked guiltily away. He snorted. So Tohma had told him what it was, had he? He made it his personal mission to extract the information out from the flirtatious teenager later if Ryuichi didn’t no, and from the way his lip was once more stuck out in a pout, he had a feeling he would have to.

“NopeÉTohma said that me and Kuma-chan can’t keep secrets, and so that even though we were friends I’d have to find out like everybody else.” He squeezed Kumagoro to him, shaking his pink rabbit around in his arms. “Can you believe that Tohma doesn’t trust us Shuichi?”

Shuichi shook his head. “That’s horrible! Mr. Seguchi should definitely trust you!” They both nodded excitedly together in agreement, before Ryuichi reached out and stuck something on Shuichi’s head with his finger.

The pink haired actor tried to peer up towards his forehead, but all he could see was something sparkly. Reaching up he felt one of those stick on jewels, and looking towards Ryuichi for an explanation all he saw was a face splitting grin. “Didn’t you know ShuichiÉDiamonds are a girl’s best friend.”

Shaking his head at both of his friend’s antics, he looked over to see Tatsuha nod, and couldn’t help but smile. “So people keep telling me.” If things kept up this way, he was going to be covered with fake diamonds before the day was over.

“Mr. Shindou?” Shuichi’s head snapped to the side at the sound of Tohma’s voice, and he glanced over to see that everybody besides him, Ryuichi, and Tatsuha were gathered around the stage. “I’ve already informed everybody what scene we’ll be acting out today, and because Ryuichi and myself are the only one’s that have been privileged so far to hear you sing they are all excited.”

Well that had certainly helped to boost his ego. He grinned at the thought that Tohma had bragged him up to everyone. The thought of the surprise everyone still had in store for them had long since flown out of his brain, and now his desire to perform was greater than ever. He saw Hiro give him a thumbs up from his spot right behind Ayaka, and he gave him the sign for victory in return.

His head swelled with pride as he jumped up to stage. Forget about drugsÉthis was the best high you could get. “Should I go anytime?” Tohma glanced down at his watch, and obviously knowing something that no one else did, deemed it an appropriate time for him to start singing, for he gave him an encouraging nod.

Shuichi nodded as well before taking a deep breath to steady himself and get into his part. When he had centered himself he opened his eyes, and now only saw through the eyes of Satine.

Lowering his voice an octave, he began to sing. “The French are glad to die for love.” He walked closer to the edge of the stage, keeping his head lowered. “They delight in fighting duels.” He moved even closer, ignoring the sound of the stage door opening. Instead he just let his hand travel down his stomach, lingering on the diamond still encased in his bellybutton. “But I prefer a man who livesÉand gives expensiveÉj..ew..els” Shuichi looked up then, but the last word caught in his throat at what he saw.

It couldn’t be. Violet eyes widened to saucers as his song was completely forgotten. Yuki stood in the middle of Tatsuha and Tohma, and when he lowered his glasses so that he got a good view of his golden eyes, Shuichi’s heart felt like it stopped right then.

What was he doing here? He ignored the questions coming his way at his freeze up. He could care less about his career at the moment. Why would Yuki be here? Had he really come to see him?

“Mr. Shindou, is there a problem?” He had to force himself to tear his eyes away from Yuki’s to acknowledge Tohma’s existence. It really wasn’t helping by how those beautiful golden eyes seemed fixated on him.

“IÉIÉ” Why was he was breathing so hard? He hadn’t even done anything, and yet he felt like he was hyperventilating. His head was spinning with the shock of it all. “I don’t feel very well.” With that said his legs collapsed from under him and he ended up falling on his ass while up on stage.

Strangely enough it was Tatsuha that was by his side in an instant at his collapse. His arms wrapped around his shoulders, but he didn’t even seem to notice. All he cared about were those golden eyes that were still trained on him, and how they seemed to narrow slightly when his brother’s arms fell to Shuichi’s shoulders.

Tatsuha turned towards his brother-in-law. “Tohma maybe you should introduce our guest here to everybody while Shu recuperates.”

The blond director still looked rather confused, but went along with Tatsuha’s suggestion. “Yes, of course. Everybody I’d like to introduce you to my brother-in-law Eiri YukiÉConsequently he also happens to be the writer of our little play.”

Well that certainly helped to get Shuichi’s energy back. Shrugging his backstabbing friend’s hands off of his shoulders, he angrily got to his feet. Walking all the way to the end of the stage to bitch out the blond who still hadn’t looked away from him.

“You’re the writer!” Shuichi growled like a dog as he took turns glaring at everybody in the theater. It was like he was part of some huge joke. First he pointed at Yuki. “You’re a lying bastardÉ” Then to Tatsuha. “And don’t you even get me started on how evil you areÉYou’re worst than he is!”

It didn’t occur to him that he shouldn’t be making this scene in front of everybody in the play, but thankfully Tatsu once more had his back. Grabbing the pink haired maniac from behind, Tatsuha tried to get the boy who was now practically billowing smoke out of his ears to relax before he really did something stupid.

“Shuichi come on relaxÉthis is no way to act in front of TohmaÉcome on you’re supposed to be singing right now!” He tried a little harder by leaning forward to whisper in his ear so only he could earÉnot noticing how Eiri’s eyes narrowed to slits at the contact. “This is your chance to show my brother that you’re not the spazzy bad actor he thinks he areÉprove him wrong.”

He took Tatsuha’s suggestion to heart. This really could be his chance to prove himself to Yuki. Hell he would be singing to Yuki again! A devious smirk covered his face as he planned out just how he was going to do it.

“Can we get on with this?” Violet eyes turned towards the crowd to see droopy eyes glaring at him from in the back. “If you’re going to singÉthen sing. Otherwise go get a room with slutty boy wonder up thereÉI’m sick of seeing you guys cuddle all the time.”

He was about to bitch the bastard out, but thankfully Hiro baled him out. “What’s the matter Aizawa, jealous?”

The anti-social actor’s eyes widened, but then he just scoffed and conveniently looked the other way. “Oh pleaseÉlike I would be jealous of that slut up there. Obviously the only reason he got his part was because he slept his way to the top.”

Shuichi, Tatsuha, and Hiro all bristled and were about to say something, but surprisingly they were beat to the punch. “Are you saying that he fucked either Seguchi or myself, because we were the only ones that had control of the casting?”

Eiri glared at the dark haired actor, making him cower back into his seat. “No, that’s not what I meantÉ”

“Oh really? Well if I recall you said that he slept with someone at the top, and seeing as how I’m the one that handpicked him to be Satine that would mean that I was the one sleeping with him, would it not?”

Aizawa sunk lower into his chair, shaking his head back and forth. “Of course not sirÉI was angryÉI didn’t know what I was talking about. I didn’t mean to insult you or Mr. Seguchi.”

It was sort of a bittersweet moment for Shuichi, for although he was ecstatic to see someone take Aizawa down a peg, it was ruined by the fact that Yuki had said he had handpicked him for the part. He had handpicked him after he had said he was crapÉhe had been the one to put him in the part of Satine. It was all because of him.

Everyone in the theater seemed to be stunned into silence at that, including the two actors on stage. As a matter of fact the one who actually broke the silence was the same one who had put everyone into it in the first place. Eiri turned his brilliant eyes on him once again, daring Shuichi to turn away and deny him the pleasure. “Finish what you started bratÉsing for us.”

Tohma gave Yuki and off look, before turning towards Shuichi and giving him a reevaluating stare. It seemed he found what he needed, for that same confident smile came to the blond’s face and he nodded. “Yes Mr. Shindou please continue. Eiri is part of our crew, and so you should consider practicing in front of him to be just like anyone else here.”

Shuichi gave a nod, but couldn’t help but completely disagree with Tohma’s assumptions. In no way would this be anything like singing in front of the rest of the crewÉno this would be like singing in front of the crew nakedÉif not worse than that.

Though knowing that he had no choice, Shuichi got to his feet and watched as Tatsuha jumped off stage to go stand by his brother, but at the glare the novelist gave him he moved right on by and went to stand by Hiro instead. He could do thisÉhe could do this, he kept telling himself. If he could sing to Eiri the first time they met, he could do it again now. If Yuki really had picked him to be Satine, then he would prove that he made a damn fine decision.

Dusting off the imaginary dirt from his clothes, Shuichi would make sure this was a performance the blond didn’t forget. Throwing his head back, he began to sing. “A Kiss on the hand may be quite continental, but diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”

Laughing, Shuichi made a running leap off the stage and into the crowd, ending up in front of Yuki. “A kiss may be grand but it won’t pay the rental on your humble flatÉ” Shuichi trailed a hand down Yuki’s black dress shirt and meowed. “Or help you feed your pussycat.” Slapping him playfully on the cheek he tauntingly moved on

“Men grow cold as girls grow old , and we all loose our charms in the end.” He drew his fingers through the shy Suguro’s hair, smiling at the way he blushed a deep scarlet as he moved through the crowd towards where Ryuichi and Hiro were now standing. “But square cut or pear shaped, these rocks don’t loose their shapes. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”

Winking at Ryuichi, the brunette seemed to get the idea for he motioned to Hiro and they both headed towards Shuichi. Each grabbing a side of him, they lifted him into the air. “Tiffany’s!” He yelled, going back down and then up again. “CARTIER!”

When he was let down again he strutted away, smirking at the way Tatsu smacked his ass as he did so. Getting a wicked idea in his head, he made his way over to Taki who was glaring from his chair. Extending a leg, he pushed down on Aizawa’s chest, forcing him even deeper into that chair and once more began to sing. “Cause we are living in a material world and I am a material girl.” Winking at the surly actor, Shuichi used the his feet to slap him once on either side of the cheek and blew him a kiss before moving on.

Grabbing Tetsuya Ukai’s hand, he grabbed the flamboyant old man and began to drag him back towards the stage. “Black Star, Rozz Call, talk to me Harry Zidler, tell me all about it!” He screamed as he got back onto the stage with the actor he needed.

Circling Tetsuya, Shuichi once more began to sing. “There may come a time when a lass needs a lawyer.”

That crafty old man actually pulled a choker necklace littered with diamonds out of his pocket and held it above his head, and let his baritone voice fill the theater. “But diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”

Shuichi reached for the necklace, but Tetsuya consecutively moved it out of his grasp until he pouted and continued with his song. Turning his back to the old man, Shuichi leaned slightly forward. “There may come a time when a hot-boiled employer thinks you’re..”

“Awful nice.” His eyes widened a little when Tetsuya actually squeezed his ass, and saw how Yuki’s narrowed at the event. Quickly spinning around, he severed their connection.

Waggling a finger at him, he pretend flipped his hair. “But get that ice or else no dice.” Tetsuya reached out, placing the choker necklace around Shuichi’s neck so that he sparkled. Smiling at him, Shuichi prepared himself for the finale of his little show.

Spinning around, he held his hands up in the air. “Cause that’s when those louses go back to their spouses.” He once more jumped off the stage and slowly began to walk towards his play. “DiamondsÉAre aÉGirl’sÉbestÉ” He made it to the front of Yuki, giving him the most seductive look as he finished his song. “FriendÉ” Reaching out, he ran his hand through silky blond locks like he’d been longing to do ever since Eiri had walked in. “I believe you were expecting me.”

Thunderous applause filled his ear as he finished, but he could care less. He was stuck in a gaze with Yuki, and he would be damned if he were the one to break it. Sadly their happy little moment was broken when Eiri leaned forward to whisper in his ear. “Nice belly-button stoneÉIt’s Tatsuha’s trademark gift for all of the people he’s screwed.”

Shuichi was left there speechless as the blond backed away towards Tohma. “So Eiri what did you think about our Satine’s performance?” Scoffing at the other blond, Yuki pulled his cigarettes out and lit one up.

After inhaling the nicotine he blew it Shuichi’s way without bothering to look at the pink haired singer. “It was alright.”

Tohma smiled. “Well coming from you that’s a compliment.” He nodded towards Shuichi. “You should be proud Mr. Shindou. Eiri doesn’t give his praise out to just anyone.”

Proud was definitely not what he was feeling right now. Shame, anger, disappointment, those were some of the feelings swirling around in his head. Shame for having Yuki look down on him like some common whore, anger that Tatsuha had practically branded him as his, and disappointment by the fact that even though Tohma had said it was a compliment, the only thing he could get out of Yuki was an ‘alright’.

Looking away from him, Tohma turned to the rest of the cast. “Eiri will be showing up every once and awhile to make changes on the script, or to show us how it is he would like things done. So don’t be surprised to see him skulking in a corner, though he is a very busy man and so I wouldn’t expect to see him all that often.” Tohma turned towards Yuki. “We’ll just have to take all the time we can get to ask questions when he decides to grace us with his company.”

Shuichi felt himself backing away from the group. Could this day get any worse? He should never have asked that question, because he should have known by how bad the universe hated him that the answer to it was yes.

Ayaka ran at full speed towards Yuki and tossed her arms around him. “Oh darling that’s so wonderful!” One of the novelist’s arms casually wrapped around her waist as he nodded to her. The girl was just bursting with excitement. “This means we’ll get to spend so much time togetherÉwho knows maybe between rehearsals you can help me plan the wedding!”

Darling? Wedding? This couldn’t be happening. This had to just be some bad joke everybody was playing on him. Eiri couldn’t possibly be Ayaka’s fiancŽe! His head and stomach were swirling, and he knew that if he didn’t get out there he was going to faint. He saw Hiro heading over to check on him, but he couldn’t even acknowledge his existence. Everything was spinning, and as he continued to walk backwards he actually lost his balance and fell backwardsÉfrom there everything went black.

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Groaning, Shuichi rolled over only to find that he had somehow managed to make it into a bed. Judging from the fact that this bed was huge and covered in silk pillows and blankets he would have to say it wasn’t his. Why the hell was he in someone else’s bed? He stretched his arms above his head and felt a pile of pillows with tassels on the end of them, and he realized exactly where he was. He was in the stage bed from the play.

Now came the million dollar questionÉWhy the hell was he in the stage bed at the playhouse? That was when he wished he would have never asked that question, because a flood of memories about how he had ended up here. Damn, why’d he have to wake up?

Shuichi had just managed to get his eyes open, when the immediately rolled to the back of his head when a warm hand slid up the small of his back. He knew that there was only one person in the world that would touch him so presumptuously, and he would have none of that. He was almost as pissed at him as he was at Eiri, and that was saying something.

“Tatsuha Uesugi you remove you hand this instant!” He snapped, very aware at how that hand not only didn’t move away, but slid up under his shirt. “I’m serious Tatsu I don’t want you to touch meÉI hate you almost as much right now as your bro-ther” He was in the middle turning around onto his back when he caught sight of just who was the presumptuous one. “Yuki?”

His eyes widened to saucers as the blond’s hand came back to his skin, this time stroking the skin of his stomach. “So you really are sleeping with him then?” Shuichi’s breathing increased as Yuki’s wondering hand dipped lower past his broken button and toyed with the slowly lowering zipper.

Trying to get his thoughts on something other than how good those hands felt on his skin. Raising up his knees, Shuichi closed in on that wondering hand and stopped it from completely lowering the zipper to his short shorts.

“Okay for one, no I am not sleeping with your brother.” His eyes narrowed. “And two it wouldn’t be any business of yours if I was, because you have a friggin fiancŽ!” Shuichi looked around, noticing how the entire theater was dark except for the one light shining above the both of them. “Where the hell am I, and why the hell are you molesting me?”

Yuki removed his hand from in-between the actor’s legs, and just when Shuichi thought he was in the clear the blond novelist began to casually unbutton his shirt. “You passed out, and your friend Hiroshi carried you over to this bed. They all agreed that there should be someone here when you woke up in case you still felt sick and, like and idiot, I agreed”

The more and more of the creamy white skin on the novelist chest became exposed, the more and more Shuichi wanted to sit up touch him. He shook his head to clear the fog that had settled on his brain, and once more managed to dig up some anger from somewhere inside him.

“Stop removing your clothing! I’m not sleeping with youÉyou’re engagedÉand a jerkÉand engaged!” Yuki either didn’t seem to hear him, or didn’t really care about his bitching because all he seemed to do in reply was take off his shirt, and start on his pants. “Did you hear me Yuki!? Cause I’m seriousÉI didn’t want to sleep with you when I liked you. I most certainly don’t want you now that I hate you!”

A whine of appreciation escaped Shuichi’s throat when Yuki’s pants dropped and he got a good look of the Adonis’s body that he had been in love with for the past month. This wasn’t fair! Yuki shouldn’t be putting him in this situation. He shouldn’t be putting him into this situation, and he most certainly shouldn’t be crawling onto the bed, and yet here he was doing both.

Shuichi’s breaths were coming out in deep pants as the blond moved up his body, and haphazardly ripped his legs apart so that he could crawl in-between them. “Yuki noÉyou can’tÉwe can’t.”

The hand that was conveniently placed over his mouth muffled his voice. “Shut upÉjust shut up for once. You’re so noisy.” Yuki removed his hand only to replace it with his lips, and Shuichi thought he had really died and gone to heaven.

Any hesitation he had about Yuki touching him faded when those silky lips melted into his own. Shuichi moaned into those lips as he wrapped his arms around the blond’s neck as they deepened the kiss. Eiri’s tongue lapped at his lips, demanding entrance that Shuichi was only too happy to give. The novelist’s hand traveled the length of his body, stopping at his shorts to finally undo that zipper he had been working on earlier.

Shuichi broke their kiss in a gasp as a hand traveled into pants, ghosting over his most sensitive areas. “YukiÉpleaseÉ” He pleaded, though he didn’t know what for. He couldn’t think anymore, all he could do was moan out in pleasure as Eiri’s lips fell to his neck and that wondrous hand lightly stroked his member, making him harden under his touch.

He wanted to give into the pleasure and just let the man he loved do whatever he pleased, but he couldn’t. The nagging in the back of his head was too much, and before he lost control he used every bit of strength left in him to push the blond away.

“StopÉ” He pleaded. “Please stopÉwe can’t do this.” Shuichi’s eyes were wide and filled with fear, and such a look seemed to snap some sense into the novelist because he slightly backed off so that he was straddling him.

“Why do you ask me to stop, when your body tells me different?” Not being able to resist, Shuichi reached up, running a hand once again through Yuki’s silky hair.

“You’reÉ” He wasn’t allowed to continue because the hand that was running through blond hair was grabbed.

“Engaged? Yes, you’ve mentioned that. Is that why you fainted?” Shuichi looked the other way, even when Eiri began kissing a trail down his wrist. “You should know that it’s an arranged marriage, I never chose to be with her.”

Violet eyes turned to meet gold. “So you just lead her on?” Eiri let the hand he had been kissing drop as a look of anger crossed his face.

“She knows I have lovers. She doesn’t expect any more out of me then what I give her.” He didn’t know why, but for some reason that statement brought irrational anger out of him.

“Oh and what’s thatÉfake sentiments and broken promises?” He thought of all the pining his best friend had done over Ayaka, and couldn’t help but come to the girl he should by all means hate’s defense. “She doesn’t deserve thatÉHiro could treat her better.”

Yuki scoffed, once more letting his hands wander. “Hiro can have herÉI’m not interested in her. HoweverÉ” Eiri’s hands wrapped around the waistband to his shorts, and without a moment of hesitation pulled them all the way down so that they pooled at the actor’s ankles. His hands then went up to the neckline of his shirt. “I am rather interested in you.” Shuichi yelped when Yuki tugged on his shirt, ripping it apart and tossing it over the side of the bed.

A deep scarlet blush traveled up his body as Yuki’s wandering eyes traveled the length of his body, taking in every curve and muscle that was exposed. Shuichi resisted the urge to cover himself, and instead asked the one question that had been traveling through his head since he had woken up with the blond’s hands on him.

“Why are you here now? Why are you kissing me?” He tilted his head to the side, giving Eiri ample room to smother the side of his neck with kisses. “I thought you couldn’t stand me.”

Eiri rocked their bodies together, making Shuichi moan out once again in desperation. “I thought so to,” The novelist said, once more connecting their mouths. He pulled away only to kiss a trail towards his earlobe. “But you see I can’t seem to get your voice out of my head.” He bit his ear, reaching down between them so that he could remove his boxers. Shuichi’s eyes widened when he saw Eiri standing at full attention. He knew that he was a pretty good size, but Yuki was huge. If they did do this, then how the hell was that thing going to fit?

Yuki wrapped the actor’s legs around his waist, kissing him again as his fingers traveled down to his body. “I must have you, so that I can prove to myself that I don’t want you.”

You know he really didn’t know if that was supposed to make sense, but that actor went along with it anyways. It’s not like he could do anything about it now, Eiri already had them both naked and was on top of him. The only thing that was going to save his virginity now was if he screamed rape, and even then he didn’t know if it would work.

“YukiÉYukiÉ” Shuichi continued to chant as the blond’s hands roamed down the small of his back to cup his assÉ “YUKI!” He screamed, when one of the writer’s fingers penetrated him.

A twinge of pain shot up his spine at the small intrusion, but more than anything it just felt uncomfortable, and he tried to wiggle free of Eiri’s hand. Yuki seemed to realize his plight, because he nodded and reached towards his discarded coat lying on the headboard of the bed.

Shuichi stared in fixation as the blond withdrew from inside of him and poured a strawberry scented jelly from the small bottle he had stored in his pocket. Shuichi couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow in suspicion. “You certainly came preparedÉDid you have this planned from the beginning or something?”

At the smirk Eiri gave him, he would have to assume that the answer was yes. That presumptuous bastard! How dare he just assume that he would sleep with him! Though, in all honesty he would have to admit that his presumptions were right, because they didn’t exactly get into this spot by Shuichi saying noÉor he supposed they did get here by him saying no, but Yuki didn’t listen regardless.

Yuki coated his fingers with the lube, and once more moved to Shuichi’s body. His lips fell to his skin as he hands headed farther south. Shuichi squirmed in pleasure as searing lips trailed butterfly kisses down his stomach, while lubricated hands coated his erection, stroking him up and down so that he hissed out a moan of pure ecstasy.

Violet eyes rolled up into the back of his skull when Eiri’s teeth closed in on the stone Tatsuha had given him, ripping it out of his bellybutton while simultaneously inserting two fingers inside of him. Shuichi arched his back off the bed at the feel of it all. It was almost too much to have Yuki thrusting inside his bellybutton with his tongue, and at the same time effectively stretching him.

The blond added another finger, making sure that the actor wouldn’t be hurt too bad by the intrusion that was to come. Shuichi closed his eyes from the momentary pain, but that pain soon turned to a blur of pleasure as those fingers inside of him ghosted over a part of him that made his world explode in white.

He heard a scream echo throughout the theater, but it was only after that scream continued as Eiri mercilessly continued thrusting into the spot inside of him that he realized that that scream was coming from him. The blond’s other hand came to stroke his weeping erection, and from that and the endless attack on his prostrate Shuichi couldn’t hold back anymore. “YUKI!” He screamed once again as everything exploded inside of him as he released into his lover’s hand.

Shuichi collapsed into a boneless mass against the bed, riding out the last waves of his release. In the back of his mind he knew that he was going to wake up any moment and find that this was yet another one of the wet dreams he had had about the blond. Yet he didn’t wake up.

No, not only did he not wake up, but he just stared through heavy-lidded eyes as Yuki poured a generous amount of the strawberry lube onto his own erection, coating it to make sure he had an easy and pleasurable entrance.

This was it. Eiri was now positioned at his entrance, and Shuichi sucked in a deep breath at what that meant. Shuichi shut his eyes in pain as just the tip invaded him, and reaching out his hand, he pushed on the blond’s chest before he could go any further.

“WaitÉnot yet.” The glare he received for his hesitance really could have set fire in the worst of storms.

The actor’s hips were grabbed painfully, as Yuki slowly withdrew from him. “You’ve got to be kidding me bratÉdo you really expect me to stop now? You should have said something earlier.”

Resisting the urge to mention how he had said no earlier, and he had been ignored then as well, Shuichi pushed on to more important matters. “No, it’s not that I want you to stopÉI justÉI don’t want it to mean nothing to you!”

God he felt like some whiny girl. He turned away, not being able to look at the disgust that was no doubt covering Yuki’s face at his stupid reasoning. Thankfully he never had to see such a face, because the blond surprised him yet again. Leaning down, Eiri placed kiss after kiss along his jaw line, his cheek, his eyes, and finally, when Shuichi turned back his way, his lips.

Their tongues slid together in a tender kiss, and when Yuki pulled away there was something akin to a smile on his face. “I don’t know what, but I’m sure it means something.”

Knowing that that was probably the deepest sentiment he was ever going to get from the blond, Shuichi nodded and connected their mouths in another kiss. Yuki wrapped the pink haired boy’s legs around his waist, repositioning himself at his entrance, and with another kiss he pushed all the way in to the hilt.

Shuichi pulled back from the blond’s lips to let a scream tear from his throat at the burning hot pain from the intrusion. His earlier sentiments about Yuki being huge were definitely accurate. Smiling against his cheek, Eiri kissed his shoulder in reassurance. “Quite a bit bigger than a few fingers, huh?”

The blond was panting rather hard, and with a glare, Shuichi squeezed around him, effectively wiping that cocky look off of his face. Eiri’s nails dug into his hips as he tried to get control of himself again, and when it seemed that he wasn’t going to explode, he opened his eyes to glare. Shuichi smirked back, but his smirk didn’t last all that long when the blond’s hand came back to his slowing rising erection, stroking it at the same time that he began to move inside.

Yuki started a slow pace, making sure to time his thrusts to match his hand around the actor’s cock. Shuichi tried to keep his eyes open so that he could see the signs of pleasure he was giving his lover, but when the blond once more hit the bundle of nerves deep inside him, he couldn’t stop his eyes clenching shut as he cried at the man’s name.

His nerves were on fire as Eiri sped up his pace, thrusting mercilessly inside of him as he seemed to loose a bit of his cool demeanor and just give into what he was feeling. The both melded together in one unetheral being as they rocked together in their lover’s embrace.

As Yuki’s thrusts got faster, Shuichi could feel the release once again building inside of him. He knew he wouldn’t last very much longer, especially by how Eiri kept hitting his prostrate. His assumption was confirmed with one last thrust to his sweet spot electricity shot to his toes and he cried out in release, clamping down around his lover.

Eiri grunted at the added constriction, and thrust all the harder. With one final thrust, he moaned and released himself into his small lover underneath him. Spent, Yuki collapsed on top of his pink haired actor, loving the small mewling sounds the boy was still making from under him.

After he seemed to have gotten control of himself, the novelist rolled off of Shuichi, opting instead to lay right beside him so that he could pull out a smoke from his jacket pocket.

Giving the blond a dopy smile, Shuichi rolled onto his stomach and crawled up to rest on his chest. From the far away look in those golden eyes of his, Shuichi knew he had once again retreated into his cold shell, but he could care less at the moment. In truth he had never felt so happy in his life.

Placing kiss after kiss on Yuki’s smooth chest, Shuichi practically purred when the writer’s one free arm wrapped around him, trailing down his back and up his front. Yuki once again stopped at his navel, toying with the now diamond free appendage. “Does it bug you that he gave me that?”

Shuichi dared to ask, but at the scoff he received in answer he knew that it was a stupid question. Yet, from the way the blond’s arm unconsciously tightened around him he wondered just how stupid it was.

His hyperness once again taking over, Shuichi ignored his sore muscles and jumped rather indignantly into Yuki’s lap. The novelist gave him a glare, but it faded a little at the ridiculously big smile Shuichi was sporting.

Reaching behind him, the pink haired boy efficiently disconnected the choker necklace Tetsuya had given him, and gently removed the bead Ryuichi had stuck to his forehead. “See! Now I’m present free and all yours!” Shuichi spread his arms and was going to fall into his lover’s, but Yuki’s hand on his forehead stopped their embrace.

“Yeah, and who the hell says I want you to be mine?” Eiri coldly replied, taking one last drag of his cigarette before putting it out on the bedpost. Deflated, Shuichi gave his lover a pout, still sitting meekly on his chest.

His pouting turned quickly into curiosity as Eiri reached for his left ear, pulling out the large diamond stud in it. Just from the size of that thing Shuichi knew it had to cost a fortune. “Come here brat.” Eiri commanded, motioning him closer.

Shuichi was still completely confused, but he didn’t hesitate in following the blond’s orders. Yuki leaned forward, placing a small kiss on his ear. “This might hurt a bit.”

The pink haired actor was about to ask what would hurt, but he never got a chance. Without a moment of hesitation Eiri jabbed his recently extracted real diamond earring through an unexpecting Shuichi’s right earÉthose two things definitely don’t go good together. “OWWWWW!!!!”

Shuichi shrieked at the top of his lungs, holding his poor massacred ear in pain, and Yuki, that sadistic bastard, was just smirking at him. “What the hell Yuki!? Why the hell did you just stick that in my ear!?” He continued on with his tirade, but he would have to say that it lost a lot of its lackluster when Eiri sat up and pulled him to him.

Being torn between wanting to hit him and kiss him, Shuichi settled for just snuggling into his chest as Yuki fingered his handiwork, placing the back on it. “Tatsuha isn’t the only one that likes to mark what’s his.” Violet eyes widened to saucers at that as Eiri pulled back and kissed him. The actor was still shocked when he pulled away. Giving him a smirk, Yuki placed one more chaste kiss on his lips. “BesidesÉDiamonds are a boy’s best friend.” Not being able to resist anymore, Shuichi tackled his lover on the bed, smothering him with his kisses at what just had transpired, and hell he knew he shouldn’t be fixating on it, but he couldn’t help but smirk in satisfaction with how Yuki had actually called him a boy when using the phrase that everybody seemed to want to dote on him today. Forget what he said earlierÉthis had turned out to be a very very good day!

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