Gravitation Fan Fiction ❯ Second Chance ❯ Chapter 55

The first night in the new home was different for both Eiri and Shuichi. Shuichi had never shared a bed with another man or woman before. When Hiro stayed over on nights when they’d stay up late jamming or Hiro was trying to force him to study for a test in a class they didn’t share Hiro always slept on a futon next to Shu’s bed or the air mattress when they could find it. So it was a new experience for him.   For Eiri it was weird because though he kept trying to convince himself that he wasn’t cheating on his Shu, but that didn’t stop the nightmares. What was worse his nightmares about Kitizawa were now taking darker tones and for some reason he was now killing Shuichi as well. He barely got any sleep. Logically he knew they were just nightmares and had no baring on reality but it just seemed all too real for his taste.   z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z   Shu had gotten so busy cleaning and unpacking the house that he’d forgotten to call Hiro and ask him about Eiri’s strange behavior. The few times he did think of it he put it out of his head as he thought there would be time enough to talk to him at the party.   Eiri spent as much time as possible in his room typing up a new story. He wasn’t sure if Mizuki would like his autobiography or not  considering the weird stories she’d accepted in the past. But he was going to try. Of course naturally no one would even know it was an autobiography as one he had no plans to tell anyone and two it wasn’t this world’s Eiri’s history. Of course Eiri planned to change all the names and a couple of little facts here and there. But otherwise he planned to keep it the same. Besides even if he told it was an autobiography by the time he’s through telling of this his world then this alternate life in an alternate world no one would ever believe him. It was just as well. In his world someone might have been able to figure out the connection and he didn’t want that.   z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z   The day of the party had arrived, a day Eiri had hoped would never come. He’d forgotten to invite Tatsuha. So it was no surprise when his brother had called yesterday to yell about not being invited. Mika had opened her big mouth and told him about the party. Eiri didn’t apologize, he would not to Tatsuha. He simply told him he forgot. So in retaliation Tatsuha said he was planning to invite a friend over. Eiri groaned. This was not going to be fun at all. He knew that probably meant he was going to bring that insane singer and his rabbit over. On top of that Shu’s family, whom he’d heard were major fans of his books, god only knows why, as Eiri couldn’t figure out why anyone would read the trash that this worlds Eiri put his name to, since learning he didn’t write the books himself. Eiri had had to do a read through of reviews and overviews of the books this worlds Eiri had laid claim to as if Shu’s mother and sister were like any fan he’s met before they’ll ask tons of questions and he’ll need at least a few real answers before he started making things up. Then of course you can’t forget Hiro whom he’s sure was going to have plans to bring his new girlfriend and Eiri’s ex-wife Ayaka. Then Tohma and Mika. Yeah as house full of fun!   z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z   Eiri wasn’t sure he’d have enough time to cook for that many so he’d had it catered. Normally they protested this late as he had only called Thursday to set up the catering job. But the moment they heard his name and he was willing to pay a extra as he knew few good places didn’t normally take orders only a couple of days away. Eiri wasn’t  exactly thrilled at the fact that the cost would be around $2,000. But they would come to the apartment set up and serve and the guest could chose from a sushi bar or a tempura bar. He also felt their name was a bit weird ‘Classic Catering’. But he wasn’t going to have to cook or serve and he wasn’t about to let Shu near the kitchen. So when he answered the door he was relived to see if was them and no early guest.   z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z   Eiri wasn’t really surprised when the door bell rang and Shu skidded to a halt in front of it or that Hiro and Ayaka were the first to arrive.   “Wow, this place is huge.” Hiro said.   “I know it’s almost as big as my parents house. Come on I’ll show you my room.” Shu said dragging Hiro along.   Ayaka walked over to Eiri who was smoking, “I hope you don’t mind my coming here.”   “As long as you understand that you are here as Nakano’s girlfriend and are to never bring up the fact that we were ever married.”   “Of course Eiri, I wouldn’t want to interfere with your new life. I can see now you are much happier here, and I never thought I’d say this after loosing you, but so am I. Hiro has opened my eyes and made me see the truth. The fact that I had deluded myself into thinking you loved me.”   ‘Well it seems something don’t change despite the different realities. Sure I cared for Ayaka well enough but it was far from the same kind of care she felt for me. Despite the fact I wanted nothing to do with the arranged marriage she believed I would grow to love her. She learned the hard way that it didn’t work that way.’   Before she could ask anymore questions the doorbell rang again this time with Tohma and Mika, then just as Eiri predicted Tatsuha and Ryuichi popped up behind them.   “Party, no no da! I can’t wait!”   “Calm down Ryuichi no sense bothering the neighbors.”   Eiri was tempted to ask what neighbors, as even as loud as Ryuichi was the nearest neighbor was in the next building. But he wisely kept quite hoping that would keep the insane singer from tearing down the house.   They all walked into the living room and seemed in awe of how large it was.   “This is quite larger Eiri, how did you ever manage to find anything this big in the city?” Tohma asked.   “It used to be an apartment complex but then a couple transferred here from the states bought it when it fell into bankruptcy and converted it into a large family home. Recently they learned they were being transferred again out of Japan so I was able to get it before it even went on the market.”   “It must have set you back a pretty penny.” Tohma said hoping Eiri would disclose the amount.   “Nothing I can’t afford.” Eiri said refusing to take the bait and tell Tohma how much he spent on the place. If he had to know that badly Eiri was sure he’d find a way. It wasn’t like it really mattered anymore. He bought and paid for the place end of story.   Ryuichi broke in before Tohma could ask anything more.   “Oh look Tats, they have Amazake!”   “Joy, don’t you have any sake or wine?”   “And why do you think you would be allowed any Tatsuha?” Mika asked.   “Aw come on Mika, its not like it’s going to hurt anything.”   “Tats can drink Amazake with me.”   “Yes, Tatsuha you can drink Amazake with Ryuichi.”   “Why can’t Tats have any sake?”   “Ryuichi you know you have to be 20 to buy or drink alcohol, right.”   Ryu chewed on Kuma’s ear and nodded, “Well did you also know that Tatsuha here is only 16?”   Ryuichi looked up surprised, “Is that true, Tats?”   Tatsuha glared at Mika but the smiled at Ryuichi and said, “Uh yeah. That doesn’t bother you, does it?”   Mika had hoped it would but Ryuichi just shook his head, “Nope does it bother you that I’m 30?”   “No, not at all.”   Mika wasn’t happy about that. Then the door bell rang again and Eiri knew than it would be Shu’s family and the brat hadn’t come down from his room yet after taking Hiro up there. He figured the best way to flush them out was to send Ryuichi up there while he dealt with the boy’s family.   “Tatsuha, Shuichi had said he was interested in meeting you.”   Tatsuha frowned, “Why? I can’t believe you even told him about me.”   “I didn’t have a choice. Someone he knew saw you at the amusement park and thought you were me.”   “Oh, really well they never called out so I guess they didn’t want to bother me.”   “Well he took Hiro upstairs to show him his room. Why don’t you and Ryuichi go see what’s taking them so long?”   “Yeah, I’ve heard a lot about Shuichi, I really want to meet him! Let’s go Tats!”   Like Hiro was with Shu, Tatsuha found himself being dragged along up the stairs to Shuichi’s room.   Eiri tried to mentally prepare himself for screaming fan girls. He opened the door and Maiko and Sayoko, Shuichi’s mother, started screaming. “It really is him. The Great Eiri Yuki himself!”   Eiri groaned this was going to be a long night he just knew it.   z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z   A/N: Classic Catering is a real restaurant. I found this site through an add, I found out after looking it over it was located in California not Japan but I’m generally lazy and get my info from other fan fics or mangas. So I chose just to use that as when I did decide to look for a real one in Japan I couldn’t find anything but hotels and the restaurants I did find in Japan none answered the question this site did on whether or not they catered inside your home. So I wasn’t about to spend the rest of the night hunting so I went for this. Despite it not being in Japan. To see their website go elittletokyo.com and look up Classic Catering.   z-z-z-z   Amazake is translated as “sweet alcohol,” but is actually very low in alcohol content and can be served to children in Japan. It’s sweet made from fermented rice and can also be served as a dessert. (Info comes for Shugo Chara manga volume 3)   z-z-z-z   I don’t think there was ever a name given to Shu’s parents and I felt odd, though my friend Clarity did it with our story (see Kagome Mokuba or story Seto’s Wish 2) just called her the mom, I felt it better to actually give her a name. So I went through a lot of names, a lot of them to me anyway were actually funny. I felt Sayoko wasn’t too bad. Though once I did get Noriko which I thought was funny. To see where I got the name and see your Japanese name go to blogthings.com / japanesenamegenerator