Gravitation Fan Fiction ❯ The Dark Side of Gravity ❯ Intervention ( Chapter 6 )

Faye-Faye: I wouldn't say no to a few more reviews!  And yes, there's still a little way to go in this story.  I wouldn't leave you dangling!  This chappy takes the story in an interesting direction, however.  I've always suspected Tohma of leading a double life!

Chapter 6: Intervention

Tohma really did love Mika.  He would never have married her if he didn't.  But sometimes she could be a real pain in the ass.  He tapped the fingers of one carefully manicured hand on the desk while he watched her pace back and forth on the other side, waving her hands angrily as she complained at length about the influence Shuichi had over Eiri and how bad it was for him.  Not that Tohma disagreed with her, but he doubted there was much they could do about it.  Eiri had made his choice, and he'd chosen Shuichi.

When Mika finally paused for breath, Tohma quickly wedged a word in.  "I agree with you that it would be better if Eiri ended their relationship, but I don't think he's going to do that.  He seems rather taken with young Mr. Shindou." 

Mika whirled to glare at him, her fists jammed against her hips with her elbows sticking out.  "Eiri listens to you more than he does me, Tohma!  I need you to go and talk to him."  Unable to stand still, she started pacing back and forth again.  "You need to see him.  There's something wrong.  He has some kind of rash; it looks almost like bite marks."

"Bite marks?"  Tohma echoed in surprise.  That got his attention and he suddenly focused on what Mika was saying.

"Sort of like bite marks."  She stopped and stared straight ahead. "When I asked him about it the first time, he got all secretive and threw me out of the apartment.  I haven't been able to get him to talk to me about it since.  He just keeps saying he's fine."  She turned and leaned across the desk, her face worried.  "But he really does look sick, Tohma.  He's really pale and once he told me all he wanted to do was sleep.  Does that sound 'fine' to you?"

"No, it does not."  Tohma folded his hands neatly on the desk.  "I will go speak to Eiri, Mika.  I'll take care of it."

"Thanks, Tohma."  She smiled, but it didn't take the worry out of her face.  "Call me, ok?"

"I will."

After she left, Tohma turned to stare out the window.  This high up, all he could see was the sky and other tall buildings.  But he wasn't really looking at the view.  K had mentioned that Shuichi had acquired a groupie.  Some man who kept turning up at their concerts and parties looking for Shuichi.  K had thought he was harmless, but Tohma wondered.  He knew very well what illness could make a man tired and pale, especially when accompanied by a rash that looked like bite marks.  Though it had been awhile since he'd had to deal with it, he wasn't terribly surprised.  There was something about rock music that just brought the vampires out of the woodwork.  And Shindou's music had a certain appeal to it.

Tohma steepled his fingers and tapped them against his lips.  If Eiri was being secretive with Mika, that meant he probably knew what was happening and had decided to accept it, just like he'd decided to accept Shuichi's impetuous passion.  Well, Mika was right this time.  Tohma did need to talk to Eiri.  He just wondered if it would do any good.

- - - - - - - -

Tohma entered the apartment quietly.  Shuichi should have been in the studio, but he obviously wasn't.  Tohma could hear him and Eiri in the bedroom.  Closing the door quietly, he went into the kitchen to wait, sitting at the table with his hands folded neatly in front of him.  He could still hear them, however.  Especially Shuichi.  His cries of pleasure slowly increased in volume until Tohma could hear him plainly.

"Oh!  Oh!  Oh!  Oh, god!  Oh, Yuki!  I love you!  I love you!  Oh!  Ah!  Ahhh!  Ahhhhhh!"

He finally fell silent, clearly satisfied.  Tohma sighed.  He didn't want to be jealous, but it was hard.  Eiri's womanizing had been easier to bear, but now he was with a man, and happy.  Tohma had to fight to keep the jealousy from welling up inside him.

"Did you enjoy that?" Eiri spoke from the doorway.

Tohma tried not to show his surprise.  He hadn't heard Eiri leave the bedroom.  "No," he replied honestly.  "You know how I feel about your relationship with Shuichi."

"Then why are you here?"

"Mika is worried.  She asked me to speak to you."

"Oh." Eiri walked into the kitchen and began filling the tea kettle with water.  "Would you like some tea?"

"Yes, please."

They didn't speak while Eiri made the tea.  He poured it into two cups, set one on the table in front of Tohma and sat down opposite him with the other cup in his hand.  He sipped his tea slowly, clearly prepared to wait until Tohma felt like talking.

"How is your book coming?"

"Fine.  I did twelve pages last night."

"I'm glad to hear it.  Shuichi is so impulsive, I worry that he interferes with your creative process."

"He knows when I need him to be quiet.  And he's not here all the time."

"I didn't expect him to be here today.  He's supposed to be rehearsing."

"I'm sure K will be calling to threaten him soon." Eiri smiled slightly.  "But I wanted his company this morning, and he never complains when I do."

Tohma frowned.  He sipped his tea and stared at the table in front of him, annoyed with himself for being distracted from the matter at hand by irrational jealousy.

"I know what's going on, Eiri," Tohma said finally.  "It may seem harmless to you now, but it can only get worse.  Don't let Shuichi drag you down with him."

Eiri put his cup down and fixed his eyes on Tohma.  "Shuichi isn't just some guy I'm dating, Tohma.  He's my lover.  I live with him.  I am not going to leave him again.  As my friend, you should accept that."

"I do.  But this is different.  You know Shuichi's behavior isn't normal."

Eiri's smile looked almost secretive.  "When has his behavior ever been normal?"

"Eiri…"

"He's a valuable asset to N-G, Tohma," Eiri interrupted him.  "I should think you would be more concerned about losing him as Bad Luck's vocalist."  He held Tohma's gaze until Tohma nodded.

"Very well.  I will see what I can do to extricate him from the situation he's gotten himself into."  Tohma rose.  "Thank you for the tea.  Please tell Mr. Shindou to report to work as soon as possible."

"I'll do that."

- - - -

"Why was Mr. Seguchi here?"  Shuichi asked when he got out of the shower.

Eiri wondered if he had heard them talking in the kitchen, or if he just smelled Tohma's scent wafting from the other room.  "Mika sent him."

"Oh."

"Don't worry, Shuichi, he's not going to fire you.  Tohma is too much the businessman for that."

"But he doesn't like that I'm with you."

"I know, but he won't let a personal matter interfere with business."  Eiri took the towel from Shuichi and dried his back for him.  "They're worried I'll get sick again, that's all.  But everything's all right.  We're going to be just fine."

"Are we?"  Shuichi turned large, worried eyes up to his.  "It's not… normal…" he seemed to be struggling to find the right words, "what we do… when we…" he fell silent with an unhappy frown.

Eiri finished for him, "When we drink each other's blood?"

Shuichi nodded unhappily.

"I admit that as foreplay goes it's a little uncommon, but if we're careful, we're not going to hurt each other."  He put his arms around Shuichi and hugged him briefly.  "Now, Mr. Seguchi said you should report to work as soon as possible, so get dressed and off you go."

Shuichi snuggled against him for a moment and then bounded off to the bedroom to get his clothes.  Eiri suspected he'd just thrown on whatever was lying on the floor, because he reappeared again almost immediately, fully dressed with his backpack slung over one shoulder.

"I don't think I'll be late," he said brightly.  "But wait dinner for me, just in case?"

"Bring it with you and then I'll have no choice but to wait for you."

Shuichi laughed.  "Ok!  I'll pick up some rice bowls.  Beef or pork?"

"Beef."

"Ok!  See ya!"  He bounded out the door and was gone.