Gravitation Fan Fiction ❯ The Long Weekend ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

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

Chapter 5


As Tatsuha began to flip through CD bins, he felt his equilibrium returning. Record shopping
always made him cheerful. But maybe it was finally getting some sleep, too. Sanjiro was now a
day in the past, and the driver was beginning to fade a little.

He was just starting with the A's, when a voice caught his attention. The proprietor was calling
out to someone entering the store. "Hey, Yoshi! I've got that Ryuichi Sakuma CD you ordered."

"Thanks, Heiji. But I'd like to look around first before I pick it up."

\\How come he's not going wild?\\ Tatsuha thought to himself. \\Well, at least he's a Sakuma
fan.\\

Except this Sakuma fan was frankly weird-looking. Yoshi was wearing the ugliest hat Tatsuha
had ever seen. It was a blue cap that looked like some inept female relative's first attempt at
knitting. Yoshi appeared to have it on upside down, too, for all the cut-off threads were sticking
out all over, like some bizarre afro. A white hachimaki headband was peaking out from under the
cap, exactly the sort students wore while studying for exams, and Tatsuha even thought he could
make out the bottom of the kanji character for ‘persevere' on it, a common slogan. A bulky down
jacket and a pair of wire octagonal sunglasses completed the outfit. Tatsuha had the urge to go
over, kick this Yoshi guy in the ankle, and say, \\Hey you, Ryuichi fan, dress better than that!
Don't you know you're insulting Sakuma-san?\\

But that wouldn't be right. He was a Buddhist monk, and just as all worshipers were welcome to
Buddha, all fans were welcome to Sakuma-sama. He supposed this Yoshi guy was a student who
had been cramming long hours for a test, become burned out, and then fled to a record store to
revive himself. Tatsuha had often done the same thing, too.

The teenager turned his attention to the B's, just in case there was a new Bad Luck limited edition
of something. His hand collided with another's right over a Bad Luck interview pack. "Oh,
sorry," the other man said.

It was that Yoshi guy. He was a Bad Luck fan? Cool. But if he had such good taste, why did he
have to dress like a moron?

"That's okay," Tatsuha replied. "You like them, huh?"

Yoshi nodded, inspecting the interview CD. "I first became interested in them when I heard they
were on NG. Seguchi-san has excellent taste in bands."

Tatsuha had to refrain from saying that Seguchi had hated Bad Luck at first. He was tempted to
confess that both Tohma and Shuichi were his in-laws, and that he'd actually been inside NG.
(Though admittedly only after agreeing to wash Tohma's car, first.)

"Speaking of NG bands, did you ever hear ASK's CD?"

"I did and it was quite good," Yoshi replied. "But they broke up for some reason I've never
discovered, which is strange because I try to keep up with music news."

Idly, Tatsuha wondered why Yoshi had no visible hair. Cancer treatments? The guy looked sort
of frail in his bulky coat. "My brother absolutely hates that band, and I have no idea why. I
bought that ASK disk, too, but when I went over to my brother's with it, he let out this roar,
snatched the case out of my hand, and threw it off the balcony of his apartment building. He just
lobbed it straight up into the air, and it came spinning down and shattered the windshield of his
Mercedes. He'd forgotten it was parked below."

"Really?" said Yoshi, grinning.

"Yeah," Tatsuha laughed. "Served him right for destroying my CD. My brother just stood there
gazing down at his car with this incredulous look on his face. My name's Tatsuha, by the way.
And you're Yoshi? I heard the proprietor say your name."

The other man nodded.

"And you're a Sakuma fan?"

"Yeah, I sort of like his stuff."

"Sort of? You mean it's possible to feel lukewarm about him?"

"Well, I don't like everything he does. Are you a fan of his?"

In answer, Tatsuha walked over to the S's and found a CD single of Ryuichi's that he particularly
adored, because the singer's bare chest took up most of the cover. He held the picture up to
show it to Yoshi, then gave the CD the most slow, lascivious lick he could manage.

"Hey!" the proprietor yelled. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Stop slobbering on the
merchandise!" Yoshi too, gave Tatsuha a fish-eyed look.

Tatsuha pressed the CD to his cheek and purred. "Beautiful Ryuichi-sama. I'd MARRY him if I
could."

"Put that down, you nutcase!" Heiji yelled.

Tatsuha laughed, and replaced the CD. "Hell yes, I'm a fan," he said as he returned. "If I could
get him into bed, I'd be in heaven! I'd fuck him so hard I'd have to carry him around in my arms
for a week afterward."

Even behind his sunglasses, Yoshi's eyes could be seen rolling skywards. "You know he owns
this stuffed rabbit? Don't you think that's strange?"

"Strange!? Of course not. It just means he's very affectionate. More so than your average male,
if you think about it. I bet he's really sweet in bed."

Tatsuha had to admit he was impressed by Yoshi's composure. The guy still hadn't run for his
life yet. Usually when the teenager spoke to strangers like this about his idol, he scared the shit
out of them.

"I'm serious, man, I really love him."

Yoshi smiled a little. "Tatsuha," he said, "you're very weird."

"No, just in love. I cried for a week when Nittle Grasper broke up and he went to America."

"Did you know that Tohma Seguchi tried to talk him into becoming the new lead singer for
ASK?"

"What!? You're kidding! Where'd you hear that?"

"Gossip. I go to a lot of clubs and meet music industry types now and then. Seguchi didn't want
to throw away a perfectly good band when Taki Aizawa disappeared, I understand."

"No way! What else did you hear?"

For the next hour, they talked as they flipped through CD cases. Tatsuha was quite impressed by
Yoshi, who really did seem to know a lot about the music business. Since Tatsuha was a fanatic
himself, he was able to cross-check much of what Yoshi said, and knew it to be true. Even more
impressive to Tatsuha was Yoshi's modesty. Most of the real music nuts Tatsuha had met were
touchy and arrogant.

When they'd pawed their way through enough rows, Yoshi went up to the counter to claim his
Sakuma CD. Curious, Tatsuha studied the CD over Yoshi's shoulder to see which one it was.
He didn't recognize it.

What---? How could this be?

"Ryuichi Sakuma—Live in Berlin," Yoshi read aloud, "Spindisk Records, Germany."

"Hey, how come I've never heard of this?" Tatsuha blurted. "Do you have another copy?" he
asked the proprietor. Though the disk looked expensive, he thought he could afford it.

"Let me check," Heiji said.

"I hadn't heard of it before, either," Yoshi said. "I didn't recognize it when I found it in the
catalogue Heiji had. That's why I ordered a copy." Yoshi snorted as he studied the disk. "Now I
know why. It's a bootleg live recording. This disk is illegal."

"No, sorry kid," Heiji said to Tatsuha. "My supplier's completely out, and can't get any more."

"Spindisk Records," Yoshi mused, tapping the CD against his cheek. "What did I hear about
them? Oh, yes, they were busted by the German police a couple of weeks ago and the stock in
their warehouse confiscated and destroyed. I bet this is one of the few copies that escaped." He
turned the CD over to study the song list. Tatsuha wedged up against him and did the same. He
didn't even recognize most of the song titles.

"Are you sure?" the teenager begged the proprietor. "You're completely out? No other copies?"

"Sorry."

Tatsuha's mouth opened as he stared at the disk, pathetic as a baby bird's.

Yoshi glanced at him. Then he looked at the CD, and back at Tatsuha. "Did you want this CD?"
he asked the teenager.

Tatsuha sputtered. Did he want this CD? What a stupid question. He'd KILL for this CD.
Except he couldn't kill Yoshi. Yoshi was nice. "Um, ah, it's yours and everything, you know? I
mean—."

"Did you want to buy it?"

"Um, if there were another copy I would, but he says—."

Yoshi handed the disk over, putting it in Tatsuha's palm.

"What?! You mean you don't want it?!"

"I'd like a copy," Yoshi said. "But I went to one of Sakuma's last concerts as a solo artist, and
I've heard most of these songs. Tell you what, Tatsuha. You buy the disk, then burn me a copy
of it." He laughed. "Bootleg the bootleggers."

Tatsuha couldn't believe it. Yoshi had just GIVEN UP a Sakuma CD? This was something so
incredible, so saintly, that it was worthy of Buddha. The next instant he had one arm around
Yoshi's waist, the other cradling Yoshi's neck, and he was giving his new friend the most hungry,
tongue-thrusting, and sexiest kiss he'd ever delivered.

Yoshi flailed in surprise as his feet were lifted right off the ground, and he latched frantically onto
his cap to keep it from falling off.

"Hey, Nutcase," said Heiji, rapping Tatsuha sharply on the head with a label maker, "am I going
to have to call a cop? Quit that."

Tatsuha let go, threw himself at Yoshi's feet, and began to pound his forehead against the floor.
"Oh, thank you! Thank you! Ten thousand thanks!" Then he wrapped himself around Yoshi's
knees.

For a long moment, the dazed Yoshi stared at him. He looked as though he were about to flee
the room. Heiji leaned over the counter to inspect the teenager. "Tatsuha," said Yoshi finally,
"You are the CRAZIEST guy." He laughed, and exchanged a look and a shake of the head with
Heiji.

In delirium, Tatsuha paid for his precious CD. "Oh, man, I can't believe you did this. You're so
cool. Um, hope I didn't embarrass you too much, there."

"Oh, I've embarrassed myself in public many a time. You didn't bother me."

"I'm glad you aren't mad. You know what? There's a hamburger place next door that's pretty
good. Let's have lunch."

"Sure. Just let me finish with my own CDs first."

After Yoshi paid, they left the shop and stood in line for hamburgers. After Yoshi ordered,
Tatsuha swept his friend's wallet aside with an imperious hand, digging out his own. "Let me
buy," the teenager insisted. "I really owe you."

"But I can pay."

"Never mind," Tatsuha insisted grandly, blocking Yoshi with his arm. Then he pulled out his yen
and nearly had a heart attack. \\Oops.\\ He'd spent all his whoring money, as well as most of his
own yen, on that CD. He had just enough to cover Yoshi's tab, and buy a soda for himself.

"Didn't you want a hamburger?"

"I ate lunch right before I went shopping," Tatsuha lied. "Hey, did you need ketchup?" he asked,
trying to distract the other man. "There's a table over here. I'll get us some napkins."

They sat by the window, and Tatsuha sipped his drink. God, now that he thought about it, he was
starving. He began to wish he hadn't dealt so summarily with that squid. It had been horribly
evocative, but it had been food.

Yoshi was removing the wrapper from a plastic knife. He studied Tatsuha a moment, then began
to saw his burger in half. He slid over the other half on a napkin, and added some french fries as
well.

"That's yours," Tatsuha insisted.

"Go ahead," Yoshi replied. "There's plenty here, since I ordered a Jumbo Burger and a large bag
of fries." He glanced at Tatsuha very briefly, his eyes shadowed by his lenses, and the teenager
knew he hadn't fooled Yoshi at all.

\\God, he really is a saint,\\ thought Tatsuha. "Are you a student?"

"I'm a ronin," Yoshi said with reluctance, not meeting Tatsuha's eyes.

That meant he'd failed his college entrance exams, and was studying hard in an attempt to try to
pass them again. \\His parents must be mad as hell at him. I bet he's going to a cram school.\\

"What about you?" Yoshi asked.

So Tatsuha told him about the whole monk business. After a while, he began to worry that he
was talking too much, but Yoshi was quite interested. He was curious to hear about exorcisms,
and whether Tatsuha believed in ghosts. It amused him to learn that Uesugi-san went barefoot in
the snow. Yoshi was even more delighted when Tatsuha told him about the wild monkeys who
often stole the food offerings left at the temple.

"Sometimes I put food out for them in winter. I've actually woken up in my bedroom and found
myself face to face with a wild monkey calmly eating my rice porridge and drinking my tea. The
tea makes them very wired, though, and you have to shoo them out of the place before they
damage something. My dad keeps telling me not to encourage them. I've often wondered if I
could teach them to use chopsticks."

Yoshi grinned. "Maybe you could."

"I guess I'm making my family life sound pretty strange, aren't I?"

"I don't think a normal family could have produced you," Yoshi said.

"Thanks," the teenager replied, unsure whether this was a compliment. Even worse, he still
hadn't told Yoshi the craziest parts yet. What would Yoshi think if he knew Tatsuha's brother
had come out on national TV, or that some of Tatsuha's friends had blown up the old NG
building from outer space, or that the burger in front of him was purchased with money earned
giving head?

Although Yoshi himself couldn't claim to be exactly normal, considering the way he was dressed.
But now that Tatsuha looked at him—.

It was strange, but Yoshi was beginning to look better. His cap wasn't so silly anymore, as if the
wearer's personality held some mysterious power to transform it into something cooler. And his
sunglasses weren't too bad, either. Sort of rockish, in fact. \\He has good bones,\\ Tatsuha
thought. \\If he'd dress better, he'd be good-looking. Does he have any hair at all? It would be a
shame if he were bald.\\ "Say, could I have your mailing address? I'll need it to give you that CD
copy."

"Do you need to leave now? I wouldn't mind spending more time with you."

Unused to blushing, Tatsuha was surprised when he felt heat in his cheeks and throat. "No, I just
wanted to make sure you won't forget it." \\Why am I blushing? Yeah, I did decide he's
somewhat good-looking, but why am I reacting like this? I guess I'm just flattered that he likes
me, even though I should have freaked him out by now.\\ He wondered again about Yoshi's
health, and felt a protective warmth for the other man. Yoshi seemed so frail.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" Tatsuha asked suddenly.

"Not at the moment."

Tatsuha found himself wondering if Yoshi had ever had a lover at all. Maybe not.

"I think they're out of tables," Yoshi said. "Someone seems to be waiting for ours. Shall we
go?"

"All right." They stood up and threw away their garbage, and stepped outside.

"Where do you want to go?" Tatsuha asked.

"No place, actually. I just feel like talking. I know it's cold out here."

"Then we'll just walk fast." They set a furious pace, not paying attention to where they were
headed. On the next block was a park, and they stopped to admire a fountain. It was so cold that
little cakes of ice were floating in the water. "I know this place," Tatsuha said. "Shuichi fell in
here, once."

"Shuichi?"

Tatsuha could have kicked himself. "Friend of mine," he lied quickly. "He fell in by accident, but
it turned out okay."

"The city should have shut off the water," Yoshi commented. "The pipes might burst. But at
least the birds have something to drink. By the way, how long have you been a Sakuma fan?"

"God! Years. It's a spiritual thing by now. I even have Ryuichi-Sense."

"Ryuichi-Sense?"

"Yeah. It activates in his presence, like when I go to his concerts or something."

"What does it feel like?"

"It's hard to describe. It's a powerful feeling, just a huge rush of joy. One soul touching another.
I'm not very Buddhist in my religion, I'm afraid. But I'm very Buddhist about Sakuma-san.
Interconnectedness of all things, and so forth."

Yoshi wore a slight smile, skeptical, but amused.

"Do you feel it now?"

Tatsuha thought hard. "Maybe it's the new CD, but I think I do. This is his city, anyway, and I
know he's around here somewhere."

"Tatsuha, if you don't mind my asking, are you interested in men?"

"Yeah, and girls too. What about you?"

"Only girls," Yoshi said. "But I don't hold any prejudices against people for the gender they
prefer. But don't you think it's a little—unnatural---to have such strong feelings for a man you've
never met?"

"Hey, I didn't choose this. I just love him."

"But wouldn't you be happier," Yoshi said in a gentler tone, "with someone you could actually
see and touch, instead of this distant musical idol?"

Tatsuha felt his eyes grow hot. "It isn't my choice," he repeated vehemently. "I just feel this
way. I'll NEVER fall out of love with him."

Yoshi was silent for a while, studying the water. Tatsuha swallowed the lump in his throat.

"I'm just suggesting that there are other people out there. Judging from the way you kiss," Yoshi
added, "I don't think you'd have any trouble with women." He grinned, and gave Tatsuha a
sidelong look. "I don't think anyone's ever kissed me like that before. No girl ever has, anyway."

In that moment, there was something so pleasant in Yoshi's smile that Tatsuha found himself
saying, "Oh? Do you want another one?" He stepped closer to Yoshi.

"Uh, Tatsuha—." Yoshi began backing away.

\\Yes,\\ thought the teenager, eyeing the other man. \\Yes, I can do it. The Uesugi hormones can
fuck anything. Yes, I think I want to.\\

"Tatsuha, I'm sorry, but I'm not interested. Uh, Tatsuha?"

\\One kiss, just one, before he has time to get mad. I like you, Yoshi. So I'm going to give you
just one little kiss before you slug me.\\

"Now, wait a minute!" Yoshi protested, still backing away.

"Why not? Will it kill you?" Tatsuha retorted.

For a second Yoshi paused, pondering this, but he was too slow. Tatsuha lunged. Their lips met
for the briefest second, before Yoshi's reflexes took him flying blindly backwards, right into the
icy water of the fountain.

"OH FUCK!" Tatsuha howled. "Oh, shit! Yoshi?!" He leaned over and grabbed the sputtering,
gasping man by the coat. With a tremendous heave, he pulled Yoshi out. "I'm sorry! Oh, my
God, I'm sorry. I'm such an idiot! Quick, we need to get you inside."

Yoshi had turned remarkably blue, and he was shivering so hard he couldn't speak.

"Look, I'll take you home and get you dried off and warmed up. Taxi!" he yelled. There was one
waiting at a stand nearby. He didn't have any money to pay the driver, but he could borrow some
from Kumiko.

Pushing Yoshi inside, he fired off the address as he climbed in. Then he unzipped Yoshi's coat
and hurriedly put his own around the shivering shoulders. "I'm sorry, it's all my fault. But it's
only a few blocks, and I'll get you into a steaming shower."

Yoshi was unable to reply. Tatsuha held him close, trying to warm the other as much as possible
with his body. \\I'm such a friggin' idiot. How could I have done this to him?\\

They drew up to the Seguchi house, and Tatsuha jumped from the taxi and ran inside. "Kumiko!
Where are you? It's an emergency!" But the house was silent. "Crap! Did she leave to get
groceries?" Desperately, he ran back out. And was surprised to see the shivering Yoshi
proffering a credit card to the driver.

"Did you want a receipt?" the driver asked as a trembling hand signed the slip.

"Fuck no," said Yoshi with vehemence, hurrying for Tohma's front door. Tatsuha paused to
rescue the credit card from the driver, and chase after Yoshi.

But Yoshi was even faster. Tatsuha skidded along a damp trail of footprints, looking around and
yelling a rain of "Sorrys!" Then he realized the shower was already running in Tohma's
bathroom. How had Yoshi found it so fast? Tatsuha turned the doorknob, but found it locked.
"Are you all right?" he shouted.

He heard a moan, then, "The hot water's on. God, this feels good."

"I'll make you some tea and put your clothes in the dryer when you get out!" Tatsuha called. He
scrambled to get a bathrobe and put some water on the stove. About fifteen minutes later, he was
standing worriedly by the door with the tea on a tray and the bathrobe slung over his arm. The
door unlocked, and there was Yoshi craning around the corner in a towel. He still had his knit
cap and sunglasses on, and both were dripping. In a moment they did a fast exchange, wet
clothes for the bathrobe and tea.

As he loaded the dryer, Tatsuha cursed himself. \\Now he'll hate me forever. Why did I kiss him?
He asked me not to, dammit.\\

The door to the laundry room opened, and there stood Yoshi in Tohma's bathrobe.

"Want me to dry your cap?" Tatsuha offered.

"I still have it on?" Yoshi asked. "God, I forgot about it completely. Just a second." He reached
upwards, then stopped at a thought. "Will a kiss kill me? Is that what you said in the park? It
damn near did, Tatsuha."

"I am incredibly sorry," the teenager said fervently.

A small smile crossed Yoshi's lips. "I suppose it's all karma. I soaked someone else this morning
in a stupid accident, so it's only fitting I should get dosed as well. And I suppose, too, it's time
you found out."

Yoshi pulled the sodden cap off his head, letting long, wet strands of brown hair fall around his
face. Then he slid his sunglasses down his nose, showing his blue eyes.

It was Ryuichi Sakuma.



To Be Continued.