Gravitation Fan Fiction ❯ Truth behind the lies ❯ Reunion ( Chapter 3 )

--

“Reunite?” Shuichi repeats, as if he doesn't believe what he just heard. He hears the soft hum of Hiro's agreement on the other line, before the said man speaks up again.

“Well, not reunited, it's just like a reunion concert, ya know? I've told Suguru and he said it's okay… depending on your answer. So?”

Shuichi was still staring blankly, the wall looking appealing now.. Had he just heard it right? Hiro knows what happened between him and Yuki! And if there's a reunion concert of Bad Luck, it must be in Japan since it's where they come from. And if he goes to Japan again… he's afraid he'll meet Yuki.

“Nah, Hiro. I'll pass. You can go without me,” Shuichi answered after a brief moment of silence.

“What? No way! I've told you before; Bad Luck without you is nothing!”

“But I won't, Hiro! You know… Yuki…”

On the other line, Hiro frowned. So this is about Yuki again. It's been two years… why can't Shuichi just forget that damned novelist? Um, ex-novelist anyway… since Shuichi left Japan he'd also quit his job as a novelist. Nobody knows why—he avoids those questions every time someone asks him.

“Forget him, Shuichi. It's not good for you—let bygones be bygones. You have to move on… or is it because you won't see me and Suguru again?”

“NO!”

Hiro winced, holding the phone far from his ears to avoid the brat's yell.

“Okay, no need to scream, Shu…” he said. “So, whatcha think? Please, Shu… it's been two years since I touched a guitar… I've really missed it, you know? Don't you miss me? Miss Suguru? Miss Japan?”

“I… don't know. I'll tell Sakuma-san first.”

Satisfied with his best friend's answer, Hiro hung up after saying good-bye. Ryuichi looks at him questioningly, waiting patiently for the boy to speak up.

“Hiro said he's making a reunion concert… in Japan.”

Ryuichi's face turned from puzzled to what seems like anger. Hiro knows what happened to them… why did he have to do this? Is he wanting to see Shuichi suffer again? It's impossible… that guy loves Shuichi like his own brother… but why?

He heard the boy ask him what he was supposed to do, but instead of answering it, he remained silent. He's afraid if Shuichi goes to Japan and meets Yuki again, he'll break down again. After two years of trying to cheer the boy up, he doesn't want one stupid reunion concert to break it all.

“I don't know, Shu-chan,” he answers half-heartedly. “I'll support whatever choice you make… it depends on you now.”

Shuichi sat on the bed's edge, leaning against the wall while burying his head in his hands. He propped a pillow to rest his elbows on, thinking deeply.

Truth be told, Shuichi still loves Yuki. He knows it, Ryuichi knows it too. But he couldn't take the consequence of facing the man he loves and hates the most… he doesn't want to feel the pain and be stuck on the breaking point again.

Yet some parts of him say it's okay, it's gonna be fine…

“Ryu-chan,” he asked suddenly, startling the older man.

“Huh?”

“Will you accompany me to Japan?”

--

Tick… tock… tick… tock…

He heard the soft sounds of the clock echoing through the empty room, frowning in frustration while glaring at it. He saw the circle thing stare back, glaring while letting out the same annoying, mocking sounds.

Tick… tock… tick… tock…

As if it told him time keeps running out.

Tick... tock… tick… tock…

As if it told him he is already too late.

Tick… tock… tick… tock…

As if it told him he can't turn back time.

Tick… tock… tick...

“SHUT UP!!!”

He grabbed the desk lamp from the nightstand, throwing it to the wall where the clock was nailed and watching in satisfaction when the poor thing fell, scattered on the floor. He let a triumphant smirk form on his lips before grabbing a half-empty wine bottle and took a huge swallow from it.

Golden eyes winced—eyes furrowed when the bittersweet taste of wine touched his tongue. He felt the expensive liquid burning his throat, giving him the strange sensation of sweet torture.

“You shouldn't hurt yourself like this, Eiri-san.”

He heard another voice echoing again, and went to see what he could throw to shut it up. It sounded more annoying than before—and he couldn't see anything he could use. His desk lamp was already destroyed… mirror already shattered, pillow nearly broken, and desk… no, it's too heavy.

He gives up, letting the voice speak again. It sounds louder than before, noticing the owner of that annoying voice—Tohma—approach him.

“Stop this, Eiri-san. He will not come back.”

He turned around angrily, glaring through half-lidded golden eyes to the smaller blonde's direction. After a long time of silence and a glare competition he let out a loud, dry laugh.

“He will not come back?” Eiri said in a sickeningly mocking voice, taking a gulp from the now almost empty bottle before retorting again, “How dare you tell me that? You don't understand... Shuichi wouldn't leave me. The brat loves me too much to leave me!!!”

Tohma shook his head, massaging his throbbing temples in a near-headache. It's been 2 years since he manipulated their relationship, but Yuki still couldn't forget the brat... no matter how hard he tried to replace him, the chamber in Yuki's heart is still empty—the chamber which only Shuichi could fill.

But he won't give up. He's Tohma Seguchi—and Tohma Seguchi always gets what he wants.

“If he wants to come back, Eiri, then why's it been two years now?” the president whispers ever so softly in Eiri's oversensitive ears, smirking when he felt the blonde shudder. The smirk fade when he saw Eiri reach for his pocket—grabbing a velvet box from it.

“So what if I had to wait?” Yuki said, staring at the box through sad golden orbs. “I'll wait forever if it takes, just to put this on the brat's finger.”

--

Yuki Eiri actually felt a real smile spreading on his face, watching in satisfaction at the velvet box in his hands. Tonight he'll surprise Shuichi by proposing to him—that's why he bought the ring. It's so beautiful—a silver ring with pink diamonds on the top with their names carved on the surface. When he was on tour, it made him think about the pink-haired idiot… to his surprise it really was hard to live without him, even just for six days. He still couldn't actually say he loves him, but he knows Shuichi will understand. It will change as the time goes by, though. He knows the brat will be waiting until he's ready to open his heart completely.

He put the box back in his pocket when the stewardess announced the plane will land soon. Finally he's in Japan again… Finally he could see the brat again. He let out another smile that graced his features, causing several women to giggle and blush. But this smile isn't for them… it's for Shuichi only. The thought makes him lock his jaw together, even though his heart is ready to burst because of the overbearing happiness.

The blonde-haired novelist stopped a taxi, and after giving the driver his directions, he lay back on the backseat. He couldn't help but feel the strange sensation in his stomach… is he nervous? Is he afraid Shuichi will reject him?

Nah, the brat loves me too much to reject it…he reassures himself of that. But still, there's a strange jolt in his stomach every time he thinks about the boy again. He'd already left him so many times before, made him cry a thousand times, broke his heart a million times…there's a possibility he won't accept it. There's a possibility he will leave him instead, just like he did to him before.

He quickly brushed the thought off of his mind. No, Shuichi will wait for me … he'll be there forever for me…

--

Yuki pressed the elevator's button rather excitedly, staring at his watch to see the time. It's already 10p.m. Shuichi must be home now. Unless the brat went out with Hiro or something—which is impossible—`cause he'd already told him that he'll arrive tonight. By the shriek he got when he told Shuichi that, he was sure Shuichi is ecstatic to see him back.

The elevator dinged before the door snapped open; Yuki stepped forward to his apartment. He searched for his key in his breast pocket, and after he found it he unlocked the door rather enthusiastically. To his surprise, the apartment is awfully dark, no sign of the brat alive.

“Shuichi?” he called as he searched for the lamp button. Light flickered around the living room where he stood in disbelief when he finds it empty.

Where's the brat now? I told him I'd arrive tonight…he thought begrudgingly. But instead of calling his lover, he headed toward the bedroom to sleep after locking the front door.

--

It's been three whole days now, and yet there's no sign of his pink ball of energy.

He'd already told Tohma to find him, but the president of NG informed him that he'd already quit Bad Luck and since then, he'd never see him again.

When he heard Tohma informing him of this, he felt a strange sensation burning in his heart… Anger? Pain? Sadness?

He felt emotions run through his heart, yet his golden orbs keep staring blankly. He even doesn't notice when Tohma raised his hand to hide the smirk that he couldn't help but form on his face.

“But I'll try my best to find him, Eiri-san. That's my promise.”

And for the first time in his life, Tohma breaks his promise.

--

“You have to face this fact sooner or later, Eiri.” Tohma's voice interrupted his train of thought, and Eiri turns around to find Tohma throwing a magazine at him.

“Read this, and you will understand. He's with Ryuichi now.”

Yuki grabbed the magazine, scanning it through piercing golden eyes as he saw the familiar face of his lover smiling while wrapping his hand around someone's shoulder. That someone is none other than Ryuichi Sakuma, his band mate…

“Band mate?” he read out loud. “You never told me this, Tohma. Is this Ryuichi guy one of your friends?”

“Yeah, he was the singer of Nittle Grasper back then, but since Shuichi left, I've never see him either,” the president said in a sickeningly soft voice. “I suspect he brought Shuichi to the US… and now we have proof that it's right. Forget him, Eiri. You deserve more than him.”

Yuki was just about to deny it when he read the words on the page of the magazine… it says that Ryuichi and Shuichi are dating. Is Tohma right? He tries to believe that it isn't true, but yet there's a part of him saying it's right. But the question is why had Shuichi left him and never called him or anything?—he even went so far by getting all his stuff from their apartment. As if Shuichi never even existed in the first place, as if Shuichi never entered his life…

The only thing that makes him believe it's not a dream is his lighter where the picture of him and Shuichi on their first date is plastered on it. He never used it again, just stared at their happy picture `cause he's afraid he'll break the thing that makes him feel near his lover.

“Forget him, Eiri.” Tohma says again, firmly this time. “I… I can do better than him. Just give me the chance, and I'll erase the memories of him from your mind…”

--

Yuki Eiri is not the only guy who suffered when Shuichi left Japan.

There's some other guy—the Yuki Eiri look-alike—none other than his own brother, Tatsuha Uesugi.

Mika, their older sister, is already giving up the idea of cheering her brothers up. She herself also suffered `cause of her divorce with Tohma a year ago, though she doesn't know why the blonde did that. She watched with sad eyes as Tatsuha squirmed in his sleep, muttering something under his breath.

Must be a nightmare, she thought, and stroked the monk's hair softly to calm him down. It seems to work—the boy slowly opened his eyes and Mika is more than surprised to see unshed tears glimmering in them.

“Tatsuha? Are you okay?” she asks rather uncertainly. Her brother looks up, staring at her in confusion before his mind wakes up completely.

“Yeah… I'm just… it's just a nightmare,” he answered while wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead. Mika nodded in understanding, all the while rubbing her little brother's back.

“Thank you, Mika,” she heard her brother say. She nodded again, giving him a smile that she rarely does.

“I know it must be hard… since your divorce with Seguchi…” Tatsuha couldn't help but grimace at the mention of the man's name. He suddenly remembers the time when the blonde forced him to fuck him, just to break Shuichi down. He remembers the way Shuichi stared at him through broken eyes, remembers the tears of agony that slipped from those marvelous violet orbs. He also remembers the harsh words that he threw at the poor man, just to hide his secret from Ryuichi.

How he wanted to tell Yuki what exactly happened that night, why the pink- haired brat left him and went to the US. But he's a coward—he's afraid to face the response from his brother. Damn, the blonde ex-novelist might kill him if he found out…

Speaking of the ex-novelist, he's one of several people who knew the reason why Yuki quit his job. Since Shuichi left Japan, Yuki is too busy drowning in his sorrow that he doesn't have any intention to move on.

He also heard Shuichi and Ryuichi formed a band called Vladester... and thinks about it again; it's all because of him.

He's the reason why Yuki's broken.

He's the reason why Shuichi left.

He's the reason why Mika got divorced from Tohma.

He's the reason why Ryuichi also left Japan…

The latter gives him a sudden urge to cry. He did this for Ryuichi…but the green-haired man never knew it because Tohma let him go. Sure, the president of NG didn't break his promise by giving him the tape back, but it's all nothing `cause in the end, Ryuichi is still gone.

“Yeah, it's hard sometimes… but I have to move on, you know? I won't grieve over it for a long time like you and Eiri did… please, Tatsuha… whatever happened to you, don't let it break you down.”

He tries to do that, but he can't. The guilt in his heart is too overbearing, and he had no choice but to drown in it. Letting regret consume him slowly, though he knows it will change nothing.

“If you need someone to talk to just tell me, okay? I may not be a good sister or an expert counselor, but I hope I can help you. Right?”

The boy nodded, giving Mika a slight smile—a real one this time.

“Thanks, Mika. You've changed…”

“Huh?”

“Three years ago, if I was depressed, you wouldn't cheer me up. You'd just kick my butt and yell at me for being a coward, instead.”

Mika laugh at that, ruffling her brother's raven hair playfully. Tatsuha gave her a look, but let her do it anyway.

“Time changes people, my dear brother. Since Tohma left me, I decided to be more mature…”

Tatsuha noticed the sad glimmer in his sister's dark eyes and once again, a pang of guilt gripped his chest tightly. If only he hadn't done that stupid plan…

“But if it makes you feel better, I'll just kick your butt and say you're a coward!”

Now it's time for Tatsuha to laugh, though he doesn't know why. For a strange reason his sister's words actually relieved him…he feels lighter this time.

“Mika…” he almost tells the girl what happened 2 years ago, but stopped instantly. He couldn't take the pain if someone hates him again…Mika is the only one who cares for him now.

“Huh?”

“Can I go watch TV?”

Nice move, Tatsuha. You're an idiot.

Mika shot him a look, but nodded eventually. “Don't bother to ask. The TV's in front of you, you know,” the brown-haired female said. “So I guess I'll just leave you then? Call me if you need anything.”

Tatsuha nodded, watching his sister head outside the room before out of his sight completely. The young monk sighed, burying his face in his hands. Regret overflowed him, and he couldn't help but sob a little. How could he be so foolish by doing that stupid plan? All just to hide his secret from Ryuichi… just to get the tape back. But now that he already has it back, then what? He just caused pain to everybody else.

He reach for the remote on a nightstand, turns the TV on and set it to a music channel. That way maybe he could see Shuichi or Ryuichi again, though not face-to-face. He heard some anonymous band singing a rather cool song so he decides to leave it on as he closed his eyes and lay back.

But before he had a chance to sleep, a high-pitched shriek startled him. He looks around to find the source of that strangely familiar voice, but found Shuichi's face filling the TV screen instead. Though the once pink-haired brat dyed his hair to his natural color, he can recognize him by his wide lavender eyes and goofy grin. And what makes him happier is the one who's standing beside Shuichi, a green-haired male with childish features—though he wears black sunglasses, Tatsuha swears it's Ryuichi. They're standing with two other males who Tatsuha can't name, `cause he'd never see them before. Probably Zack and Matt, their other band mates. A bunch of reporters and rabid fans surrounded them, and they had to walk faster and answering their questions sometimes.

“Just… wait for us, okay? It will be held tonight at 8 p.m., so I hope you guys will come!” he heard Shuichi say. What will be held? The raven-haired boy read the words on his TV screen, and nearly screamed.

Bad Luck reunion concert.

He said it's at 8 p.m., didn't he? the monk thought happily, looking at the watch on his wrist. It read 6 p.m., and he quickly grabbed his cell phone to call his brother.

Maybe he could make things right now.

--

“What do you mean, Tohma?” Eiri asked the smirking man in front of him.

“You heard me right, Eiri,” the blonde said, smirking even wider than before. “I could be your lover, and I'll be better than Shindou-san.. If only you'd give me the chance, Eiri. Just try to open your heart again—`cause Shuichi will never come back.”

There he said it again, Eiri thought angrily. He was just about to retort back when the phone ringing suddenly interrupted them. Sensing it's his chance to escape Tohma and his madness, he quickly walks away—leaving Tohma pouting.

“What?” he said when seeing Tatsuha's phone number displayed on the screen. But instead of hearing his brother complain, he heard a happy shriek from the other line.

“Aniki! Get your lazy ass out of there now! Shuichi's back!”

The blonde choked; he couldn't believe what he'd just heard. Is it true? Shuichi is back?

“What do you mean?”

“They're holding a reunion concert, Aniki! He's in Japan now!” the monk explained ecstatically. “Now it's time for you to make things right again—meet him, Aniki. You love him right?”

“Just where the hell will the concert be held?”

After remembering the directions his brother gave, Eiri hung up the phone calmly—though inside he feels so happy it makes him oblivious to the piercing gaze from Tohma. The smaller man grabs his cell phone from his pants pocket, pressing the button while glaring at Yuki's back.

“It's Seguchi. I need your help.”

--

Shuichi let out a happy shriek when he saw the sight in front of him. There's a bunch of traditional food that he never ate in the US… oh how he missed it! He almost drooled before he began ravishing the food right here and then.

“Excited, Shu?” he heard the familiar voice of his best friend say.. The raven- haired boy popped a salmon into his mouth, chewing it happily before answering, “Nope. Starving!”

It caused the red-haired guy to laugh, and so did Suguru . The only one who didn't seem to be fooled by his façade is Ryuichi, who was watching him intently through critical blue eyes.

“What time is it?” Suguru asked suddenly, breaking the silence. Hiro looked at his watch that was wrapped around his wrist before saying out loud, “Almost 7 p.m.; eat faster, would you? We have to get ready at 7:15 straight.”

Hearing this, Suguru shrieked. “7:15?! Oh my god, I haven't gotten anything ready yet! I'll get going now, okay?”

And with that, the bluish-haired male was practically running—dashing the door open and immediately out of sight.

Ryuichi, for some odd reason, thinks that Shuichi and Hiro need some time alone so he said after swallowing a cup of sake, “Well, I'll get ready too. See you at Tokyo dome, then?”

Hiro and Shuichi let out similar goofy grins—though Shuichi's is goofier. Tonight they will reach their dream—to play live at Tokyo dome where more crowds will be waiting for them. They wave a hand ecstatically to Ryuichi, though the said man had already left the room when they were stuck on their daydreaming.

“So, Shuichi…” Hiro said finally, breaking the rather uncomfortable silence around them. Maybe it feels a little uncomfortable because it's been way too long since they met. “What made you change your mind?”

Shuichi swallowed the rice ball, munching at it happily before saying, “I want to forget Yuki.”

One delicate red eyebrow raised; Hiro looks at him oddly in a confused manner. “What'd you mean? Won't it be harder to forget him when you're in the same state as him? Not that I'm not happy with your choice, Shuichi—I really need Bad Luck reunited. But if it's all too sudden and too much for you, I can understand that.”

“Hey, what's with you? The last thing I remember is you insisting on me and using our friendship to blackmail me!” Shuichi said teasingly, earning a blush and grin from his best friend. “But it's okay, really. Thinking about it again, it's been ages since I left Yuki so I thought why don't I erase him completely from my heart? I came to Japan because I think if I could face my fears, then it will go away. I just hope I won't break down instead—poor Ryu-chan doesn't need to take care of me again. He's just too kind…”

“Right. Speaking of Ryuichi, how long have you two been dating?” Hiro asked, winking seductively. Shuichi's eyes widened when hearing his best friend's words. He and Ryuichi… are dating? How had he come up with that idea?

“Who said we're dating? We're just friends, you know… No, more like a brother for each other. If I love him, Hiro, it will be just a brotherly love. The kind you have when you want to protect me, that's it,” Shuichi explained. Hiro doesn't seem to believe what he just said but fortunately he just shrugged, signaling he'd dropped the topic.

“Does it mean you still love Yuki?”

Shuichi already predicted that Hiro would ask that question, but his heart still ached when he heard it. He'd already prepared an answer too—but it's gone when his heart cried again.

Fortunately his cellphone rang, so he doesn't have to answer Hiro. Though the red-haired guy hates to be ignored—at a time like this he can't do anything but to let it go.

Grabbing his black cellphone from his pocket, Shuichi pressed the green button to answer the call.

“Hello?”

“Shuichi, where the hell are you? Come get your lazy ass here, don't forget to bring Suguru and Hiro too!”

The dark-haired male rolled his eyes in annoyance. It must be K—since he found out about Bad Luck's reunion he offered himself as manager again. Not that Shuichi hated it, but the gun man seems scarier nowadays.

“Yeah, yeah… I'll just finish my dinner first. It wont take too long—and Suguru is on the way. See you at 7:20, then?”

“7:20. Or I'll shoot you with my baby!”

And with that last warning K hung up, leaving Shuichi pouting. It's been two years but the blonde's attitude hasn't changed at all—only to be more frightening. He quickly shoves the rest of his meal on the table, ignoring the look Hiro shot him. The kind of look that said, `are you hungry or mad?'

When the last piece of sushi salmon had been wasted, he stood up after swallowing a cup of mineral water. “Okay, Hiro! Let's rock!!!”

And Hiro, practically being dragged outside, grinned when he saw his best friend's antics back. Maybe it's not too late after all…

--

A black Mercedes dashed off the road at 100 km/h, practically ignoring the red lights or stop signs. The driver—none other than Yuki Eiri—inhaled his cigarette nervously to calm down his nerves. If he'd heard it right—Tatsuha said Shuichi will be at Tokyo Dome now at 8 p.m. That leaves him 25 minutes to get there, luckily his apartment wasn't too far from there. If he arrives there, he swears he'll ask the boy to live with him again no matter what.

He was so deep in thought he doesn't even realize when the blinding light of a truck's lamp comes straight at his car. He tried to avoid it, hitting the brakes several times but the car still won't stop. Finally when the black metal hit the truck, all he saw was light and the familiar face of his lover smiling at him.

--