Forever & Ever 25
Title: Forever & Ever (Miseinen Sequel)
Author: Zion Shadowlet
Beta: butterflysaga(the bitch)
Characters: Aoi, Uruha, Ruki, Reita, Kai and many OCs (Fuwa etc.)
Pairing: Aoi/Uruha and more~
Genre: Drama, Romance, Friendship, Comedy
Rating: NC17
Summary: Six years have passed since the summer at the Dazai Bright Future Retreat for Troubled Children. The boys meet in an unexpected way perhaps bound by fate in the underground world of Visual Kei. With broken hearts and promises; the boys-now young men look to regain some of what they lost by the wild and reckless pursuit of the same dream.
Previous Parts: Part 1.1 | Part 1.2 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4.1| Part 4.2| Part 5| Part 6| Part 7.1| Part 7.2| Part 8.1| Part 8.2| Part 9| Part 10| Part 11| Part 12| Part 13| Part 14| Part 15| Part 16| Part 17| Part 18| Part 19| Part 20| Part 21| Part 22| Part 23| Part 24
He had considered what Uruha had suggested. But as soon as he entertained the idea, it repulsed him. Unlike everyone else it seemed, he was more traditional and the idea of having that sort of relationship seemed wrong and immoral to him. A person was meant to be promised to one other person and one person only. Generally he was opened minded. If it were someone else’s life, he would have thought differently but with himself, he was straight and narrow and most definitely monogamous. Sure he had said that he had wanted them both in his life but he had meant that as Kameyo as his wife and Ruki as his best friend. Right now, everyone seemed happy with that arrangement-except for him. Why did it feel like things weren’t resolved? Why did things feel messy still? Maybe it was talking to Uruha, maybe it was that that jumbled things up.
“Work was fucking dull as dirt,” Kameyo said as she started to boil water for her instant ramen. “I don’t know how many fucking tshirts I can sell before I blow my brains out.”
“Maybe you should look for a new job,” Reita opened the fridge and pulling out a cold beer, cracked it opened and sat down near their cluttered kitchen table. Their apartment was small and almost always messy but they loved their little dump. To the two of them, it was comfortable but most importantly, theirs. He sat there sipping his beer. Ruki’s cross was draped prominently against the white of his tank top.
“Maybe…if I can get the energy to,” she sighed and walking over to him grabbed the can from him and took a drink. “We’ll see.”
“Kameyo…” he said softly in his deep voice.
“Hm?” With her hands on her waist, she looked down at him.
“Can we talk?” He lifted his eyes to hers.
“Talk.”
“I…” Reita knew he could talk to Kameyo about anything. Even this. And as the realization came to him that they had this sort of relationship, one that held no secrets, that had accepted the other completely and wholly, he knew that he had to hold onto it and not because he could lose her like he once lost Ruki but because they had something truly special. “I still have feelings for Ruki…” he admitted.
“I know, baby. I know.” She placed a comforting hand on his bare shoulder. “I know,” she said once again.
“That doesn’t upset you?”
“No. Why should it? You can’t help how you feel and besides, I can’t assume that you feel nothing for him. Just because you love me doesn’t mean you can’t love him too. We are separate people and all,” she smiled.
“So?” He looked up at her expectantly as if she had all the answers.
“I don’t know, Akira…I don’t know…” she rubbed his shoulder. “If…if you want something with him…I don’t mind.”
“Kameyo-”
“No, I’m not going to get jealous. If he were a chick, I might,” she laughed. “But since he’s a guy…I don’t mind really.”
“But that’s wrong,” he shook his head disagreeably.
“Says who?”
“Says everything.”
She let out a soft, dry laugh and walked over to the stove where opening a bag of instant ramen, she dumped it into the hot water. “It’s up to you, honey. I don’t care. If you want to sleep him just to see what it’s like, I don’t mind. I’m not possessive.”
“He is,” Reita replied quickly.
“Is that so? He doesn’t seem to be fighting for you…”
Reita looked up and stared at her even though she was facing the opposite direction. “Are you trying to say he doesn’t feel-”
“No,” she cut him off and looked at him over her shoulder. “I’m saying that maybe you are selling him short. Maybe he wants what he thinks is best for you and that is to leave the whole situation alone. I for one, though,” she pointed to herself. “Don’t care. As long as you love me and I love you and we can be with each other, I don’t mind.” She turned around and folding her arms continued. “Personally I think people are people. I don’t think they belong to anyone.”
Reita placed his beer on the table and leaned back in his chair.
“But Akira, whatever you want to do is your choice. If you feel differently, okay. I’m okay with that. Honestly, it’s your life and your decision.”
“I don’t know if I can handle all this freedom you’re giving me…” he joked.
“I know, you’d much rather have a leash and a chain.” She turned the heat down on the ramen and walking over to the table, sat across from him. “Hey, you don’t have to make a decision or anything now. Nothing rests on it, okay? Just do what feels right. I trust you, baby. And whatever you do, I know that you believed it right at the time in your heart and that intention is all that matters to me.”
“You’re too good for me Kameyo,” Reita was staring at the side of beer can as he listened to her words.
“Bullshit,” she chuckled and got back to her feet.
“My wonderful wife to be!” he teased.
“Keep that up and I’ll strangle you.”
“No, seriously. You are a good woman,” he picked up his beer and started to drink it.
“Sometimes I wonder if you are so stupid that you could be classified as mentally challenged…”
“HEY!” he playfully overreacted.
“Just saying,” she raised her hands up into the air. “If you could be, that would mean we could get government checks in the mail.”
***
“Look what the cat dragged in,” Isao joked as Ruki entered the apartment. He was shoving strawberries into his mouth as he left the kitchen.
“Hi,” he said softly as he kicked his shoes off.
Isao stopped dead in his tracks. “Are you okay?” He tilted his head. He could tell immediately that something was not right with the kid.
“I’m okay,” he lied. “How are you?”
“You care!” Isao laughed. “I’m okay…” he placed a hand on his waist. “Out with it, Princess.”
“Nothing…”
“I’m not an idiot~” he sang.
“Promise not to tell Toru,” Ruki whispered.
Excitedly, Isao moved close to him. “Ooohhh Do tell!” he replied excitedly. He was acting as if Ruki was going to relay some juicy gossip.
“I slept with Katsura just now…” he admitted and looked down. It felt good to get it off his chest. He had no idea however how Isao would react. He felt that he wasn’t in his right mind, admitting so easily like that.
“What?” he stared at him in disbelief.
“I slept with-”
Cutting him off, Isao interjected “I heard you perfectly but for god’s sake why?”
With a shrug, the boy muttered “He seduced me…”
Isao seemingly out of nowhere slapped the side of his head. “You goddamn idiot!” he whispered angrily at him.
“Owww,” he rubbed his new wound.
“Katsura is nothing but a pervert when it comes to boys like you,” he shook his head. “I warned you…”
“I thought you were trying to set me up…”
“What?! Did Toru say that?” he shook his head nonstop. “Big crock of BS there. I warned you,” he repeated with a long finger in the boy’s face. “Keep away from the ones that could get it up and did you listen to me? No.” Isao could see a shadow fall over the boy’s expression. “You’re upset, aren’t you?” he suddenly cooed as if he were a baby. He placed his hands on his shoulders. “Oh God!” he said abruptly as a thought occurred to him. “Why am I comforting you….” He snatched away his hands as if Ruki was infected with some contagious disease.
“You hate me…” Ruki stated.
“No…not really…I just…you are Toru’s little baby so…yeah…” he snarled humorously at him. Isao’s strangely good humor was only making Ruki feel worse. He felt confused and stressed out. More than anything he just wanted to lay down and get away from his pestering and his cattiness.
“Where is he?” he asked.
“On the couch watching his movies.”
“Mhm,” Ruki turned and walked away from Isao.
“Tsk Tsk…” Isao laughed as he made his way back into his room where, unbeknownst to the boy, he was working on his final sculpture.
Fuwa was sitting on the couch watching an old black and white movie with avid interest. He had a blanket thrown across his knees. Ruki dragging himself into the living room, threw himself down next to him. “Hey…” he said.
“Ruki,” he smiled sweetly and reaching for the remote paused the movie. Seeing the boy’s expression, he became immediately concerned. “Are you okay?
“Just had a bad day, that’s all,” he forced a smile.
“Come here,” Fuwa lifted up the blanket and as the boy snuggled up next to him, he wrapped it around him. “Talk to me,” he rubbed his arm and placed a soft kiss on the top of his head.
“I don’t really want to right now. Later.” He rested his head on his chest.
Fuwa ran his fingers through his hair. “Okay.”
“What are you watching?”
“Tokyo Story. It’s an old movie.”
“I see…” Ruki looked up at Fuwa. The older man smiled down at him, the lines appearing charmingly around his eyes.
“Yes?” His voice was sweet and comforting.
“Nothing,” Ruki laid his head down once more. “Continue watching the movie. I’m just going to lay here.”
“Are you sure?”
“Mhm.”
“I don’t mean to be a pest, Ruki but…if there is something bothering you, please tell me.”
“Just a little more time…” the young boy muttered.
“Okay,” Fuwa rubbed his shoulder once more comfortingly and pressing play on the remote controller started the movie up again. The film was almost over and on the screen, Setsuko Hara was waiting at the train station.
“Watching this movie again?” Isao chirped as he made his way into the living room. He leaned over the back of the couch and peered down at the boy’s half covered face buried in the blanket.
“Are you done?” Fuwa turned and asked him.
“Not quite,” he poked Ruki. “Is he still alive?” He teased.
“He’s not feeling well.”
“Poor baby. Has his Fuwa and still isn’t happy…”
“Isao, please be nice to him….”
“I am being nice to him!” he laughed. “Well, Ruki you see that woman, that’s the only woman that Toru would ever go for.”
“That isn’t true,” Fuwa chuckled.
“So there is other women, huh?” Isao rested his hands on the waist.
“No, I don’t feel that way about her at all.”
“I see. I see. Well, she kinda reminds me of you…so that might be it. Minus all the masculinity.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Fuwa smiled.
Ruki felt strange, sitting in this conversation when only moments ago when he was at Katsura’s where he thought his brain was going to explode. He felt like he had just crawled out of the grave and came stumbling upon the strange world of normalcy where Setsuko Hara’s beautiful gentle face smiled in shades of soft grays on the television and Isao and Fuwa laughed together in the background and he laid there, curled up warm like a child.
The thought crossed his mind that he wasn’t living up to his standards of strength, “recuperating” like this after the trauma of being with that man, that man who gave into his desire without a thought of any sensitivity. He wanted to hate Katsura and in a way, he did but at the same time thinking of how he apologized, Ruki realized that Katsura never paid any mind to feelings of that nature. He went all the way, delved into his passions without fear and without any care of who was affected. He sated the monster of his lust without any thought of how Ruki would feel. For all his culture, Katsura lacked civilization.
He wanted to hold onto the anger. It made things simpler but being next to Fuwa, he knew what he would say and so Ruki let it go. There was something about lying next to him that made the boy feel it okay to feel broken for a bit. For now, he suspended his ideas of strength and just laid there, feeling comforted by the older man’s presence and protection.
***
“It’s an 8th note and then the switch but when you make the switch you have to be sure that the pinky is on the D-string or else the effect will be completely lost,” Uruha was staring intently at Aoi’s guitar as he went through it for the hundredth time.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Aoi sighed, agitated.
“And then you release. It’s really subtle but it’s important.”
“I know, baby.”
“Try it now,” Uruha stood up straight and folded his arms.
Kumiko was sitting on the couch munching on candy as she watched the scene with much amusement. It was late in the morning and the sun was shining warmly into the house and onto the two guitar players.
Aoi tried it. And failed. Again.
“1.2.3.4,” Uruha clapped his hands in time. Trying to show him just how fast he needed to go. “1-and-2-”
“I know how to count,” Aoi cut him off. He was completely irritated.
Acting as if he hadn’t just screamed at him, Uruha folded his arms once more and said “Okay, let’s try it again.”
“I don’t know who has more patience…” Kumiko chuckled.
Aoi was at the end of his wits. If Uruha was going to make him go through this fucking little tiny, insignificant part one more, he was going to take his guitar and throw it out the goddamn window. He didn’t care what little old lady he knocked in the head with it. Begrudgingly-and with a deep sigh, he tried it again.
“Perfect,” Uruha nodded.
“WHAT?!” Aoi asked in disbelief.
“Try it again.” He waited for Aoi to play. “See, you got it.”
“Woohoo~” Aoi sang happily. “Niceeee….”
“Ahh your student isn’t completely retarded,” Kumiko teased.
“Can I kill your sister?” Aoi asked with a smile. He was too overjoyed that he finally after practicing it for a fucking hour, got that stupid part down.
“Just don’t leave a mess,” Uruha laughed.
“TRAITOR!” Kumiko, swinging her feet up, propelled herself upward and off the couch. “Do you guys have a show tonight or something?”
“We do actually,” Uruha answered. “Are you coming?”
“Yeah, where is it?”
“The Silver Wolf.”
“Cool,” she wandered into the kitchen to fetch herself a soda and another pack of cigarettes. “I’ll bring some of my hot girlfriends too,” she chuckled. “Oh wait, you’re a band of homosexuals so…” she shrugged.
“No, we are not,” Aoi pointed out.
“Riiiight,” she laughed and plopped back down on the couch. “Who the fuck plays the drums, again?”
“This guy named Rey,” Uruha answered going over to her and taking a cigarette from her pack.
There was a loud pounding on the door and Kumiko barking almost, yelled “It’s opennnnnn~”
Ruki came in quickly and kicked his shoes off. “Guess what?” he smiled at them.
“What?” Uruha asked, lighting his cigarette.
“We got invited into a band tournament.”
“A what?” Aoi folded his arms and gave the younger boy a quizzical look.
“A band tournament,” he repeated. “Normally, a band as new as us wouldn’t get invited but I think we are creating some buzz. I got a phone call earlier from the guy who is holding the tournament, some guy named Catfuzz or some shit like that,” Ruki shook his head. He knew it was a weird nickname in English. “Well, at any rate, he runs a livehouse called Cerberus and he says he wants to invite Gazette. He said that he needed a wildcard band and he thought that could be us. ‘An underdog’ something like that,” he was talking so fast the others could barely keep up with him. “So, we are going up against more seasoned bands so we really have to go full force-but anyways, so in this tournament, there of course is going to be a prize,” he grinned.
“What sort of prize?” Uruha asked.
“Catfuzz is letting whoever win, use his studio-apparently a really nice one-for a couple months rent free and we get to use some of the equipment. Awesome, right?” He smiled cutely.
“That’s if we win,” Uruha clarified.
“Which we will,” Ruki declared with confidence.
“Who else is in the tournament?” Aoi asked.
“I don’t know. It doesn’t matter,” Ruki moved over to the couch and sat down. “We’re going to win.”
The two of them stood there blinking at him.
“And even if you don’t,” Kumiko chimed in. “A lot of people who don’t know Gazette will after the tournament.”
“That too,” Ruki couldn’t stop smiling. He was certain that this was going to go in their favor. How could it not? Nothing was going to get him down. He refused.
“How does one win?” Uruha sat down next to him.
“The fans vote by casting a ballot after the concert,” Ruki’s mouth felt dry he had been talking so quickly. “So, we just have to win them over which we will. Listen,” he moved to the edge of the seat. “We may not be the most polished band out there yet but we are certainly likeable.”
“You’re saying that we may not be the best band but we are popular?” Aoi laughed.
“NO!” Ruki glared at him. “I’m saying that people can connect with us. I think our songs are good-maybe not where they need to be but we are just starting so,” he stopped to catch his breath. “What I’m saying is we have a good shot even though we aren’t fucking Lie:Death or anything.” The other three exchanged awkward and knowing looks at the mention of Kai’s band with such evident bitterness. “When we are up there, we have more energy, more drive than any other band. We’re more fun for one and we have a connection,” he smiled once more like a child showing his mother his good report card.
“He’s convincing me,” Kumiko said with a smirk.
“This is good thing,” he pressed.
Aoi turned and looked at Uruha. “What do you think?”
“I think we can win,” he nodded.
“Yeah?”
“Mhm.”
“Did you tell the other two yet?”
“No. I was hoping Reita was here but I can call him,” he took out his cell phone and finding his number in his contacts, called him. “Hey, Reita. It’s me Ruki…Get over to Uruha’s. Oh and call Rey too. Okay? Alrighty. Bye.” He hung up. He decided to wait and tell them when they got there so he didn’t have to repeat himself right away. “Look we have to nail the performance tonight and direct that momentum into the tournament.”
“Right,” Uruha nodded.
“Wow,” Kumiko swayed happily in her seat. “I’m excited for you guys. If you get this, next you need a manager.” She grinned.
“And then, a tour,” Ruki added.
“One thing at a time,” Aoi cut in. “One thing at time.”
Winking at them, she added “Before you know it, you all will be playing the Budokan.”
The three of them sat there, thinking about it. It seemed impossible.
“Maybe even something like Tokyo Dome someday,” she smiled.
[A/N Depending on how much I get written today-I may or may not post tomorrow but I will let you all know~~]
Author: Zion Shadowlet
Beta: butterflysaga(the bitch)
Characters: Aoi, Uruha, Ruki, Reita, Kai and many OCs (Fuwa etc.)
Pairing: Aoi/Uruha and more~
Genre: Drama, Romance, Friendship, Comedy
Rating: NC17
Summary: Six years have passed since the summer at the Dazai Bright Future Retreat for Troubled Children. The boys meet in an unexpected way perhaps bound by fate in the underground world of Visual Kei. With broken hearts and promises; the boys-now young men look to regain some of what they lost by the wild and reckless pursuit of the same dream.
Previous Parts: Part 1.1 | Part 1.2 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4.1| Part 4.2| Part 5| Part 6| Part 7.1| Part 7.2| Part 8.1| Part 8.2| Part 9| Part 10| Part 11| Part 12| Part 13| Part 14| Part 15| Part 16| Part 17| Part 18| Part 19| Part 20| Part 21| Part 22| Part 23| Part 24
He had considered what Uruha had suggested. But as soon as he entertained the idea, it repulsed him. Unlike everyone else it seemed, he was more traditional and the idea of having that sort of relationship seemed wrong and immoral to him. A person was meant to be promised to one other person and one person only. Generally he was opened minded. If it were someone else’s life, he would have thought differently but with himself, he was straight and narrow and most definitely monogamous. Sure he had said that he had wanted them both in his life but he had meant that as Kameyo as his wife and Ruki as his best friend. Right now, everyone seemed happy with that arrangement-except for him. Why did it feel like things weren’t resolved? Why did things feel messy still? Maybe it was talking to Uruha, maybe it was that that jumbled things up.
“Work was fucking dull as dirt,” Kameyo said as she started to boil water for her instant ramen. “I don’t know how many fucking tshirts I can sell before I blow my brains out.”
“Maybe you should look for a new job,” Reita opened the fridge and pulling out a cold beer, cracked it opened and sat down near their cluttered kitchen table. Their apartment was small and almost always messy but they loved their little dump. To the two of them, it was comfortable but most importantly, theirs. He sat there sipping his beer. Ruki’s cross was draped prominently against the white of his tank top.
“Maybe…if I can get the energy to,” she sighed and walking over to him grabbed the can from him and took a drink. “We’ll see.”
“Kameyo…” he said softly in his deep voice.
“Hm?” With her hands on her waist, she looked down at him.
“Can we talk?” He lifted his eyes to hers.
“Talk.”
“I…” Reita knew he could talk to Kameyo about anything. Even this. And as the realization came to him that they had this sort of relationship, one that held no secrets, that had accepted the other completely and wholly, he knew that he had to hold onto it and not because he could lose her like he once lost Ruki but because they had something truly special. “I still have feelings for Ruki…” he admitted.
“I know, baby. I know.” She placed a comforting hand on his bare shoulder. “I know,” she said once again.
“That doesn’t upset you?”
“No. Why should it? You can’t help how you feel and besides, I can’t assume that you feel nothing for him. Just because you love me doesn’t mean you can’t love him too. We are separate people and all,” she smiled.
“So?” He looked up at her expectantly as if she had all the answers.
“I don’t know, Akira…I don’t know…” she rubbed his shoulder. “If…if you want something with him…I don’t mind.”
“Kameyo-”
“No, I’m not going to get jealous. If he were a chick, I might,” she laughed. “But since he’s a guy…I don’t mind really.”
“But that’s wrong,” he shook his head disagreeably.
“Says who?”
“Says everything.”
She let out a soft, dry laugh and walked over to the stove where opening a bag of instant ramen, she dumped it into the hot water. “It’s up to you, honey. I don’t care. If you want to sleep him just to see what it’s like, I don’t mind. I’m not possessive.”
“He is,” Reita replied quickly.
“Is that so? He doesn’t seem to be fighting for you…”
Reita looked up and stared at her even though she was facing the opposite direction. “Are you trying to say he doesn’t feel-”
“No,” she cut him off and looked at him over her shoulder. “I’m saying that maybe you are selling him short. Maybe he wants what he thinks is best for you and that is to leave the whole situation alone. I for one, though,” she pointed to herself. “Don’t care. As long as you love me and I love you and we can be with each other, I don’t mind.” She turned around and folding her arms continued. “Personally I think people are people. I don’t think they belong to anyone.”
Reita placed his beer on the table and leaned back in his chair.
“But Akira, whatever you want to do is your choice. If you feel differently, okay. I’m okay with that. Honestly, it’s your life and your decision.”
“I don’t know if I can handle all this freedom you’re giving me…” he joked.
“I know, you’d much rather have a leash and a chain.” She turned the heat down on the ramen and walking over to the table, sat across from him. “Hey, you don’t have to make a decision or anything now. Nothing rests on it, okay? Just do what feels right. I trust you, baby. And whatever you do, I know that you believed it right at the time in your heart and that intention is all that matters to me.”
“You’re too good for me Kameyo,” Reita was staring at the side of beer can as he listened to her words.
“Bullshit,” she chuckled and got back to her feet.
“My wonderful wife to be!” he teased.
“Keep that up and I’ll strangle you.”
“No, seriously. You are a good woman,” he picked up his beer and started to drink it.
“Sometimes I wonder if you are so stupid that you could be classified as mentally challenged…”
“HEY!” he playfully overreacted.
“Just saying,” she raised her hands up into the air. “If you could be, that would mean we could get government checks in the mail.”
***
“Look what the cat dragged in,” Isao joked as Ruki entered the apartment. He was shoving strawberries into his mouth as he left the kitchen.
“Hi,” he said softly as he kicked his shoes off.
Isao stopped dead in his tracks. “Are you okay?” He tilted his head. He could tell immediately that something was not right with the kid.
“I’m okay,” he lied. “How are you?”
“You care!” Isao laughed. “I’m okay…” he placed a hand on his waist. “Out with it, Princess.”
“Nothing…”
“I’m not an idiot~” he sang.
“Promise not to tell Toru,” Ruki whispered.
Excitedly, Isao moved close to him. “Ooohhh Do tell!” he replied excitedly. He was acting as if Ruki was going to relay some juicy gossip.
“I slept with Katsura just now…” he admitted and looked down. It felt good to get it off his chest. He had no idea however how Isao would react. He felt that he wasn’t in his right mind, admitting so easily like that.
“What?” he stared at him in disbelief.
“I slept with-”
Cutting him off, Isao interjected “I heard you perfectly but for god’s sake why?”
With a shrug, the boy muttered “He seduced me…”
Isao seemingly out of nowhere slapped the side of his head. “You goddamn idiot!” he whispered angrily at him.
“Owww,” he rubbed his new wound.
“Katsura is nothing but a pervert when it comes to boys like you,” he shook his head. “I warned you…”
“I thought you were trying to set me up…”
“What?! Did Toru say that?” he shook his head nonstop. “Big crock of BS there. I warned you,” he repeated with a long finger in the boy’s face. “Keep away from the ones that could get it up and did you listen to me? No.” Isao could see a shadow fall over the boy’s expression. “You’re upset, aren’t you?” he suddenly cooed as if he were a baby. He placed his hands on his shoulders. “Oh God!” he said abruptly as a thought occurred to him. “Why am I comforting you….” He snatched away his hands as if Ruki was infected with some contagious disease.
“You hate me…” Ruki stated.
“No…not really…I just…you are Toru’s little baby so…yeah…” he snarled humorously at him. Isao’s strangely good humor was only making Ruki feel worse. He felt confused and stressed out. More than anything he just wanted to lay down and get away from his pestering and his cattiness.
“Where is he?” he asked.
“On the couch watching his movies.”
“Mhm,” Ruki turned and walked away from Isao.
“Tsk Tsk…” Isao laughed as he made his way back into his room where, unbeknownst to the boy, he was working on his final sculpture.
Fuwa was sitting on the couch watching an old black and white movie with avid interest. He had a blanket thrown across his knees. Ruki dragging himself into the living room, threw himself down next to him. “Hey…” he said.
“Ruki,” he smiled sweetly and reaching for the remote paused the movie. Seeing the boy’s expression, he became immediately concerned. “Are you okay?
“Just had a bad day, that’s all,” he forced a smile.
“Come here,” Fuwa lifted up the blanket and as the boy snuggled up next to him, he wrapped it around him. “Talk to me,” he rubbed his arm and placed a soft kiss on the top of his head.
“I don’t really want to right now. Later.” He rested his head on his chest.
Fuwa ran his fingers through his hair. “Okay.”
“What are you watching?”
“Tokyo Story. It’s an old movie.”
“I see…” Ruki looked up at Fuwa. The older man smiled down at him, the lines appearing charmingly around his eyes.
“Yes?” His voice was sweet and comforting.
“Nothing,” Ruki laid his head down once more. “Continue watching the movie. I’m just going to lay here.”
“Are you sure?”
“Mhm.”
“I don’t mean to be a pest, Ruki but…if there is something bothering you, please tell me.”
“Just a little more time…” the young boy muttered.
“Okay,” Fuwa rubbed his shoulder once more comfortingly and pressing play on the remote controller started the movie up again. The film was almost over and on the screen, Setsuko Hara was waiting at the train station.
“Watching this movie again?” Isao chirped as he made his way into the living room. He leaned over the back of the couch and peered down at the boy’s half covered face buried in the blanket.
“Are you done?” Fuwa turned and asked him.
“Not quite,” he poked Ruki. “Is he still alive?” He teased.
“He’s not feeling well.”
“Poor baby. Has his Fuwa and still isn’t happy…”
“Isao, please be nice to him….”
“I am being nice to him!” he laughed. “Well, Ruki you see that woman, that’s the only woman that Toru would ever go for.”
“That isn’t true,” Fuwa chuckled.
“So there is other women, huh?” Isao rested his hands on the waist.
“No, I don’t feel that way about her at all.”
“I see. I see. Well, she kinda reminds me of you…so that might be it. Minus all the masculinity.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Fuwa smiled.
Ruki felt strange, sitting in this conversation when only moments ago when he was at Katsura’s where he thought his brain was going to explode. He felt like he had just crawled out of the grave and came stumbling upon the strange world of normalcy where Setsuko Hara’s beautiful gentle face smiled in shades of soft grays on the television and Isao and Fuwa laughed together in the background and he laid there, curled up warm like a child.
The thought crossed his mind that he wasn’t living up to his standards of strength, “recuperating” like this after the trauma of being with that man, that man who gave into his desire without a thought of any sensitivity. He wanted to hate Katsura and in a way, he did but at the same time thinking of how he apologized, Ruki realized that Katsura never paid any mind to feelings of that nature. He went all the way, delved into his passions without fear and without any care of who was affected. He sated the monster of his lust without any thought of how Ruki would feel. For all his culture, Katsura lacked civilization.
He wanted to hold onto the anger. It made things simpler but being next to Fuwa, he knew what he would say and so Ruki let it go. There was something about lying next to him that made the boy feel it okay to feel broken for a bit. For now, he suspended his ideas of strength and just laid there, feeling comforted by the older man’s presence and protection.
***
“It’s an 8th note and then the switch but when you make the switch you have to be sure that the pinky is on the D-string or else the effect will be completely lost,” Uruha was staring intently at Aoi’s guitar as he went through it for the hundredth time.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Aoi sighed, agitated.
“And then you release. It’s really subtle but it’s important.”
“I know, baby.”
“Try it now,” Uruha stood up straight and folded his arms.
Kumiko was sitting on the couch munching on candy as she watched the scene with much amusement. It was late in the morning and the sun was shining warmly into the house and onto the two guitar players.
Aoi tried it. And failed. Again.
“1.2.3.4,” Uruha clapped his hands in time. Trying to show him just how fast he needed to go. “1-and-2-”
“I know how to count,” Aoi cut him off. He was completely irritated.
Acting as if he hadn’t just screamed at him, Uruha folded his arms once more and said “Okay, let’s try it again.”
“I don’t know who has more patience…” Kumiko chuckled.
Aoi was at the end of his wits. If Uruha was going to make him go through this fucking little tiny, insignificant part one more, he was going to take his guitar and throw it out the goddamn window. He didn’t care what little old lady he knocked in the head with it. Begrudgingly-and with a deep sigh, he tried it again.
“Perfect,” Uruha nodded.
“WHAT?!” Aoi asked in disbelief.
“Try it again.” He waited for Aoi to play. “See, you got it.”
“Woohoo~” Aoi sang happily. “Niceeee….”
“Ahh your student isn’t completely retarded,” Kumiko teased.
“Can I kill your sister?” Aoi asked with a smile. He was too overjoyed that he finally after practicing it for a fucking hour, got that stupid part down.
“Just don’t leave a mess,” Uruha laughed.
“TRAITOR!” Kumiko, swinging her feet up, propelled herself upward and off the couch. “Do you guys have a show tonight or something?”
“We do actually,” Uruha answered. “Are you coming?”
“Yeah, where is it?”
“The Silver Wolf.”
“Cool,” she wandered into the kitchen to fetch herself a soda and another pack of cigarettes. “I’ll bring some of my hot girlfriends too,” she chuckled. “Oh wait, you’re a band of homosexuals so…” she shrugged.
“No, we are not,” Aoi pointed out.
“Riiiight,” she laughed and plopped back down on the couch. “Who the fuck plays the drums, again?”
“This guy named Rey,” Uruha answered going over to her and taking a cigarette from her pack.
There was a loud pounding on the door and Kumiko barking almost, yelled “It’s opennnnnn~”
Ruki came in quickly and kicked his shoes off. “Guess what?” he smiled at them.
“What?” Uruha asked, lighting his cigarette.
“We got invited into a band tournament.”
“A what?” Aoi folded his arms and gave the younger boy a quizzical look.
“A band tournament,” he repeated. “Normally, a band as new as us wouldn’t get invited but I think we are creating some buzz. I got a phone call earlier from the guy who is holding the tournament, some guy named Catfuzz or some shit like that,” Ruki shook his head. He knew it was a weird nickname in English. “Well, at any rate, he runs a livehouse called Cerberus and he says he wants to invite Gazette. He said that he needed a wildcard band and he thought that could be us. ‘An underdog’ something like that,” he was talking so fast the others could barely keep up with him. “So, we are going up against more seasoned bands so we really have to go full force-but anyways, so in this tournament, there of course is going to be a prize,” he grinned.
“What sort of prize?” Uruha asked.
“Catfuzz is letting whoever win, use his studio-apparently a really nice one-for a couple months rent free and we get to use some of the equipment. Awesome, right?” He smiled cutely.
“That’s if we win,” Uruha clarified.
“Which we will,” Ruki declared with confidence.
“Who else is in the tournament?” Aoi asked.
“I don’t know. It doesn’t matter,” Ruki moved over to the couch and sat down. “We’re going to win.”
The two of them stood there blinking at him.
“And even if you don’t,” Kumiko chimed in. “A lot of people who don’t know Gazette will after the tournament.”
“That too,” Ruki couldn’t stop smiling. He was certain that this was going to go in their favor. How could it not? Nothing was going to get him down. He refused.
“How does one win?” Uruha sat down next to him.
“The fans vote by casting a ballot after the concert,” Ruki’s mouth felt dry he had been talking so quickly. “So, we just have to win them over which we will. Listen,” he moved to the edge of the seat. “We may not be the most polished band out there yet but we are certainly likeable.”
“You’re saying that we may not be the best band but we are popular?” Aoi laughed.
“NO!” Ruki glared at him. “I’m saying that people can connect with us. I think our songs are good-maybe not where they need to be but we are just starting so,” he stopped to catch his breath. “What I’m saying is we have a good shot even though we aren’t fucking Lie:Death or anything.” The other three exchanged awkward and knowing looks at the mention of Kai’s band with such evident bitterness. “When we are up there, we have more energy, more drive than any other band. We’re more fun for one and we have a connection,” he smiled once more like a child showing his mother his good report card.
“He’s convincing me,” Kumiko said with a smirk.
“This is good thing,” he pressed.
Aoi turned and looked at Uruha. “What do you think?”
“I think we can win,” he nodded.
“Yeah?”
“Mhm.”
“Did you tell the other two yet?”
“No. I was hoping Reita was here but I can call him,” he took out his cell phone and finding his number in his contacts, called him. “Hey, Reita. It’s me Ruki…Get over to Uruha’s. Oh and call Rey too. Okay? Alrighty. Bye.” He hung up. He decided to wait and tell them when they got there so he didn’t have to repeat himself right away. “Look we have to nail the performance tonight and direct that momentum into the tournament.”
“Right,” Uruha nodded.
“Wow,” Kumiko swayed happily in her seat. “I’m excited for you guys. If you get this, next you need a manager.” She grinned.
“And then, a tour,” Ruki added.
“One thing at a time,” Aoi cut in. “One thing at time.”
Winking at them, she added “Before you know it, you all will be playing the Budokan.”
The three of them sat there, thinking about it. It seemed impossible.
“Maybe even something like Tokyo Dome someday,” she smiled.
[A/N Depending on how much I get written today-I may or may not post tomorrow but I will let you all know~~]