No Escaping Fate

Unbetaed, I will upload the betaed chapter when I get it back.

Chapter Nine

It had been years since anyone really said anything to Eiri about his weekly ritual. They had stopped asking him why he did it and just excepted the fact that he was going to keep doing it until things ended one way or another.

It was late anyway so it was a bit of a surprise to find Mika sitting in his living room waiting for him when he got home from his ‘walk.’

“Why are you still doing this to yourself?”

Eiri rolled his eyes at his sister and hung his coat up by the door as he slipped off the shoes. He barely spared her a glance has he crossed into the kitchen lighting a cigarette.

“What do you want, Mika?” he called over his shoulder.

He heard an exasperated sigh from behind him, but he paid it no mind. He busied himself making coffee while waiting for her inevitable rant.

“You weren’t the only one hurt by this, Eiri. That little nuisance managed to worm his way into all of our lives. Shuichi had that effect on people. He could wrap them around his finger with a song and make them love him. When… we were all devastated.”

He didn’t look at her, he couldn’t. He couldn’t stand to see the pain in her eyes. She was right though. Shuichi had become so much a part of all of their lives. Since he had been absent they had all found out just how much he meant to them. Even Tohma and Mika still showed signs of missing him.

Eiri physically shook himself from his thoughts. “Was there a point to that little speech?”

“None of us deny that we miss him Eiri, but we have gone on with our lives. It hurts to see you like this, pining away for something that you can’t have. This is not your fault. It never was. Shuichi isn’t going to come back just because…” Mika hesitated and when her voice came again it was much closer. Eiri almost flinch when her arms wrapped around his waist. “…you still love him.”

Mika’s head rested against Eiri’s back. He let himself take a little comfort from the embrace, but stiffened when she spoke again. “It’s time to give up on him.”

Eiri snatched away from her so harshly that he almost knocked over the coffee he was making. He turned abruptly and stared his sister down with a crewel gaze. “I will never give up on Shuichi.”

Mika closed her eyes and covered her mouth with her hand as she tried to hold back a sob. As a result her next words were strained and muffled. “But why, Eiri? I can barely stand to see you in so much pain.”

He turned from her and, forgetting the coffee, walked deliberately away. When he made it to his study he closed the door firmly behind him. He sagged against the wood and finally answered his sister’s question knowing she was out of earshot. “Because he didn’t give up on me.”

-

Shuichi sat up on the couch and groaned. He had been sleeping in an awkward position again. His neck and back were hurting like hell as a result. He put one hand under his chin and cracked his neck with a loud ‘pop.’

“Fuck that hurts so good.”

He twisted around and sat on the couch properly. He wasn’t sure what time it was, but the light coming in from the window was blinding so he knew it had to be around midday.

For the first time since returning to Tokyo he felt refreshed, despite the fact that he was a little sore from sleeping on the couch. He got up and stretched his achy back. He made short work of showering and dressing.

He didn’t allow himself to contemplate on Ryuichi’s absence much beyond the fact that he was indeed gone. It didn’t really matter. The man was very busy after all and had probably gone to work or something. ‘Right?’

He didn’t have a destination in mind when he grabbed his wallet and key. He knew only that he wanted to get out of the suite. When he stepped out of the hotel he was greeted by bright sunshine, yet the days were turning cooler and he was glad to have remembered a coat.

He didn’t worry much about being recognized. Like the week before… (‘Has it only been a week?) …he relied on his knowledge of the city to guide him safely.

He soon found himself passing familiar shops and cafes. So many things looked just as he remembered them… yet everything was different. The very heartbeat of the city seemed to have taken on a new rhythm.

After some time he found himself looking up at the neglected façade of what had once been his and Hiro’s favorite restaurant. The windows were dark and dusty. The sign had been vandalized. “Nothing ever stays the same.”

He was set upon by a sudden melancholy. No nothing ever did stay the same, but if it did then things would stagnate. He wondered if Bad Luck too would have seen its end in the ever-changing ebb and flow of progress.

“Some things aren’t meant to last and you and I weren’t among them…” He found himself humming to the sudden lyrical inspiration. “We move on, we grow stronger… day by day…”

He continued on down the street as he composed lyrics and rhythms in his head. “The beat of the city, move’s us on. Time waits for no man… and now I understand… you and me. Just stop… for a minute. Breath before you speak. Think of the consequences to you and me. You and me.”

He found he found his feet stepping to the beat until he was almost dancing down the sidewalk. His mood had lightened significantly with the upbeat tune in his head. By the time he reached his, albeit unknowing, destination he was smiling sweetly. “Damn love songs, they come out of nowhere.”

He looked up at where his feet had taken him and sighed. It was inevitable really. Tohma always got what he wanted and some time between opening the door of his suite and arriving at NG, where he now stood, he had given in. If Seguchi wanted Bad Luck back so badly then he would have them.

He stepped into the lobby and headed strait to the elevator.

‘But if Tohma wants Bad Luck then plans have to be made to make sure that Seven Sins wont suffer either.’

Shuichi didn’t know how they would make it work, yet he had every confidence that they could. He had become a shrewd man during his stint in America. Regardless of the fact that his band had been custom made by Tohma it was Neo who had made it work.

‘I’ll have to be Shuichi again, wont I?’ He tilted his head in though while he waited for his floor. ‘Huh. It’s kind of weird, but I don’t really mind that much. Names don’t make the man. Being Shuichi again doesn’t mean that I’ll stop being Neo. They are both me after all.’

He shrugged to himself slightly as the elevator doors opened. He made the short walk to Tohma’s office and waited to the secretary to acknowledge him.

“Can I help you?”

Shuichi glanced down at her name plate before answering, “Yes ma’am, Miss Shusseki. I need to speak with Mr. Seguchi. I am sure he is busy, but if you will just tell him that Shindou Shuichi is here to see him. I’m sure he will make time for me.” He gave her his most charming smile and watched her titter before picking up the phone.

It was only a second before she set it down again. “Go right on in, Mr. Shindou.”

“Thank you.” He winked at her and made haste into the office.

Tohma stood up to greet him when he entered, but Shuichi waved him back down.

“I’m going to get strait to the point here. Eiri and I have no future together, however if you want me to stay in Japan I am willing to work with you.” He slid gracefully into a chair and locked Tohma with a meaningful gaze.

“You stop trying to pressure me back into a relationship with Eiri and I will agree to rejoin Bad Luck as Shindou Shuichi.”

Tohma wasn’t sure how to react. It had not been that long ago that the singer was still adamantly refusing to stay in Japan. He started to speak a few times, but stopped himself. What was he supposed to say to that? “Shuichi, I…”

Shuichi waved a hand to cut him off. “I did some thinking on my way over here today. In truth I wasn’t even heading here, I just ended up here. I realized that no matter how much I try to change. No matter how much I try to hide. Japan is and always will be my home.”

Shuichi ran a hand back through his hair and looked down from the surprise in those pale blue eyes. “I am not the same man I was six years ago. That Shuichi is dead. I am also not Neo Zolten and no matter how much I try I never will be.”

He leaned back in the chair and forced himself to look back up. Tohma looked understanding.

“The fact that I love your brother-in-law is a technicality. I wont let my own fear dive me away from everything I worked so hard for anymore. Bad Luck deserves better than that.”

To Shuichi’s Surprise Tohma nodded. “I agree. Though I am still a little wary of motives in regards to Eiri, I am willing to make that deal with you. If you and he are meant to be together then you will find on another again on your own.”

Shuichi shook his head. “I wouldn’t count on it.”

Tohma smiled in a knowing way, but said nothing else about the relationship. “If you don’t mind my asking; what brought this on?”

Shuichi shrugged, “Who knows. I have always been the type of person who spontaneously figures things out. All the facts just suddenly add up with no conscious help from me. I want this. I never really wanted to give Bad Luck up in the first place. She suffered from my selfish actions and I want to make it up to her.”

Shuichi smiled to himself when he realized what he had said. He had started thinking about the band as it’s own entity back when he and Hiro had started it. To Shuichi she had always had a life of her own. She was the only woman for him.

“Well if that is the way you feel about it then I see no reason to object. I will make some arrangements and remove the suspension from Bad Luck’s contract.” Tohma started to write things down on the pad in front of him. “You do realize that this will cause quite a stir, don’t you?”

Shuichi stood up and smiled. “You wouldn’t have it any other way.”

He just caught the smirk pulling at the corner of Tohma’s lips as he turned. He paused again before he took two steps though and turned back around. “One more thing.” He waited for Tohma to look up from his work. “I want to keep Seven Sins as well.”

At Tohma’s questioning look he smiled and shrugged. “They will have to move here of course, except for when they are touring. They will also need a new singer. I will, however, continue to produce everything they do.” He tilted his head and mentally dared Tohma to challenge him.

He couldn’t miss the gleam in Tohma’s eyes. “As you wish. It is a pleasure doing business with you again… Mr. Shindou.”

-

“So just like that, huh?” Hiro was aggravated.

“What? You don’t want to be a part of Bad Luck again?” Shuichi crossed his arms over his chest and smiled challengingly.

Hiro threw his hands in the air in exasperation, turning a full circle and looking back at his friend. “That’s not the point, Shu! It has been six years and all of the sudden you are just going to drop your new band? You’re just going to pick things up where they left off? It doesn’t work that way Shuichi.”

Shuichi rolled his eyes. ‘And they call me over dramatic?’

Shuichi sat back in his chair and ran his eyes over the long frame in front of him. Hiro really looked almost exactly the same, if a little older around the eyes. “I didn’t say it would be easy, but where would be the fun in it if it was?”

Hiro looked down at his friend thoughtfully and scratched his neck. “You really want to do this?”

Hiro’s voice held a great deal of apprehension and Shuichi’s eyes softened. He stood up and crossed the short distance to his friend. He wrapped his arms around the other man and pulled him into a tight hug. “I’m so sorry I left you, but even I can learn from my mistakes. I mean it, Hiro. I really want to make a go of Bad Luck again.”

He pulled away and saw that Hiro was smiling. Hiro hit him playfully on the arm and drew away further. “You could have at least asked me.”

Shuichi laughed, “Yes, but then I would have missed the look on your face when I told you.”

Hiro jumped at him suddenly and wrapped his arms around Shuichi’s neck in a headlock. “Why you little…” He freed up one hand and proceeded to scrub his knuckles against Shuichi’s scalp.

They finally broke apart after much pleading from Shuichi and laughing from Hiro. They both plopped down onto the couch. Slowly the laughter subsided into a comfortable, but thoughtful silence.

After several moments Hiro broke it. “You know, Suguru is going to kill you when he hears about this.”

Shuichi looked questioningly at his friend. “Since when do you call Fugisaki, Suguru?”

Hiro looked a little sheepish, but was saved from answering when they heard the lock rattle and the front door open. It was just seconds later that said keyboardist entered the room. “He baby, you didn’t tell me we were going to have company.”

Hiro stood up and in just three strides he took the smaller man in his arms and kissed him. When they finally broke apart and he looked back at Shuichi he couldn’t help but chuckle at the shock on his friend’s face. “It would be kind of weird calling my lover by his family name.”

-

So? Too much? Not enough? There’s still more to come.