Kumagoro\'s New Shiny

**Typical fanfic warnings—we don’t own Gravi or it’s characters. Please be respectful to our originals and not use them without asking. This fic takes place near the end of Ryuichi’s time in America, shortly before the beginning of the anime.

Major angst warnings—if you’re hoping for a constantly bouncing Ryu-chan, this isn’t the fic to read. -_- This is angst angst angst, so read at your own risk!

Thoughts in italics
::= speaking in Japanese
**


Kumagoro’s New Shiny
Chapter Three

Tracy had told him not to come to this one. And usually, Jace knew better. But when he slipped back stage after the concert like he always did and spotted a familiar face among the crowds, he couldn\'t help himself. He slipped through the folds of people expertly--there were more of them around than before, and Ryuichi hadn\'t managed to sneak away from a few female fans. It kept him occupied, so that he didn\'t notice Jace as he snuck up on him. This probably isn\'t fair to him. But…hey, what can I do? He came up from behind the man and pressed his hands over his eyes. \"Ha! Guess who!\"

Ryuichi jumped, startled, listening as the girls he\'d been talking to gasp. It…wouldn\'t be him again, would it? He tilted his head slightly, smiling. \"Um, is it...a big name producer come to offer me an amazing record deal and a trip to Hawaii?\" he asked with exaggerated excitement.

\"No,\" Jace drawled. \"But it sure is amazing....\" He glanced over Ryuichi\'s shoulder at the girls, who were watching with stark surprise. Guess I shouldn\'t screw with his reputation too much. At least I\'m not wearing my skirt. He let his hands fall with a laugh. \"It\'s me! Surprised to see me?\"

He couldn\'t help a grin, finding himself honestly pleased. \"I am!\" Ryuichi glanced briefly at his small crowd. \"Jace, these are the girls. Girls, this is Jace, who saved me from getting lost in the scary big city,\" he said, curling his shoulders in fear as they cooed in sympathy.

Jace sent the girls a charming smile, which seemed to work on a pair of them. \"Hey, girls. He\'s something, isn\'t he?\" He smirked up at Ryuichi. \"I caught a bit of the concert this time. You\'re...not bad.\" He winked.

Ryuichi laughed as several of the girls immediately came to his defense, trying to shout over each other about how good he was. He set a hand on one of their shoulder\'s effectively silencing them with a grin. \"I appreciate that--thank you. Jace is just being silly, right?\"

\"Of course I am--girls are so fun to tease.\" Jace lifted one of their hands to be kissed, which earned him a blush. He spun back to Ryuichi. \"Looks like you\'re busy--we can catch up later, huh?\"

He nodded eagerly. \"Sure!\" Though he\'ll probably find someone else before I can dodge these girls. Ryuichi waved as a pair of the girls grabbed his arm, tugging him towards the food table. I wonder....

Jace wandered off, and though it shouldn\'t have made a difference he did his best to stay out of Ryuichi\'s sight as he found himself one of the lighting technicians. They slipped off to the bathroom after only a few minutes. I\'m…not doing it because I want to, he couldn\'t help but think as he pushed the older man into a stall. But at least I\'m good.

Ryuichi finally excused himself from the group, hurrying off to the bathroom in hopes of losing them for a bit. He sighed as he pushed open the door. Man, they\'re really exhausting. It\'s a good thing I didn\'t bring Kumagoro, or....

His thoughts trailed off as he heard a thin moan, eyes widening as he stood before the urinal. Glancing slowly over his shoulder, he could just make out two pairs of feet in the last stall. That\'s.... He quickly turned away, biting his lip.

Everything...had started out really well. The man was really enjoying it, as far as Jace could tell from his position on his knees, and so he hadn\'t expected it at all when the thick fingers tightened abruptly in his hair and forced him back hard enough for his head to hit the door. \"Hey--what\'s--\"

\"Get--get off me, you--you fucking queer!\" The man stood and tried to pull his pants back on, but as aroused as he was he had a hard time of it.

Jace stood, wiping his mouth. \"Hmph.\" Shit. I didn\'t figure him for one of those types. \"I\'m keeping the money,\" he told him firmly as he unlatched the bathroom door. Goddamn phobe. You were totally into it--

Jace saw the fist coming down on him, but in the confines of the stall there wasn\'t anything he could do to dodge--he was hit hard in the stomach, and as he fell back the door abruptly twisted open behind him. Gasping, he stumbled back, only to feel a sweaty palm close over his face and shove him off his feet. Everything tilted--something cracked against his skull on the way down and sent his senses reeling. Shit…shit…!

Ryuichi, just about to sneak out, jumped in surprise at the abrupt appearance of the pair. His eyes went wide. Jace--

\"Hey!\" Running over, he snatched at the man\'s shirt, jerking him away from the fallen teen when he attempted to kick him. \"Max, what the hell are you doing?\"

\"Get off me!\" The man tried to twist away from him, flushed and shaking. \"I\'m not a goddamned queer! You fucking faggot!\" He managed to tear himself from Ryuichi\'s grip and ran for the door in a near panic. \"Don\'t touch me!\"

Ruchi.... Jace coughed weakly against the floor as he drew his knees in, trying to regain the breath that had been forced from him. A few pained tears slipped from his tightly closed eyes--something warm was sliding through his hair. He couldn\'t remember what it was supposed to be but it made him shiver hard on the tile.

Ryuichi glared after the man, hearing startled cries from just beyond the door. He turned away to quickly kneel beside the boy. \"Careful--don\'t move around too much.\" He\'s bleeding--damnit. Setting a hand on Jace\'s back, he kept him steady as he reached for some brown paper towels. \"You cut your head. Just be still a moment.\"

Jace peeled a hand away from his stomach to investigate, and winced when a sharp pain spread along his scalp. His fingers came back wet. \"I\'m...bleeding?\" He sighed heavily and let his hand fall. \"Well...fuck.\"

\"Here, I\'m putting these on your head.\" Ryuichi carefully pressed the towels over the wound, holding Jace still when he tried to wince away. He should go to the hospital--he could have a concussion or something.... \"Nothing else broken, right?\" he asked gently.

\"No....\" Jace was still a moment, fighting back a sudden surge of nausea in his hollow stomach. \"Damnit....\" He curled a little tighter around himself as his eyes watered and threatened to spill. \"Fuck!\" he hissed. \"Fuck....\"

Ryuichi watched him with serious eyes, keeping the towels tightly over the cut. After a moment he edged closer in support, lightly touching the boy\'s shoulder. \"You need to go to the hospital,\" he said quietly. \"When you\'re ready.\"

\"No.\" Jace wiped his face with the back of his wrist, sniffed once, and slowly began to push himself up. He had to keep his hands pressed heavily to the ground to support himself when the room began to spin. \"No, I\'m okay. It\'s...not bad.\"

Ryuichi\'s frowned deepened. \"Don\'t argue,\" he said firmly. \"I\'m taking you there now.\" He took a hold of Jace\'s arm, very slowly helping him to his feet.

Jace cringed, struggling and managing to get his feet beneath him. But being upright didn\'t help matters, and he slumped against Ryuichi\'s shoulder. Was he…this strong before? \"Sorry,\" he muttered as he fought for balance.

Ryuichi took one of Jace\'s hands, bringing it up to the paper towels. \"Hold these in place,\" he instructed. \"Let me worry about where we\'re going.\" Once he was sure Jace was keeping the wound covered, he moved to his other side, wrapping an arm around his waist and Jace\'s over his shoulder. \"Come on.\"

Jace swallowed hard but forced himself to move, allowing Ryuichi to take them out of the bathroom. They drew a few curious gazes as they traversed the hall but Jace kept his head down, so that his hair would mostly hide him. As they made their way out, he frowned suddenly. \"I don\'t have insurance.\"

\"I told you to let me worry about it,\" Ryuichi replied, sending a pointed glare at one man in particular, and he hurried ahead of them to hold the doors open. When he started to stammer a question, Ryuichi cut him off. \"Just go get the car.\" He tightened his grip around Jace\'s waist.

Jace started to protest again, but cut himself quickly off, afraid that if he opened his mouth again he might vomit. He winced as they went down a step, jarring his head. Eventually they were outside, and Ryuichi was helping him into a car. I don\'t fucking believe this....

Giving the driver quick instructions, he settled into the backseat with Jace, gently peeling away the towels to check the wound. Still bleeding a bit--he may need stitches. \"It won\'t take long to get there. Just hang on a bit longer,\" he encouraged, setting the make-shift bandage back in place.

\"I\'m okay,\" Jace whispered. \"Just...a little dizzy. I\'ve had worse....\" All the same he sagged heavily against Ryuichi\'s side as lights streaked past the windows. \"Thanks. Really.\"

\"Just relax.\" Ryuichi watched the city passing, feeling almost painfully tense. Max is fired. I don\'t care what happened, but...that was inexcusable.

They finally reached the hospital, and Ryuichi was gratified to see a pair of nurses waiting for them at the entrance with a wheelchair. \"Come on--I had the driver call ahead, so they\'ll be able to take you right in.\" He opened the door, carefully urging the boy out.

\"Okay....\" Jace allowed himself to be guided out of the car and into the wheelchair. Grateful that he wouldn\'t be walking any more he managed to relax a little, and when he snapped back into focus he was inside, and someone was parting his hair around the wound. He winced, gaze swimming as he tried to look around. Oh, I guess I\'m in.... \"Ruchi...?\"

Glancing up, Ryuichi moved closer so he could be seen, taking a clipboard with him. \"Hey. I think they might have to stitch ya up,\" he said, tone lighter. \"They need this form filled out, so can you answer all this name age birthday stuff while I write?\"

\"I think so.\" Though he was still groggy Jace listened to all the questions and answered--it helped keep his mind off what the doctors were doing behind him. At some point he was given pain-killers, which helped. In the end the cut only ended up needing three stitches, and when told so Jace rolled his eyes. \"I guess that makes me a drama queen.\"

Ryuichi grinned, leaning back to finish filling out the rest of the billing himself. \"Among other things, I\'m sure,\" he teased. I\'m glad he\'s all right, though. \"Just be glad you don\'t have a serious concussion or anything.\"

\"At least that would have made it a story worth telling,\" Jace replied. He was starting to feel a lot clearer, and when the doctor stepped away to check on another patient he turned to Ryuichi. \"So? How much do I owe?\"

He waved a hand. \"Don\'t worry about it,\" he said simply, keeping the bill out of reach. \"You should be more concerned with if your hair will grow back where they had to shave you.\"

\"What?\" Jace reached back, wincing when his fingers fumbled over the stitches, surrounded by freshly shaved skin. \"Aw, fuck. And I was going to get the tips dyed....\" He drew his attention abruptly back. \"No really, how much? You don\'t have to pay for me.\"

\"I said not to worry!\" he replied, still smiling. \"It\'s better than having you sue me for getting hit by one of my crewmembers at my party, right? Though I guess you could still do that anyway.\" He pouted a moment before brightening again. \"And I\'m serious about this.\"

Jace\'s shoulder\'s sagged. \"Yeah, okay.\" He sobered, however, as he lowered his head. \"Thanks. You...didn\'t have to do any of this....\"

Ryuichi\'s smile softened. Yeah...I did. \"Don\'t worry about it,\" he replied. He pushed to his feet. \"I\'m gonna go check with the doctor quick, and if he okay\'s ya then I\'ll give ya a lift home.\"

\"Okay....\" Jace smiled up at him and felt his chest tighten a little. Damnit. Don\'t be so nice to me. \"I\'ll be here.\"

Nodding, Ryuichi slipped off on his mission, taking care of everything before returning to Jace. \"You\'re all set,\" he proclaimed as a nurse returned with a wheelchair. \"They gotta drive you out, though, but the car\'s waiting just outside.\"

\"Might as well get your money\'s worth,\" Jace laughed as he slid into the wheelchair. At least the pain-killers really work. I\'m going to feel like shit tomorrow....

Once they were in the car, however, Jace\'s spirits dampened a little. He sank against Ryuichi\'s side as he watched the buildings flash past, giving almost thoughtless directions to the driver to his apartment. I was lucky. He really could have killed me, if Ruchi hadn\'t.... He shivered a little. Just because....

Catching the faint movement, Ryuichi sighed quietly. Poor thing. He must really be shaken up by it. Fingers curling, he finally lifted his arm slightly, sliding it around the boy\'s waist in silent welcome. \"Kinda scary, huh?\" he asked softly.

\"Kinda pisses me off,\" Jace muttered, pulling closer. \"Coming on to me--he was totally into it, I don\'t know why he had to go and…freak out....\" He fell silent again, lowering his eyes. Damnit. It\'s not my fault you\'re gay, you stupid fuck.

Ryuichi shrugged lightly, careful not to jar the other. \"Some people don\'t know who they are yet. What\'s important is that you\'ll recover, right?\"

\"Yeah....\" Jace shivered a little, and suddenly turned, wrapping his arms around Ryuichi and pressing his face into his neck. It hadn\'t seemed that scary at the time. But now, remembering how helpless he had been, how badly he could have been hurt...for something so stupid....

Ryuichi, though surprised, had almost been expecting something like this. He held the boy gently against him, mindful of his injuries. \"You\'re okay, Jace,\" he murmured. \"You\'re gonna be fine.\"

\"I know....\" Jace shuddered, curling against him. \"I\'m okay, I just....\" He was just shaken, and angry, and in pain, and he didn\'t want to have to think about it. He didn\'t cry--couldn\'t, not with Ryuichi there--but he sniffled once, keeping his eyes tightly shut.

Ryuichi silently held him after that, watching the passing streets. I\'m sorry, Jace. I\'m sorry that happened to you. When the car finally slowed, he touched the other\'s shoulder to urge him back. \"Jace? Do you...want some help getting upstairs?\"

\"No--No, I\'m okay.\" Jace leaned back, scrubbing briefly at his face to make sure he was all right. \"Tracy\'ll be back soon--he\'ll look after me. Don\'t worry, okay?\" He tilted his chin up, giving Ryuichi a brief kiss. \"Thanks again, for everything. I mean it.\"

Ryuichi smiled. \"Would you mind...if I called later?\" he asked, somewhat hesitantly. \"Just to be sure you\'re okay? I\'d hate to think this might have scared you away from me.\"

\"From you? Don\'t be silly. It\'s....\" Jace smirked wryly. \"An occupational hazard. But yeah, you still have my number?\" I wonder if he really will? \"I won\'t be going anywhere for a while.\"

Relieve, Ryuichi nodded. \"Sure do. I\'ll bring you guys lunch or something.\" And just because he was encouraged by the other\'s words, he stole a quick kiss from Jace\'s cheek. \"Go get some rest.\"

\"I plan on it.\" Feeling revived, Jace slipped outside. He had to pause a moment, making sure he could move about well enough, before giving Ryuichi a grin. \"Talk to ya later, okay?\"

\"Of course!\" Shutting the door, he leaned his head out the window as they started to drive away. \"Tell Tracy I say hi!\" he called with a wave before ducking back inside. Though he was still angry at his crew member, he was also strangely pleased. If nothing else, he would get to see Jace again.

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Two days later Jace nearly flung himself at the phone when it range. He\'d been taking it easy since the incident, and found it to be entirely too boring. Sprawled across his bed, he clicked the phone on. \"Yeah?\"

Ryuichi licked his lips, leaning against the wall near the balcony as he watched the city below his apartment. He smiled faintly. \"Hello?\" he said in a high voice. \"This is super operator Kumagoro with a call for mister shiny Jace. Is\'a he there?\"

Jace laughed. \"Hey, you. I was wondering if you were really going to call.\" He rolled onto his stomach, dragging his pillow under his chest. \"You\'ll be glad to know, I\'ve been wasting away in bed all this time.\"

\"Just\'a moment,\" Kumagoro protested. \"I\'ll\'a put the call through.\" Ryuichi couldn\'t help laughing then as he returned to his usual voice. \"I hope you\'re healing up all right. Hair growing back?\"

\"Yeah, I guess so,\" Jace said with a roll of his eyes. \"I\'m not supposed to take showers, but we don\'t have a tub--the sponge bath is my new thing. How\'re you doing?\"

\"Things are slow right now--\'negotiations\' or something,\" he replied. \"So...I gotta day off.\" Ryuichi shifted faintly, closing his eyes a moment. I know I shouldn\'t do this--I really shouldn\'t, but.... \"Would you...want some pizza? I\'m starving.\"

\"Yeah. Yeah, me, too.\" Jace kicked his feet lightly. \"So what do you wanna do? Should I come over? I can grab a taxi.\" Good thing Tracy\'s not around--he\'d totally tell me no.

Ryuichi shrugged. \"Or I could go there--either is fine.\" He grinned. \"I could pick up something on the way.\"

\"No.\" Jace laughed in embarrassment. \"No, you don\'t wanna see my place. It\'s a closet.\" He dragged himself to the edge of the bed, hunting around for his shoes. \"Where are you at? Order some delivery and I\'ll race it there.\"

\"Um....\" He blushed faintly. \"It\'s the Swan Apartments, down near the concert hall. 735.\" He lived in such a small place, but I\'m up here.... Ryuichi turned away from the city, leaning heavily against the wall. \"So you\'re coming?\"

\"Yeah, I just gotta...oh! There it is.\" Jace dug his other shoe out from under the bed and slipped into it. \"It\'ll take me a while to get down there, so go ahead and order whatever you want.\"

Ryuichi nodded. \"Okay. See you soon then.\" He hung up, feeling his stomach twisting faintly in excitement. I can\'t believe I\'m really inviting a hooker over to my apartment. He could rob me blind. He glanced over at Kumagoro, watching him from the couch.

Jace all but bounded from the taxi once he\'d reached the right building, and regretted it: the sheer size of the building, combined with his still healing head, nearly made him dizzy enough to fall over. Holy shit, he really is well off. Suddenly glad he\'d dressed somewhat tamely--ripped blue jeans and a tight, gray T-shirt--he rode the elevator up to the seventh floor and knocked on the door. Here goes nothing, I guess.

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Scene To Be Continued