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The Rose Line	By : Rhonda Category: Gravitation > General Views: 2888 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Gravitation, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Chapter 3: The First Night’s Concert

“Shuichi…Shuichi…I love you Shuichi…” A shower of rose petals drifted down on him from a starry night sky filled with a large full moon.

Shuichi opened his eyes. He had been dreaming again and again he’d awakened just as he was about to see the figure shrouded in mist coming toward him. The figure that had uttered those wonderful words. The figure that loved him. Tattered images of a moonlit night, a garden full of roses and his mysterious lover faded into the grayness of wakefulness.

Shuichi sighed. He’d been having that dream his entire life and still he felt disappointment whenever he woke before seeing the face of his ghost lover. Usually there was someone in his bed waiting to take the place of that unreal entity; someone all too willing to play the part, but now, here, in this huge, quiet house and in this large, empty bed, there was no one to comfort him, no one to hold him and no one to kiss away his loneliness.

A gentle chime from the fireplace mantle clock pierced his post dream anxiety and pulled him back to the present. Seven o’clock! Shuichi bolted upright. It was time for dinner and he hadn’t even dressed yet!

Scrambling out of bed, he lit his night table lamp and ran to the armoire where his bags had been stored. He threw open the doors and gasped. All of his clothes had been neatly folded and placed on the shelf or hung. Someone had opened his luggage! His thoughts immediately flew to the envelope and the dagger he’d tucked away in his music case. If someone had opened it and seen the dagger…

Shu dug frantically through the armoire until he found the case. He tore it open to find the contents still intact, just the way he’d left them--with his sheet music and lyrics book covering the suspect items. He leafed through the sheets of music and discovered they were still in the order he’d left them. So, either no one had disturbed the contents of the case or they’d been very careful about it. Beneath the music, the dagger and the envelope sat at the bottom of the case. He looked at them and a knot formed in the pit of his stomach.

…I’m begging you…

Shuichi brushed the echoing plea out of his mind and stowed the case and its illicit items under the bed. Then he grabbed that evening’s attire, ran with them to the water closet and quickly refreshed himself and dressed. Raking a hand through his unruly hair and tugging on his boots, he stopped before a cheval mirror and checked his reflection.

Messy pink hair, huge violet eyes, porcelain skin with blush pink lips and a small body now encased in a dark violet waistcoat, white breeches and black knee boots. He frowned. He looked like a milkmaid in drag.

“It’ll have to do,” he told his reflection.

He dashed to the door and flew through it, running smack into something solid that was standing there.

“Oh!” Shuichi bounced backward against the wall. A hand reached out to steady him.

“Are you alright?”

Shuichi rubbed his smarting forehead. “I should be asking you that. I just tried to kill you with my big head!”

A soft laugh drew his eyes upward. Looking down at him was a tall redhead with kind eyes that were regarding him with amusement.

“It’s not that big,” he replied. “If I look fast, I can see practically all of it in one glance!”

Shuichi realized the man was joking with him and relaxed. He took the man’s offered hand and righted himself again.

“I’m Hiroshi Nakano—Hiro for short. You must be Mr. Shindou?”

“…my apprentice…and my lover…”

Shuichi tried to cover his surprise. “Yes, please call me Shuichi.”

“Alright, Shuichi. Tohma sent me to find you. Everyone is already waiting in the dining hall for you.”

Shu blushed. “Oh, I’m sorry for causing everyone to wait. I guess I was more tired than I thought. I fell asleep as soon as I got to my room.” They walked down the long lit corridor and around a bend toward the stairs.

“I’m glad he sent an escort though. I doubt I would have ever found my way there and if you’re waiting on me to begin dining, I’m certain you all would have starved before I even found the stairs!”

Hiro laughed again, this time loudly.

“This place does take some getting used to. But don’t worry. You’ll find your way around soon enough and if you get lost, just keep yelling. Someone will come find you…eventually.”

Shuichi laughed. “Thanks…I think.”

The two walked down the stairs in amiable silence and Shu took the chance to casually peruse his escort.

Hiro was tall and lean and had long, dark red hair that was tied into a ponytail at his nape with a black ribbon, leaving messy bangs to cover his dark eyes. A small smile still played at his lips and he generated an aura of joviality. Dressed in a black waistcoat, cream-colored breeches and shiny black knee boots, he was an impressive looking man.

He looks about the same age as me, Shu thought. He tried, but couldn’t picture him and the scary looking K together as a loving couple.

They reached the clock landing.

“So, how long have you been a guest here?” asked Shu.

“Two months, if I remember correctly.” The smile left his lips. Shuichi saw a shadow cross the man’s face. Hiro glanced and saw Shuichi watching him.

He smiled again. “Every day is just so much fun that it’s easy to lose track!”

They reached the main floor. “Tohma is a gracious host and there’s so much to do here. Horseback riding, swimming, fishing…I could go on and on.” He continued to smile (a little forcefully Shuichi thought) and led Shu past the furnished open area and down a hall that Sakano had led him past earlier that afternoon.

“Every day is an adventure here.” Hiro stopped in front of a set of large, paneled wooden doors.

“Here we are.” He reached to open the doors and paused.

“Thank you,” he said quietly to Shu.

“For what?” Shuichi saw something flicker in Hiro’s eyes.

“For making me laugh. That’s the first good laugh I’ve had in a long time.”

Shuichi smiled. “Anytime I can head butt you, let me know.” He winked at Hiro. “I’m your man.”

Hiro smiled back and this time it didn’t seem forced. He opened the doors.

The dining hall was just as Shuichi had imagined it. Large and spacious with dark wood paneling throughout. A brilliant crystal chandelier, floor candelabras and a huge fireplace lit the room. In the center of the room, beneath the chandelier, was a long, elegant, black wood table that could easily seat 50—the perfect thing for seating advisors to the Emperor and ambassadors from distant lands. Shuichi could imagine all kinds of feasts and important business taking place at that table. At the moment, however, the table only had three occupants seated at one corner.

Hiro led Shu across the room to the occupied end.

“Look what I found lost in the wilderness.”

“My apologies for not sending an escort sooner, Mr. Shindou. My business with Mr. Sakano took longer than expected and I lost track of the time.” Tohma, seated at the head of the table, gestured Shuichi to a seat at his left beside a brown haired young man. “Please, join us.”

Shuichi sat down and Hiro sat opposite him next to another young man who had dark hair and was wearing a tan waistcoat.

“I believe introductions are in order, yes?” asked Tohma, looking around the table. “You’ve already met Hiro. Beside him is Tatsuha Uesugi.”

Tatsuha, the dark haired young man in the tan waistcoat smiled and nodded at Shuichi. Though he seemed even younger than Hiro, his age did nothing to diminish the striking good looks he had in spades. Darkly handsome with a crooked, mischievous smile, Shuichi could easily see him surrounded by swooning women and enjoying every minute of it. He was going to be hell on the female populace when he got older--if he wasn’t already, Shuichi thought. And if he wasn’t careful, the male populace as well.

“Pleased to meet you.”

Uesugi, Shuichi thought. He looked at Tatsuha again and this time, could clearly see the resemblance to Mika. There was no doubt that the two were related. Shuichi’s heart sank. Meeting everyone was turning out to be three for three.

“And to your right,” Tohma was saying—

“I’m Ryuichi Sakuma!” The man next to Shu grinned broadly and took Shu’s hand, pumping it vigorously.

“Can I call you Shu, or Shuie or maybe Shu-chan for short? We’re going to be good friends from now on!”

Shuichi couldn’t help but grin back. The man’s large, clear blue eyes sparkled with open honesty and enthusiastic good naturedness.

“Sure, call me whatever you want. I hope we can be good friends too.” Shuichi meant it. There was something about this man’s happy presence that did a lot to lift the heavy oppression he’d felt since entering the house that afternoon. Looking at Ryuichi’s beautiful face was like looking at the sun after a storm.

“Can I call you Ryu?’

“Sure! I’d like that.” Ryu turned to Tohma. “I like him!”

Tohma tussled Ryu’s hair. “I was sure you would. I think the two of you will get along well together.”

Shuichi smiled at all of them. “I’m pleased to meet you all.” He noticed that no extra place settings had been laid out.

“Won’t your wife be joining us?” he asked.

Tohma looked at him. “Wife?”

Shuichi blushed. “Oh, I’m terribly sorry. It’s just that I noticed you wear a wedding ring and I assumed…” He bowed his head. “Forgive my inquisitiveness.”

Tohma held up his hands. “Please, please, nothing to forgive. Anyone else would have made the same assumption.” He fingered the gold band on his left hand. “I don’t have a wife. This is a symbol of the bond I share with my companion, Eiri—Eiri Uesugi.”

“Uesugi?” I wonder if I could pray that the name is a coincidence and nothing that Mika and K said is true after all, Shuichi wondered to himself.

“Yes, he’s my brother,” answered Tatsuha, shattering Shu’s farfetched hope.

“He’s Tatsuha’s older brother. I hope my living arrangements aren’t a problem for you?” Tohma eyed Shuichi carefully.

“No, no!” Shuichi was quick to set him at ease. “I think it’s wonderful that two people can share a love that tradition and convention lie down for. It’s not really that uncommon though, is it?” Shu shook his head. “No, we should all be so lucky to find such a person to share our lives with.”

“Forgive my boldness, but do you have a companion?” asked Tohma.

Shuichi smiled somewhat sadly as he remembered his dream. “No, I don’t. I have several suitors which is a condition of being a performer more than anything else, but no one that I can truly call my own.” He sighed. “It feels like I’ve been looking forever for that someone who is waiting for me.”

Shuichi looked at the table sadly, missing Tohma’s quiet expression. Then he brightened. “But I can’t give up, can I? Even if it takes until the end of time, I’ll find them. And then when I do find them, I’ll head butt them! That’s how I say hello to everyone I like!”

Hiro laughed lightening the mood.

“Am I missing something?” asked Tatsuha

“Just a couple of cracked ribs. Nothing important.” Hiro winked at Shu.

“Well, Mr. Shindou, I have absolutely no doubt of your commitment to finding your true love. They say everyone has someone destined for them and I am certain that you do as well.” He raised his wine glass.

“To destined love!”

“Here, here!” Everyone took a sip of their sweet mulled wine.

“Unfortunately, my destined love is feeling a bit under the weather this evening and won’t be joining us.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Shuichi said.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Shindou. I am sure you’ll meet him before you leave. Don’t be offended though if when you see him, he doesn’t say much. He’s a bit shy around strangers.”

“That’s ok,” Shu replied, “I can talk enough for the both of us and everyone here too!”

Everyone laughed and leaving Shu feeling even more at ease.

“In the meantime, please.” Tohma pointed to the covered dishes that were set before them. “We don’t stand on ceremony here, so please help yourself. The servants head back to the town at sunset, so we’re left to fend for ourselves, I’m afraid.”

“That’s interesting.” Shuichi said, helping himself to some rice. “I would have thought a place as important as this would have round the clock servants.”

“I would,” replied Tohma, “except that I can’t get any help to stay the night. They’re all terribly superstitious of this place, what with my being in league with demons and all.”

Shuichi choked. “Demons?”

Tohma smiled at him over his glass. “Surely you’ve heard about the House of Seguchi pact with the King of Demons?”

“Well…I…” Shuichi was suddenly finding it hard to breathe.

“Oh yes,” Tohma continued, “my family and the devil go way back. In fact, I’ve invited him to dinner here tonight just to meet you. And there he is!!!”

“Oh My God!!!” Shuichi’s hair stood on end and he whipped around to look behind him.

There was no one there.

“That trick works every single time!” Tohma killed himself laughing, doubling over and holding his sides. “Oh! Mr. Shindou, you should have seen your face!!!” He hit the table hard, causing his dinnerware to jump.

Ryuichi laughed loudly. “Are you still scared Shu? Don’t worry, I’ll protect you!”

Shuichi blushed furiously. The rest of the table joined in and even he had to admit it was pretty funny and laughed as well. The knot he’d had in his chest since coming to the House of Seguchi disappeared and for the first time since arriving, Shu felt completely at ease.

They continued the rest of the meal in friendly conversation with the occasional jab at Shu’s gullibility. Shuichi had a good time.

*** ***

After dinner the group took their wine into the drawing room, located just across the hall from where they had dined.

The drawing room was the coziest Shuichi had seen yet in the house. While still large, the room had plush couch seating that was arranged in two sections--one grouped closely together meant to promote conversation and the other in a semi-circle around a large grand piano that was situated by one of the tall domed windows that lined one wall of the room. The room also included a large fireplace which had been lit and was burning brightly. Over the mantle was the House of Seguchi crest in all its glory. Mounted above two crossed swords, a shield contained a deep red lion rearing on its hind legs against a deep yellow field. Shuichi looked closer and found that the object that he hadn’t been able to make out in the lion’s mouth was a single white rose.

“Ah, I see you admiring the family standard.” Seguchi came up behind him.

“Yes, it’s quite…” Shuichi searched for a flattering word and came up with one from his trashy romance novel vocabulary “…regal.” While it did have a certain royal bearing, the rose in the lion’s mouth made him uncomfortable. Despite what he’d said to Mika and K, though he might not acknowledge the fact that he was Orishii, he was nonetheless and the stories, which he still thought were just that--stories, didn’t go a long way to encouraging him to promote his family heritage.

“Yes, it is,” agreed Seguchi, pleased. “Notice the colors? The burgundy, the gold and the white? Those are the same colors of roses that can be found on the property. Legend has it that those are the colors of roses the Orishii were famed for breeding. Did you know that the Orishii of legend were said to be master horticulturalists?”

“Yes, I believe it’s mentioned in the old wives tale you were talking about in the dining room.” Shuichi was beginning to squirm.

“Yes, that’s correct. Because of that tale, the House of Seguchi adopted the colors as our own. Kind of encouraging the mystique, you might say. No press is bad press, the saying goes, and the legend, while it does have its drawbacks, has gone a long way to helping the Seguchi family establish their position in the world today. I guess the saying is true then, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yes,” replied Shuichi, “it would certainly seem that way.” He was beginning to sweat.

“Oh my, are you feeling alright?” Tohma noticed the beads of perspiration peppering Shu’s face. “Let’s move away from the fireplace. While it may be almost summer, the evenings are still terribly cool and we still light the fireplaces at night.”

Tohma led Shuichi over to the couches by the piano where the others were already seated. Hiro sat on a couch alone and Ryu and Tatsuha sat together. Ryu was smiling at him and blinking sleepily.

“Will you sing us a song, Shu?”

“A marvelous idea. Won’t you grace us with a song, Mr. Shindou? If you’re not too tired that is.”

“No, I’d be delighted to.” Shuichi was grateful for the change of conversation. At least if he were singing he wouldn’t have to think about the legend, or K or Mika.

“Let me just run and get my music book from my room.”

Hiro stood. “Would you like me to go with you?”

“Oh no, I think I can find it,” Shu said. “If I’m not back in a few minutes, I’m sure someone will come looking for me.”

Hiro sat back down. “Yes…eventually.”

Shuichi hoped he was kidding. He left the room and backtracked his way back to the staircase which he bounded up to the second floor. After a second’s hesitation, he chose the correct hall and found himself at his bedroom door. Going inside, he quickly retrieved his music case from beneath the bed and pulled out his music books. After checking to make sure the envelope and the dagger were still there, he returned the case to its hiding place and left the room.

The feeling struck him immediately after he closed the door. Someone was watching him! He spun around to the left toward the staircase. Nothing. Whipping to the right, he caught the tail end of movement. Someone had been standing there!

“Hello?” he called out. He listened intently. He could just make out the soft sound of retreating footsteps. The footsteps stopped.

Shuichi called out again. “Hello?” Nothing.

Clutching his music books to him, he slowly moved down the hall toward the unseen visitor.

“My name is Shuichi. Were you looking for me?” Silence. He had almost reached the next bend in the hall. He could hear breathing just around the corner. Whoever it was was still standing there!

Shuichi crept closer, his heart racing. “I’m a singer…and…and…I’m Mr. Seguchi’s guest. I’m…uhh…about to give a performance downstairs in the drawing room. Won’t you join us?” Shuichi realized he was on the verge of babbling, but he didn’t know what else to say. What do you say to a ghost?

He reached the hall corner and stopped just shy of it. The footsteps took several steps backward.

“Please!” Shuichi cried out. “Don’t go!” The footsteps stopped. “I…I…just wanted to say…hello.” Silence.

“Uhh…well…hello then!” Shuichi laughed. This was ridiculous. He might as well be talking to thin air. “You know, if anyone comes by right now, they’re going to think I’ve gone mad. It looks like I’m standing here talking to myself. Won’t you come out and say hello and help me out? They don’t need to know that I really am insane until tomorrow!” Shuichi laughed again.

There was a soft sound and then…the footsteps took a step…forward! Then another. Shuichi was sure his mystery ghost could hear his heart beating--it was pounding so hard. The footsteps continued coming forward, slowly, but surely.

“I…” Shuichi’s voice caught as the footsteps reached the corner. The breathing was just an inch away…

“Mr. Uesugi?” Shu called softly.

“Shuichi! There you are!” Hiro called from the other end of the hall.

“I knew I should’ve come with you. Good thing I came when I did, it looks like you were trying to go and get yourself lost for real this time!”

Shuichi heard the quiet footsteps retreating rapidly down the hall. He turned the corner to find…no one.

“What are you looking at?” Hiro was standing right next to him, peering down the empty hallway.

“Nothing.” Shuichi kept looking, hoping his ghost would come back. It didn’t. He sagged in disappointment.

“Let’s go. Ryu’s trying to fall asleep on us and if we don’t hurry, he’ll miss all the fun.”

*** ***

An hour later, one song had turned into seven and everyone was having a good time. Ryu, who’d fallen asleep about 20 minutes into the concert was curled up on the couch beside Tatsuha with his head resting on Tatsuha’s lap. He was completely oblivious to the loud, raucous turn the performance had taken. Accompanied by Seguchi himself on the piano, the impromptu concert, fueled by flowing wine, had gotten livelier and louder by the minute until it had become an out and out jam session.

“Oh my, I haven’t played like that for a very long time,” Tohma said laughing. “This has been a most enjoyable evening.”

“Yes it has, thank you.” Shuichi was glad everyone was having a good time. For the past hour he too had been having fun. Downing much more wine than he was used to, the libations fired him up and eased his worries. He stood before the piano flushed with liquid contentment.

Seguchi flipped through Shuichi’s music book and selected another sheet.

“Just one more, Mr. Shindou and I promise I’ll let you get some sleep. I saw this one earlier and thought it looked very pretty. A fitting ending for this evening’s festivities.”

Shuichi looked over his shoulder and saw which song he was referring to.

“Oh, that one’s not finished yet. I’m still working on it.”

“Nonsense, it looks just fine. I would really like to hear it.”

“Yeah, Shuichi, go on.” Hiro clapped his agreement.

Tatsuha nodded his encouragement but didn’t move too much so he wouldn’t disturb Ryuichi who was still in a deep sleep on his lap.

“I couldn’t.” He didn’t want to tell them that that song was highly personal. It had come to him one night after his dream and he’d written it down, thinking perhaps one day he could sing it to his love when he finally materialized into reality. He had never intended to sing it for anyone else.

“Have some more wine.” Tohma tried to fill his glass from the decanter sitting on the piano.

“No thank you. I’m trying not to pass out as it is. I’ve no head for business and even less of one for drinking.”

Tohma laughed and in spite of Shu’s protests, started playing the music. Shuichi tried to sober up for the finale. He listened to the soft, sad notes Tohma was playing and felt them vibrate through him. The mood in the room instantly changed from rowdiness to one of sweet longing and hopefulness.

Tohma slowed for the intro and Shuichi, lit by the fireplace, lifted his head and sang slowly.

Take me for the rose I am…

Lay yourself in my bed again…

Showered and covered in petals of red…

Are you lonely?…

Are you lonely?…

Shuichi closed his eyes and thought of his dream and how lonely it always left him. To know that he was still as alone when he opened his eyes as he was when he closed them. To know that though he had friends and admirers, he was alone in the truest sense of the word. It left him with an aching so tangible that it hurt. Would it ever cease? Or was he destined to be alone forever, wondering what it was that he was missing. To never know the warmth of true love’s embrace. To never hear the words he heard over and over in his dreams. He didn’t want to live in this world for the rest of his days with only his shadow beside him.

Blame me for the thorns my friend…

Does the pain outweigh the blessing?…

Showered and covered in petals of red…

Are you lonely?…

Are you lonely?…

He opened his eyes and looked at Hiro. A measure of sadness filled the man’s eyes. Are you thinking of your sword master, Hiro? Do you remember him? Is the story K told me true? Were you once happy and now spend your captive days filled with longing for a love that you can only remember that you once had? Do you hold out hope against hope that one day you will see him again? What would you do if you saw him again? Would you weep? Would you kiss him? Would you fall to your knees and thank the gods or would you stand there, afraid to move, afraid to call his name, afraid to touch him because like your hope now, the sight of him standing before you might be fleeting like a misty mirage that falls apart when you come too near? Behind that false smile, is it pain that I see?

Whoa…go slow…

Whoa…and I will cover you…

Whoa…go slow…

But you left me high and wild…

You left me high…

He looked at Tatsuha, who was looking down at Ryuichi sleeping in his lap. He softly caressed the hair that had fallen over his face.

Do you find happiness even here, Tatsuha? In this big, empty place? Do you find it in Ryuichi? Is he the rose among your thorns? Is he making your forced solace, your captivity bearable? Is it love that moves you to caress his face so gently like that? Is it comfort that you give? Or is it comfort that you receive? If you were free would you still stand beside him, let him sleep on your lap, love him? If you could, would you rescue your prince from this ivory tower and take him to a land far away where roses don’t grow? Would you go with him Ryu? Laughing and smiling, hand in hand, to a land where you could be happy and time would stand still when he looked at you and the sun would shine when you looked at him?

Whoa…go slow…

Whoa…and I will cover you…

Whoa…go slow…

But you left me high and wild…

You left me high and wild…

See, you left me high…

Where are you Eiri Uesugi? Was it you that wanted to speak to me tonight? Or are you like my dream lover—just a figment of my imagination? Are you truly Tohma’s companion? Are you happy, are you in love? Or do you need rescuing too? Why do I wonder so ardently when I have never even seen your face? Why do I care so deeply when I’ve never even heard your voice? Why did my heart leap knowing you were so near? Are you thinking of me too? If given the chance, would you try to speak to me again? What would you say? Would it be what I wanted to hear?

Take me for the rose I am…

Lay yourself in my bed again…

Showered and covered in petals of red…

Tohma finished the final notes and let them hang in the air. Hiro looked away. Tatsuha kept his eyes on Ryu. Tohma stared at the music.

“I…I should be going to bed. Thank you all for a wonderful evening.” Shuichi turned to leave so the others wouldn’t see the tears about to fall.

“Mr. Shindou?”

Shuichi turned.

“That was beautiful. I truly understand why you didn’t want to sing this song tonight. I am sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable.”

Shuichi smiled and bowed.

Tohma stood and returned the favor. He walked with Shuichi to the door.

“Do you need an escort?”

“No, I’ll be fine. Goodnight, Mr. Seguchi.”

“Goodnight, Mr. Shindou.”

Tohma opened the door and stood in the hallway watching Shuichi leave. As soon as Shu rounded the corner, a small sound floated from further down the hall.

“So, I see you decided to join us after all.” A man stepped into the hallway from the shadows.

“Too bad you missed this evening’s festivities.” The man walked toward him. “Or did you?”

The man stood silently in front of Tohma.

“No matter,” said Tohma, “the night is still young.”

*** ***

…Shuichi…Shuichi…I love you Shuichi… A full moon, a starry night sky, a shower of rose petals, hands reaching for him, the mist evaporating and the figure becoming solid…

Shuichi awakened with a gasp. Hands! He’d seen hands this time. They were reaching for him. To embrace him, he was sure. He sat up, his heart pounding. It was farther than he’d ever gotten in the dream. And something else…it was so real, not the usual mist enshrouded scene, but bright and clear like he was awake and there living it. He closed his eyes and tried to recall details. He’d been able to hear summer night crickets. He’d been able to hear something like water in the background. And…and the hands… so real…

He reached for his book to write the details before they escaped him, but it wasn’t where he usually kept it on the night table.

He scrambled out of bed and dove under it, fetching his music case. The book wasn’t there either.

Where was it???

Then he remembered. He’d left it in the drawing room. He’d been so unsettled by the song that he’d left his sheet music and lyrics book on the piano when he’d left.

He looked around for paper in the room. Not finding any, he wrapped himself in his robe and hoped no one would see him creeping around this late. The mantle clock told him it was 2 am. Hopefully everyone was asleep at this hour.

Closing the door behind him quietly, Shuichi was relieved to see that the hallway sconces were still lit. Praying he wouldn’t get lost, he found his way to the stairs, down to the main floor and to the drawing room hallway.

This hallway was lit as well and as he drew nearer the drawing room door, he could hear voices inside.

Oh no! thought Shuichi. I can’t get my book dressed like this if there are people still in there. As he stood there debating what to do, he heard more than one voice coming from inside.

Don’t these people ever sleep? he wondered.

Someone called out. Shu felt drawn to the door, even though he knew he shouldn’t be eavesdropping. He stopped just beside the door and peered through the crack of an opening someone had left.

The light from the fireplace fell across his eye and painted a stripe down the side of his face as he scanned the room. It seemed that everyone had moved from the couches by the piano and were seated on the conversation couches near the door.

It only took a second for Shuichi to quickly realize that “seated” wasn’t the correct word at all.

On one couch, Hiro and Tatsuha were caught up intimately. Tatsuha was kissing Hiro deeply while his hand ran a red rose over Hiro’s exposed nipples, courtesy of the unbuttoned shirt that he wore under his now discarded waistcoat. Tatsuha’s mouth left Hiro’s and began licking a trail down his neck. He nipped and sucked then suddenly bit down hard into the soft flesh on the side of Hiro’s neck, causing him to go rigid and blink rapidly with pain. Hiro clenched his teeth and looked down at Tatsuha who was heading for his nipples. He grabbed Tatsuha’s head, pulled him back up and began kissing him hard. Tatsuha dropped the rose and clung to him. He didn’t resist when Hiro left his mouth and returned the favor, clamping down on the side of his neck with painful ferocity.

“Ah!” Tatsuha cried out with the contact. Hiro held Tatsuha’s head near his own, looking into his eyes. They kissed deeply, softly, this time and began nuzzling each other’s neck and ears, whispering softly and moaning in passion.

Tatsuha continued to lick and tease Hiro’s neck while his hands began working Hiro’s erection. Tatsuha stroked him up and down rapidly.

“Mmmm…” Shuichi could hear Hiro’s groans over Tatsuha’s own whimpers. Hiro was returning the favor, working Tatsuha with his own hands, even as Tatsuha worked him. Together they moved and writhed on the couch, pulling, kissing, whispering softly and moving each other in a hot tangle.

Shuichi was stunned. He wanted to scream out. He wanted to run away. He did neither. He continued to watch even as he felt himself become aroused by what he was witnessing. He heard his own breath quicken and become noisily shallow, echoing in the hallway. He mashed a hand over his mouth to quiet the noise.

Not seeing Ryu, Shu looked around. A few couches to the right of Hiro and Tatsuha, Shuichi could see Tohma watching them. Or trying to. He too was breathing rapidly, his chest rising and falling hard and fast to some unseen rhythm. His head fell back against the back of the couch as he gave in to…

Shuichi looked down. There was someone else in the room. He looked closer. Someone was kneeling on the floor between Tohma’s legs. A blonde head bobbed up and down in a tight rhythm, pleasuring Tohma, causing the head of Seguchi House to clutch at the cushions and breathe out loud.

“Eiri…Eiri…” Tohma began panting and thrusting back into the blonde’s mouth.

“Ahh, ahh….harder!” The blonde complied, moving faster, following suction with manual stroking. Faster and faster the two moved, harder and harder the blonde worked, deeper and deeper Tohma thrust into his mouth.

Tohma lifted his head to continue watching the activity between Hiro and Tatusha who were now positioning themselves for insertion.

Shuichi could see Tohma trying to focus, but it wasn’t working. His eyes kept sliding back down to the top of the blonde’s head.

He began to shake. He closed his eyes and pumped faster, guiding the blonde’s head from the back to slide further and further down his erection. Further, faster, harder, deeper, Tohma suddenly threw his head back and thrust all the way up, nearly lifting the blonde off his knees.

“Ahhhh! Eiri!!! Eiri!!!” He held the blonde in place as he ejected himself into his man’s mouth, cumming in bodily jerks and shudders that wracked his whole being.

Tohma went limp and fell back against the couch, sweaty and exhausted. The blonde got up and sat beside him. Tohma leaned over and kissed him deeply.

“Who do you love?” Shuichi heard him ask.

Shuichi couldn’t see the blonde well, but he clearly heard his reply.

“I love you.”

“How much do you love me?” Tohma asked.

“With my whole heart.”

Tohma hugged the blonde to him and the two went back to watching Tatsuha mount Hiro from behind and begin pumping his own erection into him.

Shuichi watched as the two men with whom he’d had such a good time just hours earlier that evening, grunted and groaned like animals, while Tatsuha worked his man thoroughly. They continued for several long moments with Hiro milking himself rapidly and Tatsuha taking Hiro from behind, pounding into him over and over, rubbing the rose over Hiro’s back beneath his pushed up shirt until Tatsuha himself went rigid and collapsed on top of Hiro. The two of them fell onto the couch and out of Shu’s sight. He could hear them whispering to each other softly.

Shuichi slid his eyes back to Tohma and instantly stopped breathing. Tohma was looking directly at him through the crack in the door!

Shuichi froze. Can he really see me? Does he know I’m here?

And as if in answer to his frantic thoughts, Tohma slowly smiled.

Shuichi gasped and scrambled away from the door, down the hall and back up the stairs to his room, with Tohma’s laughter echoing in the halls behind him.

*** ***

End Chapter 3: The First Night’s Concert

Author’s Note:

The sad song used in this chapter is called “Yeneh Ababa (Rose)” and it’s by Kenna. It can be found on his “New Sacred Cow” album. I don’t own it in any way shape or form. If you’re not familiar with it, Towerrecords.com has a nice snippet of it available.
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The Rose Line