To The End

Disclaimer: I don’t own Gravitation or any of its characters. Gravitation belongs to Maki Murakami, I’m only borrowing them temporarily for entertainment purposes. I don’t make money off this. I just love the characters and enjoy writing.

A/N: Here\'s where things start getting better as far as my writing goes, I think. Thank goodness for good beta\'s.

Reviews:

DivinePunishment: This story is already written. So you\'ll be getting plenty of chapters. Probably one a day unless I get too busy.


drake220: I agree, I think you\'ll like what goes on with Shuichi in this fic.


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Tomorrow’s Gonna Be Another Day
Week 3
Day 14 without Eiri

Shuichi sighed softly as he pushed his song lyrics towards Hiro. He had actually managed to write a few songs, despite his current situation. The bottom page contained the lyrics that gave him the most anxiety. The lyrics were so raw; they exposed him so openly that he feared Hiro would hate the song, and that might tear Shuichi apart.

Shuichi watched as Hiro read through the pages. He studied his best friend’s reaction carefully. He was relieved by Hiro’s voice. “Sakano-san will be pleased that we can proceed.”

“What about you? Do you like them?” The singer asked tentatively.

“Yes, I do. It looks like you really put a lot of thought into them.”

“I’ve had a lot of spare time and I’m alone with my thoughts. Maybe that’s it. Maybe I was just bored. I completely rewrote one of them.”

“I can definitely tell what mood you were in when you wrote them. Confident, hopeful, lonely, sad, it’s definitely a different route for us on some of these, compared to the happy rock songs we normally do”

Shuichi frowned as he took the sheets back. “Just say you don’t like them if you don’t, Hiro.”

Hiro looked stunned but relaxed and laughed softly. “No need to be defensive, Shuichi. I like them, especially this one.” Hiro held up the one sheet the singer had not managed to crumble into a pile.

Shuichi grabbed the paper from Hiro and looked down onto the words. It was the song he had been most nervous about. He blinked, staying quiet.

“You really let yourself out on that one. I really felt the emotion in it and I think I understand you more.”

“Hiro?” Shuichi looked up, stunned at his friend’s words.

“Come on, break’s over. We need to head back to the studio before Sakano-san blows his top. At least he’ll be happy we can finish the album now.”

“Yeah,” Shuichi replied, as he pushed his chair back and stood. “Suguru will be happy, too, since he can start on the arrangements for the new songs.”

“He will, and we can put this album in the can. It’ll be good to be done in the studio and do the tours and videos again.”

Shuichi nodded as the two walked silently down the hall. They had almost made it to the recording studio before they were shouted at from behind.

“Shuichi!” the voice rang out as its owner bowled into Shuichi.

“Sakuma-san,” Shuichi replied surprise.

Hiro smiled. “I’ll take this to Sakano-san. Try not to be too long. I’m sure Suguru will have something ready in no time.”

“Thanks, Hiro,” Shuichi replied, as he watched his band mate disappear behind the door.

“Shuichi! K told me you were looking for me!” Ryuichi sang.

“K?” Shuichi blinked a bit confused as he stood and brushed himself off. “Oh yeah, I wanted to ask you something, Sakuma-san.”

“Shuichi.” Ryuichi frowned. “I told you to call me Ryuichi or Ryu. We’re friends, right?”

Shuichi blushed. “Yes, of course we are. I’m sorry, Ryuichi. I’m still getting use to that.”

The brown haired man bounced back up, his frown forgotten. “That’s okay. What did you want to ask?”

Shuichi shifted his weight slightly to his left foot. “You remember Tatsuha, right?”

“Tatsuha. Tatsuha. Tatsuha,” the other man sang as he appeared to search his memory.

“He took you to the zoo and you guys got to dress up, remember?”

“Oh yes, Tatsuha. I remember him, of course. Na no da! He was cute Mr. Bear and I was a rabbit!” Ryuichi said as he proceeded to make a face that was suppose to be that of a rabbit and he hopped around Shuichi.

“Well, I was wondering if you’d like to see him again.” Shuichi laughed, watching the other man bounce around him wildly.

“Oh yes! He was so much fun. We could dress up and go to the zoo again, maybe.”

“Well you could and maybe it could be sort of a date.”

“A date?” Ryuichi blinked. “But I’m not supposed to go on any dates. Tohma said that someone might try to take advantage of me if I went on a date. I don’t understand why, but Tohma is smart.”

“Well, I’ll go to make sure he behaves himself. That way you could go and have fun and maybe get to know him more. Nothing will happen that you don’t want to because I’ll be there and Tohma should be okay with that,” Shuichi suggested.

“Oh really? I get to go on a date and see you, too? That’d be wonderful!” Ryuichi said, as he danced around and hummed. He stopped suddenly deep in thought. “But Shuichi….”

“Yes, Ryuichi?”

“Tatsuha is a guy. Shouldn’t I go on a date with a girl?”

Shuichi sighed. He knew the conversation had been too easy so far. “Well, that depends on if you like girls or guys. If you like girls, you can go on dates with girls but if you like boys, you can date boys.”

“You mean like you date Eiri-san? You like boys, right, Shuichi?”

The words struck Shuichi. It had not been until he met Eiri that he had realized that he had feelings for men rather than women. He had never said it out loud before and though it was the truth, it seemed a little strange to even hear it said. He sighed softly, “Yes, like me.”

Ryuichi smiled as his face grew more serious. His voice grew deeper and he leaned over to Shuichi to whisper, “I was just giving you a hard time, Shuichi. You don’t have to worry. I like boys too, I just haven’t found the right one yet.”

Shuichi felt himself shudder. His eyes widened and he looked to Ryuichi, who only gave him a smirk before the older man’s face softened into a childish grin.

“When can we go?” Ryuichi asked excitedly.

“Uhm… when’s your next day off?”

“Mmmmmm……” the brown haired man stretched the sound out into a hum. “On Saturday! Na no da! Yes, Saturday, we can go then.”

Shuichi smiled. He didn’t have to work on Saturday either, so that would work out perfectly. “I just have to make sure Tatsuha can make it, but I don’t think that will be a problem.”

“Oh yay! This is the best day. You’re the greatest, Shuichi!” Ryuichi said as he gave the smaller singer a bear hug.

“You’re welcome,” Shuichi squeaked.

Ryuichi let him go. “I need to get back before Tohma gets mad for me being late again. Will you let me know if zoo time on Saturday is good?”

“I will. I’ll give you a call tonight.”

Shuichi smiled as Ryuichi skipped off. He watched the elder singer pause momentarily, his stature straightened and he looked over his shoulder. Ryuichi’s dark hair fell into his face and his expression grew serious and sultry. “I’ll talk to you later then, Shuichi.” The older man turned, the smirk still stuck to his face as he turned the corner.

Shuichi stood paralyzed for a moment, until he heard Ryuichi’s childish “na no da’s” ring through the halls. He laughed at himself, thinking that Tatsuha might have more than he bargained for. With that thought, Shuichi let himself into the studio.

Time passed quickly for the rest of the day. Bad Luck had worked on the new arrangements and everyone in the studio seemed very happy that Shuichi had written the songs that they needed to finish the album. Even Sakano-san seemed to be in the best of moods.

Shuichi raced home. He felt great about his day and that he had accomplished so much in the studio that afternoon.

He quickly opened the door to the apartment, dropped his bag, took his shoes off and shouted loudly, “Eiri! I’m home.”

He raced through the house. “Today was so amazing. Everyone was so happy…” The singer raced through every room before stopping in the middle of the bedroom.

Shuichi sighed remembering that Eiri was gone. He had been so caught up in his good day that he had forgotten that Eiri wasn’t there to greet him, or to gripe at him.

The pink haired man’s knees grew weak, dropping him hard to the floor. His body heaved. It never failed that on his good days, the loneliness seemed to hit hardest. He could handle the emptiness on a bad day because it was easier to be pissed off at his partner for his absence, but on a good day he didn’t want to be mad. Shuichi wanted to tell Eiri about his day and curl up in the writer’s arms.

Tears slid down pale cheeks. Being alone didn’t get any easier. It was actually getting harder to come home to the empty apartment. Shuichi had even thought about taking a “how to” workshop just to avoid being alone at home for any longer than absolutely necessary.

Shuichi shuddered. It had been 14 days, 12 hours and 32 minutes since he had seen or even heard, from his beloved. His heart felt heavy and he wasn’t sure how much longer he would be able to stay strong.

Shuichi rubbed away tears with the back of his orange sleeve. He would find the strength somehow. A little longer, he told himself. He just needed to hold on a little longer and Eiri would come back home, making everything right, once again.

Shuichi found some strength to stand up and dragged himself to the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator door. Inside was some week old take out, three beers and something that looked like it was trying to create life.

He wrinkled his nose in disgust, knowing he really needed to shop, but he didn’t feel like it. The singer made a mental note to go to the grocery store tomorrow.

Shuichi remembered he had to make some calls. He closed the door and picked up the cordless phone next to the refrigerator. He dialed Tatsuha’s number.

“Hello?” Tatsuha answered.

Shuichi was glad he answered as the singer really had no desire to talk to Tatsuha’s usually grumpy father. “Tatsuha, it’s Shuichi.”

“Oh, hello. How are you? Is everything alright?”

“Yes, everything is fine. I just wanted to let you know that Ryuichi will be here on Saturday. The three of can go to go to the zoo.”

There was silence on the other end of the phone. “Tatsuha?” Shuichi asked after a moment of dead air.

“You’re joking, right?”

“No, I’m not. I’m sorry I have to go, too, but Ryuichi was convinced that Tohma wouldn’t allow it any other way.”

“You’re not joking, are you?” Tatsuha asked in a monotone voice.

“Tatsuha…. I’m sorry; it’s all I could do. I wanted to do this, but it’s the only way I could figure it out.”

There was another long pause before Tatsuha finally spoke. “You’re the best ever, Shuichi! I can’t believe it! Did Ryuichi seem excited?”

“Uhm…” Shuichi stumbled, thrown by the reaction. “Yeah, he seamed really happy. You don’t mind if I go, do you?”

“Of course not! I get to go out with my Ryu. That’s what matters and I’d do anything to have that.”

Shuichi smiled as a wave a relief hit him. “Good. Then be here on Saturday at ten a.m.”

“You got it, oh, and, Shuichi. I really owe you.”

“Don’t worry about it; I’ll see you in a few days.”

“Good night, Shuichi.”

“See you soon,” Shuichi replied, then he hung up. He felt a little better. Tatsuha, Ryuichi and everyone at work seemed to be happy.

Shuichi picked up the phone again. One more call and then he would spend the rest of the night in bed. He dialed Ryuichi’s number but only got the answering machine. He left a message telling the older singer that Saturday was confirmed, before he hung up.

Shuichi sighed again, shuffling his feet down the hall. The pink haired man was tired; maybe an early night would be good for him. After all, he thought, tomorrow was another day. Absolutely anything could happen in the new day.