Unchained Memories *complete*

Author: JadeHeart
Fandom: Gravitation
Warnings: none
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this, apart from Jim Harris and Kerryn Middleton, they belong to the creators of ‘Gravitation’.


Unchained Memories: Chapter 4


“Boy, am I glad that’s over!” Noriko slumped over the table, pig-tailed head connecting with the wood with an audible thump.

Tohma looked on sympathetically, he too felt just as drained although he had managed to still remain seated upright. Dealing with the demands of putting their next tour together with the multitude of meetings with all the various groupings that they were forced to negotiate with, including the financial backers who were attempting to squeeze every drop of blood, not to mention money, out of Nittle Grasper, was like facing a horde of piranhas armed only with a plastic knife. Fortunately for them, Nittle Grasper was generally able to come out alive – though it was debatable at times whether it was in one piece.

Noriko shifted her head slightly so she could look across at him although her head still didn’t leave the table top. “You must be exhausted also,” she said in a tired voice. He was the main spokesman of the group as they had soon discovered that his ability to maintain a calm façade, no matter what was said, was the best way to combat the deliberate manipulations they were often faced with. With the inability to get any other reaction apart from a serene look and even words from him, the circling vultures would eventually fold before the silent onslaught and settlement could be attained, usually in their favour. However, maintaining that even-temperament tired him as well.

“Hah!”

Tohma turned his head to look over at Ryuichi where he sat, sprawled over two chairs pulled together, to see a feral grin was plastered over his face and a glint in his eye that didn’t bode well for someone.

“I’m going to go see them out!” Ryuichi declared loudly, as his feet hit the floor with a loud slap and then, with a jaunty wave, he disappeared out the door leaving Tohma and Noriko just looking after him, listening to the sound of his running footsteps fade quickly.

“Do you really think you should let him go?” Noriko asked after a moment, still eyeing Tohma from her prone position.

Tohma could only dredge up the energy to raise an eyebrow at her question - to shrug would have required too much effort. “Do you think I could have stopped him?”

Noriko considered this for a moment. “Well, you probably could, if you really tried,” she began.

“But when he gets like this it is far easier just to let him go.” Tohma finished. “Besides, he can’t do any harm.”

“Only scare the pants off them!” Noriko grimaced. “One day that manic act he pulls is really going to get him in trouble!”

“Possibly,” Tohma replied, “But you know it’s not all an act. He’s just a little more….highly strung than most people.”

Noriko let out a deep sigh, managing to get her chin nestled on her crossed arms now. “I know. I swear he’s got to have ADDH the way he sometimes bounces off the walls!”

“Goes with the genius,” Tohma stated.

“Genius, shmenius!” Noriko snorted. “He’s just a moron!”

Tohma smiled fondly at her. “But a talented moron - and you love him all the same.”

She rolled her eyes and let out another long-suffering sigh. “Yeah, I do. He’s the most charming, sweet guy I know – other than yourself,” Tohma inclined his head in acceptance of the compliment. “But when he gets all stupid he really drives me nuts!”

“You know he does it deliberately,” Tohma said with a smile.

“Yeah, I know!” Noriko complained, raking one hand through the hair falling over her face and dragging it back, “And I try not to re-act but he just knows exactly what buttons to push.” Another sigh. “Sometimes I’m scared he’s going to do something so stupid he’ll put himself in danger, not to mention everyone else!”

“I wouldn’t worry too much,” Tohma replied, leaning back in his chair a little more. “He’s far too clever to do that, no matter what frame of mind he’s in.”

“Hmph!” Noriko didn’t sound convinced.

There was further silence between them for a moment, the ticking of the wall-mounted clock loud in the background.

“Do you think we should go rescue them?” Noriko finally asked, referring to their recently departed business associates.

“Oh, I don’t think so,” Tohma said quietly, making no move to shift from his position.

Noriko continued to eye him, also not having moved. “You’re evil,” she stated bluntly.

Tohma just let his smile deepen.

“Aw, I suppose you’re right. It’d be too late anyway.”

Further silence.

“We probably should go and help them, you know,” Noriko made the effort to speak again.

“Yes, I suppose we really should,” Tohma agreed this time, although definitely reluctantly.

More silence.

“I can’t move,” Noriko finally said. “I’m just too damn tired.”

“Hmm,” was Tohma’s response. “We don’t want to strain ourselves just before the tour. Best that we conserve our strength.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Best we just stay here.”

Neither smiled nor commented on the mischievous glint mirrored in each others’ eyes.

***************

Tohma swirled the last of the orange juice around, watching it spiral up the sides, colouring the clear glass in his hand. He lifted his head and gazed over the crowd milling before him. It was quite a gathering tonight with more people attending than previously. This was something that he had noted over time. Each time they held one of these promotional parties to launch Nittle Grasper’s next tour the numbers of attendees were increasing. That was a very good sign of their acceptance and standing now in both this industry and also in this country. He couldn’t help but feel pride in their accomplishments for that. They had all worked hard to make Nittle Grasper what it was today and they were definitely the ‘rising stars’ in the pop world at present.

He looked over the crowd with a clear and discerning eye, carefully cataloguing everyone that he laid eyes on, even if he didn’t know who they were. He was very observant naturally and had learnt to be able to ‘read between the lines’ you could say, taking note of body language, dress style, speech mannerisms, all the little things that could tell him so much more about a person than merely knowing their name and business. He made it a point of doing just this at all functions he attended, finding a secluded spot just as he had now to begin his classifications without interruptions.

He lifted his glass to his lips, taking a small sip. It was a little too warm in the room for his taste, a studied maneuver to ensure that the guests were always thirsty and liable to consume more drink. The cost of supplying said drink was not an issue. It was the results and possible benefits that might be obtained from that cost that was being counted.

There was no alcohol mixed in his drink, though he would never indicate that to anyone else. He never attended these functions without ensuring he remained clear-headed at all times, a close call from his first such party had convinced him of the importance of that. He had since secured more than one deal or tidbit of critical information at such soirees from other people who were not so shrewd. If the signature had been obtained, usually with witnesses, there was no recourse later for a plea of an inebriated state to save them. So although he didn’t particular like these events, finding them lengthy, tiring and quite often boring most of the time, he did recognise them as a necessary evil. So if he had to dance with the devil, he would do the leading.

He swirled the drink around again in his glass, before taking the final swallow. It was time to make another round of the floor, he thought, stepping away from his private nook to mingle with the masses.

Firstly he made his way to the bar and discreetly topped up his juice once more, being certain that no-one was noticing that he was not adding anything alcoholic. The bar staff were all discreet and made no attempt to offer him anything additional, being too well aware of who he was and that he was also responsible for their salary to even think of supplying such information to other guests, so he knew he was perfectly safe on that front.

He left the bar to sidle into the edge of the crowd closest to him, full glass firmly in hand. He had soon come to release that if you approached anyone with an empty or no glass, you were immediately subjected to being forced to consume whatever beverage they foisted on you. He had learnt that the hard way right at the start, as people attempted to send the young new musician into his cups to see what they could get out of him, or just for laughs. To combat that, now he always made certain to carry a full glass of something, preferably a drink that was fairly nondescript that people could just assume did have an alcoholic content.

Of course, that meant he could pull the same trick if they had no drink and ply the other person with enough alcohol which frequently loosened the tongue. He was not averse to using such a deception with the aim to gaining some advantage if need be. It was a cut throat world, especially in this industry. It was eat or be eaten.

Slowly he worked the room with a now practiced ease, stopping only when he wished to, to speak with people who he felt he could glean something from or who were worth being seen with to further promote Nittle Grasper; bestowing a smile or nod to those he felt provided nothing of benefit to him at this stage.

It wasn’t like he knew everyone here by any means, although most would recognize him as being one of the members of Nittle Grasper. He had some say in who to invite to such affairs and he was gratified to know that the majority of those on his ‘critical list’, those who were the ‘must be’s’, had accepted and were present. That boded well for their standing in the industry. The rest of the guests were made up from general promotions put out by their marketing people. Some were the high-flyers of today’s world, and not just from New York or even the USA. Some were from this industry, some from civil businesses, some even from the government or community groups. It was all advertising; purely and simply.

He had navigated his way through the mass and reached his original position once more, having passed Noriko and Ryuichi amongst the crowd. Noriko was surrounded by a bevy of male beauties, and some not so beautiful, usually dependent upon age. However, Tohma had seen Tetsuya Ukai hovering unnoticed on the fringe of the group, completely ignored by all those crowding around his pretty female bandmate. Once again Tetsuya had escorted Noriko to this event although no-one else, including the media, was making much of it.

They had met the older man when he had been over on a previous visit, finding them both as guests on a daily morning chat show broadcast on national TV. Tetsuya had been there as a guest judge for a cooking competition in New York, whilst Nittle Grasper was promoting their latest album. Tohma had found him quietly spoken and pleasant enough, although he seemed to have a very odd sense of humour at times. Ryuichi had just said he was weird - and coming from Ryu that statement spoke volumes.

Noriko, however, had taken a liking to him immediately and seemed to find him amusing and was completely at ease with the man. Tohma knew that since that initial meeting, they had frequently been in touch and Tetsuya had made more than one visit to the States to spend time with Noriko.

However no-one else seemed to even contemplate the idea that the vibrant young Noriko could ever be romantically involved with such an elderly, graying, staid professor as Tetsuya Ukai. Noriko had once said (when Tohma had tried to discreetly enquire as to her attentions) with a shrug, ‘He needs someone to look after him,’ and left it at that.

Perhaps that was it, he mused, watching Noriko throw back her head and laugh loudly. He saw Tetsuya’s mouth stretch into a matching smile before it quickly disappeared again. Perhaps Noriko was happy to have someone she could mother. Goodness knows she tried to do so to both he and Ryuichi all the time.

He turned his head, taking his eyes from Noriko’s bright countenance to search for a dark head flitting amongst the crowd. Ah, there he was, as he spotted Ryuichi with his own entourage. His other friend looked happy, almost ecstatic. Hmm, he might have to just go and see what Ryu was drinking. He didn’t hold his alcohol well, only in the sense that he lost what few inhibitions he had, and Tohma had to constantly be prepared to run damage control if Ryuichi and alcohol were mixed too liberally. In those circumstances the guests were liable to be shaken, not stirred, by the resulting chaos.

He watched carefully then decided to leave it a little longer. Ryu didn’t seem too far gone at the moment. As though hearing his thoughts he saw Ryu’s head swivel in his direction. Their eyes locked and Ryu’s smile broadened as he held up the glass clasped in his hand whilst his other formed the letter ‘c’.

Ah, he’s drinking cola at the moment. Tohma felt a surge of relief. Ryu also obviously didn’t want to cause a scene that might disrupt the start of their tour. They had certainly had enough mixed publicity over the past few months, they really didn’t need any more. So Ryuichi was for once playing safe, though that wasn’t to say he hadn’t been drinking alcohol earlier or perhaps wouldn’t later. Still, at this point in time, Tohma didn’t feel that he needed to worry.

“Do you always do an impersonation of a wall flower?” a voice said with humour.

Tohma turned to see who had approached unnoticed and felt a start of surprise, followed immediately by an irrational spurt of trepidation which he quelled.

“You probably don’t remember….” the man continued, when Tohma interrupted him.
“Mr. Harris, I believe you said.”

The man smiled broadly, “Well, well, you do remember! Does this mean that I made such a lasting impression on you? Was it my amazing good looks, or my witty conversation?”

“Neither,” Tohma answered honestly in a completely neutral voice.

Jim Harris seemed to take no offense, just continued to smile. “Yet you still remembered me,” he insisted.

“The circumstances under which we met were….exceptional enough to have provided a fairly lasting experience. At least for the moment.”

“Ain’t that the truth!”

Tohma looked the man up and down, his mind ticking over rapidly. Why was this man here? He hadn’t been on the guest list, he was certain of that. At least not his list! And he hardly thought either Noriko or Ryuichi would have included him!

He hadn’t spoken to Jim Harris since that dreadful night, now thankfully a few months in the past. He had seen him in the distance briefly during the inquest held over the deaths, but there had been no need for further contact between the two of them. The few follow-up queries that had been directed to him in the preceding weeks leading up to the inquest had been with other enforcement officers; Jim Harris hadn’t put in another appearance again. He had thought it was finally all over, and he could now move on. He couldn’t help but worry about this man’s manifestation here tonight.

“So, Mr. Harris, what brings you out tonight?” he asked calmly, raising his glass to his lips to moisten his dry throat.

“Jim,” The man said, moving to stand directly next to Tohma and leaning back against the wall, looking completely relaxed. “Call me Jim.”

“Very well,” Tohma accepted. “Jim,”

“That’s better,” He flashed a smile at Tohma. “Now at least we can pretend we’re friends!”

“Hardly that.” Tohma responded blandly.

Jim just chuckled. “Hey, stranger things have happened. You just never know!” He eyed Tohma, a smile still on his face yet his gaze now turned serious. “I see it all worked out the way that you predicted.”

Tohma raised an eyebrow delicately, “And just what are you referring to?”

“The publicity. And how you would be able to make it work for you instead of against you.” was Jim’s steady reply.

There had been media attention after that incident. How could there not be? Not when it involved himself, a fairly well-known pop idol in a popular band, with the link to drugs. There were plenty of paparazzi who monitored the police scanners in the hope of picking up just such a juicy tidbit of information or those who had the right contacts, sometimes for a price, in the police stations themselves. The information had hit the newspapers that very morning, so even whilst he had been subjected to the intense all-night questioning, the news was already going to print.

Upon seeing it, they had all gone into major damage control. Noriko and Ryuichi maintained a consolidated front by his side for the press, and not just the press but also the police. He didn’t know what he would have done without them during that time. They had helped keep in sane. As a team they managed to steer every intrusive press coverage to their advantage, playing on the fact of how terrible it had been for Tohma to be subjected to this scrutiny, that such a young man like Kitazawa had seen fit to throw his life away due to drugs, even managing to remind everyone that the real danger would have been to a young juvenile if he had still been around and it was only a happy coincidence that had placed Eiri far from harm. That angle had proved to be the turning point for them in the situation. Nittle Grasper actually became the ‘poster people’ for various anti-drug campaigns and they had attended more than one event in this time leading up to the start of their tour.

So, yes, it had worked in their favour. But the whole thing had left a very bad taste in Tohma’s mouth and a slimy feeling over his skin when ever he thought about how they had played things. He didn’t need any reminders of that time now.

“Just why are you here?” Tohma asked again.

Jim held up his hands in a gesture of peace. “Don’t stress, I’m not here on business. This is purely personal.”

“Personal?” Tohma wasn’t believing that for a minute.

“Yeah. Remember I told you my fiancée’s a big fan of yours? Well, when the Commissioner had a few invitations sent for this little event, my Chief managed to wheedle a couple my way.” Jim grimaced then. “Don’t think he didn’t squeeze his pound of flesh out of me for them either! It’s like making a deal with the devil, but better that than having to face Kerryn and tell her I didn’t get them!”

“Kerryn?”

“Yup!” Jim’s face was smiling broadly and his eyes fixed on someone in the crowd. “See that hot chick in the blue dress? That’s my baby,”

Tohma followed his line of sight and identified the woman in question. He had to admit she was attractive but no more so than many other of the females attending that evening. She wasn’t particularly tall, he would say she was even shorter than himself, with a full figure. If anything she appeared to lean a little towards the more ‘curvaceous’ side, although Tohma would probably have initially said ‘cuddly’. Her blonde hair was simple and stylish, nothing extraordinary, and framed her elfin features, falling to just brush the tops of her shoulders.

He saw her glancing through the crowd and when her eyes alighted upon the man at his side, he could see her expression change. It was quite startling. She immediately went from being a mildly attractive woman to a stunningly beautiful one. The sparkle in her eyes and the radiance of her smile altered her countenance completely. He could see that change reflected on the faces around her also, making heads turn as she walked quickly towards them. Tohma snuck a quick glance towards Jim to see a smile as possessive and loving on his face, and obviously completely unabashed at displaying it.

‘There you are!” she said with a laugh, reaching out to grasp Jim’s extended hand. “Isn’t this exciting?” She hadn’t seemed to notice Tohma yet, only having eyes for Jim. “I’ve just been speaking with Noriko! She’s so nice, nothing at all stuck up like you might think and she has very good English. I had no trouble understanding her.”

“So you’re having fun?” Jim said in a teasing tone.

“Oh, yes!” she answered enthusiastically, settling in comfortably by his side. “This is just so fantastic!” Suddenly she seemed to realize he wasn’t entirely alone and looked over towards where Tohma still stood quietly, a quizzical expression on her face at first, which then changed to complete shock.

“Close your mouth, honey, before you catch a fly.” Jim suggested, evidently enjoying his fiancée’s surprise at his fellow partner.

The woman didn’t take her eyes off Tohma, even whilst one sharp elbow connected solidly under Jim’s ribs. Tohma heard his grunt at the impact.

“Is that…?” she said in a stage whisper.

Toham felt his lips twitch a little in amusement at her awestruck expression. Ah, what the heck. How could it hurt? He held a hand out to her. “A pleasure to meet you,” he said softly, gracing her with one of his patented smooth smiles, one that he put on for all business purposes. “I’m Tohma Seguchi.”

“Oh!” She hurriedly clasped his hand, shaking it firmly. “Kerryn Middleton,” she provided.

“Soon to be Harris,” Jim interjected as he put an arm around her shoulders.

“If you play your cards right!” she responded, sticking her tongue out at him before directing her attention back to Tohma. “I must thank you for the autograph. It was very kind of you.”

Tohma wracked his brains for a moment before remembering the scrawled signature he had placed on the styrofoam cup when leaving the police station. “It was nothing,” he said, trying to brush it off politely.

“No, it wasn’t,” she said a little sharply. “Jim shouldn’t have asked you at that time; as much as it was very sweet of him to think of me, it wasn’t appropriate. So I apologise for disturbing you with such a trivial matter at such a difficult moment.”

Tohma felt himself warming to this woman; she seemed such a very open, caring and sincere person. He guessed she was probably only a few years older than himself, and was obviously prone to smiling a great deal judging from the laugh lines around her eyes and dimples in her cheeks. He could see why Jim was so smitten with her.

“I assure you that I was happy to have done so,” he told her with more sincerity this time. “It is always a pleasure to meet some of our fans.”

Kerryn screwed up her nose at that comment and rolled her eyes. “At my age, being told you’re a ‘fan’ makes me sound like I’m some crazed teenager!” Her cheeks coloured slightly from embarrassment, “Though I will have to admit that I do get quite excited about your music.” She threw a brief glance up at Jim, “He’ll tell you that anyway!”

Jim just smirked. “She likes to sing in the shower,” he supplied.

“Jim!!” Kerryn all but screeched, swatting her fiancée with some force and blushing even brighter. “That is not a topic for discussion in public, let alone with HIM!”

Jim raised both arms in defense, covering his head to protect himself as he grinned over at Tohma. “She really does, but she hasn’t got a bad voice so I don’t mind!”

By this time Kerryn had given up thumping her unrepentant boyfriend and taken to trying to hide her fiery red face behind her hands. Jim took pity on her then. “Aw, come on, baby,” he crooned, wrapping his arms about her and ignoring her efforts to shrug him away. “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t help teasing you a little.”

“Try and refrain yourself,” she growled at him, eyes flashing and patently not yet forgiving him.

He ruffled her hair lightly, taking care not to mess it greatly and so incur more of her wrath. “Okay, I promise. But you really do get all wide-eyed and excited over them!”

Kerryn heaved a sigh and dropped her hands, looking over at Tohma with resignation. Her face was still flushed but it was gradually fading. “Well, there’s no point denying any of it now, since he’s blurted it all out anyway. See what I have to put up with.” A rueful smile touched her lips. “I’m sorry you had to witness that little scene. Here was I hoping to present a mature, intelligent impression to you and all I end up doing is acting like a fool.”

Tohma smiled back at her. “I don’t think you’re a fool by any means. Though your partner might be a different matter.”

“Hey,” Jim focused his attention over to Tohma and away from softly and discreetly nuzzling his girlfriend’s ear. “Just what is that supposed to mean? You’re supposed to be on my side!”

“By the way,” Tohma continued, “Before you leave you will have to have Noriko and Ryuichi sign something for you also.” He smiled at Kerryn. “You can’t just have my autograph. We do come as a set, as Nittle Grasper!”

“I think we’re all out of foam cups at this shindig,” Jim said, managing to keep a straight face. “It’d be a little hard to sign these,” as he held up his glass, “and I think the caterers might have something to say about it!”

“I’m sure we can find something more suitable,” Tohma said looking around. Ah, that would be just perfect. “Come this way,” he instructed them both and began to move through the crowd once more, avoiding the attempts for his attention, the others trailing behind him.

As he walked he caught first Noriko’s eyes and then Ryuichi’s a moment later, and with a nod of his head saw them both begin to make their way on corresponding paths through the crowd to finally intersect his. All three of them arrived at the same spot almost simultaneously.

“Wow!” Kerryn said, looking between them all. “Are you all psychic or something?”

Tohma smiled indulgingly as he reached up to carefully remove the pins fastening the promotional poster to the wall before him.

“Nope,” Noriko spoke up. “That would just be downright freaky! We’ve just been together so long we can sort of know what each is thinking sometimes.”

“That must be pretty handy sometimes,” Jim put in.

“Sure it is,” Noriko replied. “If someone contacts one of us to arrange something we can usually give the right answer or make the right decision, without having to consult each other just at that time. It’s really helpful when we have urgent things to do. We always discuss it after, but there are very few times that we haven’t made the right call. So no matter what, all three of us can help each other out if we have to.”

“I see,”

Tohma caught the slight undercurrent in Jim’s tone and cast a warning glance to Noriko. Neither she nor Ryuichi had met Jim Harris before in his capacity as a detective; Tohma hadn’t really expanded upon his contact with the man at that time. Noriko saw his look and snapped her lips shut together tightly.

Jim chuckled, “You really must be psychic! Aw, don’t sweat it,’ he said easily, having also caught the look passing between them. “In as far as the law is concerned, the case is closed.”

“And so it should be.” Noriko said calmly,

“Yeah, I guess so.” Jim said, calmly removing a cigarette from his jacket and lighting it. He smiled down at Noriko. “All those little loose ends seemed to tie up really nicely after all. It all made perfect sense to everyone else.” He blew out a lungful of smoke, being polite enough to send it away from the people he was with. “Your movements were all accounted for and verified so I don’t think there’s anything for anyone to worry about now.”

“We never were,” she replied looking him evenly in the eye, refusing to back down.

By this time Tohma had the poster down and laid out on a nearby table. “I thought we could give Miss. Middleton a present from us all,” he said to break the tension. He didn’t know how much Noriko had picked up from Jim’s speech but he was more than aware that most of that was more directed towards him than to her. This man still caused his internal warning bells to ring. He seemed far too sharp, and little too aware of other possibilities than the one that the rest of the police had seemed to accept. Although the case was considered closed now, as Jim had said, Tohma knew that he would still need to be careful. Cases could always be reopened and he had no intention of giving this man any cause to do so.

He withdrew a pen from his inside jacket pocket and scrawled his name under his picture, before handing it to Noriko who did the same. Ryuichi accepted the pen from her and looked over at Kerryn, who was holding onto Jim’s arm.

“How would you like me to sign your dress?” Ryu asked. Tohma nearly chocked, hearing the deliberate mischief in his friend’s voice and the under tone of steel. Obviously Ryuichi had picked up a little on what Jim had been implying and was deliberately trying to provoke him now. As Kerryn’s dress was backless, it only left the front as a possible signing area, and as she was reasonably well endowed that took up a fair portion of the material.

Jim, too, recognised that immediately as he moved quickly to position himself partially in front of Kerryn, shielding her. “How about you keep your lecherous paws off her?” he growled, eyeing Ryuichi.

“How about you stop bugging Tohma?” Ryu said back in the same tone.

“How about both of you start acting like adults instead of five year olds in a sandpit?” Noriko said tartly, just as Kerryn slapped the back of Jim’s head.

“Hey!” he yelped, spinning around to face her. “What was that for? I was trying to protect you!”

Kerryn tossed her head with a delicate sniff. “If I wanted protecting I’ll tell you,” she said sharply. “And besides,” She sidled a little closer to Ryuichi, “What makes you think that I wouldn’t want the great Ryuichi Sakuma to sign his name on me?” She fluttered her eyelashes at Ryu, with what could only be a seductive smile on her lips. Jim looked at her with a shocked expression whilst Ryuichi’s was more appreciative.

Ryu was looking predatory, his dark eyes burning with an inner fire, his body emitting pheromones in enough quantities that Tohma felt even himself beginning to be affected. This was not looking good. He saw his friend’s hands flex at his side and then slowly rise, making small grasping motions in the direction of the petite woman before him. Tohma saw Jim tense, obviously believing he was going to have to protect Kerryn’s honour forcibly if Ryuichi became too fresh.

Then a small smile lit Ryu’s face and with a laugh, he turned and instead scrawled his name over the poster next to him, just as Tohma and Noriko had done earlier.

“Way to go, girl” Noriko congratulated her, clapping. “Not many people figure out that most times Ryu’s all bark and no bite. You know, typical male, no follow up!”

Kerryn giggled at that and the look she shared with Noriko was that of the consolidated front of women the world over. The men just universally sighed, knowing full well they were outnumbered and outclassed in this matter at least.

“Here you are,” Tohma said, rolling up the poster carefully and handing it to Kerryn who took it with a sparkle in her eyes and a radiant smile.

“Oooh! I can’t wait to show my girlfriends!” she said ecstatically. “They are going to be so jealous!”

“Are you going to see the show?” Noriko asked, cocking her head to one side.

Kerryn’s face fell as she shook her head. “I couldn’t get any tickets. They had sold out before I could get through.” Jim gave her shoulders a solicitous squeeze at which she looked up at him gratefully.

“Well, we can’t have that, can we?” Ryuichi said, draping an arm around Tohma’s shoulders and leaning in close to him. Kerryn’s eyes widen as she looked on. Tohma knew that the two of them made a startling combination together; he with his short blond hair and fair skin, Ryuichi with his long dark hair and tanned complexion. So when they stood like this, side by side, cheek to cheek, he knew they looked damn good.

He felt Ryuichi’s warm breath caress his skin. “Surely we could dig up a couple of spare tickets, don’t you think?” he said in a low sultry voice. “Especially for such two….special friends,” and the look he directed at Kerryn would have melted an iceberg.

The young woman wasn’t immune to it either as her knees began to buckle and only Jim’s steadying hand held her upright. He glared at Ryuichi who just smirked back. It was at times like this that Ryu reminded Tohma of a large Cheshire Cat, like from ‘Alice in Wonderland’. There was always far too much going on behind those dark eyes to really know what he was thinking most times.

“We do always have a few tickets set aside for our own personal use if we wish to take advantage of them,” he admitted, leaving it up to Ryuichi if he was truly intending to follow through with this.

Ryu tilted his head to one side, even as his hand crept up to tangle gently in Tohma’s hair by the side of his face.

Kerryn’s knees buckled again and Jim’s frowned deepened. He tossed a glare towards Tohma. “Can’t you throw a bucket of water on him?” he growled.

Tohma gave a small shrug and simply smiled, “I don’t see any problem with it,” he replied.

Jim just growled again, and what ever else he muttered was inaudible. Tohma thought he was just as glad he couldn’t make it out. It didn’t sound particularly complimentary.

Ryuichi then laughed and his seductive persona vanished so suddenly it was as though a switch had been flicked. “So,” he said cheerfully, “want to give me your address so we can send some tickets out?”

“Our address?” Jim sounded like he thought Ryuichi had an ulterior motive in gaining that information. “I don’t think so!” Kerryn pouted but it didn’t appear to be making any impression this time as Jim continued to glare at Ryuichi.

“Gods, you men are just so pathetic!” Noriko exclaimed. “Why is it that when we get a few of you together you all turn Neanderthal!” She hunched her shoulders, dropping her head and sticking her chin out, letting her arms hang loose like her knuckles were dragging on something. “Me caveman,” she said in a deep low voice, “Bash brains of other caveman. Me top dog!” She straightened her back and brushed back her hair. “Ugh! You idiots!” She seemed to feel that last statement just summed it up.

She turned to Kerryn, patently ignoring the men. “Since we’ll probably never get the two of them to agree on anything remotely sensible, why don’t you just wait here a moment and I’ll go and get those tickets right now.” She glared again at the men, including Tohma as though he were at fault for not thinking of this sooner and thus preventing the alpha male supremacy interplay. Tohma just shrugged silently, refusing to take responsibility for any of it. “Humph!” she sniffed and disappeared into the crowd.

“I hope I haven’t upset you,” Ryuichi said to Kerryn with a genuine smile.

She smiled, a little cautiously, back. “N…o,” she replied slightly hesitantly. “But I don’t quite know what you’re thinking most of the time.” she admitted.

“Don’t worry,” Tohma said reassuringly, “Neither does anyone else.”

Ryu slapped his back playfully as he laughed. “Don’t believe a word he says! Tohma knows me better than anyone, and if there’s one person I can’t pull the wool over their eyes, it’s him!”

“Now that I do believe,” Jim put in, meeting Tohma’s eyes. “You’re definitely on top of things all the time. You don’t leave anything to chance, do you?”

Are we back to that again? Tohma wondered. Was Jim still fishing for information? He was saved from having to answer by Noriko’s return and she thrust an envelope towards Kerryn.

“Here you go,” she said as the other woman took it and looked inside. “See, it wasn’t that hard to do.” Kerryn’s eyes were alight with joy. “I hope you’ll enjoy the show. It’s the last one of the tour so I thought you might like to come back stage and join us for the after-party. I’ve put invitations in there for you to that as well.”

“Really?” Kerryn seemed almost speechless. “Gosh! Thank you so much! This is just way more than I ever expected.”

“Hey, it’ll be good to see you again.” Noriko said with a smile. “To be honest, we don’t have a lot of ‘friends’ as such here in New York. It’s more business associates, and we’re generally so busy all the time that we just don’t have time to make many friends. When we do have free time we usually go home anyway. So it will be nice to finally have a normal friend. At least I think so!” She cast a glance at Ryuichi and Tohma, defying them to contradict her.

They weren’t that silly and both shrugged in unison. “It’s fine by us,” they agreed, knowing there was really no other choice for them.

“Then it’s all settled!” Noriko said, clapping her hands together sharply. “We had better get back to the mingling thing, but we’ll see you after the last show.”

“You most certainly will! And thank you so much.” Kerryn returned the quick hug bestowed by Noriko.

“Catch ya!” Noriko sent in parting, before she was swallowed up by the crowd.

“Time for me to do my bit too I think,” Ryuichi said with a smirk. He grinned at Jim and said, “Don’t wait up for me, honey,” and whilst Jim was getting over his shock, Ryu leant in and landed a heavy smooch on Kerryn’s smooth cheek which turned a fiery pink under his lips. Then with another loud laugh he disappeared into the gathering.

“Why that….!” Jim spluttered, and then he began to laugh. “That…that…” he couldn’t seem to find the words he wanted to say.

“Yes, Ryuichi is rather…unique,” Tohma said serenely, feeling highly amused by his friend’s antics. This night had turned out quite well after all.

“Well, I, too, had best join the rest of the guests before this evening draws to a close,” He turned to Kerryn. “It was truly a pleasure to meet you and I look forward to seeing you again.”

Kerryn smiled at him. “Thank you. For everything.”

“Anytime,”

“Well, Tohma,” Jim said cheerily, taking Kerryn’s hand in his and beginning to move away. “We’ll be seeing you!”

“It would appear so,” Tohma said with mixed feelings.

Jim seemed to sense that for his smile just grew broader. “Didn’t I say that stranger things have happened?” he said over his shoulder as he left.

Tohma looked after them until he could no longer spot them in the crowd. Yes, so it would appear. It would seem that he was fated to battle Jim Harris for a little while longer.

Still that was for another time. He composed his expression, wiping away any trace of worry or uncertainty, straightened his jacket, smoothed his hair and turned to mingle once again.