Kin no Shuichi

Kin no Shuichi
Written by: Chochowilliams
Disclaimer: I do not own Gravitation or the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Summary: Shuichi and Eiri are working things out after a mistake on both of their parts nearly ended their five-year relationship. But what about Bad Luck? What does the future hold for them?
Chapter Summary: It’s been a long time since Ryuichi was able to play with Shuichi and when he decides to go visit with Kuma, he comes upon a very different “sparkly” Shuichi
Warning: M/M, romance, angst, OOC-ness, language, character death Shuichi/Eiri, implied Eiri/oc, implied Shuichi/oc
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A/N: Thank you to Lori de Barton, lilgurlanima, ferler, David boreanaz’s wife247, ELENIOFME, Kaoru Sayuri Kamiya for your reviews. I cannot say it enough. I really appreciate hearing what you guys have to say. Anyway, this chapter we introduce Ryuichi Sakuma and a very different Shuichi.

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Chapter 41: The New Sparkly Shuichi

Five Months Later

Was he optimistic? Yes. Yes, he was. People said there was not a pessimistic bone in his body and they would be right. He might even be too optimistic for his own good sometimes. Ryuichi Sakuma was not as imbecilic as he came across. But because there were people who did not take him as seriously as they should, because of how “childish” he acted, he knew things. It was much like an adult who speaks without censor in front of a child. They say things they shouldn’t and because a child is so innocently naïve, it’s going to repeat what it heard. You have to be careful what you say and where you say it because sometimes the walls do have ears. But with as much as he knew, this was the one time that even he had been left shocked.

To say he never saw this coming would be an understatement. Weren’t he and Shuichi friends? Best friends? So why did nobody tell him? But really, thinking about it, even if he would have known then what he knew now, he still never would have seen it coming.

Of course, he’d heard things were not going very well between the guys. Who hadn’t? Like everyone else, though, he hadn‘t seen the need to be worried. Why should he have been? The little he heard of the rumored infighting did not sound any different from the way the trio had always acted since he was first introduced to them. Shuichi and Suguru tended to butt heads. It was a given. That was just the way they both were. Both were creative and stubborn. Both refused to give an inch. It was not like it was anything new. Their arguments and bickering was legendary in the industry. At first, their constant squabbling had been a source of uncertainty and unease. This was Bad Luck? The pop band that appeared on the scene virtually overnight and quite literally stole the thunder from every other promising new band out there? Protégés of and heirs to Nittle Grasper‘s throne? Then the doubt turned to amusement. The amusement then morphed into awe when the music flowed through them and Shuichi’s angelic voice enveloped them. People quickly learned that this was just the way the two were. This was how the greatness that was Bad Luck was born. But while Bad Luck’s followers, whether fans or not, were laughing at the band’s now legendary comedic interactions, bitterness and resentment had been building within the two outspoken members.

When Tohma had first suggested the idea of adding his baby cousin Suguru Fujisaki to the line up, at first, he honestly hadn’t understood why. He personally liked Bad Luck the way they were. It had been so much fun to be up there singing with them! Yes, the duo had been a little rough around the edges, but given a little time and some coaching, all that would have been smoothed out. Besides, what band wasn’t a little unprofessional in the beginning? Tohma may have forgotten, but he hadn’t. Even Nittle Grasper had had its problems in the beginning. They hadn’t always been a world-class pop/rock band.

At the same time, he’d known that yes, Suguru could possibly be an asset to Bad Luck. Suguru was more than just talented. He was a protégé in his own right. A genius pianist. It might be a bit of an over exaggeration, but he always thought of Suguru as being maybe not in the same league as Mozart, but as close as one could become. Being put in a pop band seemed like it would be such a waste of Suguru’s talents. Instead of fostering his talent, it seemed to be more of a punishment, but the first time he heard what exactly Tohma’s cousin could do, he knew that he had been wrong in his assumptions. Having Suguru join Bad Luck was the best decision that Tohma could have ever made.

The already great band had become a serious contender in the world of music.

But then the bickering began. On the surface, it seemed to be the same power struggle that had cursed the band from the onset, but a deeper examination told the truth.

He wondered if people would be shocked or surprised to hear that not a single civil word had ever been exchanged between Shuichi and Suguru. Most of the time their arguments centered on trivial, insignificant matters, but those types of arguments can have more of a lasting effect than an all out, knock down brawl. The evidence of that was now painfully clear for all to see.

Only two weeks after Bad Luck’s album Back to Zero was finally released, to decidedly mixed reception, Hiro and Suguru released a side project they had been secretly working on together. An album of blues-jazz songs featuring some of the genres most legendary as well as up and coming blues and jazz singers aptly entitled, Blissful Memories. Their album has sold more to date than all of Bad Luck’s albums combined.

Gravity, Bad Luck’s debut album, was certified Diamond back in October after having sold over ten million copies. Their self-titled sophomore album, which was also Suguru’s debut as a producer, to date has sold a little over two million copies. Give It Back, their junior album, has sold nearly two million copies since its release three and a half years ago. Back to Zero has been doing a little better than their two previous albums, selling five hundred thousand copies so far since it was released back in September.

The rumors that the band was on the verge of collapse gained new steam when Hiro and Suguru’s album came out, but he hadn’t wanted to believe it. There was no way he could believe it. Every band, just as every couple, had issues. It was all about compromise. Whatever was going on with the trio could be worked out. Ryuichi was certain of it. But Kumagoro had pointed out that even Nittle Grasper had taken a three-year hiatus. Maybe this would be no different? Oh, how he wished he could believe that. Unfortunately, even someone like him who was said to not have a pessimistic bone in his body was finding it difficult to believe that the band had a future together now that Shuichi had released his solo album, Atrevido, a fifteen-track Eurodance album that included several bonus hip-hop/Eurodance tracks produced by Shinya “Black Cat” Okugawa.

Shuichi’s solo album, Atredvido, was released a month before Christmas and in the two months since its release had already sold three million copies.

It’s ironic, but it seemed as if the members of Bad Luck were more popular as solo artists than they ever were as a band.

It’s just too bad Shuichi wasn’t here. He’d called him last night asking if they could meet because he really wanted to speak with his friend. Because stupid, mean, old Mr. Yuki was always there, he did not want to go to Shuichi’s house, though it would be fun to play with Sayo again. He liked her. She was lots of fun. They had so much in common! They liked the same shows and liked to play the same games! It was too bad she had stupid Yuki’s looks. Oh, well. He wasn’t going to hold that against her. It wasn’t her fault after all. Shuichi tries to tell him that Yuki wasn’t as mean as he pretended to be. That he was actually sweet. Ryuichi did not buy it because he knew. He wasn’t sure if Shuichi was telling a nasty, nasty lie (to protect himself or stupid Mr. Yuki he wasn’t sure) or if he actually believed what he was saying, but Yuki was anything but sweet. Mr. Yuki refused to leave Shuichi alone with him for even a second and he was always glaring at him! No. Ryuichi did not like Mr. Yuki at all. Not one bit. Knowing that he and stupid Mr. Yuki did not get along, Shuichi had invited him here to his studio, so he’d had Tohma drop him off, but the singer wasn’t even here! Had Shuichi forgotten?

What a let down.

Had something had come up? He’d left a message on Shuichi’s voicemail, so hopefully he’d get back to him soon. Maybe they could go out for lunch, or something.

Despite the carpeted hall, he heard the echo of high heels before he saw her. A woman was striding down the hall towards him with purpose. She had an air of authority about her. She appeared to be around his age with hair the color of oil that had been into a boyish cut that did not look very flattering. Dark blue-rimmed sunglasses so large Ryuichi was sure they would cover seventy-five percent of her face when she wore them sat on top of her head. They matched her pencil skirt and fitted suit coat perfectly. The color did absolutely nothing for her. She was carrying two large white pizza boxes with a white Styrofoam container on top. Dangling from her arm was a white plastic bag that appeared to have two two-liter bottles of pop. Ryuichi’s mouth started watering and his stomach rumbled as the smell of pizza filled the hall.

Without sparing him a glance, the woman stopped at the door across the hall from Shuichi’s studio. She set the plastic bag with the pop down on the floor at her feet and balancing the pizza and what he was assuming was either chicken wings or chicken fingers in her left hand, she produced a set of keys in her right hand. The sound of the door’s locks releasing echoed loudly in the silence of the hallway. The door sprang open and heavy metal music blasted out.

When a familiar voice emanated out of the studio and into the hall, Ryuichi went still.

The sound of your destruction
It’s a sweet symphony
Like a Heavenly choir
Their wings rain down
They reign like razor blades
Don’t complain
This is the end
Isn’t this what you wanted

Rain down (Just rain down)
Just rain down

“Shuichi?”

He felt ill.

The woman pulled her key out of the lock and tossed it into the studio. The sound of its landing was lost amidst the noise pouring out into the hallway. Retrieving the bag off the floor, she stepped into the studio and with a bump of her hip, attempted to close the door, but Ryuichi noticed the latch did not catch. Instead, it hit the jam and bounced back open. Curiosity getting the better of him, Ryuichi crept forward.

Whoever was singing sounded an awful lot like Shuichi. In fact, it sounded exactly like Shuichi, but it couldn’t be. Shuichi was Bad Luck’s lead singer. They were a pop band. They sang happy songs about being in love. And this was not anything close to what Bad Luck sounded like. The sound was too heavy, too emphatic. It was too…too…Ryuichi was not sure what it was, but it was not Shuichi.

Ryuichi peered through the crack in the door. There was that woman. She was setting the food she’d brought with her on a table on the far side of the room. As he scanned the rest of the studio, he caught sight of a group of men and women.

The two girls appeared to be twins. The one behind the drum set had jet-black hair that was flying everywhere as she moved her head like one of those bobble dolls. The other one was strumming a blindingly white guitar. She’d colored her hair a strange purple-pink color that hung straight down to her waist. He’d never seen such long hair before. In black high heels, black fitted skinny jeans and a royal purple corset halter top she was a sight to see, especially with the sleeve of tattoos on both her left as well as her right arm.

There were four guys. One man was behind a series of keyboards that he seemed to be playing all at once. With his bright pink hair, he reminded him of Shuichi. He even had the same haircut. The one strumming the bass guitar had bright yellow hair in long choppy layers and the guy with the electric guitar had blue spiked hair. Each wore similar black baggy pants with various chains and hooks and straps. The keyboardist had a long sleeved black fishnet shirt over a plain black T-shirt. The other two were wearing short-sleeved T-shirts with some sort of decal on the front.

And dead center with his hands cupped around a microphone was…

“Shuichi?”

No, it couldn’t be. Gone was the signature pink hair. Instead, Shuichi had gone back to his original hair color. It was now blacker than the drummer’s hair. That was not the only difference. His usual bob had undergone a transformation. He was now sporting an asymmetrical layered razor-cut. Eyes as violet as he remembered shinned as his angelic voice filled the studio and spilled out into the hall. A pair of blue jeans, his black boots and a black vest over a white T-shirt completed his outfit. Truthfully, the look was not new. At least to him. These were the clothes that had sat in the back of Shuichi’s closet for years. He never worn them out in public, just around the house. When asked, Shuichi confessed, “Bad Luck has a specific image” and most of the clothes in his closet just did not fit that image. He’d always wondered about that. And did it extend to more than his clothing.

Shuichi had even gone back to his roots many times over the years, so having colored his bright pink locks black was not unexpected. Shuichi’d explained to him that his stylist had informed him that he needed to let his hair breathe between colorings. Ryuichi wondered if Shuichi planned to color it again.

But who were these guys? And why was Shuichi singing with them? What was going on? Is this why he’d missed their date?

As Shuichi’s voice poured over him, as the heavy beats flowed through him and around him, Ryuichi couldn’t help but notice that even though Shuichi was not wearing knee-high boots, short shorts, a belly baring, tight cropped shirt, fingerless gloves or a floor length duster, not singing about falling in love all over again and even though he did not have Hiro by his side, he seemed…content. He was smiling and there was a glow about him. For the first time in a long time, Shuichi seemed to be at peace.

Smiling softly, Ryuichi retreated back into the hall, pulling the door shut gently (not that anyone would be able to hear him over the music either way).

“Sparkle Shuichi,” he whispered to the closed door. With Kumagoro agreeing with him, Ryuichi turned and started down hall towards the elevator. When he pressed the call button, the stainless steel doors slid open automatically with a loud ping. He stepped inside and paused with his finger on the button for the lobby. Was it just him or had Shuichi’s nails been black? Releasing the button, Ryuichi stepped back as the doors slid closed and with a jolt, the elevator began to move. “So, Mr. Bear, how bout some pizza?”

Kumagoro thought that sounded like a good idea.

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“Get lost, Ryu?”

The sound of the unexpected voice as he was stepping out of the building had Ryuichi’s head snapping up and around. Kumagoro’s ear that he had been chewing on flopped free, landing sopping wet on top of Kumagoro’s head. “Tohma,” he explained at the sight of his band mate who was leaning casually against the side of his white Rolls Royce Phantom.

“I was thinking the three of us could go have lunch,” Tohma suggested as he straightened.

“Oo! Kuma and I were just talking about going for pizza!”

Tohma nodded. “Pizza it is then,” he said as he rounded to the driver’s side door.

“Yay!” Skipping around to the passenger side, hugging Kumagoro to his chest, Ryuichi thought back to Shuichi. He was happy for his friend. “Hey, Tohma?”

“Yes, Ryu?”

“Do you think I can paint my nails black, too?”

Tohma blinked at Ryuichi who was buckling Kumagoro into the seat between the driver and passenger seats. “What brought this on?”

As he put on his seatbelt, Ryuichi told Tohma what he had seen of the new Shuichi.

At first Tohma said nothing. He went through the motions of putting on his seatbelt, locking the car doors and starting the ignition. Adjusting the rearview mirror, he waited for a lull in the traffic before pulling away from the curb.

Worried, Ryuichi spoke up. “Toh-?”

“What Mr. Shindou does,” Tohma interrupted as he maneuvered expertly through the afternoon rush, “is no longer any of my concern.”

Biting his lip, Ryuichi exchanged a look with Kumagoro who said, “I told you so.”

---TBC---

Preview: “Breaking News”

A/N: “Atrevido” means “daredevil” in Spanish. The Rolls Royce Phantom costs like four-hundred thousand USD. Yikes! So, what do you think Tohma meant when he said that Shu isn’t his concern any longer? Care to guess? Should be easy to figure out.