Kumagoro\'s New Shiny

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

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

//= Thoughts
*= emphasis
::= speaking in Japanese
**


Kumagoro’s New Shiny
Chapter Eight

Ryuichi was asleep. Or at least, he was trying to take a nap. The all night party had been wonderful, but with his last days in America wearing down he couldn\'t quite get into the party mood. Most of his things had alreaeen een packed and sent across the ocean, leaving him with clothes and Kumagoro, mostly--even some of his furniture had been taken.

//At least I have the bed,// he thought with a sigh, curling a little tighter around his pillow.

Jace shifted from foot to foot in front of Ryuichi\'s door for nearly twenty minutes, chewing his lip anxiously. It had been two days since Ryuichi had made his invitation, and he\'d given the matter a great degree of thought. At last he lifted his hand, and then took nearly another five minutes before finally knocking at the door.

Ryuichi blinked sleepily, mumbling as he automatically slipped out of bed. He nearly tripped on his oversized pajamas as he stumbled to the door. When he glanced through the peephole, however, he woke up with a start. //Jace--// He flung the door open as his stomach immediately twisted itself into an anxious knot. \"Jace. Um, come in,\" he welcomed breathlessly, stepping aside.

\"I can\'t,ace ace replied, gulping. He shifted his weight some more. \"Tracy will be waiting for me. But...I wanted to let you know....\" He grinned sheepishly. \"I\'ll do it.\"

\"Really?!?\" Ryuichi broke out in a grin, and before he could help himself had stepped forward to sweep Jace off his feet in a tight embrace. He buried his face in the boy\'s chest, laughing joyfully. \"You\'ll come! You\'ll really come!\" he sang as he turned in a circle.

\"Ahh--hey!\" But Jace couldn\'t help being affected by his enthusiasm, and he laughed, clutching at Ryuichi\'s shoulders. \"Cut it out already!\"

\"Nuh-uh!\" he crowed, hugging him even tighter. \"You\'re coming with me!\" Ryuichi abruptly set him down, catching his face to pull him into a firm, enthusiastic kiss.

Jace wriggled against him--his decision hadn\'t seemed real, until just then. //I\'m going with him. I won\'t have to go out anymore…I won\'t be in danger.// He kissed Ryuichi back, strongly and hungrily, his eyes beginning to burn. //Ryuichi....//

The return of his affections only made his heart pound quicker. Ryuichi held out the kiss until they were both left panting, and he abruptly pulled Jace against him for another once he refilled his lungs. //He never tasted better.//

Jace held on as long as he could, until his temples were beginning to pound and his head spin. He pulled back with a gasp. \"I....\" He had to pause for breath before he could finish. \"I can\'t take my stuff with me,\" he said, watching Ryuichi hopefully. \"If anyone sees me packing...I can buy new stuff in Japan, right?\" He wiggled against Ryuichi\'s chest. \"If I\'m going to have a real job, you can give me my first pay in advance, right?\"

\"Of course!\" he replied easily, beaming. \"Don\'t worry about anything--we\'ll get whatever you want, and you can just gradually pay me back.\" Ryuichi ran his hands through the other\'s hair, over his cheeks and neck, unable to get enough of him at the moment. \"When are you free? You can always stay here until we actually go.\"

//If I leave, I won\'t be able to go around town--it\'d be too risky. But I won\'t be able to keep it a secret for long....// \"Okay.\" Jace nodded, feeling detached and strange. \"Is…tonight too soon?\" He glanced down. \"I have to talk to Tracy, and get a few things, but then, can I stay with you tonight?\"

Ryuichi nodded. \"Tonight is great. I\'m not going anywhere.\" He couldn\'t help leaning in for another kiss. \"If you want, call me and I can pick you up, if you\'ve got a lot of stuff.\" //He\'s really coming....//

\"Come with me now. Everything\'s ready, I just have to....\" //I have to tell Tracy goodbye.// Jace licked his lips. \"You can just wait outside, if you don\'t mind. I\'ll bring my stuff down, and we can just go.\"

\"Fine, just....\" He glanced down at his oversized pajamas. \"Um, let me change reallick.ick. Just come in out of the hall.\" Ryuichi didn\'t wait before tugging him into the apartment, shutting the door and skipping off to his room. He was humming to himself as he peeled off the clothes and hunted up some jeans.

Jace leaned against the wall as he waited, just glancing blindly abthe the small apartment. //This is really it. I\'ll…really go with him. To Japan....// He smiled grimly. \"I like ramen!\" he called after his new lover.

Ryuichi laughed, tugging on a T-shirt as he returned. \"Well good--you\'re gonna have more noodles and fish than you can stand!\" He continued to chuckle as heled led on his shoes. \"We have to stop by my driver\'s room--he\'ll take us over and help with any bags, okay?\"

\"There won\'t be many, but...okay.\" Jace pushed away from the wall, waiting until Ryuichi was ready. \"Thanks,\" he said quietly, not sure if it was enough. \"For...\"

\"Bah! Don\'t even.\" Ryuichi abruptly pulled the boy against him again, taking him off his feet as he grinned. \"I\'m getting the better end of the deal, believe me.\" //I get you, after all.//

\"Stop that--I was serious.\" But that could never last against Ryuichi anyway, and with a laugh Jace gave in. \"Okay, okay. Let\'s go, okay?\"

Not long afterwards Jace was in front of his own door, facing the same dilemma he\'d had in front of Ryuichi\'s not an hour earlier. He managed not to take quite as long this time, letting himself in and moving quickly to his room. //Just…the important stuff. Pictures, maybe some of the jewelry…a few changes of clothes....// He began to toss everything into bags quickly, hoping he wouldn\'t need to call Ryuichi or the driver up to help--he wanted it to be over with.

Tracy listened to his roommate moving around, waiting to hear if he would call out or something. When a minute passed without a word, he ventured to his friend\'s room. \"Jace? What\'s going....\" He paused in the doorway, eyes widening. \"What are you doing?\"

Jace jumped, spinning to face his roommate. He almost lost his nerve, just in meeting his eyes. \"I\'m....\" He took a deep breath and straightened. \"I\'m sorry, Tracy. But I\'m leaving.\"

His eyes widened, back straightening. \"Leaving,\" he repeated blankly. \"What do you mean, you\'re leaving? Where the fuck are you....\" Tracy trailed off as understanding came to him. \"It\'s that singer,\" he muttered. \"That fucked up crack-pot. Are you serious?\" he crossed his arms as he stepped into the room. \"Are you fucking kidding me, Jace?\"

\"I\'m going with him,\" Jace said, going back to throwing things into bags. \"I know you think I\'m crazy--maybe I am--but so what? Even if he dumps me, it\'s not like I won\'t find cock to suck wherever we end up. And in the meantime...at least he\'ll look after me.\"

\"Jace....\" His fingers curled angrily. \"And what about me?\" he continued, tone rising. \"What the hell am I supposed to do? How the fuck am I going to afford this place on my own? What am I going to do with fucking Ulrich, huh? He\'s gonna go berserk, you know.\"

\"I know....\" Jace reached into one of his bags, taking out a thick envelope. He offered it to Tracy with a grim smile. \"I\'ve been saving,\" he said quietly. \"Ever since I started out--my earnings from this week are in there, too. There\'s enough to cover my share with Ulrich for a while, and the rest is for you. I\'m sure Ulrich will find you a new roommate soon...he\'s supposed to look after us, right?\" His shoulders sagged a little. \"I\'m sorry. But this is the best I can do.\"

Tracy snatched up the envelope, opening it to check the contents briefly. He stuffed it in his pocket a moment later. \"I still think you\'re fucking nuts,\" he muttered, returning to glaring at his roommate. \"What the hell are you gonna do in fucking Japan? You don\'t eveeak eak Japanese!\"

\"Well, I like ramen,\" Jace replied with a meek grin. He gathered the bags he\'d packed together at the edge of the bed before turning to face his roommate one last time. \"Tracy....\" He hesitated. \"I\'m sorry, but...I have to try. I\'m...getting old.\" He took Tracy\'s hand abruptly. \"You\'ll see soon enough, too. So save as much of that money as you can, all right? Take care of yourself.\"

His eyes narrowed suspiciously, but he finally gave in. He tugged the other into a quick, awkward hug. \"Yeah. I will.\" Tracy stepped away, unable to look at the other anymore. \"You too, I guess.\"

\"Tracy....\ce dce darted forward to give him a kiss on the cheek. \"I love you, you know. This is just something I have to do.\" He drew his bags over his shoulders and arms. \"I hope you understand someday.\"

Tracy shrugged. \"Just get going, okay?\" He followed him towards the door, pocketing his roommate\'s--now former roommate\'s--key. \"Just....\" He sighed. \"I hope he\'s worth it, Jace,\" he murmured.

Jace smiled thinly as he stepped into the hall. \"If it works out, it will be,\" he said truthfully. He gave Tracy a wink. \"Catch ya later.\" Before he could regret it he turned, starting quickly down the stairs.

Ryuichi was nearly bouncing out of his shoes as he waited beside the car, watching the door anxiously. When Jace finally appeared he flew forward to grab his bag for him. \"Everything go okay?\" he asked. \"Got everything you\'ll need?\"

\"Yeah, I think so.\" Jace helped him load the bags into the car trunk; he still felt light-headed. When they were finally seated in the car once more, on their way back to Ryuichi\'s apartment...it suddenly occurred to him what he\'d done. That he would never see his best friend again. And to have left him like that.... He curled close to Ryuichi\'s side.

Ryuichi easily accepted him, tucking his head up under his chin. //It\'ll be okay. I\'ll take good care of you.// \"All right?\" he asked softly, nuzzling his temple, arm tight around his shoulders \"W \"We\'ve been roommates for a year,\" Jace replied softly. He smiled nostalgically. //I miss him already.// \"I...taught him a lot. Helped him through the tough stuff. I guess I\'m just worried about him.\"

Ryuichi laid his cheek against his head, feeling only a little ashamed that he was enjoying the boy\'s presence so much. \"He\'ll be okayhe mhe murmured. \"And it\'s not like you won\'t be able to write and call, right? It\'s not like you\'ll never talk again.\"

\"Yeah.u\'ru\'re right.\" Jace sighed, grateful for Ryuichi\'s support. //I wouldn\'t be doing this for anyone else, that\'s for sure.// \"It\'s just a little scary. Leaving home....\"

He chuckled. \"Like I don\'t know? I came here from Japan without knowing barely any English to hopefully sell music. It was terrifying!\" Ryuichi shivered in exaggeration. \"At least I had Kumagoro. But you don\'t have to worry--you\'ll have me.\" He grinned. \"And you\'ll get to meet all kinds of nice people, and a lot of them speak English, so you won\'t have to worry about that too much.\"

\"Really?\" Jace smiled in relief. \"I\'m glad. I was worried about that....\" He craned his neck to nibble at Ryuichi\'s jaw. \"Thanks. I feel better.\"

\"Mmm, you feel great,\" he teased, tilting his head in welcome. \"You\'ll be just fine,\" he reassured seriously. \"We already know you can make friend easily, right? Just don\'t start charging or you\'ll get me in trouble.\" He giggled as Jace\'s lips touched his ear, pulling back for a real kiss. \"I\'m so happy.\"

Jace grinned against him. \"Me, too.\" He twisted suddenly, straddling Ryuichi\'s thighs and granting him a full, proper kiss. //I could take him right now--just thinking about it, getting away, being with him....// He laughed between them. //It\'s making me hard.//

All too pleased, Ryuichi pulled him closer, laughing as well. \"I am more,\" he teased as he rubbed at Jace\'s hips. eyeseyes flashed in the growing dark.

\"Nuh-uh.\" Jace tightened his hands around the car seat, pulling himself firmly up against Ryuichi\'s body. \"Just tell your driver no sudden stops, all right?\"

He snorted. \"He can hear you just fine, you know.\" Ryuichi tilted his head to suck at the boy\'s throat. \"Just wait \'til I get you back,\" he hissed quietly. \"Tonight\'s gonna be special.\"

\"Oh?\" Jace shivered a little, leaning into Ryuichi\'s mouth. \"And how so
R
Ryuichi chuckled, sliding his hands down to the other\'s ass to grope at strong muscle. \"I\'m gonna make you feel so~ good,\" he sang, his back arching faintly. \"I wanna hear you moan again.\"

Up in the front seat, the driver coughed loudly and glanced quickly in the rearview mirror. “‘Scuse me, Mr. Sakuma, but, well….” His ears darkened. “It’s a lil’ hard to see out the back….”

Jace giggled. \"Maybe I should get down,\" he whispered in Ryuichi\'s ear. He began to slide off Ryuichi\'s body, a hand dropping between his thighs. \"Way down....\"

Ryuichi\'s eyes widened eagerly, but another loud cough from the driver made him catch Jace\'s chin. \"Maybe later,\" he said with a wink and a significant glance at the front seat. He tried to urge him back up nex him him.

\"Aww....\" But Jace sat up in his seat properly. He kept a hand on Ryuichi\'s thigh, however, sliding up and down it slowly. \"Think you can wait that long?\"

Giggling, Ryuichi turned his head to whisper his lips against the boy\'s ear. \"I can\'t wait until tomorrow,\" he murmured, slipping an arm around Jace\'s waist to tug him closer.

\"Tomorrow?\" Jace wriggled up against him, drawing his hand a little higher up the inside of Ryuichi\'s thigh. \"What\'s wrong with tonight?\"

\"Well....\" Ryuichi tilted his head to nibble at Jace\'s throat, his voice a low, deep murmur. \"Tomorrow I get to wake up next to you.\"

Jace blinked, having nopectpected such a simple answer. It threw him a moment, and then he smiled, somewhat shakily. \"That\'s silly.\"

\"Nuh uh,\" he argued playfully, snuggling closer. \"It makes sex so much better if you know you get to have more in the morning, and then get to sleep in....\" Ryuichi sighed happily at the idea, resting his head on Jace\'s shoulder.

Jace\'s smile strengthened a little. His hand stopped so he could focus better on Ryuichi leaning against him. \"I don\'t usually have sex in the morning,e ade admitted.

Ryuichi gasped in mock surprise. \"Well, we\'ll have to fix that right away,\" he said firmly, lightly tickling Jace\'s ribs. \"Nothing better for when you wake up after a really good dream and are feeling all excited....\"

\"Oh yeah?\" Jace grinned openly now, squirming beneath Ryuichi\'s hands. \"That sounds...so domestic.\" He laughed, poking Ryuichi in the stomach. \"Like an old married couple.\"

Grinning, Ryuichi lowered his hand to squeeze the other\'s ass, giving his ear a gentle bite. \"Old married couples don\'t bend their ankles up by their ears,\" he hissed teasingly.

\"Maybe they should.\" Jace licked at the corner of Ryuichi\'s lips playfully. He turned so he could whisper in his ear. \"Are you sure I can\'t suck you off?\" He drew Ryuichi\'s hand into his lap. \"I\'m really horny.\"

Ryuichi tapped him on the nose. \"Then maybe it should be me,\" he pointed out. \"But I think you\'d better hold on--we\'re almost there.\" Already he could see the building just down the street, and he reached between Jace\'s thighs to give him a reassuring squeeze.

Jace murmured softly in encouragement, pressing into Ryuichi\'s hand to try and urge him into greater affections, but soon enough the car was pulling to a stop. \"Thank God,\" he hissed as he reachor tor the door.

Ryuichi laughed as they both nearly tumbled out of the car. \"Joey, pass it around that I\'m busy tonight!\" he called back through the open window, hearing a cough in reply as he turned to hurry Jace\'s bags out of the trunk.

Jace stumbled after him, laughing as well as they hoisted the bags over their shoulders and charged into the lobby. //We probably look crazy.// But he didn\'t care, and as soon as they were in the elevator he pinned Ryuichi to the wall for a firm kiss.

Ryuichi happily dropped the bags, wrapping his arms around Jace\'s waist and lifting him off the floor. //He really is coming with me. Jace....// His kiss grew a bit more serious, eyes slipping shut.

Jace melted against him, enjoying the strength behind Ryuichi\'s more mature advances--as fun as his silliness was, he liked feeling that he was being taken care of, that...he might even be special. It made his toes curl as he pressed against him.

Arms tightening, Ryuichi held out the kiss until the doors ringed for their floor. He sighed, pouting as he lowered the boy once more. \"Making out on the elevator is fun.\" Snatching up the bags, he quickly led them down the hall.

Jace hurried to retrieve the rest of his bags and follow, nearly running into Ryuichi when they stopped at his door. \"Hey, what\'s Japan like?\" he asked suddenly, bouncing lightly on his feet. \"Is it, like, ninjas and stuff?\"

Ryuichi laughed, stealing a quick kiss as he unlocked the door and ushered them both inside. \"It\'s really crowded,\" he replied. \"Not too different from here, really, though people try not to run into each other so much. Oh, except for the dirty old men trying to cop a feel.\" Just to illustrate his point, he abruptly snatched Jace around the waist, pulling him close with one hand as the other began rubbing him through his pants.

Jace squeaked between them in surprise, but all too soon he was tossing his bags aside so he could lean into Ryuichi\'s strong fingers. \"Mm, sounds just like New York after all.\" He hissed happily against Ryuichi\'s neck.

//I like surprising him.// Chuckling, Ryuichi began slowly moving back towards the bedroom. The apartment was starting to darken as the sun fell, but he didn\'t bother trying to turn on any lights. \"It can be really loud,\" he went on, his voice low. \"But my place is a little outside the main city, so at night you can hear crickets from the nearby park.\" His hand slowed, opting for a more sensual massage as they continued to move backwards.

\"Crickets...?\" Jace moaned softly as Ryuichi continued to touch him, reminding him just how anxious he really was. When his calves bumped against the mattress he eagerly leapt backwards onto it, wriggling happily. \"Maybe we\'ll have to make it even louder.\"

\"I wouldn\'t mind,\" Ryuichi replied, remaining upright as he started to pull his shirt off. He took his time despite his eagerness to hear more of Jace\'s thick voice, wanting to make him moan and twist....

Jace watched him eagerly, not moving to take off any of his own clothes yet. He frowned in sudden thoughtfulness. \"Hey. How old are you?\"

Ryuichi blushed and squirmed as he tossed his shirt aside \"How old am I?\" He started to crawl across the bed to urge the other back. \"How old are you?\" he countered.

\"Eighteen,\" Jace said with a shrug, rolling easily onto his back. He drew Ryuichi down to him. \"So, what about you? How old are you?\"

\"Well....\" He settled over Jace, pressing their hips. \"Thirty-one,\" he answered quickly before stealing a kiss, hoping to distract his lover.

Jace blinked, and twisted until he could get his lips free with a laugh. \"Thirty-one?\" he echoed incredulously. \"Damn, really?\"

Ryuichi shrugged, feeling a bit worried about the other\'s reaction--there was a big difference in their ages, after all. He rested his elbows on either side of Jace\'s head, leaning over him with head tilted. \"Wanna see my ID?\"

\"Damn,\" Jace said again, running his fingers up and down Ryuichi\'s ribs. \"You don\'t look it. I would have said twenty-five, at most.\" He craned his neck for a kiss. \"I guess that\'s a compliment.\"

//I guess he doesn\'t mind.// Relaxing, he leaned into a slow, thick kiss, his hips rocking faintly. //Good. It doesn\'t really matter.//s fis fingers twisted in Jace\'s long hair.

Jace murmured appreciatively, wrapping his legs around Ryuichi\'s waist to keep him close. //I guess he gets the better deal, but oh well. He\'s still hot.// He pinched Ryuichi\'s side playfully.

He giggled suddenly, leaning back to tweak Jace\'s nose. \"Guess that makes me the pervy old man, huh?\" he teased, shifting back and forth. Ryuichi tilted his head to nibble at the other\'s neck.

\"Yeah,\" Jace laughed, leaning his head b He He shivered delightedly. \"That makes you my sugar daddy.\"

\"Oh yeah? Sugar?\" Grinning, Ryuichi sat up, jerking Jace\'s shirt up to expose his stomach. He didn\'t give him a chance to protest before he bent over to deliver a perfect raspberry to his exposed skin.

\"Hey!\" Jace squirmed, trying to tug him off. \"Cut it out!\" he laughed. \"You\'re teasing me again!\" He pinched Ryuichi\'s ears in retribution.

\"But you said you were sugar!\" he protested, continuing to lick and bite at Jace\'s stomach, tickling him mercilessly. //I want him to have fun--I want him to know...how glad I am he\'s coming with me.//

\"Hey--hey!\" Jace continued to twist and laugh, finally resorting to kicking lightly at Ryuichi to try and throw him off. \"Stop--I--I can\'t breathe!\"

Laughing himself, Ryuichi finally stopped and pulled himself back up. \"I like your laugh,\" he complimented before sucking at Jace\'s neck. His hands slid low to pull his lover\'s legs up around his waist again.

Jace twisted, still trying to regain his breath. It wasn\'t easy with Ryuichi on top of him; it took him several moments. \"Ryu...you\'re mean.\" He stretched lazily.

He giggled and rose up a bit. \"You want me to start acting my age?\" he asked, slowly drawing hair away from Jace\'s eyes. //He really is beautiful. He\'ll be even more beautiful when he wakes up in my bed.// Ryuichi kissed him softly to help get back his breath.

\"It\'s...kind of nice,\" Jace admitted, smiling. He sank back into the mattress, enjoying the soft kisses. //I\'m used to horny teenagers, or worse, horny old washed up wanna be rock stars.// He kissed Ryuichi back happily.

Ryuichi grinned between their lips. //All right then.// His hands began to slide over his young partner\'s body, from shoulders to hips, trying to mold their bodies closer together. Slow...like what Jace seemed to want.