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: Thank you everyone who\'s reading and also reviewing. Hope you\'re still enjoying the story.

Reviews:

TricksterGoddess: Here\'s your chapter for today. And it\'s the much anticipated concert. =D

Izumi: I hope that you\'ll continue to read. I think it\'ll be worth it. Enjoy.


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Bittersweet
Week 8
Day 50 of Eiri’s absence


Eiri leaned against the wall in the back of the concert hall. He sighed softly, listening to the melodic sounds of his lover singing on stage. He closed his eyes a moment, letting the sound consume him, only to snap his eyes open after a few seconds. Although his partner was across the hall, Eiri couldn’t stand taking his eyes off the small singer for any length of time.

Lights danced across the stage as the singer belted out the last few notes of the song he had been singing. Eiri knew the song, it had been “Spicy Marmalade,” one of the many tunes that Shuichi loved to hum or sing through the house on any given day.

Eiri couldn’t help but notice how Shuichi’s outfit was tight and revealing, as all his concert outfits tended to be. Tight, short black shorts clung to his lover’s hips, while a skin tight black half shirt with sequins adorned his upper half. The outfit was topped off with a burgundy knee length jacket, opened to expose the singer’s body.

The writer snorted lightly. Even from the back of the venue his lover affected him. Eiri could tell Shuichi was sweaty as his body was glistening and parts of his hair clung to the side of the singer’s face. It was a sight Eiri loved to see, preferably when they were alone and when the little brat was looking up at him from the flat of his back.

Eiri took a deep breath. Somehow, he had let his thoughts wander a bit too far. He didn’t have the patience to entertain thoughts of his moaning lover in the heat of passion, not when he was suppose to be taking time to understand himself, alone. This wasn’t about if he wanted Shuichi. The writer knew he wanted the high strung ball of energy. Why Eiri had to leave was just something else. Something he had to work out himself. Something the blond had to find out for himself.

Eiri turned his head away from the stage. The lights had just gone off at the end of the last song and all the writer could hear were screaming fans chanting, Bad Luck! Bad Luck! Bad Luck!

In the darkness, Eiri sighed again softly. Maybe coming to see his lover was a bad idea, he thought. The blond knew there would be no way to get his lover out of his head after this. Not that the stubborn little brat had left his thoughts at all, but Eiri wasn’t sure he wanted thoughts of Shuichi to consume him. As it was, it seemed he wasn’t able to write a page of his book without having to make corrections to the heroine’s name. Somehow, Eiri thought it would have been easier just to rename her Shuichi and then think of a reason as to why the female of the book had a man’s name.

‘Enough!’ Eiri scolded himself, turning to leave. He felt he could no longer handle being near his tempting lover without caving in and ending his separation before he understood why he had left in the first place. Shuichi was too close, even with thousands of people and darkness separating them.

“Hey, thank you so much for coming to see us tonight! It’s been great! We want to thank each and every one of you,” Shuichi’s voice began freezing Eiri where he stood. The singer’s voice hypnotized his lover. “We have a very special song for you guys before we go. It’s off our new album, which will be out very soon.”

The crowd roared excitedly. The bright lights now on stage beckoned to Eiri, forcing him to turn to see his partner with a big grin.

Shuichi motioned to the crowd with his hands, trying to calm them down, now grinning ear to ear. “Guess you’re all excited about that, huh?” Again, the crowd screamed with enthusiasm. The singer continued, “Great, well this song is going to be our new single, which will be out next week. It’s a bit different than anything we’ve done before, so I hope you like it!”

Shuichi smiled as the fans screamed. He took his time for the crowd to grow quiet before continuing his speech, “This song is for someone very special to me. It’s called ‘Every way.’”

The lights of the hall dimmed, leaving Hiro and Suguru almost lost in complete darkness. A single hazy spotlight focused on Shuichi. The thin figure of the singer looked down, leaning on his microphone stand as if for support.

Eiri watched his lover begin to sing the soft melodies of the first verse, fascinated by how beautiful and vulnerable his lover appeared. The writer watched as Shuichi finally raised his head, slowly looking up before all the lights on stage turned on, showering the band members in light. The force of Shuichi’s voice grew; the singer belted out each note with what sounded like desperation.

When the next verse started the lights dimmed again. Eiri was sure he could hear his partner’s voice shake. It could have been missed by anyone who didn’t hear that melodic sound day in and day out. Eiri noticed it almost immediately.

As the song progressed, Shuichi’s voice began to falter more and more. It wavered so much and Eiri could have sworn he heard the pink haired boy choke out a sob at one point.

What struck Eiri the most were the lyrics. They were pained but full of hope and love. It was as if the damn brat was reaching across the hall and tearing at the blond’s chest. Eiri felt his own emotions begin to swell when an undeniable sob echoed through the building and the music slowed once again.

Eiri watched as Shuichi looked out into the crowd. Tear streams from his cheeks reflected from the dim spotlight illuminating only the singer. Then, Shuichi walked backwards, out of the stationary spotlight, as if he was swallowed whole into the darkness. The entire hall went black and thousands of fans went crazy; screaming, crying and shouting as the song ended.

Even in darkness, Eiri couldn’t pull his eyes away from the last spot where he had seen Shuichi. His heart ached. After several minutes, Eiri finally tore his eyes away from the stage, feeling the tears that had betrayed his eyes. Damn, he thought. He turned to leave quickly, fearing his body might try to seek out the light that burned somewhere backstage.


Tatsuha watched a figure from the back of the venue make a hasty exit. The monk raised and eyebrow and gave a slight smirk. So you came brother, he thought to himself. Good. A tug on his arm turned the young man’s attention back to where he stood.

“Come on Tatsuha! We have to find Shuichi!” a loud voice rang out.

Tatsuha laughed. “I’m coming, Ryu.” The young man laced his fingers into those that now held his hand. He let himself be tugged and dragged backstage by the anxious older man.

“Wasn’t Shuichi wonderful?” Ryuichi’s voice sang out to no one particular.

Tatsuha chuckled as stagehands backstage looked at the pair with surprise. “Shuichi and Bad Luck were awesome! Don’t you think?” Tatsuha asked a random man with a clipboard that they had passed. The man looked up confusedly and just nodded before hurrying away.

“Tatsuha! There he is!” Ryuichi said pointing down the hall. Hiro and Suguru were just ducking into a room off to the side. “Shuichi!” Ryuichi shouted and waved his free arm frantically.

Shuichi, who was trailing behind his band mates, turned to the familiar voice and smiled gently, giving the pair a gentle wave.

“You were fantastic, Shuichi!” Ryuichi cried out, racing down the hall, still hand in hand with Tatsuha.

“Thank you,” Shuichi replied softly when the pair finally made it to him. “I’m so happy you guys made it.”

“Are you kidding? We wouldn’t miss it for the world!” Tatsuha said, a little out of breath from their running.

Shuichi smiled again, before he entered the dressing room. Tatsuha and Ryuichi followed the singer into the place, which was decorated in bright orange room.

Hiro and Suguru were already sitting in one of the large black couches and chatting excitedly about the concert to K, who had been waiting for them in the bright room. The blond manager stood in front of them, laughing in amusement.

Ryuichi pulled Tatsuha to the other couch against the joining wall, forcing the monk to sit close to the older man. Shuichi followed, sitting in the only single chair which set right next to where Ryuichi and Tatsuha were.

“I think the crowd really enjoyed ‘Every way,’ Shuichi,” Suguru said.

Shuichi gave a soft smile, but didn’t reply to his band mate. Instead, he turned to Tatsuha and Ryuichi. “Did you guys like the new song?”

Tatsuha nodded but Ryuichi spoke. “It was really good, Shuichi. But…” Ryuichi paused a moment in thought, then in a small voice, continued, “but it was very sad too.”

Shuichi looked a bit sad. “So you didn’t like it, did you, Ryuichi?”

Ryuichi moved forward, sitting on the very edge of the couch cushion. The older singer took a breath before speaking, his voice serious and strong. “Life is not only good or only bad. It isn’t about perfect love or complete sadness. It’s a mixture of the two together. The sadness is there to make the happy times worth while. I think you finally figured out that your songs also can portray that. The mixture of emotions is what makes it so spectacular.” Ryuichi looked up, turning his head to meet Shuichi’s surprise gaze. “I’m really going to have to watch out for you.” Ryuichi smirked before jumping up and over the couch arm to hug Shuichi tightly.

Tatsuha laughed as he watched Shuichi struggle under Ryuichi’s bear hug. “Ryuichi… Can’t breathe,” Shuichi finally gasped.

Ryuichi giggled, releasing his hold on the younger boy. “Sorry, Shuichi!” Ryuichi sang before he returned to his seat next to Tatsuha. “Oh, Shuichi! Tatsuha has something for you.”

Shuichi looked to Tatsuha. “Something for me?”

“Yes,” Tatsuha replied. He took out the small package that had been hidden under his arm. He handed it to the curious singer.

“You guys didn’t have to get me anything,” Shuichi said, taking the brown bundle.

“We didn’t. It’s from someone else,” Ryuichi giggled.

Shuichi gazed at the pair, a look of confusion on his face as he held the package in his lap. “Someone else? But who would give me something?”

Tatsuha smiled at the weary looking singer. “A certain man you haven’t seen in sometime.”

Shuichi’s face seemed to light up, and his voice came out hushed, almost as if he didn’t want to get the answer wrong. “Eiri?”

Tatsuha winked and touched the tip of his own nose with his finger to let his friend know he was correct. “None other. He gave strict orders to give it to you after the concert.”

Shuichi clutched the brown gift to his chest, his voice showing his excitement, “Was Eiri here? Is he here? I didn’t see him.”

Tatsuha shook his head. “He said to give it to you. I got it last week.”

The pink haired boy’s face looked a little disappointed, but then he looked down at his gift and smiled.

“You can tell he thought of you,” Tatsuha said.

“Open it!” Ryuichi ordered, his voice brimming with joy.

Shuichi seemed to feed off Ryuichi’s energy and his face brightened again. The pink haired boy looked down at the package. Reading the words across the front left a big smile plastered on his face.

“Read it to us, Shuichi! Then open it!” Ryuichi instructed impatiently.

Shuichi blushed briefly. “It says, Shuichi, Keep writing your no talent songs. I have to admit you’re getting better.”

“He’s such an ass. What a thing to say to your boyfriend,” Suguru grumbled, butting into Shuichi’s conversation.

“He’s not an ass, Suguru! It’s sweet,” Shuichi defended.

Suguru shook his head. “You’re just a masochist,” he mumbled.

Shuichi ignored his band mate. He was too busy carefully unwrapping the brown paper from his gift.

“Come on, Shuichi! Rip it open!” Ryuichi bounced.

“I can’t! I want to keep the note,” Shuichi replied, finally freeing both of the folded ends of the wrapping.

Tatsuha watched as Shuichi slipped the contents of the package out of one of the open ends. Onto the singer’s lap fell a journal.

The small book was black leather. The cover was embossed in a silver and grey design. Along the edges of the front cover was a small silver border that looked like flared crosses with the bottom half split and bent in the middle to join with it neighboring cross. The design was repeated over and over along all four sides of the cover. Inside the border in grey, a winged dragon stared back menacingly. The dragon was long and thin, spreading its clawed wings out across the cover widthwise. Inside, the journal housed 125 pages of cream colored pages, lined for easy writing.

Shuichi gasped and tears formed in his eyes as he gripped the notebook to his chest.

“Well? What should I tell him? Do you like it?” Tatsuha finally broke the silence.

“I love it. Tell him that I love it and I love him,” Shuichi replied, tears slipping over his cheeks.

Tatsuha smiled and watched Shuichi stop cuddling his journal enough to flip through its empty pages. The pink haired singer, who had looked drained and sullen only moments before had transformed into a bright and energetic boy. The grin on Shuichi’s face relieved Tatsuha of fears of his friend’s sadness taking over. And to think it was all because of a notebook from Eiri.