Disclaimer: Gravitation or it's charas are not mine, but that of Maki Murakami-Sensei
Pairings: Tatsuha/OC (Hitomi) (dun worry, no self-inserts or mary sue-ness)
Warnings: POV, teeange/adult issues, romance, angst - life in general is a warning, may contain SPOILERS if you have not read Gravi book 12 Author's Notes: Yay! I still exist, and so does this story! Don't worry, I'm not giving up on it any time soon, I just needed to find some inspriation again. So, as promised so long ago, Chapter 6!
And thank you so much to all my loyal readers and reviewers - your comments brighten my day! And it makes me soooo happy to know people are enjoying this story, or anyting I write
Chapter 6
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It was dark, but comfortable that way. The windows were closed and the curtains drawn shut. The only light allowed to shine was from the electronics, casting an almost eerie blue glow on their glistening bodies. The short breaths that floated in the air around them almost shone the same.
The familiar sound of naked flesh sliding together was music to his ears, as the smaller frame pushed him deeper into the plush mattress. He let his hands caress that smooth skin that was even softer and more perfect that it looked in all his dreams.
But this was real. All so real.
He was beyond words, just kissing and marking every bit of skin he could reach, happy to hear the pleased moans that followed. Lips that seduced millions worldwide brushed against his ear before a tongue went out to wet the space just beneath it.
Tatsuha gave an involuntary shiver, fingers tightening on perfectly shaped shoulders. A small laugh ghosted out of that sweet, sweet mouth. Fingers raking down the teenager's chest, Ryuichi grinded into the boy, purring,
"Can't…get enough…"
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Tatsuha awoke in a sweat, eyes wide to the darkness of the room. Running his fingers through sticky hair, he turned over in the bed to find a much more curvaceous body next to his. Hitomi slept soundly on her back.
Sighing, the teen sat up, rubbing his face roughly to shake off the dream – the oh so wonderful dream. But Tatsuha knew it wasn't a dream. He could still feel all of the singer's touches and kisses as if it were that night.
Yes, Tatsuha couldn't get enough either. But the touches began to fade from his skin as he calmed down the memories, as sweet as they were.
He needed rest that morning. A long, long day ahead of him.
His last in Japan.
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I don't know why I dreamt about my 'special night' then, but looking back I guess it was holding onto the best part I remembered about Japan. But…saying that seems a little off. Yeah, that night was awesome, but I do have other good memories too.
Yeah, was definitely naïve in a lot of my reasoning. But even though I wouldn't admit it to myself then, I loved thinking back to when I was a little kid again. Mika did her best to fill in for our mom for me, since I never really 'met' her. Well, I did, just too young to remember.
She used to sing lullabies and read me stories about rabbits and turtles and good neighbors and dogs. She let me run into her room when I got scared at night, and told me I was a good boy.
Eiri and I used to play by the koi pond all the time. There was this really fat one that we named Elvis – yeah, it's a long story – well, we liked to try and get him to sumo with the other fish. It never worked, but we loved it. Well, I just loved hanging out with him all the time. Sometimes I was like a bad shadow, I guess. But he didn't mind. He told me I was his best friend.
And yeah…my dad would sometimes come in and tuck me in at night. He even took me out one early morning and showed me the stars. Yes, my old man had his moments.
But in that bed next to Hitomi, I guess I forgot all of that. My life, my family, Japan…Ryuichi. I shoved it all into the back of my mind and just looked forward.
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"Tatsuha, you have to eat something!" He ignored her for the nth time that morning, dragging his duffle bag down the little hallway. Hitomi rolled her eyes as she shrugged on her jacket. "Fine, you better hope they serve breakfast for you, then." Tatsuha grunted in response. He was not a morning person.
But he also was having second thoughts about all of this. He had run away once already before, embarking on a journey that led him to Southern Japan, but this was outside of that sphere. Tatsuha was throwing himself at another world. Was it really worth running that far?
His pride told him yes. He had left in the first place, and he wasn't going to ruin his resolve and go running back then.
Arms slid up behind and wrapped around his waist. Coming out of his dazed state in thought, Tatsuha put his arms on hers as Hitomi rested her head on the back of his shoulder.
"You're sure you want to do this, right?" she asked softly.
Tatsuha looked down to the right. "Yeah…I'm sure."
Sighing, she just snuggled closer. They stayed like that for some while until the young woman pulled away to finish off her morning tea. It was Tatsuha's turn to sigh, running fingers through his messy hair.
"Well, my Aunt is looking forward to meeting you," she said from the kitchen. Tatsuha shifted his gaze up, then went back into the bedroom to grab his backpack. "Be sure to call me once you get there, okay? It's a long flight."
Tatsuha gave a short, amused laugh at that as he reappeared. "Yeah, yeah. You know, you're starting to sound like a mother rather than a girlfriend." Hitomi made an effort to look offended, but could not hold it without breaking a smile.
"Well, I think I have enough reason to. You know it's just because I care," she said, threading her fingers through his hair as she passed by. "But you've got to hurry up! The cab is going to be here soon, and your flight leaves in two hours."
Nodding, Tatsuha slipped on his leather jacket and shouldered his pack. He concentrated on those mundane tasks, putting on his shoes and going out the front door. It made things easier to handle.
The ride into the city was too quiet, even with Hitomi's idle chit-chat, though the comfort was appreciated. He had to continuously push back thoughts of regret or the nervousness building in his belly.
His first flight ever, and it was leading him far from home.
The airport was crowded for the morning, but it was Nagasaki. Tatsuha stayed back, away from the security check. All he had was carry-on, shouldering a backpack and a worn-out duffle bag. Stomach turning in every direction, he had to fight the urge to run back to the safety of that apartment he'd come to know so well. Hitomi put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"You're going to be alright." It wasn't a question.
Tatsuha forced his usual grin, trying to appear completely confident. He had his passport all ready, still legal and left over from a school trip he was supposed to go on a few years back, but had to stay because of temple duties. Finally, it was going to get some travel time.
"Of course, it's me, c'mon." He lied through his teeth. Tatsuha was a bundle of nerves, but refused to admit it. Though it was easy for Hitomi to see, she didn't comment.
"Yes, big bad Tatsuha." She smiled and rubbed his back gently. Goodbyes were hard. Tatsuha seemed to be getting good practice with them, though.
Both looked towards the security check, knowing once he crossed that line, there was no turning back. Hitomi would leave and return to her life before her fling with the boy, and Tatsuha would start a new life thousands of miles away.
The young man eyed Hitomi nervously, not wanting to instigate what he knew was about to happen. She slowly drew closer, Tatsuha lowered his head for what he assumed was a 'Goodbye Kiss'. But what he got instead was much nicer – a warm hug from someone who cared about him.
When they broke apart, he smiled weakly. Hitomi just shook her head lightly.
"See you later, Tatsuha."
The teen liked that parting much better. 'Goodbye' was too final. "See you later, Hitomi."
Hitomi was visible to the last second where Tatsuha disappeared behind a wall. The 'v' and smile she gave him was the last he saw of her, and it stayed with him the whole nineteen-hour flight over.
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I remember my first thought being that if humans were intended to fly, we would have sprouted wings. Really, though, the flight was all right once we were finally in the air and my initial anxiety had ebbed, about flying, at least.
I could barely eat what meals they gave us, too scared of throwing up right then and there. A Japanese businessman sat next to me, some guy in is early forties. He was nice enough and tired to keep me distracted with magazines and random chatting throughout the flight.
Yeah, the flight attendants were nice too. But none of them could really understand – it wasn't the flight I was so nervous about…
I was heading to a city I'd only learned of a few days before! Like hell, I think I was being very mature and adult about it. I was going to meet someone that I'd only spoke with once on the phone, into a country that didn't speak my language, and into a city I couldn't even place on a map, let alone the globe itself.
The more I look back on it, though, it wasn't mature at all.
It was childish. I was running again.
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Stepping off the plane, Tatsuha breathed in is first breath of foreign air, tasting each new flavor. Shoulders straight, he continued with the line up the carpeted and covered ramp into the midst of the American populous.
He was immediately met with faces he would never recognize, never see again. There were all ready more languages than he could even name. People chatted on their cell phones ceaselessly, reminding him a little of the girls back home. But Japan was long gone, and he had left the East for the West.
Multi-lingual announcements chimed over head as he shuffled through the wood-paneled hallways. Some displayed various art and advertisements that he watched like a child seeing a shiny new toy for the first time. It was then that in blessed Japanese, he was welcomed.
/ Welcome to SeaTac Airport! Please follow the exit signs to leave the Gates. Remember that once you pass the security check, you cannot re-enter, so be sure you have all your luggage with you. Unattended or suspicious luggage will be reported and/or confiscated. Thank you for flying with us/
He stopped in front of another little ramp, leading down towards the main entrance of the international airport.
There's no turning back once you go down that thing, Tatsuha.
But he didn't need to remind himself. It was some time he just stood staring like he was about to cross the Gates of Heaven, or Hell. A security guard approached and asked him something he couldn't understand, and in messy English he told them he did not speak it. The dark-skinned woman smiled empathetically and led him down the ramp, into a world Tatsuha would now become a part of.
He waited as patiently as possible for signs or more announcements in his native tongue. That same anxiety was building like steam in a pressure cooker, ready to boil over any minute. It was partly a dream, and Tatsuha knew he could wake up any moment back in Kyoto, wrapped up haphazardly in the sheets of his futon. His father would be complaining about his laziness and he would mumble something back, hoping to go back to sleep.
A young man bumped shoulders as he rushed past, muttering a hasty something and went on his business. Tatsuha stared after, and regretted not understanding a word.
He wasn't going to wake up from this.
What had he done?
Some minutes passed as Tatsuha forced himself to follow some people, exploring the various areas of the main entrance. It was then he made his way past the ticket counters towards the parking lot outside. People were pulling up their cars along the sidewalks; greeting loved ones and helping them load their bags into their oversized SUVs.
Dark eyes scanned the faces, finding a strange comfort in watching the families receive one another. But he knew there was someone waiting for him.
Pulling a small piece of paper from his back pocket, Tatsuha held it out in the air. He could make out the '14', and sounded out the roughly scribbled kana written next to it. 'Bageji Kuraimu'…
Down an escalator he went, following what he found were some familiar faces from the flight. Down into an area with many conveyer belts – baggage claim. And right by number 14, he saw his new benefactor.
A middle-aged Japanese woman, leaning towards old age but with a vitality that showed through her eyes and smile. She held a sign with his name written in Kanji, eyeing the crowds for whom she only knew was a tall, young Japanese man.
He moved towards her with a friendly smile, despite the nervousness he felt grow in every limb and finger. She saw him approach.
"Akimoto-san?"
The woman smiled pleasantly and gave him a bow of the head. "Uesugi-kun," she began in his native tongue, "It's a pleasure to meet you! I hope you had a nice flight? I know those can be terrible sometimes!"
And at that moment, those seemed the kindest words he could hope to hear.