I don't own Gravitation, I claim nothing of the characters and such, and am not making any money off of this so please don't sue me, I'm a poor college student who's saving each penny she has to buy Gravitation Manga. (And Conan, and any Houshin Engi Doujinshi she could get her hand on, the Slayers novels, and some Anime Videos)
This Epilogue is told in First person from Shuuichi's POV. It's set about 10 years after Yuki's death.
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Till Death Do Us Part: Epilogue II
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"Yes, yes, don't worry. Mom, I'm nearly 30, don't you think I can take care of myself?" I ask into the phone and hear my mother contradict me. Ok, so I am still a little reckless but hey, that's just me.
"Don't worry, I'll be back in time to make it for Akira's birthday party. No, I won't miss it for the world." My mother asks if I can find time in my busy schedule to fly back to Japan and attend my five year old Nephew's birthday party. "Yeah, I love you too, bye mom." I hang up the phone and stretch.
I walk over to the kitchen and take out the first drink I see, it's orange juice. As I gulp the liquid right from the carton I mentally go over my schedule. I have to finish some songs which Rage asked me to do for a new band, then I can fly to Tokyo and spend a relaxing vacation back home. I sure hope Maiko's taking good care of my place, I know I can trust her but her son, Akira, on the other hand.
I currently reside in New York for most of the year. I'm no longer a singer but a song writer. I moved here three years ago when I signed a contract with XMR. When I quit singing the new president of N-G didn't give me a second glance and Rage snatched me. Now he's begging me to come back.
Seguchi-san retired when Eiri, that's his son, was five to spend more time with him. Granted Nittle Grasper's CD's still bring in enough money to support his family. Noriko-san went back to being a full time mom, and Sakuma-san only occasionally does some models and spends most of his time with Tatsuha and their adopted daughter, Kaori.
I felt bad and awkward when I signed the contract with XMR. But it was just too good of an opportunity to pass up. I had gotten into writing songs, seriously writing that is, right after Yuki died, and they were pretty good. I just had to actually study poetry and writing, and learn English when I started writing them in America.
Hiro and Ayaka-chan live with their twins, Natsuki, their son, and Naho, their daughter, in Tokyo. They're pretty happy, and their twins are trouble but real fun. Hiro adores them. We still stay in contact even after all the years and despite that we are in two different countries.
Fujisaki married a sweet American girl from New York about two years ago. They don't have any kids yet and decided to wait awhile, I see them once in a while. Fujisaki still does some music, most bands would die to have him play for their group but he doesn't settle down on that aspect. When I asked him why he made me smile and cry. 'Bad Luck was my band, just as Noriko never really got involved in another band permanently.' He replied.
I pick up my favorite book, one of Yuki's of course, and read through it again. I never get tired of his books, no matter how much time has lasted, hell I still love him like I did when he was alive.
I've tried a couple of relationships in the past ten years. I went out with Rage for awhile but it just wasn't working. I always thought I was bi since except for Yuki I was always attracted to girls. Though it wasn't working. I like Rage, she's a great friend but just the thought of making out with her didn't seem 'right.' In fact it seemed more 'wrong' than when I first thought of making out with Yuki.
We broke up after about a year, deciding that I just wasn't attracted to her in such a way. I went out with two guys since Rage, but they also didn't seem 'right', in fact it was the same feeling I had when I was going out with Rage. They were both good looking men, and shared a resemblance to Yuki, but that was the only thing that made making out with them bearable. The mere thought of making out with anyone but Yuki seemed 'wrong'.
When I realized that with the second guy, I broke it up and decided to just follow my cursed path that I am only attracted to Yuki. I mean, I know I'm not straight, and obviously not bi, and am only turned on by Yuki, what does that mean, I'm Yukisexual, that's what.
I know it sounds stupid but I just can't love anyone with the same passion and intensity I felt, and still feel for Yuki.
My cell phone rings and I answer it. "Hello, Shuuichi here."
"Shu-ichi!! Do you have the song done?" K's voice asks from the phone. K also switched from N-G to XMR, before us though since the new president and him had a huge fight about K owning guns and K refused to give them up.
"I'm almost done with it, don't worry it'll be done before I go to Japan." I reply.
"I'd prefer before that." K sighed. "But I do know how busy you are, get some rest and I'll see you in a day or two." K hangs up on me and I smile as my phone rings.
"Hello, Shindou residence." I reply and hear my sister's voice on the other hand. "Hey Maiko, don't worry I'm coming home for Akira's birthday." I say before she could start.
"Good, and your house is still standing and nothing's been moved." Maiko tells me and I am relieved. That house is my most prized possession and I would die if anything happened to it. It's the same house Yuki and I lived in during the year we shared. That in it self means more to me than any other place could.
"I can't believe it. You're living in a pent house in New York, worldly renowned for your music. Your dream's a reality Oniichan." Maiko mutters.
"Perseverance my dear sister, and a little stubbornness." I explain with a smile.
"Oh, ok, ok. Oniichan Akira wants to talk to you so I'm switching over."
"Uncle Shuuichi!!" An energetic voice screams on the other end and I smile.
"Hey Akira, are you excited to be five?" I ask and I can almost hear the wind as he swings his head up and down in a nod.
"You'll be there right Uncle Shuuichi? Eiri-Oniichan said he'd come too." Akira sounds a little worried.
"Of course I'm coming Akira, Naho-Neechan and Natsuki-Niichan might come too." I promised Hiro I'd stop by while I'm in Japan and thought that since Naho and Natsuki are about the same age as Akira, why not invite them. "Eiri's coming?" I ask.
"Yeah, I called him and called him and he finally said yes today!!" Akira cries for joy. When I was still living in Japan, I took Akira to Kyoto when I visited Yuki's grave. Mika-san and Seguchi-san were visiting with Eiri during the time. Akira since then worshipped Eiri Seguchi. Which is understandable. Eiri took good care of Akira and Akira always wanted an older brother.
"Congratulations." I say and can practically hear him nod again.
"Mama says I need to get off now. I'll see you soon Uncle Shuuichi."
"See you soon Akira, and tell your mom I love her." I hear Akira nod again, this kid is as energetic as I was, and the phone hangs up.
I had finished my orange juice so I take some coffee out this time as I walk into my room and turn on the computer. I should probably right more of the song so I'm not rushing it. I stretch and start typing what ever comes to my mind first.
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A week later in Narita International Air Port I stretch out. "Ahh, Japan, it's soo good to be back!!" I declare.
"Uncle Shuuichi!!!" I hear two energetic screams and turn around as two small figures come crashing on me.
"Akira!! I told you to behave yourself!!" Maiko comes up and scolds one of them.
"Kaori, get off of Shuuichi." Sakuma-san scolds the other one before he glomps me. "I missed ya Shuuichi!!"
"Sa, Sakuma-san." I smile at my idol. Despite that he's in his forties Sakuma-san could act more like a kid than I can. I love him the more for it.
"Ryuu-papa, No fair, Kaori wants to hug Uncle Shuuichi!!" Kaori, I realize the other one that attacked me was her.
"Akira too!!" Akira glomps me again.
"Ok kids, don't kill my best friend before me." Hiro grabs me by the neck and pulls me out.
"HIRO!!!" I cry and hug him strongly. "I missed ya sooo much!!!"
"I missed you too buddy." Hiro pats my head. I see Ayaka-chan over the shoulder as she and Maiko sigh.
"What?! Can't I enjoy my reunion with my best friend?" I ask and Maiko shakes her head at me.
"Oniichan, you two look like lovers like that." Maiko sounds exasperated.
"Me and Shuu? You kidding? I love Ayaka with all my heart." Hiro replies though he's still hugging me back.
"It certainly doesn't look it now." Ayaka-chan joked back.
"Shuuichi, Shuuichi, let's go!!" Sakuma-san tugs at my arm and I smile at him one of my brightest.
"Hai!!" I reply enthusiastically as I practically drag Maiko and Hiro to the Limo Rage got for me.
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I settle my duffel bag on the floor of the study in the house. I know I could sleep in the master bed room but right now I want and need to feel Yuki's presence. I gingerly turn the computer on. Although it was brand new when he bought it, it's not ancient it's almost scary. That doesn't matter to me though as I call up a folder he has titled 'Bad Luck'.
I only discovered what was on Yuki's computer after he died. When I first touched it I was apologizing to him every second and when I found the folder titled 'Bad Luck' I cried again.
The folder contains all the songs he wrote for our group, our concert dates, every single CD we released, all the information about our interviews, some magazine interviews, and most importantly pictures of me. Yes, me.
We don't have pictures of us together, save for the prikura we took that one day, and that is still on his computer. These pictures are ones that appeared in magazines and things, mostly of me and Hiro, some with Fujisaki are found too. But not a single picture with out me in it.
I cried and screamed his name over and over that night. That morning I made a small folder, a folder I keep only on this computer. It's titled 'Yuki Eiri'
I've retyped all of his novels in printed form onto the computer, not occurring that I could just copy the files that were already there, all their published dates and any magazine interviews I could get my hands on. Also any pictures I could find, even if they were repeats if they were on a different cover, in a different magazine, I'd scan them.
I don't know how much those two folders have saved me. To know that Yuki was keeping a secret file on me, confirming that he did indeed love me, and to be able to have a place at home where I could just lose myself in the image of the two of us, even if it is in my mind and any pictures of me with him are digitally retouched to look like they were taken by a camera with the two of us in front of it. I swear if it wasn't so uncomfortable any time I was actually at home I'd probably sleep hugging the monitor, but I settle for second best and sleep in the room. In fact, I haven't used the bed since I left Japan.
I look at the clock and it's already 4 A.M. I'm not really tired, due to jet lag, but Akira's party is tomorrow and if I'm late I'm going to be killed.
I rush to the master bedroom take a pillow and a blanket and rush back. I position it on the floor and close my eyes. Sleep doesn't claim me though, instead I get philosophical, or as philosophical as I can be.
I've lived for 29 years. Out of which one year would always stand out brighter than any other. I also had the love my life and lost him so early. Yuki/Uesugi Eiri. That name is what defines what I have become. I see the moon through the window in the room. A beautiful full moon. I ask in it's glow as I think.
Yuki once said that he hates it the most when I cry, and doesn't like me when I'm not honest with myself. Because of that I've always tried to be the energetic self that I am, and don't cry that often in front of others any more. Even though I cry to myself every night when I wasn't with someone.
Rage was the best at taking my mind off Yuki, probably because she was the least like him out of the three that I have dated, and that she loved me, not the image of Shindou Shuuichi. Sometimes I really wish I could've loved her and my life would've been easier to cope with. But I know I'd have to die to love someone as much as I loved Yuki.
I have had some suicidal thoughts, especially when it gets closer to the day that Yuki died. Of course Yuki's words had a profound impact on me to keep on going while I was singing, but once I stopped, I thought I'd die with my career. That would just be too cliché for me though.
I've lived this long with out Yuki, not just physically but mentally as well. I've survived these past ten years. I miss him, I love him, but I just can't die, not yet. When I die, it needs to be because of time, or else Yuki would blame himself. When he said he wouldn't be the cause of my death just like he was for Kitazawa's, I believe him. I can't let him be that cause either, I love him too much.
'Through sickness and health, through richer and poorer and for better or for worse, Till death do you part.' I remember the phrase from Maiko's wedding that the priest said. Some love though lasts even after death do us part. Even if the world were to be destroyed, the love I vowed to Yuki is forever. That is all I need to know to live…..for I am incapable of loving anyone but him, no matter who comes along.
That realization, can give me enough comfort to continue on.
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There, that's it. I'm so very sorry for the delay!! I had the first part all laid out and written pretty quickly but I couldn't, just couldn't come up with a good ending. The point of this epilogue was that everyone is pretty happy, and Shuu-chan is alive, but not depressed. He's not as happy as he was when he was with Yuki, but can live if he knew that's what Yuki wanted.
Shuuichi is internationally known for his music, and achieved his dream, at the young age of 29 he is content as he could be with out Yuki. Fujisaki's wife is called Cynthia, Maiko married her boy friend from the earlier manga volumes, Yuki rests in his family grave and Shuuichi is scheduled to be buried there when he dies. Tatsuha is still a priest. Yuuji is an actor and a fairly good one at that. Mika and Touma are happily married. Akira would probably fall for Eiri in due time. Sakano is one guy who does not have a definite conclusion to him in this series, still pining after Seguchi-san and probably still working as a manager in N-G.
Hope you enjoyed it and thank you to all who have taken time to review this fic.
~Manami