A/N: This is it… The last chapter-chapter. There's an epilogue after this, of course. And a humongous author's note to go with it… Maybe a bonus story with Tsuki… And other bonus stories if people ask things they didn't understand about the story. :sniffs: Ricochet is almost done, it makes me sad. I wanted to drag this story out as long as it could go, 'cause it's my baby… and I reached the limit… :sniffles: WHAAAAAAAAAA :slowly gains composure so she can talk about the chapter:
Heheh, Shuichi has a habit of bursting out with proclamations of undying love during concerts, you know? And the identities of the two schemers are revealed! Some of you got half-way there, but I thought they were obvious, really… Especially the brunette… :shrugs: And I think I'm only relying on the fact that singers stretch out songs during concerts, because all that action could NOT happen in a three minute-something second song, but then I remember: It's all happening simultaneously! … And I had problems tying it all together, and my characterization of Rage being normal sucks, in my opinion. Rage is just so hard to characterize, 'cause she's such a flat character… And how about the twist with Tsuki-chan??? Hmmm? And I apologize for any choppiness; school just re-started, and I'm jammed with work… Geeehhh.
The songs are "Killing Loneliness" by H.I.M, which I included all the words for, and "You Fight Me" by Breaking Benjamin, again with all the lyrics. Their encore is "The Rage Beat" from the Gravitation anime (Sorries for the sucky translation…).
Chapter Fourteen: Crescendo and Descent
The first concert since Shuichi was cleared by the doctors was sold out. People were spilling out of the concert hall, and tensions were high for the band.
Shuichi practiced alone, and the rest of the band sat in a room apart from their lead singer.
"He's still a little shaky," Tsuki said softly, twining his fingers together.
Hiro shook his head. "He said he's fine. We have to perform that song, though, will you be okay…?"
"I don't want to," Tsuki mumbled. "It's living proof that I got used and the sweetest person in the world wants to end up with him."
Hiro patted the boy on the shoulder. "We ought to do whatever makes Shuichi happy… he's been deprived of it long enough."
Tsuki nodded sadly. "And he's the only one who can grant it."
Reiji poked her head in through the door. "You're on," she said, motioning them with her bazooka to come on.
It was the first song they did.
"This song… is dedicated to Eiri Yuki," Shuichi said softly, stepping into the spotlight, microphone in hand.
A murmur went through the crowd, girls looking awestruck, and cries of 'They're together again?!', 'Shu-chan; no!', and other things from fans who had meticulously researched Bad Luck.
Shuichi smiled softly and put a finger over his lips as the music started. "Just listen," he murmured, and the crowd grew quiet. He smiled and began to fall into the rhythm with his body, mind, and heart.
"Memories
Sharp as daggers
Pierce into the flesh of today
The suicide of love took away all that matters
And buried the remains
In an unmarked grave
In your…
With the venomous kiss you gave me
I'm killing loneliness
Killing loneliness
With the warmth of your arms
You save me
Oh, I'm killing loneliness with you
We're killing loneliness
That turned my heart into a tomb,
I'm killing loneliness!
Nailed to a cross
Together
As solitude begs us to stay
Before we disappear in the light forever
And denounce the power of death over
Our soul let's see
With words I say to start a war
With the venomous kiss you gave me
I'm killing loneliness
Killing loneliness
With the warmth of your arms
You save me
Oh, I'm killing loneliness with you
We're killing loneliness
That turned my heart into a tomb,
I'm killing loneliness!
I'm killing loneliness
I'm killing loneliness!
With the venomous kiss you gave me
I'm killing loneliness
Killing loneliness
With the warmth of your arms
You save me
Oh, I'm killing loneliness with you
We're killing loneliness
That turned my heart into a tomb,
I'm killing loneliness!
I'm killing loneliness with you
I'm killing loneliness with you
Killing loneliness with you
Killing loneliness with you!
Killing loneliness
Killing loneliness…"
Yuki stood in the back of the audience, listening to the music.
Someone tapped him on the shoulder. It was Reiji.
"You're his manager, right?"
"Producer," the petite brunet corrected. She leaned against the wall, smirking. "So, you're this Eiri Yuki fellow. You're not very bright, for a romance novelist."
Yuki scowled darkly at the girl, crossing his arms. "Oh?"
Reiji stuck her thumb out, winking at Yuki. "My vocalist misses you," she said, motioning to the stage. "Listen. He's talking to you…"
By this time, the song as only instrumental, and Shuichi was indeed speaking into the microphone.
"Why did you do it, if you didn't mean it? Why did you wait so long?" Shuichi gripped the mic tightly, feeling his fingers ache against the leather of his gloves. "If you were going to come back and tell me that you really cared, why couldn't you have come sooner?! I felt like part of me had been killed! I couldn't trust anyone when I first came back! I hated everything! Why couldn't you have let me love you, Yuki?!"
Dimly, he recognized that he was begging in front of hundreds of people, and that the probabilities of Yuki being there were slim to none, but still, he continued; "I did some horrible things because of what you let happen! One of which was pushing you away that last time. I didn't mean it, I still love you more than anything, and what I said ages ago is still true! You were mine, and I want you to still be mine! Please, because I don't want to belong to anyone else," the vocalist whispered into the microphone. "If you're here, please, I… I just want you to know that I meant it when I said I love you and that… I'm sorry…"
The audience was dead silent, everyone staring agape at the pink-haired performer. The members of Bad Luck were no different. Tsuki was fidgeting unhappily behind his drum set, Hiro looked plain shocked, and Suguru was leaning over his keyboards, hissing something at Shuichi.
Shuichi paused for a long moment, his eyes scanning the crowds. After a long, uncomfortable silence, he nodded to Suguru, who started up their next song.
"Heheh, sorry guys," Shuichi said, shrugging apologetically. "No need to get you all involved in my own personal dramas!"
It seemed that he was back to normal, but even from the back, the pain that glittered in his eyes was obvious.
Normally, the executive box was empty during Bad Luck's performances, but for this concert, it was occupied by two people. One was sitting back in a chair, chuckling lightly; the other however, was standing at the edge of the box, hands curled loosely around the metal railing.
The two had paid rapt attention while Shuichi was speaking, and now the brunette of the two was scanning the crowd; when he didn't find what he was looking for, he spun around, jewelry jangling as he turned to face the blonde.
"It didn't work!" Ryuichi groaned. "I would have thought for sure that anyone would come running at that!"
Tohma laughed quietly. "Well, Eiri-san has always been a little slow on the uptake; I think we should just wait until Reiji-chan comes back and tells us how her chat went, hmm?"
The brunette vocalist rolled his eyes, leaning into the railing.
In the back of the crowd, there was one person who seemed to have not gotten over Shuichi's outburst songs before.
Yuki stood, back to the wall, eyes wide. "That… that idiot…"
"We-ell, apparently, he wants to be your idiot, Mr. Yuki," Reiji said flippantly. "And it seems your lack of emotion has upset him. Now, what do you wanna do about? My Shuichi won't be kept waiting too long; remember: He flies away tomorrow."
Yuki turned his head, opening his mouth to snap out a retort. After a moment, he seemed to decide it wasn't worth it, and began to push through the crowd.
Reiji snickered. "Well, those two aren't as idiotic as I thought. Their plan actually worked… I guess if you pair a president with a musician you get some brilliant ideas… "
"Okay guys! This should be our last song! But you never really know, we maaay treat you to more!" Shuichi teased, leaning over the side of the stage to give a group of screaming girls high-fives as the music started.
"You fight me,
Flat on my lonely face I fell,
Finding in the end I live,
Well, in light of the life that I have found;
It's coming down!
I don't know what isn't real,
But it's easy
To beat me!
(Suck it in!)
Life is sink or swim;
Love is blinding, no surviving
I don't know what I want to be yet.
But I can show that I need to see this.
No time for lies and empty fights!
I'm on your side…"
Yuki pushed his way through the people, knocking them down, cursing them out, or just simply pushing them away; whatever could get him to that stage and to Shuichi before it was too late.
"Can we live a life of peace and happiness?
I don't think so!"
"Dammit, Shuichi, we can!" Yuki hissed, pausing for a mere millisecond. Then he went on, bulldozing through the crowds.
"No denying I am scared to lose the things I love.
I'm in control!"
Yuki looked up at Shuichi, who was shaking. The memories from the last concert rolled through his mind, and he was more determined than ever to get up to that stage. He couldn't let Shuichi hurt himself any more because of his stupid mistake. And really, the novelist honestly doubted that in this state, Shuichi was in any kind of control. He needed to be taken care of! As he ran through the audience—who were slowly catching on—he mentally slapped himself for not realizing it before.
The door to the executive box opened, and Reiji strolled in, grinning triumphantly.
Tohma stood, and Ryuichi spun around, both glaring expectantly at the XMR producer. "Well?!" they demanded in unison.
"Someone needs to go backstage, or else Mr. Eiri Yuki won't be able to reach Shuichi," she said, grinning like a maniac.
Tohma nodded, and exited, making sure that he was backstage to meet his brother-in-law.
Ryuichi turned his head back to the stage, sighing. "A happy ending for Shuichi is good, ne, Reiji-chan?" he mumbled wistfully. "That way he'll be sparkly again. Like he used to. That's fine."
"Ryuichi, is this the only reason why you suddenly transferred to XMR again?" Reiji asked suddenly. "To execute this harebrained scheme? 'Cause if it is, I won't stand for it!" she declared.
Ryuichi turned at Reiji and gave a sheepish laugh. "No, it was really because of that boy."
Reiji blinked. "Shuichi?"
The man shook his head, waving his hand in time. "No, no… Tsuki. He's got a lot of promise. I saw that back in Japan. I saw it again here…"
Reiji suddenly remembered Tsuki saying something about 'a weird brunette' telling him to stay with XMR. "Are you the reason he decided to stay on with Bad Luck?"
Ryuichi leaned back, bracing himself against the railing. He tipped his head to the night sky, the stars almost extinguished by the lights of the concert hall. "I heard him singing, and I know how much he likes music. I felt bad for using him in the plan. But I knew that Shuichi would only realize what he was doing to himself if he was presented with the same situation he was in with Yuki. But I …still think it was wrong to use him like that…"
"And that's why you recommended him to me? Because you knew that he was in love with Shindou?" The girl paused, thinking. "It seems that Eiri Yuki's not the only one who needs to go up on that stage," she said wisely.
Ryuichi sighed, mulling over the advisement. "Yeah… yeah, I think I do," he chuckled. "I think I really do," he whispered a few moments later, looking out to the stage, to Tsuki.
"This is how; this is how it's going to end.
This is how; this is how it's going to end.
End…
Everyone is waiting here for everyone.
Leave me alone!
This is how; this is how it's going to end.
This is how; this is how it's going to end
NO
This is how; this is how it's going to end
End…"
Shuichi clutched the mic, willing himself to stop shaking, to stop the tears that were welling in his eyes. He had tried; he had tried to fix what he had messed up weeks before. He didn't know why he had subjected himself to this sort of humiliation, but… he had hoped it would work. At least, he comforted himself as the instrumental break came on, he'd be gone from this place tomorrow, and he'd be able to rewire himself to a life alone.
Because not being answered hurt the most.
"Eiri-san! Over here!" Tohma called, waving his hand.
Yuki stalked over to his brother-in-law. "What the hell?! I have to get up onstage, you pompous, effeminate, home-wrecking son of a—"
Tohma's sweet smile and innocent chuckles cut the novelist off. "Why, Eiri-san, I know that. But how will you be able to without my help?" the blonde purred, opening up the gate to the backstage area.
"Why you! You've been in on this haven't you?!" Yuki hissed, reaching out for the blonde's collar.
"Temper! If you don't hurry, Shindou-san will be out of your grasp, and you won't be able to try again," the president of NG warned. "You have twenty seconds to get onstage; I'll cue them to draw out the ending! Go!"
At this reminder, Yuki raced through the gate, and onto the stage platform.
Shuichi couldn't remember a time when the ending to the song had been this long, or when the spotlights didn't give heat to the stage. Of course, he reasoned, it had to be his own heartbreak chilling his body and dragging out the song.
The singer suppressed a sigh, wondering how a twenty-second ending could feel like five minutes.
And then, a pair of arms hugged him from behind.
And the crowd went wild.
"You idiot, do you always have to say such embarrassing things in the middle of your concerts?" a voice whispered into the singer's ear.
Slowly, and almost shyly, Shuichi looked up at the man who was holding him. "Oh… my… god…" His brilliant eyes went wide with shock, and his fingers slowly uncurled, releasing the microphone. As it bounced onto the ground, Yuki gently grabbed Shuichi's chin, and pulled Shuichi into a deep kiss.
In front of everyone.
Of course, the members of Bad Luck had been informed that maybe, just maybe, something like this would happen, and so they played on, waiting for the two to finish and for Shuichi to re-cue the ending.
They had to wait longer than they thought they would, for Shuichi and Yuki were caught in their own little fairy-tale ending.
Shuichi had no idea what was going on. But he liked it this way; not knowing how Yuki was onstage, but just knowing he was there. Not knowing how he'd been brought into his arms, but just knowing he was there. Not knowing exactly why, but knowing that he was safe and he was loved and that he'd never be alone at night again. It all just made him melt inside and wish this moment would never end.
His fingers tangled into Yuki's hair, and he leaned forward, the approving roar of the crowd fading to his ears. He heard nothing, caught only in the feeling of the novelist's hands on his waist, and their mouths pressed tightly together, tongues battling for dominance.
Shuichi snuggled tightly to Yuki's body, pulling away. "I think I have a concert to finish," he whispered breathlessly.
Yuki shrugged, reluctantly letting go of the pink haired singer. Shuichi beamed, turning and picking up the microphone.
He faced the crowd, blushing. "Can he make an entrance or what guys?!" he laughed sheepishly, feeling the blonde's arm creep around his waist.
The masses basically exploded with shrieks and faints. "Yo! Take away the ending, Hiroshi!" Shuichi called, his free hand latching to Yuki's wrist.
The song picked back up where it was supposed to go when the writer exploded on stage.
The vocalist put the mic up to his mouth and sang for all he was worth, putting his new happiness into the lyrics, giving them an entirely new ending.
"This is how; this is how it's going to end
NO
This is how; this is how it's going to end
End…"
After the song had finished, Shuichi called for an encore, announcing it as one of Bad Luck's first songs.
Tsuki sighed, and gave Suguru a look that clearly said 'I'm leaving, and don't try to stop me, mother fucker'.
He snuck off stage as the music rang through, verses of discordant Japanese jarring his brain.
" Obieta mezuki de iradatsu omoi uwaki na kaze ni hakisutete
(With a terrified look in the eyes, spit those irritated feelings into the fickle wind)"
The drummer threw his sticks to the floor, his hands raking through his hair angrily. "Dammit, why did they have to make out on the freakin' stage?!" he hissed.
Tsuki shook his head and took a few deep breaths. He reached down and rubbed his temples. Slowly, he regained composure.
"Doko ni mo tomaranai
(That unfulfilled emotion that never settles somewhere—)
Mitasanai Emotion shikato kimete oikose yo
(Decide to ignore it, and then overtake it…)
Furueteru shai na seikai no nuke-michi o neratte
(Aim for the loophole in this shy, trembling society…)
Tadoritsuku basho e
(For the place that we keep struggling towards…)
I Want New World!"
When Tsuki was finally calm enough to stop shaking, he made his way to his dressing room, only to find it occupied.
Tsuki's prior anger and jealousy faded with the new surprise. "You!" he cried, pointing at the brunette who was sitting on the counter.
The man pointed to himself. "Me? Why, yes, I know that," was his cheery reply.
"You're that-that weird guy!"
Ryuichi blinked. He'd been called a number of things, but this one was new. "That's mean, Tsuki-chan." He jumped off of the counter, brushing his pants off. "'Specially after I started your career for you."
"Say wha…?" Tsuki shook his head, rubbing his eyes. "Did I like, pass out, and is this some freaky dream? And who are you?!"
Ryuichi chuckled. "Me? I'm Ryuichi."
Tsuki blinked. "R-ryuichi… As in Ryuichi Sakuma? From Nittle Grasper? Surely you can't…"
"I can!"
Tsuki's eyes widened, and for a moment, it looked like he was about to faint from sheer shock. Ryuichi took a step forward, holding out his hands.
Tsuki gently grabbed onto Ryuichi's sleeve, staring wide eyed up at the older man. "Y-you! It was you who told me that I had talent?!"
Ryu grinned, chuckling. "Yeah. And I referred you to XMR, too."
"Oh…my god…" Tsuki shook his head, and headed over to the couch that was in the room. He sat heavily on it. "I don't know whether to tell you to screw off or to thank you…"
Ryuichi shrugged, sitting next to Tsuki. "Honestly, I'd tell me to screw off…" he murmured, his eyes narrowing.
"What?"
"Tsuki… it… it's my fault that… You got…"
"That I got used? Well, it was inevitable; just 'cause you referred me doesn't mean—"
"It does," Ryuichi said sharply. Tsuki was taken aback by this sudden somberness the singer radiated. It was like an older, more intense Shuichi. "I told Reiji-chan to specifically put you with Bad Luck. Because… I knew… from Japan… that you were in love with Shuichi."
Tsuki scowled, his fingers beginning to toy with the hem of his shirt. "So that makes it your fault…?"
"I knew that Shuichi would recognize that you felt the same as he did when he met Eiri Yuki. I knew that he was lonely, and when Shuichi's lonely, he tends to act extremely to correct it. I knew… or at least, I had hoped that he'd… use you as a substitute for Yuki."
Ryuichi swallowed, trying not to look at the younger musician. He laced his fingers and tipped his head against them, closing his eyes. Beside him, he could hear Tsuki's shortened breathing and the short tremors that shook through the boy. God, it just made him feel so guilty. But the only thing left was to continue. "I… hadn't… predicted… that he'd go so far with it… And I hadn't realized that you'd take it so… badly," Ryuichi whispered. For all his fame and fortune, his people skills were less than par, due to the fact that he tried to stay away from the hurt they'd probably cause.
Tsuki shot to his feet, tears streaming down his face. "I loved him! Don't screw with other people's emotions! Famous or not, I'm going to hit you! I swear it, I swear!"
Ryuichi shook his head. "I wasn't done. I watched over the plan here in New York while my friend pulled strings in Japan. When you wanted to quit, I was actually going to tell Reiji-san about the plan… I heard you singing. And I couldn't help but to stop… and I heard all that pain and betrayal in your voice… and… I… realized… and I realized it again tonight… That I fell in love with you." Ryuichi slowly brought his gaze to Tsuki, and he stood, staring sadly at the boy.
The drummer couldn't believe it. "Liar," he hissed. "I don't trust anyone anymore! I don't believe you. How can I!? I don't even believe in love, so how can I eve—"
Ryuichi stepped suddenly forward, cutting Tsuki's words off with a deep, passionate kiss.
"…So Sakuma-san got you to convince Rage to give you tickets to our concerts, and you gave those to Yuki, so when he came here, he'd come see them?" Shuichi asked, pointing back and forth between Reiji, Tohma, and Ryuichi.
The three nodded.
Yuki took a long drag from his cigarette, scowling. "That's just plain—"
"You fuckers!" Shuichi shrieked, cutting his lover off. "That was mean and devious and…"
"It worked, didn't it?" Tohma asked dryly.
Shuichi wilted in his seat, snuggling defiantly against Yuki instead.
Tsuki sighed from a few chairs over. He leaned around Hiro and Suguru, who were looking only a little confused. "You have to admit, it was ingenious," he whispered.
Shuichi stuck his tongue out at the drummer, and Tsuki threw a chip at him. It was two weeks after the concert, and both musicians—and novelist— were finally coming to terms with the fact that they had been manipulated like putty.
Tsuki had been relatively content in the fact that Shuichi and Yuki were officially back together as he was dealing in a little superstar romance of his own.
So as the next little routine played out next to him, he was too absorbed in talking to his now lover to even notice:
"But… Am I really that predictable, Seguchi-san?" Shuichi whined, leaning forward.
Tohma gave a smug smirk. "You are. And so is Eiri-san."
Shuichi gave a hiss of protest, but Yuki cut him short by wrapping an arm around Shuichi's waist. "I'd have to agree like hell. I know what you're about to do," he purred into the musician's ear. "Melt."
"What does… ah!" Yuki caught Shuichi in a warm, loving kiss.
And you know what? Yuki was right.