Drievuldigheid - Drie Samen

Gritting his teeth, Tohma pulled out his phone. Ryuichi wasn't going to like this turn of events.

"Toh-chan!"� He was awfully excited about something. "Don't come, just yet! I need a little more time."

"We won't be coming at all, Ryuichi. Something happened with Shuichi."

Ryuichi's voice was flat, but mostly unconcerned. "What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything for once, Ryu. I hadn't seen him since this afternoon, and when I met up with him this evening he just asked to go home; so I drove him." By this time, the blond was parking his car.

"But what happened exactly? It had to have been something--"

"Wait about three minutes and I'll be up, okay?"� Ryuichi was beginning to sound upset.

"No. I'll come down, instead. Let's go out somewhere, ne?"� Without waiting for a reply, the brunet hung up the phone.

Sighing, Tohma resigned himself to calming his lover for the rest of the evening.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Shuichi clattered into his apartment, slamming the door shut behind him. Why, of all the corners in that god-forsaken building, had the assistant come around at that precise moment? He'd been about to push Yuki away, he really had. But...she would've seen something different. She had seen something different. Her unconcealed disapproval that Shuichi, when the President himself had asked for his presence after work, would be kissing a man while he was supposed to be waiting had been palpable. Yuki hadn't even acknowledged her, simply smirked at Shuichi and told him he'd call. Like the idiot he was, Shuichi had just nodded; acquiescing to something he had no interest in. The frowning secretary had none-too-politely led him to the doors of the building, informing him coldly that Mr.Seguchi would be down soon. Shuichi had been left with no question as to whether the information would reach Tohma's ears; he'd been surprised, actually, when the blond came down that he hadn't yet heard. He knew he would, however. The thought of Ryuichi's expression particularly made Shuichi feel ill--the older singer would see it as a personal betrayal, where Tohma at least would probably simply chalk it up to a failing of Shuichi's.

He flopped onto the couch, hiding his face in his hands. What had he done? It was obvious how the events would ruin everything. How stupid was he, really, to let Yuki kiss him? He hadn't even thought he was still interested, but...

Well, his reaction told a different story. Hiro had said several times, especially at the beginning, that he loved Yuki and that it was obvious. If he didn't love him now—and he didn't, he was certain of it-- then what had he felt? Because that emotion certainly wasn't gone; one kiss, and Shuichi felt as if the past three months had never happened. He had an ingrained response, apparently; someone kissed him, he thought he was in love with that person. He hated that the kiss made him think of Yuki romantically again, and that it then of course led to him doubting what he felt for Tohma and especially Ryuichi. But most of all he hated that he let himself doubt at all: about the return of his feelings for Yuki, and for the most recently developed ones. He knew he didn't love Yuki; he couldn't, right? But if now, after the kiss, he was so uncertain, that meant he didn't love Ryuichi or Tohma either; because love is permanent, and unmistakable. He obviously hadn't felt it yet.

He changed his mind about hatred. He loved the way doubt made him feel; it was so much more pleasant than the sadness that welled up inside him at the thought that neither Ryuichi or Tohma inspired his love either.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ryuichi swung into the car, studiously not looking at the driver. "Let's go to a park."�

Tohma, sensing the other's mood, refrained from mentioning that the singer was hardly dressed appropriately. The explanation would be difficult enough without the brunet already irritated by being told to go change his clothing. The keyboardist was even patient enough to ignore when his lover turned the radio on-- and promptly turned the volume nearly all the way up. Unfortunately, by the time they arrived at the nearest park, Tohma had a headache and Ryuichi was still pouting.

Slamming the door as he climbed out of the car, Ryuichi stormed off, leaving an irate synth player trailing after him. Once he'd slowed, Tohma grabbed his wrist and forced him to look at him. "Ryuichi, I am sorry your plans got ruined. I'm also sorry you're so disappointed by it. However, there is no excuse for your behavior."�

The brunet scowled and flopped gracelessly to the ground. "I'�m disappointed, yes, but also mad! Tohma, everything was supposed to be fine now!" He pouted. "Don't shake your head at me! I'm serious."�

The blond slid a hand through the other's hair. "I know. And I really am sorry--but you need to calm down."

"What happened?"

"I already told you; nothing. I came down into the lobby, and Shuichi was sitting waiting for me. I tried talking to him, but he was incredibly upset. He just asked me to take him home, and he was distraught enough that I didn't think it wise to try convincing him in another direction."�

Ryuichi smiled slightly. "Distraught? Does that mean angry-distraught, sad-distraught, or freaking-out-distraught?"�

Tohma sighed. "I think it would more be scared-distraught."�

The brunet looked at him sharply. "Scared? Of what?"

The keyboardist glanced away, feeling worried as his lover's head came to rest in his lap. "I'm not sure, Ryu. I wish I knew."�

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Tohma hurried up to his office early the next morning. Noriko and Ryuichi were recording what they could without him, but this afternoon he'd be needed in the actual studio. This morning, however, he had several important meetings--much to the chagrin of his singer, who'd tried desperately to convince him to come in late. The brunet had unhappily been dragged out of bed with the blond, but had gone to his apartment; he didn't need clothes, but had mentioned something about cleaning up
either edibles or animals, and Tohma hadn't asked.

He frowned as he saw a note on his desk; it must've been put there after he left yesterday evening.

Seguchi-san,
Yuki Eiri arrived for your meeting only shortly after you'd left. He
apologized for his tardiness, and I've scheduled him to arrive at
nine thirty this morning. Also, in regards to the surveillance of
Eiri-san, please contact the front desk when you receive this.

Shaking his head, he dropped the note into a trash can. He really wished Eiri would learn to be on time; if he did, it wouldn't be necessary to have all of his employees know to inform him as soon as the writer arrived. The younger blond had a rather irritating habit of getting in the front door and changing his mind, deciding to leave without actually making it to the president's office. While he didn't expect the secretaries at the front desk to try to detain the man--he didn't dislike any of them enough--he did demand to be told whenever he appeared. It was a little odd, however, that they would have something to inform him of; his personal secretary had obviously met with him, because she'd known to leave the note. Why mention it separately?

Dialing the main desk and tapping his fingers impatiently until one of the women picked up, he wondered if he had the energy to confront Eiri this morning. He'd come by of his own volition, which usually was not good. That he would bother to come a second time when the first meeting hadn't occurred--even if through his own fault--was almost unconceivable.

"Yes, Seguchi-san?"�

Finally, an answer. "I have been informed that Eiri-san came by late yesterday evening?"

He heard shuffling papers. "Oh, yes, sir. It would appear he did, but he... well, sir, I personally do not believe he was here for your meeting alone."� Her voice had dropped out of it's professional tone, and the last bit was said in a rush; she obviously was afraid she'd be chastised for this.

"Oh? Why, may I ask?"�

"Well, sir, it's just that he didn't actually go up to your office until nearly twenty minutes after entering the lobby. And sir..."� She trailed off, nervous.

"Yes, what is it?" Tohma frowned; something was wrong. There was nothing interesting enough to hold Eiri's attention at NG--or at least, there hadn't been for over three months.

"You requested yesterday afternoon to have Shindou Shuichi wait for you in the lobby, sir."�

"Yes, I'm aware of that. What happened?"� The keyboardist knew she'd flinched from the tone of his voice; he could hear it in hers.

"I found them...well, in a compromising position, sir!"� She squeaked, obviously now unhappy to be delivering this message.

"Explain, please." For the first time in a long time, Tohma felt sick to his stomach.

"Yuki-san and Shindou-san were kissing, sir."�

Numbly, Tohma thanked the girl, who sounded relieved to be able to hang up the phone. What had happened? Shuichi certainly hadn't sought the writer out; he'd had no reason to, if he'd managed to function happily without him for three months. But Eiri...

Tohma hadn't believed he'd ever be truly angry at the younger blond. The irony that it now occurred because of the boy who used to cause the protectiveness of that same man wasn't lost on him, but he couldn't find it in himself to appreciate it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ryuichi walked slowly down the hall. He'd tried talking to Shuichi, and had received a response that was...less than welcoming. That every other person in the room found the young singer's look of fear and pain at his arrival just as shocking was no consolation; he would've been able to fix it if his older lover had done something inadvertently to the younger, but he could do nothing if Shuichi responded like that to both of them. He had decided to snoop around and try to discover what had happened, but in the process had learned that the president had called for one of his youngest employees, Shindou Shuichi, to come to his office--alone, not with his band.

The sinking feeling this gave him hadn't improved his mood, and he'd avoided everyone studiously. In less than an hour, he and Tohma and Noriko had to finish a recording, but that still left enough time for the meeting. The meeting that he had every intention of listening in on. Really, who did Tohma think he was? No way was he going to do this alone. They didn't even know what this was!

He watched as his blond lover walked past the corner where he was skulking. He'd long since discovered that if you hid in the corner of the room behind the couch and end table where the plant sat, you were difficult to see. Only really ever discovered when someone was leaving the room, by which time it rarely mattered. He darted in and settled himself; it would probably be at least ten minutes before anyone came in, and the meeting could take up to half an hour. He would be uncomfortable, to say the least, by the end.

Fortunately, he could see the clock on Tohma's desk from where he was, and the hand had barely moved from the two to the three when Tohma walked back in, an extremely reluctant Shuichi following him.

"Shindou-san, I would appreciate it if you would try to be on time for our meetings in the future; I do not appreciate having to go retrieve you. Now--"� His voice cut off as the door shut behind them, effectively blocking their words from the secretary outside. Shuichi sat down on the couch the older singer hid behind.

"Tohma-san, can you please tell me what this is about?"� Ryuichi cringed at the cold tone, and could see it had almost the same effect on his keyboardist.

"Shuichi, I don't wish this to be confrontational."� Uh-oh. This was bad. Tohma only used prefaces like that when...well, when it was bad.

"I have no idea what you mean."� He shifted however, betraying his nervousness and giving the lie to his words.

"Yes. You do. And I'd really like for you to explain what happened?"

Shuichi's breathing got faster. "Please, Seguchi-san, I have work to do. If you can't tell me what this is about, I'd like to go."

Ryuichi wanted to hit him for his idiocy. He'd not only been insulting, but had essentially dared the blond. Tohma rarely lost confrontations; unless they were against his singer, of course.

"Shuichi! What happened between you and Eiri-san?"�

Ryuichi began to get a very bad feeling. He didn't like the writer; he never had, and Tohma had tried to keep them as separate as possible. That the man had gotten Shuichi and been so horrible to him had always angered Ryuichi, and he'd been immeasurably glad when Shuichi had finally gotten away from him. Now, he was back?

"I--We..." Shuichi trailed off, scooting imperceptibly away from what Ryuichi imagined was a nasty look from the blond.

"Shuichi. Why did you and Eiri-san kiss?"�

"What?" �Ryuichi couldn't help himself, and he sprang up from behind the couch, almost hurting himself on the plant in the process; he didn't care.

Shuichi looked frantically at him and Tohma; Tohma was glaring at Ryuichi--who was currently staring at Shuichi.

"What?" He repeated, more quietly. His gaze didn't lessen in intensity, Shuichi noted, and began to edge for the door.

"Look, I...I want...I should go. This...I never..." He turned to bolt.

Before he could open the door, Ryuichi had him pinned against it, staring down at him angrily. "What were we, then? An experiment for you to report back to your precious Yuki about?"�

"No! I just! I never..."

"Never what, exactly?" Ryuichi's voice was getting lower with ever word, more angry.

"Ryuichi! Let him go." Tohma crossed to them.

"No, I won't. He'll just run away, and there is no way he's getting out of explaining this one."� Ryuichi yanked him forward, shoving him back down onto the couch he'd scuttled from. "You'd better have a good reason for kissing him."�

"I didn't!"� The younger's anguished cry made Ryuichi blink in surprise. Shuichi's eyes teared, and he glared at them. "I know neither of you believes me, but I..."

"Shuichi."� He refused to look at Tohma. The keyboardist glared at Ryuichi, and the brunet, feeling contrite, sat down obediently next to the younger boy, who stared resolutely at his feet. "Shuichi, I know you didn't kiss Eiri-san. I don't know, however, why he kissed you. I was rather hoping you could tell me, and tell me whatever else happened, to make you so upset?"�

Shuichi sniffled up at him, while Ryuichi gaped. "You mean, you don't think I did it?"�

Abruptly, the older singer started crying. "I'm sorry! I said mean things to you! I didn't mean them, please don't hate me!"

Tohma shook his head at the brunet, who was glad that his outburst brought Shuichi over to cuddle up to him, hoping to make him feel better. Ryuichi smiled, and petted his hair. "Shuichi, what happened?"�

"Well, nothing. I mean, he kissed me, and I freaked, cause I...well, I mean, it's only been three months, I know, but it has been three months, and I shouldn't have, but I did!"

As Ryuichi struggled to make sense of that statement, Tohma sighed, relieved. "So all that happened was he kissed you and you ran away?"�

"Yes."

"Shu-chan, why did you run away?"� Ryuichi held him at arms length to get a look at him.

"I...well, I kissed him back. And I shouldn't have, and I felt horrible. I mean, why would I do that? I don't even think I like him anymore!"

Tohma shook his head. "Shuichi, he was your first lover. And he's a good kisser. Kissing doesn't mean anything, especially with Eiri-san."�

Shuichi was about to respond when he got a strange look on his face. Ryuichi, hoping to stave off another disaster, put a hand over his mouth. "Don't ask. Long story, and very disturbing. Tohma really should be ashamed of himself for that one." This last was said with a pointed glare in the blond's direction, who chuckled.

"So, you're not mad at me?" He sounded hopeful.

"No, Shuichi, we're not mad. But honestly, was it worth such a strong reaction?"

"Well, I thought I maybe still loved him; but then I decided that it didn't matter if I did, because we don't really make each other happy."

Ryuichi giggled at the younger's resolute expression. Tohma smiled wryly. "And when did you make that discovery?"�

He had the grace to look sheepish. "A few minutes ago..."

Ryuichi snickered, while Tohma sighed again; Shuichi blushed.

"But, Shu-chan, will you promise not to freak out again?"

Shuichi smiled shyly, and nodded. Then shook his head. Then sat for a few seconds looking confused. "Can I just promise to try not to freak out again?"

Irate, Ryuichi shook his head. "No, you--"�

"Yes, Shuichi, I suppose that's a start."�

Glaring at his blond lover, Ryuichi pouted, but the smile from the boy next to him made him decide that maybe he'd let the contradiction go this time.

THE END