Unlocking My Love

Title: Unlocking My Love
Author: JadeHeart
Fandom: Gravitation

Warnings: some bad language

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this, apart from Jim Harris; they belong to the creator of ‘Gravitation’.


-o0o-

Chapter 21


Yuki got off the plane and strode away rapidly then stopped abruptly, waiting.

Soon Mizuki arrived at his side, her two year old in her arms. She looked tired; it wasn’t easy taking such a long flight with a young child. Yuki was just grateful that it wasn’t so young that it did nothing but shit and scream.

“We’ll go straight to the apartment,” he said, beginning to walk again.

“Are you certain that you want us staying there too?” Mizuki asked again, shifting her offspring in her arms.

“It’s a suite of rooms,” Yuki replied, “You can have your own set of rooms, including kitchen and bathroom so you won’t bother me.”

“We’ll do our best,” Mizuki replied, a trace of laughter in her voice.

Yuki glanced at her but her serene face betrayed none of that humour.

“Humph,” was all he said. He knew anyone else would have been offended by what he’d said. He was probably lucky that Mizuki knew him so well and took it in a better light.

“Come on,” he said, grabbing his bag from the luggage carousel and picking up Mizuki’s larger one also, before turning to head for the exit. The rest of their luggage was coming by freight in a day’s time which included numerous copies of his books ready for signings. Mizuki had left instructions as to what had to be packed and the quantities required, and it was arranged that it would be delivered directly to Tohma’s apartment.

On the way over, Mizuki had complained about the sudden rush of this trip, stating that she could have followed in a day or two so she could have personally organised everything and Yuki wasn’t to complain if something went wrong because she wasn’t there to prevent it. He had ignored her.

They cleared Customs, Yuki already grinding his teeth in frustration at the delays and slow moving crowd. He was still forced to shorten his stride to keep pace with Mizuki so he couldn’t just push through as he would normally have done.

They finally broke free of the masses and began to head for one of the exits when one figure amongst the many caught Yuki’s eye; a familiar face, with short cropped hair, and a casual stance. Even the cocky grin was the same, Yuki thought as he refused to break his stride.

“What are you doing here?” Yuki almost snarled, glaring at the man as he drew even with him.

The grin didn’t slip from Jim’s face. “Just playing chauffeur,” he said with a shrug.

“Huh!”

Jim then noticed that Yuji was not alone and stared at Mizuki in open surprise.

“When did you get hitched to such a pretty lady?” he asked, “And here I thought you batted for the other side.”

“I didn’t,” Yuki ground his teeth whilst Mizuki laughed outright.

“Don’t let his outward appearance fool you,” she said to Jim in perfect, if a little halting, English. “He may have a pretty face but he has a very bad disposition.” She smiled at Jim. “He’d make a terrible husband!”

“Yeah, I think you’re right,” Jim replied, with an answering smile.

“Besides,” Mizuki continued, shifting her child in her arms again as it gave a sleepy murmur. “Yuki likes them young and short.” She dimpled in amusement. “I’m definitely not his type.”

“If you were male, I’m sure you would be,” Jim said. “His loss then anyway.”

Mizuki blushed at his compliment but acknowledged it with a slight nod.

“Are you two finished yet?” Yuki snapped. “I want a smoke.”

Jim laughed and waved them forward. “Sorry, pal. I forgot your addiction. Come on then, let’s get moving.”

He turned to Mizuki. “You okay with him?”, referring to the child in her arms.

“I can manage. Thank you.”

Jim smiled again and lead them out to his car. He solicitously assisted Mizuki into the passenger seat whilst Yuki got in the back.

“Sorry, buddy,” he said as he started the engine and pulled out of the car park. “Better not smoke with the kid here.”

Yuki glared back at him, even though he hadn’t intended to anyway. He was sometimes considerate of others around him. Sometimes.

“It’s not far,” Jim continued, “so it shouldn’t take too long. Try and hang on till then okay?”

“Whatever,” was Yuki’s answer.

Jim just shook his head, smiling.

Yuki sat in silence as they drove, only half listening to Jim conversing with Mizuki, questioning her about her job and association with Yuki. For his part he was already thinking about Shuichi.

He probably should call him in a couple of days and let him know where he was. Or perhaps he’ll just text, save the hassle of trying to figure out what to say on the phone. Yeah, he’ll do that.

“Here we go,” Jim announced and Yuki looked out to see they had indeed arrived.

“I’ll take him,” Jim said as he opened the door for Mizuki and reached in to lift her young son from her arms.

“It’s all right,” she protested. “He’s not heavy.”

Jim carefully cradled the boy and gave a kind smile to Mizuki. “It’s no problem,” He gazed down at the sleeping child and his features softened. “He’s a beautiful kid.”

“Thank you,” Mizuki said softly, also looking at her son.

Jim turned and began to walk towards the building. “You bring the bags,” he called back to Yuki.

“What the hell do I look like?!” Yuki snarled, even as he pulled the bags out. “A fucking bellboy!”

“Not young enough!” Jim said, tossing a grin over his shoulder. “Or pretty enough!”

Yuki growled in the back of his throat as he trailed after them, dragging the two bags with him.

When they reached Tohma’s apartment, Mizuki immediately excused herself, taking back her sleeping child with a warm smile of thanks to Jim and a goodnight to them both, before heading to the rooms that would hers.

“She’s quite a lady,” Jim said, gazing at the closed door. He looked over at Yuki with a grin. “Wonder what she did wrong to get stuck with you!”

Yuki didn’t bother answering, just reached into his pocket and drew out his cigarettes, putting one between his lips as he fished out his lighter.

“Still got that, huh?” Jim said from where he sat on the couch.

Yuki glanced down and saw that he held the silver lighter Jim had given him on his last visit. Gods, that seemed almost like it had been a life-time ago!

He lit the end of his cigarette and said, “Want it back?”

Jim shook his head. “Nah, it’s better you keep it,” He grinned. “Don’t want to tempt me to take up a bad habit again, do you?”

“Not my problem if you want to kill yourself,” Yuki said, exhaling. He heard Jim chuckle in response.

He eyed the older man for a moment then said, “So what did Tohma tell you?”

“’Bout what?” Jim asked, not denying that he was there at Tohma’s request.

“Why I’m here,”

“Nothing,”

Yuki snorted in disbelief.

“Honest,” Jim insisted. “He just asked me to pick you up and get you settled.” He eyed Yuki. “So why are you here?”

“Work,” was all Yuki said.

“Is that all?” Jim queried, his tone indicating that he didn’t believe it was only work related. “How’s things been going with your boy?”

“None of your business,” was Yuki’s curt reply.

“Fair enough,” Jim said easily, not taking offence. He stood then, absently tugging his jacket into place and headed the door. “Well, I’ll leave you to it.” He turned at the open door and glanced back at Yuki. “Try to stay out of trouble this time, huh?”

Yuki grimaced, following the other to the threshold, leaning on the door as Jim stepped out into the hall. “So are you going to tell me the story about this lighter?” he said, exhaling slowly.

Jim gave him a crooked smile, sadness in his eyes. “None of your business,” he answered with no malice intended.

Yuki nodded slowly, carefully slipping the lighter back into his pocket. “Fair enough,” he replied, mirroring Jim from earlier.

Jim gave him a salute as he walked away, leaving Yuki to lock the door behind him.

He went into his bedroom, throwing himself onto his back, feeling his body bounce a couple of times from the impact. He pulled out the lighter again and looked at it, running his fingers over the etching on the case. He knew there was definitely a story there. You couldn’t fake the sadness that he had seen in Jim’s face.

He reached out and laid it on the bedside table, stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray resting there. Well, Jim was right. It was none of his business. Right now he had his own worries to sort out.

They were more than enough to occupy him.

-oOo-

Shuichi slouched over the back of the chair he was sitting on in reverse, arms dangling, chin resting on the padded frame. Hiro was in the corner, quietly plucking his guitar, running over a passage of their latest song they were rehearsing. Suguru sat over the other side with a keyboard balanced on his knees as he did much the same.

Shuichi sighed, not noticing the look that passed between his two bandmates. He was feeling a little down today. He’d been trying to call Yuki for the past two days but only reached the answering machine each time. He knew that Yuki had said that he would be busy but he still wanted to hear his voice. How were they supposed to arrange another date if they couldn’t talk to each other?

He heaved another melodramatic sigh, and Hiro rolled his eyes, as he set his guitar to one side.

“Okay, I’ll bite,” he said, reaching out one long leg to kick Shuichi’s chair. “What’s up?”

Shuichi didn’t turn to look at him. “Nothing,” he grumped.

“Of course there isn’t,” Suguru put in, still fingering his keyboard in mute, not even looking up. “That is why you’re singing like a dead fish.”

Shuichi rolled his head around to gaze at him. “What’s a dead fish sound like?” he asked out of curiousity.

“You,” was Suguru’s reply.

Shuichi pulled a face which Suguru didn’t see but the younger man still said, “And you know it.”

Shuichi didn’t respond as he understood what Suguru was saying. He knew his performance wasn’t good today but he just couldn’t seem to find the heart for it. All his dreams of a wonderful reunion with Yuki after their recent separation had seemed to have fallen apart and he was just feeling….down about it. Yet he knew he couldn’t let it affect his work like this for long.

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed again. “Look, I’ll be fine on the next run,” he promised his friends.

Suguru now did look up. “You need to be,” he said succinctly. “My cousin will only put up with you wallowing in self-pity for so long. You wasting time is lost revenue to him.”

Shuichi grimaced. “Yeah, I know,” Suguru was quite right. The last thing he needed was Tohma Seguchi breathing down his neck as well.

“So why don’t you tell us what the problem is?” Hiro asked again, joining the conversation.

“There’s nothing really,” Shuichi began, turning around on his chair so he was facing his friends. He caught the look of disbelief on Hiro’s face. “I mean, it’s just that I haven’t been able to contact Yuki lately. I’m beginning to wonder if he’s avoiding me.”

“Why would he be doing that?” Hiro questioned. “He came to dinner the other night.”

“I know that,” Shuichi responded a little sarcastically. “I was there, remember?”

“Oh, yeah,” Hiro said, turning his eyes towards the ceiling. “You were that noisy little runt.”

Shuichi lifted his water bottle as though he were going to throw it as he glared at his friend. “I’m going to put arsenic in the miso next time,” he threatened.

“Make it cyanide,” Suguru interjected. “The miso will cover up the taste of the bitter almonds fine.” Suguru wasn’t particularly fond of miso.

HIro let out a bark of laughter, whilst Shuichi guffawed. Their other bandmate often surprised them with his comments at times.

“Look,” Shuichi began, setting the water bottle down. “I don’t think Yuki felt really comfortable about that night.”

Hiro looked at him quizzically. “Why the hell not?”

“Well, think about it,” Shuichi said. “He came round to see me when he’d just got back and he found himself in a crowd! Not to mention I know he was really surprised about Annette being there.” Shuichi scratched at the back of his head. “I really probably should have told him about her coming over.”

“So why didn’t you?”

Shuichi fidgeted a little, looking uncomfortable. “Initially it was because I just didn’t think of it. It was all such a snap decision and then next minute she was here.”

“It only takes a phone call to let Yuki know,” Hiro put in.

“I know, I know,” Shuichi agreed with exasperation. “But then I didn’t know how to tell him. I thought he might get mad.”

“Why should he?” Suguru asked, finally joining in the conversation. “It’s not like he didn’t know who she was.”

“And that,” Hiro put in dramatically, eyeing the squirming Shuichi. “is exactly the problem, isn’t it?”

“Uhm, yeah, I guess.” Shuichi admitted.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not following,” Suguru looked between the two of them.

Hiro glanced over at him. “Yuki knows Annette’s Shu’s old girlfriend. How do you think he’s gonna feel suddenly finding out that Shu’s letting her stay at his place?” Now he turned his attention back to Shuichi. “Especially when they’ve just started dating again.”

Suguru thought about it a moment and then nodded. “I see,” he said. “So Yuki might think that Shuichi’s cheating on him, or just running back to the convenience of his old girlfriend.”

“Hey, don’t talk about Annette as a convenience!” Shuichi bristled a little. “That’s not very nice. I thought you liked her.”

“I do,” Suguru agreed calmly. “You’re the one who’s in the wrong here; in how you are treating both her and Yuki.”

“Huh?” Shuichi looked confused now.

“How do you think Annette would interpret you inviting her to stay with you again? With no Yuki around as well.”

“We’re just friends,” Shuichi declared.

Suguru nodded, returning to his keyboard. “Sure you are. Even though you had been living together before.” He glanced at Shuichi. “Ever thought that even though you’ve moved on, that she might not have got over you?”

“Ah…,” Shuichi paused. It really hadn’t crossed his mind. He still liked Annette but it was in a platonic manner now. He had just assumed that she felt the same way. “You mean that she….”

“I don’t know for certain,” Suguru interrupted. “You’re the one who spends the most time with her.”

“I think Suguru might have a point, you know,” Hiro quietly agreed. Shuichi looked over at him. “It must have been pretty hard on her when you just up and left. Have you ever really bothered to talk to her about it properly since then?”

“Not….really,” Shuichi admitted, trying to think. “She seemed to accept the break-up really well and we still kept in close touch afterwards so I thought it was all okay.”

“You see,” Suguru added. “Both Annette and Yuki might be thinking that you’re playing a game here. Maybe that’s why Yuki isn’t speaking to you. How do you think he would have felt seeing you getting along so well with your ex again?”

Shuichi thought back on the dinner two nights ago and now he began to see Yuki’s behaviour in a different light. What he had originally put down to just the other being tired, and his usual unsociable self around other people, he could now see was more like when Yuki was pissed off about something; that seething anger that built up inside him.

“Shit!” Shuichi suddenly groaned, pulling at his hair.

“Now he gets it,” Hiro said, nodding to Suguru.

“So it would seem,” was Suguru’s calm response.

“Okay, I’m a moron,” Shuichi growled at them, glaring. “So shoot me!”

“Some days, gladly,” Suguru replied immediately. “However I leave that pleasure to K.”

Shuichi just rolled his eyes. “Well, if Yuki’s so mad at me that he’s not answering the phone I guess I’ll have to go round there in person and apologise.”

“Make certain you grovel well,” Hiro grinned at his friend. “It’s the only way he’ll listen.”

Shuichi grimaced again. “You are so right there! Geez, I really am going to have to pile it on thick this time.”

Hiro chuckled as he stood, crossing over to ruffle Shuichi’s hair, who swatted his hand away with a scowl.

“Cut it out!” Shuichi muttered.

“Just swallow your pride and do it,” Hiro stated.

“And maybe then we’ll finally be able to get through this song in its entirety just once?” Suguru added.

Shuichi frowned at him. “What’s my apology got to do with that?!”

“Apology?” Sakano asked as he walked in the door. “What have you done now?!”

The man looked to each of them worriedly, and Shuichi could see those tiny frown lines begin on Sakano’s brow. He hurriedly waved his hand to reassure the man.

“It’s fine, Sakano,” he said soothingly. “It’s nothing to do with work,” and he ignored the small “huh!” interjected by Suguru as he continued, “I’ve just got to speak to Yuki about something after, that’s all.”

“Oh!” Sakano sounded relieved, turning to leave and then paused at the door. “Oh, Shindou, if you intend to see Yuki you won’t find him home. He’s already left.”

Shuichi felt suddenly cold all over, as though doused with a wave of icy water. “Left?” he managed to say, though his throat felt dry. “Left where?”

Sakano seemed to sense that something wasn’t quite right and he swallowed almost nervously, one hand coming up to tug at his tie. “New York,” he said, waiting to see what reaction he was going to get.

“New….,” Shuichi’s voice failed him for a moment before he could swallow and continue, “York?”

Sakano nodded. “Yes. He informed the President yesterday of his intended destination.”

“I….see,” Shuichi fell silent and no-one else made any move to speak.

Hiro watched his friend with concern. He was just as shocked by this sudden news and couldn’t help but wonder if this meant that Yuki had finally given up on beginning again with Shuichi. Perhaps seeing Annette had been too much of a shock to him after all.

Shuichi abruptly stood, making them all start. His features were set in angry lines, his eyes narrowed and lips thinned.

“Shu?” Hiro queried a little hesitantly, not sure what his friend was likely to do.

“That bastard!” Shuichi exploded with and then practically ran from the room, leaving the other three to stare after him in surprise.

“That…was unexpected,” Suguru finally said, the first to break the silence. He reached up and tugged at his earring, still looking after the now vanished Shuichi.

“I think you just made him mad,” Hiro said absently to Sakano, wondering where his friend might have taken off to in such a hurry.

“I’m so sorry. I thought he already knew!” Sakano apologised, almost falling over his words, wringing his hands.

“Don’t sweat it,” Hiro reassured him with a slap on the back that made Sakano stagger a little. “He’ll be fine.” He looked at the door Shuichi had ran through and chewed on his bottom lip for a moment. “But I gotta wonder what he’s gonna do now.”

-oOo-

Shuichi ran full tilt down the passage, skidding to a halt before the elevator, stabbing at the button angrily until the doors slowly slid open. Once inside he fumbled a moment as he pulled out his key card and swiped it over the sensor before pressing the top most button, impatiently waiting for the doors to close again and the lift begin to rise.

Damn that man! He seethed angrily. How dare he just take off and not tell him! Just who the hell did he think he was, the bastard!

Shuichi stared up at the ascending numbers swiftly illuminating as the speed picked up.

He just couldn’t believe this! Here he’d been worrying and wondering about Yuki. Wanting to see him again and spend time with him and the jerk has gone and left him behind without a fucking word! All that bullshit that Yuki had spouted to him before about wanting to start again; what a crock of shit that was! And that crap about how much he said he loved Shuichi! Yeah, right, disappearing overnight without even having the guts to face him really showed just how much he cared! Fucking bastard!

He ground his teeth, both in anger and frustration and other emotions that he didn’t want to acknowledge or touch just at this moment.

He bet Seguchi had a hand in this. Yeah, that prick would have egged Yuki on to get away whilst he had the chance. He wouldn’t have done anything at all to stop him from going! He was going to teach him once and for all to not meddle in his affairs!

The lift pinged softly and Shuichi didn’t bother waiting for the doors to open fully, turning sideways and squeezing through. He strode swiftly down the corridor and didn’t even pause when the usually intimidating secretary interposed herself before him. Instead he feinted left, and then barrel-rolled under her arms on the right, coming to his feet and literally diving towards his goal which were the large ornate doors before him.

His hand connected with the handle, turning it, even as he was sure he could feel the hot breath of the secretary on the back of his neck, that close to pulling him away. The door moved under his hand, suddenly swinging wide and depositing him flat on his face over the threshold.

“Is there something I can do for you, Shindou?” Tohma Seguchi’s calm voice reached him through the blood pounding in his temples from his recent exertions.

Slowly Shuichi got to his hands and knees, head hanging down. “You…are….a…. prick,” he said in a harsh voice. He stood fully now, glaring across the room at Tohma.

Tohma tilted his head to one side, the only expression on his face was one of mild curiousity. “And that is something new you have discerned?” he questioned as though seriously wanting to learn Shuichi’s answer.

Shuichi glared back at him, eyes flashing and hands clenched in fists at his side. He was trying to hold himself back, for just at that moment he dearly wanted to throw himself across that desk and throttle the man sitting behind it. Of course, that would be the end of his career but at this minute he actually didn’t care. The reason he was holding himself back was that he wanted to find out what the hell was going on with Yuki.

“You just can’t stop interfering, can you?!” he snarled instead.

“Just what might you be referring to?” Tohma asked, hands coming up before him so he could rest his chin on them.

“Yuki,” Shuichi managed to spit out. “You didn’t even try to stop him from going, did you?!”

“And why would I do that? He is quite free to do what he wishes. I have no control over his life.” Tohma indicated, voice remaining calm.

The way Tohma Seguchi could maintain his calm, seeming completely unconcerned about any of this, just made Shuichi seethe more.

“So you just up and let him go, knowing he’s been stringing me along up till now? Don’t you fucking care about anyone other than yourself?!”

Tohma blinked a couple of times. “Is that what you think this is about?” he finally asked.

“What the hell else could it be?!” he almost screamed.

“Ah, shall we lower the tone a little?” Tohma requested mildly. “I wouldn’t wish for you to ruin your voice over something as trivial as this.”

“TRIVIAL?!!!!” Shuichi’s voice went up another octave.

Tohma waved his hand to indicate for him to quietened down and spoke before Shuichi exploded again.

“Yuki came to me late yesterday and requested that he have the use of my apartment whilst he was in New York in business,” Tohma explained.

“Business?! Hah!” Shuichi’s tone of disbelief indicated he didn’t think this was the truth at all.

“I can only pass on what I was informed of,” Tohma stated. He leant back in his chair now. “I do know however, that his editor did accompany him and his publishing house confirmed that he was undertaking some promotional activities there.” He met Shuichi’s angry stare. “I have no reason to believe there is any lie here. Do you?”

Shuichi paused for a moment, letting Tohma’s words sink in. Obviously Tohma had already checked up on things. Well, of course he had, Shuichi silently scolded himself. This was about Yuki so Tohma would have made certain he knew all that he could. So perhaps, just perhaps, it was actually on the level? Perhaps Yuki really had gone over there for work. So why didn’t he tell Shuichi?!

Because he thought Shuichi was back with Annette? Could Yuki have really thought that?

Shuichi’s shoulders slumped then as he seemed to deflate on the spot, all the anger dissipating at once.

“When…,” Shuichi cleared his throat and began again. “When is he coming back?”

Tohma gave a small shrug, leaning forward and picking up a pen. “I have no idea. The arrangement for the apartment was open-ended.” He glanced up at Shuichi. “Please close the door on your way out.”

That was as pointed as it could get of Shuichi being told to get out and he didn’t try and argue, instead just silently turning and walking out, softly shutting the door behind him.

Well, that looked like that was it. He felt a tightness build up across his forehead and temples and rubbed at his face, feeling the slight dampness that touched his eyelashes.

He’d really blown it this time.

-oOo-

Tohma continued to look at the closed door for some time after Shuichi had left, his mind ticking over rapidly. Slowly a smile curved his lips and he carefully placed the pen back on the desk and instead picked up the phone.

He dialled and waited, rocking slowly in his chair. It rang out the first time but he just calmly pressed the redial and waited again. He did this for a third time before it was finally answered.

“Hiya, Tohma!” Ryuichi’s cheerful voice echoed down the phone.

“Hello, Ryuichi,” Tohma replied warmly.

“I knew it was you!” Ryuichi crowed. “I told Kumagoro that it was. Only you know our secret password!”

The ‘secret password’ was the three attempt ring. Ryuichi seldom bothered answering the phone, generally leaving the answering services to pick up calls but if Tohma wanted him they had set up this simple system which seemed to work fine for them both.

“So how have you been?” Tohma asked, leaning back comfortably.

“Really, really good!” was Ryuichi’s exuberant answer. “We’ve been really busy lately. I’ve just finished filming and they let me play with the gorilla suit between takes! It was loads of fun! Kumagoro wanted one too!”

“Uh, huh,” Tohma said in response.

“So what do you need?” Ryuichi’s voice was now even and calm, all traces of his childlike enthusiasm gone.

Tohma stopped rocking and turned to sit properly at his desk. “I want to organise an event,” he said.

“An event?” Ryuichi questioned. “What type?”

“An anniversary concert of Nittle Grasper.”

There was silence for a moment on the other end of the line, then Ryuichi spoke again.

“Why now?”

“Don’t you want to see Noriko and I?” Tohma answered with a question of his own.

“You are avoiding the point, Tohma,” Ryuichi replied just as calmly.

Tohma chuckled but said nothing more.

“Okay,” Ryuichi filled in instead. “Where and when?”

“New York. And as soon as possible.”

“New York?” Tohma could hear Ryuichi’s surprise. “It’s been a long time since we’ve played there.”

“Precisely,” Tohma stated. “Almost ten years in fact, so isn’t it a perfect time to consider something like this?”

“What’s the real reason?”

“Yuki,” he said. “And Shindou.”

“Ah,” Ryuichi said. “So what have you got planned with holding this concert?”

“I thought it would be a good drawcard to have Bad Luck as Nittle Grasper’s supporting act. Their music is beginning to get some good airplay over there so we should strike whilst the iron’s hot so to speak.”

“Hmm,” Tohma could almost hear Ryuichi’s sharp mind running through the options. “It could work out. I could also use it to promote my latest film. Is that a problem?”

“Not at all,” Tohma readily agreed.

This time it was Ryuichi’s turn to chuckle. “No, it wouldn’t be, would it? After all, nothing about this concert is exactly what it seems.”

“True,” Tohma admitted easily. “So you can make yourself available?”

“I’ll be there,” Ryuichi promised. “Are you going to organise everything?”

“Of course,” Tohma said, “Leave it to me.”

“Are you sure Nori will agree also?”

“I’ll speak to her. Don’t worry,” Tohma reassured Ryuichi. “She’ll be delighted with the opportunity to see you again, I’m sure.”

Ryuichi suddenly laughed out loud. “It’ll be really good to get back on stage with you!” he said happily. “I can’t wait! Kumagoro is excited too now! Hey, Tohma, can Kumagoro join us? Please?”

“I’m sure we can arrange something,” Tohma said smoothly.

“Goody, goody!” Ryuichi almost squealed. “Did you hear that, Kuma? You’re going to be a pop star!! Say thank you to Uncle Tohma!”

Tohma heard the rustling on the other end of the phone and could picture the pink plushie being mashed up against the phone.

“Tell Kumagoro he’s welcome,” Tohma put in. “We should be able to get over there in a couple of days so I will call you when we arrive and let you know where it will be held and where we’ll be rehearsing.”

“Yep, yep!” Ryuichi agreed. “I’ll be waaaaaiting!!” and he rang off.

Tohma hung up the phone and immediately dialled again. There was a lot he had to organise now.

“Hello, Noriko,” as the call was answered. “I have a favour to ask.”