Gentle embrace- Aoi/Uruha, Ruki/Kai, Reita/Miyavi - Chapter 12
Chapter 12
The next day, when the band gathered for practice, it was just normal that Uruha bounce all over Ruki and Kai, demanding details.
“Really, Uru, I love you, but stop bugging me or else!” Ruki said.
A pouting Uruha went over to Aoi and clung to him.
“Baby, look what they’re doing to me!”
Aoi shot them a death glare and then proceeded on making his lover feel better by kissing the lights out of him. You could see the results immediately because five minutes later Uruha was bugging Kai this time only to switch to Reita when he came in through the door, same big smile on his face, grin that got even bigger if that was possible when seeing Ruki hugging Kai on the sofa.
“Ok, Rei, yesterday you got away with not telling. Today you just have to. What’s the deal with your smile?” Uruha asked.
Aoi giggled. His lover could be such a pain in the ass sometimes, but he loved him all the more for it.
Reita scratched his head. He knew he was not getting out of this one but it was kind of private… His thoughts and the band members’ for that matter got interrupted as the answer to that question came bouncing through the door.
“Reita, babe, I forgot to tell you I have a long photo shoot today and a party to attend to after that so I’ll probably be home late. Oh, hi guys! Nice to see you!” And he left again after pecking a madly blushing Reita on the lips.
Uruha squealed, Ruki gasped, Aoi just giggled and Kai fiddled with his drumsticks.
“You got together with Miyavi! Congrats!” Uruha screamed. “Only God knows how long you’ve been pining for that man! So now, we’re all happily coupled ha? This deserves a party!”
“Uruha!” Kai warned. “We have an album to release and a lot of work ahead of us. Your type of party is out of the question!”
“Ru…” Uruha pleaded. “Help me out on this one!”
Ruki cuddled closer with Kai and whispered something in his ear that sent Kai blushing and the leader said in a week voice all of a sudden:
“Ok, one party! But I’m warning you, go over the edge and you won’t have another one in years!”
The next following months were definitely the happiest of their lives. The new album was a hit again and they managed to break new grounds for the J-rock style. The concerts were blasting, fans from all over the world coming. Their love life seemed just perfect too. They loved and were loved and their friendships seemed unbreakable. They had managed to keep it hidden from the media even when they were living together in pairs, it wasn’t that unusual to have a roommate after all (even though financially they no longer needed one)…
But man’s worst enemy is time. Time makes people and feelings change and especially in a world where time means money. Five years later they were older and more mature and that brought a lot of changes to both their career and love life. They all had their individual work projects. Uruha was a professional model and a TV star, Aoi was a producer, Ruki had created his own fashion label, Kai had become one of the directors of PSC, Reita had taken quite a liking to radio and bought his own. To top it off, their fan base had also grown up, sure they still had a lot of fans but it was different when they were on stage. The head banging and fanservice were a bit toned down, they were more mature after all and so was their music. Little by little, more compromises meant less room for the band and their music. Their friendship hadn’t changed but some other things had.
While Aoi and Uruha’s love really seemed out of a fairy tale. They were still as much in love with each other as the first day they got together, Reita on the other hand had split up with Miyavi two years earlier. Still stayed good friends, had to, due to the common interests and connections but the pain and hurt were not easy to handle. At one point in time they just stopped walking the same path, Reita thought, even though it still hurt so much to think about the other man. Mostly because it all came as a shock: their sudden break-up, Miyavi’s marriage and then a kid (who loved to torture people exactly like his father did). Reita thought he couldn’t compete with that. He still had strong feelings for the vocalist but maybe that wasn’t enough anymore. Miyavi was also not the same. He had matured and even though he was the same bouncy guy Reita could feel the difference. The free spirit that Reita loved so much seemed to have disappeared or at least hid away.
Things between Kai and Ruki seemed to be going just fine until one day…
Kai had been asked to the senior director’s office and Ruki just happened to be bored with nothing to do, and he was very curious as to why his lover would be called for so he decided a little listening behind closed doors wouldn’t hurt anyone. It was probably business stuff anyway, he’d get tired of it soon…it wouldn’t even count as snooping, Ruki thought leaning in to the closed door. What he heard made his heart rip into a million pieces and he just had to get out of there, out of the building, away from Kai.
“Yutaka-kun, I just want the best for my daughter and for you. She has fallen in love with you and frankly I’m quite gad she picked such a promising young man…”
“But, sir, I… “
“If this is about Ruki-san, you can drop the act. I know all about it! But I also suspect that you’re not gay, are you? You’ve always wanted a family, children, haven’t you? And Ruki can’t give you that! Just think about it, this marriage could give you everything you want, you’d practically be the heir to my company, have a loving wife and a warm home and I’m sure that you could maintain your friendship with Ruki…”
Every single word the man had said hurt Ruki because every single word was true and what hurt even more was Kai’s silence. It just meant he also thought about it. So Ruki just ran away, as far as he could, back to their apartment, where only more pain waited for him. When Kai got home that day Ruki was in their bedroom packing.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” Kai asked.
“I heard it, Kai, talk about you getting married to the rich heiress of PSC. And it really is the best choice for you. You never were gay and I’m happy that you’ve loved me for so long. I realize how strong that love must have been. But I won’t stay in the way of your dreams. Maybe it is time each of us went our separate ways. You must feel it too, we’re not who we used to be anymore. Even making music has gotten harder and it shouldn’t be like that because music, for me at least, is my life. The Gazette was my life and it hurts too much the way things are going. So I’m just leaving before it all collapses.”
Kai just couldn’t say anything. He couldn’t even react when Ruki hurried past him and left the apartment. When his feet moved it was already too late. Ruki had gone. And Kai was left wondering about the words Ruki had said. He had to get everything sorted out before the next day because if Ruki was serious, at the next day’s band practice, the Gazette would split up. And just thinking about that, Kai realized something. The Gazette was his life too, their music was his life and they had been idiots for the past year forgetting about that passion of theirs.
The next day, Kai arrived earlier than anyone else and he waited in the parking lot for Ruki to show up. The moment Ruki did, a little later than the other three, Kai got out and stopped him.
“Ruki, we need to talk.”
“No, we don’t Kai. I just need to do this, end this.”
Ruki tried to get past Kai put the drummer wouldn’t have that. He grabbed Ruki’s hand and turned him towards him, wrapping him in a tight embrace.
“Ru, you’ve got it all wrong. After what you said last night I realized this band was my life too. I think all the guys feel like this. We just forgot about ourselves for a bit there but once we’re reminded of it, the fire will burn even stronger. I’ve been itching to get my hands on those drums and make music since yesterday. The Gazette will be back, Ru, let’s get it back!”
Ruki was so happy to hear Kai say that. He had almost stopped hoping. But his heart also hurt being so close to the man that he loved, embraced by him and yet…
“And Ru, one more thing you’ve got wrong. I turned him down yesterday.”
Kai let his arms relax a bit so Ruki untangled from his embrace and his gaze searching Kai’s he asked, not believing what he had heard.
“You did what?”
“I turned him down, Ru. So now you have no choice but to stick with me.” Kai smiled.
“Why?”
“Really, Ruki, do you have a fever or something? Because I love you of course. I can’t imagine my life without you, not as friends but as lovers. I can’t imagine the morning I wouldn’t wake up with you by my side.”
“But Kai, we’re growing older. I’m sure your parents have already started bugging you about getting a wife and settling down. Mine sure have. And you’ve always wanted that: a family. I can’t give you that.” Ruki said on the verge of tears. It really hurt so much to think about it.
“Ru, you are my family. If you’re talking about kids, we can always adopt, if you want that. If not, it’s fine with me, I just need you by my side. That’s all. And those parents of us, we’ll just have to tell them the truth. I think my mom pretty much suspects something since she stopped bugging me about the omiai months ago. Please say you’ll never leave me. I can’t have that, Ruki!”
Ruki came closer to Kai, wrapped his arms around him, softly kissed the other man, letting his feelings flow into that kiss and said.
“Ok, love. I’ll never leave you. Thank you for choosing me.”
Kai ruffled his hair, earning a pout from Ruki and then said:
“Now let’s get this rock party started!”
And the two of them walked into the building and the practice room where their friends waited. And the leader spoke.
“Listen guys, I just realized something. Are we or are we not the Gazette, the ones that were talking in Yoyogi about not needing gentle fans, because we like it tough? The Gazette lately seems more like an idol group than a rock band. Me, I’m all for the old Gazette coming back!” Kai exclaimed.
And all of a sudden a fire sparked in all the members eyes and they looked at each other happier than they had been in months and started laughing.
Uruha said:
“Hell, I’m so glad! We were acting like old geezers back there, weren’t we?”
Reita’s reply was:
“Damn! (here comes a growl) No more talking. I wanna throw that bass into the air again! Gazette, are you with me?”
And a cry that resembled a war cry sounded throughout the PSC building, reaching everyone’s ears making everyone think: “the show is finally starting again” and lighting up a fire that Miyavi had thought all but gone, upon hearing Reita’s growl. “Yes, everyone was back. The show starts again.” Miyavi thought.