Savior

Kenta

I’d herded Hasu and Akira off to the living room while Ryuu and Sora argued. Practice was running a lot longer than normal tonight. Reiko had went home two hours ago and they were still practicing. Actually, now they were arguing. It was rare that the two of them got into a fight like this. Neither one was giving an inch either. I shut the door to the studio behind me so the two younger boys couldn’t hear the yelling.

“You can’t do this Ryuu! They both have school tomorrow. Akira is going cross eyed with fatigue and Hasu is barely able to keep in rhythm. They are exhausted Ryuu.”

“Do you not realize that we have back to back concerts this weekend? We have to be ready. Akira keeps mixing up the third and fifth bars on Infatuation and Hasu’s timing is completely off for Cry. We need more practice.”

“We can practice tomorrow Ryuu. They are too tired and the mistakes are only going to get worse.”

“Fine, maybe I should just cancel the concerts and we’ll just be out the money.”

“Ryuu stop being so fucking unreasonable!”

“I’m not being unreasonable. This is important! We have to get this right. We’ll take a break and get snacks and then we can-“

“Stop acting like a spoiled brat always having to have your way!” Sora was in Ryuu’s face now and I stepped forward not sure if I should break them up yet or not. “You need to think about your friends first not the band!”

“You’re just mad because you wanted to spend tonight at Hasu’s playing around instead of practicing.”

Sora’s eyes narrowed and I went to reach for him but he was already stepping back. “Not like you wouldn’t rather be here alone with Kenta.”

I was surprised at the bite in Sora’s words and didn’t much care for being thrown into the conversation.

“Well at least I’m not a pedophile.”

I heard Sora gasp and make a small pained sound. I stared at Ryuu absolutely fucking floored that he would say something like that to Sora. I knew he teased Sora about their age difference, but that was going too far. I’d never seen Sora look so hurt and I wasn’t sure if he was going to hit Ryuu or cry.

“Ryuu!” I grabbed his arm shaking him slightly. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

I jumped as the door slammed behind me. Pulling Ryuu close I grabbed his head making him look at me. He wouldn’t meet my eyes, pulling away from me.

“Fuck it.” Shoving him back I stalked out the door. I had to find Sora. If things ended this way tonight there would be no concert to worry about practicing for. What the fuck had gotten into Ryuu anyway, saying shit like that. I saw how Sora was with Hasu. It was easy to tell the big guy was head over heels for the little drummer, but he’d never once even done so much as touch the boy. If anything, Hasu was the one who was all over Sora, but he was just affectionate and liked to wrestle. Hell, he did the same with me. Crazy little kid though it was funny to tackle me and try to pin me.

I glanced into the living room but no Sora. Akira was already asleep on the couch and Hasu was curled up on one of the big pillows in the floor. I couldn’t tell but he was probably asleep too. He wasn’t moving so that was a pretty good clue; there were also three empty boxes of cookies near him. I glanced over at the clock. Well shit. It was two in the fucking morning. No wonder Sora was so pissed. Ryuu didn’t usually get this demanding about them practicing. Both the songs he mentioned could just be cut from the set list. It was an hour and a half set list anyway. It wouldn’t hurt to shorten it a bit anyway.

“Sora?”

He was standing in the kitchen with the lights off. I’d almost missed seeing him. I slowly walked up to him.

“Sora . . . I’m sure he didn’t mean it.”

There was a heavy sigh and the broad shoulders slumped. “I’m going home. Maybe . . . maybe tomorrow he’ll have gotten his head out of his ass.”

Heading back into the studio I found Ryuu putting away instruments. Maybe he’d come to his senses.

“Sora left.”

“So.”

“What the fuck is your problem?”

“My problem is I have lazy band mates who would rather play around than actually practice.”
Walking over to him I grabbed his arm, yanking him around to face me. There was a flat, hostile look in his eyes that surprised me.

“Stop it Ryuu. I know this band is important, but you are being stupid. ”

“I’m being stupid?” He jerked his arm out of my grip and shoved me back. “I’m being stupid? How is caring about whether or not we provide a good performance for our fans stupid?”

“You guys will be fine. Just drop the two songs you guys are having trouble with and shorten the set. Pushing everyone this hard is just going to make them upset. You didn’t have to say shit like that to Sora either.” I could tell he was exhausted, his determination and sheer stubbornness was all keeping him going at this point. “Go to bed Ryuu.”

“Shut up Kenta. I’ll do whatever I damn well please.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Just like fucking normal then. I’ll be back when you decide that you want to actually be fucking reasonable.”

“Why don’t you come back when you quit sounding like some two bit thug from a yakuza movie?”

I could tell as soon as the words left his lips that he regretted it. His eyes widened, his face paling.

“Ke-Kenta, I didn’t-“

“Shut the fuck up Ito.” I shook off his hand as he reached for me. “You made your fucking point.”

He let out a low sob and shoved by me flinging the door open so hard it banged off the wall. I let him go. It bothered me just how much his comment hurt. He’d never said shit like that to me before. Actually, this was the first time I could remember him acting like this at all. He could be childish and silly, but he was never mean. This was a totally different side to him and I wondered why he was suddenly acting like this.

Ryuu

I lay on my bed my face buried into my pillow. It was still wet with tears but I’d managed to stop crying. Though every time I thought about what I’d said to Kenta, new tears would well up. Why was I so stupid? Now everyone was mad at me, Kenta, Sora, Reiko would be too when she found out how late I’d kept everyone up tonight. I was just so worried. Worried and upset, but that didn’t mean I had to take it out on everyone else.

I felt the bed move and heard Kenta sigh. “Ryuu . . .you need to call Sora and at least say you are sorry.”

I turned my head so that I was facing away from Kenta. How could I look at him right now? Why was he even bothering to talk to me? I didn’t deserve to have him in my life. Didn’t deserve to have any of this. I bit my lip to keep the sob in as a warm hand stroked my hair. Jerking away I sat up moving to the other side of the bed.

“Stop it. Just stop. Why are you so nice to me?”

Silence.

“I found the article, Ryuu.”

I sucked in a startled breath and turned to face him almost scared of what I would see. He held up the magazine before tossing it on the bed. It was open to the page and I flinched looking away. The photo of me was from earlier this year when I’d went to visit my mother in Europe for a week. “I thought I’d thrown it away.”

“It was laying on your desk. Is this why you are acting so fucking weird today?”

I hung my head, not able to answer him.

“Ryuu!” He sighed and I could hear the exasperation in his voice. “You let this kind of shit get to you? Come on! You are smarter than that!”

“Did you read it?”

Another sigh and I heard the crinkle of pages as he picked the tabloid up. “Ito Ryuunosuke is known for many things, being socially responsible is not one of them. The heir to the Ito fortune was seen out with his bodyguard in Shinnomiya earlier this week. As usual he spent money like there was no tomorrow only stopping at the most expensive shops the area has to offer. No you didn’t, stupid fuckers.”

He paused for a moment. “This is the part I don’t get . . . Ito’s band Bloody Agony has risen quite well in the charts for being a visual kei style band. There are rumors that the band’s popularity has nothing to do with the actual music and more to do with Ito’s antics and playboy status. Another rumor states that Ito has paid certain industry leaders to achieve their current ranking. Is that why you’ve been pushing the practices so hard? You don’t really think people believe this shit do you? Ryuu?”

I shrugged not turning to look at him. What if it was true? What if that was the only reason people came to the concerts and bought the CDs? I worked so hard on the music and had even taken composition and music theory classes to improve and still people said shit like this. Though the part about me paying bribes really pissed me off. Where the hell did they get that idea anyway? True I used my parents money to help the band, but only when it came to buying equipment or outfits. I would never use my money or influence to try to make things easier or get us ahead.

“Ryuu . . . these people obviously have never heard your music. I know how much time and effort you put into the songs. That is the reason you guys are even on the charts. This is all just bull shit. Fucking bull shit.”

I sighed. “I know Kenta . . . but it still bothers me. I’ve had to fight people thinking I’m nothing but a stupid stuck up selfish brat for so long, I’m just tired of it. Why can’t they just judge the band on our music, why does it have to be about me?”

“Sorry Ryuu. But honestly today you acted just like a selfish brat and treated your friends like shit.”

I lowered my head. It was suddenly hard to breath, a hot ache in my chest. I could barely get the words out. “I know. I know . . .”

“Fuck. Don’t start crying Ryuu.”

“I’m sorry!” I wiped furiously at the tears that were falling. “I just want this weekend to go well. There are going to be reporters there from several big music magazines and I’m terrified we’ll get a bad review.”

I gasped holding my cheek, the sting from the slap shocking me. I stared up at Kenta only to see him glaring at me.

“You should be more worried about your friends. You are so concerned about the band but seem to forget that the band is made up of your friends.”

I was shaking unable to tear my eyes away from him. He was right. Oh shit, why was I so stupid? I’d completely let that inane article get to me and I’d hurt the very people I should have turned to for support instead. I couldn’t stop the tears any longer, the sobs wracking my body. The next thing I knew I was being gathered up into strong arms.

“Ryuu . . . come on . . . this is not like you. Why did that article upset you so much?”

Kenta

I felt like shit. I shouldn’t have hit him. He was too fragile right now and I’d only made things worse instead of getting my point across. Fuck. He was sobbing so hard I was afraid he was going to pass out from not getting enough air. I rubbed his back trying to get him calmed down. The sobs slowly quieted down until they were just random hiccups. I knew the article was harsh but it wasn’t as bad as some other’s I’d seen that bashed certain celebrities. He finally loosened his grip on my shirt.

“It wasn’t just that article. There are lots more like it. The tabloids in Europe are even worse.” He leaned away from me grabbing a tissue and wiping his face. “They call the band a fake and say that I probably lip synch to someone else’s singing. They’ve attacked all the members of the band at various points. Father is suing one of the papers because what they said was so slanderous.”

What the hell? No wonder he was so upset. “Well then how do they explain when you screw up? Or what happened that time you almost passed out because you were sick and too stubborn to cancel. That stuff can’t be faked.”

“I know, but it’s hard not to be hurt by it.”

I kissed his temple. “You are just too thin skinned Ryuu. You’ll never survive in this business if you don’t toughen up a bit.”

“I know. Mother said the same. She said she had to deal with all kinds of tabloid rumors when she was a top model. People can be very unkind.”

“They can be worse than that. Come on you are exhausted. Let’s go to bed.”

“Actually . . . I think I’ll call Sora first.”

I nodded and let him up. I had been hoping he was going to say that. While he was on the phone I went to go check on the boys. Akira had apparently fallen off the couch and Hasu had rolled under the coffee table. Sighing I picked up Akira first since I knew he wouldn’t wake up. Damn but the boy was light. I put him in the spare bedroom and went back for Hasu. I finally just picked up the coffee table and moved it. He was a bit heavier than Akira even though they were the same height.

“Hey! What are you doing? Put me down.”

“Shh! I’m just taking you to bed.”

“I can walk you know.”

“We are already here.” I set him on the bed and tousled the dark hair. “Get some sleep.”

He was already burrowing under the covers next to Akira. Looking at the two of them for a moment I frowned. I knew Ryuu wasn’t intentionally doing it, but he was being too hard on them. Akira’s fingers were raw and Hasu had blisters in his hands. Neither of them had complained though.

“Hey Kenta?”

I turned back to look at Hasu. He was sitting up in the bed looking at me. The light from the hallway was glowing in his eyes, making them seem even larger than normal. He looked like such a little kid even if he was almost sixteen.

“Is Ryuu still mad at us?”

“What?”

“It’s just . . . he’s been so short with everyone today and I know I’m having a hard time with Cry, but he’s never been this frustrated before.”

“It doesn’t have anything to do with you, Hasu.” Walking back over to the bed I tucked the covers around him and then Akira. “Just go to sleep. I’ll get you guys up in time for school.”

“Thanks Kenta . . . you’re really nice no matter what anyone says.”

I chuckled at the sleepy voice and patted his head. “You’ll learn better.”

Turning out the hallway light I went to find Ryuu. He was curled up in the office chair, the phone laying open on the desk. Going over, I shut it and touched his shoulder. He slowly raised his head to look at me a small, pained smile on his lips.

“I talked to Sora.”

“And.”

“He’s still mad at me, but . . . he said he’d be over in the morning.”

“It is morning.”

“Well . . . around noon anyway.”

I shook my head letting out a slow breath. Reaching down I pulled him to his feet. There was no resistance, in fact he was limp and for a second I wondered if I was going to end up carrying everyone to bed. He suddenly threw his arms around me, nuzzling his face against my neck.

“I’m really sorry about today Kenta. I didn’t mean to say that stuff.”

“It’s done and over Ryuu, just forget about it. Next time shit like this comes up, just say something instead of driving everyone crazy.”

“I will. I’m sorry. Umm . . . I think I’m going to cancel the concert tomorrow night.”

Grabbing his shoulders I pulled him back so I could look at him. “No, you aren’t. You will talk to your friends first and see what they want to do. It’s their band too Ryuu. Not just yours.”

“I just thought that-“

“No. Hasu already thinks you are mad at him. If you cancel now it will look like you don’t have any confidence in their skill. No. You will not cancel the concert.”

He looked at me for a moment, the soft grey eyes seeming to pull me deeper and deeper in.

“This is why I love you so much Kenta.” He leaned in and kissed me, a soft sweet kiss that left me with a warm tingling sensation. “Let’s go to bed. We’ve got a lot to do in the morning.”

“We? What we?”
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A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who has taken the time to review! I am thrilled that you are enjoying the story so far. Lisa: Ryuu does have a therapist, he's just not been to her in a while. That issue will probably be addressed later. ^^