jaiset productions presents

GA RA SU

( s)

-twenty-ninth recording-

b.

original work, inspiratorie.

armed with an artistic right.

besides, this doesn't make money.

(c) 2007 jaiset productions.

tous droits réservés.

homophobes and cheesy scene-phobes, beware.

also, heterophobes... sorry.

THURSDAY, APRIL 24

MORIMOTO RESTAURANT, CHELSEA PIER

"Happy birthday, Lucy!" shouted the members of Milky Way and friends as a small chocolate birthday cake appeared with eighteen candles on it. Despite the dimly-lit, hip-looking atmosphere and the black-clad waiters giving them strange looks, the group started singing 'Happy birthday' very loudly. Afterward, Ten rapped on his glass to get everyone's attention and stood up.

"In commemoration of this once-in-a-lifetime event," he announced, "Rain and I would like to present to you a gift from all of us." He reached underneath his seat and pulled out a large brown paper bag filled with magazines to give to an apprehensive Lucien. She peeked inside and quickly looked away, wincing.

"Not all of them are gay BDSM porn," said Rain, seeing Lucien's facial expression. "Vicky and Erica contributed too. There's some lube and condoms in there too..." He winked at the others, who grinned in reply.

"Why do you guys always give me sex-related presents?" complained a now light brown-haired Lucien, but she laughingly took the stack anyway and set it aside before digging into dinner. Her smile was even brighter now that her braces were gone, but it felt strange to chew food, and her teeth were still a little sensitive.

"It's 'cos we're still immature uni students, even if some of us have long since graduated," explained Ten. "This is why you should start hanging out with more kids your age."

Lucien frowned. "I hang out with Eli, don't I?"

"Well yeah, but he's WAY too old for his age."

"Speaking of Eli, when..." Vicky began. The rest of the group 'shush'ed her. Lucien raised an eyebrow.

"He's not surprising me with something, is he?" she asked skeptically. "I KNEW something was up when he said he couldn't make it!"

"Vicky, sometimes I get a strong urge to strangle you," muttered Erica as the first few strains of a very well-played violin piece were heard coming from the lower level of the restaurant.

"Oh, I love this song," said Rain, closing his eyes happily. "Bach Werke Verzelchnis 1006, Gavotte en Rondeau. I still can't believe he plays that well right-handed."

"I could recognize that fiddle from anywhere," Lucien said smiling as a tuxedo-clad Eli elegantly strode up the staircase, still playing, to their table. With a wink a a grin, he began to play a string version of some Milky Way songs that Vicky made Lucien sing to.

"Hey Eli!" said Julio when the last piece finished. "Want some pufferfish?"

"No thanks," said the violinist, accepting only spare change and pieces of toro. "My girlfriend just got off the plane, she should be here in a bit. We might stay here after you guys leave to have dinner ourselves."

"Oh wow, she flew in all the way from Italy?" Lucien asked incredulously.

"France, actually," replied Eli. "She's studying at Sciences Po, if you have any idea where that is."

"An older woman, huh?" mused Ten. "Way to go, Your Serene Highness!"

"Oh, shut it," the violinist told him before turning back to Lucien. "She's also an opera singer."

"Where the hell do you find these chicks?" wondered Erica in awe.

Eli couldn't reply because a beautiful, if slightly jarring, voice entered into a rendition of "Un bel di vedremo" from Madame Butterfly, which he promptly backed up on his violin. The twenty-year-old girl entered in a short but stunning satin dress in deep violet, chestnut hair pinned back, mouth a perfect O. They were attracting diners from all over the restaurant (and some of the cooks, too). When they were done, Eli took her white-gloved hand and led her over to meet the gang.

"Alessandra, meet Ten, Rain, Vicky, Julio, Erica and Lucien," Eli said, introducing them all in English.

"Pleased to meet you," said the beautiful girl in a heavy Italian (or was it French?) accent as she removed her gloves.

"We went to the same école and collège," continued Eli as the hand-shaking commenced. "I had to go to boarding school in Monaco when I found out, well you know-"

"That you're the heir apparent, yeah, yeah, yeah," said Ten, waving him off.

"This is the birthday girl, by the way," said Eli as he presented Lucien to Alessandra.

"I'm so glad to finally meet you," said the birthday girl to the newcomer in an excited, if not overly jealous, tone. "Eli's told us so much about you!"

"Eli has told me a lot about you as well," replied Alessandra, though it took a few seconds for Lucien to comprehend her through her beautiful accent (which, thanks to Eli, sounded a little Australian in addition to French and Italian). "So when he asked me to sing for your party, I said, 'Sure! Why not? They seem very nice.'"

The group quickly hushed up when the restaurant owner, Iron Chef Morimoto himself, was heading their way to see what the racket was all about. But when Eli and Alessandra performed another duet for his enjoyment, the meal suddenly became a feast, all compliments of the chef.

"How the hell do you pull this stuff off?" Ten asked Eli through a mouthful of sushi. "This is ACE!"

"Years and years of practice," said the overdressed high schooler, finally putting his violin in its case and grabbing a pair of chopsticks. "On the violin, I mean, not charming people to the point that I look like I'm using my Jedi mind powers to git 'em to do what I want."

"That would've sounded overly pretentious coming from anyone other than you," noted Erica, taking a bite out of her yellowfish. "Holy yellowfish, this is really good."

The table shut up for a split second. Rain looked stupidly at the half-bitten piece of mackarel sushi between his chopsticks, then back up at Erica, and the whole party erupted into laughter.

It seemed as if Lucien was the only one who'd noticed or even felt Shuu's absence at the party. Marise was still in the hospital after she'd gotten Erica to come to the studio and drive him the night he came bruised; he'd sent her his present that morning, a baby blue and white Rosa Hurricane shaped like an uneven four-pointed star and fitted with a custom-made tremolo arm, an apologetic birthday card taped to the case. Shuu, though, was just missing. He hadn't even called her.

"Good night, guys," Lucien called to Ten and Rain, who dropped her off at Shuu's apartment later that night. They'd jokingly offered to tuck her into bed but compromised by waiting until she got in through the front door before speeding off into the night.

Lucien marched up the stairs wearily, hoping for a bit of sleep before her classes the next morning. But when she undid the locks and opened the door, all thoughts of sleep went out the wide-open windows.

Sky-blue balloons filled the floor of the apartment, blowing around the freezing living room thanks to the chilly breeze coming in from the windows. Mounds of presents in a riot of colors awaited Lucien on the computer desk, the kitchen counter and the sofa.

And there, standing before her in a warm black turtleneck, was a jetlagged but happy Shuu. In his hands was a single chocolate cupcake with a half-melted candle.

"Happy birthday, Luce," he said with a smile.

( This morning, I woke up and found myself

in an unfamiliar place

from another life I ran from long ago.

In my arms

you sleep

under silken sheets

and jog my memory,

reawakening a love

I'd almost forgotten

but never left me,

a love that lay dormant in my heart

for centuries...

All this time,

despite what others told you

of my mistakes and my infidelities

All this time,

despite what others told you,

you're letting me hold you once again?

(( I'm thinking

in this hour

as you sleep

With your heart,

maybe the past

won't be as hard to face

as I thought... )

The girl woke up the next morning to a warm embrace.

"Hey," said Shuu softly when he noticed her eyes were open. They were in his bed with only a white blanket for cover, wearing nothing but dog tags. Lucien noticed her bare skin brushing against his, and her eyes opened wide.

"Did we really...?"

"Yeah."

Silence. Both smiled at each other sheepishly.

"I guess I'm playing hooky today," said Lucien lightly. Her best friend responded with a "pfft!".

"Oh, Kensington's not a real school anyway," he said, sticking his tongue out. "I hear they have a ton of grade inflation."

"Good point. Hey, aren't you cold?" Lucien inquired after noticing his bare shoulders.

"No way, you're practically an oven," laughed Shuu, kissing her forehead and holding her tightly. The girl happily snuggled closer, then looked up at him, biting her lip.

"Are you going back to Japan soon?" she asked, voice cracking. The boy nodded solemnly.

"I'm leaving Saturday night," he said. "I promise I'll come back, but I can't live in New York anymore."

"Why not?"

"Well..." He couldn't easily say it was because of Marise, but that was one of the bigger reasons. "My parents, for one thing. And Andromeda, for another. We just got a five-year recording contract, so I have to stay with them 'til it's over. It won't be so bad," he added, trying to cheer her up. "If I make enough money, I can visit you all the time."

Lucien sniffled. "I missed you so much and I didn't even realize it," she said in a small voice, wiping away the tears that were beginning to form in the corners of her eyes. "God, I'm so stupid!"

"Hey," said Shuu, dabbing at the corners of the girl's eyes with a corner of the white bedsheet. "If -you're- stupid, -I'm- chicken shit. So I think that makes us even?"

Lucien smiled through her tears as Shuu gave her a grin. Then, once the tears dried, her eyes narrowed in mock anger.

"Hey- can you PLEASE tell me what happened with you and Marise?" she demanded, more curious than anything. "He said you'd explain. Is it true you hooked up with him? Because if it is, what the hell! How did you do him before -I- got to? I'm jealous."

Her best friend gaped at this unexpected confession before laughing until his sides hurt. Lucien got even fake-madder, and took him by the shoulders, trying to shake the truth out of him. Shuu pinned her to the bed, making her brown hair fan out on the pillow behind her.

"Come on, I'm outta the loop here!"

After a few minutes of merciless tickling on Lucien's part, Shuu's laughter gradually subsided. Lucien was still pinned underneath him, waiting impatiently for an answer. Shuu caressed her cheek with a sigh, the joy of being with her eclipsed by the heaviness weighing on his heart.

"It's kind of a long story," he told her with a small smile. "I'll tell you all the details later... but yeah, we were together for a little bit."

Lucien went slack-jawed as Shuu thought about how to explain everything. It took him a few tries to get the right words out.

"He ended it because he knew I was still in love with you," he finally admitted. "But -he-'s still... I think he might be in pain for a while."

Shuu was still smiling faintly, but Lucien saw right through the smile to the tears forming in Shuu's own eyes. The last time she'd seen him tear up was on his twenty-first birthday; for once, she didn't know what to do to cheer him up, so she just kissed his hands and waited for him to continue.

"Out of respect for you, he won't come near me now unless I approach him first," Shuu went on, voice wavering, not looking at Lucien. "I feel like total shit for doing this to him... 'n I really was happy with him, you know? But... in the end, I just- I couldn't forget you..."

He looked at the girl sadly, lovingly, in anguish. Finally understanding, Lucien smiled back.

"You still love him, don't you?" she said lightly.

-"(You still love her, don't you?)"- echoed a troubled voice in Shuu's head.

He closed his grey eyes for a painful moment before opening them and finding Lucien gazing up at him. That slow blink was all she needed for an answer.

"Hey, don't look at me like that," the girl said with a smirk, reaching up to ruffle Shuu's dark hair. "And don't torture yourself over it! Sheesh."

"But-"

"Shawn, if you ever want to go back to him, I'll understand," interrupted Lucien in a rare bout of humorlessness, smile fading from her lips. "Yeah, duh, I love you tons- but seriously, I've known you for wayyy too long to be the jealous girlfriend type. Well, as long as you don't -completely- ditch me."

She brightened up and poked his nose playfully.

"But jeez, being in love with two people at the -same time-? Shuu-chan, you're too promiscuous. Sometimes I wish I had enough money to buy you so I could have you all to myself!"

This last comment made the tears in Shuu's eyes finally spill over, spilling onto his friend's hair. Lucien freaked; two boys crying in front of her within a week of each other was a little much.

"AAH! I'M SORRY!" she yelped as she grasped him by the shoulders. "Was it something I said? Oh my god-" -she put a hand to his flushed face- "do- do you want some tissues?"

"No, I'm fine- sorry 'bout that," said the boy with a shaky laugh, sitting up and wiping his tears away with the same corner of the bedsheet that he'd used on Lucien just minutes earlier. "Demo Hii-chan, sa (But Hikki, listen)... that's the thing. You never needed to buy me."

"Huh?"

"I've been yours for years," said Shuu, kissing her nose. "You've had my heart for a while, you just needed to claim the rest of me."

Lucien wrinkled her nose and reached up to swat at him like a lazy cat. "Oh man, Japan's brainwashed you- that was way too cheesy. Also, you sound like I've had you on layaway! Like a coat."

"Well, you did! That's why no one else could have me." He tugged on the lone dog tag in the ball-chain necklace around Lucien's neck. "This is your claim slip, by the way."

"Oh yeah!" said Lucien, looking apologetic. "Sorry... I found it in a shoebox..."

"Keep it," said the boy, placing it back on its spot between her breasts. "As it says, it's redeemable at any time."

His best friend looked up at him inquisitively, a question mark hovering over her head. Shuu laughed at how incredibly clueless she looked."It's redeemable for one Shuu," he clarified.

"One -shoe-?" The question mark hovering over Lucien's head turned into a sneaker. Shuu swatted it away with a sweatdrop above his temple.

"You know what I mean!"

The girl grinned, then furrowed her brow. "Wait, so it really is a claim slip for -you-? Wtf?"

"Yeah," Shuu replied, a little embarrassed. "I- I got it made the first time I realized I was in love with you."

Lucien tried her best not to, but ended up laughing at him.

"Seriously?" she asked through a giggle fit. Shuu turned red and nodded.

"Yeah... There's a date written really small on the back."

Lucien flipped the tag over and squinted to find the etched date, then did the math.

"But... you were fifteen?" she asked in dismay. "-Seven years-?"

"Seven years of bad luck," declared Shuu, shrugging. "Besides, if I'd told you back then, I REALLY would've been a pedophile."

Lucien laughed again. While she was vulnerable Shuu quickly bit her on the neck, eliciting a shout of protest. These shouts gave way to a different kind of cry as the hour went on.

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 5:15 P.M.

MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL, NEW YORK

"Marise!" cried Lucien once their troop of Milky Way members (sans the ones with classes) finally cleared security and approached Marise's hospital bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Hi..." Marise could barely greet them before he went into a coughing fit.

"He feels like he's got pneumonia, duh," said Shuu in a whisper, gesturing to the tubes going into Marise's nose. "Shut up, loud noises probably hurt him right now."

"Oh, right."

"The docs said he'll be fine, though, right?" said Ten as they lowered their voices and left the room after exchanging a few words of encouragement and tying "Get Well Soon" balloons to his bed.

"Yeah, he should be fine," said Faye, Shuu's Mount Sinai med school connection, as she revised some notes on her clipboard. "He was brought here early, and the pneumonia is bacterial and not viral, so it's treatable, not very contagious. The bruises might cause some complications, but otherwise he's stable."

"What caused those bruises, anyway?" wondered Rain. Lucien immediately took Shuu's hand as they stood side-by-side.

"He doesn't want to say," said Faye, "But it's definitely some kind of abuse."

Shuu's grip on Lucien's hand tightened. She promised not to tell a soul, but she didn't need to.

"I bet it was his dad," said her boyfriend angrily. "Did any of this get out to the press?"

"Nope." Faye sighed. "His bodyguards are at the door day and night, and he's refused reporters."

"It SHOULD get out," said Shuu under his breath, then looked up at the group. "Could you guys gimme a sec?"

Ten, Rain, Erica and Faye all gave him sidelong glances as they filed out. Shuu gave Lucien a kiss (their first in public- "About damn time," muttered Erica under her breath), then entered the room, closing the door behind him. He pulled down the shades before walking up to the chair next to Marise's bed.

"Hao jiu bu jian ((Long time no see))," he whispered into Marise's ear. The boy's swollen eyes peeked open, though any attempt at talking sent him into another coughing fit.

"(Thank you for the Epiphone, Vicky just showed it to me,)" Shuu told the boy, grasping Marise's IV-studded hand as firmly as he dared. "(Thanks for everything, really.)"

"(And for everything I've done to you, I'm sorry.)"

The beeping monitors beeped a little faster.

"(Don't be sorry,)" Marise struggled to say despite the tubes going through his nose. "(Just being with you... made me happy...)"

He lapsed into gasps, trying to get more air. Despite the tubes, Shuu tried his best to wrap his arms around the boy and calm him down.

"(Get better,)" he said. "(And I don't care what you think, I'm gonna talk to your old man.)"

"(But-)"

"(Listen to me now,)" whispered Shuu. "(I'm not doing this because I feel like I owe you anything more. I'm doing this for -your- sake.

"(I'm sorry that things turned out the way they did, and that I was never really able to give you the one thing you deserve.

"(But even if my love for you can no longer be a romantic one... I still love you, all right? Remember that.

"(Any time you need me to, I'd gladly take on your pain. Even if you don't want me to, I'll do it- I can't help it when I see that heartbreaking look in your eyes.)"

He placed his warm hands on Marise's cool cheeks and brushed away the boy's tears.

"(Get some rest. I'll see you again soon.)"

With that, Shuu gently kissed Marise's forehead, tucked his sheets in, then left the room.

END of Garasu (Glass), -twenty-ninth recording-

tsuzuku

1:10 AM 4/10/2007