Who: Eiri and Tatsuha When: The night before the meeting of Maiko and Tatsuha. Rating: PG / PG-13 or something like that. Progress: Complete
Eiri Yuki was on his way home from the drug store, following an appointment. Not immediately following, however, since he had to have his perscription filled and wait for all of that nonsense. So, really, it was a couple of hours later - he'd stopped at a bar to have a drink and try to think about the next chapter in his novel. His doctor was a little far away, but it was the one who had worked. She wasn't in the best part of town - fairly close to Tatsuha's place. So, he decided he'd pay him a visit. After all, he needed a few cigarettes to hold him over until he got back to his part of town. Should have bought them at the drug store... Knocking on the door, he wondered if he would have to deal with Tatsuha's lover too. They'd only met on one occasion, and he was friendly enough, but something about him gave him bad vibes.
Tatsuha was in the bathroom, crying on the floor when he heard the knock at the door. He quickly stood up and ran to the door, glaring. "I told you to get the hell out of here Shinji! I don't need to deal with your shit tonight too!" He flung the door open. "Get the fuck away.... oh, it's you... hey." He sniffled and stepped aside to let him in. "What do you want? I'm not in the best of moods right now." He wiped his eyes, trying to hide the fact he'd been crying.
Eiri looked at him for a long moment. "...I was going to ask if I could have a couple cigarettes for my ride home. I was at the doctor," he said, but he walked in and sat down on the couch, looking at the extra seat for a moment before back to Tatsuha. "What's going on?"
"Sure." He didn't feel like arguing with his brother tonight so he went and grabbed an unopen pack and tossed it to him. "Keep it. I have plenty." He sat down and grabbed his own pack, opened it, took one out and lit it up, inhaling deeply. "Do you really want to know or are you asking just to be polite?"
Eiri raised an eyebrow. "Sit down, idiot. Since when have I ever done anything to be polite?"
He did as he was told then sighed as he exhaled. "I caught Keisuke with another guy in my bed. So, I broke it off with him." He grabbed his drink that was on the table and downed the rest of it. "He was never looking for another job when he said he was, he's been cheating on me the whole damn time. You'd think someone who use to cheat on people all the time would see that, but no, I thought I was in love with the rat bastard!" He slammed his glass down, cracking it a bit, then took another drag of his cigarette. "Even after three years I'm still as stupid as ever."
"I don't think so," Eiri replied, lighting a cigarette from the pack Tatsuha had given him. It'd been hours since he had one. "I think you had feelings for him and you got screwed. That doesn't make you the stupid one."
He laughed. "Yes it does. Whatever though. At least I don't have to support his ass anymore. I can finally save my money for myself." He smiled a little, the alcohol slowly but surely hitting him. "I'm giong to move! With the extra money I'll be saving I can finally move into the employee apartment complex for Club Elite. I'll have a nice place. I'll be doing better for myself in the long run!" That thought made him happy.
Filing the name of where Tatsuha was apparently working into the back of his mind, Eiri nodded. "Yes. You can afford something nicer than this, in a place where your sister isn't afraid to visit you at night."
"Hey! Sis visited me the other night, she didn't seem scared." He took a drag of his cigarette and stood up, going into the kitchen to find his bottle of vodka that was really in the bathroom where'd he'd been before. "Want a drink Aniki?"
"No, I had one while I was waiting for the drugstore to fill my perscription. I still need to be able to drive," he replied flatly.
"One more drink won't kill you, but whatever, I won't push you to have one and it doesn't matter because I can't find my vodka." He sighed and took another drag of his cigarette. "Sorry you have to see me like this."
Eiri shrugged. "Want to come over? Shuichi's spending the night at Nakano's. I can drive you home tomorrow if you want to drink."
He shook his head and frowned. "No thanks... I'd rather be alone right now, plus, I have got to get to bed soon. Lunch tomorrow with Seguchi-san and I work."
"Fine, so, do you want me to go? You're not going to do anything stupid if I do?" Eiri frowned.
He smiled at his brother then. "You can stay if you'd like, I don't mind you being here and no I won't do anythign stupid. I'm not sixteen."
"It doesn't have to do with age," Eiri shook his head. "People do stupid things because of things that happened no matter how old they are."
"I'm not going to do anything stupid, I promise. I'm depressed, not suicidal. Besides I got a great life now. Why the hell am I depressed then?" He laughed and sat back down on the couch after finding a bottle of tequilia. "One more drink and I'll be fine."
"If you want to go to work tomorrow that should be your last drink," Eiri replied honestly, lighting up another cigarette. Tatsuha seemed more than a little tipsy.
"I work at night, I'll be fine by then." He smiled up at him. "thanks for the concern though." He poured himself a drink and slowly drank it. "I need to quit drinking. Reminds me to much of my past...." He set his glass down and pushed it away from him. "I want the old me gone for good."
"There's always part of you left," Eiri said, watching the other. Was he... worried about Tatsuha? Nah.
"I suppose. Maybe that's what keeps me from reverting back to the old me. So I guess it'd be good to keep part of me here." He looked confused now, he was confusing himself. "My head hurts."
"Well, stop drinking for tonight. You're probably already getting a hangover," Eiri rolled his eyes.
"I don't get hangovers anymore." He smiled. "I shoudl stop though." He grabbed his glass and looked at it before putting out his cigarette and standing up. "Alcohol is disgusting right now." He walked into the kitchen and poured out his glass. "Is this karma, Aniki?"
"Maybe. I think it's just life," he replied with a slight shrug. "It happens to everyone. But you know, I think you should just move on. Forget about him if you can, find a nice place, make a good life for youself."
He nodded in agreement. "Forget about who?" He laughed as he sat back down. "I think you're right. I'll do all that and I'll be the better person."
"That's very mature," Eiri nodded a little bit. "You'll have to show me where you work some time.'
He nodded again. "Okay...oh shit...I told you, didn't I?" He sighed, feeling embarrassed now.
"I believe you said something like, Club Elite. I am curious," he replied, putting out his cigarette.
He sighed again. "It's a host club... I work as a host."
"A host club?" Eiri looked a bit surprised. "I didn't expect it, but I can't say you wouldn't work perfectly there."
He chuckled. "I'm number two there, almost the best." He leaned back against the couch and closed his eyes. "Seguchi actually said he was proud of me. Came to visit me there tonight too. Got a nice tip from him."
"I'm guessing that should be a secret from Mika, huh?" Eiri rolled his eyes, lighting up a third cigarette.
"What, that he came to visit me?" He lauged as he too lit up a cigarette. "It was just a friendly visit."
"Yeah, yeah, if he was caught there the press would be all over it," Eiri shook his head.
"I won't tell anyone, don't worry. And yes, it'd be best if Mika didn't know."
"I never said I was worried," Eiri replied, putting his cigarette out and standing. "You ... going to be ok?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine. I'm better now and after getting some sleep tonight I'll be even better. Thanks for asking." He took another drag then looked up at him. "You heading out?"
"I should. Just in case... the brat forgot his keys on the table, so if he wants in, he's screwed," Eiri replied with a shrug.
He laughed. "Alright, thanks for dropping by. As I say to everyone, please be careful going home. This neighborhood is horrible."
Eiri smirked. "I've never really had trouble with that sort of thing."
"If you say so. I'll see you later. Thanks again for dropping by, it was nice of you even if you only wanted your cigarettes." He smiled.
"Oh, these?" He grabbed three and tossed the pack back from him. "I just need enough to get me home," he waved as he headed out. "See you later."
He caught the pack and rolled his eyes. "Fine, whatever. See you."
The click of the door was the second to last sound of Eiri leaving, his car pulling out of the parking lot signalling that he was gone.