Disclaimer's Note: The characters of Gravition are not mine. They are created by well of course the writer and creator of Gravitation. I only own Hitomi and Mikomi; they are the two characters of my own design.




Chapter 9


With a smile, Shuichi was practicing with all his effort. Everyone in the rehearsal hall noticed it. Even Hiro. Shuichi had gone back to the days of pretending to Ryuichi Sakuma on stage.

Shuichi side as they took a break, sitting on chair behind stage of Tokyo Dome. Hiro came following a cup of coffee in his hand, smiling as well. "Hey, you look like you're doing good out there? Things going good with Hitomi?"

"If things were better, there would have to be two of each of us."

"That good huh?"

The pink haired boy nodded, staring off with a sweet smile on his lips. He thought of Hitomi after she had confessed her love. She was very protective and became more open.

"I'm living with her now."

Coffee went everywhere, Hiro's eyes went wide, then he looked at Shuichi, almost unbelieving. "You're serious? And Miko's parents are okay with that?"

"Yeah, they even suggested Mikomi move in Yuki, they're still attending school though and they're both happy now. Hitomi's...the happiest I've seen her since..."

"Since we were kids."

Hiro remembered the incident when they had caught Mr.Shindo raping Hitomi. How she shook in his arms, when Shuichi had thrown her to him. And he remembered the muffled begs of their father begging Shuichi to stop beating him.

Hitomi even came with Shuichi this morning,but then left for her tornament she had. He had never seen her so happy.  But there was something that caught his attention as she ran off, a ring that shown, it wasn't an engagement ring, he knew that much.

"Hey, Shuichi? Did you give Hito a promise ring?"

"Yeah, I did."

                                                   ~*~


Mikomi was sitting at Yuki's desk, stealing his computer and typing non stop. Yuki had set her up with an editor and deadline. He had promised her a surprise if her book was to be published, which was a bit odd for him. He had even been helping her on writer's block spots in the book. Going at it, running on nothing but coffee and toast, she could barely keep her eyes open.

Yuki, coming in from a walk, peeked in on her typing. He a grinned, and then went back to the kitchen to make a fresh pot of coffee. Pouring a mug for him and one for Mikomi. He quietly came into the study and set a refilled glass for her, taking the other away, kissing her sweetly before he made his exit.

The blue haired girl also had to finish for the competetion and concert this evening. Hitomi's was in a few hours and Shuichi's a few after that. Unforunately, she wasn't sure if Hitomi was going to be a finalist, she was then that would interfer with her attending the concert she's supposed to perform in.

                                                       ~*~

Waiting impatiently in the competitors line, her skateboard on her back. One would think she was boy with the black baseball cap she wore and the sunglasses.

To get into the zone, she was wearing headphones, listening to any music that would help her style. The only course she was going to need assistance on was the vert, which was her worst event.

::Will Hitomi Shouta please report to street course 3::

Hearing the intercome over her headphones, she began walking with a parade of other individual skaters. The first event was her best, there should be nothing keeping her from score clean on this course.


                                                     ~*~

A knock came to Mikomi she looked up and saw Yuki, leaning on the door, holding the door knob.

"Hey, we're going to be late for Hito's second course."

"The vert, course, oka. I'm just about done. How's she's doing right now?"

"She called and said she was confident for street, not many seemed like they knew what to do."

Slamming the lap top down, and grabbing the last piece of her printed manuscript, she threw her coat on and placed the finished book in the manilla mail folder, placing a stamp on the corner.

Yuki moved out of her way when she came through and they were on their way out.


                                                       ~*~

Singing "Rage Beat", Mr. K came running into the rehearsal interrupting the progression of the concert.

"Hey guys, just got word from Hitomi, she swiped out all the other street course competetors, she's in first place."

Claps and high fives went all around. Then Hiro and Shuichi suddenly stopped. Both boys remembered that after the street was vert, which counted for 50% of the total score and Hitomi was still lacking in vert.

Ryuichi looked to Shuichi his hand on his shoulder, "Hey, you okay?"

"Yeah, its just...Next is The Vert course...and Hitomi was never really good at vert."

                                                               ~*~

Mikomi and Yuki made their way through the crowd in the stands and saw Hitomi running up to them from the Vert course line. Hitomi gave both writers a hug and smiled happy to see them both, "Did you guys see the score sheets?"

"Yeah, you cleaned it with a 99. That's a new record for you."

Yuki looked over at the vert and shook his head, "You think you can ace the vert? looks that's going to be a challenge."

"It always is...you only get a total of maybe 15 seconds to chose what you want to do. I could never do that."

::Hitomi Shouta, pleace report to Vert Course 1::

"Shouta? Why is she using your last name, Miko?"

"If they know her last name is Shindo they'll be too many cameras and such, she hates it."

                                                   ~*~


The enirity of Nittle Graspser and Bad Luck was watching the small television they had in back of the stage on the Xtreme sports channel. It was Hitomi's event and the crowd had appearantly loved her in the street course.

She stood on the edge and waited for whistle and came down. With her fifteen seconds, she did a 540 , coming down clean. Going back up, she did a continuous repeats of air spins and grinds.

Shuichi had his head burried into Hiro's shoulder, and Hiro had his head burried in Shuichi's hair.

"A...97..."

Everyone jumped up with triumph. That was the best Hitomi had gotten in a vert course. She was dancing the vert top as well. Next was the down hill. Her second best event.


                                                 ~*~


Looking at her wrist watch, Hitomi hoped her oponent would hurry. He was taking forever with the reporters and magazine photographers. He was last year's champion and quite cocky. Waiting impatiently at the course starting line. She tapped her foot.

Seeing Mikomi pointing at her watch from the stand, she just shrugged. If this bastard didn't hurry, she was going to be late.

He walked over to her, an arrogant smile on his lips and took his place beside her. "You ready to lose, Shouta..."

"Save the trash talk..."

Both took their positions and waited for the gun to go off. He looked at her, as she looked ahead, "Ya know...I've never seen a girl with such beautiful eyes..."

Ignoring his words, she took off before him at the sound of the gun, crouching down hill and turning the curve on the inside.  Coming up on an alley, she saw the champion behind her, ready slap her off game. Before he could slap her, she ducked and turned into the alley way.

For five minutes no one knew where she was and thought she was behind. It took her all of ten minutes to come out of the alley way and jump infront of her advisary, giving her only thirty seconds to catch up to him. Again, he tried to slap her off, she ducked again, and then fell back in her movement, letting him run into a sea of road construction cones. Making the jump at the finish line without any competetion, she broke the finish line ribbon, winning the competetion.

After about an hour of hugs and kisses from girls, she held up the trophy then saw Mikomi and Yuki point to their watches. She skated through the crowd and took off out of the competing area and skateboarded  her way to the dome. Continuously looking at her watch.

                                                         ~*~

Shuichi waited behind the screen and saw Ryuichi behind him, his hand on his shoulder again, "Don't worry, she'll make it."

"I hope so."

He walked out on stage with both bands. Ryuichi taking the mic and Shuichi by the shoulders.

"Hello Everyone, and welcom to Nittle Grasper's and BadLuck's first ever duo concert we hope you all have a great time. And enjoy our us as we combined the great sound of music into one."

                                                       ~*~

Hitomi could hear the sound of the crowd as she walked up the back, showing security her pass and skateboarding her way out on to the catwalk. Coming to a stop, she took the bored into her hand and through it on her back, looking down. Removing her sunglasses and hat, and stuffing them her skatebag, she leaped over the catwalk as the members began taking their places.

Landing right between Ryuichi and Shuichi as they took their places at the mic her mic empty, she sighed with relief.

"You made it?!"

"See I told you she would."

She was smiling and then looked to the backstage and saw Mikomi and Yuki. She winked and took Shuichi by the shoulders, kissing him on stage in front of everyone. "Sorry I'm late."

Before the band started up, he pulled her back for another kiss and smiled, drowing out the yell of the crowd.

The music began and All three began singing " Rage Beat."

Hitomi didn't realize it but behind them, the screen played footage of her skateboarding at the tornament today and past events. Kissing her brother at the end of the song, she smiled pushing him a bit, shaking her head with joy and surprise. "Thank you."

"It was Ryu's idea."

She turned around as "Sleepless Beauty" began again, hugging him. To start the song Ryu took her in his arms, and began singing. Through out the song, Shuichi basically shared her as all three of the sang.

                                                        ~*~

After five more songs, they all bowed together, Hitomi kissing both boys on their cheek, waving to the audience.

Ryu stepped between both of them and spoke again to the audience, "Thank you all for coming out for our performance. Now we hope you all loved it, and we'll join us in saying goodbye to Miss Hitomi Shindo."

The crowed awwed and waved to Hitomi, who was blushing, waving back to the audience.

                                                            ~*~

As the band bid farewell for the evening, Mikomi's cell phone rang. Picking it up, she walked away from the noise, Yuki following her. "What is it?"

"Shh...Uh huh, okay, alright, thank you." Mikomi hung up her phone, turning to Yuki, "...Its going on shelves!"

Both bands saw the two hugging and awed, shaking their heads. Hitomi stepped out, "So...what's up?"

"My book is being published."

Everyone was happy to hear the news, the two girls, Mikomi and Hitomi hugged one another. Yuki interrupted them, handing Mikomi a velvete jewelry box, "This must be, the surprise you had mentioned."

Hitomi stepped back to join Shuichi, the two crossing their fingers. As Mikomi opened, her jade eyes lit up, knowing what Yuki was asking her. "You're serious?"

"I am."

Kissing him passionately, Yuki slipped it on her left hand, kissing her back.

"Now isn't that sweet?"

Shuichi snaked an arm around his sister and then revealed a jewerly box to her. Looking back to Ryu, who winked at him, she took it in her hand, and opened it. She was both shocked and happy.

"That's two couples in one night! Now lets go party and celebrate!" Ryu yelled jumping between the two couples grabbing all four by the shoulders.

Both girls looked at their rings. Mikomi had a green emerald and Hitomi a matching sapphire diamond.  Appearantly this was planned. Of course the two didn't mind. Both got the man of their dreams and was happier than ever.


                                                    ~*~

Back NG, they were holding the party for the bands and the two couples. Hitomi showed off her Silver Skateboard trophy she had won. And showed the check that was given to her. No one in the bands got to see the final event and was thrilled with her success.

Toma and Mrs.Seguchi brought the room to a halt and calmed everyone down. Toma, as always was smiling, only this time he was holding his wife. "Well eveyone, I am proud to say that was the best performance I have seen in years. And I'm ashamed to say I must say goodbye to our best asset, Hitomi. Also good luck to you four crazy kids venturing in marriage. Last but not least, I would also like to annouce that within eight months, I myself will be father."

Mrs. Seguchi blushed and everyone gasped and clapped for the married couple. Toma recieved a noogie from Ryu and hug from Nariko. Shuichi looked around and noticed he was alone. Looking to the balcony he saw Hitomi outside and followed behind her.

"You okay?"

Hitomi turned around, and nodded. Shuichi had wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her at the rail, resting his head on her shoulder, kissing her neck. "Are you sure this is what you want, Shuichi?"

"I've never been more sure of anything before in my life."

Kissing her brother's cheek, she smiled, leaning back against him, her eyes shut, a smile painted across her lips. Both listening the sounds of the city, that reminded them of the past and what they have now.