tinyangl | [#96] Some of These Happy Points are Days Old.

[#96] Some of These Happy Points are Days Old.

But I hope you guys don't mind me cheating. lolol

i. Happy stuff! :D
+ Last Friday, the 9 hour marathon Skype call with Jennie and Peyton. I still don't know how we spent so much time just babbling about who knows what. Although two hours of that were spent on Peyton on her pizza, from deciding if she should get it to the point when it was delivered. Another couple of hours spent talking fic - both

je_ficgames and

je_holiday. (Mainly Peyton and I spazzing to Jennie about all she's missed since she hasn't been reading fic.) I think all of us got phone calls from various people at some points (Peyton was miss popular). God, and I think they helped me try to solve a crossword puzzle. That I don't think I finished on that note. lolol
+ Peyton invited me to her place. "I have an empty bed for you." Bow-chika-wow-wow.
+ The episode Rashomama played on Friday. And that is, hands down, my favorite CSI episode of existence. If you watch CSI and have never seen this episode, you are so missing out. :DDD Pimpimpim.
+ I managed to convince Cyn and Jennie (although the second one was a joint effort with Peyton) to get twitters. Who rocks? :D (AKA, if you do not have a twitter. you should get one now. And then friend me. I'm tinyangl.)
+ Yamapi and V6 are going to be on VS Arashi. Who's ridiculously happy? I AM I AM. January 10th can't come any sooner. *____________*
+ Tegoshi wanting to be flawless. Total A+.
+ Tegoshi asking Yamapi to Karaoke straight out. Even more A+.
+ J-Friends' I Will Get There. If you've never heard it, you should now. Amazing fucking song.
+ Just Peyton in general. :D She knows why.
+ Toda Erika on Domoto Kyoudai. I didn't used to like her, but after Ryuusei no Kizuna and this interview, she's really growing on me. Also, Koichi's magic trick was fucking awesome. Making her birthday with the cards? DUDE. WHO DOES THAT?! Holy shit. Even if it's raw, everyone should watch just for that, honestly. It's worth it. *______________*
+ This picture of Okada, Morita, Miyake. Hysterical. Be warned, Okada's in his tightie whities. lololol
+ Subbed K-chan Episodes: 1 ♥ 2 ♥ 3 ♥ 4. All are absolutely hysterical. I totally recommend checking them out.
+ Getting my week of jesummary posted. :DDDD
+ Oh! Almost forgot. Grades are starting to trickle in. :DD A- for Grammar! Honestly? That's the only one that I thought would come close to a B (Granted, I don't know how Creative Writing prof will grade, so who knows). But hearing that it's an A makes me giddy. Maybe I'll be able to boost my average with this semester. Ridiculously happy.
+ I love my twitter. That is the only reason I have most of this list. lolol Looking back at my twitters so helps. XD

ii. Galileo Zero.
Finally managed to watch this despite downloading it ages ago. Ohmygod, so amazing. It only served to remind me that I really liked the drama and then I really wished that I saw Yukawa and Kaoru together again. Random points!

+ Yukawa being lecherous. Hysterical. I love the assistant trying to get girls to "play" with Yukawa but failing miserably.
+ The guy who plays Kusanagi. I'd seen him in a couple of other things, but for some reason, he was just really hot to me in this. I don't even know why.
+ I was genuinely surprised when I suddenly saw Masami show up. With her glasses and white coat. She thoroughly amused me though. Loved her interactions with Yukawa, trying to hit on him and convince him to stay by saying she had a really tiny bikini and then Yukawa going off on how it'd be great if girls wore bikinis to class. I was like WTF. LOL Also, love at the end when she leaves and he's babbling about love (as always) and she's like, he doesn't get it. Yukawa never did get a clue.
+ LOVED MIURA. Ohmygod. He had Yukawa down, honestly. I thought it was brilliantly acted and just all around amazing. ;alskdjlkasfjd I was honestly waiting for him to show up on screen and when he did, I flailed hard. :DDDD
+ The cases were good. I mean, I liked them but it's not like I can say much about them. lolol
+ This just made me want to find out what happens in the dman movie. Wantwantwant. alsdkjalfksjdf
+ OH. At the end of the special, we got a performance of Shibasaki Kou and Fukuyama Masaharu. SO BEAUTIFUL. OHMYGOD. I knew they performed together for this, but I'd never actually seen them together so seeing Fukuyama in the back with the guitar made me flail ridiculously.
+ Honestly, a good watch for those who saw Galileo before. And if you've never seen Galileo, what the heck are you doing reading this?! lol Seriously. Thoroughly enjoyed myself. :DDDDD Plus Miura = A+.
+ OH, random note. For a split second, Sailor Venus was one of the assistants. I was like OH HAY. LOOK WHO'S ON MY SCREEN! :D

iii. It's the holidays! I thought I'd be nice and offer up some of my writing (as terrible as it is). The last time I ask for prompts, I know I failed. DDD: Sorry. But this time, I have more free time (aka right now) so prompt me something to write for you! Granted, I have no promises for length, so it may range from one sentence to .....Well, let's not go there. lol So prompt away! :D No deadline that I can think of. Hopefully, I'll be better about this one. *dies*

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Jin doesn't stay in America for too long--it had only been one job, after all. So a week after his talk with Ryo and five weeks since he'd seen Jin, Yamapi goes to the airport, finding out all his details after talking to Jin's boss, Kame, who had given Yamapi a half-smirk when he'd ask--Yamapi figured this meant that not only did all of NewS Express know, but so did DUES.

Yamapi keeps his hands in his pockets, fingering the key Jin had left that night--the key that JIn had somehow wrangled from Yamapi's building's manager. ("I winked and smiled the right way," Jin boasted.) He didn't come with much, just himself and his pride. He hopes it's enough--enough for what? Yamapi's still not sure himself.

Groups of people trickle out of the terminals, and even though Yamapi knows when Jin's plane is supposed to arrive, he's still unsure when Jin will actually come out.

When he does, Yamapi expects this whole swell of music in his head--flashes to how Jin will react to seeing Yamapi there, to them making up--all happy storybook endings. Except, reality is never like that; instead Yamapi sees Jin with his arm around some blonde with green eyes, who's looking at JIn with these bright eyes that seem to take all of Jin's attention.

Yamapi freezes, stares, and can't quite figure out if he should move or not.

It takes him another minute before he turns, except someone's tugging on his arm as he's walking away and Yamapi just knows he was way too late--in more than one way.

"Yamashita," Jin calls, even though Yamapi's already stopped, Jin's hand still on his elbow. Yamapi turns slowly, putting on his best smile.

"Akanishi, welcome back."

Jin stares--he looks a little different even though it'd been only a little over a month, longer hair, darker bags under his eyes, and there wasn't a trace of a smile on his lips. "What are you doing here?"

"I thought I'd check out how you did in America. Maybe mock you somehow--like, you've gotten chubbier," Yamapi jokes, trying to stay normal.

"What are you really doing here?"

The girl stands a little bit away from them, but her eyes pierce Yamapi's--staring him down, almost daring him to say something. "Seriously. I heard through the grapevine, that's all. Thought I'd congratulate you on your article--heard you're up for some kind of prize because of it."

JIn pauses. "I didn't know," he finally says.

Yamapi laughs it off, shaking his head. "Neither did I," he answers. "Well, it was great seeing you. Glad you're still alive and," he moves to wave at the girl with Jin. "It was nice to kind of meet you." He turns on his heel then, walking away, and this time, Jin doesn't stop him.

Yamapi finds out a while later that they're serious--have been for a couple of weeks. Ryo finds himself a permanent drinking partner.

--

"Why don't you just tell him?" Ryo snaps.

"Stop getting so agitated. I think someone needs to lay off on the alcohol." Yamapi smirks.

"I've only started drinking so much because you've started hanging around."

Yamapi shrugs. "So?"

"Pi, if you don't get what I'm saying, then you're an idiot."

"I get what you're saying. I'm just not listening." He grinned brightly at Ryo before taking a sip.

"You're miserable and you're making everyone around you miserable. Why don't you just do something about this Akanishi thing and get it over with?" Ryo snaps, turning in his stool to actually face Yamapi.

"I did try. And only got disappointed. So why would I try again?"

"Because obviously you didn't try enough if you're still miserable and depressed."

Yamapi sighs. "Shut up, will you? I don't need a conscious. I managed to drown mine out days ago." Ryo rolls his eyes at him.

"Just go over to his place. Clear things up and then whatever happens, happens. At least this time, you can really end it without regret, idiot."

"But-" Yamapi starts, but Ryo quickly interrupts. "No. No convincing yourself out of it. Nothing. Just move, go there and get things done."

--

Yamapi finds himself in front of Jin's apartment--a place he had actually not gone to often, as Jin went to Yamapi's place more. ("Because yours is actually clean," Jin explains with a hint of a whine. "Maybe if you got a maid, Bakanishi.") He probably spends about two minutes just standing there, at a loss for why he's actually there until he raises his hand and presses the doorbell.

"Coming!"

Yamapi spends a second wondering if he has enough time to run before Jin gets there, but the next second, the door opens and Yamapi comes face to face with a scruffy Jin who only has on his boxer shorts.

Jin stares at Yamapi, and all Yamapi can think is that he wishes Jin would get it over with--would just say something. "Say something," Yamapi ends up blurting out, a little embarrassed as Jin's eyes narrow.

"Why are you here?"

"I." Yamapi pauses. "Because I want to be."

Jin stares at him before sighing, scratching the back of his head as he pushes the door farther open to let Yamapi into his apartment. Yamapi doesn't move until Jin's already walking back inside. He takes steps inside, closing the door behind him, trying to breathe as he watches Jin's back.

When Jin sits down on the couch, Yamapi doesn't find it in him to actually follow, to sit down as well, so instead he stands awkwardly by the television and just waits.

Jin's eyes flicker in his direction before he sighs. "Are you going to sit down?" Jin asks, eyebrow raised.

"I don't know. Should I?"

Jin rolls his eyes. 'I can't give you answers to everything, Yamashita. For once, have the balls to make your own decisions."

"That's what I've been doing," Yamapi snaps. "For once, why don't you actually say what you want."

Jin stares then stands up and walks over to Yamapi, putting his hands firmly on Yamapi's shoulders before pulling Yamapi towards him and pressing his lips against Yamapi's. This is familiar; Jin's lips are warm and wet against his and Yamapi can feel Jin's heart pounding against his--skin warm underneath his fingers--he doesn't even know when he put his hands on JIn's chest for that matter.

When Jin pulls back, Yamapi thinks he's forgotten to breathe. "Is this your answer?" Yamapi asks.

Jin laughs. "I guess I need to tell you again, huh?" Jin leans in and against his lips, Yamapi mumbles a "I always did like hearing something twice."

--

"What happened to that girl you were with?" Yamapi asks, leaning back on Jin's bed.

JIn shrugs. "I think she was only with me because I knew English and Japanese. Easier to get around."

Yamapi pauses, before risking it. "You guys weren't serious?"

"Stupid. I haven't been serious with anyone but you." Jin presses his fingers lightly on Yamapi's arm--like it's a sign of how serious he is. Yamapi licks his lips before shifting in the bed, tangling his fingers with Jin's.

"Did you know that everyone already knows about us?" Yamapi asks, just to change the subject. Jin laughs, the bed shaking with his laughter.

"You were the only one that thought it was still a secret, you know."

"Are you serious? Why didn't you tell me?" Yamapi pouts.

Jin turns over, moving to straddle Yamapi, his thighs firmly on Yamapi's sides. "Because it was fucking hot pretending."

Yamapi grins, wrapping his arms around Jin's neck and pulling him down and fusing their lips together. "You always did get hot and bothered over all the sneaking around."

--

UMMMM. I don't even know. Hopefully you enjoyed. XD

*________* ahhhh I love this <3333 and I love you! >w< askhfalfkhlasfh so cute. POOR YAMAPI I WAS SO SAD FOR HIM WHEN JIN CAME BACK FROM AMERICA WITH THE GIRL. :( :( :( :( :( Heartbroken!Pi always makes me wibble. alskfhalsfh AND OF COURSE JIN WOULD FIND IT HOT. xDDD He's such a whore. ilhimsm. alsfhlfkhalf *_________* alskfhalfhlash competing journalists, ahahaha, that would be a sight. XDD

alkfalfkh <3333 ILU~

"I fell into a fork," Yuuki says weakly.

Yori raises an eyebrow. "A what?"

"A fork?"

BRB DYING IN LAUGHTER

as;ldkas;dl'; no. seriously. i still can't believe you actually wrote this lolol oh god. and. dies, what, it isn't even crack. you actually like, gave them ~plotty bits~ what the fuck sd;lfksd;lf' this is so many levels of weird idek only you would bother with silly requests like this ilu x 1000000 ♥!!!

I CAN'T BELIEVE I WROTE IT EITHER. XDDD I did enjoy the fork part. only because, wtf, how do you pass that off. but um, a;lskdjflkasj yeah.ridiculous. ILU X ∞ only you would make me write vampire knight and thenget me to actually write it. *dies*

Timeline is so not linear, so hopefully you'll be able to map it together. XDD (Also, ignore Rina/Jin reference. I... Couldn't resist. XD)

--

Intervals of Three

i. 0 month. (Or really, 18 months, 6 weeks and 3 days forward.)

"YAMASHITA, IF YOU DON'T GET ME TO A FUCKING HOSPITAL NOW, I WILL-"

Yamapi doesn't get a chance to find out what exactly Yui would do to him, nor does he really want to know frankly, because he's already pushing her into the car, throwing her bag into the back seat, and rushing to the driver's seat.

"WHY AREN'T WE THERE YET?!" She screams at him and Yamapi winces when she puts her hand on his arm and squeezes.

"Oh God, oh God, oh God," she moans--and not in the way he'd like, mind you--before steeling her eyes on him. "I cannot believe you did this to me. I cannot believe I let you do this to me. WE ARE NEVER HAVING SEX. EVER.

Yamapi winces again and has to remind himself that she's in pain and he should be a considerate and not think with his other brain. They finally arrive at the hospital later than Yamapi would've liked because he's almost positive that her hand marks are going to be permanent on his arm. He haphazardly parks near the front door, ushering Yui inside as she moans loudly again.

"My wife's pregnant!" he exclaims just as Yui curses Yamapi again.

The nurse behind the counter winces and ushers Yui into a wheelchair, leading her to a room. Yamapi ambles behind them with a little sigh of relief. Yui's a distance in front of him before she yells out, "Yamashita, where the fuck are you?!" Yamapi's eyes go wide before he rushes quickly to her side--the birth of their first child could happen at any moment, it seems.

ii. 3 months backward.

"What's it been? 3 years?" Yamapi asks, smiling as he shakes hands with one of his newest co-stars.

Yui looks thoughtful before smiling. "I think so. It's great to work with you again, Yamashita-kun."

Yamapi chuckles. "You called me Yamapi back then, you can do that again, you know."

She wrinkles her nose. "I don't think that'd be proper right now. I'm okay with calling you Yamashita-kun."

"Does that mean I should call you Aragaki-chan?"

She laughs--her eyes sparkling as she does so and Yamapi's almost a little, just a little taken aback. "Gakki's fine."

"So I can call you by your nickname, but you can't call me by mine?" he asks, mildly amused.

Yui's eyes go wide. "No, that's not what I meant. I mean--" She stops short when Yamapi starts laughing, the corners of his lips pulling upwards.

"It's okay," he says shaking his head. "I don't mind either."

Yui pouts at him. "You weren't like this on the Dragonzakura set," she comments.

Yamapi grins. "Things change." Before Yui can respond, Erika walks up to them, greeting both of them cordially--Yamapi never takes his eyes off of Yui, struck by how familiar he feels around her. Even if it has been three years since they last spoke.

iii. 3 years. (Or really, 4 years, 6 months, 6 weeks and 3 days forward.)

"Catch him!" Yui calls out from across the hallway. Yamapi jumps from his seat, tossing the script he'd been studying in favor of grabbing the 3-year-old that was dashing around the house nude and still dripping slightly from the bath he'd just had.

"Raimu," Yamapi says sternly, holding his son at arms length and crouching down to eye level. He raises an eyebrow.

Raimu only grins, squirms out of Yamapi's hold and manages to dash to the next room--the kitchen. Yui throws Yamapi a glare as she runs past, a towel still firmly in her hands. Yamapi chuckles before intercepting, entering the kitchen from the other entrance and catching Raimu firmly in his arms, embracing him as Yamapi stands back up.

"Active today, aren't we?"

Raimu still tries to squirm, but this time, Yamapi's not letting him. He passes Raimu to Yui who starts to dry whatever is still actually wet and that hasn't dripped onto the floor in his journey around the house.

"Your son seems to like to bare all," Yui says sardonically, giving Yamapi a half smile.

Yamapi chuckles. "If you're going to say, just like his father..."

Yui smirks. "You already said it for me." She turns to Raimu who's calmed down a little thankfully. "Okay, mister. Let's get some clothes on you. Wouldn't want to catch a cold."

"I want papa to do it!" Raimu pouts.

"Ah, your dad's busy study--"

"I can do it," Yamapi interrupts. Yui blinks at him, startled. "My script can wait. I don't mind dressing Raimu." Yui smiles, passing Raimu back to his father before drying off her hands on a nearby towel.

"Okay. His clothes are already laid out on the bed so it'll be at least a little easier." Yamapi chuckles, leaning in to peck Yui on the lips.

"I know, Gakki," he teases before ushering Raimu towards his room. "Had a nice bath?"

"Un!" Raimu says cheerfully. "Mama used that shampoo I like." Yamapi laughs, leaning in to sniff Raimu's hair.

"Mmm. Smells good too!" Yamapi swears he can feel Yui's eyes on them, just watching--probably with a smile on her face.

iv. 6 months rewind. (Or really, 12 months, 6 weeks and 3 days forward.)

"You're what?" Yamapi asks, heart pounding and eyes wide. He's not even sure he's standing anymore.

"Tomo-kun," Yui breathes, sitting down to join him on the couch--oh, he did sit down--and tugging his hand into her grasp. "I... I don't know how--"

"Of course we know how," Yamapi sighs, closing his eyes over his hand. "Shit."

Yui pauses. "Look, I can--"

"No," Yamapi says firmly, looking Yui in the eye. "I'm taking responsibility. I'll take care of everything."

Yui gives him a small smile, tugging him into her arms. "You're amazing."

"Of course, we'll have to get married," Yamapi says, more focused on trying to get everything in order. He misses the glance of disappointment on her face.

v. 3 years, 3 months rewind, 3 minutes.

"That's your co-star, Aragaki Yui. She'll be playing your girlfriend." Yamapi turns, looking over to see the girl his manager is gesturing towards. He blinks, then thinks to himself that that's not a bad girl to play his girlfriend.

"You're supposed to look disinterested," his manager coughs before Yamapi stares at him.

"What?"

His manager nods. "Yeah, something about her trying to find her way without you so you can't look interested in her, Yamashita-kun." There's something there that Yamapi knows he's trying to point out, but Yamapi can't quite decipher it. Yamapi just waves his hand in acceptance before turning to look at Yui again; she's chatting with one of his other stars--a Nagasawa Masami, he thinks--a bright smile on her face that almost calls for his attention.

She turns her head, catching his eyes--blinking and slightly confused. Yui smiles in his direction, tucking her hair behind her ear before waving to him.

Yamapi gives a half hearted one in return and exhales slowly, hoping he looks calmer than he feels. He's not sure how he's supposed to act indifferent when that's the farthest that he feels.

vi. 6 years forward. (Or really, 7 years, 6 months, 6 weeks and 3 days forward.)

"Yui!" Yamapi calls from across the yard. "I don't think we have enough balloons!"

"Papa~" Raimu whines. "When can we just eat the cake and forget about everyone else?"

Yamapi chuckles, leaning forward. "When your mom's back is turned, you can sneak a taste. Maybe get all that whipped cream off for your dad."

Raimu's nose wrinkles. "You know I don't like it too. Can't I just eat the inside? The cake part?"

"Nope," Yui chimes in, walking outside with a new bag of balloons in her hand and the other hand around her large stomach. "Here you go, Tomo."

Yamapi grins, leaning forward to kiss her and ignoring the loud "yuck" from beside him. He pulls back, puts his hand on Yui's stomach and says softly, "Only three more months before you become one of us, ne?"

"Papa," Raimu whines. "The balloons aren't done yet and I can't blow them up like you do!" Yamapi meets Yui's eyes and exaggeratedly rolls his eyes.

She laughs, shakes her head. "Rai-chan, you know you won't be able to act like that when your baby sister or brother is born."

Raimu nods, holding his head up. "I'm going to be a big brother! And protect it like daddy does for you."

Yamapi smirks while Yui tries to hold back her laughter. "Did papa tell you to say that?"

"Yup!"

"Well, just make sure you don't protect your baby sibling like your papa did his baby sister. She nearly kicked him when he forbade her to marry your uncle Jin."

Yamapi winces, like he's remembering the moment perfectly in his head.

"But what if she doesn't know what a right idiot he is?" Raimu asks, frowning. Yamapi instantly claps a hand over his mouth, chuckling awkwardly as though that would make Yui forget what Raimu had just said.

"Did your papa say that too?" Yui says pointedly, glaring at Yamapi. With Yamapi's hand over his mouth, all Raimu can do is nod vigorously.

"Heh," Yamapi chuckles again. "Um. That. That wasn't about Jin, of course. That was about something else."

"Wait till I tell him that," Yui chuckles, turning around and waddling back into the house.

"It's nothing I haven't said to his face before!" Yamapi calls out before crouching down when Yui's out of sight. "Now, Raimu, that's one of those things that we're supposed to keep between us," Yamapi says firmly.

"Oh. I'm sorry, papa. I'll try to remember next time," Raimu says before handing Yamapi a balloon. "This first though."

Yamapi shakes his head, laughing.

vii. 5 months, 1 week rewind. (Or really, 13 months, 9 weeks and 3 days forward.)

"Pi, I know you've been doing the right thing, getting engaged to Aragaki-chan and getting a place together and whatnot, but have you even stopped to think about what you're doing?"

Yamapi pauses then sighs. "I didn't call you so you could tell me what I'm doing wrong, you know."

"You're miserable," Jin says on the other end. "You're miserable and you don't know why."

"I'm not!" Yamapi snaps annoyed. "I've been dating Yui-chan for over a year now. This is good news."

"Then why don't you sound like you're convinced yourself?"

"Since when do you pay attention to these kinds of things?"

"When my best friend seems to want an escape instead of facing up to the things he's set out for himself. Why didn't you just say what you felt then?" Yamapi can tell Jin's frowning on the other line and something about that thought makes Yamapi frown in turn.

"Because this is the responsible thing to do. We're adults, Jin. It's not that easy anymore."

"Do you want to have the baby?"

Yamapi pauses before a smile spreads on his face. "Yeah. I want the baby."

"Does Aragaki-chan know?"

Yamapi blinks. "What? Of course she does!"

"Then why is she over here with Rina and sobbing her eyes out?" Yamapi doesn't bother to respond to that, already on his feet and out the door.

"I don't want you here!" Yui hisses when Yamapi's pounding frantically on Rina's door. "You obviously don't care what I want, so get out!"

Rina gives Yamapi a glare. "If you don't get things fixed, Tomohisa. I am going to--"

Yamapi doesn't get the chance to find out because Jin's already leading Rina away from the bedrooms, ushering her into the kitchen. "Fix it!" is the last thing Yamapi hears from his sister's lips.

Yamapi leans his head against the door. "Yui-chan. Just. What's wrong?"

"If you don't know, then why should I tell you?"

"Because I won't know if you don't."

The door opens and Yui glares at Yamapi fiercely. "You know what, fine. It's because you're so caught up in doing the right thing, that you haven't even told me if this is what you even want. If you're going to be happy getting married to me and having a baby."

Yamapi stares in stunned silence. "What?"

"You pretty much always do what you're told, Yamashita. How do I know you're not just going through the steps and doing what you're expected. How do I know this is not just you forcing yourself? And--" Yui stops short, clapping a hand over her mouth. "And how do I know that you're happy?"

Yamapi abruptly takes her into his arms, squeezing tightly as he shuts his eyes. "Yui-chan, that would never happen. I'm doing this because I love you and want to have this baby with you."

"But--" Yui starts, but Yamapi interrupts. "You should've told me you were worrying about this."

"You were so focused. I just--I didn't want to ruin it."

"I'm worried too," Yamapi murmurs, still holding onto her. "I don't know if I'll be a good father. Don't know how to be one. But, Yui-chan. If it's with you, I feel like I could do this--or at least try my best."

"Oh shit, he actually did solve it without our help."

Yamapi rolls his eyes before pulling back and glaring at his sister. "Way to ruin a good moment. Thanks for keeping her away," he snaps, angling the last part more towards Jin than Rina.

"You know how determined she is." Jin only shrugs as Rina approaches Yui and smiles brightly.

"See, my brother's an idiot, but he's not that much of a fool."

Yamapi rolls his eyes again. "Thanks for putting it that way."

"And you," Rina snaps, pointing a finger at him. "You make sure you don't ruin it, idiot. I can't be here to fix things up."

Yamapi smartly avoids saying that she really do anything this time and instead looks towards Yui who's trying to wipe away her tears while laughing.

"Be careful," Jin murmurs lowly as he stands next to Yamapi. "There might not be a next time."

"I know," Yamapi says exhaling. "I know." Yui's eyes meet his and Yamapi smiles at her which she returns. His heart skips a beat.

viii. 3 years, 6 weeks rewind.

"We should go on a date," Yamapi says smoothly when he's standing next to Yui.

She doesn't answer, only looks up at him blinking widely.

He nearly falters before gathering his senses. "I'm asking you out to dinner."

Yui doesn't say a word again, finally reacts though--even if laughter isn't originally the reaction he was looking for. Her laughter starts to die out slowly as she blinks at him in surprise. "What? That's not a joke?"

"What?" Yamapi asks incredulously. "How does that make you think--I. No?" He falters at the end, now more embarrassed than surprised.

She blinks at him, confused. "I'm not exactly--Guys like you wouldn't be interested in me. I'm not even a big name or anything."

"What does that matter?" Yamapi snaps--then tries to calm himself down, because it wouldn't do for him to start snapping at a girl he'd like to ask out. "I don't judge people off things like that."

Yui smiles at him, faintly before shaking her head. "I don't think it's a good idea."

Yamapi tries not to look toodisappointed. "Okay," he says.

Before he can move, she has a hand on his arm. "No hard feelings, right?"

Yamapi gives her a smile. "Yeah, no hard feelings." She grins at him--looking like she had the day they met, the day she'd taken his breath away--before tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Great."

They're called to set the next second and Yamapi doesn't spend another second thinking on it--and then he's swept up in everything that he doesn't give it another notice besides a small mention to Jin who only laughs in his face for getting rejected.

ix. 6 weeks.

"Aren't you glad you accepted?" Yamapi says cheekily as they're on his couch watching some movie.

Yui laughs, shaking her head. "Maybe I should've held out a little longer if I knew you were going to get so arrogant."

He frowns, leaning in to press a kiss against her lips. "You wouldn't dare."

"No," she laughs. "I really wouldn't. It would be sad if I missed out a second time."

Yamapi grins. "I'm glad you changed your mind."

"It's been three years. Something had to."

Yamapi turns to look at her, pushing her hair behind her ear. "Yeah, well, that's not the only thing that's changed."

She laughs, leaning in to kiss him on the lips. "Hmm, is this your game, because it's completely working?"

"If it's working," Yamapi murmurs, pulling back to look her in the eye. "Then it is." Her laughter bounces off his walls as he kisses her again. And again.

x. 3 months rewind. (Or really, 15 months, 6 weeks and 3 days forward.)

"Raimu," Yamapi says firmly. "I've always wanted that as a name for my son."

Yui raises an eyebrow. "And nothing else will do?"

Yamapi flushes, covering his mouth. "It's not that--I just."

"Just want to make more decisions by yourself." Yui crosses her arms, raising an eyebrow at Yamapi.

"I-" Yamapi starts before faltering off Yui's glare. "It's just an option?" he says weakly instead.

"And I'm choosing not to put it on the list," she says firmly.

"But why not?"

"Because we could always choose more meaningful names to give our child. Keep these things running in the family! Like, he could be Tomohisa Junior."

"No, I don't want to give my son my name!"

"Why not?" Yui raises an eyebrow.

"Because it's--I just don't like all that senior, junior stuff. I'd rather give him another name that'll fit him."

"And Raimu would?"

"Yes!" Yui rolls her eyes.

"And if it's a girl?"

Yamapi pauses. "Rai--Rei?"

"...Do you just like names starting with R or something? We could name her Rina after your sister," Yui suggests.

"Yeah," Yamapi scoffs. "That'd boost her ego."

"Well, if we're going with R names..."

"It doesn't have to start with an R. Maybe Yori, a Y name like her mom's."

"Yamashita Yori? Two Ys in a row? I don't think so." Yui flips through her baby book while Yamapi tries to hold back his sigh. "Did you just sigh?" she snaps; Yamapi's eyes go wide.

"Of course not!"

"If you're sick of this, then you can go do whatever. I'll take care of everything, since I am carrying the baby in my stomach, I should do all the work, right?"

Yamapi winces. "No, Yui-chan. It's really nothing like that."

"It better not be." She waddles into the next room, saying that she's thirsty and after he offers to get it for her, that she can still do things for herself thank you very much. Yamapi finally sighs, shaking his head--he honestly can't wait till at least the pregnancy is over with, because he's not sure how much he can take.

xi. 12 months forward. (Or really, 30 months, 6 weeks and 3 days forward.)

"I think Raimu's finally asleep," Yamapi exhales as he slips into bed with Yui who's already half-asleep.

"Mmm," she manages before turning over and cuddling close to Yamapi.

"Today was eventful, wasn't it?" Yamapi yawns, shutting off the light and drawing the covers over him.

"Yeah," Yui says in the middle of a yawn. "Remind me that next year, we shouldn't have such a big party. And to not invite Rina and Jin if she happens to be pregnant again next year."

"I should hope not," Yamapi snaps.

Yui laughs. "I thought you'd gotten used to them together already."

"Just because I don't scream bloody murder whenever I see them together does not mean I'm used to it," Yamapi explains.

Yui's arms around him get a touch tighter. "I think Raimu enjoyed himself, don't you?"

"With a party like that? And all the gifts he got--I think Jin got him that huge teddy bear we saw a week ago--and that cake? I think he's good for this year."

"It's just it's his first birthday, and I wanted it to go right." Yui sits up, meeting Yamapi's eyes. "Do you think he'll remember it?"

"Yui. He's one. Of course not. But that's okay. We get to embarrass him with pictures of it when he's older. I got that one with him and all the cake on his face."

She laughs, sliding back down in the bed, arms wrapped around Yamapi. "Did you notice that he wouldn't eat any of the whipped cream?"

"A boy after my own heart," Yamapi jokes.

Pause. "Do you think you want another one?"

Yamapi pauses too, before a smile breaks out on his face. "Yeah. Yeah, I would. ...Are you pregnant?"

Yui laughs. "No, but it's good information to know." She presses a kiss against his lips. "And I'd act on it tonight, but I'm too tired for that."

"Hmmm, never the kind of thing one should be tired for, but I'll let it go tonight." He kisses her head and shuts his eyes.

xii. 0 months, 6 hours forward. (Or really, 18 months, 6 weeks and 3 days forward.)

"You did amazing," Yamapi breathes as he presses kisses on Yui's sweaty forehead--pushing aside her bangs.

"If I ever want to do that again, remind me how painful it was the first time," Yui says--although she's obviously exhausted because it's not as snappy as it could be. Yamapi chuckles before looking down at the baby boy in Yui's arms.

"What are we going to call him?" Yamapi asks, watching as the baby blinks up at them with wide dark brown eyes, barely any hair on his head and the blanket comfortably wrapped around him.

"Raimu," Yui says firmly. Yamapi almost slips off the bed when he turns to her abruptly.

"What?"

"Raimu. He looks like a Raimu, doesn't he?" Yui smiles, looking down at their newborn son.

"I--Didn't you say--"

"And I changed my mind." Yui meets Yamapi's eyes, her smile bigger. "I think Raimu would be a great name for him."

"Yui, you don't...I mean, I'm glad, but if--"

"Yamashita," Yui laughs. "Just stick with it, okay? He'll be Yamashita Raimu."

Yamapi feels his heart skip a beat; he leans forward to kiss her, his hands on her cheeks. "I love you, you know," he breathes when they separate.

Yui grins, leaning her forehead against his. "Good, because you're stuck with me. And Raimu." They look back down at Raimu whose cheeks are starting to get puffed and Yamapi can just see the start of a crying fit.

"Oh! I think the baby's starting to get hungry already," a nurse says as she's walking in to check on Yui. "How about the new mom feed her baby for the first time?"

Yamapi's hand meets Yui's, gripping tightly as the nurse helps Yui position the baby over her breast--the start of their new family.

Omake:
9 years forward (Or really, 10 years, 6 months, 6 weeks and 3 days forward.)

"No, he is not joining Johnny's. Are you kidding me?!" Yamapi stares, eyes wide at the application in Yui's hands.

Yui frowns, hands on her hips. "It's Rai-chan decision if he wants to join or not."

"But--" Yamapi starts, looking down at his 9 year old. "Do you want to?"

"Un!" Raimu says enthusiastically. "Just like papa! Everyone at school talks about you, saying you're great and all these things, and I want to do what you do!"

Yamapi crouches down, smiling. "You want to sing and dance?"

"And act! I think acting looks fun. Pretending to be someone you aren't? Papa's so good at it."

Yamapi looks up at Yui, eyes narrowed. "You had this planned, didn't you?" Yui grins mischievously as Rei pads in from the living room.

"Why is everyone here?" she whines. "Weren't we watching a movie?" Yamapi moves to pick her up, rocking her from side to side.

"We're coming soon, Rei-chan," Yamapi says with a smile. "Your mama and brother were just teaming up against me. Don't ever go into entertainment, okay?"

"Like mama? But mama's so pretty on the TV! Why can't I be like her?" Rei pouts at Yamapi almost pathetically.

Yamapi stops, stares before sighing. "You too, huh?"

"Un!" Rei says happily.

Yui leans against Yamapi's shoulder, winking at Rei. "Just gotta accept it, Tomo-kun. A family full of performers, this one."

"Yeah, well. Doesn't mean I have to give them up to entertainment just yet," Yamapi starts tickling Rei as they head back to the family room, Raimu following behind them with a "Wait for me!"

--

...I don't even know. Er. Hope...it...kinda fulfilled what you wanted? I fail so hard. XD.

um. oh god. i have no words. i really just wish i was in the states right now so i could call you and flail at you. ;_; because it was so good. i loved the timeline thing (reminded me of your wedding massumaki that i also loved) and agkjahgjfhsg. YUI YUI YUI. ♥ you made her a bit snarkier than i think she is, but it still works and works wonderfully. *bounce* and the whipped cream and you know, the excessive inserting of jinrina was actually pretty awesome too. you totally knocked my secret "kinks" and your own at the same time! ^_^ i demand you post this in a full version so i can pimp it out. ♥

i just read this again. and i will leave more flail here again.

*FLAIL*

there are certain parts that really get me - like the one after raimu's first birthday, the entire scene about the conflict of pi and yui getting married for love or responsibility, the scene after the birth of raimu. i feel my heart constrict just a little and it's such love. ♥

XD I know I askedfor a ton of prompts and i end up writing the original request. I am made of so much fail. XDDDDDDDDD

Mildly AU in the sense that Ueda's still part of JE, but Koyama (and Shige) isn't.

--

Koyama always saw him--in the same place, at the same time, with the same order, always staying until closing. (Which he makes up for by tipping big.) It's not that Koyama's usually curious about the people that would frequent the coffee shop, but there's something about that one person that just draws Koyama's attention to him.

He doesn't know him--not really. As much as anyone could know an idol. And Koyama knows he's an idol because he recognizes him, startlingly so--one of those Johnny's idols that tend to litter the advertisements around the shop, around the train station, hell, around Japan. He's almost positive that he's even one of the ones his sister fancies just a little bit--Ueda, Koyama thinks is his name--he never actually bothered to learn much else.

Koyama's always his server, not surprising when Ueda uses the same table every single time.

"Here you go," Koyama says politely, placing Ueda's cup of tea in front of him. Ueda never looks at him, never turns away from the window--just continues to stare out with this pensive, almost lonely look on his face that Koyama doesn't really know how to read. Sometimes, only sometimes does Koyama want to interrupt, want to talk to Ueda and ask him what he's doing, how his day has been or just, how are you.

But even though Ueda comes late at night when there are very little customers and really, what else should Koyama do other than stand behind the counter and blow the hair out of his eyes, but Koyama never does. Because he knows when someone needs their private time and Koyama can tell that this is exactly that. Ueda's private time.

Koyama only wishes he'd stop looking so sad and miserable.

--

It's weird when he sees Ueda--he's still not sure that's even his name--just sitting there, night after night. He doesn't even bring a book with him, or a music player to pass the time. More than once, Koyama wonders if he's spying on someone out the window. If there's someone out there that has the same routine Ueda does--Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 9 P.M. till whenever closing happens to be that day.

Koyama wants to know his story, his background even.

"You shouldn't be so nosy," Shige snorts when Koyama talks to him about this outside the building, cigarettes dangling from their fingers as they take their break for the evening.

Koyama shrugs. "When am I not?"

"Exactly. Maybe you should stop," Shige says, raising an eyebrow towards Koyama before he takes a drag of his cigarette, then throws it on the ground and stomps out the flame.

"But then I wouldn't be me." Koyama takes his last drag, leans his head against the wall behind him and shuts his eyes while Shige chuckles, already moving to go back inside.

"You've got a good point. What's Koyama without his nosy, nurturing side?" Shige laughs sarcastically; Koyama ignores him as he exhales, the cigarette dropping from his fingertips. The door shuts behind Shige, but Koyama stays outside, just staring up at the dark blue that seems spread through the sky, even above all the buildings--it's all Koyama can see.

He sighs, stamping out the remaining sparks of his cigarette before heading inside. Shige sees him, jerks his head towards Ueda who's sitting at his usual table--on a Wednesday--before telling Koyama that he'd ordered a cup of tea. His usual.

Koyama stares before rushing to get his order prepared, his mind filled with questions like why is he there.

Koyama doesn't ask though. Just goes about his business like always.

--

The next week, Ueda's not there on Wednesday--which makes Koyama breathe a sigh of relief--but while he still comes the regular days, Ueda ends up coming back on a Friday--irregular. After another week of Ueda messing up his own pattern--and maybe even Koyama's himself--Koyama can't bare it any longer.

"Here you go," Koyama says, as he always does, before placing that cup of tea in front of Ueda. Ueda doesn't acknowledge a thing, but this time Koyama doesn't leave immediately, he hovers awkwardly, stares down at Ueda until Ueda, when he moves to take a sip of his tea, finally catches sight of Koyama watching him.

"Yes?" Ueda blinks, staring up at Koyama--up and up to the point that Koyama marginally feels bad for making him have to look up--not as though Koyama would do anything about it though.

"I," Koyama starts before thinking that he is being ridiculous. He licks his lips and starts again. "I've been your waiter ever since you started coming here." It'd been about six months now. "And I was just," he pauses again, the tray he'd been carrying Ueda's tea in shakes in his hand. "You usually have a routine," Koyama goes with. "I've noticed because, well, I'm the one that serves you. And... Why did you break it?" Straight to the point, intrusive, Koyama bets, but he can't help himself anymore. He's completely curious and there's always been something about Ueda that tugs at his attention.

Ueda blinks at him--long lashes that Koyama thinks are a little too long for a male to have--and then cracks a hint of a smile. "Do you make it a habit to ask your customers their routines?" he asks instead.

Koyama flushes--because, no, he really doesn't and just doing this is embarrassing enough. "I'm sorry," Koyama ends up saying. "I didn't--I'm just going to get out of your way. Please don't stop coming. We really do enjoy your company here," Koyama babbles before he turns around and heads back to the counter where Shige's probably laughing at him.

Ueda's hand on his arm stops him though and Koyama turns around to a gentle smile. "I'm sorry. I was joking. I really don't mind. I guess if someone comes in on the same days and the same time, people are bound to notice, huh?" Koyama doesn't trust himself to actually say anything, so he nods slowly instead. "Why don't you sit down and join me?" Ueda gestures at the empty seat in front of him.

"I shouldn't," Koyama says, shaking his head. "I'm still in the middle of work."

Ueda raises an eyebrow towards Koyama. "Near midnight with nobody else but me here?"

Koyama glances around to see Shige looking down at a textbook at the counter, head leaning against his arm--although if Koyama squints enough, he thinks Shige's sleeping not really studying. The cafe is empty, not a single seat is occupied other than the one at the table he's at now. "I guess I can take a little break," Koyama says grudgingly.

Ueda laughs. "You sound so reluctant."

"More like embarrassed," Koyama says, sliding into the booth and placing the tray beside him. "I don't. I'm not usually so forward with strangers. At least not someone like you."

"Someone like me?" Ueda asks, raising another eyebrow--neat and precise, Koyama thinks he must've gotten it done or something.

"I--A guest who obviously wants to be left alone. Which I'm probably disturbing."

Ueda chuckles. "I don't. Not really," Ueda says, finally taking a sip of his tea--which must be cold by this point, Koyama figures, but Ueda makes no sign of it happening.

"But you keep to yourself. This is the first time I've seen you react to me and I've served you for the past six months," Koyama insists.

"Mm," Ueda manages. "Maybe, I guess." He glances back out the window and Koyama wonders if he's somehow entrenched on some unspoken agreement between them. Koyama bites his lower lip.

"Sorry. I think I'll get back."

"Sure." This time, Ueda doesn't stop him, doesn't convince him to stay and Koyama thinks he's worn out his welcome in only a minute.

"Right." Koyama walks back to the counter, a little dejected as he puts down the tray he's been holding right next to Shige's book. Shige jerks out of his stupor.

"Ah, how was it talking to Mister Mysterious?" Shige asks, covering his yawn with his hand.

Koyama shrugs, glances back over at Ueda who hasn't looked away from the window again before saying, "I don't know. Mysterious?" Shige snorts.

--

To Koyama's immense glee, Ueda doesn't stop coming back to the cafe even with the less than awkward conversation they had. This time though, Koyama doesn't bother him, doesn't want to even test the line to how much of Koyama he can take before he gets annoyed and stops coming.

It's Ueda who stops him and calls for his attention. "Not going to speak to me anymore?" Ueda asks when Koyama's putting down his cup of tea only a week after their first talk.

Koyama flushes. "I didn't think you'd want me to."

Ueda shakes his head. "I wouldn't mind chatting with you. The name's Ueda. Ueda Tatsuya."

Inside his head, Koyama cheers a little for getting it right, but outside, in front of Ueda, Koyama just bows slightly. "Koyama," he greets. "Koyama Keiichiro. I've worked here for about two years now."

To his credit, Ueda looks marginally interested. "Really? Is this what you want to do?"

Koyama snorts. "Who wants to be a server? No. I got my degree in Literature. I just haven't really found a way to use it." Ueda nods, before gesturing for Koyama to sit down.

Before he does, Koyama glances around--the place is empty again and this time, Shige's given up all pretense in studying, his head down against the counter and his arms around his head. Koyama shakes his head. "How about you?"

Ueda raises an eyebrow--one that Koyama doesn't quite understand why it's there--before chuckling. "Entertainment business," he ends up saying.

"Oh, model?" Koyama doesn't know how much he should say he knows, how much is appropriate. So instead, he just pretends not to know a single thing--it's not like Koyama really knows anything to begin with so he's not really lying.

"No, idol. You know, the singing and dancing kind." The nonchalant way that Ueda says this makes Koyama laugh.

"No, I really don't, but that's interesting." Koyama leans an arm against the table. "Is it fun?"

Ueda takes a pause--not a long one, but long enough for Koyama to actually notice. "Yeah. It can be."

"Can?" Koyama doesn't know if he's pushing it; he feels like he is, but there's something so strange about the way Ueda answers that makes Koyama want to know more--need to know more.

"There's always behind the scenes stuff that goes on. It's nothing to talk about," Ueda says with a wave of his hand.

Koyama blinks, then nods. "So do you get to meet any interesting people? Oh! How about that Yamashita Tomohisa guy? My sister's in love with him."

Ueda snorts. "I see too much of him. He's best friends with one of my bandmates." Koyama chuckles before Ueda starts talking about this ridiculous fight his bandmates got into over whipped cream.

--

It takes a while before Koyama gets used to just sliding into the booth whenever Ueda arrives--the fifth day really--and when he does get used to it, he spends hours just sitting there with Ueda, talking about Ueda and his bandmates, the work he does to even Koyama's stories about Nyanta, Shige and Wagahai, and how he'd seen Ueda's picture on television just the night before and laughed when his sister refused to believe that Koyama knew Ueda.

It's on the sixth day that Ueda arrives with a gift for Koyama--a message board with a message addressed to his sister--from what Koyama could see above the bag anyway.

"It's for your sister," Ueda says, sliding the bag across the table. "I thought what better way to prove you know an idol than to get a signature, right?" Koyama's eyes go wide before tugging the autograph board out of the bag, a huge 0409 scribbled along the bottom with a name that was undecipherable. "It's Yamashita's signature."

Koyama's eyes go wider, and he holds the board delicately in his hands before putting it back in the bag--safely.

Ueda laughs. "You know, I could always just get him to sign another."

"What? No! And cause trouble for him?" Koyama asks, aghast.

"It wouldn't be that much trouble," Ueda says with a wave of his hand. "I got Akanishi to ask him and I think he just treated Yamashita to dinner. Nothing big."

Koyama smiles at Ueda, his hand never leaving the bag beside him. "Thank you," he says, sure that his eyes must be shining.

Ueda flushes, ducking his head down and stares at his empty teacup. "It's no problem. I just thought it might help."

Koyama grins before standing back up. "Let me get you a refill of that tea." Ueda nods at him.

Koyama has to resist from giving Ueda a huge hug--he would if he wasn't so sure Ueda may sock him if he did--he did know how to box after all.

--

They exchange phone numbers not too long after. Ueda takes the initiative--seems to do so more often than not actually, when Koyama thinks about it--asking Koyama teasingly, at that, with the pretense of messaging just in case Ueda wasn't going to be there and he didn't want Koyama to worry.

Koyama laughs and shakes his head, but he gives it to Ueda anyway--grinning. "Don't message me just because you miss me," Koyama jokes but Ueda goes silent and Koyama wonders if he's hit a chord somewhere.

The corners of Ueda's lips go up a minute later though and Koyama relaxes. "I should be saying that to you," Ueda retorts.

Koyama blushes, but he laughs scratching the back of his head. "You're right. Knowing me, I'll text you whenever I see something that reminds me of you."

Ueda raises an eyebrow. "Like what?"

Shrugging, Koyama tries to hide his grin--unsuccessfully, of course. "I don't know. Maybe whenever I see a fairy?"

Ueda glare from him over the table and Koyama's only glad he's not really at arms length. "I knew I shouldn't have told you that story."

Koyama laughs without restraint.

--

Koyama's true to his word. He only texts Ueda whenever he sees something that reminds him of Ueda--not fairies though after Ueda's explicit warning--but things like whipped cream, or a cup of tea, or surprisingly, a pair of boxing gloves that were hanging in a store window.

Ueda, on the other hand, doesn't text Koyama at all--except when he does end up not going to the cafe on a particular night. Koyama thinks it's kind of ironic.

"So when are you going to ask him out?" Shige asks as they're sitting at the counter, playing a round of poker, complete with Hershey kisses as their bets.

Koyama sputters, almost dropping his hand--a full house--before gathering his senses. "What are you talking about?"

Shige snorts, revealing his hand--four of a kind--which only makes Koyama frown as he watches Shige take the kisses happily. "Ueda-kun. When are you going to ask him out?"

"Why would I do that?" Koyama asks, dealing the next round.

"Because you like him?" Shige says like it's that simple.

"As a friend, yeah."

"Oh, because you don't spend all your time thinking on him and texting him and who knows what else with you," Shige snorts, putting in the small blind.

Koyama frowns. "That's because he's a friend."

"Do you do that with me?"

"Only because you would never like if I did that. Plus I see you every day."

Shige shrugs. "If you say so." He throws down his cards again--a straight flush this time which only has Koyama protesting, accusing Shige of cheating. Shige only preens.

His words though stick to Koyama for a week--even going so far as to lessen his texting to Ueda just in case.

--

Koyama starts to think Shige's right when he finds himself drifting off and his mind automatically goes to things he wants to tell Ueda, things they could bond over, or just wondering about Ueda in general--how many friends does he have? He doesn't ever go to the cafe with anyone, just him. Does he have a girlfriend? ...Boyfriend?

Does he like Koyama? In a more platonic way, of course. Not in the romantic way that Shige insists Koyama feels--that Koyama is starting to think

Koyama starts to notice that he notices off-handedly random things like the way Ueda's eyes brighten whenever he talks about something that he really enjoys (like boxing). Or the way his hair falls on days when Ueda's had a photoshoot. Or just the smile on his face whenever he's listening to Koyama ramble on about his really cute nephew and how it widens just a touch when Koyama gets a little more dramatic.

Koyama thinks he's fallen hard.

"I told you," Shige snorts when Koyama comes to him for advice.

"That is not help," Koyama wails, throwing his head on the counter as Shige's sweeping the floor--readying the cafe for closing.

Shige shrugs. "I'm not really that much better, you know."

Koyama groans.

"Why don't you just ask him out?"

"Not only is he an idol, but he's a guy. What if he doesn't go that way?"

"You won't know till you ask," Shige says almost sagely, leaning against the tip of the broom.

Koyama frowns. "That's not supposed to be your advice."

Shige snorts. "What? Was I supposed to say, "Forget about him. You can find love elsewhere."?"

"Maybe?"

"Do you want me to?"

Koyama sighs. "Not really." He sighs again.

"Go ask him out. Then you can sigh all you want."

--

Koyama doesn't do that, of course. Instead, he just chats normally with Ueda, makes fun of Shige and texts Ueda ridiculous things throughout the day. He still does the same things he does before--notice Ueda's smile, hair, eyes. Koyama really wonders if he's getting way too obvious.

And then Ueda comes into the shop with another person.

"Wow, looks like you were beaten to the punch," Shige snickers as Ueda settles into his usual table, his companion moving to sit beside Ueda, not across from him. The smile on Ueda's face never drops though.

Koyama bites his lower lip. "I will pay you to work on that table for tonight. Please?"

"As much as I would like the money for school, I'm not going to do it. You need to face your demons."

"Can't I face them another time?" Koyama asks helplessly. "When I'm more prepared?"

"You'll never be more prepared," Shige retorts, shoving Koyama towards Ueda's table.

Koyama manages to throw on a smile on his face as he approaches Ueda's table, greeting him like normal and Ueda's usual cup of tea in his hands.

"Hey! Koyama-kun, meet Akanishi. He's one of the guys in my group I told you about," Ueda greets, gesturing towards the person next to him--fussy dark brown hair, bright eyes and his hand currently around Ueda's shoulders.

Jin extends his free hand, grinning. "So you're the one Ueda keeps talking on and on about." He turns to Ueda. "He is as hot as you said."

Ueda flushes, elbowing Jin sharply but never taking his eyes off Koyama--who is also blushing. "Sorry. Jin here has a big mouth."

"In more than one way," Jin laughs, waggling his eyebrows.

Koyama blinks, flushing. "Um. Well, er. Do you guys want to order?"

Jin shakes his head. "Just a glass of water."

Koyama nods, rushing back to the counter where Shige is snickering at him. "So, who is he?"

"A bandmate. I think he just propositioned me."

Shige breaks into laughter while Koyama fills up a glass of water, elbowing Shige on his way back to the table. "Shut up," he snaps over his shoulder--of course, Shige doesn't.

"Here you go," Koyama says, smiling. "I'll leave you guys alone now."

"What?" Ueda says abruptly--so abruptly that Koyama almost jumps.

Koyama turns slowly. "I mean. You guys look cozy," he says, almost reluctantly.

Jin snickers. "Please. Me and Ueda? Not going to happen." Ueda rolls his eyes. "However, he has a soft spot for you, so you should sit down. Join us."

Koyama blinks, slightly glancing at Shige who's busy pretending to study when he's really just listening in on the conversation, and who is also no help whatsoever. "I guess that won't hurt, ne?" Koyama says, settling into his usual seat.

Jin grins. "So what do you think about Tat-chan?" he asks like a gossiping schoolgirl.

Ueda elbows Jin again, stronger than before--to the point that Koyama even winces. "Jin, what are you doing?"

"Matchmaking, obviously," Jin says, rolling his eyes. "You're being an idiot and he's being slow." Jin waves his hand towards Koyama. "Sorry, I don't even know you but you are and it's getting ridiculous. So. I thought of inviting myself and getting things started!"

Koyama stares, his jaw doesn't drop open--he's not sure he has any control of his body at all to even be able to do that.

Ueda's blush has extended past his cheeks into his ears and nose and neck. "I knew you weren't here for no reason. I'm sorry about this, Koyama. I didn't--"

"I like him," Koyama interrupts to everyone's surprise. Jin's grin gets wider, Shige snickers from the counter suddenly stop and Ueda's staring at Koyama with the oddest expression.

"Ha! Called it. I am great. Now I'm leaving so talk amongst yourself." Jin smirks before walking over to the counter, his glass of water in his hands and places himself right in front of Shige.

Ueda blinks. "You what?"

Koyama can't look at him, instead opts to look outside the window. "Er. I do like you. And I think you're nice and good to talk to."

Pause. "Are you confessing and you won't even look at me?"

Koyama snaps his head back to Ueda, biting his lower lip. "Look. I just. I don't want you to think it'll be weird to hang out with me. And I don't--" he starts, feeling himself about to start babbling but Ueda cuts him off.

"Want to go out this weekend?"

Koyama blinks.

"We can get away from this cafe and actually see daylight or something." Ueda fumbles with his napkin. "Maybe go out to eat somewhere and have a good time."

Koyama blinks again but a smile breaks out on his face. "I'd like that."

"Great," Ueda manages, before exhaling. "And I promise Akanishi won't be there."

"I heard that!" Jin screams from across the cafe.

Ueda rolls his eyes. "Not trying to hide it!"

Koyama laughs, shaking his head while Shige yells a "Took you long enough!" Koyama jerks his head towards Shige and Jin's direction in time to catch them exchanging a high five. Koyama rolls his eyes, turning back to Ueda who's shaking his head, laughing.

It took them a while to get to this point, but Koyama's glad for it.

--

aks;dlfjaksdj yes. DONE. almost lost it after part 2 but GOT IT BACK. CHEER.

I. YOU. KYA!!!!!!!!

loved it. loved every piece of this. koyama, omg, and mysterious!ueda and matchmaker jin (yes, you are great) and shige and and... soon, i'll come back with quotes once i fix my internet conection

The idea is to be blamed and thought of by Cyn. XDDDD

--

Massu opens his eyes and he suddenly feels the weight of both the microphone in his hands--which has started to slip from all his sweat--and the one on his shoulders as he looks out on the crowd. It's been 15 years since they debuted, 16 depending on who you asked--to NewS, it's their 16th; the hiatus having meant nothing other than pausing a little in group activities, they're still NewS.

Or at least they were NewS.

Koyama's talking, but Massu's drowned him out, squinting at all the people with raised penlights and uchiwas which undoubtedly have his smile--his trademark smile that every fan seems to know him as having--uchiwas that will no longer have the name NewS behind it but a sole Tegomass.

At least that's what is awaiting them at the end of Countdown.

They're hosting Countdown for the 3rd time--the last time ever and Massu can feel the minutes slowly trickle down--30 minutes left, 20, 10. 5.

"With the end of Countdown coming, NewS has something to announce," Koyama starts and that's when Massu feels his stomach plummet. He had managed well enough for the entire concert earlier that day. And every other medley and performance throughout Countdown. Beside him, Ryo grabs his hand and squeezes, and Massu can't bring himself to look at Ryo in thanks. Instead, he looks out at the crowd who have become startlingly still.

Then they scream, "EH!?" in voices so loud that it echoes in his ears for days and days to come.

That's when Massu knows that Koyama's probably told everyone. His body moves without him knowing and he raises the microphone to his mouth and sings with the rest of NewS.

Hoshi wo Mezashite. He thinks that Julie was being particularly ironic in telling them that's what they'd close the show with.

Massu shuts his eyes, squeezes them while he belts out the lyrics--lyrics that are being twisted around and he can feel his heart constrict, his eyes start to fill with tears and he swears he can hear Koyama breaking out of the song to brush away tears.

Ryo's hand has never left his and when they finish, Massu looks over grateful to see that Ryo's eyes are red--but no streaks of tears on his face and Massu wonders if he'd done the same thing Massu had.

Koyama's talking again, not that anyone else cares because nobody can speak right now--not a single one of them. And Massu tightens his grip on Ryo before they raise their hands up and scream to the crowd for the last time. "We are NewS!"

With that, Massu feels like he's waking up from a very long, very satisfying dream.

Ryo doesn't let go of his hand till they reach the dressing room.

--

They break up because Julie thinks she'll get more revenue if they're apart--Koyama stays as an MC for multiple variety shows, Yamapi is, of course, first and foremost an actor, but he has solo jobs lined up before him, Shige also stays as an actor (surprisingly) although Massu suspects he works a lot more in the Jimusho's legal department, Ryo stays with Kanjani8--who is still a unit (even though there are rumors that it won't stick for too much longer). And Tegomass stay as a permanent unit, becoming their first priority. Like Tegomass could serve as a replacement for NewS.

Massu thinks Julie's only joking herself--with her in command after Johnny's death and Mary's retirement, it's only a matter of time before the Jimusho'll run itself to the ground. From ideas like splitting up groups to debuting a group of the worst troublemakers in Johnny's Jrs and eliminating a lot of the tie-ins that many of the boys worked their asses off to get and to keep. Massu's not sure where all the money's coming from--if there even is any.

A part of him wishes he'd quit already--that this isn't what he wants anymore, not when everyone's broken up and what he'd been working towards, at, with is completely out of his sight.

Tegoshi's excited though, but he's always been prone to being optimistic, going towards everything head-on. Something Massu feels he's lost somewhere along the way after becoming settled as Massu of NewS.

Massu exhales before the choreographer snaps at him to pay attention and to do it again. He ignores the worried look in Tegoshi's eyes staring at him through the reflection on the mirrors.

--

Tegoshi tries to ask Massu what's the matter repeatedly in the next few days that follow.

"Really," Massu says exasperatedly, almost tired of saying the word itself. "I'm fine, Tegoshi."

"But you've been looking kinda tired. And you never look tired," Tegoshi insists, frowning--it's weird that even 10 years later, Tegoshi is still pretty much the same--still good at manipulating people with that pout of his.

Massu chuckles, almost feeling like he should reach out and ruffle Tegoshi's hair--but he resists, of course--and shakes his head. "I'm not tired at all!" He pumps up his fists in the air like it'll show how energetic he is.

Tegoshi seems to accept it, but not before giving Massu a dubious look then grinning. "Okay! If Massu says so, then I'll believe him."

Massu waits until Tegoshi leaves the room before letting out a sigh of relief and letting himself think the one thing he'd wanted, but didn't out of fear that Tegoshi could somehow read his mind--some things really didn't change.

But other things did. Things could change. Massu did, after all.

Tegoshi comes back into the room and Massu puts on his happy smile again, practicing their newest routine all over again for the fifth time that day.

--

Massu finds himself on a solo trip--going away during one of his free moments because he feels like he needs it. He only tells Tegoshi an hour before his train is leaving and although Tegoshi's a little incensed that Massu would be leaving him behind without a single word, Massu insists that it's only for the weekend and he needs some time to get over what happened at Countdown.

Tegoshi's voice goes soft as he tells Massu to take care of himself and that he'll see Massu bright and early on Monday--that gives Massu three days to figure out for himself what he wants, what he can do.

Massu nods before realizing that Tegoshi can't really see him. "Yeah, I'll see you Monday then."

"Do you know where you're going?" Tegoshi asks abruptly, right when Massu's about to say bye.

Massu looks up at the train map before shaking his head and then laughing again because Tegoshi can't see him. Tegoshi laughs on the other end. "Did you nod or something?"

"Yeah," Massu laughs. "I shook my head. I don't know. Wherever I feel like, I guess?"

Tegoshi laughs. "Bring souvenirs back for me then!"

"Of course. You'd kill me if I didn't."

"Well, not kill. Maybe be angry at for a minute or two before I bribed, I mean, convinced you to take me to dinner," Tegoshi jokes before breaking out into laughter.

Massu takes a moment to remember the sound before laughing himself. "I'm glad you already have your alternative plan."

"Gotta be ready after all. Anyway, you should probably get going. Your train to Never Neverland should be leaving soon."

Massu blinks. "Never Neverland?"

Tegoshi chuckles on the other end. "Never mind. Safe trip, okay?"

Massu nods again before hanging up, and then laughing because he did it again.

--

Before he knows it, Massu arrives in Osaka--he's not sure how he managed to blank out about 3 or so hours of travel time, but all that matters is that he's here. On second thought, he realizes that what matters more is what he's doing there and what he's going to do there.

Or really, why is he in Osaka to begin with?

Massu opens up his cell phone and is calling Ryo, his number already on speed-dial after all these years--the other four members are on the other numbers (Ryo's stolen number 3--saying it's for his birthday). Massu listens to the phone ring on the other end and for a second there, he panics, wondering if he could possibly be disturbing Ryo or what if Ryo's in the middle of a shoot, or recording, or--"Masuda?"

Massu stares in front of him blankly, not really thinking of a thing he could possibly say at this moment.

"Massu. You need to speak up if you're there," Ryo says, a little louder than before.

Massu still can't find the right words.

Edited 2009-01-05 10:13 (UTC)

"Massu? Where are you? Are you underground again? You know connection isn't that great--"

"I'm sorry," Massu blurts out, cradling his phone and moving towards the exit of the station. "I--er. This must be a bad time. I didn't. Er."

"Massu, where are you?" Ryo interrupts, almost demanding. "Tegoshi called earlier saying that you were going on a trip. Why are you calling me?"

Massu steps outside the doors, stares at the cabs lining the curb and then inhales. "I'm in Osaka," he ends up saying simply.

There's a pause on the other line before Massu can hear the rustling of wind and the jingling of keys. "Shin-Osaka station, right? I'll be there as soon as I can, don't move."

"Nishikido-kun," Massu says helplessly, leaning against the wall behind him, his bag by his feet. "I can just take a cab. I think I can remember your address and--"

"Don't. Move."

Massu nods mutely before the dial tone meets his ears. He swallows then wonders once again why he's in Osaka. For a second, his mind flashes to Countdown and the feel of Ryo clutching onto him and Massu gripping back, and Massu sighs.

--

Ryo arrives sooner than later--not that Massu notices, lost in his thoughts again. He thinks he has to start keeping track of his time better not to lose so many chunks in between like he is--time was and always is precious, after all.

"Hey," Ryo greets, bending down to grab Massu's bag. "Sorry, I would've been here sooner, but got caught in traffic."

Massu shakes his head, glancing at his watch realizing that it's been about an hour and a half since his phone call. He smiles. "I didn't even notice," he says.

Ryo raises an eyebrow before shaking his head. "Get in," he tells Massu, moving into the driver's seat. Massu enters Ryo's car, nervous as his hands shake when he tries to put on his seat belt. Ryo looks over and laughs. "It's only me," Ryo says, reaching over to help Massu--Ryo's hands are on Massu's and they hear the click of the seat belt locking into place. "I won't have to take care of you like this all weekend, will I?" He presses on gas and the car moves out of the circle, leaving the station behind.

Massu shakes his head again, turning to look at Ryo. "No, you're probably busy. I'm really sorry to intrude--I--"

"Massu, I have the weekend off, so stop worrying." Ryo stops at a red light and turns to Massu. "I don't know why you decided to come to Osaka and visit all of a sudden, but don't worry about time."

"Are you sure? I mean, I can handle--"

"Masuda," Ryo says firmly. "This weekend's yours." He turns back to the road and Massu exhales. He puts on a smile--one that comes close to the kind he used to have before he got the news--close, but nowhere near at the same time.

"Thanks," Massu says. "I really appreciate this."

"You'd better," Ryo jokes. "Not everyone gets private time with Nishikido Ryo."

Massu chuckles before turning to look out his side window. He misses Ryo's worried look in his direction.

--

Day 1:

Since Massu had arrived pretty late and the drive back didn't help matters--they got stuck in traffic again--Ryo opts for dinner at the apartment. "I can cook," Ryo says confidently as he starts pulling out pots and the cutting board, as well as all the ingredients necessary for nabe--something good for the two of them.

"Let me help out," Massu says, putting down his bag right by the couch and moving towards behind the counter. Ryo stares him down and Massu slowly backs away. "Or not..." he mutters to himself.

Ryo grins--almost wickedly if Massu looks at the right angle, which he was. "You're my guest. I'll be cooking--at least for tonight anyway."

Massu laughs before he gets a good look at the pots--they're old, worn, and Massu recognizes them in an instant. "Aren't those the ones from Christmas?" Massu asks, eyebrows furrowed.

There's a flush over Ryo's cheeks before he abruptly turns around with the pot, heading straight for the sink: water turning on a second later. Massu doesn't need words; he already knows that he's right--they were the kitchen utensils Shige had given Ryo practically 10 years ago. Massu can't stop the bubble of happiness that spreads in his stomach.

Edited 2009-01-05 10:00 (UTC)

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Page 6 of 7

[#96] Some of These Happy Points are Days Old.

kami can't write anything without it being slightly emo. part 4

And what should be the last part. part 5

Re: And what should be the last part. part 5

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finally was in the mood to write this. XD so long. oh god. 1.

do i even have enough icons for this? part 2.

part 3! let's see how many parts this has.

part 4... >.<

argh. part 5

and part 6!!!!

and lastly part 7. oh god.

Re: and lastly part 7. oh god.

Re: and lastly part 7. oh god.

i really hope you don't mind AU (and utter fail). XD part 1

part 2 of i'm going to guess 6.

I ALMOST LOST THIS. part 3

part 4 of this!

argh. part 5ers!

AND HOPEFULLY LAST PART.

Re: AND HOPEFULLY LAST PART.

SLIGHTLY ANGSTY. ugh. Me and angst lately. ~_~;; Part 1.

BE WARNED THIS IS GOIN TO BE LONG. 2/8 (whoops)

i don't have enough ryo OR massu icons for htis. 3/8?