(no subject)
Dear sleep,
What have i done wrong?! Why are you avoiding me?! WHY?!?!?!?!?! =(
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ignore me... just got a little bit crazy after being told earlier this day that i "look like hell..."... huhuhu.... i can't sleep!
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And now, on to my regular news... :)
TITLE: Baby Steps
CHARACTERS: Arashi members, NewS members, Horikita Maki, Inoue Mao, Oguri Shun, Ikuta Toma, and a whole horde of other Johnny's and female Japanese actresses
PAIRING: Yamashita Tomohisa/Horikita Maki; Matsumoto Jun/Inoue Mao; others
RATINGS: PG
DISCLAIMER: The only thing i own in this story is the plot...
Prologue / Chapter1/ Chapter2/ Chapter3
Chapter 4: Encounters...
Note: Maki's manager's name (Riko Megumi) came from two television characters. Megumi from Aragaki Yui's character Megumi Shiraishi in Code Blue. Riko from Kuroki Meisa's Ninkyo Helper character, Riko Yomogi... :)
“Oi, Maki-chan, you weren’t even listening to me, were you?” Mao complained good-heartedly, stepping into Maki’s living room when the latter wasn’t answering any of her questions.
Maki smiled apologetically. “Sorry, I just remembered something… What were you saying?”
Mao laughed handing her a plate of sliced apples and shaking her head, realizing what it must have felt like for Sho during those times he continued talking but she wasn’t listening. Noticing Maki’s phone on the table, she asked “Why is your phone off?”
“I’m trying to avoid being questioned…” she admitted.
“Yeah, I saw that Cyzo article…” Mao chuckled, sitting herself on one of her single-seaters. “Avoiding the Johnny’s, huh?”
“And Shun-kun…” Maki admitted with a sigh. She just had that kind of “luck” of having worked with most of those who were close to “father” of her baby.
It was a good thing then that her manager, Riko Megumi, had already known or she would have a lot to say. In fact, she did have a lot to say when she found out (“Seriously, Maki-chan! Do you hate me this much to do this to me at the peak of your career?!”, “You’re committing an entertainment business suicide!” “Geez! Maki-chan! What were you thinking?!”, and “To a Johnny no less! And not even an ordinary Johnny at that!” were just a few of her lines then) but Riko did mellow down enough to say that there’s nothing else they could do but keep it quiet for the mean time, at least until her present obligations are finished.
Maki realized that Riko still loved her when she allowed her to have until this day as a break.
“I’ve received messages covertly asking me about that article from him, Sho-kun, Tegoshi-kun, Ryo-kun… Hell! Even Kame-kun and Akanishi-kun sent me a message this morning and they’re not even in Japan right now!” she groaned. In fact, almost all the Johnny’s she’d worked with had sent her a message, all but one, not that she’s waiting for his message or anything like that. Not at all.
“Johnny’s boys keep in touch …” Mao said, watching Maki closely. She noticed the momentary drop on her shoulders, as if she thought of something, before she smiled again. “You do realize, however, that since you turned off your phone, it would only make them worry that something is wrong.”
“Yeah…” Maki groaned. “I’m actually afraid that Shun-kun would turn up any minute now. I just hope they’re busy so they wouldn’t have the time. I don’t think I can face them just yet.”
“Don’t worry.” Mao smiled proudly. “I’m here to shoo them away. I have the rest of the day off.”
“You don’t have to keep me company…” Maki started but was distracted by the sudden surfacing of a phone ringing.
“Don’t be silly.” Mao laughed, reaching for her phone. “It’s Toma.”
“Moshi, moshi Toma-kun… I’m at my apartment, why..? Maki...? I haven’t seen her yet, why… Oh, you mean that Cyzo article…?!”
Maki watched as Mao continued her conversation with Toma, making excuses for her, glad that she had friends like her she could rely on.
When the phone call ended, Mao turned to her and laughed. “Guess you have to be wary of Toma-kun, too…”
“Yeah… He left me like ten messages already…” she conceded, smiling. “I should probably call him tomorrow.”
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“Maki-chan… Are you expecting some company?” Mao called to Maki from the living room that evening. Maki had just entered her bedroom to get into a warmer set of clothes when she heard the doorbell ring.
“Kei-chan said she’d be dropping off some of the vitamins I was not able to buy yesterday…” Maki replied.
Mao couldn’t help but smile at the irony of the situation, Yamapi’s latest rumored girlfriend buying vitamins for the mother of Yamapi’s baby.
There was still a huge grin on her face when she opened the door, expecting to see Keiko. But the person on the other side was someone else entirely, a man with jet-black hair, alluring lips and smoldering eyes. She hadn’t seen him in a while.
“Mao …”
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Maki couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief when half her shooting responsibilities for the day came to an end. Her first day back flowed smoothly, Riko having informed everyone that the flu was the reason why she was unable to attend to her responsibilities.
If anything, the day continued to flow normally until she saw him at the hallway.
She was about to go to the location for a magazine shoot when she saw him.
It would have been easier if he was doing something or was with someone at that time for Maki to simply nod at him or ignore him all together. However, he was alone, with nothing to distract him, and worst of all, standing on her only way out, erasing her chances of not having to pass him.
But before Maki could make any move or think of a way to get herself out of a potentially bad situation, Yamapi turned as if feeling her presence.
Maki could feel her breathing hitch upon seeing the look on Yamapi’s face the moment he turned around. He looked really bad. In fact, this would be the worst look she’d seen on him ever since it broke out that NewS would be on hiatus. He looked like he hadn’t been sleeping much, highly stressed even. There was a slight slump in his figure, as if he is dejected, not that Maki could think of anything that might make this particular guy feel such at the moment.
Mustering up all the courage she could when facing the prospect of facing him, she put on a calm and neutral smile, forcing her feet to move.
“Maki-chan…” Yamapi started, pulling himself to full height when he finally saw her. She remained as angelic as ever, warm, innocent. But there was something about the way she smiled at him that stung his heart, not that he acknowledged it. It seemed like that smiled was only for courtesy, and he thinks he knows why.
“Yamashita-san…” Maki said in response, feigning calmness she does not actually feel.
Yamapi almost winced. He had always been Tomohisa-kun, Tomo-kun, or Pi-tan when it comes to Maki. Apparently, they’re back to last name basis. It wasn’t even Yamashita-KUN, it was the more formal Yamashita-SAN.
“Can we talk?”
That was Matsujun’s advice, talk to her. Yamapi was not sure it was the best idea, especially since he didn’t even know what to do. But after the kind of restlessness he’d been in since he found out, which only intensified after reading Cyzo, he knew that he just had to see Maki. And he knew that he needed to see her, not just receive a message or hear her voice on the phone.
Which is why after making sure that he’s done his part in the photo shoot NewS had attended for Potato earlier that day, he excused himself immediately, even before both Koyama and Shige finished with their two-shot, not really noticing anything much.
“I’m sorry Yamashita-san,” Maki said, hoping to avoid him completely. “I have to go to a photo shoot…”
His response, however, was something she was not expecting.
“I’ll drive you there.”
Maki stopped on her tracks and looked at him questioningly. Yamapi looked serious, and it felt like he knew. There are only 5 people who knew about her condition excluding herself. And they all knew why she didn’t want to tell him yet.
Riko called her foolish (with all the endearment the world could possess) when she told her. She didn’t want to impose herself on Yamashita which would most likely happen if they inform him about her condition before they could talk things through. He would most likely feel responsible (if he wouldn’t, her agency would make him feel responsible) and she does not want that. She’d rather handle things alone than have someone be forced to help her.
They all knew her reasons, and she thought they all understood. They wouldn’t be telling Yamapi anything, right?
“You don’t have to…” Maki said, still pretending to smile. “I have a service waiting.”
But before she could get pass him, Yamapi’s hand extended and stopped her by the arm, pulling her towards him.
“Yamashita-san!” Maki gasped, having not been that physically close to him since that night, the sudden proximity disturbing her.
But Yamapi wouldn’t let her go as he sought to look into her eyes while Maki continued avoiding his. He finally won when his other hand snacked up her neck to caress her cheeks, holding her head steady for her to look into his eyes.
“I know,” he said quietly.
“What?!”
“I know you’re pregnant,” Yamapi said, feeling Maki suddenly freeze beneath his fingers. “I saw you when you were leaving your doctor’s office.”
Much to his and her surprise, her eyes started swelling up. But before Yamapi could move to wipe away those tears, Maki had swatted his hand away.
“So what if you know?” she said, her voice suddenly filled with a weird sort of determination, getting herself free from his grasp. “That doesn’t change a thing now, does it?! This child will be my baby and mine alone!”
Before Yamapi could react, Maki had already run away.
The next thing he knew, someone was clearing his throat beside him. Turning around, he came face to face with a very angry Ikuta Toma.
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Maki could feel her tears still flowing when she boarded her service. She wanted to stop it but she just couldn’t. She didn’t like crying, especially when it’s for or because of him. And she especially hated it that she saw her cry.
She did not want Yamashita Tomohisa’s pity. That’s the last thing she would ever want from him, the last thing she’d ever need from the guy she once admired.
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“Please tell me no one saw what you did to Pi…” Matsujun sighed the moment he entered his apartment and saw Toma stretched on his long white sofa, his flat screen TV already on.
Earlier that morning, Yamapi had called when he was merely 3 hours into his sleep. First instinct told him to yell at the guy and shut his phone off but something in Yamapi’s voice made him grudgingly open his eyes. The guy might really need his help, knowing that Yamapi can sometimes be as obtuse as Jin when it comes to the more serious part of relationships (seriously, Ryo is so much better in that aspect). Besides, he couldn’t possibly blame him for keeping him awake ‘til 3:00 in the morning.
But when he learned that he had called him only to say that he’s following his advice, it took him every self-restraint he could generate to not curse the younger guy to hell. He merely wished him good luck and to keep him posted.
By four o’clock in the afternoon, he was already as curious as hell as to how Yamapi’s encounter went when he received a message. It only contained two words but it told Matsujun a whole story.
“Toma knows”
It meant that the encounter with Maki did not go well, with a bonus bad encounter with Toma. He should have already expected seeing Toma after that message. After all, as normal as it is for two friends to fight, Toma hated fighting with Yamapi. And Toma’s idea of cooling off, unfortunately, is bugging him (especially since Jin and Kame were still out of the country, although he probably should be thankful for that).
Toma turned to look at him and smirked, not even bothering to explain why and how he crashed his apartment.
“Of course not!” Toma said, sitting up straight only when Matsujun hit him on the leg. “Other than Masuda-kun… Tegoshi-kun… And Ryo …” he added with a laugh.
Matsujun sighed, sitting next to Toma. Of course Ryo would notice almost immediately, the guy being much more observant of the things surrounding him after the events that shook the two groups he belonged in. Tegoshi would be curious and would tag along Ryo discreetly, especially when it involves their dear leader, and he’d probably be pulling Masuda along.
“And they didn’t stop you.”
“Nope!” Toma smiled. “Though I think both Ryo and Tegoshi-kun would have wanted a piece of Pi themselves if Masuda-kun hadn’t stopped them. Too bad Masuda-kun is as strong as he is that he was able to stop both of them…”
“That’s not hard to imagine.” After all, Maki is already friends with the whole of NewS and there is a possibility that even Tegoshi could be irritated at Yamapi for this.
Resting his head on the backrest, he closed his eyes and chuckled. “Well, I’m glad Johhny made a rule of no hitting on the face…”
“You’re one to talk…” Toma laughed. “He said you wanted to strangle him!”
Matsujun snorted. “I only collared him! Where is he, by the way?” Since it was Pi who told Toma that, he’s pretty sure the two had patched up their friendship already.
“Shooting… He said he might come here after he finishes though… He needs to talk to you.”
“About what?” Matsujun asked, opening his eyes to frown at his friend. His day may not start as early as the past few days tomorrow but he still needed to catch some sleep after being held sleepless the previous night.
“I don’t know! He wouldn’t even tell me and I’m his best friend!” Toma whined.
“If I haven’t been even gone to see Horikii earlier, I wouldn’t have known about this problem… I’m not even sure why he wouldn’t tell me! It’s not like I had to date a co-star for me to understand what he’s going through! I mean, I get what you’re going through with Mao-chan!” Toma reasoned, talking more to himself than to Matsujun. “And I should understand this more since I’ve worked with Horikii in a whole series, not just as a guest! I’m close friends with her! So why wouldn’t Pi tell me what he wanted to talk to you about?!”
This long diatribe earned Toma a sharp hit on the shoulders, making the younger Johnny wince.
“You’re being Nakatsu again.”
“And you’re being Domyouji?!” Toma pouted, rubbing his arm but not disagreeing. He knew he had imbibed some of his previous role’s characteristics, the monologue tendencies being from his hana kimi role.
“No. I’m just being Jun…” Matsujun smirked.
Toma snorted and then sighed. “I just want to know why he wouldn’t tell me anything!”
“Maybe because Jun has experienced some things you still haven’t?” suggested familiar voice from behind them, completely surprising Matsujun. Turning around, he saw Takizawa Hideaki, one hand holding three wine glasses and the other one bottle of his best wines, walking towards them.
“What the heck are you doing here?!” Matsujun exclaimed, sitting up straight.
“Oi, oi! Is that the right way to greet your sempai?!” said Tackey in mock-lecture as he took the seat adjacent to Toma, setting the glasses and the bottle of wine on the glass center table. When Matsujun continued to scowl, he explained “I came with Toma, saw him at the jimusho …”
“And you both thought it was the best idea to trespass at my place and raid my wine cellar?!”
“Well, we had a key…” Toma smiled, swinging in front of him a set of keys he knew he had lent Shun a month ago when he asked the latter to check on his place while he was away from Tokyo for about a week. “Shun asked me to return it...”
Matsujun sighed, grabbing the keys from Toma as he stood, heading for his kitchen.
“Where are you going?” asked Tackey.
“I have to make food if you all are gonna be here…” Matsujun sighed. There was a reason he still had not converted that extra bedroom of his into storage or something because when they drink together in one of their places, they drink until they drop.
“You don’t have to my dear Junnosuke…” Tackey laughed as he poured wine on each of the glasses before handing him and Toma one.
Matsujun winced at the name but snorted at what he said.
“Why, you ordered take-out sempai?” he laughed. He wouldn’t doubt either men’s ability to create food when they absolutely needed it but he wouldn’t really trust either with his kitchen. He also knew that they both wouldn’t force themselves to cook if there’s still take-out available (or there’s someone who would cook for them-him).
Before they could actually reply though, another familiar voice surfaced, making Matsujun turn sharply towards the kitchen.
“Yo, Toma! Gussan says the food is ready… What time will Jun ar-rive…” Ryo was saying before he caught sight of the man himself. “Oh, you’re here already!” he beamed before getting back to the kitchen, calling “Gussan! Jun’s here… We can eat already!”
Matsujun turned to both Toma and Tackey to look at them questioningly.
“Is there anyone else in my apartment I should know about? Or is the whole Jimusho coming over?”
Toma shook his head. “Nah, just us…” while Tackey chuckled “Why, you want me to call them?”
and that's chapter 4! and yay! i survived this day!
anyway... comments are always appreciated... :)