Prompt 1: For Your Ears Only - Team AU
Title: For Your Ears Only
Rating: PG
Pairing: RyoJin
Summary: Is it possible to fall in love without ever speaking? Ryo and Jin think it is.
Prompt: Kanjani8 - Osaka Rainy Blues
Warnings: None.
Notes: Thanks G. for brainstorming with me, I'd never have dreamed this up without your help.
It was a freezing rainy night three years ago, strumming my guitar on the street corner, playing a sad love song. I just wanted to make him smile, and that was the beginning of love.
Part I.
His name was Nishikido Ryo and he was a street artist. Playing the guitar had been his life for as long as he could remember, and this street was his world. Everything about it was special; the way the wind would blow and carry dry leaves past his little blanket on the pavement, the way it made the peeling paint on the old buildings flutter as if whispering to the lone cat cleaning itself in an alleyway, not noticing or ignoring his music. The way people would pass him and smile, just a little, as he played his songs for them day after day, night after night. The faint smell of rotting wood and garbage cans. All of that, and him.
He'd been there for as long as Ryo could remember, on the other side of the street, playing a guitar that looked more expensive than his, but often playing it without the passion Ryo felt inside. There was something inherently sad about him, something that made Ryo think he didn't belong here. He looked like an angel, but if he was one, then surely he was an angel with clipped wings and that thought caused Ryo a lot of pain, his heart hurting for the fascinating stranger even though he knew nothing about him.
What he did know was that his hair was long and beautiful and Ryo would stare at it when he was looking the other way. It looked healthy and Ryo wondered how that was possible, since he was always here, playing his songs on his corner, the echo of his chords mixing with Ryo's, forming a strangely pleasant duet Ryo would still be able to hear whenever he closed his eyes.
Sometimes Ryo wondered what his name was, how he'd ended up here, what his life had been like before he'd ended up on this street, playing music for often uncaring people, but he knew he'd never find out. They'd never spoken and they never would. That side was his, this side was Ryo's, and neither of them would cross the street. All Ryo could do was play his best songs for him and try to make him smile. No matter how hard Ryo tried, he never smiled.
Part II.
He used to be Akanishi Jin, back when he still was someone. He'd had it all and lost it all and now here he was, playing his guitar on a street corner, battling rain and sarcasm, getting showered with coins that wouldn't get him any of the things he wanted, always worrying about his next meal and the chances of ever getting out of this life. Before, in an earlier life he was slowly starting to forget, he'd loved to play. He'd loved to tell his stories to the world, stories with rhyme and rhythm about all the things that were good about his life. Because it had been good. And now here he was, playing the same songs, stories from someone else's life now, words that no longer meant anything to him. There was nobody left to play for. Nobody but him.
By now, Jin couldn't even remember who'd been here first, himself or the man across the street. Maybe they'd both arrived here on the same day, each on their own side, curling up on the cold ground with nothing but a guitar and a halfway decent voice. Jin watched him, sometimes, when people distracted him and he wouldn't notice. The way he smiled, the simple joy that seemed to exist inside of him, leading this half life, was the only thing that kept Jin warm at night, when the music had finally stopped and his eyes would close.
There was something tragically beautiful about him, his pale face, his black hair, his long fingers creating magic with that old guitar, and Jin couldn't help but wonder what kind of life he would have lived if things had been different. It was one of those things he'd never find out, because he was there and Jin was here and the street was like an ocean of doubts, impossible to cross for a man with nothing to offer. The only thing he could give was music, and so he played for him every single day.
It was a rainy night just like this a year ago, the night he disappeared, and somewhere in this city I can hear that song again.
Part III.
There had been no warning, no reason to believe he would no longer be there when Ryo opened his eyes. But now here he was, alone, playing his songs to the sky without seeing any of the smiling faces, ignoring the coins falling down around his shivering form, unaware of the silent tears rolling down his cheeks. He didn't understand and even though he probably didn't have the right, he felt betrayed, left behind, abandoned by the one person he hadn't wanted to lose. The streets were empty without his face lit up by the street lights, shining with a light of its own, and Ryo's music sounded wrong to his own ears without the faint sounds from across the street turning it into a delightful symphony. He'd been a street artist all his life, but now, for the first time, he wanted to be something else. Somewhere else. With someone else.
He wouldn't leave this street, though, and there was nowhere else to go, so the only thing left for Ryo to do was to play the sweetest of melodies and believe he'd come back.
At dawn the city begins to move, despite it all, morning comes again.
Part IV.
Watching him from this short distance felt strange to Jin, stranger than the new shoes on his feet and the coat keeping his body warm. It had been a year since he'd last seen him but every night in his dreams he'd heard the songs, the music blending with his own, weaving a spell that had bound them together more strongly than any conversation ever could. Back home, forgiven and missed, Jin hadn't been able to let go of the memories and now here he was, seeing his back for the very first time. He wanted to speak up, but something stopped him as he moved closer, close enough to touch.
When he turned around, Jin could see in his eyes that he'd known Jin was there. He looked into those dark eyes, wondering what was behind them, knowing he'd never find out. He hadn't come back for that and they both knew it.
We can't return, we can't go back to how we were then.
Part V.
It started raining again when Ryo kissed him, but it couldn't have been any other way. Those soft, warm lips pulsing against his own made his body glow and he thought that surely this feeling must be the best in the world. Already, a new song was forming in his mind, a sad love song speaking of love found and lost, a life lost and found, and a lonely artist playing on a street corner of rainy Osaka. It would be his best piece ever.
When the angel disappeared, Ryo knew he'd never love again.
This sadness feels like it's breaking me, Osaka rainy blues.
Finished reading? Rate this fic!
Poll Team AU: For Your Ears Only
Rating: PG
Pairing: RyoJin
Summary: Is it possible to fall in love without ever speaking? Ryo and Jin think it is.
Prompt: Kanjani8 - Osaka Rainy Blues
Warnings: None.
Notes: Thanks G. for brainstorming with me, I'd never have dreamed this up without your help.
It was a freezing rainy night three years ago, strumming my guitar on the street corner, playing a sad love song. I just wanted to make him smile, and that was the beginning of love.
Part I.
His name was Nishikido Ryo and he was a street artist. Playing the guitar had been his life for as long as he could remember, and this street was his world. Everything about it was special; the way the wind would blow and carry dry leaves past his little blanket on the pavement, the way it made the peeling paint on the old buildings flutter as if whispering to the lone cat cleaning itself in an alleyway, not noticing or ignoring his music. The way people would pass him and smile, just a little, as he played his songs for them day after day, night after night. The faint smell of rotting wood and garbage cans. All of that, and him.
He'd been there for as long as Ryo could remember, on the other side of the street, playing a guitar that looked more expensive than his, but often playing it without the passion Ryo felt inside. There was something inherently sad about him, something that made Ryo think he didn't belong here. He looked like an angel, but if he was one, then surely he was an angel with clipped wings and that thought caused Ryo a lot of pain, his heart hurting for the fascinating stranger even though he knew nothing about him.
What he did know was that his hair was long and beautiful and Ryo would stare at it when he was looking the other way. It looked healthy and Ryo wondered how that was possible, since he was always here, playing his songs on his corner, the echo of his chords mixing with Ryo's, forming a strangely pleasant duet Ryo would still be able to hear whenever he closed his eyes.
Sometimes Ryo wondered what his name was, how he'd ended up here, what his life had been like before he'd ended up on this street, playing music for often uncaring people, but he knew he'd never find out. They'd never spoken and they never would. That side was his, this side was Ryo's, and neither of them would cross the street. All Ryo could do was play his best songs for him and try to make him smile. No matter how hard Ryo tried, he never smiled.
Part II.
He used to be Akanishi Jin, back when he still was someone. He'd had it all and lost it all and now here he was, playing his guitar on a street corner, battling rain and sarcasm, getting showered with coins that wouldn't get him any of the things he wanted, always worrying about his next meal and the chances of ever getting out of this life. Before, in an earlier life he was slowly starting to forget, he'd loved to play. He'd loved to tell his stories to the world, stories with rhyme and rhythm about all the things that were good about his life. Because it had been good. And now here he was, playing the same songs, stories from someone else's life now, words that no longer meant anything to him. There was nobody left to play for. Nobody but him.
By now, Jin couldn't even remember who'd been here first, himself or the man across the street. Maybe they'd both arrived here on the same day, each on their own side, curling up on the cold ground with nothing but a guitar and a halfway decent voice. Jin watched him, sometimes, when people distracted him and he wouldn't notice. The way he smiled, the simple joy that seemed to exist inside of him, leading this half life, was the only thing that kept Jin warm at night, when the music had finally stopped and his eyes would close.
There was something tragically beautiful about him, his pale face, his black hair, his long fingers creating magic with that old guitar, and Jin couldn't help but wonder what kind of life he would have lived if things had been different. It was one of those things he'd never find out, because he was there and Jin was here and the street was like an ocean of doubts, impossible to cross for a man with nothing to offer. The only thing he could give was music, and so he played for him every single day.
It was a rainy night just like this a year ago, the night he disappeared, and somewhere in this city I can hear that song again.
Part III.
There had been no warning, no reason to believe he would no longer be there when Ryo opened his eyes. But now here he was, alone, playing his songs to the sky without seeing any of the smiling faces, ignoring the coins falling down around his shivering form, unaware of the silent tears rolling down his cheeks. He didn't understand and even though he probably didn't have the right, he felt betrayed, left behind, abandoned by the one person he hadn't wanted to lose. The streets were empty without his face lit up by the street lights, shining with a light of its own, and Ryo's music sounded wrong to his own ears without the faint sounds from across the street turning it into a delightful symphony. He'd been a street artist all his life, but now, for the first time, he wanted to be something else. Somewhere else. With someone else.
He wouldn't leave this street, though, and there was nowhere else to go, so the only thing left for Ryo to do was to play the sweetest of melodies and believe he'd come back.
At dawn the city begins to move, despite it all, morning comes again.
Part IV.
Watching him from this short distance felt strange to Jin, stranger than the new shoes on his feet and the coat keeping his body warm. It had been a year since he'd last seen him but every night in his dreams he'd heard the songs, the music blending with his own, weaving a spell that had bound them together more strongly than any conversation ever could. Back home, forgiven and missed, Jin hadn't been able to let go of the memories and now here he was, seeing his back for the very first time. He wanted to speak up, but something stopped him as he moved closer, close enough to touch.
When he turned around, Jin could see in his eyes that he'd known Jin was there. He looked into those dark eyes, wondering what was behind them, knowing he'd never find out. He hadn't come back for that and they both knew it.
We can't return, we can't go back to how we were then.
Part V.
It started raining again when Ryo kissed him, but it couldn't have been any other way. Those soft, warm lips pulsing against his own made his body glow and he thought that surely this feeling must be the best in the world. Already, a new song was forming in his mind, a sad love song speaking of love found and lost, a life lost and found, and a lonely artist playing on a street corner of rainy Osaka. It would be his best piece ever.
When the angel disappeared, Ryo knew he'd never love again.
This sadness feels like it's breaking me, Osaka rainy blues.
Finished reading? Rate this fic!
Poll Team AU: For Your Ears Only