remix for 2morrow_is_now
Title: Westside, Eastside (How Ueda Learned to Stop Crying and Love the Shinkansen)
Rating: PG-13
Group/Pairing: Ryo/Ueda
Warnings: N/A
Notes: This was my first time remixing. I really hope I’ve done it properly!
Link to Original Story: Why Ryo Hates the Shinkansen
Link to Original Writer: 2morrow-is-now
WESTSIDE ↔ EASTSIDE
(How Ueda Learned to Stop Crying and Love the Shinkansen)
‘Ueda may pretend he’s all mysterious and tough, but he’s actually really fragile,’ Akanishi lectured, somewhat crossly.
‘Girls’ hearts are made of glass,’ Yamapi agreed, making a heart shape with his hands and nodding energetically. Jin smacked him for his trouble.
‘I’m trying to deliver a serious lecture here. Your gender issues aren’t helping.’ He pouted and because Jin’s pout was a powerful thing indeed, Yamapi quickly relented.
‘Ueda’s heart is made of glass,’ he lectured Ryo-chan instead and Jin nodded approvingly. Ryo just rolled his eyes and made faces and sighed and, in the end, had to promise to buy them dinner to make them shut up about it. (And when it was brought up again he just made faces and sighed again and complained loudly about Jin’s annoying bandmates. Not even Ryo himself quite knew why Ueda got under his skin like that.)
It was from around that moment onwards that Ueda, leaning against the wall in the hallway just outside the door, decided he would be strong. He’d be the strongest. He didn’t much care to be made out of glass, really.
And that was the last time Ueda cried on television. He learned to laugh instead and, grinning widely themselves, his bandmates told him it definitely suited him better.
‘Ueda has the best smile!’ Junno claimed happily. Nakamaru poked Ueda’s cheek and Ueda would almost be annoyed at how he wouldn’t even be able to stop the corners of his mouth curling up if he tried.
He also took up boxing. (Maybe as a precaution of sorts. If he was ever accidentally caught crying again, he could beat the shit out of anyone who witnessed it and made sure they never told anyone, much less make fun of him for it.) Maybe just because he enjoyed it.
‘What, beating the shit out of people?’ Nakamaru asked, tilting his head.
‘The beauty of the sport,’ Ueda replied haughtily and Nakamaru laughed.
The thing was, really, that secretly (or possibly not so secretly) Ueda liked a challenge. It’s what propelled him through the weird, liberally sequined career path that is Johnny’s Entertainment and the driving force behind his continuous quest to become The Most Awesome Thing Ever. (He felt like he was getting somewhere with that, really.)
At first, he’d thought that Nishikido Ryo would be an admirable challenge. Dancing around in eyeliner and glitter, Ueda considered, was surely a lot easier than dealing with Osaka’s resident poison tongue.
‘I hate your face,’ Ryo claimed defiantly. Ueda grinned, sweet and bright. Ryo thought that this was definitely not the appropriate reaction. Also, that Ueda had a rather nice smile, but he would sooner die a painful death than admit that, even to himself. He narrowed his eyes and tried again.
‘I hate-,’ he started, but Ueda cut him off. (How dare he, inner Ryo seethed.)
‘Who are you trying to convince, Nishikido?’ Ueda asked, still smiling that ridiculously cute smile and if he wasn’t sure that management would make his life as difficult as possible for it, Ryo swore, he would’ve punched him in the face.
Actually, Ueda thought as he pressed his lips firmly against the stunned idol’s, Nishikido Ryo was laughably easy.
He would have laughed, actually, he might even have made some quip about glass hearts, as he left Nishikido sputtering in confusion. He never had the chance, however, as Ryo curled fists in his shirt, kissed him back with vigour and was well on his way to showing just how easy he was (not that he’d ever admit that, ever, don’t be silly, please).
Unfortunately, thinking that there was no challenge at all turned out to be a reasonably sized error of judgement.
‘… What do you mean, you have to go to Osaka?’
‘Are you retarded?’ Ryo asked, although, with his face buried in Ueda’s shoulder, the words lacked their usual venom.
Life, Ueda discovered, wasn’t all rainbows and happiness. He thought it was rather ironic that this was Kanjani8’s fault.
Ueda, Ryo discovered, still cried sometimes when no one was filming him. He thought it was a bit unsettling. He tried walking around with a handheld camera all the time to see if that would help, but he gave up after ten minutes on account of it being too much of a pain. Also, he needed to use the bathroom.
When he had to go to Osaka again for lengthy single promotions and a shitload of television shows, he concocted the Most Brilliant Idea Ever, under influence of the rest of Kanjani8.
Unfortunately, no one had a suitcase big enough to fit Ueda in.
‘Go on a diet, fat Tatsuya,’ Ryo said sulkily. (At that time, a tiny part of his brain called Survival Instinct was kind of glad at the Shinkansen’s high speed.)
‘YOU should know that is definitely impossible,’ Johnny lectured when, upon needing to stay in Osaka for what Ueda dubbed a Never Ending Time As In Forever And Ever due to the upcoming release of Kanjani’s new album, Ryo subtly (or not so subtly) inquired after the possibilities of having Ueda join Kanjani8.
‘But we’ll be with eight people again,’ Ryo tried. Johnny just looked unimpressed at him until he gave up.
‘Well. Well,’ Nakamaru began awkwardly, vaguely patting Ueda’s back. ‘You don’t have to be that sad. At least be glad that the Shinkansen goes so fast, ne.’
Because Nakamaru was still his best friend Ueda didn’t hit him very hard.
‘Stupid Osaka and stupid Shinkansen,’ Ueda bitched, because he could. Ryo loved Osaka too much to complain about his beautiful hometown full of awesomeness that is way better than Tokyo in every single way, I just like to be here because you’re here, okay, felt safe to direct their mutual bitchiness towards the train.
‘Stupid Shinkansen,’ he agreed and he would almost appreciate the bonding experience their scorn provided, if he didn’t have to leave all the time. Sex, Ryo’s philosophy went, was a much better bonding experience than bitching. (Bitching came third place, right after harassing the subject of one’s attention and insulting their face.)
‘Stupid Shinkansen,’ Ryo muttered, for the benefit of Ueda’s picture on his laptop screen. He turned the volume on his iPod up and selected some calming music. He figured he was probably starting to creep people out with annoyed mutterings at a computer screen and creeping people whom you didn’t know out was way less fun than annoying your friends. Unfortunately, what with the rest of Eito still in Osaka, the only ones there to irritate were some sleepy salary men and a gaggle of teenage girls he didn’t even want to come near at the moment.
Eastbound and over halfway there, his assumed hate for the Shinkansen slowly morphed into something more of an affectionate dislike. He was closer to Ueda than to Osaka - closer still with every new song blasting in his ears - and bitching about the Shinkansen with Tatsuya was fun, so in some weird sort of extension, this was okay too.
Not that he didn’t still hate it, but when he focused on hating on it together with Tatsuya, it was a lot more fun than when he thought of even better things to do with Tatsuya. (Though he still did, sometimes. In complete disregard of potentially embarrassing situations.)
‘Stupid Shinkansen,’ Ueda yawned, when the fiftieth glance to the clock still refused to speed the thing up. ‘So slow,’ he complained sleepily, stretching to a more comfortable position on the couch and refocusing his attention on the movie he was watching. Not that, when asked, he would be able to tell what it was about, but it was interesting enough as background noise.
He could remember waking up briefly, later. He could remember the warmth of Ryo’s arms around him and from his body pressed against him, half asleep.
But it wasn’t until the next morning, savouring a homemade breakfast and feeling strangely warm and happy inside, that he had the presence of mind to be grateful for the Shinkansen. He smiled. (And if Ryo had seen it, he would get flustered and awkward all over again and probably spill his carefully prepared breakfast all over his shirt. That was the kind of smile Ueda had.) One day, he’d conceive a master plan that probably involved high tech transporters and instantaneous travel between Osaka and Tokyo, but for now this residual warmth would have to do to.
Rating: PG-13
Group/Pairing: Ryo/Ueda
Warnings: N/A
Notes: This was my first time remixing. I really hope I’ve done it properly!
Link to Original Story: Why Ryo Hates the Shinkansen
Link to Original Writer: 2morrow-is-now
WESTSIDE ↔ EASTSIDE
(How Ueda Learned to Stop Crying and Love the Shinkansen)
‘Ueda may pretend he’s all mysterious and tough, but he’s actually really fragile,’ Akanishi lectured, somewhat crossly.
‘Girls’ hearts are made of glass,’ Yamapi agreed, making a heart shape with his hands and nodding energetically. Jin smacked him for his trouble.
‘I’m trying to deliver a serious lecture here. Your gender issues aren’t helping.’ He pouted and because Jin’s pout was a powerful thing indeed, Yamapi quickly relented.
‘Ueda’s heart is made of glass,’ he lectured Ryo-chan instead and Jin nodded approvingly. Ryo just rolled his eyes and made faces and sighed and, in the end, had to promise to buy them dinner to make them shut up about it. (And when it was brought up again he just made faces and sighed again and complained loudly about Jin’s annoying bandmates. Not even Ryo himself quite knew why Ueda got under his skin like that.)
It was from around that moment onwards that Ueda, leaning against the wall in the hallway just outside the door, decided he would be strong. He’d be the strongest. He didn’t much care to be made out of glass, really.
And that was the last time Ueda cried on television. He learned to laugh instead and, grinning widely themselves, his bandmates told him it definitely suited him better.
‘Ueda has the best smile!’ Junno claimed happily. Nakamaru poked Ueda’s cheek and Ueda would almost be annoyed at how he wouldn’t even be able to stop the corners of his mouth curling up if he tried.
He also took up boxing. (Maybe as a precaution of sorts. If he was ever accidentally caught crying again, he could beat the shit out of anyone who witnessed it and made sure they never told anyone, much less make fun of him for it.) Maybe just because he enjoyed it.
‘What, beating the shit out of people?’ Nakamaru asked, tilting his head.
‘The beauty of the sport,’ Ueda replied haughtily and Nakamaru laughed.
The thing was, really, that secretly (or possibly not so secretly) Ueda liked a challenge. It’s what propelled him through the weird, liberally sequined career path that is Johnny’s Entertainment and the driving force behind his continuous quest to become The Most Awesome Thing Ever. (He felt like he was getting somewhere with that, really.)
At first, he’d thought that Nishikido Ryo would be an admirable challenge. Dancing around in eyeliner and glitter, Ueda considered, was surely a lot easier than dealing with Osaka’s resident poison tongue.
‘I hate your face,’ Ryo claimed defiantly. Ueda grinned, sweet and bright. Ryo thought that this was definitely not the appropriate reaction. Also, that Ueda had a rather nice smile, but he would sooner die a painful death than admit that, even to himself. He narrowed his eyes and tried again.
‘I hate-,’ he started, but Ueda cut him off. (How dare he, inner Ryo seethed.)
‘Who are you trying to convince, Nishikido?’ Ueda asked, still smiling that ridiculously cute smile and if he wasn’t sure that management would make his life as difficult as possible for it, Ryo swore, he would’ve punched him in the face.
Actually, Ueda thought as he pressed his lips firmly against the stunned idol’s, Nishikido Ryo was laughably easy.
He would have laughed, actually, he might even have made some quip about glass hearts, as he left Nishikido sputtering in confusion. He never had the chance, however, as Ryo curled fists in his shirt, kissed him back with vigour and was well on his way to showing just how easy he was (not that he’d ever admit that, ever, don’t be silly, please).
Unfortunately, thinking that there was no challenge at all turned out to be a reasonably sized error of judgement.
‘… What do you mean, you have to go to Osaka?’
‘Are you retarded?’ Ryo asked, although, with his face buried in Ueda’s shoulder, the words lacked their usual venom.
Life, Ueda discovered, wasn’t all rainbows and happiness. He thought it was rather ironic that this was Kanjani8’s fault.
Ueda, Ryo discovered, still cried sometimes when no one was filming him. He thought it was a bit unsettling. He tried walking around with a handheld camera all the time to see if that would help, but he gave up after ten minutes on account of it being too much of a pain. Also, he needed to use the bathroom.
When he had to go to Osaka again for lengthy single promotions and a shitload of television shows, he concocted the Most Brilliant Idea Ever, under influence of the rest of Kanjani8.
Unfortunately, no one had a suitcase big enough to fit Ueda in.
‘Go on a diet, fat Tatsuya,’ Ryo said sulkily. (At that time, a tiny part of his brain called Survival Instinct was kind of glad at the Shinkansen’s high speed.)
‘YOU should know that is definitely impossible,’ Johnny lectured when, upon needing to stay in Osaka for what Ueda dubbed a Never Ending Time As In Forever And Ever due to the upcoming release of Kanjani’s new album, Ryo subtly (or not so subtly) inquired after the possibilities of having Ueda join Kanjani8.
‘But we’ll be with eight people again,’ Ryo tried. Johnny just looked unimpressed at him until he gave up.
‘Well. Well,’ Nakamaru began awkwardly, vaguely patting Ueda’s back. ‘You don’t have to be that sad. At least be glad that the Shinkansen goes so fast, ne.’
Because Nakamaru was still his best friend Ueda didn’t hit him very hard.
‘Stupid Osaka and stupid Shinkansen,’ Ueda bitched, because he could. Ryo loved Osaka too much to complain about his beautiful hometown full of awesomeness that is way better than Tokyo in every single way, I just like to be here because you’re here, okay, felt safe to direct their mutual bitchiness towards the train.
‘Stupid Shinkansen,’ he agreed and he would almost appreciate the bonding experience their scorn provided, if he didn’t have to leave all the time. Sex, Ryo’s philosophy went, was a much better bonding experience than bitching. (Bitching came third place, right after harassing the subject of one’s attention and insulting their face.)
‘Stupid Shinkansen,’ Ryo muttered, for the benefit of Ueda’s picture on his laptop screen. He turned the volume on his iPod up and selected some calming music. He figured he was probably starting to creep people out with annoyed mutterings at a computer screen and creeping people whom you didn’t know out was way less fun than annoying your friends. Unfortunately, what with the rest of Eito still in Osaka, the only ones there to irritate were some sleepy salary men and a gaggle of teenage girls he didn’t even want to come near at the moment.
Eastbound and over halfway there, his assumed hate for the Shinkansen slowly morphed into something more of an affectionate dislike. He was closer to Ueda than to Osaka - closer still with every new song blasting in his ears - and bitching about the Shinkansen with Tatsuya was fun, so in some weird sort of extension, this was okay too.
Not that he didn’t still hate it, but when he focused on hating on it together with Tatsuya, it was a lot more fun than when he thought of even better things to do with Tatsuya. (Though he still did, sometimes. In complete disregard of potentially embarrassing situations.)
‘Stupid Shinkansen,’ Ueda yawned, when the fiftieth glance to the clock still refused to speed the thing up. ‘So slow,’ he complained sleepily, stretching to a more comfortable position on the couch and refocusing his attention on the movie he was watching. Not that, when asked, he would be able to tell what it was about, but it was interesting enough as background noise.
He could remember waking up briefly, later. He could remember the warmth of Ryo’s arms around him and from his body pressed against him, half asleep.
But it wasn’t until the next morning, savouring a homemade breakfast and feeling strangely warm and happy inside, that he had the presence of mind to be grateful for the Shinkansen. He smiled. (And if Ryo had seen it, he would get flustered and awkward all over again and probably spill his carefully prepared breakfast all over his shirt. That was the kind of smile Ueda had.) One day, he’d conceive a master plan that probably involved high tech transporters and instantaneous travel between Osaka and Tokyo, but for now this residual warmth would have to do to.