Remix of lastingdreams8
Title: Time Goes By
Rating: PG-13
Group/Pairing: NEWS/ KAT-TUN (some HSJ) - RyoShige, RyoKame, ShigePi, HikaNoo, Yuto/?
Warnings:
Notes: betaed by hotfruits to lastingdreams8 I really enjoyed the original story you wrote. It was adorable and sweet and it left tons of room for my imagination. Thank you! And I hope you enjoy it this!
Link to Original Story: UFO Catcher
Link to Original Writer: lastingdreams8
___
Ryo awoke that morning to the wafting smell of cooking rice. With a soft smile, he wrapped his hands beneath his pillow, hugging it close wanting to hold onto the warmth for as long as he could.
“Rise and shine, sleepy-head.”
Flipping his head to face towards the door, he cracked open a heavy eyelid to see the one person he would to call him anything other than Nishikido. Said person made their way towards Ryo quietly as the latter stirred under the covers.
“Ryo-chan, it’s 6:30 am. You’ve slept in long enough, you’ll miss your train if you don’t get up n-Ryo!” The other felt himself falling forward as Ryo grabbed onto his wrist and pulled him into the cozy bed. Wrapping his arms around the slender man’s waist, Ryo nuzzled his boyfriend like one would a stuffed toy.
“Kazuya, just relax for a second. It’s only 6:30. We have at least another hour until the train arrives. Why don’t we do something useful with that time?” Ryo hinted with a smile and a feathery-light kiss to his lover’s exposed neck.
Pulling away from Ryo’s touch, the latter looked only partially bemused, “I already made breakfast so I don’t want you to spoil your appetite.”
Ryo smirked, pushing the covers back to expose his naked body, “Just remember you’re mine after dinner.” Kazuya laughed lightly, even when Ryo grabbed the skinny boy’s ass on his way out the bedroom door.
----
Shige woke that morning to the sound of his phone ringing. Groaning, he turned to see the time and unfortunate for him it was 6:30 am.
His phone kept ringing and ringing. Finally, getting so fed up he nearly threw it, he decided to answer it instead.
“What is it? How could you have possibly screwed up this quickly,” Shige snarled, running a hand through his short black hair.
Bolting straight up out of bed a moment later, he scrambled to put on his clothes, not caring if they were the same ones from yesterday or not, “That’s not possible, Yuto, the film just can’t disappear! I’m coming so don’t touch anything.”
He didn’t even bother to take the time to brush his teeth or even grab a coffee. All Shige could think of was gathering his bags and getting to the problem as quickly as possible. But all of his rushing around came to waste as he landed flat on his ass after clashing into another, much sturdier figure. Looking up from his spot on the floor, cradling his nose, he caught sight of the one person who, no matter the situation, made him feel the most at peace.
“Good Morning,” the man greeted as he stood there in his sweat drenched clothes.
“Morning,” Shige smiled, pushing himself off the ground.
“In a rush already? It’s not even 7 yet.”
“Don’t get me started. Nakajima just called saying yesterday’s film is gone. Film can’t just get up and walk away. I swear this is the last time I take on an intern. They never seem to get it right.”
Tomohisa chuckled and placed a soft kiss on Shige’s forehead, “Well, I hope you find them and do your best today. Yuto-kun’s just a high schooler, you can’t get too mad at him.”
Taking a deep breath, Shige already felt less aggravated, “Thanks you too. Don’t push yourself that hard practising again. Sports are supposed to be good for the body.”
Tomo rolled his eyes, “It was a minor fracture. Athletes usually come out with much worse.”
“Doesn’t mean I can’t worry about you.”
Cupping Shige’s face he planted a much longer kiss on his lips, “I’m not a child, I can take care of myself so just go solve your problem already and come home early. I’ll make dinner tonight.”
“Wow, you make dinner?! I’ll be sure to be home early, don’t want you burning down the place.”
“Shut up,” Tomo laughed as he smacked Shige’s ass as it traveled closer towards the door,” Rina taught me a thing or two before I left home.”
Shige nodding and left his home definitely feeling more at ease and more reluctant to bite his interns head off.
---
“Good morning, Nishikido-san,” the high, yet gentle voice of Inoo Kei greeted while handing a steaming cup of coffee to his boss, “ I checked over your schedule today and you have a meeting at 11, a presentation to prepare for on Thursday and you promised to have lunch with Kamenashi-san.”
Ryo smiled at his young apprentice and took the coffee from the boy’s slender hands, “Thank you very much. How is your design coming along?”
“Fantastic! Just a few more minor additions and it should be complete,” Inoo said full of energy as he followed Ryo into his office.
“Sounds good though could you do me a favour?” Ryo asked, giving the boy a sickly sweet smile that made Inoo’s blood run cold.
“Yes?”
“If you’re gonna bring me coffee, make sure it’s black. I don’t want any of that sugary crap in it.
“Are your taste buds broken or something?” Inoo mumbled.
“Excuse me, what was that?”
“Nothing! If you need anything, you know where to find me.”
Ryo nodded as the boy walked out and shut the door behind him with scowl on his face.
Shuffling through papers, meetings and designs, Ryo sound himself knee deep into his work. His firm had received their first big project. If all went well with it they may just get their feet off the ground and may be seen as worthwhile competitors in the architecture industry.
While preparing his notes for the presentation a gentle knock came to his door.
His head lifted from where it remained hung over his notes to see the gentle, white smile of Kazuya’s shining at him. And of course, he had a large, neatly wrapped bento for them to share. Smiling back, Ryo removed the glasses that gently were perched on his nose and got up from his seat.
Taking a dry erase marker off his desk, he messily wrote on the glass window of his door, “Be back in 30.” Before linking his fingers with Kazuya’s and heading to the café down stairs.
“I expected you to be hungry but you have reached a whole new level. That bento was HUGE!” Kazuya commented as he sipped at his steaming tea after watching Ryo devour the lunch in a matter of minutes.
“Your cooking is delicious, really you should feel honoured that I ate it this quickly,” Ryo punctuated with a belch. Kazuya laughed lightly as he wiped a piece of rice off Ryo’s face.
“Promise me you’ll make me dinner sometime so I can enjoy your delicious cooking the same way.”
“Sure no problem. How about thrusday night, I should be home early.”
“You’ve got yourself a date!”
They shared quiet smiles just as two rather loud individuals walked in. Recognizing one of them right away, Kazuya and Ryo scrambled out of their seats to hide in hopes to find a good spot to spy.
“That’s Inoo-kun isn’t it?” Kazuya pointed out as he watched said boy and his blond friend make their way to the food counter.
“Ya,” Ryo said, glaring at his assistant who was standing in line animatedly chatting while waiting for his cup of coffee to be ready.
“I wonder who the other boy is… have you seen him around before?”
Ryo shook his head, “But doesn’t he seem a little flashy for Inoo?”
Kazuya thought about it, “A little bit, but I’m sure Inoo-kun of all people would have a good reason to be with someone so visually different.”
“Or maybe he’s just all caught up in the romance of it all with the giggling and the flirting and the secret kisses,” Ryo scowled.
Kazuya narrowed his eyes, “Inoo-kun isn’t a girl.”
“Doesn’t mean he can’t act like one in love even if it gets him nowhere.”
Kazuya shrugged. The two continued to watch Inoo and his blond companion laugh and flirt over their coffees.
“Young love really is adorable isn’t it?” Kazuya swooned as he leaned his head against Ryo’s shoulder.
Ryo shot him a glare that made the other shiver, “Giving your heart to someone who doesn’t even know what they are going to wear the next day is a waste of time. They’ll pull apart their whole fucking closet before they realize what they wanted wasn’t in their to begin with.”
Kazuya sighed exasperatedly as he pulled himself and his lover to their feet, “I am glad we didn’t meet when we were their age then.”
“Hm ya, I wouldn’t have touched you if we met then. You looked like you cut your own hair and bought clothes at a thrift store.”
Kazuya laughed dryly, “Are you trying to get yourself out of sex tonight? If so, you’re doing a good job.”
“And that’s why I love you,” Ryo said as he pulled Kazuya into a gentle kiss before they made their way out of the café.
But Ryo turned his head back and let his eyes linger on the college students who continued to chat. He shook his head trying to dissolve the vivid images in his head. Young love really was pointless, it never lasts nor does it mean anything in the end. It is just a huge waste of time.
___---
A light knock came to Shige’s office door. Not giving permission for the visitor to come in, Shige turned around to see Yuto come in with two steaming cups of tea. Shige organized his papers into a neat pile before taking his cup from the intern.
“It’s 6 o’clock, didn’t you say you were leaving early today?” Yuto asked, taking a seat beside his boss and sipping at his drink.
“Getting home by 7 is early.”
“I don’t get it,” Yuto sighed, his nose crinkling as he spoke.
“Don’t get what?” Shige asked curiously but still distracted by his work.
“How you can sit here and be working when you know someone is home waiting for you.”
Shige smiled, lifting his head up and taking his glasses off his face and placing them down, “Trust me, Yuto, he’s not waiting. If anything he’ll be more caught up in work than I am. He’ll have forgotten that he promised me dinner and I’ll be the one serving him curry. He’ll apologize and then later this week he’ll actually make me dinner. It’ll be fantastic and romantic and that broken promise will be forgotten.”
“But isn’t that just sad then?”
“Hm, I don’t think so. It’s the way we are, forgetful and clumsy. It’s kind of why I love him.”
“So the broken promises don’t bother you?”
“It isn’t a crime to break a promise, Yuto. I’ve broken my fair share. It’s how you deal with it that matters.”
“I see,” Yuto nodded, but not thoroughly convinced.
“Something particular on your mind?”
“Well … there is this girl I like but everything I ask her out, she agrees and then blows me off last minute. It’s really irritating and it makes me not want to bother to date.”
“Then don’t date.”
“Huh?”
“It doesn’t matter how much you learn from dating, there is always 100% chance of failure.”
“So you think it’s pointless then?”
“Okay, wait, let me rephrase that. Taking something away from any experience is important so being in love when you’re young isn’t a complete waste of time BUT an end to that relationship is inevitable. Let her change her mind over and over again until one day she picks someone she knows is worth sticking around for. Same goes for you too. It may take a while but you won’t regret what you find,” Shige smiled with glowing nostalgia.
“Thanks.”
“I think I should be a therapist if I ever want to quit photography.”
“Then you’d need a therapist after that, especially with all the built up stress you would come home with,” A new voice interrupted their conversation. It was none other than Yamashita Tomohisa himself, which led to Shige’s jaw to become slack in surprise.
Yuto smiled, “So much for not waiting.”
Tomo gave the boy a sideways glance in question but the boy just shook his head as he exited the room fairly quickly, giving the couple their privacy.
“I had a feeling you would get wrapped up again so I thought I’d bring you home. The car is ‘round back.”
“Ya sure,” Shige said as he picked up his notes, bag and tea before he followed Tomohisa out the door.
“I heard you giving advice to the kid; I am taking it you have no regrets about being with me?”
“No, none what so ever. Nothing I’ve experienced before has felt this easy.”
Tomo laughed lightly, ruffling his boyfriend’s hair, “I’d think Ryo-chan would cry if he heard you say that.”
Shige froze.
Next thing Tomo knew, Shige had sped walked to the car, opened the door, sat down in the driver’s seat and had driven off. He didn’t even bothering to wait until his boyfriend got into the car.
When Tomohisa finally arrived home, ankle throbbing from the incredibly long and strenuous jog he had to take home, he found a bowl of piping hot curry sitting on the table for him. Hearing the clanking of pots and the rushing of water, Tomo sighed as he took a few more steps and wrapped his arms around his lover’s torso.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright. I’m sorry for leaving without you, you should sit down,” Shige said, spinning around and guiding Tomohisa to his seat.
“Are you going to join me for dinner?”
“Sure,” Shige shrugged and poured some curry over his bowl of rice and made his way into his seat.
They ate in silence.
When all that was left was the scrapping of spoons on a porcelain bowl, he opened his mouth, “I wish you would talk to Ryo about this.”
His head shooting up, Shige glared at Tomo, “Can we not talk about this please.”
“But it needs to be talked about. You have been running away from this for years.”
“With good reason.”
“You’re 27 now Shige, it’s been 10 years, don’t you think you should grow up?”
“I don’t need to listen to this,” Shige growled as he got up from his seat and marched towards the sink, but he was caught half way and had a phone shoved into his hand.
“Shigeaki, call Ryo. Tell him something, anything, you don’t even have to say you’re sorry, but if you’re gonna be a bitch and treat me badly the next time his name comes up then maybe I’d regret spending all these years with you.”
“You don’t mean that,” Shige whispered, horror struck. But the dark, cold look in Tomohisa’s eyes told him otherwise. Scrolling through the contacts list, Shige found who he was looking for and clicked the center ‘Call’ button.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
Click!
“Hello?” came the out of breath voice of someone Shige had never heard before.
“Hello? Who is this? Isn’t this Nishikido Ryo’s phone?”
A gasp then made its way through the receiver, “Ya it is, but I’m not him and you’re not Yamashita-kun, who is this?”
“Kato Shigeaki.”
Silence hung in the air.
Then came a shuffling and Shige felt that who ever was there was fighting over the device.
“Shigeaki,” Ryo’s husky voice like wind chimes to his ears.
“Yes?”
“Fuck off!” and the call ended with that.
Shige stood there, with Tomohisa looking marginally worried, behind him.
“Shigeaki?” Tomo asked as he watched Shige’s body shake. The latter put on the fakest smile he could and handed his boyfriend his phone before making his way to their bedroom.
Later that night, when Tomohisa joined a supposedly sleeping Shige in bed, he felt the latter snuggle up into him tightly.
Kissing the top of Shige’s head, Tomo held onto him securely as he wondered why he pushed someone that was hurting just as much.
---
Ryo scrambled into his office building at quarter after nine the next morning. Nearly tripping and dropping his belongings, he felt a figure place a hand on his shoulder. Checking his peripheral vision, he saw it was none other than a very tired looking Inoo Kei beside him.
“You’re late,” Ryo said to the student narrowing his equally tired eyes.
“So are you. As the boss aren’t you supposed to set an example and be here on time?”
“I can fire you, you know.”
“And prove what? That a meer university student was able to up show his boss therefore got fired?”
Ryo glared, “What do you want?”
“To get on the elevator so we can start our day,” Inoo said with a small yawn and a smile.
“You overslept?”
“You too?”
“Yeah.”
“Boyfriend troubles?” Inoo asked, nonchalantly.
“That’s not really your business now is it?”
“Well, if you’re going to be all cranky then I’d like to know why so I don’t misjudge the angry and feel I have done something wrong. Therefore put unnecessary blame on myself and consider this a bad firm for any future student to work in.”
“God,fine, my ex-boyfriend called last night. It kept me up all night. I was too angry to sleep and when I finally did I ended up waking up at 9.Happy?”
“Quite, thank you,” Inoo smiled humming to himself as he watched the flickering numbers get higher and higher.
“Well?” Ryo asked.
“Well what?”
“Aren’t you going to tell me why you’re late?”
Inoo’s face fell and his gaze dropped to his shoes, “Boyfriend troubles. We were up all night arguing. Hikaru’s going to America to study at Berkley in California (for music) and he wants me to go with him but I can’t. I have too much responsibility here.”
Ryo smirked, “So are you planning on breaking up with him if you don’t go?”
Inoo shrugged as his hands rung around the strap of his messenger bag,” I don’t know.”
“These things don’t last anyways so my advice is just break up with him before you cause a bigger mess with your indecision. He’ll thank you for it, trust me.”
That’s when the elevator dinged and the doors opened on their floor. Ryo walked out, smugly, while Inoo stood there wondering just how black his boss’s heart truly was.
---
Ryo’s day shaped up well for him despite the previous day’s events. He got more accomplished then he usually did in his 5 hours work day. The presentation went better than expected and Ryo didn’t even have to cross his fingers in luck because he found luck to be an unnecessary factor in getting his project.
Whistling a tune as he packed his belongings at quarter to 3pm, a knock came to his door.
“Whatever it is Inoo, we’ll deal with it tomorrow.”
“Ah, but I much rather deal with this now,” the voice was definitely not Inoo’s. Knowing the voice also didn’t belong to any of his other co-workers, Ryo head snapped up from its place over his bag. Soaking in his friend’s presence and attire he couldn’t help but glare.
“What do you want Tomohisa? I’m going home.”
“I want to apologize for springing him on your and Kazuya-kun last night.”
Ryo’s stare softened, but only a smidgen, “You can apologize to me by buying a round of drinks.”
Tomo laughed and clapped his friend on the back, “You really haven’t changed, have you?”
Ryo smirked and shoot his head. He refrained from any other comment. He wasn’t going to push his luck.
___
“I seriously can’t believe you Pi, after all we’ve said to you about this,” Akanishi Jin yelled at his best friend while smashing his beer class down onto the wooden, bar table.
“But don’t you think it’s enough already? They can’t just keep avoiding their problems. They aren’t kids anymore plus, it’d be nice if the five of us could hang out together,” Tomo replied, taking a sip from his own beer.
Jin sighed, “I suppose. But even if they do solve their differences, please don’t him on our outings. It’s bad enough that Ryo-chan brings Kamenashi and all they do is suck face. I don’t want you doing it too!”
Tomo laughed, “ Aww, feeling like a third wheel?”
“A little. Seriously, why is it so hard to find a hot chick even just to bang,” Jin grumbled chugging the rest of his beer down.
“Maybe because they think you’re gay by association. I think you need new friends.”
Jin glared as he ordered another beer, “Fine I’ll have to go out with Shirota and Kusano next week.”
They sat there, silently, nursing their beers and watching the crowd behind them chat.
“Do you ever regret choosing him?” Jin asked seriously.
Tomo sighed, “Sometimes but then those thoughts go away when I see him passed out on the sofa while his favourite movie plays quietly. That’s when I realize nothing could change how happy he makes me.”
Jin smiled and punched his best friend’s arm in the shoulder, “That’s all that matters.”
---
“I’m home,” Tomo called from his place in the front hallway. Carefully, he tiptoed into the darkened apartment only to see the faint glow of the television from the den. Curiously, he quickened his pace to find Shige sitting straight up, eyes drooping closed and watching a program.
“I’m home,” he called again, this time, scaring Shige half to death. Turning to his boyfriend, Shige placed a finger to his own lips and pointed to the small lump in his lap. Tomo recognized the lump as a head of hair, specifically Yuto Nakajima’s head of hair. The kid was pretty cute when he was fast asleep.
“What happened?”
“His girlfriend broke up with him today. Poor thing has been a train wreck all day. I tried to drop him off at home but he refused. So I called his mom and told her he’d be here for the night. Before work tomorrow I’ll take him home to change,” Shige explained as he ran his hand through the teenager’s hair.
Tomo nodded as he perched himself on the arm rest next to Shige, “Poor kid. Do you want me to take him to bed?”
Shige shook his head, “He just fell asleep, give him some time.”
Tomo smiled in return, planting a kiss to his lover’s hair line, “You’re a good person, Shige. It’s still hard to believe you’re the same person you were 10 years ago.”
Shige sat still.
“I’m sorry for pushing you yesterday. If you don’t want to make amends with Ryo-chan, that’s fine.”
Shige sighed, “It’s not like I don’t. I just don’t think I can. It’s Ryo afterall.”
“He’s matured and a little more flexible then he used to be. Kazuya has been really good for him. I am sure if you did try it would go well.”
Shige gave him a bitter smile, “I thought you said I don’t have to?”
“Well, if you wanted to I am sure it would be okay.”
Shige frowned and slipped himself from underneath Yuto’s head, “Goodnight.”
“Night,” Tomo replied softly, watching Shige disappear into their room. If he was going to get this to work he was going to have to try much harder.
___
“Just one cup of coffee, Ryo-chan. That’s all I ask!” Tomo begged as he jogged to keep up with his friend. He had ambushed the man at the train station the following morning and the hungover Nishikido Ryo was less than happy to deal with his hyperactive antics.
“I don’t want to see him. Why is this so hard for you to understand?”
“Maybe because he’s willing to apologize?”
Ryo stopped in his tracks, “It’s too late for apologies Pi. He fucked up and I moved on.”
Tomo snorted, “Oh yes, you moved on, of course. That’s why you’re holding this grudge and literally losing sleep over it. It’s been 10 years, don’t you think it’s about time to let go?”
“I just don’t want to see his ugly face,” Ryo mumbled as he tried to quicken his pace.
“You know that face is as ugly as a bunny. You’re afraid you’ll fall in love with him again aren’t you?” Tomo teased.
Ryo rolled his eyes, “No, absolutely not. I love Kazuya more than anything in the world; I would never trade that man for anything. I just… don’t know what will happen if I see Shige again.”
“I’m sure everything will be--” but Tomo wasn’t able to finish his sentence because the moment they arrived at Ryo’s building doors, there stood a miffed looking blond boy.
“Fuck,” Ryo grumbled as he tried not to make eye contact with the university student but he failed, miserably. Hikaru stomped right up to Ryo and Tomo could have sworn Ryo was going to hit him.
But he didn’t thankfully. Instead he listened half-heartedly to the concerns this boy had with Ryo.
“Where the hell do you get off telling your interns to break up with their boyfriends?!” Hikaru roared, arms flailing as he spoke.
Tomohisa’s eyes remained transfixed on Ryo whose frown turned into a smirk as he folded his arms over his chest, smugly, “So he made a decision then? I’m glad.”
“No, but he’s ignoring me and that’s because of what you said.”
Ryo rolled his eyes and pushed past Hikaru making his way into the building leaving both the boy and Tomo to stand there in silence.
“You don’t happen to know a Nakajima Yuto, do you?” Tomo asked jokingly as he patted the blond and walked off. What Tomo didn’t know was how shocked Hikaru was hearing the basketball star speak of the drummer of his band. The world was definitely small.
---
“I completely agree!” Kazuya said into the portable phone that he balanced between his car and shoulder as he cleaned out the apartment, “so should I drag him there myself or do you have some ingenious plan?”
“I’ve done the best I can; he only really listens to you anyways,” Tomohisa called as he munched on a particularly crunchy carrot.
“Ah, it’s a gift really.”
Tomo rolled his eyes, “Don’t flatter yourself Kame-chan, just make sure he’s there on Sunday at 3pm at the café near your place.”
“You’re spoiling him by giving him an easy escape route, I wish you wouldn’t.”
“Kazuya, I was there when it happens and you should know that it’s easier to get Ryo to open up when he’s comfortable.”
“Fine, but I will definitely not be joining you guys then. The babies got to learn.”
“Alright then, don’t come bitching to me then if he doesn’t put out.”
“Goodbye, Yamashita-kun,” Kazuya said shaking his head and hanging up on the man. Sighing he looked around the messy bedroom that both he and Ryo shared. Clothes were still all over the floor and boxes from when they moved in together a year ago were still sitting around. Kicking the only boxed that was closed in frustration, it opened and its contents spilled to the ground.
Picking up the stuff and preparing to put it back in, a particular item caught Kazuya’s attention. Smirking he put it back in the box, which he relocated to the television room, and went back to picking up the laundry and organizes the boxes much more cheerfully.
___
“It’s been 30 minutes; I thought you said he lived upstairs?” Shige asked Tomohisa who was bobbing his head and swaying from side to side as he let the music flow through him as they stood there outside the cafe. Shige rolled his eyes and snapped the headphones off the man’s ears, “Where is Ryo, Tomo?”
“I don’t know, he’ll get here when he gets here.”
“But he’s not usually one to be late,” Shige said, gnawing on his nails, “I wonder if something happened.”
“The new Ryo isn’t as punctual as he used to be he never fails to arrive.”
Shige bit his lip as he wiped his sweating palms on his jeans.
“You haven’t changed at all have you? As nervous and doubting as ever,” the husky voice of Nishikido Ryo called as he rested his chin on Shige’s unsuspecting shoulder.
Spinning around and nearly tumbling to the ground in shock both Shige and Tomohisa watched as Ryo smiled at them a calm smile free of mischief.
“Who are you and what did you do with Ryo-chan?” Tomo asked, eyeing the man suspiously.
“Ass,” Ryo said as he pulled Shige by the wrist into the café and dragged him to the counter and both of them bought coffees.
“You still like yours black right?”
“Actually, I’m drinking tea now. Doctor said it was adding to my anxiety.”
“Ah, I see,” Ryo nodded and turned back to the bartista, “One regular tea and one coffee with two crème and two sugars.”
The lady nodded at him and Ryo offered her the exact amount for both beverages.
“You don’t have to do that,” Shige whispered.
“It’s fine, I want to. It’s not a big deal.”
“If you insist,” Shige sighed as he walked towards the table that Tomohisa had found for the three of them.
“Ryo-chan, why didn’t you buy me one too?!” Tomo whined once the shorter man took his seat across from the couple.
“Because I am not here to patch things up with you am I? Last time I checked we were a-ok.”
Tomo pouted, “So the only time you’ll buy me something is if we had a fight?”
“Or it’s your birthday, but other than that, highly unlikely.”
Tomo stuck his tongue out and got out of his seat to order his own coffee.
“So.”
“So.”
“You’re awfully perky today.”
Ryo shrugged and sipped his coffee, “I was excited to come see you actually. I know it surprises me too! But I wanted to show you this.” Shige continued to eye Ryo suspiciously, more so as he dug through his messenger bag, only to take out a little stuffed pig.
“You still have that?!” Shige asked, completely bewildered as hands ran through his hair and a smile cracked onto his face.
“I hadn’t realized I had until Kazuya pulled it out of a box. Turns out I kept all of the stuff you ever gave me.”
“I’m sure you knew it was there, c’mon Ryo, who are you fooling?” Shige laughed as he placed a hand on Ryo’s trying to reach the toy. But he paused, as his finger tips touched those familiar rough hands.
“I’m sorry,” Shige said, pulling away.
“It’s fine.”
“It can’t possibly be it’s been years Ryo.”
“And once Kazuya showed me this little toy, I seemed to remember all the good times we had. I couldn’t think of one time after you broke up with me. All I could remember trying so hard to win this for you. Then I finally was able to win another pig, which I have no idea if you have now, all I can see is the way you looked at me with those big brown eyes and those red cheeks. That was what led to us being where we were at graduation. I guess I was stupid to hold a grudge this long. We were young, nothing is meant to last anyways.”
Shige burst into loud, uncontrollable laughter.
Completely confused and slowly getting angry with the amount of eyes on him, Ryo was just about to get out of his seat, when Shige pulled him back down.
“Tomo was right; this went surprisingly a lot better than I thought. I was so worried we’d just end up screaming and yelling at each other.”
Ryo laughed lightly, “So did I, I guess things just kind of work out nicely sometimes.”
“Kazuya is good for you isn’t he?”
“Much better suited for me then you. He doesn’t bitch at me when I distract him,” Ryo teased, poking the man’s cheek.
“I am sorry I’m focused when it comes to work,” Shige retorted, shrugging off the unwanted hand.
And the two sat there catching up, laughing and smiling like they did all those years ago when the only thing that was important was how their air looked the next day and what grade they got on their tests. Tomo and Kazuya watched the two re-discover each other from a small table in the darkest corner of the café with smiles on their faces. They shared a simple high five and basked a long awaited change.
___
“Kato-san, Kato-san!” Yuto called as he ran towards his boss one uneventful, in Shige’s books, Saturday afternoon.
Lifting his head from the computer screen he saw glowing Yuto who nearly tripped and fell through the office door, “Yes? What’s going on?”
“My girlfriend, she took me back!”
Shige blinked and shook his head, “Wait what? Why? Didn’t I tell you to let her--”
“Yeah yeah you did, but that advice was awful, I’m sorry to say. I found her one day after school talking to her friends, demanded she tell me properly what was going on and why she dumped me and she practically fell into my arms crying. She didn’t want to break up; she was just really stressed about school and what her parents would say if she had a boyfriend. But I met with her parents, who are really nice, and they seemed to like me so all is good now.”
Shige smiled and ruffled the teenager’s hair, “Well, I am glad it worked out for you.”
Yuto smiled back, “See, all it took was a push but I was definitely worth it. I’m very happy where I am.”
Shige turned back to his work after adding the high schooler a stack of papers to file and made a mental note to call Ryo that evening. They were due for another cup of coffee.
___
“Oh, oh Shige, have I ever told you, you are to never give advice, ever.” Ryo said, laughing as he sipped at his steaming tea.
“All I did was talk from experience, who knew the kid wouldn’t listen to me! Though I’m glad he’s happy,” Shige said, adjusting the frame of his glasses on his nose.
“Not everyone is going to be like us.”
“I had no idea,” Shige sarcastically remarked rolling his eyes, “I’m sure you’ve given your share of bad advice to your inferiors.”
Ryo groaned and instantly put his head down on the table and repeatedly smashed it against the wood.
“Wow, and you were telling me off. What did you do this time?”
“Shut up! It was that smart-ass Inoo Kei. He was pining over going to California or staying here. So I told to just break up with his boyfriend to save the poor kid from heart break. All I got was an angry wannabe -American with bleach blond hair screaming at me and an equally pissed Inoo Kei who left the company to go to America. He was the best intern I had! I even told him I’d hire him on staff if he stayed and completed the project with us. But he left his resignation letter on my desk today and told me he rather work at McDonald’s then ever work for me again.”
Shige nearly fell out of his seat laughing, “You never again are allowed to tease me about being careless or making mistakes.”
Ryo groaned again and this time Shige took a little pity on him and patted his soft head of hair.
“I missed you Ryo,” Shige continued to smile.
Lifting his head up, the latter looked at Shige blinking a million times a minute before a 100-watt smile stretched across his face, “I missed you too.”
___
Rating: PG-13
Group/Pairing: NEWS/ KAT-TUN (some HSJ) - RyoShige, RyoKame, ShigePi, HikaNoo, Yuto/?
Warnings:
Notes: betaed by hotfruits to lastingdreams8 I really enjoyed the original story you wrote. It was adorable and sweet and it left tons of room for my imagination. Thank you! And I hope you enjoy it this!
Link to Original Story: UFO Catcher
Link to Original Writer: lastingdreams8
___
Ryo awoke that morning to the wafting smell of cooking rice. With a soft smile, he wrapped his hands beneath his pillow, hugging it close wanting to hold onto the warmth for as long as he could.
“Rise and shine, sleepy-head.”
Flipping his head to face towards the door, he cracked open a heavy eyelid to see the one person he would to call him anything other than Nishikido. Said person made their way towards Ryo quietly as the latter stirred under the covers.
“Ryo-chan, it’s 6:30 am. You’ve slept in long enough, you’ll miss your train if you don’t get up n-Ryo!” The other felt himself falling forward as Ryo grabbed onto his wrist and pulled him into the cozy bed. Wrapping his arms around the slender man’s waist, Ryo nuzzled his boyfriend like one would a stuffed toy.
“Kazuya, just relax for a second. It’s only 6:30. We have at least another hour until the train arrives. Why don’t we do something useful with that time?” Ryo hinted with a smile and a feathery-light kiss to his lover’s exposed neck.
Pulling away from Ryo’s touch, the latter looked only partially bemused, “I already made breakfast so I don’t want you to spoil your appetite.”
Ryo smirked, pushing the covers back to expose his naked body, “Just remember you’re mine after dinner.” Kazuya laughed lightly, even when Ryo grabbed the skinny boy’s ass on his way out the bedroom door.
----
Shige woke that morning to the sound of his phone ringing. Groaning, he turned to see the time and unfortunate for him it was 6:30 am.
His phone kept ringing and ringing. Finally, getting so fed up he nearly threw it, he decided to answer it instead.
“What is it? How could you have possibly screwed up this quickly,” Shige snarled, running a hand through his short black hair.
Bolting straight up out of bed a moment later, he scrambled to put on his clothes, not caring if they were the same ones from yesterday or not, “That’s not possible, Yuto, the film just can’t disappear! I’m coming so don’t touch anything.”
He didn’t even bother to take the time to brush his teeth or even grab a coffee. All Shige could think of was gathering his bags and getting to the problem as quickly as possible. But all of his rushing around came to waste as he landed flat on his ass after clashing into another, much sturdier figure. Looking up from his spot on the floor, cradling his nose, he caught sight of the one person who, no matter the situation, made him feel the most at peace.
“Good Morning,” the man greeted as he stood there in his sweat drenched clothes.
“Morning,” Shige smiled, pushing himself off the ground.
“In a rush already? It’s not even 7 yet.”
“Don’t get me started. Nakajima just called saying yesterday’s film is gone. Film can’t just get up and walk away. I swear this is the last time I take on an intern. They never seem to get it right.”
Tomohisa chuckled and placed a soft kiss on Shige’s forehead, “Well, I hope you find them and do your best today. Yuto-kun’s just a high schooler, you can’t get too mad at him.”
Taking a deep breath, Shige already felt less aggravated, “Thanks you too. Don’t push yourself that hard practising again. Sports are supposed to be good for the body.”
Tomo rolled his eyes, “It was a minor fracture. Athletes usually come out with much worse.”
“Doesn’t mean I can’t worry about you.”
Cupping Shige’s face he planted a much longer kiss on his lips, “I’m not a child, I can take care of myself so just go solve your problem already and come home early. I’ll make dinner tonight.”
“Wow, you make dinner?! I’ll be sure to be home early, don’t want you burning down the place.”
“Shut up,” Tomo laughed as he smacked Shige’s ass as it traveled closer towards the door,” Rina taught me a thing or two before I left home.”
Shige nodding and left his home definitely feeling more at ease and more reluctant to bite his interns head off.
---
“Good morning, Nishikido-san,” the high, yet gentle voice of Inoo Kei greeted while handing a steaming cup of coffee to his boss, “ I checked over your schedule today and you have a meeting at 11, a presentation to prepare for on Thursday and you promised to have lunch with Kamenashi-san.”
Ryo smiled at his young apprentice and took the coffee from the boy’s slender hands, “Thank you very much. How is your design coming along?”
“Fantastic! Just a few more minor additions and it should be complete,” Inoo said full of energy as he followed Ryo into his office.
“Sounds good though could you do me a favour?” Ryo asked, giving the boy a sickly sweet smile that made Inoo’s blood run cold.
“Yes?”
“If you’re gonna bring me coffee, make sure it’s black. I don’t want any of that sugary crap in it.
“Are your taste buds broken or something?” Inoo mumbled.
“Excuse me, what was that?”
“Nothing! If you need anything, you know where to find me.”
Ryo nodded as the boy walked out and shut the door behind him with scowl on his face.
Shuffling through papers, meetings and designs, Ryo sound himself knee deep into his work. His firm had received their first big project. If all went well with it they may just get their feet off the ground and may be seen as worthwhile competitors in the architecture industry.
While preparing his notes for the presentation a gentle knock came to his door.
His head lifted from where it remained hung over his notes to see the gentle, white smile of Kazuya’s shining at him. And of course, he had a large, neatly wrapped bento for them to share. Smiling back, Ryo removed the glasses that gently were perched on his nose and got up from his seat.
Taking a dry erase marker off his desk, he messily wrote on the glass window of his door, “Be back in 30.” Before linking his fingers with Kazuya’s and heading to the café down stairs.
“I expected you to be hungry but you have reached a whole new level. That bento was HUGE!” Kazuya commented as he sipped at his steaming tea after watching Ryo devour the lunch in a matter of minutes.
“Your cooking is delicious, really you should feel honoured that I ate it this quickly,” Ryo punctuated with a belch. Kazuya laughed lightly as he wiped a piece of rice off Ryo’s face.
“Promise me you’ll make me dinner sometime so I can enjoy your delicious cooking the same way.”
“Sure no problem. How about thrusday night, I should be home early.”
“You’ve got yourself a date!”
They shared quiet smiles just as two rather loud individuals walked in. Recognizing one of them right away, Kazuya and Ryo scrambled out of their seats to hide in hopes to find a good spot to spy.
“That’s Inoo-kun isn’t it?” Kazuya pointed out as he watched said boy and his blond friend make their way to the food counter.
“Ya,” Ryo said, glaring at his assistant who was standing in line animatedly chatting while waiting for his cup of coffee to be ready.
“I wonder who the other boy is… have you seen him around before?”
Ryo shook his head, “But doesn’t he seem a little flashy for Inoo?”
Kazuya thought about it, “A little bit, but I’m sure Inoo-kun of all people would have a good reason to be with someone so visually different.”
“Or maybe he’s just all caught up in the romance of it all with the giggling and the flirting and the secret kisses,” Ryo scowled.
Kazuya narrowed his eyes, “Inoo-kun isn’t a girl.”
“Doesn’t mean he can’t act like one in love even if it gets him nowhere.”
Kazuya shrugged. The two continued to watch Inoo and his blond companion laugh and flirt over their coffees.
“Young love really is adorable isn’t it?” Kazuya swooned as he leaned his head against Ryo’s shoulder.
Ryo shot him a glare that made the other shiver, “Giving your heart to someone who doesn’t even know what they are going to wear the next day is a waste of time. They’ll pull apart their whole fucking closet before they realize what they wanted wasn’t in their to begin with.”
Kazuya sighed exasperatedly as he pulled himself and his lover to their feet, “I am glad we didn’t meet when we were their age then.”
“Hm ya, I wouldn’t have touched you if we met then. You looked like you cut your own hair and bought clothes at a thrift store.”
Kazuya laughed dryly, “Are you trying to get yourself out of sex tonight? If so, you’re doing a good job.”
“And that’s why I love you,” Ryo said as he pulled Kazuya into a gentle kiss before they made their way out of the café.
But Ryo turned his head back and let his eyes linger on the college students who continued to chat. He shook his head trying to dissolve the vivid images in his head. Young love really was pointless, it never lasts nor does it mean anything in the end. It is just a huge waste of time.
___---
A light knock came to Shige’s office door. Not giving permission for the visitor to come in, Shige turned around to see Yuto come in with two steaming cups of tea. Shige organized his papers into a neat pile before taking his cup from the intern.
“It’s 6 o’clock, didn’t you say you were leaving early today?” Yuto asked, taking a seat beside his boss and sipping at his drink.
“Getting home by 7 is early.”
“I don’t get it,” Yuto sighed, his nose crinkling as he spoke.
“Don’t get what?” Shige asked curiously but still distracted by his work.
“How you can sit here and be working when you know someone is home waiting for you.”
Shige smiled, lifting his head up and taking his glasses off his face and placing them down, “Trust me, Yuto, he’s not waiting. If anything he’ll be more caught up in work than I am. He’ll have forgotten that he promised me dinner and I’ll be the one serving him curry. He’ll apologize and then later this week he’ll actually make me dinner. It’ll be fantastic and romantic and that broken promise will be forgotten.”
“But isn’t that just sad then?”
“Hm, I don’t think so. It’s the way we are, forgetful and clumsy. It’s kind of why I love him.”
“So the broken promises don’t bother you?”
“It isn’t a crime to break a promise, Yuto. I’ve broken my fair share. It’s how you deal with it that matters.”
“I see,” Yuto nodded, but not thoroughly convinced.
“Something particular on your mind?”
“Well … there is this girl I like but everything I ask her out, she agrees and then blows me off last minute. It’s really irritating and it makes me not want to bother to date.”
“Then don’t date.”
“Huh?”
“It doesn’t matter how much you learn from dating, there is always 100% chance of failure.”
“So you think it’s pointless then?”
“Okay, wait, let me rephrase that. Taking something away from any experience is important so being in love when you’re young isn’t a complete waste of time BUT an end to that relationship is inevitable. Let her change her mind over and over again until one day she picks someone she knows is worth sticking around for. Same goes for you too. It may take a while but you won’t regret what you find,” Shige smiled with glowing nostalgia.
“Thanks.”
“I think I should be a therapist if I ever want to quit photography.”
“Then you’d need a therapist after that, especially with all the built up stress you would come home with,” A new voice interrupted their conversation. It was none other than Yamashita Tomohisa himself, which led to Shige’s jaw to become slack in surprise.
Yuto smiled, “So much for not waiting.”
Tomo gave the boy a sideways glance in question but the boy just shook his head as he exited the room fairly quickly, giving the couple their privacy.
“I had a feeling you would get wrapped up again so I thought I’d bring you home. The car is ‘round back.”
“Ya sure,” Shige said as he picked up his notes, bag and tea before he followed Tomohisa out the door.
“I heard you giving advice to the kid; I am taking it you have no regrets about being with me?”
“No, none what so ever. Nothing I’ve experienced before has felt this easy.”
Tomo laughed lightly, ruffling his boyfriend’s hair, “I’d think Ryo-chan would cry if he heard you say that.”
Shige froze.
Next thing Tomo knew, Shige had sped walked to the car, opened the door, sat down in the driver’s seat and had driven off. He didn’t even bothering to wait until his boyfriend got into the car.
When Tomohisa finally arrived home, ankle throbbing from the incredibly long and strenuous jog he had to take home, he found a bowl of piping hot curry sitting on the table for him. Hearing the clanking of pots and the rushing of water, Tomo sighed as he took a few more steps and wrapped his arms around his lover’s torso.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright. I’m sorry for leaving without you, you should sit down,” Shige said, spinning around and guiding Tomohisa to his seat.
“Are you going to join me for dinner?”
“Sure,” Shige shrugged and poured some curry over his bowl of rice and made his way into his seat.
They ate in silence.
When all that was left was the scrapping of spoons on a porcelain bowl, he opened his mouth, “I wish you would talk to Ryo about this.”
His head shooting up, Shige glared at Tomo, “Can we not talk about this please.”
“But it needs to be talked about. You have been running away from this for years.”
“With good reason.”
“You’re 27 now Shige, it’s been 10 years, don’t you think you should grow up?”
“I don’t need to listen to this,” Shige growled as he got up from his seat and marched towards the sink, but he was caught half way and had a phone shoved into his hand.
“Shigeaki, call Ryo. Tell him something, anything, you don’t even have to say you’re sorry, but if you’re gonna be a bitch and treat me badly the next time his name comes up then maybe I’d regret spending all these years with you.”
“You don’t mean that,” Shige whispered, horror struck. But the dark, cold look in Tomohisa’s eyes told him otherwise. Scrolling through the contacts list, Shige found who he was looking for and clicked the center ‘Call’ button.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
Click!
“Hello?” came the out of breath voice of someone Shige had never heard before.
“Hello? Who is this? Isn’t this Nishikido Ryo’s phone?”
A gasp then made its way through the receiver, “Ya it is, but I’m not him and you’re not Yamashita-kun, who is this?”
“Kato Shigeaki.”
Silence hung in the air.
Then came a shuffling and Shige felt that who ever was there was fighting over the device.
“Shigeaki,” Ryo’s husky voice like wind chimes to his ears.
“Yes?”
“Fuck off!” and the call ended with that.
Shige stood there, with Tomohisa looking marginally worried, behind him.
“Shigeaki?” Tomo asked as he watched Shige’s body shake. The latter put on the fakest smile he could and handed his boyfriend his phone before making his way to their bedroom.
Later that night, when Tomohisa joined a supposedly sleeping Shige in bed, he felt the latter snuggle up into him tightly.
Kissing the top of Shige’s head, Tomo held onto him securely as he wondered why he pushed someone that was hurting just as much.
---
Ryo scrambled into his office building at quarter after nine the next morning. Nearly tripping and dropping his belongings, he felt a figure place a hand on his shoulder. Checking his peripheral vision, he saw it was none other than a very tired looking Inoo Kei beside him.
“You’re late,” Ryo said to the student narrowing his equally tired eyes.
“So are you. As the boss aren’t you supposed to set an example and be here on time?”
“I can fire you, you know.”
“And prove what? That a meer university student was able to up show his boss therefore got fired?”
Ryo glared, “What do you want?”
“To get on the elevator so we can start our day,” Inoo said with a small yawn and a smile.
“You overslept?”
“You too?”
“Yeah.”
“Boyfriend troubles?” Inoo asked, nonchalantly.
“That’s not really your business now is it?”
“Well, if you’re going to be all cranky then I’d like to know why so I don’t misjudge the angry and feel I have done something wrong. Therefore put unnecessary blame on myself and consider this a bad firm for any future student to work in.”
“God,fine, my ex-boyfriend called last night. It kept me up all night. I was too angry to sleep and when I finally did I ended up waking up at 9.Happy?”
“Quite, thank you,” Inoo smiled humming to himself as he watched the flickering numbers get higher and higher.
“Well?” Ryo asked.
“Well what?”
“Aren’t you going to tell me why you’re late?”
Inoo’s face fell and his gaze dropped to his shoes, “Boyfriend troubles. We were up all night arguing. Hikaru’s going to America to study at Berkley in California (for music) and he wants me to go with him but I can’t. I have too much responsibility here.”
Ryo smirked, “So are you planning on breaking up with him if you don’t go?”
Inoo shrugged as his hands rung around the strap of his messenger bag,” I don’t know.”
“These things don’t last anyways so my advice is just break up with him before you cause a bigger mess with your indecision. He’ll thank you for it, trust me.”
That’s when the elevator dinged and the doors opened on their floor. Ryo walked out, smugly, while Inoo stood there wondering just how black his boss’s heart truly was.
---
Ryo’s day shaped up well for him despite the previous day’s events. He got more accomplished then he usually did in his 5 hours work day. The presentation went better than expected and Ryo didn’t even have to cross his fingers in luck because he found luck to be an unnecessary factor in getting his project.
Whistling a tune as he packed his belongings at quarter to 3pm, a knock came to his door.
“Whatever it is Inoo, we’ll deal with it tomorrow.”
“Ah, but I much rather deal with this now,” the voice was definitely not Inoo’s. Knowing the voice also didn’t belong to any of his other co-workers, Ryo head snapped up from its place over his bag. Soaking in his friend’s presence and attire he couldn’t help but glare.
“What do you want Tomohisa? I’m going home.”
“I want to apologize for springing him on your and Kazuya-kun last night.”
Ryo’s stare softened, but only a smidgen, “You can apologize to me by buying a round of drinks.”
Tomo laughed and clapped his friend on the back, “You really haven’t changed, have you?”
Ryo smirked and shoot his head. He refrained from any other comment. He wasn’t going to push his luck.
___
“I seriously can’t believe you Pi, after all we’ve said to you about this,” Akanishi Jin yelled at his best friend while smashing his beer class down onto the wooden, bar table.
“But don’t you think it’s enough already? They can’t just keep avoiding their problems. They aren’t kids anymore plus, it’d be nice if the five of us could hang out together,” Tomo replied, taking a sip from his own beer.
Jin sighed, “I suppose. But even if they do solve their differences, please don’t him on our outings. It’s bad enough that Ryo-chan brings Kamenashi and all they do is suck face. I don’t want you doing it too!”
Tomo laughed, “ Aww, feeling like a third wheel?”
“A little. Seriously, why is it so hard to find a hot chick even just to bang,” Jin grumbled chugging the rest of his beer down.
“Maybe because they think you’re gay by association. I think you need new friends.”
Jin glared as he ordered another beer, “Fine I’ll have to go out with Shirota and Kusano next week.”
They sat there, silently, nursing their beers and watching the crowd behind them chat.
“Do you ever regret choosing him?” Jin asked seriously.
Tomo sighed, “Sometimes but then those thoughts go away when I see him passed out on the sofa while his favourite movie plays quietly. That’s when I realize nothing could change how happy he makes me.”
Jin smiled and punched his best friend’s arm in the shoulder, “That’s all that matters.”
---
“I’m home,” Tomo called from his place in the front hallway. Carefully, he tiptoed into the darkened apartment only to see the faint glow of the television from the den. Curiously, he quickened his pace to find Shige sitting straight up, eyes drooping closed and watching a program.
“I’m home,” he called again, this time, scaring Shige half to death. Turning to his boyfriend, Shige placed a finger to his own lips and pointed to the small lump in his lap. Tomo recognized the lump as a head of hair, specifically Yuto Nakajima’s head of hair. The kid was pretty cute when he was fast asleep.
“What happened?”
“His girlfriend broke up with him today. Poor thing has been a train wreck all day. I tried to drop him off at home but he refused. So I called his mom and told her he’d be here for the night. Before work tomorrow I’ll take him home to change,” Shige explained as he ran his hand through the teenager’s hair.
Tomo nodded as he perched himself on the arm rest next to Shige, “Poor kid. Do you want me to take him to bed?”
Shige shook his head, “He just fell asleep, give him some time.”
Tomo smiled in return, planting a kiss to his lover’s hair line, “You’re a good person, Shige. It’s still hard to believe you’re the same person you were 10 years ago.”
Shige sat still.
“I’m sorry for pushing you yesterday. If you don’t want to make amends with Ryo-chan, that’s fine.”
Shige sighed, “It’s not like I don’t. I just don’t think I can. It’s Ryo afterall.”
“He’s matured and a little more flexible then he used to be. Kazuya has been really good for him. I am sure if you did try it would go well.”
Shige gave him a bitter smile, “I thought you said I don’t have to?”
“Well, if you wanted to I am sure it would be okay.”
Shige frowned and slipped himself from underneath Yuto’s head, “Goodnight.”
“Night,” Tomo replied softly, watching Shige disappear into their room. If he was going to get this to work he was going to have to try much harder.
___
“Just one cup of coffee, Ryo-chan. That’s all I ask!” Tomo begged as he jogged to keep up with his friend. He had ambushed the man at the train station the following morning and the hungover Nishikido Ryo was less than happy to deal with his hyperactive antics.
“I don’t want to see him. Why is this so hard for you to understand?”
“Maybe because he’s willing to apologize?”
Ryo stopped in his tracks, “It’s too late for apologies Pi. He fucked up and I moved on.”
Tomo snorted, “Oh yes, you moved on, of course. That’s why you’re holding this grudge and literally losing sleep over it. It’s been 10 years, don’t you think it’s about time to let go?”
“I just don’t want to see his ugly face,” Ryo mumbled as he tried to quicken his pace.
“You know that face is as ugly as a bunny. You’re afraid you’ll fall in love with him again aren’t you?” Tomo teased.
Ryo rolled his eyes, “No, absolutely not. I love Kazuya more than anything in the world; I would never trade that man for anything. I just… don’t know what will happen if I see Shige again.”
“I’m sure everything will be--” but Tomo wasn’t able to finish his sentence because the moment they arrived at Ryo’s building doors, there stood a miffed looking blond boy.
“Fuck,” Ryo grumbled as he tried not to make eye contact with the university student but he failed, miserably. Hikaru stomped right up to Ryo and Tomo could have sworn Ryo was going to hit him.
But he didn’t thankfully. Instead he listened half-heartedly to the concerns this boy had with Ryo.
“Where the hell do you get off telling your interns to break up with their boyfriends?!” Hikaru roared, arms flailing as he spoke.
Tomohisa’s eyes remained transfixed on Ryo whose frown turned into a smirk as he folded his arms over his chest, smugly, “So he made a decision then? I’m glad.”
“No, but he’s ignoring me and that’s because of what you said.”
Ryo rolled his eyes and pushed past Hikaru making his way into the building leaving both the boy and Tomo to stand there in silence.
“You don’t happen to know a Nakajima Yuto, do you?” Tomo asked jokingly as he patted the blond and walked off. What Tomo didn’t know was how shocked Hikaru was hearing the basketball star speak of the drummer of his band. The world was definitely small.
---
“I completely agree!” Kazuya said into the portable phone that he balanced between his car and shoulder as he cleaned out the apartment, “so should I drag him there myself or do you have some ingenious plan?”
“I’ve done the best I can; he only really listens to you anyways,” Tomohisa called as he munched on a particularly crunchy carrot.
“Ah, it’s a gift really.”
Tomo rolled his eyes, “Don’t flatter yourself Kame-chan, just make sure he’s there on Sunday at 3pm at the café near your place.”
“You’re spoiling him by giving him an easy escape route, I wish you wouldn’t.”
“Kazuya, I was there when it happens and you should know that it’s easier to get Ryo to open up when he’s comfortable.”
“Fine, but I will definitely not be joining you guys then. The babies got to learn.”
“Alright then, don’t come bitching to me then if he doesn’t put out.”
“Goodbye, Yamashita-kun,” Kazuya said shaking his head and hanging up on the man. Sighing he looked around the messy bedroom that both he and Ryo shared. Clothes were still all over the floor and boxes from when they moved in together a year ago were still sitting around. Kicking the only boxed that was closed in frustration, it opened and its contents spilled to the ground.
Picking up the stuff and preparing to put it back in, a particular item caught Kazuya’s attention. Smirking he put it back in the box, which he relocated to the television room, and went back to picking up the laundry and organizes the boxes much more cheerfully.
___
“It’s been 30 minutes; I thought you said he lived upstairs?” Shige asked Tomohisa who was bobbing his head and swaying from side to side as he let the music flow through him as they stood there outside the cafe. Shige rolled his eyes and snapped the headphones off the man’s ears, “Where is Ryo, Tomo?”
“I don’t know, he’ll get here when he gets here.”
“But he’s not usually one to be late,” Shige said, gnawing on his nails, “I wonder if something happened.”
“The new Ryo isn’t as punctual as he used to be he never fails to arrive.”
Shige bit his lip as he wiped his sweating palms on his jeans.
“You haven’t changed at all have you? As nervous and doubting as ever,” the husky voice of Nishikido Ryo called as he rested his chin on Shige’s unsuspecting shoulder.
Spinning around and nearly tumbling to the ground in shock both Shige and Tomohisa watched as Ryo smiled at them a calm smile free of mischief.
“Who are you and what did you do with Ryo-chan?” Tomo asked, eyeing the man suspiously.
“Ass,” Ryo said as he pulled Shige by the wrist into the café and dragged him to the counter and both of them bought coffees.
“You still like yours black right?”
“Actually, I’m drinking tea now. Doctor said it was adding to my anxiety.”
“Ah, I see,” Ryo nodded and turned back to the bartista, “One regular tea and one coffee with two crème and two sugars.”
The lady nodded at him and Ryo offered her the exact amount for both beverages.
“You don’t have to do that,” Shige whispered.
“It’s fine, I want to. It’s not a big deal.”
“If you insist,” Shige sighed as he walked towards the table that Tomohisa had found for the three of them.
“Ryo-chan, why didn’t you buy me one too?!” Tomo whined once the shorter man took his seat across from the couple.
“Because I am not here to patch things up with you am I? Last time I checked we were a-ok.”
Tomo pouted, “So the only time you’ll buy me something is if we had a fight?”
“Or it’s your birthday, but other than that, highly unlikely.”
Tomo stuck his tongue out and got out of his seat to order his own coffee.
“So.”
“So.”
“You’re awfully perky today.”
Ryo shrugged and sipped his coffee, “I was excited to come see you actually. I know it surprises me too! But I wanted to show you this.” Shige continued to eye Ryo suspiciously, more so as he dug through his messenger bag, only to take out a little stuffed pig.
“You still have that?!” Shige asked, completely bewildered as hands ran through his hair and a smile cracked onto his face.
“I hadn’t realized I had until Kazuya pulled it out of a box. Turns out I kept all of the stuff you ever gave me.”
“I’m sure you knew it was there, c’mon Ryo, who are you fooling?” Shige laughed as he placed a hand on Ryo’s trying to reach the toy. But he paused, as his finger tips touched those familiar rough hands.
“I’m sorry,” Shige said, pulling away.
“It’s fine.”
“It can’t possibly be it’s been years Ryo.”
“And once Kazuya showed me this little toy, I seemed to remember all the good times we had. I couldn’t think of one time after you broke up with me. All I could remember trying so hard to win this for you. Then I finally was able to win another pig, which I have no idea if you have now, all I can see is the way you looked at me with those big brown eyes and those red cheeks. That was what led to us being where we were at graduation. I guess I was stupid to hold a grudge this long. We were young, nothing is meant to last anyways.”
Shige burst into loud, uncontrollable laughter.
Completely confused and slowly getting angry with the amount of eyes on him, Ryo was just about to get out of his seat, when Shige pulled him back down.
“Tomo was right; this went surprisingly a lot better than I thought. I was so worried we’d just end up screaming and yelling at each other.”
Ryo laughed lightly, “So did I, I guess things just kind of work out nicely sometimes.”
“Kazuya is good for you isn’t he?”
“Much better suited for me then you. He doesn’t bitch at me when I distract him,” Ryo teased, poking the man’s cheek.
“I am sorry I’m focused when it comes to work,” Shige retorted, shrugging off the unwanted hand.
And the two sat there catching up, laughing and smiling like they did all those years ago when the only thing that was important was how their air looked the next day and what grade they got on their tests. Tomo and Kazuya watched the two re-discover each other from a small table in the darkest corner of the café with smiles on their faces. They shared a simple high five and basked a long awaited change.
___
“Kato-san, Kato-san!” Yuto called as he ran towards his boss one uneventful, in Shige’s books, Saturday afternoon.
Lifting his head from the computer screen he saw glowing Yuto who nearly tripped and fell through the office door, “Yes? What’s going on?”
“My girlfriend, she took me back!”
Shige blinked and shook his head, “Wait what? Why? Didn’t I tell you to let her--”
“Yeah yeah you did, but that advice was awful, I’m sorry to say. I found her one day after school talking to her friends, demanded she tell me properly what was going on and why she dumped me and she practically fell into my arms crying. She didn’t want to break up; she was just really stressed about school and what her parents would say if she had a boyfriend. But I met with her parents, who are really nice, and they seemed to like me so all is good now.”
Shige smiled and ruffled the teenager’s hair, “Well, I am glad it worked out for you.”
Yuto smiled back, “See, all it took was a push but I was definitely worth it. I’m very happy where I am.”
Shige turned back to his work after adding the high schooler a stack of papers to file and made a mental note to call Ryo that evening. They were due for another cup of coffee.
___
“Oh, oh Shige, have I ever told you, you are to never give advice, ever.” Ryo said, laughing as he sipped at his steaming tea.
“All I did was talk from experience, who knew the kid wouldn’t listen to me! Though I’m glad he’s happy,” Shige said, adjusting the frame of his glasses on his nose.
“Not everyone is going to be like us.”
“I had no idea,” Shige sarcastically remarked rolling his eyes, “I’m sure you’ve given your share of bad advice to your inferiors.”
Ryo groaned and instantly put his head down on the table and repeatedly smashed it against the wood.
“Wow, and you were telling me off. What did you do this time?”
“Shut up! It was that smart-ass Inoo Kei. He was pining over going to California or staying here. So I told to just break up with his boyfriend to save the poor kid from heart break. All I got was an angry wannabe -American with bleach blond hair screaming at me and an equally pissed Inoo Kei who left the company to go to America. He was the best intern I had! I even told him I’d hire him on staff if he stayed and completed the project with us. But he left his resignation letter on my desk today and told me he rather work at McDonald’s then ever work for me again.”
Shige nearly fell out of his seat laughing, “You never again are allowed to tease me about being careless or making mistakes.”
Ryo groaned again and this time Shige took a little pity on him and patted his soft head of hair.
“I missed you Ryo,” Shige continued to smile.
Lifting his head up, the latter looked at Shige blinking a million times a minute before a 100-watt smile stretched across his face, “I missed you too.”
___