[KinKi AU] Butai verse, scene 5
I think I'm messing up characterization again. *hides behind AU excuse*
Disclaimer: This is fictional.
Pairing: As-yet inconclusive KinKi, Tsuyoshi/Okada
Genre: AU, drama, angst
Rating: G so far, probably PG later on
Summary: Tsuyoshi joined the musical directed by Kouichi, with questionable motivation and a defensively guarded past.
Continued from: First | Second | Third | Fourth
[Edited 23 Oct 2012]
-- Is That A Problem? --
"That's all the arrangement for tomorrow. Any questions?"
Kouichi swept his gaze across the room. All the dancers were gathered for the final rehearsal, bright eyes and excited grins all around.
"Then it's settled." Kouichi smiled. "Let's give our all for the opening show!"
A unison cheer resounded in the dance studio.
"All right! Have a good rest and see you tomorrow."
He waited a while in case anyone might come to him about any last minute issue. As the crowd gradually thinned, he noticed Tsuyoshi carefully folding and tucking his costumes into a plastic bag.
He walked towards him. "You can leave that with the staff. They'll transport everything to the venue."
The man looked up. "Director."
"Have they altered the size for you?" Kouichi asked. As Tsuyoshi joined late, he had missed the first costume fitting session and had only tried them on the previous week. Akiyama's size, of course, didn't fit him.
Tsuyoshi nodded. "I'm just taking these home to make a little adjustment."
Kouichi frowned. "It's still not settled?"
"Not their fault," Tsuyoshi hastened to say. "It was only when I wore it for the full-dress just now, that I found out some parts were restricting my moves."
"Okay," Kouichi responded, a bit unsure. He took a glance at the figure in front of him. Well, the guy dressed pretty well most of the time, he could probably be trusted to not make outrageous fashion bloopers.
Something else caught his attention. "Ah, one more thing."
"Yes?"
"I'd need you to cut your hair short." Kouichi gestured.
"Ah--" Tsuyoshi's hand automatically went to his bangs.
"Is that a problem?" If the number of times Tsuyoshi's hand strayed to his hair in a day was any indication of how attached he was to that part of his body--
Kouichi paused in his thoughts. That was a rather irrelevant observation as a director.
Tsuyoshi glanced up to meet his expectant look. There was a subtle crease on his forehead as if to say, 'Why would you bother to ask when you're obviously leaving no room for argument?' "Not at all."
"If you'd like, come earlier tomorrow, I'll get the stylist to cut it for you."
"It's fine, thanks. I'll settle that."
Kouichi wondered if that meant he would do his own haircut, too. "All right. Till tomorrow, then. Let's do our best."
Tsuyoshi nodded. "Let's do our best."
--
"Okay, okay, don't cry." Yonehana laughed.
"Who is crying?" Akiyama protested, and limped a step to give Kouichi another hug. "Ah... this feels good."
Kouichi laughed and patted his back. "It's great that you got the permission to come."
"Of course! You personally delivered the ticket! I would come even if they barricaded my room."
"Hey, listen to your doctor. The sooner you recover, the sooner you can join us again."
"Understood." Akiyama released his hold and looked around. "In any case, good work, you guys! I just realized how cool it was, watching from the audience seat."
"We've been lucky to manage, what with the various little problems that have been cropping up," Yara said thoughtfully.
"The new guy did well, didn't he?" Akiyama said. "I have a feeling I've seen him somewhere... Which school is he from?"
The others turned to Kouichi, who was slightly startled by that question.
"It isn't a dance school," Kouichi said finally. "He came from a Kansai talent agency."
"Maybe in some audition...?" Akiyama pondered.
Yone nudged him teasingly. "You're that worried about your substitute, eh?"
"Oi, I'm not that petty." Akiyama laughed. "Don't you think his looks are quite striking? I'm pretty sure I remembered it from somewhere."
Kouichi recalled the list of shows Tsuyoshi had refused to cite. "Possible," he muttered.
"Now that you mention it," Machida said suddenly, turning to Akiyama. "For the Naruto musical last year, one of the guys you suggested for Kakashi's role..."
Akiyama pounded on his palm. "Ah! That's it!"
"I don't remember." Yara frowned. "He wasn't among those we auditioned, was he?"
"He wasn't," Akiyama answered. "I forgot about him afterwards... but I'm pretty sure he was among the profiles sent to us. I guess he didn't take up the offer."
The preliminary profiles had been compiled from agencies with previous connections to the producers, and indeed did not indicate the candidates' own interests. However, most would at least try out the audition once they had been nominated. Good jobs were not easy to come by.
But Doumoto Tsuyoshi had not been desperate for jobs at that time.
If Kouichi had not turned down a couple of song recording offers himself, he would probably have been a little miffed by this fact. He had no criticism for the effort Tsuyoshi put into rehearsals, nor would he deny that fairly good dancing sense, but it had been quite obvious from the beginning that Tsuyoshi had little actual interest in the musical.
"...Shall we go home now?" Yone's voice drifted into Kouichi's awareness. "Kouichi-san is already spacing out."
"I was listening," Kouichi protested mildly. "But we do need to get Akki back in the hospital soon." He put a hand on Akiyama's reluctant back. "Come, I'll drive you."
"You don't have to," Akiyama said quickly.
"You can leave him to us, Kouichi-san," Machida offered.
Kouichi waved, smiling. "Let me do the honours."
--
"Thanks for taking the trouble." Akiyama scratched his head.
"What are you saying?" Kouichi replied as he flung his bag onto the back seat. "I won't be able to visit you until the show ends, so take this as advance payment."
"You don't have to worry about that! By that time I will have been discharged, anyway."
Kouichi shook a finger. "My point." He gestured at Akiyama's crutches. "Shall we put those at the back?"
"Oh, sure." Akiyama moved towards the open car door, simultaneously lifting a crutch away from his body.
"Careful! I'll get that, you get into the front seat first--"
"I can manage--" The end of the crutch bumped into Kouichi's outstretched arm. "--Eh, sorry!" Akiyama turned in reflex to assess the damage, but his injured knee twitched in pain from the sudden exertion, making him lose his balance.
"Whoa!" Kouichi instantly reached out to steady him by the arms. That slowed the impact, but still both crashed to the ground.
"Oh no!" Akiyama sputtered and began to apologize profusely. "Are you hurt anywhere, you still have a show tomor--"
Kouichi raised his hand, trying to stop the panicking and to keep Akiyama from moving about. "Don't worry. How's your leg?"
"Are you guys alright?"
The two men looked up at the voice.
Tsuyoshi squatted down, his breathing audible after running over from where he had spotted the incident outside the parking lot.
Kouichi recovered from his surprise, and quickly welcomed the help. "Could you support his back?" He positioned himself to guard the legs. "Let's get him on the front seat."
"Okay."
With Akiyama limping on one foot, they managed to seat him in the car without further disturbance to the injured knee.
"Thank you." Akiyama nodded at Tsuyoshi.
"You're welcome." Tsuyoshi hesitated. "If there's anything else I can help with..."
"I'll get him back to the hospital," Kouichi said. "Thanks for the help."
Tsuyoshi nodded, and excused himself.
Kouichi was about to close the door to the front passenger seat when he noticed Akiyama's downright miserable expression.
"Hey." He bent down and squeezed the big man's shoulder. "You know, the whole purpose of inviting you here is to cheer you up."
Akiyama sighed. "I know, but..."
"As I said," Kouichi cut him off. "Let me act as a good senpai for once."
Akiyama managed a somewhat genuine laugh.
Kouichi smiled at him, and closed the door before heading to the driver's side.
They drove off, not noticing Tsuyoshi's thoughtful look following them from the parking lot.
---
Disclaimer: This is fictional.
Pairing: As-yet inconclusive KinKi, Tsuyoshi/Okada
Genre: AU, drama, angst
Rating: G so far, probably PG later on
Summary: Tsuyoshi joined the musical directed by Kouichi, with questionable motivation and a defensively guarded past.
Continued from: First | Second | Third | Fourth
[Edited 23 Oct 2012]
-- Is That A Problem? --
"That's all the arrangement for tomorrow. Any questions?"
Kouichi swept his gaze across the room. All the dancers were gathered for the final rehearsal, bright eyes and excited grins all around.
"Then it's settled." Kouichi smiled. "Let's give our all for the opening show!"
A unison cheer resounded in the dance studio.
"All right! Have a good rest and see you tomorrow."
He waited a while in case anyone might come to him about any last minute issue. As the crowd gradually thinned, he noticed Tsuyoshi carefully folding and tucking his costumes into a plastic bag.
He walked towards him. "You can leave that with the staff. They'll transport everything to the venue."
The man looked up. "Director."
"Have they altered the size for you?" Kouichi asked. As Tsuyoshi joined late, he had missed the first costume fitting session and had only tried them on the previous week. Akiyama's size, of course, didn't fit him.
Tsuyoshi nodded. "I'm just taking these home to make a little adjustment."
Kouichi frowned. "It's still not settled?"
"Not their fault," Tsuyoshi hastened to say. "It was only when I wore it for the full-dress just now, that I found out some parts were restricting my moves."
"Okay," Kouichi responded, a bit unsure. He took a glance at the figure in front of him. Well, the guy dressed pretty well most of the time, he could probably be trusted to not make outrageous fashion bloopers.
Something else caught his attention. "Ah, one more thing."
"Yes?"
"I'd need you to cut your hair short." Kouichi gestured.
"Ah--" Tsuyoshi's hand automatically went to his bangs.
"Is that a problem?" If the number of times Tsuyoshi's hand strayed to his hair in a day was any indication of how attached he was to that part of his body--
Kouichi paused in his thoughts. That was a rather irrelevant observation as a director.
Tsuyoshi glanced up to meet his expectant look. There was a subtle crease on his forehead as if to say, 'Why would you bother to ask when you're obviously leaving no room for argument?' "Not at all."
"If you'd like, come earlier tomorrow, I'll get the stylist to cut it for you."
"It's fine, thanks. I'll settle that."
Kouichi wondered if that meant he would do his own haircut, too. "All right. Till tomorrow, then. Let's do our best."
Tsuyoshi nodded. "Let's do our best."
--
"Okay, okay, don't cry." Yonehana laughed.
"Who is crying?" Akiyama protested, and limped a step to give Kouichi another hug. "Ah... this feels good."
Kouichi laughed and patted his back. "It's great that you got the permission to come."
"Of course! You personally delivered the ticket! I would come even if they barricaded my room."
"Hey, listen to your doctor. The sooner you recover, the sooner you can join us again."
"Understood." Akiyama released his hold and looked around. "In any case, good work, you guys! I just realized how cool it was, watching from the audience seat."
"We've been lucky to manage, what with the various little problems that have been cropping up," Yara said thoughtfully.
"The new guy did well, didn't he?" Akiyama said. "I have a feeling I've seen him somewhere... Which school is he from?"
The others turned to Kouichi, who was slightly startled by that question.
"It isn't a dance school," Kouichi said finally. "He came from a Kansai talent agency."
"Maybe in some audition...?" Akiyama pondered.
Yone nudged him teasingly. "You're that worried about your substitute, eh?"
"Oi, I'm not that petty." Akiyama laughed. "Don't you think his looks are quite striking? I'm pretty sure I remembered it from somewhere."
Kouichi recalled the list of shows Tsuyoshi had refused to cite. "Possible," he muttered.
"Now that you mention it," Machida said suddenly, turning to Akiyama. "For the Naruto musical last year, one of the guys you suggested for Kakashi's role..."
Akiyama pounded on his palm. "Ah! That's it!"
"I don't remember." Yara frowned. "He wasn't among those we auditioned, was he?"
"He wasn't," Akiyama answered. "I forgot about him afterwards... but I'm pretty sure he was among the profiles sent to us. I guess he didn't take up the offer."
The preliminary profiles had been compiled from agencies with previous connections to the producers, and indeed did not indicate the candidates' own interests. However, most would at least try out the audition once they had been nominated. Good jobs were not easy to come by.
But Doumoto Tsuyoshi had not been desperate for jobs at that time.
If Kouichi had not turned down a couple of song recording offers himself, he would probably have been a little miffed by this fact. He had no criticism for the effort Tsuyoshi put into rehearsals, nor would he deny that fairly good dancing sense, but it had been quite obvious from the beginning that Tsuyoshi had little actual interest in the musical.
"...Shall we go home now?" Yone's voice drifted into Kouichi's awareness. "Kouichi-san is already spacing out."
"I was listening," Kouichi protested mildly. "But we do need to get Akki back in the hospital soon." He put a hand on Akiyama's reluctant back. "Come, I'll drive you."
"You don't have to," Akiyama said quickly.
"You can leave him to us, Kouichi-san," Machida offered.
Kouichi waved, smiling. "Let me do the honours."
--
"Thanks for taking the trouble." Akiyama scratched his head.
"What are you saying?" Kouichi replied as he flung his bag onto the back seat. "I won't be able to visit you until the show ends, so take this as advance payment."
"You don't have to worry about that! By that time I will have been discharged, anyway."
Kouichi shook a finger. "My point." He gestured at Akiyama's crutches. "Shall we put those at the back?"
"Oh, sure." Akiyama moved towards the open car door, simultaneously lifting a crutch away from his body.
"Careful! I'll get that, you get into the front seat first--"
"I can manage--" The end of the crutch bumped into Kouichi's outstretched arm. "--Eh, sorry!" Akiyama turned in reflex to assess the damage, but his injured knee twitched in pain from the sudden exertion, making him lose his balance.
"Whoa!" Kouichi instantly reached out to steady him by the arms. That slowed the impact, but still both crashed to the ground.
"Oh no!" Akiyama sputtered and began to apologize profusely. "Are you hurt anywhere, you still have a show tomor--"
Kouichi raised his hand, trying to stop the panicking and to keep Akiyama from moving about. "Don't worry. How's your leg?"
"Are you guys alright?"
The two men looked up at the voice.
Tsuyoshi squatted down, his breathing audible after running over from where he had spotted the incident outside the parking lot.
Kouichi recovered from his surprise, and quickly welcomed the help. "Could you support his back?" He positioned himself to guard the legs. "Let's get him on the front seat."
"Okay."
With Akiyama limping on one foot, they managed to seat him in the car without further disturbance to the injured knee.
"Thank you." Akiyama nodded at Tsuyoshi.
"You're welcome." Tsuyoshi hesitated. "If there's anything else I can help with..."
"I'll get him back to the hospital," Kouichi said. "Thanks for the help."
Tsuyoshi nodded, and excused himself.
Kouichi was about to close the door to the front passenger seat when he noticed Akiyama's downright miserable expression.
"Hey." He bent down and squeezed the big man's shoulder. "You know, the whole purpose of inviting you here is to cheer you up."
Akiyama sighed. "I know, but..."
"As I said," Kouichi cut him off. "Let me act as a good senpai for once."
Akiyama managed a somewhat genuine laugh.
Kouichi smiled at him, and closed the door before heading to the driver's side.
They drove off, not noticing Tsuyoshi's thoughtful look following them from the parking lot.
---