Title: Fan Service
Author: iP
Pairing: MaruDa = OTP <3, and yeah… heavy JunDa T.T
Genre: Fluff. Eh, and angst. Comedy? Perhaps.
Rating: PG-13.
Flame?: I’d die if I said yes.
Summary: KAT-TUN fan service. Ueda gets paired, of course. Things get touchy. And Maru gets.. well.
A.N.: Chapter 2.
*****
“You’re here!” a small, bespectacled lady pointed at Ueda who had just entered the room. “Where are the others? Let’s get going.”
Ueda bowed slightly and then replied, “They’re right after me.” He pointed behind them.
“Yeah, let’s get going.” Kame acknowledged who immediately sprang up behind Ueda. “Shouldn’t we, Akanishi-kun?”
Jin nodded casually. “You’re right, Kazu-chan.” Then he looked at Kame and grinned extensively.
Ueda rolled his eyes. “Pet names, argh.” He mumbled.
Junno jumped beside him and snickered. “You seem like… well. I think you’re going to burst.”
Ueda just eyed him warily. Meanwhile, behind him, Kame and Jin were forcefully trying to hide their sniggers while Koki was trying to comprehend what they were snickering about. Junno noticed Kame’s puffy cheeks and Jin’s wordless laugh and realized what he had just told Ueda.
“Ah-ah!” Junno blushed and then grinned at Ueda goofily, who was now showing the most bewildered expression possible. “That’s not what I meant! Stop laughing!” Junno scolded Jin and Kame but failing for he, too, was laughing.
Ueda placed a hand on his forehead. “Argh. Let’s just get to work.”
Koki noticed Maru running after them. “It’s Maru!”
“Eh?” Jin rubbed his eyes to stop tears falling down his eyes. “Maru!” he called. “Faster!”
“I’m going.” Ueda sighed in defeat as the four continued laughing and Maru approaching them.
*****
Jin blinked. “What?”
“Yes, we’ve decided.”
Ueda groaned. “Oh no…”
Kame pouted. Oh so endearing, Jin thought.
“Mr. Akanishi pairs with Mr. Ueda. Mr. Nakamaru with Mr. Tanaka. Mr. Kamenashi with Mr. Taguchi.” The producer explained, overlooking the marks of sheer disbelief on Kame and Jin’s faces.
“It’s not that I don’t want Ueda, I want him-no not like that! I mean, wouldn’t it be better if I’d be paired with… Kame?” Jin pouted. Oh so endearing, Kame mused to himself.
“Well… it depends on your leader.” The producer huffed, pointing at Ueda. Ueda just shrugged.
“I think the issue will sell more if we have Kame and Jin as a pair. I’ve noticed it many times before.” he declared, watching Kame and Jin give other sly glances at the corner of his eye.
Kame gave Ueda a friendly tackle. “Hah! You’ve noticed, eh?”
Ueda smiled back. “Yes, I do notice.”
“Okay, okay, change!” The producer shouted. “Change of partners! Mr. Kamenashi and Mr. Akanishi, then Mr. Ueda with Mr. Taguchi. The remaining pair still intact.”
“Intact?” Maru blinked.
Koki scratched his nose. “Weird English.”
*****
The photo shoot turned out to be fairly easy and somewhat full of laughter. Kame and Jin laughed their hearts out during breaks but becoming professionals during the shoot. Junno talked to Ueda during breaks, narrating a series of jokes at which Ueda laughed the most. Koki took a very short nap, which meant that Maru had no one to talk to.
Then he saw Junno trying to tickle Ueda’s palm. Ueda was biting his lip as he forced himself not to laugh. After a few seconds, he tried to pull his hand free but failed, seeing that Junno had gripped his wrist.
“Okay! I give up.” Ueda shook his head hastily. Then he pouted at Junno. “No fair.”
“No fair, what?” Junno asked him innocently.
Ueda narrowed his eyes. “You’re not supposed to hold my wrist! I was supposed to pull my hand anytime I feel ticklish!” he blushed to a shade of pale pink.
Junno teased him playfully. “But it’s funnier that way!”
“Funnier… for you!” and then Ueda stuck out his tongue at Junno.
Without warning, a bitter pang of sadness hit Maru. Why did he get so close with Junno? And with everyone else…except me. He was so pissed off when I called him by his first name. He’s our leader! He’s supposed to get close with all of us, and not only at one member! This. Is. Not. Fair.
Junno stood up and pointed at the door. “I’ll just get us some drinks.” Then he walked away. “Kame… Jin…?”
“Cola.” They both answered in unison.
“Koki… Maru…?”
“He’s sleeping again. Cola for me, too.” Maru called back.
“Okay.” Junno nodded. As he was about to close the door, Ueda shouted. “How about me?”
“Water?” Junno asked with a wink.
Ueda raised his eyebrows and then smiled. “How did you know?”
“I do notice.” Junno waved at him and then closed the door.
Maru felt like he was going to punch the sofa he was currently sitting on.
*****
“Oi.” Jin nudged Kame. Kame rolled his eyes.
“Koki’s been sleeping again.”
“I know, it’s like he’s been dreaming of something or whatever.”
“And where’s Junno?”
“Probably getting us food.”
“He said drinks.” Jin corrected him.
“Junno’s like that.” Kame smirked. “He’d say drinks, but when he comes back, you’ll see him bringing down an entire refrigerator.”
“Ueda’s yawning.” Jin observed, ignoring Kame’s witty statement.
Kame raised an eyebrow. “And so?”
“He didn’t yawn when Junno was there.” Jin simpered.
Kame rolled his eyes. “Like we didn’t experience that when Junno treated us one time. He told stories for an hour and none of us practically yawned nor blinked!”
Jin huffed. “You’re overstating it.”
Kame snickered. “I know.” He winked at Jin. “And I know you like it.”
Jin pointed at Maru who was furrowing his brows in deep thought. “Maru’s concentrating…”
“Concentrating on what?” Kame inquired, observing Maru.
“It looks as if…” Jin started.
“…looks as if…” Kame repeated.
“Maru looks as if he’s…” Jin remarked.
“Maru looks as if he’s…” Kame repeated. “…as if he’s… what?”
Jin stared at Maru for a few seconds and then shrugged indifferently. “How would I know?” he asked innocently at Kame.
*****
Maru had to know, he had to ask Ueda why is he being unfair, liking and befriending Junno while he should be befriending everyone! Ueda better had a good reason for all of this.
He stood up and scrutinized his surrounding; Koki was sleeping soundly, perhaps due to tiredness and stress; Kame and Jin were busy talking their heads off; Ueda sitting in a small couch and yawning every now and then; and the producers busy talking to the staff and the photographers.
Then he noticed Ueda try to remove his locks from his forehead but decided against it. It was sort of enticing in a way; it also showed how cute he does it. He’d seen that gesture many times and had developed a particular liking to it.
It’s sort of cute in a way, not to mention enticing, Maru absentmindedly mused to himself as he saw Ueda yawn and then move his hand over his hair, thereby doing that cute gesture of his again.
Maru thought it would be nice if he could caress Ueda’s pretty hair.
He realized he was becoming a fanboy.
Or maybe he was becoming a psycho.
Either way, it wouldn’t be good for him and Ueda.
*****
“What took you so long?” Ueda asked grumpily as Juno tossed him a can of soda. “And I said ‘water’.” He added, raising an eyebrow at the tall guy in front of him.
Junno just gave him a grin and then wheeled around. “Give that to Maru.”
Ueda stared at the soda can for a few moments.
Junno smiled at him. “Why?’ he asked with increasing curiosity. “Have you got a problem with Maru?”
“I…uh…” Ueda glanced up warily at Junno. “I… of course not! I was just… being absent-minded for a while.” He replied slowly.
Junno gave him a tap on the shoulders. “I’ll just give this to Kame and Jin, okay?” he asked, raising two cans of soda.
Ueda nodded. “Right.”
Junno gave him a knowing smile and then glanced at Maru, who was currently in deep thought. Then he walked away, whistling all the time.
*****
Maru was sitting on a couch, feet raised, fingers entwined, and chin rested on his hands. He was trying to grab the gist of everything, including Junno’s absurd closeness to their leader Ueda, who in return favored him; Jin and Kame seeming to know all things and giving sly glances at him every now and then; and Koki ignoring his best friend’s turmoil and unnatural behavior by sleeping at him; and lastly, how and what is this incredible, undeniable wash of angst and care and love everytime he sees-
“Ahem.” Ueda’s voice was impatient.
“Eh?” Maru broke away from his stupor.
Ueda eyed him warily, and then handed him a can of soda. “Here.” He said quietly, holding the can and gazing steadily at the opposite direction, determinedly not looking at him.
Maru felt relief wash over him, maybe he was just being selfish and their leader wasn’t really being biased-
“Junno says that I give this to you.” Ueda said, staring fixedly still at the opposite direction.
Maru growled.
Ueda, by reflex and rather out of curiosity, turned around to face him. “Nani?” he asked.
“I, uh, thanks.” Maru said, snatching the soda from Ueda’s grip. “Tell Junno thanks for me.” He eyed him with a scowl.
Ueda’s eyes widened for a second and then narrowed as he lowered his hand. “Yeah.”he said and then walked away.
Maru had to prevent himself from punching the wall.
*****
“That’s all for today. Group pictures and pairings are done, so we’ll advance to our monthly fan service photo shoots.” The director announced.
“What?” Koki exclaimed loudly, rubbing is eyes. Jin raised an eyebrow at him. “What’s so surprising?” he asked.
“Uh, nothing.” Koki placed a hand to his hair. “It’s just that… do we really have to do this?”
Kame laughed. “What do you think?”
Koki shrugged. “Yeah, I guess it’d be… fine.”
Junno smiled and faced Ueda. “You? Are you tired of doing fan service photo shoots?”
“Well..” Ueda shrugged nonchantly. “Not much, since I’d be doing those with you guys, it’s really not that embarrassing now awkward anymore.”
“Oh, I see.” Junno nodded. Then he glanced at Jin and Kame, who were talking about going shopping afterwards. “Tomorrow, we all get paired, and the pair acts as lovers… who do you think you’re going to be paired with, ne, Ueda?”
Ueda gave him a blank look. “I honestly don’t know. And it really won’t be much of a great deal if I did.” He replied.
Junno placed an arm around Ueda and said, “Well, I think I’d be utmost glad if I be paired with…” he trailed off with a wink at Ueda.
Ueda knew he was blushing. “With whom?” he inquired, somewhat nervous. Junno winking at him was definitely a major cause of his nervousness and blushing.
“Ah, you mean you don’t know?” Junno placed the tip of his index finger on his lips. “Well, let’s just see for tomorrow.” He smiled knowingly at Ueda, patted him on the back and then walked off.
*****
Ueda was cleaning his things when Koki approached him. “I would like to know if you’re angry at me… for not telling you the shoot was supposed to be.”
Ueda just waved a hand, motioning for him to leave and not to worry about it.
“And what about Maru?” he inquired.
Ueda shrugged. “I’m not angry at him.” He declared.
“O-okay. Thanks.” Koki said and left.
Ueda was finished packing when he saw Maru standing at the door, arms crossed. “What is it? He asked calmly.
“I would like to have a word with you.”
“About what?”
“About…”
“What?!?”
“You being unfair.”
“Me?!? Unfair?!” Ueda exclaimed, placing a hand on his forehead. “How could I be unfair?”
“Like you getting angry at me on the phone.” Maru stated steadily, staring at Ueda from head to toe. “And you being biased. Junno-”
“What about Junno, eh?” Ueda asked, now irritated.
Maru coughed. “Junno being such a tease to you, but when I tease you, you get all worked up!” he replied angrily, voice shaking.
“Wha-that is totally different!” Ueda exclaimed, flailing his arms. “This is not like you at all, Maru!”
Maru narrowed his eyes and then sighed dejectedly. “Yeah, maybe you’re right. This is not like me at all. Thanks to you.” And he left the room, leaving Ueda in confused thoughts.
*****