fic for beltenebra
Gift fic for: beltenebra
From: holdstheace
Title: Simple Gifts
Rating: G
Pairing: KoyaShigeRyo friendship, tiny RyoMassu
Summary: Ryo buys birthday presents and receives something along the way.
Notes: I hope you like this beltenebra!
Ryo wanted to say that he didn't actually care what he got Shige for his birthday. It was just Shige. And just a
birthday. It wasn't like Shige hadn't had twenty-two of them before, and Ryo knew for sure that none of those
had been accompanied by a present from one Nishikido Ryo.
But somehow this year was different--maybe because he'd gotten Koyama a present for the first time in awhile,
or maybe because he was finally feeling the absence of NEWS in his life. For whatever reason, his unconscious
had gotten stuck on the idea of giving Kato Shigeaki a present for his twenty-third birthday and now Ryo didn't
know what to give him.
He decided to start by texting Koyama.
What does Shige like?
Besides me? What do you mean?
Haha. His birthday's coming up, so...
Oh, are you getting him a present? Yay!! :D
The last message was followed by an actual phone call.
"I was going to go shopping for my present this week," Koyama's voice rang enthusiastically over
the phone. "Will you be in Tokyo? You can just come with me and I can tell you what Shige likes."
Ryo wrinkled his forehead, trying to figure out if he had the endurance to go shopping with Koyama--for
Shige, no less. But he was going to be in Tokyo next week, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity.
"Sure," he said. "Where do you want to meet?"
(Ryo had found the perfect gift for Massu two years ago and has bought the same thing with
variations ever since.)
He met Koyama in front of what was apparently Shige's favorite clothing store.
"This explains a lot about his fashion sense," Ryo muttered as he peered through racks of shirts and pants
that were borderline trendy-clothes that had tried to seem fashionable and given up right before they made it.
"I expect you know his size too?" he asked Koyama when they both ended up at the same rack of jeans.
"Medium shirts, 32 waist, 34 long," Koyama replied promptly.
After halfheartedly pawing through about fifty shirts, Ryo sighed. "I don't think clothes are the right gift for me.
Where else were you thinking?"
They passed through several art stores, where Ryo decided that if Shige really wanted some of the available
items, he would do him a favor by letting someone else get there first. After forty-five minutes of unsuccessful
looking, Koyama had one last suggestion.
"We could try the camera store," Koyama said, but Ryo could tell from his doubtful expression that he didn't
think much of this idea. "I know he'd be happy with anything from there, but I never know what I'm looking at."
After two minutes in the store, Ryo had to agree and while he could risk buying a mysterious bit of expensive
equipment in the hopes that it was "exactly what I was needing!" he decided it wasn't worth the gamble. That
wasn't much of a present anyway.
"It would be easier if you were a couple," Ryo lamented as they ambled down the street, in unspoken agreement
that shopping for Shige was done for the day as Koyama hadn't found anything either. "Then you could buy
jewelry or go on a special date to Tokyo Tower or something."
"I already got Shige a ring," Koyama mused seriously.
"What?"
"Well, I didn't buy it for him, but we went shopping together on his birthday, and he picked it out then."
Ryo rubbed his jaw to make sure it hadn't fallen to the floor. Putting his thoughts back together, he said, "Well,
then, you can still go to Tokyo Tower together. Unless you've already done that too.”
They walked past a music store and Ryo noticed a new model of his favorite guitar in the window.
"Oh...that's nice," Ryo said.
"You want to go in?" Koyama asked.
"We don't have to..." Ryo said, his eys still glued to the guitar.
"You want to. Come on."
Inside, Ryo happily let his mind run rampant like a child in a toy store. It was always a pleasure to see not just
beautiful instruments, but all the small things that came along for the ride: a whole rack of different strings, a box
with stickers of bad music jokes, the little plastic recorders behind the cash register.
"Would Shige like something small from here?" Ryo asked, peering through a box of musical magnets.
Koyama shrugged. "He's still pretty into music."
But ultimately, it was the same problem. Ryo couldn't find just the right thing.
"I'm having dinner with Shige," Koyama said as they left the store. "You should come with me. It'll give you a
chance to ask about what he wants."
"But I don't need to ask, Shige," Ryo said half-jokingly. "I have you."
Koyama's smile dropped a little. "It would still be nice. Come with me Ryo-chan?"
With a sigh Ryo gave in to the puppy eyes and said a terse "okay, fine," even though inside he was pleasantly
excited about the idea.
(It was easy to go shopping. He took his time to review the options and then purchased one,
eyeing the sales clerk as she gift-wrapped it.)
Ryo was surprised when they pulled up outside of what he figured was Shige's house.
"We're not meeting him there?"
"Oh, we're not going out. Shige's making dinner," Koyama said. "I guess I wasn't clear. Is that okay?"
"It's all the same to me,” Ryo said.
To tell the truth, he was relieved. He'd rather be in the privacy of someone's house than out in public, and Shige
was a decent cook from what he remembered.
"I brought Ryo," Koyama said as soon as Shige opened the door.
A momentary look of surprise flitted across Shige's face, but then he just stepped aside and said, "There'll be
enough to eat. Come in."
The kitchen already smelled good as Koyama and Ryo perched across the counter, watching Shige carefully cut
carrots to toss into a salad.
"I tried making lasagna for the first time," Shige said, pushing his hair out of his face. "You'll have to tell me what
you think."
"I will," Ryo said seriously.
Shige gave him a skeptical look. "On second thought, maybe I don't want your opinion."
"Shige, where are the glasses?" Koyama's voice interrupted. He had stood up and roamed into the kitchen.
"Where they always are," Shige said.
"Where is...oh! Here."
"You'd think you'd never been here before," Shige muttered and then looked up at Ryo. "Do you want
something to drink?"
"I can get it," Koyama said, plunking a glass down in front of Ryo.
Finally Shige pulled the dish out of the oven and set it on the table. Koyama made a bottle of wine materialize
from nowhere and Ryo sat down and watched them both serve their respective contributions to the meal.
Koyama sat down and immediately tried the lasagna. "It's hot!" he said, looking at Shige with a shocked
expression.
"What did you expect idiot, it just came out of the oven," Shige said, shooting Ryo a resigned eyeroll.
Koyama pouted a little. "I wasn't expecting it to be that hot."
Ryo almost expected Shige to cut it up for Koyama or even blow on it to cool it down, but instead he just sat
down and started cutting up his own portion.
"Let's have a toast," Koyama said, clearly needing something to do while he waited for his food to cool. "Here,"
and he pushed the half-full wineglasses towards both Ryo and Shige. "Everyone say something. I'll start. To
this food. I'm sure it will be delicious because Shige made it. If it ever cools."
Shige had smiled a little at the jibe and said, "To Koyama and Ryo, both good friends, and to good food, even if
it is a little warm."
They both turned expectantly to Ryo who had to swallow three times before he managed, "To good advice and
future celebrations," with a significant look at Koyama, who beamed brightly at the reference to him. "And to
well-cooked lasagna."
"So," Koyama began. "Have you been shopping lately Shige?"
Ryo sighed to himself. Koyama was about as subtle as a brick to the head.
Shige frowned. "What do you mean? Why?"
"Well, I was wondering if there was anything you wanted lately..."
Shige shook his head in bewilderment. "What? No, not really, just the usual. I've been looking for hoodies..."
“Ah, I was just wondering. Ryo and I were shopping today, that's why.”
His questioning over, Koyama turned the conversation to the latest TV show he'd been watching. Ryo followed
the conversation, even participating now and then, but mostly he sat and listened, enjoying the rhythm of
Koyama and Shige's words, thrown back and forth with the easy familiarity of two friends playing catch. It also
gave him more time to stuff his face with the admittedly delicious lasagna. He even asked Shige for the recipe
right before he and Koyama left.
(It was nice, sometimes, to have that stability in his life. When the rest of the NEWS members
were variable, trendy, occasionally high-maintenance, Massu was stable, reassuring, unchanging.)
Ryo had a break from filming so he was able to deliver Shige's present personally after Koyama and Shige had
finished recording for K-chan News.
"Open it now," he told Shige.
"You want thanks right away?" Shige asked, but he went ahead and took the wrapping off the envelope to reveal
a set of photos. Ryo had had to search a bit to find them, but he thought it was worth it--they were all artistic
shots of a music store interior. It captured the best of Shige and himself, he thought.
"Wow," Shige said, clearly pleased. "These are cool! Thanks Ryo."
"I'm good, huh?" Ryo said. "I'm glad you like them."
Meanwhile Koyama's expression had gone from mildly worried to downright despairing.
"How about you?" Ryo asked, slightly embarrassed at the fact that Shige was still happily leafing through his gift.
"I don't have anything,” Koyama said sadly. And while Ryo stared in shock, “I couldn't find the right thing.”
Shige shuffled the photos back into the envelope and looked at Koyama with a mix of exasperation and
affection.
"Tell you what," he said. "Take me out for dinner. That'll be present enough, considering I almost always pay."
Koyama still looked a little distressed at his gift failure but then, shooting a look at Ryo, said, "And then to the top
of Tokyo Tower?"
Shige threw up his hands. "Sure. It's a date."
"Yay!" Koyama said, already beaming. "I know a place that's pretty close to here. We can walk there. Ryo-
chan, if you want to come..."
"No, that's okay, I have to go," Ryo said. "Besides, it's Shige's birthday, not mine." He stepped near to Koyama
and whispered in his ear, "Make sure you give him a kiss when you get to the top."
Koyama turned bright pink and spluttered a protest, but Ryo didn't bother listening, just laughed and waved him
away to where Shige was already ambling away. He watched Koyama and Shige walk away, and smiled at the
contrast of Koyama's stylish cat walk and Shige's shorter swagger. At the light they turned around to look at
him, and Ryo found himself blushing under the warmth of their contented smiles.
(Massu opened the package and smiled at the gift inside. A note tumbled out, reading, "I
hope you enjoy this and another year of life. Happy Birthday. Ryo.")
Ryo got a text from Koyama the next day.
Thanks for suggesting Tokyo Tower when we were shopping!
Just returning the favor. How was it?
It was fun! Next time you should come with us. &hearts
You know when my birthday is.
And Ryo folded his phone shut, knowing that he didn't have to wait for his birthday to receive all the gifts that
really mattered.
From: holdstheace
Title: Simple Gifts
Rating: G
Pairing: KoyaShigeRyo friendship, tiny RyoMassu
Summary: Ryo buys birthday presents and receives something along the way.
Notes: I hope you like this beltenebra!
Ryo wanted to say that he didn't actually care what he got Shige for his birthday. It was just Shige. And just a
birthday. It wasn't like Shige hadn't had twenty-two of them before, and Ryo knew for sure that none of those
had been accompanied by a present from one Nishikido Ryo.
But somehow this year was different--maybe because he'd gotten Koyama a present for the first time in awhile,
or maybe because he was finally feeling the absence of NEWS in his life. For whatever reason, his unconscious
had gotten stuck on the idea of giving Kato Shigeaki a present for his twenty-third birthday and now Ryo didn't
know what to give him.
He decided to start by texting Koyama.
What does Shige like?
Besides me? What do you mean?
Haha. His birthday's coming up, so...
Oh, are you getting him a present? Yay!! :D
The last message was followed by an actual phone call.
"I was going to go shopping for my present this week," Koyama's voice rang enthusiastically over
the phone. "Will you be in Tokyo? You can just come with me and I can tell you what Shige likes."
Ryo wrinkled his forehead, trying to figure out if he had the endurance to go shopping with Koyama--for
Shige, no less. But he was going to be in Tokyo next week, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity.
"Sure," he said. "Where do you want to meet?"
(Ryo had found the perfect gift for Massu two years ago and has bought the same thing with
variations ever since.)
He met Koyama in front of what was apparently Shige's favorite clothing store.
"This explains a lot about his fashion sense," Ryo muttered as he peered through racks of shirts and pants
that were borderline trendy-clothes that had tried to seem fashionable and given up right before they made it.
"I expect you know his size too?" he asked Koyama when they both ended up at the same rack of jeans.
"Medium shirts, 32 waist, 34 long," Koyama replied promptly.
After halfheartedly pawing through about fifty shirts, Ryo sighed. "I don't think clothes are the right gift for me.
Where else were you thinking?"
They passed through several art stores, where Ryo decided that if Shige really wanted some of the available
items, he would do him a favor by letting someone else get there first. After forty-five minutes of unsuccessful
looking, Koyama had one last suggestion.
"We could try the camera store," Koyama said, but Ryo could tell from his doubtful expression that he didn't
think much of this idea. "I know he'd be happy with anything from there, but I never know what I'm looking at."
After two minutes in the store, Ryo had to agree and while he could risk buying a mysterious bit of expensive
equipment in the hopes that it was "exactly what I was needing!" he decided it wasn't worth the gamble. That
wasn't much of a present anyway.
"It would be easier if you were a couple," Ryo lamented as they ambled down the street, in unspoken agreement
that shopping for Shige was done for the day as Koyama hadn't found anything either. "Then you could buy
jewelry or go on a special date to Tokyo Tower or something."
"I already got Shige a ring," Koyama mused seriously.
"What?"
"Well, I didn't buy it for him, but we went shopping together on his birthday, and he picked it out then."
Ryo rubbed his jaw to make sure it hadn't fallen to the floor. Putting his thoughts back together, he said, "Well,
then, you can still go to Tokyo Tower together. Unless you've already done that too.”
They walked past a music store and Ryo noticed a new model of his favorite guitar in the window.
"Oh...that's nice," Ryo said.
"You want to go in?" Koyama asked.
"We don't have to..." Ryo said, his eys still glued to the guitar.
"You want to. Come on."
Inside, Ryo happily let his mind run rampant like a child in a toy store. It was always a pleasure to see not just
beautiful instruments, but all the small things that came along for the ride: a whole rack of different strings, a box
with stickers of bad music jokes, the little plastic recorders behind the cash register.
"Would Shige like something small from here?" Ryo asked, peering through a box of musical magnets.
Koyama shrugged. "He's still pretty into music."
But ultimately, it was the same problem. Ryo couldn't find just the right thing.
"I'm having dinner with Shige," Koyama said as they left the store. "You should come with me. It'll give you a
chance to ask about what he wants."
"But I don't need to ask, Shige," Ryo said half-jokingly. "I have you."
Koyama's smile dropped a little. "It would still be nice. Come with me Ryo-chan?"
With a sigh Ryo gave in to the puppy eyes and said a terse "okay, fine," even though inside he was pleasantly
excited about the idea.
(It was easy to go shopping. He took his time to review the options and then purchased one,
eyeing the sales clerk as she gift-wrapped it.)
Ryo was surprised when they pulled up outside of what he figured was Shige's house.
"We're not meeting him there?"
"Oh, we're not going out. Shige's making dinner," Koyama said. "I guess I wasn't clear. Is that okay?"
"It's all the same to me,” Ryo said.
To tell the truth, he was relieved. He'd rather be in the privacy of someone's house than out in public, and Shige
was a decent cook from what he remembered.
"I brought Ryo," Koyama said as soon as Shige opened the door.
A momentary look of surprise flitted across Shige's face, but then he just stepped aside and said, "There'll be
enough to eat. Come in."
The kitchen already smelled good as Koyama and Ryo perched across the counter, watching Shige carefully cut
carrots to toss into a salad.
"I tried making lasagna for the first time," Shige said, pushing his hair out of his face. "You'll have to tell me what
you think."
"I will," Ryo said seriously.
Shige gave him a skeptical look. "On second thought, maybe I don't want your opinion."
"Shige, where are the glasses?" Koyama's voice interrupted. He had stood up and roamed into the kitchen.
"Where they always are," Shige said.
"Where is...oh! Here."
"You'd think you'd never been here before," Shige muttered and then looked up at Ryo. "Do you want
something to drink?"
"I can get it," Koyama said, plunking a glass down in front of Ryo.
Finally Shige pulled the dish out of the oven and set it on the table. Koyama made a bottle of wine materialize
from nowhere and Ryo sat down and watched them both serve their respective contributions to the meal.
Koyama sat down and immediately tried the lasagna. "It's hot!" he said, looking at Shige with a shocked
expression.
"What did you expect idiot, it just came out of the oven," Shige said, shooting Ryo a resigned eyeroll.
Koyama pouted a little. "I wasn't expecting it to be that hot."
Ryo almost expected Shige to cut it up for Koyama or even blow on it to cool it down, but instead he just sat
down and started cutting up his own portion.
"Let's have a toast," Koyama said, clearly needing something to do while he waited for his food to cool. "Here,"
and he pushed the half-full wineglasses towards both Ryo and Shige. "Everyone say something. I'll start. To
this food. I'm sure it will be delicious because Shige made it. If it ever cools."
Shige had smiled a little at the jibe and said, "To Koyama and Ryo, both good friends, and to good food, even if
it is a little warm."
They both turned expectantly to Ryo who had to swallow three times before he managed, "To good advice and
future celebrations," with a significant look at Koyama, who beamed brightly at the reference to him. "And to
well-cooked lasagna."
"So," Koyama began. "Have you been shopping lately Shige?"
Ryo sighed to himself. Koyama was about as subtle as a brick to the head.
Shige frowned. "What do you mean? Why?"
"Well, I was wondering if there was anything you wanted lately..."
Shige shook his head in bewilderment. "What? No, not really, just the usual. I've been looking for hoodies..."
“Ah, I was just wondering. Ryo and I were shopping today, that's why.”
His questioning over, Koyama turned the conversation to the latest TV show he'd been watching. Ryo followed
the conversation, even participating now and then, but mostly he sat and listened, enjoying the rhythm of
Koyama and Shige's words, thrown back and forth with the easy familiarity of two friends playing catch. It also
gave him more time to stuff his face with the admittedly delicious lasagna. He even asked Shige for the recipe
right before he and Koyama left.
(It was nice, sometimes, to have that stability in his life. When the rest of the NEWS members
were variable, trendy, occasionally high-maintenance, Massu was stable, reassuring, unchanging.)
Ryo had a break from filming so he was able to deliver Shige's present personally after Koyama and Shige had
finished recording for K-chan News.
"Open it now," he told Shige.
"You want thanks right away?" Shige asked, but he went ahead and took the wrapping off the envelope to reveal
a set of photos. Ryo had had to search a bit to find them, but he thought it was worth it--they were all artistic
shots of a music store interior. It captured the best of Shige and himself, he thought.
"Wow," Shige said, clearly pleased. "These are cool! Thanks Ryo."
"I'm good, huh?" Ryo said. "I'm glad you like them."
Meanwhile Koyama's expression had gone from mildly worried to downright despairing.
"How about you?" Ryo asked, slightly embarrassed at the fact that Shige was still happily leafing through his gift.
"I don't have anything,” Koyama said sadly. And while Ryo stared in shock, “I couldn't find the right thing.”
Shige shuffled the photos back into the envelope and looked at Koyama with a mix of exasperation and
affection.
"Tell you what," he said. "Take me out for dinner. That'll be present enough, considering I almost always pay."
Koyama still looked a little distressed at his gift failure but then, shooting a look at Ryo, said, "And then to the top
of Tokyo Tower?"
Shige threw up his hands. "Sure. It's a date."
"Yay!" Koyama said, already beaming. "I know a place that's pretty close to here. We can walk there. Ryo-
chan, if you want to come..."
"No, that's okay, I have to go," Ryo said. "Besides, it's Shige's birthday, not mine." He stepped near to Koyama
and whispered in his ear, "Make sure you give him a kiss when you get to the top."
Koyama turned bright pink and spluttered a protest, but Ryo didn't bother listening, just laughed and waved him
away to where Shige was already ambling away. He watched Koyama and Shige walk away, and smiled at the
contrast of Koyama's stylish cat walk and Shige's shorter swagger. At the light they turned around to look at
him, and Ryo found himself blushing under the warmth of their contented smiles.
(Massu opened the package and smiled at the gift inside. A note tumbled out, reading, "I
hope you enjoy this and another year of life. Happy Birthday. Ryo.")
Ryo got a text from Koyama the next day.
Thanks for suggesting Tokyo Tower when we were shopping!
Just returning the favor. How was it?
It was fun! Next time you should come with us. &hearts
You know when my birthday is.
And Ryo folded his phone shut, knowing that he didn't have to wait for his birthday to receive all the gifts that
really mattered.