[Shigeda] A Photo and A Song
Title: A Photo and A Song
Author: pautami
Pairing: Kato Shigeaki/Ueda Tatsuya
Genre: slight angst, romance
Summary: Their first meeting was captured in a photo and documented by a song.
A/N: It’s been a crazy few weeks for me. With this fic, I hope to get back the inspiration and start writing those pending fics again. I’ll slowly catch up on everything but I might post just one fic per week for now.
By the way, this one is dedicated to kyjr. I don’t really know where it came from. She just came to mind and I thought of this. Amy, it’s lame and not as good as your fics but I hope you like it.
Spring 2009
He walked down the street lined by sakura trees. Hands in his jeans pocket and camera hanging from his neck. He looked up, watching the petals dance, swirling their way down the ground. It was on instinct that he grabbed his camera and capture that graceful dance of petals with sunlight peeking shyly from above.
It was during these moments that he was thankful for being a photographer. There are beautiful scenes, rare incidents, candid emotions and enchanting beauty that he was able to see with his trusted camera. He became famous for having a good eye. His answer is always that he was just lucky to be able to be at the right place and at the right time.
He straightened up and continued his wistful walk. For the first time in many years, he’s leaving Japan. It wasn’t really by choice. He needed the change. To start anew. Maybe a new country will make him forget. Hopefully, it will.
A ringing of a phone, brought him out of the way of sad thoughts and sighed seeing who it was.
“Shige! Where are you? It’s three hours before your flight!”
Shigeaki Kato smiled. It’s good to know someone still cares even though it’s just because it’s Keichiro Koyama’s job as his assistant.
“Kei, calm down. I’m just at the park across the hotel. It’s my last spring in Japan, you know.”
“Don’t talk like you’re not coming back. It’s just a five-year contract and you can still visit anytime.”
“What if I don’t want to come back?”
“I’ll put you in a box and drag you back. Now, get your ass back to the hotel so we can leave for the airport.”
The line was cut off, not giving Shige any choice but to turn around and walk back. As he turn around, he saw a man standing to where he took the picture of the sakura petals. Like himself, the man was staring up the petals watching as they descend. He has a soft smile on his face, a hand reaching out to catch the falling petals. Shige was clicking away before he even realized what he was doing. It was as if he needed to capture that smile before it faded away.
Hearing the sound of a shutter, the man turned and looked at Shige quizzically. Camera still on hand, he resisted taking a shot to capture the way he elegantly tilt his head, amusement shining in his eyes. It was one of the most beautiful eyes he’s seen.
Shige bowed apologetically. “Sorry for taking your picture without permission. I just thought...” He can’t say the man looked elegant and beautiful, can he? He cleared his throat. “The sakura petals looks like they were dancing.” He likes to kick himself for the lame excuse but the man just smiled brightly at him.
“That’s fine. Yeah,” the man looked up again. “They do look like they were dancing. I hope I didn’t ruin the photo.” He smiled again and walked past Shige.
Shige was itching to run after him and ask for his name but before he can decide, his phone rang again. Kei was frantic saying that if they got stuck in traffic, Shige might miss his flight and told him that he’s at the park to pick Shige up. He sighed. Kei can be a worrywart sometimes.
Autumn 2011. New York.
“I still don’t know why you didn’t include this one in your photo book?” Kei asked as he roll his suitcase in Shige’s New York apartment. He stopped in front of a photo that hung above the fireplace.
It’s been more than two years since the picture was taken. About the same time Shige been away from Japan. Kei thinks that the move to New York was a good idea. At least it stopped making Shige a gloomy man. He had more enthusiasm at work and even released his own photo book showcasing landscapes and sceneries of spring.
Shige looked at the photo and smiled. It was the photo of the unknown man surrounded by sakura petals. His last spring in Japan. Kei wanted to publish that photo but Shige picked the dancing petals instead. A part of him wants to keep that smile to himself. Instead of answering, he shrugged and turn his attention back to the pasta he was cooking.
“How was your trip?” He asked as he served dinner.
“Tiring. Are you sure you don’t have plans to visit Japan?” Kei settled on the dining table.
“We need to start shooting for the summer line. My schedule is packed.”
Kei didn’t push the topic more. It’s enough that Shige is starting to get back to his old self.
Later that night, Shige popped in one of the CDs Kei brought back from Japan. It caught his eye because the cover looks like the same park where he went that last time. With a glass of wine on hand, he settled on the couch in front of the fireplace. As the first note played, Shige’s eyes were drawn back to the photo. He picked up the case and looked at the title of the song: Hana no Mau Machi.
Autumn 2011. Tokyo.
The door opened with a loud bang, startling Tatsuya Ueda from his concentration.
“Yuu, can you not open the door carefully?” Looking at his panting best friend and manager before turning back to his keyboard.
“It was in the top 10! I can’t believe it!” Yuichi Nakamaru said brandishing is iPad. “Look! Look!” Waving it in front of Tatsuya’s face.
Tatsuya snatched the gadget from Yuichi’s hand. “You say it like you don’t believe in my talent.” He said sounding a bit hurt.
“You know that’s not what I mean. Mouse Peace is a band that plays alternative and rock songs. Songs that talk about life and society. Then out of nowhere, you, their vocalist, released a solo album. A ballad that sings of love and romance. I really thought you were possessed or something.” Yuichi made a dramatic sigh and placed both his hands on Tatsuya’s shoulders, looking his friend in the eye.
“You know you can tell me anything. Any secret and I’ll keep it until I die. What entity has finally woke Tatsuya Ueda’s sleeping heart?”
Tatsuya laughed heartily, smacking Yuichi in the forehead. “You talk as if, I’m cold hearted and cruel.”
“You’re not. You flirt and kind and polite but you don’t fall in love. You shy away from any form of romantic relationship. That’s why I’m curious, who had made you change?”
“Hmm... I wonder...” Tatsuya said looking at the frame above his piano. It holds a photo of dancing sakura petals.
Winter 2011. New York.
The last of the shoots is finally over. A part of him pities the girls who wore those summer clothes in the dead of winter. It doesn’t help that they were skinny too. The designer was throwing a party for the culmination of the catalogue shoot but Shige opt out. He prefers to spend his nights alone. Not really alone. He has a glass of wine and a photo to keep him company.
It’s been more than two years but Shige still remember that day at the park. If going back to Japan means he can see the man again, then maybe he would. But there’s no certainty and there’s still some past that he’s trying to run away from. Lately though, it doesn’t hurt to remember. Not when he’s looking at that wistful smile in the photo.
Sadly, it looks like he’s falling in love with a picture.
He sighed, stepping out on the soft drizzle of the snow. Some have accumulated on the ground already and crunches in every step. He ignores it, pulling his jacket tighter around his body. Kei is back in Japan to spend Christmas with his family. It’s going to be a long winter.
On impulse, he went to the park across the studio. He just wants to walk around and pass time. He saw a figure leaning at the back of the bench, looking up the sky. The profile looks oddly familiar and Shige felt his heartbeat speeding up. Before he knew it, he was running towards it.
It was a man. He turned and Shige was met by the same brown eyes that he saw more than two years ago. Suddenly, he felt his cheeks reddening but blame it on the cold wind.
“Hey! Aren’t you...” Shige nodded before he even finished his sentence, clutching his side as he catch his breath.
“Kato Shigeaki.” He introduced himself when his breathing came back to normal, stretching his hand out.
That smile again. He reached out his hand. “Ueda Tatsuya.”
“Ueda-san, can I take your picture?”
“If you’re in it too, I don’t see why not.”
=end=
Author: pautami
Pairing: Kato Shigeaki/Ueda Tatsuya
Genre: slight angst, romance
Summary: Their first meeting was captured in a photo and documented by a song.
A/N: It’s been a crazy few weeks for me. With this fic, I hope to get back the inspiration and start writing those pending fics again. I’ll slowly catch up on everything but I might post just one fic per week for now.
By the way, this one is dedicated to kyjr. I don’t really know where it came from. She just came to mind and I thought of this. Amy, it’s lame and not as good as your fics but I hope you like it.
Spring 2009
He walked down the street lined by sakura trees. Hands in his jeans pocket and camera hanging from his neck. He looked up, watching the petals dance, swirling their way down the ground. It was on instinct that he grabbed his camera and capture that graceful dance of petals with sunlight peeking shyly from above.
It was during these moments that he was thankful for being a photographer. There are beautiful scenes, rare incidents, candid emotions and enchanting beauty that he was able to see with his trusted camera. He became famous for having a good eye. His answer is always that he was just lucky to be able to be at the right place and at the right time.
He straightened up and continued his wistful walk. For the first time in many years, he’s leaving Japan. It wasn’t really by choice. He needed the change. To start anew. Maybe a new country will make him forget. Hopefully, it will.
A ringing of a phone, brought him out of the way of sad thoughts and sighed seeing who it was.
“Shige! Where are you? It’s three hours before your flight!”
Shigeaki Kato smiled. It’s good to know someone still cares even though it’s just because it’s Keichiro Koyama’s job as his assistant.
“Kei, calm down. I’m just at the park across the hotel. It’s my last spring in Japan, you know.”
“Don’t talk like you’re not coming back. It’s just a five-year contract and you can still visit anytime.”
“What if I don’t want to come back?”
“I’ll put you in a box and drag you back. Now, get your ass back to the hotel so we can leave for the airport.”
The line was cut off, not giving Shige any choice but to turn around and walk back. As he turn around, he saw a man standing to where he took the picture of the sakura petals. Like himself, the man was staring up the petals watching as they descend. He has a soft smile on his face, a hand reaching out to catch the falling petals. Shige was clicking away before he even realized what he was doing. It was as if he needed to capture that smile before it faded away.
Hearing the sound of a shutter, the man turned and looked at Shige quizzically. Camera still on hand, he resisted taking a shot to capture the way he elegantly tilt his head, amusement shining in his eyes. It was one of the most beautiful eyes he’s seen.
Shige bowed apologetically. “Sorry for taking your picture without permission. I just thought...” He can’t say the man looked elegant and beautiful, can he? He cleared his throat. “The sakura petals looks like they were dancing.” He likes to kick himself for the lame excuse but the man just smiled brightly at him.
“That’s fine. Yeah,” the man looked up again. “They do look like they were dancing. I hope I didn’t ruin the photo.” He smiled again and walked past Shige.
Shige was itching to run after him and ask for his name but before he can decide, his phone rang again. Kei was frantic saying that if they got stuck in traffic, Shige might miss his flight and told him that he’s at the park to pick Shige up. He sighed. Kei can be a worrywart sometimes.
Autumn 2011. New York.
“I still don’t know why you didn’t include this one in your photo book?” Kei asked as he roll his suitcase in Shige’s New York apartment. He stopped in front of a photo that hung above the fireplace.
It’s been more than two years since the picture was taken. About the same time Shige been away from Japan. Kei thinks that the move to New York was a good idea. At least it stopped making Shige a gloomy man. He had more enthusiasm at work and even released his own photo book showcasing landscapes and sceneries of spring.
Shige looked at the photo and smiled. It was the photo of the unknown man surrounded by sakura petals. His last spring in Japan. Kei wanted to publish that photo but Shige picked the dancing petals instead. A part of him wants to keep that smile to himself. Instead of answering, he shrugged and turn his attention back to the pasta he was cooking.
“How was your trip?” He asked as he served dinner.
“Tiring. Are you sure you don’t have plans to visit Japan?” Kei settled on the dining table.
“We need to start shooting for the summer line. My schedule is packed.”
Kei didn’t push the topic more. It’s enough that Shige is starting to get back to his old self.
Later that night, Shige popped in one of the CDs Kei brought back from Japan. It caught his eye because the cover looks like the same park where he went that last time. With a glass of wine on hand, he settled on the couch in front of the fireplace. As the first note played, Shige’s eyes were drawn back to the photo. He picked up the case and looked at the title of the song: Hana no Mau Machi.
Autumn 2011. Tokyo.
The door opened with a loud bang, startling Tatsuya Ueda from his concentration.
“Yuu, can you not open the door carefully?” Looking at his panting best friend and manager before turning back to his keyboard.
“It was in the top 10! I can’t believe it!” Yuichi Nakamaru said brandishing is iPad. “Look! Look!” Waving it in front of Tatsuya’s face.
Tatsuya snatched the gadget from Yuichi’s hand. “You say it like you don’t believe in my talent.” He said sounding a bit hurt.
“You know that’s not what I mean. Mouse Peace is a band that plays alternative and rock songs. Songs that talk about life and society. Then out of nowhere, you, their vocalist, released a solo album. A ballad that sings of love and romance. I really thought you were possessed or something.” Yuichi made a dramatic sigh and placed both his hands on Tatsuya’s shoulders, looking his friend in the eye.
“You know you can tell me anything. Any secret and I’ll keep it until I die. What entity has finally woke Tatsuya Ueda’s sleeping heart?”
Tatsuya laughed heartily, smacking Yuichi in the forehead. “You talk as if, I’m cold hearted and cruel.”
“You’re not. You flirt and kind and polite but you don’t fall in love. You shy away from any form of romantic relationship. That’s why I’m curious, who had made you change?”
“Hmm... I wonder...” Tatsuya said looking at the frame above his piano. It holds a photo of dancing sakura petals.
Winter 2011. New York.
The last of the shoots is finally over. A part of him pities the girls who wore those summer clothes in the dead of winter. It doesn’t help that they were skinny too. The designer was throwing a party for the culmination of the catalogue shoot but Shige opt out. He prefers to spend his nights alone. Not really alone. He has a glass of wine and a photo to keep him company.
It’s been more than two years but Shige still remember that day at the park. If going back to Japan means he can see the man again, then maybe he would. But there’s no certainty and there’s still some past that he’s trying to run away from. Lately though, it doesn’t hurt to remember. Not when he’s looking at that wistful smile in the photo.
Sadly, it looks like he’s falling in love with a picture.
He sighed, stepping out on the soft drizzle of the snow. Some have accumulated on the ground already and crunches in every step. He ignores it, pulling his jacket tighter around his body. Kei is back in Japan to spend Christmas with his family. It’s going to be a long winter.
On impulse, he went to the park across the studio. He just wants to walk around and pass time. He saw a figure leaning at the back of the bench, looking up the sky. The profile looks oddly familiar and Shige felt his heartbeat speeding up. Before he knew it, he was running towards it.
It was a man. He turned and Shige was met by the same brown eyes that he saw more than two years ago. Suddenly, he felt his cheeks reddening but blame it on the cold wind.
“Hey! Aren’t you...” Shige nodded before he even finished his sentence, clutching his side as he catch his breath.
“Kato Shigeaki.” He introduced himself when his breathing came back to normal, stretching his hand out.
That smile again. He reached out his hand. “Ueda Tatsuya.”
“Ueda-san, can I take your picture?”
“If you’re in it too, I don’t see why not.”
=end=