Unfortunately, Redux
TITLE: Unfortunately, Redux
PAIRING: Ryo/Shige
RATING: PG-13
WORD COUNT: 3,900
SUMMARY: Shige's in trouble. Luckily, Ryo comes to the rescue. Sort of.
NOTES: Awesomely enough, this wasn't the whore!verse chapter that I mentioned having writer's block over. That one is still sitting on my desktop, screaming at me. Also, I have no idea what living expenses are like in Japan. I just kind of guessed.
Up until about 12:30pm, it was a perfect day.
Shige woke up with a lot of energy and didn't lie in bed unnecessarily, like normal. The apple he ate for breakfast was perfectly ripe and he got a seat on the train to school. His midterms all came back with near-perfect grades and his classes for next semester are all set. He eats lunch with some friends; it's very cheerful and lively and after wards, Shige decides to go out to the sunny spot behind the School of Literature and do some reading before his 2pm class.
On the way, he runs into his adviser, Ota, a pudgy 50-something year old who always teaches the most interesting Criminal Law courses, but is considered to be too difficult of a grader.
"Oh, Katou-kun, I was just about to send you an email. Do you have a moment to talk?"
Shige smiles. "Of course. I don't have class for another hour and a half."
Ota looks guilty for a moment before taking Shige into one of the offices.
"It seems," he says, scratching the back of his head. "That the Financial Office never received your full tuition for this semester."
Shige blinks. "What?"
"Apparently they sent a notice to your residence."
The residence that Shige hasn't been to in... two weeks? Maybe more. It's sort of hard to remember.
"Your grades are frozen. None of your professors can update your grades."
Shige feels a light sweat break out along his brow.
"And if it's not paid off by the start of the next semester, they'll deny your attendance. Please, Katou-kun. Organize your finances and fix this. It's all very serious."
"Y-yes, I understand." Shige bows to Ota. "Sorry for troubling you."
He waves it off. "I'm alright. Just get your stuff together. I was very surprised to get the notice. You're usually so organized."
And then Ota leaves.
Shige thinks he might faint.
-- -- --
He runs to the Financial Office to confirm what he's been told - and yes, it's true. He stands at the window for a moment, heart pounding and slowly steps back until his back hits the opposite wall. Shige swallows, hard, and then pulls out his phone and calls home.
"Hello, darling! How-"
"Mom." Shige can feel the strain in his throat. "Mom, did you send in my tuition?"
"Hmm? The tuition? Yes, honey. We always send it in at the beginning of the semester."
"But- but the Financial Office says they haven't received my full tuition."
"I have the receipt." Shige hears papers shuffling and his mother talking to herself. "Here! January 23rd. The office received it on the 23rd."
"But. But."
"Well, hasn't Nakagawa been sending your paychecks straight to the Financial Office? Maybe something happened with that."
Shige nods, bids his mother goodbye and hangs up.
-- -- --
He ends up skipping his 2pm class. It's not like he would have been able to concentrate on the material. Instead he goes back to his apartment, and upon opening the door, there's a little stack of mail waiting for him. Leaning down, door still open, Shige sorts through it and there are two letters from the Financial Office. Both warning him about his tuition and mentioning that if he doesn't turn it in by the end of the semester his grades will be frozen, and potentially, his attendance for next semester will be denied. Shige steps inside, closes the door, and looks at the invoice.
700,000 yen due by June 25th.
Shige drops the letter and feels like the world is crumbling.
-- -- --
In a daze, lying on the floor of his apartment, Shige calls Nakagawa.
"Ah, hello, Katou-kun. You know we have a shoot tomorrow at noon, right?"
"Um, yes. I'm sorry to bother you so suddenly, but-"
"It's no trouble at all!"
"Um, do you remember when I asked you to send my paychecks directly to my school?"
"Yes, and I haven't forgotten." Shige can hear the smile in Nakagawa's voice. "Is everything alright?"
Shige clears his throat. "I think- it seems that the office... never received... them."
Nakagawa's quiet for a long moment, before he says, quietly, "Oh, dear."
"I-"
"I have all the deposit receipts in my folder. I know it. How did they not receive it?"
Shige swallows.
"Katou-kun, this will all get sorted out. I'll call your school and talk to the Financial Office."
"It's not-"
"No, I insist. I'll see you tomorrow, Katou-kun."
And Nakagawa hangs up, sounding very determined.
-- -- --
Shige lies on the floor for another hour before he sits up and goes through the rest of his mail - there's nothing important. He gets up and as he's leaving the building, he runs into his landlord.
"Katou-kun, are you going to be moving out soon?"
"I don't have plans to. Why?"
The pugdy man scratches his chin. "You're never around."
"I've been staying at-"
"It doesn't really matter though. As long you keep paying the rent, I don't care what you do. Remember. It's due next week. First of the month, Katou-kun!"
Then he walks off and Shige doesn't know what to do.
-- -- --
When Ryo arrives home around 7pm, holding a bag of take-out, he finds Shige lying on the couch, staring at the ceiling, his face pale.
"Shige." Ryo kneels down next to the couch. "What are you doing?"
"Thinking," he replies, quietly, barely above a whisper.
"Well, don't do it with such a moody face."
Ryo stands back up, taking the food to the kitchen and properly putting it in bowls. Shige gets up, with much effort, and joins Ryo at the table, but he doesn't have much of an appetite. They're both quiet - Ryo tired from work, and Shige emotionally drained from the day's information.
When Ryo's done, he puts his chopsticks down and looks at Shige across the table. "Why haven't you eaten?"
Shige sighs. "I'm not very hungry."
Ryo frowns. "What's up with you?"
Shige doesn't answer.
"Hey. Don't be like that."
Shige slouches in his chair.
"You can tell me."
"I don't want to talk about it," Shige finally says.
"... Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Ryo doesn't say anything on the matter after that, but Shige can't help but think he looks a little sad.
-- -- --
The next day, he goes to work at noon with Nakagawa, and they're both very quiet. The usual banter between them non-existent, and Nakagawa is especially short with the models. Shige doesn't mind that Nakagawa is putting work first - they're on a schedule and it's not like the problem with the tuition is going anywhere. When they've finished packing everything into the back of Nakagawa's car, he drives Shige to the station and hands him the paycheck for the day.
"I'm sorry, Katou-kun," he says, and Shige knows what that means.
I talked with the office, but they don't have any records of receiving it. So, technically, the tuition hasn't been paid. And it's not like I can afford to cut you a new check worth 700,000 yen. I'm sorry, Katou-kun. I really am.
So, Shige smiles, takes the check and gets out of the car.
-- -- --
At 9:30pm, he gets a call.
"Shige, where are you?"
"My apartment."
"... Why?"
"Because."
Ryo makes a weird half-growl sort of noise. "What's wrong? Tell me!"
Shige shakes his head, even though Ryo can't see it. "I don't want to bother you with it."
Ryo swears and hangs up.
-- -- --
Shige's staring at the tuition invoice and checkbook, both laid out next to each other and he has an incredible sense of deja-vu. And then he laughs a little to himself, remembering being in this same situation a while back and what it led him to do. Shige lets himself fall over, in an almost defeated manner. It's not like he wants to. And Shige racks his brain, thinking of plausible alternatives.
-- -- --
An hour later, Shige opens the door to his apartment, and is met by Ryo, arm hanging in mid-air, just about to knock. He takes one look at Shige - eyes dark and sad - and his surprised expression turns to one of pure anger. He shoves Shige's shoulder, hard, pushing him back into the apartment. Shige trips on a shoe and falls backwards, landing on the floor. Ryo steps inside, closing the door behind him.
Ryo doesn't say anything, just keeps looking at Shige with the most hateful, unbelieving eyes. And Shige looks right back at him, not breaking the contact for anything. He swallows and Ryo watches his Adam's apple bob.
"What are you doing, Shige?" Ryo says, voice rough.
Shige shudders. "Ryo, I-"
"Shut up." And Ryo takes a step closer to Shige.
For the first time in what he thinks is ever, Shige is actually a little frightened of Ryo. Sure, he's easily provoked into anger, but it never seems serious. That at any moment, Ryo will snap back to being Ryo. But this time, Shige's not so sure it will be that easy. Shige scoots back a little, his heart starts pounding and now that Ryo is before him, he can't figure out what he'd been thinking and why he'd thought it would be a good idea.
Ryo kneels down, grabbing Shige's foot to keep him from moving any further away. He follows the line of Shige body all the up, until he cups Shige's face loosely. He runs the pad of his thumb along Shige's lower eyelid and it comes back black, the neat line around Shige's eye smeared.
"What is this?"
Shige opens his mouth, but his throat is suddenly dry, and no sound comes out.
"Where were you going?"
His throat tightens up even more, thinking about how he was going to go do that. That he was going to do that and make the relationship he and Ryo had worked so hard to make work suffer.
Ryo's hand moves to the back of Shige's head, fingers loose in his hair. "Answer me."
"I'm sorry," Shige chokes out.
Ryo stares hard at him.
Shige reaches over and grabs the invoice, still lying on the floor, and hands it to Ryo. He takes it, looks over the paper, and then crumples it up into a ball and throws it over his shoulder.
"It-it's a lot of money, and I-"
Ryo hand tightens, and Shige winces. "Not an excuse. Why didn't you tell me?"
Shige looks away. "It's my problem. Not yours."
"It becomes my problem." Ryo's hand moves, forcing Shige to look back at him. "When you start doing stupid shit like this."
Shige doesn't answer.
Ryo's hand loosens, lightly rubbing Shige's scalp. "I can't believe you."
He stands up, going into the bathroom and coming back with a damp hand towel. Ryo sits back down on the floor, holding Shige's jaw in one hand, and with the other, carefully running a corner of the towel along Shige's eyelids. It hurts a little, but Shige doesn't say anything. When he's done, Ryo throws the towel back into the bathroom.
"Were you really going to...?"
Ryo doesn't have to finish the sentence for Shige to know what he was going to ask. And Shige finds that he can't bring himself to look Ryo in the eye.
"What other choice do I have?"
"Let me pay it," Ryo says quietly, and Shige almost doesn't hear it.
"No."
Ryo places a hand on Shige's knee and squeezes. "I know you don't want to be kept. I know that. And I'm not trying to force you into anything. But... rely on me. Let me help you."
Shige frowns and doesn't answer.
"You're always so hard on yourself. Making things more difficult than they need to be. For now, let me help you."
Shige puts his face in his hands and curls up into himself. Ryo lets him wallow for a few minutes, before he pulls Shige up, slips a light coat over him, and leads him out of the little apartment.
-- -- --
When they arrive at Ryo's apartment, Shige heads straight for the shower, locking the bathroom door behind him. Ryo sighs, and turns on the TV.
45 minutes later, Shige finally comes out, skin bright red - Ryo isn't sure if it's from the heat or Shige's scrubbing - and eyes blood-shot. He trudges slowly to the bedroom, closing the door behind him while he gets dressed. From the couch, Ryo frowns. When he goes to take his own shower, Shige climbs into bed and hugs Ryo's pillow while he waits.
When Ryo is done, and goes into the bedroom, dressed only in boxer-briefs, water dripping down his back, Shige is still awake, looking very small in the king-size bed. Ryo slips on a pair of sweatpants before pulling back the blankets and getting in bed.
"Can I have my pillow?"
Shige blinks. "I'm sorry."
"I know." Ryo tugs on the corner of his pillow, Shige lets go and Ryo pulls it away, fluffing it before laying it under his head.
"Tomorrow I'll go to the Financial Office at your school."
Shige sits up. "Ryo-"
"Consider it an interest-free loan."
Shige lays back down. "I'm sorry."
"You've said that already." And Ryo cracks his neck.
"I'm abnormal. It must be a lot of work putting up with me."
"Shige-"
"You're busy enough as it is, and I'm-"
"Shige," Ryo says, leaning over the other, effectively silencing him.
"I'm-"
"Stop." And Ryo leans down, kissing Shige lightly, barely any pressure. "Rely on me," Ryo says against his lips. "Don't shut me out."
"Okay," Shige replies, running a hand up Ryo's arm.
Ryo kisses Shige again and then sits back. "I know I said I wouldn't bother you about this again, but I want you to move in. Actually move in."
Shige's still before he says, "I'll think about it."
-- -- --
Ryo is true to his word. The next day, he does go into the Financial Office, because when he runs into Ota in the hallway again, the professor thanks Shige for taking care of the problem so quickly. Shige fidgets in the hallway while talking, before Ota walks away.
Shige looks at his finances that night.
700,000 yen in debt to Ryo. 155,000 yen monthly salary from Nakagawa. 60,000 yen a month for rent. 58,000 yen a month paid directly to the Financial Office for the rest of the tuition he hasn't paid yet. Assuming no other expenses, that only leaves 37,000 yen a month with which to pay off the debt to Ryo.
Shige closes his checkbook and flops down on the floor.
-- -- --
A week later, Ryo is craving hotpot, so he drags Shige out. Of course, it's to one of the really nice restaurants in Shibuya, where each table has its own room and there are no prices on the menu. Ryo swishes the food around in the pot, sipping the beer in his other hand, Shige watches, zoning out a little bit.
"Ok," he finally says.
Ryo doesn't look up. "The beef isn't cooked yet. You'll get sick."
Shige gnaws at the inside of his lip and reaches for his beer.
-- -- --
Another week later - only one more until summer break - Shige lets himself into Ryo's apartment, and goes straight into the living room where he can hear Ryo talking on the phone. Shige sits down on the other end of the couch, picks up a book from the coffee table and reads until Ryo is done with his conversation.
"Welcome back," Ryo finally says. "So what are your plans for the break?"
Shige puts the book down, not bothering to mark where he was on the page. He reaches into his coat pocket and holds an envelope out to Ryo. He regards it and Shige for a minute before gingerly taking it from Shige's grasp. Ryo tosses it onto the coffee table and moves his attention right back to Shige.
"What is it?"
Shige exhales. "I thought about what you said."
Ryo cocks his head. "About what?"
"About me and- and the apartment."
Ryo is suddenly very close, next to Shige, holding Shige's knee, breathing shallower than normal. "Yeah?"
Shige swallows and the word feels heavy coming up this throat, weighing down his tongue for a long moment before he's finally able to say it again: "Ok."
Ryo is still, before he breaks into a wide smile and hugs Shige around the middle, pressing his face into the other's neck.
-- -- --
The next day, after he gets out of class, Shige goes and gives his landlord 30 days notice. The old man grumbles and complains after having to fill the apartment and dealing with some new resident, but it's not like Shige cares very much. He goes up to his apartment and starts sorting things into piles and figuring out what he can throw out before he moves. When that's all done, lacking boxes with which to pack his items, Shige goes for a walk. In front of a small playground, Shige stops, sits down on a bench and pulls out his phone.
Ring. Ring. R-
"Hello. Katou residence."
Shige laughs. "It's me, Mom."
"Oh, honey! I didn't even look at the caller ID! How are you? It's almost summer break! Are you making any plans? You should come for a little, even just a few days, it would be so nice to have you-"
"Um, Mom?"
"Yes, dear?"
Shige chokes for a second. "I'm moving out of my apartment."
"...What? Why?"
"Well, a friend of mine... is looking for a roommate and-"
"Is the rent less?"
"... It's the same."- Actually, he and Ryo hadn't even discussed that part yet.
"I just. Oh, this is so sudden!"
"Sorry." Shige kicks a pebble.
"Why the move, darling?"
"Where I am now..." Even though he's barely there anymore as it is. "I hate it. Yes, it's close to campus, but the landlord doesn't keep up the property and the other residents are rude and-"
"What is your friend's name?"
Shige stills on the bench. "Er."
"...Is it Nishikido-kun?"
He swallows, and quietly says, "Yes."
"But he seems like the sort of young man who would have a very expensive apartment."
"Yeah." Shige fists a hand in his jeans, and then smooths out the wrinkles. "But he's. I think. It's big and-"
"Is he lonely?"
"... I think so."
Shige's mother is quiet for a long moment and Shige starts wondering what his parents are going to think about all this.
"Well, I don't think it'll be any problem."
"Eh?" Shige perks up.
"We won't worry, since we know Nishikido-kun is a good person. And if the rent's the same and he's letting you stay in a better neighborhood, there isn't much of a problem, is there?"
Shige exhales and smiles. "No, I suppose not."
-- -- --
Ryo is excited about Shige truly moving in, and he happily volunteers to help Shige pack up his stuff and bring it over and unpack, and then fold up all the boxes and recycle them. Tell his landlord and the security guard about the new resident and fill out Shige's change-of-address form, and all the other little irritating things that are involved with moving.
Shige's a bit more nervous about the whole thing. He has to learn the bus lines around Ryo's - ... and soon his - apartment more thoroughly, along with all the back roads. Figure out where in the closet he's going to put his clothes, since Ryo's already take up the entire space, and that in the dresser. Make room in Ryo's bathroom for his few necessary items and clean out the fridge, since it's going to now need to comfortably fit the food required for two young men.
And when the day finally comes, Ryo is somehow able to weasel his way into getting the day off. He convinces Shige mother that, "No, no, it's fine. My car has a big trunk, so there's no need to come help us. I'll take good care of your son! Don't worry!" The security guard is nice and holds the door open, not commenting on the fact that Ryo lives in a one-bedroom apartment and he suddenly has a new roommate. When the landlord comes to introduce himself, he brings a fruit basket and a highly detailed map of the area, which Shige is especially appreciative of.
Unpacking doesn't take very long, but it's tiring nevertheless and Shige ends up crashing early, on the couch, while Ryo watches Utaban and berates KAT-TUN for being stupid, even though they can't hear him. When the show is finished, he looks over, finally noticing that Shige is asleep, slouching, barely still sitting. Ryo laughs and it wakes Shige up. He yawns, stretches, blinks and then looks at the clock.
"You might as well just go to bed."
Shige nods and stumbles up, meandering into the bathroom to brush his teeth. Ryo fiddles with his phone for a second before going to the kitchen and setting up the coffee for tomorrow morning that both of them will need. He hears Shige walk into the bedroom and flop down on the bed. Ryo switches off the kitchen and living room lights, brushes his teeth too, and laughs again, when he sees Shige still completely dressed, laying on his back on top of the duvet.
Ryo crawls on top of him, legs straddling Shige's thigh. "You'll be uncomfortable if you sleep in jeans."
Shige doesn't reply, but he moves his hand, placing it on Ryo's waist.
Leaning down, Ryo kisses Shige's collarbone through his shirt, and then sits back, unbuckling Shige's belt and zipper, tugging the jeans down Shige's hip.
"Don't be so rough," Shige mutters, seeming mostly asleep.
"Then give me a hand with this."
Shige doesn't reply, but he lifts his hips up a little bit and Ryo tosses his jeans towards the far-side of the room. He rolls off the bed, devesting himself of his clothes and slipping on a pair of sweats before turning back to Shige.
"You know what this situation usually warrants?"
Shige grunts and rolls over, away from where Ryo is standing near the dresser.
"Moving-in sex."
Shige slowly rolls back towards Ryo, regarding him.
"But I know you're tired."
Shige blinks and yawns. "You're actually going to let that stop you?"
Ryo cocks his head, contemplating Shige's words before smiling and rejoining Shige on the bed, the same position as previously. He runs his hands up the sides of Shige's torso, and brushes his lips across Shige's cheek and jaw, before kissing him, so softly, and then leaning back, forcing Shige to lean forwards and follow the kiss. After that though, Ryo lets Shige fall back and lounge on the duvet, only half-awake, while he continues kissing Shige.
Shige's hands are haphazardly placed on Ryo's body, barely moving, mostly just wanting the contact. But after a few minutes, he tugs at Ryo's arm, and he follow Shige's silent directions, moving off Shige somewhat and lying down, properly, next to him. Shige rolls over, arm across Ryo's stomach and head on his shoulder, before he completely passes out from the day's exhaustion.
-- -- --
Something a little new-ish!
I put my name on the The Anonymous Feedback Meme, so if there's anything you want to say and want to be Anon about it - go for it! Feel free to be harsh. Criticism is how we grow ♥
PAIRING: Ryo/Shige
RATING: PG-13
WORD COUNT: 3,900
SUMMARY: Shige's in trouble. Luckily, Ryo comes to the rescue. Sort of.
NOTES: Awesomely enough, this wasn't the whore!verse chapter that I mentioned having writer's block over. That one is still sitting on my desktop, screaming at me. Also, I have no idea what living expenses are like in Japan. I just kind of guessed.
Up until about 12:30pm, it was a perfect day.
Shige woke up with a lot of energy and didn't lie in bed unnecessarily, like normal. The apple he ate for breakfast was perfectly ripe and he got a seat on the train to school. His midterms all came back with near-perfect grades and his classes for next semester are all set. He eats lunch with some friends; it's very cheerful and lively and after wards, Shige decides to go out to the sunny spot behind the School of Literature and do some reading before his 2pm class.
On the way, he runs into his adviser, Ota, a pudgy 50-something year old who always teaches the most interesting Criminal Law courses, but is considered to be too difficult of a grader.
"Oh, Katou-kun, I was just about to send you an email. Do you have a moment to talk?"
Shige smiles. "Of course. I don't have class for another hour and a half."
Ota looks guilty for a moment before taking Shige into one of the offices.
"It seems," he says, scratching the back of his head. "That the Financial Office never received your full tuition for this semester."
Shige blinks. "What?"
"Apparently they sent a notice to your residence."
The residence that Shige hasn't been to in... two weeks? Maybe more. It's sort of hard to remember.
"Your grades are frozen. None of your professors can update your grades."
Shige feels a light sweat break out along his brow.
"And if it's not paid off by the start of the next semester, they'll deny your attendance. Please, Katou-kun. Organize your finances and fix this. It's all very serious."
"Y-yes, I understand." Shige bows to Ota. "Sorry for troubling you."
He waves it off. "I'm alright. Just get your stuff together. I was very surprised to get the notice. You're usually so organized."
And then Ota leaves.
Shige thinks he might faint.
-- -- --
He runs to the Financial Office to confirm what he's been told - and yes, it's true. He stands at the window for a moment, heart pounding and slowly steps back until his back hits the opposite wall. Shige swallows, hard, and then pulls out his phone and calls home.
"Hello, darling! How-"
"Mom." Shige can feel the strain in his throat. "Mom, did you send in my tuition?"
"Hmm? The tuition? Yes, honey. We always send it in at the beginning of the semester."
"But- but the Financial Office says they haven't received my full tuition."
"I have the receipt." Shige hears papers shuffling and his mother talking to herself. "Here! January 23rd. The office received it on the 23rd."
"But. But."
"Well, hasn't Nakagawa been sending your paychecks straight to the Financial Office? Maybe something happened with that."
Shige nods, bids his mother goodbye and hangs up.
-- -- --
He ends up skipping his 2pm class. It's not like he would have been able to concentrate on the material. Instead he goes back to his apartment, and upon opening the door, there's a little stack of mail waiting for him. Leaning down, door still open, Shige sorts through it and there are two letters from the Financial Office. Both warning him about his tuition and mentioning that if he doesn't turn it in by the end of the semester his grades will be frozen, and potentially, his attendance for next semester will be denied. Shige steps inside, closes the door, and looks at the invoice.
700,000 yen due by June 25th.
Shige drops the letter and feels like the world is crumbling.
-- -- --
In a daze, lying on the floor of his apartment, Shige calls Nakagawa.
"Ah, hello, Katou-kun. You know we have a shoot tomorrow at noon, right?"
"Um, yes. I'm sorry to bother you so suddenly, but-"
"It's no trouble at all!"
"Um, do you remember when I asked you to send my paychecks directly to my school?"
"Yes, and I haven't forgotten." Shige can hear the smile in Nakagawa's voice. "Is everything alright?"
Shige clears his throat. "I think- it seems that the office... never received... them."
Nakagawa's quiet for a long moment, before he says, quietly, "Oh, dear."
"I-"
"I have all the deposit receipts in my folder. I know it. How did they not receive it?"
Shige swallows.
"Katou-kun, this will all get sorted out. I'll call your school and talk to the Financial Office."
"It's not-"
"No, I insist. I'll see you tomorrow, Katou-kun."
And Nakagawa hangs up, sounding very determined.
-- -- --
Shige lies on the floor for another hour before he sits up and goes through the rest of his mail - there's nothing important. He gets up and as he's leaving the building, he runs into his landlord.
"Katou-kun, are you going to be moving out soon?"
"I don't have plans to. Why?"
The pugdy man scratches his chin. "You're never around."
"I've been staying at-"
"It doesn't really matter though. As long you keep paying the rent, I don't care what you do. Remember. It's due next week. First of the month, Katou-kun!"
Then he walks off and Shige doesn't know what to do.
-- -- --
When Ryo arrives home around 7pm, holding a bag of take-out, he finds Shige lying on the couch, staring at the ceiling, his face pale.
"Shige." Ryo kneels down next to the couch. "What are you doing?"
"Thinking," he replies, quietly, barely above a whisper.
"Well, don't do it with such a moody face."
Ryo stands back up, taking the food to the kitchen and properly putting it in bowls. Shige gets up, with much effort, and joins Ryo at the table, but he doesn't have much of an appetite. They're both quiet - Ryo tired from work, and Shige emotionally drained from the day's information.
When Ryo's done, he puts his chopsticks down and looks at Shige across the table. "Why haven't you eaten?"
Shige sighs. "I'm not very hungry."
Ryo frowns. "What's up with you?"
Shige doesn't answer.
"Hey. Don't be like that."
Shige slouches in his chair.
"You can tell me."
"I don't want to talk about it," Shige finally says.
"... Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Ryo doesn't say anything on the matter after that, but Shige can't help but think he looks a little sad.
-- -- --
The next day, he goes to work at noon with Nakagawa, and they're both very quiet. The usual banter between them non-existent, and Nakagawa is especially short with the models. Shige doesn't mind that Nakagawa is putting work first - they're on a schedule and it's not like the problem with the tuition is going anywhere. When they've finished packing everything into the back of Nakagawa's car, he drives Shige to the station and hands him the paycheck for the day.
"I'm sorry, Katou-kun," he says, and Shige knows what that means.
I talked with the office, but they don't have any records of receiving it. So, technically, the tuition hasn't been paid. And it's not like I can afford to cut you a new check worth 700,000 yen. I'm sorry, Katou-kun. I really am.
So, Shige smiles, takes the check and gets out of the car.
-- -- --
At 9:30pm, he gets a call.
"Shige, where are you?"
"My apartment."
"... Why?"
"Because."
Ryo makes a weird half-growl sort of noise. "What's wrong? Tell me!"
Shige shakes his head, even though Ryo can't see it. "I don't want to bother you with it."
Ryo swears and hangs up.
-- -- --
Shige's staring at the tuition invoice and checkbook, both laid out next to each other and he has an incredible sense of deja-vu. And then he laughs a little to himself, remembering being in this same situation a while back and what it led him to do. Shige lets himself fall over, in an almost defeated manner. It's not like he wants to. And Shige racks his brain, thinking of plausible alternatives.
-- -- --
An hour later, Shige opens the door to his apartment, and is met by Ryo, arm hanging in mid-air, just about to knock. He takes one look at Shige - eyes dark and sad - and his surprised expression turns to one of pure anger. He shoves Shige's shoulder, hard, pushing him back into the apartment. Shige trips on a shoe and falls backwards, landing on the floor. Ryo steps inside, closing the door behind him.
Ryo doesn't say anything, just keeps looking at Shige with the most hateful, unbelieving eyes. And Shige looks right back at him, not breaking the contact for anything. He swallows and Ryo watches his Adam's apple bob.
"What are you doing, Shige?" Ryo says, voice rough.
Shige shudders. "Ryo, I-"
"Shut up." And Ryo takes a step closer to Shige.
For the first time in what he thinks is ever, Shige is actually a little frightened of Ryo. Sure, he's easily provoked into anger, but it never seems serious. That at any moment, Ryo will snap back to being Ryo. But this time, Shige's not so sure it will be that easy. Shige scoots back a little, his heart starts pounding and now that Ryo is before him, he can't figure out what he'd been thinking and why he'd thought it would be a good idea.
Ryo kneels down, grabbing Shige's foot to keep him from moving any further away. He follows the line of Shige body all the up, until he cups Shige's face loosely. He runs the pad of his thumb along Shige's lower eyelid and it comes back black, the neat line around Shige's eye smeared.
"What is this?"
Shige opens his mouth, but his throat is suddenly dry, and no sound comes out.
"Where were you going?"
His throat tightens up even more, thinking about how he was going to go do that. That he was going to do that and make the relationship he and Ryo had worked so hard to make work suffer.
Ryo's hand moves to the back of Shige's head, fingers loose in his hair. "Answer me."
"I'm sorry," Shige chokes out.
Ryo stares hard at him.
Shige reaches over and grabs the invoice, still lying on the floor, and hands it to Ryo. He takes it, looks over the paper, and then crumples it up into a ball and throws it over his shoulder.
"It-it's a lot of money, and I-"
Ryo hand tightens, and Shige winces. "Not an excuse. Why didn't you tell me?"
Shige looks away. "It's my problem. Not yours."
"It becomes my problem." Ryo's hand moves, forcing Shige to look back at him. "When you start doing stupid shit like this."
Shige doesn't answer.
Ryo's hand loosens, lightly rubbing Shige's scalp. "I can't believe you."
He stands up, going into the bathroom and coming back with a damp hand towel. Ryo sits back down on the floor, holding Shige's jaw in one hand, and with the other, carefully running a corner of the towel along Shige's eyelids. It hurts a little, but Shige doesn't say anything. When he's done, Ryo throws the towel back into the bathroom.
"Were you really going to...?"
Ryo doesn't have to finish the sentence for Shige to know what he was going to ask. And Shige finds that he can't bring himself to look Ryo in the eye.
"What other choice do I have?"
"Let me pay it," Ryo says quietly, and Shige almost doesn't hear it.
"No."
Ryo places a hand on Shige's knee and squeezes. "I know you don't want to be kept. I know that. And I'm not trying to force you into anything. But... rely on me. Let me help you."
Shige frowns and doesn't answer.
"You're always so hard on yourself. Making things more difficult than they need to be. For now, let me help you."
Shige puts his face in his hands and curls up into himself. Ryo lets him wallow for a few minutes, before he pulls Shige up, slips a light coat over him, and leads him out of the little apartment.
-- -- --
When they arrive at Ryo's apartment, Shige heads straight for the shower, locking the bathroom door behind him. Ryo sighs, and turns on the TV.
45 minutes later, Shige finally comes out, skin bright red - Ryo isn't sure if it's from the heat or Shige's scrubbing - and eyes blood-shot. He trudges slowly to the bedroom, closing the door behind him while he gets dressed. From the couch, Ryo frowns. When he goes to take his own shower, Shige climbs into bed and hugs Ryo's pillow while he waits.
When Ryo is done, and goes into the bedroom, dressed only in boxer-briefs, water dripping down his back, Shige is still awake, looking very small in the king-size bed. Ryo slips on a pair of sweatpants before pulling back the blankets and getting in bed.
"Can I have my pillow?"
Shige blinks. "I'm sorry."
"I know." Ryo tugs on the corner of his pillow, Shige lets go and Ryo pulls it away, fluffing it before laying it under his head.
"Tomorrow I'll go to the Financial Office at your school."
Shige sits up. "Ryo-"
"Consider it an interest-free loan."
Shige lays back down. "I'm sorry."
"You've said that already." And Ryo cracks his neck.
"I'm abnormal. It must be a lot of work putting up with me."
"Shige-"
"You're busy enough as it is, and I'm-"
"Shige," Ryo says, leaning over the other, effectively silencing him.
"I'm-"
"Stop." And Ryo leans down, kissing Shige lightly, barely any pressure. "Rely on me," Ryo says against his lips. "Don't shut me out."
"Okay," Shige replies, running a hand up Ryo's arm.
Ryo kisses Shige again and then sits back. "I know I said I wouldn't bother you about this again, but I want you to move in. Actually move in."
Shige's still before he says, "I'll think about it."
-- -- --
Ryo is true to his word. The next day, he does go into the Financial Office, because when he runs into Ota in the hallway again, the professor thanks Shige for taking care of the problem so quickly. Shige fidgets in the hallway while talking, before Ota walks away.
Shige looks at his finances that night.
700,000 yen in debt to Ryo. 155,000 yen monthly salary from Nakagawa. 60,000 yen a month for rent. 58,000 yen a month paid directly to the Financial Office for the rest of the tuition he hasn't paid yet. Assuming no other expenses, that only leaves 37,000 yen a month with which to pay off the debt to Ryo.
Shige closes his checkbook and flops down on the floor.
-- -- --
A week later, Ryo is craving hotpot, so he drags Shige out. Of course, it's to one of the really nice restaurants in Shibuya, where each table has its own room and there are no prices on the menu. Ryo swishes the food around in the pot, sipping the beer in his other hand, Shige watches, zoning out a little bit.
"Ok," he finally says.
Ryo doesn't look up. "The beef isn't cooked yet. You'll get sick."
Shige gnaws at the inside of his lip and reaches for his beer.
-- -- --
Another week later - only one more until summer break - Shige lets himself into Ryo's apartment, and goes straight into the living room where he can hear Ryo talking on the phone. Shige sits down on the other end of the couch, picks up a book from the coffee table and reads until Ryo is done with his conversation.
"Welcome back," Ryo finally says. "So what are your plans for the break?"
Shige puts the book down, not bothering to mark where he was on the page. He reaches into his coat pocket and holds an envelope out to Ryo. He regards it and Shige for a minute before gingerly taking it from Shige's grasp. Ryo tosses it onto the coffee table and moves his attention right back to Shige.
"What is it?"
Shige exhales. "I thought about what you said."
Ryo cocks his head. "About what?"
"About me and- and the apartment."
Ryo is suddenly very close, next to Shige, holding Shige's knee, breathing shallower than normal. "Yeah?"
Shige swallows and the word feels heavy coming up this throat, weighing down his tongue for a long moment before he's finally able to say it again: "Ok."
Ryo is still, before he breaks into a wide smile and hugs Shige around the middle, pressing his face into the other's neck.
-- -- --
The next day, after he gets out of class, Shige goes and gives his landlord 30 days notice. The old man grumbles and complains after having to fill the apartment and dealing with some new resident, but it's not like Shige cares very much. He goes up to his apartment and starts sorting things into piles and figuring out what he can throw out before he moves. When that's all done, lacking boxes with which to pack his items, Shige goes for a walk. In front of a small playground, Shige stops, sits down on a bench and pulls out his phone.
Ring. Ring. R-
"Hello. Katou residence."
Shige laughs. "It's me, Mom."
"Oh, honey! I didn't even look at the caller ID! How are you? It's almost summer break! Are you making any plans? You should come for a little, even just a few days, it would be so nice to have you-"
"Um, Mom?"
"Yes, dear?"
Shige chokes for a second. "I'm moving out of my apartment."
"...What? Why?"
"Well, a friend of mine... is looking for a roommate and-"
"Is the rent less?"
"... It's the same."- Actually, he and Ryo hadn't even discussed that part yet.
"I just. Oh, this is so sudden!"
"Sorry." Shige kicks a pebble.
"Why the move, darling?"
"Where I am now..." Even though he's barely there anymore as it is. "I hate it. Yes, it's close to campus, but the landlord doesn't keep up the property and the other residents are rude and-"
"What is your friend's name?"
Shige stills on the bench. "Er."
"...Is it Nishikido-kun?"
He swallows, and quietly says, "Yes."
"But he seems like the sort of young man who would have a very expensive apartment."
"Yeah." Shige fists a hand in his jeans, and then smooths out the wrinkles. "But he's. I think. It's big and-"
"Is he lonely?"
"... I think so."
Shige's mother is quiet for a long moment and Shige starts wondering what his parents are going to think about all this.
"Well, I don't think it'll be any problem."
"Eh?" Shige perks up.
"We won't worry, since we know Nishikido-kun is a good person. And if the rent's the same and he's letting you stay in a better neighborhood, there isn't much of a problem, is there?"
Shige exhales and smiles. "No, I suppose not."
-- -- --
Ryo is excited about Shige truly moving in, and he happily volunteers to help Shige pack up his stuff and bring it over and unpack, and then fold up all the boxes and recycle them. Tell his landlord and the security guard about the new resident and fill out Shige's change-of-address form, and all the other little irritating things that are involved with moving.
Shige's a bit more nervous about the whole thing. He has to learn the bus lines around Ryo's - ... and soon his - apartment more thoroughly, along with all the back roads. Figure out where in the closet he's going to put his clothes, since Ryo's already take up the entire space, and that in the dresser. Make room in Ryo's bathroom for his few necessary items and clean out the fridge, since it's going to now need to comfortably fit the food required for two young men.
And when the day finally comes, Ryo is somehow able to weasel his way into getting the day off. He convinces Shige mother that, "No, no, it's fine. My car has a big trunk, so there's no need to come help us. I'll take good care of your son! Don't worry!" The security guard is nice and holds the door open, not commenting on the fact that Ryo lives in a one-bedroom apartment and he suddenly has a new roommate. When the landlord comes to introduce himself, he brings a fruit basket and a highly detailed map of the area, which Shige is especially appreciative of.
Unpacking doesn't take very long, but it's tiring nevertheless and Shige ends up crashing early, on the couch, while Ryo watches Utaban and berates KAT-TUN for being stupid, even though they can't hear him. When the show is finished, he looks over, finally noticing that Shige is asleep, slouching, barely still sitting. Ryo laughs and it wakes Shige up. He yawns, stretches, blinks and then looks at the clock.
"You might as well just go to bed."
Shige nods and stumbles up, meandering into the bathroom to brush his teeth. Ryo fiddles with his phone for a second before going to the kitchen and setting up the coffee for tomorrow morning that both of them will need. He hears Shige walk into the bedroom and flop down on the bed. Ryo switches off the kitchen and living room lights, brushes his teeth too, and laughs again, when he sees Shige still completely dressed, laying on his back on top of the duvet.
Ryo crawls on top of him, legs straddling Shige's thigh. "You'll be uncomfortable if you sleep in jeans."
Shige doesn't reply, but he moves his hand, placing it on Ryo's waist.
Leaning down, Ryo kisses Shige's collarbone through his shirt, and then sits back, unbuckling Shige's belt and zipper, tugging the jeans down Shige's hip.
"Don't be so rough," Shige mutters, seeming mostly asleep.
"Then give me a hand with this."
Shige doesn't reply, but he lifts his hips up a little bit and Ryo tosses his jeans towards the far-side of the room. He rolls off the bed, devesting himself of his clothes and slipping on a pair of sweats before turning back to Shige.
"You know what this situation usually warrants?"
Shige grunts and rolls over, away from where Ryo is standing near the dresser.
"Moving-in sex."
Shige slowly rolls back towards Ryo, regarding him.
"But I know you're tired."
Shige blinks and yawns. "You're actually going to let that stop you?"
Ryo cocks his head, contemplating Shige's words before smiling and rejoining Shige on the bed, the same position as previously. He runs his hands up the sides of Shige's torso, and brushes his lips across Shige's cheek and jaw, before kissing him, so softly, and then leaning back, forcing Shige to lean forwards and follow the kiss. After that though, Ryo lets Shige fall back and lounge on the duvet, only half-awake, while he continues kissing Shige.
Shige's hands are haphazardly placed on Ryo's body, barely moving, mostly just wanting the contact. But after a few minutes, he tugs at Ryo's arm, and he follow Shige's silent directions, moving off Shige somewhat and lying down, properly, next to him. Shige rolls over, arm across Ryo's stomach and head on his shoulder, before he completely passes out from the day's exhaustion.
-- -- --
Something a little new-ish!
I put my name on the The Anonymous Feedback Meme, so if there's anything you want to say and want to be Anon about it - go for it! Feel free to be harsh. Criticism is how we grow ♥