look, a fanfic
Title: Non so perche
Author: duh. me, who else
Pairing: ryoda
Genre: you know those Japanese movies about nothing in particular?..
Rating: PG-13, just to be safe
Dedicated to: harukazepanda for helping me not to throw it away half-written, giving me prompts to let it continue, drawing lots for some events and people mentioned, and generally telling me to write something for some time already
Author's note: I don't particularly like how it turned out to follow well-known schematics so much, but then again, if it was totally hopeless, I wouldn't publish it. just don't expect to be surprised and it should be alright
Originally inspired by: Non So Perche by Milky
"Come pick me up" the voice in the receiver said. Ueda picked up without checking the caller ID, but he knew perfectly well who it was. Even though the voice was distorted by poor reception the caller had underground, and the fact there was realizable noise around him.
"Do you realize what time it is?" he asked slowly.
"What do you mean?" the voice got impatient "it's 8 pm! Don't tell me you were sleeping at 8pm on a freaking Friday!"
"Exactly" Tatsuya repeated. "It's 8 pm on a freaking Friday" he paused, waiting for the news to hopefully sink in, but after a few seconds of silence from the other side he gave up "and you want me of all people to come and pick you up from... presumably... still Shinjuku Station?"
"Well yeah, what's wrong with that?!" there was absolutely no understanding from the caller.
"And I suppose I would have to get off my car and find you there?.." he risked one more suggestion, hoping the other guy would take the hint. Futile.
"Of course, I wouldn't call you if I knew where the hell I was!" the other one sounded like he was about to lose it.
"Figures..." Ueda sighed. How did it happen again that he was even having relations with that idiot? Oh right, that idiot had saved his life. It was a very stupid story Tatsuya would rather forget once and for all, but that guy would never let him. "Just to make things clear, if any of the pictures that surface after tonight, and there will undoubtedly be many, are accompanied by a sensational story of you and me hitting Kabukicho together, rest assured I will deny I have ever seen you after, and outside of Shounen Club".
"You've seen me at Countdowns" the other suddenly decided to act smart.
"Yes, Ryo, I have. But somehow I still believe deep down you get my point. Am I wrong?" he made another pause, but this time only for the effect, and only short enough for the other to process what he said. He wasn't going to risk getting an actual answer. "Now, where are you. Describe the place"
***
Nishikido Ryo didn't like the way he was treated. Given the circumstances it was obvious that Ueda had to come pick him up, he lived close, and he had an un-payable debt that he had to pay anyway, to Ryo. Yet still he managed to make it all sound like he was going so far out of his way, and even made an idiot out of Ryo. Ryo wasn't completely sure on what ground, but he knew the feeling, he was getting that a lot, only usually it was from people who actually WERE smarter than him, and mostly had diplomas to prove it.
He was sipping a double moccha in a coffee shop somewhere between Odakyu line entrance and the walkway to wherever. Shinjuku was the worst station ever, about two times bigger than any single train station should get. Ryo remembered the miles he walked around trying to find the right train line after getting off of Shinkansen and decided to make that three times bigger. There were simply too many signs pointing in too many directions, and too many people were walking way too fast, making it impossible to stop every two minutes, in order to check if he was still supposed to go straight, or maybe turn somewhere in the middle of the huge hall. It was only natural that a person who didn't know the place would get lost there. Yes, only natural. And where was Ueda by the way? He should have been here already, like, 30 minutes ago. That damn princess.
Just as Nishikido thought of that, his cell phone rung, and sure enough, it was 'that damn princess' himself.
"Get outside" he commandeered "I don't care where, I'll find you, just go above the ground"
"Do you fear being seen with me this much?" Nishikido knew the drill, but it still annoyed him when Ueda was acting like he was some kind of a taboo persona.
"For God's sake, Nishikido! Go outside and I'll pick you up in ten minutes, stay where you are and you'll be there for at least an hour more before I find free parking space. Clear enough?"
It was clear and logical, Ryo had to admit. He didn't like it how Ueda managed to avoid answering his question though. But that wasn't important at the moment, what counted was that Ryo was about to get his ride.
***
"Took you long enough" he mumbled while fastening the seat belt. He wasn't looking at Ueda, he didn't want to see his face. Ueda hardly ever wore his plastic smile in front of Nishikido, and that was actually alright, because Ryo didn't like that fake grimace a pro, in his opinion, should be ashamed of, but he also didn't like what he was getting instead.
"I was at my parents'" Tatsuya answered, his voice derived of any emotion. Ryo suddenly felt a bit guilty about calling him all the way up to Shinjuku.
"In that case, you were very fast" he said and added with a smirk "you had to break all the traffic rules just to see me sooner?"
"I know where to go" with a corner of his eye Ryo realized Tatsuya was focused on the road, and didn't pay much attention to him at all "to avoid high traffic... so, where to?"
"Your place" Nishikido closed his eyes and sat back.
"WHUT?!"
...and smiled, hearing Ueda's consternation. Much better. You don't ignore Nishikido Ryo.
"You don't want to be seen around with me, do you?" Nishikido continued his little game. "Then your place is ideal. You're the most boring johnny's boy ever debuted, there sure as hell are going to be no paparazzi waiting at your door."
He reached to his pocket, satisfied with that little remark he managed to squeeze in. Revenge for treating him like an idiot.
"I will kill you" Ueda informed him calmly.
"For calling you boring?" Ryo asked with an innocent voice.
"For smoking in my car" an equally innocent answer came. Nishikido slowly removed his hand from the pocket, empty. It was a known secret that Ueda was mildly obsessed with his car. One shouldn't risk checking how far it went, at least not while Ueda himself was driving.
"I need a smoke to calm my wrecked nerves" he said, just not to let the other have the last word. Ueda didn't care to answer.
***
Nishikido was childish, stupid, annoying, stubborn, demanding, Ueda could go on adding not-so-flattering adjectives describing the guy for hours. However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't hate the guy. Not anymore anyway. It must have had something to do with the fact that after all, Nishikido never told anyone about the accident.
It would have been the most embarrassing event of his life if people found out. There was that one time back in his junior years when he forgot a towel and only realized that after taking shower. Since there was nobody else around, Ueda found a hairdryer in his bag, plugged it in and started drying himself, proud of his genius idea. Unfortunately he slipped on the remnants of his own conditioner, the still active hairdryer fell out of his hand and hit the shower floor, which was one big water pool. The only thing that saved Ueda from sure death was that Nishikido, who had just entered the shower room, pulled the plug. Well, actually more like tripped over it, but it didn't matter, Ueda was safe and sound, and only a little bit electrocuted. Plus, even though they were sworn enemies at that time, Nishikido kept silent about the whole incident. However, since then he would call from time to time with a ridiculous request to get him something, or give him a ride, or check something for him. Mostly stuff he could have easily gotten done himself, or by his actual friends, or by people who were paid to help him.
Tatsuya looked briefly at his passenger.
It was hard for him to understand Nishikido.
Tatsuya had never had an exactly perky personality, he mostly put up an act for cameras, and very few of his co-workers would actively seek his companionship after work. Kazuya and Tsubasa were exceptions, but for that there were special reasons that didn't extend to a guy like Nishikido. Nishikido was a player and normally, on a Friday night off, he should have been playing. Drinking. Seducing models, biting fangirls, hitting people with umbrellas, that stuff.
"Where are we going?" Nishikido's voice interrupted his thoughts when they got on the highway, clearly leaving Shinjuku.
"To Yamashita's"
"He won't let me in. We had a fight"
"Koyama's?"
"You know where he lives?"
"I suppose you do?"
"You know, I have my own place in Tokyo if I only wanted to go to sleep somewhere."
"Oh... and what is it that you want?" Tatsuya was glad he got a chance to ask that question.
"Let's see..." Ryo sat back in the car seat, closed his eyes and relaxed. "You had PSX?"
"You don't strike me as the type that plays video games on Friday night..." Tatsuya said, but he turned left the first chance given and got out of the highway, to drive back to Shinjuku.
"Because I'm more of the type that bites people and throws umbrellas at them?" Ryo suggested.
"I didn't say that"
"You thought that"
"Oh... shut up"
Ryo laughed out loud, but then he didn't say anything anymore and for a while, they both simply enjoyed the ride.
Ueda's place wasn't big, but it was a cool penthouse apartment with huge windows that provided a great night view. Tatsuya brought beer and plugged in the console.
"Here, knock yourself out" he said, handing Nishikido the control device.
"What about you, aren't you gonna play?"
"I have training to catch up on" saying this, he left Ryo alone, and soon from the other room there came the sound of some machine. Ryo leaned back to take a look through the opened door and saw Tatsuya jogging on an automated track with earphones in his ears, totally ignoring his guest.
"Rude" he thought to himself, not so much because he really expected Tatsuya to play games with him, but still, he wanted some more attention as a guest. He wasn't sure why.
Right when he run out of beer and started getting seriously sucked up into the virtual world of the game he chose to play, which was roughly about 30 minutes later, something unexpected occurred. The TV screen blinked and went dark along with all the LEDs on the PSX machine. It took Ryo a long moment to realize rather than him somehow damaging Tatsuya's equipment, said machines were derived of electricity. So was the whole flat, all the lights went down and the only reason Ryo could know his hand from the empty beer can was for the night lights of Shinjuku coming in through those enormous windows. The sound of Tatsuya's running track also disappeared, and in a few seconds the host emerged from his bedroom, mumbling some curses in undertone.
"What happened?" Ryo asked "there was power saving scheduled for tonight?"
"There's no power saving outages for metropolitan area, dummy" Tatsuya answered, and directed himself to the kitchen. He kicked something on the way, apparently unwillingly, or at least that one louder curse that left his mouth would indicate so. Soon Ryo heard the guy going over the cupboards.
"Looking for something?"
"No, I'm playing hide and seek with myself" the sarcasm wasn't necessary, really, Ryo was simply trying to keep the conversation going. He was about to voice that remark, but Tatsuya was already back at the door, waving some paper at him.
"I forgot to pay the bill again" he said "Do you want me to take you home after all?"
Ueda probably couldn't see it, because Ryo was sitting against the window, but the latter smiled, for whatever reason feeling satisfied.
"No. It actually has just gotten interesting. Get some more booze and come over here with your guitar. Do you have any candles? You do, you're still you, you've got to have candles."
There was a moment of silence.
"So..." Ueda said slowly "your idea of spending tonight is to sit on the floor, drink beer and play guitar in candlelight?.. You're not mistaking me for a teenage fan of yours are you?.."
Nishikido laughed out loud. He fell on his back and kept laughing for so long that his stomach started to hurt. He only shut up when Ueda dropped an ice-cold can of beer on his chest.
"Ouch" he let it out in a rather informative than hurt manner, and sat up finally. "So, anybody else up for kicking Arashi's butt in next Oricon?"
"Well, if that's how you put it..." Tatsuya sat down on the carpet facing the window and, at the same time, the black silhouette of Nishikido. He had his guitar with him, and started tuning it as soon as he was seated.
"There's another one behind you right under the windowsill" - he said - "it's probably way out of tune though, it's Kame's."
"No way, I would not touch a thing he touched!"
"Since when are you at odds with Kazuya?" Ueda was surprised. "Besides, you do touch Yamashita on occasion, don't you? I can assure you Kazuya touched that guitar much less than he did your leader."
Somehow, it didn't sound right in Nishikido's ears. Was the air pressure in that room going up?..
"Not asking..."
"I wouldn't tell you anyway. We gay johnny's only confide in each other."
Ryo was about to be shocked, but then remembered there was no reason to. He shrugged and opened his beer.
"Argument invalid. Show me a johnny who never did it with a guy."
"Wrong variable. Show me a johnny who never did it with a girl."
For a moment, Ryo kept silent. He remembered it's been awfully long since he last had a smoke, cause Ueda wouldn't allow it inside his apartment either. He very much needed a cigarette at that very moment. He did get shocked after all.
"You... never?" he asked rather stupidly, as given what Tatsuya had just said it was obvious. He forgot all about Kame's guitar and moved to sit right next to Tatsuya, to see his face clearly.
"Never" Tatsuya confirmed and took a sip from his own can, before putting it on the table and going back to tunning.
"Seriously?" it was still a bit hard to believe. That guy was an idol after all, and no matter how gay he had always been, surely he would have had to be at least curious, at least once!
"Seriously, vagina dentata. How do you think I maintain such a clear file with all the paparazzi running around us all the time?"
"Well... you're boring"
Ueda sighed and laughed a little. He hit the chord and it finally sounded right.
"Thank you, Nishikido, what would I do without you to explain this world to me..."
"No, I mean..." Ryo felt stupid "they caught Kamenashi in gay district, and kissing trannies and so on, but you... you just don't do that, do you? You have a boyfriend?"
Ueda smiled a little bit viciously.
"I might tell you if you tell me who was it for you..."
Ryo gave him a puzzled look. How did he...
"Show me a johnny who didn't do it with a guy?.." Ueda cited his recent revelation.
Nishikido swallowed. Right, of course. He drunk half the can of that beer cursing himself for being so obvious, but still couldn't find enough courage to answer Ueda's question.
"That's... well... it was very long ago..."
Ueda put his guitar away and focused his gaze on Nishikido's face. That night might have been going in an interesting direction after all. Meanwhile, Ryo finished his beer.
"Alright, it was Yoko! Satisfied?"
After a moment he probably needed to cope with the idea, Ueda put his arm around Ryo's shoulder and gave him a brotherly hug.
"I'll bring you another beer" he offered.
When he got back, Ryo was playing some blues on Tatsuya's guitar. Tatsuya was about to tell him off, but decided it wasn't worth it, put a can in front of Ryo, and reached for Kame's guitar himself. It took some time to tune it properly, but by the time he was finished, he already had some lyrics to go with Nishikido's chords.
Even though it was an improvised song, probably not related to their prior conversation one bit, Ryo felt like he got the answer to his question as well. All the answers. He reacted with getting the song tempo up, and adding a counterpoint measure.
***
The dawn found two young men sleeping on the floor, partially on guitars, but in most part on each other. There were several too many empty cans of beer around them.
Ryo opened his eyes only to see Tatsuya's face on his chest. He felt a bit weird, with his usual morning physiology about to manifest under the weight of another male. But maybe it was just that, physiology. More importantly, he didn't remember a word, nor a chord of that hit song they created last night. Maybe Ueda would, when he woke up.
Ueda raised his head as if he heard Ryo's thoughts. He looked at him with narrow, sleepy eyes and smiled through the bangs that were all over his face. Ryo smiled back mindlessly.
"Something tells me" Tatsuya mumbled "you want me to show you those few things Yokoyama forgot to mention. The good ones"
Normally, when asked something like that, Ryo would hit the guy and run away. But, be it some alcohol still circulating his system, or anything else he didn't want to think about at all, the idea didn't seem bad at that particular moment.
In the dim light of the very early morning, a guitar string vibrated for a long while after someone struck it vigorously by accident. The sound echoed in the living room of a penthouse apartment at the top of one of the many skyscrapers in Shinjuku.
It knew all the answers.
Author: duh. me, who else
Pairing: ryoda
Genre: you know those Japanese movies about nothing in particular?..
Rating: PG-13, just to be safe
Dedicated to: harukazepanda for helping me not to throw it away half-written, giving me prompts to let it continue, drawing lots for some events and people mentioned, and generally telling me to write something for some time already
Author's note: I don't particularly like how it turned out to follow well-known schematics so much, but then again, if it was totally hopeless, I wouldn't publish it. just don't expect to be surprised and it should be alright
Originally inspired by: Non So Perche by Milky
"Come pick me up" the voice in the receiver said. Ueda picked up without checking the caller ID, but he knew perfectly well who it was. Even though the voice was distorted by poor reception the caller had underground, and the fact there was realizable noise around him.
"Do you realize what time it is?" he asked slowly.
"What do you mean?" the voice got impatient "it's 8 pm! Don't tell me you were sleeping at 8pm on a freaking Friday!"
"Exactly" Tatsuya repeated. "It's 8 pm on a freaking Friday" he paused, waiting for the news to hopefully sink in, but after a few seconds of silence from the other side he gave up "and you want me of all people to come and pick you up from... presumably... still Shinjuku Station?"
"Well yeah, what's wrong with that?!" there was absolutely no understanding from the caller.
"And I suppose I would have to get off my car and find you there?.." he risked one more suggestion, hoping the other guy would take the hint. Futile.
"Of course, I wouldn't call you if I knew where the hell I was!" the other one sounded like he was about to lose it.
"Figures..." Ueda sighed. How did it happen again that he was even having relations with that idiot? Oh right, that idiot had saved his life. It was a very stupid story Tatsuya would rather forget once and for all, but that guy would never let him. "Just to make things clear, if any of the pictures that surface after tonight, and there will undoubtedly be many, are accompanied by a sensational story of you and me hitting Kabukicho together, rest assured I will deny I have ever seen you after, and outside of Shounen Club".
"You've seen me at Countdowns" the other suddenly decided to act smart.
"Yes, Ryo, I have. But somehow I still believe deep down you get my point. Am I wrong?" he made another pause, but this time only for the effect, and only short enough for the other to process what he said. He wasn't going to risk getting an actual answer. "Now, where are you. Describe the place"
***
Nishikido Ryo didn't like the way he was treated. Given the circumstances it was obvious that Ueda had to come pick him up, he lived close, and he had an un-payable debt that he had to pay anyway, to Ryo. Yet still he managed to make it all sound like he was going so far out of his way, and even made an idiot out of Ryo. Ryo wasn't completely sure on what ground, but he knew the feeling, he was getting that a lot, only usually it was from people who actually WERE smarter than him, and mostly had diplomas to prove it.
He was sipping a double moccha in a coffee shop somewhere between Odakyu line entrance and the walkway to wherever. Shinjuku was the worst station ever, about two times bigger than any single train station should get. Ryo remembered the miles he walked around trying to find the right train line after getting off of Shinkansen and decided to make that three times bigger. There were simply too many signs pointing in too many directions, and too many people were walking way too fast, making it impossible to stop every two minutes, in order to check if he was still supposed to go straight, or maybe turn somewhere in the middle of the huge hall. It was only natural that a person who didn't know the place would get lost there. Yes, only natural. And where was Ueda by the way? He should have been here already, like, 30 minutes ago. That damn princess.
Just as Nishikido thought of that, his cell phone rung, and sure enough, it was 'that damn princess' himself.
"Get outside" he commandeered "I don't care where, I'll find you, just go above the ground"
"Do you fear being seen with me this much?" Nishikido knew the drill, but it still annoyed him when Ueda was acting like he was some kind of a taboo persona.
"For God's sake, Nishikido! Go outside and I'll pick you up in ten minutes, stay where you are and you'll be there for at least an hour more before I find free parking space. Clear enough?"
It was clear and logical, Ryo had to admit. He didn't like it how Ueda managed to avoid answering his question though. But that wasn't important at the moment, what counted was that Ryo was about to get his ride.
***
"Took you long enough" he mumbled while fastening the seat belt. He wasn't looking at Ueda, he didn't want to see his face. Ueda hardly ever wore his plastic smile in front of Nishikido, and that was actually alright, because Ryo didn't like that fake grimace a pro, in his opinion, should be ashamed of, but he also didn't like what he was getting instead.
"I was at my parents'" Tatsuya answered, his voice derived of any emotion. Ryo suddenly felt a bit guilty about calling him all the way up to Shinjuku.
"In that case, you were very fast" he said and added with a smirk "you had to break all the traffic rules just to see me sooner?"
"I know where to go" with a corner of his eye Ryo realized Tatsuya was focused on the road, and didn't pay much attention to him at all "to avoid high traffic... so, where to?"
"Your place" Nishikido closed his eyes and sat back.
"WHUT?!"
...and smiled, hearing Ueda's consternation. Much better. You don't ignore Nishikido Ryo.
"You don't want to be seen around with me, do you?" Nishikido continued his little game. "Then your place is ideal. You're the most boring johnny's boy ever debuted, there sure as hell are going to be no paparazzi waiting at your door."
He reached to his pocket, satisfied with that little remark he managed to squeeze in. Revenge for treating him like an idiot.
"I will kill you" Ueda informed him calmly.
"For calling you boring?" Ryo asked with an innocent voice.
"For smoking in my car" an equally innocent answer came. Nishikido slowly removed his hand from the pocket, empty. It was a known secret that Ueda was mildly obsessed with his car. One shouldn't risk checking how far it went, at least not while Ueda himself was driving.
"I need a smoke to calm my wrecked nerves" he said, just not to let the other have the last word. Ueda didn't care to answer.
***
Nishikido was childish, stupid, annoying, stubborn, demanding, Ueda could go on adding not-so-flattering adjectives describing the guy for hours. However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't hate the guy. Not anymore anyway. It must have had something to do with the fact that after all, Nishikido never told anyone about the accident.
It would have been the most embarrassing event of his life if people found out. There was that one time back in his junior years when he forgot a towel and only realized that after taking shower. Since there was nobody else around, Ueda found a hairdryer in his bag, plugged it in and started drying himself, proud of his genius idea. Unfortunately he slipped on the remnants of his own conditioner, the still active hairdryer fell out of his hand and hit the shower floor, which was one big water pool. The only thing that saved Ueda from sure death was that Nishikido, who had just entered the shower room, pulled the plug. Well, actually more like tripped over it, but it didn't matter, Ueda was safe and sound, and only a little bit electrocuted. Plus, even though they were sworn enemies at that time, Nishikido kept silent about the whole incident. However, since then he would call from time to time with a ridiculous request to get him something, or give him a ride, or check something for him. Mostly stuff he could have easily gotten done himself, or by his actual friends, or by people who were paid to help him.
Tatsuya looked briefly at his passenger.
It was hard for him to understand Nishikido.
Tatsuya had never had an exactly perky personality, he mostly put up an act for cameras, and very few of his co-workers would actively seek his companionship after work. Kazuya and Tsubasa were exceptions, but for that there were special reasons that didn't extend to a guy like Nishikido. Nishikido was a player and normally, on a Friday night off, he should have been playing. Drinking. Seducing models, biting fangirls, hitting people with umbrellas, that stuff.
"Where are we going?" Nishikido's voice interrupted his thoughts when they got on the highway, clearly leaving Shinjuku.
"To Yamashita's"
"He won't let me in. We had a fight"
"Koyama's?"
"You know where he lives?"
"I suppose you do?"
"You know, I have my own place in Tokyo if I only wanted to go to sleep somewhere."
"Oh... and what is it that you want?" Tatsuya was glad he got a chance to ask that question.
"Let's see..." Ryo sat back in the car seat, closed his eyes and relaxed. "You had PSX?"
"You don't strike me as the type that plays video games on Friday night..." Tatsuya said, but he turned left the first chance given and got out of the highway, to drive back to Shinjuku.
"Because I'm more of the type that bites people and throws umbrellas at them?" Ryo suggested.
"I didn't say that"
"You thought that"
"Oh... shut up"
Ryo laughed out loud, but then he didn't say anything anymore and for a while, they both simply enjoyed the ride.
Ueda's place wasn't big, but it was a cool penthouse apartment with huge windows that provided a great night view. Tatsuya brought beer and plugged in the console.
"Here, knock yourself out" he said, handing Nishikido the control device.
"What about you, aren't you gonna play?"
"I have training to catch up on" saying this, he left Ryo alone, and soon from the other room there came the sound of some machine. Ryo leaned back to take a look through the opened door and saw Tatsuya jogging on an automated track with earphones in his ears, totally ignoring his guest.
"Rude" he thought to himself, not so much because he really expected Tatsuya to play games with him, but still, he wanted some more attention as a guest. He wasn't sure why.
Right when he run out of beer and started getting seriously sucked up into the virtual world of the game he chose to play, which was roughly about 30 minutes later, something unexpected occurred. The TV screen blinked and went dark along with all the LEDs on the PSX machine. It took Ryo a long moment to realize rather than him somehow damaging Tatsuya's equipment, said machines were derived of electricity. So was the whole flat, all the lights went down and the only reason Ryo could know his hand from the empty beer can was for the night lights of Shinjuku coming in through those enormous windows. The sound of Tatsuya's running track also disappeared, and in a few seconds the host emerged from his bedroom, mumbling some curses in undertone.
"What happened?" Ryo asked "there was power saving scheduled for tonight?"
"There's no power saving outages for metropolitan area, dummy" Tatsuya answered, and directed himself to the kitchen. He kicked something on the way, apparently unwillingly, or at least that one louder curse that left his mouth would indicate so. Soon Ryo heard the guy going over the cupboards.
"Looking for something?"
"No, I'm playing hide and seek with myself" the sarcasm wasn't necessary, really, Ryo was simply trying to keep the conversation going. He was about to voice that remark, but Tatsuya was already back at the door, waving some paper at him.
"I forgot to pay the bill again" he said "Do you want me to take you home after all?"
Ueda probably couldn't see it, because Ryo was sitting against the window, but the latter smiled, for whatever reason feeling satisfied.
"No. It actually has just gotten interesting. Get some more booze and come over here with your guitar. Do you have any candles? You do, you're still you, you've got to have candles."
There was a moment of silence.
"So..." Ueda said slowly "your idea of spending tonight is to sit on the floor, drink beer and play guitar in candlelight?.. You're not mistaking me for a teenage fan of yours are you?.."
Nishikido laughed out loud. He fell on his back and kept laughing for so long that his stomach started to hurt. He only shut up when Ueda dropped an ice-cold can of beer on his chest.
"Ouch" he let it out in a rather informative than hurt manner, and sat up finally. "So, anybody else up for kicking Arashi's butt in next Oricon?"
"Well, if that's how you put it..." Tatsuya sat down on the carpet facing the window and, at the same time, the black silhouette of Nishikido. He had his guitar with him, and started tuning it as soon as he was seated.
"There's another one behind you right under the windowsill" - he said - "it's probably way out of tune though, it's Kame's."
"No way, I would not touch a thing he touched!"
"Since when are you at odds with Kazuya?" Ueda was surprised. "Besides, you do touch Yamashita on occasion, don't you? I can assure you Kazuya touched that guitar much less than he did your leader."
Somehow, it didn't sound right in Nishikido's ears. Was the air pressure in that room going up?..
"Not asking..."
"I wouldn't tell you anyway. We gay johnny's only confide in each other."
Ryo was about to be shocked, but then remembered there was no reason to. He shrugged and opened his beer.
"Argument invalid. Show me a johnny who never did it with a guy."
"Wrong variable. Show me a johnny who never did it with a girl."
For a moment, Ryo kept silent. He remembered it's been awfully long since he last had a smoke, cause Ueda wouldn't allow it inside his apartment either. He very much needed a cigarette at that very moment. He did get shocked after all.
"You... never?" he asked rather stupidly, as given what Tatsuya had just said it was obvious. He forgot all about Kame's guitar and moved to sit right next to Tatsuya, to see his face clearly.
"Never" Tatsuya confirmed and took a sip from his own can, before putting it on the table and going back to tunning.
"Seriously?" it was still a bit hard to believe. That guy was an idol after all, and no matter how gay he had always been, surely he would have had to be at least curious, at least once!
"Seriously, vagina dentata. How do you think I maintain such a clear file with all the paparazzi running around us all the time?"
"Well... you're boring"
Ueda sighed and laughed a little. He hit the chord and it finally sounded right.
"Thank you, Nishikido, what would I do without you to explain this world to me..."
"No, I mean..." Ryo felt stupid "they caught Kamenashi in gay district, and kissing trannies and so on, but you... you just don't do that, do you? You have a boyfriend?"
Ueda smiled a little bit viciously.
"I might tell you if you tell me who was it for you..."
Ryo gave him a puzzled look. How did he...
"Show me a johnny who didn't do it with a guy?.." Ueda cited his recent revelation.
Nishikido swallowed. Right, of course. He drunk half the can of that beer cursing himself for being so obvious, but still couldn't find enough courage to answer Ueda's question.
"That's... well... it was very long ago..."
Ueda put his guitar away and focused his gaze on Nishikido's face. That night might have been going in an interesting direction after all. Meanwhile, Ryo finished his beer.
"Alright, it was Yoko! Satisfied?"
After a moment he probably needed to cope with the idea, Ueda put his arm around Ryo's shoulder and gave him a brotherly hug.
"I'll bring you another beer" he offered.
When he got back, Ryo was playing some blues on Tatsuya's guitar. Tatsuya was about to tell him off, but decided it wasn't worth it, put a can in front of Ryo, and reached for Kame's guitar himself. It took some time to tune it properly, but by the time he was finished, he already had some lyrics to go with Nishikido's chords.
Even though it was an improvised song, probably not related to their prior conversation one bit, Ryo felt like he got the answer to his question as well. All the answers. He reacted with getting the song tempo up, and adding a counterpoint measure.
***
The dawn found two young men sleeping on the floor, partially on guitars, but in most part on each other. There were several too many empty cans of beer around them.
Ryo opened his eyes only to see Tatsuya's face on his chest. He felt a bit weird, with his usual morning physiology about to manifest under the weight of another male. But maybe it was just that, physiology. More importantly, he didn't remember a word, nor a chord of that hit song they created last night. Maybe Ueda would, when he woke up.
Ueda raised his head as if he heard Ryo's thoughts. He looked at him with narrow, sleepy eyes and smiled through the bangs that were all over his face. Ryo smiled back mindlessly.
"Something tells me" Tatsuya mumbled "you want me to show you those few things Yokoyama forgot to mention. The good ones"
Normally, when asked something like that, Ryo would hit the guy and run away. But, be it some alcohol still circulating his system, or anything else he didn't want to think about at all, the idea didn't seem bad at that particular moment.
In the dim light of the very early morning, a guitar string vibrated for a long while after someone struck it vigorously by accident. The sound echoed in the living room of a penthouse apartment at the top of one of the many skyscrapers in Shinjuku.
It knew all the answers.