[Pippa] That Shining Road
That Shining Road
PG or something; gen
Yamapi + Ueda friendship (main focus), Yamapi + Jin friendship, Yamapi + Kame friendship, everybody, fuck knows. For myxstorie, because we've now been friends for one year, and I literally would not be where I am today if it was not for her XD; Thank you for being you, V-suke. ♥
"Got put in a new unit this morning," Jin said as he flopped down next to Yamashita and grabbed the menu, flicking through it.
"Oh?" Yamapi looked up - he'd already decided what he was having - and raised his eyebrows in a way that indicated Jin should continue. "What for? Still dancing on PopJam, or..?"
Jin nodded. "Yeah, got made official. Tanaka Koki's in the group, and Nakamaru and Kamenashi too."
"The four of you are in a unit together?" Yamapi had already heard the full news from both Koki and Takizawa-senpai, but Jin would be sad if he wasn't the first to tell Pi. Yamapi didn't like it when Jin was sad.
"Nah, I'm stuck with Taguchi, too. I hope this shit isn't permanent. And there's that quiet blond one as well. You know, the weird one. Ueda."
Yamapi shrugged. "Don't hate them already, hey. Anyway, Koki's cool. What are you having?"
"Pasta," Jin announced. "Tagliatelle with ketchup."
"What? Do they even serve that here?" Yamapi scanned the menu again.
"They'll make it especially for me! I'm Akanishi Jin and I'm going to be the biggest star on the planet. And I'm Italian."
Yamapi snorted. "Okay. I'll get a burger."
::
"Please be ready in fifteen minutes."
The tension rose as the atmosphere moved from 'waiting' to 'preparing' when the announcement echoed throughout the backstage area. Ueda got to his feet, and glanced around for his hairbrush. It was at the end of the bench, amongst Jin's clutter, so he made his way along the edge of the KAT-TUN area. As he reached out to grab the brush, his hand brushed past Yamapi, who had been in and out of their area all morning. 'Sorry," he hastily apologised; Yamashita was still a senpai after all, even if Jin didn't treat him like one.
"It's fine." Yamapi glanced at Ueda, and then smiled a little, reassuringly. "Your hair looks cool like that."
Surprised eyes scanned Yamapi's face for a second, before dropping back down as Ueda ducked his head in silent thanks.
Yamapi picked up the brush and handed it to Ueda. "Let's do our best today. KAT-TUN have their own concert at the end of the year, don't you? Congratulations. I know you'll do well."
Ueda just nodded, taking the brush. "We'll do our best. Thank you."
::
"What do you think, Ueda?"
"It's fine, whatever."
Kame dropped the pen to the tabletop and sighed, scrunching his fists in his hair and causing it to stick up in wild directions. "I was hoping for input, not for you to ignore me, guys."
Ueda scowled. "I said 'it's fine' because it's fine. Don't snap at me for agreeing."
"Don't talk to Kame like that," Koki tossed the baseball cap in his hands onto the tabletop, pointing with his index finger to where Ueda was sitting across the table. "He's just doing his best."
Colour rose to Ueda's normally-pale cheeks, and his lips thinned. "Are you saying I'm not doing my best too?"
"That's right." Koki's gaze was defiant, the tilt and set of his jaw arrogant.
"Well fuck you, then." There was a waver in Ueda's voice but nobody knew if it was from anger, or holding back tears. Maybe it was both. "Since you obviously haven't listened to any of the suggestions I've made so far today."
"Drop it, Koki," Jin spoke at the same time as Kame, and Koki slumped against the back of the plastic chair, running his fingers through his hair and tilting his head back.
"I'm taking a break. I have a headache." The chair skittered backwards across the linoleum flooring as Ueda headed for the door.
Kame looked up, words dying on his lips as Ueda left.
"Fucking idiot, Tanaka," Jin said, dropping the papers on the table in careless disarray. "We'll never get this fucking concert ready on time like this."
"Don't you give me shit too, Akanishi," Koki threw his pen down on the table, but it rolled too far across the wood and clattered to the floor in front of Ueda's vacant chair.
"I'm going to find Tatsuya," Nakamaru made to stand, but Junno shook his head almost imperceptibly and the group's oldest member stilled. "What?"
"Tat-chan will come back when he wants to talk again," Junno shrugged. "We'll get there in the end." He grinned: "Besides, he left his bag here. He's got to come back soon."
::
"He needs to stop being so sensitive to criticism."
"You're hardly one to talk, Kamenashi."
"At least I'm aware of my failings and am working on fixing them, Akanishi," Kame's reply was somewhat acerbic.
"Whatever." Jin didn't like talking about people behind their backs. "He's just being himself, after all."
"Well," Nakamaru said, rubbing his nose anxiously, "he's staying at mine for a bit." He shrugged as the others looked puzzled and Koki went ehh? "My mum invited him. I guess he wants some time to think about how to tell his family."
"Tell them what?" Jin looked up, curious despite himself. "Is he gay or something? Tat-chan never talks with me about his private life."
"That's because you never listen," Koki mock-slapped Jin on the arm.
"Is this about Tat-chan moving out?" Junno sprawled back in his chair, shifting the ice pack on his knee. "We were talking about the cost of rent a few weeks back, ne..."
"Mm, I guess so," Nakamaru nodded, but Koki interrupted, loudly demanding to know what Taguchi knew about the cost of rent in the real world. The fragile peace shattered once more.
::
It was mid-June, and most of the jimusho went home early. Yamapi was still at work, however, and as he walked down the quiet corridor, the sound of piano reached his ears. He paused for a moment to listen - he was in no rush, after all - and once he worked out where the sound was coming from, he headed toward it. It was clumsy: the pacing too rushed, fingers tripping over the notes in their haste, but it was pretty just the same.
"Ah, Yamashita-kun, I'm sorry," Ueda started when he saw the younger man standing in the doorway. He tucked his mid-brown hair behind his ear; a nervous habit. "Did you need to use this room?"
Yamapi shook his head. "No, I'm downstairs. On a break. I didn't think you'd still be here."
Ueda glanced down at the black and white keys. "I lied to my parents."
"Are they mad at you?" Yamapi stepped into the small room and sat down on the other chair, and then frowned when Ueda shook his head.
"They don't know. I just… didn't want to be there today. Sorry," Ueda looked up guiltily. "You probably think I'm bad, lying to get away from my family when you have to work…"
"No," Yamapi shook his head. "I just have no reason to be at home today. Father's day isn't a day Rina-chan or I celebrate."
Ueda nodded, but said nothing. Yamapi looked at the other man's profile, at the dark shadow of eyelashes against his cheek as Ueda kept his gaze on his hands on the keys. "What was that song you were playing? It was nice."
He glanced up, meeting Yamapi's gaze before speaking. "It hasn't got a title yet. I'm still composing. It's still in its early stages. I don't even know if I'll ever get to use it."
"It sounded sort of… regretful."
Ueda's eyes did not meet Yamapi's; instead, they focussed on the wall in front of him. "Yeah. I guess it did."
::
"How come you never hang out with Ueda outside of work?" Yamapi leaned against Toma as he looked over at Jin. Jin, who had been trying to throw cherry tomatoes into Yuu's open mouth, paused and looked at Yamapi as though he'd sprouted an extra head.
"I see him every day already. My first day off since our début and you want me to spend that with KAT-TUN too?"
"You see us a lot at work too, though," Toma said, scooping up rice with his chopsticks. "But here you are..."
"That's not my fault," Jin feigned hurt. "You guys always call me up, you can't survive without my presence. If I told you to get lost, I'd be at risk of getting arrested."
"Fine, we just won't call you any more, then," Yuu smirked, although his smug expression soon turned startled as Jin started pelting the tomatoes at any part he could hit.
As a small-scale food fight erupted around them in the park, Yamapi frowned, thoughtful.
"What's up, Pi?" Toma's voice was quiet yet clearly audible next to him. Yamapi glanced up and gave a quick, reassuring smile.
"Nothing terrible," he said. Then, voice low, "If we act fast, do you think we could steal the cake while Jin's distracted?"
::
"Ah, Ueda?" Yamapi caught the older man's attention as Ueda stepped into the bathroom to rearrange his hair. He looked at Yamapi in the mirror, then smiled a little and nodded in greeting.
"Hey," Ueda said, turning to face Yamapi, who dried his hands. "How's it going?" He asked this every time, as though Yamapi wasn't without NewS, as though he wasn't without his best friend.
"It's not bad." He responded the same way every time, and every time Ueda took him at his word and didn't press further. "Jin said he wrote his Christmas cards the other day," Yamapi steered the conversation, as always. "So I guess you can look out for something in the post soon."
Ueda laughed a little. It sounded as unaffected as ever, and Yamapi couldn't help but smile in response. "Soon? Post takes ages to get to L.A., I don't think Jin's mail will get here before the New Year. It would be nice to get a card from him, though."
"Are you doing anything special, this year?"
"Working, as always." Ueda paused, and fixed Yamapi with a thoughtful look as he leaned his hip against the sink. "Is there something you wanted to tell me?"
Yamapi grinned. "Actually, since you mention it… I'm really looking forward to this year's Countdown. I think 2007 will be a good year."
There was a pause as Ueda nodded with apparent understanding, and then his eyes widened as true understanding arrived. "You mean…?"
"Don't tell anyone, okay?" Yamapi struggled to maintain his composure. "It'll be a secret from the fans right until the last moment."
Ueda beamed. "Congratulations. That's the best news I've had in months."
"It'll be the best NEWS you'll have heard in a while, too," Yamapi winked, and Ueda's laughter echoed off the tiled walls.
::
Somehow, the first half of the year disappeared before anybody had time to stop and catch their breath. Shortly after the end of June, Yamapi found a note left on his bag when he returned from a recording session. Ryo eyed the handwriting, and then glanced at Yamapi. "You got another secret admirer, Pi?"
Yamapi laughed uneasily at the suggestion, and shook his head. "No," he replied, opening the slim envelope and reading the carefully-scripted note. "It's from Ueda."
Tomo-kun,
I know Kame already mailed to thank you for your help with the album, but I wanted to add my thanks as well. I never said it at the time, but with the help of the star idol Yamashita Tomohisa our fight to continue being 'KAT-TUN' was made much less difficult. Thank you for everything.
I'm hoping this note will reach you,
Tat-chan
"Ueda? Kusano said he heard from that guy not too long ago," Ryo shrugged and pulled out his phone to snap a picture of Tegoshi, who was asleep on the couch with his mouth open. "I didn't realise they were still in touch."
"I guess Notti thinks 'that guy' is somehow worth being friends with, after all," Yamapi said, folding the note again and slipping it inside his bag. "It's good that he's not being forgotten."
"Still, a surprise that Ueda would stay in touch, of all people," Ryo pointed out.
"Can you shut up, Ryo-chan?" Shige glanced up from his conversation with Massu, his expression unreadable. "We're trying to move forward with the new album, here."
"Yeah!" Yamapi bounced on the balls of his feet, bringing back a surge of energy. "Let's do this!"
::
It was mid-August, and though the air on the streets of Tokyo was stifling and all anybody wanted to do was to stay in the air-conditioned inside, Yamapi continued to work hard with the filming of his latest drama. Sitting eating his lunch and tapping out a nikki update on his phone, Yamapi grimaced as a call flashed up on his screen, cutting him off mid-sentence.
"Yo," he said, accepting the call.
"Aizawa-sensei~" Ueda's voice on the other end of the line made Yamapi grin. "Sorry to interrupt, are you busy?"
"Nope," he replied. "Break in filming. I'm on lunch now. What's up?"
"Ah, I'm having a meal with the guys from my band tonight…" Ueda's tone was uncertain.
"Mouse Peace, right?"
"Yes! I know you're busy right now, but if you had time, did you want to come along?"
Yamapi paused. He had commitments, certainly, but they largely involved shopping with Rina and his mother, and could be rearranged.
"Tomo?"
He started. "Sorry! Sure, it'd be great. Mail me with the time and place, and I'll be there."
~
After the meal had ended and the bill settled, Ueda and Yamapi wandered out onto the street. The sun had almost disappeared over the horizon and the sky was a wash of deep reds and purples as the air around them began to cool.
"They like you," Ueda commented, suddenly breaking the silence. "Jun-kun especially. He has a strange way of showing it, maybe, but..."
"They're nice guys," Yamapi said, reassuring the other man without being asked. "I really hope the concerts go well, really." He paused, then laughed. "You didn't have to introduce me as your 'treasured friend', though."
Ueda glanced at him, and then looked away as his tongue automatically flicked out to wet his lips. "Well, I wasn't going to lie."
Yamapi grinned, and nodded. "I'm glad. Honesty's important, after all. Which is why," he said with mock disapproval, "you should have told me that you've hardly got any songs written yet! How are you going to have a concert next month with no songs?"
"I know," came the sheepish response. "I've been training so hard in other areas! I guess I'm waiting for inspiration to come."
They lapsed back into silence for a while, and continued walking though the neon-lit streets. Yamapi glanced up at one of the massive billboards that dominated the side of the building, and pulled a thoughtful face. "You should compete in the Olympics," he said, raising his eyebrows and nodding at the poster.
Ueda laughed. "Are you kidding? They sweat their lives away for the chance to compete. I couldn't do that and be an idol as well."
"I suppose." Then, "Isn't being an idol sort of like being an Olympic athlete, too? We give up friendships and freedom to reach our dreams through hard work." Yamapi's eyes stared at the sign, unseeing.
"You could say that," Ueda nodded with a shrug. "For me, joining Johnny's was the thing that brought me my freedom."
His gaze snapped back into focus, and Yamapi looked at the other man with a curious expression. "Really? You mean, opportunities and so on?"
"Well, yeah, that too," Ueda nodded, "but I meant, like, dancing and singing and so on, it's a different life, isn't it? I would probably be a salaryman if I wasn't… this. We sacrificed a lot when we were younger to be here today, but won't it be worth it?"
Yamapi looked thoughtful for a long moment, before a puff of laughter escaped his lips. "I guess it's okay to continue working hard from now on, right?"
A nod. "Right. This, right now… My parents wanted me to be smart." He pulled a face, and Yamapi laughed.
"It's possible to be both, you know."
"For people who already have brains, maybe," Ueda stuck his tongue out at Yamapi, and the younger man returned the gesture before grinning with embarrassment and ducking his head.
"Spending time with Tat-chan is more fun than most people realise," Yamapi commented as they continued to wander down the well-lit street. "I think I'd like to do more of it."
The smile on Ueda's face was audible: "I think we can probably manage that."
::
"You don't have to take pity on him," Kame said, his 'work face' on. "Yamashita-kun doesn't have to be a good senpai to Ueda as well."
Yamapi bristled internally, and it must have shown because Kame's flinch was almost perceptible. "I like who I like," he stated. "You know I don't spend time on things - or with people - who don't interest me. Time's too precious to waste on things that aren't worthwhile, right?"
Kame nodded reluctantly, marginally placated although his eyes still looked wary.
"Look," Yamapi sighed, shifting on his chair and leaning his
elbows on his knees to talk to the other man. "KAT-TUN have changed, right? In some ways, I mean; in others, not at all. I'm your friend; I know what you were all like before your début, Kame, Tat-chan included. Don't think that KAT-TUN's hard work has gone unnoticed." He gave a half-smile, and then raised his voice a little. "Shuuji-kun is good at working hard, ne!"
Kame raised his right hand, middle fingers and thumb pressed together as he returned the smile. "Kon kon," he said. Then, "I'm glad Shuuji still has Akira."
"Maa," Yamapi tilted his head to the side. "Shuuji-kun would get into trouble without Akira to help, ne?"
Kame just laughed.
::
"Sparkly like NEWS, huh," Yamapi grinned as he teased Ueda down the phone.
"I couldn't exactly say 'sparkly like Yamapi', could I," came the reply.
"You could always just be 'sparkly like Ueda', you know~"
"It's the next big thing. You wait. Soon all the kouhai will be clamouring to claim me as their role model."
"You sound way too much like Jin," Yamapi laughed. "I'm not sure I could handle another Akanishi. Ow!" He pouted as Jin threw the television remote at him, and then pulled a gleeful 'hah!' face as his best friend suddenly realised that he had voluntarily relinquished control of the remote. "Tat-chan, I'll call you back," he laughed as Jin grabbed his ankle. "I'm under attack."
"Go for the collar bones," Ueda laughed, and ended the call. A minor skirmish ensued, but ended abruptly as Jin shrieked and fell off the sofa, dragging Yamapi with him. As Yamapi's dogs bounced excitedly over the two men, Yamapi reluctantly handed the remote back. Neither of them had wanted to change the channel, anyway.
"He's not bad, ne," Jin said, giving a jaw-cracking yawn and stretching (until Hime-chan stuck her nose in his crotch and he yelped). "He's still as weird as ever, but… not bad."
"I'd say he was 'surprisingly normal', actually," Yamapi grinned, and Jin hit him. "What?!"
"You can never resist copying me, can you," Jin faked annoyance. "Even with Ueda. I always liked him better than you did. Right from the start. I keep saying you should invite Tat-chan over when we marathon anime, but you never listen!"
Yamapi looked up at the flashing animations on the screen, and with an exaggerated sigh, flipped his phone open again and scratched Pi-chan behind the ears. "Am I calling him now, then?"
Jin picked Hime-chan up, and held her at eye level. "Looks like your daddy's getting the idea at last, ne?"
The dog just licked Jin's face, and as Yamapi struggled not to laugh in the face of Jin's baleful glare and dialled Ueda's number, he wondered, really, if anything had changed at all.
::end::
PG or something; gen
Yamapi + Ueda friendship (main focus), Yamapi + Jin friendship, Yamapi + Kame friendship, everybody, fuck knows. For myxstorie, because we've now been friends for one year, and I literally would not be where I am today if it was not for her XD; Thank you for being you, V-suke. ♥
"Got put in a new unit this morning," Jin said as he flopped down next to Yamashita and grabbed the menu, flicking through it.
"Oh?" Yamapi looked up - he'd already decided what he was having - and raised his eyebrows in a way that indicated Jin should continue. "What for? Still dancing on PopJam, or..?"
Jin nodded. "Yeah, got made official. Tanaka Koki's in the group, and Nakamaru and Kamenashi too."
"The four of you are in a unit together?" Yamapi had already heard the full news from both Koki and Takizawa-senpai, but Jin would be sad if he wasn't the first to tell Pi. Yamapi didn't like it when Jin was sad.
"Nah, I'm stuck with Taguchi, too. I hope this shit isn't permanent. And there's that quiet blond one as well. You know, the weird one. Ueda."
Yamapi shrugged. "Don't hate them already, hey. Anyway, Koki's cool. What are you having?"
"Pasta," Jin announced. "Tagliatelle with ketchup."
"What? Do they even serve that here?" Yamapi scanned the menu again.
"They'll make it especially for me! I'm Akanishi Jin and I'm going to be the biggest star on the planet. And I'm Italian."
Yamapi snorted. "Okay. I'll get a burger."
::
"Please be ready in fifteen minutes."
The tension rose as the atmosphere moved from 'waiting' to 'preparing' when the announcement echoed throughout the backstage area. Ueda got to his feet, and glanced around for his hairbrush. It was at the end of the bench, amongst Jin's clutter, so he made his way along the edge of the KAT-TUN area. As he reached out to grab the brush, his hand brushed past Yamapi, who had been in and out of their area all morning. 'Sorry," he hastily apologised; Yamashita was still a senpai after all, even if Jin didn't treat him like one.
"It's fine." Yamapi glanced at Ueda, and then smiled a little, reassuringly. "Your hair looks cool like that."
Surprised eyes scanned Yamapi's face for a second, before dropping back down as Ueda ducked his head in silent thanks.
Yamapi picked up the brush and handed it to Ueda. "Let's do our best today. KAT-TUN have their own concert at the end of the year, don't you? Congratulations. I know you'll do well."
Ueda just nodded, taking the brush. "We'll do our best. Thank you."
::
"What do you think, Ueda?"
"It's fine, whatever."
Kame dropped the pen to the tabletop and sighed, scrunching his fists in his hair and causing it to stick up in wild directions. "I was hoping for input, not for you to ignore me, guys."
Ueda scowled. "I said 'it's fine' because it's fine. Don't snap at me for agreeing."
"Don't talk to Kame like that," Koki tossed the baseball cap in his hands onto the tabletop, pointing with his index finger to where Ueda was sitting across the table. "He's just doing his best."
Colour rose to Ueda's normally-pale cheeks, and his lips thinned. "Are you saying I'm not doing my best too?"
"That's right." Koki's gaze was defiant, the tilt and set of his jaw arrogant.
"Well fuck you, then." There was a waver in Ueda's voice but nobody knew if it was from anger, or holding back tears. Maybe it was both. "Since you obviously haven't listened to any of the suggestions I've made so far today."
"Drop it, Koki," Jin spoke at the same time as Kame, and Koki slumped against the back of the plastic chair, running his fingers through his hair and tilting his head back.
"I'm taking a break. I have a headache." The chair skittered backwards across the linoleum flooring as Ueda headed for the door.
Kame looked up, words dying on his lips as Ueda left.
"Fucking idiot, Tanaka," Jin said, dropping the papers on the table in careless disarray. "We'll never get this fucking concert ready on time like this."
"Don't you give me shit too, Akanishi," Koki threw his pen down on the table, but it rolled too far across the wood and clattered to the floor in front of Ueda's vacant chair.
"I'm going to find Tatsuya," Nakamaru made to stand, but Junno shook his head almost imperceptibly and the group's oldest member stilled. "What?"
"Tat-chan will come back when he wants to talk again," Junno shrugged. "We'll get there in the end." He grinned: "Besides, he left his bag here. He's got to come back soon."
::
"He needs to stop being so sensitive to criticism."
"You're hardly one to talk, Kamenashi."
"At least I'm aware of my failings and am working on fixing them, Akanishi," Kame's reply was somewhat acerbic.
"Whatever." Jin didn't like talking about people behind their backs. "He's just being himself, after all."
"Well," Nakamaru said, rubbing his nose anxiously, "he's staying at mine for a bit." He shrugged as the others looked puzzled and Koki went ehh? "My mum invited him. I guess he wants some time to think about how to tell his family."
"Tell them what?" Jin looked up, curious despite himself. "Is he gay or something? Tat-chan never talks with me about his private life."
"That's because you never listen," Koki mock-slapped Jin on the arm.
"Is this about Tat-chan moving out?" Junno sprawled back in his chair, shifting the ice pack on his knee. "We were talking about the cost of rent a few weeks back, ne..."
"Mm, I guess so," Nakamaru nodded, but Koki interrupted, loudly demanding to know what Taguchi knew about the cost of rent in the real world. The fragile peace shattered once more.
::
It was mid-June, and most of the jimusho went home early. Yamapi was still at work, however, and as he walked down the quiet corridor, the sound of piano reached his ears. He paused for a moment to listen - he was in no rush, after all - and once he worked out where the sound was coming from, he headed toward it. It was clumsy: the pacing too rushed, fingers tripping over the notes in their haste, but it was pretty just the same.
"Ah, Yamashita-kun, I'm sorry," Ueda started when he saw the younger man standing in the doorway. He tucked his mid-brown hair behind his ear; a nervous habit. "Did you need to use this room?"
Yamapi shook his head. "No, I'm downstairs. On a break. I didn't think you'd still be here."
Ueda glanced down at the black and white keys. "I lied to my parents."
"Are they mad at you?" Yamapi stepped into the small room and sat down on the other chair, and then frowned when Ueda shook his head.
"They don't know. I just… didn't want to be there today. Sorry," Ueda looked up guiltily. "You probably think I'm bad, lying to get away from my family when you have to work…"
"No," Yamapi shook his head. "I just have no reason to be at home today. Father's day isn't a day Rina-chan or I celebrate."
Ueda nodded, but said nothing. Yamapi looked at the other man's profile, at the dark shadow of eyelashes against his cheek as Ueda kept his gaze on his hands on the keys. "What was that song you were playing? It was nice."
He glanced up, meeting Yamapi's gaze before speaking. "It hasn't got a title yet. I'm still composing. It's still in its early stages. I don't even know if I'll ever get to use it."
"It sounded sort of… regretful."
Ueda's eyes did not meet Yamapi's; instead, they focussed on the wall in front of him. "Yeah. I guess it did."
::
"How come you never hang out with Ueda outside of work?" Yamapi leaned against Toma as he looked over at Jin. Jin, who had been trying to throw cherry tomatoes into Yuu's open mouth, paused and looked at Yamapi as though he'd sprouted an extra head.
"I see him every day already. My first day off since our début and you want me to spend that with KAT-TUN too?"
"You see us a lot at work too, though," Toma said, scooping up rice with his chopsticks. "But here you are..."
"That's not my fault," Jin feigned hurt. "You guys always call me up, you can't survive without my presence. If I told you to get lost, I'd be at risk of getting arrested."
"Fine, we just won't call you any more, then," Yuu smirked, although his smug expression soon turned startled as Jin started pelting the tomatoes at any part he could hit.
As a small-scale food fight erupted around them in the park, Yamapi frowned, thoughtful.
"What's up, Pi?" Toma's voice was quiet yet clearly audible next to him. Yamapi glanced up and gave a quick, reassuring smile.
"Nothing terrible," he said. Then, voice low, "If we act fast, do you think we could steal the cake while Jin's distracted?"
::
"Ah, Ueda?" Yamapi caught the older man's attention as Ueda stepped into the bathroom to rearrange his hair. He looked at Yamapi in the mirror, then smiled a little and nodded in greeting.
"Hey," Ueda said, turning to face Yamapi, who dried his hands. "How's it going?" He asked this every time, as though Yamapi wasn't without NewS, as though he wasn't without his best friend.
"It's not bad." He responded the same way every time, and every time Ueda took him at his word and didn't press further. "Jin said he wrote his Christmas cards the other day," Yamapi steered the conversation, as always. "So I guess you can look out for something in the post soon."
Ueda laughed a little. It sounded as unaffected as ever, and Yamapi couldn't help but smile in response. "Soon? Post takes ages to get to L.A., I don't think Jin's mail will get here before the New Year. It would be nice to get a card from him, though."
"Are you doing anything special, this year?"
"Working, as always." Ueda paused, and fixed Yamapi with a thoughtful look as he leaned his hip against the sink. "Is there something you wanted to tell me?"
Yamapi grinned. "Actually, since you mention it… I'm really looking forward to this year's Countdown. I think 2007 will be a good year."
There was a pause as Ueda nodded with apparent understanding, and then his eyes widened as true understanding arrived. "You mean…?"
"Don't tell anyone, okay?" Yamapi struggled to maintain his composure. "It'll be a secret from the fans right until the last moment."
Ueda beamed. "Congratulations. That's the best news I've had in months."
"It'll be the best NEWS you'll have heard in a while, too," Yamapi winked, and Ueda's laughter echoed off the tiled walls.
::
Somehow, the first half of the year disappeared before anybody had time to stop and catch their breath. Shortly after the end of June, Yamapi found a note left on his bag when he returned from a recording session. Ryo eyed the handwriting, and then glanced at Yamapi. "You got another secret admirer, Pi?"
Yamapi laughed uneasily at the suggestion, and shook his head. "No," he replied, opening the slim envelope and reading the carefully-scripted note. "It's from Ueda."
Tomo-kun,
I know Kame already mailed to thank you for your help with the album, but I wanted to add my thanks as well. I never said it at the time, but with the help of the star idol Yamashita Tomohisa our fight to continue being 'KAT-TUN' was made much less difficult. Thank you for everything.
I'm hoping this note will reach you,
Tat-chan
"Ueda? Kusano said he heard from that guy not too long ago," Ryo shrugged and pulled out his phone to snap a picture of Tegoshi, who was asleep on the couch with his mouth open. "I didn't realise they were still in touch."
"I guess Notti thinks 'that guy' is somehow worth being friends with, after all," Yamapi said, folding the note again and slipping it inside his bag. "It's good that he's not being forgotten."
"Still, a surprise that Ueda would stay in touch, of all people," Ryo pointed out.
"Can you shut up, Ryo-chan?" Shige glanced up from his conversation with Massu, his expression unreadable. "We're trying to move forward with the new album, here."
"Yeah!" Yamapi bounced on the balls of his feet, bringing back a surge of energy. "Let's do this!"
::
It was mid-August, and though the air on the streets of Tokyo was stifling and all anybody wanted to do was to stay in the air-conditioned inside, Yamapi continued to work hard with the filming of his latest drama. Sitting eating his lunch and tapping out a nikki update on his phone, Yamapi grimaced as a call flashed up on his screen, cutting him off mid-sentence.
"Yo," he said, accepting the call.
"Aizawa-sensei~" Ueda's voice on the other end of the line made Yamapi grin. "Sorry to interrupt, are you busy?"
"Nope," he replied. "Break in filming. I'm on lunch now. What's up?"
"Ah, I'm having a meal with the guys from my band tonight…" Ueda's tone was uncertain.
"Mouse Peace, right?"
"Yes! I know you're busy right now, but if you had time, did you want to come along?"
Yamapi paused. He had commitments, certainly, but they largely involved shopping with Rina and his mother, and could be rearranged.
"Tomo?"
He started. "Sorry! Sure, it'd be great. Mail me with the time and place, and I'll be there."
~
After the meal had ended and the bill settled, Ueda and Yamapi wandered out onto the street. The sun had almost disappeared over the horizon and the sky was a wash of deep reds and purples as the air around them began to cool.
"They like you," Ueda commented, suddenly breaking the silence. "Jun-kun especially. He has a strange way of showing it, maybe, but..."
"They're nice guys," Yamapi said, reassuring the other man without being asked. "I really hope the concerts go well, really." He paused, then laughed. "You didn't have to introduce me as your 'treasured friend', though."
Ueda glanced at him, and then looked away as his tongue automatically flicked out to wet his lips. "Well, I wasn't going to lie."
Yamapi grinned, and nodded. "I'm glad. Honesty's important, after all. Which is why," he said with mock disapproval, "you should have told me that you've hardly got any songs written yet! How are you going to have a concert next month with no songs?"
"I know," came the sheepish response. "I've been training so hard in other areas! I guess I'm waiting for inspiration to come."
They lapsed back into silence for a while, and continued walking though the neon-lit streets. Yamapi glanced up at one of the massive billboards that dominated the side of the building, and pulled a thoughtful face. "You should compete in the Olympics," he said, raising his eyebrows and nodding at the poster.
Ueda laughed. "Are you kidding? They sweat their lives away for the chance to compete. I couldn't do that and be an idol as well."
"I suppose." Then, "Isn't being an idol sort of like being an Olympic athlete, too? We give up friendships and freedom to reach our dreams through hard work." Yamapi's eyes stared at the sign, unseeing.
"You could say that," Ueda nodded with a shrug. "For me, joining Johnny's was the thing that brought me my freedom."
His gaze snapped back into focus, and Yamapi looked at the other man with a curious expression. "Really? You mean, opportunities and so on?"
"Well, yeah, that too," Ueda nodded, "but I meant, like, dancing and singing and so on, it's a different life, isn't it? I would probably be a salaryman if I wasn't… this. We sacrificed a lot when we were younger to be here today, but won't it be worth it?"
Yamapi looked thoughtful for a long moment, before a puff of laughter escaped his lips. "I guess it's okay to continue working hard from now on, right?"
A nod. "Right. This, right now… My parents wanted me to be smart." He pulled a face, and Yamapi laughed.
"It's possible to be both, you know."
"For people who already have brains, maybe," Ueda stuck his tongue out at Yamapi, and the younger man returned the gesture before grinning with embarrassment and ducking his head.
"Spending time with Tat-chan is more fun than most people realise," Yamapi commented as they continued to wander down the well-lit street. "I think I'd like to do more of it."
The smile on Ueda's face was audible: "I think we can probably manage that."
::
"You don't have to take pity on him," Kame said, his 'work face' on. "Yamashita-kun doesn't have to be a good senpai to Ueda as well."
Yamapi bristled internally, and it must have shown because Kame's flinch was almost perceptible. "I like who I like," he stated. "You know I don't spend time on things - or with people - who don't interest me. Time's too precious to waste on things that aren't worthwhile, right?"
Kame nodded reluctantly, marginally placated although his eyes still looked wary.
"Look," Yamapi sighed, shifting on his chair and leaning his
elbows on his knees to talk to the other man. "KAT-TUN have changed, right? In some ways, I mean; in others, not at all. I'm your friend; I know what you were all like before your début, Kame, Tat-chan included. Don't think that KAT-TUN's hard work has gone unnoticed." He gave a half-smile, and then raised his voice a little. "Shuuji-kun is good at working hard, ne!"
Kame raised his right hand, middle fingers and thumb pressed together as he returned the smile. "Kon kon," he said. Then, "I'm glad Shuuji still has Akira."
"Maa," Yamapi tilted his head to the side. "Shuuji-kun would get into trouble without Akira to help, ne?"
Kame just laughed.
::
"Sparkly like NEWS, huh," Yamapi grinned as he teased Ueda down the phone.
"I couldn't exactly say 'sparkly like Yamapi', could I," came the reply.
"You could always just be 'sparkly like Ueda', you know~"
"It's the next big thing. You wait. Soon all the kouhai will be clamouring to claim me as their role model."
"You sound way too much like Jin," Yamapi laughed. "I'm not sure I could handle another Akanishi. Ow!" He pouted as Jin threw the television remote at him, and then pulled a gleeful 'hah!' face as his best friend suddenly realised that he had voluntarily relinquished control of the remote. "Tat-chan, I'll call you back," he laughed as Jin grabbed his ankle. "I'm under attack."
"Go for the collar bones," Ueda laughed, and ended the call. A minor skirmish ensued, but ended abruptly as Jin shrieked and fell off the sofa, dragging Yamapi with him. As Yamapi's dogs bounced excitedly over the two men, Yamapi reluctantly handed the remote back. Neither of them had wanted to change the channel, anyway.
"He's not bad, ne," Jin said, giving a jaw-cracking yawn and stretching (until Hime-chan stuck her nose in his crotch and he yelped). "He's still as weird as ever, but… not bad."
"I'd say he was 'surprisingly normal', actually," Yamapi grinned, and Jin hit him. "What?!"
"You can never resist copying me, can you," Jin faked annoyance. "Even with Ueda. I always liked him better than you did. Right from the start. I keep saying you should invite Tat-chan over when we marathon anime, but you never listen!"
Yamapi looked up at the flashing animations on the screen, and with an exaggerated sigh, flipped his phone open again and scratched Pi-chan behind the ears. "Am I calling him now, then?"
Jin picked Hime-chan up, and held her at eye level. "Looks like your daddy's getting the idea at last, ne?"
The dog just licked Jin's face, and as Yamapi struggled not to laugh in the face of Jin's baleful glare and dialled Ueda's number, he wondered, really, if anything had changed at all.
::end::