White Lies (Tenimyu RPS, KazuShiro, PG-13)
Please don't go WTF...
I used to tell myself that I'd rather die than write about this pair (don't get me wrong, I just couldn't write them for beans >_>), but you know those times when you thought of something and you just couldn't help but write it? It's like...it wouldn't leave you in peace until you write it out? Well, this is one of those...
Title: White Lies
By: nikki hiiragizawa
Fandom: The Musical Prince of Tennis
Pairing: Katou Kazuki x Shirota Yuu, Shirota Yuu x Aiba Hiroki
Genre: drama
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Ten minutes in a coffee shop. A lifetime’s worth of lies.
Disclaimer: The TeniMyu actors are under Marvelous Entertainment and their respective individual agencies. This fic was written for entertainment purposes only and the writer is in no way connected to or affiliated with the actors or their companies. All circumstances here, no matter how similar to true events, are just products of the writer's imagination and did not or will not happen in real life.
Dedication: I wrote this only for xiyu and no one else. Not even for myself. Xiyu, this is how much I love you, I think? ^^;
“I didn’t know you are addicted to coffee.”
Shirota glanced at the man who slipped to a chair across him, a surprised expression dancing on his face. How long had it been since he saw this guy? “Kazuki!” He was unsure if he should grin or gape or frown upon seeing the old friend. “What are you doing here?”
“Yo.” Katou gave him a wide smile and placed his hands on the table, clasping them together. He did not answer Shirota’s question. Instead, he peered into the younger man’s cup with curiosity. “Do you order Caffé Mocha all the time?”
Laughing, Shirota lied, “No, not all the time. Sometimes I order Caffé Latte.” He sipped the last of his fragrant cup. Placing his cup back on its saucer, he looked up to see Katou grinning at him. “What?”
“Liar.”
Surprised but nonetheless guilty, Shirota laughed, his laughter ringing with Katou’s deep chuckles. He licked the remaining mocha of his lips and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “So,” Shirota started again, “It’s been almost a year.” He absently looked at his watch to check the time. Just a few minutes more.
“Yeah.” Katou stared out of the glass window to watch the people walking past the coffee shop. “The last time we saw each other was at the Dream Live 3rd graduation party, ne?”
Shirota nodded and followed Katou’s gaze out of the window. “It’s been that long,” he absently murmured as he lightly played with his teaspoon. From the corner of his eye, he saw Katou’s gaze move towards him but he paid no heed, keeping his eyes fixed on a red automobile parked outside the shop.
“It was fun. Tenimyu, I mean.” Katou gave a light, almost regretful laugh. “It was fun making the audience happy.”
Still avoiding Katou’s eyes, Shirota smiled and looked down to stare at the surface of the table. “Yeah, well, we did everything to satisfy the fans.”
“The audience were really a blast,” Katou said. He was hastening the pace of the conversation. “Remember Dream Live 3rd? They all practically screamed.” Shirota felt the table shake a little as Katou’s knee accidentally knocked against one of the legs. He was starting that weird habit of knocking his leg against the table again.
Katou was nervous.
“What are you so anxious about?” Shirota couldn’t help asking. The words tumbled out of his mouth too late. Mumbling an apology, he made a face. “It’s ... just that I knew you too well.”
“I’m, well...” Katou gave him a nervous smile. “My order’s taking too long.”
That was purely a lie, and Shirota knew it. “Are you nervous because we saw each other again?” he dared asking the older man. He pulled out a packet of gum from his jacket pocket and offered it to Katou, who took one.
“Well, it’s a bit uncomfortable, meeting actors I’ve previously worked with.” Katou popped the mint gum in his mouth and chewed. “It’s like, I have to think of what to say to them.”
Shirota smiled as he replaced the gum to his pocket. He knew that was a lie, too. Katou did not have any problems meeting up with the other actors, from what he had heard. He dare not confront the older man, though. He kind of understood the feeling. Katou was still thinking about that time.
They never mentioned it to anyone, but their cries in the dressing room showers, the warmth they both felt, the breaths they caught in gasps, the words they uttered as they grew incoherent to the pleasure: everything was etched in their memories.
It was a mistake, they both decided afterwards, as they bid each other goodbye and went on separate ways. But that was the start of the endless string of lies they started to weave to cover up something they couldn’t even identify.
They just knew each other too much. They could read each other to the point that they knew what each other needed. They were not exactly the best of friends, as Katou stood by his Hyoutei co-actors while Shirota stayed stuck to his Seigaku teammates, yet somehow, they managed to stay close despite the wall drawn around them. The late night calls to each other must have helped, with Shirota confiding about his nervousness about leading the team and Katou expressing his worry about a certain dance step his team could never perfect. They built the teams together to form a wonderful chemistry fans talked about even after it had long ended.
Everyone thought of them as simply good friends who liked teasing each other. Shirota was known to play pranks on the usually unsuspecting Katou, and Katou was known to exact revenge, only to be caught in another trick played on him. Everyone thought it was entertaining as their two buchou tried to best each other, not realizing the hidden messages each teasing word delivered.
It was a sin to know Katou too well, Shirota thought back then. He knew Katou took him as someone more special than the rest. However, he also knew that Katou was keeping his distance because of his respect towards a long-time friend.
It was also a sin to entertain hesitation, Shirota thought. He knew Katou was special to him, yet there was another person special to him, too. He did not know how to sort out his feelings then, being driven by pressure of the coming performance, pressure of guilt because he knew he was falling for someone he should not fall for, and pressure from his friends. He then let everything take its toll and waited for something to happen, Surely, if it was meant to be, then it would happen, right?
Nothing happened.
That was, until Dream Live 3rd.
All it took was a glance. Shirota was getting ready to take a shower after the performance. He was one of the last persons to take a shower. He was fixing his things by the counter when he caught Katou’s reflection on the mirror. Katou was standing behind him, a towel around his hips.
The rest of that night was something Shirota wanted to both treasure and forget. What happened was an act that needed no explanations or reasons. It was something they both knew, yet they couldn’t find any explanation for. All Shirota could coherently remember was how cold the cubicle wall felt against his back. The rest was a blur that set his nerves on fire and his heart racing until the shower room door opened and the clatter of the bottle of shampoo against the tiled floor reached their ears.
By the time they looked up, the one who left the shampoo was gone. Shirota remembered how Katou ran his figners through his hair as he told him that they should stop. Nodding, Shirota agreed with him on how everything was illogical and was a mistake. Shakily, Katou stood up and left him to shower in peace.
At the party, they never even looked at each other and kept their deed in secret, hoping that the one who spotted them would also zip his mouth. Shirota stayed close to his Seigaku friends and loudly wondered where Aiba went. Adachi said something about Aiba having problems with his hair.
Late that night, as they all bid goodbye to each other, Shirota shook Katou’s hand and bid him goodluck and goodbye.
It was the last time that they saw each other before now.
“Are you still thinking about it?”
Shirota jumped in surprise at the sudden question. “W-what do you mean?”
“I mean that.” Katou’s usually cool face was riddled with worry. “I was thinking that maybe...”
Shirota grinned. “That was a mistake, right?” he said laughingly. “We...we were probably...” he stopped grinning as he met Katou’s eyes, “...curious.”
Katou held his gaze until he sighed and gave up, smiling. “Yeah, I guess.” He was shaking his head. Suddenly, his name was called. Katou excused himself as he went to the counter.
Shirota found himself staring at Katou’s back as the older man walked away. He knew that Katou knew how much of a liar he was. They could read each other that well. Still, Shirota couldn’t help but lie.
He was afraid. He was scared that he would agree then and there if he heard what he wanted Katou to say. His lies were more of a necessity to keep his feelings sealed for someone else.
Katou was shaking a bottle of Frappuccino as he went back to his seat. “About time,” he was muttering as he smiled sheepishly. As he settled himself on the cushion he tried to start again. “Shirota, about...”
“I’ve no hard feelings about it,” Shirota quickly said. “Hey, I don’t mind if you tell anyone, too! It’s normal, right? Normal.”
Sighing once more, Kazuki looked out of the window again before changing the topic. “How is Aiba-kun?”
“He,” Shirota was surprised at how he seemed at a loss for words. “He’s fine. We’re...” Absently, he reached for his phone in case someone (preferably not Aiba) left him a message. There was none.
“...happy?” Katou finished for him with a slight wince in his tone.
Shirota nodded and played with his napkin, now torn to shreds. “How...You drink Frappuccino?” he asked, trying to move the topic away from him. “I thought you don’t drink coffee much.”
Katou smiled. “I don’t.” He suddenly stood up and extended his hand. “I have to go now. I have an errand to do. It was nice meeting you again.”
Shirota, surprised, took the hand. “It’s nice meeting you again, too.” With a nod of his head, Katou was gone as fast as he had arrived. Shirota looked at his watch. It had been just ten minutes since Katou talked to him, yet somehow, it felt like an eternity had passed between them.
He knew Katou had read through him, as no one else would be able to. Shirota was sure there was no other person who could come as close as Katou in reading his emotions. However, Katou never pushed him. It was such a pain, waiting for Katou to make the first move, but Shirota couldn’t do anything else. He did not want to move drastically. All he could do was tell little white lies and hope Katou would grow tired of them.
Swallowing his bitter realization, Shirota looked out of the window. Outside, he watched Katou meet up with someone near the red automobile parked across the shop. Katou was smiling as he handed Takuya the bottled Frappuccino. Takuya returned the smile, and they walked away.
From nowhere, Shirota remembered Katou’s greeting a while ago. He asked if Shirota was a coffee addict. How did Katou come to such a conclusion, when they had met just now after a long time?
“Shirota-san!”
Shirota looked up, a bit confused at the sudden distraction to his thoughts. Aiba came up to his table and sat down. “Aibacchi. Have you finished with your rehearsal?”
Aiba nodded and cradled his face with a hand. “Since we’ve been practicing for weeks now. All that’s left are some polishing. Especially me, since I missed a lot of rehearsals.”
Shirota laughed and ruffled Aiba’s hair, much to the young man’s disappointment. “Shall we go home?”
Aiba nodded and they both stood up. As they went out of the door, Aiba looked back to the closed door of the coffee shop and turned his eyes to Shirota, who was walking by his side. “Did you meet up with him at last?”
“Who?” Shirota was taken aback, but he decided to keep his cool. “What are you talking about?”
“Kazuki-san,” Aiba breathed as they crossed an intersection. “He was watching you since the first day you came to pick me up after rehearsal.”
Shirota stopped walking and faced Aiba. The young man had just answered his question about Kazuki and his conclusion about Shirota’s coffee addiction. “Who told you that?”
Aiba shrugged, trying to show that he did not care much. “Takuya.”
Takuya knew something. How much had he told Aiba? How come the person he was protecting seemed to know more than he should? Taking Aiba’s arm, Shirota urged him to start walking. “I didn’t meet up with him,” he gently said. It was a lie, but it was needed.
Aiba smiled, a tinge of a sad expectation casting a shadow on his usually bright face. “Liar,” he told Shirota. “You will meet up with him sooner or later, if you still hadn’t.”
“What makes you say that?” Shirota asked, a little bit annoyed. The last thing he needed was a confrontation like this. After all those lies he had woven...
The younger man wrapped his jacket snugly around him and walked ahead. “Because I was the one who saw you two in the bathroom, a year ago.”
Shirota stopped walking.
Aiba turned around and gave him a half-smile. “I just thought I’d fib a little so you won’t feel guilty, especially since you didn’t say anything afterwards.” Looking down the pavement, Aiba kicked an invisible stone. “That and...I’m selfish. Probably.”
Devoid of any emotion he could show to react to Aiba’s words, Shirota could only laugh. He walked closer to the younger man and took his hand, muttering an apology. Aiba shook his head and curled his fingers around Shirota’s hand. They started walking home.
Shirota was wrong. There was another one who could read through him. It was that someone he had chosen to be with instead of the other. Somehow, despite the confession and the guilt, he was relieved.
No more white lies were needed to be told.
For now.
END
A/N: AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH! Yes, I'm free now, LOL. Just...well...ignore if you don't like it >_>. Haha.
I used to tell myself that I'd rather die than write about this pair (don't get me wrong, I just couldn't write them for beans >_>), but you know those times when you thought of something and you just couldn't help but write it? It's like...it wouldn't leave you in peace until you write it out? Well, this is one of those...
Title: White Lies
By: nikki hiiragizawa
Fandom: The Musical Prince of Tennis
Pairing: Katou Kazuki x Shirota Yuu, Shirota Yuu x Aiba Hiroki
Genre: drama
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Ten minutes in a coffee shop. A lifetime’s worth of lies.
Disclaimer: The TeniMyu actors are under Marvelous Entertainment and their respective individual agencies. This fic was written for entertainment purposes only and the writer is in no way connected to or affiliated with the actors or their companies. All circumstances here, no matter how similar to true events, are just products of the writer's imagination and did not or will not happen in real life.
Dedication: I wrote this only for xiyu and no one else. Not even for myself. Xiyu, this is how much I love you, I think? ^^;
“I didn’t know you are addicted to coffee.”
Shirota glanced at the man who slipped to a chair across him, a surprised expression dancing on his face. How long had it been since he saw this guy? “Kazuki!” He was unsure if he should grin or gape or frown upon seeing the old friend. “What are you doing here?”
“Yo.” Katou gave him a wide smile and placed his hands on the table, clasping them together. He did not answer Shirota’s question. Instead, he peered into the younger man’s cup with curiosity. “Do you order Caffé Mocha all the time?”
Laughing, Shirota lied, “No, not all the time. Sometimes I order Caffé Latte.” He sipped the last of his fragrant cup. Placing his cup back on its saucer, he looked up to see Katou grinning at him. “What?”
“Liar.”
Surprised but nonetheless guilty, Shirota laughed, his laughter ringing with Katou’s deep chuckles. He licked the remaining mocha of his lips and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “So,” Shirota started again, “It’s been almost a year.” He absently looked at his watch to check the time. Just a few minutes more.
“Yeah.” Katou stared out of the glass window to watch the people walking past the coffee shop. “The last time we saw each other was at the Dream Live 3rd graduation party, ne?”
Shirota nodded and followed Katou’s gaze out of the window. “It’s been that long,” he absently murmured as he lightly played with his teaspoon. From the corner of his eye, he saw Katou’s gaze move towards him but he paid no heed, keeping his eyes fixed on a red automobile parked outside the shop.
“It was fun. Tenimyu, I mean.” Katou gave a light, almost regretful laugh. “It was fun making the audience happy.”
Still avoiding Katou’s eyes, Shirota smiled and looked down to stare at the surface of the table. “Yeah, well, we did everything to satisfy the fans.”
“The audience were really a blast,” Katou said. He was hastening the pace of the conversation. “Remember Dream Live 3rd? They all practically screamed.” Shirota felt the table shake a little as Katou’s knee accidentally knocked against one of the legs. He was starting that weird habit of knocking his leg against the table again.
Katou was nervous.
“What are you so anxious about?” Shirota couldn’t help asking. The words tumbled out of his mouth too late. Mumbling an apology, he made a face. “It’s ... just that I knew you too well.”
“I’m, well...” Katou gave him a nervous smile. “My order’s taking too long.”
That was purely a lie, and Shirota knew it. “Are you nervous because we saw each other again?” he dared asking the older man. He pulled out a packet of gum from his jacket pocket and offered it to Katou, who took one.
“Well, it’s a bit uncomfortable, meeting actors I’ve previously worked with.” Katou popped the mint gum in his mouth and chewed. “It’s like, I have to think of what to say to them.”
Shirota smiled as he replaced the gum to his pocket. He knew that was a lie, too. Katou did not have any problems meeting up with the other actors, from what he had heard. He dare not confront the older man, though. He kind of understood the feeling. Katou was still thinking about that time.
They never mentioned it to anyone, but their cries in the dressing room showers, the warmth they both felt, the breaths they caught in gasps, the words they uttered as they grew incoherent to the pleasure: everything was etched in their memories.
It was a mistake, they both decided afterwards, as they bid each other goodbye and went on separate ways. But that was the start of the endless string of lies they started to weave to cover up something they couldn’t even identify.
They just knew each other too much. They could read each other to the point that they knew what each other needed. They were not exactly the best of friends, as Katou stood by his Hyoutei co-actors while Shirota stayed stuck to his Seigaku teammates, yet somehow, they managed to stay close despite the wall drawn around them. The late night calls to each other must have helped, with Shirota confiding about his nervousness about leading the team and Katou expressing his worry about a certain dance step his team could never perfect. They built the teams together to form a wonderful chemistry fans talked about even after it had long ended.
Everyone thought of them as simply good friends who liked teasing each other. Shirota was known to play pranks on the usually unsuspecting Katou, and Katou was known to exact revenge, only to be caught in another trick played on him. Everyone thought it was entertaining as their two buchou tried to best each other, not realizing the hidden messages each teasing word delivered.
It was a sin to know Katou too well, Shirota thought back then. He knew Katou took him as someone more special than the rest. However, he also knew that Katou was keeping his distance because of his respect towards a long-time friend.
It was also a sin to entertain hesitation, Shirota thought. He knew Katou was special to him, yet there was another person special to him, too. He did not know how to sort out his feelings then, being driven by pressure of the coming performance, pressure of guilt because he knew he was falling for someone he should not fall for, and pressure from his friends. He then let everything take its toll and waited for something to happen, Surely, if it was meant to be, then it would happen, right?
Nothing happened.
That was, until Dream Live 3rd.
All it took was a glance. Shirota was getting ready to take a shower after the performance. He was one of the last persons to take a shower. He was fixing his things by the counter when he caught Katou’s reflection on the mirror. Katou was standing behind him, a towel around his hips.
The rest of that night was something Shirota wanted to both treasure and forget. What happened was an act that needed no explanations or reasons. It was something they both knew, yet they couldn’t find any explanation for. All Shirota could coherently remember was how cold the cubicle wall felt against his back. The rest was a blur that set his nerves on fire and his heart racing until the shower room door opened and the clatter of the bottle of shampoo against the tiled floor reached their ears.
By the time they looked up, the one who left the shampoo was gone. Shirota remembered how Katou ran his figners through his hair as he told him that they should stop. Nodding, Shirota agreed with him on how everything was illogical and was a mistake. Shakily, Katou stood up and left him to shower in peace.
At the party, they never even looked at each other and kept their deed in secret, hoping that the one who spotted them would also zip his mouth. Shirota stayed close to his Seigaku friends and loudly wondered where Aiba went. Adachi said something about Aiba having problems with his hair.
Late that night, as they all bid goodbye to each other, Shirota shook Katou’s hand and bid him goodluck and goodbye.
It was the last time that they saw each other before now.
“Are you still thinking about it?”
Shirota jumped in surprise at the sudden question. “W-what do you mean?”
“I mean that.” Katou’s usually cool face was riddled with worry. “I was thinking that maybe...”
Shirota grinned. “That was a mistake, right?” he said laughingly. “We...we were probably...” he stopped grinning as he met Katou’s eyes, “...curious.”
Katou held his gaze until he sighed and gave up, smiling. “Yeah, I guess.” He was shaking his head. Suddenly, his name was called. Katou excused himself as he went to the counter.
Shirota found himself staring at Katou’s back as the older man walked away. He knew that Katou knew how much of a liar he was. They could read each other that well. Still, Shirota couldn’t help but lie.
He was afraid. He was scared that he would agree then and there if he heard what he wanted Katou to say. His lies were more of a necessity to keep his feelings sealed for someone else.
Katou was shaking a bottle of Frappuccino as he went back to his seat. “About time,” he was muttering as he smiled sheepishly. As he settled himself on the cushion he tried to start again. “Shirota, about...”
“I’ve no hard feelings about it,” Shirota quickly said. “Hey, I don’t mind if you tell anyone, too! It’s normal, right? Normal.”
Sighing once more, Kazuki looked out of the window again before changing the topic. “How is Aiba-kun?”
“He,” Shirota was surprised at how he seemed at a loss for words. “He’s fine. We’re...” Absently, he reached for his phone in case someone (preferably not Aiba) left him a message. There was none.
“...happy?” Katou finished for him with a slight wince in his tone.
Shirota nodded and played with his napkin, now torn to shreds. “How...You drink Frappuccino?” he asked, trying to move the topic away from him. “I thought you don’t drink coffee much.”
Katou smiled. “I don’t.” He suddenly stood up and extended his hand. “I have to go now. I have an errand to do. It was nice meeting you again.”
Shirota, surprised, took the hand. “It’s nice meeting you again, too.” With a nod of his head, Katou was gone as fast as he had arrived. Shirota looked at his watch. It had been just ten minutes since Katou talked to him, yet somehow, it felt like an eternity had passed between them.
He knew Katou had read through him, as no one else would be able to. Shirota was sure there was no other person who could come as close as Katou in reading his emotions. However, Katou never pushed him. It was such a pain, waiting for Katou to make the first move, but Shirota couldn’t do anything else. He did not want to move drastically. All he could do was tell little white lies and hope Katou would grow tired of them.
Swallowing his bitter realization, Shirota looked out of the window. Outside, he watched Katou meet up with someone near the red automobile parked across the shop. Katou was smiling as he handed Takuya the bottled Frappuccino. Takuya returned the smile, and they walked away.
From nowhere, Shirota remembered Katou’s greeting a while ago. He asked if Shirota was a coffee addict. How did Katou come to such a conclusion, when they had met just now after a long time?
“Shirota-san!”
Shirota looked up, a bit confused at the sudden distraction to his thoughts. Aiba came up to his table and sat down. “Aibacchi. Have you finished with your rehearsal?”
Aiba nodded and cradled his face with a hand. “Since we’ve been practicing for weeks now. All that’s left are some polishing. Especially me, since I missed a lot of rehearsals.”
Shirota laughed and ruffled Aiba’s hair, much to the young man’s disappointment. “Shall we go home?”
Aiba nodded and they both stood up. As they went out of the door, Aiba looked back to the closed door of the coffee shop and turned his eyes to Shirota, who was walking by his side. “Did you meet up with him at last?”
“Who?” Shirota was taken aback, but he decided to keep his cool. “What are you talking about?”
“Kazuki-san,” Aiba breathed as they crossed an intersection. “He was watching you since the first day you came to pick me up after rehearsal.”
Shirota stopped walking and faced Aiba. The young man had just answered his question about Kazuki and his conclusion about Shirota’s coffee addiction. “Who told you that?”
Aiba shrugged, trying to show that he did not care much. “Takuya.”
Takuya knew something. How much had he told Aiba? How come the person he was protecting seemed to know more than he should? Taking Aiba’s arm, Shirota urged him to start walking. “I didn’t meet up with him,” he gently said. It was a lie, but it was needed.
Aiba smiled, a tinge of a sad expectation casting a shadow on his usually bright face. “Liar,” he told Shirota. “You will meet up with him sooner or later, if you still hadn’t.”
“What makes you say that?” Shirota asked, a little bit annoyed. The last thing he needed was a confrontation like this. After all those lies he had woven...
The younger man wrapped his jacket snugly around him and walked ahead. “Because I was the one who saw you two in the bathroom, a year ago.”
Shirota stopped walking.
Aiba turned around and gave him a half-smile. “I just thought I’d fib a little so you won’t feel guilty, especially since you didn’t say anything afterwards.” Looking down the pavement, Aiba kicked an invisible stone. “That and...I’m selfish. Probably.”
Devoid of any emotion he could show to react to Aiba’s words, Shirota could only laugh. He walked closer to the younger man and took his hand, muttering an apology. Aiba shook his head and curled his fingers around Shirota’s hand. They started walking home.
Shirota was wrong. There was another one who could read through him. It was that someone he had chosen to be with instead of the other. Somehow, despite the confession and the guilt, he was relieved.
No more white lies were needed to be told.
For now.
END
A/N: AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH! Yes, I'm free now, LOL. Just...well...ignore if you don't like it >_>. Haha.