Whore!verse Drabbles
TITLE: Neon-lit Streets
CHARACTER: Whore!Shige
NOTE: flashback
The bills had been stacking up and he’s been procrastinating on going out. Jobs in the suburbs wouldn’t be enough, wouldn’t be of any help. He had no choice. He had to go to Shinjuku. When Shige stepped out of the station, he shivered, even though it was warm out.
He could see the buildings twinkling, people still hurrying about even though it was late. Shige had never been to the back alleys of Shinjuku, where the sex clubs and prostitutes waited, but it wasn’t hard to find. He just followed the scantily-clad young women and dirty looking men. It was away from the station, but not especially far. Small signs advertised for massages and company, experienced women, experienced men. Those who didn’t have that slight level of professionalism waited out on the street. The women blew kisses to men and batted their eyelashes. The men - whom there were fewer of - rested their shoulders against buildings and signs, but kept their hips sticking out and smoked.
Shige saw them and knew he should stand nearby. This is where he needed to wait. But he couldn’t stop moving his feet. Stopping was like admitting defeat, admitting that he was doing this. So he just kept walking through the alleys, past all the signs glowing on covered store-fronts.
On his fifth pass through an alley, a man reached out and grabbed him by the wrist, Shige tensed.
“You’re so awkward.”
The man was dressed like Shige, but better. Designers jeans were low on hips and his shirt was tight, leaving a strip of midriff exposed. His eyes were dark.
“Here. Close your eyes.”
Shige did and his mind screamed, What?! Are you insane?! The other man moved, just barely, and then there was a light pressure gliding across his eyelids, the left before the right.
“Okay, there. Open ‘em and look.”
Shige did.
He was staring at his reflection in a compact mirror. His eyes were dark now too, lined in black. The compact closed.
“Alright, now off with you.”
The hand let go of his wrist and pushed at his hip, urging Shige away. So he kept walking.
TITLE: Trademark Weaponry
PAIRING: Ryo/Shige
Ryo and Shige both have way of getting what they want from the other. Manipulation is familiar territory. When Shige is feeling lazy or doesn’t want to cook dinner, all he has to do is yawn, rub his eyes and say, “Ryo-chan” in a quiet voice. It always works. Ryo bitches about having to take out the garbage or cook, but he does it, and Shige never has to explicitly ask.
Ryo’s methods against Shige are just as reliable. When he’s feeling neglected or that Shige’s time is too often elsewhere, Ryo just turns on the charm, his idol smile and starts singing Shige’s name until Shige gets annoyed the pays attention to him.
However, things don’t work out so well when Shige’s feeling lazy and Ryo’s feeling neglected. Shige whines Ryo’s name and Ryo thinks of the most obnoxious tune to sing Shige’s name to. The situation goes nowhere, and slowly, the two stubborn fools just get angry with each other.
“Stop singing my name!”
“Stop reading!”
“Failure of an idol!”
“Who---ley impossible!”
Granted, it was a good save by Ryo, but they both know what he started saying. Shige turns back to his book and doesn’t talk for the rest of the night. Ryo feels horrible, but doesn’t apologize. They go to sleep together that night, but Shige stays on his side of the bed and Ryo’s too anxious to go over. In the morning, Shige goes to class with out kissing Ryo goodbye.
Ryo feels bad about it all day, and on the way home, he buys Shige a boring looking book about the psychology of trial law. He gives it to Shige that night, but doesn’t say anything when he does.
“Is this supposed to be an apology?”
“…Yes.”
Shige looks at the book in his hands and it’s obvious he’s thinking. “You bought me a book.”
“You read a lot, so-“
“Why do you have such a problem with apologies? Just say it.”
Ryo frowns. “I bought the book so I wouldn’t have to say it.”
“The book doesn’t negate the apology.” Shige puts the book down. “You’re insensitive. You almost called me a ‘whore’ and then you buy me a book, instead of apologizing.”
“Of course it sounds insensitive when you say it like that.”
Shige puts his face in his hands. “Ryo, I don’t even care about the fight anymore. It was over something stupid. I’m bothered because you started calling me… that, when you know it upsets me and then you bought me a book like that will make it all better.”
“Shige-“
“Don’t.”
Their both quiet for a minute and the silence is heavy.
“Do you still want the book?”
“…Yes.”
TITLE: For Sale
PAIRING: Ryo/Shige
Shige as the item:
Ryo’s sitting on the couch with a stern face. Shige’s standing in front of him, looking guilty.
“Are you serious?”
Shige fidgets.
“Get out of it.”
“I… can’t. I promised, and I owe him a favor, so-“
“Get out of it! I forbid your participation!”
“Ryo!”
“You’re not doing this stupid bachelor auction shit! You’re not available!”
“But the student union-“
“Fuck it!”
“Ryo-chan, it’s nothing serious! I just have to do out on a date with some girl and flatter her for a few hours… it’s nothing.”
Ryo is still visibly unhappy.
The next day, he’s getting lunch in the student union when he sees some of the organizers taking down the posters advertising for the auction.
“What’s going on?”
The one turns. “Oh, Katou-kun, hi. Um, the fundraiser’s being canceled.”
Shige’s confused. “Was it illegal?”
The other looks at Shige strangely. “Uh, no. Some one donated all the money we needed. They’re staying anonymous.”
Shige’s surprised to hear such a thing, so he goes over to the financial department - and finds it’s true. The check was received and cleared that morning. In the evening, Ryo is in a very cheerful mood, Shige’s pretty sure who the anonymous donation was from.
Ryo as the item:
Shige knows Ryo is feeling guilty about something. In the past week they’ve gone out to expensive restaurants three times and Shige’s hasn’t been able to stop Ryo from buying him things all the time. Shige finds out soon what’s going on.
He makes a point of watching as many of Ryo’s TV appearances as possible - it’s his way of supporting Ryo. It’s the middle of some talk show, and every one is goofing off and making fun of each other. The hosts bring in some new girl group and they seem incapable of doing anything but fawning over Kanjani8. Then the host recommends they all go out on dates (to be recorded, of course) and Shige feels like throwing up. He reaches for his phone and leaves Ryo a frantic voicemail when he doesn’t pick up. Shige’s too horrified to watch, so he tries to nap, but just ends up tossing around on the bed, before he gets up and starts cleaning.
At 8:30pm, Ryo finally comes back. Shige steps out of the kitchen, quietly greeting Ryo, but he stops in the middle of it - he can smell the girlish perfume on Ryo and his face pales.
Ryo tries to hug Shige, but Shige keeps moving around to avoid him, looking upset.
“Shige, it was all a set-up. I couldn’t do anything about it.”
“You smell like her! And you could have told me! It was such a shock - I couldn’t believe it! And you could have called me back!”
“Shige, don’t get upset…”
“I have every right to be!”
“I can’t always help this stuff, Shige! It’s part of my job - doing stuff I don’t like, but pretending I’m enjoying it while being filmed.”
Shige goes into the bathroom and throws a towel at Ryo when he comes out. “You smell like a girl.”
Shige’s whining a little and if anything, that’s a precursor to crying, which Ryo doesn’t want to be the cause of. So he doesn’t try to make any more excuses, and spends the next hour scrubbing at his skin with the body wash he knows Shige likes best.
TITLE: Maid Service
PAIRING: Ryo/Shige
Shige arrives at Ryo’s apartment one afternoon and immediately wrinkles his nose. He follows the funky smell into the kitchen, where dirty dishes are nearly falling out of the sink. He sighs and puts on a pair of rubber gloves. When Ryo gets back, he doesn’t say anything about the now-empty sink, but happily joins Shige on the couch and proceeds to distract him from the news.
A few days later when he arrives, Shige steps on a shirt. The floor is littered with clothing. Shige picks up each piece as he goes and does the laundry. Again, Ryo gives him no thanks, but he enthusiastically sucks on Shige’s neck and kneads his thigh. Shige doesn’t try to fight the impossible.
On another day, Shige finds several bags of groceries on the counter. He’s worried about something spoiling, so he goes through all the bags and ends up putting everything away. Like he’d expected, Ryo ignores the fact the food had been put away, and goes straight to Shige, rubbing his back and kissing his shoulder.
It takes Shige awhile, despite his brilliance, to figure out that Ryo is just too conceited to thank him. In a strange way, Shige finds it kind of endearing - that Ryo shows his thanks instead of saying it.
For miscellaneous favors (like dish washing, laundry and putting away food), Shige gets doted on for the night, in some manner. Anything from a foot rub to frantic groping on the couch. Shige cooks a lot of meals at Ryo’s (since it’s a better kitchen), and often times he leaves the leftovers there. He always knows when Ryo’s eaten them, because he’ll get a message in the middle of the day (“Shige food. Munchmunch.”) or he’ll come back to his apartment and finds the cabinets restocked and food in the freezer. When Shige compliments Ryo’s dancing or singing, Ryo glows for the rest of the night, which is enough for Shige, but Ryo usually takes him out to dinner, or a movie, or buys him something nice that Shige wants and could use, but would never buy himself.
It becomes increasingly normal to Shige, so at those times when Ryo does say, “thanks,” to someone, Shige has to stifle a laugh, because it sounds so fake.
TITLE: Prominence
PAIRING: Ryo/Shige
Shige loves Ryo’s back. He thinks it’s very manly, and Ryo laughs when Shige says that, because it sounds ridiculous. Shige defends his point. It’s muscular and strong (Shige always watches Ryo when he practices dances in the living room). When Ryo’s feeling stressed, he’ll take the moisturizer from the bathroom and give it to Shige, and it’s obvious what he wants. Shige complains about having to give him a message, but only because it’s expected. From where Ryo can’t see him, Shige smiles and works the knots out, calms Ryo down. He’s happy to help like that and happy to be able to pamper Ryo, even a little.
Shige hates his own back, mostly because he can’t see it. Ryo tells him it’s beautiful, but Ryo is very biased. Shige has the confidence to ask for a hand or foot massage, but he feels awkward about asking for anything else, because he can’t help but compare his body to Ryo’s. Shige mentions it once - the idea of him starting to use his school’s gym. Ryo frowns and tells Shige he shouldn’t try to fix something that isn’t broken.
Ryo loves Shige’s hips - not even necessarily in a sexual way. They’re soft and fit so perfectly in Ryo’s hands, better than any girls’ have. Shige’s hips have only the tiniest hint of a curve coming down from his waist; Ryo loves it and can’t help running his hands along Shige’s torso whenever he can. While they’re getting undressed for bed, when Shige pulls off a sweatshirt and whatever he’s wearing underneath rides up, as he walks from the bathroom to the bedroom with a towel hung low on his hips.
Ryo hates his own hips. They’re not big or awkward, or anything like that, but he has trouble keeping on or gaining weight, so his hip bones jut out. When he looks in the mirror, Ryo feels like a gangly teenager again and it irritates him. Shige is good at reading Ryo’s moods though, so when he sees that irritation, Shige props his head on Ryo’s shoulder and asks - in as cute a tone of voice he can manage - what Ryo wants for dinner. It always works to draw Ryo’s attentions from his hips to his height (which isn’t really solving the problem) and remind him that, despite being the shorter of the two, he is the Wearer of Pants.
TITLE: Loyalty
CHARACTER/PAIRING: Wagahai, Ryo/Shige
NOTE: It's long like whoa, because Wagahai is ♥ and I couldn't stop.
Wagahai doesn't know when he first met Shige, but he knows it was a long time ago, because he can't remember a time when he wasn't with Shige. Wagahai supports Shige in his own little invisible-kitty ways, and Shige confides in him (and leaves out kitty treats). Shige doesn't tell other people about Wagahai, because they wouldn't understand.
When Shige moves out to be closer to college, there's no discussion about it - of course Wagahai's going too. The apartment is tiny and there aren't many places to explore, but Wagahai makes the most of it. He only goes outside a few times, because the looks from the street cats were too much. They see Wagahai, but they aren't sure if he's really a cat. He finds them beneath him. Of course he's a cat, are they blind?
For a long time, it's just the two of them - Shige and Wagahai - and everything's fine. But then bills start piling up and Shige is constantly looking more and more worried, getting less and less sleep. For once, he confides in some one else - the bartender down the street. Shige comes back one night, looking horrible, like an evil truth had been revealed to him and he couldn't go back. He sat down on the floor, pulled Wagahai into his lap and was very still for a very long time. Shige refused to tell him what was going on, and it was a shock, because Shige had always told him everything.
Every few nights, Shige starts going out - dressing in a completely different style than he normally does. Tight pants, nearly see-through shirts. Wagahai knows something's up, but he can't quite put his paw on it. Wagahai's a smart cat though, and he figures it out. He's appalled, but Shige ends the conversation before Wagahai can get more than a few words into it. Shige's in denial, sort of. So Wagahai hides his things - clothes, shoes... eyeliner. But Shige goes anyways, and Wagahai worries and frets, like he's a mother-cat.
One day, Shige comes back very quickly after leaving, looking irritated.
"I met the most horrible person tonight. He's an ass."
Wagahai frowns, but sits next to Shige on the floor while he looks out the window.
One night, Shige brings a man home, who inspects the apartment. Shige's at the stove and Wagahai asks him, "What are you doing?! Don't bring weird men home! Get him out of here, Shige!"
But Shige just looks at him and shakes his head. The man makes Shige cry and Wagahai's enraged, he claws at the man and bites him, but he doesn't seem affected in the slightest. Shige lets him stay and Wagahai's angry at Shige now too.
Weeks later, they're both happily asleep and there's knocking at the door, unending knocking late at night. Shige opens the door and that strange man comes in again. Wagahai hisses and runs out the door before it closes. If that man is around, he doesn't want to be. Shige doesn't listen to him - that man is weird, he'll only cause trouble. Shige's smart, but he's dumb too.
In the morning, the man leaves and Shige leaves the door cracked all day, so Wagahai can come in whenever he wants. Wagahai stays out late, just to make Shige worry.
More and more often, the strange man comes over or calls Shige on that horrible phone he bought Shige. He bothers Shige all the time, taking away the precious time Wagahai once had alone with Shige. Wagahai doesn't like him, this Nishikido Ryo. He's after something. He shouldn't be trusted.
Shige disappears for three days and Wagahai's in a panic. He's trapped in the apartment, unable to organize a search party (there are enough kids nearby that he could recruit imaginary friends). Wagahai's lost without Shige and when he finally comes back, Wagahai nearly cries with happiness. He rubs against Shige's leg and invites himself into Shige's lap when he's reading. Shige looks happy to be home.
But the next day, Shige's packing a bag, and Wagahai asks, "Are you going back home to visit? I'm going too."
Shige stills and bites his lip. "I'm... going to stay at Ryo-chan's. For a few days."
Wagahai is so angry he can't talk. He hides Shige's phone and keys and everything he can think of. And then Wagahai hides himself. Shige looks around the little apartment, talking loudly enough to that where ever Wagahai is, Shige can he heard. He sounds troubled, he asks Wagahai to understand, to try and like Ryo. Wagahai won't ever like him. Does Shige forget that Nishikido made him cry? Wagahai won't ever forgive Nishikido for that.
But Shige leaves anyways. Wagahai's listless and lays in the same hidden spot until Shige comes back in a few nights. Wagahai misses Shige, so he pokes his head out of the cabinet and Shige calls him, and he can't help but go to him. Shige's smiling, and Wagahai hopes it's because he came out. Shige pets him and gives him treats, but Wagahai is still sad. And a little angry. He wants Nishikido gone. He wants Shige back.
Wagahai discusses this with a few of the imaginary friends, and they tell him the only way to get Shige back is through Nishikido - piss him off, make him not like Shige. Wagahai thinks it's brilliant - why didn't he think of it?
So next time Shige's packing a bag, he jumps in and hides himself among the clothes. If Shige notices, he doesn't say anything. It's an uncomfortable ride. When they're finally at Nishikido's and it's safe to come out (Wagahai's trying to stay hidden from Shige during this mission after all), he's nearly in shock. The apartment's huge! There are so many places to hide and put things. Wagahai's impressed until he remembers this is Nishikido's place, and he gets to work. First, little things. Pieces of jewelery, only slightly important cards from his wallet, shoes that looks like they haven't been worn in a while.
But Shige knows Wagahai's mark, and he starts looking for the cat. It's hard work - hiding things from Nishikido and hiding himself from Shige. Shige leaves out some kitty treats, and it's hard for Wagahai to not eat them. He watches Shige frown at the little pile in the morning and mutter, "You're angry. I know it." Wagahai feels like it's a little victory.
But his actions are all in vain, because nothing ever changes. Nishikido keeps kissing and hugging and spooning up against Shige, who happily goes along with it. Wagahai has to fight the urge to puke all over Nishikido's stuff. But only because that's where Shige would draw the line with his tolerating Wagahai hiding things.
One day, Shige leaves for class and Wagahai decides to mess with Nishikido's head. He has to wait for the perfect moment to grab the remote off the couch and hide it in the cabinet in the bathroom. Nishikido freaks out and it's hilarious to watch. For the rest of the day he's clutching his phone and wallet. Wagahai doesn't move anything else for a whole day, just to make Nishikido think he really is that crazy.
But Shige calls him out on it, and tells Nishikido about Wagahai. Luckily, Nishikido doesn't believe Shige. If he did, he might be able to see Wagahai, and Wagahai doesn't want some one as gross as Nishikido to be able to see him. Shige leaves him kitty treats, which Nishikido throws out. Wagahai can't forgive that. He hides Nishikido's stuff, and throws out the donburi Nishikido said he wanted for lunch. And he gnaws on all of Nishikido's shoelaces, but no one really notices. Shige berates him a few days later.
"You should like Ryo-chan. He's nice."
"He's horrible. You just have no taste."
"I want you to like him. Since I love you both."
"Shige!" Wagahai flops on the couch. "Don't play the sap card. Seriously. Have you forgotten that he made you cry? He hurt you!"
Shige frowns and looks away. "Ryo-chan's been very nice to me, Wagahai. There's a lot you haven't seen."
"I don't like him, Shige."
One day, a little later, Shige picks Wagahai up and holds him out to Ryo.
"This is Wagahai."
Ryo stares at the spot were Wagahai is, unable to see anything. "Why are you holding out your arms like that? It's like you're holding something. It's creepy."
"I'm holding Wagahai."
"Shige, you're not holding anything."
Shige frowns. "You can't see him?"
Wagahai laughs. "The asshole you love doesn't believe I exist! How conceited!"
Shige pulls his arms in, holding Wagahai close. "You can't see Wagahai?"
"You're really freaking me out now, Shige." Ryo gently takes Shige's shoulders in his hands. "Are you feeling alright?"
Shige looks heartbroken. "I'm fine."
"You're not fine at all!" Wagahai says up to him. "Do you seriously want him to be able to see me?"
"I want Ryo-chan to be able to see you."
"Who are you talking to, Shige?" Ryo looks really worried.
Shige sits down, still keeping Wagahai close. "My cat."
Ryo doesn't say anything.
Wagahai butts his head against Shige's chin. "Don't be sad. He's not worth it."
"I want Ryo-chan to be able to see you." He sounds dejected.
"Shige, snap out of it. Seriously. You're starting to scare me."
Wagahai's getting worried too. He hates seeing Shige sad, and Nishikido not being able to see him is making Shige sad. As much as he doesn't want Nishikido to see him, Shige's happiness trumps everything.
Wagahai struggles, and Shige lets him jump down onto the floor.
"Where are you going?"
"Shige-"
"He can't see me unless he believes I'm here."
"What are you doing?"
"Shige, please stop talking to-"
Wagahai, with much purpose, walks over to where Ryo's standing. Wagahai reels back, preparing himself. He throws all his weight and strength and will forward, biting Ryo, hard, on the toe.
He yells, falls backwards and grabs his foot. "What the fuck was that?!"
"Wagahai! Don't bite him!"
Ryo's getting up, eyeing Shige. "What did you do?!"
"It was Wagahai!"
"Your fake cat didn't bite me, Shige!"
"Yes, I did!" And Wagahai bites him again.
"What the fuck?! What the fuck?!"
"Wagahai! Stop!"
"That second one didn't take as much!" Wagahai purrs. "He's getting there."
Wagahai continues biting and scratching at Ryo. He's terrified, and Shige can't catch either one of them. Until finally, Ryo turns, looks down, and sees a very happy looking tomcat looking up at him.
"Oh, fuck. Fuck. I'm crazy."
Wagahai turns to Shige, "Your idiot boyfriend can see me now."
"Wagahai!"
And then Ryo faints.
He wakes basically where he fell, but stretched out on the floor. Shige is looking over him, worried and stressed.
"I'm sorry about Wagahai."
"We're crazy, Shige. Completely. Fucking. Crazy."
"No. It's just Wagahai. He's very picky about who he lets see him."
Ryo feels something move on his left side and when he looks, the cat is there. He groans.
"I don't like you," the cat begins, "But Shige likes you. And I like Shige a lot. So I will tolerate you. But only barely."
Shige reaches out and scratches behind his ears. "Wagahai."
"One step out of line though, and all your shit will be gone. Forever."
Ryo glares. "Give me the charger back. My battery's been dead for days."
"Ha." Wagahai jumps over Ryo to Shige. "Make me."
CHARACTER: Whore!Shige
NOTE: flashback
The bills had been stacking up and he’s been procrastinating on going out. Jobs in the suburbs wouldn’t be enough, wouldn’t be of any help. He had no choice. He had to go to Shinjuku. When Shige stepped out of the station, he shivered, even though it was warm out.
He could see the buildings twinkling, people still hurrying about even though it was late. Shige had never been to the back alleys of Shinjuku, where the sex clubs and prostitutes waited, but it wasn’t hard to find. He just followed the scantily-clad young women and dirty looking men. It was away from the station, but not especially far. Small signs advertised for massages and company, experienced women, experienced men. Those who didn’t have that slight level of professionalism waited out on the street. The women blew kisses to men and batted their eyelashes. The men - whom there were fewer of - rested their shoulders against buildings and signs, but kept their hips sticking out and smoked.
Shige saw them and knew he should stand nearby. This is where he needed to wait. But he couldn’t stop moving his feet. Stopping was like admitting defeat, admitting that he was doing this. So he just kept walking through the alleys, past all the signs glowing on covered store-fronts.
On his fifth pass through an alley, a man reached out and grabbed him by the wrist, Shige tensed.
“You’re so awkward.”
The man was dressed like Shige, but better. Designers jeans were low on hips and his shirt was tight, leaving a strip of midriff exposed. His eyes were dark.
“Here. Close your eyes.”
Shige did and his mind screamed, What?! Are you insane?! The other man moved, just barely, and then there was a light pressure gliding across his eyelids, the left before the right.
“Okay, there. Open ‘em and look.”
Shige did.
He was staring at his reflection in a compact mirror. His eyes were dark now too, lined in black. The compact closed.
“Alright, now off with you.”
The hand let go of his wrist and pushed at his hip, urging Shige away. So he kept walking.
TITLE: Trademark Weaponry
PAIRING: Ryo/Shige
Ryo and Shige both have way of getting what they want from the other. Manipulation is familiar territory. When Shige is feeling lazy or doesn’t want to cook dinner, all he has to do is yawn, rub his eyes and say, “Ryo-chan” in a quiet voice. It always works. Ryo bitches about having to take out the garbage or cook, but he does it, and Shige never has to explicitly ask.
Ryo’s methods against Shige are just as reliable. When he’s feeling neglected or that Shige’s time is too often elsewhere, Ryo just turns on the charm, his idol smile and starts singing Shige’s name until Shige gets annoyed the pays attention to him.
However, things don’t work out so well when Shige’s feeling lazy and Ryo’s feeling neglected. Shige whines Ryo’s name and Ryo thinks of the most obnoxious tune to sing Shige’s name to. The situation goes nowhere, and slowly, the two stubborn fools just get angry with each other.
“Stop singing my name!”
“Stop reading!”
“Failure of an idol!”
“Who---ley impossible!”
Granted, it was a good save by Ryo, but they both know what he started saying. Shige turns back to his book and doesn’t talk for the rest of the night. Ryo feels horrible, but doesn’t apologize. They go to sleep together that night, but Shige stays on his side of the bed and Ryo’s too anxious to go over. In the morning, Shige goes to class with out kissing Ryo goodbye.
Ryo feels bad about it all day, and on the way home, he buys Shige a boring looking book about the psychology of trial law. He gives it to Shige that night, but doesn’t say anything when he does.
“Is this supposed to be an apology?”
“…Yes.”
Shige looks at the book in his hands and it’s obvious he’s thinking. “You bought me a book.”
“You read a lot, so-“
“Why do you have such a problem with apologies? Just say it.”
Ryo frowns. “I bought the book so I wouldn’t have to say it.”
“The book doesn’t negate the apology.” Shige puts the book down. “You’re insensitive. You almost called me a ‘whore’ and then you buy me a book, instead of apologizing.”
“Of course it sounds insensitive when you say it like that.”
Shige puts his face in his hands. “Ryo, I don’t even care about the fight anymore. It was over something stupid. I’m bothered because you started calling me… that, when you know it upsets me and then you bought me a book like that will make it all better.”
“Shige-“
“Don’t.”
Their both quiet for a minute and the silence is heavy.
“Do you still want the book?”
“…Yes.”
TITLE: For Sale
PAIRING: Ryo/Shige
Shige as the item:
Ryo’s sitting on the couch with a stern face. Shige’s standing in front of him, looking guilty.
“Are you serious?”
Shige fidgets.
“Get out of it.”
“I… can’t. I promised, and I owe him a favor, so-“
“Get out of it! I forbid your participation!”
“Ryo!”
“You’re not doing this stupid bachelor auction shit! You’re not available!”
“But the student union-“
“Fuck it!”
“Ryo-chan, it’s nothing serious! I just have to do out on a date with some girl and flatter her for a few hours… it’s nothing.”
Ryo is still visibly unhappy.
The next day, he’s getting lunch in the student union when he sees some of the organizers taking down the posters advertising for the auction.
“What’s going on?”
The one turns. “Oh, Katou-kun, hi. Um, the fundraiser’s being canceled.”
Shige’s confused. “Was it illegal?”
The other looks at Shige strangely. “Uh, no. Some one donated all the money we needed. They’re staying anonymous.”
Shige’s surprised to hear such a thing, so he goes over to the financial department - and finds it’s true. The check was received and cleared that morning. In the evening, Ryo is in a very cheerful mood, Shige’s pretty sure who the anonymous donation was from.
Ryo as the item:
Shige knows Ryo is feeling guilty about something. In the past week they’ve gone out to expensive restaurants three times and Shige’s hasn’t been able to stop Ryo from buying him things all the time. Shige finds out soon what’s going on.
He makes a point of watching as many of Ryo’s TV appearances as possible - it’s his way of supporting Ryo. It’s the middle of some talk show, and every one is goofing off and making fun of each other. The hosts bring in some new girl group and they seem incapable of doing anything but fawning over Kanjani8. Then the host recommends they all go out on dates (to be recorded, of course) and Shige feels like throwing up. He reaches for his phone and leaves Ryo a frantic voicemail when he doesn’t pick up. Shige’s too horrified to watch, so he tries to nap, but just ends up tossing around on the bed, before he gets up and starts cleaning.
At 8:30pm, Ryo finally comes back. Shige steps out of the kitchen, quietly greeting Ryo, but he stops in the middle of it - he can smell the girlish perfume on Ryo and his face pales.
Ryo tries to hug Shige, but Shige keeps moving around to avoid him, looking upset.
“Shige, it was all a set-up. I couldn’t do anything about it.”
“You smell like her! And you could have told me! It was such a shock - I couldn’t believe it! And you could have called me back!”
“Shige, don’t get upset…”
“I have every right to be!”
“I can’t always help this stuff, Shige! It’s part of my job - doing stuff I don’t like, but pretending I’m enjoying it while being filmed.”
Shige goes into the bathroom and throws a towel at Ryo when he comes out. “You smell like a girl.”
Shige’s whining a little and if anything, that’s a precursor to crying, which Ryo doesn’t want to be the cause of. So he doesn’t try to make any more excuses, and spends the next hour scrubbing at his skin with the body wash he knows Shige likes best.
TITLE: Maid Service
PAIRING: Ryo/Shige
Shige arrives at Ryo’s apartment one afternoon and immediately wrinkles his nose. He follows the funky smell into the kitchen, where dirty dishes are nearly falling out of the sink. He sighs and puts on a pair of rubber gloves. When Ryo gets back, he doesn’t say anything about the now-empty sink, but happily joins Shige on the couch and proceeds to distract him from the news.
A few days later when he arrives, Shige steps on a shirt. The floor is littered with clothing. Shige picks up each piece as he goes and does the laundry. Again, Ryo gives him no thanks, but he enthusiastically sucks on Shige’s neck and kneads his thigh. Shige doesn’t try to fight the impossible.
On another day, Shige finds several bags of groceries on the counter. He’s worried about something spoiling, so he goes through all the bags and ends up putting everything away. Like he’d expected, Ryo ignores the fact the food had been put away, and goes straight to Shige, rubbing his back and kissing his shoulder.
It takes Shige awhile, despite his brilliance, to figure out that Ryo is just too conceited to thank him. In a strange way, Shige finds it kind of endearing - that Ryo shows his thanks instead of saying it.
For miscellaneous favors (like dish washing, laundry and putting away food), Shige gets doted on for the night, in some manner. Anything from a foot rub to frantic groping on the couch. Shige cooks a lot of meals at Ryo’s (since it’s a better kitchen), and often times he leaves the leftovers there. He always knows when Ryo’s eaten them, because he’ll get a message in the middle of the day (“Shige food. Munchmunch.”) or he’ll come back to his apartment and finds the cabinets restocked and food in the freezer. When Shige compliments Ryo’s dancing or singing, Ryo glows for the rest of the night, which is enough for Shige, but Ryo usually takes him out to dinner, or a movie, or buys him something nice that Shige wants and could use, but would never buy himself.
It becomes increasingly normal to Shige, so at those times when Ryo does say, “thanks,” to someone, Shige has to stifle a laugh, because it sounds so fake.
TITLE: Prominence
PAIRING: Ryo/Shige
Shige loves Ryo’s back. He thinks it’s very manly, and Ryo laughs when Shige says that, because it sounds ridiculous. Shige defends his point. It’s muscular and strong (Shige always watches Ryo when he practices dances in the living room). When Ryo’s feeling stressed, he’ll take the moisturizer from the bathroom and give it to Shige, and it’s obvious what he wants. Shige complains about having to give him a message, but only because it’s expected. From where Ryo can’t see him, Shige smiles and works the knots out, calms Ryo down. He’s happy to help like that and happy to be able to pamper Ryo, even a little.
Shige hates his own back, mostly because he can’t see it. Ryo tells him it’s beautiful, but Ryo is very biased. Shige has the confidence to ask for a hand or foot massage, but he feels awkward about asking for anything else, because he can’t help but compare his body to Ryo’s. Shige mentions it once - the idea of him starting to use his school’s gym. Ryo frowns and tells Shige he shouldn’t try to fix something that isn’t broken.
Ryo loves Shige’s hips - not even necessarily in a sexual way. They’re soft and fit so perfectly in Ryo’s hands, better than any girls’ have. Shige’s hips have only the tiniest hint of a curve coming down from his waist; Ryo loves it and can’t help running his hands along Shige’s torso whenever he can. While they’re getting undressed for bed, when Shige pulls off a sweatshirt and whatever he’s wearing underneath rides up, as he walks from the bathroom to the bedroom with a towel hung low on his hips.
Ryo hates his own hips. They’re not big or awkward, or anything like that, but he has trouble keeping on or gaining weight, so his hip bones jut out. When he looks in the mirror, Ryo feels like a gangly teenager again and it irritates him. Shige is good at reading Ryo’s moods though, so when he sees that irritation, Shige props his head on Ryo’s shoulder and asks - in as cute a tone of voice he can manage - what Ryo wants for dinner. It always works to draw Ryo’s attentions from his hips to his height (which isn’t really solving the problem) and remind him that, despite being the shorter of the two, he is the Wearer of Pants.
TITLE: Loyalty
CHARACTER/PAIRING: Wagahai, Ryo/Shige
NOTE: It's long like whoa, because Wagahai is ♥ and I couldn't stop.
Wagahai doesn't know when he first met Shige, but he knows it was a long time ago, because he can't remember a time when he wasn't with Shige. Wagahai supports Shige in his own little invisible-kitty ways, and Shige confides in him (and leaves out kitty treats). Shige doesn't tell other people about Wagahai, because they wouldn't understand.
When Shige moves out to be closer to college, there's no discussion about it - of course Wagahai's going too. The apartment is tiny and there aren't many places to explore, but Wagahai makes the most of it. He only goes outside a few times, because the looks from the street cats were too much. They see Wagahai, but they aren't sure if he's really a cat. He finds them beneath him. Of course he's a cat, are they blind?
For a long time, it's just the two of them - Shige and Wagahai - and everything's fine. But then bills start piling up and Shige is constantly looking more and more worried, getting less and less sleep. For once, he confides in some one else - the bartender down the street. Shige comes back one night, looking horrible, like an evil truth had been revealed to him and he couldn't go back. He sat down on the floor, pulled Wagahai into his lap and was very still for a very long time. Shige refused to tell him what was going on, and it was a shock, because Shige had always told him everything.
Every few nights, Shige starts going out - dressing in a completely different style than he normally does. Tight pants, nearly see-through shirts. Wagahai knows something's up, but he can't quite put his paw on it. Wagahai's a smart cat though, and he figures it out. He's appalled, but Shige ends the conversation before Wagahai can get more than a few words into it. Shige's in denial, sort of. So Wagahai hides his things - clothes, shoes... eyeliner. But Shige goes anyways, and Wagahai worries and frets, like he's a mother-cat.
One day, Shige comes back very quickly after leaving, looking irritated.
"I met the most horrible person tonight. He's an ass."
Wagahai frowns, but sits next to Shige on the floor while he looks out the window.
One night, Shige brings a man home, who inspects the apartment. Shige's at the stove and Wagahai asks him, "What are you doing?! Don't bring weird men home! Get him out of here, Shige!"
But Shige just looks at him and shakes his head. The man makes Shige cry and Wagahai's enraged, he claws at the man and bites him, but he doesn't seem affected in the slightest. Shige lets him stay and Wagahai's angry at Shige now too.
Weeks later, they're both happily asleep and there's knocking at the door, unending knocking late at night. Shige opens the door and that strange man comes in again. Wagahai hisses and runs out the door before it closes. If that man is around, he doesn't want to be. Shige doesn't listen to him - that man is weird, he'll only cause trouble. Shige's smart, but he's dumb too.
In the morning, the man leaves and Shige leaves the door cracked all day, so Wagahai can come in whenever he wants. Wagahai stays out late, just to make Shige worry.
More and more often, the strange man comes over or calls Shige on that horrible phone he bought Shige. He bothers Shige all the time, taking away the precious time Wagahai once had alone with Shige. Wagahai doesn't like him, this Nishikido Ryo. He's after something. He shouldn't be trusted.
Shige disappears for three days and Wagahai's in a panic. He's trapped in the apartment, unable to organize a search party (there are enough kids nearby that he could recruit imaginary friends). Wagahai's lost without Shige and when he finally comes back, Wagahai nearly cries with happiness. He rubs against Shige's leg and invites himself into Shige's lap when he's reading. Shige looks happy to be home.
But the next day, Shige's packing a bag, and Wagahai asks, "Are you going back home to visit? I'm going too."
Shige stills and bites his lip. "I'm... going to stay at Ryo-chan's. For a few days."
Wagahai is so angry he can't talk. He hides Shige's phone and keys and everything he can think of. And then Wagahai hides himself. Shige looks around the little apartment, talking loudly enough to that where ever Wagahai is, Shige can he heard. He sounds troubled, he asks Wagahai to understand, to try and like Ryo. Wagahai won't ever like him. Does Shige forget that Nishikido made him cry? Wagahai won't ever forgive Nishikido for that.
But Shige leaves anyways. Wagahai's listless and lays in the same hidden spot until Shige comes back in a few nights. Wagahai misses Shige, so he pokes his head out of the cabinet and Shige calls him, and he can't help but go to him. Shige's smiling, and Wagahai hopes it's because he came out. Shige pets him and gives him treats, but Wagahai is still sad. And a little angry. He wants Nishikido gone. He wants Shige back.
Wagahai discusses this with a few of the imaginary friends, and they tell him the only way to get Shige back is through Nishikido - piss him off, make him not like Shige. Wagahai thinks it's brilliant - why didn't he think of it?
So next time Shige's packing a bag, he jumps in and hides himself among the clothes. If Shige notices, he doesn't say anything. It's an uncomfortable ride. When they're finally at Nishikido's and it's safe to come out (Wagahai's trying to stay hidden from Shige during this mission after all), he's nearly in shock. The apartment's huge! There are so many places to hide and put things. Wagahai's impressed until he remembers this is Nishikido's place, and he gets to work. First, little things. Pieces of jewelery, only slightly important cards from his wallet, shoes that looks like they haven't been worn in a while.
But Shige knows Wagahai's mark, and he starts looking for the cat. It's hard work - hiding things from Nishikido and hiding himself from Shige. Shige leaves out some kitty treats, and it's hard for Wagahai to not eat them. He watches Shige frown at the little pile in the morning and mutter, "You're angry. I know it." Wagahai feels like it's a little victory.
But his actions are all in vain, because nothing ever changes. Nishikido keeps kissing and hugging and spooning up against Shige, who happily goes along with it. Wagahai has to fight the urge to puke all over Nishikido's stuff. But only because that's where Shige would draw the line with his tolerating Wagahai hiding things.
One day, Shige leaves for class and Wagahai decides to mess with Nishikido's head. He has to wait for the perfect moment to grab the remote off the couch and hide it in the cabinet in the bathroom. Nishikido freaks out and it's hilarious to watch. For the rest of the day he's clutching his phone and wallet. Wagahai doesn't move anything else for a whole day, just to make Nishikido think he really is that crazy.
But Shige calls him out on it, and tells Nishikido about Wagahai. Luckily, Nishikido doesn't believe Shige. If he did, he might be able to see Wagahai, and Wagahai doesn't want some one as gross as Nishikido to be able to see him. Shige leaves him kitty treats, which Nishikido throws out. Wagahai can't forgive that. He hides Nishikido's stuff, and throws out the donburi Nishikido said he wanted for lunch. And he gnaws on all of Nishikido's shoelaces, but no one really notices. Shige berates him a few days later.
"You should like Ryo-chan. He's nice."
"He's horrible. You just have no taste."
"I want you to like him. Since I love you both."
"Shige!" Wagahai flops on the couch. "Don't play the sap card. Seriously. Have you forgotten that he made you cry? He hurt you!"
Shige frowns and looks away. "Ryo-chan's been very nice to me, Wagahai. There's a lot you haven't seen."
"I don't like him, Shige."
One day, a little later, Shige picks Wagahai up and holds him out to Ryo.
"This is Wagahai."
Ryo stares at the spot were Wagahai is, unable to see anything. "Why are you holding out your arms like that? It's like you're holding something. It's creepy."
"I'm holding Wagahai."
"Shige, you're not holding anything."
Shige frowns. "You can't see him?"
Wagahai laughs. "The asshole you love doesn't believe I exist! How conceited!"
Shige pulls his arms in, holding Wagahai close. "You can't see Wagahai?"
"You're really freaking me out now, Shige." Ryo gently takes Shige's shoulders in his hands. "Are you feeling alright?"
Shige looks heartbroken. "I'm fine."
"You're not fine at all!" Wagahai says up to him. "Do you seriously want him to be able to see me?"
"I want Ryo-chan to be able to see you."
"Who are you talking to, Shige?" Ryo looks really worried.
Shige sits down, still keeping Wagahai close. "My cat."
Ryo doesn't say anything.
Wagahai butts his head against Shige's chin. "Don't be sad. He's not worth it."
"I want Ryo-chan to be able to see you." He sounds dejected.
"Shige, snap out of it. Seriously. You're starting to scare me."
Wagahai's getting worried too. He hates seeing Shige sad, and Nishikido not being able to see him is making Shige sad. As much as he doesn't want Nishikido to see him, Shige's happiness trumps everything.
Wagahai struggles, and Shige lets him jump down onto the floor.
"Where are you going?"
"Shige-"
"He can't see me unless he believes I'm here."
"What are you doing?"
"Shige, please stop talking to-"
Wagahai, with much purpose, walks over to where Ryo's standing. Wagahai reels back, preparing himself. He throws all his weight and strength and will forward, biting Ryo, hard, on the toe.
He yells, falls backwards and grabs his foot. "What the fuck was that?!"
"Wagahai! Don't bite him!"
Ryo's getting up, eyeing Shige. "What did you do?!"
"It was Wagahai!"
"Your fake cat didn't bite me, Shige!"
"Yes, I did!" And Wagahai bites him again.
"What the fuck?! What the fuck?!"
"Wagahai! Stop!"
"That second one didn't take as much!" Wagahai purrs. "He's getting there."
Wagahai continues biting and scratching at Ryo. He's terrified, and Shige can't catch either one of them. Until finally, Ryo turns, looks down, and sees a very happy looking tomcat looking up at him.
"Oh, fuck. Fuck. I'm crazy."
Wagahai turns to Shige, "Your idiot boyfriend can see me now."
"Wagahai!"
And then Ryo faints.
He wakes basically where he fell, but stretched out on the floor. Shige is looking over him, worried and stressed.
"I'm sorry about Wagahai."
"We're crazy, Shige. Completely. Fucking. Crazy."
"No. It's just Wagahai. He's very picky about who he lets see him."
Ryo feels something move on his left side and when he looks, the cat is there. He groans.
"I don't like you," the cat begins, "But Shige likes you. And I like Shige a lot. So I will tolerate you. But only barely."
Shige reaches out and scratches behind his ears. "Wagahai."
"One step out of line though, and all your shit will be gone. Forever."
Ryo glares. "Give me the charger back. My battery's been dead for days."
"Ha." Wagahai jumps over Ryo to Shige. "Make me."