Title: Maji Love to the Max
Summary: Tokiya faces some serious challenges as he starts to feel things, think things, and do things he never thought he'd do. With Starish's return to Saotome Academy, and their world tour on hold, Tokiya's recently made relationship with Haruka faces a dark ending when his friendship with his roommate takes a turn he didn't expect.
Pairings: SECRET! Duh, what's the fun of that? Hehe :D
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Uta no Prince Sama characters, locations, etc. (unfortunately)
The stadium was aglow from the basement to the tallest point of its walls. It was not difficult to guess what had this place packed to the brim, its windows ready to crack from the intensity of the music; no, there was only one thing that could cause such a scene . . .
DOKI DOKI de koware sou sen PERCENT LOVE HEY!
The audience of over fifty thousand spectators roared with glee at the sound of Starish, now doing their rather appealing form of a countdown on stage. As their music progressed, the fans started to faint, one by one, at the pure beauty and seductive voice of their idols. Nothing could compare to such a sound, and many could not take the overpowering feelings deep within them as they sang.
Otoya and Tokiya, really the main faces of Starish, took the front of the stage to sing their parts. It was now almost routine to them, but one that they could do endlessly if they had to. With a composer like Nanami Haruka, it was almost second nature to want to do her music. Tokiya smiled at the audiences as he sung, flashing his roommate a brief knowing smirk, only returned with an equally knowing smile of his own. It was typical, to just time yourself with your partner, and Tokiya had done it numerous times over the course of this six month tour that Starish had done across japan. With their world tour scheduled to be announced soon enough, he felt he would have many more opportunities to do so as well.
However, something was different about this time, this glance was not the same. It was as if he had seen his fellow Starish member differently. And while he couldn't quite understand it, he couldn't seem to want to take his eyes off said partner now dancing with him. With their singing part quickly approaching, he forced his eyes (with surprisingly a great deal of strength needed to do so) and returned it to the audience ahead.
GIRIGIRI na mune no kodou
Such few words on Otoya's part, but in that brief period, Tokiya's mind had blanked at the sound of his roommate's voice, and for the first time, Tokiya lost his lines. The music continued for all of two seconds before an accidental nudge from Otoya beside him brought the words back in an instant and his hips went side to side in a rather appealing way, mirroring Otoya's perfectly. He had never been more aware of the way Otoya's hips moved than in that instant.
UH BABY Gouin ni naru koi no shoudou
The duo moved quickly back into formation with the four other Starish members, and continued to sing to the song they had all known by heart.
Douchi wo erabu? PRINCESS
Again, Tokiya's mind blanked. All from a simple glance at Otoya's form beside him, knowing the way Otoya's body moved as he danced, fingers lightly trailing the length of his torso and waist. It was as if he had lost his head for a moment, and with that simple glance, lightheadedness came to him that nearly brought him to his knees. It was strange; he had not felt such dizziness since his having overworked himself back in the days of being both Tokiya and Hayato. But it had taken all he had to focus on the song, and glance at his partner when they sang:
KURA KURA shichau kurai sen PERCENT LOVE
Relief washed over him briefly when he had taken a step aside, letting the next duo sing their section of the song. A brief look was exchanged between Tokiya and Ren, something playful in the next singer's eyes that brought a wave of confusion and wariness to Tokiya; but Ren simply flashed him that winning smirk and stood beside Masato as they sang.
What had that look been that Ren gave him? Tokiya's head was reeling by this point, and the song had never seemed so long in his life. But eventually it had; with a graceful spin, Tokiya found himself in the center with Otoya once more, standing closer than normal, but somehow not close enough to the dark haired artist. His elbow bumped Otoya's, and suddenly a shock ran through him that left him paralyzed a fraction of a second. Luckily, a quick nudge back from his singing partner brought his head back to reality, and they closed the song as a group.
Koyoi wa hora futari de sen PERCENT LOVE
The stage went dark as their final song ended, and they were quick to jog off from the side exit. Haruka was the first to greet them, just as she was each song, with the most brilliant smile any of them had seen. "That was wonderful!" she began brightly, stepping into the embrace of her recently made boyfriend Tokiya, while having been directed at the entire group. "It was as beautiful as ever."
"You wrote it," Syo replied with a teasing elbow bump. "That's why it's so great!"
"Syo is right!" Otoya was quick to add, his mood still as exuberant as it always was, nearly doubled now from the adrenaline rush of singing. "You're a great composer!"
Haruka was a new shade of scarlet with each comment, burrowing her embarrassed face into Tokiya's white costume coat. "Thank you," she muttered, struggling not to smile like an idiot.
Tomo-chan appeared behind Otoya's shoulder, startling the singer to such a degree he had taken cover behind a rather nonchalant Tokiya. "The bus is here!" she screamed cheerfully, pecking her boyfriend Natsuki on the cheek, darkening his cheeks to a darkness equal to Haruka's. "Great job, Natsuki-chan!"
"Thanks," was all he could utter audibly, flashing a nervous but pleased smile at her.
Tokiya watched them, finding it still quite difficult to fathom (but equally amusing) the two as a full on couple. From what Haruka had told him on one of their becoming frighteningly rare moments alone together, that on a shopping trip with Tomo-chan and Haruka in the city a month or so back, Natsuki had caught Tomo-chan buying a rather strange shirt . . . a Piyo shirt for herself. It was love at (first?) sight for the singer/Piyo enthusiast.
"Let's depart, shall we?" Ren asked, his eyes specifically on the zoned out Tokiya. "I suggest we retire to my estate. It is not but a few miles up the road."
"Wonderful," Masato muttered, his somber and stoic nature resurfacing over the open and cheerful attitude singing had once given him. With a grumble, he followed Otoya and Syo out of the building, only being trailed by Ren, egging the irritation further with "friendliness" he knew was unwelcomed.
With a small flash of a smile to Haruka, still clinging to his waist, he ushered her out after all had departed, and were the last to board the rather large tour bus. Haruka was instantly pulled away, sitting down in the couch with Tomo to view some magazine that was popular among the women. Syo and Natsuki had already thrown themselves onto the beds in back, Syo not even having bothered to change. As the bus started, Tokiya sat across from Otoya at the small little eating table beside the kitchenette.
"Tokiya!" Otoya welcomed eagerly, looking up from a magazine the group had interviewed for just recently. "We made the cover!"
He couldn't resist the eye roll, finding it rather imbecile like a remark. "We were told we'd be on the cover, remember? It is why we spent six hours in a photo-shoot not even a week ago."
Otoya stumbled a moment, and nodded almost embarrassed. "Oh, right." A nervous laugh. "Well, it is cool to see us on the cover."
"It's not the first time," he remarked, a tad ruder than he had intended, but exhaustion was taking its toll on him.
"True . . . but we aren't you, Tokiya." The comment had thrown the celebrity a moment, and his head cocked to the side curiously. "We didn't get to live a double life as Hayato and have the hundreds of photo-shoots, covers for us, and the whole superstar lifestyle. This is still new to us. Even if we've been doing it for six months."
All Tokiya could manage to do was make strangled little sounds, staring uncomprehendingly at his roommate. Nothing more was said before Otoya said he was going to step into the restroom, but Tokiya was not oblivious to the true reason . . . to get away from Tokiya's lack of understanding.
At the sound of the door sliding shut behind Otoya, Tokiya turned on the white leather seat of the chair he sat in, glancing around for anyone to converse with. The girls had lost themselves in chatter of some celebrity that had a new movie premiering, and Tokiya was not ready to face the mental breakdown that would likely occur (as well as physical pain) should he interrupt such an important conversation. In the opposite direction, Ren was sitting in the small circle couch that was tucked away in the alcove just before the travel beds, Masato sliding out in front of him to make some tea. The two had been arguing (mostly Masato had been) about some slip up of Ren's in the performance. With a grumble, Masato went as far away from the still sitting Ren as possible, struggling to focus on something other than the arrogant roommate he was doomed to be stuck with.
At that moment, Ren's eyes locked with Tokiya's, and a feeling deep inside him arose, one Tokiya couldn't describe as anything other than strange, and intense. With one swift move, Ren slipped out of the alcove and sat in Otoya's previous seat, one arm rested against the window ledge, the other perched on the back of his own chair. Such a pose puffed out his chest, and really defined his muscles, something Tokiya found himself struggling not to look at. (I've never been jealous of Ren's muscles, he thought to himself. Why now?)
"So there is a rose garden that was recently planted in part of the garden behind my mansion," Ren began disinterestedly. "Might I suggest a late night stroll? I am certain you and the Little Lamb will find it quite enjoyable."
There was something off about the almost mocking remark of Ren's, and Tokiya was certain there was something up, but what exactly he was at a loss for. "What is it you are you up to, Jinguuji?" he snapped, his eyes narrowed into suspicious slits as he stared down the eerily relaxed man before him.
"There is nothing," he replied innocently, his eyes never leaving Tokiya's. "Perhaps it is you that is beginning to get a little too paranoid. Too much stress?'
With a snort of disbelief, Tokiya fell silent at the jolt of the stopping bus. His feet went out under the table to steady himself, only to brush a little too much against Ren's. His expression changed as his blue eyes locked on Tokiya's, and a sort of knowing smile spread across his lips. "Feel free to take any of the rooms, bunk with whomever," he called to the busload of people, though his eyes remained locked on one. "My servants will accompany you to your rooms and be available for assistance at any time." With a quick nod to Tokiya, Ren was first to descend the stairs of the bus and almost breeze through the doors of his home.
"We're here already?" Syo muttered sleepily, rubbing his eyes as he struggled to hold himself up with the door frame. "How long was I asleep?"
"About ten minutes," Otoya replied considerately, patting the exhausted Syo's shoulder. "If that."
Syo grumbled, grabbing his carry-always bag and stepping off. Natsuki followed suit quickly after.
"Haruka-chan!" Tomo-chan began peppily, being so exuberant and loud with her chatter that the sound was like a nail to the head for Syo. The angry Starish boy was snapping angrily outside the bus, cursing in Japanese (all of which was ignored). "Bunk with me!" she continued. "It will be just like Saotome Academy!"
The attention startled the still shy as ever Haruka, and she only smiled and nodded. With a small wave to Tokiya, she was quickly pulled off the bus. With a soft, almost inaudible sigh, he spared a glance at his, oddly enough, best friend Otoya, knowing full well what the next question would be. "Want to be roommates?" Tokiya asked in his place.
Otoya was grinning eagerly, patting his friend's shoulder with an excited nod. "I thought you'd never ask."
The energetic boy quickly departed the bus, leaving Tokiya and Masato in his wake. The two finally departed as well, watching the crowd slowly starting to migrate inside with their luggage that had been stored in a side bin under the living space of the bus. Haruka was standing with one of the servants, offering to take her own luggage (which was quickly turned down by the warm, welcoming, older woman). "Haruka-chan," Tokiya called teasingly, smiling at the way she blushed with the title. "Come here please."
She was quick to walk over, taking his hand in hers as he kissed her forehead. "How about a stroll . . . ? Ren informed me of a rose garden somewhere on the property. I thought that you might enjoy it."
Considering his reluctance, he was aware of how much Haruka had enjoyed that particular flower (quite possibly due to all the flowers Ren had showed her with when she first stepped into their lives.) A garden of them would be heaven-sent to the child. "Tokiya, that sounds wonderful."
A smile was all he could manage as the pair started through the side gate to the garden. Oddly enough, the walk to the rather spectacular garden was less than expected. The moonlight was brilliant in contrast to the dark grass, and now slowly reviving trees. A bitter cold swept across the grounds, a clear indicator spring had yet to come, despite the trees slowly coming more to life with each second. The garden had to stretch for a good few acres, farther than his eyes could see, especially with such little light.
Something he could see? Haruka's face almost aglow with brilliance. She was certainly adorable, beautiful even. But why hadn't his heart gotten that same little flip that he always did when he did. Was that a bad thing, or was his lack of sleep what kept him from feeling much for his girlfriend.
Her fingers intertwined with his, and he watched the way she reached down to pick one of the pink roses beside them. He admired the way she brushed it's petals against her nose, and across her cheek, a look of pure innocence on her face. His hand slipped from hers, only going to wrap around her waist and pull her close. It felt good, being able to have open relationships again, thanks to their lack of restrictions like back at the academy. This felt normal, natural, comfortable.
However, oddly enough, that's really all it had felt. He loved her, he loved the way she made him feel (like he could do anything, be anything he wanted), and he was in love with her for it. But then why did it feel as though there was something missing? More of a spark maybe? Perhaps that's just because of the rocky start they had, and that could change, grow . . . right?
"Tokiya," she murmured, twirling in his arms to face him, brushing the rose against his nose and lips. She hadn't said the words at that moment like normal, but her soft, gentle tone was enough for the words to get across. I love you.
He could only smile, leaning in and letting his nose skim across the length of her jaw, going to kiss her cheek and whisper her name deep into her own ear. He felt her shudder against him, and he started smile even wider. Without further wait, he pulled back to see her face, slowly leaning in for the kiss he'd been longing for since the start of that evening's concert.
Luck was not on his side that evening, and their attention was brought back to something else before their lips could meet. "Uh-uh-uh!" Shining Saotome said, suddenly beside them.
The abruptness and proximity of their former principle scared both of them, Haruka being so startled she let loose a blood curdling scream that cut through the silent night like a knife, and instantly went behind Tokiya for protection. "Saotome! Where did you come from?" he snapped, struggling to see the full details of the man before him.
The husky almost cackle of the principle was the biggest give away, and he stared at them from over his sunglasses (the glasses that seemed to be glued to his face, even in the darkness of night). Before he could reply, a rush of people had come out, two guards with shotguns, followed by a robed Ren and the fellow Starish members. The guns pointed at the principle, who hardly seemed to blink at the action. Ren and them all froze at the sight of him, and Ren was quick to call off the weapons. "Saotome!" he snapped, suddenly very un-Ren like. "What are you doing on my estate, at this hour no less? How did you even get onto the premises?"
"Music has no limits," he replied, arms spread as he spun around in the darkness.
Otoya had come to stand beside his best friend and his girlfriend, one hand on each of their shoulders. "Are you all right, Haruka-chan?" he asked softly.
"She is fine," Saotome answered for her, meeting their gaze. "But you all will not be when you hear my news. Especially those in relationships!" A menacing chuckle.
"What do you mean?" Tokiya asked, his tone now even and expression composed.
"As your publicist and such, I have decided it was in the best interest of all you children, which many of you are still, have to attend Saotome Academy one more year!"
It had taken a moment for all of them to understand, and they stared at him with blank expressions. "We're going back to school?" Tomo-chan finally asked, her tone both breathless and excited.
"That you are indeed. The world tour is cancelled indefinitely until such has happened. You start in two weeks, the first week of April, with everyone else. When school is over, the tour will be rescheduled."
Their expressions differed from thrilled, to irritated, to uncaring. Tokiya was among the uncaring, along with Masato and Syo. Ren however, had never looked more irritated in his life. The only ones enthusiastic seemed to be Otoya, Natsuki, Haruka, and Tomo-chan, for reasons Tokiya couldn't fathom. He met her eyes, and Haruka was all smiles. It was upon meeting her eyes that the lack of excitement in Tokiya finally made sense. "Wait . . . does this mean Tokiya and I cannot . . ."
"Be together . . . yes," Saotome said. "However . . ."
All met his eyes, and a look of hope stirred. "However . . .?" Tokiya asked, his tone demanding for an answer.
"Due to your circumstances and situation . . . I would be willing to turn the other cheek. I will not be telling your teachers though! So anything caught by them, well, that is your own fault. I will overlook it, but they will expel you on the spot." He met Tokiya and Natsuki's eyes, as if he had known all along it was them with the relationships. "So I suggest being very indiscrete with your infatuations."
Before anyone could object further he had seem to slip into the darkness, and suddenly his cackling was what sounded like a mile away. The teens exchange utterly bewildered glances, before some started to chatter on exuberantly. Tomo-chan's grabbed his face, eagerly kissing Natsuki, and said, "Yay! Natsuki-chan! We don't have to break up!"
Natsuki had hardly heard a word, too frozen in a stunned bliss state and seemed to just fall to the ground like jello slipping through her fingers. Otoya pat Tokiya's shoulder, congratulating them on the very same thing before quickly retreating inside with the perplexed Ren and Masato.
With a soft peck to the cheek, Haruka said she was thrilled about it as well and followed Tomo-chan inside for the evening. Is this a good thing . . . or bad thing? he thought to himself, his fingers brushing against the rose petals with the gentlest of caresses. But it was still too much. One petal fell, floating down with a slow descend. Tokiya watched it settle between his feet, and contemplated the possibility of that being an omen.
Reluctantly, he slipped the rose into his pocket, careful not to damage any more petals, and went to scoop the still fainted Natsuki with Syo. This is going to be a long year . . .