Title: Anything for You
Author/Artist: snooperj & Bloodysamurai
Series/Pairing(s): TeniMyu; Mainly Takigawa Eiji x Kimeru & Shirota Yuu x Aiba Hiroki
Notes: Here is the 4th chapter entitled Because I Care. This chapter focuses on the pair of Shirota and Aiba, where we bring the Minami Keisuke arc to a close. We will see the drama that unfolds when Shirota tries to keep Aiba safe from Minami's hands. A climactic plot, however, can never go with some light drama and comedy provided by the pair of Takigawa and Kimeru. This chapter runs from May 23 – June 13, 2006.
**ALSO! None of the authors of this roleplay/fanfic own TeniMyu or the actors, but are mere fangirls of the musical series and corresponding actors we write about. Everything that progresses in the story are the creation of our witty imaginations.
+++May 23, 2006+++
A few weeks later, the doorbell rang in the Shirota-Aiba residence. "Yuu, can you get that? I'm in the shower!" Aiba called from upstairs.
"Hai, hai!" Shirota called in reply as he went to the front door to open it.
-break-
Kimeru smiled as he got off the car. They were currently in front of the hospital for Takigawa's check up.
Takigawa, with the assistance of crutches, got out of the car and was accompanied by Kimeru as they both headed inside.
-break-
When Shirota opened the door, Minami along with the rest of the third cast greeted him. "Ohayou, Shirota-san," he said calmly.
Shirota's eye twitched before he slammed the door again and stalked back into the house. "He dares to come by when practices are still a week away? Ridiculous..." Shirota muttered to himself.
-break-
The doctor looked at the x-ray and made a low humming sound. "You're healing up pretty well... I would advise you to stay put a bit more for the next few weeks until I can remove that cast. Until then..." he said as he glanced at the two. "Try not to overexert yourself," he reminded.
Takigawa nodded. "I will. Arigatou gozaimasu."
"Hai~ I'll take care of him," Kimeru said with a smile as he bowed. "Arigatou." He then helped Takigawa out of the hospital, holding the results and humming the tune of 'Make You Free' quite happily.
"So what are our plans for today?" Takigawa asked.
"Home, where else?" Kimeru said. "You heard the doctor...it's just rest and more rest for you," he added as he opened the door for Takigawa to get in.
Takigawa shrugged. "Hai, hai..." he replied as he moved into the back seat, laying the crutches on the floor.
Kimeru smiled as he got into the driver seat and drove home.
-break-
"Who was it?" Aiba called out from upstairs.
"Just the mailman!" Shirota replied, heading upstairs.
"Oh. Was there anything useful that came in?" Aiba asked as he stepped out of the bathroom and opened a closet.
"Not really..." Shirota replied.
"Let's see... Which shall I use today..?" he wondered, looking inside.
Shirota paused when he noticed that Aiba was looking into the closet the younger boy had clearly told him not to open. Curiosity getting the better of him, Shirota peered through the door and tried to get a view of what was inside. The Tezuka actor paled at the sight before he quickly retracted his head from the door and brought a hand to his chest, controlling his breathing. 'Who keeps closet full of hair irons?' Shirota moved downstairs, finding something to take his mind off the cluster of hair irons Aiba had in storage.
Aiba smirked when he noticed Shirota look through the slightly open door. 'Just as I planned,' he thought sadistically as he pulled out a hair iron. He finished getting dressed and looked at himself in the mirror. "Not bad, if I may say so myself," he commented with a smile.
-break-
Takigawa leaned on the door, silence filling the car as they started off back to their place of residence. 'It won't be long...' he told himself as he looked over to Kimeru. 'Then I can properly take you out to celebrate our anniversary as I originally planned...'
Kimeru chuckled. "Hey, why are you staring?" he asked, looking at Takigawa through the rear view mirror.
Takigawa was shaken from his thoughts before he shook his head. "N...Nothing..." he replied. 'I'll just let it be a surprise...' he told himself firmly.
"Alright," Kimeru said as he turned sharply around a corner.
-break-
Aiba went downstairs, doing a little dance step as he went into the living room. "Eh? You look pale, Yuu," he said. "Something wrong?" he asked.
Shirota was attending to a little bonsai that was on the coffee table in front of him. His hands were evidently shaking. "It's nothing, Hiro-kun," he replied nervously.
"Okay..." Aiba said as he noticed something by the door. "You forgot this one letter, Yuu," he said as he opened the envelope and frowned. "Practices start next week... I almost forgot…" he said.
"I know..." Shirota replied, being reminded of Minami's appearance at the door just moments before.
Aiba sat down next to Shirota and placed his arms around the other's waist. "Do you have anything scheduled for tomorrow?" he asked.
Shirota leaned back and placed an arm over Aiba's shoulders. "No, but the day after tomorrow I have a photo shoot to attend to. Gomen"
"That's okay; Kazuki will be there anyway..." Aiba said with a smile. "So don't worry about anything and do your best at the photo shoot, 'kay?"
"Do you want to come with me to my photo shoot?" Shirota offered with a grin.
"If Ueshima-sensei would let us go early then I'd love to." Aiba answered.
"It's decided then. I'll pick you up, then!" Shirota stated happily.
"Hai~" Aiba said with a smile.
-break-
It wasn't long before they had arrived at the house as Takigawa got out and went inside after Kimeru had opened the door, Pearl running forward and stopped, knowing her boundaries, especially with Takigawa.
"Hello, Pearl," Takigawa stated, smiling warmly at her.
Kimeru looked at the two and nodded to himself, satisfied that Pearl wouldn't jump on Takigawa he went straight to their room to lie down. 'Not allowed to overexert...damn it...' he thought bitterly.
-break-
Takigawa moved to the nearest sofa and sat down, tossing a throw pillow on the coffee table and propped his foot up before leaning back, Pearl following him as she leaned on his outstretched leg as he began stroking her under the ear.
-break-
Kimeru buried his face in the pillow. "This is getting frustrating..." he muttered into it.
-break-
Takigawa pondered on what to do to pass the time, for a moment wondering where Kimeru had gone off to.
-break-
Kimeru looked up and saw a picture of himself and Takigawa, during one of their musicals way back when, on the bedside table. He sighed. "Eiji..."
At about the same moment, Takigawa spotted a photograph on the table and reached forward to get it as he leaned back on the sofa and examined it. This one was of himself and Kimeru shortly after Dream Live 1st.
+++May 30, 2006+++
The days passed by quickly; Aiba had a blast at Shirota's photo shoot a few days ago and looked forward for the next. Presently, the TeniMyu practices had started. Aiba looked around the room; he sat with the Hyoutei boys for now.
"So… since the cast of Seigaku except for Aiba is new, today we'll just have a little 'Getting to know each other' activity," Ueshima explained as be brought out a crate of beer.
Aiba's eyes widened. "Ueshima-sensei, we didn't do that before," he stated.
Ueshima smiled. "Of course, since we had a minor...who isn't a minor anymore," he answered as he looked at Ruito.
Minami smirked. i'This could be a good opportunity...' he thought.
Ueshima paused, suddenly remembered something. "Aah, one other thing. We have a guest from the second cast who's visiting us today," he announced before Shirota entered the room. "Minna, you all know TeniMyu's second Tezuka actor Shirota Yuu. Kouhais, please give him your respect," Ueshima called.
Shirota nodded to Ueshima and to the group at large as well.
"Yuu…" Aiba said as he stared at Shirota 'I thought he had a photo shoot today...' he thought.
Minami muttered darkly under his breath.
Shirota moved beside Aiba, smiling over to him. "I cleared my schedule today so I could come and visit. Does it bother you?" Shirota teased, whispering over to him.
Aiba smiled at him. "No, not a bit," he said as he intertwined his fingers with Shirota.
-break-
Takigawa found himself on the bed, moving to sit up before a sharp pain jolted from his foot as he tried to move it. 'I forgot about that…' he cursed to himself.
-break-
Minami glared at the other Tezuka actor before facing Sakurada beside him. "He wasn't supposed to be here…" he whispered.
Sakurada sighed, "Well, he's already here. What else can we do?" he answered.
Ueshima passed a bottle of beer to everyone and smiled. "To start off this team building activity, we will begin with the classic game of 'Truth or Dare.' I'll start it. Sakurada-kun. Truth or dare?"
Sakurada looked at Ueshima carefully. "...Truth…" he said after much deliberation.
"Sakurada-kun, do you have a girlfriend?" Ueshima asked teasingly.
'TeniMyu rule Number 65: 'As much as possible, no distractions.' So why would I want a girlfriend? As if I want one anyway...damn I sound like Ibu from Fudomine...' Sakurada thought. "No." he answered plainly.
"Hmm...Kazuki-senpai. Truth or Dare?" he asked.
"Ore-sama picks truth," Kazuki said, getting into Atobe's character. Sakurada rolled his eyes.
"Are you going out with anyone from the cast?" he asked.
Kazuki smirked and leaned over to TAKUYA and kissed him on the cheek. "That a good enough answer?" he asked, Sakurada tugged his cap down and nodded. "Very well... Minami-kun... Truth or Dare?"
"Dare," Minami said with a smirk.
Kazuki thought for a moment, taking a swig of the beer. "I dare you to..." he began. "...do a chicken dance, complete with a song of your choice."
Minami blinked. "The hell?" he said as his cast mates started laughing at him. He muttered darkly to himself and stood up and began the chicken dance while singing 'Banana no Namida'.
Once he was finished humiliating himself, he sat back down. "Shirota-senpai, truth or dare?" he said.
Shirota raised an eyebrow, not expecting to be part of the game, much less having Minami be the one to decide for him. "Truth," he replied.
Minami smirked as he adjusted in his seat. "You and Aiba-senpai..." he said as he glanced at Ueshima and decided to change his question. "What is the real reason why you came here?" he asked.
'Asking me the obvious for the sake of acting curious in front of the others, huh?' Shirota thought darkly. "Besides obviously coming to visit and meet the third cast, you mean? Well..." Shirota took Aiba's hand, intertwining their fingers. "I came here to 'protect' Aiba should anything happen to him," he stated, knowing full well that Ueshima-sensei was well aware of their relationship as the man in question rubbed his nose, counting the rest of the beer bottles he had brought out.
Minami growled inwardly when he saw Shirota make a move and Ueshima didn't even budge a muscle. Instead of saying anything he downed almost half of his beer.
"It's still your turn, Yuu…" Aiba reminded his boyfriend.
"Ah, right..." Shirota surveyed the group, wondering who to ask before stating, "Nakayama-kun. Truth or Dare?"
Nakayama Masei, the third cast Inui, blinked. 'I thought I wasn't going to be called but oh well...' he thought. "Uh...Truth," he said.
"By chance, is there any particular scene you'd like to do in this musical involving any of the other cast members present? Given the fact that you're doing Inui, after all," Shirota inquired.
Nakayama thought for a moment "Well...I really want to have a scene where Inui reveals some information about the regulars, just like you did in the last TeniMyu...which was a good idea, by the way," he said.
After a while, due to the random intake of beers, Ueshima noticed that everyone was in various shades of red. Aiba, for one, was already leaning on Shirota, clearly dizzy and drunk.
"Alright everyone, let's play 'I've never'!" he announced.
Aiba groaned. He knew this was coming. Ueshima patted Shirota on the shoulder. "Since you're the guest here, go ahead and start, Shirota!"
Shirota turned to Ueshima-senpai, a bit dazed before shaking his head, trying to steady himself. "I've never attempted to ski," he said quite randomly.
Aiba frowned as he took a swig of his beer. Minami blinked. "Senpai has never tried to ski?" he asked Shirota.
Ueshima grinned. "Your turn, Aiba," he said.
Aiba, beer already completing the task of fogging up his mind, looked at Shirota and grinned. "I've never…" he started. "...never worn a French maid outfit while delivering a very clichéd line." He chuckled at the memory; everyone just stared at him.
And to the surprise of most, Kenken took a drink. "WHAT?" Ruito exclaimed. Kenken shrugged. What caused everyone to react however was that Aiba also took a drink, thus, nullifying his own 'I've never'.
Shirota held back an outburst of laughter; instead taking a swig from his bottle.
Ueshima chuckled. "Saa, let's continue with Minami."
Aiba leaned back to his seat and tugged Shirota closer. "Stupid...feather duster...hates me..." he said randomly.
"You kids continue, I'm just going to the bathroom," Ueshima said as he stepped out, excusing himself.
Minami, feeling very bold at the moment...and very stupid...did one thing no one expected him to do. He stood up and smirked at Shirota and Aiba. "I've never kissed a senpai," he said as he moved towards Aiba and in one swift movement, bent down and kissed him before pulling back and going back to his seat just across the room. This caused Hyoutei to all jump to their feet in anger.
"You little-" Kazuki began, but stopped when they all heard the door click. Knowing well that it was Ueshima, Hyoutei sat back down, Kazuki being the last as he glared at Minami. "You'll pay for that," he said as Minami exchanged grins with the third cast.
Aiba, stunned for a whole second wasn't able to react and instead buried his face in Shirota's shoulder.
Shirota tensed as Minami had approached and kissed Aiba before returning to his seat. "Yes you have..." Shirota hissed darkly over to Minami as the door re-opened to Ueshima. 'Be grateful I'm not strangling you for doing what you just did...' he thought to himself.
Minami smirked at Shirota. 'Keisuke-one, Shirota-nil,' he thought in satisfaction.
Sakurada nudged him. "You didn't have to go that far," he said.
"It was worth it," Minami answered.
Ueshima, somehow noticing the tension in the room, sighed. "I don't want you guys to get into accidents or something. Everyone is free to go, don't forget practice tomorrow!" he said.
"Hai..." came the collective mutter.
Kazuki nodded at Shirota. "Go ahead, leave ahead of us and take Aiba home," he said.
Shirota stood, pulling Aiba up onto his feet, nodding gratefully to Kazuki. "Sankyu..." With one last glare towards Minami, Shirota directed Aiba out of the room before they started heading off back home. 'I'm seriously going to hit that guy with something when the time comes to knock some sense into him...' he stated to himself.
"Hey...since when did you have a twin?" Aiba said as he looked at Shirota.
-break-
Kazuki glared at Minami. "Do anything stupid and you will have three casts after your ass," he said as he went out with the Hyoutei boys.
Minami smirked. "But none of you have an idea what happens now… do you?" he said when all the people who were left in the room were the third cast, all grinning evilly.
-break-
Shirota held Aiba steady as they reached the bus stop, waiting for the next one to come. "You got yourself drunk... I knew I should've stopped you from taking your 3rd bottle..." he said with a sigh of frustration and guilt.
"Drunk?" Aiba asked. "I'm not drunk... Nope! ... Not me!" the dancer said with a chuckle. Aiba kept quiet for the whole trip home, but once they reached home he grinned and leaned on Shirota, "Did I ever tell you that you are sooooooo damn sexy?" he said.
Shirota moved to close the door behind him but was forced back into it, closing it with a click as Aiba leaned onto him. "H...Hiro-kun..." he stuttered, knowing that Aiba was indeed drunk, otherwise he wouldn't be saying things like this outside their chambers - their bedroom.
Aiba grinned. "I really liked that French maid outfit, didn't you know?" he said as he poked a finger at Shirota's chest. "And I really hated it when we had to get rid of it because the Hyoutei boys came over..." he said as he stepped back and swayed a bit. "Oh look...there're two of you again..." he said.
Shirota grabbed hold of Aiba's wrist, steadying the boy as he led him upstairs. "Let's head upstairs. You need to lie down," he instructed, clearing his throat as he said so.
"I don't wannaaaaa..." Aiba said, but didn't resist as he was led upstairs.
-break-
Kimeru looked at his watch and sighed. He had been quiet since the day that Takigawa had his check-up. He didn't really know why though. "Stupid... broken... leg... stupid... stairs..." he muttered darkly as he chopped some carrots. A soft whine was heard beside him, and he looked down. "No Pearl, I'm not mad at you anymore…" he reassured the dog beside him who started to wag her tail. "Why don't you go accompany Eiji upstairs while I finish this surprise snack?" he suggested. Pearl barked once before leaving the kitchen. "Good girl," Kimeru said with a smile.
-break-
Takigawa was a bit disappointed that he and Kimeru haven't been speaking too much with one another since the day of his check-up. He was sitting helplessly on the bed, opting to read a book to pass the time. Just as he opened it to the first page, a small bark was heard before Pearl entered the room, moving up to his bedside.
"Hello," he greeted, setting the book aside and bent over, taking Pearl up onto his lap and stroked her fur.
-break-
Shirota directed Aiba into the room, gently pushing him into the bed with him. "What do you want to do, Hiro-kun?" Shirota inquired quietly, smiling genuinely over to the younger boy before leaning forward and capturing Aiba's lips with his own.
Aiba seemed to think for a moment. "I want..." he started. "You!" he said childishly as he pulled Shirota to kiss him again.
-break-
Kimeru finished making the salad and smirked. He went upstairs with it and a glass of juice. When he reached the room he smiled pleasantly, like the calm before a storm.
Pearl, who had settled herself on Takigawa's lap, barked when Kimeru had entered the room. Takigawa followed the Yorkshire terrier's gaze as a small smile crept on his face. He silently nodded to Kimeru and took Pearl into his hands and set her down as she ran out of the room, knowing to leave the two alone.
"Can I assume that you made that for me?" he asked, spotting the salad.
Kimeru nodded "Yes it is, I heard you muttering about salad when you fell asleep last night and decided to try and make some," he said as he placed the tray on the side table.
Takigawa flushed, clearing his throat as he averted his gaze.
-break-
Shirota pushed himself up as he waited for Aiba's response. "That doesn't really-" Shirota began before Aiba had pulled him back down again.
Aiba grinned as he turned their positions around; he smirked as he straddled the older man. "My turn..." he whispered.
"Hi...Hiro-kun..." Shirota started again. 'He won't be remembering much about this, but even still...'
-break-
Kimeru laughed, "Silly Eiji... If you've been craving for some then you should have told me," he said.
"I didn't... I didn't want to inconvenience you..." Takigawa replied, unable to look over to the other man. "And we haven't been talking lately, so I thought..." he trailed off.
Kimeru smiled at him and hit him on the head, but not strong enough to hurt him. "Stupid...ever heard of 'frustration'?" he asked.
Takigawa brought a hand to his head and finally turned to face Kimeru, nodding. "It's because of my foot again, isn't it?" Takigawa said with a sigh. "I'll make it up to you, Kime-kun... Someday..." he reassured him.
"I know..." Kimeru said as he kissed Takigawa on the forehead. "Now don't overwork your brain cells over this and eat the salad I made," he said as he shoved the bowl of salad to his hands, looking away, cheeks a slight pinkish color.
Takigawa smiled before taking hold of the bowl. Takigawa examined it before chuckling. "I'm surprised you made this," he stated.
-break-
Aiba smirked as he looked down at Shirota. "Ne...Yuu... Do I also seem small when you're on top?"
Shirota paused for a moment and smirked. "Why? Do I seem small to you from up there?" he teased.
Aiba looked at him and tilted his head to the side in thought. "Well...smaller than I am since I'm looking down," Aiba said with a smile.
Shirota chuckled. "Is that so?" Shirota brought his hand up and caressed the younger boy's cheek. 'Forget about him being drunk…' he thought to himself firmly. "Well, I guess it's time you took advantage of being on top, Hiro-kun. I might reclaim my position if you don't do anything," he said.
-break-
"It's my first try actually," Kimeru admitted shyly.
Takigawa took the fork and stabbed the concoction of vegetables and dressing. "Itadakimasu..." he said before taking it in. Chewing it, his eyes widened as he swallowed it and took another look at the salad before turning to Kimeru. "What did you put in it?" he asked with a hint of excitement in his voice.
Kimeru grinned. "I'm afraid I'll have to keep that a secret," he said as he stood. "I've got to go and do the laundry," he said with a smile. "Finish that, okay?" he added as he turned around.
Takigawa lowered the fork and grabbed hold of Kimeru before he could walk away. "Can't it wait?" he asked quietly.
Kimeru blinked when he felt Takigawa grab him. "S-sure..." he said as he settled back down to sit on the bed.
"I missed you..." Takigawa offered as an explanation as he shifted to eating the rest of the salad.
-break-
"Noooo...I like my position..." he whined as he bent down. "Very much…" he whispered as he kissed Shirota, one of his hands trailing down the other's chest.
Feeling slightly aroused, Shirota wove his hands around Aiba, pulling him into an embrace as his hands moved around the boy's back.
Aiba's wandering hand had made its way into Shirota's shirt, caressing him as he slipped his other hand behind Shirota's head, pulling him closer.
One of Shirota's hands, in response, trailed down to Aiba's leg, pulling it up as he gently pushed them onto their side, pulling back for a moment to catch his breath. "You seem to be eager tonight," he teased.
"Why shouldn't I be? You never let me be on top anyway..." Aiba said with a sly grin. "Mou... Now I'm not on top anymore..." he complained. "I'm going to punish you for that..." he added slyly as he moved forward and bit down on Shirota's neck.
Shirota flinched, but he didn't pull away, half-knowing he deserved it. "How can I ever make it up to you?" he asked.
"How do you always?" Aiba asked with a grin.
Shirota grinned. "As you wish," he said before reclaiming Aiba's lips once more.
Aiba tried to suppress a moan but failed. One of his hands that was in Shirota's shirt had managed to get the other's shirt off. 'Much better,' he thought.
Shirota's hands moved to Aiba's own shirt, grabbing the end and slowly pulling it up, breaking the kiss for a moment for the clothing to pass through before he tossed it to the floor before taking Aiba's lips once more.
-break-
Kimeru smiled softly. "Yeah...I missed you too..." he admitted. "...that's why you have to take care of that leg and be sure not to cause anymore delay in its healing."
"It's just the foot, Kime-kun," Takigawa corrected before finishing the last of the salad and set the empty bowl on the tray. He reached out for the juice. "And I would very much like it to heal quickly as well," he stated before downing his juice.
"It's your whole leg that's incapable of action, though..." Kimeru reasoned with a frown as he watched him down the juice. "Besides...while you're handicapped like this, I'm sure the other two are going at it like rabbits..." Realizing what he said, his eyes widened and his hands flew over his mouth. "S-sorry… I didn't mean to say that…"
Takigawa returned the glass on the tray. "It's fine..." he replied. He frowned, missing Q who was downstairs lacking Takigawa's attention ever since Kimeru had forbidden him to leave the room.
"What's wrong now?" Kimeru asked, worried.
"I just remembered about Q..." Takigawa mentioned off-handedly.
-break-
Aiba pulled back a bit. "Who's eager now?" he teased as his hand reached Shirota's belt. "Off..." he hissed.
"It's getting hot in here, anyway," Shirota said, chuckling as he pulled on the drawstring of Aiba's jogging pants. "Wouldn't you agree?"
Aiba looked down at his jogging pants and frowned. "You're right...it is..." he said slyly.
Promptly after both of their pants had been discarded, Shirota caressed Aiba greedily into another kiss.
Aiba moaned into the kiss. He placed his hands on his partner's shoulders and ground his hips to Shirota's.
Shirota moved his hand up to Aiba's shoulder blades as he broke away from his lips and proceeded down his neck and along his shoulders.
Aiba bit his bottom lip to keep himself from crying out from the sensations that he was feeling. "Yuu…" he moaned as his hands moved to hold on to the sheets.
Shirota took slow kisses before pulling back. "What is it?" he asked.
Aiba looked at him. "Stop...teasing," he pleaded.
"If I do, I wouldn't have anything else to do," Shirota fired back with a chuckle.
"You're not fair..." Aiba drawled as he leaned back on the bed.
"Then would you like to make any suggestions?" Shirota asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Tell me how Seigaku managed to get us together again?" Aiba suggested, his mind already moving to another thing.
-break-
"Want me to bring him up for you?" Kimeru asked with a chuckle. "I'm sure he misses you too."
Takigawa nodded at him appreciatively. "Arigatou. That would be nice," he said.
Kimeru nodded as he stood. "I'll go get him," he said as he went downstairs, coming back a moment later with a brown, flat and fluffy rabbit in his arms.
A gentle smile came onto Takigawa's face as he saw Q and took him from Kimeru before stroking his fur, muttering 'How are you?', 'Did you miss me?' and other such phrases to the rabbit before he suddenly blurted out, "Arigatou, Kimeru... For everything..." he turned to Kimeru, pulled him close and gave him a deserving kiss on the lips.
Kimeru, whose smile did not leave his face since he brought Q in, nodded. "Anything for you, Takigawa Eiji…" he replied softly.
Takigawa smiled but said nothing else. "Where would you like to go once my foot heals?" he asked, changing the subject.
"I want to go to the shrine where you took me when you confessed," he said after a moment of thinking. "...and I'll bring a camera this time around. Plus...Sota and Nagayama wouldn't be there."
'That'll help me plan that day better...' Takigawa noted to himself as he nodded. "I see… Anywhere else?"
Kimeru shook his head. "That's all I have in mind...and Q is chewing on the pillow by the way…" Kimeru said.
Takigawa, having forgotten about Q, turned to the rabbit and pried him away from the pillows. "Q!" he scolded before shrugging. "We'll think of something to do when the time comes," he concluded.
"Yes, I'm sure it'll come naturally," Kimeru said with a chuckle.
+++June 13, 2006+++
A few more days has passed, and it was already the second week into the Tenimyu practices.
"What? Hyoutei isn't here?" Aiba burst out as he looked at the people onstage.
-break-
Shirota was at home tinkering with the piano, writing a song as he thought about Aiba at practice. 'If Kazuki's there, it'll be alright...' he reassured himself.
-break-
"Ueshima-sensei said that it was so that we could practice the songs for our group better," Nakayama stated.
Aiba eyed Minami carefully. "Why wasn't I informed?" he asked.
Nakayama shrugged. "We only found out about it today as well…" he answered. "Chill, Aiba-senpai..." Minami said as he casually slung an arm over Aiba's shoulders. "We might as well make the best out of it."
Aiba pushed the arm away and stepped back. "Whatever..." he said as he went to talk to Ueshima to ask if ever they were allowed on an early break.
Minami looked at Takagi Shinpei, the third cast Momoshiro, who nodded and reached for his phone.
Moments later... Aiba's phone rang.
-break-
At around the same moment, Shirota's phone went off as well.
PRISM iro no hikari atsume
kimore hi no shita Sunday in the park
sukoshi YURU me no kuuki no naka
boku wa jibun wo torimodosu
Shirota set his pen down and reached out for it as soon as he heard Aiba's 'Shootin' Your Smile' and glanced at the screen - it was Kazuki. He answered it and brought it to his ear. "What's up, Kazuki?"
"Shirota..." came Kazuki's sleepy voice. "I almost forgot to tell you to stay with Aiba today... Hyoutei isn't coming for practice…" he said with yawn.
-break-
Aiba answered the phone and his eyes went wide. "Yuu?" he said out loud, causing the cast to look at him. "What? … Where are you? ... I'm on my way!" he said as he ended the call. "Ueshima-sensei!" he yelled.
"Go, Aiba!" Ueshima said, hearing the panic in his voice.
"What happened?" Minami asked, stepping forward.
"Shirota was in an accident! He's in the hospital... and I…I...I have to get to him!" he said, tears spilling from his eyes.
Minami nodded. "I'll take you. I have a car," he said.
Although a bit reluctant, but thinking that it was for the best, Aiba nodded. "Let's go!" he said.
-break-
Shirota stood up abruptly, taking a full minute for realization to strike. "WHAT? You mean Aibacchin is alone with HIM?" he shouted into the receiver before abandoning his work and left the house, locking it hastily with a fumble of his house keys and sprinted to the practice area, inadvertently ending his call with Kazuki.
-break-
"Minami! This isn't the way to the hospital!" Aiba exclaimed as they turned around a corner. Minami looked at Aiba slyly.
"Don't worry, Aibacchin...Shirota-kun isn't in any danger at all…" he answered.
"W-what?" Aiba asked incredulously.
Minami auto locked the doors. "The number that called you...it was Takagi's number," he answered simply.
Realization struck Aiba hard. He knew he was in trouble. "Minami...let me out..." he said, fear rising, voice shaking.
Minami stopped the car in front of a duplex type place. "I don't think so, Aibacchin…" he said as he grabbed Aiba.
-break-
After running 10 blocks, Shirota reached the practice area and headed inside, out of breath.
"Shirota-kun? What are you-" Ueshima started as he noticed the boy enter.
"Where's Aibacchin?" he interjected roughly, catching his breath as he headed further inside to the auditorium where the rest of the third cast were practicing.
"He left with Minami..." one of the staff said. "Aiba said that you got into an accident."
At the side of the stage, Sakurada lowered his cap.
Kazuki, who looked like he just got out of bed, arrived a few seconds later. "Where's Aiba?" he said, echoing Shirota's question. Silence answered him. "Damn it..." he cursed.
Shirota clenched his fists, realizing that Minami wasn't around. 'Damn it..!' he cursed before turning to Kazuki. "Call the rest of the Hyoutei boys. I'll call the Seigaku cast members. We need to find Aiba. He's with Minami," he explained to the Atobe actor before taking up his phone and speed-dialed everybody from the first and second Seigaku cast that were registered in his phonebook to relay a message.
-break-
Kawaita kaze ni me wo sorasazu ni LENS wo shiboru
Neratta ashita no katachi wo ima utsushidasu yo
Hitori no yoru ni kakureteita
sabita kizuato wo kodou no nami ni keshite
Takigawa stirred from his slumber when his ringtone of Kimeru's 'Make You Free' went off. His hand searched underneath his pillow and recovered the device. The screen displayed Shirota's picture before he answered the phone in loudspeaker move. "Shirotan?"
"MINNA! AIBA'S MISSING! YOU HAVE TO HELP ME FIND HIM!" Shirota shouted in alarm to everybody who had answered their phones.
Takigawa, upon hearing the news, was now fully awake.
Kimeru, who was just beside Takigawa, working on something on his laptop, grabbed the phone. "We're going to help, Shirotan," he said in a firm voice before ending the call. His own phone didn't go off for one reason; it was being fixed in the shop since Pearl used it as a chewtoy a few days ago.
He then smiled at Takigawa. "Guess whose going to drive…" he smirked evilly as he grabbed Pearl who was sleeping on the floor. "…and guess whose coming with me?" he said.
"Apparently Pearl is," Takigawa pointed out, pointing to the sleeping dog in Kimeru's arms.
Kimeru smiled. "Yes she is...and guess who else..." he added as he advanced on Takigawa.
-break-
Kenken, who was half asleep, answered his ringing phone.
GOOD COMBINATION
Yappa GOOD na RELATIONSHIP daze
Omae to iru to fukanouna koto nado nani mo nai youna ki ga suru
Yuuki mo doryoku mo konjou mo ishiki shinai de mi ni matoeru
Hazukashii kedo aratamete iu ze
"Kamakari..." he answered.
"GET YOUR LAZY BUTTS IN ACTION AND FIND AIBA! MINAMI TOOK HIM!" Kazuki practically yelled, and Kenken could swear he heard Shirota yelling something similar in the background. He rubbed his ear and sighed.
"Hai, buchou," he answered. "Koji!" he called out. "We have a problem!" he said as he grabbed his shoes.
-break-
After receiving feedback from everybody that they were going to help, Shirota took a moment to calm down, though that would be an understatement, given the current situation.
"But the problem is where do we start?" Kazuki asked.
"I know where Aiba-senpai is!" Sakurada blurted out.
Kazuki and the others stared at him. "You what?"
"I know where he is...I know the whole plan..." he admitted. "...but...this...this has gone too far."
Kazuki growled. "You bet it is," he said as he grabbed the boy by the collar. "Take us to him," he said dangerously.
"H-hai..." Sakurada answered nervously.
"I have my car out front. Let's go," Kazuki said as he nodded to Shirota and dragged Sakurada, "Sensei," he said as he passed Ueshima.
Shirota climbed into the front passenger seat of Kazuki's car. "When I see him, I'll kill him..." Shirota stated.
-break-
Takigawa's eyes widened before shaking his head. "You don't expect me to be going out looking for Aiba in my condition, do you? Even with my crutches it would put some strain on it," Takigawa reasoned.
"Ah yes... but I need someone to hold the map. Now shall we go or shall I ignore you again for the next few days because you refused to help a friend in need?" Kimeru countered as he deliberately moved so that the necklace that Shirota and Aiba bought for them showed.
Takigawa paled before finally nodding. It wasn't that he didn't want to help, but it was more on keeping his foot off any weight as much as possible for it to recover quicker. 'How selfish of me...' he scolded himself as he slid off the bed, retrieved his crutches and got up before nodding to Kimeru. "Let's go," he said before heading out of the room for the first time in weeks.
-break-
Sakurada swallowed hard. "I'll guide you there..." he said as Kazuki started the car.
"And the directions better be right or else we'll kill you as well," the Atobe actor warned.
"H-hai, senpai," Sakurada said as he led them to the area.
-break-
Kimeru nodded in satisfaction as he followed and helped Takigawa downstairs and to the car. "Besides...don't you want to deal some damage to that jerk as well?" he asked as he opened the back door of the car for Takigawa to get in. "Come on Pearl," he said as the dog hopped in the front seat.
Takigawa moved to the door and handed the crutches to Kimeru before sliding into the back seat. Pearl gave an enthusiastic bark.
Kimeru smiled as he locked the seatbelts he placed at the back over Takigawa just for this reason. "For safety reasons," he said as he also strapped Pearl in and put the crutches in the trunk. "There! No more means of escape!" he said happily. Once he got into the driver's seat and locked the doors, Kimeru started the car and floored the gas, making them run at maximum speed.
Takigawa was about to protest before Kimeru had floored it, pushing both him and Pearl back into the seats, drowning out any words he might have planned on saying.
-break-
"Just around the corner..." Sakurada pointed out. "There...the brown duplex..."
Kazuki stopped the car in front of the place and frowned. "Come on!" he said as he opened the door.
-break-
Minami smirked in victory as he stepped out of the bedroom door, closing and locking the door behind him.
-break-
Shirota got out of the car and followed Kazuki to the door. "MINAMI!" he hollered, banging on the door.
-break-
"Shit!" Minami exclaimed, moving quickly to get back into the bedroom and locked the door again.
-break-
Sakurada joined them at the door, digging through his pockets, and threw a set of keys to Shirota. "Senpai!" he called out.
Shirota took the keys and expertly fiddled with them and opened the front door before running inside. He took a quick survey of the place before moving up to one of the rooms. It was the closet. The second door was the bathroom. The third door he tried was locked. 'Bingo...' He took the keys and tried them all on the lock. His second key worked as he turned the knob and pushed the door open.
"Aibacc-" Shirota called, but stopped at what he saw.
Aiba's eyes snapped to the door. "Yuu!" he called out desperately.
Minami was straddling him; holding him down, trying to shut him up. Sakurada's eyes widened. "You fool..." he muttered to himself.
Kazuki froze on the spot, his gaze darting back and forth from Shirota to Aiba.
Rage overtaking him, Shirota pulled out one of Aiba's hair irons - the portable one - he had brought along for this occasion and threw it with all his might as it found its target and knocked Minami across the head, knocking him unconscious and more importantly, off Aiba. Shirota moved forward before shedding off his jacket and handed it to Aiba.
"Minami!" Sakurada exclaimed as he rushed to Minami's side.
Aiba quickly put on the jacket before immediately holding onto Shirota. "Yuu!" he said as he began to cry. Kazuki walked over to Sakurada and Minami, letting Shirota and Aiba have the space they need.
Shirota took Aiba in his arms, quieting him as he stroked through his hair. "It's alright now, Hiro-kun... I'm here..." he reassured him.
-break-
"TURN THE WHE-" Takigawa shouted just as Kimeru swerved around the corner just in time, giving Takigawa a moment to sigh in relief. Pearl's whines could be heard, the dog feeling uncomfortable. "Can't you slow down a bit, Kime-kun?" Takigawa suggested.
-break-
Aiba nodded as he held himself closer to Shirota.
Kazuki looked over his shoulder at them. "I'm texting the others that we found Aiba," he said as he flipped open his phone.
Shirota nodded in silent gratitude to Kazuki.
-break-
A few moments later, at a red light, Takigawa was calming down before his phone vibrated in his pocket. He fished it out and saw that it was a text from Kazuki that they had found Aiba. Takigawa looked over to Kimeru. "Kazuki's texted. He says that they found Aiba already," he told him.
"I see... So that means..." Kimeru chuckled evilly. "We're going all the way back home…" he said.
Takigawa watched the stoplight. "Can we at least go a little slower since we're in no rush anymore?" he tried.
-break-
"I...I'll take it from here..." Sakurada said to the three.
Kazuki looked at Shirota. "I think that would be best...I'll go back and talk to Ueshima-sensei...you take Aiba home... Use my car," he said as he threw the keys to Shirota. "I'll use his..." he added as he pointed to Minami. "...and take him to Ueshima-sensei with me."
Shirota caught the keys and nodded again. "Alright. Arigatou, Kazuki."
-break-
"Nonsense. I still have laundry to finish and you have to get back to bed." Kimeru said, making a little "^_^" expression.
Aiba stayed quiet and still all the way back to their place.
Shirota parked Kazuki's car outside their house before he moved to help Aiba back into the house.
Aiba let himself be guided; he felt lost and used... He couldn't even look Shirota in the eye.
Shirota led Aiba to their bedroom and sat him down on the bed before he embraced him again. "Gomen… I didn't know that Kazuki wouldn't be there to keep you away from him..." he apologized.
-break-
"Now's not the time to be in Fuji-mode, Kimeru!" Takigawa protested, struggling from the seatbelts.
"Oh look!" Kimeru suddenly said. "...green light..." With a smirk, Kimeru sped off.
"Wa-" Takigawa's words were drowned once again as he was pushed back into the seat once more.
-break-
"No...It's my fault..." Aiba said. "I was so stupid...and... and..." He then remembered what he was thinking before everything happened. "...and so scared that something happened to you...They said you were in an accident and I believed them...I couldn't think properly...I was so afraid...so afraid that you...you were.." he trailed off, tears clouding his vision.
Shirota pulled back and gently wiped the tears from his lover's eyes. "Sssshhh... It's okay, Hiroki. It happens to everybody... They get led astray easily... I mean, I ran 10 blocks from here to the practice area after hearing from Kazuki that you were alone with Minami... I arrived too late, of course, but still... 10 blocks...!" he stated, sighing before pulling Aiba into another embrace. "But everything is alright now. It's over."
-break-
Takigawa had finally been able to breathe properly when Kimeru had parked their car in the driveway, free of any damage. Takigawa began struggling with the seatbelts again. "Kime-kun..." he started.
Kimeru grinned as he helped Takigawa take off the seat belt.
Takigawa pulled himself out from the backseat before realizing that his crutches were missing.
Kimeru retrieved the crutches from the trunk and smiled as he handed them to Takigawa. "That was fun..." he said.
"For you, it was..." Takigawa stated darkly as he took the crutches and pulled himself up before Pearl came running just behind him, jumping into the concrete sidewalk and running towards the house. Takigawa and Kimeru headed back inside.
-break-
Aiba nodded as he looked at Shirota. "Shirota Yuu...I love you...so much..." he said softly as he placed a hand on Shirota's cheek.
Shirota overlapped his hand with Aiba's before planting a kiss on the boy.
Aiba kissed back, letting all his fears fade away.
TO BE CONTINUED
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