Chapter 12

When they were in the room together, it was very tense. Both remembered what they had done the day before. When they had finished, they had cleaned up as best they could and got the hell out of there, blushing furiously. Gakupo and Kaito had said goodbye at the door and then gone their respective ways to their homes, memories roiling in their minds.

Kaito was the first to take out his songbook, clearing his throat. "This is my last song," he said unnecessarily.

Gakupo grunted in agreement. "This is one of my favorites. You sang this for a movie, yes?"

"Yes," Kaito replied. "Quarantine."

"Good movie," Gakupo said vaguely.

Kaito made an agreeing noise in his throat. "So you know how it goes, then?"

"Yes," Gakupo said. "Shall we?"

They said the first line together, "Why don't you die...?"

Gakupo sang the next. "We have made our decision."

"We're going to ignore her," said Kaito.

"We'll just crush anyone that's close to her, won't we?"

Then they sang together in a smooth but forbearing harmony, "I am the target. / Some people are gossiping about me. / 'Isn't she so annoying? haha' / For a reason as simple as that.

"I have now been contaminated by bacteria, / and you won't be able to escape anywhere. / Recently my heart has gotten ill, too. / It hurts, hurts, hurts, hurts, hurts.

"Even though I want someone to help me, / I can't even find one friend to rely on. / Even though it feels painful and agonizing, / I can't even find one place to escape to."

Gakupo and Kaito stopped there, mutually agreeing that they were ready to record. Kaito readied the equipment, they sang and listened to the replay, and then were done. It was the quickest they had ever finished.

So they sat silently together for a long while, waiting for the passion to build up as it had the day before. They didn't speak, not needing to banter politely. As Kaito began to slowly move toward Gakupo, there was a knock on the door.

"Hi, guys," Meiko sang as she poked her head into the door with a broad smile.

"Meiko, get out!" Kaito hissed, cheeks tinting.

"Oh, why?"

"We're busy!"

"You don't look like it. You look like you're taking a break," Meiko replied, entering the room with two grocery bags. "I brought snacks."

"Uh, thanks. Bye."

"Don't be so rude," Meiko stuck her tongue out at Kaito. Then she turned to Gakupo, who looked a bit uncomfortable. "I don't know how you put up with him."

"It's not so hard," he replied, clearing his throat quietly.

Kaito groaned loudly. "Meiko, we can't work with you here."

"Well, you can eat with me here," she said, oblivious to the men's annoyance at her presence. "Besides, I bought too much ice cream and I have nothing to do with it."

Kaito suddenly looked torn between his love for ice cream and his passion for Gakupo. "Maybe...a few bites," he said hesitantly, casting a sideways glance at Gakupo, who rolled his eyes.

"Thank you, Meiko," he said, taking a pint and a spoon.

"Knock knock," said another voice at the door. Gumi entered without waiting for a reply. "Eh, you started the party without me!"

"No, no," Meiko said, patting the seat beside her. "Come in, love, and join us for ice cream!"

"Don't mind if I do," Gumi said.

Gakupo glared at her. "What are you doing here?"

"Eating ice cream with my favorite pop star," Gumi replied. "And you."

Gakupo's eye twitched. "Tomorrow is our last day of recording. Why did you come today?"

"To make sure everything is on track," Meiko said. Kaito tossed his empty pint into the trash bin across the room and reached for his second, apparently oblivious to Gumi's arrival and the conversation.

"As you can see, it is."

"Yes, but we're also celebrating," Gumi said, waving her hand. "You know, the completion of recording. We would do it tomorrow, but Meiko and I are busy."

Gakupo sighed heavily and took a bite of his ice cream. "I see."

"Wait," Meiko said, looking at the console. "Have you already finished recording today?"

Kaito blinked at her, licking the last of his chocolate chip mint off of his spoon. "We still have to listen to it," he lied. "And if it's no good, we'll have to sing it again."

"Ohh," Meiko said, nodding emphatically. "So you two just want to spend more time together. Alone together."

Kaito and Gakupo blushed furiously. "No!" they protested defensively.

Gumi and Meiko shared a knowing look.

"Okay, okay," Gumi said, standing and gathering her things. "It's as you said, you're busy and all, so we ought to leave you to your...work." She winked at them.

Meiko followed after her, shooting the boys a peace sign over her shoulder. "Have fun," she sang as she swung the door closed.

Kaito and Gakupo sat where they were for a long moment, faces red as beets. Then Kaito stood.

"I, uh, just remembered," he stuttered. "I have to go and...do something."

"Yeah, no," Gakupo said quickly, standing. "I mean, I have to go...as well."

"See you tomorrow," Kaito said, quickly rushing out of the room to catch up with Meiko.

"Yeah," Gakupo said to the empty room. "See you..."

A/N: song is Bacterial Contamination.

Gosh, only two more chapters to go! I'm going to try to finish them both tonight, but no promises.

Thanks for reading! I really appreciate it!