Part 3

The jonquil is the flower that says, "Love Me."

Kyo wandered down the hallway of the photography studio. His Polaroid
camera swung from its strap around his wrist. He paused to look at
himself in one of the mirrored windows that hung in the door, lining the
hallway.

In full make-up, his face had a pale pink tinge to it contrasting
sharply with his very black hair. He admired himself for a moment,
twisting a silky forelock around his finger. He liked having dark hair.
It made him look so. dramatic.

He blinked his dark chocolate colored eyes, lined with soft black
eyelashes. Thick black eyeliner made them seem even bigger than they
were. He opened his eyes wider, giving his face a sweet, almost innocent
appearance.

"Gah!" Kyo growled at the sweet-faced reflection. He pursed his lips and
squished his cheeks with his hands. His camera, dangling from one wrist,
banged against the glass in the door. He opened and closed his lips a
few times, mimicking a fish.

He stopped after a time and grinned again at his reflection showing off
his teeth before he continued down the hallway.

Nobody noticed when Kyo silently opened the door of he studio that was
to be Dir en grey's for the afternoon. Nor did they notice when he
slipped inside stealthily. It was pure chance that Die happened to look
up at that moment and see Kyo slip inside.

Kyo saw him and winked, putting a finger to his lips. Then he grabbed
the edge of the door, pulled back and slammed it shut with a bang that
echoed like a gunshot through the studio.

Toshiya, who was peacefully napping in a chair jumped out of his seat
with an earsplitting scream.

Kyo doubled over in laughter, grabbing at his sides, tears falling from
his eyes.

"You should have seen your face!" Kyo laughed harder.

Toshiya pouted angrily for a moment before he retorted.

"You should see yours! You are as red as the blood you spit up!"

Kyo stopped laughing and touched a hand to his face.

"I'm not that red am I?"

Toshiya laughed now.

"No. You're fine. Why this sudden extreme concern for you appearance?"
Toshiya poked Kyo in the side. "Who do you want to impress?"

Die walked over and grabbed Kyo in his arms and smashed a kiss on the
vocalist's cheek playfully.

"Why Kyo-chan! I didn't know you cared!"

Kyo wiped his cheek with the back of his hand and made a face.

"I'll Kyo-chan you!" Kyo whirled around to assault Die with furious
poking but Die sidestepped him. He overbalanced and fell forward,
toppling over Shinya, who was walking up innocently. They fell with a
crash to the ground, a tangled heap of arms and legs.

After a few moments of struggling, Shinya had arranged himself under Kyo
in a way that was much less painful than their initial position.

"Nice to see you too Kyo!" He said brightly.

A blush spread across Kyo's cheeks and down his neck.

"Look Kyo's all red again!" Toshiya mocked.

Kyo stuck out his tongue at the offending bassist. Shinya sat up and
gathered Kyo in his arms, giving him a gentle hug.

"Why Kyo!" Shinya said, his voice laced with surprise. "You have
lipstick on your cheek." Shinya sounded just slightly threatening. He
narrowed his eyes and looked up at Die.

Die looked back down at Shinya, a grin plastered to his face.

"Why Kyo, you have Die's lipstick on your cheek!"

Kyo bit his lip and looked sheepish.

"Die attacked me!"

"It was completely innocent!" Die held up his hands. "I swear just a
friendly peck!"

Shinya pursed his lips and his mock-angry look twisted at the corners of
his mouth into a smirk.

"Die. How many times to I have to tell you to not try to steal my
boyfriend?"

"How can I help it? Kyo is just too cute for you! He belongs with me."
Die grinned as he pulled Kyo off of Shinya's lap and stood him up. He
bent to give Shinya his hand and help him up from the floor too.

"I know he's irresistible but he is mine and, I'd like to keep it that
way." Shinya gave Die a faint, closed-mouth smile. He leaned over and
grabbed Kyo's hand, dragging the smaller man back across to him.

"I still say he's too cute for you Shinya." Die said, a gleam in his
eyes.

Kyo put on his best annoyed expression.

"You know, this is all very flattering but, I wish you wouldn't talk
about me like I'm not here."

"Oh we are just playing." Die said, giving Kyo's shoulder a squeeze. "Go
take that lipstick off your face before we have to take pictures!"

"Yeah, come on Kyo." Shinya dragged Kyo away. The vocalist turned his
head and stuck out his tongue at Die and Toshiya as Shinya all but
carried him out of the room.

"They really are cute together, aren't they?" Toshiya asked.

"Yeah, they really are."

***

Shinya held Kyo's chin in his hand while he wiped the lipstick off of
his cheek with a damp tissue.

"I hope you didn't spit on that." Kyo said, eyeing the tissue.

"I didn't. But it wouldn't be something you weren't used to."

Kyo blushed while Shinya wiped at his face.

"Your make-up is all gone now. Tell Die not to kiss you when you are
wearing make-up, okay?" Shinya narrowed his eyes and smirked. "In fact
tell Die not to kiss you at all!"

"Oh?" Kyo perked up at Shinya's sudden jealous look. "Why not? It was
harmless."

"Because you are mine!" Shinya put more make-up on Kyo's cheek and
rubbed it on viscously.

"Ouch! Shinya! That hurts!" Kyo pulled away from him and touched his
cheek. "You don't have anything to be worried about okay? Yeesh."

"Ah! I'm sorry darling." Shinya leaned forward and brushed him lips
across the spot that bled red through the thick make-up. "I'll make it
up to you later."

***

"Kyo! Stop it!" Die waved his hand angrily at Kyo. "You are such a
terror! Go bug someone else!" Die said trying to keep a straight face
and pose for the camera.

Kyo stuck out his lip.

"Hmph. Fine then. I just wanted a picture, Die!" Kyo whipped around and
found himself staring at Shinya. The drummer was lounging on a
convenient table. Kyo smiled and bounced over to him.

"Smile!" He hollered and peered through his Polaroid camera. Much to his
surprise, Shinya smiled. He smiled wide and beautifully. His red lips
split to show of his pretty teeth.

Kyo snapped the picture and promptly fell over.

"Shi- Shin-chan. "

"What?"

"You are so pretty!" Kyo ran to Shinya and jumped up on the table next
to him. He threw one leg over Shinya's and clutched at his arm.

"Kya~ Kyo what has gotten into you?"

"I almost never get to see you smile. Much less like that! You looked so
beautiful." Kyo stopped breathlessly.

"Kyo-chan. You are so cute!" Shinya tapped Kyo on the nose and kissed
him. Kyo only blinked, not even noticing the way Shinya spoke to him.

"Shinya-chan."

***

"Toshiya, Toshiya, Toshiya!" Kyo raced urgently down the hall way after
the bassist.

"What? Kyo? What do you want?"

"Well, I wanted to know... if. umm. you still had that lacy thing from
the calendar photo shoot."

"Why?"

"'Cause I want it." Kyo whispered.

"What!? Kyo? Do you want it to wear for Shinya?"

"Ssh! Yes! Why do you ask?"

"Kyo."

"Ssh!"

"Kyo, I am not giving you my old lingerie." Toshiya hissed.

"But Toshiya-chan. It's not like you wore it for anything else."

"It doesn't matter if I did! Besides you'll want something way sexier
than that for Shinya."

"Toshiya!"

"What!? You want to impress him right? Don't look at me like that!"

"Sorry."

"I'll take you out later, okay? I know the best little place."

"Toshiya!"

"Don't be such a baby Kyo!"

Kyo grumbled under his breath.

"Good. I'll see you later then."

***

Toshiya sipped his coffee and stared across the table at Kyo.

"So Kyo, what is your sudden interest in being so sexy for Shinya? Are
the sparks of your relationship dimming?"

"No. We are fine."

"Trouble in bed?" Toshiya leered at him.

"Wha-? No! How can you ask that?"

"Because there are only two reasons a person buys sexy lingerie. One,
undergarments. Two, to be sexy in the bedroom." Toshiya flipped his
head. "I happen to know you don't wear lingerie on a regular basis so
I'd have to opt for the second reason." Toshiya took another smug sip of
his coffee.

"Well I."

"Yeah?"

"When did you become such a dirty old man anyway?"

"Always. Now what's the deal Kyo?"

"Well. you are gonna laugh!"

"No. I swear I won't. Now spill!"

"Shinya smiled at me today."

"That's it?" Toshiya face showed vivid disappointment.

"No, you don't understand. He smiled at me!" Kyo fished through the
clutter of his shoulder bag and pulled out the Polaroid he had taken
earlier. He lay it flat on the table and pushed it towards Toshiya.

"That's Shinya! That's Shinya?" Toshiya shook his head. "Damn! He looks
so pretty. maybe I'll have to offer you some healthy competition."

"Don't even think about it."

"So he smiled pretty for you and you feel.?"

"I feel like he has so much on me. He's tall and skinny and really
beautiful and now, he has this gorgeous smile. I feel so. not sexy."

"Kyo, as a friend, I can say, you are very sexy. And Shinya thinks so
too. So what if he's tall. He's too tall! And skinny. I could snap him
like a twig. And-"

"Hey! This is my lover you are talking about!"

"Oh yeah. Sorry. My point is, Shinya is going to love you no matter
what. Don't stress."

"Yeah. Don't stress."

***

Shinya licked the bit of chocolate off the tip of his finger and sighed
to himself. He was bored. Where the hell was Kyo? He said he'd be late
but.

The phone rang and Shinya jumped up to grab it.

"Hello? Kyo?"

"Nuh- Shinya, it's Kaoru."

"Kaoru? Damn."

"Nice to hear from you too."

"Sorry Kaoru. I'm bored and waiting for Kyo to come home."

"Have you got plans tonight?"

"No. We were just going to have dinner and go to bed."

"Oh. Hey Shinya, wanna go for quick drink?"

"Well I. Kyo should be home soon."

"Come on real quick."

"Alright. I'll see you in a few."

Shinya hung up the phone and shoved the last of the chocolate cookie he
was eating, in his mouth. If Kyo came home soon, it was just going to be
his turn to wait.

***

"Wow. So you really do love him, huh?" Kaoru stared in wonderment at
Shinya, down the bar.

"Yeah. He's the best. I love him 'til forever." Shinya said blushing.

"Geeze Shinya I knew you were a Yoshiki fanboy but, forever?"

"Oh, like you should talk! At least my idol is alive!"

"hide is alive!" Kaoru gave Shinya as serious a look as he could manage
through the fair amount of liquor he'd had.

"You're getting drunk." Shinya said bluntly. "And I don't want to fight
with a drunk person."

"I'm not drunk."

"Not yet."

"Not yet."

Shinya went silent for a minute. He traced patterns in the condensation,
on the outside of his glass. Kaoru leaned over the bar and put polka
dots across on side of Shinya's glass.

"What are you thinking about Shinya? You got so quiet."

"I was thinking about a lot of things."

"Kyo?"

Shinya blushed vividly.

"How'd you guess?"

"Shinya, as far as I can tell you think about three things. Music, Kyo
and, Kyo."

"Kaoru. that's only two."

"Not with the way you think about Kyo!"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just that you think about him a lot."

"I do."

Kaoru wiped a smiley face into the side of his own glass.

"Do you think you are in love with Kyo?"

"Yes. I was really doubtful for a while. I had to work over my feelings
a lot but, he is the sweetest most wonderful thing to happen to me."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh. He may not look like it but Kyo can be really romantic. And
he's just a little insecure so it makes him rather sweet and. Why am I
telling you this?"

"Because I asked and you have had something to drink."

"Don't you dare tell Kyo I told you any of this."

"Of course I wont. Wow! So you really do love him?"

"With all my heart."

"What about Yoshiki?"

"Well. I love Kyo with almost all of my heart."

"Ah ha! And what if I tell him that!"

"I think you are closer to being drunk than before."

"So?"

"By the time you are finished with tonight, I don't think you will even
remember being out with me." Shinya smiled at Kaoru.

"I might."

"Come on. I'll take you home to Toshiya. I bet he wants your company
tonight."

"There is nothing between Toshiya and I."

"Uh-huh?"

"Nothing. "

"Okay good." Shinya glanced at his watch. "Aie! Kaoru! It's almost 9
o'clock! I be Kyo's already home!"

"Mm."

"I'm gonna call Toshiya and tell him you're here, okay? Maybe he wants
to come and play."

***

Kyo opened the door to the apartment he shared with Shinya, as quietly
as he could.

"Shinya?" He wandered into the kitchen. There was a note stuck to the
refrigerator. The writing was pink and glittery, punctuated with hearts.

Dear Kyo-darling,
I went out for a drink with Kaoru. I promise I won't be out late. Don't
burn down the building while I'm gone. See you for dinner.
Love Always,
Shinya

Shinya was gone? When did he write this note? I must have been ages ago.
Kyo looked at the clock. 8:45. He wondered why Shinya would go out.

"I called earlier. Didn't he say he would be here for me when I came
home?" Kyo spoke to himself and sniffed a little. The air in the kitchen
was dry and cool. He took the box he was carrying under his arm and
wandered into the bedroom.

I wonder if Shinya went out with Kaoru because I'm not good looking
enough to take out. Kaoru's so suave and handsome, I bet Shinya really
likes that. I bet he likes him more than his stupid short, chubby
boyfriend.

***

"Kyo?" Shinya called out as he kicked off his shoes. "Kyo are you home?"
He threw his jacket over the back of the sofa, in the living room.
"Kyo?" Shinya tried again. He walked into the bedroom silently.

The room was dark and the only sound was of Shinya's bare feet treading
across the carpet. The door to the walk-in closet was closed but the
light shone across the floor from the crack under it.

"Kyo?" Shinya hissed in the darkness. He was suddenly very scared. He
reached out and grabbed the doorknob. With one big movement, Shinya
whipped open the door.

Kyo came tumbling out of the closet and sprawled out on the floor.

"Shinya!" He cried out.

"Kyo! What were you doing in the closet?"

"I was-" Kyo turned away from Shinya in the darkness.

Shinya put his hands on his hips and flipped on the lights. Then he
knelt next to Kyo, huddled in on himself.

"Kyo-chan?"

"Shinya!" Kyo wailed and threw himself onto the other man. Shinya
blinked and grabbed Kyo by the hair, pulling his face away. Kyo looked
at him, his eyes puffy, his cheek red and tear-stained.

"Kyo-chan, have you been crying?"

Kyo nodded and whimpered, reaching out to hug Shinya's neck. Shinya let
go of his hair and allowed Kyo to cling to him like a child.

"Kyo, please, just calm down."

Kyo nodded and stopped sniffling.

"See. that's better." Shinya hugged Kyo. "Hey, how about we put on our
pajamas and get in bed and then we can talk, okay?"

Kyo nodded again. Then he stood up and disappeared into closet again.

***

Shinya fluffed his pillow one more time and rolled on his side. He
tugged at his dark green satin pajamas, arranging himself comfortably in
bed. He pulled the fluffy white comforter up to his waist and called
out.

"Kyo? What are you doing in there? You've been in that closet for
fifteen minuets!"

There was a scuffling sound from inside the closet and Kyo cracked open
the door.

"You must promise not to laugh at me."

"Why?" Shinya smiled and shook his head. "I'm not going to laugh at you.
Come get in bed."

Kyo opened the door a little wider and stepped out. He was dressed in a
black satiny nightgown. Lacy accents showed off the smooth, pale skin of
his chest. One skinny strap fell over Kyo's shoulder as he clutched and
tugged at the short lace trimmed hem of the skirt with one hand. He held
a small bunch of flowers to his chest with the other.

"I feel so stupid."

"You look wonderful."

"I feel stupid."

"You are ruining the effect by saying that Kyo."

"I'm sorry."

"You look so."

"So?"

"I'm not sure. I want to say sexy but, you are so much at once."

Kyo stopped tugging at his nightgown and straightened up.

"Really?"

"Of course." Shinya lifted up the edge of the comforter and held open
his arms. "Come get in bed. You'll get cold in that."

Kyo scrambled a little as he crawled into bed. He slid under the cover
and into Shinya's arms, which wrapped around him, pulling him to his
chest.

"Now Kyo-chan. Tell me why you were crying in the closet."

"Shinya I don't-"

"Tell me."

Kyo took a deep breath.

"I thought maybe you had gone out tonight with Kaoru because I wasn't
good enough for you."

"Not good enough? Kyo! Are you kidding?"

"Well what I mean is. I thought maybe you thought Kaoru was more
handsome than me."

"You are running around our bedroom dressed in this," Shinya tugged at
the fabric of Kyo's nightgown, "and you think I think that Kaoru is
better looking than you? Kyo!"

"I'm sorry!"

"Kyo, promised me you will never think that again!"

"Shinya-"

"Kyo."

"I promise."

Kyo twisted in Shinya arms until he was facing the drummer's chest. He
lay there silently for a few minuets, tracing designs on the part of
Shinya's chest and neck exposed by the open collar of his pajamas, with
his finger.

"Shinya." Kyo spoke softly after a moment longer. "What do you like
about me? My- my looks I mean.

Shinya sat up, propping his head up with one hand. Kyo leaned back until
he was lying on his back, looking up at Shinya's face.

"Well." Shinya said softly. "I like how soft you hair is. It's always so
pretty and shiny and it smells like flowers after you've washed it."
Shinya leaned down and kissed the top of Kyo's head.

"And. I like your forehead because it is so smooth and fair." Shinya
whispered into Kyo's hair. He brushed Kyo's wispy bangs away with his
hand and planted a soft kiss in the middle of his forehead.

"I like you eyes because they are such a beautiful brown that reminds me
of chocolate melting in the sun."

Kyo smiled a little and slid his eyes shut as Shinya bent over again and
kissed each of his eyelids softly.

"Then there is your nose. It's so cute!"

"Cute?"

"Yes. Cute."

Shinya craned over more, kissing the very tip of Kyo's nose. Without
even lifting his lips, he brushed his lips over Kyo's, hovering there
before speaking again.

"And I love you lips, because they are so soft and kissable." Shinya
whispered against Kyo's skin, his voice fading to nothing when he kissed
him.

Their kiss lasted a long time but Kyo still leaned up to Shinya a little
when he pulled away.

"Ne, Kyo-chan. we are going to suffocate!"

"I don't care."

Shinya sat up in bed and made Kyo turn over until he was lying on his
stomach.

"See. I told you. You are perfect looking." Shinya ran his hands over
Kyo's back, trying to relax him.

Kyo sat up suddenly and thrust his hand out.

"These are for you. I almost forgot." Kyo said sweetly and handed Shinya
the small bunch of jonquils in his fist.

"Thank you Kyo."

Kyo leaned up now and pressed a tender kiss to Shinya's lips.

" I love you Shinya. Do you love me?"

"I do love you Kyo."

Kyo smiled and flopped back down in bed. Shinya followed him and curled
his boy around Kyo's. He shut off the light and gave Kyo one last light
kiss, in the darkness.

"Goodnight Kyo."