Part 4

Toshiya felt Shinya wriggle in bed next to him and heard a groan. He opened his eyes and rolled over. Golden late-morning sunlight poured in the large sliding glass door of the balcony. Shinya was sitting up; his shirt
was partially unbuttoned and the collar fell over, exposing one smooth, white shoulder. The light fell on him and caught in his hair, making the soft flyaway hairs that stood out from his head glow softly brown, like a
halo.

Shinya had his face buried in his hands. His lipstick was smeared down the left side of his mouth leaving the impression of a bloody gash. When he pulled his hands away from his eyes, he winced and squinted at Toshiya.

"Toshiya?"

Toshiya propped himself up on his elbow and nodded his head.

"Yeah?"

"What day is it?"

"Friday."

"Ugh. Friday." Shinya flopped back onto the futon and threw one arm over his eyes. Toshiya reached across the pillows and fingered a lock of Shinya's hair. He smoothed it down on the pillow, running his fingertips along
the super soft strands. "I feel horrible." Shinya muttered.

"You look pretty bad too."

"Thanks." Shinya said his voice edged with sarcasm.

"It'd be better if your make-up wasn't so smeared." Toshiya reached over cautiously and wiped away the stray lipstick from Shinya cheek. Shinya uncovered his eyes and looked at him curiously. A faint blush crept up his
cheeks as Toshiya's finger lingered on his skin just a moment longer than necessary.

"That's better. You still look like a raccoon but it's better." Toshiya ran his thumb over Shinya's eyelid wiping off a generous amount of the smudged make-up. "You know I've never seen you with out any make-up on! You
always have something on your face."

"Well…"

"I don't think you need so much make-up."

They were both sitting up now and Toshiya still had his hand on Shinya face. He absently stroked at his cheek.

"You don't?" Shinya's voice dropped to a whisper. He leaned a little closer to Toshiya, shivering slightly under his soft touch.

"No…" Toshiya leaned forward too. He was so close to Shinya he could kiss him. He would kiss him! Toshiya slid his hand to the back of Shinya's neck drawing him closer. The drummer didn't withdraw. Toshiya could feel
Shinya's breath tickle his lips. Just a little closer.

There was a sudden coughing sound as Kyo walked into the room. Shinya jerked away from Toshiya and jumped back. Kyo rubbed his eyes sleepily and began to cough again. When he looked up again he saw Toshiya and Shinya
sitting on the futon. Both of them were blushing to their ears.

"Was I interrupting something?"

"No. Not at all." Toshiya said. "We just woke up." There was an embarrassing silence when the phone began to ring.

"Moshi-moshi" Kyo answered. "Uh-huh. Okay. Yeah. We'll see you in a couple of hours."

"Who was that?" Toshiya asked.

"Kaoru. He's says we have practice in two hours and he got us a gig for Sunday."

***

"Kyo! What the hell was that?" Kaoru hit Kyo over the head with his rolled up music.

"Gah! Kaoru I'm sorry. I'm just tired today."

"You are always tired! I'm not going to let you blow this gig for us." Kaoru fumed.

"I won't. I promise, I'll do better from now on."

Kaoru sighed and rubbed at his forehead with his bony fingers.

"Okay. Well, let's take a break so Kyo can get his act together." Kaoru took off his guitar, set it on its stand and, walked out of the room.

"That was harsh." Toshiya said softly.

Kyo forced a grin.

"No it wasn't. I'm so out of it today. Kaoru is just anxious about this gig, that's all." Kyo sat down heavily on his stool and sighed.

"Hey, are you okay?" Die asked. He put his hand on Kyo's back in a comforting gesture.

"Yeah I'm fine. I'm just really tired." Kyo rubbed at his eyes and frowned.

"Maybe we should quit for the day." Die said warily.

"No!" Kyo jumped up from his seat. "We can't! Kaoru thinks we still need to practice."

Die shrugged his shoulders and looked at Kyo suspiciously.

"If you're sure you're okay."

"I said I'm fine."

A heavy silence fell over the room, interrupted only by the soft staccato of Shinya playing on the practice pads. A few minutes later Kaoru stalked back in the room and picked up his guitar, signalling it was time to
rehearse again.

After rehearsal Kaoru pulled Kyo into the hallway while the rest of the band packed up. Die finished first gave a quick goodbye, a wave, and left. Shinya was collapsing hid drum set to put it away and Toshiya was busy
fiddling with the amps.

"Do you still need help unpacking?" Shinya asked quietly, not even looking up from his drums.

"I don't know that there is much that you could do but I could use the company."

Shinya nodded.

"I'd like to keep you company. I can help you move the boxes too."

"Okay." Toshiya finished packing up while Shinya was still putting away the last of his set. "I have to go ask Kaoru something about Sunday's gig and I'll be right back, okay?"

Shinya nodded. Toshiya pushed the door open quietly and stepped out into the hallway. He thought he heard Kaoru's voice nearby. He walked down the hallway and peered around the corner.

Kyo and Kaoru were both leaning against the wall, talking softly. Toshiya was too far away to discern any actual words but he jumped with surprise as Kaoru leaned down and kissed Kyo. The little vocalist returned the kiss
eagerly, wrapping his thin arms around Kaoru's neck. Kaoru broke away and gave Kyo another quick kiss on the nose before he turned and walked out the door.

Toshiya ducked back behind the corner. Wasn't it just the other night that he had left Kaoru in the bar with the girl with green hair? His heart beat hard in his chest. Did Kyo know about this? He didn't have a chance to
answer his own question when Kyo poked his head around the corner. He looked at Toshiya curiously, his cheeks flushed.

"Hey. I thought I heard someone come outside. Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah. Yeah I'm ready. Shinya's coming too. He's gonna help me unpack."

"Okay." Kyo coughed once, covering his mouth with his hand. "Yuck. It must be something in the air." He grinned. "I've got to get my bag. I'll tell Shinya we're ready to go." Kyo ducked inside the studio, leaving Toshiya
with his thoughts.

***

As they walked home Toshiya kept casting suspicious glances sideways Kyo. He was blinking wearily and stumbled a little as he walked. Shinya was walking just slightly behind them. He too was keeping an eye on Kyo.

"Ne, Kyo-chan. Are you feeling okay?" Toshiya asked cautiously.

"It's nothing. I'm just tired from staying out so late. Less partying from now on, ne?" Kyo smiled at him.

"Yeah, less partying…" They trudged along for a minute longer before Toshiya heard Kyo cry out next to him.

"Kyo-chan!" Shinya all but screamed. Kyo was lying, face down, on the pavement. He looked up and smiled.

"It's okay Shin-chan. I just tripped." Kyo grinned even more. "I am such a klutz, ne?"

Toshiya bent down and helped Kyo up from the pavement. I little bit of blood welled up from the scratch on his cheek. Kyo dusted off his hands and gathered up his things. He was a little shaky from his fall. Toshiya
noticed this and slipped his arm around Kyo's shoulders.

"You'll be okay, right?"

Kyo nodded a little. Shinya walked on the other side of Kyo and took his bag. He put a soft hand on Kyo's head and combed his fingers through his hair.

"Poor Kyo-chan is so tired, ne?" Shinya said sweetly. "We work you too hard."

"You do not!" Kyo said sleepily. Shinya bent down and gave Kyo a kiss on the cheek.

"You need more fun!"

Kyo swatted at Shinya, smearing the bit of blood that had gathered on his cheek, under his eye.

"Oh look I've made a mess!" Shinya tried to rub at the blood but Kyo turned his head, burying his face in Toshiya's arm.

"Mou, Shin-chan. Don't pick on him."

"I'm not picking on him!" Shinya stuck out his lip and Toshiya began to laugh. "What's so funny?"

"You! You are so cute like that Shin-chan!" Toshiya shook Kyo's shoulder a little. "Isn't Shin-chan cute when he does that?"

Kyo didn't answer. He was leaning heavily on Toshiya as they walked. Toshiya shook him a little again.

"Hey! Kyo! I think he fell asleep."

"I'm not asleep."

"But you should be."

"Yes…"

Shinya held open the door to their apartment building as Toshiya walked through, clinging to Kyo.

When they reached the apartment Toshiya tossed his key to Shinya instructing him to open the door while trying to keep hold of an all but unconscious Kyo. He hauled him inside and dropped him, almost roughly, on the
couch. His arms burned. He was not used to hauling anyone, no matter how small, across Osaka.

Toshiya reached out to haul Kyo into his own room but Shinya's soft hand on his stopped him.

"I'll take care of him. Okay?"

Toshiya nodded as Shinya pulled the sleeping Kyo into his arms. Toshiya noted the careful, almost motherly, way Shinya carried Kyo out of the room.

"He is so sweet." Toshiya breathed, not loud enough for anyone but himself to hear.

Shinya walked back in the living room and sat down on the couch, next to Toshiya.

"He's sleeping."

Toshiya grinned.

"He's been sleeping since we left the studio."

"Well he's asleep again now!" Shinya stuck his lip out in a mock pout.

"Aww… Don't be mad Shin-chan." Toshiya poked him softly in the side. Shinya giggled, the pout screwed into a smile. "Hey! Are you ticklish?" Toshiya gave Shinya a naughty grin.

"No!"

"I think that means yes!"

Toshiya jumped forward and began to tickle Shinya viscously. Shinya clutched at his sides and began to laugh.

"Stop it! Toshiya!" Toshiya only smiled and tickled him more.

"Shinya, your face is bright red!" Toshiya laughed, when he finally withdrew.

"Well, it should be! You tortured me!"

"Oh it wasn't that bad, ne?"

Shinya slapped weakly at Toshiya's arm.

"You are terrible."

"Heh, I know!" Toshiya was about to speak again when Shinya's mobile phone began to ring. Shinya's face dropped and he fished the sliver phone out of his pocket. He stared at it while it rang.

"Aren't you going to answer it?"

"I, I don't know. It might be my girlfriend." Shinya looked down at the floor. "I haven't been home for a while. She's going to be so angry with me." He pressed the 'send' button and held the phone up to his ear. "Moshi-moshi."

Toshiya leaned forward apprehensively. Shinya's face washed over with relief.

"Hi Mom."

Toshiya exhaled loudly as Shinya talked with his mother. He leaned forward again and poked Shinya in the ribs. Shinya smiled and swatted his hand away.

"Stop it!" Shinya mouthed. While he was listening to his mother. Toshiya ignored him and poke him some more. Shinya put his hand over the receiver of the phone. "Toshiya!" He hissed. Toshiya grinned and left to busy
himself unpacking a box in the other room.

When Shinya got off the phone he ran into Toshiya's room and threw himself at the bassist.

"You!" Shinya began to poke at Toshiya's sides.

"What!?" Toshiya laughed.

"That was my mother!"

"So what?" Toshiya tried to swat Shinya's hands away but Shinya only tried harder to tickle him. "Stop it! Shinya!"

In a desperate effort to make Shinya stop, Toshiya pushed him away, shoving him roughly into a wall. When he did he tripped over a sweater on the floor. With the sweater tangled up in his feet, Toshiya fell forward
against Shinya, pressing him even further into the wall.

Toshiya felt dizzy after his fall and didn't move until he felt Shinya pushing at his shoulder.

"Toshiya! To-shi-ya! Get off!"

Toshiya blushed to his ears and pulled himself off of Shinya. The skinny drummer was also blushing as he slid down the wall and sat down heavily on the floor.

"Toshiya, you'll never get anything unpacked at this rate!" Shinya teased.

"Eh, so what?" Toshiya shrugged. There was silence for a moment before Toshiya spoke again. "Ne, Shinya. Why do you have a girlfriend you don't like?"

Shinya looked away quickly and stared at the wall.

"I like her."

"Yeah right. That's why you are scared to talk to her."

"I like her!" Shinya shouted defensively.

"Ssh!" Toshiya put a hand over Shinya's mouth. "You'll wake up Kyo."

Shinya shoved Toshiya's hand away.

"Nothing can wake up Kyo now."

"I think you should dump your girlfriend."

"What!?"

"You heard me. She is obviously controlling you."

"She is not!"

"Yes she is. Don't be so thick."

Shinya stared at Toshiya, open-mouthed and, was about to spout a witty retort when his mobile phone began to ring again.

"It's her!"

"Answer it."

"Moshi-moshi?" Shinya's voice was shaky. On the other end of the line, Toshiya could hear Shinya's girlfriend's angry voice.

"Where are you? I've been calling your home and your mother said you were at Ko, or Kiyo or somebody's house! Where have you been? Is it another girl?"

"N-no, It's not another girl!"

"Tell her it's me!" Toshiya whispered and giggled.

"No way!" Shinya whispered back.

"What was that Shinya dear?"

"Nothing."

"I heard a voice! It is another girl!"

"It is not!"

"A boy then? Oh god I knew it! I knew you're gay!"

"I am not!" Shinya became suddenly angry. "But I might as well be! Any guy would probably be a better girlfriend than you! You don't trust me and you never support me in anything. You are a controlling malicious freak!"

"You-you don't mean that."

"Yes I do! I want to break up!"

"You can't do that!"

"Why not? Because I don't have your approval? Too bad. Goodbye!" Shinya turned off his phone and threw it at the wall. Then he buried his face in his knees and cried.

"Shinya-chan!" Toshiya eyes lit up and he ran to Shinya's side. He threw his arms around the sobbing drummer to comfort him. "That was wonderful Shinya-chan."

"Oh, I was so mean!" Shinya sobbed. "I've never been that mean to a girl before."

"No, Shinya-chan you were wonderful. She was a bad girlfriend and now you are rid of her!"

Shinya lifted his head and sniffled.

"Really?"

"Yes. I know you can do much better than her."

"I did once…"

Toshiya caught his breath in his throat. Was Shinya talking about Kisaki?

"What happened to her?"

Shinya blushed and ducked his head.

"I-I suppose someone told you about Kisaki."

"Well…yes."

"He was the one…" Shinya began to cry again. Toshiya held him for the few minutes that he continued to cry. He brushed his long, ivory fingers over the tear-streaked face and wiped away the salty droplets that collected
at the corner of Shinya's mouth. After what seemed an eternity of silence, Toshiya spoke again.

"When did you first fall in love with Kisaki?"

Shinya sniffled a moment longer before answering.

"We had practice one evening, very early on as La: Sadies and it ran late. I was still in high school and didn't want to be wandering around at night so Kisaki told me to stay at his place. It was the weekend so I thought
it was an okay idea." Shinya took a deep breath. As he talked the words seemed to come easier. He felt more and more comfortable with Toshiya.

"When we got to his place we stayed up much longer talking. We talked about all kinds of things! Well, when we finally decided to go to sleep he leaned over and, and he kissed me. It wasn't one of those friendly kisses
either. It was a real kiss!" Shinya's eyes went wide as he talked about his kiss.

"Then he flopped down said, 'I hope that wasn't to weird.' rolled over and went to sleep. I was so angry at him for a few minutes." Shinya laughed "He had stolen my first real kiss! I didn't want it to be with a guy. Well
things progressed from there but I would definately say I fell in love with him when he kissed me."

Toshiya was still sitting next to Shinya, his arms wrapped around him warmly.

"Shinya?" Toshiya said softly.

"Hmm?"

"What would you think… what would you think if I kissed you?"

"I think…" Shinya looked at Toshiya with heavy eyes before he caught Toshiya face in his hand. He held him there, drawing him closer for a tender kiss. Toshiya leaned in further, pressing Shinya back against the wall. He
brushed his hand along Shinya's cheek and down his neck. Shinya had his arms wrapped around Toshiya's neck loosely, one fist grasping at the back of Toshiya's collar.

They broke apart for an instant and Toshiya pulled Shinya in again for another deep kiss. Shinya slid back until he was lying on the floor, Toshiya practically on top of him. Their chests were pressed together and Toshiya
could feel Shinya's heart beat.

"I would like that…" Shinya breathed when they pulled apart again. "I think…I would like that a lot."