Mannequin [one shot]
Title: Mannequin
Pairing: Ryohkura.
Rating: PG -13.
Genre: Romance/Fluff .
Word count: 1, 554.
Summary: Ryo overhears something and it gets stuck in his head. Loosely based on Ryo's recent guest appearance on Kuwazugirai. Unbeta-ed.
Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine. There's a reason they're called Johnny's.
Author's notes: Been craving for some Ryohkura lately. Worked on several stories for the past few weeks, but this one, which I started writing about 5 hours ago, is the only one I have managed to complete so far. Epic fail. Hope you enjoy this anyway. Comments keep my muse from running away ^__^
In between filming scenes for his new drama and promoting his movie, Nishikido Ryo finds himself at yet another photoshoot with Kanjani8 for one of the many idol magazines they regularly appear in regularly. He is already dressed in his outfit for the shoot, hair perfectly coifed and looking every bit the idol he is. While awaiting his turn, he sets about writing his submission for one of the magazine’s interviews. The others are already done with theirs whereas he has to write twice as much as them.
As he sits in a slightly secluded part of the studio, hidden from plain sight by a costume rack, he suddenly hears voices. He peeks around the various brightly coloured garments and sees the wardrobe stylist and a new member of the staff - what's her name again? - chatting away. He turns back to his writing. Conversation flows through the space and he can hear clearly everything that is being said.
‘How's your first week of working with Kanjani?’ the stylist asks the new girl. Obviously, they haven’t spotted him. Ryo’s not particularly bothered to announce his presence. Stealth has its benefits.
‘They can be a handful, but they really are fun to work with. And it never gets boring,’ New Girl replies with the enthusiastic optimism of a rookie.
Ryo grins in spite of himself. Though he really loves Eito - he loves NEWS too, but Kanjani8 is special - sometimes he questions the sanity of his fellow bandmates. But then again, most times, he is right in the thick of the madness and he wouldn't have it any other way.
The conversation carries on.
‘Are you a fan? Got a favourite member?’ the stylist asks.
New Girl’s voice drops a little. ‘Well, I'm a fan of Arashi,’ she says. ‘But Kanjani are great, too,’ she adds hastily.
Of course she's an Arashi fan. Who isn’t these days? Ryo's already tuning out the conversation when he hears his own name.
‘As expected, Nishikido-san is the coolest,’ New Girl says. Ryo’s grin returns only to fade when he hears her next sentence. ‘But he's gotten too tanned lately.’ Ryo rolls his eyes. Girls just don't get the joys of surfing. And it really never pays to eavesdrop. You never hear anything good about yourself.
Apparently, New Girl is feeling chatty, because she keeps on going. ‘But if I had to choose one, it would be Ohkura-san. He's so pretty, especially with long hair,’ she says dreamily.
Ryo is hardly surprised. Though he agrees with her observations, he would rather she have said something about their talents. They are more than just pretty faces after all. He writes New Girl off as shallow.
The stylist jumps in with his own two cents’ worth. ‘And he makes a good model. Tall, not too skinny like a lot of models are. You see that outfit I put him in? Not many people can pull it off. But Ohkura-san could be a mannequin in a show window in a shop in Roppongi,' he gushes, and New Girl agrees with him eagerly.
'He's really nice too. Laid-back and not as, uh, intense as some of the others,' she says, and Ryo kind of wants to ask her who the intense ones are, just to watch her squirm a bit, except he's pretty certain Subaru's at the top of the list. He hears some commotion going on in the distance where Yoko's shoot is taking place, and then the stylist lets out an exclamation.
'Oh no! Excuse me, Shiho-chan, I see an impending wardrobe malfunction about to happen to Yokoyama-san,’ the stylist says and Ryo hears him hurry away.
Just then, another member of the staff calls out Ryo’s name. A thought occurs to him and he can hardly keep his face from splitting into a wide grin.
He makes a show of standing up and feels a morbid sense of satisfaction at the horror spreading across New Girl’s face when she spots him emerging from behind the costumes. He smirks at her, and she flushes, stuttering what undoubtedly are apologies. Ryo saunters off to the set, feeling just a little pleased with himself. Needless to say, the photographer has an easy time getting Ryo to smile today.
* * *
It is dark when the photoshoot ends. Work is done for the day, so Kanjani8 take their leave, each going off to do his own thing while Ryo accepts Ohkura's offer of a homecooked meal. As neither of them drive, they catch a ride with Murakami and he drops them off at Ohkura's apartment.
With a grin, Ohkura tells Ryo to sit back, relax, watch some TV, and then he’s bustling around the kitchen making one of Ryo’s favourite dishes. Ryo’s a little skeptical of the younger man's cooking abilities - between the two of them, Ryo is the better cook - but he’s content to let Ohkura do the cooking tonight. Instead, he does a little channel surfing, carrying out light banter with the man in the kitchen.
A while later, Ohkura calls Ryo into the kitchen to taste the broth he's making. Ryo is pleasantly surprised that it tastes good, and remarks that it’s almost like his mom’s cooking. Ohkura beams at him as he informs Ryo that he’s been working on it for a while now, as well as several others. Ryo feels ridiculously touched that Ohkura actually bothered to learn the recipes for his favourite dishes. He thinks he could get used to this.
After dinner, Ryo washes the dishes, and then they hang out together on the couch. They watch a random show on TV, laughing like loons at the crazy antics of a bunch of comedians, people who actually signed up for getting whacked on the head by their fellow co-workers. Then it's time for Ryo to head back to his own apartment. He has to be up early the next day to film an appearance on a variety show to promote his new drama and his place is closer to the studio.
During the course of filming, one of the typical questions he's been asked a lot throughout the years pops up. Earlier in his career, he had always tried to come up with an answer that would please the fans, but for years now he’s been inclined to answer frankly, albeit somewhat vaguely.
So, when the hosts of the show ask him what kind of girl he likes, he tells them he likes someone who can cook. When pressed further, he adds that he likes mannequin-type people. The hosts simply assume that Ryo means that he likes beautiful, near-perfect people in general - well, there's that too, to some extent - but really, Ryo's just thinking of the conversation he overheard yesterday, and how mannequin is exactly the right metaphor for the person he likes.
Once he's done with filming, he checks his cell phone for messages. Sure enough there's a text from Ohkura inviting him over for dinner again. Ryo smiles as he types out his reply and pushes 'Send.' He receives another text message from Ohkura almost instantly, asking him to please buy beer on the way over. He smiles indulgently at the message and proceeds to the set of his drama.
Filming ends earlier than expected - he did well today, not a single NG - but even so, by the time Ryo reaches Ohkura's apartment, a six-pack in hand, the younger man already has dinner started. It's almost a repeat of the previous night, but there's a difference tonight. This time, when Ohkura offers him the ladle so Ryo can sample his cooking, Ryo simply puts it down on the countertop.
Before Ohkura can protest too much at Ryo for messing up his countertop, Ryo reaches up and pulls the younger man down for a kiss. It catches the taller man off-guard for a moment, but then he's kissing back with fervour and Ryo finds himself lifted up onto the kitchen countertop, Ohkura's hands gripping his hips tightly. However, they don’t get very far. Ohkura's stomach chooses that very moment to grumble rather loudly and Ryo can't help but laugh at the bad timing.
Obviously, laughing is not conducive for making out with one's boyfriend, especially if said boyfriend tends to sulk. Pressing a quick kiss to Ohkura's pouting lips, Ryo hops off the counter and takes over the rest of the cooking as a peace offering. Ohkura’s hardly one to protest, so he settles for watching Ryo cook and stealing bites whenever Ryo isn’t looking.
Later on when they are lying together in bed, sated in more ways than one, Ryo reflects on that conversation between New Girl and the stylist as well as his interview earlier today. Tangled up with Ohkura without any barriers to separate them, he can't help but think that they all got it wrong. Ohkura isn't like a mannequin at all; he's alive and warm and flawed and so human and infinitely more beautiful. Ryo finds himself falling more and more in love each day.
As he drifts off to sleep, he feels Ohkura's arms tighten around him, a quiet 'I love you, Ryo' murmured into his hair. Ryo turns his face just the slightest bit and presses a kiss to the skin right above Ohkura's heart and trusts that Ohkura knows what he is saying without words.
Pairing: Ryohkura.
Rating: PG -13.
Genre: Romance/Fluff .
Word count: 1, 554.
Summary: Ryo overhears something and it gets stuck in his head. Loosely based on Ryo's recent guest appearance on Kuwazugirai. Unbeta-ed.
Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine. There's a reason they're called Johnny's.
Author's notes: Been craving for some Ryohkura lately. Worked on several stories for the past few weeks, but this one, which I started writing about 5 hours ago, is the only one I have managed to complete so far. Epic fail. Hope you enjoy this anyway. Comments keep my muse from running away ^__^
In between filming scenes for his new drama and promoting his movie, Nishikido Ryo finds himself at yet another photoshoot with Kanjani8 for one of the many idol magazines they regularly appear in regularly. He is already dressed in his outfit for the shoot, hair perfectly coifed and looking every bit the idol he is. While awaiting his turn, he sets about writing his submission for one of the magazine’s interviews. The others are already done with theirs whereas he has to write twice as much as them.
As he sits in a slightly secluded part of the studio, hidden from plain sight by a costume rack, he suddenly hears voices. He peeks around the various brightly coloured garments and sees the wardrobe stylist and a new member of the staff - what's her name again? - chatting away. He turns back to his writing. Conversation flows through the space and he can hear clearly everything that is being said.
‘How's your first week of working with Kanjani?’ the stylist asks the new girl. Obviously, they haven’t spotted him. Ryo’s not particularly bothered to announce his presence. Stealth has its benefits.
‘They can be a handful, but they really are fun to work with. And it never gets boring,’ New Girl replies with the enthusiastic optimism of a rookie.
Ryo grins in spite of himself. Though he really loves Eito - he loves NEWS too, but Kanjani8 is special - sometimes he questions the sanity of his fellow bandmates. But then again, most times, he is right in the thick of the madness and he wouldn't have it any other way.
The conversation carries on.
‘Are you a fan? Got a favourite member?’ the stylist asks.
New Girl’s voice drops a little. ‘Well, I'm a fan of Arashi,’ she says. ‘But Kanjani are great, too,’ she adds hastily.
Of course she's an Arashi fan. Who isn’t these days? Ryo's already tuning out the conversation when he hears his own name.
‘As expected, Nishikido-san is the coolest,’ New Girl says. Ryo’s grin returns only to fade when he hears her next sentence. ‘But he's gotten too tanned lately.’ Ryo rolls his eyes. Girls just don't get the joys of surfing. And it really never pays to eavesdrop. You never hear anything good about yourself.
Apparently, New Girl is feeling chatty, because she keeps on going. ‘But if I had to choose one, it would be Ohkura-san. He's so pretty, especially with long hair,’ she says dreamily.
Ryo is hardly surprised. Though he agrees with her observations, he would rather she have said something about their talents. They are more than just pretty faces after all. He writes New Girl off as shallow.
The stylist jumps in with his own two cents’ worth. ‘And he makes a good model. Tall, not too skinny like a lot of models are. You see that outfit I put him in? Not many people can pull it off. But Ohkura-san could be a mannequin in a show window in a shop in Roppongi,' he gushes, and New Girl agrees with him eagerly.
'He's really nice too. Laid-back and not as, uh, intense as some of the others,' she says, and Ryo kind of wants to ask her who the intense ones are, just to watch her squirm a bit, except he's pretty certain Subaru's at the top of the list. He hears some commotion going on in the distance where Yoko's shoot is taking place, and then the stylist lets out an exclamation.
'Oh no! Excuse me, Shiho-chan, I see an impending wardrobe malfunction about to happen to Yokoyama-san,’ the stylist says and Ryo hears him hurry away.
Just then, another member of the staff calls out Ryo’s name. A thought occurs to him and he can hardly keep his face from splitting into a wide grin.
He makes a show of standing up and feels a morbid sense of satisfaction at the horror spreading across New Girl’s face when she spots him emerging from behind the costumes. He smirks at her, and she flushes, stuttering what undoubtedly are apologies. Ryo saunters off to the set, feeling just a little pleased with himself. Needless to say, the photographer has an easy time getting Ryo to smile today.
* * *
It is dark when the photoshoot ends. Work is done for the day, so Kanjani8 take their leave, each going off to do his own thing while Ryo accepts Ohkura's offer of a homecooked meal. As neither of them drive, they catch a ride with Murakami and he drops them off at Ohkura's apartment.
With a grin, Ohkura tells Ryo to sit back, relax, watch some TV, and then he’s bustling around the kitchen making one of Ryo’s favourite dishes. Ryo’s a little skeptical of the younger man's cooking abilities - between the two of them, Ryo is the better cook - but he’s content to let Ohkura do the cooking tonight. Instead, he does a little channel surfing, carrying out light banter with the man in the kitchen.
A while later, Ohkura calls Ryo into the kitchen to taste the broth he's making. Ryo is pleasantly surprised that it tastes good, and remarks that it’s almost like his mom’s cooking. Ohkura beams at him as he informs Ryo that he’s been working on it for a while now, as well as several others. Ryo feels ridiculously touched that Ohkura actually bothered to learn the recipes for his favourite dishes. He thinks he could get used to this.
After dinner, Ryo washes the dishes, and then they hang out together on the couch. They watch a random show on TV, laughing like loons at the crazy antics of a bunch of comedians, people who actually signed up for getting whacked on the head by their fellow co-workers. Then it's time for Ryo to head back to his own apartment. He has to be up early the next day to film an appearance on a variety show to promote his new drama and his place is closer to the studio.
During the course of filming, one of the typical questions he's been asked a lot throughout the years pops up. Earlier in his career, he had always tried to come up with an answer that would please the fans, but for years now he’s been inclined to answer frankly, albeit somewhat vaguely.
So, when the hosts of the show ask him what kind of girl he likes, he tells them he likes someone who can cook. When pressed further, he adds that he likes mannequin-type people. The hosts simply assume that Ryo means that he likes beautiful, near-perfect people in general - well, there's that too, to some extent - but really, Ryo's just thinking of the conversation he overheard yesterday, and how mannequin is exactly the right metaphor for the person he likes.
Once he's done with filming, he checks his cell phone for messages. Sure enough there's a text from Ohkura inviting him over for dinner again. Ryo smiles as he types out his reply and pushes 'Send.' He receives another text message from Ohkura almost instantly, asking him to please buy beer on the way over. He smiles indulgently at the message and proceeds to the set of his drama.
Filming ends earlier than expected - he did well today, not a single NG - but even so, by the time Ryo reaches Ohkura's apartment, a six-pack in hand, the younger man already has dinner started. It's almost a repeat of the previous night, but there's a difference tonight. This time, when Ohkura offers him the ladle so Ryo can sample his cooking, Ryo simply puts it down on the countertop.
Before Ohkura can protest too much at Ryo for messing up his countertop, Ryo reaches up and pulls the younger man down for a kiss. It catches the taller man off-guard for a moment, but then he's kissing back with fervour and Ryo finds himself lifted up onto the kitchen countertop, Ohkura's hands gripping his hips tightly. However, they don’t get very far. Ohkura's stomach chooses that very moment to grumble rather loudly and Ryo can't help but laugh at the bad timing.
Obviously, laughing is not conducive for making out with one's boyfriend, especially if said boyfriend tends to sulk. Pressing a quick kiss to Ohkura's pouting lips, Ryo hops off the counter and takes over the rest of the cooking as a peace offering. Ohkura’s hardly one to protest, so he settles for watching Ryo cook and stealing bites whenever Ryo isn’t looking.
Later on when they are lying together in bed, sated in more ways than one, Ryo reflects on that conversation between New Girl and the stylist as well as his interview earlier today. Tangled up with Ohkura without any barriers to separate them, he can't help but think that they all got it wrong. Ohkura isn't like a mannequin at all; he's alive and warm and flawed and so human and infinitely more beautiful. Ryo finds himself falling more and more in love each day.
As he drifts off to sleep, he feels Ohkura's arms tighten around him, a quiet 'I love you, Ryo' murmured into his hair. Ryo turns his face just the slightest bit and presses a kiss to the skin right above Ohkura's heart and trusts that Ohkura knows what he is saying without words.