{Fic}- Off track- one-shot
19)Off track- one-shot
Off track
Ueda Tatsuya glared at the back of the man, picking up the ticket he had dropped after being knocked over. Eyeing the piece of paper he tried to remember what in the world he was doing on the platform.
“ You need a break, Tat-chan, at least for 2 days. Me and Jin paid for it so no buts!” his friend’s words echoed in his ears.
“Oh, right...” he mumbled scolding himself inwardly for having caved in that easily. He searched for his wagon and after deciding there was no way in hell Kame would believe him if he told him he had lost the train, he got on.
“Number 34,” he read the ticket and started scanning the plates of the compartments and stopped when he saw his place.
He opened the doors only to be met with the familiar back of the man who had knocked him over on the platform.
’How come I’m not surprised,’ he sighed putting his bag away and slouching in his seat next to the window and facing the stranger who- thankfully- was too busy listening to music on his i-pod to say anything.
"Is number 36 here?” a lanky man asked through the open doors. Ueda nodded.
“ Oh, great, I was searching all over,” the newcomer said cheerfully taking his seat and Ueda noticed he didn’t carry any luggage.
The train signal was heard and soon the train was leaving the station.
“Ah! I just love train-rides!” the lanky man said an as much as Ueda would have preferred to keep starring out of the window- he turned towards the speaking man out of courtesy.
“Do you, now?” he asked not really curious- he profoundly disliked chit-chatting with strangers.
“Yeah, because you get to meet new people,” he smiled brightly and Ueda had the feeling it would be a long ride.
“Want to see some tricks?” the man asked pulling out a deck of cards and moments later Ueda was trying to figure out how the other had guessed his card.
“Oh, come on, he just marked it,” the man sitting next to the window said rolling his eyes. He took of his earphones and Ueda assumed the man had stopped listening to music ever since the cards were pulled out- he had seen him taking subtle glances at them.
“How?” Ueda asked annoyed. He would have noticed if the cards had been marked.
“Look, I’ll show you,” the stranger said grabbing the deck of cards from the other’s hand. One hour later after the lanky man’s tricks had all been explained by the other travel companion, Ueda found himself starring at the fields outside, eyelids growing heavy. The stranger was already sleeping with his earphones back on and the lanky man was dozing off in the corner. Soon, Ueda joined them.
break'
“Wake up,” someone was shaking his shoulders.
“Huh?” Ueda opened one eye starring sleepily at the man in front of him.
“Such a shame we fell asleep, we missed the guy’s best trick.” His travel companion said. Ueda looked at him puzzled, noticing the lanky cheerful guy was missing from the compartment.
“Look up,” the stranger urged and Ueda followed the man’s finger towards the luggage area. It took him a moment to realize what the other was implying.
“Best disappearing act, I’d say too,” the other continued.” With both our bags, but he left us his cards. And on a brighter note, we arrived to the final station,” the stranger finished.
Ueda burrowed his face in his palms.
“How the fuck did we miss it?!” he yelled all of a sudden. “THAT FUCKING BASTARD WITH HIS RETARDED SMILE AND DECK OF CARDS!” he shouted kicking the seat in front of him. “I’D LIKE TO SHOW HIM HOW I SHOVE THAT DECK UP HIS…” the last words were cut off by the train’s long whistle and 10 minutes later they were both sitting on the platform, Ueda on a bench fuming and the stranger crouching next to him with his arms crossed.
“I’m Nishikido Ryo,” he introduced himself and Ueda looked at him side-way.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Nishikdo Ryo. I’m Ueda Tatsuya but of course I can’t prove it because some retarded idiot stole my bag in which I had my ID, money, and new phone. But see, it’s OK, because he left me his deck of cards!” he said brightly with a wide sarcastic grin. The other laughed.
“He only got my money, I still have my ID. He also managed to steal my i-pod, he just unplugged it from the earphones so I wouldn’t feel it, creative fellow, I give him that.” He nodded to himself.
“Ok, so, let’s go,” Ryo said standing up.
“Where?” Ueda eyed him cautiously.
“Well, I was thinking the Police station would make a great 1st sightseeing objective,” the man said heading towards the underground staircase. Ueda soon followed.
“Need to thank Kame,” he noted at the back of his head.
~*~
“I don’t know about you, but judging by what the police officer said, I think our bags will be recovered sometime between when pigs learn to fly and hell freezes over.” Ueda complained as they stepped out of the police station.
“Yeah, I know, but reporting to the police is a formality.” Ryo said.” In case a miracle happens and they actually find them. “ he added.
“So now what?” Ueda asked rising an eyebrow. “We stay here and wait for a miracle?” he scoffed but the other was busy reading an advertisement stuck to a bus station sign.
“You know what people need to survive in a city?” he asked ripping the add and reading it.
“Air?” Ueda answered not really seeing where the other was going at.
“No, it’s sleep, money and food.” He said gazing up. “And this is how we are going to take care of one.” He passed the other the add.
“Need for extras in upcoming movie?” Ueda read furrowing his eyes.
“Look at the end.”
“Pay is 2000 won..”
“Bingo!” Ryo pulled the add away. “And it’s for today, 1 hour from now so how about he hurry up a bit. Don’t you want to be a famous movie star Ueda Tatsuya~” the man covered his forehead with the back of his hand sighing theatrically. “Our path to STARDOM begins now!” he sashayed by him in the opposite direction, Ueda spinning around laughing and watched him twirl like a ballerina before facing him with his hands on his hips looking serious.
“So wha’ da ya’ say, wha’ da ya’ say? I can make ya’ a sta , I tell ya’ :A STA’ !” he wiggled his eyebrows and Ueda laughed clinging to the other’s arm and pulling him away.
~*~*~
“So when do you think the big roles start rolling in?” Ueda asked raising an eyebrow as they stood in a café playing their parts as extras.
“Patience, you need patience.” Ryo subtly shook his head as to not be caught on film. “You just stay there and be pretty and I guarantee you’ll be holding an Oscar in no time”
“Without having to screw the director?”
“If you are willing to do that, I’m willing to direct the movie.” Ryo replied cheekily.
“Pervert!” Ueda slapped the other man’s hand playfully- thankfully he was with his back to the camera.
“But you know, if you were to become a star, you’d have to change your name.” Ryo pointed out taking a sip from his prop-tea.
“No way, all movie names sound like a pet’s name.” Ueda grimaced making Ryo chuckle.
“Whatever you say, princess” he said and could feel Ueda’s foot stepping on him.
“Bastard.” The “princess” rolled his eyes.
~*~*~
“It’s not enough” Ryo announced after counting the money they both had received.
“What did you expect? If being an extra paid well, I’d quit my job and continue on this path.” Ueda said sitting on a bench in a park nearby the filming location.
“There’s a festival…” Ryo whispered eyeing a group of high school students dressed in kimonos. “And where there’s a festival there’s food.” His face simply glowed. “Care to join me for dinner?”, he bowed stretching his hand towards Ueda, “princess?”
“I’m in no position to be picky about who I dine with.” he chuckled moving past Ryo.
“Harsh.”
“Take it like a man” Ueda laughed.
~*~*~
“So what’s the plan” he asked when Ryo caught up with him.
“We find food, and… we eat it.”
“Good plan.” Tatsuya nodded.
“Stick with me” Ryo grabbed the other’s hand as they walked into the mass of people entering the fair.
“Everything seems so expensive when you have so little money.” Ueda sighed watching the prices listed at a stall.
“200 yen tax for entering a “all you can eat” competition. The price is a mobile phone.” Ryo voiced out.
“Huh?”
“Look, there’s a sign.” Ryo pointed somewhere 20 metres away.
“How do you see these things?” Ueda furrowed his eyebrows trying to make out the words.
“Natural survival instinct” Ryo laughed. “So are you in?”
“I haven’t eaten since this morning.” Ueda remarked.
“I’ll take that as an yes” Ryo concluded moving towards the competition booth.
They sat next to each other at a long table with 10 other men. When the judge blew the whistle they dug in without a moment to waste. After 10 minutes Ueda was too full to continue eating and dropped out of the competition, pushing the plate away and patting his stomach. Gazing over at Ryo he saw the other stuffing himself and swallowing it without chewing properly.
“You can stop now. I think this “meal” will last us till tomorrow evening.” Ueda said watching how Ryo tried to empty his plate.
“Scru-da-fud, I-WANDAPHONE” Ryo spoke towards Ueda with his mouth full before turning his attention on the plate in front of him.
Later that evening, Ueda stood patting Ryo’s back in a comforting manner as the other threw up in a bin at the entrance of the fair.
“Tasted better going in” Ryo spoke scrunching his nose and wiping his mouth with a napkin.
“Here.” Ueda passed him a bottle of water. “To lose the taste.”
“Thanks.” Ryo said grabbing the bottle and taking large gulps. “For you” he threw Ueda a box and sat down to calm himself a bit.
“You’re giving me the cellphone you won?” Ueda looked up surprised.
“That was my intention from the beginning. Since you don’t have one anymore” Ryo admitted.
“Idiot” Ueda scolded rolling his eyes. “And …thank you” he smiled at Ryo before sitting down next to him. He took out the phone from the box and browsed through the menus.” Hmm…It’s times like these it would be good if I knew my friends’ numbers.” Ueda laughed. ”Here: punch yours in” he urged passing Ryo the phone.
“Done” he said after a few seconds returning the phone and looking over Ueda’s shoulder onto the screen. “You saved me under 'midget'?” Ryo muttered burrowing his nose in his arms.
“It’s not true, you didn’t see the last part. See?? I added a heart!” Ueda pressed his phone to Ryo’s face making the other snort. Ueda chuckled. “It’s with absolutely no malice. You call me princess too.” He reminded with a smile.
“But princesses are beautiful” Ryo mumbled looking away.
“And midgets are cute” Ueda smiled pinching the other’s cheek receiving a yelp of discontentment from the other.
~*~*~
Ryo stood up brushing his jeans and looked around.
“I think it’s late enough”
“Late enough for what?” Ueda questioned and Ryo turned to him smiling.
“For fishing” he said before crossing the street and going back into the park they had come from.
~*~*~
“You can’t be serious.” Ueda shook his head in disbelief as his companion rolled his sleeves and climbed into the park’s fountain. “What exactly do you think you’re doing?” he asked crossing his arms.
“I’m fishing for coins.” Ryo answered picking up round metal objects from the water. ”We need money.”
Ueda rolled his eyes. “Are we really that desperate? What if we get caught?”
“Has your brief acting career taught you nothing? You just claim I have mental issues or something.” Ryo said staring at him cross-eyed to show his own amazing acting skills.
“You mean you don’t?” Ueda rose and eyebrow watching his friend “fishing”. “Normal people don’t go around stealing change from local fountains at this time.” He stated. “And have you done this before? You look like you are used to it.”
“ First of all, you offend me when you say 'steal'. This is public property, and I’m... part of the public.” Ryo said casually. “Secondly, actually this is the best time of the day for these sort of… activities as one might call them AND, for your information, normal people shouldn’t be contaminating the water with the hope that their unrealistic wishes would come true in the 1st place.” Ryo stopped collecting coins and looked up.” And yeah, I did do this before. I needed change for the espresso machine” he grinned.
“Figures it was for such a noble cause.” Ueda snorted.
“Whatever” Ryo rolled his eyes. “Why don’t you come give me a hand, princess. If the water isn’t too wet for you.”
Ueda pondered whether or not he should join the other, sighing after making up his mind.
“Just because you look so pathetic all by yourself in there” he said slipping off his shoes. “But I do not approve of stealing” he added getting in.
“Why do you keep saying that word? Think of us as Robin Hood.” Ueda stared at him.
“Huh??”
“You do know who Robin Hood is, right?” Ueda sneered.
“Please, Nishikido!”
“Well, it’s an analogy, he took from the rich..”
“Stole” Ueda corrected.
“He permanently borrowed, how about that? So, he permanently borrowed from the rich to give to the poor in order to…”
“I’m not poor” Ueda cut him off.
“You’re not exactly in the position to say that right now” Ryo mocked. “The point is..”
“Do explain, it’s really interesting” Ueda drawled.
“Oh, you know what I mean.” Ryo finished annoyed going back to fishing coins. Ueda stared at the man in front of him. It had not been his intention to step on the other nerves. He leaned over and started picking up coins from the water, avoiding eye-contact.
“This was supposed to be a stress-free vacation, you know” he said as if that explained his earlier behavior. ”And then I get all my things stolen.” He glanced at Ryo who seemed unaffected by his words. He sighed. “Look, Ryo, I’m sorr…”
“You should just try to live the moment.” Ryo interrupted.” You know, seize the day and all that.” he said gazing over his shoulder. “It’s just part of it, of life, or destiny if you will, whatever.”
“You think it’s destiny that we met?” Ueda smirked. Ryo splashed some water at him.
“Oh, shut up!” he grinned. “It’s just that …of course it has to be something like that… since I was supposed to have got off 3 stations before this one.” he confessed embarrassed.
“I didn’t know that.” Ueda blinked. ”....Destiny then?....” he smiled.
“Yeah, whatever” Ryo laughed.
~*~*~
“I didn’t know so much money gathered over the years” Ueda said sitting next to Ryo at the edge of the fountain.
“Personally, I think someone makes sure not too much gathers up.” Ryo stressed eyeing the amount of coins they had picked up. They had left the foreign ones or with little value where they belonged.
“So what can we do with it?”
“Tickets.”
“Huh?”
“Train tickets. We need to use almost all our money so we can get back home.” Ryo explained.
“Oh” Ueda nodded slowly but he couldn’t help feel a tad disappointed that his ‘adventure’ was ending so soon.
“I think what we have is enough to get us into second couch and even leave us with some ‘pocket’ money. I checked the schedule when we were at the station and the first train leaves tomorrow at 8. I guess we’ll just have to spend the night hanging around town, we’ll make up for the lost hours of sleep when we get home.”
“I’m sorry but there’s no way I’ll be wandering around town in the middle of the night.” Ueda firmly objected.
“Yeah? Well, got a better idea then, princess?” Ryo asked skeptical.
“Kin….tetsu… or Kinetsu? Something with K and tsu” Ueda said trying to remember the exact name.
“Huh?” Ryo stared at him.
“My friends are the ones who sent me on this ‘vacation’ so they already paid for the hotel here. But I don’t know where it is since I had the address in my bag.” He sighed.
“But that’s great! We just have to ask a taxi-driver or something!” Ryo smiled brightly before he turned around blushing. “Well, em… that’s if you don’t mind sharing the room with me.” He scratched the back of his neck.
“Please, Nishikido. We already stole from the town’s fountain together. That makes us like BFF’s or something, to say the least.” Ueda laughed.
“So what do you want to do then?”
“I don’t know. My friend had this schedule all prepared for me so I hadn’t thought about it.” Ueda shrugged.
“Then how about we do something typically tourist of us? The shops are still opened. And I got you wet.” Ryo grinned pointing towards the dark spots on Ueda’s shirt. “Clothes make the best souvenirs because you actually use them after you buy them.” He finished standing up and offering Ueda a hand. “Let’s blend in with the crowd, girlfriend!” he said making an S-line pose.
~*~*~
Ryo and Ueda walked amongst the group of tourists matching t-shirts that said “I went to Kobe and all I could afford was this crappy t-shirt T.T”.
“Ironic.” Ueda had thought amused when he had first read the message on the t-shirts. And soon he was standing in line to buy two.
They browsed through the shops (yes browsed, since they couldn’t afford anything else), exchanging comments on anything that looked interesting - or plain weird and, an hour later, they were resting on a bench watching tourists passing by chatting happily.
“I’m tired” Ueda yawned resting his head on Ryo’s shoulder, not caring if anyone saw him (tourists thought he was a girl and locals didn’t care anyway).
Ryo patted him slowly on the back. “Want me to sing you a lullaby?” he whispered and Ueda chuckled.
“I don’t want to fall asleep in the middle of the road.”
“I saw an information centre around here. How about we find out where the hotel is. I think both of us could use some rest.” Ryo said and they went searching for the information centre. To their relief, when they got there, they found out the hotel was only 500 metres away and one of the workers was kind enough to lend them a map of all the hotels.
10 minutes later, Ryo was putting away the map as they stood in front of the receptionist in the lobby.
“How may I help you?” the woman asked smiling.
“I have a reservation under “Ueda Tatsuya” “
“Wait a moment” the woman checked her computer for any bookings. “Oh, yes, room 204, and what about you sir?” she turned smiling cheerfully towards Ryo.
“I’m with him.” Ryo pointed towards Ueda. “We are sleeping together” he deadpanned and smirked inwardly as the receptionist accidentally dropped the keys to their room and bend to pick them up, apologizing and blushing profoundly.
~*~*~
Ueda had finished taking his shower and walked around in a white bathrobe, drying his hair with his towel. The running shower could be heard in the background.
He laid down with his legs hanging on the edge of the bed. He closed his eyes thinking about everything that had happened that day. He heard the bathroom door open and Ryo shifting around. At one point, the noise stopped.
“What are you doing?” Ueda asked watching through have-opened eyes as Ryo stood starring down at his figure.
“Admiring the view,” Ryo answered sincerely.
“Enjoying yourself?” Ueda raised an eyebrow.
“Very much so,” Ryo grinned.
“You know, you bumped into me before I got on the train,” he said twirling a lock of hair between his fingers.
“I know, I figured it out this afternoon. Thought you looked familiar.”
“No apology?” Ueda tsk-ed.
“How about we kiss and make up, or out, whichever pleases you more,” Ryo offered. Ueda laughed.
“Are you always this straight-forward?” he asked supporting his body with his elbows.
“I can’t help it,” he answered tucking a strand of hair behind Ueda’s ear. “Not with you, not right now.” He said, voice sounding weird.
“Tatsuya…”
“Yes?” Ueda gazed into his eyes.
“I’m going to kiss you.”
“You asking for permission?” Ueda chuckled.
“No, I’m informing you.”
“I think I’d know when I’m being kissed, thank you very much,” the man scoffed. “That doesn’t seem to be the case though.”
“I didn’t say I’d do it now,” Ryo raised his eyebrows. “You are tired, I don’t want to start anything that we won’t get to finish.”
Tatsuya couldn’t believe his ears.
“Good night, Ueda.” Ryo said turning off the lights and getting under the covers.
“Yeah, good night,” Ueda mumbled grumpily covering his whole body with the blanket, scolding himself for having let the other tease him.
‘Damn you, Nishikido!’ he muttered into his pillow.
On the other side of the bed laid Ryo with his eyes closed and a huge smirk adorning his face.
~*~*~
‘May I know where we are going?’ a sleepy Ueda asked rubbing his eyes as he followed his companion in the cold air of early morning. “Our train doesn’t leave for 2 more hours so I don’t see the point in hurrying.”
“We aren’t going to the train station.” Ryo explained. “Well, not right now.”
“Then why the hell did you wake me at this hour?!” Ueda complained stopping in the middle of an empty street. “Telling me to get ready, it ain’t even dawn yet!” He cried.
“It’s the last hour we can spend here before going back.” Ryo said looking at the ground. “I don’t want to waste it sleeping which is something I can do on the train, since I don’t have any luggage to take care of,” he smiled.
“You know, Ryo... you are not at all as I imagined,” Tatsuya admitted nearing the other. They both started walking at the same pace.
“Is that a compliment?”
“Hm… sort of,” Ueda shrugged and laughed as the other failed to glare at him.
~*~*~
It wasn’t for another 15 minutes that Ueda found out that Ryo had planned on taking him to the town’s bridge. It was a large construction and even at an early hour, cars could be seen making their way back and forth.
They stood at the edge looking as the sun rose above the horizon and as the river shone under the 1st rays of light, Ueda couldn’t remember how it felt to be tired- sleepy- or stressed and ,instead, stood savoring the forgotten feeling of being completely at ease.
He glanced at his companion. Ryo was looking at the sky as if contemplating on something, his black hair fluttering in the wind and Ueda had to resist the urge of reaching out and touching the other’s skin.
He sighed quietly and turned back to admiring the sun- instead of his friend. He was trying to observe the sun’s slow movement across the sky when he felt a pair of warm arms encircling his waist and he wondered how he hadn’t sensed the other’s presence behind him until Ryo had rested his chin on his shoulder.
“What are you thinking about?” Ryo asked inhaling Ueda’s fresh scent.
“Nothing much,” he turned around into the other’s embrace and rested his hands above Ryo’s chest. “Just … enjoying the view,” he repeated the words the other had used the previous night.
Ryo caressed his cheek and Ueda closed his eyes sighing contented. He smiled when he felt something warm pressing lightly onto his lips.
“For your information, I’m kissing you right now,” Ryo smiled against his lips and Ueda chuckled.
“Go on then,” he urged and Ryo was keen to comply, pulling the other closer with one hand whilst the other held him securely against his body. He started by nibbling on the other’s lower lip until he reached the corner of the mouth which he licked, his action continuing to the other end of the mouth making Ueda unconsciously part his lips in the process. He nibbled onto the upper lip before sliding the tip of his tongue into Ueda’s mouth. The man was quick to respond as he darted out his own tongue to let it be captured and sucked on gently by Ryo. The pace didn’t increase as each took their time, enjoying the tender kiss, bodies pressed against one another and hands exploring the soft skin of the other’s neck and arms.
When they pulled apart, theirs eyes locked and swollen lips turned into shy smiles.
“Hm…” Ueda looked down.
“What is it?”
“Yesterday you said you didn’t want to start what you couldn’t finish,” he reminded turning his back to the other..“I was wondering when you are actually planning on finishing what you just started,” he added looking back at Ryo who remained silent.
“Let’s go, we don’t want to miss the train,” the man finally spoke grabbing Ueda’s hand and making his way in the direction of the train station.
~*~*~
They sat face to face in the compartment, near the window like in a weird deja-vu. Ueda immediately turned his head towards the door when he heard it open. The conductor had come to make sure everything was in order before moving to the next compartment.
“Where you expecting to see him again ?” Ryo asked after seeing the other’s reaction. Ueda sighed.
“I know the chances are slim, but still.”
“What would you do to him anyway? Would you shove that deck of cards you know where?” Ryo smirked, amused by the idea.
“I honestly don’t know,” Ueda admitted. “I was so furious when my things got stolen. But most things kind of… worked out by themselves, ne?” Ueda smiled looking up from the phone he was holding. Ryo nodded.
“But I’d probably punch him to say the least… yeah,” he finished and put away his cell phone and looked out of the window. He could feel Ryo’s eyes on him but he figured the other would just look away. He brushed the bangs out of his eyes and tried to concentrate on the scenery.
“What?” he asked rolling his eyes towards Ryo when he couldn’t take the other staring at him anymore. “ Why are you looking at me like that, “ he said referring to Ryo’s expressionless face.
“I was just.. thinking,” the man said looking at his feet.
“About what?” Ueda furrowed his eyebrows, supporting his head with his hand.
“I was planning on continuing what I started this morning,” Ryo admitted gazing into the other’s eyes and smirking mischievously.
Ueda flipped back his hair and leaned onto the back of his seat and crossing his arms.
“So?” he raised an eyebrow. “What are you waiting for?”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
3 months later.
“Finally!” Ryo flailed pulling his boyfriend who had just come out of the public toilets in the direction of the underground stairs.
“You know, I can walk without you dragging me,” Ueda complained and Ryo clicked his tongue.
“Yeah, and we’ll get to line 3 when the train has already reached the last station,” he commented. “You know, in spite of what you might think, the train will not wait for you, princess.”
“You are so mean,” Ueda pouted.
“Yes, because I need a reason to have make-up sex with you,” Ryo winked as they stepped onto the escalator.
They got onto the platform at the same time as the train arrived. Finding their compartments, they put away their bags and sat next to each other as the train left the station.
“I want to go to the onsen, “ Ueda said checking out the tourist pamphlet. “And then visit the lake. They say you can see fairies at night there,” he blinked cutely at his boyfriend.
“Whatever you want, Tatsuya,” Ryo smiled.
“It’s OUR anniversary, Ryo,” Ueda stated.
“Oh, I’ll be enjoying myself in other forms,” Ryo grinned. “And you don’t have to worry, Tatsuya. We can even combine them! For example: we can do what I want to do, whilst we are waiting for the fairies of the lake. I don’t mind an audience,” He offered batting his eyelashes innocently and Ueda slapped his shoulder playfully.
“Pervert!!” he laughed.
“I’m sorry, is seat number 43 here?” a lanky -oh-so-familiar- boy asked, his head peeking through the compartment’s door.
Ueda stared at him with his mouth opened. He lowered his gaze and turned towards his boyfriend.
“Ryo, do we still have that deck of cards?”
THE END
A/N for sashjun, i lost the 1st post so i don't know wat i wrote exactly but u know why keke
lots of love
Einji s2