Challenge: The Moments That Illuminate
Title: The Moments That Illuminate (1sentence)
Author: kage_no_kodoku
Rating: PG-13, R-15 to be safe (?)
Warnings: un-beta-ed, some innuendo, mostly written under the influence of chocolate in the hours after midnight
Genre: humor, romance, fluff
Pairing: Nao x Saga
Theme Set: Gamma
Disclaimer: I don't own nor am I in any way associated with them. Title taken from Neil Gaiman's "Death: The Time of Your Life"
Notes: I apologize for all the inconsistencies in style and errors in grammar... m(_ _)m
This is dedicated to mxtrxofsomer because... well, just because. *grins*
***
TALENT
Not only because of sheer beauty, but rather the way he would deftly strum his five-stringed bass was one of the reasons Nao had his eye on Saga in the first place.
GRAVITY
When Saga first had a conversation with him, he thought it was very refreshing-- how Nao freely expresses himself as if he could not be held back by anything at all, not even gravity.
MUSIC
To the both of them, music is the red string that interwove their destinies and made it inevitable for them to meet each other in this vast world.
DREAM
"I dreamed of playing bass," he bubbly announced, although the suspicious twinkle in his eyes and the almost unseen twitching of his brow made Saga raise a skeptic eyebrow at him.
BOX
After seeing the staff shoot a photo of Hiroto in a box, Nao flashed a cheeky grin at Saga and whispered to him almost too cheerfully, "You'll show me how that look fits you when we get home, right?" [1]
HERO
As Nao scribbled Kira Yamato's name on the survey sheet, Saga sneaked a peek and then burst into uncontrolled snickers as he said, "Heero is way much cooler and more manly than your hero." [2]
LOCK
Shou could no longer take the persistent knocking coming from Nao's room to the point that he forced open the door to scold the mischievous drummer, only to be taken aback to see a brilliantly flushed Saga smile at him in gratitude and embarassment while mumbling an almost apologetic "I got locked in."
FALL
He didn't feel anything during the encore while he was filled with the excitement of performing, but now that everything is over and that energy has dissipated, the only thing that's cushioning him from fully experiencing the pain was the bassist's cold and sweaty hand around his own. [3]
WINGS
Upon observing him in a cirrus of cigarette smoke, Nao thought that Saga's beauty could rival that of the most handsome angels of heaven if only he had wings-- although his image seems to be more suited to that of an ephemeral faerie with butterfly wings instead that of an angel.
ICE
He unconsciously stirred the now diluted liquid with his straw, the sloshing sound it made was music that reminded him again and again of the disappointing fact of the moment-- the ice of his macchiato had already melted and Saga is still nowhere in sight.
WORLD
Whilst ignoring the dubious looks passersby were throwing at them, Nao took Saga's hand into his and murmured to the bassist with a smile, "Let's pretend the rest of the world doesn't exist."
JOURNEY
Saga let out a defeated sigh and helplessly looked at the one still clutching his hand-- a completely bouncy Nao joyously raising his fist and crying "We're embarking on a fateful journey of love!" while leading the way towards Akihabara.
CANDLE
He intently watched those fingers run the length of that elongated object with rhythmic featherlight taps and gentle strokes as if applying deliberate caresses to every visible inch, until he couldn't take it anymore and cried out, "Stop playing with the damn candle, Nao!"
HURRICANE
The weather report didn't say the hurricane would hit today, so two hapless, umbrella-less members of Alice Nine's rhythm team could only look at each other in a what-are-we-gonna-do-now way.
RUN
Since both were desperate to get home immediately, Saga pulled his jacket over their heads as they ran for it until they could reach the nearest conveniece store to purchase an umbrella, or even better, hire a taxi along the way.
FEVER
Nao scrutinized the thermometer thoughtfully before smirking at the half-naked bassist lying on the bed and then declaring, "You're way too hot!"
COLD
Saga grabbed Nao's arm just as the drummer was about to stand up, and with his best pleading eyes he mumbled, "It's cold, so keep me warm at least for tonight."
COVER
Nao tried to pull the comforter to their necks, but Saga seized the hand that held and made it so that their bodies are entirely enveloped in the comforter's snug softness instead.
OVERWHELMED
He could actually hear the blood rushing to his ears in a pattern as rhythmic as the drums he beats for the longest time just because Saga would not let go of his hand, even while in deep slumber.
BREATHE
Nao's breathing caught in his throat for a moment as he realized that mixed with the air he's taking in is the warm, short breaths coming from the sleeping bassist's open mouth.
TEMPTATION
Realizing that he was close enough that he could actually see every minute crease that lines Saga's pinkish lips, the drummer suddenly became utterly filled with the desire to steal those lips with his own.
WHISPER
Just as he tossed around in the futon to turn his back towards the bassist, Nao felt something warm brush as lightly and softly as a feather against his now strawberry red ear: "Too shy."
VIEW
Nao flipped his phone to mail Saga a picture of Sapporo from Mt. Moiwa-- the city seemingly a reflection of the night sky-- captioned: "Wish you were well enough to see this with me." [4]
DANCE
"No one would see us anyway," laughed Nao as he grabbed Saga by the hand to dance whilst bathed in the moon's light.
MIDNIGHT
Midnight found them lying flat on the ground, sweat beads on their brows reminiscent of the the dew drops on the blades of grass surrounding them as they lazily watched the cloudless night sky.
ECLIPSE
"I didn't hear about this in the news!" exclaimed the bassist, in contrast to Nao's knowing smirk as the moon was soon swallowed up in the Earth's shadow.
TALK
Nao was unconsciously fiddling with the ends of his costume, head bent so low that his face was barely visible and with a voice so small, he mumbled, "The truth is, there's something I've been keeping from you for a very long time-- something terribly important."
WAIT
"You don't have to answer me right now," he whispered, barely audible and quivering, "or not at all."
LIES
He immersed himself in the nightlife and all the women he found there, enchanting every one of them with his skillful strums on the rare five strings of his instrument as he would avert his gaze from the only person who knows the truthfulness (or deceitfulness) of his flirtations.
FIRE
He wanted to hold him, to envelop him in his arms and his warmth because it broke his heart that he could not do anything but watch Saga endlessly staring at and losing himself into the flickering embers in the hearth-- his eyes tired and red as the crackling flames from lack of sleep and dreadfully perhaps from something else.
DRINK
They parted so very slowly as if regretting having to stop at all, and it's quite evident in the glazed quality reflected in either's eyes of just how drunk they were-- not from the wine, but of each other.
BODY
It was the night of the greatest intimacy that marked the starting point of their life; consequently, he made sure not one bit of flesh was left untouched, unloved, unexplored-- from the cinnamon scent of his coffee hair to the deepest part of him-- he wanted to have it all.
UNKNOWN
"Are you not afraid of what lies ahead of us?" asked Saga, but the calmness and constancy of Nao's pleasant smile was enough to make him think that the point of his question was moot.
STRENGTH
Saga soon discovered that hidden under that external cheerfulness and private bashfulness of their cute leader was a strength of character and determination that he can't really go against.
PROMISE
"Let me lie in your arms forever," he whispered it so breathily against his lover's ear that the drummer flushed furiously to the bassist's words.
FOREVER
"But I don't believe in forever," he said it so casually, so nonchalantly that it tore Saga's heart to shreds; "I do believe in us, though."
SACRED
Before what happened between them tonight, they never knew that about each other-- that underneath the layers of playful banter and shy smiles, they secretly held each second of being together as the most precious and most revered moments of their lives.
SILENCE
Somewhere along, they developed a language of their own and baffled their other band mates whenever they seemed to understand each other without saying a word.
RING
Saga thoughtfully fingered the gold band chained around his neck as he contemplates of the day when he would be able to proudly wear it on his left ring finger.
MEMORY
"Pervert," commented Nao upon seeing the uncontrolled blush on Saga's face as the events of the other night suddenly flashed in the bassist's mind.
RED
"Red really suits you," observed Nao as he playfully tugged on the open shirt, deepening the blush already evident on the bassist wearing it.
FORMAL
He noticed that everyone, even among his own closest friends and band mates, calls him with -san; but when Saga tries to call him with that honorific as well, he instantly whirled at the bassist and blurted, "Don't you think it's right about time we call each other by just our names?"
SEARCH
It was terribly intoxicating, the way that hot and wet part of him would delve inside you and take a taste of everything-- all the lovers you've had and the sweetness of it all-- that you were quite confused at the point when you parted, with him muttering, "You bastard ate ramen without me!" [5]
SILK
Nao fondly stroked his white scarf as he remembered its silky feel on his skin when Saga once wrapped it around his neck to pull him into a kiss.
HIGHWAY
Standing dumbfounded just outside the stopover, Nao looked down the long highway with teary eyes-- Saga left his side again, and the tour van was nowhere in sight. [6]
HOPE
"How could they forget me?" mumbled Nao, his voice unexpectedly breaking along with his heart-- it hurt him terribly that he was left behind, especially because even Saga didn't remember him-- as he quietly sat on the curb with the intent to await hours on end for any sign of their return. [6]
FORGOTTEN
Immersed in a half-dozing half-dazed state, Saga quietly contemplated about the sensation of forgetting something terribly important that he's been experiencing for some twenty minutes now, when he suddenly jumped up in realization-- his head violently making contact with the roof of the van, thus startling everyone near him-- and yelled out, "Nao's not here!" [6]
LAUGH
He laughed with the others as he tried to wave off the incident away with a joke and a smile, but the hollowness of his chuckles didn't escape the ears of a certain bassist who pulled him into a sudden embrace.
MASK
The others may have not noticed it yet, but Saga observed an uncommon shine in Nao's eyes-- a certain wetness in them that the drummer tried to shove out of view with his broad grin.
FAREWELLS
"I won't throw you away, but I'll live out whatever we have until we truly part ways," he whispered it soothingly as he held his crying lover in his arms.
***
[1] picture of Hiroto in a box could be found here
[2] in questionnaires, Nao says his ideal male body is that of Kira Yamato's (from Gundam SEED). All members of Alice Nine are fans of Gundam, and it seems Saga likes Gundam Wing more than Gundam Seed (Heero Yuy is the main protagonist of Gundam Wing)
[3] video of Nao's fall could be found here
[4] the view of Sapporo on Mt. Moiwa is said to be romantically beautiful according to this
[5] inspired by an episode of Queer as Folk (second season, I don't remember which episode) where Justin and Brian would take turns kissing and licking each other then trying to tell how the other made love to another guy
[6] an interview that mentioned leaving Nao behind, among other things, could be found here
Author: kage_no_kodoku
Rating: PG-13, R-15 to be safe (?)
Warnings: un-beta-ed, some innuendo, mostly written under the influence of chocolate in the hours after midnight
Genre: humor, romance, fluff
Pairing: Nao x Saga
Theme Set: Gamma
Disclaimer: I don't own nor am I in any way associated with them. Title taken from Neil Gaiman's "Death: The Time of Your Life"
Notes: I apologize for all the inconsistencies in style and errors in grammar... m(_ _)m
This is dedicated to mxtrxofsomer because... well, just because. *grins*
***
TALENT
Not only because of sheer beauty, but rather the way he would deftly strum his five-stringed bass was one of the reasons Nao had his eye on Saga in the first place.
GRAVITY
When Saga first had a conversation with him, he thought it was very refreshing-- how Nao freely expresses himself as if he could not be held back by anything at all, not even gravity.
MUSIC
To the both of them, music is the red string that interwove their destinies and made it inevitable for them to meet each other in this vast world.
DREAM
"I dreamed of playing bass," he bubbly announced, although the suspicious twinkle in his eyes and the almost unseen twitching of his brow made Saga raise a skeptic eyebrow at him.
BOX
After seeing the staff shoot a photo of Hiroto in a box, Nao flashed a cheeky grin at Saga and whispered to him almost too cheerfully, "You'll show me how that look fits you when we get home, right?" [1]
HERO
As Nao scribbled Kira Yamato's name on the survey sheet, Saga sneaked a peek and then burst into uncontrolled snickers as he said, "Heero is way much cooler and more manly than your hero." [2]
LOCK
Shou could no longer take the persistent knocking coming from Nao's room to the point that he forced open the door to scold the mischievous drummer, only to be taken aback to see a brilliantly flushed Saga smile at him in gratitude and embarassment while mumbling an almost apologetic "I got locked in."
FALL
He didn't feel anything during the encore while he was filled with the excitement of performing, but now that everything is over and that energy has dissipated, the only thing that's cushioning him from fully experiencing the pain was the bassist's cold and sweaty hand around his own. [3]
WINGS
Upon observing him in a cirrus of cigarette smoke, Nao thought that Saga's beauty could rival that of the most handsome angels of heaven if only he had wings-- although his image seems to be more suited to that of an ephemeral faerie with butterfly wings instead that of an angel.
ICE
He unconsciously stirred the now diluted liquid with his straw, the sloshing sound it made was music that reminded him again and again of the disappointing fact of the moment-- the ice of his macchiato had already melted and Saga is still nowhere in sight.
WORLD
Whilst ignoring the dubious looks passersby were throwing at them, Nao took Saga's hand into his and murmured to the bassist with a smile, "Let's pretend the rest of the world doesn't exist."
JOURNEY
Saga let out a defeated sigh and helplessly looked at the one still clutching his hand-- a completely bouncy Nao joyously raising his fist and crying "We're embarking on a fateful journey of love!" while leading the way towards Akihabara.
CANDLE
He intently watched those fingers run the length of that elongated object with rhythmic featherlight taps and gentle strokes as if applying deliberate caresses to every visible inch, until he couldn't take it anymore and cried out, "Stop playing with the damn candle, Nao!"
HURRICANE
The weather report didn't say the hurricane would hit today, so two hapless, umbrella-less members of Alice Nine's rhythm team could only look at each other in a what-are-we-gonna-do-now way.
RUN
Since both were desperate to get home immediately, Saga pulled his jacket over their heads as they ran for it until they could reach the nearest conveniece store to purchase an umbrella, or even better, hire a taxi along the way.
FEVER
Nao scrutinized the thermometer thoughtfully before smirking at the half-naked bassist lying on the bed and then declaring, "You're way too hot!"
COLD
Saga grabbed Nao's arm just as the drummer was about to stand up, and with his best pleading eyes he mumbled, "It's cold, so keep me warm at least for tonight."
COVER
Nao tried to pull the comforter to their necks, but Saga seized the hand that held and made it so that their bodies are entirely enveloped in the comforter's snug softness instead.
OVERWHELMED
He could actually hear the blood rushing to his ears in a pattern as rhythmic as the drums he beats for the longest time just because Saga would not let go of his hand, even while in deep slumber.
BREATHE
Nao's breathing caught in his throat for a moment as he realized that mixed with the air he's taking in is the warm, short breaths coming from the sleeping bassist's open mouth.
TEMPTATION
Realizing that he was close enough that he could actually see every minute crease that lines Saga's pinkish lips, the drummer suddenly became utterly filled with the desire to steal those lips with his own.
WHISPER
Just as he tossed around in the futon to turn his back towards the bassist, Nao felt something warm brush as lightly and softly as a feather against his now strawberry red ear: "Too shy."
VIEW
Nao flipped his phone to mail Saga a picture of Sapporo from Mt. Moiwa-- the city seemingly a reflection of the night sky-- captioned: "Wish you were well enough to see this with me." [4]
DANCE
"No one would see us anyway," laughed Nao as he grabbed Saga by the hand to dance whilst bathed in the moon's light.
MIDNIGHT
Midnight found them lying flat on the ground, sweat beads on their brows reminiscent of the the dew drops on the blades of grass surrounding them as they lazily watched the cloudless night sky.
ECLIPSE
"I didn't hear about this in the news!" exclaimed the bassist, in contrast to Nao's knowing smirk as the moon was soon swallowed up in the Earth's shadow.
TALK
Nao was unconsciously fiddling with the ends of his costume, head bent so low that his face was barely visible and with a voice so small, he mumbled, "The truth is, there's something I've been keeping from you for a very long time-- something terribly important."
WAIT
"You don't have to answer me right now," he whispered, barely audible and quivering, "or not at all."
LIES
He immersed himself in the nightlife and all the women he found there, enchanting every one of them with his skillful strums on the rare five strings of his instrument as he would avert his gaze from the only person who knows the truthfulness (or deceitfulness) of his flirtations.
FIRE
He wanted to hold him, to envelop him in his arms and his warmth because it broke his heart that he could not do anything but watch Saga endlessly staring at and losing himself into the flickering embers in the hearth-- his eyes tired and red as the crackling flames from lack of sleep and dreadfully perhaps from something else.
DRINK
They parted so very slowly as if regretting having to stop at all, and it's quite evident in the glazed quality reflected in either's eyes of just how drunk they were-- not from the wine, but of each other.
BODY
It was the night of the greatest intimacy that marked the starting point of their life; consequently, he made sure not one bit of flesh was left untouched, unloved, unexplored-- from the cinnamon scent of his coffee hair to the deepest part of him-- he wanted to have it all.
UNKNOWN
"Are you not afraid of what lies ahead of us?" asked Saga, but the calmness and constancy of Nao's pleasant smile was enough to make him think that the point of his question was moot.
STRENGTH
Saga soon discovered that hidden under that external cheerfulness and private bashfulness of their cute leader was a strength of character and determination that he can't really go against.
PROMISE
"Let me lie in your arms forever," he whispered it so breathily against his lover's ear that the drummer flushed furiously to the bassist's words.
FOREVER
"But I don't believe in forever," he said it so casually, so nonchalantly that it tore Saga's heart to shreds; "I do believe in us, though."
SACRED
Before what happened between them tonight, they never knew that about each other-- that underneath the layers of playful banter and shy smiles, they secretly held each second of being together as the most precious and most revered moments of their lives.
SILENCE
Somewhere along, they developed a language of their own and baffled their other band mates whenever they seemed to understand each other without saying a word.
RING
Saga thoughtfully fingered the gold band chained around his neck as he contemplates of the day when he would be able to proudly wear it on his left ring finger.
MEMORY
"Pervert," commented Nao upon seeing the uncontrolled blush on Saga's face as the events of the other night suddenly flashed in the bassist's mind.
RED
"Red really suits you," observed Nao as he playfully tugged on the open shirt, deepening the blush already evident on the bassist wearing it.
FORMAL
He noticed that everyone, even among his own closest friends and band mates, calls him with -san; but when Saga tries to call him with that honorific as well, he instantly whirled at the bassist and blurted, "Don't you think it's right about time we call each other by just our names?"
SEARCH
It was terribly intoxicating, the way that hot and wet part of him would delve inside you and take a taste of everything-- all the lovers you've had and the sweetness of it all-- that you were quite confused at the point when you parted, with him muttering, "You bastard ate ramen without me!" [5]
SILK
Nao fondly stroked his white scarf as he remembered its silky feel on his skin when Saga once wrapped it around his neck to pull him into a kiss.
HIGHWAY
Standing dumbfounded just outside the stopover, Nao looked down the long highway with teary eyes-- Saga left his side again, and the tour van was nowhere in sight. [6]
HOPE
"How could they forget me?" mumbled Nao, his voice unexpectedly breaking along with his heart-- it hurt him terribly that he was left behind, especially because even Saga didn't remember him-- as he quietly sat on the curb with the intent to await hours on end for any sign of their return. [6]
FORGOTTEN
Immersed in a half-dozing half-dazed state, Saga quietly contemplated about the sensation of forgetting something terribly important that he's been experiencing for some twenty minutes now, when he suddenly jumped up in realization-- his head violently making contact with the roof of the van, thus startling everyone near him-- and yelled out, "Nao's not here!" [6]
LAUGH
He laughed with the others as he tried to wave off the incident away with a joke and a smile, but the hollowness of his chuckles didn't escape the ears of a certain bassist who pulled him into a sudden embrace.
MASK
The others may have not noticed it yet, but Saga observed an uncommon shine in Nao's eyes-- a certain wetness in them that the drummer tried to shove out of view with his broad grin.
FAREWELLS
"I won't throw you away, but I'll live out whatever we have until we truly part ways," he whispered it soothingly as he held his crying lover in his arms.
***
[1] picture of Hiroto in a box could be found here
[2] in questionnaires, Nao says his ideal male body is that of Kira Yamato's (from Gundam SEED). All members of Alice Nine are fans of Gundam, and it seems Saga likes Gundam Wing more than Gundam Seed (Heero Yuy is the main protagonist of Gundam Wing)
[3] video of Nao's fall could be found here
[4] the view of Sapporo on Mt. Moiwa is said to be romantically beautiful according to this
[5] inspired by an episode of Queer as Folk (second season, I don't remember which episode) where Justin and Brian would take turns kissing and licking each other then trying to tell how the other made love to another guy
[6] an interview that mentioned leaving Nao behind, among other things, could be found here