Without You is How I Disappear - Chapter 2 (Part 2)
Title: Without You is How I Disappear
Authors: superhero0008, carboncastel, cascadingmerrygoround @ Tumblr
Pairing: Akame, MaruDa, RyoDa (plus others)
Rating: NC-17
Genre: AU, Romance, Drama, Smut
Disclaimer: We own no one in this fic except some minor OC. We own the plot.
Summary: World of Johnny’s Entertainment is burning with glitz and glamour. At the very top is Crimson Glory, the famous pop duo made up of the incredibly charismatic Kamenashi Kazuya and the enthralling Ueda Tatsuya. They are alike in that they follow where their hearts take them. Akanishi Jin is a solo artist who just recently debuted, slowly working his way to the top. Nishikido Ryo is an actor, and he goes for what he wants. Nakamaru Yuichi is the agency’s official photographer, and he’s happy with what he has. And Johnny Kitagawa. He doesn't make it easy for any of them. Well, except for his favorites, Shirota Yuu and Taguchi Junnosuke, and most especially, Kamenashi. What is true and what is false in this industry of illusions? What will they hold onto and what should they let go of?
A/N: superhero0008 here again posting, but probably carboncastel is going to be the one to reply to comments! Thanks and please do enjoy this chapter! :]
Without You is How I Disappear
Chapter 2
Ueda exerted great effort to keep his face blank despite the traitorous sound of his heart pounding in his ears.
Ryo had already noticed how Ueda seemed to struggle for a reply, however. He got nervous, the actor thought to himself with a satisfied smile. Ryo suddenly laughed out loud and said, “Just kidding!”
Ueda’s fingers curled into a fist at that. He resisted the very tempting urge to deliver a right hook to Ryo’s face. Just then, the photographer, Nakamaru, entered the set with two paper cups in hand, and Ueda just was grateful.
“Excuse me,” said Ueda curtly, turning his back on the actor.
Ryo’s grin abruptly turned into a frown as he saw the Nakamaru approach them.
“Coffee, anyone?” the photographer asked politely in his usual quiet tone.
Ryo’s frown deepened into a scowl. That photographer guy really annoyed him for some reason.
Nakamaru blinked nervously at Ryo’s sour expression, “Uhm, Nishikido-san, would you like one? Tatsuya and I can just share the other one.”
“No, thanks. But that’s sweet,” Ryo replied with a lopsided smile, and although Nakamaru knew that his tone was sarcastic, he couldn’t decide what the actor was being sarcastic about. He was either being sarcastic about finding Nakamaru’s gesture ‘sweet,’ or being sarcastic about how ‘sweet’ sharing a cup with Ueda would be. The latter made less sense than the other. Unless…
Nakamaru smiled unnecessarily. He didn’t want to think about it.
He handed one cup to Ueda, who simply took it and nodded as thanks. The photographer briefly wondered why his partner was so quiet that day.
“Tatsuya, just remembered,” Nakamaru said after taking a sip of his coffee, his face lighting up. “My niece can say my name now!”
“What? Really?” replied Ueda, his expression mirroring the other’s delight. “Yoko-chan can say your first name now?”
“Not yet, she only said ‘Yuuuuu.’ But that’s close enough!”
Ueda tilted his head, skeptical, “Are you sure she was calling your name? She could’ve been saying something else.”
“Yes but really, considering that - ” and the photographer went into a long-winded explanation which Ryo didn’t bother listening to.
The two continued on discussing the same topic for a while, debating whether the little girl was really saying Nakamaru’s name or not, and Ryo looked on in sullen silence at this conversation, because, after all, there was nothing he could contribute. He quickly got bored and became increasingly annoyed. Then, without so much as a word, Ryo walked off.
Nakamaru stopped midsentence and stared after the actor.
“Is Nishikido-san always this strange?” he asked Ueda bluntly. “Or maybe he just doesn’t like me very much.”
Ueda pursed his lips, rather confused just as well.
“But then, he seems to like you well enough. He talks to you a lot,” Nakamaru observed, and Ueda looked at him from the corner of his eye, thinking whether his partner was hinting at anything more than what he had said. The photographer’s facial expression was merely one of puzzlement, though.
Nakamaru took a sip of his coffee and said casually, “Speaking of which, what were you talking about with him before I got here? You seemed a little off when I arrived.”
“It’s nothing,” Ueda replied, shaking his head. “I’m just a little tired, that’s all.”
Nakamaru smiled, and placed a reassuring hand on the idol’s shoulder. While Ueda would’ve wanted to come closer to his partner, he contented himself with discreetly leaning towards his touch.
“Everyone, break’s over!” shouted the director, who, for a man of such small stature, had a loud booming voice, “Please prepare for the next scene!”
oOo
The duo’s dance sequence had to be shot several times, because it had to be filmed from different angles. It was already the seventh take now, but Kamenashi and Ueda showed everyone why Crimson Glory was such a famous duo. To begin with, they were professionals who didn’t whine even when they were already tired and hungry.
Nakamaru was photographing the two during the takes, to be used as material for the official photos included in the CD when the single was released. Ueda seemed especially eager to be photographed, glancing in Nakamaru’s direction every so often to make sure the photographer got a good shot of the idol’s face. During a short break between takes, Ueda even winked and blew a kiss to the camera. Kame laughed beside him, playfully trying to block the shot, placing his body in between Ueda and Nakamaru’s camera. The photographer laughed as well, clicking away.
Ryo was watching all this from the sidelines, his expression so sour that even Jin hesitated before standing beside his friend.
“Hey, Ryo,” Jin said, taking another look at his friend’s face. “You look... constipated.”
Ryo glared at Jin before setting his eyes back at the duo in the spotlight.
“But still really, really good-looking!” Jin added quickly, hands in an appeasing gesture. “You could do a commercial for constipation.”
“Shut up,” Ryo said, trying to hit his friend on the side of the head. “I’m going to the balcony. Come with me.”
Jin’s eyes strayed from his friend to the shoot taking place, his gaze lingering on Kame who had chosen that exact moment to look in his direction. Kame grinned and winked at him, before returning to posing for the camera.
“Uhm,” Jin replied, eyes still on the duo. “I’ll stay here, thanks.”
“Tch,” Ryo clucked his tongue irritably before striding out of the studio.
oOo
Ryo had pretty much calmed down some ten minutes later after leaving the set. The wind at the balcony cooled him, but he didn’t even understand why he was in such a bad mood earlier. And fine, it kind of sucked that Jin would rather stay and watch the shoot when his friend was obviously not comfortable there.
Ryo momentarily wondered as well what made him uncomfortable on the set, when the sliding glass doors to the balcony made a sound and out came - just his luck - Nakamaru Yuichi.
“Ah, Nishikido-san,” he greeted automatically.
Ryo neither replied nor showed any acknowledgement of the other’s presence.
Nakamaru hesitated a little, wondering if it would be wise to engage the other man further in conversation. Nishikido Ryo was not doing a good job of masking his dislike for him. Or rather, he was not hiding it at all, period. It was a bit more than dislike, Nakamaru thought. The actor's weird treatment of him looked a lot like, the photographer gulped, jealousy.
“Thank you for taking care of Tatsuya,” he said, and that was a safe and completely normal thing to say to a partner’s colleague at work. Just the right, polite tone.
“What?” Ryo snapped.
“I’m happy you’re getting along well,” Nakamaru said, leaning against the railing of the balcony and looking into the distance. “Tatsuya doesn’t usually make friends so easily. But - you may want to be a little careful. People might talk,” said Nakamaru, uneasily tugging at the collar of his shirt.
Everything, everything about the guy annoyed Ryo. Even the infuriatingly polite quiet way he spoke, the way he followed Ueda around like a lovesick idiot. And that last comment - it was obviously a warning against getting too close to the idol. Who the hell was he to tell Ryo off?
“If you’re worried about rumors spreading, don’t worry,” Ryo smirked haughtily. “I’m used to being talked about.”
Ryo laughed spitefully at the look of indignation on Nakamaru’s face. The latter was left to look away to ponder on his thoughts that this guy working with his Tatsuya is actually interested in his Tatsuya.
“I guess celebrities are made to be talked about,” the photographer said as he looked at Ryo. “And they are, in turn, made to not take seriously the rumors about them no matter how true those rumors are.”
Ryo snorted at Nakamaru and threw him a proud look.
“I really don't mind much if the rumors were about other stars, but if it's about Tatsuya, do you know, Nishikido-san?” Nakamaru looked at the sky and started to emphasize his every word but with the same gentleness he always had. “I can get really possessive.”
Ryo was taken aback by the change in the mild-mannered voice of this person. From that tone of voice, he was quite not sure if this Nakamaru guy was implying that he stay away from Ueda.
“I can get really possessive, too,” Ryo looked at Nakamaru's face. “Too bad the future rumors won’t even be half as good as the scandalous truth.”
Ryo laughed in an attempt to mask his apprehension over what felt like the start of an acknowledged hostility.
~end of Chapter 2~
Back to Chapter 1
Go to
superhero0008’s fic list here. Go to
carboncastel’s fic list here. Go to cascadingmerrygoround’s Tumblr account here.
I apologize for the inconsistent (and bad) layout of the entries. I'll fix them as soon as I have the time! -superhero0008 :]
Authors: superhero0008, carboncastel, cascadingmerrygoround @ Tumblr
Pairing: Akame, MaruDa, RyoDa (plus others)
Rating: NC-17
Genre: AU, Romance, Drama, Smut
Disclaimer: We own no one in this fic except some minor OC. We own the plot.
Summary: World of Johnny’s Entertainment is burning with glitz and glamour. At the very top is Crimson Glory, the famous pop duo made up of the incredibly charismatic Kamenashi Kazuya and the enthralling Ueda Tatsuya. They are alike in that they follow where their hearts take them. Akanishi Jin is a solo artist who just recently debuted, slowly working his way to the top. Nishikido Ryo is an actor, and he goes for what he wants. Nakamaru Yuichi is the agency’s official photographer, and he’s happy with what he has. And Johnny Kitagawa. He doesn't make it easy for any of them. Well, except for his favorites, Shirota Yuu and Taguchi Junnosuke, and most especially, Kamenashi. What is true and what is false in this industry of illusions? What will they hold onto and what should they let go of?
A/N: superhero0008 here again posting, but probably carboncastel is going to be the one to reply to comments! Thanks and please do enjoy this chapter! :]
Without You is How I Disappear
Chapter 2
Ueda exerted great effort to keep his face blank despite the traitorous sound of his heart pounding in his ears.
Ryo had already noticed how Ueda seemed to struggle for a reply, however. He got nervous, the actor thought to himself with a satisfied smile. Ryo suddenly laughed out loud and said, “Just kidding!”
Ueda’s fingers curled into a fist at that. He resisted the very tempting urge to deliver a right hook to Ryo’s face. Just then, the photographer, Nakamaru, entered the set with two paper cups in hand, and Ueda just was grateful.
“Excuse me,” said Ueda curtly, turning his back on the actor.
Ryo’s grin abruptly turned into a frown as he saw the Nakamaru approach them.
“Coffee, anyone?” the photographer asked politely in his usual quiet tone.
Ryo’s frown deepened into a scowl. That photographer guy really annoyed him for some reason.
Nakamaru blinked nervously at Ryo’s sour expression, “Uhm, Nishikido-san, would you like one? Tatsuya and I can just share the other one.”
“No, thanks. But that’s sweet,” Ryo replied with a lopsided smile, and although Nakamaru knew that his tone was sarcastic, he couldn’t decide what the actor was being sarcastic about. He was either being sarcastic about finding Nakamaru’s gesture ‘sweet,’ or being sarcastic about how ‘sweet’ sharing a cup with Ueda would be. The latter made less sense than the other. Unless…
Nakamaru smiled unnecessarily. He didn’t want to think about it.
He handed one cup to Ueda, who simply took it and nodded as thanks. The photographer briefly wondered why his partner was so quiet that day.
“Tatsuya, just remembered,” Nakamaru said after taking a sip of his coffee, his face lighting up. “My niece can say my name now!”
“What? Really?” replied Ueda, his expression mirroring the other’s delight. “Yoko-chan can say your first name now?”
“Not yet, she only said ‘Yuuuuu.’ But that’s close enough!”
Ueda tilted his head, skeptical, “Are you sure she was calling your name? She could’ve been saying something else.”
“Yes but really, considering that - ” and the photographer went into a long-winded explanation which Ryo didn’t bother listening to.
The two continued on discussing the same topic for a while, debating whether the little girl was really saying Nakamaru’s name or not, and Ryo looked on in sullen silence at this conversation, because, after all, there was nothing he could contribute. He quickly got bored and became increasingly annoyed. Then, without so much as a word, Ryo walked off.
Nakamaru stopped midsentence and stared after the actor.
“Is Nishikido-san always this strange?” he asked Ueda bluntly. “Or maybe he just doesn’t like me very much.”
Ueda pursed his lips, rather confused just as well.
“But then, he seems to like you well enough. He talks to you a lot,” Nakamaru observed, and Ueda looked at him from the corner of his eye, thinking whether his partner was hinting at anything more than what he had said. The photographer’s facial expression was merely one of puzzlement, though.
Nakamaru took a sip of his coffee and said casually, “Speaking of which, what were you talking about with him before I got here? You seemed a little off when I arrived.”
“It’s nothing,” Ueda replied, shaking his head. “I’m just a little tired, that’s all.”
Nakamaru smiled, and placed a reassuring hand on the idol’s shoulder. While Ueda would’ve wanted to come closer to his partner, he contented himself with discreetly leaning towards his touch.
“Everyone, break’s over!” shouted the director, who, for a man of such small stature, had a loud booming voice, “Please prepare for the next scene!”
oOo
The duo’s dance sequence had to be shot several times, because it had to be filmed from different angles. It was already the seventh take now, but Kamenashi and Ueda showed everyone why Crimson Glory was such a famous duo. To begin with, they were professionals who didn’t whine even when they were already tired and hungry.
Nakamaru was photographing the two during the takes, to be used as material for the official photos included in the CD when the single was released. Ueda seemed especially eager to be photographed, glancing in Nakamaru’s direction every so often to make sure the photographer got a good shot of the idol’s face. During a short break between takes, Ueda even winked and blew a kiss to the camera. Kame laughed beside him, playfully trying to block the shot, placing his body in between Ueda and Nakamaru’s camera. The photographer laughed as well, clicking away.
Ryo was watching all this from the sidelines, his expression so sour that even Jin hesitated before standing beside his friend.
“Hey, Ryo,” Jin said, taking another look at his friend’s face. “You look... constipated.”
Ryo glared at Jin before setting his eyes back at the duo in the spotlight.
“But still really, really good-looking!” Jin added quickly, hands in an appeasing gesture. “You could do a commercial for constipation.”
“Shut up,” Ryo said, trying to hit his friend on the side of the head. “I’m going to the balcony. Come with me.”
Jin’s eyes strayed from his friend to the shoot taking place, his gaze lingering on Kame who had chosen that exact moment to look in his direction. Kame grinned and winked at him, before returning to posing for the camera.
“Uhm,” Jin replied, eyes still on the duo. “I’ll stay here, thanks.”
“Tch,” Ryo clucked his tongue irritably before striding out of the studio.
oOo
Ryo had pretty much calmed down some ten minutes later after leaving the set. The wind at the balcony cooled him, but he didn’t even understand why he was in such a bad mood earlier. And fine, it kind of sucked that Jin would rather stay and watch the shoot when his friend was obviously not comfortable there.
Ryo momentarily wondered as well what made him uncomfortable on the set, when the sliding glass doors to the balcony made a sound and out came - just his luck - Nakamaru Yuichi.
“Ah, Nishikido-san,” he greeted automatically.
Ryo neither replied nor showed any acknowledgement of the other’s presence.
Nakamaru hesitated a little, wondering if it would be wise to engage the other man further in conversation. Nishikido Ryo was not doing a good job of masking his dislike for him. Or rather, he was not hiding it at all, period. It was a bit more than dislike, Nakamaru thought. The actor's weird treatment of him looked a lot like, the photographer gulped, jealousy.
“Thank you for taking care of Tatsuya,” he said, and that was a safe and completely normal thing to say to a partner’s colleague at work. Just the right, polite tone.
“What?” Ryo snapped.
“I’m happy you’re getting along well,” Nakamaru said, leaning against the railing of the balcony and looking into the distance. “Tatsuya doesn’t usually make friends so easily. But - you may want to be a little careful. People might talk,” said Nakamaru, uneasily tugging at the collar of his shirt.
Everything, everything about the guy annoyed Ryo. Even the infuriatingly polite quiet way he spoke, the way he followed Ueda around like a lovesick idiot. And that last comment - it was obviously a warning against getting too close to the idol. Who the hell was he to tell Ryo off?
“If you’re worried about rumors spreading, don’t worry,” Ryo smirked haughtily. “I’m used to being talked about.”
Ryo laughed spitefully at the look of indignation on Nakamaru’s face. The latter was left to look away to ponder on his thoughts that this guy working with his Tatsuya is actually interested in his Tatsuya.
“I guess celebrities are made to be talked about,” the photographer said as he looked at Ryo. “And they are, in turn, made to not take seriously the rumors about them no matter how true those rumors are.”
Ryo snorted at Nakamaru and threw him a proud look.
“I really don't mind much if the rumors were about other stars, but if it's about Tatsuya, do you know, Nishikido-san?” Nakamaru looked at the sky and started to emphasize his every word but with the same gentleness he always had. “I can get really possessive.”
Ryo was taken aback by the change in the mild-mannered voice of this person. From that tone of voice, he was quite not sure if this Nakamaru guy was implying that he stay away from Ueda.
“I can get really possessive, too,” Ryo looked at Nakamaru's face. “Too bad the future rumors won’t even be half as good as the scandalous truth.”
Ryo laughed in an attempt to mask his apprehension over what felt like the start of an acknowledged hostility.
~end of Chapter 2~
Back to Chapter 1
Go to
superhero0008’s fic list here. Go to
carboncastel’s fic list here. Go to cascadingmerrygoround’s Tumblr account here.
I apologize for the inconsistent (and bad) layout of the entries. I'll fix them as soon as I have the time! -superhero0008 :]