The world knew it before us

Band: Dadaroma&Xaa-Xaa

Pairing: Yoshiatsu&Kazuki, mentioned Tomo&Takashi and Reiya&An; Yoshiatsu&Yusuke, Roji&Kazuki and Reiya&Haru in the past

Rating: 17+

Genre: slice of life

Warnings: -

Note: "Because the world knew it before us. And, as you can see, it was right."

As soon as our bands were formed, the label immediately decided to create something like a package out of them. It didn't bother us, because we quickly got along and a real bond of friendship was made between us.

Well... There were interesting times. Tomo and Takashi fell in love with each other almost immediately, for Reiya and Haru it took a little longer to do so. But I remember how everyone was surprised, when I got together with Yusuke, because they were so sure I was in relationship with you. Not that I'm in love with you or that we have a crush on each other or something. No. Everyone immediately assumed that we are already together. They reacted similarly to your relationship with Roji, although most were already informed that you aren't with me. It's just a friendship, nothing else. It was a bit hard for them to believe it, when they saw all these pictures of us holding hands or this famous photo in the rain. But it was true. We weren't together.

You were coming to me after quarells with Roji. Yusuke, seeing you in doors, immedentially knew that you need to talk with me. Reiya has been telling me since forever that I'm the only one, who can cheer you up and tell you that you have to get yourself together. Roji and Reiya couldn't do it. Not them, not Haru, Lime or anyone, who is your friend. Only me.

Reiya and Haru broke up early, but they still were friends. No one cared, no one was even surprised. It was completely different with your conflict with Roji. Reiya was involved in all of this, and I'm sorry, but I probably did my part too, because I couldn't watch you get hurt. Luckily, Yusuke calmed me down. Reiya also gave up, but Roji decided to disappear both from the stage and from our life.

Well, maybe not with all of us. He was still in touch with Yusuke and Reiya. With me he had relationship, which I can call as "birthday and New Year wishes". A typical old-time acquaintance with whom you no longer have regular contact.

It still stirred up our stabilized life. Two relationships had ended. What, how, when did it happen? Besides that, An joined your band, causing even more chaos. Reiya fell in love with him and once, because of staring at this lovely drummer, he crashed into the door in a beautiful style.

I'm glad that Haru took matters into his own hands and told An how to pick up your brother, because I swear that I wouldn't take it anymore and I would end up kicking both of them in the ass just to get them together.

Meanwhile Yusuke started to have problems with his trembling arm. He's a drummer, so it was very annoying for him. I kicked him out to the doctor and we learned that it was the end of Yusuke's carrier in our band. In fact, he couldn't be a drummer anymore. And I lost my mind, to be honest. Yusuke told me that I'm too overprotective and I stopped caring about myself and my dreams because of his dystonia, so it will be better, if we break up.

And suddenly I was single again. I suddenly realized that my bed is empty. Suddenly everything became bland and without sense again. Even if sometimes I met some pretty woman, it was only for sex, nothing more. And Tomo and Takashi were even more confused about everything.

I don't know, when I realised that you're the only one, about whom I'm constantly thinking. Tired, sad, broody you with all these disturbing, depressing lyrics in one hand and tissues in the other. Maybe it was when I went to visit Yusuke and I saw Roji in his kitchen. He's been sitting here, in black, worn out sweats and eating the rice with vegetables. I thought then that it would be funny, if we exchanged our partners at first, but suddenly I realised that no. It wouldn't be funny. It would be awesome and your pretty smile flickered under my eyelids. So I think that I realised it then.

I hug you, pressing my face against your hair. All the emotions, sighs and echoes of our names are still in the air. I have to protect you, especially from yourself. And I don't mind it, even if I'm worried about you sometimes. I like this role. Because the world knew it before us. And, as you can see, it was right.

The end

Muddy Puddle

Band: Kizu

Pairing: Yue&Lime; Kyonosuke&Reiki in the background

Rating: 17+

Genre: romance

Warnings: mild violence

Note: "Love is a sickness. Lungs are filled with flowers, spreading all over the body, poisoning it and stabbing skin with their thorns. The only thing person deeply in love can do, is choking with blood and waiting for death."

Mud.

Mud everywhere.

On his hair, on his face, on his clothes, even his underwear was covered with mud.

Who was that idiot, who got such an idea for a PV?

Oh, wait.

He was that idiot.

Lime sighed, floping on the ground. He was covered in mud already. He won't get more dirty, so he can at least watch the sky.

"You'll catch a cold" said Yue, looking at him from above.

In a white suit, with the sky in the background, with that concerned expression, he looked like a guardian spirit, who came to scold Lime to protect him from illness.

"I don't care" mumbled Lime, covering his eyes with his hand.

He was cold and he wanted to go home. But on the other hand, when he realised, how long he's going to wash his body...

"But I care about your health" said Yue, crounching beside Lime. "How do you want to sing, if you catch a cold?"

"Like everytime, when I'm sick and my voice is hoarse" replied Lime, turning to the side. "You don't have to panic."

Lime closed his eyes. He liked, when Yue cared about him in such way, but he hid it. He didn't want to let Yue know that he has feelings for him, because that would mean he's going to get attached to him. And the vocalist couldn't stand it, when a bond stronger than friendship was born between him and another person, because that meant suffering. He was quite cold even towards his friends. People leave, die, disappear... And they hurt each other. Everytime.

Lime blinked, when he felt that someone is covering him with something. He sat up to check a situation and then Yue covered him tightly with a light yellow, fluffy towel, which he held in his hands.

"At least cover yourself with it" he said calmly, smiling fondly.

Towel was really soft. Lime closed his eyes.

"Thanks" he said, feeling that he's losing a battle with himself.

He should probably confess his feelings for Yue already. But love isn't something good. It means aching heart, because it often gets broken, or nausea or a migraine... Sometimes limbs also hurt, because you punch the wall, or you kick something, or you fall on your knees... Anyway, Lime didn't want to feel like this again, but this fondness and care in Yue's eyes was leading him towards fire like some moth. He knew he's going to burn himself, but he wanted to touch flames anyway.

He has to go home and write to that fangirl, who wrote her number on the lemon flavored sweets box during their recent live tour. Or maybe hook up with that beautiful neighbour from the second floor. She's slim and has big breasts, so maybe he'll forget about Yue.

And maybe he really is going to do it. But first he has to take a bath and a shower, because he stinks like a swamp.

But first thing he has to do is to stop staring at Yue. But it's never been easy and never will be. Because Lime loves him. And everyone knows it. Especially Reiki.

Oh, exactly. Reiki. You should look at him to forget about any deep feelings for anyone. Why does he love such a diva as Kyonosuke? How stressful is living with this drummer for him, how much worries he has? Too much! Why does someone need that? Why people want to suffer?

"Go change your clothes" Yue got up and stroked Lime's head gently. "Before you'll get pneumonia."

Lime sighed and got up from the ground. If Yue doesn't want him to be sick, let it be that way. But maybe someone would take care of him, if he caught a cold? Besides, Lime had an impression that he's really sick already. Because love is a sickness. Lungs are filled with flowers, spreading all over the body, poisoning it and stabbing skin with their thorns. The only thing person deeply in love can do, is choking with blood and waiting for death. Or seduce this pretty neighbour at least.

* * *

Lime came back home, took off his dirty clothes and threw them into the washing machine. He could feel dry mud everywhere and it wasn't comfortable at all. He walked under the shower, poured some gel on his sponge and started scrubbing himself, washing away all this dirt and sand.

He tried to imagine that this dirt is his feelings and thoughts. He knew, how it's going to end, if he lets them to stay in his head and heart. He scrubbed his skin so hard that he finally hissed, when he felt slight pain.

Lime looked at his arm. It looked like some angry cat attacked him.

He sighed, threw his sponge against the wall and kicked the shampoo bottle. Does he have to be so stupid?

Why people fall in love, if they know that it'll never end well? Every relationship ends with falling apart. If at least one of them doesn't decide to leave, they're going to die anyway. Why humans need such suffering?

He sat down in the shower and leaned against the tiles. They were cold. His arm still stung. He was such an idiot...

* * *

Lime left the bathroom after an hour, because he decided to take a relaxing bath. He was tired of his outside and inside problems. He had enough.

And then his cellphone started ringing. Lime growled under his breath and picked it up. He dropped a towel, when he saw the screen.

Yue?

"Hello?"

"Hey. How are you? You didn't catch a cold, did you?" asked Yue.

"Everything is fine" replied Lime. "Thanks for asking."

"I wanted to be sure" explained Yue. "But I can hear it isn't."

Lime had an impression that Yue didn't want to say it, but it just slipped.

"I'm just tired" replied Lime. "Don't overreact."

Lime didn't want to worry Yue. Why would he stress and worry him? Why would he make someone upset?

"Lime..."

"If I sleep enough, I'll be okay."

"No" Lime knew that Yue shook his head. "We should talk about it tomorrow. Good night."

"Sweet dreams" replied Lime.

Lime knew one thing. Yue was right. He won't be okay.

* * *

Since morning they have been in a good mood. Reiki was yapping like crazy, laughing at every Lime's joke. Yue told them entusiastically about his next photo session. Even Kyonosuke wasn't as moody as always.

Lime looked at Yue. They were happy, right? So why his stupid heart wanted to ruin everything so much?

After practicing new material, they decided to take a break. Lime took his e-cigarrette with him and left the building.

He leaned against the wall and inhaled citrus-scented vapor. Stupid heart, stupid brain, stupid Yue, stupid everything.

"Lime?" he suddenly heard the bassist's voice. "Can we talk?"

He was laughing just a few moments ago. Now he seemed worried and serious.

"Did something happen?" asked Lime, putting his e-cigarrette into his pocket.

"You tell me" said Yue. "Something bothers you. I can see it."

"I'm just a little tired, that's all" Lime shrugged.

"And you're acting like this in my presence just because of it?" asked Yue, leaning against the wall with one hand.

Lime froze. He noticed?

"Don't be silly" Lime nudged his shoulder, smiling. "What do you mean?"

"This, probably" Yue put his hands on Lime's cheeks and kissed him.

Lime blinked.

What?

No.

Why...

Why Yue decided to ruin everything?

No, no, no.

No!

SLAP!

Yue didn't understand, what just happened. His cheek was stinging from the pain. He looked at Lime, who seemed to be embarrassed.

"Don't ruin this" said Lime, rubbing his hand. "I don't want to ruin our friendship. I don't want to risk our band's well-being, if we break up. Don't."

Yue touched his cheek. It was swollen. And the atmosphere was suffocating.

"Lime..."

"No, Yue" Lime shook his head. "I'm sorry."

Yue sighed, then he hugged Lime.

"I love you, you know?" he said calmly. "Even if you punched me and you don't want to be with me, I still love you."

"Yue...?"

"You can even kill me and it won't change anything" Yue stroked his head. "Because you're still this cute, sensitive, clumsy, grumpy, talented vocalist with a good sense of humour. Even if you're going to stab me and stand in front of me with a bloody knife."

"But..."

"And I'm sorry that I kissed you" said Yue. "I won't do it again."

Lime closed his eyes.

"I don't want to suffer, if something goes wrong" he explained.

"So you prefer suffering, because you didn't even try?"

"What? I... No. Maybe...?" Lime moved away from Yue and looked at him in shock.

He...

He was right.

...

Oh, fuck these negative thoughts! Humans are just masochists. And maybe he is a masochist too. Because why not. Because no one can forbid it.

For sure not Reiki, who started clapping immediatelly, when Lime stood on his toes and kissed Yue.

For how long was he standing there...?

Does't matter. Lime decided to kill him later. For now Yue's lips were too soft and sweet.

Even if everything is going to crumble to dust in the future, let's screw the future. Everything, which was important, was there and now. And nothing more.

The end

Shallow sleep

Band: Belle

Pairing: Masato&Akiya

Rating: 17+

Genre: romance

Warnings: -

Note: Akiya has a big trouble with sleeping and a broken heart. Will at least one of his problems disappear?

His sleep always has been shallow since he remembered. Everything could wake him up, no matter if it was legendary metalic ball rolling on the neighbours' floor at 2AM or some person slamming their car's door outside. And if he woke up, he couldn't sleep anymore and at some point he used to decide to do something, because he couldn't just lay down and stare at the ceiling with hope that he'll fall asleep soon.

Just like now.

Akiya closed his eyes. Really? Pigeons' cooing woke him up?

Fuck this shit.

He sat up, putting his quilt away and looked at his bass standing against the wall, then he looked at the clock.

Oh, it's just after 3AM. Wonderful. He has a lot of time to write at least two songs.

He won't fall asleep anymore. He's been trying for half an hour at this point and he was tired of this already. When you're trying to fall asleep and you can’t, it's annoying and frustrating. Especially that it wasn't the first situation like this during this week and his body didn't function well anymore. But he still couldn't sleep. And when he tried to sleep, but couldn't, he started getting angry that he can't, so his blood-pressure was high and...

Well, everything was in vain.

He went to the kitchen, made himself tea and put a pot with rice on the stove. It would be for breakfast. He was craving onigiri with some fish.

He came back to his bedroom and sat down at the desk. He opened his notebook and thought for a moment, how to put his whole frustration into music.

He would probably write a ballad. Like he subcounsciously wanted to put himself to sleep with another composition.

But this time it wasn't that simple at all. His hand was trembling, his vision was blurred and he felt dizzy. On top of that he didn't focus on his task at all.

Akiya thought that it has to be something really wrong with him, when he burned rice twice. He decided that he shouldn't cook anything by himself this day and he put the burned pot into the dishwasher.

Or maybe he should throw it away already?

"Stupid body" he murmured under his breath.

The last time something like this happened to him, when he was still in Aube. But they had a break then, because they just returned from the live tour and he could relax. And now they're working on an album with Belle and he can't afford a day off.

Akiya rubbed his temples. He's thinking too much about it. He has to slow down, because he might soon trip and fall.

Then he realised that his cellphone was ringing. He went to the bedroom and took it from the night stand. Screen informed him happilly that the one, who's calling him, is Masato.

Yeah... Masato... Known also as a drummer of their band and younger brother of Yoshito and Ena from xTripx. Well, the latter is now in Dauto and introduces himself by his real name.

In Akiya's head Masato was describes as "A man you love, but he dumped you, because he's still suffering after what his ex did to him".

Akiya sighed and picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi" he heard Masato's voice. "I had to do some errands before the rehearsal and I'm going to pass by your home soon. Do you want me pick you up?"

"Of course" Akiya smiled slightly, feeling both happiness and sadness, because he knew that he won't have Masato for himself anyway.

Masato explained this to him before, well, firmly.

Too firmly.

"I'll be here right away" announced Masato. "Wakita?"

"What?" Akiya got used to the fact that Yumehito and Masato call him like this.

Haro probably was the only one, who didn't do this at least once.

"Your voice sounds a little weird. Something happened?" asked Masato.

"No. And you're not driving using only one hand, right?"

"I put you on a speaker, mum" Masato laughed. "But I really have a feeling that something is wrong. You sound like you're sick."

"No, I just..." started Akiya and...

He didn't know, what he wanted to say. That he's dizzy or maybe that he's nauseaous?

He just knew that he found himself on the floor a little too fast. And he couldn't just "faint a little", so he fainted normally.

* * *

Akiya blinked. He heard some muffled noises, but he didn't know, what it was or where it was. Only after a while he realised that it was punching at the door.

He felt dizzy and nauseaous. His head hurt, probably because of hitting the floor. And his ex kept telling him that they should buy new carpet for the kitchen, but he ignored her. And he should've listened to Chou, maybe he wouldn't feel so terrible right now.

Loud thud with bang and crash. He didn't have strengh to check, what it was. He didn't have strengh to even open his eyes. But he had a feeling that if he opens his eyes, he'll throw up immediately.

"Akiya!" he suddenly heard a voice and felt that his heart did a flip.

...Masato?

"For gods' sake..."

He heard loud footsteps. Someone grabbed his hands and legs and lifted him.

He opened his eyes a little.

Yes, Masato. Frightened Masato. One of his sleeves was worn and almost torn.

"I'm alive..." announced Akiya, but his own voice scared him.

Or the fact, how weak it was.

"Good" said Masato, releasing his hands. "Your door aren't. I'll pay for it. But now we have to go to the hospital. And don't argue with me."

"As you wish..." mumbled Akiya, realising that Masato picked him up and now is carrying him in his arms.

If he had any chance... And if he didn't feel so sick... It would be really nice...

* * *

The doctor didn't tell Akiya anything he hadn't known already. He knew he's exhaused and doesn't sleep well. Masato was waiting for him behind the door. He was sitting on the chair and playing some mobile game.

"I'm okay" announced Akiya, standing in front of him.

Masato flinched, snapped out of his thoughts.

"Good" Masato smiled and got up, putting his phone in his pocket. "Do you think that your neighbour really watched over your flat?"

"She treats me like her own silly grandson, so I trust her" replied Akiya and swayed a little, but Masato caught him.

His touch was soft and nice. But it still burned. Like needles were piercing Akiya's body, even if they were hidden in a pillow.

They had to reapair the door, so Akiya had to sleep somewhere else. Haro immediately invited Akiya to his house, saying that Haru won't mind, but Masato told them that he's going to take care of the bassist. Even if Akiya protested. Even if Haro knew, why Akiya protested and even if Masato knew it too. It's possible that even Haro's boyfriend knew, why.

* * *

Akiya looked at the blue-green pill, which he was supposed to take before sleep. It should work fast and long. He was sitting in his pajamas, on the futon, in Masato's apartment.

Akiya sighed and swallowed the pill, drank some water and laid down comfortably. He closed his eyes and let his mind calm down. He fell asleep pretty fast, but...

He woke up in the middle of night, when something bumped into the window. He didn't know, what it was. He even didn't want to know.

He felt totally powerless. He sat up and looked at the wall.

And what? He's going to stay awake for a whole night again?

He took some deep breaths. It's okay. He'll fall asleep soon.

He laid down again and closed his eyes. Even if he wasn't anxious, he couldn't sleep for the next hour. Again.

Akiya howled like a beaten dog, covering his face with a pillow. Then he got up and walked towards Masato's bedroom. He didn't know, why. But maybe it's going to calm him down...

Akiya stood in the treshold and looked at sleeping Masato. His light brown hair scattered over the pillow. He was breathing steadily and looked so calm that Akiya felt a sting in his heart.

Stupid Amane. How could he cheat on someone like Masato? How could he lied to him for months? How could he hurt him so much that he closed himself off from the world? How? Just how? And he just disappeared without a trace after the whole situation. They only knew he's alive.

Akiya sat down next to Masato's futon and thought for a moment, if he really wanted to wake him up. But Masato opened his eyes anyway, a little confused.

"Wakita?" he looked at him and rubbed his eyes. "What happened, why are you not asleep?"

"I don't know" replied Akiya and hugged Masato. "I really don't know. I took pills, but even now..."

He was tired. He was so tired. So why he still couldn't sleep? Why his body didn't want to cooperate with him?

Masato froze for a moment, like he didn't know, what to do, then he gently embraced Akiya and stroked his head.

"I have... a silly idea" he said like had troubles with it. "You can always... sleep... here?"

Akiya frowned. What is he talking about?

"Here?"

"Of course."

"With you?"

"...yes?"

"You're kidding" Akiya moved away from Masato. "What the fuck are you doing? Isn't it enough for you that I had to move on after you rejected my feelings? Now you really want to give me false hope to calm me down, so I can fall asleep? Because what? Because I have this stupid insomnia? That's why..."

"Stop!" Masato grabbed his shoulders. "Stop. I love you, okay? I'm scared, because when I feel deep emotions, I immediately remember, what Rui... Amane... However you want to call him... What he did to me. But I want to try. I wanted to tell you this morning, but you fainted and... And I thought that maybe tomorrow... But I saw, how distressed you are right now and... For gods' sake, lay down and don't whine, why me and my brother have to love such tsunderes?"

Akiya blinked.

"Do you love me?"

"Yes. Will you lay down or not?" Masato looked like he prefered to run away than letting him be so close.

"Prove it" said Akiya. "Why should I trust you that you don't pretend only because you want me to relax?"

"Oh, come on!" Masato put his hands on Akiya's cheeks and kissed him.

He did it a little angrily, but gently at the same time.

And he was right as always. In his arms Akiya fell asleep easy. It seems that sometimes you just need another person to make everything okay.

The end

Music in my mind

Band: Moran

Pairing: Soan&Hitomi

Rating: 17+

Genre: romance

Warnings: -

Note: "Do you want to dance, Tomofumi?"

It was raining. Raindrops, one after another, bounced off the roof of the bus stop, where we were sitting.

We weren't drunk. It was just symbolic amount of alcohol. But none of us would even think about driving after drinking, even if we didn't drink that much. Vision of us, dying because of accident, already appeared in your always overthinking mind.

"Music was bad there" you said suddenly.

"Bad?"

"We couldn't dance to most of the songs" you explained and shrugged.

I nodded. In fact, we were just eating and drinking mostly non-alcohol drinks there. Maybe it was normal, but if somewhere is a dance floor, people should be able to use it. But how to do it, when the only music in speakers is rap and dubstep?

"We can dance here" I said.

You looked at me, confused.

"Here?"

"Here."

"Without a music?"

"It will play in our minds" I gave you my hand. "Do you want to dance, Tomofumi?"

"Of course" you smiled tenderly and grabbed my hand.

Why your hand was already cold? I know that you get cold fast, but it's always a mystery for me...

People on the bus stop across the street were looking at us a little surprised. But maybe they just thought that we were drunk.

We were dancing until we got tired. We didn't care that our bus left a long time ago. There's always another bus and sometimes we need to do some crazy things in our life. Even if my life is crazy since I met you.

The end

Mirror

Band: Dadaroma&Xaa-Xaa

Pairing: Yoshiatsu&Kazuki

Rating: 17+

Genre: slice of life

Warnings: mental instability, self-harm, mental breakdown, depression, self-hatred, mild language

Note: It's not a good day for Kazuki. Or week. Or month. Or year. Or life.

But luckily for him, Yoshiatsu is here.

Casual, old mirror. Silvered. There were some scratches, but it was still solid. In broken frame that had to be glued a lot of times already.

In fact, he should've thrown away this mirror a long time ago. Put it somewhere between old, rusty bathtub and a sofa stinking of dog piss. He didn't even buy it. It was there since old owners lived here. But a fact is, when he moved in, it wasn't broken at all.

Scratches started to appear later. One after another. And there was more and more of them. Mainly because of him.

Habit. Habit of smacking the mirror with an open palm. Maybe that's why it was still there? If it was made of plastic, produced in one of today's factories, it wouldn't survive even a single impact. It would immediately fall off the nail and shatter into a million pieces. And this one? And it doesn't even budge. And only sometimes he needs to wash away small drops of blood from it.

Solid mirror. Good mirror. Only this frame is a bit bland, probably glued to it much later and replaced. What was it originally made of? Gold, silver, platinum? It's probably just tombak-gilded copper. It doesn't match the silver surface it surrounds.

He didn't know, what reminded him of himself more - the mirror or its frame. He was staring at his own, self-hated reflection and he didn't know, why. He thought of himself as someone useless, but at the same time he still wanted to be here. He wanted to be useful, loved, admired...

He punched the mirror with his palm. He heard his own heart beating in his chest so fast as hummingbird flaps its wings. The sound mixed with the crackling glass under his fingers.

Another scratch. Another blood drops. Typical. He's going to tell his bandmates, what he normally tells them. That he was cutting vegetables, that it was the neighbour's cat, that a barrier was too sharp... They would laugh and call him clumsy. Only his brother would glare at him. And that's it. He knows that he can't force him to stop.

It's just a mirror. Typical old mirror. And a web of breaks on the silver surface. Almost the same as on his palm.

Colourful band-aid put on the wound, which iches a little. No problem. It's nothing. Just a little scratch. It's really nothing.

Sometimes it was better. Especially when he was with someone else. When someone smiled to him. When there was someone, who waited for him at home. During tours he didn't feel so depressed. Because he was needed.

And here? Is there anyone, who needs him here? He should stop thinking about it. He should go on practice.

But An is going to be here. Everytime he saw this cheerful drummer, he remembered that Roji left. He left the band and he left his life... He disappeared. An is going to bother him, just like this chemical scent, when you go to the supermarket and you want to buy a floor cleaner.

He likes An. An is nice. But An replaced Roji in the band. And every replacement of Roji in his life ended with another scratches on the silver surface of the mirror and his soft hand.

Maybe if he didn't live in his own world, he would notice that rain has been banging happily against the iron windowsills since an hour. He would take an umbrella and wouldn't be soaking wet. He wouldn't have such a big desire to go back home and stay there for the rest of his life.

It was pouring. Is going for rehearsal in this weather even smart? He's probably going to be sick and Reiya would worry about him. He doesn't want to worry Reiya. He doesn't want to worry anyone. Not An, not Haru and not his brother.

But if he already left home, is there any sense in going back? It would also worry Reiya, because he's not going to be on rehearsal...

He sighed. Too many problems just because of this rainy day. He likes rain. He relates to rain. But in such situations it was a little annoying.

He realised how much he was lost in thoughts, when he got scared because of a car riding too fast. He jumped with fear, tripped and fell into the puddle. Deep puddle. Well, he even started wondering, if ground was so wet, or there was a hole there, because water almost covered him.

He closed his eyes. He didn't hear anything, almost covered with water. He spread his arms and thought that going to the rehearsal would be in vain in such wet clothes.

And now he's going to catch a cold for sure. Well, sometimes body has to be sick too, it's not only soul's thing after all.

But then he felt someone's fingers clenching on his shoulders and then they pulled him out of water.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

He opened his eyes and met other - angry, worried and reflecting blackness of umbrella, belonged to Yoshiatsu.

"I'm getting wet in the rain" replied Kazuki. "But just... extremally."

"And I already thought that you wanted to drown in the puddle" Yoshiatsu got up and pulled Kazuki with himself.

Kazuki didn't want to force his legs to co-operate, but he knew that he won't win debate with his friend.

"It's deep, isn't it?" mumbled Kazuki, looking at the puddle. "Like depression."

"Oh gods..." Yoshiatsu looked up. "For fuck's sake, why?"

"Huh?"

"Nevermind, we should go now" Yoshiatsu grabbed his hand. "You have to change your clothes or you'll catch a cold. We don't want to make Reiya freak out, right?"

"I prefer to not worry anyone" said Kazuki, following Yoshiatsu.

Black umbrella above their heads was protecting them from rain falling from also black clouds. Water was splashing in Kazuki's shoes, when he was wondering, what Yoshiatsu was doing here. But he prefered not to ask. He didn't want to know the real reason. He prefered to think that some deity told Yoshiatsu to pull Kazuki out of this puddle.

Yoshiatsu took keys from Kazuki's trembling hands and unlocked the door. He hated such slow moving people. Of course he could forgive Kazuki because of him being himself.

"We have to make some hot tea. Or coffee" said Yoshiatsu, walking inside and unfolding his umbrella to let it dry out.

"But you are the guest..." noticed Kazuki.

"I let myself in" replied Yoshiatsu. "Besides, I'm here so often recently that it's like I'm living here too. Go change your clothes and I'll make tea."

In this moment a phone started ringing in Kazuki’s soaked bag.

"I can handle Reiya too" Yoshiatsu took his friend's bag. "Go change, I'll talk to him."

"As you wish" Kazuki walked towards his closet.

* * *

Mirror was hanged on the wall across the door, so the first thing Kazuki saw, when he entered the bathroom, was his own reflection. Rain water was still dripping from his hair.

He closed the door and leaned against it. He heard Yoshiatsu talking to Reiya. But he noticed something weird. Yoshiatsu had never been so serious before.

"I don't know, what the hell happened that he was laying in that puddle" said Yoshiatsu. "I have no idea. Nah, it wasn't deep, maybe two centimeters."

He was lying. Probably because he didn't want to worry Reiya. Or he didn't admit himself that this puddle was so deep that everyone could drown in it.

"Reiya, calm down" this time Kazuki almost didn't hear him, because Yoshiatsu was talking so quietly. "What? Band-aid? Yeah, he has one on his palm, why do you ask?"

He was silent for a while.

"Kazuki isn't that stupid, Reiya" Yoshiatsu sounded offended. "He's not some bratty idiot, he's almost thirty. You're overreacting. It's..."

He was lowering his voice with every word, moving away from a bathroom. Kazuki didn't hear anything else.

He looked in the mirror. Silver surface reflected his tired and still wet face.

Bratty... idiot...?

But he... really was... that stupid...

His wound from the morning was itching.

He stepped closer to mirror.

And suddenly...

BANG!

It crushed.

It couldn't handle another punch. Every break, which appeared on it before, widened. Pieces were falling one by one on the shelf, floor and to the sink.

Bing, bang, bong.

Frame fell with a loud thud, falling from the rusty nail. It hit the sink, breaking the fragile porcelain and a faucet. Some tiles also fell off, breaking into pieces.

There was much more blood than usual. Was this caused by the stronger punch?

Doors opened abruptly. Yoshiatsu stood in the treshold, looked around the bathroom, looked straight in Kazuki's eyes and put his phone on the cupboard.

"Have you lost your mind?" he asked finally, looking at his friend's hand.

He froze for a moment, then he sweared and hit the wall with his fist.

Kazuki was just staring at him. He couldn't move. He couldn't talk. Blood was dripping from his hand on the floor, but he didn't care.

"Where do you have bandages?" asked Yoshiatsu, gritting his teeth. "Tell me!"

Kazuki pointed on the cupboard by the doors. Yoshiatsu, swearing under his breath, pulled out first aid box and grabbed his friend's unwounded hand.

"What are you doing?"

"And what do you think?" growled Yoshiatsu, forcing him to follow himself. "What do you think I'm doing?"

Yoshiatsu sat Kazuki on the bed.

"Hand."

"Yocchi..."

"GIVE ME THAT HAND!" yelled Yoshiatsu, making Kazuki tremble, but he listened to him anyway and gave him his hand to patch.

Yoshiatsu washed over the wound with sanitizer, put a gauze pad and wrapped a bandage around his hand. Kazuki felt that his fingers were trembling a bit.

"Here. Tell me, if it's too tight" said Yoshiatsu.

"It's okay" replied Kazuki.

"Why did you do that?" asked Yoshiatsu. "What happened that you hit this mirror with your own hand, huh? Did you lose your mind?"

"I don't know..." Kazuki was trying not to look at him.

He has been just staring at his own slippers.

"And I've told Reiya already that he's overprotective. I didn't expect that this older brother of yours is right" Yoshiatsu pulled out his cigarettes from his pocket, but when he opened the box, he realised that it's empty. "Oh, right. I forgot to buy a new one. Fuck this shit."

Yoshiatsu threw the empty box against the wall.

"Kazuki, for fuck's sake" Yoshiatsu grabbed his shoulders. "What's going on? You can't do something like this. Damn, you really can't. This mirror had scratches before, but I thought that it's because it's old. So, why are you doing this? Just look at me and answer."

"I don't know..." Kazuki sighed. "I don't like... I hate myself. That's why probably."

Yoshiatsu frowned slightly.

"I can't agree with you about this, because I don't hate you, I love you" he confessed, like it was just a normal thing for him.

"What?" Kazuki blinked and froze, when he felt Yoshiatsu's warm lips on his own - still cold and wet from rain.

Yes, it definitely wasn't an accident. Such things don't happen without a reason.

* * *

Wind spread the clouds they could see behind the window. Warm sunshine shone through the window on naked bodies of vocalists, laying under white sheets.

They would stay like this for longer, if some furious neighbour didn't pound on the door. When Kazuki opened it, she yelled at him that her apartament is flooding because of him.

Well, sometimes you forget about things, because you're too happy to think about them. Especially about something so trivial like the fact that falling mirror broke the tap.

The end