Track 02 - Cassis

WARNINGS: coarse language, sexual references

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"Woooow ... look how many people!"

Mika gasped in awe as she watched the televised New Years Eve celebrations around the city - it was now ten thirty as cameras and reporters bustled though the busy streets. Mika had seated herself down in front of the coffee table so she could see the TV up close, wearing a comfy, loose, red tracksuit. Mitsu was rolling around on the floor next to her while she was waving a rope toy above his head. Ruki hadn't really paid much attention to the celebrations on TV. He was leaning forward, elbows on knees and staring with un-wavering concentration into his laptop on the coffee table - he'd decided to get a head start on work. He made a quick glance at the TV over his black thick-framed glasses before looking back at the screen and tapping a few keys. Mika shifted to smile brightly at Ruki's illuminated face behind the laptop screen.

"Ruki, look at this, the city is packed!"

"Yes, I can see ..."

He smiled at Mika over the top of his glasses; in the manner a father would respond to a child who was excited about something small. Mika pouted a little when Ruki looked back at the screen - he didn't look very happy. She rested her chin on the edge of the table and looked at him with puppy eyes.

"Hey ... what's wrong? Don't you like New Years Eve?"

"Hmm?"

Ruki looked up once again to see Mika's pouting face and he gave a little laugh before again looking back at the screen.

"It's not that, I just envy those people sometimes. They can freely go out and celebrate New Years, but if I or any of the others set one foot out the door ..."

"Ooooh ..."

Mika said sadly, lifting her head to look out the balcony doors on the pitch-black sky. She felt stupid for bringing it up - anytime one of the guys wanted to go out fans would probably pounce on them. That was probably the reason Uruha had his party for New Years Eve - it was a substitute for fighting through crowds. Mika fully turned around and crossed her arms on the coffee table to rest her chin on them.

"Does being in a band limit what you can do?"

"Well ... not really; I mean, sure we can leave the house and go shopping and stuff ... but each time it's getting that little bit harder to lay low. There's only so many disguises you can wear before they catch on ... you get the idea".

Mika nodded, head still resting on her arms. Finally she grinned cheerfully.

"You know, Ruki ... for what it's worth ... I'd glad things are this way. Remember what you said - if you weren't famous, you wouldn't have met me!"

Mika's heart skipped when she heard Ruki laugh. Then with a sigh he took of his glasses and set them down to firmly rub his eyes as he leaned back into the sofa. He then gestured for Mika to sit on the sofa beside him, which she didn't need to be asked again. Mika quickly got up to run around the coffee table and jump into the space beside Ruki, immediately being enveloped by his arms. Meanwhile Mitsu scrambled up from rolling on the floor with his toy and gave a bark of protest seeing Mika had forgotten to play with him. Ruki quickly shushed the dog and turned back to Mika.

"Sorry if I sounded grumpy ... I think this work is starting to get to me".

"Oh? What are you doing?"

Mika looked at Ruki's open laptop, hoping to see a sneak-peak of something for the band but he must have closed everything ... all she could see were a few icons and 'the GazettE' logo splashed across the desktop.

"Artwork designs for the new album cover, which will probably also be incorporated into the new website layout ... so it's gotta be good. And I also have to run some stage effects past our technicians for the Final show in March. Oh, and get started on the new songs".

Mika nodded slowly with her mouth open as she listened - he had to do all that?

"I see ... and when exactly to you get time for yourself?"

"When I'm finished".

"Oh well that really narrows it down".

Ruki gave a little laugh at Mika's bemused expression - it was clear she didn't realise what went into running a band.

"Well if it'll make you feel better, I'll stop working for the rest of the night and focus on what your interested in ... okay?"

Mika bit her bottom lip and blushed as he smiled at her - why was it that every time he smiled she could just melt?! But she wasn't going to say 'no'; she felt a bit selfish for dragging Ruki away from his work but in a couple of days she probably wouldn't see him again until the middle of March. Mika finally nodded in agreement and gave him a romantic kiss to show she was happy. But once she pulled back Ruki suddenly leaned in to her neck and began to suck at the skin just below her jaw. Mika let out a little gasp just out of surprise but immediately adjusted to the feeling as she closed her eyes. But just as Ruki was reaching up to place his hand on the other side of Mika's neck, there came a disgruntled growl from the floor. Ruki himself growled in annoyance and he spun around to glare at Mitsu. However Mika didn't glare at the dog ... she was blushing furiously because of Ruki growling against her neck - she knew it was because of Mitsu but it still tickled.

"For fuck sake, I should have left you at mom's! I can't do anything to Mika while you're around!"

Can't DO anything to me? Mika thought, biting her bottom lip in embarrassment as she looked down. Ruki scolded the little dog as he picked up Mitsu by the under-arms and held him up in the air above his head. Mitsu growled again, kicked his legs and twisted his body in a big protest ... much as to say 'Don't touch Mika!' Ruki lowered his arms and glared into Mitsu's dark brown eyes as the dog stopped wriggling. He didn't have to say anything because Mitsu seemed to know it was time to give up. Ruki carefully dropped Mitsu back onto the floor and he ran back around the coffee table to tackle his rope toy. Mika all the while was gigging at the pair.

"If Mitsu was human, I'd think you two were brothers or something. You are both very defensive".

"Yeah well ... someone has to show him who is boss. Especially when I have to fight for your attention".

Mika couldn't help but let out a little 'aww' at what Ruki said - how cute, he was really jealous of Mitsu. Mika threw her arms around Ruki's neck and cuddled him tightly, closing her eyes. It was not only sweet but also strange to hear these things coming from his mouth. Sure it was nice to hear how much he cared for her, but before meeting him face-to-face, the only things he'd talk about were music, art, writing ... and that was just in interviews. Now when it came to his lyrics, he's just about covered everything that happens in everyday life without mentioning one sappy word. Well, maybe except for 'Cassis' but that was a different kind of sentiment - that kind of song talked about love but not in such a sickly-sweet way. That was probably what Mika loved most about Ruki ... he told the truth.

"So? What would you like to do?"

Mika made a little 'oh' sound and sat up straight, realising she'd just been thinking too much.

"Hmm ... I don't know. Not much is happening on TV at the moment so that's a bit boring ..."

She thoughtfully glanced around the living area.

"We can't really watch any more concert DVD's cause we've watched them all".

"I wouldn't let you watch them again anyway! I'm sick of seeing myself and that's saying something".

Mika snorted and covered her mouth with both hands as she giggled - wow his modesty was overwhelming. So she went back to glancing around until she gasped excitedly, causing Ruki to jump in surprise. She looked innocent and glassy-eyed at him; Ruki leaned away from her anxiously.

"Hey ... what's that look, what are you plotting?"

"I'm not plotting anything!"

"Oh yeah?"

Ruki raised one eyebrow at her as Mika tilted her head to one side and began to draw circles on his chest with her finger.

"Umm ... I happened to see something in your cupboard yesterday when you had it open ..."

"Whatever it is, it's not mine!"

"Get your mind out of the gutter for a minute!"

Mika lightly shoved Ruki's shoulder and he laughed as he toppled sideways into the sofa. He shifted his arm so that hand could prop his head up while he waited for Mika to go on.

"I mean ... you've got your ... old costumes and stuff ... from previous PV's and photo-shoots ..."

"... go on ..."

Mika tangled her fingers over and over as she looked hopeful at him.

"Well ... could I look at them? Pretty please?"

"Ah-huh ... aaaaand what if I was to say 'no'?"

"Oh come on, pleeeeeeeease?!"

Ruki sighed lightly before sliding off the sofa and rounding the coffee table to head for his bedroom. Mika was walking (or rather skipping) so close behind him that she almost fell over him when he stopped at the sliding door wardrobe. He slid aside the far right side door to reveal a whole rack of clear clothes bags - each one held a very familiar outfit from previous years ... dating back to at least 2004. There were some outfits she didn't recognise and assumed they were pre-2004. Ruki stood off to the side, leaning against the wardrobe doors and looking as Mika stared in awe at the sight before her.

"Oh my gosh ..."

Ruki smirked as Mika began to shuffle through the coat hangers.

"Next thing I now you'll be trying them on".

"No don't be silly ... you're going to put them on".

Mika pulled out the next one she was looking at, which happened to be his outfit from the 'No.666' video. Ruki raised both eyebrows at it.

"You've got to be fucking kidding."

"Do I look like I'm kidding?"

Mika raised her eyebrows back at Ruki and shoved the outfit in his direction, waiting for him to take it. Ruki didn't argue again with Mika because he knew he was stuck. Taking the top of the clothes bag he pulled the zip down and slid the costume out. He let the black and white striped pants drop to the floor as he held the jacket up to examine it.

"I don't know if this is even going to fit me anymore ..."

"I really don't think you'd gotten much fatter, Ruki".

"Oh very funny. Trust me, the guys and I have grown a bit of muscle on over the years. This might be tight across the shoulders is what I mean".

Mika smiled brightly and dropped down to sit on the floor with her legs crossed underneath her. She watched eagerly as Ruki scrunched the jacket between his knees and first proceeded to pull his black long-sleeve shirt over his head. Throwing that aside he took up the jacket again and pushed one arm at a time through the sleeves. Mika smiled to herself at seeing that particular jacket being worn again - it actually reminded her of a straightjacket because of the super long sleeves. Ruki fixed the collar and pulled on the shoulders to adjust it better before looking down at Mika with his arms out to the side.

"Well it still fits okay ... so what now?"

"Well duh! You have to put the pants on too".

Ruki dropped his arms to his sides and looked down at the striped pants.

"You love torturing me, don't you?"

Mika grinned innocently. Ruki bent down and swiped the pants off the floor and gestured them at Mika.

"You do realise you expect me to strip down to my freakin' underwear?"

"Alright fine, I'll turn around".

Mika pouted and began to shuffle around to face the other direction.

"I didn't say you couldn't watch".

Ruki said with a hint of mischief in his voice, to which Mika blushed at and turned back around to face him. By the time she'd got comfortable again, Ruki was already un-buckling the thick black studded belt of his favourite black skinny jeans while the striped pants were draped over Ruki's left arm. Mika was still blushing while she watched but no sooner had the he pulled the zip down on his jeans but Mika's head just dropped on it's own - she just couldn't watch; it wasn't everyday she got to watch a rock-star strip down to his underwear. Ruki noticed her hiding her face but didn't say anything, just smirked to himself. He quickly stepped out of his jeans and just as quickly pulled the striped pants on. While buttoning them up, he marvelled at how well they still fit too.

"Okay, you can look now, Miss I-don't-mind-matching".

He couldn't help it; he had to say something. Mika looked up with her cheeks puffed out in annoyance at him, but quickly smiled again when she saw he was fully dressed in one of her favourite outfits. Even though the overall look didn't include the heavy make-up from the video or the bright red hair it still looked good on him. However, one thing Mika couldn't get over was how skinny he still was, despite the fact he mentioned 'putting on muscle'. She scrambled off the floor and began to circle him to get a better look.

"Wow I should make you dress-up more often. You look good even in old costumes ... and I had no idea how good your butt looks in those pants!"

Just as Mika was coming back around to his front Ruki reached out and pulled her closer. Mika couldn't hold back the little squeak as she fell against his chest, her hands resting on his shoulders. Ruki eyed her carefully as her cheeks grew redder.

"So ... you were plotting something ... seeing me dressed-up is a turn on for you".

"W-well I ... uh ... it's j-just ..."

Mika was trying to deny it or think of another excuse but she couldn't think of anything. Of course she loved seeing him dressed in outrageous outfits ... but until that moment she had no idea just how much. Maybe he was right - unknown to her ... it had become a fetish. Ruki smirked as Mika kept stuttering while trying to salvage her pride.

"If I'd known that, I would have done this sooner ..."

Mika stopped stuttering and just swallowed hard, but the blush had gone from her cheeks. Perhaps because she did it so much around him that she was all 'blushed out'. Whatever the reason she felt exposed; she couldn't hide anything from him. Was she that transparent? Either that or he was just very good at figuring her out without even trying. Ruki noticed her expression of defeat and smiled reassuringly.

"Hey ... having a fetish isn't a bad thing, I swear".

Mika returned a sheepish smile and just as Ruki was leaning forward to kiss her, a loud ring-tone came echoing from the lounge room ... followed by a hysterical howl from Mitsu. Mika bit her bottom lip as Ruki's head detoured to flop onto Mika's shoulder - another un-wanted interruption.

"Sorry Ruki ... that could be my parents".

"It's alright ... go on, I might have a shower".

Mika kissed the side of Ruki's head softly and quickly walked out to find her cell-phone. Ruki watched disheartened until she was out of sight before dropping his head back and sighing deeply - he was respecting Mika's wish to take things slow ... but it was also killing him inside. He wanted every part of her but he was always reminded of how she felt. Deciding not to let it get to him so much, Ruki pushed the left door of his wardrobe aside and took a clean pair of black tracksuit pants. Then with one last glance at his open bedroom door he ducked into the bathroom for a shower. Meanwhile in the lounge room Mika found her phone slowly spinning in circles on the coffee table beside Ruki's laptop. She sat on the sofa and picked it up expecting to see one of her parent's cell-phone numbers ... but instead it read 'Kira cell'. Mika frowned and opened it to place to her ear.

"Uh ... Kira?"

"HEY GIRL, HOW ARE YOU?!"

Kira shouted so loudly over the phone that Mika flinched and held it away from her ear.

"Um ... fine ... why are you shouting?"

"Hmm no reason, just happy! It's almost the New Year!"

"It's only five to eleven. There's still another hour to go".

"I know, but it's still exciting! Reita and I have been watching the televised celebrations. How crazy is it down there? I'm so glad we stayed indoors it's much nicer. Have you and Ruki been watching it too? Or have you been doing other stuff?"

Mika was smiling while listening to Kira speak ... until she mentioned the other stuff, then Mika bit her bottom lip nervously. She knew Kira couldn't see how anxious she was but it was probably the long silence that made Kira speak first.

"Alright you, tell me what's going on! You went quiet as soon as I said-"

"It's nothing ..."

"Bull, I can tell you guys have done something!"

Mika swallowed hard and looked up at the bedroom door as she heard water start to run. Ruki must have just gotten in the shower so he wouldn't hear ... she could now tell Kira her thoughts.

"We haven't ... not yet ... or rather ... I'm confused ..."

"Yeah? Just a sec ..."

Mika wondered what Kira was doing. She could hear muffled voices and then the soft thud of what sounded like a door closing. A light rustling came through the phone followed by Kira's voice.

"Sorry, I just told Reita I had to console you in private so I locked myself in his room".

She gave a little laugh and Mika laughed too.

"Sounds like you and Reita are getting along okay".

"Yeah never mind us, tell me what's wrong ..."

"Okay ... keeping long story short, Ruki has been open and honest in saying that he does want to have sex, which I was quite taken aback by because my ex's never once talked about, only wanting to jump straight in. I ask that we take things slow which he has done from the beginning, just little things here and there. But now ... I find myself kind of ... silently hoping that he would move forward ..."

"Hmm ... and how is that bad?"

"Kira, I only just asked him ... what ... yesterday? That we take things slow! So what? Now I want to suddenly move forward? He's already told me once that I couldn't possibly have thought about it so quickly."

"What I mean is ... because your spending some alone time with him, you may have been worried at the start, but that was only because before now you've only seen him within the group meet-ups. Now that it's just the two of you, you can freely be lovey-dovey with each other, therefore you become used to the feeling. My guess is your body is already adjusting to his touch".

The blush was starting to come back again. My body is adjusting? she thought, feeling the increasing pounding of her heart. Kira took Mika's silence as a sign to go on.

"Look, how many times have you gushed to us about how many times he's said he loves you? And I can back you up by saying that he's for real ... Reita told me. He said during school Ruki never bothered with dating girls because he was waiting. Reita said Ruki only ever had the one girlfriend but when that fell through he almost gave up on finding that one special person".

"Yeah ... he did tell me he was only ever intimate with one girl. I appreciate him telling me at least".

"See, I believe you're that person he's been waiting for Mika! That's why he practically worships you".

Mika laughed for the first time since the start of the conversation.

"Just so you know, I'm not trying to bully you into doing it with him. All I'm saying is if you're thinking about it so much ... maybe your willing to try? Even if you don't go all the way the first time".

Mika realised she'd calmed down while listening to Kira. When she mentioned Mika was thinking about it so much she realised ... Kira was right. Mika had been thinking on and off about what it could be like to be enveloped in Ruki's arms, his hot breathe against her skin, with him inside of her ...

"Hey I'd better go. Thanks for talking to me, Kira".

"Don't worry about it".

"Before you go ... why did you ring up anyway?"

"Because I might be busy when it hits midnight so I thought I'd say 'Happy New Year' now".

Mika giggled and exchanged quick good-byes with Kira - she knew what Kira meant. Seemed her and Reita were definitely getting along very well. As Mika went to put her phone back on the table, she paused before opening it again and hesitating as she turned it off. She had decided ... she didn't want to be interrupted again that night. Letting out a long calm sigh, Mika dropped her phone on the sofa and walked back into the bedroom. She paused just inside the doorway to listen in on the bathroom - Ruki was out of the shower and only sounds of movement could be heard. She then tiptoed towards the bathroom door and slowly, silently opened it about a centimetre. She could see Ruki dressed in only a pair of black track pants and leaning into the mirror as he was wiping his face with a damp cloth. His hair was already dry and Mika was surprised how long it was from the back - well below his shoulders. She opened the door wider to reveal herself. Ruki saw her reflected in the mirror and smiled as he folded up the cloth.

"Hey ... did your parents call?"

"Hmm no ... it was only Kira. She just wanted to say Happy New Year".

Ruki glanced to the left at a little clock on the bench - it read five past eleven.

"Now?"

Mika smiled and shrugged - she didn't want to relay the reason. Ruki didn't bother querying the subject and just gathered up the crumpled striped costume he'd been wearing. Mika pulled the door open so Ruki could come out of the bathroom. While he went straight over to hang up the costume again, Mika just stood in the same spot and watched. Ruki spoke up as he packed the suit into its clothes bag.

"Hey listen ... about before ... I'm sorry if I put you on the spot. I mean I keep saying that I want you to be comfortable around me ... but I hope I'm not embarrassing you so much that it scares you away. I won't do it anymore ..."

Mika looked at the floor for a second and then walked over to Ruki while his back was still turned. She ran her hands from his lower back, all the way up until they came to rest on his shoulders. She then pulled the hair away from the back of his neck, placing a few small kisses there.

"It's alright, your not scaring me away ... and I'm more than comfortable with you, Ruki".

Ruki turned his head to the right and tried to look at Mika as she continued.

"... More than you know. I've decided that ... I want us to ... and before you criticise me again that I haven't thought about it long enough, I have! In fact I can't stop thinking about it! I don't want to be treated like a ten-year-old anymore!"

Mika was surprised at herself for suddenly sounding so defensive; even Ruki had a bewildered expression as he listened. He wasn't shocked about Mika declaring she was willing to let him have her ... more that she was raising her voice at telling him not to criticise her. He hadn't been treating her like a child but ... maybe it all stemmed from the fact she was finally fed up with being almost twenty-two and self-conscious about still being a virgin. It was then Ruki found himself smiling - she was finding her voice. He turned around to look at, for once, her non-blushing and serious face.

"You know I wouldn't treat you like a child ... I've seen you as a women from the moment I first saw you. Do you have any idea how many times I've thought about making love to you? It's almost embarrassing ..."

Ruki reached up to grip Mika's shoulders and leaned down to rest his forehead against hers with his eyes closed. He hoped he hadn't made Mika feel disgusted in him because all of it was true. If Mika was finally expressing how she really felt, then surely she had to right to know his deepest thoughts too.

"You really think I'm that special?"

"Believe me, you're the one I've been waiting all my life for, I can feel it ..."

Wow, you can't get more romantic than that, Mika thought, Kira and Reita are right ... he really is serious. Mika smiled warmly to him and rubbed her forehead firmly against his. Ruki returned by firmly pressing his forehead back at Mika's and then giving a quiet laugh. Then Mika gave him a couple of sweet kisses and smiled again.

"Well ... just so you know ... I believe you're the one for me too".

"... That's exactly what I needed to hear".

Ruki spoke softly and he leaned down just a little further to again claim Mika's lips for a romantic kiss. He noticed her body responding with a considerable change to his touch - she was leaning deeper into his kisses and she didn't once tense-up while his fingers trailed down her arms before retracing up her back. Quite the opposite, she tangled her arms tightly around his body and pressed her body so close to his that she could just about melt into his skin. Mika loved how warm he was, even though he was only in sweat-pants. His skin felt un-naturally smooth and with that faint scent of vanilla again ... it was just ... calming. Ruki pulled back from kissing Mika to look at her, much to her very noticeable disappointment.

"Ne ... why don't you go have a shower? Then come back out to the living room and I will give you a massage".

Mika pouted.

"But I thought we were-"

"I told you I'd make your first time an amazing experience, didn't I?"

Mika bit her bottom lip and blushed for the first time since her conversation with Kira. At least he hadn't tried to convince her she still wasn't ready - it seemed he had been waiting for her to figure out what she really wanted ... and that was fine with her. So Mika took Ruki's hands and squeezed them firmly as she gave him a peck on the cheek. Ruki watched all the while she crouched over her bag to find a clean pair of panties and then retreated into the bathroom. The door shut tightly and Ruki scratched the back of his head as glanced curiously around his room. Shit ... do I even have any freakin' condoms? Ruki thought, now cupping a hand over his mouth and looking from curious to panicked.

"That'd be right ... single-handedly ruin the moment ..."

Ruki muttered to himself as he spun around, pushed the wardrobe door aside and yanked a thick black leather jacket from its coat hanger. He shoved his arms one at a time into the sleeves and zipped it up while striding back into the lounge. As Ruki swiped his keys and phone from the coffee table he quickly glanced at the clock on the wall - he had at least fifteen to twenty minutes before Mika was finished in the shower. Good that gives me time to run up to the shop, he thought as he power walked to the front door, jammed his feet into his sneakers and threw the front door open, then closing it quietly behind him. There was no time to worry about a disguise (hat, sunglasses or otherwise) if he wanted to be back well before Mika realised he was gone ... at least the store was only five minutes walk away. He began to practically jump down the flights of stairs.

"This'll make a good story, won't it? Going out at a quarter past fucking eleven on New Years Eve to buy fucking condoms ... oh yeah, real romantic!"

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NOTES:
1) Televised New Years Eve: I'm assuming Japan shows highlights of NYE on TV just like every other country.
2) Ruki's work: I've read/heard that Ruki does alot of the 'art' side of the band. eg. CD cover art, lighting effects, etc.
3) Going out: I imagine the guys would come and go to places as they please but there would also be the added risk of being spotted by fans
4) 'Don't touch Mika': Dogs (and some other animals) have been known to be very protective of their owners when new people are around ... unfortunately in Ruki and Mika's case, Mitsu is protecting Mika and turning on his owner lol
5) Ruki's old costumes: Who knows where the old PV costumes go ... but lets pretent the guys get to keep them
6) Gaining muscle: When the guys last wore their costumes for the 'No.[666]' video, they were considerably skinnier than they are now (hmm muscles) especially Ruki. But the boys are now all grown up and have filled out a bit lol
7) Playing dress-up: Really, who wouldn't want to be Mika right now?
8) Kira's pep talk: For those who don't remember, Kira (along with Ai) gave Mika a little pep talk about her and Ruki WAY back when they just left the cafe. And now Kira has a second chance in consoling Mika once again ... with a surprising result
9) Gone shopping: Ruki hadn't expected to have sex with Mika ... so the poor dear has to do a little shopping

Please read & review :-)