Track 02 - Cassis

WARNINGS: Minor language, suggestive themes

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Meanwhile, as Kai entertained the girls, outside in the 'smoking area' Ruki, Aoi, Reita and Uruha were still very much enjoying their cigarettes. All the while chatting and occasionally glancing back through the window to see how the non-smokers were doing. It seemed to them that Kai was doing a good job of keeping the girls company. They noticed Megumi in particular never took that big smile off her face while talking to Kai - they could tell it was because she liked him a lot. But with being too busy as the leader of the band, his fellow band mates noticed he seemed a bit oblivious to the fact a girl was interested in him. And he probably thought, too, that he wouldn't have the time to think about liking anyone? Aoi laughed quietly to himself as he watched Kai, and the others looked at him.

"I don't think he has the faintest clue that poor Megumi-chan has love-hearts popping above her head every time he looks at her. It's kind of cute".

"What do you mean cute?!"

Reita said, with a grossed-out look on his face before turning around to look through the window. Well, cute was probably too sweet a word to describe it, Reita thought. More like sickening. Reita made a short grunting sound and shook his head sadly, turning his back to the window and taking a long drawback on his smoke. Uruha stuck his cigarette to the corner of his mouth and reached back to pull the ponytail out of his head, then combing fingers thoughtfully through his tails.

"Well whatever you call it, I think we should just let Kai discover Megumi-chan for himself. He seems a bit dense when it comes to liking someone, so chances are it might take a while. But he's not stupid so she may just get through to him soon enough".

"Listen to us teasing him behind his back. Lets change the subject ... lets say you and Kikyo-chan?"

Ruki said raising both eyebrows at Uruha as he blew a long stream of smoke and gestured towards the window. Uruha didn't blush or seem embarrassed at all now ... probably because Kikyo was inside. But he glanced around Ruki and stared through at her - she was laughing at something that must have been said among the group. To him she had the most charming smile and her silky dark brown hair framed her face nicely. Uruha lowered his head and placed the cigarette to his lips, slowly drawing back.

"What, you don't think she is interested or something? She seemed to be floating when you offered to teach her some things on guitar, right?"

Aoi asked, softly nudging his fellow guitar player in the arm. Uruha laughed softly and blew some smoke from the corner of his mouth.

"No, I just think I'd like to wait until we're not in the middle of doing something big. Like Ruki, he's already set himself up with Mika-chan right before the Tour ... now she's got to wait three months before she can see him again".

"Hey!"

"Sorry but I'm right, aren't I? Maybe I'll just wait until we've settled down after the Tour and then I'll see if she's free sometime to do something or just meet up and chat".

"That sounds like a good idea actually. I also want to see if Kira-chan wants to do something on my birthday next year-"

Reita started until he heard 'Hey!' coming from Ruki, Aoi and Uruha. Ruki spoke first.

"What if we made plans to have a party for you or something?"

"It's my birthday, I'll do what I fuckin' like".

Ruki made a 'screw you' face and held his middle finger up to Reita, who knew he was joking but returned the finger as well. Then Uruha perked up at realising something.

"Oh wait, we should find out when the girls birthdays are too. I'd feel bad with them already knowing our birthdays but we don't know theirs. We'd better ask before we even leave the Tea House".

The others laughed at how concerned Uruha sounded, though he probably didn't mean to be. Finally the guys finished their cigarettes and threw the butts into a tall thin cigarette bin that was set outside for the smokers. Then Aoi led the way back inside, followed by Reita, Uruha and Ruki. The guys were only half way back to the table when Kai noticed them.

"Where the hell have you been? These poor girls probably thought you'd deserted them!"

The girls laughed at how funny Kai sounded, but they didn't seem too fazed about just talking to him while the others had their cigarettes. When Ruki got to his seat, he slid into it and then wrapped the opposite arm to Mika across her waist, leaning into to nuzzle at her neck.

"Oh I'd never desert you ... though I don't mind having you for dessert".

"Eww!"

The other girls said simultaneously while poor Mika again blushed furiously - well he was certainly living up to his reputation of being the most profane. It was then that the old lady came out of her little preparation room carrying a tray with the girl's orders on it. As she got closer to the table she cleared her throat, which made everyone look up and Ruki moved so fast away from Mika that he almost fell of his chair. Obaa-san giggled as she carefully reached between Kai and Megumi to place the tray in the middle of the table.

"Be careful Ruki-kun, you wouldn't want to hurt yourself right before you go away".

"Hmm ..."

Ruki said softly as he slouched in his chair and pulled the beanie even further down, in an attempt to try and hide his face. Everyone at the table laughed and Mika pat his shoulder softly. Obaa-san laughed as well and rubbed her hands together.

"Well I think I might go and clean up my kitchen, otherwise it'll never be done. So you just relax and enjoy your tea. Feel free to stay as long as you like".

"Oh we wouldn't want to stay too late. After all you probably want to go home, the guys would also need to be home sometime, and all of us need to work tomorrow as well".

Megumi said with a smile to the lady, and the other girls nodded. Ai spoke next.

"Though we will definitely finish our tea before leaving. You go to all this trouble for us, when you only found out tonight that we were coming. Kai-san told us, though we thought you'd know well before tonight".

Kira, Ai, Kikyo and Mika looked at their respective guys, who didn't say a word. Megumi didn't look at Kai because she felt he wasn't really to blame. Instead she just smiled around the table as the other guys just stared absentmindedly at the table. Obaa-san smiled and shook her head.

"It was really no bother. I only stay open for when Kai-chan does his little radio, and then they all come here. I love having them here; they're like a family I never had".

She smiled warmly to the group and then gave a little bow before turning to head back to the kitchen. The girls seemed to frown at the same time and look confused around the table at each other.

"Obaa-san never actually had a husband or any children ... we found out one the first time we started coming in here. She's just run this place on her own, with some help from a couple of hired people. So really, if she ever wanted to retire, she'd either have to sell this place or close it down".

Kai explained softly while the girls listened intently and sipped at their tea. It sounded like a sad story but the lady obviously was way too focused on her business to worry about a family. Kira spoke up.

"Wow, that seems kind of sad. This is the first time we've been here and I'd already be sad if this place closed down".

"Yeah this is like our first official meeting place away from work. It now has a special meaning".

Kikyo said with a cheerful smile - it would probably also be the last time she saw Uruha without make-up. Even without, he looked good, and she also noticed he'd taken the ponytail out which looked better. The other girls smiled too, while they thought about what it would mean if the lady did sell her shop or close it down. But to save the sad moment, they perked up at remembering something they'd been meaning to frisk Kai about.

"Hey Kai-san ... you know before on Live Cast you mentioned a new band signing to Indie PSC?"

Mika asked slowly holding the cup to her mouth and drawing circles on the table with her opposite hand. The other girls looked directly at Kai and even the other girls. Kai looked around the table at everyone over the top of his own cup. He shrugged and made an 'I don't know' sound. When they still kept staring at him, he set his cup down and held both hands up in surrender.

"I'm serious, I have no idea. It's nothing to do with us; Indie PSC is a completely different part of management. Indie PSC started when ScReW came in but even then we didn't know much about it until they actually did sign. We have our own band and management to worry about".

"Aww damn I was hoping we could get the first glimpse at who they were. I'm dying to find out!"

Kira said, shifting excitedly in her seat. As the other girls nodded in agreement, Kira jumped slightly when she felt someone poke her softly in her side. She realised it was Reita and glanced sideways at him - he was pretending he hadn't done anything by leaning back in his chair and probably drinking his one-hundredth coffee for that night. She smiled to herself and went back to sipping her tea. Megumi was now chatting to Kai about her wanting to open a small café where she would cook the food while someone could make the drinks. Kai seemed genuinely interested in her idea and complimented her on having a lot of enthusiasm for it. Ruki again had his fingers tangled with Mika's and their hands once again resting on her lap. Mika smiled at him while he talked about what happened during his week, seeing Mika voted his was more interesting. Kikyo and Uruha now seemed to be sitting just that little bit closer than before, still just softly chatting to each other. Aoi and Ai were now in the middle of arguing about the best place to go for holidays, seeing they were sick of playing 'Happy Friends'. While the other couples chatted, they occasionally tuned into Aoi and Ai's conversation, as it grew increasingly loud. Finally it got so loud they all stop just to watch and see who won. Ai sighed in frustration.

"Oh my god, your stubborn! Are you really only interested in Hokkaido during Winter? There are other places you know! What about Usuki in Kyushu? The old villages and Fire Festival?"

"Yeah it's good but the snow is better. It doesn't burn".

Aoi said calmly. Ai puffed her cheeks out and growled in her throat - she seemed to be loosing. Finally she gave up and proclaimed she wasn't going to speak to him anymore before putting all her attention to her teacup. Aoi smiled to himself and shook his head - she really was like a female version of him ... stubborn and child-like. Now he really was curious about her. It was then that Kira looked at her watched without realising at and noticed it was almost 11 o'clock.

"Oh my gosh, it's already eleven! We're going to have to get going very soon, we've still got a half hour drive back home yet".

"Aww no, I want to stay here! It'll be the middle of March before I see Ruki again!"

Mika whinged, instantly throwing herself onto Ruki's lap and flinging her arms around his neck tightly. In doing so, she not only almost sent both of them to the floor, save for Ruki catching her weight just in time, but his beanie slipped and ended up covering his eyes. The guys laughed, as Ruki tried to pull the beanie up while making sure Mika didn't fall off his knee. Though Mika half scared him when she jumped onto his lap, Ruki smiled while cuddling her. Her face was hidden in the side of his neck.

"I'm sorry to do this to you right before we go away. But it couldn't wait ... I was worried we'd come home and you'd have already found someone else before I could tell you how I felt".

Ruki said softly to her and he felt Mika's grip on him tighten slightly ... she didn't blame him.

"It's okay, you don't have to apologise. I'm really happy you told me because I felt the same ..."

Mika replied, still not lifting her head from his neck. The rest of the group could hear their conversation and thought it was really sweet - the girls had never seen Mika this happy before, and the guys had never seen Ruki this affectionate before. Kai reached across to pat Mika's back softly.

"Don't worry Mika-chan, we'll bring him back in one piece".

Mika instantly lifted her head up and smiled with a nod at Kai - she trusted Kai's word. So she shifted off Ruki's lap and just decided to cling onto his arm until they had to leave. The girls hurried to finish their tea, not wanting to waste any of it - they made a mental note to ask the lady about her recipes. In no time they were finished, and Kai proceeded to start gathering the cups onto the trays. Megumi jumped at the chance to help him.

"Here, I will help you bring these to the kitchen".

She said when Kai lifted up one tray and turned to take it to the kitchen. He smiled and allowed her to take the tray. While Megumi carefully carried it away, Kai gathered up the remaining cups onto the second tray before following along behind Megumi. The rest of the group took the time to gathering their things and prepare to leave. While the guys fished for the bags under the table, Uruha then remembered what he'd meant to ask the girls.

"Ah before I forget, you probably already know that Aoi and Ruki will be having their birthdays during our Tour, ne? Can we perhaps have all of your birthdays? It doesn't seem right that everyone knows ours but we don't know yours".

As Uruha said this, he pulled a small sheet of paper and a pen from his shoulder bag, ready to write the birthdays down. The girls looked surprised at each other - how sweet, the guys wanted to know their birthdays! But of course they were willing to tell them. Kira started first.

"Well, mine is not until the 22nd of July, its ages away. I'll be turning twenty-three".

So she's only three years younger than me, Reita thought. He made a mental note of Kira's birthday even though Uruha was writing it down - he wasn't going to forget it. Next was Ai.

"Mine is just over a week after you come back from the Tour, on the 21st of March. I can't believe I'm turning twenty-six!"

Aoi's gaze snapped from Uruha's writing to look at Ai - he had no idea she was so close to his age. Only two years! Not that he was complaining; her personality just seemed a lot younger. But than again not a lot of people could believe Aoi was almost twenty-eight and he still acted like a teenager. Thirdly, it was Kikyo's turn.

"I'm the same month as Kira, 10th of July. I'll be twenty-four, how awesome!"

Uruha looked up at her from writing and smiled - she was also only two years apart from him. He too also made a mental note ... if things went to plan and Kikyo had the same feelings for him, he was thinking about taking her out somewhere. Next was Mika.

"I'll be twenty-two on the 2nd of April. I still feel like a baby".

Ruki smiled to himself as Mika pouted at the table - she may have felt like the baby of the group but he didn't see her that way. Mika hadn't noticed but he was just sitting and staring at her curiously - it was definitely too soon to ask her, but he was wondering if she'd ever been with another guy intimately ... if she knew what it was like. Ruki had to cease his thoughts quickly when Mika turned to smile at him, to which he returned by giving her a soft kiss.

"Okay, that leaves Megumi-chan. I'll just ask her when she comes back with Kai".

Uruha said as he tapped the paper with his pen a few times. Just then, as if by clockwork, Kai and Megumi rejoined the group and sat down in their seats.

"Ah good timing. Megumi-chan, I was just listing your friend's birthdays and no we need yours. Like I was saying to them, everyone knows ours but we don't know yours".

"Oh right, of course! The 15th of July. My twenty-third birthday, to be exact".

Wow she's only three years younger than me? Never would have guessed, Kai thought. To him she seemed so much more mature than twenty-three. And it would surprise Uruha to know that Kai wasn't completely dense about noticing Megumi's interest in him - he actually did notice. And he was even more curious to know what kind of friendship they'd have ... if the time had finally arrived and she was the one for him - smart, funny, beautiful, and very friendly. Kai really hoped to get to know her better once the Tour was over and finished. Uruha smiled once he'd finished writing.

"Great, everyone is here. And that makes three birthdays in July? Have you ever had joint birthdays before? Aoi and Ruki have sometimes, especially when we've been busy".

The girls couldn't help but laugh at the same time. Kikyo nodded.

"Yeah we have. I think the first time we met, and found out that Megumi, Kira and I shared our birthdays in the one month, ever since then we've had a joint birthday party. It's more fun that way".

"Though insisting on singing the birthday song three times gets a bit too much. We're better off just singing 'Happy Birthday Kira, Megumi and Kikyo'."

"But we're not all the same age! We have to do things properly!"

Megumi said, defending the singing of birthday songs three times. Kira made a face at Megumi.

"What's the difference?! We're only separate from Kikyo by one year, big deal!"

Mika blinked as her friends argued about such a silly subject and poor Ai sighed and slouched in her seat, getting the full brunt of the yelling seeing she was between Megumi, Kira and Kikyo. Even the guys were confused as to why it was such a big issue but they certainly seemed sensitive about it. Finally Ai had had enough and she held up both hands to block Kikyo, Kira and Megumi to shouting at each other.

"Would you three grow up, we're still in their company you know!"

Ai barked, referring to the guys as their company. Kikyo, Kira and Megumi sat back in their chairs in a huff, sulking at leaving the argument un-resolved. Also they were a little embarrassed because they seemed to forget the guys were still sitting with them. However Ruki, Reita and Aoi found it pretty funny because they had silly amused smiles on their faces. Uruha had been quite taken aback by the sudden fight that he just sat there quietly staring at Kikyo - he wondered if she was all right. Then Kai broke the silence by clearing his throat.

"Well ... if we're all packed up then should we head outside now? We should also find Obaa-san and say goodnight to her before we leave. And a thanks for the tea and coffee ..."

Kai said as he stood up. All of the girls stood next, followed by the others. Once the chairs were neatly pushed in and everyone made sure they had their belongings, Kai was in the lead as he walked back towards the front of the shop. Megumi followed close behind, admiring his hair from the back - she finally figured what was different ... he now had some frosted blond highlights through it. It looked very snappy. Next to follow was Kira and Reita, then Mika and Ruki, who were holding hands while Mika had her other arm looped around his arm as well. Last was Ai and Kikyo with Aoi and Uruha close behind them. As the group came through the curtain, Obaa-san looked up from her counter at the front - she'd been calculating her earnings for the day. She smiled warmly.

"Hello young ones, I see it's that time of night. It's a shame you have to be leaving so soon, I always look forward to your visits, boys. Did everyone enjoy their drinks?"

"Yes, absolutely!"

Mika beamed excitedly but covered her mouth quickly when she realised she'd said it loudly. Ruki squeezed her hand reassuringly while the others laughed at her. Obaa-san laughed too and dusted her hands over her robe again.

"Well I'm glad to hear it. You girls are welcome here anytime; at least I know my boys have found nice girlfriends. I'm guessing your parents would be shocked that you know a rock band personally?"

The girls looked a little sheepish.

"Well actually, they don't really know yet. We're just laying low for the moment because there was some trouble with the newspapers about us-"

"Oh I remember that. I heard two young girls sitting in here talking about it. So that was you five? Well I say to hell with the press, you can be friends with who-ever you like, I say".

Obaa-san waved her hands at the nonsense of the papers and walked around the counter to stand with the group. She really is nice, the girls thought.

"Thank you for again looking after us. Our Tour goes for three months so we won't be back until the middle of March. There, you can have three months rest from seeing us twice a month".

Reita said, making a joke out of it. Obaa-san laughed and waved as everyone left through the front door one at a time. Once they were all gathered on the footpath, Obaa-san retreated back to her counter to finish the packing up. Back outside, it was just starting to snow very slightly and Mika cuddled into Ruki's side with his arm wrapped tightly around her. Ai and Kira rubbed their hands together and breathed warm air into them while Megumi and Kikyo just kept their hands in their jacket pockets. The other guys had also pocketed their hands. Reita made a long sigh.

"Well ... I think this would be our goodbye. Then a whole three months until we can meet-up again. It's unfortunate that we won't have time to meet before we leave. We'll be constantly watched and busy for the next week anyway so there's not much chance of playing hooky".

The girls laughed but Mika's heart sank. She turned around in Ruki's arms and tried to bury herself as far into his chest as possible ... which wasn't very far, but it felt safer to her. Ruki looked down at Mika and moved his head so that his lips could rest against her head - it cut him deep to see her like this, but he'd explained to her his reasons. Megumi and Kai smiled before giving each other a hug. Reita again softly nudged Kira's chin with his fist - it seemed to be his 'nice' gesture towards her now - before Kira giggled and threw her arms around his body in a hug. She succeeded in pinning his arms to his sides so it was funny to watch. Ai wasn't expecting to get a hug from Aoi but when she turned to him, he held his arms out to her. Ai smiled at the ground and then moved to hug him as well - Ai practically turned to butter when she felt how warm he was. She felt like burrowing under his thick black coat. Then Kikyo turned to Uruha with a smile, to which he returned with a smile and out-stretched arms as well. Kikyo would probably never get over how tall he was compared to her, but when she cuddled him, she realised his chin just touched the middle of her forehead - and just like Ai thought of Aoi, he smelled good too.

"This is nice, how about we just stay like this forever?"

Aoi teased the tender moment everyone was having. I wish, Ai thought, but she poked Aoi's side and made him flinch as he laughed. Kira still had her arms tightly clinging to Reita as she stuck her tongue out at him before letting go. He smiled and reached up to wrap a friendly arm around her shoulders. Megumi and Kai exchanged awkward smiles as they let each other go and stood side-by-side quietly. Uruha gave a discrete wink to Kikyo as he let her go, and Kikyo blushed.

"We have to go Ruki. We'll let you say goodbye to her".

Kai said and he gestured for everyone to follow him to Kira's car. When they had all wandered the few meters away, Ruki hugged Mika tightly and then pulled back from her. He stared pitifully at the tears that were falling from her eyes. Mika closed her eyes when Ruki reached up to stroke away the streams with his thumbs.

"Don't you dare cry. Three months will seem like forever, I know ... but I'll come straight back to you, don't forget. Then we'll finally have some time for just you and me ... ne?"

Ruki raised his eyebrows at Mika and she nodded while biting her bottom lip. He smiled reassuringly at her and then brought her arms to wrap around his upper body. He moved one arm to rest around her waist while the other hand brushed her cheek softly. Mika felt lighter than air - none of her previous boyfriends ever showed her this much affection before, it really made her feel loved. And to make it even better, Ruki gave her a gentle lingering kiss, which made her tremble unintentionally. She made a small sound that came out like a whimper as more tears fell from her closed eyes. Her lips had parted slightly from the sound she made and Ruki took the next move on impulse - he brushed his thumb over Mika's bottom lip softly and it made her open her mouth just a bit more. Ruki slipped his tongue past her lips and met with hers - something he'd wanted to do for a while but was too afraid she wouldn't like it ... how wrong he was. Mika tightened her grip on his back and welcomed his kiss eagerly - again, Ruki surpassed her old boyfriends by far. He was fierce but gentle ... well ... that's the only way Mika could describe him in her mind at that moment. Her thoughts were just too scrambled ...
Mika hated it when Ruki slowly pulled his tongue away from hers and lifted his head to look at her - it felt like they'd been that way forever and she wished they had been. Ruki smiled when he noticed how red Mika's cheeks were.

"Did I have that much of an effect on you?"

Ruki asked and Mika slapped his chest firmly out of embarrassment, which made him laugh.

"Stop it, I've just never had a kiss like that before. I mean, it's not my first but yours are-"

"Better? Yeah I know".

Ruki said, making himself out to be the God of Kissing at that moment. Mika growled and shoved just a bit, but not to push him away - he was intentionally embarrassing her now. Ruki grinned and took her hands, gripping them tightly as he held them up to rest against his lips.

"So ... your parents don't know about me yet?"

Mika bit her bottom lip again and shook her head.

"No ... it's hard. Okaa-san understands ... Otou-san doesn't. He always tries to find something wrong with my boyfriends, much to Okaa-san's disappointment. Sadly, I generally believed him ..."

"Wow, now I feel even more confident".

"Oh I don't mean to upset you or anything because I have to say in the end I was never really happy with my ex's anyway ... but then by a miracle I met you. I just know he'll do the usual thing and try to turn me against you but not anymore ... for the first time I'm actually happy".

Ruki listened as Mika talked about her father - it sounded like a case of 'daddy's girl'. Ruki wasn't upset with Mika, just concerned about how her father seemed to shelter her. Ruki was determined to let her father see that he had no intention of hurting his daughter. Ruki squeezed her hands tightly and thought for a second.

"Okay ... I've got an idea ... don't tell them about me yet, because to tell them just as I'm going on Tour would give them a good excuse to hate me straight away. Wait until I come back, then I will come over and introduce myself".

"Oh oh, I don't know about that ... um ... i-it's a good idea, don't get me wrong, but I'm just worried what Otou-san will be like when he sees you".

"Ah if you're worried about if I'll show up wearing make-up and costumes, don't worry. I'll dress normally, I promise. What do you say?"

Mika only took a few seconds to think before she nodded with a little smile - okay, she was willing to try if Ruki wanted too. While Ruki was away, she would spend the time thinking of ways to break the news to her parents about Ruki. And also that he wanted to visit and meet them himself ... that was the part that scared her. She could just imagine her father now ... staring at Ruki and analysing him for any bad qualities. But Mika wasn't going to let her father win this time - she was going to stand by Ruki.

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Phew ... *fans self* ... Who wouldn't want to be in Mika's shoes right now?

NOTES:
1) Kai is dense: By this I don't mean he is stupid. Just that he seems very care-free, yet focused on work
2) Indie PSC: I actually got the dates mixed up. Around the time my story is, ScReW hasn't actually signed with PSC yet - they join in the middle of May, 2007. So forgive me on that one, I won't worry about changing it in my story but I'm just letting you know
3) Ruki's intimate thoughts of Mika: Yes, we all know our beloved Ruki is a bit gutter-minded, but this could be a hint of events to come ...
4) Girls heights: To give you a roung idea, all of the girls are no taller than Ruki. Kikyo is 162cms, Ai is 161, Kira is 160, Megumi is 159 and Mika is 158 ... funny how they're all 1cm apart XD I did that on purpose cause it's easy to remember lol
5) Ruki's kiss: Wow, I get nervous when writing things like this about real people ... like I'd portray them wrongly, but I hope it sounds believable lol especially if there are to be sexual romance scenes in the future
6) Mika's parents: Because Mika is their only child and want her to grow up right, he mother is pretty lenient but her father is particularly choosy about her boyfriends - which he generally turns out to hate them all. More will be explained later about Mika's parents

Please read & review :-)