Track 01 - BathRoom

WARNINGS: Minor sappiness

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Megumi felt very awkward at that moment because everyone was looking at her. She placed her plate on the trolley, and smiled sheepishly at everyone. Mika hid her face as she laughed. Ai looked down at the floor as she laughed quietly and thought 'Thank you Megumi'. Kira grinned as she sat her plate down on the trolley now. Kikyo covered her mouth as she smiled brightly - she loved Megumi right at that moment because all it took was her little cough to break the eerie silence. Megumi smiled at Kai and softly thanked him before clearing her throat and rubbing it - the cough was actually real but just happened to come at the right time. Though she was thought how sweet of Kai to be so concerned for her. Kira blinked and looked up at Reita, wondered why he had to do it - probably for some good reason. Kira even blushed a little when he nudged her chin softly ... it was definitely a guy thing. Once Reita was gone, all of the girls looked at Ruki - so it was for Reita's birthday. Mika snuggled into Ruki's arm when she felt him rubbing her hand.

"Yeah, we couldn't possibly imagine what it would be like to have to be on the road most of the time so Reita-san may just like a quiet gathering for friends ..." Kikyo said thoughtfully, crossing an arm around her waist and then resting her other hand against her cheek; she then smiled at Uruha, "Hey that sounds like a really nice idea! The teahouse would be lovely; just a nice quite place. See if the owner will let you book for his birthday".

Mika, Kira and Ai all said a hushed 'Yeah!' at the idea but really it was all up to the guys. Really the girls hadn't known them for long enough and didn't want to impose on their plans. So they just stayed quiet as they discussed ideas for their bassist. The girls listened to Aoi's little story of his birthday last year - spending the night dodging fans at clubs didn't sound like a very happy birthday at all. Kira thought 'poor Reita ...'

"Oh, so you guys like to go to clubs, huh? I would think that with your rapidly growing popularity, you'd avoid such things because you wouldn't want to get mobbed", Ai teased as she shoved Aoi playfully in shoulder with a smile but then became serious as she thought about Aoi's proposal, "Hmm I would definitely visit for Reita-san's birthday; all of us would. Especially Kira ..."

Ai grinned evilly at Kira but she got smack in the arm as a response - yep, Kira had even more of a soft spot for Reita since she got to meet him face-to-face last week. But Kira nodded quickly in agreement that she'd go to Reita's birthday gathering. What was even more exciting to the girls was that they were actually being invited - just another reason for the girls to pinch themselves. Finally Kira got over her embarrassment and spoke up.

"Sounds great and I know I'd come! Wouldn't miss Reita-kun's birthday for the world! Is there maybe any way we can help by bringing food and stuff?" Kira asked, looking around to each of the guys, thinking it would be a nice gesture to help out with the arrangements, "I think we'd all be more than happy to help out any way we can. Especially Mika, she'd jump at the chance to help if it meant seeing Ruki away from the stage".

Mika raised her head from Ruki's shoulder and harshly said Kira's name, then blushing a little while she felt Ruki kiss the side of her head. Mika began to feel that she would melt if Ruki didn't stop any time soon but she wasn't complaining. Kira raised an eyebrow at the lovey-dovey couple and made an 'oh-my-god' face to Kikyo, Megumi and Ai. Megumi waved a hand at Kira as if to say 'leave them alone' before she spoke up.

"Okay we can tease poor Mika and Ruki-san later, but for the time being yes I think we would love to attend his birthday after you come back from the tour", Megumi said with a bright smile mainly to Kai, because really she wanted to see if Kai would cook anything delicious, "Speaking of helping out ... Kai-san, would you be doing any cooking? If you need an extra hand I'd be glad to help, just say so".

Just when they thought they'd seen enough mushiness coming from Mika and Ruki, Megumi was now doing her own flirting with Kai. It was quite strange because Megumi hardly ever associated with guys except at work, which she had no choice anyway. Maybe it was just because she'd finally met someone who enjoyed cooking as much as she did ... plus she adored his character, as the other girls had heard her say hundreds of times already.

"Well girls, I think we should think about getting him an awesome present as well! Just so we can really show what an awesome bassist he is", Mika said, most likely defying the guys wishes that the girls really didn't have to give him anything, then Mika suddenly paused, "What a second ... did I just hear Aoi-san say 'our' apartment? When you say 'our' does that mean all five of you live together? I thought you all lived alone?"

The other girls perked up at what Mika said - they just realised that Aoi did say 'our' apartment. Of course as Mika said, they thought each of the guys lived in their own places with separate lives outside work. Unless there was some reason to why they were all currently living together maybe? Something to do with work maybe, like travelling around together rather than all of them travelling from different directions. Well whatever the reason the girls didn't want to pry into it too much; it was probably none of their business anyway. Mika just smiled at Ruki and shook her head, mush as to say 'forget I said anything' - he may be her boyfriend now, but not nearly long enough for her to annoy him about his work and personal life-style. Kira then turned around to take another look at the door that Reita had left through - she had a feeling he'd be back any moment now.

* * *
Well the girls were eager to join them for Reita's Birthday 'party' of sorts. So at least Kai knew exactly how many people were going to be there, therefore he could work out how much food to make. Though Aoi's idea to have his birthday at the teahouse, Kai really didn't want to bother the poor owner. Besides, if it were held at their current apartment then Reita would probably feel more comfortable. After Aoi had talked about his birthday last year and Ai gave him a playful little shove, Aoi grinned and got her back by tickling her side. He suddenly realised he was flirting by doing so and quickly clasped his hand behind his back. Uruha caught eye contact with Aoi across the trolley and noticed he was now blushing a little. Uruha smiled to himself and looked at the ground - Aoi definitely seemed to like Ai. Then Uruha jumped in to save him.

"Yeah we love going out when we aren't busy. Though now that I think about it, that's not very often ... and when we do have time, it's generally after a long day of work", Uruha said honestly but with a sarcastic tone and he looked at Kikyo as he reached up to touch her arm, "Hey why don't you come with me one night after the tour? I know a few great places around the city".

Kai just stared at Uruha - how had Reita's birthday planning turned into talking about clubs? Kai made a 'what's this all about' face to Aoi which resulted in him shrugging and shaking his head. Ruki all shook his head at Uruha, realising they had now lost what little time they had left to plan Reita's birthday. So now he just shifted closer to Mika and lifted his arm so it now wrapped around her waist as he stared down at Uruha.

"All right, all right, worry about your club life later, Uruha. I'd imagine by now that Reita is on his way back ... unless his walking slowly or crawling", Ruki said sarcastically before quickly glancing at the side-stage door and then back to the group, "So it's decided then? We'll have his birthday at our apartment. We won't have much time to plan during the tour but we'll have some time before the actual date".

And before Reita came back, Kai whispered to Megumi that he'd worry about cooking the food. Her and the girls were to just come and enjoy themselves. Ruki also whispered to Mika that they'd explain about the 'apartment thing' later. Just then a faint footstep could be heard coming from the doorway by the stage. Reita emerged holding a glass of water as he thread his fingers through his hair to get it out of his face. The others quickly went silent as he approached as Reita went straight over to Megumi.

"Okay ... here you go. I made sure it was cold, just like I promised. But be careful, the glass is a bit slippery ... I almost dropped it myself", Reita said generously, holding the glass with both hands as he gave it to Megumi before going to stand beside Kira again, "So did I miss anything? I heard muffled talking as I got closer to the door. You'd better not be planning a night out without me".

Ruki, Kai, Aoi and Uruha laughed at how straightforward he was about his statement - almost like if they had been planning a night out without inviting him, he'd actually get pissed off. 'Actually, we're planning your birthday just so you know your getting old ... er' was what Uruha felt like saying but he just smiled and looked at the ground again. Before Kai could respond, Aoi butt in first.

"No we were just, uh ... talking about the last live, the 'One Night Stand' gig. About uh ... because we hadn't been able to practice on this stage, it was scary", Aoi lied, until he realised he wasn't good at lying, remembering the first time he met Ai and her friends at the store; Aoi cleared his throat, "But anyway, your back now so maybe we can get a bit more practice in before we have to go to the radio?"

Reita frowned a little at how quickly Aoi said all of that but just shrugged it off and pushed his hands into the pockets of his pants. Aoi looked around to his other band mates - Ruki, Uruha and Kai were just looking at him much the same as when they'd stopped at the Superb Mart ... like he'd just stuffed everything up. Anyway the guys were just thinking about heading back onto the stage when Kai stopped them.

"Well actually guys, we won't get much more practice done now guys. We've had so many interruptions today that it's now a quarter to three. We have a radio interview at four", Kai said, taping his wrist with no watch on it but looking at a large clock that hung to the side wall, "And we can't cancel because all of our fans will be listening and waiting for us to get on the radio. We can't let them down; not today".

Much as the guys didn't want to leave yet, Kai did have a point. With the troubles they had that morning, they couldn't leave the fans hanging on to listen for them on the radio and then not show up. Before Kai thought about running up to the stage to pack up, he first organised the trolley so it was neater. He picked up all of the used chopsticks and set them in a pile at the end. He then did the same with the little plates they had eaten from. There were hardly any noodles, eggs or vegetables left so he knew the Chef would feel accomplished. As Kai went to push the trolley back towards the side-stage door, a staff member ran up and insisted on taking it back to the kitchen. Kai laughed and bowed a thank-you before walking back to join Megumi. Then Ruki stood up and took Mika's hands to help her to her feet - he really didn't want to leave her yet. Uruha, Aoi and Reita also smiled at Kikyo, Ai and Kira - it really had been a very tiring yet exciting day in all.

* * *
The girls all smiled again eagerly at the thought of celebrating Reita's birthday - this time it was even more special because the only other time they celebrated the Gaze-boys birthdays was to go so far as sending fan-mail. It was just that little bit more personal that the guys really wanted them involved ... maybe it was just because Mika was now with Ruki? No, the guys had made it perfectly clear in their interview earlier that day that the girls were special to them. When Ai had shoved Aoi lightly, teasing about his clubbing habits, she jumped in giggled when he returned with a tickle. Kikyo and Megumi raised their eyebrows to each other - Ai was certainly being noticed by Aoi; they were all over each other but only discretely. However when Kikyo felt Uruha touch her arm she looked up to hear him ask her out to a club one night. She couldn't help but blush a little.

"Uh um ... well, I-I think that might be fun, yeah. I must admit I've never really gone out to many clubs, because just going to see Live concerts feels like a club", Kikyo said honestly, remembering back to all the times she'd been to small Live-houses to see the Indie bands; she then laughed, "Ah that's a shame you don't get to go out very often. I mean your only young once ... but then again all of you have just become so popular, so you're really busy now".

Mika, Megumi, Ai and Kira nodded - they of course didn't have such a demanding job as the guys so they generally had a lot of free time. However it did seem perfectly clear that Uruha was now noticing Kikyo as well, because he seemed to be asking her out even if it only seemed like a casual date. It started with Mika, and now all of the girls were gradually becoming close to one of the guys. Mika then giggled after when Ruki told Uruha to forget his club-life for a moment and again about Reita walking slowly.

"Hmm I don't think he'd be walking slowly - if anything he's probably hiding just around the door-way and listening to our conversation. So he probably knows what we've been talking about", Mika said with a little nervous laugh and she snuggled against Ruki when he placed his arm around her, "Though I doubt it. Anyway I just hope he doesn't find out between now and when you all return from touring. He'll be really surprised, I think".

Then the girls went quiet as they were also sure Reita was only seconds away from returning. Megumi leaned over to listen as Kai whispered that he would handle the cooking - she just smiled and nodded that it was fine; she didn't want to interfere with his plans. And when Ruki whispered he'd explain about the new apartments later, she nodded quickly to show she understood. Finally as Reita came back around the stage with the glass of water, the girls watched as he handed it nicely to Megumi.

"Ah thank-you very much Reita-san, it was really nice of you to do this for me. Wow it is cold and slippery, I'm surprised you didn't drop it either", Megumi said with a little laugh as she carefully held it in both hands and smiled at him sweetly, then again laughing at his comment, "Oh don't worry Reita-san, they weren't planning a night out without you. As Aoi said, we were talking about your performance here last week ..."

Megumi made an effort to back-up Aoi's little white lie, seeing he hadn't done a good job of lying back at the Superb-Mart. And so she didn't seem rude, she then took a few sips of the water, even though she didn't really need it ... however, it did feel nice to have a cool drink so she took a few more and ended up finishing the whole lot. She looked surprised at the glass for a second before setting it down on the trolley. Then when Aoi suggested continuing practicing, the girls smiled until Kai said they had to leave soon.

"Aww damn ... I was really looking forward to hearing you practice more. You've only played a few songs what with all of the distractions this morning and then lunch", Kira grumbled, pouting at the ground and scuffing at it with her foot before looking up at Reita, "And as Kai-san said, you can't cancel your radio thing. All of your fans will be upset and besides ... we all want to listen as well~!"

The other girls giggled as Kira confirmed they all wanted to listen to the guys on their radio spot - just because they were now friends didn't mean they had to stop being fans. Then before Megumi could even think about helping Kai clean up the trolley, he'd already done it. Though she wasn't putout, it made her smile how efficient he was. Mika smiled as Ruki helped her up and she left him to pack up so she could retrieve her back from their seats. Ai, Kira, Megumi and finally Kikyo did the same as they followed behind Mika.

"Well apart from the little mishaps today it really was a lot of fun. Awesome songs, confronting the press and fans, lunch ... quite an exciting day; something none of us will forget anytime soon I'm sure", Ai said with a little laugh as she crouched down to pick up her bag from under the seat and then stood up straight, "Although that Riri girl, she really got under my skin. I-I mean ... how she tried to lie about being your girlfriend and stuff. If she wasn't so tall I would have told her off though".

Ai made a menacing face and held her clenched fists up into boxing poses, punching the air in front of her a few times. The other girls laughed and swatted Ai all together - now she really was showing off in front of Aoi. Ai quickly blushed and lowered her head, thinking that was a dumb thing to say ... though at least she knew he didn't like Riri at all. So the girls organised their bags before taking a moment to put their jackets on - being November it was quite cold ... scratch that, it was snow season. Though the sun had been out earlier, it was now mid afternoon and most likely the air was 'snap-freeze' outside. Thank-heaven Kira's car had a monster heater or they would freeze on the way back to her house. Even though they were leaving the guys, they were still looking forward to the radio gig at four and of course their coffee meeting after Kai's radio on the 20th. Mika in particular would be counting the minutes until she saw Ruki again.

* * *
Well the girls were just as sad to leave as the guys were, that was for sure. If it hadn't been for all the troubles that morning then they could have spent more time practicing while the girls watched and danced. Of course Ruki would be the one to miss the most because he now had Mika. While the girls backtracked to their seats to retrieve their bags, the guys made for the opposite direction back onto the stage. Kai ran back over to his drum-kit, clambered over the side of the platform and proceeded to tidy up his drumsticks and the general area. Reita went straight for his bass and un-plugged the mobile amp-pack so he could easily store his bass in its carrier. Aoi and Uruha did the same with their guitars, leaving the amp-packs at the foot of their mic stands as they packed their guitars into their cases. Ruki didn't have anything to pack up so he just dodged his little platform and snatched his white jacket from Kai's platform. Suddenly there was a loud 'Aaaaareeeee?!' coming from behind Kai's drums which made the others jump.

"Ah Iie, Iie, Iie~! I've lost it again, that's the second time this week I've lost something~! And it was really expensive too, Kaa-san is going to kill me if I don't find it!" Kai whined, still hidden behind his drum-kit until a few things went flying around and he stood up in a huff, "Minna, I've lost my watch. You know the one with the large face; the silver Rolex that Kaa-san sent for my birthday last year ..."

Kai trailed off as he looked very sheepish and bit his bottom lip - he did so because the others were shaking their heads at him. Kai strikes again, they all thought. If it wasn't his phone, it was his wallet or visa versa ... but today he decided it was the expensive watch from his mother. And he had good reason to fret about it - not only was it his twenty-fifth birthday present but it was worth about 452,500 yen. Reita stood up straight from packing.

"Your always loosing stuff, Kai, its like clockwork. Earlier this week it was your phone. You'd forget your head if it wasn't attached to your body", Reita said with a fake frustrated tone as he glanced around the floor in his little area before glancing back up at Kai's forlorn face, "Check thoroughly around the back there. Around the floor of the platform, on top of your drums, the area behind the walls here and don't forget your bag!"

Reita had to shout the last two searching options because Kai had already disappeared behind his drums again. Aoi and Uruha laughed quietly to themselves - when Kai wasn't loosing things, he was really on top of everything but as soon as something went missing, he turned to butter. They then shouldered their guitar cases and grabbed their bags to head back to the stairs. Reita followed them with his bass carrier in one hand and bag in the other.

"Well, if we know Kai his watch wouldn't have gone far, he'll find it in any minute; he always does. I guess we'll go wait out by the car for him", Aoi said as he stomped down to the main floor, then glancing back up at the drum-kit in case Kai had miraculously found it already before looking at Ruki, "So Ruki, I suggest you get down off the stage and come say goodbye to Mika now while you've still got time".

Uruha and Reita were standing beside Aoi when they both 'aww'ed quietly, waiting to be swatted by Kira and Kikyo. Ruki just rolled his eyes and nodded, preferring to wait until they had left. After all, he had only just told Mika he really liked her and didn't want to embarrass her in front of them. Aoi just grabbed both Reita and Uruha by their collars and dragged them out of the main hall, also calling for the girls to follow. He knew full well that Ruki just wanted to be alone with Mika for a moment. Once they had gone Ruki threw his bag over one shoulder and walked down the stairs.

"Well, as Aoi said I guess I should say goodbye now while I have the chance. No knowing when Kai will pop his head over and tell me to get my ass in gear", Ruki said with a joking tone, scratching the back of his head, his heart starting to pound harder so it felt like his ribs were shuddering, "It was great to see you again though. I wish we could have stayed longer ... but as usually, the public awaits".

Ruki gave a little laugh as he tugged on the handle of his bag, looking at the ground as he scuffed it with his foot. Probably not the best joke at that moment but he didn't want Mika to feel awkward about the trouble with the fans earlier. He then reached over with his free arm and wrapped it around her waist, pulling her into a gentle hug - he couldn't wait to see her again. Meanwhile outside, Aoi finally let go of Reita and Uruha's collars as he reached Ruki's car. Uruha coughed a little as he adjusted his shirt.

"Well Aoi, you just ruined the perfect moment for us to tease Ruki. I mean, how often is it that he gets all mushy and lovey-dovey like this? Never", Uruha said, now making up for not being able to tease Ruki to his face and he set his guitar case down so he could lean on it, "But on the serious side, I really do think he's somewhat softer since he first saw Mika-chan last week. She really has brought out the best in him".

Reita made a fake disgusted face at Uruha much as to say 'don't get too sappy on me' - Reita was just that much more of a guy, that he was kind of uncomfortable about the sappy stuff. However Aoi understood what Uruha meant and thought he was definitely right. Even he was having fun around the girl; Ai in particular because she was the closest to his age and they were both childish sometimes. Uruha had an affinity towards Kikyo because she seemed equally as charming as him; not to boast on his part though. Reita and Kira had their dorky, carefree personalities to connect them. Kai and Megumi were the 'parent' types of their groups and some could just as easily assume that they were an equal couple. Ruki seemed to be bound to Mika by not only the song 'BathRoom' but he was determined to turn his dreams into a reality ... and that included Mika. He has of course said it to Kai a couple of times already and even though Kai warned him there would be some troubles down the road, Ruki still wasn't deterred by the warnings.

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NOTES:
1) Shared apartment: I'm not sure if I mentioned this already (in notes or story) but in my story the guys are sharing an apartment during preperations for the Decomp Tour
2) Riri: For those who don't recall, Riri was the model who stormed in on the guys practice to try and argue with Aoi
3) Kai's watch: Very very roughly ... 452,500 yen is about $4500 ... gives you a fair idea why he's worried

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