Track 01 - BathRoom

WARNINGS: -none-

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The way that the guys all teased each other constantly was certainly a sign to the girls that it was only jokes. Being around each other pretty much everyday ... it would get to the stage that sometimes they'd be sick of each other. But if they couldn't get away, jokes seemed like the last option. The girls were similar, though they didn't spend every single day together like the guys had too. So among them the jokes were quite minimal; they were just reserved for embarrassing moments like Ruki and Mika. Speaking of the new couple, Megumi, Kira, Ai and Kikyo looked up when they heard Kai, Ruki and Mika coming outside from the Dome. Megumi smiled as Kai came up to her and showed off his newly found watch. He wasn't kidding when he said it was an expensive Rolex - it was the typical large faced men's watch, silver that was polished spotless and with a simple but stylish linked wrist band.

"Ah I'm so glad you found your watch, it certainly does look very expensive. If it was me I'd be afraid to wear it in case it got tarnished or broken", Megumi said as she watched Kai breath out deeply and then bend down; she rested her hands on her knees and bent down to look at Kai, "Though I'm sure your mother won't be upset with you now, because you've still got the watch after all".

Megumi reached up to pat him lightly on the back just as Uruha did too - Kai was too cute when he worried about things. Then as Uruha and Aoi teased Ruki about saying goodbye to Mika, the other girls giggled softly and noticed Mika blushing again. However the laughing was cut short when Kai urged his band mates to get a move on. Kira and Megumi returned the hugs that Reita and Kai gave to them, while Ai and Kikyo smiled at the kisses on the cheek from Aoi and Uruha.

"Of course we'll be listening to you on the radio! We know which station to tune into so you can't expect us to not listen. We're all going back to my place anyway", Kira said as she waved and watched Reita walk around to his seat in Ruki's car, "And don't worry Reita-kun, I didn't mind the hug. It was really nice of you. Have a safe trip to the radio station; lets hope the roads aren't icy for you".

The girls all waved goodbye to each of the guys as they all got into Ruki's car. Even Mika, that is until Ruki again kissed her. She paused for a second but then placed her hands over Ruki's hands, again on the verge of melting. She blushed when Ruki looked at her and called her 'baby' - her mother used to call her Mi-chibi when she was a little girl but never really had any nicknames until now. Mika smiled sheepishly and waved as Ruki let her go and got into the drivers side. The other girls all gathered around Mika and cooed at the poor girl - with each passing minute she was falling more and more in love with him. Finally once the black car was out of sight from the car park, the girls made a b-line for Kira's car. It was very warm inside by now which would make for a pleasant ride back to Kira's house - they couldn't wait to listen to the band on their radio gig.

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It didn't take long for Kira to drive everyone back to her place. Like she had been worried about with the guys, the roads didn't appear to be icy. Though her SUV was a four-wheel drive so there was considerably more confidence in her steering anyway. No sooner had Kira pulled into the driveway, Ai, Kikyo, Mika and Megumi were already out of the car and scurrying to the front door. Kira just smiled to herself and took time to make sure all doors were locked before following them ... of course only she had keys to get in so her friends didn't get very far. Considering her parents wouldn't be back from the States for another week, she had to manage the house solo for a while. Kira squeezed in between Ai and Kikyo on one side, Megumi and Mika on the other, so she could reach the lock. As Kira un-locked and pushed the door open, all of the girls were practically going through the door at the same time.

"Oh it's so nice in here! I was kind of scared to get out of the car in case I snap-froze on the way to the front door. Yay for central heating~!" Kikyo giggled as she dashed into the living room just to the left of the front door; she kicked off she shoes and wiggled her toes over the heating vents, "Ah that's better. My black slip-ons aren't good at keeping out the cold, that's for sure. Stupid me for not dressing sensibly".

The other girls laughed as they all filed into the lounge room; they had just taken the time to remove their shoes at the front door. Which Kikyo had obviously forgotten to do seeing she'd run straight over to a vent still with her shoes on - and as we all know, it's technically good-mannered to remove your shoes at the front door in a well-established Japanese house-hold ... Kikyo's mother would have been mortified if she'd seen her now.

"Kikyo, you'd better take your shoes over to the front door before Kira's mother finds them. You don't want her to think we're not well-mannered, ne?" Ai questioned, raising an eye-brow as Kikyo sheepishly snatched her shoes and ran out to set them by the front door; Ai turned to Kira, "Hey, lets turn the radio on and find the right station so we can listen to the band talk. It's almost four o'clock now".

Kira made a short 'oh' sound and ran into her bedroom to fetch her portable radio and CD player. Her parents did have a radio for the lounge area but conveniently ... it was broken. While Kira was out fishing for her radio, Kikyo, Ai, Megumi and Mika made themselves comfortable on the large soft chairs - Mika and Megumi had a lounge chair each while Ai and Kikyo sat on the sofa, also saving a spot between them for Kira.

"So I wonder if they will talk about what happened today? I hope it doesn't cause more trouble ... I don't think I want to see my face in the paper again for another bad reason", Mika said quietly and she slouched down in her chair, her legs out-stretched in front of her on the floor, "In saying that, I hope all of us just being able to see the guys won't become a misunderstanding ... I don't want to become a burden to Ruki ..."

To Mika it sounded strange not calling him by honorifics - the girls were so used to calling the guys by '-san' that just saying their names singularly seemed so different. In any regard it made Mika smile to herself. Just then Kira came power walking back with her radio clutched to her chest. She dodged the edge of the sofa and sat down between Ai and Kikyo while setting the radio down on the coffee table in front. After turning it on, she quickly turned the tuning dial to find the right station - 'MediaLust' on 88.0. It wasn't a very well known station but maybe just having the Gazette being interviewed would give it a little push - after all the station had only been on the air for a few months but the girls had heard about it and liked the music they played. The girls looked at the clock as Kira adjusted the dial to get the right frequency - it was just on four o'clock ... the guys would be starting soon.

* * *
"Konban wa Minna-san~! This is Kohta from 'MediaLust' radio 88.0~! We have quite a talkback for you tonight. For all you crazed fans out there who keep up with your news, you would know that right now we have some very special guests~! So I'd like to interrupt our regular music Countdown to introduce all of you! Please welcome Kai, Reita, Ruki, Aoi and Uruha - The Gazette~!"

The radio presenter Kohta adjusted his headphones and leaned forward to press a button on his control panel. It made what sounded like an audience cheering. He kept his finger on the button for a good ten seconds, which made the guys laugh - it seemed like he was trying to give the impression that a crowd was present, but the building wasn't big enough to allow it. They were already on the air so everyone listening would have heard their laughing. Uruha spoke up first.

"Thanks for having us, it's great to be here Kohta. I must say we've had a really interesting day but nothing could keep us from being here this evening" Uruha said into his microphone and gave a little nod but actually telling a little white lie, "Our fans mean a lot to us so we don't want to disappoint them".

All of the guys looked at Uruha as he spoke - all of them including Kohta were sitting at a circular table with Kohta at the master control, then from his left it was Uruha, Aoi, Kai, Reita and Ruki. Uruha suddenly felt a kick in his ankle and he sharply turned to look at Aoi next to him. Aoi just made a look as if to say 'What about Kikyo?' Uruha just cleared his throat and turned back to Kohta who continued.

"You can say that again fellas~! I was watchin' the whole story from my TV ... a media report on the music channel was about how you had a conference at the Dome? They'd obviously videotaped your statements. Quite a moving speech you made during the interview, Ruki-san~! By any chance would there be a lovely lady to back up your statement. What was it again - "I will never let anyone get in the way of my happiness?"

Kohta leaned over his control panel and pressed a button that sounded like someone saying 'Awww'. Each of the guys laughed, including Ruki - they'd had a feeling the conference would have been recorded. Otherwise they wouldn't have much evidence for a story. Ruki laughed and sat forward to speak into his mic.

"Well Kohta, I won't lie to everyone but I will admit that there is someone special in my life right now. The band means a lot to me, our fans mean a lot to me too ... but this girl also has a special place in my life. There was just something about her I couldn't ignore. And I only hope that our fans understand and don't take out their jealousy on her. Because if they do, she would be the first one I protect".

"Hmm that's really admirable of you Ruki-san~! Well there you go ladies. I'm sorry to say but your beloved Ruki does in fact have a sweet-heart", Kohta confirmed, once again pressing the 'Aww'ing button before glancing over at Kai, "What about you Kai-san? Does the spirited drummer of the group have anything to say about this afternoon or who the girl is that you're with in the paper?"

Kai gave a nervous laugh, knowing that right then Megumi may be listening ... not only that, but it felt like he was back in the conference again. Just like then he was again being asked about the 'mystery girl' and he again had to answer carefully. Kai swallowed hard and leaned forward.

"Well, I do agree with Ruki about his speech today. But as for the girl I am sitting next to in the photo, I won't tell you who she is. All I will say is that with all of us spending some time with these girls, we have learned to relax, be happier and we even have new found strength. The girl I was sitting with, her and I have got a fair bit in common. And I really look forward to meeting her again".

Kai smiled and sat back again - he really did look forward to seeing Megumi again. All of the guys were hanging out for their teahouse meeting but not for another week. So far the interview with Kohta was ten times more relaxed than with the press that afternoon - for one thing they only had to answer to the radio presenter and they didn't have cameras flashing in their faces. And with the fans already hearing their explanations before, it was probably not as shocking anymore. At least they could just casually talk about the girls but also without revealing too much information, as they had done before. The guys knew that the girls would most likely be listening in by now and probably giggling at their attempts to dodge the subject. They just wished Kohta would switch to talking about their latest single instead ... but it sounded like he was settling into talking about the girls for the next half hour.

* * *
It hadn't taken Kira long to find the right station and as soon as the frequency was non-static, she leaned back into the sofa and brought her feet up onto the edge to hug her knees. The interview obviously hadn't started yet because there was still a song playing. It wasn't a song the girls were familiar with; obviously by a rather new band. The song had a very rough sound to it; in other words it was like metal. The vocals reminded Mika a lot of how Ruki sang when Gazette first started and she frowned a little as she listened - had the band down a secret song without advertising it? No it couldn't be, the music was different and the vocalist didn't sound anything like Ruki. Even the other girls blinked as they listened ... okay they'd tuned in half-way through the song but so far it sounded pretty good. They were really hoping the radio would say who the band was. As the song faded out, they heard a presenter say the song was 'Death's Door' by Indie band 'ScReW'. It suddenly dawned on the girls who this band was - some time ago they were signed to PSC. Kira perked up and looked around to her friends.

"I've heard of them; the new babies of PS Company. They've just signed on with Indie PSC; I knew I'd heard that song somewhere before ..." Kira said as she looked wide-eyed at the other girls and then stared back at the radio as another presenter named Kohta came on, "Ever since they started I've heard so many people say they're like a cross between Gazette and Dir en Grey. Personally I don't think Screw sounds anything like them; they have their own sound".

The girls also knew who ScReW was but never really looked too much into the band, but they did know what Kira was talking about. Sure some bands may seem alike but chances are the budding bands get ideas from older groups - nothing was going to stop that. Anyway finally Kohta began to introduce the Gazette and each of the girls practically threw themselves into the floor to sit around the coffee table to lean in to listen.

"Hey, Uruha-san just said he was dying to get onto the radio this evening! But before back at the Dome he said he didn't want to leave!" Kikyo said in a fake annoyed tone as she crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks out; Mika poked Kikyo in the side, which made Kikyo giggle, "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. I know they're only saying it just for the radio. I think it's clear now that they didn't want to leave the Dome earlier".

Ai, Megumi and Kira giggled as Kikyo and Mika poked they're tongues out to each other at the same time. They then went back to listening as Kohta brought up the speeches the guys had made during the conference - so Kohta had seen it all too? He then mentioned Ruki's 'lovely lady' - meaning Mika - and then there was an 'Aww' sound over the radio. Mika giggled and then quietly 'aww'ed to herself.

"Oh for heaven sake, look at goo-goo eyes over here. She's about to melt into your floor Kira, you'd better get a mop and bucket ..." Megumi teased Mika, who blushed furiously and lowered her head; she felt very small for acting so sappy about Ruki's comment; Megumi laughed, "Oh don't be embarrassed, I think that's the best thing I've ever heard a guy say and it sounds like he's more than willing to protect you anyway he can".

Mika managed to stop blushing and she grinned heartily at her friends - Megumi was right, no guy has ever said that about her before. Well, maybe except her Father, but this was different - it was coming from her 'boyfriend'. Kikyo now poked Mika's side this time before going back to listening. Next Kohta turned his attention to 'the spirited drummer' Kai, which made Megumi sit up straight and stare eagerly at the little pink daisy-shaped radio. The girls couldn't help but laugh at how quickly Megumi zoned into Kai as he talked.

"Wow Kai-san is so sweet, that's the nicest thing he just said ... so they really do like us. Well, we all know Ruki-san is head-over-heels for Mika", Ai said as she counted one finger and resulted an Mika giggling silently; Ai shook her head and counted another finger, "And Kai-san seems to really like Megumi too from what we just heard. So it really seems that we're all discovering budding relationships, don't you think?"

The girls didn't want to get their hopes up but what Ai said did sound pretty good - Mika was with Ruki now, Kai just hinted he couldn't wait to see Megumi again. Ai, Kira and Kikyo still weren't sure what Aoi, Reita and Uruha thought of them ... but maybe the girls could somehow discretely find out? But at the moment it just sounded too good to be true so they weren't about to push the subject onto the guys. Then Mika perked up.

"Ai, I know Aoi likes you because I noticed he was trying to keep you warm outside the Dome this afternoon, and Kira ... you and Reita are quite alike so you just click", Mika laughed as she was now trying to play match-maker, mainly to make the girls not give up yet; she went on, "Kikyo, Uruha is like a male version of you ... no offence. Your both charming and also he asked you to go out with him one night!"

Ai, Megumi, Kira and Kikyo just stared at Mika after what she said - where did all that come from? Ever since that afternoon when Ruki told Mika he really liked her, she seemed to turn into the 'Love Doctor' or something. She now seemed to be urging her friends to get to know the other guys. Although it was a thought, as previously mentioned it was not something they were about to push onto the guys. Maybe it was just the fact that Ruki and Mika got together after only a week so Mika thought her friends could just as happy as her in only a week. A nice gesture from Mika but it was just before the bands next Tour ... it would already by hard for Ruki considering he only had just over two weeks of communication with Mika. And chances are in that time he may only be able to talk to her by phone because of preparations for the Tour. But the meeting at the Teahouse would certainly be another small step towards more new romances?

* * *
So far so good the radio gig was going okay and Kohta seemed to be more interested in talking about the 'Gazette Girls' rather than anything else. But at least he was nice enough to not push his luck and keep asking that they reveal any information about the girls. Kohta was a rough looking guy - he wore old blue baggy jeans, a white polo shirt and a black vest over the shirt. His brown hair, which was cut on purpose like he'd had a fight with a lawn mower, was covered by a black beanie and he wore black thick-framed glasses. Kohta nodded and made a face as if to say 'alright' after hearing Kai speak. He obviously wasn't going to get much information out of the guys because they seemed to be protecting the girls - and for good reason. He knew from experience when interviewing other bands, that sometimes fans word comment on his independently run website to show their jealousy if any of the guys mentioned another girl. Kohta then turned to Aoi.

"Aoi-san~!" he said cheerfully.

"Hai?" Aoi responded equally cheerful.

"Aoi, Aoi, Aoi ... I've been reading rumours on some Gazette fan-sites about you~! The fans have been getting the impression that because you turn twenty-eight in January next year and heading towards thirty ... that you're looking to settle down with someone and possibly leave the band! You wouldn't mind doing me a favour and clearing this rumour up, ne? That's quite a heavy rumour going around".

Every one of the guys just blinked at what Kohta just said - of course they never had time to look at fan-sites for their band so they had no idea such rumours were going around. Aoi let out a little cough and so did the others, as they all stumbled over their words to say it wasn't true. Just what they needed - first the trouble with the newspaper and the conference, and now they had to clear this up. Aoi sat up and leaned into his mic.

"Absolutely not. I could never leave Gazette. As we decided long ago, unless all of us decided to mutually break-up, then there's no way we are going anywhere. We aren't finished with the world yet", Aoi stated very seriously, "As for settling down ... yes I am almost thirty, and the thought has crossed my mind plenty of times. I do like someone at the moment and you knows, it may just become something more".

Kohta just leaned back in his chair and listened intently, really listening to what Aoi had to say. When Aoi finished, he nodded slowly and smiled - Aoi handled that really well. Kohta even started clapping, which made the other guys start clapping too. Aoi gave a short laugh and leaned back in his chair - a nice save indeed, but it was the truth ... none of the guys were intending to leave now. Kohta then looked at Reita.

"Reita-kun~! Time to hear your thoughts on relationships please? Gee this is turning into a Documentary on Love Lives here~! I should change from Music to Love Talkback" Kohta chuckled, slapping his knee and pushing his glasses further up his nose as he then squinted at Reita, "And hey, where's your nose band? You look funny without~! Geez I wish I could take a photo of you and put it up on my website but I might get sued by PSC ... plus you might hurt me".

Reita gave a full-on laugh at hearing that - he'd never been asked so forcefully before why he wasn't wearing his noseband. Though he did see Kohta's point because Reita was so used to wearing his noseband that it was practically a part of him now. Even Ruki, Kai, Aoi and Uruha laughed along with him because they too agreed he looked different. Reita finally stopped himself from laughing and leaned forward to the mic.

"My nose-band is at home. My thoughts on relationships huh? Is that really such a good idea to be asking me that? To be honest I've never really been out with many girls, and I'm always around the guys at work," Reita laughed again before continuing, "And because of that, I tend to treat other girls like 'one of the guys' you know. But one girl I do know who I think is really cool, I hope I can get to know her better..."

Kohta couldn't help but chuckle to himself at how embarrassed Reita was at talking about girls on the radio ... and of course in front of his band mates. Here was the tough guy of the group being expected to reveal his thoughts on dating and girls ... he certainly wasn't keen on the subject. Although yes he did click almost instantly with Kira, Reita was still trying to hold onto his tough side while still in 'public'. It was behind closed doors that he was allowed to act any way he wanted. And as the other guys remembered from during the past week, the whole time Reita talked about looking forward to the Dome practice and 'seeing Kira-chan again'. Aoi, Kai and Uruha were more the type to let their feelings out a little more, Ruki was too but a bit shyer about it, but Reita was the stubborn one determined to not show a soft side. The other guys really hoped that Kira could do something to Reita that would make him less of stubborn-ass and loosen him up a bit.

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NOTES:
1) MediaLust Radio: This isn't a real radio station in Japan but it'll become more significant much later on
2) ScReW signing to PSC: I got the dates mixed up. The timeline of my story at the moment is around 11th November 2006, but ScReW didn't sign to PSC until May 2007. But for the sake of mangling the story to try and fix this, lets just say ScReW are already signed. Gomen-ne

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