Cats To Smile Over

Warnings: Mild Hide/Ruiza. Some swearing.

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They are like cats, Asagi thought, as he idly watched D's new dvd extra takes. Waiting for lunchtime to crawl around, the band was sitting leisurely, watching their antics offset of the Sleeper PV. They were supposed to be providing some commentary but the fascination of watching themselves during the shoot hadn't spawned anything yet. Asagi wondered how long this little task would take... but he was diverted by -

Ruiza and Hide-zou almost bumping noses -

Like cats.

On either side of Asagi slouched the... felines in question. Ruiza doubled over, laughing at Hiroki's antics behind the wheel - Hide-zou was grinning -

It was the laughter in the cozy room - the antics on the screen - which caused a small smile to tug on the moody vocalist's lips. It was comforting - the cheery laughter and the familiarity -

Asagi remembered the heartfelt sigh he had heaved coming into the studio that day. For some reason - maybe it was the long night of lyric composing - for some reason - he had wished to be back home with the cats snuggled under his comfy quilt.

To be anywhere but at work -

But here he was, Ruiza's arm hanging off the back of his chair - a casual, sort of hug....

And Hide-zou's zany hair blocked the screen's view - as he leaned over and whispered something to Ruiza -

More laughter ensued.

Asagi curiously watched the sharp planes of Hide-zou's foxy face as the guitarist withdrew to his seat. The clip had stopped - someone was rewinding it to the beginning. Commentary would start soon, he guessed. Asagi leaned forward - hands gripping his knees - aware that behind his back, Ruiza and Hide-zou were plotting yet again.

He sat back, sliding Ruiza an inquiring look. The blonde smiled innocently.

"ASAGI!" He sang. "Smile! Smile!"

The two guitarists leaned in for a simultaneous hug.

"Group hug!" Ruiza laughed.

"You're not going anywhere!" Hide-zou chided when Asagi attempted to rise out of their smothering, warm embraces. "No smile - no go!"

"I need... to use the facilities..." Asagi glared at his band members, losing his dignity by every second.

"It's a plausible request," Hide-zou shrugged (but his hug only got tighter). "What do you think, Ruiza?"

Ruiza's responding chuckle ticked Asagi's ear.

"Restroom isn't a bad place - but a bit SMALL, don't you think, Hide-zou?"

"Hmmmm.... well..... it's certainly not conducive to comforting - but if Asagi wants us to join him in his stall..."

Asagi sank back - the embrace got tighter. He sighed and then relaxed in his chair.

"What nonsense...." He rolled his eyes at Ruiza. "You should stop encouraging this, Ruiza. You know better -"

The blonde guitarist loosened his hold on the vocalist - but his arm was firmly linked with Asagi's elbow. Hide-zou flashed a thumbs up at Tsunehito behind Asagi's back and winked, his foxy face outrageously smug. Asagi, catching the tail end of the cocky expression, couldn't help it -

His lips twitched - and then, Asagi's face lit up momentarily with a smile.

FLASH! Something white momentarily blinded his vision. Blinking he looked up -

Ruiza was carefully holding a Polaroid camera and a picture. Asagi glared. Hide-zou rescued his camera with a laugh.

"A smile! We caught another smile!"

"Really....." Hiroki snorted. "You guys...."

"Perhaps.... good enough for a photobook!" Hide-zou added brightly.

"YAY! Asagi-san - it's wonderful!" gushed Tsunehito.

"Because it's rare," Ruiza nodded flourishing the picture which was now finished.

"You guys..." Asagi shook his head.

"Asagi smiling... it's like a jewel..." Hide-zou sighed.

Everybody stared at him.

"What? Did I say something weird?"

"You're such a girl," Asagi smirked. "More than Tsu-chan, I think."

Hide-zou blushed.

"It would cost alot on ebay," Ruiza said thoughtfully.

"Don't you dare..." Asagi growled, trying to snatch at it fruitlessly. Ruiza passed it over gingerly to Hide-zou.

"Well... how's it looking?" asked Ruiza.

"............"

Asagi and the rest waited patiently as Hide-zou's face turned red.

"What the -"

"It's -"

"It's black. Hide-zou... is your camera broken?" Ruiza asked, examining the Polaroid.

"You BROKE it?"

"No - I did not! Look! It's positively ANTIQUE!"

"Then..."

"WHAT? ANTIQUE! It's just WELL USED - I JUST -"

"Ruiza - Hide-zou - please...."

"The lens cap was still on it -" Asagi's calm voice broke through the argument.

"EHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Ruiza and Hide-zou exclaimed - then rounded oneach other.

"What the fuck, Hide-zou! You - you!

"Me? It's always me! You're the one who had it! I thought you'd have the common sense to check it."

"Common sense? Common sense tells me -"

"No - I don't want to hear it."

"Hi-de-zouuuu! I'm gonna -!"

"Talk to the hand."

A tussle ensued.

Asagi's second smile for the day went unnoticed this time around. Like cats, he mused to himself.

Ruiza had pinned Hide-zou to the ground and was trying to smack him with his chord book. Hide-zou was attempting to heave his senpai off -

Like cats... they make me smile...