ACTION AND REACTION

   ‘Oy... Oy abunai -!’
BAM. Shoof.
   ‘...Ack! Gomennasai!’
Immediately Bill dropped to his knees to begin picking up the papers that had scattered over the floor, after his unintended collision with a certain person walking in the other direction. It wasn’t until this person crouched down next to him and Bill looked up into a pair of large brown eyes that he realised it was Shou.
   ‘Ah -! Gomen Shou, I – I was -’
   ‘- Sleepwalking. Yez, aye noticed,’ the Alice Nine vocalist replied amused, helping Bill pick up the rest of the papersheets. ‘Were yuu up late again last night?’
   Bill retreated his gaze back at the floor and handed him the final papers without looking at him. This was a case of really bad timing to run into Shou. At least, somehow he felt it was. If only he wouldn’t ask then it would be fine –
   ‘Do yuu have planz fur tuday?’
Damn.
   ‘I uhh...’ Bill stuttered between a long moment of reflection in which he decided he couldn’t lie to Shou after all, ‘I – I’m gonna be with Ta-... SuG’s practise today.’
   This sucked. He knew how bad he was at lying so he had given up even trying to. When he and Tom were younger and had been up to no good, he’d always let Tom do the talking to mom for if he would do it, they could take getting grounded for a week for granted.
   For a moment the eyes of the older vocalist glazed over as they both stood up again. Highly uncomfortable Bill figited with his hands while Shou silently secured the stash in his arms.
   ‘Souka na... That’z gud. Yuu dezerve tu see a gud practise since ourz waz pretty messed up last time...’ Shou smiled a little feebly when he spoke again but his smile still reached his eyes. ‘Have fun, na?’
   The moment he was alone again, when Shou was just out of hearing-distance, Bill let out a clearly audible sigh of relief. Damn, just why was it so hard to keep a secret from that guy?   
   Shaking his dark bangs out of his eyes, Bill sank his hands down his pockets and continued his walk towards the studiofloors.
   Secrets. Everyone has them. Keeping a secret can feel like cherishing an unopened flowerbud in your heart, so he knew, but ever since last night, a dark heavy stone had rested itself in the pit of his stomach. I guess it all depends on the nature of the secret, Bill thought. Little lies, small things he and Tom entrusted eachother with – those were the easy ones to carry. If his mom wouldn’t confront him directly with something, keeping something secret from her was also possible. But this wasn’t about hiding the fact he had sneaked out at night or had tried smoking... This was hiding the fact he had a boyfriend. A Boyfriend. Oh lord.
   Bill swallowed thickly. Things had suddenly become so complicated, it seemed. Even though hardly twelve hours had passed between now and the moment the two of them confessed.
   Takeru... Just how do you cope with this?
   In the meantime his feet had lead him to SuG’s studio and Bill held still in front of the door to try and collect some courage.
   In time it would all brighten up. He would be able to tell more people, if he and Takeru would really become –
   That was when the studiodoor opened and Bill looked straight into the face of drummer Mitsuru.
   ‘Anou, yuu can come in if yuu want,’ SuG’s leader remarked casually and Bill flushed before he nodded. Over the shorter man’s shoulder he could already see the different bandmembers preparing their instruments. He saw Takeru wrestle with a stubborn micstandard and he couldn’t stop a smile.
   ‘Dja, excuse me for intruding,’ Bill said formally with a small bow to Mitsuru as he walked in. Immediately four curious faces turned his way. Masato and Yuji raised highly meaningful eyebrows at eachother, before they looked over to Takeru who had seen Bill coming in but was now back to fighting with his standard, his ears slowly turning beetred under his hat. In the far corner, Chiyu had already turned his back to the scene and only concentrated on the buttons on his bassamp.
   ‘Oy Takerun, your boyfriend is here to see ya – ow!’ Yuji hissed when Masato pinched him.
   ‘Be nice,’ the blonde guitarist warned him in a low tone, ‘Plus, we’re not supposed to know yet, remember?’ Then Masato turned with a dazzling smile towards Bill who was looking quite at a loss on how to act, and gestured for him to take a seat on their couch. Bill returned a timid smile and sat down, still watching Takeru who was near to wrecking his own standard, but then Chiyu finally walked over to help him and the thing was fixed within seconds.
   All the while, Mitsuru hadn’t moved from the spot. Oh boy, he thought as he watched his band – two gossipping guitarists, a down-looking bassist and a vocalist with a serious attack of clumsiness - ... Today’s practise would be very interesting.

   ‘Alright guys! Nice going. Fifteen-minute break!’
As his bandmembers put down their instruments and stretched their muscles, Mitsuru leaned back on his drumstool. Quite as predicted, practise wasn’t going bad, but not perfect either. Instead of on their riffs, Yuji and Masato were way more fixed on their vocalist who in turn was fixed on everything else in the studio except on their guest in front of him on the couch. Watching Takeru struggle with himself was to be expected, the only thing that annoyed Mitsuru was the fact that he sounded restricted in using the full abilities of his voice.
   Oh well, Mitsuru shrugged as he walked from behind his drumkit, this was a passing stage. An airhead in love... The third one now in his band. For a moment he glanced over to the couch where Masato had seated himself in the corner while Yuji sat on the edge, looking innocent from here but he knew what was going on in those minds...
   Yuji and Masato had both passed that stage, now it was Takeru’s turn. This time Mitsuru watched how his vocalist had finally sat down on the couch next to Bill, keeping a safe enough distance but by the way the two looked, they were just as obvious as the couple on their left. The simple fact that Takeru wasn’t his loudmouthed self pretty much gave everything away.
   A slight smile appeared on the drummer’s lips. Seeing a blush instead of a naughty grin on Takeru’s face was an adoring feature for now.
   Still... Something was even more off today.
Silently Mitsuru turned to his left to watch his bassist, appearing to be busy adjusting his strings, but Mitsuru knew Chiyu was stalling time. Stalling time to avoid being close to the others...? This wasn’t like him at all. Already from the moment he and Takeru had entered the studio, instead of his usual breezy air and witty remarks Chiyu had brought a thundercloud inside. No smile had appeared on his face today yet. This was real reason to worry...
   ‘Na~, you guys look so glum! Why don’t you hug to feel better?’
Uh oh. Considerate Yuji comes to throw oil on the fire, Mitsuru groaned to himself. And indeed. Chiyu looked up from his bass disturbed, rested his eyes on Bill and Takeru only momentarily before he breathed: ‘I need a smoke...’ and left the studio a lot quicker than necessary. Masato watched him walking away slightly worried, but Yuji had his mind fixed on teasing the flushed couple next to them. Ignoring his lover’s warning pokes, he had turned around on the side of the couch to fully face the two with a naughty smile painted to his face.
   Bill and Takeru had only just started soft conversation when they were disturbed, and Takeru looked back at Yuji slightly panicked at one side but rather very irritated.
   ‘We’re fine, thank you,’ he retorted calmly, but with such an icy tone he could’ve said: Stay out of my business or I’ll eat you.
   Masato, noticing the dawning argument, continued trying for Yuji to shut up by poking and pinching him behind his back, but Yuji was too amused to stop his game already. ‘I’m only saying you guys would look cuter when you’re closer together...’
   ‘Seriously Yuji, what we do is not your business...’
   ‘Sou da ne sou da ne, so just do what you want! Hold, kiss, grope eachother, be our guest – OOWWW!! That one really hurt!’
   ‘Suits you right,’ Masato muttered dissaprovingly as he retreated his elbow which he had planted in Yuji’s stomach. As he held it at threatening distance in front of Yuji, who cringed, Masato turned to the other couple to try and sooth things with a smile, but he knew it was useless from the moment he saw Takeru’s shocked expression.
   ‘Great going baka-san,’ Masato muttered from the corner of his mouth, but he looked just as surprised when Takeru suddenly rose from the couch and swiftly dragged a gobsmacked Yuji into their dressingroom by the collar.
   ‘Oh dear, I – uhh...’ Masato stuttered as he looked from Bill to the dressingroom. ‘Aye’ll... Excuse me.’ With that and a strained soothing smile Masato quickly darted into the room as well.
   Bill only sat still and wisely held his lips together. Maybe he could guess a little bit about the nature of the conversation that had just taken place, but he felt it was better to just pretend it hadn’t happened. Also the fact that Takeru had looked ready to commit a murder made him think it was probably better not to intrude.
   Deep silence filled the studio till Mitsuru suddenly broke it with a timid: ‘Anou, want a drink?’

   ‘Takeru, we’re sorry! Just don’t kill him!’ Masato yelled in haste as he shut the door behind him, but was met with a rather peculiar sight. Takeru had a ferm grip on the front of Yuji’s shirt, shaking him back and forth while letting out a constant stream of incoherent swears, and Yuji looked back at Masato with eyes pleading for help. The whole scene made Masato think of a big Rottweiler not daring to gnaw back at the agresssive Chihuahua chewing on his paws, and unwantedly he snorted. This time Takeru laid his burning gaze on Masato and immediately the blonde stopped.
   ‘Takeru-chan, please calm down. We were inconsiderate and we’re sorry – aren’t we Yuji?’ Masato added more pressingly and his lover nodded guiltily, but Takeru wasn’t letting go yet.
   ‘That – you – I - ... That wasn’t cool,’ Takeru finally managed to exclaim through gritted teeth. ‘What the fuck did you think you were playing at, and in HIS presence too...!’ For a moment it looked as if the shortest blonde was going to throttle his guitarist again, but before Masato could speak up this time Yuji spoke: ‘I really am sorry Takerun! But, you’re just so cute when you’re in love...’
   Immediately Takeru let go of him. ‘Nani?’ he gasped while backing away, ‘H-how do you guys-’
   ‘Well dûh, you’re pretty obvious,’ Yuji chuckled. ‘But that’s just what we love about you Take. Don’t ever change.’
   ‘Indeed,’ Masato smiled as he went to stand on Yuji’s side. ‘And we love to see you happy, know that.’
   Takeru gaped back at his two bandmates a long moment before he softly chuckled and retreated his gaze at the floor. ‘Gee... Thanks guys...’ he muttered timidly as he scratched his neck from behind. Yuji and Masato exchanged a wink with eachother, and then Takeru looked back and remarked smiling: ‘Well, that makes two couples in this band, ne?’
   This time the two looked rather shocked before Masato frantically blushed and Yuji stuttered sheepishly: ‘Oh... Oooh, so, you knew about us...’
   ‘Well DÛH!’ was the only thing the bleachblonde exclaimed and with an exhausted sigh he muttered: ‘You guys are so dence...’ as he walked towards the door shaking his head.
   Takeru opened the door back to the studio and was met with Bill looking up to him questioningly, while his leader looked relieved he no longer was the only one in the room having to make conversation. Takeru gave Bill a reassuring smile before he said: ‘Na Bill... Let’z take a walk onegai?’ He took the teen’s hand and the two of them disappeared into the hall.
   Barely two minutes later Chiyu returned to an empty studio except for his leader.
   ‘What the...?’
   ‘Takeru took our guest for a walk and Yuji and Masato are in the other room ‘celebrating’ that they finally confessed to Takeru and no longer have to hide,’ Mitsuru droned before Chiyu could finish, twirling his drumstick around between his fingers in boredom. The bassist raised an eyebrow before he looked over his shoulder into the hall and sighed deep.
   ‘Perfect,’ he muttered darkly before he slumped back to his bass.

Their pace slowed the further they got away from the studio. Silently Bill’s eyes were drawn to his and Takeru’s hand still linked together. A feeling of warmth, of security flowed through his body, though it felt as if the nerves would never fully retreat when he was with him.     
   They stopped at a point where two hallways crossed eachother and Takeru shuffled his feet uneased, not letting go of Bill’s hand. Bill could hardly mind, for he wanted to give all to get used to this sensation and since they were the only ones here – or at least he thought so.
   ‘Oy! Nani kore?’ A loud voice called from just a short distance away and immediately Bill let go of Takeru’s hand, looking around shocked to Miyavi walking up to them.
   ‘What’s what, sempai?’ Takeru asked, keeping his cool but sounding slightly worried. If he had seen them holding hands –
   ‘Why aren’t you at practise kiddo?’ Miyavi cocked his eyebrow to Takeru and Bill let out a breath. Saved. Hopefully.
   ‘Djust what are yuu two doing ‘ere, hmm?’ the soloartist inquired as he folded his hands behind his back and slowly circled around the two. ‘Not up tu naughty thingz, aye hope?’
   Bill gulped but Takeru seemed ready to lie for his life. ‘No, we’re not. We’re just talking –’
   ‘About what were yuu talking then?’ Takeru opened his mouth but when nothing came out, Miyavi’s eyes narrowed and he closed in on the blonde vocalist.
   ‘You better not make a pass at him behind my back...’ the older one hissed and Takeru returned a furious glare.
   ‘First off: he’s not yours and this is none of your –’ but suddenly he found himself in a headlock with Miyavi rubbing his knuckles over his head.
   ‘The kid iz sow cute when he’z angry na?’ Miyavi grinned wide at Bill who looked thoroughly shaken by Takeru’s rough threatment. Takeru squeaked something that in fact was a really nasty curse and finally Miyavi let go of him again. Laying his half lidded eyes on Bill a final time, the older vocalist smirked wide and continued his way down the hall, making a peace-sign and chanting: ‘Bye handsome, bye kid.’
   ‘Oy, you okay?’ Bill carefully asked when Takeru still didn’t move, his eyes hidden under his hat that had sunken even lower over them due to Miyavi’s knuckles. The blonde didn’t reply, leaning back against the wall while his hands clenched to fists, before he slided his back down it and ended up on the floor, his nose same level with his knees.
   ‘...Aye hate it when zey call me a kid,’ he softly muttered then.
Bill watched him in silence. Takeru breathed in deeply through his nose and continued, his eyes still hidden: ‘Even though zey don’t alwayz mean tu, zey hurt me with it... Aye’m the youngest of PSC and aye’ll always be. The others do respect me in their way, but aye’m still a kid tu zem... Zey don’t look further...’
   Takeru’s voice shivered, then he let out a small gasp when he felt an arm wrapping around his shoulder.
   ‘Some might not, but I’m sure others do... There’s way more to you than just a kid, Takeru.’
   Takeru looked up to Bill’s dark eyes that looked back at him reassuringly. The teen had settled himself next to him against the wall and held his arm around Takeru’s shoulder. ‘That way you performed last night, the way you sang straight from your heart... That was just, really cool,’ Bill smiled. ‘You prooved yourself worthy... And the ones that only see you as a kid shall be prooven wrong soon, you’ll see.’
A faint smile grew on the blonde’s lips. ‘...SanQuu...’ he whispered as he laid his own hand on Bill’s over his chest. Then Takeru chuckled. ‘Aye think the others would be very surprised if zey knew about us...’
Bill smiled too, though a little nervous again. ‘Mm, yeah, I guess so.’
‘Aye want tu see Miyavi-san’s face when he knows that aye beat him...’
‘Mm? Beat him with what?’
‘Oh – aye uhh, neva mind... Aye djust want zem tu see me as aye am,’ Takeru quickly added to cover his slip-out. Luckily Bill didn’t seem to notice.
   ‘Yeah... Being the youngest is hard. Okay, this may sound silly, but even while I’m only a few minutes younger than my twinbrother, I sometimes got threated differently.’
   ‘Yuu have a twin? Wow, sugoii! Aye have two brothers and a sister. Mai sister is the youngest. Aye’m glad aye’m not the youngest at home...’
   So conversation started and time immediately flew by. When there finally was a pause, twenty minutes had passed already and Bill gave a start to get to his feet.
   ‘Ah, dammit, I’m sorry! Your band is waiting for us –!’
   ‘Meh, zey’ll survive,’ Takeru muttered, clearly annoyed that their moment had to end, but he smiled again when Bill offered him his hand and he let himself be pulled to his feet. ‘Dja, ikuzou?’
   ‘Na, ya know, you better go back alone.’
   ‘Oy, doushite?’
   ‘Because I think I’ll only distract you and you need to practise well,’ Bill smiled. The corner of Takeru’s mouth twitched while his eyes traveled to the ceiling guiltily; the distraction-part was quite correct.
   ‘Ah demo, yuu don’t mind...?’
   ‘I’m fine Takeru. You just head back. I’ll survive the day.’
The blonde gave him a warm smile, before he ran his hand past Bill’s a final time and called: ‘See yuu at dinner then!’ as he trotted back to his studio.
   Bill smiled to himself as he turned into a different hallway. He would definitely survive today. Feeling that he was getting to know Takeru better felt good, though he knew they still had a long way to go. But at least, these first steps hadn’t lead to a tumble yet. Now it was waiting for the next.

To be continued