12 posts tagged “random”

lol, got this from dunadan~

Since it's after Arashi's new single release (yesterday for me, it's the 21st here) and the start of Ohno's Freestyle exhibition (today 21st, yay~ Oh-chan kakoii~), it reminds me that we're almost at the end of February ne? Since February is supposedly the rabu rabu month (every month is rabu rabu month for me so I won't know anything bout this X3;) I though I'd set all fangirls hearts on fire, nya? Yosh, ikou ka?

Mazu wa, the (in)famous kiss! (can't believe they counted it too lol)

*dodges bullets, bricks, rotten vegetables and other miscellaneous flying items* ^^; right, the next one would be a great big hug (and...horse heads?):

Another huggle here and we have to love them for it yo~ (Wee~ there's a dose of Toma-chan too ^___^)

It wouldn't be complete without someone groping someone now would it? XD;

And because I support pairings~

And because we rarely see this, ne?

I was chatting with Kytana-chan and she mentioned Ouran, so I remembered I have this XD;; It was about a year ago that I finished this series (well, not really a year just yet, i officially finished this project in July 07) so i thought I'd post this up for you anime-loving folk~

Ouran Elementals:

Since there's a lot of Arashi fans all over the world, I'd like to ask you guys:

How do you say 'Storm' in your language?

Since I'm from Malaysia, in Bahasa Malaysia, if we say 'Ribut' it means storm :3 So since I'd like to make a little list of sorts, I'd like to know how you'd say 'storm' in your language ^^

The list so far:
1. Malaysia: Ribut (pronounce: ree-boat)
2. Japan: Arashi (Kanji: 嵐, Hiragana: あらし)
3. Sweden: Storm (pronounce with a longer 'o' sound: 'stooorm') [Tack så mycket, Sofia!]
4. Hungary: Vihar (pronounce 'vee-har') [Köszönöm szépen, AnitafromH!]
5. Italy: Tempesta [Grazie, Martina Chan~!]
6. Mexico (& those who speak Spanish): Tormenta [Gracias, minaviga!]
7. France: Tempête [Merci, Winkychan~]
8. Germany: Sturm [Danke schön, Nanao!]
9. Philippines: Bagyo [Maraming salamat, Yuubi!!]
10. Indonesia: Badai [Terima kasih, risu_chan!]
11. Thailand: Paya (pronounce 'pa-yu') [Kob kun, kikkizz!]
12. Vietnam: Bão Tố (pronounce bao-to) [Caam uhrn neow, CoolnCute!]
13. Poland: Burza [Dziękuję, Klara!]

It's for Valentine's and I found it cute so thought I'd share. Don't read if you don't wanna :P I was checking up on the news as usual today and decided to head to News on Japan just to read up on the headlines of Asahi and Mainichi Shimbun. Then I came across this cute little tidbit:

Not only have Kit-Kat in Japan have been stuffed into cans to be sold in their gadzillion vending machines, they come up with something cute like this @_@ You can read more about it here. Even the shape is cute >_< It's called 'Lucky Little' because if you buy a pack, take all the chocolates out of the bag and count the white and pink coloured chocolates, head over to their website and key in the number of chocs, you get your fortune! Ah, the Land of Kawaii *pokes the Japanese for being creatively weird* X3

In other news, I know people are more widely aware of KDDI ever since Arashi's CMs, so here's their phone selections for Spring 08:

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CHAPTER FOUR
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“W-Where are we going?” curiosity more than fear made him ask as he watched Jun push the button to go further upward. “The Special Observation Deck. It’s going to be way higher than this one,” Jun smiled. Again, Sho could feel his stomach clench as the elevator made its way up. “Have you been up there before, Jun-kun?” he asked, if only to fill the silence. “No, usually to go all the way up to the Special Deck, you’ll need to pay another admissions fee, but today is an exception. I made arrangements with the girl at the ticket counter earlier and she said she’ll give us special passes to head to the top of the Tower as a Christmas present,” replied Jun.

“Wow, that was nice of her,” he raised his eyebrows but Jun just grinned again. “Nah, she’s an Arashi fan. I just gave her an autograph,” he replied. The elevator finally stopped and Jun allowed him to step out first. If the main observation deck’s view had been breathtaking, the deck they were standing on now simply blew Sho away. There were lights as far as he could see, glittering against the darkness of the night like stars. It looks like an entire universe... “It helps you to forget who you are for a moment, ne?” said Jun now, almost as if to himself.

“It does,” Sho agreed. It was liberating: up here, he wasn’t a celebrity or an idol...he was simply Sakurai Sho, a man with his world at his feet. Suddenly, soft white snow drifted down from the sky. “Well, there’s a surprise! It’s a White Christmas after all!” Jun exclaimed in shock. Sho had to stare: it really was a rare White Christmas. I take it back; there isn’t a conspiracy at all. It was almost as if everything was encouraging him to take that plunge. He had to be true to his promise; after all, he wasn’t the type to continue running away.

 The sight of the gentle snow falling down gave him a shot of courage. “Jun-kun,” he spoke up now, although his own voice sounded far away to his ears. “Hm? What’s wrong, Sho-san? Does the height bother you?” he had to smile at how concerned Jun sounded. “Merry Christmas,” he turned, holding out the gift-wrapped box he had hidden in his jacket pocket all this time. “E-Eh? A present? T-Thank you...” Jun was stunned as he took the box into his hands.

“Can I open it?” he asked Sho now. After receiving a nod, Jun pulled at the ribbon and unwrapped the paper carefully to reveal a black box. “B-But I didn’t get you anything...” Sho chuckled and told him that he didn’t need to get him anything. Finally, Jun opened up the box to reveal the jacket pendant Sho had bought earlier. His face didn’t show anything at first, but immediately it went to shock before breaking out into a wide smile. “It’s beautiful...this must’ve cost you so much. I-I...uh...thank you,” he stumbled on his words, finding it difficult for once to express amidst his delight.

Necklace

2 comments

 “Here, let me help you with that,” going around Jun, Sho reached up to string the necklace around the dark-haired man’s neck. As Sho stepped back to observe, Jun turned and spread his arms out, “Does it look good on me?” You look way better than that necklace... “Yes, it does. I’m glad,” Sho smiled. “Wait...there’s something here...” Jun peered at the pendant, as if trying to figure something out. “Su...ki?” he read, slowly, examining the inside of the jacket. Sho could feel his ears burning now as he turned to face the window again. The city sparkled as if time was standing still. He had purposely engraved the two characters, figuring that it would be the best way to express how he felt without actually having to say it upfront.

“Sho-san...” Jun almost whispered, not fully knowing what to say. Sho had to chuckle, even though there was a slight bitter tone to it. “Yeah...for a year now, really. This time last year...was when I realized. I know that it’s not going to happen. I mean, what would the guys think? Besides, we’re friends, first and foremost, right?” Sho could only continue talking as if trying to smooth out the awkwardness between them. “I kept thinking: should I confess? What are the consequences? Even if I did, surely there won’t be any response...”

“You really didn’t realize, did you?” asked Jun now, making Sho turn to look at him. There, a small smile and gentle eyes looked back at him. “Realize what?” he asked with a frown. “I was the one that had sent that mail to Shukudai-kun two weeks back for the Oshiete corner. I tried to be subtle so that the other guys didn’t notice. Do you remember what was written?” Sho could only manage to shake his head, still reeling from the shock.

“I had written: ‘Dear Arashi, I've been having no luck in telling the person I love about how I feel. We're always together for work and I've known this person for almost 9 years. Is there a way for me to express how I feel without hurting our friendship?’ At first, I thought everyone would immediately guess it was from me, but they didn’t, so I was thankful. I suppose the biggest hint was me using the pen name from my movie, Tokyo Tower,” Jun shrugged. It was all it took for Sho not to end up sitting on the floor in surprise: he really didn’t have a clue.

“So, then...” he started but Jun nodded with a smile, “But when...? I didn’t realize –” A laugh escaped Jun’s lips now. “During our Dome concert. My solo was right after yours, remember? While I was being strapped to the balloon on one side of the stage, I could only stare while you performed. That was when I...” he trailed off, seemingly embarrassed to go any further. “I see...” finally, a silence settled over them. Sho could only stare out the window again, feeling somewhat suspended from the rest of the world from where they stood, just the two of them. He was confused and happy at the same time, leaving him unsure which expression was the right one to show.

“Sho-san...” Jun called out to him. “Hm?” turning to look at Jun, he suddenly felt something press against his mouth before he had time to react. “Merry Christmas,” Jun whispered when he pulled back slightly. He wasn’t sure what he responded, but whatever it was, it was probably something incoherent. The sweetness of the shock almost made his weak knees give out from supporting his weight, but he clung onto the railing. “I-I’m sorry if that was inappropriate,” Jun apologized when he saw Sho’s face frozen in amazement. After steadying himself just a little, he finally managed to push past his astonishment to give Jun a smile.

Tilting his face upward, it was his turn to kiss Jun, a soft brush of the lips that sent a thrill up his own spine and made his heart swell in his chest. How he had longed to do this... “Never apologize after stealing a kiss,” said Sho, making Jun laugh before they kissed again. Just like in my dream...

---

It amazed him even now at how normal everything seemed at this moment. “Wow, thanks, Sho-chan!” Aiba had unwrapped his gift from Sho: it was a white dog stuffed animal that resembled Aiba’s own dog at home plus the dango he had bought at Tokyo Tower. Ohno received oils for painting, plus a new brush set. He had opened it while chewing on a dango and mumbled a thank you with his mouth full. “Oh my god, how did you get this?! It’s barely out in stores and had been sold out in other places! Which Yakuza family do I have to pay homage to?!” Nino exclaimed when he unwrapped his present: the latest One Piece: Unlimited Adventure for the Wii and Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword for the DS.

Sho just chuckled as they thanked him again and apologized for not getting him anything. “It’s alright. Seeing your reactions is enough of a present for me,” he replied, waving his hand. “Sho-chan’s a voyeur,” Nino joked, making the others laugh. It still felt somewhat surreal to sit here in the dressing room with Jun sitting a mere two feet from where he was, looking absolutely normal. Memories of Tokyo Tower still wandered the recesses of his mind, making his lips tingle every time he remembers. Not much had happened then though, what with Jun busy with the filming of his movies and Sho with his weekly news coverage.

Nino was playing his game now after he had strapped the mushroom charm to his DS. “Eh? Didn’t MatsuJun get a present too?” Aiba was straightforward as usual. “That’s a new pendant, isn’t it?” asked Ohno now. “Yeah, Sho-san gave it to me,” Sho spotted a slight flush in Jun’s cheeks as he admitted to receiving the present from him. “Hmm...So you’ve finally realized, huh?” asked Aiba with a grin. “E-Eh? What do you mean?” Sho blinked. “Aiba-san, you know he’s slow at these things,” said Nino. “What? What are you talking about?” he asked again.

“Simple. We knew,” Nino looked up from his game, staring straight into Sho’s eyes. Both Ohno and Aiba nodded while Jun could only stay silent. “But how...?” he frowned; he had been sure that none of them knew although he was fully aware of how his band members were perceptive one way or another. “That’s easy. After my birthday party last year, all three of us noticed that there was something wrong with you. You were quite distant and always lost in thought. Now, since our Sho-chan is always focused and serious, this was different: you were preoccupied and confused. We eventually figured it out,” Aiba smiled as he explained.

“Yup. At first we didn’t know which of us you were confused about but later, we found out it was Jun-kun. Don’t look so surprised,” Nino grinned when Jun looked at him with widened eyes. “Well, what really set it in stone was that letter we got on Shukudai-kun,” Ohno grinned. “I suppose the only one who didn’t notice was Sho-chan,” laughed Aiba. Sho didn’t know how to react: had he been so completely oblivious, yet so blatantly obvious all this time? “T-Then you guys are...okay with this?” Jun asked the question that had been on the tip of Sho’s tongue.

“I have no problems with it, ne, ‘honey’?” Nino teased, turning to Ohno who was grinning. They are the famous Ohmiya SK after all: their ‘relationship’ was for all their fans to see. “Eh? So does that mean I’m the only one without a partner?” Aiba chuckled. “Don’t worry, Aiba-chan can be between us,” Nino laughed. “Does that mean we’ll have to change the name to Ohmiyaiba SKM?” asked Aiba as the rest of them laughed. “Sounds kind of long to say,” commented Ohno, completely missing the point as usual.  “Maybe Sho-chan and Jun-kun can have an act of their own. They can call themselves... Matsurai JS? Or Sakumoto SJ?” Nino suggested. Everyone doubled over with laughter as Sho felt relief coursing through his veins at how easily they accepted his involvement with Jun.

"Arashi no minna-san, you're called for standby. The show's about to start," said a staff member. Sho felt a wave of nervousness as they filed out of the room one by one. Jun was the second last to leave with Sho following behind him. As he put his glasses on, he turned with a small smile, giving Sho's hand a small squeeze before exiting the door. Feeling a surge of courage, with his heart practically fluttering in his chest, he took a deep breath and headed out to host the Annual Johnny's Countdown.

----

Author's note: You see? I just can't wait to share ^^;; Besides, it's too climatic to keep it away from my lovely readers :D I think I read and re-read this chapter about 10 times already X3;; I also think this is the first time my story has an 'illustration' in between o_O I hope this makes some people happy~ ( ^ - ^ )

Side note: Just an early warning in advance, expect a lot of posts from me today ;D

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CHAPTER THREE
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The weather was worsening every minute now and he rubbed his hands together for warmth. A shopping bag was leaning against his leg as he stood there at the foot of the Tower, waiting. Glancing into the bag, he smiled: he had bought different things for each of the other guys to suit their hobbies and tastes for Christmas. Normally, there wouldn’t be anything special for the holidays, but Sho had a lot to be thankful for this year, so he figured he’d be their ‘Santa’ for this year, just for the heck of it.

Glancing at his watch, it read 5:50 p.m. He wondered whether it really is possible to head up the Tower on Christmas Day. There were people milling around the area, but they were generally ignoring him, which he was thankful for. Stuffing one hand into his jacket pocket, he could feel the solid box sitting snugly there, making his heart race. Somehow he wasn’t feeling all that brave about giving Jun the present anymore. Maybe I should just back out now and save myself the embarrassment. I mean, what if it’s not to his taste? The thought of Jun’s face in disgust when he receives the present gave him a shudder. His phone rang, making him quickly pick it up.

“Oh, Sho-san, I’m at the Tower but I can’t see you. Where are you?” Just hearing Jun’s voice made his heart beat even faster. “I-I’m here at the Tower too,” he was looking around for anyone that might resemble his band member. Turning, he spotted someone tall with a phone pressed to his ear, and made him smile: “Turn around.” The man turned and grinned; they were right behind each other and didn’t even notice.

Sho had to stop himself from staring: Jun’s long, dark hair was windswept with his naturally tinted lips practically calling out to him with its smooth red tinge. Dressed in a long dark brown coat with a tan chequered scarf wound loosely around his neck, he was breathtaking. “Did you wait long?” asked Jun when they’ve hung up. “Not really. It’s really cold though,” he replied, glad to have caught his own thoughts in time to give a coherent answer.

“Well, it’s still pretty early. Oh, I know! Wait here, okay?” said Jun, suddenly leaving Sho without explanation. He had no choice but to just wait. About ten minutes later, Jun came back, grinning from ear-to-ear with his hands behind his back. “Where did you go so suddenly? I didn’t even have time to ask...” Sho was just about to demand to know where he had been when Jun produced crepes in his hands. “Ta-da! I figured you haven’t eaten anything since you’ve been here, so I thought I’d treat you. I hope its okay...” He sounded almost shy as his sentence trailed off.

“A-Arigatou...” Sho was at a loss for words too: no one had treated him to something normal like crepe before. Taking a cautious bite, he was surprised to have an assault of banana, chocolate and cream all at once in his mouth. “What is it?” he asked with eyes wide as he peered into the confection. Jun laughed as he pointed, “It’s their famous Banana Chocolate Fresh Cream crepe with home-made custard. I thought you’d like it.” Sho nodded, bringing his eyes up to look right at Jun: “Maximum umai!” to which they both burst out laughing.

Soon, they headed for the ticket booth to head up to the Tower. “I’m sorry, sir, we’re closing at 6 today. May we interest you in coming back tomorrow?” said the girl at the counter. Sho couldn’t help feeling disappointed: somehow he had known that going up to the observation deck on a holiday had to have a catch. As Jun spoke with the girl, he tuned out, realizing just how much he had looked forward to going up there. I had even planned something as stupid as confessing if it snows...He’s not a big believer of fate, but he couldn’t help but feel there’s a bigger force of conspiracy at work against him here.

“Okay, let’s go,” said Jun now. “Eh?” Sho blinked as Jun handed him a piece of paper. “Let’s go,” repeated Jun with a smile, before heading towards the entrance doors. “B-But, I thought – eh?” He watched as Jun handed the paper to the guard at the entrance, before the automatic doors slid open for him. Sho merely did the same and was granted entry. “How...?” he started but Jun just grinned. “I had to use celebrity status or she wouldn’t have let us in. Normally, I hate to do that, but this time is an exception.” Sho couldn’t even begin to describe his shock: Jun had gone to all that trouble for him.

They began to take a leisurely stroll through Foot Town, a 4-floor mall of sorts with restaurants, souvenir shops and museums. Deciding they’d take their time to look around instead of heading straight up to the observation deck, they stopped by the various shops. As they headed up to the second floor, Sho veered into TOKIO 333, the souvenir shop and picked up “Greater Tokyo Surprise Dango” for Aiba and Ohno. “Oh, they’ll like that,” said Jun with a grin. At the Tokyo Souvenir Shop Town, both Jun and Sho agreed on a phone charm in the shape of the famous Mario game’s super mushroom for Nino to hang from his Nintendo DS.

Sho felt a small steal of peace as he watched Jun peruse from item to item. I never thought I’d be walking around with him like this. It somehow made him feel almost guilty for harbouring feelings to someone he’s been working with for almost a decade. Thoughts of him ruining both their careers swam through his mind: it scared him to think about how their fans would react if they found out. They headed over to the soba shop for an early dinner, relishing the fact that there was practically no one around. “So are you still up for it?" Jun asked suddenly, after they had placed their orders.

Sho frowned in confusion, “Up for what?” He received a grin as a reply. “Going all the way to the observation deck.” He had to wonder where this question was going."Of course we are. That’s why we’re here, isn’t it? Or do you suddenly feel like not going with me after all?" Sho turned the question back to him. Finally, Jun smiled as he gave a nod. "Yup. I'm just worried about you though..." Sho couldn't help but feel surprised. He's worried about me...? "W-Why would you worry about me?" he had to ask. "I know you don't like heights, so I thought you changed your mind. The observation deck floor has glass on some parts so on clear days, you can see straight down to the ground."

Sho could feel his blood turn cold: the observation deck has glass floors? No one told him that. A chuckle brought him out of his shock. "I knew you wouldn't want to go up there. Even I was scared when I looked down the first time. Even though it was only the main observation deck, it was still 150 meters from ground level," Jun paused to chuckle before he added, "People walking below looked like ants."

The younger man was mildly amused as he patiently waited for a response. "W-Well, then I won't look down. I want to go up there at least once," Sho said, almost defiantly. "Alright, we'll head up there after eating. Don’t worry, the glass won’t give way under you or anything, even if you stand right on top of it,” Jun grinned. Somehow or other, Sho had a feeling that the other man was thoroughly enjoying seeing him scared. Before he had a chance to retort, their food was delivered and they happily tucked in, sharing the noodles in the process.

---

“You’re not getting cold feet now, are you?” asked Jun as they headed up to the deck in the elevator. Sho could only shake his head, feeling his stomach clench in fear. He could only imagine just how high they were right now. ‘People walking below looked like ants,’ Jun’s voice rang in his head. Squeezing his eyes shut, he had to remind himself to breathe. “Sho-san, are you alright?” the younger man’s voice reached his ears. Opening his eyes again, he had to smile: “I’m fine. Just trying not to think too much about it.” His words made Jun grin. Finally, the elevator stopped and they stepped out to see a glittering city unfold before them.

“Wow,” it was breathtaking, and not in a scary way at all. Venturing away from the elevator, Sho managed to make his jelly-like legs head to the rail bordering the deck. “I guess its true what they say,” spoke up Jun who stood beside him, “You can never really appreciate Tokyo unless you’re seeing it from above.” He had to nod in agreement: there’s just something about standing so high up above the city they lived in that made him feel a sense of connection. “What do you think?” asked Jun now, hands on the railing as he gazed out the window.

“It’s amazing. It’s almost like you’re flying but you’re not,” Sho was struggling to find the right words to describe what he was seeing, but it was almost impossible when his mind was focusing on Jun who was standing only a foot away. “Mm, gives you a sense of freedom, doesn’t it? Look at your feet,” Jun pointed out. Immediately, Sho brought his gaze downward only to find that he was standing dead centre on one of the glass windows built into the floor. Shock made him jump back as Jun laughed. “It’s okay. It’s not going to break or anything. Come, take a look."

Steeling his nerves, Sho glanced through the window. He could see the steel scaffolding of the Tower, bathed in red and green lights, joyfully celebrating Christmas. Once he got used to it, looking downward to the street below didn’t seem so bad. “Oh, what time is it?” asked Jun suddenly. “Uh...it’s almost 8, why?” he couldn’t help feeling curious as Jun grinned yet again at him. “Let’s go,” he said, fully enjoying being the ‘tour guide’.

Heading back toward the elevator, Sho could only follow him with a frown.

---

Author's note: I have a very Do-S muse apparently. It bit me at midnight and now it's 3:40 a.m. (GMT + 7) I'm guessing my muse found it very amusing to see me write and type at 3 am lol ^^;; Anyways, I decided to post this up, so yay for progress~ Believe it or not, I've already got Chapter 4 waiting to be posted, but I'll just let the cliffhanger simmer a little and let the curiosity build ;D Apparently, my muse isn't the only one a Do-S XD;; What will happen next? Stay tuned to find out! You guys are the best for reading my crappy story .____. I love you guys ♥♥♥

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CHAPTER TWO
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Christmas Day. "Onii-chan, are you up yet?" he could hear his brother calling for him at his bedroom door. It was still too early: hardly past 7 in the morning, but the house was already filled with the sounds of his siblings, excited about their presents. Somehow, he felt far more tired now than when he had slept. "Onii-chan," now his sister's voice was calling him. It won't be long now... Just as he was about to hide his face under his pillow, his siblings chorused, "Onii-chan!"

He was defeated. Before they could wake his parents with their voices, he shuffled over to the door. Upon opening, he could see their vibrant faces. "Good morning, onii-chan," they chirped in unison. They may not be twins, but with their age gaps being close, they tended to act like it. "Good morning. You two are up way too early. It's too cold to be awake," he was half-teasing, although a part of him really wanted to go back to bed. After all, he's usually working during the holidays.

"Aw, but its Christmas. Let's go wake mom and dad," suggested the youngest one. "No, they're probably still tired. Why don't we head downstairs and fix breakfast instead? That is, after you've dressed." He was still the eldest sibling after all. As they obediently headed for their rooms to get changed, Sho slid back into his own room, breathing a sigh. They weren't exactly elementary school kids anymore, but they're still excited over Christmas. He couldn't blame them. I know adults who go crazy during Christmas too...

Hopping into the bathroom, he decided to take a shower, despite being unusual for him to take morning showers. The cold bathroom was making his skin break out into gooseflesh, but his mind was preoccupied with other things. I had to dream of him last night of all things... He usually doesn't remember dreams, or even if he did, he wouldn't dwell on them for too long, but this one...was different.

He couldn't remember exactly how the dream went no matter how hard he tried, but the one thing he did remember was... A knock at the door. "Yes?" he answered, pushing the curtain slightly and poking his head around. His lips tingled at the memory, but he tried hard not to sound too weird. "Onii-chan, should we wait downstairs for you?" it was his sister. "Yes, you can wait downstairs," he replied. "Okay," her small voice reached him before there was only the sound of running water.

Stop trying to remember. What good would it do to remember anyway? He had to scold himself to retain at least a shred of sanity. Thoughts of Jun will definitely stay with him throughout the day, much to his own annoyance but he showed it to no one. Dressed and refreshed, he headed into the kitchen where his brother and sister were waiting eagerly.

---

"Okay, I'm off! See you guys later, okay?" he waved at the two who were standing at the door, seeing him off. Winter wind blew right into his face as he turned around a corner, making him pull his scarf higher to cover his nose and mouth. The sky was a steel grey and he wondered if there really will be a white Christmas this year. Doubt it... Entering the warm train station, he purchased a ticket and hopped onto a train leading towards Tokyo Tower.

Reminding himself to breathe, he could feel the knots in his stomach getting tighter and tighter in both excitement and anxiety. The mechanical lady's voice over the PA system announced the next station and he got ready to get off. Following a group of school kids, who look like they're on their Christmas dates, he got off at the station and walked the rest of the way, keeping his eye on the distance where Tokyo Tower loomed.

His phone buzzing to life gave him a scare but he tried not to show it. "Oh, Sho-san, where are you?" Just the sound of his voice made Sho's heart squeeze in his chest. "I just got off the train. I'll be there in fifteen minutes. Where are you?" Jun chuckled, "You're there early, aren't you? I thought we agreed to go at 6 pm. It's only 3...Unless you're following a different time zone that I’m not aware of." Sho could feel his ears burning slightly from his embarrassment. "W-Well, I thought I'd do a little shopping first before I meet up with you," he improvised.

Technically, he wasn't lying. He had planned to go find something for Jun's Christmas present, but he didn't decide on anything yet. It seems that his own excitement has just decided for him. "Oh, okay then. Do you want me to accompany you shopping anyway? Stuff there are pretty steep though...you might want to head away from Isetan or something first. Though I'm sure you can find good bargains somewhere there seeing as how it's Christmas," Jun suggested.

"Ah...well, no, its okay. You're probably celebrating with your family right now or something, right? It's alright. I'll head out shopping by myself and meet you at the foot of the Tower, okay?" he was half kicking his own self in the head for turning down Jun's offer but he wanted the present to be a surprise. "Oh, really? I'm not really doing anything at the moment and I doubt you'll need three hours to shop, but if you insist. I'll call you once I reach there, okay?" Despite sounding playful, Sho couldn't help but notice that Jun seemed slightly disappointed.

Sho merely insisted that he didn't need a shopping partner, so they exchanged goodbyes and hung up. Breathing a sigh, he couldn't help feeling slightly disappointed too, but knowing he wanted the present to be a surprise, he stuck to his guns. Wandering around the streets now, hands stuffed into his pockets for warmth, he went window shopping. Normally, he wouldn't go buying stuff for the guys, mainly because he never had the time to, but he felt this year should be different.

Heading into the various stores, he had to make sure no one recognize him. Pulling his cap to cover his eyes, he lowered the scarf still covering the lower half of his face and browsed through clothes, bags and shoes. Despite it being Christmas, shops never close until the New Year, hoping to make extra profit before the next quarter. I suppose studying Econs makes me more aware of that than most people. Smiling to himself, he stepped up to a counter selling necklaces and rings. "Buying something for your loved one?" asked the sales assistant with a smile.

He ignored the tingling sensation in his ears and cheeks as he replied with a short, "Mm." She was smiling now, not recognizing him yet. "How about this one? We just got it in for Christmas and it would make her very happy,” she placed a silver ring onto the counter with a single diamond-like gem set in the middle. It’s not like I’m proposing! And it’s definitely not a ‘her’.  “Um, do you have anything more...unique?” he asked, glancing up only slightly. “How about this one?” she sets down a pendant in the shape of a jacket onto the counter.

Picking it up in his fingers, he had to smile: it reminded him of the jacket Jun had worn for his Hana Yori Dango 2 drama. He hadn’t told any of the others, but he had followed Jun’s acting career since he had found out about his feelings. He didn’t want to think of how the rest of the guys would react.

“Alright, I’ll take this,” he handed the jewellery back to the lady who was more than happy to have made a sale. “One minute,” he called to her before they reached the counter. “Is there something wrong, sir?” she asked, looking worried that he might not make the purchase after all. “I’d like this to be a surprise gift, if that’s possible...” The smile returned to her face: “Of course, sir, right this way.” Following her, he realized the scene seemed somewhat familiar. It’s happening just like that dream, isn’t it? Fragments of last night’s dream swam to his mind and his lips tingled yet again. Pulling himself together to focus on the matter at hand (and to make sure the salesgirl didn’t find him all spaced-out), he picked out gift-wrap amongst other things.

I wonder if he’ll like the present...Anxiety clenched his stomach as he tried to imagine Jun’s face.

---
Author's note: Not much in terms of progression, but I hope minna will stay with the story as I try to add more details into it~ :3 Just so you know, I'm not trying to make Sho as dorky as possible here, but it just comes naturally like that X3 Do forgive me if I sometimes stray a little out-of-character (especially since I'm not too good at staying in them ^^;;) Thank you all for your comments so far, it's been really helpful! ❤

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CHAPTER ONE
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He wasn't sure what it was...whether it was the bright lights or it could've been that red coat and charming hat ensemble, but his eyes kept glancing over to Jun. "Sho-chan, are you listening?" asked Aiba who was getting made up in the chair beside him. "Mm, I have no plans yet for the Christmas week. Maybe it'll just be a quiet time at home with my siblings," he replied, thankful that he was listening.

Just across from him, Jun was taking a nap, hat pulled down over his eyes as his long legs stretched out in front of him while he sat on the sofa. It's not my fault for being distracted... Over on the other side, Leader and Nino were engaged in their own activities, all dressed and ready to head on stage.

"Arashi no minna-san, please be on standby," announced a staff member at the doorway. "Alright," they chorused. Ohno headed out first, followed by Nino and Aiba, leaving Sho to wake their youngest member. "Jun-kun, wake up. We're called to standby," he shook the sleeping figure. Jun stirred, pushing his hat back as he looked up with sleepy eyes.

God... "Oh, Sho-san, did you say something?" asked Jun, stretching his arms. "We're called to standby," he repeated, patiently, while mentally scolding himself for having weird impulsive thoughts. "Oh, okay. Do I look too sleepy?" he fixed his hat as he slowly got to his feet. "No, you don't," Sho had to smile; he really didn't look like he had slept at all.

Heading out through the hallway, they caught up to the other band members just in time to hear the TV program's introduction song. "Alright, guys, let's go," said Nino with a grin. They do these Christmas/Year End specials every year, which was a great honour. Of course, they had worked hard to get invited, but it still felt nice to show up in front of an audience. I still get nervous with these things though.

The hosts introduced the other guests and artists who will be performing during the show while wishing everyone the best of luck. He wasn't sure how it was arranged, but somehow he got a seat between Jun and Nino. While waiting for their turn to perform, he felt the warmth of Jun's leg pressed against his as they sat close together. Stop that, you won't be able to focus on what's going on. Pay attention!

Finally, they were called for a short talk with the hosts. "It's amazing what you guys have achieved this year. Dramas, variety shows, tv spots, newscasting, radio shows, performances, concerts, movies, a new album, single releases...it must've been a tiring year for you," said the main host. "Well, we enjoy all the work we did and the concerts at the Dome twice this year was a dream come true," answered Jun while the rest of them nodded.

"Yes, to get to perform at the Dome twice is amazing indeed!" agreed the co-host with a wide smile, "So, what's next for Arashi?" It was Nino who answered this one, "There are so many things we still want to do, so we're going to continue to work hard next year and the years to come." Both hosts nodded with smiles.

"Speaking of which, Aiba-san, 24th of December, Christmas Eve, will be your 25th birthday, wouldn't it?" asked the co-host.

"Yes, indeed. I'll be turning 25 and I wish to work even harder with Arashi," replied Aiba with a wide grin. "That must be nice isn't it, to have your birthday on Christmas Eve?" asked the host. "Well, yes, after all, I get twice as many presents," Aiba grinned. "Eh? Do you really get presents for both days or do they just give you one present for two occasions?" asked Jun. "Ah, well, during elementary school I did. I'm hoping everyone will get me two presents this year," said Aiba with a laugh.

"And how about you, Ohno-san? Any plans for next year?" asked the main host. Here it comes... Sho couldn't help but brace himself for an odd answer. Sure enough, Leader replied: "I'd...well, all five of us really, would like to learn more about being human next year..." which sent everyone laughing. "Alright, please be on standby to perform," said the co-host. Sho smiled at Jun as they headed off for their standby positions.

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"Thank you for your hard work," said the staff and hosts as they headed toward the exit of the studio. The group bowed and replied before stepping out into the cold air outside. No stars out tonight. He was sure it wasn't going to snow although the weather was turning colder by the minute. Aiba stretched out his arms before slinging one across Sho's shoulders.

"Ah, that's another job well done. So, minna, what do you think? Should we all head somewhere to eat?" asked Aiba. "Well, we could go for ramen if you want," suggested Ohno. "Oh, are you treating, Riida?" asked Jun with a grin. "If you guys insist," shrugged Ohno as the others laughed. As they stood there waiting for their van to arrive, Jun yawned. "Tired?" asked Sho, noticing.

"Mm...filming two movies simutaneously does takes its toll on me, I guess, but I'm not complaining," Jun smiled up at him. "Are you still up for dinner though? Or would you rather go home and sleep?" asked Nino. "Mm, well...I do need the sleep. They need me on the set early tomorrow," Jun had that guilty look on his face as he turned his gaze toward Ohno. Leader merely smiled: "It's alright. We can go with you next time. Maybe we should take a rain check on dinner tonight. I'm tired too."

"Why are you tired? You didn't do anything today," pointed out Nino with a laugh as he clapped a hand onto Ohno's shoulder. Soon, they all agreed that they'd eat dinner together some other time. As the van arrived, everyone piled in. Sho sat in the backseat with Ohno beside him while Nino and Jun were one seat in front and Aiba behind the driver. "Ah, it's almost Christmas. Let's end the year with a bang!" Nino stretched his arms as everyone cheered.

Sho couldn't follow the conversation, being distracted by his thoughts instead. It had been difficult for him to focus during the performance and he had almost slipped up once. He was thankful that he caught himself though but his mind was constantly aware of how close Jun had stood beside him as they performed 'Love so Sweet' for the audience. But I couldn't do anything...

As the promised day to head up to Tokyo Tower crept closer, he found that he was slowly losing his concentration. Just this morning, he couldn't concentrate on his newspapers when the commercial for "Kakushitoride no Sanakunin" came on. He had to admit, he never thought seeing Jun dressed like that, all dishevelled and peasant-like, would have any effect on him. Thinking about it now, he had to give himself a mental slap upside the head for being so wrong.

Jun was laughing now, listening to something Aiba was saying, but all he could do was look. I guess this is what they mean by 'so close and yet so far.' Breathing an inward sigh, he turned his gaze out the window. If someone was to ask him what it is about Jun that had him feeling like this, truthfully he couldn't answer. He had always thought he knew what he wanted out of his partner in a relationship: after all, he had specified things like intelligence and politeness as parts of his 'dream girl'.

But this affection...was something he didn't have an answer to. Unusual for the guy with a university degree, but this is something 3 years in university didn't teach you. For once, Sho was insecure and unsure of everything around him. Even if I feel this way towards him, there's just no way I can ever say 'I like you'. The thought gave him a shudder.

"Sho-kun, are you alright? Are you cold or something?" Leader's concerned face looked at him as the rest of the members turned. Sho could only smile, insisting that he was fine, but just tired. Seemingly satisfying them with his answer, they turned back to each other and continued their conversation. Jun however, just kept staring right at him. Unsure of how to react, Sho stared back, finding his tongue frozen in his mouth and his heart frozen in his chest. Finally, after a second that stretched into eternity, Jun smiled.

It was all it took for him to just smile back.

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Author's note: Progress~ Yay~ It's so close to New Year already, ne? I'm sure people aren't lurking around on Vox during the festive season, but I thought this would be a nice addition before my next update in 2008~ I feel so happy people are reading this thing ^^ *hugs to kytana, arwenna & kitaorang* Now, I've been wondering: what kind of rating would you guys like for this story? Something...tame? Or borderline un-tame? Or no-holds-barred type of thing? X3;; Of course, I probably won't go all pornographic here (this post is for everyone to see after all >w<) but do tell me the limit as to how graphic the scenes should be~ <3