Categories > Anime/Manga > Viewfinder > Lifestyle of the Rich & Powerful
The UKE Side - Izumi; Chapter 1 'Tears in the Photograph'
1 reviewWelcome to a world where VIEWFINDER x LOVE MODE meets. Various story on each pairing. There are two sides; the UKE side and the SEME side. Pick your poison.
1Ambiance
Warning: A bit AU (okay, maybe a lot, in this world everybody know everybody, that's all), Crossover.
Author's notes: Izumi's problem really but Takaba's the one settling it.
---
It's one thing to be single and alone on your birthday; it's another thing to be in a relationship and alone on your birthday. Knowing Takamiya one would never expect him to leave his darling Izumi all alone on his birthday.
"Are you sad?" Akihito asked absent-mindedly.
"It can't be helped, his deadline is tomorrow so..." Izumi replied with a sigh.
Akihito stared at Izumi for a while, searching his brain for comforting words. Unfortunately such things are almost impossible to do when your mind is somewhere else. He did not mean to be an inconsiderate friend but a certain yakuza has been very busy lately; leaving him anxious at night. Which, in turn result in dark circles appearing under his eyes the next morning. Really, he thought, what kind of person would be too busy to sleep in his own home? Not that he 'wants' him to come home or anything. Heck he should not even use the word 'home'. The pad is simply Asami's home in which he happens to be staying in. Yeah, that was it.
Akihito wasn't done battling his own conscience when the door bell rang. Without thinking he skipped to the door and threw it open. Any threats would have been eaten alive by the bodyguards Asami posted at the lobby anyway. A man in uniform appeared carrying a small package. Akihito started to smile; he knew what was inside the package - a camera. A new-state-of-the art Nikon digital camera. He has been eyeing it for months now. Although he didn't verbally say it, he have been, despite himself really, leaving advertisements of the said camera around the penthouse, knowing 'someone' was bound to notice. It worked, apparently.
"Check it out, my baby's here..." he informed the curious Izumi as he signed his name on the man's clipboard and retrieved the package like a little puppy.
"What is it? From him?" Izumi asked.
"I don't know, let me see who it's from-" Akihito replied trying his best to keep a straight face because he knew damn well who it was from, "Yeah, it is," he finished when he saw the golden 'A' signature on the surface of the package. In fact, he'll be surprised if it wasn't.
"How would you know it's your baby if you don't even know who sent it?" Izumi baited, half-heartedly actually. They've been at this game a couple of times now and he knew very well how much Akihito likes to display utter defiance on the surface while he squeals in delight on the inside.
The happy puppy with the camera ignored the last comment. His paws were already busy digging into the package to retrieve his 'bone'. For that moment, it was almost like Izumi wasn't there. Every gift from mysterious 'A' makes him feel strangely special; of course he'll never admit it, using the excuse that the gifts being something he already wanted.
Without Akihito realizing it, Izumi observed his friend's expression which betrays any negative words that have or will ever come out. Which reminded him of his lonely birthday again. He was about to spend the entire evening on his own. Who wouldn't be depressed? Sure, the lunch celebration Konno and his other friends threw for him was awesome beyond words but that wasn't what he wanted. Too bad his pride was too high to tell Takamiya how he wanted for them to be together on his birthday. Thinking about it, Izumi realized why he and Akihito got along pretty well. Both of them deny their relationship publicly but in their hearts it was as if there was a neon sign signaling their real feelings.
At that point, Akihito gave up on the manuals and decided he was enough of a professional photographer to operate the new camera. As he picked his camera up from the floor he saw Izumi kneeling on the sofa beside the glass balcony door, with his back to him. He got an idea, what other way is better to test out his new camera than taking a photo of his own friend?
"Izumi" he called out.
Izumi turned his head around and before he realized it, a flash of bright light caught him.
"Hey-"Izumi started to complain.
But Akihito, who captured Izumi's picture, was half-frozen to the spot.
He saw it, there were tears tainting Izumi's blank expression. Izumi was... Crying?
"Are you...?" Akihito started, not knowing what to ask.
"Huh?" Izumi replied, then breaking into an awkward laugh," yeah, funny huh? I... Didn't even realize I was uh - crying."
Izumi reflectively used his sleeves to dry his tears.
Akihito sighed. He did not mean to but he did, "give him a call. He'll come running to you if you say it."
It was true. If only Izumi would swallow his pride and tell Takamiya his honest feeling; how much he loved him. Okay, Izumi would never ever say love really, so 'like'. How much he likes him. How much he wants him to be there with him on his birthday instead of isolating himself with some stupid book that needed translation. If only Izumi says it, Takamiya would come running, burst through the door -and maybe Asami's bodyguards too- and screw Izumi right there on the sofa. But Izumi didn't. He chose to keep his mouth shut, his feelings to himself.
"I won't. I'm fine. I'm going." There it was, Izumi's three two-syllable reply. He grabbed his bag and went off with a mumbled 'bye'.
After Izumi left, Akihito sat on the carpet for a while. The excitement of his new Nikon gone. Okay, he admitted, it was still there, but not as much. Then with all the brilliance of his screwed mind, he jumped up, rushed to the phone and dialed a 'star-zero'. One of the receptionists in the lobby picked up.
"Yes, Mr. Takaba?" a fake cheerful and enthusiastic female voice could be heard through the receiver.
Wow, Akihito thought, is it really that difficult to be sincerely happy instead of being serious all the time when one is working for Asami. He knew all the receptionists were trained to be cheerful whenever answering Akihito instead of their robotic reply 'Yes, Mr. Asami".
"I'm going out, open the entrance in 5 minutes," Akihito informed.
"Of course, Mr. Takaba. Would you like to take the limousine or would you prefer the BMW? Unfortunately, Mr. Asami took the Jaguar today so-" the voice started.
Akihito sighed, "I'm walking."
There was an intimidated pause at the other line. Right as expected, Akihito thought.
"Uh, Mr. Asami said you aren't allowed to go out on foot anymore since the last, er-"
"I just called him, he said it was okay," Akihito cut, lying right through his teeth.
"Oh," the voice sounded surprised, "alright then. We'll open the entrance for you in 5 minutes, Mr. Takaba."
"Thank you," smiled Takaba, success.
He was down in 3 minutes with his white turtleneck and black pants. He hated pants but he was too lazy to get his jeans from his room. He'd been wearing the pants all day that day anyway. He saw through the glass entrance, although it was winter the sun was merciless. Greetings swarmed him as soon as he emerged from the elevator. Receptionists, workers, basically everybody there -with the exceptions of the man in blacks a.k.a the bodyguards- was being nervously friendly and polite to him. As if they were scared someone might blow their head off if they irritate him the slightest bit.
A woman in red suit and a cute bob hairdo appeared with a black winter coat in one hand and a pair of grey shades in the other. She managed to crack a genuine-looking smile and offered Akihito the goods. Akihito grabbed the coat and carelessly threw on the pair of sunglasses over his head. He mumbled a 'thanks' the woman and she broke into a very relieved smile. He was out before anyone realizes no call was ever made to Asami that day. Am I a genius or what, he thought.
Once outside, he was attacked by gusts of wind. It was frightening to think of the consequences of what he was about to do. But he headed down to the studio* anyway. He went into the dark room and an hour later he was out carrying a flimsy piece of photograph in his hand. After scribbling on the back of the photograph, he inserted it into an envelope and got his assistant to mail it to a certain someone. He smiled, satisfied.
Tears in the Photograph - End.
Notes:
* Studio - Takaba's studio courtesy Asami. (Explained in Lifestyle of the Rich & Powerful, The UKE Side - Akihito series)
Author's notes: Izumi's problem really but Takaba's the one settling it.
---
It's one thing to be single and alone on your birthday; it's another thing to be in a relationship and alone on your birthday. Knowing Takamiya one would never expect him to leave his darling Izumi all alone on his birthday.
"Are you sad?" Akihito asked absent-mindedly.
"It can't be helped, his deadline is tomorrow so..." Izumi replied with a sigh.
Akihito stared at Izumi for a while, searching his brain for comforting words. Unfortunately such things are almost impossible to do when your mind is somewhere else. He did not mean to be an inconsiderate friend but a certain yakuza has been very busy lately; leaving him anxious at night. Which, in turn result in dark circles appearing under his eyes the next morning. Really, he thought, what kind of person would be too busy to sleep in his own home? Not that he 'wants' him to come home or anything. Heck he should not even use the word 'home'. The pad is simply Asami's home in which he happens to be staying in. Yeah, that was it.
Akihito wasn't done battling his own conscience when the door bell rang. Without thinking he skipped to the door and threw it open. Any threats would have been eaten alive by the bodyguards Asami posted at the lobby anyway. A man in uniform appeared carrying a small package. Akihito started to smile; he knew what was inside the package - a camera. A new-state-of-the art Nikon digital camera. He has been eyeing it for months now. Although he didn't verbally say it, he have been, despite himself really, leaving advertisements of the said camera around the penthouse, knowing 'someone' was bound to notice. It worked, apparently.
"Check it out, my baby's here..." he informed the curious Izumi as he signed his name on the man's clipboard and retrieved the package like a little puppy.
"What is it? From him?" Izumi asked.
"I don't know, let me see who it's from-" Akihito replied trying his best to keep a straight face because he knew damn well who it was from, "Yeah, it is," he finished when he saw the golden 'A' signature on the surface of the package. In fact, he'll be surprised if it wasn't.
"How would you know it's your baby if you don't even know who sent it?" Izumi baited, half-heartedly actually. They've been at this game a couple of times now and he knew very well how much Akihito likes to display utter defiance on the surface while he squeals in delight on the inside.
The happy puppy with the camera ignored the last comment. His paws were already busy digging into the package to retrieve his 'bone'. For that moment, it was almost like Izumi wasn't there. Every gift from mysterious 'A' makes him feel strangely special; of course he'll never admit it, using the excuse that the gifts being something he already wanted.
Without Akihito realizing it, Izumi observed his friend's expression which betrays any negative words that have or will ever come out. Which reminded him of his lonely birthday again. He was about to spend the entire evening on his own. Who wouldn't be depressed? Sure, the lunch celebration Konno and his other friends threw for him was awesome beyond words but that wasn't what he wanted. Too bad his pride was too high to tell Takamiya how he wanted for them to be together on his birthday. Thinking about it, Izumi realized why he and Akihito got along pretty well. Both of them deny their relationship publicly but in their hearts it was as if there was a neon sign signaling their real feelings.
At that point, Akihito gave up on the manuals and decided he was enough of a professional photographer to operate the new camera. As he picked his camera up from the floor he saw Izumi kneeling on the sofa beside the glass balcony door, with his back to him. He got an idea, what other way is better to test out his new camera than taking a photo of his own friend?
"Izumi" he called out.
Izumi turned his head around and before he realized it, a flash of bright light caught him.
"Hey-"Izumi started to complain.
But Akihito, who captured Izumi's picture, was half-frozen to the spot.
He saw it, there were tears tainting Izumi's blank expression. Izumi was... Crying?
"Are you...?" Akihito started, not knowing what to ask.
"Huh?" Izumi replied, then breaking into an awkward laugh," yeah, funny huh? I... Didn't even realize I was uh - crying."
Izumi reflectively used his sleeves to dry his tears.
Akihito sighed. He did not mean to but he did, "give him a call. He'll come running to you if you say it."
It was true. If only Izumi would swallow his pride and tell Takamiya his honest feeling; how much he loved him. Okay, Izumi would never ever say love really, so 'like'. How much he likes him. How much he wants him to be there with him on his birthday instead of isolating himself with some stupid book that needed translation. If only Izumi says it, Takamiya would come running, burst through the door -and maybe Asami's bodyguards too- and screw Izumi right there on the sofa. But Izumi didn't. He chose to keep his mouth shut, his feelings to himself.
"I won't. I'm fine. I'm going." There it was, Izumi's three two-syllable reply. He grabbed his bag and went off with a mumbled 'bye'.
After Izumi left, Akihito sat on the carpet for a while. The excitement of his new Nikon gone. Okay, he admitted, it was still there, but not as much. Then with all the brilliance of his screwed mind, he jumped up, rushed to the phone and dialed a 'star-zero'. One of the receptionists in the lobby picked up.
"Yes, Mr. Takaba?" a fake cheerful and enthusiastic female voice could be heard through the receiver.
Wow, Akihito thought, is it really that difficult to be sincerely happy instead of being serious all the time when one is working for Asami. He knew all the receptionists were trained to be cheerful whenever answering Akihito instead of their robotic reply 'Yes, Mr. Asami".
"I'm going out, open the entrance in 5 minutes," Akihito informed.
"Of course, Mr. Takaba. Would you like to take the limousine or would you prefer the BMW? Unfortunately, Mr. Asami took the Jaguar today so-" the voice started.
Akihito sighed, "I'm walking."
There was an intimidated pause at the other line. Right as expected, Akihito thought.
"Uh, Mr. Asami said you aren't allowed to go out on foot anymore since the last, er-"
"I just called him, he said it was okay," Akihito cut, lying right through his teeth.
"Oh," the voice sounded surprised, "alright then. We'll open the entrance for you in 5 minutes, Mr. Takaba."
"Thank you," smiled Takaba, success.
He was down in 3 minutes with his white turtleneck and black pants. He hated pants but he was too lazy to get his jeans from his room. He'd been wearing the pants all day that day anyway. He saw through the glass entrance, although it was winter the sun was merciless. Greetings swarmed him as soon as he emerged from the elevator. Receptionists, workers, basically everybody there -with the exceptions of the man in blacks a.k.a the bodyguards- was being nervously friendly and polite to him. As if they were scared someone might blow their head off if they irritate him the slightest bit.
A woman in red suit and a cute bob hairdo appeared with a black winter coat in one hand and a pair of grey shades in the other. She managed to crack a genuine-looking smile and offered Akihito the goods. Akihito grabbed the coat and carelessly threw on the pair of sunglasses over his head. He mumbled a 'thanks' the woman and she broke into a very relieved smile. He was out before anyone realizes no call was ever made to Asami that day. Am I a genius or what, he thought.
Once outside, he was attacked by gusts of wind. It was frightening to think of the consequences of what he was about to do. But he headed down to the studio* anyway. He went into the dark room and an hour later he was out carrying a flimsy piece of photograph in his hand. After scribbling on the back of the photograph, he inserted it into an envelope and got his assistant to mail it to a certain someone. He smiled, satisfied.
Tears in the Photograph - End.
Notes:
* Studio - Takaba's studio courtesy Asami. (Explained in Lifestyle of the Rich & Powerful, The UKE Side - Akihito series)
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