Title: What Secrets Lie on the Lips

Author: Regina Wren

E-mail: wren13 @ gmail.com

Fandom & Pairing: Janne Da Arc; ka-yu x yasu

Keywords: yaoi, romance
Rating: Teens

Words: 2,784

Status: Complete

Disclaimer: I have no rights over anything in this story except the particular arrangement of the words in this order. I'm certainly not profiting from this, and it's not intended to hurt anyone; it's only for entertainment purposes. None of this is real so far as I know. I made all this up except for the vague references to reality.

Comments: This, my friends, is what happens when Regi is feeling sappy. It's possibly the cutest story I've ever written. *throws chibi kiyos in the air* I wrote one particular scene years ago, but I never published it anywhere, so I adapted it and added it to this fic.

This is one fic I feel really nervous about again. Sometimes I feel ok, and sometimes, like now, I worry more, usually when I'm not sure a story works for anyone other than me. ^^;; It's very simple, nothing deep or complex, and that's not what I was going for. It's sweet and very light, so despite how much I want to fiddle with it and embellish the story, it doesn't need any more, so I'm keeping the almost sparse style for this piece.

This is essentially a coming out story, and because the past few days have restored my faith in humanity somewhat, it's become a disgustingly fluffy-happy piece. ^^;;



What Secrets Lie on the Lips
By Regina Wren



"Yasu-kuuun... I'm bored. Pay attention to meeee..."

"Sorry, baby, I'm trying to work on these lyrics." Yasu didn't glance up at Ka-yu, murmuring his reply absently in between writing. He did not like being interrupted when his words were flowing. If he didn't get this down now he knew he might not be able to pick up his thread again later. Ka-yu, naturally, should have known this but evidently chose to ignore it.

The two of them were first to arrive at practice this morning, only because Yasu had woken up at five and been unable to get back to sleep. Normally Ka-yu had to drag his boyfriend out of bed so they wouldn't be late again. Today however they had the room to themselves while they waited for the rest of the band to arrive.

Yasu could see out of the corner of his eye how Ka-yu knelt on the floor and rested his chin on the edge of the coffee table. He then fixed Yasu with his best impression of big, pleading eyes.

Of course Yasu couldn't keep himself from laughing for long. "What are you doing?" he slouched back into the deep couch cushions, losing his concentration in the face of that childishly pleading expression.

"Trying to get your attention?" came the hopeful reply.

Yasu rolled his eyes. Maybe if Ka-yu was happy he'd stop pestering him and he could get back to writing. "Ah, fine. Get over here, you big dork."

Ka-yu scampered over and flopped down on the couch, a happy smile lighting up his face. He laid his head in Yasu's lap, stretching out on his back along the length of the couch.

"Ka-yu..." Yasu tried his hardest not to smile at the self-satisfied grin his boyfriend was giving him. "I can't write with your head down there."

"Is that so?" No trace of remorse.

Yasu tossed his pen onto the table. "I swear, you have got to be the most persistent bastard in the history of bassists."

"But you love me anyway, right? Besides, you haven't yelled at me yet, so you can't be that pissed off."

"Don't tempt me."

Ka-yu just smiled at the empty threat and made himself comfortable. He was right though. If Yasu really didn't want to be interrupted he would have snapped at Ka-yu and told him to get lost a while ago.

Resigned to the situation Yasu trailed his fingers into Ka-yu's hair, stroking brown strands out of his face. "You can be such a baby sometimes." But there was affection in his voice as he said it.

Ka-yu didn't reply, content to lie where he was, Yasu's gentle fingers caressing his face. Fluorescent lights hummed softly, the only sound to break the stillness. Instruments and amplifiers stood around the room as though simply waiting to be played, and even beyond the open doorway nothing moved. The whole building may as well have been deserted.

"Na, Yasu, I've been thinking. I want to get another tattoo."

"Mm, what kind?"

"A word, something meaningful. Across here," with one finger he traced an arc over his abdomen.

"Any idea what yet?" Yasu wasn't sure how he felt about that prospect. He liked Ka-yu's body just the way it was, but for some reason Ka-yu liked getting his piercings and his tattoos just as much.

"Still thinking about that part."

They lapsed into silence again, Yasu's hand moving to lightly stroke the flat plane of Ka-yu's stomach.

The bassist squirmed. "Hey, not fair! That tickles."

Watching Ka-yu writhe on the couch made him smile, but he only had a few moments to feel superior before he was the one being attacked. A startled cry was all he managed before the two of them were wrestling each other like schoolboys. Yasu slipped and slid on the couch, trying to avoid Ka-yu's prodding fingers. Twisting bodies and flailing limbs were accompanied by shouts and laughter.

Finally Ka-yu emerged triumphant, straddling his prone boyfriend. "Ha! I have you now! You're all mine."

Yasu tried to wiggle free without much success. Ka-yu held him successfully pinned below him. He tried his cute tactic. "Ka-yu..." but he didn't get any further before the other man was leaning over him.

"Miiine..."

Ka-yu's lips pressed against his mouth and he stopped struggling. Instead he only moaned softly when Ka-yu grasped the back of his neck and deepened the kiss. There was no way he could complain when he was being kissed like this, and he surrendered, letting himself sink beneath Ka-yu's body in pleasure.

It was the sound of voices coming up the corridor that broke the moment.

Snatched suddenly back to the present Ka-yu pulled away and climbed off him while Yasu sat up and turned to his pen and paper again. By the time the rest of Janne Da Arc walked in the room Ka-yu had started tuning his bass while Yasu was engrossed in his lyrics again.



* * * * *



"Ok guys, I'm off," Ka-yu said, picking up his instrument case.

"'K, see ya, Ka-yu," Kiyo wiggled his stubby fingers in goodbye.

"Yep, see you tomorrow," Shuji joined in, waving with his drumsticks. "Remember we're meeting with the concert people tomorrow."

"Yeah, I know."

"Hey, Ka-yu, wait up!" Yasu called across the room as he hopped up from You's amp. "Give me a lift home." It was more a statement than a request.

Nevertheless, Ka-yu paused in the doorway and waited while Yasu grabbed his bag, shoving various things into it before he slung it over his shoulder. Within seconds he was beside Ka-yu, waving cheerfully to the rest of the band before the two of them disappeared out the door.

But as soon as the heavy door fell shut You turned to face the remainder of the band. "Ok, who wants to gossip about our friends?"

Shuji yawned lazily. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Tell me you haven't noticed anything."

"You, stop trying to be obscure. What are you on about?"

You grinned at the drummer. "Who wants to bet that Ka-yu and Yasu are an item?" His eyes sparkled impishly as though he'd just discovered a new game and it was amusing him to no end.

Kiyo and Shuji stared at him.

"Seriously! The way they act around each other, they've got to be. They're always arriving and leaving together, and I'm not buying that sharing the driving thing. Half the time when I call these days and I can't get hold of one of them, I can't seem to reach the other either, not even on their keitai."

"It could just be coincidence," Kiyo suggested but You shook his head.

"Plus neither of them have even mentioned going out with a girl for at least a year now; you can't tell me that's coincidence too."

Kiyo looked thoughtful.

Shuji just looked amused. "No way, man. I know Yasu can be a bit fruity sometimes, but he's just as straight as the rest of us. And Ka-yu, come on, tattoos and motorbikes don't go with gayness."

"I don't know; he can get pretty sappy with the girls he's seeing sometimes," Kiyo pointed out as he perched himself on You's amp. "And you know how much Yasu looks up to him. Besides, Yasu's never been exactly precise about his sexuality when you think about it. We just kind of, always assumed he was like us because of all the things he's always saying about fucking women and stuff." The little keyboardist seemed to be thinking out loud more than actually addressing anyone.

But Shuji still shook his head. "They've joked about this for years, you guys. In fact they'd probably get a good laugh out of it if they heard you two now."

You's eyes lit up. "Ok, Shuji, I'll bet you a thousand yen that Ka-yu and Yasu are secretly together!" He wasn't entirely sure why he was so certain, but he'd known the two of them long enough to be like brothers, and now he was convinced there was something going on between them.

"You're on." Shuji reached out and shook the offered hand. "But how do you intend to find out?"

You just smiled. "Something will show up and prove it one way or another eventually. You just watch."



* * * * *



Ka-yu sighed as traffic came to a stop yet again.

Glancing over Yasu could recognise the signs of stress on his face. If there was one thing Ka-yu hated it was being stuck in traffic. Yasu leaned over to kiss his boyfriend on the cheek. "We'll be home soon, baby."

Ka-yu grinned and laid an appreciative hand on Yasu's thigh. "We should have taken the other way back to your place."

Red-golden sunlight lit up the car, and the setting sun glared through the windshield as though lighting the sky ahead on fire. Absently Yasu covered Ka-yu's hand with his own, brushing the knuckles lightly with his thumb.

"You know," he began slowly. "I've been wondering what the others would say if they knew about us." He looked up to find Ka-yu watching him. "I mean, we've been together for almost a year now and I can't help but think that at least the rest of the band should know. Like we're being dishonest by not telling them."

Ka-yu inclined his head with a smirk. "Maybe I shouldn't have climbed off you this morning then."

The cheeky humour in that sentence made Yasu smile. "Why do I get the impression that you would have loved to just see the expression on their faces?"

"Well, it could have been fun. But you're right. It's only fair on our dysfunctional little family that they're in on the gossip concerning Ka-yu and Yasu-sama."

It was an issue that had been sitting in the back of Yasu's mind ever since he'd coaxed Ka-yu into his bed. But lately the pressure of having to hide from his friends had become almost agonising.

Traffic crept slowly forward.

"What if they freak though? I mean, I always thought you'd punch me in the face before you got into bed with me."

"Don't worry. If anyone says anything uncouth I certainly will set their mouth right."

Yasu's heart felt like it had just leapt about five feet in the air. Coming from Ka-yu that was tantamount to saying, 'I love you and I'm not going to let anyone talk shit about you.'

"Okay, if this traffic doesn't get moving soon I'm going to jump you right there in the seat."

"Now who's impatient?" Ka-yu laughed.

Yasu only reached out to rub a hand caressingly over one tattooed arm.



* * * * *



But deciding what to do didn't make it any easier. Somehow interrupting their discussion about the upcoming tour didn't seem right once everyone had trickled into the Avex offices the next day. Hence talk about set design and performance took over the morning instead. At the same time, with staff hovering around it made it much more difficult to gather their closest friends together.

They took a break for lunchtime and for the first time Yasu found himself alone with Ka-yu. Their manager was taking a phone call elsewhere and the rest of their staff had dispersed, while You, Kiyo, and Shuji left to get some food.

Yasu ran a hand through his hair. "Maybe we should just call a band meeting or something," he said with a wry smile.

Outside, Kiyo stopped when he realised he'd forgotten his wallet.

"Hey, don't worry about it," You told him when he wanted to go back and get it. "I'll pay for you and you can pay me back later if you want."

"I'll only be a few seconds, guys."

At the sound of those voices a little way down the corridor Yasu was struck by an idea. He grinned, that familiar cheeky look crossing his face that meant he was plotting something.

He turned and threw his arms around Ka-yu's neck. "Kiss me, Ka-yu."

The bassist's eyes sparkled in amusement, but he understood. "Un."

Strong arms wrapped around Yasu's body, pulling him close. Then Ka-yu kissed him, deeply, as though to prove that he meant it and this was not just for show.

Yasu felt his face grow hot. Ka-yu's tongue in his mouth conveyed heartfelt ardency, a truth beyond anything Ka-yu had ever been able to say in words during their time together.

Somewhere a door opened, but Yasu barely paid attention to it. A few seconds later it closed again quietly, but even that passed by without notice. All that mattered now was Ka-yu holding him, loving him with a kiss that made his heart swell and ache. The rest of the world faded into white beyond them.



* * * * *



You was almost doubled over laughing when Kiyo jogged back to them.

"You, uh, don't want to go in there right now," the keyboardist told him and Shuji, a weird look of amusement and disbelief etched on his cute face.

Shuji stared at him. "What happened?"

"Ka-yu and Yasu, making out, um, quite intensely..."

"You're shitting us."

Kiyo shook his head. "Nope. Tongues and all."

The rest of the corridor was empty, doors leading into various offices stretching along the length of the hall, occasionally standing open to reveal an empty boardroom, kitchen, or supplies room. This left the three of them standing alone outside their discussion room.

You held out a palm in Shuji's direction but the drummer pretended not to see the money-hungry fingers.

"Are you sure there weren't any cameras around and no one taking pictures for our fanclub?"

"Shuji, you owe me a thousand yen," You reminded him sweetly.

The drummer sighed. "Fine, fine. But are you sure Kiyo wasn't set up either?"

"Shuji!"

Kiyo hid a chuckle behind his hand as he watched them. The unexpected sight that had greeted him a few moments ago was still fresh in his mind, but nonetheless the thought of two of their most prominent band members being into each other was still so strange he could barely believe it.

"Ok, I'm joking. You win," Shuji finally relented. "But this means you can afford to buy me a drink after work."

"Dream on." You's grin widened, showing off his imperfect teeth, as his hand closed around the money. "Now, let's go get lunch and leave the lovebirds to themselves."



* * * * *



The parking garage at this hour of the evening was busy and Janne Da Arc were greeted by the noise of engines and the smell of fumes and petrol the moment they stepped out of the elevator.

"We should use a Star Wars set sometime," Shuji joked.

"Yeah," Yasu laughed. "Like we're performing on the Death Star."

"Well, you know, it'd be something different."

"Hey, guys, my car's over that way," You interrupted smoothly. "I'll see you all tomorrow."

"Yeah, I'm parked over here," Ka-yu added. "Coming, Yasu?"

"Yup."

You and Shuji glanced at each other when they heard that, and You grinned widely. "Have fun you two. Just don't pull any muscles or anything."

"Yeah, we need our vocalist and bassist," Shuji put in with a smirk.

Yasu and Ka-yu shared a smile. "Okay!" Yasu said cheerfully, emphasising the word with a mock salute.

The two had half turned towards Ka-yu's car when the drummer spoke up again. "Hey, Ka-yu, do you ever see your own bed at all these days?"

"Sure," Ka-yu shrugged, "when we go to my place to have sex instead of his."

Shuji rolled his eyes. "Thank you. I didn't need to know that," he said, trying to get the unnecessary mental image out of his head.

It went generally alright, Yasu decided as he made his way to Ka-yu's car. The guys seemed pretty cool with the whole thing, which was better than he had honestly expected. He had begun to worry when no one said anything after lunch, but they hadn't really had any time to themselves, so he guessed that was only to be expected. Now however he suddenly felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

Ka-yu spoke up when they were finally sitting in the car. "Yasu-kun, I think I've decided on my next tattoo."

Yasu looked up warily at those words. "Hm?"

"I want 'truth' tattooed on my stomach."

"The truth?"

"Yes. The word. Maybe in English."

"Ah... Right."

Smirk. "Why, what were you thinking?"

Yasu laughed and fixed his gaze out the window. "Just drive, Ka-yu." He heard the motor start and cast a sheepish glance back at his boyfriend. Ka-yu only grinned and winked at him.

 

 

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Completed: 05.09.25