"Are you out of your mind!?" Inohara Yoshihiko exclaimed as Okada Jun’ichi pulled him to a corner inside the men’s comfort room.

Okada looked him in the eye, trying to calm him down. "Inocchi. . ." Okada called the man by his nickname.

"No," Inocchi replied.

"Inocchi, please—"

"NO."

"We have to do this."

"No we don’t."

"You won’t regret it, I promise."

"No! Just, no!"

Okada sighed, frustrated.

Okada did not imagine a day would come when it would take this much effort from him to convince Inohara "Inocchi" Yoshihiko to do something for the sake of winning. Like the rest of V6, Inocchi was a very competitive person. He hated losing as much as anyone else. He would never turn down a challenge no matter how difficult, gross, embarrassing, or crazy it was. He would gulp down a large glass of sour milk; make a wedding congratulatory speech to a roomful of drunken people he didn’t even know; slide halfway down another team’s bowling lane on his knees to grab a ball out of the gutter and hurl it to the pins. And no, it wasn’t for the benefit of the other team, really. Name it, Inocchi would do it. Just because the man would do anything to win.

Well, maybe *almost* anything.

"But that’s exactly where she’s heading," Okada reasoned.

"I don’t care!" Inocchi answered back. "Let’s just look for another person who’s going to Yokohama."

"We already *asked* her where she’s going, remember?" (1)

"But she said that she’ll only let us come with her if—if we do *that*," Inocchi stammered, a tinge of disgust in his voice. "We can still back out!"

"Um, excuse me~" a tiny feminine voice called through the closed door, interrupting the two. "I think you two better decide now or we’re going to miss the train."

Inocchi opened his mouth to retort but not before Okada could cover it. "A-hai, hai! Just—just a minute, please," the boy answered apologetically to the door. He looked back at Inocchi and found slit eyes glaring at him. "We can’t back out," he told the man.

Inocchi removed the slender hand that was cupping his mouth. "Uh, excuse me, aren’t you forgetting that I’m the older person here so it’s my decision that should be followed, which is: we’re backing out!" Inocchi started making his way out of the comfort room

"No, wait!" Okada called out, grabbing after the man’s arm. "Geez, Inocchi, why are you choosing this time to be difficult?"

Inocchi looked at the boy in disbelief. "Why? *Why?* Because that crazy girl wants us to—to—"

"Kiss?"

"Yeah!"

"So what?"

"So no!"

"It’s just a kiss."

"On the *lips*."

"Just one kiss."

"For *ten seconds*!"

"It’ll be over before you know it."

"I don’t even plan on starting it!"

Okada rolled his eyes. "Tell me, what is it about this kiss that you find so difficult?"

Inocchi’s jaw dropped. "I can’t believe I’m hearing this! You’re actually okay with this?"

Okada gave him a placid look.

Inocchi threw his hands to the air. "Oh my god, he’s actually okay with this!"

"So you really don’t want to do this?" Okada said.

"Nope," Inocchi replied without blinking.

Okada let out an exaggerated sigh. "Well, I guess some of us just don’t have the guts. . ."

"And just what do you mean by that?" Inocchi demanded, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Nothing" -- Okada shrugged -- "I think it’s all in the head, if you ask me. But if it bothers you that much—"

"Yes it does."

"Okay then."

"Fine."

"Fine."

Making an irritated sound, Inocchi then grabbed Okada’s hand and pulled him out of the comfort room.

Okada acquiesced, but not without a word. "(coughs)Chicken(coughs)"

Inocchi promptly stopped walking and looked down at Okada. "Excuse me, did you just say something?"

Okada played it innocent. "Eh?"

"Did you just call me chicken?"

"Chicken?" Okada repeated, giving the man a I-don’t-know-what-you’re-talking-about look.

Inocchi shook his head. "Forget it."

"(coughs)Yellow.(coughs)"

"Okay, that’s it!" Inocchi snapped, tossing the boy’s hand aside.

Okada looked taken aback. "What?"

"If you have something to say about all this, Okada, then say it to my face," Inocchi demanded. "Don’t cough it out all over the place like it’s a virus."

"I was ju—"

"I’m just concerned, you know," Inocchi preached. "It’s like we’ll be giving those girls out there an idea."

"An idea?" asked Okada, confused.

"You have a sister too, right?" Inocchi pointed out. "So I’m pretty sure you’re aware of the fact that they like this kinda stuff."

Okada looked around. "Boys arguing in the comfort room?"

Inocchi rolled his eyes. "Geez, and I thought you were the smart one—No! Boys liking each other! I’m telling you, if we do this, it’s only a matter of time before this segment’s title will change from Where are you Going? to Where are you Going? And if we kiss will you let us come with you?"

Okada looked doubtful. "That’s a pretty long title for a segment."

"That’s not the point!" Inocchi snapped.

"I’m kidding!" Okada countered, raising his hands to his chest. "I got it, okay?"

"Good!" Inocchi remarked and grabbed Okada by the hand again. "Now, let’s get outta here and ask another—" the man did a double take when he caught the boy chuckling secretly. "What are you laughing at?"

With sealed lips, Okada shook his head.

"Oi! What’s so funny?" Inocchi demanded.

"Well" -- Okada cleared his throat -- "I was just thinking, don’t you think we’ll be encouraging those girls if we step out of the men’s comfort room *holding hands*?"

Inocchi quickly let go of the slender hand. "So you really think this is funny, huh?"

"I’m sorry," Okada apologized in between chuckles.

Inocchi did not think there was any other situation he was much more eager to get out of than this. It almost beat those times he was selected for the Ogyaru Busters! (2) segment. And the funny thing was, it was not because he did not want to do the challenge. Not really. Actually, it was very much the opposite. The girl was asking him to do something he had been wanting to do for quite some time now, and that is to kiss Okada Jun’ichi. Still, as tempting as the offer was, it was one risk the man refused to take, even in a challenge like this. The chances of Okada finding out how Inocchi felt about him was just too high. The boy was too smart, too receptive. With one kiss, Okada Jun’ichi could definitely tell.

Maybe someday Inocchi would find the courage to confess his feelings to Okada. Someday. But not today. And most definitely not this way. In the meantime, he had to find a way out of this -- before it was too late. Suddenly, an idea hit Inocchi. Taking a deep breath, the man changed his game face from unyielding to willing. "You know what, let’s do it!" he declared.

Okada’s eyes turned saucer-like. "Eh!?"

"Yeah, you heard me right. Let’s do it!"

"We’ll kiss?"

"Yeah," Inocchi nodded. "I mean, like you said, it’s just a kiss,"

"On the lips," Okada pointed out.

And Inocchi shrugged. "A quick kiss."

"Ten seconds," Okada reminded him.

And Inocchi smiled arrogantly. "No tongue?"

Okada eyed him suspiciously. "Why the sudden change of heart?"

The man shrugged. "You always said I’d do anything to win, right?"

"Well, you always did," Okada shot back.

"So okay then," Inocchi replied, leading the boy out of the tiled room.

Okada abruptly stopped walking. "Are you sure you’re up for this?" he asked to Inocchi, still doubting the man’s sudden willingness.

"It’s all in the head, boy. It’s all in the head," answered Inocchi. "Now, move or we might miss our ride."

Once outside, the two quickly scanned the station for the girl and found her standing on one of the platforms. They rushed towards her.

"We’ll do it," Okada smiled politely, now standing in front of the girl.

"Really?" the girl smiled. But almost instantly the smile faded. "But your friend. . ." her voice trailed off.

Okada looked to his side and found Inocchi gone. All he could see was the man’s retreating back. "What the—!? Oi! Inocchi! Oi!"

Like a fugitive, Inocchi ran. Yes, this was his plan: to just literally run away from the predicament he was in. It was a pathetic plan, he knew. But desperate times call for desperate measures. So, desperately, Inocchi ran and searched the train station for another person to ask and go someplace else with. And he prayed there would be no more silly requests from the next one. A few feet from him he saw a decent-looking woman. . .

"Excuse me, ma,m!" Inocchi called after her.

Meanwhile, Okada was trailing behind him. "Inocchi, wait!"

The middle-aged woman turned to Inocchi’s call. "Yes?"

In front of her, Inocchi paused to catch his breath. "Where—where are you going?" he finally managed to ask.

"Where am I going?" the woman said.

Inocchi nodded. "Yes."

Okada’s eyes widened from what he heard. "What are you—?" he turned to reprimand Inocchi, but it was too late.

The woman gave an answer. "Okinawa."

"OKINAWA!" two male voices exclaimed in unison.

The lady nodded with a smile.

"Fuck." Inocchi hang his head.

Okada felt a headache coming.

* * * * * *

Inocchi had to swallow hard as he stared at the lone bed that stood quietly in their hotel room. The hotel was full for the night due to some event. They had only one room left and it seems the two had no other choice but take it than sleep in the streets (again), which could be a bit dangerous. But after seeing the "conditions" of the room, Inocchi soon realized the streets would be safer. Okada and I. In *one* room. With *one* bed that was big enough for only *one* person. Definitely dangerous.

"You can have it." Okada’s voice invaded Inocchi’s thoughts.

"Huh?"

"You can have the bed," Okada told him again, motioning to the bed.

"Nonono!" Inocchi quickly declined. "You take it. I’ll sleep on the sofa."

Okada looked at the small-sized sofa. "But it’s too small for you."

"Is it? It looks fine to me," Inocchi remarked, barely glancing at the sofa.

"I know," Okada remarked, struck by an idea. "Why don’t we just share the bed?"

"No!" Inocchi countered, almost too strongly.

Okada looked at bit surprised.

"I mean—It’s alright. I’ll have the sofa. Just go take the bed," Inocchi told the boy. "Please."

"Okay," replied Okada, "if you insist."

As they began settling in, Inocchi received a phone call from one of the members of the crew informing them that the crew’s flight was delayed. Having no other choice, they would just have meet the two real early the following morning to get some extra shots before Inocchi and Okada ask around for a ride back home.

"Man, I’m beat!" Inocchi announced moments later, plopping on the sofa. "I need sleep."

"Me too," Okada remarked, coming out of the bathroom half-naked.

The man almost had a heart attack at the sight. "On second thought," Inocchi began, jumping out of the sofa. "I think I need a drink."

"Are you sure that’s a good idea?" Okada asked, his back on Inocchi as he adjusted his belt. "We need to be up early tomorrow."

Getting his jacket, Inocchi couldn’t help but trace his eyes down Okada’s long, slender back. "I’m just gonna have one ass—*glass*!" he quickly corrected. "One glass."

Without another word, Inocchi urgently exited the "dangerous" room.

Turning around, Okada couldn’t help but sigh heavily at the empty place.

Later that night, a tall figure returned to the hotel room. With unsteady steps he walked towards the bed in the middle of the room. Seeing that there was someone on the bed, he moved to the sofa instead. Drunk, he struggled his way in the dimly lit room, tripping over something on the floor and then just crawling onto the sofa. It didn’t take him long to realize though that the sofa was too small for his long body. He cursed and rolled off it. Standing unsteadily, he decided to go back to the bed. Pulling the covers, he squeezed his way between them.

That night, Okada Jun’ichi was roused from sleep by something heavy that wrapped him. He opened his eyes and was surprised to see Inocchi sleeping next to him. Inocchi!? He looked down and found the man’s arms wrapped around his bare torso. Inocchi smelled of liquor.

Okada tried to free himself from the embrace. And just when he thought he had enough space to slip out, Inocchi moved closer and held him tighter. The close proximity was making it harder for the boy to think. He looked up Inocchi’s face that was mere centimeters away from his.

Slit-eyes opened, quietly connecting with Okada’s big, round ones. Unsteady as they were, Inocchi’s eyes never left the boy’s face, traveling back and forth Okada’s eyes and lips.

"Inocchi. . . " Okada began.

Without a word, Inocchi closed the distance between them, bringing his alcohol-stained lips to Okada’s muted ones in a long, dangerous kiss. . .

* * * * * *

[ a week later ]

Studying in between takes, Inohara Yoshihiko quickly rediscovered his utter distaste for a certain school subject. "AAARRGH!! I HATE MATH!!!" the man growled, tearing another page from his notebook. Tossing the crumpled page to a near by trash bin, he swore that high school would be way more fun without Math problems.

"If only Okada were here. . ." Inocchi remarked to himself, but quickly pushed the thought out of his head, slapping himself awake as he tried hard not to think of the boy who always cheered him on whenever he was burdened with schoolwork.

"You are so mean!" Nagano Hiroshi cried out, appearing out of nowhere.

"Huh!?" Inocchi blurted out, looking up at the man who was standing in front of him.

"You, Inohara Yoshihiko, are so mean!" Nagano repeated.

"What the hell did I do to you?" Inocchi asked, confused.

"Not me," Nagano corrected. "Okada-kun."

Unable to answer, Inocchi looked away.

Nagano crossed his arms over his chest. "You did something bad to him, I can tell."

"I didn’t do anything," Inocchi answered guiltily to his Math book.

"Then why is he so quiet?"

"Okada is *always* quiet."

"No, it’s different this time," Nagano countered. "He’s not just quiet quiet, but quiet sad."

Inocchi looked up. "Quiet sad?"

"Yes, and he’s been that way ever since you two came back from Okinawa last week."

Okinawa. The mere mention of it was enough to swerve Inocchi’s thoughts. He did something utterly stupid in Okinawa. And he still couldn’t forgive himself for it. What was I thinking? He knew it would take a while before he could bring himself to face Okada again. A long while.

Inocchi snapped out of his thoughts when he felt someone grab for his arm. He looked up and remembered that Nagano was still there.

"Fix it," the man told Inocchi.

"What?" Inocchi blurted out.

"Fix it. Go talk to him."

Jerking his arm free, Inocchi tried to turn his attention back to his books. "I can’t—"

"Fix it!"

"No!"

"Fix it!"

"I’m studying!"

"Oi! What’s going on here?" Sakamoto Masayuki demanded, walking into the scene.

"Nagano’s being a pest," Inocchi told the leader of V6.

"And you’re being a jerk," Nagano shot back.

"I’m not a jerk!" Inocchi countered.

"He made Okada sad!" Nagano blurted out to Sakamoto.

"No I didn’t!" Inocchi countered again.

"Yes you did!" Nagano insisted. "Now fix it!"

"No!"

"You have to!"

"Says who!"

"Says I!" Sakamoto answered, crossing his arms across his chest.

"What!?" Inocchi blurted out.

Victoriously, Nagano fluttered to Sakamoto’s side. "See?"

"But Masa—"

"Look Inohara," Sakamoto began, his voice steady and calm. "I don’t know what the hell you did to make Okada upset but you’re older than him so I want you to be the one to initiate a resolution. Now, go over there and fix this."

"But I—"

"No buts!" Sakamoto snapped.

Inocchi became quiet, thoughtfully running his eyes across the floor.

"Well?" Sakamoto asked expectantly.

Inocchi looked up. "Do I really have to do it now?"

Next thing Inocchi knew, two pairs of strong arms were carrying him away from his Math assignment. Suddenly, he did not think Math was that bad at all.

Cussing in Kansai-ben, Okada Jun’ichi quickly realized that it was impossible to focus on the script for his next skit right now. His mind was just not in it. Heck, lately his mind was not in on a lot of things. It had been one week since he got back from Okinawa with Inocchi, and for the past week Okada had not been himself. Of course it did not help that for the past week too Inocchi had been avoiding him.

For the first couple of days Okada tried to talk to the man, but Inocchi would always dodge his attempts. The only time they would ever "talk" was through the lines they exchanged in their skits. Other than that, there were no real contact whatsoever. Not even with their eyes. And now I can’t even memorize my lines. Okada thought, getting the feeling that reaching out to Inocchi in any form was getting harder and harder. Sometimes even just the thought of wanting to talk to him so bad makes Okada want to cry that he could not bring himself to approach Inocchi anymore.

Thoughtfully, Okada brought his fingers to his lips.

His kiss. How could he ever forget that kiss? That kiss that had caught Okada completely off guard. The boy could still feel how Inocchi’s lips traveled from his mouth down to his neck. He could still feel his heavy breathing.

He could still taste the wine.

Inocchi was drunk. And he probably got drunk because he was confused. But wine did not make things any clearer. It was so wrong for Inocchi to be kissing him that time. And for him to be kissing Inocchi back! So Okada pushed the man away.

That night, Okada fled the room. Away from the kiss. Away from Inocchi.

The following morning, returning to the hotel room, Okada bumped into Inocchi. The man was already dressed and was on his way out. There was an awkward silence, then, Inocchi spoke. "We’ll just wait for you at the lobby." Okada heard him say, either of them unable to look the other in the eye.

After a few minutes, Okada got down to the lobby and found Inocch there with the members of the crew. They carried on with the segment, and for the rest of the time, the two just did what they needed to do until they finally got a ride back home. When it was done, no words were exchanged between them. It had been one week since then.

The next moment, Okada’s thoughts were rudely interrupted with the sound of the dressing room door slamming shut. He quickly wiped away his tears, not wanting anyone to see he was crying. When he looked up, Okada could not believe his eyes. Standing at the door before him, was the reason for his tears.

"Guys, this is not funny," Inocchi called out to the door, his back on Okada.

"We’re not kidding!" a voice that sounded like Nagano’s answered back.

Succumbing to his predicament, Inocchi rested his head against the door and paused to think for a while. Shortly afterwards, he took a deep breath and quietly -- but with his heart pounding madly inside of him -- turned around from the door. From across the room he found Okada, looking at him with speechless eyes.

Inocchi quickly tried to lighten the mood. "So. . .are you ready for the next skit?" he asked with an awkward smile, shoving his hands in his pants pockets.

Okada didn’t answer and began grabbing for the script he was trying so hard to concentrate on earlier.

Inocchi carried on. "I heard they’re going to put Go in a tutu later and make him dance around to some rap music—"

Okada continued to ignore Inocchi and was about to pass him by when the man grabbed his arm. "Okada, wait."

Reluctantly, Okada stopped.

"We need to stop this," Inocchi told the boy. "You know we can’t avoid each other forever."

"You’re the one who’s been avoiding me, Inocchi," Okada answered, his eyes on the floor.

Ashamed, Inocchi let go of Okada’s arm. "I’m sorry. . ."

"I wanted to talk to you, but you just kept running away."

"I’m sorry."

Near tears, Okada turned to look at him. "Is that all you’re going to say?"

Meeting the boy’s gaze, Inocchi replied, "I’m sorry you had to find out that way."

". . ."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the door, two nosy men were listening in on the conversation.

"Can you here anything?" Nagano asked anxiously, hovering behind Sakamoto’s shoulders.

"Not much," Sakamoto answered. "But Inohara had better be making that confession right now or I swear—"

"Yeah, he’s been in love with that boy for the longest time," Nagano remarked.

"Yes, and I’ve been hearing about it for the longest time too, every time he’s drunk!" complained the older man.

Nagano chuckled lightly.

"You know," Sakamoto began, "I wonder what Inocchi did to make Okada upset?"

"I don’t know," Nagano replied. "But I do know one thing."

"What?"

"I think our dear Okada-kun has feelings for Inocchi too," Nagano revealed with an amused grin.

"Eh!?" Sakamoto blurted out. "Where the hell did you get that idea?"

"I can tell, I guess." Nagano shrugged. "The way Okada-kun looks at him. The way he always wants to be with Inohara. The way he smiles when he’s with Inohara. He’s in love with him too."

"Then why haven’t Okada told him?" Sakamoto asked, confused.

Nagano could not help but smile at the question. "Masa, if super-talkative and hyperactive Inocchi finds it hard to confess his feelings, what more our timid and keep-to-himself Okada-kun?"

Leader begged to disagree. "I say if you love somebody, you tell them right away. Otherwise, you waste a lot of time just wishing you could be with them when you could actually be holding them tight."

The statement made Nagano stop, think, and stare at the man next to him. He hesitated initially, then spoke. "Masa, what if I told you. . . "

"Tell me what?" Sakamoto asked distractedly, pressing his ear back against the door.

"What if I told you that I—"

"Oi! And what are you two eavesdroppers up to, eh?" a voice out of nowhere asked.

The two men looked up to see who it was, and the sight instantly cracked them up.

Standing behind them, with his hands on his hips, was Morita Go, the toughest-looking member of V6. . .wearing a tutu.

"Oh look how cute you are~!" Nagano chirped, admiring Go’s crazy ensemble of an outfit composed of a trucker hat, rubber shoes and, well, a tutu.

Sakamoto could barely keep a straight face. "Nice. . .tutu."

Go ignored them. "What were you listening to just now?"

"It’s none of your business. . .miss." Sakamoto replied.

And Nagano laughed.

"Oh yeah?" Go tried to get near the door, but Sakamoto stopped him.

"I’m sorry, but I don’t think it’s something a *lady* should hear."

Nagano laughed harder.

"So you think this is funny, eh?" the boy remarked toughly. "Well guess what? Production said they need another one of us to go down the stage on a crane, and I think I know just the guy to recommend."

Sakamoto’s eyes narrowed. "You wouldn’t dare."

"Oh yes, I would. And *you’ll* be wearing a tutu too!" Go shot back, before quickly turning on his heel to leave.

"OI! MORITA! COME BACK HERE!!" Sakamoto chased after the boy. And Nagano followed suite.

Back in the dressing room, Okada’s quiet, perplexed look said everything. "I-I don’t understand. . ." -- he shook his head lightly -- "Find out what?"

"How I feel about you," Inocchi replied, his tone sober.

"How you. . .I don’t. . I’m. . ."

With a deep breath, Inocchi prepared himself with the answer that he knew would change everything between him and the beautiful boy standing in front of him. "Okada. . .I love you. I do, I really do. And not just in a brotherly, we’ve-been-together-for-ten-years-now kind of way, but in a consuming, I-can’t-breathe-when-I’m-around-you-but-I-ache-when-I’m-not kind of way. And last week at the train station, you had no idea how much I really wanted to kiss you. To kiss you. It’s the one thing I always wanted to do. But as tempting as the challenge was, I had to refuse because I was afraid that once you find out how I feel I’d lose you. But I think I already made that happen when I kissed you at the hotel room, drunk as hell. Not only that, I also think I did an excellent job of humiliating myself as well. And that is why I couldn’t bring myself to talk to you after that. After everything that I said at the train station. After all the reasons I had to come up with. After all the acting I had to do, pretending I didn’t want to kiss you. Well, guess what? I really did want to, after all. But believe me, I didn’t want it to be that way. In my mind, if I were to kiss you, I want to have my arms around you. I want it to last for more than ten seconds. I want it to be tender and lingering, or maybe passionate and breathtaking. But most especially, I want to be able to hold you tight and tell you how much I love you afterwards. But I guess I ruined it, huh? And I really can’t blame you if you want to stay away from me after this, because I know you don’t feel the same way. But I just had to say it nevertheless or I might burst! So yeah, I love you. And you can take that however which way you want."

A few seconds had passed and Okada remained silent, his long, tousled bangs covering his eyes.

Inocchi was starting to worry. "Okada? Are you okay? Say something, please."

Okada looked up.

And Inocchi saw the tears in the boy’s eyes. "You’re crying!"

Okada smiled.

"O-kay, now you’re crying *and* smiling," Inocchi remarked, confused. "Okada, please say something. You’re making me nervous."

Quietly, Okada moved closer, his beautiful eyes never leaving Inocchi’s face.

Inocchi, on the other hand, just stood there, not knowing what to expect.

Shortly, the boy spoke:

"I love you, too."

Inocchi could not believe it at first, looking at Okada like he had heard him wrong.

Okada smiled at the man’s reaction, then repeated, "I love you, too."

It felt like a thousand tons were lifted from his chest, and for once in his life, Inohara Yoshihiko was utterly speechless. He let a smile spread across his face.

Closing the distance between them, Okada brought his face to Inocchi's.

And kissed him.

Sweetly.

Tenderly.

For more than ten seconds.

~Owari~

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