Disclaimer: I still don't own and know anybody mentioned in this story.
TSUYOI DESU
[PART 2]
Relieved, the five band members got off the bus. Due to an accident on the motorway, traffic had had to be redirected over random highways and the drive to their photoshoot-location had taken almost two hours instead of the expected 45 minutes. And as if that hadn't been bad enough already, the air condition in the bus happened to be out-of-order, which had caused the temperature to rise up to 35�C and the band members to get more and more annoyed and enervated. Arriving more than one hour late to a photoshoot turned the whole time schedule upside down - and that definitely meant stress, loads of stress.
Kyo didn't seem to bother much though. He had been fast asleep on his seat during the whole journey, mumbling incoherent words in his dreams from time to time.
Die had brought his camera with him and started taking silly pictures of everything he found worth being banned on celluloid and was glad as Toshiya joined in the fun and started acting as his model.
Kaoru stoically bore the giggles and squeaks of the "photographer" and his "model", but Shinya knew that their leader's nerves lay blank and it wouldn't take long 'til he scolded Die and Totchi off, terribly. If Shinya had had the strength, he would have already begged the two clowns to calm down a bit. But he didn't want to attract Die's interest. He was sick and tired of all his teasing, especially now, by the end of the tour, and he hoped that Die would give him a break for the whole day.
Shinya leaned back in his seat and started massaging his neck and his temples. His head felt heavy and a dull pain began to throb behind his eyes. Kaoru gave him a side glance.
"You okay, Shinya?"
"Yeah, sure. It's only a slight hangover. Don't worry".
The drummer gave him a reassuring smile. He didn't want Kaoru to worry about him. The guitarist had enough to deal with when they were on tour, he didn't want to bother him with his problems. But the truth was, Shinya really felt kind of unwell. The headache was one thing - if it were only for that, the drummer would have believed that he was really only suffering from a bad hangover. But considering the fact that he had felt rather feeble the last day and that the pain in his head increased with every minute, Shinya started to believe that he might come down with something serious. He, who hardly ever was sick. He, who never came down with anything more serious than a cold. Now he prayed that this feeling of indisposition would really only lead to a simple flu. He could deal with that. But somehow he knew that it would turn out worse. This weren't the symptoms of an usual flu. His stomach twisted from time to time. And he was glad that he didn't have more for breakfast than that one glass of orange juice. He knew that this wasn't entirely healthy, but he just hadn't been able to swallow more - especially not food.
It was suddenly very quiet in the bus. Shinya looked up and saw Die packing away his camera with a remorseful look on his slightly blushed face. So, Kaoru had finally lost his patience.
Shinya leaned back again, his head soon dropping to the left side against the window and the drummer himself dozing off.
* * * * *
A gentle shook on his shoulder brought him back to reality.
"Shinya, we're almost there". Kaoru stood bent over him, his right hand still in contact with Shinya's shoulder.
The drummer forced the edges of his lips to form a faint smile and straightened his back. He had hoped that a little rest would do him good, but he found himself feeling even worse than before. His eyes were sore and his stomach ached like hell. He took a deep breath and cautiously rose from his seat as the bus came to a halt.
The photoshoot took place in an old, deserted fabric hall directly by the sea.
As the five bandmembers had got off the bus, they gladly inhaled the fresh, salt-scented air. The stuffy air in the bus had got almost unbearable by the end of the journey and Shinya started to feel slightly better now - maybe he wasn't getting ill all the way?
Kyo yawned and made a pouting face: "Why can't this be our day off today? It's been an eternity since I've last spent a day by the sea.".
His four friends nodded regretfully, all of them staring out on the water, which was shimmering in various shades of blue and green, the waves glittering in the sun. Their singer was so right. The thought of having a free day and spending it in a gorgeous place like this hadn't crossed their minds while they had been on tour, too much had they been absorbed by their work and everything that came with it. But now they all started to realise how worn out they really were and how much they longed for some peace and a vacation.
"Come on, guys". Kaoru sighed audibly. "Let's get this photoshoot done". He turned away and walked towards the long, dilapidated building. The others remained where they stood for a few seconds longer, but then followed the example of their leader and took leave of the beautiful sight in front of them.
* * * * *
Inside, they were welcomed by about three dozens of people, buzzing around, getting everything ready. The bandmembers were lead through the grand hall, down a dim hallway to a metal door with a label calling "DIR EN GREY" pinched on it. A bunch of make-up artists and stylists were awaiting them, taking control over every one of the musicians in pairs.
Shinya took place on a high chair in front of a vanity mirror and took off his black sunglasses, so that his make-up and hair could be done. He had started to feel worse again. A pale face and slightly reddened eyes greeted him in the mirror. The make-up artist put some moisturising cream on his skin and gently massaged it in before she started with the foundation and eye make-up. A few minutes later, Shinya's pallid complexion had changed into a dazzingly beautiful one. But that didn't help him feel better. His mouth was dry and as he saw a bottle of water on Die's table right next to him, he called the red-haired man's attention.
"Ne, Die, can I have some of your water?".
The guitarist looked up from the magazine he was reading while his stylist did his short, spiky hair.
"Shinya, there's loads of water outside", he replied laconically, pointing out of the window on his right directly to the sea. And with that he resumed his reading, only to be distracted again.
"Die?". Shinya's voice sounded pleading.
"You can get water in the hallway, there's the fucking catering! That's where I got mine from, y'know!".
Hurt could be seen in the drummer's wide eyes. He had seen the catering as they got in, but he had forgotten to get himself some water and he didn't want to beg any of the stylists to bring him some, they weren't his servants. Why couldn't Die just give him his bottle?
"Die? Onegai...". He dared another try.
"Die, just give him the fucking water!". That came from Kaoru, who had witnessed the whole scene through his mirror.
Die took a deep drag from the cigarette he had just lit and finally gave in. He stretched over to Shinya and handed him the bottle with a bow.
"Voil�, Shinya-hime", he said with a sarcastic tone in his voice.
The drummer felt himself blush, but gladly took the water. He lifted his bag from the floor, rummaged through it for a while and finally took out a packet of Aspirin. He opened the water-bottle and downed three of the white pills with some big gulps.
Die frowned slightly. Shinya wasn't that keen on taking medicine usually and he hadn't drunk that much last night to come down with a hangover that urged him to take *that* amount of Aspirin, had he? But then again, what was wrong with the lean drummer?
� ~eurydike~, August 2002
To Be Continued
To the next part