***

Shinya rubbed at his eyes sleepily as he walked across the lobby. Kaoru had suggested that they go for a tour to Underwater World together this morning. But Shinya was only vaguely interested. How different can these fished get? They look the same everywhere.

By the time he got out of the hotel, the drummer found the rest of the members ready to leave. Their leader(Kaoru) drove the rented car on the unfamiliar roads. Unfortunately for Shinya, he somehow ended up sitting squashed between Die and Toshiya.

Shinya purposely leaned against Toshiya so that his body didn’t touch Die’s.

But Toshiya complained. " Shin-chan, don’t group to me. It’s very hot in here. Sit properly!"

So Shinya had to bear with the circumstances and sit next to Die. "Kaoru, when are we reaching?"

" In a while."

Shinya glared at the red-haired guitarist beside him who kept rubbing their sides together when the car bumped on the road.

***
" Yeee! Kaoru! This is so cute!" Toshiya exclaimed as he pointed at a spiky fish.

" Yes, of course."

Shinya paid little attention as his eyes scanned the big aquariums of sea creatures. A little crab crawled under a rock and tried to swim up to catch his attention.

" Hey, this crab reminds me of someone!" Die said, stepping up beside Shinya. " It reminds me of you! Both are crabby!" He began laughing.

Shinya turned bright red from anger. The other three members looked on with sweatdrops falling from their forehead, thinking ‘No wonder Shinya doesn’t like him’.

" So what if I’m crabby? It’s none of your business, right?!! Why don’t you find a life and stop bothering me?!!" Shinya snapped at Die.

" Hey, hey, cool down. I’m only joking!"

" Yeah, you’re always a joker. So go work in a circus and get out of my sight!" Shinya shouted at him before striding away furiously.

***

-Stupid Die! I hate! Hate! Hate him!- Shinya splashed the cool tap water on his face. When he looked at his reflection in the mirror, he realised he was crying. -Why am I crying?-

***

Kyo nudged Toshiya with his elbow. "Hey, your plan is not working." He pointed at a very sad and depressed Die.

" Oh, you’re being a big help!" Toshiya glared at him.

" Come on, Die. You know Shinya always overreact," Kaoru told Die as he lit a cigarette for him despite the ‘NO SMOKING’ sign pasted on the wall.

" He hates me," Die said matter-of-factly.

Just then, Shinya returned, his face sour and sulky. " I’m tired. Can we go back now?"

The trip ended earlier than expected as they drove back to the hotel. The whole way, Die didn’t even mutter a single word to Shinya. The drummer found this extremely odd. Normally Die would continue to tease him even if he was mad but now he sat quietly beside him, looking out at the passing scenery. Suddenly Shinya felt a bit worried.

-Is Die angry at what I said just now?-

He haven’t seen Die so down before.

When they reached the hotel, Die got out of the car and headed straight in without holding the door for Shinya like he usually would.

***

It was barely 3 in the afternoon and Shinya was already bored. Kaoru, Toshiya and Kyo had gone out shopping. But he was in no mood to shop so he opted to stay in his room. The TV showed nothing of interest. Huffing in sheer boredom, he shut the screen off.

-I wonder if Die is still angry.-

Shinya sprawled over his bed.

-Argh! It’s not my fault he’s angry! He started it first!-

Shinya buried his face into his pillow.

-Maybe I’ll go see how he’s doing…-

The young man grabbed his track pants and put them on.

-Room 802…-

The corridors were empty as he strolled along them. His footsteps sounded soft against the red carpet. When he reached Die’s door, he hesitated. Biting his lips, he told himself he should just go back to his room and spend the next few hours monotony. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he pressed the doorbell.

***

Die was taking a nap when he heard the bell. He ignored it and tried to get back to sleep but it was getting on his nerves. He picked himself from the bed; his red hair poking out disgracefully in every direction. He didn’t even bother to put on a shirt; walking to the door with his top naked.

" Who’s that?!" Die growled angrily at the intruder the second he opened the door.

" …sorry for disturbing," Shinya said, turning to leave. He didn’t know why but his eyes began to water at Die’s angry tone.

The other man had not expected Shinya to come see him. " Wait, Shinya. Don’t go!" He gripped Shinya’s skinny arm.

" Sorry, I didn’t know it was you," Die apologised. "Wanna come in?"

***

Shinya sat awkwardly in Die’s room while the older took charge of both sides of the conversation. He wasn’t really paying attention to what Die was saying since most of the time, he was trying not to blush. He wished Die would go put on some clothes.

-Wait, why am I so shy? We’re both guys, right??-

" Shin-chan? Are you okay?" Die asked when he saw Shinya distracted.

" Yeah." The drummer fidgeted in his seat. "Would you mind not calling me Shin-chan?"

" Why? It’s a cute name. It suits you!" Die grinned.

" No, it doesn’t!" Shinya protested before saying softly, a bit sadly, "I’m not cute."

" Yes, you are," Die said before catching the despondent look on his friend’s face. "What’s wrong, Shin-chan?"

" Nothing." Shinya looked away. Tears had, for no reason, collected at the rims of his eyes.

" Shinya, why are you crying?" Die went over to Shinya and wiped off the tears with a hand.

Shinya felt so embarrassed for crying in front of Die but he couldn’t stifle the sobs.

" Am I a very bad person, Die?" his voice cracked.

" No, of course you’re not!" Die exclaimed. " What makes you think such silly things?"

Shinya sniffled. " You always say I’m not good…"

" I was just joking! You don’t mean you took all that seriously!" Die slapped Shinya back.

But Shinya just kept quiet.

" You really thought you were a bad person just because I said so?"

" You always pick on me. I thought you really hate me or something for insulting me everyday. I don’t want you to hate me…"

" I don’t hate you, Shin-chan…" Die lifted Shinya’s downturned face with his hands and held it still in his palms so that he could look at him. "In fact, I like you a lot."

Then Shinya felt Die’s lips against his. Unconsciously, he closed his eyes and looped his arms around Die’s neck. Die’s tongue gently prodded into his mouth. When he opened his eyes again, he saw Die’s soft eyes and felt his heart multiply in beating.

" Die, I…" Shinya blushed profusely.

" I love you, Shin-chan…"

Shinya didn’t know how come the bed suddenly came to them. But he fell back on the soft mattress, pulling Die on top of himself. He moaned softly as Die nibbled on the column of his neck. " Die…" His hands feeling the hard contour of Die’s body as the Die’s mouth gradually advanced to his lips.

Suddenly the door burst open and a Toshiya-in-tears came in. " Waaah, Die!!! Shinya is missi…" His watery eyes were staring at them.

Kaoru and Kyo popped up behind the bassist. All three of them speechless at the sight before them.

Die pried himself of Shinya and coughed as he sat up. "*Ahem* you guys back so early?"

" Uh…we couldn’t find anything to buy…" Kaoru said.

" Um, but I’m sure we can find something to occupy ourselves with, can’t we?" Kyo looked to Toshiya and Kaoru before shuffling out of the room. " Have fun!" Kyo said as the door closed.

Shinya felt his face grow extremely hot and he’d bet that it was redder than tomatoes. The air-cond’s continuos whirring seemed extra loud in the silence. " So what do you want to do now?" Shinya asked, his voice trembling as Die walked closer to him.

" Well…they’re back…so you want to go out and do something?" Die smiled at him.

Shinya averted his eyes. "I…don’t know. Do you want to go out and do something?"

" Hmm… why not stay here and do something?"

Shinya cried out in surprise as he suddenly found himself horizontal on the bed, pinned down by two hands. He curved his lips seductively at the other man. "That’s a good idea, Die."

***

Outside the room:

" Do you hear anything?" Kyo jumped up and down eagerly.

" Shh," Toshiya placed his ear against the flat surface of the door.

" I hear somebody giggling," Kaoru said.

" Yeah…and…what’s that?!" Toshiya made a face.

" Hey, don’t hog all the space. I want to hear too!"

So the three members of DEG also found something to keep themselves occupied with that evening.(^^;;;)

***

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