Luminarie

[radhaj]

Title: Luminarie
Pairings: Tetsuya x Takanori Nishikawa
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: As small as Takanori is, I don't think I have enough space to keep him in my apartment. Same for Tetsuya.
Warnings: A m/m relationship clearly implied.
Summary: Looking for Light, looking for My Dream.
Note: This fic wouldn't exist if not for the wonderful radio summaries on minna_genki  by nanani  :)
Other than that, just excuse the lameness.


Luminarie

It was something that happened every evening for two weeks, year after year. As the sky darkened, someone somewhere flicked on a switch exactly on schedule and thousands of people began their slow and awed march through the streets, gazing upwards and around, taking in the magnificent spectacle of artificial lights.

A human-made monument for a nature-caused disaster that over fifteen years evolved into a strange tradition that thousands of people always came to participate in and enjoy the luminescent beauty as they walked the street in a synchronized flow.

But not them, of course. They were never ones to do things the conventional way. Or at least Tetsuya wasn't. It was on his insistence that Takanori found the time in his overflowing schedule. And now, instead of joining the frighteningly dense crowd they were standing on the roof of the closest and tallest building there was, cheeks red from the cool December wind, squinting their eyes to see better.

"I don't think this can be counted as participating in the festival," Takanori commented, as he gazed down to the slightly flickering lights from above, trying to figure out the patterns they made and succeeding only partially as the distance was just too great for his eyes. The figure beside him shook its head and leaned further forward, almost dangerously far over the rail, closing his eyes for a brief moment as if trying to smell the colorfully illuminated sight.

"I've seen the lights from the ground before. They're a different kind of beautiful from here," the older man argued, his eyes opened once again and bright with enthusiasm as he focused once more on the view. "And you can see how the crowd moves from here. So many people, enjoying something like this together, almost like one entity. Sharing the experience with each other."

"And you don't want to be a part of it, join them down there?" Takanori's voice doesn't conceal his curiosity. He knew that his companion didn't normally like being around many people, but the amazement and enthusiasm in his voice right now made him wonder if this could be an exception.

"Why would I share it with a thousand strangers when I can share it with you?"

While the unusual atmosphere of the evening had already made Takanori far more quiet than was usual for him, the almost absentmindedly said words of his friend silenced him altogether. Tetsuya was normally one to laugh off any attempted sentimental conversations that Takanori sometimes tried to start, opting for joking teases and comical relief whether it was in front of a camera or in the privacy of personal life. And yet, those words sounded more like a confession to the singer's ears than just a careless observation.

The older man continued gazing down, as if not noticing he just said the most he had ever been willing to admit. Takanori tried to mentally will Tetsuya to at least fleetingly turn at him, grace him with a chance to look into those eyes and maybe find an explanation there. But it didn't happen and he realized he was probably hoping for too much, too suddenly. Still, he took one step closer to his friend, lifting one hand and placing it on the bent back. Physical closeness, for some reason, was never as big an issue as the mental one. And he didn't want to make Tetsuya uncomfortable. Or worse yet - make him retreat back into his defensive shell of genkiness. It was better to let the subject be.

"You think you finally found the light you've been looking for?" He joked half-halfheartedly, nodding towards the ever bright lights below them. Uncharacteristically he felt like he was grabbing for straws while trying to make conversation which normally came so naturally to him. It seemed like a good option, however, because Tetsuya always had an unrivaled appreciation for silly word plays like that. This time however, it earned him a mild glare.

"I'm the one weaving puns in this relationship," the taller man protested and Takanori was torn between pointing out that what he said couldn't be counted as a pun and bursting out with laughter because of Tetsuya's own lame attempt.

"Did you just make a pun about making puns?" He asked out loud, the confusion he felt before melting away for the time being. The older man just smiled at him without answering and looked back at the city. The lights had already been on for hours, the crowds were becoming more scattered, the slow procession dispersing. Yet Tetsuya's gaze did not once waver to the side. In contrast, the younger man had completely given up looking at anything else than the bassist's still form.

A familiar melody was suddenly hummed into the silence between the two men and Takanori was startled to realize it was coming from his mouth. The lights flickered and, in a fast sequence, one by one the, bright, intricately designed arches of colors disappeared to the accompaniment of cheerful notes now floating around them. They could not hear the noise of the city so high up, but Takanori could swear he heard a whisper of disappointment when the festival ended for the night flying up to their roof, mixing with the melody he was still humming.

Tetsuya's only reaction to the change was to finally straighten out, his eyes still stubbornly on the city below. A minute later, an arm suddenly gently encircled Takanori's waist, urging him to lean against the taller man's chest. He relaxed into the half-embrace, waiting almost impatiently for the other to be ready to leave, now that there was no longer any reason to stay. The wind was cold high up here, and he never felt as much love towards sceneries like this as the other man did.

"It's really an old song, Takanori-kun," the older man spoke unexpectedly in a gentle voice, "I've already found that light a long time ago. And it was not in Kobe."

The singer was about to ask more about it, but when he looked up, while he found his lover's eyes fixed on him he could swear he can see a bright flicker dancing, reflected, in their depths. And he though he could understand then, and there was no need for Tetsuya to say what he was still uncomfortable saying.

"Let's stay here a while longer," he requested suddenly, the wind no longer as cold now that he had arms around him to protect him from it and a view of his beloved's face to enjoy.

"The light show is already over," the taller man said, but contrary to the words, his arms tightened their hold and he didn't look like he ever intended to move from the spot they were standing on.

"I know," Takanori said unnecessarily, enjoying the warmth from the body beside him.

He was certain there was light reflected in his own eyes a well.

Comments

[nanani.livejournal.com]

(＃⌒∇⌒＃)
Thank you for this. It was perfectly sweet.


So... you have been to Illuminarie then? Your description is spot on; I found myself trying to figure out which building they were at ^-^

[radhaj.livejournal.com]

I'm really glad you enjoyed it :D

And, ummm... no, I haven't been there. It's all the power of the internet and imagination ^^;;;; I just read all I could find about it before writing this :)

[nanani.livejournal.com]

Aw, really? Well I guess there are tons of pictures of it, it's so beautiful.
Having been part of that procession of festival goers, yeah...

I must have tons of pics and vids from Illuminarie 2009 sitting around XD
Most of which suck. Since I am not a good photographer. but still.

Thanks so much for writing it!