![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thesecretdoorPairing: JunDa
Rating: G
Word Count: 1666
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, and only the words are mine.
Summary: They knew that moving forward would be hard, but with each hurdle the happiness they deserve seems further and further away.
April 5th 2015
They had to wait almost an hour to see him, but eventually Johnny-san's secretary waved them through.
Ueda took a deep breath as they stepped forward, Taguchi in the lead to push the door open.
Johnny looked around surprised as they filed through. “So it really is all of you. Well, sit down, what can I do for you?”
“Johnny-san.” Taguchi started “We want to thank you, for the support you've shown to Tatsuya and myself in our relationship. It's true that there were a few problems along the way but for the past year Tatsuya and I have been happier than we thought we could be...”
“I'm glad for you both, really” Johnny-san started “but what is it that I can do for you now?”
“We want to move to the next step in our relationship.” Ueda said as boldly as he could manage. “We've discussed it and our intent is to move in together, and to make a trip somewhere together, where we can elope.”
Johnny's eyes widened a little at the announcement. “Oh?”
“And we want your blessing to do it.” he added finally when Johnny made no other sign of continuing.
“You want me to allow you to run away together and get married? And then to move in together?” he clarified, continuing only when the two of them nodded. “I'm sure you both remember the terms to which you agreed in order to gain my blessing in your relationship?”
“We do...” Taguchi confirmed. “And we understand that by doing this we'll be breaking those terms, but...”
“Johnny-san” Kame intervened. “There are other Johnny's that are happily married, with children even...with children that are Johnnys themselves so it's no secret...is it fair to stop Junno and Tatsuya from finding that happiness themselves just because they're both men?”
“I've seen and heard a lot of things Kame-chan, I'm no prude or homophobe but unfortunately the Japanese nation still has it's reservations. It speaks for itself that they're aware they'll need to travel abroad to get married...it won't even be legally recognised in Japan...if the agency comes out as in support of illegal activities what would that do the company image?”
“Then we don't make the marriage announcement official, that...we just wanted to tell you since we didn't want to keep anything from you.” Ueda argued “We know that it won't hold any water in Japan and so we're fine to keep that hidden...but we don't see how we can move in together without telling people about it...if we were to try and keep it secret and people found out...”
“Indeed, that would be bad.” Johnny agreed “But you appreciate that by announcing your relationship to the public you're putting yourselves and the group at their mercy...I wouldn't have a problem with it if not for that fact...”
“Then what about if we put it entirely at their mercy?” It was Koki that spoke up, and all eyes turned to him as he looked down at the ground, fiddling with his fingers “What if we as a group take responsibility for it and if things didn't work in our favour then the company itself would remain undamaged...”
“What do you have in mind?” Johnny asked, his tone interested.
“Well, we could make an announcement and make it clear that it is KAT-TUN's decision to announce it, and then give the fans the opportunity to decide what the fate of the band should be...we won't wait for it to turn into a scandal or an uproar...we just put it to them directly...a poll or something, given the circumstances what do they want the future of the group to be.”
“I like the direct approach.” Johnny conceded. “Of course there will be be media reaction regardless of the outcome...”
“But by putting it to them ourselves we're accepting that...” Koki argued.
“Hmm, I'll consider the options. I would like to know though.” he started, turning to Ueda and Taguchi “Should I refuse your request to make your relationship public...what will your intent be then?”
“We want this...” Ueda stated boldly “We wouldn't have come to you if we weren't ready to stake our jobs on it...”
Johnny raised his eyebrows again and turned to the rest of the group “And you're all OK with this?”
“Johnny-san” Maru spoke up for the first time “They're our friends...more than that, what we feel for them is more than friend, more than brother, it's something unique that we can only call member, we will support them no matter what.”
Johnny sighed. “I see. Well, give me some time to think it through, I'll get back to you all when I've made a decision.” And with a wave of his hand he dismissed them, grumbling something about 'Akanishi' and 'bad influence' under his breath.
They were silent as they made their way back down to their rehearsal room, but as soon as the door closed Taguchi let out a relieved sigh and tugged Ueda into his arms. Ueda let out something close to a content hum and snuggled his face momentarily into Taguchi collarbone, before pulling away shyly to face the rest of the group.
“Thank you.” Ueda said quietly, pulling a decent distance from Taguchi but reaching out to keep their hands entwined. “Koki...what you said...”
“Don't thank me yet.” Koki huffed, his eyes rolling a little. “He hasn't agreed to anything, and even if he does this could be the end of us.”
“Koki” Kame said softly. “This isn't on us. It's them taking the risk, if things turn out badly we'll still be Johnny's. We'll still get acting jobs and appear in company shows...of course I want KAT-TUN to remain as we are but...”
“But we love each other...” Taguchi added. “Koki, you wouldn't keep us from each other right?”
Koki snorted “Yeah right...I remember what it was like when we tried to keep you apart.”
April 17th 2015
It took almost two weeks for the call to come in. Ueda was alone in his apartment when his manager contacted him to let him know that Johnny-san himself wanted to speak to the group. His first reaction was to call Taguchi, who confirmed he'd received the same call.
An hour later the five of them were seated once again in Johnny's office. “After a number of discussions both with your group and individual managers as well as a trusted member of the marketing team we have reached a decision.”
Ueda sucked in a breath and he heard a symphony of other inhales around him.
“As Koki-kun suggested, we will hand the matter over to the fans. If you still want to go ahead with this, then we will postpone your summer tour, we will make an official statement in which you announce your relationship to the fans. In the week that follows we will expose you to whatever media will accept you, to get across your side of the story and for you to try and win their support. For a week following that, we will open a poll to the members of the fan club, offering them the options of having the group continue the way they are, the group continue without Taguchi-kun and Ueda-kun, or to have the group disband. Whatever the outcome we will stick to it.”
“Thank you” Ueda responded, his held breath seeping out with his quiet words.
“Of course.” Johnny started “In order to keep the company image, we will have to take some other things into consideration. Provided that the fans chose to keep the group going in whatever form, we will have to react to media attention and to group sales. I want you to understand going into this, regardless of what the fans decide, you are still a Johnny's group and will be treated accordingly.”
“And if they want us to disband?” Koki asked. “What will happen to us as individuals then?”
“I can't make any promises. Of course if you have done nothing to break company rules there will be no reason to dismiss you, as for what work will be offered, that will depend entirely on who wants to feature you in their productions.” Johnny answered sincerely.
“And what of us?” Ueda asked quietly. “If they choose to let me and Junno go...will our actions be seen as going again company rules?”
“Since we have authorised your announcement and the poll, we can hardly claim that your actions are against company rules, but you should be ready to accept the fact that regardless of whether your fans will or won't support you through this, producers might not.”
It was no less than he'd been expecting, but hearing it put so bluntly shook Ueda more than he'd expected. For one blind moment of panic he wanted to call the whole thing off, but looking around at his group mates, at their determined expressions, knowing what they were risking for his own happiness, gave Ueda strength too. “Thank you, we understand and we appreciate the opportunity you're presenting us with.”
Johnny just nodded, looking to his papers “No dates have been decided yet, it will take a little time to make the necessary preparations, and I'm sure you each have business to straighten out before we get this ball rolling. Your managers will be notified about the plans and aside from postponing your tour, we will not take on any more jobs either for Taguchi-kun or Ueda-kun. Please use the extra time in whatever way necessary to prepare yourselves for the announcement.”
It seemed too fast, the discussion too short, too final, there were so many questions Ueda had to ask but not one of them came to mind as he sat staring at Johnny's expectant expression.
“Thank you for your understanding and your support.” Taguchi's words broke him from his state and he copied the others and stood up, offering his own bow of thanks before filing out of the office behind his band-mates.
-----------------------------------------
A/N: I think this might be my least favourite chapter of the whole thing, this one and the last one just feel to rushed and too dialog heavy, urgh. But...re-writing them didn't go so well so yeah, I'm posting them and moving on! I hope you guys don't mind too much >_<
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2015-06-28 01:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-06-29 09:06 am (UTC)I hope you're not working yourself too hard with all these things you have going on :( Be sure to rest and take care of yourself!!
no subject
Date: 2015-06-29 04:16 pm (UTC)Also a little scary though...with that they have to go through eventually >< you're definitely going to get me biting my nails again I'm sure of it (not like I mind anyway still hooked on this series and there's no turning back now TwT)
Again you have no idea how happy I am that you're updating again TwT thanks so much for this and can't wait for the next~ *huggles*
no subject
Date: 2015-07-03 12:53 pm (UTC)Thank you, I'm glad you like Johnny too! I didn't want him to be the overbearing force of nature that seems to exist somewhere in the company, from what people have said about him he seems like a fairly decent normal guy.
Thank you for your continued support as always!!