Don't Worry, i'm right here Next to you.

I am a dancer. It’s what I do, it’s what I love, and it’s been a big part of my life for years. But believe me when I say that the grace and coordination required for this does not, by any means, extend to other areas – for example figure skating.

I slipped and fell -first on the ice for what felt like the 16th time while the guys laughed.

“Real mature.” I grumbled. And understandably I was in a grumpy mood. Despite my endless desire to go skating for my birthday, I had also been hoping to practice first, so I wouldn’t end up making a fool of myself in front of Shinpei, which is what I was currently doing rather spectacularly.

“C’mere _____.”

Speak of the devil. Shinpei skated up to me and hauled me to my feet with a smile. Like I wasn’t having a hard enough time keeping my balance already.

“I’m fine.” I blushed and dusted the snow off my clothes and tried to skate away with my dignity intact. Naturally, it didn’t work, but he caught me before I fell this time.

“Hey _____, I thought you said you were good at this?” Takeru teased lightly, gliding by and looking smug. I growled as i reposition myself holding onto Shinpei's arms.

“I said I was when I took skating lessons. Which is when I was like when i was, five i think.”

“Easy there,” Shinpei giggled in my ear from behind me. He was gently holding my arms, supporting me so I didn’t fall yet again. “Please don’t kill our Singer.”

“Oh god, you just had to read my mind” I turned towards him as well as I could without losing my balance and regarded him sceptically, having to catch my breath when I realized how close he was.

“Well,we kinda need him for our band, or else who'll sing our songs we express to the public?” he laughed.

“Fine, Takeru lives.” I grumbled. Shinpei skated around to appear in front of me.

“Thank you. Now are you ready to learn to skate?” he asked.

“No.” I pouted stubbornly, but he just laughed and took my hands.

“Too bad.”

He started skating backwards slowly, leading me into going shuffling forward gingerly, and smiling the whole time of course.

“Keep going... keep going... you’re doing great _____ keep it up.” He beamed. “You’re a fast learner.”

“It’s a gift.” I mumbled, trying not to look up at his face. I’d figured out that if I looked at his face while trying to skate, I got distracted and was exponentially more likely to fall down again.

“You ready to try to stay up on your own?” He asked, preparing to loosen his grip on my hands.

“No!” I gasped, squeezing tighter.

“Don’t be afraid.” He laughed. “I won’t let you fall. Look, I’ll be right here.” He said soothingly, extracting one hand from mine and using the other to lead me across the ice. “See? I’m right here.” he smiled, Once i looked at him, i quickly put my head back down, oh why was he so gentle and kind hearted? i thought

I kept skating, getting better little by little, until I felt confident enough to try it on my own.

Shinpei gently let goed of my hand, but stayed right in front of me, arms out, ready to catch me just incase if I fell again.

“Finally!” Takeru giggled, skating a lazy circle around us. “It took you long enough to get it.”

“Oh Shut up, you can bite me!” I stuck my tongue out at him then slipped a little, but Shinpei steadied me, one hand in mine, the other at my waist – like we were slow dancing.

“With pleasure!” Takeru replied, giggling evilly. Then he started skating towards me.

I realize this was probably one of the worst ideas I’ve ever had, but at that point in time, it seemed reasonable. I broke away from Shinpei and tried to run away from the entirely non-threatening Takeru, apparently forgetting where I was.

Just as Shinpei yelled “No ____! Don’t!” the pick on the front of my skate caught on the ice and I rather suddenly and dramatically found myself falling at a strange angle.

[Fast Forward]

“I hate you.” I pouted.

“I said I was sorry.” Takeru said miserably.

“And I told you not to run.” Shinpei pointed out.

“When I was already going.”

“Well if you’d have been a little less stupid, I could’ve taken him down for you, and you wouldn’t have had to run.”

“Standing right here!” Takeru interjected, a little annoyed. Shinpei continued if he hadn’t heard him.

“And if you hadn’t run, then you wouldn’t be here right now.” He gestured to my set-up: pouting miserably on the couch in my living room, arms firmly crossed, freshly sprained ankle propped up on the table.

“I hate you too.” I insisted. Looking away from him and stared at the window.

“Aw, don’t say that.” Shinpei chuckled, not fooled for a second. “Then neither of us will be willing to stay here with you, and you’ll be stuck by yourself all night. And you don’t want that, do you?”

“No...” I sighed, defeated.

“So take it back.” Takeru prodded. I glared.

“C'mooooonnn ______... i know you want to” Shinpei grinned, approaching me and sitting down, arm around my shoulder, careful not to jostle my injured leg. “Say you love us. and all the problem would be solved” The whining tone of his voice was really quite irritating.

It was almost literally painful, but... i had no choice what so ever... “I... love you guys...” I grimaced.

“Much better.” Satisfied, Shinpei leaned over and planted a smug kiss on my forehead before releasing me and standing back up.

“Oh will you look at the time,” Takeru mused, glancing at the clock. “I’ve got a date soon, I’d better go.”

“Ooh, who’s it with?” Shinpei teased.

Blushing, Takeru mumbled something and positively bolted. "Just someone you don't need to know about" he smiled.

“Well then, I guess it’s just you and me then!” Takeru beamed, sounding much happier than I’m sure he felt. “So what can I get you, m’lady?”

“Some Pain reliever would be nice.” I said. “My ankle’s starting to throb in pain more then ever.”

“As you wish m'lady.” He disappeared into the kitchen, and in seconds had returned with two white tablets, a glass of water, and a small bag of frozen ice pad, which he laid gently on my bandaged joint.

“Thank you.” I smiled. “When I get better, I’m totally making it up to you.”

“Don’t worry about it.” shinpei said, sitting down beside me. “Shall we watch some T.V.?” He reached for the remote and we settled in.

[Fast Forward]

3 and a half hours of watching TV later, I was half asleep on Shinpei’s shoulder, completely zoned out, letting the cheesy dialogue from some Romanic drama wash over me and feeling Shinpei’s fingers run lazily through my hair.

“We should get you to bed properly.” Shinpei’s voice rumbled in my ear.

“I Don’t wanna.” I mumbled, burying my face further into his neck.

“Don’t even.” He laughed. “C’mon, sit up straight. Can you sleep here? Or do you want to go up to your room?”

“I’m ok here. Where will you sleep?”

“Right here.” Shinpei patted the floor next to the couch.

“You don’t have to do that!” i shook my hands

“But I want to.” He shrugged.

“If you insist. There should be a sleeping bag at the right corn-”

“I know where it is, ______.” He cut me off with a smile. “I’ve been here enough times to remember.”

Once he made sure I was comfortable, and had tramped up the stairs to collect the sleeping bag, he settled down on the carpet right beside my couch.

“Thank you for taking care of me Shinpei. Really means alot to me” I whispered.

“You’re welcome.”

“Well, Good night.”

“Good night _____. and Sweet dreams.”

[Fast Forward]

5 and a half hours of complete darkness and silence broken only by the sound of our breathing later, I was still staring at a ceiling I couldn’t even see. Every time I tried to roll onto my side, my ankle tweaked in pain, and in my current position was already stressful enough. I was not a happy person at that moment. I took a deep sigh.

“Why are you still awake?” I heard Shinpei say in a sleep-fogged voice from the floor.

“How’d you know?” i asked him as he gave a small giggle. "I didn't." he answered.

“And you just answered me too.” He added. “Does your leg hurt? Do you need more pills?” he asked getting up and turning on the lamp that was next to the couch.

Before I could even answer, he’d disappeared into the kitchen and come back with more Tylenol and a fresh glass of water.

“I swear, you’re a god.” I grinned. “Thank you so much.”

“It’s no problem, really. I just want to make sure you’re ok.”

“I’d be better if I could sleep.” I shrugged.

“Alright. Here,”

Shinpei pulled me up slowly and sat behind me, letting me relax back until I was nestled into his chest. Much more comfortable than having a lumped spot on the couch in my back.

After a minute or two, he started humming, and I was already drifting off, but I managed to get out “Can you sing me something, Shinpei? Please?”

“Sorry, i only keep beats. can't sing for life” he said apologizing.

"Aw please? Just one? or you can just humm like your doing now" i begged and nuzzled my face deeper on his chest. he took a sigh in deafeat and looked at me.

"Fine. but don't say i sound bad because i already warned you that i " he said, i nodded my head in agreement, I could feel his voice rumble against my back. He took a deep breath and started singing quietly. His voice sounding so soft and mellow, his humming litereally almost making me drift off to sleep.

I smiled a little once i realized he was humming 'Dot' from his own band. Being wrapped up in his arms felt so safe and warm, and having him sing me to sleep was amazing. It was the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for me. Sleepily, I grasped his hands and pulled them across my body, letting them settle on my stomach and I laid my arms over his. Still singing, Shinpei held me a little tighter, and I could hear a smile in his voice.

I felt him tense up under me as he held the note, and interlock his fingers with mine. He moved his arms so they were over top of mine, still keeping our fingers together. Then he pulled our joined arms up so one was lying across my chest and the other across my stomach. He was hugging me close, holding me tight to his chest.

He paused and dropped his head, nuzzling it close into my shoulder, kissing me softly. His hummming died away as Shinpei placed another kiss on my shoulder, then reached under my chin and gently tilted my face up towards his.

“Shinpei, I-”

He kissed me again softly, this time on the lips; long and lingering.

“I love you, _____.” He whispered. Now that the song was done, it was like we were both afraid to break the silence again.

“I love you too Shinpei.” i replied back. He smiled softly and pecked another kiss onto my lips.

“Now get some sleep. I’ll be right here next you.” he said.

The End.