Title: Indispensable
Fandom: Haru wo Daiteita (Embracing Love)
Fest: halfamoon 2009, day 2
Character: Shimizu
Words: 300
Rating: G

( One of the things Shimizu enjoys the most about being the manager of a movie star is getting to visit foreign countries. )

Here are the rest of the Book 5 summaries: Fuyu no Semi, plus Nitta-sensei's afterthoughts. I added quite a bit of commentary to the Fuyu no Semi summary, because I couldn't resist correcting and clarifying BeBeautiful's information. See my resource links for more info.

Part 1

Here are the Book 5 summaries that I was working on. They were too long to fit into a single post, so I'm posting the earlier chapters here, and the Fuyu no Semi story, which is the longest, by itself.

Here is a list of resource links that I've compiled for the wiki. Some I've looked up as research for my fics, and the historical ones came up while I was looking up references while I was working on the Fuyu no Semi chapter summary for Book 5. I'm a huge fan of samurai dramas--I've watched each annual NHK taiga drama since 2002, so I couldn't resist adding a bit of commentary and doing some research to try and explain the various historical figures and references. Hope you guys find it helpful!

Title: Bonsai
Fandom: Haru wo Daiteita (Embracing Love)
Character: Shimizu
Words: 100
Challenge: halfamoon 2009, day 1. Crossposted to the comm and my IJ.

( spoilers through chapter 49 )

Title: It's Over
Prompt: Development
Pairing: iwakixkatou, katouxiwaki
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: (if any)
Summary: It's over between Iwaki and Katou

Disclaimer: I do not own Haru no Daite ita manga. This fan fiction is inspird by Youka Nitta’s Embracing Love (Haru wo Daite Ita). All the characters mentioned is by all right belong to it’s owner, Nitta -sensei


“It’s over…”
“W-what are you saying…”, his face grew pale as he tried to find his voice to ask that question. He cannot understand why the important person in his life would say such a stupid word as “it’s over” . he cannot remember anything he did wrong to make him change his mind.
“I’m saying that I want to end this… let’s break up…” black eyes staring as the golden eyes lost it light. “I’m tired of this…of you…” before he could finish his word, he suddenly was tug and caught in the steel arms of his lover.
“NO!!!! NO! NO! you can’t leave me! Never… you heard me??? NEVER!!!”, his voice shows his rage as he squeeze his lover in his tight embrace as if it would disappear in any second once he let go. His tears running like rivers.


GOOD! CUT!!!


“That’s it for today…good work people…”
Pretty soon the sight of busy people running back and forth as artist and crew started to pack their own things.
“I’m impressed Katou…your acting skills are getting better and better as the time passed… ”, Iwaki held his lover still embracing him tightly. Suddenly he felt him shudder. “Katou…? hey… it’s over - ”
“NO!! NO!! Please don’t Iwaki-san…Iwaki-san”, Katou cries harder as he held Iwaki tighter.
Suddenly realizing of what’s happening Iwaki held Katou’s shoulder and pulls away forcing him to face him as he shook him lightly to get him into his senses. Looking firmly at his lover, he saw the fear and shock on those golden eyes he adores… “Katou…get out of it already… the scene is over…”
Coming back to reality Katou cupped Iwaki’s face in his hand making sure if it was really his Iwaki-san… “Iwaki… never leave me… won’t you?”, uncertainty was still in his voice.
Iwaki felt Katou’s hand shaking, pull him closer as he also lean to reach for those pale and shaking lips… “Of course I won’t! Baka…”, he answered smiling sheepishly after a breath-taking kiss.

Title: Where the White Lilies Grow (10/10)
Universes: Haru wo Daiteita & Casino Lily
Pairings: Carlo/Magira, Iwaki/Katou, Shouji/Shu Ti Fan
Rating, all over: NC-17
Warnings, all over: Explicit sex and violence. Shameless Romance. This is not an angst-fest.
Word count, this part: 11,000 – the entire fic: 46,000
Notes: List of all chapters over @ IJ here. This fic is for elfflame who wanted me to put Magira in this situation. An "oyabun" is the non-blood-related "father" in the relationship between a younger yakuza and his older protector. The line of poetry comes from "The Song of the Bowmen of Shu" in Ezra Pound's brilliant approximation (1914) to Wen Wang's ("Bunno" in Japanese) poem. Also, regarding canon names in CL, there're differences from the scanlation to the US translation, and again to the Jp version. Bear with it, if it doesn't sound like the name you're used to. (And of course I don't have my JP manga here. Grrrr.)
Summary: When Carlo comes home from a business trip only to discover that Magira has left him, he has to change the passive way he usually takes when it comes to defending his relationship with the charming, but spoiled young player. Carlo has once offered to wager his entire fortune in exchange for Magira's company. This time, Carlo has to realise that his life might be at stake as well...

( Where the Wild Lilies Grow, Chapter 10/10 )

Title: More to Grow On
Prompts: development / Iwaki's 39th birthday
Pairing: Iwaki/Katou
Rating: PG

As the Noh troupe filed off the bare wooden stage, Iwaki glanced down at the fingers of his right hand, clasped within Katou's left. He smiled to himself: Katou had matured so much as both an artist and a man over the years. Once upon a time, Iwaki wouldn't have trusted Katou to behave himself at such a show, but that seemed like a lifetime ago.

"Did you enjoy it?" he murmured to Katou.

Katou grinned. "Do you suppose Yoshizumi-san moans like that when he's in the throes?"

He knew Katou was yanking his chain. Iwaki swung his fist anyway.

Title: Going Steady, Part 2
Rating: NC-17 overall
Fandom: Haru wo Daiteita (Embracing Love)
Pairing: Kikuchi/Onozuka
Word count: ~7,500
Disclaimer: No money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
Sequel to: Unexpected Opportunities, Comeback (Part 1 and Part 2), Forgiveness, Firsts, and First Date (Part 1 and Part 2).
Summary: Onozuka goes home to see his sister.

Author's note: An izakaya is basically a bar that serves food--see the story meta for more details.

Part 1
Follow the link to my journal for Part 2

Title: Going Steady, Part 1
Rating: NC-17 overall
Fandom: Haru wo Daiteita (Embracing Love)
Pairing: Kikuchi/Onozuka
Word count: ~6,620
Disclaimer: No money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
Sequel to: Unexpected Opportunities, Comeback (Part 1 and Part 2), Forgiveness, Firsts, and First Date (Part 1 and Part 2).
Summary: Onozuka and Kikuchi decide to take their relationship a step further.

ETA 1/21/09: Added the summary to the headings, which I forgot. *headdesk* But by this time, you guys know what to expect from this devious pair, right? ~_^

This fic is turning out a bit longer than planned, so I decided to go ahead and post it as a WIP, but I should have at least one more chapter done by this weekend, and hopefully the whole thing wrapped up within a couple of weeks at most.

Follow the link to my journal...

Title: Where the White Lilies Grow (9/10)
Universes: Haru wo Daiteita & Casino Lily
Pairings: Carlo/Magira, Iwaki/Katou, Shouji/Shu Ti Fan
Rating, all over: NC-17
Warnings, all over: Explicit sex and violence. Shameless Romance. This is not an angst-fest.
Word count, this part: 6,400
Notes: List of all chapters over @ IJ here. This fic is for elfflame who wanted me to put Magira in this situation.
Summary: When Carlo comes home from a business trip only to discover that Magira has left him, he has to change the passive way he usually takes when it comes to defending his relationship with the charming, but spoiled young player. Carlo has once offered to wager his entire fortune in exchange for Magira's company. This time, Carlo has to realise that his life might be at stake as well...

( Where the Wild Lilies Grow, Chapter 9/10 )

Title: Experience is an Ingredient
Prompt: #16 - Development
Characters: Katou/Iwaki, Yoshizumi, allusion to Masanori/Yasaka [Umaimon Kuwasero]
Rating: G
Summary: Even perfection can be improved upon.
Digression: Soup in Japan (a page with nifty info/trivia I stumbled upon while noodling around, as it were)

Katou sighed happily as he set the soup bowl down. "So perfect!" he gushed. "Just like my Iwaki-san!"

Iwaki's smile hinted at both embarrassment and mischief. "I am nothing so exquisite," he insisted, "and you are nauseating poor Yoshizumi-san."

Katou playfully turned to their friend, intending to torment him further, but the strange expression on Yoshizumi's face startled him. "Are you okay?" he demanded anxiously.

Yoshizumi murmured, "I once tasted this soup in Kyoto. It was the best I had ever been served. But it is somehow even better now."

Two tables away, Masanori Yae caught Yoshizumi's words, and smiled.

Title: Realism (Hamlet Done Haru-style)
Rating: PG
Fandom: Haru wo Daiteita (Embracing Love)
Pairing: Kikuchi/Onozuka
Characters: Katou, Kikuchi, Onozuka, Yoshizumi, Asano
Word count: ~1,975
Disclaimer: No money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part. Should be obvious, but Hamlet dialogue was written by William Shakespeare, not me. ~_^
Summary: Katou's portrayal of Hamlet is perhaps a little too realistic.

Author's note: I blame this fic all on bronze_ribbons for feeding the plot bunny! ^_^ This was inspired by her drabble More Than Kin and Less Than Kind--I couldn't get the image of Katou and Kikuchi acting in Hamlet together out of my mind, and this is the result. I borrowed the director's name, Ninagawa, from the original drabble.

(Please note--although Kikuchi and Onozuka are a couple in this fic, it is a stand-alone story and not part of my Kikuchi/Onozuka series that begins with Comeback.)

If you're a bit rusty on your Shakespeare, you can find a summary of Hamlet here, and the dialogue for the complete final scene here.

Follow the link to my journal...

This is a little thank-you to geri_chan for giving this comm a year's paid time. *hugs*

Title: More Than Kin and Less Than Kind
Words: 100
Characters: Kaneko and Katou
Rating: G
Warning: Spoiler for Hamlet.

( Kaneko had gone into the hall to answer his mobile phone... )

Title: First Date
Rating: NC-17
Fandom: Haru wo Daiteita (Embracing Love)
Pairing: Kikuchi/Onozuka
Word count: ~6,260 for Part 1; ~5,565 for Part 2
Disclaimer: No money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
Sequel to: Unexpected Opportunities, Comeback (Part 1 and Part 2), and Firsts
Summary: Onozuka's first date with Kikuchi does not quite go according to plan.

Follow the links to my journal: Part 1, Part 2

Title: Unexpected Opportunities
Rating: R, mainly for language
Fandom: Haru wo Daiteita (Embracing Love)
Pairing: Kikuchi/OMC
Word count: ~5,500
Disclaimer: No money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
Prequel to: Comeback, Part 1 and Part 2
Summary: While living in America, Kikuchi has to choose between his lover and the chance to make a comeback in Japan. (With apologies to Keanu Reeves--see afterword for details.)

Note: A "salaryman" is a white-collar office worker in Japan.

Follow the link to my journal...

Title: Bittersweet (1/2)
Universe: Haru wo Daiteita & When a Man Loves a Man.
Characters: Iwaki Masahiko, Iwaki Kyousuke/Katou
Rating: R, possibly.
Warnings: nah.
Word count: 1,300
Notes: For my beloved red_day_dawning.
About Japanese furniture: kotatsu are low tables with a heater and a heavy quilt under the tabletop. Often used to sleep under when it is very cold. Kakebuton is the top part, the "duvet" part of a futon set.
Summary: Iwaki Masahiko's life didn't turn out like he wanted it to and his brother's and Katou Youji's shameless behaviour doesn't make it easier to cope with more than thirty years of repressed... repression. But Masahiko is forced to look at the way he has lived his life until now and on his values he thought he had established so firmly. Serious changes are bound to happen...

( Bittersweet )

It's slightly early, but here's my Christmas gift to the group--hope you all are enjoying the holidays! ^_^

Title: Kentucky Fried Christmas
Rating: NC-17
Fandom: Haru wo Daiteita (Embracing Love)
Pairing: Katou/Iwaki
Word count: ~5,310
Disclaimer: No money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
Prompt: Christmas romance
Summary: Iwaki and Katou spend their first Christmas together.

Author's note: The Harudaki timeline seems a little vague, or maybe I just have a hard time keeping track of it, but I'm picturing this as their first Christmas living together as a couple, when Iwaki is still feeling a little uncertain about their relationship.

Follow the link to my journal...

Title: Good Taste
Prompt:Christmas Romance
Pairing: Mochimune/Miyasaka
Rating: G
Words: 100

Mochimune has always claimed that he can't stand cake. Especially not Christmas cake, which he has always regarded as insipid and insubstantial and bland as a C-list would-be ingenue. He hates mochi, too, since it reminds him of the nickname he was stuck with as a short, round kid. He can't really say who he hates more these days -- his former tormentors for being such jerks, or his old self for being such a pushover.

On Christmas Eve, Miyasaka hands to Mochimune a pastry box. When Mochimune lifts out the bloody steak, he smiles the smile that's only for Miyasaka.

Title: Forgiveness
Rating: PG
Fandom: Haru wo Daiteita (Embracing Love)
Pairing: Iwaki/Katou
Word count: ~2,080
Disclaimer: No money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
Summary: This is a companion piece to Comeback Part 1 and Part 2, which explains how Iwaki came to recommend Kikuchi to the Inside Report director.

Follow the link to my journal: Forgiveness

Title: Firsts
Author: geri_chan 
Rating: R to be on the safe side, but closer to PG-13
Fandom: Haru wo Daiteita (Embracing Love)
Pairing: Onozuka/Miyasaka (unrequited), Onozuka/Kikuchi
Word count: 1,593 total
Disclaimer: No money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
Sequel to: Comeback, Part 1 and Part 2

Summary: A list of Onozuka's first times, inspired by the weekly drabble prompt "Firsts". Unfortunately, I'm incapable of writing 100 words exactly, so I'm tagging this as a fic rather than a drabble, but in honor of the challenge, I wrote this in pseudo-drabble segments ranging from 97 to 320 words each.

Follow the link to my journal: Firsts

Ever since reading Book 5, there's something I've been mulling over. It's the scene where Katou confronts Asano and tricks him into lying that he slept with Iwaki, thereby proving that he was behind the scandal. However, instead of telling Iwaki the truth, Katou decides to keep it a secret because he doesn't want Iwaki to be hurt by Asano's betrayal. His intentions are good, and there's a kind of selfless love in choosing to protect Iwaki rather than taking the satisfaction of saying, "See, I told you Asano was up to no good!" But was this really the right thing to do?

Yay, my first Harudaki fic! It focuses on one of my favorite side characters, the gay actor Kikuchi from Book 2.

Title: Comeback (Parts 1 & 2)
Author: geri_chan
Rating: R overall, more for language than anything else
Pairing: Kikuchi/Miyasaka, a bit of Kikuchi/Onozuka
Word count: ~2,100 for Part 1; ~2,960 for Part 2
Disclaimer: No money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.

Summary: Kikuchi attempts to re-start his career after being forced to step down from Katou's movie in Book 2.

A note on Japanese terms: "Geinokai" is the word for the entertainment industry in Japanese. I guess we would say "show business" or "showbiz" in English, but it sounded a little awkward, so I stuck with the Japanese term. Names are given in the Japanese order with the family name first and given name second.

There's a lengthy afterword on my thoughts regarding Asian actors in America, along with a bit of meta on how the story came about. Feel free to skip or discuss, as you like.

Follow the links to my journal: Part 1, Part 2

Title: A Face Beyond the Face
Prompt: #10 - "revelation"
Character: Kaneko (Katou's manager)
Rating: G
Summary: There's more to Kaneko than what we get to see.

Kaneko promised himself long ago that he would never let the demands of his job kill his love of movies, so he spends most of his non-working hours on activities such as visiting the Takadanobaba cinema and reading every new book on film acquired by the Tokyo Metropolitan Library. He also has a weakness for the buffet at The Pink Cow, though-- partly because he'll never forget the incredulous look on Katou's face when Kaneko took him there: until then, his client clearly hadn't imagined there being more to Kaneko than his dutiful manager act.

But now Katou knows.

Title: Earning
Prompt: #11, Quick
Character: Yoshizumi
Rating: PG
Summary: Yoshizumi can't help comparing now with then.

Yoshizumi doesn't consider himself middle-aged just yet, but he can't help wondering what the hell is wrong with the younger actors in his current film. It's a contemporary thriller rather than a period drama, so he'd be out of his comfort zone regardless, but the impatience his co-stars reek of, it creeps him out. It has nothing to do with craft and everything to do with entitlement: they clearly expect stardom to be served to them as quickly and easily as a vending machine lunch, and it makes Yoshizumi wish all the more that he was acting with Iwaki instead.

Title: Where the Wild Lilies Grow (8/10)
Universes: Haru wo Daiteita & Casino Lily
Pairings: Carlo/Magira, Iwaki/Katou, Shouji/Shu Ti Fan
Rating, all over: NC-17
Warnings, all over: Explicit sex and violence. Shameless Romance. This is not an angst-fest.
Word count, this part: 5,800
Notes: List of all chapters over @ IJ here. This fic is for elfflame who wanted me to put Magira in this situation.
Summary: When Carlo comes home from a business trip only to discover that Magira has left him, he has to change the passive way he usually takes when it comes to defending his relationship with the charming, but spoiled young player. Carlo has once offered to wager his entire fortune in exchange for Magira's company. This time, Carlo has to realise that his life might be at stake as well...

( Where the Wild Lilies Grow, Chapter 8/10 )

Title: Paper Thin
Prompt: #8 First meeting
Pairing: None, Iwaki Masahiko (Iwaki's brother ;0)
Rating: G
Summary: Dreams are easily crushed...

Sometimes paper feels so heavy. Paper walls. Paper doors. The documents of his father's business. Thin slices of tradition and commitment.

Paper. So light, but heavy enough to feel like iron shackles, tying up his dreams.

Somewhere, in another room in the house, his daughter is crying. Masahiko loves his family, or so he thinks. Only love should not be a burden.

He remembers how Kyousuke-kun looked the first time he saw him with that golden-haired lover of his. How in love. How light.

Masahiko pushes the thought of handsome Katou Youji away, and goes back to doing his duty.

Title: Place
Prompt: #7, Wind
Pairing: Iwaki/Katou
Rating: G
Note: Some info on kites here - it turns out there’s a prominent kitemaker in Kyoto who shares Yoshizumi’s last name. But that’s something for some other drabble some other time.


“This is fantastic, Yoshizumi-san!” Katou exclaimed, holding up the puppy-shaped kite. Iwaki looked equally pleased with the paper swan that had emerged from his own box. Katou continued, “I can’t wait to try mine out! Too bad there’s no wind today!”

Yoshizumi grinned. “These are Kyoto kites. They’re light enough to fly inside without any wind, if you really can’t wait.”

Katou looked at his puppy, his expression suddenly thoughtful. “I know I said couldn’t wait, but I think I want his first time to be in a park.”

Yoshizumi glanced at Iwaki. Iwaki’s smile was faint but unmistakably loving.

This bunny got spawned by the "jealousy" prompt, but it refused to be confined to a drabble. In fact, it pretty much mugged me and held me captive until I finished drafting it...

Title: Because I Love You More Than I Can Say
Author: bronze_ribbons
Words: ~ 2850
Pairings: Iwaki/Katou (Haru wo Daiteita) and Ryo/Dee (FAKE)
Rating: R
Warnings: Light mention of some kinky stuff
Summary: After so many years, things still aren't simple for our guys.
Notes: A sequel to "Fair to See" (second drabble down). The title's from W.H. Auden's "If I Could Tell You" (*nods to her sister modernists in the comm*).

( When he looks at you -- when he thinks no one else is looking -- he looks like a starving man. )

Title: Replacements
Prompt: #6 - jealousy
Characters: Yoshizumi, Asano, Katou
Rating: PG
Summary: Acting is not for the faint of heart. Two 100-word drabbles.


( Yoshizumi had arrived early for his lunch with Iwaki. )