Gift Fic for an_jung
A piece of rainbow for an_jung
Title: Flashlight
Pairing: Sakuraiba, Ohmiya
Rating/Warnings: pg-13
Summary: Sho doesn’t believe in god, Aiba is a priest. Nino is in love, Ohno is oblivious.
Notes:
Note1: Dear an_jung, it’s my first time participating in a fic-exchange and I’m really glad to write this story for you, I wanted to write this story for the longest time and I really hope I was able to fulfill your request at least a little bit, and till next time, yoroshiko ongaishimasu.
Note2: I know there are people who don’t believe in god, I didn’t mean to say if it’s good or bad, I just used it as an excuse to write this story, please don’t take it personally, and also I’m not a Christian so I
didn’t have much information about it. If you see any mistakes, please forgive me. Again I mean no offend.
“Sho? SHO!”
“Huh?!” The young man turned his head from the view he was looking at to his friend.
“I said everything is ready, you’re leaving tomorrow.” Jun repeated.
“And I said absolutely not,” Sho loosened his tie as he got up from his chair and rounded his desk, ”I’m going after the new contract with...” he stopped short, snapping his fingers to remember the name.
“With Yatsuba company,” Jun gracefully completed his words, “…Now, you just proven that you need this vacation, and you know why? Cause you tire yourself too much.” The young man said as he made himself comfortable on one of the couches.
“I’m your boss, you can’t talk to me like that,” Sho said amused.
“Yes,” Jun replied, standing up and made his way to the other, ”But I’m also your friend, this company isn’t your everything,” He placed his hand on Sho’s shoulder, “take the vacation, you deserve it and I’ll be right here taking care of everything.”
Once again Sho looked out the window, maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea after all... especially since their anniversary was close.
Maybe it was finally time to go back...
#####*****#####
“Do you need anything else?” Nino said annoyed watching Ohno dozing over his cup of cold coffee, ”Oh-chan?! Hey!” Nino hit his head with the cloth over his shoulder.
“Wh-what?” Ohno jumped looking everywhere, panicked.
“Anything else? Come on Oh-chan, you know it’s our rush hour” he said annoyed already, eyeing the new costumer.
“Mou~” Ohno pouted as he grabbed his stuff, “you’re always awful to me Nino”.
“Believe me Oh-chan, you still haven’t seen anything.” he muttered to himself as he wiped the small table when Ohno’s voice, well Ohno’s cheerful voice caught his attention.
“Sho-kun? OH my GOD. I can’t believe it.”
He turned in time to see the old man hugging a tall and well-built man, his back facing him. Nino couldn’t see his face, but the moment he turned Nino felt a pang in his heart, that man, the one who Ohno called as “Sho”, was gorgeous.
“Nino...Nino” Ohno ran to him with Sho on his tail, ”This is Sho-kun,” the man smiled at him, and Nino noticed he was even more handsome up close,”my oldest friend.”
“I thought I was.” He bit out before he could stop himself, but Ohno was too focused on his friend to see the bitterness.
“You are, but I’ve known Sho-chan since kindergarten, isn’t that right?” Ohno said, throwing his arm around Sho’s shoulders.
”Okay when did Sho-kun change to Sho-chan?” Nino thought while trying his best to smile.
“Yeah, we go way back.” Sho laughed as if remembering a distant memory, “I’m in town for a while, I was hoping to see you.”
“Hell I’m all yours! It’s been like 5 years since I last saw you, and 20 years since you came here.” Ohno shouted happily, and Nino sadly thought to himself how he never made him laugh like that.
“Come on, let’s go to my studio. We have a lot of catching up to do.” Ohno said happily, already dragging his old friend to the door as Sho said a quick good bye to Nino.
And Nino just stood there, the cloth still in his hand, and a deep sadness in his eyes.
#####*****#####
Sho sighed as he looked at the black gravestone, “Hi mom, hi dad...hisashiburi.” He kneeled while his fingers started playing with the flower’s petal, “I know it’s been long since last time I was here... but-,” he started at the stone, “you know how hard it’s been for me,” He stopped, a sad smile gracing his lips, “I miss you two, I needed you all this time, but I was able to find my way, “He dropped his head for a second, smiling to himself. “I wanted you two to be proud of me, and now look at me,” He opened his arms showing his tailored suit to the stone. “I’m at the top dad, and no one can stop me...”
Once again he opened his mouth to speak when he felt a shadow over the gravestone, carefully he turned, but the sun behind that person made it impossible for him to see his face.
“Ah... Gomen.” A cheerful voice resounded as the man changed his position now standing beside him, “I didn’t mean to interrupt you.” Usually Sho would get mad at anyone who disturbed his alone time, even if it was Jun, but as he looked at the man’s shining eyes, he found himself at loss of words.
“It’s fine...” he waved a dismissive hand. The sun was almost setting, and the graveyard was empty of people. It was the reason why Sho choose to go then, but seeing this young man at that time surprised him. “I was getting ready to go back anyway.”
He dusted off any trace of dirt as he got up now facing him, ”Sakurai Sho.”
Sho looked at him expectedly waiting for him to shake his hand, but to his wonder the young man only stared back at him, mixed with amazement and... there was something else too that he couldn’t put his finger on. It was something that looked a lot like disappointment.
He was about to retreat his hand when the young man as if he has awaken from his frozen state now reached for his hand, “Aiba Masaki.” Aiba shook his hand with a small smile, and despite his best effort not to, Sho still found himself staring at him, “Again I’m sorry for disturbing you, but I was really surprised to see a visitor for Sakurai family”.
“Yeah...it’s been so long since I was here.” Sho nodded his head, his eyes looking at the stone again.
“So you’re staying in town?” Sho focused his attention on Aiba again. There was something about this man that kept Sho looking back at him.
“My parent’s house is a bit outside of city, but yeah I’m staying there for a few days.”
“Well I hope I see more of you around,” Aiba showed him his dazzling smile, making Sho to return the gesture as Aiba turned his heels to leave, but paused out of the blue, “And Sakurai-san...” Aiba started, looking at the sky as stars were appearing little by little, “Your parents were really good people. I’m sure they’re peacefully in heaven now, and God is watching over them.”
Sho chuckled at that, his right hand in his pocket fisting. “Thank you,”he shook his head while that sad smile was still at the corner of his mouth,”but too bad Idon’t believe in god.”
#####*****#####
“My mom says it’s dangerous to get close to pool that much.” Sho looked at the small boy standing few feet away from him.
“It’s okay, I know how to swim.” He got closer to the boy, mesmerized by his shining eyes.
“You’re so lucky because I don’t.” The boy dragged his shoe on the dirt, his hands clasped behind.
“It’s okay,” He took the little boy’s hand leading him to the pool, “I’ll protect you.” He showed him his chipmunk teeth.
“Really?” the little boy beamed, and Sho thought his smile was even more dazzling than his teacher, Miss Yamazaki.
“I promise.”
“I had a dream last night.” Sho said as he followed Ohno in rows of fruits while the older man picked few of them.
“Congratulation, you’re human.”
He laughed at that, “No, I’m serious.” He picked an apple, “It’s been so long since I did, usually I’m so tired that I just go to sleep.”
“what was it?”
“Hmm?”
“Your dream,” Ohno turned to face him, but his eyes caught Nino’s figure from afar behind Sho’s back.
“Oh, well it was more like a faraway memory than a dream...”
“Hey”, Ohno looked at his friend as he not so subtly squeezed himself between them, ”today the weather is great, right?” Nino looked at them with a wide smile and Ohno wondered what has changed about his friend these past few days.
“Oh well, it was more like a faraway memory than a dream…” Sho murmured more to himself.
“Hey!” Ohno shouted to get Nino’s attention, not catching what Sho said. It seemed Sho didn’t mind anyways.
Nino looked at them with a smile, approaching them. The more Ohno saw Nino up-close, the more he saw that something had changed about his friend especially these past few days.
“What are you doing here Nino?” He asked paying for his fruits while Sho stood beside him idly.
“Nothing, I was in the neighborhood when I saw you and…” Sho noticed the way the younger suddenly became nervous, ”You haven’t been to cafe for a few days and... you know.” He looked at Ohno with his hopeful eyes while Sho just watched him with a sad smile, his friend has always been too oblivious.
“Yeah, I know. I’m sorry, but Sho-chan and I had a lot of catching up to do, right?” He elbowed Sho without noticing the way his friend looked at Nino with an apologizing smile.
“It’s okay, I understand.” Nino looked way, taking a step back now to distance himself from them until his back hit someone’s chest.
”Oh, Nino, are you done? Hi Ohno-kun, Sakurai-san” Aiba smiled at them, his eyes instantly found Sho’s. They smiled looking at each other as if they’ve known each other forever.
“I told you, just Sho is fine.” He nodded his head, now his attention completely onto the younger man.
Lately, they kept running to each other. Despite whatever Sho was doing, he would always found himself back to the young and radiant man. The fact that they understood each other completely wasn’t helping him at all.
”Okay Sho-chan,” Aiba chuckled at that, leveraging the bags in his arms when Sho helped him with some of them, “I’ll carry them for you.” Sho said as he started walking. Without anymore words, Aiba went after him. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea after all to ask him out....
“Okay....” Nino gaped behind them, “What just happened?” but before Ohno could say anything else suddenly a loud sound caught their attention.
They looked at each other before they started running after their friends to the source of that sound, listening to people shouting that a man fell from the building he was working on.
“Oh god” Aiba kneeled beside the bleeding man.
“We-we should call an ambulance.” Sho said as he started dialing with his trembling fingers.
“It’s okay...everything will be fine.” Aiba held the man in his arms.
Sho looked at him mesmerized how this man, this beautiful man was holding him in his last breaths until what he heard next froze him, ”Fa-father...” the man said hardly, “I’m sca-scared.”
”You can sleep now...our father is waiting for you.”
”He-he’s...waiting...”Aiba closed his eyes as his tears finally ran down his cheeks. He bent down his forehead, pressed it against the man’s to listen to his last words, while murmuring words to his ear till he finally breathed his last breath.
It was when the man was carried to the ambulance that Aiba finally turned to Sho and his two friends, the crowed were dissolved, but they were still there.
He closed his eyes to even his breathing. No, he was not ready for Sho to find out about him like this... not after the conversation they had in the cemetery, not after what he heard about Sho’s past.
“Father?” Sho said angrily, “You’re a priest?” he asked as if it was a crime.
He just wanted to hold on to what they had a little bit longer, but it was too late...
“Sho...” Ohno got close to him, “Now is not the right time.” He was worried for Aiba’s wellbeing as he stood there, looking at his still bloody hands.
“Why you didn’t tell me?” he shoved Ohno aside, his voice raising. Once again, they gathered people’s attention.
“Tell you what?” Aiba said looking at him still in daze.
”That you’re a fucking liar.”
“Sakurai-san…” Nino warned, but it was as if Sho was not in this world.
“You lie, and you make people believe in something that there is not.”
“We all have our beliefs, you have no right to force yours.” Aiba tried to stay calm.
“Isn’t that what you do?” he scoffed.
“SHO-SAN,” Nino shouted, but Ohno dragged him away.
“What is your problem with me? Your father was a priest, you say that he was a liar too?” Aiba said, coming closer to Sho. Now they were face to face.
“There’s no God. My father with his naïve beliefs cost us his and my mother’s life,” He shouted, his whole body trembling as memories flashed right before his eyes, “and you just did that to that poor man.” With that he turned on his heels leaving everything and everyone behind, not looking back even once.
#####*****#####
“Sho-san’s dad was a priest?”
“Yeah,” Ohno took a puff of Nino’s cigar as he sat beside him in the empty cafe.
“So...why he hate them? Why he doesn’t believe in God?”
“When he was 10 a plague came to town, his father and mother went house to house to be beside the family of victims,” He made himself comfortable on the chair, “It was not surprised they got it too.”
“Back then, it was just a tiny city. There were shortage in doctors and supplies, so his father refused to be treated. He believed if they were to survive, they would…” He took a long puff before continuing, “I was with him when Sho sat in his room, praying for God to save his parents.”
“Oh no,” Nino said sadly.
“Yeah... they died the next morning.”
#####*****#####
It had been a few days, and Sho still couldn’t figure out what came to him that made him burst like that. His mind tried to reason that he was disappointed, but he knew better.
"I shouldn't have come back here." He murmured to himself as the first drop of rain trailed down his cheek.
"This is just great," he mumbled while he tried to find his way back home, but the heavy rain and trees made it impossible for him to do otherwise.
As if another force was challenging him, he found the ground beneath him opening, creating a hole where he fell. "Aaahh..." he screamed his heart out as the pain shoot through his foot. "GOD FUCKING DAMN IT..." he screamed to the heavy rain, as if all the sorrow he ever had now found it was time to show themselves. His parents’ death, his loneliness... the face that he has fallen for...
But it still wasn’t over...
"Hello?!"
He jerked his head up. "I’m here, I fell in the hole, heeelllppp" he screamed supporting his weight to the wall to wait for his savior, “I think my leg is broken".
Sho froze at the face that showed itself to him. It was far from what he expected. Yes, the world was definitely playing a cruel joke on him.
"Oh!" if it was under any other circumstance, if he just didn't have a fight with the younger man, he would have laughed at the "o" formed on his face, but the child within him started to show himself again.
"Sakurai-san!"Aiba kneeled at the edge of hole, "are you okay? I’ll help you right out".
"You don’t have to" he looked away, "Just...just please call someone"
"Don’t be ridiculous, I’ll find something" Without waiting for an answer Aiba ran to the nearest tree to get a broken branch, Here! Hold at the other side.”
“You can’t pull me up, I’m heavy for you” Sho said childishly.
“I’m strong enough, now take it!” Once again, Aiba pushed the branch to him, he got closer to the edge to have better leverage, and he couldn’t help but to smile to himself when Sho took it in his hand, “That’s it, we’ll work together,1,2… Ah!”
Sho blinked twice when the other man fell in the hole beside him. He tried to stay calm, to be reasonable, but at that moment, he was anything but. He was in the middle of nowhere, his feet hurt, heavy rain falling on him, cold and stuck with the last person he wanted to be with. Yeah, he finally had enough.
“AAAAAHHH, ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?“ He screamed at the young man, “WHY DO YOU WANT TO PLAY THE HERO? Huh? huhh?!!!! You could have gone to get help, or call someone on your phone, but no, you thought my precious God gave me some kind of superpowers…I cannot-“
“SHUT UP! SHUT UP! JUST SHUT THE HELL UP.”
Sho instantly closed his mouth. In all his life, he wouldn’t even think that a person with such kind eyes could carry so much anger too.
“AND STOP ACTING LIKE A SPOILED CHILD,” Aiba breathed deeply through his nose looking straight at him, “I didn’t call for help cause my battery died an hour ago. I didn’t go for help not because I thought I was a superhero. For your information I’m strong enough. I didn’t go cause you’re lost, and I have no idea how far are we in the Jungle.” He wiped the mud off his face before continuing, “I was afraid it might take long if I go. Something might happen to you, so I took my chances.” He said, pushing his index finger as Sho.
Sho stood there dumbfounded, realization washing over him. He turned his head, “I’m sorry...”
“Damn right you are,”Aiba pouted as he crossed his arms over his chest, and once again, Sho found himself drowning into him for the hundredth time.
#####*****#####
“Aaah, it’s been so long since it last rained like this,” Nino turned his head to Ohno, who was sitting on the small round table beside the window. Nino smiled, still drowned in his own world as he stared out the window, the rain was falling heavily outside, hitting the trees and grasses, and washing the green garden.
“Hey, you’re awfully quiet.” Ohno looked at his friend, “Aren’t you going to get me a cup of coffee?” He nudged the younger man with a teasing smile, but Nino remained silent, his eyes glued to the pouring rain.
“The cafe is almost empty,” Nino said quietly, too coped in his world. “You can get it yourself. You’re used to here anyway.” He continued, finally looking at Ohno.
Ohno saw a flash of something unfamiliar in Nino’s eyes, urging him to ask, “Nino, are you okay?”
“I heard Sho-san is leaving,”
“Ah yeah, he’s leaving in a day or two I think,” Ohno replied.
Nino smiled sadly at how easily the older man got distracted by that name.
“I think you should tell Sho-san,” Nino pushed a stray of rebellious hair behind his ear while he continued looking at his fingers. No, he didn’t have the strength to do it yet, to look into Ohno’s eyes.
“Tell him what?” Ohno cocked his head to the side, a playful pout on his chubby face.
It took Nino few seconds to gather himself, to be able to look into Ohno’s eyes when he told him without showing his true self first, “How you feel about him,”
Ohno froze where he was, his mind in frenzy to figure out what just happened when a presence shadowed over them.
“Anou, Ninomiya-san,” Nino turned to look at the young man who was standing beside his seat. “Sorry to bother you. I know you haven’t play in a long time, but it’s my first date with my girlfriend, and I really want us to have a good memory,” The boy said in one go and Nino saw a young girl on the faraway table, “Can you play a song for us? Please?” It took Nino a few seconds as he looked at the boy’s face. He didn’t seem older than 16, and the way he was glowing Nino knew he was in love.
Without any words he stood up as he went to the white piano at the corner of the café carefully, he traced the keys. How long had it been since the last time he touched the piano? Probably around the same time when his heart finally gave up on the older man. He smiled sadly to himself. There was no way that Ohno loved him, but still he could give something to the couple, a small gift to make them happy.
The first thing Ohno thought about the moment Nino’s fingers touched the keys was how much he missed listening to Nino playing. How long had it been? Why didn’t he notice it? He looked at Nino’s small frame moving to the rhythm, his eyes closing as if he was seeing a familiar dream behind his closed eyelids.
Ohno saw how beautiful Nino was. He saw how thin his friend had become. When was the last time he payed attention to him close? He felt great happiness in his heart as he listened to Nino playing, the feeling he only had when he was with the younger man. Before he came to himself, he saw his life passing through his eyes like a movie. In every frame, every moment, and every scene, Nino was right there beside him. Nino would talk to him when he had no one to talk to. Nino would wipe his tears when his heart was heavy. Nino would grit his teeth when the younger male was angry at him. Nino would even hold his tears, just to be strong for him. How could he be so blind?
How could Nino think he liked Sho when all he ever wanted was to spend the rest of his life with him?
He loved Nino and that thought made him smile to himself. It really did.
The song was coming to an end when he got up from his seat, walking to the piano and its piano player. Quietly, he sat on the small bench.
The last notes danced in the air when Nino finally took his hands off the keys, folding them on his lap. He was refusing to open his eyes, as if he was afraid of seeing what he expected.
Gently, Ohno tilted Nino’s head to face him, cupping the latter’s cheeks when Nino finally opened his eyes, looking at him in disbelief, “Oh-chan?”
Ohno looked deep into Nino’s eyes, making sure for the last time before leaning in, pressing his lips against Nino’s thin ones. It took the younger by surprise, but after a few seconds, the reality sank to him. This wasn’t a dream after all.
Nino closed his eyes, letting a single tear ran down through his cheek while kissing the older man. They didn’t care anymore about the time and the place they were in.
Ohno was the first one to break the kiss, not to finish it, but to tell him all he had to say sooner. He wiped that lonely tear with his thumb, refusing to let go of his hold on Nino, ”Sorry it took me this long,” he finally breathed out, pressing his forehead against Nino’s.
Nino laughed softly, quietly, “You’re here now, aren’t you?”
“Always,” Ohno kissed him one more time, ”Always”.
#####*****#####
“How are you feeling?”Aiba worriedly checked Sho’s temperature making the older man to chuckle.
“I’m fine, the rain almost stopped.” Sho groaned as he tried to move his leg a bit, ”The problem is my leg.”
“Does it hurt badly?” Sho didn’t answer at first. He was busy watching the worry in Aiba’s eyes. It was a long time since someone really cared for him. It was true that he had Jun and Ohno as his best friends, but this man… this man with shining eyes and warm smile was something else. He treated him badly, yet all Aiba wanted to do was to help him, regarding him concern. It had been long since he really felt so much care from someone.
“I’m sorry,” He murmured even surprising himself, but when he spoke those, he knew he was sure.
“Hmm?” Aiba hummed softly, turning his head away from Sho’s leg to look at him, ”For what?” Aiba said with a small smile, sitting closer to enjoy each other’s warmth.
He played with his finger for a second, gathering courage, “Abo-about what I said the other day.”
“I was out of line. I emptied my sadness and my own reasons on you,” He looked straight to Aiba’s eyes, “Will you forgive me for that?”
Aiba bit his lip as he looked down for a moment. He took a shaky breath before he started, ”Long time ago when I was a little boy, my mother took me somewhere with herself. I waited in the garden as she went inside so I started looking around. The house had a big, beautiful garden and a huge pool in the middle,” he stopped his story, chuckling to himself, “Though when I think about it, it’s not that big now, but to me then it was the biggest,”
Sho smiled knowingly as he patiently waited for Aiba to continue.
“I really wanted to get closer, but I was scared to get drowned. I was looking around when I saw a small boy around my age sitting at the edge of pool,” Aiba looked deeply into his eyes, “I told him of how dangerous it was, and of my fear but he told me-“
“I’ll protect you,” Sho murmured, completing Aiba’s words.
“Yeah,” he laughed shyly,” I was a scared, little boy who ran away from his fears, but that little boy’s smart words gave me power that there is someone watching over me... I didn’t see him again, but the memory of him stayed with me forever.” Aiba slowly brushed off a stray of hair out of his face, as if he was buying himself some time for what he was going to say next. It was as if he was assuring himself. “20 years later I saw him again in a cemetery, and though he didn’t remember me anymore, he was just like the same as I remembered him,” he smiled to himself.
“But on the inside, he changed. I know I shouldn’t have. I know how you felt... but childishly I wanted to hold onto what I had...”
“I was wrong bu-“ Aiba found the rest of his words stuck in his throat when what happened next was Sho’s warm lips pressed against his.
He froze at his spot. It wasn’t right. “This isn’t right!” His mind screamed. He was a priest, but he lost all his sanity when Sho cupped his left cheek, and Aiba found himself lost in the warmth of his touch, his lips and his love in every move he made.
He didn’t remember how long it took when he finally pushed Sho away? Was it 30 seconds? 2 minutes? Or was it 5 minutes? He didn’t remember, but by that time, they were both panting, looking into each other’s eyes.
“I...” Sho licked his lips to speak when the sound of footsteps, and someone whistling caught their attention.
“Someone’s coming this way.” They said in unison before screaming for help so that the local man could help them, their kiss forgotten... or so they were trying to.
#####*****#####
“I’m gonna miss you.” Ohno said as he tried to close Sho’s suitcase.
“Rrriiiight,” Sho laughed, punching his shoulder playfully, ”You’ll be busy with Nino enough to forget all about me.”
“Yeah,” he laughed shyly, “He’s wonderful”. He said looking at a distance.
“Hey, hey, hey... don’t go lovestruck on me, Ohno-san.” Sho said, carefully moving his feet. He was feeling grateful that he didn’t have to cast it.
“Speaking of going lovestruck...” Ohno licked his lips as he rounded the couch to sit near his friend, “What happened between you and Aiba-chan?”
Sho froze, ”What about us?”
Ohno went quiet for few seconds, looking for the right words to say, “Ever since the two of you came back from the jungle....” he let his words hang wisely, giving his friend a chance to open up to him.
“Nothing happened,” Sho looked down, playing with his phone while waiting for Jun’s call to pick him up.
“Hey...” Ohno gently touched his knee to get Sho’s attention, “Sho...”
But before he was able to say anything else Sho’s phone rang, “Okay, I’ll be ready,” He hung up, looking at Ohno afterwards, “It was Jun, he’ll be here in few minutes,” he tried to get up with the support of the couch, “I think it’s better if I wait for him at the door,” Ohno smiled in return as he got up to get Sho’s suitcase and moved it by the door.
The car arrive at the front door moments later, Jun emerging from it. After brief introductions, Jun took Sho’s suitcase to take to the trunk, allowing him to have a few words to his friend before leaving.
“Take care of yourself and Nino,” Sho reminded his old friend when Jun finally arrived to pick him up.
“I will.” Ohno nodded his head absentmindedly. He was at war with himself to say it or not. Sho took it as his cue to ride the car and leave.
The car was already leaving when Ohno ran to it, shouting, “Sho-chan, wait!” He was able to catch up when the car stopped. “Aiba-chan…” He panted, clinging to the car door. Sho was puzzled as Ohno’s next words took all his strength away, “I don’t know what happened between the two of you, but he quit church, quit being a priest the next day.”
“Wh-what?” Sho said in surprised, not believing his ears, ”Why?”
Ohno only shook his head, “He didn’t say anything... just that he couldn’t do it anymore.”
#####*****#####
Sho panted as he made his way through the trees, “This damn Jungle,” He said frustrated as he tried to make his way. He cursed for the hundred time, caught in the moment he asked Jun to let him out in the middle of their way. After what Ohno told him, he just couldn’t go without at least seeing Aiba one more time… to know why.
“Oh I’m lost again...…” He looked around himself as if history was repeating itself again, but at least this time there was no sign of rain. “Why you do this to me?” He looked up, ”Is this how you pay me back cause I hated you all these years?” He opened his arms looking at the sky desperately, “I love him” He screamed, “Are you happy now? You can take your revenge now,” His head hanged as he tried to hold his tears, “You took my parents away, but...” He couldn’t help it when a tear rolled down his cheeks, “Please don’t take him away from me.” He sat on the grass. How long had it been since he last cried?
“I don’t wanna lose him.”
“You won’t lose me,”
Sho raised his head in surprise. He couldn’t see that person’s face in front of him. The sunlight ray’s coming through the trees made it hard for him to see that man’s face, but only hearing his voice was enough to let him know who it was.
“Masaki…” He said with his broken voice as he rose his hand, and it didn’t take more than a second as Aiba took his hand, sitting in front of him.
“How…?” Sho said still in daze, his hands gripping tightly to Aiba’s.
Aiba smiled before answering, wiping Sho’s tears away despite the tears gathered at the corner of his own eyes, “I heard you, I was lost... walking aimlessly when I found myself here again,” He squeezed Sho’s hand tight, “…then I heard your voice.”
“You-you quit.”
“I did.” Aiba said kindly.
“Why? Cause it’s forbidden to kiss a man, and because of that you can’t be a priest anymore?”
Aiba looked down for a second before he composed himself for what he wanted to say next, I quitted because I fell in love,” he looked deeply into Sho, “I fell in love with this stubborn and short-tempered man, who wants to still believe deep inside but refuses to, who is still trying so hard to find his peace.”
“I didn’t quit cause I did something sinful. I did because I want to be with this man, and I know my god is kind enough to forgive and accept me for who I am,” he smiled shyly, biting his lip as he looked down at their intertwined fingers, “Though all that is left to see is if he still wan-“
Sho kissed him midway, there was no need for words anymore... not when he could show them to him.
“You gotta stop kissing me suddenly!” Aiba laughed to his lips when they broke apart, “it’s not fair.”
“Sorry,” Sho laughed feeling so light that he could fly, “Can I kiss you Masaki?”
This time it was Aiba’s turn to return the favor.
#####*****#####
3 years later:
“You spend so much time on choosing the flowers,” Sho gripped Aiba’s hand lovingly as they stood in front of his parents’ graves.
“The flowers are important Sho-chan, you know I can’t take these things lightly.”
“I know,” Sho kissed the back of his hand gently, ”They’ll be jubilant about them.”
Aiba laughed happily at that, tugging Sho’s hand, “Shall we go? Nino and Oh-chan are waiting for us for lunch, and not dinner.”
Sho pouted following him behind, ”Well you could’ve scheduled for dinner, we’ll be in town for a whole week you know,”
“I do,” Aiba said happily as he opened the car’s door, ”But I miss those two so I wanted to see them as soon as possible. Now stop with the whining, and get in the car mister.” He ordered as he sat in the passenger’s seat.
Sho laughed freely, shaking his head, his hand on the car handle. He looked back at the grave yard for one last time, his whole being filled with happiness, he looked up to the sky. “Thank you.” He murmured, a beautiful smile gracing his face.
Title: Flashlight
Pairing: Sakuraiba, Ohmiya
Rating/Warnings: pg-13
Summary: Sho doesn’t believe in god, Aiba is a priest. Nino is in love, Ohno is oblivious.
Notes:
Note1: Dear an_jung, it’s my first time participating in a fic-exchange and I’m really glad to write this story for you, I wanted to write this story for the longest time and I really hope I was able to fulfill your request at least a little bit, and till next time, yoroshiko ongaishimasu.
Note2: I know there are people who don’t believe in god, I didn’t mean to say if it’s good or bad, I just used it as an excuse to write this story, please don’t take it personally, and also I’m not a Christian so I
didn’t have much information about it. If you see any mistakes, please forgive me. Again I mean no offend.
“Sho? SHO!”
“Huh?!” The young man turned his head from the view he was looking at to his friend.
“I said everything is ready, you’re leaving tomorrow.” Jun repeated.
“And I said absolutely not,” Sho loosened his tie as he got up from his chair and rounded his desk, ”I’m going after the new contract with...” he stopped short, snapping his fingers to remember the name.
“With Yatsuba company,” Jun gracefully completed his words, “…Now, you just proven that you need this vacation, and you know why? Cause you tire yourself too much.” The young man said as he made himself comfortable on one of the couches.
“I’m your boss, you can’t talk to me like that,” Sho said amused.
“Yes,” Jun replied, standing up and made his way to the other, ”But I’m also your friend, this company isn’t your everything,” He placed his hand on Sho’s shoulder, “take the vacation, you deserve it and I’ll be right here taking care of everything.”
Once again Sho looked out the window, maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea after all... especially since their anniversary was close.
Maybe it was finally time to go back...
#####*****#####
“Do you need anything else?” Nino said annoyed watching Ohno dozing over his cup of cold coffee, ”Oh-chan?! Hey!” Nino hit his head with the cloth over his shoulder.
“Wh-what?” Ohno jumped looking everywhere, panicked.
“Anything else? Come on Oh-chan, you know it’s our rush hour” he said annoyed already, eyeing the new costumer.
“Mou~” Ohno pouted as he grabbed his stuff, “you’re always awful to me Nino”.
“Believe me Oh-chan, you still haven’t seen anything.” he muttered to himself as he wiped the small table when Ohno’s voice, well Ohno’s cheerful voice caught his attention.
“Sho-kun? OH my GOD. I can’t believe it.”
He turned in time to see the old man hugging a tall and well-built man, his back facing him. Nino couldn’t see his face, but the moment he turned Nino felt a pang in his heart, that man, the one who Ohno called as “Sho”, was gorgeous.
“Nino...Nino” Ohno ran to him with Sho on his tail, ”This is Sho-kun,” the man smiled at him, and Nino noticed he was even more handsome up close,”my oldest friend.”
“I thought I was.” He bit out before he could stop himself, but Ohno was too focused on his friend to see the bitterness.
“You are, but I’ve known Sho-chan since kindergarten, isn’t that right?” Ohno said, throwing his arm around Sho’s shoulders.
”Okay when did Sho-kun change to Sho-chan?” Nino thought while trying his best to smile.
“Yeah, we go way back.” Sho laughed as if remembering a distant memory, “I’m in town for a while, I was hoping to see you.”
“Hell I’m all yours! It’s been like 5 years since I last saw you, and 20 years since you came here.” Ohno shouted happily, and Nino sadly thought to himself how he never made him laugh like that.
“Come on, let’s go to my studio. We have a lot of catching up to do.” Ohno said happily, already dragging his old friend to the door as Sho said a quick good bye to Nino.
And Nino just stood there, the cloth still in his hand, and a deep sadness in his eyes.
#####*****#####
Sho sighed as he looked at the black gravestone, “Hi mom, hi dad...hisashiburi.” He kneeled while his fingers started playing with the flower’s petal, “I know it’s been long since last time I was here... but-,” he started at the stone, “you know how hard it’s been for me,” He stopped, a sad smile gracing his lips, “I miss you two, I needed you all this time, but I was able to find my way, “He dropped his head for a second, smiling to himself. “I wanted you two to be proud of me, and now look at me,” He opened his arms showing his tailored suit to the stone. “I’m at the top dad, and no one can stop me...”
Once again he opened his mouth to speak when he felt a shadow over the gravestone, carefully he turned, but the sun behind that person made it impossible for him to see his face.
“Ah... Gomen.” A cheerful voice resounded as the man changed his position now standing beside him, “I didn’t mean to interrupt you.” Usually Sho would get mad at anyone who disturbed his alone time, even if it was Jun, but as he looked at the man’s shining eyes, he found himself at loss of words.
“It’s fine...” he waved a dismissive hand. The sun was almost setting, and the graveyard was empty of people. It was the reason why Sho choose to go then, but seeing this young man at that time surprised him. “I was getting ready to go back anyway.”
He dusted off any trace of dirt as he got up now facing him, ”Sakurai Sho.”
Sho looked at him expectedly waiting for him to shake his hand, but to his wonder the young man only stared back at him, mixed with amazement and... there was something else too that he couldn’t put his finger on. It was something that looked a lot like disappointment.
He was about to retreat his hand when the young man as if he has awaken from his frozen state now reached for his hand, “Aiba Masaki.” Aiba shook his hand with a small smile, and despite his best effort not to, Sho still found himself staring at him, “Again I’m sorry for disturbing you, but I was really surprised to see a visitor for Sakurai family”.
“Yeah...it’s been so long since I was here.” Sho nodded his head, his eyes looking at the stone again.
“So you’re staying in town?” Sho focused his attention on Aiba again. There was something about this man that kept Sho looking back at him.
“My parent’s house is a bit outside of city, but yeah I’m staying there for a few days.”
“Well I hope I see more of you around,” Aiba showed him his dazzling smile, making Sho to return the gesture as Aiba turned his heels to leave, but paused out of the blue, “And Sakurai-san...” Aiba started, looking at the sky as stars were appearing little by little, “Your parents were really good people. I’m sure they’re peacefully in heaven now, and God is watching over them.”
Sho chuckled at that, his right hand in his pocket fisting. “Thank you,”he shook his head while that sad smile was still at the corner of his mouth,”but too bad Idon’t believe in god.”
#####*****#####
“My mom says it’s dangerous to get close to pool that much.” Sho looked at the small boy standing few feet away from him.
“It’s okay, I know how to swim.” He got closer to the boy, mesmerized by his shining eyes.
“You’re so lucky because I don’t.” The boy dragged his shoe on the dirt, his hands clasped behind.
“It’s okay,” He took the little boy’s hand leading him to the pool, “I’ll protect you.” He showed him his chipmunk teeth.
“Really?” the little boy beamed, and Sho thought his smile was even more dazzling than his teacher, Miss Yamazaki.
“I promise.”
“I had a dream last night.” Sho said as he followed Ohno in rows of fruits while the older man picked few of them.
“Congratulation, you’re human.”
He laughed at that, “No, I’m serious.” He picked an apple, “It’s been so long since I did, usually I’m so tired that I just go to sleep.”
“what was it?”
“Hmm?”
“Your dream,” Ohno turned to face him, but his eyes caught Nino’s figure from afar behind Sho’s back.
“Oh, well it was more like a faraway memory than a dream...”
“Hey”, Ohno looked at his friend as he not so subtly squeezed himself between them, ”today the weather is great, right?” Nino looked at them with a wide smile and Ohno wondered what has changed about his friend these past few days.
“Oh well, it was more like a faraway memory than a dream…” Sho murmured more to himself.
“Hey!” Ohno shouted to get Nino’s attention, not catching what Sho said. It seemed Sho didn’t mind anyways.
Nino looked at them with a smile, approaching them. The more Ohno saw Nino up-close, the more he saw that something had changed about his friend especially these past few days.
“What are you doing here Nino?” He asked paying for his fruits while Sho stood beside him idly.
“Nothing, I was in the neighborhood when I saw you and…” Sho noticed the way the younger suddenly became nervous, ”You haven’t been to cafe for a few days and... you know.” He looked at Ohno with his hopeful eyes while Sho just watched him with a sad smile, his friend has always been too oblivious.
“Yeah, I know. I’m sorry, but Sho-chan and I had a lot of catching up to do, right?” He elbowed Sho without noticing the way his friend looked at Nino with an apologizing smile.
“It’s okay, I understand.” Nino looked way, taking a step back now to distance himself from them until his back hit someone’s chest.
”Oh, Nino, are you done? Hi Ohno-kun, Sakurai-san” Aiba smiled at them, his eyes instantly found Sho’s. They smiled looking at each other as if they’ve known each other forever.
“I told you, just Sho is fine.” He nodded his head, now his attention completely onto the younger man.
Lately, they kept running to each other. Despite whatever Sho was doing, he would always found himself back to the young and radiant man. The fact that they understood each other completely wasn’t helping him at all.
”Okay Sho-chan,” Aiba chuckled at that, leveraging the bags in his arms when Sho helped him with some of them, “I’ll carry them for you.” Sho said as he started walking. Without anymore words, Aiba went after him. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea after all to ask him out....
“Okay....” Nino gaped behind them, “What just happened?” but before Ohno could say anything else suddenly a loud sound caught their attention.
They looked at each other before they started running after their friends to the source of that sound, listening to people shouting that a man fell from the building he was working on.
“Oh god” Aiba kneeled beside the bleeding man.
“We-we should call an ambulance.” Sho said as he started dialing with his trembling fingers.
“It’s okay...everything will be fine.” Aiba held the man in his arms.
Sho looked at him mesmerized how this man, this beautiful man was holding him in his last breaths until what he heard next froze him, ”Fa-father...” the man said hardly, “I’m sca-scared.”
”You can sleep now...our father is waiting for you.”
”He-he’s...waiting...”Aiba closed his eyes as his tears finally ran down his cheeks. He bent down his forehead, pressed it against the man’s to listen to his last words, while murmuring words to his ear till he finally breathed his last breath.
It was when the man was carried to the ambulance that Aiba finally turned to Sho and his two friends, the crowed were dissolved, but they were still there.
He closed his eyes to even his breathing. No, he was not ready for Sho to find out about him like this... not after the conversation they had in the cemetery, not after what he heard about Sho’s past.
“Father?” Sho said angrily, “You’re a priest?” he asked as if it was a crime.
He just wanted to hold on to what they had a little bit longer, but it was too late...
“Sho...” Ohno got close to him, “Now is not the right time.” He was worried for Aiba’s wellbeing as he stood there, looking at his still bloody hands.
“Why you didn’t tell me?” he shoved Ohno aside, his voice raising. Once again, they gathered people’s attention.
“Tell you what?” Aiba said looking at him still in daze.
”That you’re a fucking liar.”
“Sakurai-san…” Nino warned, but it was as if Sho was not in this world.
“You lie, and you make people believe in something that there is not.”
“We all have our beliefs, you have no right to force yours.” Aiba tried to stay calm.
“Isn’t that what you do?” he scoffed.
“SHO-SAN,” Nino shouted, but Ohno dragged him away.
“What is your problem with me? Your father was a priest, you say that he was a liar too?” Aiba said, coming closer to Sho. Now they were face to face.
“There’s no God. My father with his naïve beliefs cost us his and my mother’s life,” He shouted, his whole body trembling as memories flashed right before his eyes, “and you just did that to that poor man.” With that he turned on his heels leaving everything and everyone behind, not looking back even once.
#####*****#####
“Sho-san’s dad was a priest?”
“Yeah,” Ohno took a puff of Nino’s cigar as he sat beside him in the empty cafe.
“So...why he hate them? Why he doesn’t believe in God?”
“When he was 10 a plague came to town, his father and mother went house to house to be beside the family of victims,” He made himself comfortable on the chair, “It was not surprised they got it too.”
“Back then, it was just a tiny city. There were shortage in doctors and supplies, so his father refused to be treated. He believed if they were to survive, they would…” He took a long puff before continuing, “I was with him when Sho sat in his room, praying for God to save his parents.”
“Oh no,” Nino said sadly.
“Yeah... they died the next morning.”
#####*****#####
It had been a few days, and Sho still couldn’t figure out what came to him that made him burst like that. His mind tried to reason that he was disappointed, but he knew better.
"I shouldn't have come back here." He murmured to himself as the first drop of rain trailed down his cheek.
"This is just great," he mumbled while he tried to find his way back home, but the heavy rain and trees made it impossible for him to do otherwise.
As if another force was challenging him, he found the ground beneath him opening, creating a hole where he fell. "Aaahh..." he screamed his heart out as the pain shoot through his foot. "GOD FUCKING DAMN IT..." he screamed to the heavy rain, as if all the sorrow he ever had now found it was time to show themselves. His parents’ death, his loneliness... the face that he has fallen for...
But it still wasn’t over...
"Hello?!"
He jerked his head up. "I’m here, I fell in the hole, heeelllppp" he screamed supporting his weight to the wall to wait for his savior, “I think my leg is broken".
Sho froze at the face that showed itself to him. It was far from what he expected. Yes, the world was definitely playing a cruel joke on him.
"Oh!" if it was under any other circumstance, if he just didn't have a fight with the younger man, he would have laughed at the "o" formed on his face, but the child within him started to show himself again.
"Sakurai-san!"Aiba kneeled at the edge of hole, "are you okay? I’ll help you right out".
"You don’t have to" he looked away, "Just...just please call someone"
"Don’t be ridiculous, I’ll find something" Without waiting for an answer Aiba ran to the nearest tree to get a broken branch, Here! Hold at the other side.”
“You can’t pull me up, I’m heavy for you” Sho said childishly.
“I’m strong enough, now take it!” Once again, Aiba pushed the branch to him, he got closer to the edge to have better leverage, and he couldn’t help but to smile to himself when Sho took it in his hand, “That’s it, we’ll work together,1,2… Ah!”
Sho blinked twice when the other man fell in the hole beside him. He tried to stay calm, to be reasonable, but at that moment, he was anything but. He was in the middle of nowhere, his feet hurt, heavy rain falling on him, cold and stuck with the last person he wanted to be with. Yeah, he finally had enough.
“AAAAAHHH, ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?“ He screamed at the young man, “WHY DO YOU WANT TO PLAY THE HERO? Huh? huhh?!!!! You could have gone to get help, or call someone on your phone, but no, you thought my precious God gave me some kind of superpowers…I cannot-“
“SHUT UP! SHUT UP! JUST SHUT THE HELL UP.”
Sho instantly closed his mouth. In all his life, he wouldn’t even think that a person with such kind eyes could carry so much anger too.
“AND STOP ACTING LIKE A SPOILED CHILD,” Aiba breathed deeply through his nose looking straight at him, “I didn’t call for help cause my battery died an hour ago. I didn’t go for help not because I thought I was a superhero. For your information I’m strong enough. I didn’t go cause you’re lost, and I have no idea how far are we in the Jungle.” He wiped the mud off his face before continuing, “I was afraid it might take long if I go. Something might happen to you, so I took my chances.” He said, pushing his index finger as Sho.
Sho stood there dumbfounded, realization washing over him. He turned his head, “I’m sorry...”
“Damn right you are,”Aiba pouted as he crossed his arms over his chest, and once again, Sho found himself drowning into him for the hundredth time.
#####*****#####
“Aaah, it’s been so long since it last rained like this,” Nino turned his head to Ohno, who was sitting on the small round table beside the window. Nino smiled, still drowned in his own world as he stared out the window, the rain was falling heavily outside, hitting the trees and grasses, and washing the green garden.
“Hey, you’re awfully quiet.” Ohno looked at his friend, “Aren’t you going to get me a cup of coffee?” He nudged the younger man with a teasing smile, but Nino remained silent, his eyes glued to the pouring rain.
“The cafe is almost empty,” Nino said quietly, too coped in his world. “You can get it yourself. You’re used to here anyway.” He continued, finally looking at Ohno.
Ohno saw a flash of something unfamiliar in Nino’s eyes, urging him to ask, “Nino, are you okay?”
“I heard Sho-san is leaving,”
“Ah yeah, he’s leaving in a day or two I think,” Ohno replied.
Nino smiled sadly at how easily the older man got distracted by that name.
“I think you should tell Sho-san,” Nino pushed a stray of rebellious hair behind his ear while he continued looking at his fingers. No, he didn’t have the strength to do it yet, to look into Ohno’s eyes.
“Tell him what?” Ohno cocked his head to the side, a playful pout on his chubby face.
It took Nino few seconds to gather himself, to be able to look into Ohno’s eyes when he told him without showing his true self first, “How you feel about him,”
Ohno froze where he was, his mind in frenzy to figure out what just happened when a presence shadowed over them.
“Anou, Ninomiya-san,” Nino turned to look at the young man who was standing beside his seat. “Sorry to bother you. I know you haven’t play in a long time, but it’s my first date with my girlfriend, and I really want us to have a good memory,” The boy said in one go and Nino saw a young girl on the faraway table, “Can you play a song for us? Please?” It took Nino a few seconds as he looked at the boy’s face. He didn’t seem older than 16, and the way he was glowing Nino knew he was in love.
Without any words he stood up as he went to the white piano at the corner of the café carefully, he traced the keys. How long had it been since the last time he touched the piano? Probably around the same time when his heart finally gave up on the older man. He smiled sadly to himself. There was no way that Ohno loved him, but still he could give something to the couple, a small gift to make them happy.
The first thing Ohno thought about the moment Nino’s fingers touched the keys was how much he missed listening to Nino playing. How long had it been? Why didn’t he notice it? He looked at Nino’s small frame moving to the rhythm, his eyes closing as if he was seeing a familiar dream behind his closed eyelids.
Ohno saw how beautiful Nino was. He saw how thin his friend had become. When was the last time he payed attention to him close? He felt great happiness in his heart as he listened to Nino playing, the feeling he only had when he was with the younger man. Before he came to himself, he saw his life passing through his eyes like a movie. In every frame, every moment, and every scene, Nino was right there beside him. Nino would talk to him when he had no one to talk to. Nino would wipe his tears when his heart was heavy. Nino would grit his teeth when the younger male was angry at him. Nino would even hold his tears, just to be strong for him. How could he be so blind?
How could Nino think he liked Sho when all he ever wanted was to spend the rest of his life with him?
He loved Nino and that thought made him smile to himself. It really did.
The song was coming to an end when he got up from his seat, walking to the piano and its piano player. Quietly, he sat on the small bench.
The last notes danced in the air when Nino finally took his hands off the keys, folding them on his lap. He was refusing to open his eyes, as if he was afraid of seeing what he expected.
Gently, Ohno tilted Nino’s head to face him, cupping the latter’s cheeks when Nino finally opened his eyes, looking at him in disbelief, “Oh-chan?”
Ohno looked deep into Nino’s eyes, making sure for the last time before leaning in, pressing his lips against Nino’s thin ones. It took the younger by surprise, but after a few seconds, the reality sank to him. This wasn’t a dream after all.
Nino closed his eyes, letting a single tear ran down through his cheek while kissing the older man. They didn’t care anymore about the time and the place they were in.
Ohno was the first one to break the kiss, not to finish it, but to tell him all he had to say sooner. He wiped that lonely tear with his thumb, refusing to let go of his hold on Nino, ”Sorry it took me this long,” he finally breathed out, pressing his forehead against Nino’s.
Nino laughed softly, quietly, “You’re here now, aren’t you?”
“Always,” Ohno kissed him one more time, ”Always”.
#####*****#####
“How are you feeling?”Aiba worriedly checked Sho’s temperature making the older man to chuckle.
“I’m fine, the rain almost stopped.” Sho groaned as he tried to move his leg a bit, ”The problem is my leg.”
“Does it hurt badly?” Sho didn’t answer at first. He was busy watching the worry in Aiba’s eyes. It was a long time since someone really cared for him. It was true that he had Jun and Ohno as his best friends, but this man… this man with shining eyes and warm smile was something else. He treated him badly, yet all Aiba wanted to do was to help him, regarding him concern. It had been long since he really felt so much care from someone.
“I’m sorry,” He murmured even surprising himself, but when he spoke those, he knew he was sure.
“Hmm?” Aiba hummed softly, turning his head away from Sho’s leg to look at him, ”For what?” Aiba said with a small smile, sitting closer to enjoy each other’s warmth.
He played with his finger for a second, gathering courage, “Abo-about what I said the other day.”
“I was out of line. I emptied my sadness and my own reasons on you,” He looked straight to Aiba’s eyes, “Will you forgive me for that?”
Aiba bit his lip as he looked down for a moment. He took a shaky breath before he started, ”Long time ago when I was a little boy, my mother took me somewhere with herself. I waited in the garden as she went inside so I started looking around. The house had a big, beautiful garden and a huge pool in the middle,” he stopped his story, chuckling to himself, “Though when I think about it, it’s not that big now, but to me then it was the biggest,”
Sho smiled knowingly as he patiently waited for Aiba to continue.
“I really wanted to get closer, but I was scared to get drowned. I was looking around when I saw a small boy around my age sitting at the edge of pool,” Aiba looked deeply into his eyes, “I told him of how dangerous it was, and of my fear but he told me-“
“I’ll protect you,” Sho murmured, completing Aiba’s words.
“Yeah,” he laughed shyly,” I was a scared, little boy who ran away from his fears, but that little boy’s smart words gave me power that there is someone watching over me... I didn’t see him again, but the memory of him stayed with me forever.” Aiba slowly brushed off a stray of hair out of his face, as if he was buying himself some time for what he was going to say next. It was as if he was assuring himself. “20 years later I saw him again in a cemetery, and though he didn’t remember me anymore, he was just like the same as I remembered him,” he smiled to himself.
“But on the inside, he changed. I know I shouldn’t have. I know how you felt... but childishly I wanted to hold onto what I had...”
“I was wrong bu-“ Aiba found the rest of his words stuck in his throat when what happened next was Sho’s warm lips pressed against his.
He froze at his spot. It wasn’t right. “This isn’t right!” His mind screamed. He was a priest, but he lost all his sanity when Sho cupped his left cheek, and Aiba found himself lost in the warmth of his touch, his lips and his love in every move he made.
He didn’t remember how long it took when he finally pushed Sho away? Was it 30 seconds? 2 minutes? Or was it 5 minutes? He didn’t remember, but by that time, they were both panting, looking into each other’s eyes.
“I...” Sho licked his lips to speak when the sound of footsteps, and someone whistling caught their attention.
“Someone’s coming this way.” They said in unison before screaming for help so that the local man could help them, their kiss forgotten... or so they were trying to.
#####*****#####
“I’m gonna miss you.” Ohno said as he tried to close Sho’s suitcase.
“Rrriiiight,” Sho laughed, punching his shoulder playfully, ”You’ll be busy with Nino enough to forget all about me.”
“Yeah,” he laughed shyly, “He’s wonderful”. He said looking at a distance.
“Hey, hey, hey... don’t go lovestruck on me, Ohno-san.” Sho said, carefully moving his feet. He was feeling grateful that he didn’t have to cast it.
“Speaking of going lovestruck...” Ohno licked his lips as he rounded the couch to sit near his friend, “What happened between you and Aiba-chan?”
Sho froze, ”What about us?”
Ohno went quiet for few seconds, looking for the right words to say, “Ever since the two of you came back from the jungle....” he let his words hang wisely, giving his friend a chance to open up to him.
“Nothing happened,” Sho looked down, playing with his phone while waiting for Jun’s call to pick him up.
“Hey...” Ohno gently touched his knee to get Sho’s attention, “Sho...”
But before he was able to say anything else Sho’s phone rang, “Okay, I’ll be ready,” He hung up, looking at Ohno afterwards, “It was Jun, he’ll be here in few minutes,” he tried to get up with the support of the couch, “I think it’s better if I wait for him at the door,” Ohno smiled in return as he got up to get Sho’s suitcase and moved it by the door.
The car arrive at the front door moments later, Jun emerging from it. After brief introductions, Jun took Sho’s suitcase to take to the trunk, allowing him to have a few words to his friend before leaving.
“Take care of yourself and Nino,” Sho reminded his old friend when Jun finally arrived to pick him up.
“I will.” Ohno nodded his head absentmindedly. He was at war with himself to say it or not. Sho took it as his cue to ride the car and leave.
The car was already leaving when Ohno ran to it, shouting, “Sho-chan, wait!” He was able to catch up when the car stopped. “Aiba-chan…” He panted, clinging to the car door. Sho was puzzled as Ohno’s next words took all his strength away, “I don’t know what happened between the two of you, but he quit church, quit being a priest the next day.”
“Wh-what?” Sho said in surprised, not believing his ears, ”Why?”
Ohno only shook his head, “He didn’t say anything... just that he couldn’t do it anymore.”
#####*****#####
Sho panted as he made his way through the trees, “This damn Jungle,” He said frustrated as he tried to make his way. He cursed for the hundred time, caught in the moment he asked Jun to let him out in the middle of their way. After what Ohno told him, he just couldn’t go without at least seeing Aiba one more time… to know why.
“Oh I’m lost again...…” He looked around himself as if history was repeating itself again, but at least this time there was no sign of rain. “Why you do this to me?” He looked up, ”Is this how you pay me back cause I hated you all these years?” He opened his arms looking at the sky desperately, “I love him” He screamed, “Are you happy now? You can take your revenge now,” His head hanged as he tried to hold his tears, “You took my parents away, but...” He couldn’t help it when a tear rolled down his cheeks, “Please don’t take him away from me.” He sat on the grass. How long had it been since he last cried?
“I don’t wanna lose him.”
“You won’t lose me,”
Sho raised his head in surprise. He couldn’t see that person’s face in front of him. The sunlight ray’s coming through the trees made it hard for him to see that man’s face, but only hearing his voice was enough to let him know who it was.
“Masaki…” He said with his broken voice as he rose his hand, and it didn’t take more than a second as Aiba took his hand, sitting in front of him.
“How…?” Sho said still in daze, his hands gripping tightly to Aiba’s.
Aiba smiled before answering, wiping Sho’s tears away despite the tears gathered at the corner of his own eyes, “I heard you, I was lost... walking aimlessly when I found myself here again,” He squeezed Sho’s hand tight, “…then I heard your voice.”
“You-you quit.”
“I did.” Aiba said kindly.
“Why? Cause it’s forbidden to kiss a man, and because of that you can’t be a priest anymore?”
Aiba looked down for a second before he composed himself for what he wanted to say next, I quitted because I fell in love,” he looked deeply into Sho, “I fell in love with this stubborn and short-tempered man, who wants to still believe deep inside but refuses to, who is still trying so hard to find his peace.”
“I didn’t quit cause I did something sinful. I did because I want to be with this man, and I know my god is kind enough to forgive and accept me for who I am,” he smiled shyly, biting his lip as he looked down at their intertwined fingers, “Though all that is left to see is if he still wan-“
Sho kissed him midway, there was no need for words anymore... not when he could show them to him.
“You gotta stop kissing me suddenly!” Aiba laughed to his lips when they broke apart, “it’s not fair.”
“Sorry,” Sho laughed feeling so light that he could fly, “Can I kiss you Masaki?”
This time it was Aiba’s turn to return the favor.
#####*****#####
3 years later:
“You spend so much time on choosing the flowers,” Sho gripped Aiba’s hand lovingly as they stood in front of his parents’ graves.
“The flowers are important Sho-chan, you know I can’t take these things lightly.”
“I know,” Sho kissed the back of his hand gently, ”They’ll be jubilant about them.”
Aiba laughed happily at that, tugging Sho’s hand, “Shall we go? Nino and Oh-chan are waiting for us for lunch, and not dinner.”
Sho pouted following him behind, ”Well you could’ve scheduled for dinner, we’ll be in town for a whole week you know,”
“I do,” Aiba said happily as he opened the car’s door, ”But I miss those two so I wanted to see them as soon as possible. Now stop with the whining, and get in the car mister.” He ordered as he sat in the passenger’s seat.
Sho laughed freely, shaking his head, his hand on the car handle. He looked back at the grave yard for one last time, his whole being filled with happiness, he looked up to the sky. “Thank you.” He murmured, a beautiful smile gracing his face.