Sugar and Pepper (prologue)
Edited: 2012.07.21
Title: Sugar and Pepper
Feature/Pairings: Arashi, Ooshima Miyuki, Juntoshi
Rating: pg - r
Summary: Matsumoto Jun and Ohno Satoshi are half-brothers with an odd relationship that develops into something more.
* PROLOGUE *
01.
Ohno Satoshi lived with his single father who was the employee of some big name company and was rarely home to watch his son.
Matsumoto Jun lived with his biological mother and father. Mr. Matsumoto was a salary man and Mrs. Matsumoto was a dutiful housewife.
Ohno Satoshi and Matsumoto Jun were half-brothers.
02.
The five year old Satoshi looked from behind the couch as his father spoke on the phone. "I'm going on a business trip. Just watch him for the next few days." There came a long pause when Satoshi was sure his mother spoke. Then his father continued, "You know he's not a bad boy. Satoshi is quiet."
He was. Satoshi watched his father's back and he said not a single word. Living in his father's cold household had turned him into a quiet, hesitant child.
After his father finished the call, the small Satoshi ran to his room and lay on his bed. He closed his eyes and envisioned his mother. Her sweet smile. Her fragant scent. Her warm embrace. After his parents' divorce, he only saw her a few times a year. But, he knew she had a new life now: a new family, a new husband, and another son; that was the reason for their infrequent outings.
03.
The next day, he impatiently waited on their doorstep for the arrival of his nanny who would drop him off at his mother's. Mr. Ohno had left a minute ago after extracting his promise to be good.
When his nanny did appear, Satoshi raced to her.
"Wow, you're uncharacteristically energetic today!" the older woman exclaimed as he tugged on her arm to hurry.
They started for the Matsumotos.
04.
"Your father is a jerk," Mrs. Matsumoto said as she set his bundle of things down. "But I'm glad I'll get to spend a few days with you."
Satoshi beamed at the admission. He was at his mother's and after hugs and greetings, she had led him upstairs to his temporary room. As they stood there, his mother reached over and took his small hand in hers. "Satoshi, you'll be sharing this room with Jun. If you need anything at night, you just come over and call mommy, okay?"
He nodded. Then his eyes caught sight of a boy who stood frozen in the doorway.
The two year old had a blanket wrapped around his shoulders, cape-like. He clutched the handle of a broom in his hand. At that moment, the broom lay idle in his small grasp as his attention focused on the new boy. Beady eyes blinked from under bushy brows.
Following Satoshi's gaze, Mrs. Matsumoto eventually saw her younger son. "Jun-chan! Where have you been? Come here and greet your brother."
At her order, Jun dropped his makeshift weapon. He rushed to his mother's side and grabbed her arm, pulling her away from the stranger in his house. Jun glared at Satoshi and shouted, "Mines!"
"Jun-kun!" Mrs. Matsumoto bellowed, appalled.
Satoshi watched their struggle and his young heart sank. He engraved the scene of an unaccepting Jun into his memory.
05.
That night, after a day of smiles from his mother and getting things taken away from a possessive Jun (including his plate and silverware), Satoshi lay next to his sleeping younger brother and tiredly blinked at the darkness above him.
He shifted on the futon and turned to face his younger brother. "I don't like you, too," Satoshi whispered. Because his father had told him whenever he asked for his mother that she was too busy taking care of her new son and husband. She had no time for Satoshi.
But even so, as soon as those words left his little lips, Satoshi regretted them. He leaned in close to the smaller child's nape and wished he had a perfect family like Jun. He wanted to be liked by Jun.
He thought that was impossible.
06.
As they grew up, Jun matured into a normal vibrant boy. Satoshi continued to stay withdrawn.
And their relationship, though considerably thawed, became a little odd.
* *
ONE