Title: Mirror - Chapter 1
Author: eiko_lotus & yun_miyake
Length: chaptered
Pairing: those, who own our soul
Summary: Everyone need someone by their side, someone that can challenge them to be a better one and someone that will always be there to protect, guide, and love them along the way. Who is that one?
Rate: PG
Disclaimer: even in our wildest dream, they still own each other.
PrologueThe campus dormitory was always stink from sweat, shoes, half-dried socks or the garbage which stayed in the trash bin for more than a week. None of the occupants were bothered by that, since all of them were male students. Today might be the smelliest day of the year; the rain kept falling hard since the morning. Wet shoes tracks decorated the floor along the corridors and no one seemed want to clean it. The mat at the entrance wasn’t enough to prevent their dirty shoes; it soon turned worn especially in the rainy days.
Ohno ran quickly, bare footed, holding his only one pair of shoes inside a plastic bag in order to prevent it from the rain. His feet accidentally stepped over a stone in front of the main door and he winced in pain, but at least he could shelter from the rain. His thin shirt was wet and it attached to his skin, showing how skinny he was. His short black hair dropped the water to his face, blurring his sight. He wiped it quickly as he walked towards his room at the second floor.
“Nice style Ohno kun.”One of his friend commented when they passed by each other at the corridor. He knew that he looked so funny with bare feet, wet shirt, rolled-up jeans and a plastic bag in his hand.
“Thanks,” he replied shortly. He brought his feet to the stairs and started climbing it. His stomach begged for food, he had just finished his assignment with the lecturer, which he hoped would be the last one. His friend, who lived next door, Nino, said that he had completed everything. He was unlocking his door when Nino’s head appeared from his room.
“What’s up,” he greeted Ohno while crossing his arms and leaned to the door frame.
“Do you have some food? I’m hungry to die now,” Ohno put his shoes outside and entered his room for a while to change his clothes. He flew to Nino’s room as he finished.
“My mother sent me cookies, you can have them all if you want,” Nino pointed something on his desk.
Ohno shifted towards the desk and took the cookies with grateful.
“I need proper food now.”
“Until when will you request me for food?” Nino protested as Ohno took a bowl and fulfilled it with the rice from the rice cooker.
“Until we graduate and get a job,” Ohno spoke while chewing the food quickly.
Nino technically owned more money than he did, since his parents were public servants who never missed in sending him monthly pocket money. His mother regularly sent him cookies or other snacks, Nino didn’t like eating a lot so Ohno mostly ate all of his food which he was grateful for.
Nino took one of his books and slumped to the bed, “So, we will go around again finding someone kind enough to hire us?” Nino asked. Ohno just nodded as his mouth was still full of food.
Both of them were students of music academy and would graduate soon. Ohno chose to live at school dormitory because it helped him to save the living cost; meanwhile Nino did it because he was too stingy to spend his money. Ohno came from countryside and wasn’t familiar with the life in a big city. He met Nino for the first time at the station. He remembered that he asked for the train which would bring them here, Nino didn’t explain but told him to follow him. That was how their friendship started. Nino learned playing music, but Ohno was more interested in singing. He was quite surprised when he knew Nino lived at the same floor, right next to his room.
They were looking for a job now, walking around the town every night from one bar to another one, but they weren’t so lucky since none of those bar owners wanted to hire them or they didn’t need any live band.
Nino would be grumbling angrily when the bar owner treated them like an intruder and he would rejected Ohno’s idea to try at the other bars. Nevertheless, he would go together with him, even though with never ending protest.
“We haven’t tried to go to Rakuen bar yet, it has just opened,” Ohno said after finishing his lunch.
“Do you think they will hire us, a new bar and still in promoting stage?” Nino took the magazine from his table, searching for part time job corner, “maybe it’s better for us to look for another job.”
“We’ll never know till we have tried, so prepare your guitar,” Ohno washed the bowl and the chopsticks, and returned it to the proper place.
“In case the rain is stopping,” Nino answered lazily.
Ohno smiled to him, he returned to his room and changed into clean clothes, he believed that they would find their luck in the right time.
***
“Please, at least let us play a song,” Ohno begged to the security whose body three times bigger than him. He and Nino were outside the Rakuen club building, a tall-big man had forbidden them to enter.
“We don’t receipt any new musician,” he roared to them, scanning Ohno’s old shoes mockingly.
“Let’s go O-chan,” Nino dragged his elbow further, but Ohno refused to give up.
“Please give us a chance!”
He freed himself from Nino and darted back to the security. The man tightened his fists as Ohno approached. He had almost grabbed Ohno’s collar when a man appeared from behind.
“What is going on here?”
A man with good clothes combination appeared; his jeans and shirt looked so expensive, his boots perfectly covered his long legs, and his face formed into a questioning expression.
“These two strangers want to perform inside, Aiba san, as if they deserve it,” the security said, mocking.
Ohno moved his sight to the new comer; he looked so much kinder than his security. He was tall and skinny, but it fit him just right and probably he was a model or something related to that.
“Why don’t we let them in? I am sure they have reason,” the man called Aiba said.
“Thank you, Sir. We just want to demo our performance and you can kick us out if you don’t like it,” Ohno said quickly before the security found another reason to extrude them.
“Sure, follow me,” he said, gesturing them to follow him inside. Nino glared at the security with the most hateful expression he could make. The stylish man led them to the back stage and ordered two of his employees to prepare the chairs.
“I am Aiba Masaki,” he mentioned his name with a broad smile on his lips. He wasn’t bothered by their appearances at all, he must be a nice man, Ohno thought.
“I am Ohno Satoshi and this is my partner, Ninomiya Kazunari, we will graduate from music academy soon and we want to look for experiences to practice what we have learnt,” Ohno said, trying not to slip his tongue.
“I can play almost all of music instruments,” Nino said from behind. “Aiba san,” he added.
“Wow, really? I’m looking forward for that. I would like to see your performance here,” the tall man said enthusiastically.
Ohno turned his head to see Nino’s reaction; he smirked to him and nodded. His friend slid out his guitar from its place. He chose to sit down at the far corner and waiting for Ohno to join him.
Ohno rose from his chair and took a deep breath few times. Nino started to play his guitar and he sang. His voice resounded in that small backstage; he kept on singing until Aiba clapped his hands and told him to stop.
“Bravo Ohno kun!” he roared happily, patting Ohno’s shoulder. “You’re hired, I will contact you soon for the schedule,” he said and darted to Nino to shake his hand.
Aiba asked them to leave their phone number; Ohno wrote his contact at the guest book on the table and approached Aiba again.
“Did you agree to hire us for real?” Ohno asked in disbelief. They had been neglected by more than five bars and clubs, but Aiba said yes after watching their half-finished performance.
Life could be full of surprised sometimes.
“You two got talent and I am happy if I can help,” he answered, giving them a wide smile as before. Ohno and Nino bowed to the man, the latter paid attention to the tall man longer than Ohno did until them heading to the exit. Nino made sure that he showed his evil face to the security before they left the club.
“He can kill you in a second,” Ohno hissed, dragging his hand further. They went home immediately and talked about Aiba Masaki along the way.
“Did you see his shoes?” Nino asked, rolling his eyes. “I can only dream to wear them on my feet.”
Ohno chuckled, Nino was right; Aiba’s clothes must be more expensive than their living cost for a month. They entered their own room as they arrived. Ohno mumbled good night to his friend who replied lazily. He smiled at himself; perhaps their luck had just begun.
***
Aiba contacted them in the afternoon, informing them that he would have empty stage tonight. Ohno was so glad to hear it, he thundered to Nino’s room to tell him.
“I suggest you to buy new shoes,” Nino said while glancing at Ohno’s old shoes. Its color was hard to tell and it was torn in many places.
“I will, as soon as we get our first salary,” Ohno replied. “These are my lucky shoes,” he argued. Nino shrugged and carried his guitar on his shoulder. They arrived at Rakuen club earlier than expected. Nino denied asking an entry permission yesterday security, so Ohno was the one who did it.
Aiba wasn’t there yet, Ohno and Nino wandered around to see how big this place was.
“Look, they have piano too,” Nino pointed. He approached it and didn’t wait for any approval to play it.
Ohno sat down and listened, he wasn’t sure if they were allowed to play the instrument, but no one came there to say something so he concluded it was okay. He was surprised when he heard somebody clapped their hands behind him. He turned around and saw Aiba Masaki was standing there. He wore white sneakers, a pair of short pants and a bright green shirt. Nino stopped playing the piano as he realized Aiba’s presence.
“No, no, don’t stop,” Aiba darted to him. “I’d love to hear more,” he said.
Ohno knew Nino too well, the other loved compliment, so he put his fingers on the piano key again and repeated the song. Ohno smiled at himself, it seemed that they were meant to meet Aiba at the first place.
“Aiba san, it’s time,” a staff said as he entered the room.
“A~ I almost forget, you guys, please change your clothes. Follow me, this way,” he led them towards a room where they would change their clothes with more proper ones. Ohno felt weird because it was the club owner himself who led them here and he even spared his time to listen to Nino’s piano.
Finally, their time to perform had come. Ohno moved awkwardly on his pants, they were a little bit tighter, it revealed his butt perfectly and he felt discomfort.
“The guests are enjoying their dinner, so I hope you can play slow songs,” the stage manager told them. Ohno and Nino nodded, they prepared the song list yesterday in case they were called for dinner party, and it was a nice step.
Ohno gripped his mike nervously; finishing school at music academy didn’t mean that he could handle the stage very well. But he was glad as he started singing, he began to enjoy it. Nino was also very calm in playing his guitar; they looked at each other and exchanged smiles. They finished their first performance perfectly without any mistakes.
“That was fun,” Nino commented as they walked back towards the changing room. They wore their shabby clothes once again.
A man entered and handed the envelope to Nino.
“Here’s your payment, thanks for your hard work.”
He bowed to them shortly and they replied, muttering thank you. Nino repaired his guitar as they headed the way out. His eyes scanned the whole room and Ohno knew that he was looking for Aiba.
“I think he’s busy tonight,” Ohno whispered. Nino pretended that he didn’t hear; he only formed a grin on his lips.
They couldn’t wait to see how much their payment was, so when they were already save inside Nino’s room, they opened the envelope carefully.
“1,2,3,4,5,6,” Nino counted the money, he brought the envelope to his eyes, peered if there were more money inside.
“6000 yen?” he said to Ohno, “how stingy.”
“It’s better than nothing,” Ohno shrugged to him, “3000 yen for each of us.”
“Don’t you think we should look for other clubs?” he asked desperately.
“In case they pay higher or even let us in,” Ohno grumbled, taking his money and leaving for his room. At least 3000 yen for one performance, he hoped Aiba would call them more than once in a week; he got ready to sleep, thinking that tonight wasn’t that bad.
***
He and Nino tried to apply at the other clubs but those clubs usually have their official band and won’t accept the part timer so they had no choice but to wait for Aiba’s call. Rakuen club gave them once a week show with 6000 yen payment, Nino was still grumbling that the payment was too low, and for the whole month they haven’t met with Aiba.
Ohno haven’t bought new shoes yet, the dormitory was still smell and dirty like always. He cleaned his own room which was so rare, collecting his old notes and put them in a box. If he graduated then he had to leave this dorm and look for a cheap apartment. His parents demanded him to go back home, they suggested him to work at the nearest school as music teacher, but Ohno denied the idea, he wanted to try his luck here.
He finished his assignment and collected it to his lecturer that day, his feet felt lighter since it was the last step for his graduation. He headed his dormitory and was climbing the stairs when his phone rang.
“Ohno kun, it’s me Aiba.”
“Aiba san, good afternoon,” he replied immediately.
“We will be holding a party next week, I hope you and Nino can perform there, you can enjoy the party as well,” he said with enthusiast in every word.
“Of course, I will tell Nino about it, he must be so excited,” Ohno answered happily.
“I’ll inform you for the further schedule, but please make sure that you’ll be free next week.”
“Thank you, Aiba san,” Ohno said, waiting until the man cut the lines. He ran to Nino’s room to inform him the news. Nino’s radiant face welcomed him when he told him that they were invited to perform at the party.
“You must play the piano this time,” Ohno suggested. “That Aiba san likes your piano, maybe you can perform solo.”
“No way,” Nino shook his head but his smile still plastered on his lips.
They spent the whole week to make a song list and tried to challenge their selves with the new songs. Ohno finally bought a pair of new shoes a few days before the party after Nino critiqued him that he would make everyone collapse with his smelly feet.
They finished their preparation for the performance and went to bed so late that night. Ohno had a dream, he found a swan at the swimming pool, a beautiful swan came to him and handed him something with its beak. A purple scarf with flower pattern, he took it and wore it on his neck, inhaling its scent. The dream felt so real that he reached the empty air to touch the scarf when he woke up the next morning.
a.n.: We're sorry for the delay >.< and we'll see you again this Sunday :)
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