Fanfiction: In Each Other's Arms
This is my first fanction in so very long. Since August, I think? Oh, how shameful! For someone who loves to both read and write (especially Arashi fanfiction), I certainly haven't been doing much of either one. I've been struggling with myself to write something with more substance for years, but haven't hit a wall quite like this. Hopefully, with this story, I'll kick the issue and move on. There's an author's note at the end. Please read the sister fanfiction that accompanies this one~
Title: In Each Other’s Arms
Pairing: Ohno Satoshi x Aiba Masaki
Genre: friendship, angst
Length: 2,422 words
Summary: Sometimes it takes forgetting to make one remember.
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the following people. This never happened and is purely fictional.
Information: This story kind of bounces around between the present and the past. The ellipses (. . .) mark the end of a memory. Although it’s in third-person, it’s heavily centered on the thoughts and emotions of Ohno. It’s a bit sad. Fair warning.
“Good work.”
Ohno waved back at the few remaining staff members.
It was nearly midnight. The other four members had left half an hour before but Ohno had stayed behind to ask if he could keep all of the paper fans tacked to the Kotatsu de Arashi wall. He had an idea forming for his next mixed media project. The director said yes even though it really wasn’t his call and Ohno accepted the offer before someone could tell him otherwise.
Part of him wanted to go straight home and begin the molding process, but part of him wanted to relax with a drink or two. While on his way back to the dressing room, he thought the decision over. In the end he was debating on which bar to go to.
“Hi Ohchan!” Aiba’s bright voice came out of nowhere, startling Ohno and nearly making him trip over his kimono, which was now pooled around his feet. Aiba smiled a little more then walked away, leaving Ohno beet red and more than confused. He quickly pulled on his jeans and slid on his t-shirt. He reminded himself that he’d have to talk to the boy about privacy and boundaries, but he knew it would never happen. Aiba will be Aiba no matter what and in spite of anything.
Even pneumothorax.
The word was bitter in Ohno’s mind and he stopped gathering his things for a moment to think about that time just four months ago. People seemed to think this time would be easier, that going through it a second time meant they could handle it better. . .
“That’s bullshit,” Ohno mumbled, then looked around to see if anyone heard him. He wondered where Aiba wandered off to. Like clockwork, the man walked back into the room, smiling all the same.
“Dressed this time?” Aiba whistled and flashed Ohno a smug little smile. “Yes,” was all Ohno said, feeling his face warm up a little.
“Why are you still here?” Ohno asked.
“All of us were waiting, but Jun-kun and Sho-chan said they couldn’t wait any longer because they had their drama filming tomorrow.” Aiba sounded just a little less enthused when he said the word “drama.” He really liked filming, being on set; and Ohno noted this. Maybe he could talk to someone about it.
“And Nino?” Ohno inquired.
“Nino said he just wanted to go home and left.” Aiba plopped down on the other chair near where Ohno was standing. “But he left last,” he quickly added.
Ohno wasn’t really sure of how to respond to this information so he remained silent and started looking over the contents of his bag. He could at least be sure that he wouldn’t leave anything behind. Aiba watched the older man’s hands as they thumbed through his sketch pad. The room was quiet but only Ohno was aware of it. He didn’t like it. Not since then.
His memory took him back to 2002, when they were gathered in the van and their group manager, Kuropi, was talking to them in a soft voice, telling them about what had happened. At first, Ohno didn’t think anything of it-because he couldn’t. He didn’t know what pneumothorax was, but he felt that it wasn’t right. He remembered feeling useless above everything. He was Arashi’s leader, Aiba’s senpai and close friend, and yet he couldn’t do anything to make it better, to ease the worries of everyone, including Aiba. No, most of all Aiba. . .
“Hey, Aiba-chan.”
“What, Ohchan~” Ohno was facing away from him, but he could hear the giddiness in Aiba’s voice.
“Let’s go get some drinks,” Ohno said and ushered him out the door and down the hallway.
“Oh! There’s a bar just a few blocks away! I seen it a long time ago while driving here but never tried it.”
“Aiba, that’s a gay bar for girls.” Ohno knew because he had made the same mistake. He laughed a little at his own expense. “I don’t think we’d fit in.”
Aiba laughed back, much louder. Ohno liked the sound and kept it going until they were in the parking lot. Aiba spotted his driver and started towards the car. “Wait a sec,” Ohno said, giving a slight nod to the driver.
“What?”
“Why don’t we take a walk and find another one?”
“Sure!”
Aiba waited and watched as Ohno went to his driver and explained the situation, then walk the short distance to his own driver and did the same. Hesitantly, they both started their cars and pulled out of the parking lot. Aiba giggled, somehow feeling like a teenager being left alone by his parents.
“Ready to go?” Ohno said, returning to where Aiba was waiting.
“Yep.” Aiba beamed, the expression changing in an instant. “But which way?”
“Well,” Ohno thought for a moment. “Our kind of bar won’t be near that other one, so how about this way?” He tilted his head to the right.
“Sounds good to me. Let’s go!”
It was hard to keep up with Aiba. The man was always so full of energy that even something as slow-paced as walking seemed to turn into a race. Ohno slung his bag over his shoulder and skipped a little to catch up. It felt uncomfortable carrying a bag. He didn’t do it very often and this was why.
“C-can you stop for a minute?” Ohno grimaced as he moved the bag’s strap from where it was digging into his shoulder.
“Sorry. . . do you want me to carry it?” Aiba was already reaching for the bag despite Ohno trying to pull it away in protest. “Give it back if it gets too heavy,” was all he could say.
They walked in silence. The night was unusually warm for early October and it felt nice. Ohno sighed contentedly, stretching his arms a little, before looking at Aiba. He was happy right now, Ohno could tell. Of course, Aiba was almost always happy, but every once in a while it changed into something more. It was infectious and made Ohno feel at ease, like everything was just right as rain. A line from Sho’s song flittered through Ohno’s head and he impulsively sang it.
“Everything’s gonna be all right.”
“They're not just words, let's look to the future,” Aiba responded on instinct.
They both laughed at that, surprised that either of them could recall the lyrics properly. Again, Aiba laughed a little louder and Ohno soaked it up. It was a beautiful sound.
Then he coughed.
Ohno knew it was only because of how hard he was laughing, but that didn’t matter. He couldn’t help but feel the pang in his chest, that physical reminder of what he felt that night.
He was back in the van with everyone. Everyone but Aiba. Kuropi shuffled into the passenger seat and turned around to look at all of them with a weak smile. It faded as his eyes shifted from the faces of each of them and he was practically frowning when he began explaining to them exactly what had happened.
“Aiba was practicing too hard last night and he said he felt that something wasn’t right. We took him to the hospital and it was discovered he had pneumothorax, meaning his lung collapsed.” Kuropi was speaking slowly, letting the weight of everything sink in a bit before he continued. “He’s doing okay right now. I think its best that everyone go home and try to rest.”
“Pneumothorax?” Sho asked into the silence.
Ohno remembered Nino getting pissed off. It was the only time he had seen him like that.
“How am I supposed to just go home and rest!?” Nino had balled his hands into fists and his knuckles were turning white, his palms turning red where his nails were digging in.
Sho intervened, reaching over to rub Nino’s shoulders. “Ninomiya-kun, it’s okay. It’s okay to be angry, but Kuropi’s right.” He lowered his voice. “We’ll go to the hospital tomorrow and see him. He’ll like that.”
The entire time Sho kept talking, repeating that it’s okay and everyone knew it was more to convince himself than anyone else. The drive to the hotel was quiet and Jun kept to himself, turned away from everyone else and looking out the window. The boy was just barely eighteen and struggling to understand what he’d just been told.
Ohno remembered seeing the tears he was trying to hide.
Ohno remembered all of this with such clarity it almost seemed like it was happening again. Only he’s watching the events unfold through the eyes of a stranger, standing at the side, hollow and empty. He was watching himself in his own room at the hotel, angry and sad at the same time, crying into the phone as the dial tone pounded in his ear. He wanted to reach out to someone but knew he had to be the strong one. He had to be the leader but he didn’t know how.
Why couldn’t he make things better?
Why couldn’t he do anything. . .
“Did you feel that?”
Ohno wasn’t sure if this was the first or second time Aiba asked but shook his head.
“I felt a raindrop. Do you think it’ll rain?” Aiba sounded more and more hyped up with every word and Ohno knew he was picturing the possibilities.
Ohno looked up at the gray clouds that were rolling across the sky and breathed in. The scent of moisture and the way the wind rubbed his skin made him want to go fishing, or at least be near the ocean again. “It looks like it will.”
No sooner had Ohno said the words then rain started to pour down like a wall. Aiba grabbed Ohno’s hand and pulled him along behind him, breaking into a run. They ran through the streets, their feet splashing through forming puddles until Aiba decided to stop underneath a grocer’s awning. Both of them were out of breath, Ohno bent over resting his hands on his knees, wheezing.
“You’re getting old, Ohchan!” Aiba teased while trying to keep his own breathing under control.
“What was that?” Ohno tried to stand up, but went right back down to his knees.
“I. . . don’t know.” Aiba was a little confused now, not sure why he wanted to run through the rain. He just felt like it, and he said so.
Ohno could straighten himself now and shook his head, but smiled.
“I heard somewhere that if you run fast enough in the rain, you’ll be running in between the rain drops and won’t get wet.” Aiba looked up towards the sky. “I was curious.”
“Experiment results?” Ohno asked.
“It doesn’t work,” Aiba replied.
Ohno couldn’t help but let out a huge burst of laughter, even though Aiba was completely serious. In turn, Aiba started to laugh too. He went on to talk about all the experiments he’s wanted to do since the end of A no Arashi. Ohno was only half listening. He was paying far more attention to the way Aiba was smiling, his eyes wide from enthusiasm and excitement over filling a room full of nitrogen gas and making it rain, “just to see what it would do.” The man in front of him was dripping wet, though, and Ohno knew it wouldn’t be wise to stay like this, despite not wanting to change the moment.
“Let’s go back. It’s getting cold.” Ohno grabbed Aiba’s hand and gently pulled him from under the shelter of the awning and made their way back to the studio. He wasn’t as fast as Aiba, but he was running, the other man trailing behind him, their hands together. Until Aiba ran out of breath and asked to stop. Ohno didn’t hear him over the rain and their hands came apart.
It was then that Ohno was reminded of the hospital. They had all gone to visit Aiba, but only Ohno stayed behind. He waited, greeted each manager, director, and friend that came, taking the gifts they brought, thanking them properly. He waited despite Aiba’s family telling him that he should go home and sleep. He remembered sitting in the vinyl chair, curled up and hugging his knees, trying to fight all the thoughts he was having, the what if’s that haunted him. He remembered holding Aiba’s hand while he slept the anesthesia off. Most of all, he remembered the feeling of Aiba squeezing his hand back and looking down at a face smiling up at him.
That was the day Ohno realized how much Aiba meant to him. They were bonded by something deeper and stronger than most people could even understand let alone have experienced. He loved Aiba, it was true. However, he realized that day, it wasn’t the same kind of love people talk about. It was the love that only the members of Arashi could come to know and define. Something that Ohno and Aiba both tried to understand that night in the hotel; the night they were drinking, and while reminiscing, both began to cry.
Ohno had forgotten. How could he have forgotten. . .
Ohno felt Aiba take hold of his hand once again and squeeze it tightly before pulling him into his arms. For the longest moment they simply stood there, the rain falling around them, lost in the moment. Ohno thought he was crying but couldn’t tell while water streamed down his cheeks. As he watched the lines of water flow down Aiba’s face, Ohno kept thinking of something to say.
It didn’t matter.
“I was there too, ya know.” Aiba pulled him closer. Somehow-maybe because he was a part of it too-somehow Aiba already knew that all Ohno needed was to be held and Ohno wondered this.
And so they remained, in each other’s arms.
As the rain let up a little, Ohno lifted his head and looked up at Aiba, who brushed his hand over the older man’s forehead, removing the hair from his face. “I guess we were supposed to drink after all,” Ohno said, gesturing to the building they were in front of while rubbing his face. Aiba looked over to see a café then peered through the window to see if it were still open.
“Come on,” Aiba said, his arm still around Ohno’s shoulders.
A second later they were back outside; not realizing it was a lounge that catered only to cats. Ohno smiled. “With a name like Katz, we should’ve known.”
Author's Note: After persuading her to write, gemmiesky let me steal her pairing idea and run wild with it. Since we both have versions of the same beginning concept (Ohno and Aiba in the rain), please feel free to check out her sister fic, Rain. Initially, the idea was supposed to be smut, as is everything I seem to write, but for some reason I ran the other direction. I really am interested in hearing feedback, though please be kind.
*The lyrics they are singing are part of Sho's "Pen no Sasu Houkou -Chapter II-"
Title: In Each Other’s Arms
Pairing: Ohno Satoshi x Aiba Masaki
Genre: friendship, angst
Length: 2,422 words
Summary: Sometimes it takes forgetting to make one remember.
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the following people. This never happened and is purely fictional.
Information: This story kind of bounces around between the present and the past. The ellipses (. . .) mark the end of a memory. Although it’s in third-person, it’s heavily centered on the thoughts and emotions of Ohno. It’s a bit sad. Fair warning.
“Good work.”
Ohno waved back at the few remaining staff members.
It was nearly midnight. The other four members had left half an hour before but Ohno had stayed behind to ask if he could keep all of the paper fans tacked to the Kotatsu de Arashi wall. He had an idea forming for his next mixed media project. The director said yes even though it really wasn’t his call and Ohno accepted the offer before someone could tell him otherwise.
Part of him wanted to go straight home and begin the molding process, but part of him wanted to relax with a drink or two. While on his way back to the dressing room, he thought the decision over. In the end he was debating on which bar to go to.
“Hi Ohchan!” Aiba’s bright voice came out of nowhere, startling Ohno and nearly making him trip over his kimono, which was now pooled around his feet. Aiba smiled a little more then walked away, leaving Ohno beet red and more than confused. He quickly pulled on his jeans and slid on his t-shirt. He reminded himself that he’d have to talk to the boy about privacy and boundaries, but he knew it would never happen. Aiba will be Aiba no matter what and in spite of anything.
Even pneumothorax.
The word was bitter in Ohno’s mind and he stopped gathering his things for a moment to think about that time just four months ago. People seemed to think this time would be easier, that going through it a second time meant they could handle it better. . .
“That’s bullshit,” Ohno mumbled, then looked around to see if anyone heard him. He wondered where Aiba wandered off to. Like clockwork, the man walked back into the room, smiling all the same.
“Dressed this time?” Aiba whistled and flashed Ohno a smug little smile. “Yes,” was all Ohno said, feeling his face warm up a little.
“Why are you still here?” Ohno asked.
“All of us were waiting, but Jun-kun and Sho-chan said they couldn’t wait any longer because they had their drama filming tomorrow.” Aiba sounded just a little less enthused when he said the word “drama.” He really liked filming, being on set; and Ohno noted this. Maybe he could talk to someone about it.
“And Nino?” Ohno inquired.
“Nino said he just wanted to go home and left.” Aiba plopped down on the other chair near where Ohno was standing. “But he left last,” he quickly added.
Ohno wasn’t really sure of how to respond to this information so he remained silent and started looking over the contents of his bag. He could at least be sure that he wouldn’t leave anything behind. Aiba watched the older man’s hands as they thumbed through his sketch pad. The room was quiet but only Ohno was aware of it. He didn’t like it. Not since then.
His memory took him back to 2002, when they were gathered in the van and their group manager, Kuropi, was talking to them in a soft voice, telling them about what had happened. At first, Ohno didn’t think anything of it-because he couldn’t. He didn’t know what pneumothorax was, but he felt that it wasn’t right. He remembered feeling useless above everything. He was Arashi’s leader, Aiba’s senpai and close friend, and yet he couldn’t do anything to make it better, to ease the worries of everyone, including Aiba. No, most of all Aiba. . .
“Hey, Aiba-chan.”
“What, Ohchan~” Ohno was facing away from him, but he could hear the giddiness in Aiba’s voice.
“Let’s go get some drinks,” Ohno said and ushered him out the door and down the hallway.
“Oh! There’s a bar just a few blocks away! I seen it a long time ago while driving here but never tried it.”
“Aiba, that’s a gay bar for girls.” Ohno knew because he had made the same mistake. He laughed a little at his own expense. “I don’t think we’d fit in.”
Aiba laughed back, much louder. Ohno liked the sound and kept it going until they were in the parking lot. Aiba spotted his driver and started towards the car. “Wait a sec,” Ohno said, giving a slight nod to the driver.
“What?”
“Why don’t we take a walk and find another one?”
“Sure!”
Aiba waited and watched as Ohno went to his driver and explained the situation, then walk the short distance to his own driver and did the same. Hesitantly, they both started their cars and pulled out of the parking lot. Aiba giggled, somehow feeling like a teenager being left alone by his parents.
“Ready to go?” Ohno said, returning to where Aiba was waiting.
“Yep.” Aiba beamed, the expression changing in an instant. “But which way?”
“Well,” Ohno thought for a moment. “Our kind of bar won’t be near that other one, so how about this way?” He tilted his head to the right.
“Sounds good to me. Let’s go!”
It was hard to keep up with Aiba. The man was always so full of energy that even something as slow-paced as walking seemed to turn into a race. Ohno slung his bag over his shoulder and skipped a little to catch up. It felt uncomfortable carrying a bag. He didn’t do it very often and this was why.
“C-can you stop for a minute?” Ohno grimaced as he moved the bag’s strap from where it was digging into his shoulder.
“Sorry. . . do you want me to carry it?” Aiba was already reaching for the bag despite Ohno trying to pull it away in protest. “Give it back if it gets too heavy,” was all he could say.
They walked in silence. The night was unusually warm for early October and it felt nice. Ohno sighed contentedly, stretching his arms a little, before looking at Aiba. He was happy right now, Ohno could tell. Of course, Aiba was almost always happy, but every once in a while it changed into something more. It was infectious and made Ohno feel at ease, like everything was just right as rain. A line from Sho’s song flittered through Ohno’s head and he impulsively sang it.
“Everything’s gonna be all right.”
“They're not just words, let's look to the future,” Aiba responded on instinct.
They both laughed at that, surprised that either of them could recall the lyrics properly. Again, Aiba laughed a little louder and Ohno soaked it up. It was a beautiful sound.
Then he coughed.
Ohno knew it was only because of how hard he was laughing, but that didn’t matter. He couldn’t help but feel the pang in his chest, that physical reminder of what he felt that night.
He was back in the van with everyone. Everyone but Aiba. Kuropi shuffled into the passenger seat and turned around to look at all of them with a weak smile. It faded as his eyes shifted from the faces of each of them and he was practically frowning when he began explaining to them exactly what had happened.
“Aiba was practicing too hard last night and he said he felt that something wasn’t right. We took him to the hospital and it was discovered he had pneumothorax, meaning his lung collapsed.” Kuropi was speaking slowly, letting the weight of everything sink in a bit before he continued. “He’s doing okay right now. I think its best that everyone go home and try to rest.”
“Pneumothorax?” Sho asked into the silence.
Ohno remembered Nino getting pissed off. It was the only time he had seen him like that.
“How am I supposed to just go home and rest!?” Nino had balled his hands into fists and his knuckles were turning white, his palms turning red where his nails were digging in.
Sho intervened, reaching over to rub Nino’s shoulders. “Ninomiya-kun, it’s okay. It’s okay to be angry, but Kuropi’s right.” He lowered his voice. “We’ll go to the hospital tomorrow and see him. He’ll like that.”
The entire time Sho kept talking, repeating that it’s okay and everyone knew it was more to convince himself than anyone else. The drive to the hotel was quiet and Jun kept to himself, turned away from everyone else and looking out the window. The boy was just barely eighteen and struggling to understand what he’d just been told.
Ohno remembered seeing the tears he was trying to hide.
Ohno remembered all of this with such clarity it almost seemed like it was happening again. Only he’s watching the events unfold through the eyes of a stranger, standing at the side, hollow and empty. He was watching himself in his own room at the hotel, angry and sad at the same time, crying into the phone as the dial tone pounded in his ear. He wanted to reach out to someone but knew he had to be the strong one. He had to be the leader but he didn’t know how.
Why couldn’t he make things better?
Why couldn’t he do anything. . .
“Did you feel that?”
Ohno wasn’t sure if this was the first or second time Aiba asked but shook his head.
“I felt a raindrop. Do you think it’ll rain?” Aiba sounded more and more hyped up with every word and Ohno knew he was picturing the possibilities.
Ohno looked up at the gray clouds that were rolling across the sky and breathed in. The scent of moisture and the way the wind rubbed his skin made him want to go fishing, or at least be near the ocean again. “It looks like it will.”
No sooner had Ohno said the words then rain started to pour down like a wall. Aiba grabbed Ohno’s hand and pulled him along behind him, breaking into a run. They ran through the streets, their feet splashing through forming puddles until Aiba decided to stop underneath a grocer’s awning. Both of them were out of breath, Ohno bent over resting his hands on his knees, wheezing.
“You’re getting old, Ohchan!” Aiba teased while trying to keep his own breathing under control.
“What was that?” Ohno tried to stand up, but went right back down to his knees.
“I. . . don’t know.” Aiba was a little confused now, not sure why he wanted to run through the rain. He just felt like it, and he said so.
Ohno could straighten himself now and shook his head, but smiled.
“I heard somewhere that if you run fast enough in the rain, you’ll be running in between the rain drops and won’t get wet.” Aiba looked up towards the sky. “I was curious.”
“Experiment results?” Ohno asked.
“It doesn’t work,” Aiba replied.
Ohno couldn’t help but let out a huge burst of laughter, even though Aiba was completely serious. In turn, Aiba started to laugh too. He went on to talk about all the experiments he’s wanted to do since the end of A no Arashi. Ohno was only half listening. He was paying far more attention to the way Aiba was smiling, his eyes wide from enthusiasm and excitement over filling a room full of nitrogen gas and making it rain, “just to see what it would do.” The man in front of him was dripping wet, though, and Ohno knew it wouldn’t be wise to stay like this, despite not wanting to change the moment.
“Let’s go back. It’s getting cold.” Ohno grabbed Aiba’s hand and gently pulled him from under the shelter of the awning and made their way back to the studio. He wasn’t as fast as Aiba, but he was running, the other man trailing behind him, their hands together. Until Aiba ran out of breath and asked to stop. Ohno didn’t hear him over the rain and their hands came apart.
It was then that Ohno was reminded of the hospital. They had all gone to visit Aiba, but only Ohno stayed behind. He waited, greeted each manager, director, and friend that came, taking the gifts they brought, thanking them properly. He waited despite Aiba’s family telling him that he should go home and sleep. He remembered sitting in the vinyl chair, curled up and hugging his knees, trying to fight all the thoughts he was having, the what if’s that haunted him. He remembered holding Aiba’s hand while he slept the anesthesia off. Most of all, he remembered the feeling of Aiba squeezing his hand back and looking down at a face smiling up at him.
That was the day Ohno realized how much Aiba meant to him. They were bonded by something deeper and stronger than most people could even understand let alone have experienced. He loved Aiba, it was true. However, he realized that day, it wasn’t the same kind of love people talk about. It was the love that only the members of Arashi could come to know and define. Something that Ohno and Aiba both tried to understand that night in the hotel; the night they were drinking, and while reminiscing, both began to cry.
Ohno had forgotten. How could he have forgotten. . .
Ohno felt Aiba take hold of his hand once again and squeeze it tightly before pulling him into his arms. For the longest moment they simply stood there, the rain falling around them, lost in the moment. Ohno thought he was crying but couldn’t tell while water streamed down his cheeks. As he watched the lines of water flow down Aiba’s face, Ohno kept thinking of something to say.
It didn’t matter.
“I was there too, ya know.” Aiba pulled him closer. Somehow-maybe because he was a part of it too-somehow Aiba already knew that all Ohno needed was to be held and Ohno wondered this.
And so they remained, in each other’s arms.
As the rain let up a little, Ohno lifted his head and looked up at Aiba, who brushed his hand over the older man’s forehead, removing the hair from his face. “I guess we were supposed to drink after all,” Ohno said, gesturing to the building they were in front of while rubbing his face. Aiba looked over to see a café then peered through the window to see if it were still open.
“Come on,” Aiba said, his arm still around Ohno’s shoulders.
A second later they were back outside; not realizing it was a lounge that catered only to cats. Ohno smiled. “With a name like Katz, we should’ve known.”
Author's Note: After persuading her to write, gemmiesky let me steal her pairing idea and run wild with it. Since we both have versions of the same beginning concept (Ohno and Aiba in the rain), please feel free to check out her sister fic, Rain. Initially, the idea was supposed to be smut, as is everything I seem to write, but for some reason I ran the other direction. I really am interested in hearing feedback, though please be kind.
*The lyrics they are singing are part of Sho's "Pen no Sasu Houkou -Chapter II-"