[Multi-chapter] Blood on blood (10/12)
Title: Blood on blood
Author: tsuchi8562
Beta: xxdaviexx ArigaPYON, Twiny~~!!
Pairing: SakurAiba
Genre: AU, romance, angst
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: Only plot is mine.
*MASTERPOST*
Aiba was walking down the street, lost in thoughts. It was over after all. Of course, this did not mean that he had stopped loving Sakurai, but there was no other way to protect him. Masaki’s things were still at Sho’s place. The bartender was going to pick his stuff up in the morning. This way, he would make sure that Sho was not home.
Home… The bartender suddenly felt pain in his heart. His home was not a place full of cold walls. The caster’s arms were home. And now, he had lost them forever. He would probably leave Tokyo in a few days as soon as he settled things out with Ohno. Escaping from all of this was a must for him right now. Although Tokyo is a large city, Aiba was constantly afraid of coming across his beloved man, especially in the Moratorium or any other club. As soon as his deal with Jun was over and the pictures were destroyed, he was going to leave toward some unspecified destination as far away as possible. Just five more weeks… He needed to hang on, bit his tongue, and finish what he had started… even if he hated himself for it, and even if it meant letting Jun touch his body-a body that belonged only to Sakurai.
The club was closed that night due to some strange and urgent inventory. So Aiba was able to peacefully lock himself up in the VIP room without worrying anyone and only focusing on his pain. The lodging was empty. The bartender instinctively walked toward the only place that made him feel safe and calm: behind the counter of the bar. After losing Shin, this place brought some happiness to his shaded existence. Masaki would never forget the person who showed him a way to forget about the pain. It was an old man who took care of him after Sawada’s death-Kazama-san. He had died a few years ago, but Aiba would constantly think of him and remember that Kazama-san had given him a new goal in life.
He gently touched a shaker and calmed down a bit. It was like a magic spell, one small and well known gesture that soothed his disturbed soul. The only thing he was good at... Suddenly, he felt extremely tired, but he didn’t want to lie down on the couch. The only place where he felt comfortable was the bar, so he sat down on the floor between the counter and the little fridge and closed his eyes. Finally, the blessed sleep came.
~*~
- He’s joking if he thinks that I will do that… thing! He’s psycho! - Jun sat on the couch in the Moratorium’s VIP room and closed his eyes. The final stage of Ohno’s plan was too insane even for him.
- Calm down, Kawaii-ko-chan! You don’t need to shout so loud!
- I told you to stop calling me that.
- Sorry… Anyway, you are aware that you will have to do it or else your face will be on TV, and not exactly in the way you want it.
- Tell me something I don’t know… And he just had to choose this moment! When I got a main role in a drama… Fuck!
- Easy… You just have to do it. No other choice… No need to be so frustrated…
- What do you know about it? You’re safe!
- Safe?! God, now I don’t know anything anymore! He may kill us both in the end!
Ninomiya was laughing, but he was mad deep inside his heart. This entire situation was simply hilarious. He wasn’t needed in the first place. His pictures weren’t necessary in the actual stage of the revenge, but at least he did his job well. He had already forgotten how his hands used to shake when he was taking pictures; how he felt then. It did not matter now because the most important thing was the nearest future. What will happen to him and to Matsumoto? Will Ohno destroy the tape and debt note?
- Just shut up! - Jun interrupted Ninomiya’s river of thoughts. He just had enough. Not only was he being forced to cooperate in that stupid revenge; he was also being treated like some kind of dog that had to obey orders. He could go to bed with that bartender since it was quite pleasurable. He could even manage taking pictures of the act. But this was just way too much. Why wouldn’t Satoshi simply show the photos to Sakurai, or make Jun do it? It would have made the caster angry enough… Why such… cruel… method? Jun rubbed his forehead and sighed. He did not have any choice; he had to do it no matter what. The actor just couldn’t understand why the pictures were needed in the first place if this new plan had shown up out of nowhere.
- I won’t do it. - The younger man said finally.
- But you know that…
- I know! He will kill me. But I won’t be able to do it! Do you think that fucking Aiba, knowing that his boyfriend will show up any second, is fun?! Even Ohno is not that heartless…
- Don’t whine like some kid that lost his candy!
- It’s not that! I mean… physically… You know what this will look like? I’m not good at this!
- Oh, you mean that your little soldier, won’t…
- One more word and I will pack them back to your throat!
- Don’t argue. - Somebody’s calm voice broke the agitated conversation. Both photographer and actor looked at the door and saw Ohno with his always attaching little servant and a few members of his gang. The time to explain matters had finally come. This might also be their last chance to completely understand everything that was taking place and probably quit. As if it was possible to quit in the first place.
Matsumoto stayed still, disregarding all possible threats. He just didn’t care anymore. Ninomiya smirked and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. Although he was aware that his situation was hopeless, the paparazzo was curious about the final stage of the plan. He was certain that he had nothing much left to lose since he was not needed anymore according to his own perception of the situation. Kazunari found the answer just a few seconds before it was stated.
- Are you both aware that this is the last stage? Everything will end soon, but you need to work hard now. Have I made myself clear, or do I need to repeat myself?
- No need… I understand my part in all of this. - Jun growled with anger at the idea of having to do something that he did not feel in his guts to do.
- But I want to know a few things first… - Ninomiya said all of a sudden. - What part do I play in this… festival?
- The same as always: taking pictures.
- I understand that! But why did I take the previous ones? - Kazunari asked, approaching the counter of the bar to reach a tequila bottle.
- I needed someone to watch Matsumoto closely. I knew that those photos wouldn’t be enough to provoke Sakurai. I needed time. And you gave it to me, Ninomiya-san. Thank you… Meanwhile, let’s think about the luring Aiba here.
- Maybe we won’t have to do that - Kazunari said pointing at the floor behind the counter with his head. - Look who we have here…
Masaki stood up, pale, scared, and ready for the final battle.
~*~
The bartender didn’t think that it could be so painful. He felt just as if every single bone in his body had broken. He made a mistake trying to fight against his boss’s gang. He tried to escape and… Right… What could he do? He couldn’t go to Sho; they broke up. Moreover, he had to get the pictures that had caused him so many problems back at any cost. His body reacted before his brain could think.
Masaki was sitting on the floor in the VIP room under one of the Venetian mirrors, bleeding and staring at the main perpetrator in silence. Four of his knackers were standing close to him ready to hit him more if he made any sudden move. Satoshi was right in front of him, and he seemed to be mad. It was to be expected since Aiba had destroyed his devilish plan. The silence was unbearable, but nobody dared to break it. Unexpectedly, Nino walked toward the counter behind the bar, took some ice cubes, put them in a towel, and headed to the beaten man’s direction. As he predicted, he was stopped by a tall boy named Takaki.
- Come on! - Kazunari said. - You don’t want to kill him, at least not now. Let me…
Ohno nodded his head and whispered something to his most loyal boy. After that, he sat on a stool. He knew that the time to explain everything had come. Satoshi sighed.
- You remember, Masaki? Eleven years ago?
The bartender remained silent. He was just looking at his boss with no emotions written on his face.
- You can’t remember me because you hadn’t met me then just yet. But I remember you quite well. You destroyed the most important thing in my life. You took away my most precious person. Now, I will do the same to you.
Aiba was still staring at the Moratorium’s owner without any idea of the real meaning of this whole situation. He had not stolen anything from the man sitting in front of him. He met him only six years ago when he wasn’t good enough to make cocktails yet. Wait a minute… Ohno had mentioned something about an event that had taken place eleven years ago?
Thought…
Image…
Pain…
- Shin?! - That was the first word he uttered that night in the VIP room. What could Satoshi have in common with his late lover?
- Yes! You killed him, murderer! And you did it because you were jealous!
Masaki didn’t understand a thing. The events Ohno was talking about had taken place a long time ago. Of course, the bartender remembered them very well, and they still hurt him. But he had never once seen the man sitting in front of him when that horrible thing happened. He couldn’t even remember the name. Ohno was older, so he couldn’t have been a student from the same class. Besides, he was born and raised in Tokyo as far as Aiba knew. Nothing matched up. There was no link between that man and Sawada.
- Who are you? - The taller man suddenly asked without knowing the reasons that could have motivated those terrifying accusations. It was vital for Aiba to understand what was going on in order to prevent Sho from getting hurt. Something inside his head was telling him that he already knows the answer, but any proper hint didn’t want to come to his mind.
- You will know at the right time. - Ohno stood up and moved closer to his beaten employee. He took a closer look at that hated face and smirked. He had already won. It was so obvious. He finally had a pitiful creature in front of him, the one he had always wanted to hurt, the one who had taken his beloved away from him… He deserved that pain and much more.
Satoshi nodded and whispered again to Chinen, leaving the room. Matsumoto didn’t move an inch since Aiba was found out. He was relieved to know that he didn’t have to participate in that sick plan anymore. Ninomiya was near Masaki, trying to stop the bleeding not too skillfully. Inoo tried to help him but, as soon as Yuuri growled with anger, retreated. He was fully aware that things could end pretty badly for him if he got in that small kid’s way. After a long while, Ohno’s loyal servant spoke: “Bring him to the boss’s office. He wants to talk with him alone. And be careful. He needs to be conscious until we take care of the caster. We don’t want him to miss the show, ne?”
The bartender couldn’t think clear now, not after the small brat’s words. They wanted to hurt Sho, and he couldn’t let that happen despite the costs.
~*~
The Moratorium’s owner stood in front of his desk and waited patiently for his boys to bring Aiba. Masaki couldn’t walk on his own probably because he had a fractured leg. But he tried to walk by himself. He was too proud and too mad to let anyone help him, especially those boys. Despite the pain, he got to the desired destination at a short notice and, almost immediately, collapsed on the chair. The last thing he wanted right now was to entangle in a conversation with this mysterious man from the past.
- Don’t worry. You won’t die. At least, not now... I think that I owe you an explanation. - Satoshi said, sitting on the desk and watching somewhere in the air, waiting for something such as questions. Meanwhile, the bartender was quiet as always. He treated silence as a shield of protection against any danger for himself. It did not protect people that he loved though. He couldn’t save Shin in that way for example. Now, the story seemed to repeat itself because he was not being able to protect Sakurai either. The thought of losing Sho as he had lost Shin made him regret his silence. That is why he started to laugh very hard, almost hysterical, and disrupted it.
- Why are you laughing? - Ohno asked with anger in his voice. He despised the man in front of him so much that he wanted to crush him at that very moment, but he wanted to cause him incredible pain before putting an end to his plan.
- Isn’t it funny? You’re thinking that I killed Shin-chan unjustly… And you don’t know anything!
- Shut up! You were jealous about our love! She told me! It was your fault!
- Who told you that crap? You don’t know a thing! Shin loved me, and he killed himself! In front of me! - Tears were running down Aiba’s cheeks. It was just too much to bear. Not only was he being accused of doing such a horrible thing; that situation could repeat itself now. He had to do something to stop. But, right now, the only thing he could do was listening. He needed to understand everything before he stopped Ohno.
- Don’t you lie to me! I know! I saw you! You were holding his body, screaming… Like if you had lost something important… He was my precious friend… He helped me! And you killed him… even if you weren’t the one who pulled the trigger.
Masaki thought that Ohno was right. Nothing would have ever happened if he had been more careful and hadn’t allowed Shin to kiss him in the first place. He also should have refrained from comforting him on that unlucky day when their relationship was discovered… But no matter how hard he tried and how much he regretted it, he couldn’t turn back time. It just happened, and all he could do now was focusing on saving Sho even if it cost him his own life.
- If you are mad at me, just kill me… in any cruel way you want, but leave Sho-chan alone. He didn’t do anything wrong.
- No… You need to feel the same pain I have been feeling for a long time now…
- Do you think I wasn’t hurt after Shin’s death? I wanted to die… I even took the gun, but that… coward… was smart… He put in only one bullet…
- He was smart indeed… He loved his friends very much, and he would do anything for them. - Ohno started to smile a bit. Memories had started floating on his mind as strong as a waterfall. - I met him in Chiba. I was lost then… He helped me a lot. He showed me that I didn’t need to be afraid of my nature. I won’t forget that night. He was gentle and a good teacher. Why are you so surprised? Yes, we were sleeping together regularly for several months. He didn’t tell you? You are fragile, so he could have been afraid of hurting you… He loved me… And you destroyed it from the very first moment you came to Chiba… You have to pay for this!
Masaki was shocked. Was it possible that his beloved Shin had betrayed him? If everything Ohno had said was true, what was the point in acting so tender and loving when they met after their long separation? Why did he say that he loved him? No, it was impossible. Sawada wasn’t like that. As Satoshi said, he cared about the people he loved. And he loved Aiba for sure. The bartender didn’t doubt Shin’s feelings even for a second. Ohno was lying. Or was there something deeper to all of this?
- He wouldn’t betray me.
- He did. Face it. I don’t want to talk about it anymore. - The Moratorium’s owner grabbed his phone and made a short phone call. Shortly after his gang went in, they took Aiba to some cold and dark room without letting him forget about his aching body. From time to time, they would kick him or push him, causing him more physical pain although his heart and soul ached even more.
The bartender, beaten and sore, half-alive, was thrown into the basement chamber without windows. Right after, he lost his consciousness. Darkness and the sound of leaking water were helping him resolve the mysterious riddle.
~*~
- Shin? But you’re dead… Wait… Am I dead too?
- No, Masaki… You’re just sleeping.
- Then, why did you come here? Shin, I missed you so much. I…
- I know. I wanted to apologize to you for all the pain I caused you. I didn’t deserve your love in the first place…
- Don’t say that!
- Listen… I cheated on you. That’s true… Nothing justifies that. I could have been lonely; I could have thought that I was never going to be able to see you again… I could have been drunk… I wanted to be with you again so badly… At some point, I wanted to be loved; touched; hugged… And because you weren’t there… God, even that wasn’t reason enough to do what I did to you. You were the purest person I had ever met in my entire life. I was selfish…
- Shin… So the thing that Ohno said was…
- …the truth. I never loved him though. I just used him to make me forget about you. My parents made sure that I wouldn’t contact you ever again. I was sure that I would never see you again. That doesn’t justify anything though. I just wanted you to know that I loved you. I’m so sorry, Masaki…
- And that was the reason? You left me because of that? You… coward…
- I couldn’t forgive myself. And because of that, I did something even worse. I wanted to die with your face as the last image I saw. Selfish, ne? That’s why I asked you to come to that abandoned factory… I didn’t want you to die in the first place. I was a cruel monster, but I wanted you to be happy again… That’s why you met Sakurai. I wanted to return what I had taken from you again.
- Shin… You wanted to give me a replacement?!
- No, silly! I wanted to give you love. The most beautiful, pure, and strongest of loves… A love different from the one I gave you. And now, again because of me, you can lose it. And, again, there is nothing I can do about it. I just hope that Satoshi-kun will understand… Masaki… I have to go. Always remember that I loved you. Be happy with Sho and fight for this relationship as hard as you can… Goodbye.
- No, Shin! Stay! Shin!!!
***
A splash of cold water brought Aiba back to reality. He wiped his face and tried to see who had woken him up from that dream.
Four boys from Ohno’s gang were standing in front of him in silence, trying to make him stand up.
- Come, Aiba-san… It’s time to start the show…