[Multi-chapter] Shiawase no Michi (7/??)
Title: Shiawase no Michi (Path to the happiness)
Authors: syunikiss1990
Beta: geminib 3/9
Pairing: SakurAiba. OhMiya, Jun
Genre: AU, Romance
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Only plot is ours, we’re just paying the insurance for the wagon…
*MASTERPOST*
Sho stared at the running man's back. He thought he was sure about his decision; he was even on his way to tell the leader of the troupe about it. But now, after talking to Aiba, he wasn’t sure about it anymore. The cold look in his eyes, the almost angry voice he had used, it was like the taller man wasn’t happy about Sho's joining them. What if the others were thinking that way too? Could he really be happy in a troupe were he was surrounded by people who didn’t want him there? He would be fine with just going around the country with them without many emotions shared between him and the group; at this point he wouldn’t even care if they only tolerated him, nothing more. But if they would hate him or feel troubled by him, he wasn’t sure if joining would be the right thing to do.
“Tomorrow already, huh?” he whispered to himself. He walked back to his house, still wondering if he would go on with his decision. The moment he arrived home, his sister came running to him.
“Sho! Papa said the theatre people are going to leave already, is that true? I still want to see more.” Sho smiled sadly at his little sister. He wished he could tell her that they will give one last performance tomorrow, but telling her meant that his father will also find out about it. And he was sure that could lead to troubles, even though the mayor said that they can stay until Wednesday.
“If he says they are going to leave he is probably right. But maybe they will give one last show before their leave? You never know”
“I hope they will. I didn’t understand the other one much, but I enjoyed watching something like that. Even tough it did look sad” Sho could see she was trailing of into her own thoughts, probably breaking her mind over the play she saw. He smiled and ruffled her hair before going upstairs to his room. When he was alone in his room, Sho sighed and looked around. There wasn't much to take with him; he won't miss his stuff anyway. He searched around his closet for a suitable bag to for the packing. It wasn’t that he had completely decided yet, if he would really leave or not, but he wanted to be prepared just in case.
“Who am I kidding” Sho thought. He already knew he will leave, because at this point of his life, he didn’t even care anymore if everyone in the troupe will accept him. This was his way out, he won't be able to live with himself if he loses this chance, he'll always wonder how it would have been if he had left with the troupe. Quickly he collected the belongings he wanted to take with him, carefully listening if nobody would suddenly enter his room and see him packing.
Later that night he stared at the sleeping figure of his little sister, while leaning against the frame of her door. Would she be mad at him? Would she understand, maybe not right away but eventually, the choice that he made? Sho's heart hurt as he watched her, he felt guilty to leave her alone. But he was sure she was capable to live the life she had here, unlike him. She had her friends who supported her and she never seemed to mind the city routine. But for him it was just too much. The routine, the traditions, the strong feeling of loneliness were slowly but certainly frustrating him more and more every day. Now, when he has a chance to leave all this, probably the only one he will ever get, he just had to take it.
“I’m sure you will be happy Mariko. You have to be, for the both of us.”
***
Sakurai looked at the people around him. Less people came to this performance than to the first one, not even a half of the town. He sighed and shook his head. His father had a lot of influence on these people and he was sure that there will be consequences for those who showed up at the play today. Consequences that he would have to face to, if he would stay. But his decision was final, he will leave this town together with the troupe and take his life in his own hands. More or less.
“Ladies and gentlemen…” Jun appeared on the stage and started the introduction for today's play. Everyone fell silent around him, concentrating on the man on the stage. Sakurai could feel his sister's small hand slipping into his own. Smiling he turned to her, receiving her exited smile in return before they both looked at the stage again. The play was almost the same as the first one. The actors added only one scene, in which Jun looked at Sakurai intensely for the most of the time. Sho wondered what the scene could possibly mean, but he was too nervous about the upcoming events, that he couldn't concentrate on it. During the play his mind kept wondering off to a different place, a place where he will possibly be on the same stage. After the play, Sho wandered around a little with his sister by his side. He watched the townspeople leaving and after a couple of minutes the actors coming from behind the stage and starting to remove it. When most of the people left the clearing, Sho turned to his little sister.
“Mariko, you can go home first. Tell mom I will be back soon, I just want to thank the troupe for coming here before they leave.”
“I want to come with you; I want to thank them too.”
“No. I promised mom that you will return home right after the play. You have to go or she will worry. Besides, it’s getting late and you need to go to sleep.” Sakurai smiled kindly at her and pushed her away. She tried to convince her brother once more to let her to come with him but when she realized it was no use she pouted.
“Please?”
“No Mariko. Go home.” Sakurai sounded harsher than he wanted, but it worked. His sister listened to him this time and slowly went towards their home. He watched her until she had totally disappeared before he turned around and walked over to the actors who were already busy getting the stage down.
“Are you going to keep staring and do nothing or are you going to help? You might as well get used to it right away, since you will be helping from now on with this.” Ninomiya said wickedly, glancing at Sho. Nodding, the latter quickly started to help the shorter man. The stage was removed surprisingly fast and everything was packed ready to move. Earlier that day he had already sneaked his bag out of the house to the small camp. When Jun had spotted him he smiled in that same mysterious way he did two days ago. After a short conversation between the two of them they decided that Sho will come to the show the following evening and will stay behind after everyone's leave. If somebody would ask why he was staying behind he will say that he wanted to thank the troupe for visiting the town, just like he said to his little sister. The fact that his sister wanted to join him to the show complicated the things, but luckily it worked out the way he had hoped.
“Sakurai-san? Can you give me those panels” Ohno asked. They still didn't have a proper introduction, but Sho learned the name of the eldest troupe’s member when he visited them this morning. After diving the panels to the man, they were stored in the wagon and everything was settled and ready to go.
“Aiba-san, make sure that the food is in a place where it can be easily reached. Ohno-san, check the surroundings for the last time to make sure we didn't forget anything. Ninomiya-san, check the wheels, we don’t want any accidents in the mountains.” As Jun ordered everyone around Sho turned around to look at the small town for the last time. Everything turned pitch-black already and inside the houses candles and fires were lit, illuminating the windows and some parts of the streets. There was no disturbance to be noticed, everyone were inside their houses, doing their own things like they usually did. Sho wondered when the silent peace will be disturbed. He was sure that his mother and his sister will start worrying soon and go looking for him. He couldn’t stop himself from wondering how they will react. How the whole town will react. How long will pass before the peace will return? Days, weeks, maybe even months? The son of the mayor leaving without a notice can surely disturb the town's script.
“Sakurai-san, we want to leave” Aiba's cold voice made him turn around. He was the last one standing outside, ready to get inside too. Quickly Sho entered inside the wagon as well. There was less space to move around now, with all the luggage inside, but there was still enough space for everyone to sit comfortable. Sho could look through the window and still see the small town. As the wagon started to move, the town became smaller and smaller until it was completely swallowed by the darkness. Sighing, he leaned back and relaxed. Everything went the way they had planned and hoped. Finally he was on his way to start his own story.