[Fic] Fast Forward. Rewind
Title : Fast Forward. Rewind (Part 7)
Pairing : Ohno/Nino
Rating : PG
Summary : He’d been trying to uncover the truth about the events prior to their departure from Yamato for years, but all he could dig out from it was the same thing that had been reported repeatedly on national television, regarding the congregation’s involvement in the attack in Tokyo, and nothing more.
Warning : mentions of mass murder, religious cults
Note : crossposted in AO3
Izumi-no-mori, Yamato
Yamato, Kanagawa Prefecture, Present day
Nino found himself driving the car out of the grave site minutes later, to Jun’s insistence.
“This is stupid,” he grumbled, in combined irritation and curiosity, fingers tight around their grip on the steering wheel. Next to him, Jun seemed like he’d rather keep his mouth shut than argue with Nino. In all honesty, Nino preferred that better than this goddamn silence, really.
“We could be taking care of this matter right now instead of running away. That person was just right there, Jun; we could have just gone to him and ask him what he was talking about. Jun. Jun, are you even listening to me -“
“Yes, but as you can see, I’m obviously ignoring you,” Jun countered, unperturbed, and Nino honestly felt like screaming, or hitting something. It wouldn’t help solve the problem, but at least he would feel better right after.
He breathed in deep and held himself instead. “I told you he’s the same person who’d gone to visit Aiba-chan earlier, asking him the same thing. And I already agreed to talk to him. You should have just let me,”
“Not until we figure out what he’s after,” Jun insisted, “Or who he really is, for that matter. God, do you even hear yourself right now, Nino? You want to talk to him when you don’t even know who he is? Are you crazy?”
“Serizawa Go-san, that’s his name. You know that already, right? Aiba-chan has his business card, too,”
“That’s not the point,” Jun grumbled, glaring at him through the overhead mirror. “And we don’t even know if he’s telling the truth,”
He snorted. “You say that as if we’re not doing the same thing. We’re lying too, you realize?”
Jun was quiet for a moment, before he spoke again. “That’s different, okay? We had no other choice. We were just children, Nino, and the people who saved us knew what they were doing. Did you think we’d have made it through if we went on to live as the so-called children of the murderers? Do you think that would have been easier?”
He didn’t have to answer that. “I know it’s frustrating, Nino, I get it. I’m frustrated too, but we can’t be too reckless. We’ve been reckless enough, you realize, for going back there when we both know we shouldn’t. But I know how important this is to you, but please, please, let’s try to be sensible first, okay? Let us do a background check on the guy first before you talk to him, before we talk to him. It won’t take long, I promise,” Jun said, pausing for a bit and reaching over to pat Nino’s knee. “Just…just to make sure he’s really who he claimed he is, okay? I mean, we promised we’d take care of each other, right? Obviously, we can’t do that if you’re already dead, so, why don’t you just go back to your day job, Tokai-sensei, and wait?”
He sighed. “God, I knew there’s a reason why I dislike lawyers,”
“Not all of them, of course,” Jun countered, and this time, he did sound - different, cheerful, even.
“No, I’m pretty sure I hate all of them, shut up.”
Jun just laughed.
-----
Yamato, Late Winter 1995
“Are you sure about this?”
Kazunari nodded, lips pursed. His sister looked, well, not entirely unconvinced, but, maybe something else? He could tell she was thinking hard though, weighing things in her head as she remained uncharacteristically quiet; it was not like her to react this way, really, and the unexpected silence was making him nervous. The reaction could mean so many things, and Kazunari feared it would be the worst.
Now, more than ever, he needed his sister to trust him; it would be for both their sakes, as Ohno had insisted. It would be difficult to convince her otherwise, but Kazunari had to try. He had to.
“I think you already know what I’m talking about, Nee-chan,” Kazunari added, keeping his voice low, just loud enough for his sister to hear him. She caught his gaze and held it, but she remained quiet. “This was what our parents were arguing about that morning a few months ago, you remember?”
There was a flash of recognition in her eyes; Kazunari wondered if it was a good thing or not.
He didn’t want to push his luck and make her feel like he was trying to shove her off the wall by making her listen, but they were running of time and he was running out of options. Ohno told him it could happen anytime soon, the thing they feared the most, since the ‘cleansing rituals’ would be starting before the winter season end, and that meant they only have a month, probably two max, to plan their escape.
“I’m not making this up, Nee-chan,” he insisted, still trying to keep his voice down. “I saw it myself, I swear. They were hauling the bodies out of here as if they were garbage,” he added, shuddering at the memory of it resurfacing. He honestly didn’t want to be reminded of it, but he guessed forgetting it was not an option, either. Knowing the same thing could happen to them was motivation enough for him to keep trying, to make his sister believe what he was telling her; otherwise, he might be forced to ask Ohno for help.
“You’re talking about…the suitcases, right?” she asked. Kazunari nodded.
“The ones they’ve loaded in a van that was parked outside the front entrance of this building?” she followed. Kazunari nodded again, half-curious and equal parts relieved that he didn’t have to go ask Ohno where he thought the bodies were buried. Clearly, his sister witnessed the same thing, too.
“So, you knew,” he said.
She shook her head. “Not to that extent, no. I know what you’re referring to because I saw it too, but I didn’t realize those were - were what you said they were,“ she paused here and gave Kazunari a look. “Are you sure?” she asked, and when he nodded, she added, “But…how? I mean, how did you even know those were…those were bodies and not, you know, just garbage and stuff?”
He found himself hesitating there. Obviously, it would be difficult to explain how he came to know these things and even harder to explain to her that he had no proof either. Just the words of another kid who’d been here longer than they have.
“Did you see the dead bodies yourself, Kazu?”
He shook his head. “But you said that as if you were sure,” his sister insisted. “That means you have proof, right? Otherwise, you know you sounded like you were trying to make me believe that our father is capable of murdering us, sacrificing his own children just to prove himself worthy in front of the leader, right?”
“No, I don’t -“ he said, but he was quickly cut off by his sister shifting closer, hands grabbing his forearms for dear life.
“Then, who does?” she asked, hurriedly. “Someone obviously does, or you wouldn’t be telling me this. Who is it, Kazu?”
Kazunari blinked. “Ohno-san and Aiba-san,” he said.
If his sister was surprised, she tried her best not to let it show. She squeezed his arms and nodded, lips pursed.
“Your friends?” she asked. Kazunari nodded. “You’re joking, right?”
“This is not something I would joke about, Nee-chan,” he returned, offended. “Surely, you’d know if I am. And I’m not. I’m not, okay?”
She still looked unconvinced, but there was something in her gaze that told him otherwise. Her fingers caught the front of his shirt as she tugged him closer, eyes and expression serious.
“Then show me,” she murmured, “I want to see it for myself. Tell your friends to show me the evidence, otherwise we will forget this conversation ever happened. Agreed?”
The only thing Kazunari could do was nod.
-------
Tokyo General Hospital
Tokyo, Present day
Nino’s last stop before he’d head home was at the hospital. He was still considering filing a formal request for vacation, but he was certain that doing so at the last minute was not possible. He’d already asked Takashina to cover his shift for him today (and yesterday too), and hoping for another day off from the hospital would be too much.
Also, he was pretty sure the old prick wouldn’t let him. Kurosaki-sensei could be the world’s biggest jerk if he wanted to be, and Nino would rather eat his own shoe than to beg the old fart for something he was entitled for anyway. He’d consider other options later, at least once he had the results of the DNA tests done on the remains uncovered at the Yamato mass grave in his hands. For now, he’d work his way through his days as usual, and wait.
He was on his way up to get some of his stuff he’d left in the nap room when he received a call from Sho. Apparently, he’d already talked to his mother about Nino’s request to talk, which would be tonight, if Nino was free to do so, which Nino readily agreed to. He still have the rest of today and tomorrow after lunch to get some of these things done before he had to work the late night shift again.
Of course, Sho didn’t call just for that. He’d also demanded Nino’s explanation regarding their earlier trip to Yamato, and Nino felt very much inclined to tell Sho off, that he shouldn’t always believe what his loudmouthed boyfriend was saying, but knew he would only be wasting his breath. Even calling Matsumoto back to yell at him wouldn’t help either, so he just let Sho talk his ears off until he was done.
Or so he thought. “You think you’re off the hook just because you’re old enough to decide for yourself, huh?” Sho said, as if he could very well read Nino’s mind. Nino rolled his eyes at him in answer. “And quit rolling your eyes at me, I know you’re doing it, don’t lie.”
“Sho-san, stop talking. You’re seriously creeping me out already,” he barked back and shook his head. He had seriously annoying and ridiculous friends, damn it.
“Jun told me you’re being stupid. Why would you want to meet that lawyer without telling us first?”
“Sho-san, I’m a grownup, and a licensed doctor at that. I’m not your ward and I’m not a kid anymore, you realize? I don’t need anyone’s approval for what I want and can do. You can tell Matsumoto that, too.”
“Nino -“
He sighed. “I know you mean well, and you’re just doing it to protect me, but I swear I can do that myself. You guys can’t always be here to do that for me, so I had to learn how to do it myself, okay? And seriously, it’ll be fine. Besides, I already agreed to what Jun wants. He says he needs to do a background check on that man first before I can go and meet him, fine. That’s fine with me. But I’m telling you, I can’t promise to be always this agreeable once I get the results I’m waiting for,” he said.
“You’re saying you would still pursue the truth even if…even when the test results tell you that your friend…that he died there, along with the others?”
He didn’t even hesitate when he answered, “Yes,” he breathed, “I need to know exactly what happened to him and who was responsible. And I’ll make sure to make them pay for what they’ve done, even if it’s the last thing I would do for him. And I won’t stop until those people are brought to justice, Sho-san. You can bet on that.”
-----
He got home hours later - he’d caught up with the rush hour traffic when he left the hospital just minutes after he’d talked to Sho - and realized something was very wrong the moment he was inside the apartment. An almost undistinguished scent caught his nose, coming from the direction of the living room. Warning bells started ringing at the back of his head, but his curiosity won over.
Without waiting permission from his brain, he walked the short distance from the genkan to the living room proper, turned the lights on on his way there, and was greeted with the sight of a mutilated corpse thrown haphazardly on his once clean parquet floor.
He was immediately reaching for his phone when a movement from behind him startled him, dropping his phone on the floor at the same time the sound of his entire kitchen exploding reached his ears. He felt the impact of it approaching, but not before a pair of arms caught him from behind and tugged him so quickly, before throwing him to the floor. Nino felt the pain coursed through his entire body, ears ringing.
It was the last he remembered before he lost consciousness.
Pairing : Ohno/Nino
Rating : PG
Summary : He’d been trying to uncover the truth about the events prior to their departure from Yamato for years, but all he could dig out from it was the same thing that had been reported repeatedly on national television, regarding the congregation’s involvement in the attack in Tokyo, and nothing more.
Warning : mentions of mass murder, religious cults
Note : crossposted in AO3
Izumi-no-mori, Yamato
Yamato, Kanagawa Prefecture, Present day
Nino found himself driving the car out of the grave site minutes later, to Jun’s insistence.
“This is stupid,” he grumbled, in combined irritation and curiosity, fingers tight around their grip on the steering wheel. Next to him, Jun seemed like he’d rather keep his mouth shut than argue with Nino. In all honesty, Nino preferred that better than this goddamn silence, really.
“We could be taking care of this matter right now instead of running away. That person was just right there, Jun; we could have just gone to him and ask him what he was talking about. Jun. Jun, are you even listening to me -“
“Yes, but as you can see, I’m obviously ignoring you,” Jun countered, unperturbed, and Nino honestly felt like screaming, or hitting something. It wouldn’t help solve the problem, but at least he would feel better right after.
He breathed in deep and held himself instead. “I told you he’s the same person who’d gone to visit Aiba-chan earlier, asking him the same thing. And I already agreed to talk to him. You should have just let me,”
“Not until we figure out what he’s after,” Jun insisted, “Or who he really is, for that matter. God, do you even hear yourself right now, Nino? You want to talk to him when you don’t even know who he is? Are you crazy?”
“Serizawa Go-san, that’s his name. You know that already, right? Aiba-chan has his business card, too,”
“That’s not the point,” Jun grumbled, glaring at him through the overhead mirror. “And we don’t even know if he’s telling the truth,”
He snorted. “You say that as if we’re not doing the same thing. We’re lying too, you realize?”
Jun was quiet for a moment, before he spoke again. “That’s different, okay? We had no other choice. We were just children, Nino, and the people who saved us knew what they were doing. Did you think we’d have made it through if we went on to live as the so-called children of the murderers? Do you think that would have been easier?”
He didn’t have to answer that. “I know it’s frustrating, Nino, I get it. I’m frustrated too, but we can’t be too reckless. We’ve been reckless enough, you realize, for going back there when we both know we shouldn’t. But I know how important this is to you, but please, please, let’s try to be sensible first, okay? Let us do a background check on the guy first before you talk to him, before we talk to him. It won’t take long, I promise,” Jun said, pausing for a bit and reaching over to pat Nino’s knee. “Just…just to make sure he’s really who he claimed he is, okay? I mean, we promised we’d take care of each other, right? Obviously, we can’t do that if you’re already dead, so, why don’t you just go back to your day job, Tokai-sensei, and wait?”
He sighed. “God, I knew there’s a reason why I dislike lawyers,”
“Not all of them, of course,” Jun countered, and this time, he did sound - different, cheerful, even.
“No, I’m pretty sure I hate all of them, shut up.”
Jun just laughed.
-----
Yamato, Late Winter 1995
“Are you sure about this?”
Kazunari nodded, lips pursed. His sister looked, well, not entirely unconvinced, but, maybe something else? He could tell she was thinking hard though, weighing things in her head as she remained uncharacteristically quiet; it was not like her to react this way, really, and the unexpected silence was making him nervous. The reaction could mean so many things, and Kazunari feared it would be the worst.
Now, more than ever, he needed his sister to trust him; it would be for both their sakes, as Ohno had insisted. It would be difficult to convince her otherwise, but Kazunari had to try. He had to.
“I think you already know what I’m talking about, Nee-chan,” Kazunari added, keeping his voice low, just loud enough for his sister to hear him. She caught his gaze and held it, but she remained quiet. “This was what our parents were arguing about that morning a few months ago, you remember?”
There was a flash of recognition in her eyes; Kazunari wondered if it was a good thing or not.
He didn’t want to push his luck and make her feel like he was trying to shove her off the wall by making her listen, but they were running of time and he was running out of options. Ohno told him it could happen anytime soon, the thing they feared the most, since the ‘cleansing rituals’ would be starting before the winter season end, and that meant they only have a month, probably two max, to plan their escape.
“I’m not making this up, Nee-chan,” he insisted, still trying to keep his voice down. “I saw it myself, I swear. They were hauling the bodies out of here as if they were garbage,” he added, shuddering at the memory of it resurfacing. He honestly didn’t want to be reminded of it, but he guessed forgetting it was not an option, either. Knowing the same thing could happen to them was motivation enough for him to keep trying, to make his sister believe what he was telling her; otherwise, he might be forced to ask Ohno for help.
“You’re talking about…the suitcases, right?” she asked. Kazunari nodded.
“The ones they’ve loaded in a van that was parked outside the front entrance of this building?” she followed. Kazunari nodded again, half-curious and equal parts relieved that he didn’t have to go ask Ohno where he thought the bodies were buried. Clearly, his sister witnessed the same thing, too.
“So, you knew,” he said.
She shook her head. “Not to that extent, no. I know what you’re referring to because I saw it too, but I didn’t realize those were - were what you said they were,“ she paused here and gave Kazunari a look. “Are you sure?” she asked, and when he nodded, she added, “But…how? I mean, how did you even know those were…those were bodies and not, you know, just garbage and stuff?”
He found himself hesitating there. Obviously, it would be difficult to explain how he came to know these things and even harder to explain to her that he had no proof either. Just the words of another kid who’d been here longer than they have.
“Did you see the dead bodies yourself, Kazu?”
He shook his head. “But you said that as if you were sure,” his sister insisted. “That means you have proof, right? Otherwise, you know you sounded like you were trying to make me believe that our father is capable of murdering us, sacrificing his own children just to prove himself worthy in front of the leader, right?”
“No, I don’t -“ he said, but he was quickly cut off by his sister shifting closer, hands grabbing his forearms for dear life.
“Then, who does?” she asked, hurriedly. “Someone obviously does, or you wouldn’t be telling me this. Who is it, Kazu?”
Kazunari blinked. “Ohno-san and Aiba-san,” he said.
If his sister was surprised, she tried her best not to let it show. She squeezed his arms and nodded, lips pursed.
“Your friends?” she asked. Kazunari nodded. “You’re joking, right?”
“This is not something I would joke about, Nee-chan,” he returned, offended. “Surely, you’d know if I am. And I’m not. I’m not, okay?”
She still looked unconvinced, but there was something in her gaze that told him otherwise. Her fingers caught the front of his shirt as she tugged him closer, eyes and expression serious.
“Then show me,” she murmured, “I want to see it for myself. Tell your friends to show me the evidence, otherwise we will forget this conversation ever happened. Agreed?”
The only thing Kazunari could do was nod.
-------
Tokyo General Hospital
Tokyo, Present day
Nino’s last stop before he’d head home was at the hospital. He was still considering filing a formal request for vacation, but he was certain that doing so at the last minute was not possible. He’d already asked Takashina to cover his shift for him today (and yesterday too), and hoping for another day off from the hospital would be too much.
Also, he was pretty sure the old prick wouldn’t let him. Kurosaki-sensei could be the world’s biggest jerk if he wanted to be, and Nino would rather eat his own shoe than to beg the old fart for something he was entitled for anyway. He’d consider other options later, at least once he had the results of the DNA tests done on the remains uncovered at the Yamato mass grave in his hands. For now, he’d work his way through his days as usual, and wait.
He was on his way up to get some of his stuff he’d left in the nap room when he received a call from Sho. Apparently, he’d already talked to his mother about Nino’s request to talk, which would be tonight, if Nino was free to do so, which Nino readily agreed to. He still have the rest of today and tomorrow after lunch to get some of these things done before he had to work the late night shift again.
Of course, Sho didn’t call just for that. He’d also demanded Nino’s explanation regarding their earlier trip to Yamato, and Nino felt very much inclined to tell Sho off, that he shouldn’t always believe what his loudmouthed boyfriend was saying, but knew he would only be wasting his breath. Even calling Matsumoto back to yell at him wouldn’t help either, so he just let Sho talk his ears off until he was done.
Or so he thought. “You think you’re off the hook just because you’re old enough to decide for yourself, huh?” Sho said, as if he could very well read Nino’s mind. Nino rolled his eyes at him in answer. “And quit rolling your eyes at me, I know you’re doing it, don’t lie.”
“Sho-san, stop talking. You’re seriously creeping me out already,” he barked back and shook his head. He had seriously annoying and ridiculous friends, damn it.
“Jun told me you’re being stupid. Why would you want to meet that lawyer without telling us first?”
“Sho-san, I’m a grownup, and a licensed doctor at that. I’m not your ward and I’m not a kid anymore, you realize? I don’t need anyone’s approval for what I want and can do. You can tell Matsumoto that, too.”
“Nino -“
He sighed. “I know you mean well, and you’re just doing it to protect me, but I swear I can do that myself. You guys can’t always be here to do that for me, so I had to learn how to do it myself, okay? And seriously, it’ll be fine. Besides, I already agreed to what Jun wants. He says he needs to do a background check on that man first before I can go and meet him, fine. That’s fine with me. But I’m telling you, I can’t promise to be always this agreeable once I get the results I’m waiting for,” he said.
“You’re saying you would still pursue the truth even if…even when the test results tell you that your friend…that he died there, along with the others?”
He didn’t even hesitate when he answered, “Yes,” he breathed, “I need to know exactly what happened to him and who was responsible. And I’ll make sure to make them pay for what they’ve done, even if it’s the last thing I would do for him. And I won’t stop until those people are brought to justice, Sho-san. You can bet on that.”
-----
He got home hours later - he’d caught up with the rush hour traffic when he left the hospital just minutes after he’d talked to Sho - and realized something was very wrong the moment he was inside the apartment. An almost undistinguished scent caught his nose, coming from the direction of the living room. Warning bells started ringing at the back of his head, but his curiosity won over.
Without waiting permission from his brain, he walked the short distance from the genkan to the living room proper, turned the lights on on his way there, and was greeted with the sight of a mutilated corpse thrown haphazardly on his once clean parquet floor.
He was immediately reaching for his phone when a movement from behind him startled him, dropping his phone on the floor at the same time the sound of his entire kitchen exploding reached his ears. He felt the impact of it approaching, but not before a pair of arms caught him from behind and tugged him so quickly, before throwing him to the floor. Nino felt the pain coursed through his entire body, ears ringing.
It was the last he remembered before he lost consciousness.