[One Shot] Sweet Tooth
Title: Sweet Tooth
Author: mabopiman
Pairings: Sakuraba, Junba, Yama
Genre: Crime, angst, angst, angst.
Rating (and warning): I’ll just make it R to be safe for the weird concept, murder, suicide, and obviously character death.
Word Count: 4.396
Disclaimer: Fictional. I own no one and nothing.
Summary: Matsumoto Jun is madly in love with Aiba Masaki. Part of Aiba Masaki is tired of loving Sakurai Sho. When Sakurai Sho is found dead, Ohno Satoshi refuses to admit it as suicide. And mabopiman sucks at writing summary.
---
July 29
“I’m sorry, do you mind if I sit here, since this is the only seat available?”
Aiba Masaki raised his head, took a quick look around the room, and smiled at the stranger. “No, no, don’t worry.”
“Thank you.”
Aiba nodded and his attention was back on his manga again. He somewhat heard the stranger ordered a slice of strawberry cheesecake and a cup of tea to the waitress and asked her to wrap a small-sized chocolate cake in whatever prettiest box and wrapper and ribbons that the store had.
“Hey, you only ordered that?” the stranger asked.
“Huh?” Aiba lifted his head from his manga and glanced at the almost empty parfait glass on his right side. “Ah, yes. Actually I’m waiting for someone. The chocolatier here, he’s my friend. His job will be over soon and I’m meeting up with him.”
“I see. By the way, I’m-“ the stranger was about to say his name when he heard Aiba’s phone rang. He smiled and nodded when Aiba mouthed an “I’m sorry” and answered the phone.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Aiba scooped the last spoonful of ice cream and shoved it inside his mouth while listening to the person talking on other end of the line. He frowned when he heard no answer, repeating, “What’s wrong? Sho-chan?”
The stranger blinked at the familiar name. He strained his ears as discreet as possible out of curiosity.
“Really? Uhm… Just right. I have no plan tonight. I’m meeting up with my friend now and it’s going to be short. I’ll go to Grand Galeria as soon as my business is finished, okay. See you.”
“Meeting up with someone… ‘Sho-chan’?”
“Ah, yes. Sakurai Sho. A… well, friend of mine.” Aiba tried to lie but couldn’t hide his blush.
“I see. And in such a luxurious hotel? He must be very wealthy then,” The stranger smiled gently but teasingly, “and you’re blushing.”
“Wha-” Aiba cupped his cheeks and sighed. “Well… I…”
“Don’t worry. I-” the stranger stopped his words at the sight of well-built man in stylish clothes smacking Aiba’s head with a magazine. The latter whimpered and he could only blink questioningly at the beautiful man’s direction.
“What are you doing spilling everything out to a stranger like that? God, Masaki. You’re so damn stupid.” He clicked his tongue before turning to the stranger and smiled softly. “Forgive me, my friend must be noisy. Ah, I’m Matsumoto Jun. The owner and the chocolatier here. Please, enjoy your sweets.”
The stranger just nodded as the owner dragged his friend outside the patisserie while mumbling something.
The stranger followed their steps until he couldn’t see them anymore. He sighed.
He just heard Sakurai Sho… A more than familiar name.
**
July 30
“This is NOT suicide.”
Or so their leader had declared confidently for the umpteenth time. The investigation team members were busy looking for possible evidence, while their leader only stared at the dead body grudgingly, hands curled into a fist white with fury.
“Sakurai Sho, 32, poisoning, time of death July 29th, 10:26 p.m..” Ninomiya Kazunari ran towards him and reported between the flashes of the camera and the busy noises in the hotel room.
The leader loosened up with ease, like a professional actor switching between characters. His smile already soft and calm, his eyes gently looked at his subordinate’s eyes.
“Understood. Is he staying with someone?”
Ninomiya shook his head and frowned, "We’re still searching for any signs of other’s presence. Ohno-san, sorry, we can't find anything suspicious...." Ninomiya glanced around the room, “…yet. Oh?”
“What’s wrong, Nino?”
“Sir, I wonder what that is?" Ninomiya said, pointing at a small object peeking under the deceased's bed.
**
July 29
“Masaki, this is what I can come up with,” Matsumoto Jun handed a small glass jar to the slender man beside him.
“Ah, the chocolate cream you told me about?” Aiba took the jar hesitantly, “So with this, Sho-chan can―”
“I know that Sho can't resist chocolate and you. So this will work smoothly.”
Aiba smiled awkwardly, “I’m… Pretty nervous for this. Will I be okay?”
“Just a little bit for the game and you'll do perfectly," Matsumoto smiled and patted Aiba’s back encouragingly.
“Is it okay to feel excited about this, Jun-chan…? This is… a crime…” Aiba mumbled and covered his face with his hands, elbows on his knees.
“What he did to you is a crime as well. I hope you won’t forget that fact.”
Aiba took a deep breath before sitting up straight again, “You’re right.” He forced a smile, “You’re right, Jun-chan. Well then. Thanks for this.”
“You’re welcome. Remember to lose on purpose. Don’t get carried away by the game.”
Aiba looked at Matsumoto and nodded. Matsumoto reached for Aiba’s cheekbone, lightly pressing the thin purplish mark on his skin. Aiba winced at the stinging pain before getting used to it.
“So it still hurts, the usual ‘gift’ from Sho…” Matsumoto sighed, pulling his hand away.
“It does,” Aiba smiled sadly, “…there are some in other places too.”
“You’ll be free, soon…” Matsumoto reached out to give Aiba a tight, reassuring hug. “Very soon,” he sighed on Aiba’s shoulder.
Five minutes later, Aiba was already on the way to Sakurai Sho’s hotel room, his heart beating erratically for various things that would happen during the next four or five hours.
“Sho-chan…” he murmured Sho’s name silently.
**
He shrunk into a small ball in the bathtub, hugging his knees, his face buried between his knees. His shoulders rose and fell irregularly from sobbing. Sakurai Sho kneeled beside the bathtub, stroking his slender bare back.
“Ssh, it’s okay now, Masaki. I’m sorry for earlier, okay? Was it too hot?”
“…It was… It was boiling, Sho-chan… It… was not hot at all. It was boiling…” Aiba mumbled between his sobs, hugging himself tighter as the stinging pain on his back came back with every stroke Sakurai made, “Sho-chan stop… it hurts…”
“You don’t like me comforting you?”
Aiba’s eyes snapped open and he looked at Sakurai, shaking his head frantically. “No! No! I love Sho-chan’s hands but the way-”
“Then it’s okay, right? I made a mistake on the shower’s temperature, and now I’m trying to say sorry! Isn’t it okay, Masaki? It’s enough, right?”
“Y-yes…” he managed to say. Soon, Masaki, hang on, he whispered to himself.
“Good,” Sakurai smiled, “Come on, stand up. Let’s have a proper shower.”
Sakurai’s grip was a bit too tight on his arm and waist, as usual, as if it was about to squeeze his guts and veins out of his skins. Sakurai’s mentally ill, or so Matsumoto had said the time he found out about the ‘abuse’, but all Aiba knew-or all he wanted to knew, refusing to admit it as ‘abuse’ until Sakurai hit him hard on the face one day and continued to another beating days later- was Sakurai only loved putting too much strength on what he did to others. Caressing would feel like slapping, hugging would feel suffocating that he was about to collapse because he couldn’t breathe, kissing would-most of the time-make his lips bleed, even the supposedly pleasurable love-making times would leave abnormal scars or serious wounds on some parts his body.
That Sakurai is mentally ill, he could never admit wholeheartedly. In fact, a small, fragile part in him thought that he still loved Sakurai. Everything hurt, it always did, but never did Aiba utter a single complain.
Matsumoto Jun becoming his roommate changed everything. The serious and straightforward way of life that Matsumoto showed him had gradually lead him to today’s decision to end everything after countless fruitless way of dealing with Sakurai’s ‘abusive’ behavior. Revoking the small part in him he always tried to suppress: a part of him who wanted to erase Sakurai Sho from his life.
And so Aiba turned around and hugged his Sakurai, under the warm water sprinkling from the shower.
“Let’s get out already. The water hurts.”
Soon, he repeated in his thoughts.
--
“Hey, Sho-chan, look at this. My friend gave this to me,” Aiba said somewhat weakly, hands fishing inside his bag.
“What is it?”
Aiba smiled nervously, showing the chocolate jar to Sakurai. “Made by my roommate, and he’s a chocolatier trained in Paris.” Aiba opened the lid and climbed the bed, crawling towards Sakurai to allow him see more closely.
“Chocolate cream?” Sakurai's eyes widened at the sight of delicious-looking chocolate cream on Aiba's hand, the sweet aroma tickled his nostrils. “Whoa, smells really good. And…? You want us to… eat cream? Why not chocolate bars, candies, or cakes?” Sakurai stroked Aiba’s cheek softly.
Only at the sight of sweets that he can be this gentle… Aiba thought to himself. He forced a smile. Just a bit more, I have to put on an act just a bit more. Soon…
“Let’s play shiritori with this, Sho-chan!”
Aiba scooted closer towards Sakurai, “The one who can't continue the word in two seconds will be smeared with this cream. Just a little bit, just one stroke on other's face with your fingertip. The one who gets the most cream on his face loses, and...” Aiba pressed his lips to Sakurai's ear, whispering, “The winner has to lick it off, squeaky clean.”
“HA?” Sakurai laughed at the seemingly stupid idea. “But, eh? Why?”
“Sho-chan rarely allows me to decide on something, right?”
“Uh-huh?”
“With this I’d like to prove to you that I always had great ideas for games. And besides,” Aiba nuzzled Sakurai’s cheek, “Isn’t this game interesting for our lovely time?”
Sakurai giggled foolishly and smacked Aiba's shoulder playfully, “You're such a tease. Okay then! I'm in!! Bring it on, Masaki!”
And in no time they were already sitting face to face, legs-crossed like they were about to meditate, the cream jar between them.
“I'll start first, okay?” Aiba licked his lips and slapped his thigh hard, “Tsuri!”
“Risuku.”
“Ku... Ku...”
“One~”
“Aaaah wait wait, Sho-chan!!! Ku... KUBI!! Oh gosh...”
Sakurai laughed, “Almost, hmm. Well... Bi. Bikini!”
“Eeeh.. Ni... Ni...?! Ni...?”
“One...”
“Oh god!! Ni!!” Aiba ruffled his hair in frustration and jumped to hug the pillow when Sakurai counted two.
Remember to lose on purpose. Don’t get carried away by the game.
And the first, thick dab of cream landed on his cheek.
And then the second. The third. The fourth. The fifth. And on and on, until Aiba's face was almost full of chocolate cream, while there were only two dabs on Sakurai’s.
“Mou, Sho-chaaaaan....” Aiba pouted and threw himself backwards on the bed, “I want to stop this right nooow...”
Sakurai laughed openly, “Are you an idiot?! There are a lot of words in the dictionary, Masaki! I can’t believe it’s only ‘kubi’ and ‘korosu’ that you can think about… You’re unexpectedly… Oh my stomach hurts…” Sakurai held his aching stomach and rolled on the bed.
“Let's stop already... Let’s wash our faces,” the still pouting Aiba tried to got up, but Sakurai's hand stopped him.
“Need me to remind you about the rule?”
Aiba’s heart skipped a beat. Now. He grinned mischievously, “Glad you remember.”
Here it comes. Aiba’s heart thumped faster, like it was about to jump out from his throat-both from anxiousness and from Sakurai’s firm hands moving up to his shoulders. This is it.
“You and chocolate? No way I could let it go.”
As he said the words, Sakurai pinned Aiba down on the bed and started licking his face, starting from Aiba's forehead and temples, down to his eyes, his nose, his cheeks, his jaws, and-as Aiba thought it would be-his lips although there wasn't any chocolate there. Aiba’s arms tensed up under Sakurai’s grip-both at the thought of what would happen after this and for anticipation of possible wound Sakurai would inflict on his already aching body.
But Sakurai’s touch was gentle, like none other time before, thanks to the sweets that Sakurai loved so much. Aiba sighed at the relatively new and really pleasant feeling, slowly loosening up and giving in to Sakurai’s kisses. Sakurai pressed his body tighter to Aiba and started to grind his hips on Aiba’s as he started to nibble and forced his tongue inside Aiba's mouth. Too forceful, it was impossible for Aiba to prevent it from entering his mouth. Despite his moans of pleasure from the battle in his mouth, and his hands which were circled around Sakurai’s neck since who-knows-when, Aiba felt it grew stronger: the worry, the fear, the outcome of this plan―they just kept bubbling up inside him, choking him.
Unable to stop, Sakurai just kept touching his body and kissing him from his face down to his neck. His free hand reached for the jar and smeared the remaining cream on Aiba’s face again, leaving the younger panting and on the verge of tears.
“Enough, Sho-chan…” Aiba managed to say between his ragged breath, voice trembling with tears threatening to come out anytime soon. “Enough… Stop this…”
Sakurai smirked, whispering, “But you’re not clean yet, Masaki.” He enjoyed both the cream and Aiba’s soft skin, and more because he loved the noises that his poor lover made from the base of his throat.
“S-Sho-chan... Stop... Please stop…” Gasping, Aiba gathered his strength to grab Sakurai's hands which were gradually making its way to his waist, trying hastily to remove his belt and pants.
Sakurai groaned a complaint to Aiba’s neck and insisted on unbuckling his belt. Aiba tried removing Sakurai’s hands slowly. “Not this... Not now… G-gosh, Sho-chan, STOP!!!” Aiba striked and scratched Sakurai’s stubborn hand on his waist as hard as he could. Somehow he was glad he didn’t have the chance to cut his nail that day.
Aiba’s scratch somehow managed to return Sakurai to himself. “Shit. Masaki...? What's wrong?!” trying to catch his breath as well, Sakurai tried to compose himself and slowly removed himself from Aiba. “God, we’re doing good here. And don’t you know it’s quite torturing to stop halfway? Are you sick or something?! Masaki, please?”
Sakurai tried to hold him again, but Aiba forcefully shoved him away.
“Sorry I… I have to go!!!”
Aiba quickly tidied up his clothes and dashed outside the room without saying a single word, leaving Sakurai alone, still sitting on the bed with questions in his head. It made him dizzy.
Not that kind of dizzy, though. Soon he felt the burning sensation all over his body, his limbs was pretty much numb, his head throbbing with extreme pain, his chest tightened, and the world spun, just spun. He grabbed the edges of the bed for support, tried to reach anything... His phone... his book... But his hand only hit something small on his bed, sending it rolling and stopped on the fluffy carpeted floor under the bed.
Then his heart stopped beating.
--
“I’m home…”
Matsumoto Jun jolted from his seat on the couch at the familiar voice entering his living room.
“Masaki? Welcome ba-”
“I’m going to take a shower and go to sleep, Jun-chan.”
Matsumoto froze, eyes following Aiba’s every steps. “Is… something wrong with our plan?”
“Nope. It went well. A little bit too well I guess. Just… need to calm down a bit. Can’t I?”
“Of course… you can. Take your time, Masaki.”
“Thanks.”
--
By the time Aiba finished his shower and walked to the bedroom, Matsumoto was already waiting for him, reading a crime novel while laying down on his futon, thick eyeglass propped on his tall nose.
“Another crime novel?” Masaki asked bitterly before slipping under his own futon.
“Uh-huh.”
“Nee, Jun-chan.”
“Hmm?”
“Sho-chan likes sweet things.”
“Yeah.”
“And with sweet things, he can be much gentler.”
“Really? So?” said Matsumoto with a sigh, closing his novel, putting it beside his pillow and turned to his side to face Aiba.
“I wonder if I found out about that earlier… Would I be able to forgive him and live with him a bit longer…?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll… miss him, but I won’t be able to meet him… again,” Aiba sighed, covering his face with both hands.
“Masaki…”
“Nee, you said a little will do...” Aiba started to sob.
“Yes.”
“He ate it a bit too much...”
“That will be faster, yes.”
“I see…” Aiba laughed bitterly, his voice trembled with unshed tears of guilt, fear, and grief. “Good night… Jun-chan.”
The futon and the cover rustled as Aiba turned to his side, avoiding sleeping face-to-face with Matsumoto. He tried hard not to sob, but he failed completely. He closed his eyes tightly, biting his lower lip and bringing the cover close to his mouth to muffle his own sobs. Aiba’s thoughts were full of Sakurai and his pained expression. The image of Sakurai whimpering, convulsing, and rolling in pain was overflowing in his head. He bit his lips harder, grasped the cover tighter.
“Can’t you just forget him?”
Aiba gasped, his tears and surprise choking him as he felt Matsumoto’s hot breath on his nape and his arms around his slender figure, slithering under the cover. His back was pressed tight to Matsumoto’s chest he could somewhat feel Matsumoto’s rapid heartbeat.
“Jun-chan…?”
“I can make you forget if you allow me to. I love you, Masaki. Since a long time ago. Even before I lost my home and decided to share a house with you. I’ve always loved you.” Matsumoto sighed, “Only you.”
Aiba shivered as he felt Matsumoto tightened his hold around him possessively. He tried to free himself from the hold, but Matsumoto only held him tighter with his every effort. Aiba whimpered, and Matsumoto only got more possessive by claiming Aiba’s neck with his mouth, sucking it and leaving a red mark. Aiba couldn’t move at all and he bit his lip when he finally realized why he was that powerless, why he didn’t have any strength to push Matsumoto away…
“I’ll make you forget him, Masaki, if you’ll just let me try… please?” Matsumoto begged desperately. “Please let me be your next…”
“Jun-chan…” Aiba sobbed again, “You should get out of here soon…”
“Why is that?”
“I’m… going… to die.”
“Ridiculous.”
Aiba felt disgusted and uncomfortable when Matsumoto turned his body around and straddled him, cupping and caressing his cheeks with the eyes of a madman. But he was already powerless. He couldn’t do anything besides giving in to whatever the desperately-in-love Matsumoto was about to do with him.
“I’m dying… Believe me. I ate… the chocolate… through Sho-chan’s kisses. I feel numb already.”
Matsumoto swallowed the sudden lump in his throat before his eyes darkened even more. “Then I’ll die here, too, with any ways possible…”
“Jun-chan… You can’t…” Aiba stopped his words at the sudden sharp pain in his head and chest. “Argh…”
When he was about to say goodbye and he couldn’t open his mouth, Aiba knew from his blurry and quivering sight that Matsumoto was kissing him, his head was moving sloppier and greedier than Sakurai, but he couldn’t feel it anymore. Something was choking him and he couldn’t tell anymore if it was the poison or Matsumoto’s tongue. He closed his eyes. His hands that were pushing on Matsumoto’s chest fell limp on the futon.
Matsumoto jerked in surprise, his senses suddenly came back to him.
“Masaki…?”
**
July 30
“From the strands of hair found in the bathroom, dust from the shoes, and the conclusive CCTV records, we can conclude that Sakurai Sho was staying with Aiba Masaki. Aiba came on the exactly same day, July 29th at 06:00 p.m. and left the hotel at 10:15, thus making him the last people who made a contact with Sakurai.
“There’s a very high possibility that Aiba is his lover, seeing that both Sakurai and Aiba’s strands of hair were found together in the bathtub and shower cubicle. A trace of… Oh this part is gross,” Nino rubbed his face, “Ohno-san… Why should I report this out loud…” Ninomiya complained, earning a laugh from Ohno.
“Nino, this report is not a piece of story you should feel embarrassed of. This is your crime investigation report, and it’s not gross.”
“I know, but…”
“I know, I know. Well you can skip that part only for this time. I already know what you meant by gross, anyway. Continue,” Ohno secretly tapped his fingers impatiently on his thigh.
Nino took a deep breath before continuing, “A small glass jar, 5 centimeter in diameter, found under the bed contained traces of chocolate cream. From the ingredients analysis, various harmful chemical components can be found, which later will be explained in detail by Murakami-san from the lab. The cream-”
“How about the manufacturer?”
Ninomiya blinked in surprise, “Well, we’ve tracked it. Shall I-”
“Go read that part, quick.”
Nino nodded obediently, ignoring his own curiosity over Ohno’s sudden impatience, “It can be concluded that the chocolate cream uses the same ingredients as what is used in Choco-La-Vie, a sweets store in Shibuya, owned by chocolatier Matsumoto Jun.”
“Nino, conduct a search on Matsumoto and Aiba’s possible whereabouts.”
“Yes, Sir!”
--
The camera flashes over and over again inside the small bedroom. The lights from the flash felt twice as blinding compared to the previous investigation in Sakurai Sho’s hotel room in Grand Galeria. Maybe because the room was smaller, or maybe because there were two dead, rotting bodies there, Ninomiya wasn’t sure anymore. His only wish was for Ohno Satoshi’s arrival, to sum up everything and go back to the office as soon as possible.
They were Matsumoto Jun the chocolatier and Aiba Masaki. Both died on the 30th, the team was sure. Aiba Masaki died earlier than Matsumoto, possibly around 02:00 a.m., and Matsumoto followed at 02:25 a.m. Trace of the same chocolate cream and Matsumoto’s saliva was found on Aiba’s clothes, nape, ears, and various other rather hidden spots on his body.
Nino sighed as he listened to his senior’s deduction on this matter. The possibility of love triangle between the three of them. Possibility of physical and sexual abuse on Aiba Masaki, which was the main reason for murdering Sakurai Sho.
“Nino! Okada!”
Nino and his senior jolted in surprise at Ohno’s sudden arrival and quickly ran to his side, reporting everything. Ohno’s mind quickly made a connection between the incidents, and nodded.
“So it can be concluded that Aiba consumed the chocolate earlier than Matsumoto. I bet it was through Sakurai’s saliva. We found it earlier in the investigation, right? The poisoned chocolate was transferred mouth-to-mouth...”
Nino frowned at Ohno’s explanation, hiding his shiver by crossing his arms, “But since Aiba didn’t swallow it directly like Sakurai, he died a bit later. The poison took longer time to kill him.”
“Matsumoto, who was desperate, took the remaining chocolate he stored in the fridge and spread it on Aiba’s dead body before eating it himself. Judging from the spots where the chocolate and/or trace of saliva were found, the reason was probably he had wanted Aiba to be his lover. They were all human’s sensitive spots…” Okada continued with a sigh. “And judging from how messy this case was, I guess the motive was none other than raw desires to satisfy their personal emotion. They didn’t even try to remove the possible evidences…”
“I see…” Ohno nodded. “17:05. Case closed. Go for the next procedures. I will be here for a while. This is my last case, after all.”
“Sir?!” Nino and Okada’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I just handed my resignation letter to Higashiyama-san. This is my last day.”
“But why?!”
“Personal reasons,” Ohno said firmly, though with a smile. “Now go.”
“Y-yessir!”
After making sure the team members had already left the bedroom, Ohno walked towards Matsumoto’s body, kneeling and closing his eyes, offering a silent prayer. He reached out his hand to close Matsumoto’s eyes and smiled gently.
“Thank you. Saves me the trouble, Matsumoto-san.”
He stood up and moved to the other body beside Matsumoto’s-Aiba Masaki’s body-and stared blankly at it. As if everything was never enough, he crouched and cupped Aiba’s face with more strength than necessary, squeezing it hard with his trembling fingers and jerking it with equal strength.
“Take care of Sho, idiot.”
--
He took his last sip of coffee, paid for it, and went to the konbini to buy some cupped ramen and drinks. He went home somberly, plopping himself down on his couch and took a deep, heavy breath.
He walked to the kitchen. He opened the fridge only to find a box of super-expensive praline his lover had left for him days before.
“Even though I don’t like sweet things…” he murmured.
He closed the fridge and walked back to the living room. He saw a familiar photo frame on the cabinet and took it out.
It was him and his lover. Smiling widely, hand on each other’s shoulder, the other hand forming a ‘love’ symbol with their fingers. On the bottom left corner he saw the familiar handwriting.
I love you, Ohno Satoshi. (*^O^*)
-Sakurai Sho
“Liar,” Ohno mumbled, tears started to flow on his chubby cheeks. “Stupid liar…”
Ohno fell on his knees. He shook his head frantically, trying to forget the memories he had with Sakurai, his possessiveness over Sakurai, his excessive love for Sakurai, the fight they had, the stupid man he met in the crowded patisserie, Matsumoto Jun, Choco-La-Vie…
He wanted to forget everything.
His attention was drawn towards the drawer where he kept his treasures. He absentmindedly opened it and took out the secret present he got from Higashiyama-san. It was something which was meant to protect himself. Something which was meant to protect those that he loved… Something he shouldn’t keep after he resigned from his job as a police officer…
But he had no one to protect anymore, anyway.
Still crying, he held it close to his chest. He whispered Sakurai’s name over and over again. He was in despair and he couldn’t do anything besides sobbing while holding the forbidden present until the clock strike midnight. It doesn’t take long for him to finally break down. He stared at the precious present, lips quivering and tears overflowing.
Then a sound of gunshot could be heard, breaking the silence in the already quiet housing complex.
-end-
-----
a/n: angst~ I’m sorry!
First, about Sho… psychopathy? Bipolar? I’m not sure. :S
Second, timeline: Sho died the night of 29th, minutes after Aiba went home. His body was found the same day before midnight, and the investigation started a few minutes past midnight the 30th. Aiba went home around midnight, and he died on the time mentioned in the story. Soon after that the search was started. They were found quite easily, then yeah.
I’d like to know, was it confusing?
I have no experience in writing crime stories so I don’t really know if these things are possible… So if you find weird bits here (timeline, plot, items used, etc.) and you told me what you found, I’ll be more than thankful~ I’ll be able to learn a lot ;3
Beta-ed by the usual and the one and only and the lovely pimanzero (who complained about the angst, I’m sorry!! xD)
Hope you enjoyed it~
Author: mabopiman
Pairings: Sakuraba, Junba, Yama
Genre: Crime, angst, angst, angst.
Rating (and warning): I’ll just make it R to be safe for the weird concept, murder, suicide, and obviously character death.
Word Count: 4.396
Disclaimer: Fictional. I own no one and nothing.
Summary: Matsumoto Jun is madly in love with Aiba Masaki. Part of Aiba Masaki is tired of loving Sakurai Sho. When Sakurai Sho is found dead, Ohno Satoshi refuses to admit it as suicide. And mabopiman sucks at writing summary.
---
July 29
“I’m sorry, do you mind if I sit here, since this is the only seat available?”
Aiba Masaki raised his head, took a quick look around the room, and smiled at the stranger. “No, no, don’t worry.”
“Thank you.”
Aiba nodded and his attention was back on his manga again. He somewhat heard the stranger ordered a slice of strawberry cheesecake and a cup of tea to the waitress and asked her to wrap a small-sized chocolate cake in whatever prettiest box and wrapper and ribbons that the store had.
“Hey, you only ordered that?” the stranger asked.
“Huh?” Aiba lifted his head from his manga and glanced at the almost empty parfait glass on his right side. “Ah, yes. Actually I’m waiting for someone. The chocolatier here, he’s my friend. His job will be over soon and I’m meeting up with him.”
“I see. By the way, I’m-“ the stranger was about to say his name when he heard Aiba’s phone rang. He smiled and nodded when Aiba mouthed an “I’m sorry” and answered the phone.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Aiba scooped the last spoonful of ice cream and shoved it inside his mouth while listening to the person talking on other end of the line. He frowned when he heard no answer, repeating, “What’s wrong? Sho-chan?”
The stranger blinked at the familiar name. He strained his ears as discreet as possible out of curiosity.
“Really? Uhm… Just right. I have no plan tonight. I’m meeting up with my friend now and it’s going to be short. I’ll go to Grand Galeria as soon as my business is finished, okay. See you.”
“Meeting up with someone… ‘Sho-chan’?”
“Ah, yes. Sakurai Sho. A… well, friend of mine.” Aiba tried to lie but couldn’t hide his blush.
“I see. And in such a luxurious hotel? He must be very wealthy then,” The stranger smiled gently but teasingly, “and you’re blushing.”
“Wha-” Aiba cupped his cheeks and sighed. “Well… I…”
“Don’t worry. I-” the stranger stopped his words at the sight of well-built man in stylish clothes smacking Aiba’s head with a magazine. The latter whimpered and he could only blink questioningly at the beautiful man’s direction.
“What are you doing spilling everything out to a stranger like that? God, Masaki. You’re so damn stupid.” He clicked his tongue before turning to the stranger and smiled softly. “Forgive me, my friend must be noisy. Ah, I’m Matsumoto Jun. The owner and the chocolatier here. Please, enjoy your sweets.”
The stranger just nodded as the owner dragged his friend outside the patisserie while mumbling something.
The stranger followed their steps until he couldn’t see them anymore. He sighed.
He just heard Sakurai Sho… A more than familiar name.
**
July 30
“This is NOT suicide.”
Or so their leader had declared confidently for the umpteenth time. The investigation team members were busy looking for possible evidence, while their leader only stared at the dead body grudgingly, hands curled into a fist white with fury.
“Sakurai Sho, 32, poisoning, time of death July 29th, 10:26 p.m..” Ninomiya Kazunari ran towards him and reported between the flashes of the camera and the busy noises in the hotel room.
The leader loosened up with ease, like a professional actor switching between characters. His smile already soft and calm, his eyes gently looked at his subordinate’s eyes.
“Understood. Is he staying with someone?”
Ninomiya shook his head and frowned, "We’re still searching for any signs of other’s presence. Ohno-san, sorry, we can't find anything suspicious...." Ninomiya glanced around the room, “…yet. Oh?”
“What’s wrong, Nino?”
“Sir, I wonder what that is?" Ninomiya said, pointing at a small object peeking under the deceased's bed.
**
July 29
“Masaki, this is what I can come up with,” Matsumoto Jun handed a small glass jar to the slender man beside him.
“Ah, the chocolate cream you told me about?” Aiba took the jar hesitantly, “So with this, Sho-chan can―”
“I know that Sho can't resist chocolate and you. So this will work smoothly.”
Aiba smiled awkwardly, “I’m… Pretty nervous for this. Will I be okay?”
“Just a little bit for the game and you'll do perfectly," Matsumoto smiled and patted Aiba’s back encouragingly.
“Is it okay to feel excited about this, Jun-chan…? This is… a crime…” Aiba mumbled and covered his face with his hands, elbows on his knees.
“What he did to you is a crime as well. I hope you won’t forget that fact.”
Aiba took a deep breath before sitting up straight again, “You’re right.” He forced a smile, “You’re right, Jun-chan. Well then. Thanks for this.”
“You’re welcome. Remember to lose on purpose. Don’t get carried away by the game.”
Aiba looked at Matsumoto and nodded. Matsumoto reached for Aiba’s cheekbone, lightly pressing the thin purplish mark on his skin. Aiba winced at the stinging pain before getting used to it.
“So it still hurts, the usual ‘gift’ from Sho…” Matsumoto sighed, pulling his hand away.
“It does,” Aiba smiled sadly, “…there are some in other places too.”
“You’ll be free, soon…” Matsumoto reached out to give Aiba a tight, reassuring hug. “Very soon,” he sighed on Aiba’s shoulder.
Five minutes later, Aiba was already on the way to Sakurai Sho’s hotel room, his heart beating erratically for various things that would happen during the next four or five hours.
“Sho-chan…” he murmured Sho’s name silently.
**
He shrunk into a small ball in the bathtub, hugging his knees, his face buried between his knees. His shoulders rose and fell irregularly from sobbing. Sakurai Sho kneeled beside the bathtub, stroking his slender bare back.
“Ssh, it’s okay now, Masaki. I’m sorry for earlier, okay? Was it too hot?”
“…It was… It was boiling, Sho-chan… It… was not hot at all. It was boiling…” Aiba mumbled between his sobs, hugging himself tighter as the stinging pain on his back came back with every stroke Sakurai made, “Sho-chan stop… it hurts…”
“You don’t like me comforting you?”
Aiba’s eyes snapped open and he looked at Sakurai, shaking his head frantically. “No! No! I love Sho-chan’s hands but the way-”
“Then it’s okay, right? I made a mistake on the shower’s temperature, and now I’m trying to say sorry! Isn’t it okay, Masaki? It’s enough, right?”
“Y-yes…” he managed to say. Soon, Masaki, hang on, he whispered to himself.
“Good,” Sakurai smiled, “Come on, stand up. Let’s have a proper shower.”
Sakurai’s grip was a bit too tight on his arm and waist, as usual, as if it was about to squeeze his guts and veins out of his skins. Sakurai’s mentally ill, or so Matsumoto had said the time he found out about the ‘abuse’, but all Aiba knew-or all he wanted to knew, refusing to admit it as ‘abuse’ until Sakurai hit him hard on the face one day and continued to another beating days later- was Sakurai only loved putting too much strength on what he did to others. Caressing would feel like slapping, hugging would feel suffocating that he was about to collapse because he couldn’t breathe, kissing would-most of the time-make his lips bleed, even the supposedly pleasurable love-making times would leave abnormal scars or serious wounds on some parts his body.
That Sakurai is mentally ill, he could never admit wholeheartedly. In fact, a small, fragile part in him thought that he still loved Sakurai. Everything hurt, it always did, but never did Aiba utter a single complain.
Matsumoto Jun becoming his roommate changed everything. The serious and straightforward way of life that Matsumoto showed him had gradually lead him to today’s decision to end everything after countless fruitless way of dealing with Sakurai’s ‘abusive’ behavior. Revoking the small part in him he always tried to suppress: a part of him who wanted to erase Sakurai Sho from his life.
And so Aiba turned around and hugged his Sakurai, under the warm water sprinkling from the shower.
“Let’s get out already. The water hurts.”
Soon, he repeated in his thoughts.
--
“Hey, Sho-chan, look at this. My friend gave this to me,” Aiba said somewhat weakly, hands fishing inside his bag.
“What is it?”
Aiba smiled nervously, showing the chocolate jar to Sakurai. “Made by my roommate, and he’s a chocolatier trained in Paris.” Aiba opened the lid and climbed the bed, crawling towards Sakurai to allow him see more closely.
“Chocolate cream?” Sakurai's eyes widened at the sight of delicious-looking chocolate cream on Aiba's hand, the sweet aroma tickled his nostrils. “Whoa, smells really good. And…? You want us to… eat cream? Why not chocolate bars, candies, or cakes?” Sakurai stroked Aiba’s cheek softly.
Only at the sight of sweets that he can be this gentle… Aiba thought to himself. He forced a smile. Just a bit more, I have to put on an act just a bit more. Soon…
“Let’s play shiritori with this, Sho-chan!”
Aiba scooted closer towards Sakurai, “The one who can't continue the word in two seconds will be smeared with this cream. Just a little bit, just one stroke on other's face with your fingertip. The one who gets the most cream on his face loses, and...” Aiba pressed his lips to Sakurai's ear, whispering, “The winner has to lick it off, squeaky clean.”
“HA?” Sakurai laughed at the seemingly stupid idea. “But, eh? Why?”
“Sho-chan rarely allows me to decide on something, right?”
“Uh-huh?”
“With this I’d like to prove to you that I always had great ideas for games. And besides,” Aiba nuzzled Sakurai’s cheek, “Isn’t this game interesting for our lovely time?”
Sakurai giggled foolishly and smacked Aiba's shoulder playfully, “You're such a tease. Okay then! I'm in!! Bring it on, Masaki!”
And in no time they were already sitting face to face, legs-crossed like they were about to meditate, the cream jar between them.
“I'll start first, okay?” Aiba licked his lips and slapped his thigh hard, “Tsuri!”
“Risuku.”
“Ku... Ku...”
“One~”
“Aaaah wait wait, Sho-chan!!! Ku... KUBI!! Oh gosh...”
Sakurai laughed, “Almost, hmm. Well... Bi. Bikini!”
“Eeeh.. Ni... Ni...?! Ni...?”
“One...”
“Oh god!! Ni!!” Aiba ruffled his hair in frustration and jumped to hug the pillow when Sakurai counted two.
Remember to lose on purpose. Don’t get carried away by the game.
And the first, thick dab of cream landed on his cheek.
And then the second. The third. The fourth. The fifth. And on and on, until Aiba's face was almost full of chocolate cream, while there were only two dabs on Sakurai’s.
“Mou, Sho-chaaaaan....” Aiba pouted and threw himself backwards on the bed, “I want to stop this right nooow...”
Sakurai laughed openly, “Are you an idiot?! There are a lot of words in the dictionary, Masaki! I can’t believe it’s only ‘kubi’ and ‘korosu’ that you can think about… You’re unexpectedly… Oh my stomach hurts…” Sakurai held his aching stomach and rolled on the bed.
“Let's stop already... Let’s wash our faces,” the still pouting Aiba tried to got up, but Sakurai's hand stopped him.
“Need me to remind you about the rule?”
Aiba’s heart skipped a beat. Now. He grinned mischievously, “Glad you remember.”
Here it comes. Aiba’s heart thumped faster, like it was about to jump out from his throat-both from anxiousness and from Sakurai’s firm hands moving up to his shoulders. This is it.
“You and chocolate? No way I could let it go.”
As he said the words, Sakurai pinned Aiba down on the bed and started licking his face, starting from Aiba's forehead and temples, down to his eyes, his nose, his cheeks, his jaws, and-as Aiba thought it would be-his lips although there wasn't any chocolate there. Aiba’s arms tensed up under Sakurai’s grip-both at the thought of what would happen after this and for anticipation of possible wound Sakurai would inflict on his already aching body.
But Sakurai’s touch was gentle, like none other time before, thanks to the sweets that Sakurai loved so much. Aiba sighed at the relatively new and really pleasant feeling, slowly loosening up and giving in to Sakurai’s kisses. Sakurai pressed his body tighter to Aiba and started to grind his hips on Aiba’s as he started to nibble and forced his tongue inside Aiba's mouth. Too forceful, it was impossible for Aiba to prevent it from entering his mouth. Despite his moans of pleasure from the battle in his mouth, and his hands which were circled around Sakurai’s neck since who-knows-when, Aiba felt it grew stronger: the worry, the fear, the outcome of this plan―they just kept bubbling up inside him, choking him.
Unable to stop, Sakurai just kept touching his body and kissing him from his face down to his neck. His free hand reached for the jar and smeared the remaining cream on Aiba’s face again, leaving the younger panting and on the verge of tears.
“Enough, Sho-chan…” Aiba managed to say between his ragged breath, voice trembling with tears threatening to come out anytime soon. “Enough… Stop this…”
Sakurai smirked, whispering, “But you’re not clean yet, Masaki.” He enjoyed both the cream and Aiba’s soft skin, and more because he loved the noises that his poor lover made from the base of his throat.
“S-Sho-chan... Stop... Please stop…” Gasping, Aiba gathered his strength to grab Sakurai's hands which were gradually making its way to his waist, trying hastily to remove his belt and pants.
Sakurai groaned a complaint to Aiba’s neck and insisted on unbuckling his belt. Aiba tried removing Sakurai’s hands slowly. “Not this... Not now… G-gosh, Sho-chan, STOP!!!” Aiba striked and scratched Sakurai’s stubborn hand on his waist as hard as he could. Somehow he was glad he didn’t have the chance to cut his nail that day.
Aiba’s scratch somehow managed to return Sakurai to himself. “Shit. Masaki...? What's wrong?!” trying to catch his breath as well, Sakurai tried to compose himself and slowly removed himself from Aiba. “God, we’re doing good here. And don’t you know it’s quite torturing to stop halfway? Are you sick or something?! Masaki, please?”
Sakurai tried to hold him again, but Aiba forcefully shoved him away.
“Sorry I… I have to go!!!”
Aiba quickly tidied up his clothes and dashed outside the room without saying a single word, leaving Sakurai alone, still sitting on the bed with questions in his head. It made him dizzy.
Not that kind of dizzy, though. Soon he felt the burning sensation all over his body, his limbs was pretty much numb, his head throbbing with extreme pain, his chest tightened, and the world spun, just spun. He grabbed the edges of the bed for support, tried to reach anything... His phone... his book... But his hand only hit something small on his bed, sending it rolling and stopped on the fluffy carpeted floor under the bed.
Then his heart stopped beating.
--
“I’m home…”
Matsumoto Jun jolted from his seat on the couch at the familiar voice entering his living room.
“Masaki? Welcome ba-”
“I’m going to take a shower and go to sleep, Jun-chan.”
Matsumoto froze, eyes following Aiba’s every steps. “Is… something wrong with our plan?”
“Nope. It went well. A little bit too well I guess. Just… need to calm down a bit. Can’t I?”
“Of course… you can. Take your time, Masaki.”
“Thanks.”
--
By the time Aiba finished his shower and walked to the bedroom, Matsumoto was already waiting for him, reading a crime novel while laying down on his futon, thick eyeglass propped on his tall nose.
“Another crime novel?” Masaki asked bitterly before slipping under his own futon.
“Uh-huh.”
“Nee, Jun-chan.”
“Hmm?”
“Sho-chan likes sweet things.”
“Yeah.”
“And with sweet things, he can be much gentler.”
“Really? So?” said Matsumoto with a sigh, closing his novel, putting it beside his pillow and turned to his side to face Aiba.
“I wonder if I found out about that earlier… Would I be able to forgive him and live with him a bit longer…?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll… miss him, but I won’t be able to meet him… again,” Aiba sighed, covering his face with both hands.
“Masaki…”
“Nee, you said a little will do...” Aiba started to sob.
“Yes.”
“He ate it a bit too much...”
“That will be faster, yes.”
“I see…” Aiba laughed bitterly, his voice trembled with unshed tears of guilt, fear, and grief. “Good night… Jun-chan.”
The futon and the cover rustled as Aiba turned to his side, avoiding sleeping face-to-face with Matsumoto. He tried hard not to sob, but he failed completely. He closed his eyes tightly, biting his lower lip and bringing the cover close to his mouth to muffle his own sobs. Aiba’s thoughts were full of Sakurai and his pained expression. The image of Sakurai whimpering, convulsing, and rolling in pain was overflowing in his head. He bit his lips harder, grasped the cover tighter.
“Can’t you just forget him?”
Aiba gasped, his tears and surprise choking him as he felt Matsumoto’s hot breath on his nape and his arms around his slender figure, slithering under the cover. His back was pressed tight to Matsumoto’s chest he could somewhat feel Matsumoto’s rapid heartbeat.
“Jun-chan…?”
“I can make you forget if you allow me to. I love you, Masaki. Since a long time ago. Even before I lost my home and decided to share a house with you. I’ve always loved you.” Matsumoto sighed, “Only you.”
Aiba shivered as he felt Matsumoto tightened his hold around him possessively. He tried to free himself from the hold, but Matsumoto only held him tighter with his every effort. Aiba whimpered, and Matsumoto only got more possessive by claiming Aiba’s neck with his mouth, sucking it and leaving a red mark. Aiba couldn’t move at all and he bit his lip when he finally realized why he was that powerless, why he didn’t have any strength to push Matsumoto away…
“I’ll make you forget him, Masaki, if you’ll just let me try… please?” Matsumoto begged desperately. “Please let me be your next…”
“Jun-chan…” Aiba sobbed again, “You should get out of here soon…”
“Why is that?”
“I’m… going… to die.”
“Ridiculous.”
Aiba felt disgusted and uncomfortable when Matsumoto turned his body around and straddled him, cupping and caressing his cheeks with the eyes of a madman. But he was already powerless. He couldn’t do anything besides giving in to whatever the desperately-in-love Matsumoto was about to do with him.
“I’m dying… Believe me. I ate… the chocolate… through Sho-chan’s kisses. I feel numb already.”
Matsumoto swallowed the sudden lump in his throat before his eyes darkened even more. “Then I’ll die here, too, with any ways possible…”
“Jun-chan… You can’t…” Aiba stopped his words at the sudden sharp pain in his head and chest. “Argh…”
When he was about to say goodbye and he couldn’t open his mouth, Aiba knew from his blurry and quivering sight that Matsumoto was kissing him, his head was moving sloppier and greedier than Sakurai, but he couldn’t feel it anymore. Something was choking him and he couldn’t tell anymore if it was the poison or Matsumoto’s tongue. He closed his eyes. His hands that were pushing on Matsumoto’s chest fell limp on the futon.
Matsumoto jerked in surprise, his senses suddenly came back to him.
“Masaki…?”
**
July 30
“From the strands of hair found in the bathroom, dust from the shoes, and the conclusive CCTV records, we can conclude that Sakurai Sho was staying with Aiba Masaki. Aiba came on the exactly same day, July 29th at 06:00 p.m. and left the hotel at 10:15, thus making him the last people who made a contact with Sakurai.
“There’s a very high possibility that Aiba is his lover, seeing that both Sakurai and Aiba’s strands of hair were found together in the bathtub and shower cubicle. A trace of… Oh this part is gross,” Nino rubbed his face, “Ohno-san… Why should I report this out loud…” Ninomiya complained, earning a laugh from Ohno.
“Nino, this report is not a piece of story you should feel embarrassed of. This is your crime investigation report, and it’s not gross.”
“I know, but…”
“I know, I know. Well you can skip that part only for this time. I already know what you meant by gross, anyway. Continue,” Ohno secretly tapped his fingers impatiently on his thigh.
Nino took a deep breath before continuing, “A small glass jar, 5 centimeter in diameter, found under the bed contained traces of chocolate cream. From the ingredients analysis, various harmful chemical components can be found, which later will be explained in detail by Murakami-san from the lab. The cream-”
“How about the manufacturer?”
Ninomiya blinked in surprise, “Well, we’ve tracked it. Shall I-”
“Go read that part, quick.”
Nino nodded obediently, ignoring his own curiosity over Ohno’s sudden impatience, “It can be concluded that the chocolate cream uses the same ingredients as what is used in Choco-La-Vie, a sweets store in Shibuya, owned by chocolatier Matsumoto Jun.”
“Nino, conduct a search on Matsumoto and Aiba’s possible whereabouts.”
“Yes, Sir!”
--
The camera flashes over and over again inside the small bedroom. The lights from the flash felt twice as blinding compared to the previous investigation in Sakurai Sho’s hotel room in Grand Galeria. Maybe because the room was smaller, or maybe because there were two dead, rotting bodies there, Ninomiya wasn’t sure anymore. His only wish was for Ohno Satoshi’s arrival, to sum up everything and go back to the office as soon as possible.
They were Matsumoto Jun the chocolatier and Aiba Masaki. Both died on the 30th, the team was sure. Aiba Masaki died earlier than Matsumoto, possibly around 02:00 a.m., and Matsumoto followed at 02:25 a.m. Trace of the same chocolate cream and Matsumoto’s saliva was found on Aiba’s clothes, nape, ears, and various other rather hidden spots on his body.
Nino sighed as he listened to his senior’s deduction on this matter. The possibility of love triangle between the three of them. Possibility of physical and sexual abuse on Aiba Masaki, which was the main reason for murdering Sakurai Sho.
“Nino! Okada!”
Nino and his senior jolted in surprise at Ohno’s sudden arrival and quickly ran to his side, reporting everything. Ohno’s mind quickly made a connection between the incidents, and nodded.
“So it can be concluded that Aiba consumed the chocolate earlier than Matsumoto. I bet it was through Sakurai’s saliva. We found it earlier in the investigation, right? The poisoned chocolate was transferred mouth-to-mouth...”
Nino frowned at Ohno’s explanation, hiding his shiver by crossing his arms, “But since Aiba didn’t swallow it directly like Sakurai, he died a bit later. The poison took longer time to kill him.”
“Matsumoto, who was desperate, took the remaining chocolate he stored in the fridge and spread it on Aiba’s dead body before eating it himself. Judging from the spots where the chocolate and/or trace of saliva were found, the reason was probably he had wanted Aiba to be his lover. They were all human’s sensitive spots…” Okada continued with a sigh. “And judging from how messy this case was, I guess the motive was none other than raw desires to satisfy their personal emotion. They didn’t even try to remove the possible evidences…”
“I see…” Ohno nodded. “17:05. Case closed. Go for the next procedures. I will be here for a while. This is my last case, after all.”
“Sir?!” Nino and Okada’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I just handed my resignation letter to Higashiyama-san. This is my last day.”
“But why?!”
“Personal reasons,” Ohno said firmly, though with a smile. “Now go.”
“Y-yessir!”
After making sure the team members had already left the bedroom, Ohno walked towards Matsumoto’s body, kneeling and closing his eyes, offering a silent prayer. He reached out his hand to close Matsumoto’s eyes and smiled gently.
“Thank you. Saves me the trouble, Matsumoto-san.”
He stood up and moved to the other body beside Matsumoto’s-Aiba Masaki’s body-and stared blankly at it. As if everything was never enough, he crouched and cupped Aiba’s face with more strength than necessary, squeezing it hard with his trembling fingers and jerking it with equal strength.
“Take care of Sho, idiot.”
--
He took his last sip of coffee, paid for it, and went to the konbini to buy some cupped ramen and drinks. He went home somberly, plopping himself down on his couch and took a deep, heavy breath.
He walked to the kitchen. He opened the fridge only to find a box of super-expensive praline his lover had left for him days before.
“Even though I don’t like sweet things…” he murmured.
He closed the fridge and walked back to the living room. He saw a familiar photo frame on the cabinet and took it out.
It was him and his lover. Smiling widely, hand on each other’s shoulder, the other hand forming a ‘love’ symbol with their fingers. On the bottom left corner he saw the familiar handwriting.
I love you, Ohno Satoshi. (*^O^*)
-Sakurai Sho
“Liar,” Ohno mumbled, tears started to flow on his chubby cheeks. “Stupid liar…”
Ohno fell on his knees. He shook his head frantically, trying to forget the memories he had with Sakurai, his possessiveness over Sakurai, his excessive love for Sakurai, the fight they had, the stupid man he met in the crowded patisserie, Matsumoto Jun, Choco-La-Vie…
He wanted to forget everything.
His attention was drawn towards the drawer where he kept his treasures. He absentmindedly opened it and took out the secret present he got from Higashiyama-san. It was something which was meant to protect himself. Something which was meant to protect those that he loved… Something he shouldn’t keep after he resigned from his job as a police officer…
But he had no one to protect anymore, anyway.
Still crying, he held it close to his chest. He whispered Sakurai’s name over and over again. He was in despair and he couldn’t do anything besides sobbing while holding the forbidden present until the clock strike midnight. It doesn’t take long for him to finally break down. He stared at the precious present, lips quivering and tears overflowing.
Then a sound of gunshot could be heard, breaking the silence in the already quiet housing complex.
-end-
-----
a/n: angst~ I’m sorry!
First, about Sho… psychopathy? Bipolar? I’m not sure. :S
Second, timeline: Sho died the night of 29th, minutes after Aiba went home. His body was found the same day before midnight, and the investigation started a few minutes past midnight the 30th. Aiba went home around midnight, and he died on the time mentioned in the story. Soon after that the search was started. They were found quite easily, then yeah.
I’d like to know, was it confusing?
I have no experience in writing crime stories so I don’t really know if these things are possible… So if you find weird bits here (timeline, plot, items used, etc.) and you told me what you found, I’ll be more than thankful~ I’ll be able to learn a lot ;3
Beta-ed by the usual and the one and only and the lovely pimanzero (who complained about the angst, I’m sorry!! xD)
Hope you enjoyed it~