[one-shot] Kono mama motto

[saana_13]

Title: Kono mama motto

Author: Saana-chan

Pairing: Sakumiya (main); MasaToshi (side), JunMa (mentioned)

Rating: R for mentioned past abuse

Warning: Aimiya hate relationship; mention of past abuse&rape

Disc.: own nothing sadly…

Summary: “Kako to mirai no tsunaide koko ni iru/Mimi sumaseba kikoete kure yo” (=The past and the future connect to here/If you listen carefully, you’ll hear it)

A/N: Kono mama motto always gives me the impression Sho performing it at some high-class bar that’s why I sat this fic mostly there, and also I wanted to write a fic Aiba’s a bartender cause that’s just damn hot! XD Oh, and once again it’s Toma paired up with Jun-pon cause Johnny just forgot that he’s the sixth Arashi member! XDD

A/N2: lyrics taken from here thank you for it!




“Hey, Sho-chan! You’re early!”
“Aiba-chan! Hey, there! I just wanted to practice a little before opening…”
“As if you need that” Aiba said grinning at his best friend.
“We all know that I can fail any time” Sho said with cheerful self-criticism.
“As if” Aiba repeated while he changed into his white dress shirt and black vest that was his work uniform. “The last time I remember you failed… let’s see… Ah, never!”
“That’s because I was practicing!” Sho retorted grinning before both of them burst out laughing.
“I see the party’s great here…”a voice said from the changing room’s door.
“Oh, MatsuJun, hello!” Aiba grinned at their boss.
“Don’t you have work to do, Aiba-chan? Just because you got a little fame for winning that cocktail contest, it doesn’t mean you can laze off in your work-time…” the stylish bar-owner sounded serious but there was no actual scolding in his voice. After all he was proud of his employee. His winning did well for the business too.
“Ha~i!” Aiba singsonged still grinning before skipped out to straighten up the bar before opening.
Sho followed him close behind heading to the piano on the small stage next to the bar counter.
“Hey, Sho-chan! Satoshi had a new premier next weekend, you wanna come?” Aiba asked his friend while he started to wipe spotless the glasses.
“You can bet on that!” Sho said with a happy smile. “I’d never miss Ohno-kun’s plays!”
“Less talking, more working, ladies! We’re open in an hour!” Jun cut in the happy chatting.
“Ha~i!” Sho and Aiba said in union and they turned their attention back on their task in hand.
Jun smiled softly…

The evening was quiet despite the quite big number of guests who sat around the tables or at the counter, talking silently or just listening to the catchy jazz song that Sho was playing on the piano. Aiba loved these nights the best.
‘Silent but busy. Best ever!’ Aiba thought smiling putting two new glasses of cocktails on a tray and pushed it to the waiter.
“Take these to table four, Toma!”
“Roger!” the waiter winked at Aiba grabbing the tray hastly.
Aiba shook his head as he watched Toma making his way to the said table. It was still a mystery to him how did Toma never spill a drop despite his hasty movements…
Just as he started to wipe off the counter - that was spotless by they way - a new guest slid onto the stool right in front of him.
“Irasshaimase, sir!” he started with a bow putting away the cleaning rag. “What can I…?” the further words stuck in his throat when he saw who the guest was. “Ninomiya… What do you want?” he asked coldly, immediately dropping the polite act.
“Wow! I never hoped you’ll remember me, Aibaka… oh, sorry, that’s ‘Aiba Masaki, top bartender of Ginza’ now, am I right?” the skinny guy said smirking, dropping the latest issue of Mixer on the counter.
“You have the face…!” Aiba gasped. “After what you did back in high school?!” he hissed, his cheeks heat up in anger.
“Oh, come on! You can’t be still angry for that… That was ages ago!” Nino waved it off and turned his head away.
For a moment Nino lost his word - which was a really rare thing in his case - cause he saw the most gorgeous creature playing the piano. His brows were furrowed, his eyes shined with passion and damn, those kissable lips!
“Who is he?” the question slipped Nino’s lips without second thought, his eyes still glued to the musician.
Aiba followed his glance pressing his lips in a thin line angrily.
“He’s Sho, my best friend. Also he’s our entertainer” the bartender answered reluctantly.
“Entertainer, huh?” Nino smirked wide.
“No! Don’t even think about that, Ninomiya! He’s just for watching, not touching!” Aiba hissed to him.
“Like a striper…” Nino’s grin was purely provoking by now.
Aiba didn’t lower himself with replying to that comment but turned back wiping off the spotless counter. He hoped Nino will go away if he’s ignored. Though he should’ve known better…
A few minutes later Sho finished with his piece. He bowed to the applauding guests with a smile before headed to the counter to get a drink from Aiba. He spotted the magazine on the counter between Nino and Aiba. He looked at the skinny guy curiously before turned to his friend.
“A friend of yours?” he asked from Aiba.
“Not actually…” the bartender grumbled.
“We used to be high school classmates” Nino said in the same time as Aiba answered. He grinned at the musician angelically. “I’m Ninomiya Kazunari. But you can call me Nino…” he said offering a hand to Sho but Aiba grabbed his wrist yanking it out of the surprised Sho’s reach.
“I told you something!” Aiba hissed to Nino.
“Oh, yeah… the ‘striper-rule’…” Nino rolled his eyes and freed his hand from Aiba’s grip with a frown.
“Anyway, Sho-san, right?... Are you…?” Nino started when suddenly a tall guy in stylish suit appeared next to them.
“Hey, gentlemen, is something wrong?” Jun asked with his eyes fixed on Aiba who seemed to be really pissed; Sho just confused while the third man…
“No…” Sho started but Aiba cut in.
“Actually… this gentleman… wants goods that out of his reach…” Aiba said with forced politeness in his voice.
Jun looked questioning at Nino. He did not look like their usual guests, also he had no reason to not believe Aiba.
“I’m deeply sorry, sir, but in that case I have to ask you to leave” Jun said on a tone that left no place for argument.
“It’s okay, I have to go anyway. But I hope this doesn’t mean I’m banned from here…?” Nino asked Jun but his eyes lingered on Sho.
“Not necessary. As long as you keep in mind what you can and can not get here…” the bar owner answered seriously.
“Got that” Nino said and jumped from the stool. “See you next time, Sho-chan!” he winked at the pianist.
Sho inhaled sharply in surprise while Aiba gritted a ‘Bastard!’ through his teeth barely audible.
“Sho, don’t you have something to do?” Jun asked turning to him.
“Oh, yeah, right! I’m off…” Sho said quickly and grabbing his glass he headed back to the stage.
“You’re okay, Aiba-chan?” Jun asked silently after Sho left. “Why don’t you take a break?”
The young bartender just nodded and slipped out the bar unnoticed…
On the other hand, Sho seemed not to notice how upset his friend was. As he sat behind the piano, his thought wandered back to Nino. He seemed to be interesting… Maybe he should ask Aiba about him… he decided as he started to play a new song with a smile on his lips…

Aiba stayed behind late that night, hoping that cleaning will make him forget about Nino but of course it didn’t work.
“Macchan…”
“Toshi!” Aiba turned to the older man surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“Sho-kun called me to tell you stay behind… I came to pick you up. I don’t like the idea of you coming home alone so late…”
“Gomen… I should’ve been the one to call you. I forgot…” Aiba lowered his head guilty.
“It’s okay” Ohno shrugged smiling sweetly at his lover. “What’s wrong, baby?”
Aiba sighed and sat down.
“He came here tonight… Ninomiya…” he said silently.
“Oh…” Ohno didn’t know what else to say but he needed all his willpower to fight back the angry frown from his face. Aiba didn’t need that right now. He stepped to his boyfriend and hugged his head to his chest. “What did he want?”
“Don’t know. He said ha came cause he saw my interview in the magazine… But I’m sure he’s up to something… He always is! I…” Aiba said but his voice choked at this point and big teardrops poured down his face as he sobbed into Ohno’s shirt.
“Hey, baby… Don’t cry! That won’t happen again, no matter what he tries this time? You know why? Cause I love you and only you, okay? I’ll be right here beside you and protect you… Promise me you won’t forget it ever, okay?... Say it, Macchan!” Ohno insisted gently as he stroked Aiba’s soft locks.
Aiba nodded slowly and looked up at his lover.
“Yakusoke. I love you, Toshi…”
“I know. Let’s go home, Macchan” Ohno said with a smile.
Aiba nodded once more with a small smile on his lips. He locked up the place quickly then followed his lover to go home…

Aiba’s suspicion that Nino wanted something just strengthened when Nino came back the next night and the following one and the one after that too… Every night for two weeks. He always ordered the cheapest cocktail and only one though he was there for hours.

Kasanari atta vibration
Kimi to narashita heart beat
Kaze ga torisugita
Ano koro kara hon no chotto
Otona ni nareta ki ga shita
Meguru kisetsu

“He sings too?” Nino asked surprised-delighted one night when Sho chose to sing instead of just playing the piano one night.
“He likes to keep his performances variegated” Aiba said without looking up from the drink he was mixing.
That was too much enough that Nino was there. But he even made it even worse when he actually talked to him. But since ignorance not worked on Nino, Aiba tried to keep their interactions as low as possible.

Egao no ura no namida no wake wo
Wakarazu ni sugosheiru yo Ima mo
Donna hibi wo sugoshite kita no ka to
Kini naru no Ima mo

“Don’t tell me! He even raps?!” Nino’s eyes lit up even more. ‘Damn! If that’s not hot than nothing…’
“You’re not deaf; you can hear it, can’t you?” Aiba asked sarcastic.
“I do but I was just checking” Nino grinned at the bartender as if he did not know how annoyed Aiba was with him.
“What do you want from me, Ninomiya?” Aiba hissed the question finally that was bugging him ever since Nino mysteriously appeared that night.
“Why would I want anything from you?” Nino asked pretending to be innocent. “I’m just here to enjoy the show…” he said and spectacularly turned back to the stage.
Aiba gasped horrified at the realization hit him.
“You’re after Sho now?”
“Please, don’t use the word ‘after him’… That’s so humiliating…” Nino said loftily but Aiba saw the smug glints in his eyes.
“Get out of here! Now!” Aiba breathed out and he needed all his will-power not to shout or jump over the counter and beat the living day-light out of Nino - or both…
Nino either didn’t notice the dangerous aura around the young bartender or just didn’t care about that, yet he didn’t move a finger for minutes just stayed still smirking smugly at Aiba till Sho finished the song he was singing.
“Ninomiya…” Aiba said warning.
“Oh, come on, man, chill! Don’t work up yourself! You’ll get wrinkles…” Nino teased rolling his eyes yet he slid off the stool and walked out.
Aiba had a bad feeling that it was way too easy… He glanced toward Sho wondering what Nino would want from him?...

“I saw your friend came again…” Sho spoke up casually as he and Aiba changed back to their ‘civil’ clothes after the bar was closed.
It was the first time he brought Nino in topic since he met him first, though he saw him there every night. He felt his eyes on him while he performed and it caused a new kind of rush of adrenaline though him, urging him to perform better and impress him. Sho didn’t bother to try denying himself that he was interested in the skinny, bratty man so he decided to get some information out of Aiba.
“I told you already that he’s not my friend” Aiba said on a flat tone.
“But you two used to be classmates, didn’t you?” the musician insisted. As always he failed to notice the annoyed wrinkle by Aiba’s mouth as the bartender pressed his lips into a thin line.
“We did”
“How is he like?” Sho asked eagerly and stopped tying his shoelaces looking up at his friend.
“He’s just a stupid, annoying brat. He thinks the whole world is his playground and he can do whatever his wish dictates… Why are you even ask about him of all people?” Aiba frowned at Sho.
“He seemed to be interesting” Sho shrugged smiling with sparks in his eyes and turned back to finish taking his boots.
Aiba frowned at his friend some more at first then his eyes widened.
“Oh, no! No, no, no! Sho-chan!”
“What?” Sho asked looking up.
“Sho, I know you’re single for a while now and it must be frustrating to see me and Toshi, and MatsuJun and Toma-chan happily together. I’m sorry if we make you uncomfortable but you can’t be serious! Him? Don’t be so desperate!” Aiba said on an almost panicked voice.
“What? What are you talking about, Aiba-chan?” Sho asked laughing. “I’m not jealous of you or Jun! I’m happy for all of you!... But you’re right in one thing…” the musician changed to a more serious tone. “I’m single for a while now. But still it doesn’t mean it would work or let alone I’d jump straight into bed with him right away!”
Aiba said nothing at this just turned his head away from his friend.
“I know you’re just worried about me and I’m greatful for that. But I’m an adult, I can make decisions for myself…” Sho finished then grabbed his bag. “See you tomorrow, Aiba-chan!”
“Yeah… Good night, Sho-chan…” Aiba mumbled to the already closed door…

Sho walked down the narrow alley where their bar’s backdoor opened. He sighed. He really didn’t like fighting with Aiba, they weren’t best friends for nothing, but he was tired and he just really didn’t see the reason why Aiba was so much against Nino…
“Hey! Good show tonight!”
Sho literally jumped as someone grabbed his wrist as he turned out the alley.
“Ninomiya-san?” he asked surprised when he looked at his attacker. “You scared me…”
“Sorry, didn’t mean that… And I told you can call me Nino…” the shorter guy said with a charming smile while he let go Sho.
“I keep that in mind… Nino…” Sho smiled back.
The musician couldn’t help but be surprised that Nino was there. He always left before the bar closed just like he did tonight be this was the first time he was here when Sho came out. And he was obviously waiting for him quite some time already. It was a cold night and Nino’s cheeks were far too rosy to be healthy…
“So… you liked my performance?” Sho asked with a grin.
“Definitely” Nino grinned back. “I’d never guess they’d let rap into such a place…”
“Jun’s quite open-minded. He gives me free-hand in whatever I want to perform as long as I don’t agitate against current politics or something like that…” Sho said laughing.
Nino chuckled but then shuddered as the cold night wind strengthened. Sho felt pity for him. He must be freezing by now with that skinny form…
“Hmm… I thought about grabbing some ramen on my way home. Would you mind joining me?” Sho asked with a smile.
Nino’s eyes lit up at the invitation.
“Sure! Thanks…” he said smiling back.
They went to a nearby ramen shop. They laughed and chatted over their late night meal as if they’d known each other for ages…

“I’ll walk you home” Sho said as they step out the little shop.
“You tell that all the girls after your dates, right?” Nino shot back teasing.
“I don’t date girls” Sho stated. “Only boys as pretty as girls” he added retorting and leant closer to Nino’s face with a teasing smile.
“Tease…” Nino shook his head. He was not blushing! That was just because of the cold… “Anyway no need for that. I’m totally capable to walk myself home…”
“Oh, come on! I could’ve not been that bad company!” Sho protested pretending to be offended.
“No! You were great!... I enjoyed it a lot actually…” Nino admitted hastly while his cheeks rosined some more.
“Great! Let’s go then!” Sho grinned and hooked Nino’s arm to his…
They walked down a few blocks continuing their light chatting from earlier when Nino suddenly stopped. Sho looked at him surprised.
“What’s wrong?”
“You… you really don’t have to come with me all the way… My… place… is just around the corner…” Nino avoided looking at Sho in the eye; instead he fixed his glance to the other side of the street.
“Hey! You think I’ll take advantage of you if I get to reach your doorstep?” Sho teased.
“No” Nino huffed and it was hard to decide - even to himself - that he was angry or sad. Maybe both…
Sho felt like something cold and heavy slipped into his stomach as he looked at Nino’s face.
“Sorry. I had no idea I was just forcing myself on you… It was rude of me…” Sho said obviously ashamed of himself and letting go Nino’s arm he stepped away form him to give him the space he thought he wanted.
“No! It’s… not that… It’s just… so embarrassing…” Nino mumbled.
“What?” Sho asked confused.
“You want to know where I live? Allright then!” Nino said slightly impatient and annoyed. “There!” he said pointing at the other side of the road where he was staring earlier.
“There…?” Sho followed with his eyes where Nino was pointing. “But there’s just an internet café…” Sho said. “Oh…”
“Yeah. Oh…” Nino repeated. “Well, it was fun. Thanks for your time, Sho…” Nino said staring at his feet before turned away and crossed the road quickly.
“Idiot!” Sho cursed and rushed after the shorter guy. “Nino, wait!” he called and managed to grab his wrist before he entered the shop.
Nino turned around slowly to look at Sho but said nothing. So did Sho. As usual, he had no idea what to say and in the end the stupidest question slipped his lips.
“Why?”
Nino snorted scornful then sighed tired.
“I have some… monetary problems recently… Got fired last month which quickly led to being kicked out of my rental place too… I had nowhere else to go so… It’s relatively cheap and much more comfortable than sleeping on the streets…” Nino explained embarrassed and again avoided to look at Sho.
“You should’ve said something!” Sho blurted out.
Nino snorted once more.
“Yeah, like ‘Hey, we barely spoke once but guess what, I’ve no place to stay, can I crush on your couch for unknown amount of time?’…” Nino said mocking.
“You can” Sho cut in quickly.
“What?” Nino’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding, right? I mean, you’re nice and everything but…” he blabbed unintelligent.
“I’m not doing it cause I’m nice. I kinda like you so you can say I’m doing it for myself so I can spend more time with you…” Sho said shrugging but smiled at Nino. “Go, get your stuff, I’ll call a taxi…”
‘I kinda like you…’
Too shocked to say anything or protest, Nino did as he was told to…

“It’s from him again?” Aiba asked looking at Sho who was snickering over a text message - again.
It was more than a week since Nino moved in with Sho and it was an understatement that Aiba was not happy when he heard the news. He wasn’t actually angry either, yet it affected their friendship in a way.
Sho sighed softly and pocketed his phone.
“Yeah, it was… Look, Aiba-chan, you’re my best friend since a decade or so and I don’t want to loose you now…” he said seriously.
“Then break up with him!” Aiba said quickly with a stubborn pout.
“We’re not even actually dating… yet…” Sho commented.
“Great! Then it’ll be even easier!” the bartender said enthusiastic.
“Masaki!” Sho said on a warning tone to let him know he was pushing his limits. “Why don’t you tell me instead what’s your problem with him?”
Aiba sighed. He really hated to talk about it but Sho should know about it… That way probably he’ll understand what kind of guy Nino really was…
“It was back in high school. Ninomiya transferred to my class during second year. We became friends but that didn’t last long, till he met Toshi. He was in third year then. After they met… Ninomiya wanted to get him… When he didn’t manage to… seduce him…” Aiba gritted his teeth in pain; after all these years, these memories still tortured him. “He decided to bring me down so Toshi will break up with me and he can get him… He got some guys who took me and…” Aiba couldn’t bring him to say it but it wasn’t needed.
“Oh my God…” Sho breathed out with wide eyes.
“Yeah… Fortunately to me, Toshi didn’t abandon me for that and I can’t be enough grateful for that every day…” Aiba cut short the story and wiped his face quickly then looked at his watch. “We have to open…”
Sho just nodded silently and stepped to the piano. He ignored Nino’s texts for the rest of the night…

“Okaeri nasai!” Nino greeted Sho with a bright smile when the musician arrived home. “I made you dinner if you’re… Something wrong, Sho-chan?” he asked when he noticed the angry frown on the older man’s forehead.
“We had a little talk with Aiba-chan…” Sho said without hesitation staring hard at the skinny guy in front of him. In his eyes Nino still seemed to be the same, bratty yet vulnerable… But he knew Aiba would never make up a story like that… None would!
“Oh!...”
Nino knew that this day will come, and to be true, he was quite surprised that it happened only now. He knew he has to be grateful for this already. Without saying anything else he shuffled to the guest room that Sho let him use.
“Where are you going now? Don’t you think you should say something? Anything!” Sho demanded following him.
“I just pack my things then I’m out of your life” Nino said forcing himself to sound casual, hoping Sho wouldn’t notice he was on the edge of crying. “After all, I knew it was too good to be true or last long…”
“That’s all you can say?” Sho asked incredulous, almost horrified.
“Why? Would you believe me if I say I didn’t want things to turn out the way they did?” Nino shouted looking up from his bag.
Sho had to take a step back. All those years of pent up guilt and pain was obvious on Nino’s face and in his tear-filled eyes.
“I guessed so…” Nino mumbled disappointed, misinterpreting Sho’s reaction. Deep down in his heart he hoped that Sho’d be someone who’d at least give him a chance to explain himself.
He quickly finished throwing his stuff in his bag then grabbing it he headed to the door.
“Thanks for your hospitality, Sakurai-san…” he mumbled.
“Wait, Nino!” Sho awoke from his shocked state grabbing the younger guy’s hand. “Tell me what happened…”
Nino trembled slightly at Sho’s gentle voice then took a deep breath.
“I was a stupid brat… Freshly moved and transferred, I knew none in school so I made the stupidest thing you can imagine. I made a bet with a few guys… Everyone was cooing over how ‘cute’ Aiba and Ohne were together with the whole ‘meant to be’ crap… I said I can make the split up. All just to win that bet and make some friends…” Nino said on a wavering voice. “When I couldn’t make Ohno fall for me, I payed a few guys to take Aiba with them, take photos with him… I planed to convince Ohno with the ‘evidence’ that Aiba was cheating on him… But… those guys turned out to have their own plan and decided to have some extra fun with Aiba… I never said them to do such thing! I swear you!” Nino practically begged Sho to believe him. “Of course Aiba refused to hear me out when I wanted to tell him the truth… And I can’t really blame him for that…”
Sho said nothing at this. He felt pity for both of them and he wished he could do something for them cause this hurt them too much…
“Why didn’t you say something when you came to the bar the first night?” he asked gently.
“I wanted. After I saw that interview with Aiba in that magazine I went there to talk to him. But from the first minute it was obvious that he still hates me and I was just too coward and acted just as stupid as back in high school…” Nino admitted.
Not knowing what else he could do, Sho pulled Nino in his arms, caressing his hair comforting, and hinting kisses on his temple gently.
“Still you have to talk to them so all of you can move on… I know it’ll be hard on you but I’ll be there with you the whole time…” Sho whispered softly.
Nino nodded silently while his tears drenched the older man’s shirt…

A few days later there they were sitting in the bar after closing. It needed much persuasion from Sho’s side till he got Aiba agree to hearing Nino out and letting him apologize…
“You might not planned the way it happened but it still happened because of you… I heard you out and you got your chance to apologize but I still don’t think I’m ready to forgive you or ever be…” Aiba said after a long silence that followed Nino’s speech.
“I understand. I just wanted you to know that I was deeply sorry…” Nino said with lowered head.
Sho felt his heart break at this. He squeezed Nino’s hand under the table to encourage him.
“Let’s go, Toshi!” Aiba said then took his lover’s hand to leave.
Ohno said nothing during the whole time. He couldn’t say he understood Nino’s motive and he’d lie if he said he wasn’t still angry for what happened with his boyfriend. But this was mainly between Aiba and Nino. If Aiba was ready to forgive him, so was Ohno but till that…
“Thank you, Sho…” Nino said once they were left alone.
“No need for that. I did it for you two to be able to move on… I want you to be able to move on cause… I’m in love with you…” Sho confessed.
Nino looked up at him with wide eyes but Sho just smiled back at him gently then captured his lips in a tender kiss to show him how much he cared for him…

“Hey, Jun! Do you have a minute?” Sho approached his boss a few weeks later.
“Sure, what’s up, Sho?” the stylish bar owner looked up from his papers.
“I thought about refreshing my performance a little…” the musician started.
“Sho, you know I trust you on this. You don’t have to ask my permission to change your songs or instrument. As long as it’s fit through the bar’s door…”
“But this time it’d be a co-performer…” Sho cut in quickly.
Nino still didn’t manage to find a new job but when Sho caught him several times humming or singing randomly during cooking or under the shower. He even caught him playing his piano once when he arrived home earlier than usual... So he’d got an idea…
“Oh…” Jun seemed to think through Sho’s proposition. “Well, I still trust you… You get a week, I see how you’re performances are and I’ll see if we can make it permanent. How’s that?” Jun decided finally.
“Great! Thanks a lot, Jun!” Sho grinned before left his boss’ office…

“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for coming tonight! Let me introduce my partner: Ninomiya Kazunari!”
“Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!” Nino bowed with a smile before sat to the piano.
Sho smiled at him as he reached for the mic…

More, as we are　
So that it will get to you　
This unchanging love
Overflowing in these modest days　
I love you
Connected with deep bonds
More, starting from now　
So that it will shine　
Tomorrow is wonderful

A/N: I really hope it didn't ruin anyone's impression on Kono mama motto... actually, I myself always feel it a brighter song yet the fic turned darker than I'd ever imagine it... still, hope you don't mind it too much...  ^-^