[Series] Life Is... Chapter 9: Earth, Water and Wind (part 2)
Nino found Satoshi right where he thought his bestfriend would be. Satoshi was standing on a wooden deck at a small port of the tiny island. His fishing rod rested still next to him. Nino had just arrived there. He took the morning flight from Tokyo and boarded the only ferry connecting the Okinawa main island and the remote island that afternoon. He walked from the ferry port to the fishing area, and soon found Satoshi among other men. Only silhouettes could be seen, but Nino recognized Satoshi instantly, like he recognized his own right hand.
Nino approached Satoshi and when he was only steps away he called out,
“Good catch today?” Nino asked casually, as if he was one of the locals that met Satoshi there regularly every afternoon. Satoshi didn’t react at first, but then Nino could see he shrugged,
“Usual”, he mumbled.
Satoshi didn’t even look at Nino, as if he knew Nino would come, sooner or later. Nino put down his travel bag on a bench behind him, and sat down.
“I love it here!”, Nino said “The beautiful scenery makes us want to spend all day outside, doesn’t it?”
“Liar!”, Satoshi chuckled. “I bet you’re already aching for your DS now”, he grinned and turned around.
The last time he and Nino were there, 3 years ago, Nino spent most of their summer vacation at Satoshi’s grandfather’s house, busy with his DS while Satoshi spent most of his time at the beach, fishing, or at the mountain, painting.
“You really like it here, huh? Satoshi?”, Nino looked at his bestfriend’s eyes. Nino imagined Satoshi would be upset, but all he could see in Satoshi’s eyes were peace. Probably the beautiful nature had calmed him down.
“Yeah, you know I do”, Satoshi smiled.
“What do you like so much from this forsaken island?”, Nino asked.
Satoshi looked around for a while. Then his eyes back to Nino,
“Everything”, he replied, “I love everything about this island. The soil, the sea, the air. In this island, they are in a perfect harmony”
Nino listened quietly, and thought it was interesting.
“You know Satoshi, I always thought that me, you and Jun are like that, soil, sea and air, or….earth, water and wind”
“You must be the earth”, Satoshi said.
Nino grinned, “Bingo! And why do you think so?”
“A brat like you only suits for earth”, he said with a chuckle. “You are also logical, and realistic. And in a sense, you are the ground for the people surround you.”
“Thanks, I guess,” Nino smirked.
“And without you, I, the water, will never know what I am”, Satoshi continued.
Nino was surprised by the sudden serious tone in Satoshi’s voice.
“Just imagine, a world without earth or land? The land defines the water, don’t you think? The waters are the waters, because of the land,” Satoshi gazed to the sea again.
Nino got up from the bench and joined Satoshi leaning on the deck’s fence.
“So you agree you’re the water then?”, he said casually, “only, I think you’re the water because you seem serene, and unassuming, most of the times, but actually you are so deep, with so many talents and potentials, and also….intense, just like the ocean”, Nino picked up his words carefully.
Satoshi only listened. He was still gazing quietly at the sea, watching the sea gulls hunting for the fishes swimming beneath the sea surface.
The sea breeze felt cool and comforting on their faces.
“Jun…”, Satoshi whispered, as if the wind reminded him of Jun.
Nino hesitated whether he should talk about his purpose coming there. But he decided to keep quiet and listen to what Satoshi had to say.
“Jun,….is he….is he…mad…at me?” Satoshi asked.
Nino knew Satoshi would ask that, but he sort of hoped that Satoshi would at least express his anger to Jun’s new boyfriend for attacking him out of the blue first. But of course, Jun was all that mattered to him.
“Nope, not at all man, he was worried about you. He checked your apartment almost everyday….”,
“He did?”
“He sure did,” Nino sighed.
They stood in silence for a while. Satoshi’s fishing rod hadn’t showed any signs of catches.
“You’re an idiot you know, Satoshi.” Nino finally broke the silence.
“Am I?” Satoshi frowned.
“Yeah, a complete idiot. You decided to stay friends with Jun, despite of…your feelings --don't ask me how I know, I just know--and now that he fell for someone else, you ran away.” Nino couldn’t look at Satoshi when he said that.
Satoshi let out a heavy breath, “It’s not that simple.”
“You can’t leave him just like that, you know he fears that more than anything….”
“I know, but…I can’t see him get hurt”
“Why do you think he’ll get hurt? And if you’re right, if he’ll get hurt, someday, because of that jerk --I hope nothing happens, of course-- isn’t it even a better reason for you, for us, to stick with him? So we can take care of him in case something happens? We just have to trust him and his choices, you know.”
Satoshi only listened silently.
“And you’ve been preaching about not wanting Jun to get hurt, but by running away like this, you’re the one who’s hurting him. You have to take the responsibility of bringing him into our lives, Satoshi. It was you who made him our bestfriend.” Nino paused before he continued,
“Me and you, we could have stayed that way, only the two of us, forever. But we’re not, anymore….”
Nino could see Satoshi already understood that.
“Or if you really want it, we could just ditch him. Now he already has Sakurai anyway…“ Nino said, meant for a joke, but he cursed himself that for a tiny fraction of a second he kind of wished Satoshi would agree.
Satoshi chuckled, “You’re right Nino. We can’t, I can’t leave him…..I need him. He’s the air isn’t he? At least to me, he is…. I’ve been thinking of going back too but I was afraid Jun would never forgive me.”
Nino nodded, of course, Jun was all that mattered to Satoshi.
“Don’t worry about that….” Nino patted Satoshi’s back. “How fast can you pack? I left my DS at home and you’re right, I’m already aching for it.”
Satoshi laughed and put his arm on Nino’s shoulder, as they watched the sun set on the horizon.
*****
Jun was surprised when he received a message from Nino telling him Satoshi was back. Nino also said they were at Satoshi’s place now and asked if Jun could come, saying that Satoshi wanted to talk to him. Jun was so glad that Satoshi was back, and he went to Satoshi’s place immediately.
Jun knocked the door and Nino answered it. Nino let him in and gestured him to step inside. Satoshi was there, he sat silently on the floor, gazing on his own paintings hanging on the wall or rested against the wall on the floor. Jun noticed his portrait was among the ones hanging on the wall.
“Satoshi….,” Jun called.
Satoshi looked up and smiled to him.
“Jun…”, he said as he stood up, he only stared at Jun for a while,
“I’m….I’m sorry about the other day…..I shouldn’t have done that…”, he said in a low voice.
Jun was silent for a moment. He wasn’t sure if Satoshi should apologize to him. He believed if anyone should apologize, that would be Sho to Satoshi and vice versa. But he thought it would be impossible.
“I’m glad you’re back…..and I’m sorry too, for what happened”, he said instead.
Satoshi shook his head, “No, it wasn’t your fault”
They stood face to face awkwardly in the middle of the room. Nino was sitting at the corner, watching them. He decided he’d just watch them talk things out.
“Jun, I…let me show you something”, Satoshi said abruptly.
He walked to a drawer and took out a pile of paintings. He spread them on the floor and sat down. Jun followed him. He looked at the paintings one by one. Apparently Satoshi painted them when he was away in the remote island. He painted the mountains, the sea, the boats, the beach, and many more. They were….decent, but Jun thought something was missing. The vibrant colors, the unique strokes, and something more that Jun couldn’t define, which had been always in Satoshi’s paintings and made them exceptionally beautiful before, were not there.
“Satoshi…did you paint these?” asked Jun.
“Yes”, Satoshi answered briefly.
“But there’s something missing here…. .They are not like yours”
“I know….they are not half as beautiful as they should be, aren’t they?”
“No, I mean they are also beautiful, but….they lack of your unique touch, and lack of soul?” Jun wasn’t sure if he described it right, but the paintings were definitely lacking something essential.
“You’re right, so….you see? I can’t even paint properly without you….” Satoshi looked at Jun’s eyes. His eyes were even more honest than his words.
Jun didn’t know what Satoshi would want to hear from him by saying that. Possibly nothing at all, because Jun failed to find the right words. He couldn’t look at Satoshi right in the eye either, leaving him gazing awkwardly at the paintings on the floor and the ones all over the room.
But Jun was comforted by the thought that maybe, Satoshi would never leave him, no matter what would happen, Satoshi would be there for him, always.
Jun’s eyes wandered around the room and stopped at his portrait. Satoshi painted him so beautifully, and Jun thought probably Satoshi was in love with him in the painting, because Jun didn’t think the real him was as beautiful as that, not even close. But even if Satoshi did love the portrait version of him, Jun wouldn’t mind.
“I won’t give it to you”, Satoshi said, noticing Jun was gazing at his portrait.
“You can have it…”, Jun laughed, “who’d take care of it better than the painter anyway?”
It was not funny, but they laughed. For the first time in weeks, they laughed heartily, and forgot already they had been apart.
Nino watched them and chuckled silently. He was glad they reconciled. Nevertheless, he was surprised when Satoshi showed his failed paintings to Jun. He didn’t know about that before, and honestly didn’t think Jun’s absence would have such an impact on Satoshi.
Nino remembered the classic novel Jun was reading at the family restaurant when they talked the other day, and thought it was funny that the title fit to describe what he felt about the chapters of his and Satoshi’s book. They were gone with the wind, because no matter with whom Jun chose to be with, Satoshi would always choose Jun.
“But my dear, I do give a damn….”, Nino said to himself.
He was about to join Jun and Satoshi when his phone rang. It was from Masaki. Nino lowered his voice and talked quite intensely in whispers for a while until finally he hung up.
“Umm, Satoshi….it seems that Sakurai Sho wants to talk to you and now he’s waiting at the nearby park….”
“What???” Jun couldn’t hide his shock while Satoshi was silent.
“Don’t ask me, he’s your boyfriend”, Nino shrugged.
Satoshi considered it for a while. “Okay, let’s go,” Satoshi said, already walking to the door.
*****
Chapter 9: Earth, Water and Wind (part 1)| Chapter 10: The Fifth Element
INDEX
A/N: I thought chapter 9 would be longer but I decided to make it short and leave the rest to chapt 10. Sorry for the lack of update, as usual, RL is making me crazy! (*_*)
Apologies for the lack of sakumoto moments in this chapter, I promise they will have lots and lots of moments in the next ones.
"My dear, I don't give a damn" was taken from the masterpiece novel, Gone with the wind, in which I used in part 1 and the end of part 2.
Today, May 26 is the big day for sho and jun so I can't not post anything xD
Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed ^-^/
Nino approached Satoshi and when he was only steps away he called out,
“Good catch today?” Nino asked casually, as if he was one of the locals that met Satoshi there regularly every afternoon. Satoshi didn’t react at first, but then Nino could see he shrugged,
“Usual”, he mumbled.
Satoshi didn’t even look at Nino, as if he knew Nino would come, sooner or later. Nino put down his travel bag on a bench behind him, and sat down.
“I love it here!”, Nino said “The beautiful scenery makes us want to spend all day outside, doesn’t it?”
“Liar!”, Satoshi chuckled. “I bet you’re already aching for your DS now”, he grinned and turned around.
The last time he and Nino were there, 3 years ago, Nino spent most of their summer vacation at Satoshi’s grandfather’s house, busy with his DS while Satoshi spent most of his time at the beach, fishing, or at the mountain, painting.
“You really like it here, huh? Satoshi?”, Nino looked at his bestfriend’s eyes. Nino imagined Satoshi would be upset, but all he could see in Satoshi’s eyes were peace. Probably the beautiful nature had calmed him down.
“Yeah, you know I do”, Satoshi smiled.
“What do you like so much from this forsaken island?”, Nino asked.
Satoshi looked around for a while. Then his eyes back to Nino,
“Everything”, he replied, “I love everything about this island. The soil, the sea, the air. In this island, they are in a perfect harmony”
Nino listened quietly, and thought it was interesting.
“You know Satoshi, I always thought that me, you and Jun are like that, soil, sea and air, or….earth, water and wind”
“You must be the earth”, Satoshi said.
Nino grinned, “Bingo! And why do you think so?”
“A brat like you only suits for earth”, he said with a chuckle. “You are also logical, and realistic. And in a sense, you are the ground for the people surround you.”
“Thanks, I guess,” Nino smirked.
“And without you, I, the water, will never know what I am”, Satoshi continued.
Nino was surprised by the sudden serious tone in Satoshi’s voice.
“Just imagine, a world without earth or land? The land defines the water, don’t you think? The waters are the waters, because of the land,” Satoshi gazed to the sea again.
Nino got up from the bench and joined Satoshi leaning on the deck’s fence.
“So you agree you’re the water then?”, he said casually, “only, I think you’re the water because you seem serene, and unassuming, most of the times, but actually you are so deep, with so many talents and potentials, and also….intense, just like the ocean”, Nino picked up his words carefully.
Satoshi only listened. He was still gazing quietly at the sea, watching the sea gulls hunting for the fishes swimming beneath the sea surface.
The sea breeze felt cool and comforting on their faces.
“Jun…”, Satoshi whispered, as if the wind reminded him of Jun.
Nino hesitated whether he should talk about his purpose coming there. But he decided to keep quiet and listen to what Satoshi had to say.
“Jun,….is he….is he…mad…at me?” Satoshi asked.
Nino knew Satoshi would ask that, but he sort of hoped that Satoshi would at least express his anger to Jun’s new boyfriend for attacking him out of the blue first. But of course, Jun was all that mattered to him.
“Nope, not at all man, he was worried about you. He checked your apartment almost everyday….”,
“He did?”
“He sure did,” Nino sighed.
They stood in silence for a while. Satoshi’s fishing rod hadn’t showed any signs of catches.
“You’re an idiot you know, Satoshi.” Nino finally broke the silence.
“Am I?” Satoshi frowned.
“Yeah, a complete idiot. You decided to stay friends with Jun, despite of…your feelings --don't ask me how I know, I just know--and now that he fell for someone else, you ran away.” Nino couldn’t look at Satoshi when he said that.
Satoshi let out a heavy breath, “It’s not that simple.”
“You can’t leave him just like that, you know he fears that more than anything….”
“I know, but…I can’t see him get hurt”
“Why do you think he’ll get hurt? And if you’re right, if he’ll get hurt, someday, because of that jerk --I hope nothing happens, of course-- isn’t it even a better reason for you, for us, to stick with him? So we can take care of him in case something happens? We just have to trust him and his choices, you know.”
Satoshi only listened silently.
“And you’ve been preaching about not wanting Jun to get hurt, but by running away like this, you’re the one who’s hurting him. You have to take the responsibility of bringing him into our lives, Satoshi. It was you who made him our bestfriend.” Nino paused before he continued,
“Me and you, we could have stayed that way, only the two of us, forever. But we’re not, anymore….”
Nino could see Satoshi already understood that.
“Or if you really want it, we could just ditch him. Now he already has Sakurai anyway…“ Nino said, meant for a joke, but he cursed himself that for a tiny fraction of a second he kind of wished Satoshi would agree.
Satoshi chuckled, “You’re right Nino. We can’t, I can’t leave him…..I need him. He’s the air isn’t he? At least to me, he is…. I’ve been thinking of going back too but I was afraid Jun would never forgive me.”
Nino nodded, of course, Jun was all that mattered to Satoshi.
“Don’t worry about that….” Nino patted Satoshi’s back. “How fast can you pack? I left my DS at home and you’re right, I’m already aching for it.”
Satoshi laughed and put his arm on Nino’s shoulder, as they watched the sun set on the horizon.
*****
Jun was surprised when he received a message from Nino telling him Satoshi was back. Nino also said they were at Satoshi’s place now and asked if Jun could come, saying that Satoshi wanted to talk to him. Jun was so glad that Satoshi was back, and he went to Satoshi’s place immediately.
Jun knocked the door and Nino answered it. Nino let him in and gestured him to step inside. Satoshi was there, he sat silently on the floor, gazing on his own paintings hanging on the wall or rested against the wall on the floor. Jun noticed his portrait was among the ones hanging on the wall.
“Satoshi….,” Jun called.
Satoshi looked up and smiled to him.
“Jun…”, he said as he stood up, he only stared at Jun for a while,
“I’m….I’m sorry about the other day…..I shouldn’t have done that…”, he said in a low voice.
Jun was silent for a moment. He wasn’t sure if Satoshi should apologize to him. He believed if anyone should apologize, that would be Sho to Satoshi and vice versa. But he thought it would be impossible.
“I’m glad you’re back…..and I’m sorry too, for what happened”, he said instead.
Satoshi shook his head, “No, it wasn’t your fault”
They stood face to face awkwardly in the middle of the room. Nino was sitting at the corner, watching them. He decided he’d just watch them talk things out.
“Jun, I…let me show you something”, Satoshi said abruptly.
He walked to a drawer and took out a pile of paintings. He spread them on the floor and sat down. Jun followed him. He looked at the paintings one by one. Apparently Satoshi painted them when he was away in the remote island. He painted the mountains, the sea, the boats, the beach, and many more. They were….decent, but Jun thought something was missing. The vibrant colors, the unique strokes, and something more that Jun couldn’t define, which had been always in Satoshi’s paintings and made them exceptionally beautiful before, were not there.
“Satoshi…did you paint these?” asked Jun.
“Yes”, Satoshi answered briefly.
“But there’s something missing here…. .They are not like yours”
“I know….they are not half as beautiful as they should be, aren’t they?”
“No, I mean they are also beautiful, but….they lack of your unique touch, and lack of soul?” Jun wasn’t sure if he described it right, but the paintings were definitely lacking something essential.
“You’re right, so….you see? I can’t even paint properly without you….” Satoshi looked at Jun’s eyes. His eyes were even more honest than his words.
Jun didn’t know what Satoshi would want to hear from him by saying that. Possibly nothing at all, because Jun failed to find the right words. He couldn’t look at Satoshi right in the eye either, leaving him gazing awkwardly at the paintings on the floor and the ones all over the room.
But Jun was comforted by the thought that maybe, Satoshi would never leave him, no matter what would happen, Satoshi would be there for him, always.
Jun’s eyes wandered around the room and stopped at his portrait. Satoshi painted him so beautifully, and Jun thought probably Satoshi was in love with him in the painting, because Jun didn’t think the real him was as beautiful as that, not even close. But even if Satoshi did love the portrait version of him, Jun wouldn’t mind.
“I won’t give it to you”, Satoshi said, noticing Jun was gazing at his portrait.
“You can have it…”, Jun laughed, “who’d take care of it better than the painter anyway?”
It was not funny, but they laughed. For the first time in weeks, they laughed heartily, and forgot already they had been apart.
Nino watched them and chuckled silently. He was glad they reconciled. Nevertheless, he was surprised when Satoshi showed his failed paintings to Jun. He didn’t know about that before, and honestly didn’t think Jun’s absence would have such an impact on Satoshi.
Nino remembered the classic novel Jun was reading at the family restaurant when they talked the other day, and thought it was funny that the title fit to describe what he felt about the chapters of his and Satoshi’s book. They were gone with the wind, because no matter with whom Jun chose to be with, Satoshi would always choose Jun.
“But my dear, I do give a damn….”, Nino said to himself.
He was about to join Jun and Satoshi when his phone rang. It was from Masaki. Nino lowered his voice and talked quite intensely in whispers for a while until finally he hung up.
“Umm, Satoshi….it seems that Sakurai Sho wants to talk to you and now he’s waiting at the nearby park….”
“What???” Jun couldn’t hide his shock while Satoshi was silent.
“Don’t ask me, he’s your boyfriend”, Nino shrugged.
Satoshi considered it for a while. “Okay, let’s go,” Satoshi said, already walking to the door.
*****
Chapter 9: Earth, Water and Wind (part 1)| Chapter 10: The Fifth Element
INDEX
A/N: I thought chapter 9 would be longer but I decided to make it short and leave the rest to chapt 10. Sorry for the lack of update, as usual, RL is making me crazy! (*_*)
Apologies for the lack of sakumoto moments in this chapter, I promise they will have lots and lots of moments in the next ones.
"My dear, I don't give a damn" was taken from the masterpiece novel, Gone with the wind, in which I used in part 1 and the end of part 2.
Today, May 26 is the big day for sho and jun so I can't not post anything xD
Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed ^-^/