Boku Ga Boku No Subete (Chapter 9)
Title: 僕が僕のすべて (I AM EVERYTHING I HAVE)
Characters/Pairings: Arashi / Ohmiya and Sakuraiba
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU, Romance, Angst, Drama, and Fluff
Chapter - Word Count: Chapter 9 - 4 747 words
Length: Multi-chaptered
Disclaimer: Big emphasis to "FANFICTION", the only things I owned is the ideas and plot.
Summary: After one exchange of glance, a criminal stole his heart. After one smile, a student made him defy the rules. After unexpected encounters, forbidden love blooms. If second chances were given to turn things back the way they are, will they change the course of their paths or still go on with everything they have?
Author's Notes: Finally, an update! For this chapter, we’ll take a look at Kaze Trio’s friendship and also conflicts and confrontations.
As usual, paragraphs enclosed with (----- -----) are flashbacks.
[Recap]Still adding a recap portion here:
- Nino is a thief, playfully called Lupin. Ohno is a policeman. Sho is an heir who wanted to try teaching and Aiba is veterinarian who is taking a second course in fashion design.
- Ohno was assigned to protect a jewel named Black Rose which is suspected to be the next target of the Lupin he met in an encounter. Sho was taking chance in doing teaching for cram and there he met his two students, Aiba and Nino.
- Both Sho and Ohno then were invited by their friend, Jun, to have a night out together. There Sho met again his student and Ohno properly met Nino who he chance to meet earlier when he was investigating his task.
- Nino didn’t hide the fact that he was interested with Ohno, and same goes to Aiba to Sho. Nino took Ohno to the dance floor the left them ditching their friends and had their own steamy night together. Sho was babbling too much, not used with that kind of environment which led Aiba shutting him up with a kiss that ended up with a make out.
- Nino admitted he love Ohno but left as soon as he woke up the next morning. He went directly to Aiba’s place where he found out that his cram school teacher spend the night at Aiba’s place and tease the teacher non-stop. Aiba and Nino were teasing each other and Nino revealed that Ohno was the cop who he encountered in his last heist. Nino then reminisces the time he first met Aiba and then it was also revealed that Aiba was his partner in crime.
- Ohno wanted to find Nino because he couldn’t leave it at that as a one-night-stand and he knew himself there was connection between them. He looked for Nino’s records while also looking at the case files assigned to him. Toma then warned someone that Ohno, as a cop, was getting to close too close in Nino’s radar.
- Sho invited Ohno for a drinks but the cop ditch it when he found Nino, chasing him and when he lost Nino, he chose to go Nino’s place that he found in Nino’s record files.
- Sho who was drinking alone decided to just go home until he was found by Aiba who dragged somewhere because Nino wasn’t available.
- Nino was surprised when he saw Ohno waiting for him outside his doorstep and he let the other finally in, trying to put Ohno off by saying he could give him sex if he wanted him. For some reason, Ohno could see right through him. Nino then remembered the time he really first met Ohno and it was one summer ages ago when they were both kids. But as he expected, Ohno doesn’t remember him because of the accident Ohno met when he was responding to a crime as a police student. He finally gives in and let Ohno enter his life again despite knowing Ohno was a cop and he was a thief.
- Sho and Aiba were in the hill where Nino and Aiba would spend some time. Aiba talked about his life and urged Sho to do the same. Sho then shared that he was an heir and everything should be perfect even if he loosed himself. Aiba then coaxed him of accepting who he was and Sho did, admitting that he did have attraction towards his student,
- Sho and Aiba started going out, with the help of Ohno’s advice that before he could be a good son, he should be true to his self. Sho wanted to try it and Aiba is willing to wait but then statuses and how different the two of them are. Because he doesn’t want to lose Aiba, he finally said out loud that he loved him and he didn’t want to lose him.
- Ohno on the other hand kept remembering his memories and about a boy who he met one summer. He didn’t remember the face but he knew he was someone important.
- Relationships are shaky because Sho and Nino were avoiding their respective partners. It was also revealed that Jun was in fact Nino’s boss, the one who had been backing him up in his heist and Jun reminded the thief of what he should be doing now and who didn’t belong in their world.
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(----- Nino was ready to face the punishment the moment he got caught when he tried robbing a little at the Matsumoto household. What he would steal from them will surely be just little from the vast riches that household held. He was just getting just a month or so worth of living expenses anyways. But what he couldn't accept was the fact that Aiba was involved in this.
The taller man was actually trying to stop him from stealing in the household since aside from ‘This is the most dangerous one, Nino’, as Aiba would put it; the Matsumoto family hadn't really been that of a bad family. They didn't try to rob anyone, use their power to bring others down. In fact, it was the exact opposite.
But then Nino was adamant in this decision no matter what persuasion Aiba had imposed. There was just something about this household that irked him the most. Well, maybe just the young master of the house’s strong features?
They were in a room and from what it looked like; it was the place where interrogation would happen as seen in movies. Good. Nino still had the time to salvage Aiba's freedom.
Both Nino and Aiba turned their heads towards the door when it opened, expecting a middle age man who was probably wearing a suit to interrogate them but the man who entered was beyond their expectations, especially when the one who entered was the man similar in their age, even younger. Nino would know because he had search about him, his target.
Nino's face scrunched in a frown, not liking one bit the presence of his target in the room but then when he glanced to his side, he remembered Aiba and that was his priority. He instantly stood once the newcomer entered and settled in front of them, in the other side of the desk.
"This is my entire fault. Aiba Masaki isn't part of this. In fact, he was trying to stop me. He-"
"Nino," Aiba protested, clutching Nino's hand to make him sit down and not to talk anymore.
"He's just-" Nino paused when his target raised his hand, telling him to stop. Nino wasn't feeling anymore annoyed with the man but he was definitely confused with how his target casually leaned back and then looked at them with a look of amusement.
"I have a deal to offer you both." His target declared, his strong features were definitely saying he was up to something and it seemed so the moment he opened his mouth to talk again, "It will be a new life for both you but still you could still keep your old jobs."
"Old jobs?" Aiba asked and the newcomer was nodding his head, his cool and manly elegance never leaving him.
"Yes, you'll have your old records of crimes erased and also I will provide you your necessities, living expenses and even education if you wish. Anything you need and I'll give it to you." The other man said, making both Nino and Aiba to look at each other before looking back to the man in front of them.
"In exchange for that, you'll be working for me to steal things."
Nino blinked not believing what the man had said. Did the heir of one of the richest and reputable family in Japan just ask them to steal for him? Nino was so wrong when he thought he had known everything about his target. Questions were brewing in his mind. Who is this Matsumoto Jun in front of them and...?
"Why?"
Nino didn't get his answers right that moment because all he got from Jun was a smile that meant a lot of things and because of that, it was the start of their unusual affiliation.
No matter how bizarre Jun's offer was to him and Aiba. It did give him a security. With the riches Matsumoto was willing to give to them just so they could be the perfect thieves, Nino was confident on his booming skills. Of course, there will always be guilt but Nino brushed it off. It was better than fending off on his self, no security and no back-ups. Of course, Jun had warn them that the deal was off the moment they were caught but Nino was sure Jun had his ways on making sure that they wouldn't get caught. But the same questions remain? Who really is this Jun and why them?
Nino only got that answer when the three of them were drinking in Jun's mansion. They just graduated and Aiba was being sentimental and suggested to have celebration under the stars. Jun didn’t want it because there were a lot of mosquitoes where Aiba suggested celebrating it and he didn’t want to be swarm by it. And because they couldn’t actually say no to Aiba (because who could really?), Jun suggested their observatory deck in the mansion where the roof was made out of glass rather than the cliff Aiba and Nino had frequented when they were kids. After cans and cans of beers, it was only Nino and Jun who were still sober enough to talk while Aiba was snoring somewhere in the room.
"You know, I still don't get why you offered us that deal three years ago." Nino asked as he remembered the day he and Aiba got caught and Jun was there with that deal, earning a raised of an eyebrow from the youngest of them. Jun grinned and then sipped on his first glass of vodka because he needed something stronger now.
"I was bored." Jun offered but now, it was Nino's turn to raise his own eyebrow, not believing Jun's words even one bit.
"You could try to fool Aiba but not me." Nino warned to which Jun replied with a smirk.
There was a pregnant pause because Nino didn’t want to push it anymore if Jun didn’t want to. Jun was the boss and he didn’t have the right to question it. Nino knew his place and even though he didn’t want to admit it, he was hoping that these things going on between all of them weren’t just a relationship between an employer and employees. 'I must have been with Aiba for too long to think like this.'
"There are crimes that only crimes themselves could solve and you just happen to be in that situation that moment when I thought about it."
Nino paused on his drink when he heard what Jun had said and then looked at Jun in disbelief yet thoughtful.
"If it weren't me and Aiba, and it was another person, another group of people? Would you offer that same deal too?" Nino asked, looking sideways towards Jun before drinking his drink.
Jun grinned, leaning back until he was lying down in the carpeted floor with arms as his pillow. He took a glanced at Nino before directing his eyes to the night sky. He hummed, "I wonder..."
Nino then followed Jun’s position, observing the stars above them. Everyone was hushed now and only calmed breaths and soft snoring from Aiba could be heard. Nino closed his eyes, knowing Jun wouldn’t say anything more.
“I just have faith to the two of you.”
It was a whisper and Nino might have missed Jun’s sudden confession. But when he sneaked a glance towards Jun’s direction, Jun had his eyes still open. Nino didn’t know whether to answer that, to react or to just say anything.
But then, it did answer his questions that had been bugging him since. Jun believed in them and this Matsumoto Jun now and then was the one that believed in them. Now, there was only one thing left for him to do and to just leave at that.
“Thank you. -----)
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Sakurai had been on his office for the past hour ever since he arrived for work. He was by the glass window, watching how everything went on, and people going on with their lives and there he was, just standing still and just completely lost. His heart was aching knowing how much he had hurt Aiba. Last night, he had seen Aiba’s eyes, how hurt he was and Sho wanted to kill his self right now because Aiba didn’t deserve this. He doesn’t deserve anything of this.
It was better this way, with Aiba hating him now rather than give him the false hope that there could be a future between them. At least with hate, Aiba would forget him easier and Sho could live with that instead of continuously hurting Aiba in the end.
It was hard of course, knowing you need to let go of the one you truly love but he had to and there was no turning back now. He had chosen this because this was better. He could never give Aiba what the happy-go-lucky man deserved.
He sighed for the nth time that morning and he could feel pang in his heart along with sting in his eyes. He didn’t notice another presence until that person spoke.
“So this is what you do all day… sighing at people who were beneath you?”
Sho flinched and instantly turned around to look at his uninvited visitor.
“Ni-Ninomiya?” Sho stuttered, seeing the younger male sitting in the sofa in his office that was provided for guests and it didn’t escape him how Nino’s words had a bite on it.
“H-how?” Sho couldn’t finish his question, because he didn’t exactly know how to put it in words. He had made it clear to his secretary not to let anyone in his office, let alone bother him but Nino was there, sitting with legs crossed in his sofa and drinking some wine. He didn’t even hear how Nino got in or anything, not a single moment and if Nino hadn’t spoken, he wouldn’t have noticed he was there until he moved. It was just like he appeared out of nowhere.
“I want to talk to you. And I think your office isn’t the right place.” Nino said in a serious tone as he stood up and headed for the door and Sho was taken back at how Nino’s voice was so cold, so void of emotion, not with playfulness and definitely not teasing.
“But I-," Sho wanted to protest but then Nino glanced back to him, cutting his words.
“I’m not taking no for an answer.” Nino deadpanned.
With how Nino was acting now, Sho would have been scared especially knowing how easy-going this man was when you got to know him. It wasn’t like Sho knew Nino fully but with how he had seen him with Aiba, and how Aiba would occasionally tell him stories about Nino from time to time they had spend time with each other, Sho knew Nino was a great man but right this moment, he didn’t know anymore. His aura was scary but still, it didn't really affect Sho because deep inside, Sho knew there would only be one reason why Nino was here now and looking like that and Sho knew expected it the moment Nino spoke earlier.
Silently, he dried his eyes which was becoming moist and then followed Nino after leaving some instructions to his secretary that he would be back shortly. They earned a few perplexed glances from his staff members but Sho heeded them no attention and followed the shorter male, not having a clue where they would be going. Nino didn't seem to mind them too after all as he just swiftly led the way.
Before Sho knew it, they were leaving the premises of the building and they were headed towards a park nearby. There were children playing, mothers were talking to each other and some were enjoying the cozy breeze in the morning. They arrive in a bit secluded part of the park where Sho could still see some people yet it offered privacy for those who wanted one.
No one was talking by the time they stopped walking and Sho didn’t know whether he was the one to break the silence between them or Nino would. And so, he opted on letting Nino to talk first, after all, it was Nino who brought him there and Nino did so after a few seconds.
"Sensei, I'm trying to think thoroughly about a matter." He started and Sho flinched how hard Nino said each words, especially when, "Would you please enlighten me?"
Sho gulped an imaginary lump and Nino who wasn't even looking at him was able to give him shudders. He cleared his throat and bravely he asked, "Yes?"
"What are you exactly playing at with Aiba?" Nino said, glancing back to Sho with menacing eyes because really, Nino was tempted to hurt this stupid teacher. And to think he was the one teaching him and Aiba.
Sho knew it from the start. It was all about Aiba and like earlier, he wouldn't blame Nino for being so angry at him to the point of the situation they were in. He wouldn't even stop Nino if the latter would punch him and even beat him up.
"I-" Sho looked away, not minding how cowardly he looked because he knew in the end, he was a coward, shamelessly taking the easy route despite knowing what really mattered to him. He didn't want complications and even if he had good intentions of cutting Aiba out of these complications, bottom-line would always be that he was coward because he chose to avoid it. "I'm sorry."
"Do you really think I came here for your sorry, Sakurai bou-chan?" Nino gritted his teeth, making Sho to look at the shorter male in shock with how he addressed Sho like how Isogai would call him but Sho tried to just shrug it off and answered Nino.
"Look, Nino. I know it would never justify any of my actions but it can never be... we can never be. I'm a teacher and he's my student. It's not going to work. Aiba... he's-"
Nino cut him again with a forced laugh, "Ha-ha, don't make me laugh, Sakurai sensei. Is that the best excuse you would give me? I thought you were smarter than that. Heck, you were even a teacher."
Sho then sighed in defeat. It was rather the most ridiculous excuse he had said because being a teacher and a student wasn't actually a problem between him and Aiba. It never was. It was actually the one that connected them but...
Sho sighed again, exhausted and his chest was in pain with all the emotions that were overwhelming him. He finally said dejectedly, "We can never be together and Aiba knew it from the start." Sho said in almost a whisper but Nino heard nonetheless and it put Nino's rage in top as his fist curved into balls even if his knuckles were turning white.
"Don't give me bullshit excuses, Sakurai!" Nino spat and it agitated Sho.
"I'M GETTING MARRIED NINO!" Sho shouted back, feeling so helpless with tears that were brimming in his eyes. But still, Sho could see the full anger in Nino's eyes. It was like in a slow motion knowing Nino was going to lunge a punch towards his way but Sho didn't even try to dodge it, not even a muscle move. He just closed his eyes and accepted the punch but it never came.
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Ohno had been staring at his painting in the middle of his art room. He had been staring at it after he woke up and went to this room.
When he came back from Nino's place, Ohno directly went to his bedroom and cried himself in sleep, not even changing his clothes or anything.
The moment he woke up, he instantly dragged himself to his artwork, in Nino’s painting he was planning to give. He had been staring at it just to check if he did something wrong, if he did a mistake when he painted Nino in the canvass because all he knew was when he painted it, he did it with so much care and love but it only brought Nino to tears the first and last time Nino had seen it.
He wasn't one to cry at this kind of things but it hurt so much to be push away by the one you love when the only thing you want to do was to stay by his side.
Tears were already clouding his vision when suddenly he heard his phone ringing in his pocket of his jeans. Calming his breath and wiping his tears, he got his phone and answered it, not even minding that the number was someone he didn’t knew.
"Hello?"
"Ohno-san?"
Ohno was instantly alert upon hearing the voice. Although it was the first time he had heard the voice through the phone still he couldn't be mistaken with that voice.
"Aiba-san?"
"Hai!" Aiba said meekly in the other side of the line and then he went for a serious tone once again when he asked, "Ohno-san is Nino with you right now?"
Ohno was more than alert now, standing up in a second.
"No.” Ohno replied because exhaling another shaky breath and asked, “Is something the matter?" Ohno asked as calmly as he could because deep inside, he was actually frantic, worried something might have happened to Nino.
"It's just when I woke up, he wasn't here in his apartment anymore. And-" Aiba paused, keeping Ohno agitated.
"And?"
"I'm afraid he might do something foolish to Sho-chan." Aiba ended forlornly but still worried.
"Sho-kun?" Ohno asked, almost squeaking.
"Yeah... uhm..." Aiba was lost for words. He didn't know if Ohno knew about them or if Nino had mention it before so he just went for the vague one. "It didn't quite end well and I don't think Nino-chan took it well." Aiba said, hesitantly and unsure.
Nino could be repulsive sometimes but Aiba didn't know whether this would trigger Nino's repulsiveness. He didn't know either whether he just dreamt it or he heard Nino clearly before he completely snoozed off.
(----- "No, not you Aiba-chan. You deserved better than that.” ------)
And Nino's tone was so serious that it frightened Aiba with what Nino was capable of.
"I-" Aiba couldn't continue because he didn't know what to ask Ohno the moment he managed to get Ohno's contact. (Well, he is the hacker between him and Nino when it comes to their heists so getting someone's contact number is a piece of cake.)
Ohno also noticed Aiba’s uneasy voice and he didn’t know whether it was for Sho or for Nino or maybe it was for both of them. Ohno still had a clear mind despite the anxiousness he had because this involved two people who was dear to him and he was sure it was the same for Aiba and with the latter calling, he knew Aiba needed help especially. “Do you want me to check on Sho if Nino went to him?”
“Yes.” Aiba’s short reply came and Ohno nodded, not caring whether Aiba would see it or not.
“I’ll call you if there’s anything.” Ohno assured Aiba and Ohno heard Aiba sighing in relief in the other line. He was about to end the call but he heard it when Aiba called him again.
“Ohno-san?”
“Yes?””
“Thank you.” Aiba said.
Ohno shook his head and then remembered they were only talking through phone. “No,” he started and then emphasized, “Thank you for calling me, Aiba-san.”
Because really, he felt nothing but gratitude towards the taller man because with Aiba calling him when it came to Nino meant he was trusting Nino to him, and also he could see how Aiba really cared for Sho too, how the man was showing he was indeed in love with his friend and he was sure his friend felt the same thing too. He couldn’t help but to add,”I know it isn’t my place to say this but Sho-kun really cares for you too. It’s just that circumstance left him so confused but please do believe in him.”
There was a hitch of breath in Aiba’s line before Aiba spoke to him too, “Believe in him too,” Aiba said and Ohno was about to answer that yes, he also would believe to Sho but then Aiba followed up and he was sure he could hear Aiba’s smile, “Nino I mean, just believe in him.”
Ohno was taken back but smiled as the line ended with Aiba’s soft goodbye. Aiba was the person he had least interacted with yet he felt their connection. Their situations were similar after all.
Without caring anymore what he looked like or anything, he set out and tried to find Sho first. If Nino did go to see him, Ohno would find him and if not, he'd try to find Nino whatever it takes.
Judging by the time, Sho was probably in his office now and so he instantly went there. He was about to enter the building when his peripheral view caught glimpse of Nino's figure walking out of the building and when he turned around to follow it, he could see Sho following behind.
Instantly, he followed them. He was caught behind when the traffic light changed and stopped the pedestrian but he could see Nino and Sho headed to the nearby park. Right away, he tried to track them down and he did, slowly approaching them. He didn’t know whether to intervene or let the two to talk first but when he could see the tensed stances of the two, he couldn’t help but run especially when he saw Nino going for a punch towards Sho.
He caught Nino’s arm before his punch could land in Sho’s face but it didn’t really dissipated Nino’s anger, too blinded by it that he kept on shouting.
“YOU BASTARD! HOW COULD YOU! YOU LOW!”
Nino was furious and Ohno tried his best to back him away despite Nino struggling to get away just to hurt Sho. They were creating a scene indeed but none actually mattered. One was angry. The other was beaten mentally while one was a median.
“Calm down, Nino. Calm down.” Ohno tried to coax his lover and afterwards did he realized that Nino was already crying when the younger male stopped struggling.
“Aiba-chan deserved so much better and yet he poured everything to someone like you and you just dumped it all away like it wasn’t worth it! Even if it hurt him, he was still waiting for you but you did nothing. You did nothing but hurt him!” Nino said as his glare still directed towards Sho who remained rooted in his place, head hanged low.
Despite the continuous tears, Nino had seemed to calm down a second later. Ohno had his hand still in Nino’s shoulders, rubbing it to relax the other and then suddenly Nino swatted it away.
“YOU WERE NEVER WORTH OF AIBA’S LOVE!”He shouted before he ran away.
Ohno was torn between staying for his friend and to comfort Sho or ran after Nino. He then decided, looking at Sho and said, “Call me if you need anything,” and then ran after Nino. Ohno knew Sho needed a time for his self to think things through, patch things up and to have a clear mind about all of this. If Sho needed him, he would answer Sho’s flee but right now his priority was Nino. After all, they have their own issue to answer too.
Ohno was now really thankful that he chose to be a cop because with his sharpened sight of sense while trying to chase criminals, he also had a knack for finding people in the midst of crowd.
“Kazu!” He called through the busy streets but Nino never showed slowing down, still running away further, running away from him. Another thing he was thankful for being a cop was the chases he did to catch culprits, honing his running skills and so with all his might, he ran after Nino, managing to grab his arm to stop the latter.
The moment when Ohno grabbed his arm, Nino didn’t struggle anymore which Ohno was thankful for. But then Ohno noticed the audience they gathered and figure this wasn’t the right place to talk at. Ohno then gently dragged Nino who complied so silently. When they were far enough to the prying eyes, in an alleyway he managed to find, Ohno leaned Nino’s back against the wall gently because he knew the latter was shaking and either because he was still crying or he was tired and Nino might collapse any moment. He didn’t know what to do anymore and just to lean in, with his arms around the Nino’s waist and his head bending over Nino’s shoulder.
He needed to catch some breath too because things were happening too fast right now and he needed to tone down his adrenaline before he could talk to Nino with a clear mind. He felt somehow warm with Nino in his arms but at the same time, so cold because Nino just stood there.
Slowly, Ohno looked up and his eyes saddened because despite Nino’s eyes flowing with tears, he had a straight face, a sign that Nino was once again closing himself off.
“Kazu, please talk to me.” Ohno pleaded, feeling his own tears overwhelming him too because it hurt too much. It hurts.
“Whatever problems we have, let’s talk it out first. Please Kazu, don’t shut me out again. Please!” Ohno pleaded.
Nino bowed his head once again, his bangs covering his face and then he whispered, ”Let’s stop this, Ohno-san.”
“Please Kazu, don’t do this. We can still talk this out-,” Ohno tried again but stopped when he felt Nino pushing him slowly but firm.
Nino looked up and stopped him from saying anything further,”Don’t.”
Ohno was rooted in his stand and then Nino was walking away but he stopped for a moment and glanced back towards Ohno, "If you can find me again, Ohno-san..." Nino started, making Ohno to widen his eyes.
"Maybe then we can talk," Nino offered and then ended it, "But not today..." and left.
Ohno stood there for minutes even when realization hit him and he knew by then where and when will he would find Nino yet somehow he didn't find it one bit surprising. He had in a way figured it out. He smiled but it was nothing but a mask to cover how sad and hurt he was.
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Nino was silently walking towards his apartment building. His tears had long dried and he didn't really want to upset Aiba more. He wasn't even sure if he would tell Aiba about the stunt that he just did. He knew that even if things didn't go well with Aiba and Sho, he was sure his friend still love that bastard of a teacher and he knew Aiba wouldn't like what he just did but he didn't regret anything. It was about damn time he said what was on his mind because he never saw Aiba so happy yet so sad in the same time until Sho but he didn't knew it would be this exhausting and then there was also Ohno.
"Satoshi." Nino murmured sadly because he hurt Ohno once again and it hurt him too but it was inevitable. He knew his place.
He didn't know how he managed to get to his apartment. Maybe he was in automatic mode right now but he careless. There was one thing left for him to do.
When he entered his apartment, Aiba was still in the living room, hugging his knees as he watched impassively the show playing in the television.
Aiba looked up and met Nino's eyes. It was puffy and red but Aiba didn't comment on it. They had the same eyes right now anyways. Too much crying already. Aiba would have laugh at it but he didn’t managed to and instead, "Okaeri." Aiba murmured with a small smile and Nino did the same.
"Tadaima."
It wasn't really that appropriate at this kind of time with all the emotional turmoil and outbursts. Still somehow they had an understanding between the two of them because for them, it was the right time to say that. They needed to get back on track and now they did, it was time to face who they really were.
"Masaki, let's steal the Black Rose."
Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10
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AUTHOR’S NOTES:
I’m back. Sorry if this took awhile but I was actually going to update this a week later after I posted chapter 8 but then job hunting became a pain in the ass and family issues ensue but all was well now (still jobless though).
Anyways, now we did see some revelations and background stories. Of course, friendships had bloomed and still going strong. If I’m going to name a title for this chapter, definitely it would be “Believe” or “I Believe” and I honestly love this one especially when it gave explanation in Jun’s character. Though I hope I manage to tone down the angst stuff in a way.
Expect confrontations and some sort of an action sequence between Ohno the cop and Nino the thief in the next chapter (and I hope I'll pull it through). Sho’s side would also be explained and a little more view from Jun’s perspective. We still have 6 chapters till the end of this series.
To-do List:
Boku Ga Boku No Subete (Chapter 9)
Will You Still Love Me In The Morning? (Sakumoto)
10 Drabbles (Various)
Boku Ga Boku No Subete (Chapter 10)
Game Over (Ohmiya spin-off from akhikaru's Growing Up series)
Can I Keep You? (Ohmiya)
Boku Ga Boku No Subete (Chapter 11)
Good Morning (Sakumoto)
Pazudora Verse: Soba Night (Sakumoto)
Characters/Pairings: Arashi / Ohmiya and Sakuraiba
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU, Romance, Angst, Drama, and Fluff
Chapter - Word Count: Chapter 9 - 4 747 words
Length: Multi-chaptered
Disclaimer: Big emphasis to "FANFICTION", the only things I owned is the ideas and plot.
Summary: After one exchange of glance, a criminal stole his heart. After one smile, a student made him defy the rules. After unexpected encounters, forbidden love blooms. If second chances were given to turn things back the way they are, will they change the course of their paths or still go on with everything they have?
Author's Notes: Finally, an update! For this chapter, we’ll take a look at Kaze Trio’s friendship and also conflicts and confrontations.
As usual, paragraphs enclosed with (----- -----) are flashbacks.
[Recap]Still adding a recap portion here:
- Nino is a thief, playfully called Lupin. Ohno is a policeman. Sho is an heir who wanted to try teaching and Aiba is veterinarian who is taking a second course in fashion design.
- Ohno was assigned to protect a jewel named Black Rose which is suspected to be the next target of the Lupin he met in an encounter. Sho was taking chance in doing teaching for cram and there he met his two students, Aiba and Nino.
- Both Sho and Ohno then were invited by their friend, Jun, to have a night out together. There Sho met again his student and Ohno properly met Nino who he chance to meet earlier when he was investigating his task.
- Nino didn’t hide the fact that he was interested with Ohno, and same goes to Aiba to Sho. Nino took Ohno to the dance floor the left them ditching their friends and had their own steamy night together. Sho was babbling too much, not used with that kind of environment which led Aiba shutting him up with a kiss that ended up with a make out.
- Nino admitted he love Ohno but left as soon as he woke up the next morning. He went directly to Aiba’s place where he found out that his cram school teacher spend the night at Aiba’s place and tease the teacher non-stop. Aiba and Nino were teasing each other and Nino revealed that Ohno was the cop who he encountered in his last heist. Nino then reminisces the time he first met Aiba and then it was also revealed that Aiba was his partner in crime.
- Ohno wanted to find Nino because he couldn’t leave it at that as a one-night-stand and he knew himself there was connection between them. He looked for Nino’s records while also looking at the case files assigned to him. Toma then warned someone that Ohno, as a cop, was getting to close too close in Nino’s radar.
- Sho invited Ohno for a drinks but the cop ditch it when he found Nino, chasing him and when he lost Nino, he chose to go Nino’s place that he found in Nino’s record files.
- Sho who was drinking alone decided to just go home until he was found by Aiba who dragged somewhere because Nino wasn’t available.
- Nino was surprised when he saw Ohno waiting for him outside his doorstep and he let the other finally in, trying to put Ohno off by saying he could give him sex if he wanted him. For some reason, Ohno could see right through him. Nino then remembered the time he really first met Ohno and it was one summer ages ago when they were both kids. But as he expected, Ohno doesn’t remember him because of the accident Ohno met when he was responding to a crime as a police student. He finally gives in and let Ohno enter his life again despite knowing Ohno was a cop and he was a thief.
- Sho and Aiba were in the hill where Nino and Aiba would spend some time. Aiba talked about his life and urged Sho to do the same. Sho then shared that he was an heir and everything should be perfect even if he loosed himself. Aiba then coaxed him of accepting who he was and Sho did, admitting that he did have attraction towards his student,
- Sho and Aiba started going out, with the help of Ohno’s advice that before he could be a good son, he should be true to his self. Sho wanted to try it and Aiba is willing to wait but then statuses and how different the two of them are. Because he doesn’t want to lose Aiba, he finally said out loud that he loved him and he didn’t want to lose him.
- Ohno on the other hand kept remembering his memories and about a boy who he met one summer. He didn’t remember the face but he knew he was someone important.
- Relationships are shaky because Sho and Nino were avoiding their respective partners. It was also revealed that Jun was in fact Nino’s boss, the one who had been backing him up in his heist and Jun reminded the thief of what he should be doing now and who didn’t belong in their world.
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(----- Nino was ready to face the punishment the moment he got caught when he tried robbing a little at the Matsumoto household. What he would steal from them will surely be just little from the vast riches that household held. He was just getting just a month or so worth of living expenses anyways. But what he couldn't accept was the fact that Aiba was involved in this.
The taller man was actually trying to stop him from stealing in the household since aside from ‘This is the most dangerous one, Nino’, as Aiba would put it; the Matsumoto family hadn't really been that of a bad family. They didn't try to rob anyone, use their power to bring others down. In fact, it was the exact opposite.
But then Nino was adamant in this decision no matter what persuasion Aiba had imposed. There was just something about this household that irked him the most. Well, maybe just the young master of the house’s strong features?
They were in a room and from what it looked like; it was the place where interrogation would happen as seen in movies. Good. Nino still had the time to salvage Aiba's freedom.
Both Nino and Aiba turned their heads towards the door when it opened, expecting a middle age man who was probably wearing a suit to interrogate them but the man who entered was beyond their expectations, especially when the one who entered was the man similar in their age, even younger. Nino would know because he had search about him, his target.
Nino's face scrunched in a frown, not liking one bit the presence of his target in the room but then when he glanced to his side, he remembered Aiba and that was his priority. He instantly stood once the newcomer entered and settled in front of them, in the other side of the desk.
"This is my entire fault. Aiba Masaki isn't part of this. In fact, he was trying to stop me. He-"
"Nino," Aiba protested, clutching Nino's hand to make him sit down and not to talk anymore.
"He's just-" Nino paused when his target raised his hand, telling him to stop. Nino wasn't feeling anymore annoyed with the man but he was definitely confused with how his target casually leaned back and then looked at them with a look of amusement.
"I have a deal to offer you both." His target declared, his strong features were definitely saying he was up to something and it seemed so the moment he opened his mouth to talk again, "It will be a new life for both you but still you could still keep your old jobs."
"Old jobs?" Aiba asked and the newcomer was nodding his head, his cool and manly elegance never leaving him.
"Yes, you'll have your old records of crimes erased and also I will provide you your necessities, living expenses and even education if you wish. Anything you need and I'll give it to you." The other man said, making both Nino and Aiba to look at each other before looking back to the man in front of them.
"In exchange for that, you'll be working for me to steal things."
Nino blinked not believing what the man had said. Did the heir of one of the richest and reputable family in Japan just ask them to steal for him? Nino was so wrong when he thought he had known everything about his target. Questions were brewing in his mind. Who is this Matsumoto Jun in front of them and...?
"Why?"
Nino didn't get his answers right that moment because all he got from Jun was a smile that meant a lot of things and because of that, it was the start of their unusual affiliation.
No matter how bizarre Jun's offer was to him and Aiba. It did give him a security. With the riches Matsumoto was willing to give to them just so they could be the perfect thieves, Nino was confident on his booming skills. Of course, there will always be guilt but Nino brushed it off. It was better than fending off on his self, no security and no back-ups. Of course, Jun had warn them that the deal was off the moment they were caught but Nino was sure Jun had his ways on making sure that they wouldn't get caught. But the same questions remain? Who really is this Jun and why them?
Nino only got that answer when the three of them were drinking in Jun's mansion. They just graduated and Aiba was being sentimental and suggested to have celebration under the stars. Jun didn’t want it because there were a lot of mosquitoes where Aiba suggested celebrating it and he didn’t want to be swarm by it. And because they couldn’t actually say no to Aiba (because who could really?), Jun suggested their observatory deck in the mansion where the roof was made out of glass rather than the cliff Aiba and Nino had frequented when they were kids. After cans and cans of beers, it was only Nino and Jun who were still sober enough to talk while Aiba was snoring somewhere in the room.
"You know, I still don't get why you offered us that deal three years ago." Nino asked as he remembered the day he and Aiba got caught and Jun was there with that deal, earning a raised of an eyebrow from the youngest of them. Jun grinned and then sipped on his first glass of vodka because he needed something stronger now.
"I was bored." Jun offered but now, it was Nino's turn to raise his own eyebrow, not believing Jun's words even one bit.
"You could try to fool Aiba but not me." Nino warned to which Jun replied with a smirk.
There was a pregnant pause because Nino didn’t want to push it anymore if Jun didn’t want to. Jun was the boss and he didn’t have the right to question it. Nino knew his place and even though he didn’t want to admit it, he was hoping that these things going on between all of them weren’t just a relationship between an employer and employees. 'I must have been with Aiba for too long to think like this.'
"There are crimes that only crimes themselves could solve and you just happen to be in that situation that moment when I thought about it."
Nino paused on his drink when he heard what Jun had said and then looked at Jun in disbelief yet thoughtful.
"If it weren't me and Aiba, and it was another person, another group of people? Would you offer that same deal too?" Nino asked, looking sideways towards Jun before drinking his drink.
Jun grinned, leaning back until he was lying down in the carpeted floor with arms as his pillow. He took a glanced at Nino before directing his eyes to the night sky. He hummed, "I wonder..."
Nino then followed Jun’s position, observing the stars above them. Everyone was hushed now and only calmed breaths and soft snoring from Aiba could be heard. Nino closed his eyes, knowing Jun wouldn’t say anything more.
“I just have faith to the two of you.”
It was a whisper and Nino might have missed Jun’s sudden confession. But when he sneaked a glance towards Jun’s direction, Jun had his eyes still open. Nino didn’t know whether to answer that, to react or to just say anything.
But then, it did answer his questions that had been bugging him since. Jun believed in them and this Matsumoto Jun now and then was the one that believed in them. Now, there was only one thing left for him to do and to just leave at that.
“Thank you. -----)
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Sakurai had been on his office for the past hour ever since he arrived for work. He was by the glass window, watching how everything went on, and people going on with their lives and there he was, just standing still and just completely lost. His heart was aching knowing how much he had hurt Aiba. Last night, he had seen Aiba’s eyes, how hurt he was and Sho wanted to kill his self right now because Aiba didn’t deserve this. He doesn’t deserve anything of this.
It was better this way, with Aiba hating him now rather than give him the false hope that there could be a future between them. At least with hate, Aiba would forget him easier and Sho could live with that instead of continuously hurting Aiba in the end.
It was hard of course, knowing you need to let go of the one you truly love but he had to and there was no turning back now. He had chosen this because this was better. He could never give Aiba what the happy-go-lucky man deserved.
He sighed for the nth time that morning and he could feel pang in his heart along with sting in his eyes. He didn’t notice another presence until that person spoke.
“So this is what you do all day… sighing at people who were beneath you?”
Sho flinched and instantly turned around to look at his uninvited visitor.
“Ni-Ninomiya?” Sho stuttered, seeing the younger male sitting in the sofa in his office that was provided for guests and it didn’t escape him how Nino’s words had a bite on it.
“H-how?” Sho couldn’t finish his question, because he didn’t exactly know how to put it in words. He had made it clear to his secretary not to let anyone in his office, let alone bother him but Nino was there, sitting with legs crossed in his sofa and drinking some wine. He didn’t even hear how Nino got in or anything, not a single moment and if Nino hadn’t spoken, he wouldn’t have noticed he was there until he moved. It was just like he appeared out of nowhere.
“I want to talk to you. And I think your office isn’t the right place.” Nino said in a serious tone as he stood up and headed for the door and Sho was taken back at how Nino’s voice was so cold, so void of emotion, not with playfulness and definitely not teasing.
“But I-," Sho wanted to protest but then Nino glanced back to him, cutting his words.
“I’m not taking no for an answer.” Nino deadpanned.
With how Nino was acting now, Sho would have been scared especially knowing how easy-going this man was when you got to know him. It wasn’t like Sho knew Nino fully but with how he had seen him with Aiba, and how Aiba would occasionally tell him stories about Nino from time to time they had spend time with each other, Sho knew Nino was a great man but right this moment, he didn’t know anymore. His aura was scary but still, it didn't really affect Sho because deep inside, Sho knew there would only be one reason why Nino was here now and looking like that and Sho knew expected it the moment Nino spoke earlier.
Silently, he dried his eyes which was becoming moist and then followed Nino after leaving some instructions to his secretary that he would be back shortly. They earned a few perplexed glances from his staff members but Sho heeded them no attention and followed the shorter male, not having a clue where they would be going. Nino didn't seem to mind them too after all as he just swiftly led the way.
Before Sho knew it, they were leaving the premises of the building and they were headed towards a park nearby. There were children playing, mothers were talking to each other and some were enjoying the cozy breeze in the morning. They arrive in a bit secluded part of the park where Sho could still see some people yet it offered privacy for those who wanted one.
No one was talking by the time they stopped walking and Sho didn’t know whether he was the one to break the silence between them or Nino would. And so, he opted on letting Nino to talk first, after all, it was Nino who brought him there and Nino did so after a few seconds.
"Sensei, I'm trying to think thoroughly about a matter." He started and Sho flinched how hard Nino said each words, especially when, "Would you please enlighten me?"
Sho gulped an imaginary lump and Nino who wasn't even looking at him was able to give him shudders. He cleared his throat and bravely he asked, "Yes?"
"What are you exactly playing at with Aiba?" Nino said, glancing back to Sho with menacing eyes because really, Nino was tempted to hurt this stupid teacher. And to think he was the one teaching him and Aiba.
Sho knew it from the start. It was all about Aiba and like earlier, he wouldn't blame Nino for being so angry at him to the point of the situation they were in. He wouldn't even stop Nino if the latter would punch him and even beat him up.
"I-" Sho looked away, not minding how cowardly he looked because he knew in the end, he was a coward, shamelessly taking the easy route despite knowing what really mattered to him. He didn't want complications and even if he had good intentions of cutting Aiba out of these complications, bottom-line would always be that he was coward because he chose to avoid it. "I'm sorry."
"Do you really think I came here for your sorry, Sakurai bou-chan?" Nino gritted his teeth, making Sho to look at the shorter male in shock with how he addressed Sho like how Isogai would call him but Sho tried to just shrug it off and answered Nino.
"Look, Nino. I know it would never justify any of my actions but it can never be... we can never be. I'm a teacher and he's my student. It's not going to work. Aiba... he's-"
Nino cut him again with a forced laugh, "Ha-ha, don't make me laugh, Sakurai sensei. Is that the best excuse you would give me? I thought you were smarter than that. Heck, you were even a teacher."
Sho then sighed in defeat. It was rather the most ridiculous excuse he had said because being a teacher and a student wasn't actually a problem between him and Aiba. It never was. It was actually the one that connected them but...
Sho sighed again, exhausted and his chest was in pain with all the emotions that were overwhelming him. He finally said dejectedly, "We can never be together and Aiba knew it from the start." Sho said in almost a whisper but Nino heard nonetheless and it put Nino's rage in top as his fist curved into balls even if his knuckles were turning white.
"Don't give me bullshit excuses, Sakurai!" Nino spat and it agitated Sho.
"I'M GETTING MARRIED NINO!" Sho shouted back, feeling so helpless with tears that were brimming in his eyes. But still, Sho could see the full anger in Nino's eyes. It was like in a slow motion knowing Nino was going to lunge a punch towards his way but Sho didn't even try to dodge it, not even a muscle move. He just closed his eyes and accepted the punch but it never came.
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Ohno had been staring at his painting in the middle of his art room. He had been staring at it after he woke up and went to this room.
When he came back from Nino's place, Ohno directly went to his bedroom and cried himself in sleep, not even changing his clothes or anything.
The moment he woke up, he instantly dragged himself to his artwork, in Nino’s painting he was planning to give. He had been staring at it just to check if he did something wrong, if he did a mistake when he painted Nino in the canvass because all he knew was when he painted it, he did it with so much care and love but it only brought Nino to tears the first and last time Nino had seen it.
He wasn't one to cry at this kind of things but it hurt so much to be push away by the one you love when the only thing you want to do was to stay by his side.
Tears were already clouding his vision when suddenly he heard his phone ringing in his pocket of his jeans. Calming his breath and wiping his tears, he got his phone and answered it, not even minding that the number was someone he didn’t knew.
"Hello?"
"Ohno-san?"
Ohno was instantly alert upon hearing the voice. Although it was the first time he had heard the voice through the phone still he couldn't be mistaken with that voice.
"Aiba-san?"
"Hai!" Aiba said meekly in the other side of the line and then he went for a serious tone once again when he asked, "Ohno-san is Nino with you right now?"
Ohno was more than alert now, standing up in a second.
"No.” Ohno replied because exhaling another shaky breath and asked, “Is something the matter?" Ohno asked as calmly as he could because deep inside, he was actually frantic, worried something might have happened to Nino.
"It's just when I woke up, he wasn't here in his apartment anymore. And-" Aiba paused, keeping Ohno agitated.
"And?"
"I'm afraid he might do something foolish to Sho-chan." Aiba ended forlornly but still worried.
"Sho-kun?" Ohno asked, almost squeaking.
"Yeah... uhm..." Aiba was lost for words. He didn't know if Ohno knew about them or if Nino had mention it before so he just went for the vague one. "It didn't quite end well and I don't think Nino-chan took it well." Aiba said, hesitantly and unsure.
Nino could be repulsive sometimes but Aiba didn't know whether this would trigger Nino's repulsiveness. He didn't know either whether he just dreamt it or he heard Nino clearly before he completely snoozed off.
(----- "No, not you Aiba-chan. You deserved better than that.” ------)
And Nino's tone was so serious that it frightened Aiba with what Nino was capable of.
"I-" Aiba couldn't continue because he didn't know what to ask Ohno the moment he managed to get Ohno's contact. (Well, he is the hacker between him and Nino when it comes to their heists so getting someone's contact number is a piece of cake.)
Ohno also noticed Aiba’s uneasy voice and he didn’t know whether it was for Sho or for Nino or maybe it was for both of them. Ohno still had a clear mind despite the anxiousness he had because this involved two people who was dear to him and he was sure it was the same for Aiba and with the latter calling, he knew Aiba needed help especially. “Do you want me to check on Sho if Nino went to him?”
“Yes.” Aiba’s short reply came and Ohno nodded, not caring whether Aiba would see it or not.
“I’ll call you if there’s anything.” Ohno assured Aiba and Ohno heard Aiba sighing in relief in the other line. He was about to end the call but he heard it when Aiba called him again.
“Ohno-san?”
“Yes?””
“Thank you.” Aiba said.
Ohno shook his head and then remembered they were only talking through phone. “No,” he started and then emphasized, “Thank you for calling me, Aiba-san.”
Because really, he felt nothing but gratitude towards the taller man because with Aiba calling him when it came to Nino meant he was trusting Nino to him, and also he could see how Aiba really cared for Sho too, how the man was showing he was indeed in love with his friend and he was sure his friend felt the same thing too. He couldn’t help but to add,”I know it isn’t my place to say this but Sho-kun really cares for you too. It’s just that circumstance left him so confused but please do believe in him.”
There was a hitch of breath in Aiba’s line before Aiba spoke to him too, “Believe in him too,” Aiba said and Ohno was about to answer that yes, he also would believe to Sho but then Aiba followed up and he was sure he could hear Aiba’s smile, “Nino I mean, just believe in him.”
Ohno was taken back but smiled as the line ended with Aiba’s soft goodbye. Aiba was the person he had least interacted with yet he felt their connection. Their situations were similar after all.
Without caring anymore what he looked like or anything, he set out and tried to find Sho first. If Nino did go to see him, Ohno would find him and if not, he'd try to find Nino whatever it takes.
Judging by the time, Sho was probably in his office now and so he instantly went there. He was about to enter the building when his peripheral view caught glimpse of Nino's figure walking out of the building and when he turned around to follow it, he could see Sho following behind.
Instantly, he followed them. He was caught behind when the traffic light changed and stopped the pedestrian but he could see Nino and Sho headed to the nearby park. Right away, he tried to track them down and he did, slowly approaching them. He didn’t know whether to intervene or let the two to talk first but when he could see the tensed stances of the two, he couldn’t help but run especially when he saw Nino going for a punch towards Sho.
He caught Nino’s arm before his punch could land in Sho’s face but it didn’t really dissipated Nino’s anger, too blinded by it that he kept on shouting.
“YOU BASTARD! HOW COULD YOU! YOU LOW!”
Nino was furious and Ohno tried his best to back him away despite Nino struggling to get away just to hurt Sho. They were creating a scene indeed but none actually mattered. One was angry. The other was beaten mentally while one was a median.
“Calm down, Nino. Calm down.” Ohno tried to coax his lover and afterwards did he realized that Nino was already crying when the younger male stopped struggling.
“Aiba-chan deserved so much better and yet he poured everything to someone like you and you just dumped it all away like it wasn’t worth it! Even if it hurt him, he was still waiting for you but you did nothing. You did nothing but hurt him!” Nino said as his glare still directed towards Sho who remained rooted in his place, head hanged low.
Despite the continuous tears, Nino had seemed to calm down a second later. Ohno had his hand still in Nino’s shoulders, rubbing it to relax the other and then suddenly Nino swatted it away.
“YOU WERE NEVER WORTH OF AIBA’S LOVE!”He shouted before he ran away.
Ohno was torn between staying for his friend and to comfort Sho or ran after Nino. He then decided, looking at Sho and said, “Call me if you need anything,” and then ran after Nino. Ohno knew Sho needed a time for his self to think things through, patch things up and to have a clear mind about all of this. If Sho needed him, he would answer Sho’s flee but right now his priority was Nino. After all, they have their own issue to answer too.
Ohno was now really thankful that he chose to be a cop because with his sharpened sight of sense while trying to chase criminals, he also had a knack for finding people in the midst of crowd.
“Kazu!” He called through the busy streets but Nino never showed slowing down, still running away further, running away from him. Another thing he was thankful for being a cop was the chases he did to catch culprits, honing his running skills and so with all his might, he ran after Nino, managing to grab his arm to stop the latter.
The moment when Ohno grabbed his arm, Nino didn’t struggle anymore which Ohno was thankful for. But then Ohno noticed the audience they gathered and figure this wasn’t the right place to talk at. Ohno then gently dragged Nino who complied so silently. When they were far enough to the prying eyes, in an alleyway he managed to find, Ohno leaned Nino’s back against the wall gently because he knew the latter was shaking and either because he was still crying or he was tired and Nino might collapse any moment. He didn’t know what to do anymore and just to lean in, with his arms around the Nino’s waist and his head bending over Nino’s shoulder.
He needed to catch some breath too because things were happening too fast right now and he needed to tone down his adrenaline before he could talk to Nino with a clear mind. He felt somehow warm with Nino in his arms but at the same time, so cold because Nino just stood there.
Slowly, Ohno looked up and his eyes saddened because despite Nino’s eyes flowing with tears, he had a straight face, a sign that Nino was once again closing himself off.
“Kazu, please talk to me.” Ohno pleaded, feeling his own tears overwhelming him too because it hurt too much. It hurts.
“Whatever problems we have, let’s talk it out first. Please Kazu, don’t shut me out again. Please!” Ohno pleaded.
Nino bowed his head once again, his bangs covering his face and then he whispered, ”Let’s stop this, Ohno-san.”
“Please Kazu, don’t do this. We can still talk this out-,” Ohno tried again but stopped when he felt Nino pushing him slowly but firm.
Nino looked up and stopped him from saying anything further,”Don’t.”
Ohno was rooted in his stand and then Nino was walking away but he stopped for a moment and glanced back towards Ohno, "If you can find me again, Ohno-san..." Nino started, making Ohno to widen his eyes.
"Maybe then we can talk," Nino offered and then ended it, "But not today..." and left.
Ohno stood there for minutes even when realization hit him and he knew by then where and when will he would find Nino yet somehow he didn't find it one bit surprising. He had in a way figured it out. He smiled but it was nothing but a mask to cover how sad and hurt he was.
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Nino was silently walking towards his apartment building. His tears had long dried and he didn't really want to upset Aiba more. He wasn't even sure if he would tell Aiba about the stunt that he just did. He knew that even if things didn't go well with Aiba and Sho, he was sure his friend still love that bastard of a teacher and he knew Aiba wouldn't like what he just did but he didn't regret anything. It was about damn time he said what was on his mind because he never saw Aiba so happy yet so sad in the same time until Sho but he didn't knew it would be this exhausting and then there was also Ohno.
"Satoshi." Nino murmured sadly because he hurt Ohno once again and it hurt him too but it was inevitable. He knew his place.
He didn't know how he managed to get to his apartment. Maybe he was in automatic mode right now but he careless. There was one thing left for him to do.
When he entered his apartment, Aiba was still in the living room, hugging his knees as he watched impassively the show playing in the television.
Aiba looked up and met Nino's eyes. It was puffy and red but Aiba didn't comment on it. They had the same eyes right now anyways. Too much crying already. Aiba would have laugh at it but he didn’t managed to and instead, "Okaeri." Aiba murmured with a small smile and Nino did the same.
"Tadaima."
It wasn't really that appropriate at this kind of time with all the emotional turmoil and outbursts. Still somehow they had an understanding between the two of them because for them, it was the right time to say that. They needed to get back on track and now they did, it was time to face who they really were.
"Masaki, let's steal the Black Rose."
Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10
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AUTHOR’S NOTES:
I’m back. Sorry if this took awhile but I was actually going to update this a week later after I posted chapter 8 but then job hunting became a pain in the ass and family issues ensue but all was well now (still jobless though).
Anyways, now we did see some revelations and background stories. Of course, friendships had bloomed and still going strong. If I’m going to name a title for this chapter, definitely it would be “Believe” or “I Believe” and I honestly love this one especially when it gave explanation in Jun’s character. Though I hope I manage to tone down the angst stuff in a way.
Expect confrontations and some sort of an action sequence between Ohno the cop and Nino the thief in the next chapter (and I hope I'll pull it through). Sho’s side would also be explained and a little more view from Jun’s perspective. We still have 6 chapters till the end of this series.
To-do List:
Boku Ga Boku No Subete (Chapter 9)
Will You Still Love Me In The Morning? (Sakumoto)
10 Drabbles (Various)
Boku Ga Boku No Subete (Chapter 10)
Game Over (Ohmiya spin-off from akhikaru's Growing Up series)
Can I Keep You? (Ohmiya)
Boku Ga Boku No Subete (Chapter 11)
Good Morning (Sakumoto)
Pazudora Verse: Soba Night (Sakumoto)