Admit It [Part 1]
Pairing: Sakumiya
Kind: One-shot
Genre: AU Historical
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Plot = mine. Arashi = not mine.
Summary: Aiba has been duped by a psychic, and as his best friend, it’s up to Sho to expose the psychic as a fraud. Set in the 18th-19th century.
Originally for the shoneenclub October contest! :)
He could feel eyes on him, a gaze piercing enough to be noticed, but no matter where he looked, Sakurai Sho was unable to find the guilty party. He glanced furtively to his left and right, pausing to casually glance behind him, and nothing. But he knew he was being watched - he had this feeling every time he went to the market. Sho was a man of logic and learning, a graduated man of status, but he knew better than to ignore his instincts. Cautiously, he pretended to attend to his cuff links while surveying his surroundings.
Suddenly, a man attacked him from behind, grabbing him in a headlock.
“Sho! Finally! I’ve been looking for you everywhere!”
Sho stopped struggling as the voice registered in his brain. “Aiba, you have to stop doing that!” Sho groaned as he shoved the man’s arm away, trying to readjust his suit and tie. Aiba just laughed merrily, swinging his arm back around Sho’s sloping shoulders, his own suit unbuttoned in a cavalier way.
Aiba was Sho’s best friend, despite how different they were. Aiba was brightness and sunshine, with a smile for everyone and a curious mind. Sho shared Aiba’s curiosity, but where Aiba was affectionate, Sho was cold. Only to those he was close to, which was pretty much just Aiba, could Sho be warm and open. He was wary of everyone’s motives, and used logic for everything. Aiba couldn’t be fake even if he tried, which is why Sho knew he could trust him. They met at the university, where only the most prestigious and affluent men were accepted, and had been rather inseparable since.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you. I’m just so excited that you’re going to meet Nino today!”
The happy mood that Aiba created instantly turned sour to Sho with that statement. Sho was not excited to see the infamous Nino. He had heard nothing but amazing things about the psychic from Aiba all summer long, and it made Sho cringe. Psychics were frauds, the whole lot of them, and Sho couldn’t understand their current popularity. No one can predict the future, Sho’s rational mind screamed. Yet gullible Aiba was so easily pulled in with the lies Nino told, and followed everything to a T, even when Nino told Aiba he had to go wrestle a lion in order to prove “how courageous his heart is.” Amazingly, Aiba came out with only a few minor scratches, and was able to win a date with the girl he’d been pining for because of it. Nino “predicted” all of this, which is why Aiba believed in him fully, but really, who wouldn’t be impressed with a man who wrestled a lion? It was a win-win situation for Nino, because if Aiba won, his prediction would prove true, and if Aiba failed and died, then the only person who would’ve known of Nino’s con would be dead.
Sho tsked in disgust, but Aiba didn’t notice. He continued to pull Sho forward through town toward a gaudy looking tent with a huge sign that read, “The Amazing and Masterful Ninomiya, Psychic Extraordinaire.” Sho eyed the sign with disdain - is that seriously what he called himself?
Sho suddenly felt eyes on him again, much like before Aiba had appeared. His eyes searched for the source, and locked with a boy’s a few feet ahead, standing next to the garish tent. He was of a smaller build, wearing loose cream clothes with a maroon vest and scarf, but his expression was cat-like - cunning and cutting. Is he a gypsy? Sho wondered. He openly stared at Sho, expressionless, and it was Sho who had to look away first.
It was then that Sho realized that Aiba had run ahead to hug the boy, shouting, “Nino!” in his giggly voice.
That was Nino?
As Sho came closer, he realized the metallic thread detailing on his jacket, and the metallic threads woven in the boys shaggy hair. A hoop earring adorned the top of his left ear, and his bangs swooped across the right side of his face, giving him a devilish appearance. Sho knew that his overall appearance said poor, but a closer look showed that this Ninomiya boy was richer than he let on.
“Nino, this is Sho Sakurai, the friend I’ve been telling you about! Now he can see firsthand how amazing you are! He doesn’t believe in your predictions, even though they’ve all come true, but now you can prove it to him!” Aiba said in a rush of excitement.
While Aiba was talking, Sho noticed Nino give Aiba a genuine smile, but once the attention was back on him, Nino’s smile turned to a smirk. He walked into the dark tent without a backward glance.
“Well, come on, then. I’ve only been waiting for you both for an hour.” Nino’s voice was sharp.
Aiba gasped and tugged on Sho’s hand. “See! He knew we were coming!”
Sho simply rolled his eyes, but allowed himself to be pulled into the tent’s interior. He immediately wrinkled his nose at the unusual scent that hit him - somewhere, incense was burning - and eyed his surroundings with caution. Everything was just as he expected - over the top and distracting. Yet the man now seated before him, Nino, was the opposite. His simple exterior belied a complex inner being - Sho knew how to read people, and could tell that Nino wasn’t all he seemed. Sho wouldn’t let himself be fooled so easily. He was here to protect Aiba, and as much as he knew it would hurt Aiba to discover the truth, it had to be done.
Nino’s dark eyes were assessing him once more, and Sho refused to show how much it unnerved him. He sat with an air of aloofness, but it didn’t erase Nino’s smirk an inch. Still, he gave Nino one long look, and then turned away, dismissing him.
“So, you think this is all hocus pocus and want to destroy my entire life and well-being, is that it?” Nino asks suddenly, with a trace of humor that Sho doesn’t understand.
“I don’t want to destroy you, as you so dramatically put it. I simply want Aiba to be in control of his own life, instead of letting a swindler make decisions for him.”
“He’s not a swindler, Sho-chan! Honest! He’s predicted everything perfectly!” Aiba protested.
“Yes, predictions that happen to cost you money. Aiba, in each scenario you told me about, there are a hundred different explanations for Ninomiya’s predictions. All can be answered by science. Ninomiya is nothing more than an excellent observer and actor. Besides, I…”
“Nino.” Ninomiya interjected.
“W-What?” Sho stuttered, attention diverted.
“Call me Nino.”
Sho stared at the man, momentarily taken aback. “You aren’t even going to refute what I’m saying?” Sho questioned, stunned.
“You seem pretty firm in your convictions. It would be a waste of my time to try to convince you otherwise.”
“Well, there you go, Aiba. He’s confessed to conning you and …”
“Ah, ah, ah.” Nino interrupted, raising one finger. “I confessed nothing. I simply said I won’t try to change your mind, that’s all.”
Sho narrowed his eyes. “Well I’m set on proving you false. You’ll have to try to change my mind, or admit to fraud right now.”
Nino seemed to muse this over before saying, “What are the stakes?”
“The stakes?” Sho asked.
“Yes, the stakes. If you win, you prove me false and can run me out of town. I’ll never speak to Aiba again.” Aiba made a strange noise at that, but both ignored him. “But if I win, and prove myself true… what do I get?”
“It doesn’t matter, does it? You’ll be right. You’re always right, Nino!” Aiba said loyally.
“Thanks, Aiba.” Another rare smile graced Nino’s face, and Sho noticed how it changed his whole demeanor. “But we have to set the parameters for this little game, or else Sho could end up swindling us both.”
“I-I would never do such a thing! I’m insulted you even think it of me.” Sho said indignantly.
“It’s true. Sho-chan would never be dishonest.” Aiba said.
“Oh, so you’re insulted? Think of how I feel. You’ve accused me of the very same thing.” Nino replied coolly.
“It’s not the same thing at all!” Sho defended himself. “You’re a psychic.”
“And? Do you even know me? How can you call me a swindler when you don’t even know me? You’re obviously a man of science, and plenty of scientists are con-artists themselves, pushing their own agendas. Don’t dish it out if you can’t take it, Sakurai-san.”
Sho sat there, his mouth agape. This wasn’t going as planned at all.
“Or is it because you think I am uneducated, and am therefore less believable than someone who has been to the university? If that’s true, then that’s just prejudiced.” Nino gave a scornful look and crossed his arms in anger.
Sho’s temper was pushing forward, and Sho struggled to keep it down, but at the accusation of prejudice, he let it burst forth in a cold, calculated tone.
“I am not prejudiced against those who haven’t been educated. Not all that can be learned in the world can come from books. I have never once believed myself to be better than those who are less fortunate, and I wish you would stop making caustic judgments on my character when you have barely known me for 5 minutes. I came here to protect my friend, and if you are truly confident in yourself you wouldn’t need to throw everything back at my face to distract me from my true purpose. “ With that, Sho stood and began to walk out of the tent. Before he could get outside, however, Nino’s voice stopped him.
“Very well.”
It was so puzzling, it made Sho turn around to look at the psychic. Nino looked completely unperturbed by Sho’s tirade, and instead gestured for Sho to sit back down. Aiba looked between the two, torn, with sad puppy eyes.
When Sho still refused to sit, Nino sighed. “Look, I apologize if I said anything rude. It’s in my nature to defend myself. I’m sure you understand that. Please, sit. I won’t make rash comments, I promise.”
Sho was still wary, and his pride was still hurt, but he found himself sitting despite his uneasiness. How could this man switch between so many emotions so quickly? Sho realized he was curious about this man.
“Where were we? Oh, yes. If I win…If I win, then you must go around and profess my profound skill to everyone you know.”
Sho blanched a little at that, but kept his outward composure. “Fine. I agree.”
Nino smiled, but it was the smile of a devil, and Sho felt the danger he was in. But Sho also knew all he had to do was outsmart the cunning man. There was no real magic involved.
“So, what will your prediction be, hmm?” Sho asked with a smirk of his own.
“Why don’t you choose it yourself?” Nino replied calmly. “That way, you can’t later say I tried to trick you by choosing it myself.”
Sho thought for a minute. What would be nearly impossible to predict?
“My future wife.”
Nino cocked an eyebrow at that. “You want me to predict who your future wife will be?”
“Yes. Why - can’t you do it?”
Cards suddenly appeared, and Nino fanned them out on the table almost lovingly. He cocked his head and gestured to the cards. “Pick one.”
Sho huffed, and swiftly drew out a card. “The lovers,” he murmured, staring at the picture of two bodies entwined, reading the text below, before handing it over to Nino.
“Hm. Temptation.”Nino said, staring at the card.
“What?”
“Temptation. This card represents love, yes, which is unsurprising given the question. But it also means temptation. You will be tempted with your desires.”
“Is that all you can predict? Of course I’ll be tempted. What man is never tempted with his desires?” Sho scoffed.
“No, that is not all,” Nino huffed. He closed his eyes and pressed the card to his temple, breathing deeply.
“I see dark eyes. Dark, intelligent eyes and dark hair. Your match will battle your will, and tempt you beyond belief.”
“Ok, so that rules out all the blondes and red heads. Still doesn’t predict much, if you ask me. When will I meet her, then?”
With eyes still closed, Nino hummed before speaking. “A few days hence. At the Governor’s Ball.”
“You’re kidding me, right?” Sho said, just as Aiba shouted, “Sho-chan’s getting married!”
Nino sat back and crossed his arms, obviously trying hard to mask the smug look threatening to break out on his face. He thinks he’s got it all figured out, Sho thought to himself. He thinks that there will be so many women at the ball that it will be impossible for me to figure out which one I’m meant for.
“Very well.” Sho said with a grin of his own that immediately put Nino on edge. “Be ready at 6 pm sharp, Ninomiya-san.”
Confusion crossed Nino’s face, but Aiba was the one who spoke. “What do you mean, Sho-chan? Is Nino coming too?”
“Yes, he is. He’s seen in his mind what my future wife will look like, so it only makes sense for him to accompany us so he can point her out to us.”
The look that crossed Nino’s face clearly revealed his panic - now it was Sho’s turn to be smug. Nino quickly covered his reaction, but it was too late.
Sho grinned widely and handed Nino a card with his contact information. “See you tomorrow night, oh Amazing and Masterful One.”
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Part 2
Kind: One-shot
Genre: AU Historical
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Plot = mine. Arashi = not mine.
Summary: Aiba has been duped by a psychic, and as his best friend, it’s up to Sho to expose the psychic as a fraud. Set in the 18th-19th century.
Originally for the shoneenclub October contest! :)
He could feel eyes on him, a gaze piercing enough to be noticed, but no matter where he looked, Sakurai Sho was unable to find the guilty party. He glanced furtively to his left and right, pausing to casually glance behind him, and nothing. But he knew he was being watched - he had this feeling every time he went to the market. Sho was a man of logic and learning, a graduated man of status, but he knew better than to ignore his instincts. Cautiously, he pretended to attend to his cuff links while surveying his surroundings.
Suddenly, a man attacked him from behind, grabbing him in a headlock.
“Sho! Finally! I’ve been looking for you everywhere!”
Sho stopped struggling as the voice registered in his brain. “Aiba, you have to stop doing that!” Sho groaned as he shoved the man’s arm away, trying to readjust his suit and tie. Aiba just laughed merrily, swinging his arm back around Sho’s sloping shoulders, his own suit unbuttoned in a cavalier way.
Aiba was Sho’s best friend, despite how different they were. Aiba was brightness and sunshine, with a smile for everyone and a curious mind. Sho shared Aiba’s curiosity, but where Aiba was affectionate, Sho was cold. Only to those he was close to, which was pretty much just Aiba, could Sho be warm and open. He was wary of everyone’s motives, and used logic for everything. Aiba couldn’t be fake even if he tried, which is why Sho knew he could trust him. They met at the university, where only the most prestigious and affluent men were accepted, and had been rather inseparable since.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you. I’m just so excited that you’re going to meet Nino today!”
The happy mood that Aiba created instantly turned sour to Sho with that statement. Sho was not excited to see the infamous Nino. He had heard nothing but amazing things about the psychic from Aiba all summer long, and it made Sho cringe. Psychics were frauds, the whole lot of them, and Sho couldn’t understand their current popularity. No one can predict the future, Sho’s rational mind screamed. Yet gullible Aiba was so easily pulled in with the lies Nino told, and followed everything to a T, even when Nino told Aiba he had to go wrestle a lion in order to prove “how courageous his heart is.” Amazingly, Aiba came out with only a few minor scratches, and was able to win a date with the girl he’d been pining for because of it. Nino “predicted” all of this, which is why Aiba believed in him fully, but really, who wouldn’t be impressed with a man who wrestled a lion? It was a win-win situation for Nino, because if Aiba won, his prediction would prove true, and if Aiba failed and died, then the only person who would’ve known of Nino’s con would be dead.
Sho tsked in disgust, but Aiba didn’t notice. He continued to pull Sho forward through town toward a gaudy looking tent with a huge sign that read, “The Amazing and Masterful Ninomiya, Psychic Extraordinaire.” Sho eyed the sign with disdain - is that seriously what he called himself?
Sho suddenly felt eyes on him again, much like before Aiba had appeared. His eyes searched for the source, and locked with a boy’s a few feet ahead, standing next to the garish tent. He was of a smaller build, wearing loose cream clothes with a maroon vest and scarf, but his expression was cat-like - cunning and cutting. Is he a gypsy? Sho wondered. He openly stared at Sho, expressionless, and it was Sho who had to look away first.
It was then that Sho realized that Aiba had run ahead to hug the boy, shouting, “Nino!” in his giggly voice.
That was Nino?
As Sho came closer, he realized the metallic thread detailing on his jacket, and the metallic threads woven in the boys shaggy hair. A hoop earring adorned the top of his left ear, and his bangs swooped across the right side of his face, giving him a devilish appearance. Sho knew that his overall appearance said poor, but a closer look showed that this Ninomiya boy was richer than he let on.
“Nino, this is Sho Sakurai, the friend I’ve been telling you about! Now he can see firsthand how amazing you are! He doesn’t believe in your predictions, even though they’ve all come true, but now you can prove it to him!” Aiba said in a rush of excitement.
While Aiba was talking, Sho noticed Nino give Aiba a genuine smile, but once the attention was back on him, Nino’s smile turned to a smirk. He walked into the dark tent without a backward glance.
“Well, come on, then. I’ve only been waiting for you both for an hour.” Nino’s voice was sharp.
Aiba gasped and tugged on Sho’s hand. “See! He knew we were coming!”
Sho simply rolled his eyes, but allowed himself to be pulled into the tent’s interior. He immediately wrinkled his nose at the unusual scent that hit him - somewhere, incense was burning - and eyed his surroundings with caution. Everything was just as he expected - over the top and distracting. Yet the man now seated before him, Nino, was the opposite. His simple exterior belied a complex inner being - Sho knew how to read people, and could tell that Nino wasn’t all he seemed. Sho wouldn’t let himself be fooled so easily. He was here to protect Aiba, and as much as he knew it would hurt Aiba to discover the truth, it had to be done.
Nino’s dark eyes were assessing him once more, and Sho refused to show how much it unnerved him. He sat with an air of aloofness, but it didn’t erase Nino’s smirk an inch. Still, he gave Nino one long look, and then turned away, dismissing him.
“So, you think this is all hocus pocus and want to destroy my entire life and well-being, is that it?” Nino asks suddenly, with a trace of humor that Sho doesn’t understand.
“I don’t want to destroy you, as you so dramatically put it. I simply want Aiba to be in control of his own life, instead of letting a swindler make decisions for him.”
“He’s not a swindler, Sho-chan! Honest! He’s predicted everything perfectly!” Aiba protested.
“Yes, predictions that happen to cost you money. Aiba, in each scenario you told me about, there are a hundred different explanations for Ninomiya’s predictions. All can be answered by science. Ninomiya is nothing more than an excellent observer and actor. Besides, I…”
“Nino.” Ninomiya interjected.
“W-What?” Sho stuttered, attention diverted.
“Call me Nino.”
Sho stared at the man, momentarily taken aback. “You aren’t even going to refute what I’m saying?” Sho questioned, stunned.
“You seem pretty firm in your convictions. It would be a waste of my time to try to convince you otherwise.”
“Well, there you go, Aiba. He’s confessed to conning you and …”
“Ah, ah, ah.” Nino interrupted, raising one finger. “I confessed nothing. I simply said I won’t try to change your mind, that’s all.”
Sho narrowed his eyes. “Well I’m set on proving you false. You’ll have to try to change my mind, or admit to fraud right now.”
Nino seemed to muse this over before saying, “What are the stakes?”
“The stakes?” Sho asked.
“Yes, the stakes. If you win, you prove me false and can run me out of town. I’ll never speak to Aiba again.” Aiba made a strange noise at that, but both ignored him. “But if I win, and prove myself true… what do I get?”
“It doesn’t matter, does it? You’ll be right. You’re always right, Nino!” Aiba said loyally.
“Thanks, Aiba.” Another rare smile graced Nino’s face, and Sho noticed how it changed his whole demeanor. “But we have to set the parameters for this little game, or else Sho could end up swindling us both.”
“I-I would never do such a thing! I’m insulted you even think it of me.” Sho said indignantly.
“It’s true. Sho-chan would never be dishonest.” Aiba said.
“Oh, so you’re insulted? Think of how I feel. You’ve accused me of the very same thing.” Nino replied coolly.
“It’s not the same thing at all!” Sho defended himself. “You’re a psychic.”
“And? Do you even know me? How can you call me a swindler when you don’t even know me? You’re obviously a man of science, and plenty of scientists are con-artists themselves, pushing their own agendas. Don’t dish it out if you can’t take it, Sakurai-san.”
Sho sat there, his mouth agape. This wasn’t going as planned at all.
“Or is it because you think I am uneducated, and am therefore less believable than someone who has been to the university? If that’s true, then that’s just prejudiced.” Nino gave a scornful look and crossed his arms in anger.
Sho’s temper was pushing forward, and Sho struggled to keep it down, but at the accusation of prejudice, he let it burst forth in a cold, calculated tone.
“I am not prejudiced against those who haven’t been educated. Not all that can be learned in the world can come from books. I have never once believed myself to be better than those who are less fortunate, and I wish you would stop making caustic judgments on my character when you have barely known me for 5 minutes. I came here to protect my friend, and if you are truly confident in yourself you wouldn’t need to throw everything back at my face to distract me from my true purpose. “ With that, Sho stood and began to walk out of the tent. Before he could get outside, however, Nino’s voice stopped him.
“Very well.”
It was so puzzling, it made Sho turn around to look at the psychic. Nino looked completely unperturbed by Sho’s tirade, and instead gestured for Sho to sit back down. Aiba looked between the two, torn, with sad puppy eyes.
When Sho still refused to sit, Nino sighed. “Look, I apologize if I said anything rude. It’s in my nature to defend myself. I’m sure you understand that. Please, sit. I won’t make rash comments, I promise.”
Sho was still wary, and his pride was still hurt, but he found himself sitting despite his uneasiness. How could this man switch between so many emotions so quickly? Sho realized he was curious about this man.
“Where were we? Oh, yes. If I win…If I win, then you must go around and profess my profound skill to everyone you know.”
Sho blanched a little at that, but kept his outward composure. “Fine. I agree.”
Nino smiled, but it was the smile of a devil, and Sho felt the danger he was in. But Sho also knew all he had to do was outsmart the cunning man. There was no real magic involved.
“So, what will your prediction be, hmm?” Sho asked with a smirk of his own.
“Why don’t you choose it yourself?” Nino replied calmly. “That way, you can’t later say I tried to trick you by choosing it myself.”
Sho thought for a minute. What would be nearly impossible to predict?
“My future wife.”
Nino cocked an eyebrow at that. “You want me to predict who your future wife will be?”
“Yes. Why - can’t you do it?”
Cards suddenly appeared, and Nino fanned them out on the table almost lovingly. He cocked his head and gestured to the cards. “Pick one.”
Sho huffed, and swiftly drew out a card. “The lovers,” he murmured, staring at the picture of two bodies entwined, reading the text below, before handing it over to Nino.
“Hm. Temptation.”Nino said, staring at the card.
“What?”
“Temptation. This card represents love, yes, which is unsurprising given the question. But it also means temptation. You will be tempted with your desires.”
“Is that all you can predict? Of course I’ll be tempted. What man is never tempted with his desires?” Sho scoffed.
“No, that is not all,” Nino huffed. He closed his eyes and pressed the card to his temple, breathing deeply.
“I see dark eyes. Dark, intelligent eyes and dark hair. Your match will battle your will, and tempt you beyond belief.”
“Ok, so that rules out all the blondes and red heads. Still doesn’t predict much, if you ask me. When will I meet her, then?”
With eyes still closed, Nino hummed before speaking. “A few days hence. At the Governor’s Ball.”
“You’re kidding me, right?” Sho said, just as Aiba shouted, “Sho-chan’s getting married!”
Nino sat back and crossed his arms, obviously trying hard to mask the smug look threatening to break out on his face. He thinks he’s got it all figured out, Sho thought to himself. He thinks that there will be so many women at the ball that it will be impossible for me to figure out which one I’m meant for.
“Very well.” Sho said with a grin of his own that immediately put Nino on edge. “Be ready at 6 pm sharp, Ninomiya-san.”
Confusion crossed Nino’s face, but Aiba was the one who spoke. “What do you mean, Sho-chan? Is Nino coming too?”
“Yes, he is. He’s seen in his mind what my future wife will look like, so it only makes sense for him to accompany us so he can point her out to us.”
The look that crossed Nino’s face clearly revealed his panic - now it was Sho’s turn to be smug. Nino quickly covered his reaction, but it was too late.
Sho grinned widely and handed Nino a card with his contact information. “See you tomorrow night, oh Amazing and Masterful One.”
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Part 2