All We Are -- Chapter 15
Pairing(s): Sakumoto, Arashi friendship, Ohmiya
Kind: Multi-Chaptered
Genre: AU, Drama, Romance, Angst
Rating: PG-13 generally, sometimes R
Disclaimer: Own them? Don’t we all wish!
Summary: How much would you sacrifice for someone else? Is all we are really enough?
//Chapter 15//
“This time is ours
If I could hold this moment in my hands
I'd stop the world from moving
I'd stop the grass from turning
This time is ours, inside a frozen memory of us
And we are motionless
Motionless.”
-- The Bravery, “Ours”
“Jun. Juuuun.” Nino whispered with a prod.
Jun opened his eyes instantly and sat up, looking for danger. “What? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. Well, Aiba is about to get here, so with him around eventually something will go wrong.”
Jun looked at Sho, and his even breathing alerted Jun to the fact that he was still sleeping, and, ultimately, okay. He looked over to Ohno’s bed to find the same for the Captain. He reluctantly moved from Sho’s side, stretching like a cat once both feet were firmly on the floor.
“So why is Aiba coming a cause to wake me?” Jun said, a little irritated. He missed the warmth of Sho’s body next to him and was eager to return.
“I’m not sure, but he said something about big news. He said it had to do with the Prime Minister.”
Jun tensed at the title for Sho’s father. “Good or bad?”
“He didn’t say.”
“Do you think he’s coming here?” Jun was beginning to panic. He couldn’t face losing Sho again.
Nino simply shrugged, obviously having the same thoughts. Were they really all going to die after surviving such impossible odds?
Jun took the chance to shower and change clothes quickly, noticing that Nino had already done so. The hospital obviously expected visitors who made long stays, providing showers with all the amenities. The hot water was glorious, and it felt good to be clean, but Jun rushed, scared to leave Sho and the others for too long. He allowed some of his injuries to be rebound and assessed by the nurses, knowing it wouldn’t help anyone if he ignored his own wounds. It seemed like so long ago that Jin’s goons had beaten him and left him for dead, even though it had only been a few days.
When Jun returned to the hospital room, he found Sho and Ohno awake. Ohno continued to have a serene look on his face, despite Nino’s fussing, and Jun almost forgot why Ohno was in a bed. Sho still looked horrible, and was clearly in pain, but tried to hide it. Jun was about to say something along the lines of, “Quit trying to act tough” when Aiba burst through the door. Jun was once again reminded of an over eager puppy, the way Aiba smiled and giggled and just wouldn’t stay still.
“I missed you guys!” He said as he tackled Jun and Nino. They both sighed with a smile and patted Aiba’s head.
“We missed you, too, Aiba.” Nino said, and he meant it.
“Yeah, who else is going to patch us up when we almost get killed?” Jun said with a snort.
Aiba’s eyes got big and wobbly at that, tears beginning to form. He looked back and forth from Ohno to Sho, and Jun just barely managed to grasp Aiba’s coat in his fist before he pounced on them, too. “They’re healing, Aiba. You can’t hug them right now. You’re a med student - you should know that.”
Aiba pouted, but stopped resisting. With a sheepish grin, he said, “Sorry. Couldn’t help it.”
“So what’s the big news you were so desperate to tell us?” Nino wasn’t one to beat around the bush, and Jun glanced at Sho cautiously.
Aiba became solemn at that. “Well…” He turned to Sho. “It’s about your dad, Sho. He’s been…replaced.”
Sho sat up a little at that, surprised. “What do you mean?”
“Um, well…” Aiba seemed hesitant, but then it all came out in a rush. “After you guys defeated Jin and the other gangsters, the Prime Minister was really mad. He accused Johnny-san of things, and they had a fight. Johnny’s dead now, and the Prime Minister was hurt really badly. He kind of went insane when they tried to take him to the hospital, and I hear he’s going into a Psych ward. He’s no longer considered the Prime Minister, and they’re starting to look for a replacement.”
Jun registered this news, never looking away from Sho’s face. Sho seemed frozen with shock, or so he thought, when Sho began to smile.
“I’m free.”
All heads were turned toward Sho now. Sho looked at Jun’s confused face and positively beamed.
“Don’t you see? He’s gone! He’s done! I never have to worry about him again! This whole time, ever since I first ran away all those years ago, I’ve had to look over my shoulder, waiting for him or one of his goons to appear and kill me or take me back. He’s locked up now. I don’t have to worry about him anymore! I’m free!”
Sho began to laugh, a sound that always made Jun feel lighter than air, but it was cut short with a coughing fit. Jun immediately went to Sho and lifted a glass of water to his lips.
“Jin, Johnny, the Prime Minister… we’re safe. We’re all safe.” Nino said in hushed tones.
Just then, the five heard a shriek come from the hallway. They froze, hearing the voice of a lunatic.
“I will have you all killed! Take me back! Only the fit will rule! I am supreme! Supreme!” The voice ranted and raved continuously, eventually passing in front of the door. The Prime Minister lay strapped to a bed, frothing at the mouth in his anger, bandages wrapped around various parts of his body. It only lasted a couple seconds, and then he was gone, the voice muffled as they exited into an elevator.
As soon as he was gone, the five men exhaled as a whole. Jun realized he had been lightly stroking Sho’s arm in an attempt to keep him calm, enjoying the way goosebumps appeared.
“It seems almost too simple.” Jun thought aloud.
“Well, after what we’ve been through, I think we deserve a simple ending. And a happy one at that.” Nino said, as if daring a heavenly body to say otherwise.
“Well, we have each other.” Ohno said, simply.
The five men looked at each other, and smiled.