Oneshot: Farewell
Title: Farewell
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Angst
Pairing: Sakuraiba
Notes: This was written on the request of soulezz and is based on a dream she had.
KOS...DO NOT READ!!! I FORBID YOU TO READ... IF YOU STILL DARE TO READ IT... I WON'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR HEARTBREAK!
Ohno had been in the dressing room for the past 30 minutes. He had been very patient, mainly because there was the promise of ramen after Sho was done with work. Finally giving in to his bodily urges, Ohno walked into the small toilet through the door at the back of the room. As soon as Ohno closed the bathroom door, Sho walked into the dressing room.
Closing the dressing room door behind him, Sho dialed a number on his cell phone. Removing the tie, he cast it aside and sank into the plush couch in the dressing room reserved for him during News Zero.
“Ah, moshi moshi, Sakurai desu. Sakurai Sho,” Sho spoke into the phone, “I had a message from you. So, I was wondering if you wanted to talk to me.”
Ohno finished his business in the bathroom and flushing the toilet, he washed his hands. The noise went unheard by Sho as every single wall in the dressing room, including the tiny bathroom walls, were sound proof. Wiping his hands on a towel, Ohno walked out and stood at the door looking at Sho’s head, “Ah…”
Sho continued speaking into the phone, not having heard Ohno walk out of the toilet, “I see. So you’re saying… the ulcers weren’t a small thing?”
“Oh… but… how can I… Doctor… are you saying…” taking a deep breath, Sho spoke again, his voice trembling, “…so you’re saying I have pancreatic cancer?”
After a few seconds of silence, Sho spoke again, “There is no hope to it… is there? If it is as advanced as you say it is, then there isn’t much time left… is there doctor?”
Sighing softly Sho nodded his head, “Thank you for informing me. Please do not inform my family… I don’t want anyone else to know about it and be sad on my behalf. I want to live as happily as I can for however many days I’ve left…”
Hanging up, Sho threw the phone on the couch next to him and placed his hands over his face, “Why… why me?”
Ohno’s eyes were wide as he caught Sho’s side of the conversation. Moving towards Sho slowly, he put a hand over Sho’s shoulder. Startled, Sho jumped up to see Ohno.
Wiping away the tears that clung to his eyes, Sho smiled at Ohno, “What are you doing here Ohno-kun?”
Ohno gulped, fighting tears, “We made plans… to have dinner together, after your news broadcast.”
Sho nodded his head, “Ah, give me a second. Let me change out of the suit and we can go.”
Ohno watched as Sho grabbed his street clothes and walked into the bathroom. He looked at Sho’s cell phone on the couch and then at the closed bathroom door. Taking a deep breath, he opened Sho’s phone and checked the call log. Sho’s latest call had indeed been to his personal physician.
With trembling hands, he put the phone down and sat on the couch. By the time Sho walked out, Ohno was crying silently, “Ohno?”
Ohno sniffled and hugged Sho tightly, “I… I overheard your conversation…”
Sho’s red eyes looked down at the man clinging to him, “Ohno-kun, please… don’t tell the others… especially not Aiba. He’d be heartbroken…”
Ohno looked up at Sho’s face, “But… you can’t mean to keep it from the others… they need to know!”
Sho shook his head, “No, I don’t want to see them sad and depressed. I want to remember Arashi’s happy smiling faces!”
Ohno just looked at him silently. Sho grabbed Ohno’s shoulders and squeezed him gently, “Promise me Ohno-kun. Promise me that this will stay just between us!”
Ohno held out his pinky, “It will not be easy…”
Sho smiled and hugged his long time friend, “Thank you Ohno!”
*****
Sho pushed his half finished meal away and patted his stomach. Jun, who watched him play with his food, commented slowly, “You aren’t a three year old to be pushing your peas away Sakurai-kun.”
Sho smiled at Jun, “Ah, I’m not really hungry.”
Aiba frowned slightly, “But Sho-chan, you have barely touched your food. The rice is almost full in the bowl; the beef is still hot and smells delicious!”
Sho laughed at Aiba’s comment and scooping up a strip of his steak, he held out the meat to Aiba. Aiba smiled and opening up, he took the steak into his mouth quickly, “Umai!”
Sho smiled and kissing Aiba, he stood up, “I need to use the men’s room, so excuse me for a second.”
“Ah, Sho-kun… some of us are still eating! You don’t have to announce it to the world that you need to go to the bathroom!” Nino complained.
As Sho disappeared around the corner, the three younger members of Arashi exchanged looks. Jun finally spoke up, “Don’t you think Sho has lost weight recently?”
Aiba nodded with a pout on his lips, “Yeah. Usually in winter, Sho-chan puffs up, but he has been looking very thin for the past few weeks. He must be under a lot of stress lately!”
Nino frowned slowly and poked at Ohno, who was too busy gulping down his ramen to pay attention to the conversation. When Ohno looked up confused, thankful that no one had thought Ohno would know the real reason, Nino sighed softly, “Oh-chan, go to the bathroom and check on Sho. Let us know if he is throwing up his food.”
Ohno obediently stood and went to the bathroom. Jun turned his eyes to Nino, “You think he might have bulimia?”
Nino shrugged, “Aiba told me he hasn’t been finishing his meals properly and has no appetite either. It’s always better to keep an eye on him than let him suffer alone… right?”
Ohno walked into the bathroom to find Sho leaning against the sink, clutching his stomach. He immediately rushed to Sho’s side and rubbed his back, “Sho-kun, are you ok? Should I call your doctor?”
Sho shook his head, “No… it’s just a minor abdominal pain. I’ve already taken the pain pills, so it should go away soon. There is no reason to disturb the doctor’s evening.”
Ohno just stood beside Sho, helplessly patting his shoulder.
*****
All JE boys were gathered in the ballroom for the annual JE Christmas party. To everyone’s shock, Sho had showed up at the party with his News Zero co-caster. Not even the senior Johnnys ever dared to bring a rumored girlfriend to the party. Whispers followed everywhere Sho walked that night.
When Sho finally left his date to mingle with the other ladies, Ohno came to Sho’s side, “Are you sure this will work?”
Sho shrugged his shoulders, “I hope it will. There is no other way I can think of and I don’t have much time left.”
Ohno nodded his head in understanding and walked away to find Nino. Sho sighed softly and walked up the stairs leading to the dance floor and balconies. Sho smiled as he watched the snow fall to the ground. He took in the sight of couples walking hand in hand on the streets below. The trees were lit up brightly and the shops played Christmas jingles.
Sho’s ears perked up as he heard someone walk into the balcony behind him. He turned around and sighed softly as he watched Aiba stand at the balcony door. Closing his eyes, he inhaled the cold air into his lungs and walked back indoors, brushing his shoulders against Aiba’s.
Aiba caught Sho’s arm as Sho passed him and turned him around roughly, “Sho-chan? Why are you doing this?”
Gulping painfully, Sho opened his eyes and gave Aiba the coldest stare he could muster, “What do you mean? Isn’t it you who started it all first. You were the one who looked like you were tired of our relationship!”
Aiba shook his head in denial, “When did I ever say that? I’m not tired of our relationship! Why would I be? You’re the love of my life!”
Sho laughed at Aiba’s comment and shook off Aiba’s grip from his arm, “Oh really? Then why do you keep flirting with Jun so outrageously?”
Aiba’s eyes went wide, “What? When did I do that?”
“What about that Shukudai-kun episode? You could have refused to play Jun’s partner for that near-kiss scene. And then there was time we were shooting for the PV. Jun was practically sitting in your lap and hanging onto you almost every single moment. Or how about during the concerts, you publicly offered to take a shower with Jun…” Sho lashed out at Aiba, making Aiba flinch.
Aiba shook his head again, “But… those were… I mean… you can’t be… serious!”
Sho turned away from Aiba and took a couple of steps before doubling over. Aiba rushed to Sho’s side, “Sho-chan!”
Sho cringed at Aiba’s touch and snarled gritting his teeth, “Don’t… touch me… I just tripped over my shoelace. I’m happy with her Aiba… why don’t you just give us your blessings instead of complaining and nagging all the time?”
Aiba flinched again and ran back into the room, tears in his eyes. Sho collapsed on the cold balcony floor, holding onto his stomach tightly as pain blinded him. He groped his pockets and finally finding the pills, he chewed on a couple of them. He rolled onto his back and stayed there for a few minutes as snow fell on his face.
When Sho walked back down the curving grand staircase leading to the ballroom, Johnny was making his rounds, mingling with his employees. Spotting Sho, Johnny walked to the staircase. Standing at the bottom of the staircase, Johnny looked up at Sho who was standing a few of steps above him.
“Sho.”
“Kitagawa-san,” Sho acknowledge.
“I heard a rumor you brought a date.”
“That’s right. I did.”
“Didn’t we already deny that your co-caster wasn’t your girlfriend? Do you realize the press will have a field-day if they knew you brought her to the party? How are we going to handle that circus then?”
Sho shrugged carelessly, “I don’t see the point in hiding our relationship anymore. I’m planning on a long term relationship with her. My parents are also happy with her. So, I don’t see in hiding it anymore!”
Johnny’s nostrils flared in anger, “You’d dare defy me?”
“I was just stating the facts. Sooner or later, you’ll have to tell the public about our relationship anyway.”
“You stop spouting nonsense this second. She isn’t right for you, now or in the future. I forbid you to see her!”
“You are not my father Johnny. You’re just my employer. You cannot dictate my life!”
Johnny’s eyes went wide at that statement, “You tell her your relationship is over this instance and send her away, or find yourself without a job starting tomorrow!”
Sho took a deep breath, “Fine. I don’t need to stay with you to earn a living. I’ve no intention of breaking up with her!”
Johnny yelled at Sho in rage, “You’re FIRED!”
Sho sighed and walked the few remaining stairs and finding his date, he walked out of the stunned, silent ballroom.
As conversations resumed and the dancing continued, Ohno made his way to Johnny and held the old man’s arm gently, “You did good Kitagawa-san.”
Johnny sighed softly, wiping away the tears gathering at the corner of his eyes he spoke softly, “He is a wonderful man. Life isn’t fair… is it Ohno-kun?”
Ohno shook his head, “No… it isn’t… Thank you for agreeing to Sho’s plan.”
Johnny nodded his head, “It is the least I could do for that boy.”
*****
Aiba stood in the Sakurai living room. Sho’s mother patted Aiba on his shoulder, “I’m sorry Masaki. Sho specifically asked me to not tell you where he is. He doesn’t want to see you.”
“But… ka-chan… I’m his… his… friend…” Aiba pleaded, tears in his eyes.
“I know what you’re to Sho, Masaki. But this is a request my son has made of me. He has never asked me for anything but this. I’m sorry I can’t help you! I wish things could have been better,” Sakurai’s mother hugged Masaki and wiped his tears.
Bowing to Sho’s mother, Aiba left the house for the nth time in that month. As silent tears rolled down his cheeks, he kicked a pebble along the street, ‘Something is going on here. That day at the party…Johnny reacted too suddenly. Bringing a date to the party isn’t such a great offense to fire someone! And Sho usually doesn’t talk back to his elders like that…it was too…too uncharacteristic of him! Why isn’t anyone telling me what’s going on?’
Sighing softly, he turned the corner and walked down the busy market place to reach the train station when he spotted Ohno in a flower shop. He was about to call to Ohno when he noticed that Ohno was in a black suit and was carrying a large bouquet of flowers, “Eh? Does Ohno have a date or something? That is very rare…”
Ohno bowed to the lady and walked away from the store. He was too busy preparing himself for the visit to notice that he was being followed. As he approached the cemetery, Aiba frowned, “Ohno is visiting a grave? How come Ohno didn’t mention that to anyone yesterday.”
Aiba watched Ohno offer water at a grave and place the flowers and light incense sticks. Offering his prayers, Ohno walked away, missing Aiba standing behind another tall headstone.
As Ohno walked away, Aiba made his way to the grave Ohno had placed the flowers at. He stepped up to the grave and touched the flowers gently. He noticed there were three other bouquets of flowers besides Ohno’s. Out of respect, he offered water at the grave and finally let his reluctant eyes fall on the name carved on the headstone.
Aiba’s breath was stolen from his lunges as all the noise faded away. His fingers traced the kanji as his eyes stared tearlessly at the name.
[The End]
Thoughts?
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Angst
Pairing: Sakuraiba
Notes: This was written on the request of soulezz and is based on a dream she had.
KOS...DO NOT READ!!! I FORBID YOU TO READ... IF YOU STILL DARE TO READ IT... I WON'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR HEARTBREAK!
Ohno had been in the dressing room for the past 30 minutes. He had been very patient, mainly because there was the promise of ramen after Sho was done with work. Finally giving in to his bodily urges, Ohno walked into the small toilet through the door at the back of the room. As soon as Ohno closed the bathroom door, Sho walked into the dressing room.
Closing the dressing room door behind him, Sho dialed a number on his cell phone. Removing the tie, he cast it aside and sank into the plush couch in the dressing room reserved for him during News Zero.
“Ah, moshi moshi, Sakurai desu. Sakurai Sho,” Sho spoke into the phone, “I had a message from you. So, I was wondering if you wanted to talk to me.”
Ohno finished his business in the bathroom and flushing the toilet, he washed his hands. The noise went unheard by Sho as every single wall in the dressing room, including the tiny bathroom walls, were sound proof. Wiping his hands on a towel, Ohno walked out and stood at the door looking at Sho’s head, “Ah…”
Sho continued speaking into the phone, not having heard Ohno walk out of the toilet, “I see. So you’re saying… the ulcers weren’t a small thing?”
“Oh… but… how can I… Doctor… are you saying…” taking a deep breath, Sho spoke again, his voice trembling, “…so you’re saying I have pancreatic cancer?”
After a few seconds of silence, Sho spoke again, “There is no hope to it… is there? If it is as advanced as you say it is, then there isn’t much time left… is there doctor?”
Sighing softly Sho nodded his head, “Thank you for informing me. Please do not inform my family… I don’t want anyone else to know about it and be sad on my behalf. I want to live as happily as I can for however many days I’ve left…”
Hanging up, Sho threw the phone on the couch next to him and placed his hands over his face, “Why… why me?”
Ohno’s eyes were wide as he caught Sho’s side of the conversation. Moving towards Sho slowly, he put a hand over Sho’s shoulder. Startled, Sho jumped up to see Ohno.
Wiping away the tears that clung to his eyes, Sho smiled at Ohno, “What are you doing here Ohno-kun?”
Ohno gulped, fighting tears, “We made plans… to have dinner together, after your news broadcast.”
Sho nodded his head, “Ah, give me a second. Let me change out of the suit and we can go.”
Ohno watched as Sho grabbed his street clothes and walked into the bathroom. He looked at Sho’s cell phone on the couch and then at the closed bathroom door. Taking a deep breath, he opened Sho’s phone and checked the call log. Sho’s latest call had indeed been to his personal physician.
With trembling hands, he put the phone down and sat on the couch. By the time Sho walked out, Ohno was crying silently, “Ohno?”
Ohno sniffled and hugged Sho tightly, “I… I overheard your conversation…”
Sho’s red eyes looked down at the man clinging to him, “Ohno-kun, please… don’t tell the others… especially not Aiba. He’d be heartbroken…”
Ohno looked up at Sho’s face, “But… you can’t mean to keep it from the others… they need to know!”
Sho shook his head, “No, I don’t want to see them sad and depressed. I want to remember Arashi’s happy smiling faces!”
Ohno just looked at him silently. Sho grabbed Ohno’s shoulders and squeezed him gently, “Promise me Ohno-kun. Promise me that this will stay just between us!”
Ohno held out his pinky, “It will not be easy…”
Sho smiled and hugged his long time friend, “Thank you Ohno!”
*****
Sho pushed his half finished meal away and patted his stomach. Jun, who watched him play with his food, commented slowly, “You aren’t a three year old to be pushing your peas away Sakurai-kun.”
Sho smiled at Jun, “Ah, I’m not really hungry.”
Aiba frowned slightly, “But Sho-chan, you have barely touched your food. The rice is almost full in the bowl; the beef is still hot and smells delicious!”
Sho laughed at Aiba’s comment and scooping up a strip of his steak, he held out the meat to Aiba. Aiba smiled and opening up, he took the steak into his mouth quickly, “Umai!”
Sho smiled and kissing Aiba, he stood up, “I need to use the men’s room, so excuse me for a second.”
“Ah, Sho-kun… some of us are still eating! You don’t have to announce it to the world that you need to go to the bathroom!” Nino complained.
As Sho disappeared around the corner, the three younger members of Arashi exchanged looks. Jun finally spoke up, “Don’t you think Sho has lost weight recently?”
Aiba nodded with a pout on his lips, “Yeah. Usually in winter, Sho-chan puffs up, but he has been looking very thin for the past few weeks. He must be under a lot of stress lately!”
Nino frowned slowly and poked at Ohno, who was too busy gulping down his ramen to pay attention to the conversation. When Ohno looked up confused, thankful that no one had thought Ohno would know the real reason, Nino sighed softly, “Oh-chan, go to the bathroom and check on Sho. Let us know if he is throwing up his food.”
Ohno obediently stood and went to the bathroom. Jun turned his eyes to Nino, “You think he might have bulimia?”
Nino shrugged, “Aiba told me he hasn’t been finishing his meals properly and has no appetite either. It’s always better to keep an eye on him than let him suffer alone… right?”
Ohno walked into the bathroom to find Sho leaning against the sink, clutching his stomach. He immediately rushed to Sho’s side and rubbed his back, “Sho-kun, are you ok? Should I call your doctor?”
Sho shook his head, “No… it’s just a minor abdominal pain. I’ve already taken the pain pills, so it should go away soon. There is no reason to disturb the doctor’s evening.”
Ohno just stood beside Sho, helplessly patting his shoulder.
*****
All JE boys were gathered in the ballroom for the annual JE Christmas party. To everyone’s shock, Sho had showed up at the party with his News Zero co-caster. Not even the senior Johnnys ever dared to bring a rumored girlfriend to the party. Whispers followed everywhere Sho walked that night.
When Sho finally left his date to mingle with the other ladies, Ohno came to Sho’s side, “Are you sure this will work?”
Sho shrugged his shoulders, “I hope it will. There is no other way I can think of and I don’t have much time left.”
Ohno nodded his head in understanding and walked away to find Nino. Sho sighed softly and walked up the stairs leading to the dance floor and balconies. Sho smiled as he watched the snow fall to the ground. He took in the sight of couples walking hand in hand on the streets below. The trees were lit up brightly and the shops played Christmas jingles.
Sho’s ears perked up as he heard someone walk into the balcony behind him. He turned around and sighed softly as he watched Aiba stand at the balcony door. Closing his eyes, he inhaled the cold air into his lungs and walked back indoors, brushing his shoulders against Aiba’s.
Aiba caught Sho’s arm as Sho passed him and turned him around roughly, “Sho-chan? Why are you doing this?”
Gulping painfully, Sho opened his eyes and gave Aiba the coldest stare he could muster, “What do you mean? Isn’t it you who started it all first. You were the one who looked like you were tired of our relationship!”
Aiba shook his head in denial, “When did I ever say that? I’m not tired of our relationship! Why would I be? You’re the love of my life!”
Sho laughed at Aiba’s comment and shook off Aiba’s grip from his arm, “Oh really? Then why do you keep flirting with Jun so outrageously?”
Aiba’s eyes went wide, “What? When did I do that?”
“What about that Shukudai-kun episode? You could have refused to play Jun’s partner for that near-kiss scene. And then there was time we were shooting for the PV. Jun was practically sitting in your lap and hanging onto you almost every single moment. Or how about during the concerts, you publicly offered to take a shower with Jun…” Sho lashed out at Aiba, making Aiba flinch.
Aiba shook his head again, “But… those were… I mean… you can’t be… serious!”
Sho turned away from Aiba and took a couple of steps before doubling over. Aiba rushed to Sho’s side, “Sho-chan!”
Sho cringed at Aiba’s touch and snarled gritting his teeth, “Don’t… touch me… I just tripped over my shoelace. I’m happy with her Aiba… why don’t you just give us your blessings instead of complaining and nagging all the time?”
Aiba flinched again and ran back into the room, tears in his eyes. Sho collapsed on the cold balcony floor, holding onto his stomach tightly as pain blinded him. He groped his pockets and finally finding the pills, he chewed on a couple of them. He rolled onto his back and stayed there for a few minutes as snow fell on his face.
When Sho walked back down the curving grand staircase leading to the ballroom, Johnny was making his rounds, mingling with his employees. Spotting Sho, Johnny walked to the staircase. Standing at the bottom of the staircase, Johnny looked up at Sho who was standing a few of steps above him.
“Sho.”
“Kitagawa-san,” Sho acknowledge.
“I heard a rumor you brought a date.”
“That’s right. I did.”
“Didn’t we already deny that your co-caster wasn’t your girlfriend? Do you realize the press will have a field-day if they knew you brought her to the party? How are we going to handle that circus then?”
Sho shrugged carelessly, “I don’t see the point in hiding our relationship anymore. I’m planning on a long term relationship with her. My parents are also happy with her. So, I don’t see in hiding it anymore!”
Johnny’s nostrils flared in anger, “You’d dare defy me?”
“I was just stating the facts. Sooner or later, you’ll have to tell the public about our relationship anyway.”
“You stop spouting nonsense this second. She isn’t right for you, now or in the future. I forbid you to see her!”
“You are not my father Johnny. You’re just my employer. You cannot dictate my life!”
Johnny’s eyes went wide at that statement, “You tell her your relationship is over this instance and send her away, or find yourself without a job starting tomorrow!”
Sho took a deep breath, “Fine. I don’t need to stay with you to earn a living. I’ve no intention of breaking up with her!”
Johnny yelled at Sho in rage, “You’re FIRED!”
Sho sighed and walked the few remaining stairs and finding his date, he walked out of the stunned, silent ballroom.
As conversations resumed and the dancing continued, Ohno made his way to Johnny and held the old man’s arm gently, “You did good Kitagawa-san.”
Johnny sighed softly, wiping away the tears gathering at the corner of his eyes he spoke softly, “He is a wonderful man. Life isn’t fair… is it Ohno-kun?”
Ohno shook his head, “No… it isn’t… Thank you for agreeing to Sho’s plan.”
Johnny nodded his head, “It is the least I could do for that boy.”
*****
Aiba stood in the Sakurai living room. Sho’s mother patted Aiba on his shoulder, “I’m sorry Masaki. Sho specifically asked me to not tell you where he is. He doesn’t want to see you.”
“But… ka-chan… I’m his… his… friend…” Aiba pleaded, tears in his eyes.
“I know what you’re to Sho, Masaki. But this is a request my son has made of me. He has never asked me for anything but this. I’m sorry I can’t help you! I wish things could have been better,” Sakurai’s mother hugged Masaki and wiped his tears.
Bowing to Sho’s mother, Aiba left the house for the nth time in that month. As silent tears rolled down his cheeks, he kicked a pebble along the street, ‘Something is going on here. That day at the party…Johnny reacted too suddenly. Bringing a date to the party isn’t such a great offense to fire someone! And Sho usually doesn’t talk back to his elders like that…it was too…too uncharacteristic of him! Why isn’t anyone telling me what’s going on?’
Sighing softly, he turned the corner and walked down the busy market place to reach the train station when he spotted Ohno in a flower shop. He was about to call to Ohno when he noticed that Ohno was in a black suit and was carrying a large bouquet of flowers, “Eh? Does Ohno have a date or something? That is very rare…”
Ohno bowed to the lady and walked away from the store. He was too busy preparing himself for the visit to notice that he was being followed. As he approached the cemetery, Aiba frowned, “Ohno is visiting a grave? How come Ohno didn’t mention that to anyone yesterday.”
Aiba watched Ohno offer water at a grave and place the flowers and light incense sticks. Offering his prayers, Ohno walked away, missing Aiba standing behind another tall headstone.
As Ohno walked away, Aiba made his way to the grave Ohno had placed the flowers at. He stepped up to the grave and touched the flowers gently. He noticed there were three other bouquets of flowers besides Ohno’s. Out of respect, he offered water at the grave and finally let his reluctant eyes fall on the name carved on the headstone.
Aiba’s breath was stolen from his lunges as all the noise faded away. His fingers traced the kanji as his eyes stared tearlessly at the name.
[The End]
Thoughts?