[Sakumoto Fic]: Thunderstorms and Tempest Cloud 9.2: A Break In The Clouds
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[ Prologue] | [ Chapter 1] | [ Chapter 2.1] | [ Chapter 2.2] | [ Chapter 3] | [ Chapter 4.1] | [ Chapter 4.2] | [ Chapter 5.1] | [ Chapter 5.2] | [ Chapter 6.1] | [ Chapter 6.2] | [ Chapter 6.3] | [ Chapter 7.1] | [ Chapter 7.2] | [ Chapter 8]
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Cloud 9.1 here.
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As everyone cheerfully settled down to dinner, Jun’s eyes couldn’t help but linger over the flowers that had so enraptured everyone else. What he had in front of him were not the purple and white sunflower-like flower of the passion vine that he had expected. White petals conjoined into a single bloom with soft, pointed tips helped pass off the impression of a flower akin to the spider lily, yet it held its own mystique that Jun could not quite put his finger on. The question of why Sho changed his choice of flower to represent Jun was one that would surely remain. Afterall, how was he to ask Sho, a person he’d upset for personal reasons, about why he decided Jun was not longer considered someone “always ready to sacrifice himself for the greater good”? Irony never rang so true.
“Thornapple flower right?” It was Nino’s voice that rang out unexpectedly, cutting into Jun’s thoughts. He was seated beside Ohno and diagonally from Jun, giving a nod in the direction of the floral arrangement in front of Jun. “Jun-kun’s arrangement. I remembered them as one of the more unique varieties that we had been considering for use on the Yamada Tarou set, for Sho’s ikebana scenes.” He turned enquiring eyes in Sho’s direction. “What’s its meaning again?”
Hastily clearing his throat, Sho needed a few moments before he could reply. “Jun-kun’s always been able to show us how well he masquerades as different personas… in variety shows, dramas, as host… His… covers are always impeccable and completely… believable, whether as a spoiled little rich boy or a downtrodden migrant character,” his words slow and measured as he struggled for the appropriate words.
Jun felt himself grow warm under the collar as he remembered just how ‘believable’ he had been when trying to flee Sho’s abode a little while back. Jun threw a brief, confused glance at Sho. If the man was angry at him, there were few obvious signs to point to it. Other than avoiding his gaze, that is.
“Wow…” Aiba’s admiration was only too evident in his voice. “You still know us so well, even though you-”
The subtle clearing of Ohno’s throat served as good warning to Masaki not to stray into sensitive topics.
“Oh-chan,” Sho spoke up when Aiba clammed up immediately, his gaze dropping in shame. “It-it’s okay. I... I’m getting better with all the enforced rest.” As the tense atmosphere refused to dissipate, Sho dropped a comforting hand to Masaki’s shoulder in a bid to get the younger man to relax. “In fact, Sho’s tone brightened up with an almost forced enthusiasm, “Jun suggested a brilliant idea regarding that.”
Jun couldn’t help the ominous feeling running through him at Sho’s words.
“Really?” Nino had held his tongue after asking about the significance of the thornapple flower, but now his calculating gaze drifted over to Jun, only adding to the queasy feeling manifesting itself in Jun’s stomach. “So what exactly did Jun suggest?” Nino’s shrewd stare passing between Sho and Jun.
“That I, that we all could use a break.” Sho finally looked Jun’s way, though his expression was impossible to read.
“Hawaii! Hawaii!” Masaki’s sadness was a distant memory as he latched onto the track of the discussion. “We’ve always said we wanted to go back there, the five of us. Right, right?”
“Do you honestly think all five of us can go just like that?” Nino probably hadn’t meant to take the wind out of Masaki’s happiness, but the fact remained that the five of them travelling together for an extended period of time would have been a practical impossibility. “Though… some of our schedules might actually line up quite nicely.”
“Like Sho and Jun?” Masaki’s reply had both heads snapping to him so sharply that the animal-lover retracted a little from both, bemused fear in his eyes. “Sho’s already on leave, and Jun-kun’s due for his break in two weeks’ time after his drama finishes shooting right?”
Jun had the distinct discomfort of feeling Nino cast his eyes towards the two members in question, but thankfully, his next words had hit upon a new target.
“Baka.” Nino’s tone was all but scolding as he cuddled up to Ohno’s side, an action that caused an odd tightening along Sho’s jawline. “I’m thinking Riida and me once I’m done with my assignments in the next month or so.”
“But-” It was Sho’s voice that was now filled with confusion.
“But what Sho?” Nino’s voice was filled with velvety softness, and Jun could not quash the notion that Nino had something up his sleeve.
“But… I thought I was supposed to be the one who was supposed to be taking the vacation?” The man then seemed to realize his faux pas, not that Jun would ever have believed in Sho’s egocentricity. “Or Jun… and Ohno.”
“Jun and Satoshi?” Masaki sounded truly baffled. “But why?”
“Riida’s been running around non-stop ever since my accident… and like you mentioned, Jun’s just coming off drama filming. So… so that makes sense right?”
“And of course you too, since you’re on break,” Nino added smoothly. “You need the vacation the most right? But…” His voice taking on a crestfallen quality that Jun could tell was obviously faked, “I won’t be free so soon. Of course, you three can go ahead first, before I join you when I’m done. Unless, it’s weird for the three of you together?” Not giving a chance for any other retorts, he turned to face Ohno who had been idly munching away on the food in front of him as the conversation progressed. “Riida, you’re okay with it right?”
“Uh. Sure. But I’m not planning it.” Ohno’s words were barely audible as he happily chewed away on the fare laid out for him.
“Just leave that to Jun.” The blinding grin their gamer flashed Jun reminded him of how Nino looked whenever he’d cleared another challenging level of his game. “We know how he just LOVES planning.”
“I… guess. Uh… no problem,” Jun intoned, unsure how their dinner party had suddenly turned into a minefield, full of potholes and landmines that seemed ready to blow up in their faces at a misstep.
What WAS Nino up to?!
And what exactly was Sho angry about? Jun had initially thought him brushing off Sho the other day had been the main contributing factor, but he’d done nothing thus far this night to antagonize Sho as far as he could see. Yet, Sho’s face had mottled into a worrisome shade of reddish-magenta, and he seemed ready to burst with whatever it was he had bottled up inside of him.
“Sho-kun.” It was Masaki who had reached a hand towards Sho’s tightly-clenched fist, only to have the older man withdraw his hands into his lap, his thinly pursed lips breaking into a smile that could not seem to decide if it wanted to stay or go.
Nino seemed unperturbed by Sho’s shift in emotions as he continued to prattle on about how Jun was the obvious choice to plan the vacation for three, what with his meticulousness in seeing to details during their concerts. How a holiday planned by their youngest would be the perfect getaway. How Ohno deserved the time to devote to his fishing whims, what with his display of “true leadership” in recent months. And all Jun could think of were the questions that swam around dizzyingly in his mind as he watched Sho and Nino, desperately trying to get his own grasp of the situation.
Whatever happened to the ‘lasting friendship’ between these two? Jun could tell that Nino was trying purposely to goad Sho, but could not work out Nino’s angle. Sho may have lost his memories, but Nino hadn’t. WHAT was the man up to, and more importantly, WHY was he behaving the way he was?
Nino’s and Masaki’s incessant nattering over the highly-anticipated though as yet unconfirmed threesome vacation had become white noise as Jun quietly contemplated the meal in front of him, trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Sho, seated at the head of the table - and unfortunately, between Nino and Aiba - abruptly and noisily pushed back his chair, mumbling something about getting some water from the kitchen.
Jun leaned forward with an angry whisper, uncaring that Masaki and Ohno were within earshot. “Kaz! What game are you playing at? Why are you purposely riling Sho?”
“What?” The look on his face was innocuous enough, but their years together had taught Jun better. Nino was lying and he wanted, no needed, to know what he was up to.
“Game?” Masaki sounded astonished. “But we aren’t playing Jun-kun. Vacation! That’s what we’re talking about, even though I’m crushed I won’t be able to join you. Still, you’ll enjoy yourselves on my behalf, yes?”
Masaki’s nobility was almost commendable, but Jun refused to be sidetracked by Nino’s nonchalance. He opened his mouth to say something to Aiba, but Sho’s return from the kitchen had Jun shutting his trap in a hurry.
Expression increasingly sullen, Sho said nothing as Nino resumed his passionate chatter about the impending vacation. It was plain to see that his patience was progressively whittling down, and Jun began to get restless the more Nino would not stop going on about Hawaii, Jun, Jun and Ohno…
“So what do you think, Sho?” Nino had finally turned to face Sho.
Swallowing past the bite of dessert that he had taken, Sho seemed caught offguard to have been spoken to, but not so much so as to forget the resentment that he had been nursing during the meal.
“Yeah Sho. What do you want to do on the vacation? I’ll keep it in mind while planning.” Jun was thankful for the opportunity to interrupt and sooth ruffled feathers, seeing that he was supposed to plan it and all.
“And since when do YOU plan vacations?” The venom that oozed in Sho’s voice instantaneously arrested all movement at the table.
“What?” Jun could not hide the disbelief in his voice. “You know what, I know I shouldn’t have behaved the way I did, but what IS your problem?!”
“Feeling like a third wheel?”
“Nino. You’re not helping matters!” Jun’s glare at the slightly older man didn’t seem to have the effect Jun desired.
“Third wh- To who- I… do. NOT.”
“Ve~ry convincing, Sho.” The rolling of Nino’s eyes could not be more emphatic.
“I- Jun doesn’t like to pl- Jun’s not the only one who can plan a vacation, okay?” Words were definitely proving a challenge for the usually eloquent man, but that did little to ease Jun’s annoyance at having been undeservedly belittled.
“So… you’re angry that Nino didn’t ask you to plan the vacation?” Masaki’s voice was small, his eyebrows raised in gentle question.
“No. Yes. No, I mean-” Sho cut himself off, huffing out on a deep breath as his eyes roved over the rest of the dinner party. His normally sloping shoulders slumped a little lower as he deflated right before Jun’s eyes.
Nino watched Sho thoughtfully for a moment, before moving to stand behind Sho. Putting both hands on the other man’s shoulders, he leaned down to say loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Why won’t you just admit that your memories have come back?”
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Jun may not have been able to tell the stiffening of the man’s shoulders, but there was no mistaking the sharp intake of breath, the telltale twitch of his glabella as his eyebrows drew closer in a glower.
The stunned silence that had overtaken the group was almost tangible to touch. Masaki looked from one member to the other, his eyes reflecting his attempt to understand what Nino was talking about. Ohno had only grown more quiet - if that was even possible - and there was a pondering behind the way he watched Nino and Sho.
Even with his jaw tightly clenched, Jun could make out Sho grinding his teeth, a sure sign of his anxiety. Sho’s body shook as he pulled deep breaths in, as if fighting the urge to flick Nino off the way one would an irritating gnat. Looking away from Nino’s almost-dissecting examination, he made to stand only to be pulled back firmly into the seat by the hands still clamped on his shoulders.
Nino refused to be ignored and leaned in closer to Sho’s ear. “As a friend,” an intentional drawl upon the word, “I just wish you’ll come clean with us.”
“Fine!” The fire in Sho’s voice spoke volumes of his underlying emotions as he took to his feet, no longer willing to be held down by Nino. “I remember everything alright? Everything!”
“But why didn’t you tell us that at the very start?” Jun tried not to let the hurt seep into his voice, but it was difficult when he knew what truths he himself had held back from Sho. Understood now how it felt when the shoe was on the other foot.
“Like how you were so forthcoming with me that day?” About the dream, about our friendship, about the sudden departure; the words Sho left unsaid made Jun cringe. With his recollections intact, the gaps that Jun had chosen to leave unexplained or unsaid had not sit well with Sho, even misconstrued it seemed. And now, those misinterpretations were coming back to bite Jun.
“Even if you’re angry with my actions, there’s no need to lose your head with everyone right?” Jun’s own temper was also beginning a slow burn, and the dark look he threw Sho’s way signalled his refusal to step down from Sho’s unreasonable bullying.
“That may have been so if things didn’t change so much! And I thought our years together only cemented our ties, but I can’t believe you, all of you!” By now, Sho had turned an accusing eye towards each of the other members in turn.
“And by that you mean?” The look Nino trained on the recently-recovered man would have almost been disinterested, sounding for all the world like he was just asking for when the next train would arrive on the platform. A tone that unfortunately only seemed to irate Sho even more.
“You! How could you? I’d thought you were a good friend not only to me, but to the others as well. Ohmiya fanservice, I get that. I just never thought things would really progress into reality where you’d be discussing vacation plans together. You… you and Ohno…” Turning then to dismally regard Ohno and Aiba in turn without pause, “Leader. I thought you were always loyal, the type that one could count on to be a steady rock. Now, I really don’t know what to think. And Masaki. Before today, I would never have thought that you’d be the type to support their relationship, not if it causes pain to one of our own. I don’t… understand. I don’t get how this all happened in the short time of my accident and now.”
By now, the gamut of emotions running across Sho’s face no longer consisted of only anger, but sadness and disappointment as well. Alas, when Jun looked to the other members, they seemed to have given way not to their own maddened emotions, but something else.
“Wait, wait, wait. Wait a minute.” This was Masaki, his hands beginning to flail a little as his wide eyes took in Sho’s anguish. “You think… Nino and Ohno getting together is wrong.” At Sho’s stuttered nods, “Why? But why, why? I don’t understand.”
Jun’ could feel his heart pounding even as he faltered over his words. “Cos he thinks Ohno’s with me. He thought Satoshi betrayed my feelings.” Jun didn’t know if he wanted to laugh or cry as the light dawned on him, unravelling the confusion of Sho’s words. He turned to Sho with an indignant snort, even as he felt the prickle of heat in the back of his throat. “And that’s why you were in such a rage?”
The sight of Jun leaning on Ohno for support when Sho first opened his eyes in the hospital.
The belief that Ohno was there for Jun; for all the members really, but that it was something a little more special in Jun’s case.
The yellow gorse that Sho had meant as Ohno to always be there when Jun needed him.
“You thought Satoshi’s the someone I want to rely on?” Jun would have laughed out loud if the aggravation didn’t feel so fresh, so raw.
The deep, rumbling laugh from Ohno who had remained calmly seated the whole time dragged everyone’s attention to him.
“Sho-kun’s so strange. I do love Jun.” Sho’s posture became rigidly straight even as Jun’s heart sank with Ohno’s words. “I love ALL you guys, but Nino-chan’s the one I’m in love with.” Ohno’s words never wavered as he moved closer to Nino.
Pulling gently on Nino’s hands that were still wrapped around the chair, he also reached out for Masaki’s shoulder, steering both in the direction of the main entrance. “Come on boys. I found a new drinking hole in Ginza that you’ll definitely love. And I even promise not to run off without paying this time.”
Once the front door had clicked shut, Jun could still hear Masaki’s muffled misgivings of whether it was a good idea to leave, and Nino’s blatant protests at wanting to stay behind to eavesdrop, but these gradually faded away until all that remained were the echoes of his staccatoed heartbeat.
He regarded the shell-shocked man standing before him. “So I think we need to talk.”
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Cloud 10.1 here.
A/N: hope the ending to the part wasn’t too unexpected? There are clues along the way in this part (one of which was discovered by Nino) but Sho really did lose his memories for awhile. Any guesses for the recall trigger? One more part to go. Otherwise, this first-ever chaptered Arashi fic attempt is drawing to a close. Again, the flower references are with aid from http://www.paynes.com/expert-advice/47-plant-lore/153-flower-secret-messages.html
For those of you interested to see how the flowers and other stuff I had in mind look like, I'm posting the pics I found off Google images for reference (sorry for the awkward sizes; can't seem to resize them):
Sho’s Eglantine Rose:
Jun’s two flowers: passion vine
and thornapple
Masaki's magnolia:
Ohno's yellow gorse:
Nino's pear blossom:
Nomad's knife and chopstick set:
Magnolia motifed candle stick (the one I described in the fic is a variation on this):
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[ Prologue] | [ Chapter 1] | [ Chapter 2.1] | [ Chapter 2.2] | [ Chapter 3] | [ Chapter 4.1] | [ Chapter 4.2] | [ Chapter 5.1] | [ Chapter 5.2] | [ Chapter 6.1] | [ Chapter 6.2] | [ Chapter 6.3] | [ Chapter 7.1] | [ Chapter 7.2] | [ Chapter 8]
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Cloud 9.1 here.
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As everyone cheerfully settled down to dinner, Jun’s eyes couldn’t help but linger over the flowers that had so enraptured everyone else. What he had in front of him were not the purple and white sunflower-like flower of the passion vine that he had expected. White petals conjoined into a single bloom with soft, pointed tips helped pass off the impression of a flower akin to the spider lily, yet it held its own mystique that Jun could not quite put his finger on. The question of why Sho changed his choice of flower to represent Jun was one that would surely remain. Afterall, how was he to ask Sho, a person he’d upset for personal reasons, about why he decided Jun was not longer considered someone “always ready to sacrifice himself for the greater good”? Irony never rang so true.
“Thornapple flower right?” It was Nino’s voice that rang out unexpectedly, cutting into Jun’s thoughts. He was seated beside Ohno and diagonally from Jun, giving a nod in the direction of the floral arrangement in front of Jun. “Jun-kun’s arrangement. I remembered them as one of the more unique varieties that we had been considering for use on the Yamada Tarou set, for Sho’s ikebana scenes.” He turned enquiring eyes in Sho’s direction. “What’s its meaning again?”
Hastily clearing his throat, Sho needed a few moments before he could reply. “Jun-kun’s always been able to show us how well he masquerades as different personas… in variety shows, dramas, as host… His… covers are always impeccable and completely… believable, whether as a spoiled little rich boy or a downtrodden migrant character,” his words slow and measured as he struggled for the appropriate words.
Jun felt himself grow warm under the collar as he remembered just how ‘believable’ he had been when trying to flee Sho’s abode a little while back. Jun threw a brief, confused glance at Sho. If the man was angry at him, there were few obvious signs to point to it. Other than avoiding his gaze, that is.
“Wow…” Aiba’s admiration was only too evident in his voice. “You still know us so well, even though you-”
The subtle clearing of Ohno’s throat served as good warning to Masaki not to stray into sensitive topics.
“Oh-chan,” Sho spoke up when Aiba clammed up immediately, his gaze dropping in shame. “It-it’s okay. I... I’m getting better with all the enforced rest.” As the tense atmosphere refused to dissipate, Sho dropped a comforting hand to Masaki’s shoulder in a bid to get the younger man to relax. “In fact, Sho’s tone brightened up with an almost forced enthusiasm, “Jun suggested a brilliant idea regarding that.”
Jun couldn’t help the ominous feeling running through him at Sho’s words.
“Really?” Nino had held his tongue after asking about the significance of the thornapple flower, but now his calculating gaze drifted over to Jun, only adding to the queasy feeling manifesting itself in Jun’s stomach. “So what exactly did Jun suggest?” Nino’s shrewd stare passing between Sho and Jun.
“That I, that we all could use a break.” Sho finally looked Jun’s way, though his expression was impossible to read.
“Hawaii! Hawaii!” Masaki’s sadness was a distant memory as he latched onto the track of the discussion. “We’ve always said we wanted to go back there, the five of us. Right, right?”
“Do you honestly think all five of us can go just like that?” Nino probably hadn’t meant to take the wind out of Masaki’s happiness, but the fact remained that the five of them travelling together for an extended period of time would have been a practical impossibility. “Though… some of our schedules might actually line up quite nicely.”
“Like Sho and Jun?” Masaki’s reply had both heads snapping to him so sharply that the animal-lover retracted a little from both, bemused fear in his eyes. “Sho’s already on leave, and Jun-kun’s due for his break in two weeks’ time after his drama finishes shooting right?”
Jun had the distinct discomfort of feeling Nino cast his eyes towards the two members in question, but thankfully, his next words had hit upon a new target.
“Baka.” Nino’s tone was all but scolding as he cuddled up to Ohno’s side, an action that caused an odd tightening along Sho’s jawline. “I’m thinking Riida and me once I’m done with my assignments in the next month or so.”
“But-” It was Sho’s voice that was now filled with confusion.
“But what Sho?” Nino’s voice was filled with velvety softness, and Jun could not quash the notion that Nino had something up his sleeve.
“But… I thought I was supposed to be the one who was supposed to be taking the vacation?” The man then seemed to realize his faux pas, not that Jun would ever have believed in Sho’s egocentricity. “Or Jun… and Ohno.”
“Jun and Satoshi?” Masaki sounded truly baffled. “But why?”
“Riida’s been running around non-stop ever since my accident… and like you mentioned, Jun’s just coming off drama filming. So… so that makes sense right?”
“And of course you too, since you’re on break,” Nino added smoothly. “You need the vacation the most right? But…” His voice taking on a crestfallen quality that Jun could tell was obviously faked, “I won’t be free so soon. Of course, you three can go ahead first, before I join you when I’m done. Unless, it’s weird for the three of you together?” Not giving a chance for any other retorts, he turned to face Ohno who had been idly munching away on the food in front of him as the conversation progressed. “Riida, you’re okay with it right?”
“Uh. Sure. But I’m not planning it.” Ohno’s words were barely audible as he happily chewed away on the fare laid out for him.
“Just leave that to Jun.” The blinding grin their gamer flashed Jun reminded him of how Nino looked whenever he’d cleared another challenging level of his game. “We know how he just LOVES planning.”
“I… guess. Uh… no problem,” Jun intoned, unsure how their dinner party had suddenly turned into a minefield, full of potholes and landmines that seemed ready to blow up in their faces at a misstep.
What WAS Nino up to?!
And what exactly was Sho angry about? Jun had initially thought him brushing off Sho the other day had been the main contributing factor, but he’d done nothing thus far this night to antagonize Sho as far as he could see. Yet, Sho’s face had mottled into a worrisome shade of reddish-magenta, and he seemed ready to burst with whatever it was he had bottled up inside of him.
“Sho-kun.” It was Masaki who had reached a hand towards Sho’s tightly-clenched fist, only to have the older man withdraw his hands into his lap, his thinly pursed lips breaking into a smile that could not seem to decide if it wanted to stay or go.
Nino seemed unperturbed by Sho’s shift in emotions as he continued to prattle on about how Jun was the obvious choice to plan the vacation for three, what with his meticulousness in seeing to details during their concerts. How a holiday planned by their youngest would be the perfect getaway. How Ohno deserved the time to devote to his fishing whims, what with his display of “true leadership” in recent months. And all Jun could think of were the questions that swam around dizzyingly in his mind as he watched Sho and Nino, desperately trying to get his own grasp of the situation.
Whatever happened to the ‘lasting friendship’ between these two? Jun could tell that Nino was trying purposely to goad Sho, but could not work out Nino’s angle. Sho may have lost his memories, but Nino hadn’t. WHAT was the man up to, and more importantly, WHY was he behaving the way he was?
Nino’s and Masaki’s incessant nattering over the highly-anticipated though as yet unconfirmed threesome vacation had become white noise as Jun quietly contemplated the meal in front of him, trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Sho, seated at the head of the table - and unfortunately, between Nino and Aiba - abruptly and noisily pushed back his chair, mumbling something about getting some water from the kitchen.
Jun leaned forward with an angry whisper, uncaring that Masaki and Ohno were within earshot. “Kaz! What game are you playing at? Why are you purposely riling Sho?”
“What?” The look on his face was innocuous enough, but their years together had taught Jun better. Nino was lying and he wanted, no needed, to know what he was up to.
“Game?” Masaki sounded astonished. “But we aren’t playing Jun-kun. Vacation! That’s what we’re talking about, even though I’m crushed I won’t be able to join you. Still, you’ll enjoy yourselves on my behalf, yes?”
Masaki’s nobility was almost commendable, but Jun refused to be sidetracked by Nino’s nonchalance. He opened his mouth to say something to Aiba, but Sho’s return from the kitchen had Jun shutting his trap in a hurry.
Expression increasingly sullen, Sho said nothing as Nino resumed his passionate chatter about the impending vacation. It was plain to see that his patience was progressively whittling down, and Jun began to get restless the more Nino would not stop going on about Hawaii, Jun, Jun and Ohno…
“So what do you think, Sho?” Nino had finally turned to face Sho.
Swallowing past the bite of dessert that he had taken, Sho seemed caught offguard to have been spoken to, but not so much so as to forget the resentment that he had been nursing during the meal.
“Yeah Sho. What do you want to do on the vacation? I’ll keep it in mind while planning.” Jun was thankful for the opportunity to interrupt and sooth ruffled feathers, seeing that he was supposed to plan it and all.
“And since when do YOU plan vacations?” The venom that oozed in Sho’s voice instantaneously arrested all movement at the table.
“What?” Jun could not hide the disbelief in his voice. “You know what, I know I shouldn’t have behaved the way I did, but what IS your problem?!”
“Feeling like a third wheel?”
“Nino. You’re not helping matters!” Jun’s glare at the slightly older man didn’t seem to have the effect Jun desired.
“Third wh- To who- I… do. NOT.”
“Ve~ry convincing, Sho.” The rolling of Nino’s eyes could not be more emphatic.
“I- Jun doesn’t like to pl- Jun’s not the only one who can plan a vacation, okay?” Words were definitely proving a challenge for the usually eloquent man, but that did little to ease Jun’s annoyance at having been undeservedly belittled.
“So… you’re angry that Nino didn’t ask you to plan the vacation?” Masaki’s voice was small, his eyebrows raised in gentle question.
“No. Yes. No, I mean-” Sho cut himself off, huffing out on a deep breath as his eyes roved over the rest of the dinner party. His normally sloping shoulders slumped a little lower as he deflated right before Jun’s eyes.
Nino watched Sho thoughtfully for a moment, before moving to stand behind Sho. Putting both hands on the other man’s shoulders, he leaned down to say loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Why won’t you just admit that your memories have come back?”
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Jun may not have been able to tell the stiffening of the man’s shoulders, but there was no mistaking the sharp intake of breath, the telltale twitch of his glabella as his eyebrows drew closer in a glower.
The stunned silence that had overtaken the group was almost tangible to touch. Masaki looked from one member to the other, his eyes reflecting his attempt to understand what Nino was talking about. Ohno had only grown more quiet - if that was even possible - and there was a pondering behind the way he watched Nino and Sho.
Even with his jaw tightly clenched, Jun could make out Sho grinding his teeth, a sure sign of his anxiety. Sho’s body shook as he pulled deep breaths in, as if fighting the urge to flick Nino off the way one would an irritating gnat. Looking away from Nino’s almost-dissecting examination, he made to stand only to be pulled back firmly into the seat by the hands still clamped on his shoulders.
Nino refused to be ignored and leaned in closer to Sho’s ear. “As a friend,” an intentional drawl upon the word, “I just wish you’ll come clean with us.”
“Fine!” The fire in Sho’s voice spoke volumes of his underlying emotions as he took to his feet, no longer willing to be held down by Nino. “I remember everything alright? Everything!”
“But why didn’t you tell us that at the very start?” Jun tried not to let the hurt seep into his voice, but it was difficult when he knew what truths he himself had held back from Sho. Understood now how it felt when the shoe was on the other foot.
“Like how you were so forthcoming with me that day?” About the dream, about our friendship, about the sudden departure; the words Sho left unsaid made Jun cringe. With his recollections intact, the gaps that Jun had chosen to leave unexplained or unsaid had not sit well with Sho, even misconstrued it seemed. And now, those misinterpretations were coming back to bite Jun.
“Even if you’re angry with my actions, there’s no need to lose your head with everyone right?” Jun’s own temper was also beginning a slow burn, and the dark look he threw Sho’s way signalled his refusal to step down from Sho’s unreasonable bullying.
“That may have been so if things didn’t change so much! And I thought our years together only cemented our ties, but I can’t believe you, all of you!” By now, Sho had turned an accusing eye towards each of the other members in turn.
“And by that you mean?” The look Nino trained on the recently-recovered man would have almost been disinterested, sounding for all the world like he was just asking for when the next train would arrive on the platform. A tone that unfortunately only seemed to irate Sho even more.
“You! How could you? I’d thought you were a good friend not only to me, but to the others as well. Ohmiya fanservice, I get that. I just never thought things would really progress into reality where you’d be discussing vacation plans together. You… you and Ohno…” Turning then to dismally regard Ohno and Aiba in turn without pause, “Leader. I thought you were always loyal, the type that one could count on to be a steady rock. Now, I really don’t know what to think. And Masaki. Before today, I would never have thought that you’d be the type to support their relationship, not if it causes pain to one of our own. I don’t… understand. I don’t get how this all happened in the short time of my accident and now.”
By now, the gamut of emotions running across Sho’s face no longer consisted of only anger, but sadness and disappointment as well. Alas, when Jun looked to the other members, they seemed to have given way not to their own maddened emotions, but something else.
“Wait, wait, wait. Wait a minute.” This was Masaki, his hands beginning to flail a little as his wide eyes took in Sho’s anguish. “You think… Nino and Ohno getting together is wrong.” At Sho’s stuttered nods, “Why? But why, why? I don’t understand.”
Jun’ could feel his heart pounding even as he faltered over his words. “Cos he thinks Ohno’s with me. He thought Satoshi betrayed my feelings.” Jun didn’t know if he wanted to laugh or cry as the light dawned on him, unravelling the confusion of Sho’s words. He turned to Sho with an indignant snort, even as he felt the prickle of heat in the back of his throat. “And that’s why you were in such a rage?”
The sight of Jun leaning on Ohno for support when Sho first opened his eyes in the hospital.
The belief that Ohno was there for Jun; for all the members really, but that it was something a little more special in Jun’s case.
The yellow gorse that Sho had meant as Ohno to always be there when Jun needed him.
“You thought Satoshi’s the someone I want to rely on?” Jun would have laughed out loud if the aggravation didn’t feel so fresh, so raw.
The deep, rumbling laugh from Ohno who had remained calmly seated the whole time dragged everyone’s attention to him.
“Sho-kun’s so strange. I do love Jun.” Sho’s posture became rigidly straight even as Jun’s heart sank with Ohno’s words. “I love ALL you guys, but Nino-chan’s the one I’m in love with.” Ohno’s words never wavered as he moved closer to Nino.
Pulling gently on Nino’s hands that were still wrapped around the chair, he also reached out for Masaki’s shoulder, steering both in the direction of the main entrance. “Come on boys. I found a new drinking hole in Ginza that you’ll definitely love. And I even promise not to run off without paying this time.”
Once the front door had clicked shut, Jun could still hear Masaki’s muffled misgivings of whether it was a good idea to leave, and Nino’s blatant protests at wanting to stay behind to eavesdrop, but these gradually faded away until all that remained were the echoes of his staccatoed heartbeat.
He regarded the shell-shocked man standing before him. “So I think we need to talk.”
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Cloud 10.1 here.
A/N: hope the ending to the part wasn’t too unexpected? There are clues along the way in this part (one of which was discovered by Nino) but Sho really did lose his memories for awhile. Any guesses for the recall trigger? One more part to go. Otherwise, this first-ever chaptered Arashi fic attempt is drawing to a close. Again, the flower references are with aid from http://www.paynes.com/expert-advice/47-plant-lore/153-flower-secret-messages.html
For those of you interested to see how the flowers and other stuff I had in mind look like, I'm posting the pics I found off Google images for reference (sorry for the awkward sizes; can't seem to resize them):
Sho’s Eglantine Rose:
Jun’s two flowers: passion vine
and thornapple
Masaki's magnolia:
Ohno's yellow gorse:
Nino's pear blossom:
Nomad's knife and chopstick set:
Magnolia motifed candle stick (the one I described in the fic is a variation on this):
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