Everybody wants to rule the world, but someone already does (M.A.I.N.)
Title: Everybody wants to rule the world, but someone already does
Pairing: M.A.I.N, Matsumiya and AibaxJunxToma
Rating: PG-13 for language
Authors note:So a random comment from a friend (thanks thoroughlynerdy) prompted this random bit of random.
I will not argue with it.
A story in which Arashi all slowly discover that Matsumoto Jun does, in fact, think the world revolved around him. For good reason. He rules the world.
Told mostly from Ninos POV
Act One:
Ninomiya Kazunari was many things, but most of all he was observant. Being in M.A.I.N. with Matsumoto had given Nino a lot of insight into his personality, and while the young man was driven to succeed, it seemed that he never doubted the fact that he would debut, or that he would become an idol. Sure, being handpicked by Johnny to enter the agency without an audition was a feat, but not something that would give a young man, struggling along with the rest of them that kind of confidence. Something else was going on, Nino was certain. And so he waited, and he watched.
When they finally did debut it was not a moment too soon, since he, Ohno and Sho were all close to quitting at the time. They had other dreams in life that did not include idoldom. it was Matsumoto who talked him into it, convinced him that this was not a waste of time, that they would succeed, that he just needed to give it a chance.
Slowly, the bonds of friendship that had started between Aiba, Matsumoto and himself in M.A.I.N. tightened, branching out to encompass Sakurai and Ohno until Nino knew in his heart that Arashi would be something. Sakurai was the brains, Ohno the deceptive strength, leading without leading, and just being there, himself and Aiba the mood makers. Jun was their creative director. He was the driving force behind them, pushing them to be more than they ever thought that they could be. He pushed them, drove them, and pissed them off so many times. But Nino often felt that this description wasn’t enough, that Jun was more than just that.
Some time after their debut, MatsuJun, no longer Matsumoto, had gone through a phase, a phase where he was angry at the world. Nino was quite certain that it was the entire world. Which in retrospect he found out it really was. All Nino could figure out at the time was that he was frustrated. Frustrated with his idolization of Sakurai, frustrated with the late night filming and crap TV appearances and frustrated with them not getting anywhere close to the ratings and reviews that he knew they were capable of. He was frustrated with life, and his awkward puberty and late teenage years that never seemed to end, the acne and the scarring, frustrated with anything and everything that he could be frustrated with.
The bright eyes smiling youth that was driven by something that Nino had never been able to understand turned into a driven young man that Nino still could not understand, cloaked behind all the sharp edges and even sharper comments that were usually his forte. Aiba and Nino did what they could to keep Jun grounded, to keep him sane, to keep him there with them, but those days more than ever MatsuJun was spending more time in meeting with Johnny and Julie, talking about things that he wouldn’t discuss with anyone in the band, just that he was trying to get them better work, work that would agree with Sakurai's college schedule. Work that would let Ohno pursue his art, that would challenge Nino professionally, that would make Aiba smile. Work that would make them happy again, that would bring the spotlight to them. Never once did he say that they were talking about with that would bring MatsuJun himself anything.
Nino didn’t think that MatsuJun had that much power or influence until right before a drama audition. Before he left, MatsuJun had promised Nino that he would get this job and that Nino would no longer have to question if staying with Arashi was the right choice.
Nino had doubted, but Hana Yori Dango brought Arashi all the things that they had been promised in their youth, all the things that he and MatsuJun and Aiba and Toma had dreamt about in their M.A.I.N. days.
MatsuJun also started hanging out more with Toma, not that Nino was jealous. Just that he wondered where MatsuJun was getting the time to hang out with the younger man.
Their success skyrocketed and still MatsuJun met with Johnny, probably more than anyone in the band knew about, but after the assurance of that promise, Nino had kept a closer eye on MatsuJun.
He noticed that the other groups and kouhai that MatsuJun paid attention to did better than those he did not and had the backing of the agency. He noticed that MatsuJun was allowed to be picky about his roles, try out for what he wanted and accept what he wanted when the rest of them were often pushed to do a drama role that they might not want. They were pushed to try out for anything and everything that might suit them, for the good of the agency and for their own success. What Nino noticed was that their youngest member got anything that he wanted in the agency, and anything else that he set his mind to, though he never came out and demanded anything. he just pursued it and it happened.
His conclusion was that their MatsuJun had a lot more influence than any of them had any right to have.
Watching closer still, lurking in the shadows and playing his gaming systems, no one ever questioned his presence, or what he heard, though sometimes he knew that Jun, now just Jun after all of these years, would watch him with suspicion. Nino wondered just how much power Jun had, until one day, Aiba had mused about their debut, mentioning that he wondered if they really could make a storm around the world.
And Jun had asked, shall we start with Japan?
No one paid it much mind, they still dreamed big, but then Arashi was announced as the next band to get the venue Kokuritsu, a venue that SMAP had done, and Nino had to wonder. When he heard Jun assure Julie after the announcement that they would get it for the next 5 years (and Julie agreed with him), with as much calmness and certainty as he would assure you that his name was Matsumoto Jun, then Nino knew.
Jun was much more than just an idol on Arashi. And he would find out just what exactly he was.
His timing had been impeccable, slipping up beside Jun after one of the concert planning meetings and casually, ever so casually, slipping an arm around his waist.
"Jun, sometimes I wonder if you are trying to take over Johnny's, the way you plan these concerts and influence things around here."
He had felt Jun stiffen in his embrace, and for a moment Nino had been sure that Jun was going to try and play it off as a joke, but Jun shifted, glancing at Nino out of the corner of his eye.
"I don’t want or need to take this over from Julie. And your thinking is far too narrow. I am surprised, I thought you had it figured out the way you watch me."
“Watch you? I’m Just trying to figure out a puzzle.” NIno replied lightly. "The entertainment industry, then?"
Jun shook his head, smirking. "Still too narrow, Kazu. Isolated success means very little." Jun shifted out of Nino's grasp and grabbed his bag from the seat it was sitting on. "After all, we are Arashi." Jun had winked at him and Nino had gaped at him for a moment, before rushing out after him. He was not surprised to see Jun leaning up against his car.
"A storm across the world? You are trying for the world?"
"I am not trying, Kazu. One does not have to try for what is already theirs."
"Bullshit." Nino had spat, but Jun just watched him, his eyes narrowed.
"Then how do you explain it? How do you reconcile what I told you with what you have seen?"
"No one owns the world."
"Own, no. Run, yes." Jun opened his car door and gestured for Nino to get in. "Come on, I will explain. Though you will not believe it, I am sure, until I show you."
Nino had been shocked to learn that Jun had a second apartment, well workspace really, in a very secure building in Akihabara. He had called it Jun’s lair, his own laugh almost bordering on hysterical, and Jun had smacked him in the head, telling him to stop being so fucking over dramatic.
He had been more shocked to find out that Jun did, in fact, more or less run the world.
Nino had told Jun that behind every great world ruler was a shrewd and dedicated financial advisor (not woman as the proverb would imply), and general advisor, and friend, a role that he was more than suited for. That night was also the first night that Nino acted upon the feelings and flirtations that had been building between them for years. He helped Jun make their tenth year the best one possible, and was quite awed at the schedule and hours that the man kept, and marveled at his ability to still be an idol with all that was going on.
Act Two:
Their tenth year was also the year that he discovered that he was not the only one that Jun’s affections lay with, and that had almost cost him his relationship with Jun. Being openly affectionate with Jun was still something that came hard to Nino, and for all intents and purposes Jun was treating him the exact same way as he always did. He still saw Toma at least once a week for dinner, he and Aiba had cooking nights, something that had been going on for almost as long as Jun had his own place. He and Jun had a weekly thing as well, sometimes it was video games at Nino’s, sometimes it was food and movies at Jun’s. Jun tried to take him out for dinner every once in awhile, but Nino would much prefer to stay home and just chill, then go out and spend money.
When Jun had time he would s`ee his other friends, but Aiba, Toma and Nino were the ones that Jun spent most of his free time with.
In retrospect, he should have known that Jun’s affections were as diverse as the man himself, but hindsight is always clearer than it is in the moment.
Nino had come to Jun’s place late one night after filming. He was unannounced, but he had hoped to surprise Jun. There were extra shoes in the doorway, but that often happened. What he did not expect was to see Jun in the middle of the bed with Toma and Aiba curled up on either side of him. All of them, Nino was certain, were naked. He didn’t need to see in the dark, he could smell it in the air.
He didn’t want or need explanations. He had thought that he and Jun had an agreement. Apparently when you were ruler of the world you didn’t do special. You just did people. Nino turned, moving as silently back towards the door as he had coming in, and he paused only when he heard Jun hissing at him, his voice worried.
“Nino, where are you going?” Jun asked, and Nino spun, glaring at him.
“Where am I going?” Nino spat. “I am going somewhere that I am wanted. I didn’t realize that you had me with Toma and Aiba on the side. Must be nice to rule the world.” Nino knew that he was being slightly harsh, but he was sure that he and Jun had something, and to find out that they did not was more than he was willing to deal with this late at night.
“Nino, stop it.” Jun’s voice was low, firm, and Nino didn’t know when Jun had gotten between him and the door, but he was there now, pants pulled low over his hips, his hair mussed, features obscured in the darkness.
“Stop what?” Nino snapped back and Jun sighed.
“What the hell is your problem?”
“My problem?” Nino stared at Jun. “My problem is finding you in bed with two other people.” Nino could see the incredulousness on Jun’s face and he could hear movement behind him.
“Jun, why are you fighting with Kazu? He should be in bed with us.” Aiba’s voice was sleepy, and Nino turned, seeing that Aiba had not bothered to get dressed, and that his eyes weren’t really open as he sagged against the door frame in exhaustion. From behind Aiba he could see that Toma was trying to scramble out of bed while preserving his modesty, and attempting to move to the door where Aiba was.
“Masaki, read the atmosphere. You aren’t helping.” Jun hissed and Nino could hear Toma urging Aiba to come back to bed. He was tired from filming, after all, and Jun and Nino needed to work some things out.
Toma was right about that.
“Was I not enough for you? Or were they not? DId they even know that you had me on the side?” Nino snarled and Jun stalked up to him, getting up in his face but not touching him, even though the other radiated anger.
“You were never a thing on the side, and of course they knew. I thought that you knew as well. I have not been at all secretive about the fact that Masaki and Toma are important to me. As are you.” NIno could feel the heat of Jun’s breath on his face, but he was not going to back down.
“I thought you loved me. I thought we had something.” Nino knew that he did not keep the pain from his voice and he was pleased to see Jun flinch. “I didn’t realize that you were keeping Toma around for his cock sucking abilities.
“That is one of the reason that he is around, but not the main reason.” Jun snapped back, stepping farther forward then back again, pacing across the room. “I do love you, Kazu, but not at the expense of them.”
Nino felt as if he had just been punched. The casual way that Jun admitted that he loved him was something he had never expected to hear. All Nino could bring himself to say was that they had something. He could say that Jun loved him, but he could not bring himself to say the same.
“I love you, but I will not give them up.” Jun sighed, stepping back. “I have been with Toma for almost as long as we have been debuted. He has been with me through all of this, and was my only support for the longest time. After Aiba’s lung collapse I could not even imagine a life without him, and so I confessed. You never open to the idea of this kind of relationship, or a relationship at all. When you approached me I thought that you were OK with it. I assumed that Aiba and you had talked about it since he talked to you about everything. I just thought you were not ready to include Toma and Aiba.”
“I had no clue about all of this.” Nino hissed and Jun stepped back.
“Obviously. I guess you only care about making sure that you are fucking the person in charge.” Jun had snapped back and Nino glared at him, frowning.
“That was uncalled for, Jun.”
“As was your accusation that I care more for Toma’s sexual prowess that I do for the man himself.”
Nino sighed. “I am not capable of dealing with this tonight.”
“You just don’t want to. You never do when it comes to love. You are so afraid of caring for people, of things falling apart, that you won’t even see the truth of what has been in front of you for almost a decade.” Nino froze as he felt a pair of arms wrap around him from behind, the sharp angles of Aiba recognizable instantly.
“Kazu, you love Jun. You love all of us, if you would allow yourself to.” Aiba’s voice was soft in his ear, husky from lack of sleep and just waking up. “Why are you fighting with Jun on this? Yes, you were surprised. This was perhaps not the best way to find out, but it is what it is. This is what we have always been. Before Arashi it was the four of us. It always has been, if you stop to think about it.” Nino felt his anger melting away as Aiba held him tightly.
“Look at how worried Jun is. He is so afraid of losing you. Of you rejecting him.” Aiba’s words were soft. “He has wanted to go after you so many times, but you weren’t ready. I still don’t think you are, not really, but you pursued him. Jun was so happy. Toma and I as well, since we also love you, and knew that one day you would be a part of this.” Aiba laughed quietly. “I should have known that you would resist.” Aiba stepped away, offering Nino a hand. “You don’t have to accept Toma and I yet, just know that we love you, and we love Jun, and that we will wait for you. As long as you can accept that Jun has three people who are very special to him, more special than anyone else. After that comes Sho-kun and Riida, but Jun isnt in love with them.” Aiba’s hand extended a little more towards Nino. “Just come to bed, and we can talk more in the morning, Kazu.” From the way that Jun watched them, Nino was sure that Jun could not hear Aiba’s words, soft in his ear.
Nino found himself reaching out to take the hand, accepting what it was that Aiba was offering, even as he saw Aiba turn and wink at Jun with a wide smile. Aiba had been right, though, he could see Jun visibly relax, sinking down onto the couch with a shaky smile.
As Aiba lead him into the bedroom, Nino noticed that Aiba inclined his head towards the door. “Toma, you might want to go to Jun and get him some of his calming tea while Kazu and I settle into bed. Jun is a bit overwhelmed at the moment.”
“Of course.” Toma grinned touching Nino’s shoulder as he passed causing Nino to yelp as if Toma had done something far worse that just touch his shoulder.
“Calm down, Nino, I am harmless. I promise.” Toma grinned at Nino, and Nino nodded, allowing Aiba to pull him towards the bed. Glancing back through the door he could see Toma sitting with Jun, Jun’s head leaning against the other man’s shoulder, while Toma was speaking to Jun.
He had been kind of an idiot not to see the affection there.
It was a while that night before Jun and Toma came to bed, and when they finally did, Jun had held Nino tightly, as if he was still afraid that Nino would disappear.
It had been hard to settle into it, Jun had been right that he was afraid, but when it was all said and done he was not sure why he had been fighting it so much.
Losing Jun, or making him choose between Nino and the others would have been a fight that Nino would have lost, and that would have made Jun miserable.
And for the record, as Nino found out much later, Toma was quite good with his mouth.
Act Three:
In their 15th year, it was decided that the rest of Arashi needed to know the truth about Jun. Aiba generally stayed out of the entire ‘rule the world’ business, choosing to focus on animals, Arashi, and anything else that he took an interest in. Which was fine. Toma and Nino were plenty of help to Jun, Nino helping guide his investments (and the video game industry) and Toma helping influence the social media and entertainment side of things in combination with the influence of the agency. They had music and entertainment, and Nino had obviously been suggesting ways that Jun could influence the video gaming world. Nino knew that Jun often humored him (as well as Aiba and Toma) and Nino appreciated it. It allowed him to work very secretly (he would be uncredited it was that secret) on story line development for an RPG.
With the announcement of Nino, Aiba and Sho all getting their own shows, Jun thought that it was time for the others to know. Nino had been pleased to find out that none of them had needed the assistance of Jun, the supreme (albeit secret) ruler of the world to get these jobs. At the moment, just being in Arashi was enough. They had been successful enough, worked hard enough in their early years, and Nino knew that some of that had been thanks to Jun, that they could just really on being Arashi at the moment, and Jun could focus on other parts of world ruling.
Jun thought that it was time, and it really was a pretty big secret to keep from two of your closest friends for over 15 years. Jun had... plans for his band mates. While they could be accomplished without their cooperation, it would be easier if they were willing participants.
Where they did not have much influence, yet, was politics and art, and Jun was looking to chance that in the next several years. To influence those, he would need Ohno and Sho, and things would just be easier if they would cooperate.The other reason that they thought it was time, was the year that he and Jun would be turning 30, he knew that Jun had plans for them.
And so, Jun, Nino and Aiba had requested a meeting with Sho and Ohno. An all Arashi meeting. Toma offered to come along, and offer his support, but Jun had quietly insisted that this was something that Arashi needed to handle, and Toma had not pushed the issue.
Nino had learned that Jun had four types of priorities and relationships.
There were Arashi things. M.A.I.N. things, ruling the world things, and everything else things. With the first three, Jun did not have a lot of time for the last. This fell into the “Arashi thing” category.
And so the all Arashi meeting had been called in Jun’s apartment.
Dinner had been fun, Jun cooking pasta and buzzing around the kitchen while Aiba and Nino kept up the idle chatter. If anyone thought it odd that they were playing hosts in Jun’s home neither of the elders said anything about it, as Arashi was Arashi, and comfortable around one another and they often just went with things.
Nino wondered if they would just go with this.
When they were settled down on the couches and chairs of Jun’s living area, nursing water, teas, and in Ohno’s case (as he had the next morning off) beer.
It was Sho who broached the obvious topic.
“What what was it that you wished to discuss?” He looked to Jun as he spoke, and Nino watched Jun smile slightly, glancing down at his cup of tea. He was slightly nervous, Nino was sure, and so he scooted just a little closer to Jun on the couch, though he had already been pressed pretty snugly up against him.
They had never officially told the others that Jun was involved with both him and Aiba as well as Toma, but they weren’t trying in the least to hide it from the others. Much the way that they had never hid it from him, he had just been too closed minded to see it for what it was.
“I have something that I have been meaning to tell you both for a while now. I am just not sure the best way to approach it. Or how to make you believe it.” Jun’s voice was low and Sho nodded, before speaking. His voice hesitant.
“If this is about you and your...” He paused. “...relations with Nino and Aiba-chan...” Sho paused again and Nino broke out into a laugh, grinning at Sho.
“We didn’t call you here to tell you that we are fucking, Sho-chan.” Nino chimed, and he could hear the noise of displeasure even as Aiba broke in.
“Making love, Kazu. Fucking sounds like you just want us for our bodies.”
“I won’t say that isn’t a motivating factor.” Nino leaned around Jun and winked at Aiba, squeezing Jun’s hand as he shifted and Sho made choking noises from where he was sitting, though Ohno was chuckling.
“To talk about your carnal relations with those two.” Sho continued on, his voice stiff, and as he settled back down Nino could feel that Jun was trying his best not to laugh as well.
“Love making, Sho-chan.” Aiba corrected, again and his tone was that of a parent scolding a child for something that they knew full well.
“I did not call you here to talk about my relationship with them, no.” Jun answered calmly, and Nino watched his eyes shift from Ohno to Sho, and back again.
“I think I know.” Ohno interrupted, and everyones attention shifted to Ohno. “I want a bakery though. And I’ll need a place on the water.” He continued and Jun shifted forward, his eyes narrowing.
“But then you will fish all the time.” His protested and Ohno shook his head.
“I create best when I am relaxed, and I am most relaxed when I am fishing. That is what you want, isn’t it, he countered, and Nino watched Sho’s gaze bounce between the two of them, confused.
“Satoshi-kun, why do you think that MatsuJun can get you any of that?” Sho’s voice was honestly curious, and Nino knew that his own breath caught in his throat as he waited for Ohno’s answer.
Ohno smiled at Sho, grinning.
“Our MatsuJun rules the world, Sho-kun. He can give us whatever we want.”
“Within reason.” Jun added, and Ohno flashed Jun a thumbs up even as Sho laughed.
“You have to be kidding, Satoshi-kun. There is no way that someone can rule the world.” Sho’s tone lacked the shock that Nino’s had when he was told, Sho was just surprised, and puzzled.
“But I have been.” Jun’s voice earnest, and Ohno nodded.
“You have been doing a really good job too.” Ohno paused. “I didn’t always know, but Johnny-san asked me to watch out for you, since you tend to over exert yourself, and he was really worried about you for a while. And he knew that you wouldn’t say anything to him.” Ohno grinned. “I am your Riida, after all, so it is my job to make sure that you are taking proper care of yourself. And that Toma, Aiba and Nino are taking good care of you as well.”
“Toma?” Sho squeaked, and Ohno didn’t stop looking at Jun, just reached a hand over, patting Sho’s knee. That did not seem to help Sho calm down at all, Nino noted.
“So then Sho-kun is the only one who doesn’t know.” Nino mused, and Ohno nodded.
“Since Jun-kun wasn’t talking about it, I thought it was on a need to know basis. When Jun-kun needed us to know, we would.” Ohno looked to Jun again. “‘I’ll be your personal baker, and I have always wanted a bakery. And to fish more. In exchange I will let you use my art and talents as you wish.” Ohno looked to Jun. “As far as I can tell, you have just been letting things go along as they will, and not really pushing any of us a direction.”
Jun nodded. “It has been easiest just to see where your natural talents lay. And Arashi has been good. We are five very different people, and together we really will be a storm across the world. What areas I lack real control over have been the art world, as well as the political sphere.” Jun picked up his planner (the black I rule the world one, not the purple Arashi one, Nino noted) and flipped it open to his five year plan page.
“I would like, in the next five years, for you to have one or two domestic art shows, before moving into the international arena. You can pick the medium, of course. I am not so foolish that I would think that I could tell you what to create.” Jun looked at him. “I can make certain that your schedule allows more time for art and fishing, but you have to make sure that you wear your sun screen properly.” Jun sighed. “The bakery will have to wait until Arashi is a little less popular, I think, but I will make sure that you have it by your 40th birthday. I hope that is alright with you, Riida?”
Sho was watching the two of them, and Nino could see the wide eyed, slightly panicked look the other was getting. He hadn’t seen that since the last time they made use of Sho’s fear of heights for national television.”
“And Sho-kun?” Satoshi asked, since Sho would not speak up.
Jun grinned, setting his planner back down and leaning back on the couch, crossing his legs. “I was thinking prime minister by 40.”
“WHAT?” Sho exclaimed. “There is no way that can happen. I am too young. And not even in politics. You all are crazy. This is just too crazy.” Sho was talking quickly, looking between the others, and Nino could feel Jun tensing slightly.
“I am quite serious, Sho-kun. It would be easier if you cooperate.” Jun glanced at his watch. “It is probably too late tonight, but I can take you by the office tomorrow, and prove to you that we are not making this up.” Jun smirked. “And I promise you, if I say you will be prime minister by 40, you will be.”
Nino nodded his agreement. “J always gets what he wants.”
“But--but--why me?” Sho stammered and Jun grinned back.
“Who else in Arashi is qualified? You will be fine, Sho-kun. You will have Arashi with you.”
“This is just crazy.”
“But great. Arashi is a storm across the world. The world just doesn’t realize it.” Aiba chimed in with a breathy laugh and Nino grinned back.
“The world doesn’t know it, yet.”
And they wouldn’t, at least not until they could convince Sho that they were serious. Which took more time than one would expect. But Jun was determined, and convincing, and telling the truth, so there was only so long that Sho could deny the fact that Jun was indeed, ruler of the world.
Pairing: M.A.I.N, Matsumiya and AibaxJunxToma
Rating: PG-13 for language
Authors note:So a random comment from a friend (thanks thoroughlynerdy) prompted this random bit of random.
I will not argue with it.
A story in which Arashi all slowly discover that Matsumoto Jun does, in fact, think the world revolved around him. For good reason. He rules the world.
Told mostly from Ninos POV
Act One:
Ninomiya Kazunari was many things, but most of all he was observant. Being in M.A.I.N. with Matsumoto had given Nino a lot of insight into his personality, and while the young man was driven to succeed, it seemed that he never doubted the fact that he would debut, or that he would become an idol. Sure, being handpicked by Johnny to enter the agency without an audition was a feat, but not something that would give a young man, struggling along with the rest of them that kind of confidence. Something else was going on, Nino was certain. And so he waited, and he watched.
When they finally did debut it was not a moment too soon, since he, Ohno and Sho were all close to quitting at the time. They had other dreams in life that did not include idoldom. it was Matsumoto who talked him into it, convinced him that this was not a waste of time, that they would succeed, that he just needed to give it a chance.
Slowly, the bonds of friendship that had started between Aiba, Matsumoto and himself in M.A.I.N. tightened, branching out to encompass Sakurai and Ohno until Nino knew in his heart that Arashi would be something. Sakurai was the brains, Ohno the deceptive strength, leading without leading, and just being there, himself and Aiba the mood makers. Jun was their creative director. He was the driving force behind them, pushing them to be more than they ever thought that they could be. He pushed them, drove them, and pissed them off so many times. But Nino often felt that this description wasn’t enough, that Jun was more than just that.
Some time after their debut, MatsuJun, no longer Matsumoto, had gone through a phase, a phase where he was angry at the world. Nino was quite certain that it was the entire world. Which in retrospect he found out it really was. All Nino could figure out at the time was that he was frustrated. Frustrated with his idolization of Sakurai, frustrated with the late night filming and crap TV appearances and frustrated with them not getting anywhere close to the ratings and reviews that he knew they were capable of. He was frustrated with life, and his awkward puberty and late teenage years that never seemed to end, the acne and the scarring, frustrated with anything and everything that he could be frustrated with.
The bright eyes smiling youth that was driven by something that Nino had never been able to understand turned into a driven young man that Nino still could not understand, cloaked behind all the sharp edges and even sharper comments that were usually his forte. Aiba and Nino did what they could to keep Jun grounded, to keep him sane, to keep him there with them, but those days more than ever MatsuJun was spending more time in meeting with Johnny and Julie, talking about things that he wouldn’t discuss with anyone in the band, just that he was trying to get them better work, work that would agree with Sakurai's college schedule. Work that would let Ohno pursue his art, that would challenge Nino professionally, that would make Aiba smile. Work that would make them happy again, that would bring the spotlight to them. Never once did he say that they were talking about with that would bring MatsuJun himself anything.
Nino didn’t think that MatsuJun had that much power or influence until right before a drama audition. Before he left, MatsuJun had promised Nino that he would get this job and that Nino would no longer have to question if staying with Arashi was the right choice.
Nino had doubted, but Hana Yori Dango brought Arashi all the things that they had been promised in their youth, all the things that he and MatsuJun and Aiba and Toma had dreamt about in their M.A.I.N. days.
MatsuJun also started hanging out more with Toma, not that Nino was jealous. Just that he wondered where MatsuJun was getting the time to hang out with the younger man.
Their success skyrocketed and still MatsuJun met with Johnny, probably more than anyone in the band knew about, but after the assurance of that promise, Nino had kept a closer eye on MatsuJun.
He noticed that the other groups and kouhai that MatsuJun paid attention to did better than those he did not and had the backing of the agency. He noticed that MatsuJun was allowed to be picky about his roles, try out for what he wanted and accept what he wanted when the rest of them were often pushed to do a drama role that they might not want. They were pushed to try out for anything and everything that might suit them, for the good of the agency and for their own success. What Nino noticed was that their youngest member got anything that he wanted in the agency, and anything else that he set his mind to, though he never came out and demanded anything. he just pursued it and it happened.
His conclusion was that their MatsuJun had a lot more influence than any of them had any right to have.
Watching closer still, lurking in the shadows and playing his gaming systems, no one ever questioned his presence, or what he heard, though sometimes he knew that Jun, now just Jun after all of these years, would watch him with suspicion. Nino wondered just how much power Jun had, until one day, Aiba had mused about their debut, mentioning that he wondered if they really could make a storm around the world.
And Jun had asked, shall we start with Japan?
No one paid it much mind, they still dreamed big, but then Arashi was announced as the next band to get the venue Kokuritsu, a venue that SMAP had done, and Nino had to wonder. When he heard Jun assure Julie after the announcement that they would get it for the next 5 years (and Julie agreed with him), with as much calmness and certainty as he would assure you that his name was Matsumoto Jun, then Nino knew.
Jun was much more than just an idol on Arashi. And he would find out just what exactly he was.
His timing had been impeccable, slipping up beside Jun after one of the concert planning meetings and casually, ever so casually, slipping an arm around his waist.
"Jun, sometimes I wonder if you are trying to take over Johnny's, the way you plan these concerts and influence things around here."
He had felt Jun stiffen in his embrace, and for a moment Nino had been sure that Jun was going to try and play it off as a joke, but Jun shifted, glancing at Nino out of the corner of his eye.
"I don’t want or need to take this over from Julie. And your thinking is far too narrow. I am surprised, I thought you had it figured out the way you watch me."
“Watch you? I’m Just trying to figure out a puzzle.” NIno replied lightly. "The entertainment industry, then?"
Jun shook his head, smirking. "Still too narrow, Kazu. Isolated success means very little." Jun shifted out of Nino's grasp and grabbed his bag from the seat it was sitting on. "After all, we are Arashi." Jun had winked at him and Nino had gaped at him for a moment, before rushing out after him. He was not surprised to see Jun leaning up against his car.
"A storm across the world? You are trying for the world?"
"I am not trying, Kazu. One does not have to try for what is already theirs."
"Bullshit." Nino had spat, but Jun just watched him, his eyes narrowed.
"Then how do you explain it? How do you reconcile what I told you with what you have seen?"
"No one owns the world."
"Own, no. Run, yes." Jun opened his car door and gestured for Nino to get in. "Come on, I will explain. Though you will not believe it, I am sure, until I show you."
Nino had been shocked to learn that Jun had a second apartment, well workspace really, in a very secure building in Akihabara. He had called it Jun’s lair, his own laugh almost bordering on hysterical, and Jun had smacked him in the head, telling him to stop being so fucking over dramatic.
He had been more shocked to find out that Jun did, in fact, more or less run the world.
Nino had told Jun that behind every great world ruler was a shrewd and dedicated financial advisor (not woman as the proverb would imply), and general advisor, and friend, a role that he was more than suited for. That night was also the first night that Nino acted upon the feelings and flirtations that had been building between them for years. He helped Jun make their tenth year the best one possible, and was quite awed at the schedule and hours that the man kept, and marveled at his ability to still be an idol with all that was going on.
Act Two:
Their tenth year was also the year that he discovered that he was not the only one that Jun’s affections lay with, and that had almost cost him his relationship with Jun. Being openly affectionate with Jun was still something that came hard to Nino, and for all intents and purposes Jun was treating him the exact same way as he always did. He still saw Toma at least once a week for dinner, he and Aiba had cooking nights, something that had been going on for almost as long as Jun had his own place. He and Jun had a weekly thing as well, sometimes it was video games at Nino’s, sometimes it was food and movies at Jun’s. Jun tried to take him out for dinner every once in awhile, but Nino would much prefer to stay home and just chill, then go out and spend money.
When Jun had time he would s`ee his other friends, but Aiba, Toma and Nino were the ones that Jun spent most of his free time with.
In retrospect, he should have known that Jun’s affections were as diverse as the man himself, but hindsight is always clearer than it is in the moment.
Nino had come to Jun’s place late one night after filming. He was unannounced, but he had hoped to surprise Jun. There were extra shoes in the doorway, but that often happened. What he did not expect was to see Jun in the middle of the bed with Toma and Aiba curled up on either side of him. All of them, Nino was certain, were naked. He didn’t need to see in the dark, he could smell it in the air.
He didn’t want or need explanations. He had thought that he and Jun had an agreement. Apparently when you were ruler of the world you didn’t do special. You just did people. Nino turned, moving as silently back towards the door as he had coming in, and he paused only when he heard Jun hissing at him, his voice worried.
“Nino, where are you going?” Jun asked, and Nino spun, glaring at him.
“Where am I going?” Nino spat. “I am going somewhere that I am wanted. I didn’t realize that you had me with Toma and Aiba on the side. Must be nice to rule the world.” Nino knew that he was being slightly harsh, but he was sure that he and Jun had something, and to find out that they did not was more than he was willing to deal with this late at night.
“Nino, stop it.” Jun’s voice was low, firm, and Nino didn’t know when Jun had gotten between him and the door, but he was there now, pants pulled low over his hips, his hair mussed, features obscured in the darkness.
“Stop what?” Nino snapped back and Jun sighed.
“What the hell is your problem?”
“My problem?” Nino stared at Jun. “My problem is finding you in bed with two other people.” Nino could see the incredulousness on Jun’s face and he could hear movement behind him.
“Jun, why are you fighting with Kazu? He should be in bed with us.” Aiba’s voice was sleepy, and Nino turned, seeing that Aiba had not bothered to get dressed, and that his eyes weren’t really open as he sagged against the door frame in exhaustion. From behind Aiba he could see that Toma was trying to scramble out of bed while preserving his modesty, and attempting to move to the door where Aiba was.
“Masaki, read the atmosphere. You aren’t helping.” Jun hissed and Nino could hear Toma urging Aiba to come back to bed. He was tired from filming, after all, and Jun and Nino needed to work some things out.
Toma was right about that.
“Was I not enough for you? Or were they not? DId they even know that you had me on the side?” Nino snarled and Jun stalked up to him, getting up in his face but not touching him, even though the other radiated anger.
“You were never a thing on the side, and of course they knew. I thought that you knew as well. I have not been at all secretive about the fact that Masaki and Toma are important to me. As are you.” NIno could feel the heat of Jun’s breath on his face, but he was not going to back down.
“I thought you loved me. I thought we had something.” Nino knew that he did not keep the pain from his voice and he was pleased to see Jun flinch. “I didn’t realize that you were keeping Toma around for his cock sucking abilities.
“That is one of the reason that he is around, but not the main reason.” Jun snapped back, stepping farther forward then back again, pacing across the room. “I do love you, Kazu, but not at the expense of them.”
Nino felt as if he had just been punched. The casual way that Jun admitted that he loved him was something he had never expected to hear. All Nino could bring himself to say was that they had something. He could say that Jun loved him, but he could not bring himself to say the same.
“I love you, but I will not give them up.” Jun sighed, stepping back. “I have been with Toma for almost as long as we have been debuted. He has been with me through all of this, and was my only support for the longest time. After Aiba’s lung collapse I could not even imagine a life without him, and so I confessed. You never open to the idea of this kind of relationship, or a relationship at all. When you approached me I thought that you were OK with it. I assumed that Aiba and you had talked about it since he talked to you about everything. I just thought you were not ready to include Toma and Aiba.”
“I had no clue about all of this.” Nino hissed and Jun stepped back.
“Obviously. I guess you only care about making sure that you are fucking the person in charge.” Jun had snapped back and Nino glared at him, frowning.
“That was uncalled for, Jun.”
“As was your accusation that I care more for Toma’s sexual prowess that I do for the man himself.”
Nino sighed. “I am not capable of dealing with this tonight.”
“You just don’t want to. You never do when it comes to love. You are so afraid of caring for people, of things falling apart, that you won’t even see the truth of what has been in front of you for almost a decade.” Nino froze as he felt a pair of arms wrap around him from behind, the sharp angles of Aiba recognizable instantly.
“Kazu, you love Jun. You love all of us, if you would allow yourself to.” Aiba’s voice was soft in his ear, husky from lack of sleep and just waking up. “Why are you fighting with Jun on this? Yes, you were surprised. This was perhaps not the best way to find out, but it is what it is. This is what we have always been. Before Arashi it was the four of us. It always has been, if you stop to think about it.” Nino felt his anger melting away as Aiba held him tightly.
“Look at how worried Jun is. He is so afraid of losing you. Of you rejecting him.” Aiba’s words were soft. “He has wanted to go after you so many times, but you weren’t ready. I still don’t think you are, not really, but you pursued him. Jun was so happy. Toma and I as well, since we also love you, and knew that one day you would be a part of this.” Aiba laughed quietly. “I should have known that you would resist.” Aiba stepped away, offering Nino a hand. “You don’t have to accept Toma and I yet, just know that we love you, and we love Jun, and that we will wait for you. As long as you can accept that Jun has three people who are very special to him, more special than anyone else. After that comes Sho-kun and Riida, but Jun isnt in love with them.” Aiba’s hand extended a little more towards Nino. “Just come to bed, and we can talk more in the morning, Kazu.” From the way that Jun watched them, Nino was sure that Jun could not hear Aiba’s words, soft in his ear.
Nino found himself reaching out to take the hand, accepting what it was that Aiba was offering, even as he saw Aiba turn and wink at Jun with a wide smile. Aiba had been right, though, he could see Jun visibly relax, sinking down onto the couch with a shaky smile.
As Aiba lead him into the bedroom, Nino noticed that Aiba inclined his head towards the door. “Toma, you might want to go to Jun and get him some of his calming tea while Kazu and I settle into bed. Jun is a bit overwhelmed at the moment.”
“Of course.” Toma grinned touching Nino’s shoulder as he passed causing Nino to yelp as if Toma had done something far worse that just touch his shoulder.
“Calm down, Nino, I am harmless. I promise.” Toma grinned at Nino, and Nino nodded, allowing Aiba to pull him towards the bed. Glancing back through the door he could see Toma sitting with Jun, Jun’s head leaning against the other man’s shoulder, while Toma was speaking to Jun.
He had been kind of an idiot not to see the affection there.
It was a while that night before Jun and Toma came to bed, and when they finally did, Jun had held Nino tightly, as if he was still afraid that Nino would disappear.
It had been hard to settle into it, Jun had been right that he was afraid, but when it was all said and done he was not sure why he had been fighting it so much.
Losing Jun, or making him choose between Nino and the others would have been a fight that Nino would have lost, and that would have made Jun miserable.
And for the record, as Nino found out much later, Toma was quite good with his mouth.
Act Three:
In their 15th year, it was decided that the rest of Arashi needed to know the truth about Jun. Aiba generally stayed out of the entire ‘rule the world’ business, choosing to focus on animals, Arashi, and anything else that he took an interest in. Which was fine. Toma and Nino were plenty of help to Jun, Nino helping guide his investments (and the video game industry) and Toma helping influence the social media and entertainment side of things in combination with the influence of the agency. They had music and entertainment, and Nino had obviously been suggesting ways that Jun could influence the video gaming world. Nino knew that Jun often humored him (as well as Aiba and Toma) and Nino appreciated it. It allowed him to work very secretly (he would be uncredited it was that secret) on story line development for an RPG.
With the announcement of Nino, Aiba and Sho all getting their own shows, Jun thought that it was time for the others to know. Nino had been pleased to find out that none of them had needed the assistance of Jun, the supreme (albeit secret) ruler of the world to get these jobs. At the moment, just being in Arashi was enough. They had been successful enough, worked hard enough in their early years, and Nino knew that some of that had been thanks to Jun, that they could just really on being Arashi at the moment, and Jun could focus on other parts of world ruling.
Jun thought that it was time, and it really was a pretty big secret to keep from two of your closest friends for over 15 years. Jun had... plans for his band mates. While they could be accomplished without their cooperation, it would be easier if they were willing participants.
Where they did not have much influence, yet, was politics and art, and Jun was looking to chance that in the next several years. To influence those, he would need Ohno and Sho, and things would just be easier if they would cooperate.The other reason that they thought it was time, was the year that he and Jun would be turning 30, he knew that Jun had plans for them.
And so, Jun, Nino and Aiba had requested a meeting with Sho and Ohno. An all Arashi meeting. Toma offered to come along, and offer his support, but Jun had quietly insisted that this was something that Arashi needed to handle, and Toma had not pushed the issue.
Nino had learned that Jun had four types of priorities and relationships.
There were Arashi things. M.A.I.N. things, ruling the world things, and everything else things. With the first three, Jun did not have a lot of time for the last. This fell into the “Arashi thing” category.
And so the all Arashi meeting had been called in Jun’s apartment.
Dinner had been fun, Jun cooking pasta and buzzing around the kitchen while Aiba and Nino kept up the idle chatter. If anyone thought it odd that they were playing hosts in Jun’s home neither of the elders said anything about it, as Arashi was Arashi, and comfortable around one another and they often just went with things.
Nino wondered if they would just go with this.
When they were settled down on the couches and chairs of Jun’s living area, nursing water, teas, and in Ohno’s case (as he had the next morning off) beer.
It was Sho who broached the obvious topic.
“What what was it that you wished to discuss?” He looked to Jun as he spoke, and Nino watched Jun smile slightly, glancing down at his cup of tea. He was slightly nervous, Nino was sure, and so he scooted just a little closer to Jun on the couch, though he had already been pressed pretty snugly up against him.
They had never officially told the others that Jun was involved with both him and Aiba as well as Toma, but they weren’t trying in the least to hide it from the others. Much the way that they had never hid it from him, he had just been too closed minded to see it for what it was.
“I have something that I have been meaning to tell you both for a while now. I am just not sure the best way to approach it. Or how to make you believe it.” Jun’s voice was low and Sho nodded, before speaking. His voice hesitant.
“If this is about you and your...” He paused. “...relations with Nino and Aiba-chan...” Sho paused again and Nino broke out into a laugh, grinning at Sho.
“We didn’t call you here to tell you that we are fucking, Sho-chan.” Nino chimed, and he could hear the noise of displeasure even as Aiba broke in.
“Making love, Kazu. Fucking sounds like you just want us for our bodies.”
“I won’t say that isn’t a motivating factor.” Nino leaned around Jun and winked at Aiba, squeezing Jun’s hand as he shifted and Sho made choking noises from where he was sitting, though Ohno was chuckling.
“To talk about your carnal relations with those two.” Sho continued on, his voice stiff, and as he settled back down Nino could feel that Jun was trying his best not to laugh as well.
“Love making, Sho-chan.” Aiba corrected, again and his tone was that of a parent scolding a child for something that they knew full well.
“I did not call you here to talk about my relationship with them, no.” Jun answered calmly, and Nino watched his eyes shift from Ohno to Sho, and back again.
“I think I know.” Ohno interrupted, and everyones attention shifted to Ohno. “I want a bakery though. And I’ll need a place on the water.” He continued and Jun shifted forward, his eyes narrowing.
“But then you will fish all the time.” His protested and Ohno shook his head.
“I create best when I am relaxed, and I am most relaxed when I am fishing. That is what you want, isn’t it, he countered, and Nino watched Sho’s gaze bounce between the two of them, confused.
“Satoshi-kun, why do you think that MatsuJun can get you any of that?” Sho’s voice was honestly curious, and Nino knew that his own breath caught in his throat as he waited for Ohno’s answer.
Ohno smiled at Sho, grinning.
“Our MatsuJun rules the world, Sho-kun. He can give us whatever we want.”
“Within reason.” Jun added, and Ohno flashed Jun a thumbs up even as Sho laughed.
“You have to be kidding, Satoshi-kun. There is no way that someone can rule the world.” Sho’s tone lacked the shock that Nino’s had when he was told, Sho was just surprised, and puzzled.
“But I have been.” Jun’s voice earnest, and Ohno nodded.
“You have been doing a really good job too.” Ohno paused. “I didn’t always know, but Johnny-san asked me to watch out for you, since you tend to over exert yourself, and he was really worried about you for a while. And he knew that you wouldn’t say anything to him.” Ohno grinned. “I am your Riida, after all, so it is my job to make sure that you are taking proper care of yourself. And that Toma, Aiba and Nino are taking good care of you as well.”
“Toma?” Sho squeaked, and Ohno didn’t stop looking at Jun, just reached a hand over, patting Sho’s knee. That did not seem to help Sho calm down at all, Nino noted.
“So then Sho-kun is the only one who doesn’t know.” Nino mused, and Ohno nodded.
“Since Jun-kun wasn’t talking about it, I thought it was on a need to know basis. When Jun-kun needed us to know, we would.” Ohno looked to Jun again. “‘I’ll be your personal baker, and I have always wanted a bakery. And to fish more. In exchange I will let you use my art and talents as you wish.” Ohno looked to Jun. “As far as I can tell, you have just been letting things go along as they will, and not really pushing any of us a direction.”
Jun nodded. “It has been easiest just to see where your natural talents lay. And Arashi has been good. We are five very different people, and together we really will be a storm across the world. What areas I lack real control over have been the art world, as well as the political sphere.” Jun picked up his planner (the black I rule the world one, not the purple Arashi one, Nino noted) and flipped it open to his five year plan page.
“I would like, in the next five years, for you to have one or two domestic art shows, before moving into the international arena. You can pick the medium, of course. I am not so foolish that I would think that I could tell you what to create.” Jun looked at him. “I can make certain that your schedule allows more time for art and fishing, but you have to make sure that you wear your sun screen properly.” Jun sighed. “The bakery will have to wait until Arashi is a little less popular, I think, but I will make sure that you have it by your 40th birthday. I hope that is alright with you, Riida?”
Sho was watching the two of them, and Nino could see the wide eyed, slightly panicked look the other was getting. He hadn’t seen that since the last time they made use of Sho’s fear of heights for national television.”
“And Sho-kun?” Satoshi asked, since Sho would not speak up.
Jun grinned, setting his planner back down and leaning back on the couch, crossing his legs. “I was thinking prime minister by 40.”
“WHAT?” Sho exclaimed. “There is no way that can happen. I am too young. And not even in politics. You all are crazy. This is just too crazy.” Sho was talking quickly, looking between the others, and Nino could feel Jun tensing slightly.
“I am quite serious, Sho-kun. It would be easier if you cooperate.” Jun glanced at his watch. “It is probably too late tonight, but I can take you by the office tomorrow, and prove to you that we are not making this up.” Jun smirked. “And I promise you, if I say you will be prime minister by 40, you will be.”
Nino nodded his agreement. “J always gets what he wants.”
“But--but--why me?” Sho stammered and Jun grinned back.
“Who else in Arashi is qualified? You will be fine, Sho-kun. You will have Arashi with you.”
“This is just crazy.”
“But great. Arashi is a storm across the world. The world just doesn’t realize it.” Aiba chimed in with a breathy laugh and Nino grinned back.
“The world doesn’t know it, yet.”
And they wouldn’t, at least not until they could convince Sho that they were serious. Which took more time than one would expect. But Jun was determined, and convincing, and telling the truth, so there was only so long that Sho could deny the fact that Jun was indeed, ruler of the world.