Arashi: An Ever Expanding Sky (03)
FANDOM: Arashi
RATING: G
PAIRING: Sakuraiba, Juntoshi
DATE: April 27th, 2010
WORD COUNT: 2,078
DISCLAIMER/NOTES: (1) This is a work of fiction, (2) AU.
Chapter Two | Chapter Four
Chapter Three
Sho and Ohno opened the door, intent on finding Nino, but the person they were looking for was already there. “Rin called me down,” he said to Aiba, who just nodded.
“I’ll head to the bridge,” he said, and was about to leave, but Nino stopped him.
“It’s okay. Rin can handle things.” Turning to include the other two men, Nino signalled for them to follow him. “We’re going to the wardroom.”
“You have a wardroom? I thought this was a merchant’s ship.”
Nino ignored Sho. As Nino led the way, Sho asked Aiba in a low voice, “is it just the three of you, here?”
Aiba shrugged, not knowing whether he should tell the truth or not.
“How do you manage with so few people?”
“We hire people when we need them,” Nino said shortly from ahead of them. “I forgot to mention, since the two of you are onboard, both of you are expected to help out as well. And stop asking him questions.”
})i({
The “wardroom”, which was really one of the larger cabins that had been renovated somewhat, was cozy. It certainly was better than Aiba’s sparse, non-decorated room. “This feels more like a room than where you had kept me earlier,” Sho commented, finding himself a comfortable seat.
“That was my room,” Aiba told Sho.
“Really? My condolences.”
Aiba just gave Sho an irritated look, but settled into a seat next to Nino. Ohno waited until everyone else was seated before pulling up a chair for himself. Noticing this, Aiba suddenly got up. “I should make drinks for everyone or something,” he muttered.
“Aiba, just sit,” Nino said with mild annoyance, causing Aiba to sit back down as abruptly as he had stood up, with an indecipherable look on his face as he looked at Nino. Sho studied Aiba’s expression, but looked away when Nino started talking to him and Ohno. “Rin said that we needed to talk, but she didn’t say about what, so would anyone care to explain to me what this is about?”
Ohno and Sho looked at each other for a moment. “I don’t know if this is a good idea,” Ohno said. “Um, I don’t mean any disrespect...”
It was Sho’s turn to look annoyed. “Will you stop being so polite all the time... Satoshi.” It took him awhile to remember Ohno’s first name, and he knew that Nino noticed from the way Nino was looking at him. He cursed. “All right. I’ve had enough.” Looking back at Nino straight in the eyes, he said, “Look, whatever it is, unless you’re planning to kill me or let me go, we’re stuck with each other for the time being, so... truce?”
“Kill him? You can’t kill him,” Ohno said incredulously.
“You promised not to interfere with anything else going on this ship,” Nino reminded his guest. “If you do, I won’t take you to Forlee.”
Ohno looked like he was going to protest, but shut his mouth, thinking better of it. Sho looked at him thoughtfully.
“I wonder what’s the personal matter that’s so important, you’d let them kill me,” Sho remarked lightly, causing Ohno to look at him guiltily.
“Uh -”
“I was kidding,” Sho interrupted. “And anyhow, don’t worry about it. I’m sure a lot of people would be glad to be rid of me, anyway.” To Nino, he continued, “first of all, just so that we know we are who we say we are - let’s show our Marks.”
Every citizen had a ‘Mark’, which is a tattoo they receive in childhood. Each country had their own customs and rituals when it comes to a child’s marking day, and the ages they become marked may also differ. The marks were important in two ways - the exact location of the mark is usually an indication of a person’s birth country and citizenship, while the exact shape or pattern of the mark indicates the person’s rank or caste. Nino sighed, and looked reluctant, but he knew that Sho or Ohno would ask, sooner or later.
He nodded. “Aiba?” he asked. “Is this fine with you?”
Aiba looked trapped. He didn’t want to, but Nino had already agreed. “I... guess so.” His voice was quiet and uncertain.
“Are you sure?” To his surprise, it was Sho who asked him. “You look a little pale.”
“He hates the caste system. So do I, come to think of it. Anyway, we’ve got the same marks, so you don’t have to see his.”
Sho frowned. The point about showing their marks was so that they couldn’t lie about these things. But... he looked at Aiba again, and felt sorry for the man. “All right.”
Nino pulled at the collar of his shirt, exposing his upper left shoulder, where there was a distinct image of what looked like hemp rope entwined in a floral shape - the mark of a craftsman. He immediately pulled his shirt back up again.
“Upper left shoulder... you’re from Eero? That’s a pretty long way from here.”
Nino ignored the remark. “Your turn.”
“I’ll go first,” Ohno said. He stood up and turned his back on them. “In Milna, our marks are on our lower back,” he explained, pulling his shirt up a little so that Nino and Aiba could see. True enough, his Mark was at the small of his back. His looked a little like Nino’s, except that the patterns looked like tiny linked chains, instead. The location didn’t surprise either Nino or Aiba, since they knew that Ohno was from Milna, but the swirling pattern of the mark did.
“You’re a servant?” Nino asked, dumbfounded. Ohno let of his shirt, letting it fall back down, before turning back to face them, and nodded.
“That’s the mark of a servant in the ruling houses; he’s still of higher rank than you,” Sho said, speaking in a severe tone, as if reprimanding them.
“Everyone gets equal treatment in my ship, so I don’t care about that. What I care about, though, is where the money you paid me came from.” Nino’s eyes narrowed at Ohno. “I’m sure that servants of your rank live comfortably, but only lords have the kind of money you’re flaunting.”
“It’s mine to spend,” Ohno said. “I didn’t think you worried about legalities.”
“I don’t, not usually. Well, now that’s one mystery solved - I thought you were too nice to be an aristocrat.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sho asked, offended. Nino sniffed, dismissive.
“It means exactly what I said. Anyway, it’s your turn.” Nino knew that Sho was probably from a higher caste. Elite Guard, probably. In Milna, the Guards were the highest caste after those in the eight ruling houses. In fact, most of those in the Guard were related to the rulers in some way or another.
A little reluctant, even though he was the one who had suggested it in the first place, Sho stood to show his Mark. He only let it show for a moment, before pulling his shirt back down, as if embarrassed by it. It was in the same place as Ohno’s. Again, it wasn’t the location, but the image that was shocking to Aiba and Nino.
No one said a word as Sho sat back down.
After a couple of minutes, Nino commented, “it seems like our list of crimes keep getting worse and worse. As if it wasn’t enough to be suspected of murder we didn’t commit, now it seems like we’ve gone and kidnapped ourselves a prince.”
“I’m not a prince,” Sho said automatically. It was true; the members of the ruling houses didn’t call themselves royalty, even though the people of Milna regarded them as such. “And since as far as Milna is concerned, I’m a fugitive now, so there’s no need to worry about that.”
“Oh, I’m not worried. A little annoyed that I took on that stupid job in the first place, maybe.” He glared at Ohno. “I should have known that there’s no such thing as easy money.”
})i({
Satisfied that they now “knew” each other, the four of them settled into their discussion. Aiba remained quiet throughout, while Nino asked a lot of questions as Ohno and Sho tried to answer them. Since he had already shown who he was, Sho gave them his last name - Sakurai - and told them that the man they had found dead was his father.
“You don’t look particularly upset over his death,” Nino remarked.
“We weren’t close,” Sho answered shortly. “I’m not saying I’m glad, but I’d be lying if I said that I was devastated. I’m more worried about the Sakurai household, because he had never intended to name me as his heir, but I don’t know if he ever did name anyone. The fact most of the Guard probably thought I killed my father doesn’t help. Basically, the Sakurai household has fallen, with his death.”
“It wouldn’t be the first of the eight ruling houses to fall,” Nino muttered.
“You’re right, it’s not.” Sho tilted his head inquiringly. “I’m surprised that you knew; I thought all knowledge about these things has been suppressed.”
“You hear things when you’ve travelled as much as we have.”
})i({
They decided to continue their talk later, as Nino had wanted to take some time to digest what he had learned. Ohno, being somewhat used to airships, had offered to relieve Isuzu from her duties, and left with Sho. Nino remained in the wardroom with Aiba.
“Are you okay?” Nino asked.
“I’m fine.” Aiba paused. “Actually...”
“What?”
“Your Mark...”
“Oh, this?” Nino pulled down his shirt again, showing Aiba. “Good thing they weren’t that suspicious in the first place, because it wouldn’t have been convincing if they looked properly, or insisted on a test. Rin drew it on before I came down to find you guys.” He rubbed at the ‘Mark’ roughly, and the edges smeared. “See?”
Aiba nodded. “I see.”
“It was a gamble, about them being okay with you not showing yours.”
“It’s okay. I am who I am, after all.” Aiba smiled at Nino bleakly, before getting up to leave the room. “But I’m glad, anyway. Isn’t that funny?”
Nino scowled. “There’s nothing wrong with you, Aiba.”
“I know.” But he didn’t sound convinced at all. Nino was going to tell him something else, but he left before Nino could say a thing.
})i({
They didn’t really need the usual number of crew members in the ship, as Aiba had re-engineered it to run by itself for the most part. They could manage with just the three of them; Aiba had even installed a system to help the ship navigate itself, although both he and Nino preferred to do it themselves. However, there were limits to what an airship could do. No matter how many times Aiba tried, he couldn’t figure out a way to make the tea dispenser to come up with anything other than a strange watery liquid that no one would mistake for tea.
He mused about this, as he waited for water to boil in the kitchen. There are things that you had to do yourself, he supposed.
When Sho walked into the kitchen, he was glad that he had yet to pick up the kettle. He probably would have dropped it on his feet. “Uh... Sakurai-sama,” he said, remembering what Ohno had called Sho.
“It’s Sho. I thought I told you that.”
Sho pulled up a stool and sat down, watching Aiba prepare the tea. “I didn’t know there were still people who did this the old way,” he commented.
“It’s the only way to get the taste just right,” Aiba replied uneasily.
“Why were you so quiet just now? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Somehow I get the feeling that you say that a lot. Look, it’s like Nino said - in this ship, we’re all equal, okay?”
Aiba gave Sho a wary look, but just nodded.
“So, when will you be showing me around the ship? I really haven’t been on an airship before.”
Aiba thought about it. “I guess I could show you around later. After I send some tea up to Nino and Isuzu.”
“Great. I’ll wait here, then. Can I have some of that, too? I think I’ve never had tea made the old way before.”
Hearing his words, Aiba smiled tentatively at Sho. “I’ll get you some snacks to go with it,” he said, by way of reply.
~ to be continued ~
Chapter Two | Chapter Four
Marineko's Notes:
Umm... lots of talk in this one, and still I haven't explained all that much. :/
RATING: G
PAIRING: Sakuraiba, Juntoshi
DATE: April 27th, 2010
WORD COUNT: 2,078
DISCLAIMER/NOTES: (1) This is a work of fiction, (2) AU.
Chapter Two | Chapter Four
Chapter Three
Sho and Ohno opened the door, intent on finding Nino, but the person they were looking for was already there. “Rin called me down,” he said to Aiba, who just nodded.
“I’ll head to the bridge,” he said, and was about to leave, but Nino stopped him.
“It’s okay. Rin can handle things.” Turning to include the other two men, Nino signalled for them to follow him. “We’re going to the wardroom.”
“You have a wardroom? I thought this was a merchant’s ship.”
Nino ignored Sho. As Nino led the way, Sho asked Aiba in a low voice, “is it just the three of you, here?”
Aiba shrugged, not knowing whether he should tell the truth or not.
“How do you manage with so few people?”
“We hire people when we need them,” Nino said shortly from ahead of them. “I forgot to mention, since the two of you are onboard, both of you are expected to help out as well. And stop asking him questions.”
})i({
The “wardroom”, which was really one of the larger cabins that had been renovated somewhat, was cozy. It certainly was better than Aiba’s sparse, non-decorated room. “This feels more like a room than where you had kept me earlier,” Sho commented, finding himself a comfortable seat.
“That was my room,” Aiba told Sho.
“Really? My condolences.”
Aiba just gave Sho an irritated look, but settled into a seat next to Nino. Ohno waited until everyone else was seated before pulling up a chair for himself. Noticing this, Aiba suddenly got up. “I should make drinks for everyone or something,” he muttered.
“Aiba, just sit,” Nino said with mild annoyance, causing Aiba to sit back down as abruptly as he had stood up, with an indecipherable look on his face as he looked at Nino. Sho studied Aiba’s expression, but looked away when Nino started talking to him and Ohno. “Rin said that we needed to talk, but she didn’t say about what, so would anyone care to explain to me what this is about?”
Ohno and Sho looked at each other for a moment. “I don’t know if this is a good idea,” Ohno said. “Um, I don’t mean any disrespect...”
It was Sho’s turn to look annoyed. “Will you stop being so polite all the time... Satoshi.” It took him awhile to remember Ohno’s first name, and he knew that Nino noticed from the way Nino was looking at him. He cursed. “All right. I’ve had enough.” Looking back at Nino straight in the eyes, he said, “Look, whatever it is, unless you’re planning to kill me or let me go, we’re stuck with each other for the time being, so... truce?”
“Kill him? You can’t kill him,” Ohno said incredulously.
“You promised not to interfere with anything else going on this ship,” Nino reminded his guest. “If you do, I won’t take you to Forlee.”
Ohno looked like he was going to protest, but shut his mouth, thinking better of it. Sho looked at him thoughtfully.
“I wonder what’s the personal matter that’s so important, you’d let them kill me,” Sho remarked lightly, causing Ohno to look at him guiltily.
“Uh -”
“I was kidding,” Sho interrupted. “And anyhow, don’t worry about it. I’m sure a lot of people would be glad to be rid of me, anyway.” To Nino, he continued, “first of all, just so that we know we are who we say we are - let’s show our Marks.”
Every citizen had a ‘Mark’, which is a tattoo they receive in childhood. Each country had their own customs and rituals when it comes to a child’s marking day, and the ages they become marked may also differ. The marks were important in two ways - the exact location of the mark is usually an indication of a person’s birth country and citizenship, while the exact shape or pattern of the mark indicates the person’s rank or caste. Nino sighed, and looked reluctant, but he knew that Sho or Ohno would ask, sooner or later.
He nodded. “Aiba?” he asked. “Is this fine with you?”
Aiba looked trapped. He didn’t want to, but Nino had already agreed. “I... guess so.” His voice was quiet and uncertain.
“Are you sure?” To his surprise, it was Sho who asked him. “You look a little pale.”
“He hates the caste system. So do I, come to think of it. Anyway, we’ve got the same marks, so you don’t have to see his.”
Sho frowned. The point about showing their marks was so that they couldn’t lie about these things. But... he looked at Aiba again, and felt sorry for the man. “All right.”
Nino pulled at the collar of his shirt, exposing his upper left shoulder, where there was a distinct image of what looked like hemp rope entwined in a floral shape - the mark of a craftsman. He immediately pulled his shirt back up again.
“Upper left shoulder... you’re from Eero? That’s a pretty long way from here.”
Nino ignored the remark. “Your turn.”
“I’ll go first,” Ohno said. He stood up and turned his back on them. “In Milna, our marks are on our lower back,” he explained, pulling his shirt up a little so that Nino and Aiba could see. True enough, his Mark was at the small of his back. His looked a little like Nino’s, except that the patterns looked like tiny linked chains, instead. The location didn’t surprise either Nino or Aiba, since they knew that Ohno was from Milna, but the swirling pattern of the mark did.
“You’re a servant?” Nino asked, dumbfounded. Ohno let of his shirt, letting it fall back down, before turning back to face them, and nodded.
“That’s the mark of a servant in the ruling houses; he’s still of higher rank than you,” Sho said, speaking in a severe tone, as if reprimanding them.
“Everyone gets equal treatment in my ship, so I don’t care about that. What I care about, though, is where the money you paid me came from.” Nino’s eyes narrowed at Ohno. “I’m sure that servants of your rank live comfortably, but only lords have the kind of money you’re flaunting.”
“It’s mine to spend,” Ohno said. “I didn’t think you worried about legalities.”
“I don’t, not usually. Well, now that’s one mystery solved - I thought you were too nice to be an aristocrat.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sho asked, offended. Nino sniffed, dismissive.
“It means exactly what I said. Anyway, it’s your turn.” Nino knew that Sho was probably from a higher caste. Elite Guard, probably. In Milna, the Guards were the highest caste after those in the eight ruling houses. In fact, most of those in the Guard were related to the rulers in some way or another.
A little reluctant, even though he was the one who had suggested it in the first place, Sho stood to show his Mark. He only let it show for a moment, before pulling his shirt back down, as if embarrassed by it. It was in the same place as Ohno’s. Again, it wasn’t the location, but the image that was shocking to Aiba and Nino.
No one said a word as Sho sat back down.
After a couple of minutes, Nino commented, “it seems like our list of crimes keep getting worse and worse. As if it wasn’t enough to be suspected of murder we didn’t commit, now it seems like we’ve gone and kidnapped ourselves a prince.”
“I’m not a prince,” Sho said automatically. It was true; the members of the ruling houses didn’t call themselves royalty, even though the people of Milna regarded them as such. “And since as far as Milna is concerned, I’m a fugitive now, so there’s no need to worry about that.”
“Oh, I’m not worried. A little annoyed that I took on that stupid job in the first place, maybe.” He glared at Ohno. “I should have known that there’s no such thing as easy money.”
})i({
Satisfied that they now “knew” each other, the four of them settled into their discussion. Aiba remained quiet throughout, while Nino asked a lot of questions as Ohno and Sho tried to answer them. Since he had already shown who he was, Sho gave them his last name - Sakurai - and told them that the man they had found dead was his father.
“You don’t look particularly upset over his death,” Nino remarked.
“We weren’t close,” Sho answered shortly. “I’m not saying I’m glad, but I’d be lying if I said that I was devastated. I’m more worried about the Sakurai household, because he had never intended to name me as his heir, but I don’t know if he ever did name anyone. The fact most of the Guard probably thought I killed my father doesn’t help. Basically, the Sakurai household has fallen, with his death.”
“It wouldn’t be the first of the eight ruling houses to fall,” Nino muttered.
“You’re right, it’s not.” Sho tilted his head inquiringly. “I’m surprised that you knew; I thought all knowledge about these things has been suppressed.”
“You hear things when you’ve travelled as much as we have.”
})i({
They decided to continue their talk later, as Nino had wanted to take some time to digest what he had learned. Ohno, being somewhat used to airships, had offered to relieve Isuzu from her duties, and left with Sho. Nino remained in the wardroom with Aiba.
“Are you okay?” Nino asked.
“I’m fine.” Aiba paused. “Actually...”
“What?”
“Your Mark...”
“Oh, this?” Nino pulled down his shirt again, showing Aiba. “Good thing they weren’t that suspicious in the first place, because it wouldn’t have been convincing if they looked properly, or insisted on a test. Rin drew it on before I came down to find you guys.” He rubbed at the ‘Mark’ roughly, and the edges smeared. “See?”
Aiba nodded. “I see.”
“It was a gamble, about them being okay with you not showing yours.”
“It’s okay. I am who I am, after all.” Aiba smiled at Nino bleakly, before getting up to leave the room. “But I’m glad, anyway. Isn’t that funny?”
Nino scowled. “There’s nothing wrong with you, Aiba.”
“I know.” But he didn’t sound convinced at all. Nino was going to tell him something else, but he left before Nino could say a thing.
})i({
They didn’t really need the usual number of crew members in the ship, as Aiba had re-engineered it to run by itself for the most part. They could manage with just the three of them; Aiba had even installed a system to help the ship navigate itself, although both he and Nino preferred to do it themselves. However, there were limits to what an airship could do. No matter how many times Aiba tried, he couldn’t figure out a way to make the tea dispenser to come up with anything other than a strange watery liquid that no one would mistake for tea.
He mused about this, as he waited for water to boil in the kitchen. There are things that you had to do yourself, he supposed.
When Sho walked into the kitchen, he was glad that he had yet to pick up the kettle. He probably would have dropped it on his feet. “Uh... Sakurai-sama,” he said, remembering what Ohno had called Sho.
“It’s Sho. I thought I told you that.”
Sho pulled up a stool and sat down, watching Aiba prepare the tea. “I didn’t know there were still people who did this the old way,” he commented.
“It’s the only way to get the taste just right,” Aiba replied uneasily.
“Why were you so quiet just now? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Somehow I get the feeling that you say that a lot. Look, it’s like Nino said - in this ship, we’re all equal, okay?”
Aiba gave Sho a wary look, but just nodded.
“So, when will you be showing me around the ship? I really haven’t been on an airship before.”
Aiba thought about it. “I guess I could show you around later. After I send some tea up to Nino and Isuzu.”
“Great. I’ll wait here, then. Can I have some of that, too? I think I’ve never had tea made the old way before.”
Hearing his words, Aiba smiled tentatively at Sho. “I’ll get you some snacks to go with it,” he said, by way of reply.
~ to be continued ~
Chapter Two | Chapter Four
Marineko's Notes:
Umm... lots of talk in this one, and still I haven't explained all that much. :/