[Sakumoto Fic]: Thunderstorms and Tempest Cloud 9.1: A Break In The Clouds
Pairing: Sakumoto, cameos from other members
Rating: G
Word Count: 5,048 words
Genre: Angst, Romance
Disclaimer: Purely a figment of my imagination; the fic, that is. Not them, of course. :)
Summary: Sho extends an invitation to Arashi for dinner at his home. A cause for celebration, or for concern?
A/N: The second-to-last chapter in this fic. Apologies in advance for split parts cos LJ keeps telling me I have error whenever each chapter hits around 3000+ words. J As always, comments are love ©.
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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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[First week of June 2010]
To: doubutsuendaisukii@au.ne.jp, fishingriida@au.ne.jp, magicalcardgames@au.ne.jp, murasakiidos@au.ne.jp
From: zerocaster@au.ne.jp
Subject: Celebratory Dinner at my place?
Minna,
Was able to access my email after some help from Mai. Was thinking that since Kazu’s birthday is coming up and we all have different work assignments that day, maybe we can celebrate it early on the weekend at my place? Kind of a dual celebration since I haven’t had a chance to show my gratitude for all you’ve done for me. Dinner and drinks to chill out after. What say you?
Sho.
Jun stared at the message that had just come through on his phone. Much as he’d like to avoid the place that held all sorts of memories, he couldn’t think of a plausible reason to excuse himself from the occasion. Trying to shrug off the heavy feeling inside, he decided that the best way was probably to see what the others had to say.
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[Second week of June 2010]
To: magicalcardgames@au.ne.jp, fishingriida@au.ne.jp, doubutsuendaisukii@au.ne.jp
From: murasakiidos@au.ne.jp
Subject: Dinner@Sho’s
So if this is to celebrate Nino’s birthday, why must we have it at Sho’s?
To: murasakiidos@au.ne.jp, fishingriida@au.ne.jp, doubutsuendaisukii@au.ne.jp
From: magicalcardgames@au.ne.jp
Subject: RE: Dinner@Sho’s for little, special o’ moi
Because, hime, since you seem to have forgotten, he offered. Who am I to turn down a kind deed from one of our very own? ( ^-^)/~~~
To: murasakiidos@au.ne.jp, magicalcardgames@au.ne.jp, doubutsuendaisukii@au.ne.jp
From: fishingriida@au.ne.jp
Subject: RE: RE: Dinner@Sho’s for little, special o’ moi
Jun-kun. Everything will be fine. The fresh mackerel I just caught will do everyone a world of good. J
To: magicalcardgames@au.ne.jp, fishingriida@au.ne.jp, doubutsuendaisukii@au.ne.jp
From: murasakiidos@au.ne.jp
Subject: RE: RE: RE: Dinner@Sho’s for little, special o’ moi
What time are we all meeting again?
To: murasakiidos@au.ne.jp, fishingriida@au.ne.jp, doubutsuendaisukii@au.ne.jp
From: magicalcardgames@au.ne.jp
Subject: Dinner@Sho’s a.k.a. My grand party!
5pm, but as birthday boy, I get to make a grand entrance right? Riida, you’re filleting the fish first, or you get to be friendly with the sofa tonight. See you guys later. (^-^)
To: magicalcardgames@au.ne.jp, fishingriida@au.ne.jp, doubutsuendaisukii@au.ne.jp
From: murasakiidos@au.ne.jp
Subject: RE: Dinner@Sho’s a.k.a. My grand party!
Sho’s physically okay to be doing so much… and preparing the dinner? Seriously?
To: murasakiidos@au.ne.jp, magicalcardgames@au.ne.jp, fishingriida@au.ne.jp
From: doubutsuendaisukii@au.ne.jp
Subject: RE: RE: Dinner@Sho’s a.k.a. My grand party!
Gomen, gomen. Was filming, hence the late reply. Sho-chan called and asked for suggestions, so I passed him some recipes. Will rush over soon as I’ve grabbed a shower. Matta ne. xxxoooxxx
To: murasakiidos@au.ne.jp, fishingriida@au.ne.jp, doubutsuendaisukii@au.ne.jp
From: magicalcardgames@au.ne.jp
Subject: RE: RE: RE: Dinner@Sho’s a.k.a. My grand party?!
YOUR recipes?!?! ( * ___ * ) J. I’m thinking: You. Me. Drinks instead.
To: murasakiidos@au.ne.jp, magicalcardgames@au.ne.jp, doubutsuendaisukii@au.ne.jp
From: fishingriida@au.ne.jp
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: Dinner@Sho’s a.k.a. My grand party?!
Erm… Might be a little late. May need Matsu-nii’s help with the fish. Wait a minute, so where am I bringing the fish to now?
To: magicalcardgames@au.ne.jp, fishingriida@au.ne.jp, doubutsuendaisukii@au.ne.jp
From: murasakiidos@au.ne.jp
Subject: Dinner@Sho’s a.k.a. the one YOU accepted
Can’t believe I’m saying this, but you know we can’t cancel Kaz. (*_*) I must be insane to be worried about hurting Sho’s feelings when it’s our stomachs at risk.
Hurt Sho’s feeling indeed.
Jun’s shoulders slumped further at the thought of having to come face-to-face with Sho after their last… conversation. He felt almost hypocritical and it lent little comfort that Masaki was likely to show up soon. Not when Jun had already been standing within a hundred metres of Sho’s home for the past 25 minutes, acting like a shady manga character hiding in the shadows.
He still couldn’t believe how he’d exited the last time he was here. He’d promised himself that he’d faced up to whatever misunderstanding stood between Sho himself. He’d promised himself that he wouldn’t jump into anything rash that he might regret. And what did he do? He’d fled the scene just like the time when he’d bolted from the moo-ing cows. Oh God!
He’d be just as grateful when Aiba finally got here. Or if Ohno was the first to show. Anyone, really, just not-
The hand on his shoulder caused him to turn so quickly that recognition failed to register for the first few moments.
Sho.
Not Aiba.
Not Ohno.
It just had to be Sho.
Clearing his throat at having been found in such unfortunate circumstances, Jun tried for an air of normality. “Sho-kun,” spotting the small bag of wine cradled by his right arm, “Out buying stuff for tonight?”
As if peering out of the eyes of a stranger, the look that Sho cast his way lacked the amiability he’d normally have expected of the man. Not surprising really, considering how they had parted the last time.
“The food’s all ready. Just forgot the wine to go with it.” Throwing a fleeting glance towards their common destination before looking quizzically at Jun again, “And you’re just standing here instead of coming over directly because?”
Fortunately, Jun was saved from answering when Masaki appeared behind Sho’s shoulder with a more-than-enthusiastic greeting to the two members.
“Sho-kun! J! What are you guys doing out here?” He’d obviously rushed over, panting heavily as he threw an arm over the shoulders of the members to either side of him. Finally catching his breath, he hooked an arm each through each man’s elbow and started to enthusiastically drag them towards Sho’s apartment. “It’s going to be a glorious night! I just know it!”
Jun hoped so too. He wasn’t really in the mood for any surprises.
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The sight of the dining table elaborately done up all ready for the birthday festivities caused Jun’s jaw to drop, even as Masaki voiced aloud the awe that the former felt. There were individualized floral-themed settings or gifts for each of the members (probably scouted for and put together by Sho himself), and fine crystal glasses laid out alongside Nomad knife and chopsticks eating sets that had been colour-coordinated to match each member. Scented ivory-hued candles of varying heights had been distributed in the centre of the rectangular-shaped wooden table, close enough to provide enough light while dining, but not too much so as to make it uncomfortable with the heat from the flames. There was even music box instrumentals of their music playing in the background, and it all lent to a wonderfully sentimental feeling.
“Sho-chan, you did all this? By yourself?” The amazement was only too blatant in Masaki’s voice. “But you didn’t overly tax yourself, did you? You’re okay, not tired?” Concern was awash in his tone as he shifted his attention from the table, turning to stick his upper body and head through the waist-high window counter separating the kitchen from the dining area. Jun lingered near the kitchen entrance, watching Sho put the wine away in the cooler for their later consumption.
“Don’t worry. I just took care of the table settings. Foodwise...” Sho’s lips lifted in a knowing smile as he shared a laugh with Masaki, “I figured we’d all fare better if I called in caterers for the food.”
Masaki gave a hoot of laughter. “Nino’ll be grateful for that I’m sure.”
“I’ll be sure to thank the brat for his vote of confidence later then.” Sho glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall. “Any idea what time he and Ohno-san will be getting here? Left the food in the warmer a little while ago, and wouldn’t want the food to keep too long.”
“Nino’s pulling the birthday-boy card and said that ‘we’ll see him when we see him’, but I know he’s coming from home. Oh-chan went fishing, but he promised he wouldn’t be late.” Masaki added with a secretive smile, “He wouldn’t dare, not for Nino’s birthday celebration.”
“Oh. Okay.”
Even as he listened to the conversation, Jun found that he could not keep from fidgeting. It was already bad enough that he felt the urge to make up any excuse to leave, and barely avoided a collision with Sho who was exiting the kitchen.
As Sho’s hands came up to catch his upper arms, Jun pulled back even before contact could be made. Shrugging in chagrin, he stuck his hands into his back pockets as he tried to laugh off his strange behaviour. The look he caught in Sho’s eyes made his lips tighten and his throat to run dry.
“Sorry.”
Standing immobile facing each other, the single word was simultaneously uttered by both, the meaning of which seemed fraught with a multitude of possibilities.
As if not having noticed the awkward atmosphere, Masaki happily flounced back to the carefully laid-out table, curiosity brimming over as he proceeded to question Sho. A Sho who seemed almost happy for the distraction and opportunity to distance himself from the youngest member. However, before Masaki could complete his first question, the sound of the doorbell drew Sho’s attention.
As Sho went to open the door to admit their latest arrival, Jun noticed the slight frown and pouted lips that Aiba sported.
“What’s wrong Masaki?”
“Sho said he was the one who setup the table? The arrangements and all?”
“Yeah.” Jun looked at Aiba with a small grin and raised eyebrow. “You don’t believe him?”
“I thought… didn’t you say you were a passion vine? That Sho tagged you of the passion-vine type?”
“Yeah.” Jun still didn’t quite get what Masaki was trying to get at, not until he looked more observantly at the table settings. A frown of his own soon surfaced as he understood Masaki’s confusion.
By the time it occurred to him to ask Masaki his thoughts, Nino and Ohno had made their appearances in the room, with Sho following after.
“Sho-chan! All this? Just for me?” Nino could not keep the teasing note out of his voice. “But afraid you might be a little late if it’s to win my favour.”
Heat rose in Sho’s cheeks as he looked around the room at the members. “I-It’s not just for you Nino. It’s my thanks to everyone for everything.” Jun couldn’t help but wonder if Sho’s look lingered a little when it came to himself. “And I-I’m not trying to win your favour.”
“Maybe Jun shouldn’t be the one to be called Princess if you’re gonna keep on turning that shade of red,” Nino added with another poke to Sho’s ribs. “But seriously Sho,” sweeping a hand to indicate the table settings, “you’re still in recuperation. This is really over and above what we’d expect.”
“Sho-kun. These are really beautiful flowers and colours you chose.” Even Ohno sounded impressed with Sho’s efforts as he sat down, his place setting decorated with stalks of yellow gorse tied in a small neat bunch with white-and-green-checked flower wrapping paper and pale green ribbon.
“And I’ll agree with Oh-chan once I can get over how girly the choice of flowers is for us guys.” Nino said laughingly as he batted away Sho’s attempts to smack his forehead. Scornful as the words had been, Nino had meant no malice, instead throwing a fake glare at Sho when he came to his own setting.
“Hey!” Nino exclaimed as he pointed at the familiar white and pale pink blossoms floating atop the crystal bowl and glass setting laid out for him. “How come my flowers are so common?”
“These are NOT the common plum blossoms. These are pear blossoms, and will telling you it signifies lasting friendship appease you?” Sho’s tone held a trace of mockery, as if he knew that Nino was trying to purposely bait him. “Flowers don’t lie you know.”
With a sniff of the fragrant blooms, Nino deadpanned, “You SO lifted that from Yamada Tarou’s scriptwriters, don’t think I’d forgotten that. I guess I’ll just have to put up with a friend like you for however long I can tolerate you,” before flashing his megawatt, melt-girls-on-their-feet cheeky grin at Sho with glee.
Aiba had been gushing over his own gift of scented white candles motiffed with designs of rounded magnolia petals, but soon turned his attention to Sho’s own floral cluster. “And what’s yours? That’s the Eglantine Rose you mentioned before?” Masaki queried, his eyes lighting up with renewed interest.
Like Nino’s setting, the pale pink and purple petals encircling yellow centres of Sho’s personal arrangement were also set in a shallow transparent bowl of water. The colours stood out against the candlelight’s reflection off the water, and Jun had to admit they made a pretty contrast to the other lighter hues at the table.
“Yeah. Felt they really fit, considering I’m still on the path to recovery. Wounds to heal and all.” Sho studiously avoided all eyes, but Jun felt as if there had been a hidden message somewhere in there specifically for him.
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Click here for Cloud 9.2.