Words Epilogue
Title: Words Epilogue
Author:hippiefox
Pairing: mostly Ohmiya, some Sakuraiba
Rating: it's probably R from now on?
Genre: AU, school, a little bit of everything :D
Summary: Always make your point clear!
Disclaimer: Don't own anything, except for the Drama Club.
Previous Chapters!
Epilogue
The night of the Prom had come and Ohno felt horribly out of place and alone. He was convinced that his suit was too tight, even after abandoning his tie and jacket and undoing the buttons at his collar. Everyone else seemed to be having a good time though.
Jun and Ayako arrived together in smiles, Jun blushing and looking at Ayako shyly and Ayako doting on him at whatever chance she got.
Sho and Aiba had only stayed for awhile, mainly to check out the refreshments and say good-bye to Ayako. After a few hours of hanging around, they decided to leave to get some "alone time", which Aiba had no problem announcing over the loud music.
As a red faced Sho lead a bubbly Aiba out of the school, Ohno felt alone again.
He had tried to get Nino to come with him, but Nino refused, using his star project as his excuse. Ohno begged a little more, using his best pout and puppy-eyed face that he could muster, but Nino didn’t crack. Ohno sat next to Ayako and Jun, watching Ayako shamelessly flirt with Jun and Jun just blush even more and chew on his lip.
Ohno smiled and looked away.
The banner he and Ayako had painted was hanging over the illuminated stage that had a backdrop with a "Starry Night in Paris" theme. The banner was loudly congratulating the graduating class and only made Ohno homesick, even though he didn’t even leave yet.
Ohno looked over the backdrop, the Eiffel Tower against a perfectly starry sky with two lovers standing in the grass below. Ohno pouted a bit and looked down at his shiny shoes. He wanted to kiss Nino in front of the Eiffel Tower...
"You don’t have to stay, Ohno-kun." Ayako suddenly said. Ohno looked at her and forced a smile.
"I’m okay..." he lied. Jun grumbled and stood up, walked around Ayako and stopped in front of Ohno. He grabbed Ohno’s arms and pulled him up.
"You’re wasting time again. Go spend the night with Nino... you know you should." Jun said, turning Ohno around to the direction of the door and giving him a little shove. Ohno looked back at the two grinning at him and nodded.
Ayako and Jun watched Ohno gather his things and dash through the door. Ayako rested her arm on Jun’s shoulder and smiled up at him.
"I knew I liked you." she cooed.
"Ah... he just needed a push." Jun said casually, taking Ayako’s hand and leading her back to their seats.
Ohno didn’t know why he felt like he was in a rush to get to the park, Nino wasn’t going anywhere for awhile. But he hurried all the same, sometimes running, sometimes walking until he spotted the lamps of the park. It wasn’t too late at night, so there were several kids with their parents playing on the equipment as Ohno walked the sidewalk until the lamps grew dim and there was the dark field.
There was a spot of light from where Nino was sitting in the distance and Ohno smiled. He quickened his pace again and then slowed down to a tiptoe when he was close to Nino.
After setting down his things, Ohno pounced in one sudden motion. He tackled Nino down, making him yell out in fright and probably in pain since Ohno accidentally kneed him in the ribs. But Ohno remained perched on top, smiling down at Nino.
"Why are you here?" Nino asked, trying to decide if he was angry from being injured or happy to see Ohno.
"I was bored... and alone. And I wanted to see you." Ohno shrugged. Nino stared up at Ohno, studying his charming features in the lantern light. He swallowed and suddenly wished he couldn’t see Ohno’s neck and collarbone through the opening of his shirt.
Or maybe he wanted to see more... Nino shut his eyes in confusion.
"Oh... well, you can get off..." Nino halfheartedly suggested. Ohno smirked and rolled off of Nino, only to lay next to him.
"You were really working?" Ohno asked, looking at Nino’s now wrinkled homework.
"Not really..." Nino mumbled, still distracted by Ohno’s neck. At first, Ohno didn’t know what was with Nino’s staring, his sudden anxiousness and hiding his strange smirks. It didn’t take long for Ohno to figure out what was going on in Nino’s mind.
It was evil, but Ohno did it anyway. He rolled over half of Nino’s body, letting his hand play absentmindedly with Nino’s ear as Ohno kissed his cheek.
"You wouldn’t have liked the Prom anyway, it was really hot and crowded. That’s why I had to take everything off." Ohno almost laughed when he heard Nino gulp.
"Not everything." Nino replied, slightly strained.
"No, just tie and jacket... I wasn’t naked."
"...right."
"That wouldn’t be good..."
".......hm..."
Once Ohno started laughing into Nino’s hair, Nino sat up and glared at him with his face red.
"You did that on purpose." Nino grumbled in embarrassment. Ohno continued laughing until Nino roughly kissed him quiet. But Ohno wasn’t complaining.
"I hope you plan to follow through?" Nino asked in a low whisper, trailing his thumb over Ohno’s bottom lip. Ohno sat up and pulled Nino in for another, slightly more tender, kiss before smiling.
"I wouldn’t have done that if I didn’t mean it." Ohno replied, catching Nino again before he could speak.
Everyone has their stories to tell about Prom night, and the five were no different. While the school was buzzing with tales of who did what with who, who cheated on who, who hooked up with who and other combinations, for once, the boys didn’t mind gossiping amongst themselves.
"We all know what you two did. You announced it." Jun laughed, pointing at Aiba.
"I couldn’t hear over the music, so I thought no one else could either!" this had become Aiba’s excuse for embarrassing Sho. Sho laughed quietly to himself and draped his arm around Aiba.
"And you two." Jun pointed to Ohno and Nino next, snuggled up together against the fence, looking lazy and drowsy and not a care in the world. Sho and Aiba perked up, eager to hear what they did.
"What about us?" Nino asked with a smile.
"Don’t deny it."
"Tell us! I want to know!"
Ohno and Nino looked at each other lazily and started to laugh.
At the end of the night, Nino knew he’d have to come up with a good analogy for what happened, mainly because he was too shy to come out and say it. And the only thing that made sense at the moment when he was lying completely satisfied in Ohno’s arms, was baseball.
Nino saw it as baseball. It started out with stepping up to bat and making the hit. Simple enough, Ohno had made the first move at the park and he took the chance. Everyone wants to hit a homerun. First base was easy, anybody can get to first if you step up to the plate and hit the ball. It was kissing, kissing and more kissing which Nino easily excelled in.
Second base was where Nino got a bit shaky. Touching of bare skin, lips and tongues and fingertips exploring unknown territory and a massive amount of self-consciousness and uncertainty.
Nino let Ohno take the lead here. He seemed much more confident and even dragged himself off the bed to turn off the lights when Nino whined about them being left on. Nino could definitely work with Ohno leading here, he could learn from him. Next was third base. Nino knew he was running too fast here, and again let Ohno take it.
But Ohno was unsure as well. He told Nino it was too late to run back to second but too early to slide into home base. Nino agreed. After hearing enough stories of how to do it properly from Aiba, they knew they were definitely unprepared.
However, Nino and Ohno agreed to not leave each other hanging when home base was so, so close.
Nino decided that they were touched by the ball halfway between third and home and had to go to the dugout and cuddle. They played the game well, and even though they lost, they had a great time and went home satisfied.
Sho, Jun and Aiba didn’t know whether to laugh or to be amazed by Nino’s analogy. But they all knew that they would never see baseball the same way. The roof was silent for a long while until Sho spoke.
"So... you two did it... but didn’t." Sho said. Nino and Ohno nodded and so did the others.
"You know, you could have come over to Sho-chan’s and gotten stuff from us. Sho-chan has lots of extras." Aiba said with a smile, ignoring Jun’s laugh and Sho’s pure embarrassment.
"Aiba-chan, when you’re in the middle of playing baseball, you don’t leave the field to visit the convenience stand." Nino said like it was common knowledge, Ohno laughing into his shoulder.
"At least you did more than MatsuJun!" Aiba exclaimed suddenly. Jun glared at Aiba as Nino erupted into laughter. Jun began to pick at his nails angrily. He liked to try to ignore that fact that Ayako was the first girl to breakup with him... and the fact that she was going away.
"Aw, don’t feel bad. She knows you’re not done growing yet." Nino teased, making Aiba fall into Sho’s lap in laughter and Ohno laughing harder into Nino’s shoulder. Jun glared at Nino.
"At least I don’t think up stupid baseball theories during sex." Jun snapped, standing up as the bell rang.
"At least I got there." Nino snickered, helping Ohno up from the ground.
"Whatever, I don’t need this." Jun growled, walking away quickly with a breathless Aiba running after him, dragging a red-faced Sho along.
"We love you! Don’t be mad!"
Nino wondered where the time went. All the time he spent with Ohno, laying around doing nothing, staying out late and just being together, happy. Now, here he was, watching Ohno say good-bye to his parents at the airport, assuring them that he would really be okay. None of them were crying yet, except for Ohno’s mother, but she had an excuse.
There was almost fifteen minutes left before Ohno had to board and Nino wished he could stop time. The moment Ohno hugged Aiba, Aiba was in tears, making everyone else teary just by watching. Sho and Jun were next, hugging Ohno tightly, saying a few encouraging words and ordering him to keep in contact. Nino didn’t like this anymore, he wanted to go home.
"Kazu." Nino turned around at the soft voice and found Ohno hugging him. Nino wiggled away and scowled at him.
"Don’t hug me or touch me... I’m mad at you." Nino said angrily, giving Ohno his best glare. Ohno smiled and nodded.
"Okay, I won’t."
"No! You’re supposed to hug me anyway!" Nino pouted. Jun smacked his head from behind.
"You’re being a pain!" Jun said in annoyance. Aiba giggled tearfully and poked at Nino’s cheeks.
"Nino-chan is shy." he teased, Nino slapping his hand away. Sho smiled as he held onto Aiba, kissing his head before he started to cry again. While Nino was sulking, Ohno gave his bag to Jun and told everyone he’d be right back.
Ohno quickly took Nino’s hand and pulled him through the busy airport until they were outside. Nino let himself be dragged along, not really caring where Ohno was taking him. In the back of the airport there was a huge garden that people could look at while they were waiting for their flights. Ohno took Nino over a bridge over a koi pond sparkling in the sun, following a trail of flagstones and finally by a cute white bench under thick trees.
When they came to a stop, Ohno faced Nino again and smiled.
"I told you I don’t want you to-" Ohno put his hand over Nino’s mouth, adoring the way Nino glared at him while his ears were pink.
"Remember awhile ago when you said to tell you when I found someone?" Ohno asked quietly, lowering his hand from Nino’s mouth.
"Yeah, I do..." Nino nodded slowly, hoping this was going where he wanted it to. Ohno bit his lip and looked to the dark grass under his feet, suddenly growing shy at what he wanted to say. Nino laughed softly and hugged Ohno, kissing the top of his head.
"If you’re talking about me, then I already know." Nino said quietly, closing his eyes and feeling Ohno hug him tightly. Nino really, really wished he could stop time now.
"What if it’s not?" Ohno mumbled. Nino pulled away in shock and found Ohno smirking at him.
"What if I was talking about Jun or Sho?" Ohno teased. Nino dropped his hold on Ohno and frowned at him.
"Why would you say that!? It was getting all romantic and you go and spoil it! And Jun!? I mean, come on! He-" Ohno was laughing the entire time and decided to stop Nino again, this time with a deep kiss. Once Nino’s brain finally caught up to what was happening, he gave into Ohno again, melting into him and pulling him closer.
Nearly a minute or maybe longer, though much too soon for both, Ohno tried to pull away, only to be sucked back in by Nino.
"Mmph... Ni..." Ohno tried to speak through the kisses.
"Nino... doesn’t... work..." Nino replied, too occupied with remembering how Ohno tastes to care about time. He felt Ohno smile against his lips and laugh.
"Kazu." he breathed into Nino, making him stop everything. Ohno opened his eyes to see Nino staring at him and holding Ohno’s bottom lip with his teeth.
"I’ve got to go..." Ohno mumbled the best he could without his lip. Nino didn’t reply, just tightened his hug and looked at Ohno with a look of a puppy being abandoned. Nino finally let go of Ohno’s lip, but Ohno still held him close, not really wanting to let go. He pressed his lips to the crease between Nino’s eyebrows.
There was a long moment where Nino thought time really did stop, but it was shattered when the loud speaker announced flights that needed to be boarded soon.
Ohno pulled away and Nino wanted to disappear.
They all said good-bye once again before Ohno went through the security check, making everyone cry all over again, except for Nino. He wasn’t watching. Ohno asked Sho and Jun to distract his parents when he said good-bye to Nino. They accepted.
Ohno dug out his ticket and put his bag over his shoulder. He walked up to Nino and gently forced his head up to look at him. It was definitely a surprise that neither were crying their hearts out, but Nino did allow for a single tear to fall when he gazed up in Ohno’s eyes.
Ohno leaned forward and left a simple and sweet kiss on Nino’s lips before letting him go.
Their hands remained linked as Ohno walked away, stretching their arms as far as they could go until finally their fingers left each other. Nino let his arm fall to his side, watching Ohno turn away and walk through the security check.
Ohno grabbed his bag and shoes at the end of the conveyer belt, replaced them on his body and then turned for a final wave to everyone.
Nino didn’t wave. But when Ohno smiled at Nino and Nino only, he couldn’t help to smile in return for the last time.
After the airport, the boys were invited to dinner with Ohno’s parents and they politely refused a ride home. They wanted to talk with Nino, who had sat through dinner like he was a statue. They walked home that night under a slightly cloudy sky, pondering what it was going to be like without seeing Ohno everyday.
"It’ll definitely go faster than we think." Sho assured them and himself.
"By the time he comes back, we’ll all be out of school, right? Maybe getting real jobs or even in college." Jun wondered out loud, walking along in a slow pace.
"I’m going to get into Sho-chan’s university!" Aiba chimed in happily, jumping suddenly on Sho for a piggyback ride.
"...better start studying now, Masaki..." Sho groaned under Aiba’s weight. Aiba nuzzled his face against Sho’s cheek as he wrapped his arms around his neck.
"I don’t need to study when I’ve got you!" Aiba laughed, planting a big kiss on his cheek. Jun shook his head and looked back to Nino, lagging behind them with his eyes to the ground and his hands buried deep in his pockets.
His mind was totally on Ohno and what kind of life he was going to live without him. With Ohno by his side for most of his life, Nino never thought about the future and what he was going to do. But now that he was gone, Nino realized he truly didn’t have anything planned.
Nino was brought back to Earth when Jun wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"Eh... where is Nino going be, I wonder?" Jun asked with a smile.
"He’s going to end up owning a family restaurant!" Aiba exclaimed from Sho’s back as they walked next to Nino.
"...a restaurant?" Nino asked wearily, scowling at Aiba.
"Yeah! Oh! Can I work there!?" Aiba asked loudly.
"No."
"And he’ll end up being a coach for some little league baseball team." Sho joined in. Nino turned his glare to him.
"Little league? I’m going to be a professional player!" Nino declared. Jun laughed and ruffed up Nino’s hair until he got his hand slapped away.
"He’s going to quit halfway through next years’ baseball season because he’s tired. "Fuck this, I’m sleeping in." He’ll say that, right?" Jun grinned.
"He would! He’d totally say that." Sho laughed.
"I would not!" Nino pouted. As the three continued to purposely distract Nino from his sadness by pissing him off, they came closer and closer to their houses and their parted ways.
For the first time that night, Nino hardly thought of Ohno and how much he missed him.
But when his friends all said their good-byes and wished each other goodnight, Nino found himself alone again. He dragged his feet down the sidewalk, listening to the crickets and buzzing of other bugs of the night. Usually they were cheery and carefree, but tonight, their songs seemed to be slower and melancholy... or maybe it was just Nino who thought that.
He looked up at the sky, wondering where Ohno was and what he was doing. It took a moment for his senses to come back and realize his phone was ringing. Nino panicked for a second when his phone fell from his hands but he quickly answered it.
"Satoshi!" Nino asked breathlessly.
"I got in trouble for trying to call you on my phone... they made me use the airplane’s phone." Ohno whispered.
"Don’t you have to pay to use those?"
"...it wasn’t much."
Nino laughed, listening to Ohno on the other line laughing softly.
"How is it so far?" Nino asked, starting to walk home again. Ohno looked around the dark plane, filled with sleeping passengers.
"It’s okay... everyone’s sleeping now. The food is weird and I’m still hungry." Ohno complained.
"Why don’t you sleep? You’ll have major jet lag if you don’t." Nino suggested.
"I was going to but... I wanted to tell you goodnight." Ohno whispered. Nino stopped walking and smiled to himself.
"Well, goodnight then. Call us when you get situated."
"I will..."
Both lines went silent until Ohno heard Nino take a breath.
"I love you." Nino whispered, his voice wavering with emotion. Ohno suddenly felt like crying again, but he fought it and smiled instead.
"I love you, too." he replied, just as sincerely and heartfelt as Nino. There was a pause between them, a mumbled goodnight and then they both hung up the phones, both left in silence.
Nino stored his phone away, took a deep breath and closed his eyes, tilting his head towards the sky. He knew that Ohno was going through the same feelings as well and somehow, it made him a little stronger. He opened his eyes and looked solemnly at the cloud covered stars as he walked home. Nino remembered what Ohno had written below the painting dedicated to him.
"One day you and I will reach that future painted in the sky."
And Nino smiled to himself.
Someday, sometime, together... he knew they would have a future.
.
A/N: And that's it D: hopefully it lived up to everyone's expectations and didn't disappoint??? I really, really didn't want this to end XD this epilogue was 6 pages long by the time I ended it XD
Ahhh, it was a little bittersweet... but it was realistic, i think. Especially with high school fics.
And the quote Ohno put on his painting and the quote at the end is from "Beautiful Days" ^_^
And, i have a question for you guys..... i've been thinking about it for awhile and i think i can do it...
Who's up for a Sequel??? 8D Set three/ four years in the future when Ohno returns??? Let me know what you think!
Also, I have almost finished another story "Fallen Angels" and am planning to post the first chapter sometime next month after a short break from writing ^_^ if you want, you can check out what this story is about. Fallen Angel info here!
And lastly, to recover from any sadness from the end of "Words", i have made a few crack short stories that i just posted for my Flist, but thought i should share ^_^ Sakuraiba oneshot here! and a currently running multichapter crack fic: anyone ship Arashi/ Trees??? XD
Thank you guys, so so much for sticking with this story and seeing it through. If i could give you all Ohmiya and Sakuraiba and Jun cookies i would, because all of your awesome comments and support, you guys deserve it 8D Seriously, you're all so amazing!
Thank you again and i'll see you again with another story soon!!!
*HUGS AND COOKIES FOR EVERYONE!!*
Author:hippiefox
Pairing: mostly Ohmiya, some Sakuraiba
Rating: it's probably R from now on?
Genre: AU, school, a little bit of everything :D
Summary: Always make your point clear!
Disclaimer: Don't own anything, except for the Drama Club.
Previous Chapters!
Epilogue
The night of the Prom had come and Ohno felt horribly out of place and alone. He was convinced that his suit was too tight, even after abandoning his tie and jacket and undoing the buttons at his collar. Everyone else seemed to be having a good time though.
Jun and Ayako arrived together in smiles, Jun blushing and looking at Ayako shyly and Ayako doting on him at whatever chance she got.
Sho and Aiba had only stayed for awhile, mainly to check out the refreshments and say good-bye to Ayako. After a few hours of hanging around, they decided to leave to get some "alone time", which Aiba had no problem announcing over the loud music.
As a red faced Sho lead a bubbly Aiba out of the school, Ohno felt alone again.
He had tried to get Nino to come with him, but Nino refused, using his star project as his excuse. Ohno begged a little more, using his best pout and puppy-eyed face that he could muster, but Nino didn’t crack. Ohno sat next to Ayako and Jun, watching Ayako shamelessly flirt with Jun and Jun just blush even more and chew on his lip.
Ohno smiled and looked away.
The banner he and Ayako had painted was hanging over the illuminated stage that had a backdrop with a "Starry Night in Paris" theme. The banner was loudly congratulating the graduating class and only made Ohno homesick, even though he didn’t even leave yet.
Ohno looked over the backdrop, the Eiffel Tower against a perfectly starry sky with two lovers standing in the grass below. Ohno pouted a bit and looked down at his shiny shoes. He wanted to kiss Nino in front of the Eiffel Tower...
"You don’t have to stay, Ohno-kun." Ayako suddenly said. Ohno looked at her and forced a smile.
"I’m okay..." he lied. Jun grumbled and stood up, walked around Ayako and stopped in front of Ohno. He grabbed Ohno’s arms and pulled him up.
"You’re wasting time again. Go spend the night with Nino... you know you should." Jun said, turning Ohno around to the direction of the door and giving him a little shove. Ohno looked back at the two grinning at him and nodded.
Ayako and Jun watched Ohno gather his things and dash through the door. Ayako rested her arm on Jun’s shoulder and smiled up at him.
"I knew I liked you." she cooed.
"Ah... he just needed a push." Jun said casually, taking Ayako’s hand and leading her back to their seats.
Ohno didn’t know why he felt like he was in a rush to get to the park, Nino wasn’t going anywhere for awhile. But he hurried all the same, sometimes running, sometimes walking until he spotted the lamps of the park. It wasn’t too late at night, so there were several kids with their parents playing on the equipment as Ohno walked the sidewalk until the lamps grew dim and there was the dark field.
There was a spot of light from where Nino was sitting in the distance and Ohno smiled. He quickened his pace again and then slowed down to a tiptoe when he was close to Nino.
After setting down his things, Ohno pounced in one sudden motion. He tackled Nino down, making him yell out in fright and probably in pain since Ohno accidentally kneed him in the ribs. But Ohno remained perched on top, smiling down at Nino.
"Why are you here?" Nino asked, trying to decide if he was angry from being injured or happy to see Ohno.
"I was bored... and alone. And I wanted to see you." Ohno shrugged. Nino stared up at Ohno, studying his charming features in the lantern light. He swallowed and suddenly wished he couldn’t see Ohno’s neck and collarbone through the opening of his shirt.
Or maybe he wanted to see more... Nino shut his eyes in confusion.
"Oh... well, you can get off..." Nino halfheartedly suggested. Ohno smirked and rolled off of Nino, only to lay next to him.
"You were really working?" Ohno asked, looking at Nino’s now wrinkled homework.
"Not really..." Nino mumbled, still distracted by Ohno’s neck. At first, Ohno didn’t know what was with Nino’s staring, his sudden anxiousness and hiding his strange smirks. It didn’t take long for Ohno to figure out what was going on in Nino’s mind.
It was evil, but Ohno did it anyway. He rolled over half of Nino’s body, letting his hand play absentmindedly with Nino’s ear as Ohno kissed his cheek.
"You wouldn’t have liked the Prom anyway, it was really hot and crowded. That’s why I had to take everything off." Ohno almost laughed when he heard Nino gulp.
"Not everything." Nino replied, slightly strained.
"No, just tie and jacket... I wasn’t naked."
"...right."
"That wouldn’t be good..."
".......hm..."
Once Ohno started laughing into Nino’s hair, Nino sat up and glared at him with his face red.
"You did that on purpose." Nino grumbled in embarrassment. Ohno continued laughing until Nino roughly kissed him quiet. But Ohno wasn’t complaining.
"I hope you plan to follow through?" Nino asked in a low whisper, trailing his thumb over Ohno’s bottom lip. Ohno sat up and pulled Nino in for another, slightly more tender, kiss before smiling.
"I wouldn’t have done that if I didn’t mean it." Ohno replied, catching Nino again before he could speak.
Everyone has their stories to tell about Prom night, and the five were no different. While the school was buzzing with tales of who did what with who, who cheated on who, who hooked up with who and other combinations, for once, the boys didn’t mind gossiping amongst themselves.
"We all know what you two did. You announced it." Jun laughed, pointing at Aiba.
"I couldn’t hear over the music, so I thought no one else could either!" this had become Aiba’s excuse for embarrassing Sho. Sho laughed quietly to himself and draped his arm around Aiba.
"And you two." Jun pointed to Ohno and Nino next, snuggled up together against the fence, looking lazy and drowsy and not a care in the world. Sho and Aiba perked up, eager to hear what they did.
"What about us?" Nino asked with a smile.
"Don’t deny it."
"Tell us! I want to know!"
Ohno and Nino looked at each other lazily and started to laugh.
At the end of the night, Nino knew he’d have to come up with a good analogy for what happened, mainly because he was too shy to come out and say it. And the only thing that made sense at the moment when he was lying completely satisfied in Ohno’s arms, was baseball.
Nino saw it as baseball. It started out with stepping up to bat and making the hit. Simple enough, Ohno had made the first move at the park and he took the chance. Everyone wants to hit a homerun. First base was easy, anybody can get to first if you step up to the plate and hit the ball. It was kissing, kissing and more kissing which Nino easily excelled in.
Second base was where Nino got a bit shaky. Touching of bare skin, lips and tongues and fingertips exploring unknown territory and a massive amount of self-consciousness and uncertainty.
Nino let Ohno take the lead here. He seemed much more confident and even dragged himself off the bed to turn off the lights when Nino whined about them being left on. Nino could definitely work with Ohno leading here, he could learn from him. Next was third base. Nino knew he was running too fast here, and again let Ohno take it.
But Ohno was unsure as well. He told Nino it was too late to run back to second but too early to slide into home base. Nino agreed. After hearing enough stories of how to do it properly from Aiba, they knew they were definitely unprepared.
However, Nino and Ohno agreed to not leave each other hanging when home base was so, so close.
Nino decided that they were touched by the ball halfway between third and home and had to go to the dugout and cuddle. They played the game well, and even though they lost, they had a great time and went home satisfied.
Sho, Jun and Aiba didn’t know whether to laugh or to be amazed by Nino’s analogy. But they all knew that they would never see baseball the same way. The roof was silent for a long while until Sho spoke.
"So... you two did it... but didn’t." Sho said. Nino and Ohno nodded and so did the others.
"You know, you could have come over to Sho-chan’s and gotten stuff from us. Sho-chan has lots of extras." Aiba said with a smile, ignoring Jun’s laugh and Sho’s pure embarrassment.
"Aiba-chan, when you’re in the middle of playing baseball, you don’t leave the field to visit the convenience stand." Nino said like it was common knowledge, Ohno laughing into his shoulder.
"At least you did more than MatsuJun!" Aiba exclaimed suddenly. Jun glared at Aiba as Nino erupted into laughter. Jun began to pick at his nails angrily. He liked to try to ignore that fact that Ayako was the first girl to breakup with him... and the fact that she was going away.
"Aw, don’t feel bad. She knows you’re not done growing yet." Nino teased, making Aiba fall into Sho’s lap in laughter and Ohno laughing harder into Nino’s shoulder. Jun glared at Nino.
"At least I don’t think up stupid baseball theories during sex." Jun snapped, standing up as the bell rang.
"At least I got there." Nino snickered, helping Ohno up from the ground.
"Whatever, I don’t need this." Jun growled, walking away quickly with a breathless Aiba running after him, dragging a red-faced Sho along.
"We love you! Don’t be mad!"
Nino wondered where the time went. All the time he spent with Ohno, laying around doing nothing, staying out late and just being together, happy. Now, here he was, watching Ohno say good-bye to his parents at the airport, assuring them that he would really be okay. None of them were crying yet, except for Ohno’s mother, but she had an excuse.
There was almost fifteen minutes left before Ohno had to board and Nino wished he could stop time. The moment Ohno hugged Aiba, Aiba was in tears, making everyone else teary just by watching. Sho and Jun were next, hugging Ohno tightly, saying a few encouraging words and ordering him to keep in contact. Nino didn’t like this anymore, he wanted to go home.
"Kazu." Nino turned around at the soft voice and found Ohno hugging him. Nino wiggled away and scowled at him.
"Don’t hug me or touch me... I’m mad at you." Nino said angrily, giving Ohno his best glare. Ohno smiled and nodded.
"Okay, I won’t."
"No! You’re supposed to hug me anyway!" Nino pouted. Jun smacked his head from behind.
"You’re being a pain!" Jun said in annoyance. Aiba giggled tearfully and poked at Nino’s cheeks.
"Nino-chan is shy." he teased, Nino slapping his hand away. Sho smiled as he held onto Aiba, kissing his head before he started to cry again. While Nino was sulking, Ohno gave his bag to Jun and told everyone he’d be right back.
Ohno quickly took Nino’s hand and pulled him through the busy airport until they were outside. Nino let himself be dragged along, not really caring where Ohno was taking him. In the back of the airport there was a huge garden that people could look at while they were waiting for their flights. Ohno took Nino over a bridge over a koi pond sparkling in the sun, following a trail of flagstones and finally by a cute white bench under thick trees.
When they came to a stop, Ohno faced Nino again and smiled.
"I told you I don’t want you to-" Ohno put his hand over Nino’s mouth, adoring the way Nino glared at him while his ears were pink.
"Remember awhile ago when you said to tell you when I found someone?" Ohno asked quietly, lowering his hand from Nino’s mouth.
"Yeah, I do..." Nino nodded slowly, hoping this was going where he wanted it to. Ohno bit his lip and looked to the dark grass under his feet, suddenly growing shy at what he wanted to say. Nino laughed softly and hugged Ohno, kissing the top of his head.
"If you’re talking about me, then I already know." Nino said quietly, closing his eyes and feeling Ohno hug him tightly. Nino really, really wished he could stop time now.
"What if it’s not?" Ohno mumbled. Nino pulled away in shock and found Ohno smirking at him.
"What if I was talking about Jun or Sho?" Ohno teased. Nino dropped his hold on Ohno and frowned at him.
"Why would you say that!? It was getting all romantic and you go and spoil it! And Jun!? I mean, come on! He-" Ohno was laughing the entire time and decided to stop Nino again, this time with a deep kiss. Once Nino’s brain finally caught up to what was happening, he gave into Ohno again, melting into him and pulling him closer.
Nearly a minute or maybe longer, though much too soon for both, Ohno tried to pull away, only to be sucked back in by Nino.
"Mmph... Ni..." Ohno tried to speak through the kisses.
"Nino... doesn’t... work..." Nino replied, too occupied with remembering how Ohno tastes to care about time. He felt Ohno smile against his lips and laugh.
"Kazu." he breathed into Nino, making him stop everything. Ohno opened his eyes to see Nino staring at him and holding Ohno’s bottom lip with his teeth.
"I’ve got to go..." Ohno mumbled the best he could without his lip. Nino didn’t reply, just tightened his hug and looked at Ohno with a look of a puppy being abandoned. Nino finally let go of Ohno’s lip, but Ohno still held him close, not really wanting to let go. He pressed his lips to the crease between Nino’s eyebrows.
There was a long moment where Nino thought time really did stop, but it was shattered when the loud speaker announced flights that needed to be boarded soon.
Ohno pulled away and Nino wanted to disappear.
They all said good-bye once again before Ohno went through the security check, making everyone cry all over again, except for Nino. He wasn’t watching. Ohno asked Sho and Jun to distract his parents when he said good-bye to Nino. They accepted.
Ohno dug out his ticket and put his bag over his shoulder. He walked up to Nino and gently forced his head up to look at him. It was definitely a surprise that neither were crying their hearts out, but Nino did allow for a single tear to fall when he gazed up in Ohno’s eyes.
Ohno leaned forward and left a simple and sweet kiss on Nino’s lips before letting him go.
Their hands remained linked as Ohno walked away, stretching their arms as far as they could go until finally their fingers left each other. Nino let his arm fall to his side, watching Ohno turn away and walk through the security check.
Ohno grabbed his bag and shoes at the end of the conveyer belt, replaced them on his body and then turned for a final wave to everyone.
Nino didn’t wave. But when Ohno smiled at Nino and Nino only, he couldn’t help to smile in return for the last time.
After the airport, the boys were invited to dinner with Ohno’s parents and they politely refused a ride home. They wanted to talk with Nino, who had sat through dinner like he was a statue. They walked home that night under a slightly cloudy sky, pondering what it was going to be like without seeing Ohno everyday.
"It’ll definitely go faster than we think." Sho assured them and himself.
"By the time he comes back, we’ll all be out of school, right? Maybe getting real jobs or even in college." Jun wondered out loud, walking along in a slow pace.
"I’m going to get into Sho-chan’s university!" Aiba chimed in happily, jumping suddenly on Sho for a piggyback ride.
"...better start studying now, Masaki..." Sho groaned under Aiba’s weight. Aiba nuzzled his face against Sho’s cheek as he wrapped his arms around his neck.
"I don’t need to study when I’ve got you!" Aiba laughed, planting a big kiss on his cheek. Jun shook his head and looked back to Nino, lagging behind them with his eyes to the ground and his hands buried deep in his pockets.
His mind was totally on Ohno and what kind of life he was going to live without him. With Ohno by his side for most of his life, Nino never thought about the future and what he was going to do. But now that he was gone, Nino realized he truly didn’t have anything planned.
Nino was brought back to Earth when Jun wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"Eh... where is Nino going be, I wonder?" Jun asked with a smile.
"He’s going to end up owning a family restaurant!" Aiba exclaimed from Sho’s back as they walked next to Nino.
"...a restaurant?" Nino asked wearily, scowling at Aiba.
"Yeah! Oh! Can I work there!?" Aiba asked loudly.
"No."
"And he’ll end up being a coach for some little league baseball team." Sho joined in. Nino turned his glare to him.
"Little league? I’m going to be a professional player!" Nino declared. Jun laughed and ruffed up Nino’s hair until he got his hand slapped away.
"He’s going to quit halfway through next years’ baseball season because he’s tired. "Fuck this, I’m sleeping in." He’ll say that, right?" Jun grinned.
"He would! He’d totally say that." Sho laughed.
"I would not!" Nino pouted. As the three continued to purposely distract Nino from his sadness by pissing him off, they came closer and closer to their houses and their parted ways.
For the first time that night, Nino hardly thought of Ohno and how much he missed him.
But when his friends all said their good-byes and wished each other goodnight, Nino found himself alone again. He dragged his feet down the sidewalk, listening to the crickets and buzzing of other bugs of the night. Usually they were cheery and carefree, but tonight, their songs seemed to be slower and melancholy... or maybe it was just Nino who thought that.
He looked up at the sky, wondering where Ohno was and what he was doing. It took a moment for his senses to come back and realize his phone was ringing. Nino panicked for a second when his phone fell from his hands but he quickly answered it.
"Satoshi!" Nino asked breathlessly.
"I got in trouble for trying to call you on my phone... they made me use the airplane’s phone." Ohno whispered.
"Don’t you have to pay to use those?"
"...it wasn’t much."
Nino laughed, listening to Ohno on the other line laughing softly.
"How is it so far?" Nino asked, starting to walk home again. Ohno looked around the dark plane, filled with sleeping passengers.
"It’s okay... everyone’s sleeping now. The food is weird and I’m still hungry." Ohno complained.
"Why don’t you sleep? You’ll have major jet lag if you don’t." Nino suggested.
"I was going to but... I wanted to tell you goodnight." Ohno whispered. Nino stopped walking and smiled to himself.
"Well, goodnight then. Call us when you get situated."
"I will..."
Both lines went silent until Ohno heard Nino take a breath.
"I love you." Nino whispered, his voice wavering with emotion. Ohno suddenly felt like crying again, but he fought it and smiled instead.
"I love you, too." he replied, just as sincerely and heartfelt as Nino. There was a pause between them, a mumbled goodnight and then they both hung up the phones, both left in silence.
Nino stored his phone away, took a deep breath and closed his eyes, tilting his head towards the sky. He knew that Ohno was going through the same feelings as well and somehow, it made him a little stronger. He opened his eyes and looked solemnly at the cloud covered stars as he walked home. Nino remembered what Ohno had written below the painting dedicated to him.
"One day you and I will reach that future painted in the sky."
And Nino smiled to himself.
Someday, sometime, together... he knew they would have a future.
.
A/N: And that's it D: hopefully it lived up to everyone's expectations and didn't disappoint??? I really, really didn't want this to end XD this epilogue was 6 pages long by the time I ended it XD
Ahhh, it was a little bittersweet... but it was realistic, i think. Especially with high school fics.
And the quote Ohno put on his painting and the quote at the end is from "Beautiful Days" ^_^
And, i have a question for you guys..... i've been thinking about it for awhile and i think i can do it...
Who's up for a Sequel??? 8D Set three/ four years in the future when Ohno returns??? Let me know what you think!
Also, I have almost finished another story "Fallen Angels" and am planning to post the first chapter sometime next month after a short break from writing ^_^ if you want, you can check out what this story is about. Fallen Angel info here!
And lastly, to recover from any sadness from the end of "Words", i have made a few crack short stories that i just posted for my Flist, but thought i should share ^_^ Sakuraiba oneshot here! and a currently running multichapter crack fic: anyone ship Arashi/ Trees??? XD
Thank you guys, so so much for sticking with this story and seeing it through. If i could give you all Ohmiya and Sakuraiba and Jun cookies i would, because all of your awesome comments and support, you guys deserve it 8D Seriously, you're all so amazing!
Thank you again and i'll see you again with another story soon!!!
*HUGS AND COOKIES FOR EVERYONE!!*