[Fanfic] We'll Always Have Paris (Prologue)
TITLE: We’ll Always Have Paris
LENGTH: Multi-chapter
CHARACTERS: Sakurai Sho X Original Character X Arashi member (undisclosed for now. :p)
GENRE: Romance, Drama, Angst
RATING: PG (for now)
SUMMARY: A chance meeting in the city of light got their hearts tangled in strings but after a month of whirlwind romance, they found themselves saying their last goodbye in front of the world’s most romantic landmark. His affection lingered, she decided to move on. Months later, an unexpected reunion and a shocking revelation await them in Tokyo but it wouldn’t be as easy as it used to as they are faced with personal struggles, the cold, harsh truth and an unforeseen rival.
Prologue
January 2012
They couldn’t believe their ears. The five boys of Arashi are momentarily speechless at what their managers just told them. For more than twelve years, this is the first time it ever happened and they still couldn’t believe it fully.
Maybe they are being pranked, that’s a thought that escaped Ninomiya Kazunari’s head. It’s utterly possible. Their managers pulled tricks on them in the past, especially during their early years, although they haven’t executed anything lately, it doesn’t mean that they are not capable of doing so at this stage. What’s more exciting than tricking five worn-out guys who just finished their final concert tour? They are the most vulnerable on this kind of announcement.
Ah. I shouldn’t fall for these punks that easily. Ninomiya Kazunari thought. “If that is true, this kind of news should come straight from Johnny-san’s mouth, isn’t it?” He called on their bluff and his four other members looked at him confusingly.
“Eh, Nino, you don’t believe them?” Aiba Masaki asked blankly, at this point, he’s very much confused on who to believe. He was about to plan on his head on what he’ll do on their impending fifteen day vacation and just like him, the remaining three are planning on their own too.
For Ohno Satoshi, it was no doubt that he’ll go fishing the entire time. Even if it’s just the start of the year and it’s still freezing cold outside, he will definitely go fishing.
Matsumoto Jun will spend it with his girlfriend. There’s no argument in that.
As for Sakurai Sho, he’ll travel. He still can’t make up his mind on where to go because he is still astounded by this unexpected announcement but he will go abroad for sure. He was thinking about Santorini, Greece. He’d wanted to visit that country for years but he can’t find the perfect timing. Maybe he’ll be able to go now, timing is perfect, it’s a place entirely opposite of Japan now where it’s chilly and snow is everywhere. He’ll spend his time basking in the Mediterranean sunlight and indulging in sumptuous Greek cuisine.
They are getting excited with these personal plans running over their heads but Nino, just like always, comes ruining it.
“It’s not so much of a big news that requires Johnny-san to come over and fly here just to tell you guys personally.” Nino’s manager said and it somehow relieved the four members.
Nino jutted his chin and rolled his eyes. “Are you really not pranking us?” He still can’t get himself to believe it. “Why are we getting a vacation all of a sudden? And what’s even more suspicious is that it will start two days from now. Such a short notice, isn’t it?” He purposely faces his four members during his last sentence.
“Don’t ask me. It was Johnny-san’s decision to give you a break, I’m just delivering orders. You know how unpredictable that old man can be.” Nino’s manager answered again.
Nino scrunched up his face for the nth time. “Whatever you say.” He gave up. Vacation or not, he’s not that excited as the rest of the members are. It’s not like he’ll do something special on those fifteen days of freedom. He’ll probably just stay home, practice on his magic or try to finish all the levels on his video games.
-----
The five members of Arashi just landed safely back to Haneda Airport after their successful final concert in Fukuoka. Finally, the tour concluded. They didn’t get to enjoy the recent holidays as they are busy rehearsing for this tour, adding to the fact that they are following such hectic schedules, flying from one prefecture to another, it is no doubt that these five guys are exhausted physically and mentally.
And then, just like a blessing in disguise, a much needed break came. They are overly excited to get back to Tokyo to start their vacation.
“Guys, why don’t we grab some coffee before heading home?” Aiba suggested as they stand along the conveyor belt waiting for their bags. “There’s a coffee shop here at the airport.” He pointed blankly behind his back.
“Is it your treat?” Nino, being Nino, asked.
“Sure.” Aiba puts on a complacent tone.
“Why? All of a sudden?” Jun asked suspiciously and Sho began smiling to himself. They both think that maybe Aiba is up to something.
“Do I need a reason to ask you guys for coffee?” Aiba is quick to react, a little defensively, in that case.
They are now seated on a secluded corner of the airport’s coffee shop, sipping their coffee silently as no one is daring to speak up.
That is until Aiba began asking them casually. “What are you guys doing for the next fifteen days?”
“Fishing, basically.” As expected of Arashi’s leader.
“Hmm, with Yana…” Jun answered and Aiba and Sho began teasing him with their ‘kyuuu’s’.
“Does Yana have a fifteen day vacation too?” Nino asked, his face neither serious nor joking.
“No.” Jun answered indifferently. “But we can work on that.”
“What will you do, Nino?” It was Aiba who asked.
“I don’t know. I don’t really have a plan or anything.” He answered nonchalantly.
“Sho-chan?” Aiba asked.
“I don’t have a definite plan yet but I’ll take advantage of this free time to go and travel.”
“Ahhh. I see, I see…” Aiba nods his head up and down while drumming his fingers on his chin.
Just like what Jun and Sho noticed earlier, Aiba is definitely planning something but he just can’t spit it out to them.
“What will you do, Aiba-kun?” Sho inquired.
Aiba lifts up his head, he paused for a while as he saw his four members awaiting his answer. “I was thinking…” he started, testing the waters. “What if… we go for a trip?” he finally manages to ask.
“Aren’t you tired of our faces already, Aiba-kun?” Nino is obviously not keen to the idea with the way he threw that question.
“Well, it’s been a while since we took a private trip together and Sho-chan wasn’t even present then.” Aiba begin to pursue them.
“Ah, that trip to Hakone when Matsujun crashed your car!” Ohno recalled causing laughter from the other members and Jun turning red with embarrassment.
“Yes, yes!” Aiba remains enthusiastic even after the mention his poor car. “Isn’t it fun? We should really do that again.”
“I think it’s a good idea.” Sho agrees much to Aiba’s enjoyment. “Remember when we did the training camp last spring for the DVD? It would be fun to do it again in private.”
“I guess I’ll go then.” Ohno surprisingly said, shocking everyone.
“Why do I have such passionate band members?!” Nino grunted, tilting his head upward.
“Matsujun?” Aiba turned to their youngest member but it seems like he’s not into the idea.
“I don’t know.” Jun answered and Aiba’s face suddenly went gloomy.
“It’s just an overnight trip, Matsujun. We can plan it on a day when Yana goes out of town for work or something.” Sho suggested but Aiba bent his head down and pursed his lips, Nino noticed it.
“Where do you plan to go? Do you have a definite plan to present us?” Jun asked Aiba who quickly shoots his head up.
“If my senses are right, I think it’s not going to be an overnight stay…” Nino puts in, giving Aiba a dagger look.
Ohno, Jun and Sho looks at Aiba who is starting to feel uneasy with this situation. “I was thinking… we can go out of the country.” Aiba softly said.
“It’s not going to be an overnight trip.” Nino sounded definite this time, so proud of himself that he actually sensed it right.
By the look on Jun’s face, he’s definitely not going and Ohno looks like he’s thinking twice.
“Where?” Sho asked. He was the only optimistic one since his plan from the start is to go abroad.
Aiba looked at them one by one before saying, “Paris would be good…”
He didn’t receive a warm reaction from that, even from Sho.
“Paris is for lovers, you know. It’s kinda gross if we go together, the five of us.” Ohno basically said what’s on everyone’s mind.
“Plus it’s pretty cold in Paris during this time. Don’t you wish we can go somewhere warm and relaxing… like a beach?” Sho try to suggest but Aiba pursed his lips again.
Nino is witnessing this meeting unfold in his eyes and Aiba is acting very suspicious. “Aiba-san… did you get us into some kind of trouble?” he raised an eyebrow and Aiba turned pale all of a sudden.
“Not really.” Aiba answered, his voice is drying up.
“Not really?” Jun echoed. “But you did something? Something that you knew we wouldn’t like?” he accused him.
“Will you guys let me explain first? No negative reactions for the meantime?” Aiba is ready to confess and the guys replied with a single nod each. “Last night, in my hotel room, I was thinking on what to do on our free time and it just hit me, I want to go on a trip abroad. So I pulled out my laptop and started browsing flights on Japan Airlines website, that’s when I saw that flights to Paris during this season are pretty cheap and I’ve been wanting to go to Paris. So I booked a flight on impulse…” he paused to look at the serious faces of his band members.
“And then…?” Jun asked, somehow, he’s feeling quite uneasy on what may come out of Aiba’s mouth next.
Aiba took a deep breath, as if calming his self, before speaking again. “I book flights for the five of us…” his voice is so small the rest can barely hear him.
“You did what?” Jun’s voice is sharper and it also means that he’s getting furious.
Sho just dropped his back on the seat and started laughing, either sarcastically or he just finds it really funny, nobody knows.
“What a stupid fool.” Nino lets out his frustration by cursing.
Ohno didn’t speak but his jaw is dropped yet he’s smiling like he couldn’t believe what’s happening.
Suddenly, a thought hits Jun’s mind but he’s thinking twice whether to ask it or not because it may cause a bigger problem than what they already have. He might really turn mad if Aiba answered oppositely to what he wanted.
But it should be done. “Aiba-san, how long is this trip, if I may ask?” Jun tried his very best to be calm.
Aiba clenches his teeth and Jun felt even more worried.
“Fifteen days…” They heard Aiba say and from the look on Matsumoto Jun’s face, Aiba knew that he’ll be dead.
*So what do you guys think? Give me your thoughts! :)
In case you're wondering (especially the ones who read my first fic) I still haven't forgot that Jun/Rina fic. I just don't know what to do with it next. So if you have any suggestions just PM me. :D