Fic: Four Angels
Title: Four Angels
Pairing: mention of past Ohno/Sho
Rating: PG-13 I guess (I really don't know how to rate)
Disclaimer (?): i don't own Arashi, nor am I in any way related to then. This is all fiction.
A/N: OK, I've been writing this for a long while, and it was moving really slowly and I finally got bored sooo, yeah, abrupt ending!! Oh and one more thing, to all the writers out there, please don't follow my example and don't write things by hand instead of the computer, typing it to post it is just too tiring ¬¬
Now, here's the fic, and I hope you enjoy <3
----------------------------------------
They say that when you die, four angels come to take your soul.
They lift it from your body with their fingertips, careful no to breake it into a million like pieces.
**
Ohno Satoshi was dying. Nothing glamorous relly. No fatal accident in the highway. No tumor eating away his brain. Not even an infection that took a turn for the worse. He was just dying.
Some of his family members mighht say he was dying of loneliness, years of regrets and bad choices catching up to him. But truth is, regrest or not, years were in fact catching up to him. He was old and he was dying; and his family members could just shut up, thank you very much.
But anyway, Ohno had made his pace with it. Death that is. He even went as far as to draw a funny little caartoon of himself playing cards with a hooded figure, a scythe forgotten on the floor. He threw it out. He may have made his peace with Death, but he'll never forgive God for letting him loose control of his own hands. No matter how unreasonable that may sound to some.
"Ohno-san, how are we feeling today?" A blonde nurse with an impossible wide smille entered. Jenny was her name?
"The same as always" Ohno said with a small ans polite smile.
She then began to talk non-stop. "The day is beautiful, isn't it?" "Will your family be joining you today, Ohno-san?" "You should go take a walk outside." Yet Ohno didn't answer. He could have. He could have told her pretty days will come again but he can't find it in himself to care anymore. He could have told her his family only cares enough to send a check to the nursing home but not more, never more. He could have told her he was too tires to even try and climb on his wheelchair. But he just smiled. He might be old and resentful, but he's not about to ruin a young nurse's day.
She continued chirping gleefully. Ohno sometimes looked at her, returning her smile, though not as bright. Other times, most times, he just looked out the window. Lying on his room on the flour floor he couldn't see much other than the ever changing sky; but he could still hear it. From his bed, up in his rooms, he could still hear , day and night, the sounds of the waves hiting the shore that entered together with a cool breeze. No greater soound ever existed, exept maybe his laugh...
"Ohno-san, are you listening to me?" Jenny's smile wide as ever. Or maybe it was Ginny. So many nurses come and go, how is he supposed to keep track?
"I'm listening dear" as memory fails to give a name, and it's been failing a lot for a while now, a 'dear' always does trick. "But maybe you could repeat the question."
Ginny'ss smile grew wider and warmer. Sometimes Ohno thought she really did considered him the 'most endearing granpa ever'.
"I asked if you needed anything else. I'd be more than glad to bring it to you"
Nursing 101: make the dying man as comfortable as possible.
"No thanks dear"
"Ok then, Ginny will be right here with your dinner." Maybe her name was Jenny after all, unless he talked about herself in the third person.
After that she left. An hour or so later, being all day on the bed makes it difficult to measure time, in came Ginny with his dinner - and yes, she was a different nurse, and the more he thinks about it, he realises Jenny's name might just be Rose. After he ate, she took he tray away and turned the lights off, but not before saying goodnight. Ohno noticed they never say "See you tomorrow", he doesn't say it either. He's dying remeber?
--
"Are you sure it's happening today?"
A voice woke Ohno up, though he managed to keep his eyes closed on the belief that if you don't really open them then it's easier to fall back to sleep, and waking up when the night nurse was checking on him might end up in conversation, and he hardly ever felt up to it.
"I said I was sure already!"
That was a different voice, and one thing was certain, they weren't the night nurses, because the voices were male - one was slightly high pitched but male nonetheless - and, as far as Ohno could tell, the night nurses weren't.
"You don't sound sure, Masaki."
A third voice, and the second one was named Masaki. One definite male then, whose name he didn't recall at all. Time to panic just a little, eyes still closed. Sounds good.
"I swear. It's gonna happen any minute now."
"If it's 'gonna happen'," the first voice was definitely mocking Masaki "then why isn't Sho here? WE can't do this without him, remember?"
So they were waiting for a fourth person, called Sho and it made Satoshi's heart clench painfully. Maybe they were robbers.But Ohno didn't have anything valuable, not in his room, not anywhere, not anymore. Maybe they were here to kill him. They shouldn't have bothered, that was already taken care of, thanks you very much. By Death himself no less, and was it wrong to be a little proud of that? Mybe...probably.
"Masaki, this isn't happening." the third voice said matter-of-factly. It had a dangerous edge, therefore, time to panic just a little, and maybe open his eyes just a bit.
"I'm sorry" said Masaki, sounding as if he was about to burst into tears.
Slowly, careful not to be noticed, Ohno started opening his eyes. The room was dark, only a pale ray of moonlight creeped in from the courtains of the open window, and, with his eyes somewhere between barely open and fully closed, Ohno could only make out two tall dark shadows and a very small one. That was before the lights in his room were turned on and practically left him blind. And that was just great, it's not as if his eyes were the only thing still working as it should.
"Ohno-san I'm sorry, did I wake you?"
Ohno looked form under the arm that had instinctively covered his eyes. That was most definitely the night nurse, called Mai - and yes, he's sure this time.
"No. I think I was already awake. Don't worry, Mai."
He gave her a warm smile, not just a polite one. If there was anyone there that deserved a warm smile it was her.
"Good, but you should probably go back to sleep. I'll check that everytging is allright and I'll get out of your hair." even as she said it, she was already working, a small yet warm smile never leaving her face. See? The girl's just lovely, and it's not just cause she reminds Satoshi of him.
Ohno waited for her to turn off the lights before colsing his eyes. He then lay there, listening to the hypnotising sound of the waves hitting the shore. He wondered if the voices had just been a dream. He also wondered if there was an ocean where ever he was going after he died. And, just before falling asleep cmpletely, in that moments where dreams start playing behind your closed eyes but you're barely concious enough to notice, he wondered if there was in fact anywhere to go.
--
"Ohno-san, you're awake." Rose came in, cheerful as ever "Today is a beautiful day as well. I could bring your wheelchair if you want to go outside and..."
And that's pretty much all he heard. He had always prided himself in being a tolerant man, polite and patient, but there were only so many time a person can stand to listen to the same thing and still look remotely interested. If she noticed he wasn't paying her attention, she didn't say anything. Maybe she was used to talking without receiving an answer, half the people there weren0t even in their right state of mind. Granted, Ohno wasn't really part of that group, but if she was used to them he figured she could stand him too. She eventually left of course, yet Ohno didn't notice. All he knows is that when he looked around Rose was nowhere to be found. In all honesty, he can't say that was a particularly bad thing.
One thing about nursing homes is that you get a lot of time by yourself. At least Ohno did, up in his room. Apart from his nurses, some more tolerable than others, he sees noone. Nobody visits him and he never ventures to the common room, prefering to stay clear of the chaotic enviroment. Who ever said Misery loves company never met Ohno Satoshi. As a young man he didn't love being with people, apart from a few exceptions, and many years later the only thing that's changed is that now he doesn't have to. And that's a good thing, it really is. Except, now he has a lot of time to spare but only one thing to do, and that is to think.
Don't misunderstand, thinking is a good thing no doubt. It's even greater the fact that Ohno, despites his age, still manages to entertain so much lucidity. It's just that spending the entire day thinking and not being able to do much about anything, well, that's just a sure way to drive a man crazy.
So there he was. With the sound of the ocean in the background, caught in his own mind, wondering how his life got to this. He rarely let's himself think about it. Generally, when his minds starts to go down that particular road, a little alarm goes off in his brain and he manages to think of something else. It's difficult, getting harder every day, but he manages. But there are dayss, days like this one, when his shacking, fucking useless, hands reach out to scratch a leg that isn't there, hasn't been for years, yet he still feels; when the memory of him is more alive than ever, triggered by the sound of waves and the similarity with Mai's smile; when everything seems to remind him of the fact that he could die any minute; days like this make it impossible for him to think of anything else.
By the time he was brought dinner, five nurses and one doctor had already checked up on him, but he was still caught up in his own mind. Only when Rose took his barely touched dinner away did he remember the voices and figures of the night before. He hadn't told anyone, but he would wait for that. Maybe he could find out what they wanted, maybe he could hear Sho's voice this time. As every other night, Ohno let the sound of the waves lull him to sleep.
--
"I'm getting tired of this, Masaki."
The voices were back again and woke Ohno up. He caught himself just in time to not open his eyes, and realised the conversation had been going on for some time and he neede to catch up. He decided that if the Sho person appeared he would open his eyes and demand answers, or start screaming, depending on the situation.
"I swear Jun, it'll happen today." Masaki sounded as if he was about to cry yet again. Ohno, now had another name: Jun. Three down, at least one to go.
"You said that last time, and yet here we are again." Jun's voive was low and dangerous, it sounded almost like a growl and Ohno sruppresed a shudder "I know you are new and everything but you have. To stop. Messing. Around."
Masaki started sobbing quietly and Ohno would have started feeling pity for him, if it weren't for the fact that he still had no clue whether they were there to kill him or not.
"Jun, don't make Masaki cry."
That was a new voice. A voice that was calm and collected. A voiced that denoted power. A voice that made Masaki stop crying and Jun mumble a small apalogy. A voice Satoshi knew too well.
"Sho" Ohno's voice was broken, nothing more than a whisper; his eyes were open wide, any fear of the voices forgotten. "Sho" he said once more.
The room was dark, but the open window let the moonlight in so he could see. If he had cared enough, he could have taken in the scene in front of him. The stoic man to his left, with thick eyebrows and sharp features, resting against the wall by the window. The tall, blonde teenager by his right, who was most probably Masaki if his tear stained cheeks were anything to go by. Or even the small child siting on the only chair in the room with his legs tucked beneath him. If he had cared enough, he could have taken notice of the shocked looks on all of them - probably from finding out he had been awake - and a small trace of amusement on the child's sparkling eyes. But how could he care? How could he care when Sho was staring right back at him? The same Sho that fifty years ago told him he loved him. The same Sho that died in his arms before he could ever say it back.
"Hi, Satoshi"
Sho's smile was as bright as Ohno remembered, if not brighter, and it made his heart flutter painfully in his chest. His eyes rapidly filled with tears and in a link of his eyes, Sho was right there next to him wiping away the ones that started falling freely.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Ohno kept repeating, his voice rough and broken, just like many years before "It was my fault, I'm so sorry."
"Shh, it's ok, just calm down," Sho said soothingly with a hand on his back "breathe, Satoshi."
But Ohno couldn't calm down. It wasn't enough that this day had been specially bad for him but now Sho is there, in front of him and it's not possible and he knows he's loosing his mind and is probably nearing the end; and images can't stop rushing to his head. Images of nights spent with Sho; of talking for hours; of shared breath and ideals, Images of that rainy night and that spinning car. Iamges all jumbled together, all tainted in red.
And then the voice he knows belongs to Jun speaks and it all stops.
"So it is happening today."
"Yes, Jun, it is." Sho said, still looking at Ohno with a warm smile.
"What's happening, Sho? What are you doing here? You're supposed to be..." Ohno's eyes were now drting around the room, his voice getting gradually higher and louder.
"I know, just calm down, ok? I'll explain everything"
"Can I explain?" The child said grinning and continued without waiting for an answer "We came to take your soul."
"Nino! That sounds creepy!" Masaki said nervously over the goodhearted laugh coming from Sho - that made Satoshi's chest ache - "We are angels, and we'll take you to heaven" He told Ohno with an impossibly wide, yet honest, warm and bright, smile.
"Or hell" Jun added coolly, earning a yelp from Masaki.
"Everyone calm down, you're scaring Satoshi" Sho said still smiling. He took Satoshi's hands in his like it was fifty years ago and nothing had ever changed. "I am dead. And it's nobody's fault." he said when he saw the guilt in Satoshi's eyes "But when I died, instead of going to heaven or hell, I was turned into an angel and I have the responsibility to guide the souls of the recently deceased to where they belong."
"So you're and angel, and I'm dying."
"Yes and yes."
"And them?" Ohno said looking at Jun, Masaki and Nino.
"Four angels are needed to take a soul from a body."
"Ok."
"Ok?"
"Take it, but...what will happen to my soul?" Ohno finally dared to say through the lump on his throat.
Sho just smiled as if that was question he had been expecting all this time. But it was Masaki who answered "It will go to heaven."
"Or hell." Jun added dutifully.
"You don't know."
"We won't until we see your soul." Sho informed "But I know you'll be fine."
But Ohno wasn't so sure. Truth was, Sho didn't know him, not anymore, and Ohno was stained, damaged goods someone had once said to him. A person like him didn't deserve heaven, heaven doesn't take in people with blood in his hands. But he was tired, so he didn't say anything.
The sun started rising on the horizon - which was funny since Ohno didn't remember being awake that long - and the red morning light filtered from the window.
"It's time, Sho." Jun said dryly.
"Yes. Are you ready, Satoshi?"
"Wait," Ohno's tone was desperate and he couldn't care enough to even try and hide it. He had made his peace with Death, but Angels? That changed everything. Sho changed everything. "will I see you again?"
Sho smiled but didn't answer. He placed a warm - and oh so familiar - hand right above where Satoshi's knee should have been. The other three probably did the same, but it didn't register on Ohno's brain, because Sho was touching him for the last time, and it was the second time it had happened in his life and this time he would take the time to enjoy it. This time he would let him.
Distantly, Ohno felt a warmth spread under his skin. He always thought death would be cold, but it felt strangely like sitting on the swing in the backyard of his childhood house, under the warm autumn sun and with the cool autumn breeze caressing his cheeks. He lifted his gaze and allowed himself to get lost in the sea of warm, chocolate brown that were Sho's eyes. The sunlight grew brighter, too bright, and Ohno had to close his eyes.
**
Mai was tired. She was used to the night shift and working mornings messed up her sleeping habits. Though, she thought with a smile, it might be nice to see the patients awake for once.
She reached the fourth floor and turned to the first room on the left - room 420 and she always loved that number. She opened the door as quietly as possible and went inside. Ohno-san's eyes were closed and she noticed with horror that he wassn't breathing. She called the other nurses, just to follow protocole. She spared one more glance at Ohno-san's sunbathed face. He was smiling. He always did love the sound of the waves hitting the shore.
fin.
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A/N 2: did you know that every time i try to write Satoshi I end up writing Satochi instead??? It's annoying really, so if you see a Satochi out there, or any other mistake, my bad I'm sorry and please let me know so I can change it (I'm too lazy to read it over, but even if I did I would probably not even notice XD )
A/N 3: I don't know why but calling Jun stoic always seems weird to me, so I laughed at myself when I described him like that ^^
A/N 4: there's something incredibly nice in Knocking on Heaven's Doors coming up just when you're typing the last paragraph of this fic <3
Pairing: mention of past Ohno/Sho
Rating: PG-13 I guess (I really don't know how to rate)
Disclaimer (?): i don't own Arashi, nor am I in any way related to then. This is all fiction.
A/N: OK, I've been writing this for a long while, and it was moving really slowly and I finally got bored sooo, yeah, abrupt ending!! Oh and one more thing, to all the writers out there, please don't follow my example and don't write things by hand instead of the computer, typing it to post it is just too tiring ¬¬
Now, here's the fic, and I hope you enjoy <3
----------------------------------------
They say that when you die, four angels come to take your soul.
They lift it from your body with their fingertips, careful no to breake it into a million like pieces.
**
Ohno Satoshi was dying. Nothing glamorous relly. No fatal accident in the highway. No tumor eating away his brain. Not even an infection that took a turn for the worse. He was just dying.
Some of his family members mighht say he was dying of loneliness, years of regrets and bad choices catching up to him. But truth is, regrest or not, years were in fact catching up to him. He was old and he was dying; and his family members could just shut up, thank you very much.
But anyway, Ohno had made his pace with it. Death that is. He even went as far as to draw a funny little caartoon of himself playing cards with a hooded figure, a scythe forgotten on the floor. He threw it out. He may have made his peace with Death, but he'll never forgive God for letting him loose control of his own hands. No matter how unreasonable that may sound to some.
"Ohno-san, how are we feeling today?" A blonde nurse with an impossible wide smille entered. Jenny was her name?
"The same as always" Ohno said with a small ans polite smile.
She then began to talk non-stop. "The day is beautiful, isn't it?" "Will your family be joining you today, Ohno-san?" "You should go take a walk outside." Yet Ohno didn't answer. He could have. He could have told her pretty days will come again but he can't find it in himself to care anymore. He could have told her his family only cares enough to send a check to the nursing home but not more, never more. He could have told her he was too tires to even try and climb on his wheelchair. But he just smiled. He might be old and resentful, but he's not about to ruin a young nurse's day.
She continued chirping gleefully. Ohno sometimes looked at her, returning her smile, though not as bright. Other times, most times, he just looked out the window. Lying on his room on the flour floor he couldn't see much other than the ever changing sky; but he could still hear it. From his bed, up in his rooms, he could still hear , day and night, the sounds of the waves hiting the shore that entered together with a cool breeze. No greater soound ever existed, exept maybe his laugh...
"Ohno-san, are you listening to me?" Jenny's smile wide as ever. Or maybe it was Ginny. So many nurses come and go, how is he supposed to keep track?
"I'm listening dear" as memory fails to give a name, and it's been failing a lot for a while now, a 'dear' always does trick. "But maybe you could repeat the question."
Ginny'ss smile grew wider and warmer. Sometimes Ohno thought she really did considered him the 'most endearing granpa ever'.
"I asked if you needed anything else. I'd be more than glad to bring it to you"
Nursing 101: make the dying man as comfortable as possible.
"No thanks dear"
"Ok then, Ginny will be right here with your dinner." Maybe her name was Jenny after all, unless he talked about herself in the third person.
After that she left. An hour or so later, being all day on the bed makes it difficult to measure time, in came Ginny with his dinner - and yes, she was a different nurse, and the more he thinks about it, he realises Jenny's name might just be Rose. After he ate, she took he tray away and turned the lights off, but not before saying goodnight. Ohno noticed they never say "See you tomorrow", he doesn't say it either. He's dying remeber?
--
"Are you sure it's happening today?"
A voice woke Ohno up, though he managed to keep his eyes closed on the belief that if you don't really open them then it's easier to fall back to sleep, and waking up when the night nurse was checking on him might end up in conversation, and he hardly ever felt up to it.
"I said I was sure already!"
That was a different voice, and one thing was certain, they weren't the night nurses, because the voices were male - one was slightly high pitched but male nonetheless - and, as far as Ohno could tell, the night nurses weren't.
"You don't sound sure, Masaki."
A third voice, and the second one was named Masaki. One definite male then, whose name he didn't recall at all. Time to panic just a little, eyes still closed. Sounds good.
"I swear. It's gonna happen any minute now."
"If it's 'gonna happen'," the first voice was definitely mocking Masaki "then why isn't Sho here? WE can't do this without him, remember?"
So they were waiting for a fourth person, called Sho and it made Satoshi's heart clench painfully. Maybe they were robbers.But Ohno didn't have anything valuable, not in his room, not anywhere, not anymore. Maybe they were here to kill him. They shouldn't have bothered, that was already taken care of, thanks you very much. By Death himself no less, and was it wrong to be a little proud of that? Mybe...probably.
"Masaki, this isn't happening." the third voice said matter-of-factly. It had a dangerous edge, therefore, time to panic just a little, and maybe open his eyes just a bit.
"I'm sorry" said Masaki, sounding as if he was about to burst into tears.
Slowly, careful not to be noticed, Ohno started opening his eyes. The room was dark, only a pale ray of moonlight creeped in from the courtains of the open window, and, with his eyes somewhere between barely open and fully closed, Ohno could only make out two tall dark shadows and a very small one. That was before the lights in his room were turned on and practically left him blind. And that was just great, it's not as if his eyes were the only thing still working as it should.
"Ohno-san I'm sorry, did I wake you?"
Ohno looked form under the arm that had instinctively covered his eyes. That was most definitely the night nurse, called Mai - and yes, he's sure this time.
"No. I think I was already awake. Don't worry, Mai."
He gave her a warm smile, not just a polite one. If there was anyone there that deserved a warm smile it was her.
"Good, but you should probably go back to sleep. I'll check that everytging is allright and I'll get out of your hair." even as she said it, she was already working, a small yet warm smile never leaving her face. See? The girl's just lovely, and it's not just cause she reminds Satoshi of him.
Ohno waited for her to turn off the lights before colsing his eyes. He then lay there, listening to the hypnotising sound of the waves hitting the shore. He wondered if the voices had just been a dream. He also wondered if there was an ocean where ever he was going after he died. And, just before falling asleep cmpletely, in that moments where dreams start playing behind your closed eyes but you're barely concious enough to notice, he wondered if there was in fact anywhere to go.
--
"Ohno-san, you're awake." Rose came in, cheerful as ever "Today is a beautiful day as well. I could bring your wheelchair if you want to go outside and..."
And that's pretty much all he heard. He had always prided himself in being a tolerant man, polite and patient, but there were only so many time a person can stand to listen to the same thing and still look remotely interested. If she noticed he wasn't paying her attention, she didn't say anything. Maybe she was used to talking without receiving an answer, half the people there weren0t even in their right state of mind. Granted, Ohno wasn't really part of that group, but if she was used to them he figured she could stand him too. She eventually left of course, yet Ohno didn't notice. All he knows is that when he looked around Rose was nowhere to be found. In all honesty, he can't say that was a particularly bad thing.
One thing about nursing homes is that you get a lot of time by yourself. At least Ohno did, up in his room. Apart from his nurses, some more tolerable than others, he sees noone. Nobody visits him and he never ventures to the common room, prefering to stay clear of the chaotic enviroment. Who ever said Misery loves company never met Ohno Satoshi. As a young man he didn't love being with people, apart from a few exceptions, and many years later the only thing that's changed is that now he doesn't have to. And that's a good thing, it really is. Except, now he has a lot of time to spare but only one thing to do, and that is to think.
Don't misunderstand, thinking is a good thing no doubt. It's even greater the fact that Ohno, despites his age, still manages to entertain so much lucidity. It's just that spending the entire day thinking and not being able to do much about anything, well, that's just a sure way to drive a man crazy.
So there he was. With the sound of the ocean in the background, caught in his own mind, wondering how his life got to this. He rarely let's himself think about it. Generally, when his minds starts to go down that particular road, a little alarm goes off in his brain and he manages to think of something else. It's difficult, getting harder every day, but he manages. But there are dayss, days like this one, when his shacking, fucking useless, hands reach out to scratch a leg that isn't there, hasn't been for years, yet he still feels; when the memory of him is more alive than ever, triggered by the sound of waves and the similarity with Mai's smile; when everything seems to remind him of the fact that he could die any minute; days like this make it impossible for him to think of anything else.
By the time he was brought dinner, five nurses and one doctor had already checked up on him, but he was still caught up in his own mind. Only when Rose took his barely touched dinner away did he remember the voices and figures of the night before. He hadn't told anyone, but he would wait for that. Maybe he could find out what they wanted, maybe he could hear Sho's voice this time. As every other night, Ohno let the sound of the waves lull him to sleep.
--
"I'm getting tired of this, Masaki."
The voices were back again and woke Ohno up. He caught himself just in time to not open his eyes, and realised the conversation had been going on for some time and he neede to catch up. He decided that if the Sho person appeared he would open his eyes and demand answers, or start screaming, depending on the situation.
"I swear Jun, it'll happen today." Masaki sounded as if he was about to cry yet again. Ohno, now had another name: Jun. Three down, at least one to go.
"You said that last time, and yet here we are again." Jun's voive was low and dangerous, it sounded almost like a growl and Ohno sruppresed a shudder "I know you are new and everything but you have. To stop. Messing. Around."
Masaki started sobbing quietly and Ohno would have started feeling pity for him, if it weren't for the fact that he still had no clue whether they were there to kill him or not.
"Jun, don't make Masaki cry."
That was a new voice. A voice that was calm and collected. A voiced that denoted power. A voice that made Masaki stop crying and Jun mumble a small apalogy. A voice Satoshi knew too well.
"Sho" Ohno's voice was broken, nothing more than a whisper; his eyes were open wide, any fear of the voices forgotten. "Sho" he said once more.
The room was dark, but the open window let the moonlight in so he could see. If he had cared enough, he could have taken in the scene in front of him. The stoic man to his left, with thick eyebrows and sharp features, resting against the wall by the window. The tall, blonde teenager by his right, who was most probably Masaki if his tear stained cheeks were anything to go by. Or even the small child siting on the only chair in the room with his legs tucked beneath him. If he had cared enough, he could have taken notice of the shocked looks on all of them - probably from finding out he had been awake - and a small trace of amusement on the child's sparkling eyes. But how could he care? How could he care when Sho was staring right back at him? The same Sho that fifty years ago told him he loved him. The same Sho that died in his arms before he could ever say it back.
"Hi, Satoshi"
Sho's smile was as bright as Ohno remembered, if not brighter, and it made his heart flutter painfully in his chest. His eyes rapidly filled with tears and in a link of his eyes, Sho was right there next to him wiping away the ones that started falling freely.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Ohno kept repeating, his voice rough and broken, just like many years before "It was my fault, I'm so sorry."
"Shh, it's ok, just calm down," Sho said soothingly with a hand on his back "breathe, Satoshi."
But Ohno couldn't calm down. It wasn't enough that this day had been specially bad for him but now Sho is there, in front of him and it's not possible and he knows he's loosing his mind and is probably nearing the end; and images can't stop rushing to his head. Images of nights spent with Sho; of talking for hours; of shared breath and ideals, Images of that rainy night and that spinning car. Iamges all jumbled together, all tainted in red.
And then the voice he knows belongs to Jun speaks and it all stops.
"So it is happening today."
"Yes, Jun, it is." Sho said, still looking at Ohno with a warm smile.
"What's happening, Sho? What are you doing here? You're supposed to be..." Ohno's eyes were now drting around the room, his voice getting gradually higher and louder.
"I know, just calm down, ok? I'll explain everything"
"Can I explain?" The child said grinning and continued without waiting for an answer "We came to take your soul."
"Nino! That sounds creepy!" Masaki said nervously over the goodhearted laugh coming from Sho - that made Satoshi's chest ache - "We are angels, and we'll take you to heaven" He told Ohno with an impossibly wide, yet honest, warm and bright, smile.
"Or hell" Jun added coolly, earning a yelp from Masaki.
"Everyone calm down, you're scaring Satoshi" Sho said still smiling. He took Satoshi's hands in his like it was fifty years ago and nothing had ever changed. "I am dead. And it's nobody's fault." he said when he saw the guilt in Satoshi's eyes "But when I died, instead of going to heaven or hell, I was turned into an angel and I have the responsibility to guide the souls of the recently deceased to where they belong."
"So you're and angel, and I'm dying."
"Yes and yes."
"And them?" Ohno said looking at Jun, Masaki and Nino.
"Four angels are needed to take a soul from a body."
"Ok."
"Ok?"
"Take it, but...what will happen to my soul?" Ohno finally dared to say through the lump on his throat.
Sho just smiled as if that was question he had been expecting all this time. But it was Masaki who answered "It will go to heaven."
"Or hell." Jun added dutifully.
"You don't know."
"We won't until we see your soul." Sho informed "But I know you'll be fine."
But Ohno wasn't so sure. Truth was, Sho didn't know him, not anymore, and Ohno was stained, damaged goods someone had once said to him. A person like him didn't deserve heaven, heaven doesn't take in people with blood in his hands. But he was tired, so he didn't say anything.
The sun started rising on the horizon - which was funny since Ohno didn't remember being awake that long - and the red morning light filtered from the window.
"It's time, Sho." Jun said dryly.
"Yes. Are you ready, Satoshi?"
"Wait," Ohno's tone was desperate and he couldn't care enough to even try and hide it. He had made his peace with Death, but Angels? That changed everything. Sho changed everything. "will I see you again?"
Sho smiled but didn't answer. He placed a warm - and oh so familiar - hand right above where Satoshi's knee should have been. The other three probably did the same, but it didn't register on Ohno's brain, because Sho was touching him for the last time, and it was the second time it had happened in his life and this time he would take the time to enjoy it. This time he would let him.
Distantly, Ohno felt a warmth spread under his skin. He always thought death would be cold, but it felt strangely like sitting on the swing in the backyard of his childhood house, under the warm autumn sun and with the cool autumn breeze caressing his cheeks. He lifted his gaze and allowed himself to get lost in the sea of warm, chocolate brown that were Sho's eyes. The sunlight grew brighter, too bright, and Ohno had to close his eyes.
**
Mai was tired. She was used to the night shift and working mornings messed up her sleeping habits. Though, she thought with a smile, it might be nice to see the patients awake for once.
She reached the fourth floor and turned to the first room on the left - room 420 and she always loved that number. She opened the door as quietly as possible and went inside. Ohno-san's eyes were closed and she noticed with horror that he wassn't breathing. She called the other nurses, just to follow protocole. She spared one more glance at Ohno-san's sunbathed face. He was smiling. He always did love the sound of the waves hitting the shore.
fin.
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A/N 2: did you know that every time i try to write Satoshi I end up writing Satochi instead??? It's annoying really, so if you see a Satochi out there, or any other mistake, my bad I'm sorry and please let me know so I can change it (I'm too lazy to read it over, but even if I did I would probably not even notice XD )
A/N 3: I don't know why but calling Jun stoic always seems weird to me, so I laughed at myself when I described him like that ^^
A/N 4: there's something incredibly nice in Knocking on Heaven's Doors coming up just when you're typing the last paragraph of this fic <3