[multi-chap] Song of Storm - Chap. 10/?
Title: The Song of Storm - side story/sequel to You think You know Me
Pairing: OhMiya (main), Sakuraiba (side), Aimiya
Rating: PG-13 - R (not sure, might change as the story goes on)
Genre: AU, fluff, romance, angst (a lot!)
Summary: Nino's life was always full with ups and downs. But he deserves to be happy too, right? Who knew that'd be a stormy road to reach that...
A/N: starts before the other fic in timeline. no special need to read the other fic to understand this but feel free to do so XD yoroshiku, ne? m(-.-)m
A/N2: age-gap between Ohno and Nino is 10-years. Enough to be an excuse but not too much to make Oh-chan look like a total perv XD
Previous chapters:
Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9
Chapter 10:
When Nino arrived home it was almost dawn. He sighed relieved that Aiba was still sleeping deadly in his bed. Too tired to get out of his clothes, let alone make it to the couch after checking on Aiba, he slipped under the sheets and snuggled up close to Aiba. The next minute he was passed out…
Their peaceful sleep was rudely disturbed by Nino’s ringing phone only two hours later.
“Whaddisit?” Nino mumbled after picking up still half-asleep.
“Kazunari! I expect you in my offive in an hour the latest!” his uncle ordered.
Nino needed to blink a few times till he managed to process the meaning of the words he just heard.
“Okay, got it…”
“I assume Aiba-kun’s there with you… Bring him too!” with that his uncle cut the line.
Nino blinked at the phone in his hand then down at the lump under the sheets.
‘How the Hell the old man knew Masaki is here?’ Nino thought frowning but it was a difficult question for such an early hour and he had ridiculously short sleep to even try to figure it out.
“Masaki, babe, wake up!”
Nino shook Aiba’s shoulder gently till he opened his eyes.
“Babe, we have to go soon. I shower up quickly then it’s your turn. Don’t sleep back!” he warned him softly before pressed a kiss to his forehead then hurried to the bathroom.
He was sleepy yet worried about Aiba but his uncle sounded angry and it was better if they get over with it. Rather sooner then later…
They stood in the boss’ office for minutes already but nothing happened. Yet. His uncle just stared at them hard, he was indeed angry as Nino expected him by his voice on the phone but he didn’t have the slightest clue why? Or… could it be Sakurai?... Nino paled a little when…
“Johnny-san? Sakurai-kun’s here…” Tackey announced popping his head in.
“Send him in!”
‘God, please, don’t!’ Nino prayed silently but did his best to keep up a straight face.
Sho bowed after entering then stepped next to them. Nino took Aiba’s hand and squeezed it encouraging. The taller boy smiled at him slightly as an answer.
“Now, that we’re all here… Anyone care to tell me what happened?” Johnny asked dropping a magazine in front of them.
On the pictures Aiba and Nino were seen as they stumbled out the bar where Nino picked up his friend the day before yet for an outsider they both seemed to be drunk. Still neither of the spoke up…
Thanks to the alcohol, Aiba had quite blurry memories from last night so he thought it was better to stay quiet, not that he actually cared too much about any consequences at the moment. On the other hand, Nino knew exactly what happened but there was no way he tells it, since it’d take Aiba’s career. And due to the lack of sleep he just couldn’t come up with any believable excuse right then and there…
“Aiba-kun! I thought I made myself clear last time. One more scandal and we have to say goodbye to each other. That it was on your birthday makes no difference”
Aiba still refused to answer and staring blankly at his boss he shrugged. Johnny sighed and turned to the other, still under-aged boy.
“And you, Kazunari! I thought you’re more responsible than this. You’ll be my heir so you have to act like it! This is why I don’t like the idea of you hanging out with him…”
Nino said nothing just as his friend but his uncle’s words started to piss him off. Who was he to talk about Aiba like that? As if he’d be any better…
“If you’re not willing to speak I have no other chance but…”
“Wait, Johnny-san, wait a minute!” Sho stepped forward suddenly.
Nino looked toward the manager surprised but his anger for the manager quickly took over. Aiba was obviously the better actor out of the two of them cause he didn’t even bat an eyelash at Sho’s sudden outburst.
“What is it, Sakurai-kun? Since you’re Aiba-kun’s manager I thought you need to be here but do you actually know how this happened?” Johnny looked at him now.
“Actually…” Sho started glancing at the two younger men. Aiba pretended he wasn’t even there while Nino stared back at him angry. “Actually… it was my fault… Sumimasen deshita!” he said firmly and bowed.
‘Of course it’s your fault!’ Nino thought angrily while Sho continued.
“Since it was Aiba-san’s birthday yesterday I offered to Aiba-san and Ninomiya-san to take them out to celebrate but… I made a mistake and lost sight of them when we got there. When I finally found them some other men cornered them and tried to make them drink something against there will. When I managed to get them free for them I swear you, sir, neither of them were drunk or anything! That must be made up by those journalists…” Sho lied smoothly so smoothly that Nino’d never assume. “Therefore, sir, you should spare them. If you have to punish someone that should be me. I made a really big mistake and I don’t have any excuses for that. Moshiwake arimasen deshita!” Sho said firmly getting down on his knees bowing so deep that his forehead touched the carpeted floor.
Nino’s brow flinched a bit. He had to give credit for what Sho did. He either was a really good actor too or he was desperate to save them - well, Nino hoped that was rather for Aiba - from his uncle’s punishment. Nino stole a glance from his friend. His face was mostly unreadable but his eyes were slightly confused.
“If that’s true… Sakurai-kun, get ready to face your punishment; I’ll inform you about that later. You two are dismissed now… Kazunari, you stay! I have to talk to you…”
“What is it, uncle?” he asked once the door was closed behind Sho and Aiba.
“I wasn’t joking earlier, Kazunari. I’m really not fond of the idea that you spend all your time with someone like him” his uncle said scolding.
“What? You start to worry about whom I associate with now? Well, thanks for the caring but I was fine till now. With Masaki by my side!” Nino snapped angrily.
He won’t let his uncle - or Sho by the way - to get between him and Aiba!
The old man studied his nephew for a long time. He’d never seen Nino like this.
“Anyway, I wanted to tell you that I’m satisfied with you work with juniors but I won’t tolerate you firing everyone you have a problem with! Yamada tried to make quite a scene after you fired him. I didn’t take back that you said he’s fired but don’t forget it’s still my company! Even as my heir you have to stop firing people whenever you wish! If you think someone’s incapable for their job, report me and I’ll decide how to settle that. Are we clear?”
“Wakarimashita…” Nino gritted through his teeth. He bowed curtly then stomped out the office…
“Let’s go home, Aiba-chan!” Nino said cheerfully as his friend walked to his car where he was waiting for him. “I have this awesome new game, you have to try it!”
A week passed since Aiba and Sho’s fight and that magazine scandal. The upper management still seemed to be a bit displeased about it but that was all… On the surface… But Nino heard the dissatisfied complains of the managers and the disrespectful comments from the juniors that Aiba didn’t hear or simply ignored cause he didn’t care. Either was, Nino felt it’s his duty to protect Aiba from getting hurt more so during this past week Aiba was staying at Nino’s place and - as he said to Sho - he was taking him everywhere so he won’t meet his manager that much.
“Gomen, Nino, but can you take me to my place…?” Aiba asked silently.
Nino didn’t like the idea of leaving his friend alone but knew that he can’t force himself on him if he didn’t want it. Even if he just wanted to protect him with that. So he just nodded and they got in the car…
“You sure you’ll be okay alone?” Nino asked as he stopped the car in front of the company’s apartment building.
“Yeah, stop being such a mommy! It doesn’t suit you! You’re so worried recently that I can’t even remember when the last time was when you harassed Oh-chan!” Aiba said to change the topic from himself.
Nino’s face darkened a little at the mention of the dance instructor. He tried not even thinking about him since that night. All this time he wanted nothing but to be with him yet he couldn’t. But when he came running for him… it scared him somehow…
“Thanks for everything!” Aiba said finally when Nino didn’t speak up then he got out smiling one last time at his friend.
“Just call me if you need anything” Nino said and drove off.
As much as he was worried about his friend and wanted to protect him from anything and everything… he could use a free night… to think…
Nino stared blankly at the TV screen. The ‘Game Over’ sign flashed there for the past 30 minutes at least but the boy barely saw that or heard the annoying, mocking tune that accompanied it. He wasn’t shocked that he lost against the computer - well, that too… - his mind was simply too busy with… other stuff…
Slowly he turned his head and peeked at his phone on the couch. Ever since that night he itched to call him up again. As scared as he was he could suppress the urge, the want to hear his voice again; to see if he would come to him again. But with Aiba there he couldn’t. So far he thought that was bad but now he wished his friend would be there so his presence would hold him back. He first thought that being alone would help him sort out this emotional turmoil in his heart but after all it just weakened him.
‘Don’t tempt me… I can’t let this happen… I’m happy with my life the way it is…’
“See? He doesn’t want me… He doesn’t need me…” Nino mumbled to himself remembering Ohno’s words.
It was like stabbing knife in his own heart but as bad as it sounded he rather did it himself then being rejected by Ohno. Clenching his teeth, Nino grabbed the PS3 consol to take revenge on the game and distract himself.
But just as the game started his phone rand on the couch, startling Nino so he dropped the game consol from his hands. Believing that it can be only Aiba, Nino jumped to the mobile pressing the green button without looking at the screen.
“Moshi-moshi! Masaki? Are you okay? Something happened?” Nino said one go.
“It’s me… Ohno…”
Nino fell silent.
“Oh… Oh-chan…” he breathed out and wanted to kick himself for sounding so stupid.
“Are you busy? I don’t want to bother you if you are…” the dance instructor said on slightly embarrassed tone.
“No! No, I’m free… Just… Not important… Why are you calling?” Nino asked finally when he could stop his blabbering.
“I… just wanted to ask if you were alright… I… saw the magazine… I heard you were summoned to Johnny-san to…” Ohno said silently. ‘I’m worried about you…’ he added in thought but didn’t dare to say it out loud.
Nino slid down to the floor slowly. Did Ohno really care about him? Why would he call otherwise. The boy felt the everlasting hope awaken in his heart. Again. At the slightest sign of caring from the older man and he was falling for him all over again. No matter how his rational part tried to reason against it…
“I’m fine… Uncle scolded me. He wanted me to stop be friends with Aiba… Not that I’m willing to do that…” he said pouting stubbornly not that Ohno could see that.
“I know” Ohno said.
Nino could hear the smile in his voice, Hell, he could see his face in front of him right now. He felt himself weaken as tears suddenly filled his eyes.
“Oh-chan…” he breathed out shakily.
“Hmm…? What is it?”
“I miss you, Satoshi…” Nino choked out.
“I know…” Ohno said silently.
Nino hung up without saying anything else…
“Me too…” Ohno whispered to the empty dance hall as he closed his phone…
A/N: hey there! new chapter! sorry, it's a bit short and full with angst (as always) but I promise I'll start make it up to them soon! just bear a bit more with my foolish obsession for angst XD still, I hope you liked it ^-^