[One-shot] 1x5 - Memories
Title: 1x5 - Memories
Author: Me
Pairing: None
Genre: Friendship
Rating: G (YES! XD)
Summary: There's a moment in your life, when you discover something.
Disclamer: I don't own Arashi. They own my heart, and Johnny my walet...
Note: This is a response to jamiesteban 's request about a 10 years friendship. Sorry for the wait ^^" It's not beta-ed, and I'm sure there's a lot of mistakes and weird sentences. Really, why English is so hard? T_T Anyway, I hope you'll like it!
*****
1X5 - [Memories]
If you ask Ohno Satoshi what his best memory is since he’s in Arashi, he would tell you there’s no one. Because being in Arashi IS his best memory and Ohno is sure that even after ten years, there are a lot of other memories he could make with the four other members.
But there’s one thing that always warms Ohno’s heart every time he thinks about it. The four smiles he saw one day when he entered the green room. During all this day and even the following ones, there were those four smiles; they were the only ones in his presence. Yet they knew it, just like all the staff, Johnny’s members and all the fans all over the world, they knew it. Though they said nothing, they just smiled and acted as if everything was normal.
After all there was nothing to say about it. Ohno have been careless and unfortunately gossips magazines were waiting for him at the corner, publishing and distorting the reality. They had never talked about it, not even once; because they know each others, and they had experienced this in the past.
But Ohno found their attitudes weird. Because when your friend has this kind of rumor on his shoulders, you would be angry, right? You would scold him, telling him that he had been selfish and that it was bad for the group. You wouldn’t just remain silent and smile all the day.
This thought tortured his mind all the day, and for the first time in his life, Ohno was glad being called the ‘sleepy leader’, because he wasn’t focused on his work. He was always wondering when one of them would grab his arm, bang him against a wall and scold him. Who would be the first? Maybe MatsuJun, because he was the one who thought about Arashi the most. Or perhaps Sho? After all he was against this sort of things. Nino would tell him it was stupid and he would always hide that he’s worried. And Aiba…Aiba would probably cry, because his ‘Riida was a naughty boy’.
But nothing came; Ohno had feared words that would never come.
At the end of the day, all the members were getting ready to leave. Ohno watches them doing what they always do; this day was just like others; the incident had never been mentioned, not even once. Sho took the lead, followed by Aiba and Nino and the three of them left the dressing room. Jun grabbed his bag at Ohno’s feet and headed for the door as well. When suddenly the younger stopped.
“We’re going to karaoke tonight, you’re coming of course!” Said Jun, smiling softly.
“Ka-karaoke?” Swallowed with difficulty Ohno. “I knew you would say something about it…Well with what happened, I guess it’s normal…” Added Ohno in a whisper while bowing his head.
Aiba, Nino and Sho showed their faces through the open door.
“What happened?” Asked Aiba curious and a slightly worried.
“You know… the girls, the karaoke,…”
“Hum? I’ve never heard about that, and you?” Asked Nino watching Sho, the latter shook his head slowly and shrugged.
“Come on! Don’t stay here alone like a poor puppy! Come!” Sighed Jun, despite the smile on his lips.
Ohno was dragged by the others, totally lost. They knew he was sure of it; the magazine was still on the dressing room table. Then, why? Why didn’t they say anything?
“But the magazine. The article about me.”
“We believe in our friends’ words. And since you said nothing about this we didn’t take it seriously.” Smiled Aiba, wrapping his arm around Ohno’s shoulders, and the five of them left the studio laughing and talking happily.
At that moment he knew…
*****
Sakurai Sho is a man sure of himself and proud of his hard work. Everything he has now wasn’t because his parents had important jobs, nor because he was an idol. Simply because he was just like anyone on this earth: a man who had worked his hardest to fulfill his dreams. So, that day when he entered in the greenroom, Sho had all the difficulties to remain calm.
How could he remain calm?! This news was important, maybe the most important in his entire career, in all his life.
“Guys!” Called happily the rapper, opening the door. “I have something to tell you!”
Maybe it was because of the huge smile he had on his face; anyway, Sho was glad that all the attention was focus on him. The curious looks the four of his friends gave him made him smile brighter.
“Sakurai Sho, who is standing right in front of you today, is officially the new newscaster of News Zero!” Announced Sho proudly. However, he lost his smile when he saw the lack of interest in the others’ eyes and more particularly, the lack of shouts and compliments. Jun shrugged after a soft ‘congratulation’ and started to read again. Nino didn’t even say anything and focused on his game. Aiba smiled at him softly and patted his shoulders as he walked by his side.
Finally Ohno came closer. “Sorry, I’ve already told them.” Apologized the leader, and seeing the question in Sho’s eyes he added: “Your manager told mine who told me.”
Sho nodded slowly, understanding. But even if it wasn’t a surprise anymore, they could show some interest and even congratulate him properly.
When he invited them during the lunch break, they all declined, saying they had other work, and Sho find himself, eating alone in a corner of their greenroom.
“I guess when it doesn’t concern Arashi, they don’t care…” Sighed the rapper, eating half-heartedly. The pride and the joy he felt in the morning had totally disappeared.
Finally, his first day as a newscaster had come. Within a few hours he would be talking about important topic in front of people who would certainly criticize ‘this idol’. It’s been a while since Sho felt so nervous. What would happen if he stutters? Or if he trip his foot and make a fool of him in front of millions people?!
Sho looked at his reflection one last time, breathed deeply and left his room. When he opened the front door of his house, he was surprised to see the rest of group in front of him, smiling brightly yet they seemed…nervous?
“So, it’s today, huh?” Said Ohno, entering the house, the three other followed their leader, and in a blink the five of them were in Sho’s bedroom.
Sho was sitting on his bed and watched them, confused. Jun was the first one to move. He gave Sho a large packet, and the rapper’s look made him uneasy.
“Just…open it.” Said Jun, embarrassed but still smiling. Sho nodded silently and looked into the bag. He took the black box and look at Jun again when he saw the brand name on the box.
“This is…?”
“Don’t talk and open it!” Grunted Jun who felt as anxious as possible. “If you don’t like it, you can change…” He said as the rapper opened the box and took out a black suit.
“What are you saying? It’s wonderful, I love it! But you should have never…” Said Sho, moved and still a bit confused. Then Aiba jumped from his sit and gave him a small packet too.
“I hope it will fit the suit!” He giggled, but watched carefully Sho’s reaction as he took the black and blue tie. Ohno offered a handmade meal, explaining that Sho’s nervousness would make him hungry after the filming. And Nino…
“Mint ?” Asked Sho bewildered as he was holding the small box in his hand.
Nino shrugged and turned away to hid his embarrassment. “You don’t want to kill your co-workers on your first day, do you? Nervousness gives bad breath…” Sho smiled softly. Then Aiba asked for a huge hug, and rapidly Sho was suffocating between the four of them.
“We will watch you!” Said Jun waving.
“Do your best Sho-chan!” Shouted Aiba.
“Don’t be too nervous!” Said Ohno, crossing his fingers.
“…Don’t make a fool of yourself.” Smirked Nino.
At that moment he knew…
*****
Aiba Masaki was the more cheerful in the group but also the one who cried the most. Even if he cried without shame when something moved him, there was something that none of the members had seen since their debut:
A silent and depressed Aiba.
The tall idol was in the corner of the room, sitting silently while looking at the white wall in front of him. He didn’t cry, nor sighed. He was just silent, as if only his body was there, without his soul.
The four others looked at him, confused.
“What’s wrong with him?” Whispered Nino.
“Did you two fight?” Jun asked Sho. The rapper shook his head and shrugged.
Ohno moved toward his friend silently and kneed in front of him.
“What’s wrong Aiba-chan?” Asked softly the leader, a hand on the taller man’s knee.
Aiba shook his head slowly, refusing to explain what was bothering him, but Ohno’s stubbornness was his best weapon, and after a long silence, Aiba spoke for the first time.
“It’s…my…” His throat was so dry that Aiba can’t speak. Little by little the other members came closer. Nino sat behind Ohno, Jun next to Aiba and Sho behind his tall friend, putting an encouraging hand on his shoulders.
“Your what Aiba-chan?” Asked Ohno again, a gentle and concerned look on his face.
“My…dog. I found him d-dead, this morning. I know he was old but…I know him since I was a kid.”
And for the first time since he found the dead animal, Aiba cried. As he hid his face in his hands, Ohno hugged him strongly.
“What? Just because of a dog?” Asked Nino, relieved it was ‘just that’, but his tone of course didn’t show it, it was more a mocking tone. And Jun noticed that, he glared at his friend as he stroked gently Aiba’s back.
The rest of the day was as gloomy as it was in the morning. At the end of the day, Aiba had stopped crying but his sighs were heavier each times. The idol didn’t want to come back and found his little friend still laying down, motionless. He had said his father he would bury it and now, he regretted. Will he have the courage to do it? Maybe, if one of them would come with him it will be less difficult? But none of them agreed, apologizing and explaining they still had a lot of work.
“I see…Sorry for asking.” Answered Aiba, his head low. Dragging his bag behind him, the idol left the room, more miserable than ever.
Once he came back, Aiba spend a long time kneeling in front of his pet, stroking his fur or his little nose. With a sigh he took the animal in his arms and headed to the garden at the back of the house. He stopped in the middle seeing the rest of the group was waiting for him, in front of a small hole in the ground.
Nino was resting his arm on the top of a spade, Jun was holding a bouquet of white roses and Sho was smiling softly looking at Aiba. Ohno came towards his friend and took the corpse from his arms.
“We wouldn’t let you alone.” Ohno whispered with a soft smile, as he saw Aiba’s questioning look.
Nino and Ohno buried the little animal; Sho held one crying Aiba and Jun gave a rose to the members. One by one they put a rose on the ground and stay silent for a minute.
“You want to say something?” Whispered Sho, but Aiba only shook his head, burying his face a little more in Sho’s embrace. Sho nodded and kissed the top of Aiba’s head, before pushing him slowly into Jun’s arms.
The newscaster came closer the ‘grave’ and cleared his throat.
“Dear Naoya-chan…You must know that we will miss you and your happy barks, (which didn’t seem friendly when it was towards me,). You’ll be forever in our heart, until the end. Thank you and rest in peace.”
“Rest in peace” Repeated the other three, Jun’s hold tightened when Aiba sobbed against his shoulder.
After that, the members spend the rest of the night together, at Jun’s apartment. The younger idol, made Aiba’s favorite food, and they spend their time, trying to cheer Aiba up. Their efforts weren’t in vain, when the latter laughed softly.
At that moment, he knew…
*****
Ninomiya Kazunari closed his suitcase and looked around his hotel room one last time. It’s been a long time since he left Japan, and finally the time had come to come back. Not that America isn’t a great country, but…it wasn’t Japan. His skills in English will be not needed anymore. And more importantly, in a few hours he would see the rest of Arashi that he missed so much; of course he wouldn’t say it! He had his pride, and he was the one who laughed at them as they cried the night before his leave.
No one knew it, but Nino cried the following day, when he was alone in the airport. They couldn’t show him off, because of their busy schedules, and he left Japan lonely and sad.
During three months Nino didn’t have a lot of news from them either. Ohno had called him twice, Aiba once but not the two other. He had received a letter from Sho who said it was from both Jun and him, but Nino knew that it was only from Sho, and he was sure it was because Ohno asked him to.
In the plane, Nino thought about what he missed the most:
Aiba’s strange and creepy laugh. Ohno’s butt and hands. Jun’s bad mood when Nino annoyed him. And Sho’s mother hen behavior.
Every minute, the now-Hollywood-actor checked his mobile phone; the Arashi’s picture on the screen was all he saw. He had sent to everyone a message, saying he would come back at 8, but there was no reply. That’s what you get when you wasted money in messages!
Of course, he was disappointed and in a bitchy mood when he entered the airport. What was he hoping for? Why would they be there? They didn’t even reply to his messages! He was a fool, hoping they would welcome him at the airport.
In the car, his phone rang, telling him he had a message. It was from Aiba, asking to tell him when Nino would be arriving. Just to know that he was safe.
The idol clicked his tongue as he read again and again the message. There was nothing! Not a “I missed you’ or an ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t make it’. Just NOTHING!
Angry, Nino closed his phone and told the taxi driver his mother’s address; he had promised her he would see her first when he would come back.
Maybe it was because he didn’t want to be alone that night; anyway he stayed at his mother’s house. It was good to hear Japanese again and even if he loved hamburgers, his mother’s meats were the best!
The following morning, Nino woke up slowly. He wasn’t in a hurry since his first work would be in the afternoon. However, he needed some fresh clothes and wanted to spend the rest of the morning, playing with his Wii.
When he was in front of his apartment door, Nino opened his phone and noticed that the Arashi picture on his screen had disappeared behind the warning message ‘You have 58 messages, 72 missed calls’.
Finally, his band mates remembered that Arashi counted five members! But it was too late, now. He would forgive them, one day or another, but the road until that day will be very long and painful…for them! As he turned the keys in the keyhole, Nino was planning a lot of awful pranks and the smirk on his lips wasn’t reassuring.
However, when he pushed the door, a storm named Aiba came suddenly before his eyes before hugging him tight.
“NINO!” Shouted the four members in unison, Aiba’s one was louder and earsplitting.
When Nino could breathe once again, he noticed a streamer on the wall, saying ‘Welcome Home’, a small cake and some bottles on the table.
“What the…” Whispered Nino, his eyes wide open.
“We wanted to surprise you…” Answered Ohno.
“Where were you?!” Asked Jun, apparently in a bad mood.
“And why the hell didn’t you answer our calls?!” Added Sho in a high-pitched voice.
“We were so worried!” Screamed Aiba in his back.
Their wrinkled clothes, messy hair and more precisely their tired looks, told Nino that his band mates didn’t sleep at all the last night.
Nino was speechless. He didn’t say anything when they hugged him, nor when they said ‘welcome home’.
But…
At that moment, he knew…
*****
At a particular moment in their life since they debuted, they all knew what Matsumoto Jun already knew. The youngest of the group still remember when he discovered the truth; when they had written a song for his 20th birthday.
Since that day Jun knew that whatever could happen, Arashi wasn’t just a simple idol group who was celebrating its tenth years.
He knew that Arashi was five men who worked hard together during ten years to reach their dreams, and during all these years, they had created something that belonged just to the five of them:
Friendship.
FIN.
*****
So? You're disappointed, right? ^^" I'm sorry! As I told you, I've started something but didn't like it, and then started this one.