My Best Friend's Wedding
Title: My Best Friend's Wedding
Chapter 10
Pairings: Ohmiya, OhnoxOC, JunMa, NinoToma
Rating: PG
Summary: Nino loves Ohno, Nino is also Ohno's best friend. So when Ohno wants to marry his long time girlfriend what does Nino do?
Warnings: Failed Humour, Generic Story, General Sucky Writing and Careless Mistakes are Plenty.
Note: Please Read The End Note And Comment On it. Thank you boblemon for helping me with a writer's block or more like insecurity XD
Past Chapters: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9
I was ready with aspirin for the moment he woke up literally bursting with the need to ask Satoshi once and for all, what has been happening. Time is running out, no matter how insincere our wedding planner is he will start decorating the halls sooner or later and in a week’s time it’ll already be time for us to be married and then we might be forced into it. Well, he might be forced into it. But it’s not legal so he can back out.
Conclusion? I end up with the shorter end of the stick.
Gay and miserable.
Maybe my keenness wasn’t due to Satoshi’s happiness. I knew it wasn’t, it was for me, to save myself. I felt selfish waiting as he stirred slowly, cringed at the light and clutched his head as though he was being burned by the rays that shone on him.
I felt selfish for watching over him for the last few hours so that I could catch this exact moment he wakes up; to catch him while he’s still groggy; to take advantage of his lesser inhibitions.
I held out the medicine.
“Thanks Kazu.” And there you go the nickname again. What happened to Nino? Why Kazu, why now?
“Your welcome. You were totally wasted.”
He managed a chortle before he started massaging his temples eyes scrunched up, “I can tell.”
“So you remember anything from last night?”
“Sho, girls, drinks....lots of them and now suddenly it’s morning and I’m waking up to you.”
I didn’t understand why it made my heart palpitate...FINE so I understood. Let’s just not talk about it. Jeez, Satoshi at least I wished you didn’t say such cute things in your innocent oblivion
“Oh...That’s it?”
“Yeah pretty much.” Any and all palpitation died right then and there.
Do you blame me for hoping? No?
Well I do. Of course he doesn’t remember. He called me up from Okinawa one day and swore he had been kidnapped there.
“Hmm...There was something strange. I remember cake. Did you feed me cake?”
Oh great Jun’s shower gel wins over molesting Ninomiya.
“Trust me you fed that to yourself.”
“Hmm, that’s odd I usually don’t take sweets with drinks. Everything feels odd about last night you know, like I’m missing something important.”
“Really? Well care to tell me WHY you got so drunk after molesting me in the alleyway?”
And molesting me after but it’s not like you remembered that.
I fixed him a steady gaze so he knew he couldn’t weasel out of this.
“I said I was sorry. I guess I just got confused.”
“Confused?”
“Yeah like I couldn’t see direction. You looked cute in that dress.”
“Should I take that as a compliment?”
“Well it was one.” Somehow his voice started getting edgy. Oh don’t tell me he’s mad now.
“Thank you Satoshi. But our wedding date is fixed less than a week away instead of trying to change spouses you’re kissing me in dirty alleyways. What the hell do you want?”
“I said I was sorry.” Knew you’d try to weasel.
“No Satoshi that’s not what I asked. I didn’t ask if you regretted kissing me or anything I’m asking you what the hell are you doing here, loitering around while the wedding date is approaching with every single minute.”
“Amy’s on it!”
“If tomorrow I say we’re breaking up to your mother will she accept Amy?”
“Uh...probably not.”
“THEN WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING SATOSHI?” I grabbed his uh...well when I lurched forward I had meant to grab onto his collar only he wasn’t wearing a shirt and I ended up pinning him to the bed.
Please just for once tell me that you’d consider it. Consider being with me and I’ll wait all my life till you’re ready to actually marry me or even just be with me.
“I...I don’t know, okay?” He tried to sound angry but his headache was probably occupying most of his attention, “It’s just when I saw you in that dress. You just looked like... I don’t know! It’s like I’d totally do you if you were a chick you know?”
“You’d do me if I was a chick?” I retracted slowly off him.
That clause, that clause...will I be ever able to outlive it?
“Yeah.”
“But I am not.”
“I know that. You aren’t, you’re my best friend. It’s ridiculous right?” He smiled, “So don’t worry about me going all homo on you. I’ll never do it again. Friends forever okay?”
“Friends forever.” It should be enough. Or more like it has to be enough. I’m not left with too much of a choice no am I?
“Rest up okay Satoshi then come down for breakfast or brunch or whatever your mother and sister has planned.”
“Okay.”
He shuffled under the covers again and I left, what else could I do?
As I left Satoshi’s room Mina cornered me, honestly I could take care of myself! What’s with people and me and corners?
“Where the hell were you last night?!” I pointedly ignored.
“Even if it’s for the sake of the act you can’t just stay out the whole night! It’s a good thing Mom thought you two fought and you had gone for a breather but that,” She pulled at my collar to reveal a bruised collarbone, “was clearly NOT what you were doing!” Mina whispered furiously.
This Jun...He has to learn to keep his teeth to himself!
I made an annoyed sound, “Get off my case will you?”
“What?! Nino you ungrateful brat! I’m trying to help you!”
“HELP? Who wanted your help? Dressing me up in some dress isn’t help it’s embarrassing! Don’t help me cause I don’t want your crappy help!”
In a way it was true. Me being in that dress had only confused Satoshi, made me appealing to him as a girl. But did much else for the fact that I’m actually a boy and Satoshi’s straight. But I was actually touched at the way Mina and Aiba had tried so Mina really didn’t deserve my anger.
I’m sorry Mina I’m taking out my frustration over Satoshi on you.
“Crappy? My help is crappy? At least Nino I got him to notice you! What the hell did you do? Doll Amy up and train her on being Ohno’s perfect bride?”
“Maybe I DID! Maybe THAT IS WHAT I WANT! Have you ever asked me what I want? It might be a game to you but guess what Mina this IS MY LIFE!”
I tried walking away but she stormed right after me, “AND I’M TRYING TO SAVE IT!”
“MY LIFE IS PERFECTLY ALRIGHT! JUST BOTHER WITH YOURS INSTEAD OF MEDDLING WITH MINE! YOU HAVE KIDS, A HUSBAND, A HOME TO GO BACK TO SO JUST GO!”
“I DON’T YOU ASSHOLE!” She grabbed my collar and slammed me against an adjourning wall.
Great when I lurch to grab collars I get skin but it’s done to me perfectly but wait what did she just say?
What?
WHAT?
“I don’t!” Her nails dug into my neck like claws as she lowered her voice breathing hard like these words were draiing too much from her, “Do you wanna know why Ninomiya Kazunari?”
I stared at her and she jerked my head for a response, “Fine, I’ll tell you. He’s gay. Sounds nice doesn’t it? Two kids and seven years later the bastard realizes he’s not into women.”
Woah...all this time I never knew.
“My brother’s an idiot! He can bleed a whole afternoon and not know he’s hurt, he can pick his nose and not realize that we’re at a public place. You expect him to know about love? About THIS?”
So...is that what she was afraid of? Satoshi suddenly realizing he’s gay much less for me after he got married to Amy? But that’s ridiculous. I mean it’s not a very likely thing to happen...
“Mina...” I grabbed her shoulders and pushed her off me gently, “I’m sorry I didn’t know.”
“Ah... I’m better off like this anyway, the cracks had shown years ago. I’m just surprised it held so long.” She tried to shrug it off but I knew she was shaken. I guess it takes a lot to admit your husband is gay.
“Even then Mina I’m sorry but Mina it’s not the same. I don’t know if Amy is the perfect girl for Satoshi but I can assure you Mina he isn’t gay.”
If he didn’t feel the sparks after last night’s kiss, the one which has left me tingling just thinking about them then he definitely could not be gay.
“But Nino...”
I pulled her into my embrace and she relaxed after a bit. Despite being older she turned out to be a sensitive girly girl.
“Trust me, okay? Satoshi is straight. You could say it’s been tested out.”
“Agh, I’m too tired to comprehend what that means.” She muffled into my shoulder.
That’s all the better for me. Mina would be completely driven into conspirator mode if she knew we’d kissed. I pet her hair as she sighed multiple times, “I’m not gonna stop trying though.”
I chuckled, “You’re just paranoid.”
The atmosphere between us was starting to lighten when suddenly there was a huge commotion downstairs, excited shouts, dropping pans, pattering feet. Mina and I ran downstairs quickly; I could hear faint high pitched sounds drifting to my ears oddly and unpleasantly familiar.
No...it couldn’t be. Even before I saw her face it rang out.
“NINO TOTO!!!!! GIVE YOU’RE SISTER A BIG KISSS!!!!!!!”
Her arms spread, sun dress flowing around her knees, big hand on her head, numerous bags dropped on the floor beside her there she was in all her evil magnificence...Nee-chan...
My life is really just a bag full of peaches isn’t it?
I spent the next two hours rubbed and kissed and hugged to death. It was all just a show. My sister was a she-devil and as soon as mom would turn her back I’d be made to give foot rubs and separate her lingerie in four groups: laces, coloured, uncoloured, sports.
If I really am gay it’s because of Ne-chan and her obsession with pretty looking undergarments so this whole mess is her fault. Her dictatorship had implanted a deep-rooted fear of women in me since I was young, that and Satoshi was hell sexy.
Oh come one, you expect me to deny that?
The next few days were horrible. I like the coward I am avoided Satoshi, going to sleep in when only when I knew he was already asleep and steering clear during the day with many excuses like work (though we were both on holiday) or meet ups with the wedding planner.
Unbeknownst to Satoshi I avoided the wedding planner as well. I felt guilty thinking I used him so I’d bribe Nee-chan or Mina into going with life-time supply of “Nino owes you massage” coupons. It’d be much easier to send Aiba only I don’t want Satoshi to wed in a petting zoo.
I mean yeah I wasn’t getting married but Satoshi was, if Amy still coming by and clinging to everyone was a clue. I could tell Ohno Mama had become good friends with her and she would even occasionally consult her to taste food. Only when I wasn’t there of course!
Oh god! I must stop feeling smug for these small reasons! We’re no longer contenders anymore! I am helping her so I should feel happy that Satoshi’s family sans Mina and Tachiko were warming up to her. Shoutaro seemed to like her. What’s with men and pretty women?
So typical.
True to her word, Mina kept trying but it had gotten easier to see through her attempts. There wasn’t much to do than to wait for Satoshi to realize that he actually loved me. The branch of the plan that included more Satoshi Kazunari alone time failed because I would smoothly avoid them but there were frequent trips down memory lane taken in the pretence of showing Nee-chan.
So...Nee-chan was in this too! Because there is no other reason she’d be going through albums of MY childhood with Satoshi. There’s an exact copy of that thing in our home and it’s layered with dust.
At the same time they kept Amy away from Satoshi or why else would Nee-chan suddenly decide to go shopping with Amy right when Satoshi announced he needed someone to record him dancing so that he could formulate new formations.
Then Mina came in exclaiming how playing my music at my wedding would be a swell idea. Then miraculously all of the songs I’d written for the group Satoshi choreographed appeared and Satoshi accepted them without a second question.
Whenever Satoshi would teach Tachiko to dance to the music to bring a new flavour into the whole flower girl tradition Nee-chan who would ‘incidentally’ also be there making intelligent interjections like, “Tachiko sure likes Nino!” And the two (Poor oblivious Ohno) would engage in a conversation entirely about me.
As much as it warmed my heart, time was running out. And I was growing restless. Any and all plan just seemed so very fruitless. Amy was no nearer to being Ohno’s bride than Ohno was to loving me. And I was growing restless. At this rate I really would end up getting married to Ohno, waste his parent’s money in a fraud marriage and Satoshi would be stuck in a loveless marriage with his ‘best buddy’
To say I was nervous and jittery was an understatement. I was hysterical, panicked, sweating profusely until people beside me would start complaining.
“What should we do Satoshi? What should we do?” I confronted him after many a days of clever avoidance.
Satoshi scratched his chin calmly.
CALMLY? CALMLY?
What is with this man? Why can I STILL use the adjective calmly to describe his state of mind?
It’s his wedding! I don’t even plan on marrying!
“I don’t know.” He concluded wisely.
Really I could just slap him.
“You don’t know? What so you’ll just get married to me?”
“...Well till now seems like it.”
I snorted, “It’s almost like you WANT to get married to me!”
Last ditch effort so Satoshi say yes?
“...”
“Well what about Amy? You did all this to get married to her after all.”
“She won’t be too happy if I get married to you.” She glanced at me sheepishly.
“What about you Satoshi?” Say yes. Say yes.
“I guess I did do all this to marry her, it’d be a shame if I don’t right?” He grinned sheepishly again.
What’s with this guy? It’s not the time to be cracking jokes! But at least I know he wants to get married to her.
“So what now?”
“We could tell them the truth.”
That’s it? That’s your great plan?!
“What?”
“I mean what else can we do?”
No...NO! There must be something!
“Satoshi we went through SO much trouble! To what? To just tell them it was a scam. It may permanently RUIN your chances with Amy!”
Satoshi nodded his head slowly, “Hmm...I don’t think so I mean Mom seems to like her now maybe with a bit of time. That’s what we lack, right time. If we don’t tell them I’ll get married to you if we do we can buy time.”
“But all the arrangements the money already spent!”
Satoshi chuckled, “It’s not important Nino.”
It was back to Nino. Why am I sad?
Satoshi took my hand, “It’s alright Nino. Let’s tell them.”
“But the wedding is DAY AFTER TOMORROW! How can we just TELL THEM? And Satoshi you want your mom to ease up to Amy right? If we tell them then there’s no chance. We’ll have to tell them you did this to trick them into accepting Amy.”
“I know, calm down Nino.”
“They’ll never accept Amy.”
“They will, calm down.”
Ohno took everything too calmly! If he wanted time he’s right we need to call this wedding off but to tell them the truth?
No there must be some other way but what?
It killed me all throughout the day even when I dressed up in a suit this time thankfully and came to this stupid party, it killed me thinking how else we could call off the wedding while still refraining from outing the truth.
What was this party for anyway? It seems like a small party actually. Why were we having a party at the wedding venue already. Ohno stepped up to the altar and said his vows...oh so it’s a rehearsal.
I heard Ohno speaking his vows in utmost solemnity and I teared up for just one moment closing my eyes and believing that these words that dropped from Satoshi’s lips coated with promises and love were for me.
It does suffice to say it killed me that it wasn’t.
Was he thinking of Amy’s beautiful smile (that made her look like a witch!) while saying that he’ll be with his beloved in sickness and in health?
I sighed.
Probably...It was beyond torture.
I practiced my vows and then we waited while Tachiko practiced her walk. My mother and Ohno Mama were doing janken to see which partner would walk down the aisle.
It was boring, the hall was so lavishly decorated it made me sick thinking Satoshi was planning to ruin all that spent on this; money effort and time. Time is equal to money right? So in the end it was all money that was wasted.
Loads and loads.
I needed distraction from this guilt.
Toma was standing at the back of the hall stiff and observing like Buckingham Palace guards sans the ridiculous helmets of course. Ah, an opportunity to have some fun.
I dragged him outside while he flailed. I noticed Toma likes flailing but does little else to resist being pushed around.
I pushed him behind a nearby bush and dove in myself.
“Anything resolved between you and Jun yet?”
Toma smiled bitterly, “Kazunari-kun we’ve loved each other for years now, you think you finding out and agitating me would just resolve everything? If resolutions were so easy then why are you still pretending to marry Ohno Satoshi?”
“Wait you love each other? And you know that?”
Toma looked smug for a moment patting me on the head as though coaxing a little child, “What you thought it was an unrequited love? Every story is not like yours Kazunari-kun.”
“Huh? Then what’s the problem.”
“Family Kazunari-kun. Not all families are as accommodating as yours and Ohno-kun’s.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
“So it kills me that you’re wasting such a great opportunity. You see it’s not us that needs help it’s you.”
“Oh please. Don’t start trying to help me I’ve enough of those.”
Toma chuckled, “Yes. Yes I have noticed Ohno-kun’s sister acting strange with that strange boy who runs around with two kids glued to his arm.” He started laughing.
A thought struck me, “You know you could always sneak around behind your family’s back. Jun’s a promiscuous old fart anyway.”
Toma laughed again looking at me like I was some simpleton, “We used to once but his dad found out. The maids we have now are all spies if Jun so much as touches me he’ll know.”
“Oh harsh...oh wait he knows? Then how come you’re still here?”
“Jun is good at throwing tantrums so I ended up staying only distanced.”
“Doesn’t it hurt you when you see Jun with others?”
“Very much that’s why Jun doesn’t bring guests home.”
“Oh...I’m sorry.” I kind of felt terrible. Very terrible in fact. Momentarily I stopped wallowing in self pity.
“Nah. It’s alright in a way I’d like to see him move on.”
“You know he won’t be able to if you stick this close to him all the time.”
For a moment Toma looked surprised then a look of utter guilt crossed his face.
Oh damn! Keep mouth shut Ninomiya!
Probably at the panicked look in my face Toma smiled again and I calmed down eventually. Toma’s walkie talkie suddenly crinkled, “Oi! Where are you? And where’s Ninomiya? Find him and bring him here! He needs to practice walking down the aisle.”
Toma turned his talkie on but before he could say anything I barked our location into it. I don’t want to practice walking down the aisle dammit! Any little time I could stall it I would.
“You’re such a brat. You’re making everyone come out to find us now!”
I chuckled, “Yup! That’s me! Attention whore and trouble maker.”
“You’re not an attention whore.”
“You just don’t know me long enough!” We settled in comfortable silence as Toma shifted to sit on the ground properly and I lay on it aware of how I was ruining my wedding suit and also aware of how I’d never need it.
“Hey Toma?”
“Yeah?”
“Why’d you suddenly tell me everything?”
“Hmm...I don’t know. You seemed like you needed a story sadder than yours.”
“Yeah right! My story is WAY sadder.”
“No mine is sadder! Years being with him and still not with him! That’s sad!”
“Well he loves you! Mine flaunts women in my face!”
“Mine flaunts women AND MEN.”
Our argument was cut short when I heard voices. Satoshi, his mother Jun and Mina had come out looking for us.
Toma chuckled, “Imagine us hidden behind this bush. Looks suspicious right?” He chuckled again.
Toma’s little joke brought the cogs in my head to life and they buzzed.
It would be suspicious.
I ruffled the bushes and waiting for one of the group to notice it. Satoshi did and they headed towards our bush.
Towards us.
It would be suspicious.
Finally, a way to break off this wedding.
I turned to the Toma waiting to be found, he looked at me when he noticed my gaze on him.
I hooked arms around his neck and pushed my lips to his. He struggled but my steel grip around his neck prevented the detachment of our lips and we fell, Toma on his back and me on top
“What the fuck!” He mumbled into the forced kiss but I took the chance to slip my tongue into his mouth, he struggled a little more and suddenly there was a rustle and a gasp as the leaves parted and the group found us.
I slackened my hold, mission having been accomplished but by then Toma stopped struggling so we were stuck in that awkward kiss for a moment before I was lifted off him and punched hard.
It was Jun but even as his knee connected with my stomach all I could see was the look of utter disbelief on Satoshi’s face. I couldn’t care about Jun’s fist connecting with the different parts of my body, not when Satoshi looked at me like that.
I couldn’t notice anything, not his mother crying not Mina cursing, not Jun firing Toma and storming off. Satoshi’s face was etched into my mind and horribly stuck there.
This was...this was supposed to make him happy.
I bit my lip. Why wasn’t he happy?
Eventually everyone disappeared. When Nee-chan left she looked at the bush still hiding us and seemed to hesitate one moment before she took a hold of mother and led her away.
Everyone abandoned me. And as I looked at Toma’s sad expression I realized everyone abandoned him too.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know he’d...I can tell him you know! I’ll go to him and tell him!”
Toma looked at me for a while, “Thank you Kazunari-kun. I think he’ll be finally able to move on.” But Toma looked so miserable I felt like dirt.
“I’m sorry he did that to you though.”
It was then that I noticed the soreness of my body, “That guy knows how to pack a punch.”
Toma smiled, “I know. He hit me before, when I told him I was leaving when his dad found out. My nose has never been the same.”
Come to think of it he did have a huge and crooked nose.
It was getting dark and cold, “Hey. Um...do you mind if I crash at your place tonight? I kind of have nowhere to go.”
Toma looked at me sheepishly, “The Matsumoto’s have been my only family since I was eight. Guess I’m homeless now.”
“Oh damn.”
Toma chuckled beside me.
We picked ourselves up hoping to find some accommodation for the night or for the next few days. Toma was actually as I followed him.
Satoshi’s unhappy face haunting me.
I hope, I hope that soon it’ll change.
If not then all this was meaningless.
A/N: Okay! One More Chapter To Go! (And an epilogue if you wish it) BEFORE YOU KILL ME I was wondering if you want to get into Ohno's head a little? The finale will be from Aiba's POV. But I could shuffle between POVs if you want to know what Ohno's thinking.
PLEASE TRY NOT TO KILL ME! AND I would have rec'd babyrubysoho's Long Distance here but okay I understand how very pissed off everyone must be right now.....so it doesn't seem like the appropriate time XD XD XD XD
Chapter 10
Pairings: Ohmiya, OhnoxOC, JunMa, NinoToma
Rating: PG
Summary: Nino loves Ohno, Nino is also Ohno's best friend. So when Ohno wants to marry his long time girlfriend what does Nino do?
Warnings: Failed Humour, Generic Story, General Sucky Writing and Careless Mistakes are Plenty.
Note: Please Read The End Note And Comment On it. Thank you boblemon for helping me with a writer's block or more like insecurity XD
Past Chapters: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9
I was ready with aspirin for the moment he woke up literally bursting with the need to ask Satoshi once and for all, what has been happening. Time is running out, no matter how insincere our wedding planner is he will start decorating the halls sooner or later and in a week’s time it’ll already be time for us to be married and then we might be forced into it. Well, he might be forced into it. But it’s not legal so he can back out.
Conclusion? I end up with the shorter end of the stick.
Gay and miserable.
Maybe my keenness wasn’t due to Satoshi’s happiness. I knew it wasn’t, it was for me, to save myself. I felt selfish waiting as he stirred slowly, cringed at the light and clutched his head as though he was being burned by the rays that shone on him.
I felt selfish for watching over him for the last few hours so that I could catch this exact moment he wakes up; to catch him while he’s still groggy; to take advantage of his lesser inhibitions.
I held out the medicine.
“Thanks Kazu.” And there you go the nickname again. What happened to Nino? Why Kazu, why now?
“Your welcome. You were totally wasted.”
He managed a chortle before he started massaging his temples eyes scrunched up, “I can tell.”
“So you remember anything from last night?”
“Sho, girls, drinks....lots of them and now suddenly it’s morning and I’m waking up to you.”
I didn’t understand why it made my heart palpitate...FINE so I understood. Let’s just not talk about it. Jeez, Satoshi at least I wished you didn’t say such cute things in your innocent oblivion
“Oh...That’s it?”
“Yeah pretty much.” Any and all palpitation died right then and there.
Do you blame me for hoping? No?
Well I do. Of course he doesn’t remember. He called me up from Okinawa one day and swore he had been kidnapped there.
“Hmm...There was something strange. I remember cake. Did you feed me cake?”
Oh great Jun’s shower gel wins over molesting Ninomiya.
“Trust me you fed that to yourself.”
“Hmm, that’s odd I usually don’t take sweets with drinks. Everything feels odd about last night you know, like I’m missing something important.”
“Really? Well care to tell me WHY you got so drunk after molesting me in the alleyway?”
And molesting me after but it’s not like you remembered that.
I fixed him a steady gaze so he knew he couldn’t weasel out of this.
“I said I was sorry. I guess I just got confused.”
“Confused?”
“Yeah like I couldn’t see direction. You looked cute in that dress.”
“Should I take that as a compliment?”
“Well it was one.” Somehow his voice started getting edgy. Oh don’t tell me he’s mad now.
“Thank you Satoshi. But our wedding date is fixed less than a week away instead of trying to change spouses you’re kissing me in dirty alleyways. What the hell do you want?”
“I said I was sorry.” Knew you’d try to weasel.
“No Satoshi that’s not what I asked. I didn’t ask if you regretted kissing me or anything I’m asking you what the hell are you doing here, loitering around while the wedding date is approaching with every single minute.”
“Amy’s on it!”
“If tomorrow I say we’re breaking up to your mother will she accept Amy?”
“Uh...probably not.”
“THEN WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING SATOSHI?” I grabbed his uh...well when I lurched forward I had meant to grab onto his collar only he wasn’t wearing a shirt and I ended up pinning him to the bed.
Please just for once tell me that you’d consider it. Consider being with me and I’ll wait all my life till you’re ready to actually marry me or even just be with me.
“I...I don’t know, okay?” He tried to sound angry but his headache was probably occupying most of his attention, “It’s just when I saw you in that dress. You just looked like... I don’t know! It’s like I’d totally do you if you were a chick you know?”
“You’d do me if I was a chick?” I retracted slowly off him.
That clause, that clause...will I be ever able to outlive it?
“Yeah.”
“But I am not.”
“I know that. You aren’t, you’re my best friend. It’s ridiculous right?” He smiled, “So don’t worry about me going all homo on you. I’ll never do it again. Friends forever okay?”
“Friends forever.” It should be enough. Or more like it has to be enough. I’m not left with too much of a choice no am I?
“Rest up okay Satoshi then come down for breakfast or brunch or whatever your mother and sister has planned.”
“Okay.”
He shuffled under the covers again and I left, what else could I do?
As I left Satoshi’s room Mina cornered me, honestly I could take care of myself! What’s with people and me and corners?
“Where the hell were you last night?!” I pointedly ignored.
“Even if it’s for the sake of the act you can’t just stay out the whole night! It’s a good thing Mom thought you two fought and you had gone for a breather but that,” She pulled at my collar to reveal a bruised collarbone, “was clearly NOT what you were doing!” Mina whispered furiously.
This Jun...He has to learn to keep his teeth to himself!
I made an annoyed sound, “Get off my case will you?”
“What?! Nino you ungrateful brat! I’m trying to help you!”
“HELP? Who wanted your help? Dressing me up in some dress isn’t help it’s embarrassing! Don’t help me cause I don’t want your crappy help!”
In a way it was true. Me being in that dress had only confused Satoshi, made me appealing to him as a girl. But did much else for the fact that I’m actually a boy and Satoshi’s straight. But I was actually touched at the way Mina and Aiba had tried so Mina really didn’t deserve my anger.
I’m sorry Mina I’m taking out my frustration over Satoshi on you.
“Crappy? My help is crappy? At least Nino I got him to notice you! What the hell did you do? Doll Amy up and train her on being Ohno’s perfect bride?”
“Maybe I DID! Maybe THAT IS WHAT I WANT! Have you ever asked me what I want? It might be a game to you but guess what Mina this IS MY LIFE!”
I tried walking away but she stormed right after me, “AND I’M TRYING TO SAVE IT!”
“MY LIFE IS PERFECTLY ALRIGHT! JUST BOTHER WITH YOURS INSTEAD OF MEDDLING WITH MINE! YOU HAVE KIDS, A HUSBAND, A HOME TO GO BACK TO SO JUST GO!”
“I DON’T YOU ASSHOLE!” She grabbed my collar and slammed me against an adjourning wall.
Great when I lurch to grab collars I get skin but it’s done to me perfectly but wait what did she just say?
What?
WHAT?
“I don’t!” Her nails dug into my neck like claws as she lowered her voice breathing hard like these words were draiing too much from her, “Do you wanna know why Ninomiya Kazunari?”
I stared at her and she jerked my head for a response, “Fine, I’ll tell you. He’s gay. Sounds nice doesn’t it? Two kids and seven years later the bastard realizes he’s not into women.”
Woah...all this time I never knew.
“My brother’s an idiot! He can bleed a whole afternoon and not know he’s hurt, he can pick his nose and not realize that we’re at a public place. You expect him to know about love? About THIS?”
So...is that what she was afraid of? Satoshi suddenly realizing he’s gay much less for me after he got married to Amy? But that’s ridiculous. I mean it’s not a very likely thing to happen...
“Mina...” I grabbed her shoulders and pushed her off me gently, “I’m sorry I didn’t know.”
“Ah... I’m better off like this anyway, the cracks had shown years ago. I’m just surprised it held so long.” She tried to shrug it off but I knew she was shaken. I guess it takes a lot to admit your husband is gay.
“Even then Mina I’m sorry but Mina it’s not the same. I don’t know if Amy is the perfect girl for Satoshi but I can assure you Mina he isn’t gay.”
If he didn’t feel the sparks after last night’s kiss, the one which has left me tingling just thinking about them then he definitely could not be gay.
“But Nino...”
I pulled her into my embrace and she relaxed after a bit. Despite being older she turned out to be a sensitive girly girl.
“Trust me, okay? Satoshi is straight. You could say it’s been tested out.”
“Agh, I’m too tired to comprehend what that means.” She muffled into my shoulder.
That’s all the better for me. Mina would be completely driven into conspirator mode if she knew we’d kissed. I pet her hair as she sighed multiple times, “I’m not gonna stop trying though.”
I chuckled, “You’re just paranoid.”
The atmosphere between us was starting to lighten when suddenly there was a huge commotion downstairs, excited shouts, dropping pans, pattering feet. Mina and I ran downstairs quickly; I could hear faint high pitched sounds drifting to my ears oddly and unpleasantly familiar.
No...it couldn’t be. Even before I saw her face it rang out.
“NINO TOTO!!!!! GIVE YOU’RE SISTER A BIG KISSS!!!!!!!”
Her arms spread, sun dress flowing around her knees, big hand on her head, numerous bags dropped on the floor beside her there she was in all her evil magnificence...Nee-chan...
My life is really just a bag full of peaches isn’t it?
I spent the next two hours rubbed and kissed and hugged to death. It was all just a show. My sister was a she-devil and as soon as mom would turn her back I’d be made to give foot rubs and separate her lingerie in four groups: laces, coloured, uncoloured, sports.
If I really am gay it’s because of Ne-chan and her obsession with pretty looking undergarments so this whole mess is her fault. Her dictatorship had implanted a deep-rooted fear of women in me since I was young, that and Satoshi was hell sexy.
Oh come one, you expect me to deny that?
The next few days were horrible. I like the coward I am avoided Satoshi, going to sleep in when only when I knew he was already asleep and steering clear during the day with many excuses like work (though we were both on holiday) or meet ups with the wedding planner.
Unbeknownst to Satoshi I avoided the wedding planner as well. I felt guilty thinking I used him so I’d bribe Nee-chan or Mina into going with life-time supply of “Nino owes you massage” coupons. It’d be much easier to send Aiba only I don’t want Satoshi to wed in a petting zoo.
I mean yeah I wasn’t getting married but Satoshi was, if Amy still coming by and clinging to everyone was a clue. I could tell Ohno Mama had become good friends with her and she would even occasionally consult her to taste food. Only when I wasn’t there of course!
Oh god! I must stop feeling smug for these small reasons! We’re no longer contenders anymore! I am helping her so I should feel happy that Satoshi’s family sans Mina and Tachiko were warming up to her. Shoutaro seemed to like her. What’s with men and pretty women?
So typical.
True to her word, Mina kept trying but it had gotten easier to see through her attempts. There wasn’t much to do than to wait for Satoshi to realize that he actually loved me. The branch of the plan that included more Satoshi Kazunari alone time failed because I would smoothly avoid them but there were frequent trips down memory lane taken in the pretence of showing Nee-chan.
So...Nee-chan was in this too! Because there is no other reason she’d be going through albums of MY childhood with Satoshi. There’s an exact copy of that thing in our home and it’s layered with dust.
At the same time they kept Amy away from Satoshi or why else would Nee-chan suddenly decide to go shopping with Amy right when Satoshi announced he needed someone to record him dancing so that he could formulate new formations.
Then Mina came in exclaiming how playing my music at my wedding would be a swell idea. Then miraculously all of the songs I’d written for the group Satoshi choreographed appeared and Satoshi accepted them without a second question.
Whenever Satoshi would teach Tachiko to dance to the music to bring a new flavour into the whole flower girl tradition Nee-chan who would ‘incidentally’ also be there making intelligent interjections like, “Tachiko sure likes Nino!” And the two (Poor oblivious Ohno) would engage in a conversation entirely about me.
As much as it warmed my heart, time was running out. And I was growing restless. Any and all plan just seemed so very fruitless. Amy was no nearer to being Ohno’s bride than Ohno was to loving me. And I was growing restless. At this rate I really would end up getting married to Ohno, waste his parent’s money in a fraud marriage and Satoshi would be stuck in a loveless marriage with his ‘best buddy’
To say I was nervous and jittery was an understatement. I was hysterical, panicked, sweating profusely until people beside me would start complaining.
“What should we do Satoshi? What should we do?” I confronted him after many a days of clever avoidance.
Satoshi scratched his chin calmly.
CALMLY? CALMLY?
What is with this man? Why can I STILL use the adjective calmly to describe his state of mind?
It’s his wedding! I don’t even plan on marrying!
“I don’t know.” He concluded wisely.
Really I could just slap him.
“You don’t know? What so you’ll just get married to me?”
“...Well till now seems like it.”
I snorted, “It’s almost like you WANT to get married to me!”
Last ditch effort so Satoshi say yes?
“...”
“Well what about Amy? You did all this to get married to her after all.”
“She won’t be too happy if I get married to you.” She glanced at me sheepishly.
“What about you Satoshi?” Say yes. Say yes.
“I guess I did do all this to marry her, it’d be a shame if I don’t right?” He grinned sheepishly again.
What’s with this guy? It’s not the time to be cracking jokes! But at least I know he wants to get married to her.
“So what now?”
“We could tell them the truth.”
That’s it? That’s your great plan?!
“What?”
“I mean what else can we do?”
No...NO! There must be something!
“Satoshi we went through SO much trouble! To what? To just tell them it was a scam. It may permanently RUIN your chances with Amy!”
Satoshi nodded his head slowly, “Hmm...I don’t think so I mean Mom seems to like her now maybe with a bit of time. That’s what we lack, right time. If we don’t tell them I’ll get married to you if we do we can buy time.”
“But all the arrangements the money already spent!”
Satoshi chuckled, “It’s not important Nino.”
It was back to Nino. Why am I sad?
Satoshi took my hand, “It’s alright Nino. Let’s tell them.”
“But the wedding is DAY AFTER TOMORROW! How can we just TELL THEM? And Satoshi you want your mom to ease up to Amy right? If we tell them then there’s no chance. We’ll have to tell them you did this to trick them into accepting Amy.”
“I know, calm down Nino.”
“They’ll never accept Amy.”
“They will, calm down.”
Ohno took everything too calmly! If he wanted time he’s right we need to call this wedding off but to tell them the truth?
No there must be some other way but what?
It killed me all throughout the day even when I dressed up in a suit this time thankfully and came to this stupid party, it killed me thinking how else we could call off the wedding while still refraining from outing the truth.
What was this party for anyway? It seems like a small party actually. Why were we having a party at the wedding venue already. Ohno stepped up to the altar and said his vows...oh so it’s a rehearsal.
I heard Ohno speaking his vows in utmost solemnity and I teared up for just one moment closing my eyes and believing that these words that dropped from Satoshi’s lips coated with promises and love were for me.
It does suffice to say it killed me that it wasn’t.
Was he thinking of Amy’s beautiful smile (that made her look like a witch!) while saying that he’ll be with his beloved in sickness and in health?
I sighed.
Probably...It was beyond torture.
I practiced my vows and then we waited while Tachiko practiced her walk. My mother and Ohno Mama were doing janken to see which partner would walk down the aisle.
It was boring, the hall was so lavishly decorated it made me sick thinking Satoshi was planning to ruin all that spent on this; money effort and time. Time is equal to money right? So in the end it was all money that was wasted.
Loads and loads.
I needed distraction from this guilt.
Toma was standing at the back of the hall stiff and observing like Buckingham Palace guards sans the ridiculous helmets of course. Ah, an opportunity to have some fun.
I dragged him outside while he flailed. I noticed Toma likes flailing but does little else to resist being pushed around.
I pushed him behind a nearby bush and dove in myself.
“Anything resolved between you and Jun yet?”
Toma smiled bitterly, “Kazunari-kun we’ve loved each other for years now, you think you finding out and agitating me would just resolve everything? If resolutions were so easy then why are you still pretending to marry Ohno Satoshi?”
“Wait you love each other? And you know that?”
Toma looked smug for a moment patting me on the head as though coaxing a little child, “What you thought it was an unrequited love? Every story is not like yours Kazunari-kun.”
“Huh? Then what’s the problem.”
“Family Kazunari-kun. Not all families are as accommodating as yours and Ohno-kun’s.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
“So it kills me that you’re wasting such a great opportunity. You see it’s not us that needs help it’s you.”
“Oh please. Don’t start trying to help me I’ve enough of those.”
Toma chuckled, “Yes. Yes I have noticed Ohno-kun’s sister acting strange with that strange boy who runs around with two kids glued to his arm.” He started laughing.
A thought struck me, “You know you could always sneak around behind your family’s back. Jun’s a promiscuous old fart anyway.”
Toma laughed again looking at me like I was some simpleton, “We used to once but his dad found out. The maids we have now are all spies if Jun so much as touches me he’ll know.”
“Oh harsh...oh wait he knows? Then how come you’re still here?”
“Jun is good at throwing tantrums so I ended up staying only distanced.”
“Doesn’t it hurt you when you see Jun with others?”
“Very much that’s why Jun doesn’t bring guests home.”
“Oh...I’m sorry.” I kind of felt terrible. Very terrible in fact. Momentarily I stopped wallowing in self pity.
“Nah. It’s alright in a way I’d like to see him move on.”
“You know he won’t be able to if you stick this close to him all the time.”
For a moment Toma looked surprised then a look of utter guilt crossed his face.
Oh damn! Keep mouth shut Ninomiya!
Probably at the panicked look in my face Toma smiled again and I calmed down eventually. Toma’s walkie talkie suddenly crinkled, “Oi! Where are you? And where’s Ninomiya? Find him and bring him here! He needs to practice walking down the aisle.”
Toma turned his talkie on but before he could say anything I barked our location into it. I don’t want to practice walking down the aisle dammit! Any little time I could stall it I would.
“You’re such a brat. You’re making everyone come out to find us now!”
I chuckled, “Yup! That’s me! Attention whore and trouble maker.”
“You’re not an attention whore.”
“You just don’t know me long enough!” We settled in comfortable silence as Toma shifted to sit on the ground properly and I lay on it aware of how I was ruining my wedding suit and also aware of how I’d never need it.
“Hey Toma?”
“Yeah?”
“Why’d you suddenly tell me everything?”
“Hmm...I don’t know. You seemed like you needed a story sadder than yours.”
“Yeah right! My story is WAY sadder.”
“No mine is sadder! Years being with him and still not with him! That’s sad!”
“Well he loves you! Mine flaunts women in my face!”
“Mine flaunts women AND MEN.”
Our argument was cut short when I heard voices. Satoshi, his mother Jun and Mina had come out looking for us.
Toma chuckled, “Imagine us hidden behind this bush. Looks suspicious right?” He chuckled again.
Toma’s little joke brought the cogs in my head to life and they buzzed.
It would be suspicious.
I ruffled the bushes and waiting for one of the group to notice it. Satoshi did and they headed towards our bush.
Towards us.
It would be suspicious.
Finally, a way to break off this wedding.
I turned to the Toma waiting to be found, he looked at me when he noticed my gaze on him.
I hooked arms around his neck and pushed my lips to his. He struggled but my steel grip around his neck prevented the detachment of our lips and we fell, Toma on his back and me on top
“What the fuck!” He mumbled into the forced kiss but I took the chance to slip my tongue into his mouth, he struggled a little more and suddenly there was a rustle and a gasp as the leaves parted and the group found us.
I slackened my hold, mission having been accomplished but by then Toma stopped struggling so we were stuck in that awkward kiss for a moment before I was lifted off him and punched hard.
It was Jun but even as his knee connected with my stomach all I could see was the look of utter disbelief on Satoshi’s face. I couldn’t care about Jun’s fist connecting with the different parts of my body, not when Satoshi looked at me like that.
I couldn’t notice anything, not his mother crying not Mina cursing, not Jun firing Toma and storming off. Satoshi’s face was etched into my mind and horribly stuck there.
This was...this was supposed to make him happy.
I bit my lip. Why wasn’t he happy?
Eventually everyone disappeared. When Nee-chan left she looked at the bush still hiding us and seemed to hesitate one moment before she took a hold of mother and led her away.
Everyone abandoned me. And as I looked at Toma’s sad expression I realized everyone abandoned him too.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know he’d...I can tell him you know! I’ll go to him and tell him!”
Toma looked at me for a while, “Thank you Kazunari-kun. I think he’ll be finally able to move on.” But Toma looked so miserable I felt like dirt.
“I’m sorry he did that to you though.”
It was then that I noticed the soreness of my body, “That guy knows how to pack a punch.”
Toma smiled, “I know. He hit me before, when I told him I was leaving when his dad found out. My nose has never been the same.”
Come to think of it he did have a huge and crooked nose.
It was getting dark and cold, “Hey. Um...do you mind if I crash at your place tonight? I kind of have nowhere to go.”
Toma looked at me sheepishly, “The Matsumoto’s have been my only family since I was eight. Guess I’m homeless now.”
“Oh damn.”
Toma chuckled beside me.
We picked ourselves up hoping to find some accommodation for the night or for the next few days. Toma was actually as I followed him.
Satoshi’s unhappy face haunting me.
I hope, I hope that soon it’ll change.
If not then all this was meaningless.
A/N: Okay! One More Chapter To Go! (And an epilogue if you wish it) BEFORE YOU KILL ME I was wondering if you want to get into Ohno's head a little? The finale will be from Aiba's POV. But I could shuffle between POVs if you want to know what Ohno's thinking.
PLEASE TRY NOT TO KILL ME! AND I would have rec'd babyrubysoho's Long Distance here but okay I understand how very pissed off everyone must be right now.....so it doesn't seem like the appropriate time XD XD XD XD